hope this entry finds you well. personally, I am 300% improved health wise! ruling some issues out although to be expected - pretty sure the cadre of specialists did not inform me of the length of recovery nor all these rather annoying pop up concerns.
this is the best i have felt in 12 months time. have lost 42 pounds (only 10 more to go for "ideal" weight). started back at the gym in march which has certainly been a factor in my health improving - its not all about the super model lifestyle i've adopted (sparkling water, tic tacs, smoking a pack a day).
i cannot wait for the day when i can sit down and enjoy a fabulous dinner and revel in the all the tastes, smells, feel of a perfect pinot noir wrapping around my tounge, and the stir of deep and comical chats with my dining companions. not to say i have survived only on jello and ice chips these past six months or not enjoyed dinner with friends and family....i finally i gave up on worrying if it was all going to come back up. just don't want to waste a culinary journey.
work is GREAT - love my job. i meet at least seven new people a day - now if i can just get them to book at my hotel! this whole economic slowdown is rather impending doom. i get it - its real. it just seems its more of a frenzy verses actually in play.
looking forward to getting back to blogging and hearing about your adventures!
take care!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Erin Go Braugh early!
Had a great girls weekend. Went to St. Pat's Parade in Olde Town Alexandria. Of course we started with bloody 
mary's - had a make your own bar set up in the back of my car - best tailgating car ever built! The bottom of the back area lifts out to be a little picnic table. Believe me; it has been wonderful during polo matches - it's hard to get the candelabra and champagne bucket steady on just a picnic blanket.My friend Lorna's brother is the publican of O'Connell's where we had a really fun lunch- great live band and random bag pipers who stroll in for a complimentary pint after the parade.
Ahhh...mothers milk! Still not up to typical beverage consumption par levels ergo two was my limit. Although Guinness does have medicinal properties!!!
Ahhh...mothers milk! Still not up to typical beverage consumption par levels ergo two was my limit. Although Guinness does have medicinal properties!!!
Ended up playing pictionary until 3am! Girls v: guys and we spanked them! Second match guys did win - although rather confidant they cheated - notice two of them have the same hand motions….
Monday, February 25, 2008
And the hits just keep on playing.....
Endocrinologist not thrilled with blood test/hormone levels, however nothing can be done – just need to wait it out. He wants to rule out thyroid (levels are spiked however within range) and gallbladder issues– weight loss is not typical with pituitary tumor (lost 35 total and 10 since I saw him jan 3)– plus I have family history for GB and thyroid. So, on to ANOTHER doctor – I swear this is making me a hypochondriac! Current setback worst case scenario is damage to pituitary or they didn’t get all of tumor – will know more after MRI review on Thursday with neurosurgeon. I'm not worried – all of this seems to be part of healing process, and as stated earlier, clearly I am NOT a good healer, in addition to being most impatient!
I am more concerned about some friends who are going thru much worse than me (than I???) - damn, we are getting old! I have lit more candles this past six months than in my entire life! When i joked with my friend David if lighting candles crossed religions, he responded with their menorah exploded - obviously it translates!
I am more concerned about some friends who are going thru much worse than me (than I???) - damn, we are getting old! I have lit more candles this past six months than in my entire life! When i joked with my friend David if lighting candles crossed religions, he responded with their menorah exploded - obviously it translates!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
"Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night!" (or week...)
There have been some weird results from recent tests. So back to drawing board and hope to god (or whom/whatever you pray to) not operating room!
Friday - blood work; Monday – appointment with hormone specialist (endocrinologist) to review test results. cross fingers that this is just a minor setback and I do not have to be on drugs the rest of my life; Tuesday – appointment with ENT to review test and CAT scan results, followed by a delightful cocktail of contrast for and afternoon MRI (not the kind of "nooner" I prefer), concluding with regurgitating said contrast; Thursday – appointment with neurosurgeon to review MRI results; Friday – checking into Betty Ford based on conclusion of above doc appointments!!!!! I can be reached at tmcnamara@bf.com. or at my new job tmcnamara@victoriassecretlingeriemodel.com (only 13#'s to go to reach ideal weight!). Please, no photos or interviews until optimum viewing….
Friday - blood work; Monday – appointment with hormone specialist (endocrinologist) to review test results. cross fingers that this is just a minor setback and I do not have to be on drugs the rest of my life; Tuesday – appointment with ENT to review test and CAT scan results, followed by a delightful cocktail of contrast for and afternoon MRI (not the kind of "nooner" I prefer), concluding with regurgitating said contrast; Thursday – appointment with neurosurgeon to review MRI results; Friday – checking into Betty Ford based on conclusion of above doc appointments!!!!! I can be reached at tmcnamara@bf.com. or at my new job tmcnamara@victoriassecretlingeriemodel.com (only 13#'s to go to reach ideal weight!). Please, no photos or interviews until optimum viewing….
