Well I managed to get through two days of work without a horrendous coughing fit on the phone - that's good because it does tend to scare off the customers - what sort of sicko employees do you hire?
Last night Genia and Betsy came over after work and we sat out on the deck and talked until around 8pm. It was so great to have them here; it's bittersweet though because Genia is now on her way to her new life as the Captain's wife down in Astoria, Oregon. I'm really going to miss her in the office - she was a really good boss and a good friend ( a rare combination.) Thank god for texting, email and blogs, right?
I worked from home again today - made it until about 12:45 and then had to lie down NOW! It's funny how tired you can get with this shit. After an hour nap, I was back in the ball game until 3:30 or so.
I have decided that I need to make my bedtime 8:30 during the week - it's hard because it not at all dark out. All the literature on managing chemo tells you to get 8 hours of sleep - I've just not had that luxury for so many years that I resist it.
I had a nice phone call from the wilds of Alaska - good buddy Doug is out Halibut fishing near Juneau and wanted to say hi. So good to hear from him.
My lovely sister in law Doreen has offered to take me in for Chemo Part III tomorrow - I'm so lucky to have her. I'll meet with the doctor and then have the usual infusion cocktails from the penthouse suite at Group Health Bellevue. We'll probably have lunch together from the hospital food cart -gourmet tuna or turkey sandwiches - woo hoo! This is a day I am not really looking forward to, but I know I must get it over with. The up side is I will only work for three hours tomorrow morning 6 - 9 and then off for the weekend again.
Hasta Manana,
Jan
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Memorial Day Weekend and Tuesday Update
Well, while the rest of you were out camping or partying, we kept it kind of low key here.
Frank and I did manage to get out to the Saturday market to get my favorite "stuff" - we like the Australian guy "Vic" that commutes over from Yakima - his vegies are organic, very fresh, and he always has great suggestions for cooking. Picked up a few herbs for the Herb Garden project. Frank is hell bent to get that finished this weekend. That visit wiped me out so I came home after that.
For Ryan's birthday, he wanted a new mattress. He, Chantal and Frank found one at the Redmond Mattress factory. The guys headed out to get a one hour van rental from Home Depot to pick up the mattress and recycle the old, plus load some unwanted items from the house to go to the dump. In the middle of this, Chantal started having some serious contractions - major one's lasting 4-5 minutes and 7 or 8 within the hour. Long story short, Frank went to the dump and Ryan came back to take her to the hospital - she was in labor! But since it is only 35 weeks, they gave her a shot to stop the contractions and some pills to hold it off for two weeks. We may have a baby here as early as June 9th!
We are so excited, but the downstairs bedroom that Ryan and Chantal will share with the baby still was a bit overloaded with excess crap. Chantal and I spent a few hours on Sunday clearing some of the old stuff out. We loaded up boxes of books, blankets, pillows, etc for charity/garbage removal. It was so much easier to do it without the guys there. They got to look at it, but eventually agreed to let the stuff go - YES, YES, YES!!!! Ok, I was wiped out after this, but I have been wanting to get at that stuff for so long, I was pumped.
On Sunday, I was obligated to go into Urgent Care to have my blood drawn and be checked by the physician there. Per usual, this takes a really long time. We arrived about 9:30 and didn't get out until almost 1pm. But, things are looking better. The White Blood Cell count was up from 1,600 on Friday to 2,700 on Sunday. (Normal range is 4000-10,000). Neutrophils improved from a low of .2 to 1.2 (Normal range is 2.0 - 7.30). Hematocrit went down from 34 to 33 (normal range 36-46). Mostly this was heading in the right direction, but not enough to call me cured and I am continuing with the heavy doses of antibiotics. I am still coughing and hacking a lot - makes it a bit hard to sleep at night.
On Monday, Frank really wanted to get the rest of the plants for the Herb Garden, so he could say that one project was "finished". He drove out to Flower World, where we did find most of the herbs on our list plus more. One interesting one we found, the "Curry Plant" - boy does that have a scent that lingers! We put it in the far edge of the garden. I do hope the cat doesn't roll in it - might be hard to get the scent out. It might be a deterrent to the coyotes eating him, but maybe not some of the other cultures that like cat meat - he would be pre seasoned - watch out Guillermo!
I really wanted to check out Classic Nursery in it's new location on Woodinville Redmond Road - they had some great plants and many I couldn't find elsewhere. Gosh, I really do hope they can stay in business.
I took the afternoon to do a little clearing out of the side bedroom while Frank was occupied in the yard. Do you see a theme here? - works better that way :-) Didn't get a massive amount done, but it is more manageable than it has been. So all in all a lot of clearing out. Again, I was pretty wiped out after that and started spiking a fever - shit! Time to take it easy again. This evening Steve and Jude stopped by for a few minutes with a delivery - we are trying still trying to divvy up the family "heirlooms". Nancy and Kevin expressed interest in the grandparent's china, so we are storing it for them until they get back from their cruise. Speaking of that, of course we have not heard from them, but I am really hoping they are avoiding the storms in the Atlantic.
This morning, Tuesday, I had a a doctor's appointment to have my blood drawn and vitals taken again. The results were good - White Blood Cell count up to 4700 (normal), Neutrophils 3.1 (normal), Hematocrit still low at 33, but she wasn't worried. Next chemo session will be Friday. She is ordering Neupogen shots for me to take after this session - this should prevent the low drop in white blood cells that I have been experiencing. When I was at Group Health, I saw our friend Turie in the lab so we got caught up. She's encouraging me to take the Vitamin D - will do Mom!
I am not going to work at all today; tomorrow I might work from home. I have to see how well I can hold up talking without excessive coughing. Since my job is talking all day, this is a challenge!
Hope you all had a good weekend,
Jan
XOXOXO
Frank and I did manage to get out to the Saturday market to get my favorite "stuff" - we like the Australian guy "Vic" that commutes over from Yakima - his vegies are organic, very fresh, and he always has great suggestions for cooking. Picked up a few herbs for the Herb Garden project. Frank is hell bent to get that finished this weekend. That visit wiped me out so I came home after that.
For Ryan's birthday, he wanted a new mattress. He, Chantal and Frank found one at the Redmond Mattress factory. The guys headed out to get a one hour van rental from Home Depot to pick up the mattress and recycle the old, plus load some unwanted items from the house to go to the dump. In the middle of this, Chantal started having some serious contractions - major one's lasting 4-5 minutes and 7 or 8 within the hour. Long story short, Frank went to the dump and Ryan came back to take her to the hospital - she was in labor! But since it is only 35 weeks, they gave her a shot to stop the contractions and some pills to hold it off for two weeks. We may have a baby here as early as June 9th!
