May 22, 2003

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  Guess what?

  
  

  Its raining again!

  
  

  

  
  

  Just in time for the holiday weekend, of course. And Bernie even managed to get tomorrow off, so he will be having a 4 day weekend. Not that I can’t find lots of stuff for us to do around the house…

  
  

  

  
  

  Thanks to everyone who has been leaving nice comments about my home and garden pictures. It is so cool to have everyone visit. I don’t get much of a chance to entertain in real life, and the only thing I regret is when you guys come to visit in cyberspace, I can’t offer you anything to eat and drink…

  
  

  

  
  

  How about a recipe idea for the barbecue, in honor of Memorial Day Weekend? Just imagine that if you were to stop by and visit in person this weekend, these ribs would be on the menu:

  
  

  Mandarin Ginger Marinade for Country Style Pork Spare Ribs:

  
  

  Combine the following items in a blender:

  
  

  1 can Mandarin Orange slices in light syrup

  
  

  1 medium onion, peeled and cut in quarters

  
  

  1 teaspoon Dark Sesame Oil

  
  

  about 1/2 cup candied ginger slices, or more, to taste (I love ginger so I use more)

  
  

  about 1/4 cup Soy Sauce (to taste- depending on how salty you like it)

  
  

  (optional) 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds

  
  

  Pulse in blender on medium speed until relatively smooth. Pour over country-style pork spare ribs in glass bowl or baking dish. Marinate 1 hour to overnite (the longer the better) turning occasionally.

  
  

  The ribs can then be cooked in the oven or on the grill, basting occasionally with the marinade left in the bowl where they were soaking. I prefer to bake them in the oven (350 degrees) in a baking pan covered with foil, until the meat thermometer says they are nearly done, and then put them on the grill to finish cooking and get nice and brown. (I am less likely to turn them into unevenly cooked lumps mostly resembling charcoal briquettes that way)

  
  

  

  
  

  I went to the doctor this week about my ongoing sinus infection and for my periodic check on my asthma. Good news, the lungs are good. The little bit of discomfort and wheezing I have been having is a result of the sinuses and allergies, which affect the asthma a bit, but other than that the lungs are good.

  
  

  The sinuses are another story. The doc looked up my nose with his little scope thingy and said it was ugly. His exact word – ugly. Seems the polyps I had removed 2 years ago have probably come back and brought some friends this time. That was my second surgery for this stuff. It was also the second time I have had my deviated septum straightened. It keeps popping back, too. So it looks like I may be facing surgery #3.

  
  

  I haven’t had a sense of smell at all for over a year now, in addition to the repeated infections and increasingly nasty sinus headaches, so I guess I wouldn’t mind enduring the procedure again. I am not talking about that “I can’t smell” feeling you get with a cold, I am talking about zero sense of smell. I couldn’t tell if my house was on fire. I can stick my nose in a bottle of ammonia or bleach and can’t smell a thing. Not only does it take away a lot of the pleasure of life, it also is dangerous. I can’t tell if food is good or bad by smell. I can’t smell a gas leak or something burning. I can’t even tell you the number of times I have burned something in the kitchen while I was cooking and walked into the other room. And it really hinders my sense of taste, too. You wouldn’t know how much you rely on your nose until it stops working. We pretty much think of sensory handicaps in the terms of hearing and sight, but those of us who have lost our sense of smell are living a pretty challenged life, too.

  
  

  Oh, and did I mention that a big part of the way I used to make my living involved formulating and selling aromatherapy and fragrance oils, incense, candles and other fragrance products? Losing the sense of smell sure puts a big roadblock on that avenue, too.

  
  

  So I need to get anotehr CAT scan and go to see the specialist that did my last endoscopic surgery. But first I need to take more antibiotics, and a round of methyprednisolone to try and get some of the swelling and inflammation down in there. Great. The side effects of pred are no picnic. At least it will only be a week this time. Sometimes I am on it for longer.

  
  

  I will be sure to post updates here. I appreciate all the good healing vibes that can be sent my way.

  
  

  Guess that’s about it for me today. This week has been kinda low key. Bernie and I have been shopping for a new truck for him, and that has been consuming most of our attention. As a matter of fact, I think we need to go to the Dodge agency tonight.

  
  

  Update – 9:00 PM: We just bought the truck we were looking at! So now my hubby will have his own wheels and I can have my little Jimmy back! The new truck (new to us at least) is a 1998 Dodge RAM Pickup truck, Club cab, 4 wheel drive, V-8, Laramie SLT, with a matching hi-top fiberglass cap on the back, towing package, all the good sporting details. Its a beautiful dark green pearl finish. Great comfy interior and has been kept very clean and like new. I like it! I will get a picture whenever we have a sunny day again.

  
  

  Bye for now!  

  
  

  Have a nice weekend!

  
  

   

  
  

   

  • 6:39 pm
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