More Insurance Battles, MS Beat Me On Church Garden

Got my insurance straitened out, if I had medicare part B! Got all new EOB's that said Cigna was paying the "supplemental" portion of the bills, medicare part B would cover the rest. WHAAA? Called them right away, the very nice young girl told me, well that's not right! Waiting for the 15 day period to run for new EOB's to see what's next. In the meantime I had to go to the emergency room, turned my ankle and thought I broke my wrist on the ensuing fall? Just add it to the bill!

Not sure how the church garden went this year? We got a ton of cucumbers, chard and tomatoes, but the weeds have taken over. People are telling me it was great for the first year, but I'm judging it off of what it could have been. It's hard when you have what you think is a great idea but can't work it to fruition like you would have when you were still a viable human. Having a spell where I really miss the old Andy!

Starting A Community Garden At Church, Any Ideas?

I gave my spiel about a community garden at church today, a lot of head shaking, good idea lad, and why didn't bring this up befores. As a result they also put me in charge of making it happen, church people! I had it all worked out, on paper anyways, how much space, how much money, and how much we could glean from it, 10x10 feet, under $50, and a little over 100 lbs of food for the needy. One guy in particular is interested, I see him all the time, gave us a reason to talk, already seeing a benefit I am. One of the scout masters said the scouts are available for work, I'm sure they will appreciate that. I'm a better indian than I am chief, but here goes nothing!

Local Bowling Tournament, Top Chef I Am, and Dead Feeling In Hand Getting Worse

Got a text message from the boy, he's a plus 131 after 3. I thought that was a little arbitrary, then the wife remembered he is in a local tournament, and we forgot about it, we are the basement level of parents, didn't even go to our little babies event. He said no sweat, his grandparents were there. How the hell did they know? Aren't these the 2 that are worried they are forgetting things? I'll ask one of the old men up the bowling alley how he did, they will know it before me. He is in first place right now, hope he hangs on, this one is a mix of juniors and adults.

I made an incredible recipe for dinner tonight, used up the rest of the squash, onions, and tomatoes. I went out on limb, nobody here likes squash, but this looked so good, I couldn't resist. It was a success, even the girl ate it. The wife said it was the best side dish she had ever had, but she lies, tells me everything I do is perfect! The boy hasn't been home to eat since he was 7, and he wouldn't have tried it anyway, even at 17. I loved it, but I love everything.

1 medium bell pepper, cut in 1/2 in cubes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 medium zucchini or 4 small yellow squash
1 2 or 3 tomatoes
4 slices bread, toasted and cut in small cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Parmesan cheese

1. Saute onions&bell pepper in margarine for 5 minutes,add squash that has been sliced and cubed.
2. Saute 5 min more,add tomatoes, (break up whole tomatoes) cook 5 more minutes.
3. Add bread cubes and seasonings.
4. Put in 2 quart casserole,sprinkle top with parmesan cheese.
5. Bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes.

Cooking is an area I am really seeing a difference in. Cutting things up has become increasingly harder, I need to do a little research on different ways to accomplish this task. I'm not recovering from these things as fast as I used to, if at all. The right hand is declining quicker then anything else to date. Writing is all but gone, anything that needs any dexterity has flown. I still have my left hand, so no panic, yet, but I am having some of the original twinges I had in my right now in my left. Not cool, I specifically remember asking to have only one side affected, where is Mr Demille?

Game Search, Important Haircut, and Good Food

I need to find a good game website, one you can go head to head with friends. I've been using Facebook, it has good games, but you have to put up with endless polls, do you think I'm cute surveys, and up to the minute, Twitter type updates. That is so not me, I don't have an opinion who is the hottest teen idol, who should be voted off what island, and no interest in Brian Seacrest interviews with wanna be idols. I just want to play games! I need to find a site where the games are free, you play people, and there is nobody telling me this is their 3rd cup of coffee, love coffee!

The wife came home to get the boy so she could take him for a haircut for his senior portraits. She said I could take him, but it had to be a good haircut. WRONG! There is no way I was stepping off that curb with that truck rolling down the street. She must think I'm totally without any sense at all? I don't like taking him for a regular cut, yet alone for THE cut. We have a great relationship, she tells me what to do, when to do it, and I appreciate it the hell out of it! I would drag my ass over rusty razor blades, in a pool of rubbing alcohol for her, but I don't do special occasion prep, and that includes senior portrait haircuts. If he looks like a buffoon now, I am in the clear!

