I'm Going to Have to Call this Good Enough for a While

This is going to be the extent of cooking for the time being.  Luckily, Gene said he doesn't mind and that it was "pretty good for store bought".  Dinner tonight was Paul Newman sauce over Stouffer's frozen meatballs over fresh (grocery store fresh, not real fresh) pasta with garlic breadsticks. I will be cooking but I can't do anything complicated for a while.

Complicated or not, this is what I appreciate about Ruth at Once Upon a Feast's weekly Presto Pasta Nights Round-up Event. Pasta can be as simple or as complicated as we make it. Versatility is my favorite thing about pasta. Every Friday, Ruth presents a round up of pastas from that week.  Click HERE for the link.

My problem is still my knee. It's getting worse. The anti-inflammatories and cortisone shot didn't work so I had to go to an orthopedic surgeon last week.  After making me cry (kidding, sort of) manipulating my knee and leg, he said he's convinced I do have bursitis but that I've also torn the meniscus (cushion between the long bones) that will require fixing.  That means a knee scope.  However, that was his best guess pending the MRI which I had Wednesday. 

Let me tell you, I will whine to high heavens because that MRI hurt.  I can bend my knee, actually it feels better when I bend it.  It's straightening it out and putting weight on it that hurts, so when they laid me down on the MRI table, pushed my leg down flat, and then locked my knee down into a plastic holder to keep me absolutely still...well, let's just say that was the longest 45 minutes I've had in a long time and afterwards I was chewing vicodin like Tums. Man, that was not fun.  So I'm probably looking at surgery but I won't know exactly what, when, and where until the first of the week.

In the meantime, I don't get around very well at all, much less in the kitchen. I have to be in and out like the wind because I obviously don't stand well for any length of time.  But even with that, my pseudo-homemade spaghetti, I think, it's still healthier for us than ordering in from a restaurant or sending Gene to a drive-thru. I ran by the grocery real quick today and picked up lots of fresh veggies for salads and stir fries. That's quick, easy, and good for both of us too. In spite of not being able to do any cardio/walking, I have been trying to eat very healthily and do as many floor exercises as I can manage. I only have three pounds left to lose and I'll be back where I was before Christmas/vacation in Vegas. Sucks, but at least I'm headed in the right direction again and it gives me something to concentrate on while I'm at home.

I admit I'm having trouble concentrating.  I should be writiing like crazy every day but I'm not. I am writing some but not as much as I'd like.  The knee hurts most of the time even with the pain pills, and the pills zonk me out... so I'm trying to not feel guilty and just do what I can each day. That includes posting on the blogs too. I can do some but with not being able to cook I haven't been posting much this week.  I've done much more staring at the monitor than typing, mostly watching for the latest on Paris-I'm-such-an-idiot-Hilton postings on the celebrity blogs than working on my own.  But that's life.  I just don't have it in me right now.

I have found one small constructive thing to occupy my time.  My niece, Jordan, and my nephew, Isaac, both share the birthday of May 24th. We're having a joint party here at my house the weekend following their birthdays and for the first time in a couple of years I'm making all of the nieces and nephew's (only the kids) cakes this year. For Isaac I need to build a sculpted Kenworth cab and for Jordan (turning 15) she wanted something "cool", as in an all black cake with black roses.  I talked her into letting me put at least one accent color in because black on black would actually get lost tihout something to contrast with it so she said she'd trust me. I've sketched three different cakes in detail, one with gothic architecture influences, one with art nouveau motifs, and then the one I settled on which will be much more sleek and modern in black and white.  I can sit down at the table to work with fondant, so although I'm going to frost the cake in black and white buttercream, I'm making fondant flowers.  They look like this. To me they're crisp and modern but they also remind me of Lone Star quilt blocks.  Anyone else see that in them?

I can't wait to surprise both kids at the party.

