Strawberry treats for your loved one.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Ready In: 15 Minutes
Servings: 18
"Strawberries stuffed with lightly-sweetened cream cheese and walnuts are perfect for that romantic evening. They go great with champagne! Pecans also work well in this recipe."
Ingredients:
20 fresh strawberries
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese,
softened

2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1 1/2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
Directions:
1. Dice two strawberries and set aside. Cut the stems off of each of the remaining strawberries, forming a base for strawberries to stand on. Starting at the pointed ends and cutting most of the way, but not completely through the stem end, slice each strawberry into four wedges.
2. Beat the cream cheese until fluffy; stir in the diced strawberries, walnuts, and powdered sugar. Spoon or pipe about a teaspoon of mix into each strawberry.

Happy Birthday My Valentine Baby

Today is my granddaughters 8th birthday. I would give anything to be spending it with her. She is so sweet and funny. The other day my son got a package from the kids with pictures and drawings and he just broke down and cried. We miss them both so much. We can't wait until this summer when they come out. Happy birthday sweetheart. We love you.



I told Rick what I wanted for Valentines day.

"I want you to grill a steak".
"Ok," he said.
" I want steamed asparagus".
" Yum", he said.
"Fresh made bread".
"Oh yeah, sounds good", he said.
" And a nice bottle of dark red zinfandel, plus my perfect rose".
"Sounds great," he replied. " I can do that".
Then I said, "after dinner we can curl up on the couch and watch Pretty Woman".

No way. LOL. You can only push them so far

Would you vote on something you hadn't read?

Man I sure wouldn't. You always have to read that fine print. That's where all the clauses are that can totally screw you up. But you know what? Our government is voting on the stimulus plan and not a single senator has read it!

They don't want to read it. That way they would have to admit they knew they were voting in socialized medicine. They would have to admit that they knew this was going to end up costing each and every tax payer more money then we make in years. That way they can sleep at night. But how could they. How can they look themselves in the mirror everyday and not vomit. They have betrayed the people who voted for them. They have betrayed their morals, but more important. They have betrayed the very believes this country was built on.

The media is to blame also. What has happened to good reporting? In the old days some gung ho reporter would have found out what was in that bill. He would BREAK THE STORY. Hold the presses. The mainstream media of today. CBC, ABC, MSMBC, they are supporting the bill, blindly. They haven't read it. And they don't care to either.

The really terrible stuff about the health care reform is being voted on. Reduction of medicare reinbursement, coverage, pharmaceutical reform, its all there. You can only take the name brand med? Too bad. Your 70 and have bad kidneys. Well, make you final arrangements. Diabetic because your obese and don't exercise 1 hour day. Well you deserve what you get.

Oh, and Acorn are getting a big ole chunk of this money. And not one thing pertaining to a reduction of taxes.

Don't you get it people. The people who voted for a Democratic government have been lied too. Openenly. Blatantly. Actually....it didn't matter who you voted for. Government almost always lies to you. The only non lie I heard this year was when Obama said we are all going to have to dig deeper in our pockets. Boy is that true, well for the taxpayers at least. Government is also getting a nice fat little bit of pocket change with this new bill.

They wanted it passed fast so we didn't start demanding too see it. They wanted to get it past while everyone was still on their honeymoon with The Man Who can Almost Walk on Water according to some media reports. Its like the man who married the beautiful woman only to find out when she takes off her hair extentions, the false eyelashes, the bootie lift and uplift enhancing bra, the make-up and girdle that they have just a average looking new wife after-all and those tempting looking breasts are fake. We've been duped.

Well, actually I haven't been duped. I am old enough, and have been around long enough not to believe anything that comes out of politicians mouth. Being I don't blindly vote a straight ticket I have the option to check out all the candidates stories and look for the hidden adjenda. So I pretty much got what I expected. Unfortunately in the worse case, best case scenario, I think I am getting the worse case.

This is the last year I think for the lifestyle we are used to. Maybe it will be good in some ways. People have gotten ridiculous on the things they think they have to have. We will be forced to go back to simpler times. To start with. Then leaner times. Then ........

You know Karl Marx said, " The Meaning of Peace is the Absence of Opposition to Socialism", which is why they want the fairness doctrine reinstated. Well.... I oppose. He also said, " Democracy is the road to socialism." Just reminders.

Friday the 13th

Doesn't bother me, does it you? Heck, if they called and told me they would do my surgery today I would go, may not fly though. Any excuse not to fly.

I have some photo's I took the other day. Didn't get anything out of the usual but I did like the geese flying right over my head. Made interesting shots. Click on the photo's to see them larger, they look better. The collage below was this old farm house. I bet it was a beauty in its day. Sad to see it all neglected and falling apart. But in my mind, I can picture it in its glory days.


