UPDATE and my supper this evening

UPDATE: Interesting day. I slept well, woke up 15 minutes before the alarm, put too much salt in my morning oatmeal and had to toss it, instead ate tiny croissants, prunes and raisins, with hot tea and water. I took all of my pre-chemo meds as prescribed. Lamont and I got to the Oncology Center just after 7 a.m. I had the blood work again, checked in for Chemo Round Three when the receptionist was ready to begin her day, then I sat down to wait the hour until the 8:30 a.m. appointment.

I had to get that blood checked again because the very low platelet count from yesterday demanded a re-count. Happy that it and the white blood count and the hemoglobin count were inside normal, too. I was so happy about that that I forgot to ask the oncology pharmacist what would have happened if the platelet count stayed so low. I'm going to e-mail her and ask about that so I will know, in case this happens again. At 4:21 p.m., Lamont and I were in his car driving out of the parking garage.

During the morning I had developed two tiny, itchy, red hives on my left wrist which the nurse, the oncology pharmacist and I agreed were hives brought on by the chemo called Taxo. It was paused, I had Benadryl dripped in through the line used for the saline, and once the hives had completely disappeared, the Taxo was turned on again. I took until 3:21 p.m. because I was able to tolerate 150 ml/hour starting at 12:48 p.m. That's my max rate since I've had some side effects from the Taxo on all three rounds. Nothing that those professionals couldn't straighten out. Let me tell you, I am treated like a queen by everyone there! I am so grateful for these people and the care that they give me!



Here's what I wanted for supper, the Killer Burger minus the house sauce, grilled onions and pickles. It is perfect; the fries are perfect; the fountain drink Barq's root beer is perfect. I ate half of it all and drank not quite half of the root beer. The rest of it is in the frig, ready for me to enjoy tomorrow. For dessert, after I'd been home for a while, I enjoyed a single piece of Edwards' lemon meringue pie. Now, I'm heading for the recliner and will, in all probability, fall asleep during Thursday night football on NBC

I'm that tired. The oncology pharmacist told us that the fatigue is cumulative with each round, so it will get more pronounced and could continue after the last round in early November. I certainly have noticed it lately. Anyway, it's great to know that it is an expected side effect.

In the back of my mind, I wonder if I will be able to go to any home Portland Trail Blazers' games due to this fatigue. Opening night is October 28. I know that I have the option of calling for a wheel chair to meet me at the curb and roll me to the entry where I will sit, and then take me back to the curb afterwards. I'll go in a cab each way, wearing my mask to protect me against the possibility of a cold or the flu. We'll see if it works out. If it doesn't, maybe I'll be able to sell those games or give them to someone who wants to go alone. Go, Blazers!

Thank you for every single prayer, for your love, and for your concern. I need all of that and can feel it happening.

UPDATE and a meal at Killer Burger after Chemo Round Two

UPDATE: At the Kaiser Oncology Center from about 7:15 a.m. until about 4 p.m. That includes waiting time before my appointment with the chemo doctor prior to the chemo itself. I am now taking my post chemo meds and hope and pray that the anti-nausea ones work as well as they did for Round One. I'm tired today, although I had a much better night's sleep. Fatigue is a side effect.



My goal after successfully completing Chemo Round Two--Killer Burger for a real meal. Hip, hip, hooray! I thoroughly enjoyed half of this meal--I'll be eating the rest of it in a few minutes for lunch, then taking a nap in the recliner.



Lamont drove us there, Leland met us there, we made it for Happy Hour prices! Perfect-o!



Killer Burger at NE Sandy Blvd. and NE 47th Avenue, seen from Lamont's car as we waited in the traffic to turn right and head back to my apartment.

Craving, craving, craving--sung to the tune of the Rawhide the theme song. Y'all know that old TV Western? Very early Clint Eastwood.

