please help

Anonymous

Checking in on a happy day. It looks like it might not rain on my granddaughter's graduation! Seating is in the bleachers and we have to get there an hour early to avoid the nosebleed section, so we're having a picnic while we wait. It will be fun.

Mel, your Basset hound stories are so cute. I can just see those eyes. I miss  having a dog around. If you send Penelope to Seattle for a visit, do you think it might motivate me to work out? I need something!!!!!!

Sue, listen to what your Shirlmom tells you and follow your doc's advice about how to deal with the LE. Time and patience will do the rest. Yes, I said the bad word...patience...sorry!

Lisa, still waiting for the report on your outing. Those shoes and bags are...well...appropriate to the theme, shall we say. I could never walk in those things. How are your feet doing? You all look great and ready for fun.

Hugs all around,

Judie 

Anonymous

Ok, so I'm an idiot with dementia...

Mel, forget about sending Penelope. I'm going to have Sheila do it since it's her dog.

In my hurry I also forgot to say how excited I was to finally see Portia. She's a beauty. In the first picture she looks just like you, Karen. I've been wishing you would post a photo of her. Thanks.

Congratulations on being done with surgery, Wren. I hope healing goes well and you can sleep on your tummy soon.

I'm sure I've forgoten other things I wanted to mention. Sometimes I assume responding to them internally and thinking about them means I posted a response. Just know I read and care about each post.

Love and more hugs,

Judie 

honeygirl

Hi all. Oh Judie , believe me , we all do the "oops" thing. We read so many posts , and can't keep straight people and events. But I was all excited thinking Penelope was coming to visit!lol Oh Sheila , how funny and cute Penelope is! She is definitely a momma's girl! What a sweetheart. I can just see her in the corner , big sad eyes , just waiting for momma to say "come here , let me scratch your ears"! I love our furbabies. Judie , the picnic sounds fun! Congrats to your granddaughter. Boy , to be fresh out of high school , and the world is just waiting for you. Wow , at this stage in my life , with hindsight , I would have done things so differently if I could go back. Well ladies and UB , I'm gonna get off here. We are suppose to be getting whats left of the storms that hit the poor people of Iowa. And it really looks like it is about to storm. Hope you all have a good weekend. Love you all.Mel

portiasproudmom

I just had to let you all know what a bad girl I am!  I complain that I need to lose weight, and then I take Chase to Cold Stone for ice cream!  I had a chocolate peanut butter concoction in a chocolate-dipped waffle bowl.  YUMMMMMMMMM!!! 

Thanks, by the way, to all of you for telling me I don't look like a fat cow.  The problem is that I've always been very thin.  My pcp asked me (in a very indirect way) if I was anorexic.  I had to assure him that I was a healthy eater with a very high metabolism.  I always knew it would catch up with me.  That doesn't mean I have to like it though!

With that, I'm off to spend some time on the treadmill!

Have a great evening ladies.  Love you all!

Karen

NancyD

Hi Ladies,

Hold your hats, it's my bitch and moan time. 

It was an absolutely horrendous week at work. One of my designers was out four of the five days and I had to cover for her plus do my own work. Then, the editors at my publishing company do not seem to understand DEADLINE and  DROP DEAD dates. My department, Production (we do all the work that actually makes the manuscript a book), got no less than four manuscripts this week and the editors asked for finished product before the end of the year!! Well past the deadline for such an accomplishment.

We should be getting the manuscripts now for the next year not anything in this year. It takes at least seven to eight months to make a good, accurate book (we pub textbooks...so they HAVE to be accurate) but they are pressuring us for books in five-six months.

Anyway, on top of that, the very important books that are coming out at the end of this year...well, suddenly the editors want finished covers by the end of July. That's five months ahead of when we would normally have them done. And in most of that time, I will be out having my surgery.

So I got an email from my boss today asking why the covers weren't done, because, wow, we had a whole month's notice! Well, let's see, there were 22 working days or so, I was out nine of them, another designer was out nine full and four half days, and the third designer was out five full and four half days. All for medical reasons.

I think we're cracking under the strain.

I am so-o-o glad it's Friday. I actually went and bought a bottle (or two) of wine. That's the first time since I started chemo at the end of March.

