So...whats for dinner?

Several of you are following the Prolia protocal. Here's an update.

I saw a bone endocrinologist who specializes in osteoporosis, bone drugs & esoteric things like ballet dancer's legs & runners bones. Basically he told me Prolia is now rated safe for 10 years. I just completed year 5. You should NOT miss your 6 month shot by more than a few weeks. If you contemplate a drug holiday, there isn't enough information yet to say a Reclast shot would work, although there are ongoing trials with results maybe in the next year. His recommendation was Fosamax in the interim if you have to stop Prolia, which you can now take once a week.

If you have to have dental work done on Prolia, schedule the last 4 weeks before the next shot is due (5 months). But do NOT skip a dose.

Sandy,

This is, once again, making me feel much better about that stupidity of my taking the one Xtra strength Tylenol before first Pfizer. You did explain earlier the difference between the way NSAIDs and acetaminophen work but I didn’t quite catch it. I never take NSAIDs because the aspirin affects my platelet count. But this sounds like your saying I might have masked an immune response, sore arm not withstanding, but not prevented one. Ardently hope so. Will look forward to pain after second shot on 17th, and roll with it. Want that response. Want to go to Key West for a week or so, eat in a restaurant, explore Andersonville once again with son, eat with him, as we used to, every Monday nightThe dining rooms are opening here at the Mather next week. Friends are calling for dinner dates, but Gil and I are going nowhere til two weeks after second shot.

No dinner tonight. DH and I decided to get drunk and play music. It’s party time, lol

illimae - what is your drink?

Dinner tonight was Hawaiian flatbread pizza - I made two, DH and I ate one, gave the other to DD - she came over to borrow a battery charger and we also filmed a video giving a 60th b-day toast to DH’s old boss, who has become a good friend. His wife texted to ask for b-day videos from all their friends and she will put them together and play them on their tv during the Super Bowl. It was pretty hilarious, but we finally got it right

Wow! Illimae...good looking drink!
Minus, your dinner concert “sounded" wonderful! We should do that more.

Nance, yay for your counters, and glad you don't have to wait too terribly long for the backsplash. Carole, excited for you, too, to get your new counters. Yes...all of you home improvement folks need to share some photos, please!

We fared okay with the storm...about a foot after the heavy snow compacted given the combo of snow and sleet. Fortunately we didn't need to be anywhere, and the plow guy came mid day and cleared the driveway and front walk, so us geezers didn't have to any heavy lifting. DH misses snow blowing, but we are really beyond that age for all the storms we get. We lost power for a few hours during the night, and was happy it returned before we arose. Apparently more to come this Sunday...ugh. I was hoping to return to some walking outside...to clear my head. But certainly not going to go balancing on the ice. I have finally had my fill of being a hermit, and dysphoria is seeping in.

My good news is that DH came running into the kitchen today to let me know that when he logged onto the state sight for Covid shots for the umpteenth time, (for me....I think he was feeling badly that I still had not received my “invitation" to set up a time from MGH when he had been invited a week ago) he reached a new vaccine appt calendar offering tons of dates for next week. We signed me up for next Friday so I won't have any soreness for my Thursday PT appt. DH then said...I bet you hear from MGH (our healthsystem) now. Sure enough, a few hours later, they emailed me offering a ton of date options...starting TOMORROW! So I will do that and release my other date. I do feel more secure having it administered at a health facility than going to Gillette Stadium given my allergy history. My shot tomorrow is being given at the new Dana Farber site about 5 miles from here...really convenient. Some friends in FL just got theirs after driving 2 hours to Miami and waiting four hours in line in their car. Then drove home for another two hours. Yikes! Unfortunately, I just read Sandy's advice about stopping allergy meds two days before the shot, and I took my Allegra yesterday. Oh well. Will not do any pain relief if I can soldier through. After all of this, I want the damn vaccine to work! It seems that our state must have received a lot more vaccine suddenly, so I hope that is also true for all of yours, and we can get out of this stalemated position or at least feel less vulnerable. I've been wearing two masks if I need to go anywhere.

