For those starting chemo in June

Boy, NancyLee, they're gonna have to name a wing of the hospital after you. Hope you feel better quick. That stomach stuff is awful.

Mary, hope you sell loads at your shows this week. How's everyone feeling? (you, dog, son, hubby)

And Janie, have you figured out the best shopping closest to your house yet?

So, I have one brother in law who just had a heart attack and another who has a growth in his throat. I tell ya, when it rains, it pours. I had bloodwork done for scans that are the day after I get back. Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to THAT.

But first, vacation. Just a couple of days away....

Later girls
Paula

Oh, Mary, I have SO much of that stuff that I've said before I should own stock in the the company that makes Purell--Which turns out to be GOJo that makes that gritty soap that we've always used in our washroom to clean grease off after a day in the fields. Hmmm--so maybe I should get stock in that company--like I have any money to buy stock!!?? Anyhoos--I like germ-X better. It's the K-mart brand and smells really clean and has vitamin E in for a moisurizer. Then there's the Albertson's brand--Method that you can get in all these nice scents. I plastered the daycare with those things. On the edge of the counter in there I have a HUGE bottle of germ-X and give it a shot on every pass. So then I read this article that said that people who use that stuff all the time don't give their bodies a chance to build up any immunities and they get things and have a tough time getting rid of them--So danged if you do and danged if you don't I guess. I got tired of watching trial shows and soap operas this morning and turned to HBO and watched this more than depressing Sissy Spacek movie. Remind me not to do THAT again..PJ, actually, when it rains, it MONSOONS and oh, really, the snakes are bad this year. I see one on almost every walk and the roads are littered with stupid snakes that tried to crawl across or were out on the blacktop sunning and got smooshed. Of course, I have my pet bull snake, Gary, out by the house still. He gives me heart failure on a regular basis when I first see him before I remember it's probably just him. There was that one time out by the gate when it turned out to be an imposter rattlesnake and not Gary at all, but we won't think about that!!!! So you be very careful!!! I'm off to the kitchen to whip up some muffins--I have a craving for lemon poppyseeds for some reason. Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee

I forgot. I have my six month follow-up Monday. I do not expect any surprises. I called the onc's office today to give them my new address and phone number. I said "I thought I should call you and give you my new number since I knew you would be calling me tomorrow to remind me of my appointment Monday." lol. Don't know if they thought it was funny. I did.

I love muffins! I make blueberry with brown sugar in them and on top. MMMMM, I love brown sugar too. We did fairly well lastnight at the carnaval. It is a very small town but just a few miles from a city. I think we will do good tonight and tomorrow since it is the wk. end. There is another jewelry maker but she is a lot more expensive than me(many of the same beads). I found that I have to go cheaper in the small fairs or not sell anything so I don't make as much. I have some very expensive beads but I don't use them a lot. I will sell those in Az. where they know and like the good stuff and appreciate the art of jewelry making. Well I am glad N.L. is doing better and enjoying those muffins. Hope Janie gets all straightened around this wk. end so she can relax and enjoy her new home. P.J. you have to be getting ready to go so don't forget anything. Later girls, Mary

Wow N.L. glad that wasn't a snake. I am so darn affraid of snakes. I don't care about the bite, I can't stand the way they slither. That just really scares me to death. I am really an odd ball. Have a great wk. end girls, and tea and muffins sound good. Mary

Have a great and relaxing time P.J. I don't think I ever relaxed on vacation because there was too much to see and do but try. Mary

Good Morning and Bon Voyage to you PJ--Have fun, fun, fun. I went for my morning walk with Dash and have been sitting here munching granola and doing the giant jigsaw puzzle on my table. It's a dalmation puppy lying in a filed of black spots with a stop sign that says "SPOT" above his head. I'm getting done with the stop sign because it's red and the whole rest of the puzzle is black and white. It's HARD!, but that's cool. When I get all done with it, I'll mail it up to the infusion nurses in Billings because they have jigsaws out in the waiting area so people either waiting for infusions or waiting to see the doctors can sit and do a puzzle. It's kinda nice if you like puzzles. Happy Saturday, My Junies!!! Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee

So I woke up this morning at 5:30 to the rumble of thunder and I shuffled out and got my dog in, but he was already soaked because it had apparently been raining for awhile. Then it started to HAIL and I mean HAIL. I thought it was going to break my south facing windows. It was really beating against them. And then the lightning started to hit the house and the thunder was at the same exact moment as the strike. It was downright scary and lasted for 45 minutes. The hail only was for about 15 minutes and the strikes were only for about 10, but it was NOT FUN. After the whole thing was over, I put on garden shoes and went out to check the rain gauges and I got 2 whole inches in that short span of time. I was surprised that the hail didn't break the glasses in the gauges. Oh, it also rained in my porch, but this time the living room stayed dry for some reason. So, that's how my day started out and I'm afraid I can't take my stroll with the dog because it's still cloudy and stormy looking out there. Besides that--my Jeff is doing ok in the NASCAR race and I have to watch that!!! Hope everyone is having a blessed Sabbath. Life is Good & Wet!!--Smiles--NancyLee

