The Other Ward.

     In order to get to the smoking area you had to go through a door to another section.  It was noisy, loud, crazy, and cramped.  Many of the rooms had 2 or 3 beds.  And some had to be just plain nightmares.  This area I felt was a general dumping area.  People who had no other place to go, no family.  These people were to spend the rest of their lives here.

     There was one woman, an oddball. Name of Susan.  She was friendly with my sister for a bit.  When my sister had smokes to share.  When it became a habit and she said no the so called pleasantries stopped.  I will say that I never saw a  person inhale a smoke so quickly.  Susan was an oddball.  She'd run anyone over to get outside quickly.

     There were other regulars.  I can see who I wish to introduce you to as I go along.  

     Now in this ward, was another turn.  Small corridor, tiny eating room.  Cannot call it anything but.  It looked directly across the courtyard at the smokers.  

     Another turn and you could tell this was the original wing of the place.  Very nice wooden floors.  Rooms were multiples here too.  People here seemed to be easier going that the smoking ward.  And they were quieter.  Another turn then you saw at the end of the corridor was another locked unit.  That may have been the violent ward, I don't know.  I say that because you never saw anyone walking around.

     Another turn and it brought you to the front.  And a second event room.  Spacious, but you could tell it wasn't used as much.  Here was the the second set of vending machines as well.  I got to know the place pretty well.  My sister told me in fact that one night she wheeled herself down there about 1 in the morning.  Because the vending machines near her didn't have what she wanted.  She saw not one single person.  She described it as very creepy.  We both agreed that she shouldn't do that again.

Settling in.

     Her routine was set.  Gym twice a day.  She had access to the smokers group.  Simply put you were grouped and could have a smoke at those times in those places.  Oh the drama that did go on.

     Allow me to introduce some characters.  Firstly her old neighbor that had helped was still there.  Bob, big fellow, nice guy.  He didn't smoke but I had wished at first she was closer to him location wise.  The rooms there also had a nicer view of the outside area in the back.  You could see the lawn, plenty of cats and such.  But that's the way it goes.

     The first one was a large dude named Mickey.  He was in a wheelchair.  There had been some sort of accident and he was paralyzed.  Nice enough fellow.  Slightly talkative.  He lived further down the hall.

     After that were just fillers.  There would be another dude later on.  He'd figure more prominently later on.  Mo.  He looked to be in his 60's, could be hard to understand, but friendly.

     Joe came in later on also.  Young kid, late 20's early 30's.  A real loose cannon.  He also became a friend.

     The last was Ellen.  I actually do keep tabs on her.  She and my sister became very close.

     The area given to the smoker group was far down through another ward.  Oh we should save that one.  That may be an entry unto itself.

     Let me finish the point on the smoker group.  You had to be there 5 min ahead of time.  Although one of the people in charge were hardly on time themselves.

     It let out into another squared off courtyard.  Some benches.  In the first corner was one persons room.  I felt bad.  I mean anytime they'd want their windows or curtain open there'd be a group of people smoking.  

     Along the back of the area was the lunch room for a lock down unit.  For a long time I thought it was the violent ward.  Bothered me a lot.  It was actually the dementia ward.  Flanking the opposite side was more rooms.  But none so close that they couldn't open a window if they wanted.  And directly opposite was the other common eating room.

     Okay scenery set.  Maybe I can get 2 in drafts so I can just release them on the weekend.  We'll see.  Don't get your hopes up.

     

moving along and setting mood.

     Start with entries posted on 12-3 and 12-4 and the thread gets coherent.

     Her room looked out onto the main entrance.  Where the ambulances come to pick up and discharge; where food delivery came and went; and people smoked.

     She seemed to be doing well.  Of course she made more friends.  Which in the long run was good.  These of course were also people that she smoked with.  Oh wait til we get there.

     Most of the rooms where she was were private.  She was lucky enough to have a bathroom and a shower.  I'm told the public showers were quite nasty.

     The food had changed. It had gotten worse.  We supplied snacks and shit.  She went to the gym twice a day during the week.  I mean things looked good.  She sounded good.  I told her about doing a test run to go see the knee Dr.  She didn't know why I waited so long.

     Now when we first had the option of putting her into this place it was a little better.  I of course did a rating check.

     The ratings system was out of 5 stars.  Unfortunately there are only 2 that serve bariatric patients and have a gym.  They both at the time rated 2 out of 5 stars.

     When she went back.  It was 1.5 out of 5.  I just checked as I'm writing it is now 1 out of 5.

sorry on the clock.

Back to the summer and I pick up the ever elusive thread.

     It's actually odd.  I started this particular draft somewhere in mid December.  Figure we'll continue a bit and see where this leads.   


      And so we were back in the swing of things.  I'd go up on Tuesdays and Thursdays after work.  B.I.L. would do it M,W,F, with a split shift on the weekends.

     Thing that still irks me a tad is how easily the routine was to pick up again.  Now because I just don't want to, not can't.  I'm assuming we are still on the first rehab return of the season.  I remember we are past the flu.

     Alright now.  For the most part I went back.  To sort of get recurrent you may want to start with the blogs at the end of August.  I do believe I have missed some points which I'll put here.

     

Duck Soup the aftermath of Daffy

     Okay I'm storing these a day ahead of each other.  So the actual post date is a day behind.  Deal with it.

