Yes, it has been twelve days since I last posted! I just didn't have anything very interesting to post......still don't, really. It's no fun to post about negative things, which I seem to be doing more and more lately, but darn it, bad things just keep happening to me.
We did go to Nancy's in Huntington Beach for Thanksgiving and there begins the sad tale. We always park in the alley behind their house, because they are only three blocks from the ocean and from downtown Huntington Beach, so street parking is NEVER available unless you get there very early or very late in the day. They always save a place for us back there so of course that's where we parked. We had two huge pumpkin pies and a big cassarole of candied yams to bring in, so Dick asked me if I would be okay on my own so that he could bring some of it in. I, of course, said sure, I can make it on my own. After he let me in the back gate, I was greeted by Jazzy (short for Jasmine), their beautiful golden retriever, whom I just love. Jazz has been recovering from a very serious operation on one of her back legs. I can never remember what it was she tore. I think it's the ACL. Anyway, she hasn't been able to get any exercise so was really fat since the last time I had seen her. On the way up to the stairs that go into their back door I was scolding her for being so fat, "You are going to have to go on a diet" I kept telling her. When we got to the stairs, she went ahead of me and climbed up on a very narrow ledge of bricks on the side of their house so that I could give her a big hug, which I have always done. It's her special way of greeting me. After I gave her a hug, she jumped down and went into me and knocked me down the stairs..........Yes, I landed, half of me on the bottom step and the other half on the cement walk. As I was going down, onto my left side, I thought to myelf "this is the way I'm going to die". I honestly thought I would land on my hip and break it. I have never known anyone my age who has broken a hip to really recover. It is a slow painful death. I actually landed mostly on my left thigh and had a huge hematoma a bit bigger than the flat of my hand. It is still very swollen and black and blue as many other parts of my body are. I fell with my right arm and shoulder into the dog house, which Jazz never uses as she is an indoor dog. Oh well, all I can say is that I am ever so grateful that I didn't break anything. I do have prettty strong bones, thank heaven.
Needless to say, I haven't done anything or gone anywhere since it happened. I do try to walk around the house as much as I can. At least my legs work. Both of my hands are in bad shape which makes it hard to type as a couple of days before Thanksgiving I smashed the top of my right hand between my first and second knucle on the top. I also hurt my left hand when I fell, so for a few days, I could hardly use either hand. I do feel that I am improving a bit every day though. It could have been SO MUCH worse. But enough about all of that.
I do hope that all of you who do celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful day. I qualified that because I have four blogging friends, out of my even dozen bloggers, who live in different countries, Linda in Scotland, Pam in Australia, Tima, who formerly lived in Canada, but is now living in Lusaka, somewhere in Southern Africa, and my photographer friend, Rune, who lives in Norway. They have reminded me that they don't really celebrate our holiday.
We certainly did have a big feast and it was truly enjoyable. We had planned to stay all night, but we went home at 7:00 because all I could think of was getting home and being able to sleep in my own bed. We meant to take a little bit of turkey home with us so that we could have a big turkey sandwich the next day. I actually eat only a couple of bites of turkey on Thanksgiving Day, but I do love my turkey sandwich on my homemade oatmeal bread the next day. When I called my friend, Verna, to tell her that she needn't pick me up to go to church Sunday, I mentioned that I had forgotten to bring some turkey home with us. She came by anyway with a nice big plate of turkey!! So we did get to have our wonderful sandwiches for two days, and how we did enjoy them!! I am so thankful for wonderful friends. We do have so many of them.
Speaking of wonderful friends, Sue and Jim Pike gave us a couple of really neat CD's today. Dick went over there to pick up the latest CD of the Reunion, "It Must Be Love", that we had ordered. They also gave us a CD of the oiginal Lettermen's Christmas album that they recorded for Capitol Records. Then I'll be darned if they didn't give us a DVD of the Reunion that they often show before a concert, to acquaint the audience with the three members of the reunion, Jim Pike, Gary Pike and Ric deAzavido. It gives a nice sketch of the history with clips from various shows that the Lettermen did in their hay days. They were on so many different T.V. shows etc. It is VERY interesting. So now, of course, we are not only avid fans of The Four Freshmen, but also the original Lettermen, And the REUNION! !
