A Sad Day

Earlier today I started a blog entry about how excited I was to announce I had been off of steroids for a week and felt it safe to put it in writing. I also asked for continued prayers for the child of my friend. Brie and her Mom had been living at The Johns Hopkins Children's Center for more than 2 months, seeking a miracle for her Severe Aplastic Anemia. I decided to put the only picture I had of her always smiling face here. I was cropping it a bit when our electricity went out and was still out when I arrived at my usual Thursday night Sit-n-Knit at Mr.Mikes. My knitting friend's faces said it all.

Brie was a sweet girl. This picture is from 2 years ago at a K1P2 Yarn Swap - she got my yarn and I got hers.

Thank You God for lending her to us.

Vacation. Take II

So.

I don’t know if you guessed it yet, but we don’t usually have much of a plan when we travel. We like to take off, drive around, and see what we can see. It may mean missing out on the more classic sights of a town, but boy do we take delight when we find some obscure historic plaque or an interesting place like Mount Baldy in Illinois which moves four feet a year. In Cape May we came across Orr Street (an alley really) and a whole churchyard full of relatives of mine right by the front walk. All because we were just driving around looking at the architecture and ducked down an alley.

In our driving over the next few days, we found many fascinating and probably forgotten or unnoticed bits of New England. We fed our fascination for bridges, architecture, odd houses, man hole covers, and what we call “hysterical markers”. You know, those stone or metal plaques by the side of the road announcing the spot where so-and so did such and such. Like one that said George Washington stopped near there about 20 times including once about which he wrote in his diary “Stayed at the So-and-So Inn last night where my sick horse died”. Now that deserved a hysterical marker wouldn’t you say? Or at the dam where we found a Warning sign stating “RISING WATERS - Be constantly alert for a quick rise in the river. Water upstream may be released suddenly at any time.” This was placed at the top of a steep cliff overlooking the riverbed under the falls. Take a look at the pictures I posted May 26 again. Think the water will get that high? Who can say?

Yes. We’ll turn around for a good hysterical marker any day.

After a few days of town hopping on the coast, it was on to The Berkshires for the last leg of our vacation. Saturday was spent at the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Festival. Such a lovely bunch of laid back sheepie folk. It’s more intimate than MDSW and I could navigate the paved site quite easily on my scooter. The elevator to the fiber competition exhibits was apparently broken (it was blocked off) but Bobby said there wasn't much besides the fleeces so I wasn't that disappointed. There were Sheepdog trials all day and watching the working dogs was quite fun, especially when folks explained the finer points of judging to me. It broke my heart to see a good dog get a contrary sheep who just wouldn’t stay with the other two in the group but chose to run back to the pen and ruin everyone’s high marks. I love seeing the animals – sheep, goats, llamas. There weren’t any alpacas at this fair. Waaaah! I did get to see some shearing and the 4H showmanship contests. It’s serious business for these kids. I said to Bobby, next there will be Alpaca and Llama competitions at these functions. Woo Hoo !

In fibre, the lean at this fair is definitely toward spinning and weaving. Wheels and looms for sale were plentiful as well as all the trappings. But yes, there was yarn. I bought some lovely white wool to pet for a while and some crazy soft multi wool on sale. Bobby bought me a little sheep pin to remember the day. I put it on my hat with my Ravelry pins - oh yes, there were Ravelry folk there. It is an online group that is the darling of the modern knitter. I recognized Ravelers and was recognized by my Ravelry gear – very cool although there was no formal gathering of the Ravelry clan as there had been at Maryland’s festival. All in all a great day.

And did I mention the lamburgers? And the $1 hand dipped ice cream cones?

Ah food. Vacations are all about food. My staple during the trip was Chicken Corn Chowder. Bobby automatically ordered it when we sat down in just about any restaurant. And then there was fish and shrimp and clams and scallops and lobster and . . . you get the picture.