Yesterday I woke up with what looks like another spot on the other side of my face by my jaw. It looks like a sore. Hopefully it is a sore. You know how you scrape yourself and never pay any attention. I suppose now every time I get any little thing I be slightly nervous about it.

My other spot started out looking like a pimple. I was surprised to see it because one of the nice things about getting older is you just don't get them often. The sore got bigger and bigger and felt firm and then started scabbing over. Nothing I did made it better. I started putting triple antibiotic cream on it, peroxide, you name it I tried to get rid of it. Finally I decided to have it checked. So I guess I watch this new spot and see what happens. If it is still there when I have my surgery I'll have it removed also.


Today I have physical therapy for my wrist and shoulder. My shoulder is still sore. I suppose now that I can finally use my hand the original shoulder injury is getting stirred up. My wrist is getting better and better. Still not very strong but the swelling is way down and the scars look much better. Less infected looking. I am wearing a compression pad to keep the scar flat and soft that the therapist gave me. Seems to be working. I also see the shoulder doctor today. He is pretty nice and I like him. Unfortunately it seems the more I use the shoulder the original pain comes back. When I was guarding the shoulder more it was getting better. You have to worry about a frozen shoulder then.

Oh man, I just realized this entire entry is all about health problems. I always hated it when every time I saw certain relatives the only thing they wanted to talk to me, the nurse, about was their medical problems, LOL. And here I am.

I keep my blog or journal like I used to keep my written one. More just a log I can look back on to see what the weather was like, anything new that happened, a way to remember certain things etc and to jar my lousy memory. so just ignore these boring entries, LOL. I promise I am on the mend and then it will be on to a different topic. Maybe I had better steer clear of politics also. There are so many that do it so much better then me. I used to have a journal that was just for ranting and raving. Here it all goes in this one. Because Gee, how can you not rant with all thats going on....right?

It is suppose to lightly snow today. I am thinking if I can stay awake we might go listen to some live music and chill. I can't remember for sure if it is tonight or tomorrow though. And last night we watched Outsourced. Anyone seen that movie. It turned out to be really good. I recommend it.

Well, off to do my exercises and my meditation. I find it helps to do my meditation after my exercises to help my muscles relax again. Tomorrow is my granddaughters birthday and I want to call her today also. I sure miss them. Oh, and the eagle has laid a egg. You get a great shot right inside the nest this year since they moved the camera, so check that out.

So..... what do you think of the pictures? Can you picture what that old house must have looked like?

Tentitive surgery date

I saw the plastic surgeon. She is so nice and I feel reassured again after talking to her. I really like the way she pays attention to detail and she has a way making you trust her. She is really funny and reminds me of an old hippy except she is way younger then me.

It was a good news bad news visit. Good new because she has done several of these and knows exactly what to do. She will try to not leave a horrible scar, but as she told me and I know, the most important thing is to get the cancer out. The scar will depend on how much cancer is in there. Hopefully it is almost out. The facial nerve she is worried about is the one to my eyebrow. She said I might not be able to raise my eyebrow afterward. I was worried about facial droop so I guess this is OK.

I decided to not be put under again so will have it done under local sedation. This can take awhile because they take some out, send it to lab and wait for results and then take more, send it to lab, etc..... Hopefully they will get it all out with one more cut. Maybe I should bring a good book but they will have me in la la land.

I mentioned the severe nerve pain again and asked if she thought I might get that again and she said he might have nicked a nerve or it might have been the anesthetic they used to numb me so she can't say for sure, but they will give me something for pain this time. The worse case would be is if the cancer has spread so far that she can't get it all, so then she closes me up and sends me to the doctor in Omaha I was going to see. Now part of me is saying, I should just go to him then right off the bat, but most of me is saying I think it is almost gone and I will stay here where it is cheaper. Plus, I trust her to worry about the cancer first, but still worry about the scar.

She is not going to use sutures. She was teasing me about how I always have to have something out of the norm. I really like her.

Now for the not so good news. She has me for sure down for the 3rd of March. 3 weeks away and pretty close to having to go back to work. But I get the first cancellation. One of the patients hasn't shown up for her pre-op visit twice so I might get her spot on the 24th. And if anyone drops out because they are sick or something I get their spot. Plus her regular nurse is back from vacation Tuesday and she will know if there is someone they can switch around.

So....one of these days I will be having surgery and getting this past. Thank goodness. And I am praying, isn't this selfish that someone gets sick and has to cancel surgery real quick. They can have the 3rd of March, I will take now.

I had PT yesterday. My shoulder has been really bad again and I am not sure why. I hate that. Since the shoulder is a work comp thing I hate that it gets better and then bad again. You always feel like they don't believe you. Since I am off work and never missed any work because of it, what benefit would there be in lying? But they don't say that, I probably just feel that way because so many people do cheat on this which has ruined it for those of us really hurt at work. I truly do just want to get better and back to work. Something about making money and paying bills really appeals to me. Why would I want to cut my income down 2/3's?

