2005 ROCK-TOBER CHEMO GIRLS

Anonymous

In 2003 I had an unsatisfactory evaluation. My principal at that time declared my teaching techniques ineffective. Prior to this I had 15 years of excellent evaluations. Because of the “U” rating I had to be placed on a program of remediation.

The district at that time was run by a superintendent who was known as the “predator”. He handed the principals a hiring and firing template, and encouraged them to target one or two teachers at their school site. I was the one at my school site.

The principal who started my bad evaluation left to go to another school. I celebrated then because I was so sure that whoever took his place would see that he was wrong. But I was wrong. They hired someone who did not have any classroom experience, straight out of principal school, someone who thought that her main job was to nitpick me.

Her faultfinding mission had to be temporarily stopped because of my breast cancer.

As I prepare to go back I am facing a 90 day notice. Noone in my district has actually passed this final phase of the remediation. It involves 90 days of further nitpicking and will end with a letter of dismissal.

My lawyer and I look forward to a hearing to clear me of the charges.

I am praying, though, that I will pass the 90 day phase. Please pray for me.

Anonymous

Brenda -
Glad you checked in with us. Hang in there! I feel bad that after all you have been through medically - you have to deal with career issues! Don't let the principal-from-hell get the best of you!

Maryanne -
I hope the lung issues clear up soon!

Debbie -
Best wishes to you with your surgery! As soon as you're feeling up to it, let us know how you're doing! Ahhhhh...new pajamas heal all wounds!

Everyone -
Hi there! Hope you're all having a great weekend!

WHERE'S GRAYCIE - Come in Graycie!

Laura

spirit

I have not been here in what seems like forever. I started with the Oct. group in 2005; had to have somesurgeries unrelated to my cancer; switched to a new Onc. and then started chemo again on 5FU. A good name for that one because I became terribly ill and the Onc put me in the hospital for over a week!!!

I just wanted to say hello to y'all and see if anyone remembered me???

I see the Onc on the 19th of this month after recuperating at home and now she wants to try Taxol. Not sure about switching again...terrified in fact!!

Love & hugs to y'all...
kate

ake

kate...i remember you i'm sorry you're so scared about starting taxol. for most people, it's a lot easier on the body than other chemos, so hopefully it will be okay for you. since we've all be through it, hopefully we can help.

brenda...i'm sorry you're dealing with any type of stress. i watched my mom deal with an incredibly sadistic principal when she was a teacher and it's hard to be in a work enviornment that makes you feel bad. just remember that you have gone through something hard and come out even stronger. it takes time and it's hard not to feel completely overwhelmed when there is any additional stress...but like breast cancer, you will get through this too. and we're here for you ANYTIME!

debbie...good luck with everything and keep us updated!

rosemarie and kelly...i have pain under my arm too that comes and go. it's annoying. i did pilates yesterday and it was so hard to get a full range of motion. it was just hard to stretch. not sure what that's about. rosemarie...hang in there with the itching...i had that in my breasts and it drove me batty, but went away about a week later. i think it's the nerves regenerating. try massaging it instead of trying to sractch.

yeah...where's graycie?

TracyNY

I didn't buy the nipples this weekend because my partner in all things slutty was unavailable. I aint going in no sex shop by myself!!

What I did do was fall in love. I am smitten with the Fairway Supermarket in Red Hook, Brooklyn! I discovered it yesterday and went back for more today!! They have organic, gourmet and garden variety fare. The place is huge!!

The best part of it is that it is right on the water and the outdoor eating area looks onto the Statue of Liberty. I spent $60 on nothing I really needed but I found an admirer while I was in there too! I'll go back for him next weekend.

maryannecb

Hi Kate, I had 5FU with my AC then chased it with Taxotere. The whole experience was vile and am super glad to be done. But it does pass quickly and I am sure it will give us and edge against our cancer. Good luck with your nxt regime.

tda, looks you didn't need nipples to fall in love or have someone fall for you! Think what you can do with full beams if you can do it without...
Yeah, where is Graycie? Holiday? Too busy? Relaxed? I am sure she'll check in..

Got out sailing both days this W/E . Yesterday it was pouring rain and I am sure there was a small craft warning which none of us heeded. Remninded me of being on a rollercoaster. You are never absolutely sure that it isn't your last moment. My husband is cool and calm and never sweats it. Today, nice winds and sun so much more pleasant though not as thrilling.

Ravdeb, enjoy your last day of rads. You can leave them the rest of your smores. You must be getting ready for your trip. Did you get some new things to wear?

Fists up!

maryannecb

A pic of my " youngest". She is three.

Anonymous

maryanne -
She's beautiful! What's her name?

spirit -
Good to see you're back! I remember you.

