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If you had one whole day to yourself, what would you do?

16 years ago

If you had one whole day to yourself, what would you do?

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Comments (27)

Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
16 years ago
Act like I was retired, just like I do every day...lol

What would you do?
susanjf_gw
16 years ago
that's pretty much what i have, everyday, lol...but today, i'm taking laptop over to best buy...
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What do you cook for just yourself? (aka Meals for One)
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Comments (10)
It's really hard to suggest something without having some idea of what types of things he likes. My dad was a very fussy eater. When my mother died there was a similar situation. Not motivated is a good way to put it, but let's face it. He's probably still grieving and just doesn't really feel like eating and I assume cooking is a foreign concept to him. I know some people go crazy at the idea of convenience foods but isn't it better than nothing? What about a local deli? Get a rotisserie chicken and some side dishes. Pick up (or make) a turkey breast, small ham, roast or something and have some nice sandwiches. There's some decent canned soups, stews, chili, etc, even canned potatoes, veggies and the like. I take it he never has had to cook for himself? Perhaps therein lies the problem. Too often people try to force someone to make overly fancy "nutritious" meals when it's far better to start slow with something he'll feel confident making for himself. Maybe it's nothing more than a fried hamburger, a bagged salad, some instant potatoes and the like. Then maybe someone can show him how easy it is to take that hamburger, mix it with some cooked pasta, add some tomatoes and seasoning and you have a completely different dish. Then sometime, now that you know how to cook pasta, take some of the leftover chicken, mix it in instead of hamburger, etc. Another thing comes to mind is a crockpot or a Nesco roaster. Pot roast, potatoes, onions, carrots... chicken, or a turkey breast (or drumsticks if he likes dark meat, a small ham. Many people are apprehensive about a microwave. If you know how to use one, they're useful, but I don't rate it as a great cooking appliance. It's a utensil. I think a crockpot, Nesco or even a good set of cookware (non-stick - easy to clean) is a far better investment. But if you go with a microwave, definitely get the dial version. Someone new to cooking will be intimidated by having to program in the software code for Mecroshaft Wanders in order to heat a can of soup! An idea for an appliance that I use a lot is a convection oven. Mine is one of the simple little ones that's like a big glass dutch oven and the heat unit is in the cover. You set it on top and set the time and temp, flip down the handle and you're cooking. This is a mini oven. It bakes fabulous potatoes, makes pizza rolls in 6 minutes, warms things and you put a few quarts of water in it, add a couple drops of dish liquid and turn it on warm for a few minutes and it splashes ir around and pretty much cleans itself. OK, you do scrub it a bit if something is burned on, but especially when it's new it's not a problem and you can always line it with foil. I do that and cook bacon in it. It came with a second level rack to do 2 things but the hot stuff will be on top. I use it on one level. I've been known to use this together with the microwave and the stove to make a meal. One of my points that's maybe getting lost is to sit down and figure out what things he likes and doesn't like. How much time does he have, how much experience he has, etc. Then work on fitting some things in. And the first time you have one part of a plate cold while the other side is overcooked in a microwave, you'll soon quit using a microwave for cooking. Low and slow and you can keep an eye on things. And run less risk of burning, overcooking or failure in general. I'll say from experience, a SIMPLE, home made, or semi-homemade meal is FAR superior than the McDonald's drivethru. Tater tot hotdish may send chills up some peoples' spines but compared to what Mayor McCheese puts out... I'll take tater tots! Another thought, bacon & eggs? Omelets? Fritatta? Even a platter of sausage, cheese, veggie sticks and the like can be an enjoyable meal. There's times I just don't feel like cooking. But I will slice some sausage and cheese. Or take some bagged salad, add some cheese, tear up some deli meats and have a pseudo chef's salad. Especially with summer here pasta salads are good eats. Don't overlook good quality hot dogs or sausage. Brown & serve sausage and eggs, with a side of Simply Potatoes? Another thought for ideas is to look at the TV dinners he's getting. That should give an idea of what he likes. And you're more willing to learn to