Pumpkin Galore! by Christie

Looking forward to pumpkin in the Fall season.  It is a new fad that has blown up the last few years.  Their are fans and haters.  For me, I am a fan but my husband is a hater.  I like to bake and have pumpkin coffee.  My favorite coffee is Dunkin Donuts so I frequent often and purchase pumpkin coffee and a pumpkin donut!  It's so tasty! 

 

I have made many recipes with pumpkin in the ingredients.  I made a new recipe called Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Pecan Cookies.  I only did the cookie part, I didn't do the frosting.  I'm not a big fan when it comes to icing.  It was delicious!  I brought some to my Oma's house because she likes pumpkin.  She said they were too rich for her and she suggested swapping chocolate for raisins.  I am going to try it some time soon. 

 

The other grocery store I frequent is Trader Joes, because the have anything you can imagine relating to pumpkin.  I've tried pumpkin biscotti, pumpkin cranberry scones and pumpkin chai.  All are fantastic.

 

Some facts about pumpkin.  It was born in North America.  It is usually orange in color.  It is used both for food and recreation.  Typically it weighs approximately 6 to 18 pounds.  The biggest pumpkin in history weight 75 pounds. 

 

I truly think you should either purchase or bake something pumpkin during the fall season. 

Army Ten-Miler 2015 by Pat

This was our Pat's Team weekend for 2015. It was October 10th to the 11th. It was fun again! The greatest family, friends, New Jersey cousins and a old friend showed from Trinidad. Friday I stayed at the hotel. On Saturday Will and I put out the shirts and people we know came by. I was there for 6 hours. Then I went back to our house for a party. About 40 people showed up. That was great fun! Patty and I made the food. There was pasta and pies that were delicious. My Uncle had his birthday at the party. Some Army friends I haven't seen in years showed up. It really was a good time. But I needed to go back to the hotel to get some sleep.

The next day I woke up at 5:30am. By 6:00 I was downstairs and my brother Chris and my friend Grooove were there with my trike. Then we parked next to the Pentagon. I got on my trike and we went to the start of the race. When I got there 50 wounded warriors were getting ready for the race. Even some PT and OT people I know were there doing the race. I started getting motivated!

The race started and I felt good. I left Virginia and went to D.C. I was right behind a trike for 5 miles. At the 7 mile I started to go back to Virginia. At the same time the runners were at the 5 miler. I decided to go faster! I past five or six trike for the last three miles. The runner never caught me. My time was only 1 minute slower than last year. Then I went to our tent AAFMAA/RWB Team. My brother-in-law, Steve, was there and showed me they had tons of food. For the next hour friends wearing "Pat's Team" T-shirt and we took pictures.

Then we went to Samuel Beckett's restaurant for the party. This year was fun again. We sat in the back or outside. The weather was perfect. There was a lot of rugby on the TV. One of my soldier from 9 years ago, Russell Vidler, came by. It was just a great gala.

At 7 o'clock I went to the hotel to sleep. Wilson and I needed to pass out. I stayed at a hotel. I went upstairs and opened the door. Then got in bed. 10 minutes later I was about to sleep. Then I heard a noise in the bathroom. It happens with these people for Pat's Team. I got nothing to say thank you for the Pat's Team weekend!

Scary Trip to New York City by Chris

 

I'm frightened but it's really awesome to go to train, it was heading north to New York City!  

 

I've never been to New York, I thought it's basically the exact same thing DC. I didn't realize how big buildings are and the traffic is such a nightmare. So I went to catch a cab and every cab is full, so I ordered a Uber.

 

Looking around I thought it's DC but it's so so so not... It's a lot of people, cars and big buildings. I got to the hotel and checked in I'm going to go to 9/11 memorial. It's so hard for me to go there, steps, trying to slam a lot of people.  It was sad and inspirational.

 

Amazing Day at GWU Hospital by Randy

Listen to this Amazing Day at GWU Hospital

On October 13, 2015 I introduced myself to 350 people.  These where doctors, nurses,
SLPs, PTs and OTs.  I told these individuals that I am a stroke survivor and I have
aphasia.

I was sitting with 3 other SLPs and another stroke survivor who also has aphasia.  We
were both nervous but as soon as I started to speak my nervousness came to an end. 
The feeling was calm from that point on.  There was a time when I could not speak,
read or write.

We spoke for roughly an hour.  We were asked many questions about healthcare. After
my stroke I was not able to do much of anything at that time.  After 4 years my life, my
new life is getting better.

Cooking Up a Storm by Christie

I have always loved cooking, but I'm not sure how I learned it because my mom was an awful cook.  I was self-taught.  I started after college by trying different options.  I'm not sure how I got my cooking genes because my heritage from all sides were a disaster but I truly love cooking.

After I had my stroke, I had to find different tools that would help me be able to cook again.  A normal can opener uses 2 hands to turn, therefore stroke survivors can't do it.  That is why I found a one-hand can opener online.  The manufacturer is Chef'n EZSqueeze.  It is less than $15 dollars. 

My memory has some issue with remembering items and measurements.  I use software called Key Ingredient Recipe.  It has all of my recipes so I don't have to remember anything. My reading is also an issue so I use software called Apple Speak.  It is on my iPhone and my iPad.  It makes my life easier.

