My 14th re-birthday!

Posted in Uncategorized by Chris N

So it was February 28, 2006, when I entered the Sutter Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in Sacramento. It is a small unit compared to what Barclay just had at UCD med center.

I had Melphalan that day and then

it was March 1st that the stem cells were reintroduced. For such a huge event it is very unimpressive. The Stem cells are given in an IV that is just a drip and that’s it. Of course, it’s the melphalan that gets you sick and everything else. I had a rough time with it all.

That transplant gave me 4 years without chemo and in remission until 2010. Some people do a second transplant but I wasn’t interested.

Now that I’m out of remission again, it’s a wait and see time as to when I’ll start treatment.

It’s been a long strange trip!!!!

28Feb2020

It’s been a busy week.

Posted in California, Lake tahoe, Uncategorized by Chris N

It’s been a full week with a mini trip to Tahoe.

Barclay had 2 appointments this week. One was clinic to check on his rash which seems to be gone now. Of course, we’re slightly freaked out that the one case of coronavirus is being treated at UCD med center. I think I’ll wear a mask next time I’m there.

Then Wednesday we headed up to Lake Tahoe for an overnight at Lakeland. Our big thing was to walk the new trail that opened last year. It is an amazing feat of engineering and goes right along the lake where people never had access before. ( Well, the Maidu and Washoe did) but that’s a long time ago. The trail is over 3 miles all the way to Sand Harbor. I had hoped to rent bikes at the trail but it was too early in the season. So we walked. I actually didn’t think we would make it all the way but we did. Of course, here it is Friday and we are both still recovering. My calves and legs still are sore. BUT, IT WAS SO WORTH IT. Just beautiful!!

The lake was like glass and the smoothest I think, I have ever seen. The water an incredible blue.

These last two photos are at Sand Harbor. In the summer, this beach is wall to wall people and the line of cars waiting to come in can be miles long. They limit how many cars can park.

We got to Lakeland and 1 bedroom suite was ready. It was great. Very nice.

We went out later for a glass of wine at Riva’s which has a view of the lake. Not too crazy as again it’s off-season in Tahoe which in my opinion is the only way to go although we will be camping in August which is high season. But generally, we stay out of town and only hit up the Safeway which is a few blocks from the campground.

The next day we drove the other side of the lake past Emerald Bay and I swear I had only one car behind me the whole way to Tahoe City. Just great.

23Feb2020

Simple Sunday

Posted in California, cooking, Flylady, home improvement, kitchen remodel, plants, Uncategorized by Chris N

Our beautiful weather continues here. Today we’re supposed to reach low 70’s.

Spring is in the air. Although it would look like we’re headed for another drought so that’s not good. The daffodils are up and there are violets in the yard. I like violets as they will spread and pop up in the most unlikely spots.

I finished the living room zone already. Since there’s not a lot to do in there it goes fairly quick.

Yesterday, I potted 4 starter plants and today I have 2 more to do. Mostly pothos and Monstera and

Syngonium podophyllum. I have at least 2 more of these.

I also decided to repurpose a little table my daughter took out of her room to put the plants on since now I have at least 4 more to put somewhere. I’m painting it white so it’ll blend in more.

We’re looking at stove hoods and found one on amazon we like so we’re going to order that. This begins the very minor kitchen remodel. We can’t change the configuration of the kitchen due to walls and doors so we just have to make do with the way it is. I suppose if we had money, a contractor could do it but we don’t so that’s that.

I’m also going to get a new kitchen island in stainless. Basically, the same as we have that’s from Ikea but they don’t carry this one anymore and the one I found ( AMazon)has the shelf straight across whereas the one I have it’s split.

We’re trying to prioritize what we can do and how much we can spend as there is no more ‘extra ‘ money coming in. That SDI was pretty great.:) 😦 sad it’s over…..

Well, off to the gym and then Safeway.

20Feb2020

The state of affairs.

Posted in cancer, cooking, husband, medicare, Myeloma, Uncategorized by Chris N

Things are good this week with 2 doctor appointments down.

B had clinic on Tuesday and I drove him to UCD med center as it was an early appointment so there was traffic. He’s back on prednisone for a rash but it is minor and seems gone now. I sat in the car dealing with the financial fallout from the Cobra. What has happened is this: His group insurance ended as of 7/31 and that’s when we initiated the Cobra thinking at $700 a month that would take care of all the bills.

Ha!!! NOw UHC Cobra is still saying because he was Medicare ELIGIBLE they won’t cover the full costs. WTF????? Well, long story short, after numerous calls we are on the hook for the August appointments. I made payment arrangements while I was waiting for him to finish up at clinic. All his appointments from then on were covered by Medicare. But we still were paying the Cobra till actually just the end of last month( January). Not sure this was necessary but open enrollment hadn’t quite started so even though we could have signed him up with special circumstances, we just left the cobra in place.

