Category: Daily

Adventures in Digestive Debauchery

Everyone that knows me in real life knows I don’t have your typical office job. There’s always something different going on, whether a meeting, event, seminar, visit from a group, expo, etc.

The days leading up to a visit from a group at work are usually hectic, and usually, these types of visits require a lot of walking, a lot of meetings, a lot of places to see. My favorite part: all the places we get to eat 😆 .

We started our first visit at Cracker Barrel, where I usually have the “healthier” version of the Good Morning Breakfast.
image
It was so good. Of course I’d have to have a biscuit, though 😳 !

We went to look at vacant properties, which was followed by a meeting at the Country Club. I’d taken an allergy medication (my allergies have been HELL lately!) so I was a bit drowsy, but I perked up once they brought this to the table!

image
Spinach Chicken Stack

It was heavenly! Seriously, one of the best things I ate during this excursion! I was sad I wasn’t able to devour the entire thing 🙁 .

We had several more meetings throughout the day and it was so humid and hot and just unbearable outside. We took a break around 4pm, so I freshened up at home and tried sleeping my sinus headache away but it was a no-go 😕 .

Dinner was at House.Wine & Bistro, one of my all-time faves. We decided to go for small plates and appetizers and share, which was totally fine with me since I was still somewhat digesting lunch!

These are probably my absolute FAVORITE!

image
Pommes Frittes, Garlic Lime Shrimp & Strawberry Bellini

image
Caprese & Chicken & Spinach Flatbread

image
Seared Ahi Tuna, Duck Flatbread

And then it was time for dessert! I’m still not over the fact that they discontinued the Banoffee 🙁 , but the S’mores Mousse and Apple Pie with Cheddar Ice Cream was pretty darn satisfying!

image

image

(OMG. Take me back!!)

We had early meetings the next morning, so I had a quick breakfast at home (half a PB sandwich on wheat), very early in the morning. By the time we stopped for lunch, I was starving! We went to the newest Palenque Grill location on Nolana, which I hadn’t been to yet. I ordered the same thing I’ve ordered at the first location: the Shrimp-Stuffed Tilapia. The cream in this dish is so delicious!

image

image
Lemonade

The plates are certainly enough for two people; I shared over half of my tilapia, which was good considering we headed straight to another meeting right after lunch, and I was having trouble staying awake 😆 . I would have straight-up passed out if I’d eaten the entire thing!

We took another break so I went home and freshened up (it was another scorcher!) and I tidied up my bedroom till it was time to go.

Dinner was at Bodega Tavern & Kitchen and the whole experience was just amazing!

image
Chicken Roulade

My dish was the Chicken Roulade, which included a quail egg and ravioli. Some of my favorite foods all in one dish! I got to sample the brussels sprouts as well, which were SO GOOD! It kind of reminded me of the ready-salad I buy at HEB with the brussels sprouts, kale and cranberries that I toss cayenne shrimp into!

image
Prickly Daquiri

Isn’t that the prettiest cocktail??

Then it was time for dessert! I didn’t catch a photo of the mousse, but I did capture one of the strawberry shortcake 3-leches!

image
Strawberry Shortcake 3 Leches, A La Mode!

Again, it was a good thing we shared dessert because I COULD HAVE eaten that entire thing.

My babies all got back from their other parents’ houses that evening. I got home and the little ones wanted to play, so of course I obliged!

image
Blockus

We had a *super* early meeting on Friday morning, so I woke up and ate a quick breakfast. Eenan was already awake and wanted to learn to make scrambled eggs. I looked at the clock–I had time, so Emily joined us and we have him a quick lesson. I rushed my directions at the end, and Emily noticed, because she said, “It’s ok Mom. I’ll stay with this kid” 😆 . She’s such a little mom!

image

We were on the road by 7:45am, arrived at the meeting at 8:30am as scheduled…and they told us we were at the wrong place. So much for my completed notes; now we had to start from scratch again. There were about 4 hours till the next meeting, and our guests had new forms to fill out and wanted to check something out on the island, so after getting the OK, we headed there!

image

image

They filled out what needed filling out and after Googling a few things and making a few calls, I got to sit back and relax. They finished up their paperwork and we headed back to town for lunch.

image

You can’t go wrong with Luby’s! I am not ashamed to say I polished off that entire bowl of mac-n-cheese!

We headed to the next meeting, which was another head-nodder to be honest. But I paid attention and listened like a good grasshopper.

I broke away from the group at 4pm when we got back to the office. I said my good-byes, since they’d be having dinner with another group and I had to be at the Food Park to help set-up for the vendors and our Unplugged event. But first, I checked up on the kids. Since Jorge was also tied up at work, he ordered pizzas for them so Mom wouldn’t have to worry. I would have taken them kids with me, but the heat was unbearable. The girls would have been miserable (and would have made me spend about $30 at the market once the vendors showed up like last time!).

