Queen's Support

Dear Friends,
This afternoon Sheri sent me photos from the "Queen's Wears Pink" initiative on campus. The School of Music was very involved in the project, evidenced by two photos above. The first is of the Queen's Brass Quintet (a group close to my heart, with instructor Chantal Brunette on the left), and the bottom photo is of a few of my colleagues in the department, from left to right, Kim Ison, Sheri Wilson, Shirley Roth and Margaret Walker. Many thanks to everyone who participated and kept Karen Frederickson and myself in mind.
Today was a better day for me with less pain. My project these days--and it's good to have projects--is to figure out how to take a happy bath. One of the precautions with Taxol is not to soak your nails in water because that can make them crack and break off. I remember going to chemo camp with Catherine and Julie in August and the pharmacist telling us that nails breaking off was a possible side effect of chemo. I believe all three sets of our eyebrows went up simultaneously.
Eew.
When I first started chemo I was taking showers but then I started getting water stuck in my right ear which doesn't clear for a few days. The oncologist has no explanation for this. Then came earplugs which didn't fully do the trick, then earplugs and a rain hat. Then showers were simply no fun at all. I then switched to baths, which, over the last few weeks, became a nice part of my my day. Now with the "nail issue," we have rigged a way to keep my toes out of the water by placing a container under my feet, and Catherine bought me a box of medical gloves for my hands. I look slightly ridiculous, it's not entirely satisfying, but it does the trick.
When I'm done with all of this crap, I'm bringing a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape in with me for the hottest, longest bath party, accompanied by Shannon's bath salts, Walter's poetry, and Paul's playlist.
All are welcome (well, you know what I mean).
Love,
Kip