If you can't laugh at yourself...

I survived the colonoscopy prep. Barely.

And evidently I really enjoyed the anesthetic this time. My daughter went with me, and when the doctor came out to talk to us, she tells me that I told him about biting a dentist one time when he hurt me. Well, the doc, being young and having a good sense of humor (thank heavens) said if he'd known, he would have tied me down.

And I apparently responded that he couldn't do that - it would be too much fun.

Yeah, never showing my face in public again. At least I don't have to go back for five years. I was hoping for ten, but he found and removed six polyps this time. No biopsy results yet, of course, but they can't be too big, as I had my last encounter with the scope about six years ago.

Ah, the joys of Celiac Disease.

Gluten Free on an airplane (U.S.)

Well, I bit the bullet and wrote to the TSA to get the real facts. No more wishing and hoping for me!

Turns out - Celiac Disease *is* covered, and with my handy-dandy doctor's note, I can take any food items I need onto the airplane - through security. Any.

Of course, I will still have to buy my drinks inside security, but at least I don't have to worry that they are going to make me throw away my chicken salad because it is a paste, or my peanut butter or mayo packets, or my cup of applesauce.

I will have to pull my cooler bag out so it can be hand examined - no more express security line for me - but that's nothing compared to having to go from 4am until 3pm with no food. (We only have an hour between flights, so there isn't really time to try to find something at the connecting airport.)

I'm still planning on using the frozen grapes instead of risking a cold pack, but grapes are a good snack anyway. So I get to keep my stuff cold and enjoy some fruit as well. Not such a bad deal.

Now, of course, I have to wait and see if the people at the actual security checkpoint behave the way the TSA says they should. Think I'll take some cookies along, just in case.

Sorry it has been so long

Just got my copy of 100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes by Carol Fenster, and I've had my nose buried in the book ever since! Great recipes, bringing to mind great ways to convert some family recipes. All in all... a winner.

I have also been attempting to figure out how to carry a full day's worth of gluten free food onto an airplane. I'll be flying from Ohio to San Francisco on the 23rd, and between getting to the airport at 4 in the morning and getting the rental car at noon (Pacific time) I'm going to need at least two meals. My daughter can pick something up in the airport once we've checked in, but I am already planning to carry a package of frozen grapes, to work as an ice pack, and with a little luck, a sandwich from Jason's Deli on Udi's bread. My sister's chicken salad and some Glutino crackers will serve as either breakfast or lunch (depending on what sort of sandwich I get, and if the Jason's near Columbus has the bread) but I'm still considering what to take with me for crunchy snacks. Maybe some caramel corn? Some GF pretzels? A piece of the birthday cake I'll be making for my daughter? (GF, of course. She doesn't need it, but I found a recipe, and I'm anxious to try it.)

Suggestions are more than welcome... this will be my first cross-country flight since the diagnosis.

Who's the Celiac?

This is a question I'm hearing more and more lately. I got it again on Saturday night while at my high school reunion. The minute I mentioned gluten-free, one of my classmates that I would never have imagined having any information whatsoever brought up that a softball buddy of his has celiac disease, and was in terrible pain prior to going gluten-free about two and a half years ago.

I was amazed. But then, maybe I shouldn't have been. Two of my girlfriends from way back when spoke up immediately when I got the diagnosis - one to offer support, and the other to let me know where to find both gf foods and a support group! And we live in the tiniest of small towns.

So far (and I know I haven't been doing this very long at all) I have had no attempts to entice me to eat something I shouldn't, I've had plenty of people offer to help me find things that I can eat, and I while I have had a couple of less than happy restaurant visits, I'm usually able to get what I need.

Still... I have to wonder what the reaction would be if I didn't have that word "disease" to fall back on. If I wasn't the celiac in the group. What if it was a different form of gluten intolerance? Would the perception of my friends and family be different? Would I get the same service when I go out? I hope so, but I suppose I'll never be really sure.

I have resorted to the "wheat allergy" excuse once or twice while eating out - especially when on the road and starving after driving all day. But the strange thing is... most of the time when I say that, they drag out a menu that plainly says "Gluten Free" on the front.

I'm glad to have been diagnosed this year, as I know things are far easier today than they were even a few years ago. And I'm glad to have the family and friends that I do... they are amazing.

Silly Yak Gluten-Free Kennywood trip

My daughter, two of her friends and I met up with Chandra and some of the other participants in the Yahoo "Silly Yaks" group for an outing at Kennywood on Sunday. What a wonderful place! In addition to the great rides, most of the park is covered in trees and there is ample shade available for even the most sunburn-prone among us.

But the very best parts? They allow (and even encourage) people to bring picnic lunches and have a large number of covered picnic pavilions available for both large groups with reservations and small family or other groups to use. They also offer a number of gluten free options throughout the park - their Potato Patch fries are gluten free, as is all the cheese sauce used in the park. And those fries with the cheddar sauce and bacon? To die for! But take someone with you to help eat them - the portions are huge. The burgers (sans buns, of course) and hot dogs are gluten-free, the soft serve ice cream is, too. And of course, the lemonaid and cotton candy are treats everyone can enjoy.

Good rides, and a lot more of them than Maria's friends had expected based on the size of the park. Six dollars for preferred parking, but there is a skyride to the free parking area!!

The only drawback? It took us two and a half hours to get out of Pittsburgh. The tunnel we took on the way in was closed for construction when we tried to get back out.

Still... we'll be doing it again. We will just plan to leave a bit earlier (before the tunnel closes for the night) or to take the turnpike.