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Part of the problem is the corporate take over of the doctors. Most now work for a hospital physicians group or some other outfit. The lone, sole practitioner is hard to find. My Ohio doctor held out as long as she could, but costs made it hard to continue. Now, a doctor's performance is rated by bean counters and the issue isn't care as much as producing RVUs - Relative Value Units - or in other words, revenue. I had a friend who was fired from his hospital based practice because he wasn't seeing enough patients in the day. He was taking too much time with each one and not producing enough revenue. Money rules! My Ohio doctor and I would usually spend the first 10 minutes of my visits complaining about the physician's group she was a part of. I think she was trying to get fired. In the end, I moved to Michigan and she left for Colorado.

Good morning, everyone! It is a frigid start to the day here in mid-Michigan. The forecast is calling for 1-3 inches tonight into tomorrow. I think I've come to the end of my outdoor walks for now. I do have a membership at the Community Center so I can move operations there for the winter. I celebrated Recycle Day yesterday when I took a full car load of packing boxes out to the recycle center. Got rid of a couple bags of the paper used to wrap breakable items as well. Then I went to the credit union and opened a checking and savings account. All was going well until I tried to change the routing of my pension check to the new accounts. They said they needed 7 days before issuance to make the change but because I had recently changed my address I had to wait until November 30th to change the direct deposit routing. It took a couple of hours but that is finally straightened out. In today's meal feel free to substitute spinach for kale. Or any other green. The salad is very versatile and you can add in what you like and leave out what you don't. This first recipe is pretty simple. https://www.loveandlemons.com/roasted-cauliflower-kale-salad/ I think the tomatoes in this version add a lot. I'd throw in some roasted mushrooms as well. https://www.lastingredient.com/roasted-cauliflower-kale-salad/ This one includes dried cherries, walnuts and feta cheese. You can also roast the kale for a great crunch and crispness. https://www.spicesinmydna.com/roasted-cauliflower-kale-salad-dried-cherries-walnuts-feta/ Lastly, this recipe uses purple cauliflower, cranberries and pecans. Try it, you might like it! https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/damaris-phillips/shaved-cauliflower-salad-with-toasted-pecans-and-cranberries-3174101 Prayers for those who need them along with hugs. Cheers to those who are celebrating. Wishing you all a wonderful day and steps forward for those who are recovering from illness.

I'm so happy that you feel comfortable discussing your situation with the Daily family. I think that is one of the nicest things we can do for each other. What you are going through is scary.

I'm very happy for you! Now, all you need to do is pack and then relax and enjoy the cruise! How wonderful that everything is working out on the house. I will keep Joanne in my thoughts. Do relax. You've earned it. @marshhawk I've used the apple cider vinegar gummies and they have helped. Also, Aspercreme with lidocaine helps. I think the lidocaine helps relax the nerves. Keep drinking that water but make sure you are getting your vitamins. Things like potassium, sodium, and magnesium can affect those night cramps as well. Unfortunately, you're right about hierarchy. A doctor I knew once explained things like this: There are two types of doctors. One type knows very little about a lot of stuff. The other knows a lot about very little. The specialists are great in their area, but don't always look at the whole picture. The Hospitalist or primary care doctor is the one who is supposed to keep an eye on the total picture and coordinate with the specialists. They both need equal footing in my opinion. There were times that my primary care doc was right on the money and more so than a certain specialist I was seeing.

My sister used to eat Veg All straight out of the can. She hasn't had it since college. Congratulations to your son! That is quite the achievement. The continued drop in BP even without the meds is concerning. There are other causes besides heart issues and this might be what the Hospitalist was getting at when overruled by the Cardiologist. I would hound the staff at rehab about it. Warm thoughts and hugs to you as I know it weighs heavily on you. @smitty34877 Sorry you are having difficulties yourself. I hope the new aide is of help to you as well as Tana. @Cruzin Terri How disappointing that you are having to restart the prednisone, but that beats the pain. @JazzyV I sure hope your stomach issues resolve soon. The mac and cheese might go easy on your tummy.

