My attempts at a variation of the California Roll

I finally got around to trying to make sushi a couple of times. Hopefully, I'll get better and better at it as I practice more.

The first time, I couldn't get anything to roll right and stick together. That, and I discovered that you can't cut the sushi roll, especially a squishy, loosely-rolled one, with a dull or serrated knife. The seaweed at that point is no longer crispy, but a bit elastic and must have become almost like chain-mail in texture and toughness to the knife. So, basically, the first rolls were half cut and I ate the entire roll on a plate with a fork and spoon. Rather than dipping it in soy sauce, I dribbled soy sauce over the entire thing. The taste was good, so I was given hope for the next time.

A day or two later, I used the leftover sushi rice which I had already added the sushi rice vinegar and sugar to and tried making another sushi roll. This was a bit better, but still was too loose to be served to anyone other than myself. I dropped the whole thing, again, partly cut, into a ziploc bag and had it for lunch at work.

My most recent foray as sushi chef came last week on the last night before by oldest flew back to school. I was once again attempting to make a slight variation of a California Roll. I made the sushi rice, and used a cucumber and faux-carb as the filling. I forgot the proportions of rice to vinegar and sugar, so I overdid that. So, I just added more rice to the mix and we had alot to work with. This time, my rolling was a bit less fumbling and I was able to roll it a bit tighter. I remembered the knife restrictions and actually wet the sharp knife between cuttings.

My son really liked the sushi; so much so that I made it all that night. I think having the extra sugar really appealed to him. I am by no means able to make a professional presentation of my sushi yet, but it was acceptable to my family (though no one but Winston or I ate any). Maybe when my next son returns home from his mission to Thailand, he'll want to try some of dear-old-Dad's sloppily homemade sushi.

I wholeheartedly recommend anyone who wants to give it a try to just go ahead and forge on! You might be pleasantly surprised!

It's not the humidity, it's just hot heat!

If bad things happen in 3s, then I don't think I want to know what #3 is going to be! First, the car A/C that we thought just needed a recharge actually needs a new compressor! Then, the house A/C blower motor quit running and of course that had to happen late Saturday afternoon, and Saturday was a state holiday. So, I'm not waiting to see what #3 will be so I can just get it over with!

98 is the forecast for the next 2-3 days, then hopefully it will cool down to the low 90's later in the week; oh blessed relief?!

Until then, I'll just quietly go to work, dropping the car off at the repair shop, and sit in air conditioned comfort while my poor sweet wife swelters at home waiting for the repairman.

Also, at least the A/C was working at church today, so we were in relative comfort as we obeyed the Sabbath. Now that is a direct blessing of obedience! And here's the nice thing at home. We actually have two A/C units in the house, but the broken one is in the bedrooms upstairs. At least we can sit in the family room/kitchen in relative comfort. And then it cools off at night, so sleeping with the windows open is not too bad. And, when the downstairs unit died 2-3 years ago, it was the middle of winter and we could stay warm with the good unit upstairs when we needed it for sleeping. Thank heavens for little blessings!

Sushi & other cooking thoughts

So, the other night, we were in Salt Lake valley, and stopped at Ikea. It's one of our favorite places to eat (yes, it's a furniture store, but they have a good eatery). Our returned missionary who went to Sweden is tired of the Swedish meatballs, but he wasn't with us anyway. After eating, we were walking thru the store and I decided it was time to splurge the $1 and buy a bamboo placemat. I've seen demonstrations for making sushi and decided that I need to make my own. I have google'd (it's a verb!) and found some sushi rice recipes and so in the next week or two I'm going to try and make my own sushi. Apparently, you add a little bit of rice vinegar to the rice to make it better. I plan to use faux-crab and cucumber and probably a little avocado and make some California Rolls. I have high expectations.

I need to make some teriyaki chicken again soon. The kids really like it when I make the sauce, and my oldest son perfected my recipe. We just use equal parts sugar, soy, and water, then flavor with garlic and ginger. It's sweeter than some of the off-the-shelf stuff. (The sweeter, the better!!!)

Had an incredible evening with former companions, Choro-tachi (Elders) and (Shimai-tachi) Sisters, all of us honoring and visiting with our former Dendobucho (mission president), Roy I. Tsuya. What a wonderful man. He is now 88 years old, 3+ years a widower and is a 'nanny' to his great-granddaughter. It's amazing how old everyone else is; I haven't changed a bit!

Update: Four Month Follow-up CT Scan

I had a four-month follow-up CT Scan and the results are "great," to quote the doctor! He said that everything looks good and my lymph nodes have shrunk even more! Because of my Pulmonary Embolism at Christmas time, they want to keep me on blood thinners for another 5-6 months. Whatever is best!

More thinking and reflecting about the goodness and blessings received from a kind and loving Heavenly Father.

