(no subject)
I've been just incredibly absent here lately, though I do try to lurk when not in full Thanksgiving panic mode (now nicely turned to full Christmas panic mode). Work and home have been stressful, and I'm lacking oomph. But I have been having fun, too, so I shouldn't complain.
We did Thanksgiving at our house again this year, and I honestly was feeling much better than expected. I hired a cleaning service to come on Friday, 11/21 thanks to my brother deciding to come down to visit on the weekend before. Then I spent the rest of the week complaining that they did a crappy job. I had cleaning ladies during my first chemo, and I decided at that time that I don't like how others clean my house. It's still true. The house was a wreck, I'll admit -- Rich is busy and I've been sick a long time now. But I *warned* them about that, that everything needed to be washed and scrubbed and dusted. Even Rich thought they did a lousy job on the floors. When I washed them again on the following Wednesday, the water was filthy before I got halfway through a room. I was still seeing thick, noticable dust on chairs on Thanksgiving day (and dealing with it between kitchen antics).
Anyway, we had a busy pre-Thanksgiving weekend with my brother. Friday night was the "prom" for our ballroom dance class, so we socialized at the Berwyn VFW hall with the 80 and 90 year olds who are regulars there and our classmates. Saturday morning was the final class, complete with "bring food and let's party." So we ate, figured out what dance to do to new songs, and learned the merengue. Finally, a 70's girl's dream comes true -- I have a dance step that works for Barry Manilow's Copacabana!
The brother and his family arrived, and I totally embarrassed the 15-year-old nephew by making him learn the new dance, too. Couldn't get the brother and sister-in-law to dance, though, so we went off on a round of eating pizza, gelato, and then visiting dad out in Huntley. Sunday morning we did the Flat Top breakfast buffet before they left for Wisconsin.
And then I pretty much went to bed for the rest of the weekend.
I worked on Monday and took off the rest of the week to clean and cook. Tuesday was the day to pick up my turkeys and ham, get a Peapod delivery of groceries, and make cheesecake, sweet potatoes, and brown the Italian sausage for the stuffing. Wednesday morning I cleaned like a fiend, then slept the afternoon away.
On the big day, some family called in sick at the last moment, so we had only 7 adults and 3 kids, and lots of leftovers to send to the unhealthy. Unfortunately, I know my state of health is partly to blame for people deciding to stay at home -- no one wants to give me the plague while I'm in chemo. The food all came out fine, though I've decided no one needs white potatoes when there are so many other starches. This year, to save myself some effort, I roasted the potatoes with onions alongside the turkeys. I think I was the only person who ate any of them.
My blood counts are still wonky. On Friday morning, when I reported for chemo one day late, they had to page my doctor about my low platelet count. I think that's to be expected with the Avastin, actually. In addition to being chemo day, Friday was Uncle Jim's 65th birthday. So when we finally got out of chemo (a 9:30 appt. that lasted until 12:30), we took him to lunch to celebrate. That same night, we had our friends from New Jersey, Fran and Mike, come to visit with their family.
Believe me when I saw it's lovely to see all these people, and to be feeling good enough to do things with them. But I'm hoping my exhaustion/lack of internet time is making sense now, too.
Friday wasn't really the finale of my big Thanksgiving extravaganza, though. On Saturday Rich, Uncle Jim and I took in the "Sing-Along Sound of Music" at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. We wore bandanas made of green-and-white curtain fabric (the boys on their necks, me on my head ala Luisa). We brought sprigs of Edelweiss. And at the theater, they gave us goodie bags with more props, and had an emcee educate us all on the appropriate places to boo, hiss, cheer, and say "aw" (for Gretel, naturally). It was a blast, but it was another incredibly long day.
And it was followed by brunch and a theater outing Sunday at Drury Lane Oakbrook, where we saw our friend Michael appear in "Mame." Rich's sister, her guy, and Uncle Jim joined us on this one. (Uncle Jim has since said that another birthday like this one will kill him.)
Now, this week should be nice and normal and quiet, right? I'm back to work, after all. Hey, I have time to be writing all this.
But it's been a crazy day, and I have about 10 things to do before it ends. My boss decided to move a meeting that's scheduled for NEXT WEEK to another part of the state. We're arguing with the canceled hotel over their fees, rushing around like nuts to find space up here, and basically going loony trying to contact everyone with the news. Sigh.