Tonight I made pesto specifically for a chicken recipe that we liked a lot. It was pounded chicken breasts tossed in pesto with a bit of balsamic, then pan seared before being baked at 400 for 25 minutes, taken out, graced with a dollop of pesto on top of each piece along with fresh mozzarella and baked for 5 more mins until the cheese melted. A side “sauce" is diced tomato with some garlic, basil, evoo, and I added crushed red pepper. We enjoyed it and have enough for another meal. Yay! While it was fun to make, it took a long time, given the pesto and several steps and the rest of the meal...salad, and avocado spread for crusty bread. My back was screaming at me by the time we sat to eat. With some pesto in the freezer now, that step can be avoided.

Special, as much as I am not into football anymore (due to the inherent concussion issues), we will be rooting for your town's team so Tom Terrific can get another ring. Seems that there is more love than resentment here for him...or at least it sounds that way on all the sports' broadcasts. I am tempted to watchjyst to see this quarterback duel.

So my trip to the local DF site (which is brand new, beautiful, and staffed with lovely in-house nurses giving shots) was easy. The whole environment and atmosphere reminded me so much of the supportive experience I had during my active treatment. Anyway, I was surprised (and probably should not have been) to learn that the reason I got this “invite” for the shot was because I am a DF patient, (not just connected to MGH) and as such, if I have any concerning SE’s, I need to call my med onc. Feels weird since I see her once a year...but okay, it’s not not like she would not know me, and I will see her again in three weeks for my annual. And then when I got home, I received an email inviting me to sign up for the vaccine from MGH since I am a patient of our local hospital, which is part of MGH. But as I went to open it, it disappeared! I think the computers synced at that moment and the second one learned that I was already accounted for. Nice to have had three opportunities for the vaccine this week, but such an uncoordinated process. I also cancelled my Gillette stadium appointment for next week.

The other serendipity of this visit was that in the elevator DH noticed a sign stating that our son’s company owned and managed this building. So while I was at my appt he texted DS2 and learned about the build out and transition for DF to that lovely suburban space. I’m glad that so many of DS2’s assets are science and health focused. And now we have gotten to see one that is quite the cool building that will serve a lot of people. Unfortunately, my med onc is still based in the DF downtown.
All in all, it was a successful trip, and I had no allergic reactions after the shot, remaining for observation for 30 minutes.

However, now, nine hours later, my arm feels like it is about to fall off. I’m holding the recommended cold compresses on it, so I can try to keep it moving, but lots of wincing going on. I’ll be happy if this is the only painful side effect. I received the Pfizer vaccine. My second appt is Feb 26th. Tomorrow DH gets his, and I doubt he will even have this much of a reaction.

On our way home, we stopped at a small Stop and Shop that DH likes for the fresh bread loaves they bake. So we enjoyed shopping for produce and some protein items. Picked up salmon for dinner and made it with a teriyaki glaze, to go with Brussels sprouts, salad, and a sweet potato we split. We also bought some little cherry pies and split one for dessert, but now a few hours later, I’m eating popcorn while watching the Celtics!

Tomorrow will be leftovers of the pesto chicken and a cuke salad since that’s easy on the prep lady. No menu plan yet for Sunday, but haveeasy options after our shopping trip today.

(Typed last night, but didn't post till now because I was interrupted by hungry cats)

Today I am experiencing a second injection-site reaction: the arm soreness & stiffness disappeared after 3 days, but yesterday morning I noticed a small bruise just above the deltoid and saw & felt a little pink "knot." Last night at bedtime I felt a painless swelling on the delt. By today, the swelling was down but there's a reddish patch similar to (but smaller than) the one I got from my first Shingrix shot. Consulted Dr. Google, who referred me to WebMD. Learned that such a delayed reaction to the Moderna vax is pretty common....and a sign that my immune system is doing a good job of mounting a response. Seeing as how it's the dead of winter (and HOW!) I'm not running around in tank tops, so my sleeves (2 layers, even indoors here in Chiberia) are covering it up.