I think I've run my limit, so will sign off...........maybe, just maybe I will post earlier next time......................my love to all,.......................Darlene
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Nothing Happening Here
I have to tell you, this has been the laziest week I've spent in a long time. Honestly, I haven't done much. I'm trying to get to the bottom of a stack of magazines, catalogues, papers and just plain stuff that has been lying by the side of my chair on the floor. It piles up because I much prefer to read my kindle, so have spent a lot of time reading it this past week. I really need to get busy reading this stuff, or just throw some of it away. It has been quite a few days since I last posted, so I figured I'd better write something so I can get some news back about what some of you have been up to the last little while.
I did go to my hemotologist this morning and was quite surprised by the results of my test. When I last went, two weeks ago, my hemoglobin was 10.8 and today it was 12.6!! I can't even remember when it was that high. My doctor was quite amazed too and checked to see if the lab had made a mistake, but no, that was correct! Those last two iron infusions really worked! I do feel better. If it weren't for the constant pain I feel in my joints and muscles, I would feel downright wonderful. I'm not going to complain though. In fact, each day I wake up, I thank my Heavenly Father for another day.
Winter has really decided to pay us a long visit. Today we haven't even seen the sun, which is really unusual for the desert. From now on, our temperatures will be in the 70's and that is okay. I do wish the sun would come out though. I hate these gloomy days.
Tomorrow we are having a Ward Party and I have to make a dessert. I am trying to decide which one to make. I have so many yummy cake recipes, but I think it will either be my carrot pineapple cake or my oatmeal one. The menu will be baked ham with lots of those "funeral potatoes", salads and side dishes of various vegetables. I just know that I am going to break my diet on this one. Buffets are really hard for me. I love to taste a little of everything! I have done very well too, having lost 5 pounds in the last two weeks. I am now just verging on getting into the 150's which I haven't weighed in many many years. I am really determined to do it this time. But darn it, I just know that with our dinner tomorrow plus Thanksgiving Day, it is going to be tough going. I don't want to deprive myself, but I am going to try to practice restraint. Wish me well.
I do hope that all of you will have a great Thanksgiving Day. I just realized that it is a week from today! We are going to Huntington Park to have dinner with my oldest daughter, Nancy and some of her family that I haven't seen for some time. It will really be nice to see everyone and we are going to stay overnight, so we won't have to drive home in the dark. I REALLY hate to drive, or even ride in a car after dark.
Forgive this short, rather uninteresting report, but at least you will know that I'm still here and doing okay. Love to all..................
I did go to my hemotologist this morning and was quite surprised by the results of my test. When I last went, two weeks ago, my hemoglobin was 10.8 and today it was 12.6!! I can't even remember when it was that high. My doctor was quite amazed too and checked to see if the lab had made a mistake, but no, that was correct! Those last two iron infusions really worked! I do feel better. If it weren't for the constant pain I feel in my joints and muscles, I would feel downright wonderful. I'm not going to complain though. In fact, each day I wake up, I thank my Heavenly Father for another day.
Winter has really decided to pay us a long visit. Today we haven't even seen the sun, which is really unusual for the desert. From now on, our temperatures will be in the 70's and that is okay. I do wish the sun would come out though. I hate these gloomy days.
