When one is confined to home and doing chemo it is so easy to watch much more TV than is ever "normal." Really. Reading is too much effort - books are heavy to hold, the Kindle is better however my attention span was too short to keep up with the books. So back to TV. After a few weeks, months or so, I was wandering all over the AT&T U-verse offerings. [Some day I'll tell you about "American Pickers" and why it is just too close to my roots - not the pickers so much as the people they meet.] And tonight I'll recommend another "off the beaten path" show to you - DINERS, DIVES and DRIVE-INS on the Food Network.
Husband has been "out and about" since we started watching this odd ball show. The DDD's show has really worked for husband, sending him to "great" places - gourmet hot dog places. I know that "gourmet/hot dog" is an oxymoron, but he doesn't so we won't go there, OK?
Today we went out to lunch with some of our "BFFs " from 'way back when our kids were grade school ages. We dined in great style with Bill and LaVerne in Watauga TX at the Chef Point Cafe. This is a gourmet restaurant in a convenience store/gas station. YES, really. The immigrant owners could not get a loan for a restaurant but could get a loan for a convenience store. So they got the CS and started a restaurant in the CS and they now have a big following. [Because I missed an interstate/highway junction between here and there] we didn't get to Watauga until smack dab noon and the place was packed!!! Parking was at a premium; however since I was along, my parking Karma prevailed and Bill got a parking spot right at the front door. [If you go without me you may be parking in the field out back.] And we got a nice table in the corner without undue traffic. The menu is awesome!!! LaVerne had the Hawaiian salmon with pineapple rice. Perfecto - and I will definitely try adding pineapple to my next Asian/Hawaiian rice dish. Bill ordered the Blackened Catfish which was served with Alfredo sauce on pasta and he said it was the best catfish EVER. Husband ordered the meatloaf and it came in a trough!!! He said it was the meatloaf best ever and he KNOWS meatloaf!! I went for the fried chicken with Belgium waffle and fruit - what an odd combination but it was PERFECT. My Mother-in-law couldn't have done the chicken any better!!
Now each plate - no.... platter -...is far more than 4 old retired persons need to be eating, but we did it anyway. And it is more than we usually pay for lunch; but trust me, it was worth every dime and we had enough leftovers for bedtime snacks.
The morale of this story is that you might want to check out DDDs website and find local Dives in your area. I can hardly wait to plan a road trip with DDDs as part of the itinerary!!! What fun!!!! Husband's gout may be a problem later and my weight will definitely be a problem, but O, well, these are the least of our worries at this point.
Thank you, Bill and LaVerne, for taking us to the Chef Point Cafe!!!!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
post cancer treatment: Summer Heat related problems
It is HOT in North Texas. Dry heat, wet heat........who cares because it is just plain HOT. Ordinarily I don't care and just don't let weather stop my game plan.
However this year is different because of the cancer treatment. First the doctor took away my hormone pills. Well, that is enough to keep any woman indoors under the a/c. O, but that isn't enough ..... after chemo comes radiation which literally cooks your body from the inside to the outside. After 33 treatments my left shoulder was/is fried to the core and burned on the outside. That heat has to cool off and dissipate somehow. So it radiates outward from the core area and heats up the left shoulder, neck and head, back and trunk. The sweat just runs and runs. Especially at night. Fortunately, I am almost past the night sweat problems.
Now I can focus on the day sweat problems!! When I am out and about, even if it is a short period of time in the heat, the heat can trigger a radiation sweat blast that will last 10 minutes or so and really mess up an outfit. There is no solution because one has to get from the car to the store and just that little time frame can trigger a heat rage. I just mop off and keep on truckin'. I've been in the house far too long to let sweat keep me indoors ALL the time.
Recommendations: I've learned to keep a "cool tie" in the freezer and use that when I have to be outside for any length of time. We have sports spritz bottles which are insulated and keep ice water cold for hours. These are great when in very casual places like BBQs etc. And then the good ole ice chest rides along in the car to keep water bottles etc. It takes much more planning to just go outside now that I am a post cancer treatment person.
