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Ready For The Fight

We had our consultation with the cancer specialist at the Omaha Med Center yesterday to get his prognosis of the situation. After an hour and a half of facts, data, and analysis, we have a game plan and are prepared to begin the fight against this disease.

What makes this difficult is how both Karen and I have faced our own illnesses in the past. Lie down, take an aspirin, gut it out, let it pass, and move on. That works with the flu, strained muscle, or a stomach bug or the occasional allergic reaction, but not in this case. This situation is beyond our control at many points and we have to trust in the medical community to give us the best information they have, upon which we will make our decision about treatment.

My Favorite Fruit

I love strawberries, and everything you can do with them, pavlova being one of the many applications with this June fruit. We get ours from Princeton Produce, a farm about 20 mi south of town. The advantage of their close proximity is ripeness. Cut one of these berries in two and you will reveal a solid red core. Compare it to your fat, shiny grocery store variety that has a hollow, pale white center. Sure the season is longer, but the quality is far inferior, so why bother? Live with the limitation that the growing season imposes. You will enjoy them far more this way.

Here's a current favorite cocktail recipe that has been a hit. Try it at home and see if it compares to ours:

The Luck of the Irish

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Finally taking a few hours to slow down in the haven that is my back patio. When the pace of life gets so frenetic, like this week has been, I will come out here, sit and do nothing but listen, not just to music, but to the sounds of a noisy suburban wildlife. The night sounds in a Nebraska summer are full of steady noises of happy critters singing their songs until the wee hours of the morning, when they appear to have sung their hearts out and the dawn reminds them to retire for another session.

Holiday Weekend as a Chef

This is how my Memorial Day weekend starts, which is only one day, but nonetheless, I'll treat it like a holiday. Putting this big pork roast in the smoker this morning and letting it go low and slow all day for our staff to enjoy tonight. This is a cut from a Berkshire hog from TD Niche Pork and please don't let Travis hear you call it "The Other White Meat." As you can see, this heirloom breed has a darker color, which translates to richer flavor. This is what pork should look like, and how it should taste.

Thanks to all who have asked about, prayed for, brought food and flowers to Karen this week. All the the colorful displays around the house are a visual reminder of your love and concern.

A New Chapter

My dad had a saying when I was younger; “Son, into each life, a little rain must fall.” That’s a nicer way than saying “No one gets through life without having to take a bite of the shit sandwich." Our portion came in the form of a diagnosis this week that my wife has ovarian cancer.

This is the “worse” part of the, “for better or worse” promise we made to each other 20 years ago.