Wednesday, February 29, 2012

This 'n That Thursday

Things that annoy the tar out of me:
  • People who say "y'all" when they aren't from the south.
  • Those cars that wait for you to get right up to them and then they pull right out in front of you.
  • And then they drive 10 miles under the speed limit.
  • The phrase "on so many levels."  Gah
  • My procrastination issue.
  • The line out the door at the post office when workers are at every window, but only one is actually helping people.
  • Those dents in my head above my ears from my reading glasses.
  • Ticks.
  • Door dings all over my car.
  • Loud people.
  • Dull tweezers.
You?

Hump Day Haiku



a new obsession
springs forth from a random app 
happy leap day peeps

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

It's dinnertime across the miles:
I'm wondering if they ever think of dinners at home... 

I'm also wondering if ptomaine poisoning still exists...
Sometimes it's just better not to know.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Eerie

Aquarius Horoscope
For The Week Starting February 27, 2012


Stay with your new plans and still keep your final goals in mind. If you have not yet brought your dream to reality you have a last chance for it in about another six weeks. By mid April you should have it all finalized . So concentrate on what you want and everything else should fall into the proper place. If you have had the bad luck to lose one source of money, another one will take it’s place in about two weeks.


I have a lot of things going on in my small little world right now.  For starters, my radiation treatments start next Tuesday; but this whole horoscope is so eerily spot-on for what is in my head and heart right now that it almost takes my breath away.  


Mid April will be here before I even know it.  I have a lot to do in the meantime, and I think I will print this out in a pretty font and put it on my mirror.  


"So concentrate on what you want
 and everything else should fall into the proper place."

I'm concentrating.

How about you?

Friday, February 24, 2012

In My Next Life...



i would like to be
a meteorologist
and get paid for naught


happy friday

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

This 'n That Thursday

Drivel:
  • I had my a/c on in the car yesterday.  February 22.  In Connecticut.
  • Augie is coming home this weekend.  I wonder if I will see him at all.
  • I have never ridden in a helicopter.
  • Why do people speed in parking lots?
  • Blue is my favorite color today.
  • Is there anything better than actually laughing out loud?
  • There are 306 days until Christmas.
  • George Washington really never wore a wig?
  • I saw a bobcat a few weeks ago.  In Connecticut.
  • I am obsessed with that honey badger.
You?

An Ash Wednesday Quiz...

Eat, Pray, or Love?  

You Should Love

It's likely that you've been craving more human connection in your life lately - either romantic or platonic.
You've spent some time alone, and now you're ready to open yourself up to the world again.

You find happiness when you truly respect, appreciate, and care for someone. Relationships bring meaning to your life.
No matter how many times you've been hurt, you have a lot of love left in your future.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Shopping and cooking with The Bird:


I cannot wait for her to come home so we can do it in person....

Saturday, February 18, 2012

So. I've Been Thinking.

I know-- you're all: What?!
But.  I've been thinking.
I went on an extra long walk with Dora The Explorer today.  We have been blessed with the most extraordinary weather this winter, and today is no exception.  It's been especially budget-friendly in terms of snow removal costs for us all.  That is, unless you are in the business of snow removal.  But I know those guys are looking forward to making up for it in all the early spring landscaping work that is heading our way.  I can just feel it.

But I digress.  I was walking and thinking about how my life has been lately.  How it's all become one big medical appointment.  How much I have to look forward to now that I am making some decisions about what I want to do for my Second Act.  How lucky I am to have my children, family, and friends who continually seek to do for me.  Just how very lucky I am.  Period.

I was thinking about my breast cancer diagnosis.  You can believe me when I tell you that, even though there was a small part of me that had an inkling there was something bad in those little calcifications, I was blindsided on the morning of December 14 at 9:06 am when my surgeon called to tell me I had cancer.  Blindsided.  That is the day my existence as one big medical appointment began.


Now I am preparing to begin my radiation treatments which I will have Monday - Friday for about six weeks.  They start on March 6, and I am so ready.  Both my medical oncologist and my radiation oncologist are reassuring to the point that there are times I feel like I am going to have super powers by the time they are done with me.  I am lucky.  Expect no side effects.

However, there have already been side effects to this disease.  Side effects of the soul-searching, taking an objective look at oneself, owning your bad habits kind.  It's been interesting.  And I am being somewhat facetious when I say interesting, but you probably already knew that.  I was a social smoker in college, quit for 15 years, and picked it up again in the late 90's.  I quit for good almost 10 years ago.  But there was a little nagging voice that wondered if that nasty habit had caused these cells to misfire.  It's no secret I like my wine.  Sometimes a little too much.  Did that do this?  Did the 3+ cups of coffee I drink every day do it?  White flour? Red meat? Bacon? Hair dye?  What??

The answer is that we don't know.  All of us are walking around with cancer cells in our bodies, and it could be any or none of the above that caused mine to spring to life.  And my busy cancer cells have inadvertently given me an incredible gift:  A wake up call that I need to stop taking my amazing body for granted any more.  If this Second Act is going to be as grand as I am envisioning it, I need to straighten up and fly right.  While I will never be that person who does an all-or-nothing type of lifestyle change, I am going to change some things for a while.  Well, with the exception of the smoking part.  That is a permanent nothing.  So done with that.

