This is GOOD.

So here I am in the Northwoods, hanging out with Livey. Sometimes I just sleep all day. Sometimes she just sleeps all day. We seem to alternate our energetic times and sleep times really, really well.

So when one of us has energy, the other doesn't, and whoever is up, does what needs doing.

It's great.

It's amazingly comforting to be around someone who's sick like me. That sounds a little cold-hearted, right? I know. I'd give a lot to see her NOT be sick. But it is what it is: we're two chronically ill people, dealing with a lot of identical issues, and it's so nice to be around someone who understands not just with their mind, but from personal experience. I can tell her things I can tell few other people; the things I say don't shock or puzzle her. From her own knowledge, I've already learned a lot of things to help me be healthier.

The first day I was here I had a little energy, and put away food I'd brought, and started cleaning her fridge a bit to put things away. (Don't want to give anyone my germs, here.) The next day, I totally crashed and slept all day. Then, yesterday, I was rested, and I cooked and did some more cleaning and organizing my Important Kitchen Stuff. See, here I am, taking over her kitchen.

One thing we don't have in common, healthwise, is digestive issues. I mean, mine are the opposite of hers. I get food allergy reactions that give me horrid cramping runs. She gets constipated, badly, and basically can't leave the house for days at a time as she waits for various, um, poop inspiring techniques to take effect.

Well.

Eating mostly hot dogs for a living is certainly not the cause of this problem. But it doesn't help. Or rather, it DOES help. Yup. That constipation thing really likes to have no-fiber foods!

So I knew before I even arrived that there were things I could do to help her out on this one.

Therefore: The very first cooking exercise wasn't actually cooking. It was just cutting up fresh fruit.

I'd left a pineapple behind on my first trip. When I got back here it was finally ripe.

Beautifully, perfectly, reeking to high heaven of pineapple, ripe.

Most people these days are not well schooled in making sure their fresh fruit is ripe. (My grocery store rant can wait, for now.)

She didn't know how good real pineapple can be. Unfortunately...it also looks like she may be allergic to it. Crap!

But the perfectly ripe fresh cantaloupe and pear look to be fine, allergy wise.

Next? Beef stew. With LOTS of veggies too.

Rich and tasty. Beef, onion, fresh garlic, carrots, celery, red potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, salt. Simple. Beef very well browned for that seriously beefy flavor.

Then, home baked bread. She'd never tasted fresh bread before. Oh, that was a TREAT to watch!

I love to cook, I have a *need to feed,* Walter's not home much when he's working, and I can't eat much food at all. So having someone to cook for, someone who - shockingly! - didn't mind one bit when this person from 2000 miles away strolled in and took over her kitchen? - is like Christmas for me.

Whee!

Now is a rest day, and we'll go out in the car and do a bit of grocery shopping for her patient in Rhinelander, and basically mostly chill. I love to drive, so that's another thing I have to offer.

Have to offer.

See, with most folks? I tend to feel like I'm all *need* and little *give.* I can't walk well, and the canes and/or scooter take some work for others sometimes, helping me with it, or even just adjusting their pace to mine. I'm hyperallergic and people have to be very careful with things like their soaps and hairspray and laundry and air fresheners around me. I'm exhausted easily and then we have to stop visiting and send me home to sleep.

I'm in a place, here, where I can actually help another person.

Like that Productive Member of Society thing.

Precious.

Precious.