Finished reading The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson. It was fine. One of those feel-good books with hardship but everything works out in the end. It was a sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek that I had read several years ago.

I learned Friday night that honey's brother will start chemo on Wednesday for stage 3 squamous cell lung cancer. It was interesting to hear honey's perspective on treatment. He is of the opinion that his brother is taking the wrong course of action, that all that the chemo will do is destroy his brother's quality of life while only extending his life a few months. So I had to counter with asking what quality of life does his brother have? He can't speak, he is in constant pain, he can't ride his bike that he loves to do. The chemo won't make his life any worse, and may make it better. Honey conceded I was right. That is a rare event. I'll take the win.

But I noticed honey has cut back on his own smoking this weekend. I wonder if he is worried about himself? He should be, considering the lymph node on his neck has been visibly swollen FOR SEVERAL YEARS and he won't get it checked out. He even told me it was no big deal. But I can tell it is, as he coughs and clears his throat more often than just 5 years ago. He has slowed down noticeably too, even in the last year. (At the grocery store on Saturday, I was walking my slow pace for him and when I turned around to talk to him, he was 3/4 of the aisle behind me!!) His brother hasn't smoked for decades. I think this diagnosis is making honey rethink his choices. But that doesn't mean he'll do anything about it. I understand his viewpoint that he is not suffering from a reduced quality of life right now, so why go to the doctor to get it checked out? At the same time, I see he is not grasping the importance of being proactive about it, that early intervention can extend his life. But his is not a proactive personality. And he keeps everything hidden inside. I resolved several years ago that I am not responsible for his health, which was a difficult position to take, but it respects his decisions and reduces the guilt I load on myself that I could somehow have prevented what happens next.

Saturday was cheap meat day. Honey and I swung by this store that is mainly a liquor store but it has a small butcher shop tucked into one corner where I can get 93% lean ground beef for $5/lb. That's like $2/lb cheaper than any grocery store! Then, the regular grocery store had chicken leg quarters for $0.99/lb so I got 8lbs (8 quarters). Made a meatloaf with one pound of the beef for a later meal, and browned the rest to freeze for future meals.

Took dog for a miserable walk. The temp was 30F and sunny, but the wind was strong and so nasty my eyes kept watering. And dog had to stop and sniff every.single.urine.spot. that I just got angry with him. I've said this before, dog and I are not a good fit (altho putting him on Prozac was the best decision I've made for this dog). Saw my friend J on the trail on our walk.

Talked to middle child. He's doing the same. He said he's lucky in that he was the last full-time person the grocery co-op hired, now they're cutting back to only hiring part-timers. He needs the health insurance.

Saturday night Brandi Carlisle did a concert in Minneapolis and it was live-streamed on the local radio, so I tuned in. There was also a video livestream that could be purchased, I think for like $30, and proceeds going to immigrant services. I think I heard half a million was raised. ❤️ Incredible. People have the power.

Well, I am definitely having a slow start to my day, so I better get moving.