Grateful Dead (almost)

JoanofArdmore

Last summer, I left my huge, gracious, well-located apartment in a beautiful old building with splendid grounds, to buy a 2 bedroom condo in an even more fab locationIt was a mistake.I knew it almost from the start.I didnt even have a balcony for my plants, or to sit on.The whole place would have fit into my apartment more than twice.
Only one bathroom.
And worst of all, not enough parking.
No pets allowed(although I petitioned the board w/a letter from my onc.)
The worst part was that the building isnt solidly made.Sleazy thin plastic windows.Brick walls w/no insulation.I know, because it was impossible to keep cool.You would have to run the a/c perpetually.
So my heart started giving me problems.My ankles were so swollen they looked like hams.
Some nights I would lie in bed, the weak bedroom a/c pumping, and actually pant for breath.
Adriemycin?My onc thinks from the Femara, more likely.Congestive heart failure.
I sold my condo.I sold it myself, through Craigslist.
I sold it just in time, tG.
I found myself an apartment in my old building, an even NICER apartment-better view!
And all summer long, through the awful heat & humidity, I packed.
My kids & grands were unavailable, being away, or working hard.My daughter had an art opening last friday, which she was preparing for since Feb.My friends offered help , Beth from our site gave me the best mover on the face of the earth.I collected far too many cartons, and packed & stacked them out of the way--not a lot of space, LOTS of stuff.I "did it all myself", in the words of a few fancier people.
Last Wed was the monster move.
My building has 3 buildings connected in basement.Small, intimate elevators in each building.Only 4 apartments on each floor.Lovely to live in, but a mover's nightmare.
But we did it.
And here, the a/c, the utilities are included in the rent.The a/c s are new.(My landlord, happy to have me back, wrote a dog into my lease for me .)So after less than a week of constant A/C, I have lost 20 pounds of water weight.
I feel SO much better.I sleep very, very well.
This is so the place or me.
I did what I had to, I'll never know how, because I was suffering from such fatigue and pain from Femara .
But-hey, a girl does what a girl's gotta do.
And today I had my mammo.It was due in July, but I put it off a month, saying to my onc, "If they find anything, it will have to wait til after the move anyway".He let me have my way.
Today...they didnt find anything.
So I'm near-dead, but recovering well, and very, very grateful to have mustered the strength to pull that off.
I guess I'll still be scarce around here-LOTS of unpacking and decorating to do.

A nice note:My geek came to see my new place tonight, and gave me this--a sweet "new" Dell laptop, as a housewarming gift!

Love to all, j

bonny1963

Congratulations on completing the monster move. I know you are excited to be back in your old building. I have helped my sister move several times in the past couple of years and even though I didn't do the most of it, it still wore me out. Especially congrats on your mammo! That is something to celebrate. Go for the gusto and unpack a box for me. By the way, did you make sure to bring all your granny panties? I loved that thread! Good luck on everything. Bonny

KariLynn

Congratulations on moving back! Sounds like you're back where you belong!

Glad your mammo was clear - enjoy your new life.

Kari

Bugs

Congrats on the clean mammo and awesome move!

Take care,
Bugs

abbadoodles

Glad you're back where you belong. Living without a dog (or something equally furry) would be awful.

It's awesome that you had the stamina to do it yourself!

Tina

iodine

Oh, I am so thrilled for you! You took the bull by the horns and made a better life for yourself, what a huge thing to do!
Now I cannot wait to hear who will be your new partner in your new home.
Again, congrats on the clear mammo and housewarming of the Dell.
Deep sigh--welcome HOME>

lam

Hi Joan,

I've been thinking about you this past week and praying that the move would go well for you. Sounds like it was a lot of work but obviously well worth the effort considering how much better you feel in the new place. Great news on the mammo too! Do you have a pet or are you going to look for one now that you are allowed to have a precious fur ball?! I'm so jealous - you have a Geek! Been looking for a good one for a long time now but no luck on my side yet. What a nice geek you have too, giving you the house warming gift. So happy for you...

Hugs,

Calico

Joan,
you go girl!!!!!

Sorry you had such an awful time, glad you are doing well again.
Congrats on your mammo!! I hope you treat yourself to something nice

God Bless

gsg

congrats, joan, on the move and the mammo! it sounds like you've been given a new lease on your "old" life...enjoy!

sahalie

Fantastic on all counts Joan especially your mamm.
Big congratulations on moving "Home" again.
I hope you enjoy the wonderful newness of your new home!

