I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Garden, you make it all sound so wonderful but one of the best parts is hopefully the freedom from undue worry and a far less stressed life in Hawaii.  My kissin' cousins lived on the big island for many years and something I don't completely understand, let their son ( too many issues to put in here and it is not the main point anyway ) dictate that they should come back to the states.  So, they were here a bit over ten years.  Attempted to go back and after three years had to return here.  They could not support the kind of life they wanted to live as they had to work.  I am thinking just as when we left California about the same time the cousins came here.....prices went up so dramatically that a return would not be possible. 

You are fortunate as you will know going in and will not have to have such a 10 yr. reality check.  I think if I once ever lived in Hawaii I don't think I could leave.  Dh was offered a job there right after we married and I did not feel that I wanted to be that far away from my family at the time.  Sigh !!!  I would still be there if we had I bet.  You seem to be able to do a little better in adjusting to how things are if you start out with "how it is", rather than leave and come back to the changes later on. 

I hope for you, not very many hurdles at all and that it meshes together so well even you are a bit surprized. 

Jackie

GG - my gf and i were just discussing that pass, how everytime I had to go for surgery (pdx) or chemo (medford), last winter, the weather was perfect (i.e. raining, not snowing).  Yesterday, it was beautiful sunny here and the pass was socked in with fog!!

The Big Island is my favorite of all of the islands.  I think because it is so big and varied. 

So it sounds like you are sticking around Seattle for awhile.....??

A church sign in the town of Leakey, Texas:

Still trying to figure out who is the muslim communist.........In fact, I'd have to say President Obama and his family display the sort of Christian family the old GOP used to resemble.  Certainly the rest of the western world thinks so.  Just sayin'

The people putting up that sign have leakey brains.

Kam - yes, we'll stay around Seattle for another year - then who knows.....

IL - Port Ludlow is across the Sound (Puget Sound) from Seattle and then a bit north.  It's about an hour and a half to 2 hour drive from my house without taking any ferries.  From downtown Seattle, you'd take a ferry for about an hour and then drive about 45 minutes to get there.  It's a pretty location on the straits of Juan de Fuca.

I really wish they'd take away tax exemption for any church that involves itself in politics - which anymore is just about any church, period....

Thanks, all, for your thoughts and good wishes.  Today's memorial was a perfect tribute: the place was packed, people spoke of various aspects of my ex's life (I learned some things), shared stories, sang songs (his taste in music was eclectic, to say the least, so I know *he* would have enjoyed the over-the-top theatrical rendition of Brecht-Weill's "Alabama Song," even if it had his daughter and her cousin exchanging "WTF" looks),* laughed, got choked up, ate, drank, hugged.  Our daughter talked about her dad with love and humor and truly amazing composure.  (Among other things, she told how she and her dad liked to watch "Gilmore Girls," especially episodes with lots of Emily Gilmore.  "That, honey," he would say to her, "is the bourgeoisie.")

It truly did feel as though our daughter was being surrounded and lifted up with love and concern, which was a wonderful feeling.   She's on the bus now, headed back to Chicago, and I'm at a hotel by the airport dreading my 3:50 wakeup call tomorrow morning (I have a 6 am flight back to New York). 

Linda

*Blue, as I listened to the woman at the memorial sing an exaggerated cabaret version, I kept thinking of the Doors cover, which I'm sure you're very familiar with!

Something I ran across today and thought all the cat lovers ( myself included ) would enjoy it:

Cats regard people as warmblooded furniture.
-- Jacquelyn Mitchard

Enjoyful and Soteria much positive energy being sent to you both. 

Jackie

Enjoyful ... I'm so happy you had a great ride on Sampson.  He's such a beautiful boy ... and apparently, he's a good boy too.

I'm sorry the Faslodex is being so hard on you.  I had hoped the medication wouldn't be as bad as the Arimidex.  Don't forget to have the nurse warm it up first.

I'll be on a flight when you have your surgery Friday, but my thoughts will be with you.

hugs,

Bren

I have a good one for horses.  "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a (wo)man."  (Winston Churchill)

I love this one.  Horses are excellent therapy.  My daughter's horses got me through her fight with cancer.  Just being around them is soothing.  The touch, the sounds they make, the smell, their movement....etc

So Enjoyful, enjoy your horse.  

E -- Is this how you feel?

"When riding my horse I no longer have my heart in my chest, but between my knees."

Kam, I had an excisional biopsy a month ago to remove a tumor at the base of my neck. The surgeon didn't get clean margins so they have to take more tissue - some muscle, fat, possibly some skin. It's a tricky surgery because of the abundance of nerves and blood vessels in that area. I may have limited mobility after the surgery and the surgeon may have to tie off a jugular vein. But....it may all go fine with no bad side effects. I'll hope for that, but have already planned for the worst.



Off to the onc for my faslodex!

E - so glad to hear you finally got to ride Sampson - sending thoughts for a pain free week or else good drugs!

Well E - I'm banking on the better outcome for you!  

E - just don't forget to bring a big bag - lots of us here want to go.

Wonderful that you are riding Sampson!