Saturday, June 4, 2022

Playing Catch Up

Lahmajoon (Armenian "Pizza") and Fruits

The beginning of the month is so full of "regularly scheduled" posts such as the monthly photo challenge finds and the monthly balanced life goals updates, and this week, with the weekly meal plan, as well, that I didn't have time to post my usual, daily updates of all the little mundane things that make up my day!  Maybe some of you might be saying to yourselves, "Well, thank goodness for that!"  LOL. 

This week went by quickly for me!  On Monday, there was the lunch with my cousins, which was very nice.  It has been four days since then and, I don't want to jinx it, but, so far, so good!  

On Tuesday, I decided to clean the family room.  I took the cushion covers off one of the sofas and washed them.  Then, dusted the furniture, vacuumed under the sofa cushions, and vacuumed the family room.  I also called the radiology center to see if they had a cancellation and could move my appointment up from July; they have had several cancellations and offered me my choice of appointments for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday!  I chose Thursday because I didn't want to go for medical tests on the first of the month!  

On Wednesday, I made milkrice for brunch, as usual.  I didn't pick any flowers for the altar because there weren't many flowers to be picked.  M came to tend to the garden in the late morning and we discussed what would be the best way to abide by the new outdoor watering restrictions that went into effect as of the first of the month.  Most of the watering restrictions apply to sprinklers, but, we are all required to reduce our water usage to conserve water due to our ongoing drought.  We are going to focus on the fruit and vegetable plants and the rose bushes.  I gave him a jar of the peach topping, to take home.  Later, I made some chicken broth, using chicken bones I had kept in the freezer for the purpose.  

On Thursday, I went for my abdominal scan.  My appointment was at noon, with a check-in time of 11:45 a.m.  I had to be fasting for at least 8 hours.  According to the online route map, the travel time was estimated to be 35 minutes.  But, from experience, I allowed myself one hour and I needed every single minute of that hour for the drive!  I had already decided, beforehand, that I would splurge and avail myself to their valet parking services, because I was already stressed about having to have this scan, I didn't need the additional stress of finding the parking lot for that building, etc.  (It's a large medical center complex.)  I'm glad I had decided on that, because if I had to park my car, first, I would have been late!  As it was, I was exactly on time!   By the way, parking there was very reasonable (by Los Angeles standards) and with the tip to the valet, came to all of $10.

You check in at an outdoor booth before you go into the building and get your medical bracelet and a complimentary disposable mask; then you go inside and check in at another station to show proof of identity and insurance.  Then, there was a short wait and I was called in to register and sign forms (all done electronically, although I requested and received paper copies of the forms I signed).  I was asked to verify the information they had on file for me and that was when I discovered that they still had all my information from 29 years ago when I went there to have my daughter!  That was the first, and until now, the only time I had been to that hospital!  I was amazed that they still had me on on file!  They had my mother and an uncle, both of whom have since died, as my emergency contacts!  Then, we updated my emergency contact and all the other information, as well.

There was another short wait before I was called in to be scanned.  The technician, a young woman named Ella, attended to me and she was very pleasant, kind, and competent.  I thanked her for her service, especially during these difficult times and she seemed really appreciative of that.  The scan, itself, took about 30 minutes and I was told that the results will be sent to my doctor in about 3 business days, so, early next week.  

Afterwards, I drove myself home, ate leftover milkrice for brunch, and relaxed.  Much later, I cooked dinner, did dishes, chatted on the phone with family and friends, and video chatted with my daughter.  

On Friday, neighbor S called me in the morning to ask if I would like to have some lahmajoon (Armenian "pizza").  I love lahmajoon, so I said, "Yes, please".  She brought me, not only lahmajoon, but, also, some watermelon, two types of red grapes, and blueberries!  Yum!  I had the lahmajoon and some of the watermelon for my brunch.  I told S that I was planning to make some chicken and vegetable soup, later, and asked if she would like to have some, but, she declined.  

In the afternoon, I made the chicken and vegetable soup.  

In the evening, M came to tend to the garden and he brought me a container of plain yogurt (I think he remembered me telling him that the peach topping could be stirred into plain yogurt!)  He planted out the two tomato seedlings I had growing, and watered the garden.  He also picked the rest of the peaches, some of which had been pecked at by the birds!  I was able to show him the split pits.  I gave him two good peaches, two samples of curry powder (one roasted and one unroasted as he wants to try making the beetroot curry), and a container of chicken and vegetable soup.  

This week, I am grateful for:
- Medical insurance
- Diagnostic medical procedures
- Pleasant, helpful staff and technicians
- Valet services and reasonable parking rates
- A safe drive to the medical center and back
- Water for the garden
- Working appliances
- The peach harvest
- M helping with the garden
- Neighbor S blessing me with some delicious food
- Phone calls, texts, and emails with family and friends
- Video chats with my daughter

Joyful activities have included participating in the food-go-round as Bushlady calls it! 

Plans for Saturday include making a batch of peach jam.

How was your week?  What are your plans for the weekend?

20 comments:

  1. Hi Bless! I hope your scan is ok. Anything medical really stresses me out. I love how you are so organized...it makes me feel organized just to read yours! Andrea

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    1. Thank you, Andrea. I'm glad you think I'm organized because I don't feel all that organized! :D

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  2. I'm glad you were able to arrange an early date for the abdominal scan and I hope the results are good.

