Let the composing commence!

School has begun (early this year, might I add). And for the first time in my educated life, I have only one class a week. And it's not even a class.. it's my private lessons. So yes.. I only have to be on campus on Thursdays. Wow. Of course.. that doesn't mean I won't be there other days. Undoubtedly I will, due to rehearsals and whatnot for my recital. But it is so nice to have the open schedule.

Today I went on a little adventure. It started with me wanting to ride my bike.. So I got my biking clothes on and thought, "Maybe I'll ride to school" (which is over an hour ride). But then I thought I really didn't want to drive to the hatchery, ride, wait, then ride back, then drive home. Then I got the crazy idea to make some lunch and ride to the lake nearby. And that's precisely what I did. :) I made myself a monster of a salad, and tossed that into my backpack, along with a good book... checked google.maps to make sure I knew where I was going, and off I went!
Now... here's the thing... google.maps doesn't show hills and whatnot in map mode... just the streets. So in my mind, I'm thinking flat the whole way. But oh no siree! Not flat at ALL! Think San Francisco. I had to get off and walk.. and even then I was gasping for air. And then!.. Going down the otherside was death waiting to happen. My word but I was flying down the otherside of that mountain like an avalanch. A firm mental note not to go back that way was etched into my being.
Needless to say, half an hour later, I arrived at the lake.. parked myself in some shade near the water, kicked my shoes off, and ate and read in the peacefull breaze.
The way home was a totally new route... and still with a very large hill, but it was decidedly far better than it's former.
I think I'll go again tomorrow.... and a new way..again...


Here's the last movement of the woodwind quintet I'm currently working on. (Oh iMovie.. you crack me up....)

Burgers and Fries!

I waltz into the kitchen, wanting something to eat. Oddly enough, the craving for french fries comes to mind. I had some golden potatoes and homemade ketchup, so why not!... But then, what to go with them?.. How about some bean burgers!
So I get a simple recipe out of Joel Fuhrman's book for the burgers, slice up the potatoes and sprinkle some garlic powder over them, and stick them in the oven whilst making the burgers. I discover though, as I'm going along, that I want more in the burger than what Dr. Fuhrman calls for, so I start throwing stuff in. Then Jess comes into the kitchen, and then things REALLY get going.. and the new challenge is to get these things as close to beef burgers (in taste) as possible. Let's see if I can remember what all is in here...
Black beans
Kidney beans
Onion
Garlic
Celery
Almonds
Sunflower seeds
Tomatoes
Cumin
Ketchup (homemade)
Benson's Seasonings
Quinoa (seasoned with white vinegar, molasses, cumin, more Benson's)
I'm sure there were a few other things... we were just throwing stuff in that seemed like it would work.. heheh... It turned out GREAT! Baked it for about 20 min at 350 degrees, then flipped them and bakes for another 20... something like that. They LOOKED like beef.

The ketchup was also a mix of recipes and turned out shockingly good.
Tomato paste
Sun dried tomatoes
Apple juice
Lemon juice
Apple cider Vinegar
Hemp oil
Dates
Onion
Garlic
Oregano

Then Jess made this absolutely amazing "cheese" sauce.. that was made with nutritional yeast and other things (the recipe was in the Thrive book)

The "bun" is gluten free bread from Trader Joe's (the brown rice bread).

Needless to say, it was an amazing dinner. Very filling, and very tasty.

Spinach Ravioli Take 1

On the 11th day of my fast, I came up with an idea for spinach ravioli. It turned out pretty good, but the recipe still needs some work.

This sucker has no oil, salt, sugar, dairy, egg, meat, or gluten. :D

Missing it more than I thought

I arrived home safe and sound, but the next morning found myself depressed..feeling as if I accidentally left a piece of myself back in Santa Rosa. I'm surprised how much I miss everyone and being there.. It was quite a culture shock to come back home oddly enough. I'm a little better today, but still down. I'm sure the slightly messy room and the hospital bill hanging precariously over my head doesn't help matters either. Tomorrow I'll take care of both of those, as well as renew my county insurance so I can get more labs done. That should help things... being productive always helps these things. 100% guarantee right there. You may not feel completely better, but darn tooten you will feel better than you were beforehand.

School starts soon... I need to edit and compose.

Leaving :(

Last night was bar non the best night here. I put on a little concert for everyone (played my tunes plus some standards).. It was only about an hour.. maybe a little more. Then another lady played some more classical pieces, and I and another musician started singing along. And then we started dancing.. oh what a hoot! It all started at 7, and we ended around 9:45.

