Just to be perfectly clear...

... and keep things as worry-free as possible, I'm not really in the least (well, maybe in the very, very, tiniest, nearly insignificant least) concerned that the test results indicate a GI cancer, or even a bile duct blockage. My reaction to seeing those listed so prominently on the possible reasons for skewed test results is due solely to it having been only two weeks and a day since my dad passed away because of gall bladder cancer, and had the blockages as part and parcel of that illness.

When I first started on blood pressure meds two years ago, the doctor discussed how we would need to watch those enzyme levels, as the meds can have an impact - so, mostly without a shadow of a doubt, I am sure that the medications are the cause of the current test results.

To add perhaps a bit of concern back into the mix - and one reason why I'm not overly hopeful that the skewed results are a flase negative - is that, since Wednesday afternoon, I have been experiencing some discomfort in the small of my back, exactly where these kind of problems manifest. I have little doubt that something - maybe an infection? - is going slightly wrong down there. Given that I've had such a strange round with this ear infection, I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of those ear-bugs didn't head south and decide to throw a party at another location.

In any case, ultrasound Monday, follow-up with the doctor some time next week, and all these things will be brought up and discussed.

Recipe: Campeche-Style Baked Tilapia

- based on a Rick Bayless recipe

I had some tilapia fillets ready to go, and wanted to try a different way to bake them. I've been poking around for various chipotle-type things (Frontera, Suzie Hot Sauce, and others), and after a recent discussion in a friend's journal that started out with Taco Bell and some Mexican food discussions, I found - for some inexplicable reason - that I really wanted to try something with hot, spicy, goodness.

Despite Deb absolutely loving Mexican food, she has an outright animosity towards cilantro. I personally am ambivalent towards it, not having even heard of it (to my memory) until Deb started working at California Pizza Kitchen, where it seemed to be used in some quantity. Since then, I've seen it highlighted as an extra special thing to include - whether Mex, Tex-Mex, or just Pseudo-Yuppie. Thus, we had to modify the core recipe from the Frontera site, using basil in place of cilantro, and further modified in one other way - the only salsa on hand was Chi Chi's Fiesta salsa (hot), which I actually enjoy as a cold side salsa. That said, I hope to make this again using Frontera's Chipotle Salsa or Tangy Two-Chile Salsa rather than the ones mentioned in the recipe (sorry, Rick, but I likes me chipotle!)

I used a small pyrex baking dish, which kept the fillets a little too close for company, and that probably helped add to the baking time - we did the 350 degree oven for probably close to 25 minutes by the time flakiness was achieved (on the part of the fish; the rest of us are naturally flaky.) Next time, I'll try to space them out a bit on the larger dish and see if that comes closer to the expected cook time.

I served the fish on top of two (per person) Charras Tostada de maiz and with rice (we used cheddar broccoli, because we had a small quantity we needed to use up, and just needed to add a bit more to make a full meal; something more Spanish or Mexican would go nicely as well.)

I'd say everyone liked it, but that wouldn't be completely true: everyone who ate it liked it. Rachel and Brandon had their tilapia baked in balsamic vinaigrette in individually wrapped foil packets for about a dozen minutes or so.

Lamborghini Miura

Found this while looking for the link to the steam turbine BMW, and I found I didn't actually hate it.

Never really cared for the original Miura - loved the Countach (for most of the 70's and beyond it alternated with the vastly different 1969 Camaro as my absolute favorite car), reasonably favorable to the Gallardo, fairly impressed with the Murciélago (especially the R-GT), and I wouldn't turn away a Diablo if someone wanted to give me one (although I always thought of them as Lamborghini Lite.)

Some good info over at Lamborghini Cars - the enthusiast site.

Hmmm, wonder if they'll do the production one in AWD, like they have with the Gallardo and Murciélago?

Visions of rally racing in a Lamborghini dancing in my head...

The Missing Piano Player

When I posted about pianists the other day, I neglected to mention some music of Liszt, transcribed and performed by Earl Wild - This disc is the first I've seen since an earlier one went out of print. I'd caught a bit of one of the transcriptions once, and it blew me away. I've never heard anything else on piano that has impressed me quite as much.

I've added it (and another, with some more Liszt pieces) to my wish list, just in case someone stumbles buyby and feels like spending money just for fun.

~ ~ ~

In other piano related news, can anyone can recommend a piano method - preferably online - that covers the technical aspects of playing (especially fingering; Justin's already a sight-reader)?