Halfway home!

Had chemo #11 today. Another 11 to go. Sometimes it feels like I've just started this process, sometimes it feels as if I have been doing it for years! I got the good news about my CT scan today--everything looks great in there...no gremlins popping up anywhere. Happy day!

It has been so hot this week. I worked on Monday and Wednesday and was supposed to work today, but I couldn't because of chemo. I'm on stand-by for Monday. They don't need as many people so they canceled me--but then they said the back-up person isn't feeling well...so I'm on stand-by. It's all good. I get paid either way.

Today the nurse put me on Effexor...which is an antidepressant that also helps with hot flashes. The Tylenol PM she suggested last time really helps me fall asleep when I first go to bed and when I wake up at night....from the hot flashes. Hopefully the Effexor will help reduce the hot flashes. I used to take hormones for this but can't now because of the chemo.

I don't mind being on an antidepressant. I kind of run to depression anyway. I've always been that way...have to fight depression most of the time. I used to be on a different med that helped "smooth things out" for me. It can't hurt that's for sure!

Jerry Remy is back in the booth where he belongs...just hope the Sox respond and dig their way out of this 5-1 deficit! Ooops! 6-1 deficit!

I don't trust Brad Penny.

Tomorrow is a big day....family picnic in Massachusetts at the McElreath's, I'll be picking Bob and Wini up at noon and heading up to Linwood. Then I take them home, come home and rest for a bit, then it's off to Norwich to meet up with Janet and Jess to go to dinner at Foxwoods and then see the "Legends" show that we have been eagerly anticipating. We'll be seeing "Michael Jackson, Cher, Bette Midler" and I can't rememer who else. Should be lots of fun. I hope I'm not too tired!

Sunday I think I'll just lie in the recliner and enjoy the Sox and Yankees. Or watch the hurricane or whatever it is that's headed this way.

Batten down the hatches folks!

Nighty night.

Hot hot hot

It's been hot hot hot....and I'm loving it. I never used to like the heat. I was very affected by heat, in a negative way in the past. I tolerate it better now and am able to do more stuff out in the heat.

This AM I got up and went to the gym. I hadn't been in more than a week--maybe even longer than that...so it felt good to be back in there again. This is odd, as right now there is a show on TV about a guy who works out at least 50 times a WEEK! It's that show "Obsession" that we're recording.

Well, I'm certainly not like that guy. But I do need to go to the gym more. I worked out for over an hour, nice mix of treadclimber, bike, resistance machines, weights and then stretching.

Friday I worked in the afternoon---Jenn was back to work after having the baby. Nice talking with her and hearing about her new life with the baby. It was also good to see her back at her desk. Sheila is in Paris....again...that's getting old. I hope she's back when I go to work tomorrow. I love fooling around with her.

Friday night I had Mark and Carol come over. We had fish and chips from a local place and we gave it three "thumbs down"....and continue our quest for great fish and chips. I told Mark about the red potato pizza that I get from the place in Canterbury and he got all excited.he wants to go with the next time I head out that way.

We were eating on the deck, but had to move into the house because of the damned mosquitos. They were really wicked. I guess they have been bad everywhere this year. Because it's been so wet and we have wetlands next to us and behind us, I guess they like our place even more.

So, we went inside and Carol and I watched Real Housewives of Atlanta (delicious!) while Mark dozed off in Sandy's recliner!

Yesterday I went to Guilford for Trudy's 80th birthday party at her daughter's house. She had called me in the AM to see if I was going to ride down with her and I gave her all kinds of excuses and told her maybe I wouldn't be there, I "didn't feel good" I told her. She was surprised to see me there....which is what I wanted. Of course, she was more surprised to see her daughter from Indiana there. I got to meet them all....and ended up being the official photographer for the occasion. Her daughter's house is gorgeous, very nicely decorated and on four acres!

Speaking of photos, I had wanted Sandy to take some photos of me as there are so few photos of me around. I always end up taking the pictures and have lots of pics of other people but none of me! So today when I got home from the gym I had her take some shots of me in my workout clothes.

I took some photos of her with the dogs and later Carol came over and took photos of us with the dogs out on the front porch, surrounded by flowers. The dogs started howling when we first sat down and we told Carol to keep shooting. The pictures are hysterical. They are all howling and we are laughing.

Then we got them to settle down and they were able to focus on Carol once in awhile so we could get some nice shots. I'll post a couple here when I get time.

Heard from my cousin Barbara, who went to Sweden at the end of July, into August. She and Harvey had a great time and got to see Birgitta and Mats when they were there. They all went out to the island where my grandfather and Barbara's father lived. I am so jealous that she got to see Birgitta and Mats--I miss them. I want to go back to the island so bad...can't wait until next year when Maria and I go over for a visit.

Sandy and Truman were accepted into the national trials in Tennessee next month. We rented a horse stall area to set up our stuff in---it sounds nice...10x10 and a cement floor and electrical hook-up. This way the dogs can get-away from other people and dogs at the trial. We can run the fans to keep them cool.

They also have Wi-Fi at the trial site and I will be able to bring my laptop with me so I can blog about the trial and how Truman is doing. I can also keep up with my email and what my pals on Facebook are doing. Life in the modern age.....

