Monday, April 11, 2022

The Countdown Begins

The countdown to my daughter's leaving has begun!  This will be her last week at home before she returns to the Bay Area.

Yesterday (Sunday), we went to the store to pick up the carry-on suitcase she ordered, along with a couple of household items I wanted (a roll of duct tape and a package of permanent markers for labeling items).  Pick up was curbside, so we didn't have to go inside the store.

Then, we drove to our favorite Thai food place to pick up the food we had ordered to go - chicken Thai green curry, the seafood special, and beef fried rice (which we requested without tomato).  We also picked up an order of shrimp panang curry (served over steamed rice) to take to friend R; we had invited her to have lunch with us, but, she declined due to Covid precautions, so we took her lunch to her!  She was very happy to come down from her apartment to the car to pick up her lunch and several 3-ring binders I had kept aside to give her.  After we dropped off her lunch, we came home and enjoyed our lunch:


Sunday Lunch: Thai Food

We bought extra, on purpose, to enjoy over the next few days. 

After lunch, we decided to order some "patties" (pastries that are similar to empanadas) and vatalappan (a pudding made with coconut milk, jaggery, and eggs, also spelled watalappan) from one of the Sri Lankan restaurants.  I called them and they said they were closing at 5:00 p.m. since it was Sunday.  It was almost 4:30 p.m. when I called and I wasn't sure if I could get there before they closed.  "No problem," I was told, "if you can get here before 6:00 p.m., we will stay open for pick up".  So, we placed the order and we got there by 5:05 p.m.!  LOL.  We were lucky as it was a Sunday evening and traffic was fairly light.  They had our order almost ready, the last of the patties (I ordered ones with a fish filling) were just being taking out of the deep fryer when we got there!  The place is run by a husband and wife team and we were the only customers in the restaurant at the time.  

Fish Patties
Vatalappan (forgot to take a photo before we ate!)

By the way, this month's eating out budget has been completely blown!  I am blessed that I can do this from time to time.  

Then, since we were just 3 or 4 blocks away from the Sri Lankan store, we decided to make an unscheduled stop, there, too!  Without preordering anything for curbside pickup!  It was the first time since the pandemic started, that I went inside a store (masked, of course) without any prior reason for going in (such as getting vaccinated)!  It was my first in-person grocery shopping trip!  It is a small store.  There was one other customer there when we went in, plus the cashier (and another store clerk in a back room, as I noticed, later), all of us wearing masks.  While we were there, another customer came in, without a mask, disregarding the store's posted masking requirements, but, she was in the store for only a short time.

Daughter and I took our time finding various items we wanted to buy.  We called friend R to ask if she needed anything and she was very reluctant to say what she wanted because she knows I won't let her pay me back, but, eventually, she mentioned a few items and I bought those items, too.  

The unmasked customer went ahead of us to pay for her items and then daughter and I put our overflowing shopping baskets on the counter.  It was then that I noticed the other customer standing a bit to the side (but, without any shopping items with him); I wasn't sure if he was waiting to ask the store clerk a question or what, but, I asked him if he wanted to go ahead of me but, he declined (apparently, his basket of shopping was near the cashier's counter, on the other side).  He looked to be of Sri Lankan descent, but, I spoke to him in English and he replied in English with an Australian accent.  He asked me what I was going to make and I replied, "Love cake" and he told me that he, too, was buying the ingredients to make love cake, for the first time, using his paternal grandmother's recipe.  I wished him luck because you need a bit of luck when you make this particular cake for the first time.  Then, I paid for my groceries and left.

  

Sri Lankan Store Haul

Cookies/biscuits, my favorite tea bags, snacks, bottles of rose essence and almond essence, a 4 lb. bag of red lentils, jaggery, palm sugar, seeni sambol mix, chili sauce, packets of cinnamon sticks, coriander seeds, and cashews, and, not shown, slices of frozen seer fish, packets of frozen green chili parathas, dates, and golden raisins.  This is the one store where I buy what I want without worrying about the prices (although, the red lentils, at $1.49/lb., were cheaper than at the supermarket, where I pay $2.29/lb. and it is not always available).   I spent most of this month's grocery budget on this trip (the total came to $153.58), but, I am not going to worry about it!  A trip to the Sri Lankan store is a treat! LOL.  Some of the items I bought are for my daughter to take back with her and some are for friend R.  

We dropped off friend R's groceries and came home to have patties with our tea, followed by vatalappan!  LOL.

Later, my daughter did a trial packing to try out her new carry-on suitcase, which is a bit smaller than her old carry-on suitcase, which she didn't bring down with her.  Her work files (actual paper files, not computer files), took up over half of the suitcase, leaving her very little room to pack her essential clothing items that she needs to take back with her and almost no room for the Sri Lankan treats, other than a jar of curry powder!  She'll gain just a little more space once she vacuum seals her clothes, but, still, we were both disappointed as she would have to leave behind all the food items I wanted to send up with her.  