It all started when I read an e-mail from my bud Casey Parks yesterday morning, in which she asked how I was feeling and if I needed anything. Hmmmm. Need? No. How about crave? Yep. Definitely crave. I've been craving French fries since Monday night, so I mentioned how much I'd love to have a girlie-sized classic Killer Burger with their perfect-in-every-way fries. That sweet woman arranged her time to be able to pick up one for my lunch! Then, as she ordered it and talked with the counter person about why she was there getting it for me, that sweet woman wouldn't let her pay for it!



The decorated take-out box! Casey said she thinks that they upgraded me to the regular size burger.



Yep, they did! Look at that burger. Those fries. Oh, joy! And it all smelled as good as it looked.



Every single bite tasted like it was supposed to taste, hallelujah! Craving gone bye-bye.

FYI: I've had four Killer Burgers in the last 12 months. One at the NCAA basketball tournament in February at the Moda Center with several ingredients I don't enjoy on it, so I ate just the hamburger patty and the bacon and the fries and satisfied my all-day-long-basketball-tournament hunger. One in early May brought here by my sweet friend Lori Berkemeyer Rooney--it tasted so fine! One in late May that I thoroughly enjoyed once I had recovered enough from the hysterectomy to go to the Killer Burger on NE Sandy and enjoy lunch at one of their outside tables with my bud Janessa Wagner--it tasted even finer! And this one that Casey brought to me yesterday so that I could enjoy it in my studio apartment--it tasted finest of all!

We Are Rip City.

We Are Rip City, spelled out in a sea of red rally towels by the artfully arranged white rally towels. Even the font is correct! Go, Blazers!

Portland Trail Blazer fan Jeff. I had noticed him outside the arena while we waited for the doors to open. After I got my Killer Burger, fries and Coca Cola, I saw him sitting at a table on the 100 level, splendidly decorated. I was tickled when he said it was OK for me to take his picture and put it on my blog! Same thing happened later on when I walked around the 300 level like I always do before the game starts and saw the young woman's Batman-shaped Batum face paint! Batum is the last name of our No. 88, Nicolas Batum, a Frenchman who is a Trail Blazer. After I made over how great the face paint was, she twisted so that I could see her other cheek, saying, "Robin's over here!" Robin Lopez is our No. 42, a comic-book lover! All of us Portland Trail Blazer fans are proud to have this dynamic duo as part of our team!

We all know how important it is for players to have a proper pre-game meal, right? I knew If I were to have any fun at the Blazers' Player Palooza that I had to have a proper pre-event meal myownself.

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I knew before I set foot in the Rose Garden Arena on Tuesday, February 20, that I would be on my feet, walking on concrete all over the arena which, I just read online, encloses over 785,000 square feet on eight levels, five of which are open to the public. I knew that I didn't want to be rushed. Ha, to tell you the truth, I knew that I couldn't rush myself. So, I planned ahead and took two hours of vacation, left work at 3 p.m., caught the Portland Streetcar north on SE Grand Avenue from my building, at East Burnside caught the 12 bus east to home, walked into the apartment and put only what I wanted to have with me in my backpack, changed one of my layers from a light sweater to a warm sweatshirt to wear beneath my raincoat, put on my never-been-worn-before-checkered-flag-design visor (A present to my little Mama from our friends Milton and Kay--they picked up two of them for her one year at NASCAR's Talladega Superspeedway--I wear the other one all the time to keep rain off my glasses and my hood outta my face, which has made it worn and stained, couldn't have that in case I got a picture taken of myself, now could I?), pulled up my raincoat hood against the sprinkling rain, locked the door, and walked back outside and headed for the bus stop.

I got off the bus at NE 47th and Sandy Blvd., walked into the Killer Burger and felt at peace with my plan for a proper pre-event meal. Greeting me at the counter, a nice young woman who's helped me plenty of times before, smiling and saying, "I haven't seen you in a hot minute!" She remembered by last name, too, for my order! Which tickled me, just as the nice young man making burgers and who's helped me plenty of times before saw me, grinned and said, "Hi!" Before I knew it, I had the burger and fries you see in the photo sitting on the table in front of me, along with a small cup of Barq's Root Beer. I knew that I had time to eat but not to dilly-dally, so I got going. I didn't eat every single bit of the burger and fries, but I ate enough to hold me for hours--more than three since Player Palooza was scheduled from 5-8 p.m. and I'd also spend some time getting back home afterwards.

