A quick health update

This has been a tiring yet great week.  My brother and his wife were here to celebrate my birthday.  So I did more walking, sitting without my legs up, and I am paying for that.

This was chemo week..  Platelet count was really low,  They were going to give me blood but I had  no dangerous symptoms.   They decided to go on with chemo  as planned.   The combo of low platelets and chemo made me really tired.  Also I have had light nausea and swollen feet and legs.  Nothing horrible, but more side effects than usual. 

As I mentioned the doctor is letting me fly to see Marty's brother.  I really am not fond of flying so prayers requested for tonight and a week from Saturday flights.  I do have good drugs so I won't run screaming down the aisle, maybe.

I really am tired, and worry a bit about this trip.  I hope to pep up as I get further from the chemo.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Happy Birthday to me

Today was my birthday.  I have had a lovely day.  Marty took me to lunch and then I had my hair cut and fluffed.  We ran errands, and we went to dinner.  The best part of the day, we were together.  All day. 

I received phone calls wishing me a happy birthday, my brother and his wife even sang to me.  I received lots of texts, e cards, cards via snail mail, and Facebook good wishes.   I really do feel loved, cared about, and lucky in my friends and family. 

In my family we celebrate more than one day.  As a friend says, we celebrate the birthday season.  Thursday Little Brother and Ann are arriving from Kentucky to take me out for a birthday dinner.  This may be the most expensive meal I have ever had if you factor in their transportation costs.  They will be here until Tuesday, lots of partying will happen.

More on my birthday

Marty, Friend Paul, and I spent most of the day together.  Paul and Marty shared making the special day happen. We loved The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel!  It is not the chick flick that someone told me.  This is good story telling and great acting.  After the movie we went to 99 Ranch and bought lobsters.  These were not just any lobsters, these were huge. 

99 Ranch, the best Asian Market ever.  Maybe one of the best groceries in the Bay Area.  Low prices, huge variety of food.  The produce is to die for.

Lobster pot, close to 2 feet tall. 

Look at these monsters against the size of Marty’s hand.    Marty is getting ready to throw them into the pot.

He is fighting Marty, see his feelers and claws gripping the outside of the pot. 

Paul took this for me.  I am too short to see into the pot. The lid went down as soon as the camera clicked.

15 minutes later, ready to eat.  Look at how they fill up the plates.  Regular readers have seen a lot of food on these plates.  Nothing has filled them up like this.

The camera focused on the front and the back is a little fuzzy.  But I wanted you all to see our lovely monsters all ready for butter and lemon.

Me, the Birthday Girl.  None of us were able to finish our lobster.  Tonight, lobster salad. 

A lovely birthday, lots of phone calls, cards, Facebook messages, emails sent me good wishes and love. 

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Today began at 4:10.  I awoke to the sound of breaking glass.  Marty of course didn't wake up.  Only a baby saying Daddy wakes him.  Anyway, I got up, checked the house, and nothing is broken that I can find.  Some time today I will find a picture that fell, or glass up on the street.  I was a little unnerved so I didn't go back to sleep until around 6:00.  Now I am up and Marty is still sleeping.

Friends have sent beautiful ecards, some have sent sweet emails. I have checked Facebook and lots and lots of friends have posted greetings.   Don't you just love Facebook on your birthday?  Even my minister posted a Happy Birthday and this is a big day for him.  He is beginning his sabbatical and there is a party for him, plus he still has to preach today.  I won't be there Russ, sorry.  My day to sleep in and to play.

We plan to go to a movie, then to 99 Ranch for live seafood.  If I don't have too much wine and forget, I will post pictures of Marty cooking my birthday dinner.  Will it be lobster, crab, mussels?  We will see.

Ava's first birthday

Today's blog is mainly for family.  This is so family can see what they missed by not being with us yesterday.  Saturday we took a little road trip to Davis.  Our niece Ava was having her first birthday party.  It is hard to believe this darling (and I don't use that word much) child is a year old. 

                Ava just one year ago.  We could see the beginnings of her red hair.

                               Ava now, with Mom Casey

Ava in her party dress.  She is ready to receive her guests.

Marty and I brought gifts for Hall and Annabella also.  Just because it isn't your birthday doesn't mean you don't want or deserve a gift too.

