Dawn Brocco's Life & Design Blog

We were on our way to radiation this morning, going down Broadway, with it's multi-cultural restaurants, worn storefronts and Section 8 motels, when we hear cop car sirens. Not 1 nor 2, but 3 cars zipping around the traffic that always is Broadway, regardless of the time, and pull into a parking lot behind a storefront. Welcome to Kingston!

Had to break down and get some more pants.

In this totally-unacceptable-but-can't-help-it larger-size, thanks to this stupid edema. 4 months post-chemo and nothing's changing yet.

The jeans were finally getting to be too warm to wear. It's amazing I could wear them this long, but it's been unseasonably cool, for July.

But, as I won't be a 10 forever, I refuse to pay a lot for clothes that will hit the back of my closet and STAY there, or get donated, once this issue is resolved. Found a pair of lightweight boot-cut chinos at Marshall's for 10 bucks and a pair of linen slacks at the Goodwill for 8 bucks. Shoes, despite needing another pair, have been eluding me. Nothing is fitting comfortably. Haven't been able to wear my sneakers since April.

And most days, despite eating the lowest salt, highest protein, and more-water-than-I've-drunk-in-my-entire-lifetime diet, the edema sticks like glue. Other days it deigns to drop a pound or 2. Not exactly earth-shattering, and Irritating as hell that I have no control over it.

MUST make another cardiologist appointment and see who he's gonna recommend I see *next*, as he can't find any heart-related cause for it, which is the usual cause for edema. And I have 3 suggestions to run past him, from my Googling.

Am working on some ribbed hats for the current CIC challenge, which is for an orphanage in Romania.

I knit one cap in Bernat's Felting Wool, which I like - used up the entire skein, but it's not the usual 100 gram skein, instead it's 75 grams. Joann's has it on sale for $2.99.

And am finishing up another cap in Paton's Classic Wool, doubled, on 10's. Also have balls of doubled Eco, and some 220 design leftovers slated for more caps. Will post pics (and patterns, if I have time) when I'm ready to send them off.

I haven't knit a stitch on the new Kimono Fana design. It's the garden's fault! The garden has finally put forth edible pod peas and zucchini, and enough green beans to choke a pig.

It takes a long time to de-bean a 15' x 4' bed of green bean plants! And it needs doing every other day, every 3rd day at the *latest*!

Then I sort them, snap them, then parboil and freeze the thicker ones, and cook the thinner ones for hubby's lunch. DD eats them raw. She also eats the peas raw. But then, this was the child, who, when just 9 months old and walking!, asked for and ate, raw brussels sprouts.

Finally got the hubster to take today off from work. He's been on 2 antibiotics for a couple of problems and it's zapping his energy and wellness more than usual. He needs much more rest than this, but a vacation is not in the offing.

He's a tough cookie. I usually have to beg him to take the day off. This time I just told him he's taking off, in my best no-nonsense voice!

I always laugh when fatigue is mentioned by nurses, docs, and Cancer Society reps as a side effect of chemo and radiation. And how no-one knows why fatigue is a side effect.

It's not the treatment that fatigues you.

It's the Dexamethasone keeping you awake, for a week after each chemo, that makes you so tired, so that when it finally loosens its grip, you sleep for 2 days. Then the daily trips for radiation that wear on you, and the poor person stuck driving you!, by Wednesday of each week. Yup, doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure this one out.

So, I am NOT picking and freezing any more darn veggies today!

I am NOT doing any more darn housework today! (Well, except for 1 load of laundry and wetting and drying these new linen pants, as they're too big.)

I am NOT cooking today! (They can eat what's in the fridge and cupboards, or starve.)

I AM gonna sit with my feet up and knit. Now if only the dog could be trained to fetch drinks and lunch...