Monday, August 4, 2025

The Boys Are Back In Town


As I mentioned yesterday, Jessie and I had discussed a trip to Costco and we did get there, eventually. First Jessie wanted to take the boys to Target to get new lunch boxes and maybe new clothes. School starts in a week. I started out my shopping at Publix where I needed a few things. I picked up some items for Jessie, too, so she wouldn't have to drag the boys to more than two stores. 
I have to say I spend a lot less time at Publix and less money, too, since going on this medication. I no longer feel the need to roam every aisle, considering many different food options. I just get what I'm pretty sure I need and that's that. I have no doubt that my meals are far less exciting than they used to be but I try to keep things interesting, at least. Sometimes I do, sometimes I fail although Mr. Moon doesn't seem to be suffering. As someone I know who is also on a GLP-1 said the other day, "It's hard to figure out what to cook for supper when nothing really seems appealing." 
This is true but you know what? That is okay. I wanted to change my relationship with food and I have. 

But, speaking of food, as I so often do, Jessie finished up her Target shopping just as I was finishing up my Publix shopping and we met for lunch. The boys wanted Chow Time because they knew they can get a wide assortment of desserts there. Plus, they like the pizza and the yeast rolls with butter and the chicken on a stick and the fruit and the sushi. Well, August likes the sushi. 

I was so glad to see them when they pulled up and the boys voluntarily gave me little hugs which I appreciated with all my heart. We went into the restaurant, got a table, and went through the buffet to pick out our lunches. My stomach hasn't been quite right today and it feels like a kidney-stone related thing so I didn't feel like eating much. I actually tried the chicken-on-a-stick because all the grandkids love it. 
I was not impressed but at least it didn't have a lot of sugary sauce on it. 



There was a TV with sports things being aired on the wall behind our table. The boys were mesmerized. 

After the ice cream course of the meal, Levon was cold. 


I asked him if he'd like to sit on my lap to warm up but he said that no, he always sits on his mother's lap to warm up. 
Fair enough. That boy loves his mama. They both do. After he had regained a normal temperature, he went back for some chocolate pudding and a small piece of chocolate cake. 
I am not kidding you. 
And then we went to Costco where they ate one of every sample being offered, including the hummus.
They are walking eating machines. Human locusts. 
Growing boys.

So we had fun, or at least I did. Those boys can make me laugh so hard, even, as I have said, when I probably shouldn't laugh. Too bad. 

We bought our produce and our oat products and the boys ran down the long, long aisles. They didn't come anywhere near bumping into anyone. Jessie tried to control them but they were racing. Or doing something in the competitive game genre. She said to me, "I need to take them somewhere to burn off some of this energy."
"That's exactly what you're doing," I said. 
I may have gotten a small harumph
I took Levon to the bathroom and as we entered the ladies (I wouldn't let him go alone into the men's), a band of three ruffians who were about 11, 9, and 7, ran into the the men's. 
They were coming out at the same time we were and I swear to you, the kid about 11 said to me, "I like your dress." 
Excuse me? 
I said, "Thank you," and we went our separate ways. He was probably being an Eddie Haskell but even if he was, I would never have expected a comment like that from an 11-year old boy. 
He was still a ruffian, though. I know one when I see one. 

Mr. Moon is back up at the lake house, of course. It was pouring rain this morning so his plan to buy and haul sheetrock to the house was not to be but he said he could go buy the lumber for more firring strips and take that up there, and perhaps get the new dishwasher installed. 
"And maybe the stove!" said the eternally optimistic man of all trades. 
I sent him off with leftover chicken and sticky rice and fruit and he probably grabbed some other stuff. I hope so. He'll be spending tonight there and I think his stay may extend until at least Wednesday. So it's me and Maurice again which is fine except for the fact that Maurice is being pretty scarce these days. I'm not sure what she's doing. She does go and snuggle with Glen in the mornings when he's in his chair and she also comes to remind me that it's time for her morning treat of a little wet food because OBVIOUSLY I FORGOT AGAIN! but she hasn't been sleeping with us. This is all okay because I still have a small healing puncture wound on the top of my left hand. 
Sigh. 

And here's a picture of such glory that my kitchen can hardly contain it. 



These are tomatoes that Vergil's mama grew in her garden and as you can see, they are varied and they are heirlooms. Our tomatoes are done or almost done but in North Carolina, they are obviously at the peak of coming in. I'm about to go pick some of the summer arugula I planted, along with a variety of basils to make a little Caprese-inspired salad to go with my own portion of chicken and coconut rice. 

Despite what I just said a few paragraphs ago, I am still quite interested in food. Just sort of in a different way. 
Which is probably a very good thing. 

