Ok, I know the election is over, and I don't want this blog to become too politically oriented... but I got this from a friend and thought it was too good not to share. I like the original song anyway, and this guy is really creative!!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The foot saga continues
There are some species in the world, like starfish, that have the ability to regrow a limb if it is cut off or damaged in an accident. I'm really wishing that humans had that ability!
I know most of you have been keeping up on the foot saga, but if not, here's the recap: in August my foot started hurting, a lot, in the ball of the foot. Three different boots, one failed cortisone shot, an allergic reaction, a nuclear bone scan, and an and two doctors later, it still hurts.
So, my foot doc in Lawrence referred me to a doctor in KC for a second opinion. Dr. Laha (pronounced Lay-hay) was super duper nice and seemed really knowledgeable. You can see his website at http://www.kcfoot.com/. I went over there this morning for my first appointment. He noticed right away that my second metatarsal is shorter before even looking at the x-rays (I would call that "wicked smart" wouldn't you?). He poked and prodded and it was fun for all, especially the shooting pain that results when someone touches the part of my foot that hurts. He thinks that overall I never had a stress fracture, and it's been a neuroma this whole time.
I left the office back in my moon boot - I know, you guys think I'm just trying to copy Bella from Twilight, but it really helps. I also got a prescription for an anti-inflammatory and orders not to do much with my foot for the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, I have an appointment with the allergist to rule out whether I was actually allergic to cortisone or if it was a preservative or something used in the particular brand. Since I'm allergic to Opti-Free contact solution but not Renu, the preservative could very well be the culprit. Hopefully, they will find that I'm not actually allergic to the cortisone and they can try a different brand.
If the cortisone shots don't work, or, if I actually am allergic to them and can't have them, the next step is surgical removal of the nerve. Fun times! He said I did have a couple of other options - one is an experimental treatment that sounded cool until he told me it was over $1000 and insurance doesn't cover it, and it doesn't always work, and the second is to learn to live with it. Um, not liking option two so much either - if you've seen me walk you understand why!
I really do appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers. This has been a frustrating process for sure, but hopefully we are finally getting somewhere!
I know most of you have been keeping up on the foot saga, but if not, here's the recap: in August my foot started hurting, a lot, in the ball of the foot. Three different boots, one failed cortisone shot, an allergic reaction, a nuclear bone scan, and an and two doctors later, it still hurts.
So, my foot doc in Lawrence referred me to a doctor in KC for a second opinion. Dr. Laha (pronounced Lay-hay) was super duper nice and seemed really knowledgeable. You can see his website at http://www.kcfoot.com/. I went over there this morning for my first appointment. He noticed right away that my second metatarsal is shorter before even looking at the x-rays (I would call that "wicked smart" wouldn't you?). He poked and prodded and it was fun for all, especially the shooting pain that results when someone touches the part of my foot that hurts. He thinks that overall I never had a stress fracture, and it's been a neuroma this whole time.
I left the office back in my moon boot - I know, you guys think I'm just trying to copy Bella from Twilight, but it really helps. I also got a prescription for an anti-inflammatory and orders not to do much with my foot for the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, I have an appointment with the allergist to rule out whether I was actually allergic to cortisone or if it was a preservative or something used in the particular brand. Since I'm allergic to Opti-Free contact solution but not Renu, the preservative could very well be the culprit. Hopefully, they will find that I'm not actually allergic to the cortisone and they can try a different brand.
If the cortisone shots don't work, or, if I actually am allergic to them and can't have them, the next step is surgical removal of the nerve. Fun times! He said I did have a couple of other options - one is an experimental treatment that sounded cool until he told me it was over $1000 and insurance doesn't cover it, and it doesn't always work, and the second is to learn to live with it. Um, not liking option two so much either - if you've seen me walk you understand why!
I really do appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers. This has been a frustrating process for sure, but hopefully we are finally getting somewhere!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
President Obama
I couldn't let today go by without a blog post. I am really enjoying all of the festivities surrounding Barack Obama's inauguration today. We are so blessed to live in a nation where the transition of power can occur peacefully and smoothly, and citizens can witness it and participate in it. It was amazing to see the massive crowds in D.C., as well as the crowds in other cities across the nation.
