On the suggestion of Pancake Goddess, I made fish tacos. I didn't quite have enough fish (cod), so I added some boneless, skinless chicken breast.
EVERY. SINGLE. MEMBER. OF. MY. FAMILY. ATE. MORE. THAN. ONE.
Yes, that was a yell. At least two members "hate" fish and those same two "hate" anything different, yet they ate it with gusto.
OK, maybe not quite as much gusto as usual. They only ate two and four respectively, but that was enough to not have leftovers:)
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Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
New American Plate
Many months ago, I mentioned the New American Plate way of eating. Sometimes I manage. Other times not so well. However, tonight's plate looked pretty well proportioned (I'm still not eating dairy or grains).
Menu:
Grilled Salmon with Tomato, Olive, Caper, Jalapeno SauceRoasted Asparagus
Roasted Broccoli
Garlicky Greens
I also accomplished Week 1, Day 2 of C25K today and after the cool down was over, I was so close to actually having covered 5K of ground that I continued walking until I did, about another 1/2+ mile. My thighs are a little sore, but otherwise, I feel good.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Grouper with Tomato-Olive Sauce
A hit with three of us, even with the jalapeno in it. The same three of us enjoyed the Garlic Asparagus. In fact, it was so good, I was happily disappointed when Nathan decided that he liked it and wanted a full serving. Otherwise, I would have some left-overs.
You can get the recipe here. A resounding YUM!
I'm actually looking forward for fish for dinner tomorrow. I have no idea what it will be....If there isn't any in the freezer, I might have to have chicken.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Detox Foods
Citrus-Spinach-Pesto Salmon and "side salad" of mixed baby greens, tomato, cranberries, and cauliflower dressed with mushroom vinaigrette.
Garlicky Greens and salmon baked with red onion and lemon. The left over salmon made for great salad topping the next day.
Friday, March 26, 2010
The first of 11...
...Herceptin infusions, that is.
I guess it could be called "chemo lite" even though technically, it's not chemo. For the next 30 weeks, I'll go to the infusion center to get a herceptin only infusion. The side effects, compared to chemo, are minimal.
Herceptin alone is responsible for decreasing breast cancer recurrence for people with my type of tumor by 40-50%. However, this does come with costs: an increased risk of heart disease (cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure, both of which can lead to death) and an estimated financial cost of $100,000/yr.
As I said before, compared to chemo, the side effects (other than heart issues) are minor: fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea. These side effects are said to decrease with future infusions. I had six herceptin infusions with my first round of chemo (last fall, before my surgery). At that time, I also received carboplatin and taxotere. I experienced quite severe leg and joint pain, especially the last half of the treatments, which lasted until January (I finished treatments in November). That pain was attributed to the taxotere. However, now I wonder about that because tonight, for the first time since it went away, I experienced that same pain, on a much lower scale, in my knees while I was driving (before, it was severe enough to cause me to automatically take pain relief if I were driving anywhere out of town), I can "feel" my knees sitting in this recliner, and my ankles were aching at dinner. Granted, this is all at a much lower level, but it is otherwise the exact same pain, in the exact same places that I experienced before.
Now I wonder, will it get worse over time? Is this a fluke? Is it all in my head? Or, will the pain build over time, and if so, how intense can it get over 30 weeks of treatment? Was it compounded by the taxotere?
Will I actually become an old lady before I stop feeling like an old lady?
So, that's what I did today, and, hopefully, that's what I'll do every third Friday for the next 30 weeks. So far, I feel fine, other than those odd, minor aches. You can read about how herceptin works here.
Meanwhile, the detox diet has been going well. I just may have to get used to cooking separately for myself because after 1.5 weeks of no sugar, no saturated fats, no grains, no dairy and eating mostly various leafy greens, fish, chicken, and berries, I really don't find the thought of other foods very enticing. For some reason, tonight, I had an intense craving for Bob Evan's biscuits, but even that intensity was much less than just a few days ago when I could have killed for a mouthful of the fried rice I made my family for dinner.
Now, if I could figure out how to replicate the Garden Tomato Soup that is served at Naslada, I'd be one happy camper.
