The Chicken Recipe - 10/29/07

Tender Baked Parmesan Chicken

 

Heavy duty aluminum foil

No Stick cooking spray

 

½ cup real mayonnaise

1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese (not grated)

½ tsp. garlic powder

1 to 1-1/4 pounds boneless, skinless fresh chicken breasts

½ cup Italian bread crumbs

 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Line a shallow baking pan with foil.  Spray foil with cooking spray and set aside.

 

Combine mayonnaise, cheese and garlic powder.

 

Coat chicken with mayonnaise mixture, then with bread crumbs.  Place on foil lined baking pan.

 

Bake 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned and tender.

 

Makes four servings.  Chicken is very moist and tender.

 

Leftovers are great sliced and put on salads or reheated

My First Multiplication - 10/28/07

I thought that I should write a little post for this page to test out how its done.  Yahoo's problems seem to be getting worse everyday making it more difficult for people to post and write in comments.  I miss the community that I had there and hope it can be rebuilt.

Yesterday I spent the day with my Mom as usual for a Saturday.  I got her groceries and then we had a nice visit.  I think I pulled a muscle in my back carrying in all the bags.  I forgot to take my cart this time and, of course, had to carry everything in in one trip instead of being sensible about it.

Today I'm going to do some cooking ahead for the week just in case we end up having to go to Georgetown Hospital again.  I'm going to make navy bean soup, and some parmesan baked chicken breasts.  I'm also going to bake a pumpkin pie and some more brownies.  Husband is really into brownies now.  I may post the recipe for the chicken in the near future as it is quite tasty.

The picture is a look back to my trip to England in October 2003.

 

Yahoo! 360° - Cheryl's Profile

http://360.yahoo.com/grouperjones
My Yahoo 360 blog

Yahoo Angst - 10/26/07

If you are reading this, thank your lucky stars! Usually anymore you'd have been taken to an old blog I did in July. Nothing wrong with that one, but it might lead you to believe that I've been silent here for awhile. Yahoo is having issues. They say, they are going to be moving the 360 community to a new platform by February 2008. What they actually appear to be doing is driving everyone away from Yahoo by increasing the number of bugs and delays in the system and promising that they won't be fixing any of them on the old system. Also they have no real idea as to what the new platform will actually be or look like. (My Government friends will realize this is much like the helpful software we had rammed down our throats several years ago.)

My first inclination is just to ride this out and see what they offer at the end, but with everyone leaving or thinking of leaving, it may be pretty lonely here at the end. So today I think I will explore some of the other options. I guess I'll end up running concurrent blogs (same new content on both). I will post a link here to the new page when I have it ready.

And the Answer is..... - 10/24/07

We had our consult with the cyber knife doctors at Georgetown today. We still don't have a definitive answer. They want to treat his neck tumor but they need more information about his total previous radiation load to the neck area before they can make a final decision. Since it takes about 5 weeks to get a treatment plan in place, they want to go ahead and start the planning process now which Warren has agreed to do. They'll call tomorrow to set up a PET scan and a simulation (where they make the mesh mask that will hold his head still on the table for treatment). If they do treat, he'll get five treatments over the course of a week's time. They have to be able to eliminate as much risk to the spinal cord as possible as it is very susceptible. Damage at the T-1 area could make Warren a quadraplegic. Further incursion of the tumor will have the same result. Its a crap shoot boys and girls.

It took us 2 hours to get there, and two hours to get home. Parking cost me $25.00 for a little over 4 hours. They do have a way to get a discount, but I didn't bother for one trip. I guess if we go back there, I'll have to look into that. It took us 20 minutes to get out of the parking garage. It was a mess with everyone trying to leave at once. I'm exhausted.

Big Day Tomorrow - 10/23/07

Picture: A few red leaves outside my kitchen window

Tomorrow is our big appointment day at Georgetown for the consultation on cyber knife treatment. We both have mixed feelings about the treatment. Even Warren says he doesn't know if he wants them to say yes or no. There are just too many unknowns about what benefits or problems would result from it. I'm hoping that whatever they say tomorrow, that the answers are clear cut.

