All Over But The Shouting

How do you end a blog about chemotherapy or any blog for that matter? I started this as a way to keep friends and family informed of my progress but it turned out to be more than that for me. It’s a journal containing memories from my past, it’s a diary of current events for me, and has a hint of the future. When first diagnosed with lymphoma 12 years ago my goal was to see the kids graduate from high school. After they did, Ann suggested I may want to establish some new goals.

I'll take care of myself. I'll live my life so that when someone says "be yourself," its good advice.

It is my family’s turn to end this thing. I asked Eunice, Ann, and Dallas to each write a concluding post for the blog. They can do the shouting. I didn’t really give them any direction. Maybe a letter, something silly, a joke, a recipe, or anything they want.

Something magical and unintended happened. We have a wooden snake that hangs in our kitchen. The words “Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth” are burned on it. I choose those words to conclude each post. It surprised me when I read the posts Dallas, Eunice and Ann sent me that those three themes came up independently in what they wrote. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending.

I love you all.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

From Dallas… Eat Good Food

From Eunice… Be Kind

From Ann… Tell The Truth

Chemo Math

There were 6 cycles of chemotherapy.

Each cycle had 4 infusions = 24 infusions.

There was 1 booster shot for each cycle = 6 booster shots.

There were 30 capsules of Procarbazine for each cycle (3/day for 10 days) = 180 capsules.

Each capsule contained 50 mg of Procarbazine = 9,000 mg of Procarbazine.

There were 20 Prednisone tablets for each cycle (2/day for 10 days) = 120 tablets.

Each tablet contained 50 mg of Prednisone = 6,000 mg of Prednisone.
    - This was the worst part of chemotherapy for me.

Each chemo cycle included 13 hours dedicated to infusions = 78 hours.

Conclusion: Don’t know yet.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Collection of Recipes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

500 Yards

I’m feeling well and happy to have the treatments for the last cycle over. I started to swim again although I haven’t been as consistent as I would like. I used to swim 4000 yards a day. That’s a little over 2 miles. I had frozen shoulders and quit swimming about 5 years ago. It took close to 3 years for my shoulders to loosen up and feel pain free again. I went to the pool to swim a while ago and couldn’t complete 500 yards without stopping. I’m happy to say I am able to do that now. I will gradually add 100 yards every week until I get up to 1,800 to 2,000 yards.

The swimming helps me feel better physically and mentally. I should have started doing this early in the chemo regimen. It’s easy to stay in shape. It’s hard to get in shape.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Stuffed Trout

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Cheating

Dallas and I went to a ball game before he left. He asked me if I saw a play Jorge Posada made where he tagged a runner with his mitt but the ball was in his hand. The runner was called out. We talked about Armando Galarraga’s perfect game that became a one hitter due to a bad call at first that the umpire later apologized for. Imagine if the batter, Jason Donald, did the golf thing and told the ump he was clearly out. It’s hard to say that either Posada or Donald was cheating. What happened is all within the rules of the game.

Sports are a connection to our past and a benchmark for the future. They were and are a way to build memories with your parents and your kids. They’re the great equalizer; race, age, and gender, don’t matter. But now are the games that are supposed to teach character, discipline and teamwork teaching cheating?

I’m proud of Ann and Dallas. They don’t cheat. Trust is a hard thing to build and an easy thing to lose. We trust them but they are responsible for that. They’ve earned it. They have been looked up to inside and outside of sports as leaders. Ann is off to Chicago and Dallas is going around the world. But I’m not worried about them; they are ready for life.

Life presents you with situations where there can be no cheating. There’s no cheating in chemo. You can’t speed it up, can’t cut a treatment, can’t avoid the side effects, and you can’t change the results. I’m done – had my last infusion yesterday. It’s a tough lesson, but not a bad one, especially if you are prepared.

I’d like to thank my parents for helping to prepare me.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Grilled Asparagus

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Where Have I Been? What Was I Thinking?

Steve gave me the CD Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows. It’s a cover CD of John Prine songs. It’s good. John Prine was in the Twin Cities and played live on MPR during an interview in their studio. So I got interested in getting another CD. After Dallas left we cleaned his room and found a gift card to The Electric Fetus (Steve and Mary gave it to him) and naturally took it to the store and bought 3 CDs including Sweet Revenge. That was a couple of weeks ago.

Eunice told me tonight that Ann was going to give me Bruised Orange for my birthday but it was outrageously expensive. Ann made me dinner in Chicago instead and that was a much better gift. I mean Bruised Orange was good but not $143 good. Dinner with Ann was priceless.

I went to eBay to see if there were any copies on sale for less. I got a little distracted listening to the song “Let’s Talk Dirty in Hawaiian” and ended up looking at Great Days which is an anthology of Prine songs. It has “41 tracks on 2 CDs spanning the years 1971-1991” according to the notes including: “Hello in There”, “Sam Stone”, “Dear Abby”, “Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)”, and a personal favorite – “Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone”. Some of the featured artists include: Bonnie Raitt, David Bromberg, Glenn Frey, J. D. Souther, Jackson Browne, Jennifer Warnes, John Sebastian, and Steve Goodman. What a lineup!

I’m still on Prednisone. I placed a bid. Eunice suggested an amount. I doubled it for my high bid. I want this CD. And then the magic words popped up: You're the high bidder and currently in the lead. Unfortunately there are still 4 hours, 16 minutes, and 19 seconds left in the auction as I write.

Imagine if I had discovered eBay last April! I could have bought and sold all sorts of stuff. Eunice doesn’t have a lot of stuff but I would have started there. I never would have let Smudge out – I’d have sold him: Rare Silver Tabby, used but in good condition, $143 or a copy of John Prine’s Bruised Orange. Dallas is gone and I’ve already taken his gift card so why not sell his stuff too? He kind of started it anyway. Ann’s in Chicago and she never threw anything away. There’s a fortune in her closet and the boxes in the basement.

CD Update: You won this auction. And I got it for less than my maximum bid.

Maybe I should do one more cycle.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Collection of Recipes

Great Salsa

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Used Bread

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have been focused on buying “used bread”. It’s not really used bread. It’s day old bread and there is a thrift store in Hopkins that sells it. For a buck seventy-five you can get three loaves of bread or a combination of garlic bread, hamburger/hot dog buns, rolls, etc. You can get a deal on doughnut holes too. I love it. It tastes good, saves money, and provides me with a soothing comfort I can’t explain. It’s an antidote to my agitation and incipient frustration. Some people like massages, I like shopping for, buying, and eating used bread.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Waldorf Chicken Salad: Eat it as a salad, in a sandwich or a wrap. It's versatile.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

My Brother, My Son, and a Lunatic in Florida

Today, September 11, is my brother Bill’s birthday. Dallas is in Morocco. And there is a lunatic, Terry Jones, in Florida who wants to burn 200 Qurans in the name of stopping the building of a mosque and Islamic Center two blocks from ground zero. Not on ground zero, two blocks. It’s New York; might as well be two miles.

Jones believes that Islam is a "false religion" that is "of the devil" and therefore must be defeated. But Islam, he believes, is also threatening to take over in the United States. Hence his justification for the Quran-burning: "We must send a clear message to the radical element of Islam," Jones said. "We will no longer be controlled and dominated by their fears and threats. It is time for America to return to being America." Which is…?

This isn’t about a mosque and Islamic Center. It’s about a lunatic who wants a Christian nation. Even that may not be good enough. During a recent sermon Jones also voiced disgust at the United Methodist Church a few blocks away that is planning an interfaith prayer service: "Lily-livered, yellow-bellied Christians” and he said the rest of the country wasn't much better. "Our nation is in ruin spiritually." He undoubtedly would prefer a straight, white, male dominated, evangelical, Christian nation.

