Let me warn you … do NOT have a drink of something in your mouth … you will spit it all over the place when you watch this. And, no, I did not, but I am still laughing so hard my stomach kind of hurts.

Click the sound button if there is an X on it :)

I have been making bagels regularly … as in not running out!! … since mid-October when I first used a new to me recipe: Overnight bagels from The Clever Carrot’s (Emilie Raffa) book: Artisan Sourdough Made Simple . It takes me about 10 minutes to mix the dough early evening, leave it out overnight, shape, boil (30 seconds each side, hence the watch timer) and bake in the morning. The morning work is about 15 minutes hands on time, 1 hour elapsed time.

In addition to the bagels themselves, I am stuck on the Everything Bagel seasoning on top! I have tried a couple brands. My favorite is from King Arthur Baking (formerly King Arthur Flour) .

I had a good and productive weekend … caught up some work hours and business bookkeeping, did a fair amount of batch cooking for this week and the freezer …

A chicken in the instant pot yielded a jar of broth and a container of shredded chicken for soup and tacos this week, plus cubes of broth and chicken into the freezer for future meals.

Another instant pot batch of black beans (to the right) … some for the frig and some into the freezer … and the bagels are just out of the oven!!

The final instant pot use was for a batch of yogurt. Emmett gets a spoonful in his breakfast bowl and I have a spoonful with him as well as a fruit topped dish of yogurt or yogurt smoothie for a morning snack, i.e. Elevenses :)

So, we are good to go with bagels and other good stuff for our work week.

The Vendee Globe 2020 race is racing to an historic finish with 6-10 boats probably finishing within 24 hours of each other: Wednesday-ish. The back of the fleet (2 boats) rounded Cape Horn last evening (Sunday 1/24/2021) creating another historic race event: all of the fleet in the Atlantic before the finish. The middle of the fleet is split into 2 groups allowing for some match racing in those groups. This type of closeness in the race has never happened before per all who know more than me. That as well as the access we (followers) have had to video, photos and live interviews continue to make the race very exciting.

Meanwhile, the weather has been cold, but not much snow and very damp and gray. But last night, through some high fog…

… a frosty moon on our after supper walk.

Happy Monday!

According to Ari Huusela, aboard S/V Stark, Monday is the best day of the week. Ari’s signature line is that he is “Super Happy!”. Ari is in the Vendee Globe 2020 as an adventure sailor. A Finnish airline pilot, he is fulfilling a 20 year dream of sailing in a Vendee Globe race.** Below, his video as he rounds Cape Horn. He had a tough time with 2 wipe outs, i.e. knock downs, boat on its side, capsize, broach … not fun, but nothing broke and now he is around “the HORN”!!

**A sailor cannot just show up and race in the Vendee Globe. There is a required set of qualifications in other IMOCA races. Additionally, a sponsor(s) are required. Most of the participants have worked years to get all together to qualify to take the start. It is those stories, in addition to the incredible resolve, physical and mental strength, ability to repair all boat systems for lines and ropes to electronics and hydraulics … to climb the mast for sail, track, instrument repairs. All of this for 80-100 days in a row, non stop, no assistance.

*****Edit I’m throwing caution to the wind … I wanted to post Ari’s Instagram photo: his selfie with Cape Horn in the background. Instagram (and Facebook) has stopped playing “nice” with links and embeds … so a screen capture. As I am a small potatoes, non-monetized blog, I don’t think an issue, but DARN IT Facebook/IG!!! what the heck??

So, there is “Super Happy” Ari Huusela from @arihuusela.oceanracing. Cape Horn in the background. Thank you Ari for your daily smiles and joy! And HOORAY for your courageous trip around the ‘horn and indeed, around the world. You are an inspiration for all of us watching.

At my house … I am thrilled to have the initial political transition behind us. I am disappointed in some initial reactions from the GOP taking their grievances to the media vs a civil discourse with the President or whomever. I so wish, we could put the past modus operandi behind us and move forward in a better way. Maybe things will smooth out.

On a more fun note, the Vendee Globe 2020 sailing race is approximately 5 days from the front of the fleet crossing the finish line. AND, in an unprecedented scenario, there are 7-10 boats that are within spitting distance of each other so it will be “down to the wire” for the finish.

AND, the end of the fleet is due to round Cape Horn Saturday-Sunday-early Monday, i.e. before the front finishes. This, is also unprecedented as typically the fleet is stretched further apart.

It is Friday, early afternoon as I am writing this. My most favorite weekly recap is probably available on YouTube, but I will wait until I finish my work day and enjoy the recap … with a glass of wine :) …

But, NOT at the computer, because YIKES!!! Just before New Year’s, I was watching a recap (the recaps are really extraordinary in their story telling), on my computer, with a glass of red wine at my elbow. I spilled. The laptop drank. Disaster.

