Up and around for noodles

Slowly, but surely, my back is getting better.  I’m doing my home stretching and strengthening work, doing twice a week PT, sleeping in the brace, and doing what the docs and PT suggest and ask.  It’s been a pain… haha.

I have been taken off some of my restrictions, so I can walk about and get around a bit more than in the weeks previous.  To celebrate that, J, Kiddo and I got out and walked the half kilometer to the produce market this weekend.  With J there to help carry items, it was easier on my back and good to get out and move again.  We loaded up on apples and oranges, but also go some mushrooms, green beans, and a variety of other yummies to cook and munch on this week.  The oranges…. I wish I could pass them along thru here.  They are like candy.  So good!

While out, since it was right around the corner from the produce market, we popped into a little noodle shop and got lunch.  The portion were HUGE, especially for the cost, about $1.70/plate.  J and I loved it.  Kiddo was so so on it, but we all still got full and so no worries there.  

The other nice part of this whole ordeal is that I have a cooking buddy.  Kiddo loves helping me out, so she’s been pitching in with cooking prep.  I can leave her the easy things and things that she knows how to do; She chops carrots and celery with ease, loves to clean and portion green beans, and is getting better with mushrooms, as long as I halve them for her— otherwise they are “too wiggly to cut.”  Better safe than stitched.

Other than all that, we are just looking forward to the New Year.  The girls get a few days off, so that’s nice for them.  We just get a few days to relax and chill and sleep in and do us things.  I will have PT, but we are thinking that maybe the girls can come with and hang out at a Starbucks that is near there and then we can lunch together and just have a little time out.  

There is a bit of sad news to share, however.  The cafe that I am writing this at, the one that I gave my first Global Classroom presentation at, is closing.  MooreSpace will be gone on Friday, 03 January 2026.  We are all saddened by this.  J and I would sometimes have lunch dates there, when she could sneak away and didn’t have lunch duty at school, we’d go as a family on weekends and caffeinate ourselves and Kiddo would get a scurvy soda or scoop of ice cream and we could read, write, or just chat as a family.  We came to know Monica and her staff and we can say, with all honesty, that they will all be missed and we wish them all the best in their next adventures and endeavors.  

Other than that, we enjoy our fall colors and winter looks.  The lush greens turned to a yellow and gold, browns and oranges.  The temps haven’t gotten too too cold yet, but that’s coming, we know.  Hopefully, we will miss the bulk of that while we travel, but if not, lawd knows that Kiddo has the fluffs to keep herself toasty.

Let’s go, Kiddo…. We have a day until New Years Eve and then you get a long weekend.  We’ll take it lazy and not do too much beyond recharging and having some fun.  As 2025 turns to 2026, we’ll look forward to our next adventure and next place to see.  Seoul and Tokyo are near the top of the list, but maybe Croatia, but Fiji might be possible as well.  We will have to see how it goes, how much time we have, and what will come of the next few months.  All I know is that we are going to enjoy it with you.