All I can say is if you’re ever faced with losing group coverage and have to go on Cobra …DON”T. Overall, the cost factor doesn’t cut it or you need to absolutely clear what the cover. In our case, I just assumed everything was covered.

So then yesterday, I had to drive back down to Mercy cancer center for my appointment. It’s kinda what I thought he would say is yes, it’s going up but too soon to start treatment and to keep thinking of this as smoldering myeloma. So it’s watch and wait. That’s okay and when the time comes and my numbers are going up faster, I’m sure we will move ahead.

Today, I’m going to do some cooking. I’ve made hardboiled eggs and I’m going to make the olive and feta topping again. Plus I ‘going to grill some chicken for lunches and dinner. I think I’ll grill some onions while I’m at it.

I have some house chores to catch up on and then I’m going to hit the gym.

16Feb2020

Simple Sunday

Posted in books, cooking, Flylady, simple foods, Uncategorized by Chris N

We walked this morning and it was noticeably warmer @ 46 degrees. I think we’re going to get close to 70′ today and mostly sunny.

A few more books I got at the pet bookstore.

My Culinary Journey was excellent. She actually lives in Provence part of the year and right near Sacramento the other part. I think she said Winters. She moved to France in 1970 so quite the adventurer. I was just starting U of A that year. So some perspective.

The ‘Everyday Greens’ cookbook is one of my favorite and this is a signed copy. Greens is the vegetarian restaurant run by the Buddhist monks from Tassajara and Green Gulch. Back in the day when I was practicing Buddhism, this is the Sanga I belonged too. We’ve been to Greens a number of times and if you’re in San Francisco you should definitely go. The food is delicious and beautiful.

I’m also reading ‘Me Elton John’. Wow, it’s a terrific book and boy did he go thru some drug-crazed years. It’s amazing and even more so what he overcame and is now such a philanthropic person. He gives generously to many causes.

This morning I’m making some Butterscotch Oatmeal cookies. They smell good.

I’ve been doing some embroidery so I picked up a few little books too although it’s not quite what I was looking for. I mostly like doing edging and little spots of color on things like my linen napkins.

Today is a gym day.

This week is Flylady’s bedroom zone if you follow. If you’re new to it. Start by decluttering ANYTHING that doesn’t belong in your bedroom and any excessive furniture. Yes, the treadmill being used to hang clothes on needs to go.

I have only one Heywood dresser and a side table and that’s it besides the bed. The side table I need to hold the pills I take at night. Plus my water glass.

Last night I made falafels with tahini sauce and a delicious recipe that was Castelvetano olives, lemon zest, shallot, and garlic and fresh thyme. You cook the shallot, garlic, and thyme in some olive oil. Then add the olives and lemon zest. Cook for a few minutes then let cool some. Then add a block on feta cubed up. I’ve found the feta from Costco in the brine from Greece is the best.

This is supposed to be served with a grilled rustic bread but I just put it over the brown rice and it was delicious.

Tonight I’m making a quiche of some sort as I have eggs to use and some gruyere cheese as well.

14Feb2020

Friday Stuff

Posted in Blood test, camping, cancer, Myeloma, Uncategorized by Chris N

Happy Valentine’s Day!

We don’t do much special since I hate crowds and would not even consider a dinner out on VD day. I did buy some nice carnations at Safeway and some roses at Costco so they are on the table looking pretty.

It’s been a maddening week trying to get a camping reservation. Every single morning ( including today) I have been on the computer at 7am on the dot( watching the second hand) to reserve a spot and absolutely NO LUCK!

There are so many people trying to get reservations for August that it’s almost impossible. Today, I’m trying for 5 different spots and not sure if that will slow down the computer. But if I don’t do the 5 then there’s no chance. I’ll update after 7am.

NOPE>>>>>NADA>>>>>ZILCH

Let’s see what else. Barclay had to go back down to UCD med center to pick up an immunosuppressant drug because he’s had skin itching and slight rash. That’s the one he’s been off of since December so they don’t want any GVSH happening. We’re also dealing with medical bills from August that the Cobra was supposed to cover and they don’t have it straight. I’m ready to just chuck it and make payments. We’ve been trying to get this squared away for months and they just aren’t getting it. They keep saying he had 2 insurances but he didn’t an only had the Cobra. What a PITA>!