Good morning, everyone! We are supposed to see some sun today, but temps will remain frigid. I found my hat and gloves that I bought in Iceland and they helped keep me toasty warm yesterday when I was doing my walk. I don't mind cold weather as long as I am dressed properly. Today I am taking a load of used moving boxes out to the recycle center. They were taking over the house and garage. Then there is all that paper that items were wrapped in. So far there have only been two casualties to the move - a glass salad bowl and a Belleek tea cup. When I was preparing the posting of the Meal of the Day last night I was going by my list that said Sweet Pea instead of Sweet Potato. I was having a devil of a time finding recipes for that. Like I think I found one. So, I concentrated on the Short Cut part of the meal name. And, I found this: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Kraft-Macaroni-and-Cheese You could just crumble bacon on top and throw in a can of peas. The first recipe that had every item was from Good Housekeeping, but they wanted $20 to be able to see more than part of a picture, so I said no thanks. Then I found this one from Tyler Florence on The Food Network that came pretty close. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/mac-n-cheese-with-bacon-and-cheese-recipe-1917317 At least it had the bacon in it. Bacon helps everything. This next one had it all - macaroni, bacon, sweet potato, and cheese. I agree with some others that I'm not sure about the potato addition. Mac and Cheese has enough starch as it is. I tend to not eat it as it brings back memories of penny pinching meals in college. It was great back then because I could get 4 boxes of the stuff for $5. Of course, I made it with water as I didn't want to spring for the butter and milk. I swore when I was making enough money to be able to afford better that I would never eat mac and cheese again. But, here is a recipe that fits the description: https://www.bhg.com/recipe/roasted-sweet-potato-bacon-mac-and-cheese/ Here is the Good Housekeeping recipe that they wanted $20 for. To me it doesn't even look that good. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/247698048242960095/ And here is one with the peas that my list called for. Kind of a mix between mac and cheese and tuna noodle casserole. https://damndelicious.net/2014/07/21/bacon-pea-macaroni-cheese/ That's it for today. Back to my boxes!

Good morning, everyone! We are supposed to see some sun today, but temps will remain frigid. I found my hat and gloves that I bought in Iceland and they helped keep me toasty warm yesterday when I was doing my walk. I don't mind cold weather as long as I am dressed properly. Today I am taking a load of used moving boxes out to the recycle center. They were taking over the house and garage. Then there is all that paper that items were wrapped in. So far there have only been two casualties to the move - a glass salad bowl and a Belleek tea cup. When I was preparing the posting of the Meal of the Day last night I was going by my list that said Sweet Pea instead of Sweet Potato. I was having a devil of a time finding recipes for that. Like I think I found one. So, I concentrated on the Short Cut part of the meal name. And, I found this: https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Kraft-Macaroni-and-Cheese You could just crumble bacon on top and throw in a can of peas. The first recipe that had every item was from Good Housekeeping, but they wanted $20 to be able to see more than part of a picture, so I said no thanks. Then I found this one from Tyler Florence on The Food Network that came pretty close. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/mac-n-cheese-with-bacon-and-cheese-recipe-1917317 At least it had the bacon in it. Bacon helps everything. This next one had it all - macaroni, bacon, sweet potato, and cheese. I agree with some others that I'm not sure about the potato addition. Mac and Cheese has enough starch as it is. I tend to not eat it as it brings back memories of penny pinching meals in college. It was great back then because I could get 4 boxes of the stuff for $5. Of course, I made it with water as I didn't want to spring for the butter and milk. I swore when I was making enough money to be able to afford better that I would never eat mac and cheese again. But, here is a recipe that fits the description: https://www.bhg.com/recipe/roasted-sweet-potato-bacon-mac-and-cheese/ Here is the Good Housekeeping recipe that they wanted $20 for. To me it doesn't even look that good. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/247698048242960095/ And here is one with the peas that my list called for. Kind of a mix between mac and cheese and tuna noodle casserole. https://damndelicious.net/2014/07/21/bacon-pea-macaroni-cheese/ That's it for today. Back to my boxes!

I love that picture!

Good morning, everyone. I woke up to a very light dusting of white stuff on the back deck. It didn't stick on the ground, just the wood decking. We knew it had to come sometime. I remember snow for Hallowe'en when I was a kid. I am thankful that we had good weather for moving last weekend. Today's meal is one I would like. Stuffing is my favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal. I used to be able to get stuffing bread at a local bakery in Ohio. I'll have to scour around and see what's available here in Midland. This first recipe comes from Canada as an alternative meal to the normal barbecue food for Victoria Day. The name ‘slider’ originated in the 1940’s when sailors in the US Navy would refer to mini-burgers as sliders because of their extreme greasiness. In just one or two bites, the burger would just slide right down. Fortunately around 2007, sliders evolved from miniature ‘grease bombs’ to elegant culinary creations that now appeal to people of all backgrounds and tastes. https://goodfoodandtreasuredmemories.com/wp/recipe/turkey-sliders-in-stuffing-biscuits/ The stuffing biscuits are very versatile. They can be made into a turkey slider or used as a breakfast biscuit with butter. https://whitneybond.com/easy-stuffing-biscuits/ This next recipe has all kinds of ideas on how to use the stuffing biscuits. https://www.simplehealthykitchen.com/stuffing-biscuit-turkey-mashed-potato-cranberry-sandwich/ Wishing you all a wonderful day. Safe travels to those who are heading off on a holiday cruise. After taking yesterday off and watching mindless TV, I am back to unpacking boxes. Not that many left.

