Journal

2024 - Week 20 Cooking

Per the pharmacist, I should not consume dairy products while on one of the two antibiotics. And in reading the drug summary paper, both on what I got from my discharge papers and what I got from the pharmacy, there was no mention. And reading online I get disparate response from, “it’s fine” to “not for 2 hours before or 3 hours after” to “absolutely not”. In reading about the method of action, it appears it attacks the cell walls of the bacterium (neat), but will also do the same for dairy products decreasing the overall effectiveness.

Due to other warnings, I’ve stopped all vitamin intake (one multi, one for my eyes). The other one, has the strict warning of no, absolutely no alcohol consumption. This is also fine, as I stopped drinking when I broke my arm, since my body still needs to heal from all that.

The dairy though. Generally breakfast is Yogurt from Radiance Dairy, very low sugar granola and a mix of formerly frozen strawberries and blueberries. I will often have dinners that include or are based on cheese. Coffee, usually includes milk from Radiance Dairy, or another one, since I don’t want to aggravate my stomach to much. So we’ll see how I do. Shannon has swapped to oat milk, already so I’ll be able to free ride off of that previous change in her diet.

I’m supposed to be on a soft food diet, whatever that means, so I’ll do my best to consider how things should break down. So no meat pieces, but ground should be OK. I’ll avoid spicy items

We have some credits donated by my wonderful co-workers (Thanks all!), so I’ll plan to make it easier to figure out how I am. I’ll attempt to go back to work tomorrow. I’ll make some accommodations for Shannon, cause just cause I’m in a less then desirable food place doesn’t mean she has to be.

  • Sausage (case free brats)

  • Egg, Sausage (case free), English muffins

  • Ramen, Veggies and Eggs

  • Bison Burgers (saw these in the freezer looking for something else)

  • Peanut Butter and Jelly Melt, maybe just toasted, since butter will probably be better, but, avoiding.

2024 - Week 19 Cooking Results

Sausage

Skipped

Ramp and Sausage Risotto

This is a familiar recipe that I have made yearly, at least, since I first found it. Quite good, and wonderful, though I didn’t get to eat much in the way of leftovers, as I double the recipe, as the next day I didn’t each lunch, or dinner…

Pizza (using a sourdough dough)

Skipped. By the time I got home the dough had over-proofed, so I didn’t want to deal and adjust and etc, also really tired.

Mortadella and grilled cheese

I made these, and they were good. I really like the combination.

Glazed Salmon

Skipped.

2024 - Week 18 Cooking Results

Fish sticks

Easy meal as I start to recover. Did not have the same sort of joy that I remember from childhood, but what does?

Sloppy Sammys

Able to make, able to eat with out to much spilling. Good Things.

Pasta

So this started as hey, when it comes down to I can used jarred sauce if I’m tired. Then, ooh Chelsa’s Focaccia, I can make bread sticks out of that. Then ooh Blue Gate has baby bronze fennel fronds, I can add that to a my pasta sauce. Then I saw some quark (Milton Creamery) and baguette (3 bean) at the Iowa Food Coop, I can make a creamy garlic bread (bread, garlic powder, quark, garlic powder, shredded parm).

Shannon loaded up the pasta pot with water and placed it on the stove for me. I was able to make a good sauce with a yellow onion, two red peppers, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and some Italian sausage. Seasoned with herbs, then right near the end, the baby bronze fennel fronds.

Creamy Sesame Noodles

I made this a bit earlier in the week, and when it comes down to it, I almost didn’t make it to carry my 10” saute pan and 3 packs of ramen with water to the sink (galley kitchen, it’s like turning and two steps). My left hand was not able to do its part, but I was able to drain the noodles and get things put together. I imagine this is entirely customizable, as I didn’t really measure anything, but used most of the suggested item.

I have time marked on my calendar 4 times a day to do my stretches and exercises, here I call it “Desk OT”. Other then missing one, when I was at in person occupational therapy, I have been able to keep up. Though Yesterday I slept a bit late and had things to do so some were with in an hour of each other. There is a lot of getting things back to as normal as possible. Things are becoming easier but there are other things where it has been frustrating (unable to press a thing with my left fingers). But for the most part things are going well. Shannon has been a huge help and benefit by changing my bandages, and helping me get ready. Over the course of this I have taken 5 days off. I have an upcoming doctor appointment, and 3 scheduled OT appointments.

I am a bit disappointed in my own management of bandages and wraps and things. As we went to pick up a few things after 9:PM. But we should be in pretty good place after Tuesday.

2024 - Week 17 Cooking Results

Sausage

As always, good things.

Mac & cheese

Once again with the Beecher’s, good things.

scrambled eggs and hash browns (direct repeat, but what are you gonna do?)

I was able to pull this together, with some bacon that was from something skipped last week. I did get a bit of bacon splatter to the face. Good dinner.

