WHAT'S FOR DINNER - SEPTEMBER 2014

[Dissie]

Glad for you Felix to be back at work. I still don't have the OK from DR. I have to go see him around the 25th, to see what he wants to do. Last month it was learn to re-walk with a cane. OMG sometimes its so hard, my ankle and knee hurt so bad, then some days, I wake up and feel like I can just take off walking with no help at all. Not sure why on certain days it hurts so bad. I am wanting one more month to walk with the help of a cane until it no longer hurts. I can go to walmart, feel fine, then halfway through the store, wish I rode one of the electric scooters. I know, its probably just because I haven't used most of those muscles and stuff for 9 mos. But honestly, some mornings I wake up and it hurts so bad just to walk to the bathroom. I am keeping a diary to let him know how it feels daily, so he can make a good decision of whether I am ready to go back to work or not. I don't feel ready, but the 25th is also half a month away, lots can change during that time. Just glad to be walking and not using crutches. Some days I can walk just fine for a few hours without cane even. So that is promising. Practicing putting all my weight on leg. That is hard after favoring it for 9 mos. Honestly, you lose how to do these things when you don't use them. I just realized a couple weeks ago, you use your toes to walk. We don't realize that but we do. Next time you walk see if you don't use your toes!

Oh and to stay on topic, we had pasta salad with cucumbers and tomatoes, potato salad and fried chicken breasts, breaded with bread crumbs and flour, plus the normal tomatoes and cucumber salad that is offered at every meal. Everyone tired of that salad!

[Felix4067]

I will freely admit I could have kissed someone when I found out tonight was only going to be 2 1/2 hours... about 90 minutes in I was questioning my sanity.

One thing of which I am entirely too aware is how much you use your toes to walk! I've had to re-learn how to walk twice, and now have two big toes that no longer bend. No more wearing heels (which I only did maybe once a year anyway), no more standing on my toes to reach something, no more crouching down. They said maybe after a few years I'll be able to do it again, but it's doubtful. Good luck to you, Dissie! It's an incredibly hard journey.

Oh yeah... on topic. I stopped at Steak & Shake on my way home and got a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a peanut butter-chocolate shake. I decided I deserved a treat.

[Felix4067]

Tonight I was going to do leftovers again, but since it turned stupid cold (more like late October than mid-September), I'm making a variation of #recipe585. Fresh baby bellas instead of canned mushrooms, yellow onion instead of green, fresh tomatoes instead of canned diced, and kidney beans instead of pintos.

[Kchurchill5]

I saw that it is pretty chilly up there; and a cold night too. Stew sounds like the way to go. At least no snow. A friend of mine out in CO woke up to a little snow. TOO early if you ask me.

[Felix4067]

I would have immediately shot myself between the eyes if it snowed.

Not sure I'm kidding...

[Kchurchill5]

Morning Everyone and TGIF!

I knew yesterday would be busy and it was. Spent shopping for a new camera/pic cable - NO luck. So dinner was late as in 9pm; and, it was a veggie pizza on the grill.

Today, both ladies are out, so just me. The plan, a quiet night catching up on some long overdue computer work.

Dinner is back to last nights plan - turkey meatloaf, spuds w/horseradish, peas and lima beans.

[Felix4067]

I worked this morning. Small show, but it was a full four hours and I'm pretty sure I'm never leaving this recliner again. Therefore, dinner will be whatever I scrounge up that can be microwaved, or perhaps eaten cold. I know it'll get better and the only way to make it so is to keep working, but in the mean time I'm pretty sure I'm dying. And I'm very glad I didn't take all of my pain pills.

[Kchurchill5]

Rest up Felix, it will slowly improve. Dinner, the microwave sounds like a plan to me.

[Dissie]

Thanks Felix! I appreciate the encouragement. So glad you are getting to take it slow at first. I know the first 8 hour shift is going to a nightmare. But I do have some painkillers left and I am going to ask dr for some more tramadol.

I saw a show on the cooking channel where Nadia made different chicken soups, so I made chicken and dumplings. It is a chilly and rainy out, going to hit the spot! Smells so good!

[Kchurchill5]

Morning Everyone and Happy Saturday!

Hitting the Farmers Market later this am to get the end of am sales. Hoping to get some tomatoes to roast up. Yesterday, I went to another Farmers Market, much smaller; but, it was fun to check them out. A new vendor 'Susan's Sauces and Salads.' She has homemade vinegars, dressings, sauces; and, has a salad bar with all organic greens and vegetables.

Well, dinner is a bit different tonight. Two poker buddies are coming over for dinner; then heading out of town for 2 weeks. Yes, leaving at night. It's a 36 hr drive, which they will do straight through.
They always help me; so, it's my turn. I am packing them a huge cooler w/enough food for the whole trip.

Dinner is beer cheese soup, BLT's, and peanut butter cookies.

The cooler has tons of water and gatorade cold; iced coffee, peach ice tea; and, virgin bloody mary's. Chex mix w/nuts, fruit and veggies w/dip (yes, they do like that stuff); and, caramel brownies.

Breakfast - Bagel w/smoked salmon, chive onion cream cheese, red onion, capers, and sliced egg; vanilla yogurt w/dried fruit granola.
Lunch - Muffaletta sandwich; sweet potato chips
Dinner - Chicken and veggie pasta salad.

They can pick and choose; and finish off the rest when they get there. Everything is disposable; they just have to bring me back my cooler, lol.

So, a busy cooking day!