It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

Once again, it was cool enough for part of the day to have the windows open.  This summer has been kind to us.

I was able to get outside and walk every day this past week!

My first round of taxol has resulted in some additional side effects, both of which are listed on the hand out.

The tips of my fingers and toes went numb last Sunday, and have not come back.  The shooting joint pains have gone, though...so there's that.  Those were gone completely by Wednesday.

Then, I got a sore on the tip of my tongue that hurts really badly at times, and at other times is completely forgettable.  The dry mouth has also become more pronounced.

The strangest things set the pain of the sore off, too....like bland plain hummus.

SO, I talked to the nurse twice this past week.

She said that the peripheral numbness should resolve before my next treatment, and if it does NOT, they will change something in my treatment.

I have also heard, since talking to her, that the numbness can become permanent.  We'll have to see if my 25 year long career as a massage therapist is now officially over.

I can't treat clients if I can't fucking feel with my finger tips.

I also talked to her about the mouth, and she called in a prescription oral rinse that I am supposed to use 4 times a day.  She said that it doesn't sound like thrush, which is a common side effect, but that I should use the anti fungal rinse just the same.

The rinse also causes numbness that takes away the pain for a few minutes.

I have used it 4 times all together since picking it up on Friday night, and the spot on my tongue is now pretty much gone.

The numbness it causes in my mouth and on my lips is most disconcerting, but it does not last long.

One year ago on the last Sunday of August, while we were dealing with Dave's mom having been in the hospital for a month, my precious cat Jack told me that he was done.

He'd been diagnosed with lymphoma a few months earlier, and on that afternoon, he looked at me and groaned when I touched him.

We took him to the emergency vet, and made sure that he didn't have any more bad days.

I had promised him that I would help him when the time came, on his first bad day, and up until that point, he hadn't had any bad days.

He didn't cry in the carrier in the car on the way, and he crawled out of the carrier on his own at the vet, and he lay very still and peaceful as we held him and let him go.

I still miss him.

Our two babies now are doing great.  I had asked Jack to send me a kitty who would love me as much as he did, and that was when Pete came along.

He is a trip, that one!  Plays fetch like a puppy, and crawls into my lap at every opportunity, and gazes up at me with utter devotion and love.  Jack came through!

Annabel is also a very sweet girl.  I've never had a female cat before, because they tend to be psycho.  She has her psycho moments, but she is also a very loving and affectionate kitty.

Lately, she has been crawling into bed with me, and snuggling up against my heart, in the circle of my arms, like our remarkable Louie did during his short time on this earth.

We are off to visit Dave's dad.  He seems to be doing well these days since his helper moved in.

He's taking his meds, I think, and is far more lucid.  She also makes sure he eats.

He even called the other night and asked how I was doing!

Then, when we get back, there will be chores and making a batch of egg cups for this week's breakfasts.

Everyone have a good Sunday!