Outside, I sat at the bus stop, waiting 10 minutes for the 12 bus. Downtown at SW 5th and Pine, I got off the bus and walked a block west to catch the 4 bus north to the Rose Garden. Then I walked from the south end of the building to the north end which is where we season ticket holders who had RSVPed were instructed to enter. Fun ensued. My energy held out. Happy Trail Blazer season ticket holder here.

Eye-catching kick at the intersection.

Naturally I noticed this inflatable martial arts character, but not in time to get a photo as the bus buzzed by going east to Killer Burger on Saturday a week ago. So, on the way back towards home, I remembered to swivel around and make the effort to get a few photos as we slowed down for the bus stop diagonally across the street. That's why this photo is at a slant--I decided to share it with you SOOC, straight out of camera, no alteration at all, not even any cropping.

The intersection--the blue car is turning northeast from NE 42nd onto NE Sandy Blvd.--is five blocks west of Killer Burger , a block wset of Whole Foods , and two blocks east of the Hollywood Theatre , and one block east of Paulsen’s Pharmacy .

Vintage vehicle at Voodoo Doughnut & some colorful serendipity, downtown Portland

Today on the 12 bus, on the way to Killer Burger from downtown, I noticed a crowd outside the original location of Voodoo Doughnut. The reason that I got the chance to notice the crowd and the gorgeous vintage vehicle parked at the sidewalk was that the Burnside Bridge was near the end of a bridge lift, stopping traffic in both directions.

Actually, the crowd is a double line which snakes from out of sight on the right to just left of the original Voodoo sign on the brick wall at which point it snakes back towards the corner and the red-framed door. After I saw the crowd, I saw the wine-colored vintage vehicle. The way the sun hit the back chrome bumper and the back window made me stand up and walk to the front of the bus so that I could take this photo through the windshield, looking at an angle towards SW 3rd from the intersection where the bus waited for traffic to clear once the bridge lift completely ended.

Once I had downloaded the photo, I quickly noticed the girl in the pink sundress, playing the guitar on the sidewalk directly beneath the Voodoo Doughnut sign. Ah, serendipity--all of that wine and pink color right there, together.



One more photo, taken straight on through the bus windshield. Wish I could've taken one a little bit before this one because the bridge lift would've shown up much better.

As it is, if you look there at the top edge of those two box trucks, you should notice a line continuing from beneath the traffic signal on the left all the way across to the right where it runs out of sight in the leaves. That line is the edge of the western section of the Burnside Bridge which is on its way down so that it will once again meet the edge of the eastern section of the bridge and form a complete, solid surface for the bridge. I know bridge lifts interrupt traffic and therefore people's lives and work, but I continue to be fascinated by them and how these gigantic structures operate.

Info from the Voodoo Doughnut Web site, about this location:
1. Voodoo Doughnut 22 SW 3rd Avenue Portland Oregon, U.S.A.
phone 503.241.4704
OPEN 24 hours 7days a week, Cash only, ATMs available
Voodoo Doughnut is located just south of the Burnside bridge on SW 3rd Ave. On the corner at SW 3rd Ave. and SW Ankeny

Rose Festival Fred Meyer Junior Parade on June 6, 2012

Nicknamed by some "the children's parade," last week's event drew a crowd of 40,000-50,000 along its route in the Hollywood District, Northeast Portland. The Rock 'n' Roses refers to the theme for this year's Portland Rose Festival. I took a day of vacation so that I could go for the first time. After lunch at Killer Burger at the corner of NE Sandy Blvd. and NE 47th, I took my lawn chair outside, found a space on the sidewalk at the curb, and settled down to enjoy myself.

