Jan 2008--Ain't it Great?

Ah, Carol...you posted just before me. 

We keep Joey in a kennel, in our room, at night.  He's better that way, because the cat "roams" the house -- he just HAS to keep up with her, making for a sleepless night for all!  His kennel is his little "man cave".  He's got a nice fleece blankie in there, and a few of his favorite stuffed animals. 

D1 - Go Vikes!  Oh, my, but it does remind one of the "Purple People Eater" days...geez, was that a lifetime ago, or what?!?!  Fran Tarkenton...Carl Eller...Alan Page (now sitting on the MN state supreme court, go figure)...Jim Marshall...Gary Larsen (hall of famer, I think).

Happy Sunday friends!

Tina

Slow, lazy weekend.  Just what I needed!  Dh and I put all the decorations away yesterday.  The house looks bare without them.  Gonna have to find something to keep the mood bright until spring comes (which in DE, I swear, can seem like May or June!). The kids go back to school tomorrow. Dd is still young... she's excited to go back and can't wait to see her teacher again.  What's up today with everyone else??

Tina:  OMG, Joey is sooo cute!  I showed dh the pic and he just harrumphed.  He wants a break from pets when our 3 are gone (1 dog and 2 cats).  NOT! 

Glad you like the Bon Appetit.  I just got the Feb. issue-looks good.  Let me know if you try anything and how it works out.

And I used to love watching South Park.  Brings back some memories... I used to LMAO, too!! 

Carla:  Hope the shot works for your elbow.  How are things on the home front these days?

Kimberly:  I also loved your New Year's card and letter.  I should do one next year...

Carol:  Your fondue dinner should yummy!  We got a fondue set when we got married and returned it b/c we never thought we'd use it... duh!  Wish I hadn't now...

And I must say, your plans for the New Year have me feeling guilty about not doing more.  Maybe I should resolve to try and do some real exercise, something more than just chasing the kids around.  Dh and I got ourselves a Wii for Christmas, and the Wii Fit.  Maybe I should actually take it out of the box...  I've only played Guitar Hero so far; I'm not much of a video game person.  Also got Jillian's fitness program for the Wii (the chick from Biggest Loser), so I could do some serious workouts if I ever got the time.

Julie:  Oh Thank God, your tissue was from your belly!  I thought it came from DOWN THERE!  I'd read some stuff that surgeons used to use the labial tissue before they found some other ways to create nips.  Ouch!

I'd love to get a new dining room set this year.  We'll have to see how far out of the hole we get for the first half of 2009. 

Patty:  LOL on your Walmart hot flash!  I can only imagine what that was like.

Well, GTG.  Dh is watching the Eagles/Vikes game and it seems to be a good one, so I want to catch what's left of the game. TTFN!

 Good morning Jewels!!

Happy Monday

D1-your Vikings..I wanted them to win soooo bad!!!

Tina-love the doggie!! We are possibly looking at a freind for my shih tzu "oscar" I like the chihuahua's..only if my husband doesn't get jealous of this one....lol 

It took me 2 days to change  my photo on the boards..hope you all like it.

I won a trip at work (thru jacuzzi whirlpools) to Laguna Beach california and was 4 days of paradise dec 4-7. The flowers the whole lifestyle, I want to move to the west coast!!! As we sat on the plane leaving..I looked at my dh and said "WE LIVE IN THE BUTTHOLE OF THE COUNTRY DON'T WE?" We where pamperd at the spa, dinners on the beach..things we never would actually do here in pittsburgh. Sunsets are awesome, I will see if I remember how to add a photo!!

Remind me to tell you the funny story of the airplane ride..I gotta go.I am at work!!

Happy Monday!!

Hugs to all.....................Patty

I am so mad I posted and lost it. I'll come back later when this website is more people friendly. I knew something was wrong when it too long to submit my post. oh well Happy Monday.

Tina and D1 ... Okay I need a new team to cheer on ... Sorry Patty I don't know if I can go with Pitt !!!



Just sneaking a Blackberry peak here at lunch,later Carol

hey jewels...

Carol-that is ok that you can't root for the steelers. I am not sure they are going to  make it to the next round!!! I can't cheer for baltimore sorry CHJ..i do bleed black and gold!!! lol

Hope today brings lots of smiles!!

