A few weeks spent recovering from a reoccuring SI Joint Issue that decided to make things even more fun by causing the sciatic nerve on the opposite side have excrutiating pain and numbness (how can both of those things even happen at the same time?) is an excellent time to really appreciate one's friends and family. I've been couch-ridden nearly a month with a few more days at least in sight and Rick has been doing everything to keep our little family of four humans and a handful of furry people running smoothly. He's taken kids to band practices and orthodontist appointments. He's taken me to doctor's appointments and physical therapy appointments. All the shopping (and there's a lot of it when you have a 15 year old boy!) he's done all alone.
Rick doesn't cook but he's kept our house stocked with plenty of easy to prepare things that the kids could make for themselves or make for me and he's even done very well at accommodating my 6 month vegetarian status. He's made me little snack plates with fresh fruit, cheese, and these amazing brown rice with salt and pepper Triscuits and kept my little coffee pantry well stocked. I've tried more flavors of hummus than ever before and found a new favorite one and I finally got to try some of those frozen vegetarian Indian meals that I always eye at the grocer's. And you know what? They aren't half bad!
My friends have been wonderful as well. They've sent little cards and notes to cheer me up and stopped by and kept me company even though I know it had to be awkward talking to me when the only position that gave me relieve was on my hands and knees with several pillows shoved under my abdomen and my cheek pressing against the cushion of the couch. Some have brought lunch from some of my favorite take out places --vegetarian massaman from Curry Away and paneer mekhani from Udipi, yum!-- and others have brought me raspberry mochas from Starbucks and candy. I've been very, very spoiled during my convalescense!
After several weeks of eating delicious things some that are healthy and quite a few that are not so healthy especially so often I've been really looking forward to when I could stand up long enough to prepare myself a simple meal. Today was that day!
I sauteed some onions, garlic, orange pepper, and kale in a small pan. I added some crumbled soft tofu and a chopped mushroom veggie burger and sprinkled the whole thing with some paprika, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper. It only took me about ten minutes to make but I was a little worn out after even that little bit of time and happily sat down to the first thing I've cooked in nearly four weeks!