I expected to see lots of bands and scout groups, but I didn't expect to see maybe 40 children of all ages being pushed along in their wheel chairs by people who might be parents or who work or volunteer at the Providence Child Center.

Here are two photos of just a handful of the children and those who care enough to provide them with a chance to be in a parade. How neat!
 

I found this online about Providence Child Center which is Part of Providence Health and Services:

Providence Child Center (PCC) has been caring for Oregon’s most vulnerable children for over 60 years. Today it continues to fill an important gap in the community not provided by any other organization regionally. We are rooted in the commitment to promote the inherent dignity of all children by providing each child in our care the opportunity to achieve his or her potential and the highest quality of life in an atmosphere of acceptance and love.

And this explains all about a concept new to me, but when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.
Pediatric recreational therapy

Also known as: Recreational therapy, pediatric; Therapeutic recreation, pediatric

Recreational therapists provide recreational activities and treatment for patients with disabilities or illnesses. Therapeutic activities can include arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music or community outings. Recreational therapists improve and maintain the physical, mental and emotional well-being of their clients.

The therapeutic recreation team at Providence Child Center provides recreational opportunities for our kids that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence and quality of life. Our therapy staff is supported by hundreds of volunteers who make it possible to provide unique and exciting recreational activities.

The following are highlights of a few of these programs:

• Crafts, music and sports groups are continuously provided by our creative staff, volunteers, and community partners. 
• Community integration field trips to Portland Trail Blazer Games, OMSI, the Saturday Market, the movies and more. 
• The Friend to Friend program partners local students with our kids for a year’s worth of friendship and life-long memories. 
• Holiday parties, like the annual Christmas Present Celebration, a Valentine’s Day Dance, the New Year’s Eve party, and the Chinese New Year’s parade. “Foster” Grandparents who help with everything from getting our kids on the Portland Public School buses every morning to tucking them into bed at night. 
• Special events and typical child-hood traditions including the Jr. Rose Parade, a traditional Prom, birthday parties and summer camp. 
• Alternative therapy services like music therapy and pet therapy– we’ve hosted everything from harps to lamas! 

It is our goal and privilege to provide therapeutic recreational activities that celebrate ability while ensuring every child in our care has access to typical childhood experiences. 

B after B after B, Saturday a week ago. Killer Burger on NE Sandy Boulevard at NE 47th

Barq's Root Beer, one fine fountain drink.


Basketball, NCAA basketball, on the TV at the back of the room, sound turned off. Blues blaring, down home blues blaring from the restaurant's speakers. As I ordered at the counter, I mentioned to the young woman taking my order, "Blues, basketball, and burgers. It doesn't get any better." She chuckled and agreed.


Bun, burger, bacon. I forgot to ask that there be no cheese on my Classic Burger, so I ate it--I'm OK if I only eat cheese once in a blue moon. I have two B words for the fries--bountiful and best.


Bites. Burger on bun with bacon going bye-bye, along with cheese, lettuce, tomato and grilled onions. I did remember to ask that there be no Smokey House Sauce and pickle on my Classic Burger.


Busy, busy at the building which houses Killer Burger on the southwest corner of the intersection.


Bus home, the 12 Barbur/Sandy. I left with a bellyful of Bs.

Milton and Kay arrived on Thursday afternoon at Union Station, downtown Portland!

Let the visit begin! Milton and Kay had been on the train since Monday evening, beginning in Jackson, Mississippi, and ending right here. They were ready to walk for a while, so each one of us pulled a rolling black bag and wore a backpack. We caught the bus at SW 2nd and West Burnside, went to the apartment to leave their bags, and then walked to NE 28th between Glisan and Burnside to find somewhere to sit down and have a beverage. Oh, I should mention that I took my camera off and put it down on my desk and didn't notice until we were blocks away that I did not have it with me! So, a photo moratorium was declared for several hours. No big deal.

