Friday, May 15, 2020

True Colors: Use Your Words

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.


Use Your Words, a multiblogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I'm using: surgery ~ hospital ~ needle ~ blood pressure ~ sleep
They were submitted by Sarah of My Life After.

                          
Well, I there's no question as to where Sarah's thoughts were when she came up with these words. 

Truth is, though, that she had every right to be thinking about medical issues, and I mean non Covid-19 medical issues. Because although the majority of the medical attention has been tirelessly focused on the devastation of the virus, the other health issues of the population didn't just stop. People didn't stop having chronic conditions that require medical attention and hospitalization. People didn't stop having heart attacks and strokes. People didn't stop having the flu and ear infections and myriad other issues. Elective surgeries could be put on hold, but other than that . . .

In March, Sarah had surgery. It had been scheduled for a while and it was fortunate that she had it at that point. Any later and it probably would have been postponed. And necessary surgeries postponed can, in many cases, result in life and death situations.

After surgery Sarah wasn't able to sleep, was having trouble breathing and ended up in the hospital again in the beginning of April. She was initially on a Covid-19 floor and saw the level of effort it took to care for these patients. Every needle prick, every interaction required suiting up, taking time consuming and exhausting precautions. Sarah didn't have coronavirus and fortunately is at home and much better now.

There are more stories as well, more personal ones, that taxed our medical system and caused the kind of fear that could easily result in avoiding getting the medical assistance that non-covid patients would need.

One day in April, Hubs was suddenly in a lot of pain, and how to deal with it raised my blood pressure. Should he go to the doctor? Initially he decided it wasn't worth the risk of possibly being exposed to covid, but eventually the pain was so excruciating that he had to. He needed medication. Should he go to the pharmacy? More exposure. He needed an x-ray. Going to a hospital for that was a terrifying thought.

Among other issues, some I'm terrified about because exploring them have been put off, he had an infection and an inflamed gallbladder. I would need to come up with new recipes to accommodate his needs. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, but it would require me to go to the grocery store, something I wasn't going to do for another 2 weeks, to read labels and purchase the foods he needs to eat. Low fat and low sugar options to ingredients I use, lots of fruits and vegetables, grains, chicken and fish:


Almond Coated Honey Mustard Pollock, a healthy dinner, is a little tangy, a little sweet and a little crunchy. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com

Almond Coated Honey Mustard Pollock

Almond Coated Honey Mustard Pollock, a healthy dinner, is a little tangy, a little sweet and a little crunchy. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com


My older son had an ear infection. Again, this required taking the risk of going into a doctor's office (I told him to wear a mask and gloves, stand, not sit in the waiting room, touch nothing, and stay away from other patients). He required medication, so a trip to the pharmacy as well.

Here's a sobering fact: during this time a friend's elderly mother needed surgery. She was unable to get it and did end up dying. Just think about that for a minute. Devastating. How many more stories like this do you think there have been? These are the silent covid victims, the uncounted numbers.

Then there's my next door neighbor. He was taken away in an ambulance in April (non-covid related). Two days later he was back home and had a party. His daughters, sons in law, grandchildren, there was quite a group over there. I have to wonder, with all of the stress on our medical workers, and having just been in both an ambulance and a hospital environment, who doesn't take precautions? Who doesn't protect their own family? And who doesn't realize that the people who ignore guidelines are complicit in extending the havoc covid causes? Their apathy impacts not just the exhausted medical workers but the neighbors and community members who suffer from everyday issues and medical emergencies who just cannot be accommodated at this time? The price is high. It's the lengthening of the amount of time this crisis continues, the strain on our medical system, and can result in an increase in the number of people who will die.

There are so many people fighting tirelessly to take care of others. There are so many people giving up their daily freedoms to try to break the back of this pandemic. And then there are those who just don't get it, who put their own selfish wants above the greater good. 

One neighbor is putting people in jeopardy. Another is making masks, hundreds of them, for as long as she has supplies. She dropped some off outside our house for us. I stood 10 feet away from her on her front lawn as I thanked her. 

This has been a time of showing our true colors.

It has also been an eye opening time of seeing the true colors of those around us.


Masks made and dropped off by a neighbor for personal use in the Covid pandemic | Picture taken by and property of www.BakingInATornado





Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics






Almond Coated Honey Mustard Pollock
                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients:
1 1/2# pollock fillets, cut into individual portions
1/2 cup orange juice
salt and pepper to taste
2 TBSP stone ground mustard
2 TBSP honey 
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs 
1/2 cup sliced almonds, chopped

Directions:
*Place the orange juice in a resealable bag. Rinse and pat dry the fish and place in the bag in a single layer. Refrigerate for one hour, gently flip the bag over and refrigerate another hour.
*Take the fish out of the juice and discard the juice. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper.
*Mix together the mustard and honey on a plate. Mix together the bread crumbs and almonds on a second plate. Spray a 9 X 13 baking pan with non-stick spray.
*One piece at a time, brush the fish on one side with the mustard and honey using a pastry brush. Gently press into the bread crumb mixture, then repeat on the other side and place in the prepared pan. Cover with tin foil and refrigerate for an hour.
*Move the baking pan to the counter, remove the tin foil, and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake the fish for 20 to 35 minutes. How long you need to bake the fish will depend on the thickness of your fillets. The fish is cooked when it is no longer translucent and easily flakes with a fork.

30 comments:

  1. I have used those words too often. . So I’ll pass on making up a story using them. I will however ask, what is a pollock?

