What I Did Superbowl Weekend

 With temperatures being a high in the teens (that was overnight) and dropping throughout the day, there was no way I was going anywhere.  (Even though I wanted to check the mailbox to see if they delivered mail...I know it's hard to get to and I don't think we've been getting it and will need to go to the post office on Monday to try and figure it all out.)  So here's what I did...

Saturday:  Reluctantly got out of bed at 6:45.  (Late for me).  Went to do a few minutes of walk aerobics, but my husband got up and started coffee and once that happens I have to get my cup.  So I bagged the walking and sat down with a hot cup and did the NY Times puzzles.  (What the hell was up with Connections?  I mean I eventually got the connections, but the graphics were not very good making things much more difficult.)  Then since it was cold out, I figured the best way to warm up was to bake.  So it was time for egg free biscotti.  And then I tried a new recipe for "eggless brookie cookies."  The recipe was a bit complicated, you start out with one mixture and then break it into two...one which is basically a chocolate chip cookie and the other adds cocoa for the "brookie" part.  I didn't do it all quite right.  (Which is always my downfall.)  Although they came out tasting pretty good that afternoon, they didn't look that great.

  (It's because I should have made the "cookies" and then let me sit in the fridge to chill, but since I didn't have a lot of room, I only made one baking sheet and left the others in the bowls and then tried to make them/shape them into cookies after the fact.  It didn't work out too well.)

When I was finally done, I figured I should do some exercise, so I was going to use my rowing machine and watch the first episode of the 4th season of The Lincoln Lawyer when I noticed the floor was wet/damp over by the French doors.  I called in my husband and the way it looked, we figured that with the blowing, some snow might have gotten in under the door.  We cleaned it up and left a towel by the door to block anything else that might come in.  I watched the first episode.

I did some reading and then figured I really should do some more walk aerobics (because I barely got 12 minutes in earlier), so I went back to the family room.  And that's when I noticed a drip coming from the ceiling, again by the French doors.  Now I'm really not happy.  I grabbed hubby again and we could see a stain on one or two of the wood planks in the ceiling.  We moved the towel and I went to call a local roofing company.  They claimed they were open 24/7, but it was Saturday afternoon so it was no surprise that I got an automated answering service.  I answered their prompts and was told someone would get back to me the next business day.  

I go back to my work out video and am just finishing up the warm up when the phone rings!  It's a technician from the company.  He says he can be here in 30 minutes!  I was impressed.

He was at my front door (with booties to cover his snowy shoes, which I told him he could forgo because our floors are already dirty) within those 30 minutes.  We took him to the family room and explained that we had lived her for a year and half (give or take) and never had a problem with leaking, even after a major downpour where our front and back yards became rivers.  He went outside, but obviously couldn't see much of anything due to all the snow.  But there was no obvious issues.  (He showed us photos that he took.) So he suggested we have him rake the section of the roof.  I've heard of it, but never had to do it.  It ISN'T cheap (what is?), but he was here and it was nearing dusk so...

It took him 20 or so minutes and the snow was coming down (off our roof).  There was a lot of it.  (Well, we've had a lot.)  When he was finished, again he said he could find no obvious problem.  We did NOT have an ice dam. We have had some melting and re-freezing, which could be the cause. He suspects that the problem is small.  The drip had stopped (since the snow was gone) and during the week he will come back to access again.  It's actually supposed to get above freezing sometime this week, which will allow him to get a better look.  The good thing is that he says in general, from what he can see, the roof is in good condition.  (He's not trying to upsell us...a big plus in my book.)  If we notice any problems/leakage before he comes back, we have his cell phone number and we can call him. But I'm thinking (hoping) we might not have to.  It has been a brutal winter with lots of snow and cold, so...Fingers crossed that when he comes back whatever needs to be done isn't too expensive.  (Is there such a thing?)

Sunday:  I think the morning was even COLDER than Saturday.  I was reluctant to get out of bed (again).  However, I did want to go to church, so I got up and got dressed.  Now normally, I'm the kind of person who "dresses" for church, but with it being so darned cold I wore (re-wore) my lined jeans along with a turtleneck and one of my warmest sweaters.  Over that I wore a fur coat (which belonged to my husband's aunt) because the wind was still whipping out there.  As a matter of fact, when heading over to the church I witnessed what I would call mini snow tornados.  (Because I don't know what else to call them.)  I was also grateful that a new heating/cooling system has been installed at the church.

When I got home I had coffee in front of the fireplace (again) and did some reading.  As for the afternoon/evening I'm pretty sure you can guess what we did.  In case you didn't....

We turned up the heat in the family room (no drips...no wet...keep those fingers crossed.)  We watched a lot of commercials.  My husband (sort of) watched the pre-show "stuff."  I hung out with him (with my book) and we ate lots of not so healthy food and drink.  (Is that surprising?)  Can you guess how many nachos I ate before it all went down the front of my turtleneck?  (Hint:  it was more than one.)

We had to take out the garbage and recycling for pick up tomorrow.  We needed to do it while it was still light out and we could navigate our snow/ice covered driveway.  (Totally drivable...not so walk-able).  Just a few minutes out and I was frozen solid.  So I had to have one of the Jose Cuervo Double strength margaritas.  Note to self:  Double strength is too strengthy for me!  (WHOA!)

I did some more reading (finished Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by J.B. West and perhaps in honor of Bad Bunny started Watership Down  which I should have read years ago) and watched some commercials (because they interested me more than the game...sorry!).  Enjoyed the pre-show music with Teddy Swims (who would have thought?) Green Day, "Lift Every Voice And Sing" (which moves me every time I hear it) sung by Coco Jones, "America The Beautiful" (go Brandi Carlisle) and the national anthem (okay Charlie Puth).  I have to be honest, as much as I enjoy the music, I love watching the ASL more and wish the cameras would focus more on that.  (I think it's the most beautiful language period because it is so damned expressive.)

Once the game began...well, I was ready for a hot shower.  I would have fallen asleep really early, but this "old lady" wanted to check out Bad Bunny and he did not disappoint. I liked seeing Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. (I've always been a "Livin la Vida Loca" kind of gal.) I know I'm not his demographic, but DAMN he was good!  (It doesn't hurt that he's a sight for sore or "old" eyes.)  I will not be going out and purchasing his catalog (do you even do that these days?), but I certainly won't be turning off his music if it came my way.  (Unlike some previous half time show performers.)  And I was very touched by the actual wedding that happened during the show.  (Although I had to wait till this morning to get that confirmed.)

Once the half time show was over, I was ready to turn off the tv.  I'm not a sports gal, but I was rooting for the Seahawks.  (Why?  Because the school that my son attends has the Seahawk as their mascot.  He's not a sports guy either, but I decided to stay "loyal" to the brand.)  By the time I went to sleep, I was pretty hopeful that they would win and when I woke up I was glad to see I was right.  Go Seahawks!

Another weekend over; another work week has begun.  And as I keep saying...39 days and 13 hours till spring!