Sometimes one just won’t do. This morning, I had a second cup of coffee. It was yummy and hit the spot. The simplest things that can make you smile are worth a lifetime. This was today. That second cup brought on some warmth, happiness and a smile. A second cup can wash away your cares, concerns and calm your nerves. My wife went for a self care hair appointment today, so she made me a second cup before she left. I was so grateful for it. I mentioned maybe I wanted one to have with her and she brought it in to surprise me before she ventured out.
Simplicity, good coffee and good company. I don’t need too much right now. Just love and compassion. Typing it out may seem like a lot but it’s really not in the scope of this disease. I try to make life less stressful for myself. My wife does this for me as well. My family does this too. They really have been there for me more so than I ever thought anyone could. I am so grateful for these and other things.
My main stressors right now are my cats. Chip is a brat when it’s dinner time. It’s like he knows we are locked in to dinner and he tries to push buttons like only he could. His newest venture is jumping up on the tv hanging on the wall. He knows it upsets us and he does it every night now. I don’t know why he feels the need to do this, maybe just to get a rise out of us. We clap and yell and it doesn’t effect him period. This is how it goes in my mind, Homer strangling Bart. I’d never but this is where my head goes.
After dinner I like to floss and brush my teeth, then retire to the room with said brat boy, Chip. Once in here he is fine. He doesn’t cry or brat-period. It’s like he’s a perma-toddler and he knows how to get you upset.
Today I watched Formula 1. It was nice to see Redbull on top for quali. Max can really squeeze out the times in a tractor of a car. Seeing the McLaren boys push in a much faster car but not get close is amazing. He can really extract so much out of a slower car. Those papayas are so fast/rocket ships. It can be frustrating seeing them top the time sheets but I am really impressed this season. Sure Redbull hasn’t run away with it like 2 years ago. But that can make for a boring season. There’s a real fight up front between multiple constructors and it’s nice to see. I wish Ferrari was closer but they’ve fallen off quite a bit. It’s nice to see Lewis in Red, odd but nice. Mercedes has come a long way in the past couple years. They have a heck of a driver in young Kimi Antonelli.
We got some prepared foods today at Costco. I “made” (heated up) some meatloaf and mashed potatoes. I also made a nice spring salad with tomatoes and some blue cheese crumbles. That dinner hit the spot. The potatoes gave a twice baked potato vibe. We have been really impressed with the convenience factor and taste of the Costco ready to eat meals. It only took about 45 mins in a convection oven. I use my airfryer oven for everything. This should give us a couple of nights worth of meals. I also got more of their stuffed peppers and a Chicken alfredo baked pasta. Tomorrow I need to make more egg bites for the week for breakfast meal prep. I will be sure to add the cornstarch this time to the mixture. I think it will make them more fluffy and give a more silky custardy texture.
Food is a happy place for me. Probably why I was over 362lbs back in the day. I love cooking and preparing meals. I love seeing the faces of the ones I love enjoying a home prepared meal. It hurts not being able to use my creative cooking mind. It’s a lot to even cut a tomato for a salad anymore. Takes a lot of concentration and closing one eye to focus on the cut of the tomato. One of the first things I did for my wife when we started dating was cook for her. She knew she had a good one at that time. I’ve been cooking since I was about 10 maybe younger. I learned a lot from my Granny and mom. Maybe nutrition wasn’t always top priority back then, but I learned flavor. How to season with authority and how to make great meals. I learned how to put a smile on the face of those who tried my foods. And it felt great! I still enjoy this to this day. The smile and feeback you receive on a home cooked meal can make up for a really bad day.
I’m thinking of what to have for a dessert tonight. My mom made some no bake lemon oat bars… I call them lemon oaties. They’re so good. Heck I may even have a third cup tonight with it. Most likely not though. Something to be said about a nice cold glass of milk with a lemon oatie. Definitely a new fav of mine. I did request some lemon squares. They’re so good. My weight is maintaining it’s number, however at the Cancer treatment center, the scale said I’m 8lbs more than my home scale. Mind you, I’m not fully dressed or carrying my phone, wallet, belt, shoes etc. My normal doctors office just takes my word for it but the Cancer Center requires me to step on that awful scale of theirs. It makes me so mad. My bloodpressure spikes after I see the number there. I worked hard on my weight to get to this point. I am stuck on my numbers. I’m 199lbs, not 208lbs. Yeah it upsets me seeing that. I know it’s not bad but it still gets to me. My wife was telling a coworker about it and she chuckled about me getting upset about that number and not the actual cancer.
Today was a good day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, bratty cats and a loving wife and family. Find the little things that make you smile. It makes a huge difference in your day to day life. Especially with a life like mine now. Smile and be thankful for everything you have and can still do. I know I am.
Thank you for stopping by
~Bruce
Tumor Has It 
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