cooking with words

Cooking day yesterday.
Part 1: my favorite rice/lentil/quinoa blend.

The temps have been dropped into the teens and 20s F again, interspersed with occasional 40s-50s. The intermittent cold at first slowed the accumulation of mud, but the rains we've been having - did I mention the many days of rain? - are having an effect. On the 24th my neighbor had some time so we spent 6 solid hours burning brush from the tree work he did for me last December. Someday I will write about all the tree work that's been done here over the past year. I've photographed it, I've spent many hours processing it (both in the sense of working up the stove wood and in terms of walking amongst ghosts every day), but I haven't been able to put it into words.

Part 2: cavatappi w spritz of olive oil.

Words have been elusive in general lately, and I apologize for not thanking each of you for your kind comments and messages after my most recent post. I haven't had a day without jaw pain since early February, and it's been bad enough that when the dentist disappeared for a week, I asked my MD for pain medication, which I almost never take even when a doctor advises it. This time? I'm more or less begging for prednisone, which is the only thing that has given me even periodic relief. Two days ago I saw an oral surgeon for a diagnosis, and after a panoramic x-ray (which I heartily recommend as an alternative to the traditional stabby-slides-poked-into-soft-tissue dental x-ray) and a thorough prodding of my teeth, jaw, and what felt like the inner recesses of my brain, he said he could see nothing about my teeth causing the trouble, but my right TMJ appears to be jammed up (I paraphrase) and I should get a mouth guard from my dentist and wear it for a month to see if that will release the TMJ and make life better again.

I'm still waiting for a callback from my dentist while my little supply of prednisone shrinks. A callback, hopefully an appointment and mouthguard ASAP, and let the unjamming begin please. When this is over, it may be time to find another dentist. I had hoped to stay with this one but his availability and the office's efficiency at returning calls has been less than ideal. I keep getting email requests to leave online reviews for the office, and every time I think, "But are you sure I'm still alive? And do you really want me to leave a review right now?"

Part 3: tortellini soup.

Enough about all that. I have always avoided writing much about health challenges on the blog, just as I avoid talking about it in real life, because my pain/fatigue issues are chronic and nobody needs to be bored by that, including me. Living it is enough. Living is enough.

But the occasional jolt of Something Extra in the Pain Department, like this jaw mystery, or the shoulder dislocation in 2024, is different. It's a temporary (touch wood) overlay affecting daily life in a way that means I apparently have to write about it a bit, or not write anything at all. So there it was, and I'll probably write a little bit more when there is progress.

I say all this now to assure readers - and myself - that this blog will not become my personal Organ Recital.

And thank you.

Part 4: eggbites.
I always try to cook 2 or 3 things in sequence 
 when I use the multicooker, but 4 things is 
a new record. Freezer stocked, fridge full.
Cook smug.
Huzzah!

~~~~~