LDKBox

In my effort to become more centered on the blog posts I have set up a time in my busy sedentary life dedicated to thinking about the blog.  That time, in essence, is any time that I am not catering to the whims of my family.    Ok, quit laughing!  It really does take a lot of time  keeping a 8 year old full.  I find that he gets hungry every two hours.  It does not matter if he eats a buffet style breakfast or has an apple.  Two hours after eating anything ,  he has burned up all the fuel in his tank.  In the last month we have eaten the best of the best.  From fine home cooking , to fast food over load, to lean European cuisine on the high seas.  I could set my watch to the needs of my son’s food habit.

I have to give my son a little credit.   Here in Texas he does not live as I did on the farm in Iowa.  Food served at the house of Leota was warm, regular, and plentiful.  Add to that list …Good as well.  I think that I can say that the food that I produce is warm(thank goodness for microwaves) regular(hey I am here 24/7 ) and plentiful(I have receipts from the grocery store) but there won’t be any comments on how good it is.  Hey,  three out of four ain’t bad!!!  But don’t ask Kellen.  He is jaded now that he has experience the good life as well as my wife’s cooking.

I try to keep the staples in the fridge.  Lot’s of eggs, milk, and butter.  Bags and bags of apples.  Green is preferred by the Little Detailer and Red is preferred by my wife, Ellen.  Bananas once in a while.  The same for strawberries, blueberries, and cherries.  We always seem to have some oranges, grapefruit, and grapes.  Both red and green grapes.  Seedless is preferred by all.  Then there is bread.  Wheat for me.  White for the kids.(yes they ask for white.  I don’t understand it either) and a low cal bread for my wife.  All the while I know that there are supplies of canned fruits and vegetables in the pantry.  I also know that there are frozen assortments of fast food, complete meals, vegetables and meat in our freezer.  All of these supplies are supplanted by my many trips to the store to obtain the ingredient of the day that I have not mentioned previously.

I know the cupboards are full.  So is the freezer.  I even go and get fresh items from the store.  Why is it then that everything I cook ends up to be skillet surprise?  I always start out with the best intentions.  Gourmet this…Gourmet that.  Hey,  it is a skillet dinner.  It is hot,  fresh,  and regular.  Why is it then that my son.  Who I cater to,  for each and every whim,  prefers the cooking of his Mother.  Who bakes, fry’s, and creates food that not only tastes good but looks good as well.  Go figure.

Believe it or not it has been two hours since I started this blog post.  Guess how I know?  Yes,  he is hungry again.  I believe that I will try some imported noodles( Top Ramen) and some fine domesticated meat(hot dogs) and some fresh steamed vegetables(microwaved in a bag).    I bet he eats it.  Ha! Ha!  Ellen is not home.  I don’t think he can make it four hours without his fuel tank topped off.

Comments (0) Jul 31 2009

I was lucky enough to be able to spend two days in the wonderful city of Galveston, Texas for Mother’s Day with my wife.  We had a few plans made to keep us active but it certainly was not a activity filled weekend either.  It was nice to be able to go somewhere and choose to not do something just as well as it is to choose to do something.  Often times I get caught up in the doing instead of the relaxing part.    I think  this time my wife Ellen and I did a good job of  just having fun.  The weather was warm,  humidity was HIGH, and the wind was constant.  As we sat on the beach adjacent to Seawall BLVD.   I really enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the humidity of the air,  the smell of the sand,  and the wind that kept me cool and comfortable in 90 degree weather.  

The hotel that we stayed had a small pool that I did not use but beside the pool was the jacuzzi.  Something…. I did use!!.  Man,  I like me some Jacuzzis,   now !!!!  Since I am an early riser I broke the rules of the hotel and went into the jacuzzi about 5 a.m. the first morning.  Calm and serene does not do it justice.  I was in an element that I would very much like to duplicate here in Harker Heights.  Alas, that is not going to happen.  I spend my money as I please but no matter what…. I do not have enough anything… money or otherwise… to  beg, buy,  or build a jacuzzi that nice.  Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.   I made it the second morning as well…with my wife….alone…. in a jacuzzi…  far from home…Oh, yeah this is a blog.  I kind of drifted off there for a moment.  Such was the weekend.

