September 28, 2015 lunch – Chirashi Donburi at Azuma, Dinner – Sampler Plate at Greenhouse Bistro’s Antiques Roadshow Celebration

September 28, 2015 lunch – Chirashi Donburi at Azuma,  Dinner – Sampler Plate at Greenhouse Bistro’s Antiques Roadshow Celebration

I slept a little later than usual, getting up at around 7:30 and waited for Suzette to return from her walk so I could help her wash the dishes. She washes and I stack and return the dry dishes to their repository, and fetch the dirty dishes, so I guess you could say our division of labor is between stationary and mobile.

Then I rode to Montano, showered, and worked until 12:30.  At 12:30 I went to Tri-Core Laboratory for my annual exam blood work up draw and then to Azuma for my favorite lunch of Chirashi Donburi, which is 12 pieces of raw seafood on a bed of sushi rice in a box with daikon pickles, egg omelet, and shredded fresh daikon.  Quite a meal with lots of protein to make up for my loss of blood.  

The plan today was to make today a medical day with lunch sandwiched between the blood draw and my first trip to the Podiatry doctor.  I did not arrive at Azuma until 1:15, so I could only finish ½ of my Chirashi, which I found to be surprisingly satisfying. At 1:55 I left for my 2:20 appointment at the podiatry clinic off Paseo del Norte at Barstow.  When I arrived I could not help thinking I had entered one of those early Northern Renaissance genre paintings by Bosch or Pieter Breughel of a group of the halt and the lame.  I immediately became aware of how important good foot health was to one’s quality of life and became instantly determined to take to heart whatever advice I was given by the doctor if it prolonged good foot health.  As it turned out that was a good thought because when I was examined by my new doctor she told me that my ankles appeared to be slightly swollen and I had the beginning of varicose veins, which is a sign of poor blood circulation.  She ordered a test to be performed next week, had me fitted for a pair of compression socks, set me up for ten to twelve week check ups, checked then checked the fungus on my toes, prescribed a topical medication for the fungus, and welcomed me to the Albuquerque community of podiatry  patients. 

Actually I liked the Doctor very much. Her name was something like Balkisson and she was clearly an Indian Muslim, so I asked her if she knew Sarah Kassam, because I had seen Sarah and Rahim Saturday evening at Globalquerque and Sarah and the Doctor resembled each other.  Amazingly Dr. Balkinsson knew and had met and visited Sarah several years ago. Small world.  The doctor asked me how I knew the Kassams and I told her I was their attorney for real estate matters and in one of their investor groups.  When I left the doctor smiled and asked me to give my regards to Sarah when I next met her and I said I would.  I felt as if I had started my podiatry treatment on a hopeful note.

I returned home at 4:00 and worked for an hour and then watched the nightly business news and BBC news and the drove to the Greenhouse Bistro in Los Lunas for the big Antiques Roadshow Celebration.  I was amazed that 7 people, besides Suzette and me, showed up.  It was a great food and wine event.  The Greenhouse Bistro was pouring 6 or 7 wines including a Spanish sparkling Cava and a Rioja rose, both of which I tried and enjoyed.  We watched the first of three episodes of the Roadshow filmed in Albuquerque. The last bid discovery was of Carole and her Ann Peterson painting that she bought for $150 in the early 60’s that was appraised for $300,000 named “the Answer”.

Chef Darren made up lovely small plates with an assortment of appetizers, including two sticks of fresh focaccia with a small ramekin of a slightly salty tapenade, a toothpick used as skewer for a cube of mozzarella cheese, a couple of small pieces of lettuce and a small yellow pear tomato, which I have never seen and thought was very clever (Suzette called it a Caprese Appetizer), and a piece of pork  belly braised in Apple juice and apple cider vinegar served on a thin bread crust, which was very tasty also.  I enjoyed the lovely evening of food, wine and television among the folks who showed up at the Greenhouse Bistro.

After the show we drove home and went to bed around 9:00.

Bon Appetit 

I am trying to sleep more and it is making me feel better I think, perhaps because I am not as burdened with work related thoughts.

Another lovely day of food and activity.