Hey all;

Thanks for the well-wishes...been a good visit, one day to go.

My dad is now in an acute care facility while he is undergoing radiation treatments, neither the radiation-oncologist nor the internist-palliative care doctor are giving us any hope for a cure.  The treatment is to help my dad breathe easier and have less heart trouble for the time he has left.

Both of them were gently spoken, but honestly realistic; 6 months on the very outside and less than 3 in the most liklihood.

The radiation and big steroid doses, plus being able to eat a regular diet has helped.  He's able to get out of bed, sit up in a chair and use the toilet (with a little help getting there).  He's fully alert, knows he's dying and is participating in the decision making.  He's doing this on his terms, which does include a DNR order.

I'll miss him, but no regrets are between us!

thanks again - Pip

...from 0700 CDT, 9 July, 2009 until near midnight on 14 July.

I'm making an unplanned visit back east; had an overwhelming feeling I need to see my family and Anita agreed.  Think good of me and mine, as the feeling I had that if I didn't go back now, someone of great importance wouldn't be there if I waited until the trip in October to see another niece wedded.

Short notice tickets weren't as bad as I thought they might be.

My parents are firmly ensconced in 1950's technology, so internet access will be limited to none.

Hey all;

Pip here:

Due to popular demand I will start a series of journal entries about things I like to cook.

All of us are here at MedHelp because we have concerns.  Much of what I will show you will set off alarm bells for a few, or many, of you.  I am a firm believer that vices in moderation are what keep us mentally and emotionally healthy, and interfere little with physical health.

I'll start with four simple side dishes, which can be used as the main dish.  All of these are pasta based, simple, filling and three are pretty darn healthy.  Normally, after draining, I will add in a little butter or olive oil to the pasta,and toss it.  This helps keep it from sticking.  One can also commit sacrilege and rinse the pasta after cooking.

The artery clogger first ,-)

Chronne (sha-doan) - baked pasta casserole.

Ingredients; 1 pound each dry capellini, thick spaghetti and perciatelli - cook al dente per package and drain well - keep in pasta pot, 18 lg eggs - beaten, 1 c each Asiago, Romano and Parmesan cheese - finely grated, 1 1/2# pepperoni - diced (abt 1/4" pcs), 1/2 c Mozzarella - medium shred, 1/2 t black pepper - freshly cracked, Olive oil - quant suff

Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly oil a baking pan of sufficient size (mine is 18" x 14" x 3"). Mix the grated cheeses into the beaten eggs and then add in the pepperoni; do this while the pasta is cooking. In the large boiling pot, mix the egg-cheese-pepperoni into the cooked pasta and then pour the whole mess into the baking pan. Mix the Mozzarella and black pepper ; spread this evenly over the pasta mix. Bake the pasta mix covered for 30 minutes and then uncovered for 10 - 20 minutes (until the top is fully melty and lightly browned).

I like to serve this with a steamed mix of escarole, endive, spinach and leeks - dressed with crushed garlic, olive oil and lemon juice -- lightly boiled mix of onion, turnip and carrot dressed with butter and parsley -- beef meatballs in a light marinara sauce

Pasta e Ceci - Ditalini and Chickpeas

Foodstuffs: 1# Farfalle - cook al dente per package and drain well, 2 c ea cooked chickpeas and stewed Plum tomatoes - diced with juice, 2 T garlic - finely minced, 1 t ea dried basil and oregano, grated Parmesan for topping

Method: combine all while warm and serve in bowls topped by cheese to taste.  This is a nonsoup variant of Pasta e fagiola

Pasta e Broccoli

Foodstuffs: 1# medium pasta shells - cook al dente per package, 1# broccoli - coarsely chopped and lightly steamed until slightly wilted, 1 c sweet butter - melted, 4 T garlic - finely minced, 1 c red onion - finely diced - for topping

Method: combine all while the pasta and broccoli are warm and serve in bowls; top with onion to taste.  A quick twist or two on the pepper grinder is a nice touch.

Spaghetti aglia olio - pasta with oil and garlic

Foodstuffs: 1# capellini - cook al dente per package, drain well, reserve 3 c of the starchy boil water, 1/2 c plus 3 T olive oil, 6 T garlic - finely diced, 1 T anchovy paste (optional ,-)

Method: In a small saucepan heat 3 T olive oil and sweat the garlic until lightly golden, mash in the anchovy paste and then stir in the pasta water, simmering on low to reduce by 1/3.  Coat the pasta with the remaining oil and use the sauce to taste.   A dash or two of red pepper flakes perks this up.

Hail all;

As I mentioned in an earlier journal entry, I find poetic inspiration from many things in life: nature, family, friends, random observations,  stray thoughts...

A concept I have developed over the years goes something like this; those who don the Uniform of their country have taken up the Burden.

A friend once wrote of the Burden, which the warriors of any people.  The phrase he used, which he heard from a Lakota Sioux comrade who served together with him in the Special Forces, went thus: "A warrior is one who willingly bears the burden of his tribe's bones."

I have come to think of this as one who accepts the duty and obligation to safeguard that which his people (tribe, clan, family, country, and so forth) has made for the good...

I am grateful to all those who have borne that burden, especially those who given the full measure of devotion in the task.

I wrote this in 2001 for Memorial Day.

Thoughts on the Burden.

Row upon row, the silent stones
Mark where they lie, who burden bore
Tested under, battle's harsh flames
Resting in peace, freedom they gave

Gift they gave us, those who lie still
Freedom to speak, freedom to grow
Building our lives, without concern
Knowing not when, burden is ours

Taking burden, handed to us
By those who sleep, under the sod
Uneasy thing, duty can be
Doing the Right, sometimes is hard

Hard we must be, sometimes in life
To win over, strife and ordeal
Carry the hopes, dreams and good will
Of kinfolk's lives, forward we must

We must be strong, when courage fails
Doing duty, in face of odds
Win through the flames, or maybe fall
Our marker too, added to rows