The big 60! Not quite 45 but still on the way.

So I learned something new today.  I asked about the liver tumors that my latest CT said are stable or slightly shrinking in size.  I asked if they were stubborn and learned that the cancer cells can be killed but it takes a long time for the cells to be removed from the body and some may stay and some scarring may stay.  My pancreas tumor shrank from 3.2 x 2.2 to 2.0 x  1.3.  Sounds good to me.  The important thing is the CEA and its continued trend down to 60.  So still looking for 45 and then 3.  This is treatment 9 of a possible 12.  As long as there are no new cumulative side effects or a plateau I am hoping to do all 12.  Then we rest and watch and go to Japan.  Not sure what comes after that besides CT tests every two months and maybe blood tests every two weeks.  Those are questions for the next visit. Thanks Jill for my "45" shirt.  I was so excited once I figured out what it meant!

A story.  So in 2005 I went to Nambia with a group of educators.  Along the way we found choc-kits
cookies. They were so good.  I kept a box top in my desk drawer to remind me of what they were called.  Every time we went to Africa I looked for them, no luck in the countries we visited.  Every so often I would check online to see if I could order them from somewhere.  No luck until a few weeks ago and I am now the proud owner of 6.5 boxes of choc-kits.  Oatmeal cookies with white chocolate filling.....1.5 boxes are gone and I am pleased that they taste as good as I remember even with my goofed up taste buds.  I think I will save the last box for when I have my taste buds back and see if they are even better.

My hair is growing, not a lot, but enough.  No color yet.

I did another puzzle, with some help from Mary and Co after they helped us take off the pool cover.
Somehow we moved from calling contractors to fill it in to opening it.  We decided we will be here more this summer and swimming would be good exercise for us both.  The water was clear when we opened it--after two years, with much sediment on the bottom. Some algae is building upon now but that will go away with a dose of chlorine. Valley pool came out to officially open it and get everything running yesterday and tomorrow we hopefully have someone vacuuming the stuff off the bottom, though it is supposed to be cold.

I had a much better recovery this time than last.  I was tired and lethargic much of the previous two weeks.  I decided to eat mac and cheese for breakfast for a week and I have to assume that helped--a bit of protein to start the day. And hot chocolate, some all important carbs.  I have a new side effect.  Dr Dan calls them zingers.  I called them puffs of air but they surge through my feet and are gone.  I notice them a lot when driving or sitting in theater chairs.  They are odd and feel funny but that is about it on them.  Dr Dan continues to be amazed at how I am handling chemo that should be much more difficult.   I continue to be grateful and appreciative and do not take any of it for granted.  I attribute much of it to your thoughts prayers and good wishes.

Two week update.  We are in the midst of the bathroom remodel.  It is looking good and shower tile should be done today.  Then the fixtures, tub, vanity and sink, toilet, mirror and shelving got installed and Mark come s to paint.  Our favorite part of any project.  Scott Debbie and Emma (French cousin doing a year of high school in Seattle) come the weekend after next so they may have a rigged shower curtain but hopefully the rest will be done.

Movie review:  The Boss--don't go see it.

Theater review:  We saw the first half of "C" at Theater Latte Da, a musical Cyrano de Burgerac. Nancy was pretty tired at the 9:30 intermission and though we enjoyed the first half and the singing we gave into the tiredness and headed home.

Music Review:  One Voice Mixed Chorus is a local LGBTA choir that our friend Colleen sings in.  We go to most all of the shows, not out of obligation, but because they are a good choir and do different things with each show.  This time featured  Taiko drummers.  Traditional Japanese drumming for ceremonies and celebrations. Three strong, musical, and graceful women captivated the audience.  The concert featured new songs and some world premieres.  It is fun when the songs really showcase the range and musical abilities of the choir members.

3-D multi media

Tibetan prayer flags from movie

Art Review:  Colleen was our docent for the Discovering American Art Now exhibit at the MIA.  An eclectic collection of contemporary American artists, many of them women and many using multi materials to create a targeted snapshot of their world.  We throughly enjoyed it and will go back to spend more time absorbing the sense of story each piece portrays.

Floor Flocking, Dirt

The textile center on University had two shows, one was an installation of flocking using dirt and other media to create lace like designs on the floor, tables and shelving.  It was fascinating.  The other was of baskets, traditional style, which were gorgeous and then free style with beads, curves, open shapes sometimes resembling shells.  This is was took me to the center in the first place and I was not disappointed.

Mary and Colleen's Rotary club has a roses fund raiser so we drove Colleen around one afternoon while she delivered roses.  We came home with a gift of a dozen for us and then took a dozen to Gerrie when we met her for lunch.  They have been beautiful in our kitchen.  After canceling my last lunch date with Tamara Root from Hamline days.  Sue joined us and we had a good meal at Colassal in St Anthony Park.  It was fun to talk about art, travel and just catch up.

Big news for Sue's family.  Her cousin Nancy who lives in Madison is moving to Hudson to be closer to family, her son Darin, cousin Kim and Lin and us.  We are all thrilled that she will be close by and that we will be able to visit more often and more easily.  She found, much to her surprise, an independent living to assisted living facility that "felt like home."  They had a an opening and she is moving June 1.  We will all be busy in May.  We will go down for a few days to help sort and pack some things.  While she was up here for the weekend we enjoyed a family dinner at Darin's and a good time was had by all.

We attended two sessions of a healing touch series.  The first actually was talking about surviving cancer and using healing touch and guided imagery as tools.  The second was techniques of healing touch.  It was interesting and inspired both of us to want to learn more about the power of positive thinking and use of energy in healing.  We had hoped to go next week to learn about healing touch with animals but have other plans.