We went to NIH today for the Oncology clinic. If he gets treated at Georgetown, NIH wants us back there 3 weeks after the last cyber knife treatment. If he doesn't get treated there, they want us back in mid-November to see what protocols will be available for him at that time.

We didn't get home from the hospital today until 2:30. We had lunch and then I went for groceries and got gas in the car. I'm tired now, but probably should go start dinner before I fall asleep. Last night we had some Healthy Choice dinners that were in the freezer. I'm sorry, they may be good for you, but they didn't offer much in the way of taste. Tonight I'm going to make a shrimp stir-fry.

We might actually get some soaking rains in the next few days and the temperatures should drop down into the 70's and 60's. I don't much like having July in October. Its wrong somehow.

Close Up - 10/19/07

Here is a close up shot of the crocheted spread.

Just a Peak - 10/19/07

This is a picture of my bedroom. I'm posting it to show the hand crocheted bedspread on top of the comforter. I just put it on the other day and I can't decide if I like it or if its just too fussy for my tastes. My Grandmother bought it at a flea market years ago for $25.00. Its big enough to fit my king-sized bed. I'm sure its worth more than that now. It seems a shame to have these things and not use them sometimes.

Just a little peak into my life

A Learned Skill - 10/19/07

Today we had a call from Georgetown saying they had not yet received any faxed data from NIH. The people I spoke to yesterday at NIH assured me they were faxing the data right after I talked to them. and I was sure that they had done so. I called those two women back and sure enough they had faxed yesterday. The woman in Radiation/Oncology had faxed 103 pages of data...twice because the first time she got a "failed message" message. I gave both of the women at NIH the name and number of the woman who had called from Georgetown this morning. It seemed to me that by connecting the senders with the receiver, it took me out of the middle. I think its their problem to work out and not mine. Perhaps I worked for the Government for too long, and understand the workings of large organizations, but I know exactly where to stick the pin in the the rump of the behemoth to get it to turn in the direction I want it to go. I've still got the skill!!

A Productive Day - 10/18/07

Today was busy. I spent quite a bit of time on the phone arranging to have data faxed from NIH to Georgetown and arranging to get a CD copy of the recent CT scan and MRI. I think everything is done on my part, except to pull together a concise list of all the chemo therapies he's had in the last f0ur years. I have his medical history in a Microsoft word file, but I want to pare it down to one page for ease of catching them up with everything. I also got the 31 page email from Georgetown so we can start filling out forms. NIH needed a signed medical release form to make the CD for us, so they emailed me the form. I filled it out, Warren signed it, I scanned it and attached the scanned copy to an email and sent it back to them. Don't you just love technology? I think Warren was impressed, but I'm very process oriented so I know how to make processes work efficiently.

I even broke out the ironing board this afternoon (I hate ironing), but I just wanted to get that taken care of.

Today's picture shows the curtains we put up this week. The room is our guest room which has an alcove that Warren uses for his office. My goal with the curtains was to sort of block the view to that cabinet he insisted on putting in there. They are so sheer they don't do a lot of blocking though. I bought those in the Spring to use doing the warmer weather and haven't gotten around to getting something different for winter. If I get something opaque it will block the light and that's the only window in that room. Let's just say the room is a work in progress. Eventually there will be color on the walls. Right now its a big beige box (like all of the apartment actually). As soon as we moved in here, he got sick so there hasn't been a lot of time and energy for decorating. The quilt was made by my Aunt Mary and her Mother in the 1980's. The pattern is called "Wedding Ring". The quilt you can partially see on the wall was made in the 1930's and was a wedding gift from a friend of mine. Its called "Grandmother's Flower Garden" I believe. She bought it at an antique shop in Californina.

My Granddaughter is here tonight because there is no school tomorrow. So she'll get to spend two nights with us this week.

