Wild Soup, Shifty Heartbeats and Tolski Descends on Humanity

 

Monday, April 15, 2024

Ah, we made it back to our old friend, zuppa Toscana, an Italian-based soup, hailing from the northern part of Italy. Zuppa Toscana is often called "minestra di pane" in Italy. It begins with a beautiful Italian spicy sausage, minced garlic, onion, and ends with kale, heavy cream, and a lovey splash of crushed red pepper. At least in our house. 

Zuppa Toscana means "Italian soup." Olive Garden restaurants serve a variation of the popular recipe. There are many other variations of the soup to be found online. 

I add carrots to mine, along with spinach once or twice in place of kale. Potatoes? Oh, yeah. The original Italian recipe calls for kale too and does sit nicely on the base of a spicier Italian sausage. I add the red crushed pepper flakes as well, to give it all a nice "kick." So good!

Nice, hot soup made a great choice for a somewhat cold, rainy day in Roseburg. I know hot weather is coming around the bend too, putting a squelch on most soup choices, at least in my mind. I do have an Instant Pot to make soup and stew cooking an option even in the hot weather, as the use of the Instant Pot does not make the house hotter like an oven would or a stove top soup kettle that simmers all day. But, I did want some soup before the hot weather makes soups not sound as great as colder weather does. 

I made the soup on Monday of this week, followed by some cabbage soup on Tuesday. Both are favorites of ours and they were choices we had not had in a long time. 

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Mallory had come around on Tuesday, just to sit and visit and be "us." We immediately turned the television to a crime show, one filled with all the blood, gore, and horrible facts that those shows host. Even though they are gross to me in so many ways, I still watch as I want to find out the hows and whys of how someone could perish at the hands of another. I also like to know what punishment the murderer will face. Disgusting, yes. Worth watching? Most times. To me these shows are about learning why the human mind does what it does. Very odd species we are!

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Wednesday was spent working. I picked a file and began to type. I had my final visit with another home health therapist, which was a complete surprise as I thought I was finished with all of that. She had to come and "sign me out" of the therapy I was receiving, like the other therapist I was seeing had done as well. Now I have to sign up for the outpatient services at the hospital to complete the ordeal with my injuries. 

After the therapist left, I opened up the laptop to go at my work again. Much to my surprise, the "S" key top was missing. I could still type and hit the little raised piece within the keyboard, but the cover to the S key was gone. I searched everywhere to find it so that I could glue it on or get it back into place. Even if I had to take it in and have someone glue it on for me, I was willing. 

I backed out of the file I was on until I could repair the laptop. It was far too difficult to get the letter S to print out on the screen when I had no cover. I tore the couch apart, searched through every inch of blanket cover on the furniture, and even looked across the floor. I was lifting items around me to see if it may have stuck to the bottom of anything I had in my grasp for the day. Nothing. 

Just as I was about to give up hope, Terry suggested I look under the couch. Now, I had already done that, but after sweet man suggested it, I thought I might just try again to be sure. Wheeling myself into the kitchen, I grabbed the broom and dustpan and headed into the living room area again. 

The broom slid in and out from under the couch. As I took one last swipe, going deeper into the darkness, amongst a pile of Togo fur, I saw a tiny silver piece. Could it be? Yes! It was the letter S! 

I was relieved to see it again. Placing it over the mechanical portion of the keyboard, it clicked into place. It seemed to stick on its own. I will glue it or take care of it, but at least for today I can finish my work. 

With the key in place, I found another file and began to transcribe it. Several minutes in, I discovered it was almost time for sweet man to return home to me and his weekend would begin. I heard the doorknob turn and in walked my wonderful husband, smiling from ear to ear. Then I noticed the flower vase in his hand. It is our 10th month anniversary!

Ten months ago today, my Terry and I married. Each month he surprises me with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers to remind me of our wedding day. This month? Amazingly beautiful tulips or tulip bulbs pressed into several holes of a plastic holder to keep the bulbs above water. Only the roots are submerged and that's what makes these lovely tulips grow. 

I am amazed and ecstatic that my man remembers the anniversary date every month, to surprise me with yet another lovely arrangement of flowers to mark the date. He tells me that after June 17, our anniversary of one year of marriage, he will stop bringing the bouquets home every month. But for the first year he wants me to know how much he loves me. Beautiful sentiment, at least to me. But what happens after a year? Is the honeymoon phase over? I am joking, my sweet man. 

