I was thinking about you today as I was working. That is a nice view, but like you said, it really doesn't matter.

And DGD2. They grow so fast.

Long, long drive home from the eye doctor today—here in Chicago there are no alternate routes. Took surface streets to avoid the construction bottlenecks on I-55 & Lake Shore Drive, only to encounter freight trains, Cubs traffic and panhandlers working the intersections and causing huge backups. Between my eyes still being dilated (and the sunglasses being no match for bright sunshine) and my sciatica acting up from all that sitting in traffic, I knew I wasn’t going out for dinner—much less shopping. I defrosted a grass-fed NY strip steak and grilled it along with some spring bulb onions and asparagus, and dined alfresco on my deck…because I could. Tomorrow another “pneumonia front” comes through (last evening it was 42, today it was in the upper 70s, by this time tomorrow night it’ll be back down into the low 50s or even mid-40s with rain & possibly thunderstorms), so it was my last chance to grill for at least the next week. Ate all but one onion, about 1/3 of the steak and half the asparagus, and refrigerated the rest for Gordy.

Salad, chicken and a side dish

Great pictures, Moon!

I'm glad for your lack of 'roid jitters, Susan.

...Preparing for the most holy of corporate rituals...the meeting....Back to work for me.

Susan - Glad you're not jittery. Will they reduce the Benadryl a bit? When I have to take it, I always request a children's dose but that still totally knocks me out for at least 24 hours.

Off to MDAnderson to see my LE/PT. She is so great. I think she's agreed to keep me on for a few 'tune up' sessions twice a year, but my RO who wrote the orders is now a regional director and probably not seeing patients anymore. Wearing sleeves in the Houston summers is just awful so I try to avoid flares.

Probably either pan sear some Arctic Char fillets and make a tricolor piperade on the side,or nuke them in parchment with peppers, herbs & scallions.

Despite it getting icky and cold again, gotta go out and pick up my BP med, and the case of wine I ordered at the last tasting (missed last week's Spain winemaker dinner because of my trip); also am out of all non-flavored olive oil and need to pick up some other staples (well, in my family they're staples). Will stop by the gym to reschedule the rest of April & Msy with my trainer or his substitute

Dinner was grilled grass fed beef burger and broccoli salad.

Minus, I am thrilled that I can possibly eliminate these pre-meds! I do understand that I must have the pepsid, but the others are optional if I decide they are optional. Nurse Kristina is thrilled that I am directing the elimination of the meds. She is always shocked that other patients don't voice an opinion. They expect her to decide what pre-meds they will get. But of course, it doesn't work that way! I have been assigned the right nurse for me.

Tonight's guests are from Oklahoma. They are here for a concert and then will head to the Cape to visit his sister. They are so enthusiastic! So mid-west! They are so energetic I wasn't able to tell them that tomorrow is my shaving day. This is going to be a bit awkward, isn't it?

*susan*

leftovers

Carole - I agree. As long as I make two Silver Sneakers classes a week I can almost maintain. It appears maybe I can actually loose a pound if I add a couple of 30 minutes sessions on the treadmill. Of course that will probably only work if I don't eat bread (sigh). I've seen this weight loss twice now since I started classes again, but it bounces right back up if I go out to eat.

Going to class this morning, then out for Japanese Bento Box lunch with my SIL. It will be an excellent meal with no bread. OK - you caught me. Yes there will be tempura shrimp & fried rice. Anyway late lunch after 1pm, so no dinner needed. Maybe this week's two pound loss will stay off.

SpecialK, banquets can be so frustrating because of the volume and timing of the courses. I’m surprised that the last hospital banquet I attended managed to get the filet mignon medium-rare-to-medium and the airline chicken breast still juicy, considering how many were in attendance—especially at a country club not known for its food. Last week, our farewell dinner at the Inner Temple of London’s Inns of Court, for half as many people, also featured airline chicken, but it was pretty dry. But the appetizer—tuna carpaccio with micro-greens and avocado—was excellent, and the dessert (fresh strawberry ice cream on a kiwi slice with strawberries and blackberries) was also pretty good (though the fresh fruit plate the diabetic guests got would have been better).

Last night I’d planned to cook the arctic char fillets I’d defrosted, but Bob wanted to go out to Cellars for prix fixe night and to pick up the wines we’d ordered at the last tasting. We started with grilled asparagus over field greens, garnished with avocado, cherry tomato and pimento. My entree was grilled salmon over julienne veggies (peppers, zucchini, and sweet potato) and Bob’s was grilled hanger steak with chorizo hash and green beans. Dessert was blackberry flan. Tonight will likely be…leftovers! (Tossed the fish fillets, as they were freezer-burned anyway due to being a year old).

Susan, so glad you get to call the shots on the aux. meds for your chemo. Sorry about having to go through hair loss again—maybe a chef’s cap or bandana would unnerve your guests less, but I suspect you’d feel more awkward than they. Amazed at your stamina and resolve!

Minus, I have yet to attend a Silver Sneakers class—I am not a morning person, and they’re held at 11 am (when I’m just starting brunch). AquaFit is even earlier—9:15, at a gym 3 miles away so I’d have to drive there. I need to re-start my personal training sessions now that I’m home from London and my trainer is probably sufficiently recovered from his meniscectomy to supervise me. I need the discipline of supervision, and that accountability; otherwise, I let things slide. Not to mention I fell off the low-carb wagon due to travel and Passover (ironically, though bread was forbidden, matzo—at least a small piece—was mandatory and those kosher-for-Passover chocolates & macaroons were too tempting; the sugar-free ones are awful). No excuse now.

Susan, no need to fudge the reason for the buzz cut. (Our dentist’s receptionist, after a bout with breast cancer, found she looked pretty good with a buzz cut and it was easy to maintain, so that’s how she’s worn her hair for 20 years). You are beautiful (gorgeous eyes!), have a nicely proportioned head, and those frames look terrific on you. Now for some striking earrings...

No wigs. I tried that last time and it just didn't work for me. Olivia loves loves loves earrings, but doesn't understand that you can't pull them, so I might not bother to re-condition my "holes" to accept them once again. Loosing hair in and of itself doesn't bother me. It is other people's reactions that give me pause. I don't need pity from strangers.

*susan*

Looks good on you Susan. The worst part of losing my hair was finding out what an ugly head I have!