Milestones

January 2014 marked a grand milestone.

I have probably walked past this sign for the last time. (So I took a commemorative photo. Natch.)

Yes, it's all come full circle. May of 2014 would mark three years since the very beginning, and here I am, a few months shy of that and leaving—for likely the last time—the very genetics department that enabled me to diffuse my cancer bombs.

I was there for my annual breast exam as a part of the Ontario Breast Screening Program, but seeing how the docs involved could easily stick their hand into a box of implants to get an idea of what I'm sporting, well, they've effectively discharged me from the program.

I'm to have my regular physicals through my own doc, perform a cursory sweep monthly that will count as my breast self-exams, and call the genetics department yearly to hear if they've had any new research on my particular variant of the BRCA2 gene mutation.

No more appointments with the genetics department. No more OEBSP exams. No more chatting with genetics counselors and making a game of shocking them with morbid humour...

It's done.

Every step of the way I've encountered quality people—from the genetic counselors, the administration, the surgeons and doctors, the nurses, you name it. Knowing that my relationship of patient care with these people is ending is far more saddening than I'd anticipated.

It's odd to get to the end of an anti-cancer journey and be sad that you've come to its end. Of course I'm glad the procedures were successful—my chances of getting breast cancer are less than any woman walking this earth—but there's a melancholy note to this leavetaking nonetheless.

And of course the last person I say goodbye to is one of the very first I'd met. One who made me welcome and ensured I felt part family and not simply another patient pushed through a gauntlet of medical care.

Shemila, I'll miss you. As always, madam, you are a delight. Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

The Good Food Box

A while ago I mentioned I was excited about our local Good Food Box.

And I still am.

And I've been keeping score--a tally of what we're getting in our box for our $15 each month, as well as the cost of the same produce that week if I were to have bought it at my favourite grocery store.

My savings? About $15-$17. SERIOUSLY.

WHEN DID VEGETABLES GET SO EXPENSIVE?! Gah!

This month's box (because I know you're wondering) held this--

10 lbs red potatoes
5 lbs apples
2 lbs onions
2 lbs carrots
1 pkg mushrooms
1 pkg radishes
1 pkg blackberries
1 head iceberg lettuce
1 zucchini
1 broccoli crown
1 bunch bananas

All for $15. This is the large box. The smaller box sells for $10.

Other months we've received items such as squash, spinach, kiwi, celery, blueberries, cabbage, parsnips, oranges, beets, green onion... generally you always get a bag of potatoes, carrots, onions, and apples--it's generally local or at least more easily attainable food in Canada.

All of it is fresh, delicious, and saves a chunk of our grocery bill.

Truthfully, I'm unsure how far this initiative stretches. There are plenty of Good Food Box programs across Ontario, but I don't know if it's Canada-wide, or provincially run on a hit or miss basis (Google tells me Manitoba has the program set up, but I'm too lazy I didn't check across the country).

I first heard of it when I was living in Toronto years ago, and I know Toronto still has their Good Food Box foodshare program set up (Toronto peeps: you are LUCKY! There's a fabulous variety of boxes available to you: organic, pre-cut, fruit-only... plenty of selection for everyone from busy families to seniors. Definitely worth checking out).

If you're in my ballpark of the province more information can be found here (though it seems out of date: the prices have increased slightly from what's listed). For anyone out of the Simcoe County area a quick Google search will show you what's available to you.

Mm. Food. What can I say? It's exciting.

Egg-citing

I can't take credit for my latest foray into randomosity—a friend of mine (hi, Meg!) posted a pic on FB of her colourful egg-raffiti, and I immediately thought of Mr Lannis rolling his eyes the possibilities.

What better way to remind Mr Lannis I love him than to deface his prized eggs?

::snort::

Okay, yeah, there're probably loads of more socially acceptable better ways, but I'm not a joiner, so whatevs.

And yes, I say his eggs because he's pretty much the only one in the household who eats them on a regular basis. Yes (now that Christmas baking season is over), that 2.5 dozen is all for him.

Surprise!

Now to see how long it takes him to discover the horror... shh...


UPDATE: This morning (January 22nd) there was a note saying he liked the scared eggs--so that's what... five days? Six, I think, from when I actually planted the Sharpied wonders, since it took a day or so for this post to go live. And if it weren't for the six or eight eggs in another carton that he had to use up first, I'd say we could extrapolate how long it takes Mr Lannis to go through eggs... as it stands we can only estimate, and it looks like six days equals approximately 2 dozen eggs. Oy... no wonder they're scared... ha!