It may be a slow week, or I may be lazy, but the result is only three stories this week.

Source: Fine Cooking

New meanings or did I just miss this? – I was at the doctor’s recently and the nurse asked if what she was doing was “spicy.” At first, I didn’t get it. Then I realized she was asking if it hurt. It did not. I thought that was an unusual way to ask. Later I was on a pet rescue site, and one cat was described as wonderful (aren’t they all?) but a bit spicy. I’m not sure exactly what that meant. Some kind of code? I have had cats that nip when you pester them, could it be that? Or did it do something else? I could describe Sasha as being spicy when she whines for whatever she wants (usually food, sometimes catnip) but there are better words – diva, whiney, downright annoying, etc. I looked up the description and it’s broad, but I didn’t see anything related to pain. This word is being used for more than just chili these days.

Another realm – I worked on more cleanout and donations this week. I know I’ve been doing this for ten years and I seem to have so much more to do. We are past the things that I don’t like, don’t fit or are useless. I’m cutting into things with stories behind them. Things I’ve been hanging onto for 50 years. Things attached to memories. I don’t think it’s so much letting go but the realization that I’m in the home stretch. I will never have a big home with fabulous gardens and multiple pets like I once did. It’s a different sort of grieving. I’m happy at this stage, it’s just a later stage in life than I’d like. (Does that make sense?)

Say what? – We live in a small community of about 30 townhouses tucked next to a bigger development of large family homes. There are very few children in the townhouses. It’s a “downsizing” area for seniors. We don’t get kids “trick or treating.” It’s quiet. This week on “mischief night,” toilet paper was strung high in several trees and one driveway got egged. My first reaction was “where did this come from.” Kids who live in the nearby neighborhoods know that the people who live here are older. Way older. This sort of cleanup is work for the residents. There is still toilet paper up there that can’t be reached and will have to dissolve through rain. How is that fun?

So how was your week?