Featured

22- bloody bandages

Spooky Cookie month continues on Cookie Thursday is a Thing. Today’s make is bloody bandages.

These are operating room folks, and it is hard to gross them out.

No ick matter here!

Bloody Bandages

Sugar wafer cookies, the ones with the cream filling between thin crispy wafers.

white chocolate Candiquik. This is meltable chocolate that comes in a variety of flavors and colors and here in the United States it goes by that unfortunately spelled name, or some craft stores carry it for candy making. It melts fast in the microwave and smoothly.

toppings- for effect I used a combination of green sprinkles, and freeze-dried raspberries

I had to experiment a bit with technique. The first tray I laid the wafers out, melted the chocolate, tried to make a square of chocolate with a spoon, put the toppings on

This works but it gets messy as the chocolate begins to dry.

The second tray I had the wafer cookies in a stack, picked them up, spread the chocolate using a knife, added toppings. This worked much better and I was able to get a more uniform square of chocolate

What makes these bloody bandages is the rectangular shape of the wafer cookies, and the hopefully white square of chocolate. And the raspberry “blood”.

On some I added green sprinkles to simulate infection.

I think they are adorable, and they were very fast to make. I barely got through NPR morning edition podcast, which is about 15 minutes long. Seriously one of the fastest makes yet.

FFS Friday 2/13/26- Fairytale

The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines a fairy tale as “a children’s story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.” A good synonym is that something idealized and is an invented story intended to deceive.

We all witnessed this on Thursday when the administration decided it no longer believed in the science that we can see with our eyes and feel in our chests and that the president has decided that the pollution rules are bunk.

Bunk as in not true.

Uh, huh.

Or is it more likely that the same fossil fuel owners that he begged for $1 billion dollars for his campaign, promising them a great return on their “investment”, are reaping the benefits of this horrible no good moment in history.

The children who will suffer and die because of climate change and the ever getting rougher storms, and the ever more damaging wild swings in temperature.

Because of the chase for profit.

Profit they don’t even spend. They only want to amass more. And more. And more. And more. And more.

Satiation point, don’t know her.

This is in opposition of the terror and damage this never ending greed has on society and children.

John Scalzi wrote a fabulous book that I have referenced before, Starter Villain. About the greed and never having enough of the ultra ultra ultra wealthy. I firmly recommend it. In fact, I am going to go read it again.

Just like the abortion laws are not about saving children, this is not about children. Children never ever ever ever enter their minds. At least not in a wholesome manner. It is all about how to exploit the situation in the chase of more.

And you are sentencing the children of the future safety. So you can have all of the gold in the kingdom. And damn the peasants. There are more peasants to be had anyway, which is why the abortion rules are in place to ensure that there is a fresh crop of workers.

The fresh crop of nubile young bodies for some.

The fresh crop of workers to feed the never full appetites of the ones who wouldn’t know enough if it bit them.

It is a big vile circle of lying and stealing from the future for the present. Of doing nasty despicable things for your own greed.

Say it with me, just because you believe something is not true does not make it so. Truth does not depend on your feelings.

Cookie Thursday 2/12/26- New stove, 10 weeks later

It is not Cookie Thursday is a Thing and I can share the appliance delivery saga from yesterday.

But first, the stove is in and it is glorious! I couldn’t wait to use it.

But second, a moment for the 10 weeks without a fully functioning stove. I made it! I used the sole functioning burner, the bottom oven (which was dodgy at best), and the crockpot. Having a fully functioning kitchen is going to take some getting used to.

Two weeks ago the dishwasher, which was just outside of its extended warranty, threw in the towel. It no longer drained. I had noticed that the dishwasher was wetter after I ran a load of dishes but I put that down to my husband’s lunch dishes.

Not so.

So I’ve been without a fully functioning stove and a dishwasher through 2 of the biggest storms that NC has seen since we moved here. Ice one week, a lot of snow the next. I tried to get the dishwasher fixed under warranty. No dice.

I just hand washed dishes. A lot.

And 5 days ago my husband and I purchased one to replace the expensive waste in the dishwasher spot..

Two weeks ago I had to change the install date on stove #3 to February 17th because I had a conflict. They called and offered me February 11th instead.

