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August 31, 2005

This Makes Me Nauseous

I found this over on Kami's site, The Dallas Ks, and decided I would post it
too. I knew that our media was biased, but this just makes me sick in the pit of
my stomach. **EDITED TO ADD. I wanted to clarify that the entire meaning behind
this post is the disgust with our media. This is by no means a racial statement
on my behalf. I just believe that the media has gone overboard and needs to
learn how to be consistent in their vocabulary. "Find" and "Loot" do not have
the same legal connotations and those two who "found" the bread and soda are
just as guilty of "looting" as the kid.**

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:40 PM | Comments (5)

4th Quarter Registration

It's that time again. To start planning for the next school quarter when we
aren't even finished with the one we are in. Yes, folks, that's right... its
Registration Time. I left work about an hour early yesterday afternoon and went
to the school. I went to the financial aid office to sign a couple of forms and
pick up the information to renew my loans for the next year and then I went to
my advisor. I had spent my lunch hour going thru the course catalog and figuring
out the best schedule for me to keep my sanity while working full time. While
doing my own planning on the degree plan I created on a spreadsheet from the
original course catalog, it was looking as though it was going to be June 2007
before I finished school. This was pretty disgusting as this was only supposed
to take about 23 months. Starting October 3, 2005, you, my lovely readers can
look forward to pictures from the following courses. Purchasing and Cost
Control: This course covers the basic principles of purchasing food, beverages,
equipment, and supplies, as well as working with contract services. Primary
focus is on product identification, supplier selection, and the processes of
ordering, receiving, storing and issuing. This course is also designed for the
student to understand the basic processes of the planning, costing and control
processes in the food and beverage industry. Menu pricing, cost analysis, food,
beverage, and labor costs are included. Areas of inventory control, sales
projections, cost determination, costs associated with labor training as well as
costsaving techniques will be covered. Nutritional Cooking: *I'm taking this
class online, so I will be cooking at home.. anybody want to be my guinea pig?*
This course centers on an explanation of the basic principles of nutrition and
their relationships to health. The structure, functions and sources of nutrients
including carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water are discussed.
Current issues in nutrition are reviewed, including dietary guidelines, energy
balance, vitamin supplements, and food fats. Students also focus on the
principles of planning wholesome, nutritionally balanced meals using traditional
foods and ingredients. Students will plan, analyze and prepare menus that meet
nutritional guidelines. Classical Cuisine: Through lectures, demonstrations and
hands-on cooking, students are introduced to the techniques, ingredients and
spices unique to "Classical French Cuisine." Timing, organizations, mise en
place and plate presentations are stressed. The utilization of proper culinary
techniques will be enforced. Asian Cuisine: Prepare, taste, serve, and evaluate
traditional, regional dishes of Asia. Emphasis will be placed on ingredients,
flavor profiles, preparations, and techniques representative of the cuisines of
India, the four regions of China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and
Indonesia. Schedule. This quarter, despite all the Chairi commotion, has run
pretty smoothly schedule wise. I don't ever want to go back to the 5:30-10:30
FOUR days a week on top of a 40hr/week job again. Next quarter, after getting
permission from my boss (to take a 3pm class), I will be in class from 3 - 10:30
on Mondays and 5:30 - 10:30 on Tuesdays and then I will be off the rest of the
week. I think I'm loving this new schedule before it even gets here. Graduation
News While discussing classes and schedules with my advisor, she printed out a
copy of the degree plans for both of my majors, Culinary Arts and Restaurant &
Catering Management. We crossed off classes that were duplicated in both degrees
and checked off classes I had already finished, am currently taking, or was in
the process of registering for. It turns out that I'm not as far behind as I had
thought. If all the classes are offered when I need them, and at night where I
can take them and still work, then I should be able to graduate with my AAS in
Culinary Arts in September 2006 and my AAS in Restaurant and Catering Management
in December 2006. I know its only 6 months less than what I had thought it was
going to be... but right now, that seems like a lifetime.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 01:59 PM | Comments (2)

More Sour Grapes

I'm not sure if any of you noticed, but I haven't been blogging about my
Beverage Class in the past few weeks. I have had a real hard time keeping my
mind focused on school with all the other health issues that have surfaced, have
been explained and are waiting for treatment.
I have also lost my appetite for even trying these wines. I'm sorry to say this,
but I just do not like wine. Period. I've tasted most of the wines from the past
three weeks but I have also been utilizing the spit-bucket at the table. Much to
the disgust of my tablemates.
Next week we don't have class because of the Labor Day Holiday. The next week we
will be drinking Port wines and then September 19th is the Final Exam. Gosh,
this quarter is almost over.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 01:04 PM | Comments (1)

August 30, 2005

Does Your Life Ever Feel Like This

Too Many Toolbars
I've got all the tools I need, but they are overcrowding my vision and
determination to get anything done. This is the downside of having your main
manifestation of your Obsessive Complusive personality as Organization.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 08:58 AM | Comments (4)

August 29, 2005

Oh, Happy Day. Oh, Happy Day!

I got to work on time this morning. I sat down at my computer to find an email,
sent after I left for the MRI on Friday, from the EL, saying she was going to
out on VACATION all week.
HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN So long sad times Go long bad times We are rid of you
at last Howdy gay times Cloudy gray times You are now a thing of the past Happy
days are here again The skies above are clear again So let's sing a song of
cheer again Happy days are here again Altogether shout it now There's no one Who
can doubt it now So let's tell the world about it now Happy days are here again
Your cares and troubles are gone There'll be no more from now on From now on ...
Happy days are here again The skies above are clear again So, Let's sing a song
of cheer again Happy times Happy nights Happy days Are here again!

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:29 AM | Comments (2)

August 28, 2005

Fill Up NOW

Some of you in Texas might have noticed that our gas prices had started to drop
a bit... down to $2.59 from $2.75 in some places. Because of Hurricane Katrina
in the Gulf of Mexico, Texas gas prices are expected to go up considerably again
VERY soon (possibly as soon as tomorrow the morning) so you might want to
consider filling up your car tonight to save a chunk of money. Just thought I'd
pass on this little tidbit.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:07 PM | Comments (2)

S.P.A.M.

Stupid People Annoying Me
**Edited to Add. I apologize but I have turned on the word verification option
for comments. I have deleted nearly 25 spam comments today and I now want to get
sick from seeing all that slimey pink psuedo-meat.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 02:46 PM | Comments (4)

BackBlogging

Ok. I'm finally getting caught up on some blogging. I have a lot of pictures to
post from the Culinary Extravangza that we had at school on Thursday night
(instead of class). Make sure you scroll down and take in all the sites.