You could be next. He's like a cancer that just won't quit. He is endangering our children and absolutely ruining my brother’s birthday.

The Florida lunatic called off plans to burn 200 Qurans, saying he would instead travel to New York today to talk with the imam of the mosque about moving the Islamic center elsewhere. His purpose should be to apologize.

But then again, it’s too late, the damage has been done.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Mustard Roasted Potatoes

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Prednisone, For the Last Time

I’ve finished the treatments for week 1 of my last cycle. I got tipped again the first day but it wasn't as dramatic since I knew what to expect and the nurse was a bit more athletic. I am feeling well. I am taking the Procarbazine and Prednisone for the last time. That’s a good thing, especially the Prednisone. I think Eunice will be happy when I am done with it too. I’ve painted the bathroom, cleaned out the glove compartment in the car, fixated on vacuuming the porch, cleaned out a my desk drawer, bought a tandem bicycle, got a new shade for the other bathroom, created a detailed itinerary for a trip to DC, insist on buying “used” bread, started letting Smudge out, cleaned out my cubby, insisted on framing and hanging some art, and have been a general pain in the butt when I get focused on something.

The latest and greatest was reorganizing the spices. Melinda stopped by last night to pick up vegetables from the CSA. She noticed the spices. It’s almost a work of art. We had a spice drawer that has driven me crazy for years. No more. I found magnetic containers that stick to the refrigerator door and have moved all our spices there for easy access. They look good there too. The containers have clear tops so you can see the spices. The prettiest ones are marjoram, mustard, and turmeric. They are all pretty; different shapes, sizes, and colors. The drawer? It now holds oven mitts, hot pads, and a variety of cooking utensils.

Have something you need organized? Only about seven more days of Prednisone left. Call now. Melinda, you should probably lock your door.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Paella With Chicken, Mushrooms and Shrimp: A dose of Prednisone wouldn't hurt for making this.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Hawaii Will Never Be The Same

I finished the Hawaiian Islands on the needlepoint map last night. It will be hard for me to refer to Hawaii as anything but the Hawaiian Islands from now on. Today is the 8th of September so I am about a week behind. I still have to finish the Gulf of Mexico, a bit of the Atlantic Ocean, and part of the border that goes around the entire map. And since I have to spend a week in Detroit later this month I am really two weeks behind. Or can I take it with me? I don’t check luggage so I would have it in my possession the entire way. It’s bulky, it’s a big map, so using the same bag to pack will be an issue but I won’t check it under any circumstances. And how much will I really get done at a business meeting? I should be sleeping better then but may still have time to kill in the morning.

After my first treatment yesterday I went to bed about 11 and was up by 3:45. Yeah, I’ve got some time. The treatment went well. I had to be tipped again although it was less dramatic this time mainly because I knew what was happening. We scheduled a PET scan for early October and I was asked if I had any issues they should know about. I never know exactly how to respond to that question but decided to let them know about some side effects I’ve noticed. The response was this is the last cycle and we will take a look at some of that stuff later to see if it just goes away once I am done. Basically, buck up for now.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Chicken-Pineapple Skillet: This recipe is from the More With Less Cookbook, a collection of Mennonite recipes. There are many recipes that are Tyramine friendly in it. They help you consume less of and use effectively the world’s food resources. Our was printed in 1977 but there have been updates.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Labor Day

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. ~Ovid

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Fresh Strawberry Gelato

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Talking to People in My PJs

I don’t really wear PJs but I have substituted pajama pants and a night shirt for a bathrobe in the morning. They are quite comfortable; maybe too comfortable. I stay in them a little longer than I should. This means I end up having conversations with people in my PJs – neighbors, the UPS guys, mail carriers, and others. They don’t seem to mind but what are they going to say? You look like a dork? Only your children will tell you that and they don’t mention it because it doesn’t surprise them.

My sister-in-law, Jan, came to visit a few weekends ago. She’s a trooper. We went to IKEA and the Mall of America and I made her and Eunice stop in many stores looking for a seersucker nightshirt. We never found one but we did find a seersucker pajama top on sale that was very close. It’s very comfortable and I’ve been wearing it a lot.

I tend to wear my PJs more when I’m feeling well. When I’m fatigued I try to get cleaned up early and dress. Today I’m going to be in them for a while – feeling pretty normal – 6th and final cycle is coming up.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Collection of Recipes

"Soy" Sauce: Tried several recipes and this works. From Heidi Gunderson’s Migraine-Free Cooking Blog.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

The Delta Ad Annoys Me

I was in St. Louis yesterday and am in Detroit today. I’ve been feeling well, traveling more for work lately, and seeing more of airports. There’s a big sign in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport for Delta Airlines advertising their American Express card. If you have their card you can check your first bag free. They also have a slick brochure in the seat pockets advertising the same thing. I’m not even on Prednisone and this irriates me.

Our stupidity is Delta’s competitive advantage. No kidding, that’s what they must think. Remember when Delta was on the forefront of raising the fees they charge customers to check baggage, underscoring how they were trying to squeeze every nickle from the flying public? It was called it a "gotcha fee." Delta raised checked-on luggage fees to $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second. They also considered charging for carry-on bags.

Because Delta believes we have forgotten all this, they now advertise if you get their American Express card your bag will go for free. So they are saving you the money they are trying to bleed out of you with the gotcha fees.

Do I sound bitter? They may think I’ve forgotten but I definitely haven’t forgiven. Sorry, I’m really just upset when anyone tells me they think I’m stupid and they are going to take advantage of that. Obviously the easiest thing to do is to just not get the card and get a good night’s sleep.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Cherry Tomato Bread Salad with Basil

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Mexico is Done

I forgot to mention the map of the US that I am finishing also includes Mexico and Canada. Mexico is done and has been done since the end of July. I am on track to finish the map by the end of September. Currently I am working on the Hawaiian Islands. Remember the map is from 1961 and Hawaii had not been a state too long and is referred to as the Hawaiian Islands. I considered shortening it to Hawaii but thought that went counter to the age of the canvas. So I’ll stitch in the Hawaiian Islands thing which will take some additional time. Once I am done with that it’s off to the Gulf of Mexico and finishing the border that surrounds the map.

The map and my 6th cycle should be completed about the same time – mid to late-September.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Thai-Style Chicken Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Hog on a Log at the State Fair

Our niece, Emma, stopped to visit on her way home to Michigan from the Pacific Northwest. It was a treat to have her here, literally. We took her to the Minnesota State Fair yesterday evening. The Fair is a big event here and is one of the largest in the country attracting over 1.7 million visitors last year. More important is the variety of food available especially the foods on-a-stick. We didn’t try it but saw a deep fried banana split on a stick available. We tried to introduce Emma to as many foods as possible. I’m unable to eat most of what is offered but did have an apple, corn on the cob, a pork chop on a stick (hog on a log), and a cup of fries. All delicious.

We walked quite a bit and saw many of the attractions. The walking was good for me and I was able to do it without difficulty. Got tired a couple of times but felt good. I slept well last night and am feeling pretty normal already for this cycle. I start my next and final cycle on September 7. There’s a one day delay getting started because of the Labor Day weekend.



Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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How to Prepare Corn on the Cob

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Foyle’s War and Easy Cheese

Foyles’ War is a British series that blends historically accurate events with the investigations of its main character Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle. It takes place in the town of the Hastings on the Southern Coast of England during WWII. Eunice and I have gotten into watching the series and recently watched the episode titled Bad Blood.

