Real Life

Synchronicity

Kate Cornell

Do you ever notice how when something happens to you, or begins to be on your mind for some reason, suddenly you see it everywhere? My mom says this happens when you are pregnant, or trying to get pregnant (or, I suppose, worried you are/aren’t pregnant). Everywhere you go, it seems there are pregnant people. There aren’t really any more than usual. You just notice them because it’s on your mind.

Okay, so, for the last month, every darned day I hear/read about/see/meet someone with thyroid cancer. Turns out that thyroid disorders, including benign and cancerous growths on the thyroid are incredibly common. Only it seems like I only met one person with the problem until recently. But now there’s one Olympic skater who’s mom has thyroid cancer, and a bride on Say Yes To The Dress and Vikki’s daughter on The Real Housewives of the OC though that she might…

Yeah. That means what you think it means. I’ve got a suspicious lump on my thyroid that they can’t rule out as not cancer. In other words they’ve scanned and poked me, and still that little bastard won’t say for certain that it’s benign. Now, I am convinced that it is not cancer, but somehow my denial conviction is not insufficient evidence for the doctors, so they’re going to take out half my thyroid and slice it up to see for certain.

The nice thing (Um, I guess) is that thyroid cancer is very very treatable. They’re the only cells that take up iodine, so they just irradiate some iodine and it kills the cells. If you have to pick a cancer, thyroid is totally the way to go.

Though it would be nice not to have to pick.

The important thing is: I’m going to be fine. But things are a little wonky right now, and I figured that my readers and online friends might want to know why I’m so schitzo. (You would be freaking amazed at how many things are controlled by your thyroid. I’m so tired, but also can’t sleep, and I feel like I have ADD. It’s. So. Weird.)

The surgery isn’t until the middle of April, so I have plenty of time to whine before then. It is, of course, the week before the paperback release of Highway to Hell. Because life is funny that way. Because now I have to omg plan ahead. O.o

Comments with well wishes are welcome, but should include recipes for your favorite comfort food. Or alternatively, links to amusing LOL cats, or possibly pictures of Sam Worthington or alternative hotness. (Um, more or less dressed, please. This is a PG-ish blog.)

10 thoughts on “Synchronicity”

  1. Oh, yikes. ((((HUGS!!!!!)))) I hope the slice and dice shows no cancer! Here's some hot guy linkage to make you feel better:http://thevampireclub.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/joemanganiello21.jpghttp://starfocusvideos.com/main/albums/AntonioSabatoJr/antonio-sabato-jr_13.jpgA fabulous soup recipe for healthy:http://www.gardenguides.com/1949-italian-wedding-soup.htmlAnd a to-die-for chocolate recipe for yum:http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Dark-Chocolate-Creme-Brulee-1578Hang in there!!!

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  2. Hugs! Get well and be healthy, Rosemary. Comfort food: Potato SoupI love homemade potato soup when I'm sick. It's warm and creamy and filling and oh-so-full of potato-y goodness! This recipe has been handed down for generations (although I think every generation tweaks it, so my grandma would never recognize it!) I'm not sure it's ever actually been written down, so I'm ballparking the amounts. Adjust to suit your taste.Peel, dice, and boil 2 to 3 pounds of potatoes. They should be soft to the point of falling apart. Drain. Into potatoes, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup butter, 1 pint half-and-half, plus minced garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. When you stir in the other ingredients, the potatoes will begin to break apart. We like our soup fairly thick, but if you want a thinner soup, add milk until it is the consistancy you like. Garnish with your choice of toppings: grated cheese, chives, bacon bits, etc. Enjoy.Rest. Relax. The world can take care of itself for a while.

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  4. Here's hoping to feel much better soon!Until then, Sam's going to be over to take out your trash…http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3975426079_9ea7be2a11.jpgAnd the recipe for Chocolate Guinness Cake. (You make it all in one pan!)Chocolate Guinness CakeFrom Feast by Nigella Lawson (reprinted in the New York Times on 12/8/04)Yield: One 9-inch cake (12 servings)For the cake:Butter for pan1 cup Guinness stout10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter3/8 cup unsweetened cocoa2 cups superfine sugar (I have used regular granulated sugar with no ill effects)3/8 cup sour cream2 large eggs1 tablespoon vanilla extract2 cups all-purpose flour2 1/2 teaspoons baking sodaFor the topping:1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature1/2 cup heavy creamFor the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, combine Guinness and butter. Place over medium-low heat until butter melts, then remove from heat. Add cocoa and superfine sugar, and whisk to blend.In a small bowl, combine sour cream, eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add to Guinness mixture. Add flour and baking soda, and whisk again until smooth. Pour into buttered pan, and bake until risen and firm, 45 minutes to one hour. Place pan on a wire rack and cool completely in pan.For the topping: Using a food processor or by hand, mix confectioners' sugar to break up lumps. Add cream cheese and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream, and mix until smooth and spreadable.Remove cake from pan and place on a platter or cake stand. Ice top of cake only, so that it resembles a frothy pint of Guinness.