Time for Reflection

General Conference is a great time for reflection and introspection. I reflect on the great blessings that are mine from the Lord. I look at myself and determine to continue to do better.

Happy Easter and I hope you all enjoy conference - listening to the word of the Lord as it is directly applicable in our lives today!!!

http://www.lds.org

Some Words and Thoughts on this Victory

I would like to thank everyone who prayed, fasted, and expressed concern for me as this battle ensued over the past few months. I have new-found appreciation for and empathy for those who suffer physically and spiritually; both long-term and short-term. My hope for myself is that I will be able to genuinely express concern and empathy to those who suffer and struggle.

Heavenly Father is VERY mindful of us all. He and His Son, Jesus Christ, never left me. "...he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people" - Alma 7:11. I NEVER once felt alone. That is not to say I didn't have moments of despair, sadness, or helplessness. Those moments were too many that I'm embarrassed to mention that I even had them at all. Because of the kindness and thoughfulness of family and others close to me, I should never had had those moments. When I bottomed out, they all came to my rescue. They were all angels, supporting me and being the way through which I received the Love and Kindness of an Eternal Heavenly Father and an Ever-Loving Savior of an Elder Brother, Jesus Christ.

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt 24:40.

For those of you who may be concerned that I didn't mention this struggle to you; I apologize if you felt left out. I know and understand the burden of daily life that we all have and I only did not mention anything in order not to add to that burden. I NEVER wanted this illness to be about me. I wanted only to show that I am willing to do as the Father asks me to do. I want to continue to do as the Father desires, and I KNOW, that since He has preserved me in this life, I must use this experience to bless others in any little way I possibly can.

Please, share your thoughts and let me know what little I can do to bouy you up with words, thoughts, deeds, and actions, as well as prayers. I KNOW that prayers are answered. I know that the power of prayer is real and have felt that myself too many times to dismiss it.

May the Lord bless you in all your righteous endeavors.

I'm cured!!!

My oncologist called me yesterday. He had communicated with Dr. Einhorn in Indiana; the world expert on testicular cancer. The small spot on the latest scan, he says is not cancerous (and he's treated literally thousands of cancer patients). He declared me cured!

For those who I hadn't told, I've been battling testicular cancer since Sep 2009. After a round of chemo, I'm declared cancer-free and am now on observation. I am SOOO excited.

Thank you to all those who have offered prayers on my behalf; they were definately heard and answered. And, thank you especially to my loving, caring wife and children for their hours of support and caregiving!

PET Scan results

We met with the oncologist again today after this latest scan. The chemo did what it was supposed to! The cancer is gone from the lymph nodes and they are now considered 'cold.'

This new scan did show that there is a small spot in my groin and they will biopsy that in a couple of weeks. He's quite optimistic that it is scar tissue or something like that, so they think it's nothing! After that, we'll move to observation mode. I'll keep you posted.

We are so relieved! Thank you for your prayers & thoughts; they were definately felt and appreciated. Onward and upward!

Update

I had a CT Scan on Monday; it was inconclusive. My lymph-nodes have shrunk 50% and the oncologist was saying that 75% is the magic number. So, this next Monday I will go in for a PET scan. I will drink a radioactive isotope with glucose and it will react with show any cancer cells that may be present. We will then meet with the oncologist on Wed to see those results.

The doctor is quite optimistic; but I'm asking for any extra prayers anybody wants to throw my way. Winston heads back to Boston tomorrow so he and Spencer will give me a blessing before he leaves.

Otherwise; I've been back to work for three weeks so far and my strength is improving immensely each day. I even shaved this week and could see a real 5-o'clock shadow! Allison gave me a haircut today because what is growing back is kinda sporadic so it needed evening out.

We went to the pulmonologist last week and he said that my lungs are looking really good. There is really only one clot in my lungs that is very visible so my injections of blood thinning medication are doing the job. Allison is a great nurse and gentle with the twice-daily injections; I just make sure I don't make her mad just before it's time for my shot!!!

I still have oxygen at night and if I see my level go down during the day, but it's diong much better. Again, my strength is increasing each day. I've been walking around campus a bit more and don't get winded as much. So, hopefully, the scans will be positive on Monday and I'll just continue to improve from there. I also go to church each Sunday now since early January and we've been to the temple twice as well. I have even been to Ikea (for Swedish meatballs); though the kids insist I use the wheelchairs they have there, so they can take turns pushing me around. I guess it's their way of returning the favor for the years in strollers!

Thanks for your prayers and concern!

Back to Work

I'm going back to work tomorrow.

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday. Everybody enjoyed being home and just having fun together.

I went to church today for Sac't mtg and it went well. I've gained a lot of energy just in the past week or two. I feel so much better. I even shaved for church today!

I expect to be at work for only part of the day and slowly work back into a full schedule this week. It should go well.

I hope everybody else had an enjoyable Christmas holiday.