I'm Baaaaaack!

 

It has been a long time since I have posted here and I thought it was about time to return to these pages.

So much has happened in that time...a BIG birthday...a BIG anniversary...many family events and some rather challenging ones.  


This winter was simply awful!

  
Snow and freezing temperatures kept us indoors much of the time.  Icy roadways were hazardous and frigid winds made walking an ordeal.  I was becoming stir crazy...so when my NJ daughter-in-law called and asked me to read to my grandson's kindergarten class for Dr. Seuss Day, I was rarin' to go! I would do the reading and return home with my grandson and then give his mom and dad a night out while we baby-sat.  I couldn't wait!! Since the program at school was later in the afternoon, I arranged to meet my daughter for mani-pedis at our favorite spa in New Jersey in the morning.  

The day dawned crisp and clear.  While the temperature hovered at just about ZERO (!) the sun was bright.  My husband and I took off for New Jersey and we noticed that the piles of snow grew ever higher as we made our way westward.  New Jersey had been hit even harder than NYC.  Many sidewalks were icy and masses of snow were taller than the cars.  We arrived at the spa and I hurried in, shivering from just the few steps from the car to the door.  My husband took off to get a cup of coffee and a bagel, then to go on and wait for us at my daughter's house.
                                                     
Happy feet!  Together, my daughter and I sat with our feet immersed in scented water as we chatted and laughed.  It was wonderful to get out and even better to get these sad feet made happy.

 Massage...creams...oil...warm water...pretty red polish to encourage Spring

...and suddenly I realized that I had not heard from my husband...and at that VERY moment, just as we were making our way from the pedicure chairs to the manicure tables my cell phone rang.  "That must be Daddy," I said to my daughter.  But it most assuredly was not Daddy...it was the Mendham EMS!!!  It seems that my husband had slipped on the ice outside of the place he had gone for coffee and injured himself...He was being taken to the hospital!

Hurriedly we paid for the pedicures and, in the 4 degree temperature, we ran out in flip-flops...tissues still wound between our toes to keep the polish from smearing!  From the car I called my DIL, who quickly arranged for her dad to take over my reading assignment.  I called both of my sons to give them a heads-up on the latest crisis...and got to the hospital a few minutes behind the ambulance.  Many curious eyes followed us as we marched through the ER waiting room in our flip-flops with tissue wound between our newly polished toes! What could they be thinking about us...perhaps that we we victims of a severe pedicure accident?  At last we were escorted to the trauma room!  There we found my husband flat on a body board, with a cervical brace on his neck.  His face was bloody and a huge, bloody bandage covered his right eye and forehead.  Just the sight of this took my breath away.  But there was much attention being paid to him...doctors (so very young that they looked amost pre-pubescent!), nurses and aides were attending to him and whisked him away several times for MRIs, x-rays and who-knows-what-else.  His face was cleaned, board and brace removed and we were told he would be admitted for observation.  During this time we had managed to pull the tissues from between our toes and as we put on our sox and shoes,  my NJ son arrived.  It was time for the changing of the guard...my daughter left to see to her boys and my son was by my side.  Ever the efficient manager, my son had arranged for a hotel room for me and I insisted that they go on their "date night" and I would spend some precious time with my grandson...a time that I so cherish.

The next day, after breakfast at the hotel with my son's family,  I picked my husband up at the hospital...he seemed banged up and bruised, but was still up to telling me what lane to drive in, to use my turn signal and that I drive too fast!...

He was told to take it easy for a week and to see his own doctor, but basically, he was OK! His face was bruised over and under his eye, making him look a bit like Gorbachev!!  

As I drove back to New York, I wondered...does everyone have experiences like mine, or do I just percieve life in a strange way?

I was so happy to get him home I prepared one of his favorite dinners.  I was exhausted from all the tension so I chose the easiest thing...something I made up some time ago, and one of my husband's most requested dishes!

                                Chicken Fettucini w/ Boursin

1 box fettucini
1 pkg chicken tenders
Boursin cheese
half and half
parsley for garnish
olive oil
2tbsp butter
garlic powder
salt/pepper
Parmigiana cheese grated

1- While pasta is cooking prepare a saute pan with Pam and 2 tbsp olive oil and       2 tbsp butter...when butter melts add the chicken, season with                  salt/pepper/garlic powder to taste and saute chicken until cooked through.  

2- When pasta is cooked drain water and return pasta to pot...add about 1/2 of     package of Boursin and mix through until it melts...add some half and half
    then some more Boursin, then half and half until you have a creamy sauce.

3-Cut chicken into bite sized pieces and mix through pasta and cream sauce

4- Place on a deep platter and liberally sprinkle with grated parmigiana cheese...
    Garnish with parsley

Serve with a nice sauvingnon blanc and garlic bread!