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  6. *Hugs (and not a puny hug either, a bone crushing, can't breath hug. Cause those are the best 😉 )*Something to smile at:http://media.photobucket.com/image/funny%20star%20wars%20pictures/Rude616/club-med-funny-Star-Wars-pictures.jpghttp://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://static.flickr.com/101/285073618_894dceeba0_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://jphebert.wordpress.com/tag/motivation/&usg=__GjKqaACESoumJuZRsV-20RmNQSo=&h=600&w=750&sz=61&hl=en&start=10&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=-r9OvT-tU7vZFM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=141&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfunny%2Bstar%2Bwars%2Bpictures%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1Something yummy (I had WAY too much fun looking for this):http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/45/54/ryan_reynolds.0.0.0×0.420×619.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://www.theinsider.com/photos/541391_Shirtless_Celeb_Of_The_Day_Ryan_Reynolds&usg=__2N4iwc5f0NONzu-szZbBy4Tuf2M=&h=619&w=420&sz=47&hl=en&start=2&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=p2M85DRK36FxbM:&tbnh=136&tbnw=92&prev=/images%3Fq%3DShirtless%2Bryan%2Breynolds%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26tbs%3Disch:1And last but not least: the only kind of baking I do is the stuff that comes in a box so no luck there. I suggest about, say, five pounds of chocolate and something warm and yummy, possibly deep-fried (though all these soup recipes look delicous 🙂 )Enjoy your goodies and feel better soon 🙂 ❤ Aliya ❤

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  8. Oh RCM, weep or whine or smile away, we love ya in all circumstances! I've really been thinking about you and hope things go as well as they possibly can. I think everything's better with Bana, so take your pick from these lovely photos: http://images.google.com/images?q=eric+bana+photo&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=TmKiS_-tKImXtge-8LWnCg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQsAQwAA

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  9. :: hugs :: Thinking about you, hon. Hang in there and keep us updated. Recipes, hrm… not sure if it's comfort food, but I love it and like to pass it around. Because otherwise you'd get subjected to my characters attempting to ramble at you. Recipe! Oatmeal Ginger CookiesINGREDIENTS:1/2 cup butter, softened1 cup packed brown sugar1/2 cup white sugar1/2 cup packed chopped fresh ginger2 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon salt3 cups quick cooking oats1 cup dried cranberries or chopped nuts (optional)DIRECTIONS:Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).Note on ginger: some stores carry pre-chopped ginger in a jar. A half cup of that will work just as well, but read the label closely. Some kinds have extra ingredients, and most of those you don't want (they taste awful). I think the offending one has some kind of acidic something or other added. I personally lean more towards chopping my own, but this takes more time. It takes usually 1-2 large roots to get the half cup depending on how patient you are while peeling the ginger. Peel it and chop it fairly fine (which is easier said than done), and then go through it with your fingers to break up any stringy bits. Stringy bits will be in the cookies (it can't be helped with fresh), but the joy of oatmeal is that it hides a lot of that. 🙂 For best flavor, press the chopped ginger with a knife blade before adding.In a large bowl, mix butter, sugars, and ginger. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix in oats and cranberries/nuts until just blended. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto cookie sheets.Bake for about 18 minutes in the preheated oven.Makes just over 2 dozen usually. Dey is crack.

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  10. Dear, Dear Rose Rosemary,All the best of wishes with your "issue." Of course you're all right. You have to be all right! I just read "The Splendor Falls" and loved it to pieces and need, need, need more books by you.<–Don't you just LUV a completely selfish sounding get well wish? Not! >,-)Really though, I do wish you well. You are way too young to be having worries like this! I'm in the always-having-testing age [73] and it "gets old," even now, when it's expected.Gentle hugs…

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