Short story is that I took the laptop to a local shop. Meanwhile, I set up my backup laptop. My most crucial data is backed up to cloud servers, so except for the start and wait and watch of downloading software and data, it was not an issue of losing work or personal data.

Mostly.

There were a few files not in the cloud that I would have liked to recover. And if the laptop could be cleaned and operational – YEA! The primary issue was that the laptop would not recognize the power supply and so the battery would not charge and ultimately, it was not able to start. But, I knew all but the power supply port was operational.

Skipping the issues with the shop, I ended up with the laptop in pieces.

The Solid State Drive (hard drive) is actually a small circuit board kind of thing. I bought a case for it that included a USB cord.

Bottom is the SSD drive. I should have put my finger along side for size reference. It is about 3/4 inch by 2 1/4 inch. The middle portion is the guts of the case and the top is what the middle portion slides into.

The top bit (angled up) is the SSD “underside” with all of the pertinent info about it’s type. FWIW, in real life, I needed a magnifying glass to read the print and so find the correct case. This after I ordered an incorrect adapter :(

Put it together…

And now we have a little (1 terabyte) external SSD drive.

I was able to access all I wanted and actually see all of the contents of my Dell SSD drive. HOO-RAH!!

I learned a LOT! I had no idea that the SSD was an itty-bitty “card” thing. I had no idea that there were “cases” for those card things.

The rest of the laptop ??? I don’t know. The laptop is old enough that it is not worth much so I am not inclined to try to put it together. I may offer it to a neighbor or co-worker if any would like to try. Meanwhile, my backup is working very well and I have the “external” thing in case there is anything I’m missing and ultimately, I am in a better position for work than I had been … my backup laptop is actually better/faster than the Dell, so …

On the Auggie and Emmett scene:

Normal life!!!

Auggie went to the vet for a routine vaccination. This is on his return.

Emmett: Are you OK????

It was pretty funny. Auggie wanted out, but Emmett had his head in the carrier, checking Auggie. Emmett is the ultimate Mr. Nurse!!!

Auggie: I am fine!!!

For the first time ever, I watched a Presidential inauguration.

So, I have nothing to compare to, but I thought that everyone …. everyone!! …. Democrat, Republican … EVERYONE, behaved beautifully and looked stunning and happy and peaceful as well as adhering to COVID precautions.

I hope that my perception is correct.

Maybe just words, but I thought there were some excellent ones:

From President Biden: “Here’s my message to those beyond our borders… we will repair our alliances… and we’ll lead not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.”

By the power of our example!

Also from President Biden: “Politics does not have to be a raging fire” – which does not mean that we will not disagree and that we will all have to negotiate and compromise and listen and learn. But, it does not have to be mean or bullying or blaming or many of the other incredibly juvenile behaviors that were part of the previous administration.

By the power of our example!

If the leaders … any leaders … lead with an example of dignity and civility and respect, we have a much better chance of overall success and greatness.

I doubt that I will agree with everything that happens in this administration, but I do believe, with my whole heart and soul, that the ultimate outcome of the future will be positive and good for the many and for the world.

We are a global community. We need global involvement and a voice in global issues.

Ultimately, I feel very hopeful and also very grateful that dignity and civility have returned to the White House … to the leadership of the United States of America. I hope to once again, be able to be proud to be an American.

God Bless and God Speed to President Biden and Vice-President Harris, the Senate and the House as they lead us forward.

Sometimes, I scroll through my blog or my Instagram and remind myself that I am a most fortunate person…

I hope that at this time next week, we (as in the U.S.) is on it’s way to being a more kind, more thoughtful, more caring country.

I know … that might be too much, too soon to ask, but I truly hope that the true spirit of this country will be for working together, no matter what “party” … to work together on all of the issues that we face. It sounds a little trite, but we really should be able to do more together … if we focus on what we have in common, what we want for our children and grandchildren, on clean air and a healthy planet.

There is a plethora of abhorrent rhetoric about each “side”. DROP IT! and focus on real progress toward a peaceful, sustainable world.

So.

Meanwhile, YES, I am crazy following the Vendee Globe! As of this writing, 8 boats have crossed the Equator back into the Northern Hemisphere. There are only 3 boats still to round Cape Horn. It looks to be the equivalent of a photo finish, which is UNHEARD of in the history of the Vendee Globe!

I watch the Vendee Globe on YouTube and Instagram and in my watching and also watching various cooking channels, I happened on Refika!

Good grief! I am hooked. I love the spices and the recipes and I love Refika. She has marvelous energy and enthusiasm, plus she explains the why of things.

I am off to make Lavash Bread this Sunday Evening.

Cheers to all, I hope you all have reasons to hope for better times.