However this year is different because of the cancer treatment. First the doctor took away my hormone pills. Well, that is enough to keep any woman indoors under the a/c. O, but that isn't enough ..... after chemo comes radiation which literally cooks your body from the inside to the outside. After 33 treatments my left shoulder was/is fried to the core and burned on the outside. That heat has to cool off and dissipate somehow. So it radiates outward from the core area and heats up the left shoulder, neck and head, back and trunk. The sweat just runs and runs. Especially at night. Fortunately, I am almost past the night sweat problems.
Now I can focus on the day sweat problems!! When I am out and about, even if it is a short period of time in the heat, the heat can trigger a radiation sweat blast that will last 10 minutes or so and really mess up an outfit. There is no solution because one has to get from the car to the store and just that little time frame can trigger a heat rage. I just mop off and keep on truckin'. I've been in the house far too long to let sweat keep me indoors ALL the time.
Recommendations: I've learned to keep a "cool tie" in the freezer and use that when I have to be outside for any length of time. We have sports spritz bottles which are insulated and keep ice water cold for hours. These are great when in very casual places like BBQs etc. And then the good ole ice chest rides along in the car to keep water bottles etc. It takes much more planning to just go outside now that I am a post cancer treatment person.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Post chemo and post radiation and well at last
Having heard from several of you that I have neglected the blog and need to get back to writing, here I am to update you on what is happening post treatment. The reason you have not heard from me is that I have been having just TOO MUCH FUN running around in the great outdoors, out of the house, and doing some shopping therapy!! YES, Joan and I have hit some estate sales and I've even done some retail therapy!!! Having been house-bound for 7 months I have some funds available for some therapy!!! There are a few advantages to being confined to quarters for a while!!
Radiation effects are almost gone now at 2 months post treatment. I do have some burn scars that are healing and fading but that is minor. The radiation heat that is stored in the left shoulder has to be off-loaded and that takes time. I have only recently been able to sleep through the night without having to change beds to cool off. Sleeping through the night is a wonderful thing!!! Since chemo began I have been an insomniac and have listed to the BBC and NPR overnight. Thank goodness I have the satellite radio because if I get too much of NPR then I can switch to BBC. Sometimes the BBC sports is reporting on some Cricket tourney and that will put me to sleep INSTANTLY.....good grief, how is Cricket a spectator sport???? Just the scores are boring!!!! Anyhow, I can sleep now, but I haven't been able to give up NPR and US version of BBC to put me to sleep.
Joan and I have found some really nice estate sales over the Spring/Summer season. As cotton prices in the stores go up 20% or more it is nice to get a few things from someones stash or "resources" as my sister-in-law would say. I have been feeling well enough to get some sewing done and have taken some classes at the Bernina store. My chemo brain still struggles with the computer based embroidery software classes but I'm getting better. Corel4 is difficult for me since I don't work it every day. But I have the embroidery working nicely!!!!
OK, stay tuned.............I will make more effort to keep you updated.
Radiation effects are almost gone now at 2 months post treatment. I do have some burn scars that are healing and fading but that is minor. The radiation heat that is stored in the left shoulder has to be off-loaded and that takes time. I have only recently been able to sleep through the night without having to change beds to cool off. Sleeping through the night is a wonderful thing!!! Since chemo began I have been an insomniac and have listed to the BBC and NPR overnight. Thank goodness I have the satellite radio because if I get too much of NPR then I can switch to BBC. Sometimes the BBC sports is reporting on some Cricket tourney and that will put me to sleep INSTANTLY.....good grief, how is Cricket a spectator sport???? Just the scores are boring!!!! Anyhow, I can sleep now, but I haven't been able to give up NPR and US version of BBC to put me to sleep.
Joan and I have found some really nice estate sales over the Spring/Summer season. As cotton prices in the stores go up 20% or more it is nice to get a few things from someones stash or "resources" as my sister-in-law would say. I have been feeling well enough to get some sewing done and have taken some classes at the Bernina store. My chemo brain still struggles with the computer based embroidery software classes but I'm getting better. Corel4 is difficult for me since I don't work it every day. But I have the embroidery working nicely!!!!
OK, stay tuned.............I will make more effort to keep you updated.
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