Happy New Year!

Spent the day with my daughter, her friend and my sister's family.  Yummy roast pork and mashed potatoes... from the pots.

Good thing I always get mine directly off the stove - this year someone who shall remain nameless managed to drop noodles and gravy into the mashed potatoes that were on the table.  Oops!

Hope you all had a very enjoyable end of the year, and that the coming year will have less oops and much more Yum!!

Gout

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... or at least that I'd found foods that were both tasty and gluten free.

Woke up one morning with a sore knee.  Figured I'd hit it on something, or slept on it wrong, or dislocated the stupid kneecap again (long story).

But it just kept getting worse.  In fact, it got bad enough that I asked quack to look at it.  (And I never go to him when I'm actually sick.)  He did.  One look, one very painful squeeze of the muscles around the knee, and he pronounced the verdict. Gout.

He sat down on his little stool and wrote something in the medical record.  I explained to my lovely (and worried) daughter that gout is the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joint.  He said "exactly!" (He thinks I'm an idiot.)

Then he walked out the door.

And walked back in with the biggest needle I've ever seen.  Sucker was huge!  And full of cortisone.  It hurt going in.  And it hurt a hell of a lot more coming out.  He took a sample of the fluid in my knee after he injected the medication.  Felt as bad as getting a bone marrow sample taken.

But... I could bend my knee.  Right away.  And it didn't hurt.  Well, it didn't hurt anywhere near as much.  What hurt was his next sentence.  Two servings of chicken per week.  Period.

Stupid me, I asked him what I could eat.  "Salads and vegetables," was his quick reply.  (Ugh was my immediate thought.)

So the diet just became much more restricted.  At least I'm losing a bit of weight.  

I'm tired.

I'm tired of having Celiac Disease, pernicious anemia, ichthyosis vulgaris, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hypercoagulability disorder and the strokes associated with it, osteoporosis, allergic asthma, bipolar disorder and non-alcoholic fatty liver.

I'm tired of always needing to know just exactly how far I am from the nearest bathroom... just in case.  I'm tired of people telling me they "couldn't do it" when they discuss being gluten free.  I'm tired of trying to pretend it doesn't matter to me that I can never have my favorite candy again.  I'm tired of  people who claim to be gluten sensitive or gluten "allergic" and then eat gluten filled items in public. 

I'm tired of companies that make gluten free products assuming that I am also dairy free, nut free and vegan.  I'm tired of people looking at me as though I have two heads when I ask for a gluten free menu or ask for the eggs without the toast.

I'm tired (really, really tired) of calling to inquire about a product that should be naturally gluten free... only to be told that it contains gluten.  Really?  Your peach ice cream contains gluten?  Why the hell would you put gluten in peach ice cream?  I can understand that it is in some chocolate ice creams, in the form of malt.  And in cookie dough ice cream.  I expect it to be there, and don't even glance at the packages.  But peach?  Give me a break.

And most of all, I'm tired of how bitchy I have become.  One of my imaginary internet friends was talking tonight about how wrong it was to claim to be a vegetarian when you sometimes eat meat or use meat in recipes (even if they are for someone else's consumption).  I very nearly responded that it must be damned nice to have the choice about what sort of restricted diet you adopted, and that whining about other people who also have the choice calling what they are eating semi-vegetarian is really petty.

I didn't, of course.  I came here to rant instead.  But I wanted to say it so badly... and I still do.

I don't like myself very much right now.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Another one bites the dust

After a less than satisfactory response from the Chipotle headquarters, I'm afraid I am going to have to rethink my "go-to" restaurant when traveling.  I requested that certain employees be retrained in their gluten free procedures... they told me they aren't a gluten free restaurant, and that if I want gluten free, I have to describe my needs every step of the way... up to and including new cheese and lettuce containers so my food isn't cross contaminated.

Ok, I can deal with that.  Even though at my usual location, they told me it is corporate policy for them to open new containers for a gluten free diner.

But when I say I need a gluten free bowl and the response is "Do you want a burrito?"  Someone hasn't been trained.  Or they need to be retrained.

I will continue to visit the location in North Canton, Ohio... but I think I'll avoid the others.  Pity.  I had counted on being able to get a safe meal at all their locations.

Anybody got suggestions on another go-to spot?

Five Guys

Just got back from my first visit to Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  OMG, what a great burger!  Juicy, tasty, wrapped in its own little piece of foil so it doesn't touch anything else in the bag... my sister's bacon cheeseburger, for example.

And the fries... wow.  Just wow.  Tasted like homemade - the old fashioned way.  Crispy outside, soft and tender inside.

