Contusion

Contusion: any mechanical injury (usually caused by a blow) resulting in hemorrhage beneath unbroken skin. (Thanks Stedman's medical dictionary)  Also, a really fancy name for bruise.   Mostly I think they came up with this name, because when someone is admitted to the hospital for a "cardiac contusion," it sounds much more serious than a "cardiac bruise."

So I had a patient who came into the hospital because he was so drunk he couldn't walk to the bathroom.  He told me that he drank "socially," but not excessively, but told the ER that he drank 7-8 beers a night.  As far as detoxing patients go, this guy was pretty nice.  What got me was he watched the history channel on t.v. for over an hour: a documentary of beer-making, and then of breweries themselves.  Made my night.

Recently, I have added some new records to my "list."  I keep a tally in my head of the wackiest lab values I've seen in people.  This week, the following made the list: a sodium of 107 (which is so low that you don't remember your own name, and could seize and die at any minute).  And a carbon dioxide in arterial blood at 103 (which is so high that you've been breathing through a straw for months, and again critical.)

Surprise Cookies

So today I tried a new cookie recipe.  Mostly what caught my eye was the simplicity of the ingredients, and the fact that I had them all in my house.  But the real kicker, was the recipe called for cottage cheese.  That's right kids, cottage cheese.  I had never in my life thought about putting cottage cheese into cookies, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.  They are actually pretty good, flaky and pastry-like, and also soft.  Not a lot of sugar in it either.  Here's the recipe for your convenience:

1 cup butter softenes
3/4 cup small curd cottage cheese
2 cups flour
1 egg, beated
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 tsp cinnamon (I doubled it and it was heavenly)

Cream butter and cottage cheese until smooth; gradually add flour.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle.  On lightly floured surface, roll out to 1/8 inch thickness.  Cut with a round cookie cutter, place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet.  Brush tops with egg.  Combine walnuts, sugar, and cinnamon; sprinkle over cookies.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Place on wire rack to cool.

Enjoy! 

P.S. If you like to make cookie dough to eat it and not bake it, these are NOT the cookies for you.  Butter, flour, and cottage cheese tastes about as good as it sounds when mixed together. 

Recent reads...

A while ago, I finished reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" which is fantastic!  Almost every word has to do with the plot, and it's so intricate.  I would definitely suggest this for a great read.  I know it's 1400 pages, but it's worth every one of them.  Before "Monte Cristo" I read "The Three Musketeers."  It too is incredibly long, something like 1200 pages, and has moments of brilliance, but not nearly as many as "Monte Cristo." 

My next big read is "Les Miserables" by Hugo.  We'll see how long it takes to read it.  I'm told that it's amazing, and I will let you know.

Arizona resident

I am officially an Arizona resident.  I got my Arizona driver's license and registered to vote.  Happy day right?  Well, even more joyful is the fact that my Arizona driver's license is good until I am 65 years old.  That's right everybody.  I don't have to renew my license until 2048.  I might have trouble going back to Utah where you have to get it done every 5 years.  I have a concern about my picture though.  What happens if I have gray hair by the time I'm 64?  How will they recognize me?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

So I was able to visit home for about a week in April.  I ran around like crazy trying to see everyone I know and love, but it just didn't happen.  I had a blast though.  We celebrated Elmina's birthday the day I arrived.  (Yes, only Elmina's birthday.  For those who don't know, my sister and I share a birthday, but apparently I'm old and patient enough to wait to celebrate my birthday.) 

Doesn't she look happy?  Sadly, I couldn't get a picture at the right moment.

Herschel wanted to show off his pogo stick skills:

And Edith wanted to show off her bike riding skills:

Wednesday I went horse back riding with some friends from my old ward:

Duchess likes to smell hair...she does it to me all the time too.  Can't figure out why.  I'm pretty sure it's because my shampoo smells like freshly cut alfalfa or something.  

Sadly, it rained and we had to cut the party short.  

The rest of the trip was spent with friends and family and enjoying the cool Utah air.  It was sad to leave because I realized how much I miss from home.  But then, I realize that it's still snowing in Utah, and down here it's fabulous. 

Grand Canyon, etc.

For spring break in Utah, the part of my family still living at home came to visit me!  It was a blast to see them, and have the experiences that will undoubtedly come when dealing with 2 teenage boys, 2 almost teenage boys, and a 5 year old girl.  The first thing Cordell asked me was if we could go swimming.  Mom and Dad hadn't even put their stuff down yet.  Herschel said, "It's so hot!" and Andrew just walked into my apartment.  So, swimming we went, although not as quickly as the boys wanted to. 

 Mina hadn't figured out that the chairs lay down yet.  

Thursday we traveled the scenic route up to Flagstaff.  

Friday we spent the day in the Grand Canyon.  I knew it was big, but it's very different to actually see is and experience your own nothingness in comparison. 

Here's one of my favorite things: look closely at the picture above, and you will see that Cordell is wearing Elmina's pants.  Too bad the rest of his were in Flagstaff, so he wore them all day.  It was great!

I had a great time, and miss them already!

Geek Alert!

So I went to see "How to Train Your Dragon" the other day.  Now, some of you are thinking, "Ellen, why did you like a kid's flick about dragons?  That's silly."  I really enjoyed it!  It's about this teenage Viking who befriends a dragon.  Well, my secret's coming out...I am a huge fantasy fan! My favorite movies list usually starts with Lord of the Rings (I usually get a somewhat giddy and fanciful look on my face from what people tell me).  Up there on the list is Stardust and X-Men..  There's just something magical when you can enter another world, let you imagination take hold, and it's always good when there's beautiful people, like the following:

 

Hooray for good authors and movie-makers who allow me to enter a different world for a little while!