Gialogy

I don’t want to go to sleep because tomorrow will be a new day and I haven’t finished dealing with today yet!

fake smile -check
steady voice -check
hide the pain -check
hold the tears back -check
looks like I am ready for another day

Having a hard time. But will need to get through this. Today is the first day of the rest of my life
New year, new decade, new goals and new life.
I must be strong, at least now, I’m doing it for better reasons.
I’ve been alone the last 6 months, why should it be any different now?

Okay, just had a few sips of my wine and tada! here comes the pain again.

Though I didn’t start keeping a pain journal when it came out of remission, I guess it’s never too late.

Yesterday was really bad.  Left work early, came home took some Hydroco/apap which aleviated it a bit from an 8 to a 6 and allowed me to sleep, unfortunately it was only 5 or 6 so come 11 pm I woke up and not long after that, here it came again with a vengeance.  I’d say it had to have been a 9 for me to take so pills.

But unlike MOST NORMAL folks, I dont fall asleep with this medication, I sat up twidling my thumbs until 4 a.m. when I was able to sleep only to wake up at 5:50 for work.

Today, with no physical triggers, pain started in my ear radiating down to my jaw.  Pain scale:8.5

It’s just another night with pain and me in paradise.

Let’s hope that it wont stick around long!

Today was grocery day so I figured, I’l start eating healthier.

Had a little chat with the folks at the boot camp and what with everything on going on with me, we’re going to start with a diabetics’ diet.  I’ve got too many things going on, what with the fact I can’t have too much of the “good brown stuff” since it’s got too much fiber and will just trigger an UC flare up.  So no go.

Without having had the chance to do any research, I just went with what I know so tonight for dinner I had

a few grapes (couldn’t help myself while I washed them before I put them away)

half a serving of mozzarollo – mozzarella cheese rolled with prosciutto and basil.  yes, half a serving only of what was labeled.  I am now reading the labels more

Then for the main course, I didn’t feel like cooking up some rice so I just snacked on a pan seared salmon drowned in lemon juice for flavor.  A few sips of vino too.  Just for taste.  Don’t want to take too much just in case I need to take a pain pill later on.

And for dessert, either some fresh fruit, jello or a scoop vanilla ice cream, hep, hep, low fat yan.

While having supper, I was able to download some books from the Cleveland library and will upload it into my reader for some not so light reading and try to educate myself on what types of foods to combine and eat together.

BTW, I so enjoyed my fish!

While we were chatting, unfortunately, I was having a few attacks.  One of them mentioned that he was a paramedic and the relief I got from that was unexplainable.  I was glad I didn’t have to explain what Trigeminal neuralgia means.  He knew what questions to ask, asked about my pain scale, what medications I was on.  I also told where it usually manifests.

We got on to talking about protein shakes which I think would have been perfect for a night like tonight where, soft though the fish was, it still caused some discomfort.

PS. Pain back, forget anything cold so I guess there’s no dessert for me.

this website has pretty much been idle ever since I landed in the good ole US of A.  And now I have something worth writing about.  Since I took the stupid pill, I seem to have lost or forgotten how to gather my thoughts and put them all in a single post without making it seem like I’m rambling, so I hope I forgive myself while I exercise my brain and try to get it back in shape.

So I will use this as my journal, um, duh, to keep myself on track with my resolution.  My end of year resolution and I’m sure I’ll be glad to look back on it.  Aside from putting my brain through a workout, I will also try to get my body into shape.

Today I signed up for a 12 week boot camp competition.

What does that mean?  I really don’t know what it all means but this is what I gathered.

1. it lasts for 12 weeks and then after those 12 weeks, group and individual weights and measurements or BMI improvements will be compared ending up with a winning group or individual who lost the most.

2. it’s small group personal training.  Meaning, you’ll have a semi-personal trainer.

3. I’ll be going everyday of the week, Monday to Friday after work or before work, not really sure.

4. Everyone says that 79$ a month is a great deal.

5. They said they would email me information and I’m still waiting on it. I can’t really find much information on the website either as all they seem to have are testimonials, which I have to admit, look really promising.

I have been looking forward to signing up at a gym again but never get to it.  You know what they said about Mohammad and the Mountain, well, if you can’t get Gia to the gym, bring the gym to Gia!

I need this for several reasons.  Not because everyone says I’m fat, heck been hearing that even before I was fat.  Got a headache?  Taba lang yan!  got a toothache, that’s just fat.  So that’s not my primary reason.  My primary reason is that with age, life related stress, and what not, yes, because I’m fat,  I have been running my blood pressure high.  Now, most people fix this with a simple diet and a pill.  I can’t take any more bloody pills!  Any pill that they put me on, triggers my TN.  And heck, I’d rather die from complications brought about by the High blood pressure than live with TN pain.  It’s been going on a month now that I’ve been trying new BP pills and living with the monster pain back.  Me no like it.

