The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong in the broken places.
Ernest Hemingway
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PLAN B . . .  AGAIN

5/27/2019

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PEOPLE TEND TO COMPLICATE THEIR OWN LIVES, AS IF LIVING WEREN'T ALREADY COMPLICTED ENOUGH.                                                                            
                                                                                Carlos Ruiz Zafron "The Light in the Heart"


Gorgeous day yesterday . . .  today, not so much. Rain, rain, rain. I really shouldn't complain considering how Oklahoma and Texas, plus numerous other locations are getting whalloped with tornadoes and flooding, I guess it is really pretty peaceful around here. I got a lot of mowing and trimming down yesterday afternoon and everything is looking peachy! I even cleaned our small garage. Good feeling.

Here is another "Plan B" that I am always having to turn to.

I'm still plugging along with my cleaning (and channeling Marie Kondo). I know you are groaning when I continue to mention our friend Marie. But things have to change, things need to be sorted out, and things need to be gotten rid of. Since I still have no new space to work with, I have decided to go under . . . underneath, that is. I purchased some of those zipper bags that you put clothes and other junk you want to hang on to, but you really don't need at this very minute. These bags zip up and you just shove them under your bed! Presto! Gone. What I am storing is not anything that I can afford to get rid of. Like my winter clothing that will be used again. 



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Try them. They really work and you can see what is in each package.

Another Plan B that I have had to turn to is . .  . my hair.  Again, you are probably thinking "She's crabbing about her stupid hair again!"   Tough.  It is really bugging me. It is NOT coming in like it did the last time. It is nasty curly and frizzy. And sooooo white. Well, I decided to try and color it. Tah Dah!
So last night I began. I had bought a hair coloring kit labeled Light Pearl Blonde. That sounded about right. I carefully followed the instructions. When I had the dye mixture shaken up, it was a tad bit disturbing because it looked like a bottle full of mustard! Yup, a really bright orangey-yellow. Whatever. I put it on and then proceeded to wait the full 30 minutes. Then I got to thinking about it. I got on the phone and called sister Sandy who had been a beautician for many years. I had to know if it was normal for the mixture to look like mustard.  After she talked me down from the ledge and reassured me that it would probably be okay (probably????) I felt better.  Anyhoo, it turned out alright. At least I am not wearing a wig right now. I did use a curling iron on it, but that was kinda tough to get it to look very nice,  because the hair is the consistency of baby-fine hair.  WHATEVER!

Hey, great news! My new sign for the Woodbridge Building came. I had been second-guessing myself about what I wanted on it. I had been to our local sign-making company twice and had talked to the lady behind the desk. Both times she was very intimidating and grouchy. Later, I  called the office and asked if they would be able to mount it on the front of the building. I talked to a very nice young man who quoted me a price. Okay. So, I went back to the sign-making store to place my order. Wow, that old lady really got snotty. I wanted a very plain sign with CAPITAL block letters, a bit of a sunflower in one corner, and a black border. She said I needed to have SMALL letters because they were easier to read. And the border wasn't necessary. She didn't want to use the colors that I had mentioned. I smiled anxiously, and told her that that was what I had pictured in my mind on how it should look. She proceeded to tell me that she had been in that business for 30 years and she knew better than I how it should look. I also mentioned the quoted price for mounting the sign, and she was astounded. Oh no, it was going to cost a lot more because they would have to rent a lift truck to get it up high on the building. What?  I walked out.  My Jenna looked on line, used templates to make up exactly what I had pictured, it was way less money, arrived in four days, and is an excellent product. Hubby said he'll put a ladder up against the porch roof, and stick that  sucker up for me. Whoo hoo! I still have it semi-packaged up, but when it is out of the box or up on the building, I will post a picture. I am so proud of it!

Got to watch my boy, Alec, recently. Jenna and her honey-bun had to go to a social function so Al and I had a sleep-over. When he was dropped off, I took a picture of Jenna and Joe. I wish I had made her turn her head a bit. She was wearing a long curly ponytail that looked darling. 