make something you LIKE than something you SHOULD eat. Again, I think it's more important that he get a start than to worry about it being the nutrionally perfectly balanced meal. Face it, this country doesn't eat right and we won't change that overnight. BTW, does he take vitamins? That might be a good idea. I've been cooking for one person for over 30 years. (OK occasionally 2 and for a little while more but that wasn't long). Groceries aren't sold for one person cooking but it's getting better. You can buy potatoes, onions and some things individually now but a head of cabbage, head of lettuce, stalk of celery, etc, and of course the 20# turkeys, 5# roasts, meat sold in bulk packs, etc, get real. But I digress. I'm just trying to say that for a first time cook it can be intimidating. Nuff of that. I'm hoping this is some help. I'll go through some of my menu idea lists and post back some of the things I have on there for ideas. Good luck!
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If you had a clean slate, what would you do?
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I was faced with a clean slate when we bought our first house this summer. The backyard was paved with stones and the only planting was a tree. We ended up putting in 4 raised beds, two meter square ones aND two border ones because that is all the space that we have. But the raised beds are wonderful for the following reasons: 1) limited bending, no working on hands and knees. They are quite high, 60cm and would be good for an older person with limited mobility. 2) raised beds put plants out if the "danger zone" of our male dog 3) easier soil amendment. It was simple to develop a great planting medium and to put in the beds, avoiding the sandy and rocky soil left underneath. 4) Smelling the roses! Raising them brings them closer to nose height and you get to enjoy the wafting fragrance all the more! Also, they are right at eye height from the garden bench, so you can really enjoy them close up 5) less weeds than before 6) avoids pests like rabbits, if that is a problem where you are 7) raised beds allow for neat and tidy paths for pets and people. We use pea gravel between the paths. Downsides I think in this initial stage is more watering. In the raised beds I think they may have some evaporation from the sides. Also they will probably be more prone to temperature fluctuation, kept warmer in the summer and colder in the winter. But in any case, I would highly reccomend raised beds for roses. You could even put them in the backyard and it would be no trouble at all for your dog to navigate.
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If money was no problem what one big thing would you buy yourself?
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Comments (58)
I can't think of anything major that I want. A trip to visit my daughter near Atlanta I guess, when the border reopens. But some say that travel health insurance is risky, as they often claim that your treatment related to preexisting problems, so I won't be going, I think, as in the U.S., health repair is the major reason for bankruptcies, I've heard. Having avoided financial risk due to covid, I've done a bit of checking among friends as to whether they know of a small business operator close to risk of shutting down who might be able to survive with a little help, with a view to perhaps trying to raise some money to offer a supporting loan. ole joyful
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If you had one robot to do one chore, what would it be?
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Isn't "spring cleaning" one chore? I guess washing windows - mine aren't hard to access, but there is always grunge - from dead leaves and dirt - collected in the nooks and channels of the vinyl frames (why oh why did did they make them like that?) which can be very time consuming, and sometimes difficult, to clean out. With a robot I could have the windows cleaned as often as needed, along with spring and late fall. And I would have more time to fritter away doing whatever non-productive thing it is that I do all morning.
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heather_on
16 years ago
Sleep since I am really lacking in that department lately.
Georgysmom
16 years ago
I have lots of whole days to myself and I do whatever it is I please to do. Sometimes that's absolutely nothing.
nicole__
16 years ago
Yep, on weekends...what I already do. I hike! Lay out in the sun. Haul miracle grow out to the flowers. Watch hummingbirds. Cook a BIG breakfast. Shop my favorite thrift store. Grocery shop. :0) Quality time with DH.
jannie
16 years ago
I'm retired, every day is a weekend day for me!
glenda_al
16 years ago
Me, too, jannie~I'm retired, every day is a weekend day for me!
OklaMoni
16 years ago
Tough one. What's the weather like? Rain, like right now, go back to planning my pacific coast bicycle tour.