Tomorrow we are having a Ward Party and I have to make a dessert. I am trying to decide which one to make. I have so many yummy cake recipes, but I think it will either be my carrot pineapple cake or my oatmeal one. The menu will be baked ham with lots of those "funeral potatoes", salads and side dishes of various vegetables. I just know that I am going to break my diet on this one. Buffets are really hard for me. I love to taste a little of everything! I have done very well too, having lost 5 pounds in the last two weeks. I am now just verging on getting into the 150's which I haven't weighed in many many years. I am really determined to do it this time. But darn it, I just know that with our dinner tomorrow plus Thanksgiving Day, it is going to be tough going. I don't want to deprive myself, but I am going to try to practice restraint. Wish me well.
I do hope that all of you will have a great Thanksgiving Day. I just realized that it is a week from today! We are going to Huntington Park to have dinner with my oldest daughter, Nancy and some of her family that I haven't seen for some time. It will really be nice to see everyone and we are going to stay overnight, so we won't have to drive home in the dark. I REALLY hate to drive, or even ride in a car after dark.
Forgive this short, rather uninteresting report, but at least you will know that I'm still here and doing okay. Love to all..................
Monday, November 5, 2012
Another Busy Week
It's hard to believe that ten days have gone by since my last post. I really didn't plan for such a long time between posts, but I have been very busy this past week. Let's see, On the 27th we went to the funeral of a good friend that I used to be very close with when I lived in Northridge with my first husband. That was some forty plus years ago. We were both in Chatsworth Ward. (For those of you who are not LDS, a Ward is a congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more familiarly known as the Mormon Church.) Marilyn was also a musician. In fact she used to accompany me when I played in various places throughout Southern California. She was a very accomplished pianist. It was suprising then, when one day a few years ago they moved to Indian Wells, which is the town just across the street from us. Of course we were happy to be in the same ward again. Both of us had pretty much retired from our music by then. A few years ago Marilyn's brain started to deteriorate and to make a long story short, she ended up not even knowing her own family. Her husband, Jack, (who used to be our dentist) took care of her for years until he finally had to put her into a small private care facility where she was for a little over a year before she died. It was really sad because she used to be so active always.
Then on Halloween we made chili verde and took it over to another friends house, so that we wouldn't be home when a zillion kids came by for "trick or treat". We don't even have any kids in our neighborhood. It's interesting to note that when we got home we found all the lights were on..........dumb, huh. No damage anywhere though, so the kids didn't take their revenge for our not answering the door. I swear that I think they must bus all those kids in from somewhere else. These guys, Jim and Verna live in a gated retirement community and no children are there. Her husband was in a rehab center at the time, being cared for, after his hip was replaced when he fell. He is now home, thank heavens and seems to be doing well so far.
Friday I had to go to the infusion center to be infused with my second injection of iron. That took about an hour and a half, so it was pretty late when I got home as I didn't go until 3:00 in the afternoon. It really did help though as I have felt quite a boost of energy since then and I just hope it lasts for a long time.
Saturday night we had the Pike's over for dinner and had such a great time with them, getting to know them better and talking a mile a minute. Of course we learned a lot more about his experiences with The Lettermen, as well as a lot of other groups he sang in. His new book has just come out, along with his new album. I will have to tell you where you can go to get copies of both, because if you buy them both, you get a break in cost. I have forgotten the address though. You can probably find it by just typing in "Reunion", which is what his new group is called. The book is SO interesting. It is titled "My Lettermen Years, The Journey To Hell and Back". He was in the group for about twelve years and then he lost his voice. About ten years later, it came back. He really did go through hell during that time. I won't go into more, but you would really enjoy the book, I know. When he was pretty much recovered, (he still has problems with his speaking voice but at least his ability to sing came back), he started the "Reunion."...........A couple of hours ago, Sue called and wanted the recipe for my wonderful baked chicken that I got from my daughter Sue. Jim's wife's name is also Sue, hence the reference to "my daughter" whom most of you know. She said that Jim has not stopped raving about how tender and juicy the chicken is and how he loved the sauce. I guess I will have to give you all the recipe. I have to tell you that it is one of my prized possessions and I always make it whenever I invite anyone to dinner for the first time. I have surely given out this recipe to all of my friends and they make it often.
