I've decided to go ahead and make some information more public. Everyone who has read much on this blog knows that I went to West Point for two years and then left to serve and LDS Mission. If you read a few blog entries back you will see that I have recently had a somewhat severe problem caused by acid reflux. My acid reflux is most likely (though I have no official diagnosis) a symptom of GERD. The bad news is that GERD is a disqualifying condition for service in America's Armed Forces. Moreover, the fact that I have had food stuck in my esophagus hints that it may be somewhat advanced. I emailed one of the doctors on the Medical Examination Review Board (MERB) that medically approves cadet candidates and his response was "This doesn't bode well."
So, although there is still a chance of receiving a waiver and being allowed to resume my planned future at the Academy, it looks like I will most likely be a civilian for the rest of my life. Civilian life is not bad, don't get me wrong, but I had really hoped for a different outcome.
In the end I know it doesn't matter. If I do what I am supposed to do, I know that Heavenly Father will ensure that everything in my life works out. His plans are not always the same as our plans, which is frustrating, but His plans are always perfect and I have come to know more than ever that He truly does have a plan for me- even if I cannot see it. As Isaiah said: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:8-9)
If He wants me to be at West Point, I will certainly return. And if I return, He certainly wants me to be at West Point- as it appears I would be the first person to be allowed admission under such circumstances.
If anybody knows someone from the Academies- any of them- who was granted a medical qualification after such an event, kindly leave me a comment below to let me know it is possible. All I have found is that many have been turned away for far more minor symptoms of the same disease.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Best Bites Pesto Pasta
My mother and I shared a birthday the other day. One of the gifts was a joint gift to both of us- a cookbook. Not just any cookbook though, it was the cookbook from one of the most popular cooking blogs on the internet. Ok, so I have no numbers to back that up, but its pretty popular and they have great food and fun ideas.
Since today is Saturday, I spent my morning looking for recipes. Most of the time was spent looking at a Romano's Macaroni Grill online cookbook and the recipe section of Olive Garden's website (yes, both places publish their recipes!), but there wasn't anything there that sounded appetizing. Cookbooks haven't really been a big part of my experience so far, so I didn't even think to pull one out until my mom handed me the one we got for our birthday. Of the many recipes that I've decided to try, one stood out in particular. It was bow-tie pasta with pesto sauce and roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and pine-nuts on top. Though neither of my parents are big pesto fans, the meal was loved by all. Since I'm pretty sure its copyrighted I won't put the recipe up, but strongly suggest trying it.
Pine-nuts are used in two parts of the recipe. You can buy pre-shelled and pre-toasted pine-nuts but they are expensive and basically don't exist in Delta. Minus the time spent shelling pine-nuts the recipe would take about 20 minutes. Shelling all those nuts by hand? Several hours.
Also, pesto requires lots of fresh basil. There are two stores in town- Quality and Jubilee. I shop at Quality and bought out what was left of their supply of fresh basil-which amounted to about half as much as was needed. Grudgingly, I headed to Jubilee to buy enough basil to make up the difference. The basil down there was horrible! The leaves were all wilted and turning a brown/grey color. And the packages cost twice as much! There is more in each package, I guess that's the reasoning for the extra cost. But then you have to throw 3/4 of it away because its no good. Guess I'll keep doing business where I have been.
Since today is Saturday, I spent my morning looking for recipes. Most of the time was spent looking at a Romano's Macaroni Grill online cookbook and the recipe section of Olive Garden's website (yes, both places publish their recipes!), but there wasn't anything there that sounded appetizing. Cookbooks haven't really been a big part of my experience so far, so I didn't even think to pull one out until my mom handed me the one we got for our birthday. Of the many recipes that I've decided to try, one stood out in particular. It was bow-tie pasta with pesto sauce and roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and pine-nuts on top. Though neither of my parents are big pesto fans, the meal was loved by all. Since I'm pretty sure its copyrighted I won't put the recipe up, but strongly suggest trying it.
Pine-nuts are used in two parts of the recipe. You can buy pre-shelled and pre-toasted pine-nuts but they are expensive and basically don't exist in Delta. Minus the time spent shelling pine-nuts the recipe would take about 20 minutes. Shelling all those nuts by hand? Several hours.
Also, pesto requires lots of fresh basil. There are two stores in town- Quality and Jubilee. I shop at Quality and bought out what was left of their supply of fresh basil-which amounted to about half as much as was needed. Grudgingly, I headed to Jubilee to buy enough basil to make up the difference. The basil down there was horrible! The leaves were all wilted and turning a brown/grey color. And the packages cost twice as much! There is more in each package, I guess that's the reasoning for the extra cost. But then you have to throw 3/4 of it away because its no good. Guess I'll keep doing business where I have been.
Friday, April 8, 2011
spring?
It has been in the 80's lately and we've all been thinking spring- but then you wake up one morning and BAM! this is what ya got:
You can't tell in the picture but it is still snowing quite heavily...
Why can't it just be spring?!
Why can't it just be spring?!
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