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Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 01:41 PM | Comments (0)

Tacos and DVRs

Saturday night I went out to dinner with my friends M&S that I have known for
over a decade now. We all went to Baylor together, then after graduation they
moved to Houston and I followed a year later. In 2003, they moved to Dallas and
then, again, about a year later I followed.
We went and ate dinner at Taco Diner and then went back to their apartment where
we watched the past two episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher that they had
recorded. We had originally planned this evening for Friday night but my Valium
had other plans for me that evening so we rescheduled.
We've decided that as long as we are all in town on Friday night, we are going
to make this our new ritual. Dinner and Maher, Friday night. I think next week
we're gonna have Pizza and Beer. I was just a little burnt out on pizza after
having it for both dinner Friday night and lunch on Saturday.
It was a fun night. Thanks M&S!

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Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:30 AM | Comments (0)

August 26, 2005

Eye Heart Valium

That Is All.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:14 PM | Comments (3)

August 25, 2005

Ice Cream Contest

And the Winner is:

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Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:19 PM | Comments (0)

Ice Scuplture Contest

And the Winner is:

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:04 PM | Comments (1)

Plated Dessert Contest

And the Winner is:

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:58 PM | Comments (2)

Episode # 5 "Fainting" Of:

AS THE TONSIL FALLS
#2 Yesterday at 3:30 Neurosurgeon # 2 From now on will be referred to as
"TheAccentMan."
We went to the 2nd opinion neurosurgeon yesterday. We got there and they handed
me a huge stack of paperwork to fill out. By page 2 my right hand was numb and
by page 5 my right hand and elbow were HURTING.
A Physicians Assistant came in and asked questions, did the blood pressure,
weight (gasp), the "follow my finger with your eyes," etc. and then in walks
"TheAccentMan." He's tall, had curly dark hair and a VERY strong accent. I wish
I could tell you what kind of accent it was, but I have no clue. He starts out
telling me that he usually does surgery when the fallen tonsil is even with or
past the C1 vertebre. Mine is touching the top of C1 so I am in sort of a limbo.
He agreed with "TheCuteOne," that it didn't look like things were too crowded in
there *but* he seemed a little more concerned about the involuntary twitching
and tingling and numbness in my arms.. the times when it is there and I hadn't
just sneezed. He said that he wanted to see an MRI of my brain before making any
big decisions on my care or the plan. I mentioned that I had an MRI of my brain
last October but not only was he not impressed about the fact that it was done
10 months ago, he also didn't like Open MRIs. He says he's going to send me to a
regular MRI for a brain scan and he would give me a prescription for valium. He
said "take one when you leave home and take the other when you See The Machine."
My stomach starts singing "rolling rolling rolling, keep them doggies rolling."
He then starts vividly explaining the surgery to me and how painful it is during
recovery after he slices all the muscles in my neck and how I probably wanted to
avoid the surgery if it wasn't absolutely necessary. I was sitting on the
doctor's table and the more he explained about the surgery the weaker and more
nauseated I felt. I had that hot flash feeling like I was going to pass out and
I quickly laid down on the table. At least, I had a table to lay down on. My
mother, sitting upright in a chair next to a wall with my dad at her side
started felling the same way. Both of us were just about ready to pass out when
he finished his story.
So, we know that he probably doesn't think surgery is the answer... but we also
know that there is enough symptoms for him to want to look at things from
another angle before making a decision.
To Cut Or Not To Cut. That is the Question.
***OFF THE AIR, TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF***
AS THE TONSIL FALLS
STARING:
#2a Friday at 2:30 Naked Pictures of My Brain On Valium
#2.2 Thursday, Sept 1 at 3:15 Follow Up with "TheAccentMan"
#1.5 ? Neurologist # 3 (if needed)
#1 Tuesday, Sept 6 at 8:30 Neurologist #1 My New Drug Dealer.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:15 PM | Comments (6)