I am thinking of you guys all the time, even when I'm a louse who lurks without comment!
We did Thanksgiving at our house again this year, and I honestly was feeling much better than expected. I hired a cleaning service to come on Friday, 11/21 thanks to my brother deciding to come down to visit on the weekend before. Then I spent the rest of the week complaining that they did a crappy job. I had cleaning ladies during my first chemo, and I decided at that time that I don't like how others clean my house. It's still true. The house was a wreck, I'll admit -- Rich is busy and I've been sick a long time now. But I *warned* them about that, that everything needed to be washed and scrubbed and dusted. Even Rich thought they did a lousy job on the floors. When I washed them again on the following Wednesday, the water was filthy before I got halfway through a room. I was still seeing thick, noticable dust on chairs on Thanksgiving day (and dealing with it between kitchen antics).
Anyway, we had a busy pre-Thanksgiving weekend with my brother. Friday night was the "prom" for our ballroom dance class, so we socialized at the Berwyn VFW hall with the 80 and 90 year olds who are regulars there and our classmates. Saturday morning was the final class, complete with "bring food and let's party." So we ate, figured out what dance to do to new songs, and learned the merengue. Finally, a 70's girl's dream comes true -- I have a dance step that works for Barry Manilow's Copacabana!
The brother and his family arrived, and I totally embarrassed the 15-year-old nephew by making him learn the new dance, too. Couldn't get the brother and sister-in-law to dance, though, so we went off on a round of eating pizza, gelato, and then visiting dad out in Huntley. Sunday morning we did the Flat Top breakfast buffet before they left for Wisconsin.
And then I pretty much went to bed for the rest of the weekend.
I worked on Monday and took off the rest of the week to clean and cook. Tuesday was the day to pick up my turkeys and ham, get a Peapod delivery of groceries, and make cheesecake, sweet potatoes, and brown the Italian sausage for the stuffing. Wednesday morning I cleaned like a fiend, then slept the afternoon away.
On the big day, some family called in sick at the last moment, so we had only 7 adults and 3 kids, and lots of leftovers to send to the unhealthy. Unfortunately, I know my state of health is partly to blame for people deciding to stay at home -- no one wants to give me the plague while I'm in chemo. The food all came out fine, though I've decided no one needs white potatoes when there are so many other starches. This year, to save myself some effort, I roasted the potatoes with onions alongside the turkeys. I think I was the only person who ate any of them.
My blood counts are still wonky. On Friday morning, when I reported for chemo one day late, they had to page my doctor about my low platelet count. I think that's to be expected with the Avastin, actually. In addition to being chemo day, Friday was Uncle Jim's 65th birthday. So when we finally got out of chemo (a 9:30 appt. that lasted until 12:30), we took him to lunch to celebrate. That same night, we had our friends from New Jersey, Fran and Mike, come to visit with their family.
Believe me when I saw it's lovely to see all these people, and to be feeling good enough to do things with them. But I'm hoping my exhaustion/lack of internet time is making sense now, too.
Friday wasn't really the finale of my big Thanksgiving extravaganza, though. On Saturday Rich, Uncle Jim and I took in the "Sing-Along Sound of Music" at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. We wore bandanas made of green-and-white curtain fabric (the boys on their necks, me on my head ala Luisa). We brought sprigs of Edelweiss. And at the theater, they gave us goodie bags with more props, and had an emcee educate us all on the appropriate places to boo, hiss, cheer, and say "aw" (for Gretel, naturally). It was a blast, but it was another incredibly long day.
And it was followed by brunch and a theater outing Sunday at Drury Lane Oakbrook, where we saw our friend Michael appear in "Mame." Rich's sister, her guy, and Uncle Jim joined us on this one. (Uncle Jim has since said that another birthday like this one will kill him.)
Now, this week should be nice and normal and quiet, right? I'm back to work, after all. Hey, I have time to be writing all this.
But it's been a crazy day, and I have about 10 things to do before it ends. My boss decided to move a meeting that's scheduled for NEXT WEEK to another part of the state. We're arguing with the canceled hotel over their fees, rushing around like nuts to find space up here, and basically going loony trying to contact everyone with the news. Sigh.
I am thinking of you guys all the time, even when I'm a louse who lurks without comment!