                                 Big sister Annabella helping Ava open her gifts.

                                       More help from Annabella.

               Why are these people looking at me?   What's going on?

 Annabella and Hall on the left.  Big girl cousin on the right.

A crown for the birthday girl.  And she was not happy with it.

 What is this dumb thing on my head?  Get it off!!!!!!!!!!!!

               CAKE!  This I understand.  Gimme!

 Notice the pretty dress is gone.  Stripped to just a diaper, the perfect way to eat my cake. MINE!

 Notice Annabella approaching the cake.  Ava does not notice, she is too busy eating icing.

I see you there Annabella.  Stay away.  Notice the swipe in the back of the cake.  Annabella did damage before Ava started watching for her.


If you are still reading this post, you are family, love goofy pictures, or a stalker.  We had a fun time with Ava and her guests from both sides of her family.  We are so happy having Tres and Casey and their little ones close to us.  

Happy Birthday Ava.

Born on this day, June 3

June 3 is a day of births from Kings to ordinary people. George V in 1865 and me in 19 ?? . . . Birthdays are a big deal in my family.  You don't have to make the bed.  You can sleep in.  You are spoiled all day.  Yesterday was great. Phone calls started before I woke up, and are still coming in.  Friends in Texas woke us up this morning.  My wall on Facebook was full of good wishes. Snail mail brought lots of cards. Wonderful Marty brought me a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich for lunch.  And then he prepared an incredible dinner.

Lobster, corn on the cob,  (I cooked the next one) artichokes with curry mayonnaise, lemons from our tree, and gallons of clarified butter.  If you are a fan of PETA or you don't want to know where your protein comes from,  you might want to skip the rest of this blog. 

 The lobsters were huge.  One was 2 pounds, the other 2 1/2 pounds. The one Marty is about to grab was trying for an escape. 

 In the pot to be steamed.  You can see one is trying to get out.  Marty put the lid on and about 10 seconds later the lobster kicked it off.  The lid was held on for a few crucial seconds.

 The Birthday Girl watching dinner being prepared.  A nice show it was.

 The white on one claw is the lobster "blood" that has cooked and leaked out.  It looks like un lumpy cottage cheese.  Before it is cooked it looks like egg whites.  It is edible and high in vitamins and minerals.  I don't eat much of it, but Marty uses it like butter.

 Empty bowl for shells and artichoke leaves.  Almost ready to sit down and eat.  A couple of things are missing.                                                                  

Below is a picture of the completed meal.  The first bowl of melted butter,  and the wine.  Now we are ready to eat.    Grab your claw crackers and begin.                                                                                                  

 In case you didn't catch the wine label.  Flowers is one of our favorite wineries.  The artichoke is huge, bigger than a saucer.

After the meal. The bowl is full of shell, napkins, lemon rinds, and artichoke leaves.  I had just taken my last bite.  We had gone through about 4 napkins each. Lobster juice is everywhere. The place mats are toast.  My glasses are splattered with lobster juice, and I had dripped butter down my front. Marty had lobster on his cheek.  I love meals that make you work for the taste of goodness.

Thank you Marty for a luscious excellent meal.  What's for supper tonight???

My Birthday Dinner

I had a lovely birthday.  I had lots of cards,  phone calls, emails, and facebook messages wishing me a lovely day. We went out to lunch.  Then we picked out my very expensive birthday gift.  New eye glasses.  We went shopping at the Berkeley Bowl for dinner. When we got home, more phone calls for me.  Marty was busy with a do over on the Angel Food Cake.  Plus he was making won ton soup for me, per my request.   The cake was spectacular.  And the soup, on my so very tasty and hearty.

I am a lucky spoiled girl.

This is how an Angel food cake should looks as it comes out of the oven.

Last week's cake. Very short.

This is last night's cake.  Look at how much higher it is.

Quality Control!  YUMMY!

Champagne for the birthday celebration.  And that is why the food turned out so well. 

Marty making the won tons.

Won tons ready to go into the soup pot.

Taking up the soup.

The wonderful soup.  Mushrooms, shrimp, bok choy, noodles and other goodness.

Last week's cake, a little short.

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Last night's iced cake: high and light, and rich and on my goodness this was so great.