Cynthia Voelkl Champaign-Urbana, Friends, House Concerts, Me, Music

Buster and the Hard Stuff

It’s been a hell of a week.

I put the photo of the best moment at the top of this post. Cosmic Charlie and Carrie Chandler (two thirds of Carrie Sue and the Woodburners). They were wonderful and did my heart SO much good. We wholeheartedly recommend them. Long live the mighty Rosebowl.

OK, here goes. We woke up Monday, no, wait, Tuesday, in foul moods. Not irritated with each other but definitely not pleased with the world. Teri had invited us to her Rotary meeting and that’s where Charlie and Carrie played. As I mentioned, they were great and it was nice to chat for a moment too. Live music forever.

Ernie had dropped me off pretty close to the Lake House. I used Joe (the shillelagh) and was doing ok although it was a harder walk than I expected. And as someone with mobility issues I must say that the toilet in the Lake House is possibly the lowest I’ve ever rested on. I was quite amused but managed to get up. I headed outside knowing Ernie would catch up but I got just a little ways and realized my legs were not working the way one would expect one’s legs to work. I leaned against the wall. Teri ran to get a chair and a truly kind woman named Linda stood with me, kind of propping me up while Ernie ran to get Red Rider (the walker). I just didn’t expect this so I was a bit freaked out. I thanked Linda and made it to the car with Red Rider but it wasn’t easy. I was, of course, in tears by that point. We were supposed to head over to Carle so Ernie could get platelets. Instead he raced me home and got me in the house because I didn’t think I could navigate Carle at the moment. He got his platelets but when they tested him again, his count was even lower. Geesh.

Yesterday we headed back to Carle. I got to the doctor’s office for the appointment but I mustn’t have looked on top of things as the nurse offered me water. Lord she was kind. She’s one of our favorites. I know I complain here and there about Carle but there are some extraordinarily kind folks there, particularly in the Cancer Center and Vasireddy worlds.

Yesterday was a great day for clouds…view from the Cancer Center valet parking

The Pod Gods must have known we needed a break because we got POD FOUR!!! Pod Four in the Infusion Suite is just is a bit more private and quiet and that can make a huge difference. He was just getting Keytruda so we were out before noon.

Unfortunately I am still having difficulty walking much. Getting upstairs last night was harrowing. Today there’s stuff I need to get done but I’m trying to focus on both of us relaxing and calming down a bit. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Deep breath in, deep breath out.

On the up side? There are MULTIPLE baby Busters!!! Damn, life is good despite the hard stuff.

Also, we are extraordinarily touched by the folks that have donated blood in Ernie’s Blood Drive (which goes through noon tomorrow). Truly. I’ll write more later but it means a lot to us. He heads back for a six hour infusion (only two hours for platelets, the rest is an infusion for his immune system) on Monday. Funny how your perspective of what is important changes as you move through life.

Onward.

Oh, wait, one more thing. You gotta admit…. Buster and the Hard Stuff would be a great band name. I mean I still want The Cynthias who will cover all my favorite songs but I really like Buster and the Hard Stuff for originals.

Buster II is recovering from the woodchuck attack. We’re not asking which woodchuck did it.
Hoping to have some Jon Byrd news soon!
Cynthia Voelkl Food and Cooking, Friends, The Guys

Sinus headache so just some random notes

I feel as though I haven’t posted here in a month but in all actuality, it appears to only have been a few days. There’s lots I want to say but my mind is too muddled. Allergies are kicking my ass this year. So for now, a few photos and random notes.

Beautiful memorial for Roger Blakley and Ceal Allen yesterday at the Esquire. They were so loved. We saw lots of friends and familiar faces and, oh, the slideshow of photos was incredible. Old/new friends Matt and Libby kindly let us share their table (thank you guys!). I was relieved to have a seat but I gotta say after and hour or two sitting on a backless stool my back was killing me. I was almost in tears by time I got into the car. When we got home I gave in and took a pain pill, which I absolutely hate because they knock me out. So sadly, we missed one of our favorite things, our beloved Sasha and Dick’s summer party. Next year.

One stolen picture of Roger and Ceal. It’s so glorious that I couldn’t help myself.

