I spent an amazing weekend with my husband at a spectacular wedding, in a beautiful hotel. We danced, he serenaded me, we had a sublime room, and may or may not have uh oh - how did that fluffy pillow end up in our suitcase?? ;-)
I started a new job today, that I think I love. I think I love my job. I don't think I've ever said that before.
A sweet friend of mine brought tears to my eyes tonight with her apple picking adventures. Click the title of this post to visit her blog and see lots of love and happiness, and some pretty damn good food!
My comment on her Apple Picking '09 blog: "I have never been to an apple orchard. I cannot imagine the heaven that must be. One of these days I'm going to follow in my Grampy's footsteps and pick Cortland apples in Maine in September. Sniff, sniff. I love your stories and photo journalism Lisa. You are truly a blessing."
I have a full life, a one in a million husband, a family that is wonderful and loves me, and loves each other. I am truly blessed.
Char
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
September 11th - Remembered
I couldn't find words on September 11th. I noticed that a lot of people couldn't. Can't.
I ran across this photo of a pop-art poster today at another website that I frequent and it moved me. I went ahead and tracked down the owner of the photo. If you are interested, you can buy a copy by clicking the link in the title of this post.
This art was created using the names of all the people who were lost on that sad day.
Charlene
Monday, September 14, 2009
Kidney Stone Endeavor - Not for the squeamish. Really, you've been warned. Graphic details involved.
So I have been posting to facebook about my travails with the kidney stones. I had two, one at 10mm blocking the ureter and one at 5mm in the kidney. Since one was blocking, the doctor decided that I needed to have an ESWL (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy ). This would be to get the 10mm stone blasted up into smaller pieces so it could pass. Thankfully my husband went with me to this appointment when the doctor told me this, and he saw the stones on the CT scan with me, so I knew I wasn't imagining it, and I knew that I actually would have to go through with the ESWL.
I was scared, because my sister told me that after she did it they inserted a stent. That just freaks me out. Really freaks me out. The thought of someone pushing something up into my urethra just well... no.no.no.no.... thump... I can't handle it. I almost passed out when the doctor started talking to me about it.
In order to do this ESWL they put you under general anestheisa, which I wasn't afraid of, because I had the lap band surgery a few years ago. The worst part of that for me was waking up. I had TERRIBLE pain after waking up from that surgery, and the worst cough. The doctor assured me that I should not have that kind of pain after this. Of course I peppered the anethesiologist with lots of questions about the procedure and what they were going to be doing to me. I think it's creepy that you are lying on a table with all your business for the world to see.... anyway. That isn't nearly as weird as being wheeled out to the TRUCK that housed the ESWL machine. It's mobile I guess, and they move it according to which clinic it is needed at. It was definitely a weird experience. Thankfully the doc gave me something to relax before wheeling me back there. J sat with me for as long as they would let him and then they took me away.
They had me climb up onto the bed that had a water mat on it and had me move around until they had me where they wanted me. I remember they put cushions under my legs and I remember thanking them profusely for the comfort they gave me and the pressure it took off my back.
I woke up about an hour or so later in the recovery area and I was pretty chilly... I think they ended up bringing me about 5 or 6 warm blankets. I was also in a bit of pain, which they promptly gave me medicine for. My throat was really, really sore and they brought me some water for that. They said that the doctor had a hard time getting my breathing tube in and out and they gave me some additional medicine with steriods for the throat swelling. The water tasted really good. Unfortunately the pain didn't abate much, and they offered me additional pain meds and I agreed to take them. I would say when I woke up my pain was about a 6 and when they asked me again it was at 3 or 4. Why be in pain if I didn't have to be though.
The doctor came by and told me that I was very lucky. The stone that was in my kidney had exited and snuggled itself right next to the other one, and even though they don't normally do two at a time, since they were right there next to each other, they were able to zap both of them. I am so thankful for that.
