Monday...Monday...

I just got a bit more follow-up from my doctor today. She wants me to come back in April for bloodwork and see her in July. I had been getting bloodwork every three months, but there was some talk about my possibly only needing to have it done every six months. The doctor decided that every three months was the way to go.

It snowed pretty hard this morning. It took me twice the time it usually does to get to work. It looks as if it has turned to rain. I hope it doesn't freeze. I was hoping they would let us go home early from work...no such luck.

We had a great weekend. Friday night we watched Dancing With The Stars with some friends. We later went to Toast to do some more contemporary/booty shaking. Saturday we went to see Parker and spent the rest of the evening at a cocktail party. The party was fun until I realized that my non-alcoholic diet coke had been switched with someones coke and absolut drink. We quickly switched back. I hate when that happens. Sunday I went to church and did some shopping. B and I also went for a walk around Cambridge and Somerville. We stayed up and watched the L Word last night. I was very happy to see that they had added a new character (Moira) to the show. Her character brings both a butch and a working class dimension that was missing before. However I think that the writers have gone a little over the top with this character. We will see how it all turns out. Overall it was a nice weekend.

Run For Research

Each year good-hearted athletes run the Boston Marathon as part of the American Liver Foundation's Run For Research. Run For Research team members raise critical funds in the fight against liver disease. Since 1987 the Run For Research has raised over $8 million to fight against liver disease. I have been fortunate to be involved with this event by participating in the Patient Match Program. This year I have been matched with two awesome runners named Terri Faucher and Kerri Pozzi. Both Kerri and Terri have such great enthusiasm for the work of the American Liver Foundation and their sport. Run For Research team members are required to raise at least $2500 to run with the team. Please go to the sponsor a member page and click on both Kerri and Terri's names to donate. I encourage you to support this cause. I know first hand how important liver research is. Love you Liver!

Changing Face of Davis Square

I was recently disappointed to see that Pluto in Davis Square had closed. I was unhappy about this because it was a great place to buy last minute gifts...funky holiday cards...and unique household items. I wondered what had happened. Were they not getting enough business? Had the building owner raised the rent? Were they making a gazillion dollars at their Jamaica Plain location and decide to put all their eggs in one basket?

Well I think I found out what happened to Pluto while I was at the gym (surprise...surprise...I do go to the gym once in a while) last night. My gym buddy told me that she had tried to go to Picante Mexican Grill in Davis Square over the weekend. She was equally as upset to find out that Picante had also closed. She spoke to a friend who told her that the owner of the building had increased the rent...which forced Picante to close their restaurant. My friend from the gym said that she will miss Picante's spinach quesadillas. I will miss having them so close by as well. I loved their burritos...and chips.

My guess is that Pluto suffered the same consequence as Picante. The fact that they were located exactly next to each other in Davis Square is a significant clue.

Fortunately folks living in the Boston area don't have to live their lives truly void of these very cool local establishments. Both Pluto and Picante have locations elsewhere. Feel free to visit them here:

Picante Mexican Grill
735 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge

Pluto
603 Centre Street
Jamaica Plain

Results Are In

I got the results back from my liver tests and they look good. Here is the breakdown:

ALT: 16
AST: 26
IgG: 1050

So what does this mean? Things are great. All my tests came back within normal limits. My nurse practitioner called and said I should remain on 100 mg of azathioprine and have bloodwork in a few months. I am scheduled to see my hepatologist in July.

Big Apple

We had a nice time this weekend. We took the Fung Wah bus from Boston to New York on Friday evening. We stayed with our friends in Brooklyn.

We went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Saturday . We spent most of our time at the Fra Angelico and Egyptian exhibits. The Fra Angelico exhibit is about to leave the museum. Check it out while you can. That night we had dinner at Ivo and Lulu's. This is a great place. The food is tasty.....the price is unbeatable. My potato gratin and salad was perfect. The baked pear with blue cheese and honey was wonderful. They don't have a beer and wine license, but they encourage people to bring their own.

Sunday we hung out at the Strand Bookstore and then had lunch at Otto. This was totally amazing. Mario Batalli has done it yet again. I had the yummy pizza special which consisted of marinated onions and goat cheese. B got the linguine con rapini pesto which was damn good too. We also ordered brussels sprouts and vin cotto as a side vegetable. For dessert we had the olive oil coppetta. This olive oil gelato, with tangerine sorbet, fruit, drizzled olver oil and sea salt was very unique and scrumptious. I would totally order it again. We spent the rest of Sunday running around getting things we cannot get in Boston like chocolate corn flakes from Chocolate Haven and coffee from Porto Rico Importing Co. We also stayed up and watched the L Word.

