Ebb and Flow

The ebbs and flows continue. Michelle has had good days and bad days this week. I can tell that her cancer is affecting her in ways other than her breathing. It is hard for me to admit it and hard to talk about it to be honest. She started coughing again recently and feels like it is the same cough that started this whole mess back in July of last year. Radiation went well and she has completed her 10-day treatment. Her breathing has improved exponentially. The radiation oncologist said she looks and sounds so much better than she did on day one, which was great news.

Michelle got dizzy a couple of times this week. Twice in one day. This was scary for her. She thinks she may have just stood up too quickly. I can usually just calm her down by talking to her and comforting her. If we just spend a minute or so in each other’s arms, calming down and trying to relax, this works to help regain her strength. She has another MRI on Monday. I will report on those results next week.

Highlight of the week Michelle went to Costco with me this week. It was the first time she has gone shopping since October. She seemed so happy to be there. Michelle traditionally does not like shopping, but I could tell that she really enjoyed this short outing. She was in a motorized shopping cart, and I was trying to guide her way. She had just 2 minor incidents. She knocked a display over and drug a Costco cart 5 feet. The cart was wedged between her electric cart and a shelf.  It was fun and we laughed a lot.

Random Fact of the Week Ebb and flow hydroponics is a form of hydroponics that is known for its simplicity, reliability of operation and low initial investment cost. Pots are filled with an inert medium which does not function like soil or contribute nutrition to the plants, but which anchors the roots and functions as a temporary reserve of water and solvent mineral nutrients. The hydroponic solution alternately floods the system and is allowed to ebb away.

Did you know?  Michelle was a country girl that never rode a bike as a kid, so she wasn't comfortable riding a bike as an adult. 

Throwback Love Story October 19th, 2002. There are just a couple of ground rules. You’d think that after 2 years of dating we would know each other well enough not to cross the line. Today is the big day, the day we say I do. Just a few things though, don’t ask how much the dress cost, no cake in the face, don’t complain and no rides on the motorcycle. The ceremony went flawlessly. We wrote our own vows. We had rings for each of our children and said vows to them too. Brandy got a ring but unfortunately was unable to make it to the wedding. There wasn’t a dry eye in the chapel when Michelle said to Alanmichael at the age of 7:

"The love and kisses you will show me makes me feel all tickly inside.  Guess what?  Now you can call me Mommy, give me kisses and guess what else?  We are finally married sweetie”

If only we could stop right there. Not in Brian’s world, he must push the envelope. After the ceremony it was picture time. Let’s get a picture on the motorcycle I suggest. She agrees, knowing I would never ride away. Well, I did. STRIKE ONE. Later at the reception, which we held in a smoky bar thanks to some friends of ours, it was time to cut the cake. We both grabbed the knife together and sliced the cake holding hands as we sliced through the freshly baked deliciousness. I can still feel the glistening of the frosting as we cut through that first piece. My mouth is watering thinking of my mom’s tender and soft yellow cake, beautifully hand crafted better than any professional could do. Cameras were at the ready as we fed each other the cake. Yes, I did. STRIKE TWO. Big regret. To this day I am not sure why I put cake in her face. I guess I thought it was tradition. Man was I ever dumb. To this day I still look over my shoulder, waiting for that 3rd strike. Will it come. When will I make that dumb mistake?  When will my inner Brian take over? I read this to Michelle, and she got a little irritated with me. It seems even after almost 21 years; she is still sour about these 2 things!

Food For Thought We had some strong storms this week that took our power out. It got me thinking. Storms might bring dark clouds, thunder, and lightning, but they’re also a time for rebirth and growth. My grass continues to grow almost to my knees. The trees are green, and the flowers are blooming bright and beautiful. The bees have had their spring flow and I have harvested close to 10 gallons of honey. So now what about the storms of our life? Thunder and lighting with plenty of dark clouds have been part of our ecosystem since October. We see some days of sunshine here and there, but most are grim, sheltered by umbrellas or windshield wipers. When will we see the virtual flowers and green grass? I’m being selfish, I know, but time is cruel. I love every moment I get yet I starve for more. Gluttony for time with love.

FlowTime TV Michelle watched “Cabinets of Curiosity” (Netflix) An anthology of sinister stories told by revered horror creators.

Michelle also enjoyed watching Survivor and the Chicago trilogy.

EbbTime TV Michelle and I have been enjoying “The Unit” (HULU). follows a covert team of Special Forces operatives as they risk their lives on undercover missions around the globe, while their families maintain the home front. Part of the show's focus is the effect that the group's missions have on the guys' wives and girlfriends.

We watched “Bumblebee” (Paramount +) this week. Great classic. On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee the Autobot seeks refuge in a junkyard in a small California beach town. Charlie, on the brink of turning 18 years old and trying to find her place in the world, soon discovers the battle-scarred and broken Bumblebee. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns that this is no ordinary yellow Volkswagen.

We have also been watching “The Cube” (MAX) 15 square feet of steel-edged plexiglass where simple tasks become challenges; teams have nine lives to win seven games to beat The Cube for a chance to walk away with $250,000.

“The Dippy Bird Cafe”

The Menu

Snacks

Cotton Candy

Potato chips

Entrees

Honey Soy Salmon Bowl

Jambalaya

Chalupas

Fried Shrimp

Cheesy Rice Chicken Skillet

BLT (Grandkids were not fans)

Beef Ranch Skillet

Sides

Cauliflower Rice

Sweet corn

Green beans

Calrose Rice

French Fries

Drinks

Lemonade

La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry)

Chalk (Fenbendazole)

Love you,

Brian

http://WhatGoesUpMustComeDown.org

Still as a Millpond

Michelle started her 10-day radiation treatment on Monday. Everyone knows how much she loves getting out of the house every day. The treatment is only taking 10-15 minutes but to her it feels like an hour. She must lay still as a millpond. She wears a weighted vest that restricts her breathing movements while being radiated. Perfectly comfortable for Michelle, right? A meeting with the radiation oncologist reminded us that radiation therapy usually does not have an immediate effect, and it could take days, weeks, or months to see any change in the cancer. We saw this with her brain and spinal radiation. Michelle started taking Prilosec to fend off the side effect of esophagitis, although this too may take two weeks to show up.

Most days were smooth sailing for someone going through radiation. Her breathing is getting better. She seems less steady on her feet. I think this is because she is doing less physical therapy. She has not wanted to strain herself too much, this would cause more breathing issues.

Highlight of the week This week it was fun watching Michelle do some crafting with our granddaughters. Trying to keep a 6-yr-old and a 9-yr-old entertained anywhere from four to six hours a day can be a bit of a challenge. We spent $80 at Walmart trying to fish up some creative crafting ideas. I loved watching Michelle interact with her grandchildren. You can see a garden of love that flows in a grandmother’s heart when she plays and teaches them her craft. The dogs tried helping at one point, that almost didn’t end well. Crisis was diverted.

Random Fact of the Week In many places, the common proper name Mill Pond has remained even though the mill has long since gone. It may be fed by a man-made stream, known by several terms including leat and mill stream. The channel or stream leading from the mill pond is the mill race, which together with weirs, dams, channels, and the terrain establishing the mill pond, delivers water to the mill wheel to convert potential and/or kinetic energy of the water to mechanical energy by rotating the mill wheel. The production of mechanical power is the purpose of this civil engineering hydraulic system.

Did you know? Michelle and I almost broke up because I didn't want commitment.