In the recovery area, I remember people walking in and out, and I remember the lady next to me was in a TON of pain, they gave her morphine. She was very loud and upset and kept crying that she wanted to go home. I felt bad for her. I also wished she would hush up.
After a very long time, a very sweet lady helped me get dressed again - and showed me the bathroom and asked me to fill up a cup with any pee. It was like a 20 oz foam cup, I was like gee... you are pretty optimistic since i haven't had anything to eat or drink since 11pm the night before. Well apparently the IV fluids went through me pretty good, cause I filled up that cup and some! I was freaking out though, because it was brick red. I guess all the breaking up of the stones was pretty rough inside there. She said it would be fine and they would go ahead and strain it.
They brought me out of the bathroom, got me a warm yummy blanket and put me in a reclining chair with wheels. I was very happy to be sitting upright and knew I was going to be wheeled over to the area when the family comes in. She went and got my husband and then finished up my paperwork. It was so good to see him. I got a big kiss and hug, and I was so thankful that he was able to be there. He and the nurse went through all the paperwork and rec'd the prescriptions for pain meds (Toradol) and we were on our way home.
We stopped to get a little bite to eat at the drive through - Long John Silvers Cheese Curds with marinara - even though I knew I shouldn't eat that crap, i was craving it and I was starving dammit. So I had some, and promply threw it up.
Later at home I think I had some soup or macaroni and cheese or something. I really don't remember. We dropped off the RX and J went out to get it later on. That night I think I slept ok, and made sure to lie on the opposite side of my stones. This was hard for me, because I like to sleep on my left side to start. It worked out ok. I was dead tired.
The next day was pretty rough. The meds were not really cutting the pain. It occured to me that they gave me Lortab elixir while I was at the surgery center, so it should be ok for me to take the Lortabs that I had at home from earlier. I took one and it was wonderful... for a while. I had to take another one. That night, nothing helped. I thought I was going to freaking die. The pain was so bad. If you can imagine knives scraping through your urethra/pee hole, from under your ribs, all the way to between your legs. Then alcohol running over that. It's ridiculous pain. The toradol AND the lortab didn't even come near covering up this pain. I asked J to call Summer at around 11:30 desperate for some kind of relief. Poor J, I was screaming in pain and crying like a two year old that just lost their lollipop. It was not gratuitous, it was real and true screaming pain. Summer suggested that i get in the hot tub, and also put the heating pad between my legs, and drink lots of water... LOTS LOTS LOTS of water. I tried everything, the heating pad helped the most. I also took another lortab and eventually drifted to sleep in the wee hours... like 4 am.
The bitch about drinking lots of water is that it pushes the gravel / stones through which HURTS. It's the only way to get rid of it though. I seriously wonder if the stent would have been better. At least I wouldn't have to feel every little grain that goes through there. You feel every grain too, let me tell you.
The next morning I called the doctor and requested him to call in a RX for lortab liquid. I remembered that that helped my pain significantly at the surgery center, and knew I had had it before after the lap band surgery. Fortunately, he prepared the RX, my sister picked it up from his office and dropped it off at Walgreens, and finally J picked it up from the pharmacy and brought it home to me that night.
This isn't the impetus for me writing all this down though. The last straw came today. I had constipation. This is only the second time in my whole life that I have had this nasty little problem. I had it once before a few weeks ago after a bout with the flu. I tried all the normal things, enema, suppository, magnesium citrate, correctol... nothing really seemed to help. I guess it must have been mostly gas, because I never really eliminated anything worthy of all the discomfort I was feeling, even after all of that medicine.
Today though, was different. Today was awful. I had a feeling I was in trouble earlier in the day when I tried to go number two for about 20 minutes and nothing came out. I knew there was business to be done though. I KNEW there was... but nothing productive was happening, and it was really uncomfortable. I gave it some thought and decided to take one correctol pill. Thinking that would soften things up and get me moving. I really don't know if that was a good idea or not, later on, I had a very strong urge to go. I brought the kitten, and both phones in the bathroom with me, because I had a feeling I was going to be in there for a while. I was not wrong.