Fixing the girl's favorite meal tonight, and it's totally organic, so that's good. We are having chicken hash, everything from our friends CSA. The colors are unbelievable! Made spaghetti yesterday, put sauteed yellow and green squash in mine, delicious. Nobody else here will eat the squash, so more for me. Tonight it is all fresh potatoes, onions, green peppers, and chicken, fried to a nice crisp, then served with with 2 fried eggs on top. In fact, I'd better get to it, the wife told me to have dinner ready at 6!

Eye Issues, Veggies, and Cool New Pool Cleaner

Woke up this morning, just to through a twist into things, I couldn't see. Nothing wrong with my vision, nothing new at least, couldn't get my eyes open. I've got to stop sleeping in my bullseye pajamas, this is getting ridiculous! I don't know if it's conjunctivitis, or if this nagging sore throat has spread infection to my whole head? Either way, I'm not real happy about this. I scheduled a care free weekend, and this ain't it!

Went yesterday to pick up our weekly share of vegetables from our friends CSA experiment. We got the staples for this time of year, red, white and blush potatoes. Yellow and green squash, cucumbers, onions, green peppers. We got the most delicious looking carrots I've ever seen. I wonder if there is anything you can do with carrot greens? They look so tempting, I'll have to search for something online to do with them, wore my juicer out, so no carrot juice. I'm getting ready to have a couple of the eggs we got yesterday, out of this world! They got a new batch of laying hens, about a week old, the wife didn't let me bring a few of those home, but I'm working on her!

We went and bought the Hayward Aqua Bug pool cleaner yesterday, looks just like a ladybug. It said you can install it, and use it in 10 minutes, and they were right. We hooked the hoses up, hooked it to the filter, and presto, it vacuumed the pool. I like it when it works that way, though I don't have a taste of it very often. We not only got what we wanted, but it was on sale, swish! I think I'm finished with the pool this year, buying things I mean, now it's time to enjoy it.

Chicken Parts, Arthritis Pain, and Life In the Slow Lane

We went and picked up chicken feet and giblets today from our friends who are running the new CSA, their chickens were butchered and they didn't want the best parts! I got about 15 lbs worth of livers, hearts, and gizzards, and of course feet. I'm having hearts and livers for lunch tomorrow, fried up nice and crispy, a little salt and pepper, dash of hot sauce, I know, I know, sounds delicious! Funny thing is the rest of my family has asked me to cook, and eat my treats when no one is home?

The doctors told me I had arthritis in my ankles, probably because I had broken them both years ago playing ball. I'm starting to wonder if this searing pain I am feeling in my knees could be arthritis and not have anything to do with the MS, or ligament damage from said ball? We aren't talking about cramps, or Charlie horses, I'm talking pain! Is that what arthritis is, just pain? I thought it hurt when you did things, like the woman on the commercial that plays badminton. This hurts, and hurts bad, just sitting, and I do a lot of just sitting! I hear getting older is the pits, but let me tell ya, getting older with MS is no picnic.

I did absolutely nothing today. I mean I did watch the Orioles get beat again, and I had to tell the wife to please not walk in front of the TV while she did the laundry, and cooked dinner, but other than that I was useless! I may be getting addicted to the stimulator, it makes the leg feel so much better having it electrocute with every step, or every few seconds, reminds me of how I was with the AFO. Small price to pay I suppose, I wish I didn't need it at all, but my grandmother told me at an early age, well I can't tell you what my grandmother used to tell me, just know that it made it clear things didn't always go your way! Do the Orioles play again tomorrow, because I'm going to be available, all day?

Parents went home, CSA Plus Chicken, and Starting LDN, Again

The parents headed home today, I think they had a good time, we didn't go anywhere. I'm hoping they didn't come to go sight seeing, but they did go to the vineyard, shopping at Towsontown, got their Italian and crustacean fix, so that was pretty good for a 2 day visit. When I'm rich, in my next life, I'll get them a condo so the mother can split her time between to 2 shores. Until then, I worry how much time will start to be between visits as they get older, and I travel less.

Went up to the CSA today, returned our basket, and had a look around. They are doing a wonderful job, and things are looking great! We'll pick up our veggies tomorrow, but I wanted to get out, so I went up and got some potatoes, which were excellent. We talked about the meat chickens, they will be butchered in a week or so. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the good parts, the livers, gizzards, feet, necks and combs, the parts I like best. It appears they are mine for a nominal fee, so I will be making some chicken liver pate soon, I just hope I have enough schmalz in the freezer?

OK, I'm having issues, well, of course I'm having issues, I'm an issues kind of guy! This is different though, this is real. I stopped taking the LDN, thought maybe it was time to thin the herd of medications. Wrong! The leg cramps that I thought had returned, came back with a vengeance and reminded me what leg cramps were! It appears, like I said before, the LDN WAS doing what I wanted it to do, or at least was lessening the cramps, so I started taking it again last night. I don't know if it's possible, or if my simple mind lets me think so, but the cramps aren't hitting tonight. Remind me not to stop taking it again, I need all the help I can get!

