I've posted a couple of photos from our Christmas celebration yesterday for your enjoyment.  It really was a delicious meal (Cindy and Mom outdid themselves).  Cindy, Dan and I also enjoyed a glass of an exceptional wine (which I had been granted dispensation for by my physician's assistant last week)...a bottle of 1993 Harland Estates Cabernet.  Yum!

I was also gratified to get, completely by chance, a carabiner with a compass on it as my "Christmas Cracker" gift.  It affirmed my (still) goal to make it to Machu Picchu on my 50th birthday in a very special way.

Today was rather a disorienting return to matters both more mundane and, at the same time, of seemingly more weight as Dan and I met with my oncologist.

He's pleased with my progress on healing, so much so that we begin chemo next Wednesday.  I'll skip the gory details here on the blog but wanted to note that at least we are starting down that part of the journey.  It was a bit anxiety inducing to go to the office but the staff and Dr. Cheng are all so warm and nice that I soon felt better. 

The Xanax helped too.

We brought lunch home and then were joined by Mom's friend Liliane (who brought a kugel and some books) for a visit.  After a walk around the neighborhood, I was so wiped out I actually took a nap.  A nap!  Me!?

Well, yes.  So it's looking like another evening of DVD watching, a reprise of Christmas dinner (yummy leftovers) and continuing to enjoy time with family.  Hope all is proceeding well at your homes!  As Liliane noted, this is one of the years where Hannukah and Christmas coiincide...so I am pleased to wish each and all of you, once again, Happy Holidays!

The roast beast is nearly done and filling the house with the most delectable aroma.  We will have winter vegetables as accompaniment and then a "buche de noel" for dessert.  All prepared by Cindy and Mom with minimal assistance from me.

(Although the holiday table does look nice, if I do say so myself...and that was a joint venture between Cindy and me.)

So we (Dan and Laura, Ken and Cindy, Charlene) wish you and yours the merriest of Christmases, the happiest of New Years and a quiet space to digest your own holiday feast.

Photos to follow...I promise!

I read an inspiring opinion piece in the LA Times today, written by former
Wall Street Journal correspondent, current free-lance writer and homeless person, Les Gaspay.

He wrote about the shape of his life since he became homeless.  About the loneliness of estrangement from his family and the deprivations that come with living out of one's car.

And he also wrote, with grace and poetry, of the things he sees that few folks do.  Cranes, pelicans, constellations observed in solitude.  He speaks of a faith that has been deepened and broadened by his experience, by loss and even by anger.

I get that.  I've had some of my most productive and illuminating conversations with the Creator when I'm most angry and upset at him for what seem to be capricious or unjust events.  Our friend's trial and imprisonment come to mind.  The illness of another friend's son.  Times when I have turned to God demanding answers and gotten only the reminder that I am not in charge, I'm not God.  That I don't and I won't get the answers I demand in the time I want them. 

And hardest of all, but also most blessed, is that I'm not supposed to understand it.  I am simply to have faith, believe in God's goodness and witness the amazing ways we humans can take care of each other during times of extremity.

It's just Dan and I together this Thanksgiving.  We hadn't planned for things to work out that way but here we are in our quiet house, surrounded by music, post-rain clouds, birdsong and rich with love.  Rich too with the memories of Thanksgivings past...noisy kitchens, bursting tables, too many conversations to keep up with, smells of the turkey cooking growing until it climbed the stairs and literally filled the house.

We have a feast here this year.  May your Thanksgiving be likewise blessed and full.

Just got done watching the San Diego Chargers WIN a playoff game!  It wasn't looking good in the first half (0-6; Titans) but we came back strong in the 2nd half.  What a great feeling and over such a simple, relatively silly thing.  As Dan said while we were waiting anxiously for half-time to be over, "we're not curing cancer here."

As to the rest of life?  No real big news there either.  But we did pass a very pleasant 3rd Christmas with Mom, Charlie and Anya, and the two of us.  The promised deluge became a reasonable rainstorm and we remained warm and dry with stuffed stockings, yummy scones and a coq au vin that filled the house with amazing smells.

Mom and I especially enjoyed learning about Charles and Anya's Emergenetics Profile.  This tool is a wonderful shorthand for understanding how others think and behave.  Once again, not a cure for cancer but definitely an aide to understanding of self and others.

