Long drive for a blueberry muffin

Joe and I went all the way to Boston today to buy a blueberry muffin at Whole Foods.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. In the "there's always something" category, the top left of my lip has been stinging and burning again, and there are some suspicious-looking thingies on it around where I had the squamous cell cancer removed in October. A receptionist at the office of Dr. Neel, the dermatologic surgeon, said a nurse could see me today although the doctor would not be in. When I got there, the nurse said she couldn't tell me anything except that Dr. Neel should look at it…when he gets back from vacation on Jan. 13. She didn't understand why a receptionist had told me to come all the way from Western Mass for that, and I didn't understand it either.

There is no decent parking at this dermatologist's office, so we parked a few blocks down in a lot where parking is free if you make a purchase at one of the stores bordering it. Hence the Whole Foods muffin.

Well anyway, I had a good time talking to Joe.

The dental surgeon said yesterday that the phantom tooth might hurt for a while due to slow healing caused by my friend prednisone. I woke up the other day with a terrible headache, which went away when I took some oxycodone. The headache came back when I waited longer than usual to take another dose. This is when I decided I might be addicted to the narcotic. I looked up "headache and oxycodone addiction" and decided that it was what I had.

In the morning I called Melissa and she said to forget about it. She said hopefully the pain will be short-lived, and I should take oxycodone as long as I need it. If I have trouble stopping, my Dana-Farber people will help me. As long as this goes on, I will have to dance around the discomfort, working in activities when I am not on drugs.

That's it for now. Happy New Year to all!

Good and bad ideas

Good idea: Go to Brueggers in Amherst to get bagels for the weekend, especially since Ben was coming home and he likes bagels for breakfast.

Bad idea: Go across street to chi chi clothing store Zanna while waiting for Brueggers to make poppyseed bagels, look at their sale rack and pick out a dress that they only had in sizes 4 and 10. Brought in the 4, which I knew would be too small while the 10 would be too big.

Encouraged by friendly saleswoman, tried on the 4, which was, of course, way too small, so small that with my fractured collarbone limiting mobility, I couldn't get it off and had to ask saleswomen to lift it off me like I was a child. Look at inside sales rack and wander over to full-price clothing. Drawn to black jacket which fit me perfectly but was expensive, and encouraged by friendly saleswoman bought it, adding to my collection of black jackets, black shoes and black coats.

Bad idea: Went to Whole Foods to exchange protein bars that I didn't like. Wandered around and ended up with way more than I had intended. Tasted gourmet salami on small piece of bread with tomatoes and roasted red pepper with basil. Bought all the fixings and made some for Ben and me. It was delicious but am now wondering what to do with all that salami.

Good idea: Tasted good dessert made with whipped cream, fruit and white cake and did not buy the fixings. Tasted grape-flavored gummy supposed to lead to stress relief. Did not buy a container.

Good idea: Went to Dave's Soda and Pet Food City and bought Maddie a refill on her Snausages, her favorite bedtime treat.

Good idea: Went home, flopped on the couch and iced my knee.

Searching for coffee and bagels

What's a Jewish person to do on Christmas when you don't live in a city? What if you want a good cup of coffee? Barry and I decided to investigate.

Except for the handful of Chinese and Japanese restaurants, everything was closed in normally-busy Northampton. Then we came to Starbucks, bearing a big banner, Open on Christmas Day. Success! It was shortly before 1:30 p.m. I got my cappuccino and lemon pound cake and even found a copy of The New York Times, which hadn't been delivered that morning. I was happier still.

Barry got his coffee and we found a table where we settled down for a good chat about this and that. Shortly before 2, an employee announced that the store was closing soon. We hadn't noticed that it was only open until 2. Our happiness was short-lived.

Determined, we headed for Amherst, where we found the Black Sheep deli open. Got more coffee (OK, and a strawberry peach cobbler that I decreed healthful enough to count for lunch) and found a table. It was about 2:20. We then realized that the cafe was closing at 3.

We had enough time to sit and laugh and to finish our conversation from before. Next year, the coffee search begins earlier.

Ben, Joe and Katie returned from Jim's mid-afternoon, and we had our Chinese food that night.

Diane and her family had planned to come yesterday for our delayed Hanukkah celebration, but snow began to fall by noon and continued through the day, so we postponed until next Sunday. I had a fridge full of dinner food, including two chickens, but nothing for lunch. Deb and Charlotte headed over, saying they would bring bagels.

Thus began another search, this one for a store that wasn't sold out of bagels. They tried two bakeries with no luck. At their third stop, Whole Foods, they found one bagel and assorted muffins. I put out some fruit plus cheese, crackers and salami and sliced vegetables. Next year, we stock up on bagels ahead of time. Either that or move to New York.

We had good strong coffee and a nice visit at the kitchen table while the kids hung out in the den. Ben left around 1 as the snow began to thicken. Our company left, and I walked the dog as the wind whipped up snow that stung my face. I was glad to get back inside the warm house. I baked a chicken, and then we stayed up late watching a movie...and eating the dessert I had planned to serve.

We haven't had a decent Nor'easter in a long time. It was good to feel snowed in and hear the gusting wind outside while we sat inside, cozy on the couch.