Wait And See, Or Fuck Around And Find Out?

This is the view from my chair in the urologist's office. I didn't have to wait too long and the receptionist had been so wonderful that I felt a little less stressed by the time I'd checked in. Behind the glass, she and the receptionist next to her were singing an old call-and-response hymn. A very spirited hymn. They continued for a minute and then saw me and stopped and I said, "Oh no! Please. Carry on!" And they laughed and did and if that's not a cheerful thing I don't know what is. 
My efforts yesterday with getting my online form completed paid off as the receptionist/vocalist said, "You filled out everything already and I am SO proud of you!" Okay. That might sound a little condescending but I did not mind it one bit, feeling very proud of myself. 

When the urologist came into the room where I'd been called back, I told him what had been going on for the last month or so. The pain, the discomfort, the general malaise, etc. And he listened and looked at my records and saw that he'd ordered a scan last time I was in there but had never gotten it. I explained that was because the radiology place had never called me to set up an appointment. 
"Well that won't happen this time," he said. I was given one of their cards and instructed to call THEM if they didn't call me. This is the same facility that I had to call to finally schedule a mammogram. 
I'm not sure that the doctor believes that the discomfort I'm experiencing is a result of movement of the kidney stone. I assured him that it was, having gone through this before. He didn't deny it was possible but he seemed to have an alternative explanation for what I was feeling, up to and including a musculoskeletal cause for the pain I've been feeling in my back. 
Sigh. 
No. 
But overall, he was supportive and when I asked what my options would be for removing the stone he gave me a brief description of two and then said, "Well. Let's just wait until we find out what we're looking at."
Okay. Fine with me. 
And he's going to call me when he gets the results of the scan back to discuss them with me. 
All right. Whatever.
As he did last time I saw him, he asked if I was taking anything for the pain and I said that no, it was not that intense. He encouraged me to take Ibuprofen for it if it bothered me and I assured him I would. 

And then I met Lily and Jessie who had been at pottery class, for lunch at Chow Time. I really enjoyed my shrimp and hot and sour soup, zucchini, cabbage, green beans, and a few other things. I have never had better zucchini in my life than the zucchini I get at Chow Time. In fact, all of their vegetables are delicious. I don't know what their secret is but I suspect MSG and some sort of butter-flavored oil. They definitely don't overcook the vegetables so there is that. 

Jessie had a dermatologist appointment right after lunch but Lily and I went to an Asian market. She wanted a few things including a type of noodle that Owen really likes. You cannot have a bad time walking around an Asian market. 

Lily knows so much more than I do about Asian food and ingredients. She's also introduced her children to different foods and flavors and I think that is very, very cool. 

I am at the point with planning meals that I am feeling desperate enough to walk up to total strangers and say to them, "Could you please tell me what to cook for supper?"

I feel like I've cooked all the things. ALL of them. The fishes, the shellfishes, the salads, the vegetables, the pasta, the casseroles, the soups, and the breads. Last night we had a chicken soup with greens from the garden and celery and carrots and onion and garlic and leftover broccoli and lemon juice and orzo and it was very good but...NOW WHAT? 
I've had decided on venison tacos so that'll be it. I wanted to make some guacamole to go with them so I bought cilantro at the Asian market. Thus, one more night is taken care of. 

I guess I need to go back through my New York Times cooking app and review my recipes. Something will show up that sounds good, I'm sure, and I'll get some ideas. 

When I went out to the garden to pick lettuce for tonight's tacos, I had to take a picture of the Amazing Rattlesnake Beans. 

Do you see that sturdy line of green, marching along the fence with such purpose and determination? It won't be long until they start forming their tiny, thin little tendrils which will be reaching out to lasso themselves around the wire of the fence so that they climb and climb and climb and after that will come the miniature orchid-like flowers that miraculously and wonderfully turn into long, robust green pods that can be eaten steamed, on salads, pickled, or canned. 

And here's what the azalea in front of the fence that did not get trimmed last year looks like today.

I am never going to let that man trim an azalea again for as long as I live. I mean it! Some things are meant to be tamed and some things ARE NOT! 

Here's a little bouquet I made out of some of the blooming things in the yard. 

Two varieties of azalea, bridal wreath spirea, and wisteria. These will cheer and sustain me for the few days they live in my hallway. Spring's flowers are bright and they are colorful but their beauty is fleeting. 
I gather them as I may. I love them while they stay. 

Love...Ms. Moon