My Hometown A - Z: Letter H

It has taken me too long to choose the "H" that best credits my hometown of St Louis. There were so many choices--I have had a hard time making a decision. So I am putting some of my choices here and then will finish with my choice "H". Lets start with some FAMOUS St Louis H's:

--Hale Irwin: famous golfer.
--Rick Horton: sports announcer
--Henry Shaw: Botanist and philanthropist
--Howdy Corporation: originators of 7-UP
--Home run champion Mark McGwire
--Heman Park in University City--boasted the biggest swimming pool in the area
--Holiday Hill--cheesy amusement park
--Hot Air Balloon Festival in Forest Park
--Huckleberry Finn--friend of Tom Sawyer and Mississippi River adventurer


But if you visited St Louis today--you would be most impressed with its Healthcare reputation.
St Louis boasts some of the largest hospital systems in the country, one of them being Washington University's School of Medicine and Academic Medical Center. St Louis University School of Medicine staffs and uses the Firmin Desloge Hospital System now owned by Tenet Healthcare.




St John's Mercy Medical Center is forever growing out at Highways 64 and 270. St John's has ranked as one of the top 10 obstetrical hospitals in the country for over 30 years.




St Louis University Law School is ranked #1 in Healthcare Law.
My son holds a healthcare law degree from there.

















On a recent visit to St Louis, I noticed that not only are there these huge medical centers, but there are also state of the art free-standing healthcare facilities for anything that ails you. Orthopedics, vision care, cosmetic surgery, bariatric surgery, outpatient rehab, ambulatory surgery, recovery programs, etc. You need it, you will find it easily in St Louis and access to the care you need is relatively easy to navigate.




Best place to be sick or to be well. . .my healthy, healthcare hometown. . St Louis.

It has been 3 years since I lost my fabulous friend. .

James Murray Weinberg. . .
May 28, 1955 - August 21, 2006.

FOREVER AND A DAY

Barry Manilow

They said we’d never last
A week, a month, a year
They shook their head
Dream on, they said, 'cause dreamers disappear But here we are, no matter what they say
It’s you and me forever and a day

We knew we had it right
We knew we broke the mold
They said have fun, it’s kiss and run
Then back out in the cold
I could have told them
We were here to stay
To you and me forever and a day

Didn’t we show them
Aren’t they blown away
'Cause what ever time may do
Our love is through, forever
And once our hearts were full
And once we felt the flame
Such hunger then, much younger then
But really we’re the same
And once the music played
And once they lit the light
And years ago, we felt a glow
So very like tonight

And now I know It will always be that way
For you, for me,
Forever and a day

How I spent my summer in words and pictures

Its a bit early to call it quits on the summer. . .but as the economy is improving slightly, I am starting to feel the end of the summer coming and serious back to work returning. So here is my annual essay on how I spent my summer vacation:
____________________________________

This summer has seemed quite short. Of course that may be due to two things:
1. The pools in New Jersey do not stay open daily until late June and 2. It rained for 29 days in June so it didnt matter anyway.

For as long as I can remember, I measure my summers in pooltime spent wisely.






I started off the summer with high hopes of running 8-5K races which would equal a marathon when all done. After spending January through May preparing, I go out for my first race, and about 1/2 mile into the race (I think some of the racers had already finished and I still had 2 1/2 miles to go), I felt a terrible deja vu feeling in my left knee. I walked the rest of the way and gave up my running career for good.

I did become a fan of techno music which I used for training and still listen to it while I am sitting at the pool. I even get monthly downloads of new techno mixes. So all in all, it was a win!!




Michael Connelly
After years of listening to my friends in my Mystery Book Club talk about Michael Connelly and resisting reading him, my friend Terry at the pool suggested that I read two of her favorite books--both of them were by Michael Connelly. Realizing that I had a couple of his earlier books in my TBR (to be read) pile at home, I spent the summer reading Michael Connelly books. And I just love his writing. Currently reading The Poet, since the sequel to it is coming out this Fall and my Mystery Book Club will be reading it!!

Chatham Parade

I never miss the Chatham Parade on the Fourth of July. As long as I live in Chatham New Jersey--I go to the parade, its that simple.

It is a new and fun experience meeting fellow Chathamites--different each year. This year I met Josephine and Frank and their two children. Their daughter was in the parade and their son was playing video games on the curb. Josephine is a mystery reader and we had a lively conversation about authors we like. It was fun. Again this year, I was the only one with the "rocking chair in the bag". It was quite a hit with the crowd around me and I am sure there was a run on Sports Authority after the parade but before the fireworks.

