Still over a hot stove!

As cold as it is I wish the stove was hotter!  Today I did a chicken/potato dish.  Next Monday my son Joe will come by in the afternoon and help me make Shepherd's Pie.  He always loved it when I made it in the old days, and I hope I can match the flavor from back then.   He will pick up his two little girls when they get off school and bring them by - I haven't seen them in weeks so I look forward to it.

I've been craving something sweet and just remembered I bought ice cream at the grocery today.  Perfect timing!

Probably one of the best things about staying home and out of the crowds is the fact that I spend less money.  Not that it is a big amount, but I was surprised at how much I had left over at the end of the month.  Of course this month has only 28 days, but I hope I can do the same with the 31-day month coming up.

OK - it's ice cream time now.  I'll be back in a day or two.  

Cooking!

I told my daughter the day after my final treatment that I was ready to rejoin life and felt like cooking again.   Most of the past year I haven't felt like cooking any dinners, and have been eating prepared foods mostly from Costco.  I hope I'm finished with being listless and incompetent, and I have a casserole in the oven right now that smells delicious.  This is a pork sausage and potato bake, and I also bought chicken & ground beef at the grocery so I will have to decide how I want to cook them.    I'll take the easy way out for now, and just throw things together.  I've been watching some Youtube videos to get some ideas and realize I can put together my own recipes as I have always done.  And nothing complicated about it!  I keep adding to my grocery list as I haven't really bought foods and spices to make a complete meal or casserole for a long time.  

I just took the casserole dish out of the oven and hope I didn't go overboard with quantity!  I enjoy leftovers so I think I'll be ok.

It started out raining heavily this morning so I scratched the idea of doing laundry.  Now it's stopped for a while and I should just go ahead and see if I can wash a load and get it dried across the street before the rain starts falling again.  Tomorrow should be sunny so I might just wait.  

I can't tell you how overjoyed I am that I was able to throw things together and actually prepare a meal.  It's been a long time coming!  Now I'm going to sample it.
 

I Made It!

The weekly treatments are over and done with now.  Today I was there only 3 hours, and then I took Jeannie out for lunch.  I asked the nurses how long I needed to wait before I could have a beer - they laughed and said this afternoon would be fine!  So we went to a restaurant for lunch and each had a small draft!  I don't know when a beer has tasted so good.

Thanks again to all for your encouragement and positive thoughts sent my way.  I'll probably have another week of erratic sleep patterns, but hope I'm on my way to total recovery.  

Rain today!

I didn't expect to see much rain, if any at all, for the remainder of the year.  But it started coming down this afternoon, which will make my crop of weeds and grass grow like crazy.   Too bad I don't live somewhere that I can have a pet that grazes.  A small goat would do.

I've really worked at staying awake today and not resting my eyes for "just a few minutes".  My final infusion tomorrow is at 8:50 am, so I need to be up bright and early.  I am not sure what the process will be after tomorrow - I believe I see the doctor in a week or two, and I also remember that the full effects of the treatments take about a month to materialize. 

My daughter would remember - it's a good thing she hears everything that I need to know, because for some reason I forget most of it as soon as I hear it.  I used to have such a fantastic memory, but it's gone the way of other talents that I've lost.  Actually, I believe I haven't lost anything - it's just after so many years of living a person's brain becomes completely stuffed with facts, figures, etc. and it's just a problem to access them.

I may or may not post tomorrow - I'll probably feel fine by late afternoon being that my appointment is so early in the day.   Thanks to all of you who have stayed with me these past weeks.  I know it gets boring to hear about medical issues, and I can't wait to find new and better things to write about.  I really appreciate all your good thoughts and encouragement.





 

The days roll on!

My daughter-in-law Meg brought granddaughter Quinn over yesterday morning for a visit.  She has been doing that about every other week for a while and I just love it.   She always stops at a bakery and brings donuts or pastries, and you'd think I never had them before the way I pig out!  

Quinn is such a darling little girl and is really easy to have around.  She doesn't constantly get into things, but she is curious and likes to explore just a bit.  She took a great interest in my fridge yesterday - the photos, and especially the magnets.   It's so much fun to see her grow and every two weeks or so she is doing something new.  It is a wonderful break in my day, especially now since I'm not getting out with people as much as I'd like.

Speaking of getting out, I'm already planning what to do about a week from my final treatment this Friday - I'd say in about a week I should be able to enjoy a beer or two.  I'll make sure before I do that it is ok, and would like to take my kids to the craft brewery near here.    I've just been too quiet lately and it's driving me crazy!

Have a good day, as I'm going to try to do!

 

Back to feeling good

After being so wide awake after my treatment last Friday, I could do nothing but sleep the following day & night.  This morning I feel great!

My d-i-l, Meg, is bringing Quinn over tomorrow morning for a visit.  I just love it when they come for the morning, and we talk non-stop.  What a nice break it will be in my week!