Throwback Love Story The year was 2012. I remember wanting to find something fun to do in Austin. Michelle and I kept hearing about a fashion show. The event was being held at the up-and-coming Domain, not downtown, so we decided to go. It was a lot of fun. There were almost 60 designers showing their new collections on the runway and in pop-up shops. We saw a very stylish looking outfit showcased on the runway that I thought would look stunning on Michelle. We milled around most of the day and did a lot of window shopping. We spent probably $80 at a high-end café for the 2 of us, way more than I’d spend on lunch any day. After our lunch, we went on the hunt for the runway outfit we saw. Michelle tried on a few runway items, but they were overpriced and were not a good fit for her body type. We searched for about 3 more hours and came up empty on the one item I thought would be perfect for her. Irritated, hot, and tired, we decided to give up and go home. Michelle breathed a sigh of relief. She hates trying on clothes and really hates anything that showcases her. Walking down a dark sidewalk entering a tunnel to the parking garage, there was a picture window to our right and in it was the outfit we were looking for all day! Of course, I had Michelle try it on. She looked so beautiful in it. The $400 price tag, not so much. We would never spend that much money on a piece of clothing. I remember taking some pictures but not buying it. As much as we both wanted it, we couldn’t swallow the $400 over inflated price.

Michelle turned 51 on June 22^nd, 2013. Her present was wrapped waiting for her to open after her shower. I hadn’t made her cry since proposing to her 12 years earlier. I couldn’t believe it, she made an audible, but soft crying sound. She wrapped her arms around me and thanked me. I thought she would be mad at me for spending the money. I’ve never been more wrong. She looked more beautiful than she did that day at the fashion show. I have attached a picture of Michelle wearing this outfit, yesterday!

Flowing Upstream Michelle has enjoyed a new series on Netflix called “Another Life” (Netflix) Astronaut Niko Breckinridge is focused on searching the world for alien intelligence. She leads a crew that is on a mission to explore the genesis of an alien artifact that has been found on Earth.

Michelle is also enjoying the series “Lore” (Prime) Writer Aaron Mahnke launched his podcast "Lore" in 2015 and it has gained critical acclaim in the time since, including earning Best in the country - 2015 honors from iTunes.

Flowing Downstream Michelle and I are enjoying "The Unit" (HULU) it Based on the book Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit; and follows a covert team of Special Forces operatives as they risk their lives on undercover missions around the globe, while their families maintain the home front. Part of the show's focus is the effect that the group's missions have on the guys' wives and girlfriends.

We are holding "Camp Grampy" this week, so it is not just song and dance night at the Luck house, it also means movie nights! The kids and grandparents are enjoying “Ghostwriter” (Apple TV) is a perfect kid series. When a ghost haunts a neighborhood bookstore and starts releasing fictional characters into the real world, four kids must team up to solve an exciting mystery surrounding the ghost's unfinished business.

“Field and Stream Diner”

The Menu

Snacks

Vanilla Pudding

Pear & Cottage Cheese parfait (I guess cottage cheese is not a well liked thing?)

Hershey’s Dark Chocolate (We've cut back some on this)

Entrees

Hawaiian Chicken

Beef Ranch Skillet

Fried Shrimp

Spaghetti

Frankenstein Stroganoff

Garlic Roasted Chicken

Chicken Stir-Fry

Sides

Frozen Veggie Mix

Cauliflower Rice

Sweet corn

Are you reading this? Probably not.

Green beans

Baked Beans

Jasmine Rice

French Fries

Drinks

Lemonade

La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry)

Chalk

Love you,

Brian 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill_pond

Nailing Jelly to a Tree

This week has been as difficult as nailing jelly to a tree. A meeting with the oncologist was a stark reminder of the difference between palliative and curative care and how difficult that is mentally. The right hilar/infrahilar lymph node of Michelle’s lung increased from 1.6 x 2.4 cm February 2nd to 4.4 x 3.6cm a few days ago. The radiation oncologist believes this lymph node is restricting blood flow to the middle branches of the bronchus. She could not hammer down the cause of Michelle’s pain but is certain that the tumor has grown to the point it needs to be radiated. Pneumonitis, an inflammation of the lung, is a side effect of both radiation and immunotherapy. Esophagitis is also a concern.  Esophagitis is simply inflammation of the esophagus. The tumor is jammed up close to the esophagus so the esophagus will get some radiation. Having both radiation and immunotherapy treatments would add too many risks of toxicity.  

Michelle also had an appointment with a social worker this week. This went ok. I’m knot sure he is qualified to counsel Michelle. Everyone has their root education, but it seemed like he was really reaching for answers and just fell short once of saying “let me google that”. This made me simile.  He sent pamphlets on “Challenging Anxious Thoughts”,” Relaxation Techniques” and “Coping Skills – Anxiety” which include deep breathing exercises. Clearly Michelle may have an issue with the breathing exercises, but she is willing to try some of the less taxing techniques. He definitely had references to ascribe her. She will meet with him again in tree weeks.        

Highlight of the week After an emotional start to the week, Michelle wanted to check on mama duck, who has been named “Salina”. She managed to move her nest of twigs and grass about 2 feet. She felt safer, close to a car tire. Still no ducklings. Michelle was able to branch out and say hello to Salina, then walk over and sit in the pole barn for a while. I had some things I needed to take care of, and she waited patiently for me to finish my tasks. She was more than ready to leaf by the time I was done. I can always tell when she is getting tired.

Random Fact of the Week If you turned jelly into a nail and hammered it into a tree 5 feet above the ground, it will stay 5 feet above the ground forever. Even after 20 years it remains static because trees grow inside out, which means that they grow from the top, not the bottom. The bottom of the tree will remain the same.

Did you know? Michelle says “Thank you” when I kiss her.

Throwback Love Story October 20th, 2001, it was Saturday and Michelle was drained emotionally. This stemming from being a single parent and having a rough week at work. Both of her kids had been stressing her out and she was tired from working early mornings and late nights. She headed to Killeen Texas to visit me, hoping her week would end better than it started. When she got to my house in Killeen, there was a picture of the fireplace spiked on the front door. Below the picture it read “Welcome home, I hope you had a safe trip over from Austin, and it wasn’t too HOT. Follow the sign”. Feeling all alone yet riveted, she slowly walked to the fireplace, not knowing what to expect next. Met with another picture, held by a ceramic baseball bear it read: “I love you BEARY much! Follow the picture” In the den, another picture was tacked. A picture of the washer and dryer was partially concealed by 2 decorative dish towels. The towels were decorated with pears and other various fruits. The caption read “We make a great PEAR!” On the washer and dryer was a picture of the mirror in the bedroom. Attached to the picture was a Heart pendant. “You stole my HEART!” it read. Tears filled her eyes as she branched her way to the bedroom. I stayed hidden behind the bed, near the mirror. When she got close enough, I popped up on one knee – ring in hand, “Will you marry me?” I asked. She collapsed like marmalade. Weak and speechless, “Yes”, she whispered.

Michelle knew I was going to propose but I had her convinced it was going to be sometime after Christmas. She later told me she thought I sent her on a scavenger hunt because I knew she was having a hard week, and this was my way of cheering her up. She didn’t catch on to the proposal until she saw me on one knee! SUCCESS. We can’t find the heart pendant but still have towels and a baseball bear.

Jelly Telly Michelle’s Movie of the week was “Geostorm” (MAX). After an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world's leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong: the system built to protect Earth is attacking it, and it becomes a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide Geostorm wipes out everything and everyone along with it.

