I thought it would be cool in August of 2009, the day my husband went from consulting to a full-time role, to get him a fish for his office. I bought him a beautiful blue betta, with food and river rocks and water conditioner and put him in a coffee pot I bought before I went to Petco and picked him out.
My husband codes a lot in Java, hence the coffee pot. He got home from work and I gave him his fish. “I don’t want to clean up after and feed a fish at the office. I’ll just look at him here, he said.”
They don’t usually live longer than 18 months, as I recall, but I fed him twice daily and cleaned his water once a week for nearly 2.5 years now. Today, two weeks to the hour after the massive layoffs, he took his last breath and had a ceremonial flushing. I must admit it was strange a few moments ago feeding the dog and not getting the fish food out of the frig!
Well, if we do have to leave this gorgeous place, at least I don’t have to travel with Fish on my lap, or find someone to take him in. I hate to have any animal die on my watch, but it was his time.
Husband Jim said he was “sad” about being laid off so gave up the ghost. Ha! Jim never even looked at him, fed him, or cleaned his coffee pot.
Another day working the phones and researching costs of living and places to live. It’s emotionally exhausting work and we enjoy taking some time out to walk the dog. Time to make dinner. I spent $20 today on toilet paper, tissues and paper towels and less than $5 on dinner. It’ll be good, though, sauteed chicken with marsala, rosti potatoes and a romaine salad or peas. Happy eating, Dee
Cooking with Dee 
By fish. We had roasted sweet potato ‘fries’ with olive oil and seasoned salt, peels left on and Joe said he liked them best of all the ways to have sweet potatoes!!!! Peeling included! I’ve done white potatoes that way for many years. Here in Texas we use the oven much more in the winter than in the summer.
Hey, peeling takes time. I like to do potatoes that way but it’s not Jim’s favorite. Maybe if I try sweet potatoes with some spice he’ll try it again. Dee