Post Chemo Spa & Shape Up

Happy V day!

Carol,

Well, Dottie may be a cheesy chantreuse but I agree with her. I hope they are able to schedule your surgery quickly so you can move forward.

I too love the new avitar and all that hair!

I think that we are some hot looking women here!

Mizzy,

I like the watercolor of you at block island very much.  The photo is very striking and does have a pause and think quality about it.

Allyson,

I hope that Wendy is doing well. Sometimes I forget that our pets can have the same injuries and illnesses that we can suffer from.

Mary,

I agree with Allyson about Coffeebreak Spanish.  Hopefully you have had a chance to look at it.  I think lessons 15 and 16 deal with going to restaurants and ordering.  The PDF guides are very helpful.

Where in Mexico will you be going?  I still haven't decided where we are going this fall.

It seems like everyone's workouts are, for the most part, going well.  Mary and Raye, you are both sounding quite fit.  Me, I haven't worked out in a week because my Nashville souvenier was a two day low grade fever and now my nose is so bunged up at times that I am having trouble thinking.

I also have been very remiss in studying my Spanish of late.

I think I have hit the winter doldrums.

Oh well, it will be spring soon.

Have a good day ladies.

Happy Valentines Day Ladies!!!

Well, I'd like to start off the day with a nice romantic anecdote...

Remember my beautiful model? She was in the hospital a few weeks ago.  I may be mentioned that she's a single mom and on the lookout for just the right guy, and guess what!!!  She met someone nice this week who asked her out on a date.  She came over yesterday and we put together her outfit...wow did she look sharp!!!  A lovely chocolatebrown velvet vest with lacy lapels over a lacy shell with long skinny jeans (she told me they were a Size 1!!) Can't wait to hear the details!!  It was so nice to see all the smiles for a change!!

Now when am I ever going to get into a pair of size 1 jeans?  I can't even get into my 10s!!! Something has got to change!!  Soon!!!

Mizsissy 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Carol- I am sorry you didn't get better news.  Best of luck with a speedy surgery date and a quick recovery.  Keep us posted.  Raye- Enjoy your dinner! Casey- We are flying in to Cancun and renting a car.  We plan to visit Coba and Chichen Itza (Mayan ruins) and hang out on the beach around Tulum and the Bio Reserve Sian Kian.  We'll stay in a fancy resort with child care for two nights so we can ditch the kids and do some diving, but we plan to look for little cabanas on the beach the other nights.    Miz- glad your friend is feeling better.  I saw High Art a while ago, and I enjoyed it. You don't need to be a Size 1!  Marilyn Monroe was a size 14 (Which I hear is an 8 in today's sizes!)  Tina:  Keep up the shoveling!  Dottie- If the union stuff doesn't work out, maybe you could start over in advertising.  Your ditty is witty!

I have got to run to yoga now.  That'll make twice this week, and I did sports circuit twice this week.  Unfortunately I haven't tried the 5k again, but I am going to tonight.  I finally dropped below 130 after being stuck there for weeks.  I'd sure like to be 125 on the beach this summer!

Mary

Mary...thanx for the biz about Size 14!   I think we share a taste in movies!! I am going to try to slim down...I think stopping drinking was the hardest thing...and being cooped up here, but now that we can ski, maybe I can lose a few pounds.

Allyson...wowee, have we been having fun over in the presidential debate camp.  You know, I try to stay out of controversy but I just decided to take the plunge anyway and see what happened. Heck...it's only democracy (I hope!!!)

To any of you who might be silly romantics (like me)...here is my favorite Browning sonnet...

I thought once how Theocritus had sung
Of the sweet years, the dear and wished-for years,
Who each one in a gracious hand appears
To bear a gift for mortals, old or young:
And, as I mused it in his antique tongue,
I saw, in gradual vision through my tears,
The sweet, sad years, the melancholy years,
Those of my own life, who by turns had flung
A shadow across me. Straightway I was 'ware,
So weeping, how a mystic Shape did move
Behind me, and drew me backward by the hair;
And a voice said in mastery, while I strove,--
"Guess now who holds thee!"--"Death," I said, But, there,
The silver answer rang, "Not Death, but Love."

And a romantic painting of Gustav Klimt's..

!!!Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Mizsissy 

Tina,  I did take a look at Pablo Neruda and he looks romantic all right...I bet his poetry sounds even better in Spanish...isn't most of it in translation?

OK...so much for being silly & romantic.   DH & I sinned a little and had a few glasses of wine to celebrate Valentine's Day...the days are getting longer and Spring is just around the corner.  I'm going to start a food diary today and I went into the Weight  doc to update my weight and found out it hasn't budged!  Too bad the only time I lose weight is when I'm upset!!!

Miz 

Mizzy,

Wow, I hope you are feeling better.

Why would they give you valium for those symptoms?

I don't feel the need to sleep any more than usual.

Thyroid? Epstein-Barr?

Hopefully your PCP will have an answer.

I finally feel like working out again but it will have to wait until tomorrow.  It is too chilly for outside pursuits and I have worked so many hours last week that the last place I want to find myself today is at work, even if it is at the gym and not my office.

I made ciabatta bread today.  Barry and I have already eaten one of three loaves.  Tonight we are going to have chicken parmesan and vino tinto (Hello hotflashes).

Casey & Carol....nice to see you...It's been a little lonely over here this weekend.