Michelle started a new series called “The Rig” (Prime) A group of workers on a remote Scottish oil rig are due to return to the mainland when a mysterious fog cloaks them and supernatural forces take hold. She continues to enjoy “Sandman” (Netflix). “Lore” (Prime) and “Battlebots” (YouTube TV) are also fun time passers. The Battlebots finale proved fun to watch. We enjoyed the bot - SawBlaze barely scraping by and winning the WCVII and the Giant Nut!

Jelly PM Telly We watched the season finale of “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV). If you haven’t seen the series, get Apple TV somehow and watch it. It’s worth the money. We also caught the finale of “Citadel” (Prime). I love a series that ends in a twist. “Joe Pickett” (Paramount +) is back with season 2. We have watched the first 2 episodes of season 2 already, so this will be a weekly watch party show. Game warden Joe Pickett and his family navigate the shifting sociopolitical climate of a rural town on the verge of economic collapse; when a murder victim winds up on Joe's doorstep, the Pickett’s find themselves embroiled in a larger conspiracy.

We somehow sat through half of Prince’s 1984 film “Purple Rain” (Prime). Horrible acting but great music. It was cool seeing hometown sites.

We saw the Denver Nuggets axe through game 4 and continue to watch the 4th quarter of each playoff game. (YouTube TV)

Bedtime shows are “Whose Line is it Anyway” and “Family Feud” (Both on YouTube TV). 

“Crown and Trunk Tavern”

The Menu

Snacks

Vanilla Pudding

Pear & Cottage Cheese parfait

Hershey’s Dark Chocolate

Entrees

Denver Nugget Sliders

Sous Vide Chicken Breast

Honey Garlic Cornish Cross (Recipe attached)

Sloppy Joes

Chalupas

Bratwurst

Popeye’s Classic Chicken Sandwich

Sides

Mezcla Frozen Veggie Mix

Cauliflower Rice

Peas

Jasmine Rice

French Fries

Deserts

Chocolate chip cookies – TX Special

Dark Chocolate

Vanilla Pudding

Drinks

Lemonade

La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry)

Chalk

Coffee

Water

www.TheRottenSrpig.edu

Life is a Highway

Life is a Highway. Life is like a road that you travel on, when there's one day here, and the next day gone. Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand, sometimes you turn your back to the wind. This week’s highway passed through hills and many valleys in 7 short days. The week started on some hills. The road was winding and had some new potholes. Physical therapy was more tiring than usual. Michelle seemed to have a harder time recovering. One thing I’ve learned from this journey is when Michelle’s body is telling you something – Listen. We canceled the second therapy session for the week. Things started to go downhill from there.

Michelle came into the living room one morning before 7am, in excruciating pain. She was having a hard time taking a deep breath. Without hesitation, I took her to the Emergency Room. Taking the Toll Road, we made it to the hospital before 8. I assumed the path to see an ER Doctor would be fast, my assumptions were never so wrong. Michelle had an EKG, blood tests and an X-Ray. The ER doctor saw her around 11am and told her that it looked like pneumonia. She did not present with pneumonia; the doctor ordered a CT scan. This is where they tracked down the culprit. It appears that the cancer in the right lower lobe nodule of her lung has spread. This has caused breathing issues. They gave her antibiotics while she was there, then gave her a 7-day prescription. Oncology was consulted and they agreed that it would be more comfortable to be home than admitted to the hospital. Radiology Oncology will call early next week to arrange for treatment on the mass in the lung. Not the drive through the valley we wanted in our week for sure. At least we are in the comfort of our home instead of in the hospital over the weekend. 

Imagine a sharp stabbing pain in your lungs with every deep breath you take. Her subtle grunts of pain every 10-15 minutes leave me feeling helpless. Our hope rides on radiation once again. We shall see what next week brings. So much for never feeling pain.

Highlight of the week We walked down Sparks Road together to check on a mama duck who is sitting on her eggs. We are hoping to get ducklings to spotlight Luck ranch soon. Michelle rested for about 20 minutes then we headed back up the boulevard to the house.  Michelle is so excited about the idea of ducklings on the ranch. About 28 days after beginning incubation the eggs hatch together. This takes about 24 hours. The ducklings stay in the nest for at least 10 hours while they dry and get used to using their legs. She can have as many as 20 ducklings. The interesting part of this is she only laid one egg per day, but all her ducklings hatch together. They may hatch this week.

Random Fact of the Week Our traffic lights were adapted from the railroads. While the red, green, and yellow lights on our roads are universal the world over, they weren't originally created for cars. The idea of signal lights was first used on railroads to prevent train collisions. The idea worked well enough that, once the technology was perfected, the signals were adopted all over the world. The original pattern was red for danger, green for caution, and white to go. However, since white could have been easily missed against a starry sky, green became go, and yellow was put in as the caution light.

Throwback Love Story This throwback Love Story is from 2010, when I surprised Michelle with a trip to Panama City Florida. 134 million gallons of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico in April of 2010, so by July many tourist towns like Panama City Florida were losing money faster than the Deepwater Horizon lost oil. I decided to capitalize on the opportunity and book flights, hotel and entertainment for 4 days in Panama City Florida. Saving close to 70% on the trip, I thought we would live like royalty. I bought everything for the October trip in July and decided not to tell Michelle. Small hints would do. Each week leading up to the trip I would give her a futile clue or 2. I was working in Dallas at the time and remember leaving on the Monday prior to our trip, telling her I would see her on Thursday, reminding her to get off her night shift early. I gave her nothing more. Wednesday night we talked. She asked where I was and if I was picking her up? Could she drive her car? Did she need a suitcase, or could she just pack her clothes in the car? What to pack? Did she need a passport? I told her no need for a passport, pack like you would if you were staying in Texas. I told her that she could drive but I’d advised her to pack a suitcase. The next morning, she was irritated when I called, “Where the hell are you?” she asked. I said, “We will be together soon. Go to the airport and scan your credit card at the Southwest kiosk. A ticket will be printed for you with all your information”. She called me from the plane and said, “I freaked out when I saw Panama City because you said no passport was needed, then I realized it was Florida – womp womp” “Where will I meet you?” I just replied with “I have that taken care of, I’ll see you soon” Only Michelle would put up with this, right? (How many of you thought of that 5 sentences ago?) Michelle had a layover and a plane change in Houston. I too had a layover from Dallas to Houston but no plane change. Michelle walked in to find a seat on the Southwest flight from Houston to Panama City Florida. She saw me in the front row with open arms. “I love you Michelle Luck! Happy Anniversary” Those around us started to cheer. It was a fun and exciting memory. We had a seaside view hotel room, right on the beach, Michelle’s happy place. Many more stories from this trip, for another time.

Turnpike Daytime TV Michelle enjoyed watching several movies this week. One hit was “The Taking of Pelham 123’ (Netflix) Chaos reigns in the New York City subway system when heavily armed criminals, led by a mastermind named Ryder (John Travolta), hijack a subway train and threaten to kill everyone on board unless a large ransom is paid. Dispatcher Walter Garber (Denzel Washington) uses his extensive knowledge of the transit system in a bid to outwit the hijackers and save the hostages, but one question remains: even if the hijackers get their money, how can they possibly escape?

Another fun watch was “Security” (Netflix) A former elite soldier now works as an employee of a security service in a shopping center. During his job he gets caught between two fronts and must protect a female witness from a gang during a storm.

She started watching the comic book series “Sandman” (Netflix) When the Sandman, aka Dream, the cosmic being who controls all dreams, is captured and held prisoner for more than a century, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused.

