Funny for the Day

I am currently taking a ballet class and I sent Lele an email with the schedule of the next few classes. It also lists rehersal times, which for the next few weeks have been combined with the adult dance class.

This was Lele's response.

Darling just a suggestion...from reading through the email, I kind of get the impression that you are rehearsing for an actual performance not just going to the rehearsal. You may want to check on that one. It would suck to find that out at the last minute. I mean who has a tutu just hanging in her closet?

Bye,

Lele

It made my day.

Today LC sent me a pictuer of another bicycle. So i sent him a picture of ballet shoes.

Funnies for the year

1. This morning I overslept and didn’t have time to wash my hair. So standing in front of the bathroom mirror I grabbed a bottle of baby powder and proceeded to work some into my roots. I turned to see LC looking at me in horror. “Why on earth would you add dandruff?”

It took me a bit to explain.

2. Last night LC was working on school work. He had to write an essay and asked me to proofread it. His first sentence had 4 prepositions, including, in my opinion, in regards to and in spite of.

I told him that wouldn’t work. He looked at me kindof confused. “Uh, what exactly is a preposition?”

I responded, “You know. The preposition song.” And proceeded to sing him the 64 preposition song. To the tune of “She’ll be coming around the mountain when she comes” He looked at me in abject horror.

“What? It’s the only thing l learned in the eighth grade.”

3. LC drug me to the bicycle shop. Sigh. He went to the back to chat with the bike mechanic Volker. I was up front chattin with Silke (pronounced silga) She asked where LC was and I said in the back with Volker. She looked confused for a second and said, “But Volker doesn’t speak English.” With a perfectly straight face I responded “That’s ok. LC speaks English with a German accent.”

She did a spit take.

LC's Issues 1-7

1. Complete ACL Disruption

2. Macerated horn of the medial meniscus

3. Macerated lateral meniscus Tear cannot be excluded

4. Lateral tibial plateu fracture

5. Medial joint space narrowing with edema

6. bipartite patella

7. going to be a bitch boy during this whole ordeal. he is actually rubbing his hands togeater in glee for me having to nurse him for a change.

Beating head against the wall!!!

ARGGGH.

For years LC has had some problems with his knee. It will pop out occasionally. Pop back in and after a few weeks of bitching and moaning. It is ok again. So after this happened the last time we were skiing. He went to the Dr. again. And the Dr. told him “let’s just see how it heals” LC said” NOT!!” And basically ordered the Dr. to give him an x-ray and Physical therapy. 4 years of “let’s just see how it heals” is quite enough thank you.

After the x-ray the Dr. said there was nothing wrong and that he should do PT to gain some strength.

Meanwhile. We see a friend of ours who is a physical therapist randomly in the grocery store. I say. Hey W, LC is coming to see you. He responds with what’s up and we tell him the story. He says not to wait and come see him immediately without the referral. So onward. (Normally doesn’t work this way in the mil world)

W did an exam and ordered a MRI. Which was last week. LC had his MRI reviewed today. They can’t even find his front ACL. His meniscus is torn. He has multiple fractures. And it has been this way for awhile. Perhaps years. He is calling orthopedic surgery tomorrow. He is looking at 4-6 months of recovery.

I suddenly feel like a !@#$ head for ever saying “Suck it up and stop whining”

Oh and his primary Dr. The one who wanted to just wait. Still hasn’t issued him a profile. Meaning he is still required to do Exercise test with the military. Even though LC has called him multiple times. A STINK is fixing to happen with LC’s chain of command and yes we are filing a complaint.

The military has an awesome health care system that I am thankful for everyday. But just like the civilian world you have to be responsible for your own health care and at times push for what you think you need.

It is a fine line to walk.

But at this moment. I am supremely pissed off.

Food of quality. Not Quantity

One of my favorite restaurants is the one LC and I first ate out at, after moving to Germany. It is owned and operated by an Italian family who routinely has very loud verbal fights in the kitchen. Mom is the main chef. Son is also a chef. Dad does the waiting and service. And the two daughters are bussers etc. The son has a 5 year old son and the older daughter has a 1 year old who unfortunately looks just like grandpa.

Anyhoo.

It is the best Italian food ever. Simple good portions. Nothing to fancy but simply amazing and inexpensive. The pasta is homemade. Always. It is a treat when grandma is in the kitchen. And Angelo the son is very precise about all of his cooking. Each ravioli is hand folded. And the daughters. Take pride in the height of the cream on their cappuccinos.

Saturday we stopped in for dinner. It is a convenient place to stop after grocery shopping and it was very quiet being just after thanksgiving. Only us and Angelo and his wife and son. I ordered one of my favorites, spinach ravioli. Angelo’s wife told me in Italian accented English that special today was pumpkin ravioli and would I like to try it. Sure.

When I got my plate I had about 10 hand folded little triangles of ravioli in a clear butter and a few sprigs of sage.

Hmm. Not very much, but I should have known better. The first bite was simply amazing. And I say simply because the butter and the lack of sauce allowed the pumpkin, to take center stage. It was delicate. And the taste of each flavor presented themselves to your tongue for inspection and then blended together. To be honest I don’t even like pumpkin. But I loved this. I didn’t even sprinkle it with parmesan.

LC commented to me “that good huh” he can tell that it is spectacular when I take tiny bites and chew slowly.

It reminded me of my tenants for good food. There must be a minimum of two things out of three present for good food to happen. But the best food relies on quality ingredients.

You must have two of the following

quality whole fresh ingredients

Seasonings and spices (not necessarily a lot of them, just the right ones)

Time.

A really crappy piece of meat can turn into something great with some seasoning and time you get a great brisket. But one of my favorite pleasures is a home grown tomato and a little salt. This dish was like that tomato. Deceptively simple. complex in its entirety. It was about the flavor and the ingredients. Not covered up by something heavy. (don’t misunderstand, cream sauce is god’s gift to mankind) But here. It was exactly put together. Exactly right.

Now that I have rambled on. Come see me. Come try it. I take all my guests to this restaurant when the come to visit. None has ever left disappointed.