Lights Out for Earth Hour

It was a cold rainy day yesterday, exactly the kind of weather we expected to experience in Seattle. Our day started with a trip to the grocery store. We have two stores a short drive or longish walk from the apartment. One is a QFC and the other is Whole Foods. Both have great produce and baked goods, an extensive deli and a large section of beer and wine. Whole Foods focuses on organic and locally grown produce and has an eye-popping variety of ready-to-eat soups, sushi, curries, salads and stews available. I imagine the store must bustle with commuters at the end of the work day, all stopping to pick up supper as they head home. Sadly, Arnie must completely avoid cheese, meat, salads, cut fruits & veggies from a deli. No sushi for him. He also has to avoid foods from "reach in" or "scoop" bulk food containers. No nibbling on the free samples set out to entice shoppers either. Arnie's self-control has to be set on maximum when shopping at Whole Foods. Here's why......

Arnie continues to feast on lots of different yummy pills each day. Among them are three different types of immunosuppressants: prednisone, tacrolimus and mycophenolate. His recent stem cell transplant and these medications put Arnie at an increased risk of infection including food borne illnesses. For this reason, the SCCA clinic included a food safety class as part of our early orientation. They reminded us that bacteria and other organisms exist in most common foods. Most of these organisms are of little risk to an average healthy person, however Arnie is currently not in this category.

The food safety class reviewed lots of useful, practical advice. Most of it was information our mothers taught us when we learned to cook. (Thanks Mom Bernice & Mom Doris. We miss you.) The class emphasized the importance of good hand washing and thorough cleaning of counter tops and cutting boards. We also learned Arnie's meals must be well cooked and left overs must be refrigerated quickly and kept for a maximum of 72 hours. After washing up the dishes and cookware, the kitchen must be cleaned using a dilute bleach solution.

We also learned about the "SCCA Immunosuppressed Diet" which Arnie must follow until he is off all his immunosuppressive medications and feeling well. This will be for the next year at least. We were given examples of foods that are safe to select and others that should be avoided. Here's an overview:
- Dairy Foods: Pasteurized milk & milk products and commercially packaged hard & semi-soft cheeses are OK. Soft cheeses like feta and brie must be cooked before eating. Arnie must never eat blue cheese or cheese that contains veggies or herbs. Any mold spots on the cheese and its in the bin.
- Meat: All meat, poultry, fish and eggs must be cooked until well done. No rare steaks or soft boiled eggs for Arnie. Cold cuts and hot dogs must be heated until steaming before serving. (Mmmmm. A steaming hot bologna sandwich.....) Lutefisk is verboten.
- Entrees & Soups: All well cooked entrees and soups are acceptable. In fact, most of our best meals have been slow-cooker soups and stews.
- Fruits & Vegetables: Just listen to your Mother and eat your fruits and vegetables but rinse them well under running water first. This includes frozen produce, produce we plan to cook and produce that will be peeled (such as bananas, melons and oranges).
- Breads, Grains & Cereals: All bread and baked goods, cooked grains and cereals are acceptable. Arnie must cook Edger's home ground oats before eating them.
- Desserts: All homemade and commercially baked cookies, cakes, pies and puddings are acceptable. Cream-filled pastries are acceptable if refrigerated or shelf-stable. Yeahhh!!! Ding-dongs & Twinkies are OK!!

Enough about food already? We'll tell you more another time.

Last night we celebrated Earth Hour by joining millions of others and turning off our lights. We climbed to the roof and watched the Seattle space needle lights go out. Later, we played a game of Scrabble by candle-light. Many thanks to my friends from work who thoughtfully included a candle in our SCCA gift bag. Arnie claims he won the game but it was pretty dark in here. Where did he come up with a word like taiga anyway? Perhaps his brain is becoming less mushy already.
Thinking of you all.
Arnie & Brenda