I’ve applied to the LLS for my grant for 2020 and that will pay my AARP supplemental insurance. They do such an amazing job and I’m grateful for the grant. If I ever have to go back on Revlimid they would help with that co-pay as Revlimid is a tier 5 drug and runs about $20,000 a month. With insurance you need to go thru the donut hole and then still it runs about $1500 a month. I can’t see me going back on Revlimid but who knows.

Speaking of which, my labs came back very disappointing. They almost double!! ( well the Kappa light chains did) so that is a very bad thing. I see my doctor next week so I’ll see how he sees this change. My ratio went up too but still is overall low at 6.58 mg/L. It’s the ratio that is more important. Still, it freaks me out that myeloma cancer cells are activating and multiplying. WTF…. well, I knew it would happen sooner or later as Multiple Myeloma is incurable but can be held in check.

Today I’m just planning on staying home and doing somethings around the house. I need to mop the kitchen floor and wipe the bathroom.

Tonight I think I’ll make a pizza Margherita although I ‘d need to run to the market for some fresh basil.

9Feb2020

Simple Sunday

Posted in cooking, Flylady, home stuff, Myeloma, Uncategorized by Chris N

It is quite windy but clear here in Northern California. No rain on the horizon but the north wind is making it very cold.

The moon was big and bright to the west as we walked in the park. I only did 2 rounds as I wanted to get back to try and get on Recreation.gov to reserve Nevada Beach in August. I got back and on the computer by 7: 05 am and everything was gone. Oh well, I’ll check tomorrow.

My fractured rib area( old fracture, not new) has flared up again and is very painful so I am going to skip the gym and put Arnica on it. It started( about 2 weeks ago) when I had the very minor cold but I did cough and that always does it but yesterday I must have turned the wrong way and pulled the muscle. I think I first had this rib fracture after my first relapse in 2010 0r 2011. But last fall it acted up again and I went for an x-ray, so I know it’s not new but the old “chronic fracture area. Very bothersome and limiting which I hate. Unfortunate Myeloma does affect the bones and ribs are always a target. I’ve read of people having a bone spontaneously break and that must be awful.

This week is the bathroom zone so I’ll try and limp thru that. Other than that I’ll be home reading or just sitting.

I’m planning on making a mushroom ragu over polenta and a meat ragu for those that want it. I’ve been making the polenta in the Instant Pot and it works great for that if you’re interested.

We had a coyote come right next to the studio where my son sleeps and he got a chicken. It was at 3pm in the afternoon. Very bold coyote to do that. I’m thinking seriously we need a dog as dogs will keep coyotes away for the most part. This was very close to the house so that’s really bold and unsettling. I’m still undecided about getting new chicks this spring. I think I’d like to take a break with the chickens but then again they do a lot of work in the yard. Of course, if they’re out free-ranging there’s obviously the risk of coyote or fox.

7Feb2020

Five on Friday

Posted in budgeting, California, decluttering, home stuff, simplicity, Uncategorized by Chris N

I like to do five on Friday occasionally as opposed to Frugal Friday although this was mostly a frugal week.

We did get the Santa Fe serviced so that was not cheap but car maintenance is just part of annual bills. Our next big bill will be the spring property tax and our car insurance.
We haven’t eaten out at all since the end of January so maybe this weekend we’ll do a Panera date. We spent quite a bit eating out in January. I think we got Round table twice and that’s not cheap even if it is just pizza. I’m using cash for groceries and trying to keep it with $100-$125 a week. I’ve actually used quite a bit from the freezer and dumped some stuff that was just too old.
I walked almost every day, except Monday. Since my foot fracture 2 years ago, I try not to be too compulsive about walking EVERY day.
I started another minimalist declutter game. That’s the one where you do one item on day one and then 2 items on day two and so forth. I usually get thru to day 30 but sometimes it’s just little stuff. I went thru 4 drawers in my office area and did get rid of numerous pieces of junk. I’m going to go thru the closet pantry and declutter any food I haven’t used or probably won’t. I don’t keep a large stockpile so that should be easy. I used to try the stockpiling for the apocalypse and decided it the apocalypse comes we’ll just have to die. ( haha).

I need to wash the sunroom windows soon too. In memory of Kirk Douglas, we’re watching “Spartacus”. It’s really amazing what they did with sets in those days. No CGI!

The weather is a little warmer and it’s nice to get outside some. I think today we’re hitting 60 which is not too bad for February.

I want to get to the nursery soon too and get some potatoes to put in the garden. My daughter has planted the garlic and onions so hopefully, we’ll have a good crop of those. Potatoes do well in our soil so. I’m hoping we get apples this year to make applesauce. Last year the tree was in it’s not producing year but the year before was a blockbuster year, so that makes this year a production year( I hope).