You know, I am actually thinking of this whole surgery, short-term disability thing as a great way to get away from my boss and the office. I actually don't care what happens while I am gone. I will get my work done and if the designers who work for me drop the ball...oops! I just DARE my boss to write that up in my review next year. I will be so-o-o all over her. I have Stage III fricking breast cancer!

Rant over.  Ah, that felt good. On to more pleasant things.

All you people with your furbabies...make me jealous. There's no way I want another human baby of my own, but a little kitten or puppy would be just right. Unfortunately, daughter is highly allergic to cats, so they're out, but we have discussed going to the local shelter and looking for a nice doggy. But the people in the household are in disagreement on a mjaor issue: daughter wants a small, cute dog...cop brother (who would share responsibility with us) wants a big retriever-kind.

Now, our last five dogs were retrievers. I say, it's time to give the little 'uns a chance again. My argument is that a big dog would knock my very-unsteady father down with a flick of his tail. A little dog might get underfoot, but not as likely. OK, I'm open for opinions!

omo

Am saying a prayer for you

geebung

Wren, so good to know that you are home. But ooooh ouch - it sounds very painful where they did the lipo! I hope the pain diminishes soon.

Sheila - loved hearing more about Penelope's character - she sounds like a human! 

Karen - yum - that icecream sounds mouthwatering! I think it's good to enjoy such things occasionally and stifle the guilt!

Judie - congratulations on your daugther's graduation. I hope you all have a great day.

Shirlann - I feel the same way about all the pets I would love to have - I love so many different breeds!

Nancy - I feel your stress! I hope you can completely relax and forget about deadlines over the weekend. You probably enjoy your work generally but would enjoy it a whole lot more without the pressure! You have such a lot on your plate...

My eldest son who is a graphic designer/photographer has landed a very stressful job in the middle of London and is trying to master some complicated coding. I hope he can manage the stress involved. His new girlfriend is a good distraction!

I have been having some big cuddles with Charlie Chips (Mr Chips) this morning. He is such a joy! I pat my lap and he springs up and curls into a perfect, purring circle. He has stolen my heart! 

Love to all you beautiful, wonderful ladies and UB.

Jane xxx 

livesstrong

Hey Lovely Ladies - sorry to have been MIA this week.  Haven't had much computer time.

Sue - so glad to hear you are going to a lympy doc.  He/She will set you straight.  How's that table coming?

Ulla- take as much time as you need.

Sheila- LOVE the pooch stories.  I swear I could write a book with all the stories I have.

Shirlann-  i'm with you - I want so many types of dogs but I think my next one will be a mutt from the shelter. 

Karen - Good Lord, girl, you are NOT fat.  And Portia is such a cutie.

Lisa - aka Hot Tamale - I'm not the Sex in the City type, but its looks like you had a blast.

((((((((Nancy)))))))))) - hope you find time to chill out this weekend.  I'm partial to bigger dogs, but as I get older the little ones are definitely growing on me.  How about something in the middle?

Wren - hope you are feeling better - you did it gir!!!

Jane - what is the latest with the house? 

Judie - you have been quiet lately, are you OK?

Well ladies, getting late here, I'll bbt.

Love ya,

AE 

geebung

AE - the latest with the house is that we are still renovating my house to get it ready to rent it out - painting it inside and outside, finishing the back room extension etc etc...it seems to be taking forever! We manage to get up to the mountains house about once a fortnight. I would love to be there already but I must try to be patient!

Karen - it will be so exciting when you start building! I love watching houses take shape - it's fascinating. And I will say again - you are gorgeous and certainly not fat!

Hugs to all  

my3girls

Ok...ladies...I skimmed the posts...but I am trying to get a few things done..packing wise..and heading off to work. I will try and post from there. Thanks for all of your compliments on the pic...my friends looked great..but like Karen said, I feel like I look much bigger in that pic! (and Karen..you do look great, but I know how you feel..) My g/f Tina..the one on the right..treated all of us to a light dinner out in her gazebo..she had place cards on the table for each of us with the character name's!  Flowers..the whole nine yards..we had turkey wraps, chips and potato salad..and ice cream cosmopolitan's to drink..they were so yummy!! I had 3..hehe!  I love shoes..and heels..so it was perfect for me!! I wear heels allot!  So my feet are used to it!  After the light dinner we went out to see the movie...it was such a laid back night and fun all around!  My g/f...is very well off...and Kim and I are the single ones...with ex's who don't pay much if at all...so she treated us to the movie too!  Soooo Sweet!! I will comment later lades....off to work...then last minute packing...then Arizona here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxo Lisa

livesstrong

Hey Lisa - I'm jealous - what's in Arizona??

