after a wonderful little snowstorm sunday morning and afternoon, spring definitely feels like it's here now. my friend had the surgery for her cancer last friday during which they did have to remove several lymph nodes. the tumor had shrunk so much and the doctors were so enthusiastic that she dared herself to hope that nothing so invasive would have to be done, but it didn't work out that way, much to her disappointment (she's been very worried about getting lymphadema). however, she's healing well and is currently at her follow-up appointment with her sister, having the tube removed that caught the leftover fluid. i'm sure she's hoping that it will now be easier taking care of her 1 1/2 year old. we've been alternating between her regular nannies, night-time nannies, friends and family to make sure she has twenty-four hour baby coverage as she cannot lift anything heavy, and for the first several days it was not possible to lift her left arm very high at all. she's also doing special exercises to keep swelling at bay, and has a special full arm compression band to wear.
the cats are sitting on the bins to my left, enjoying the open window and the warm spring air, along with the birds' tweets and calls. their ears are perked forward and their tails twitch every few minutes.
i have a bunch of photos i'll be putting up from the past week. i've been having fun reading ruth reichl's memoirs, and am still really enjoying braiding sweetgrass. i also managed to get through all four seasons of dix pour cent, or call my agent, on netflix after my cousin ron suggested it (as an actor he appreciates the hilarious stories about agents and their clients). listening to the french language while scenes of paris float by is incredibly relaxing. plus, it's a comedy show and i loved not having to worry about something really scary or violent happening (though the characters can get themselves into the most humiliating situations). of course there's lots of sex scenes in it, but i was appreciative that it was all preliminary and didn't show the full act (i don't know why so many directors think we all want to watch people flailing about with each other - there's something to be said about keeping things gentle and to the imagination).
breakfast this morning was coffee (water mill blend from hampton coffee company) and banana whole wheat flax bread from the new bakery on hudson street (ovenly).
garlic and sapphires tells tales of disguising herself to slip anonymously into city restaurants to critique food and service - the stories are funny and quintessentially nyc.
they're both very intent on listening and watching the birds flit back and forth.
