We are moving up. Up to more normal temperatures. I don't remember being cold in the house even when we lived in Wyoming. I know this house is insulated as we did the insulating ourselves. New windows and doors, attic insulation and walls, all done to help with the a/c bills and to add comfort to living in this house. Then why am I feeling so cold in here. The thermostat is set at 73 degrees and the windows are draftless. I still need a thin blanket when lounging around. I think it comes from living so far south for so long. I'm just not accustomed to cold temperatures and usually we only endure a day to two and then it's back to what we term "normal for this time of year." I'm not in a hurry to revisit summer quite yet. Actually, I prefer the winters here.
I watched as a neighbor pulled his truck out onto the street from his driveway. He then put it in park and climbed out on the running board to scrape ice off his windshied; a sight you don't see often here. Yes, ma'm..it's what "we" call "cold".
Tomorrow I have an appointment for a CT scan and to get dotted and marked for the radiation treatments. Stepping on down this path, toward 30 days of radiation treatments and even before the end of these, I will find out what the oncologist doctor has in store for me. I'm sure it's more chemo, either by mouth or IV. I'm just hoping what she orders won't take my hair again. I actually have hair. It barely touches the tops of my ears. I'll think it's really long when it reaches my ear lobes. I have entertained the thought of keeping it "ear lobe" length. Maintaining it would be a breeze. Do I really need hair that needs a lot of attention? As it is now, I seldom wear a wig when I go out and if I'm wearing a hat it's because it's cold and not to hide my head condition. I never get a second look; I'm not sure people even pay attention. As long as I have eyeliner and brow pencil, a touch of lip stick and a fragrance, I feel dressed and up for anything. Speaking of hair, the chin whiskers are now demanding notice along with the hair on my legs. Yes, things are returning to normal in the hair department here.
I'm on my way to collect Carrie from school this afternoon so I'm going to catch an hour's nap before it's time to go.
That will be two times that I will be out of this house today. Had I had the opportunity to stay indoors I would have been appreciative!
I'm cold. I'm beneath a blanket and I'm almost asleep!
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
No Toe Test needed!
OMGosh..Mardi Gras season is already upon us. Do we just skip right over Valentine's day? It's only January and I still have the Christmas tree and door wreaths sitting boxed up and ready for storage on my patio.
The Mardi Gras flags are being hoisted today. I'll exchange my Christmas wreath with my green, purple and gold Mardi Gras one.
There is a wind chill here of 14 degrees! 27 degrees here and a very slight improvement today and we are all stunned. It's the south for cripes sake and we are not supposed to get this cold.
Tuesday: Another cold morning but one where I will be leaving this house to take Carrie to school this morning. Yesterday afternoon we went to the nail salon for our pedicures. Carrie was so looking forward to this. She loves doing girly things. The daughter, myself and Carrie sank back into our high backed massage chairs and plunged our feet into extremely warm water. Each one of us opted for different applications. The daughter went for French nails while I did the deep burgundy and Carrie chose black. I tried to dissuade her and suggested a soft pink. She wasn't having any of it although she did do her fingernails in French nails making me one half happy about her decisions. Her mother says "It's her pedicure. She can choose what color makes her happy. Nobody is going to see them but her."
It was after 1900 hrs. before we got home and the temperatures had taken a nose dive with the wind gusting and persuading the weather to feel even colder then it actually was. Had it not been for a "family thing" this having our nails done, I would have opted out on this outing.
I still had to finish the meal of chicken and dumplings when I got home.
Tuesday bedtime: It has been a start and stop on this post. It is now after 2000 hrs. and I'm ready to get some sleep. Getting out of bed at 0330 this morning prohibits me from staying awake a few hours past dusk.
I'm gone. Sleep looks good.
The Mardi Gras flags are being hoisted today. I'll exchange my Christmas wreath with my green, purple and gold Mardi Gras one.
There is a wind chill here of 14 degrees! 27 degrees here and a very slight improvement today and we are all stunned. It's the south for cripes sake and we are not supposed to get this cold.
Tuesday: Another cold morning but one where I will be leaving this house to take Carrie to school this morning. Yesterday afternoon we went to the nail salon for our pedicures. Carrie was so looking forward to this. She loves doing girly things. The daughter, myself and Carrie sank back into our high backed massage chairs and plunged our feet into extremely warm water. Each one of us opted for different applications. The daughter went for French nails while I did the deep burgundy and Carrie chose black. I tried to dissuade her and suggested a soft pink. She wasn't having any of it although she did do her fingernails in French nails making me one half happy about her decisions. Her mother says "It's her pedicure. She can choose what color makes her happy. Nobody is going to see them but her."
