I don't do a lot of cooking in the summer, there are so many other things to keep me busy this time of the year. I have an annual BBQ in early August, I cook a lot for that. I usually pick a theme for it and I choose food that goes with it. I have had a Luau, a Fiesta, I've done like an Australian theme. I'm trying to think what I'm going to do this year. Maybe I'll create my own unique theme and create my own recipes from scratch. I'm trying to get better at coming up with recipes in my head and just throwing something tasty together, this takes a lot of practice though. Being severely disabled makes it very difficult to get much practice.

I haven't really explained my story very well at all, I think I will do that now. I have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, it's a disease that weakens my body's muscles more and more as I age. I was diagnosed when I was 5 years old. I could walk when I was younger but the muscle weakness eventually put me into a wheelchair permanently.

I'm a very positive person, I look on the bright side. Sometimes I have days that I have a hard time with things and become a bit down, we all are entitled to bad days sometimes.

I have been on a ventilator and have had a feeding tube (gtube) now for just over 6 years. Since then I could not eat many things by mouth anymore, accept for only a few bites of very soft foods like ice cream, mashed potatoes, cheesecake, chocolate and such.

About 2 years ago I made a delicious cheesecake, I must of ate too much, it sure was good though. Not long after I came down with pneumonia. It was likely aspiration pneumonia caused by food particles going down the wrong way and settling into my lungs. I was very sick and in the hospital for a week. Many weeks following I was on antibiotics, this was not a good time, a bit scary. Needless to say I have not eaten anything by mouth since, the risk of getting very sick and going into the hospital is much too high. It sucks but my life is more important than eating food.

People wonder how I can still enjoy food, as in looking at it, being interested in it and cooking it...if I can't eat it. Looking on the bright side as I often do allows for this. I enjoy the creative aspect of it mostly, I am a very creative person, anything that involves creativity, I'm in! I consider myself a graphic designer and I enjoy gardening, both involve a great deal of creativity. Graphic design is truly the place where I have the most creative control, meaning I do not require any assistance from others to create a design. With cooking and gardening I need complete physical help with, someone else is my hands, I just tell them what to do. Yes I am not physically doing it but it is me giving the directions. I can grow my skills mentally but the rest will only be as good as the person assisting me. Knife skills, a steady hand and creating my vision can only come through my helper. I say that I am the chef and my helper is my sous chef!

I also enjoy cooking and baking because I like to serve others good food and bring happiness to others. I think others that are also truly passionate about food agree, it is really not about them. I'm sure they too get enjoyment out of tasting their own creations but I bet they like serving it to others more. When others are sitting around the table raving about how delicious your food is, it makes you feel fulfilled when you pull off what you aimed to. I always want honest reviews, if it don't taste right or it's off, I want to know so I can grow and get better. Since I cannot taste things myself, I depend on others to assist me with this.

This is part of my story, if you have read this entire post, I thank you so much for your time. If you'd like to know more about me and keep up with my cooking and recipes, check back every now and then.