Tomorrow it's back to "real life" with 2008 already 1 week under the belt.  I'm looking forward to tackling more words on the novel, having a good workout, spending time with Dan and plowing through the pile on my desk.

Oh!  And I should have another California Initiative up on the Voter's Guide by tomorrow night if all goes according to plan.

I'm off to finish ironing napkins while singing, "We are the Champions."

I've been taking a few days off from everything except football, hanging with Dan and video games.  Today will be the last of the impromptu vacation.

Just wanted to wish everyone a relaxed New Year, light on the resolutions, heavy on the time enjoying your loved ones and the gorgeous world we inhabit.

I'll be back in action (blogging, writing, etc) tomorrow.

After I blog and get some coffee into my system, we'll be packing to head home to California.  It's been an extremely festive visit.  Day before yesterday, we hung out most of the day being lazy and then went to Steve and Kevin's for Christmas Tea. 

Kevin and Steve had prepared lots of yummy treats.  We noshed and chatted, enjoying their new home and the food.  Dick and Dotty left before dusk while Dan and I stayed for more rest, visit and noshing.

Yesterday was errands day.  We ran about doing some purchases and returns in the morning.  Then had a wonderful lazy afternoon with video games, a delicious burrito dinner prepared by Dotty, and more relaxation in the evening.

Words?  What words?

I'm going to be working on the novel on the return journey but note to self for next year.  I can work through November but I just can't make myself work when I'm away from home and in the middle of a holiday.

See you on the flip side!

We've had a splendid Christmas day in North Carolina with Dick and Dotty and Steve and Kevin.  Hope that the same is true for each of you wherever you've spent the holidays.

The day began with coffee and muffins, stockings and gifts.  Then we segued into cooking a wonderful filet roast with port wine reduction sauce, accompanied by green beans and delicious rosemary infused mashed potatoes.  I'm amazed I could type it quickly given how intricate the preparation process was...but it was well worth it.  Kevin was Chef, Laura was sous chef, Steve was sous chef and runner.  It's a truism that there's always at least one thing you need to run out for when preparing a holiday meal. In Steve's case, it was two things.

We had a great, post-prandial conversation and dessert.  Then Steve and Kevin went home and we've been poking around, uploading Ipods, chatting with various friends/family members and watching videos.

Quite festive all the way around.  Merry Christmas to all!

 

Happy Christmas Eve!  The last two days have been a bit of a whirlwind so I haven't written a lick on the novel.  We went to Kevin and Steve's house night before last where we enjoyed a yummy, satisfying spaghetti dinner in their newly remodelled home.  Their elderly cat, Dusty, was a key participant in the evening with lovely poses before the fire, refined begging at dinner time and sufferance of our obeisance in the form of petting.

After dinner, we watched one of Dan's and my all-time favorite Christmas movies, Love Actually.  Then we were tucked into their extremely comfortable guest quarters on the third floor where we had a great night's sleep.

After a "lie-in" in the morning, we had a breakfast of Kevin's special cheesy eggs and then hit the road for Fuquay-Varina--home of Dan's brother, Ken and Ken's wife (my good friend) Cindy.  There we offered more adoration to cat-beings Max and the ever-elusive Fanny.  We took a tour of Ken's office and campus at Campbell University (in the rain--badly needed here in drought-bound North Carolina) and continued on to Coats, where Cindy has her studio.  We got to see a few pieces in progress and were very impressed with the work space she's created for herself.

Then we went back home for unwrapping of presents, extensive conversation regarding movies, books (The Ender and Shadow series by my former professor, Orson Scott Card), and playing Spades.  Cindy and I were roundly trounced by Ken and Dan the first game.  After a break for dinner, we took them on again and, although it wasn't quite as ugly, it was a beating of sorts.  It's tough realizing that you're the worst card-player in a particular group (although I do take some comfort in the fact that Ken is simply the best card player I know, Cindy's married to him and Dan grew up with him).  So I've been doing a bit of ego nursing and am glad to have a husband who tolerates a grumpy wife.

Earlier in the trip he proclaimed that he is "Happy" and I am "Grumpy."  I never suspected he might actually be right!

As to the International Heifer, one of my fine friends has given me a wonderful gift this year--the purchase of

2 colonies of bees

3 clutches of chicks

Trees (quantity unknown!)

