Let's Clarify.

What was I thinking when I said this blog would be about me? Who am I without my Mr. Wilson, and my two boys? I take it back. I take back what I said about this blog being about me. I don't know what this blog is about. 

Today was a scheduled work day. So of course leading up to it Joe often vocalized his hopes of me getting called off, or put "on call" really. If the patient load is such they don't need as many nurses as scheduled, someone gets "put on call" to remain at home, but available, should the need arise for more staff. So today Joe got his wish. The lovely phone call came at 5 am and I crawled back into bed. 

Joe had plans today to drive several hours to meet his dad with some KSL classifieds purchase. (Don't ask me!) He had to take the boys and I had to stay, should I have to go in to work. So, hmmm, all day, alone. What was I going to do? I managed to stay busy cleaning toilets and such. But I miss them. I want them home.....RIGHT. NOW.

Brown Rice

This is for Heather. 

I like to cook brown rice in the oven. I don't like cooking it on the stove because, well, I think it might be better if I have a pot with a tight fitting lid. Also, in the oven I don't worry about boiling over or scorching the bottom when it runs out of water. It works, it's worry free, it takes an hour and you don't have to worry about it while you finish up the rest of the meal. The directions are from the January & February 2006 issue of Cook's Illustrated, forwarded to me by my mother. If you have any cooking question ask my mother. She has read every Cook's Illustrated issue and America's Test Kitchen book. I recently "submitted" a recipe to her and she loved it. It's for round steak. So if you have a freezer full of beef including cuts of round steak, let me know, this recipe is delicious and easy.

Back to the brown rice. I'll give it to you just like it says, then explain what I have learned.

Oven Method

Best for situations requiring prolonged, even heating, such as cooking brown rice or larger quantities of white rice.

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees with rack in the middle position. Bring liquid to boil, covered, in saucepan over high heat.

2. Combine grains, boiling liquid (1 1/2 cup to 2 cups for brown rice), and salt (1/2 teaspoon per cup of raw grains) in baking dish and cover tightly with double layer of foil. Bake until grains are tender (1 hour for brown rice). Let stand five minutes. Uncover, fluff with fork, and serve.

There you have it. I have learned with regular brown rice 1 1/2 cups should be enough water. The rice I have been using is Basmati and requires 2 cups. Also if you want to use broth instead of plain water, extend the cooking time to 1 1/2 hours. These instructions do not recommend rinsing brown rice before cooking.

Good luck. Let me know if you try it and if it works for you. 

Vertigo. Please go.

Today has been just awful. Yes, things could be worse, I've thought about that already. But thinking/knowing things could be worse has not stopped my head from spinning.

Spinning out of control. 

It started early, say 5:30 am. If I stayed still, real still, the spinning ceased and all was well. However, explain to me this. How does a mom of a two year old and a four year old lay still for very long? 

This is where the dry heaves come in. Dry until they continued for long enough bile decided to present itself. All the while Myles is asking for cereal and Sullivan begged to "eat, eat."  I explained to Myles my head was spinning and my tummy hurt. He went off to find me a cough drop, because, at last, I've made something clear. Cough drops are used when you're sick, they are not candy. 

I let Myles pour the cereal, sat Sullivan in the high chair, and found my way to the couch where I stayed pretty much the whole morning. Around eleven, having not moved for some time, I felt better. Hmmmm, this can not be morning sickness. 

It's not, as one line indicated. And the spinning returned with movement. 

A ray of sunshine arrived around noon, I don't know what the boys would have done for lunch. I cried when he left and prayed all afternoon for 4:30 to arrive quickly. 

The boys fought, found desireables in the pantry, watched movies, and wrecked the family room. Twice off the couch, to change a diaper and provide service to another on the toilet, found me heaving again. 

4:20. Thank heavens a bit early, he walked in, carried me to the bed and took the boys outside. Oh, how I love him. 

I joined them for dinner. If I hold my head just right and don't move too fast I can avoid the spinning. I also must lie on my right side, for if I roll over to my back or left side the room starts spinning again. 

Tomorrow I'm going to feel better. 

I have things to do.