Posted on

I am the Chicken Queen!

This weekend, I cooked a lot. It soothes me and makes me very zen. I’m so proud of all I accomplished with a bit of chicken and some veg! I got three meals off of ONE chicken.

First, I made Chicken Fricassee. I cut up the chicken myself – I’m slow but I do OK. I made stock out of the backbone and chicky bits. So Saturday we had a delicious fricassee and I got 2 quarts of stock as well as about 1.5 cups of leftover braising liquid from the fricassee. I had a feeling that braising liquid would be great in a soup…

Sunday I picked the chicky bones leftover from the stock and got about 2/3 cup chicken that I used for a frittata. Sunday afternoon I made chicken soup from the stock and braising liquid. I added 5 pc of frozen chicken tenders, 1 cup mirepoix and 2/3 cup barley. I used dill as the herb because I was in the mood for dill. Voilà! 3 meals off the same chicken!

Also on Sunday, I made eggplant caponata. I started with Anne Burrell’s recipe (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/anne-burrell/caponata-recipe/index.html) and modified it, of course. I added lemon zest (about a Tbl) and I used basil, cilantro and the fennel fronds for the herbs. I also tossed in some grape tomatoes with the eggplant to roast. YUM! I served this with shoulder steak (since I couldn’t find flat iron). Not a huge fan of shoulder steak, I shoulda gotten the flank steak. The shoulder steak reminded me a lot of hangar steak; kind of stringy but flavourful. It was a really tasty meal that was low fat and lean protein. Yay for tasty diets!

We’ve been doing great on our resolution to cut back booze and quit smoking. Of course, the DJ Incident™ probably has a lot to do with that, but whatever. I’ll take it. I’ve not smoked in a week – even when surrounded by smokers! And I’ve not had more than 1-2 glasses of wine per night in that time as well. Several nights with NONE. Maybe we can cut back the booze without Naltrexone? It’s certainly going well so far! YAY!!

This week I’m in the mood for pickles. I hope the Farmer’s Market has pickling cucumbers! I’m feeling zesty garlic dill, bread ‘n butter and maybe a coupla jars of asparagus. I’ll take pix! Everyone have a great week!

Posted on

Direct Pay or Concierge Medicine Will Work

Remember the post from a coupla weeks ago about why Obamacare is not the answer, but direct pay or concierge is? Well, here is another example of a doctor who is using direct pay for his practice here in Georgia. That article is from the Gwinnett Daily Post.

It CAN happen, people. If we just leave this shitty, broken system AS IS and allow doctors to get paid directly, more and more doctors WILL want to get paid directly. Fuck having to spend three hours a day filling out paperwork for insurance. Doctors are tired of being driven by the insurance companies. If we allow them to make a choice, I promise MANY will choose to stop taking insurance all together.

If you demand it, if you ask your current doctor if she’d like to be paid directly, it will send a message.

NO MORE INSURANCE SLAVERY! DEMAND THAT YOUR DOCTOR PRACTICE MEDICINE NOT FILL OUT PAPERWORK! PAY YOUR DOCTOR FOR HER TIME AND GET BETTER CARE! TELL INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THEIR WASHINGTON LAPDOGS TO SUCK IT!

Posted on

2013, You’d Best Shape UP!

So far, 2013 is not impressing me. Granted, The DJ Incident™ was not the most glamourous way to start the year, but we’re on day three and I am not a happy camper. My shoulder is aching and the rest of my joints are crunchy. I’m not sleeping well. Ugh.

BUT I did come across an interesting site today via one of my Twitter buddies (of course): founderdating.com. It’s a sort of think tank for entrepreneurial types. I’m trying to apply, but I can’t see a way around their stupid LinkedIn login. I deleted my Linked In account due to constant spam. I don’t like Linked In and never have. Nonetheless, I’ve sent an email asking if I can apply without Linked In, so we’ll see.

2013 is a 6 year, so for me, that makes it an 8. This is what I found about that:
“Personal Year 8. . . . Attainment and capital gains

This is a number 8 personal year for you. This is your power year, a period when you can make important strides in you life. Coming after a very slow and introspective period (the personal year 7), you may start feeling some stirrings of ambitions. This is a year of big decisions and major achievements. Activity is your keynote now, and you will find yourself very much involved and occupied. Opportunities for advancement and recognition for past and current work is likely to come about during this year. You have things going for you so long as you take advantage and act. It is easy for you to branch out and expand in a businesslike manner. If you are at all inclined, this is the time to exude self-confidence and authority, because others will tend to be receptive to your leadership and control. Your power and status potential is at a peak of the nine years personal epicycle that concludes at the end of the next year.”