******************** Squeamish do not read any further ******************************
********************Seriously, I'm not kidding ***************************************
I was able to push, but nothing was coming out. I had very strong urges, but it just seemed like mission impossible.
It occured to me that I was going to have to do the unthinkable.
Funny enough, I went through this with the baby kitten a few weeks ago when I took him to the vet for the first time. He was constipated and they rubbed his bottom with KY and moved it around. They ended up taking the end of a thermometer and kind of moving it inside and around the edge of his butt so that it would free up what was inside.
I didn't know what else to do... I didn't even know that there was a name for this until I looked it up later. Manual disimpaction.
Really. I had to do that and it didn't help at first, but I couldn't stop trying to go, because the correctol had taken over my bowels and something was going to happen one way or another. I tried again with the manual disimpaction. I have to tell you that this is thoroughly disgusting, and I hope I never have to do it again. BUT it worked. It worked finally and I was so happy, and so exhausted after.
My rear still hurts, and so does my left side. I'm learning new things every day with this.
I'm especially being vigilant about staying hydrated.
Someone mentioned that the opiates in the lortab may have contributed to the constipation. I kind of shrugged that off, but now I'm sure it probably had a hand in it. I'm trying to be careful here, because I don't want to be on any of these meds longer than I have to. I've already ditched the Toradol, because well the "information sheet" on that scares the living hell out of me. I'm instead sticking to the RX for ibuprofen, and the lortab elixir.
I was up and even cooked breakfast for myself this morning. I also made some turtle brownies from a box. They were good. It felt good to be in the kitchen again.
The pain is kind of a dull ache at the moment, and I'm getting a little sleepy.
According to my little strainer, I'm still passing gravel. According to what I have read online it could take anywhere from a week to a month or longer to pass all the gravel. Please say a prayer for me that it is sooner rather than later, and no more constipation!
Char
I was scared, because my sister told me that after she did it they inserted a stent. That just freaks me out. Really freaks me out. The thought of someone pushing something up into my urethra just well... no.no.no.no.... thump... I can't handle it. I almost passed out when the doctor started talking to me about it.
In order to do this ESWL they put you under general anestheisa, which I wasn't afraid of, because I had the lap band surgery a few years ago. The worst part of that for me was waking up. I had TERRIBLE pain after waking up from that surgery, and the worst cough. The doctor assured me that I should not have that kind of pain after this. Of course I peppered the anethesiologist with lots of questions about the procedure and what they were going to be doing to me. I think it's creepy that you are lying on a table with all your business for the world to see.... anyway. That isn't nearly as weird as being wheeled out to the TRUCK that housed the ESWL machine. It's mobile I guess, and they move it according to which clinic it is needed at. It was definitely a weird experience. Thankfully the doc gave me something to relax before wheeling me back there. J sat with me for as long as they would let him and then they took me away.
They had me climb up onto the bed that had a water mat on it and had me move around until they had me where they wanted me. I remember they put cushions under my legs and I remember thanking them profusely for the comfort they gave me and the pressure it took off my back.
I woke up about an hour or so later in the recovery area and I was pretty chilly... I think they ended up bringing me about 5 or 6 warm blankets. I was also in a bit of pain, which they promptly gave me medicine for. My throat was really, really sore and they brought me some water for that. They said that the doctor had a hard time getting my breathing tube in and out and they gave me some additional medicine with steriods for the throat swelling. The water tasted really good. Unfortunately the pain didn't abate much, and they offered me additional pain meds and I agreed to take them. I would say when I woke up my pain was about a 6 and when they asked me again it was at 3 or 4. Why be in pain if I didn't have to be though.
The doctor came by and told me that I was very lucky. The stone that was in my kidney had exited and snuggled itself right next to the other one, and even though they don't normally do two at a time, since they were right there next to each other, they were able to zap both of them. I am so thankful for that.