I hope those of you in the middle of the country stay safe tonight with all of the tornado warnings in effect. Be safe and well.

Next Step - 10/17/07

We heard back from Georgetown today and have an appointment with them next Wednesday afternoon. We have to get all sorts of information to them prior to the appointment, but hopefully we can get NIH to provide what is needed. I called Radiation/Oncology at NIH today to get the information they have faxed over and will call Oncology tomorrow for the rest of the data. We were supposed to get an email packet from Georgetown today with forms to fill out and directions, etc., but that didn't come through yet, so I suppose I'll have to call back about that.

Yesterday afternoon we put up some curtain rods (always a treat) and today we got the tie-back hooks put up. We don't always work well together. Mr. Engineer has one way of doing things and I have another. At least we can still laugh about the way we butt heads.

One of THOSE Days - 10/16/07

Picture: My Grandcat Dinah looking at little fishies swimming across the computer screen at her house

I guess its going to be one of THOSE days where everything that you try to do is impeded. I tried calling Georgetown Hospital again this a.m. and got the same message as yesterday, so I called the Department instead of the specific person I was directed to on Friday. The person answering the phone in the Department told me that the specific person was returning her calls, but that each call back requires a lot of information intake. They can't just make an appointment for someone to come in for a consult; they must evaluate up front whether or not the patient would even qualify medically for this treatment. She said give her 48-hours from when I left my message so if not today, then by tomorrow early I should hear from her. I suggested that they might want to put that on her phone recording and it would save a lot of angst to the people trying to contact them. I really, really, really, wouldn't want her job. Can you imagine talking to people all day long for whom the treatment really is a life or death issue? So now I am tied to the phone line until I hear from her I guess. I think there are only 3 local hospitals that have this treatment option and they must be swamped (Georgetown Hospital, Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, and MedStar Hospital in Baltimore). To be honest, I don't think Warren will qualify for this treatment anyway because of all of the previous radiation he's had to this area, but we have to follow this lead where it goes.

So I thought, while I was waiting this morning for a call back I'd look at my emails...WRONG! I couldn't access my incoming mailbox. Verizon said "Its on a different server" and it wouldn't read my password. Oh great! Well I looked around and tried to find a phone number to contact them, chatted with my Son briefly about it, checked the account on line and decided that it wasn't me, it must be THEM. I waited an hour and now I can download my new email (so far only ones I've sent me), but the test message I sent earlier hasn't come through and neither have any of my overnight junk emails that I always get. If you sent me an email between about midnight last night and noon today, I didn't get it, please re-send.

I wonder if Mercury has gone retrograde again? That would explain all the screwiness with communications today. I can't leave the house, so I'm going to have to find something to occupy my time today so I don't go nuts. (I know, I know, its a short drive.)

I think I'll check out the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) on-line (OMG, don't try to call them, talk about impediments!) to see how I go about getting the title for my car. I thought once you paid off the lien that they mailed you the title. I paid the car off in July '03 and I still just have the "Maryland Notice of Security Interest Filing" showing the lien and the letter from Chrysler releasing the lien...no car title. I'm thinking about trading the car in the Spring so I thought I should get the title ahead of time.

Yea! I just got my first "JUNK" email of the day! I guess they're resolving their issues. Now if I could only resolve my issues :-).

Crazy Quilt - 10/15/07

This is a picture of a "crazy quilt" I have that was made by someone in Warren's family. Everyone who might know who, is gone now. I think it was probably done in the 1920's or 1930's. I think I might use it as a wall hanging if I can find a way to do so while protecting the fibers from sunlight and dust. I've seen one before that was folded to a reasonable size and framed under low-E glass.

I tried calling Georgetown Hospital today and left a message but didn't receive a return call so tomorrow I have to start calling again. We have to get that consult set up.

