Kimberly -- Actually, I much prefer temperate weather, so I thought last weekend was just fine.  It's been in the high 90s this weekend in SoCal and I have the AC running just to survive.  It's suppose to cool down to the 80s tomorrow.

I had a CVS coupon so went and stocked up on pure aloe while I was doing errands.  For any of you getting ready to start rads, it's a bargain.  The CVS brand is $2.59, but if you buy two the second is only half price, so lots cheaper than some of the name brands.

D1-- the recipe looks yummy.  I used to make something similar only with marinara sauce. 

Carol -- glad your weekend with DS was fun if painful for him.  My youngest spent last week on Catalina Island for marine biology and came back a bit under the weather.  He was able to go to work last night and tonight, but is saying he's not sure he can golf tomorrow.  He needs to take me to chemo before he goes to golf since my parents (who are my normal rides) are out of town.

Vettegal -- glad you were able to have a big celebration.  It's wonderful to have a lot of positive along with the negative your family has been experiencing.  And, I love PF Chang's. 

Good news for all who are reporting they see some hair growth.  I never lost all of mine, so I guess I'll know it's growing back when the bald patches fill in.

I've been printing out maps of local hiking trials, so I can start doing longer walks to train for the 3-Day.  DH and I did a lot of hiking before and during the first few years of marriage.  Once the kids came along, we would do short hikes, but nothing very long.  It's amazing how many trails in the area we've talked about doing, but never have, so this is a great excuse.  If anyone wants to join our San Diego team, just let me know.  I will warn you it's a group of Springsteen fans.  The team captain is from Philly and I'm meeting her in North Carolina in two weeks for a concert and to make plans for the walk.  Did I mention we are all crazy?

Hi, me again...

CathyCA -- Best wishes for tomorrow, FUBC!

Paula -- I'm sorry to hear that Taxol is causing nausea.  I do continue to take my nausea meds that I'd been prescribed for the AC for the first few days after tx...zofran, ativan (to sleep), and lorazepam.  I'm too scared not to, even though onc told me not to expect as much nausea as with the AC.

Carol -- I've noticed the same type of sweating...is it night sweats?  That's what I attributed it to.  I'm quite certain I've entered the menopause zone, as aunt flo did not visit me last month.  It's crazy how quickly weekends go, isn't it?  Hoping you'll get some good rest tonight... 

Good night all, hope everyone rests well.

Tina 

Good morning Jewels!  I'll be out this afternoon, so checking in early.  I've also decided today will be the official start of my exercise program.  I've got to lose these 10 lbs. before I go back to work-or at least some of it.  I can't stand myself and none of my clothes fit without making breathing and sitting hard (tight pants).

SIS Kimberly:  Glad you are feeling better each day.  Yes, it's normal for temperatures to rise in the afternoon and early evening-that's normal body biorhythm.  Average normal is 98.6 but many are lower (the only way to know is to check your temp. 3 times a day for a few days in a row when well). 

I am such a newbie on the wines.  I really have no clue!  Thanks for the tip.  I should've added to the SP card to get me some info/guidelines on wines!  BTW, my cards are done and I'll be mailing them to you later today.  I just copied and printed my list off the computer, didn't put them on index cards... but they'll fold and fit into the envelopes.

Cathy-CA: Good luck with your training.  Part of my (informal) exercise "program" is going to be walking ½ hr. 4 times a week, then increase the speed and/or distance.  Once it gets warmer here, I hope to walk outside.

Good luck today!  One more after this...

Carol:  You put in quite a full weekend.  No wonder you're tired.  I didn't have the night sweats too much, so I'm not much help there.  Really only had one month of chemopause, though this month is "off"... so who knows?

My dh watches the Masters all weekend, too.  Don't want to say who won in case you haven't watched it all yet, but his kid is so cute!

Morning Gems,

Called the boss at 5:15 this morning, asked if he had a full crew as I could really use a catch up day myself at home.  He was most supportive.

Kinda glad I'm here this morning to re-bandage the torn up kid, with the floor burns on his hands I'm a little nervous about infection. 

wvgirl, so glad you popped in, I know many of us we're getting a little anxious that we had not heard from you in quite a while.  Yes there are a ton of posts, be assured that we are more than happy to just have you let us know how your doing.  Carla, your getting through this one step at a time, hang in there gal, we're all here for you, so vent away.

