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Keepin The Faith
Many of you liked the Olympic Post. Thank you for the kind comments. It has been hectic here upon our return to home.
Monday we had our annual appointment in Los Angeles for Jack's metabolic disorder. His doctor is one of the leading specialist on the disorder known as MADD. Not to be confused with DAM, Mother's Against Dyslexia. The facility we go to is CHOC LA.
The place is a zoo and you do feel a little like Holstein Frisian Cattle being herded from floor to floor only to arrive in an exam room with a World War II examining table and a painting missing from the wall. (I especially found that intriguing as we saw thousands of beautiful displays of art all along the 5 Freeway leading to the hospital. Why do graffiti artists hang from Freeway Over Heads and rapidly paint these amazing tags when they could book an appointment and spend a casual hour waiting for the doctor to show up and paint a beautiful mural in an exam room?) But I Digress.
The Dr. arrived and pretended to remember who we are, and did his exam. The good news is, thanks to Jack being aware of some of his issues, his commitment to staying active over the last year, mom's intuition, and I am sure some help from the good Lord, he is doing well and his version of MADD is not severe.
If I sound cynical about CHOC LA it may only because when we first discovered Jack had this disorder, the top specialist in the country (Actually the world at that time.) practiced at the amazing Mayo Clinic. Our three day stay there was like Disneyland for Healthcare.
The way we were treated before during and after our visit was amazing. You went from lab to lab either escorted or if comfortable on your own with people every few hundred feet ready and willing to help you find what ever you need. When you arrive at the next lab, they bring up your data ion the computer and they know the patient including comments the doctor you just saw several a minutes ago comments.
By comparison, CHOC LA has a long way to go, but so do many hospitals.
We were pleasantly surprised as we made it back to Orange County in record time. That allowed me to attend an event I was supposed to host at a beautiful home in Coto De Caza.
The event was a fund raiser for Santa Margarita High School Football. It was the last of four Guest Speaker events before season started. Dougal and Ann who offered their home for the event and David Hanna of Hanna's fame were to cater.
Upon arrival, just in the nick of time, I found a friendly face at the bar. Kristin, on of our favs from Hanna's was there and suggested Dave had picked up the tab for the evening. Thank you Dave. He gives back so much to the community, it is one of the best illustrations of "How to achieve good karma."
Anyway the event which I was getting credit for co-hosting was to have Archie Griffin, former Cincinnati Bengal, the only two time Theisman Trophy Winner, and the only player to ever start four Rose Bowl Games, be our guest speaker. I must admit I did not know who Mr. Griffin was. I apologize to those of you who I told it was Archie Griffith.
I was honored to have my picture taken with a great player and a great coach before the evening was over. Coach Welch made it to the event, though he had been up since the early morning hours of the day dreaming up imaginative news way of tormenting his team during the agonizing ritual know as Double Days. (People my age will remember them as being called Hell Week.) Coach made an appearance and was genuinely humbled to meet Mr. Griffin. Here was our picture. It turned out a bit dark and I have corrected in Photo Shop yet.
Tuesday, (after a 27 minute brisk swim in front of the jets in our pool) was spent getting some financial issues in order and actually looking at all of the portfolios I ignored whilst away. More about that later.
Devin had the unenviable chore to take Jack to the Department of Motor Vehicles to take his driver permit test. She called me a couple of times to describe the amazing efficiency at which this government agency operates. NOT! After two and half painful hours, she texted "He Passed". Now in our home that could have had something to do with a bowel obstruction, but I intuitively knew she was talking about his exam. He can now drive with an adult who has a driver license.
I was thinking about going out and buying a limousine so he could start making an honest living. After all, he can drive as long as there are licensed drivers in the car.
Last evening we made an amazing mandarin orange salad dressing over a baby leaf spinach butter lettuce concoction that was healthy and delicious. I served it with a lime honey marinated chicken breast.
For the salad
Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 bunch butter lettuce, torn
1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach
1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
3 cups (12 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese
1 medium white onion, sliced
1/2 pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 can (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
POPPY SEED DRESSING:
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
Directions
In a small heavy skillet, melt sugar over low heat. Add pine nuts and stir to coat. Spread onto a greased sheet of foil; break apart if necessary.
In a large bowl, combine the butter lettuce, spinach, mushrooms, cheese, red onion, bacon and oranges.
For dressing, in a blender, combine the vinegar, sugar, onion, mustard and salt; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Stir in poppy seeds.
Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with sugared pine nuts. Serve immediately. Yield: 12 servings.
For the Honey Lime Chicken
Ingredients
1 cup white wine
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions
In a large zip lock bag, combine the wine, honey, lime juice and ginger; add chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 2 hours, turning once.
Drain and discard marinade. Combine the garlic powder, salt and pepper; sprinkle over chicken. Using long-handled tongs, moisten a paper towel with cooking oil and lightly coat the grill rack.
Grill, uncovered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 6-7 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 170°. Yield: 4 servings.
Ryan and Kristin joined us for dinner and it was a nice evening.
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Since 7/26/2012
