Today's photo is of the four of us at brunch yesterday at the Dove: Judy, Bjorn, myself, and my drain Bongo. I have given Bongo a name because we have now been connected longer than Brittany Spears and some of her husbands. Honestly, if I had known a week and a half ago that Bongo and I would have such a long-standing relationship, or that Bongo would become my inseparable fashion accessory du jour, de la semaine, I would have brought out the paint, the glitter, the indelible magic marker, and created for Bongo a really trendy and versatile Project Runway facade.

Here's a phenomenon that bears study. Not so long ago I was working about 40 hours a week at the office and several more hours at home, maintaining a great balance with a very active and satisfying social life, walking maybe six or seven hours a week, kayaking every time the wind blew right, plus the usual: grocery shopping, dry cleaning, bills, library, bank deposits, incidentals. Now all I do is sit around and heal, and somehow just that takes all my time and energy. Whats up with that?

Today Judy is taking Bongo and me to see the oncologist. I would like to pin Dr. Levine down on a date for starting chemo, find out which particular chemo cocktail I will be taking, and also have his office staff find out if my insurance company considers chemo to be a treatment that will be paid for, or if they consider it "medications" that will be an out of pocket expense to me. Then Judy will take us to see Dr. Bashore where I will appeal for an amicable separation from Bongo but again, I'm not optimistic. We may have to stop for paint, glitter, and indelible magic marker on the way home.

Lovely weekend, and Sarah, thank you so much for all the books you dropped off.