There was a good turn out, too; about 25 people. Dr. Incredible was the only one there out of the doctors, but of all of then, I was happy he was the one to make it... considering what he's taught me was the influence for my most recent song (which needs a name still).

All in all, it was a great way to end my stay here. :)

Oh right! Platelets!... yeah... 16. Dr. Awesome told me that sometimes we don't see any changes for at least three months.. especially with auto immune diseases.. and especially went it involves the blood (I think..). I'm not disappointed though.. my health is at an all time high. I saw a picture last night from my senior year in high school, and I look better than I did then. Wow! That blows my mind.

I think today I'll leave after dinner.. that way I can say my proper goodbyes and get everyone's email (and not hit any traffic on the way home).

What an amazing summer.

Energy is up... so how about those platelets?

Got a CBC today! They managed to squeeze me in last minute. :) I'm beyond curious now... Results will be in tomorrow! (I think...)

I moved rooms today. Since today was the day I was supposed to leave, the room I was in was scheduled for someone else.... Conveniently, the room right across mine was empty, so I got to throw all my stuff into that one...and leave my keyboard in the living room. :) So far my roommate hasn't shown up yet... I assume she'll be here by tonight.

I got a crash course in Qigong yesterday from Dr. Incredible. (It's pronounced chee gong). I practiced this morning, and now I just have an abundance of energy.. I hardly know what to do with myself. I gave Lela a massage after breakfast, and I lasted quite a long time before getting tired.. Very cool. :)

I didn't make it to the pool yesterday like I wanted... Well.. no... I supposed I did make it, but didn't swim cause the lanes were closed at the time. Lame. But at least it was a nice walk to the Y and back (about 30 min). I really want to go today... but I'll either have to miss the cooking demo, or go right after dinner... neither of the two sound appealing... but if I want to go, something has to give. Maybe I'll drive there after dinner so I can put more time in between eating and exercising... Yeah... that sounds like a good idea.

I saw another Doctor today (and Wednesday). His job title is something along the lines of neurological chiropractor. It was fantastic. I already knew my left hemisphere was pathetic compared to my right.. so he gave me some great tips to do while practicing and exercises to strengthen/stimulate the left side. Very very very cool stuff. He was really excited that I came to see him cause what he does is really geared toward people like me (musicians, artists..etc).

I am so bummed I can't stay here longer. I am just loving it here! This has got to be one of the best summers I've ever had, and my oh my how I don't want it to end! :( Ah well... life needs to continue, right?

No salt makes things interesting

Today I could eat almost anything (save for grains), and I tell you what.. no salt... wow. It's amazing how much we depend on it to make food taste "good." That said, there is NO salt here (you would have to buy some and sneak it in if you wanted it) and you have to get very creative to enjoy the food. Yesterday was a bit hard... but today it all tasted better. I don't know if it's just me and I'm getting used to it or what.. But it'll be interesting to see how I think everything tastes by the time I leave.

Speaking about leaving, I decided today to stay until Monday. I have the means, so I'm taking it.. and that'll give me a chance to schedule one more appointment with Dr. Incredible. I learn so much from him every time I see him, it's ridiculous. Truly, I would love to just follow him around for a week.. I would be set for life, I think, afterwards. :) My time with him today was amazing again. A slightly different experience, but just as cool... cooler, in fact. I was on a high for pretty much the rest of the day.

One of the interns and I watched Fight Club...heheheh... It had been a long time since I had seen it, and only once before.. so it was fun to watch it again.

I really really really want to start swimming... my only problem is my swimsuit bottoms don't fit anymore, so I may go to a local store and try to find some new ones.

Technically labs would be tomorrow.. but they usually only do it for people who are fasting, so I'm not sure if I'll get one... I'll ask in the morning. If anything, I just want a CBC...

Oh the energy!

So my blogging slowed down a bit because I'm not by my computer as much within these past few days. I did yoga this morning, and it was fantastic! My legs were shaking by the end. :)

Tomorrow I have another energy therapy session with Dr. Incredible, and then I think I'll go swimming down at the local YMCA.

On Wednesday I'll be seeing another doctor who specializes in exercise and improving brain function.

My chest started to feel a little tight today.. like a cough is coming on... So we'll see if anything becomes of that...

I'm tossing around the idea of staying a few more days... Perhaps leave on Monday or Tuesday. Not sure.. I have some calculating to do... But I figure, this is my time to heal.. I'm here... I should get as much as I possibly can out of this. We'll see... I'll decide soon.