So...whats for dinner?

susan - that is craptastic news, and it has to be disappointing and scary. I want you enjoy your trip to the fullest and try not to think about this. Then return andstart the Xeloda and hopefully kick this progression to the curb.

That just downright sucks.

Oh Susan, not much more to add to the comments already expressed about this lousy news. I'm also glad you stood your ground about enjoying your trip w/o the uncertainty of SEs from a new drug in another country. You've already planned so much, you do not need to plan (even if it were possible) for that! Go and enjoy and know that you'll have a gaggle of kitchen tablers vicariously loving every day of your trip.

Had dinner out tonight...we won a lottery we did not even know existed for people who got their parish pledge in on time. So we were taken to dinner locally, along with a delightful octogenarian, by our young minister and her adorable husband. It was a delightful evening, and the food was good. I shared a caesar salad with DH, then had duck breast with butternut squash and maple brussels sprouts. For dessert DH and I shared a creme brulee, which was very nice. We had a fun intergenerational conversation that was quite interesting.

As Susan mentioned, our weather, while, not life threatening as it is reported to be in the midwest, was so cold, wet and dreary today that I kept wanting to add more fleece layers (which I did) or get under blankets (which was not an option since I was teaching) to prevent shivering.

So, brutal day.....made worse by a call from my SIL to tell us that my brother has been diagnosed with a moderate to severe dementia. I was not shocked since I have spoken with him somewhat frequently of late since SIL has been ill, and I noticed his cognition to be "off" in a variety of ways. He is a year older than I and in excellent physical shape...just had a knee replacement so he could get back to his running regimen.....but I have wondered about his memory issues for a while. It was shocking to learn suddenly that he can no longer drive, ( he's a real car enthusiast who never minded his 2 hour commute to work in LA), and SIL feels she cannot leave him by himself in the house. He is a former marine and FBI guy who took pride in his overall strength and character, so it is heartbreaking to think of what this must be like for him...if he even understands what is happening. It seems to be progressing rapidly, which is so scary. She said she'll let us know more tomorrow, since she was taking him for more tests today. Please keep him in your thoughts.....thanks.

Hubby brought home McDonald's last night because we had a meeting for our neighborhood association

Joyce, we cross posted, (((Hugs))) for you too!

OMG - it seems all of yesterday needs a re-do (one of my kids called it a re-over when little) except for Lacey's good dinner! Lots of tough news to digest

Eric, so relieved for you that DDwas not injured....and that her dad is handy with cars!

Sending hugs out to all of you with similarly stressful news about family and friends. You are right Joyce with the fine china analogy. We need to appreciate good health when we still have it...in varying degrees.

DH and I are headed to the gym to work some of this out in our heads. No further word yet from SIL. I had not mentioned in my post that my mother spent her last ten years with dementia, so while it would be easy for me to attribute DB's brain dysfunction to his Vietnam experiences, I am way more concerned about genetics. This is connected to why I decided to end my adjuvant treatment after experiencing cognitive concerns while on it. Fortunately, I mostly returned to my former abilities after stopping it...but time will tell.

Susan, are you headed out on the big bird soon? Have a safe and wonderful trip!!

Mommyof2, I like the McDonald's chicken classic sandwich.  It has a nice bun and I order the chicken grilled.  If I'm out and starving at lunch time, I will order one of the teensy hamburgers with mayo, lettuce, pickle and tomato.  That will hold me for a couple of hours. 

Eric, thank goodness your daughter wasn't injured.  I'm sure thoughts of what could have been are very scary for you and Sharon.  What was the situation that led to the crash? 

Joyce, hugs for you as you await news about your friends' health concerns. 

Nance, the lamb curry was very good and the cucumber yogurt sauce was a perfect accompaniment.  The lamb wasn't strong.  Based on this one package, I think that ordering from the Indiana farm was a good gamble.  I recommend the Tyler Florence/Florence Tyler--LOL--recipe.  The one drawback for me is that these Indian curry dishes aren't pretty.  Quite a dark murky color from browning the spices.  But full of flavor.  I made a carrot side dish that went very well with the lamb.  Steamed the carrots, drained them, cooked them in a small amt. of butter and then added maybe a tablespoon of Splenda brown sugar blend. 

The plan for tonight's dinner is to make a pizza.  I'll use Mary Ann Esposito's recipe for whole wheat crust, but I think I will do half whole wheat and half all purpose.  I have some packets of the pizza crust yeast that she uses.  This afternoon I'll roast some cherry tomatoes to use as a topping.  Have some fresh mozzarella and some part-skim milk mozzarella.  It's a great melting cheese.   Italian sausage is a must for dh.  Olives are a must for me so will use some kalamata olives.  The side will be a salad.  I bought some good artisan lettuce yesterday. 