Sears came and fixed the ice maker today and since I purchased the protection plan last year, it didn't cost anything today. Seems like that plan was a good idea. The rest of the morning I kept busy with paperwork; paying bills and balancing the checkbook. After lunch I went to the grocery store and the post office. I tried to get a hair cut too, but the stylist I wanted wasn't in, so I'll try again tomorrow or Wednesday.

It was a quiet day. Warren is doing OK. He has some numbness in his left hand, but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse at the moment.

For Robin - 10/13/07

Isn't this a beautiful photo?

Some News - 10/12/07

The Radiologist from NIH called this afternoon and let us know that she had gotten the records from the Radiologist who had done Warren's 1st 9-weeks of radiation in 2004. That information, coupled with the records they had for the second 9-weeks of radiation he received there at the end of 2005, led them to conclude that they can't safely radiate him with the technology they have available there. She said she agonized over the decision, but they don't want to cause harm. She suggested that we get a consult with the cyber-knife doctors at Georgetown Hospital Center to see if they could give him treatment. So Monday, I'll try to get that set up.

I think we're going to also set up a meeting with hospice to see what we would need to do to get them on board when further treatments are no longer an option.

Quote from a Favorite Author - 10/11/07

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea."

Robert A. Heinlein

No News Yet - 10/9/07

Today's consult with Radiation Oncology didn't result in any treatment decisions as yet. First they need the specifics of the first 9-weeks of radiation he received in 2004 from a private Radiologist to determine the total load he's already received. He was re-radiated at NIH at the end of 2005 and they have those records. The 1st radiologist was called today and those records are in storage and it will take several days for them to be retrieved and sent to NIH. The report on the MRI of the cervical spine that was done last Tuesday afternoon hadn't been posted in their system yet so the doctors were going to go look at the films later today. Another problem is that since Warren isn't currently enrolled in any protocol they can't treat him. So they'll be working with the oncologists there to see if they can find another protocol for him that will allow treatment. They say they have a radiation treatment there that is similar to a cyber knife called Tomotherapy. That is a CT guided system for delivering very precise amounts of radiation all around the tumor (the picture above is of that device). Once they determine if it would be safe to give Warren any further radiation they'll let us know what they come up with for a treatment plan.

This treatment will help alleviate problems associated with spinal cord compression by the tumor. I don't believe that anyone thinks this will be a cure.

I think I'm just going to relax and enjoy this little break in the action, for as long as it lasts.

Soup Recipe for Monday - 10/8/07

I promised a friend over a week ago that I would start posting soup recipes once a week during the cooler weather months. It's still in the 90's here on the East Coast, but I'm sure cooler weather can't be too far off. So today, the day before we have to go back to NIH to consult with Radiation/Oncology to see what fresh hell they have to offer, I thought I'd post a lovely little soup recipe that I got from Prevention magazine several years ago. It makes up in about 20 minutes and is great with crusty bread and sliced cheese.

Pasta E Fagiole

2 tsp. olive oil
1 sm. onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (14.5 oz each) chicken broth (Prevention suggests fat free, sodium reduced)
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
1 can (15 oz) cannellini or white beans rinsed and drained
1/2 cup ditalini or other small pasta
1/2 lb. Swiss chard leaves or spinach leaves coarsely chopped
1/4 tsp. salt
Parmesan cheese

1. Warm the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.

2. Add the broth, tomatoes (with juice), beans and pasta. Cook stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked. Add the Swiss chard and the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 3 minutes or until the Swiss chard is wilted. For added flavor sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and black pepper on the pasta e fagiole just before serving.

Makes 6 servings

Per serving: 157 calories, 10 g protein, 23 grams carbs, 2 g fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 mg chol, 6 g fiber, 410 mg sodium

Now the beauty of soup people is that you can use what you have available at the time. Any kind of cooked greens can be used in place of the chard and reduces the amount of cooking time by three minutes or so. I've used cut up leftover cooked collard greens, spinach, and kale. I also will use vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth to make it a more vegetarian dish.

This is a quick, healthy dinner. Its great the next day too and can be frozen.