A Little Outing

March 26

steps 12,000

 Friday, we decided to go to St. Elias Lebanese Food and Culture Festival in Birmingham at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church. The day was cloudy but bright. The mood was festive. We called the day before as there was no drive-up line. A guy in the office offered to meet us in front of the church with cross and take our order and cc. He delivered it to us. We sat in the car and ate right there in front of the church. 

Our food order was $57, but we have eaten from it twice. This will feed us for two more meals. 

I had the grilled chicken plate with 1/2 grilled chicken, pita bread, rice, and green beans cooked in tomato and spices. I ordered a meat pie. It is sort of like a very fat fried pie or hand pie. Plus, I ordered bread, savory. I did not expect flat bread, like pita with a filling. It is okay and should be my lunch or dinner tomorrow. The rice was wonderful. I only ate breast. Tommy will get a meal or two from the remainder.

Tommy had baked kibbee plate. Kibbee is ground chuck with spices and baked in a dish and cut into diamond shapes. He also had the green beans and rice. 

We discussed desserts. The ice cream had nuts, so I did not want to take a chance. Tommy wanted a doughnut. I wanted a bite. He said to order one for me. "But, I might not like it." He said he would eat it. The doughnuts had no hole. It was the shape and larger than a Honey Bun, not round. The outside was crispy and the inside was dense. We both ate our doughnut right then except for a small piece I brought home. 

There was a list of the foods and ingredients. Lebanese use a lot of cinnamon, so I was afraid Tommy would reject things because of the cinnamon. I reminded him I used cinnamon in my spaghetti, and it never tasted like cinnamon. He made no comments about the taste.

 stelias.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-Festival-Food-Descriptions.pdf

About twenty years ago, I was invited along with other friends to a home in Birmingham. Dinner would be whatever each person wanted to order and pay for. I had a salad that was drenched in lemon juice which I ate. The next morning when I awoke at home in Cullman, I could not see my ears because my face was so swollen. I was not taking a chance today. 

I mentioned this to man who helped us. He nodded and said the Lebanese use lemon juice like we do olive oil. No, no way to avoid it in my order. 

There was a list of souvenirs, including a coin skirt. This baffled me. The guy who helped us was standing there when I saw a young woman with something sheer with gold trinkets around the edge. When asked, he said it was for dancing. I really wanted one of those. Next time! No, not going to dance. Okay, maybe.

Have you ever been to a Lebanese Food Festival?

Thwarted and a Surprise

march 23

11,000 steps

 I do not feel like typing at all. I wish I knew how to speak and have my speaking be typed for me. I made a plan, but no one else did. 

Ixcept called yesterday and just before we left to see if they had xray. I was assured both times they did. So, we egot in the car and left immediately since they would close in an hour. Tommy cooperated. 

EXCEPT, he left the walker  in the yard less than three feet from the car because he was trying to hurry for me. 

So, I had to dig out license and insurance cards. Usually, he carries my purse and water because carrying things gets me off balance, so I sway

Plus, how can he go in and be supportive???  I told him to use his canes. CANES??? He did not bring any. Usually, he has four and my four-legged cane. 

By this time, I am beside myself. I told him to keep my purse in car. I told him to lock it in the car first, after I got cards and thought he had canes. 

I went in, sat down and told them I could not walk to counter. Actually, I cannot stand at counter and talk, pplus, it makes a longer walk. 

They came and got my cards and I filled out three pages. MY right arm and elbow, andhand and shoulder were in severe pain. 

Tommy came in, walking/shuffling two inches at a time. This is dangerous for him. He said he did it for me. Hell NO. Bring a walker so as not to hurt yourself, too. That is not helpful. Yes, I reamed him out right there. Say nothing about that.

Then, avery nice woman told meI could see someone but could not get an xray. I was very annoyed and she knew it. I was to the point of collapsing. She said she was not the person who told me I could get and xray if I came in. Fair enough. But, employees should know the protocol. It turns out that no one there knew how to do an xray. 

I gave her back her pen and clipboard in exchange for my cards. She reached for the papers I had filled out, telling me she would shred them. I told her I would take them home and shred them. 

Now, for the really problematic part. I offered to let Tommy hold onto me. He said, yes and held on with both hands. He parked far  away and uphill. We both suffered getting to the car!    I doubt his steps were even two inches long.

Before this event, we went to get three ads, went to bank, shopped at Publix and did not go to Walgreen's to pick up meds. Everything went well until I was told I could not get an xray fifteen minutes after I was told I could.  I have been sleepy all day. This was not good.

I have had messages in for nurses who will talk to doctors. Maybe I will get calls tomorrow, probably while I have a doctor appointment.

Xray is for right him on which I landed on porch! It hurts and is lumpy and swollen. Doctor said it is at some part of hip and cartilage or something is swollen. He said it would be okay, but he does not have xray in his practice. I need to see if this is a problem. 

I did not edit this at all unless all letters in a word were wrong and word was indecipherable. 

Since I onlymove to go to bathroom, I forced the steps.

Oh, have not had a banana in three weeks. The mouth feel is unbearable! Anne, I understand.

Edit: i forgot to say that I was too tired to get dressed when we went to shop and then went to urgent care. So, I put on my pants, rolled up nightgown and tucked it into waistband. I put on light jacket and looked dressed enough.

Steps

 April 22

steps 9,999

Sorry, it was all I could do. Half of these steps, I felt like I was going to throw up. I am still exhausted but cannot sleep except for a bit at night. I don't even want to eat.

Malaise

 April 21

steps 11,000

Today, I could barely move. I decided to force myself to pedal. I still feel ill, lethargic. 

Tommy is not helping with Easter meal, so....

We have been nowhere, done nothing.

Well, I made phone calls to doctors, made longer lists of things we need or need to do when we went out. 

We managed 20 minutes of therapy on my legs before I had to go to the bathroom. 

I cancelled cleaner because I could not deal with sitting while she changed my bed. The last cleaner took about 45 minutes and could not remember how from week to week. After three months, I was still instructing her. 

I think the lethargy is from thyroid problem! 

Breakthrough

APRIL 20 

maybe 2700 steps

Much better! Although I am still quite ill, the ear does not hurt so much and am no longer dizzy. My ear still roars. Since I was not dizzy, I took half a pain pill, which of course, made me dizzy again. I sway and lurch around, but I don't fall. 

Easter, we had a chocolate bunny and Dominoe's pizza. No progress toward Easter dinner.  There is still only the turkey breast done. I had a big kale salad later. 

The antibiotic is working, I suppose.  I slept little last night, so feel miserable now. It was an okay Easter once I gave up on food! I cannot be staggering around the kitchen!

Tomorrow, a new cleaner comes. She speaks Spanish and very little English. I am not sure I am up to this. At least my bed will be changed. 

Maybe you need one of these cups.

Funny Mugs for Women - Search Images

How was your Easter?

Happy Easter

 

 April 18

steps 4,380

I was so tired, I could not do more. 

I awoke dizzier than the day before. So, I did not take a muscle relaxer. After a bit, I had a pain in my left ear that was excruciating. It was a an earache causing me problems. But, when your balance is gone, it won't matter why you fell. 

Tommy gave me his walker to go to bathroom and followed using canes because he was afraid I would fall. 

I am taking antibiotic and taking measures to help my clogged Eustachian tube. 

I feel too bad to type anymore.