One says golabki, another says halupki and I am one lucky fella

A couple days ago I was on Sparrow Tree Journal, reading blogger Jennifer's latest post.  She'd been busy in her kitchen making a Polish dish called golabki for her husband Gregg, and wanted to know if anyone had ever enjoyed it or even knew what it was.

I realized "Oh, she's talking about stuffed cabbage rolls..."  Growing up we called them pigs in a blanket.  I loved them but couldn't remember the last time I had any.  There's a lot involved in making those suckers.

My friend Kimba visited me on Saturday, bearing gifts

The next day I'm texting my friend Kim and she tells me she's making halupki, and asks if I've ever heard of the dish.

I said I didn't think so, what's in it?  Kim begins describing it--steamed cabbage leaves, stuffed with a meat & rice mixture, cooked low n' slow in tomato sauce... 

Stuffed cabbage rolls again!  The same ingredients, but another name for them.  I told her I enjoyed them many times over the years but never knew them by that name; then I told her about my blogger friend Jennifer's post just the day before.

Saturday morning I get a text from Kim, asking if I'd be home later.  I said yes, asked why.  She said she wanted to bring over some of her halupki aka stuffed cabbage rolls.  

That's her above of course, sweet as can be.  She brought me enough rolls for a couple meals, and after I put them in the fridge we sat and talked for a couple hours about everything under the sun.

Her 33 year old son Sam called, and I had a sudden flashback to when Kim was on maternity leave, and brought him downtown to have lunch with us at Warner Center.  I can even remember holding him while Kim ate her sandwich from Chick-fil-a.  

Anyway, after Kim got on her way (she and her husband Dave were going to the Mountaineer Casino in WVa) I got dinner started.

Kimba, you wanted an honest opinion and here it is, they are fork tender and absolutely delicious.  Thank you so much for the cabbage rolls, your visit and that awesome pop-up birthday card.  You made the day a really special one.  

I wonder if anyone else has a name for this Polish delicacy?

A spur of the moment thing, and a surprising farewell to someone I didn't know

This morning I awoke with my face in it's usual distress from the LC inflammation.  I laid there in my bed for a good hour, watching youtube videos on my tablet before forcing myself to get up and use the bathroom and make a cup of coffee.  Some days I feel really defeated over these chronic pain symptoms, and this was one of those days.

I turned on the tv for a few minutes, then snapped it off and brushed my teeth and got dressed.  No shower, I didn't need one.  I put on my jacket and decided to take a walk, see where it took me.

I walked up the street in the direction of my favorite hangout, Kuhn's Market.  It's amazing to see the new supermarket pretty much complete.  They just need to stock it, and pave the new parking lot in front of the store.  They promise it will be open by Thanksgiving.

I was going to try and take a couple pics of how it looks inside, but they have all the windows covered.  All I know for sure is, it's HUGE.

Heading further up the street towards the senior center, this is the intersection where I got off my evening bus every night when I worked downtown.  That's my former apartment building below, where I lived for 23 years.  I really enjoyed my former life there. 

The entrance to the Senior Center.  Aren't these thrilling photos!

There wasn't that many people there.  Colleen, Helen, Cussin' Connie & my friend Mary.  I got to meet Carl & Kate, the new senior kitchen volunteers.  I was informed there was an extra lunch available if I wanted it, Orange Chicken with carrots.  Why not.

Walking home, I decided to stop at the store (the old Kuhn's) and get some eggs & Tylenol.  In front of the building was a white truck from Rietz Foods.  Something pinged in my head, like I should know that name--but nothing came to mind.

I came upstairs, did a google search on Rietz and got a location in Austria.  Did another search on Rietz actor, then actress, and yep--found it.  Karen Rietz, Robert Reed's daughter.  Born in October 1956, she had one acting job in 1970, playing Marcia Brady's classmate in the Slumber Party episode.

Karen & her dad, Robert Reed

However, I was dismayed to see she died last November at age 69.  No cause of death was given.

Her obituary read that she spent her life training horses, and loved her son William more than anything.  Her mother was listed as family, but no mention of her dad who died in 1992.  

I probably shouldn't be writing anything today, not in the greatest of spirits.  I'm so tired of battling these long covid symptoms daily, I worry they'll never go away.