Patty

Tina  I wanted to say that is really great that your sons have moved and getting their education and working and enjoying their lives. Really great that you and your husband get to move to CO. It looks like everything is working out great for you. Hope the house sells soon.

Kimberly  I forgot to tell you, yes, my bruises are healing on my leg, I'm going to watch it. I'm sorry Palady had a close call but it will make the rest of us on Tamox more watchful of what's going on with our bodies. My ear infection is getting better finally, it still feels like something is in my ear, that just drives me nuts. Sounds like San Fancisco was excellant. I also used to watch the fire works from my apt when I used to live in Woodhaven, I had a huge living room window as big as a wall. My cat and I used to watch the fire works every year from that window. My cat Merlin loved the fire works, He is in heaven now.

D1  It sounds like we are having similar spells with the Tamox, I have nights where I lay there all night awake and I can't take the drug during the day it makes me sleepy and confused. I also have been suffering from depression and afraid to tell anyone, afraid I might end up in the loony bin lol. Maybe its not such a bad place after all, I don't know.

Carol  Love your dogs so cute.

Sherry

Good evening, sisters.  Well, I had to quietly borrow the BGP’s today.  I had the regularly scheduled check-up with the onco, and confessed that I had stopped taking the Tamox.  DH is so great, on our drive over to the clinic, he asked me to tell him what I was goingto say to the doc, and how I was going to say it (a “dry run” if you will).  He often does this for me when I have to give big presentations.  He gave me a few tips and I practiced my speech.  
The reason for this somewhat elaborate effort, is that I was convinced I’d get pushback from the onco, and, that she might try to convince me, or, shame me into giving Tamox another try. Much to my astonishment, she was welcoming of my explanations, and, offered some other choices.  One of them being the ooph.  My appointment was late in the day and she was running behind schedule.  So, they’re going to run the hormone test to make sure it’s lining up with the fact that I haven’t had a visit from Aunt Flo since Feb.  I’ll find out Wednesday what the next steps will be.
Thanks for the use of the BGP’s, they came in handy and I feel good about the results of the appointment.  Stay tuned.
D1 – Maybe a better response to last night’s game would’ve been, “UFFDA”.  ☺
CHJ – Yes, Joey is purebred.  He’s a long-haired wiener, which is turning out to be good in our neck of the woods!  Apparently, they were cross-bred with springer spaniels resulting in the “fringe” on the ears, legs and tail.  His pattern is referred to as “pie bald”, which are descriptive of those big sploches.  The breeder registered his color as “blue and tan”, although I think it’s more like chocolate (but, what do I know?).  He’s got these very unusual blue-grey eyes.  He’s been a lot of fun.  It’s nice to have the little guy around with DH traveling so much.
Sherry – Thanks for the good wishes on the house.  It went on the MLS today.  And, I’ve gotten a call for a showing for Thursday already!  I hope this is a good sign.  I think I read somewhere that 30-year mortgage interest rates had dropped below 5%.  WOW!  Our little house would be a good one for a first-time homebuyer – move right in!  
I am thankful our boys are doing so well.  I never thought I’d make it through those high school teenage years…they were both challenging in their own ways.  Whew!  
I’m sorry to hear about your issues with Tamox, too.  Any chance to try something different?
Patty – What a great picture!  Everyone’s updated photos look so good!  Mmm, I love those little Taco Bell doggies!  They come in different coat lengths, too, I think.
Jules – Hmm…don’t know about that link…probably because they aren’t available anymore, must have been too old. Are you a skier?
Carol – How ‘bout the Bronco’s?  Of course, they just fired their long-term coach.  I think he’d been with the team (in various capacities) for almost 21 years.  Thank you very little…
Okay, off to tidy up the house, with all this realty business, tidy is my middle name…D1, you’d be proud…I took a Q-tip to the fancy-dancy stove top!  LOL
Nighty, night.
Tina

Tina, I'll be curious to hear what your onc as well as the other ER positive gals whom are considering ooph have to say about taking an AI as well. I know that when my hormone levels checked out that I was in full menopause he decided at that point to forget about Tamo and go straight to Femara. If having a ooph would elminate the need for an AI I would like to revisit the issue as well. Good question for my own onc next month ... At work, back tonight... Carol

Good Tuesday Eve,

So we'll see what happens tonight, if I lose this word document or not. The wind is howling outside, a great topper after the snow, which we we're nailed with again on Sunday night. You must remember us Washingtonian's are used to ugly gray days in the winter, but not such extremes of the last few weeks. Thinking I'd be smart to start a fire just in case the power goes out. The dh is out of town, and the thought of having to fire off the generator is not too thrilling.