I have a weekly meeting on the second Wednesday of the month that I lead and I could not not hold the meeting. It was only going to be from 0900-1030 and then I could take over installation watching. So I prepped my husband to be the watcher during the meeting. If the installer happened to come during the meeting window.

You know they did.

And you know who else showed up at the exact same time? Different installer? Yep, the dishwasher people.

I had 3 installers in the kitchen. And our kitchen isn’t super big. What are the odds? Perhaps I need a lottery ticket.

But they both are in and they are glorious.

Cookie Thursday is a Thing has been limping along since Thanksgiving. No bakes, holiday bakes, bought cookies was how I have been handling it. When an experimental cookie failed I did not purchase cookies because it was the Thursday before the 2 inches of sleet and icy rain and I was NOT going to go to the store to buy cookies.

However, a new stove has its own quirks and ovens to learn. I wanted to learn the oven before I started January’s theme again. Reminder, that theme was Why is There So Much Cheese originally that morphed into Liquor cookies.

I started with the first recipe I ever memorized. The Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe on the back of the chocolate chip bag. This is a recipe that I am ultimately familiar with. And it is also the recipe that I experiment with the most.

It seemed right to make those cookies as the inaugural CTIAT in the new oven.

Glad I did.

With all ovens there are hot spots and cool spots and it is general knowledge that the back row of cookies bakes the fastest.

This new stove is no exception.

I will have to adjust the cooking times and the oven temperature until I am happy.

Don’t get me wrong. I am ecstatic to have a fully functioning stove and ovens. This is just a learning curve.

And y’all know I like learning.

Welcome, stove #3. I can’t wait to see what we can bake together.

Call Secrets of the OR- 2 nap day

Uff da, today was intense.

Today was a 2 nap day.

I will leave the stove saga for tomorrow’s Cookie Thursday is a Thing. And the dishwasher one.

That one was out of the blue. But I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.

I got called in this morning at 0309.

Thanks to my fragile habit of going to bed at a semi-reasonable time, I got roughly 3 and half hours sleep before I was awakened. Before this new habit of mine, that is barely 5 weeks old, I would have gone to bed at 0100 and only had 2 hours of sleep. Baby steps.

Today was already going to be a busy day as I lead a shared governance meeting on the second Wednesday of the month. Enter the appliances. But that is a story for tomorrow.

Long story short I got home at 0730 (morning traffic), stayed awake until after the meeting. This is when I took my first nap. This one was very short, about 40 minutes.

Cool, cool.

The reason I got up was that my husband was leaving for work and someone had to be awake for the workers.

Yes, workers. But that is tomorrow’s story.

After the workers left I had zero interest in re-setting the kitchen. I had lunch instead.

And got very sleepy a little after 1500.

Back to bed I went. Thank goodness for the room darkening blinds I installed at the beginning of this shift.

Today was a 2 nap day.

You truly cannot make up a sleep deficit. All you can do is sip at the nectar that is REM sleep.

And try again the next night.

Tuesday Top of Mind 2/10/26- Oh look, they’re back on their ‘save’ nonsense

Different year. Same bullshit.

The newly revamped save america act is back in play.

Just when you think a bill is dead in the water, they pull its carcass, give it mouth to mouth, make it worse, and beat that drum.

To be clear this act saves nothing, except republican ass.

This is the bill that is touted as “saving democracy” and a way to stop those nasty illegals from voting. This exists only in their fevered imaginations. Because why do people consistently vote against republicans?

Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it is their massive disregard and disdain for women. Maybe it is their massive hard on for billionaires. Maybe because we don’t like you.

I know not all women understand and some even don’t care.

The save america act (yes, lower case on purpose) remains a way to disenfranchise women from voting.

Especially those of us who have taken our husband’s names. My last name no longer matches my birth certificate. In fact, I’ve been married longer than I was my maiden name. We’ve been married for 27 years and I got married at 23.

If this passes the Senate, 78% of voting women who took their husband’s last name on marriage will no longer be allowed to vote. This is SEVENTY MARRIED WOMEN.

But, but, I am registered to vote now! With the state ID that has my married name on it. Yes, but what if we moved out of this precinct?

If this passes and I have to re-register, for whatever reason, including being stripped off the voting roles for no reason, I would be required to show my birth certificate AND my ID. They don’t match. And haven’t for 27 years.

