Hidden Chamber in Mount Rushmore

 Michelle’s condition has been as steady as the Mount Rushmore Hidden Chamber. Michelle had another round of chemotherapy this week and so far, there have been no side effects. She seemed a little sleepier after each infusion, but the first day was early. A Normal day in the life of Michelle starts around 9:30am but she needed to be in the infusion chair at 8:15, so she was tired all week just from her schedule being thrown off.

There was no hiding that Michelle struggles with her physical therapist. She has decided to change therapists and locations. Every time we left PT she was depressed and far from motivated to do any of the work assigned. She finally decided this week she was done trying and wanted to move on. A new appointment has been scheduled for next week at a different facility.

Highlight of the week Michelle went down to visit the neighbor at the horse barn this week. Michelle and I are always keeping an eye on the horse barn from the ranch. She has been wanting to get out more and decided to ride with me on the gator to check for eggs at the barn then go visit Cynthia, our neighbor that runs a Mounted Patrol business down the hill from us. Cynthia showed us a new hidden alcove she uses for a tack room; it was super cool. A real building, hidden in the horse stalls. It comes with a great story. 

Random Fact of the Week There’s a hidden chamber behind Lincoln’s head at Mount Rushmore. To accompany the faces, the monument’s sculptor, Gutzon Borglum had ambitious visions of a repository with an entrance crowned by a bronze eagle, accessible by a grand staircase. Interiors were to be adorned with friezes, vaulted ceilings, busts, and bronze-and-glass cabinets that housed artifacts central to American democracy. The construction only got so far — a tunnel was blasted into the canyon — before it was abandoned. Though the unfinished Hall of Records, cut into the rock behind President Lincoln’s head, remains off-limits to visitors, it's the bearer of a titanium vault with porcelain panels outlining milestones in U.S. history.

Did you know? We lived 52 miles apart from each other until 5 days before our wedding. My hidden hollow was in Killeen Texas and Michelle lived in Austin.

Throwback Love Story The 2014 tax bill came, and it was close to $10k. Michelle and I talked about how expensive it was to live in Round Rock. The school district taxes were higher than any other school district in the area and we were now empty nesters. No better time than the present.

We sold our house within hours of putting it on the market. We bought an RV and started looking for a new forever home. We moved into an RV park near the Travis County exposition center. We had a 32ft RV with 400 sq ft of interior space. Just enough for 2 adults, a cat, a dog, and an African Grey. We were probably better off without the bird but that’s a story for another time. We spent a lot of time outside that summer. Dinners were mostly made on the gas grill I carted from our old house. We were on our way home from a road trip and Michelle asked me what I wanted for dinner. “Chicken pasta salad” I said. “Say what?” was her response. After 12 years of marriage, she had never made this before. She had no idea how to even start it. My mom used to make the best chicken pasta salad I told her. I started telling her what was in it and describing how to make it, it sounded so good. I forgot we were living in a 400 sq ft RV with a condensed kitchen. Michelle being the trooper she is, made a better chicken pasta salad than I remember my mom making growing up. She still laughs to this day, thinking of how I “forced” her to make something new while living in confined quarters.

Deep Thoughts Make every moment count. It seems as soon as I finish writing an update it is time to start another. I can't believe how fast time seems to be going. Some moments seem to last forever, yet time itself is like a speeding train. As I have gotten older it seems like years have gone by quicker than a star nosed mole can eat. Yet, I remember my childhood. Where summer seemed to last forever. What is the difference? Maybe it comes down to the joy extracted from life. Right now, it has been important to grab a hold of joy when I can. I try to make every moment count. We are living life to the fullest because time is short, and you never know what the next day brings.

Clandestine Daytime TV “The Challenge” (HULU). “The Rookie” (HULU)

Confidential Primetime “What We Do in the Shadows” (HULU)Based on the feature film of the same name from Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, "What We Do in the Shadows" is a documentary-style investigate the daily (or rather, nightly) lives of four vampires who've "lived" together for hundreds of years in Staten Island.

