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

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