I started early (for me) this morning and got two pre-op tests out of the way, the chest xray and blood draw. The local clinic doesn't do EKG's so I will probably have to go downtown to my doctor's office for it.
I bought another muffin tin with 6 large cups, much bigger than the one I use for muffins. I have all the ingredients to make meatloaf as well as the Egg Muffins suggested by Carolyn. The trouble is that I'm too tired to do it right now. Maybe after a nap I might feel like it. I don't know if I will be going to the gym tonight but I hope so. I can just eat an egg sandwich or fry a hamburger for a protein jolt beforehand.
It is really cold although the sun in shining, still in the 40's. We'll go up to the 50's for about a week and then into the 60's! It will feel like a heat wave when that happens.
I took my nap and woke up ravenous, and decided to make the meatloaf. As always, there is one ingredient I don't have on hand. This time is is Worcestershire sauce, so I'll make the meatloaf tomorrow after a quick trip to the grocery. I fixed myself a sandwich to relieve my hunger, and I might go make a dent in the number of muffins left. I think I have 4 remaining (actually 3 now, since I got one in the middle of this sentence). I don't know where my appetite is coming from, but I am fairly certain it won't last.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
The Cold Continues
I was so chilled this morning that I got out my down jacket to wear to Costco. We got there early and checked out before the big crush.
I only bought a few items, including Benadryl tablets that I was out of, and some organic beef. I've noticed that eating beef raises my energy level somewhat, and I need all the help I can get. How to fix it is another matter though - I don't want to make full-size recipes for anything. I think I will try to find some small loaf pans and maybe make a couple of little meat loaves. For something so easy I probably make the world's worst meatloaf, and it doesn't matter which recipe I follow or even whether I use a recipe.
I'm enjoying the muffins and having one now for dessert with a cup of Irish tea. I normally don't like tea but Barry's Irish is about the only kind I can drink. Six muffins left!
I am so irritated when I read that there will probably be a new federal safety plan aimed at senior drivers. There is no question that the senior group have a low accident rate, and that is no doubt because we pick and choose the time, routes, speed, etc. that we drive, often with our own safety and that of others in mind. We don't need a new plan, what we need is enforcement to curb the outrageous speed and driving habits of younger and middle aged people. When you see cars weaving in and around others on the road, excessive speed, tailgating, quickness to honk the horn, etc., it's not likely to be a senior behind the wheel! Instead of enforcing the laws already on the books, they want to make it more difficult for the group of superior drivers to stay in their cars.
It's 36F, going to a low around 27 tonight. I am freezing even wrapped in a warm fleecy throw.
I only bought a few items, including Benadryl tablets that I was out of, and some organic beef. I've noticed that eating beef raises my energy level somewhat, and I need all the help I can get. How to fix it is another matter though - I don't want to make full-size recipes for anything. I think I will try to find some small loaf pans and maybe make a couple of little meat loaves. For something so easy I probably make the world's worst meatloaf, and it doesn't matter which recipe I follow or even whether I use a recipe.
I'm enjoying the muffins and having one now for dessert with a cup of Irish tea. I normally don't like tea but Barry's Irish is about the only kind I can drink. Six muffins left!
I am so irritated when I read that there will probably be a new federal safety plan aimed at senior drivers. There is no question that the senior group have a low accident rate, and that is no doubt because we pick and choose the time, routes, speed, etc. that we drive, often with our own safety and that of others in mind. We don't need a new plan, what we need is enforcement to curb the outrageous speed and driving habits of younger and middle aged people. When you see cars weaving in and around others on the road, excessive speed, tailgating, quickness to honk the horn, etc., it's not likely to be a senior behind the wheel! Instead of enforcing the laws already on the books, they want to make it more difficult for the group of superior drivers to stay in their cars.
It's 36F, going to a low around 27 tonight. I am freezing even wrapped in a warm fleecy throw.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Baking on a Saturday morning
I've had my old cookbook sitting out for about a week now, thinking I'd make blueberry muffins (with frozen blueberries). Today is the day!
I discovered I was out of baking powder and got ready to go to the grocery, when I thought I should just look for a substitute - 2 tsp cream of tartar and 1 tsp baking soda = baking powder, although the taste might be a little different. You can also use just baking soda but at reduced measure. I got the batter ready to pour into my 6 section muffin pan. The recipe says it makes 12 (and I got 15 good sized muffins - 11 of them left. It took me a lot more time to wait until the pan cooled and get it ready for more batter, but they are all done.
