Starting Chemo May 2008

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  • ranD
    ranD Member Posts: 373
    edited February 2009

    Hey alll Got a great CD in he mail today...who hooo....been listening to it and it is awesome! Thanks Eddie!

    Plus a little book from Chris...I love those !  Just toss them in the chemobag or next to my chair and I am ready to go!

    Chmeo went like chemo.  One question, how the Feck did they manage to screw up the big cubital vein stick?  Huh????? I swear, i am blessed each time they stick me.  Plus, twice they walked away the machine was beeping and I look over and there is blood going back up the IV, AWWWW, I hate seeing that much blood, especially when its mine.  Other than that, no side effect other than really tired.  It was great my bf hubby came this time and halfway into chemo, all I could think about was Roand Table's all veggie pizza, and he went and got me one...I scarfed the whole thing down in now time, my first real meal in days....lol...

    So, let hope this little chemo nanos are zipping around killing all the bad guys...at least that is what my personal image shall be.....zap. there goes another one!!!!!

    Thanks for all the prayers and thoghts...;ove you guys (crawling back in to my chair and vicodining out!_)

    ranD

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  • KristyAnn
    KristyAnn Member Posts: 793
    edited February 2009

    Noelle,

    Dont forget about us straight haired girls when you start giving lessons!

    Kerry, I am having femara warm flushes- mine are fairly mild and really dont feel like a hot flash although I know that is what they are- I had them during chemo but none after the hysterectomy until a week after starting femara. Im starting to feel some achy feet and legs so I have to get back on the walking- doc just released me to start walking again post hysterectomy- I wish they surgeon and oncologist would have coordinated a little better on this plan!

    Daughters concert was great- she is a freshman at Henderson and made the Wind Ensemble this semester (highest band), the hotel there is great0 dd and ds really enjoyed the pool and hot tub.

    We were eating lunch today getting ready to leave early afternoon and dd got a text from a friend saying they were going to Texas this weekend and did she need them to stop by our home and pick up anything for her at school--------- I said "Ask if they can pick you up"- and the light bulb went off that she could ride home with us and then go back to school with the friends on Sunday. SO--- after making sure they could take her back, telling her boyfriend she was going home, going back to campus and packing for the weekend--- I got to bring my little princess home for the weekend. She drove the whole way (3.5 hours) which really helps me and now I get to spoil her a couple of days.

    Got an early Valentines Day today from dh- he found Lindt truffles (which I love) in a new flavor- Dark chocolate with raspberry! He says he wants to take me bling shopping!

    Kristy

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  • Gracie713
    Gracie713 Member Posts: 302
    edited February 2009

    ranD--Those chemo nanos are going to zap all the bad guys!  And if they can't get them all, Ms.Pacman will chomp at what's left!  Glad you got a real meal.  (I love pizza!)  Enjoy the Vic!

    Cris-Got your card today-Thank you so much!

    Jen-Texts only cost me .15---no matter how short or long.  I don't text much because, well, I'm just slow.

    Finally--got an appointment for mammogram and US scheduled on the left breast!  Went to the med onc office for port flush, told nurse about the lump that I felt, she took me to an exam room and went to talk to the doc.  Med onc said for me to tell the rad onc, since I see her now.  Didn't get to see the rad onc today, but got a call from med onc nurse and she fell over herself apologizing--med onc thought that I was on the phone, not in the office--go figure.  Nurse told her today that I was THERE and that she had put me in a room because she didn't think that I would want to be "felt up" in the treatment room.  Nurse told me that doc felt really bad about the whole thing and didn't want me to feel like I was being put off.  Wants to see me on Mon when I stop by to pick up my orders for tests.  (Apologize in person--she has done that before).  Now, I know that it will show nothing, but I'd rather get it checked now-and it's time for routine on left anyway.  

    Okay--enough rambling  (don't tell anyone that I had a little alcohol tonight--first in almost a year and I tend to get "chatty")

    Love you all!

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  • ellenoire
    ellenoire Member Posts: 674
    edited February 2009

    I read the last 24 hours.. but have to sleep. I was up at 6 for the TV spot... and we were in the paper today too.

     Cheers!  RanD! RadD! RanD! ZAP!!!!!!
    N

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  • lewing
    lewing Member Posts: 1,288
    edited February 2009

    Go chemo!  Randie, hope you're able to get some quality rest while the drugs do their thing. 

    It's been a hectic week at work, so I've been scarce on this board.  Plus, learning about Annie/Heather sort of took away my words.  Or at least, my desire to use them.  And now another?  Shit.  

