desperance: (Default)
desperance ([personal profile] desperance) wrote2017-10-15 10:14 am

Negative time, positive vibes

Good morning, from Day Minus Six! (I actually nearly typed Seven there, which would have been wrong. Happily I had the wit to check. These negative hours pass inconsistently, I find, and I lose my place in the calendar.)

This morning I learned in Mexico what had eluded me for five years in California: that not only does the Bay Area have an active cricket league, but that Sunnyvale has a cricket club which is a bright star in that league, and has a dedicated permanent cricket pitch a short cycle-ride from our house. I may have renewed sports fandom in my future. Ah, the crack of willow upon leather: how I have missed thee, my Hornby and my Barlow long ago!

Karen had a couple of utterly miserable days post-chemo, constantly sick and not at all interested in food. Ginger ale and water saw her through, with the aid of ginger candies; yesterday she had oatmeal for breakfast (how right was I, to bring steel-cut oats from California? *preens self*), a little soup for lunch and a little chicken and brussels sprouts for dinner. This morning I am making French onion soup and croutons, and we will see how the day plays out.

They're odd, these days. We're very detached from the world in here, and with Karen having been so sick we're a little detached from our own group as well. Everybody else had a roof-party yesterday, with real Mexican food and music; we lingered below in the backwash. We see doctors morning and evening, with Karen's shots; I go to the store as often as I can make excuse for it; otherwise we hang out in here, reading and dozing. We haven't even been watching much TV, though Netflix is a saviour and "Breaking Bad" turns out to be really rather good. I've been working on the Crater School - oh, and cooking, obviously - and I have The Count of Monte Cristo on my Kindle. An old friend, and always reliable. (Actually I think it a work of genius; our lawyer and I bonded over that, last month.)

With that first round of chemo having been so hard on Karen, we're anticipating a difficult second week, because the next round will be worse. But we're a quarter of the way through this whole process now, so that's a thing. And Karen will still be weak and immunocompromised, and it may be a year before she's fully recovered, but nevertheless. Our friends are awesome, and I'm there to do all the things, and with any luck it will all prove worthwhile. *nods affirmatively*
movingfinger: (Default)

Cricket and school stories

[personal profile] movingfinger 2017-10-15 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Coincidentally, in honor of Wodehouse's birthday, I was just rereading Mike.

Keep well, both of you!
shewhomust: (Default)

[personal profile] shewhomust 2017-10-15 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
*nods in sage agreement*
swan_tower: (Default)

[personal profile] swan_tower 2017-10-15 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Fingers crossed for you guys.
agoodwinsmith: (Default)

[personal profile] agoodwinsmith 2017-10-15 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Although we call it the placebo effect, and are trained to treat it as frivolous, the power of believing in the self and the process is extremely valuable. All the things you do which foster that for Karen are so important. Lather, rinse, repeat.
al_zorra: (Default)

[personal profile] al_zorra 2017-10-15 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Is this North American Netflix? I should check . . . .
sovay: (Rotwang)

[personal profile] sovay 2017-10-16 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
Our friends are awesome, and I'm there to do all the things, and with any luck it will all prove worthwhile. *nods affirmatively*

It is my hope that in a year Karen is fully recovered and you have attended many local cricket games.
mrissa: (Default)

[personal profile] mrissa 2017-10-16 11:18 am (UTC)(link)
Thinking of you both.
madrobins: It's a meatloaf.  Dressed up like a bunny.  (Default)

[personal profile] madrobins 2017-10-16 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
All the good thoughts, as per usual. It's hard being the sick one, and it's hard being the carer. On the other hand, I would come down for your onion soup, if I didn't think I"d bring microbes with me.

Thank you for the updates. They are useful for all your awesome friends who are fretting, rather, up north. (Also: I adore The Count of Monte Cristo and you have reminded me that I need to reread again soon.)
diemzone: detail of a painting on round canvas, in red and white, green and gold (Default)

[personal profile] diemzone 2017-10-16 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Sending all positive vibes her way from over the pond.
wordweaverlynn: (Default)

[personal profile] wordweaverlynn 2017-10-16 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Keeping you and Karen in my thoughts. I hope the ginger keeps helping.

As for Breaking Bad. Freaking brilliant. My housemate and I watched the entire series over the course of about three weeks this past summer. I'm still haunted by it.