Starting Chemo in JAN 2007

P.S. The turkey turned around and I realized it was a big tom not hen. I think he's looking for love in all the wrong places.

Hey ladies,
Five posts between the time I wrote my last one and it posted,, so I missed yours, Mizsissy. They want YOU to pay for the honeymoon? That is CRAZY! Also nervy, rude and boorish. I would not feel bad saying no. And I believe your gowns are too good for the soon to be bride, from the sound of it. As foar the job at Target, that could be a good thing, hard to tell. It takes some people longer to find their life's work than others. My ds1 is out there doing great with his business degree, ds2 is upstairs in his old bedroom right now, trying to figure out where to go from here. At least he cleaned his room yesterday, that's a start. But as for that wedding, I would just give them whatever you feel like, attend and enjoy the day. I'm so with Miss Manners, the columnist, who is constantly expressing shock over the way bridal couples try to shake down friends and relatives these days in order to get all their heart's desires. It's just not how life is supposed to work. - Skye

Tina – I am sending lots and lots of good thoughts your way that your DHs job will remain in place. My husband works for a big bank – we know first hand there is no job security in big corporations. Just like you said – your future can be knocked of course by any unpredicted management change. It always seems to boil down to politics. Anyway, I truly hope it works out. Worse case you can keep your current health insurance through COBRA for 18 months – although you would have to pay the full premiums. But at least you’d have 18 months for him to get another job with group health insurance before you ran into problems. It’s not much I know. Let’s just hope he’s OK.

Debbie – It does sounds like the rads fatigue has hit you hard. Try to get lots of rest.

Sharon – Wonderful that today is your LAST treatment! Enjoy not going tomorrow.

Rebecca – you are right the ceiling fan keeps me asleep all night but I do wake up freezing cold and all bundled under the blankets. That I can live with. I find that I often get very cold, sometimes even shivering, between hot flashes.

Mizsissy – it really seems like weddings are getting more and more out of control and over the top these days. (Maybe caused by all of those elaborate childhood birthday parties). I wouldn’t dream of refusing a gift of family jewelry even if it wasn’t a perfect match. My mom taught me to never turn down and gift but to always accept it gracefully. But I am NOT the person to ask about wedding stuff. I was so uninterested in dealing with all of the wedding craziness that we eloped. I was just never one of those little girls that dreamed about her wedding ceremony. I do think you should go. Don’t let your annoyance with the bride keep you from sharing that special day with your nephew. I wouldn’t pay for anything not required by tradition. I don’t know why people often feel so entitled to financial help from others. I’ve always preferred to be self-sufficient (but then I never had a choice either).

Skye – I wouldn’t last long as a vegan. Hats off to those who go out of the way for a healthy lifestyle. But I love chocolate and I’m not giving it up.

Thanks all for the reassurance about holding out for the doctor I want. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just being spoiled making such a big deal out of it.

A tip for Skye and Rebecca and any other small footed ladies out there - there is a great website called www.zappos.com where you can order all kinds of great shoes from many different lines - I am pretty sure they have free shipping and return shipping - Our brand is called Van Eli - most of the styles are available in small sizes, many start at size 4. Try it - there are many many brands.
Mizsissy - that future niece sounds spoiled with a capital "S". Pay for the honeymoon? Are these people serious? Don't be too hard on the kids though, it's a different world today, so many of the kids are not brought up with good values and manners. I would definitely attend the wedding, if you want to give a cash gift, give what you feel like and can afford. Cash gifts are common at Jewish weddings, and other ethnic groups like Italians and Muslim too.

Jan, I'm with you, no way could I last long being a vegan. And my attempts to eat better the last few years - less red meat, more fruits and veggies, no white bread,pasta - only whole grain - yeah, well, look where that got me? right girls?
Melia - good luck with your DD's wedding - 2 in such a short amount of time - I hope it's not too much stress for you.
caya

Thanks girls for all the good advice. I will go to the wedding; in fact, the rooms we paid for are nonrefundable (we got quite a good deal!). But I am going to reconsider the honeymoon gift.

