New Haven!

I have to go to see Dr Valin, well, actually, Deb Valin, on July 14th for my annual follow-up for my gastric bypass. This will be a good appt...I have to talk with her about having the hernia repaired and also seeing if Dr. V will do my colonoscopy...all after I come back from Sweden, of course.

After the appointment, I want to do my usual trip to Ikea and then to either Frank Pepe's for pizza or to Lenny and Joe's for seafood.

I am looking for folks to accompany me on this adventure. Several people have said they have never been to Ikea and want to go...here's your chance.

The bus will leave Griswold a little after 9am to get to New Haven for my 10:30 appt.

Let me know if you are interested in spending the day...and some $$ down there.

I'm able to do a lot more lately...house work, laundry (hung two loads out on the line today---smells so good!) and tomorrow I'm going to mow the lawn again, with Sandy's permission! I do get tired, so I pace myself as my coach told me to do.

My bowels (knock on wood) seem to be getting straightened out...not too many trips to the toilet in the middle of the night the past two nights.

I'm four and a half weeks out now from my last treatment so every day will see things get better and better, or I'll know the reason why! Sandy said to expect that I will have more and more trouble with my allergies. I'll take that problem over cancer any day of the week!

I raised $1425 for the Relay this year. Not my best year, but not bad considering I really didn't have much energy to beg for funds and got a late start to boot.

We have voted to change the name of the team to "Husky Maniacs" instead of UConn Jack's Husky Maniacs"...Jack insisted on his name being removed. Leon wanted to do some foolishness like call the team "Annie's Army" but I pointed out I could become like Jack...stuck with a team named after me and feeling obligated to stick with it. Not that I plan to leave the team or anything. We need to get more people on the team.

The weather is gorgeous, except for yesterday, which was kind of scary. Tomorrow is supposed to be perfect. I plan to get a lot done.

Nighty night.

The Relay

Well...the Relay is over for another year! It was HOT HOT HOT yesterday and it took a lot of "the starch" out of me, but I was able to walk the "Survivor Lap" and then later walked a few laps during the Luminaria Ceremony.

Russ, Bonnie and Lorraine showed up early. Way early. So they walked the early rounds and Russ took pictures. I met up with Joyce and Bill in the Survivor's Tent and we had a nice chat. Then Ginny invited me to walk with the banner at the start of the walk.

Steve showed up early and did a lot of walking, in the hottest part of the day. I sat under Janet's EZup and sweated a lot. Anne came and brought her famous brownies, Leon ran errands and Cindy and I sweated some more.

It was a good day but the heat got to me later. I went home around 4:30, staggered into the shower, collapsed into bed and slept for two hours. Sweet Bubbles let me sleep that long...even though they usually get fed at 5:00...she let me go an hour and a half longer!

I went and got Joyce at her house and we went back for the Luminaria ceremony. It was nice. We walked a couple of laps and then sat and watched the pictures on a big screen they had in the middle of the field. There were two good pictures of her and one of me...that they had taken in the Survivor's tent.

Hung around to see if I won anything in the raffles....no, but Leon won the "booby prize"....free salsa and chips with purchase of entree at Chili's! SOME PRIZE! It was a coupon with an August 31st expiration date...like someone cut it out of a magazine. We laughed our asses off at that one. Earlier we had been making fun of this "prize"...like "who in the hell would spend $20 to win that?" and "what cheap skate donated that one?" We found out the answer to question one!

Leon protested that he put one ticket in the bin for that prize...and it was a mistake since he thought it was for the $35 gift certificate to Chili's that was right next to the coupon one. Well...Leon's name was called again...he had won another prize. We all waited eagerly to see what he had won....it was ANOTHER damn coupon for "Free salsa and chips w/entree." OMG...more laughing!

After that I brought Joyce home and went home myself and crashed. But I couldn't sleep, multiple bathroom visits....interspersed by periods of lying there, wide awake.

So, I got up early and got back down to the Relay to close up shop this AM. Leon and Cindy helped pack stuff up and Janet, Jess and Jeremy came down just as I was running out of steam and loaded everything into the car for me. I went home and crashed for four hours, with my puppies sleeping with me.

Job well done, by all.

Sandy fixed the leaking waterfall situation. I had done a few things to it to try to stop it from leaking into the garage...at the filter site. Nothing had worked. She fiddled around with it and now it's not leaking AND the waterfall is running very good. The strongest it's run since we moved in. I think there was something plugging the line that slowed the water down to a trickle and it suddenly freed. We finally have a good looking waterfall...the fish will be forever grateful. It gets hot out there and they need a good flow of water to keep the pond oxygenated.