The junior high where I work had an altered schedule today to allow time for all students to watch the swearing-in and the inaugural speech in their classes. Jeremy came up to school to see it with me, and we joined an 8th grade history class so we could see it on the big screen instead of my tiny computer (Thanks, Kelly!!). I was really impressed with the attention and respect our students gave to the occasion.
In reflecting on it later, I realized that the students we viewed it with were only in 1st grade when 9/11 happened, and probably don't remember a time when we haven't had challenges like the war in Iraq. They might have some memories of segregation from a grandparent's perspective, but certainly don't remember ever seeing it or having a discussion about race and school attendance (which I DO remember back in Odessa in the 1980's). They are just now coming of age and beginning to figure out what they think and believe separately from their parents and family. I wonder how many of them can appreciate the historical nature of what they saw today. For that matter - do I even really get it the same way that some of my older friends and family do?
I know not all of our readers voted for Obama and not all agree with his plans, but I think most would agree that this is a pivotal time in our nation's history. I hope that Americans will continue to take the time to get involved in our democracy, from our neighborhoods on up, regardless of their views on particular issues. I, for one, am excited to see what the next four years will hold and hope that they will live up to their billing.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
A picture is worth a thousand words
One thing I definitely inherited from my mom is a love of pictures - taking them and looking at them. Most would say I'm not QUITE as crazy on the taking end... love you Mom!
I can spend a whole afternoon playing with pictures and scrapbooking, and I could look at a friend's (or a stranger's) pictures for hours at a time. It's fun to remember good times, and it's neat to experience events that I couldn't attend through the snapshots of others. Video is all well and good, but honestly, give me a wonderful still photo any day. It just captures so much that the moving video misses. Ask any photojournalist and they'll tell you the same thing. Maybe I missed a calling? Anyway...
I'm starting a new project with a lot of old pictures, so you'll hear more about it as I work on it over the next few months. I'm currently getting started with scanning a few old pictures. These aren't necessarily the best quality, but it's fun to look at them. I thought I'd share a few.
I can spend a whole afternoon playing with pictures and scrapbooking, and I could look at a friend's (or a stranger's) pictures for hours at a time. It's fun to remember good times, and it's neat to experience events that I couldn't attend through the snapshots of others. Video is all well and good, but honestly, give me a wonderful still photo any day. It just captures so much that the moving video misses. Ask any photojournalist and they'll tell you the same thing. Maybe I missed a calling? Anyway...
I'm starting a new project with a lot of old pictures, so you'll hear more about it as I work on it over the next few months. I'm currently getting started with scanning a few old pictures. These aren't necessarily the best quality, but it's fun to look at them. I thought I'd share a few.
Here is one of my parents' engagement photos. They had fall ones just like Jeremy and I did, although theirs isn't quite as realistic. :)
This is a shot from my parents' wedding day, posed here with my dad's sister Gale and his grandmother Granny Henry (short for Henrietta). (PS to my bridesmaids - see, I could have made you wear a hat! I know, I know, it was in style at the time. Good ol' 1976!)
These next two shots are of my great-grandparents on my mom's side. The first are Mammaw and Pappaw (Grandma's parents) and the second are Nanny and Popo (Papa's parents). Both of these pictures were taken before I was born. I was fortunate enough to get to know three of the four of them - in fact, Mammaw lived to her 80's and Nanny and Popo both lived well into their 90's. Very unusual, I know!! I hope I got some of the longevity genes from them.
And one last one for today, this is a shot of my dad's mother, Margie. She died before I was born so I never got to meet her. On the back of this one, I found a note. It said, "Dear Ray, I wish for you all the very very best in life. Love, Mom"
I'll probably post some more as I scan them in - not all of them because you'll see the final project when I'm done, but a few here and there. Hopefully you find them as fascinating as I do.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Yum!
As you all know, I'm a big Rachael Ray fan - especially her recipes. The other night I tried a new one that was so absolutely delicious that I had to share it. Hope you enjoy making it - and if you're not a cook, you know what to request next time you come by our place for dinner.
