Bile. It began to feel like bile if my imagination of what bile might really feel like when it was sloshing in my stomach. Within 12 hours, I had ingested four cups of berry-flavored contrast or iodine dye and one more generous cup of citrus-flavored contrast at the hospital this morning. It had the faintest lingering taste at the end that was not too pleasant. My stomach was protesting at the contents and at missing breakfast in order to complete my scheduled CT scan this morning.
What CT scan, AGOL?
While seeing a specialist for something else on Tuesday, he became alarmed at symptoms I was describing and began to examine my person with the requisite female nurse present. Several minutes later, he ordered a CT scan for my abdomen and pelvis at the hospital next door to his facility for today. The CT scan will allow him a "slice by slice" inside look of my organs to see if there is any obstruction or growth not belonging in a healthy human.
I recently found myself mysteriously able to eat half or a third less of what I normally consumed but my stomach had gained inches and parts were firmer than normal. The latter part had been happening gradually over the last couple of years. No, I was not in any danger of being pregnant -- my body was just starting to look like it. It was distorted to me. It had finally become embarrassing and uncomfortable enough to seek medical help. I am rarely ever sick, never had a broken bone or any kind of surgery in my life. For me to finally break down was difficult personally and emotionally.
During this morning's special x-ray, I was asked to lay down on top of a sheet covered slim platform. My feet were fed first inside a circular metal mouth housing the special instrument. The radiologist finished right below my breasts. Sometimes I had to hold my breath for 6 or 13 seconds during several passes back and forth. The strangest burning sensation of wanting urinate immediately also followed the additional IV of dye being forced through my body via the needle sticking out of my right arm.
The two good things of this experience were that I didn't have to take jewelry or clothing off and the whole thing lasted less than 30 minutes. Next to the imaginary bile was the surreal aloneness (if that makes sense) I felt while being in the room with the CT scan and the radiologist stationed in a different room to administer and adjust the machine. It was eerily quiet except for the hum of the giant x-ray and instructions being squawked through the microphone.
When I was finally released, I was able to escape the catacomb-like halls of the hospital with a patient wristband and a small bandage where my IV needle had been. I had valet parked my car so retrieving it in the rain was easy. The rainy weather was soothing...
I debated whether to write about this experience because for the many things I do share there are another set of events I do not. Tuesday seems like forever to discuss my results, but that is when my follow-up with my specialist is set. He is a surgeon specializing in laparoscopic surgery; his expertise gives me comfort and trust. In fact, he was the one who recently removed Tawny's husband's gallbladder.
Am I prepared for a diagnosis? Yes. I have already started to plan for different scenarios that included e-mails with HR on handling time-off for surgery should it come to that. I have also extrapolated for a more serious scenario. It is not that I am trying to "borrow trouble" or "write stories that aren't there", but I firmly believe you cannot have a Pollyanna mentality that everything is roses. How naive and stupid. One should always run different ideas in his/her head to not feel shock or hopelessness. I firmly believe in pre-planning which helps dispel the fear of what happens next.
My practicality shifts into overdrive in situations like this while my emotional considerations get pushed back until I allow it a voice or acknowledge its presence. It would be an unwanted nuisance until I find out more. Believe me it is fighting for a voice right now. I can feel pinpricks of tears at the oddest moments until I steel myself against them. There is no room right now. This new goddamn birth control I switched to makes it more difficult to squelch such a feminine response. Ugh.
There are events this weekend that will take my mind off things. Angie is flying in from Los Angeles for Christmas around 5am tomorrow. My aunt and uncle will retrieve her from the airport while I sleep under my new warm IKEA comforter. I will see her later when I meet up with Mi Familia for Kristen's dance recital -- I can't wait! .
This week was my vacation week. It started off with a weekend trip to Jacksonville to visit Kathy with Tawny. Kathy surprised us with movie tickets to see New Moon which we all enjoyed immensely. Tawny and I have read all four books of the Twilight series while Kathy seems to have been motivated to read two more.
I was pretty much a slug on Monday while Tuesday was spent at a recommended follow-up check-up with my physician. The bloodwork taken at my cookie doctor last month revealed that I was anemic and unusually low on Vitamin D. It is official -- I am a vampire! My physician surprisingly wrote me a script for the vitamin deficiency.
