Much Ado about Nothing

There is no card today. I have been reading like a fiend again. I have read four books since Saturday and can recommend three of them:

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio (recommended to me by my sister, Merrilyn)

American Dreamer by Theresa Weir

The fourth book was really, really, really baaaaaad. No recommendation for you!

Obviously, if I am reading this much, I am not creating. However, I will get back to it just as soon as I can tear myself away from my reading jag. You know, I have realized that both of my favorite hobbies are not exactly good for my health. Both require a great deal of sitting. It's a good thing I am so into exercise and get plenty of it, isn't it. Nah. Just kidding. (You didn't honestly believe that, did you?)

My dog is wounded. Through his own doing, I might add. But not really his own fault. He tried to jump up on a couch and missed. When he fell he hurt his left knee. We found out from our vet that he has a "luxating patella". No, you don't need to look it up in your Funk and Wagnalls, (as if anyone would do that anymore!), nor do you need to go online and look it up. I will tell you that a luxating patella is a dislocated kneecap. Ick, huh? Yeah, that's what I thought, too. 

Donovan has done this three times now, but this is definitely the worst. The other two times his kneecap went back into place and stayed there. Not this time. It keeps popping in and out. When it is out, I call it 'three-legging it'. Apparently, his condition has developed over time and gets worse with age. He may need to have surgery to correct this (to the tune of $1800). Or not. The glucosamine and the anti-inflammatory that we are giving him now may take care of this episode. We can only hope. But, and this is a big but, (not to be confused with a big butt, which I have btw), I have to keep him from jumping up or down for the time-being. Yeah, this is fun. Not. He is a little dog, a Maltese, so he has to jump up or down to get most anywhere. I am now the lifting Nurse Nancy. And it ain't easy! Not that he weighs that much, just that I am on constant watch to see if he wants to get up or down. Fortunately, he seems to understand and has been pretty good about letting me take care of his needs. But what a nuisance!

Oh, and to add insult to injury--literally--he is two pounds overweight. How the heck did that happen? Welllllll, I have a BIL, Ron, who just loves to feed everything to the dogs. And I do mean "everything." So Donovan had too many extras, including too many dog treats, when he stayed at their house while we were vacationing. And I have to admit, I was probably giving him too large a portion of dog food at feeding time. So, between the two of us, we have created a chubby dog. Not fat, mind you, but chubby. And that does not help Donovan's knee in any way, shape, manner, or form. Ergo.....Donovan is on a diet. No people food. And less dog food. And less dog treats. And you know what? He is actually eating less at each meal on his own. It's as if he understands that he has to cut back. Is that possible? Or does his medication depress his appetite? I don't know, but I am glad that he is co-operating on this new food plan we have for him.

Well, one last mention about food before I close. This was last week's last trip to a Restaurant Week restaurant. And one of the best! We met John and Carol at Distrito in Scottsdale last Friday. It is a restaurant by Iron Chef Jose Garces that you just must try if you are in the area. OMGoodness, it was so fabulous. It was so good that we all over-ate. That part I don't recommend, as it is mighty uncomfortable when you leave. 

We started with a good, but slightly over-salted Margarita, some very good chips and great guacamole--oooh, yum! And I ordered the shrimp ceviche, which was out-of-sight delicious, if you're into ceviche, which I definitely am! I will order that again, for sure, the next time we go there. It is a little spicy, but oh. so. good. Then I had the chef's special small plate of the night, which was scallop and shrimp meatballs. Or seafood-balls, if you like. There were several tender morsels in a delicious tomato-based sauce. Slightly spicy as well. But. O.M.G. I was so glad I ordered this dish! Then I had my main course, which was a mushroom flat-bread and a side of plantains. The flat-bread was my least-favorite dish, as it just didn't have the oomph of the rest of the courses. But it was good, don't get me wrong. I ate every bite, except for the piece I gave to Gary.  And those plantains! Well, that's another dish I will be getting next visit! Oh, so sweet and creamy and just pure lusciousness. Mmmmmm. Now, I was already quite full. But I actually shared churros with Gary for dessert. Yeah, that's why I was so stuffed. Too much good food! The churros were very good, and served with two sauces--a spicy chocolate and a sweet cream. Oh, such flavor. Great way to end a meal! (Burp.) (Or two or four.)

OK, I lied. I have just one more mention of food, (I promise), before I close. On Saturday night we met our dinner club at Vincitorio's in Tempe. Italian cuisine is just not my favorite. I like it, I just don't love it. But we wanted to see all our friends in the dinner group, so we did go. And we enjoyed our meal. We had some  good wine and ate a bit of the dinner bread, which was quite tasty. Then we each had a cup of cream of mushroom soup, which was quite good--but not as good as Blake's at the Deli, for sure. And we split a dinner special, which was a lovely stuffed piece of chicken (with what I am not sure, but it was very good) served with some good pasta and steamed broccoli. We also shared a caramel gelato for dessert, which was also very good. I enjoyed my meal there. I just didn't absolutely love it. But that's probably because I am not overly fond of Italian food. So would I recommend this place? Yes, yes, I would. ;^)

OK, enough about food and books. (Gosh, no wonder I am battling a weight problem, huh?) I am going to make another card sometime soon, but in the meantime, have a great rest of the week!