In Portsmouth I finally got my favorite New England food. Lobstah Roll. It’s a simple food, but mmmm mmmm good. The cheaper roadside stand version is lobster claw meat in a very light dressing stuffed in a hot dog roll. The better restaurant version boasts huge chunks of meat and shredded meat overflowing a soft sub roll. (For those in the know – think Captain Harvey’s steak subs with lobster instead) The State Street Saloon waitress served up a freaking huge portion and the first real New Hampshire accent we had encountered. Between Lobstah Roll and the Chowdah, I didn’t starve while in New England. Then there were the clams. I never really liked clams until this trip. I never really had clams until this trip. True fresh clams are amazing and not like the rubber I always associated them with when I got them at home. I guess it’s like ordering a crab cake in Kansas. Wouldn’t be prudent.

We had a nice dinner at our hotel in The Berkshires the first night and Bobby asked two of the waiters for recommendations for the next night. That led us to Asters after the Mass S&W for his birthday. Scallops big as hockey pucks that were sooooo tender . . . like buttah. Chef Reda knows his stuff. We also discovered Ninety Nine, a fine reliable New England chain. Add several ice cream parlors whose names escape me to our list of stops on this trip. We can thank Jill for a lot of our gastronomic pleasures. Jill is the voice on our Garmin GPS. Yupper! She has a name. You can choose male or female and from two or three accents. I like Jill. Punch in “ice cream” and up comes any establishment with those exact letters in the name for miles and miles. This includes things like “The Clarice Creamery and Dairy Farm”. She sure is entertaining our Jill is.

F.Y.I. Did you know that Dunkin Donuts is the Waffle House of New England? There’s one on every corner. Literally.

On Sunday we packed up and drove home from Massachusetts. It took about 11 hours but we did manage to stop for a great dinner at an Irish pub which served up a tasty Shepherd’s Pie and some Fish and Chips for Bobby. Then home again, home again, jiggedy jig.

So when’s our next vacation?

We went on VACATION in New England

We had a long awaited wonderful time and my stamina actually improved each day as I had to walk into restaurants, rest stops and more. My Physical Therapist will be so proud of me. We spent more time with each other than taking pictures, but here's a few to prove we were there.

First it was the Carlisle Import and Replicar Show in Pennsylvania. Some very cool cars there and I was thinking of my pal Sco :) Cooperstown wasn't far so we decided to head there on Day Two for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Geez. You woulda thunk we were in New York there was so much focus on The Hated Yankees. The actual "hall" where the inductee’s plaques were was rather unimpressive to me. Kinda plain and empty. It did however inspire a kind of hush over the visitors so I guess it was appropriate.

The next day we set up a home base in Seabrook, Mass and went to explore Plum Island. I got to use Bobby's birthday present (camera) to get some bird shots. I may have to keep his present. Turns out the elusive Plover was mating and nobody could access the beaches. I did get some nice pix of some kind of cute bird everyone else was snapping away at. When I looked it up at home though - not a Plover. I wonder how many other folks bothered to look it up?

At the suggestion of the young and clueless girl who drew my blood that day (yeeees, even on vacation I had to get THAT done) we had dinner at DiMillo's a retired ferry boat down at the waterfront. Nice ambiance for a restaurant, but I couldn't get just a stuffed tail - had to get the whole lobster and I didn't feel like messing with it. I opted for a Lobster Pie. Sounded like a Shepherd's Pie and I love those. The lump lobster was 90% claw (okaaaay, the menu said "lobster meat") and the "crumbs" on top were mush. I wouldn't order it again. I should have had the Lobster Roll - the guy behind Bobby had one and it looked lovely. Lesson learned: don't ask people who admit they don't know the area for a recommendation for dinner.

More on the rest of the trip later. The pizza just got here and Bobby says I gotta eat.

OH YEAH !!! Dad is home and doing just fine. Thanks to all for the prayers and concern.

Not So Good and Good News

Dad "popped a few rivets" as he said to me. He had a Sternal re-wiring with a plate and is back in ICU, still intubated for a bit to get some good rest. They have to find that fine line of keeping his lungs clear but prevent further complications. He'll be 80 this year and has some other health issues. Say a prayer okay?

