The Hermit Club

Teka

kathec, a couple thoughts for the weekend ;o)

Valerie Harper, lives in the moment with cancer.

" Life," Harper whispers, " is amazing. Live it to the fullest. Stay as long as you can."

camillegal, best sums up the misery of BC.

A bumpy dirty crappy road till u finally find pavement.

camillegal

Good Morning hermiys
I hope u' all are having a decent day, and it's Sat. so relax.
Skittle I have a question from Joey---Have u ever read Esperanza Rising? Joey thought it was a good book Thanks.

Jazzygirl

Kathyec- sorry to hear you are struggling. It is very hard to final the new normal after this. Teka says it very well, bumpy dirty crappy road until you finally find pavement. I too struggle to find my joy again. It is not really there, although I have moment of contentment after working on my garden, or making a good meal, or listening to music I enjoy. Brief moments, but my overall happiness and joyfulness is not there. And that is hard for me. But just taking each day at a time and trying to find something good in each day does help. Because there is always something good in each day.

It also sounds like you may have been drained by your visitor. Probably good to know as maybe he is not the person you need around right now. We can appreciate people for the qualities that have been good, like loyalty or the like, but some folks are purely just "too much work" for us. I continue to learn who those people are and avoid them. You take good care of you.

And I sing a bit of background vocals, I think I have a pretty good voice and have sung some duets and background in groups I have played with but not a real solo-ist. I prefer the instruments.

Cami- do you have any good jazz standard music you can pull out and listen to? That story you told is so lovely about the man who shared his music with you and your children. Beautiful.

Teka- how is the train trip?

Friend from NJ here for a visit last night and very enjoyable. Balloon fiesta has begun!

Blessings to all the hermits this weekend.

Teka

OK, tomorrow heading back to recliner ;o)

World traveler I'm not!

camillegal

I just had a brief moment this morning I had tests at the hospital--but I'm all done, didn't take that lone, but I actually did a couple of things when I got home-Wow for me.
Kath maybe it was the roughness of the week that u feel so down. I felt so sad inside reading u'r words, Kath u'r hands aren't dead they are resting and the artist in you wil always be there waiting til u'r feeling that feel again. U should never feel guilty for anything u do or feel, it's wasting u'r energy to feel happiness again. And u'll notice in time there might only be a few minutes a day for that special emotion, but the time gets longer as u go along. Some of us just take longer--this isn't a bad cold, this is a disease that changes everything about our lives, feelings, strengths, weaknesses, it touches every aspect of it. And in time we adjust, I don't think that means u can't do what u did before, I think it means u choose to do the special things u love and maybe put the mundane things aside and we feel like we are missing something, because we don't do everything we did. Well I turned so much lazier than I was originally,--my mom used to tell me I hope u marry someone rich cuz u'r to lazy to work for a living---and yet most of the time I raised my kids alone and worked sometimes 2 jobs, except for the money I could care less anymore about working. I think u and Jazzy are so blessed to have a love of the arts and music and u can return to it.Cancer couldn't take that away from you, don't let it. I hope u start feeling brighter and let's face it we are never going to be happy all the time anyway--we just notice it more now. U should see how often I use cancer as my reasons to not do something hahaha--it's abused me so I abuse it. I'm sorry I made this into a novella but I just like to see u feel better and tell u u'r not alone.
Teka u r so effin cute, I can't stand it--U make me laugh with such ease and use few words.
And Jazzy u can sing too. OOOHHH u lucky duck

Jazzygirl

Jazzygirl

Hermits- hope you like the first day of balloon fiesta. No, I did not go down to the field where this takes place (you have to get up at 4 a.m.), but watched the launch on tv this morning. The friend that is here right now went with her family she is visiting this weekend, and said it was fun!

Cami- such wise words of wisdom for Kathec and us all. You are right it takes so much away from us. I am constantly trying to rebuild and restore each day that goes by.

I went to the arts and crafts festival here with a friend today, and we shopped until we dropped. Home resting now. Missing cousins surfaced and passing through tomorrow and we are meeting for lunch. The last of my visitors for the week.

camillegal

Jazzy I was just thinking about u--I'm watching Elton John on PBS and he plays a lot of piano in his songs and I thought Jazzy could do that.
I love those pics and so glad u'r having such a good time with u'r cousins, I bet this week flew by. Enjoy my dear.