We are so excited, but the downstairs bedroom that Ryan and Chantal will share with the baby still was a bit overloaded with excess crap. Chantal and I spent a few hours on Sunday clearing some of the old stuff out. We loaded up boxes of books, blankets, pillows, etc for charity/garbage removal. It was so much easier to do it without the guys there. They got to look at it, but eventually agreed to let the stuff go - YES, YES, YES!!!! Ok, I was wiped out after this, but I have been wanting to get at that stuff for so long, I was pumped.
On Sunday, I was obligated to go into Urgent Care to have my blood drawn and be checked by the physician there. Per usual, this takes a really long time. We arrived about 9:30 and didn't get out until almost 1pm. But, things are looking better. The White Blood Cell count was up from 1,600 on Friday to 2,700 on Sunday. (Normal range is 4000-10,000). Neutrophils improved from a low of .2 to 1.2 (Normal range is 2.0 - 7.30). Hematocrit went down from 34 to 33 (normal range 36-46). Mostly this was heading in the right direction, but not enough to call me cured and I am continuing with the heavy doses of antibiotics. I am still coughing and hacking a lot - makes it a bit hard to sleep at night.
On Monday, Frank really wanted to get the rest of the plants for the Herb Garden, so he could say that one project was "finished". He drove out to Flower World, where we did find most of the herbs on our list plus more. One interesting one we found, the "Curry Plant" - boy does that have a scent that lingers! We put it in the far edge of the garden. I do hope the cat doesn't roll in it - might be hard to get the scent out. It might be a deterrent to the coyotes eating him, but maybe not some of the other cultures that like cat meat - he would be pre seasoned - watch out Guillermo!
I really wanted to check out Classic Nursery in it's new location on Woodinville Redmond Road - they had some great plants and many I couldn't find elsewhere. Gosh, I really do hope they can stay in business.
I took the afternoon to do a little clearing out of the side bedroom while Frank was occupied in the yard. Do you see a theme here? - works better that way :-) Didn't get a massive amount done, but it is more manageable than it has been. So all in all a lot of clearing out. Again, I was pretty wiped out after that and started spiking a fever - shit! Time to take it easy again. This evening Steve and Jude stopped by for a few minutes with a delivery - we are trying still trying to divvy up the family "heirlooms". Nancy and Kevin expressed interest in the grandparent's china, so we are storing it for them until they get back from their cruise. Speaking of that, of course we have not heard from them, but I am really hoping they are avoiding the storms in the Atlantic.
This morning, Tuesday, I had a a doctor's appointment to have my blood drawn and vitals taken again. The results were good - White Blood Cell count up to 4700 (normal), Neutrophils 3.1 (normal), Hematocrit still low at 33, but she wasn't worried. Next chemo session will be Friday. She is ordering Neupogen shots for me to take after this session - this should prevent the low drop in white blood cells that I have been experiencing. When I was at Group Health, I saw our friend Turie in the lab so we got caught up. She's encouraging me to take the Vitamin D - will do Mom!
I am not going to work at all today; tomorrow I might work from home. I have to see how well I can hold up talking without excessive coughing. Since my job is talking all day, this is a challenge!
Hope you all had a good weekend,
Jan
XOXOXO
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Slowly Recuperating
Well, I have to say, Friday was better than Thursday - fever has gone down, don't have the shakes and chills or vomiting, just a persistent cough, fatigue (what else is new) and my lower back keeps locking up.
Hey, I discovered that frequent coughing really works your abs - mine are really sore right now - tells you how out of shape I am in that area!
I went into the clinic Friday morning - had to have my blood drawn and see the Physician's Assistant to read the results and take my vital signs. Unfortunately, this takes three hours. She wants me back into Urgent care on Sunday for another blood draw/vital signs check up and then again on Tuesday. If the white blood cell count is back up to an acceptable level and I don't have a fever, they will take me off the heavy dosed antibiotics. My next chemo session is scheduled for June 1st and they want the white blood cells to be at an acceptable level by then.
Chantal and I managed to plant seed starts for the greenhouse while the weather cooperated in the afternoon. We may have a few too many - I'll let you know in case anyone else is planning a garden.
I had a couple of surprise visitors yesterday - Betsy came by with Cougar Gold Mac n Cheese in the afternoon. She was on her way to a company photo session - so good to see her for a few minutes and catch up. We haven't had a chance to visit for a long time and I've really missed her.
Terri came by in the evening for a short visit, bringing lotsa love and moral support. She's got so much going on, I really appreciate her taking the time to come over. And...she looks really good driving her new Nissan Z convertible - woo hoo - what a babe!
Chantal made an amazing salmon dish for dinner - we had that with Betsy's Mac N Cheese and corn. My appetite came back just in time - really enjoyed it. She is getting to be an awesome cook - it's impressive.
Today I will be laying low again; my one desire is to take a short trip to the Saturday Market. I love it so much; just need to cover myself up to avoid the germs. We'll see.
Hanging in there,
Jan
Hey, I discovered that frequent coughing really works your abs - mine are really sore right now - tells you how out of shape I am in that area!
I went into the clinic Friday morning - had to have my blood drawn and see the Physician's Assistant to read the results and take my vital signs. Unfortunately, this takes three hours. She wants me back into Urgent care on Sunday for another blood draw/vital signs check up and then again on Tuesday. If the white blood cell count is back up to an acceptable level and I don't have a fever, they will take me off the heavy dosed antibiotics. My next chemo session is scheduled for June 1st and they want the white blood cells to be at an acceptable level by then.
Chantal and I managed to plant seed starts for the greenhouse while the weather cooperated in the afternoon. We may have a few too many - I'll let you know in case anyone else is planning a garden.
I had a couple of surprise visitors yesterday - Betsy came by with Cougar Gold Mac n Cheese in the afternoon. She was on her way to a company photo session - so good to see her for a few minutes and catch up. We haven't had a chance to visit for a long time and I've really missed her.
Terri came by in the evening for a short visit, bringing lotsa love and moral support. She's got so much going on, I really appreciate her taking the time to come over. And...she looks really good driving her new Nissan Z convertible - woo hoo - what a babe!
