A Week In Which I Learn Several Things

Life is full of little moments of learning. Sometimes those learnings are not of great import. But sometimes they are.

I learned this past week that three people can clean a garage in a little over an hour. (This was a one-car garage so perhaps yours may take longer!) We bagged up stuff for the Goodwill. We bagged up stuff for the curb. We hope we bagged up all the spiders. No, not to the Goodwill; to the Curb!!!

I learned that family is family. Even if they've been lost for 25 years. During April and May we had visits from long lost family members. During both visits we shared old family stories, old photos, old places that were important to their father when he was growing up. It was a good time for us and I believe for them as well. What a blessing from God to all of us!

While cleaning out our fridge I found a cellophane bag of lettuce. Very old lettuce. Hidden well behind something else. Hidden for a long time. I learned that bagged lettuce of certain age simply turns to liquid. It was pretty ugly! That bag traveled very speedily from the fridge to the trash. Ughhh!

We learned that some hospitals, even highly rated "teaching" hospitals, can fail to live up to their reputation. Thursday, Hubby went in for two days of testing. The staff flubbed royally and failed to instruct him to fast (and failed to instruct kitchen staff as well) for a biopsy to be taken on the second day. The biopsy had to be postponed until Monday. We'll be making a second trip to the Big City hospital.

This morning I was reminded in another incident that God's providence (provision for us) is good indeed. I met with my oncologist before having chemo. My comment about his tie (a lovely pink and dark navy stripe) led to something else which then led to our talking about our shared faith in God. It is gratifying to know that he understands me when I say, in speaking of my cancer, that I believe God holds all my days in His hands. (Psalm 139:16). And he understands that while I believe this verse, I also believe that we are to seek good medical care and that I want him to do the best job possible for me in dealing with ovarian cancer.

I had told him that when I see shirts and ties I think in terms of "fabric" and have a covetous desire to cut them up for quilts. He grabbed his tie rather protectively. First, he's a good Onc. Secondly, he's a nice man. Third, he did not give me his tie. I guess two out of three isn't bad. Especially in that order.

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Of Pizza and Pineapple

Pizza and Pineapple...but not in the same dish. That's the menu this morning for breakfast. And, no, this is not a "recipe" post.

Somehow this past month has been incredibly busy. I think if I could take one thing off my calendar it would be medical appointments. But they are there and they will probably remain there for a long time to come.

Last month one of our "missing" family was able to visit from Ohio. And visit we did. It was a blessed time.

This week we are having another nephew visit from Texas. This is his first visit to the area where his father grew up. And so we have taken another tour of the schoolhouse, the farm, the area in general. (Don't forget you can click on photos for close-ups.)

Yesterday's visit to the farm was great fun because the farmer who tills those fields was there with his machinery. He and his helper were placing nitrogen on the acres that will be planted to corn. Then they planned to disk the ground afterward to prepare it for planting. I'm guessing by the end of the day that field was planted and ready for green plants to begin peeking through the soil. It's time. We've hopefully experienced our last killing frost and farmers are now rushing to get every acre planted within the optimum time frame.

Nephew was fascinated with the machinery and asked the farmer many questions...which was nice, because I learned a lot myself without having to ask my own questions.

Of course, we walked through the old house where my siblings and I grew up. As we left, I looked down at the kitchen floor. I remember when that flooring was laid down some 55 years ago. The fellow who sold it to us extolled the virtues of that flooring and guaranteed that it would never wear out. But there it is...the seams are splitting...and it definitely looks "worn out" to me. Don't you think so? That "guarantee" was just too good to be true.

Last evening one of my brothers arrived from his home 100 miles to the south of us and there was much conversation amongst the men at the dinner table and afterward in the living room.

And now today...there are two medical appointments on the calendar. Blood tests. Nephew may have to eat leftover pizza for breakfast. Followed by leftover pineapple upside-down-cake. Somehow I think he can handle that with no problem. Just as long as there is a fresh pot of coffee to go with it.

Whereupon I Try Something New with Wishful Thinking

When I learn something new I love to share. And today's "Word to the Wise" is aimed at my fellow cancer peeps.

You remember from yesterday's post that I am visiting the Minnesoda daughter and grandson. Near Minneapolis. And you know that we've taken advantage of the great eateries here and have eaten out. And we've completed one home project. And then we ate out again!

It is early morning and I am the first in the household to be up and about. I betcha Hubby is sleeping in at home, too. There and here, I'm the early bird. Aside from the microwave beeping that my oatmeal is done, it's pretty quiet around here.

My Word to the Wise? I'm gettin' there. It has to do with shampoo, not oatmeal.

When I visit Daughter I enjoy checking out the shampoo, the body wash, whatever bottles are in the shower. Standing in someone else's shower is an easy way to try new brands! I like the scented ones. I like the new, unknown to me, brands. At home we have 20 zillion varieties of the old labels but not many "new", or "green", or "pomegranate"...not that this one was pomegranate. I don't really remember that this one had any particular scent or claim to being "green". But it held out promise.