August 24, 2005

There Goes My Flag

Well folks, SillyNessa, grabbed the big yellow flag off my waist and now I get
to answer her interview questions.
1. What kind of restaurant do you hope to open?
I have not quite decided on the entire direction that my future restaurant is
going to go in, but I do have the name of the place. My restaurant is going to
be called "The Stolen Olive." Olives have been a family-sized passion my
entire life. As a kid I would open up a can of black olives and after fitting
one on the tip of each finger, then I could divulge myself into my favorite
snack.
During the summer of 1984, I went and spent two months with my aunt, my uncle
and my cousin, Jace (who was 10 months old at the time) in New Orleans. We ate
at Taco Bell on a regular basis and my aunt would always pay for me to get
extra olives on my enchirito and beefy tostada. On one occasion, Jace, spilt
something and I got up to go get some more napkins. When I came back to the
table, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY OLIVES WAS GONE. Little thief.
Luckily there is a thing called karma and 6 years later, my baby cousin,
Jantzen, was born. He was also born with a passion for olives and quickly
learned to steal his brother's olives. And, yes I am ashamed to admit it...
But by the time Jantzen was 2, Jace was 9 and I was 18, I had learned that the
only way I was going to get any of that soft black treat was to steal them
from the baby.
During family get-togethers, there are always olives and some pushing and
shoving readily ensues. I am not quite sure what the entire concept of my
restaurant is going to end up being, but I do know that there will be Olives,
Olives, and Olives.
2. Would you be happy just being a chef in a diner or would it need to be a
four-star joint?
I don't think I would be unhappy in a diner. I don't think I would be unhappy
in a four-star joint. I, do, however know that I do not want to be part of a
chain where as the chef, I would have no creative input into the nationwide
standardized menu.
In my mind I usually see something shabby-chic, gourmet, cafe with a regular
lunch and dinner menu and a separate coffee and dessert bar. I see specialty
items such as a sugar-free version of all the desserts and maybe even
gluten-free stuff if we still need it. I see wireless internet, couches and
fireplaces. I see a completely interactive website with online ordering. I see
waitstaff with handheld computers for taking orders. I see a custom-painted
delivery car for catering orders (I wasted too many miles and way too much gas
delivering catering orders for McAlister's that I was never reimbursed for.)
And, as of right now... I see all this in the Houston - metropolitan area,
maybe Katy or Sugar Land. I love how those two areas of town put so much into
the aesthetics of the roads and landscaping. Lush green grass, tall trees,
flowers blooming.. And of course a misting system to keep the customers cool
outside on the patio, during the two seasons of Houston... Summer and
February.
3. Do you ever regret not using your degree from Baylor?
Hmm, good question. Do I miss teaching? Sometimes. Do I miss the paperwork and
redtape? Not in a million years. Do I miss the teenagers who called me names
and accused me of being a racist on a daily basis? No. Do I miss the good
students who were the inspiration that made me hold on for the three years?
Yes.
Regardless if I want to admit it, I'm a teacher. I always have been. I would
go spend the summers with my grandparents and I would set up a classroom in
their living room, and I was the meanest 3yr old teacher you ever saw. I had
all kinds of educational toys and puzzles. We did math flashcards, US puzzles
with the states & capitals, and we learned the Preamble to the Constitution.
That is something I will never forget, and when it came time in 5th grade and
9th grade and 12th grade to memorize all the capitals for all of the states...
I already knew them.
When I was working at CTC in "TheArmpitOfHell", we set up a training room and I created
worksheets and textbooks to teach our employees how to use Outlook and Excel,
to help become more efficient in their jobs. And the few times I get people,
at my new job, asking me to help them or show them how to do something on the
computer... I finally feel like my time here was worth while that day, week,
month, months.
I have tossed around the idea of finding a job in human resources, employee
training or something along those lines to help finish financing my culinary
career. If I could schedule all my classes on two days a week (all day long)
and then maybe have a training position where I was able to travel for maybe
two or three days a week. That sounds like so much fun. I love computers but I
miss the human interaction that I just don't get in my current position. Maybe
that is why I have turned to blogging.
I want to go out and work for a few years, and I have actually seriously
thought about returning to a culinary school and teaching when I get older and
closer to retirement age. I have always wanted to have my own cooking show on
FoodNetwork. If I could have something like GoodEats or 30-Minute Meals, an
educational show where I am actually teaching. That would be a dream come
true.
4. Life in Dallas...Describe it in five words. Use your mouse to select the area
after each word to read the explanations.
Complacent - the drivers. It seems like no one in this town has anywhere to
go, or if they do have somewhere to go, they have 14 hours to get there.
Nothing like Houston, "home", where if you go under-80 you will get run over.
It frustrates me to no end to have to maneuver around what looks to be
traffic, only to get up to the front of the line and see that its just some
complacent dork driving around with no clue that 1) he's not the only person
on the road; 2) he's holding up traffic for 14 miles and not even going the
speed limit; and 3) there are NO cars anywhere in front of him for as far as
the eye can see.
Contradictory - this sort of ties in with the last word. I'm not talking about
the people, but more about the image of the town. You see DFW, you see
freeways and traffic and more places to eat and shop than you could ever look
at. You look at it from afar and you see a "big city." But the people are so
laid back here, not in a hurry, that they think they are just in a small town
with a couple million people in it getting in their way.
Frou-Frou - this also ties into the previous word. Frou-Frou, Dallasites seem
to think they have to put on an image for the rest of the world. There are
more 700K houses and more bankruptcies in Dallas than anywhere else in Texas.
Everything is expensive and showy.
NOT "TheArmpitOfHell" - For any of you who have known me longer than I have had this blog,
you know that, in my mind, this is the biggest complement I could give any
place. As I proved in my post yesterday... I am perfectly capable of going to
"TheArmpitOfHell" for a weekend and having a good time, see family, get some rest and
recharge myself for what's next. "TheArmpitOfHell" is bass-akwards in so many ways and so
annoying in many many more. It is a place that I will always go back to, it is
where my family is and where they have been since 1945. It is ok to go visit,
but it isn't a place I could ever truly call "home."
5. Do you believe that a dream is a wish your heart makes?
I believe that dreams are the medium in which God talks to us. To lead us to
where we should be. Some things we dream of ... Like me going to culinary
school... Would have never happened had God not put that desire (and sometimes
even just the thought) in our hearts. The problem is, learning when and where
and how we are going to turn that dream into a reality, is not always on our
time tables, but on the time table of someone much more powerful than I.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 02:00 PM | Comments (3)

It's Freezing In Here

THAT IS ALL.

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Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)

August 23, 2005

Episode # 4 Doctor Countdown Of :