     I stowed all the remains in the fridge.  Christmas had been on a Thursday.  I needed Friday to make sure I had all the ingredients.  A little about this soup.

     I chanced upon it whilst scouring the web.  The search lead me to Duck soup with dumplings.  If you Google just that you should come to the Hunters Anglers blog.  Neat blog actually.

     What appealed to me was the simplicity......Okay it had dumplings or these little things I think we used to call Spetzle and I don't care how it's spelled.  Simple AND DUMPLINGS.  You can go read the recipe.  It's an interesting blog and site.  It's not quite a requirement but a suggestion.  Because I'm going to just talk about a few highlights.

     I needed to get a few things for the meal.  Flour, Carrot, and I've no idea what else.  Hell can you remember a year back.  I can say that cause its 2015 and this occurred in 2014.  Lame but still a valid point.

    I started by making the dumpling dough.  Simple and easy enough.  In hindsight I should have maybe let it set a few hours more to let it dry, or even made the night before.  I just followed what was on my screen.

     Started browning some onions in duck fat of course.  Hell even the recipe said to do that.  I did have to cut the duck in half to fit in the pot.  Eventually the onions and everything else was in the pot, simmering for 90 min.

     The dumplings had to be grated.  Like I said I was just sort of following the instructions.  Hindsight again says the dough may have still not been totally dried.  But Hell I was psyched about making this.  So I grated on the large side of the knuckle buster.  My knuckles did not become casualties I'm pleased to report.  They were tiny as to be expected.  I mean I wanted real big gravy absorbing dumplings.  You don't get that in soup.

     Dropped the dumplings in salted boiling water in batches.  Came out well enough.  Then it was time to address the soup.

     Now having already established it to be a fatty meal to begin with.  The soup is also quite fatty.  We did add back some duck fat with the onions also.

     I'm used to making chicken soup.  You strain off some of the scum and fat off the top and such.  I always love eating the veggies you put in for flavor.

     The veggies in the duck soup were tossed.  They were just gross.  As for the soup.  I used a regular strainer under a fine mesh strainer with a piece of paper towel in it absorb fat and just stuff.

     The soup is as pictured in the blog.  I must admit while it was very exciting to make.  The eating was not so great.  I found it bland.  The dumplings at least added some texture.  But I had a great time making it..  Won't be doing it again however.  But am considering making some dumplings for my next batch of chicken soup.

     Thus ends my tale of the Christmas Holidays.  I hope you all had a nice one.  See what I feel like writing tomorrow after I post this blog.

-later

Daffy Duck takes center stage

     I'd taken the duck out and let it rest on the counter whilst I played about making the stuffing.  It was now time to address the star of the meal.  And no I did no hokey how do you do.

     Firstly I took a picture of the directions with my phone.  So I wouldn't have to keep fishing about in the garbage to double check myself.  The directions went something like this.

     Score skin.  Temperature.  Cook breast side down for 1/2 hour.  Flip duck and cook for another hour.  Lower oven then cook for about 30-45 min more.

     Well I pricked the skin all over, did a fairly good job.  There is a difference between pricking and scoring.  In my excitement I just didn't want to cut into the meat.  I was satisfied.

     The cooking went as planned.  Did all the flipping required as well as the temperature change.  And my I say I smiled royally when it came out and I had all this gorgeous fat in the bottom.  Quite a bit actually.  Check back 2 entries for a little information on that.

     I let daffy rest, made some candied carrots.  Called dinner and carved the beast.

     The skin came off reasonably well.  Although there were spots of unreleased fat from where I didn't prick it.  There is not a ton of meat to be had on it.  

     I gave the B.I.L. a pass on the stuffing and asked how he liked the duck.  He let me know 2 days later he'd have it again.

     First and foremost, it does not taste anything like chicken.  Now frogs legs yes, duck no.  Was not gamey but had a definite flavor.  It was enjoyable. 

     Dinner was pleasant and passed well enough.  I kept the carcass.  I found a recipe for duck soup I wanted to try.  Yup.

T.B.C. 

Eureka or however you spell it.

     The thought occurred to me.  Somewhere in the recesses of my mind.  Where my lone gray cell reclines with a smoke and a cup of coffee.  From those depths came a singular thought.  A concept so brash and bold.  It rocked the very foundation of all the research I had done.  Yes indeed it did.  All the recopies, sifting through them to find out the best way to roast a duck.  Like the roar of distant thunder the thought did come!

     Uh....did you look at the duck to see if it had directions?

     As a bolt of lightening I leaped forth from my chair.  I opened the door of the refrigerator and savaged the plastic bag that held the duck.  Yes Virginia....it came with pre printed instructions.  Thus the path was now chosen.

     I estimated the time and when about I wished to eat.  Okay it gets a little less enthralling here.

     I was going to make a simple bread stuffing baked in a bowl. The way we used to do.  No fancy stuff, certainly no sausage.  I followed along with the recipe.  Actually one of the few that did not have all the exact information, as my mom was wont to do on these index cards.

     Celery and onions softened, check.  Bread check.  Egg check.  Combine cover and put in oven 20 min then remove cover and cook another 30 min.  Check and check.

     The part I didn't get right was the adding the stock.  There was no real measurement.  So I added what I thought was right.

     The end result tasted well enough.  Overly moist however.  So moist in fact; if I hadn't been the one cooking it I would have thought it raw.  But I ate it anyway.

     Okay tomorrow Daffy takes front and Center.