Thanksgiving Wishes

It is 8:30 AM as I write, and I am relaxing, drinking my coffee. I know that many out there can’t say the same thing, as I received a 6 AM phone call to inquire “just what do you do with a leek?”. But I, dear friends, have decided to keep it simple. After all, we have much to be thankful for this year, and how can I reflect on that if I’m panicked about cooking a turkey and accompanying spread for a bunch of guests?

Creativity Might Be the First Sign of Battiness

We've been home a lot lately. With millions of viruses circulating throughout the snotty-nosed set, chilly weather, and a rigorous home chemotherapy schedule, we just haven't been able to get out much. "The Hermitage", as Big Pink is now known, is a large comfy house, to be sure, but even the most palatial of homes can feel like a mouse house when you spend too much time in it.

So we've found creative outlets for ourselves. I have been amusing myself with paint.net. Here is my latest creation, a poorly executed but wickedly funny rendering of Jamie as Gunther, Swedish Pop Sensation...

The Pharmaceutical Farmer's Market

Though this is hardly breaking news to the majority of my followers (being natives of Southeast Ohio as I am) the farmer's market in Athens, Ohio is fantastic. Let me say it once again. Fan.Tast.Ic. It’s big, it’s well-known, it’s well-supported by the community, and it ought to be a model for other small-town farmer’s markets around the country.

Recipe of the Week - Pumpkin Black Bean Chowder

I know, I know...the angst associated with this delayed intensification phase of treatment is sapping my culinary creativity. At long last, though, for your dining pleasure, is my Pumpkin Black Bean Chowder recipe. It's vegetarian and quite satisfying on a cold late autumn day.

Steroids, Joyful Steroids - Part Two

So, I apparently exceeded my character limit in my previous post. I blame the Mayo Clinic for publishing such an extensive list of side effects for oral steroids (though perhaps should point my finger right at the source, no?). However, let's continue, shall we?

...and this tiger.

The kids also made a very hilarious comedy video. If I can figure out how to upload it in an expedient manner (opposed to the 1-plus hours it is telling me it requires), I will share with all of you. It's quite funny. Really.

That about sums it up.

Update: Amelia has been of of steroids for nine days, and is now beginning to act like a human again (though a human that seems not to require sleep). She didn't make counts to begin her newest chemotherapy (that is, her immune function is too low), but we are hopeful for Monday. Though it proved to be a challenging couple of weeks, we are happy to be at home, instead of hospitalized due to some sort of infection or other strange-but-not-uncommon event. Amelia is cheerful, Molly is Molly, and we are hanging on for the ride.

Steroids, Joyful Steroids - Part One

It’s been a weird week. Amelia is approximately halfway through delayed intensification, and has been taking many chemotherapy drugs, including – dum dum dummmmm – the wicked steroids. The Mayo Clinic lists potential side effects of oral dexamethasone as follows:

Jennifer Is…

Van Morrison’s mama said there’d be days like this. Mrs. Morrison was right. When they come, they smack hard. I don’t think my mood today really quite fits with “depression” – I prefer the quaintly vague “melancholy”. Doesn’t that lovely adjective conjure images of Victorian ladies, all bustled and corseted, discreetly spiking their afternoon tea with laudanum – all of them knowing that each other is hiding, but all feigning polite happiness nonetheless? Anyway, despite the sun and relatively warm temperature, I’m full of a gnashing discontent.