Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder…

Or so they say…

It has been a month since I’ve attempted to blog anywhere.  I totally had not planned for it to happen that way.  A sequence of events had taken my MOJO away and left me dealing with some things that most of us don’t really want to face or deal with during the holidays. Never the less, life happens and sometimes certain events take priority and others have to be put on the back burner.

The Holidays came and went…and the New Year dawned and I am pretty comfortable with 2011 so far.  To date, it has been much better than 2010…which in my book wasn’t the best year ever for our families.

With the New Year rang in new goals that I am attempting to keep for this year.  One of those is an exercise program where I journal.  I know that sounds like a lot of work…but I have set a goal in the weight loss department…and since I love to write…there is something to look forward to AFTER each workout.  The weight loss will come with some effort and some time, but I need an immediate gratification and the journaling is that short term fix.  I am hoping the long term fix is going to be the weight loss. I’ve been putting in the effort…Lord knows…I can’t wait to start seeing those results.

I think the only thing keeping me from really blogging lately is migraines.  I can’t explain them. I really haven’t had migraines since I gave up soda two years ago this January. I primarily drink tea and water.  I have to say that I never understood pain that is debilitating.  I don’t have chronic back pain or knee pain or any kind of chronic pain.  And although I always felt for people I knew and still do feel for people I know with this sort of constant pain…I’ve never experienced it until recently with my recurrent migraines.

It has made the desire to get up and exercise…especially difficult.  I feel half the time I just want to sleep because at least while subconscious I don’t notice the pain as much. On a few occasions the pain has actually awakened me from my slumber.  I realize that the logical thing to do at this point would be to go to the doctor…but what happens when you don’t have the strength to get there because your migraines are that severe?  Yeah…alright…I am already feeling the lectures from my friends forming.  It is okay…I will go in if they continue…usually by the time I get the doctor’s appointment squared away, the migraines disappear and there is nothing to diagnose.  Frustrating, trust me, I know.

Well this is a start…here’s to my first post of 2011.  I know.  Crazy…I should have had several by now.  Thank goodness Kathy (my co-author here) has posted this year.  At least, you know the blog is still alive and kicking.

So how did you celebrate the New Year?

How are you surviving the cold?

Would love to hear back from you :)

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Yesterday we were suprised by a knock at the front door. It was our neighbor, Miguel, from across the street, bearing a foil-covered package on a plate. John thanked him and we took the package inside and unwrapped a delectable, whole, butterflied, grilled chicken. The wonderful aroma filled our house! We knew why Miguel brought it. He felt bad ever since last Monday.

Last Monday, my husband took our precious little dog, Ringo, for his evening walk. Unbeknownst to them, just across the street, our neighbor happened to have his dogs outside the backyard fence, where they are usually kept. This was a fateful mistake. The pit bull saw Ringo and charged! He suddenly attacked!! It was a horrific scene, our little dog screaming and yelping and my poor husband frantically trying to get the pit bull to release him. John was hitting the pit bull with his fists as hard as he could. He hollered for the neighbor, who ran to help. The neighbor ended up having to shove his fist down the dog's throat before it would release our dog. Poor Ringo got up and bolted home, and John scrambled up to run after him, falling and hurting himself (in fact, John is not getting better. We thought maybe he just bruised his ribs, but now we're beginning to wonder if he may have fractured them! I tried to persuade him to go to the ER but he keeps wanting to wait. But after the pain his ribs gave him today, I think he'll probably be willing to at least see the family doctor).

Thankfully Ringo will be OK. We took him to the vet. His wounds, while nasty, are superficial. We're treating them several times daily with Betadine and giving him antibiotics. He is getting back to his usual self, even wanting to play, but we are trying to take it easy with him.

Many people have wondered what we've done about our neighbor since this. It truly was a terrible thing that happened and we have talked to our neighbor about the fact that he should get rid of that dog. He agreed that he may have to. But for now he is making sure that it is confined and has promised us it won't happen again. Honestly, he has always been very good about keeping his dogs penned up, unlike so many careless neighbors we have that let their dogs run loose around the neighborhood. I honestly don't think he expected this to happen. I can understand that something suprising like this can happen in someone's life, something they don't expect, and they need the offended party to show a little forgiveness. I try to imagine myself in his shoes, if it was our dog that attacked someone or another dog. As hard as that is for me to imagine, it is not impossible. And I know I'd want forgiveness. (Now, if it happens, or comes even close, to happening again, that is different...then he would be negligent, now that he knows what the dog is capable of). But for now, he has been so thoughtful and has been stopping by a lot to see how Ringo is, and insists on paying the vet bill. And last night he brought us a delectable grilled chicken for dinner! It was plump and moist, and he'd butterflied it and cut pockets in the breast meat in which to stuff whole sprigs of fresh rosemary. Delicioso!! It was actually perfect timing, we have both been feeling a little "blue", and I really hadn't planned dinner last night. So all we had to do was make some mashed potatoes, and dinner was served! And I even opened a bottle of Oak Leaf Sauvignon Blanc to complement the meal. Of course, the guest of honor really was Ringo, so he received several juicy pieces of chicken!

So one answer to the timeless question in the title, at least this particular time: The delectable chicken crossed the road as a show of friendship and to make amends. And here's to forgiveness and a fresh start! And we are so thankful that Ringo is going to be OK!

Happy New Year!

Well, I have to say that as so many other people, we are planning to try to eat better (and smaller) and get more exercise with the new year. Of course, as you know, I have already been trying to do some "small" gourmet meals (see my previous blogs). I have to admit, on New Year's Eve, I went all out, anyway. I shouldn't have, but I did. Not only did I imbibe in rather copious amounts of champagne, but I also made us numerous appetizers and even a "small plate" dinner. While I am not proud of myself for gorging (my husband bought me a round of brie with "black truffle", and I have to ashamedly admit that I did ingest the entire thing, on toasted bread triangles, the entire weekend, until it was devoured), I have to say it has been a "Happy New Year!"

This was our first New Year's Eve home alone for MANY years!! When we were first married I used to fix us a coffee table full of assorted appetizers, and we'd sip champagne and watch the ball drop! For many years since, we spent New Year's with family. It was certainly a lot of fun, but this year, we just spent it at home. And it was a relief. And it was so fun! Not only did we have assorted appetizers (chips n' dip, mini corn dogs and honey mustard), but I also made some fancier appetizers like baked tortilla cups with "Southwest Eggroll filling" and "Spanikopita" filling, and we had mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce. And mini crab cakes with "Roasted Mango-Chili mayo". Beyond that, I made us each a "small dinner of "Teriyaki-grilled Tuna" with 'fried rice' risotto and Spicy Cabbage. Happy start to the New Year!!