So...whats for dinner?

Carole, a friend of mine has one and really loves it. I noticed that Costco had a knock off version that was considerably less expensive I believe.



Eric, I love Las Vegas, but it's definitely more fun with someone else on your own time. Hope you get home soon. At least enjoy some good food while you're there!

Minus  Gentle hugs to you and I will be thinking of you

Also those who are having a hard time.

I have read the boards and think of you all but it is hard to keep up

One of my best and oldest friends returned from a year sabatical in California and we went out to dinner last night at.... India Restaurant! for more Indian food! I  am a serious Indian food addict now.

Thinking of you all

Another day, another soup here in the 02143 household. Tonight's soup began with andouille sausage. Then Vidallia onions, carrots and leeks, before adding some tomato paste and anchovy paste [shhhh don't tell.] I had some garlic confit so I threw some of the garlic cloves in as well. A half cup of white wine, reduced and then the tomato puree and chicken stock. I brought that to a boil, and then reduced to a simmer which is when those parmesian rinds go in.  When I could taste the parmesian, I added cannelini beans. Later a box of frozen spinach, squeezed dry and chopped, a couple of handfuls of green beans and lima beans. Final step was adding the fidelia pasta, but not before removing the rinds. Darn pasta just sticks to the rinds if you forget and then you loose ALL that pasta.

If I had to call this soup something, it might be a minestrone, right? Tomato, veggies, and legumes... is that the definition?

Finally pulled off the thyroid bandages and the incision is almost invisible. Now the itching begins. Forgot to get some Vitamin E oil or lotion. Clearly a dumb error.

*susan*

Michelle, Such amazing news. Clearly the ice cream diet is working!

Laurie, hard when our friends are hit with the monster.

Minus, such hard news. Hope you get a treatment plan that allows you to push forward.

Laurie, so sorry to hear about your friend. I do hope her youth, general health and supportive family and friends add a huge curative element to her treatment. Damn cancer!



Michelle, am keeping my fingers crossed that your tumor markers are continuing to improve as they should given your current "feeling good" status. Positive vibes for those!



Susan, thanks for letting us know when exactly one adds the parm rinds! I will also check on garlic confit since I have never made that either. You ladies are really expanding my culinary horizons!



Today I visited my old school....first time since packing up and leaving last June...to bring all the Red Sox taggies I made for the teachers who are new mothers (actually for their babies!) during my Tamox hiatus that left me with lots of decent sleep and great energy to complete projects! Brought some baked goods for all the teachers, too. As I drove down the highway, I suddenly worried that it might be hard to be back in the building where I invested such a large part of my life. And tho I planned my visit for when the kids should have been well gone, I ran into one of my most troubled little guys, who was hit hard by my leaving. He was being picked up from his detention, and about passed out when he saw me....poor kid. I must send him a therapeutic " cheerleading" letter thru his new clinician. Otherwise it went okay....the staff was so welcoming and spirited and we had a great time catching up. I am very fond of the person who is replacing me, (and whom I supervise by phone weekly) and I was happy to learn that the principal has adapted to her style that is very different from mine, so she wants her to stay. That is a great relief to me.

So I am glad I went and saw my old colleagues....tho I am sure the feelings of loss will haunt me a bit. I do love that school. Of course it is a lot easier to be walking its halls when I don't carry the responsibility of servicing the mental health needs of the whole place! I needed to do this visit after so many months.....



Tomorrow off to the allergist....so many docs, so little time.



Oh.... Carole, I am also penurious enough that I would probably never hire a personal trainer either. What was offered is a (currently) free ten week program in the Cancer Center in which I am followed. I figure if I get the exercises and weight regimens down in that time, I can add it to my walking plan and just use the equipment we have in our basement, where DH does his exercise routine each morning. Tho my routine will undoubtedly be completed in the afternoon!

Michelle  I am on the optimistic train with you! So glad you are feeling so good, I think the coming of spring and warmer temps is a major wellness factor.

Lacey  I feel your pain at leaving the little ones.  I too worked with adolescents, but in a residential setting, that had suffered such extreme abuse.  When I left my job I had told several of the kids that I would be back...but that never happened, and my friends that still work there tell me that several of the kids keep asking when I am coming back. I feel like I abandoned them and let them down just like all of the other adults in their life.  Unfortunately we are not able to be in contact with them outside of work.

Sounds like yesterday was ethnic diversity day.  We "humped" at a mexican restaurant and had the best margaritas, and I had chicken enchiladas. We were either all starving or the food was really good because everyones plates were licked clean.

