...and the dough did not rise or double its size.
Aack!
At this point, I called Judy up in New Jersey to see what I had done wrong.
The only thing that we could figure out was that the yeast that I used (Rapid Rise yeast) worked differently in this recipe than when she made it with regular yeast.
So, back in the oven it went...in hopes that it would eventually RISE!
We Southerners live for these little moments in nature.... : )
After all, I have stocked up on groceries that will last me for weeks and made enough soup for the neighborhood...!
*sigh*
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I am still a bit achy and feverish this morning....but, can tell that the side effects are making their way out of my system from my Reclast reaction. I feel much better than yesterday and was able to catch up on my lost sleep last night!
It is a great excuse to catch up on my taped television programs...especially as I wait for the great snow of 2010!! ha ha
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Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. Aaack.
This dreaded time of year is when I must figure out what I have earned this year....and what I owe in sales taxes to the county, city and state. Luckily, some of the tax assessors have now started to allow one to do this online....thus cutting out some of the paper...but it is still a real pain.
After that comes income taxes.
...and the fun just continues a'comin'!
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UPDATES 10:42 a.m. Hot off of the presses....I just spotted a snowflake fall from the sky! Can a blizzard be far behind?? : )
11:35 a.m. Flurries have ended. : (
2:30 p.m. A very light dusting is starting to form on some of my outdoor lawn chairs. woo hoo
3:00 p.m. The local weatherman is on reporting that the precipitation has moved out of our area. End of story.
Tomorrow-January 7th
Rain and Snow
High 38
Low 19
Rain and Snow
Cloudy with rain and snow in the morning, becoming all snow in the afternoon. High 38F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Chance of precip 70%. Snowfall around one inch.
Watch out....we go crazy here in the deep South!
I should explain. I went and had the Reclast infusion done yesterday....nothing to it...the whole thing took about a half and hour and I was out of there.
I had heard about all of the possible side effects...flu like symptoms, fever, achiness, headache, etc. Well, I got them all...and, then some.
I tossed and turned all night with chills and fever but knew that I would be fine by morning.
Well, when I woke up this morning, I felt like I was "speeding". My heart was racing unbelievably. Of course, I quickly looked up Reclast online to see if that was one of the side effects. It wasn't listed under "common side effects" but I did find "rapid and erratic pulse" listed under the more serious side effects..
At that point, I took my pulse and it was averaging around 126 bpm. (yikes) I put a call in to the Reclast people and they seemed very interested in what was occurring with me....so they gathered lots of info from me...and, then suggested that I call my local physician.
My doctor was a bit concerned about the pulse that had now gone up to 134 bpm....she told me to go lie down for about 15 minutes and call her if it stayed high. It did...and, I did.
They worked me in to an already busy morning at their office so that the dr. could do an EKG on my heart to see what was going on.
Two and a half hours later (!!), I saw the doc. She assured me that the EKG was normal...but, the rapid heartbeat was not.
After a pretty thorough exam, she was still a bit baffled, but decided that it was either from A) the Reclast or B) the flu. She even tested me for the Swine flu...but, it came out negative.
The good news is that these symptoms should slowly disappear in the next few days...and, luckily, I only have to do this infusion once a year!
And, hopefully, my bone density will improve throughout the coming year! Statistically, it seems to be a wonderful new way to counteract osteoporosis.
I'm counting on that.......making all of this moaning and groaning worth it.... : O
Anyway, as I was checking out, I watched the bag boy putting my groceries in my ecologically friendly green Publix bags. As I watched him place several items in the bag, including my tomatoes...you can imagine what I thought when I then saw him place several heavy things, including a 3 pound spaghetti squash right on top of them!
"Oh no...the tomatoes!" I said.
"Tomatoes? What tomatoes?" he answered seemingly puzzled. "You didn't buy any tomatoes."
"Oh, yes, I did, I said, and you just dropped a heavy squash on top of them."
Still insisting that I didn't purchase tomatoes, he began to go through the bag.
"Oops. I guess that you did," he finally said.
Aargh.
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Tomorrow morning I go for my first annual Reclast infusion. Since I tried taking Boniva for my osteoporosis but had uncomfortable side effects, the dr. suggested that I try once-a-year Reclast instead. Reclast is a type of medicine called a bisphosphonate that works to increase bone density as well as protecting and strengthening your bones.
I'm a little concerned about the possibility of having some of the same side effects afterwards....but, hopefully it won't be too bad.
Wish me luck!
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Everyone is all a-buzz about the upcoming college football championship game between Texas and Alabama. Many of the local folk are dishing out big bucks to head out to Pasadena where the game will be played.
Dave and I will be watching it in the comfort of my home......no big bucks paid for that experience.