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I was a little bit surprised when I later looked at all the pictures I had taken of these two, and realized that in every single photo, Joe had made a face. Bad boy!!!!  :)

​                                             GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY

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FIVE SECOND RULE

5/16/2019

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BE THE REASON SOMEONE SMILES. BE THE REASON SOMEONE FEELS LOVED AND BELIEVES IN THE GOODNESS OF PEOPLE.
                                                                                 Roy T. Bennet

HI, Kids! Hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day last Sunday. Hubby and I road-tripped to Minnesota to spend the week-end with son Dan and his wife, Tammy. We had a wonderful time. Not only do they cook fantastically, but they showed us around the countryside and we saw wonderful buildings...real old fashioned places with the tin-ceiling panels and old, polished woodwork. Did some great dining in those places, too. Their new house is really great.  Quite a bit bigger than mine, for sure. They have it fixed up so nicely. On Mother's Day, we went to the Crow Creek Winery for a fabulous brunch. Really quite posh. Wonderful food and ambiance. I came home feeling pampered and stuffed to the gills. :)

I am now back in my home office on the lower level of the house. For months, I have had a four-foot table set up in a spare bedroom, where Hubby put my computer and printer for me, while I was recovering from my leg "problems". But it was time to get my files, and papers and office supplies (which I always have a lot around me, 'cause I happen to love paperclips and pens and . . .  well, you know). It was starting to look a tad bit too cluttered up there, and besides,  I can now maneuver up and down the stairs.  However, when I finally got settled at my old desk, I looked over at the calendar on the wall. Sadly, it was still at November 2018. I had not been down here since I broke my leg. How creepy to see that time stopped for me to be in here in November. Another situation that I find interesting and somewhat sad, is at my late mother-in-law's house. The family still owns it, and when you walk into the bedroom, there is her calendar on the wall with the December 2014 page showing. That's when her life, her story ended.   I sure do miss that wonderful woman.

I have finally decided that I am an old, confused woman. I have been using that Gold Bond Neck and Chest cream to tighten my . . .  uh  . . . wrinkled neck. But lately, it wasn't do much good. Then I realized that I had been grabbing the Gold Bond Foot cream and using it on my neck!  sigh   Talking about old woman things, get a load of the latest hair report.  Prepare yourself. 

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Front.    NOTE: You can see my lovely neck scar from the para thyroid operation. Did I mention that I have been telling people that the reason I have so many health issues going is because I got in a bar fight, was jumped by a women's gang, had all my hair cut off . . .  hence, the lack of hair for so long, and then  they slit my throat . . . that explains the scar, and then they broke my leg, and that's why I limp? Unfortunately, everyone knows I am a Church Lady, not a Bar Hopper Lady. Rats!

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Back.


I finally have curly hair. But it is an odd kind of curly hair.  I don't know if today is the day to stop wearing the wigs or not. I am still thinking about it. My real hair is waaay whiter and grayer than my wigs, so it might be a shock to a lot of people (especially my clients that have arranged rentals at my building) to see me with my real hair. Whatever. Tis what it tis.

I only have two more weeks of systemic chemo pills, and then I am done!!! I truly think once I am done taking them, maybe my hair will start really growing back big time! I can only hope, I guess I'm lucky it is growing at all while still on chemo. 

This post's title is FIVE SECOND RULE. You all know what that is, right? It's when you drop a food item on the floor and if you pick it up within 5 seconds, it hasn't had time to get dirty, so it's okay to still eat it. The one item I would strongly advise against using this rule for is chewing gum.  Enough said.  Anyhoo, I have discovered that there is another case scenario that falls under the Five Second Rule. The other day I went into the bathroom and reached out to get a tissue from the box sitting on the back of the stool. Unfortunately, the stool lid was up, and my cell phone fell out of my pants pocket and right into the water! I immediately scooped it out and wiped it off. (Relax, the toidy had NOT been used). It had been less than 5 seconds. Whoo hoo! The phone still works like a champ.