The doctor also prescribed a mammogram since it has been years since I've had one. At (almost) 39 and with history of cancer in my family, I've had to endure the breast pancake machine earlier than normal. Coincidentally Tawny had to get one, too, with the same radiology company. A couple of phone calls secured us back-to-back appointments yesterday. We took the term Bosom Buddies to a whole new level!
Today is Thanksgiving Day...Turkey, gravy and rice -- could anything be more divine? My aunt made a legendary feast as she always does. This time I took home some leftovers to enjoy later.
I brought my aunt a big jar sampling of my Atchara (Filipino pickled papaya). Pic #1 is of the raw ingredients. The only things missing are the garlic and the sugar. Pic #2 is the finished product.
Yes, the decorative carrots are a rule. I didn't make the rule; I just followed it for fear of bringing a strange yet believable Filipino curse on me.
For part of dessert I made Cake Ball Truffles. It is made by blending spice cake (usually red velvet cake) and cream cheese frosting before rolling into balls. [Clearly not my original idea!] They were chilled and then dipped in chocolate coating. These crazy treats were a hit at my aunt's feast as well as Tawny's home. I stopped on the way to my aunt's to drop off a couple of containers.
Tomorrow is Black Friday. I have no desire to be in any retail store at any hour just to avoid the greedy crowds altogether. Some stores are opening at midnight tonight and others around 3am, 4am, etc. just to capture more sales with lures of unheard of deals. Big deal. Well then...Off to get some green tea.
PS I am thankful for my family and friends who continually support, encourage and love me. I am also very thankful that I don't have to go in the sun to increase my levels of Vitamin D. Taking a pill is worth every wrinkle not earned. Hee. .
Give me an occasion. Any occasion. My creative compulsion will answer the faintest siren's call. It has lain dormant for almost three years. Now it has been unleashed to frighten me with its power and (grudgingly) its magic. My recent posts have reflected my giving into the sweetest temptations. Today fared no better.
Kristey had invited Myrna and me for dinner so we could enjoy the outdoor tiki bar she and husband had built in their large backyard. The last time we visited, the rain had discouraged any stay outdoors. Like last time with the Brownie Beach Cake, I volunteered to bring dessert.
Years of knowing Kristey has allowed me the intimate knowledge of her favorite color - purple and her favorite flowers - tulips. When we worked together, I had the pleasure of seeing her enjoy the bouquets of tulips her husband would send her on several occasions. I thought I'd try my hand at it from a different angle, an edible one.
The following is from my youtube page. It was not my intention to create a video with the pictures, but the amount of photos left me no choice. The quality isn't what I would like as the videos you can upload are 2MB max unless you want to break it down which I did not. Enjoy!
Kristey was very pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the filled tulip cups. The doily tray and plated photos were taken at her home.
My oven received a workout yesterday. First the scones, second the lasagne and third the birthday cake for one of my buddies at work, Michelle. I don't know what possessed me -- everything was made from scratch! The weekend started productive and continued until midnight last night when I put the finishing touches on the cake.
Creativity allows you flexibility to adapt quickly which makes me very thankful for mine. The cake was supposed to have zebra-like stripes on the edges, but I couldn't get the proper shade of black with the kind of icing I made. It required a special candy colorant to achieve the desired color. Out came the plain piping tip to drop white dots along the perimeter of the bottom and top of the cake. The top part was mainly to hide where the hot pink icing met the white color.
Without the zebra stripes, I couldn't do my original design on top. Armed with a piping bag filled with dark chocolate, I dropped a monogram design, frame and swirls onto acetate (clear plastic). A few drops of coloring in bowls of melted white candy coating produced the colors I filled the negative space created. Once all the chocolate hardened, I peeled the plaque off the acetate and flipped the whole thing flat side up on the cake.
A little vodka and gold petal dust allowed me to use a brush to paint golden accents on the plaque.
Here is the birthday girl indulging me in a pose with her cake!
The cake was enjoyed by many. Chocolate butter cake was filled with whipped heavy cream and crushed Oreo cookies. The whole thing was covered in a special buttercream frosting that was light and not too sweet. The cake, filling and frosting recipes came from The Whimsical Bakehouse.
A proper scone is a dear friend of the Sprinkles' taste buds. The last time I was tantalized by a good scone was during my trip to England two and a half years ago. I fell in love with it again this morning after making my own.
