Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

Hello my Ta Tas,

 DH and I are back from Vegas - we had a great Shoe Show, lots of Canadian customers, and for me it was great to be back in action after 2 years!! OY!!

I just quickly skimmed the posts but I think I saw 2 things to fret about - Jan - you know this is most likely a cyst. Try to get them to do a U/S tomorrow as well.  Make room for the BTTS to be in the room with you.

Melia - so sorry about your father.  And we were just talking about you moving him to be closer to you or your brother.  Well, it sounds like it was peaceful for him, and luckily you were able to be there.

 Tina - STOP THE SHLEPPING - are you crazy girl? 

 Skye - I hope your mother is doing better.  And the $48,000 question re: sister # 1- OY!!! It was great having you as my roomie, oh weird one.

Joni- congrats on your $2,000+ win at the nickel slots - I was with DH the other night and won a big $75.00 at the nickel slots - Whoo hoo.

I'm so glad we finally met, it was such a great time.  I hope we can do it again.  I love you all, miss you lots, but I gotta get to bed, I have a week's worth of work to do tomorrow.

xo and major hugs

Oh Jan, that is exactly what we wanted to hear!  Mopping up after two sick kids is nothing compared to what your day could have been. Of course, I always say it could have been worse, and Steve always says it could have been better.  Now go and have a fun vacation! 

Caya, glad you are home safely. It was a terrific weekend, and you made it easy with all the logistics.

I am doing fine. The most recent issue is all the angst at work re poor sales. Not a lot we can do about it; if you have a choice between gas and flowers, you are not going to choose flowers. I would be mildly surprised if anything happened to my job, but it wouldn't be a crisis. BC is a crisis, work issues are an annoyance.

Everyone else, stay strong, and look both ways before you cross the street.

Jan, I didn't realize how anxious I was about your "issue" until it turned out to be nothing and I was awash with relief.  Now you can have a carefree vacation.  I hope the girls' illness is at worst a quick 24-hr. bug. 

Caya, my dear - it is so good to have you back with us where you belong!  Glad the shoe show was good - how did Harrah's turn out to be this time?  Was it as nice as TI?  I loved where we were.

Melia, I guess it's unavoidable that the flower business would be down.  I think pretty much everything is, actually, but the things that are total luxuries must be taking a big hit.   Angst is ok for a while, but I hope they're not blaming this on you!  Did I tell you our pet sitter bought us flowers to decorate the kitchen before we came back?  They're still lovely, and blooming like crazy - she is truly one in a million.  We can actually have flowers these days after 14 or so years of not being able to because Farley ate them - he even ate roses we had taken in until our neighbor got home one Valentine's Day.  Now he's too old to jump up on the counters.

A week ago we were all together, and I keep thinking of all of you, seeing all of your eyes that I memorized.  The buzz, the glow, the warmth, the joy...whatever it was that I brought home with me after being with my sisters hasn't worn off for me, either.  It reminds me in some ways of that  feeling you get when you fall in love, that just changes you somehow in a good, warm way.  I really can't wait for the next meeting. 

You know what else we need to do one of these nights?  Chat!  Let's bring back our chat nights and see if we can keep in touch.  I know everyone is very busy right now.  I am even very busy, strangely enough, but wouldn't it be fun to chat, now that we've met?  Just a thought..

I've been dealing with insurance issues all morning - from May and June.  I have stopped getting frustrated, it's not worth it - I just keep correcting them.  Life is too short.

Joni, how are you doing this weekend?  Is Thor glued to your side?  I have a nice canine siamese twin peacefully snoring next to me.

Now I must go make Rebecca's hummus.  Love you all.

Jan I snuck a peek at the boards from work since I was so worried about you.  What a happy report. 

Joni, thinking of you.

Caya, glad you are home safe.  We really enjoyed meeting DH.  Hope we can see each other soon if you are in town.

Debbie, sorry to hear about your car accident.  I know those thinks shake your confidence but the best thing is to get right back on the road.  I'm glad you weren't hurt.

Lynn, my onc still has me on Tamox even though my blood levels last year showed I'm post-meno.  He just wants to be sure I guess and it's good enough for me. 

I came down with an awful summer cold yesterday.  Guess I caught it on the plane.  They say that's the worst place for germs.  I managed to get through the day at work but am heading straight for the couch tonight. 

Rebecca, I'm going to try that hummus as soon as I get the ingredients in the house.  How much garlic do you use?  Hugs.

Hello TaTas,

Melia, I am so sorry about your Dad, my heartfelt condolences to you.  I'm glad you were able to be with him.

