So...whats for dinner?

Incredibly good news, Susan! I'm so happy those tumor markers are behaving. I have to admit to being a bit nervous.

SpecialK, you are my heroine in the kitchen! You are such a marvelous menu planner in addition to being skilled at the preparation stage. My favorite way to entertain guests is to go out to dinner with them!

Dh's brother arrives tomorrow afternoon. The plan is for dh to cook chicken and sausage gumbo tomorrow morning. He suggested that menu and offered to make the gumbo. He even did the grocery shopping today. We'll have a salad, maybe Caesar and garlic bread made with some French bread to be purchased tomorrow. If he knew about SpecialK's food plans, BIL would definitely go there instead of here. Appetizer will be cheese and crackers with some pepper jelly. Ta-DA! And a vodka martini with Smirnoff, not Grey Goose. I finished up the Grey Goose, which is so-o-o pricey.

I guess I should think about snacks for Super Bowl on Sunday.

Yay for rehab for Nance's dad. And Red's dad.

Not eating or drinking actual grapefruit or grapefruit juice--just grapefruit flavored white balsamic vinegar (made from white grape, not grapefruit juice). Fear not!

Last night I wore the gauntlet all day. Defrosted some paiche filets from WF(farmed in Ecuador, sort of like a cross between cod & halibut) and brushed on some sugar-and-salt-free Mediterranean herb/lemon/olive oil marinade. Then sprinkled them with a little Sicilian orange sea salt and pan-seared them. Also blanched some broccolini and then sauteed it in olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, red pepper flakes and a dash of kosher salt. Drank lime seltzer with it. Unfortunately, got herb marinade on the gauntlet’s thumb & palm. Ick.

Today was a “good LE day.” Therapist declared my measurement have gone down a little since 3 wks ago. So I’m not wearing compression today. She also said my breast fibrosis is softening considerably. And I broke the 5000-step mark on my FitBit (hey, it’s a start). The new Mediven sleeve arrived, and my therapist confirms the top band is still too narrow and the sleeve itself 3” too long. So I returned it, too, and got a duplicate Juzo--with a Juzo glove that is flexier in the fingers than the Mediven (and its fingers are a tad shorter). So I can now wear a glove to play guitar--and not have to find a pediatric glove or get a custom sleeve!

Saw the MO--she’s delighted that I’m down 1 lb. since starting letrozole--she says if I stay the same weight all year it’s a victory. She also says that I should get Reclast instead of Prolia because Reclast is covered by Part D as a Tier 4 whereas Prolia is a Tier 5 or not even covered--and she says ongoing trials are showing Reclast more effective in preventing recurrence than Prolia. (My PCP is against Reclast, saying he’s seen horizontal thigh fractures with it). I see my DDS next week--he knows my jawbone better than anyone else, so it’ll be his call. I don’t need to decide till August. No med-MJ card--she doesn’t think it does anything for patients not having chemo anorexia or stage IV bone pain, and the smokable form of weed (mostly THC) can be estrogenic. No pure CBD oil in Chi-area dispensaries yet.

No idea what to make tonight--could do a choucroute garnie, but since the wine we ordered last Thurs. is in, I might drive to B’way Cellars instead and have some soup and tuna tartare (or an ahi Niçoise, hold the spuds). It’s up to Gordy--he’s home tonight after working the lights & sound at pH Comedy Collective for the kids’ standup open mic.

Opted for the choucroute--path of least resistance. Kinda weird to have it w/o riesling or beer, but LaCroix cherry-lime seltzer was pretty darn yummy! (Had been hoping to find some Buffalo wings in the freezer--have a mani-pedi tomorrow and was not worried about turning my tips & cuticles orange tonight).

Chi, do you cook your choucroute with Riesling? Great minds think alike. This is on the menu for tomorrow night after going to see my dad.

Chicken cacciatore with fresh pasta tonight. Was supposed to be last week, but we opted for something else at the last minute.

Lots of snow in our part of Rhode Island.

.Thank you Stouffers Mac and cheese family size and Campbell's soup. Kale will round out the meals

We have very wet snow with huge flakes. The trees are so beautiful. They took my breath away driving home. They are covered with heavy snow and in the evening light looked like a winter wonderland. Sorry about the cliche but they did. Some people have turned on their blue or white Christmas lights over the bare limbs, with the snow on them, which make me just appreciate the beauty of the snow storm so much more, even though there's snow! .

Drive carefully everyone up here.

Dang fireplace broke, but I have 2 excellent books to read.

Auntie I used to make chicken cacciatore for my second husband, He really liked it, can't remember where I got the recipe, but I think any recipe would be good. I made it with inexpensive chicken drumsticks or thighs

Bedo, I've been making that dish for so long I don't even use a recipe. Always good.

I'm sorry Auntie. I know it is hard.

Chi, this is my first time making it with the wine. I was intrigued the last time you mentioned it so wanted to try something different since its one of my DH's favorite meals.

Nance, hope you dad gets back to normal and you can get some good care arrangements in place. I'm right there with you on the parents to your parents thing..

It makes me sad to see my once all powerful, all capable mom no long all powerful or all capable.....and I KNOW you feel the same way with your dad.

Oh, test #2 came back for Sharon....her CEA is 31... :-| Now it's the watchful waiting and repeat the test in a bit....i'm hoping it's her arm healing that elevated the number.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. First chemo done. It was a rough day, had to be there by 8:00 and then walk over to imaging department to get a US on neck because I felt a swollen lymph node below my jaw line. It was nerve wrecking all day BUT results were good and 'unremarkable' ( struck me how funny 'unremarkable' has such good connotation in this context) except for 9mm nodule on the thyroid which she is not concerned about at this time. Hopefully she is right.