A passport, which costs money and only 50% of Americans have it, would suffice. I am still waiting on my renewed passport and have been for a bit.

But, wait, I could also show my military service papers. But it’s been 30 years since I was in the Air Force. Would they even still count?

What the actual fuck? And I mean sincerely.

Is the only way they can win by cheating? Certainly seems so.

This is a poll tax. A poll tax is a tax levied at the polls, regardless of a person’s ability to pay.

I scoff and respond “In this economy?”

Recap:

What they are solving exists only in their circle jerk imagination. The only people I’ve seen reports on who voted illegally have been more republicans who voted twice or didn’t live where they voted, not the immigrant who didn’t understand and were stopped.
This disgusting piece of legislation would deny women the right to vote if they took their husband’s name. The suffragettes are rolling over in their graves.
This revolting piece of legislation is also tied to the nuclear family ideal. One family, one vote. Which massively disenfranchises the unmarried or the divorced.

Bottom line, you either need to have the wherewithal to purchase a passport, and how long before they attempt to make that more difficult, have ID that matches your birth certificate, or your military services papers.

This is revolting and yet these white men go home and kiss their wives, while taking rights away from them with the other hand.

I’ve not reproduced either. Is that the next *morality* target?

FFS Friday 2/6/26- Finally the midterm primaries

It’s been like watching paint dry waiting for the NC midterm primaries.

I mean, have you seen the shit that has gone down over the past year? And the shit that continues to rain upon us all?

Hourly.

Sometimes minute by minute.

I dutifully email and call the NC senators and my representative on the regular. And I get a pro forma reply. Without fail. But I still do it because being the squeaky wheel is in my wheelhouse.

Yes, that’s a pun. Deal with it.

The most important thing that I have been banging on about is check your voting registration. Well before the actual early voting primary start date. I mention that because the voter registration for the midterm primaries, except for in person registration on the early voting dates.

Run down of the dates that are important here in North Carolina. * your state may vary

Voter registration deadline February 6th
Early in person voting begins February 12th
Absentee ballot request deadline February 17th
Early in-person voting ends February 28th
Absentee ballots due March 3rd
Primary election day March 3rd

It is vitally important to remind people who vote by Absentee ballots that the administration changed the rules about postmarks on December 8th and they went into full effect on December 24th. Just because you mail it before March 3rd doesn’t mean it gets counted. Because postmarks only actually count when the piece of mail goes through the mail processing facility. And there are precious few mail processing facilities here in NC.

I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!

I WILL ALSO STRESS IT AROUND TAX TIME.

Get ready to vote. Start looking up candidates now.

Most importantly to do today
1) check that your voter registration is active
2) if you have been removed, re-register
3) if you’ve never voted before registration deadline is February 6th

But, Kate, the deadline is today for voting registration.

My bad, I thought it was tomorrow (the 7th).

However, same-day voter registration is available during in-person early voting.

Please get ready to vote.

Don’t let the snow and the ice and chaos distract you.

Get ready to vote now.

Make a voting plan and stick to it.

Cookie Thursday still isn’t 2/5/26

I could do the math and calculate how long it’s been since I had a normal CTIAT, but that is too depressing.

I miss baking.

But I am already planning the Renaissance of Cookie Thursday is a Thing.

I am definitely doing Why is There So Much Cheese month. And I want to do a gluten free month.

But I am also considering a Minnesota cookie month.

I should also do a fan favorite month and have people vote.

I know what will be included in the Fan Favorite month.

Jalapeño Chocolate Chip Cookies.

And Triple Pepper Cheddar Thumbprints. Or should that be added to the cheese month?

Decisions.

Stove #3 is currently chilling in my garage, still in the original box.

The delivery people just managed to squeak it in before the snow started falling last week. But after I cleared all the ice out of the driveway from the week before.

The installers called me on Monday, February 2nd to arrange for installation. The date was going to originally be February 13th.

Okay. But I have an event planned with my mom and sister for that date at 4:00pm. I pushed it off until February 17th although it kind of broke my heart. Today the installers reached out to me and offered me February 11. You bet I said yes. I helm a hospital meeting from 9:00-11:00am that day and I told my husband he’s just gonna have to be available to the installers in the morning before he leaves for work at 11:30am.

It’s tight but doable.

Fingers crossed this works.

I just really miss baking. I mean it’s been 12 years. Hell of a habit.