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Rather have a bottle in front of me then a frontal lobotomy (budumpba!)
Doc decided to not repack my brain!!! One more MRI, one deeper probe and this whole saga will be over-pending I pass. If MRI shows any leaking, infection, or swelling then he will place a layer of silicone like substance over the surgerical field - either way, NO PACKING of brain. Been having chats w/ brain & p-gland (suck it up buttercup, get in the game, cowboy up) and think they're on board! No strenuous exercise or flying yet. Shagging was not on the not allowed list this time; however either was bungee jumping, bull riding, flying on a trapeze (all of which are on my bucket list) – guess he compiled all the above into strenuous exercise.
We had a really great chat about the whole project brain probe. Although he is not completely satisfied with my healing, he wants to include my case into a study that he and neurosurgeon hope to have published. It is amazing how many people actually have a tumor, and not just impacting pituitary, that don’t find out until its too late; meaning there is some form of damage, or they are on autopsy table. Dr. Lee commented on how they had completed three similar surgeries in November and five in December, and none in January – really slow month. I returned with “Gee, don’t know why biz has slowed down – I’ve referred all my friends with brain base tumors to you”. He had to step away from the nasal/brain probe in fear of piercing my frontal lobe, whereby killing me, when he started laughing. Thank you, I’ll be here all week!
Also discussed the cost of surgery and socialized medicine. Out of the $34k+ hospital billed insurance, he only gets a very small portion of the hospital’s cut– he makes more money on office visits than surgery, and since this is a fairly new procedure, it is coded as experimental so he gets half of what he would get %wise on fixing a deviated septum, for example. Obviously he is not a big supporter of socialized medicine, yet he and his colleagues are at least investigating more options for prescription meds i.e. purchasing from foreign vendors to cut down costs for the patient.
These last two weeks have been the best I have felt since the diagnosis. I still have headaches, some blurry vision at night, bright lights and loud noises still pierce my head; however I am getting less exhausted by the end of the work day or doing chores. I am ready to get back to gym, riding my bike (with a helmet designed by NASCAR if I can find one!), and normal levels of cavorting. Still not ready to hit Vegas or party circuit although have been getting more comfortable with the lounge scene.
Thank you again for your support, positive thoughts, and laughs!
We had a really great chat about the whole project brain probe. Although he is not completely satisfied with my healing, he wants to include my case into a study that he and neurosurgeon hope to have published. It is amazing how many people actually have a tumor, and not just impacting pituitary, that don’t find out until its too late; meaning there is some form of damage, or they are on autopsy table. Dr. Lee commented on how they had completed three similar surgeries in November and five in December, and none in January – really slow month. I returned with “Gee, don’t know why biz has slowed down – I’ve referred all my friends with brain base tumors to you”. He had to step away from the nasal/brain probe in fear of piercing my frontal lobe, whereby killing me, when he started laughing. Thank you, I’ll be here all week!
Also discussed the cost of surgery and socialized medicine. Out of the $34k+ hospital billed insurance, he only gets a very small portion of the hospital’s cut– he makes more money on office visits than surgery, and since this is a fairly new procedure, it is coded as experimental so he gets half of what he would get %wise on fixing a deviated septum, for example. Obviously he is not a big supporter of socialized medicine, yet he and his colleagues are at least investigating more options for prescription meds i.e. purchasing from foreign vendors to cut down costs for the patient.
These last two weeks have been the best I have felt since the diagnosis. I still have headaches, some blurry vision at night, bright lights and loud noises still pierce my head; however I am getting less exhausted by the end of the work day or doing chores. I am ready to get back to gym, riding my bike (with a helmet designed by NASCAR if I can find one!), and normal levels of cavorting. Still not ready to hit Vegas or party circuit although have been getting more comfortable with the lounge scene.
Thank you again for your support, positive thoughts, and laughs!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Houston we have a problem….
Last Friday, I had what I thought was last post op visit with ENT. Thought being the key operative……Apparently I am not a good healer, as the surgical field is not at the mend point he expected and there is concern of infection. This means more drugs, although just heavy antibiotics – all I need is gangrene of the brain! I’m scheduled for a cat scan this week to determine if he needs to repack the area. I can only begin to tell you the excruciating pain this packing causes - right up there with child birth, self amputation, or having the Acme anvil blown thru your head when attempting to capture the Roadrunner. Soooooo, BACK to headaches on a scale of seven (which has lessened to a three), along with dizziness, nausea, and exhaustion. At least I will be ready for bikini season!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
REVIEW: Grapeseed 4865 Cordell Ave, Bethesda
I borrowed this from their menu….poetic license and oh, so true!!!
“Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, and it's our job to stomp on them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you'd like to have dinner with.” -- Kathleen Mifsud
Had a spontaneous “date” on Friday night. I’m a VA girl, so crossing two state lines and going OtB (Over the Bridge, which I do not do often) just for dinner, it had better not be a disappointment…
I prefer to sit at the bar since you have more one on one interaction with your server and you meet some rather interesting characters. Service was a little less than on the ball and it was not that busy – she had several regulars so there was an abundance of extracurricular chatting.
We enjoyed a lovely bottle of Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc. SB is one of those wines that is meant to be served chilled, not ice blasted cold, however the wine should send shudders down your tongue like really tart, fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice. We had to ask bartendress twice set the wine back in the chiller. For those who have yet to patron Grapeseed, it is a wine bar, hence the name. They have a great variety of wines by the glass in the “wine on tap” chiller – so get it together on the wine 101!
We shared four starters, which was plenty. Cornmeal Fried Oysters with a Bacon Beurre Blanc, Fricassee of Wild Mushrooms Sherry Vinegar & Truffled Polenta, Mussels In Belgian Beer Crispy Sweet Potatoes, Fried Chicken Livers Poblano and Bell Pepper Jelly, Crouton.
The fried oysters were good, although I prefer the ones at Kincaid’s. Not everything is better with bacon, just too much smoke and overkill for the nicely fried oysters (I hate a lot of batter).
I am on a quest to find good polenta – the best I ever had was Amici on Palm Beach, however this was giving them a run. I prefer polenta to be soft while still getting the feel of the corn against your tongue. Nice variety of mushrooms and the sherry vinaigrette was just a touch of acidity to the earthy mushrooms.
If there are mussels on the menu, I am in! These were good although the sweet potatoes were disappointing. A nice surprise yet rather mushy and tasteless.
I love, adore, seek out chicken liver and pate. I drive out of my way to get chopped chicken liver from the deli for a decadent weekend breakfast; these were soggy, like they had been fried and sat under a heat lamp. The pepper jelly is a nice kick – hint: you can pick some for yourself at the grocery store as this was clearly not house made nor even house enhanced with fresh poblano or red bell pepper
Not bad for $46 per person, plus gratuity. Not a disappointment either, I would certainly venture OtB again for another adventure at Grapeseed. I posted a modified version of this review (they only allow 750 characters with spaces!) on The Washington Post - I've been published!!!!
“Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, and it's our job to stomp on them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you'd like to have dinner with.” -- Kathleen Mifsud
Had a spontaneous “date” on Friday night. I’m a VA girl, so crossing two state lines and going OtB (Over the Bridge, which I do not do often) just for dinner, it had better not be a disappointment…
I prefer to sit at the bar since you have more one on one interaction with your server and you meet some rather interesting characters. Service was a little less than on the ball and it was not that busy – she had several regulars so there was an abundance of extracurricular chatting.
We enjoyed a lovely bottle of Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc. SB is one of those wines that is meant to be served chilled, not ice blasted cold, however the wine should send shudders down your tongue like really tart, fresh squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice. We had to ask bartendress twice set the wine back in the chiller. For those who have yet to patron Grapeseed, it is a wine bar, hence the name. They have a great variety of wines by the glass in the “wine on tap” chiller – so get it together on the wine 101!
We shared four starters, which was plenty. Cornmeal Fried Oysters with a Bacon Beurre Blanc, Fricassee of Wild Mushrooms Sherry Vinegar & Truffled Polenta, Mussels In Belgian Beer Crispy Sweet Potatoes, Fried Chicken Livers Poblano and Bell Pepper Jelly, Crouton.
The fried oysters were good, although I prefer the ones at Kincaid’s. Not everything is better with bacon, just too much smoke and overkill for the nicely fried oysters (I hate a lot of batter).
I am on a quest to find good polenta – the best I ever had was Amici on Palm Beach, however this was giving them a run. I prefer polenta to be soft while still getting the feel of the corn against your tongue. Nice variety of mushrooms and the sherry vinaigrette was just a touch of acidity to the earthy mushrooms.
If there are mussels on the menu, I am in! These were good although the sweet potatoes were disappointing. A nice surprise yet rather mushy and tasteless.
I love, adore, seek out chicken liver and pate. I drive out of my way to get chopped chicken liver from the deli for a decadent weekend breakfast; these were soggy, like they had been fried and sat under a heat lamp. The pepper jelly is a nice kick – hint: you can pick some for yourself at the grocery store as this was clearly not house made nor even house enhanced with fresh poblano or red bell pepper
Not bad for $46 per person, plus gratuity. Not a disappointment either, I would certainly venture OtB again for another adventure at Grapeseed. I posted a modified version of this review (they only allow 750 characters with spaces!) on The Washington Post - I've been published!!!!
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