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I had my dates wrong yesterday when I told you about my upcoming lab work and next medical appointment. Lab work isn’t until Monday, 3 June, and my next appointment with the nephrologist is that Friday. That makes a lot more sense. And, even better, I have two solid weeks without a medical appointment. The great news is my blood pressure couldn’t be better and I’m getting rid of fluids at a much higher rate than I’m taking them in. Now I have to make sure I don’t get dehydrated.
Today — between lie-downs — I’ve managed to fold laundry, do breakfast and lunch dishes, feed and water some plants, and treat the cats, among other chores. I also cleaned the microwave after San Geraldo exploded a stick of butter inside. He’s done it before. I asked him why he doesn’t set the timer for a short burst. He admitted that would be too easy. Then, when I was giving the cats their fourth treats, I let one of the dishes slip out of my hand. It fell to the floor right between them sending ceramic pieces and wet cat food all over the kitchen. They took off for the dining room but Dudo quickly returned to lick up the food. I kicked him out and gave them food in the dining room. San Geraldo came in and cleaned up the pieces. I then washed the floor. And that’s the pits because Isabel will be here in the morning. The last time SG exploded butter, he did it a couple of hours before she arrived. I left it for her. What a guy.
We’ve been enjoying seasonal fruit morning and night. The usual apples and Mandarin oranges, but also mangos and kiwis. Heavenly. As you can see below, I’ve been cooking the fruit myself – which means I’ve been cutting it up for my breakfast. San Geraldo showed me a kiwi trick, ages ago, that doesn’t require the peeling of the skin (which would be way too much cooking for me).
Speaking of kiwi, beginning at the age of 15 and ending at the age of 22, I worked at a summer camp run by the New York Association for Brain Injured Children. It was called Camp Kiwi. I always thought naming the camp after a flightless bird was in bad taste. It never crossed my mind that it might have been named for the fruit. The undernourished hippie at the top of your screen is me in 1971 during visiting day. I was about an inch (2.5 cm) shorter and 50 pounds (23 kilos) lighter. If you count my remaining excess fluid, I was about 60 pounds (27 kilos) lighter.
Me equivoqué en las fechas ayer cuando les hablé de mi próximo análisis de laboratorio y mi próxima cita médica. El trabajo de laboratorio no es hasta el lunes 3 de junio y mi próxima cita con el nefrólogo es ese viernes. Eso tiene mucho más sentido. Y, mejor aún, llevo dos semanas seguidas sin cita médica. La buena noticia es que mi presión arterial no podría ser mejor y estoy eliminando líquidos a un ritmo mucho mayor del que los ingiere. Ahora tengo que asegurarme de no deshidratarme.
Hoy, entre siestas, he logrado doblar la ropa, lavar los platos del desayuno y el almuerzo, alimentar y regar algunas plantas y atender a los gatos, entre otras tareas. También limpié el microondas después de que a San Geraldo le explotara una barra de mantequilla en su interior. Lo ha hecho antes. Le pregunté por qué no pone el cronómetro en una ráfaga breve. Admitió que sería demasiado fácil. Luego, cuando les estaba dando a los gatos su cuarta golosina, dejé que uno de los platos se me escapara de la mano. Cayó al suelo justo entre ellos, enviando trozos de cerámica y comida húmeda para gatos por toda la cocina. Se dirigieron al comedor pero Dudo regresó rápidamente para lamer la comida. Lo eché y les di comida en el comedor. Entró San Geraldo y limpió los pedazos. Luego lavé el piso. Y eso es lo malo porque Isabel estará aquí por la mañana. La última vez que SG explotó mantequilla, lo hizo un par de horas antes de que llegara Isabel. Se lo dejé a ella. Qué chico.
Hemos estado disfrutando de fruta de temporada mañana y noche. Las habituales manzanas y mandarinas, pero también mangos y kiwis. Celestial. Como puede ver a continuación, yo mismo he estado cocinando la fruta, lo que significa que la he estado cortando para el desayuno. San Geraldo me mostró un truco con el kiwi, hace años, que no requiere pelar la piel (lo que sería demasiado cocinar para mí).
Hablando de kiwi, desde los 15 años hasta los 22, trabajé en un campamento de verano dirigido por la Asociación de Nueva York para Niños con Lesiones Cerebrales. Se llamaba Campamento Kiwi. Siempre pensé que ponerle al campamento el nombre de un ave no voladora era de mal gusto. Nunca se me pasó por la cabeza que podría haber recibido el nombre de la fruta. El hippie desnutrido que aparece en la parte superior de la pantalla soy yo en 1971 durante el día de visita. Yo era aproximadamente 2,5 cm (una pulgada) más bajo y 23 kilos (50 libras) más liviano. Si cuentas el exceso de líquido que me quedaba, pesaba aproximadamente 60 libras (27 kilos) menos.
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It is great to hear you are doing better. Keep this up and you will survive this life.
David:
I’m pretty sure none of us will survive this life, but I do hope to last a good many years more.
Oh that fresh fruit looks delicious!
Enjoy your ‘medical-free’ two weeks!!
Jim:
The fruit has been amazing.