This comes from Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats.
Ginger-Lime Chicken with String Beans and Wasabi Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
Zest and juice of 1 lime
3 tablespoons tamari (dark aged soy sauce, found on the international aisle)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Coarse black pepper
4 6-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 to 2 1/4 pounds baby Yukon Gold potatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup milk
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons prepared wasabi paste
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
Coarse salt
1 medium red onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/4 pounds string beans, trimmed of stem ends
1 1/2 cups chicken stock or broth
Steps:
In a shallow dish, combine the ginger, lime juice (make sure to remove the zest first), tamari, 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil, and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and toss to coat in the mixture; let marinate for about five minutes.
Fill a large sauce pot with water, add the potatoes, place over high heat, and bring up to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Drain and return the potatoes to the hot pot. Smash the potatoes with a masher and combine with the milk, wasabi paste, and 3 tablespoons of the butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.
While the potatoes are cooking, preheat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, add the marinated chicken, and cook on both sides for 5 to 6 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
Return the skillet to the heat with the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil, add the onion and garlic, and cook for three minutes. Add the string beans, toss, add the chicken stock, and bring up to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the beans are tender. Turn the heat off and add the lime zest and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, stirring until the butter has melted completely.
Divide the string beans and the sauce among 4 serving plates. Slice the chicken on an angle and place atop the beans, then spoon a big helping of the wasabi smashed potatoes alongside.
This comes from Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats.
Ginger-Lime Chicken with String Beans and Wasabi Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
Zest and juice of 1 lime
3 tablespoons tamari (dark aged soy sauce, found on the international aisle)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Coarse black pepper
4 6-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 to 2 1/4 pounds baby Yukon Gold potatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup milk
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons prepared wasabi paste
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
Coarse salt
1 medium red onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/4 pounds string beans, trimmed of stem ends
1 1/2 cups chicken stock or broth
Steps:
In a shallow dish, combine the ginger, lime juice (make sure to remove the zest first), tamari, 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil, and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and toss to coat in the mixture; let marinate for about five minutes.
Fill a large sauce pot with water, add the potatoes, place over high heat, and bring up to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer for 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Drain and return the potatoes to the hot pot. Smash the potatoes with a masher and combine with the milk, wasabi paste, and 3 tablespoons of the butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.
While the potatoes are cooking, preheat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, add the marinated chicken, and cook on both sides for 5 to 6 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
Return the skillet to the heat with the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil, add the onion and garlic, and cook for three minutes. Add the string beans, toss, add the chicken stock, and bring up to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the beans are tender. Turn the heat off and add the lime zest and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, stirring until the butter has melted completely.
Divide the string beans and the sauce among 4 serving plates. Slice the chicken on an angle and place atop the beans, then spoon a big helping of the wasabi smashed potatoes alongside.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
A new year, a new blog
Yeah, yeah, I had a blog, and I never wrote on it. I hear you guys, loud and clear. So, rather than update one that is WAY old, I thought, hey, why not start a new blog? New year and all, right?
Of course, since many of you just got our Christmas letter, you've heard a lot about what's going on with our little family. In case you missed it, here are some highlights from 2008.
Of course, since many of you just got our Christmas letter, you've heard a lot about what's going on with our little family. In case you missed it, here are some highlights from 2008.
We celebrated our second wedding anniversary in June with a trip to Wichita. We chose Wichita because our niece, Natalie, celebrated her third birthday over the same weekend.
This summer we also went to the Prichard reunion in Colorado. We hiked, white water rafted, and enjoyed the scenery while visiting with relatives from Jeremy's dad's dad's family.
We also took a trip to California. Jeremy's brother, Adam, graduated from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. Jeremy's mom, Alesia, came with us, and the four of us toured San Francisco and Monterey. Then Jeremy and I went to San Diego. It was lots of fun!
I'd planned on showing you lots of pictures, but apparently, Shutterfly doesn't link up as easily as it used to. For all of you other bloggers - do you upload your pictures to blogger directly, or do you use another site to host your pictures? Let me know, and I'll post some soon. In the meantime, check out the pictures on facebook. :)
Have a great day!
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