1 Flock of Hope (chicks, geese, ducks)  

via Heifer International.  I've always wanted to give one of their gifts and Erik's gone and beaten me to the punch.  It makes me feel good to know that these gifts will be enriching lives and the earth this coming year.   I hope this blog finds everyone enjoying a cozy, refershing and love-filled Christmas eve with family.  We'll be enjoying ham and trimmings along with board games, holiday songs and (I am sure) lots of laughter.  I'm not sure about cards.

We had a very nice, if chilly, morning at the State Fairgrounds near Cary.  Evey weekend there is a flea market at the grounds and so we browsed the antique booths, a very nice kitchen shop, bought some fudge and and headed outdoors. 

Kevin found a box full of wonderful old photographs (which I spent this afternoon browsing through...fascinating stuff) which he bought.  Dotty bought a hat to ward off the chill.  Then we slowly but surely made our way over to the funnel cake/deep fried twinkie stand. 

I have long said that I wanted to eat a deep friend twinkie at least once in my life.  We can definitely check that box!  Here's the recipe as I observed it for those who want to try at home.

Ingredients:

Frozen Twinkie
Funnel Cake Batter
Powdered Sugar
Oil
 
Take the frozen twinkie and insert a popsicle stick into one end.  Dip the twinkie into the funnel cake batter, allowing excess to drip back into the batter bowl.  Put twinkie in hot oil and cook for two minutes on each side or until golden brown.  Remove twinkie from oil and sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar.

Enjoy.

I have to say that I never truly understood the words "sugar rush" until 15 minutes after eating the twinkie!  Woohoo!  Click here for a link to a friend's website wherein a photo of such a twinkie exists.

Then we came home, I wrote my 1500 words (the Shimotos just got word that they're going to Manzanar and Lenn's broken up with his girlfriend, Ami.  This was just fine with Ami since she'd developed a crush on their mutual friend, Miro).  Dan fixed lunch for Dick, Dotty and I as I wrote.  Then, sugar rush long since past, I took a nap.

We're off to enjoy dinner and a sleep over with Steve and Kevin.  Tomorrow, we will celebrate an early Christmas with Ken and Cindy.  I'm hoping to see her studio as well.

In the meantime, I need a new "I must do xxx at least once in my life."  Kevin's suggestion was "get a hole in one."  (My reply?  If I make it that wish, I should live forever!).  Any other suggestions?

Signing off from North Carolina (in a bit of insulin shock, I'm sure).

We arrived safely (which you can surmise since I don't think one can post from beyond the grave) in N.C. yesterday evening after a very uneventful day of travel.  Kevin and Steven were kind enough to pick us up and deliver us to Dick and Dotty's house in Cary, N.C.

We arrived after dark, so we didn't get the chance to see the area until today.  After enjoying nibblies and conversation, we toddled off to bed and had a very restful night.  It's very quiet here, even compared to the relative quiet of our isolated house in Orange County (of course...isolated and Orange County being relative terms).

Dan stayed in Cary today with Dick and Dotty while I ran around Chapel Hill with Kevin enjoying lunch, shopping, antique-ing and a preview of his and Steve's gorgeous home (in almost-finished remodel stage).  It was a wonderful welcome to North Carolina.  Lovely people, fun shops and convivial company.

All of which was continued (substituting food for shops) this evening as we had a dinner together at Ruth's Chris to usher in the season.  Very festive indeed.

I did not write a lick on the novel...but I did get in 2400 words yesterday so I was caught up as of this morning.  I will figure out how to get the rest of my words in over the coming days...maybe need to carve out some time while Dan's napping or just count on a marathon writing session the few days following Christmas.  For some reason, this is harder than writing during the Thanskgiving season.

Maybe it's the traveling and the novelty...or the time change!

Anyway, tomorrow's a flea market, possible mattresss shopping, and if I am ambitious, 2400 words on the novel to catch me up again.  Enjoyed a wonderful conversation with Dick about immigration...very thought provoking indeed.  I've been reluctant to write about such a complex issue but he's given me some framework to go from...so who knows.  Maybe in March after the first draft is through, I'll tackle that hot potato.

Off to dreamland again.  Missing the West Coast.  Enjoying N.C.