You do have quite the hippie thing going on in that photo! Glad the fluid is moving along and you’re doing better. I do love a kiwi fruit. I ate a ton of them in New Zealand, where they are very cheap!
Steve:
And my hair wasn’t even at full length at that time. I do miss it! I have no clue how much SG is paying for the kiwis but they’re so good. And the mangoes have been sweet perfection.
I saw that kiwi trick somewhere else this week. I’ve never tried scooping it out before, but it sure would be easier.
Kelly:
Scooping out the kiwis is a breeze. Even I don’t mind “preparing” them.
Combustible butter, that’s a new one. Maybe San Geraldo could sell the idea to the Pentagon.
Kirk:
I suppose it’s like putting it in a frying pan, only this is one big slab that starts to sizzle and then pops. What a mess.
Tropical fruit is the best fruit. Absolutely no doubt in my mind. Having said that, have you ever combined strawberries (not tropical) and kiwis? You would have to peel the kiwis, of course which would be too much cooking.
So glad to hear that the fluid is flowing away. Do you look at your arms and feet and say, “Hello, body! I’ve missed you!”?
Ms. Moon:
Strawberries and kiwis ARE great together. But we can still scoop and then cut the kiwi. No peeling needed. As for the body, yes I do! Even SG commented last night. Now if I only had the energy for a workout!
Boud here happy you’re doing better, despite kitchen explosions. You sound more active than in ages.
Boud:
Oh, I look forward to being truly active. Not happening yet, but I’ll take what I can get… and then lie down!
You are a different man now than you were despite the frivolity
Xx
finlaygray:
Yep, feeling different.
I’m getting Howard Stern vibes from young Mitchell.
I love all fruits–especially the one I married–but there’s something about kiwi and mango that i just can’t abide.
Glad to know you have a medical free stretch of time, and that things are improving; all good things!
Bob:
Oh dear god… Howard Stern vibes! Now I can’t unsee it. I love fruits, too!
Ahhhhhhh, that fruit looks so fresh and delightful!
What EXCELLENT news about your health issues!
Judy C
Judy C:
I’ve got to admit it’s getting better (and I will not risk saying, it can’t get no worse). I’m suddenly craving the fruit again.
Mangoes and kiwis! Yum. Why does mango have an “e” when plural, but kiwi doesn’t? Rhetorical… you don’t have to answer.
‘Flamingos’ – but ‘tornado’ OR ‘tornadoes’. Such are vagaries of English spelling, not to mention English grammar. And don’t let’s start on British v. American English!
Raybeard:
Ugh! English. I always thought the rules and exceptions (and the differences between British and American) were crazy. But since living here and helping Spaniards with the language I’m even more conscious of how crazy it is.
Walt the Fourth:
English!
Onwards and upwards for you? Certainly sounds like it. Thoughts and wishes that progress is maintained – or, better still, accelerated.
Btw: It’s undoubtedly true that I’ve got more pics of D & M ‘stored away’ than I have for any other animal, including my own past and present pussycats. Not that I love(d) any other more than my own, just that yours seem to be having exceptional longevities, which is wonderful.
Raybeard:
You have been with me since Dudo and Moose first arrived on the scene. They’ve now been with us 12 years and will celebrate their 13th birthday in July. Dudo still acts like a kitten.
Glad you’re doing better. And, my oh my, you did have a lot of hair at one stage! Like most of us, it all goes eventually.
Anon:
I wish I had photos of when my hair was at its peak. It was alive!
In that photo you look like John Lennon.
Laurent:
Ha! I don’t see it, but then it’s better than looking like Howard Stern!
I used to LOVE kiwis when they first arrived in Canadian grocery stores, but I stopped eating them in recent years because they became absolutely tasteless and I was allergic to them. I had a similar problem with bananas until I switched to organic ones. Perhaps I should give organic kiwis a chance if I can find any! I just purchased my first fresh mango (Haden) this week and I hope it keeps well in the fridge once peeled and sliced. Yup, I’m living on the edge, LOL!
Moose and Dudo look happy and healthy again. How is Moose adjusting to his lost teeth?
Tundra Bunny:
Moose didn’t even seem to notice the missing teeth. He was eating dry food on Day One. I love his pouty new expression. I’ve read that it’s common to have allergic reactions to kiwi. What a shame. Did you name your mango Haden? (Never mind. I looked it up. Still, I like the idea of you naming your mangos.)
What lovely fruit! I ought to eat more kiwis every time I see some I want some.
Urspo:
These recent kiwis have been especially juicy and delicious.
like your men
Urspo:
I reread my post to see what would be like my men. I’m at a loss.
Gordon would 100% explode a stick of butter in the microwave
Natalie:
Would he clean it up after?
For some reason, I read “nephrologist” as “elephantologist” and instantly thought that must be a doctor who treats elephantiasis, and I could not, for the life of me, remember you saying you had such a malady (and you certainly didn’t look it.) Then it registered what you actually typed. This all happened within a nanosecond in my mind. Sigh.
FYI: I’m a seasonal fruit…or is that spicy?
Sassybear:
Aren’t you a perennial fruit? (I said perennial, not perinium!) Isn’t it amazing how quickly the brain processes information?