Update

Wow, has it been three weeks since I last posted?  Sad.

Here's a brief update:

My mother is doing much better.  Looks like it wasn't cancer.  That is such a relief!

I have a low-grade pneumonia.  I've stopped feeling worse everyday and hopefully will start getting better.

And, the bad news, my son has been diagnosed with tuberculosis.  He will be OK.  He just needs to take medicine for six months.

This year is not started out how I'd hoped.

Fire! Earthquake! Sickness!

What a week!  Or has it been longer?

Sickness!

As you, my millions of loyal fans, know, my cooking hiatus started out with my mother going to the hospital.  I have great news here: no cancer!  She's home now and doing well.  She just needs to rest and heal.

I cannot express how relieved I am that she will get better.  Honestly, my mom is great.  I'm not ready to lose her.

Fire!

To make this week extra special, while mom was in the hospital we had a small electrical fire in the dining room.  Our water cooler decided that it wanted us to repaint the walls, refinish a little furniture, and give it a permanent vacation.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt.  But, we've had workers in the dining room now for three days ... scraping, priming, painting.  Looks like it's going to be a few more days of that.  Then, every single dish has to be washed.  We have a lot of dishes.

Since our kitchen and pantry area are currently in pieces (I'm getting new cabinets, yay!) ... my workspace is (was) the dining room.  Oops.

Earthquake!

Two days ago, there was an earthquake centered a mere 45 kilometers from our house.  5.4 on the Richter scale.  I was actually good and went to bed at a reasonable hour the night before.  So, I was up when the earthquake hit at 6:43am local time.  There was an aftershock about 10 minutes later. 

So ... it's been quite a week here.  Again, I apologize for the lack of posts.  When I get cooking faciilities again, I'll be back in action!

Oh, by the way ... did I mention that I'm getting a faver and a sore throat? 

Recipes to Rival

Quick note ... I joined another group.  Recipes to Rival.  With everyone doing super-sweet, they've turned to the savory side.  I like that!

Got to go for now ...

Wednesdays With Dorie For Mom

I was visiting my mom after the operation today.  She is doing OK.  Is rather weak and is in the ICU.  The doctor said that it's almost definitely not cancer.  I was so happy to hear that.

Anyway, my mom asked me "What are you making this Tuesday?"

I couldn't believe my ears.  Here's my mom ... pale, tubes all over the place, recently sewn up ... and she's asking what I'm doing for Tuesdays with Dorie.

I mumbled "some chocolate cake with a lot of ginger."  I figured she was just curious.

"Oh, I love gingerbread!  Please make it."

What am I supposed to say?  No?  Hah!

I need to gather some ingredients today.  And, I need to deal with some other issues.  So, I'm going to be a day late.

Still, it's for mom. 

Medical Update

Well, my mother goes in for an operation tomorrow morning.  Eight hours from now.  Needless to say, I'm very nervous.  I haven't been able to concentrate all week.

I'm trying not to let it show when I visit her.  But, I know that she knows.

I'm hoping for the best ...

Cake Failure

Well, as I was sitting down to prepare for today's Tuesdays With Dorie, I received an e-mail from my mother.

"come help me" was all it said.  I figured she wanted help setting up some software or moving some heavy object in her room.

Nope, she wanted help getting to the emergency room at the local hospital.  She looked bad and felt worse.  All thoughts about Tuesdays with Dorie left my head. 

To make a long story short, she's going to be fine.  She's weak but in stable condition.  I'm exhausted from hours of stress and worry ...

TWD?  The cake?  Another day.  I'm going to sleep.

Sorry.

Resolutions At War

It's Saturday night and I have yet to post for both today and Thursday.  I'd written that I resolved to post three days a week.  That is true.  My posting resolution is in conflict with another resolution.  My resolution to take better care of myself.  I figure drinking too many soft drinks is bad for me.

See, I'm a hard-core caffeine addict.  At least, I used to be.  I'm trying to quit.  I stopped drinking Coke Zero on Wednesday.  The headaches ... oh, my, the headaches.  They are insane.  I think it'd be less painful to get hit by a bus.

OK, so I exaggerate.  A little.

Needless to say, my motivation has taken a dive.  I'm setting new lows in thins-getting-done.  I've cooked once since I decided to do this.  Enchiladas.  I got pictures making the corn tortillas.  I'll post them in a bit.  Forgot to get the rest.  Just have this one.

Oh, very cool, I just received a text message as I type this ... the Parmesan cheeses I ordered from Cebu are waiting for me.  You know what that means: Parmesan Cheese Showdown!

Coming soon.  But, for now ... more Ibuprofen!  That way I can do my third (and last) resolution ... play more golf.