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While we are having exceptionally frigid temperatures here in the Deep South, my sympathies are really with my Minneapolis kids. They haven't had temperatures above 0 for a week now and my son said that the lows have been close to minus 20. He said that their driveway was like a sheet of ice as it has been so unbelievably cold there.
To add insult to injury, they are just getting back from a trip to Miami where the temps hovered around the high 70's and the kids went swimming and played on the beach.
Ouch.
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Off to bed to rest up for my Reclast tomorrow....
G'night all.
I, on the other hand, LOVE sitting in the darkened theatre, munching on the healthy popcorn that I sneak in (Ssh!), and watching the big screen.
Somehow, this holiday season, I was able to convince push him into going to four of them.
He probably won't admit it to too many people....but, I do believe that he enjoyed them all. I know that I did. : )
So, here's my unsolicited take on the four of them:
Actually, Avatar was one that he chose to go to. The 3D effects were pretty amazing....the movie was fascinating...the acting great....but, I could have done without some of the violence such as the battle scenes. I'm not big into that kind of action....but, I was glad to have experienced this science fiction fantasy. Grade: B-
Up in the Air was my hands-down favorite. Just looking at George Clooney for two hours was worth the price of admission! (*swoon*) The underlying theme of this movie, to me, was the importance of the relationships in our lives, commitment, and family. I also found it quite poignant listening to the testimonies of people who had just been laid off of their jobs. Unfortunately, a pretty timely topic for these days. Grade: A+
Invictus. Wow. Nelson Mandela. Enough said....It shows a small segment of his Presidency when he uses the country's rugby team to unite a people who had been torn apart by apartheid. The movie was touching....the rugby hard to watch....such a brutal sport (how do the players live through all of that rough-housing??)...but, it didn't detract too much for this great movie about a great leader. Grade: A-
And, finally, It's Complicated. This delightful movie affected me on so many levels. Since it was about a divorced couple, of course I could identify with some of the emotions involved. The many complications of life after divorce were so true and really resonated with me even after 9 years. I was sensitive to the kid's reactions to their parents as I thought about my own boys. But, beyond those sensitivities, it was a lot of fun. Meryl Streep is one of my favorites...as are Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. Without spoiling it for those of you who haven't seen it...the "pot" scene is absolutely hilarious! Grade: A.
When all is said and done, I think that the title pretty much sums up LIFE for most of us: "It's complicated..............but, oh, so good. : )
How can 2009 be over? I hardly got to know ya...
Is it my age, or is time passing ever so quickly these days?
Wasn't I just filling out last year's tax forms? Weren't my grandkids just little babies 'yesterday'? Can it really be 9 years since my divorce? Were the multitude of new gray hairs on my head well-earned? Can I really be a mother of a 35 1/2 year old? When did all of my doctors get younger than me? When did all of my doctors get younger than my children?
....and on and on...
2009 has been an interesting year...even as it zipped by me.
It has been a year filled with a variety of emotions. It has been a year filled with many challenges:
I continue to miss my father. I am watching dear friends struggle with their newly diagnosed cancers. My economic situation has taken a downhill turn....as has everyone's. I am beginning to feel like a 61 year old with all of the moans and groans that accompany that age. I miss having my kids and grandkids around more than ever. I struggle to find answers to so many questions. My memory is much less sharp than a year ago. The chance for seeing world peace in my lifetime seems less and less possible.
My Mom is doing very well as she continues to make a life for herself on her own. She even flew here to spend Thanksgiving with me, my son, his wife, and adorable Celia. My friendships have flourished as we have tightened our bonds of love. I have learned how to play Mah Jongg which is a constant mind challenge that gives me a great sense of accomplishment. I still have a tremendous passion for my pottery and continue to grow with each new creation. I embrace my morning walks with great vigor and enthusiasm....even at this ripe old age of 61. I realize that my financial situation will continue to improve....and, I continue to have an appreciation for the simple things that money can't buy. I revel at watching my two sons and their wives grow their families and fill their lives with all good things. I am grateful to be able to make so many trips to visit them all. ....and on and on.... A dear old friend of mine teases me mercilessly for what he calls my being a "Hallmark" kind of person. I respond by telling him that I like seeing the world through my rose- colored glasses...however, I have begun to find a balance between that outlook and facing reality. I have realized that there are still so many things that I don't understand...about people....about life....about the world that I inhabit. However, I have come to accept that I don't need to understand everything...and, that I probably never will. But, that is okay. The last email that I got from this friend ended by saying: "Don't ever lose those rose-colored glasses....just clean them now and then. That statement made me smile as I realized that one of my greatest accomplishments in 2009 was finding acceptance in things that I couldn't understand...and, certainly couldn't change. I still keep those rose-colored glasses handy, but I do stop and clear the view on occasion... ...and on and on.... Here's to another wonderful year of challenges and joys. Happy 2010 all....keep those rose-colored glasses handy just in case.... xoxo