Nancy - Hope you were spared any damage in last night's storms.  Can't remember which end of St. Louis you live on but thought it was the north.  My dad was was living in St. Peters when he passed in 2000 and I had visited twice up there.

And I do live north of st. Peters.

I made it home.  I also found a cold, so I'm laying low at home so I don't spread it around..maybe I should stay at work and avoid spreading it around at home  (evil grin).

Minus...I know I'm a bit late saying so....go ahead and vent all you want. I know, I've vented a bit here myself.  Cooking and life are tied together with sharing.  Sharing the happy stuff is easy.  Sharing the no so good stuff is much harder, but much more important. 

Nancy, I'm glad the storms missed you.  Hopefully the storms' damage is minimal and minor.  ...don't make me get called up...   

Lacey, I get "my" kids at more normal times.  When I haven't been driving the school bus for awhile and they see me in the driver's seat, their faces really light up.  It's a wonderful thing to see.

Michelle, I've got my fingers crossed that your tumor marker news will be good again.

Michelle,



So glad you're feeling good and that the ice cream is working it's magic! Thinking of you and hoping those markers are waaaaaaaaayyyyyy down!

Oh dear Susan.....something to warm you up....((((((Susan)))))). Is this anticipated after thyroid surgery? Some temp dysregulation, that is? Hope it smoothes out on its own.

Nance, hope you and our other Midwestern sisters remain safe. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must be to see a tornado heading your way!



Saw the allergist today, and can drop her from my doc list for a year. Yay! She appreciated my educating her about the benedryl/tamoxifen concerns....which I learned about on one of the threads here.She obviously has a very young population and very few BC patients. Said she already used the info to inform one of her new patients. Glad to be of help! Now show me to the office door!



Had leftover chicken/pasta with ramps for dinner.



Am planning a dinner here for some friends Sat night. Was thinking either a pork or chicken cutlet dish with saffron cream sauce ( had been thinkng about a stuffed flank steak, but always worry about the different ways people like their red meat done). Then either wild rice or red rice or Trader's harvest grain medley which is easy to cook and a satisfying mix to eat. Will have some cheese, crackers and mushroom caviar for appetizers....maybe with Prosecco. Making a parsnip spice cake with ginger icing for dessert. Not sure what veggie to have with dinner...or do I even need a veggie since I am also making a large kale/cranberry/almond salad? We are so used to loading up on salad and veggies....maybe others aren't so much. Any ideas/opinions welcome! Sorry for the disjointed menu description....must be the tamox induced ADD!



My excitement for the day....while cruising through TJMaxx, on way home from docs office, I came across two baby girl bathing suits that I just could not resist for little DGD. They are soooo teeny....and one has a tutu ruffle. Hysterical! Can't wait to see her in them!

Meanwhile, am hoping that DS1 is quickly getting the fence installed around the pool for their active kiddos. They have a large property perimeter fence, but none directly around the pool. Duhhhhh! The people who sold them the house had three year old triplets. Must have held them hostage in the house!



Eric, I think we can all see why kids' eyes would light up upon discovering you in the bus driver's seat!



Carrie, yes it is hard to leave kids who have already had such trauma and loss in their lives. My first job was in residential treatment with some of the most "damaged" young children. I was fortunate to have a gifted and devoted supervisor to teach me how to treat them and help me survive the "vicarious trauma" that staff experiences. The easier thing about working in a general school setting is that the caseload is so varied...the harder thing is that it is usually huge due to the significant stress kids have to negotiate these days, as well as so much biologically based mental illness.



Hope everyone had a peaceful night!

I'm making a slow roasted pork shoulder today with a chimchurri sauce. Probably some roasted potatoes and tomatoes on the side.



It's major baking day, English muffins, onion rolls, sourdough and pie crusts. It's quite chilly today, so the oven will feel cozy. It's been cloudy and rainy for 3 days here too. I'm ready for some sun!

Hear ye, hear ye...my tumor markers dropped by 1000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   They were at about 1525 and they are now at 500!!!!!!!!!  Lots of happy dancing in the family!!!!  And celebration will happen tonight!

Michelle,

You are an overachiever!!!! I have never heard of such a drop... or if I have I don't remember. I'll bet that you are both dancing naked under the stars with that kind of news. No words for how happy this makes me.

*susan*

Our posts crossed, Michelle.....WOW!!! This is such great news!! Enjoy your celebration.....you've more than earned it!! So should we be looking out for the newest self-help book, "The Ice Cream Cancer Chaser". Put mine on pre-order!