I'll have to say they are delicious, and the first thing I noticed about them is that they aren't as sweet as store bought muffins or prepared mixes. (I used 2 cups flour + 1/3 cup sugar). It makes you realize how things were in the old days - muffins were never as sweet as cake, but now nearly every prepared product in the stores is loaded heavily with corn syrup and HFCS. Now I have a stack of dishes, bowls, measuring cups, etc., sitting in the sink to be washed.
As much as I thought I'd like a glass of wine last night I just didn't have the taste for it. I don't have any beer on hand but don't have a taste for it either. Lord help me! I haven't been feeling so well today and didn't feel like going to the gym last night, so I wonder if I'll even make it to the 23rd when my operation is scheduled. I do have a fairly high tolerance for pain and can never make up my mind if I have reached the point where I should seek help.
The rain was so heavy when I went to bed last night I didn't think I'd be able to sleep. (I don't think I lasted 5 minutes before I fell asleep). The rain came with heavy winds - today is sunny but rain, possibly mixed with snow, are predicted. Not much wind, for which I'm grateful. I hope all of you in the path of extreme cold, ice storms, etc., are keeping warm and safe.
I discovered I was out of baking powder and got ready to go to the grocery, when I thought I should just look for a substitute - 2 tsp cream of tartar and 1 tsp baking soda = baking powder, although the taste might be a little different. You can also use just baking soda but at reduced measure. I got the batter ready to pour into my 6 section muffin pan. The recipe says it makes 12 (and I got 15 good sized muffins - 11 of them left. It took me a lot more time to wait until the pan cooled and get it ready for more batter, but they are all done.
I'll have to say they are delicious, and the first thing I noticed about them is that they aren't as sweet as store bought muffins or prepared mixes. (I used 2 cups flour + 1/3 cup sugar). It makes you realize how things were in the old days - muffins were never as sweet as cake, but now nearly every prepared product in the stores is loaded heavily with corn syrup and HFCS. Now I have a stack of dishes, bowls, measuring cups, etc., sitting in the sink to be washed.
As much as I thought I'd like a glass of wine last night I just didn't have the taste for it. I don't have any beer on hand but don't have a taste for it either. Lord help me! I haven't been feeling so well today and didn't feel like going to the gym last night, so I wonder if I'll even make it to the 23rd when my operation is scheduled. I do have a fairly high tolerance for pain and can never make up my mind if I have reached the point where I should seek help.
The rain was so heavy when I went to bed last night I didn't think I'd be able to sleep. (I don't think I lasted 5 minutes before I fell asleep). The rain came with heavy winds - today is sunny but rain, possibly mixed with snow, are predicted. Not much wind, for which I'm grateful. I hope all of you in the path of extreme cold, ice storms, etc., are keeping warm and safe.
Friday, December 6, 2013
FINALLY!
Finally things are moving along, and while it's not the ideal time frame I'm grasping at anything! My gallbladder will be removed on Dec. 23rd. A lot of things can go wrong because of the stones in the bile duct but I'm going in with nothing but positive thoughts. Now I have a packet of papers to look over, information to comprehend, and tests to take - blood tests, chest x-ray, and ekg. I hope I can get a little of my appetite back so I'm in optimum condition.
It is a chilly 44 degrees with a light rain starting to fall, and rain and a bit of snow tomorrow morning. I've said the heck with being cold and now turn up my heat to about 62 for temporary periods throughout the day, plus using my little electric heater. A man I met at the gym and I were talking about how we were able to keep our electric bills around $25-30 range. The gas furnace is what is really expensive though, and I'd rather keep adding more clothes than to face a $200+ gas bill. Usually my utilities are minimal - mostly tacked on charges for things I don't understand.
I have taken my last antibiotic and I'm thinking of uncorking a bottle of German wine later on. I don't think a glass would bother me one way or another and would surely enhance my frame of mind.
I have to admit that I like the Dr. who will operate on me, and his explanation for wanting to wait until the other procedure has been completed makes a lot of sense. He and the other doctor had a "heart to heart" (according to a young intern who saw me the last time I was in) and decided they can't keep jerking me around (my words). I am so glad I can be positive about the Dr. now as well as my hopes for getting a long-time problem taken care of.
It is a chilly 44 degrees with a light rain starting to fall, and rain and a bit of snow tomorrow morning. I've said the heck with being cold and now turn up my heat to about 62 for temporary periods throughout the day, plus using my little electric heater. A man I met at the gym and I were talking about how we were able to keep our electric bills around $25-30 range. The gas furnace is what is really expensive though, and I'd rather keep adding more clothes than to face a $200+ gas bill. Usually my utilities are minimal - mostly tacked on charges for things I don't understand.