It was after 1900 hrs. before we got home and the temperatures had taken a nose dive with the wind gusting and persuading the weather to feel even colder then it actually was. Had it not been for a "family thing" this having our nails done, I would have opted out on this outing.
I still had to finish the meal of chicken and dumplings when I got home.
Tuesday bedtime: It has been a start and stop on this post. It is now after 2000 hrs. and I'm ready to get some sleep. Getting out of bed at 0330 this morning prohibits me from staying awake a few hours past dusk.
I'm gone. Sleep looks good.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
January 3; Radiation Oncologist
Another cold morning inspired me to crank up the car and let it warm up before I headed off to the store to get some creamer for our coffee. The husband stays in bed, while I'm up and out of the house and to the market at 0500. It's the best time to shop. There is almost no body in the stores and I can zip down the aisles and out of the store to the front row parking spot that was available upon my arrival. Except for the chill in the air, marketing early is the only way to go.
Back home, I dumped the creamer and the English muffins on the breakfast bar and headed for the shower. I have a doctors' appointment at 0900 hrs. It's shower time! I can be in and out of the shower and dressed in record time and ready to go since I don't have to worry about a hair style. I have one style and it's a wash and wear one. It is now long enough to pinch between my fingers. Soft as a puppy's fur, it outlines my face. My face now has a stopping point. I can no longer be described as "she has a "high forehead", something usually reserved for commenting on a man with a very receding hairline.
The Cyper Knife Center is my destination. Did the person or the group providing a name for this facility realize how discomforting that name is to patients?
We settled into our seats in the waiting room after notifying the front desk that we had arrived. Soon the "lady with the clipboard" arrived and requested my signature in three places. I'm sure I was signing my promise to pay. That always comes first when you enter any health care unit.
A short wait and we were ushered to the back where we took up residence in a small clean room. Two chairs and an exam table on one side while a small black stool and a computer claimed the opposite wall.
The doctor approaching this office could have substituted for a model. A tall slim long legged blonde strode down the hall and into our exam room. She held out her hand and introduced herself. Hand shakes and names were exchanged and she took her seat on that small round black swivel stool.
My emotions always run wild each time I enter back into the world of chemo, cancer and more tests. I was teary as usual and immediately informed this doctor to just ignore my tears and continue on with her job. This emotional exhibit appears to be something I can't control so I just go with it now. It only happens on exam days when I have to fully embrace this diagnosis. A few days from now, I will be able to shuffle it to the small storage space in my brain where I can forget about it for a while.
She explained and answered all our questions. She was very patient and unrushed. I will be called sometime next week with an appointment to have a CT scan. During that time a pin dot tattoo will be placed on my chest wall to guide the rad techs on where to do the radiation. My first tattoo. Maybe I can get them to do a grid of those dots and on boring days we can use my chest wall to play "hang man".
The granddaughter is very excited.
She said "Hey Nana, if you are getting a tattoo, does this mean I can get one too."
A resounding NO, Lessie. You cannot get a tattoo!"
Elise or "lessie" as we call her has been forbidden to mark her body with ink. She is 24 years old and ink free. Her mother has threatened her with being disowned should she appear with scribblings on her skin. She is subject to do a "raise your shirt so we can check for tattoos" searches.
(*continued on Saturday)
Oh, damn..it's cold. Where are those mild winter days we usually enjoy? At least the roads are dry and the sun is shining and we can look forward to mid 60's today.
It's time to take down the Christmas wreaths from the front of the house. I've been waiting for it to warm up a bit so I can go out in my bare feet. I might have to give up and put on a pair of shoes.
My winter selection of clothes is getting a workout this year. Usually sweaters and jeans are something I barely use so I seldom shop for new winter clothes. I may venture forth today and look for some sales on sweaters and pants and a pair of boots to wear with them. My little slippers worn sockless are just not cutting it this year and I look silly wearing sneakers with a nice pair of dress pants. Even my shoe collection is geared toward summers here.
I'm off to unload the dishwasher and do some morning chores and wait for it to get a little warmer before I step out into the environment.
I'm done here!
