Merry Christmas to Me!

Last week I had labs drawn, and I got the results yesterday.  My MELD score has gone from 15 to 14.  Yay!  As "the Martha" would say, it's a good thing.  Not much else to report.  Just looking forward to Christmas.  Have a happy holiday!

What is that noise?

I had to run home at noon to grab a pan of stuffing.  While I was there I heard the oddest sound.  Much like "The Night Before Christmas," I sprang to the window to see what was the matter!  Trucks.  Pickups, not construction in variety.  SUVs, and cars!  How, when, what?  It couldn't be!!  The street was open.  I looked further.  All the bypass lines were gone.  No silent generator.  No road blocks.  Totally and completely open.  My Christmas wish had come true!  Oh joy!  Oh happy day!

Ok, enough exclamation points.  Time for another recipe.  Last week we got a meat and cheese tray from SDN Communications for the holidays.  One of the dips on it was good.  Zesty.  Zingy.  I couldn't immediately identify the taste.  I asked if it was horseradish.  Yes!  What--I don't like horseradish.  Well, in some forms I apparently do.  It was so tasty that I had to try recreating it.  And I did pretty darn good at it.  So here it is:

Horseradish Spread

2 (8 ounce) package. cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

1 teaspoon brown mustard

3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 small jar Inglehoffer’s Extra Creamy Prepared Horseradish

1/4 teaspoon ground sea salt

1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

3 Tablespoons chopped chives

Mix all ingredients and beat together until smooth.  Make at least one day ahead.  Store in a covered container in refrigerator.  Serve with crackers, vegetables, or your favorite dippable!

Goose Day!

It is an unseasonably warm day here in Pierre for being mid-December.  Still, sunny, and in the mid-50's.  The huge population of Canadian geese has taken advantage of that and is spending the day at the river.  Usually they are up on the  Capital Lake by the state capitol building enjoying their circulated, heated water.  But it was warm enough to take flight today.

As the sun begins to set, large flocks of them burst suddenly from the grass to take flight against a western twilight sky.  It is beautiful!  If I thought my camera would be able to capture that, I'd sit in wait for the next flock.  But it's a bit too dark already to see their silhouettes against the fading azure and orange sky.  But I did get out this morning and took a few pictures of them ambling through the neighborhood and flying away as I ran toward them.  My grandmother once told me that geese will bite.  That must be the flocks of domesticated white geese on farms.  These giant Canadians would have Paula Deen in fits.  Instead of Turducken, she'd have to figure out Duturken. Those geese would never fit into any turkey I've ever seen at the market. And as I talk about roasting them, the geese have begun honking in protest.  "Cook me?  Why don't you come out here now and think that, girlie!"

Anyway, here are a couple of shots (ah ha ha I crack me up) of the geese earlier today.

Across the street at the Farm Credit building.

Lift off!

Flying away on the wings of a goose!

Ok, time to go dunk the mint Oreos in the melted white peppermint chocolate now.  And the dip the butterfinger bars into some melted chocolate.  It's a merry almond bark Christmas! 

Happy 1/2 Birthday 'Little Stinky!'

Yesterday was the 6 month anniversary (1/2 birthday) of the discovery of the sinkhole on Missouri Avenue in front of my apartment.  It you go to the post with the flood photos, you'll see the sinkhole from discovery to excavation.  Well, I was tired of the constant noise from the bypass pump's generator.  I'd been told it would be finished several times a week, beginning with the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  After a month of getting nothing but the runaround, and a complete lack of sleep, I told the City to get it done or put me up in a nice hotel since my health couldn't take much more of that.

The generator was still running yesterday morning.  I ordered a 1/2 birthday cake from Wal-Mart.  Yes, to answer your question, they did think I was crazy.  But it was yummy and much enjoyed by my co-workers.  Although the horseradish spread on the meat and cheese tray from SDN wasn't the best accompaniment ever.  I took the cake's picture.  I sent it to the City.  They called to tell me the generator was shut off at 4 PM.  I couldn't comprehend the silence when I got home.  I kept nodding off.  Had to schlep back to work to reset some dialing.  Went home, ate dinner, went to bed.  Even having to get up several times during the night didn't keep me awake because there was no noise.  Just blessed silence!  So, here is 'Little Stinky' the sewer cake (yeah, not the best name for sure):

Little Stinky is 6 months old!