                                           GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY
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KEEPING BUSY IN SLOW MOTION

5/4/2019

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MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, NOT EXCUSES. SEEK RESPECT, NOT ATTENTION.
                                                        Roy T. Bennet

I have been very busy the last few days. Weather is great and I've got Spring Fever big time! Washed windows today, along with scrubbing the bathroom and washing my shower curtain and liner, did a few more loads of laundry, and polished the wood floors in the laundry room and small bedroom. THEN, I sanded down my picnic table that I power washed a few days ago. I have been wanting to prime and paint it and then put it at The Woodbridge Building. We haven't used it in for a long time, so I think it can be useful at the WB. I even started digging up some of my mature hosta plants to take to the WB. That is not easy when the one leg I have to stand one is weak, and the other is stomping down on the spade to dig those suckers out. Makes a person a little off kilter. I managed to dig up  two of the five huge plants that I want to move. I know, whine...whine...whine.   Anyhoo, I'm still getting so much done, but when you have to work at half to one-third the usual pace that you have always run at, it takes a lot of time. Blah! 

Today I got to talk to my good friend from Georgia on the phone. We touch base every so often and get caught up on each others lives. I have know her for 44 years (OMG!) and she is a special, quiet, sweet woman who works hard and is appreciative of everything she has. This post's quote if for Sandy since these things describe how she lives her life. I asked her about the government shut-down around last Christmas, to hear how she had fared. She works for TSA. She handled it beautifully. Thank goodness she was in great shape financially, but she said some of the younger workers who had kids in day-care, or were living paycheck to paycheck were in a bind. Sandy and I don't talk politics because she and I are kinda on separate sides of the fence when it comes to the government. That's okay. I'm used to it. Have I mentioned that I am in a "mixed" marriage ? . . . Hubby belongs to one party, and I favor the other party. That's what America is all about -- the right to your own opinion. (But I'm still mad that those people were subjected to the government shut-down for absolutely no reason). And that's why I think she is a special person, to go through all that so gracefully. 

Hey, I have a question for you all. Can you figure out what this thing is? I have often mentioned how I love to go scrounging at Goodwill, second-hand stores, and garage sales for precious items at a bargain price. One thing I am always looking for is good storage container. You know, the kind you put your left-overs in, and then forget about them, and have to throw the stuff out when you finally clean your refrigerator? Well, I found this little gem and thought it looked useful. It was kinda different from anything I had seen before, but it sealed up tight and was see-through for ease in identifying what in the heck was in it. It also came with a strange hose and attachment thingy which I didn't recognize. All of these items were sealed up in plastic and where brand new. So, I bought it from Goodwill and brought it home. I noticed that there was a small plug on the lid where the hose thingy could be pushed into. I figured I didn't need that, so I tossed the hose. After studying it for a bit, I think I figured out what it is. ewwwww

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Oh my dear Lord! I think it is something that hooks up to a breast pump and lets the milk flow into the storage container!!!!! Is that it?  ewwww   I'm donating it back to the Goodwill. Sorry that the hose is missing but maybe someone else might need a left-over food storage item. uh huh

Now, for some very bad news. Son Dan called us night before last and told us that his father-in-law had been killed in a car crash. No one knows all the details, but apparently his father-in-law had a stroke, died instantly and his pickup truck continued into the path of a semi truck. In trying to avoid the on-coming pickup, the semi driver slammed on his brakes and tried to get to the side of the road. He didn't have enough time and the vehicles hit. The semi rolled over in the ditch, but the driver was not hurt. Thank God. What a sad time for Dan and his wife, Tammy, and her sweet mother, Marlene.

                                               GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA



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I FELL DOWN AGAIN … TWICE!

4/22/2019

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YOU WILL FALL MANY TIMES IN LIFE, BUT YOU WILL PICK YOURSELF UP AND BECOME STRONGER AND WISER FOR EACH TROUBLE YOU PASS.
                                                                                                     Leon Brown

Yup, Janene went down twice in one week! This problem with walking is, well, getting to be a problem.

