Today was a sleepy day.  I didn’t feel like doing much, and I wanted to save my energy for our dinner date tonight.  (It’s not that we’ll be late going out, but I’m definitely feeling the effects of the infusion, and I don’t want to push it.)

Our dinner companions tonight are a couple with whom we usually have dinner on New Year’s Eve.  We were part of a crowd that included her before they met, and we’ve managed to maintain the tradition pretty regularly.  He has leukemia, so between that and my situation, this year looked a bit iffy, but it seems we’ll manage it.  I’m looking forward to a modest meal in an Asian fusion restaurant in our neighborhood, and then an early night.

Happy New Year, everyone.  And happy Thanksgiving.

Today I started the third cycle.  It was an early (10am) appointment.  By ten they were taking my  vitals.  By 10:25 I was talking to the nurse practitioner who works with Dr. S (who is away this week).  I told her about the feeling on the left side.  She palpated me and didn’t find anything of interest.  The doctor covering today came in then, and he didn’t find anything palpable on either side.  He suggested that I take a laxative to make sure I’ve emptied my bowel completely and see whether the sensation goes away.  All in all, we both felt greatly relieved.

We also talked about scheduling the scan.  Alas, because we’ll be away for the break between cycles, I’m going to lose a week.  I’ll have the scan when we get back (at which time, unless there’s a reason not to, I’d have otherwise started the fourth cycle), and not start the fourth cycle until the following week.  That’s not a big deal, but it does mean that I won’t have a cycle break over the week of my parents’ annivesary.  I suppose we could make it a very short trip (that is, stay less than a week), but I’ll consult with family and see what they have to say.

The infusion itself (in the little isolation room again) was relatively quick and efficient.  They drew bloods through the port without any trouble, and we were home before 12:30.  I felt pretty good– made French toast (with my maple bread) for lunch, did a bit of work, but then I conked out and felt weak and lethargic. During this time, my sweetie picked up our mail, which included more goodies (tea and lavender bubble bath) from my cousin, who was (properly) concerned that I was running out.  I keep thinking that I should stop in at Origins or a similar shop and find myself some lavender, so she doesn’t end up single-handedly supporting the post office.

After a couple of hours, the lethargy started to recede, and now it has mostly passed off, as witness the fact that I have the energy to sit at the computer and write this.  I also had an early call from my parents.  They were out yesterday evening and will be out tonight, and we’ll be out tomorrow, so we wanted to catch up.

So today’s entry is considerably more cheerful than I was afraid it might be.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Well, the big news is that the prescription, still in limbo the last I heard, was delivered in today’s mail.  I don’t need it, but (considering it was still in a lock on Monday), I’d say someone managed to get the lock off and the stuff shipped.  Let’s just hope I continue not to need it.

I needed to return a call to my lawyer about updating a durable power of attorney, but she’s away this week, so I’ve made a note to call her next week.

Beyond that, I pretty much spent the day at work– from home in the morning, and in the office for a couple of hours this afternoon.

I’m still feeling fine, although I am aware of some pressure in my abdomen that can’t possibly be a good thing.  (Being aware of one’s innards isn’t normal.)  I’ll have an exam and an infusion tomorrow, but my doctor is away this week, so I don’t know who will be examining me.  The nurse practitioner who works with my doctor will be there, though, so there will be continuity.  I’ll be interested to see whether the infusion changes any of the abdominal sensations.  Fingers crossed.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Today started out as usual:  We (that is, my sweetie) laundered our linens and I folded them and put them away.  (He starts them very early; they’re out of the dryer soon after we finish breakfast.)

The morning was pretty ordinary, but my sister and my niece came into NY (from New Jersey) to have lunch with me.  My niece, who is now living and working in Arizona, was going to meet friends afterwards.  My sister came home with me and we sat and talked for a while.

It was really nice to have the time with them.  My niece, whom I’d last seen just before she moved to Arizona, commented on how much better I looked now than I’d looked then (at the end of October).  I feel a lot better too.

When my sister left, I got back online to do some work, and then my sweetie came home and it became evening.  Another Thanksgiving Day, celebrated very pleasantly.

This morning’s work was combined with assorted administrative chores.  My sweetie went to the beach, which gave me plenty of room, so I did a lot of sorting, filing, and shredding. Then I spent a long time on the phone with my mail-order pharmacy trying to find out what’s happening with the anti-nausea prescription that was originally faxed to them on December 9.

Three different representatives put me on hold while they tried to help me.  The current status is that it turned up an error code that said they can’t fill it because they aren’t also providing me an anti-cancer drug.  I pointed out that the anti-cancer drug was being administered by infusion in the hospital (which the rep appeared to know).  She also said that this shouldn’t happen, and she said she’d tried numerous tricks to unlock it, but nothing had worked, and she would have to consult her supervisor.  She put me on hold for a little while, and then verified my phone number and said she’d call back.  (I have yet to receive a message.)  I’m glad that I don’t need this drug.  Of course, even if the prescription had been filled expeditiously I’d still be glad I don’t need it, but this is ridiculous, and the fact that they haven’t found a way to let me in on the fact that there’s an issue filling my prescription is unacceptable.

So that was my morning.  I still don’t have the medication, but I did get a lot done.

