I am in a foul mood, and so is the language in this blog. You have been warned.

If this week starts out like today has been, I swear I will end up choking the life out of someone before Friday..Today has just been one of those days that everything I touch has turned to shit. And it just keeps getting better.

I am sick and tired of being dependent on others around me for even the simplest of things.. I can’t even make my own meal, unless it’s a sandwich, and I roll it up and tuck it in my pocket. Try going to the bathroom on one foot. Do I need to extrapolate?? 

I have to be driven everywhere I go. And don’t even get me started about those goddamn stairs outside my condo. There’s only eight of them but there might as well be eighty, trying to hope up each stair on one leg..Looking back, I should have just said fuck it, let it heal on its own and I’ll take my chances. That may yet happen tomorrow.

You try it. Go around for ONE day, using only one foot. I promise you that it will drive you crazy. Today was the first time I figured out how to dress myself completely, without help. Took almost 20 minutes, and I was exhausted when I was done, but I freaking did it…Then I figured out that since I had been rolling around on the floor (less distance to fall) I was covered in cat hair..fuck me.

Tomorrow I get to find out if these voodoo witch doctors want me in a cast for another month. I can already see my right calf disappearing before my eyes as it atrophies in the cast. My left leg looks like someone took a coat hanger to it, either beating against it or poking holes in it, a consequence of using this knee scooter. You ever tried going up or down stairs dragging a knee scooter??!! Don’t. It sucks.

 I am out of pain pills and it’s probably a good thing. Between the godawful itching and the incessant dehydration, they’re not worth taking. You’d think in this day and age these doctors could give me something that doesn’t have side effects worse than the pain..yeah, no shit. Ha, get it?? Yeah, that’s another WONDERFUL side effect of these pain pills. So I take aspirin and a bone supplement, both of which make me queasy the entire day..

Yes there are lots of other people out there worse off than me, but right now I am just bitching about my situation. I haven’t seen my right shoe to my favorite pair of tennis shoes for over a month.

And another thing. If I hear one more person whine about gun control, after we just passed the 18 Anniversary of Oklahoma City, and just now the Boston Marathon, and all the terrorist activity on American soil, both from Americans, and illegal aliens, I am not going to be responsible. Come talk to me when you have rid our country completely of all illegal aliens and then we can begin a reasonable conversation.

And before you ask, yes I have taken all of my meds so keep walking, there's nothing to see here...

RMH House, Popeye's in LEHI???!!

What a day. Lazy Saturday morning, then cooking at the Ronald McDonalds House this afternoon.  Couldn’t have done it without my grandson GS1, he carried everything and did my bidding. Oh, proud Grampa moment, he made a Chicken Noodle Soup, by himself. That means he cooked the chicken, mixed it, decided how much of each ingredient to put it, spiced it himself, the works!!! This young man is 15!!

A total of nine soups were made, all of which could have been served at any gathering.  Everything from a White Chili to Cheesy Potato Soup, my Kitchen Cupboard Chili, they were all amazing…

I did try the Roasted Tomato and Red Pepper Soup from Trader Joes, used it to make a vegetarian soup, just cut up some broccoli in it. I was surprised, it was actually a pretty tasty soup. Next time I am at TJ’s I will have to pick up some more to keep in my pantry. I also tried the Roasted Union Red Pepper dip from Pirate O’s.. Tasty, a bit sweet for me, I would have liked some heat in it, but I will buy it again for get togethers.

Pet Peeve time…We actually get a Popeyes that we can go to (there’s one on Hill Air Force Base, but most of us can’t get on the base) and they build it in LEHI??? Are you kidding me? Of course, that’s better than Long John Silver’s.. You get to drive all the way to freaking Rock Springs WY for it… Of course, we have been blessed with a Habit Hamburger Grill (actually two, one in Sugarhouse and one in Farmington)  excellent chow at VERY affordable prices. Get there early for a #1 Char Burger Combo, containing the Char Burger, Fries and a Drink for under $7.

Late breaking news, there’s also a Popeye’s at the Airport..sigh…

Ttfn..

Not sure why I am writing this blog..

I mean, what is a blog for? Who reads them. Why do they read them? Who writes them and why??

Over the past few years I've quit doing radio and TV because it wasn't fun anymore. It quit being worth the time invested..I'm trying to figure out if this blog is worth the time invested. Or should that matter?? Am I writing it for you or for me?

Jerome Idaho High School orders commemorative shot glasses for Prom? Bwahahahahahahah

Ah Wednesday...That means Survivor on TV tonight, love that show. Can't wait for another season of Big Brother either...

The news continues to be filled with more bits of information found in Boston about the bombings. I think it's interesting that no one has stepped forward to claim responsibility..What does it mean? Been doing some more reading on the use of pressure cookers as improvised explosive devices. There are numerous references on how to build these into bombs on the internet. Then again, information of that sort has been around for centuries..Back in the sixties it was the Anarchist's Cook Book. true story, look it up.

Speaking of which, how did we ever live without the internet? Ever stop to think about that? Want to fix something, go on YouTube, it's almost certain to be there. Here a while back my washer was leaking water. I had a pretty good idea what the problem was, and no idea how to open up the washer to get to the part. A quick search on YouTube revealed several videos..Five minutes later (with the aid of a paint scraper) the washer was opened up and repairs were started! Need a user's manual? Go online and you can usually find it. Order groceries, banking, medical records you name it, it's out there..I wonder how this will change in the next 20 years..Will the internet continue to be all you can eat, or will you be paying ala carte? Will upload and download speeds continue to improve? Browsers?

