Author: Phill

Mischief Managed

London, New York, Travel

I can’t positively say whether I dislike all big city airports; but I can positively say that I absolutely loathe both JFK (New York City) and Heathrow (London).

We accrue a lot of JetBlue points, and that’s where they from and to, so it is what it is. As you’ve probably gathered, I’m planning my first post-recovery trip to London for January. I’ll still be recovering, but I’ll certainly be well enough to take a familiar trip — I know London backwards and forwards.

I signed-up for TSA PreCheck — No more absurd security lines. No more taking off your belt, shoes, and jacket. No more carry-on screening. Leave your iPad, laptop, and that quart-sized bag of liquids and gels in your tote. This solves a lot of my problems with JFK.

For Heathrow, I did my usual — adding a day at the end of the trip and checking into a hotel directly inside the airport the day before my flight home. No need to get up early, worry over time, stress, or get on a plane exhausted. Just walk out of the hotel door and I’m already there.

I’ll still have to get off the train from the airport at Liverpool Street Station, which is way down deep in the center of the earth near where the devil lives. 36 meters/120 feet, or about 12 stories underground. Platforms and hallways are incredibly long, and then you meet the most extreme escalator you’ve ever seen in your life.

Yes, that’s really the actual escalator I’m talking about.

O

I like to be in a neighborhood, so I’m staying at a hotel in a buzzy pedestrianized area with an incredible location — Bankside, right on the River Thames, leaning against an ancient pub, across-ish from Shakespeare’s Globe.

The hotel entrance is at the end of the red-doors building, right across from Wagamama. On the left, that’s the terrace on the river. The Globe is right behind you.

O

I’ll be doing my usual history thing. There are a few medieval churches on the list, the Docklands Museum, the effigies at Westminster Abbey, the renovation of the National Portrait Gallery, a few locations from Bleak House that I’d like to see in person.

I have a contact that could get me in to play a historic pipe organ, but I haven’t decided yet. I’ll likely play the little pipe organ in the train station for sure. The Globe is doing Cymbeline while I’m there. Sadly, not a play I really want to see. I might go see the revival of Oliver though.

Shakespeare’s Globe

O

Welp, I’ll finally be able to spend that £2 coin I brought back last year.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Garden, Goals, Health, Mobility, Musician, Personal, Psychology, Shopping

It’s the old story I suppose — feeling a little better but acting like you feel a lot better.

I noticed today that pretty much every time I was home this week, I was sleeping. Like, all the time. So I reviewed my week.

Sunday is a five hour day, and much of that is playing the organ, hyper-focusing, teaching some parts, handling social anxiety when in a group. Blah blah.

Monday, I didn’t have anything going on officially, but I had errands to run and a bunch of music stuff to do at home. I wrote an arrangement for one tune and started on another.

Tuesday was a palliative care doc appointment and a run to the store on one side of town, and then a run to a store way on the other side of town. Then, 90 minutes of teaching and some house cleanup stuff.

Wednesday was a nutritionist appointment, and a bit of teaching. In between, I did some leaf blowing and dug up and replanted the three plants in the front yard. (Unknowingly, I originally planted them in a very buggy spot. The bugs were eating them.)

Today is Thursday, and of course, I woke up exhausted. I had a prescription to pick up, and a few things to grab at the store, so I forced myself out and did all that so I’d have the rest of the day with no commitments. Ugh. I was getting to the point where I was unknowingly dragging my feet and tripping every once in a while.

Real Life of course, does not go away. Adding to the usual tasks, there’s medical stuff that has to go on in between times, my food to be monitored and cooked, and pills to remember to take on a schedule. Not a huge deal, but another set of things to think about that all take time. Never mind liaising with Jonathan and getting basic household stuff taken care of. At least I moved the plants. 🪴

Yep. It takes a bit of time and effort to keep me standing, alive, friendly, and looking like I can accomplish something. And now, of course, as I’m reading this weekly roundup, I’m thinking, “What’s wrong with you?!” Simmer down!”

I had to pick up a prescription (it’s nearly my hobby at this point), so I grabbed a cup of my favorite coffee and grabbed some ice cream for a sequestering treat . (Recommendation – Oreo brand Cookies & Cream.)

I can’t believe it’s 2 o’clock already, however, now we rest for two days! If an asteroid hits the planet or the Hudson River breaks its banks, Tell Jonathan. He’ll wake me up. 😴

Ewww … Eat it!

Cooking & Baking, Uncategorized

I remembered a “recipe” that I really liked from a very long time ago.

It’s from the early 1980s — a big decade for processed (and often strangely colored) food. It’s sort of a quick “Shepherd’s Pie,” but I hesitate to use that as a name — I don’t want to offend any shepherds.