In the recovery area, I remember people walking in and out, and I remember the lady next to me was in a TON of pain, they gave her morphine. She was very loud and upset and kept crying that she wanted to go home. I felt bad for her. I also wished she would hush up.
After a very long time, a very sweet lady helped me get dressed again - and showed me the bathroom and asked me to fill up a cup with any pee. It was like a 20 oz foam cup, I was like gee... you are pretty optimistic since i haven't had anything to eat or drink since 11pm the night before. Well apparently the IV fluids went through me pretty good, cause I filled up that cup and some! I was freaking out though, because it was brick red. I guess all the breaking up of the stones was pretty rough inside there. She said it would be fine and they would go ahead and strain it.
They brought me out of the bathroom, got me a warm yummy blanket and put me in a reclining chair with wheels. I was very happy to be sitting upright and knew I was going to be wheeled over to the area when the family comes in. She went and got my husband and then finished up my paperwork. It was so good to see him. I got a big kiss and hug, and I was so thankful that he was able to be there. He and the nurse went through all the paperwork and rec'd the prescriptions for pain meds (Toradol) and we were on our way home.
We stopped to get a little bite to eat at the drive through - Long John Silvers Cheese Curds with marinara - even though I knew I shouldn't eat that crap, i was craving it and I was starving dammit. So I had some, and promply threw it up.
Later at home I think I had some soup or macaroni and cheese or something. I really don't remember. We dropped off the RX and J went out to get it later on. That night I think I slept ok, and made sure to lie on the opposite side of my stones. This was hard for me, because I like to sleep on my left side to start. It worked out ok. I was dead tired.
The next day was pretty rough. The meds were not really cutting the pain. It occured to me that they gave me Lortab elixir while I was at the surgery center, so it should be ok for me to take the Lortabs that I had at home from earlier. I took one and it was wonderful... for a while. I had to take another one. That night, nothing helped. I thought I was going to freaking die. The pain was so bad. If you can imagine knives scraping through your urethra/pee hole, from under your ribs, all the way to between your legs. Then alcohol running over that. It's ridiculous pain. The toradol AND the lortab didn't even come near covering up this pain. I asked J to call Summer at around 11:30 desperate for some kind of relief. Poor J, I was screaming in pain and crying like a two year old that just lost their lollipop. It was not gratuitous, it was real and true screaming pain. Summer suggested that i get in the hot tub, and also put the heating pad between my legs, and drink lots of water... LOTS LOTS LOTS of water. I tried everything, the heating pad helped the most. I also took another lortab and eventually drifted to sleep in the wee hours... like 4 am.
The bitch about drinking lots of water is that it pushes the gravel / stones through which HURTS. It's the only way to get rid of it though. I seriously wonder if the stent would have been better. At least I wouldn't have to feel every little grain that goes through there. You feel every grain too, let me tell you.
The next morning I called the doctor and requested him to call in a RX for lortab liquid. I remembered that that helped my pain significantly at the surgery center, and knew I had had it before after the lap band surgery. Fortunately, he prepared the RX, my sister picked it up from his office and dropped it off at Walgreens, and finally J picked it up from the pharmacy and brought it home to me that night.
This isn't the impetus for me writing all this down though. The last straw came today. I had constipation. This is only the second time in my whole life that I have had this nasty little problem. I had it once before a few weeks ago after a bout with the flu. I tried all the normal things, enema, suppository, magnesium citrate, correctol... nothing really seemed to help. I guess it must have been mostly gas, because I never really eliminated anything worthy of all the discomfort I was feeling, even after all of that medicine.
Today though, was different. Today was awful. I had a feeling I was in trouble earlier in the day when I tried to go number two for about 20 minutes and nothing came out. I knew there was business to be done though. I KNEW there was... but nothing productive was happening, and it was really uncomfortable. I gave it some thought and decided to take one correctol pill. Thinking that would soften things up and get me moving. I really don't know if that was a good idea or not, later on, I had a very strong urge to go. I brought the kitten, and both phones in the bathroom with me, because I had a feeling I was going to be in there for a while. I was not wrong.
