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July 22, 2005
Hello, 102.
Now that's a weight I haven't seen in a long time.
Ironically enough, I had completely shelved the idea of taking my calories lower until MR arrives. It will be much easier then, when my breakfast salad for lunch and megamuffin half are lovingly packed for me every morning by the most beautiful man on earth. So I wasn't even trying but thanks to my familiar stress response, I appear to be dropping my calories anyway.
I've actually suspected this might happen for awhile. It is my classic response to stress to lose my appetite, but unlike pre-CR days when I would go a day without eating and then consume an entire plate of pasta with marinara sauce at one sitting, I've been forcing myself to eat my good healthy foods even when I don't feel like it. Like Liz, I've come up with foods I don't skip: eggwhites and flax oil, some source of calcium. And with cancer fears, I've added something cruciferous to the "never skip" list.
Tomorrow however may be a big eating day because I am doing three of my favorite things: having lunch with one of my best friends, filing for an election at the National Labor Relations Board, and going for happy hour drinks with my other best friend. How exciting! After the week I've had I feel desperately in need of a best friend lunch and a girls' night out, and I will get both. And filing for an election is always good... after all, that's what I do, right? I may also get the honor and privildege of going to the Philadelphia water company building... in order to change the water service in our new house to my name, they require me to appear in person with two forms of ID and a note from the landlord. They say they might not even accept that. In the kind of Kafkaesque scenario I have come to accept from utilities, they told me over the phone that they require two months of utilty bills in my name at the new house before they will change over the service. "But I want to change the service so that I can pay the utility bills." "But you have to prove that you live there before we change the service." Totally circular. What is a girl to do? They say they might, if I am lucky, accept a signed letter from the landlord (keep in mind that I am trying to PAY these people!) I wonder if I will be interviewed. "Why do you need water?" "Uh, so I can shower, wash dishes, and drink and cook with it?" Maybe I'll bring a resume just in case. "I promise I won't waste water. I'll be very good to it. I have a good job! I am a responsible person! Just allow me to pay the water bill!"
The good news is that I don't have cancer. My doctor said that I had cells that "look abnormal and look normal at the same time." I thought to myself: I hope no one ever says that about my appearance! But I don't have cancer. He took a biopsy of the cells in question, so now I can really identify with how a piece of paper feels when you punch a hole in it. Ouch!!! I may never be able to wield a hole puncher again! I spent the rest of the day in considerable pain, but between painting and having to run down to Delaware County to pick up a card at 8 pm from a nurse, I didn't have time for the pain (yes it's a Carly Simon quote.) I am feeling much better now, and I get the results back in two weeks. While I'm not thrilled to have that hanging over my head for the next two weeks, it's good to know that at least I don't have cancer.
One of the more entertaining parts of my job is that I spend a lot of time meeting nurses in locations near their homes or jobs, and that takes me to a lot of places I wouldn't have occasion to visit otherwise. Tonight I had to go to a bar in Delaware County (which is just south of the city of Philadelphia) where I met one of my favorite nurses after work. As I am chronically early, I had plenty of time to drink a seltzer water with lemon while waiting (I wanted a beer, but I was driving and haven't been eating much so there was no way I was going to have a drink). While I enjoyed my seltzer I got to witness a little bar fight. Some guys had been giving the bar tender a hard time and started to yell at him, so he had to eject them. Very exciting. One of the other patrons, in an attempt to calm the offending parties, pointed out that there was a lady sitting next to them. That was me. I suppose I am a lady now. I just kept my nose buried in my Irish newspaper (south of Philly is a very Irish and Italian suburb) and hoped it would all go away. I was not in the mood to break up a bar fight. I mean really. Can't a girl drink a seltzer with lemon in peace?
Posted by april at July 22, 2005 12:09 AM
Comments
Oy, I guess longer life will inevitably mean more biopsies, which are always so stressful. But when it means more good news in the end, well, that's good! Yay for NO CANCER!!
That water company fiasco is a delightful tale. I laughed out loud! One of the nice but also kind of unsettling things about living in a very small town is that everybody already knows exactly who you are and where you live, so stuff like ID and proof of residence are never ever required. You walk into the post office, and the clerk says, "Oh, hi Miss Liz, you must be here to pick up your registered letter. It's something from your ex-husband's lawyer, I hope they're not giving you any trouble. Hold on, I'll go get it from the back, and we can see what they want." Ummmm....ooookay.
Have a great day, and don't start any bar fights.
-Liz
Posted by: Elizabeth at July 22, 2005 6:21 AM
April,
as always your upbeat attitude is inspiring and motivational. I know it's hard to wait for test results. What better way to crowd out the worry than to fantasize about the wonderful meals you and MR can attack together! I admire your pluck and am vicariously enjoying the tales of your setting up a new household. It is one of the most optimistic, joy-filled times in anyone's life. Hold onto the feeling and have a great weekend shopping for vibrant produce!
Laura
Posted by: Laura at July 22, 2005 8:08 AM