Another busy week ahead....work, swimming at Jean's, work, swimming again and then chemo on Friday. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to the gym.

Nighty night! STAY COOL!

The Day after Margaret's Birthday!

Yesterday was Margaret's birthday...and me, with my chemo brain forgot about it until last night...and then I needed a reminder from birthday alarm, and Facebook to remind me. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Maggie!

I went to Pomfret to the Audubon Center and met up with Pam and two women and we all went hiking at the Baker property. It's off of Jericho Road, past Wolf Den....and it was great! Some parts were boggy. We spotted a few unusual toadstools and found an old house foundation, complete with old kerosene stove fallen-into-the-basement. Cool.

Afterwards I went to Pam and Jan's. Pam cooked me a great hot dog, put pepper relish on it and now I'm a fan of pepper relish. We sat outside and chatted for awhile. Great time!

I got a notice from John at the "Remy Report" that the Rem-Dawg was going to be in the booth at the Sox game in the second inning. Sure enough, there he was! It was SO WONDERFUL to see him and hear him again. He said that after his cancer treatment he went into a depression and that is why he took the leave of absence. He hasn't even watched any of the games broadcast on NESN because he feels guilty about not being there, doing his job.

I completely understand. I feel for him. On WEEI this morning they said he had been at the station a month or so ago. He admitted that he worried that fans had forgotten him or were mad at him for not being on the air. It isn't true at all...and I hope that he knows now how much he is missed.

They showed him in the booth on the jumbo screen and the fans went nuts. They gave him the biggest cheer, more than they have given anyone in recent memory. I hope he took it all in and has watched the replay. Maybe he will come back faster.

Come back Jerry! We love you!

And tonight the Pats play....we'll be watching, with fingers crossed, to see how Tom Brady does on that rehabbed knee.

We wish the best for both the RemDawg and Tom.

Monday After

The party was wonderful...at least as far as I was concerned! Lots of people came and lots of old friendships renewed. Sally Andersen and Sue Harvey take the prize for being the people who I haven't seen the longest.....I think I was 17 when I last saw Sue---when we graduated from high school and I haven't seen Sally since I was in college!

Sally also gets the prize for "having traveled the farthest," coming up from down south...although she didn't do it just for this party...she had a family reunion on Sunday to go to. I love her family...always have. They are the nicest people.

Some people surprised me when they showed up.....Lorraine, Bern, Sue and Paul come to mind. What nice surprises! I'm so happy I posted a general invitation on this blog and on Facebook for people to come---so I could have surprises like that.

The weather was PERFECT.....we couldn't have chosen better whether. We did NOT run out of food...had plenty to give stuff to folks to take home with them. Jean had made all kinds of fantastic desserts and folks took that home too. We sent the extra rolls and some other stuff off with Mark for his church picnic on Sunday. It was the least we could do, considering his church let us borrow tables and chairs for the party.

The day was great but it was almost too much. I got to speak to just about everyone (I hope I didn't miss anyone), but the conversations had to be brief. I told people that now they know how to get to our house, I hope they come back, when it isn't so crowded....so we can sit and talk. It was an "Open House" though, so I hope people realized that it was different than coming for a party.

Roxie stayed over Saturday night. She and Jean were the workhorses on Saturday....making sure everything was running smoothly and cleaning stuff up. She and Sandy went to bed early....I wasn't that far behind them. My knees and legs were aching something terrible and the Tylenol PM wasn't making a dent in it. So, my sleep was very restless and I woke up at 6am, unable to go back to sleep.

I got up and went downstairs, busying myself with picking up odds and ends, dumping coolers, etc. Roxie got up and I made breakfast for us: fried up some red potato that we didn't use for the salad; fried up leftover ham; eggs and toast. YUM!

Roxie showered and headed home in midmorning. I sat in the recliner and basically stayed there the rest of the day and night. I was just wiped....my throat hurt and I felt like I have hay fever....which I may very well have--it is that time of year!

This AM I didn't feel much better--so I called out sick to work. I'm going to rest up, sit in the air conditioning on this hot, muggy day and recupe. I hate missing work, but perhaps it's for the best. Sandy is taking Taylor, Ryan and one of Ryan's pals to Six Flags. I would have had to lock the dogs up and we might have a t-storm today---conditions are prime for it. Lily would have been a mess.

The Sox have been disappointing me...I have this nice big tv now and all they do is LOSE! Ha ha.
I have faith that will change.

The dogs are going nuts now because the Recycle Truck is out there...wish you could hear all the woofing that's going on right now...it's making my ear drums vibrate!

Mary came over this AM and washed the windows....in a way that they have never been washed before! They sparkle!

Mary wanted to come again tomorrow and power wash the house and do the floors with Rejuvenate....but Sandy put her foot down and said it's "too much" and I have to agree. I felt sick after Mary left, I was so tired. I guess I hit the wall, all the work I've been doing caught up with me.

I did the woodwork downstairs and tonight I washed the upstairs windows...not as nicely as Mary's job downstairs, but they are clean.