******************** Squeamish do not read any further ******************************
********************Seriously, I'm not kidding ***************************************
I was able to push, but nothing was coming out. I had very strong urges, but it just seemed like mission impossible.
It occured to me that I was going to have to do the unthinkable.
Funny enough, I went through this with the baby kitten a few weeks ago when I took him to the vet for the first time. He was constipated and they rubbed his bottom with KY and moved it around. They ended up taking the end of a thermometer and kind of moving it inside and around the edge of his butt so that it would free up what was inside.
I didn't know what else to do... I didn't even know that there was a name for this until I looked it up later. Manual disimpaction.
Really. I had to do that and it didn't help at first, but I couldn't stop trying to go, because the correctol had taken over my bowels and something was going to happen one way or another. I tried again with the manual disimpaction. I have to tell you that this is thoroughly disgusting, and I hope I never have to do it again. BUT it worked. It worked finally and I was so happy, and so exhausted after.
My rear still hurts, and so does my left side. I'm learning new things every day with this.
I'm especially being vigilant about staying hydrated.
Someone mentioned that the opiates in the lortab may have contributed to the constipation. I kind of shrugged that off, but now I'm sure it probably had a hand in it. I'm trying to be careful here, because I don't want to be on any of these meds longer than I have to. I've already ditched the Toradol, because well the "information sheet" on that scares the living hell out of me. I'm instead sticking to the RX for ibuprofen, and the lortab elixir.
I was up and even cooked breakfast for myself this morning. I also made some turtle brownies from a box. They were good. It felt good to be in the kitchen again.
The pain is kind of a dull ache at the moment, and I'm getting a little sleepy.
According to my little strainer, I'm still passing gravel. According to what I have read online it could take anywhere from a week to a month or longer to pass all the gravel. Please say a prayer for me that it is sooner rather than later, and no more constipation!
Char
Friday, September 4, 2009
CHAROLOGY
I know i've done this one before.... if I had any ambition, I'd check the two and see if anything's changed...
CHAROLOGY
***********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice?
Blue Cheese
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Squid Lips
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Crab
What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Sausage and Mushroom
What do you like to put on your toast?
Egg yolk from an over medium egg, butter, orange marmalade
***********TECHNOLOGY***************
How many televisions are in your house?
4
What color is your cellphone?
Black
Do you have an iPod?
No
***************BIOLOGY******************
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
righty
Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
yes
What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Zoe Lynn yesterday
Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
I don’t think so
************BULLOLOGY**************
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
NO
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I like my name
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Uh no.
**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
Season?
Fall
Holiday?
My Birthday
Day of the week?
Saturday
Month?
November
***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
Missing someone?
No
Mood?
OK
What are you listening to?
The hum of the quiet house
Current worry?
Kidney stones
***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************
First place you went this morning?
My chair in the living room
What's the last movie you saw?
Duplicity
***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************
How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
I dunno… a few
Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
Don’t remember
Last person you talked to?
Mom
Last person you hugged?
John
Do you always answer your phone?
No
It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
CNN.com
If you could change your eye color what would it be?
Maybe green or blue
Do you own a digital camera?
Yes, a few
Have you ever had a pet fish?
yep
Favorite holiday song(s)?
Carol of the bells, Silent night
What's on your wish list for your birthday?
A trip
Can you do push ups?
I doubt it
Can you do the splits?
Yeah
Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Excited
Do you have any saved texts?
Yeah, I never delete them
Have you ever been in a car accident?
yes
Do you have an accent?
no
What is the last movie to make you cry?
I don’t remember
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Yes
Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
Twizzlers, Steaks, Tamales
Have you ever been given roses?
Yes
Met someone who changed your life?
Yes
How will you bring in the New Year?
Hopefully sleeping in my bed
What song represents you?
I dunno
Name two people who might complete this?
