Thursday

It was just 21 degrees F. when I woke up on Thursday morning. Worse yet, the predicted high was only 34 degrees with occasional snow showers!

Vicky, one of the techs at work, was asking if anyone knew of an inexpensive place to buy a small fake Christmas tree. I told her I had a 4 1/2 foot one in my attic I would give her. So, after work, I went up in the attic (with my hat, coat and gloves on) and brought it down. I couldn’t find the box, though, but I put some of the bottom branches and the top piece in a box and took the rest down whole. I stuck it all in the car to take to work in the morning. I hope the lights work!

It was too cold to work in the garage, so I finally installed the braided stainless steel water hoses on the washer.

I was on a roll, so I also finally hooked up the DVD player to the TV (and I got it right the first time!)

For dinner, I still had some thawed out, homemade chicken stock and the remaining, uncooked three cheese mini-tortellini left in the fridge (I had bought the Buitoni brand that’s refrigerated).

So, I cooked the tortellini in the chicken stock while I perfumed some extra virgin olive oil with a clove of smashed garlic. I took the garlic out when it started to turn golden (as I’m sure you know, it’s important to watch this closely. If you burn the garlic, it turns the oil bitter.)

When the tortellini was done, I drained it and then drizzled it with some of the garlic olive oil. I tossed it about a bit to let it coat and plated some. I topped it with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and wandered into the bedroom to eat.

I watched to taped shows of the new Top Chef. I didn’t know it was back on until Jake mentioned it. Thanks God Bravo shows them over and over again, so I can catch up.

I went to bed just after 11:00 PM.