Chantal made an amazing salmon dish for dinner - we had that with Betsy's Mac N Cheese and corn. My appetite came back just in time - really enjoyed it. She is getting to be an awesome cook - it's impressive.
Today I will be laying low again; my one desire is to take a short trip to the Saturday Market. I love it so much; just need to cover myself up to avoid the germs. We'll see.
Hanging in there,
Jan
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Yoga Tuesday
I forgot to mention one really awesome afternoon - Julie came over to run a yoga class in my living room - it was great!
Kass came over and since Ryan and Chantal were home, they participated too.
Julie tailored the moves to our particular weaknesses (or should I say strengths!) and we all felt really good at the end of it.
Ryan commented that he was pretty sore as he had basketball that night too - good for him - his muscles definitely can use some stretching.
Thanks Julie!
Kass came over and since Ryan and Chantal were home, they participated too.
Julie tailored the moves to our particular weaknesses (or should I say strengths!) and we all felt really good at the end of it.
Ryan commented that he was pretty sore as he had basketball that night too - good for him - his muscles definitely can use some stretching.
Thanks Julie!
Back Home and back to the office
We managed to leave Cannon Beach at 9am on Friday, so got back home fairly early in the afternoon. Good to be back home. We slept well in our own bed that night - sure beats the Double Murphy bed with the dip in the middle that we slept on in Oregon.
Saturday was busy for me - Chantal and I went shopping at the Saturday Market, Molbak's, Home Depot, Fred Meyer and REI. Got a lot of the herbs and plants for the Garden plus stash for the week. We both did much better once we had a Power bar and some water. Really helps to keep hydrated and fueled up. That evening we celebrated Ryan's birthday a little early with Kevin - went to the Vietnamese restaurant in Redmond and to the movie "What to expect when you are Expecting". It was cute and very appropos to their situation. I am not sure that Kevin found it that fascinating, but he was a good sport about it.
Sunday started out with a visit to the Verizon store to get new phones for Frank and Ryan. They both had what Frank called "Fred Flintstone" phones and were sorely needed upgrades. They ended up with Droid Razr phones - a bit different than the IPhone, so Frank is going to have to get schooled by Ryan.
After that, I drove over to Terri and Barb's birthday party at the Woodmark Beach Cafe. We had lunch and presents, then headed over to the spa for the luxury pedicure/manicure treatment. What a great day!
So good to catch up with everyone - does my heart good to laugh and share with the gang! My appetite is coming back - yay! Sunday night I made Zitti pasta from a familiar recipe. Boy..did I screw that up! Totally put the wrong stuff in the wrong order....was this chemo brain messing me up or just being tired? Really don't know. Everybody ate it and didn't get sick, so I guess it was OK.
Superwoman Succumbs
Hi all
Sorry I haven't posted for over a week; I have been a bit too busy and also really tired.
Last night I was running a temperature and had sweats, chills and shakes along with a cough. Things weren't any much better today, so I worked from home until I could get an appointment with the doctors office. I went in and had a chest xray, blood test and urine test. My white blood cell count is way down and I have pneumonia! Here I thought I was fighting hay fever!
So, I have to go into Group Health every day for the next few days to take blood tests and talk with the doctors until the antibiotics kick in - you know how my Memorial Day Weekend will go!
Sorry for all of you that I have had to cancel out on for the next few days, I think I now know that I need to take it much, much easier from here on out.
After my next chemo session, they will be giving me shots to take to keep the white blood cell count up. I can't even imagine how things would be going if I was scheduled for chemo every two weeks - yikes!
Back to bed,
Jan
Sorry I haven't posted for over a week; I have been a bit too busy and also really tired.
Last night I was running a temperature and had sweats, chills and shakes along with a cough. Things weren't any much better today, so I worked from home until I could get an appointment with the doctors office. I went in and had a chest xray, blood test and urine test. My white blood cell count is way down and I have pneumonia! Here I thought I was fighting hay fever!
So, I have to go into Group Health every day for the next few days to take blood tests and talk with the doctors until the antibiotics kick in - you know how my Memorial Day Weekend will go!
Sorry for all of you that I have had to cancel out on for the next few days, I think I now know that I need to take it much, much easier from here on out.
After my next chemo session, they will be giving me shots to take to keep the white blood cell count up. I can't even imagine how things would be going if I was scheduled for chemo every two weeks - yikes!
Back to bed,
Jan
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Post from the Coast Day III Wednesday
Wednesday - another beautiful day on the Oregon Coast. We are so lucky with the weather!
Today I felt like we should walk a little further in the morning - we went to the end of the coastline as far as we could go down the beach to the south. Pretty area and a lot less crowded than up to Haystack. After that, we decided to head to Cannon Beach to do some shopping. Oh, yes, we have to hit every one of the stores - funny how you can have more energy when it comes to shopping!
I found lots of cute things and felt good about the shopping trip.
When we got back to our hotel, I really wanted to take 1/2 hour to sit on the beach and read. This was always my definition of a vacation when raising the kids - If I could have 1/2 hour to read a book on the beach, it was successful. I still feel this to be the ultimate in luxury and I treasure those breaks. What is nice about being here during the week before high season is that the beach is not crowded - we could grab those chairs in front of the hotel and had no competition from other humans. We were only disturbed by a seagull who wanted to see what was in our little green bag...
After sitting on the beach, I felt like we needed to take another walk up to Haystack Rock- what the heck, its a nice day right?
Oh boy, this one did me in! I could barely walk up the stairs to the third floor of the unit. I took a look at the pedometer - over 17,000 steps! Geez.....
Too tired to cook or go out to dinner - Frank picked up Salmon from Mo's tonight. Again, I really wanted to try the Panther Creek Pinot Noir with the salmon - two little sips and DONE. Cannot handle it darn!
Went to bed right after American Idol......
Peaceful dreams,
Jan
Today I felt like we should walk a little further in the morning - we went to the end of the coastline as far as we could go down the beach to the south. Pretty area and a lot less crowded than up to Haystack. After that, we decided to head to Cannon Beach to do some shopping. Oh, yes, we have to hit every one of the stores - funny how you can have more energy when it comes to shopping!
I found lots of cute things and felt good about the shopping trip.