    OK . . . Noelle, if you do get to Detroit in March, that would be awesome!  I love the idea of a mini-convention for those of us in the Great Lakes region.  (And Mary, by the way . . . I'm likely to be in Chicago again pretty soon, either the first weekend in March or during the Easter/Passover period - it's for a Brooks family gathering, and one thing I've learned about my bf's family is that plans are never final until we're in the car on the way to the airport/restaurant/whatever, so I'll keep you posted.  But if the stars align and we're able to catch up - now that I know how close you are! - that would be splendiferous.)

    Well, I promised myself that I was going to be out the door for my run no later than 8, and it's now 8:40, so the weekend seems to be off to its usual slow start.  (Jean, I'll be thinking of you as I'm running.  So glad to hear that you're getting back into it as well.  I've been hobbled by achilles problems since early December, but am slooooooowly coming back.)

    Love to all,

    Linda

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  • Roxi65229
    Roxi65229 Member Posts: 462
    edited February 2009
    Linda, It would be awesome to meet you in person. Just don't make it between the 14 and 22, that's when were on our cruise.  And Julie, we travel on Carnival, always have. It's the best for my daughters. The crowd is typically our age group with teenage kids as well.  RanD, great imagery of zap, zap, I can see it know. Noelle, so cool to be on TV. That's amazing. Hopefully there's more on FC. Gracie, I'm sure it'll be fine, you and I both. Monday's my biopsy. Shite! Vitamin D, taking 1200 mlgs of calcium plus vitamin D not to mention the weekly bone pill, can't recall the name right now for my osteopenia. Going to a home remodeling show today in Milwaukee, should be fun. Hi to all my frinds and looking to to a day in 40's (Otter, this is s heat wave for us). Love ya,Mary 
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  • Jeano77
    Jeano77 Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2009

    Morning all! 

    RanD - zap, zap, zap!  I always pictured the pac man game during chemo, chewing up all the bad cells.  Rest easy my friend. 

    Jen - Love the new av!  Also, I have unlimited text so send away if you would like.

    Roxi & Gracie - Sending positive vibes for positive results Monday. 

    Linda - Hope that achilles is healing for you.  That is a difficult injury to "run through".  Another good run today in the tropical 31 degree temps. 

    Vitamin D.  Interesting conversation on this.  I asked my onc to test my levels and she indicated it was too soon after chemo to do so (1 month after).  I am hoping that she does it for my March 1 appt.  Not much sunshine to absorb here in the winter and I am guessing that my levels are low.  She only has me on a one a day vitamin with "extra" D.  Also ironic is that the deficiency is linked to MS, which my brother had.  Test, test, test.

    Enjoy the day!

    Jean

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  • drcrisc
    drcrisc Member Posts: 836
    edited February 2009

    Hey!  I love that you all are getting your cards!!  (Julie - yours is in the mail today!)

    RanD - Glad you got the book; hope it helps.  Zap away, little chemo drugs!! 

    Okay, I have a story that will hopefully make everyone laugh.  I haven't told anyone that I have a box coming from Noelle.  Yesterday I had a horrifically loooooonngg day - drove to Fresno and back which is a 2-hour plus drive (one way) and coming back it was raining in torrents!  Got home and lo, and behold!  A box from Canada!  My dd's (who love it when we get packages) were intrigured and I told them "It's mine!  I might share, but it's mine!"   I ripped it open and immediately stuck my nose in to smell - paper.  Hmmmm.  Well, I do have a cold, so maybe my smeller's off.  Took the paper out and smelled it again.  Nope, still paper.  By this time, my oldest dd is looking at me with that look - Mooomm???  Now, I actually look inside the box and realize it is not from Noelle.  It is from a pharmacy in Canada which I recently ordered some OTC meds that I cannot get here anymore.  Ooopps.  I started laughing and explained my odd smelling behavior and what I thought the package was. 

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  • familyroks
    familyroks Member Posts: 575
    edited February 2009

    CHEMOOOO!  ZAP ZAP ZAP!

    I too take 1200mg of Calcium + Vit D a day, as per doctors direction.  This is along with my Arimidex.

    Cris - I did LOL at your story.  Very funny!  I also received my card yesterday.  Thank you! 

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  • Sable
    Sable Member Posts: 738
    edited February 2009

    AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA wish I had been there to see cris sniffing the wrong box! That's too funny!