Now I need to make an attempt to clean the kitchen and bathroom - maybe not up to my  "old" standards, but anything will be an improvement.

Our daytime temperatures have dropped about 10 degrees for the next week or two.  I am surprised because this is about the time we would start warming up.   I enjoy the cooler weather, and just dress more warmly.   I worry about what summer will bring - probably unbearably hot weather.   Can't do anything about it though, except talk!

Have a great day, and i'm going to do the same.

No rest for the weary!

After tossing and turning in bed for the past two hours I decided to get up for a while.  I think that my sleep patterns have been about the only thing affected by my recent treatments.  Thank goodness I only have one left to go.

I had typed 3 paragraphs and must have hit one of the keys the wrong way because I lost two of the paragraphs.  I'm just going to wrap it up as is.  I think I was whining about wanting ice cream.

I hope you all are in dreamland and having a better night than I am.

Three Down, One to Go!

I'm past the half way point in my treatments, which means I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I wonder how soon I might expect to know the results of all this, as well as when I can have a celebratory beer!

The treatments are getting shorter, and I don't know if maybe they are setting the flow rate higher or why, but I'm fine with it.  About 20  min. before starting they give me two pills to take that make me sleepy, or at least a little light-headed.  I can honestly say I haven't had any trouble to speak of, and I'm so lucky in that regard.

As soon as this is over with I will go out and try to do some things to write about or find something that isn't health-related.  I hate it that health is taking priority in my existence now and will be glad to not think so much about it any more.  I think I will continue to avoid crowds and going out until the flu epidemic has ended or at least wound down. 

I wish every one a good weekend!  

I think I overdid it!

I just intended to do a load of laundry but one load turned into at least four.  I have a washer here at home but have to carry the wet laundry across the street to the dryer.  I'm plumb worn to a frazzle (as my mother would say).  I don't even want to count the number of trips back and forth across the street carrying a laundry basket on most trips.  But I have everything put away for now.

The dog park is closed for a week, and it looks so nice.  I can see problems though - they placed the big round table and chairs on a paved area specifically for it, but what they don't realize is that as the sun moves, especially in the hot summertime, the table and chairs will be moved as well, and there goes the "place for everything and everything in its place".   It is a great effort to beautify an ungly small space that really isn't perfect for anything, but it doesn't leave much room for the 10 or so dogs that gather here each day.  It will be closed for the rest of the week so that everything can settle, but grass isn't going to grow that fast in the big patches of dirt.  In the heat, dogs love to dig down into the cool dirt.

Some group with a lot of  say-so really wants this area to be a dog park, and you can bet they themselves don't live anywhere near it.   It's been a total eyesore and a nuisance since it was created.  I would so love to move out of here, but will wait and see what the economy does during the year.

I'm coming up on my 3rd treatment and look forward to the end of it in two weeks.  I sure hope everything is going well because I'm sure not amenable to trying anything else.  I have few side effects but they are weird ones at that, and I think this whole process makes me grumpier!  My daughter would probably agree.

I started my day out by walking a mile around the Park after breakfast, and haven't really stopped since.  Sitting is becoming more and more uncomfortable so I decided I need to move around more.    What I need now is a big bowl of ice cream, but I've really been trying to avoid the ice cream freezer section when shopping.  I could convince myself that I deserve it but don't feel like going anywhere to get it.  If only that was the worst problem in my life!

Have a good day.

A better day

Today has been much better for me.  I guess I can expect a day like yesterday, but I'm glad it is the exception and not the rule.

I even did a load of laundry today and walked it over to use the dryer.  I took the following two pictures of the "dog park", such as it is.  It is becoming laughable - they are paving a walkway down through the middle of the small space.  The constant doggie travel has worn away all the grass and their owners get their feet muddy when it rains.  I would have taken more photos from different angles, but the workers are busy and  doing a good job and I  didn't want to distract them.  I might get a photo from a different perspective when they are finished.

You can see that stone walls were built around the trees to protect them, but it provides a place for the dog owners to sit (rather than on the acrylic chairs provided); the dogs like to jump up into the circle around the trees, which by the way, have nice plants in them.  Why the Park is catering to people who do not care what their pets are doing, or care that they bark constantly, etc., is beyond me.  I can't believe it that 8 or 10 (sometimes more) people will sit and talk to each other while their dogs are barking at everything that goes by, and they have obviously shut the animals out of their minds.

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

I can tell you that the photos don't show how crowded everything is in this small "v-shaped" area that comes to a point at one end.  They didn't have any business putting a dog park in such a small space and so close to houses.

Gripe session over!  I am so happy to get the energy to do a load of laundry today, and even walked two blocks up to the Mgr's office to buy quarters for the dryer!


 

Too Good to Last!

