Fried Cabbage, Tai Chi and Onions!

For some reason I have gotten on a Fried Cabbage kick - two days in a row. Maybe that's enough for now. But, but . . . it's so easy to fix.

Here's a recipe I use from Southern Plate.com. I first encountered Fried Cabbage when I visited the Museum of Appalachia in Norris TN in April of 2008. My brother and I use to spend time with my grandparents, when they lived in the little town of Norris, back in the 40's. It still pretty much looks like I remember.

Oh Tia Chai. . . well, I was just reading not only is it good for balance, stress, help your immune system, improves flexibility, but slows bone loss and can show improvement for those with osteoporosis. I knew the other stuff, and use to participate but got out of it, but was not aware of the helping with bone loss. Since this is a situation with my housemate, I wanted to find something easy he (and I) could do together. I have DEXA scans every two years and for the last 8 years, my bone density has declined very little (which is a "whew" at age 70). Jim (housemate) had hip X-rays recently and they showed he has osteoporosis in both hips, not in the one hip as he had several years ago.

Jim was to have his left hip replaced several years ago, but because of some other medical issues, the surgery was put off. It is time to look at this situation again. He is to have a DEXA scan and then a visit with an orthopedic doctor to see what his options are. Meanwhile, we are starting to do tai chi - mainly for balance, muscle flexibilty and slow the bone loss. Also, he is having physical therapy, along with some specific exercises, to strengthen the ligaments/muscles around the 3 bulging dics in his lower back. I found an ebook on Tai Chai and have looked through the first 5 lessons; and, it has not only the video, but a written explanation of each movement to go along with the video. I'll report on the progress later.

Oh, and the onions. In 2005, researchers in Bern found that onions slow the resorption of bone (that is the breakdown of old bone) and in the same year, researchers in England found that the silicon content in onions might be helping in the building of new bone. Silicon is necessary for turning your calcium into bone. And, since Jim and I loooooove onions, guess we'll increase how much we eat.

Maybe a Little Travel this Year with "Eggie"

Maybe.

I really need to get a few things done around the house this spring and summer. I am hoping to squeeze in attendance at the Kansas Egg-Stravangaza in September and the Flints Hills Discovery in October; but, not making any commitment at this time.

The bathroom needs an exhaust vent, painting, and new tub enclosure; the inside needs wall painting; some carpet areas need re-stretching; the main support beam needs bracing; kitchen needs exhaust vent so that wallpaper near ceiling quits peeling after I replace it; finish painting eaves outside; and, would like to paint the garage to match the house and trim. Sounds like enough to keep me busy. Oh, and to throw in another expense, it's time to change those expensive spark plugs on the truck.

Oh well. May have to go back to work! Guess, should start playing the lottery.

A Family Christmas & A White One Too.

Monday before Christmas, it appeared that we might have a little snow - maybe giving us a white Christmas. It kept snowing and snowing until we ended up with around 14 inches. And ten days later, it's still there - probably get us through New Year's.

Son Jim, lives in New Mexico and has been coming home to Kansas for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. I prefer Christmas.

We had our family time together, we eat, laugh, tell stories, watch TV. I fixed a roast for Christmas dinner with all the trimmings - and lots of wine.

Housemate got a new TV, so a bit of time was spent getting that set up by son (oh, thank heavens for the young ones). I like it better because the sound from his TV stays in the living room and while I am watching mine, the sounds don't co-mingle. My bedroom is adjacent to the living room with door between.

Buster, daughter Juno's dog, got doggie biscuits galore this Christmas and after dinner as we were relaxing, all those doggie biscuits he was given as Christmas treats during the day fart "fragranted" the air in my bedroom where she, I and Buster were relaxing watching TV that evening (well, Buster had konked out and think Juno was there off and on too). Here he is "investigating" my new scarf from friend Sarah.

My son gave me a "tailgate mirror" that I will use when I am hitching up my trailer. I do a pretty good job of aiming the hitch in line with the receiver on the trailer, but it's the last few inches that keeps me jumping in and out of the truck to see how much closer I need to get. I won't be able to "practice" with the trailer hitch for quite awhile due to the snow and the ground being pretty muddy afterwards; so, will practice in the driveway with some object to learn how to use the mirror.

Since the house has only 2 bedrooms, I let son use my bedroom and I stayed in my trailer at night. It's the first time I have stayed in it with nighttime temperatures below 20º. I wanted to try it and see if it was something I could do. I do have the trailer hooked up to shore power, so I could use my electric blanket and run an electric heater. I couldn't do it without my electric blanket I have decided, so would need to be hooked up to some kind of power to last me during the night. The funny thing is that I had to bring the electric heater into the house to warm it up so it would run to warm up the trailer. Just wouldn't start when it was so cold. I have a memory foam mattress, and WOW that mattress was ice cold when I'd first get into bed. Did like how fast it warmed up though.

Jim, Juno and I went to town Monday. Jim wanted to wash all the brine off his car and pick up a few things for his return trip home on Wednesday. We snuck a stop to the Mall Cinema to see War Horse, a Steven Spielberg movie. Oh, it was so good to see a good movie, a tissue movie. I'd go see it again.

We celebrated Juno's 43rd birthday (on Friday really) on Tuesday nite with pizza topped with Hatch Green Chile. Hmmm, she picked out a DQ Oreo ice cream cake and ohhh that was good after eating a "hot" pizza. I gave her a tie-dyed Pink Ribbon Tee shirt I had purchased in Truth or Consequences last October at Dukatt '71.

Wednesday morning we said our goodbys to Jimmy.

No plans for seeing the New Year in - probably about like housemate and I do every year, watch the crystal ball drop on Times Square and then hit the sack. I wish all my readers a good, better or best 2011. I like what Benjamin Franklin once said: "Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."