Sweet Blog O'Mine

Category: Uncategorized

  • First Steps

    After bloodwork, genetic testing, an additional breast biopsy, an additional breast MRI, and some waiting, I learned that I was not accepted to the clinical trial I was hoping for (thanks, PEComa/sparkly unicorn cancer!). So, we are starting with the current standard of care treatment for Triple Negative Breast Cancer, and we are starting quickly: weekly chemotherapy (Taxol/Carboplatin) for 12 weeks combined with immunotherapy (Keytruda) every 3rd week. After 12 weeks, we’ll do an MRI and reassess to determine the next steps. I will receive treatment at NYU’s Perlmutter Cancer Center. I got a port put in yesterday (Karen, who has earned naming rights, named it Chester), and unless I decide to make changes, chemo will be on Thursdays, starting this week.

    I will be getting a haircut soon in preparation for losing my hair so will be super on-trend with a pixie cut for a few weeks before I go full G.I. Jane. This is a bummer because, as you can see, my hair has been looking amazing lately. I have decided to make use of all my bandanas (why do I have so many bandanas?!) and make it hot pirate summer. Arrrrgh! Avast ye swabs!

    The rules still apply — please don’t send me gifts or food without asking — but I would love playlists for treatment, videos/pictures to make me smile, and I’ve been loving the good wishes, cards, flowers, and company. Mostly, it’s great to hear from you and see you — the best gift is knowing that I’m not going through this alone.

    I hope to be as social as my body and immune system allow, (my team seems optimistic on both of these fronts) so don’t hesitate to reach out.

  • Rebirth!

    Dealing with the sudden shutdown of Typepad — I’ve imported all the text but think I may lose all of my past media from my old posts. Heartbroken.

  • COVID-19: A Food Diary Days 15, 16, 17 – Catching Up

    Sigh. Sorry about that. This retired blogger is not used to writing every day and, given the circumstances, I'm cutting myself a LOT of slack these days and treating myself with kindness and compassion. It's okay not to work out every day — a walk and meditation is fine. It's okay if my eating habits are wonky. The goal is to keep the anxiety at bay and to stay safe and healthy. Period.

    To make up for my lack of posts, I want to offer you some goodies. First, an app I discovered called Supercook. The idea is that you type in the ingredients you have and it searches for recipes on the internet that contain those ingredients. Sounds good in theory, but I'd imagine that it would take some time on the front end inputting your inventory. I haven't explored it yet, but if you do, let me know. Next, I wanted to introduce you to a meal planning/shopping list/recipe collecting app that I have been using for a few years called Plan to Eat. It does cost $19.50 a year, but I find it to be worth it. I clip all my online recipes to the app and use it as my regular shopping list. In addition, for the times that I do actual meal planning, I use it for that as well. Finally, I wanted to collect some of the recipes that folks have posted on Facebook in response to my cooking posts. 

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    So what have we been eating since Sunday? For me, breakfasts have been either banana bread or yogurt, fruit and granola, lunch has been tomato soup and/or leftovers of some sort. Let's see if I can remember dinner. On the last grocery run, N picked up a bunch of fish. Monday night we had oven-baked lemon-pepper flounder with asparagus (I basically used this recipe, added some lemon-pepper seasoning, and cooked the asparagus on the sheet pan for about 5 minutes before adding the flounder); Tuesday we had seared tuna steaks with a mixed green salad; and last night we had pizza assembled from pre-baked flatbread, jarred marinara sauce, mozzarella, ham, tomatoes and mushrooms. I cannot express how delicious the pizza was — it totally hit the spot and is something I truly have missed. I don't even think I eat pizza that much normally — maybe it was just a reminder of NYC, home, and normalcy. Joe's and Otto, I'm coming for you when I return.

  • My Body, My Choice

    Some of you may not know this about me, but I interned and then subsequently worked at Crittenton Hastings House, an organization in Boston that provided women’s health services, including abortions, and was also a shelter and alternative high school for pregnant and parenting teens. One of the many takeaways from that experience is that there is no one particular “type” of woman or teen that utilizes abortion services. I saw teens who had to get judicial bypass permission for their procedures and teens who came in with their parents or partners. I saw women across the reproductive age spectrum. I did phone intake and saw statistics about income (for insurance purposes), with an outstanding range. I saw women come in alone, with a partner, or with a friend or other family member. I saw women of all races and ethnicities. Sometimes I heard their stories — failed birth control, rape, financial stress, or other factors/experiences — that went into their decisions. And the decisions were not easy. Anyone who thinks that people approach an abortion as a cavalier alternative to contraception is seriously misguided (to put it mildly).
    These women are you, me, our co-workers, sisters, neighbors, mothers, daughters, and friends. One in four women has had an abortion. It is healthcare, it is a constitutional right, and it is truly needed for too many reasons to articulate here. I decided to go to law school when Planned Parenthood v. Casey came down because I was so distraught about the future of reproductive rights, even back then. I originally was planning to get a double degree in law and public health in order to focus on those issues for my career. Although my path didn’t eventually lead in that direction, I still feel incredibly strongly about widespread access to contraception, sex education, and women’s health services, including abortion. I am horrified at our country right now.
    I used to have a bumper sticker that said “if you don’t like abortions, don’t have one.” I still firmly believe this. #keepyourlawsoffmybody

  • Today’s Soundtrack

    RIP Ranking Roger

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  • Happy Chanukah!

    Someone didn't understand the menorah instructions… 

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  • The Plague, Day 3

    Day 3 of a low grade fever, tons of tissues, tea, naps, reading, TV, and Moxie time. Slept 12 hours last night and am somehow still tired. #ugh 

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  • NOLA!

    Here for a conference, but also for the eats and drinks. Day 1 highlights, clockwise from left: cochon (cracklins!), duck and sausage gumbo, both from Cochon, French 75 and souffled potatoes from Arnaud’s French 75.

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  • Welcome, 2018 (and Welcome Back)!

    ​Happy (belated) 2018, folks!! I know I have been somewhat lax in my blogging last year. With Facebook and Instagram, it seems a bit redundant. That said, I’m going to try to write more this year. Here’s a photo collage of my holiday season. Already seems way too long ago as I get back into the work grind . . .​

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  • Yay Maine, 4th of July Edition

    En route home from a relaxing weekend at the lake with family. We started off with a power outage, which made things a bit more rustic for the first 24 hours, but nothing the lake, some lobstah, and a G&T or two couldn’t fix. Got in some kayaking, swimming, grilling, ice cream at Pears (twice), and all around QT with the fam, including celebrating my sister’s birthday (missing her twin brother, who was on a belated honeymoon)! 

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