Hospitals work very hard to keep your information secret

Unlike the federal government we know secrets.

We keep your identity secret.

We shield your data from being accessed and used by someone who should not have access to your information.

We have guard rails up for your information at all times.

This has been made infinitely more difficult with the shift toward online everything but we have developed some things that work.

In the before times, all information was shielded as well. But it was simpler. Only the desk had access to your stamp card which we used to stamp all of the paperwork.

Now it is all on the computer and the amount of paperwork that we stamp is minimal. But even that goes into the shredder box upon discharge. As we did before.

Accidents and oversight do happen but it is rare.

Because we not only have to keep your information safe, we cannot confuse you with anyone else. Can you imagine the wrong person going down for surgery and the surgeons amputating the perfectly healthy leg? Because that is what the paperwork and the schedule says…

The error here is not following the name/birthday combo on everyone. Yes, everyone, even if the patient is demented they probably know their own name. If not, they probably have a family member who can vouch that yes, this is so and so and their birthdate is such and such.

But imagine the chaos of being wrong. Imagine the life long or life limiting damage that you have caused?

Such a scenario is nightmare fuel.

The hospital and its workers have guideline upon guideline to keep you as the patient safe and to keep your data safe.

Too bad the federal government ignored their own rules and guidelines to protect the predators, not the victims.

Tuesday Top of Mind 2/3/26- WHO are we? Who, who, who, who?

In yet another towering example of shooting the country in its own foot, the president announced on January 21, 2025 (his second day in office) that the United States would be leaving the World Health Organization as a member. This means that the country would no longer be funding the WHO.

The president did this by executive order. As part of the blood letting that his advisors and aides determined to be the best path to funneling lower taxes to people who do not need it. The $111 million dollars saved would soon go to fund gold trips.

Every healthcare worker, every nurse, every doctor (MD or DO), everyone decried this as a stupid fucking move. Well, those of us who knew about it.

This was a year long departure, to be completed on January 2026. And complete it they did. As of January 22, 2026, the United States is no longer under the WHO umbrella.

Since 1948, the WHO has worked to protect the wellbeing of all people. Their mission and works are guided by science and are supported by 193 member nations.

Plague, Dengue Fever, emergency response, vaccinations, support during war times, support during disasters. They track health crises all around the world and responds to them. The WHO does it all.

And these dumb fuckers have withdrawn the US from the group.

Was it the recognition that all of their works are guided by science?

Was it because most of the people being helped are poor?

Or was it because most of the people being helped are not white?

Or all three?

Well, I should write 193 member nations and a member US state.

The very next day (January 23, 2026), Governor Gavin Newsom of California announced that California has become the first state to join the WHO coordinated global outbreak response network. For all of those pesky diseases that keep popping up and killing people.

On February 3, 2026, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced that Illinois has joined the same response network. He explained that the president had weakened the US’s ability to detect and respond to global health emergencies. Say it with me now, like covid-19.

Good for these states and their citizens. They at least have governors who care about their well being, even if the citizens aren’t rich.

Oh, yeah, the president also weakened the CDC severely by firing many of the scientists and yanking the grants that fund the scientific inquiry. And by putting a buffoon in charge.

I’m going to quote directly from Douglas Adams book The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. “The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.”

As a society the US will regret this. The next pandemic is only a moment away.

FFS Friday 1/30/26- Frigid

Not much to report here in North Carolina. We are facing our 2nd winter event in a week. With snow this time.

This is okay, snow is easier to deal with than 1 1/2- 2 inches of ice.

I would much rather deal with snow.

But let’s talk about the cold. The lowest at night temperature for the week was 11. That’s freezing your hair if you go out with it wet weather. Ask me how I know.

I have made the house as wind proof and water tight as I could.

New HVAC system 2024- check

New siding late 2021- check

New windows late 2020- check

New insulated garage door 2018- check

New backdoor 2017- check

New(ish) roof 2010 -check

I have blankets shoved up to the bottom of every exterior door.

I have a blanket shoved up to the bottom and covering the kitty door on the garage door.

I have energy saving curtains on all of the windows.

I count ourselves lucky to have been able to accomplish all of this on our nearly 40 year old house in the 20 years we’ve lived here. All of them combined to make winter a lot more comfortable. And summer.