So, now nothing big going on until the trip to Sweden, just a month of playing, picnicing and kayaking (I hope!).


Thanks to all who contributed to my walk in the Relay, who walked the Relay and who helped our team in any way!

Later!

Went to an agility trial in Greenfield with Sandy and the dogs today. Sandy surprised me by asking me if I wanted to run Bubbles in Chances. I walked the course, factored in the knowledge that Bubbles is a lot slower than before and I said "yes!"

We ran...she did good, didn't want to work "away" from me...so missed the chances part of the course, did everything else properly.

Afterwards we ran back to our tent to get her treat...the way we always used to do.

I was very hot and very very tired, but it felt great to be out there running with her for the first time since June 2008!

The rest of the afternoon I collapsed in the tent, taking it easy and keeping an eye on the dogs while Sandy worked and ran Truman and Bubbles in other races.

Got to see Vicki, Gina and Tracy and Maureen. Haven't seen them in ages, except on Facebook! Vicki had left a spot for us next to her tent and so we got to visit off and on during the day.

I'm tired and happy. It was fun.

Last night Mark and Carol came over and we cooked out but ate inside...too hot outside. Then we watched PT 2 of the Reunion show for Real Housewives of NY. We had been looking forward to this all week, and we weren't disappointed. It was just as nuts as the whole season had been.

I have tomatoes growing on my "topsy turvy" planters. Both the cherry tomatoes and the romas are coming in good. I also have been able to make scrambled eggs with cottage cheese and chives...snipping fresh chives from the deck. Yum! I'm looking forward to the peppers growing and making my own salsa.

The orioles haven't brought the babies out yet, but we think it may happen soon. I'm putting out two oranges a day and scoops of jelly. I can't get a shot of them that isn't through the screen. They are too hinky for me. I sit quietly on the deck and they come and eat, but no matter how slowly I raise the camera, they spot it and take off.

Other birds have been coming up too...the catbird likes the oranges and the woodpecker brought a baby to the suet and fed it in front of me. I did get a picture of that. The mockingbird has made a visit and a finch was out there as well the other day. We have so many birds out there and more and more of them are liking the orange and jelly feeding station I made.

Rocky killed his first mouse and promptly ate it whole last night. He was out "hunting" near the wood pile out back last night when it was time for him to have supper. He didn't come when I called and I couldn't see him anywhere. I panicked for awhile until I came upon him stalking the woodpile. Well, I'm not Sandy, who moves the wood for the dogs until the mouse is exposed, so suffice it to say he wasn't pleased with me. He didn't come in to eat until an hour later and promptly skipped his after dinner biscuit to run back out there to renew his vigil.

When Sandy came home she moved the wood---what a tool she is! I heard her and Carol say (in unison) OH ROCKY...and then EEYEEW! I knew what had happened. ISH!

Later, when Rocky started coughing in the living room, Carol yelled, "Rocky, you better not cough up that mouse on the floor!" Very funny stuff.

Tomorrow I travel to Putnam and Phil and I will take Bob Miller out for Dad's day. I think we may try to see if we can get into the Lake Tavern, one of his favorite old places to go eat when he lived at the lake. Or maybe not...we'll see.

Oh...Lily is getting weirder. I caught her hanging out the living room window....her front legs right out over the sill...back legs scrabbling on the floor, trying to jump out. She was one story up....she would have landed on rocks out there. The screen will have to be replaced...second time I've had to replace that screen because of her.

Sandy and I compared notes and came to the conclusion that she had to have opened the window to do what she did...the window was NOT already open. Now we lock all of the windows, even those no one could climb into...because now we know Lily knows how to open them. She is very clever.

It seems that she was panicking because the wind had started blowing. She probably thought it was going to turn into a thunderstorm...she was wrong. Or maybe she is just losing her mind. It's sad really.

Well...enough.

Nighty night!

Since I have heard from several readers that I better update my blog after my MD visit...here goes!


If you hear a whistle blowing....it would be blowing three long times...the official "ALL CLEAR" sound!

The CT scan showed I'm still clean as a whistle! She said, "look how short the report is!" It was half a page, instead of my initial, multiple page report last November!

I still have to go back for check-ups, once every three months for CT scan and then MD exam. I'm scheduled for the first follow-up on Sept 1st.

No more blood work! YAY!!! I just get the CA125 done the same time I go for the CT scan...that's okie doke with me.

AND....I can see the doctor in Norwich now in their new sattelite office on Sachem Street, no more having to go to New London or Providence! YAY YAY YAY!!!