Feast your eyes, my lovelies:
Fresh from the oven
Abundant scones in ceramic dish
Light and tiny pockets of air all over
No English cream or strawberry jam this morning. I think butter and my aunt's homemade mango jam are officially the Sprinkles Way. Damn, they were heavenly!
Richard Bertinet's Scone Recipe is from Gourmet magazine editor Ruth Reichl's PBS television series Adventures with Ruth. The episode was filmed in The Bertinet Kitchen in Bath, England... Scone food porn pictures were shamelessly and deliciously brought to you by Sarah Sprinkles.
Just got home an hour ago from the other side of the apartment complex. I should be in bed now, but we have ended Daylight Savings Time and I had an extra hour. Might was well post while it is still fresh in my mind...
Tawny had an intimate evening of old horror flicks planned for her guests. Her apartment was dark, many candles were lit, had a bubbling cauldron by the dining area, snacks and sweets all over the table for us to nibble and plenty of good cheer.
I brought two dishes. Once was a plate of refrigerated croissant dough torn at random pieces to wrap around sliced smoked kielbasa sausage that were no bigger than two inches long. The nibbles were baked, speared with toothpicks before I arranged them around a ramekin of spicy mustard.
The other dish was a more spooky fare that tantalized my creativity...
BEFORE PICTURE
AFTER PICTURE
How? First I sliced the package of cream cheese into two equal parts and rolled them into a ball. They were placed together and mushed down a bit into the serving dish. I wasn't sure how it would work but I drew capillary-like furrows into the cream cheese before drizzling some barely warmed homemade red pepper jelly from my aunt over the mounds. I topped them with two small rounds of red pepper I cut to fit underneath the gummy eyeball candy. This was served with buttery crackers.
The craziest part of the evening was when I found myself unable to get out of Tawny's bathroom. I somehow managed to lock myself inside. Her husband and relatives were just in the bedroom next door looking at something on the Internet so I knocked, but no one answered. I didn't know they had left to go back into the living room where the TV was a bit loud. By this time I was giggling so hard I barely could talk on my cell phone. Tawny knew where I was and couldn't fathom why I was calling her from the bathroom. She was cracking up on the other line as she made her way to rescue me. It was several minutes before we could speak from laughing painfully. There is never a dull moment in Sprinklesville! .
I cannot recall the last time I decorated cookies. My rusty skills revealed themselves today during Bridget and her son Logan's visit to my place for Halloween-themed cupcakes and cookie decorating.
My visitors were so sweet! They brought me flowers. Bridget handed me a vibrant summer-like mix while Logan had to bring me his own separate single pink rose. I immediately prepared them in a large vase before we headed out for a quick Greek lunch down the road...
Disney's "Lilo and Stitch" played on the DVD while we decorated the cupcakes Bridget baked and the cookies I made. Logan did participate; however, it was Bridget who got more out of it by learning how to color buttercream and royal icing with the new electric gel colors I received in the mail earlier in the week. My memory was short on how involved the whole activity could become, but it was worth a creative afternoon.
In between decorating, Logan would show me his mini Legos shaped like helicopters and trucks. It was all very complicated and told him so. Bolstered with the fearless spirit of an eight-year old, he commanded his knowledge of building each bit. He proceeded to hand me five pieces to put together a miniature helicopter pilot: three black pieces for the body, one for the white helmet and a yellow tinted clear acrylic mask for the helmet. After I struggled a little with my long nails to put them all together, he rewarded me with a smile. What a ladykiller!
Here are some pics of their decorating. Luckily for me they took most everything home. My kitchen and dining room were decorating disaster areas. Ha! All cleaned up in over an hour thank goodness.
As a result of today, I am definitely going to bake again for Christmas with the 15-year old butter cookie recipe I've kept and never used until this afternoon. It was a recipe from a lady named Nancy I worked part-time at Williams-Sonoma back in Chicago. For years I saw it hidden in between other pages of my personal recipe treasure book, but never had the heart to throw it away. Delayed surprises can be best and sweet, too! .
I know I am treading on dangerous ground as I discuss a visit to my new "cookie doctor" yesterday. As millions of women around the world know, it is not the most dignified exam whether is it given by a male or female doctor.
After years of dealing with a male, I decided to switch to a women's group five minutes from my apartment. From the first call to make the appointment to the end of the visit, it was the best experience. They managed your expectations and made you proud to have chosen them.
