The Little Problems of Life - Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh

My freezer is stuffed. We have a combination refrigerator/freezer in the kitchen. Because of what was available when our last refrigerator died during COVID, and the fact that we couldn't wait six weeks or more for the refrigerator we really wanted, we ended up with a smaller version. It's fine, but it is quite full, and the freezer space is the worst. 

Although our refrigerator is crowded, but 
not overstuffed, the freezer is another 
matter. It's stuffed to the max, and DH 
insists on overcrowding his space because 
he'll over-buy when things are on sale. 

The freezer has two parts - a pull-out drawer that has 5-6 inches of drawer vertically, extending horizontally to the back of the unit, and a two-segment storage unit that is around 9 inches deep and divided into two segments. That's where most people would be keeping their half-gallons of iced cream and other sundries. I have the left-hand bottom section as my own. I let DH have the remainder of the freezer. He spills over into my section every now and again, and I get REALLY crabby when he does. 

I look at pictures like this and have to laugh. 
I don't think anyone (unless they're obsessive/
compulsive) would have a refrigerator this 
organized. Just NOT happening. 

As of last week, he had two sirloin steaks in my section. I didn't need the space right then, so I complained, but tolerated it. However ... he went shopping earlier this week and picked up our beast for our Christmas meal. It's a huge prime rib or standing rib roast. He took the steaks away and found room for them on "his" side, and my side now is dominated by a HUGE white-paper-wrapped chuck of cow. As usual, I'm stressing a bit about cooking it. I do it every year, and it always turns out spectacular, but there's something about cooking a piece of meat that costs that much money that makes me hesitant. Thank goodness for my digital thermometer. It's proven to be very trustworthy (when I use it properly) and I'm sure it will come through again for me. 

We have a refrigerator like this. I have 
the left section, DH has the right. I have 
the left side of the freezer, DH has 
the right, and the pull-out drawer. 
The entire refrigerator is stuffed, but 
it's a smaller appliance than what we 
previously had - we got what was 
available. It was AWFUL to have to 
be without a refrigerator for almost 
a week. 

Of  course, the "Beast" isn't going to be cooked for another week, so today I'm dealing with "what do I make for the next week". I have several stuffed peppers remaining from last Friday's cook, but not a whole week's worth of food. We usually do chicken on Wednesdays, so that's Wednesday and Thursday. I do have a pound of ground beef defrosted ... now to figure out what I want to make with it. In the vast scheme of things, life is good if meals are all I have to worry about, right? I hope your problems are as minimal and that you have an excellent day. I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini and חיים למען ישראל.

Mountains and the Moon - A Wonderful Weekend

Yesterday's stage in the Pyrenees was wonderful, exciting, and the gaps are growing larger and larger. The Yellow Jersey is still on Julian Alaphillipe, but he lost some time yesterday, allowing Geraint Thomas to catch up 30 seconds. Today is a much needed rest day and then we'll have two days of "flat" as we move from the Pyrenees to three very intensive days in the Alps followed by Sunday in Paris. Are you ready for the final six days? 

Were you alive when the original moon landing occurred? DH and
I talked about what we had been doing during that epic event.
I remember watching it on my small black and white
television in my bedroom in Denver. I think my cousin might
have been with me, if not, it was my best friend from next
door. 

DH and I had a lazy day yesterday, and since the weather wasn't blisteringly hot, we took an hour or so to sit in the garden before grilling our dinner and collapsing. It was a super exhausting week last week since Chickie was out of town. She's on her way back, but won't be at work again until Wednesday, so we will still have to work a few days without her. I've missed having her around, but I've also enjoyed working more with the customers (with a few exceptions). All in all, it's actually been just fine not having Chickie on hand. I guarantee that DH isn't quite that comfortable, since he got absolutely nothing done on his various projects since he had to work for her. 

One of the things I've always been grateful for receiving from
the moon flights and astronaut programs is the view of Earth
from space. We live on such a beautiful and fragile planet. It's
simply stunning when viewed from the Moon. 

I've gotten so used to higher temperatures, that yesterday's 78 F (25.5 C) had me pulling out a long-sleeved T-shirt to wear for the day. I was actually cold when DH had the fan running in the computer room. It's rather bizarre how bodies can adapt to changing atmospheric conditions. I suppose that's why we, as a species, have managed to effectively spread over the planet, from deepest jungle to driest desert. Of course, in my area, having heat for the winter is essential ... just saying - LOL. 

Now the talk is all about living on Mars. I don't think that's
anything I'd ever have been interested in. But given my
basic claustrophobia, space travel of any kind probably
won't be my thing. Still, anyone volunteering to live on
Mars will be risking everything on a one-way ticket. No
way back home to water and breathable air again. 

So today's post is nice and easy, but I'm back into Tour de France mode tomorrow. I'll have a rushed workout this morning, then see my Chiropractor, and then try to get some documentation together. After all that, I'll start my Monday. I hope all of you have a wonderful start to your week and I'll be back tomorrow.