Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Our alarm clock failed, but the backup was working just fine. At 5:30 am, Scout, our backup system, jumped up and headed to the backyard. I heard him going down the hallway and followed him promptly. I opened the screen door, and he was out like a duck on a June bug. I used my new shoes this morning. I didn’t think orthopedic shoes would help, but I stand corrected.
Upon examining the wall clock, it was determined that it was Wednesday, which meant it was time to go to the gym. I jumped back in bed and feigned a terrible pain so I could not go to the gym today. Mary, being smart, brought in a cup of coffee, and my nose, which had caused my pain-ridden body to mend instantaneously, I rose to grab that luscious brew (I forgot to yell in agony). She caught me. We had to go!
We went; we saw; we cried! We both walked out slowly so as not to attract attention.
We got a text from Joe and the boys; they were in Washington, DC, as evidenced by the Washington Monument in the background. They were headed to Colleen’s house for a few days while Joe went to a conference.
Rain gear in the summer; must be the East Coast!
After we returned home, Mary prepared an excellent breakfast of bacon and eggs, accompanied by a salad. We worked around the house until 3:00 pm when Mary had an appointment about three miles from home. Since her back was still killing her, I drove her to the appointment and picked her up an hour and a half later.
After picking her up, she started talking about dinner, and I interrupted to suggest Yang Ming as an alternative. She did NOT need to be standing up cooking with a bad back.
I reminded Mary, “You dim sum, you lose some.”
Yang Ming has been around for years, offering excellent food and fantastic service. It is where we get our Christmas Day dinner from every year.
It is located a mile from our home.
We, as usual, went wild and had enough food to feed a small army, and enjoyed her Egg Foo Young and Buddha’s Delight, which is a selection of vegetables. I ordered Vegetable Fried Rice and a couple of appetizers, including Paper-Wrapped Chicken and Cream Cheese Wontons.
Egg Foo Young is a Chinese-American dish, similar to an omelet, that typically includes eggs, bean sprouts, and other vegetables, often accompanied by meat or seafood. It’s believed to have originated from a Cantonese dish called fu yung egg slices. The name “foo young” may translate to “blooming flowers” in Cantonese, possibly referring to the way the egg puffs up when fried.
Wontons, a type of Chinese dumpling, are known for their thin wrappers and diverse fillings, often enjoyed in soup. The name “wonton” is said to come from the Cantonese word “yún t?n,” meaning “swallowing a cloud,” which refers to their appearance when floating in broth.
Here’s some trivia about Paper Wrapped Chicken: Singaporean Invention: Although a classic Cantonese dish, Paper Wrapped Chicken, also known as “chee pow kai” in Cantonese, was invented in Singapore in 1953 by an eatery called Union Farm. Unique Cooking Method: This dish utilizes a unique cooking method that combines the benefits of both steaming and deep-frying. The paper wrapping keeps the chicken incredibly moist and succulent, while the deep-frying process helps to caramelize the marinade on the outside, creating a delicious brown exterior.
Dinner was fantastic, and we brought Pork Fried Rice and Sweet and Sour sauce home for Jeff. We visited Jeff for a while before heading home; it was getting dark!
Mary didn’t know it, but I had turned on the pool heater the previous day. The water temperature was 92 degrees, which is perfect for an evening swim.
Alexa is wired up to the outside lights, so we tell her to turn on the gazebo lights; no getting out of the pool needed.
It was wonderful just floating around in the warm water. The yellow duck lights up and gives us the temperature.
Mermaid, run for your life.
Scout is supposed to like water, but he will not even get close to a pool. We bought him his own play pool three years ago, and we had to lift him into the water. He immediately jumped out.
He walked around the pool to ensure we were okay.
The fire pit was already warm when we got out, and we enjoyed a glass of wine while drying off. The lava rocks get hot and make the surroundings quite warm, even on windy days.
Life is good!
From our vantage point, we could see the entire pool and about half of the backyard. While drying off, we toasted to being in love. Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.
We also made some phone calls about our little party on the 4th of July. We have approximately 12-24 people coming over for the party, which is between 1 pm and 5 pm on the 4th.
It was a romantic evening.
When we went inside, we were exhausted and bypassed the TV room, going straight to bed. No one had to rock us to sleep. It was lights out.