There is a scientific experiment in this episode that is based on real life WWII biological experiments focused on the use of anthrax. Scientists often used themselves as guinea pigs in their own experiments. Considering some of the things they were testing its not surprising it often turned out bad.

So what’s this got to do with Easy Cheese? I can eat processed cheeses like cream cheese, cottage cheese, American cheese, and mozzarella cheese. It finally occurred to me that I could probably eat Cheese Whiz too. It’s not that I have a hankering for Cheese Whiz but the thought of Nachos was in my head. Tearing up American cheese and trying to make Nachos just wasn’t doing it for me. But to be able to use a can of Cheese Whiz to spread it made it more palatable. I keep saying Cheese Whiz but it turns out the stuff in a can that you can shoot out over crackers, chips and so on is called Easy Cheese. Gotta believe it is the same stuff only in a can instead of a jar. Here are the ingredients for Easy Cheese (American flavor) copied from the can (some website versions may be different):

WHEY, CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES), CANOLA OIL, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, MILK, CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID, SALT, SODIUM ALGINATE, SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE, ANNATTO (COLOR), APOCAROTENAL (COLOR), ENZYMES, CHEESE CULTURE.

I know it says Cheddar Cheese is an ingredient but as processed cheese goes, this stuff is really processed. It all looked safe to me. So like the scientists in Foyle’s War I decided to experiment on myself and the results were good; I didn’t get injured and the Nachos tasted better than you are thinking.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Traditional Tex-Mex Nachos

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Chicago, IL and Halifax, NS

I saw Ann in Chicago and met the other interns she is living with. Dinner was Pile On followed by delicious cupcakes Ann made that spelled Happy B-Day. The word "Birthday" wouldn't fit on the plate so there were some leftover letters that you can see in the picture. And yes, I didn't eat the raspberries that are high in Tyramine. I'm sure nothing went to waste. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to me and was very gracious. I always love it when people get to the “Dear ???” part and don’t know what to call you. Some called me David, some said Dad, and it was all good. I guess I acquired some new children.

One will be leaving today. Dallas is headed for Halifax, Nova Scotia this morning. He is going on a Semester at Sea where he will travel around the world taking classes and working. It’s not cheap being Dallas. He will return to San Diego in mid-December. We celebrated our birthdays again last night with apple pie and cards.

Eunice gave me a book called Sh*t My Dad Says. According to Dallas, it makes me look normal. I’ll take that as a compliment but it is full of profanity and profundity. And it’s pretty funny. Last night I opened a birthday card from my in-laws; really from my mother-in-law – we know who just signed the card. There should be a website for her called Stuff My Mother-In-Law Writes. She is an avid writer of notes and letters. The note she wrote included the following:

“Not much new here. Believe it or not, the obituaries have items of interest now and then. Clipped one recently of the death of the sister-in-law of my girlhood friend who married a (unpronounceable Dutch name), which was my friend’s married name. So, of course, I had to check that out.”

She’s 92, it’s my birthday, I have cancer, and the obituaries are of interest. But more than that this is the continuation a game called Dutch Bingo. Some people play chess by mail, we play Dutch Bingo.

Here goes:

“This afternoon we will go to the 50th anniversary of one of Dad’s seminary classmates. He’d studied in the Netherlands, met this 12 year old girl and waited till he could marry her! Neat, right? Ted isn’t doing too well, tho’, of late.”

I’m not sure Ted was doing too well then either. I don’t mean to make fun because while I find this funny, I also find it endearing. It is so my mother-in-law. I can hear her voice and see her face as I read it. She’s one in a million. Loved the card and the note.

I’m about as happy as can be.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Pile On: a repeat for my birthday.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

54 and 77

Today is my 54th birthday. I’m feeling well and have gotten over the fatigue I was experiencing late last week.

Eunice took me and Dallas out for dinner last night to Murray’s for our birthdays. Dallas will be 20 on the 28th. We had the silver butter knife steak for three and I splurged on the garlic toast rounds. It was delicious. Dallas and I went to the ball game afterwards and the Twins won 4-0. The last batter for the Angels wore number 77, a minor league number. He needs a new number - this is the majors. Good food, good game, good company.

Later today I’ll head to Chicago for work and will be able to have dinner with Ann. She and the interns she is living with invited me for dinner. It’s a good birthday. Hope to have many more.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Murray's Garlic Toast

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Cleveland, Ohio

I went to Cleveland this week to conduct some interviews. This was a little different from other trips because I had to take the Prednisone on the road. It worked out fine but I did run out of steam on the way home last night and have been paying for it today taking frequent naps.

Cleveland reminded me of Detroit. Thinking of Detroit reminded me of the Michigan primaries which reminded me of the Minnesota primaries. The connection between Cleveland and the Minnesota gubernatorial primary is a history of embarrassment.

Cleveland took a hit when the Cuyahoga River caught fire in the late 60’s or so. I grew up in Ohio and as I remember the river caught fire a lot – I mean it wasn’t really something new. Anyway it kind of started a lot of trash talking about Cleveland and environmental concerns. Cleveland has come back a long way since then. They’ve overcome their embarrassment; not so with more recent Minnesota elections. We’ve elected some doozies.

How would you like to be Norm Coleman who lost the governor’s race to Jesse Ventura, the Senate to Al Franken, and won the year his opponent, Paul Wellstone, died 6 days before the election? Anyway this year Mark Dayton (D), Tom Emmer (R), Tom Horner (I) won their respective primaries. They are all embarrassing. The question seems to be which one is most embarrassing. Right now, Emmer seems to be leading in that category but given time Dayton can overtake him. The race is on but we didn’t get a good cat in this one.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Tater-Tot Hot Dish: a Low Tyramine version of the Minnesota classic.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Tipping

“I’m not getting a good blood draw. The fluids are going in but the blood just not coming out right. I think we'll have to tip you.” That didn’t sound good to me. I thought I might have to call Great West to get pre-approval for surgery and I was actually hoping they would say no this time. Each cycle starts with drawing blood and doing labs to make sure I’m fit for the chemo. My labs have been very good. They use my port to draw the blood and then I am also hooked up and ready to go for the infusions. I forgot to mention that to begin this cycle the nurse was having trouble drawing blood from the port and said she was going to “tip” me.

I was happy to find out that she was just going to tip me over; get the blood to rush from my lower extremities to my upper ones. The nurse was all of 5’ and a little change. I’m 6’ 3” and 230 according to my driver’s license. It sounded like a challenge but I was just along for the ride.

She took me to the chemo room, had me sit in a recliner, and tipped me back and forth a few times. Sounds easy but she struggled. A few deep breaths later the blood was flowing. I had been successfully tipped and the 5th cycle was off and running.

I completed the last infusion and booster shot for the cycle today. One more cycle to go – I’m anxious to be done. I’ve been feeling much better this time than last and my attitude is much improved. I asked my oncologist about my lack of patience. He said he could give me something for it but I was taking enough stuff as is, the impatience was common to the drugs, and basically told me to buck up.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Huevos Rancheros

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

If You’re Bored, You’re Boring

One of the challenges I face is being isolated. My nephew’s wife sent me an email that pointed out that being diabetic can be isolating and having lymphoma and going through chemotherapy could add to that. I disagreed but now I’m not so sure. I find myself bored at times. Eunice says if you are bored, you are boring. Not very nice but probably true.

But how do you know if you really are boring? I just searched the internet for clues and there are a lot of checklists that contain the same information. How boring is that? I have a feeling these things were published repeatedly in Psychology Today or Reader’s Digest but here are the tips people seem to agree on to know if you are boring in a social situation:

“Oh really?” If the person you are taking to keeps saying this over and over, it means you are boring.