Another benefit is that I remember working out after a full days work and feeling so much better after it.

Now the bonus would be if I did lose them stubborn inches.  I know I’ve gained a lot since migrating to the states.  I left Spain a size 12 and am now almost on my way to only being able to buy from the plus sized.  Not yet mind you but dang if i’ll wait til that happens.

So, I hope they can work something out with me, what with all the medical conditions, medications and dietary limits I’ve got, I hope it works.

It’s not going to be easy.  I love to cook and eat.  When we travel, it’s gastronomical, let’s stop by this place, they’ve got great sopa de ajo.  Or let’s take M40, there’s this little restaurant that serves…. when we gather with family, oh, boy, there’s bound to be loads of food.  For Filipinos, it’s always a good time to eat.

Milk is good for  you.

Ice cream is made of milk.

I therefor conclude that ice cream is good for you.

While waiting for the Gringo to go get his hair cut, I went into the local grocery to buy some necessities that I saw were on sale this week.  I browse through the different flyers and list them out by store.  I’m sure some stores will price match but where’s the fun in that?

While walking towards the counter with my big package of toilet paper and garbage bags, I saw a man filling in the freezer with pints of Blue Bell Ice cream.  10 for $10 said the BIG sign next to it.  Now who can ignore such a sign.  I had to stop and get some. Regular price was $1.99, so we saved .99 each, plus the arguement of “I dipped last, it’s your turn!” is avoided.

Blue bell ice cream is native to Texas.  YUMMY!  Mykee, when you get here, you should try their dutch chocolate, it reminds me of Magnolia chocolait. I always mix and stir until my ice cream resembles a soft serve, so it tastes like a really thick Magnolia chocolait milk shake.  I take a few spoon fulls and then Doug takes over, and it disappears.

I tried to compare it with prices back in Spain so I went to Corte Ingles.  For Ben and Jerry’s PINT  it cost E 6.60 which is $8.98 and while the home brand is 4.40E or $6.)  and Carrefour was about a euro cheaper.

O.M.G.  I shall never ever complain about prices here again! A half gallon of Blue Bell costs about 6.50 and up here when not on sale, so we only buy it when it’s on sale as I thought it was expensive.  When not on sale, we get the home brand of what ever grocery we’re at for about $2.50 – $3.00 each.

So head on over to Kroger and get some!

One of my student’s mom brought me tikoy!!!  Yay!!  Will bring some to the session tomorrow!

I could never remember the chinese name for tikoy, but literally, it translates into New Year Cake.

I’ve read that  the reason Chinese give away the traditional tikoy on Chinese New Year for several reasons.

First, it’s round to look like money hence means wealth

Second, it’s made from sticky rice for luck to stick to you. It also pulls everything that is dear to you together

Third, the red-colored packaging is believed to drive away evil.

Lots of ways to eat tikoy.  You can boil it, steam it, but we’ve always had ours fried.  First dipped in egg, fried then served with a sprinkle of sugar.  Will post pics when I’ve made them.

Got a message the other day that our very own version of the Joy Luck club is meeting on Sunday, Valentines day or Chinese new year.  I figured with Doug working, I could go.  Last time we got together, Martina requested apple pie.  I had brought a store bough apple pie, but since I’m not fond of pie crust, I do not enjoy those types of pies.

I remembered yaya’s apple pie!!  Yummy.  Last time I had really good apple pie was 4 years ago when I made them, and before that 6, when yaya made them before we left spain.  So I thought really hard to recall how to make it (tamarge and mykee never got back to me after I requested they ask yaya what she puts in it) .

So here’s my version of Yaya’s yummy apple pie

I prefer the crumbly crusts.  Granted I had left over pie crusts in my freezer which I used for the bottom, but for the top, I made it ala dutch /french.

Crust is made of flour and sugar, with some butter to make it crumbly.  I sprinkled some cinnamon too then shoved the bag I made it in into the freezer while worked on the apples.  Please don’t use canned apples =(  they just don’t taste the same.

Here is the pie crust, diced apples sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.  I used golden delicious apples for their natural sweetness which means less sugar goes into the pie.

I like to taste my apples so I don’t slice them thin.  Sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, I let it sit in a bowl for a few minutes.  When all melted an shiny, I poured it into the pie plate.  Grab the crumble that has been sitting in the freezer and if necessary, shake and mix it up again.  Bake for 15 minutes at 425.  Then 40-50 minutes at 350.  I like to see the pie bubbling.  That’s when I know it’s nice and good inside.

Finished product …

… add the cheese.. YES!  THE CHEESE!!

… enjoy!