Creamy Sesame Noodles

Delayed!

I was quite out of it for the time where Steve Vai and Joe Satriani would have been performing. I suspect I wouldn’t have remembered much. Oh well.

By all metrics surgery went well, at least according to the discharge instructions and what Shannon said. I think it took a bit longer than expected (estimated 2-2.5 hours, probably closer to 3-3.5). The good doctor was able to put my well broken radius back together and connect the ulna in the one break. I meet with the doctor on Monday.

We got home, I made my self comfortable on the a chair, and we discussed dinner. At the time, I couldn’t think about eating, but by the time she got home, I was thinking about eating. So I had her pull together a cheese and meat tray with pretzel crisps. Which really hit the spot.

My left arm was effectively dead to me, with the nerve block in place. As Shannon was tucking me in, we both watched my arm slide off my belly and fall to my side and just laughed at it. After getting another pillow to brace my elbow to hold my arm up, I was able to sleep with my arm elevated as it should be. Around 3:AM, I got up to relieve myself and didn’t initially notice that my arm was holding itself up. I woke again around 5 and was finally able to move my fingers. Around 6:30 when I started to get motivated to get up, I was able to wiggle my fingers hi to Shannon as she got up.

Because opiates scare me so much, I’ve already started to ramp down. Late Friday I swapped to dual action pills (combo of ibuprofen and acetaminophen) and am watching the dosages.

While it was uncomfortable and my right hand got tired, I was able to drive us to Cedar Rapids to celebrate my fathers 75th birthday. I was able to see an uncle and aunt, and catch up with a couple of my brothers, and spend time with them. I enjoyed my meal quite a bit. On the way home, we ran into a storm close to Iowa City and driving west from Iowa City, we had to slow down, put the hazards on and we followed a semi for 20 or so miles, before we got to a lower level of rain, where the fastest setting could keep up at a higher speed. Eventually, we got to the point where the weather was no longer a concern. Then back to my right hand getting tired. I guess one doesn’t realize how often they switch hands, when driving.

The Tigers of the Dale of Beaver

After a day of earning wages, our hero’s plan for the evening was to help disassemble a cooking implement to send home with his parents for a birthday celebration.

This was a challenging task, as two of the four there were on restrictions of one sort or another. Slowly, but surely, bolts were removed and pieces loaded to head out.

Clearly everyone had been around a bit too long, as one of the many tigers located in the Dale of Beaver leaped over a fence, crossed the modest land holdings and charged in. Fortunately, the hairs on our hero’s back stuck up and he ducked to the side.

The tiger leaped over our hero and turned to attack others. Our hero had no choice but to stand and charge. Our hero blocked routes to his partner and parents. The tiger charged again, roaring. By luck our hero was able to redirect the charge away again.

The battle continued, swipes and punches were exchanged. Our hero fought on and with a moment of time and a burst of adrenaline, our hero was able to leap in the air and do an elbow drop on the back of the tiger.

Our hero yelled out, mostly in pain, but the tiger decided to cut his losses, and charged off.

Our hero’s mother, father and partner went to help, but clearly something was wrong.

After a bit of safety and a drain in adrenaline, our hero went inside their humble home to try and clean his hands. When attempting to do so, our hero noticed something poke up through his skin near his left elbow.

Our hero and partner sent his parents home, instead of sharing a meal. Our hero and partner headed to a nearby medical facility.

Apparently there had been quite the night, with many people who appeared to be sick, others who may have had their own interaction with tigers.

So let this be a warning to those who come visit to the Dale of Beaver, there are tigers and they can be aggressive.

During a recent performance at the temple theater, I have taken to heart, “If the story is boring, add a tiger”.

2024 - Week 16 Cooking Results

This week took a bit of a turn, Computer interaction has been harder then normal. My left arm and hand are mostly useless right now. My schedule has been off, and it takes a lot longer to do things. Shannon is being extraordinarily helpful as I get used to this temporary condition.

My lower arm is broken in two places near the elbow. I have scraping along my belly, bruised knees and a broken toenail. After an Emergency Department visit on Wednesday, and a consult with an orthopedic surgeon specialist on Friday, I have a conveniently regularly scheduled primary care provider appointment on Monday, and a cardiologist appointment, Tuesday leading into surgery on Thursday.

Overall the experience has been painful, but interesting. After hearing of a friends own arm break I may got of easy, pain wise. There was a period of pain and shock, but after I got my arm into a comfortable place it wasn’t to bad. I had to move it for x-rays (showed large break and indicated small break) and a CT scan (showed shattered part of small break). and when they put a partial cast on. and, at least for the cast, I was on some heavy pain killers.

