Lightweight Allergic Princess Snowflake in Everyday Ramblings

Well according to the Google Santa Tracker he is about to stop by Alice Springs in a few moments. He is booking! :)

I try to put up pictures here that are maybe not the best I take but are evocative of both where I am at physically and emotionally. This one I took yesterday morning walking in the Overlook neighborhood with Mrs. Sherlock and Frida.

Please note…palm trees! Palm trees in Portland. Palm trees in Portland with moss at Christmas.

Mrs. Sherlock was a little worried about me being out too long so we only walked about three miles. We drove over after so I could show her the goats. She is going to add them into her next Trails Club hike itinerary.

We are having a treacherous weather day. It is going to stay at freezing or maybe one degree above all day, with freezing rain. That will mean patches of ice. And of course this is a huge travel day.

Even though I could use some things at the grocery I am going to deal and stay home all day. I can do my low-key aerobics at home. I’ll watch church streaming.

It is supposed to be enough warmer tomorrow to be out and about and I can go grocery shopping mid day on Tuesday.

Kes and Most Honorable came up yesterday afternoon for our modest gift exchange and very nice annual dinner out. I was so proud of myself that I didn’t cough once in the restaurant!

Kes asked if it would be possible to have the entrée without onions because I am allergic to onions. Normally I don’t ask, I order something that has them in minimal quantities and don’t eat them and deal with a mild allergic reaction the next day. It is one of the reasons I don’t eat out very often but you know, I am 63, and have been dealing with this for pretty much my whole life.

Anyway, we ordered duck comfit and I also ordered a wonderful butternut squash soup as well as my entrée and there was much concern and consternation in the kitchen and questions at the table because they didn’t know if the base for the soup had onions and the comfit had shallots and I was so touched by their concern.

I explained that it was an allergy and not a preference but that I wasn’t going to go into shock or need to use an EpiPen. It was all kind of sweet and terribly embarrassing. Only once at a Veggie Grill had I had people take my allergy so seriously before.

The juxtaposition of people living rough in their cars and in tents nearby and leaving trash everywhere and us all warm inside eating exquisite food this holiday season is not lost on me.

Mrs. Sherlock is going to take the training in the next few weeks to take 3 hour volunteer shifts at the new homeless shelter that is opening here.

They are very lucky to have her and she feels good about this change in focus for her. Since she has retired she has been helping her older friends with all sorts of health and business issues and volunteering with this group that supports AIDS care in Africa but her heart is here with the folks that are struggling.

I left all the political activism I plan to do in 2018 off my 18 for 18 list but it is there in my head. We had a good talk about what is effective and useful and where our priorities are.

I may be a lightweight allergic to onions princess snowflake but when I gather together with like minded folk I can be part of an avalanche and I know exactly where that avalanche is headed.

Last updated December 25, 2017