    Food-go-round is a good name for all the sharing of food. The Lahmajoon looks delicious and I hope you enjoyed it.

    I've spent the day at home and in a few minutes will log onto Zoom for the online Jubilee party with friends.

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    1. Thank you, Eileen; keeping my fingers crossed that the results are good. "Food-go-round" is a good name, isn't it? There might be some more of that this evening because I am planning to take some soup to my friend.
      Enjoy your online Jubilee party! Virtual cake is calorie free!

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  3. You know your traffic well! It was a good idea to have the valet parking as well to save stress and keep you on time, Amazing that you did manage to make it. I hope the results will be good.
    I was wondering if you save "gray water" (bath, washing up, etc. to water your plants? It must be so hard when you are restricted for watering.
    I've been researching printers and found a small basic B/W laser printer that will be good enough for my needs (I don't like to bug DH to use his) and I've also researched auto paint touch up paint for our ancient car, and found that there is a place that will use a laser to get the exact colour and mix it. The model's official colour may be too dark as cars fade over the years so I was happy to learn of this other option.

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    1. Yes, always allow at least 30 extra minutes when you drive in L.A.! Even during so-called off peak hours! There was some construction on the way, too, which caused a bottle neck. Thank you, Bushlady.
      I do try to save some "gray water"; I have a 5-gallon bucket in the kitchen for the rinse water from washing the dishes and I have another 5-gallon bucket in the bathroom to collect water from the shower, etc. I don't collect the washing machine rinse water, as I am worried I'll end up flooding the place!
      Glad you were able to find a printer that is sufficient for your needs, Bushlady; good to know about the auto paint, too! My car is dusty white because I haven't washed it in well over 2 years, with some yellow and black from when I backed into a yellow-painted bollard and scratched my car! :D In fact, I was afraid that the valet parking people would refuse to valet park my car because it is so dusty and scratched up! :D

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  4. Hello Bless, I hope the scan results are very good. My niece's wedding was lovely, and I am very glad I went. I hate flying, but I managed the trip fine. I was careful to wear a mask, and I've tested myself and so far negative. My other niece has been unable to finish cleaning out her mother's house (my sister who passed away), so I am now at the house finishing it up. It can then be sold. Its been dry here, of course nothing like you've had. I will wish for rain in your area. The news shows how bad the drought there is. Best, Celie

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    1. Hi Celie, thank you so much. I'm glad to hear that the wedding went off well and you were glad you were able to attend it. I'm sure you being there meant a lot to your niece and the rest of the family. I hope your test results continue to be negative! It's hard to clean out the belongings of a loved one who passed away, isn't it? Be gentle with yourself while you do so. We are in the middle of a drought, as I'm sure you know. No rain in the forecast for the next 10 days, but, we'll gladly take any surprise rain we might get! :D

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  5. I hope your test results are good. It's a good job you were able to update all your details and contacts but as you hadn't attended that hospital for so long it's good they still had you on file. It is raining heavily here right now and I wish I could send some of this rain your way.

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    1. Thank you, Eileen; yes, I was surprised that the hospital still had me on file! Oh, I do wish you could send some of that rain my way! :D

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  6. Thank goodness you always allow extra time for your appointments because you needed it this time. I'm glad you used the valet services. Sometimes things like that are worth it and if you have the money then it's a worthwhile expense.
    I'm glad you were able to move the appointment up. I always get nervous about medical things too. My husband does not.
    He gets nervous if he has an early golf tee time and he's afraid he will not get up in time LOL.
    I am sending good thoughts your way for good test results next week.
    Good thing you were able to update your records at the hospital too.

    Do you save kitchen water for your plants? It's something I do and does help with watering things outside. Just a thought.

    As usual the food gifts from neighbor S look delicious. And fresh fruit too! How nice.
    And yogurt from M - you've had a good week on the Bush lady named food-go-round.

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    1. Yes, always allow extra time to get to an appointment! The valet service was much appreciated! I don't think they had valet parking when I went to have my daughter, because I remember parking the car, myself, before going in (yes, I drove myself, that time!) Thank you for the good thoughts for the test results.

      Yes, I save kitchen water and shower water, etc. We've been under water restrictions for some time, now, and the new restrictions are on top of the old restrictions. What I don't save is rinse water from the washing machine because I am afraid to mess around with the hoses, manually, and cause a flood! But, there are water diverting systems that can be professionally installed to collect graywater from washing machines for irrigation use.
      The food-go-round is a lovely thing, isn't it? :)

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  7. Now I want some Armenian pizza. What's on it?

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    1. The topping is a mixture of ground meat, tomato paste, spices, and herbs. Spread on thin rounds of flat bread.

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  8. Sounds like a really busy week! I really enjoy reading your posts and I think most people do. You make me want to do better with planning and keeping track of things!

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    1. It was a good week for getting about and doing things. Thank you, Sharon; you are very kind. :)

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  9. I hope you get good news on the scan results. Our weekend was totally unplanned and perfectly lovely at home.

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    1. Thank you, Susanne. Sounds like you had a good weekend spent at home. :)

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  10. I'm glad your scan appointment ran smoothly. It was wise to allow yourself the extra travelling time. Xx

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    1. Thank you, Jules; yes, always a good idea to add extra time for driving, especially around my city! There's always traffic!

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