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RUTHXG's Recent Blog Entries
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Sunday, February 01, 2009
I have been thinking that I need a new go-to lunch food, to replace my one slice of rye or whole wheat bread with a couple of slices of ham or turkey. I think I've found it: dhal. I made my first-ever batch yesterday. Funny it took this long, since I've liked dhal for a long time, but I just wasn't in the habit of buying split peas.
It's basically split peas, cooked till they're mushy, & then combined with sauteed onions & spices including whole cloves & peppercorns (& cumin seed, but I haven't found that whole yet so I used powdered cumin) & cayenne pepper. I used more cayenne than I normally use for any dish, & I was worried that it might turn out too spicy, but it was just pleasantly so. IT WAS UTTERLY SCRUMPTIOUS. The whole batch was snarfed at our church's monthly potluck today. I have decided to soak another pound of split peas overnight tonight & cook them tomorrow, hopefully before work. Then I can saute the onions & spices when I get home & have it ready for supper--& leftovers for lunches.
My husband likes Indian food, but he's not really a fan of leftovers, so I figure it's mine after the first meal. Split peas have a respectable amount of protein, half a day's fiber (11g), & some iron to boot. Dhal is served over rice; I'll cook up a good batch of brown rice in the pressure cooker to have on hand this week.
Because we have learned about the perils of heating plastic containers in the microwave, I am now keeping a ceramic dish at my office & will use it to heat dhal over rice.
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In other news, my arm is no longer purple, & I can use it for most purposes. However, I still can't stretch my arm out straight, & there's some tenderness around the elbow. I thought the orthopedist was being awfully dismissive to assure me that it would be like new in 10 days. I would bet that many patients don't go back to him after being treated so casually on the first visit--so probably he doesn't have a realistic view of how long it takes for some injuries to heal! This week I'm going to call my regular doctor to ask if perhaps PT should be prescribed.
And also to let her know that I stopped taking the Rozerem that she was trying out with me to help with insomnia. After a while I figured out that it was actually stimulating me at bedtime--an effect exactly opposite to what was intended. Thankfully, I can report that these days I'm fine with the 25mg of Amitriptyline--am sleeping really well.
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Still not sure when I'll be coming back to SP on a regular basis. I do need to work on weight loss, but stresses in other areas of my personal life continue & I really want to use the little discretionary time I have to nurture my core relationships. But it's nice to have this space to collect my thoughts periodically about health issues. We shall see!
Monday, January 12, 2009
A DECAYING eggplant, now that the purple bruising is getting mixed with green & yellow. My arm is not broken, though, & indeed by Saturday it was well enough for me to spend nearly an hour shoveling snow in the alley! The snow had been falling all day & was still powdery; I love shoveling that kind of snow & my body was craving the exercise.
The orthopedist told me that I should be moving my injured arm now & periodically applying a heating pad to keep the muscle loose. He thought it would be fine in about 10 days. I'm glad we're in long-sleeve weather--I would definitely not like to show this mottled & still slightly swollen arm to the world. 
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Tuesday morning the ice on sidewalks was extremely treacherous--worse than I've ever seen it. I was wearing boots with good tread but still slipped alarmingly a couple of times soon after I left our building. And less than half a block from home, I took a hard tumble & landed sideways, on my left elbow. Pulled myself up to a sitting position & had to stay there for a while collecting my wits & figuring out what hurt. Finally I managed to stand up, collect my bag & walk back home--with tiny, cautious steps.
My husband went with me to the doctor that afternoon & then to get x-rays. Yesterday we learned that the readings are equivocal: there's a possibility of an occult fracture. I don't think there is, because I'm feeling better as time passes, but I agree that I should see an orthopedist to make sure. That appointment is later today, & I hope to go back to work tomorrow. I can now type two-handed, as long as I rest my left forearm on my desk chair's armrest.
My sister fell on ice last year & had to have surgery to retrieve a bone chip that had broken off. So she has become expert in such things. Her daughter, my niece Valerie, was living in Switzerland last year & has just given her a pair of Yaktrax--says the folks in her Swiss community used them routinely during the winter.
I hadn't known about Yaktrax but am very happy to have learned of them. Here's info: revelsports.com/yaktrax.asp I'm banking on being able to put them on & take them off easily, since they are not to be used on surfaces other than icy/snowy sidewalks/roads/fields etc. In my commute I go in & out of train stations, trains, & buses, so I can't just put them on in the morning & leave them on till I get to the office.
If any of my Sparkfriends use Yaktrax & can give me tips, that would be most welcome!
This is my third fall in three years; the two previous ones were during running. It's kind of a paradox: I fall BECAUSE I'm running & walking a lot, yet the running & walking help protect me from the bone fragility of osteoporosis. I also take calcium & vitamin D supplements. And strength training is important too, not just for bone & muscle strength but for good balance, which also tends to deteriorate as we age. I need to stick with all these practices--while increasing my precautions.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Too soon to tell . . .
2009 will be bringing some basic changes in our household economy. I won't be quitting my full-time job, which I love, but apparently I will soon be free to turn down freelance projects unless they're particularly attractive to me. And I'll be able to pay off debt. (I'm going to talk about this just in relation to myself, so as not to encroach on family members' preference for privacy.) It's not 100% guaranteed yet, but things are moving quickly & it looks to be a stable & long-term change.
I had already been wrestling with a few questions about possible changes, & now they look to be moving from the realm of the theoretical to the realm of the actual:
* Do I have considerable identity invested in HAVING to work long hours & manage lots of financial responsibility? What would/will I be like without that necessity? Might it actually be uncomfortable for me?
* Would I be generous if I had more time & money to share with others?
* How can I choose & maintain expectations that are realistic & not inflated in regard to personal lifestyle, paying off debt, sharing with others, nurturing relationships?
* Will my sleep improve if the financial pressure eases?
* What goals for exercise & healthy eating will emerge from the changes?
* And especially, what reasonable hopes/objectives can I adopt for completing my creative projects & launching new ones?
Of course, it's strange & wonderful & humbling to have to deal with these questions at a time of global economic crisis. I hope to take my time with them, consciously & prayerfully. This is my only new year's resolution for 2009.
Happy new year, with love, to you all.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
See my revised intro on my main Sparkpage for more info.
Hope to be back eventually!
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