I am comfortably ensconced in my new abode--on Tunnel Road --just across from the Claremont. It is a studio but so huge you can hardly notice the bed. And as Eoin has pointed out, I make sure that wherever I live I am within walking distance of Peets. In this case the one on Domingo. I have wonderful landlords living upstairs ---and their dog Wags. Wags comes to visit frequently and he and Kofi just ignore one another.
The birthday season is over. Sigh. This was a big birthday in a number of ways, First, I turned 65 and eligible for medicare which in turn makes it possible for me to have my transplant at City of Hope. Second, last year I was a bit sickly so not able to eat. But I made up for it this year!
I was wined and dined like billy o. The Phnom Penh, Fenton's, Chez Panisse, Oliveto, Duende. Dinners at people's houses. (And maybe I am forgetting some) All the food was wonderful. If you haven't eaten at
Duende, you should. Great food. Friendly, efficient, unobtrusive, service. All of our dishes were delicious including the paella.
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| paella at Duende |
Another treat was going to
Fenton's. David and Liz showed a ridiculous amount of self control and shared...yes shared...a hot fudge
sundae.
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| happy about sharing... (david and liz) |
Doug and I on the other hand....!
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tucking in (doug and sile)
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So you are getting the idea that food was a theme. No make that THE theme. When I asked Dr Nakamura at City of Hope what I should do to prepare for my transplant, he laughed and said " Well maybe put on some weight" I don't think he expected me to follow his advice with such gusto! A final birthday food pic. Jim bought a cake from
La Farine and it was but only fantastic. Now I make chocolate desserts. Many of you reading this have eaten those same desserts. Nora and Eoin are big fans and always declare after sampling other desserts, "It was excellent but not as good as yours Mom". However, this cake, the Geneve, beats anything I have ever made. Really. Truly. The frosting makes it look a little bit like a supermarket type cake but honestly it was fantastic . ( Notice the number prominently displayed just in case I had forgotten!)
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| yum yum |
Change of topic: A medical update. I continue to feel fine. My platelets continue to misbehave. My white counts are dropping. Cecchi checks me every week. In other words...same old same old. The idea is to keep me healthy until transplant time in January 2014.
I am choosing to think of myself as being on sabbatical from October until December. So if you want to play, contact me.
The baby is due October 21st. This picture was taken on Sept 29th. The incredibly cute sweater was knit by Joanna D
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| nora, ainate, and sweater by Joanna D |