Oh great, just saw on GMAmerica another new report on consumption of alcohol and bc.  I'm not liking what I'm hearing, the study results we're concluded with women in the ER/PR+ category.    I'm assuming that it will be on the GMA website if anyone wants a downer!!!

Will be popping in throughout the day, yep, it's wash the sheets for me today, thinking I may put down a cozy throw blanket over my side of the bed, this sweating is the pits, and having to wash sheets almost daily is pathetic.

See ya all later,

Carol

Hi,

Carol - what a weekend for you! I remember not so long ago when I looked forward to at least 2 naps a day - hey, you gotta take them when you can get them. I also had a lot of night sweats while I slept & hot flashes which came mostly in the evenings - & even though I haven't seen Aunt Flo since Christmas Eve, the night sweats & hot flashes have slowed down quite a bit since finishing tx's 6 weeks ago. I hope that doesn't mean Aunt Flo is going to show up for the next big holiday.

I'm so glad you have a very sympathetic boss b/c it sounds like you could use a day at home.

CathyCA - Good luck on your training! If I still lived in So Cal I would join you ( we used to live in Dana Point ). Don't laugh, but since my muscle & joint pain have subsided, I have started my "training" for the 5k Race for the Cure here in Fort Worth (it's not exactly a 3Day) Although, if I don't pick up my pace I just might be walking for 3 days - LOL!

Paula - I am so sorry you're feeling so sick from the Taxol - your students are very blessed to have a teacher as dedicated as you. I hope you listen to your body, though, & take it easy if you have to.

KathyL - I know what it's like to not fit "comfortably" in my work clothes. I had to buy some new scrub pants b/c, even though I could stand okay in the old ones, sitting for any length of time in them really made me feel like a sausage. Good luck w/ your exercize program!

wvgirl - Welcome back - don't worry about 'catching up' - it's just a relief to hear from you. Someone's here lurking or posting almost 24/7 ,it seems like - so we'll be here when you need to vent/gripe/chat. Take care.

Hope everyone has a good week.

Therese

Hey Jewels,

The site seemed to be a little funky today, either too busy or maintenance I suppose.

Cathy, hoping that your txt today was a breeze, and that the se's stay at bay for you, cuz you got things to do, I'm really excited to hear about your adventures with your 3 day walk and your training regimen.  Interesting that your captain is from Philly, and your going all the way to NC to meet.  Actually for you that is probably nothing.  How did she become involved in the San Diego walk? 

Kathy, I need to get on the exercise band wagon myself.  I have been fortunate to have lost 15lbs since Oct, don't need to lose anymore, but could definitely use some toning.  Maybe I should have thought a little more about using my tummy fat to build myself a "mound"!  It amazes me how that area doesn't want to flatten out for anything (oh, maybe thats what sit-ups are intended for)!  I think your idea of starting with atleast walking a few times a week is great.  Havn't read an article/book yet that didn't recommend exercise in the whole grand scheme of things.

LJ, on the alcohol/bc front, at this point I already have had cancer, what could a glass (or maybe two) hurt?  I'm definitely not going to stop indulging in something that I have always enjoyed.  I just need to remind myself that I don't need to make up for lost time after my six mo of txt are over, and will use the motto of quality over quantity in the future.  I'm assuming alot of my weight loss is due to the lack of calories from my usualy indulgence of wine before bc, well maybe a few dinners of Cream of Wheat had something to do with it as well.

Therese, great new pic, its always nice to put a face on the written words.  Thanks for sharing, one more mystery woman revealed.  Got a good laugh on your Race for the Cure comment.  My guess is that you'll be cruisin' right along for that 5K.

D1, okay rub it in, oh, and enjoy a glass of vino for me too!  Hey you can keep your day sweats, how's your PB fairing today?

Paula, hope that you felt a bit better today, no time for nausea and pain with your schedule. 

Hey I have a couple books if anybody would like me to send one to them, figure I might as well share than just have them sit on my bookshelf ... 

Hanging Out With Labcoats, Wendi Fox Pedicone (This is the book that KathyL recommended, an emotional read).

Don't Bet Against Me, Deanna Favre (touches on her years with Brett Favre and conquering the bc battle)

Also, never did get a taker on my size large FUBC T-shirt, would love to find a home for it!