AE 

my3girls

Hi Val,

My sister has lived there for about 22 years. I love it there...I used to go all the time. We will visit her and then drive to Santa Monica CA...to visit my youngest sister who had her first baby in January!  I can't wait to leave.

I am dead tired...I worked for 12 hours yesterday!! I know Sue..you do it all the time...but I don't know how you do!!

Karen...you and Portia look just lovely!! She looks so grown up!  I know you don't want to hear that.  Good luck to her "guy" situation...oh my to be young again...NO THANKS!! haha.

Nancy...don't let work stress you out.  Heck with them, what do they expect out of you?? Working 2 jobs sometimes, and short notice on a deadline?? Glad the rant helped.  Enjoy your time off.  When do you have your surgery? 

I like big and small dogs.  We always had black labs.  But this time, I didn't want a dog..didn't want shedding, big piles in the yard to pick up etc...so they talked me into Oliver.  He does not shed...does still have his pee accidents..grrrr...but he is very easy.  I thought he would be underfoot allot..but he is not...they move quickly..and they are a tad skidish...He loves to cuddle!  Good luck on your decisions.

Love to you all, Shirlann, Sue, Jane, Mel, Karen, Nancy, Anne, Wren (hope you are doing great!), Val, Ulla, Judie, Jules, and anyone else I may have forgotten.

I have to get back to work...If I don't log on before I leave tomorrow morning..I will try and post from my sisters house.

Know that I think about all of you and love you all so dearly!!

xoxo

Lisa

Wren

Hey there everyone!

Thank you for thinking of me and asking me how I am doing.

Each hour I seem to get a little better. I'm black and blue all over my sides, under my breasts, and upper rear area.

I look about three months pregnant with all the swelling, but my breasts look pretty good.

They are soft and squishy, and allow me more range of motion with my arms again.

I am not allowed to lift, push, pull, etc, but I do have less pain than when the expanders were placed 7 months ago. So, that is good.

I love all the photos you all have been sharing. Karen, your daughter is really cute--and you look similar to her... you are very lovely.

OK, now back to my resting...

honeygirl

Lisa ,

Have fun Lisa and Olivia!xoxo Be careful , but have fun! Mel

AnneW

Hello, dear ones,

I'll be away for the next week. Tim and I are headed to the southern mountains of CO for some hiking and cycling. And maybe some clothing-optional hot springs, too! It's a much needed vacation for us. All our vacations are centered around family, or conferences, or involve friends or other groups of people. This will be just us. Wow!

Anyway, the weather should be fabulous, and I hope some wild flowers are peeping out. That part of the state had monster snows this year, so I imagine everything is a little behind schedule.

Everyone have a good week, and I'll report in upon return!

Anne

Shirlann

Hi sisters, yes, the pound is truly the way to go.  In our local pound, we have a bonded pair of the goofiest looking two dogs I have ever seen.  They don't want to separate them, and they keep trying every week to get someone to take them.  This week they put a scarf on one of their necks, trying to make him look rakish.  I cried.  Poor dogs. 

Oh well, I can't save them all, but I would never get another purebred, with so many euthanized each year.

PS:  If anyone knows someone who wants 2 dogs, 8 years old, who love each other and everyone else, let me know!

Hugs, Shirlann

easyquilts

Sue...I have been following your progress..and this thread...and am so impresed wth all the love and good wishes that have come your way...i have both cried and laughed...And am so happy that you are finally HOME....God is indeed Good.

Sand from Cincinati...AKA Kermit 

geebung

Shirlann - I have to agree with you. I have never had a purebred but was seriously considering getting a whippet. However, every week I check the local animal rescue website & I think that if I get a dog it will be from there or somewhere similar.