Monday we hung out with our friend Paul and had lunch at the ChipShop. I had the chicken in the basket with chips. I would recommend it. For dessert we split a fried snickers bar.

We took the bus back to Boston on Monday afternoon. The ride was pretty awful. It took five hours....the temperature in the bus was up and down....the bus driver kept pumping the brakes. I was happy to get out of that bus and finally arrive in our warm apartment.

Overall it was a fun weekend. The weather was awful....freezing rain...and cold. However we got to spend some good time with our friends....and take advantage of some things only New York has to offer.

Six Month Check-Up

I am going to see my hepatologist this afternoon. I will most likely have bloodwork done too. I am currently seeing my hepatologist every six months and having blood tests taken every three months. Lets hope things will continue to go smoothly. I am hopeful.

I got my Run For Research match the other day. I was matched with two runners this year....an aunt and niece team. I am looking forward to getting to know them.

Potty Thoughts

On January 4th I posted that I was reading the book Why Do Men Have Nipples by Mark Leyner, and Billy Goldberg. I finished the book and loved every word of it. I was thinking last night that it would be great if they did a sequel to this book that included questions that didn't make it into the first book. I have some questions I would like to see answered. Here they are: Where does poop from a fetus go when it is in the womb? Is it true you will die if you burp and fart at the same time? Just some thoughts.....

Ah Ha Moment

On January 5th I posted something about how I was getting bored waiting for Ariel Schrag to come out with the next issue of Likewise. The first line of my post read "whatever happened to Ariel Schrag?" Well I think I found out the answer to my question.

Last night I sat down with my partner to watch the third season premier of the L Word. This was a much anticipated event in our house. The season finale of season II had been so awful that we were hoping that season III would redeem the show. Fortunately the premier managed to pull this off. I am not 100% happy with the direction they are taking some of the story lines, but they did do a few things right. They brought back Lauren Lee Smith....she is so cute. They finally added what seems to be a real butch character (Moira). Jenny seems to be less annoying. Bette and Tina are back together. Watching Alice is like observing a train wreck, but it is keeping my attention. Beautiful Helena is back and certainly more likeable than last season. Kit appears to be having a better relationship with her son. I'm glad to see that Shane finally learned to trust another woman (Carmen). AND Dana....well I'm not loving her choice in a partner right now.....but time will tell.

That all being said...back to Ariel Schrag. When the L Word credits rolled I noticed that Ariel Schrag was listed as a staff writer. My guess is that this is the same Ariel Schrag of Awkward, Definition, Potential, and Likewise fame. So...thats why issue four of Likewise hasn't come out yet. She appears to be busy doing something else. Now it all makes sense.

Welcome Parker

Mary and Jen had their sweet little baby boy Parker at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston on January 5th. We went to the hospital to meet this cutie patootie on Saturday. Congratulations to Mary and Jen.

how do you solve a problem like Maria

My friend Joanie has an article on Maria von Trapp in Prologue magazine. Check it out. It looks like Maria von Trapp and Julie Andrews didn't has as much in common as we had all thought.

speaking of comics....

whatever happened to Ariel Schrag? Sighclub introduced me to her work a few years back. I love her autobiographical comics that chronicle her four years of high school. Awkward, Definition, and Potential were all amazing. Likewise was pretty good too, but nothing has come out since issue three...and that was a long time ago. I really want to know how the rest of her senior year of high school turns out. I hope issue 4 comes out soon. I am losing interest with all this waiting around. You can learn more about Ariel Schrag's books at Slave Labor Graphics.

Strangers In Paradise Lost

I was disappointed to see that Terry Moore has said that the last issue of Strangers in Paradise is set for May 2007. I beg you Terry Moore....please don't stop writing Strangers in Paradise. I love Katchoo...and Francine...and David.

I'm Back......

I stayed home from work yesterday. I was feeling tired......nauseous and a little headachey.

I spent the day doing laundry....relaxing.....and trying to make myself feel better. I watched the Buena Vista Social Club. I had not seen this film before. I would encourage you to see this film if you have not. The film gives an interesting insight into life in Cuba and its wonderful musical tradition. I also got caught up on some reading yesterday. My step-father gave me a fun book for Christmas this year. It is called Why Do Men Have Nipples. This book gives quirky answers to questions you would love to ask your doctor, but are too embarrassed to ask.

I'm feeling a bit better today. I am less tired...nauseous...and headachey.