I have taken my last antibiotic and I'm thinking of uncorking a bottle of German wine later on. I don't think a glass would bother me one way or another and would surely enhance my frame of mind.
I have to admit that I like the Dr. who will operate on me, and his explanation for wanting to wait until the other procedure has been completed makes a lot of sense. He and the other doctor had a "heart to heart" (according to a young intern who saw me the last time I was in) and decided they can't keep jerking me around (my words). I am so glad I can be positive about the Dr. now as well as my hopes for getting a long-time problem taken care of.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
My heart's desire . . .
. . . and wrapped in this tidy little package secured by a fancy toothpick!
. . . And voila! Here is my BLT on a croissant. I thought I would only eat half and save the other half for later, but later followed on sooner without missing a beat.
Now that I've eaten I need to go back out for a few more items. I wanted that sandwich so bad I just had to come home and eat. I would feel dumb sitting in a restaurant all alone and taking a picture of food, which is why I had to bring it home quickly. It was even better than I anticipated!
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
No BLT today either
I totally forgot about getting the sandwich at 11 am, which is when I should get there to avoid the crowds as well as assuring they won't have sold out of their wonderful croissants. That is the best part of the BLT! Maybe tomorrow if I can keep it straight.
We have beautiful sunny weather today but it is only 46 degrees, and will stay mostly in the 40's for several days.
I have printed out several short hikes up in the gold rush country, but I will probably wait until next week to try them. I want to wait until I'm through taking all the antibiotics; everything has to be timed throughout the day and I don't want to have it ruin my time outdoors.
I've been asked if I am hesitant to hike alone. I would rather hike with another person, but that is more for the company it would provide. I have made up my mind that I refuse to be afraid of anything, including death, axe murderers, aging, being alone in nature, and a lot more. I still hope to see animals such as bears, wolves, and even mountain lions, but in the distance, please. Of course I wouldn't mind a wolf being close. But afraid? No, I'm not going to have fear. I've been working on it for several years now and mostly have it mastered, but a good hike alone in the woods and eventually an overnight should give me an idea how I'm doing.
I'm more afraid of not getting my appetite back than anything else, and shriveling up to a scarecrow!
We have beautiful sunny weather today but it is only 46 degrees, and will stay mostly in the 40's for several days.
I have printed out several short hikes up in the gold rush country, but I will probably wait until next week to try them. I want to wait until I'm through taking all the antibiotics; everything has to be timed throughout the day and I don't want to have it ruin my time outdoors.
I've been asked if I am hesitant to hike alone. I would rather hike with another person, but that is more for the company it would provide. I have made up my mind that I refuse to be afraid of anything, including death, axe murderers, aging, being alone in nature, and a lot more. I still hope to see animals such as bears, wolves, and even mountain lions, but in the distance, please. Of course I wouldn't mind a wolf being close. But afraid? No, I'm not going to have fear. I've been working on it for several years now and mostly have it mastered, but a good hike alone in the woods and eventually an overnight should give me an idea how I'm doing.
I'm more afraid of not getting my appetite back than anything else, and shriveling up to a scarecrow!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
You have to wonder
Why on some days everything goes right, whereas on others nothing works.
I woke up somewhere around 5 am and then slept fitfully for another hour. Just decided to get up and have a bit of computer time while waiting to leave for my appointment to get my car serviced. I had decided that more than anything I wanted a BLT on the world's best croissant for lunch - a long line awaited me when I entered the restaurant, so I went to Target for a while, then back to the restaurant. I swear the line was the same or longer, so I gave up on the idea. I think I will go back tomorrow at about 10:30. I want that BLT!
Needless to say I needed a nice long nap after waking up so early, and now I face a long evening, alone, trying to ignore all the things I should be doing. I think I'm feeling better, although my energy level is barely above zero and my appetite is about the same. That BLT would have made me feel so much better.
I woke up somewhere around 5 am and then slept fitfully for another hour. Just decided to get up and have a bit of computer time while waiting to leave for my appointment to get my car serviced. I had decided that more than anything I wanted a BLT on the world's best croissant for lunch - a long line awaited me when I entered the restaurant, so I went to Target for a while, then back to the restaurant. I swear the line was the same or longer, so I gave up on the idea. I think I will go back tomorrow at about 10:30. I want that BLT!
Needless to say I needed a nice long nap after waking up so early, and now I face a long evening, alone, trying to ignore all the things I should be doing. I think I'm feeling better, although my energy level is barely above zero and my appetite is about the same. That BLT would have made me feel so much better.
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