AS THE TONSIL FALLS
Three down, two (maybe three) to go.
#5: Friday at 3:15. Neurologist # 1. From now on will be referred to as
"TheBrickWall."
TheBrickWall was 30 minutes late to my appoinment and when we finally got back
to his office he proceeded to pull every disease/condition known to man out of
his southern-most orifice to explain my symptoms as something OTHER than Chiari.
My migraines are "hormones", the normal-every-day headaches are "too much
OTC-medicine withdrawal", the numbness in my arms and hands is "carpal tunnel",
the eye-twitches and the ringing in my ears and hearing loss is "too much
aspirin", the stiff neck is from, of all things, "stress". And of course, my
mother, QueenB, had to add in the fact that the weight gain was just me being
l-a-z-y.
#4: Friday at 5:00. Chiropractor. From now on will be referred to as
"TheExplainer."
She compared my MRI films to the X-Rays she had taken and compared them slide by
slide. She explained which nerves attached where on the spine and why I was
feeling what I was feeling. She said I had a slight deterioration of my C3 and
C4 discs since my Chiari was blocking the movement of C1 and C2 which is what
"normal" people use to rotate their head from side to side, and that my body had
just naturally started using C3 and C4 for rotation. This can also explain
stiffness in the neck. When I sneeze, the rapid movement of my head forward
compresses the spinal cord and cerebellar tonsils together causing the numbness
in my arms. In a little over an hour, with charts and graphs, and with see-thru
pictures of my insides.. she disproved everything "TheBrickWall" had said.
***Commerical Break***
After the chiropractor we ate dinner at Cantina Laredo in Euless and then went
to my apartment. I packed a few things in a bag and we headed to "TheArmpitOfHell". We got
home about midnight. I went to bed, in MY bed, my waterbed and I slept better
that night than I have in months. My two puppies must have missed me because
they jumped up and slept on my bed at my feet. Zane, the one with more hair
eventually got down (that bed gets HOT) but he still stayed in my room and slept
on the floor right next to us, while Zack slept on my feet all night long.
Saturday, we woke up, ate lunch, watched Summer Magic, took a nap, watched
Frequency, (wiped the drool off my face), took another nap. About 3 my dad
finally got home from work and we ate salad and sandwiches and guess what... I
took another nap. About 8 when my dad went to bed, my mom and I got up, got
dressed and went to visit with my grandparents until after midnight. We took the
4 CDs worth of pictures that my cousin, OfficerB, had sent from the wedding and
my mother's laptop. My grandmother had been unable to attend the wedding and we
got to show her all the pictures.
Sunday, we woke up when my dad got home from work about 10 and ate breakfast. My
parents read the newspaper while I was a complete and total bum and played
Phlinx on Pogo. About 2 we got up and got ready, went back to my grandparents,
and ate birthday cake and visited until I had to leave for Dallas about 6pm. I
got back to my place about 8 and spent the evening cleaning my apartment and
doing laundry.
***Now Returning To Your Regularly Scheduled Program***
#3 Monday at 10:40 Neurosurgeon #1 From now on will be referred to as
"TheCuteOne."
Monday I went to work about 7:30 and left at 10:00. As I was driving to the
neurosurgeon's office, I passed an 18-wheeler on the side of the road that had a
cabin completely engulfed in flames and black smoke. I had been in the far right
lane when I saw it and moved over one. While said 18-wheeler was still in my
rearview mirror, it turned into a big ball of flames.
Parents hanging out in the gift shop at the hospital waiting for me, Sign in at
the doc's office, fill out forms, sign release forms since the damn HIPPA laws
and the dorks at the MRI place sent them the 1st report but not the 2nd, sit
down and wait..
and wait...
and ask what the hold up is... he's stuck in surgery, he will be back soon...
and wait...
About NOON, we finally got to see the neurosurgeon. And, like BerryGirl, my
surgeon is cute! He asks me about my migraines, my numbness, my symptoms, and
really listens to what I had to say. For once in this whole crazy shabang, I had
a doctor listening to ME! He pulls out the MRI (and the X-rays sent with me by
"TheExplainer") and shows the Chiari and starts drawing little happy faces and
lines on it. The fact that my Chiari is only 8mm was a good thing and he said
that it just didn't look like they were crowding each other that bad. It was
possible that the "hole" that the cerebellar tonsils fell in is bigger than
"bigger than normal."
He says that he wants me to go get a second opinion (maybe a third if 2nd
doesn't agree), but he just didn't think my condition was bad enough for surgery
at this time. He wants to talk to the other doctor if Mr.2ndOpinion thinks I
need surgery, and he wants to send me to a new neurologist to start a brand new
pain medication and treatment plan to see if we can treat my Chiari without a
knife and a zipper-scar.
After he talks to me "TheCuteOne" asks my parents if they have any questions. My
mother brings up the 2nd MRI that I had done last week and the absence of a
syrinx. He flat out tells us that had my 2nd MRI from Tuesday resulted positive,
and that I had a syrinx, then instead of pain medication and new doctors... that
our conversation today would have been more along the lines of hospital gowns,
designs shaved into the back of my head, and what color stitches I wanted in my
zipper.
He said that the Chiari surgeries were "FUN" and that you get to go in there and
see all kinds of neat stuff.. but he frankly didn't think I needed it yet. He's
a brain surgeon, he says he does necks and backs for "FUN." Then he seals the
deal by saying, in front of my parents, "if you were my daughter, I wouldn't do
surgery."
***PAUSING A MOMENT FOR STATION IDENTIFICATION***
After "TheCuteOne" gave me the name of a new neurologist, someone to replace
"TheBrickWall" and we headed to Blue Mesa Grill for lunch. While driving I
called and set up an appointment with Neurologist #2 on Tuesday, September 6th.
My adopted older sisters (the flower girls in my parent's wedding, the girls my
mother babysat and the two little girls my mother practiced raising before she
got me) Tracye and Tannah met us at the restaurant for a late birthday party.
We sat there for probably 3 hours talking and eating and enjoying being
together. The food was wonderful and Tannah brought me a chocolate and raspberry
cake. YUM!
After the party, I realized it was 3:30 and by the time I drove back to work I
would be there at most 35 minutes before I had to turn around and drive back
towards home and school and that it was just not worth it. Especially at $2.69+
a gallon.
I ended up cancelling my massage for today. I have missed way too much work in
the past three weeks and I was starting to get the feeling that I was on the
edge of losing my job. Even though, if they fired me for being sick and going to
the doctor that I would have legal boundaries to sue the pants off of them, I
didn't want to go down that road right now. I plan on rescheduling it later,
maybe the week between Summer and Fall quarter where I wont have so much going
on.
***OFF THE AIR, TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF***
AS THE TONSIL FALLS
STARING:
#2 Wednesday at 3:30 Neurosurgeon #2 Nickname to follow.
#1.5 ? at ? Neurosurgeon #3 (if needed)
#1 Tuesday, Sept 6 at 8:30 Neurologist #1 My New Drug Dealer.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:30 AM | Comments (4)

August 19, 2005

Bridges To Healing

I feel like I'm sitting at the edge of the "TheArmpitOfHell" Suspension Bridge, getting
ready to find out what is on the other side. In about 2 1/2 hours my mother will
be here and we will start our long weekend of doctors.. questions and hopefully
some answers. My neurologist appointment is at 3:15 and my chiropractor is at
5:00 (or as soon as we can get there). After an afternoon of doctors I am going
to go home to "TheArmpitOfHell" for the weekend. I have had a pretty bad week, symptom-wise,
and I'm in need of some R&R and some hugs and kisses from my babies, Zack and
Zane. I'll be back in "TheArmpitOfHell" on Sunday in time to eat dinner with my friend,
OldApartment, who is in town on business, and finish cleaning up the apartment
and homework. Monday starts another week of unknowns. I have my 1st neurosurgeon
appointment at 10:40. Tuesday I am scheduled for my late birthday present to
myself.. a massage. Wednesday is an appointment with a 2nd neurosurgeon for a
second opinion. If we think we need one, I will be scheduling my 3rd opinion
appointment in Houston at SillyNessa's neurosurgeon. I am hoping that I know
something.. anything... by Monday. I am tired of the wait and the unknown. I'm
ready to cross this bridge... even if I have to jump off the suspension bridge
naked (like all the fraternity guys at Baylor used to do for their birthdays.)

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:31 AM | Comments (9)

August 18, 2005

T-Spine MRI

Chiari Awarness Pin
MRI of the T Spine Technique: Open MRI History: Neck Pain, Chronic Headaches,
Arm and Hand Numbness Findings: Small anterior osteophytes are noted on multiple
levels. The vertebral heights and disk spaces are well maintained. No abnormal
signal is noted in the osseous structures or spinal cord. No evidence of a disk
herniation or spinal stenosis is seen. From my limited understanding, it looks
as though this 2nd MRI showed no evidence of the syrinx which often accompanies
a chiari malformation. This is good news. My appointment with the neurologist is
tomorrow, followed by my next chiropractor appointment. I are visiting with my
first neurosurgeon on Monday morning and I will be getting at least a second
opinion, if not a third. Keep those fingers crossed and the prayers flowing.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 08:30 AM | Comments (5)

August 17, 2005

30 Years Ago

No Wonder I'm Addicted To Chocolate.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:15 AM | Comments (11)

August 16, 2005

Chasing that Neon Rainbow...