I've also been concerned about an online friend who's going through a lot right now with her adult daughter, who's dealing with some urgent health matters.  I'm not a parent, but I'm reminded of something my mom said many years ago when I had a bad fall and broke my leg in 2002.  

Mom kept calling and asking how I was doing and did she need to "come up there"  (she lived pretty far south of Pittsburgh).  I told her I was 40 years old and could take care of myself, please stop worrying.  She said "Fat chance, you kids will be the death of me when you reach my age!  Well, if I'm still here I mean!"   

Mom, I'm your age now... wish you were here!

It's coming, it's coming.... it's coming (I hope)

Sunday night while brushing my teeth before bed, I began smelling that all too familiar aroma of diesel fuel and a perfumey decay; the "long covid smell".  I knew that meant it was coming, but prayed the bad stuff would come and go by morning.  

It didn't, I woke up with a swollen right eye, aching cheekbones and burning mouth.  I deal with varying amounts of inflammation and soreness pretty much daily, but this was officially a 'flare-up' day.  Nothing you can do but swallow aspirin, hold an ice bag to your face, suck on lemon drops and ride it out.

But I was happily surprised when I went downstairs to get my mail and saw this early birthday card from my dear friends Robin & Chuck in Canada.  I loved it, and I'm afraid to look at the postage it cost for sending it here!  

But I sure am glad they did.  Trump may have his deranged bickerings with Canada, but the rest of us are quite fond of our northern friends & neighbors.  Thank you, Chuck & Robin.

Me turning 65 years old... it's coming.  It beats the alternative, but if I could pick a younger age, I would.  It's sweet when older friends and even some neighbors will say "Oh you're a baby" but c'mon, 65 is up there.  Just ask my gray head and enlarged prostate and Medicare card.  They gave me a 10% Senior Citizens Discount on my Chili's receipt last week without me even asking.

Speaking of Trump and his criminal organization (Putin, the Republican House & Senate, Newsmax, Don Junior's Russian wedding backers, his MAGA crowd who just love the show, etc.) I am not sitting here rubbing my hands in antipation of that blue wave that CNN and MSNOW say is coming.  It would certainly be great, but this country is full of voters who would rather go hungry and without gasoline or proper medical care to ensure we don't get someone in government that isn't Trumpy.  Crazy, but true.

I love Texas, some of my favorite bloggers and people are from there--but I don't see it turning blue anytime soon, do you?

And speaking of politics, I just started reading this biography of Robert F. Kennedy written by Chris Matthews.  A dozen pages in and you can already see the love and admiration Chris had for RFK and laments he never got to be the leader of our country he should've been.  

Heartache... it's coming, because he's right. I can still remember in June '68 when the news interrupted whatever we were watching with his death.  My mom cried while Dad held her, I'd never seen her cry before.  

And now, everytime I see his crazy-ass son on the news or online, I wonder what his dad would've thought.  How'd we go from Bobby to that walking measle.  😕

I shouldn't be writing while in such a cranky mood.  I got a bill today from my "pre-Medicare" health insurance for $1547.00, for 'Anesthesiology Services' rendered June 9.

It says I paid $144.20 to it, but now owe $1547 more.  It's clearly in error, my cost was the $144 I paid 5 months ago.  I called Member Services, who said "Yes your share is $144.20."  I said "Then why am I getting this bill demanding more?"  My insurer said "Do you want to talk to the hospital's billing dept?"  I said "That's YOUR job."  He said "Oh--well, they closed at 5pm anyway."

UPMC...I'm coming for you later today. 😠

Finally, because I'm a boring foodie, I wanted to show you these 3 pieces of chicken I got from Kuhn's on Sunday.  The last time I bought fried chicken up there, 3 chicken filets for $7.60, I lamented their cost.  A few people told me that wasn't a bad price, I insisted it was.

These two big fried chicken thighs and a chicken leg, $2.38 total.  Now that's a fair price!

UPDATE:  After arguing with a Pakistani woman who insisted I pay the new $1547 hospital bill, I called the surgeon's office who said they'd take a look at it.  

Twenty minutes later my insurer called and curtly said my billed amount was adjusted to $71.00.  What a racket!