We had a lovely day in Sioux Falls Tuesday. So relaxing. I am slowing adding photo's to my Photo journal. We saw the eagles but they stayed way to high to get good shots.



Well, time to get busy cleaning house. Skin cancer tip of the day. Most common spot to get skin cancer? Ears, nose and lips on the face. So, use that sunscreen, use a chap stick, SPF 15 or higher. Don't forget to put that sunscreen on your ears. Easier to do that then go through what I am having done. Taking chunks off your nose or lips really looks bad and if you tan, please think about stopping. This old person disease is showing up in 20 year olds.

Watch out

funny

'MARIJUANA FILLED FIREWOOD'

'Hello, is this the Sheriff's Office?'

'Yes. What can I do for you?'

'I'm calling to report 'bout my neighbor, Virgil Smith....He's hidin' marijuana inside his firewood! Don't quite know how he gets it inside them logs, but he's hidin' it there.'

'Thank you very much for the call, sir.'

The next day, the Sheriff's Deputies descend on Virgil's house. They search the shed where the firewood is kept. Using axes, they bust open every piece of wood, but find no marijuana. They sneer at Virgil and leave.

Shortly, the phone rings at Virgil's house.

'Hey, Virgil! This here's Floyd... .Did the Sheriff come?'

'Yeah!'

'Did they chop your firewood?'

'Yep!'

'Happy Birthday, buddy!'

(Rednecks know how to git-R-dun).

Beautiful weather.

The one and only time Rick, or Zoey, let me make her look cute, LOL. They both said once, no more. Oh well, she is pretty cute anyway.

I got my sutures out and am on antibiotics because guess what? I am allergic to sutures and got infected because of them, LOL, gee I knew that. Thing is it is my fault, I knew I had problems with sutures and I did mention that to my doctors, but I never listed it as an allergy. I should have. I feel like a idiot. For years I have been having trouble with my incisions breaking open. I always mention to the doctors that my body doesn't seem to like the sutures, but I have never listed it as an actual allergy. I don't seem to have trouble with the ones they use internally, just the external ones. So partly my fault. I need to make sure they know for sure when I have my face done because I don't want it to look as bad as my wrist.

I just feel so sorry for the people in Australia. How horrific for them. My prayers go out to them all in this terrible time. I hope they find the monster that started the fires. And I hope the weather stays mild so they can stop the fire.

I have my camera's loaded and ready to go. We are driving to Sioux Falls and I hope to find some pictures worth taking. My son told me where some Bald eagles are hanging out so I hope to get some shots of them also.

I can almost see my backyard. The snow is melting and the geese are flying North. I am so excited the winter is almost over. My mood is lifting. I am dreaming of bike rides.

Well, Rick is almost ready. Tomorrow I see the plastic surgeon. Soon I will be back to normal. As normal as I get at least, LOL.

It's a General Motors Rant.

OK, here's the plan, sucker the government out of bailout money to save your plant, then spend it in Brazil at the plant there. Got to make sure the Brazilians jobs are secure. Sad thing is, they will probably get the bailout money...... Doesn't that just make you do a slow burn?

Another thing I heard today. Daschle says, "Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them". And this is something I have been predicting and seeing in practice.

The seniors that were promised health care for all? The prescription drug coverage is being cut, they will be encouraged to live with the failing kidneys, bad hearts, arthritis, cataracts, blah blah blah.

Thing is, I have seen people I thought it was a crime to put through dialysis and prolong their life thus prolonging their suffering. And I have seen patients have a major surgery that will buy them maybe 5 or 10 years when they are at the age that realistically they may not have naturally. But, I have seen the same age group living full lives with these things. Who cares if they are no longer, PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

I knew this was being discussed and now it is more in the open. The very seniors which rushed to the polls will be the ones hurt the most by this new health plan. Next they will move to the handicapped and children born with mental and physical handicaps. Why keep them around when there is no possible way they could contribrute to their upkeep. Survival of the fittest, right......Hitler thought so.

I urge everyone to pay attention to the health care reforms they will be passing. Full of as many strings and hidden clauses as the stimulus package. It will have its own pork tacked on. And if you think not possible? I have already been to offices that don't take medicare or medicade, haven't you? It will get worse.

Sutures out and a Great Dietiers Book

Today I get my sutures out. I am thrilling about that I tell you. The incision looks better and is itching. I am kind of nervous the doctor will send me back to work. Now normally I am right for getting back to work. But it is to soon. He told me I could go back in 2 weeks if I didn't do any lifting with this arm, but otherwise it would be 6 weeks. Not lifting is just impossible in this job. Plus if a patient starts to fal,l or there is an emergency, I would probably have to use my arm and could injure it. So I hope he isn't a jerk and tells me something completely different again. I never know what to expect with him.