I guess it could be called "chemo lite" even though technically, it's not chemo. For the next 30 weeks, I'll go to the infusion center to get a herceptin only infusion. The side effects, compared to chemo, are minimal.
Herceptin alone is responsible for decreasing breast cancer recurrence for people with my type of tumor by 40-50%. However, this does come with costs: an increased risk of heart disease (cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure, both of which can lead to death) and an estimated financial cost of $100,000/yr.
As I said before, compared to chemo, the side effects (other than heart issues) are minor: fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea. These side effects are said to decrease with future infusions. I had six herceptin infusions with my first round of chemo (last fall, before my surgery). At that time, I also received carboplatin and taxotere. I experienced quite severe leg and joint pain, especially the last half of the treatments, which lasted until January (I finished treatments in November). That pain was attributed to the taxotere. However, now I wonder about that because tonight, for the first time since it went away, I experienced that same pain, on a much lower scale, in my knees while I was driving (before, it was severe enough to cause me to automatically take pain relief if I were driving anywhere out of town), I can "feel" my knees sitting in this recliner, and my ankles were aching at dinner. Granted, this is all at a much lower level, but it is otherwise the exact same pain, in the exact same places that I experienced before.
Now I wonder, will it get worse over time? Is this a fluke? Is it all in my head? Or, will the pain build over time, and if so, how intense can it get over 30 weeks of treatment? Was it compounded by the taxotere?
Will I actually become an old lady before I stop feeling like an old lady?
So, that's what I did today, and, hopefully, that's what I'll do every third Friday for the next 30 weeks. So far, I feel fine, other than those odd, minor aches. You can read about how herceptin works here.
Meanwhile, the detox diet has been going well. I just may have to get used to cooking separately for myself because after 1.5 weeks of no sugar, no saturated fats, no grains, no dairy and eating mostly various leafy greens, fish, chicken, and berries, I really don't find the thought of other foods very enticing. For some reason, tonight, I had an intense craving for Bob Evan's biscuits, but even that intensity was much less than just a few days ago when I could have killed for a mouthful of the fried rice I made my family for dinner.
Now, if I could figure out how to replicate the Garden Tomato Soup that is served at Naslada, I'd be one happy camper.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Life is a lot like Vegas
Life is like Vegas. We are all playing the odds. And, depending on our belief systems, someone else is the House.
Yes, whether you believe it is God or Karma or Fate, Vishnu or Krishna or They Flying Spaghetti Monster, something else has the odds in its favor. We will be gone; the rest of the world will be here.
Just last week, a young mother here in town--daughter of one of the most popular pastors in town, graduate student at the university, beloved wife, and, most heart-breaking, mother of kindergarten-age twin sons--was killed coming out of the Kroger parking lot. BAM! The odds weren't in her favor at that moment, and she lost. The 81 year old man who ran the red light and hit her car? Clearly, the odds weren't in his favor at that moment. I'm sure he didn't head out that day to kill someone. I haven't followed the story at all, so I don't know what condition he is in. I know that the accident has been described as "Worst. Accident. Ever." by my 17 year old son who arrived on the scene shortly afterward (talk about odds...given his gender and age, hearing sirens while he was out driving struck fear in my heart...will his odds come up?) and "horrific" by my 14 year old's physical therapist who witnessed it, and "horrendous" by aFacebook friend who witnessed it.
My supposition is that the elderly man was also injured, but I don't know for sure. It would be easy to say that he should have died instead. He is 81 and has lived a long life. However, we don't know what his life was like before this incident. Maybe this accident is the icing on the cake of a long, horrible, shitty life. Maybe someone is thinking, "...and to top it off, he was responsible for killing someone in a car accident." Maybe when he dies, no one will be at his funeral. Maybe, because of his injuries, he'll live several more years in agonizing, excruciating pain, wishing he were dead. Maybe, he doesn't care at all. Regardless, going with my assumption that he didn't cause the accident intentionally, the odds were also against him that evening, and he, too, lost to the House.
It all seems so random. The vast majority of people who get lung cancer smoke. Most people who smoke, don't get lung cancer. Who decides? While we know what increases the risk of breast cancer, why do some people get it and not others? Certainly, my weight could have been lower; clearly (as evidenced by my weight), my diet could have been better; undeniably (once again as evidenced by my weight), my lifestyle could have been more active. I'm willing to accept that I had some risk factors. Yet, I breastfed for 13 years nonstop. In general, our family diet, with the exception of certain periods where we fell off the wagon, wasn't horrible. Not nearly as bad as the "typical American" family's diet.
