It's normal to be obsessed with a personal health problem. But I was just thinking about the fact that all of us, yes, ALL of us have something major going on in their lives.

After chemo on Tuesday, Hubby and I went to the hospital to visit an injured friend. Hubby had visited him a few times before, but I had previously been too tired to go. When I finally got to see Ken, I was really shocked. You see, this guy had the most sparkly blue eyes ever, and talked with a loud voice. He was always making jokes and helping others. If you needed to have some type of work done, he knew exactly who you could call. He knew everybody and had tons of friends. Then, a few weeks ago, he was delivering food to a shut-in. At the apartment complex, a dog ran up and bit him. His knee-jerk response was a verbal "That dog should be put down!" The dog's owner heard him, and came running. He then proceeded to tackle Ken, who fell on the ground, smacking his head on solid concrete. After a brief tussle, the man ran into his apartment and came out with a gun!. Ken managed to wrestle it away from the guy. Police came. Ken went home. And then the real trouble began. Ken was admitted to the hospital and underwent brain surgery for a brain bleed.

Our Ken is really having a horrible time of it. His beautiful blue eyes are now dull and blank. He has lost a lot of weight and speaks haltingly in a quiet tone. He has a long road ahead of him. His wife of two years, is holding up amazingly, but she is in turmoil. Please put your hands together and say a quick prayer for this young man and his family. Prayers DO work. 

Another person that I am concerned about is one of the techs that helps me with my chemo treatments at Ghosh Clinic. I had not seen the first few times I went for infusions, but she had worked there in the years I went for my cancer treatment (2013-2015). When I acknowledged her and said I hadn't seen her on my current previous days there, she remarked that she had been on leave for 3 months. I  asked her if she had been a patient there at Ghosh's, wondering if she was a cancer victim, too. She answered, "Not here. But at the University of Iowa hospital." Yipes! Come to find out that she had had a rare bone cancer and had bones fused in her neck. Her brain had also been involved in all this. I didn't quite get that part. Her gait was unsteady and she walked slowly, which will eventually come back. But, what a trooper! What a brave soul! 

I know some lovely people who are having some serious issues concerning relationships (you know who you are) and that is probably as nerve-wracking and critical as medical stuff. I am here for ya! 

So, many of you that are reading this have major stuff going on in your own lives. I may never know what, or how bad things may be for you. But it's true. Life is tough. That's why I want to say Thanks again for all the good wishes and prayers sent my way. I truly appreciate every kind thought.

And don't forget . . . life really is good.

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I'M ​HAPPY AS LONG AS I'M NOT HUNGRY.
                                                                               Unknown

But I am hungry. Everything tastes awful! It was not this bad the last time I went through chemo. Jeeze. 

This morning's breakfast was a few pieces of shredded wheat with a bit of milk, and lots of water to wash down the gazillion pills I have to take every day. Lunch was  few sips of Ginger Ale. Supper was a couple of scrambled eggs, and a bit more Ginger Ale, plus two large tablespoons of Vanilla Bean ice cream (and I don't particularly like ice cream to begin with but at least it wasn't disgusting!) I am hungry!!!!!!! But whenever I think of something that sounds good, I know it won't taste good. 

Friday night we ordered pizza 'cause granddaughter Abby was here for the week-end and she loves pizza. OMG! All I could taste was lardy, greasy nothing. ewwwwwww. Check pizza off my list. Anything that is salty sounds wonderful, but somehow, that sensation is not getting through to my brain. I have a feeling that meat of any kind is a no no, even though the doctor said I was to eat a lot of protein. I guess I will just have to stay with the eggs for that. I can really feel the fat/grease texture that is in meat. Yuk! Anything with flour in it (bread, rolls, etc) is like eating paste. And, Lord help me, chocolate is once again tastes like dirt. Yup, my beloved chocolate has turned on me again.

I'm guessing I will be making a trip to the grocery store for some watermelon, a bunch of eggs, and ice cream. 

But they say every cloud has a silver lining. Yes, I am losing weight. I had to buy a new bathroom scale, because our old one was not calibrated correctly anymore and  kept registering me way more than what the doctor's office scale showed. Ahhhh.  This one is in line with the doc's one.  Finally. And I've dropped a pants size. However, this happened a few years back with the first cancer go around. In fact, I dropped two pant sizes altogether. My big mistake was giving away most of those clothes after I became well and got back to my usual "fighting" weight. But I never dreamed I would need them again. Crap. So, I've been doing some shopping and stocking up on pants that won't fall down on me. 

Thanks to all my friends both far and near, who have reached out to me on Facebook. I really appreciate the good thoughts and knowing prayers are headed my way. You are all good people.

