August 11, 2025
Hi Friends,
There’s an old saying that “no news is good news”—unless, of course, you’re waiting on imaging results. After anxiously awaiting last week’s CT scan results, they finally came in… on Friday… when no doctor was available to explain them. Naturally.
Now, I don’t know about you, but words like “spiculated contiguous juxtapleural mass” are way above my pay grade. I won’t be seeing my oncologist until next Thursday, so I’ll share what I learned in next week’s newsletter. In the meantime, I’m trying to embrace that virtue I’ve never quite mastered: patience. If cancer is teaching me anything, it’s how to live with uncertainty—and let’s be honest, that may be the only thing I can feel certain about!
Despite the waiting-game stress, it was actually a good week overall. I taught some new recipes in my community, which always brings me joy (and snacks). The strawberry ice cream was a huge hit—decadent, healthy, low in calorie density, and Charles gave it a standing ovation.
Comedy Countdown
I’ve also been deep in rehearsal mode for my upcoming comedy show in Vegas. It’s been over seven years since I performed live, and wow—memorizing is no joke. My biggest fear isn’t whether I’ll be funny, but whether I’ll remember the act! Thankfully, my improv class resumes this month, and that’s always my happiest place.
Screen Time
Speaking of laughs, I saw a movie called Freakier Friday—not just funny, but sweet and nostalgic. I just adore Jamie Lee Curtis. I also discovered two shows I’m really enjoying: Leanne on Netflix, and Mid-Century Modern on Hulu—Linda Lavin is an absolute treasure. I was heartbroken to learn she passed away.
We haven’t had a television in seven years, so I rely on Charles to fire up the computer when it’s time for a little screen break. Some days we don’t watch at all, and others maybe squeeze in 30 to 60 minutes. But it’s always comedy. If you haven’t watched Resident Alien yet, do yourself a favor—the doctor reminds me of Dr. Alan Goldhamer.
Oh—and I took a 14-day break from checking email and social media. You know what? I didn’t miss it at all. I’m seriously wondering if I could make that permanent.
Shiloh Update
Shiloh, our sweet rescue pup, continues to be a work in progress. He’s shy, fearful, and nothing like any dog I’ve ever had. It’s definitely put a damper on our social life, but we’re working on training. He’s incredibly loving—to us.
Unfortunately, he’s not quite sure about the rest of the world. I was hoping he’d make a great service dog, but based on his timid temperament, that may not be in the cards. It’s been a big adjustment after using a service dog for over 20 years. If you’re curious why I’ve had one—and you’ve never seen my episode on The Dog Whisperer—you can watch it here.
Love & Kale, Chef AJ.