DAVID KILGOUR

The night started out like a normal birthday party. There was a coconut cake from Miss Lily's and a seven-layer caramel cake from Caroline's Cakes (a Christmas gift from Imperial Woodpecker). I took a Marinol, one of my "pot pills" then out of nowhere, David Kilgour walked in the door. I wasn't sure if I was hallucinating. David, one of my all-time favorite artists, with his friend Tony, then played a full set which included some of my favorite Clean songs and material from his solo career. After a break for some cake and whiskey, and realizing this wasn't a hallucination, they played an encore which included Drawing to a Hole. After another short break, the band plugged into amps and grew to include Joe on drums and Lucy on keyboard. We weren't going to let them leave without playing Point That Thing Somewhere Else. It was a beautiful night, thank you.

CHICKEN

Andrea is a good cook. This is how I like to eat. She butterflied a whole chicken and put it in a pan with another heavy pan on top so the skin got all browned. Over this, she poured some of the juices with salad greens, tomatoes, roasted carrots, garlic and croutons. I've been eating this for a few days now, I love it.

TOMATOES

Andrea and Mac came with me for my third week of chemo. At this point in the cycle my white blood counts are usually too low to continue so I get a week off. Almost immediately after they remove the needle, I start to feel better. Since I was feeling good, Andrea and I went to the farmer's market and got stuff to make lunch and dinner. This is the first good tomato I've had this year. Andrea made it just the way I like it: salt, pepper and mayo on spongy white bread.

Ira, Georgia, Susan and Myrna joined us for dinner. I had read in a book about recovering from surgery that there was nothing healthier than a fish stew, so that's what Andrea made. Tomatoes, fennel, monkfish, halibut (just because), mussels and clams, served with toast to sop it up. Not having a stomach means I can't eat as much as I wanted to, but I went back for seconds after I digested the first round.

Dessert was fruit and cheese. My favorite was a date stuffed with ricotta (sweetened with honey) and topped with a sprinkle of esspresso.

BUCKWHEAT PANCAKES

I'm lucky. Last week, Scott made me delicious, healthy meals while Danielle took care of me; making sure to drink fluids, take pills, etc. This week, Andrea is here. From Vermont, Pam brought the best maple syrup I've ever had so I asked for pancakes to sop it up, Andrea made these extra nice with some nectarine compote. I feel lucky and grateful to have the greatest friends in the world.

DRONABINOL

Scott closed Elf Cafe for the week so he came here to NY to cook for me. Danielle was his sous chef. Last night's meal was crispy maitake mushrooms and risotto with summer vegetable puree and poached sole. All very cancer-fighting foods that I'm able to digest well. Things have taken a turn for the better, my appetite has increased and I'm able to eat more food. I think it's a combination of Scott's great cooking and this cannabis-based pill I'm taking.

EATING

I haven't been posting because I haven't been eating. Lately, food is something I have to force down. I've lost a lot of weight. Everyone says I should try to eat more but I feel nauseous most of the time. It makes it hard to want to eat or drink anything. I'm not throwing up but I kneel in front of the toilet and gag a lot. What I do eat is very bland. I'm on a BRAT diet which stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast. I miss food. Food still smells good and looks good to me, but I can't eat it. When I do, I get severe cramps. I'm told over time that things will get better, but right now I'm frustrated because it's taking so long. I want a hamburger and macaroni salad from the grocery store.

DOMA

I mainly think of Doma as a breakfast or lunch place. Sometimes you'll see a celebrity there in the morning, hanging out drinking tea. Peter and I went for dinner tonight and it was excellent. I had salmon with cauliflower and cauliflower puree (that brown thing in the middle is the crisped salmon skin, which I didn't eat.. I would have, if it was still attached to the flesh). I could eat this twice a week.