They have plastic silverware available, and are gluten-free friendly.  But you have to tell them you have a "gluten allergy" or they assume you are low carb rather than gluten free and don't change their gloves.  (Got this tip from a manager.)

Pricy, but well worth it for the occasional really big lunch.

Travel good. Friends better.

Visited some friends this past week.  They are lovely, wonderful and amazing.  In that order.

Two of them are getting married in August, and I attended their wedding shower last Saturday.  One of the things they received was a new set of pots and pans.  (Yes, there's a reason I am mentioning this.)

Two nights later, I wound up staying at their apartment.  While I was there, they unpacked the box of pots and I saw something written on the box.  They took out all the wrappings, put the pots back in the box and showed me what it said...   "Ellie's Pots".  They are dedicating their new cookware to making sure I will be safe when I dine with them.

Some people are just way more than incredible.

Stress

So tell me... what does stress do to you?  I mean, does it give you symptoms that are similar to being glutened?  I get bad news, and immediately all the symptoms come rushing back... the trips to the bathroom, the belly pain, the desire to hide under the covers.

My best friend is having some minor surgery on Wednesday, and I'm falling apart.  I have a world of things to do (I'm moving on Wednesday - I didn't know about the surgery when I made my plans) and absolutely no desire to do any of them.

Guess I'll just keep packing and hope for the best.

Domino's new "Gluten Free" crust

While I think it is great that more companies are willing to think outside the box and try to accomodate people with restricted diets, I don't think this is a great way to go about it.  They themselves say it isn't safe for those of us with Celiac Disease... so why bother?  Either you are going to make it safe, or you shouldn't claim it is gluten free.  Not everyone will see the Youtube video in which they tell you they put the crust on the same surfaces as the regular crusts, thus contaminating them.  

People are going to get sick.  I just don't think it is right to advertise a gluten free product that you know is most likely not going to be gluten free when you deliver it to the customer.

Sorry it has been so long.  Just hasn't been much going on here - at least on the gluten-free front.

I made it safely back from the left coast, gfree all the way.  I'm going to be eternally grateful for the vendors at the Pittsburgh version of the Celiac Awareness Tour... I wound up eating the instant mac and cheese that I got there several times during the trip.  And I got a great deal on the case by purchasing it at the end of the day.  There's a tip for you... buy your things at the end of the session... the vendors don't really want to cart it home with them, so you can get some good deals.

Once again my life has changed, and I'm looking for some advice.  You see, I'm moving into a roommate situation to save money (my daughter's in college, what can I say?) and it will be a good thing for everyone concerned, except... they aren't gluten free.  Now, they always go out of their way to make sure I can eat when I'm with them, but the kitchen is full of breads, rolls, gravies, etc.  And no, there isn't going to be space for me to have my own area of the countertop.  I will have my own freezer and shelf space for gluten free items, but we will be eating out of the same pantry for most other things (veggies, etc.)

So... what to do?  I'm committed to making this work - at least until my daughter graduates (another year and a half) but I don't want to be sick all or even part of the time if it can be helped.  I will have access to a microwave and the stove (but not my own cookware) and I have a completely gluten free toaster.

Help?  Suggestions are not only welcome, they are really needed.

And the loss

Well, it had to happen sometime during the trip.  I haven't been as careful as I should have, and now I am paying the price.

But tell me - did I get glutened, or is it just the heavy spices?  I never used to vomit when I ate things that contained gluten.  But the past two times I have eaten at anything other than a "place your single order and we will serve you" place, I've not only had the dizziness, abdominal pain, and other ugly symptoms, I've thrown up.

Am I now so sensitive to the stuff that my stomach is purging it before it can even get to the small intestine?  Or am I just really unlucky and getting food poisoning twice within four months?

Indian food... for the win!

We have been staying with my daughter's roommate (who is an 80 year old retired architect) while getting things ready for her trip to Japan.  The first day she surprised us with a lovely chicken curry.  Yesterday we had delicious Indian fried bits (in a garbanzo bean batter) with tea, and tomorrow we are meeting at an Indian restaurant/market so I can get some of the flour after we've lunched.

YUMMY!!!

Road Trip

The San Francisco Bay Area is wonderful in many ways, not the least of which is the availability of decent gluten free food.

I'm hoping to sample as much of it as possible during my week here.  (The living on chicken salad and cheese sticks for the drive over here has lost some of its glamour, though.)

Thank you Gluten Free Mike and Rudi's Gluten Free Bakery!!!

Thanks to Gluten Free Mike and Rudi's Gluten Free Bakery!!  I won a great give-away at Gluten Free Mike's blog, and Rudi's has a month of give aways going on right now.

