Tortillitas, Carrot Cake, Tamales, Oh My!

My first dose of chemo comes tomorrow. I stand afraid only of that which I do not know yet strangely I feel at ease about tomorrow. Is it because I will get my first dose of what will be a number of "drips" of poison? No, not really. Then could it be that I will soon be subject to a huge amount of "grays" (Gray (Gy) is the unit of absorbed dose of radiation) centered around my head and neck region? Nay, nay I say. Ok, so how about the side effects of chemo and radiation? Yes, yes, yes. Now we are getting warmer. 


Specifically, the acne? No, I survived high school so this should be a breeze. Maybe fatigue? Naw, I power napped through law school so this will not present an issue (remember IRAC?). How about the loss of a few lbs? Currently I am pushing 225lbs on my 6' frame so that puts my BMI still to high... I know, what about the soreness inside the neck or throat area that is being treated? Although it may be severe, it is to be expected with my condition and I can deal with it. That leaves the damage to the salivary tissue that will lead to dry mouth and altered taste. Ah, there it is. Dry mouth? Maybe secondarily; but primarily, numero uno, number one, top of the heap, the big dog is..........altered taste!


I don't have the most sophisticated palate known to man, but I do know what I like. And some of the things that I like.....


My Dad's carrot cake


Our tamales at christmas


Menudo (equal mix of tripe and hominy (aka nixtamal), add a bit of oregano, red chile flakes, diced onions and lemon )


Chicken, Juan Pollo (http://www.juanpollo.com/)


Tortillitas that my Mom makes (with Pico Pica)


Tapioca pudding


Lobster Tails, beans and tortillas from Puerto Nuevo, Baja California Norte, Mexico


Michael's Cowboy Beans and BBQ Turkey


Mrs Knott's Fried Chicken (the best for breakfast)


Chaufa de Pollo from El Pollo Inka (http://www.elpolloinka.com/)


My mother-in-laws bean soup (with a real ham bone)


Mac n Cheese


Sardinetas and fried peppers at the counter, Cal Pep, Barcelona (http://www.calpep.com/ingles/ingles.html)


Fresh Oysters at Pascal's Manale, New Orleans (shucked by Thomas at the oyster bar and just about any other food items in town...) (http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/pascalsmanale/menu.html)


Fresh greens, tomatoes with white beans and tuna, Panzano in Chianti, Tuscany Region, Italy (accompanied by a nice bottle of Il Poggio Castellare Brunello di Montalcino)


Anything cooked while camping


.....and these are but a few of my favorite things. Some I will never taste again, while some I have tasted more than others and a few that I will have the opportunity to taste again. 


But the real question is, I mean my one and only question is, will some of my favorite things taste the same? Or will my memory have to be my new taste bud? That is what is going to be the toughest "pill to swallow". Gulp.......