Look outside, look inside..Life still goes on around us. Embrace it, Enjoy it, Love it, then do the same to everyone around you...

Finished watching the old Battlestar Galactica, all 24 episodes last night. Starting the "new" Battlestar Galactica tonight. LOVE Netflix..for eight bucks a month

Jerome Idaho of all places..Ordering commemorative Shot Glasses for Prom...lol
YES..now I've figured out how to do links properly on my blog!!.

Obama frustrated with Congress...hmmmm

Joe Biden commented “If we don't get it today, we'll get it eventually,” he assured gun control supporters.
I am sure you'll try Joe, even though a VOTE was taken...

ttfn

Tuesday.....Gyro's and Tzatziki Sauce

Strange day today, watching all the stories of human kindness in Boston. Then more information about how the bombings were carried out. It has been a veritable roller coaster ride that I am sure will continue.

Five more days until this cast comes off. I’ve actually been able to cook a few dinners, so that’s helped to improve my mood some. Still dehydrated, even though I’m drinking a ton of water and trying to cut back on the diet soda. I think that my level of inactivity is creating its own set of issues, though before I broke my foot I wasn’t very active. I can tell you that after I get this cast off it will change. 

Preparations continue for dinner on Saturday night at the Ronald McDonald House. I look forward to this each month. This time we should have seven different soups for the parents and kids to try at their convenience during the evening. Hopefully this time everyone will get me their recipes in advance. I like to post the recipes by each dish so the families know what is in them, no guessing on their part. The families are always so grateful, we usually sit with them, engage them in conversation. Sometimes tears are exchanged, sometimes not, hugs as well. We always tell the families that we’ll be back next month, and hope they’re not there. When they are there the next month it’s always bittersweet.

Ronald McDonald House SLC

http://rmhslc.org/

Homemade Gyro’s for dinner. I don’t actually make the pita’s, but I do make the pork (Cavender’s Salt Free Greek Seasoning) and the Tzatziki sauce. I don’t blenderize my sauce, I like the chunks of cucumber in it. Probably use more dill than most would for the sauce, but I like a lot of dill.

Cavender’s

http://www.amazon.com/Cavenders-Purpose-Salt-Greek-Seasoning/dp/B000GWHFZA

Tzatziki Sauce

http://greekfood.about.com/od/dipsspreadspures1/r/Tzatziki.htm

Grocery Tip

Try Trader Joes for your kitchen spices, including Dill. VERY well stocked and priced.

Sad day today…

The Boston Marathon was bombed. Doesn’t really matter how many died, or were injured…they were…at the very least an eight year old died, trying to watch a sporting event. People aged from 3 to 70 in emergency rooms, at least two explosions, another controlled explosion and a bomb found intact and defused. It is most definitely a terrorist attack.

What has to be going through a deranged person’s mind to commit such a heinous act? I say deranged  because this was no act of war, it was deliberately aimed at civilians. Obviously you can’t understand it, because to understand it you must be one of them. The media glorifies it, wondering if it was a “Lone Wolf” or a group.  Yes cowardice can have many names and titles.

And special kudo’s to that throw-away channel 14 KJZZ, that was airing one of those judge shows instead of putting together some kind of coverage, even if it was off a satellite. No wonder I don’t watch that station.

It was snowing earlier today, and yet as I’m sitting here writing this the sun is poking out of the clouds, the birds are chirping, and life is going on outside my window. It has to, because if it doesn’t, if we don’t, then the perpetrators of this heinous act have achieved what they set out to do.

Please keep them in your prayers, meditation, thoughts, whatever it is you do, help in any way you can.

In the Kitchen

In the Kitchen Today

Food Saver

A vacuum bag sealing system will pay for itself. I use mine on cheese, freezer items, you name it. I buy just the basic machine, don’t use all the other bells and whistles, so you can usually find them for under $100.

Canning Jars

I found plastic canning jar lids on Amazon for about $7. I store beans, macaroni, and other dry goods in canning jars with these lids. You can also use them in conjunction with canning jars for items in your refrigerator.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SSN3L2/ref=twister_B0000BYC4B?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Beef and Bean Soup (pressure cooker)

1 lb Stew Meat

1 Chopped Onion

3 cups Sliced Celery

2 cups sliced Carrots

2 cans stewed tomatoes (optional – add into mixture in pressure cooker)

4 handfuls of dry beans (not soaked overnight)

Reduced Sodium Better than Bullion Beef Base to taste

Combine stew meat, onion, beans and half of the celery in the pressure cooker. Cover to fill line with water.

 Lightly spray the lid gasket with PAM, put on pan. Set the pressure regulator on the lid. Heat on high until pressure regulator starts to whistle. Start timer for sixty minutes. Turn down the heat until the pressure regulator is barely spinning.

After sixty minutes remove the pressure cooker from the heat, cool under cold water until pressure releases. Put the contents into a large stock pot, add carrots and reserved celery. Add Better than Bullion Beef Base to taste. Add fresh cracked pepper to taste. Cover and simmer until veggies are al dente.

Serve with warm bread. Enjoy!

Kitchen Shears

This is a tool no kitchen should be without. Better yet, you should have several pairs, in case you need to cut meat with one and veggies with another. Some will tell you to buy the ones that you can take apart to clean them. I own four pairs of shears, none of which  can be taken apart and mine can be cleaned just fine.