CSA Experiment, New Positive Attitude, and Bioness Adjustment

First thing first, everything is just fine and dandy on my end, I have been taking a break, partly to take a break, and secondly because my computer blew up, but mainly it was break time. Thanks to all that voiced concerns as to my whereabouts, it's nice to be missed. I said a ways back, new years I suppose, I was going to be more positive, but I seam to have continued my pissy mood. I want to try to talk more positive things, not constantly just the MS. I've been thinking about how to do that, and I have no clue!

We joined a newly forming CSA, community sustainable agriculture, and we got first batch of goodies the other day. We got Romaine lettuce, head lettuce, spring onions, spinach, strawberry radish, strawberries, and beets. We also got 2 dozen free range, organic eggs. The first night the wife whipped up her soon to be famous strawberry salad, a real hit. Last night I made a red flannel hash with the beets, and topped it with a couple of fried eggs, fantastic!

1/2 pound cooked Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 pound cooked beets, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 large onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoons Olive oil
1 tablespoons butter
Kosher salt and pepper


Procedure

1. Pour the oil and butter into a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir often so they don't brown.

2. Add the potatoes, and beets and stir until well coated in the oil. Cook without stirring for about 5 minutes. Stir the contents and try to flip as many of pieces onto their other side. Cook for another 5 minutes without stirring. Turn the heat down to medium-low, stir again, and cook for another 7 minutes or so. The potatoes should be crispy. If the contents start to blacken instead of brown, turn the heat down earlier.

3. Season the mixture with salt, pepper.

4. Serve with 2 fried, or poached eggs.

Had my meeting at Dankmeyer, the representative from Bioness was there, 2 of them in fact, I sure can't complain about the customer service from either place, they have been fantastic to work with. Once again, I was having issue with the electrodes, and once again, I was using them wrong. Well, not wrong, but not up to date either, so, well wrong. We corrected that issue, we also dialed the stimulator down a notch to make the leg do more of the work, but still giving the foot the part it needs. The ankle is still swollen, but I have decided to go full steam ahead, see if we can work through it.

Multiple Sclerosis, Bioness Stimulator Excitement, Friends Galore, and New CSA Farmer

What a busy schedule I am having today, didn't know I was this popular! I went out to lunch with an old friend from high school, hadn't seen him in years and it was great. We are going to church for the corned beef and cabbage supper, and then tonight we will finish it off with a St. Patties day party at another friend's house. Man, this life in the fast lane is exhausting! OK, this is so odd I can't even put it into words. I go weeks, sometimes months without ever leaving the house, but today I am busier then a one armed paper hanger! I will enjoy it though, I may be home until June!

We went up to dinner last night at our friends house that is starting the CSA at his house. Dinner was great, conversation was great, it was just, well great. They have a beautiful home, and an ideal setting for their new endeavour. We just started getting free range eggs from them, we will get some chickens from them later in the summer, and it's possible we may get a pig too! Being their first year, we are going to see how it works, but it should be a hoot. They have asparagus planted, 3 types of blueberries, fruit trees, and all the the standards will go in. We will have a
10 x10 plot to grow anything we want special. I will let you know how it progresses.

I'm trying to ignore the Bioness l300 stimulator sitting on top of the entertainment center. It's fully charged, all ready to go, I'm just missing the knowledge of how to use it. I know, not knowing how to do something has never stopped me before, but this is different. I am so anxious for this thing to be on my leg, I can hardly contain myself. This is almost as bad as the time I found the Baltimore Colt jacket in the well of the station wagon in September and then had to wait until Christmas to wear it. The main difference is I plan on wearing this stim a hell of a lot longer then I wore that jacket, and getting way more enjoyment out of it too!

Multiple Sclerosis, AFO Brace is Here, and Idiot Garden Plans

I picked up my new brace today, works pretty much like the old one, with the main difference being that the new one doesn't have an articulated ankle. I'm not sure what I think about it. The solid ankle makes it easier not to hyper extend the knee, and pivot, and easier walk down an incline. It also makes it harder to go up an incline, feels like the leg isn't seated in the brace, and has really flimsy little Velcro straps. I will have to wear it a few days to tell just what I think, and to see if I need any adjustments, I don't think I like the movement within the brace.

