Friday, January 31, 2025

Semi-Solitary Confinement

 

Last week I went for an MRI of my cervical spine.  I've been having intermittent numbness in three fingers on my right hand (thumb, pointer, middle).  The doctor thinks it might be something in my neck.  I read that the C5, C6, and C7 vertebrae correspond to those three fingers in the case of numbness, so he might be on to something.  He is a neurologist, after all.  

I always thought people who had anxiety in an MRI machine were just pansies.  I would say, "Why can't you just close your eyes and take a nap?" 

Well, that was before I had to go into an MRI machine.  My first time getting an MRI was after an accident about 6 years ago.  I almost couldn't do it.  I was extremely anxious.  Being slid into that donut shape was horrible.  As a large person, it was very tight.  The top of the machine practically touched my nose.  You might know, they tell you to stay very still, don't move.  Which only makes you want to move more.  All I could think about was moving.  And the fact that I was in a tube. 

I absolutely HATED it.  They even gave me a sedative which didn't work at all.

One of the machines in my area was called an "open" MRI.  It was like two tortillas that you lay between like you're a quesadilla.  I couldn't do that one either because they couldn't close the tortillas enough to get the image.  And then when I went for a cervical spine MRI, they had to put a cage over my head which then wouldn't allow my whole body in the machine because they couldn't get my shoulders in.  It was a nightmare.

So we found a stand-up MRI place in Phoenix.  They have a machine like the one in the photo above.  You can stand up or sit, depending on what body part they are scanning, and the entire area of the machine is open so you don't feel claustrophobic.  In my case, since they were doing my neck, I just sat in the machine, they attached a little collar to me, and I watched TV for thirty minutes while they scanned me.  I still hated it because as a larger person, I was still squished between those two plates and I still couldn't move, but it was less anxiety-producing because nothing was in front of my face and I didn't feel as confined.

I hope this is the last time I have to do one of these.  If I ever have to do it again, I think I'd like them to knock me out.  



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: No One Was Run Over By A Reindeer At This Shindig
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Yellow Gaze
2019: The Beautiful Cabbage Flower
2018: Waiting In Wilmington
2017: The Wild Life Of Trucking
2016: Special Order
2015: Clooney Was Not At The End Of The Pier
2014: Where They Build Palaces Out Of Corn
2013: Modern Market Girl
2012: A Berry Good Time
2011: Traveling Through Mountain Ranch
2010: Backroads
2009: If Only I Could Fit All Of This Information On A Bumper Sticker…
2008: Gambling Haze
2007: Published
2006: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Same But Different

 

On our way to Las Vegas this weekend, we stopped in Phoenix for lunch at a pretty little restaurant called Blanco Cucina + Cantina.  We have one in Tucson, too, but didn't realize it was the same company until after lunch!  

The meal was good but what I liked even more was the decor.  I want this wall in my house - mirrors, plants, and wicker lampshades included!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
2024: Cool Air
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: 
A Big Kid Races The Clock
2018: Cycle On Down For A Taco Or Two
2017: If Only I Could Bottle This...
2016: Climbing The Regal Horned Lizard
2015: The Valley Of The Temples
2014: The Day The South Fell Apart...Again
2013: Island Graffiti 
2012: Four Seasons Of Food To Conquer 
2011: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head 
2010: As Seen On TV 
2009: Eddie Polishing His Chrome Friday 
2008: Traveling With Your Cat 
2007: Getting Wet In The Next County 
2006: Down With O.P.P. 
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Where A Queen Watches An Opera

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (Queen Sofía Palace of the Arts) building in Valencia, Spain.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: Coming About
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: 
I Can't Contain Myself
2018: Laugh Out Loud
2017: American Power
2016: I'd Rather Be Listening To This All Day
2015: North Shore Surfin'
2014: Calling It A Day
2013: Eight Ways To Take It Easy
2012: Dinner With Friends
2011: This Is What Sheer Joy Looks Like
2010: I’ll Have The Tootsie Rolls And The Butterfinger And The Lollipop And The Gummi Bears And The Hershey Kisses And The Snickers Bar And The M&M’s And…
2009: Meals On Wheels
2008: Mercury Dropping
2007: James Cameron For $79.99 A Night
2006: The Town That Big Tobacco Built
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

The Heart And Soul Of l'Albufera

A mural depicting workers in the rice fields in El Palmar, located in La Albufera of Valencia, Spain.