Laura

ake

maryanne...i love your dog...what a great pic. i can't wait to buy a place with my husband so we can finally get a pet

Anonymous

Here's me and " the girls" at last Sunday's Avon BC Walk (me...first time outside w/o the frickin' wig! Sydney is graduating from 8th grade tomorrow. She told me it would mean a lot to her if I attended w/o my wig! Done deal - SydneyBeans!



This photo (IMO) shows the spirit, strength and dedication of women united for a cure! They had all just finished walking 39 miles!

TracySeattle

Hi Everyone!

Dr. Amy - CONGRATS!!!!

Maryanne - I love your dog! I have a black lab named Killian, he is 4 and he is truly my baby--I love him.

Brenda - sorry you are having career issues, that stinks! I will say a prayer for you.

Deb - YAY!!!! Rads are over!!!!! I am so excited for you!

Laura - great pics of the walk and way to go with no wig!

For those of you who know Ter and JanS, we all met today!!! Oh my what a day it was! Ter is here visting her sister in Vancouver, WA. I picked Jan up in West Seattle and we drove down there for the afternoon. Suzie, Ter's sister was kind enough to fix us lunch and hang out with us for the afternoon. We talked, laughed, cried and hugged. It was so nice to finally meet some of my bc sisters. Both Ter and Jan are so sweet! I will have some pics of us as soon as I get them downloaded.

Anonymous

Mary-Anne, love the idea of sailing.....it's been a long time for me!

Laura, love the pics, you look fantastic. I wish my hair was that long!!

Tracy, how fun to meet up with people from the board. How was Ter doing? I hope her spirits are up.

ravdeb

maryanne... what a gorgeous dog!!! Enjoy. I LOVE dogs!
Be careful on those waves!!!!

Laura..what great picturs! You are sooooo cute!

Graycie??? Are you there???

Brenda..So sorry for your work problems. Don't know if this would help, but I had a similar problem years back with a director who was out to get me from day one. All of the teachers I worked with agreed with me and wondered what was going on with their "beloved" director who they had always admired. She started with me before the year even started...at a meeting of just her and me at the beginning of the year. This was a program at a university. When the year started she kept at me until I finally went to the boards with my complaints. She was in big trouble after that. I stayed the year and then quit. But then SHE was being watched! :-)

Thought I'd let you all know that Ter was thrilled to meet Tracy and Jan. She had such a wonderful time with them. It really boosted her spirits. Tracy and Jan...you girls ROCK for taking the time and giving Ter all that LOVE!

spirit..definitely remember you! Love your name :-) Taxol was not as hard as AC was for me. Good luck. I take what they offer :-)

Last rads today! Yahooooooooooo!

Yes..still trying to buy clothes to take on my trip and now it's getting really close. But now I don't have the rads to contend with! And my boob is healing so nicely. I feel very lucky indeed!

Now..just gotta get my 17 year old son to agree to wear some decent clothing for the wedding...like pants that cover his butt and something other than flip-flops on his feet! Wish me luck! This may be harder than chemo!!!!

Be well all of you and tda..you keep cracking me up!!!

sherryhaire

Hope everyone had a great weekend, Had a migraine that took up most of the past couple days but so much better today, Laura the pics are great!! I say no more wigs!! Brenda Hang in there,

TracySeattle

Here is a pic of Ter, Jan and I from yesterday!

Anonymous

Tracy -
Nice photo! Sounds like yesterday meant alot to you! It's so nice that you three were able to get together. And also, I love the photos of you carrying the bc banner - that is truly an honor! You look great! (Our hair is just about the same length!)
Laura

ravdeb

Hi Ladies...
I was set free today. Finished rads and am enjoying the sound of that very much! Wow what a good feeling.

After I got home from my treatment my dh and I had to rush to a Bar Mitzvah party. There were people there who I hadn't seen in a while and everybody loved my hair! One woman asked me if I had dyed it white!!! LOL

I met up with a neighbor friend of mine at this party who had a brain tumor a few years ago. She is doing just fine today..well... not like before cancer but she works almost full time and looks great. At any rate, her advice to me was to live and enjoy each day and the sun and the rain and the trees and the flowers...she said it all took on new meaning since her diagnosis. She is so very right.

So, go out and smell the roses and watch the ants and enjoy the warm summer breezes....

Be well, Ladies!

sherryhaire

Ravdeb--Congrats on finishing your Treatments!!!! Now it is time to try and relax!!!

Anonymous

ravdeb -

Sorry - but this is not the time to try and relax! You have to pack for your trip to Chi-Town! LOL

Laura

marymelodi

I'm thinking about Debbie, in Derbyshire, UK. She was entering the hospital today. I'm wondering how she is doing, feeling. Hoping that all is well. Let's all take a moment to send her well wishes and positive energy.