Sounds pretty good for me. (These are from astrology-numerology.com, btw.)

For Nick, he’s got a not so great for finances/business number 3 year:
“Personal Year 3. . . .Social expansion & creative successes

This is a number 3 personal year. This is a social, happy year, and it generally tends to exude bright and cheerful vibrations. This is a year when you will want to check up on old friends and broaden your social circle to include some new ones. Romance and love affairs may bloom. You are inclined to live life to its fullest now, even if you have to pay the consequences later on. You are likely to be more sociable and the bridle of responsibility will seem to be loosened a bit. You are inclined to scatter your energies and undertake too many things at the same time. You can safely take some time off to enjoy yourself, but resist the temptation to completely give in to having a good time; keep your goals in mind. A 3 personal year is a good time to expand personal creative talents, particularly those related to the arts and verbal skills. Recognition in this regard is likely this year.

While this can be a happy year as far as personal expression and activities are concerned, it may be a disastrous year on the business scene. A generally frivolous attitude in that environment can cause rash decisions and impractical, unfinished schemes. This is not likely to be a very good year for your finances, and it is fortunate that the next year is designed to compensate these effects.”

I’m hoping that our typical opposites balancing act will still be in effect. Otherwise, this whole year could really SUCK. I am choosing to read his as getting a great new job that recognises his skills at managing people and his creativity. :)

So, whatever you have in store 2013, we’re as ready as we’ll ever be. ::cracks neck:: Bring it.

Posted on

Quickie Chicken Bake

This is a very quick bake made with LOTS of store bought help – so it’s not one for the cookbook, but it’s still really tasty. SEE VARIATION BELOW!!

1 package Perdue Perfect Portions chicken, Italian flavour
1 box Uncle Ben’s Country Inn rice, chicken flavour
1 bag frozen cauliflower
2 cups chicken stock
half cup pine nuts
olive oil
marjoram
parmesan cheese

Heat up the chicken stock to boiling and add rice mix flavourings. Pour rice into 9×12 baking dish then pour in the hot stock. Stir and make sure rice is evenly distributed. Sprinkle in pine nuts. Put chicken breasts on top of rice. Put frozen cauliflower around edge and in between chicken. Douse the cauliflower with olive oil, S/P and a good amount of marjoram. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 375F for about 45 mins. Uncover, sprinkle generously with parmesan and turn up oven to 400F. Bake for another 10-15 mins or so until rice has absorbed the liquid and the veg and cheese has browned.

VARIATION!
Parsley Chicky Bake

Chicken thighs, boneless/skinless
1 box Near East Long grain and Wild rice mix
1.75 cups water and chicken stock (1 cup stock, .75 water) as indicated for rice!
1 large shallot, sliced (or half a red onion)
2 green onions, sliced
half a red bell pepper, diced
handful of flat leaf parsley, chopped
S/P
Meyer Lemon and Sweet Lime marmalade (mine) or store bought orange marmalade
Olive Oil (EVOO)

9×12 baking dish, coated with food release (Pam). Add rice, water and flavour packet for rice. Toss in shallot, green onions and pepper. Season chicken thighs on both sides with S/P. Lay over rice cut side up. Toss in the parsley. Put about a teaspoon of marmalade on each thigh. Sprinkle with EVOO.

Cover with foil and put into a 400F oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil, turn up oven to 425F and let water cook out and chicken get brown for 10 more minutes. That’s it! Delicious!

Posted on

ALL Mirena updates AND Removal (2011 – 2020)

Updates for Mirena over the years (original review after updates):
1. 3/26/12 I’m currently on week 8 w/out a period! Yay! But I doubt it’ll last. I’ve had all other indicators of impending bleeding, but none yet. So. I still give it 2.5, but if the periods stop I’ll up it to 3 or 3.5 perhaps. Here’s to hoping!

2. Dec 2012 So, it’s been almost 2 years now and I’m happy with Mirena. The periods stopped a few months ago (Sep?) and I only have occasional spotting. All is well for me and I’ll give Mirena 3.5 stars. The first year is a bitch, but once everything settles, it seems to work like a charm. Hysterectomy would still be more efficient, but if you don’t want that, then Mirena is a pretty good choice.