CHJ, so it looks like I can easily jump ship to Baltimore for my next playoff pick. It's kinda funny to think I would have never spent any time thinking about other areas of the country in regards to sports, weather, yada-yada, and now I actually mention about so and so that lives here or there ! Heck even my dh would ask, now who lives there, when I mentioned to him about cheering for a certain team.

Tina, personally I'd be all over those skis. Sorry CHJ (I know you we're about pinked out this past Fall !!!!) I checked them out on the Amazon website ... too cool, hope you get the chance to sport them on the slopes in a couple of weeks.

Happy tatoo-ing tomorrow ... I believe we may have missed some of your details of your recon process, then again we're following Julie which apparently is familiar to yours.

And yeppers on the Zillow site being a bit weird. I have noticed that some areas such as yours have a street view, where other areas are strictly overhead (such as ours), atleast that is the only way I know to view the site. With our home I could tell what time of the year the pic was taken as I had no annuals in the front flower beds and we've also changed a vehicle. Amazing technology from many years ago, huh?

Q-tips ... and I thought D1 was the only "anal" one !!!

D1 ... okay, sorry had to bite on that one !!!! Feeling the need to hear the D1‘s voice for a pick me up ... figure I'll wait until the dd's are back in school and your spending some day time hours in your "machine".

Joan, so does Lucy strut her stuff after a trip to the beauty parlor ???? The neighbor's poodle seems to have a little attitude when "he" gets home from getting a new do !!!

Kathy, oh I hope you are enjoying every little thing about your kids, which I know you are ... hearing about your dd looking forward to going back to school to see her teacher is such a distant memory here. My son was all over the news broadcast Sunday night hoping for another day off due to snow ... thankfully they we're just 2 hours late ... at this rate they will be in school in July !!! Bottom line ... I always enjoy hearing about your kids and their enthusiasm about so many things.

Bummer on dumping the Fondue pot. For me it was "my pick" at my parents house for my birthday dinner. Mom always made some sauces for dipping and had filet mignon and large shrimp to cook (although not the most healthy as you cook your meat in very hot oil). We've done it a few time for guests, in fact I inherited my mom's fondue plates which have separate compartments for sauces. WARNING ... watch your wine intake with the overly long dinner hour with fondue !!!

Hey I'm with you on the long winter ... now that the holidays are done, I'm ready for spring in a big way.

Julie, hope that your doing well, you did have a winter break that would not be your norm.

Yeah, another thumbs up for Vegas. Pretty cool gal, a 20 year anniversary ! For me Vegas would be a Catch 22 if the dh would tag along or not. I'd love to have him there (as we married there in ‘07), but I also might find it hard to make sure he is having a good time while I want to visit with you all. You know ???

Vettegal, first off ... awesome pic, its too cool to see everyone looking so great. Now from a gal who has always liked a "short do", I have mentioned to others that I think they look awesome (or as Tina say's "sassy")! How bout trying to put a pic on the post itself? I've been trying to keep up with photos posted so maybe some day I will be able to put together a little collage of sorts again. If you have problems (which sounds like changes your avatar was a PITA, give me a shout out).

So not being a Vegas pro, what can you tell us about the hotel you mentioned?

Too cool on winning a trip out west ... sounds like it was fabo !!! Airplane story ????

I'll give a peak to the website you mentioned on hot flashes, thankfully mine have mellowed out a bit ... in fact I have woke up freezing ... maybe I'm sleeping through the hot part and then on the cool down I'm waking up cold ... who knows ?!?!?

OMG gal, we've missed a Vetteguy story !!!

Sherry, shucks gal, I was certainly hoping that something would turn around and start going your way. What can I say ... hope that your work troubles turn around soon.

Paula, I read your post at work today via my Blackberry ... I was literally cracking up at the lunch table reading your writings "coughed up a pixel" ???