Anonymous

In the spirit of the Deadheads:

C C Rider, see what you have done
Well now C, C C Rider, see now the moon is shining bright

Anonymous

Joan...I'm soooooo glad to hear how things are really looking up for you! It's a NEW BEGINNING!!!!

CONGRATS on the apartment....and the CLEAN MAMMO!!!!!!YAY!!!!!

~Marin

Emelee26

Hey Joan..
Here's some cleaning rags for you!



hehe
Love Marisa
Congrats!

Fitztwins

awesome! enjoy your new toy!!

Anonymous

Joan, I AM SO proud of you! You are such an inspiration. I know how miserable you have been (joint pain, all that good stuff). And, a new laptop. Wow!

Also, congrats on your clear mammo. I'm sure you're glad THAT'S over with.

Those panties that Marisa gave you do not look like granny panties. You may need to keep those. I'd send you my [clean] granny panties to clean with except I wear nylon -- not good for clean as you already know.

We'll miss you, but we want you to keep going while the adrenalin is flowing.
Shirley

DragonladyTina

YIPPEE Joanie girl!!

Love Tina

Sierra

Joan:

Fantastic news!!

Really happy for you, and your
fur baby.

Enjoy... Bring out the champagne
or fav wine.. whatever..


Hugs


)

gracejon

I am so happy for you. You deserve the best.

JoanofArdmore

You guys SO rock!!Thank you very, very much for sharing my joy!!I wish I could get us magnums of Dom Perignon and we could drink them together.And get really silly.We need a break!Of course I dasnt take time out to respond individually, except to say MARI--SSSA!!!!Those are VERY fancy dustrags!!(Shirley, you're totally right!Save the beautiful panties.I have plenty which can do the work!)

I actually wrote the thread to encourage you all.If A half-dead Femara-taker can do this--we all can do such.It's true we're weary and hurtin' but we're not going to give up our lives to this thing.Whatever comes down thje pike to you guys, go ahead and face it heads-on.You can do it!!!Truely!

I cant WAIT to go back into semi-invalid mode.But for a few weeks I was my warrior self again!And it feels great to know I've still got it!
I do know that when my time comes, I will NOT go gentle into that good night.
I'll be DUSTING the whole time!Heehee!

Ummm-about my geek.I got him from a local ad.He walked into the old apartment, and we saw we were both wearing yellow liveSTRONG bands.
When he asked & I told him about bc, he hugged me, and told me he (a young man!!) had had non-Hodgkins lymphoma.He taught all through chemo.The docs said he could never have kids.It's 5 years later and he has a boy and a girl.He is living very strong, and thinks I did OK,. too, thus the present!
Geeks are astounding!He takes old computers in payment sometimes, for work.He revitalizes them & sells them for $200.Little side-line.Mine was a gift because I'm a "brother".But it was SO awesome--in notime he had put my AOL onto this, my addybook, all my stuff..
He had the hard-drive out (like a tiny metal waffle) and trammeled it to the hard drive on this machine.Voila!Joannie's computer!In a marvcellous new guise!
Mind-blowing.

Go ahead and call ads for geeks--the phone directories are full of them!You can keep trying till you find the geek for you!

Goodbye for now, my darling sisters.Thank you SO much, again, for the support.
Big love, j

PuppyFive

{{{JOAN}}}
I see "E" took care of your UH Cleaning Problem!
So I will send You the ROSE! I am so Happy for You!
But this does not give you a free ticket out of the " FUNNIES"
XOXOXOXOXOXO Puppy

pconn03

Joan:
Just want to send out a big "WA-HOO" for all the good news . . . being back home in your new/old apartment building and the great mammo!!! The Lord does watch over us, doesn't He - imagine that this apartment is even better than the one you initially moved from. It's all good!!
Pace yourself in the unpacking - it isn't going anywhere, right??
God bless,
Pat

Anonymous

Joan, I just want to {{{{{{HUG}}}}} you! You make me smile.
Shirley

Zzap

Joan, I love your story! Congrats on your new apartment, and new computer!

Isabella4

Hi there Joan, so very pleased you made the monster move, and very impressed you did it yourself. I hope you'll be really happy back where you belong.
Go and get that dog, a home is not a home without a dog.
A dog and a Dell and you'll be set for the long winter nights !!
Love and hugs. Isabella.