Good News JF! N.L. maybe you should invest in a boat. We got a little storm lastnight and needed the rain but not the humidity. Hows the house Janie? You going to paint? I hate to paint. Well better get for now. Hugs girls, Mary

Hi, My Junies!! I went into town this afternoon and stole my bestest friend away from the daycare and we went on a road trip. We drove over to Dickinson, ND. where they have a nice little school supply store. I picked up my curriculum guide and materials for September for my preschool. Now I just have to get the letters and packets done because I promised everyone that I'd have them when the county fair started and it starts on Thursday!! I'm almost ready but I let this trip wait until almost the last moment. Oh, well, we had fun and she needed to get away from the daycare. She's been running it for me while I've been on my little latest medical vacation. There were only 23 kids there today so I could steal her away. So I did take the day off from work and I got 8.5 hours of sleep last night with the help of AmbienCR. It's still really smoky here, but it made for a lovely sunset---The sun was just blood red when we were coming back from Dickinson and we were driving directly into it and you could actually look straight at it and it didn't hurt your eyes. It was really pretty and wouldn't you know it--neither of us had a camera except for the ones on our phones and they wouldn't do justice to the sunset especially with all the bugs on my windshield!! Well, better go to bed--Long day and all that--Nite all--Life is Good--Smiles--NancyLee

A strange thing happened to me today. I went to the hairdresser to have one of my wigs thinned out. There was another customer there who had just had a bi-lat. mast. We got to talking and she offered to show me the drains and her scars. Since I might be facing breast surgery in Sept., I've fantacized about how the scars and drains would look. My imiagination didn't paint a pretty picture. Anyway, I looked at hers and didn't faint. In fact, her scars (only 2 weeks old) looked much better than I thought and the drains which she pinned to her shirt, appeared to be easier to manage than my fantasy. Maybe it was fate that I met her today and that she was so willing to share. I feel a lot calmer about the process now.

Hey N.L. I hear ya on the hair color. Ah heck, I don't remember what color my hair really was I just know the roots are salt and pepper. I know I had a funky kaki going on post chemo. Now it is just half asked dyed and the lingering color is washed out blondish, brownish. I don't think they have invented this color yet actually. Yea, I need a color and trim and thin. My hair is so wooly, hells bells, I look like a sheep they forgot to sheer the last couple years. We are doing a craft thing 4 days this wk. end. I have a double tooth ache. This should be fun. It hurts all up in my cheek and ear. I can't get in until next wk. I can't take antibiotics because they give me stormy intestines and thats not good for outhouse bathrooms. Oh well, another day another dollar. I have to go pack my stuff for tomorrow. Hows the move Janie? P.J. must be cuddled up with those rattlers by now. N.L. glad you are having fun. Yes, I think it was fate and I am glad you are at ease now. Have a good evening girls. Hugs, MAry

Shrink --My how time flies when you're having fun--huh??? It seems like just yesterday when you joined us and told us you had your first 2 AC's. So you're almost done with the AC's. YAY! and your hair is coming back YAY YAY!! I was looking back in my journals the other day and in 2004 at this time I was starting to get my hair back for the 3rd time because it would come back all stubbly and then fall out again and this time it had come in all fuzzy and soft and I was praying that it would stay and it did!! Now after the AC do you start Taxol or one of the other taxenes? Mary!! A toothache is not a good thing to have when you have to smile and be pleasant with people. Take care of yourself. I gotta sign off and type my "I'm so happy that the school year is starting" letter for my preschool parents. I have the whole thing worked up in my mind--now we shall see if I can get it all down on paper!! Have a lovely day my Junies!! Life is Wonderful Smiles NancyLee

It's raining here this morning. I woke to sound of thunder and thought OH<OH, but it started to rain so my hay is safe for another round. Shrink--Thanks for the good wishes--Maybe you do have too much time on your hands--I have been housebound getting rested up from this latest surgery and the other day I found myself alphabatizing the books on my bookshelf by author. Lord, that was the moment when I decided I'd start working on my preschool stuff because I was absolutely going bonkers the other way. I mean, who does that except a librarian? Well, gotta go shower and drive into town--My cook left this morning for a short trip so I'm going to be the cook today. The kids love when I cook because we have the "fun" foods!! Have a wonderful Friday Life is Good Smiles NancyLee

Janie:

Lots of luck on your move. I had occasion to visit Gainesville, Georgia (45 mi. N of Atlanta) about 10 times over the last two years. Hot and humid. Not much going on in Gainesville, The main street, Jesse Jewel Parkway, was dotted with pawn shops and "We can fix your DUI" signs. The fanciest hotel was the Hampton Inn. There is a mall with about 10 stores in it. However, the doctor"s office I visited on a research project was very posh and patient care was wonderful. Go figure. The locals were very nice too. No one rushes which is hard to get accustomed to when you're from a NE background.

I'm planning to have more fun with my wigs in the Fall. The only person who looks completely baffled is the door man in our condo (15 stories). Every morning I come down with a different scarf concoction. I think he may be on to me. I'm going to try to locate a pony tail next. My children (40 and 42) as well as my SO have seen me au naturale. No one fainted.

Have a nice weekend everyone. It will be in the 60's here. The Phillies and the Eagles will be on shortly so I know what will be on our big screen tonight. I suspect I'll be hearing a few curse words.