“Hijack” (Apple TV), “Secret Chef” (HULU)

“The Chamber of Secrets”

The Menu

Occult Delights

Blue Bell Mint Chocolate Chip

Dilly Bar

HEB Mint Fudge Cookies

The Furtive

Grilled Chicken Thighs

Shrimp

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Frankenstein Stroganoff

Smoked Paprika Chicken Thighs

Sous Vide Chicken Breast

Classic Fried Chicken Sandwich

Classified Delights

Mixed Vegetables

Tater Tots

French Fries

Cauliflower Rice

Corn

Rice

Conspiratorial Hydration

Lemonade

Water

Love you,

Brian

www.RockSteadyChambers.org

Sharp as a Porcupine Quill

 Michelle has been sharp as a porcupine quill this week. She has been on her game for sure. We were on the elevator on the way to the oncologist, I sometimes like to jump up right before the elevator stops. This week she looked at me and said, “Are you ready?” She bent her legs like she was going to jump up. It brought me so much joy to see the old Michelle flinging off her old quills again. Usually, I am the only one joking around like that.

Michelle had Physical Therapy this week. She didn’t make any mistakes except possibly not exercising enough. She also had lab work and a meeting with her oncologist who was impressed with Michelle’s breathing and said everything is looking great. Michelle was hoping to start a round of chemotherapy after the appointment but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to finish the day 1 treatment. A short period of depression hit. Her mindset was to get it done, now we must wait until Monday. A cookie dough blizzard helped snap her out of the short depression.

Highlight of the week She had her toes in the water, feet in the sand, not a worry in the world, a cold lemonade in her hand, Life was good. Michelle and I went to Corpus Christi this past weekend. It was tremendous to see Michelle sit down in the water and watch the waves splash up against her. She sat there for at least an hour, soaking up the sun. Nothing could take the smile from her face. 

Random Fact of the Week Porcupines are covered in about 30,000 quills. They cannot throw or shoot their quills. Because quills are so lightly attached, they come off easily when a predator encounters them. While porcupines spend most of the time on the ground, they are good climbers and regularly climb trees in search of food and occasionally even build nests in trees. They are also good swimmers. In the wild, they are known to live as long as 18 years.

Did you know? I almost hit Michelle in the head with a backhoe boom before we were engaged, and again last year when I dug Luck Lake out! You’d think I learned my lessons. Luckily, she has quick reflexes.

Throwback Love Story It was September 2018; I had been traveling a lot for work. Michelle was tending to Luck Ranch without issue. There were lambs being born, which was her favorite. We also recently welcomed a calf to the ranch. Finding things to occupy the time was never an issue at Luck Ranch. Spending time alone while your husband was away on a business trip, that was lonely and getting old. I knew this and could sense it when we talked, so I decided it was time for another surprise. I made dinner reservations in downtown Austin. As some of you may know or may have learned within recent months, we don’t go out much, so this was not going to be a trip to Mc Donald’s folks, we were headed to downtown Austin, in the heart of it all.

The restaurant was called “Russian House”. As a Russian linguist, the name alone had me hooked. When I learned Russian, I also learned the culture. You don’t need to learn Russian or study their culture to know, they love their Vodka. Well, “Russian House” was a vodka bar on 5th street. It’s a darn good thing I booked a painting lesson along with our dinner. I like vodka, but Michelle is not a fan. I was amazed by the few hundred vodka varieties infused in-house. They use fruits, herbs, and roots like grapefruit, saffron, rose, horseradish, ginger, and clover, to name a few ingredients in their recipes. I have some infused vodka I will make you try when you visit me.

It didn’t take Michelle long to figure out we weren’t just there for the food (her sigh of relief could be heard for miles). Pinot's Palette is a paint and sip franchise offering step-by-step art lessons accompanied by wine, cocktails, and a meal. We were ushered back to a private room, formerly a patio that was renovated and turned into a spacious, bright room. It has a large window facing 5th Street, a lot of beautiful natural light and, compared to the other rooms, is more minimalistic with long wooden tables and green walls decorated with authentic Russian décor. The tables were set up with painting supplies, wine, and appetizers. We had beef stroganoff and borsch for dinner. What started out looking like it was going to be a failure of a night, turned out to be one of Michelle’s favorite recent memories. We often show our paintings to guests and ask them who they think painted which picture. Most are smart enough to look at the initials painted in the corner. Painting with a twist 2018 – The Russian House.

Deep Thoughts I look back to one year ago at how different my life was. Life will change at any moment, for the good, bad, or indifferent. I have learned something these past 9 months. It's very important for me to live the best possible life I can and to do what I can for others while still being a caretaker for my soul mate. I am trying to not hold on to any regret or anger and move on with love.

Quill TV Daytime “The Challenge” (HULU). “The Rookie” (HULU)

Quill Nighttime “Lincoln Lawyer” (Apple TV) Idealistic lawyer Mickey Haller runs his practice out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car, taking on cases big and small across Los Angeles. I really like the show.