For Dr. A.

I saw my local doctor today, and we had a couple of laughs.  When I was in the hospital in September, Dr. A. assured me that they did not use monkey livers or other parts for transplants after I was a bit out of it with the encephalopathy.  Well, Dr. P. made a comment about transplants coming down to getting the right parts when they need them.  I reminded him that they could always try the monkey parts.  He said one of his patients having neck work done wanted to know if he'd be able to play the piano after surgery.  Sure Dr. P. told him.  The patient said good--he'd always wanted to be able to.  Maybe if they tried an organ grinder monkey part he could!  Wrong organ, said Dr. P.

And just as an FYI--I've now allowed that sock monkeys are cute.  But they are the ONLY monkeys I want to see or hear about.  Still hate all other monkeys.  I don't care if monkey DNA is only about 2% different than human DNA (thanks, Dr. P.).  My wish for the holidays is that anyone tormenting me with monkeys grows a monkey tail.  A long, ugly, smelly one!  That itches.  A lot.

Had some blood work done, so I should have the results in a few days.  But everything seems to be going well.  The reduction in the dosage of lactulose seems to be working just fine, and I'm not so yucky feeling from it now.  Here's hoping that I'm still about a 15 on the MELD score.  I'll have to check with Milwaukee after they get the fax.

Pierre Still Filling Sinkholes

Here is the sinkhole in front of my apartment building.  (Just click the link below).  You can see the corner of a cedar building in a couple of shots.  It's already much smaller than it was, but still not filled. I was guaranteed the bypass pump would be gone yesterday.  It's still pumping noisily away out there!  And the city doesn't bother to return calls for updates.  According to the news story, they hope to have it filled by next week.  I've already been boiling water since the 5th!  Ok, I don't actually drink the nasty Pierre water, but I use it for cooking, and I have laundry to do.  I don't want murky brown whiles!  And I had to rinse my grapes with bottled water on Wednesday.  They have until Thursday next week--otherwise I'm getting out the Christmas lights to cover everything out there.

Pierre Still Filling Sinkholes

Christmas Baking Interuptus

I love to bake!  Yes, I like to cook, but baking has always been my relaxation, my creativity.  I was talking to Brandy at my doctor's office last week about how much I was looking forward to baking.  I have bags of flour, sugar, chocolate chips, tons of butter and margarine, peppermint candies and fruit to do my baking.  I was supposed to start last week, but couldn't seem to get motivated to do it.  It happened again this weekend.  And Monday is my treat day at work.  Good thing I bought meat,cheese, olives, chips and salsa.  The only thing I''ve made is my "polar bear crunch," which is popcorn and pretzels drizzled with fudge.

Why can't I get motivated to do my baking?  I think it's Dr. B's fault here in Pierre.  When he removed my gall bladder last year, he accidentally removed my love of sweets.  I don't care if I eat candy, cookies, or even chocolate.  I just have no taste for it now.  How could that be?  I've always been a big fan of those things.  Now? Not so much. I'd rather make some cards, watch a movie, read a book, or even take a nap.  Choosing napping over chocolate?  How crazy is that?!  It could also be that I'm very tired.  I haven't slept well in nearly a month thanks to the pump in the manhole out in front of my place.  I've been assured by the City that is would be gone and those hole closed up the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  Then this past Friday--they would call me if it wasn't going to be done.  Guess what?  Not done, and no call!  Color me surprised.  I guess I shouldn't expect too much when I had to provide them with the date of discovery of the sink hole since they forgot to write it down to include on the FEMA paperwork.  This is the oversight provided by our wonderful mayor.  I'm thinking I'll vote vote anyone that runs against her.  She and I have had out issues anyway, so it's not much of a shock that I feel this way.

I did make a big pot of chili today.  The old-fashioned way even--simmering half the day on the stove rather than in the crock pot.  It sure was good!  Well, I'm finally feeling tired and finding it hard to keep my eyes open, so I'd best head off to bed.  G'night!