When we got back to our hotel, I really wanted to take 1/2 hour to sit on the beach and read. This was always my definition of a vacation when raising the kids - If I could have 1/2 hour to read a book on the beach, it was successful. I still feel this to be the ultimate in luxury and I treasure those breaks. What is nice about being here during the week before high season is that the beach is not crowded - we could grab those chairs in front of the hotel and had no competition from other humans. We were only disturbed by a seagull who wanted to see what was in our little green bag...
After sitting on the beach, I felt like we needed to take another walk up to Haystack Rock- what the heck, its a nice day right?
Oh boy, this one did me in! I could barely walk up the stairs to the third floor of the unit. I took a look at the pedometer - over 17,000 steps! Geez.....
Too tired to cook or go out to dinner - Frank picked up Salmon from Mo's tonight. Again, I really wanted to try the Panther Creek Pinot Noir with the salmon - two little sips and DONE. Cannot handle it darn!
Went to bed right after American Idol......
Peaceful dreams,
Jan
The Oregon Coast Day II Tuesday
Ok, here's another "Post from the Coast" - catching up to Tuesday
OMG we were SO TIRED today. Frank had worked his tush off trying to finish staining the deck so it would be ready when we came back from the trip and his knees and arms were really sore. I was just feeling more tired from the chemo and the busyness of work and getting the house in order before we left. It was a nice morning and not windy, so we got in our walk to Haystack rock fairly early.
Because we were so rushed we forgot a lot of stuff. Frank didn't have any socks, I forgot a swim cap (totally forgot about using that) and we just need a few supplies for the problem I was having and supplies for cooking. Our choices were Costco or Fred Meyer - yuk! So off we went to Fred Meyer as we know they have just about everything. The thing that sucks about their location it is that is almost back to Astoria (Warrenton) and over a 1/2 an hour drive. It was one of those totally disorganized Fred Meyer stores that had you wandering all over hell and back to find what you needed. Due to cutbacks, there were not many employees to point you in the right direction - oh well, I don't relish asking 20 something retail associates to point out their selection in Fleet's enemas anyway.
We drove back to CB to chill.
We had lunch here and went for a swim in the indoor saltwater pool. My swim cap made me look like a commercial for Egghead software (are they still around? - maybe I can get a job). I just was worried about showing up at the pool and scaring little kids and their parents with my shiny bald head, so I figured I should wear it. God, it felt awful - don't know how those competitive swimmers can stand these things. Anyway, I had heard that it is really not a good idea to stay too long in any public pools or hot tubs because people with infections may have entered recently, so our visit was short.
We came back and rested up after the swim; I am reading a book about a Seattle woman doctor (breast cancer pathologist) who got breast cancer in her early 30s while she was nursing her 2nd baby. Her book is called "Red Sunshine" after the chemical agent Adriamyacin - aka the Red Devil. It was an interesting read - many parallels to my life and some different. Being more in a privileged lifestyle, she could afford to take lots of time off work, had a mother and mother in law who didn't work and stayed with her for long periods of time and could hire nannys, au pairs and cleaning ladies to help with the kids, cooking and upkeep of the house. Nevertheless, she had some really good points that I am going to list here that I want to keep in mind:
1. Keep LIVING - you are here now and very much alive
2. Believe in your treatment and treatment team
3. Educate yourself on your options
4. Second opinions are a good idea
5. Let other people help and tell them how (this is hard)
6. Let go of the guilt (neither you nor the chocolate you ate did this)
7. Contact others who have a similar diagnosis
8. Get fresh air every day and stay active
9. Don't give up good distractions - working, volunteering, hobbies
10. Embrace the big picture and let the small stuff go
11. Take this opportunity to put yourself first (this is hard for me too)
12. Let this process change you for the better; this will make you stronger
All good advice that I will try to follow.
Some of the rest of the day was taken up with getting myself more "regular" - I promise I will not go into detail!
We had takeout from Mo's restaurant again tonight. Fish Tacos and salad. Just don't feel like eating out in a restaurant - I am still a bit self conscious in my little caps. Food was OK -still can't taste much anyway.
More posts to follow on Weds, Thursday soon - maybe not tonight though...
Love you guys,
Jan.
OMG we were SO TIRED today. Frank had worked his tush off trying to finish staining the deck so it would be ready when we came back from the trip and his knees and arms were really sore. I was just feeling more tired from the chemo and the busyness of work and getting the house in order before we left. It was a nice morning and not windy, so we got in our walk to Haystack rock fairly early.
Because we were so rushed we forgot a lot of stuff. Frank didn't have any socks, I forgot a swim cap (totally forgot about using that) and we just need a few supplies for the problem I was having and supplies for cooking. Our choices were Costco or Fred Meyer - yuk! So off we went to Fred Meyer as we know they have just about everything. The thing that sucks about their location it is that is almost back to Astoria (Warrenton) and over a 1/2 an hour drive. It was one of those totally disorganized Fred Meyer stores that had you wandering all over hell and back to find what you needed. Due to cutbacks, there were not many employees to point you in the right direction - oh well, I don't relish asking 20 something retail associates to point out their selection in Fleet's enemas anyway.
We drove back to CB to chill.
We had lunch here and went for a swim in the indoor saltwater pool. My swim cap made me look like a commercial for Egghead software (are they still around? - maybe I can get a job). I just was worried about showing up at the pool and scaring little kids and their parents with my shiny bald head, so I figured I should wear it. God, it felt awful - don't know how those competitive swimmers can stand these things. Anyway, I had heard that it is really not a good idea to stay too long in any public pools or hot tubs because people with infections may have entered recently, so our visit was short.
We came back and rested up after the swim; I am reading a book about a Seattle woman doctor (breast cancer pathologist) who got breast cancer in her early 30s while she was nursing her 2nd baby. Her book is called "Red Sunshine" after the chemical agent Adriamyacin - aka the Red Devil. It was an interesting read - many parallels to my life and some different. Being more in a privileged lifestyle, she could afford to take lots of time off work, had a mother and mother in law who didn't work and stayed with her for long periods of time and could hire nannys, au pairs and cleaning ladies to help with the kids, cooking and upkeep of the house. Nevertheless, she had some really good points that I am going to list here that I want to keep in mind:
1. Keep LIVING - you are here now and very much alive
2. Believe in your treatment and treatment team
3. Educate yourself on your options
4. Second opinions are a good idea
5. Let other people help and tell them how (this is hard)
6. Let go of the guilt (neither you nor the chocolate you ate did this)
7. Contact others who have a similar diagnosis
8. Get fresh air every day and stay active
9. Don't give up good distractions - working, volunteering, hobbies
10. Embrace the big picture and let the small stuff go
11. Take this opportunity to put yourself first (this is hard for me too)
12. Let this process change you for the better; this will make you stronger
All good advice that I will try to follow.