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  2. Karen, my frustration is palpable. Everytime I get an injection that furthers comprimising my immunity, I have to now ask if it's worth it. It's painful to not be able to hug my grandchildren, yet look out the window as they neighborhood gathers, old and young for BBQs. I don't understand how we all listen to the rules, yet here completely different things. Your picture of masks make me smile; I've made about 200 of them so far. I feel helpless and making those have helped a bit. Stay safe. <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I worry about you and I, the vulnerable, and I worry about a society where asking for compassion for those of us compromised (and many who could die despite not being compromised) is met not with humanity but with anger. I had no idea so many people were that self absorbed and heartless.

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    2. Karen! I am sick to my stomach reading all of my grammatical errors. Good heaven, I apologize. I was super passionate writing my response, and didn't even check it before I hit send. So so sorry. <3

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    3. LOL, I know you're a teacher but all bets are off when it comes to comments on my blog. I'd much rather you write with your heart and forget the grammar, just in this one place.

      Delete
  3. I heard about Sarah---what an ordeal! I love so much of what you said here. I am amazed at how divided the country has become over COVID-19. They just opened up our state despite rising case numbers. I'm staying home!! People only hear what they want to hear and do whatever the hell they want---and it upsets me deeply to see the callous attitude from those who refuse to wear masks and scoff the dangers of COVID-19.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As absurd as it is that your state is opening prematurely, mine never closed. And people without masks and gloves are blatantly aggressive towards those of us who wear them. Where is our compassion? Our common sense? Our humanity?

      Delete
  4. My condolences to your friends' family. So sad :-(

    One should not wish bad things upon people, but I wouldn't mind if some of these Covidiots caught a nasty virus that told them it's no joke. Seriously, some of these entitled individuals seem to feel so invincible!

    Our country re-opened on Monday. I hope there won't be a second wave, just in time for summer break.

    Your dish looks delicious and healthy, no wonder yous husband started to feel better. Hope the upwards trend continues!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, I think the waves will continue until there's a vaccine.
      And I agree, I have never before wished bad things on anyone, but if someone has no common sense, compassion and humanity, I think they should be the first to suffer the consequences of the disease that they're not willing to help eradicate.

      Delete
  5. There have been a lot of people affected by the virus, just like the flu every year. I have a compromised immune system, so initially I stayed home. Now with more information I know I am safe to go out.
    Sending well wishes to your hub and prayers that with diet change he can avoid surgery as it is never a good time for such.
    Spatulas On Parade

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rarely do people suffer to this extreme extent from the flu, and new symptoms and long term affects of coronavirsus continue to come out, we don't yet know the scope of it's issues. Never have this many people died of the flu in just a few months.
      I wish you safety out there and hope you are able to stay well.

      Delete
  6. How often can we start a story with: It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
    I'm seeing so much pain and heartbreak right now. But also, in equal measure, selflessness and charity. Disasters bring out the best and the worst in people.
    Please, God, help me be one who stands for the best!
    And great job with the words, Karen. Your posts are always so knowledgeable, well-thought-out and presented!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Diane, for your kind and thoughtful words.

      Delete
  7. As you know, my husband's brother was hospitalized with COVID-19 for three weeks and we had an inside (so to speak, because we, obviously, couldn't visit him) look into this illness, speaking with nurses and his hospitalist. This is no flu, this is no joke and I have almost unfriended a couple of people (but I know them IRL and really don't want to do that) on Facebook because of one trying to spread that video with so much false info and getting on me because I refused to watch it after doing some research into whether it was trustworthy) and the other one insisting we all needed to get out there and build up the herd immunity. Anyway, the people not seeking medical attention has become a grim problem, as have been delays in cancer patients getting treatment. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's all deadly serious and as you know, my heart went out to your brother in law as he battled this disease. I have not unfriended either, but I have unfollowed, at least temporarily.

      Delete
  8. Oh friend, you wrote words that many of us can relate to unfortunately. This time can be infuriating but also comforting as many are choosing to unite and take care of each other despite those who want to be divisive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly, I vacillate wildly between infuriated and comforted. It's been a wild ride, but when it's done I'll know that I did the right thing not just for myself but for others in my community.

      Delete
  9. Can I relate?????????????
    Maybe....................
    Is that a good thing or not, you decide

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, you didn't give me much information so I'm not sure I can.

      Delete
  10. It has been a crazy ride, for sure. I’m glad the health stuff is over, for sure. I can’t remember if I was in the hospital or not when I gave you these words...but it feels like I was haha!
    My 3rd surgery was a gallbladder removal. It was the easiest one to recover from. I hope your hubs gets some relief soon. I’m sorry to hear about your friend’s mom. It’s sad that, even though it wasn’t COVID related, it was still a trickle down fault of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, so much going on. I'm glad you're better and hope I can keeps Hubs' gallbladder under control. It's taken a lot of diet changes and ingredient substitutions but he's been feeling well for weeks now.

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  11. Glad there are so many creative people in your neighborhood.

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  12. All of us need to remember, "it's not just about me". Now and always we are so interconnected that everything affects everything.

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  13. I feel anger that all of this craziness has canceled our trip to Alaska. If people would have just listened I believe it would have been over by now. I myself have cancelled much-needed appointments. You have to weigh little decision.

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    Replies
    1. I agree, we did too little too late, and you know exactly who I blame for that.

      Delete
  14. You know as I said in my own blog recently I have no qualms unfriending people, and I've had to for my own sanity as this goes on especially people here in Georgia where corruption abounds, ignorance is praised, and no one seems to be taking it seriously enough. I don't understand how some people can be so selfish. But seriously...as much as you don't want to unfriend, sometimes that is the best self care you can do

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's the same here, ignorance runs rampant and no one seems to be taking it seriously enough. I've unfollowed for now, just to give myself a break, but unfriend could very well be next for those who, it turns out, aren't friends after all.

      Delete

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