Not being interrupted. If you are droning on and on and no one else is attempting to interrupt, it means you are boring. Interruption actually signals interest in the conversation, so no interruptions means someone is being bored out of their mind.

Look out for body position. If someone is interested in what you are saying, they will usually turn to face you. Conversely, if the person you are talking to is partially turned away, chances are they are not engaged in what you are saying.

Are you bored? Chances are if you’re bored with someone’s conversation, they are bored with yours as well. Time to find someone else to talk to.

So let’s say you are boring and you are OK with that. Who says you have to change? Here are 5 webcams that won’t over stimulate you.

Watching Paint Dry

Watching Grass Grow

Watching Traffic

Watching Cheese Age

Riding Through the Car Wash

Maybe you do need to change. At least don’t get bored with your food. Here are 10 tips to avoid that.

1. Pick up one new thing from the produce section
2. Visit the spice aisle
3. Buy fresh ingredients instead of canned or frozen
4. Try the unprocessed version like brown rice
5. Search the internet for new recipes
6. Garnish it
7. Buy a new pot or pan
8. Pair it with wine (ignore this for a low tyramine diet)
9. Cook the same ingredient four times different ways
10. Cook with a friend

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

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Bronzed Catfish

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Rush Hour, Traffic Jams, and Deadlines

I was listening to a local sports radio show on my way to chemo yesterday. One of the personalities was flying back from somewhere in the morning and thought he had plenty of time to get to the station for the morning show. His schedule made him unfamiliar with rush hour traffic. After getting frustrated with stop-and-go traffic he stopped for breakfast and called in his show from a local Perkins. He took a lot of grief from his colleagues but maybe it will become a regular feature in the future.

I’m kind of like that guy. One reason I am able to keep working without problems is that I don’t have to deal with rush hour, traffic jams, and deadlines. I’m not part of the herd. As a remote employee I don’t have to shower, drive to work at 8, stay all day and return home. That would be tough. I’m up early, can start working early, take a break when fatigue hits, work some more, and fairly easily meet my work requirements even on busy days without it being a severe drain on me. The folks at work understand this and even appreciate it. Technology helps too. There really is a place for telecommuting in the workplace today to reduce stress and increase productivity not only for cancer patients but for everyone. Bricks and mortar are overrated.

I just finished the first three days of infusions of cycle 5. My sleep is disrupted again, hands shaking from the prednisone, attitude good, a little fatigue occasionally, feeling well, and happy to be avoiding rush hour, traffic jams, and deadlines.

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Shepherd's Pie

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

I Miss Ingrid

I ran into Ingrid this morning on my way in for chemo. She was coming out of the pharmacy and we chatted for a while. She went on a road trip with her mother down and up the Pacific Coast Highway and had a fabulous time. They rented a convertible and instead of her hair billowing back as you see in commercials, she let the air caress her bald head. They had a blast.

She asked about the kids and I filled her in as best I could. I told her Ann is in Chicago and has a list of things she has requested to be sent to her. I also told her about Dallas’ upcoming Semester at Sea and she thought that was great. He shouldn’t be surprised if a talkative, bald, diabetic woman appears on his ship. I shouldn’t say bald; her hair is beginning to grow out a little and she has quit using a lint roller for grooming.

The chemo room is more subdued without Ingrid. Today is my long day and I miss her most on this day. Seven hours is a long time and we were typically here the entire time together – others would come and go. Sometimes I take a nap and the room turns over. It’s a little disconcerting when that happens. They really need a Master of Ceremonies to introduce everyone and facilitate the conversation now that Ingrid is gone.

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Buttermilk Scones: A repeat of the recipe Ingrid gave me at my first infusion. I think it was the first I posted and perhaps the reason I started including recipes.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Art Fairs

Eunice and I went to the Uptown Art Fair yesterday. We took the bus and got there as it was opening at 10. The featured artist for the fair is Xavier Nuez. I’d never heard of him (which isn’t unusual and is why you go to art fairs) but he roams alleys and abandoned buildings in urban areas and takes pictures to capture their “beauty” in edgy settings. Detroit is one of the cities he visited and I was interested to see what images he might have. Turns out I don’t care for his photographs as much as others do. There seems to be a trend among photographers to use lighting and other means to dramatically highlight colors and make them more vibrant. I’m more of a black and white guy.

They did a nice thing this year and had an Art Hop bus that takes you to the Powderhorn Park and Loring Park Art Fairs too. We ended up going to all three. Eunice got a pair of earrings at Loring Park and we decided we liked the smaller art fairs a little better. Uptown is a large art fair with a long history, lots of artists, and lots of stuff.

I can’t really eat anything they offer at these types of fairs. But there was a French Fry stand in Uptown so I got an order for lunch. They cut and cook the fries in front of you which for me raised some concerns about the status of my immune system. They went down fine and so far, so good. Minneapolis has a growing Hispanic community near Powderhorn Park. Many of the vendors at the fair offered Mexican fare which, to my chagrin, I could not eat. On our way home I was a little low on sugar from all the walking and I drank a Mountain Dew – sugar good, caffeine bad. Got a little bit of a headache but it didn’t last too long. It was a very nice day; quite an outing for me.

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Steak Fajitas

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Club Chemo

Eunice told me something interesting the other day. She’s tired of chemo. She has chemo fatigue. Two more cycles seems like a long time. She is suffering from her own fatigue; the daily grind of my treatments, side effects, diet, and so on. She needs Club Chemo.

At Club Chemo all-inclusive resorts she’ll enjoy an unforgettable experience that allows her and other families, couples or solo patients to experience fun, exotic cuisine, adventure and luxury chemotherapy. She’ll discover the elegance of Club Chemo and its customized treatment programs run by specialists in the art of chemotherapy. They welcome the major names in health insurance with the very best in treatments all of which have been created especially for the patient and their significant others. Why not experience sensational moments with rare drugs and essential poisons, and a multitude of other benefits in an environment devoted exclusively to future well-being? Fitness areas will welcome Eunice, me, and you for daily classes depending on the prescribed treatment program. And remember, because Club Chemo uses dangerous drugs, reducing its carbon footprint is a major concern. All their values are in the right place.

Hopefully just thinking about Club Chemo makes Eunice feel better.

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Flour Tortillas

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Black Cat or White Cat?

I went to China about 3 years ago and found some notes I’d taken when on the tour bus. We had a great guide who was interesting and didn’t hesitate to confront questions (some plainly rude) about the differences between capitalism and communism in a philosophical and thought provoking way. Her explanation of the difference between the two was it doesn’t matter if you have a black cat or a white cat. If you have a cat that can catch a mouse, you have a good cat. It was a great answer since it made people stop and think while she moved on to the next question.

I’m in Southfield, a suburb of Detroit. I watched the local news yesterday morning prior to the gubernatorial primary. You would think the issue would be jobs but given the news report it was abortion. That was good news for an organization called Right to Life that was noted to be the state’s best organized and powerful advocacy group. Probably a disappointment for many others. The right to life candidates were predicted to prevail and among Republicans the “more” right to life candidate. Jobs? Who cared?

The results would seem to say the news report I watched was off base. Yesterday’s vote in the Republican primary represents a defeat of sorts for traditional conservative groups. Right to Life of Michigan backed Mike Cox who wound up finishing third. Former computer executive Rick Snyder, as self-described nerd, defeated four opponents to capture the Republican nomination for Michigan governor. His support for easing restrictions on embryonic stem cell research reportedly turned off social conservatives, just not enough.