Good morning, everyone! Happy Birthday @Crazy For Cats Jake! Also, Happy Birthday to Sandi's @StLouisCruisers son. Right now it is nice and sunny out, although a bit cool. It is supposed to cloud over by noon and then will be downright cold. But, no matter! I am comfy cozy in my new home with plenty to do. Back in Ohio I had regular service for pest control. It was pretty good and I never saw a spider or ant the whole time. In August I told them I wanted to cancel the service as I was moving out of state. They said they would take care of it. However, they came out in September anyways. I recently got a message from them that they would be out November 14th for my next treatment. I replied back that they were supposed to cancel my service and close my account. They said ok. Then I received another message that they had cancelled the November 14th service but were waiting to reschedule for another time. So, I called them. When I started the service I had signed a one year contract which got me an introductory discount. I fulfilled the contract for that year and then went by each treatment because I was moving. The woman in charge of my account said I needed to send them a copy of the purchase agreement for my new house to prove that I had moved to an area they didn't service. Otherwise, they would be charging me the discount amount for cancelling the service. I've never heard of such a thing. My nephew, an attorney, said tell them to try and charge you and good luck in court. Fall harvest salad with roasted butternut squash and apple is the only salad recipe you will need this fall and winter. Loaded with roasted butternut squash, fresh crisp apples, bright pomegranate seeds, toasted pumpkin seeds, and tangy feta cheese, this fall salad is tossed with kale and a delicious homemade apple cider vinaigrette. It's healthy, wholesome, nourishing, and filling. Plus, it's a gorgeous and colorful salad to put on your holiday table this year. https://www.aheadofthyme.com/fall-harvest-salad-with-roasted-butternut-squash-and-pomegranate/ This next one leaves out the kale and uses lettuces. It also includes dates and a cumin date dressing. https://www.loveandlemons.com/butternut-squash-salad/ Ina Garten uses arugula for the green. You can add in other greens and lessen the amount of arugula if you like. https://foolproofliving.com/roasted-butternut-squash-salad-with-warm-cider-vinaigrette/ Wishing you all a wonderful day. @Quartzsite Cruiser I hope Steve improves by leaps and bounds! @ottahand7 Thinking about your DB. Warm thoughts and healing vibes to all with family and friends battling health issues.

Good morning, everyone. It will be a much cooler day here in mid-Michigan. I may never be without Cardbordeaux here. The party store is an easy walk from home. I walked up there yesterday and then walked through a shopping center to make a long route to walk. There is a restaurant for breakfast along the way should I choose to eat out. McDonald's is along that route as well. Today I'll explore in the opposite direction. I was drawn to check that stuff out yesterday. Whenever I walk to the end of my street I can smell the food from the restaurant. Yesterday I could identify it as toast. Today's meal sounds quite interesting. I bet you would get a wonderful explosion of flavor from the bean sauce. If you are not a fan of trout you can substitute a fish to your liking. You may have to scour the Asian markets for some of the ingredients. Shoaxing wine may be difficult to find. If so, you can substitute dry sherry. https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/braised-trout-in-chilli-bean-sauce-em-dou-ban-yu-em-51147400 This next one is made with mackerel. https://blog.themalamarket.com/fish-in-chili-bean-sauce-pixian-douban-yu/ This last one uses a mild, flaky white fish that is steamed rather than fried. https://thewoksoflife.com/fish-w-spicy-bean-sauce-douban-yu/ @Quartzsite Cruiser Lenda, thinking of you and your DH today and hoping all goes smoothly. Wishing everyone a great day today.

Great minds thinking alike.

Lenda, you needed to rant and there is nothing to forgive. I would be scared since it seems like a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. Don't those people talk to each other. In the case of the cardiologist, it might be hierarchy. The hospitalist notices something, calls in the cardio guy who says everything is fine. Of course, that does not comfort the family who doesn't have the background to determine if the cardiologist knows what he's talking about. Can you talk to the hospitalist who wanted to keep your DH a few days and get his take on what is happening now? He may be satisfied with what the cardiologist determined.

Have a wonderful cruise, Roy.