Some of the rest of the day was taken up with getting myself more "regular" - I promise I will not go into detail!
We had takeout from Mo's restaurant again tonight. Fish Tacos and salad. Just don't feel like eating out in a restaurant - I am still a bit self conscious in my little caps. Food was OK -still can't taste much anyway.
More posts to follow on Weds, Thursday soon - maybe not tonight though...
Love you guys,
Jan.
The Oregon Coast Day I Monday
Monday was the day we both had been looking forward to -vacation for 5 whole days away from work and chores. We had some last minute packing to do in the morning, so we were ready to go a little before 10am. I wanted to take a picture of the herb/vegetable/flower garden in the back, so I could look at it for inspiration on the trip. Well I was looking down at the camera when I walked through the kitchen and I didn't see the cat at his food dish. Yep, I stepped on his tail, he howled, hissed and turned around to bite the bejesus out of my big toe - right where the toenail meets the flesh - owee!! When he realized it was me, he turned a little smile on me and walked out the door. I was a little worried about getting an infection or me infecting him - but all seems to be well. (We're both up to date on our shots).
Anyway, the drive down to Oregon was pretty good - nice day. We stopped in Astoria for lunch at the pub for fish and chips. Eating meals is a challenge because I have no appetite, but I spied the senior menu - thought that that might be the right amount. Whoaaa...still way too much food, but luckily Frank is happy to oblige finishing off the rest of my order. He is not interested in ordering from the Senior menu - no sir..
After that we cruised through the outlet mall and did a little shopping at Safeway before checking into our room about 4pm . Nice unit with a view of Haystack Rock and the ocean - it's a studio with a kitchenette and a Pull down Murphy bed. Works fine for us.We got in a brisk walk to Haystack and back. We decided to order dinner from Mo's restaurant across the parking lot - we both got the Shrimp Medley - it was Cajun shrimp skewers, shrimp salad and shrimp cocktail - whole lotta shrimp - again way too much food for me- but I have my handy dandy husband/trash compactor along, so nothing goes to waste! I tried to have a little Pinot Noir - we were in Oregon for god's sake - just can't stomach it! So..again Frank got my share of the Elk Cove Pinot Noir this night.
I wanted to stay up and enjoy the view from the deck, but way too tired. Fell asleep around 11pm.
Plenty more days to enjoy Cannon beach, so I gave into the pillow.
More vacation posts to follow.
Jan
Monday, May 14, 2012
Recapping the Weekend
It was a busy and beautiful weekend; a lot happened and I am looking forward to this week on vacation.
On Friday night after I posted, Frank came home and gave me a head shave. I have to say it is weird looking at yourself without any hair. I was reminded of how much I look like my Dad as I have the same haircut that Frank used to give him when he was at the nursing home.
Anyway, since the wigs had arrived I was able to try them on. It is amazing how good they look. The "Michelle" wig looks very much how my hair looked once I came home from the hairdresser. The color is exactly right and the style is very similar. It is fairly comfortable. The other wig, "Hope" is a bit different than my regular style - a bit longer in the back and longer bangs that swoop to the side. The kids think I look younger in this one..hmmm.. I have to figure out how to wear this one as I am not used to longer hair. I will alternate wearing the wigs with the caps; so far I am only going "au naturel" around the house - don't want to scare anybody with the shiney head.
On Saturday morning I woke up with a worse headache - yikes not used to wearing stuff on my head I guess. The doctor said I should not take Motrin, so I tried the Migraine medicine with Tylenol and it went away. It has not come back and that is great.
Frank and I went to visit his folks and to bring food we had frozen in the "Seal a Meal" for them. Kathy and Joahnn are in Germany for a few weeks, so we wanted to catch up with them. They seem to be faring well. Vyerl knew right away I was wearing a wig, but Frank did not. (Guess that is the difference between women and men.)
Saturday evening we had a get together here for Mother's day since Ryan and Nancy were working on Sunday. We had Chinese take out and sat around the back yard since it was such a nice evening . The kids gave me lots of nice stuff - the gifts seem to be a bit different now that there are a couple of girls in the family!
Sunday morning, we have a visit from Mr Terry Y at the back door! He's delivering a major breakfast from Panera bread complete with egg souffles (omelet in a croissant), fresh fruit and bagels. Chantal, Frank and I had breakfast with him and there were tons of leftovers - wow - very good. He also had another bag of "chemo" caps for me. Terry, you are too nice.
Frank spent the day finishing up staining the deck so we could sit out there for dinner and it would be ready to finish setting up when we get home from Oregon on Friday. It looks great.
I spent the day shopping and cleaning the house between a couple of short ten minute naps. The steroid medication they have me take for three days, does get me a bit hyper, but not nearly as much as the last go round. I am till making lists, but they are not as long as the last time! Don't seem to have much nausea thanks to the other medication, so am hoping this time will go smoothly.
We are headed out for Cannon Beach this morning - looking forward to getting away for a few days of rest and relaxation. We're bringing books and videos and will walk on the beach, sleep in (hopefully) and take it easy.
I may not be able to post the blog for a few days; we'll see how the WiFi works with the laptop down there at the Tolovana Inn. (I'm not too good typing out paragraphs of stuff on the IPhone!)
Lotsa love
Jam
On Friday night after I posted, Frank came home and gave me a head shave. I have to say it is weird looking at yourself without any hair. I was reminded of how much I look like my Dad as I have the same haircut that Frank used to give him when he was at the nursing home.
Anyway, since the wigs had arrived I was able to try them on. It is amazing how good they look. The "Michelle" wig looks very much how my hair looked once I came home from the hairdresser. The color is exactly right and the style is very similar. It is fairly comfortable. The other wig, "Hope" is a bit different than my regular style - a bit longer in the back and longer bangs that swoop to the side. The kids think I look younger in this one..hmmm.. I have to figure out how to wear this one as I am not used to longer hair. I will alternate wearing the wigs with the caps; so far I am only going "au naturel" around the house - don't want to scare anybody with the shiney head.
On Saturday morning I woke up with a worse headache - yikes not used to wearing stuff on my head I guess. The doctor said I should not take Motrin, so I tried the Migraine medicine with Tylenol and it went away. It has not come back and that is great.