Jan, good news is always that it is NOTHING. 

Lynn, Dan, just loved the painting of Thor.  I'm going to send a note off to the painter and thank her personally.  Your thoughtfulness of that gift is so profound, I'm still in shock.  We have put it in our living room, and I think Thor even knows it's of himself.

I have been really ill the last two days.  When I had my chemo on Tuesday morning, they almost didn't give it to me because my hemoglobin was so low, and my pulse rate was so high...maybe from winning on the Oz game.  Anyways, late this afternoon, I'm just starting to rally.

I will get my pics in there this weekend sometime.  The whole trip seems kind of surreal, finally meeting everyone after 1 1/2 years chatting.  It was so much fun, I wished I hadn't jammed out on the Mirage pool, but I needed a nap.  That Batista's was lots of fun.

Glad to hear you are feeling better Tina, I could see you were struggling at times.

Anyways, thanks everyone, especially Lynn for putting up with my scooter.

Love & hugs to all....Joni

Tattoo slapping!  LOL!  Guess it makes sense.  I tell my kids to make "fingernail x's" on their mosquito bites rather than scratch them.  Just waking up here in DC at 9 am.  Granted, I was up at 12 w/Jaclyn looking for ibuprofen (she has my cold, I think), then the dog soon after.  I awoke again at 4 and heard something on Fox News...which I am certainly hoping I misunderstood...that the Nat'l Enquirer is reporting that John Edwards has had a child outside of his marriage...I want to say about a year old.  They claim they caught him exiting a hotel room as paparazzi followed him and hotel security had to help him.  I could care less what these guys do in their free time...I just feel that it's a kick Elizabeth did NOT need at this point.  That's if it's true.  We'll see..

Lynn, sorry about Shelley's job.  But, things happen for reasons.  NYC is a lot of fun, a fun lifestyle.  Not sure about the apt. situation...if it'll be easier/more difficult to find a comparable rent to where she was in Boston.  Was part of Boston was she living in?

 Rain has come in this am to DC.  Hoping it's not extending down to the beaches because I want a GOOD WEEK for Jan down on the Georgia coast.  She deserves it.

 Caya, glad the shoe show was such a success.  Sounds like you had a blast.  That's fabulous that you were able to rely on the monorail.  You are the first person, ever, I've heard say that.  It's such a great concept and works so well everyplace else...  that monorail has been undergoing construction/work/some variation thereof for years now.  I swear it's a conspiracy by the taxi drivers to obstruct it from being operable.

 Mel, you sound great. What a pet sitter (giving you flowers)!  See, Melia?  There's hope fore the floral industry!  That doesn't happen too often.

I'm laying low this weekend (well, low for me).  I finally came up w/a plan for my bedroom (no, not that).  I found gorgeous new red quilted bedding at Pottery Barn outlet the other night...  the shams have tie closures; I got red ticking stripe sheets, some ivory silk pillows w/wood beads, I had two green silk pillows and I bought a zebra rectangular pillow at Steinmart...  all looks very tropical and goes w/all my tropical, seashell accessories.  I am loving it.  Finally.  Now I can get past that part of the house.  The sofa, coffee table and desk come today.  DH is gonna flip about the desk, but I swear it was mismarked.  TWICE, I called to inquire on price and they said $1100...this was at two different stores.  I went in there personally and the tag said $679.  I did not ask questions.  I'll say I'm putting my $300 in gambling winnings towards it.  I also think I'm going to have a yard sale in Sept. (a neighborhood wide one).  I have soooooo much stuff that didn't work here.  Oh, ran into another neighbor at the pool yesterday and I had responded to an email of hers that she was looking for part time help at her IT office, 2 to 3 days a week for a few hours.  Sounds perfect to me.  Wouldn't begin until Sept. and she realizes I couldn't do it when schools out.  I would love that.  Just a place to go a for a few hours a week while the kids are at school.  We'll see if that works out.

Mel you will please email me the name of the pet sitter.  I'd like to pass it on to my son - soon he will be in Pearland near you and with all of his traveling he could use a reliable sitter.  He hates to board his cat in a cage at the vet and yet when he comes home for Thanksgiving or Christmas and is gone more than three days he needs someone to look in on him.  It's hard to find someone you can trust who won't steal your belongings, especially when you are from out of town. 

Tina, I love your decorating style.  Wish you were closeby to help me.  I've been here in this house almost 2 years and things are starting to look old.  The woodwork all needs a good wash.  I'm planning my bridal shower here in November for my future DIL so I better get this place cleaned.  Tina, that job opportunity sounds perfect - hope it works out for you.