Snyder will face Democrat Virg Bernero in the November election. Bernero has been the mayor of Lansing since 2006 and dubbed America's "Angriest Mayor" for his rants favoring federal bailouts to General Motors and Chrysler. He is the son of an autoworker and apparently stressed the economic frustrations of a blue collar base decimated by a decade of job loss.

The "nerd" and the "angry mayor" will battle to be Michigan's next governor in November. It looks like the mouse is job creation and economic recovery. Hopefully Michigan has a choice of two good cats to lead it out of its economic troubles.

I start my 5th cycle next Monday. The last cycle I fell into a pattern of self-pity. I wasn’t very pleasant to be around especially for Eunice. I need to be more philosophical and focus on the future. I have to make a concerted effort to not let the drugs affect my attitude. I need to be a good cat too.

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The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Quick Turnaround

Ann is finishing her final trip with Wilderness Inquiry today and will get home late tonight. She was accepted for a volunteer position at Amate House and is leaving for Chicago early tomorrow morning. If we blink we might miss her. Amate House is a volunteer program for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Ann will live in a community house in the neighborhood where she will serve. She interviewed and was accepted to work with an organization called Girls in the Game. They provide and promote sports and fitness opportunities, nutrition and health education and leadership development to enhance the overall health and well being of girls across the city of Chicago. Ann will have opportunities to visit schools, coach activities and help to recruit and train volunteers. It is a year-long commitment so there will be some travel between Minneapolis and Chicago for us in the coming year. Coincidentally, I have a business trip to Chicago the 23rd of this month.

I’m feeling well but sad that Ann is leaving. I am starting to feel more “normal” earlier and earlier after each cycle. I have about a week to go before I start the 5th cycle.


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Chicago-Style Hot Dog

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Driver’s License

I had to renew my Driver’s License. This is not the best thing to do during chemo. It arrived and the picture is very flattering. I’ll have to keep my hair short for the next 3 years to get through airport security. My hair did not fall out. It is patchy and looks a little funny as it starts to grow out but the personal groomer has worked like a charm. I can cut my hair in 5 minutes or less each Sunday. I’m a donor, have a living will, and lied about my weight so I am feeling well and optimistic about the future.

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Beef Brisket and Baked Potato Coupé: Attitude is what makes this work.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Fatigue

I am having more fatigue. I went to a few different web sites to read about cancer related fatigue. One common thing I found is that fatigue often is but should not be confused with tiredness. Tiredness happens to everyone. It is an expected feeling after certain activities or at the end of the day. Usually, you know why you are tired, and a good night's sleep solves the problem. The fatigue I’m talking about is unpredictable. Usually, it comes on suddenly, does not result from activity or exertion, and is not relieved by rest or sleep. It just happens.

Some signs of cancer-related fatigue I found at a variety of sites are:
• Feeling tired, weary or exhausted even after sleeping
• Lacking energy to do your regular activities
• Having trouble concentrating, thinking clearly, or remembering
• Feeling negative, irritable, impatient, or unmotivated
• Lacking interest in normal day-to-day activities
• Spending less attention on personal appearance
• Spending more time in bed or sleeping

Those are great descriptions and I think I’ve experienced all of those to some degree. However, they miss a key point about cancer related fatigue. It makes it sound gradual but the fact is it is often sudden and paralyzing. And dangerous. When Dallas and I went fishing, I fell asleep while driving. Dallas calmly took control and woke me up. But the whole language of “falling asleep” isn’t correct. I didn’t fall asleep; I shut down – like flipping a switch. It’s said that Cool Papa Bell was so fast he could turn off the light and be in bed before the room got dark. That’s the challenge of coping with cancer related fatigue.

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Spicy Chipotle-Tomato Sauce: Great on steaks and burgers.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Fishing

I haven’t done a lot of fishing since the kids were born. I didn’t do a lot of fishing before that either but did enough to be dangerous. I have my grandfather’s 1959 3HP Evinrude motor, fishing poles, tackle box, etc. I decided it was time to clean this stuff up and start to do some fishing. While I’m starting to work on my tackle box Dallas tells me he’d like to go fishing sometime. He hasn’t been fishing since he was using a Thomas the Tank Engine pole. So I’m thinking I can clean my stuff up, rent a row boat, put the motor on, take him fishing in a lake I’ve haven’t fished in years with gear that hasn’t been used in years, and the whole thing will be a disaster. Or I could look for a guide who knows what they are doing, break back into this thing with some success, and have some fun. Fun seemed like the better option.

Mille Lacs Lake is Minnesota's second-largest lake and well known for its fishing – especially Walleye fishing. It also has Northern Pike, Muskie, Perch, Small Mouth Bass and I’m sure other types of fish. And it is less than a two-hour drive from our home. Lake Minnetonka is closer but also has more recreational boaters so the fishing may not be as much fun. Mille Lacs it is. Tim and Tina Chapman run
Chapman’s Mille Lacs Resort & Guide Service. I found them on an internet search and made a reservation for Tim to guide me and Dallas.

In the meantime, Todd calls to see if I want to go fishing after work on Wednesday. I’m all over this. We headed out to Lake Minnetonka where his boat is and embarked on a 3-hour tour. Like the Minnow we had some problems but still had fun and each caught a little Northern. Now I’m ready to go to Mille Lacs confident that I can fish and finding a guide was the right decision.

Dallas and I arrived around 3:30 and Tim and Tina welcomed us. Tim is prepared to take us out and not only guides us but teaches us about the lake and fishing too. This is fun and stress free fishing. Dallas got the first catch – a small perch we didn’t keep – and then the walleyes started hitting. We were getting "good eating” walleyes that we can keep and get our limit. We also had the excitement of catching a very fat 18” small mouth. It was a beautiful evening.









With the chemo and everything I thought I might be taking on a little too much with this trip. It couldn’t have been better. I got to spend time with Dallas, fished on a beautiful lake, and Tim and Tina took care of everything. I'm refreshed and feeling great.

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Pan-Fried Walleye Fillets: Couple of options. Nothing really new here since my grandfather last used the motor.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

A Bicycle Built for Two

I finished the last infusion and my booster shot for this cycle this week. Feeling well but a little more on edge than in the other cycles. My sleep has been more disrupted but I’m doing OK. I’m more prone to frustration – little things bother me – and I was (maybe still am) spiraling into a funk. Eunice has accommodated me in many ways during my chemotherapy. But she went above and beyond last night.

I found a used tandem bicycle on Craig’s List. I’d gotten it into my head that I wanted to get a tandem so we could talk while taking a leisurely bike ride. We have many trails near our home and the state is full of bike trails on old railroad lines. When we ride together we get separated and it is hard to talk. Plus I could steer and Eunice would be the little engine that could. We test drove the tandem (an older Trek T50) and bought it last night. It’s in good shape, was a fair price, and fits us both well. We needed a larger frame since we are tall and many tandems won’t fit us well. It’s blue which seemed to fit my mental state.

I did suffer my first injury during the test ride; actually at the end of it. The bike has leather toe straps that will be removed. When we got on I mentioned I would probably forget about them. Sure enough, when we stopped I didn’t get my feet out and over we went. I scraped my elbow and knee and bruised my hip. This isn’t good for a guy with low platelets and I’m a little sore but have a smile on my face. Mentally I’m better, physically I’m worse. When I coached little league a kid once told me he preferred the “mental part” of the game. I’m appreciating that more and more.

