update from the Gluten Patrol

Got FionaPie's test results back from the doctor's office: evidence of definite gluten sensitivities but not full-blown celiac disease, and no nutritional deficiencies detected. So good news on both fronts! He says to keep on with the dietary changes that remove gluten from the equation, since not being in pain is a good thing, but at least now we know we don't have the fret about any extra tests or medicines/supplements. Also, she's regained a pound in the last week, so I think she had started to lose some weight, there.

Discoveries: gluten-free bread isn't bad, but if one has a "hey, this should taste like bread" thought in one's head, then it tastes kinda wrong. Don't know if that makes any sense. Toasted is definitely better -- thanks, zylch, for that note. Better yet is the Bob's Red Mill gluten-free mix for the bread machine, which smelled great last night. There are a number of reasons -- nutritional, logistical, and financial -- why we can't purchase GF versions of everything in our kitchen, but the bread thing will make it simpler for her to pack lunches and not worry about whatever the school is serving on a given day.

adventures!

This weekend, diermuid and I got out for a date night -- a cultural event and dinner after, even. WILD. I'm just Scottish enough to still feel please with myself for presenting tickets for his birthday, for a show that coincided with Valentine's Day, so it was like two gifts for the price of one. :)

The pipes and drums of the Black Watch and the Band of the Scots Guards put on a fun show, with everything one would expect from such an experience: enormous bearskin hats, dancing with swords, "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes, and two renditions of "Scotland the Brave" (one was an encore). Success! We'd forgotten to have dinner before the show, on account of work and drive time and such, so we found a place sort of on the way outta town: Paisano's. Which was perhaps not the finest establishment, but they were open until 11p and their food was really quite yummy. Plus, the waiter didn't make fun of me for ordering Lambrusco (which is sort of the Moscato of red wines).

We also shared what was, perhaps alas, one of the best plates of tiramisu I've ever had in my life...unfortunate only because tiramisu is usually tasty enough to enjoy, but not so excellent that I resent having to share it. But this one? SO SAD TO SHARE.

I feel like it would be inaccurate to say we should get out "more often," unless we define that as perhaps seven or eight times this year instead of what we managed last year. It was a lot of fun. Hoping to set up some sort of adventure for March! Maybe HOCKEY TIME.