It's time to start up the idiot garden, 2009 edition. I am going to have 8 tub gardens, and I think 5 3 gallon bucket gardens. I am going to start my seeds tomorrow, including a 3 pepper blend, yellow, orange, and green. I'm also want to put some hot peppers in this year. I'm going to load up on heirloom tomatoes, they were awesome last year! We are putting in pickling cucumbers, have to make some of Slammer's garlic dill pickles this year. There will be zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant. I will have buckets of herbs, buckets of onions, and buckets of peas and green beans. There will be 2 kiddie swimming pools, one with salad greens, and one with potatoes.

I want to try some square foot gardening around the patio. I want to put some of the tubs and some of the 3 gallon buckets around the patio also. The corner of the patio is screaming for grapes! I'd love to plant some blueberries over by the clothes line, and a fig bush someplace in the back. I think we will do silver queen corn up at our CSA spot, maybe some melons. We also need to read up on how to store all of our bounty. We can freeze, we can can, and we can dry things. When I say we can can, I mean to put things up, not the dance! Our old neighbor is making some tubs, and he is setting up a bee hive again, so hopefully some honey is on the horizon. Now if I can talk the wife into rabbits, I will have a lean meat choice right in the back yard!

Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Milestone Birthday, and New CSA Farmer

I gathered the forms up today for the boy to get his learners permit. He needs to get clearance from our neuro, we go to the same one, so he can drive because of the epilepsy. We had forgotten about it, he has done so well the past few years really. Just another time that life rears it's head and reminds us it's in charge. I was hoping this would be easy, but I forgot about this part. Just another thing to ad to my list of things I wish I didn't have on my plate. He's really a neat kid, things just haven't been easy for him.

The girl turns 21 tomorrow, I can't believe it! Seems like yesterday we were laying on the bed wrestling, me counting her out while she laughed. I see old pictures and I realize how much she doesn't remember about me. She was 9 when I stopped working, so she doesn't remember me leaving the house everyday. She is wicked smart, but she doesn't remember me working sometimes 2 or 3 part time jobs so her mother didn't have to drop her off at daycare. She doesn't remember that I once could run, or cut the grass, or take care of the house by myself. She may not remember it, but like I said, she's wicked smart, she knows it.

Getting ready to participate in a new Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) a couple of our friends are starting. The wife and I are excited about it, we have been wanting to give it a go for a couple of years now. It also has been keeping my mind active for a couple of days now, trying to figure out what I will grow there, and what I will have here. We are going to their house for dinner and details in a couple of weeks, then I will know if I'm going to have a plot, or if I will take a share in the entire effort. It's great, and I pick my first free range eggs from them on Saturday. All in all it should all be a hoot, and I very happy about it all!

O'Malley Asks Marylanders to Eat Local

What exactly is it that Governor O'Malley is asking us Marylanders to do? Buy local? I always buy local, where else would I buy my stuff? I bought local New Jersey Peaches and farm fresh poulats from Ohio just the other day at my local fruit stand. So I suppose I am up for a major award for my foresight in buying? An aid came over and whispered something to me and we both had a truffle shuffle type laugh over it. The aid suggested that local peaches were ones bought in Maryland and grown in Maryland. No way! That's hard to do. Richardson chickens are here in Baltimore County. They have all kinds of chickens and eggs. So we can eat poultry and fowl, and it's local. Yippy, I'm on the governor's good side.

Slammer Mike brought up it certainly isn't cheap eating that way. The farmer puts an extra charge on her bees wax honey because of the cost of gas. What about the gas we saved her by buying at her farm, she didn't even have to load the truck! I think the key to eating local, is eating small. You can't go the megla mart and find food from the hood. They get it cheaper trucking in up to 1500 Miles, or they did. The gas is killing us all. A lot of things aren't being sent anymore. I suppose asking everyone to buy a few things local is a good start? How about taking it a few steps further and encouraging people to eat a few foods FROM their home.

I hope the Governor starts pushing for a form of the old victory gardens. Everybody grows what they can in their own back yards and shares and trades with others in the neighborhood. I've got a real nice start, tons of tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, squash, and herbs. Have room for corn? I'll trade ya some heirloom tomatoes and lettuce for some corn and green beans? The shopping has to be in the way of the guy down the road that sells eggs, or the chap up the street that has goats and lambs. To me that is what eating locally is all about.

I think the way of the future as it pertains to local foods, are the CSA's that are popping up all over. We are joining the one on Cromwell Bridge Rd. A CSA is a farm that you go pitch in and are guaranteed a share. I think your share guarantees you organically grown fruits and veggies for 24 or 26 weeks. It also teaches you to work together and take what you get in lean times. Yep, the Governor had a good message. We need to push people to grow something and things will be better. Yep, the Governor had a good idea, but I think it would have been a great idea if it came from Erlich!