“Secret Chef” (HULU) Ten contestants are isolated in an underground kitchen labyrinth; guided by an animated hat, the chefs are tasked to perform a series of cooking challenges; there are no judges, and the chefs must rate each other's dishes in blind taste tests.

“All Madden” (ESPN)

“Ghost Writer” (Apple TV) TV night with the granddaughters makes for a fun watch of “Ghost Writer”. We all enjoyed watching “our” show together.

“The Porcupine Nest”

The Menu

Quills

Cookie Dough blizzard

Blue Bell Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Blue Bell Mint Chocolate Chip

The Mash

Grilled Chicken Thighs

Italian sausages

Pork Chops

Honey Honey Chicken – too sweet

Taco Salad

Fried Shrimp

Prickly Delights

Mixed Vegetables

Cauliflower rice (Not quinoa)

Tater Tots

Au Gratin Potatoes

Hydration

Lemonade

Water

Love you,

Brian

www.SharpAsToothachePain.owie

A Cake Walk

 So far, the chemotherapy side effects have been a cake walk. Michelle has seen no adverse issues except for a low white blood cell count. This is normal 2 weeks after a chemo treatment, and we should see this raise within the next week. Michelle was lightheaded going into one of her 2 physical therapy appointments this week. I asked that she be in a separate room closed off from others and the therapist wear a mask. This will probably always be a week 2 post chemo precaution.

Michelle’s spirits remain high although she has been quieter than normal. Michelle told me this week that she does miss driving. She is watching less TV during the day and is stimulating her brain with puzzle games instead. She has been tossing around the idea of taking some time on the coast to put her feet in the sand. We may do this in 3 or 4 weeks, depending on treatment.

Highlight of the week Michelle enjoyed the hot tub a few times this week. I have the temperature set to 88 degrees so when the outside air is 98 and the humidity has the heat index at 108, a 20-degree drop is a refreshing way to cool off. Michelle has been picking weeds in her gardens. When she finishes, her face is caked with sweat. then cooling off in the “cold tub”. This always makes my heart smile.

Random Fact of the Week The word cake is of Viking origin, derived from the Norse word “kaka.” The first cakes ever made are quite different from the ones we eat today. Interestingly, the ancient Egyptians were the first culture to exhibit baking skills, and during Ancient Times the cakes were more bread-like in appearance and sweetened with honey. The Greeks also had an early form of cheesecake, while the Romans developed versions of fruitcakes with raisins, nuts, and other fruits.

Meanwhile in mid-17th century Europe, cakes were frequently baked because of advances in technology and access to ingredients. Europe is credited with the invention of modern cakes, which were round and topped with icing. Incidentally, the first icing was usually a boiled mixture of sugar, egg whites, and some flavorings. During this time, many cakes still contained dried fruits, like currants and citrons.

Did you know? Michelle got her Associates degree at 30 years old. She was working full time and had a full-time single mom's dedication. 

Throwback Love Story Michelle and I met at work. We both worked at MCI in the late 1990’s. Michelle had been single for almost 10 years. I had been a single parent for only a year or two. I knew at the time Michelle had a crush on me, but she was not my type. I of course didn’t mind flirting with her; I knew I could control it so as to not make it go too far. I needed some assistance from a much more experienced analyst, so I worked for about 2 hours with Michelle on a pressing work issue. I was in the office and Michelle was assisting from her home. She was able to resolve the issues I had but not without cost. When we finished, I said, “man do I ever owe you, how can I repay you?” She replied with “Dinner and a movie?” This took me off guard. I was not a mean person, I could not say no. It was clear to me that she was not my type, there was no way this would ever work out. One real quick night and it would be done! “Ok” I said. We went to see a movie (I wish I remembered the name of it). We ate dinner at a karaoke bar afterwards. We laughed at some of the people who sang and challenged each other to stand up and sing. Neither of us ever did go sing. We had a great time. There was a second date, then a third. The frosting on the cake? I ended up with the crown jewel!

Deep Thoughts There is an old Roman proverb that people often quote – “Carpe diem” – meaning “Seize the day”. Often, we fail to act due to lack of confidence or courage. Every day since October has been a “Carpe diem” If we hesitate it keeps us from moving forward.  A delay puts us in a cage of wondering what might have been. Whenever we feel it’s time to act, we act. No matter the outcome. I don’t want to say, “I wish we would have” or “What if”.