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Grilled Salmon with Blueberry Sauce: A meal with a little blue.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Buying Local

I feel well. I realized something about my cold last month. The chemo does affect my throat. I’m not sure which drug but something makes my throat sore and raw. Combine that with the cold and cough and I was pretty miserable last month and the irritation from both just built on one another. I have the raw throat again now but no cold and it really isn’t a problem but there is always the unexpected. Eunice gave me a Jr. Mint today and the strong mint flavor/burn nearly did me in. It was funny after I was able to breathe again. I am taking the Prednisone which makes my hands shake and increases my appetite. And I'm taking the Procarbazine which restricts my diet.

I like Toad in the Hole but I can’t eat it now because of the sausages. Toad in the Hole combines two UK favorites; sausage covered and baked in Yorkshire pudding. It’s a favorite pub food and dinner dish. It is sometimes confused with eggs in a basket, the process of breaking an egg into a slice of bread with a hole in it, and frying the result. Nothing wrong with that but Toad in the Hole uses bangers, which are large pork sausages. The Yorkshire pudding recipe is not an actual pudding, but a baked pudding made from flour, milk, and eggs – basically a popover. This batter then covers the sausages, and the result is a heavily browned, raised crust that surrounds the meat. Many say onion gravy is a must over the top.

So what’s this got to do with buying local or my health? I’ve become a fan of Whole Foods because they have a lot of uncured meat products which allows me to eat things that are on the forbidden list because they are not cured or preserved. Things like uncured ham, corned beef, bacon, hot dogs, etc. with no preservatives are OK. But I haven’t seen sausages until… can you believe it, uncured Bison Cocktail Sausages? So I’m all excited and telling Eunice about this, suggesting we make “Tadpoles in the Hole” when she points out to me she isn’t crazy about Whole Foods because it is a national chain and not a local enterprise. Shouldn’t we be buying from local folks, local groceries, and local co-ops? Man o’ man – I played the cancer card but she had a point.

We went to the Lynden Hills Co-op to refamiliarize ourselves with it. In September they are going to be more conveniently located near us – even more local. They did have a supply of uncured meats but no Bison Cocktail Sausages. Fortunately I’d already bought them at Whole Foods anyway and my trip was mainly to make Eunice happy and open the door to making Tadpoles in the Hole. It was shameless on my part. I buy into the buying local thing and will do it – later. But as I said, I’m taking Prednisone right now.

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Tadpoles/Toad in the Hole

Onion Gravy

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Does Cancer Stimulate the Economy?

When Bob Kerrey was asked about dating Debra Winger, he said she was his "stimulus package”. I wondered if cancer falls into that category. I thought maybe developments in technology, drugs, education, jobs, etc. related to cancer might have some economic impact. I couldn’t find anything to support that.

It’s hard to say if my personal spending related to my lymphoma and treatments has helped stimulate the economy. We spend less, virtually nothing, eating out. We do spend more on food at markets, spread that spending around more than we did in the past, and purchase groceries several times a week to have fresh things. And then there are just things. My treatments also coincide with Ann and Dallas coming home from school so that means we spend more than when they are away and that creates a perception that my treatments are vigorously stimulating the local economy. Eunice just shakes her head.

People also send me stuff, nice stuff. Friends have sent flowers, books, things to watch on DVD, baskets with treats, a straw hat, cards, good thoughts, and well wishes. Someone is benefiting from all this. So what’s an internet search show is doing well these days? Fun things like…

Clinical Strength Deodorant
Yep, major deodorant brands are experiencing a jump in sales due to clinical strength deodorants that have just recently hit the market. Deodorant must be a staple in our lives no matter what the economy is like. I guess we sweat a lot. Personally, my biggest jump in hygiene products has been for hand sanitizer.

SPAM
No, not Email, but that little can that you have seen collecting dust in the back corner of your grandma’s pantry. This is of particular interest to me since it is made in Minnesota, I have visited the SPAM museum, and SPAM sales are up. The, employees of Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota are living the dream. They are producing as much as possible and we are buying it. I actually like it, much to the dismay of my family, but it’s not for a low Tyramine diet.

Video Games
I guess they are relatively inexpensive compared to out-of-home forms of entertainment, and they can provide many hours of entertainment. And they are an escape from the real world. During the Great Depression, American’s flocked to the movies to take their minds off what was going on around them. Now you can get hours of fun playing video games.

Online DVD Rentals
People are not taking their money out on the town like they once were including to the movie theaters. We have NetFlix and can watch a movie at home, make our own popcorn, and, in my case, enjoy a cold glass of water for the cost of the straw that comes in a drink at the theaters.

I guess cancer spreads quickly, not economically.

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How to Make Popcorn Eunice learned this from a co-worker many years ago. Almost all of it pops and no burnt kernels.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Feeling Lucky

Last month I went to chemo and while I was in the waiting room a guy was sitting there with about a half dozen or so scratch off lottery tickets. I was called into the chemo room before I could ask him about them. I’d like to have heard his story. The next week Eunice was leaving for West Virginia and as I was driving her to the airport I asked if she had ever played the lottery. The answer was no. I don’t either with the exception that I have bought Powerball tickets for Eunice and the kids at Christmas to put in their stockings. We’ve never come close to winning anything.

While Eunice was gone I bought a one dollar scratch off lottery ticket. I won $5, actually 4 since I was in for a buck. But I was committed to losing that dollar and I traded my winnings in for 5 more lottery tickets for the same game. This time I won $10, so I’m up 9 now. I’ve became that person that holds you up in line while they cash out their lottery tickets. I was still committed to losing my dollar so I went back to the gas station trading in my tickets for 10 more tickets; playing the same game and won $20. This lottery thing takes time, I’m really not enjoying it by now, and my commitment to losing a dollar is waning so I go cash out and call an end to the whole thing. I’m up $19 and I’m not happy about it. I’ve made 3 trips to the gas station, this was the week I'm not feeling well, the whole thing has become a pain, and I’ve shown an inability to lose a dollar. I only felt better when I used the money to buy pizza for the kids for dinner.

Yesterday I started my 4th cycle. We were going to do a scan after this cycle to see how things are going. But we know it is working and I’m going to have all 6 cycles so why do the scan. We will wait until after the 6th cycle and see what’s happening. It won’t all be gone and it’s a bit of a wait and see thing to see if the fast growing cells are gone. Perhaps the bigger news is I saw the guy in the waiting room again; he didn’t have any lottery tickets. I asked him about them and he told me his brother had given him 10 of them and he found them in his pocket and thought it was something to do while he was waiting. It had less to do with luck and more to do with boredom.

I don’t know about “luck”. But my brief dip into the lottery pool changed my view on luck. Luck is a random thing; a probability that isn’t in your favor. I have told many people I have been pretty lucky through this whole thing so far. The results of my scan aren’t going to be luck; the probability is in my favor. Good doctor, good nurses, good friends, lots of support, feeling well, and in general doing as well as can be expected. These are things I can count on or have some control over, not random luck. I’m not lucky, I’m grateful.

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Crispy Salmon with Spicy Lentils: Lentils have been described as resembling coins, so they are a symbol of wealth. And since lentils plump up after being cooked or boiled in water, their growth symbolizes increasing wealth. In other words, they are lucky.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Improving Your Golf Game

John invited me to play golf last night. I was a little hesitant but was feeling pretty good and decided to give it a shot so to speak. Walked nine holes, carried my bag, didn’t get overly tired, and actually played OK. I think I hit every fairway on my drives. I had three birdie putts, missed them all, but my short game stinks and there isn’t anything new there. I only hit three really bad shots. A port may be the answer to the duck hook.