I do have a hernia, just as I thought. I'm going to have Dr. Valin, my gastric by-pass surgeon handle that for me and maybe I get a little tummy tuck at the same time. I'm also going to see if Dr. Valin can do my colonoscopy. I'm overdue and it's going to be more complicated now, since the two surgeries, the bowel resection and the parts of the rectum removed and all the adhesions from scar tissue. I trust Dr. Valin, so f he can do it...all the better. AND, I will combine that with a trip to IKEA!

But first comes July and then Sweden! After that we'll think of hernia repair, etc.

Right now I'm going to focus on getting my blood levels (white and red cell counts) up and then walking, exercising and working out to get in shape for Sweden.

I am so happy and relieved. Sandy is happy and relieved. We are ALL happy and relieved.

Now I'm going to have dinner and then watch the Sox and later the Celts go for the championship---this reference is for Cindy, who complains about my writing about sports in this blog!

I have fulfilled my obligation to provide information....

Nighty night!

GO CELTS!!!

Today is the 37th anniversary of my mother's death. I went for my CT scan this morning and felt my mother right there along side of me. She's been helping me a lot through this whole thing. It was only fitting that I go for my last definitive test today on this anniversary.

Thirty seven plus years ago they didn't have chemo...just chemo in it's experimental stages and my mother took part in those experiments. I can't remember the name of the chemo she got--she got a shot at her doctor's office at certain intervals. I wish I knew what it was she got. It did help her to live longer than they thought she would...she lived 10 years after her initial diagnosis. The last two and a half years she was on "her time"...the doctors thought she would be dead by then. I can remember her asking Dr. Margolick how much time he thought she had left and he said, "what can I tell you Marion, by all rights you should have been dead two years ago!" She lived another two and a half years after that.

My mother was a strong woman in many respects--a lot stronger than me. She was an emotional person--she felt emotions in a big way. But she never complained of pain, never asked "why me?" never felt sorry for herself. I

I have tried to do the same. I can honestly say I have never had the "why me?" thought. I know that I'm no better or deserving of anything than anyone else. I haven't even asked "why?" I know shit happens...and it happens to everyone!

And to tell the truth, this isn't the worst thing I've been through. Having my child taken from me by her mother was far worse. Losing Jasmine and never finding her was much worse. Losing my mother was the worst.

This journey has been full of bad things and good things and the good things outweigh the bad by far.

I have met some wonderful new people, Marcia, Brandy, Tammy, Jason LaChance, Dr. Di and Dr. McCourt. The Anne-Maries---Big and Little.

I have been supported by my friends and family in a way that I never envisioned was possible. Jean, Lynne, Dorothy, Carol and Mary Anne. All the folks who email me and send me cards and call me and make me laugh.

The pain has been brief and manageable. The discomfort is fleeting. It isn't as bad as I thought it was.

I hope that I am done with cancer. I hope, of course, that it never, ever comes back. I will be on the lookout for symptoms, but I'm not going to be paranoid about it. I will be diligent about getting my follow-up CT scans done and keeping my follow up appts with the doctor.

If it does come back, we know what we have to do and we will do it. It's that simple. My mother used to say "you do what you have to do." She was right about that and about just about everything else she told me. She was a very wise woman.

I look forward to getting on with life. I'm not stupid though, I know that it could come back.

If it does, I'll be prepared. In the meantime, I'm feeling my mother, pushing me to get things back on the track again and get my butt moving!

I miss you Mummy. After all these years, I still do.

Nighty night!

Not much to post, but I don't want to get in trouble with the Peanut Gallery!

One big thing, I hit my goal of raising $1,000 for the Relay For Life today....thanks to Facebook! I posted it on there and my buddies responded, pushing me past the $1000 mark.

In years past I've had no problem raising far more than that...one year I think it was almost $3000! However, the recession has hit people hard and they can't give like they used to...I understand.

Been doing a lot of reading on my Kindle. Finished the Denise Mina books...excellent! I have one more of hers to read. Now I'm reading "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson. I think I'll be reading all of his books too!

I have been quiet the past two days. Feeling a bit woozy and tired. Part of the process of letting the chemo move through my system. Soon this will pass and I can really get moving.

Lynne came by yesterday to visit and return the power washer...now David wants to buy one for himself. That is a project for me sometime this month...power wash the house. We sat out on the deck and chatted and watched the birds.

The orioles have been cleaning out the oranges every day. They come right up on the deck and it's pretty neat to watch them. No sign of any life in the martin house yet.