Tomorrow I have to go to the store and buy the rest of my supplies; cook my hams and get stuff laid out. Saturday morning will be a whirlwind and then I plan on cruising thru the afternoon, visiting with folks.

Terry may come over later in the day...she's visiting from Arizona...to see Lily, her new granddaughter (her first). I hope she does come, so she can meet Lynne.

Audrey and Luke are coming...so Audrey will get to meet her "Yoville" friends, Lynne and Leon.

Actually, a lot of people are going to meet each other for the first time on Saturday. I just hope people mingle, getting to know each other, instead of staying in little "clans" in the backyard!

Sox just lost to the Yanks....their first loss to them this year. Let's hope it's the last. I'm beginning to dread John Smoltz's starts for the Sox. He has been a big bust so far....I know he's an Hall of Famer...but PLEASE!

I'm exhausted...so I'm off to bed. It will be time to make the donuts before I know it...

Nighty night!

Went for the CT Scan this afternoon. Stood in the waiting room and drained that first bottle of berry flavored chalk in about 20 seconds...then sat down. They took me to the other waiting room-the one with the TV...and "let me" drink the second bottle about 30 minutes later. I drained that one right down too. UGH!

Now we wait for the results.

Went shopping and got the hams and lots of other goodies tonight. That's done.

Tomorrow Mary Carroll is coming over to help me clean. She says she's a bit "OCD" so that will come in handy. We're going to wash windows, woodwork and start dusting. I vaccumed this AM...upstairs and down, but not the thorough vaccumming, that will come on Friday and again on Saturday.

Maybe I'll see if I can go over to Mary's afterwards for a swim. Haven't really done that this year (go for a swim)...only once---last week---in Jean's pool. I need to swim more. Mary has a beautiful place on Pachaug Pond. With a beautiful dock to jump off of. Yep, that sounds like a plan.

Everything is shaping up nicely for the party. I'm going to see some folks I haven't seen in a long time. It will be a nice mix of people. It's going to be nice weather---so they say. I know we are going to have fun!

Nighty night.

Worked for 4 hours in that yard...in that heat. It felt good actually. I weeded and trimmed and mulched to hide the rest. I think mulch "dresses up" the yard. And it does hide a lot of sins.

I think I'm pretty much set for Saturday. Tomorrow is a waste--I have to spend most of the afternoon on the stupid CT scan. Getting there two hours early so I can drink that nasty stuff. I'll probably finish straightening up my upstairs office and computer area. I stashed the boxes back in the closet, so it looks better up there. I have to do some serious work on those boxes. I've pitched out a few loads already, but more has to be done.

I found my appointment book! It was on the shelf above my computer. And then I found my Mickey Mouse towel that I thought I had left in Maine....I forgot I had used it to wrap Mustafa, the UConn gnome, for protection as we traveled.

Yesterday I went back to work and had fun. It was good seeing some of the old gang again, and the "gig" was an easy one that I have done before. I'll be working every Monday this month and three Fridays. I have to skip the last Friday as I will have chemo on that day, but by then I'll probably be sick of the scenario I'm doing.

Sandy and Frank installed the new sink and faucet in the kitchen and it looks wonderful. They did a great job. After Frank left (late afternoon) Sandy got busy putting together the new table we bought for the new TV. When I got home she had the steak on the grill and had made squash and green beans from her garden. It was oh, so yummy.

Then she went back to work on the table. Carol came over and she and I were "sidewalk supervisors." Sandy finished putting it together sometime after 11pm. We put the TV on top and I had it fired up and was "ooohing and ahhhing" by midnight. It's fabulous!

For the party I'm going to cook a big ham and I ordered four cooked turkey breasts. People can make sandwiches. We're going to have egg salad and tuna stuffed in those little rolls. A potato salad. "Baked beans" chips and dips and desserts. Soda; coffee; tea and water to drink. If people want alcohol, they can haul their own to the party. I'm not going to sweat anything. If we run out of food, I'll send out for pizzas. Or some huge grinders from Subway...or something.

We'll have tables inside and out back in the shade. I heard from my cousin Nancy that she's coming and then her uncle called tonight and got directions, so he's coming too. Scott texted me to let me know he's coming...hope he brings the new g/f. Dan from work is coming with his g/f. I talked to Trudy today to thank her for the beautiful flowers she sent me...she's coming with her b/f! We are going to have a diverse group there: relatives; friends from work; agility club friends; old neighbors; new neighbors; childhood friends and new friends.

Audrey and Luke are coming...so Audge can meet Lynne and Leon who have only met her on Facebook. Hopefully Lisa Ginetta will be there...I've only met her through "Farm Town" and "FarmVille." It's a goofy world.....but I've met some nice people that way.

A few people have "come out of the closet" and admitted to me that they too, have "fluffed their britches" in the past. That makes me feel better, but I am going to be more cognizant of my "intestinal fortitude" after chemo!

Now it's the 12th inning and the Sox and Rays are tied. The Sox have only one reliever left to play in the game. What will happen? The suspense is great and is enhanced by the fact that I am watching it on the new 46" Sony! I better quit this entry and watch the game....they just announced that 405 pitches have been thrown in this game already!

nighty night....hope I see you on Saturday!