DH's mother was one of 6 girls and she was the only one to develop Alzheimer's.  Her mother had either dementia or Alzheimer's.  DH's father had a sharp mind up to the end and it seems that dh inherited the sharp mind genes.  His memory is good and his recall of pointless information is phenomenal.  He amazes me when we're watching Jeopardy.  My recall of information I know is hit and miss.  There are times I feel fuzzy-minded. 

Susan....enjoy..

Susan - I want to hear wonderful things about this trip. Safe travels my friend

Lacey - did you see "Still Alice"? I found it very good if difficult to watch. Not depressing really, but easily could have been. So sorry to hear your brother is going this route.

Eric - how old is DD? I had my first car accident at 17. It probably made me a more careful driver.

OK - we assume Susan's "on the wing". What an adventure!!!

Minus, I have been so conflicted about seeing Still Alice. I very much want to, yet fear I will cry my way through it, given my family history. My very favorite aunt, who was a loving mother to me in more ways than my own, developed Alzheimers before she was very old. It was a painful journey for all of us. Maybe I'll watch it on Netflix at home with my tissues.

Thank you all for your support about my brother. Had a long talk with SIL today. I am amazed at how well she is handling what seems like the rapid progression of DB's dementia. Seems he has NPH, and will have a spinal tap next week to try to relieve some of the water pressure in his brain. With earlier stage cases apparently, if the patient experiences symptom relief, a shunt can be placed to reverse the condition. Unfortunately the neurologist told SIL that he was not optimistic about DB's situation. But one never knows, right?! He has been placed on Aricept, which is what my mother took for ten years, and it did slow things down for her. I hope it does for him. The most difficult thing is that SIL does not want him to know that she shared this news with the family, so my future conversations with DB will certainly be less than authentic until a time when he chooses to share what he is experiencing, if ever. I was able to suggest to SIL that she secure the guns they own, which she had not thought about. Fortunately, she agreed, which is a great relief to DH and me.

We had the last of our Easter lasagna tonight....with brussells sprouts, garden salad and french bread from Volante's. While shopping at Volante's DH introduced me to their apple cider donuts.....oh dear! Can't think of the last time I ate a donut...and these were out of this world. Really?! At the end of our work out session?! Yes, I totally succumbed and enjoyed every morsel!

Tomorrow morning we are attending the memorial service of a wonderful woman who just died at 103 and many many years ago as a home economics teacher in our town middle school, developed a job share for herself and another teacher when they had their first children....back in the 1950's.She was a woman I have always admired greatly and I look forward to celebrating her life.

Eric - good for you. My father (born in 1911) always has us by his side as he worked. He taught me to change tires & oil, wallpaper & paint, rototill gardens, set up sump pumps in basements, re-roof a house, etc. Not to mention how to balance a checkbook. To this day a hardware store is my favorite place to browse.

Lacey - yes, maybe Netflix for the movie. I hope the "slowing down" works for your DB.

Breakfast is fresh raspberries drenched in heavy cream. No calories there - LOL. Going to a Mercury Baroque concert this afternoon & out to dinner after - place to be determined at the time by mood & rainstorms.

Moon - hope everything goes smoothly with your cataract surgery.

The meal of 'Dunch' (4pm so either that or 'Linner') was at Ruggles Green. Everything is organic and they have a large vegetarian menu as well as gluten free. I had an open face sandwich - Italian bread, Swiss ham, both cheddar & swiss cheeses broiled & then organic fried eggs sunny side up on top. Yummy but enough for 4 people. Side dish was sweet potato fries. My friend had a 'veggie' burger that she said was great.

Moon, good luck on the cataract surgery. 

Dinner was barbecued short ribs, baked sweet potatoes and cabbage slaw with Savoy cabbage. 

Cooked 2 lbs of red beans today with the huge ham bone from the Easter ham plus a package of the leftover ham.  Tomorrow I'll cook brown rice and make a salad, maybe an enhanced slaw with the addition of cucumber and avocado.  May bake some corn bread, too.  We'll take the dinner to my mother's house and the sister who lives nearby and her dh will come to eat after church.  She will bring a jug of home-made iced tea.  The reason we have dinner there is that it's more comfortable for my mother to be in her own habitat where she can get around in her electric wheelchair. 

Just finished watching the Masters, recorded.  Tomorrow is stacking up to be an exciting final day. 

Hoping that Susan's trip is wonderful in every respect.