Ravedeb: isn't it nice to be free of the "grind" of treatment? But, I remember that I cried and cried on my last day - having to say goodbye to the people and to the active fight against cancer.

I am excited for you - your trip - and your new lease on life!!

Paula15089

Ravdeb, congrats on finishing rads! Doesnt it feel nice to finally be free?
are you ER +ve? any hormonal treatment for you?

ake

congrats on ending rads, ravdeb!!!

ravdeb

Thanks!
No hormonal treatments for me as I'm totally negative when it comes to breast cancer!!! Nothing positive about it! Neg on the hormones, nodes and her2....

marymelodi...I didn't have that feeling when I left the techs yesterday. I actually couldn't wait to get out of there! I really don't feel like I thought I would feel..even my oncologist will not be there for my follow-up in Sept. but gave me the papers for my mammogram and ultrasound. I would LIKE her to do my first follow-up but I'm not upset (at least not today) about this. I've really got my mind full speed ahead and Laura...you are right! NO TIME TO REST!!! I must get all my stuff done and head for the States very soon. I did take today off and cleaned out my inbox...that took hours...going through e-mails and sorting them and so on... lots of stuff about my bc journey in them that are going into my journal and this was the right day to get through it all. I couldn't get myself to do it before and today it was just right!

So.. now I'm on my way out the door for my daily walk. Ladies...I LOVE LIFE!!!!

TracyNY

Go Ravdeb!! Congratulations. It is wonderful to put that part of this process in the past. Enjoy your walks and roses and plans. Finally, its graduation day!!

debbie444

Well I am back , even before i was missed! I have this surgery thing cracked now - in and out in 26hrs! Thankyou Mary - you seemed to have worked wonders! It was the same nursing staff i had last time and it was nice to see them all again - even if they did pretend to run away and hide when they saw me coming - i guess i ws a strange case last time!!
I am swollen around the middle and walk a lot like a pregnant duck but i can get around - just slowly that all! They found what they think was a cyst on one of my ovaries which had made it swollen. They have sent it for testing but didnt seem too concerned so I am going with that thought too until i know anything. Obviously your mind thinks all sorts .......

Tda - you go girl. Shopping is one of lifes great medicines in my eyes ( and if the scenery is nice too its an added bonus!)
Brenda - sorry about all your added hassles. Its just not on is it. We will all send horrid cross stares at the dreadful person and see if we can make her feel uncomfortable too.
Ravdeb - you made me laugh about your son . My son is only 8 but cant understand why he cant wear his cut offs and beach sandals to the wedding we are going too as the invite says 'informal'. Theres informal and informal! Its going to be a humanist wedding - i dont even know what that is, just looking forward to going away for the weekend!
Spirit - Good to hear from you, keep popping in and letting us know what you are up to.
Everyone else - havent forgottent you - big hugs.
Debbie
P.s - Tracey - great photos! Dont know the people you met but looks like you had a good time. Looks like the changes you made to your life have released a butterfly!!

ake

guess what i just scheduled? nipple reconstruction! for july 21st. what a weird, random appt. to schedule

debbie444

Thats going to be a strange appointment to keep a straight face at!!
Debbie

Anonymous

Ravdeb, congrats on finishing rads!

Debbie, quack quack!! I still have yet to schedule my surgery but I really need to get on it this week. How did the scars turn out?

Amy, I can't wait to hear how your nipples turn out?

Tda, so do the fake ones stay on very good??

Kate, I am glad that you checked in, keep us updated. And yes, I remember you but you had dropped off from us October girls.

TracyNY

Terynsmom: I didn't go to get the fake nipples. I was going to a meeting in Manhattan tomorrow and was going to stop by then but with my luck someone would see me coming out of that dungeon of debauchery on The Salvation Army's time and I'd get in trouble!!

This weekend is going to be another scorcher, so I'll make the trip then and tell you how the stick on nipples work!

Amy: Thought about getting yours pierced? It won't hurt, I can guarantee that!!

Graycie

Hi Everyone, I am fine, Thanks for thinking of me....It's been crazy around here, it seems like there is always something going on so I haven't had much time to get on the computer but I really missed you all.
First of all,Amy congratulations on passing your boards and Ravdeb congratulations on finishing rads.
Debbie, How are you feeling? Amy, New nipples? Boy I really have missed alot. That's good that they can do that. Laura I like the picture of you and your nieces. Your hair looks great, ditch the wig, you don't need a wig any more. It is really growing in nicely. I think I better send this before I lose it......I will continue in another post.....Graycie