My grass in the front of my house looks like toast.  I guess I wasn't watering it enough.  DH just relies on the lawn service for everything.  I was just out there raking some of the dead grass up, hope that with some extra watering and a little seed it will come back.

Oh, yes, Rebecca, I make sauce a lottttttttttt and boy, does it cook down.  We eat Italian around here at least 2 nights a week.  It is good, though...

So glad Ana made out OK on that zip line.  Egads!  Nothing too new here tonight.  Jaclyn is spending the night over at Nina's.  Paul, Pauly and I watched AMW.  Prior to that, all of us went to dinner at a new place (new to us) called Sweetwater Tavern and it was very good.  Good steaks.  Just what I need:  more eating.  Oh well..I wasn't in the mood to cook.  Furniture deliveries came today and things are falling into place.  Damn cold is still lingering somewhat and now the kids and DH seem to have different forms of it...  we all just need to shake it.  More manana, chicas!

Ladies, hi!!!

Finally made it back to  the boards. I just don't take time to come here too often now and I need to to keep up with the news.

 Melia, I am so very sorry about your father. How wonderful that you had that brief time with him, a chance to put some of those memories and emotions into some organization. Sometimes at a time of death, you don't get a quiet moment to sort through things.

Jan, YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tina, for the love of God would you STOP hauling that furniture around like you're the Incredible Hulk! You are not, I know, I've seen you in your jammies. Get some neighborhood kids to help.

Debbie, glad you weren't hurt. 

Joni, darlin' - we would come sit with you and love you if we could. Since we can't, your DH will have to stand in. Take care, friend.

Mel, it was wonderful to spend that extra time with you. 

Caya, how cool that you were able to step back into your shoe world. I'm sure everyone was so happy to see you. 

Tattoo ladies, mine is doing well. I've used lots of Vit. E oil on it. I think all of the little peeling bits are off and gone.

Mary, it was great to meet you and your DH. What a trooper to put up with everyone on Saturday night.

I am starting to sort things for my trip to Colorado. I still have things strung all over my bedroom from LV. I need to sort, wash, put away and start planning for the next adventure. I leave on the 12th and will return on the 18th. Gotta get out my camp gear, plan some food stuff and of course, plan which books I'm going to pile into the car. I'll plop my rump down on the field, drink my water, listen to music and read. Sounds like Heaven. 

www.bluegrass.com/folks

This is where I'm going.

The dogs are barking, need to get them in before the neighbors complain.

Keep cool, y'all. It's sweltering here in Iowa. Supposed to be 102 tomorrow.

love and hugs to all !

Cindy 

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd take the chance to check in. Thanks to Jan's directions, I'm getting these posts in my Email inbox again. It really is easier to keep up with them that way. I'm using a new pic that was taken in LV. At least I had one where my hair was freshly washed and combed. It seemed like after I got to dinner every night it was always messed up.

Jan, I glad you had good results from your tests. I hope you can relax for a while now.

Sorry some of you have Kiddos that aren't feeling well. I hope it's one of those quick bugs and they'll feel better soon.

It sure is nice to get back to my routine. Yoga class this morning was nice even though my knees weren't up to all the poses. I was able to modify, though. When the instructor needs a sub she stresses that we are a Beginning class.

Tina, I saw that about Christian Applegate this morning when I signed in to MSN. One of the articles said that she would be appearing on "Stand Up to Cancer" on Sept 5. I guess it will be on ABC, CBS, and NBC in a simulcast.

Take care until next time.

Tina, my dear, obviously you do NOT know your limits, otherwise you wouldn't have mentioned moving a lounge chair, was it, and a king-sized bed?  Please don't do that.  Those of us with chronic back pain used to do that, too.

Cindy, wow - I've been looking at the festival website.  What a great bunch of artists - is it always that good?  I would love to be there to hear them - maybe if Larry quits working 14 hours a day by then I can talk him into driving up there.  Are dogs allowed?

Hi All,

Had a really calm, nice weekend, got caught up a bit on sleep. I am sad about my Dad, but he did have a peaceful passing, and at 90, I think that's about all we can hope for. He was on direct deposit for SS checks, and I was distressed to see that his new ck is in there, but Steve says to just sit tight, SS will figure it out and get ahold of me. He is probably right, and I don't want to deal with them right now, so I think I will follow his advice. I know the mortuary faxed a doc to them re his death, but probably just not enough time to stop the next payment.