Primetime Turnpike TV We have not watched the “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV) season finale yet but plan to soon. We did, however, finish the season of “Yellow Jackets” (Showtime). We continue to enjoy “FUBAR” (Netflix).

The new series of the week was “Citadel” (Prime) The global spy agency Citadel has fallen, and the memory of its agents has been erased. Now, the powerful Manticore crime syndicate is filling the power vacuum. Citadel agents must remember their past and find the strength to fight back.

The second new series is Neil Patrick Harris’ comedy “Uncoupled” (Apple TV) A man has had his life turned upside down after his partner walks out on him after 17 years.

“Interstate Tavern”

The Menu

Snacks

Vanilla Pudding

Pear & Cottage Cheese parfait

Popcorn

Potato chips

Entrees

Wings-4-Lucks

Grilled seasoned chicken with pasta and vegetables in a three-cheese sauce

Homemade Pizza with garden fresh tomato sauce and homemade dough

Honey Turmeric Chicken

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya

Fried Shrimp

Ranch Beef Skillet Supper

Vanilla Pudding

Sides

Egg Noodles

Crinkle Fries

French Style Beans

Cauliflower Rice

Ranch Style Beans

Stir Fry Mix Veggies

Vanilla Pudding

Deserts

Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dark Chocolate

Vanilla Pudding

Italian Ices

Drinks

Lemonade

Vanilla Pudding (LoL)

More Chalk

La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry)

http://LuckDragStrip.org

Faster than a Dog with a Bone

This week went faster than a dog with a bone. Michelle had 2 physical therapy appointments. She has a love hate relationship with these appointments, but they have harvested good results. She loves that they are making her feel stronger and more capable. She hates going, but what sane person likes being forced to exercise? Every time we leave PT, she is bone tired. One appointment was scheduled for 5:30 pm. Neither of us were looking forward to this late day appointment. A call came in offering an earlier slot that we jumped on. Michelle later confessed she would have “called out” if we kept the 5:30 pm slot.

I forgot to give Michelle her bedtime meds once this week. This was the first time I forgot the bedtime meds. Michelle forgot to take her lunch meds once also. I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often, but we are good about making the medicine go down. Make no bones about it, that dark chocolate has close to a spoonful of sugar in it.

I asked Michelle if she felt stronger. She said she works herself to the bone at physical therapy but can’t really tell if she is stronger. She is sore when she leaves which means she is building endurance. She said she feels much stronger mentally, even though her legs feel like mushy tomatoes.

Here is the feature of the week, Michelle’s first Michelle made her first attempt at crocheting this week. It wasn’t much, just a chain stitch. Making something from nothing has always been her specialty. She said she is looking for an easy pattern to start with. I was as excited as a dog with 2 tails to see her crocheting again. I hope to see more of this soon.

Highlight of the week Michelle helped me bake cookies this week. I decided to make some cookies. I gathered all the fixings and mixed them all up in the kitchen-aid. My computer started to make some noise telling me that work needed my attention. Unfortunately, this meant that the baking would need to wait until work slowed or was done for the day. Michelle stepped up to the task and baked the cookies for me. She only burned herself twice (I learned this the following day).

Random Fact of the Week A dog’s sense of smell is approximately 100,000 times better than a human. Dogs can be trained to detect cancer and other diseases in humans. Cancerous cells release different metabolic waste products than healthy cells in the human body. Dogs may even be able to sniff out cancer cells simply through smelling someone's breath.

Dog Gone Daytime TV Michelle enjoyed watching “Fractured” (Netflix) After his wife and injured daughter disappear from the emergency room, a man becomes convinced the hospital is hiding something. Not buried in the garden either, An appropriate movie for Mental Health awareness month. She also watched “Ford Vs. Ferrari” (YouTube) American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary vehicle for the Ford Motor Co. Together, they plan to compete against the race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.

Dog Gone Primetime TV This week’s featured presentation was “A Man Named Otto” (Netflix). When a lively young family moves in next door, grumpy widower Otto Anderson meets his match in a quick-witted, pregnant woman named Marisol, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world upside down. The new featured series of the week was “FUBAR” (Netflix) When a father and daughter discover they both secretly work for the CIA, an already dicey undercover mission turns into a dysfunctional family affair. “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV) has just one episode left this season. We finished “Jury Duty” (Freevee). A silly series that followed a fake trial profiling a clueless juror who had no idea he was the only one unaware the entire series was fake.

“3 Dog Night Saloon”

The Menu

Appetizers

Pear & Cottage Cheese parfait

Potato chips

Vanilla Oreo Cookies

Entrees

Smoked Paprika Chicken Thighs

Swiss Steak (the name comes from the "swissing" technique for tenderizing meat, not the country)

Luck Beef Meatloaf

Beef tlaxcalli

Creamy Poblano Cornish Cross (garden fresh poblano peppers)

Boston Butt Shredded Sliders

Philly Cheesesteak Goulash

Sides

Jasmine Rice

Tater Tots

French Fries

Peas

Sweet Corn

Frozen Vegetable Mix

Deserts

Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dark Chocolate

Drinks

Lemonade

Fenbendazole Lemonade (Otherwise known as chalk)

La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry)

Coffee

Water

https://BarkingUpTheWrongTree.gov

My Castle is my Home

My home is my castle, she softly said, as we backed out of the driveway for her bi-weekly physical therapy (PT) appointment. Every day Michelle is getting stronger and more confident, she just isn’t sold on the idea she had to leave the house. She is liking her PT appointments though; her therapist is challenging her to get stronger and stay motivated.

Michelle had immunotherapy this week. She was nervous this week because it was a new location with new people and unknown expectations. “I’m sick of this bull crap, can we just stay home?” She asked. Chateau de infusion is no Fortress de Luck. Her anxiety was high, but it was calming to see such nice and inviting nurses and nursing assistants. It was more than a job to the nurses; it was like they were taking care of their own family. This was Michelle’s 8th immunotherapy infusion, and it is the first time the lab work was taken from the port. Not getting futile needle sticks is great news. Michelle was excited to hear she could go in the Luck resort hot tub if she wants. The scheduler has scheduled infusions through July already. He was nice enough to schedule more than just one month of infusions, giving us a schedule to plan from. I always wondered why they scheduled her infusions one at a time, scheduling those months in advanced makes so much more sense. We did not see the oncologist. We saw her nurse. We will see the oncologist every 3 weeks, unless there is reason to see her more often.

Back at the Castle von Lüch, I asked Michelle how she was feeling about the new facility and if she was impressed with the staff at the new infusion location. Her response was stoic. For Michelle, virtue and character are all that matter. The approach to this cancer journey isn't about her being a great role model and being strong, because in the end it doesn't really matter. I told her she is an inspiration to all that know her. “You’re too much” she said, then she thanked me for "trying" to encourage her. We both chuckled a bit.

Highlight of the week It never gets old seeing Michelle in her garden. This week she was harvesting peppers. I wasn’t sure what she was up to when I saw her in the garden this week. It didn’t take long for me to see that she had 2 arms full of poblano peppers. I thought to myself, she may have one too many peppers. She turned to shut the portcullis to the garden, dropping peppers as she turned. Latching the gate is unavailing I thought, as I watch another pepper fall to the ground. When Michelle finally made it back to the fortress, she was tired. She said her back hurt. That didn’t stop her from roasting the peppers she just harvested.