Back to bicycling

After my running career was tragically cut short by a sharp pain in my knee, I am back to bicycling. About 100 miles a week lets me see a lot of New Jersey--some of it over and over again. Since it has not been too hot, it is a great summer for cycling.

The best news about this season's bicycling is that some old friends have taken up a new pastime and join me on the rides. And I have bicycled in Pennsylvania and Delaware. And eaten at some great trail-side restaurants.

Return to clinical practice

10 years ago, I transitioned from private practice as a nurse practitioner to a non-clinical role as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry. But its interesting how the things you do best just find you again, no matter how you try to hide. This summer, I returned to clinical practice as a nurse practitioner in a midwifery practice. It is part time and as needed. And I love it. I am still a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry--but now after being back around real healthcare dilemmas, a much better one. Many thanks to my long time friend JoAnn for convincing me that it was time to come back.

My grade school reunion
In early 2009, I reconnected through FACEBOOK with a grade school classmate, Paul Pagano. We decided it was time to have a grade school reunion. So we organized it. Since he was in St Louis, he did the heavy work, and I just planned the trivia event. I could not have been looking forward to any other event this summer as much as this one.

To make it even better--the house I grew up in was for sale, and empty--and I went through the house again for the first time in 45 years. It was amazing to re-visit that house and still feel like it was mine. The ghosts of all my grandparents and Tony Lay must have been milling around there to make me feel so at home. My sons are taking my father through the house today for his 87th birthday present.

To my utter delight, we also got to tour the grade school. Most of the classmates remarked that "this is where I was when Kennedy was shot" when we entered the 6th grade classroom.

There was a Mass just before the reunion so a bunch of us went--misbehaved in church talking to each other but without the nuns to stare us down and then afterwards, thanks to some of the fun-loving guys in the class, we tailgated and drank beer on the school parking lot waiting for the reunion to begin. It was GREAT!!

The class pictures of me were not too flattering, but that left me as a lead contender for the Most Changed Award. Which is always a nice end to a fun event.

Well that brings me to the final event of the summer. I moved!!


GADS--I have a lot of junk and most of it heavy.





___________________________________________________

NOT MICHAEL!! PLEASE NOT MICHAEL!!

This is the day the music died.

Oh, Michael!!!

The King of Cool!!

Good Bye Farrah

I am sad that Farrah Fawcett has died. When I heard about her rectal cancer diagnosis--I knew the prognosis, despite her resolve, was quite bleak. But I wanted Farrah Fawcett to live a long time. Selfishly, my age group so needed her to walk us through:

• being glamorous in old age
• developing a sexy fresh hair style for thinning hair
• growing gray so we could all stop trying to youthfully color uncooperative graying hair
• making peace with men from our former lives
• accepting our children's "not-so-perfect" moments
• having style and grace even after the hip joint replacement
• starting a fashion craze for all us "left over hippies" so we could be "trendy" one more time

And know she is gone at the age of 62 of an unrelenting cancer. No matter what treatments were available to her, she could not beat it. In the end, its true, the best you can ever do is have good genetics.

I loved her influence on my younger days.
She had that big happy smile. She had small breasts, she had big hair that made the size of her breasts uninteresting. Her hair drove me to learn to blow dry and blow dry and blow dry (mainly because I had small breasts). And she was hopelessly and happily blonde!!





With my love of her hair, I was in good company--she influenced Lady Diana's hair style choices.










Never again will there be a "so easily gorgeous" Farrah for my age group. She just seemed to do it so easily.


Isn't it amazing that Farrah died when tie-dye was back in fashion and Hair is back on Broadway--its almost as if the age she influenced came back to claim her.

Here is a rare glimpse of my Farrah Fawcett inspired look.
How GORGEOUS-ly Farrah was I???

Happy Birthday Jim

There is nothing better than St Louis Gooey Butter Cake

My Hometown A - Z: Letter G

There is absolutely nothing better in life than to bite into a piece of St Louis Gooey Butter Cake. You cannot find this anywhere else in the world--and if you do, it wont be gooey enough.

It is so ungood for you in so many ways--and just perfect in so many more. When I was a kid, I could not wait to be all grown up so I could have a gooey butter cake all to myself. This just might be the year I do that!!

So once a year--make this cake and sit back to be in heaven--good to the last bite.
YUMYUM!!