Probably should have gone to work today, I definitely spent more energy working around the house than I would have at work.  I will sleep well tonight knowing that alot of my loose ends are tidied up.  Off to take the ds to skate practice tonight, sure hoping he stays on his feet.  I'll be insisting that he wear a protective glove on his torn up hand, (he'll be fighting me tooth and nail).  I guess its not "cool" to speed skate with anything but a helmet for protection!!  Mom will have to veto that option!!!

Knowing me, I'll probably have to check the post tonight while watching DWTS. 

Take care all, Carol

Hi all! Every time I tried to get on the boards today, I got an error! I was about to go crazy and finally got on!  I'll keep this short in case something happens again.

CathyCA - hope you had an uneventful day at the lounge. May your se's be minimal!

Yay!! Free day tomorrow.

I'll have to catch up on all of the posts. I'm not feeling too great today -- the fatigue is just knocking me on my a**!! I DREAD #6 on Thursday when I'm still feeling so bad from #5.

Love to everyone! I'll try to catch up later! Kimberly -- my cards were mailed today!

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

Julie

Kathy - work itself is going well - however, I think overall I've been overdoing it. My first weekend back was the weekend before last, then all last week I was on a roll catching up on errands, chores, getting back on track at the gym, etc... feeling pretty productive, but not stopping at all...then worked this last weekend....then today, after I got back from the gym, it hit me - I've been  exhausted the rest of the day. Guess I need to take a day off every now & then. I have just been so motivated b/c I've been feeling so normal lately.

I, too, had a lot of problems w/ the site today, but I was so excited that I finally figured out how to post my picture in my avatar, that I refused to give up.

Kimberly - I've had my cards/envelopes ready to mail since last Thursday, but never made it to the post office last week...& now I can't find them. They're probably with my favorite black baseball cap I can't seem to find either - hmmm! can chemo-brain still effect us 6 weeks out from tx?

Julie & Paula - hang in there, your last one is right around the corner. I hope you both are feeling better by tomorrow.

Everyone rest well tonight.

Therese

CathyCA - I'm definitely walking the 5K. I used to run back in my 20's when I used to live in Newport Beach, but even back then I only did it b/c I enjoyed the scenery & really not the running. That whole area of south Orange County is beautiful - I was born & raised in So Calif. & lived there until I was about 35, then we moved out here to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to be near family ( my ds & her family moved out here about 17yrs ago &  my parents retired out here about 15yrs ago ), plus my dh is from Louisiana & he has family out here in Dallas as well. As beautiful as Dana Point was, I really like it out here mainly b/c I'm near the people that I love the most & my children & their grandparents are a part of each other's everyday life...so life is good! I guess if I miss anything about CA, besides my db who lives in Chino Hills, it's the ocean & the hills.

Anyway, speaking of walking - I must head out to the gym.

Hope everyone has a beautiful day!

Therese 

Hi Jewels,

I have been having bad headaches for weeks, I will have to go to the medical doc this week for a anitbiotic. I know I have a sinus infection and UTI, when I was at the cancer center for my rads simulation. I went to the other side and ask about my urine culture and they nurse said it had bacteria in it. Of coarse no one has called me from the cancer center to give me a script. I'm not surprised at that place. I'm just going to see how things turn out. At least I know I need to see a doc. Thanks for explaining the secret pal, I did finally get caught up on the post. I felt so bad I was so far behind. At this time I will have to pass on the secret pal, I think it's a great pick me upper. And it will be fun, I'm not working at this time. But it will be fun for everyone else. I'm trying to decide if I should just try to find some office work, or stick with my SS claim for spinal injury in 2006. It could take it another 2 yrs to go to court. I don't have that kind of time. I'm going to call a lawyer for advice. So I can't afford to join in on the fun. (Better days ahead) 

D1  Glad you had a good time with your college girl and dear dad. I'm glad you are getting through rads ok, our leader is blazing the trail for us. Hopefully frankenboob won't get to burned. I also waited for the last moment to get my taxes done, I also went on Sat 4-12. That is the first time I have ever waited so long to get my taxes done. One good thing I don't owe as much as last year. WHEW! Great that you defended your daughter during the game. Hang in there. Thanks for the recipe, cant wait to try it, that sounds great with wine or vernors  HaHaHa

SiS Kimberly  So glad you are getting better, that was one nasty infection. A mean one to it decided to hop to the other side. I hope your visit with the plastic surgeon went ok. Gel well soon.