You see, yesterday's shampoo was labeled "Curly Shampoo".

And here's my Word to the Wise with "wise" being my fellow cancer peeps.

Do not use Curly Shampoo. Especially if you are bald from chemo. In spite of any hopeful wishes you might harbor, it doesn't work. I promise you, it Does NOT Work!

However, I'm thinking that the itchy rash on the back of my hands is from the shampoo. I think I'm allergic to it. Me! Bald me! Allergic to Curly Shampoo!

Go figure.

Sign me off as "Still Bald but Not Curly".

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Yah, You Betcha!

Minnesoda is a good place to visit.

There are lots of Scandihoovians in Minnesoda.

The corn crops are already poking up from the ground.

The fishing is good in Minnesoda. Mostly because there are lotsa lakes in this state. Anyone remember the "Land of Sky Blue Waters" of the Pabst Blue Ribbon TV commercials? I betcha they filmed those commercials in Minnesoda.

My daughter and grandson live in Minnesoda. They are the best reason to visit Minnesoda.

Yah, I have a little Scandihoovian blood myself. That's why I know how to spell and pronounce Minnesoda.

Yah! I bet you thought I couldn't spell, didn't you!
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Whereupon I Agree That Mr. Keillor is One Wise Fellow

I noticed today that the lilacs are in bloom. Lavender. White. Purple. They're blooming. The tulips are about done. The daffs, too. My flower beds are calling for me to come out and play do some early weeding.

After a winter of such deep snow it is good to hear lawn mowers, to see Janice down the street digging amongst the flowers in her front yard, to see the young dad next door digging out a dead shrub and setting in a new one. I think he's wasting his time. The dead shrub is dead because his dog peed on it. And I'm certain his dog will pee on the new one, too. I'm just glad they keep him on a long leash while he is outdoors. He can roam his own yard but he can't reach our shrubs. Our shrubs look healthy. So far.

I'm thinking the rhubarb must be just about ready to pick. The problem is that we don't have any growing in our yard. Our friend Tim has a rental house around the corner and down the street and I'm certain the renters don't use the rhubarb. So I think I'll ask if he minds if I pick some.

For more on rhubarb (pie, crisp, sauce, jam) you can check out what Rebecca has to say over at her blog, Rebecca Writes. She mentions 8 ways and more to eat rhubarb! With links to recipes!

Yep. Have to get me some rhubarb! I need me some Bebop-A-Reebop Rhubarb Pie. (That Garrison Keillor guy is one wise fellow!)

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Where Can I Find Morel Mushrooms!

Where is the best place to find morel mushrooms, you ask? Some of you ARE asking...I see that you're googling for that information and are reading what I wrote about morels last spring.

So here is the link to last year's post about finding morel mushrooms in western Iowa.

Anyone who has eaten morels knows they are a delicate treat. The locals sell them by the sacks full to buyers who transport them to the big cities.

I'm hoping someone local will read today's post and remember that Hubby and I don't go mushroom hunting...we depend upon the gracious offerings of friends and neighbors. Very gracious offerings. Lovely thoughtful offerings. You are such nice people!
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If There Is Laughter In the Moment

I like to keep 'em on their toes. Those medical people, I mean. You see, life seems to be so serious in those clinics and beds and chairs. And although Nurse Diana and I do a lot of talking and laughing when I go out for bloods or for chemo, there are still a lot of patients there whose health is seriously not good. I recognize that.

But sometimes there is good cheer and laughter as we visit and encourage one another. Diana knows how to empathize and takes her patients seriously, but she also knows how to kid them a bit and get them to talking and laughing. (If they have employee of the month out there, Diana should be so-named every month of the year.)

So next trip out, I'm going to take along the most recent CT scans (Cat scans, if you please) from the home of my Daughter. Her kitties like to play on the puter desk...on the scanner...and, well, you can see the results. Two perfectly funny CT scans.

I think I'll take one of these with me when I see the Oncologist and ask him if he will please explain to me this latest CT.

But maybe not. I was so cheerful last time that for the first time ever, he gave me a good prognosis in terms of years. Nobody...neither in the Big City to the south nor at Mayo to the northeast has done that before. I think they know we cancer patients have already browsed the net and are quite clear on the statistics. So they are hesitant to make promises or, on the other hand, dire predictions.

I really do want to see his face when I hand these photos to him and ask him to "Please tell me what this means in terms of my longevity."

And Nurse Diana? She'll be showing the photos to every patient in her area. And laughing. And causing them to laugh as well. If there is laughter in the moment then it is a good moment.

Thanks, Daughter, for the scans. And tell those kitties to not take their health so seriously...live a little...enjoy the day. Get off the scanner and go mess up the living room!
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