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Sauteed Kale with an Egg and Salsa: We joined a CSA and have been getting some kale in our box. Apparently it is considered one of the top cancer preventing foods available to us. This is a suggested recipe.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

A Better Berry

A friend of ours, Joan, is redoing the garden in her front yard and invited us to take many of the plants in it now. She had many beautiful perennials and a truckload of strawberries in the garden. We have a garden on the south side of our house of which about half we don’t use. Eunice and I were both excited to fill in the back half with strawberry plants and we did. I felt well enough to extend the fencing (to keep the rabbits out) and help plant the strawberries. Joan told us they spread like crazy and we didn’t need to cram them in. We crammed them in. My mother loved strawberries. She told me once that God could have made a better berry, but never did. Not sure where she got that but I agree.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie We also have rhubarb in the garden and I’m looking forward to a homegrown, homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie next spring. Eunice makes a delicious pie. The key is to roll out the pie dough very thin.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Baseball, Baseball, Baseball…

I’ve been feeling pretty well although I still have a bit of a cough. But I felt well enough to take in some baseball games this weekend. We went to the Twins game on Saturday and that went well for 7 innings. The Rays scored 7 in the top of the eighth with the help of a pinch hit grand slam home run and went on to win 8-6. Bart Giamatti wrote that baseball breaks your heart and it was designed to break your heart. The game lived up to that.

We also went to the St. Paul Saints game on Sunday and they won 9-0. We were given tickets and sat on the warning track, yes, the warning track, in front of the wall. The area was “protected” by orange snow fencing and any ball hit in our area (not over the wall) would be ruled a ground rule double. We sat in the power alley and someone hit a home run, over our heads and the wall. We did not stay for the fireworks after the game.

I was thinking about Giamatti with the recent headlines during Elena Kagan’s confirmation about Chief Justice John Roberts' metaphor that a judge is like a baseball umpire who calls balls and strikes (balls and strikes was a really poor choice for this metaphor). Giamatti saw baseball as a metaphor for life in general (he probably would have chosen the infield fly rule for the metaphor). Where would Giamatti find a metaphor for cancer in baseball?

Who cares? I prefer to watch the game for the conversation. Maybe that’s the connection to cancer; the emerging patterns, connecting the dots, the creation of a story. Something happens on the field; we see it and wonder what might come next. Then another thing happens and the story gets another chapter. Then it becomes history. That’s the beauty of baseball and surviving cancer.

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Grilled Steak Sandwiches: I can't have hot dogs or most of the other fare sold at the ball park. I had a steak sandwich at the Twins game and it was good but I had to remove the cheese. This sandwich has no cheese and is topped with a marinated tomato, onion, and watercress salad.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Happy Fourth of July

It’s the Fourth of July and I am starting to feel back to normal. That can only mean that my next cycle is just around the corner – July 12th. I’ve never really experienced the symptoms of cancer like night sweats, fatique (OK looking back I did this time), loss of weight, etc. I’ve always felt pretty well when I’ve been told I needed to start chemotherapy. My joke has been that I feel good so they make me feel bad so everybody feels better.

I was reading an article on MinnPost.com by Timothy Walch, director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch, Iowa, about historic words too important to be misquoted. Apparently Herbert Hoover gets misquoted a fair amount – no chicken in every pot and car in every garage – but so do the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Why? Because we are lazy.

According to Walch, we “too often rely on questionable Internet sites or biased cable-TV talk shows for news and information; we too often digest what we read and hear as factual when it's more accurately opinion or, perhaps, pure fabrication. Compounding our gullibility is the tendency for Internet pundits and political leaders to misquote or take quotes out of context to bolster a particular point of view. In short, "documentary information" is too often twisted to justify partisan perspectives.”

He goes on to say that there are good ways of checking stories and quotations. Just as the Internet is the source of a lot of misinformation, it also offers the tools to find the truth. Most well-known stories and quotes can be checked using the search box on Google.com other sites such as Snopes or WikiQuote.

Does my referencing an article found on the internet make you stop and pause? I hope so. I like the way Walch put it - "The Fourth of July, the day we cherish freedom, is a good day to use our thinking skills to check the accuracy of what we read and hear."

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Grilled Pepper Salad

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Buck Up

In 2003 my father died of lung cancer. He lived with it for about 3 years – probably longer than anyone thought he would. The legend is that at one point he told my mother he just didn’t feel like he could go on much longer and her response was that he had to “buck up”. Turned out he had a collapsed lung at the time and once it was fixed he lived a while longer. After last week, Eunice told me to buck up.

Where do idioms like “buck up” come from? I think we’d all agree that buck up means to basically grin and bear it or just plain old “get over it.” Since I have time I did an internet search for the origins of buck up. Apparently it is related to the male spirit of rutting deer (bucks). And there may have been some connection to “bucks” or snappy dressing “dandies” of nineteenth century Britain so that “buck up” meant to dress better.

Last week, I had a bad week. The cold and cough got the better of me and I wasn’t very nice – pretty self-absorbed actually. I didn’t feel well and was extremely tired; dozing off for a few moments in the midst of things. Eunice took the brunt of my bad attitude and I really spiraled downward for a few days. I went to urgent care, got some antibiotics, and started to feel a little better. I apologized to Eunice for my behavior and received the “you need to buck up” message. It’s was good advice on both fronts: to get over it and snappy dressing.

I have a much better attitude this week as I traveled to Detroit for work. I dressed very casually for the trip out wearing shorts, t-shirt, and sandals. Not exactly snappy dressing. However, I forgot to pack my shoes (see chemo brain) so I am wearing bright orange sandals with slacks and an oxford shirt for my business meetings. I may have started a new trend. It’s a bold fashion statement, very snappy, and has been well received by others. Fortunately orange goes with anything.

Buck up!

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

Click below for the collection of recipes or for an easy to print copy of a single recipe.

Collection of Recipes

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

Clearing-Up Some Things

Ann got six nice messages from around the country and the world wishing her a Happy Birthday. It looks like I have 6 readers and 5 of them are outside the state of Minnesota. Maybe readers in Minnesota are shy. I’m not really into social media. It seems to be more technology focused than really useful for some purpose. Someone sent me a link: Twouble with Twitters that I found funny and took me back to the reasons I starting writing letters to Ann and Dallas when they went to college.

Last week was not a great week. I know I claimed Cytoxan might be the cure for the common cold but it’s not. The cough got worse and is still bad. I did find a decongestant I can use but it's not really very effective. The tiredness I experience with the cold seems additive to the chemo fatigue. I’ve been very tired this week. Hoping it goes away soon.

Eunice is back from the family reunion in West Virginia. Apparently the next one (3 years from now) is going to be held in Minnesota. It’s not clear to me how that happened. It appears there are many needs that have to be met so right now I’m leaning toward seeing if we can reserve one of the many rehab centers in Minnesota; not so much a reunion as an intervention.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

Click below for the collection of recipes or for an easy to print copy of a single recipe.

Collection of Recipes

Southern Oven-Fried Chicken: lighter alternative to fried chicken.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

What is a Normal Day?

After looking at the blog a friend, Sam, asked me, “When do you sleep”? I guess that’s as good as place to start as any. I go to bed around 10 or 10:30 and get up around 3 or 4 in the morning. Five to six hours of sleep seems to do the trick. I have a cup of coffee and work on this blog either jotting down some ideas for posts or cleaning some things up. The blog has helped keep me sane in the early morning hours.

I’ll start work around 5:30 or 6. I work from home for a company called Maritz. and the people I work are located in the Detroit area. My primary client is General Motors. I do Organizational Development work with their dealer network and a group of nationwide Facilitators to help improve work processes in GM dealerships. Buy American. I recently read an advertisement by the president of Toyota, North America extolling their commitment to quality and safety since 1937. I don’t think I would have gone back quite that far. Did I mention my father was a WWII vet? He was in the South Pacific. GM and Maritz have been very good to me.