Rebecca, as always, love the pics. And Cindy, what a terrific event in Colorado!  Have fun! Skye, so sorry about the pie .... sounds like something I would do.

Those people who are blaming anger and sexual frustration for cancer are full of crap. I refuse to believe that I caused my cancer. I think it's just easy for someone who hasn't been struck with cancer to try to blame the victims. Makes them feel safe. It was a random piece of bad luck, as far as I am concerned.

I have a sister in law who is an interesting character, and I either love her to pieces or want to swat her. Anyway, she had a malignancy on her salivary gland about six or eight months ago, had it removed, no chemo. Now she has several nodules on her thyroid, and had a needle biopsy on Friday. She gets the results on Monday, and this is what I don't understand: she said she would call me Tuesday after she gets a second opinion. Makes me wonder why she would be doing that before she even knows the results?  I guess the main concern is that both glands are endocrine ... so maybe mets?  And her husband, who is not a bit sharp or tuned in, called me Friday to say there were concerns about her breasts. Her sister (these are Steve's sisters) says she doesn't know anything about that, so we are hoping the husband is confused. He takes some mood elevating med that leaves him very dopey, so he could certainly be misinformed. Anyway, I guess I will know more on Tuesday.

Viddie, how is Arlene?

Caya, are you recovering and catching up?

I agree, Debbie, I love getting the posts via email. Then I just obey Jan, who told me to login to answer, and then log right back off.

Oh, and today on our way home for the County Fair (lots of fun) we were following a couple of Harleys. Lots of tattoos, but no unity knots or Chaucer quotes that I could see.

Ah jeeeez, Skye.....what a mess about your mom's business. At some point, if it's not been done yet, she should have an evaluation by her physician to determine her competency. Does she display an understanding of her situation, the consequences of her decisions? That will surely come into play if the legal manuevering continues.

Well, it was blasted hot today. Felt much like LV. about 100 degrees and humid. I worked outside for an hour this morning. Watered, weeded and mowed around my garage area. That was enough. Ugh.

Had lunch with friends, celebrating the return of the youngest daughter (pre-med, soon to be a junior in college) from a summer of service in Uganda. What an experience she had. 10 weeks of working in clinics in Uganda. Living with a family.She totally immersed herself in the culture. It was fabulous for her. I just saw sweet relief on her parents' and sister's faces that she was back!

 Had dinner with old co-workers. I worked for 7 years part-time in a bookstore.  We get together once a month to catch up on family events and each other. Actually, I've eaten out all weekend. That 1/2 pound I managed to lose in LV is probably now resting comfortably around my hips. Probably with additional baggage.

I may try to get another bookstore job for the holidays. I do love the books. I always felt like going to my second job was a treat, it wasn't work. If I ever find that pot of gold, I'm gonna open my own store.

Mel, the festival is great fun. No dogs allowed on-site except for service dogs. There are some kennels in the area. Let me know if you think you might show up. I'll introduce you to my festival friends and you can share our tarp.

Gonna go soak in the tub for awhile.

Y'all have a lovely Monday. Please, take care of your sexual frustration....we want no more diagnosis among us. 

waving from Iowa....Cindy 

Bumping this up to stay on page 1

Nope, nothing too new here in DC, Mel.  Just laying low.  Today I did house stuff...laundry, began cleaning up the kids rooms.  Took Jaclyn to an 11 am swim lesson...sat and chatted w/Patty at the pool during that.  Went back to the pool later w/Paul and his gang of friends.  Spent two hours.  Came home, made spaghetti and sausages...fed Jaclyn, Nina and Amaya.  Nina ended up here until 9:15...her parents were out to dinner.  So, now I'm chilling out, going to watch a little tv and call it a day.  Oh, I also had Paul's buddy Anthony here from 8 am until 4 as his mother works.  Tonight Paul is sleeping over at Milan's.  It's hard to keep track of all their comings/goings.  Another swim lesson in the am.  I take Paul to the dr. on Wed. for an immunization he needs to get into middle school.  On Thursday, I am trying a house cleaning service for the first .  Hope it's good.  Basement is 90% there.  I ordered the carpet today.  Need to do an IKEA run for a media table.  I have all the other furniture I need.  I'm keeping it very pared down.  Loving the sound proof aspect of this room, that's for sure.  Mirko said he'd price me out a 1/2 bath for down there after I'm no longer doing business with his company.  That would be nice...the kids can come into the basement through the walkout door...and really no reason to be up here.  It's nice down there too....nice, bright, sunny.  Not the typical dungeon basement.