World's easiest sangria...

Note: This must be made the night before.

Pour one 750ml bottle of a heavy red wine into a pitcher that could hold more than two bottles. Add one sliced lemon and a generous handful of other fruits: a sliced orange, stone fruit slices like peaches or cherries, blackberries or raspberries, whatever floats your boat. One or two shots of agave. Refrigerate overnight.

The next day, when it gets hot enough, add a whole 750ml bottle, chilled, of San Pellegrino. Stir gently, then pour over ice.

Some people want to toss in a shot or two of brandy or triple-sec, but I say it's not necessary, and kinda against the point. Sangria is supposed to be refreshing, not intoxicating. I'm glad I've gotten to the age where I can appreciate the difference.

Variations including adding muddled mint to your glasses, or cinammon sticks to the wine. I haven't tried those yet.

Tired of being gimpy...

Man, only five days of this and I'm ready for the brace on my foot to be over. My family was hoping to have a real vacation, but instead I'm getting warmed-over staycation with driving around the sound, looking for things to do that don't involve a lot of walking around. I'm unhappy with the developing chafing spot on my right inner ankle, but discovered that that can be alleviated by wrapping the leg counterclockwise first. I've learned that even in the bare 10 minutes in the morning it takes to wash, when I take the brace off because I can't bathe with it, I can easily re-injure the foot. Even with the brace on, I can push the range of motion such that the foot will re-injure if I'm not careful.

I hate not being able to walk more than four blocks without pain. (Okay, I know, I know, many of my friends with various flavors of disability are telling me I'm being whiny, but I'm used to having exceptional physical capability. My doctor was amazed at the range of motion and strength in my hands and arms: "almost none of my patients your age can do that." I'm working hard to keep this; my awareness that my weight, my strength, even my sexual capability are on a balance that requires constant upkeep is going to give me a neurosis if I can't keep doing the full work-out.