Rain Rain Go Away Come Again Another Day.
Ok. I think today is now the third day in a row that it has rained. Last Night
it started raining about 4pm and I don't think it stopped before 11pm. About 9pm
my next door neighbor came over and said we needed to go ahead and make
precautions in case the water got up any higher on our porches or walkways.
We rolled up every towel we had and put them in front of our apartment doors and
in front of the two sliding glass doors on our porches. The water actually came
in one of my sliding glass doors and the floor by my bed was wet.
It is raining again and we just had a power outage here at work. It took, what
seemed like, forever for the servers to come back online. Just in time for me to
post this post and leave for my MRI.
According to the weatherman, (only occupation where you can be wrong on a daily
basis and not get fired,) we have a 50%+ chance of rain every day from now until
next Tuesday. Some how I am not suprised, as I have lived thru many a birthday
in Houston where I had a hard time getting home because the water levels on the
street were a bit higher than I am comfortable driving my car thru.
I'm going to go ahead and leave now.. no telling what the traffic is going to be
in this mess.
Update later.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 03:16 PM | Comments (2)

Writing

I received a comment on my last post that I felt like deserved a full post as a
response. Childress asked: "How do you write as well as you do? Just practice?"
My answer is... that I think that writing is very subjective. I dont think that
everyone agrees on who is a good writer and who isn't. If there was a magical
formula to good writing, then we wouldn't need half of the published authors who
add hardbacks to our store shelves. I don't know where my writing came from and
I'm not too sure it is that good. My mother is constantly reading my blog and
telling me what a good writer I am. This is coming from the woman that has
maintained the nickname "Mrs. Miriam-Webster" for the majority of my life. My
mother is a great writer, even though she is going to get killed if she doesn't
quit sending in letters to the editor about the "Anti-Christ". In high school, I
was the science and math nerd. I made straight A's in math, science (especially
chemistry), computers, etc. Then I would walk over to my least favorite class,
English, and was constantly bombarded with papers with big red C's (and
sometimes lower) on the top. The mediocre bashing continued thru the first
couple of years at Baylor when I was stuck taking English and Writing courses.
Throughout my years of teaching, I would send emails and letters to my mother to
"revamp" them. In November of 2004 I lost my job. I decided I was going to take
this opportunity to go back to school and I started the application process for
culinary school. I filled out all the forms within about 10 minutes of making
this decision, but as normal, I put off writing the essay till the night before
we were going to make our trip to Dallas for my admissions meeting. It was about
midnight when I finished putting some words down on paper and emailed it across
the room (yes, I'm that lazy) to my mother so she could "fix" it. To my
amazement she didn't send but one typographical error and one missing comma back
to me and started telling me how good it was. She printed it out and read it to
my dad and called my grandparents and read it to them. Flash forward a few
months. It is week 7 of my first quarter of culinary school and I have to write
a paper for my Management class. What made matters worse was that this paper was
over a book and I hate to read more than anything. I put it off and I put it
off. I finished reading the book about midnight the night before the paper was
due. I had a fun winter cold and took a big dose of NyQuil before going to bed.
I set my alarm and woke up about 5am the next morning and sat down to write my
paper. I emailed it to the teacher and went back to bed sick. A few weeks later
I got my paper back with the grade 10/10 on the top. I just about fell over. The
next quarter I took an online class where we were writing papers every week. I,
again, put those off till the last minute. I started blogging in February. I was
nervous when I started because I had always been given the idea that I was a C
writer. For some reason, blogging comes very easy to me, I don't put it off like
it is a chore.. like scrubbing the toilet. I don't have the answers on how to
become a good writer, but another blogger, The Phantom Professor, who just
happens to be a writing teacher, has offered to teach a writing class on her
blog. The class starts today and you post your assignments in her comments
section. I am taking the class because I want to learn how to become a better
writer. Childress. I guess you can say your suggestion that writing is practice
would be a good one. I just wish I didn't hate to practice so much.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:18 AM | Comments (1)

August 14, 2005

Numb Weekend

Well, It's Sunday morning and I haven't accomplished much this weekend, so far.
I'll probably get my butt in gear about 10pm tonight so I end up staying up
WAYYY too late.. As that seems to be my Sunday night ritual. I have spent a lot
of time researching Arnold Chiari Malformation and have joined an online mailing
list. The more posts that are added the more I see the word "migraine." The same
word that my neurologist said on the phone wasn't associated with this rare
condition. My parents are coming to Dallas on Friday and are going to go to my
neurologist appointment with me. I plan on asking him how many Chiarians he has
treated. I am trying to look at the bright side of this. For once in 18 years I
have a medical reason explaining my migraines and the numbness in my arms and
hands. Guess what! I'm not crazy, and it could possibly not be the previously
diagnosed "hormones." And the best silver lining of it all? If I end up having
to have the surgery, and take a quarter off from school... I have to move out of
this sardine-can-sized, Nazi-run, apartment, and not stay until January when my
lease is up. I have added links on the side to the World Arnold Chiari
Malformation Association and the Support Group. I have read that this is a
condition that has a history of mis-diagnosis and could possibly be hereditary.
Now my mother wants an MRI to see if she has it. She isn't symptomatic like I
am, so surgery wouldn't be an option for her, but it might explain some things.
I would also like to mention that, although this has happened before.. I woke up
both yesterday and today with both arms and hands numb and tingling. I never
thought about it much before now but I am going to go find me a new pillow and
maybe a mattress cover today.
Ok, it's 10am. I better start working on homework, laundry, cleaning the kitchen
and getting ready for another week.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 09:48 AM | Comments (6)

August 12, 2005

Cryyiyyiying... Over You.

