Holiday anxiety
The tree is up, but it’s a wee bit tilty, and I’ve been feeling down. I don’t know why. Some of it is the tilt.
I worry about the tree falling over. That, and the Russians, the election, impeachment, climate change, wind blowing furniture into the pool, slippery roads. Sounds like a control thing to me, what with all the wet, windy, tilty, crazy things happening that I can’t fix.
It had been more than a week since I’d added my high-CBD cannabis tincture to my morning juice, so I got back into my daily dose, and it’s like a miracle for anxiety and excess rumination. I can look at the tree now and not panic.
Nice tree, good tree.
Tincture might be making a comeback. I read notorious cannabis enthusiast Willie Nelson has given up smoking due to breathing issues but is still enjoying cannabis through tinctures and edibles. If anyone can put tincture on the map, it’s Willie.
Whilst in my slump, I also increased my dosage of schmaltz. There are a couple of videos that never fail to make me cry and cheer me up at the same time. Susan Boyle’s first appearance on Britain’s Got Talent is like a rescue inhaler. I also love Tara Lipinsky’s 1998 skate for the gold.
Opening the cat’s presents
For Christmas, Dale bought treats for our cat, Riley, and for his sister’s cat, Earle. The clerk described the treats as crack for cats. Dale wanted to open the package to see if Riley agrees. I was shocked. I mean, isn’t that what he’s getting for Christmas?
Dale said Riley wouldn’t know, but I’m sorry. There are some things you just don’t do, and you don’t go opening your cat’s presents before Christmas. Maybe Christmas Eve, but only if it’s pajamas. Having to explain all this to Dale was exhausting. You can see why I need extra tincture.
Our 41st
So, yes, 41 years of love and exhaustion was celebrated on Saturday. We drove into “the city” and spent the night at a hotel with a highly acclaimed but unpretentious restaurant on the ground floor. We don’t like to dress up, and nice jeans and boots were more than appropriate. We’re also not real slick about navigating urban settings, so having the restaurant in the hotel was perfect. No scary walks at night.
We rarely dine out, mostly because we’re excellent home cooks and almost always disappointed with our meals in restaurants. When we do go out, we find some local haunt, and our bill is usually in the $60 range. And then we’re pissed that we wasted it. For our anniversary, we said, what about going big? Maybe you can buy your way to exceptional food.
Although we were mentally prepared to spend some bucks, it’s always hard for us. We have a comfortable retirement and can afford it, but like many retirees, after saving for so long, it actually is hard to fork over the cash. Fortunately, dinner was spectacular.
Follow the food
For an appetizer, I had grilled octopus with mandarin oranges, shaved fennel, Japanese mustard greens, spicy green sauce and charred avocado. Dale had roasted bone marrow with short rib marmalade, pickled pepper relish, herbs and grilled bread.
We both chose duck for our entrée. It was not planned, but there’s duck history between us. When we were dating, he wooed me from the kitchen of his Bachelor Officer’s Quarters with Duck a L’Orange. Oh, and then there was the benchmark pressed duck in Rouen, France. The wild duck at the fancy place in Paris.
Paris, Rouen … those were our youthful globe-trotting days, before we got loaded down with responsibilities and understood the concept of compound interest. When paychecks were for spending!
This time around it was seared duck breast with onion cream sauce, roasted brussels sprouts leaves, Thumbalina carrots, miniature cannelloni, shaved truffles and duck jus.
I ate every bite and would have licked the plate if I thought I could get away with it. We were both quite full, so we didn’t order dessert. We enjoyed a bottle of Pinot Noir with our meal.
With tip, our bill was $280. The room was $155, plus $32 for parking, so that’s a total of $467 for our 41st wedding anniversary celebration. Seems like a lot, but if anything, we should do it more. Maybe skip on mediocre neighborhood fare and follow the food.
Christmas presents are definitely for Christmas. He knows he needs to get another CHRISTMAS gift for the cats, right? Lick the plate, you crack me up. Happy 41st!!!! YES, it is hard to go from saver to spender. I guess there are worse habits to have.
You’re right — there are worse habits to have. I didn’t let him open the cat’s gift, so we’re still good.
I mean really, he needs to get another Christmas present for the cat.!! We used to buy cat presents but ours are so old now they just lay around. Ollie is 16 and Finwe is 16 too.
Happy 41st. We hit 49 this year. Of course I was indeed married at 18. The city sounds ok. I just don’t put myself out there like that anymore. Pizza is just fine. I think I may try the cannabis tincture. Which one do you use and do you know if the shop near UCDmed center has it. We have been in there a few times but that was for some edibles for Barclay. He actually hasn’t had any yet. Still waiting for the Dr’s ok.