I hope that Eddie is starting to re-group after the completion of his last round of txt. You are nothing but positive which I believe is the way you choose to live your life, but as some of us "bitch and moan" about "this and that", you truly are an inspiration to look at what we have been dealt in life and make the best of it 24/7. So not being the most articulate ... I think the world of you ... just don't know quite how to say it.

BTW ... I addressed/mailed Steph's card to him, I have been corresponding with e-mail the last couple of days with him, being the amazing person he is, his spirits seem to be high.

So much for doing laundry tonight ... think I'll have a bite to eat and hit the hay ... although I miss the dh when he is out of town, not having to cook dinner is rather nice now and again.

Oh, the power is still on, although I can hear the rain pounding on the south windows of the house.

Hugs, Carol

Evening, friends.

Got some good news today…tests are showing that I am officially in menopause (really?!?  I think I coulda told em that…oh, wait, I think I DID).  So, my drug du jour is Arimidex.  There are others that stand in waiting, I’m guessing, as “Plan B”, “Plan C”, etc., etc.  I’ll pick the rx up tomorrow.  Done some light research to find there are se’s to be had…oh, believe me, I didn’t think I was going to “escape” those...Other offers from onco included the ooph, IF tests came back indicating I had not yet hit menopause.  My onco said she only suggested (for me) that and, not the total hyster.  So, I’m relieved.  I’ll withhold judgment on the big “A” until I’ve given it a go…

Carol – I’ve heard about your fierce weather.  It sounds like you’ve got more winding up in the Pacific, headed your way.  It’s gonna be a long winter, friend.  Stay in, and stay warm.  I’m so glad to hear about Steph again.  Tell him best wishes are coming his way from MN.  Carol, I came away from onco with the belief that even with the ooph, I’d still need to take the Arimidex.  Yep, I got my nips a couple of months ago with the process just like Jules.  I wanted to wait to get the tats (for the areola) until the scars had “settled down”.  Dang!  No skull and crossbones…LOL

Do you recall me telling you gals about my friend at work, Jean?  She’s traveled this road, as we have, but, had a really rough go.  She lost her Mom the week after finishing chemo.  Then, she started a controversial rads series.  Apparently a new technology brought by a doc from out of state.  She was the first, and went ahead with it due to issues with her heart.  Forgive me, I’ve forgotten the name of it, but, it’s more “targeting” and allowed them to avoid impacting her heart.  She came through with flying colors, but, it was a long road.  She and I had lunch just before Christmas.  She’s back to work, hair’s growing in great and her spirits are high!

Patty – What a great bit about vetteguy!!  Is he the best, or what?  You gotta love a man like that!    By the way, I’ve been told that flax seed is quite helpful in reducing the severity of the hot flashes.  Haven’t tried it myself, but, am tempted to.  A lady at my office dumps some in her “vita-mix” blender every morning with her fruit smoothy.  Anyone else have one of those??  She got hers at Costco, they’re pretty spendy from what she says, but, they use theirs every single day.  I’m seriously considering it.  And, yes, it’s my understanding that once the ov’s are gone, it’s just as if you’re in menopause, so, you’ll need something other than tamox for maintenance. 

CHJ – I was “pinked” out, too.  In fact, I switched to purple to spite everyone and everything.  Eventually, I returned to pink...I liked the color long before the dx. 

Paula – I hope DH’s situation does nothing but imporove.  You’ve done an incredible job balancing everything.  You’re right…one day at a time.  Glad to hear you’ve joined the Mac world…I think you’ll find it easy and reliable.  We’ve always had Mac’s, if you ever need any technical support, please let me know.

Well, gotta run and get some laundry in the wash…otherwise, DH will be doing vetteguy’s dance at work…that would NOT be good…

Tina

My Mac arrived last night. This is my first venture into Apple land (except my iPod, but I'm talking computers). So far, I love it! There's obviously a learning curve, but I'm flexible. This computer is a late Christmas present to me. Last time I needed to give myself something it was the Blackberry just after I finished rads... I'll have to watch this trend-- looks like my tastes are getting more expensive! 

So, I am awake and sipping coffee before 6am-- definitely NOT the norm for me. I usually rise at the last minute and am throwing myself together while the coffee perks. I fell asleep early last nite (11pm) and apparently 6 hours is my limit, 'cuz I've been awake since 5ish. I had the strangest dream...