It occurred to me that I must be living in the wrong house! I am not eating even as good as all your leftovers. You ladies are a remarkable lot, all this menu planning and creative recipes. I spent the last few years indulging in baking to connect with my heritage and now I am told that sweets are a no no! That is just not right.

@Susan, yay on results! I know how good it is to here great news.

I'm going to attempt to catch up but I cannot match anything you've cooked. I made plain old spaghetti which lasted 2 nights and then kale, bean, ham soup that is leftovers tonight. Tomorrow I don't know what I'll make. I have the makings for lots of stuff frozen. Might be plain chicken breasts and vegies. Or also have stuff to make mac and cheese with roasted chilies (that are residing in the freezer). I might (fingers crossed) get DH to BBQ something - weather should cooperate.

I bought a wad of frozen pizza dough at WalMart of all places. It probably has minimal instructions on it but any suggestions on how to handle it would be welcome. It's about the size of a small-med sourdough loaf.

Sandy - that is a great story about your son and the mussels/oysters.

See that I missed Minus leaving for Hawaii. Waving and hope you are having a fabulous trip.

Red - I hope your DF sees the wisdom of staying there. Making friends at dinner can only be a plus and with a nice staff - Oh My.

Lacey and Susan - loved the story of the meet up. And the food sounds wonderful.

Oh Nancy see your update about your Dad. Much prayer going up for him. Have a safe drive out there tomorrow.

Kiks - so glad your 1st treatment is behind you and you have the weekend to rest up. Susan gives very wise advice for treating yourself during this phase.

Eric - hoping that the CEA is a flukey #. Not sure of it's significance in BC. I've only heard about the 27-29. For your sake I hope the weather stays calm.

Bedo - when do you hear about the new job in Cambridge? I too have never used a pressure cooker and don't see me starting. My DM was fearless with hers, a giant thing that I was terrified of too.

Susan, she is just kind of ignoring things and continuing on. I tell myself not to worry; that Mickey and Sharon, besides being different people, had different cancers and there have been 3 decades of treatment advances....but the mind doesn't always follow the heart.

Kiks, Sharon had a huge steroid high-energy-buzz for a couple of days after each chemo. When it wore off, she didn't crash, but she did slow down a bit. Unremarkable does have a nice ring to it. There may be other such "incidentalomas"....the scans are so detailed and everyone is working so hard to find *something* on the scans, that stuff that isn't a problem, and never will be a problem, will be noticed.

Eric, "ignoring things and continuing on" just makes sense to me....until she hears further diagnostics. I always think that the loved ones can carry more anxiety during watchful waiting and you are prime for that given your history. Wish we could lift your worry. Hugs to you and Sharon from me, too.

I did make it to the MO yesterday in the height of our snow storm. I ended up on the highway in the middle of a not small armada of giant snowplows! Yikes, that was an experience....especially since they just cut across lanes whenever they wanted to, cutting off several cars. I was strategic in avoiding their monstrous blades, and made it to the hospital with all fenders in tact. . My appt. and blood work were "unremarkable" and for that I am grateful. I was also thrilled that I encountered several new nurses and support staff who were particularly pleasant and helpful. What a positive tone that sets!! I hope they stay. My MO did say that she would not at all be concerned about a cortisone shot in my shoulder setting off LE reactions, so that is a relief.

After my appt. I took the side roads back to my town and dragged two large vases to a flower store to get one filled with flowers for an event for which I was asked to provide a simple arrangement. The center of our town was a mess with the snow piles, and icy slush and I was glad I wrapped the vases in towels as I was slipping and sliding on foot. I'd been told I could get a nice bouquet for $35, and when I arrived, the owner told me he could make me an arrangement for $135 and up! Fortunately the woman I'd spoken with before was there and told him how much I wanted to spend. He reluctantly gathered some flowers with my preferred colors, wrapped them in a bouquet, I paid, and left. Then my car got stuck in the snowbank surrounding it. I was very pleased to remember how I used to rock a car to get enough momentum to propel out of same. And as soon as a kind driver was willing to stop on our busy main street to wait for me, I rocked and rocketed myself back on to the road. I was happy to get home, where I intrepidly plowed through the mound at the end of the driveway.

Anyone in this area has probably seen the stunning sunset we had at the end of the storm. Here are two pix of the "golden trees" which Mother Nature gifted us..

Dinner was an after thought....Rao's marinara with meatballs I found in the freezer over linguini, and a big salad with lots of greens I have on hand.

I am about to make pizza dough with my 00 flour, so pizza it is tonight!

We have Winston the pooch for this week as DS2 and DGF are heading to St Lucia. My allergies are already acting up. I think a trip to the groomer with him might help. His fur picks up everything on the ground.

wow.... Is that white stuff what's called snow? :-)

Kiks, I hope you're feeling well today. You obviously had a big day yesterday.

Lacey, gorgeous pics! I miss New England. I lived in Boston for four years during college.

Auntienance, prayers out for your father. My dad was hospitalized for pneumonia twice in the last 3 years, and it's scary, but my dad came out thriving both times. It just takes a while to completely recover.

Tonight is shepherd pie, with ground turkey instead of lamb, and salad with a balsamic vinaigrette I made yesterday

Bedo, Love Stouffers Mac and cheese. It reminds me of my childhood