Even worse, I have a friend who has led a breast cancer unfriendly life. In general, she's done everything right, and snake eyes for her, too. In a sense, she lost twice. Her tumor had two characteristics that contribute to recurrence. I only have one. Plus, she's even younger than I am.
A lot of people I know are counting on having breastfed and not having a family history of breast cancer to protect them. That's like buying lottery tickets hoping to retire well.
I know when people go to Vegas and gamble, some people choose their game of chance by what the odds are. Yet, most choose because they like a particular game or feel proficient at a particular game.
Some people do have certain skills that increase their odds of beating the House. Some are better at statistics than others (I would be one of those "than others" in this situation) and, therefore, play smarter than others. That's the old "You've gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" player. There are people who can count cards. The House considers that cheating, but it's really more playing to the advantage of the intelligence and skill of the ones who can count cards. There are other ways of cheating that I only know about because I like to watch detective shows on TV.
Increasing your odds of winning at gambling can still result in losing. If a player, like my one son, has internalized the various odds, and therefore plays smarter than most, eventually, someone else will be dealt a better hand. At some point, that will be the House. He loses. All professional gamblers accept the fact that they will lose big on occasion.
Players who can count cards, I see as a metaphor for those people who do it ALL right. They are the equivalent of people who are so intent on living healthy that the joy is sucked right out of their lives. Those people full of rules and who never break them. I've known a few people like that. Counting cards, to my knowledge, isn't "illegal." But it does take the fun away from other players, whose odds of beating the card counter drop dramatically. Games are supposed to be fun. The playing field (table top?) is supposed to be level. It's the House that really hates card counters. It's the House that goes after them. It's the House that, in respectable places of games of chance, will throw them out. In other places, will break their hands or worse. If they get caught. Smart card counters know how far to push the limits of success. They don't get greedy. But others, BAM. Of course, none of them goes into it expecting to get caught.
I think we've all known those people who, either because of fear or hubris or whatever--maybe a desire to just be perfect--, focus their lives on preventing. I know I have known them: the mothers who show up at birthday parties with their own food for their precious offspring. I don't mean the ones whose children have legitimate dietary concerns, such as allergies or who live in an vegan family and want their child to be able to have fun, too. I mean the ones who just "don't allow sugar." At all. Ever. Because sugar is bad. I mean the people who, when invited to dinner, quiz the host about the origin of the food. Again, not because of legitimate health concerns, but as one of my friends said, "I think you don't care about contaminates." So, OK, my chili probably isn't good enough for you.
It's one thing to do your best to be healthy. It's something totally different to let that be your overriding focus. Life needs to be joyful. Joy can be found in sharing food with others. occasional piece of candy, an occasional slice of white bread, an occasional non-organic apple most likely won't hurt.
The irony is that even these "perfect" people lose to the House on occasion. Consider Jim Fixx as an example.
Yes, whether you believe it is God or Karma or Fate, Vishnu or Krishna or They Flying Spaghetti Monster, something else has the odds in its favor. We will be gone; the rest of the world will be here.
Just last week, a young mother here in town--daughter of one of the most popular pastors in town, graduate student at the university, beloved wife, and, most heart-breaking, mother of kindergarten-age twin sons--was killed coming out of the Kroger parking lot. BAM! The odds weren't in her favor at that moment, and she lost. The 81 year old man who ran the red light and hit her car? Clearly, the odds weren't in his favor at that moment. I'm sure he didn't head out that day to kill someone. I haven't followed the story at all, so I don't know what condition he is in. I know that the accident has been described as "Worst. Accident. Ever." by my 17 year old son who arrived on the scene shortly afterward (talk about odds...given his gender and age, hearing sirens while he was out driving struck fear in my heart...will his odds come up?) and "horrific" by my 14 year old's physical therapist who witnessed it, and "horrendous" by aFacebook friend who witnessed it.