Oh, and remember I warned you on FB that there may be fugly pictures? Well, here's a real beaut! This is as brave as I come to showing a "pretty much bald" photo.

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Got my fourth chemo treatment today. I was told I would have three per month for six months, so that means only fourteen more to go.  However, this was the day that I get TWO concoctions instead of one. The last time I had the twofer, it really knocked me off my pins. I slept or laid down for about four days. But it felt good!  I am the kind of person who hates to nap during the day. I wake up feeling woozy and headachy, not refreshed like I think you are supposed to. Anyhoo, I got home today from my 1 1/2 hour infusion and slept like a log for about 2 hours. I made myself get up and fix something to eat. I really can't taste much at all now, but I fixed some salmon patties and peas. It satisfied me because I kept imagining how it tasted.

Another thing that happened after the first "twofer" cocktail (on June 29th), was that my hair fell out rapidly. BUT, I still have most of my eyebrows and eyelashes. After today's treatment, I suppose I'll wake up in the morning and look like a baby mouse---you know how they have pink eyelids and NO eyelashes. 

But I'm used to this crap. I will just pencil in around my eyes to show that I actually have some, and then dash on something glamorous for the eyebrows. I could draw ones like the old time actresses and slash on one simple, thin line. Or I could really color in a big, broad band and look like Groucho Marx. The possibilities are endless when you are drawing in facial features. If you don't like it, just erase . . .  er . . . I mean wash off your mistake and try again.

Hubby asked if he could see what few strands of hair that I have left. NO. HELL, NO! Once again I will probably not go shiny bald. I think I already discussed this. But each day it is getting more evident that I am right. It actually is a very good sign. If my hair is trying to come back even though it is getting kicked to the curb by chemo, that means it WILL come back later. There are still several dozen six to eight inch long strands on the top of my head, but I've cropped most of the hair short on the sides and back. I comb it straight back and look like a demented old wrinkled man. It's true. Seriously. There is no way in the world I would get up in the morning and not put something on my head. It is really eeewwwwggy.

Each time I started treatments, I was told that it could mean that I might end up permanently bald. But I'm counting on my good German genes to give me back something later!

And it's that time...the changing of the flowers on the folks' gravesite. This is for sisters Karen and Sandy who live quite a distance away and I don't know how to post pictures on Facebook.


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                                                                     GOD BLESS YOU ALL





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​KEEP CALM.    IT'S ONLY HAIR.   LET YOUR HEART DEFINE YOU . . .  NOT YOUR HAIR.

Truer words were never spoken . . . but, DANG! it's discouraging to be a bald lady. Yup, only took about two weeks this time to end up looking like a deranged, crazy lady from some horror movie. I guess it doesn't help that I am almost 5 years older than last time when I went bald. Oh, sure, there are a few wispy sprigs that are hanging on tight, which only makes it more annoying. Those last few keep falling and floating in the air at random times, all around me. Yuk!

I am being very careful as far as making sure I rest when I need to. And (daughter Jenna and friend Betty) I have found that I have fallen in love with ice cold water. It's about time. That's what my body needs. 

I was feeling pretty good today, so went out and mowed and trimmed for about five hours. Honestly, seeing everything cleaned up and looking sharp makes me feel better than almost anything else. 

I spent yesterday cleaning closets which is another one of my goals lately. Actually, I was trying to find my third wig that had been packed away. It was in the very last box I went through. Go figure.  I was also trying to find my old sleep cap, but it's still missing. You should see what I have been wearing to bed. It's a lavender cloth "winter" cap complete with a pompom on top. It's not too heavy and stays put while I sleep. I really look dorky, but who cares? However, that is definitely something that I will not wear to have my picture taken. That's a tad bit over the top in the "weird photo" category.
UPDATE:  When I took my new wig, Jane, back to have her bangs trimmed, I told Jeffrey Scott about my dilemma. That nice guy took pity and gave me a pretty pink sleep cap. I teased him that I got it for buying my fourth wig. Anyway, it was really nice of him and completely a surprise!
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I also made the decision to retire my hair equipment and pack them away. You know, blow dryer, curling iron, beloved Twisty Turban, and hair spray. I've put away most of my shampoos and conditioners, since a dab of bodywash does the trick on the old noggin. Now, here's an odd thing I did. Two weeks ago, I bought a brand new can of hair spray 'cause I was running low. It's a good thing that the spray doesn't have an expiration date on it since it will be . . .oh, probably 8 months or more before I will need it again. I still can't believe that I bought it. 

And how was your day?

​                                                     GOD BLESS YOU ALL