Lisa - have a wonderful holiday. You deserve it! I once drove from LA to Flagstaff in the middle of July and loved it. The weather was hot and clear with zero humidity.

AnneW - your cycling/hiking holiday sounds great! Have a very enjoyable and safe time. Will look forward to hearing all about it when you return. 

Wren - great to hear that you are steadily improving. Glad you are being sensible and resting up.

Love to all of you and everyone I haven't mentioned.

Jane xxx 

Shirlann

Hi Jane, here in San Diego we have standing instructions with all the rescue/Humane/Pound agencies that our San Diego Whippet Club be notified if a dog is turned in.  So you never see them anywhere in a pound setting.  I suspect this is the way your town is too.

So see if there is a Whippet club, and let them know you are interested in looking at their next dog and the foster family will be glad to consider you as a new owner.

This is true of lots of breeds.  The clubs don't let them hit the pound or any other type of agency, we foster the dogs in our homes till they find a "forever home".

Hugs, Shirlann  

suebee92

HELLO EVERYONE! Thanks for all the comments for what to do?

I am going ahead with the surgery and also an oophorectomy at the same time.

I just got home from southern ohio, meeting my brother in law and family at our cabins.

He just got in from iraq and only had a couple of days in ohio. He left in november and has not seen us since i was dx. What a man! He is an incredible person let me tell you. He went back home to pa. for a week than back to iraq Not to excited about that I just keep praying!

Anyways I hope all is well and I'm exhausted gonna catch some zzzz's!

Will be back tomorrow.

HUGS AND KISSES!

Suebee

portiasproudmom

Hi ladies!  Just wanted to pop in and let you all know that my computer is acting up.  I wasn't able to get online yesterday, and today it took FOREVER, but I finally got it to work.  So if you don't hear from me this week, that's why.  Portia's out of school for the summer now, so getting on her computer is a challenge.

Bon Voyage and safe, happy travels to Lisa and Anne.  I hope you both have a wonderful time!

Hugs,

Karen

portiasproudmom

I'm glad you have a plan, Suebee.  I'm sure just knowing how you're going to proceed takes a huge weight off your shoulders.

Please thank your BIL for serving our country so selflessly.  He sounds like a wonderful person.

Take care!

Hugs,

Karen

lvtwoqlt

I will post quickly, just got to work.

Penelope is a pure bred, we don't have the papers, but a red/white basset is definately a pure bred. If I haven't told you, when we got her she was abanonded and somebody picked her up and was trying to find her a good home. My hubby was trying to talk me into a dog, either a st. bernard or basset. I said that I didn't want anything that was bigger than me or ate more than I did. And I put a few other restrictions on what the dog would or won't do (fixed, not a puppy, house broke. etc.). when we saw her we fell in love with her and she met all my criteria.

It looks like several are going on vacation. The only vacation I will be getting is the week of July 4th (company closes shipping dept) and I may be coming in some every day that week to check orders for extra hours. My hubby will be on the road most of the week, probably home on Thurs or Friday since July 4 is on Friday.

Speaking of work, I need to get back to work. Check in later.

Sheila

my3girls

HELLO FROM ARIZONA!!!

SUNNY, HOT, BUT LIKE MEL'S PIC SAID..NOT HUMID!  IT IS ABOUT 110-112 HERE...WE LAYED OUT BY THE POOL TODAY...FELT GOOD TO SOAK UP SOME SUN!  OUR TRIP IN WAS PRETTY UNEVENTFUL..SINCE WE DON'T PAY TO TRAVEL AND WE GO STANDBY, WE TRIED FOR A 6:25 AM DEPT TO DEN ON FRONTIER AIRLINES..BUT IT WAS FULL, SO WE HOPPED ON USAIR TO PHILADELPHIA TO PHOENEX..AND HAD NO PROBLEMS.  WE WERE HERE BY 12NOON.

DANNI GOT BACK FROM AMSTERDAM YESTERDAY EVENING..AND HER BAG WAS LOST! THE KEYS TO MY CAR WERE IN HER BAG...SHE WAS VERY UPSET..STILL HAS NOT GOTTEN IT BACK. I TOLD HER NOT TO WORRY, IT WILL TURN UP..AND TO BE GLAD IT HAPPENED ON THE RETURN AND NOT THE OUTBOUND!

