Where was I? Oh, looking for folks to come to New Haven with me. I found Carol, who is happy to come along for the trip to Ikea and to Pepe's or maybe Lenny and Joe's.
Charmine did offer to cancel an appt and come with me...but it's not necessary. Carol and I, the two invalids, will do just fine.

Friday, Dori and I went kayaking at Glasgo Pond. I LOVE IT THERE! It is quiet, just the right size and there are spots along the way that you can stop to eat, watch birds or take a dip...or all three. We drifted along to the next pond, Doansville Pond, and pulled over by the state tree farm to eat our Subway tuna $5 foot long that we split....we are such cheapskates! We had a bit of a challenge getting her kayak back up on the top of the truck, but it all worked out. It was great spending time with Dori, who just shocked us all (including herself) by marrying Brad, her long-time partner. He is shocked too...they are both shocked and we are all happy for them. I can't wait for her to retire so we can do more things together.

Friday night I made clam chowder for the first time in my life. I used the Julia Child Master Chowder Recipe...and only made two little errors. The only thing I don't agree with about her recipe is she has you drain the excess grease from the salt pork. Carol, my favorite cook, and I agree that this is a cardinal sin. The chowder was tasty, but not as tasty as it would have been had I left the salt pork grease in there.

One thing I had forgotten about was you have to let the chowder cool before you can refridgerate it. I had to sit up until 1:30 am before it was cool enough, and the last half hour I put it in smaller containers and put them out on the table out on the deck to get them to cool down! I was pooped when I dragged myself up those stairs to bed.

Sandy had the chowder and liked it. The salt pork didn't bother her, maybe if I hadn't drained it, she wouldn't have tolerated it so good. Too bad, next time I'm not draining it!

Saturday I didn't feel too good, after all the cooking all night and the kayaking and being out in the sun the day before. I had to lie down after lunch and slept for about an hour. Then I got up and went shopping. I went to Walmart (I've been there a few times lately--now that I can go there again) and then to Kohl's. I bought three pairs of shoes at Kohl's, some Skecher slip-ons, Asics sneakers and a pair of Adidas slides to wear to the beach. I'll take all of these to Sweden. I also got some pjs to wear in Sweden...usually I sleep in underpants and socks. I can't do that when I'm visiting...so...

Shopping rejuvenated me and I was ready to get busy decorating the John Deere when I got home. Sandy had brought it up to the garage with the cart hitched to it. I got out the $35 worth of decorations I had picked up at Ocean State and applied myself. It came out quite nice, if I do say so myself. The other decorations included ribbons I put out on the fence posts out front and flags I put up around the mailbox and the new maple tree in the front yard.

Sunday morning we got up bright and early and got into our Fourth of July outfits. We got over to the parade staging area and were the third vehicle from the rear. We brought Rocky with us, wearing his flag scarf. Sandy drove, wearing her Patriot hat that I bought for her and I rode in the cart behind the tractor, with Rocky on my lap. He was a big hit with the folks.

I think we ended up with about 11 vehicles in the parade...it was the 10th annual tractor parade. Someone tried to get Scott Haney to come, but he didn't appear. Poor Scott Haney, he can't be EVERYWHERE!

We rode around all the streets in the neighborhood this year. We even went down Vandy, which we haven't done before. It was nice...but what shocks me is the number of people who drive by who don't even acknowledge us. Something wrong with those people.

Afterwards I went over to Mary and JJ's for the neighborhood picnic. I stayed for awhile and then had to head out to Janet's for her picnic. It was hot and I was melting.
hig
By the time I got to Janet's I was totally wiped. The heat hit me hard for some reason and it was all I could do to walk up the stairs and into the house. I collapsed on the couch and then forced myself to get up and throw myself in the swimming pool. It was SO COLD!!!! It was wonderful. That rejuvenated me and I sat on the deck in the shade, chatting with Dawn and Barry's grandkids. Later, when I started feeling sick again, I threw myself back into the pool and I was all set.

