I'm back!

[Tab]

Disconnected due to election overload but mainly ill health. But I couldn't stay away forever!

[Warpy]

1. Are you recovering?

What you've been through lately kicks everybody's ass--HARD--so your absence was expected.

I've been mostly absent from C&B because this miserable summer has had me off my feed to the point I had to force myself to eat something in the morning when it was cooler and then just couldn't get anything down the rest of the day.

Now I'm eager to cook something, although it still hasn't cooled off enough for that.

[Tab]

2. Well, yes and no.

I spent much of 2009 in the hospital and/or cancer centers with surgery, radiation, chemo for Stage III colon cancer. Recovery in 2010 and I started working in 2011. Then I was rediagnosed, this time it had metastasized to the lungs, making it Stage IV. I've spent the last 8 months in chemo. Just about wrapped up with this session, but now having dialogs about how much additional chemo I want to do (some people do it the rest of their lives, as long as they can tolerate it). Methinks I personally need a break, even if it's just 6 months.

Unfortunately I don't quite the array of cooking I used to, but been doing more practical meals and preps that we can continue to use, e.g.: chicken breasts on sale for $1.69/lb (really) so I bought 4 pounds worth, gave them a rub, grilled them, then sliced them up and that provides sandwich meat for days. Working and succeeding on outdoor grilled pizza (it's summer, so I tend to grill, saving oven work for the cooler months. Still, been making a shrimp-scampi-ish dish with ginger and scallions and garlic and butter and romano chz.

I think that when I take a chemo break and recover a bit, and it's winter, I'll be doing more elaborate stuff. The stuff I'm doing right now is more mindless get through the day, particularly ahead of the days I know I won't cook.

I also know if I left cooking to my wife I'd only be eating pasta, so I prefer to make the effort.

[grasswire]

3. welcome back

looking forward to your participation again!

Aren't you in NH? Have you gotten a glimpse of Rom?

[Tab]

4. Opportunity but not inclination

Yes, NH

However Obama did a series last weekend, one of which was 15 miles away. By the time I heard about it and got to the ticket office, they had just run out.

No interest in seeing Romney.

Newt G. (when he was a "viable" candidate) did an appearance at my company, and I could have done the whole deal, meet-and-greet, shake and get pictures taken, but I didn't trust myself to keep my mouth shut and just smile.

- t

[grasswire]

5. yes, the impulse to just kick Newt in the nuts would be...

....hard to suppress. IMO.

[NJCher]

11. here are some ideas for you, warpy

This is an article about what to eat when it's hot and why:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/9492326/Cucumber-sandwiches...-worlds-coolest-food.html



Cher

[Warpy]

12. Sandwiches aren't the same when you can't eat wheat.

It was too hot to consider them even if I could eat wheat.

[cbayer]

6. Hello Tab!

You probably don't know me, but I am aware of you.

Sorry to hear about everything you have been and glad you are well enough to come back to C & B.

The group has been great for me and I am here every day.

[Tab]

9. I do remember you

and this is my favorite group

[Phentex]

7. I saw a post of yours and wanted to say hi...

but I thought that might be creepy since it was in GD.

Welcome back!

[beac]

8. Welcome back!

Sorry to hear life's been so challenging.

I've been basing almost all my cooking lately on the bumper crop of tomatoes I've got, but I've also been making mostly the same thing over and over (cold raw tomato sauces over pasta or tomato sandwiches and lots of salads) b/c I just can't stand our un-airconditioned kitchen for very long.

Here's to a cooler and more creative fall and winter!

[NJCher]

10. Happy to see you!

Like Cbayer says, you don't know me, but I recall your posts and also about your illness. I am so happy so see you back. Come join us on the "what's for dinner" thread!


Cher