I love this picture. The inimitable Kathy Harden singing one of Roger’s favorite songs, Dylan’s Forever Young, with Matt Stewart accompanying. I just love the way the young boys playing pool stopped and stood at attention. There were a lot of very good people there, because that’s who loved Ceal and Roger. I so wanted to speak to one of Ceal’s daughters or sisters but I just couldn’t manage it. I regret it but I know Ceal would understand.

I know we have an old house but would it have killed them to make the closet the same size as the door?

One of the best meals we’ve made in ages. I know, I know, I’ve posted a million pictures of pasta and asparagus but this one was incredible. I took a Y shaped peeler (known as the Heather peeler in our house) and peeled the asparagus into thin slivers. It made a world of difference. After peeling them we put them in a bowl of cold water so they crisped and curled up. We melted some butter with a good dash of red pepper flakes and let it get just the slightest bit brown. Popped the asparagus in, stirred it a bit and covered the pan so it would steam a bit.

We tossed it with the spaghetti as well as about half a cup of pasta water and added about 1/4 cup of grated parmesan. Ohh, and good dash of pepper as well as a bit of salt. The difference in taste with the ones I’ve made with chopped asparagus was startling. This had that green grassy taste that I love alllll the way through it. Highly recommended. Note: gluten free pasta comes in 12 oz boxes unlike regular pasta. I think next time I would add more asparagus. One bunch of asparagus is probably perfect for 8 oz of pasta.

Just LOOK at my salt and pepper shakers. It was glorious having Tal here. They were good enough to take a picture for me.

When texting Leo about something else I found out they gone to Allerton. I begged for a picture. This is what I got. Geesh, they really are perfect for one another.

Another food picture. Sorry. We haven’t had shrimp in ages but Schnucks had a good sale on some. It was one of those don’t-want-to-cook nights. We dusted the shrimp with cornstarch and hell, I don’t remember, cumin and something else along with salt and pepper, cooked them quickly in a bit of olive oil and put them on some salad greens. A dash of the wonderful olive oil and lemon balsamic (💚 to Carrie and Bill) and that was it. Ridiculously good, particularly for the amount of effort.

That’s all I’ve got on this headachy day. Ernie’s at the store. We’re both kind of tired and out of sorts so maybe we’ll just find a movie to watch when he gets back.

I leave you, on this Memorial Day, with a picture of my beautiful father, Joseph Edward Voelkl. He hated war.

Love to all. Onward.

Cynthia Voelkl Friends

Big Red and I

The other day I dragged Big Red out (sometimes I call the walker Big Red and sometimes I call her Red Rider…for some reason the other walker I just call “little guy.” The shillelagh is, of course known as Joe). Big Red and I headed to Carle and trotted off to the surgical waiting room. A friend was having surgery so I went to sit with their partner, my very dear friend. I figure nobody should sit in the waiting room alone without some kind of company. Of course she’d told me not to come but Big Red and I ignored her. I just stayed a few hours as I had to get back home to say goodbye to Tal. Oh, and fyi surgery went fine, albeit long…. It felt good being there, to just sit, roll our eyes when necessary and to chat.

I told her about the time Ernie was having hernia surgery and my father passed away during it. I can’t imagine what I would have done without my friend Gisela there. I of course had told her she didn’t have to sit with me but she showed up in the waiting room with snacks and little packets of Kleenex, which came in handy as it turned out. I just remembered using that Kleenex as I cried. Ernie was in recovery and I kept wandering the halls trying to get a signal so I could call the nursing home (I’d just received a message) and my mother. Eventually I left Gisela with Ernie and Ann and Bob came and got him and brought him home and picked the boys up from Mary and Ray’s house while I went to be with my mother.

Ever since then I’ve tried to sit with friends at times like that if they don’t have family with them. I can’t always manage it but I try. And I always try to go to wakes/funerals/memorials because I remember the people that came to my parents and my sister’s funeral. It means so much.

It wasn’t a lot but I’m glad Big Red and I went for a bit. I don’t know what we’d do without our friends.

And in big news: I will have a house concert to announce shortly.

Onward.