Bakery TV Daytime “The Rookie” (HULU), “Fire Country” (Paramount +)

Late Night Bakery “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” (YouTube TV) Optimus Prime and the Autobots take on their biggest challenge yet. When a new threat capable of destroying the entire planet emerges, they must team up with a powerful faction of Transformers known as the Maximals to save Earth.

“Quarterback” (Netflix) Quarterback is an American streaming television documentary series developed for Netflix. The National Football League and Netflix partnered to develop the series, while NFL Films, 2PM Productions, and Omaha Productions produced the series.

“Hijack” (Apple TV) and “Schmigadoon” (Apple TV). Yellow Cake

“The Unit” (HULU)

“Cake and Edith Too”

The Menu

Snacks

Blue Bell Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Blue Bell Mint Chocolate Chip (Seriously, I ate it with a tablespoon)

Entrees

Kung Pao Chicken

Grilled Chicken Breast

BBQ Pulled Pork

Chalupas

Grilled Chicken Thighs

Grilled Fish

Stir Fry

Sides

Mixed Vegetables

Tater Tots

French Fries

Drinks

Lemonade

 

Love you,

Brian

www.UCanHaveURCakeNEatIt2.com

We'll Cross that Bridge

 We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. We’ve had a lot of bridge crossings in our travels as of late. So far, the last bridge crossed has left us with no side effects and no pain to speak of. The only exception she can think of is the pain of having to put up with my dad jokes and dry sense of humor. Michelle had one appointment this week for a lab check, where all tests were positive. She will continue to have weekly labs until her next tentative bridge crossing on the 26th. She still gets lightheaded and needs some suspension when she stands up too quickly. I must remind her to walk upright and not drag her feet. Physical therapy is also something that needs constant reminders. Small stuff, I’ll take it.

Highlight of the week This week it was a cookie dough blizzard at Dairy Queen. We treated ourselves to a Dairy Queen after leaving the oncologist. Michelle said thank you and bragged to everyone she talked to about her cookie dough blizzard and how it hit the spot during a 95-degree Texas day.

Random Fact of the Week A fact about bridges as you might figure. Fairy Bridge, located in China’s Guangxi province, is the largest natural bridge on Earth. The bridge was formed over millions of years as a result of erosion from wind and rain. For centuries, Fairy Bridge was virtually unknown to the outside world, due in part to its remote location. However, in recent years, the bridge was observed by Google Earth users, who began sharing images of the structure online. As a result of this exposure, Fairy Bridge has become a popular tourist destination, with visitors coming from all over the world to view this natural wonder.

Did you know? Michelle hated dogs growing up. They always got hit by cars and died which broke her heart. Our Dog Harley changed that for her.

Throwback Love Story Michelle had never been to California, so I decided it was time to take her. June gloom, probably not the best time to go, but I always forget. It was 2012. We booked a flight into San Francisco and rented a car. We drove 5 hours down the scenic HWY1 to Hearst Castle. We made a few stops on the way, taking in the breathtaking views of the California coast. Michelle would set up the camera on a 30 second delay, then come join me for a perfect picture. I’ll never forget one windy stop; Michelle was diligent in getting the perfect backdrop for our photo. As a perfectionist, she knew the exact lighting she needed, and it was close to sunset, so this could be difficult. As she was bent over making her adjustments, a big coastal wind gust came and almost blew me off the ridge. No sooner did I regain my balance did I realize Michelle too was affected by the sudden gust of wind. Her dress, not a skirt but a dress, had blown over her head. It was quite the show for the 2 or 3 cars that drove past honking, before Michelle was able to wrangle the material off her head and back down into place. Me? I couldn’t stop laughing of course. I think we did end up getting the picture after all. We found a great place to eat that night that neither of us will ever forget. We had crab cakes on the end of the San Simeon Pier at the Manta Rey Restaurant. I am not a big fan of crab cakes, but I would eat these for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ordered them as an appetizer then ordered some more to go with the dinner. My mouth is watering just writing about them. So many more stories on this trip, none living up to the peep show and crab cakes, so I will quit while I’m ahead.  

Food For Thought When I think of the phrase “be positive”, I want to immediately be positive all the time. While I know it's important to be positive, I also have some sense of reality. There are bad things happening to us right now, and it’s unfortunate. That’s part of life. But it’s not something for us to be overly negative about either. We must handle what we have been dealt with and move on. There should be a balance between positivity and accepting reality. That's how I am feeling today. Check back with me in a month.