Sue's Baked Chicken:
6 boneless and skinless chicken breasts
swiss cheese, several slices
2 cans cream of celery soup
1 cup sour cream
2 Tablespoos sherry (I just use regular sherry, not the cooking kind)
French-fried onions
3 Talblespoons melted butter
Put celery soup, sour cream and sherry in a bowl, stir and set aside Place chicken breasts in a lightly greased 9x12 pan or pyresx dish. Cut slices of swiss cheese and put on top of chicken breasts, completely covering. Pour the soup mixture over the chicken, being sure every part of the chicken is covered. Slightly mash French-fried onions with your hand as you sprinke them liberally over the top. Add the melted butter by dribbling it across the top. Put in preheated oven at 350 degrees for an hour. Enjoy!! I usually serve this with either white or brown rice, but you could use any kind of pasta too.
Sorry, no pictures (as usual)
Love to all,
Darlene
Then on Halloween we made chili verde and took it over to another friends house, so that we wouldn't be home when a zillion kids came by for "trick or treat". We don't even have any kids in our neighborhood. It's interesting to note that when we got home we found all the lights were on..........dumb, huh. No damage anywhere though, so the kids didn't take their revenge for our not answering the door. I swear that I think they must bus all those kids in from somewhere else. These guys, Jim and Verna live in a gated retirement community and no children are there. Her husband was in a rehab center at the time, being cared for, after his hip was replaced when he fell. He is now home, thank heavens and seems to be doing well so far.
Friday I had to go to the infusion center to be infused with my second injection of iron. That took about an hour and a half, so it was pretty late when I got home as I didn't go until 3:00 in the afternoon. It really did help though as I have felt quite a boost of energy since then and I just hope it lasts for a long time.
Saturday night we had the Pike's over for dinner and had such a great time with them, getting to know them better and talking a mile a minute. Of course we learned a lot more about his experiences with The Lettermen, as well as a lot of other groups he sang in. His new book has just come out, along with his new album. I will have to tell you where you can go to get copies of both, because if you buy them both, you get a break in cost. I have forgotten the address though. You can probably find it by just typing in "Reunion", which is what his new group is called. The book is SO interesting. It is titled "My Lettermen Years, The Journey To Hell and Back". He was in the group for about twelve years and then he lost his voice. About ten years later, it came back. He really did go through hell during that time. I won't go into more, but you would really enjoy the book, I know. When he was pretty much recovered, (he still has problems with his speaking voice but at least his ability to sing came back), he started the "Reunion."...........A couple of hours ago, Sue called and wanted the recipe for my wonderful baked chicken that I got from my daughter Sue. Jim's wife's name is also Sue, hence the reference to "my daughter" whom most of you know. She said that Jim has not stopped raving about how tender and juicy the chicken is and how he loved the sauce. I guess I will have to give you all the recipe. I have to tell you that it is one of my prized possessions and I always make it whenever I invite anyone to dinner for the first time. I have surely given out this recipe to all of my friends and they make it often.
Sue's Baked Chicken:
6 boneless and skinless chicken breasts
swiss cheese, several slices
2 cans cream of celery soup
1 cup sour cream
2 Tablespoos sherry (I just use regular sherry, not the cooking kind)
French-fried onions
3 Talblespoons melted butter
Put celery soup, sour cream and sherry in a bowl, stir and set aside Place chicken breasts in a lightly greased 9x12 pan or pyresx dish. Cut slices of swiss cheese and put on top of chicken breasts, completely covering. Pour the soup mixture over the chicken, being sure every part of the chicken is covered. Slightly mash French-fried onions with your hand as you sprinke them liberally over the top. Add the melted butter by dribbling it across the top. Put in preheated oven at 350 degrees for an hour. Enjoy!! I usually serve this with either white or brown rice, but you could use any kind of pasta too.
Sorry, no pictures (as usual)
Love to all,
Darlene
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