Random Fact of the Week At first, castles were built for military and government means. As centuries went on, hostilities subsided, and wealth started to flow during Renaissance, nobility and royalty started to create vanity castles that were used to be summer houses, hunting houses and royal houses. One more interesting fact. The word “dungeon” was derived from the word “"donjon” which described central keep of the castle. Because those keeps were dark, cold, and often housed prisoners, the word dungeon was born.

Fortress Daytime Television Michelle was into watching “The Devil in Ohio” (Netflix) this week. A psychiatrist takes in a young patient who escaped from a cult, putting her family and life in danger. She is also enjoying “Lore” (Prime Video) Lore is an American horror anthology television series developed by the creator of the podcast of the same name, Aaron Mahnke, with Valhalla Entertainment and Propagate Content. She enjoyed watching “BattleBots” this week as well.

Primetime Fortress Television We watched the movie “Burn” (HULU) Melinda is a lonely and unstable gas-station attendant who's tired of being overshadowed by her more confident and outgoing co-worker. When a robber holds up the station at gunpoint, Melinda tries to make a connection with the desperate thief. It was slow in the middle.

Michelle and I started watching a new series called “The Last Thing He Told Me” (Apple TV) The main character Hannah, who is played by Jennifer Garner, must forge a relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter, Bailey, to find the truth behind why her husband has mysteriously disappeared.

We finally watched the final episode of “The Night Agent” (Netflix). Great TV. There are scenes that are loud, but it is an exciting series to watch.

“Alcazar De La Suerte”

The Menu

Appetizers

Fruit Cocktail

Pear & Cottage Cheese parfait

Potato chips

Entrees

Chilly Mac

Huevos Rancheros Sandwiches

Biscuits and Gravy (Michelle was not a fan)

Bratwurst

Turkey Peperoni Pizza

Smoked Paprika Chicken thighs

Sweet Garlic Ginger Baked Salmon

Sides

Angel Hair Pasta

Jasmine Rice

Fried Corn

Campesina Blend Frozen Veggie mix

Cauliflower Rice

Deserts

Brownies

Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Squares

Cookies

Drinks

Lemonade

La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry)

Waterloo Sparking Water (Blackberry Lemonade)

Coffee

Water

http://ManorMansionOnSparks.gov

A Hard Nut to Crack

Michelle can be a hard nut to crack sometimes. This week we had an orchard of appointments. We started the week with a Physical Therapy (PT) appointment. She said her legs felt like a stale pistachio, all rubbery. I told her, this means that whatever they are doing, is working. She is not convinced. Honestly, she is just a homebody. I asked her later in the week if she felt physically stronger. She said it feels like things are moving in that direction, but it is too early to tell, which is fair.

Michelle’s neurologist has really come out of her shell. Michelle’s short-term memory has declined in recent weeks, so we expressed this concern with the neurologist. She explained that the brain is like any muscle, with exercise and training it can improve. She was also honest about expectations. The lesion scars in the brain will never go away. Learning the best way to learn and grow from this will be our new way of life. More tears flowed when we heard this. It can be overwhelming. She will take things one step at a time. Michelle has cracked a few games on her phone that specifically target her memory. One is a word search game. Another game she plays is a treasure searching game. They both stimulate the brain. I am not convinced they will help her short term memory. Some studies show that brain training games are not effective, the recollection and work that the brain does during these games does keep her mind fresh and alert.

We had some rough patches early in the week, most of them were memory related. A lot of the feelings are fear. Michelle has had a hard time remembering what she had for lunch for quite some time now. A good work around for her was to say that she had leftovers. This is true 100% of the time. While it does not exercise good memory tactics, I can’t fault her for ingenuity. Recently she started to forget her dinner meal. I know there are things she’s forgetting but choosing not to ask or share them with me. I can’t imagine how scary this would be. It drives me nuts not to be able to make it all better for her.

Here is the feature of the week Michelle disappeared while I was working this week, as she often does. Sometimes it’s a walk out front, or maybe out back to look at the wildflowers. On this day she had been gone for quite some time and I started getting concerned. I first looked outside through my front windows. Not seeing her, I panicked slightly. I went outside and softly called her name. Not hearing her I look around both corners of the house. She was still nowhere in sight. I looked down Sparks Rd to see if she ventured out for a quick walk, no sign of her there. No sign on Bobby Rd either. My heart started to race a bit more, so I quickly walked into the house to do a quick look around before I went into panic overload. Silly Brian. She was in the shower this whole time. She walked out of the bathroom fully dressed and freshly showered and said, “Hi baby”. Excitement and relief filled my heart. This was her first solo shower since October 19th, 2022.

Highlight of the week My favorite Michelle memory this week was watching her in the vegetable garden taking pictures and admiring the spring growth. I miss seeing her in the garden daily. When I do see her there, it’s always a highlight.

Random Fact of the Week One nut you have likely never seen in the shell is the macadamia, and for good reason. Unlike opening a peanut or a pistachio, it takes some serious muscle to extract the edible nut from its shell: 300 pounds of pressure per square inch to be exact, making it the hardest nut in the world to crack!

Daytime NutChele on the Tel Michelle started watching SWAT for the first time this year. She is definitely not watching it for the acting. I think the Shemar Moore eye candy helps move the show along. Station 19 has also been a staple during the day. Michelle is also enjoying the Chicago trilogy, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and even Chicago PD. She kind of likes Hank Voight. I know some of you have mentioned how much they really dislike this character.

Nighttime NutChele on the Tel Tel We did not watch as much TV together this week. Recent rains bring a lot of maintenance to the ranch. When we did settle in together, we watched “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV), “Schmigadoon” (Apple TV) and “Jeff Dunham – The Bull Calf” with our grandchildren. Vivian’s favorite puppet is “Peanut”.

“Marshall” (Netflix) was the featured movie this week. The movie is based on a true story from the 1940’s. NAACP lawyer, Thurgood Marshall faces one of his greatest challenges while working as a lawyer for the NAACP. Marshall travels to conservative Connecticut when wealthy socialite Eleanor Strubing accuses Black chauffeur Joseph Spell of sexual assault and attempted murder. Thurgood Marshall was born in 1908. Not related to this movie, but interesting to note, Thurgood Marshall was confirmed as the first Black person to serve as a Supreme Court Justice in 1967. This was the hit movie of the week.

“NutChele Cafe”

THE MENU

Appetizers

Hershey’s Chocolate Bar

Potato Chips

Mandarin Oranges

Entrees

Mexican Enchiladas

Taco Salad

Turkey Pepperoni Pizza

Honey Garlic salmon with sweet homemade sriracha sauce

Philly Cheese Steak Goulash

Potato Hamburger Hash

Garlic Roasted Chicken

Sides

Pan Seared Mixed Vegetables

Jasmine Rice

Fresh Green Beans

Peas

Cauliflower Rice

Deserts

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dark Heavenly Brownies

Vanilla Ice Cream

Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip

Drinks

Lemonade

La Croix (Berry, Lemon and Razz-Cranberry)

Waterloo Sparking Water (Blackberry Lemonade)

Coffee

Water

http://DeliciouslyNutso.edu

Not a Happy Camper

Being from Minnesota, I love camping. Michelle hates it, she always has. Michelle had her first, outside the house physical therapy (PT) appointment this week. She was not a happy camper. There are many things Michelle likes, on the top of the list is sleep. Her appointment was first thing in the morning, and I needed to wake her up, so we would not be late. Luckily, we are only 10 minutes away from the PT facility. We had some bagels and cream cheese for breakfast (I snuck some bran under the cream cheese) then we headed out to her appointment. I thought it went well. She was the only person in the room. It was her first appointment, so she was being evaluated for her needs and strengths. The therapist, asked her what her goals were. Michelle initially shrugged and said “nothing”. Then she thought about it and said she would like to drive again one day.