Comments

[sher]

Absolutely!! That looks like the quilt pattern. Beautiful! The black thing must be a gentic thing some teens go through. My sister wanted to paint her room all black! :):) Hang in there with the knee. After you have the operation to clear out the torn cartilage, you will be tap dancing at work! And dinner looks great! Gimpy! :):)

[Kalyn]

I'm sorry you're having such a crappy time. That stinks. Rest, read books, and take care of yourself.

[Lin]

Dadgum, that's something to eat? I thought it was a retro platter from the 50s. Hang on and I'll find that hotel for ya...

[Lin]

Sorry about your knee! I detest being in the bed for more than three days. Ha!! Can you tell I sorta look forward to those few times I'm sick,like once a year? Here's the link to the Union Station Hotel in Nashville: http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/BNAUS/main.wnt?cid=ROMYWB1483 I don't know how to link directly in Typepad -I have enough trouble with it in Xanga even though I have Firefox. Looks like a beautiful place. We'll be at the Embassy Suites near Vandy. I'm taking her to Sambuca for dinner. Went went to the one in Atlanta to hear my favorite band, Acoustic Alchemy, and found the food at least four star.

Get well soon!

[Glenna]

Sher--I like the flowers. Now that I have them drying I can see the whole cake in my head, if you know what I mean. Would love to do a quilt cake with those things...I think it would be awesome. I can see a mini version as petit fours for a tea party, too.

Kalyn--thanks for the sympathy. You make me feel better already!

Lin--I know! It does look a little retro but Gene's loving it so that takes the guilt off, you know? Thanks for the hotel link. Can't wait to check it out!

[Butta Buns]

Hope the knee gets better and you're back to your usual self soon. But in the meantime, take all the time you need to get there.

Before reading the entry properly, I thought it was a retro tray too. Black and white buttercream, Ace of Cakes eat your heart out! It's seriously cool and your niece is sure to love it.

[Glenna]

Thanks! I'm hoping to make something really killer for both her and Isaac. Wish me luck!

[kT]

Knee injuries suck. Completely. I've not had to have surgery yet, but I was with my mom the first week after her full replacement last year. The first few days were rough, but after that it was more a matter of keeping the frustration level down until she could move as quickly as she wanted to. And no more pain. I have to think scope recovery is quicker -- and you have a good attitude.

I love the flowers. I saw retro '60s, too, but retro IS modern right now. Can't wait to see the final product!

[Cynthia]

I am so sorry to hear about your knee. My mom is having a really bad time with her osteo arthritis.

I'm sending positive thoughts your way and wishes for a speedy recovery.

The flowers look great and can't wait to see the cakes.

[Anne]

Beautiful! I look forward to the finished cake! And I hope your knee feels better soon!

[Glenna]

kt--I'm hoping for the same good recovery for my knee too. Thanks for sharing that. I need all the "it will be okay"s I can get right now. And thanks about the flowers. I didn't really see them as retro until several folks commented and now I see that as the direction I'll go with the cake.

Cynthia--thanks about the knee. I certainly feel for your mom. It's not just the not being able to get around, it's the constant ache that gets to you.

Anne--I'm getting excited about the cake too. Can't wait until next week!

[Ruth]

Poor you!!! I really do empathize, my knee is acting up too after all the packing and running upstairs and down for a month before our move.

I hope you feel better soon.

[Denise]

Had two scopes for meniscus tears last year. Recovery is pretty quick - you'll be able to walk in a day or two - then it's just a matter of strengthening and getting your full range of motion back. That takes a month-- six weeks. Nothing like pain to make us appreciate when we don't have any, huh? Don't get down - just get it done and get better.

[Glenna]

Ruth--thanks for the well wishes!

Denise--So sorry you've had two scopes already but you're making me feel a lot better about mine!

[Willa]

May 24 is a lovely day for a birthday- not only do your sweeties share the day with my daughter-in-law, its the day AFTER my wedding anniversary.

Sorry to hear about your knee- I think about stuff like that every time I go up and down stairs- it really hurts a lot.

Willa

[Glenna]

Happy almost wedding anniversary! yay for you!
I hear you about the stairs. They are not my friends right now.