This week I am pretty much on my own at home, as mom has gone to spend some time with her sister. And I love my mother, but I am so happy to have the time to myself, I can’t lie. It’s an opportunity to relax my guard and just be without having to explain every action that I take.

One area that mom and I do not see eye to eye is food. I love multi-ethnic food with lots of flavor, she enjoys the basics with little to no seasoning. So this week I have a menu of yummy flavorful foods to enjoy like a teriyaki beef stir-fry and a pasta and sausage dish. Last night I made blue cheese stuffed burgers. They were divine.

We also don’t agree on background noise and entertainment. Mom watches TV. The television is on pretty much 24/7 between the one in the living room and the one in her room. And the volume is usually turned up pretty high, because she’s in her 70’s and doesn’t hear as well any more. I like periodic moments of silence, or music in the background. And I rarely watch TV.

So, yeah, having the opportunity to just be this week with no TV and eating whatever I want is pretty nice.