Bob had wanted to go out tonight, but the various restaurants' outdoor "igloos" are now actual igloos. And I wanted Bob to get home, safely into the garage, without the risk of getting stuck in the alley. Craved BBQ, but neither of the places we like would deliver tonight (and no way was I going to bundle up & drive). So we ordered out from an upscale Mexican restaurant (to which we usually walk): ceviche, nopales/jicama/avocado salad, grilled veggies, and shared an order of sopa de mariscos (Mexican bouillabaisse, but more broth). Bob had his with rice & frijoles, I had mine plain, which kept things totally keto.

Not going anywhere if I can help it, even if things are a bit safer viral-wise and starting to reopen--I'm not "into" frostbite, nor icy sidewalks.

Ah ha Mae. Does anyone else remember - the worst part of drinking & staying up late was all the cigarettes smoked. I quit smoking in 2007, although I still miss it occasionally.

Off to make Broccoli/Cheddar muffins. I know - it's 7pm, but I joined a virtual Bach Society concert at the Museum of Fine Arts. Then I had to listen a second time to the the Bach & Telemann strings & harpsichord concertos. Delicious!!!

I stopped Wednesday at Chicken Salad Chick and bought broccoli salad & "classic" chicken salad to go. Ate the broccoli salad last night so I'll munch on the chicken salad while the muffins cook. This is only the 3rd time I have picked up food to go since March. Not going out but not ordering out or picking up food either. It's been a good time to reacquaint myself with exciting & challenging meals - and of course left overs.

Illimae, looks delicious as usual. Just bought pork tenderloins and was planning on using raspberry chipotle sauce but may change that and use the balsamic reduction sauce I have in the pantry. Thanks for the idea for tomorrow!

Sorry about the muffins Minus. I hate wasting time and ingredients for a meh result.

Tonight is super bowl food without the superbowl -- an annual tradition here lol. Neither of us are football fans but we like the food. So it's wings, celery sticks with blue cheese dressing, l'il smokies, pizza and a small cheese board. I also have an artichoke for myself. DH generally won't touch "a" fruits or vegetables, although he has come around about asparagus. He'll eat apples if baked in a pie or applesauce. Anyway, Don't know what we'll be watching, but it won't be football in spite of the Chiefs being the hometown team.

Scheduled the backsplash tilers but unfortunately it's another 6-7 weeks before they can do it. This is getting tiresome. After that, it's on to living room flooring.

Its a whopping 8 degrees here today. At least we only got a dusting of snow. I know some of you are in the deep freeze too. Not looking forward to the next week. The frigid weather has brought the bluebirds en masse to the window feeder, all puffed up like little blue balloons. Not a great picture because the back of the feeder is dirty. This was taken a couple of days ago when they were normal size lol.

DH cooked tonight, ribs, cornbread with beans and fried corn. The cornbread and beans were extra special good and I am stuffed.

Hope everyone in snow country is OK and has not lost power.

Today my "thin slice of joy" was a bowl of fresh raspberries in heavy cream. It's fortunate that the stores here often have raspberries on sale 2 for $5.00 , or even $1.99. It's fortunate that I can afford them. But since 1/2 a container was my entire breakfast and lunch combined, it's probably not overly indulgent.

Dinner tonight was spaghetti with meat sauce and a little green salad with avocado, goat cheese, hazelnuts, and red wine vinaigrette.

Here is a photo DD took of the Super Bowl snacks! Very exciting gamefor us here in Tampa - we yelled at the TV a lot and scared the dog several times, lol!

Edited to add - this was food for five people..

reader - the deviled eggs are loaded - the filling is mashed yolk, a bit of mustard, mayo and sour cream, finely chopped pepper bacon, and scallion. They are yummy!

You and eric have dueling lasagna posts! Both sound delish - I’m a lasagna lover, from a crockpot, or in soup - I’m a fan

So many delicious looking snacks, I want them all