rabbit hole update . . .

the newest round of meds is not working, so kidlet needs to be weened off it and we start down a different path.  the problem is, these two meds do not play nice with each other so unlike all the other times where we tapered the first while slowly increasing the second, she will have to be totally free of the old meds before this new protocol.  sigh.

so kidlet, when the world looks like this:

try to remember this:

because it will be back one day soon.  love, mom.

why i should and should not be allowed in the kitchen . . .

well, i finally got my paws on some Roasted Garlic Colavita extra virgin olive oil.  Slurp!  so last night i sauteed some 'shrooms in half butter/half roasted garlic olive oil and added some dried oregano because that is how i roll.  double slurp.  and since we had grilled flank steak, i rubbed some on that before i sprinkled on the salt and pepper.  triple slurp. it wasn't over powering just a hint of yummy flavor.

the thing is, the olive oil smells so good right in the bottle, i can't wait to use it for a dip for some thick crusty bread with spices.  it's on next weeks menu.

in other news, mother nature is still ticked . . . expecting 37 degrees tomorrow morning but my river rock sure looks great and as soon as she gets over her snit, i will get out there and remove the delta of dirt currently occupying the edge of the deck.

and because i am my own worst enemy . . .  the other night for dinner, i made baked ziti.  since it requires a cup of grated parmesan, i cheated and used the bottled version which has a tendency to clump.  there i am slapping the bottom of the plastic jar on the granite counter top and thinking i had loosened it enough, so i started shaking the bottle violently from side to side to loosen the rest.  except the top came off.  yep, cheese strewn from the sink, across the counter, onto the stove, across the floor, onto the throw rug and into the pantry. 

wake me up come spring.

it's not nice to fool with mother nature . . .

have we established that i am not the best housekeeper?  if you've known me more than a week, it's a given.  one of my biggest problems has been the pool deck.  mother nature and i fight all the time.

i have this black thumb . . .  very black thumb . . . which means not only can i not grow anything, i get an A+ in killing whatever was there.  that includes but is not limited to the lawn surrounding the pool deck.

so, if it is dry out, the wind pushes the dirt onto the pool deck.  if it is wet out, the mud splashes onto the deck.  either way, there is a big pile of brown yuck on my deck.  i told mother nature i conceded.

but really, i hired a crew to dig a trench and lay river rock and weed matting held in place by garden timbers.  take THAT mother nature.

and mother nature said, no, jeanne, you take THAT and it started pouring. 

more pictures tomorrow if the sun ever comes out again.

sticking my head back up to see if the world is still here.

i bit the dust with diverticulitis.  grrrrr.  of all the things my body does to protest stress, that is the worst.  bad body.  bad.

in celebration:

 slurp!

last night's dinner . . .

kidlet wanted a command performance so here it is:

that kid can scoff up some swordfish.  got to love it grilled, with a little butter, lemon, s&p. 

advocate!!!!!

melanoma is never far from my mind . . .  it is the monster  that took the life of the 9TS, 21 days short of a year ago.  the devastation still holds me in its grasp and has damaged our children.

my friend ce(les)te is fighting her own battle.  and winning.  over two years with no evidence of disease.  this is huge.  this is beyond joyful.  it makes my heart swell.  but she is a fighter.  please read her latest post here.  it is important.

if you or someone you know, has melanoma, it is crucial to get help from a melanoma specialist from the get go.

when the 9TS was finally diagnosed after two doctors 'wait and see' attitude, our insurance refused to cover a referral to either Moffitt or Shands.  even when the first Moh's surgery was performed, he was sewn together by a plastics guy with no knowledge of melanoma. the toe was not large enough to get the required marginal clearance. it should have been removed.  when it came back . . . of course it came back . . . we were finally granted permission to go to Moffitt.  but even as the sentinel nodes in his groin showed no activity, the cells were already in transit from his toe.  no one knew.  removing his toe was very much like closing the barn door after the horses had left.  we were lucky the next tumors were 'caught' in the web of scar tissue from the node biopsy.  all of the nodes were removed this time.  next it popped it's ugly head up in his right lung . . . lower lobe.  a resection was performed, but the cancer seeded on the way out.  seven years from the start, the last scans showed lungs full of tumors, activity in the brain and liver.  the 9TS passed away two days later.  yes, i am leaving out the trials, and the Yervoy and the tests and the weeks of radiation . . .

my point is, if you are diagnosed with melanoma, find a specialist.  educate yourself.  ask those questions.  get a second opinion.  fight for your life.  just do it.

my deepest thanks to Les, who keeps my faith and gives me hope.  she is my hero.  her strength is amazing.  she is a fighter.  she is winning.  follow her example. 

more goodness . . .

remember i wanted to try one new recipe a week?  this go round was from one of my favorite sites:  Proud Italian Cook.

O.H.M.Y.G.O.O.D.N.E.S.S!!!!!  Slurp.  i pared it with rustic garlic mashed potatoes.  the sauce was rich and creamy.  the marsala yummy-licious:

for me it was a definite do-again but it all fairness, kidlet was not so enamored.  she is more of a tried and true kinda gal.

trust me on this . . .