Updatia

The follow up with the doc went pretty good yesterday. Blood pressure was excellent - 134/72, which was the lowest ever (80, being the next closest.) I wonder if the meter at home is off - that low came after the closest brush with death I've ever had while driving.

A gentleman in a Cadillac took a left turn in front of me, and I had to slam on brakes and initiate avoidance maneuvers. I barely avoided slamming into his door. If I had a bumper sticker on my front bumper, we would have had impact. Oy.

So, anyway, if it was that low under those circumstances, I imagine it's a lot lower the rest of the time. I think I might take it in for the next appointment to see.

Received a second-opinion of sorts, from the resident working with the regular doc. Keeping the medicine the same. Some minor allergy symptoms, but overall amazed that I wasn't in a lot worse shape allergy-wise (which is why I don't think it's that, or, at least, not mostly that.) Anyone around here with allergies is miserable, and I'm not. Breathing is better, although not vastly better that the doc is happy. Took a peak flow measurement, and I need to get a pulmonary test at the hospital so we can start quantifying the asthma issue.

Went to a local Italian eatery for team-lunch. Not quite as good as it was with the previous owners, but I had my suspicions. Most high-brow Italian eateries don't offer a breakfast menu (Pane e vino didn't; Pasta e vino does.)

The garlic rolls are still overloaded with garlic (which is a good thing,) but they're a bit tougher than they were of old. I had the stuffed shells, which had a nice blend of cheese and didn't get in the way with an overly obvious usage of egg. I'm pretty critical on this common additive to ricotta cheese - to me, it's usage is equivalent to watering down a cup of wine with a gallon of water. It ruins the texture along with the flavor, but, still, everyone thinks it's the hip thing to do for stuffed shells or lasagna-type dishes. It doesn't increase the overall nutritional value of the meal, so it doesn't even have that claim to fame. All it does is save pennies off the cost of the cheese. Thankfully, they sacrificed a few pennies, and, if they used any egg at all, I didn't notice it.

The sauce, on the other hand, was rather bland. It tasted a bit like off-price canned ravioli sauce, except slightly more edible. I suppose if there had been a shaker of oregano nearby I could have improved it enough to be decent, but it could have used a bit of fresh herbs during the cooking process - that always tastes so much better, and really brings out the flavor. The house dressing - Italian, of course - was also fairly bland and could have used some more herbs to help differentiate it from the oil and vinegar offering. The salad contents themselves were very fresh, and the black olives particularly flavorful.

Overall, I'd eat there again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there - which is unfortunate. Pane e vino warranted that kind of treatment, the current incarnation just doesn't deserve it.

Mom (patrixa) is coming down for a visit - she's on the road now, and, at this point, we expect her sometime this evening.

Recently Watched: Howl's Moving Castle

Howl's Moving Castle

Because they're released in the US by Disney, Studio Ghibli films kept cropping up on Pixar and Disney sneak previews. Well, Kiki's Delivery Service did, anyway. Rachel was hooked before she saw one of Miyazaki's films, what with her interest in Pokemon turning into an interest in Japanese anime. Without her interest, we never would have rented whichever one we tried first - and, speaking for at least three of us, we're hooked.

Howl's Moving Castle is typical - in other words, excellent animation, beautiful scenery, fantastic world, incredible mechanical gadgetry, and magical, erm, magic. The story in this one is very accessible - it started off life as a children's book - and very much a Miyazaki story - which, of course, it's not; at least, not originally. I can see why Miyazaki selected this - although now I'm curious about the book; curious how many liberties he took to make it his, or was it always like that?

One trademark of all of the Studio Ghibli films is the sense of place that reminds me of Europe - specifically, Holland. Something about the beautiful fields of flowers that makes me think of the fields of bulbs; something about the steamtech that makes me think of canals, which, in turn, bypasses local canals, the Erie, and those of Venice and jumps right to Amsterdam. Not clear exactly why; something in the architecture; something in the clothing worn by the characters. I haven't studied up - in other words, watched the special features on any of the discs - to determine if this is solely my impression, or if it is a purposeful effect.

Unless you absolutely break out in hives when subjected to animation, I advise you watch this as soon as possible - it's got a lot to offer for all age groups. If you're into fantasy, steamtech, sci fi, animation, love stories, adventure, or anything with story, than it is a must see.