Back home, I dumped the creamer and the English muffins on the breakfast bar and headed for the shower. I have a doctors' appointment at 0900 hrs. It's shower time! I can be in and out of the shower and dressed in record time and ready to go since I don't have to worry about a hair style. I have one style and it's a wash and wear one. It is now long enough to pinch between my fingers. Soft as a puppy's fur, it outlines my face. My face now has a stopping point. I can no longer be described as "she has a "high forehead", something usually reserved for commenting on a man with a very receding hairline.
The Cyper Knife Center is my destination. Did the person or the group providing a name for this facility realize how discomforting that name is to patients?
We settled into our seats in the waiting room after notifying the front desk that we had arrived. Soon the "lady with the clipboard" arrived and requested my signature in three places. I'm sure I was signing my promise to pay. That always comes first when you enter any health care unit.
A short wait and we were ushered to the back where we took up residence in a small clean room. Two chairs and an exam table on one side while a small black stool and a computer claimed the opposite wall.
The doctor approaching this office could have substituted for a model. A tall slim long legged blonde strode down the hall and into our exam room. She held out her hand and introduced herself. Hand shakes and names were exchanged and she took her seat on that small round black swivel stool.
My emotions always run wild each time I enter back into the world of chemo, cancer and more tests. I was teary as usual and immediately informed this doctor to just ignore my tears and continue on with her job. This emotional exhibit appears to be something I can't control so I just go with it now. It only happens on exam days when I have to fully embrace this diagnosis. A few days from now, I will be able to shuffle it to the small storage space in my brain where I can forget about it for a while.
She explained and answered all our questions. She was very patient and unrushed. I will be called sometime next week with an appointment to have a CT scan. During that time a pin dot tattoo will be placed on my chest wall to guide the rad techs on where to do the radiation. My first tattoo. Maybe I can get them to do a grid of those dots and on boring days we can use my chest wall to play "hang man".
The granddaughter is very excited.
She said "Hey Nana, if you are getting a tattoo, does this mean I can get one too."
A resounding NO, Lessie. You cannot get a tattoo!"
Elise or "lessie" as we call her has been forbidden to mark her body with ink. She is 24 years old and ink free. Her mother has threatened her with being disowned should she appear with scribblings on her skin. She is subject to do a "raise your shirt so we can check for tattoos" searches.
(*continued on Saturday)
Oh, damn..it's cold. Where are those mild winter days we usually enjoy? At least the roads are dry and the sun is shining and we can look forward to mid 60's today.
It's time to take down the Christmas wreaths from the front of the house. I've been waiting for it to warm up a bit so I can go out in my bare feet. I might have to give up and put on a pair of shoes.
My winter selection of clothes is getting a workout this year. Usually sweaters and jeans are something I barely use so I seldom shop for new winter clothes. I may venture forth today and look for some sales on sweaters and pants and a pair of boots to wear with them. My little slippers worn sockless are just not cutting it this year and I look silly wearing sneakers with a nice pair of dress pants. Even my shoe collection is geared toward summers here.
I'm off to unload the dishwasher and do some morning chores and wait for it to get a little warmer before I step out into the environment.
I'm done here!
Thursday, January 2, 2014
1/1/2014 done on 1/2/2014
I knew it was New Year's Eve. I felt not one inclination to get dressed up and head to a party. I've passed the stage where waking up with a hangover is something I want to cope with. Hanging out with a bunch of inebriated folks is another thing I avoid. Going out to a bar is something we stopped doing years ago when the bouncers at the bars, hired for that one night of muscle, became so intent on flexing said muscle and badgered the patrons hoping for a rumble. The bouncers were more dangerous then the patrons of the night.
I think a lot of people now celebrate at home by watching a good movie and some popcorn. The fear of losing one's life on the roads if not by some over zealous bouncer equals the home celebrations or maybe it's just the fact that my age and those of friends and acquaintances cloud my survey of this situation?
I discovered a wonderful TV series on Saturday. A marathon of Breaking Bad was airing for New Years Eve and I settled in to watch a few episodes of this series that I had heard people raving about. Be aware, this series is no longer being filmed. It's run has ended. I settled in to watch about half way through the pilot. After a few episodes I was hooked. My reasoning for stopping the viewing of the presentation offered on this marathon. I decided to check out Net Flix and dial in to the pilot episode since I had started watching about midway and then watch all the episodes that follow. For two days I watched nothing but the Net Flix offerings. When I get to the final season and the eight episodes offered, three days had passed with me watching TV non stop. New Years came and went with me glued to the television.