Hello Hollywood...The lobby reminded you of an upscale hotel with wood and cushioned furniture set in conversation groups surrounded by deep sand colored walls. This facility was packed with women waiting to be seen, mostly by pregnant women. Navy blue jackets adorned the ladies sitting behind the reception windows like tetras in a fishbowl and friendly nurses milled about in cheerful rose pink scrubs. Everyone welcomed you with a smile and addressed you formally by "Mrs --" or "Ms --". Later I found my exam room already prepared for my visit with vials marked with my name in bold letters.
My new doctor has a cozy office decorated with formal heavy furniture and one wall hung a big photo cloud sculpture of babies she had delivered. In front of her was a mini laptop where she made notes of some symptoms I had been experiencing. We talked in general, agreed to a battery of blood work to get a baseline and she hinted that part of my issue could be age (horror!) related. "Women in their late 30s...blah blah blah". Nice. Yes, even your AGOL suffers from human maladies.
I normally get anxious in any doctor's offices and was dumbstruck when the nurse told me my blood pressure reading was normal. The exam itself was uneventful thanks to smaller instruments and the butterfly gentle care of my doctor. My experience with male doctors for some reason tend to use bigger instruments in this case -- the speculum. It's not like they need to be spelunking in there. Contrary to scorned ex-husbands, no stalactites have ever been found in any woman's vagina, I'm sure.
Why post about such a routine event? Well, sometimes it is enriching to share what is right with the medical world when women run it. They run it with themselves in mind and the sensitivity with dignity women are entitled to have each and every day. Hell, I told my girlies that the experience was so freeing that I would go daily for fun and take it up as a hobby. Uhm...That is a joke my lovelies. .
Jonesing for dumplings. Yeah, I know. "What happened to rice?" Ever since I've been exclusively eating brown rice (short grain and Jasmine long grain), I haven't been craving it as much. So now enter the dumplings or maybe is it the endless possibilities of the fillings?
Last weekend I made a seasoned pork and shrimp filling that I stuffed into square wonton skins. Several have been cooked in a chicken broth, ladled in a bowl and sprinkled with fresh chopped baby bok choy and several more steam-fried and finished with Indonesian soy sauce (thick and sweet).
Below are frozen rows still waiting to be cooked.
This evening had me making pumpkin dumpling raviolis. If I have to do this next time, I would just stuff one round skin and fold in half like the wontons. This was either too much dough or not enough filling in the dough for me.
Oooh. Pumpkin Ravioli Patch. Pillows and pillows.
I didn't feel like defrosting the red sauce from a previous batch in the freezer so I melted some butter with olive oil and added chopped spinach in a pan. When the pumpkin raviolis were done boiling, I quickly tossed them in the pan with spinach before plating them and sprinkled some Parmesan cheese on top. This would have been tastier with toasted pine nuts. Instead of a butter/olive oil mix, you could brown the butter and some sage together before incorporating the the dumplings with it.
Now to clean-up the dishes...
FYI & Warning - You will have loads to freeze of both these dumplings for future use:
This long week deserved a nice feel-good ending. I was supposed to be hanging out with my old friend Jill, but I was afraid to drive home late from her home as tired as I have been. The evening may have involved some libations. You remember me and my night blindness? Anyhoo, Tawny asked me to see a later showing of "Where the Wild Things Are", an adaptation of the children's book by Maurice Sendak.
During Comic-Con* in July, I had the pleasure of seeing a preview of the movie. Clips shown to us included behind the scenes and some of Sendak. All of this will probably appear on the DVD later.
Representing his movie at Comic-Con was the child actor, Max Records, who portrays a child who basically has a tantrum. He leaves his home wearing a wolf costume and ends up sailing to, you guess it, where the wild things are.
Max Records below on two jumbo screens.
I felt the same sense of wonder tonight as I did in July. The cinematography was breathtaking with the tight shots -- Spike Jonze (director) did an amazing job. You can really get the sense from a child's point of view. The special effects didn't smack you over the head either; the story stayed center stage.
Your AGOL highly recommends seeing this movie. Its simplicity is beautiful and heart-warming. When was the last time a movie told you a story without engaging you in too many complicated subplots and distracting special effects? Exactly.
*Yes, I know I owe you pics of celebrities and events of this portion of my vacation. Still thinking about it. .