3. October 2013: Still chugging along with Mirena at almost 3 years. I sometimes get light cramps, but I’ve not bled in a long time. YAY! Mirena has been great for me. Perhaps by the time this one needs replacing (it’s a 5 year device) I’ll be ready to yank out the Vile Organ. ::fingers crossed::

4. December 2015: As I am coming up on the 5 year mark (Jan 2016), I was getting anxious about having to replace the Mirena. Since the previous update, I’ve had no periods and things have been great. It’s about as close to hysterectomy as you can get w/out the knife. Fortunately, my gyno informed me that I do NOT have to replace the Mirena since I don’t use it for birth control. She wants me to keep going on this one to see how long the drugs actually work. I’ve become a test case to see the ACTUAL lifespan of the Mirena for therapeutic use rather than birth control. I’ll post more info as time passes.

5. January 2018: At year 7 and still working! Yay! I still have no periods, no PMS, no nuttin. The only time I’ll see a spot is if I’m really sick, really stressed or post surgery. I had Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy in May 2016 and spotted a little after that, but other than that? It’s like the vile organ isn’t even there. The Mirena is the best thing I’ve ever done besides VSG. I’m 70# thinner, I feel great and I still have no vile organ issues! I *do* have some hot flashes, but so far, that’s it. I am 52 and my gyno is interested to see how the Mirena interacts with menopause. I am interested as well. I’ll report more when things happen. (Oh, I did find out that it’s no longer “Mirena”, it’s something else now, but basically the same product.)

6. March 2020: Finally got the Mirena removed. I forgot to mention that at my last visit to the gyno, she informed me that I’d gone through menopause. !! I had no idea!! She said that since it worked so well for me as a menopausal facilitator, she’s going to recommend it to other pre-menopausal women. I had the Mirena for 9 years and it supposedly stopped working at year 5-6. Since I went through menopause at the same time, it’s hard to say. All I can tell you is that it is MAGICAL and I highly recommend it! I had no periods after the first year of adjustment and as I said, I went through menopause without knowing it. Having it removed was literally NOTHING. I was nervous, but on the table she said, “hey, can you hold your breath for a second?” and by the time I answered, she’d popped it out! LOL She held it up and said AHA!! It was all discoloured and gnarly looking, too! EW! But that damn thing worked like a charm and was worth EVERY PENNY of the grand it took to get it.

My overall opinion of the Mirena (or whatever it’s called now) is, if you CAN get it, DO IT. Ovarian cysts will disqualify you and perhaps some other things. There are horror stories of the pain involved with getting one installed, but I didn’t have that. It was odd and slightly painful for a second, but I didn’t have any big issues with the install. And once it’s in, it’s good to go. Mirena changed my life! It ended the horrible periods and got me through menopause seamlessly. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

___________________________
Original post:

I had the Mirena (IUD w/ hormones) installed Jan 3 2011. Read about what it was like to get the IUD installed HERE. The first year has mostly sucked. I had a three+ month long period after I first got it. No cramps, but I fucking bled nonstop. Then it backed off and I was having a period every 5-7 weeks with no cramping. BUT STILL HAVING THEM. That went on for months then I had a 2 month break Oct-Nov, then on Thanksgiving, it came back with a vengeance – complete with mild cramps. I just finished another period with mild cramps. :(

So, the promise of no periods with Mirena has been a LIE for me. I’m not surprised. Nothing involving the Vile Organ EVER works as advertised with me. Yes, I’m glad to not have incapacitating cramps, but I still have to deal with the fucking bleeding (+PMS) and that sucks donkey balls. I’m SICK of dealing with this messy nastiness. I’ve dealt with it for over 30 years and I AM SICK OF IT. I just want it to stop!!

The Mirena is $800 plus installation fees, so about a grand all together. The Mirena company does offer a payment plan with no interest, which is nice.

Are your cramps worth $1000 to eliminate? That’s really the bottom line. (BTW, you do NOT have to be a breeder to get the Mirena. It is approved for ALL women, regardless of breeder status.)

My point is that the Mirena, while great for cramps, is NOT a substitute for a hysterectomy. If given the option, I’d say go for hysterectomy in a heartbeat.

Mirena gets 2.5 out of 5 stars. NOW: 3.5 stars!