Sox have been doing great lately and I've been watching just about every game. Celts seem to be determined to win it all...sounds like a good plan to me!

Well, Sandy is back from grocery shopping. I did my chore...I cut coupons and made up the shopping list. Not allowed into the store to do the actually shopping! Not yet anyway.

Tomorrow I'll get my bloodwork done, go to the post office and then to the Pachaug Aquarium to get fish food. Maybe sneak over to Lazizah or Bill's Barbecue...hmmmmm, which shall it be?

Anyway, Sandy is back from shopping so I'll shut the Sox off (leading 3-2) and we'll watch last night's episode of Real Housewives of New Jersey. That Teresa is such a card! And Danielle is so EVIL!

Kathy Griffin has a new comedy concert on at 10 pm....all set to be recorded. Her show starts up again next Monday and her mother has a book coming out at the end of the month...a must read called "Tip It!" What else would it be called? HA!

Nighty night!

I'm happy to report that I'm bouncing back faster this time around. I think it's because I had six weeks off from chemo. I have more energy already, was able to clean the whole house, including vacuuming and washing floors and not collapsing!

Yesterday I cleaned upstairs and then was able to go to Taylor's 18th birthday party last night....and I lasted a long time there.

Today I ran errands at Stop and Shop, Kohl's and WalMart and was able to come home and plant my vegetables and work in the yard. I got tired, but it was a good kind of tired...the kind you get from working and sweating and being busy. I dozed in the chair as I listened to the Sox in extra innings....and it felt good.

Tomorrow I hope to get to the post office to mail the present to Lera and the kids. I've had this package for months it seems. Time to get it in the mail! Lynne is coming over after she gets out of work, to bring back the power washer.

I'm hoping I can run the power washer this week and clean the siding. It's quite green in some parts out front and just off the deck.

I bought some "topsy turvy" planters and put them out on the deck with tomatoes, peppers; chives and other herbs. Taking advantage of all the sun we get out there.

I hope to be able to make fresh salsa from the little patio garden I planted...got some serrano peppers, tomatoes; and cilantro growing out there. It will be so nice to be able to pick the stuff fresh, come in and make salsa and bring it back out to eat on the deck. I'll feel so green...and accomplished!

Sandy planted her garden on Memorial Day and already the corn is coming up! She planted tomatoes, squash and beans too. If all our tomatoes come in, we may have to open a veggie stand up by the mail box, or give it away to neighbors and maybe the group home here in town.

I still have to plant my morning glories...which reminds me, I need to put the seeds in water tonight to get them in the ground tomorrow.

This is the great time of year. I love the fresh veggies, eating outside, enjoying the weather. Even when it rains, it's cool. Love it.

I have two little doggies on my lap right now. Actually Rocky is on my lap and Bub is snuggled on my left arm. They are pooped from being out all day, chasing squirrels and chipmunks and following Sandy around in the yard.

She bought an arborvitae and a spruce tree to plant in the yard. The arborvitae is going to plug the hole created by the loss of the cottonwood we had cut down last week. The spruce is going to go in the back corner where she and her Mother cleared this spring. We may be getting another spruce to plant to block the view from Cliff's house next door, where she and her Mother cleared brush. If all goes well and the trees block the holes, maybe I can sunbathe in the nude out on the deck! YEOW!!! Heh heh...

Jean is still having problems with vertigo. When she went to PT for the exercises that gets rid of the condition she has, her blood pressure went way up...dangerously so. She had to stop and wait for a bit. So now she goes back tomorrow I think. I hope she can do the exercises. I did them a few years ago and it got rid of my vertigo. She feels like she's walking on a rolling deck out at sea. I feel for her, it's no fun.

Busy week ahead. Working in the yard, weeding out back and out front too. Working on the compost. Maybe buying an electic edger so we can edge along the fence and put stone down, so Sandy doesn't have to run the weedwhacker there--it keeps breaking the line and it's frustrating. It's a good project for me.

I go for my CT Scan Thursday...Richard is taking me. Maybe we'll go shopping afterwards, although I usually have to get home fast as the stuff they make you drink goes right through me.

I'm hoping to go kayaking some time this week too. I don't know when, will have to look at weather. I have to stay away from crowds for the next two weeks, so kayaking would be a nice, fairly solitary activity for me.

Hoping Sue comes this week to get her special present. Haven't seen her in years and I don't know why we have drifted apart. Hoping that she comes to visit and we make plans to see each other more often.

So, Life is cranking up again for me and I am SO HAPPY about it!

Nighty night!