He was not this way when I had him 4 years ago, somewhat glib, but not like this. But I think it is because I don't see him most of the time. I usually see the PA. Now I do not mind seeing a PA, but somewhere there is breakdown in communication in this office. I was the house manager for 10 years at our hospital. Almost everytime there was a problem it was like that old movie line from Cool Hand Luke. "What we have here is a failure to communicate". And it is affecting patient care. I definitely would never recommend him after this and if you don't think I get asked often. I never say anything bad about the doctors, I just say, Oh yes that one's good, but I really like so and so's bedside manner blah blah blah.

Anyway. Get to get that done today. And physical therapy. My shoulder is acting up again and I am getting some rather terrible pain in my palm. Need to start stretching out my scars. I might post a picture of them, oh goodie.

Now for the dietier out there here is a great book I just bought. It is called Eat this, Not That. It is a delightful book about like did you know eating one hostess chocolate pudding pie is the equivilant of 2 McDonald Quarter pounders. Why fat free isn't always better, what organic or free range really means and the falseness of food advertising. It is good book, easy to read, chock full of information and funny. It doesn't tell you not to eat that candy bar, just tells you why a twix is the equivelant of 12 strips of bacon so a 100 grand bar would be the better choice. And when I buy a multigrain bread I should have gotten the all grain instead. I have the Supermarket Value Guide and he has for the eating out also. I was upset to see why my healthy choice meals weren't always the best choice and I could better with my yogert selection. But my fat free tapiocca pudding is just right.

So anyway he doesn't tell you how to diet, just how to make smarter choices and what the labels really say. Most I knew but I learned quite abit. And your never to old to learn more right.

Eagle season is starting.

Just to let you know for those who watched the show last year, they are expecting the eagles to lay eggs shortly. I have been visiting and they are showing up at the nest more often. Last year was quite the drama with the male eagle cheating on his spouse, the hussy house breaker moving in and some eggs getting broken and finally the old female winning him back. Unfortunately only one egg survived the season and that baby ended up with avian flu. what a year. So if your interested pop in and check out the Eagle Cam

Sunday

After 2 wonderfully warm days half at least, or more of our snow has melted. We are suppose to get a thunderstorm this evening and that should take care of the rest. yippy. I hope that is it for the year.

I love the first snow, the clean crisp look of it, the millions of diamond sparkles on the ground. The way it traces every branch. The sky looks so crisp. Then the reality of it sinks in. The coldness of it. Today Rick brought the dog out and hit the ground., the slipperiness of it. He is going to be sore tomorrow.

So then you start to get very tired of the snow. You can't just bop outside. You have to dress in layer after layer and scarfs, sweaters, wristies, gloves,and thick winter coats just to run to the store for the one thing you forgot. And then to come back and gulp down hot tea to warm yourself up enough to stand taking all the sweaters and coats off. So yes. I am ready for winter to be over.

I am reading a book called American Nomads by Richard Grant. One line he says about his winters in England where he grew up. "Every Winter when the cold, damp gloom descended and the sky closed over, I felt trapped and claustophopic, sentenced to another long stretch in a small dank, overcrowded prison. In winter, my drinking increased, and my politics turned fiery and anarchistic, only to mellow with the first good week of summer."

Boy can I relate to that. You have to have something to heat yourself from the soul on out.

I think my wrist incision is better. It isn't draining anymore, but is still red. Today I was worried I was getting a septic as I was so cold, I just couldn't warm up. I soaked in a hot tub and got even hotter thinking about the doctor. If he is lucky he won't see me tomorrow, only the nurse taking out my stitches. But after the bath and some tylenol I feel better. Right now I have my TENS unit connected to my hand and wrist. I have been having some burning pain as the swelling goes down and the numbness decreases. This seems to help alittle.

I am kind of sorry I told my youngest son about what the doctor said. He is worried about me. No need for anyone else worry until we find out if I have something to worry about. I am calling the new doctors nurse tomorrow. I want to see how long I would have to wait to get scheduled for surgery if I see here. If she is booked for 2 months and can't squeak me in I am going to the other doctor. Seriously though. Don't you think she could bump a cancer patient in front of a nose job or boob job? When I had my breast reduction I would have certainly agreed to rescheduling under circumstances like these. Oh well, we shall see.

Well, back to my book. It is pretty good. Makes me want to hit the road. If it wasn't so expensive I would just travel all the time. Or if I could write like this man so it would pay to travel all the time that would be wonderful also. Since I can't guess I'll just look back at my vacation pictures. Long open roads, not a care in the world. Oh yeah.