The wurster, the better

It seems my bad cholesterol (LDL) is up to 91 from a 67 a couple of years ago. Starting to change my diet now in addition to having my meds doubled. I will try to go easy on butter, ice cream, beer, and cakes and donuts.

My daughter had gotten a few parking tickets in Philadelphia until she realized that she really didn’t need to have her car in town. So, since my name is on the registration, I get the lovely notices from the City of Philadelphia that she forgot to pay the tickets. Like a good Dad, I pay them. Philadelphia has a web-based system for payment which is nice. However, it does seem to have a problem or perhaps the system has a problem.

Let me explain. I logged in to pay 2 overdue tickets and found that there was a third one. So, I added that to the order and paid with my credit card. Then, we get a notice that we haven’t paid the 3rd one and need to now or request a hearing. Unfortunately those are your only 2 choices. You cannot call any phone number and get a real person to talk to.

So, now I’ve requested a hearing and will have to take off time from work to attend and hopefully prove my innocence with the fact that my credit card statement has the full amount for 3 tickets paid. But it just irks me that I have to do this. I hope that I can charge them for a half-day of pay for me, if and when I win. Oh well, time will tell.

Last Friday, we received confirmation from the county office that our daughter was approved for the adult autism waiver. On Monday, we contacted our coordinator at the Bureau of Autism office to confirm. In comparing the services available (ASDProgramComparisonTool-2009) for this compared to the E/PSD waiver we were also applying for from OMR, the adult autism waiver has more to offer our daughter and so we jumped at it.

And so, we spoke with our supports guide today to see how to proceed. Bottom line is that we have 30 days in which to get the services authorized and started by March 19 or so. We have 5 days in which to choose a supports coordinator agency to help us go to the next step. There are only 4 agencies (Media, Lancaster, Downingtown and Exton) that service Delaware county. I contacted them today not really knowing what to ask. Just on a fact-finding tour now. In any case, we need to select one within a short time. Hopefully a friend will be able to advise us.

Last Monday on my day off, was Comcast day at our house. I first unhooked our cable modem and took it back to Comcast to get a new one capable of the hi-speed internet service I was supposed to be getting. My saga started months ago last year when I complained about “slowness”. Ultimately, the technician said that my cable modem was old and no longer used and not capable of hi-speed internet services.

I complained because they knew what equipment I had since I was renting it. But that data apparently did not communicate with anyone so that they could be proactive about this and contact me and get it replaced. But, no. Comcast is certainly not proactive about anything. They are a monopoly and don’t care about their clients.

And then, they couldn’t mail me a new modem and have me send back the old one. I had to bring it in by hand. What an inconvenience. And so, it took me about 5 months until I remembered and had the time to make the switch. This is not good customer service. But what does Comcast care.

So, now I’ve been getting hi speed internet and loving it. But, now one more complaint. The cost is too high. I pay $115 per month for the triple play. So, I wondered what could I cut to reduce the cost. I could eliminate digital voice, thinking it was one-third the cost. Bit, no. I would only save $15 per month. So, I decided to keep it until my triple play contract expires in June. Then, I can see what Comcast can offer.

This recipe suggests a couple of ingredients, Tamarind and nampla (fish concentrate) that you can find in an Asian grocery, and in some health food stores. I recommend you seek them out and add them to your kitchen “library” of flavors. They are used in a variety of Asian dishes, especially Thai and Malaysian.

It is best served over whole-grain, brown rice, or jasmine rice. It would also be good as a kind of variation on Pad Thai, with rice noodles. Cook the rice or noodles first, then the fish dish, as the rice will take longer.

• 4 small fish fillets (choose your favorite white fish: perhaps flounder, tilapia, sole, etc.) frozen or fresh
• 1 shallot or 4 small green onions
• 1 green pepper
• 1 red or yellow pepper
• 1 8oz. can unsweetened pineapple or ½ fresh pineapple, cubed

Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons tamarind (or 2 teaspoons tamarind concentrate)
• 2 garlic clove, crushed or chopped
• 3 tablespoons nampla (concentrated fish sauce)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened peanut butter
• ¼ cup water

Chop the peppers and shallots (or onion) into medium diced cubes. Sautee them over medium-high heat until lightly browned. Reserve in a side bowl.

Place the fish in a skillet and pour water over it until it just covers-over the fish. Cook over medium heat until the fish is completely cooked, above 140 degrees on a thermometer, or when it is totally white, through and through.

While the fish is cooking combine sauce ingredients and stir until combined.

When the fish is done, let it rest 1-2 minutes, then gently drain the hot water from the pan. Lightly cover the fish with the sauce and serve with a prayer of gratitude.

TODAY’S ACTION PLAN:

– Gather the ingredients for this recipe, and make it for dinner. OR, try it tomorrow.

– Keep writing in your journal. If you’ve stopped writing a journal, post and tell us why. Also, please share a page, of one of your days, and write about the patterns you’ve spotted for yourself.

– Please be sure to move and use your body as vigorously as possible today. If you are able, and your doctor or health care provider agrees it is OK, increase your movement to 30 minutes. You may want to walk, dance, do yoga, stretch, or go to a gym.

– If you have lost weight – congratulations! Please tell us about it. If you have remained the same, congratulations! That’s great you’re not gaining.

– If you are not losing weight: don’t get discouraged – you are building a whole new healthy way of life. You may want to look back at your food logs: are you following the Food Guide Pyramid at www.mypyramid.gov? You may need to make a few changes in what and when you eat – also take a look at your eating patterns. Are you moving and vigorously using your body every day? Also – very important – have you had a medical checkup to make sure you don’t have an underlying condition that affects your weight?