Good morning, everyone! It is going to be a wonderful day here in mid-Michigan with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s. Then the bottom falls out for the weekend, but today is a day to enjoy! Today's agenda includes my laps, a trip to the grocery store, and unpacking more boxes. I think they are multiplying. Bok choy is a member of the brassica or cruciferous family of vegetables that includes cabbages, broccoli, kale, collards, mustard greens, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. It is considered a nonheading cabbage because it grows in a cluster of stems and is sometimes referred to as "Chinese cabbage" (as is napa cabbage). One cup cooked bok choy has 20 calories and 3 grams of fiber. This cruciferous cousin of broccoli is loaded with nutrients that help keep your skeleton strong, such as calcium, vitamin K and potassium. Swap in 2 cups of raw bok choy for lettuce in your salad and you'll rack up as much calcium as you'd get from half a glass of milk. For more information on bok choy and how to buy, store and cook it, look here: https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7669589/what-is-bok-choy-and-what-can-i-do-with-it/ I could only find one recipe that was exact to the Meal of the Day name. I had to search to find it on a non pay site. Good Housekeeping wanted $20 from me to see the recipe. No, thanks! This one has both the bok choy and the coconut rice. https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/370843350567483324/?amp_client_id=CLIENT_ID(_)&mweb_unauth_id={{default.session}}&amp_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.ie%2Famp%2Fpin%2F370843350567483324%2F I think the bok choy looks pretty good. I'd probably skip the rice due to the carbs, but the rest is yummy! This next one has a different preparation for the pork chops and includes the coconut rice. You can use the instructions for the bok choy from another recipe. I'd probably grill it. https://www.howsweeteats.com/2017/08/thai-pork-chops-coconut-rice/ This next recipe doesn't use pork chops and includes plain white rice. I'd use riced cauliflower. The pork is cubed and stir fried with the bok choy. https://madaboutfood.co/easy-teriyaki-pork-and-bok-choy/ This next one is a Thai pork chop recipe with peanut sauce. It uses grilled peppers as the vegetable, but there is no reason bok choy couldn't be included. https://lundsandbyerlys.com/one-skillet-thai-pork-chops-coconut-rice-2/ I hope that gives you some choices for dinner tonight. It feels good to be back in the meal saddle again. Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Awesome! Gestures such as this can make all the difference. The poem is beautiful and I am sure the service was as well. Jose would be proud. Your love for him comes through so strongly.

Well, that is true. Open Enrollment will end eventually and at least they aren't spewing hate and lies about others. They are a bit easier to tune out. I do get annoyed at how dumb the Medicare ads think we are. Well, that is truly too bad that you will have to start over. Being flat on your back does take it out of you. There is noticeable loss of lung capacity after a long time bedridden. The only remedy is getting up and moving. You'll get there eventually. I guess this is also a lesson on developing patience. I have none when it comes to being sick. @HAL Sailer safe drive today. @Crazy For Cats Nice flowers. Special occasion or is Juan just being nice? @bennybearI don't care about the order as long as I have cream and jam for my scones. They are a special treat to me. Just like cannoli is in Boston.

@Quartzsite Cruiser I just read your report from yesterday on Steve's surgery. Wonderful news and I'm sure both of you are breathing sighs of relief. Now, let's barrel on through the rest of the recovery!

Good morning, everyone. It is going to be a sunny day here in mid-Michigan with warmer temperatures. The forecasted high is 64 for today and 73 for tomorrow. I will gladly celebrate World Freedom Day, especially since we are free from the political ads. Now I can watch a TV show without cringing every time an ad comes on. Unpacking is going much quicker than packing did. It is also making me wonder why I saved some of the junk I did. But, I did find my will! It needs to be redone so I'll be calling on my esquire nephew soon. Pumpkin is a very healthy food choice and we should incorporate it into our diet more often. It isn't just for lattes and pies at Thanksgiving and Christmas! Clear Skin and Clear Eyesight: Like other bright orange foods, pumpkin is an excellent source of Vitamin A, a nutrient needed for clear, acne-free skin and sharp eyesight. One cup of boiled, mashed pumpkin delivers 245% of your recommended daily Vitamin A intake. Aids Digestion & Weight-Loss: Fiber is a crucial component of a healthy diet, yet a whopping 97% of the American population isn’t eating enough. (1) Fiber aids in digestion and elimination and it helps you feel satisfied and full longer. Pumpkin adds fiber – about 3 grams per cup – on a minimal amount of calories – 50 for that same cup. It has an extremely low glycemic load – a 3 – which means it will not spike your blood sugar, and instead, will help keep it stable. If you’re trying to lose weight, consider adding more fresh pumpkin to your diet. Sage is good for memory and also helps to boost mood. https://mariamarlowe.com/recipe/savory-pumpkin-sage-soup/ This next recipe is a little more on the thick side making it nice and hearty! https://www.punchfork.com/recipe/Savory-Pumpkin-and-Sage-Soup-Delish Here's a quick and easy version: https://www.bowlofdelicious.com/pumpkin-soup/ And here is the vegan/vegetarian version: https://www.theedgyveg.com/2017/12/20/pumpkin-sage-soup-vegan-pumpkin-soup-recipe/ That looks good for the upcoming weekend when the temperatures plummet and highs are only in the 30s. Wishing everyone a wonderful day.