I HOPE EVERYONE IS DOING WELL....LOVE TO YOU ALL.

I WILL TRY AND CHECK IN LATER THIS WEEK.  WE ARE DRIVING TO CALIFORNIA ON THURSDAY.  I DON'T HAVE TO BE BACK TO WORK UNTIL JUNE 25TH!!

XOXO

LISA

geebung

Lisa - great to hear from you! Sounds like you are having a lovely relaxing time. I hope Danni's bag turns up soon, It must be great to have her safeleback & hear all her news.

Sheila I have nothing against pure breds - there are so many breeds that I would love to own. It's just that I have always chosen dogs from my heart's reaction to them and they were all of mixed parentage! I like the sound of a whippet but time will tell - who knows what sort of dog will steal my heart next time...

Suebee - glad you have a plan. I can only imagine what it must be like to have a loved one at war...prayers for his safety.

Karen - hope you get some time on the computer soon!

Love to everone,

Jane xxx 

portiasproudmom

Hi everyone.  My computer's up, but slow.  I'm glad to hear you made it to Arizona safely, Lisa.  Even though it's dry, 110 sounds HOT!  At least you have a pool to keep you cool.  Keep soaking up that vitamin D!  I hope Danni gets her bag back.  How upsetting for her!

Hi Jane!  I know what you mean about it not mattering so much what breed the dog is.  It's their little personalities that make them special.  We had two golden retrievers--Buddy and Boomer.  They were brothers, and though Boomer was the mellower and more attractive of the two, Buddy was always my favorite because of his cute, dorky personality.  We lost Boomer two years ago, and old, sweet, doofus Buddy is still here, cracking us up every day.

Well, I have another lasting se from the stupid chemo.  My onc sent me for a bone density test, and I have osteopenia.  I guess I've lost bone mass, and am now at a high risk for developing osteoperosis in the future.  My doc has prescribed calcium and vitamin D for me.  I was taking a supplement anyway, but not prescription strength stuff.  I just love what this damn bootface has done to my body.  I'm becoming this rickity, old, menopausal lady!  Grrrrrrrr!

Okay, enough bitching. 

I love you all!  Hope you all have a lovely week.

Hugs,

Karen

lvtwoqlt

Actually when I was growing up we had a pure bred Beagle. My dad worked with the owner of the mother. They had sold every one but the runt. When we saw him we fell in love with Snoopy. We did not have papers for him because the owners of the mom & dad had a fall out before the litter was born and the dad's owner would not sign the papers saying that his dog was the true father. Then about 5 yrs after we got Snoopy, the owner of the father called dad to see if we would sell Snoopy back to him because the father had died and Snoopy was colored exactly like the dad and we did not have Snoopy neutered. We paid 25 for Snoopy and the owner offered Dad 500 just to get him. Of course we did not sell our family pet. We had him another 10 to 12 yrs before he died of old age.

So much for another great pet story.

Sheila

NancyD

Sheila,

I love your beagle story. Our first dog (when I was 9) was a pure bred beagle who was the runt of his litter, too. But we were able to get papers for him. His AKA registered name was Eire Micheal, but to us he was just Mike. We had him the longest and of course, he was my favorite. I remember watching that video of the woman with terminal bc who ran her dog through the competition, and it so reminded me of my play time with Mike. I used to lay the picnic table benches down in the back yard and trained Mike to jump over them in succession. Not anything on the same level, but I had no idea that competition like that existed for dogs, or I might have kept at it. In my mind, I was training a horse, LOL!

In his much later years, he had a favorite spot under a chair in the dining room...favorite because it caught the most sun—he would sleep there for hours. For years after he died, that spot was matted with his hairs. No vacuum could get them up. They stayed until the carpet was finally tossed.

Anonymous

Ladies

Im sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I thought some of you hear might want to know...

I received an email from Jenny this morning telling me that her mum had passed away peaceful this past Friday....her mum posted on this site under Valsul....

I cant even begin to express the saddness this makes me feel....

Please keep her and her family in your thoughts.

Jule

Shirlann

Oh Jule, I am so sorry.  I remember Valsul very well.  God bless the family and send his peace to them.

Shoot, I hate to lose a sister.

Hugs, Shirlann