Did I really think I'd come through this ordeal without any pain or discomfort?  While it isn't too awful, I sure don't feel good enough to hold my head up, but I know if I sleep all day I will be awake all night.

I can't say I'm in pain but I sure don't feel as good as I did last week!

I don't know if it will get worse or better, but if you don't hear from me for a couple of days you will know why.  I only have two more treatments to go, so it won't be anything I can't tolerate.  And my appetite still works!

Sunday Times puzzle!

On Sundays Jeannie and I have always liked to get together and work the NY Times crossword.  It's always difficult but a real brain challenger.  I spent a few hours there this morning.

I must have worked my brain a little harder than usual because I dozed off in my chair when I got home and darn near fell out of it.  I sure awoke with a start!

I had a very good night's sleep last night so I have nothing to complain about.   I do think the treatments make me a little more tired, but I'd rather try to not nap so I can get better sleep at night.  Not easy to do!

I check every day and the barrier Steve put up so that the larger animal can't get back under the house seems to be working.   I can still hear a slight noise now and then but it's no doubt a very small rodent, and there probably isn't any way to keep them out.

Tomorrow starts the new week, and I'm getting older by the minute!  Hey world, slow down a bit!

Treatments with few side effects

So far I've been very fortunate to not suffer side effects from the two treatments I've had.  I notice something different, and about the time I can nearly put it into words, it's gone!  So a twinge here and there is ok with me, and I'm not even sure whether the twinge has anything to do with my treatment.

My sleep patterns were disrupted last night but I just decided to go with whatever.  I slept for a while and then got up for about two hours in the middle of the night.

I'm going to make a trip to Costco with Jeannie & Donald this afternoon, and really look forward to getting out.  I tried on one of the face masks I bought and laughed so hard I could barely stop.  For one thing my glasses hit the mask at the wrong spot; for another, the mask is cone shaped and looks absolutely ridiculous!  I'm going to give the rest of them to my grandkids to play with.  Maybe I can find the type that the medical people wear rather than the "blue bullet" type I bought!   It looks like a bird's beak the way it is pointy and sticks out from the mask.  You'd think that at my age I wouldn't worry that I look like a blue parrot in that thing, but  I hope I always care what I look like.

I need to go to the gym one of these days soon.  I need to keep fit and I sit way too much of the time.

Have a great weekend, wherever you are.  

 

Halfway Through Treatment!

I just got home from my 2nd treatment, and it went as well as, and much shorter than the first one.  I thank my son Steve for taking me and bringing me home.  

I'll probably rest for the remainder of the day, and doubt I will go out dancing tonight.  I have just two more weeks of treatments, which means two more weeks of no alcohol, so I will probably want my kids to get together and let me take them to a local craft brewery.  A nice feature of the one nearest me is that they have a large room set aside with toys and activities for children, so families can bring their own kids as well.

I just ate a huge lunch so I think I will relax on the couch and rest my eyes.  Have a great weekend.

No internet until 3pm

Why do things often happen at the worst possible time?  I'm making arrangements for the things I have to do to get to my 2nd infusion on Friday, and my internet was out this morning.  Thanks to AT&T for getting someone out asap, and now I'm good to go. 

I couldn't send or receive an email, check my messages, or do anything like that.   It was kind of nice to be unhooked from  the internet and computer for a while, but I needed to make arrangements for my blood test tomorrow, and treatment on Friday.

My house is still very chilly inside but it has turned out to be quite warm outside today.  My computer is showing about 70 degrees, but I think it is much warmer in the sun.  I'm still dressed for the chilly house.

I had the best night's sleep last night that I've had in a long time.  I think I slept 4 or 5 hours in one stretch!  No noises under the house, and I just had blissful sleep!   

Enjoy the rest of the day!  

Getting things done

I was up early this morning and decided the first thing to do was to clean the front storm door.  I won't be sure until the sun pours in later today if I got all the streaks and smears, but at least I took the first step - something I haven't done in a long time!

I have since been attacking all the cobwebs.  I never minded the spiders' webs too much because I figure they are harmless to me and they trap other bugs I don't want in my house.   I can't believe how long I must have ignored them in every room in the house, and I am still finding them and getting them down.     I thought about getting a cleaning service to come in for a one-time clean, but I'd have to go over the house myself before I'd even let a cleaning service see how I've let things go!

"It" came back in the middle of the night sometime after midnight, and tried furiously to break down the barrier Steve & Liam put up.  I was out there first thing this morning to find it intact.  Jeannie stopped by on her way to work and told me there was a feral cat in my front yard.  Do I feel the least bit sorry for it?  Not at all, and I hope it will now go somewhere else.  Sorry to the cat lovers out there, but it (they) has bothered me long enough and needs to find a different place to spend the night.  I'm also going to go out before dark and sprinkle cayenne & black pepper in front of the blockade!