I received two wonderful magazines with great recipes and hints for living gluten free, a boatload of coupons for lovely gluten free items, and a brand new toaster!!  Perfect for toasting the yummy cinnamon bread I'm looking forward to for breakfast for the next several weeks, thanks to Mike and Rudi's!!

Celiac Awareness Tour - Pittsburgh

My daughter and I went yesterday, and really enjoyed the speakers.  We found some new products, and reintroduced ourselves to some familiar ones.  Glutino's Genius breads were available for sampling, and the size of the slice and the fact that it stays together even under the pressure of being spread with peanut butter and Jelly really impressed me.  The flavor is pretty darned good, too!

While we were there, we picked up some instant mac and cheese to take with us when we travel - I figure we're going to be pretty tired by the time we get to the motels at night, and having to hunt for a safe place to eat just isn't going to cut it!!

Hope you are having an enjoyable weekend.

Winter?

I guess it has finally arrived... just in time for me to have plenty of things on the agenda to keep me on the roads.

Sunday is brunch with an internet friend, Thursday we go retrieve the van from my niece and get to take a trip to Ikea in Cincy, and the following Saturday is the Celiac Awareness Tour in Pittsburgh.  Hope the big snow holds off until we are safely back home.

Making some big changes this winter, and a change in location is among them.  I'll be hunkering down with my sister for the spring and summer - while my daughter is off studying in Japan.  So packing and such are also on this month's agenda.  Oh, joy!  But at least down there I'll be close to Trader Joe's and Whole Paycheck.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and that you will all come through this winter with flying colors.

First real snowstorm of the season.  And I'm thrilled.  While we won't get the lake effect snow, I'm going to pretend to be snowbound and cuddle up with a warm cat and some good, old fashioned comfort food!

GIG meeting tomorrow at The Raisin Rack in Canton... come on out and join in the fun!  Should be interesting - I haven't attended a meeting in a long time, and I'm looking forward to getting together with the regular gang.

I've closed off the main bathroom - found out that's where the cold breeze is coming from.  Gonna have to bundle up to use the bathroom, but that's better than having to burn boatloads of extra fuel to keep the rest of the house warm.

Hope you are all enjoying the return of winter!

And again I've gotten behind. Seems like the story of my life these days! First...I'd like to thank Mary again for the wonderful coupons. I have missed fish so very much, and Gorton's brand has always been one of my favorites. Second, I would like to wish you all a Happy Hanukkah, a belated Blessed Solstice, a very Merry Christmas, a blessed Kwanza, a joyous festivus (for the rest of us) and of course, an incredibly Happy New Year!! As Dumbledore used to say, "Another year, gone." Here's hoping the one to come will be filled with love, laughter and plenty. Happy Holidays!

Had a lovely Thanksgiving with my sister and her family. Best holiday I've had in decades. Didn't even have to lock myself in the bedroom a single time this year!! Yes, the crowd makes me crazy. I hide every holiday, or at least I did until this time. But only half the usual number of people showed up this weekend, so I was feeling much more safe. Isn't that strange, that I don't feel safe among my own (or my sister's) relatives and friends? Sigh. I took all my own food this year - turkey thighs, stuffing, honey butter for the Udi's muffins my sister bought. She had green beans and mashed potatoes I could eat, so I had a full meal for the first time in many months. I just don't seem to get around to cooking for myself. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and that you will enjoy whichever December occasion you celebrate!

I'm a lurker, not a commenter. Why? Well, it isn't that I don't care about what you have to say, or that I don't care about you. It is simply that no matter how long I think about it, I always wind up saying exactly the wrong thing.

Yes, I'm a thread-killer. I admit it.

Every once in a while I can't help myself, and I throw in my 2 cents worth... and then I go back to lurking.

But tonight, my imaginary internet friend, I'll bite my tongue.

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. Fall has arrived and with it my tendency to hibernate!

This week I'm planning to make a test batch of stuffing - I'm taking my own food to Thanksgiving this year, so I don't wind up getting glutened by mistake the way I did last year. Who puts the spoon from a casserole onto the turkey platter? Evidently one of my sister's family or friends, that's who.

So once payday hits, I'll be stocking up on celery, onions and mushrooms. I have some Udi's bread in the freezer (I'm not much of a sandwich person, so a loaf lasts me a very long time) and I'll be adding some chicken broth just to keep things moist. Got to see if there are any turkey thighs in the store this early - they usually show up sometime in the fall. Anyway... hope you had a wonderful week and are enjoying the fall color.