I was in a cabin in the middle of the woods with my family, getting ready for my Jewels reunion. Dh is chopping firewood ?, ds is showing off his GH skills to some of the Jewels teenagers, and dd is helping me decide what to wear. I'm torn between dd's size 4 prom dress (bwaaahahahaha) and my usual casual attire. Casual wins out and I leave sporting my fav. jeans, a sleeveless blouse, and the cutest sandals (which I've never seen in my life, but I'd like to find). 

Segue to scene 2 (funny how that happens, isn't it?) We're coming out the door and they've cut these trees and they're all blocking the road. I calmly scoop them up like they were twigs and clear the way and we're off... in a taxi, which I'm driving. And we're now in the middle of a suburb and Carol, D1 and CHJ (who brought her cat, BTW) are there in another car to meet us at the end of the drive. Carol is driving, jumps out to come say hello and her car rolls away and crashes into a BMW that just happens to be driving by (nice neighborhood, huh?).

So, then there's some kind of bumper cars scene... with mud and a little bit of 4-wheelin' and next thing I know you all are driving away, leaving me alone in the taxi to find my way to the Jewels reunion, which is an hour away and I don't know the way. I stop to put gas in my taxi and I'm trying to get D1 on my cell to give me directions. Can't get the number entered correctly, so I hand it off to one of students, who just happens to be riding shotgun... and then, I wake up.

Kimberly- I'll be waiting on your dream interpretation. Spare me if it's bad--I prefer to just enjoy the craziness of it.  

Patty- the sexiest part of Vetteguy's dance was the laundry that preceded it!

Tina- happy tattoo-ing!  

Julie- a snow day, eh? I always enjoy those, until June when they're all tacked on to extend our school year! I'm surprised we aren't on a delay this morning. It has rained heavily through the night. Living in the hills, flooding is a problem.

Okay time to get ready for work. Dh and I have appts with the onco this afternoon. I have to locate my mammo films and the U/S CD to take with me (now where did I put those?) I'll be back tonite to report in. Should be interesting to get his take on dh. He's deteriorated tremendously since he last saw him in Sept. Can't even carry on a conversation now... I was talking with one of my co-workers yesterday and she mentioned bringing in hospice. I've always been a strong advocate of hospice... funny that I want to resist bringing them in,but I do... I have a friend who works hospice and I'm going to call her and pick her brain today.  

Be back soon... Paula 

Carol - we'll take you on the Raven's side anytime!  I'm wondering where LJ has been, she should be a Raven too...

Paula, that dream is hysterical!!  I can sometimes remember dreams right after I wake up, but you really had the living-color version. 

I'm pretty much over my indignation over all the pink stuff.  It still sometimes annoys me - I went to a friend's house the other day and she got the pink-ribbon version of a Dyson vacuum.  Who the heck wants a pink vacuum cleaner?  Whatever!  But some things are kinda fun, and one of these days, I'm going to order me one of these: http://www.tiedyedshop.com/tie-dyed-222ls.html

Tinalee - good luck with the Arimidex.  I started it in May, and can't say I have too many problems (heel spur flare-up, a few sore joints, nothing I can't deal with).  But then I also took Tamoxifin in 1995-2000 (5 years) and didn't really have issues with it either.  Or maybe I had issues and didn't make the connection.  I can't remember... 

I see my new onc next week, and will be interested in her opinion about having the ooph.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to do that, in the spring when I don't have to worry about the chance of ice or snow.

Julie, I hear you about the ice, though.  We really dodged the bullet yesterday and today.  They were calling for it to really get icy here, but the temps stayed just above freezing, so we're OK.

I'm at work, should be working, so bye for now!

CHJ

Happy Hump Day!  Just checking in before I leave work.  I'm here today so I can have off Friday for the port removal without having to use a personal day.  I've gotta comment on the posts soon, as this was a lively page.  Thinking of you all.  Maybe I can write after I get the blasted port out on Friday.  Won't be home tonight and tomorrow is a full day, too.  GTG

Paula, happy to report that the Beemer's we're safe today.  I totally cracked up this morning reading about your dream ...  you know that D1 is a popular one ... I had a dream that I met her and Cher at the same time  (I can't remember where the heck we were).  Never did report that strange event some months ago, it was during chemo time so who knows.

Off to yoga in a few ... Carol