After the appointment, we discussed the positives and negatives of PT. Michelle seemed down about the whole experience. I asked her if someone stole her tent and made her sleep in the open air? If you think she wasn’t a happy camper because of a lack of sleep, you should have seen the look I got after that comment. After pulling some teeth and tent poles, the truth finally surfaced. She didn’t like the mask. We decided to talk to the staff at the PT facility and let them know that we are hyper aware of germs and infection. We asked that they try to keep Michelle at least 6 feet from other patrons. The therapist suggested they may just disappear behind a closed door if things get too busy in the PT room. Loaded with this information, Michelle had a great second appointment. She came home tired from the exercises but satisfied she did not have the constriction of a mask. Michelle has been seen exercising around the kitchen island with an exercise band being used for resistance.

Here is the feature of the week Michelle planted her first plant this week. I bought an annual from Home Depot to replace one that died due to lack of sun. I took it out front and I was going to start repotting it when Michelle appeared on my right shoulder. “I’ll do it” she said soft and sweet. That’s my happy camper. My sweet ladybug.

Highlights of the week My highlight this week was watching Michelle out on the back patio every morning, enjoying the view of Luck Lake. Listening to the birds sing and the chirp and chit sounds of the hummingbirds warbling. You can tell this always puts her in a happy place.

Minutes passed at Luck Simulcast This week “The Exorcist” was the featured series to pass the daytime hours. Michelle sure does know how to pick out the horror. Michelle also watched “Survivor” and “Next Level Chef”. She seems to be enjoying the throwback series “Third Watch”.

Simulcast Nightly Michelle has spent a few nights alone this week. Recent rains mean our 20 acres needs my attention after work. I’ve been given the nickname “ADHD kid” for some reason. It's also the "Ole white dude on the corner." But who keeps track of nicknames? 

When we did watch simulcasts together, we watched “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV) “Jeff Dunham Unhinged in Hollywood” (Netflix). Jeff Dunham is Michelle’s top comedian. We had tickets to go see him in Las Vegas in October. Unfortunately, that trip was canceled. 

Throwback Story We watched “Whose line is it anyway?” (HBO). When Michelle and I were dating, we used to call each other every night. We would watch whose line together, on the phone. That was 22 years ago, before internet streaming was big. It still makes us giggle.

Random Fact of the Week Sometimes given the nickname of flying jewels, Hummingbirds cannot walk. Hummingbirds can only perch or scoot sideways. They belong to the bird order Apodiformes (meaning “footless”), which also includes other great aerialists with tiny feet, the swifts. Small feet are an asset both for swifts and hummingbirds because they reduce drag in flight, making these birds more aerodynamic.

“Luck Ranch Potted Planter”

THE MENU

Appetizers

Pear & Cottage Cheese parfait

Mint girl scout cookies

Hershey’s Chocolate Bar

Entrees

Mexican Gorditas

Cheesy Mac with hamburger

Sweet Italian sausage

Angel hair Spaghetti and 3 meat meatballs

Sous Vide Chicken Breast

Wings-n-Luck

Fried Shrimp

Sides

Mezcla Frozen Veggie Mix

Cauliflower Rice

Corn

Broccoli

Rice and pasta blend in Cheddar sauce

Deserts

Chocolate chip cookies

Michelle’s Brownies

Chocolate

Drinks

Lemonade

La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry)

Coffee with homemade creamer

Water

http://PottePlantFever.edu

Squirrel or the Nut?

Some days you’re the squirrel, some days you’re the nut. This week Michelle was the nut. Emotions from last week, blended into this week. Her rheumatoid arthritis calmed down a lot by day 6 of the 7 days of steroid regimen. I was beginning to wonder if her body was immune to the steroids but was elated to hear the burning, sharp pain and sustained pressure from swelling was finally decreased to a manageable level.

Michelle showed up with her best squirrel face on for immunotherapy this week. I could see her face melt slowly and knew it was the nut, not the squirrel she was feeling when they told her they needed to get blood drawn again. She told me the lab sticks are hurting more and more each week. Her oncologist did not mention labs last week, so we assumed there would not be any. I knew we were not in for a good morning when I saw her sweet blue eyes swell with tears. It was going to be a long day. We saw the original oncologist for our last time and of course I had more questions. This time I asked why the labs? This is when I learned that since December, they could have been taking the blood samples from her port. Why isn’t this standard procedure? Why are we just learning this now? These will be questions we hope will be answered by her new oncologist. 

After seeing her original oncologist, Michelle was called back for her Immunotherapy. She was fortunate that her favorite administration nurse helping her with the infusion. I decided that she needed my moral support on this day and that the post COVID rules of no visitors in the infusion room would need an exception. I squirreled my way in back with her. The 30-minute infusion took 60 because her pump wasn’t working properly. I was glad I was there with her.

The original oncologist prescribed a lesser dose of steroids (5mg) that she can take in conjunction with the immunotherapy. We are hoping this will lessen the swelling of her rheumatoid arthritis.

Michelle’s general practitioner (GP) 4-month follow-up appointment was this week. We are not going out on a limb for this nut when we say that we both love her doctor. She treats Michelle like a special confidant, and even called her a “good friend” during the appointment. It was a telemed appointment so having the comfort of our couch was nice. Michelle will start physical therapy to rehab her rubber legs. We also talked about mental health. We are hoping to get on the schedule for an evaluation soon in that area as well.

An update from last week. We were not sure about a studded bra in a shadow box on the wall at  new oncologist's office. I learned that one of her many specializations is breast cancer. Being a strong advocate, she would naturally support the charities that support breast cancer.  I was sent this link by a close friend of ours last week, after she read the update. https://rachelkbelkin.com/breast-cancer-survivors-model-bras-in-runway-event/

Here is the feature of the week, Michelle’s firsts Michelle walked down to the barn this week. She helped with an animal wellness check. She helped gather eggs and start the preliminary investigations of where’s Olaf? By the time we got home she was walking sideways because she was so tired. I am grateful she recovers quickly and the rubbery legs feeling disappeared, but it scares me when she gets so uneasy on her feet. Rarely does one see a squirrel tremble.

Highlights of the week Michelle ventured out to the apiary this week. Our apiarists and friend helped us check our apiary this week and Michelle was there for a few minutes when we started. Michelle has always loved taking care of the “ladies” and really misses the interaction of being an apiarist. I could see she was feeling excitement but also a little trepidation because she did not want to get stung. After about 5 minutes at the apiary, I brought her back home. Her smile was wide and large as I guided her back to the couch. Keeping with the squirrel theme of the week, I told her I was nuts about her and I went back down to finish the apiary check.

Random Fact of the Week Do you ever wonder why your eyes get puffy after crying? It's because emotional tears are waterier, they're less salty than basic tear secretions and the tissue in your eye. So, through the process of osmosis, the water moves into the saltier ocular tissues, which makes them swell up.

Luck Ranch Picture Palace Daytime All eyes were on “Station 19” this week, as this was the fire and rescue procedural series. Practically raised at Seattle's Station 19, Andy Herrera is a confident firefighter who is also the daughter of Pruitt Herrera, the formidable head of the firehouse. “Survivor”, “Next Level Chef” and “Fire Country” were also kept up to date.