5Feb2020

Books, Lots of Books

Posted in books, library, meal planning, reading, Uncategorized by Chris N

Everyone on different blogs is talking about books so I thought

I’d add some of my recent ones. Here’s the first stack from the library

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I really have enjoyed the Cat Sitter series that takes place in the Florida Keyes. Lots of descriptions. MC Beaton is always a good read with Hamish.

The library series”Something Read something” was okay.

Joanna Fluke’s books are always good for some new recipes. The Aunt Dimity books take place in the Cotswolds and I love that area of England so… Not that I will ever go there in real life but that’s the joy of books and traveling in your imagination.

There were cookbooks in the load too but I didn’t get a picture of them.

Some good cookbooks to look at and maybe find some new recipes. Mark Bittman usually has some good recipes. “Real food “is one used before. Some stuff is the same old same old but she does have good ideas to help you take a look at what you’re buying and eating.

I’m almost done with the Marcia Muller ” the Break”. It’s good and her descriptions of SF are great.

I walked yesterday and it was absolutely freezing( 27′). That’s cold for here. We don’t usually have temperatures like that. At least later it was sunny but still cold.

I went to the gym yesterday finally and it was busy with lots of ‘new’ people still. I only used the recumbent as my ribs are really sore from coughing which is kinda weird as I haven’t really had much of a cough with this cold.

Today I’m planning on going to the koffee klatch with the library friends. I guess our FOL is kaput and dismantling. Really sad since this group was responsible for buying the building the library is in now. Well, all things do change and this little branch went downhill after I left. I’m not renewing the website which is under my name and even last year I told them no one was even going to it but no listens to me. So now, I will just not renew it. The money left in the FOAL fund is substantial so that will need to be donated to the library for materials.

I’m making another batch of marmalade this morning before I go out.

I’ve vacuumed, swish and swiped the bathroom and got out things from the freezer for the rest of the week.

2Feb2020

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, books, ikea, Uncategorized, Walking by Chris N

I ended up having this head/sinus cold thing. Not debilitating but still not great. I haven’t been to the gym as I don’t want to be THAT person I glare at who’s snotting away over by the weight machines. Maybe tomorrow if my nose dries up:)

The only logical place I got this was the hospital as I didn’t go out Monday, Tuesday was the procedure, went to the gym Thursday but then starting getting sickish Thursday. so that’s about the right incubation time 2 -3 days. Oh well, it’ll pass.

I changed my labs till tomorrow but I’d guess my WBC will be affected with a cold. The other tests aren’t really affected by a virus.

I did walk this morning and that was ok.

Barclay’s official last day of work was Friday. The end of 25 years with UNFI. I still wish it had been different that it wasn’t because of getting MDS and then having an allo transplant but life is what it is. Since we don’t have a much in the way of retirement it’ll be challenging but I guess we’ll do ok. If not we could always sell and go rent. Although rents are way more than our mortgage in this area. So who knows really.

Today is the super bowl and my son has a Hulu account so he’s going to log in and maybe we can catch some of the game. We used to love Super bowl and back in the day watched the games. I guess we stopped that, maybe 10 years ago. It started to just seem like they were Roman games with gladiators and kinda weird.

This coming week is open and that will be nice. I’m going to go to the Nevada Co library for some holds.

I might go to Ikea this week if the pantry I want is in stock. It comes and goes pretty quickly. Our space is so limited that it has to be a certain size and this one has on an open shelf for a microwave. We don’t use the microwave much except for popcorn and heating leftover coffee. I can make popcorn on the stove and its quite easy but sometimes the convenience of a bag wins.

I finished our taxes which were very easy as there wasn’t much in taxable income. With SS income and the money paid out from B’s sick leave( he had taxes taken out on this, thus the refund) so we’ll get a small refund. That’s why I feel okay getting the Ikea pantry which is about $200.

Here’s the marmalade I made.

the one jar lid is one from last year and I will put this one in the fridge.

It came out really well and has a beautiful color. I stopped at Whole Foods but they did not have Sevilles. These were just navel oranges from the store. Next time I would slice the rind super thin.

Plus 2 small jars for the fridge as well. I still have 4 more organic navels from Whole Foods so I might do another batch.

This week is the kitchen zone if you follow Flylady. I will start but probably wait till I feel better to finish it.

Tahoe Girl

My journey with multiple myeloma and a simple life.

Monthly Archives: February 2020

My 14th re-birthday!

It’s been a busy week.

Simple Sunday

Syngonium podophyllum. I have at least 2 more of these.

The state of affairs.

Simple Sunday

Friday Stuff

Simple Sunday

Five on Friday

Books, Lots of Books

Simple Sunday