When I prep, I use a mixing bowl and it doesn't stay put.  It moves around constantly.  I have a non-slip mat that holds it in place which makes me happy!  The manufacturer is Dycem.

I enjoy food.  It is my passion. My favorite food is Mexican.  I usually fix tacos, burritos or enchiladas.  Here is one of my all time favs!            

Spicy Chicken and Hazelnut Enchiladas

Ingredients:

1          pound fresh tomatillos

2          Cloves Of Garlic

2          Jalapeno Peppers , seeded

2          tablespoons Cilantro

2          tablespoons Onions

⅓         cup Sour Cream

⅓         cup Plain Yogurt

1          tablespoon Honey

¼         teaspoon Salt

⅓         cup Green Chiles Canned

6          Corn Tortillas

2          cups Chicken Breasts Cooked

2          cups Cheddar Cheese

1          cup Hazelnut Roasted & chopped

Directions:

1. If using fresh tomatillos, prepare by washing and removing husks. Place in saucepan, cover with water and simmer until tender, about 5 to 7 minutes; drain. If using tomatillos, drain and discard liquid.

2. For sauce, mince garlic, jalapenos, cilantro and onions in food processor or blender. Add drained tomatillos, sour cream, yogurt, honey and salt; puree. Mix in green chilies and set aside.

3. Soften tortillas either by frying on both sides in a small amount of vegetable oil, by wrapping in foil and placing in hot oven until hot, or by placing in microwave oven until heated.

 
4. In the center of each tortilla, place about 2 tablespoons each of chicken, sauce and cheese. Add about 2 teaspoons chopped hazelnuts.

5. Pour 1/4 of the sauce in the bottom of a greased 9x12-inch baking dish. Place filled enchiladas in dish and pour remaining sauce over top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and then with hazelnuts.

6. Bake in a 350 oven until heated through, about 20 minutes.

Aphasia Will Not Be Silent by Randy

Aphasia will not be silent. What the hell is aphasia?  Very good question, aphasia is a language disability.  My stroke happened 4 years ago and I have aphasia.

It is unbelievable how my life has changed.  Four years ago I could barely speak.  I also could not read or write.  My therapy was very helpful to me.  The thing that has helped me in my recovery is the Stroke Comeback Center.

Not only the SCC but my wife has made so many differences to me.  She has been with me through every step of my recovery.   She is the lady that has really made me to not give up.  I have not and will not give up.

From the beginning of my stroke and having aphasia sucks.  Having this disability could have easily caused me to do nothing.  Quitting was never a possibility.  I am a different person. 

God always has a reason and mine is having aphasia.

Aspen! by Pat

Who thought I would ever go to Aspen? I had never been to Colorado! So Patty and I decided to go. The last 2 years we went to Two Top Mountain Adaptive Sports Foundation. It was so fun. Patty talked to some friends and she wanted me to go to Aspen, CO. I didn't know that much about it.

It turned out the VA has been doing this for 29 years. Everyone in the DAV and VA can go skiing. We did the papers and did a physical. Then on March 28th we flew to Aspen for a week. I had been drinking water for a week and the altitude was very high!

On Monday and Wednesday I went to go curling. I couldn't wait! I had watched curling on TV for 20 years. It was hard to do. Then you had to walk on the ice. And you push a stones that weigh 40 pounds. I loved it!! I got better by the last day. And I drank water!

The other sport I did was skiing. I got very lucky. There were two people to show me how to ski. I was scared, Dave and Lisa were not. Dave was 63 years old and retired from the Army. Lisa was 35 years old and finished college in NYC. She was there and she went back to Colorado. She wanted to ski all the time and enjoy herself. They were nice right away. Then they made me get into the chairlift!

I went up and up. Then I got off. Phew. I relaxed. The guides were talking. Then the decided to go up again! It was freaking me out. It turned out where I skied were good for me. It was not too fast. I skied 5 times. I was getting better. Then Lisa told me to let go of my left arm. The last ski I did that day was interesting. We were skiing and Dave said something to Lisa. I was focusing until we stopped. Lisa told me to look at Dave on the right. I looked at the right and Dave was gone. He was not holding on or saving my life. He was 10 feet behind me. He started to clap. Check out this video.

Then Thursday I did some more skiing. And it snowed on Wednesday night. I worked with Lisa and Dave again. (My skiing heroes!) Right away I felt I could do it. We went to the same place to ski. The snow was faster. But I said, "Let's try to be faster. But not too much faster." It felt great. I was getting better, faster and not so scared. The last run they told me that I needed to let go of the pole. They said they would be with me. So we started, I let go of the pole and they pushed the pole all the way down. I couldn't reach it!  I needed to ski. I got to the end and I was so excited. I never fell down. It made my smile.

One night there was a group meeting for people like me, with Traumatic Brain Injury. There was about 30 people there. The stories were interesting and they taught me that TBI is different. All people are different.

On Saturday we went home. Flying was scary in the beginning. The airplane just went straight. I went to sleep. I thought that Aspen was incredible!! We will see you there next year.