My supposition is that the elderly man was also injured, but I don't know for sure. It would be easy to say that he should have died instead. He is 81 and has lived a long life. However, we don't know what his life was like before this incident. Maybe this accident is the icing on the cake of a long, horrible, shitty life. Maybe someone is thinking, "...and to top it off, he was responsible for killing someone in a car accident." Maybe when he dies, no one will be at his funeral. Maybe, because of his injuries, he'll live several more years in agonizing, excruciating pain, wishing he were dead. Maybe, he doesn't care at all. Regardless, going with my assumption that he didn't cause the accident intentionally, the odds were also against him that evening, and he, too, lost to the House.
It all seems so random. The vast majority of people who get lung cancer smoke. Most people who smoke, don't get lung cancer. Who decides? While we know what increases the risk of breast cancer, why do some people get it and not others? Certainly, my weight could have been lower; clearly (as evidenced by my weight), my diet could have been better; undeniably (once again as evidenced by my weight), my lifestyle could have been more active. I'm willing to accept that I had some risk factors. Yet, I breastfed for 13 years nonstop. In general, our family diet, with the exception of certain periods where we fell off the wagon, wasn't horrible. Not nearly as bad as the "typical American" family's diet.
Even worse, I have a friend who has led a breast cancer unfriendly life. In general, she's done everything right, and snake eyes for her, too. In a sense, she lost twice. Her tumor had two characteristics that contribute to recurrence. I only have one. Plus, she's even younger than I am.
A lot of people I know are counting on having breastfed and not having a family history of breast cancer to protect them. That's like buying lottery tickets hoping to retire well.
I know when people go to Vegas and gamble, some people choose their game of chance by what the odds are. Yet, most choose because they like a particular game or feel proficient at a particular game.
Some people do have certain skills that increase their odds of beating the House. Some are better at statistics than others (I would be one of those "than others" in this situation) and, therefore, play smarter than others. That's the old "You've gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" player. There are people who can count cards. The House considers that cheating, but it's really more playing to the advantage of the intelligence and skill of the ones who can count cards. There are other ways of cheating that I only know about because I like to watch detective shows on TV.
Increasing your odds of winning at gambling can still result in losing. If a player, like my one son, has internalized the various odds, and therefore plays smarter than most, eventually, someone else will be dealt a better hand. At some point, that will be the House. He loses. All professional gamblers accept the fact that they will lose big on occasion.
Players who can count cards, I see as a metaphor for those people who do it ALL right. They are the equivalent of people who are so intent on living healthy that the joy is sucked right out of their lives. Those people full of rules and who never break them. I've known a few people like that. Counting cards, to my knowledge, isn't "illegal." But it does take the fun away from other players, whose odds of beating the card counter drop dramatically. Games are supposed to be fun. The playing field (table top?) is supposed to be level. It's the House that really hates card counters. It's the House that goes after them. It's the House that, in respectable places of games of chance, will throw them out. In other places, will break their hands or worse. If they get caught. Smart card counters know how far to push the limits of success. They don't get greedy. But others, BAM. Of course, none of them goes into it expecting to get caught.
I think we've all known those people who, either because of fear or hubris or whatever--maybe a desire to just be perfect--, focus their lives on preventing. I know I have known them: the mothers who show up at birthday parties with their own food for their precious offspring. I don't mean the ones whose children have legitimate dietary concerns, such as allergies or who live in an vegan family and want their child to be able to have fun, too. I mean the ones who just "don't allow sugar." At all. Ever. Because sugar is bad. I mean the people who, when invited to dinner, quiz the host about the origin of the food. Again, not because of legitimate health concerns, but as one of my friends said, "I think you don't care about contaminates." So, OK, my chili probably isn't good enough for you.
It's one thing to do your best to be healthy. It's something totally different to let that be your overriding focus. Life needs to be joyful. Joy can be found in sharing food with others. occasional piece of candy, an occasional slice of white bread, an occasional non-organic apple most likely won't hurt.
The irony is that even these "perfect" people lose to the House on occasion. Consider Jim Fixx as an example.
Once you've been diagnosed with cancer, a different kind of odds comes into play: the odds of survival.
Those are the odds I don't like to talk about.
Those are the odds I don't like to talk about.
