Virtual Rants

Liver, Hold the Onions

Almost a month ago my i though my wife was dying. (Originaly posted back in April, 2006)

I sat in the dark at my keyboard gripped by misery as Julie lay in her hospital bed alone…her liver slowly failing. Something was horribly wrong deep inside of her, at the core of her physical being. I couldn't see it and didn't know how to fight it, the only thing I could do was put up a good front for my son, and advocate for her.

Why weren't they doing more? She's dying what is wrong with you people?

And now she's home…gaining strength and getting better… slowly.

She's lost weight and strength, but not her sense of humor.  In order to get better faster, she needs a high protein, low fat diet…that is palatable. Spices and strong smells get to her…so I go light on the onions.

Mom's Pie

She was beautiful…a lady to the very end.

These are the words that I remember…the words that comforted me today, long-distance, as I was told,  that my mother slipped peacefully into the gentle stillness of death.

My mother truly was a lady, a genuine southern belle. Not a ditzy maiden batting her eyelashes,  swooning and fainting, but a thoughtful soul with a genteel demeanor…To put it simply, polite. She was born in an age when manners counted for something, when civility was more noble that winning.

She taught me to give the largest slice of pie to the guest…to do for others…to offer my coat to someone who's chilled. She showed me the power of generosity and compassion. She taught me to say please and thank you and to really mean it when I spoke those words.

Everything that is good about me is her doing. And I will miss her very much. But I will always be comforted by those words "…a lady to the very end." She died the way she lived. And when she left us, she left us with a conscious, and with kindness, and with empathy. These are the things that she gave to us…the largest slice of pie.

Kalamata Catfish

2 nice catfish filets   

6 - 8 large Kalamata olives pitted and diced   

1 large clove of garlic smashed    

1 Tbs. olive oil   

1 Tbs. butter   

1 small lemon juiced

1 tsp. lemon zest

Salt

Pepper

Pour lemon juice over catfish in frying pan and flip so as to coat the filets on both sides.  Combine the rest of the ingredients, saltand pepper to taste and cook over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork, in the thickest part of the filet.

Strain the liquids from the pan, and spoon the olives onto the filets.

The Birth of Journalism, 01/21/06

We're stuck.

What?

We can't get out.

We'd thought nothing of the sirens blaring on the street as we entered the chocolatier's boutique on the far end of Dunedin's fashionable shopping district. Little did we know that a drama was unfolding in the heart of downtown. A drama shrouded in mystery…well…sort of.

After Colter and his friend tasted some fudge, and Julie had peered into the window of the "Shoppe" next door that sold "Krunchy Kookie Bouquets," we headed back toward where we parked on the side of Main Street. As we drew nearer, we saw fire trucks blocking in our car along with all of the other cars parked on the street. So Instead of heading in to the middle of the mayhem, we stopped to get an ice cream in an old railway car.

The door was open, but the proprietor was nowhere to be seen. Soon I saw her coming up the walk from the direction of the excitement. She lumbered up the steps, went behind the counter and made change for the ice cream. Then eagerly reported what the commotion was all about.

Apparently a harmless and homeless man who frequents the posh streets stepped out of character and became belligerent with tourists, then violently refused to cooperate with the police. He was summarily Tasered…in the groin. And, as if that weren't exciting enough, the officers on the scene were joined by four additional police cars, a paramedic ambulance, and two fire-trucks, (a pumper-truck, and a hook-and-ladder.)

So, how much of this can we believe? All of it is hearsay, or at best secondhand information. We don't know who the ice cream seller had talked with and how much she had actually seen. When we arrived there was only one cop car, one ambulance and two fire trucks. That much I know.

So, after the street was clear and we were on our way, Julie decided to give the kids a short civics lesson. "This," she said "is why newspapers were first printed, to give people a reliable source of news."

And all this time I thought they were published to broaden the sponsor's advertising base.

Enchilada Del Gringo

Sauce
2 Tbs. Olive oil
1 Tbs. Flour
1 Can Ro*Tel tomatoes and diced chilies 10ozs.
1 Cup Chicken stock
1 Tbs. Adobo Sauce
1 tps. Dried cilantro
¼ tps. Garlic powder
¼ tps. Celery salt

Enchiladas
4 small flour tortillas (6 inch)
½ Cup soft cream cheese
1 Cup Mexican blend of shredded cheese.

For Sauce
Make a roux by adding the oil and flour to a frying pan and lightly browning the flour stirring constantly over medium heat.
Add remaining ingredients and simmer on medium low stirring as needed.

For Enchiladas
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Thoroughly mix Mexican shredded cheese and soft cream cheese together. Place ¼ of the mixture in the center of each tortilla, roll into a log shape and place in 9 x 13 inch glass casserole pan. Carefully pour the simmering sauce evenly over enchiladas making sure to lightly coat each one. Bake on middle rack of oven for 12 - 15 minutes.

Makes 4 Enchiladas