Terry woke up one morning about three weeks ago and found he was out of his emergency inhaler for his asthmatic issues. He went into urgent care to see what he could do about that. While there, they found some irregularities in his heart beat. He was going into bigeminy and that is something that in most cases, being asymptomatic, is watched, but in most cases it is nothing to stress over.  

Terry went back a few days later to ensure there was nothing going on, as he was advised to do if his cardiologist couldn't see him immediately. He had an EKG while there, and it showed bigeminy beats with the sinus rhythms. An appointment was scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2024 to see what the problem might be or if it is nothing in terms of worry. 

Terry was pragmatic and purchased a machine that will do an EKG at home to keep an eye out for further issues. The findings were as they were in the EKG at the doctor's office. Eventually, his strips were showing bigeminy, but threw in a couple of trigeminy as well. Not good. I began to worry. 

The portable EKG machine kept track of his rhythms through the upcoming days until the appointment. He watched as the latest check showed his beats going back into the regular sinus rhythms. But, we still wanted to get it all checked out and this included a trip to the Emerald City. So off we went to see the wizard in Eugene. 

Thursday, April 18, 2024 

Once there, Mallory and I both followed Terry into the room, where he was brought to discuss his latest EKG results. Terry was prepared. I was actually impressed. He had all of his reports, information, and history of heart rhythms in a file, all printed out and ready to go. I typically visit my doctor, am asked if I have any questions, and my mind draws total blank. The only "draw" I get is on the whiteboard in my head. Thoughts then become a desperate battle with, "What are words?" Of course, once I get home, the mass amount of questions hit me all at one time and this involves thinking. I don't want to think. 

The end result was that he is scheduled to come back for an echocardiogram, another EKG, and a heart monitor to be worn for a couple of weeks. But all in all, it didn't seem as though they were super concerned and there was nothing that put him at immediate risk of heart surgery or anything of that nature. I do thank God for my blessings and his too. That's the last thing we need or want at this point in our lives. However, we are not out of the woods yet. The yellow brick road does not end here. We still have to get Toto (or Togo in our case), home safely. 

Like I said, Mallory was with us. Daughter Dawn and granddaughter Kylee came into see us for a few moments while we were there. We talked about meeting up at Jessee's house when Dawn was finished with her busy day. Hugs given, and off we went to find a place to have some lunch. 

While there is a plethora (and yes, I used that horrid word), of eateries around Eugene and Springfield, my mind went completely blank in terms of where to go to grab something to eat. I was trying to come up with something that is Eugene. A place that serves up the essence of the place I grew up, enabling me to share the awesomeness that is Eugene with those I love. I came up with Noodles & Co, thinking pasta sounded good. That was truly a feeble attempt. 

We visited the noodle company. I ordered chicken parmesan, Mallory ordered buttered noodles, and Terry consumed a couple of bowls of spaghetti and meatballs. Good, but nothing in terms of what I recall that place as being. Anyway, lunch was complete. Off we went to Brandy's house to see her, Dan, and the new naked guy, her Xolo (Sholo) pup. 

Parking at Brandy and Dan's, we found them still out running around. They had a vet visit with their other pup, Chi, to get some flea meds. If a flea sucked on her skin, it would deflate her. She only weighs five pounds soaking wet. They finally pulled up and in we went. 

Trinket the kitty, Chi, and Tolski the Xolo met us at the door. Tolski immediately burst into a protective mode, while running for his own life, if that even makes sense. He barked pretty loud for a small guy, bracing himself for a flight or fight mode at the same time. Adorable little man!

To quiet him, Dan grabbed some treats and began the ritualistic motivation for puppies, with handing him one if he sat, laid down, shook hands, or avoided being a pain in the ass. He is definitely treat motivated!

Excuse the blurring on the nose. He was actually moving around quite a bit before this quick, 00.2 second sit pose. Mallory had the treat bag and he was on his best behavior for that split second pose though.  

Then they brought Chi Chi into the mix. Her poor 12 year old body could still beg with the best of the young pups. 

Of course, Tolski is prepared for his treat as well. After we left, I was told that Tolski caught his first snake out in the backyard. It was also disclosed that the little man got his second breath and went into a Speedy Gonzalez mode. Brandy could not keep him out of stuff nor would he stop biting her, Dan, the cat, the other dog, the furniture, and basically anything he saw in his way. She finally had to tackle him and hold him in place for a while. Suddenly, a new episode of Jaws came into play. Those teeth are sharp and he does bite hard! 

Impressive baby. We were definitely intrigued. At one point, he growled at Mallory. He knew she had treats in her hand in one moment and then he couldn't find them in the next. That pissed him off to no end. 