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  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited February 2009

    Julie - I knew I had wanted to tell someone something but forgot who and what. Just remembered it was you. My husband is on the same Vitamin D as you, 50,000 IU. His Dr. had him start 1 a day for five days and now just once a week. He has been on it for about 3 months but hasn't had his levels checked again since so I don't know if it has brought it back to where it should be yet.

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  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited February 2009

    Jen - Imagine Cris smelling wrong box with your sound effects. Now thats even funnier.

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  • JulieC
    JulieC Member Posts: 324
    edited February 2009

    Karin - has your husband noticed a difference in the way he feels?  I think I have to go back after I'm done with the jump start amounts to get tested.  After that she said to take 1000-2000 iu daily.  At this point I'd settle for a placebo affect if it would get me going more.  We do have temps in the 50's today and sunny so that definitely helps.

    Cris - sorry your box didn't smell nice.  That is pretty funny.

    Roxi - where are you cruising to?  That sounds fun.  We're going to Myrtle Beach in June.  Can't wait.

    RanD - as everyone else is saying CHEMOOO zap zap zap!

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  • Sable
    Sable Member Posts: 738
    edited February 2009

    Oh that's too funny karin! <giggling hysterically>

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  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited February 2009

    Julie - He use to feel tired all the time. Now not so much. Don't know if it's the D or not.

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  • ellenoire
    ellenoire Member Posts: 674
    edited February 2009

    Jen, I like ur new avatar!

    I am taking a new juice blend that has kicked my energy into high gear. It is an MLM product so I am a bit embarrased by getting involved with it. Email me if you wanna know more about it. It is a US company so you can get it easily. It is not cheap, but I can help u get it wholesale with no sales pitch. 

    A friends mom was diagnosed with BC a few months ago. I never knew her mom well, but my little sis grew up hangin' around their house and the dad is the mayor of our town. She died last night and I just found out she got a terrible infection at her port site and had to be hospitalised this week and ended up in a coma and then died. I hate it.

    Curly/ Dry  hair tip of the day: Deep Conditioning. I deep condition weekly. Sometimes I use Olive oil, sometimes I use Shea Butter. I have psoriasis (have it, can't spell it!!) so the Shea keeps my scalp calm . Today I am working on soap and bombs at the store so I do not have to look that great. I took a pile of Shea and rubbed it all over my face, scalp and hair and tied on a bandana to keep the heat in. You can warm the shea and/ or (mix a little together) olive oil in the microwave and apply it too. If you do this b4 a workout/ walk/ housework day etc you will get a nice deep hair and scalp moisture treatment. I sometimes leave it in all day or overnight, then rinse and lightly condition to get knots out and style as usual. Experiment with a few hours first and wear a bandana, shower cap etc to keep the heat in. I can sell you a $35 deep conditioner, or u can do this..

     never wore anything on my head during chemo, so I think it is funny now... upsets people.... 

      xoN

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  • ellenoire
    ellenoire Member Posts: 674
    edited February 2009

    Funny, I see my own avatar with Rock in the pic beside me and think Rock just posted and get all excited and go back and read and then realise I am reading my own damned post that I posted "a few seconds ago"... man I'm a dope!

     ;p

     Cris.. your box story made me laugh outloud! 

    I hope that thing arrives soon so you don't start sniffing the mailman!!! 

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited February 2009

    You are a funny bunch today!

    RanD:  Zap!  Zap-zap!  Zapzapzapzap!  Now, imagine those [insert derogatory term here] cancer cells shriveling up with each "zap", and ... oh, see that little curl of smoke rising up?  And just a tiny spark of flame, as each cell crisps and blackens and eventually turns to ash and blows away...   Chemooooooooo!

    Noelle:  Do we need to put a caption on your avatar so you recognize it?  I know what you mean about thinking rock has posted.

    Cristine, do not sniff the mailman.  Let your dog do that.  You can go on sniffing boxes, though.  I dug my first "ellenoire" box and packing material out of the trash twice, 'cause it smelled so good that I just couldn't stand tossing it.  Finally my dh burned the trash...  :(

    I asked my onco about Vitamin D at my recheck appt. last August.  She just reminded me that I live in the Deep South and I should be able to get plenty of Vitamin D if I go outside.

    BTW, I have my 6-months-since-the-last-recheck recheck with my onco this coming Monday....   My dh just asked me, "What's she going to do?  No blood work?  No mammo? No tests?".  Nope nope nope.  Hopefully, she'll just feel around and not find any lumps or bumps anywhere, and then she'll ask how I'm doing on Arimidex, and we'll talk a bit about bone density.  Maybe I can get her advice about monitoring my denser-than-concrete right breast and maybe she'll recommend alternating mammograms with MRI's, which my surgeon refuses to do.  Or maybe not.