Frank and I went to visit his folks and to bring food we had frozen in the "Seal a Meal" for them. Kathy and Joahnn are in Germany for a few weeks, so we wanted to catch up with them. They seem to be faring well. Vyerl knew right away I was wearing a wig, but Frank did not. (Guess that is the difference between women and men.)
Saturday evening we had a get together here for Mother's day since Ryan and Nancy were working on Sunday. We had Chinese take out and sat around the back yard since it was such a nice evening . The kids gave me lots of nice stuff - the gifts seem to be a bit different now that there are a couple of girls in the family!
Sunday morning, we have a visit from Mr Terry Y at the back door! He's delivering a major breakfast from Panera bread complete with egg souffles (omelet in a croissant), fresh fruit and bagels. Chantal, Frank and I had breakfast with him and there were tons of leftovers - wow - very good. He also had another bag of "chemo" caps for me. Terry, you are too nice.
Frank spent the day finishing up staining the deck so we could sit out there for dinner and it would be ready to finish setting up when we get home from Oregon on Friday. It looks great.
I spent the day shopping and cleaning the house between a couple of short ten minute naps. The steroid medication they have me take for three days, does get me a bit hyper, but not nearly as much as the last go round. I am till making lists, but they are not as long as the last time! Don't seem to have much nausea thanks to the other medication, so am hoping this time will go smoothly.
We are headed out for Cannon Beach this morning - looking forward to getting away for a few days of rest and relaxation. We're bringing books and videos and will walk on the beach, sleep in (hopefully) and take it easy.
I may not be able to post the blog for a few days; we'll see how the WiFi works with the laptop down there at the Tolovana Inn. (I'm not too good typing out paragraphs of stuff on the IPhone!)
Lotsa love
Jam
Friday, May 11, 2012
Catching up - Friday Chemo Day
Wow - I didn't realize I hadn't posted since Tuesday - very very busy with work - it's got me worn out!
Neat things from yesterday
~ I got to walk with my friend Kass who has just recovered from her second hip surgery - she is doing great and looks really good.
~I got a package in the mail with lots of "chemo caps" to try out. I remembered that I am not really a hat person so it is going to take some getting used to.
~I got another package in the mail from my wonderful nephew Nick - get this - very high tech - USB powered fingerless warmer gloves! How awesome is that? They are a Japansese product - so clever. I will never have to suffer with freezing fingers on the computer again thanks to New York Nick. (Soon to be Frisco Nick) - thank you so much.
I was somewhat dreading today because I had so much work to finish in 2 1/2 hours before I headed out for my chemo appointment. But, I got it all done and I am not going to look at my work computer until Monday, May 21st - yee haw! Wow - I am officially on vacation!
I had blood work done today, met with my new Oncologist, Dr. Chen and had my 2nd chemo session with the red and clear stuff. Dr. Chen is very nice and knowledgeable - but he says I have to have at least two more chemo sessions before they decide what to do after that - Waaaaa!! I guess I should have known that two was not going to cut it - I was just hoping..
The really, really neat part of this day was when I came into the lobby of the Oncology clinic and there was my good buddy, Heather. I just about cried when I saw her and immediately called her by a name I hadn't said in a long time - Heath-ey poo! We totally got caught up on what's going on with her and her family - it's so neat when you see a good friend that you haven't seen in a long time and you just remember why you liked them so much. Visiting with her just made the whole thing go by really fast. They even served us lunch - not too bad!
After that, I went and picked up all my medications - whew! I think I might be able to claim the medical expenses on the income tax return this year.
When I got home, there were two deliveries - Flowers from the friends at work, and then came the FEDEX truck with the wigs from TLC! So... I think it is time for me to have Frank shave my head and I can try them out. Then I can be a different person - one says "Michelle" and one says "Hope". Maybe I will turn into a different person when I put them on. Or......I can blame all my bad behavior on Michelle or Hope - you know - Michelle made me do it - or it was all Hope's fault - what do you think? :-)
To the commenters - thanks a lot! Was it hard figuring out how to do it? Would one of you share how it works? I think some people might not get it. Terry - jokes are......interesting! :-) B - I am now very intrigued for the package in the mail....hmmmm... Michael - I appreciate your thoughts.
Well now I am tired and it is time for the old lady's afternoon nap. It's going to be a beautiful evening and a beautiful weekend. Happy Mothers day to all the moms and to all the "mothers" out there.
Love ya lots,
Jan
Neat things from yesterday
~ I got to walk with my friend Kass who has just recovered from her second hip surgery - she is doing great and looks really good.
~I got a package in the mail with lots of "chemo caps" to try out. I remembered that I am not really a hat person so it is going to take some getting used to.
~I got another package in the mail from my wonderful nephew Nick - get this - very high tech - USB powered fingerless warmer gloves! How awesome is that? They are a Japansese product - so clever. I will never have to suffer with freezing fingers on the computer again thanks to New York Nick. (Soon to be Frisco Nick) - thank you so much.
I was somewhat dreading today because I had so much work to finish in 2 1/2 hours before I headed out for my chemo appointment. But, I got it all done and I am not going to look at my work computer until Monday, May 21st - yee haw! Wow - I am officially on vacation!
I had blood work done today, met with my new Oncologist, Dr. Chen and had my 2nd chemo session with the red and clear stuff. Dr. Chen is very nice and knowledgeable - but he says I have to have at least two more chemo sessions before they decide what to do after that - Waaaaa!! I guess I should have known that two was not going to cut it - I was just hoping..
The really, really neat part of this day was when I came into the lobby of the Oncology clinic and there was my good buddy, Heather. I just about cried when I saw her and immediately called her by a name I hadn't said in a long time - Heath-ey poo! We totally got caught up on what's going on with her and her family - it's so neat when you see a good friend that you haven't seen in a long time and you just remember why you liked them so much. Visiting with her just made the whole thing go by really fast. They even served us lunch - not too bad!
After that, I went and picked up all my medications - whew! I think I might be able to claim the medical expenses on the income tax return this year.
