Weekend at the Kramer’s

The weather in Iowa right now is AMAZING. It has been in the 50s. This never happens in February. It’s so nice we could be tricked into thinking Spring is just around the corner, but I’m 60 years old and know better.

Friday, I planned to get out and walk, but my hip said it was not happening. I ended up in the sewing room instead. Arnie came in the late afternoon. We had plans to meet up with my old work friends from the vet clinic. We were going to eat and then play music bingo.

The food was TERRIBLE. I got the seafood platter…so did Arnie. The shrimp was something you’d buy at Walmart in the freezer section and then pop into the air fryer. The fish was awful. The batter was moist and mealy, like it was fully cooked. The “loaded mashed potatoes” looked like they came from the refrigerator, were microwaved, and then shredded cheese was sprinkled over the top. Apparently, they thought loaded meant throwing some cheese on them as nothing else was in them. I took a few bites and didn’t eat much more. Arnie ate his potatoes, and that’s it.

No one liked their food. Even the gal who ordered a grilled cheese sandwich didn’t eat hers, and she said it was the worst she had ever had.

Luckily, music bingo was fun. They would play a snippet of a song, and we had to identify it and then put a bingo chip on the card if we had it. We sang along and had fun.

Saturday mid-morning, Kalissa called and said, “Mom, I need help.” Nothing sinks a mom’s stomach faster than that. She was at work. Craig had called her. He was working at the farm. Kalissa said he fell, couldn’t get up, and was crawling around. I was to go to their house, get the crutches, and go to the farm to help Craig. Arnie was with me, so we did just that.

Craig was indeed on the shop floor and couldn’t put weight on his ankle. Craig is notorious for ankle issues. We got the tractor where it needed to be. We got the shop closed up and Craig home. Later in the day, they ended up going to the ER. Craig has a boot now…no break as far as they can tell, MRI in two weeks if it’s not better.

Here is how it looked the next day…

UGH. Poor guy. His job requires his feet, so it will be a long week or two before he is better…and yes, he will still go to work. He’s a great guy but doesn’t take care of himself as much as he should.

Later on Saturday, Arnie and I planned on going for a walk. He ended up taking a nap. He had gotten his shingles and pneumonia shots and he wasn’t feeling bad…but a nap would help him feel a little better. We ended up not walking. I was waiting for him and should have went on my own.

On Sunday, I was determined that I wouldn’t let that happen. I put lunch in the oven and told Arnie I was going for a walk. He could come with me if he wanted, but I was going. I can’t walk far…right now, around the block is about as much as I can do comfortably. I’m bound and determined to take advantage of the spring-like weather and build myself up.

I’m so determined that I walked twice on Sunday. Fingers crossed, I can keep that up as long as the weather holds…and then transfer to the treadmill again when the weather turns.

We got quite a few chores done on Sunday…Rosie was front and center for attention. I brushed her out, bathed her, and brushed her out again. She also got her nails trimmed. That is a monumental task. She hates nail trims and will even nip at me. I won this round and didn’t get nipped…WINNER!!

We got the bird feeders filled…and picked the dog poop off the lawn. YAHOO!! What a good job to have done.

Arnie took the recycling and refundable cans and deposited them…another good job to have done.

After Arnie left, I warmed up some homemade chow mien I had made on Saturday. I opened the can of noodles…This is how the can looked when I opened it. WHAT??? It’s half empty.

I didn’t take any out…

Oh well. In the past, when the kids lived at home, I bought noodles in a bag. Now that it’s just me, I started buying them in smaller amounts in the container. I guess I’m going back to the bag. At least then I can see and feel that the bag is full. I think I’d rather throw some away rather than be cheated and not get a full container.

All in all…I had a great weekend. I would love the weather to stay like this. It felt so good to get out and do a few things…and walk. I prefer walking outside so much more than walking on the treadmill. This weather in Iowa, in February, is only a fluke, though.