After some discussion, it was decided that she would take her big suitcase, after all, and it can go as checked baggage.  That would not be a problem.  How she would manage the big suitcase (as well as her heavy backpack) in the subway and the bus she would have to take to get from the airport to her apartment was another matter.  She thought she would be able to manage it; I wasn't so sure.  Finally, I asked her to text her friend P to ask if P could pick her up from the airport (he lives in another city that is about 26 miles from the airport) and drive her to her apartment (located in yet another city, about 10 miles or so from the airport).  Not only did P agree to pick her up at that end, he asked her if she needed a ride to the airport at this end, saying he could ask his parents to take her if the airport would be too crowded an area for me to drive her!  He really is a kind and considerate friend (they've been friends since 4th grade).  

We debated whether to return the carry-on suitcase, but, decided to keep it for me to use as an emergency case as it will be easy to pull instead of carrying.     

After snacking on leftovers for dinner, I ran the dishwasher.  Aunt C called and we chatted a bit and afterwards, I chatted with friend R.

Today (Monday), I did the usual Monday cleaning - dusted the living room and dining area, cut fresh flowers (more roses) for the vases, put away the washed dishes, cleaned the fridge, etc., and, later, took the trash cans to the curb.  I scheduled a blood test for next week in preparation for my upcoming doctor's appointment, spoke with Aunt C, again and cousin R, video chatted with Aunt S, who is my step-father's younger sister who is 92 (she had sent me a message that their oldest sister passed away just a few days short of her 99th birthday), and, later in the evening, watched the first half of Fiddler on the Roof with my daughter (one of the videos I have in my collection).  We had assorted leftovers for meals, but, I took out some chicken to thaw because my daughter has requested my chicken curry for dinner one day this week, before she leaves.  We also ordered a couple of items, including more kitty litter, to be delivered before she leaves so she can stack the containers within easy reach for me as they are now too heavy for me to carry.  

I am grateful for:
- Daughter's friend P will pick her up from the airport and take her to her apartment
- Being able to treat ourselves to Thai food and Sri Lankan treats
- Having a Sri Lankan store and restaurant within 20 miles of us
- The store being fully stocked
- A safe drive there and back

Joyful activities have included enjoying treats and favorite meals and watching a video with daughter.

Sunday's Decluttering:
6 x 3-ring binders

Monday's Decluttering:
4 plastic cases that video games came in
1 plastic zippered case that bed linen came in

Plans for tomorrow (Tuesday) include tidying up the family room, organizing the kitchen cabinets, and maybe putting gas to the car.

How was your day?  What are your plans for Tuesday?  

26 comments:

  1. Your food looks delicious,one of my favourites is chicken Thai green curry. I don't blame you having some extra treats and blowing the budget once in a while. We no longer need to wear masks in shops here but I do notice many people still do. Your daughter's friend is very kind and it sounds like the arrangements will work well for her to return to her home. A pity the new case is small but as it will be useful for you that's all good then. Do you plan to visit your daughter sometime or is that not possible? I know you will miss her. Yesterday I took Tilly to the vet, she is completely well again and had her vaccination and the lovely vet made a big fuss of her :)

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. Yes, it is OK to splurge occasionally; I am usually very good about staying within my self-imposed budget. :)
      I am not planning to visit her any time soon; I don't want to fly up (too risky for me, right now) and she is worried that I'll get too tired if I drive up (it's about a 400 mile drive). But, we tend to video chat on a daily basis when she is up in her apartment and she will probably come down for a short visit, before too long. :)
      I'm so glad to hear that Tilly is well again and had her vaccination; nice of the vet to make a big fuss of her! :D

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  2. It sounds like you are doing everything to make this last week with your daughter special. It's always hard when our children leave even if they are adults.

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    1. Yes, I am! You could say I am spoiling her a bit before she goes back! I'll miss her when she's gone, but, we will look forward to our daily video chats and her next visit home, whenever that will be. :)

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  3. Wow what delicious food my mouth was watering just reading about it.

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    1. Thank you, Chris; yes, the food was delicious. :)

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  4. I know this will be a difficult week for you since you have had such a wonderful time with your daughter at home. I am happy for all the moments you have been able to spend together. There are at least a few good things that happened during this pandemic!

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    1. It's funny how, when she comes down for a week, it seems like a long time, but, now, after having her home for over a year, a week seems like such a short time! It has been a blessing to have her home during this past year and a quarter! Yes, definitely one good thing that happened during this pandemic! :)

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  5. I don't blame you for blowing the food budget. Your food and shopping haul looks so so good and you're bound to want a few treats to share with your daughter before she goes back, and to send back with her! We have Nice biscuits here, not the same packaging but the picture of the biscuit looks the same and I love them.

    It's very kind of P to agree to collect your daughter from the airport and now neither of you needs to worry about the transfer from the airport to her apartment.

    Did you enjoy going inside the shop and the restaurant?

