I’ve been in Montreal since Wednesday, helping out as mom is back in the hospital.  The pain in her back and legs is so bad that she barely walks.  And because she barely walks, she’s grown so weak she can barely walk.  Yesterday, she fell twice.  We’ve been waiting two weeks for an epidural that will, hopefully, lessen her pain – but now, given her weeks of inaction, a simple epidural won’t be enough to send her home.  Given her current condition, she’ll be looking at weeks of physiotherapy once she (hopefully) gets discharged.

Today, I picked up some panini, cold cuts (mortadella and Genoa salami for her, porchetta and smoked meat for me, as well as two boxes of Italian cookies (one for the nurses station).  We lunched in the spacious cafeteria, then had dinner in the solarium.  Tomorrow, I’m thinking I may pick up lasagna.

It’s been admittedly quite difficult to get much writing done while I’ve been here.  Ive had to push some work and project-related zooms until next week, and will have to pass on another project entirely.  A few other projects are out in the world and their fates are out of my hands.  And then there’s a more recent project that promises to be very excited, but will take a while to develop – and could very well fall apart in the end.  But Im trying to stay positive.

A few photos from my camera roll…

My new favorite ice cream flavor.

Ralphie impressed with his moms broom balancing skills.

Bringing this haul back home with me from sis’s garden.

This chocolate chip cookie from the nearby Trattoria is all sorts of dense and chocolaty delicious.