The final episode! Number eight! I was crushed by the lousy ending. The husband, who had been watching along with me was puzzled by the less then stellar ending to a stellar show.
Me? I, of course went to the web to see what others were saying about this. Reading the comments, I realized there was more. More episodes that were not offered by Net Flix. Viewers were complaining about the final EIGHT episodes that were missing! You can imagine my displeasure after spending three days of non stop viewing to find I might have to wait a year for Net Flix to get the approval to add those episodes? NO! Unacceptable, so I kept surfing.
I found a link with some information. I could view those final 8 episodes if I were in Great Britain and on Net Flix. My problem, that goes without saying though I will, is that I'm NOT in Great Britain. Ah, but not to worry. Right there on the web was the answer to my problems. I read and took notes. It seems, and I'm here to verify, if you download Google chrome and open an app called "HOLA", you can then turn it "ON" and change your location to GR (Great Britain) and this allows one to view Net Flix from a GR ip. I held my breath and followed instructions and much to my dismay, it worked! Right there in front of me was another whole wasted day of watching those final episodes and that's exactly how I spend January 1, 2014! I had a wonderful New Year's Day and if this success was a portent of things to come in 2014, I shall be grateful.
Much success and happiness in the coming year.
Clinically: (It's time for a clinical report)
The incision sites are healed. I can move my arms in full range of motion. The burning sensation has all but disappeared from the right axillary area. That area remains devoid of sensations. My hair is growing back. In another month I will just appear as a "trendy" sort with my pixie "doo" that I'll spike upward to carry on the illusion.
I have an appointment with the radiation oncologist this Friday to set up the appointments for the radiation therapy. I'll know more after that meeting.
Happy New Year to One and ALL! and that's my first posting for this New Year.
I think a lot of people now celebrate at home by watching a good movie and some popcorn. The fear of losing one's life on the roads if not by some over zealous bouncer equals the home celebrations or maybe it's just the fact that my age and those of friends and acquaintances cloud my survey of this situation?
I discovered a wonderful TV series on Saturday. A marathon of Breaking Bad was airing for New Years Eve and I settled in to watch a few episodes of this series that I had heard people raving about. Be aware, this series is no longer being filmed. It's run has ended. I settled in to watch about half way through the pilot. After a few episodes I was hooked. My reasoning for stopping the viewing of the presentation offered on this marathon. I decided to check out Net Flix and dial in to the pilot episode since I had started watching about midway and then watch all the episodes that follow. For two days I watched nothing but the Net Flix offerings. When I get to the final season and the eight episodes offered, three days had passed with me watching TV non stop. New Years came and went with me glued to the television.
The final episode! Number eight! I was crushed by the lousy ending. The husband, who had been watching along with me was puzzled by the less then stellar ending to a stellar show.
Me? I, of course went to the web to see what others were saying about this. Reading the comments, I realized there was more. More episodes that were not offered by Net Flix. Viewers were complaining about the final EIGHT episodes that were missing! You can imagine my displeasure after spending three days of non stop viewing to find I might have to wait a year for Net Flix to get the approval to add those episodes? NO! Unacceptable, so I kept surfing.
I found a link with some information. I could view those final 8 episodes if I were in Great Britain and on Net Flix. My problem, that goes without saying though I will, is that I'm NOT in Great Britain. Ah, but not to worry. Right there on the web was the answer to my problems. I read and took notes. It seems, and I'm here to verify, if you download Google chrome and open an app called "HOLA", you can then turn it "ON" and change your location to GR (Great Britain) and this allows one to view Net Flix from a GR ip. I held my breath and followed instructions and much to my dismay, it worked! Right there in front of me was another whole wasted day of watching those final episodes and that's exactly how I spend January 1, 2014! I had a wonderful New Year's Day and if this success was a portent of things to come in 2014, I shall be grateful.
Much success and happiness in the coming year.
Clinically: (It's time for a clinical report)
The incision sites are healed. I can move my arms in full range of motion. The burning sensation has all but disappeared from the right axillary area. That area remains devoid of sensations. My hair is growing back. In another month I will just appear as a "trendy" sort with my pixie "doo" that I'll spike upward to carry on the illusion.
I have an appointment with the radiation oncologist this Friday to set up the appointments for the radiation therapy. I'll know more after that meeting.
Happy New Year to One and ALL! and that's my first posting for this New Year.
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