Settling in

Thanks to friends and family our apartment is beginning to look like us. We've figured out where to put most of the things that are important to us - including an array of photos of family and travels - and we're almost at the point where we can find things within one or two tries.

The Pearl is a great place to explore -each day we find a new store or restaurant that delights. And many of the restaurants/bars are opening at 9 am to show World Cup soccer, giving us a different view of neighbors.

Lynn continues to have adventures related to his health and treatment - we had to put off the second round of chemo because of blood levels but hope to get that in this Thursday. The radiation seemed to have helped alot with pain, providing a nice respite from round the clock drugs and winces. Moving into palliative care from aggressive cancer fighting is a bit strange. We're still battling this cancer-and hope that the radiation and chemo shrink the tumors to extend Lynn's life and make the quality of life better.  But it's an odd feeling, to know that there's a limit to what can be done.

Lynn's calendar has filled with visits from friends and family.  His friend Bob Luther came by last week and helped him get a new hat. My friend Katherine Klein did some redecorating/rearranging of our new apartment when she came in for an overnight trip.

And Jess and Nicole spent a week testing out the guest room, and getting in the midst of managing some of the treatment stuff.  They were instrumental in Lynn's successful quest to start a rose garden on our balcony.

That excursion had some fun ripple effects. In order to get shards for the bottom of the rose planters, they wrote the word "Cancer" on an old clay pot, and took turns with a hammer to "smash cancer". Very rewarding!

Grandma Joyce comes in next week for Deborah's birthday, straight from her cross-Canada train tour. She and Deborah will take off for an overnight to a spa/hotel in the mountains while Dana and Meghan hang with Lynn.

Keep those good thoughts and cards coming!