When I got home, there were two deliveries - Flowers from the friends at work, and then came the FEDEX truck with the wigs from TLC! So... I think it is time for me to have Frank shave my head and I can try them out. Then I can be a different person - one says "Michelle" and one says "Hope". Maybe I will turn into a different person when I put them on. Or......I can blame all my bad behavior on Michelle or Hope - you know - Michelle made me do it - or it was all Hope's fault - what do you think? :-)
To the commenters - thanks a lot! Was it hard figuring out how to do it? Would one of you share how it works? I think some people might not get it. Terry - jokes are......interesting! :-) B - I am now very intrigued for the package in the mail....hmmmm... Michael - I appreciate your thoughts.
Well now I am tired and it is time for the old lady's afternoon nap. It's going to be a beautiful evening and a beautiful weekend. Happy Mothers day to all the moms and to all the "mothers" out there.
Love ya lots,
Jan
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Tuesday
Well, I made it through 2 days at the office; tomorrow one of our agents who was out the last two days is back in and she has a major head cold - I am going to have to work from home through the end of the week to avoid getting that nasty virus - bummer!
Still feeling fairly normal; just tired.
Every flat surface in the house seems to be covered with hair - I am afraid to touch it because every time I do, another long wad comes off.
Michael - I appreciate the idea about saving my hair for a wig - I wish I would have thought of that earlier - there's not really enough of it now and it is looking pretty ratty.
Due to Terry's generous gift certificate to the TLC store I have a shipment coming by the end of the week - will be trying out some new looks. Can't wait!
Terry - thanks for all the jokes and comments - love the one liners - especially the Irish joke! Keep em coming!
Cheers,
Jan
Still feeling fairly normal; just tired.
Every flat surface in the house seems to be covered with hair - I am afraid to touch it because every time I do, another long wad comes off.
Michael - I appreciate the idea about saving my hair for a wig - I wish I would have thought of that earlier - there's not really enough of it now and it is looking pretty ratty.
Due to Terry's generous gift certificate to the TLC store I have a shipment coming by the end of the week - will be trying out some new looks. Can't wait!
Terry - thanks for all the jokes and comments - love the one liners - especially the Irish joke! Keep em coming!
Cheers,
Jan
Sunday, May 6, 2012
The Weekend
The weekend was nice; many visitors and I felt lotsa love coming my way.
First of all, the plans for the wig "fitting" were cancelled as I looked at the cost for purchasing from Anton and it ranged from $1500-$2500. I don't think they could make me look that good for that price, so have opted out of this plan for a little while. Frank has convinced me that most of the chemo patients he sees do not wear wigs - the cute little hats are what they go for.
Since we were not going to the wig fitting, Frank and I decided to take a trip to my favorite place in Redmond - the Saturday Market. They had just opened up for the season and it was so good to go back there to purchase our organic vegetables and fruits. I always get a little sad when they close up for the season at the end of October.
Saturday was also highlighted with a visit from Paul and Doreen - bearing grandparent gifts. Kevin and Nancy were over for an Italian dinner. Very nice company.
Lo and behold on Saturday, comes a package in the mail - Terry Yamaguchi has sent me a gift certificate to TLC - the American Cancer Society catalog that carries hats wigs, and other supplies! What a nice gift and just in time. I am planning to order from them.
Sunday we had a nice visit from my cousin Alan, his wife Rebecca and their precocious first grader Sam. They delivered a yummy looking Ginger Chicken, Rice and vegie dish.
Fritz and Terry Yamaguchi were over for lunch - bearing more gifts of flowers, cookbooks, hats, food and more. . And....Terry has shaved his head....wow.....it's amazing.
My friends and relatives - you are so kind and generous it touches my heart.
I feel good tonight - no fever, heartburn or nausea. I am going to try to work all week in the office.
Oh, and don't worry if I haven't posted a blog on one day or another...things might just be too busy.
Love ya,
Jan
First of all, the plans for the wig "fitting" were cancelled as I looked at the cost for purchasing from Anton and it ranged from $1500-$2500. I don't think they could make me look that good for that price, so have opted out of this plan for a little while. Frank has convinced me that most of the chemo patients he sees do not wear wigs - the cute little hats are what they go for.
Since we were not going to the wig fitting, Frank and I decided to take a trip to my favorite place in Redmond - the Saturday Market. They had just opened up for the season and it was so good to go back there to purchase our organic vegetables and fruits. I always get a little sad when they close up for the season at the end of October.
Saturday was also highlighted with a visit from Paul and Doreen - bearing grandparent gifts. Kevin and Nancy were over for an Italian dinner. Very nice company.
Lo and behold on Saturday, comes a package in the mail - Terry Yamaguchi has sent me a gift certificate to TLC - the American Cancer Society catalog that carries hats wigs, and other supplies! What a nice gift and just in time. I am planning to order from them.
Sunday we had a nice visit from my cousin Alan, his wife Rebecca and their precocious first grader Sam. They delivered a yummy looking Ginger Chicken, Rice and vegie dish.
Fritz and Terry Yamaguchi were over for lunch - bearing more gifts of flowers, cookbooks, hats, food and more. . And....Terry has shaved his head....wow.....it's amazing.
My friends and relatives - you are so kind and generous it touches my heart.
I feel good tonight - no fever, heartburn or nausea. I am going to try to work all week in the office.
Oh, and don't worry if I haven't posted a blog on one day or another...things might just be too busy.
Love ya,
Jan
Friday, May 4, 2012
Friday - Woo hoo!
Today was good because
1. I did not have to take any Zantac - ate my breakfast with no stomach pain whatsoever
2. No fever
3. Well, duh, it's Friday!
Working at home for 4 straight days makes me miss the office - weird! Ryan and Chantal left for Cannon Beach, so there was no one to talk to except the cat and my customers. The cat does not talk back; customers talk too much. I think I will go back in Monday.
I don't like all the hair coming off my comb - loads and loads - and the front is starting to look like a dude's combover! :-(
So my friend Karen thinks I should recycle my hair - wow yeah - can't let all the beautiful stuff go to waste. She is talking about stuffing it down gopher holes - would never have thought of that!
Does anyone else have any ideas for recycling hair?
Yes, looking forward to the weekend and checking out the wigs.
I am going to try not to overdo it like I usually do on the weekend - going to still try to stay away from the general public - no mingling at WalMart or other suspicious venues.
Oh, just realized - today was the day we were going to leave for France - bummer....
I guess I just have to try to eat some Mexican food and celebrate another country!
Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Jan
1. I did not have to take any Zantac - ate my breakfast with no stomach pain whatsoever
2. No fever
3. Well, duh, it's Friday!
Working at home for 4 straight days makes me miss the office - weird! Ryan and Chantal left for Cannon Beach, so there was no one to talk to except the cat and my customers. The cat does not talk back; customers talk too much. I think I will go back in Monday.
