Happy New Year

After 2 failed versions of my cranberry bread the 3rd was the charm. It's really excellent.
This one was w one stick of butter, 2 c flour added after butter and 1 c sugar are creamed together w 2 eggs and 1 t baking powder and a 1/2 t soda. 1/3c, OJ, any pulp and rind, no pith or white grated, chop 1-2 c cranberries see cooks recipe online bake at 350 for 1 hr and 15 min. In the last 5 min paint top w butter and sprinkle turbo sugar. Butter pan and sprinkle w sugar. knock out access.

For the 2nd yr. I didn't make any Christmas cookies. I almost gave up on this bread and then I was going to make some but this came through.

I'm also making butternut squash soup again. I bakes a butternut squash w seeds scooped out after baking between 375 and 380 for between 40-60 min. Let cool and scoop out. Cook diced celery, carrot, onion or leeks or shallots, peel and chop or grate apple add curry powder, cinnamon, heat the off heat add, add coconut milk, creme fresh or sour creme or yogurt to taste and serve hot.

I have a Dr's apt. today. My back has been really bad. The week around Thanksgiving seemed fine. Thanksgiving it seemed fine. Then I started celebrating my birthday the week or so before. I saw Patrick on Thurs. for a long 12 hrs. and then Fri. had dinner w Ron and he was here past midnight and I was exhausted. on Sunday Michael came by for lunch and Thai, At &7 Arturo came by to fix my patio door which was nice. It took him no time since he had the part and also leveled it so I didn't strain my back to open and close it. For the first time in more than 6 mo. when Emma broke the handle off. Afterwards, Ron came back. He and Patrick and i have these marathon dates and have such a fun time and just laugh our asses off.

Michael, the Dr. called but I really didn't want to see him. He's nice enough, but for example instead of taking me to dinner he met me for tea and or in my case water. Then I saw him once more a day or so later. He wanted to extend the first meeting but I wanted to get home to see dancing with the stars. Now that's hooked.

My sweet friend John took me to dinner for my birthday a nit early on Sun. My back was really hurting and there were moments a totally froze. Forget about getting pantie hose on or off that left leg. I have to push it off w my foot.
On my actual birthday Caro met me for dinner at Citrus. Afterwards it went down hill from that Wed until John took me to dinner on that Sunday. It was excellent. I likes it better than Citrus at 1/2 the price, I should hate gotten lobster there. The risotto w butternut squash was OK but i sent both the french onion soup and risotto back for some doctoring, The best thing was the french veggie salad for 12.00 and roasted asparagus, For dessert they gave me creme brule. Caro ordered an expensive glass of wine and meant to get the price fixed dinner steak, soup and dessert, but the waiter gave him a larger steak and ended up charging me the 6 dollars more. These things make a difference to me.

Then I had dinner w Bob on Mon.. somewhere in there. The first and only time I've been to Applebee's. A fair place, I think I had a half a something salad. It wasn't quite enough. I wanted to finish his Caesar that he got w his chili.

M TV is still messes up and freezes I need to talk to Toshiba and should not have bought it from Circuit City or the floor model and paid full price.
It's time for a nap I woke at 1:30. and its 8 but I have an apt. at 11.

Met a new man from Santa Cruz, David and we went out for dinner on Tues and he called to make another date for dinner on New Year's Day. I talk but for a cellular phone sales rep I find it hard to get him to start talking much. He
has never married. he's from FL. and PA. has one sister and neither of them have kids. He brought dinner and drinks. I made some stuffed spinach feta mushrooms, I also had some red roasted pepper humus w toasted pine nuts w lemon pita chips.. which were fine at 6 but he was late then sat down awhile with the champagne to talk. by 9 when we got to them a bit dried out. He brought tofu curry salad, a pea something, turkey salad and one more thing, OJ and mimosa vodka; and raspberries. I poured him some of my left over champagne from John's belated birthday celebration here the night before or afternoon He was here from 3:30 to 7:30 or so. He brought the champagne and truffles, He brought them once before for Easter I think, I just finished the last 2 one was a raspberry ganache. In addition he brought creme brule truffles. After he left to be with his grown daughters and ex family I had a truffle with champagne and raspberries,
The first date seemed better with David. This one I had great expectations for and anticipation is a good thing. But I'm not sure about him and out compatibility. That will work or not, no need to push.

On Sunday I had another truffle with OJ and raspberries. Now that was perfect. Yummy, I hit the farmers market and got more dolmens and pita chips, ,beets, apples, tomatoes, 2 "cuties" and the holiday yeast dinner rolls. They only sell them only a few times a year. 10 min in the oven at 400 and yeasty, perfect Yum.
I started on my taxes. This is the first time w effectively no income and no deduction from the house.
I rented the Harry Potter movie and Salt and fell asleep on the computer and watching the movie. I slept very poorly the night before and ended up doing the wash and then washing the bedspread.

It's finally warming up.

Onward, tonight I had a date with Bob again, OOPS, he called in sick and I need the sleep so that's fine and next week too for dinner. He is down here working on a contract basis for Lockheed. He goes in at 5. I'd die or have to stay up all night, He said he'd call at 3 when he gets off.

I may get a handicapped placard the Dr signed the form, He didn't demure/`

I need to call my lawyer and see what's going on with this.