Very beary delicious brownie! You can create this beach scene, too, if you're pressed for an idea to bring for dessert and if you have a dose of baking insanity (aka Sprinkles Magic).
I brought this to Kristey's house last Saturday for an evening with her and Myrna. We also got to see her backyard beach and the tiki bar upgrade her husband made. They are officially ready for serious entertaining in their big yard.
Wouldn't you know it? Rain. We had to enjoy everything from the confines of her living room instead as the dark sky and continued precipitation discouraged any outdoor appreciation.
Luckily, these bears were there to remind us that is was sunny somewhere:
The beach sand was made with processed mini graham bear cookies (eek!) and those that survived the food processor were allowed to bask the indoor sun and enjoy the water made of blue tinted sugar gel. (Hint: Spread gel first before the sand - you'll thank me for it!) Their towels were cut from the bottoms of cupcake liners. You know my drink parasols had to be included as their umbrellas! The sand barriers in the back were mini stick pretzels lined against the cake. Underneath is a vanilla frosted fudgey (dense not cakey!) brownie cake.
More details...Notice the green decorating sugar near the pretzel sticks -- I needed "grass". Basking bears were stuck to the paper with a dot of white vanilla frosting. The floating rings in the blue gel were made of oval dollops of shimmering pink gel with the bears plunged in.
The girls laughed, took pictures and later we all had a sampling. I made them transfer parts of it in separate containers for themselves so I wasn't tempted at home.
Bringing you a smile and scenes of the sun, Sprinkles .
Maybe it is good that I am not much of a drinker. With my brain cells taxed at work, I need to remember as much as I can. Ha! This weekend was the long-awaited "Soak Your Fallopian Tubes" weekend with Tawny and Kathy. Tawny was deserving of time away from everyone and Kathy needed some company while her man was in DC.
Friday...Got kicked out of work at 3pm so the movers could move our office with the rest of the clan in Tower Four. Drove home and did a few quick errands before picking up Tawny to make our way to Jacksonville while singing in the car. (Talk about dorks!) We arrived to wine and snackies before 9pm. The three of us polished off two bottles of wine before bedtime.
Saturday...Awoke early enough to enjoy delicious French Toast made by Kathy and jugs of coffee. Drove all over the city and ended up at Whole Foods where we had an incredible lunch. Shopping..More shopping which included a stop at an adult superstore for fun. We were home for a spell before heading back out to see "The Time Traveler's Wife". Tawny and I cried during the movie while Kathy endured. It was fun to watch a complete chick flick with my girlies. Eric Bana was hhhhhhhhhoooootttt !! Yowza. Stopped for veggie pizza and back for more wine and vodka.
This is what happened to the bottle of Riesling we were chilling on Friday night. We forgot about it and discovered a science experiment on Saturday. Pop! goes the freezer..
Yes, it was still drinkable. Hee.
Sunday...Late start. Kathy drove us to Cracker Barrel for a fortifying brunch. Around 3pm Tawny and I made our way back to Tampa. Getting back to a clean apartment and all the laundry done was great. It pays to scramble before a trip to get that all complete.
This is Kathy's dog Belka. She is attention seeking, loving and just adorable. I love her coloring. Her body is sleek. This is what she thought of us during the whole weekend when she'd tire of us. It is also what your AGOL did when she got home, only on the sofa.
Lessons Learned:
Don't underestimate the power of being with your girlfriends and keeping in touch no matter what else is going on in your lives.
Adult superstores have kinda lost their allure -- read as "Sprinkles is jaded".
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
About Me
Name: Sarah Sprinkles
Location: Tampa, Florida, United States
Born in the Philippines to a Filipina mother and a US Military Father. Emigrated to the US in Jan '82 at age 11. This is my third time living in Florida. I've also lived in Wyoming and Chicago. My early ambition was to be a 'Solid Gold' dancer married to Deney Terrio of 'Dance Fever'...never did happen - HA! I've been told that I am too creative for my own good. Why be boring? Other people have that covered. My wit feeds on serious crack. Laughing ranks in my Top 7 Activities. Of course, Loving and all things of Love is Number One...We need to cherish the people in our lives for our earthly time is short-lived. Worrying about stupid stuff that do not matter just gives you wrinkles. Try something new - go on that adventure afterall. You never know where it may lead you.