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

So I'm washing my hair the other day and it feels weird. I made a discovery.

I am growing a new crop of hair.

Shhhhhhhh ! Don't scare them. And they're curls ! Don't know how this will go, but it's cute as heck. Does this mean no more perms? Thing is, the old hairs are still straight. Will they continue to come in straight? This could be verrrrry innnnnteresting!

I got Bobby to get the camera and take some Macros. The two "sparse" pictures are near my incision which is where the radiation was focused. As you look farther away from there, more new hair is mixed in hair that held on for dear life. There is only straight tiny stuff in one area which I think was clipped before surgery (they don't shave anymore). Dr Grossman said it may not come back very well there.

Okay.

Have a look see - you have to blow them up to really appreciate their beauty.

Add My Dad

Now my Dad is having Coronary Bypass surgery. It started innocently enough. After being short of breath when walking the halls of Hopkins recently, he saw his cardiologist. One thing quickly led to another and he was in the hospital. It's been delayed twice already, once to add a left carotid endarterectomy and again (for reasons unknown) over the weekend. But they're keeping him admitted.

My family knows how to throw an O.R. party. When I got to my Dad's room today, nine assorted relatives greeted me, backed out into the hallway. I couldn't even get to him there was so much love in his room. As a former hospital worker, that made me wince. But I don't work there and nobody knows me so pthhhhhhhhdt ! It reminded me of my first Craniotomy. I had thirteen people in the waiting room. People just kept coming. I was so embarrassed. It was my hospital. I was making a spectacle of myself.

Later I realized it wasn't my show.

Not to be morbid, but it's kinda like funerals. People need to gather. They need to protect each other. And my Dad has twelve brothers and sisters plus their spouses, kids, and his wife's family who love him very much.

We're gonna need a bigger room.

So add my Dad to your list tonight. He and his wife will have to cancel the cruise in May and he may have to re-think that cross-country drive in June, but with a gathering of the clan and a few prayers from you guys ~ he'll get by alright.

Legs

My legs may be weak, but they are smoother than a baby's butt. They have absolutely no hair on them. I don't know why. I have hair on my arms and weird steroid hair on my face, but not one on my legs.

Just thought I'd share this for those ladies who shaved this morning.

:-P

Oral Chemo

I'm so blessed to be taking Temodar by mouth once a day at night for just five days a month. Likewise the Anzemet for nausea works like a charm and I sleep like a hibernating bear in spite of the higher dose.

I have a young friend at PeaceandLove who isn't so lucky and is feeling very sick right now. She doesn't even have cancer but is taking some nasty treatment drugs for severe aplastic anemia. At twelve years old I think she's pretty brave and I admire her. I've been trying to think of the perfect gift for her but I'm so out of touch with what twelve year old girls like these days. I think I've got it but need to explore all the options it has . . . and check with her Mom.

Got my two month MRI last week. I got to ride in the Cadillac which has a large bore. Comfy! The results were way better than acceptable. Blah blah blah stable blah blah blah no midline shift blah blah no abnormal enhancement blah blah blah essentially stable. So . . . I'm good to go. And my Oncologist (grinning from his little ear to little ear) and I made a plan for decreasing the steroid once again after this round of Chemo. Steroid every other day. This should kick start my adrenal glands into working on their own again he says. Hey, I gotta go with the Hopkins guy - I pay him the big bucks. He says I'll fell lousy on the off days. We'll see.

I'm not your average cancer patient. :)

My body continues to maintain strength this week. Even balance is a bit better I think. Yaaaay PT. I haven't experienced the big Whump! of fatigue that last month's chemo hit me with. I think the further away from my radiation I am helps that part. Plus I have to eat right, drink fluids and get enough sleep. I work out most mornings and sometimes in the middle of the night I limber up a bit too. Weekends are when I become a slacker sometimes. Sleeping late has it's drawbacks when Bobby makes French Toast for breakfast occasionally and I just have skip exercise to go out and eat it while it's hot . . .

Did I say that was a drawback?