The last few weeks have been... an odd assortment of emotions.
First: The Hearing Update
I saw my ENT again on the 22nd. After ordering another round of audiology testing and an Ecochg test, it was found that my hearing (with the exception of the ringing in my ear) is completely restored! (HOORAY!) The Ecochg test was to see if I was having an episode of Meneire's Disease. Which, I REALLY didn't want, it's very, very nasty. Anyway, the results for that were also negative, but not difinitive. If my hearing drops again, he will probably diagnose me as having Meneire's Disease. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the loss was just an episode of Sudden Senseroneural Hearing Loss (SSHL) and that I'm now back to normal, which is what the Audiologist suspected. The ringing is still there, fainter, but still there. The audiologist said if it WAS an episode of SSHL, as she suspects, the tinnitus (or ringing) may be permanent. Which, I'd happily live with if it's NOT Meneire's Disease.
Second: Grandma Ruth
My Mom's Mom (my Grandma Ruth) passed away early on the 10th of December. We all knew it was coming, but seeing it coming rarely make a loss of this magnitude easier. She was ready to go, she even said it often in those last few weeks "Please, just let me go, I am ready to go." As ready as she was, I don't think many of us were ready or very willing to relinquish her presence. We miss her dearly. I hope can better live by the example she was: beautiful, calm, constant and in service of others 100% of the time.
The funeral was the next week and was perfect. Everything spoken, sung and played was wonderful (with the exception of the absolute butchering of the name "Chopin"). After the funeral, all of the cousins (except two) got together for a picture. I don't think we've all been together like this in years! It was wonderful to see everyone in spite of the reason for our gathering.
Poor Heidi and Justin! They have now been deemed my guinea pigs. If I haven't mentioned previously, I have discovered a passion for all things culinary. I'm obsessed to the point of it bordering on insanity. I know this because every time I start talking about cooking (which is almost equal to the amount of time Jared spends talking about football), my husband gets this look on his face that's part placating smile and part horrified revulsion. I'm sure inside he's thinking "How far can I let this go before I really need to get her to a shrink?"
Anywho... A few months ago, I bought Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles (Marisa, if you read this, could you please provide me with the proper pronunciation of "Les Halles"?) cookbook and was given (Thanks Andy!) Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc at Home cookbook. I have been voraciously reading, studying and attempting to make recipes from these books. Le sigh, some have turned out... some have not. But, through it all, Heidi and Justin have willingly subjected themselves to my culinary torture chamber. Bless them both for being honest! So, I had been planning a Christmas dinner for them. I had planned an entire meal of items I had never attempted to make before. The dinner consisted of:- Veal Tenderloin with Wild Mushrooms (Sorry to all my PETA friends, it was too good to pass up!)
- Roasted Asparagus with Sherry Vinegar Reduction
- Holiday Orange Rolls (these are Jared's family's tradition)
- Wild Rice
- Chocolate, Almond Raspberry Tort
All of these turned out okay, with the exception of the Roasted Asparagus, which got left in the oven too long, I think. Oh well, better luck next time.
Fourth: Girl's Night In
I was SOOO excited to have a Girls Night In with a group of girlfriends. I was especially excited to see Toni, a friend of mine who moved away about a year ago. It was really great to catch up with all of them and to completely over-share stories! Thanks girls!
Fifth: Christmas
I HATE (as in "with a firey passion") Christmas shopping after the 10th of December. After that, the general population, who are normally quite docile start behaving like rabid hyenas. For example, if you ask "that woman" about "THE toy" she has in her cart, she will happily cannibalize you. You know what I'm talking about too, she's the one with the crazed look in her eye when she spots the "Tickle Me Elmo 2.0" (or whatever the asininely over-priced toy-du-jour is), which she is purchasing for her utter anti-christ of an offspring, the one she calls "Timmy". She's also probably the one who gleefully bludgeoned and mowed down the weaklings in the herd on black friday. But I digress... I had all my shopping done before my Grandma passed away. For this, I am very grateful... I shudder to think how I would have behaved in a store with that emotional baggage and having to deal with the rabid hyenas.
Jared got me a Le Creuset dutch oven. I AM STILL GIDDY OVER IT! Even though I was expecting this on Christmas morning, I was still pretty dang excited. Then, I opened the other gift from Jared. I was totally taken aback... It was a Kindle. I had never expressed even the remotest intrest in this product. Poor Jared... I think he was expecting more of an excited exclamation from me, rather than the confused "Uh... Gee, Thanks..." that I gave him. After playing around with it over the last few days though, I am TOTALLY in love with it! I can carry around the complete works of Shakespeare and Jane Austen in my purse for only 15 oz.!! SWEET!Sixth: New Year
I know it's depressing. I know it's not a goal I can control or even reasonably work towards... It's not even "technically" a goal, but... My one hope for 2011 is (as it was last year) to not have to attend a funeral this year. The running average has been two funerals a year, for the last SIX years. Again, I could really use year without losing a loved one.
Well, that's all I've got for now. Love to all and my wishes for a Happy New Year!
