We’ll start with the big news: McGill’s Arts Professors Union (AMPFA) are now officially certified as a bargaining unit. A little over a year after our first signed card, we have a union! I’m not naive about what will be involved in the bargaining process, but given admin’s systematic turn to “consultation” and the dysfunction of faculty senate, this is a major step forward for faculty governance and protecting our working conditions. I served as interim treasurer during the runup to unionization, but will not be running for office during the first election, since I have to look after myself right now. And I’m on sabbatical.
Onto personal good news: this week I left the apartment TWICE for non-medical and non-exercise purposes. Wednesday night one of the Radcliffe fellows organized what can only be called an “emergency karaoke.” And Carrie loves karaoke. So we got it together and went out. The bar was crushingly loud and I may be nearing the “too old for this shit” phase of my life for that. But I brought my speech amp which helped me out on the speaking end. It was a lot of fun, and it was wonderful to see people, and there were plenty of memorable performances. And no, while on oxygen, I will not be singing for anyone. (It costs spoons just to talk.) There are still things to work out. At one point most of the group moved over to a table where everyone was standing, which involved me getting a stool over there so I could join up, but that’s pretty standard disability stuff.
Yesterday (Friday), we went into Radcliffe for the afternoon. I was there for almost 4 hours. It was great to be in my office, which is a beautiful space. With Carrie’s help, I also set up the synthesizers/artist bait that I had packed up in September. So the office almost done now. But also, it was frozen in amber from September: on the whiteboard I had various work plans up for the “next few weeks”–which turned out to be the weeks I spent in and out of hospital. Papers piled on my desk included written comments on a draft of the grant application Carrie sent in at the beginning of October. The office itself is wonderful though, and I got lucky with placement. I am right next door to the accessible bathroom. Down the hall from the kitchen. And near a nice lounge area where people run into one another. The highlight of the day was definitely running into people and chatting, and at one point there was a group of six of us in the lounge talking away and it felt like one of those promotional photos for sabbatical fellowships. I left late afternoon feeling quite tired, though made it up the stairs (my PT said to break it up into smaller chunks, which helps) and I slept like a rock last night.
I still have some things to figure out before going in will be a regular thing. The tubing I had on my portable oxygen tank yesterday was comically juuuuuust too short for rolling it around, so I need to use a longer tube on my pulsed regulator. I need to figure out what I will do for lunches, as going out isn’t an option, and neither will be most of their catered food, since I am still being very careful about what I try to swallow. (There are still errors. Last night a “new, smaller!” Mucinex gel capsule got stuck.) And I probably need to figure out a few other access-related things to make my office life simpler. I will also enjoy it more when my walking / breathing stamina is a bit higher than it is now. I had to decline an artist’s studio tour because I needed to rest, but at least I’m aware enough of my own needs to look after them (<–not a skill I’m normally very good at).
I spoke with my Montreal oncologist yesterday evening, who said I “sound good.” Carrie said I am seeming perkier as well. Fingers crossed that that continues. The only new side effect this week is more blood in the phlegm I cough up. Today it seems to be subsiding though, and as a symptom it’s ebbed and flowed for the last six weeks, so I am not particularly worried about it. I sent a photo via patient portal to the nurse practitioner at the cancer center here, and didn’t hear back, which to me says this is not an urgent concern, just an aesthetic one.
Also in the good news department: some friends are loaning us an Instant Pot to try out (this came up on the Facebook thread after I mentioned cooking in a previous post). People have been great about loaning us stuff, and I’ll remember this as a thing to do for sick friends in the future. We’ve got a couple air purifiers, one of those forehead thermometers, a blender, and a couple other things this way. One of the nice features of middle class middle age is people have too much stuff. We do too. Better to share!
Lastly, as part of going back to a schedule that approximates what we had in mind for sabbatical, I am taking at least one day a week as sabbath, which means resting, not seeing people, not pushing myself in any way, and not doing any work. Though things like cooking and puttering are allowed if they are pleasurable. I did that last Sunday and I think it’s a big part of why, overall, I had a good week (minus a few bumps here and there, like a cyclical vomiting episode Tuesday night–still figuring those out). Even when not in treatment for an aggressive cancer terrorizing my lungs, I’ve found I function better the rest of the time with a full day of retreat.
Tuesday I go into Mass General to see the nurse practitioner, get bloods done, and see the social worker, then go home to nap before a party at Radcliffe. So barring unforeseen adventures, I should have more news midweek next week.