Love...Ms. Moon







23 comments:

  1. Our tomatoes have hardly started yet. I think a lot of produce was slowed down by the long cold spring. Those heirloom tomatoes are heavenly.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those tomatoes are gorgeous. I tried to grow heirlooms once and they just..didn't. The plants grew and there were flowers, but only one teeny tiny tomato.I had a zillion cherry tomatoes that year so that was okay, then I moved here where nothing edible grows. Had to laugh at "eating machines" that's what growing boys are for sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never had much luck with heirlooms either but I really don't think I've ever gotten them going soon enough. I'm willing to try again. Florida is really too hot for the kind of tomatoes grown a little further north. I know that for sure.

      Delete
  3. Only a couple of months later than you but my tomatoes are FINALLY coming into their own - and now I know why I don't buy shop-bought tomatoes ever! You can't beat home grown can you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mostly the only store-bought tomatoes I'll buy are the sweet cherry tomatoes. They are pretty darn okay and better than nothing in winter.

      Delete
  4. I think chicken and coconut rice would be the right thing for me lately. Those boys change every week. Chocolate pudding and chocolate cake are the perfect duo. Is there AC in the cabin? (I may have asked this before. If so, sorry!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely a comfort food. I swear- all the grands change every week. Every time I see Owen I almost fall over. He is just becoming huge! Lily's told me that even she is shocked at times and she sees him every day.
      YES! AC in the cabin! If there weren't, none of us would ever go there. Well, maybe in winter.

      Delete
  5. The summer flew by so quickly. My grandsons head back to school soon too. I will be back on my schedule of meeting their school bus on Mondays and Fridays at 2:45 pm. I'm looking forward to it as I like spending time with them. Thomson will be in 3rd grade and Michael in 2nd grade. They know so many things that I never learned! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The summer does indeed go so quickly now. I remember as a child how it seemed to last forever in its own sweet, sleepy way. I know you'll be glad to be spending more time with your grandsons. And yes- children know so much these days. But we still know a few things they don't!

      Delete
  6. Jessie and Virgil don't have a TV, right? Probably why the boys are so entranced. I wish my tomatoes had done better this year. They bloomed like mad but didn't set much fruit. Not just mine but my neighbor as well.

    My clothes have been feeling snugger than usual, to too small but getting there. I weighed on the digital scale at SHARE last week...132! I have never weighed that much in my life! It's all sitting on my stomach seems like. I skipped lunch yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think Jessie and Vergil do have a TV but it is rarely on. They do definitely get to watch things on tablets but it's not an all-the-time situation by any means. They have to earn their screen time and they abide by that. Except of course at Mer and Bop's at which time it's screen time heaven.
      Oh my god. I would be so happy to weight 132. Actually, it would probably be because I'm dying so maybe not.

      Delete
    2. 132 is my goal, only 22 pounds to go....

      Delete
  7. From your description, GLP-1 moderates all interest in food in a good way. Miracle drugs are appreciated.
    Growing boys can really eat, and their energy levels surpass all.
    The heirloom tomatoes look great.
    My cherry tomatoes, growing in a large pot on the patio, were ok initially. There were lots of them and then they started to split on the vine. Once split they were terrible. They are in the compost now!
    Grilling veggies on the Webber in a basket works well. I also like to put corn on the cob on the grill surface. For savory grilled veggies, I slice and wrap them in foil with herbs, EVOO and/or butter.
    Add a salad and summer meals are easy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard that too much water can cause tomatoes to split. Mine do that too sometimes.
      Your grilled meals sound very fabulous.

      Delete
  8. Those tomatoes look fabulous! So colorful, and thus unlike any tomatoes we have grown here so far this year. (Ours are still all green.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, your tomatoes will ripen eventually. I know you'll be happy about that.

      Delete
  9. I started to write a comment and it seems to have disappeared. WTF.
    I finally have my first ripe tomato, with more to come. My plum tomatoes did best this year.
    Sounds like you had a nice visit with Jessie and her boys. It's good that they have healthy and varied appetites. Poor Jack has a hard time with new foods, much like me. He was sick this weekend too. Glad everything is back to normal today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad your tomatoes are coming in!
      Those boys are not picky eaters. They'll generally demolish anything you put in front of them. Now would they prefer to eat Cheez-Its and french fries all the time? Of course! But they'll go along with other things too.

      Delete
  10. Oh, I hear ya, Ms. Moon. I've been on Ozempic for 5 years. I've lost 35 pounds, which is good for my health and diabetes management. I have virtually no interest in food anymore. Some days I have to force myself to eat, only because I know I have to. The biggest bummer of this situation is that I have to take an iron supplement permanently because I eat so little red meat now that I depleted all my iron stores (and therefore energy).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure you know this but there are lots of iron-rich foods that are plant-based. I try to eat a good variety of foods these days, mostly just eschewing the processed stuff. But it does take planning and making good choices, doesn't it?
      And good for you on being healthier!

      Delete
  11. My Indian vegetarian friends make a point of eating beets for the iron content.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those Boys are growing up so fast and they are turning quickly into Handsome Young Men!!! And those Heirloom Tomatoes that were Home Grown are magnificent!!!

    ReplyDelete

Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.