Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Trial and Error

Bob Update

The cardiologist has stopped his blood pressure medication. I have a neat little app on my phone where I keep a log of his blood pressure readings. I can then generate a report and print it. In two weeks the doctor wants to see a log of his readings. I can provide that.
(The bruise on his left arm is from his blood thinners and playing with the neighbor's Bouvier dog.)
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I have a Safeway grocery delivery coming today. Until some issues are resolved I will be the only one visiting grocery stores and I can assure you it will not be often.

I have another challenge I'm concentrating on now. He's lost 10 pounds in the last two or three months. He eats very little in spite of how often he goes to the grocery store. I guess he just enjoys looking at food.

I recently told daughter I thought we might be approaching the time to add a supplemental high nutrition drink. He loves sweets so he might enjoy that but as yet I haven't bought any.

Earlier this week I was cleaning out the freezer and fridge and set a few items on the cabinet to take a closer look at, things I didn't quite know how I would use. A package of frozen shrimp was one item. I studied it for a while then took down the minute rice from the pantry, a can of diced tomatoes with mild green chili peppers, a can of 'Hoppin John,' and tossed it all in a pot on top the stove. Cooked it a while leaving enough broth for Bob to eat his more like soup. I dipped mine out with a slotted spoon with no broth and melted some cheese on it. He went nuts over that, came back for a second bowl. Loved it. Told me to write down the ingredients and do it again. Who knew?

Yesterday I took a pound of Jimmy Dean Sausage, a can of black eyed peas, a can of okra, tomatoes and corn, browned some onion, and added some rice. Cooked it the same way and he reacted the same way. Hey, maybe I'm on to something.

Now I'm trying to figure out why he would like that so much. I'm about to decide he thinks he's eating  from a pot of soup as opposed to a casserole from the oven. Not sure why that would matter but who knows?
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I've read that political conventions have almost no effect on elections.  True politicians, and political addicts remember them but the vast majority of voters are just glad when they're over and they can go back to regular TV programing. I'm trying to decide if I think that's a good thing or a bad thing. What do you think?

16 comments:

  1. Could it be those two dishes you made that Bob liked are spicier than the usual fare? People's taste and medication interaction can change the foods we like as we age. Supplements are a good idea. Served very cold over ice and some are quite good.

    I'm not sure if I believe that conventions don't have any effect on elections. 1) the speeches are edited into commercials and played over and over, and 2) the delegates do more than what we see on TV; they get their marching orders on how to get the vote out and party tries to whip them up to work hard so indirectly they effect the vote.

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    1. Frankly I don't know what influences voters anymore. I think we've certainly had a good look this week at the part politics plays in promoting anger and hate in this country. I fear we're going to see a lot more between now and November. I'm glad the Democratic convention followed the Republican convention this year.

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  2. You are right on top of things Linda! Bob is lucky to have you. Hard to speculate about the weight loss. Some folks lose some of their sense of taste as they get older; if that is the case, maybe the spicier foods taste better to him.

    Regarding the conventions, I'll be glad when they are over. They create a lot of news coverage, but unless there is something really exciting, who wants to listen to a bunch of boring political rhetoric. I do enjoy political analysis on issues, but not THIS much coverage!

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    1. The Republican Convention has been a lot of things this time but I don't believe boring is one of them. I will be glad when both conventions are over except things are really going to get nasty then and we'll have to put up with it until November. I don't even enjoy the analysis anymore. I'm pretty fed up with cable TV.

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  3. As you know, I m a political junkie, so of course I am watching the RNC. What a mess. I will be glad when this one is iver, So mean spirited. And no, I don't think a lot of people watch them.

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    1. I've watched parts of this one. Saw Melania Trump and Ted Cruz. I think there's something dangerously wrong when a man who is supposed to be picked as an advisor to Trump can stand in front of the nation and say Hillary should be lined up and shot for treason, what is this nation coming to?

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  4. I'm laughing. I just finished supper -- a concoction of green onion sausage, onion, celery, tomato, mild chilis, and lady cream peas. I love it so much that I make a big batch and freeze some for easy suppers. It's perfect with a side of fruit -- as tasty as winter dishes, but no oven time required.

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    1. Cream peas, oh my goodness, I do love cream peas. Haven't had any in many years. My mother used to grow them in the garden. I need to look for some. This is comfort food at its finest.

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  5. I don't watch one minute of TV in a whole year. they can do anything they want.

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    1. You are my kind of person. If nobody's reading newspapers anymore and nobody's watching TV how are we getting news? Twitter and sound bites? I'm convinced we were better off with 30 minutes of news in the evening than we are these days of 24/7 cable news.

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  6. I am watching the election this year like I might watch a train wreck. Don't want to look, get sick when I do look, but then look again. Good point about 24/7 news. I do think the 30 minute versions were much meatier.

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    1. I don't think I've ever watched anything as bad as Trump's speech last night. Shame on Republicans for letting that nasty weed take root in their party. Truly a train wreck.

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  7. Think you might be on to something. Our taste and smell diminish with age so a little shaking up can't hurt.
    I didn't watch Donald and may not watch Hillary even though I am voting for her. This whole process wears on me so I avoid.

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    1. Trump's speech was about the most chilling and troubling thing I've ever watched, 75 minutes of screaming fear mongering.

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  8. I'm with everyone above thinking it might be the spice in the dishes you cooked. After stomach surgery my daughter's taste changed to really strong spices and add-ons and her taste never changed back. She eats all her meals with extra spice. Personally, I like soupy or stewy foods too. Not sure why but always have.

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  9. I'm going to check out that app. I've been having some issues with my blood pressure lately.

    I think it might be the spices, too. What ever it is, it's great that you found something easy, tasty and something you don't have to turn the oven on for during this hot season.

    I don't know what to say about the conventions. They probably don't make much of a difference. I think most people are concerned about the issues that affect them, the economy, jobs, education, etc. What a mess we are in.

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