I take a break around 10:30 and try to walk the dog and grab some lunch. Since the folks in Detroit are an hour ahead of me this overlaps with their lunch. The afternoon is more work, take a few breaks, and I’m generally done at 5 or so. I have a lot of flexibility. I also have a lot of variety and creativity in what I do, it isn’t physically taxing, and I’ve been able to continue working without a problem. Chemo brain interferes a little because I am forgetful and have some confusion keeping track of my schedule. The folks I work with have been very forgiving.

Especially when on Prednisone I tackle a variety of small household tasks throughout the day. I tend to think about the things I’m working on while I start a meal, clip some flowers, or whatever. Random thoughts get in too like thinking about painting the other bathroom. I watch many Twins games in the evening and try to do some needlepoint during the game. Baseball is similar to the blog; it helps keep me sane but in the evening.

I do interact with my family and there is no “normal” routine there. Eunice is in West Virgina for a family reunion. Ann and Dallas are working and keeping me company in the evening. We have dinner together. The consistent thing is they take great care of me. Sleep comes with a “love you, goodnight” for all.


Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

Click below for the collection of recipes or for an easy to print copy of a single recipe.

Collection of Recipes

Noodles with Peanut Sauce and Vegetables: a family favorite.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

A Cure for the Common Cold?

I caught a cold last week and, no, it wasn’t a side-effect of the chemo. I dislike colds very much. They tend to last 2-3 weeks for me and involve a trip to urgent care. I did not want that. I was out of sorts and not feeling so well for my treatment on Monday, yesterday, and it had only been 3-4 days. My throat was a little sore, nose running, and a cough. I told my nurse if I needed a mask I’d be happy to wear one or whatever so others didn’t get it. The funny thing was I was the only person in the chemo room so they left me alone. That lone Monday infusion (D8) is Cytoxan and only takes about 2 hours. I slept quite a bit through it and when I got up to leave realized I felt pretty good, almost like my cold was gone. I thought maybe it was all the fluids or something.

Twelve hours later I’m still feeling pretty good – maybe a little congestion.

Twenty-four hours later and all is well. I have a little congestion but will call the pharmacy today to see if there is a nasal spray or something I can use to help stop that. The Procarbazine has so many restrictions that I can’t take a lot of OTC medications.

I don’t recommend it but an infusion of Cytoxan may be the cure for the common cold.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

Click below for the collection of recipes or for an easy to print copy of a single recipe.

Collection of Recipes

Braised Chicken with Mushrooms and Oven-Baked Polenta: all four of us liked it.

Oven-Baked Polenta: if you just want the Polenta recipe.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

I Went to a Garden Party…

Really it was a graduation party for John and Angie’s son. A beautiful day, sitting outside, catching up with people. I’ve been a little socially isolated.

Kathy complimented me on the blog. I was trying to explain to her and Bob that it is a real outlet for me but not just for the writing. The “putting it together” piece is just as important. It helps with my tunnel vision by really giving me something on which to focus.

So how does a blog work? Search me. Most of it is automatic but when it starts “thinking” for me it gets very interesting. What I want and what it does often are not aligned. I get focused on fixing those things and it can keep me occupied for hours.

The blog has actually been 3 blogs that I tried to tie seamlessly together. The collection of recipes and the recipes themselves are separate blogs that open in a new window so you never have to leave this one and click back; same with incorporating pictures and other links. It is not an automatic function so I had to incorporate the HTML language to make that happen. I’ve made a lot of trips to the HELP section and HELP is not always very helpful. Basically it is a control issue and right now, I have a high need for control.

Carrie told Eunice she also like the blog but that I never said how I was. She didn’t know what she was starting. I’ve been working on that with tunnel vision since last night. There is now a 4th blog – The Friday Update: Just the Facts . I'll include a link for it at the end of each post and also on the top sidebar of the blog. You can simply click on it to get the short update on how I am doing or bookmark it to go there directly once a week so you don’t have to wade through all this other stuff. Thanks, Carrie for the suggestion via Eunice.

I’m still feeling well. Had some issues with constipation this week and felt a little off for a day. I also have a sore throat and think I may be catching a cold which is not good. This morning I noticed I also had a mouth sore and it occurred to me that the sore throat could be a side effect of the chemo especially because otherwise I feel fine. I gargled with salt water to see if that would help I did get some immediate relief but I remember as a kid my mother had us gargle with salt water as a “cure” for sore throats. Can’t hurt.

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

Click below for the collection of recipes or for an easy to print copy of a single recipe.

Collection of Recipes

Mediterranean Potato Salad: Good for a Garden Party.

The Friday Update: Just the Facts

The Daily Bunny

I’m going to get in trouble for this one. We have rabbits in our yard. Not pet rabbits – rodents. They eat (destroy) plants, bushes, and even small trees. I have a strong dislike for rabbits but not your pet bunny. There is a distinction. I’ve tried to prevent them from damaging the plants. Sprays don’t work. Leaving a portion of the yard for them to eat doesn’t work (they do most of their damage in the winter). I’ve tried trapping them to move them to another area and that hasn’t worked. I even built a snare to catch them but that didn’t work either. Other suggestions I heard were get a dog, fox, or cat to prey on them.

We have a dog (Shadow) and two cats (Sadie and Smudge). Shadow is getting old (11+) and he isn’t really a hunter or chaser anymore. He might trot after them if he sees them and they might or might not run away. They seem to sense he is harmless.

Both cats are indoor cats. Sadie has a variety of neuroses that make her unsuitable for much more than sitting in your lap to be petted. Even eating is a chore for her. She hovers around 8 pounds and we have to watch to make sure she doesn’t lose weight.

Smudge and I have not been the best of friends. He is an overeating bully with few redeeming qualities other than he's a good looking silver tabby. He is big - 15 diet-controlled pounds. Sadie doesn’t like Smudge.

As you might imagine Prednisone and Smudge were not a good match. My impatience with Smudge grew to anger and a great deal of frustration. I’m comfortable saying it was a Smudge-induced injury – not self-inflicted. I decided to let him go outside early in the morning and late in the afternoon before we fed the cats. Smudge has an internal clock that goes off at meal time and I felt confident that he would return. And he did. In fact he doesn’t leave the yard, wanders around it a bit, and stays close to home. This is where I get in trouble: he has starting catching rabbits; chipmunks too!

A friend, Mary, took me to task so you don’t have to. Mary has a great framing/gift store in the warehouse district of Minneapolis called Mitrebox. She sent me a link to the The Daily Bunny a collection of pictures of people’s pet bunnies, not the scurrilous things you’ll find in my yard.

Smudge and I are on much better terms now. When he returns from his outside adventures he likes to be petted; briefly but petted none the less. He doesn’t chase down and bully Sadie anymore as he did in the past although Sadie still hates him. He and Shadow have always been friends but he has taken that to new heights. He is turning into a good cat. I made him a ribbon and hanged it above his food dish that reads: “Bunny Catcher Extraordinaire.” We’ll see what happens this winter but I’m anticipating fewer rabbits and less damage. Good Smudge!

Eat Good Food, Be Kind, Tell the Truth

Click below for the collection of recipes or for an easy to print copy of a single recipe.

Collection of Recipes

These are NOT low Tyramine recipes - pets only!

Pastries for Cheese Loving Cats: Bet you thought this was going to be a rabbit recipe.

Dog Biscuits: Don’t forget the dog.