OMG, my favorite thing to do when I feel down is to watch Susan Boyles audition. I must have watched it a million times.
I didn’t let him open the cat’s gift. Oh, and the cat has been busy licking ribbon. Such fun.
Wow — 49 years, congrats. I agree about pizza, my favorite food, but once in a while, it’s nice to eat something we could probably never create at home.
I can’t believe you love the Susan Boyle audition. I’ve also watched it a million times!
As for tincture, I make it myself. So far, I’ve only made it with alcohol, which I mix in my morning juice. Just one dropperful, which is about 1/4 teaspoon. I think dispensaries sell the kind made from glycerin, which you put under the tongue. Quicker results, and it doesn’t go through the liver. I’m sure Davis has some nice options. I’m happy with the alcohol version. I don’t think it’s enough to damage my liver, and it lasts forever. I recommend getting whatever they have in Davis to see if you like it. Then we should talk! I have lots of ideas.
I live in a state where only medical weed is legal, so I can’t use it to reduce anxiety, more is the pity. But in the meantime, thank you for the genius move of posting the Tara gold skating performance! I loved it. It had never occurred to me to haunt YouTube looking at some of those great performances. I will now, though. My recent YouTube calming videos have been watching hikers trek the PCT; however, very recently the very last one of the pack finished her hike and is now back in England. I have been trying to find something equally good to watch, so this came just in time. Congratulations on making it 41 years.
I’m so happy you love the Tara video. She just skated her heart out. Now I have to check out the hikers. I had no idea those videos were available. I’ve read “Wild” at least three times.
About medical weed. Check to see what your state says is a valid medical condition. If you qualify, there’s no law against benefiting in other ways. I started using it when California only had medical. Pain is usually valid, and most of us have that! I got it for my post-mastectomy pain and was as surprised as anyone that it addressed anxiety.
Great advice about the medical weed. I will definitely look into it for arthritis pain. I did buy the Penetrex you recommended, and I really like it.
I think I developed an interest in the hikers through the book A Walk in the Woods (Bill Bryson), a very funny take on his Appalachian Trail hiker (and also, Wild). I find the videos very addicting, with many different personalities. Some of the hikes last six months, so it’s a commitment to follow along!
Happy 41st anniversary! On Saturday I was at a combination solstice/anniversary party (43), which was pretty special. No duck breast, but some pretty good eats. That was quite a menu–glad the food was as good as you hoped. I have to say I winced when I saw the number you mentioned.
Yes, our anniversary is on the solstice, too! It is a wincing number. I almost didn’t include it, but I like to keep it real.
I love that you honored 41 yrs of marriage with a special night out. My monkey brain (…all the wet, windy, tilty, crazy things happening that I can’t fix) overcomes the logic sometimes. I self-diagnosed it as anxiety and decreased the chocolate intake as a remedy. I’d been reading about sugar/chocolate contributing to anxiety. Damn. It worked! Since I reduced (Eliminate? I’m not ready for that yet.) my intake of chocolate, I’m feeling more grounded. And an added bonus – less joint inflammation. Double damn. I like chocolate.
That’s amazing. I might have to give that some thought. I do love chocolate …
Thanks for the entertaining read, as always.
Merry Christmas!! 🎄
Thanks — and same to you! I hope you enjoy the “quiet period.”
Congratulations on your 41 year anniversary! Hotel room and a special dinner out together sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate. Yes, you and Dale should celebrate your years together more often:)
Thank you! It’s not something we would do often, but I could see a couple of times a year.
Thanks for all your entertaining posts this year Donna – thoroughly enjoyable. Best wishes to you and your family.
Cheers, Derek.
Thank you so much, Derek. I’m happy you found me on the internet. Best wishes to you and your family as well!
Hi Donna! I’m just reading this now but I trust you had a peaceful and merry Christmas! And happy 41st Anniversary! I’m sure you are just as amazed as my husband and I are at having hit 42 years! Wow! Where did those years ago. Glad to hear you enjoyed your big night out. I don’t like spending huge amounts of money to go out but if I do it HAD BETTER BE FABULOUS! And it sounds like you succeeded. May you have another 40 years as good as the last. ~Kathy
Hi Kathy — thanks for visiting! Yes, it is hard to think about where the years went. I feel the same way about spending money on dinner — it had better be fabulous. I hate wasting money on mediocre food.