I have designed a very nice dress to wear, and believe you me, I won't feel one twit guilty about upstaging the bride if that's what I manage to do!!!!

xxxooo Mizsissy

Still thinking about this...and I think I might have found a creative solution. I will give Danny a cash gift equivalent to what I was going to contribute to the honeymoon, but it won't be a honeymoon present, it will be a graduation present, payable WHEN and IF if makes up his incompletes and graduates from VMI. In the meantime maybe I'll get them a pair of sterling candlabra or something.

Thanks for your help girls with your thinking about this...I have always found if I give something enough thought I can usually find a solution.

The new HOT TOPIC of conversation seems to be hot flashes. Yes, fans are great. We have a ceiling fan. We also have another smaller fan, so that when it really gets hot I put it right on the table next to my bed. And the chillow pillow. And turning the AC down to 60!!! (not very energy efficient!). And I do get cold in between too, very cold.

This weekend we are going to move the guest bed, a double, down to the basement. I'm going to take over the guest room as a sewing room, and then we'll always have a cool place to sleep.

xxxooo Mizsissy

Did you all see Robin Roberts announcement today that she's been diagnosed with breast cancer?
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3430554

Let's meet in the chat room tonight - join in anytime after 8:00pm ET (that's 7 central, 6 mountain, 5 pacific). Or post another time if you don't like the one I made up I'll try to get there as soon as I get the kids to bed.

Mizsissy, your nephew has chosen a lifemate who will challenge him - and not necessarily in a good way. He'll have to go blind to ignore her behavior in comparison to how he was raised.

yep, be the loving auntie and walk away after the ceremony. I've been through some tough times with my beloved nieces and I know how hard that is. But he will remember later that you were there for support and he'll be more open to come see you if he needs that support again.

Cindy

skye we need to go shoe shopping together!!!!! we are puny-feet sisters. sooooo frustrating, and annoying when people oooh and ahhh over how "cute" my feet are. BLECH. The plus side is that I can buy my Crocs in the kids department where they come in all those delicious colors.

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Rebecca I had missed this post of yours somehow!Yes I get those comments too about what little feet I have and can never resist pointing out that at my height I'd look ridiculous if they were any bigger. I would LOVE to go shoe shopping with you...put it on the agenda for our eventual big get together!
Skye

Iowacindy, you nailed it...that's just how the rest of us in my family feel.

Mel, meant to mention that I think you'd look perfect in one of those SoHo mall ponytails. Hell, after all these wigs we can do anything! I'd just get the small one...it's like six inches long and it has two pieces that jut out from the comb. You use an elastic to make your own pony, which can literally be a stub. Then you stick the comb up under the pontail and you twist the two pieces over the top and then tuck them under the ponytail. Looks totally real. I cannot WAIT to have enough hair to do it again. That's when I'll feel normal. Plus, it's so easy to slick the front part back w/gel, wear some big earrings and wella, you're in style.

Good Morning Girls...I think I am going to get disinvited to the wedding because of the present business. Oh heck, we've already paid in advance nonrefundable for hotel rooms at the Crowne Plaza in Richmond!!

But I just talked to Puppy, who lives in WV, and she and her husband can take a nice little weekend down in Richmond late September and live it up!!!

Puppy says she'll go to the wedding just for the food and just says she's "an aunt." At least she'll have hair to wear!!!

Lynn, my dying hair color is dark blond too. I've tried temporary rinses..they don't work. I guess I'm going to have to pull out all the stops and use peroxide.

Tina, I am having a hard time visualizing the ponytail thing. Help me!

BTW, what is going on with our website?!!!! Someone is doing a really bad job of screen redesign!!!!

xxxooo Mizsissy

eeeek Miz I see what you are saying about the website. YIKES!

I've written the moderators and they say they're investigating the problem and will get back to me. I can't even type right wi9th everything so crazy

MIOz