Although I absolutely love retirement, of course I understand there are some significant setbacks that can prevent us from having a wonderful time as we age. Sickness, pain, loss, loneliness, financial distress. Those can be very difficult to overcome.
Then there’s ego. You’re not all that and a bag of chips anymore. You don’t look the same. You miss being somebody. Sure, I went through a little of that, but it’s actually chump change and easy to leave behind. My advice? Let it go. Enjoy your career afterlife and save your strength for the big guns.
Lately, my career afterlife has been even more enjoyable than usual. I attribute a lot of that to my back no longer giving me fits. The official diagnosis was herniated disc at L4-L5, sciatica and spinal stenosis. The neurosurgeon said I was more active than most people with these problems and to consider myself lucky. Hopefully, I wouldn’t need surgery.
Everybody’s different, but I started reading about piriformis syndrome. Symptoms are similar to what I was experiencing. I found these exercises and for about six months now, I’ve been doing them daily. Unbelievable. I feel like a new person. I still experience a little pain from time to time, but it’s no big deal.
On the entertainment front, I’ve been reading more than watching, although I did enjoy the latest season of The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix. I seem to recall reading the first book in the series, and now I may go back and read them all.
Today was kind of a bonus day at the library. I went to get the next Easy Rawlins novel, and another book in my queue popped up. The book, Sing her Down by Ivy Pochoda, is described as a gritty feminist Western thriller. Sounds right up my alley.
Then, in the Lucky Day display at the library, I saw All That is Hidden, a new Molly Murphy mystery by Rhys Bowen. This is number 19, and I’ve read them all in order (as I am wont to do). Molly is a detective in turn-of-the-century New York City. I usually go for the darker stuff, but I do like historical fiction, and these are highly entertaining.
Food-wise, we continue on our path of delicious eating. I made sourdough bread last week, but it didn’t last long. Toast in the morning, sandwiches for dinner one night and then served on the side for dunking with miso fish chowder from the freezer. Here’s a link to the recipe for the chowder if you subscribe to the NY Times cooking section. Dale’s from Maine, and he loved it!
I made the soup a few weeks ago and used frozen cod and added some shrimp. Instead of bottled clam juice, I pulled some homemade lobster stock out of the freezer. I made the stock with picked out lobster shells after Dale made lobster rolls a month or so ago.
The white miso was a game-changer. Now, I’m on the lookout for any recipe with white miso. Where has this been all my life?
Saturday I made quiche with bacon and Gruyère cheese. We both thought I used a little too much bacon, but it was still quite yummy. I used to make quiche in a deeper pie pan, but I’ve switched to the tart shell with the removable bottom, and we like that better. I prefer the tart pan because I pre-bake the crust for a bit, and you never have to worry about a soggy bottom.
Dale did a whole roast chicken yesterday, and I’m going to use the leftovers for Tom Kha Gai later this week. There are a million recipes for this Thai chicken coconut soup. I’ve been using this one for years. I’ve made it both ways – raw chicken thighs or leftover roast chicken, and they’re both great.
I’ve been itching to make it because the recipe calls for makrut lime leaves, which are difficult to find. One day I happened to be in Whole Foods, and there they were! I bought what they had and froze them.
For the rest of the ingredients, we went to 99 Ranch, which is a fantastic Asian supermarket chain. They usually carry my favorite Chaokoh coconut milk, but they were out last time we were there, so I ordered it on Amazon. Thankfully, I saw it was back in stock today.
I browsed the fresh noodle aisle while we were at 99 Ranch. Very interesting!! I’ve tried cooking Udon before but didn’t have good results. Maybe ramen?
I know I should be able to help out here, with the miso and all the many noodles. But the problem with marrying a Japanese man liberated enough to want an American is that he is also very adept in the kitchen. So he cooks Japanese for us, and I have stayed in my own lanes and never had to learn the stuff covered by his repertoire. Which is no excuse for not having done so. Go forth and enjoy the journey!
I’m sure he’s a wonderful person, but a cook, too. What’s not to love? I do think Asian noodles might be my next thing to discover in retirement.
They have that coconut milk at World Market (formerly Cost Plus). It is the only coconut milk to use. Other brands not even close.
White miso is my little secret. I put it in everything. Really, everything.
I was scared when 99 Ranch didn’t have it, but I did see it back on the shelves when I was there this week. I have ruined dishes with other brands of coconut milk.
White misco. So interesting.
Darn, I read this one day too late. We were shopping at 99 Ranch yesterday and picked up a couple of cans of coconut milk on a whim. I just checked and that’s not the brand we bought. Hopefully I’ll remember next time… White miso sounds interesting, I’ll have to check it out.
We just finished The Lincoln Lawyer and are now enjoying The Diplomat (Rufus Sewell is my newest crush).
Bummer! My suggestion is to shake it well before opening. If it’s a hard blob that doesn’t shake, I’d get a new can, but that’s just me. I’m sure plenty of people have had great success with all kinds of coconut milk.
Another vote for The Diplomat! I’ll have to check out Rufus Sewell, although the guy who plays Mickey Haller is pretty hot.