Jazzygirl

Cami- I love Elton John. His Yellow Brick Road from the 70s is one of my favorite albums ever. As a matter of fact, I am listening to Funeral For a Friend on You Tube as I write this. I don't play the piano though, I did try and never got the hang of it.

I just read on You Tube the album came out exactly thirty years ago today! Happy Birthday Yellow Brick Road!

Skittle

Jazzy, I envy your talent. My parents forced piano on me, but I was so miserable, they relented and I spent days climbing trees and riding horses (competitively... horses/not trees) I wish now I stuck with music. And, wow... the colors! Amazing.

Camille, You can tell Joey I read Esperanza Rising. The beginning is soooo sad. (Does he know Esperanza means hope?) If he liked it, he might like Becoming Naomi Leon. If I remember that one right, there is a really interesting cultural part about carving radishes--that I did not even know existed. (If I remember it right.) If he liked Esperanza, he might like Granny Torelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech. I'd highly recommend it. It's not quite so cultural, but I thought it was a fun read. Or see if he can find a copy of Captain Nobody... I like that one, too. There are zillions of books I like. :-) If he has a favorite hobby and can't find a good book, let me know and I would be happy to head him in the direction toward books he might like with that hobby in it.

Just got back from doxie derby. DD2's little one came in third in his heat. It was his first race ever, so everyone was proud of him. (Some don't even budge, they're so timid or just flat confused.) I had never been to Southlake, TX before. Nice community. Everyone friendly.

Teka, Stay as long as you can. I like that.

Kathec, Don't despair. we each hit a wall... then gather our pieces, squish them back together, and keep going. I hit a point not so long ago that the things that "used to make me happy" as you said, no longer gave any zing or smile. It is taking me a long time to climb out of my dark hole and hunt for sunshine... Those moments come and go and I find that I have to force myself to "get over it." (Doesn't always work.) I have an MO appt in November, and wonder if I'll have the umph to bring up emotional woes. Or if I'll bury it and pretend all that matters is the physical... Dunno. Only when it gets here. But do sleep safely. Everyone here cares.

May Sunday shine upon us all. Hugs.

camillegal

Jazzy why did I think u played piano??? u play something.I can feel a dirty mind miles away.
There are such glorious women who are hermits. LOL
Skittle I have to tell him about those books if he doesn't already know,Thank you.
I just realized I think Elton John wrote a lot of his songs High. The words are crazy to me but I still love them.

Tomboy

Hi camillegal. sorry you had to spend a part of saturday seeing a doctor! sounds like everything turned out all right though. and thank you all for even caring! good things to hear. i had such a crush on elton john when i was in high school. and i never understood all the lyrics but i loved them anyway, too. I had an impromptu massage today at the open air veggie mart. i never did that before, but i had been seeing him there for almost 10 years. an older japanese gentleman, i dont know if it is reiki or not, but it was gentle and felt nice. picked up a few things to make a potato salad, and then found out that this girl there is starting a belly dancing class! that might be fun, and good exercise for lymphedema, actually. entertain my man that way, anyway. Ahem. looked at my workbench, though, and am seriously thinking of getting up tomorrow and clearing the whole thing off and starting over. I remember an old friend of mine saying once, "why put off doing or trying something today? cause if you like it enough, you can do it again tomorrow!" so am just reading around on here.

Jazzygirl

Cami- yes, flute, violin, saxes. You did remember I played music, and that it's important to me. That is what matters. And I am watching the Elton John concert on PBS now, and thought "this must be what Cami is talking about!"

Skittle- congrats on the doxie coming in 3rd! Glad you liked Southlake (I lived in TX once but never went to that community).

Kathyec- belly dancing is supposed to be great exercise. Someone recommended it to me after abdominal surgery last year, but never did it. And good for your love life too. Let us know if you do it and if it helps?

I went swimming tonight and notice I have not been as strong in the pool the last few times. I think it comes with the lower carb diet my PCP has me on to deal with the blood sugar issues. The lower carb diet does seem to be helping on all front, including with weight loss. I wish she had given me this like 10 years ago when the weight started piling on.

Teka- let us know when you are home safely in the recliner!

Good night hermits, sleep well!

Tomboy

I will let you know, jazzygirl. Anything would be an improvement, as it is practically nonexixtant! used to be pretty nice, until dx and tx. we still hold hands.