Michelle and Kathy
Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
No, I don’t want to F with that.
Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
Yes
Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
Ears are pierced, that’s it
Does anyone love you?
Yes
Would you be a pirate?
Arrr – no, I don’t want a bird pooping down my back.
What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don’t sing in the shower
Ever had someone sing to you?
Yes, my husband sings to me and I love it
When did you last cry?
On Tuesday when the doctor was freaking me out.
Do you like to cuddle?
Oh yes!
Have you held hands with anyone today?
Yes
Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Stubbs
Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
New
Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Not as big of a fan as I used to be
Char
CHAROLOGY
***********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice?
Blue Cheese
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Squid Lips
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Crab
What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Sausage and Mushroom
What do you like to put on your toast?
Egg yolk from an over medium egg, butter, orange marmalade
***********TECHNOLOGY***************
How many televisions are in your house?
4
What color is your cellphone?
Black
Do you have an iPod?
No
***************BIOLOGY******************
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
righty
Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
yes
What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Zoe Lynn yesterday
Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
I don’t think so
************BULLOLOGY**************
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
NO
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I like my name
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Uh no.
**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
Season?
Fall
Holiday?
My Birthday
Day of the week?
Saturday
Month?
November
***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
Missing someone?
No
Mood?
OK
What are you listening to?
The hum of the quiet house
Current worry?
Kidney stones
***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************
First place you went this morning?
My chair in the living room
What's the last movie you saw?
Duplicity
***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************
How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
I dunno… a few
Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
Don’t remember
Last person you talked to?
Mom
Last person you hugged?
John
Do you always answer your phone?
No
It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
CNN.com
If you could change your eye color what would it be?
Maybe green or blue
Do you own a digital camera?
Yes, a few
Have you ever had a pet fish?
yep
Favorite holiday song(s)?
Carol of the bells, Silent night
What's on your wish list for your birthday?
A trip
Can you do push ups?
I doubt it
Can you do the splits?
Yeah
Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Excited
Do you have any saved texts?
Yeah, I never delete them
Have you ever been in a car accident?
yes
Do you have an accent?
no
What is the last movie to make you cry?
I don’t remember
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Yes
Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
Twizzlers, Steaks, Tamales
Have you ever been given roses?
Yes
Met someone who changed your life?
Yes
How will you bring in the New Year?
Hopefully sleeping in my bed
What song represents you?
I dunno
Name two people who might complete this?
Michelle and Kathy
Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
No, I don’t want to F with that.
Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
Yes
Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
Ears are pierced, that’s it
Does anyone love you?
Yes
Would you be a pirate?
Arrr – no, I don’t want a bird pooping down my back.
What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don’t sing in the shower
Ever had someone sing to you?
Yes, my husband sings to me and I love it
When did you last cry?
On Tuesday when the doctor was freaking me out.
Do you like to cuddle?
Oh yes!
Have you held hands with anyone today?
Yes
Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Stubbs
Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
New
Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Not as big of a fan as I used to be
Char
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Memories of food
My Paternal Great-Grandmother (Grandma Wood) would always bring boxes and boxes of Entenmann’s baked goods tied with string from the outlet store where she would stop on her way to our house. My favorite was the chocolate covered doughnuts. I loved them straight from the freezer, which is where she stored them when we went to her house.
Grandma always had a big glass cookie jar* on her countertop with her homemade sugar cookies in there. I can’t remember ever going to her house without those cookies being there. They were the best after a long day swimming in the pool! She must have made thousands of those cookies!
My paternal grandmother (Nana) would always burn her cookies when she would bake them, she always made chocolate chip cookies, and she always burned them. She wouldn’t throw them out either, she said they were perfectly good. I remember taking a butter knife to the bottom of them. They still tasted burnt. Her cookies are probably the reason I still don't like chocolate chip cookies much to this day. Nana made the best eggplant parmesan ever though.
My maternal grandfather (Grampy) would always take us to McDonalds for Chicken Nuggets when they came to town to visit.