In fact, I'll let you in on a secret here: I haven't asked my oncologist about my odds of survival. I know myself pretty well. I wouldn't say I'm a "glass half empty" kind of person, but if I hear "60% odds of survival," I'll think, well, that's nice, but that means there's nearly a 50% chance of not surviving.
I also avoid all references on the internet about this kind of stuff. Early on, I made a statement that I didn't want to hear about people who have died from breast cancer. Six months later, I still hold fast to that.
I also avoid all references on the internet about this kind of stuff. Early on, I made a statement that I didn't want to hear about people who have died from breast cancer. Six months later, I still hold fast to that.
I have yet to talk to any person who has a serious illness who enjoys questions about survival. Outside of my immediate family, no one really has the right to ask me about my chances of survival. Or even my prognosis. The thing is, we are all hoping to be on the far right hand side of the survival bell curve. So, let don't drag us back to reality. Believe me, most of us face reality. We have doctors. They give it to us straight or most of them do. Let's just assume that things are going to end as well as possible.
The first time I met with my oncologist, she declared my cancer "garden variety." She has also assured my youngest son that "mom will get better." She is the mother of sons herself. I trust that she is operating under the assumption that cancer will not kill me. That I am going to beat the House in this particular game. That's all I need to know. However, she's an aggressive player, hence the extra chemo. Her patients do incredibly well. She's at least a smart player. Maybe she's even a wise card counter: not trying to make her fortune by beating the House, but also not drawing unnecessary attention to her play. I'm hoping the House isn't going to come after her where I am concerned and break her arms.
That doesn't mean that I'm not also trying to increase my odds of survival. I want to play smart, to give the House a run for its money. I'm willing to make changes in my and my family's diet. I'm dedicated to increasing my exercise. There appears to be a direct correlation to the type of cancer I have recurring and exercise. So, damn, an hour a day, at least 5 days a week, will become a non-negotiable as soon as I'm physically capable of it. I'm trying to figure out ways to decrease my family's exposure to environmental toxins.
The problem lies in how to be sane about this. The House is still out there. I can win at this game, but lost at another. The next time I get in the car, I could be killed. Heck, a meteor could land on me while I sleep in bed tonight. I could choke to death on my green smoothie. I'm not arguing that these things are likely to happen, but they could. I do what I can to decrease my odds of dying in a car accident. I wear my seatbelt. I drive defensively. But who knows when someone will run a red light and kill me? I'm not willing to avoid driving.
Just the same, I'm not willing to make my family a martyr to avoiding cancer. I'm not going to insist that my kids don't eat at friends' houses, nor am I going to refuse to allow junk food into my house. I'm certainly not going to serve a soccer team of teen boys sautéed kale and expect that they will return to my home. Nor am I willing to make homemade, whole wheat, organic sauce pizzas for 10 hungry boys. So, store bought will have to do.
I've been reading the book Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life. This guy has done his research. Based on other research, I disagree with some of his claims, mostly in the area of the anti-cancer mind. I do agree with other of his claims. The relationship of the increase of cancer to changes in food production seems clear, for instance. The research related to exercise seems pretty black and white. In fact, when asked, both my oncologist and my breast surgeon claim that the one lifestyle choice everyone should make to greatly reduce their odds of cancer or recurrence is to exercise an hour a day.
Yet, there is no way I can feed my family totally organic. We can make some wiser choices, but there's no way we can go totally organic. Do I cancel my kids' soccer and use that money for organic food? Do I not pay my medical bills to buy every single recommended supplement?
Once again, the House is out there, and it will win at the game of life. So I have to work with what I've got. To make the choices I can make, when I can make them. To play smart in all areas of life. But I have to have fun at the game. To enjoy my life at much as possible. To balance living in the moment with looking toward the future. Because that's all I really have: this moment, this game, and what comes next.
So, yes, in a lot of ways, life is like Vegas.
Labels:
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breastfeeding,
diet,
fate,
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odds,
oncologist,
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Detox
So, I've been doing a post-chemo detox. It's nothing special, really. In fact, it's probably how I should learn to eat for the rest of my life. No wheat products. No refined sugar of any sort (no honey or maple syrup). Lots of antioxidants. Lots of greens. Lean protein. Healthy fish. Detox tea. A handful of supplements that support liver and kidney function.