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    1. Thank you, Eileen; when I splurge, I splurge big time! LOL. It's OK, though. I still have grocery money for the rest of this month and I won't need a lot other than some fruits and vegetables. I love Nice biscuits and would have bought a second packet if they had more than this one packet! They didn't have any on the shelves! I asked the store clerk and he checked the supplies at the back and brought this one packet saying it was the last one they had! I was happy to have it, as I had been anticipating they would have some supply issues. I've been reading that, due to the economic situation and the resulting power cuts in Sri Lanka, manufacturers and factories are unable to operate their machinery to produce the goods that are needed. I was happy to see that they had a good stock of my favorite tea, though!

      Yes, I'm glad the details of my daughter's return to her apartment have been settled. She looked into renting a car or getting an Uber, etc., before asking P, but, he was happy to help her.

      I did enjoy going inside the shop (the restaurant was just a quick 5 minutes visit) and seeing what was available. There are a few shelves with British products in addition to the Sri Lankan products, and I was tempted to buy some Mcvities digestives, but, didn't! Not sure if I am quite ready to go shopping in person at the regular grocery store, though!

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  6. Now I know!
    Well done for splurging in order to enjoy your last full week together. Make it a great one! Glad you have got the packing and logistics sorted out.

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    1. Yes, now you know! Probably more than you wanted to know, too! LOL.
      Thank you, Lady Ella; my daughter knows that food is my language of love. :)

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    2. Oh I think it best to be fully informed at all times!

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    3. It's good to be fully informed! Knowledge is power, they say! :D

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  7. It is so nice that you are able to create some special times with your daughter before she goes. Being able to video chat with her is a blessing. I video chat with my sister every fortnight ( she is in Perth Australia and our countries are locked up tight so we cant visit. Havent seen her in the flesh for over 2 years)
    That food looks so yummy! The occasional spurge is good for the soul!

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    1. Thank you, Sharon; yes, we wanted to do all the things she had been wanting to do before she went back. I'm glad you are able to video chat with your sister until you can visit her. I have a cousin in Perth (actually, in a suburb of Perth)!

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  8. That was so sweet of your daughter's friend to agree to pick her up at the airport and also to volunteer his parents. LOL I've said it before, you both have very nice friends. If your daughter is having trouble fitting everything into her luggage she could pack a few things up in a box and send it to her apt. via USPS. My brother has done that a time or two when visiting from DC. He likes taking home goodies and sometimes there isn't room in his luggage or carry-on so he packs them in a box and sends them ahead. Just a suggestion. Denise

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    1. I agree, it is very kind of P to agree to pick up my daughter from the airport and to volunteer his parents! :D His parents are very kind, too. Often, friends are kinder and more helpful than family, I think. Yes, I had already suggested to my daughter that we could mail a box of things, too, if needed.

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  9. What a fun day you had. The Thai food looks delicious and I love how the day turned out with you loading up on your favorite Sri Lankan foods. What a treat of a day.
    You got some great things as well as some delicious looking carryout food.

    I am glad your daughter's friend P is more than happy to pick her up. It's so nice to have friends that gratefully lend a hand. Now it will be easy for her to load up that suitcase with all of her goodies and not be concerned with the hassle of getting it all home once she lands.

    I'm glad you are having a fun week with your daughter.

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    1. It was a wonderful day, Debra; definitely a treat of a day! :)

      It is a blessing that P is willing to pick up my daughter from the airport and take her to her apartment. He will bring up the two boxes he had previously taken up with him and stored in his garage for her, too. I'll be sending some goodies for him, too (he loves Sri Lankan food). :)

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  10. What a good idea to celebrate the time you have left together with some yummy food! I'm glad the luggage arrangement is sorted out with some kind help for rides with it all.
    We had lunch on the deck again yesterday but it has rained most of today. At least it isn't snow which is hassling people on the prairies with blizzards.

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    1. Thank you, Bushlady; these are the dishes from our favorite restaurants that my daughter said she will miss when she's back in her apartment. Of course, there are restaurants up there, too, but, it's not quite the same, I suppose, as the "taste of home". :) She has requested "Mum's chicken curry", too! I have just finished adding all the spices to let it marinate a bit before cooking it. I plan to freeze some of it for her to take back with her. All she will have to do on her first night back will be to cook a pot of rice to go with the chicken curry.
      It's a blessing to have the ride from the airport arranged. :)
      Glad you were able to enjoy lunch on the deck, again, but, sorry to hear that it rained, today. Still, as you said, at least it's not snow and blizzards!

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  11. It's sad that your time with your daughter is coming to an end for now. It's good to blow the budget to enjoy this one last week. So glad she is able to have someone come pick her up at the airport. That certainly must help put your mind to rest too. I expect it will be quite quiet without her and will take a little getting used to. I hope you enjoy the rest of your time together. I know it can be hard to say goodbye, but hopefully thinking of the next time you see one another will keep you going.

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    1. Yes, but, all good things must come to an end, they say. :) It'll be different with her gone and I know we will miss each other. But, we'll enjoy our last week together and then, look forward to her next visit home (not sure when that will be, though)!

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  12. I hope that all goes well for your daughter. What a wonderful shop!

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    1. Thank you, Lyssa. That is the one shop where I lose all self control when it comes to buying stuff! :D

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