Jeremy smoked the ribs I had bought for the party with his "new" smoker that he got from this guy for free on Norwich Freecycle. Such a deal! He had looked up recipes on the internet and had practiced on brisket, turkey and chicken during the week. I was proud of him, making his own rub and working so hard on the project. The ribs were very tasty...I asked for two of them and then couldn't finish them, had to wrap them up and take them home...I had the rest for lunch today.

Monday Charmine, Pat, Deanna and Lorraine showed up at 10am and loaded up my kayak on the car and we were off to Glasgo Pond again. They had never been there and I was looking forward to introducing it to them. We did the Subway bit again, packing a lunch. We put in at 11:15 and had a great time paddling around. We found a place to pull in to eat and I went for a dip. Oh...I went for a dip as soon as we got to the pond...jumping in the water right at the launch area. I was really feeling out of it before they got to the house and had to take my 5 hour energy drink just before they arrived. I honestly thought I wasn't going to be able to go kayaking...but the drink kicked in and I was doing better. The dip in the water helped revive me...so I took a few dips in the pond along the way. We spent about two hours plus out there and then pulled out the kayaks and headed home. Just in time too...as we were pulling out, a jet ski went in and then a motor boat towing what looked like a big couch with kids sitting on it went by. Glad we were out of the water by then!

We all came back here and put supper together. We had picked up corn, which I put on the grill. Pat put together a penne pasta salad recipe I had found. It had kalamat olives and tomatoes, basil, garlic, rosemary, and cheese...delish. Everyone ended up getting involved in making this...the kitchen was bustling and lively. I stayed out of it mostly, running the grill with hotdogs and hamburgers and the corn.

We had a great meal, with the great banter and give and take you have when you get a bunch of good friends together. I was exhausted, but loved every minute of it. It was so good to be with them.

Last night I opened my email and read a message from Linda Blake that Mark Simon passed away on Saturday. I couldn't stop crying. I told Sandy and she told me she knew he had been in the hospital, but couldn't tell me because it would be a HIPPA violation. Sandy is very good about this, she never violates confidentiality. She reminded me last night that I had mentioned that I was thinking of him and she (knowing he was in the hospital) had suggested I ask how he was doing...considering that I have this history of thinking about people just before they die.

I can't put into words what knowing Mark has meant to me in my life. I felt such a connection to him, unlike anything I have ever felt with anyone else. I never knew someone who I could understand like I understood him. I could look in his eyes and know what he was saying...or he could type just just one or two letters and I would know what sentence he wanted to say. I could make him laugh and I loved making him laugh. In the past few years I had taken to kissing him on the forehead whenever I saw him, which he totally loved...and so did I. He was EXTRAORDINARY. Not a bad guy, for a Yankee fan. I truly loved him and will always miss him.


Today I'm just taking it easy, doing some housework and laundry, but pacing myself as my coach Pam told me to. Do a chore, watch an episode of Mad Men (from the first season, which I never saw as we didn't have that channel when we lived in Norwich).
I'm almost caught up now on Season One. Last year I watched Season two before the third season started. I'm looking forward to the new season.

Tomorrow I have to venture out into the heat, to take Rocky and Truman to PT up in Colchester. If I get too hot I'll jump in some body of water to cool off...that seems to do the trick lately!

Thursday is the wake for Mark in New London. I'll go down for that. I don't think I'll go to the graveside service on Friday if it's too hot, I can't take it. Saturday we are going to Mohegan Sun to see the national team play the Sun. Big week.

I'll try to write more frequently here...but it gets so mundane. I'll have to spice things up somehow...or I'll start making shit up...yeah...that's the ticket...I'll make shit up!

Oh, I found Ivory Irvin an old Army buddy on Facebook last week and this week I found an old Weiss Market co-worker, Terry Washburn! I love Facebook!

A promise

I do solemnly promise to write an entry in this blog tomorrow. Right now I'm too pooped to stay up any longer. I have to take a shower and fall into bed. It's been a big weekend, starting Friday, and I have to get some sleep!

See you tomorrow!

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!