The ER episode on Saturday remains puzzling.  I had taken a Darvocet the night before and woke up very groggy...so I drank a lot of tea, had a Diet Pepsi, and then around three in the afternoon ate some organic yogurt.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  I felt like I was sleep walking, and then when we were out shopping, I suddenly felt like I needed to lie down, like right now, and then I thought I was going to faint. So we went to Urgent Care...by the time I got there I was still feeling very faint and mentally confused...nothing was wrong with the EKG, blood sugar, oxygen levels, and then I started to feel better but started shaking & trembling, almost felt like I could have a seizure.....and then that went away.

My thyroid is OK because I had bloodwork done a few weeks ago...I think maybe it was just an overreaction to the Darvocet & caffeine...I'm pretty sensitive to drugs.  Also..I've heard yogurt has a LOT of tryptophan...that really hit me.    Maybe I OD'd on tryptophan.  Well, I'm fine today, and I think I'll just stay away from all drugs except the Femara and vitamins for while. 

It warmed up to 48...had a great run.  Air was moist and balmy...

Carol...that was a LOT of wine for 6 people...maybe ONE of them got the Lion's share?  I was pretty surprised when DH and I down 1 1/2 bottles of wine On VDay (but shhh...I don't think I had much more than one glass!!!)  The shrimp diablo sounds great.  What is it?

Casey your bread sounds yummy too...now you just seem too healthy & pure to eat a whole loaf of breadin one day...I can't imagine it.  It must have been your husband!

I invented a wonderful sauce Peanut Ginger sauce tonite.  Try blending a large glob of peanut butter with 1/2 cup oil and a little salt, a tablepoon of fresh chopped ginger, and a large garlic clove...and then add a little water or OJ, lime juice, and a scant teaspoon of honey.  Yum!!  We had it on salad, but I think it would taste great on chicken or oriental noodles.

Mizsissy 

Mizzy - Here is one recipe - although my husband never cooks from a book, usually.

Spicy Shrimp Fra Diablo Yield: 6 Servings

Ingredients



1 tb olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 md onion, chopped

15 oz can tomato puree

6 oz can tomato paste

2 tb red wine

1/2 c water

1 ts crushed red pepper flakes

2 ts drained capers

2 tb minced fresh basil leaves

1 1/2 lb medium shrimp, peeled and

deveined shrimp

pasta

Instructions

In a heavy skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic

and onion and saute 5 minutes. Add the tomato puree, tomato paste,

red wine and water. Bring to a boil. Add the crushed red pepper

flakes, capers and basil. Lower the heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add

the shrimp and cook over low heat 7 to 10 minutes, or until the

shrimp are pink and cooked through. Serve over hot cooked pasta or

rice.



Casey - sounds like a plan - fit men and spandex - always a good combination. Have fun.

Carol,

Your recipe sounds divine!

I am going to try it when I get to the beach and get some fresh shrimp.

Hi Casey...and anyone else who might be out there. Hope the Tour de Georgia was as good as expected. Snowing like crazy here. Haven't exercised but rather have been a slug all day. I feel like I've acheived something just by not creeping back to bed. Went to the endocrinologist last week- a guy I've seen for ...15 years maybe for follow up on the sub-clinical hyperthyroidism  I've had for a long time. It has been totally stable. This time my labs came back and I've apparently gone in the other direction. I am waiting to hear what the next step is- hopefully some synthroid since I seem headed back to the energy level I had during chemo. Grrr.

Hi Ladies....haven't been posting much and I am probably going to be leaving the site permanently, but I wanted to let you know what is going on with Puppy.

A coil that was inserted in her brain to stabilize her brain aneurysms last August had fallen out of place.  She will undergo a very dangerous surgery on March 10 to try and correct this problem.

Even more worrisome is the fact that she has a very large growth in her throat that has consumed her entire goiter and she is no longer able to speak without pain.

Please keep her in your thoughts & prayers.  

Mizsissy

Carol- Definitely not viral- this is not a totally new problem, just a new spin on an old problem. I have a thyroid scan scheduled for late next week and I had more labs drawn. I am less tired this week for whatever reason so whatever it is isn't bothering me much.

Mizzy- sorry to hear about Puppy's health problems- sending good thoughts her way.

Raye- you do rock- I skated and walked on the weekend but no running this week. Allyson

I'm still here!  Work is keeping me very busy, though.

I did yoga once this week and did sports circuit twice.  My hubby had a cold last week, so we didn't run for 8 days.  When we went back out, I was very disappointed in myself- could not gasp my way through the 5k.  Race for the Cure is March 8.  Unless something really outstanding happens this weekend with my training, I will be walking the race.  (Which is OK as most of my team is walking.)

Raye- 10 pushups are great!  Casey- I agree about how weird pushups feel with those implants under my pecs! Carol- keep us updated on your March 13 surgery.  You will be in my thoughts. Allyson- how did the scan go? MizS- give Puppy my best.

Enjoy your weekend, girls!  I am going to clean up my yard and see No Country for Old Men with my hubby.  It is spring down here!  Yeah!

Too funny Puppy.

I'm glad you are feeling well enough to check in with us.

I kayaked this Sunday.  Just some class II with friends but it felt good to be outside playing.

Mary,

I am envious that you already have spring.  I did notice that my crocuses were blooming Sunday and for some reason we have had a pesky fly or two all winter long.

How was No Country for Old Men?

I love Cormac McCarthy but was so disappointed when they brought All the Pretty Horses to the screen.  His book The Road is one of the most brilliant books I have ever read.  Not having children myself I felt that in reading it I was the closest I would ever come to understanding a parent's pure love for their child.

Have a great day ladies.