I tried to sleep a bit more, but a cough had started—the usual stress cough I remember from working. I know I need to slow down, but today was not a day for rest. In my room, I had some Danish and pad coffee that tasted more like colored water. I was dressed in a dress shirt and green sweater vest, as I had to cook.
I wrote the blog in my room and then downstairs at about 9. With the staff already putting away breakfast, I grabbed two bananas and coffee. I was not in a rush as Christmas Dinner would be in the afternoon. I wrote until about 11 and called Mom Wild to remind her of the plans. She remembered some of it and was excited to make this strange Christmas work. I also spoke to Linda and Jesse; they are not positive for COVID-19 so far but feel off.
I found a glass cutting board and dull cheap knives. I managed to chop 1/2 an onion and talked to Deborah on the phone while processing the garlic into bits. A poor plan, and soon, I stabbed my finger with the knife. But, the knife’s point was so dull it did not break my skin. Ringing off, I completed some of the prep for Christmas dinner in my room, now known as Café 207.
I called Mom Wild every hour; she managed a slow process and felt good. Excellent. I cleaned up the kitchen and hand-washed some dishes we needed. I have only a limited supply as the Café could not handle more than four people and was best at two customers.
Soon, Air Kia picked me up and got me to Mom Wild’s place. While the de-icing product had worked overnight, some ice had formed from icicles falling. I got out the snow shovel, cleared the path, and re-treated it with de-icer. Mom uses a pet-friendly product. Mom finished getting ready.
The walker with me in front, holding it from going too fast, got Mom Wild down her ramp and to Air Kia. I learned that the walker fits sideways as the Kia Sportage is a compact SUV. It has handled all of this well, and I enjoy driving it; as I have said before, here in fast-driving Michigan, it easily rolls to 90+ without problems. Later, talking to the Smith Family for the holidays, David said he would not pick a Kia Sportage for winter driving, but I said this one was handled well and was not even an AWD version. Also, the base price was so low that I could buy three new ones for the cost of one newish Volvo. I suspect used ones are cheap enough to get a six-pack of all the colors for that price.
Hmmm. I can hear Mariah asking why I would purchase cheap Kias when I could get some late-model muscle cars.
We arrived, and soon Mom Wild was happy in Café 207, surprised by how nice and large my room was at Homewood Suites by Hilton. I chopped some Italian parsley and fresh basil and started the cooking. The stove top is slow, but I could make that work. The water took a long time to boil, and the onions and garlic were fried in butter. My salt and pepper was the only little package I found in the room. Good enough.
I added the tomato sauce to frying onion and garlic and turned down the pan to cook. Bowtie pasta was boiled slowly but still hot enough to cook. I added vodka to the sauce. I stood back as a spark would ignite the evaporating alcohol; it was best for me not to lose my eyebrows or set my sweater on fire for the holidays, though it would make it a memorable Christmas! I added heavy cream and more vodka to the pan, which balanced the tomato and cream flavors and brought out the other flavors. No flashes as this is an electric stove top (gas burners will usually ignite this). Soon, the pasta was done. I put Trader Joe’s bag-of-expensive-greens in bowls and offered two types of dressing (ranch and goddess–purchased as I liked the name).
I have not drained pasta with just a lid in years. I managed without loss of pasta or burns. I used a slotted spoon supplied in the kitchen to serve the pasta and the sauce. The sauce is plain, but many folks find the more modern sauces too complex. Mom Wild wanted nothing spicy, and thus, I went this way.
While I cooked, Mom had a shot of Bailey’s, and Christmas Story was on the screen in the room. Next, we opened a German, not-too-sweet Reisling to go with dinner. Mom Wild would not go with a heavy red that usually goes with pasta. I asked for a sweet white that Mom would love, and this was the recommendation from their wine guy: Trader Joe’s. It was perfect.
I cleared my work table, which can roll, and set it with plates and some silverware. I pushed the table before the couch and served from the pans. Mom was surprised by how well Café 207 was ready to serve customers. Mom Wild enjoyed her pasta with some sauce and her salad. I had seconds and enjoyed the goddess salad dressing, a mix of ranch and Italian. I had vanilla ice cream from Trader Joe’s for dessert, but I up the ante by drizzling some coffee liqueur on the scoops. It was delicious.
Mom watched as I cleared the table and got the dishes in the dishwasher (yes, there is a small dishwasher in my room). I rolled the table back and put my laptop back on it. My office is back!
Next, we opened Christmas presents from Linda, Meg, and Jesse. I got some nice glasses and an apron (I should have opened the presents first, I was told later) to make dinner with. Mom got many other gifts, including an electronic photo frame with Linda, Jesse, and me, adding photos online to be displayed. I will mail the glass gifts to my house.
I took the leftover pasta and sauce and delivered it to the desk woman, who was happy to enjoy it for Christmas. Later, I would find the cleaned pan outside of Room 207. Perfect. Three satisfied customers for my only night running Café 207.
We loaded the Air Kia and soon returned to Mom’s house after dark. There were tears, as every ‘Hello’ also means a ‘Goodbye.’ I delivered her gifts and a poinsettia from Leta to her house. With many hugs and a promise to return in April, I soon returned to the Hilton via the gas station, as the gas warning light was on. You don’t know how good these are in rentals, so I filled up with $3.07 gas, as it was the only place open on Christmas Day.
Even with the cough, which only bothers me when I am sitting or in bed, I decided to have a Christmas swim. I got about fifteen minutes in and found it more challenging to hold my breath for a swim the length of the pool underwater (meaning my lungs were a bit inflamed by the coughing–I have to be careful not to give myself bronchitis with the coughing). Still, I enjoyed it and soon talked to Deborah as I finished my swim. We planned my return to her area on Boxing Day (December 26).
My cough is allergies, for those who are wondering. The post-nasal drip trips the coughing, and I can cough myself into illness. My usual doctor’s treatment is to stop the coughing and not anything else. I will try to do that with some of the typical over-the-counter products.
I shower to get warm and to help control the cough. I get out another blanket as room 207 seems cold. I crawl into my bed and try to sleep. At 9:30, I rise again and watch this year’s new Doctor Who special, “Joy To The World,” written by Steve Moffat, who, when not rushed, produces some of the best scripts, I think, for Doctor Who. I also think he is a mixed bag when the showrunner, as he gets rushed and sloppy. I enjoyed the mix of the Christmas story, the usual running of the Doctor, and the Timey-winey stuff. Recommended.
I still had trouble getting warm and stopping the coughing, but a painkiller to reduce the inflammation and Benadryl to stop the allergies and help me sleep worked. I woke a few times, once to prove that I was keeping hydrated, but I woke too early. It was a hotel change day, and soon, I was starting my day just after 6.
And that is when Thursday’s story starts, so I will stop there. Thanks for reading!
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 