For a lot of things, it just takes longer. For some, minor adjustments, and things are ok. For some others, I haven’t figured it out yet (bread bags, zip bags, cutting with one hand, etc). For work typing takes quite an extra amount of time. I’ve had it been suggested to use voice to text, which I’ll try Monday.

Sausage

A quick dinner before we ran off to see Happily at the Varsity, The movie was darkly enjoyable.

Chicken Salad

I used leftover pulled chicken, that I ended up not using on a salad, and made a nice chicken salad. A good easy Sunday meal,

Eggs and Hash Browns

Need to make freezer space, so this is came up as a thing to do. Good things.

Toad in the Hole

Yeah…skipped will come back later to it.

Glazed Salmon

Dropped the salmon into the freezer.

2023 - Week 39 Cooking

I went to my follow up primary care provider appointment, and I’m back to being just barely mildly anemic, which, by comparison, feels pretty good. I have one more test this week, small intestine study, and after that I should be at about as normal as it gets. Everything else appears to have gone back to normal and I’m supposed to stop taking my iron supplement. So progress. I started using the iOS 17’s mood tracking to keep closer track of what is going on, and even though the times of darkness are there from time to time, so far, content or neutral feelings are what mostly gets recorded. Which is as I generally expect.

Balloons from Hospital Stay - Helium Loss

After my hospital stay, we brought home the balloons and they slowly lost height over time. I had a funny idea of making it into a race to the bottom, which people seemed to enjoy. So here is the photo set over time (June 18, 2023 through August 21, 2023).

Hopefully Máni will be able to make it back into the living room, now, since the balloons scared him. The same with the ceiling fan, which is why we never turn it off now, so perhaps that talks to some trauma he had as a very young kitten (son of a feral mother).

2023 - Week 34 Cooking Results

Sausage

Chili and cheese hot dogs…they were ok.

Bangers and Potatoes

I thought I had some additional potatoes then the ones I bought at the farmer’s market. However, they had gotten a bit gross, so I tossed them. So less potatoes, but bangers…good things.

Eggs and Bacon Sandwich

Delayed

Chicken Salad with Kimchi

I followed this for the most part, but did end up skipping some of the oil, and the sesame seeds, though I added toasted sesame seed oil and then adding mayo. I figured it probably wouldn’t be great to eat tiny seeds when I was about to have a colonoscopy. I liked this overall it was nice, however when I was fasting the next day to prepare for the colonoscopy, it was there, tempting me, calling me to eat some of it. But I resisted.

I had my 4th or 5th colonoscopy earlier this week, less than 5 years after my previous one. The prep was a bit different, though that may be that I forgot the last time, and a kind of annoying change. Waking up early, drinking the last quarter (more like fifth) of the solution wasn’t exactly how I wanted to spend my morning. Things turned out ok. One benign polyp. After we stopped by 5 boroughs bagels. I ate the bagel with smoked salmon and capers, while Shannon drove us home. I felt awake, but after trying to watch a show, I started to nod off. I went upstairs and napped for a good 3 hours. That night, we picked up sandwiches at the Cheese Shop for dinner.

Going out to pickup dinner on Saturday, I realized that Ingersol Live was going on as parking was challenging. I did find a spot, and got in and out right quick.

2023 - Week 33 Cooking Results

Sausage

Bacon and Cheddar, good things.

BLT

The tomatoes were starting to go, so I grabbed some of the cherry tomatoes and sliced them for adding to the sandwich. That plus hook’s 3 year, mayo, bacon and a sourdough bread. Good Things.

Eggs, Tomato and Bacon Scramble

Chopped up a tomato added that after the bacon was almost done, then let the eggs fill in the space. Pretty good.

Skillet Tortellini with Sausage and Cherry Tomatoes

This is so easy to put together and with the fresh cherry tomatoes, good things.

Brazilian Chicken and Rice

Easy to put together. bought a new spice grinder for the purpose of grinding annatto. The one I had before is more ore less basically useless. I added a bit of extra water, to control the rice a bit more, and everything really cooked up as expected. As I’m not quite sure what a Brazilian flavor profile is like, i’m not sure what else to add to this, but I did add a couple of dashes of hot sauce for my own bowl. It was good, easy to do and has lots of leftovers.

Lamb Burgers with Corn with Cherry Tomatoes, Ricotta Salata

In trying to get that iron in my diet, lamb and beef are around the same, so why not do that?. Good things. I made a side salad and used feta instead of the Ricotta. Everything came together pretty well and I was happy. The combination of the tomatoes and the corn with some fat and acid, was quite good.

I made my first trip down to the farmer’s market, since I went to the hospital in June. It was nice to get there early enough to avoid the general ruckus, but still feel the presence of others. I even didn’t have my headphones on for most of it. I picked up a few things, ate some breakfast and then headed home. It was pressing my abilities a little but I got through without feeling faint, which is a positive. I have been feeling a lot more normal and with the normal amount of energy.