Back in the Kitchen

originally written June 2010

I finally cooked an entire dinner! We had our friends from across the street over for dinner tonight and I finally got to cook more than just one dish. My mom made the appetizer and the dessert, Beth brought the salad and I did the rest...it was damn good, if I do say so myself. I have really only slowly been making one dish at a time but somehow today it was possible for me to be in charge of more than one thing. It feels so good to get a piece of my life back, being in the kitchen and planning a menu just feels right to me. Yes, I have to think things through alot more now, it used to be second nature to me not I have to take things alot slower, but if I keep at it I will get there. Someday it won't be such a challenge to get a meal on the table, someday I will cook for friends, enjoy the evening and not have to be in bed by 9:00 pm afterwards.
I have been going through all of the crap I have stashed at my parents house over the years and good Lord, I have aot of stuff!  I did find old notebooks from culinary school and it brought back so many memories of being in school and living in Las Vegas...I'm thrilled to have found long lost, well-loved recipes!  I also found old photo albums and it  just makes me laugh, boys I have dated, fashions I felt that I could rock, my how things change....

Bunny Ears

originally written June 2010

So, today I went out to lunch with my Mom. We went out to the car and someone pulled in next to us, I glanced in their backseat and saw a shdow of what I thought was a kid wearing bunny ears, which made sense at sthe time, since tomorrow is Easter. I told my Mom about it and she said "I don't see a kid but I see their big dog. So yeah, really I saw a dog. When will I start using my new eyesight the right way?  This "new vision" has really thrown me for a loop - I never knew how easy I had it before and I miss being able to see things clearly without my glasses. Things have changed (obviously) and I need to remember to double check everything I think I see because more than likely I "saw" it wrong.  The ggod thing is that I had eye alignment surgery a few months ago, supposedly they came close to getting rid of the ever-present double vision.  Luckily I was not seeing with double vision all the time, apparently it was spaced far apart and I was able to block out seeing double most of the time - I don't know how and I don't understand why but that is just the way it was...not fun!  I just went back to the eye surgeon this past Monday and my alignment is at least 50 % better, there is the possibility of more surgery in the future if I want them to improve upon what they have already done...now we just wait and see...

Book Quotes:Friendship

Have you been lucky enough to find a great friend?  I can happily say that I have found many.  I have ladies in my life that make me laugh, these ladies can find the funny in just about anything.  These are the friends I know I can turn to when things get too rough or if I start feeling down about this perilous journey of recovering from a TBI (traumatic brain injury).  I honestly don't know where I would be today without such lovely friends.  I also feel blessed to know that my sister is not just my sister, she is my friend.  She celebrates my successes and mourns my failures.  She came out to Hawaii when I was injured and she has been such a good source of support and strength throughout this messy journey.  Here friends is where I will extend my thanks and my undying gratitude for standing by my side and willing me to get better when I couldn't even open my eyes.  You make a difference in my life and for that I will always hold you dear to my heart.   

"We could finish each other's sentences and use nicknames or code words that meade no sense to outsiders." In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing, written by Lee and Bob Woodruff.

                                              with Lauren on one of her visits to the Big Island

"we treasured our friendship like a rainstorm in a desert." In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing, written by Lee and Bob Woodruff.

My family with Kate at the Muana Surfrider before she had to leave the island to head back to the mainland

                   Randy visited me at the hospital, we called Lauren together...I don't remember this at all
                                       (not bad for a guy that cannot stand to be near a hospital)

                                                  Tera and Sonja, at Queens hospital

                                        Tera helping me try to figure out my email passwords

                                            Misty, Tera, Kate and I, dinner in the backyard

                                              celebrating Tera's birthday...pre-accident

                                                  with Lauren at the beach in Oahu

"someone who looks effortlessly put together. one of those rare gals who women and men gravitated toward; the type of person my mother's generation would call lovely. Try as you might to find some reason to dislike her, you simply couldn't. She was intelligent, articulate, giving, and poised, with a wicked sense of humor." In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing, written by Lee and Bob Woodruff.

Book quotes: going back to work

I never thought I'd truly miss working, but I do.  I miss the social interaction and I miss creating something beautiful for people to enjoy as dessert.  I miss feeling useful and feeling like I have a purpose.  People say "you do have a purpose, your purpose is to get better."  Can I just tell you that things like that kind of make me want to hit you?  I wouldn't hit you hard and I wouldn't hit you in the head but I think that a little bruise might make you think twice about being so condescending and I know it would make it easier for me to withstand whatever "helpful" thing you are about to spout off.  I know people are trying to help and nobody knows what to do for me to help me get through - just be there.  Tell me what is going on in your life and help me to feel like I am still a part of things...

                   Brewfest Cupcakes - yum!                          Mayoral Luncheon

Chef Eric and the kitchen boys came to visit me at the Rehab of the Pacific in Oahu !

                                           Hospital room wall, pictures of friends and food...


"I'd missed all these people and it was clear they'd missed me too. It felt like coming home."  In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing, written by Lee and Bob Woodruff.