We enjoyed those beverages at Beulahland on NE 28th, then walked up to the corner of it and NE Sandy to catch a 12 bus to Killer Burger where we ate great burgers and fries and enjoyed ourselves immensely, talking, laughing, so happy to be together. We caught the 12 back home and ended up with the same driver that we had on the way to Killer Burger. That happens every once in a while.

Lamont came over a little while later after he'd been bouldering outside at Carver--he stayed and visited for quite a while before heading home.

No. 4, May 16, 2011

Plenty of rain led to an open umbrella. It brought back memories of the 1970s for me, in that it reminded me of one that I had, though it did have white band around the border and a white plastic handle that curled upward at its end. I also had white, lace-up go-go boots and several outfits which incorporated hot pants. I was something else!

Some who have left comments have praised my photo manipulation skills. While I would love to take all the credit for making the changes I've been making in these photos, I'm here to tell you that anyone who subscribes to Picnik Premium will be able to do the same things, and way, way more, with their very own photos. It is a whole lotta fun!

Flickr, Picnik, Create, Effects, Gritty with the Darkness increased.

By the way, Tuesday night I was too give out, as we say back home in Jackson, Mississippi, to blog. I'd been on a date with Lamont and Leland--burgers and fries and Barq's Root Beer at Killer Burger, followed by the Shaw Brothers Studio 1982 Kung Fu film "Buddha's Palm" at the Hollywood Theatre, the first of their Kung Fu Theater offerings. You see, the three of us have a history with an earlier Kung Fu Theater, back when those two sons of mine were little boys. Saturdays back in Jackson some network or other broadcast a different movie each week, filled with whirling, swirling folks bent on mayhem and destruction. When I found out about the movie, I immediately e-mailed the guys right away. The 35 mm movie was in excellent condition so that we didn't miss anything at all, not one extension of the longest kicking leg I've ever seen or one yucky emission from the cyst that shoots acid. "Buddha's Palm" was a mostly entertaining hoot! We just might make it to the next offering on June 28, "Shaolin vs Wu-Tang" because we had a fun night.

My brother flew into Portland to help with my move. His plane landed at Portland International Airport.

Here's the next plane he saw--the U DSP atop the HMS Uranus--a fine example of a quirky art car parked a block east of Killer Burger, just off NE Sandy Blvd., where Lamont and I took him for a hearty burger and fries lunch. All three of us got the Classic. Take a look at yesterday's post for a photo.



Another shot of the picture perfect intro for Howard's four days in Portland!

Lunch on cleaning-the-old-apartment day. Killer Burger, about 25 blocks from my new place.

My friend Sarah's burger, as described at Killer Burger's Facebook page: Jose Mendoza - Hand roasted chilis imported from Pueblo, Colorado, Jack cheese. The heat will make your mouth water. So hot and good; it needed a first and a last name.


My lunch, description from the same source: Classic-bacon cheese burger with lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion. The first time I ordered one, I didn't pay much attention to detail, so I ended up swabbing off the house sauce (see below) which is not something I like on my burgers. I did, however, remember to ban the dill pickle. Those fries are, as Mama would have said, "might near perfect." Plus they have fountain Barq's Root Beer!

The rest of the burger basket story as explained at their Facebook page: "All menu burgers come with BACON, Smokey house sauce, grilled onion, and dill pickle.
All our sauces and cheese blends are "home made" and wonderful.
1/3 pound burgers.
BURGER BASKETS come with fries for $7.95"

If you're in Portland and you want to taste the meat in your burger, get yourself right on over to Killer Burger because I know for a fact that you will not be disappointed, period.

Location:
4644 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR, 97213
Mon - Thurs:11:00 am - 9:00 pmFri - Sat:11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Price Range:$ (0-10)

Culinary Team:Mark McCrary, TJ Southard

Parking: Street
Services: Walk-Ins Welcome
Good For Groups
Take Out

Phone:971-544-7521