    Then we're going to the boat, where it will be nice and warm (mid-60's or higher), and hopefully there won't be anything new that needs fixing, so we won't end up stomping around all sour and gloomy because owning a boat is so much WORK.

    <sigh>

    Hugs...

    otter 

     

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  • Sable
    Sable Member Posts: 738
    edited February 2009

    Anyone else here use firefox for a browser? I just found where I can put all the timezones for everyone at the bottom of my browser. Ya, I'm a techno geek lol

    RanD~ the weird phone number on your phone was me. Wanted to see how you were doing today :O)

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  • ranD
    ranD Member Posts: 373
    edited February 2009

    Sable, dh was on the puter all day...so he just decided not to answer any calls...love that man...

    feeling better today, especially the visual of Chris smelling the box, kids will blame it on chemo brain, right???

    My br picked up my mom today, so a little blue, no matter how old I am, its still nice to have mommy hold my hand when I am feeling pukey,,,she did tellme that my other bro and dad are coming on the 22nd to help us out...then she has decided that it is time to put my 96 yo grandmother in the rest home since she really has no help other than my dad and the strain is getting to be too much on them, especially now that they fell they have to be here with me...so its kind of a sad moment.....

    okay, 7 hours without vicodin and no coughing.....yippee.....

    see you all tomorrow! ran

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  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited February 2009

    ranD - 7 hours no vicodin and no coughing, yay! Sending more chemo zapping your way. Hope you got a good nights sleep.

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  • Roxi65229
    Roxi65229 Member Posts: 462
    edited February 2009
    Julie, we're cruising to puerto vallarata, mazalan (sp) and cabo . Okay, probably spelt them all wrong.
    Cris, I can see you smelling that box, too funny. Jen, are you on a mac? We use safari for our browser.Otter, wish my boat was out of storage. We won't use it until May if were lucky.Zap, Zap...thinking of you  
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  • Sable
    Sable Member Posts: 738
    edited February 2009

    roxi~ no mac for me, got 3 pcs lol. I have a few online friends that downloaded it and was trying it out. It's made to make webpages load faster. And from what I have seen it works really well. One or two had problems with all the addons it has because of them having dialup. It's a free download if you want to try it. Just set your system restore before you install it just in case you have any problems. ...... yes BIG computer geek here.

    RanD~ that's ok. I was just gonna tell whoever answered to tell you hi so you didn't have to talk on the phone. Just sending along love to ya :O)

    weather here yesterday was AWESOME! it hit the mid 50's and was wonderful. Supposed to be in the upper 40/50's all week. Spring is coming soon! I missed all the flower buying last year and slept thru most of the summer. I'm ready for it this year. Hubs made me a big flower bed out front 2 years ago. the first year it was so pretty and last year was horrible. My mom tried to help with it but it just wasn't the same. I keep peeking out the back window hoping to see a robin, I know its a tad early though. The first robin is always exciting for me to see each year.

    I hope each of you has a wonderful day. I love each of you dearly! CHEMOOOOOO for ranD!

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  • Gracie713
    Gracie713 Member Posts: 302
    edited February 2009

    Jen-We use firefox-love it! Sometimes I may have 4 or 5 pages open at once!  Weather here yesterday was beautiful-68, but very windy.  Hoping today is just as nice.

    RanD-Hope that you are feeling good today!  

    Just 6 more boosts and rads is done!  Mammo & US is scheduled for Feb 17.  Onc ordered a bilat mammo--I don't think so--had one on the right breast Dec.24 and it was clear.  Would be too painful right now.  

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  • Jeano77
    Jeano77 Member Posts: 237
    edited February 2009

    Jen - I have firefox on my machine as well and also love it! 

    RanD - Great news that you are able to go 7+ hours without the vicodin and no coughing!  Zap, zap zap!  Thinking of you!

    Gracie - yeah . . . only 6 more left!!

    Chris - Laughing at you sniffing the box just waiting for some aroma to hit you!  Too funny!

    Tropical 33 degrees here and just got back from a run, shower, then off to church!  Good news is that this new hair style takes me only 20 minutes to get ready!!

    Love to all!

    Jean

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  • drcrisc
    drcrisc Member Posts: 836
    edited February 2009

    Okay, okay...no, really I'm glad I could make you all laugh (and I am NOT being sarcastic) because if any group needs to laugh...well, it's us!! 

