Posted by missjunebug on August 19, 2011
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missjunebug has decided it’s time to fully embrace uncertainty.
She has been through a couple of years of semi-compromised mega-troublesome health issues that have contributed to a setback or two or three: loss of hair…everywhere, loss of feeling in her feet, the dreaded cankle, weight fluctuations, funky scarring to name a few. But there is no neat wrap-up to this cancer thing despite top-of-the-line treatments, vigilant follow-up, supportive friends and family, and super-charged, super-positive attitude except for a day or two every month or two of pure blue bug funk about it all.
On the bright side, missjunebug feels great and her hair is well back, but that’s not all that might be back. A few exams down and a Pet/CT Scan to go will hopefully provide the information missjunebug’s doctor needs to make that determination. But it has got missjunebug thinking that with this disease you never really know what’s going on completely. A rogue cell. A few replications. An uncertain future.
It’s kind of like the economy. For a while there were some leading indicators of slowly improving job numbers, a tick up in the savings rate, a modest increase in the GDP, stock markets rising, then WHAM! the debt ceiling debate stalls out, S&P downgrades our red, white, and blue USA AAA credit rating, and all hell breaks loose in the worldwide markets encumbered by debts growing like…wait for it, wait for it…a cancer and the future of our once robust free market economy looks bleak indeed.
My super JBSis-in-Law sent a funny missive today that included a little internet humor and aligned perfectly with missjunebug’s post for the day.
THE ECONOMY IS SO BAD THAT :
I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
CEO’s are now playing miniature golf.
Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.
I saw a Mormon with only one wife.
I bought a toaster oven and my free gift was a bank.
Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America .
Motel Six won’t leave the light on anymore.
A picture is now only worth 200 words.
They renamed Wall Street “Wal-Mart Street”.
And, finally……..
I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Hotline. I got a call center in Pakistan …. and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.
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Time to hunker down and embrace uncertainty because that’s about all that’s offered these days.
missjunebug plans to take her medical matters and the conundrum of the economy one day at a time and keep her sense of humor in perfect health. She suggests you do the same.
Posted by missjunebug on August 10, 2011
missjunebug loves the Paciugo motto: Ante Lucrum Nomen: Reputation Before Profits. Photo by mjb2011
In her ongoing pursuit of living la dolce vita (and keeping her cruise groove going even on land!), missjunebug along with a few lovely friends made a wonderful discovery: Genuine gelato in her local community! Bellissimo!
missjunebug has Paciugo Gelato and Caffè at the outdoor wing of the Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks to thank for making her taste buds as happy as they were during her recent trip to Rome! This semi-healthy, mega-delicious concoction of whole milk, sugar, and natural fruits and flavorings is to use a couple of hackneyed phrases: to die for good. Oh. my. yes.
What were missjunebug’s trifecta of choices for her piccolo cup o’ bliss? Vanilla, of course–any ice cream or gelato worthy of its rock salt must have a pure and good vanilla, panna cotta (trans. wedding cake but even more tasty), and Texas Pecan Sea Salt Caramel, an outrageous blend of sweet and savory deliciousness. Well worth the under four buck price but believe missjunebug when she says she was prepared to pay whatever they asked!
This gelato is the real thing not because missjunebug says so but because this is the real thing. The Ginattas, Ugo, Cristiana, and Vincent hail from Northern Italy and brought the family’s secret (of course!) recipes with them to start their first gelato location in a city near and dear to missjunebug’s little bug heart, Big D little a double ll A S and that spells Dallas, her darlin’ darlin’ Dallas where the family and their franchisees have thrived! Sales must be amazing there now what with the 40+ days of 3-digit temperatures torturing the locals.
Although missjunebug has no such excuse for needing to eat this cool treat, she plans to make it part of her weekly regimen. It is a treat that bears a repeat!
If you are in the Conejo Valley, swing by the Oaks Mall 190 W. Hillcrest #65 805-497-4449 and scoop up a piccolo cuppa gelato. At roughly a 150 calories for a 3.5 oz serving you cannot go wrong!
Arrivederci, Häagen-Dazs!
Ciao bella, Paciugo!
Posted by missjunebug on August 8, 2011
Golden Brown, Melty, and Delicious! Photo by mjb2011
missjunebug has been doing her best to keep her cruise groove on. She clocks serious time in her courtyard fountain-side chaise lounge, she occasionally revisits her travel pictures in her iPhoto gallery, and she eats Italian whenever possible!
A few weeks ago she came across a delicious entree at the local hospital where she volunteers that screamed ITALIANO! One of the perks for volunteering is an after-volunteer-work free lunch in the hospital cafeteria that never disappoints. The provolone, tomato, and basil sandwich on chibatta bread was outstanding! The cafeteria culinary experience inspired missjunebug to replicate it at home. Here’s are the simple steps to a delicious variation on the traditional grilled cheese sandwich.
missjunebug’s Grilled Cheese Italiano
Ingredients
1 Kaiser roll (or Chibatta bread) cut in half
2 slices provolone cheese
4-6 tomato slices
Fresh basil leaves
Kosher Salt
Pepper
Directions
In a skillet melt a little butter and place the two halves of the roll cut side down. Press the halves down to bring to warm up the halves and bring to a golden brown.
Remove the halves and assemble the sandwich: place a slice of provolone on each half. Pile on the tomato slices on one half. Salt and pepper the tomatoes. Pile the basil on the other half and then carefully press the two halves together. Butter the top of the sandwich.
Place the sandwich back in the buttered skillet. Cover with a lid to get the provolone melting over low to medium heat. After a few minutes, remove the lid and flip the sandwich over to brown the other side and bring the provolone to melty perfection.
Buon appetito!
Simple Ingredients: Tomatoes! Provolone! Basil! Photo by mjb2011
Assemble as shown! Photo by mjb2011
Grill covered for a little while to get the melt on! Photo by mjb2011
Plate up! Photo by mjb2011
Up close and delicious! Photo by mjb2011
So put all those tomatoes to use you’ve been growing in your backyard garden! Have a little red, white, and green grilled cheese!