In its entirety, the recipe calls for a can of Campbell’s condensed tomato soup mixed into cooked ground beef. A layer of instant mashed potatoes goes on top of that, and a sprinkle of paprika.

Well, I made it a few weeks ago. Predictably, I was not a fan.

You can’t go home again. Even for fake shepherds pie. Gross.

That said, let’s talk about it some decent tasting food. Here’s my recipe for Lemon Garlic Chicken and Cauliflower. I’ve made it several times — it’s a recipe that I made up, based on what was in the refrigerator at the time. It’s super easy and fast! This serves two people, and it’s very easily doubled for four.

Lemon Garlic Chicken and Cauliflower

  • 2 Large Chicken Breasts
  • 1/2 Head Cauliflower
  • Juice of 1/2 Lemon
  • 1/3 Cup Diced Red Onion
  • 2 Cloves Diced Garlic
  • 1/3 Cup Grated Parmesan
  • 1/3 Cup Chicken Broth
  • Olive Oil
  • Sea Salt & Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 Tbsp Thyme

Preheat oven to 425F, and heat up a few tablespoons of olive oil on high in a cast-iron (or other oven safe) pan. When the pan is hot, reduce the burner to medium. (Don’t burn your olive oil.)

While heating the pan, dice onion and garlic and separate/chop cauliflower. I cut my chicken breasts into strips, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.

Drop in a tablespoon or two of garlic/onion in the pan, add chicken breasts seasoned with sea salt and black pepper, and cook a few minutes until chicken is browned on one side (when the it easily lets go of the pan). Flip it over.

Immediately add the cauliflower and the remaining onion/garlic. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the chicken and cauliflower, sprinkle with thyme.

Turn off the burner, and transfer the whole lot to your 425F oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, deglaze pan with 1/3 (ish) cup of chicken broth, sprinkle Parmesan over top of all, and cover for five minutes.

Mmmmm!

I’ll take the first two, but you can keep the ugly one.

Fiascos, Health, Mobility, Personal

I am at eight weeks post-surgery, and I’m now permitted to do a little bit more.

1. I played my first church service last Sunday (and had a great time catching up with friends), and 2. I taught an hour’s worth of piano lessons yesterday. A nice, slow start.

3. I got very lucky this morning.

I’m groggy in the mornings, even without major painkillers. So, I’m very careful. I wear slippers with some tread into the bathroom, I make sure I always have a hand on a pole or a niche while I’m in the shower. I step in and out very carefully, holding on. But today?

Today, a blowing fan got me.

Fall is close, and temperatures have been dropping into the 50s at night. It’s been cold in the morning. I got out of the shower today and realized the blowing fan was pointed directly at me. Freezing, I took a few steps away — off the rug, and onto the hex tile some of you probably remember I layed a few years ago.

O

Of course, I ended up on the tile floor. I was flat on my back, which happens to house my recently-operated-on tailbone. I don’t know how I managed to land completely flat, but whatever Deity arranged it, thank you. If I had landed on my butt, this would have been a very, very different story. I’m fine, albeit a few steps backwards in the pain department.

I’m sure you expect our loving dogs ran in to see what the commotion was all about. Eli barks if he hears a footstep; nevermind 180 lbs. of adult human hitting the floor. Nope. Not a creature was stirring. Thanks, dogs.

Higgins and Eli

O

Historically, when I’ve slipped and landed flat on my back (winter ice, usually), I’ve started to laugh. I mean really laugh. For some reason, I’ve always done it. I laughed today, staring up at the exhaust fan. Which is filthy.

However, I now have a strong health reason to order a re-do of the bathroom with vinyl plank. (Wink.) See how that works?

Resting is as Resting Does

Health, Home and Renovation, Musician

Not much different going on around here. As I’ve said, I’m a half inch better every day. At this point, I’d say I have 3 feet to go. Considerably better though.

I notice it in the little things. I realized my tailbone was healing because I can now lean back in a chair, rather than sitting stock straight upright like a schoolmarm on alert. I’ve been making my own food. Meds have been lessened. I can sit on the bed pretty much however I like (because it’s squishy).

Speaking of, Jonathan had the thought and is leading the charge redoing the master bedroom. Big changes actually — we are taking out a large section of the built-in closet/king bed/shelves. It’s a big room, so we’re going with the old-fashioned “bed in the middle of the room” thing. Of all styles, we arrived at Scandinavian. Simple and cozy.

The new bed, lamps, and rug (on my blue wood plank floor =)

O

I’m excited to be going back to work in a few weeks — to both the church and teaching. I’ve pulled out some fancy organ music. You all know very well I wouldn’t play my first Sunday back without some pomp and circumstance! Although, not the actual song that title. That would be weird.

O

Hope everyone is well, and as always, thanks for your comments and kind notes. They’re very much appreciated!