Prayers, Lenda, that all goes well. Thank goodness they found the clots. You're more than welcome. That's an interesting diet, Roy. I'm hoping you escape the worst of it and can get some real food. @luvteaching How nice that your DH is progressing, but how strange that the x-ray doesn't show congestion nor a broken bone. Did they perhaps mix up the x-rays?

Good morning, everyone! It is shaping up to be a nice fall day here in mid-Michigan. Temperatures will be moderate until the weekend when they plummet. It is that time of year. @StLouisCruisers Sandi, the resemblance between you and your daughter is very strong. It does look like the three of you were having a great time. That is the most important thing. Yesterday I ran a Covid test over to my brother and it turns out he is positive. It seems to be a light case. My DBIL took paxlovid for his Covid and now has a rebound case. This stuff is nasty. Galette (from the Norman word gale, meaning "flat cake") is a term used in French cuisine to designate various types of flat round or freeform crusty cakes, or, in the case of a Breton galette, a pancake made with buckwheat flour usually with a savoury filling. Of the cake type of galette, one notable variety is the galette des Rois (King cake) eaten on the day of Epiphany. In French Canada the term galette is usually applied to pastries best described as large cookies. I have made King Cake and had quite the selection of those little ceramic figurines that were baked in it. The person who got the figurine got to wear the crown. The potato and fennel galette reminds me of some of the recipes for the tomato pie we all liked. Some were the free form crusts that we see in this recipe. https://greenthumbfarms.com/rustic-potato-and-fennel-galette/ I only found the one version of the potato and fennel galette. Galettes are very versatile and there is a lot that can be done with them. This next one makes the crust out of the potato. There is no fennel in this one, but I'm sure you can add it in if you like. https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/crispy-potato-galette This next one uses leeks (just for @superoma). It also has a pistachio crust that sounds very interesting. https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/goat-cheese-leek-and-potato-galette-with-pistachio-crust This last one has a rye crust and uses leeks and fennel, but no potato. https://www.irishexaminer.com/recipes/?c-recipeid=5297 Wishing you all a wonderful day. Time to tackle those boxes!

Oops, my bad. Many thanks to @superoma! Nice job on the soup. Now I remember reading how you grow your own leeks. I was so tired yesterday by the time I was connected that my brain wasn't functioning well. I still made myself stay up and watch some TV just because I could. I am so glad! We don't want anyone wasting away! At first Spectrum tried to tell me that they didn't service my area but I could see that this address had service prior to us. Then they said it was the modem, so we drove to Saginaw and picked up a new modem. Then they said my house was wired incorrectly. But, it was wired correctly up until October 31st. Who knows. Probably not, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

Good morning, everyone! It will be a sunny day here in mid-Michigan with temperatures in the mid 50s. Still lots of boxes to get through. I may add to the trash pile that previous owners left out front. I need to check to find out when the big item trash removal is so that I know how to time my donations. Trash day is on Friday with recycles on the third Friday. I love chili, but would pass on the cornbread. Normally I am not a fan, but the time I hiked Grand Canyon I certainly appreciated it. We hiked down the Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch where we camped for the night. We had made arrangements for dinner at Phantom Ranch and they served beef stew (don't care for it) with cornbread (not my favorite) and coleslaw (ok by me). It was all so good I had seconds. I think what I liked is that I didn't have to pack the food in and I didn't have to pack the leftovers and refuse out. I think this would be a great dinner for a busy family on a crisp fall day. For our first recipe we have an offering from Reese Witherspoon. https://www.delish.com/cooking/a23891306/reese-witherspoons-corn-bread-chili-pie-recipe/ It looks really easy, especially since it uses a boxed cornbread mix. I'd like this next one with the jalapeños in the cornbread. I like a bit of heat. https://emeals.com/recipes/recipe-40874-261435-Chili-Pie-with-Cornbread-Crust This next one put cheddar cheese on the cornbread. It looks really nice! https://12tomatoes.com/chili-cornbread-pot-pie/ Take care, everyone. It is wonderful being connected again.