Ok. let me put on my Roy Orbison glasses before you see my red and puffy eyes.
I went to my chiropractor this morning. I showed her the report from the MRI and
told her that my neurologist had called and scheduled another MRI for next
Tuesday. She said the condition that the MRI results showed compatability with
would basically explain every complaint I came to her with... including some of
my migraines. Then she basically told me to start mentally preparing myself to
have surgery before the end of the year. If the neurologist suggests the
surgery, like my chiropractor has predicted then the link above will explain the
procedure that I will probably end up having some time in October. I will have
to take a quarter off from school and have the surgery, recover and attempt to
get back to work between September 21st and January 9th. I have seen this blog
community work some miracles in the past few months. Kristine, Misfit, Nessa,
RSG... a lot of us have gone thru a lot and I'm amazed at what wonderful people
you can meet on the internet and care about but never actually meet them. So, I
prayerfully and wishfully ask that all of your good vibes, good ideas, positive
thoughts and prayers be sent up to the heavens to get me thru this. Thank you.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:48 PM | Comments (11)

56 Questions

Stolen from Jomama 1. Nervous habits? Hitting the send/receive email button
until something shows up, popping my knuckles. 2. Are you double jointed? Only
in my jaw… I can pop it in and out. 3. Can you roll your tongue? No, but I can
touch it to my nose. 4. Can you raise one eyebrow at a time? No, they must be
glued together. 5. Can you blow spit bubbles? Yuck! 6. Can you cross your eyes?
Yes I can. And I also have the very rare talent of being able to cross my lips.
7. Tattoos? Nope, too chicken. I hate needles 8. Piercings? Two in each ear &
one belly button. 9. Do you make your bed daily? Actually… for some crazy
reason I've been sleeping on top of the comforter with an afghan blanket. That
way I don't have to make it. CLOTHES 10. Which shoe goes on first? Never
thought about it…probably the right one. 11. Speaking of shoes, have you ever
thrown one at anyone? I've thrown one at the door as it was closing. 12. On
the average, how much money do you carry? Cash? What's that? I don't need no
cash. Its plastic or nothing baby. 13. What jewelry do you wear 24/7? I don't
wear any jewelry 24/7. I can't imagine sleeping with something as constricting
as a ring or a necklace… I'd probably wake up choked to death by a gold
chain. 14. Favorite piece of clothing? Winter pajamas when it's cold outside.
FOOD 15. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? Well, I used to always cut it my
spaghetti. But that was before I taught Manners to Morals for DECATS and the
director is Italian and basically doomed us to a life of fire and brimstone if
we cut our spaghetti. 16. Have you ever eaten Spam? Unfortunately, yes… but
once was enough. 17. Do you use extra salt on your food? I never used much salt,
and spent years picking on my mother, the “snow cap” queen. She would always
salt things before she even tasted them. Now days, the only things I put salt on
are : 1) boiled eggs, 2) watermelon, and 3) French fries. 18. How many cereals
in your cabinet? Cinnamon Toast Crunch and TOTAL Raisin Bran 19. What's your
favorite beverage Peach Fruit2O 20. What's your favorite fast food restaurant?
Schlotzsky's 21. Do you cook? I better, or I'm going to fail culinary
school. GROOMING 22. How often do you brush your teeth? I aim for twice a day,
but sometimes I forget to do it at night. 23. Hair drying method? Wrap it in a
towel while I finish doing everything else. Then sit on the couch in the living
room and read the closed captioning on the TV while I dry my hair. 24. Have you
ever colored/highlighted your hair? Started highlights at age 15, started
all-over-color at age 25. Still having trouble covering the WHITE hair going
down the middle of my head.. MANNERS 25. Do you swear? #@(&%@(#&^(@&, Who
me? Never! hehehe 26. Do you ever spit? EEWWW. FAVORITE 27. Animal? Lhasa Apsos
28. Food? Seafood, Japanese, Mexican and Chocolate 29. Month April. The one
month in Texas where it is usually not too hot and the bluebonnets start
blooming. 30. Day? Friday… there is something so invigorating about getting to
wear denim. 31. Cartoon? I've never watched cartoons. 32. Shoe brand? Brand? I
don't care what brand they are as long as they match. 33. Subject in school?
Computers, Chemistry & Algebra 34. Color? Green 35. Sport? Softball 36. TV
shows? Judging Amy, Two and A Half Men, CSI, Without a Trace, Will and Grace,
Emeril Live 37. Thing to do in the spring? Sit at home with all the windows open
and watch the thunderstorms. 38. Thing to do in the summer? Schlitterbahn. 39.
Thing to do in the autumn? Football Games 40. Thing to do in the winter? Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo IN AND AROUND 41. In the CD player? Rascal Flatts –
I'm Moving On 42. Person you talk most on the phone with? Becky 43. Reading?
My Blogroll 44. Do you regularly check yourself out in store windows/mirrors?
No… I know what's there, why punish yourself even more than you have to? 45.
What color is your bedroom? Beige and Blue 46. Do you use an alarm clock? Yes...
Two of them. Set to go off in 15 minute intervals from 6:00 to 7:15... And I
still sleep thru them. 47. Window seat or aisle? Window seat, because then I can
close the blind-thingy and make sure someone else doesn't reach over and open
it. DUMB 48. What's your sleeping position? On my left side, body pillow between
legs, two pillows under head (one slightly further forward to support my neck.
49. Even in hot weather do you use a blanket? Yes, but if it is really hot I
will kick one leg out from under the blanket. 50. Do you snore? I've been told
I snore & I talk in my sleep. 51. Do you sleepwalk? No. 52. Do you talk in your
sleep? Didn't I just say that? I've woken up in the middle of conversations
before having no clue what we were just talking about. 53. Do you sleep with
stuffed animals? My stuffed animals usually sit on the edge of the bed next to
the wall. They act as a cushion so that when I turn over and kick the wall it
doesn't hurt so bad. 54. How about with the light on? Nope, complete and total
darkness. 55. Do you fall asleep with the TV or radio on? I fall asleep on the
couch a lot watching TV… and then when I finally wake up I have to go crawl in
bed. 56. Last interesting person you met My cousin's new girlfriend, Jennifer.
The three of us went to dinner Sunday night and I enjoyed talking to her. She
loves to cook and is working on getting the “picky-nin-com-poop” out of my
cousin.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:21 AM | Comments (2)

August 11, 2005

The Results

MRI of the C Spine Technique: Open MRI History: Neck Pain and Migraines
Findings: No abnormal signal intensity is noted in the osseous structures or
spinal cord. The cerebellar tonsils extend 0.8 cm below the foramen Magnum,
compatible with a Chiari one malformation. Due to the high incidence of a syrinx
with this process imaging of the entire spinal cord is recommended.
Straightening of the lordotic curvature is noted in the cervical spine. The disc
appear intact and each level is within normal limits. My chiropractic
neurologist and my neurologist are both out of the office today. I had the MRI
place fax me a copy of the report and now I'm sitting here wondering what all
this means. It looks from the websites I have seen that this is a congential
condition, which means that it has taken 30 years and 51 weeks for someone to
find it. The top two symptoms are headache and neck pain, with a dose of
numbness. HELLO! Why haven't I ever heard of this mentioned before? Well, the
receptionist at the neurologist said that he usually comes in and she will have
him call me. Looks like the next step is a full spinal column scan. FUN!