He is a pup though and will balance that grouchy, impatience out as he grows, I'm sure. Either that or Brandy and Dan will suffer the likes of a piranha fish for the rest of the dog's life, or their lives as the case may be. I know this. They will both have to have lots of patience, kindness, and even firmness to endure the wrath of the naked guy, Tolski. They're good with animals and I do have faith he will turn out to be the sweetheart he is at the base of those sharp teeth.  

Visiting with Dan and Brandy was awesome as we just don't get to see them that often. It was fun meeting the new naked guy of the family as well. Cute baby! But it was time to head home. We would not be traveling across town to see Dawn and Jess again, but that was okay this time around. My foot was killing me and Mallory had a sciatic nerve situation that was making her limp as well. We had limpy and gimpy at Terry's doctor's appointment. Looked great, let me tell you. Terry called us the "walking dead" throughout the day. It got several laughs. 

Friday, April 19, 2024

Mallory came over today to go to Wildlife Safari with us. Terry and I had not been in quite a few months with everything that happened in our lives in the past few months, so we thought we would make the trip again. The park is only a few short miles from us, so it's easy to make it a "thing" when wanting something to do. That and it's our thing. We both love animals and it always makes us smile after a trip through the park. 

After purchasing the seasonal pass again, we started our visit with the Ankole-Watusi bull standing in the middle of the road, refusing to move. He stood there proudly, those beautiful horns in the air, without a care in the world. He had no intention of being asked to walk another 10 steps to allow cars the travel space they needed. Majestic docile creatures but I would still not want to test those horns!

And speaking of lovely animals that won't leave the roadway, we have a young giraffe that veered from one side of the road to the other, taking up the entire drive path. The slow-moving animal gave us the side eye a couple of times and ensured that we would not pass until he or she was perfectly ready to allow us that privilege. 

Once again, to the other side of the road, then back across to head for the pastures to the right. 

We finally made it past the road blocks of giraffe rear ends and Ankole-Watusi cattle horns to find one of our favorite creatures, the rhinoceroses  lying in the shade way up at the top of the hill. This meant that even Terry's camera couldn't pick up a clear picture of the two rhinos sleeping under the tree. All you could see was a massive body form and you could make out the butt. 

The day was warm enough to keep some animals from wandering the hills to give us a good view of them. You could almost hear most of them chattering, "Nah. Go away. We just ate, the sun is out, and I'm hot. Move along." 

Even the lions weren't out. We did see a lioness and even she was telling us to get the cameras out of her face today. Her shady spot was not going to be there much longer as the day progressed and the sun moved westward to set. She had no intention of losing what shade she had left. 

Further along the road, we ran into the bear section of the park. Spotting the bears can be difficult, as they are typically sleeping somewhere or are inside their little houses the park provides for them. Suddenly, we spotted a black furry blob rolling around on its back, stretching out its limbs to shake off the sleepiness. Eventually, this black mass rubbed against the stump provided for some shade. 

Finally, the black bear came into clear view, but not for long. It proceeded to rub its butt and side on the stump and disappeared under the darkness of the shaded area once more. I felt privileged that we saw one at all, since it is so difficult to get a good shot of them as a general rule. 

Bison were lying with their young calves all across the grassy hills. 

Typically there are numerous bison in sight throughout the park. This is early spring, the time for babies to be found in nurturing unison with mom or the rest of the herd. 

As we rounded the corner in the African section, we spotted this elephant, standing by the fountain area. The car got in the way a bit in this photo though. I hate when that happens. 

Throughout our safari trip, we saw many goslings. Their furry little bodies were running with mom and dad to the best of feeding spots. Mallory wanted to stop and take one home. Kidding, of course. 

Next up in the bird stretch of the drive, we found some wild turkeys strutting around in the dirt and gravel of the road. Beautiful feathers, awesome color and design. Loved the tail feather pattern on this female. 

I had to zoom in a little closer to the pattern. 

That was the extent of our photo taking excursion. It's only because Terry and I both have so many photos of all the animals that we are being a bit more selective in our choices. We will go again and trust me, that camera will come out again and again. The "click" is a thing. 

I removed the background of the elephant photo to give it a clear look.

Terry also snapped an amazing picture of one of the four giraffes we saw. These are the young calves shown in our last year's picture pile in this blog. They have grown a little, but still have a while to go to hit adulthood. 

Such a beautiful baby!

This is our weekend blog coverage until Sunday. Until that post, we wish all of you nothing but the best, your days filled with sunshine, and amazing blessings headed your way. Enjoy your day and we hope you join us for our Sunday trip to Discovery Gardens.