The Hermit Club

Stormy that is a big change for you!  Looks great!  I had long hair too, just not as long as yours.  I cut mine shoulder length during the beginning of chemo. Feels really crazy like you don’t have anything left to wash or brush!

LL I am very happy for you that you get to go see your son!  I really miss my son and would love to see him!  He was going to come here for Thanksgiving but was in between jobs (and broke) so we had to postpone his trip until Christmas.  He has a new job (and good for him he seems to be happy), but they are busy and not allowed to take time off until after the first of next year.  So…I won’t get to see him Christmas either.  I’m really sad about that.

Hahahaha…at the risk of showing my age…I’m gonna admit I had no idea what “Elf on a shelf” was you guys were talkin’ about.  I had to google it.  My son is 28 so he was off at college when this came out. No wonder I had never heard of it.  I have been in my cozy little hermit shell for a while now…

Markat the golf “ball” thing is HILARIOUS! Loved it!

Dear Liz Lemon-thank you for your posting. And sorry you too are going through this. Sounds like you have approached things much as I have with work front. I know when you work FT and you need to do FMLA, you have to tell your boss, but as a self employed person, I am beholden to no one to share this. I was told by my breast surgeon I would be able to work through this (I was in between project contracts when this began and some other health issues came up too). But now I have a new contract starting with a client and trying to work to keep my health world private. I have already set up a schedule to work PT to start and have left my afternoons to do radiation treatments, if I can do those in town (been recommended I go to Phoenix for some of this). So it is a juggling act, a slippery slope, but so far I am pulling it off.

My sister, who is 11 years older than me, was diagnosed 2 months before me with BC (isn't that amazing?) She just finished chemo and is preparing to do a mastectomy next month. We live 1000 miles from each other but are able to help one another from a distance. She decided right away to keep her situation mostly private with her job to go through her treatment. And I followed her lead. We all know we don't always live in a friendly world when it comes to sharing private matters. People can use the information against you, especially if you are in a competitive situation, as I am trying to get contract work. Like you, I don't want it to be used against me now or in the future. I have figured out who I can trust with this matter and so far, it has worked out well.

And thank you to Camillegal and Markat for the welcome.

Although I made the comment about not being into the holiday stuff, please know too I am fine with everyone who shares their holiday stories, no judgement here. We all need to find what helps us through the process. My main issues with the holidays are with my community of friends and family that KNOW what is going on and are into it and expect me to be too. I too am trying to find things to embrace during this next month that feel right. I play music for fun and am doing that again and it helps!

Wishing you all blessings as you go through your journey!

Teka- oh no worries there, I am taking care of my community along the way with gifts in appreciation for their help, even before the holidays season! I feel it is more sincere when you see something at the time and say "so and so would really love this!" But I have more planned along the way this next month. I am just opting out of the usual parties and stuff like that.

I am glad you are enjoying the holiday season!

Oh I always need hugs. Thanks Jane (((hugs))) right back at u.

Jazzy like anything in life we view it differently and with u'r circumstances of how u work, I think u made a very wise choice--after all this could be a decision maker with a client. So Good for u. And the first couple of Christmasses I really wadn't in the mood--I don't think any of us were for partying so who can blame u--that's kind that u think of u'r neighbors and friends around and et them something and I truly am sorry about u'r sister and really sorry she lives so far from u.-My sister used to live 5 mins. from me, now she lives 15-20 mins and we think that's far--she got cancer Stage 4 -4 months after me--so she blames me (not really) we're very close and do tell each other everything and see each other and we're together Christmas day with our families-(she has 4 dggtr) and we go to one of her dgtrs who got cancer a couple of months before me--so we kind of understand all that we feel and we end up having a wonderful time--that's one of the reasons I still love Christma, cuz my brother is their too (who's also had cancer) So we are a good poster family.....OMG there I go again I get started and can't shut up, much like Teka

Anyway Jazzy this is a private world hear so u can say what u want--it's just us. LOL

Welcome Jazzy!