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 01:23 PM | Comments (5)

The Waiting Game and Avocado Soup

The lady at the OpenMRI place told me that my results would be back today. I
just called and I guess I'm a little early... the guy who answered said it would
probably be closer to noon before they have them. I'm guessing I was tired
because I actually fell asleep among all the noises (ka-lump ka-lump thump thump
zzzzzz eeee ttthhbb heeelaw heelaw pppbbt pppbbt ) and I was pretty shocked when
the technician woke me up. It also makes me feel better knowing that I am
comfortable enough with the procedure to go to sleep, although I'm not sure I
would be that comfortable in a closed unit. Afterwards, I had two hours before I
was supposed to be in class so I decided to eat dinner at the restaurant next
door. Both the MRI and the restaurant are close to my apartment but I hadn't
eaten there before. Let me just say I will go back to Luna de Noche. I had seen
it mentioned somewhere about having the best margaritas in town, although I
didn't indulge. I ordered a combination platter called "The Vance," which was
one cheese enchilada, rice, beans and a cup of soup. They had tortilla, bean and
avocado soup. I want to go back and try the other two soups but I'm not sure I
could pass up the avocado soup unless I just ordered three cups of soup. Avocado
soup... tortilla strips and cheese line the bottom of the cup and an entire
diced avocado on top. The waiter brings a small stainless steel cup (like those
you see cream served in at Denny's) with a flavorful chicken broth which is
poured over the top. YUM. Ok. Well now I'm hungry. Gonna break out the can of
peanuts and a cup of coffee. Will post more when I get the results.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 08:26 AM | Comments (1)

August 10, 2005

3:45

In a little more than two hours I will be having an MRI on my neck. I have already had one MRI on my head back in October so I know what to expect. I just hope this place isn't as freaking cold as it was in the office in Houston where I had the last one done. Hopefully this procedure will tell us what is wrong with my neck, and possibly the cause of some of my migraines. My chiropractor has already told me that I have no curvature in my neck, it is stick straight.
She also said that my lower back has a much higher degree of inward curvature
than normal which makes my center of gravity off. Doesn't that explain a lot?

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 01:17 PM | Comments (3)

What I Need...

I was exhausted last night. I went to bed before midnight, which most of you
know is a feat in itself. When my head hit the pillow... I died.
My CD/Radio Alarm clock that is across the room was set to go off at 6:15 and
6:45.
The alarm clock on my cell phone (which sleeps, plugged in, on the pillow next
to me) was set to go off at 6:00, 6:30 and 7:00.
Somehow I didn't hear any of them. I woke up at 8:32. Guess what time I was
supposed to be at work....

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:03 AM | Comments (2)

August 09, 2005

1000 Stalkers

Am I excited that my blog finally made it to 1000 stalkers? Yeah Am I excited
that the majority of them were spam? Not So Much. That is all.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 07:53 PM | Comments (2)

August 08, 2005

Just How Many Different Flavors Can You Get Out Of A Grape?

After we took our midterm we reconviened in the gallery to start our wine
education. Tonight we had a basic "how to serve and how to taste wine" class.
The next 5 weeks will go more in depth and we will concentrate on different
vintatges and producers of each category of wine. Tonight we had a 2003 Monchhof
Rielsing Estate, 2004 Pepi Sauvignon Blanc, 2002 Kendall Jackson Chardonnay,
2002 Blackstone Pinot Noir Reserve, 2002 14 Hands Merlot, and a 2003 Trinchero
Cabernet Sauvignon. As you can probably tell from my other posts, I'm not much
of an alcohol drinker in the first place and I've only had a few wines that I
enjoyed. Of the 6 wines we had tonight, I enjoyed the Riesling the best. It was
sweet and wasn't dry with a slight apple taste.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:06 PM | Comments (3)

Family Day Breakfast, Drinks and Rides

Today was my work's Family Day at Six Flags. My work gave everybody free tickets
for parking, lunch & park entrance. My cousin Jace, of Stolen Olive fame, drove
up to Dallas to go with me to Six Flags. I don't think I have been to Six Flags
in so many years I doubt that Jace was even born the last time I was there.
I decided that we were going to start the day off right. So I made breakfast!

These were made from the same recipe that we used in class two weeks ago. Jace
doesn't like raisins so I only put them in half of them. They tasted great, they
just didn't quite look as pretty as I wanted them. But this turned out to be a
great practice exercise for my baking class midterm this coming Thursday.
Then we left and headed to the park. After driving out and parking in BFE and
then walking all the way to the entrance, it was time for the free BBQ lunch so
we headed to the picnic pavillons. This was our first mistake. The BBQ wasn't
that good and we didn't get to ride the few rides I would have rode because by
the time we finally went to that side of the park the rides were closed because
of the rain.
After the BBQ, Jace, in his infinite wisdom drug me on two roller coasters. In
case you don't know me very well.. I am deathly afraid of heights and I get
motion sickness very quickly. Which two roller coasters did we ride? The Titan
and The Texas Giant. In case you dont know much about roller coasters (like me),
the Titan is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Texas. I found this out
on the ride home (and he made us sit on the front row). The Texas Giant has been
rated the # 1 wooden roller coaster in the nation.

Well, when I got off the Titan, my neck and head were throbbing and I was dizzy
and wanted to throw up. Jace got behind me, put his hands on my shoulders and
pushed me kicking and screaming into the line of the Giant before I even had a
chance to catch my breathe. Needless to say when we got off of the second ride
and I felt like shit. We stopped and found an air conditioned little pizza
parlor and got a drink.

This bottle was $17.00 but we got to refill it for free. Too bad after we got
the drink and the color of my face returned to its normal white (instead of
yellow and green) it started to rain and they closed the water rides, Batman,
SuperMan, etc. The only other thing we got to ride was SpongeBob SquarePants 4D
ride. It was cute.
Now, we are back at my place and getting cleaned up to go eat dinner with Jace's
girlfriend. I hope my stomach returns to its regularly scheduled location before
our reservations at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse at 8pm.

--------

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 06:03 PM | Comments (0)

August 07, 2005

Thanks For Bringing Us The News.