Bridging the Daytime Gap “The Rookie” (HULU). “Tough as Nails” (YouTube TV)

Nighttime Crossings TV “Magic for Humans” (Netflix) Magician Justin Willman blends good-natured magic with grown-up laughs in this series that sends him out on the streets and into locations like schools to baffle unsuspecting people.

“The Bear” (HULU) Season 2 does not disappoint. Very realistic and one of the hands down best shows on TV right now. I highly recommend it.

“The url” An abbreviation for uniform (or universal) resource locator. Used in web addresses.

“Dead to Me” (Netflix) Hilarious.

“AGT” (YouTube TV) Mindless TV we watch before rolling over to go to sleep at night.

“The Golden Gate Grill”

The Menu

Snacks

Uh, Cookie Dough Blizzard - Duh

Frozen Fudge Mint Cookies

Vanilla Pudding

Entrees

Pizza – Frozen Cheese from Costco with Pepperoni added

Spaghetti

Garlic Chicken and Pasta

Tomahawk Pork Chops

Philly Cheese Steak Delight

Rosemary Chicken

Angel Hair Pasta with Creamy Herb Chicken Breast

Sides

Cauliflower Rice

Peas

Mixed Vegetables

Tater Tots

French Fries

Drinks

Lemonade

La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry) 

Love you,

Brian

http://Time.Nautical.Nose.Music.Billiards.Denture.Chemistry.Physics.edu

Puzzling

Michelle has always loved puzzles. This week I felt like we were living one. Michelle had an MRI of the brain and lumbar. There was a meeting with the oncologist to discuss the effects of radiation as well as possible chemotherapy. Finally, we had a meeting with the neurologist to piece together the MRI of the brain and lumbar.

The MRI was with and without contrast, which means they use an IV to put a dye into Michelle’s system to give it contrast, allowing the radiologist to better analyze the images. A failed attempt to use her port for administering the dye did not make Michelle happy. A stick to her wrist for an IV was necessary. Her veins were rolling in her arm, so they used her wrist.

The next puzzle piece was the 4th trip to the oncologist to discuss chemotherapy. Prior to radiation the oncologist ordered the chemo knowing it would be easier to cancel rather than put in a new order. Michelle was scheduled but not pressured to try another round of chemo. We had some tears this week leading up to this meeting. I knew it was going to be a hard decision and I wanted her to think about it before we saw the doctor. Everyone might remember, Michelle’s last chemotherapy treatment was in December, right after 6 weeks of intense radiation. Her only side effect was everything she ate tasted like cardboard. She said it was not a loss of taste but a change. For those who read the menu I add to the updates each week, you should know, tasting food is important to both of us. On the drive to the oncologist, I asked her how she was feeling. She said she was copacetic with her feelings and ready to talk to the oncologist. Michelle agreed to get the chemotherapy without needing to speak to neurologist. The 4-hour treatment went faster than Michelle expected. She was able to enjoy a full-length movie and 3 episodes of a series on Netflix.

The next meeting was with the neurologist who read the reports of Michelle’s brain and lumbar. She noticed what she called a small stroke in the right side of Michelle’s brain. She was not overly concerned about it. She said it is difficult to tell if it is a stroke or mets (cancer metastasis). Treatments would be blood thinners, which Michelle is taking twice a day and chemotherapy, which she also started. The neurologist did some strength testing with Michelle and was impressed with her tenacity and perseverance. Physical Therapy was suggested, which Michelle is already doing. We will see her in 6 weeks. Michelle will get a cervical and thoracic MRI prior to her visit in 6 weeks.

As of me sending this update, Michelle has not complained about things tasting like cardboard. Let’s hope this trend continues.  

Highlight of the week Michelle was back at it in her gardens this week. She was helping me weed both the front flower garden and the back vegetable garden. This might not sound like much of a highlight to most, but after 3 days of chemotherapy and a full week of doctor appointments and imaging, having the fortitude to pull weeds is nothing short of a miracle.

Random Fact of the Week The first jigsaw puzzle was meant to help teach geography to your young children. In 1760, John Spilsbury pasted maps on wood and cut them into pieces. Jigsaw puzzles were originally called "Dissected Maps". When Spilsbury first designed his tool, he used a map of Europe and divided it into pieces. As it became popular throughout the years, different jigsaw puzzle styles and pictures emerged. In 1909, puzzle makers started to use a mechanical saw to cut curves and complicated patterns in wood or other materials. The word “jigsaw” was used to describe how it worked. The word jig describes the “up and down motion” as it saws the wood into pieces. And that, ladies, and gents, is how the jigsaw got its name.