Jazzygirl

From the balloon glow last night. Enjoy.

Tomboy

WOW, that is so amazingly beautiful, jazzygirl! that must have been really something to see in person! i love that they still have wicker baskets. wonder what that would be like to go up in one?

Jazzygirl

Kathyec- the balloon glows are my favorite event they do. I have not done a balloon ride, but those that have done so say it is an extraordinary experience. Many people here in town volunteer to "crew" at this event and often are able to get to ride in one at some point. It is the way to go as the average cost per person is $300 for about an hour. I hope to go down to the field this Thursday for the special shapes glow and will post more pictures if I do. The ones here so far are off the ABQ International Balloon Fiesta on FB.

Hope everyone is having a nice Sunday!

Skittle

Kathec... my best friend (of decades) went up in a hot air balloon for an anniversary. Loved every minute. Said the view is unforgettable, the power of the wind currents is astonishing, and the being untethered from the planet is utterly peaceful. There are no events like that down here, or I think I'd be saving my pennies for an eventual trip up.

Jazzy... enjoy the glows!! How lovely to be able to see it all. :-)

Tomboy

i liked how you said gather up the pieces and squish them back together,skittle. it can be like herding spilt mercury. so, i enjoy little things, like cherry lip bam. i am reading that book about steve jobs actually hugely entertaining, and easy to read. am enjoying it much more than i thought i would. mmmm my computer on lap reclining on my bed, cooling down close to sunset. there is this sight that i look at, i found a link for it somewhere on bco, about a week ago. it is called the assertive cancer patient . com. the lady who wrote it is a metastatic breast cancer survivor who has just gone into hospice, and her friend gretchen posted for her that she would like some letters posted to the site, cause she can still read them. i left one, but i dont know if any of you guys might have known or read of her. she has done some remarkable things that she writes about, and she has been fun and informative for me to read about how she did things all through out. years worth of stuff. maybe even if you dont know her, you might leave her a note to read?

Jazzygirl

Kathyec- I cannot find anything on the "assertive cancer patient" but if you have more info, would be happy to post for this woman who may need some support during her time in hospice. If you happen to know her name/handle, I can search that way?

The Steve Jobs biography on of the best I have ever read. I have been reading Neil Young's biography this year, but don't get through any book very fast these days. Ted Kennedy's is very good as well!

Another busy week begins at work. Wishing my hermit friends here a very lovely fall week ahead! Halloween is coming!

Spookiesmom

And Halloween is Spookies birthday! She will be 4!!!!! That's the "how" she got her name. I thought by letting her hair grow to the floor she would look like a small white Cousin It. And she did!

Tomboy

jazzygirl, hope this works : www.assertivecancerpatient.com ......

Tomboy

i dont know how to make a link on here, but maybe copy and paste will work

Jazzygirl

Kathyec- that is the most well organized cancer blog I have ever seen. She is going to Bailey-Boushey house, and a friend of mine where I live is from the Baltimore area and her mother received end of life hospice care at that facility. I get their newsletters, as I donated for my friends mother in honor of her memory, and think she will be well taken care of there.

We have several here who have metastatic breast cancer, and just know I think of you every day and wish you, peace, love and healing.

Spookie- Cousin It. I love it. Spookie must love Halloween.

Tomboy

it is very well organised. admirable! and i had started at the beggining and then went to the front, i mean latest.(im not nearly as organized!) so i went back and looked, and she has actually been there for a while and does have friends and two sons to help her. i guess she has just been extra depressed or something while they are adjusting meds for her. i do go looking for other womens blogs sometimes, but absolutely consider "our" site the true home of my heart and full of laugh especially cami, out there somewhere!

Teka

((((((recliner))))))

camillegal

Oh I have to catch up--but right now I'm to much of a hermit, not feeling so well==so when I feel beter I'll catch up. It'll be soon I'm sure

Jazzygirl

View from above.

Jazzygirl

My other fav from today.

Tomboy

Angry birds! so fun! and really helped me get through treatments, silly i know. then my friend andrea told me about this other game for phone. its called plants vs zombies, and the plants have all different attributes, addictive. i think i will have to read the neil young book too. my altime favorite singer (in my youth) David bowie. but tremendously admired neil too, so many bands! so little time! i think i actuallly spotted camillegal, drinkin on another thread. she a bad girl