Primetime at Luck Ranch Picture Palace Hockey once again was a nightly scene, as we watched the Minnesota Wild’s dreams of a Stanley cup slowly fade. I may or may not have been following the NFL draft live on my phone while we watched other things on the TV. “Mayor of Kingston” (Paramount +) has been the thriller series of choice this week. We re-watched the movie “CODA” (Apple TV) this week. Ruby is the only hearing member of a deaf family from Gloucester, Massachusetts. At 17, she works mornings before school to help her parents and brother keep their fishing business afloat. We watched the finale of “Schmigadoon” (Apple TV). It ended just the way we expected. It was a fun “musical” to watch for us. We can’t wait to start watching season 2 to find out what happens next, both him and her.

"Luck Ranch Fence & Post"

THE MENU

Appetizers

Lays Potato chips

Hershey’s Chocolate Bar

Entrees

Ham and Cheese loaf

Rib eye, Tenderloin, T-bone

Pork Chops

Cheesy Rice Chicken skillet

Angel hair pasta and chopped sirloin

Philly Cheese Steak Stroganoff

Sides

Mezcla Guarnacion Vegetable Blend

Cauliflower Rice

Broccoli Stir Fry

Ranch Style Beans

Potatoes Au Gratin

Deserts

Cookies

Chocolate

Drinks

Lemonade

Water

Gin and Tonic

http://SisterLove.org

Unicorns Aren't Real

I promised rainbows and unicorns, as this journey rages on, you will have to settle for just the rainbow. Sorry folks, unicorns aren’t real. I find myself picking days and weeks I like better. This past week was a week that I liked. There were only two appointments. The first was the original oncologist. She was once again very impressed with Michelle’s progress. She has suggested that she be put in for some experimental cancer studies. It is interesting that we went from “Chemo or hospice” to now exploring the idea of experimental cancer studies. The oncologist talked positively about Michelle’s TCFL2 numbers. These are HMG proteins that play important roles in remodeling the assembly of cells. During the meeting prior to the immunotherapy infusion, Michelle asked if she could start her hydroxychloroquine, which she takes for rheumatoid arthritis pain. The oncologist explained that the immunotherapy was probably the culprit of the rheumatoid inflammation. She made the decision to push the infusion for 7 days and put her on 20mg of the steroid prednisone. Prednisone, a glucocorticoid steroid, is a very potent anti-inflammatory. She is scheduled for her infusion next Wednesday, same bat time, same bat channel. As I edit and finish typing this Sunday morning, I can update you all that the prednisone has not helped with the arthritis pain unfortunately. She has an appointment with the rheumatologist on Monday.

The new oncologist’s office called to schedule an appointment for 5:45pm Friday evening. Asking for more options, the scheduler said how about Monday May 1st at 5:30pm?  Michelle’s comment was, “Does this oncologist not have a personal life?” We packed a picnic dinner and headed out for our late appointment Friday evening at 4pm. The staff leaves the building at 5pm, so we needed to be there at 4:30 to get checked in. We enjoyed the new oncologist's openness, and she seems to have a great knowledge in her field. We are excited to start down this new path.

Pluses include her willingness to listen and share information. Her openness to new and experimental testing. Liking quiet and quaint meetings, private and to herself. She knows all of Michelle’s other doctors. She knew by name the doctors and surgeons that have seen and are currently seeing Michelle.

Not sure about Waiting over an hour to see the doctor and having to bring dinner with us, because it was at dinner time. There was a shadow box on the wall with a studded bra inside, neither of us knew what to think of that.

Here is the feature of the week Michelle’s firsts. We gave our dog Izzie a shower. This is not an easy task for anyone. Izzie rolled in cow manure. It's instinctual behavior, harkening back to the days when a dog's wild ancestors would mask their scent to help them sneak up on their prey. Wolves, for example, have been observed rolling in animal carcasses or the droppings of plant-eating animals, to cover up their own smell during the hunt. Concerned about Izzie’s scent, we brought her to a dog whisperer and later found out she was trying to help Michelle. The immune system is known to be stimulated by the inhalation of bacterial cell wall components called "endotoxin" that become airborne as cow manure dries up. Exposure to cow manure may explain why dairy farmers have substantially lower rates of lung cancer despite smoking. Who'd thunk it? We all felt much better after she was all clean.

Highlights of the week Michelle ventured out to an Asian Market for coffee and muffins with the ladies. She had a great time getting out and spending time without her overprotective husband hovering over her constantly. She also got her makeup done and manicured this week!

Daytime Ranch at the Multiplex Michelle started a new series called “From” (Amazon Prime). The residents of a small-town struggle to find a way out when mysterious unknown forces keep them from leaving. She continues to enjoy “East New York” (Paramount +). She stays current with “Survivor” and “Fire Country”. Her guilty pleasures are “911”, “FBI: Most Wanted”, and recently went old school with “Third Watch” a 1999 drama with Firefighters, paramedics and cops that rush around during the 3 p.m.-to-midnight shift, saving lives while squabbling over personal differences.

Luck Primetime Multiplex It is prime Stanley Cup season and the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche are both in the playoffs – this week. We are actively watching both teams play. We normally only get to watch just one period before bedtime, then watch the rest of the game the next day.

At the request of Michelle’s cousin, we started watching a new series on (Freevee) called “Jury Duty” It follows the workings of an American jury trial through the eyes of Ronald Gladden, a juror who is unaware the entire case is fake. It's a good comedy.

We are still watching “The Night Agent” and “Schmigadoon”.

We finished the finale of “Truth be Told” (Apple TV) . It had a great twist at the end. It is worth a watch.

This week at “The Promiscuous Knife”  Where not everything here makes the cut.

Luck Ranch tomahawk pork chops made a debut. Fresh off the grill at 130 degrees. Rested then cut up for consumption.

 Luck Ranch Honey garlic with a Cornish cross chicken made for a great dinner over white jasmine rice and fried corn and maybe some hidden bran sprinkled intermittently.

Rancho de la suerte Pollo Cremoso, made in a roux broth with cream and condensed milk, soy sauce and Worcester sauce. Served with cheesy rice and steamed carrots.

Classic stovetop salmon was the perfect message that Michelle was feeling great. Michelle made it taste delicious as usual.

I made Shrimp fried in avocado oil accompanied with French fries and cauliflower rice. Made with love

Chopped meat raspberry marinade with bowtie pasta was on the menu this week. It was the brainchild of Brian Luck. Probably not for you and not a make again.

BLT sandwiches – picnic style, accompanied with a bag of Lays potato chips and some fresh fruit. This was served up at the doctor’s office. We ate while we text and played games on our phones.