When we went to Grampy and Grammie’s house, we would always be sure to time the trek so we would be in time for breakfast! Grampy made the best fried eggs! Along with Bacon, sausage patties, home fries and baked beans. The homemade toasted bread was the icing on the breakfast. Grammie always had a Tupperware container in the fridge filled with all different jars of jams and jellies.
One little weird thing about me is that I have always loved my eggs over medium, but I don’t like to eat the white that is immediately around the yolk. I would cut the edges of the white off and eat those, and then I would open the top of the egg and dip the yolk with my toast, and I would leave the middle on my plate. Grampy always used to eat it up for me so Grammie wouldn’t yell at me for leaving it. Nowadays, my tummy doesn’t like me to eat the egg whites at all. Fortunately, my husband will eat them sometimes. It’s funny because if he doesn’t I feel like I am being wasteful. I think it’s so sweet that he eats them like Grampy used to
My dad used to go diving a lot when we were young. Pretty much every weekend during the late spring and all summer we had the fruits of his labor. They would come home with enough fish to cover the front lawn. My mom would fry it up with just simple seasoned flour and Crisco. That fish was to die for. It was so good, I would sometimes wake up in the night and eat it cold from the zip bag. Then there was the conch that she made into fritters, or that dad made into conch salad. Plenty of hushpuppies. Fresh corn on the cobb. Florida lobster – they would bring dozens of them home during the season. One year we spent a week in the keys on a houseboat and we actually got sick of lobster. I never thought that would ever be possible. I’d like to do that again!
I loved going to Aunt JoJo’s house with her luxurious air conditioning and she would make honey mustard chicken, or our very favorite Chicken Cordon Bleu. I even ate calves liver coated in oatmeal at her house once that was very tasty.
Charlene
*When Grandma passed away, all of us girls got one of the cookie jars in the set. I also inherited her dining room set, where our family ate meals at her table for more than 40 years.
Grandma always had a big glass cookie jar* on her countertop with her homemade sugar cookies in there. I can’t remember ever going to her house without those cookies being there. They were the best after a long day swimming in the pool! She must have made thousands of those cookies!
My paternal grandmother (Nana) would always burn her cookies when she would bake them, she always made chocolate chip cookies, and she always burned them. She wouldn’t throw them out either, she said they were perfectly good. I remember taking a butter knife to the bottom of them. They still tasted burnt. Her cookies are probably the reason I still don't like chocolate chip cookies much to this day. Nana made the best eggplant parmesan ever though.
My maternal grandfather (Grampy) would always take us to McDonalds for Chicken Nuggets when they came to town to visit.
When we went to Grampy and Grammie’s house, we would always be sure to time the trek so we would be in time for breakfast! Grampy made the best fried eggs! Along with Bacon, sausage patties, home fries and baked beans. The homemade toasted bread was the icing on the breakfast. Grammie always had a Tupperware container in the fridge filled with all different jars of jams and jellies.
One little weird thing about me is that I have always loved my eggs over medium, but I don’t like to eat the white that is immediately around the yolk. I would cut the edges of the white off and eat those, and then I would open the top of the egg and dip the yolk with my toast, and I would leave the middle on my plate. Grampy always used to eat it up for me so Grammie wouldn’t yell at me for leaving it. Nowadays, my tummy doesn’t like me to eat the egg whites at all. Fortunately, my husband will eat them sometimes. It’s funny because if he doesn’t I feel like I am being wasteful. I think it’s so sweet that he eats them like Grampy used to
My dad used to go diving a lot when we were young. Pretty much every weekend during the late spring and all summer we had the fruits of his labor. They would come home with enough fish to cover the front lawn. My mom would fry it up with just simple seasoned flour and Crisco. That fish was to die for. It was so good, I would sometimes wake up in the night and eat it cold from the zip bag. Then there was the conch that she made into fritters, or that dad made into conch salad. Plenty of hushpuppies. Fresh corn on the cobb. Florida lobster – they would bring dozens of them home during the season. One year we spent a week in the keys on a houseboat and we actually got sick of lobster. I never thought that would ever be possible. I’d like to do that again!