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

Yield: 9 servings

For crust:

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/3 cup butter, softened

For filling:

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla

Powdered sugar

1. Prepare the crust. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup flour and 3 tablespoons sugar. Cut in 1/3 cup butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs and starts to cling together. Pat into the bottom and sides of a greased 9-by-9-by-2-inch pan.

2. Prepare the filling. In a mixing bowl, beat 1 1/4 cups sugar and 3/4 cup butter until light and fluffy. Mix in egg until combined. A bit at a time, alternately add 1 cup flour and evaporated milk, mixing after each addition. Add corn syrup and vanilla. Mix at medium speed until well blended.

3. Pour filling into crust-lined pan. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until cake is nearly set. Do not overcook. Let cool in pan.

Per serving: 492 calories; 25.5g fat (46 percent calories from fat); 92mg cholesterol; 5g protein; 62g carbohydrate; 1g fiber; 277mg sodium.

Greatest Godmother EVER!!

My godmother

Teresa Versen Nugent Lancaster

June 27, 1916 - March 11, 2009

Something REALLY good from my favorite recipes

My recipes featured here--are all really good--but they are more carbo-licious than protein and vitamin-rich, I notice.

In keeping with that, here is my favorite chocolate cake recipe--fabulous with either chocolate or cream cheese icing. I made it for myself for my birthday--and after offering it to all my neighbors in the building and next door--I had only a week's worth for myself--but that was just the right amount:

Fudgy Chocolate Layer Cake

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
2 squares (2 ounces) unsweetened chocolate
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
2 eggs, at room temperature

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. In a saucepan, melt butter and chocolate, stirring over low heat.

2. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in large bowl of electric mixer. Add chocolate mixture, buttermilk and eggs. Beat on low speed for 1 minute, increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

3. Divide batter between cake pans. Bake until cakes spring back when gently pressed, 25 - 30 minutes. Cool in pans 5 minutes, invert onto wire rack.

4. Icing of your choice.

NB: I made this in a bundt pan and it baked for 40 minutes until done.

_______________________________



Coming soon: My hometown A - Z: Letter G

Dear Jim: You are missed today

Today is inauguration day.
My friend Jim and I considered this one of our "unofficial" holidays.
On "unofficial" holidays--I got to cook dinner, and he got to watch TV.
Unofficial holidays were TV-heavy days.

Other unofficial holidays were State of the Union, Oscar night, World Series if the Yankees were in the game, the PGA when Tiger was ahead and the first winter day of measurable snow. Jim could make just about anything great fun!!

I missed him today. It would have been a TV-heavy day.
He would have even tolerated watching TV until we saw the First Lady's gown.
He lived into the beginning of the campaigning in '06. Then he was gone.
He was so hoping that Al Franken would win the Senate race from Minnesota.
He read the Franken book titled,"Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Dummy"--and used to laugh out loud--then read the passage to me--and laugh again.

Today I was in the car and heard Rush on the radio, already ragging on Obama's inaugural speech as too simple. . .and in tribute to my friend Jim, I have to admit--Rush sounded like a Big Fat Dummy.
JIm didnt know who would win the Presidential race in '08--but he was sure it would not be Hillary. Right, again, my friend.

So, I am sitting here waiting to see the First Lady gown--I cooked dinner, I watched a lot of TV. Its been a great day.

Dont underestimate the gifts of treasured friends.
Be sure to thank them, over and over.

From My Favorite Recipes

One Dish Chicken and Rice




Ingredients:

1 (10 ounce can) cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 cups cooked and chopped chicken
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup frozen peas (I used a can of small petite peas)
1/4 cup choped green or red bell pepper (I used half a green pepper)
2 cups cooked white rice (I used Premium Minute Rice)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided (I used Monterey Jack shredded cheese)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (I preheat to 325 as my casserole dish is glass)
Blend soup, milk, salt, pepper and mayonnaise in a medium bowl.

Combine chicken, onion, peas, bell pepper and rice in a large bowl
Mix gently.

Gently fold soup mixture into chicken mixture to combine.
Fold in half the cheese.

Spray a medium casserole dish with cooking spray.
Spoon in the chicken mixture.

Sprinkle top of casserole with remaining cheese.
Bake until top is golden brown--about 25 minutes.

Leftovers are GREAT.

Use every ingredient--each contributes significantly to the distinctive taste.

Recipe name is misleading. It took three dishes to get the casserole in the oven!!

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Next blog: Something fun from my private library