It looked like I’d be later than usual getting to the office, but as things worked out I was only a couple of minutes later than usual.  One of my colleagues had left a Connie Willis books on my desk for me, knowing I like her stuff.  (I’d borrowed Passage from him a while ago.)  I’m looking forward to this.  I also saw pictures of the newborn (and premature) niece of another colleague.  Even if I hadn’t accomplished anything, it was well worth going in.

I got home to find a card from my cousins, whom we’ll see when we’re in Florida.  I’m still feeling remarkably well.  I’m very grateful for that.  Tomorrow will be  a family day.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Today was an official holiday, so I worked less than normal.  I had thought of baking bread, but I developed an unpleasant muscle cramp in my shoulder, so I just put some heat on it and rested for a while.  It felt much better after that, but I no longer had time to bake bread.

I did take care of administrative chores– paying bills and so on, but nothing very strenuous or, for that matter, very exciting.

So that’s our Thanksgiving Day today.

Christmas Day.  We had nothing special planned.  We got up as usual, and I remembered to make yesterday’s entry while my sweetie made us breakfast.  After breakfast, I read the rest of the Sunday paper and then decided to make another meatloaf.  (I made one a couple of weeks ago; we ate part of it and froze two additional meals’ worth, and we both liked it a lot.)  I had just put it into the oven when my sweetie came home from shopping.

I finished the paper, did some work and some play on the computer, and got the meatloaf out of the oven, and it wasn’t even lunch time yet.  So it was a lovely leisurely day.  I discovered that one of the PBS channels was playing a lot of “Miss Marple” mysteries.  It’s not the version I prefer, but it’s easy to take and I like the background noise when I’m not paying strict attention.

Late in the afternoon I decided to do a short workout.  I did sixteen plus four (sixteen minutes fast, four cooldown) on the elliptical, and then did my abbreviated strength workout (just pushups, crunches, free weights, and stretches).  I got back upstairs just before my sweetie came back from his walk.  I showered and gave myself a lavender soak (thanks, still, to my cousin), and went back to Agatha Christie on television, sampling one of my exotic chocolates as my post-workout snack.

The phone rang– a voice from the past:  One of my high-school friends, in town for Christmas (they’d seen Follies the other night) just saying hello.  The connection with my old friends is, as I’ve mentioned, extremely rewarding.  As she said, repeating the sentiment of another old friend, it’s too bad that this is the occasion of our reconnecting, but the reconnecting is a good thing.

Merry Christmas.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Yesterday was a day for quiet chores.  I went over our taxes to make sure that the estimated payments would be okay, checked some other paperwork, and spent  a fair amount of time on my weekly family phone calls.

Lunch was French toast made with my maple bread, and it was delicious.

I shared some of our tropical fruit with a friend, and we chatted for a while.

Before I knew it, I’d lit the candles, had supper and was in bed and I hadn’t written this yet.  Better late than never, I guess.

I know it’s Christmas today, but happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Today was a little special.  It was Friday, but I had no infusion.  I worked in the morning, and then showered and dressed for lunch at the Harvard Club with my mentor in computer science and old friend, whom I hadn’t seen in a good twenty years.  We spent several hours together, filling each other in on our respective medical issues and other aspects of our lives.   (He is in a great deal of pain; has had several surgeries and has more to look forward to.)  I’ve promised to keep in touch, and I intend to do that.

I got home to run into a neighbor with whom I’m close friends, but whom I’ve seen very seldom recently.  We chatted for a while (mentioning that there was a parcel for me), and then she spotted my sweetie, who was on his way to get the mail.  I joined him; he’d already collected the box (a Chanukah gift of goodies from my sister).  It took us about fifteen minutes to collect the styrofoam peanuts in the box without scattering them all over the place, but we were ultimately successful.

Then, just as I sat down to make this entry, my next-door neighbor called to ask if she could bring us cookies, which she did.  They were an assortment, and smelled wonderful, and we chatted for a while.

Not an ordinary day at all.  A day of much joy.  Thanksgiving day.

It’s winter, but it certainly didn’t feel like it today.  I have a sheepskin coat that I bought a gazillion (well, over 30) years ago that needed some repair and (quite desperately) a cleaning.  I found a leather restorer on the East Side, not too far from the office, and decided to take the coat in today.  It was lovely to walk across town in the mild sunshine.  A passer-by grinned at me and said how much he loved this weather, and I agreed.  It was fun just being out.

I got to the office earlier than usual, did some chores there, and left earlier than usual.  When I got home I called my comp. sci. mentor, as planned, and we chatted for a bit (he’s in considerable pain these days) and have made a lunch date for tomorrow.

I also had a lovely phone chat with another friend.  A long time ago she commented that she didn’t think she could maintain a friendship without frequent, regular contact.  “Twice a week” was the catch phrase.  Well, we’ve been in and out of touch over the years, and today she said she’d been wrong.

One thing  I realized talking to her about this diary:  I keep feeling that most days are routine, and that it can’t possibly be very interesting to read.  But I realize that I am marking the days, and treasuring each one.  I’m glad to have your company, tacit or otherwise.

What else today?  A huge box of tropical fruit from the folks who visited us last week, including canistel, which I adore.  I was happy that it wasn’t chocolate– or citrus, because we’re still working our way through the citrus we ordered for ourselves.  Holiday cards, email messages, friendly feelings all around.  Happy Thanksgiving.