Journal

Progress

After a couple weeks with quite a bit of an iron supplement, my latest hemoglobin reading was up to 10.8 g/DL (up 2.2), so I’m gaining ground on getting back to normal after a bit of a set back.

Things that seem to be returning to normal is the relative difficulty, because of to much energy, falling asleep before 10:30 PM, now that seems more to be a bedtime marker, like I have previously set my watch to remind me.

However, my ferrous sulfate reading is still a bit low, looking at the history, it’s quite a bit lower then the reading from several years ago, but that seems as a meaningless context right now. I suspect I’m using almost all the ferrous sulfate is being used to generate blood. But I guess we’ll see the next time around.

After a just shy of 8 weeks of sobriety, I broke my streak by having a bit of Connemara peated whiskey on the rocks. This was after we got home from seeing Barbie (which was delightfully subversive). This was a general test to see how it impacts me. Generally it went about as much as I expected.

2023 - Week 30 Cooking Results

Sausage

All Pork Hot Dogs, Crooked Gap, All good.

Taco Salad

Beans, chorizo, iron, good as always.

Pork Burger

Shannon brought home some mini pretzel buns so we had little sliders and it was fun and good.

Mortadella Grilled Cheese

Mortadella is awesome. This was great.

Chana Makhani

I served this with flatbread and it was a nice Sunday dinner. A little spicy, creamy and good.

Three Cup Chicken

I made some adjustments, but generally, kept it about the same, served over some rice, and a good Friday night dinner, even though it was quite warm out.

2023 - Week 29 Cooking Results

Sausage

All Pork hot dogs have entered the room. All Pork hot dogs have been consumed.

Baked Potatoes

For the hash, I bought way to many potatoes so this seem like a low effort way to consume them. Baked, fried bacon, easy meal.

Pasta

Rao’s sauce that was picked up at Costco, made for a nice shortcut, though I did add sausage, onions, peppers. I meant to add diced tomatoes but opened the wrong can so I added some sauce and then deiced tomatoes and some more seasoning. Pretty good meal.

Sloppy Sammy’s

Good things.

Kung Pao Chicken

Simple to put together, simple to cook, fast dinner.

Chana Makhani

Delayed! I was going to make this Friday, but I had a bit of work to do around dinner time, so Shannon brought home dinner.

Setback

While I haven’t been normal, I had felt that I was getting better, but about a week and a half ago I started to feel drained, even with the lower marks that I expect. Friday 7/7 I even had to take a nap before the end of the work day. I messaged my provider earlier in the day and asked for another CBC test, which he approved.

After I got the test, on 7/10, it was noted that my hemoglobin had dropped a bit to 8.6 g/dL, which is still above the level that I left the hospital, but lower then 6/19 test after my last doctor appointment.

I have taken a a nap here and there during the day, limiting it to 15 minutes usually, and I was prescribed a lot of (OTC) iron supplement.

This is not the first time I’ve been on iron, as I have had anemia in the past, but it’s been the first time in a while.

I have a follow up blood test in a couple of weeks, to see how my body is doing, but it’s certainly frustrating to not be me.

As it stands, because I am uncertain what the impact will be, I am now at an unintentional 6 weeks (42 days) of sobriety.

2023 - Week 28 Cooking Results

Sausage

I used the second set of the Smoking Goose’s Kitchen Sink Sausage. Still quite good.

(Western) Iowa Loose Meat Sandwiches

Last time, I thought that it would be 2.5 teaspoons, and I think I was about right. Another half a teaspoon probably wouldn’t hurt, but again, this is pre-ground Costco pepper, so there is probably some loss here. I went back to the spongy plain white buns, but used a pre-sliced “sharp cheddar” (known mass market brand) and that added a bit, but not exactly what they wanted. Topped with ketchup and mustard, as it should be. I think that’s about what it should be and I’m pretty happy here.

Brown Butter Scallion Noodles

Super fast. I added some pre-cooked chicken and toasted them with the noodles. Good dinner.

Spicy Potato, Bok Choy and Shallot Hash

I suppose the potatoes that I go where not “Medium” as one of them were larger then the half pound that, after dealing wit h that this came together with a bit of the Bok Choy from Blue Gate to make a nice meal. I used the Lola’s Original hot sauce and it was a nice meal.

Beef Stir-Fry with Bok Choy and Green Beans

As my wife is not a huge fan of (non-ground) beef, I had to be very careful in the slicing and cooking of this as to make it relatively tender. I made this on a Saturday since there was a lot of prep and waiting. I meant to start earlier but I had done some kitchen cleaning, when up stairs and meant to just catch my breath a bit, but ended up falling asleep for a bit. I eventually got up and took a shower and started cooking. I made some Moroccan mint tea at the same time as well. I did make one minor error where I combined the sauce into the beef, but was able to adapt a bit but pulling the meat out and then cooking the sauce a bit longer when it would’ve normally gone in. I also added a bit more oyster sauce at the end to cover for that adaptation. Overall, pretty good.

Egg and Sausage Muffins

Crooked Gap breakfast sausage patties, Eggs, a bit of Challerhocker. Good times.

2023 - Week 27 Cooking Results

Sausage

I saw Smoking Goose’s Kitchen Sink Sausage at the cheese sho, so we bought that. Quite good.

Mac & Cheese

ehhh…I mean I had to add more spices, cause I had to. I Alton’s remains my favorite.

Hamburgers

With the 4th of the July on hand, we stayed in cause I pushed myself way to much over the past weekend. So some burgers, some chips and dip and an early night.

Broiled Salmon With Chile-Lime Mayonnaise

I didn’t find the harissa at the store I was in, the one I had in my fridge was a wee bit moldy, so that got tossed. So I used a bit of the Momofuku chili crunch (standard) the mayo and the brushed the salmon with that and broiled then baked. Not a bad audible call.

Hot Honey Peanut Noodles

Very fast, quite good, simple.

I had planned on going to the Mountain Goats show on this past Wednesday, but after over exerting myself, and having to have a end of day and close to end of day naps, I figured it would be very hard to stand for 2-4 hours in a warm humid concert (possible), as the combination of heat and humidity makes me tired real fast. My doctor took my suggestion and I’ll be able to get a mid appointment blood test to check on my levels.