    Karin - Actually, I wish I had caught on earlier and I could have made Jen's smelling noises and really strung dh and dd along! 

    Jean - Just the fact that you can say "tropical" and "33 degrees" in the same sentence is the definition of fortitude!  Sheesh!!

    Otter - I vow never to smell the mailman.  Although he is very nice...

    Noelle - Although I love your avatar, I have done the same thing.  (Rock - I think we need a check in post.)

    Roxi - Can I stow away with you?!?

    We are going to older dd's (Katie) school today to see their "junior" production of "Pirates of Penzance".  She's not in this one (but we know lots of kids who are) and I'm hoping she will at least want to try out for next year's play.  She is a living room diva! 

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  • MsKarin
    MsKarin Member Posts: 647
    edited February 2009

    Femara Update

    I am beginning to wonder if itching around my mid section, above and below waist line is Pruritus (from Femara) or just dry skin. It doesn't appear dry and I have been slathering Noelle's shea butter on it for over a week. Although not very common there is mention of it in Femara's SE's. I have been on it now for just about four months. This just started about three weeks ago. One day it was itching so bad that I scratched myself raw in a few spots. Oh well, better then scratching other parts of body in public. I will definitely tell onco about it at my next appointment which is in the beginning of next month.

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  • rock
    rock Member Posts: 1,486
    edited February 2009

    popping in to say "howdy" and, like a lot of you, enjoying a good laugh.

    karin, i don't have much itching, but I DO have these random dry patches that don't seem to want to heal...including one at the tip of my nose!  

    jen -- i'm jealous of your computer geekiness. i used to be a computer geek, but those days are looooooooong gone. (I use firefox. how do i do the time zone thang? do tell!)

    noelle -- i showered, but did not shampoo my hair. it's lookin' pretty shiny, i gotta say. but in a good way.

    Random observation:  My breasts are now completely and totally different sizes now. The one that had cancer is twice the size of the other.  What's up with this? Is it because I've lost a ton of weight but the cancer boob is still swollen from the radiation?  Is it the tamoxifen? Feel free to offer your take on it, provided it is not "You are a freak of nature."

    randie -- you're breathing. aaaaaaaallelujah.  and not coughing.  wooo-hoooo. But i wanna say something else:  you wrote, "now that they feel they have to be here with me...so its kind of a sad moment....." Yeah, that is sad. No question. But I bet they don't just feel they "have to" be there with you, they want to be.  Of course, that's hard to, for it's own reasons.  I guessbecause it's midnight here, i'm getting all sappy. Randie, let people just rain their love all over you (unless it gets on your nerves). God, I wish I could take it all away, or at least carry it for awhile.  

    If things get tough, close your eyes and see if you can feel one of us thinking about you. I think of you guys all the time.

     Gotta call it a night.  love, rock

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  • sueper13
    sueper13 Member Posts: 1,224
    edited February 2009

    Hello wonderful May women.  I missed a whole week of posts and just sat and read and laughed and cried and I am so very glad you are all a part of my life.  Eddie, thanks for the pep talk but I need another.  I have a niece who is very close and yesterday morning her 14-yo son died, apparently in his sleep, we don't know why, he was at his grandparents..I am devastated for her. Called her today, I found out yesterday, I was dreading it, I hadn't cried, when she got on the phone I started to cry.   She said her mantra today is "Air comes in, air goes out."

    Pray for Cheryl in her immense pain.

    Sorry for the downer post.

    I love you all.

    Sue

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  • KristyAnn
    KristyAnn Member Posts: 793
    edited February 2009

    Good Evening!

    Sue, I will definitely be praying for your niece and the whole family- I cant imagine that kind of loss.

    RanD- I agree with Rock- they all WANT to be with you the same way we WANT to be with you and support you. I have always been a giver and one of the hardest lessons I learned during this bc ordeal has been to allow people to give to and love me and even harder to actually ask for help.

    I like my short hair but I have real mixed feelings about this salt and pepper color- my family and friends absolutely LOVE it but some times I think it just makes me look so much older. I always kept it colored pre bc. College girl came home this weekend (spur of the moment trip since I was up there for a band concert and she had a ride back tonight) and we took a pic of the two of us- I will post it soon and let you guys weigh in with opinions. Im OK with growing old gracefully- just dont to be called Joes grandma!

    I dont think I like femara very much and I definitely dont like the old lady bag of medicine (only 1) and supplements (many) that are now a part of my daily routine.

    Mammogram on Thursday- hope I get through that without a stiff drink!

    Kristy

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