Flasher

So I've been meaning to share some of the odd moments that have occurred since I started radiation treatment, such as: this week, I met a new radiation technician, who will be working on my case. "Hi, my name is Keri" he said... 30 seconds later I'm topless.

You have to admit, in the normal course of events, this would only happen if I worked in a (so-called) gentlemen's club, albeit possibly without the name exchange.

Ummm... so yeah, once again, I was flashing my boob at some stranger (as my engineer teases me). I just lay back, put my arms in the vaguely B&D-ish armcuffs (really, you should click on that link -- words fail to do justice to the setup), and think of England... while trying to avoid the ominous Robocop-like sounds of the giant radiation machine rotating around me at several angles.

Once again, I'm tellin' ya -- check out the photo, and you'll see why I start to think of that scene in Robocop where the hapless executive at the demo meeting was demolished by the problematic prototype robot (not the Peter Weller model).

On the bright side, I had my weekly checkup with my radiation oncologist (honestly, in person she looks like she's barely old enough to be out of college, though clearly her resume renders this impossible) who gave me a big thumbs up. She said my skin looks very good (i.e., after 13 doses of radiation) and that I've clearly been "hydrating very well." Unlike other doctors, by this she means that I have been diligently using my Eucerin to minimize the irritation from the radiation.

So although my skin is darkening in the area under treatment (i.e., my entire upper left torso) and there is a red flush across my chest (soooo itchy), and that my boob is now so aggravated/irritated that I have to sleep on my right side (again) -- really, I'm doing well. Heh. (The skin will lose the leathery tone eventually, I've been told.)

And of course, the UN is now in session so traffic is nightmarish -- more so than normal. My express bus, the X90, has to go up First Avenue every day, past a flotilla of traffic cops and blockaded streets. (The hospital is at 67th & 1st and the UN is at 42nd & 1st so...)

As you can see by this notice on one of the buses, besides not paying parking tickets, and being exempt from all sales taxes (yes, even in restaurants), UN diplomats seem to accomplish a whole lotta nothing (I mean, no one seems to stop any nuclear programs -- or anything else -- when scolded by the UN, do they?) except aggravating the natives. Hence, my blurry cellphone pic:

Due to the UN General Assembly from September 27, 2009 to October 2, 2009 we expect significant delays on all Manhattan bus service due to the Frozen Security Zones and Motorcades. Expect delays to be the greatest on:

M1, M2, M3, M4, M9, M20, M27, M42, M50, M66, M72, M101, M102, M103, M104, x25, and x90

Gee, did we miss any bus lines?? It doesn't seem like many lines are excluded from the hijinks. Actually, upon reflection, none of them are -- these just have the MOST fun.

So after today's zappage, I took the M66 across town to Central Park West and walked up to the Whole Foods on 97th and Columbus. (Woohoo! Another 1.7 miles and 2 WW activity points... for a grand total of 8.5 miles this week!)

Thanks to the cratered economy, construction has halted on many projects across the city (and country) as this street scene demonstrates. (The Whole Paycheck is on the left.) This area is actually quite creepy at night, since there is NOTHING active nearby, only (newly constructed) vacant storefronts and uncompleted high rises.

Now I know why their nickname is Whole Paycheck, although the $3.95 delivery fee to my neighborhood is tempting -- $2 less than my beloved Fresh Direct, but consider the cost of the produce in the store vs. FD or Trader Joe. I mean what does it tell you when they offer "free delivery if your purchase is $150" or more?!

That being said, some of their store brand (365) items are really good values ($1.64 for a box of whole wheat pasta)... or is it just that I'm so used to the abusive NYC prices for everything?

In any case, I console myself with the thought that all the stuff I bought will provide me with well over a dozen meals, so the amortization makes the grand total ($100.56!) a bit less eye popping. Oh, plus I'll be feeding my sweetie and knitting buddies with it too, so yeah, LOTS of meals. And also, I come across exotic flora, like the lobster mushrooms above.

Now one place where the prices really ARE fantastic is Amazon, which is supplying me with my next selections for my two book clubs: The Sparrow (32% off) and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Olive Kitteredge (40% off). In fact, I am such a dork: I didn't read the fine print -- I could've gotten another book for free since I bought those two! ARGH!!!

Okay, okay, so in the scheme of things (and after spending a hundred bucks on groceries!) getting a $6 book for free is no big deal (yeah, I know -- hardly consistent behavior) but it's just the principle of "I could have gotten it for free!" [says the woman who needs a new bookcase].

Clearly, I am reaching the deranged portion of the evening, and so should sign off and try to go to sleep. (Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the radiation has unpredictably schizoid effects: sometimes I'm pooped and conk out at 10pm, and sometimes I'm wide awake at ungodly hours. Feh.)

Thank gawd it's the weekend so I can (try to) sleep in...