Sunshine, or at least no rain, tough again, ride my bike would prolly win. Need more miles before I take off for my trip. Should also work in my yard, which I actually don't consider work, as I truly love doing that.

So, today, I will vacuum, do a load of laundry, and work on the plans and website for my trip.

Moni

Here is a link that might be useful: west coast trip journal
Kathsgrdn
16 years ago
absolutely nothing. Day off today but I have to run to pick up medication I haven't had in over a week, pay the water and car insurance in person because my checks ran out and I'm in transition back to my old bank so I couldn't mail them in. Have lunch set up with an old co-worker today in Lexington. Had to change the appliance guy coming to fix my garbage disposal until tomorrow morning because I forgot all about the lunch.

Coming home to either pull weeds out back (if it's not raining again which it looks like it's going to) or clean out closets for the paint guy to paint them tomorrow. They only did the ceilings yesterday. I thought they were going to paint the hallway and part of the livingroom too but they didn't. I just want it done.
Marilyn Sue
16 years ago
Probably try to catch my breath! I am constantly on the go!

Sue
grinch_gut
16 years ago
I too have everyday like this...I mean I have chores and such I could do but since I am not working anymore either..I can do them if I choose too or not....now if you asked if I had money and a whole day....wow then I could answer with lots of things LOL! sTacy
satine_gw
16 years ago
I would spend it near water-either a lake or a moving stream. I would hope to have peace in my mind and heart. Satine
des_arc_ya_ya
16 years ago
Probably my friend here in town and I would hit all the junk shops, the salvage yard and the antique shops. That's the morning! LOL Then eat a good lunch somewhere and maybe take in a chick movie together.
liz
16 years ago
I'm having sort of one today...hubster is out of town...so I'm making noise, vacumning, washing, dishwashing, playing my music loud...now if I had a day where things were done around here I would read, watch tv, suntan, float in the pool...
linda_in_iowa
16 years ago
I am retired and everyday is a whole day to myself. Lately I have been quilting and just letting the house and yard go. My quilt is almost finished.
marilyn_c
16 years ago
Stay home and have no phone calls.
donna_loomis
16 years ago
A day to myself? Be still my beating heart!

Read, knit, watch a movie, garden (leisurely!).
cynic
16 years ago
Lately I've had more of them than usual. Today I'm working on cleaning up the kitchen and getting ready for the new stove and refrigerator to be delivered tomorrow.
nicole_ont
16 years ago
I've been sitting here for a few minutes contemplating what I'd do if I had a day to myself. No kids? No interruptions? Peace and quiet all day long? It's sounding so good, I just might try to arrange it in the next couple of months! :)

I would sleep in. I'd read in bed. I'd have a long bath, go check out a couple of thrift stores, eat lunch out.... I'd go for a nice hike somewhere quiet by the water. I'd go home and order in some Vietnamese soup for dinner. I'd read out on the deck with a big glass of wine and some jazz music. Then I'd watch a good chick flick before reading in bed some more.

Ahhhh.... I feel refreshed just having written about it! :)
msmarion
16 years ago
I'd go to the beach early and stay late. Oh, and I don't want to cook dinner either. I'd just pick on what's in the frige. LOL
User
16 years ago
I'd love to join you msmarion. The beach is my favorite place to be.
pammyfay
16 years ago
Either read and nap (read a few chapters, fall asleep--just cuz I'm overtired recently, not cuz the book's bad!--wake and read a few more chapters, nap...), or catch up on going through my Tivo saved-tv shows/movies, alternating with catnaps.

Sometimes I try to do this (but I have to add dog walks to that), and I prepare for it by making sure there's good food in the house, all the paperwork of bill-paying is done, and forget all the other little tasks I eventually need to do in the house).
wildchild
16 years ago
I'm at a time in my life where almost any day can be whatever I want it to be.

I like to take sleep-in days, beach days or just stay at home and read days.

I'm my own boss so chores and errands are scheduled accordingly.
teresava
16 years ago
I am a stay at home mom with 2 little girls, so I NEVER have a day all to myself! As my mother's day present DH took the girls to his mom's house, and gave me a few hours of peace & quiet!!

But I would enjoy & enjoy! Read my books maybe out on the deck in the sunshine, or cozy in bed, or in a hot bubble bath? Who could decide?? Do some fun errands, where I can leisurely browse, without chasing kiddos around, have a nice lunch somewhere (without the kids meals!) Maybe take a walk around the lake? Again just leisurely no worries etc!!

Sounds heavenly!
stephmc72
16 years ago
I would want to just lay in bed and be lazy all day but I know I wouldn't. I'd have to be in a hotel for that to happen!

But a whole day by myself, no kids, no distractions...who cares what I'd be doing. It's the silence I'd like!
bulldinkie
16 years ago
Just sit down enjoy it..
joyfulguy
16 years ago
When one's retired - every day is weekend.

Good-bye to "T G I F"!

Of course ... most of us fill the time with countless things - but they're stuff that we chose to do.

And, often, when to do it.

Complaints? Nope!

ole joyfilled

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