Since it was boiling and I had 30 minutes to spare(seriously, heat index was 114!), I joined EZ and Michelle at SALT. I had enough time for one cocktail before I had to rush off. So I had a Paloma.

image
Michelle's and my cocktails

And EZ ordered the Baked Alaska.
image

image
Strawberry & cookies-n-cream!

Holy, moly. It was to die for!!

Once 6pm came around I went back to the Food Park 2 blocks away and started set-up. I was lonely for a while, but then EZ, Michelle, Rosie, Val, Ryan and Rick showed up. Our performers for the night, Just the Two of Us, were fantastic!!

Of course I had to eat dinner, so Taqueria Los Brothers brought me their awesome lemonade and shrimp tacos. Oh geez. So good!!

image

I regret nothing! Ok, maybe just a little… 😀

4-Months Post-Op

It was my follow-up appointment today, 1 month after my first steroid injection, 4 months after my surgery.

I was nervous about what the doctor would say. Of course, the most dramatic thoughts: permanent nerve damage, we’ll have to have a follow-up surgery. Or the more logical one: I may need another steroid shot 😳 .

I told Michelle that I was going to pretend it didn’t hurt when assessed me and pressed on the nerves, but as soon as he did…I screamed and flinched. There was no way to hide it 🙁 .

So he walked out to get a syringe, then came back and prepped me. Since I knew what to expect I was even more nervous than the first time. He pressed into my skin near my under arm with his fingertips to find the “most painful” spot, but I was so jumpy and nervous that every spot seemed to hurt. I frantically grabbed around me until I reached the pillow to clutch. He pressed the needle in and I instantly wanted to scream. I was clutching onto the pillow so hard my hand was hurting when it was over. He massaged the area after 3 pricks (straight into the nerve, then the rib, then above the nerve). I still felt pain when he was assessing the area. So…he said I would need another shot, and I swear it took my breath away when the needle reached my rib. I almost thought he pierced my lung!

I’m shaking like a leaf due to the anesthesia and everything hurts. I feel terrible pain in my rib and just driving or turning when I’m driving gives me a shock of pain. He said this would hopefully be the last time it hurts this way. But we’ll see. It still feels numb on the right side of my right boob. Yet, I still feel the same pain in my nipple although when I was at the office it didn’t feel that way. I’m waiting to see if the pain subsides within 3 days, as he said it would the first time I ever got the shot.

[Edit June 12, 2016] – Well, I developed a large lump at the injection site on Friday. It’s painful to the touch and of course I bruised up. The seam of my very thin sports bras I’m still wearing were irritating the bruise and I felt soreness on my rib and my back! But, my nipple isn’t sore anymore and the pain on the right side of my boob has diminished a LOT, thank God! Now I just have to wait for the lump to flatten out. I hope it does 🙁 . I had *just* started running again, but decided to just go on a walk the evening of the steroid shot. Haven’t run or walked since, meh!

[edit Monday, June 20th @ 11:41pm]
Got home after work and picking up Jaylen and changed clothes. I took my sports bra off (still wearing them, the light ones with spaghetti straps) and realized I had lots of bites/red bumps right along my scar, closer to the cleavage. I figured it was a mosquito that got stuck in my shirt. Fast forward to 11pm, when I was getting ready for bed, and found that the original bites flattened and weren’t itchy and red, but now the other side of the vertical scar was! It itches like hell. Had to bust out the good old hydrocortisone and allergy pills!

John’s Graduation

So my little brother graduated from UTRGV yesterday with his Bachelor’s in Health Science. To say I’m proud is an understatement. I wish I could have made a bigger deal about it, but he didn’t even want Jorge and I to take him to dinner, much less have a small party or BBQ. Plus, it freakin’ rained, so that put a damper on the whole deal (pun intended).

Mom and I went to visit Gramma as John got ready. She sent him a congratulatory video with me :’).

But yes, he was nervous–you could tell. But he got up there and received his diploma and even though he made a crazy face at the camera as he passed, you could see the relief in his face. The 7 years it took him to work and put himself through college. Moving out if his beloved apartment–the apartment he took me into when I had nowhere else to go after my divorce in 2010–and moving in with Jorge and me in 2013 to finish his last 2 years of school. His stress, his emotions–it’s alm over and it was worth it for him. I was glad to see the day come!!

image

Didn’t like either photo we took together–my face looks weird–but I had to post one!

image

I won’t mention the sh*tstorm it was trying to find him afterwards, the annoying rain, or the rude campus cop that ruined the end of the event for mom and I (okay, so I did mention it–whatever 😡 ), but it was great.

We got home, dried off, Jorge ordered us pizza and then I made this “Dump-Cake” for John.

image

It was the best, but I’m pretty sure we’ve developed diabetes and high cholesterol 😳 !