Sunday, April 12, 2009

HAPPY EASTER

Very Happy Easter to you all. This has been a stress-filled week.

First, I got good news. I'm a semi-finalist in the Taste of Home Branson Great American Pie Show Contest, April 24-25. Twelve of us will be competing for the grand prize of $2,500. A panel of 10 judges (including Al Roker of the Today Show) will pick the winning pie. My recipe is "Marshmallow Cream-Almond-Topped Key Lime Pie." As can be expected, there's been a lot of activity generated from this -- emails, phone calls, and the like back and forth with the Branson Chamber of Commerce and Taste of Home. That would be enough, but....

My computer started acting up. I won't go into the morbid details. We bought an external hard drive, backed up all our files and reformatted. The reformatting was more complicated than expected because we were missing some important files. Our younger son helped us but at a certain point he remotely controlled our computer and he inadvertently formatted our external drive in addition to the computer hard drive. We lost everything, and I mean everything. Besides being tied up all week with this project, we became totally frustrated, and Guy went out yesterday to Staples and bought a new computer......

The new operating system is Vista, so we have some learning to do....

Of course, this all happens when there is no time for it. I was heavily involved in some contests and trying to send recipes in. But without Word, I can't send recipes in very easily. So I'm at a standstill with only a few days left.... and if that isn't enough......

Guy is recovering from a 3-hour wrist fusion surgery on March 11 that was supposed to be 1-1/2 hours. He's usually very fast to recover, but he has had a really tough time, with a lot of pain, swelling, discomfort, and not to mention, the loss of use of his right hand/arm. So I'm doing double duty around the house, in addition to going down to Wilmington (1-3/4 hours) a lot for his doctor visits. He's still got several weeks to go before he'll be able to use his hand/arm....

And, I'm supposed to be practicing my recipe, because I have exactly 2 hours to make it when I get to Branson. But I haven't had time. ...

Luckily, my posts were done through May 2, because I knew I'd be busy during March/April. But I have a stack of new posts to put into blogger with no photos because we lost them....

The really bad news is that Guy will not be going with me to Branson. He wanted to drive, I wanted to fly, and we couldn't seem to come to an agreement. Before I retired, I traveled quite a bit with my job -- that is until I got hit really bad with Meniere's disease. It will be interesting to see how I fare alone with several health challenges facing me. I'm a polio survivor with weakened muscles and nerves that have been impacted by a car accident injury; I have myriad food and other allergies, chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia and Meniere's disease and I'm pre-diabetic. These are the exact reasons I've avoided any contests where you have to bake on-site. Don't ask me why I entered this contest. And really don't ask me how I intend to pull it off....

But today is Easter, a day of rebirth, new beginnings and hope. So I am hoping for the possibility of something glorious awaiting me in Branson. A chance to be redeemed from some of the despair I've been living with for the past 5 years -- the despair of not wanting to leave the house because I might have a Meniere's attack and be flat on my face with vertigo and nausea, and the despair of not being able to sleep because the room is too hot or too cold or too noisy or I ate the wrong thing. Today is Easter, and I am hopeful for something new and wonderful. I am not giving up. I am going to Branson.

18 comments:

Barbara Bakes said...

Congratulations on the contest! That sounds so exciting. Marshmallow creme sounds perfect with key lime pie! I'm so sorry about all your troubles. Go with a positive attitude and you will be blessed you with the strength you need. Good luck!

Kathy said...

Best of luck to you Judy, and Happy Easter to you too.

Rosie Hawthorne said...

Happy Easter, Judy.

Congratulations on the pie contest.

And sorry to hear about everything else.

Good luck!

Coleens Recipes said...

My goodness, you've had a rough time!! That prize money will ease the pain a little hopefully. Good luck with your new computer...I am not looking forward to changing from XP.

Hairball T. Hairball said...

Dear Judy,

I am so sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble right now!! You know we will all be with you in spirit, and many good thoughts and prayers will be headed your way as you make your way to the contest.

Kick booty, Miss Judy!! LOL

Happy Easter!

-H

Debbie said...

Hi Judy, I just got back from being away this week. Thanks so much for the award! That was very sweet of you. Best of luck with the contest. The marshmallow with key lime pie sounds wonderful. Hope you have a great Easter and keep a positive attitude!

Reeni said...

That is wonderful news about the pie contest!! I'm sorry your experiencing bad times. I hope things get better and your husband recovers from his surgery. I have faith in you - I think everything will work out fine. We'll all be rooting for you and sending you our prayers and good vibes.

Donna-FFW said...

Congratulations to you judy!! We will all be rooting for you!! I am so saddened to hear of your troubles. I hope it all gets better and works out, my thoughts are with you, sending you good vibes:)XXOO

Elyse said...

You can do it Judy! You know how I know? Because you're awesome. Congrats on having a finalist recipe; I know you'll do great--in all respects--in the contest. My thoughts will be with you the whole time. I'm great at sending telepathic good vibes! Happy Easter!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Congratulations on the contest. Contests are really a lot of fun and I know you'll do well. Good luck and be sure to let us know the results.
Sam

JohnGL said...

Judy, you don't really need Word. There is a great (and free) office package called OpenOffice. It reads and writes all Microsoft Office files.

Get it here.

I've been using OpenOffice for nearly a decade with no serious issues.

Martha said...

Congratulations -- the contest will be in my neck of the woods! Branson is a great place in the Missouri Ozarks.

Kerstin said...

Congrats on the contest - your recipes sounds amazing! We'll all be rooting for you :)

I hope your hubby feels better soon.

Lyndas recipe box said...

Congrats, for being a finalist, Judy! Sorry for all the health concerns, but keep your trust in God to work these things out!
Wish I could go to Branson to see you. I only live 1 1/2 hours away, but it won't work this time. But I'll be rooting for you!

Martha said...

I'm adding you as a Friend of Linderhof -- you have a great blog!

Martha

Martha said...

Your garden is far ahead of ours -- we're in zone 6 -- am looking forward to the herb garden abloom.

Judy said...

Thanks to all of you for your kind and comforting words.
JohnGL, thanks for the heads-up on Open Office. I'll have my hubby check it out.

Katrina said...

Wow, lots going on! Hope all goes well for you and Guy! Take care. Enjoy, too!