I told Jeannie I might go to the gym with her when she gets off work, although she usually gets there too late for me to feel like doing anything.  I can only hope I'll get some energy back during the coming weeks.

 

Blocking the gaps

Steve and his helper, Liam, came over today to try to block the gaps where an animal is getting into the crawl space.  I think there may be more than one, but I definitely believe a feral cat is one of them.  I hope the fix works and I don't hear any more noise in the evenings.  

I stopped at the pharmacy on the way to the chiropractor this morning and picked up a box of face masks while I was at it.  I shouldn't have ever bothered - they are so weird looking I'll probably never put one on!  I guess staying in my house is the best way to avoid flu bugs.

Nothing else is happening.  I'm feeling fairly good and don't have any reason to think the remaining three infusions are going to be any different.

The afternoon sun shining in my sliding door and the kitchen windows shows me how badly the glass needs to be washed.  Can't do that in sunlight though, so I guess I'm off the hook until tomorrow morning!

Hangin' in there

I think I may be having some side effects of my 1st treatment, although I'm in no pain and feel pretty good for that matter.  I'm noticing little things, an ache here and there that is gone in a flash, and now and then a strange sensation I can't even put into words.  It stands to reason that a powerful drug will have side effects, but so far I'm very happy with the treatment.  

My kids gathered at son Joe's house today to watch the game, but I'm determined to stay away from crowds or even small groups.  Tomorrow I will have to pick up a prescription for my eye drops, as well as see the chiropractor.  I think when I am at the pharmacy I will ask if they sell masks.  I hate the looks of the things, but I don't know why - something is telling me to protect myself right now. 

I hope all of you who are watching the football game enjoy it as well as the halftime show.  I lost interest in all that years ago - now I think it's a lot of hype and wasted money.  I remember when my grandpa got this grouchy and negative.  I swore back then I would never be like that - but like my grandma who was always cheerful and optimistic.  I guess I have a few of his genes after all!
 

Day after

I think my life is going to change a bit while I go through my treatments.  The nurse told me I would find myself wide awake yesterday evening, but I was so drowsy by 7:30 pm I crawled into bed, finally getting up around 1:30.  I stayed up for a couple of hours and then slept til 8:00 this morning.  I usually hate it when I wake up in the middle of the night unable to go back to sleep, but I may as well get used to it for now.   The after effects of the next treatment might be totally different.

I would like to go with Jeannie & Donald to Costco today.  I'm a little hesitant about getting into crowds and there will be lots of people stocking up for tomorrow's game, so I may just give them my list.  Joe has invited everyone to his house but as I don't care for football and don't want to be in a crowded house, I will skip it.   I'm fortunate to have remained healthy throughout the past year or so, with the exception of the lack of energy, and I hate to be brought down at this point.  

My coffee tasted so good this morning - nothing like it to start the day off on a good note.  If you like coffee, that is.  I make it sort of a ritual, grinding the beans, etc., and it's one of the best parts of my day.

I may be back later and add to this post, but I'll probably be back with you tomorrow.  

First treatment over with

I've successfully gone through my first treatment; they add Benadryl to the IV so I spent most of the time with my eyes shut.  I didn't think I slept, but just kept my eyes closed, but Jeannie swears I slept off and on.

I can say I received excellent treatment from all the medical personnel and the only thing that hurt was getting the IV into a vein a couple of inches above my wrist.  That went away soon though, and I can say that although it was time-consuming, there really wasn't much discomfort.  
One down and 3 to go!  I'm told I will be wide awake this evening which is a side effect of the meds.  Bad news is I shouldn't drink beer for the duration of the treatments.  Of course telling me I shouldn't makes me really want one.  I forgot to ask if a non-alcoholic beer would be ok and I'll be sure to ask next week.

I am glad to get the first treatment over with and have no worries about subsequent ones.  

Down to the Wire!

I wanted to write a few lines - don't know if I will post anything tomorrow evening and I'll have to see how I feel.  Right now I am so stoked I hope I can get to sleep tonight.  I was going to go to the gym with my daughter but she got out of work later than usual - I am always keyed up after working out and figured I'd better not do it tonight!

I'm still feeling very positive.  I've spent a lot of time on the computer today watching Youtube videos which can be very negative.  So I decided to go back to Bob Ross's painting vids, and am getting interested in painting again.  I still doubt that I want to invest in oils which is, of course, what Bob uses.  I have given my granddaughter Autumn several tubes of paint I had on hand, plus lots of small canvasses, and I get a lot of enjoyment just watching her enjoyment.  I'd like to get back to it, but will wait until I get hit by the serious urge to paint.

The evening seems to be dragging - I want to go to bed but it could be a bad idea to go to sleep so early.

I'd like to thank everyone for all the positive comments and good wishes.  I am extremely positive about the treatment as well as the outcome, so I can just say, "Bring it on!"