We also wear socks and slippers in the house. Yes, both of us. And sweatshirts and warm pants.

But Dot would like to register a complaint. If the sun is shining, why can’t she go out on the screened porch?

Because I said so, Dot. Listen to the lady and stop whining at the back door to be let out.

Enjoy your heated bed, the one in the office and the one on your window perch in the living room.

I’m just gonna go drip the powder room sink and the kitchen sink and open up all the sink cabinet doors. So that the pipes don’t freeze.

Cookie Thursday 1/29/26- Kinda

I have alluded to the stove troubles.

The stove saga continues.

Recap- our stove started to act glitchy on Thanksgiving, which we were hosting. That was fun. The next time I made cookies they were unevenly baked in the top oven. The bottom oven is also uneven, but less so. But it uses a lot of energy. The top oven comes to temperature in less than 3 minutes, the bottom oven might take upwards of 10 minutes to come to temperature.

The installers were supposed to install the replacement stove on 12/16/25. But what I bought was not as advertised and did not suit my needs. The installers advised me to refuse delivery.

Back that stove went. (stove 1).

I went back to the store and ordered a different stove, one that suited Cookie Thursday is a Thing and our lives.

It was delivered to my house and sat unopened, in the garage, on 12/27/25.

The installers came back on 1/6/26. When the installers unboxed it, two of the dials were broken and they advised me to refuse installation.

The store picked up the stove on 1/12/26. (stove 2)

I went to the store on 1/19/26 to inquire about next steps. The department rep knew nothing but gave me a number to call.

I got a call from the company 20 minutes later. In the produce aisle of the grocery store. They assured me that stove would be replaced and to standby for more information.

Later that evening, I got another call from the company and my money back from stove 1 and that the re-ordering of stove 2 would be handled the next day. As would the installation order of the new stove (stove 3).

Last Thursday, I got delivery date confirmation of stove 3.

For this Wednesday.

Epic ice storm hit North Carolina this past weekend.

I still have too much ice on my driveway. There was still an inch and a half on my husband’s car when he left for the office this morning.

I called and rescheduled delivery of stove 3 for this Friday.

But first I had to clear the 2 inches of ice off the driveway. I did this with a combination of tools. I had a spade, not a flat one, a pointed one, I had a de-thatcher better suited to the lawn, and patience. I would chunk the nearly 2 inch ice block and then use the spade to ferry the chunk to the side yard. Worked a treat. I would then use the de-thatcher to “sweep” up all the little snow chunks that were too small for the spade. Again to the side yard.

Since this is the South and our ice and snow events are few and far between, I do not have a snow shovel. And the flat spade broke which is what I usually use. A flat spade with a 4-5 x 7 head works really well. Alas, replacements were all sold out, with delivery date of NEXT WEDNESDAY. And the ice melt is all sold out, everywhere.

To the internet! You can make a version of the ice melt with warm water, dish soap, and rubbing alcohol. This worked so well on the thickest spots. Spoiler alert, it took me three places to find alcohol. Many other people have been googling!

I treated the stairs and the small patio in front with the home made ice melt. I will be covering it up with blankets/tarps during THIS weekend’s snowy event.

I just got a call that the delivery guys will be here between 1200-1600. Plenty of time for what is left on the driveway to dry. But, most importantly, before this weekend’s snow event really gets started after 1700.

Hopefully, I will have the new stove in my garage after tomorrow.

But then I have to wait for the installers to put me on their schedule. And for the snow to melt. Because getting the stove through my garage and into my kitchen is not a good idea.

I cannot make this stuff up.

No new stove at the 8 week mark of this adventure.

I have one burner and the lower oven and a crockpot. It is enough to keep us fed.

Cookie Thursday has been, dramatic pause, interesting over the past 8 weeks. Today I bought a raspberry Krinkle at Aldi’s when I was there to buy the cinnamon rolls for the healthcare awards that I preside over every 2 months.

I have epic amounts of patience as a good OR nurse must, but this is getting annoying. Even the company is concerned. I have gotten so many phone calls, assuring me that they are working on it. Yesterday’s phone call was a touch base about the Wednesday delivery I rescheduled for Friday. The person completely understood my icy driveway as they also live in the South. They promised to call on Monday and touch base about installation.

Stove 3 is getting closer!!!