I had a great birthday - even though I spent a lot of it at work. News first - I am out of the humidor at Binny's. I am now the Spirits Consultant and on the floor in the spirits department. This does make me happy.

We had a wonderful birthday party at our house Saturday evening. Lots of friends, lots of food, lots of drink, and lots of fun. A good time was had by all - work friends, friend friends, neighbor friends! I got several surprise goodies - a saber tooth tiger skull from Lee, Cognac from Steve, and an old bottle of "Sam's Selection" Cognac from Larry. Sharon gave me two tickets to Whiskey Fest and offered to be the designated driver. I told Larry he would be my guest and he was thrilled.

I am feeling pretty darn good lately and pleased that my hair is growing pretty quickly - though it still has a long way to go. Biggest issues are my lungs fingernails, and finger neuropathy. I can deal with all of them. I am so glad that chemo is over and my body is fighting to retore itself to as normal as it can get.



Hair, hair, hair! I am growing hair! Each day I see a bit more and I find it exciting. My nails are slowly growing and old ones are slowly falling off. I believe the antibiotics for pneumonia are working, though I am having to use the inhaler in the evenings when I am tired.

Sharon used the clippers to even out my head hair. Though there is not much some of them were a bit long and wild. Now we are even at a number 1 guard level or below. She also did ear hair clean up - why did those have to grow back too?

My favorite photo subjects are still cooperating with me. They just lay there and look cute. Their only worries are finding the best warm spot, are their food dishes filled, are their water sources filled. and for Shelby, "Can I sneak out the back door."

Update. Today I went in for the pulmonary function test and an x-ray. Dr. Ha called me this afternoon to tell me that the x-ray showed signs of pneumonia and I needed to start on antibiotics and not to bother with the pulmonary function test! Oh well, that test is done. Looks like I have pneumonia and not just an annoying cough and occasional wheezing.

Happy New Year!

It has been a lazy start for 2011 - at least for me though not Sharon. On New Year's Eve I chilled at home with Kathy and Kevin while Sharon worked her tail off at Bistro Monet until about 1:30am. Kathy and I were going to take a bottle of Champagne over there at midnight, but my pizza dinner decided to rid me of any thoughts of leaving the house.

On New Year's Day we saw K and K off and then had a nice breakfast (at noon). Sharon headed to the restaurant later and I watched football and napped. When Sharon came home she made black eyed pea risotto! It was delicious. Our New Year's Day tradition has been to have some sort of black eyed pea dish. This was a tradition I brought with me from Texas and learned from my parents.

Tomorrow I head for Central Du Page Hospital for a pulmonary function test. I have had to use the inhaler three times since I got it and I have been grateful. Other than lung issues the remaining issues with chemo are the neuropathy in my hands. My nails look horrible and some of them are barely hanging on - but they will not just come off. Damn. Hair is growing back on my head and face and even eyebrows. No more nausea. A little more energy. I am getting better.