Rice has been grown here for over 1,000 years.  Rice farming is deeply ingrained in the culture and based on the quality of rice in the paella we've eaten in this area, it's clear they know what they're doing.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024; A Vintage Ride
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: 
Access To Pleasure Crafts Just Got Easier
2018: Parked For The Night
2017: Red Lamp District
2016: Walking Along The Canyon Of Gold
2015: Aloooooooha
2014: Better Than No Touch Freight
2013: The First Step Is To Admit You Have A Problem
2012: The Top Five Sweet Scents In My World
2011: A Weekend Full Of Bright Stars And Not Much Else
2010: I’m Floored
2009: Two Worlds Collide
2008: Girl Crush
2007: Silly Boys
2006: It’s Nowhere Near Mexico, Y’all
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Monday, January 27, 2025

Entering The City Of Strength And Valor

This is Carrer del Serrans, a street in València, Spain that leads away from Torres de Serranos, one of the two fortified gates still standing. There were originally twelve.

The gate originally connected to the medieval wall surrounding the city and was constructed between 1392 and 1398.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: We Cannot Walk Alone
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: 
With A Little Help From My Friends.
2018: Industrially Farmed Land
2017: The Angels Will Migrate
2016: Ed Knows How To Break The Fast
2015: The Mighty Mo
2014: We Work A Lot, We're Fat, And You Can't Get By Without Us
2013: Domestic Cat Life
2012: Being Appreciated
2011: Just A Phone Call Away
2010: A Practically Perfect Circle
2009: My Frozen Kentucky Home
2008: On Tour And Collecting Paper As We Go
2007: Finding Your Way
2006: Trivia From The First Tsar Of Russia
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Yard Junk

 

Some junk seen in a yard in Mountain Ranch, California.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: Rock Painter's Heaven
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Champions
2018: One Of The Westchester Castles
2017: A Tree Leans In Atoka
2016: Furniture Recon
2015: Deck Walkers
2014: The Land Of The Blue Angels
2013: Taking A KW For A Spin
2012: New York And Snow – My Two Favorite Things
2011: Doin’ The Math
2010: Well, Butter My Butt And Call Me A Biscuit
2009: I Even Have Time To Go On Strike
2008: Teaching Them Young
2007: You Gotta Be In It To Win It
2006: Cinema Stupido
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Four Gourmands Enjoying Cocina Tradicional

Paella, one of the best-known dishes in Spanish cuisine, originated in Valencia, Spain.  

While we were visiting Valencia, Ed found a paella place in El Palmar, about a half-hour south of the city, and it was listed in the Michelin Guide as a restaurant that has been given their Bib Gourmand award.

It's called Arrocería Maribel.  Unremarkable from the outside, but with a beautiful modern interior, this restaurant served us one of the best meals we had in all of Valencia.

Not only was the food amazing, but the dining experience itself was unlike anything I've ever been part of.  It was fancy, but not.  High-end, but comfortable.  It felt costly, but it was insanely affordable - only $22600 US dollars which included a wine pairing with each course for the men.  We girls didn't do the wine pairing.  Without it, the cost was about $38.00 per person. The value for this meal and service was UNBELIEVABLE.  
The first dish was called Esgarraet. An esgarraet is a typical Valencian dish consisting of a salad made with roasted red pepper, salted cod, garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. In this one, it had the cod but also had a tiny piece of tuna on top. The crackers in the background were more like a well-done pie dough cracker than what we typically think of as a cracker. It was good. 
The second course was a Buñuelo de calabaza y parmesano (Pumpkin Parmesan Fritter, on the left) and an Empanadilla de pisto estilo Valenciana (Which is a Valencian style ratatouille empanadilla, on the right).
The third course was Crujiente de pato de caza guisado (Crispy stewed duck - it was very tender duck meat encased in this crispy wonton/phyllo dough exterior).  It was very good. 
This is the main dish. It was listed on the menu as Arroz a banda. Which translates literally to “Plenty of Rice”.  It was a seafood paella. The pieces of fish are cod and shrimp.
Our friend Ernesto Casablanca digging in.