Did you know? Michelle worked at a meat packing plant for 4 years. Michelle worked at Monfort meat processing plant in her late 20s to finance college. She worked days then went to school at night. Her mom would watch her son. 

Throwback Love Story The year was 2010. Michelle was turning 48 and absolutely hated working. MCI had been sold twice and eventually ended up being engulfed by Verizon. Michelle’s love for problem solving and data analysis was vanquished by the new responsibilities of administering a software system she was not familiar with and did not like. The management structure at Verizon was not supportive of its remote workers, especially those formerly from MCI. She was forced into a night shift role and robbed of a night shift salary differential because she was not going into the office. The Verizon office was in the most dangerous part of Austin with the highest homicide rate in the area. There were no security cameras at the building and the night shift salary differential was not worth risking injury to Michelle. Having said this, Michelle was miserable, she lost her independence.

I could fix this, at least for 1 day. I was going to make this 48th birthday as special as I could. I bought more than 20 gifts for her. My goal was to give her at least 1 gift every hour. I went to bed that night with this goal in mind. Each hour I had an alarm set and I would wake up and sneak out to place a random gift near or on her lap without her knowing. Many times, she was asleep, so this was easy. Once or twice, she was in the bathroom. I never did get caught. Most of the gifts were small, some of them were large. She needed a new bumper for her car at the time, so I hid that in the attic. I fell backwards coming down off the ladder. I remember laying on the floor counting my blessing there was no blood and only a loss of breath for a slight moment. Overall, it was a successful message to bring to the favorite person in my world. The best gift she got that day wasn’t the angel trinket that still dangles from the rearview mirror of our Terrain. It wasn’t the custom family car decals. Believe it or not, it wasn’t even the bumper I almost went to the hospital for. What was the best gift of the day? Which gift won the birthday? That was the titanium diamond ring band with 3 diamonds set with a center princess cut diamond. Michelle later told me she remained puzzled how I managed to consistently make gifts appear while she was sleeping or away.

Food For Thought Each week I like sending a photo of Michelle. I take several pictures and send my favorite of the bunch. I delete the bad ones. Like a photograph, life isn’t always made in the bright moments. It might take 5 or 6 shots to get the perfect picture. You might get that one part of life you want to delete; I’m living in a snapshot I wish I could delete right now. Maybe there are 5 or 6 jpegs that you’ll keep but they’re not good enough to share. We should all develop and grow from the negatives. It takes darkness and challenges to reveal the beauty underneath. When the going gets tough, keep going. Cry, struggle then love, laugh, and live on.

Daily Edge Pieces TV 47 Ronin (Netflix) In feudal Japan, Lord Asano rules his province with fairness. However, jealous Lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano) fears that the shogun favors Asano over him and hatches a plot that ends with Asano's ritual suicide.

October Faction (Netflix) Monster hunters Fred and Deloris Allen tangle with evil -- and family drama with their teenage twins; based on the comic book.

The Midnight Club (Netflix) At a manor with a mysterious history, eight members of the Midnight Club meet each night at midnight to tell sinister stories -- and to look for signs of the supernatural from the beyond.

Nighttime Riddle TV Dead to Me (Netflix) Jen's husband recently died in a hit-and-run, and the sardonic widow is determined to solve the crime. Optimistic free spirit Judy has recently suffered a tragic loss of her own. The ladies meet at a support group and, despite their polar-opposite personalities, become unlikely friends.

Hijack (Apple TV) When Flight KA29 is hijacked during its seven-hour journey from Dubai to London, corporate negotiator Sam Nelson tries to use his professional skills to save everyone on board.

“Rubik's Cube Café”

The Menu

Snacks

Vanilla Pudding

Pear & Cottage Cheese parfait

Cotton Candy

Entrees

Potato Goulash

Taco Salad

Classic Chicken Sandwich with pickles

Turmeric Honey Chicken

Air Fryer Salmon

Cheesy Chicken & Rice

Bratwurst

Sides

Cauliflower Rice

Green beans

Calrose Rice

Tater Tots

Frozen Veg Medley

Drinks

Lemonade

La Croix (Berry and Razz-Cranberry) 

Love you,

Brian

www.EnigmaIsMyNameO.com

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

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