Skittles , lol rhino-mom and my eyelash is waving to the others so hopefully they get the party started

LizLemon , avid reader here as well...22 books during chemo...the first chapter was hysterical, lots of references to SNL and 30 Rock, which I LOVE

markat LOLOL the schweddy balls, DH is a golfer as well, he would LOVE that gift, we watched the xmas special..LOL'ed Justin Timberlake Did you ever catch the skit with the adjoining twins, one was a gorgeous actress, the other was Rachael Dratch? DH missed it and I still laugh about it. WOW 2 trees, you go girl!

camillegal glad you are getting a little break from the docs...sweet family stories too(((hugs)))

Teka

*waves* to all

I am still trying to decide how much decorating to do. I usually light a row of cedars out back, so pretty from the dining room window,  and yes, they are all white, as are all my indoor lights. However, the tree in front is always lit with colored lights as are my planters by the entrance , Dwarf Alberta Spruce, they are sooo cute! Every year I vow not to kill them, no such luck so far

I don't know. I have been considering doing nothing and just buying tons of indoor Christmas plants. Rads are starting soon and I am short on energy these days. Trying to exercise to get up to speed.....

The last chemo feels like one too many, oh well...one day at a time:) I am getting Deported on Dec 05, that is my Xmas gift. It was not a good experience going in, and it has never been comfortable for me. Always finicky during infusions too. I know this is highly unusual, thank goodness , as it really is a good little soldier to have.  So let's hope this will be a smooth and easy procedure.

LOVE all the Xmas spirit and yet I appreciate all who are not up to it. Happy weekend ~oh and thanks Jane for the hug

camillegal...any spirit I want??? alrighty then, vodka martini please

Skittle, let them do it! My kids had a blast chopping and coloring my new do lol You should go green with red highlights for Christmas!

So, I feel like a self centered ass at the moment. My sister just called me. No "how ya feeling?" or none of that. She knows I started chemo on Monday, but I haven't heard anything from her all week. She has a full time job, new hubby and 3 kids, not like she doesn't have a life. But anyway, she calls just a few minutes ago and all she has to say is "Can the boys come stay the night at your house tonight?" Her 10 and 12 year old boys. 

Just made me mad that she would even ask  about sending them over and not even take a second to pretend to give a crap. Then I think "what the heck makes me so special?" It's not all about me..geesh, get over it.

Stormy, she still should have said something!?! Did you end up having the boys over?

Stormynite: I never ceased to be amazed when people ask me to do something when I am in the middle of something major. I have had it through all kinds of situations too, sick family members, job crises, recent deaths in the family, my own health issues. People are who they are regardless of our own personal circumstances, eh?

Your sister sounds like she has a lot going on and is her plate is too full. And she is looking to you for help, but perhaps not the best time to be asking. Maybe you need to screen her calls and let her leave a message so you can decide if you want to respond. I have had to do that with people, including family. Sometimes I just don't respond to people if it feels like too much. 

I have had a couple people call me up to see how I am doing, only to UNLOAD on me and I ended up drained. They later apologized for it too, saying it was not there intent but they were having a bad day. Sort of helped me to realize I may need to not always pick up with some. Now I sort of know when some call me with this potential, I just let roll to voice mail and decide later if I want to call. 

Hope you found a good solution to this request. How are you doing with the first week of chemo? 

It's been one of "those" days, for me....  Sure hope tomorrow is better.

Vodka and cookies...yum

Aww FLwarrior, tomorrow will be better! Sending hugs and happy thoughts your way.

I told my sis that my son was grounded so he can't have company this weekend. I don't know why I let it bother me, she's always been that way.

(no I didn't put undefined in there...)  a pic didn't translate.  Turtle with green mohawk!

Fl Warrior - hope today finds you better {{{{HUGS}}}

Markat ... we see your inner beauty every day... but I hope your body will return to whatever you want it to be.  Know what you mean about comments ... everyone tells me I look great ... lost 20 lbs in 3 months before I was diagnosed ... oops unexplained weight loss is a symptom of cancer .... not a weight loss program I would recommend.

You know I was thinking the other day, that for the most part, we do not really know what each other looks like.  No race, colour, size, shape, age, etc., but we all support each other.  Too bad there isn't more of that in the world.

Now I want cookies for breakfast.

My childhood friend has been supportive throughout my BC journey.

However, a friend I've known off and on since childhood has "poor social skills" and is only getting worse with age.   I got her a birthday card showing a lovely purple iris.   Shame on me for not knowing that she hates the color purple.   I am still waiting for my 1st birthday card.   I took her off the X-mas card list.   

Whether friends or family, it all boils down to "poor social skills" which only get worse with age.