We learned from a local in Valencia that when you are served paella in a group like this, you divide the paella pan by how many people are eating from it, you “carve out” your own little section, and that’s what you eat from. So that’s what we did!
Here’s the pan after we were done.
For Postre (dessert), we had Tarta de Naranja helada con mousse de chocolate blanco y aceite de oliva, con emulsión de tomillo y flor de "taronger" (which is a Frozen Orange Tart with white chocolate mousse and olive oil, with thyme emulsion and "taronger" flower). Taronger is an orange blossom. Ed shares a goofy grin, excited to get to the ice cream.
The thyme emulsión happened in the lid of the item that the dessert was in. In the lid was a piece of dry ice and a few sprigs of thyme. The server then poured super hot water over it and the thing began to smoke! It was a spectacular display! When we tasted it, it was a very sweet “tea” that tasted like thyme.


Our dessert dishes, one show with its lid.
We absolutely loved this entire experience and would definitely visit this restaurant again.  If you're ever in Valencia, skip the local restaurants in town and take the drive to this one.  It's absolutely worth it.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: Who Wants To Rack The Balls In This Room?
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Soup's On!
2018: Power Over The Green River

2017: The Only Color For Miles
2016: Natural Desert
2015: Ed Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa
2014: NOT An Oasis
2013: Drop The Flag And Take Me Home
2012: Cottonwood Trading Company
2011: Service With A Smile
2010: Getting The Red Out, One Barn At A Time
2009: Obamaduck!
2008: How A Four-Year-Old Can Make You Feel Like Crap For Trying To Get Out Of Doing Yard Work
2007: Florida Fro
2006: Hail To The McGriddle Gods
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Friday, January 24, 2025

Go Pro Bro

 
Ed is on a guy's trip with his buddies.  They're in Long Beach, California and on this day took a big ride from their hotel to the Queen Mary.  Here's a shot of Ed wearing his GoPro camera on his helmet.  

Duuuuude.

 


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: Westbound In The Sunflower State
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Improving Lives With Every Mile
2018: Warehouse For Rent

2017: C'mon In And Click The Links
2016: I Fell Into A Vat Of Caramel-Colored Carbonated Water
2015: Three Squares And A Midnight Snack
2014: They Were Five
2013: Wake Of Imagination
2012: Woman With Cat
2011: From Blue Grass To Wine Country
2010: Plump With Fat Quarters
2009: Eddie Out With The Old, In With The New Friday
2008: You Can Get Them At Home Depot??
2007: There Are Never Enough Hours In The Day To Do Anything When You Have A Baby
2006: Tequila Sunrise
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Too Close For Comfort

Today I was on our back porch getting a few storage bins to finally put away the Christmas stuff.  As I pulled one of the bigger bins from the porch, I heard a noise and saw a little piece of plastic skedaddle across the tile.  I looked at it and out of the corner of my eye saw something move.  It was a rattlesnake!  This rattlesnake!
I didn't think he was a big one when compared to others I've seen, but still, I was alone on my porch with a rattlesnake!  One that only a few moments before was close to my unprotected ankle.  

I picked up a long walking stick and shoved him to the outside porch tiles thinking I would scoop him up and take him into the desert.  I didn't hear him rattling until I played back the video.  It was a slight rattle but definitely present.