Peter Jennings
1938-2005
You delivered us the news for five decades in a way no one else could. You
touched many lives and you were the best. May you rest in peace.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:59 PM | Comments (4)

August 05, 2005

All Twisted Up with a Bowl full of the Amish, French and Quickies

Here Ye, Here Ye. It is again time for the weekly Baking Post. The more time I
spend in this class the more I am enjoying working with dough. There is
something so relaxing about the PunchDown step when you can roll your dough into
a ball and visualize someone's face on it while you punch the holy crap out of
it. Last night we got twisted up... Amish Style.
Amish-Style Pretzels
We made Bowls full of Whole Wheat
Whole Wheat Bread Bowl
Baggettes fait que Rêvé en français (Made Baggettes that Dreamed in French.)
Baggettes
And then we got to pick our poison when it came to the quickie.... (we got to
pick from Banana, Strawberry, Pumpkin or Zucchini Quick Breads)
Zucchini Quick Bread
It was a good night, although we didn't leave class until 11:30 (an hour late)
which just made it that much later I had to stay up to get my newest Pogo Badge.
I brought home a baggette, three pretzels and a bread bowl. Now I just gotta
figure out what to cook to go with them tomorrow.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 11:35 AM | Comments (4)

August 04, 2005

Chiropractic Neurology

Tuesday was a very long day. I left work about 10:30 and went to a chiropractor
that I was referred to by a friend. I found out while I was there that Dr. Pam
is taking the certification exam for Chiropractic Neurology in January. I had
never even heard of such a thing but it sounds good. I started going to the
chiropractor in 1991 after my mother and I were rear-ended while driving to
work/school one morning. I have been to quite a few different chiropractors and
I have experienced relief from migraine and neck pain with their treatments.
Unfortunately, I never quite get complete relief because I usually end up having
to stop going to my appointments because of the financial burden that this
creates. I have to say that my appointment Tuesday was by far the most detailed
and extensive appointment I have ever seen. The questions and the evaluation was
far beyond the normal close your eyes and touch your nose. She took seven x-rays
at the end of my appointment and I am going back tomorrow at 3pm. I was really
looking forward to going yesterday and getting a good popping but she didn't
want to actually work on my neck until she saw the x-rays. For the past month or
so I have been waking up in the middle of the night with severe leg/foot/toe
cramps. I also have a really really really weird phenomenon going on in my body.
Every time I sneeze... My arms go numb and tingley, to the point of my biting my
tongue instead of screaming about how bad it hurts. This sneeze-induced arm
trick has been going on for years and I have mentioned it to three board
certified neurologists. The neurologist I am seeing now pretty much dismissed
the claim during our first appointment, but since I brought it back up during my
3-month checkup ... He (and I think reluctantly) scheduled me for an MRI of my
neck. My stiff neck, migraines & the numbness in my arms were the three main
points I mentioned when I was being evaluated by Dr. Pam. The minute I said
something about my arms going numb when I sneeze, she immediately said...
"That's a disc." This is why she was so cautious and decided not to work on my
neck until she saw my x-rays. She has also requested that I get a copy of the
report and results of my MRI for her. During her evaluation she determined that
I have a problem some where between C6 and T2. My MRI is scheduled for next
Wednesday and I hope that the results of it will finally bring me some relief.
After she takes her certification exam in January, and if I have experienced
relief from the neck pain and numbness and migraines.. I may just drop my
neurologist and stick with Dr. Pam. The less money I am paying to two doctors,
the more I can pay to one. I'm just wondering exactly how long the problem in my
neck has been there and how much pain and suffering I have endured because of
the ongoing debate between doctors and chiropractors. It's a good question, but
I guess if I dwell on it I will drive myself nuts.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 12:52 PM | Comments (4)

August 01, 2005

Clean Bill Of Health

It is nice to know that Dubya has received a clean bill of health. At least if
anything were to happen to Cheney ... Bush could take over.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 10:40 PM | Comments (1)

Pasture Party Punch

Well tonight was another episode of the drunk class. Week Two was Tea and
Coffee. Week Three was spirits and you might have seen that post of everything I
had to drink that night. Tonight was Week Four and we were given the opportunity
to taste seven different kinds of Pasture Party Punch, oops I mean Beer. A.) The
first beer we tasted was Flying Dog Brewery In Heat Wheat. It was an unfiltered
German Hefeweizen. It was crisp, clean and didn't have as bad of the horrible
aftertaste that has always reinforced the fact that I hate beer. Of the seven
beers we tasted I gave this beer a #3 rating.
B.) The San Miguel Premium Lager was the second beer we tasted and according to
my tastebuds darn near the bottom of the barrel. If it wasn't for the Budweiser
it would have been the worst. Of the seven beers we tasted I gave this beer a #6
rating.
C.) The La Fin Du Monde, a Triple Golden Ale by the Unibroue Brewery of Canada.
This beer had a typical aftertaste but it was a little more complex in the
beginning which the spicyness gave it a boost from the title of "worst beer of
the night." Of the seven beers we tasted I gave this beer a #5 rating.
D.) Next was Chimay. This was a medium Brown Ale and it is made by Monks who
live in the all silent Scourmont Abbey in S.A. Bieres de Chimay, Belgium. One of
the high points of this beer is knowing that 90% of all the profits made from
the sale of this beer is donated to the orphanges that are maintained by the
Monastery. Of the seven beers we tasted I gave this beer a #4 rating.
E.) Coopers Brewery Best Extra Stout from Austrailia was our fifth tasting. This
had the color of coffee as it was a dark roasted stout. It had a good flavor and
the aftertaste wasn't too horrible. Of the seven beers we tasted I gave this
beer a #2 rating.
F.) The next beer was another product from the Canadian Unibroue Brewery. It was
the Apple Éphémère and was very sweet, crisp, and good. Of the seven beers we
tasted this was by FAR the best.
G.) The last beer we had was good ole' small town Texas Pasture Party Punch, the
one and only King of Stupid... Budweiser Select. This was not really part of our
"tasting" but was more the beer chosen to perform an experiment. The experiment
was designed to show just how important it is to correctly pour a beer.
*THE EXPERIMENT*
If you take two glasses, hold one glass at about a 45 degree angle and slowly
pour in about 2 ounces of beer. Taste it. Flat? Yep. Now take the second glass
and pour the beer straight into the middle of the glass, which should create a
good head on the top of the brew. Now taste this. Better? Well, only if you like
beer to begin with. For the last part of the experiment, combine the beer in
both glasses and start pouring them back and forth between the two glasses EIGHT
times. Now taste. Taste the difference? Apparently, according to "scientific"
studies... this is essentially what happens to your beer when you drink it out
of the bottle. You pick it up and drink some, put it down, pick it up, put it
down, pick it up, put it down, pick it up, put it down, pick it up, put it down,
pick it up, put it down, pick it up, put it down. They say this is why you
should always drink beer from a glass.
Did you learn anything? I did. I learned why I never had fun at Pasture
Parties... my tastebuds just do not know how to fully appreciate the bitter hops
in the Punch.

Posted by FutureFoodTVStar at 08:36 PM | Comments (5)