Another thing that we did this week end was attend an I-Max theatre.  We watched the latest movie of the Star Trek series.  I am a total Trekkie.  I have been since my junior year in high school.  Unfortunately I  missed every one of the series original tv shows.  Immediately one wonders….WHY?  Well,  that year I had received my operators license.  Because of that license I was allowed to go to Thursday night practice of the Senior Choir of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.  We never missed church and I never got to drive to church but on Thursday night I headed out of the house at 7:15 pm to make it to practice. Practice lasted until 8:30.  With a quick trip down the loop of main street with all the Dutchmen and their shiny cars I would return home to see the end of each episode.   I really liked singing in the choir but back then the ability to drive was my driving force.  Because of that force I did not get  to see the start of any of the tv series originals.   Yes,  I really loved old James T. Kirk from somewhere in Iowa.  Even then I was a dreamer.  I can say the same for the latest movie.  It made me dream.  I really loved the film.  I have to tell every reader of my blog.  Don’t go to an I-Max theatre to watch a space movie.  Space is great but when it comes to scenes of people the 60 ft. screen is not an advantage.  It is just my opinion and I want everyone to know that that this opinion is worth exactly what it costs.   Just in case there are some I-Max theatre lovers out there. (Hey it worked for the girl in California who did not get ifred for stating her opinion at a beauty pagent…???)

We also attended a garden park (the name escapes me at the moment) that had all kinds of events and sites.  We went to an Aquarium, viewed a panoply of forests, a lot of fossils and bones on display.  Quite a lot of walking that seemed easier than it actually was for this old dirt head.  Luckily,  there were a lot of elevators and most of the displays could be viewed from the top down.  So the walking was either flat or down hill.  I like downhill walking….Alot!!  It is our second time to Galveston.  I have good memories of both trips.  Look forward to another this summer with the family.  It is my hope that I get enough smarts to figure out how to post pictures onto my blog by the time we take our 5 day cruise later in the summer.  Maybe then I would not  be so verbose.

More on the water tomorrow.  I kind of drifted into another topic as I typed.  OOPS!!

Comments (0) May 14 2009

It has been over two years since my cancer diagnosis.  As most of my readers know I am progressing towards recovery.  The process has taken more time than I would have liked.  Yet, the process is working.  I am thankful.  Plain and simple. 

My oncologist asked me to get a test taken using nuclear imaging.  To be honest I forget the name of the test but I needed to maintain a fast for a short time prior to the test.  Then they need to inject some radiated material into my veins and let it sit and percolate inside of me  for at least 45 minutes to let it get all through my veins.  After that we are off the “ROOM” where this strange looking machine sits waiting to ingest you whole.  Each and every time I feel like Jonah inside of the whale when entering into this room.  I have had several different operators during my many tests and each and everyone of them has been courteous and professional.   The whole military medical system that I encountered was the best.  I could not be more appreciative of what has been done for me.

Well,  the results of the test arrived and my oncologist informed me that I need to come down and get a check up by an ENT doctor and visually see what is going on in the area of my tongue.  He said it was nothing to worry about but since they don’t know what it is for sure it is necessary to make an appointment.  He stated, “It most likely is nothing to worry about.  The military likes to be thorough.”  Tomorrow I get to find out that there is nothing to worry about.   BUT I AM WORRIED!

There are a lot of reasons why I am worried.  I have a whole host of things that DR. Feelgood (that  is me) found on the Internet.  If left to Dr. Feelgood I would be dead already so he is not really a creditable source but since he is always around I need to deal with it.  I have lost twenty pounds in the last six weeks.  I am eating pretty good.  Chocolate tastes bad to me.  Hmmn, is that good or is that bad? LOL!  I exercise as best I can to get stronger.  Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated.  I have done all the things that have been asked of me but my strength is just not coming back and endurance is almost none.  I tried to pick up some lumber the other day with a friend and I got dizzy after helping pick up two pieces of plywood.  My head was spinning, heart beating fast and I started to breathe hard. 

I have a persistent bad taste in my mouth and it produces prodigious amounts of flem which is very irritating without regard to how disgusting it has become these last two years.  I remember how cold I felt the day I was diagnosed.  I went in because I had headaches and I was not able to sing any more.  I come out a stage IV cancer patient.  I have no misconception this time.  If it is nothing I must constantly prepare for the eventual.  I may be wrong but I do not believe that cancer is done rearing its head in my life.  I hope that it is later rather than sooner but when ever it comes I think the acceptance of my cancer is complete.  Unfortunately worry is a constant.  One does not have to have cancer to worry.  The state of the economy is enough to get this old duffer up in arms.  I have two retirement that were five star.  To be honest I do not know what they are worth now.  If Warren Buffet lost over half of his wealth where does that put me?  What ever is going to happen is going to happen…of that I am sure.  I pray daily for the strength to deal with what God has put in before me.  Without a doubt he has been with me each and every step of the way.  I now pray that God take my fears and cast them aside.  I have been unable to do it myself.  Knock, Knock…God are you listening?  Take care of the small stuff.  Oh yeah…. it is all small stuff.

Comments (6) Mar 17 2009