Ed was out of town at the time so I called him asking him what I should do with it.  He was on a guy's trip and his two buddies were in the car when I called.  Ed had me on speakerphone.  They all agree that I should kill it, so I did.  I used a shovel and chopped his head off.  Here, he's screaming.  Look at those beady red eyes!  Ugh.
He's still on the porch, neck under the shovel (do snakes have necks??).  I'm leaving him there until Ed gets home to dispose of him.  

And I've decided that I'm not putting anything in the sheds.  One encounter with a snake is enough for me.  This is why I stay inside most of the time.  This confirms that I'm definitely the indoorsy type.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: Tons Of Bales
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: You Talking To Me?
2018: Garnish

2017: The Hostile Living Conditions Of The Desert
2016: Drop Zone
2015: King (And Queen) Of The World
2014: Winding It Up Before Leaving Town
2013: Who Is A Bahamian?
2012: Pay No Attention To The Cat Behind The Curtain
2011: Papa Can You Hear Me?
2010: The Err Erudes Them
2009: Sorry, no post for this date.
2008: Addicted
2007: When You Just Can’t Decide Between Dinner And Breakfast
2006: Purple Industrial Skies
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

The Spitfire Of The Animal Kingdom

We have a lot of animals on our property - snakes, javelinas, coyotes, quail, hawks, etc.  And, this beautiful bobcat.

We don't see him very often but I caught him on camera this time and I love how he just slowly saunters past the front window, on his way to who knows where.  


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: On The Tarmac At JFK
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Free Poured Art
2018: 
Tastier Than A Tide Pod
2017: Moving Reward
2016: Her Talent Is Black And White
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

He Rules The House

My mother's cat Dexter with a banana.  You know, a snack for later, when he's watching TV.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: History All The Way Back To The Boot
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Smooth Operator
2018: The Road To A New Beginning

2017: We The People
2016: Two Old Ladies And A Truck
2015: Leaving San Diego In A Lavender Glow
2014: Thin And Crispy. Just How I Like 'Em
2013: Amber Jack
2012: Adding A Poodle To The Mix
2011: If…
2010: How The West Was Fun
2009: Pecking Order
2008: The Sympathy Train Stopped Dead In Its Tracks
2007: Shalom
2006: A.D.I.D.A.S.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Monday, January 20, 2025

Tell Me You're In Texas Without Telling Me You're In Texas

 

Yes, the hotel had Texas-shaped waffles.  Man, they take this Texas pride thing to a new level!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: Young Love
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: That Famous Smile
2018: Southern Italian Bottega

2017: Smile Because It Happened
2016: A Sea Of Blue
2015: We Are On The Biggest Boat In The Marina
2014: The Only Thing I Haven't Done
2013: United Tails
2012: I Grew Up In The O.C. Too
2011: Snowy Arrival
2010: Not A Pretty Sight
2009: Marking This Day In History With A Vibrant Spot Of Color
2008: Lighting To Do Laundry By
2007: The Benefits Of Dating A White Boy
2006: Shhhhhh, You’ll Wake The Driver
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Sunday, January 19, 2025

A Place To Begin


This is the chapel at The Brooks at Weatherford, where Ed’s niece’s wedding took place. 

The chapel was charming, the ceremony was beautiful, and the reception was fun and palpably love-filled!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2024: Keepin' It Clean
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: You Won't Believe Your Ears
2018: It's All About The Hat

2017: Stanley Steemer Gets Your Home Cleaner
2016: Cat Nemesis
2015: Bon Voyage!
2014: All This Entertainment For Less Than The Cost Of A Restaurant Entree
2013: Ten Things I Hate About Flying
2012: Teeth Or Another European Vacation? Ooooh, It’s A Real Toss Up.
2011: Not So Wacky After All
2010: Spreading The Word
2009: He Had A Dream. Tomorrow We See It Come True.
2008: Who Do You Know?
2007: South Beach Blue
2006: Jawl Spake Anglesh??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!