Good Grains!

Ok, to start, Erin & Tommy FINALLY got back from New Zealand, totally safe and they had an awesome adventure. Apparently the earthquake didn't derail their plans at all and they had a magnificent time. I'm gonna see my BFF tomorrow, for the first time in a month, but it feels like a year. I'm gonna have to have a chat with her about taking such long vacations from me ;)

I haven't written any recent posts simply because I haven't had much to write about. I've been taking my trial drug pills and honestly haven't had any side effects or other drama in my life, so fortunately, life's been pretty chill. I've re-established a relationship with one of my cousins, which just makes me smile from ear to ear and I've been baking like a fiend, but not too much else going on up here in the sticks.

On the baking note, I must admit that I've perfected an AWESOME multi-grain bread that will make your head spin. I just finished making 2 loaves and a dozen rolls and they turned out spectacular. I don't like to toot my own horn, but I LOVE making bread and this one kicks ass. It's got oatmeal, cornmeal, quinoa, brown rice, a nine-grain blend, flax seed, honey... it's like a meal all by itself. If I ever make a name for myself in the food industry, it will be with this bread :) I feel so in touch with my pioneering fore-mothers!

The basement is well on its way to being finished, yay! The guys are coming tomorrow to finish the bathroom and mini kitchen which should just take a couple days. They will also finish installing a propane stove to heat the joint. Dad's planning on getting some help from his BFF to install the flooring near the end of March, so it should be move-in ready by early April :) We just bought an awesome rustic armoire and nightstands for a steal which should add to the cabiney feel, plus give me some staorage space. I'll post a bunch of pix as we near the finish.

In terms of the whole "cancer" issue, I don't have much interesting to post at the moment. On March 15th, I have an MRI scheduled, my first one since starting on the trial I'm doing. It will tell if the trial drug I'm on is working (no tumor growth or shrinking) or if it isn't (tumor growth). I have an appointment with my doctor at UCSF on March 22nd where I will learn the outcome of the MRI. My 36th birthday is on March 21st. I'm planning taking a long pause to celebrate what I never thought I'd experience when I was first diagnosed at the age of 26. I never even thought to look past a few months at the time, and now I'm here, happy as a clam, nearly a decade later. I'm trying not to think too much about it and just enjoy the simple things in life like my amazing friends, family, baking, crocheting, the approaching spring, my upcoming trip to Cabo (April 22nd-May5th), the happy, frolicking cows I see as I travel down Fiddletown Road, etc. If the drug is working, I will stay on it for at least a year, assuming it continues working. If it is not, I will move onto the next trial, and so on. I've been feeling REALLY good lately, physically and emotionally, so I have to take that as good news :) My legs are getting stronger which makes walking and stairs easier to navigate and I'm just getting used to my disability, to the point where it pretty much feels normal these days.

I hope this posting finds you all looking forward to the warm breezes of Spring and the thawing out of Winter bones :)

XOXO,
LG