Random Fact of the Week Fire ant bites burn like fire. A single ant stings an average of three times before removing its stinger. Ask me how I know. Stings are most common and most painful during the summer when ants have the largest amount of stored venom (saved up just for you). The most common reaction to a fire ant sting you will find is intense itching and a burning sensation (fire-like) at the site of stings. A common site is in vegetable and flower gardens, next to or in the weeds. You will scratch it.

http://www.TalkingAboutCancerMakesHerCry.edu

Rainbows and Unicorns

If you think everything here at the Luck Ranch is always rainbows and unicorns, you’d best stop reading this update and move onto the next. Michelle’s week was full. It started on Monday at the foot doctor. She has an ingrown toenail that has been bothering her for a few weeks. The earliest we could get her in was this past Monday morning. After a quick visit with the doc, she decided to get the toenail cut back. When we told our family foot doctor of 22 years about Michelle's cancer diagnosis, she got emotional. After the podiatrist left the examination room, I climbed up on the one-person Podiatry examination chair with her and held her close. The nurse came in and caught us hugging on the chair with four legs but definitely built for one body. The nurse smiled feebly. I didn’t move, I held Michelle tightly while the mean nurse stuck her with the huge needle. (It wasn’t that big, it just felt big to Michelle) Her soft squeal was adorable yet cacophonic to listen to. I knew I couldn’t help her; all I could do was hold her. I climbed down off the podiatrist chair because it was uncomfortable for both of us.  When The doctor came back in, he started slowly cutting away at her toenail, he soon realized she was not numb enough. He had to stick her yet again. She’s a living pincushion I’m telling you. The podiatrist was finally able to get her toe numb enough to cut away the irritation and hopefully prevent it from causing a future nuisance. In our small talk, we mentioned that we were not happy with the oncologist at Texas oncology. He suggested that we try to do a transfer of care due to location and gave us the name of a friend and colleague of his. We didn't know this was a thing. So, a new chapter begins.

We wasted a trip to the oncologist this week. I set a reminder for 1 week out for some reason, then misread it thinking it was this week instead of next. When we got home, I saw Michelle was not in a good place. It is so hard to comfort her because I am not a counselor, and I am not sure what she needs.

I contacted the “LifeLine Lung Cancer Support” center hoping they could help. They assigned Michelle a mentor named Heidi who currently is struggling with small cell lung cancer as well. She talked to Michelle a lot about her own diagnosis, I suppose it may have been good therapy for Heidi. Michelle was not impressed.

Still struggling after hanging up with her “mentor”, I did my best to understand what was going on inside her head. Michelle finally opened up to me and explained that she was feeling like she was taking too many medications. Michelle is a visual person, so I put all her meds on the counter and showed her that all the medication that she is currently taking except for 3 were supplements. This eased her mind. I think she was feeling like she was an old lady with a medicine cabinet full of prescription pills that she needed to take. Once I made her understand this was not the case, she seemed to calm down a lot. Taking daily vitamins (& supplements) is not the same as taking prescription pills.

I logged into the patient portal at Texas oncology and started a transfer request through Michelle’s oncology nurse. While logged in, I looked at the cat scan results from April 4th. The results showed that the mass in her LIVER has slightly increased into a conglomerate mass measuring 48 x 35 mm previously 39 x 30 mm. She is not getting chemotherapy, so this is probably why this is growing/metastasizing. In her LUNGS, the right lower lobe nodule increased from 16 x 10 mm to 16 x 11 mm. There is an increase in the size of a right hilar/infrahilar LYMPH NODE metastasis measuring 36 x 30 mm, previously 21 x 20 mm (.5 in x .4 in difference). This is not a lot but it does mean that the cancer is still active and is still growing. This was compared to a previous scan on February 2nd.  There were a lot of numbers that stayed the same, these were just the ones that changed.

Michelle's current oncologist called on Saturday morning to tell me she approved the transfer of care. She explained there were some minor changes seen on the MRI results from 23 March.

There is positive therapeutic treatment response of previously identified intradural metastasis in the lower neck area (C5-6 level cord surface). This means that they are seeing positive results from immunotherapy.

There is new metastatic focus in the upper neck or the second vertebra of the spine. (Left C2 inferior articular process). In layman's terms, this means new cancer growth from metastasis in the spine.

The immunotherapy appears to be helping and has been approved for this coming Wednesday. We will see this oncologist one last time before we move to a new oncologist in Round Rock. I have discussed the option of chemotherapy with Michelle, and she is thinking about it.

Michelle had an MRI this week. They stuck her only once and besides the 90-minute wait for a 45-minute scan, it was the best MRI experience she has had to date!

Here is the feature of the week, Michelle’s firsts. Michelle was able to walk down to the creek on Bobby Road. She did this pre-clot last December, but this is the first time since December that she has made it that far. She described her legs as if they were rubber when she got home. "Jelly legs" is a common feeling for someone in her condition. I was excited to see she made it as far as she did.

Highlights of the week: Taking Michelle to the barn with me to feed the bees. She didn’t go into the apiary, but it was nice to have her there. She helped me make the sugar water to feed them, then she offered to come with me to the apiary while I fed them. We made a trip to Stephan’s house. It was nice getting out of the house again this week. We watched the movie “Tetris” (Apple TV) together. Henk Rogers discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by travelling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov to bring the game to the masses.

Random Fact of the Week: There is no copper in a one cent piece. If you wash a penny, you will rub the magnesium alloy off and ruin the penny. (I wonder how I learned this?)

Luckatorium during the day: “Ice Road Truckers”, “Survivor”, “Fire Country”, “Chicago Med”, “So Help Me Todd”.

“The River Murders” (Amazon Prime) A homicide detective (Ray Liotta) investigating a series of murders becomes the prime suspect when the FBI uncovers his close ties to all the victims.

 “The Invitation” (Peacock) After the death of her mother and having no other known relatives, Evie takes a DNA test and discovers a long-lost cousin she never knew she had. Michelle loves a good vampire movie.

Luck Ranch Coliseum: “The Night Agent” (Netflix), “Yellow Jackets” 

“Schmigadoon”(Apple TV) . On a backpacking trip designed to reinvigorate their relationship, a couple discovers a magical town living in a 1940s musical and learn that they can't leave until they find true love. I really liked this one. Michelle is still on the fence with it. It has one of my favorite actresses in it, “Cecily Strong”. I also really like Keegan-Michael Key who plays her boyfriend. It is just the 30-minute show that I have been looking for.

“Zodiac” (Showtime). In the late 1960s and 1970s, fear grips the city of San Francisco as a serial killer called Zodiac stalks its residents. I was not feeling well, so I watched it in a mask, and found myself drifting off frequently throughout the movie. (I had already seen the movie before and liked it) One thing I learned was, the zodiac killer case is still unsolved!

This week “Persnickety’s Pub and Grill” Where she wants everything just so.

Once again, I tried to mix things up a bit. I had a failed attempt at an over cooked pork roast that I pawned off on Brandy and her kids. What should have been cooked for 5 minutes in the Instapot, I cooked for 20! Michelle opted for a hotdog with ketchup.

I thought a potato hotdish would be good too. It wasn’t too bad. Michelle said it was great, but I was a little more critical. I am not sure I will make it the same way again. Maybe next time I will use a recipe rather than just gather a bunch of things I think might be good.

I made a taco salad which is always a hit. It is not always great for leftovers. I still have some leftover taco meat that will probably go to waste.

We enjoyed some more pizza from Grazie! Pizzeria. Where the pizza is just as good on the second day.

One morning I made oatmeal and didn’t realize that our milk ad expired – 10 days earlier. She couldn’t eat oatmeal without milk, so down the drain went to oatmeal and out came the toaster. A cinnamon and raisin bagel with whipped mixed berry cream cheese was a perfect way to make up for a bad start.

We had Turkey and mashed potatoes for our Eater feast. It was a nice change. I am not sure why turkey seems to be a once-a-year meal in our house. I am going to try to change that.

We had a late lunch one day, so we skipped dinner. I made Michelle some corn bread so she didn’t take her pills without food but there was no main course for the evening.

We had a buffalo wings night this week. Deep-fried chicken wings have long been a staple of Southern cooking. We enjoyed them with some French fries and a couple of pieces of fried shrimp and some veggies.

Love, Brian

http://www.ItTastesLikeHerLegsFelt.eww