Dana  So sorry you had problems with your class mate, I think she is a spoiled child and mean and blaming it on head problems. Don't be her victim. I'm glad you both talked it out, she needs to commend you on trying so hard to get through school and you are so sick with cancer. She should be applauding you, instead of putting more stress on our LW. Hang in there Dana, and I hope the tumor on liver is smaller or gone. God Bless you!

Vettegal  So sorry about vettesis, I hope it's not as grim as it sounds. Don't panic wait for the full report. You and vetteguy and the vette look great together.

Carol  Sorry about poor ds knees, I hope he heals quick. It does make you hurt when they hurt. I hope he does not have to skate again until it heals some. He needs knee pads. Thanks for all the advice. I'm so glad your boss gave you a day off, that was really nice I'm glad he is compassionate. That's great you lost 15 pds

Maz  So sorry your friend is so sick, I'm glad she had a good day and called you.

Jenn  So sorry about your friend too, I hope he won't be in pain and I know you being there helps him.

Paula  Glad dh was there to help you at the car wash, thank goodness it was not a washout. HaHaha.

Tinalee  Missed you too and everyone.

Cathy  good luck with your excercise ( sp) plan, I'm also trying to bet back to walking and toning. I did lose 2 pds since last week.

To all the MIA'S get well and come back. And to everyone I'm glad you all are hanging in there and kicking cancer's butt. The positive attitudes are great.

To everyone going for chemo this week and rads, Kick some cancer butt FUBC.

To the ones that just finished HOORAH.

Take care, Lots of (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))   SheShe

Hi girls.  This just in from my TA.  She doesn't have June 2009 rates, but based her estimate on this year with 10% added for next year's increase at most.  These prices are per person for 4 days, three nights. (So if we went Fri.-Sun., it'd be less).  June is "slow/off" season there, so the rates are lower.  Here's what she said:

"Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix is VERY popular and well rated. 

AGAIN, an estimate........

3 nights, including tax and service:  $240 per person.

The nice part is, it's only 12 miles from the Phoenix Airport.........so if you didn't want the expense of a rental car, you could always take taxi's!

AND, there are many more flights into Phoenix than into Tuscon!  My vote is a resort in PHOENIX!!

More economical....and easier!!"

Check out this resort above, you can google it. It look nice and dh's 'rents have been there and liked it. 

Also liking the following:

Lowes Ventana Canyon (Tucson), about $250 pp

The Westin La Paloma (Tucson), about $275 pp

Just checking in after my infusion. 

D1- Glad PB is on track as far as her tanning regime, you know you'll have to eventually lay out so the other boob can get a tan,too, or use your tanning lotion.  How's that working out?   I often threaten my students with the wet noodle when they say things like," I forgot my assignment. "  I reply, " The consequences will be steep. 20 lashes with a wet noodle and the lesson to be responsible and put your completed work in your binder when you're done with it."  At first they crack up, and then they realize that I'm not going to let them turn it in late.  Poor babies, they have such a hard time with being held accountable sometimes.

How fun, a girls getaway!!!  My twin and I, and hopefully our older sis can join in, are going to Chicago at the end of June right before our birthday.  She has a conference, but we'll get to spend time after together and may take an extra day. We also get to see Lionel Richie.   I'm planning on checking out the sights while she's working.

Kathy- I'm so glad you know this is the right move for you! BRAVO, girl.  It isn't easy taking that big leap of faith and walking on the risky, OMG, "I don't know what to expect" side of life...Remember, as I've said, " Right now at this moment is known! There is nothing beyond now."  Look at the word 'known'...the word now resides within it!!!! 

I'll be thinking about ya tomorrow, CHJ and Wendy!!!!! 

SIS Kimberly 

Evenin' girls,

I'm kicked back on the sofa w/ the laptop, watching DWTS. Had a meeting this evening and then caught the end of ds' ballgame. It felt sooo good to get home and put my pjs on!

My meeting was with our board of education to ask for $$ for my students' trip to Dallas. The estimated cost for all 36 of us to go to the conference is over $30,000. We have almost $20,000 raised so far... long way to go, but we're working hard!

KathyL- life IS too short to waste any time on a job that makes you miserable. Good luck in finding a position that brings fulfillment without frustration!

Wishing CHJ and Wendi an easy chemo day tomorrow.

take care, Jewels!

Paula