I have been collecting all sorts of food-for-cancer books and articles.  I have Googled myself into a tizzy.  I have gone to my appointments with lists of questions.  And I believe that I really don't have any more answers.  Medical answers anyway.  In that vein (pun intended), I've decided to do my own part to help kick this crap out.  I am going to treat everything I eat throughout all my treatment as my medicine as well.  I haven't formulated a specific plan.  I cannot do severe plans.  I have a little disobedient streak--it's called being an Aquarian.  So we'll see.  But cutting out dietary toxins and helping myself heal during radiation is my goal.  Any suggestions will be welcome.  I've thought about Daniel's Diet.  I like everything in it.  Although I would miss my wine, my coffee, and my cheese, just to name a few, I am looking forward to the challenge.  I'm starting to enjoy challenges.  Another little side effect...

 I don't want to miss my Second Act. 

Dora seems to agree.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

This 'n That Thursday

Pure nonsense:
  • I think I figured out why Anne Heche always plays a crazy person.  Just like Charlie Sheen.
  • Rescue mixes should be allowed to compete at dog shows.  They are the very best.
  • I lost my deodorant this week.  In my bathroom.  Gone.
  • I go to my pre-radiation appointment tomorrow.
  • I have actually enjoyed our non-winter this year.
  • And I have probably just put the whammy on us.
  • Yes.  Lost my deodorant.  How??
  • I will never again sit around and google radiation side effects.
  • WTH is up with Blogger and the new word verifications?  Are they trying to make me go blind?
  • I need to start doing needlepoint again to occupy myself in the evening.
  • I may need to go visit the eye doctor.
  • My mother died 10 years ago this week.
  • I'm all about anniversaries these days.  Good and bad.
  • I think my cancer surgery was 21 years to the day that I found out I was having twins.
  • This deodorant business is bugging me.
  • I think I could smell spring this afternoon.  That earthy smell?  Twas  heaven.
  • Life is good.

Oh. Dear.

You Are 28% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well.
In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.


This kind of makes me proud.  And kind of doesn't.  

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™


The one where I realize my babies are grown:
Time.  Where did it go?

Monday, February 13, 2012

A Wonderful Week?

Aquarius Horoscope
For The Week Starting February 13, 2012



This can turn out to be a wonderful week for you if you are following your true destiny and doing the best you can with your life. Dreams can now be brought into reality as you readjust and/or reestablish your long sought goals. You can now bring the unusual into real life practical terms. You could find your life long partner now so be sure to accept all invitations that come your way especially at the last minute.


How will I know if I am following my true destiny?  What is my true destiny? How do I know if I am doing the best with my life? What are/were my long sought goals?  Arghh


This really looked like a good horoscope at first, but now I'm thinking it looks like a whole lotta work.  And invitations?...Apparently I need some invitations this week.  Bueller?


How's yours?  I hope you don't have as much work as we Aquarians do....

Thursday, February 9, 2012

This 'n That Thursday

Randomness interspersed with gratitude:

  • I am sick with a double ear infection and bronchitis.
  • Need to figure out how to boost this immune system of mine before radiation starts.
  • Gah.
  • Has anyone noticed how amazing the red grapefruit are this year?
  • I love my doctors.
  • There's a new study out that says you should have chocolate for breakfast.
  • I have the best family and friends in the world.
  • Here at The Complex, we are getting all new kitchens and bathrooms in the next few months.
  • Thank goodness for mammograms.
  • My dog understands everything I say.  She can even spell some words. Like B-A-T-H.
  • Lots of my friends live in my computer, and I consider this completely normal.
  • Have you had a mammogram in the last 12 months?  Have you?
  • I am a morning person.
  • Double ear infection.  At 52?  Seriously?
  • The is no greater comfort than knowing "It gets better."  None at all...

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Tuesday Text: Parentexting™

Diction Class for Mama:

I say to-may-toe.  I say po-tay-toe
I say Feb-you-airy.
And now I stand corrected.
How do you say February?

Monday, February 6, 2012

Watching


Aquarius Horoscope
For The Week Starting February 6, 2012


 This is the week that should see the last of the confusion that has been hanging around you lately. You are doing very well in ignoring it and shaking it off during this period. Your luck lately has been running up and down and it, too, is about to change. Be prepared for a surprising upward swing so just be patient. It will pay off very well in the long run. Keep your eyes open and watch for that lucky break.


I don't think I've ever seen such a fun horoscope!  Every sentence in this is awesome.  I am going to believe that this is true.  A surprising upward swing?  It will pay off in the long run? I am so watching .....


What does your week look like?

Thursday, February 2, 2012

This 'n That Thursday

Randomness and breast cancer:

  • I had 4 lymph nodes removed in my right arm.
  • Radiation will start in about 3 weeks.  No chemo for me.
  • Yay.
  • My radiation oncologist diagnosed me with a hernia. I laughed.
  • I would really like a Hi Heidi doll.
  • My team of doctors is like a Words with Friends bonanza: Dr. V, Dr. C, Dr. Z, Dr. G and Dr. P.
  • I can never get another shot, a blood pressure cuff or blood drawn in my right arm again.
  • I am so very lucky.
  • My first Hi Heidi doll was a gift from my mother when I learned how to tie my shoes.
  • I am hatching a plan to get that hernia repaired along with a tummy tuck. I believe I can finagle it.
  • I found a Hi Heidi doll on eBay with a pristine red carrying case just like mine.
  • Have you had your mammogram this year?
  • I am so very lucky.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Mild Mama?


I dunno about this one.....


You are a Mild Mama

You don't have to be screaming at the top of your lungs to have a good time
You rather chill, soak in the moment, and appreciate life for what it is
Guys appreciate your "take life as it comes" approach...
(Though they wouldn't mind if you got a little wild from time to time!)

How about you?  Are You a Daring Woman?