I loved going to Aunt JoJo’s house with her luxurious air conditioning and she would make honey mustard chicken, or our very favorite Chicken Cordon Bleu. I even ate calves liver coated in oatmeal at her house once that was very tasty.
Charlene
*When Grandma passed away, all of us girls got one of the cookie jars in the set. I also inherited her dining room set, where our family ate meals at her table for more than 40 years.
Friday, August 21, 2009
When one door closes, another opens
How interesting that is.
Of course, you can never see the forest for the trees when you are in the situation.
Ok. Ok. I'll stop with the cliches.
Even though I knew it was best and I really was relieved at the time, losing my job really sucked. You know, the process of it. Having them call you into the "office". Having them ask for your keys. Realizing that you have to take 8 boxes of crap out of your office and put it where? Giving your fish that lived on your desk to your sister for her desk, so her daughter can say hi when she visits the Castle! Seeing your sister's face as she walks by the "office" - knowing that she knows. Thinking about how great it has been to work with her for 8 years and with some of the others for nearly 13. Having people walk by and say goodbye. Thinking about the fact that you won't get the sweet little annual christmas story card anymore - cause well that girl was laid off too. Waking up the next day and not having to go to work, but feeling like a loser. Trying to navigate the paperwork coming at you. Worrying about the amount of money in the bank.
Of course, you can never see the forest for the trees when you are in the situation.
Ok. Ok. I'll stop with the cliches.
Even though I knew it was best and I really was relieved at the time, losing my job really sucked. You know, the process of it. Having them call you into the "office". Having them ask for your keys. Realizing that you have to take 8 boxes of crap out of your office and put it where? Giving your fish that lived on your desk to your sister for her desk, so her daughter can say hi when she visits the Castle! Seeing your sister's face as she walks by the "office" - knowing that she knows. Thinking about how great it has been to work with her for 8 years and with some of the others for nearly 13. Having people walk by and say goodbye. Thinking about the fact that you won't get the sweet little annual christmas story card anymore - cause well that girl was laid off too. Waking up the next day and not having to go to work, but feeling like a loser. Trying to navigate the paperwork coming at you. Worrying about the amount of money in the bank.
(Image by Daquella Manera via flickr)
I felt down and out. It was a terrible blow to my self esteem.
Lo.... I'm here to tell you, things can turn around for the better sometimes faster than you think.
One person's kindness, that leads to another's kindness, that leads to giving you the opportunity to put yourself out there again.
The taste of knowing that you still have it - nothing sweeter.
C
(Nevermind in less than 30 days. Mwah!)
Lo.... I'm here to tell you, things can turn around for the better sometimes faster than you think.
One person's kindness, that leads to another's kindness, that leads to giving you the opportunity to put yourself out there again.
The taste of knowing that you still have it - nothing sweeter.
C
(Nevermind in less than 30 days. Mwah!)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Clams two ways
We went out for dinner and sort of a business meeting the other day to Bunky's in Melbourne. They are known for their raw clams and oysters. Luckily it was oyster night, so we got some. I am partial to raw clams, so we got some of those too. The oysters were ok, some of them were a little odd looking. Almost like they were frozen before, but I cannot imagine they are. The other person we were with said that every other one of hers were icky.
The clams however were teh awesome. They were small, briny, sweet and succulent. Now, as a lap band girl, I have issues eating sometimes. Usually the clams are no probelm though. Not so that night. I could.not.keep.them.down. Very annoying. So clams two ways. There you have it ;-)
C
The clams however were teh awesome. They were small, briny, sweet and succulent. Now, as a lap band girl, I have issues eating sometimes. Usually the clams are no probelm though. Not so that night. I could.not.keep.them.down. Very annoying. So clams two ways. There you have it ;-)
C
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