I don't like all the hair coming off my comb - loads and loads - and the front is starting to look like a dude's combover! :-(
So my friend Karen thinks I should recycle my hair - wow yeah - can't let all the beautiful stuff go to waste. She is talking about stuffing it down gopher holes - would never have thought of that!
Does anyone else have any ideas for recycling hair?
Yes, looking forward to the weekend and checking out the wigs.
I am going to try not to overdo it like I usually do on the weekend - going to still try to stay away from the general public - no mingling at WalMart or other suspicious venues.
Oh, just realized - today was the day we were going to leave for France - bummer....
I guess I just have to try to eat some Mexican food and celebrate another country!
Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Jan
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Thursday
Today was pretty good, I feel like I am getting a bit stronger and was actually hungry for dinner! Woo hoo! Too bad it was not too exciting - chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese - the ultimate kid's meal. The only thing missing was the jello and the m&m's.
I am still running a bit of a temp - 100.0 - so I worked from home yesterday and today and will again tomorrow - just want to shake this thing. There is a lot of hair coming off my comb today and lots more showing up in the sink. I have an appointment with Anton the wigman on Saturday - oh boy! New look soon!
Something I wanted to put in here - my very awesome niece, Laura is running in the Rock and Roll Marathon for the American Cancer Society - yes she will be running 26 miles! Here is the link to her page if you want to check her out: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=26501154&pg=personal&fr_id=44620&fl=en_US&et=CjNVLkc6linPbW9MoE48jA&s_tafId=925614
I am still running a bit of a temp - 100.0 - so I worked from home yesterday and today and will again tomorrow - just want to shake this thing. There is a lot of hair coming off my comb today and lots more showing up in the sink. I have an appointment with Anton the wigman on Saturday - oh boy! New look soon!
Something I wanted to put in here - my very awesome niece, Laura is running in the Rock and Roll Marathon for the American Cancer Society - yes she will be running 26 miles! Here is the link to her page if you want to check her out: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=26501154&pg=personal&fr_id=44620&fl=en_US&et=CjNVLkc6linPbW9MoE48jA&s_tafId=925614
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Tuesday - better than Monday
Working from home today - SO much better! Nice to be ten steps from the bathroom and bedroom.
Still getting the chills, and a bit of a temp, so I bundled up with gloves, heavy sweater and socks. I actually got pretty good typing with gloves - every now and then I would get this message: Did you forget your password?
I am now building a corner of the kitchen counter with pharmaceuticals - I have a whole slew of stuff including Zantac Maximum strength, Levofloxacin (Cipro) antibiotic, Tylenol, Probiotic tablets and Viscous Lidocaine to mix with Maalox - this makes the concoction known as "Snot in a cloud". This last one has Frank out of his mind with excitement. You basically mix an antacid with this thick clear gunk, about the consistency of well...snot...and toss it down the hatch. The result is that it numbs up your esophagus and relieves the heartburn so you can eventually eat! I'm saving it for a special occasion.
Funny things for the day:
~Someone name Edna called me and stated: "I ordered a certificate for a "Bottomless Mimosa" from you guys and I haven't gotten it!" Huh??? I'm pretty sure she had the wrong company, but I should have asked her to call me back and let me know where you get that. Wonder if it comes with a self test breathalyzer kit and a lawyer referral?
~Frank emails me and tells me he's getting a haircut - I beg him not to shave his head. He says he was thinking about getting a "reverse mohawk"....what??? You'll have to come by and see what it looks like.
~Guillermo the cat decided to join me for my afternoon nap - he's been rather distant lately and it was nice to have him cuddle up with me on the bed. No sooner had he settled in, than I smelled the worst kitty cat fart! What the heck, Guillermo???? I think we need to change to cat food....
Good things for the day:
~My friend Kathy showed up at the door during her lunch break - bringing hugs and Probiotics. She had a hug from Birgit in China and another one from her. Her company is the premier source for Probiotics - they sell to Trader Joe, Rite Aid, Kroger, GNC, WalMart, etc. It was great to catch up with her and here her laugh.
~In the mail, I have a joke book from Steve Ducharme - "The Greatest Joke Book Ever" - always good to get new material!
~Lots of nice emails from folks near and far - thanks to you all for your love and support.
Au revoir!
Still getting the chills, and a bit of a temp, so I bundled up with gloves, heavy sweater and socks. I actually got pretty good typing with gloves - every now and then I would get this message: Did you forget your password?
I am now building a corner of the kitchen counter with pharmaceuticals - I have a whole slew of stuff including Zantac Maximum strength, Levofloxacin (Cipro) antibiotic, Tylenol, Probiotic tablets and Viscous Lidocaine to mix with Maalox - this makes the concoction known as "Snot in a cloud". This last one has Frank out of his mind with excitement. You basically mix an antacid with this thick clear gunk, about the consistency of well...snot...and toss it down the hatch. The result is that it numbs up your esophagus and relieves the heartburn so you can eventually eat! I'm saving it for a special occasion.
Funny things for the day:
~Someone name Edna called me and stated: "I ordered a certificate for a "Bottomless Mimosa" from you guys and I haven't gotten it!" Huh??? I'm pretty sure she had the wrong company, but I should have asked her to call me back and let me know where you get that. Wonder if it comes with a self test breathalyzer kit and a lawyer referral?
~Frank emails me and tells me he's getting a haircut - I beg him not to shave his head. He says he was thinking about getting a "reverse mohawk"....what??? You'll have to come by and see what it looks like.
~Guillermo the cat decided to join me for my afternoon nap - he's been rather distant lately and it was nice to have him cuddle up with me on the bed. No sooner had he settled in, than I smelled the worst kitty cat fart! What the heck, Guillermo???? I think we need to change to cat food....
Good things for the day:
~My friend Kathy showed up at the door during her lunch break - bringing hugs and Probiotics. She had a hug from Birgit in China and another one from her. Her company is the premier source for Probiotics - they sell to Trader Joe, Rite Aid, Kroger, GNC, WalMart, etc. It was great to catch up with her and here her laugh.
~In the mail, I have a joke book from Steve Ducharme - "The Greatest Joke Book Ever" - always good to get new material!
~Lots of nice emails from folks near and far - thanks to you all for your love and support.
Au revoir!
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