It has only been a few days. It's a challenge. I really wanted those South Side Six gyros my family ate for dinner Thursday. The chicken fried rice I'm making them for dinner sounds wonderful. Yet, I'll stick to a salad with left over salmon bits and some sauteed greens.
However, my body is so full of toxic crap that I must do this for at least two weeks. Chemo works because it is toxic. The most recent chemo regime I was doing came with rules such as "wash your sheets 48 hours after chemo because the toxins seep through your skin" and "massage therapists should wear gloves the first 48 hours after infusions."
It's the cure that kills. Yes, there is no denying that sometimes people die from the cure. It's a risk. Very few come through totally unscathed. To top it off, chemo kills cells, cancer cells as well as healthy cells. Dead cells, like all living organisms decompose. Just like one rotten potato can make the entire cupboard smell for days, decomposing cells, especially nasty ones like cancer cells (or so I imagine), release toxins.
Basically, I'm a walking toxic waste dump.
And that's what I'm trying to remedy right now.
Some people have asked if I have noticed any changes since starting to detox. So far, I've only noticed one change. A change I didn't expect (actually, I had no expectations): my distance vision is much more clear. This started late yesterday. I was driving the boys to a soccer game last night and everything was so clear. Sort of like when you go to get your eyes checked (for those of us who wear corrective lenses) and they do that first "is this better?" And you realize that, yes, you really do need new lenses? It was all so crisp.
Even today I can tell a difference in my eye sight. This one is an annoying one. Because my distance vision is improved, that's affecting my near vision. I feel the strain reading my laptop. Come to think of it, twice yesterday I had to dig out my reading glasses, and I really haven't been using them much lately.
I'm not really sure what to make of this. It's just an observation. Who knows what else I'll observe in the next week and a half or longer.
It has only been a few days. It's a challenge. I really wanted those South Side Six gyros my family ate for dinner Thursday. The chicken fried rice I'm making them for dinner sounds wonderful. Yet, I'll stick to a salad with left over salmon bits and some sauteed greens.
However, my body is so full of toxic crap that I must do this for at least two weeks. Chemo works because it is toxic. The most recent chemo regime I was doing came with rules such as "wash your sheets 48 hours after chemo because the toxins seep through your skin" and "massage therapists should wear gloves the first 48 hours after infusions."
It's the cure that kills. Yes, there is no denying that sometimes people die from the cure. It's a risk. Very few come through totally unscathed. To top it off, chemo kills cells, cancer cells as well as healthy cells. Dead cells, like all living organisms decompose. Just like one rotten potato can make the entire cupboard smell for days, decomposing cells, especially nasty ones like cancer cells (or so I imagine), release toxins.
Basically, I'm a walking toxic waste dump.
And that's what I'm trying to remedy right now.
Some people have asked if I have noticed any changes since starting to detox. So far, I've only noticed one change. A change I didn't expect (actually, I had no expectations): my distance vision is much more clear. This started late yesterday. I was driving the boys to a soccer game last night and everything was so clear. Sort of like when you go to get your eyes checked (for those of us who wear corrective lenses) and they do that first "is this better?" And you realize that, yes, you really do need new lenses? It was all so crisp.
Even today I can tell a difference in my eye sight. This one is an annoying one. Because my distance vision is improved, that's affecting my near vision. I feel the strain reading my laptop. Come to think of it, twice yesterday I had to dig out my reading glasses, and I really haven't been using them much lately.
I'm not really sure what to make of this. It's just an observation. Who knows what else I'll observe in the next week and a half or longer.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Quite Pleased With Myself
I ate 11 or more cups of dark, leafy greens today.....at least 4.5 cups of kale. At least 6.5 cups of spinach. Tossed some chard into my lunch smoothie **plus** that nasty, gross, disgusting green veggie powder that taints anything it touches.
Anyone think this might actually taste like berry? I'm not beyond cheating, nor helping my children cheat when it comes to getting 10-15 servies of stuff with roots and chlorophyll.
Anyone think this might actually taste like berry? I'm not beyond cheating, nor helping my children cheat when it comes to getting 10-15 servies of stuff with roots and chlorophyll.
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