First incident was behind our little barn at the end of the yard. It is right beside a small creek, I was raking around the hostas that surround three trees down in that part of the property. I decided to rake a bit behind the small barn, which was entirely stupid, because I'm the only one who ever goes down there and nobody else ever sees it anyway.  As I walked along the bank, the slight incline that begins as the yard starts to slant toward the creek was my "down-fall". I started to totter toward the water, and tried to get my balance. In doing so, I stumbled forward about ten steps, all the time thinking "I'm gonna break my other leg, I'm gonna break my other leg!"  Fortunately, I still had my rake in hand, and used that to sloooowwwwly fall down. But, then, I started to roll! Yup, I started to slide toward the water, on my back, head first. I grabbed a chunk of grass and stopped my momentum. We have a very heavy, wide bridge plank that we use as a convenient walking bridge to cross the creek. I was close enough to that to reach up and grab hold of it and pull myself up to a sitting position. Since I can no longer get on my knees, it took me a bit of time to struggle to my feet. But I managed. Whew! Close call.

Then, Saturday I was out raking and picking up sticks along our lane. My hired help, Alec (for two bucks and a small Pepsi),  was with me. Suddenly, I stepped back and tripped over  a small tree staub and fell back and down  onto my booty. Poor Alec kept saying, "Are you all right? Are you all right?" Yes, I was all right, but sure glad no one else saw me land on the ground.  Again, it took a while to get me up, since my leg muscles are so weak. Jeepers!!! This crap is getting old. 

It has been so nice out that I want to get a bunch of yard work done. And I am accomplishing that, but very sloooowwwwly. A few years ago, I would have all this stuff knocked out in no time. 

Hey, something kinda fun occurred. Last fall I bought a white flowering Japanese something-or-other tree on clearance to plant at my Woodbridge Building. I never got the time to get it in the ground. So, I brought it home and stuck in down in my closed-in patio area and  forgot about it. Evidently, Hubby periodically put a bit of water on it over the winter. I looked at it the other day, and it is actually budding and has some white flowers blooming on it. I brought it outside, watered it, and am prepared to get it planted. Huh, nice.

Remember when I was said I was going to have my own little Book Club. Well, I had previously only critiqued one book, so I thought I had better do another. Karin Slaughter's THE GOOD DAUGHTER is well worth reading. I told myself that I wasn't going to read any dark, heavy books (just to keep an upbeat frame of mind), but right from the start, this book drew me in and was a real page-turner. I give it a 9.

And commercials! It's been forever since I commented on TV commercials. Two that really appeal to me are the Volvo commercial with the red car. The music and drum beat are actually haunting and whenever I hear that ad's music, I stop and listen. I don't know what it is about it, but I love it! The other commercial is again for a car, Mazda. I like the image of the lady floating in the air, hanging on to a red balloon. It looks so beautiful when she drags her hand through a cloud in the sky. Amazing.

And, the Mueller Report is in. Who can guess how all the details will play out. Very, very interesting.

​                                       GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY

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PUTTING IT ALL OUT THERE

4/16/2019

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MAKE THE MOST OF YOURSELF FOR THAT'S ALL THERE IS OF YOU
                                                                                                    Ralph Waldo Emerson

Early Friday morning, I got up and spent 45 minutes working on a post for this blog. I was preparing to go to the oncologist at 11 AM to find out what my Wednesday's CT scan had shown, and was spilling my emotions out on the computer. After getting all my worries and drama written, I hit the wrong button on the program and all my work disappeared. I'm kinda glad it did. It's out there in cyberspace somewhere. And it turned out that there was no need to moan and groan about what might be. 

EVERYTHING IS FINE!   Thank goodness. It appears the node thingy on my lung is very common, especially in Midwesterners, due to the farm chemicals and such that we breath in. After all, I was a farmer's daughter and probably sucked in a lot of that stuff when I was younger. I guess that's what they mean when people say "Don't sweat the small stuff . . .  'cause it's all small stuff!" You got to roll with the punches and take what comes your way, And lots of time, it's a good outcome and you've just wasted a bunch of precious energy worrying. 

So, onto my every day boring stuff. I have gotten into the "cleaning out" phase of my life. Yes, I am channeling Marie Kondo again, I tied into my closets again, determined to get rid of all the things I have not worn for a long time. Remember, if it doesn't give you a feeling of joy when you hold the item, get rid of it. Okay. That's harder than you can imagine. Here comes the difficult part. I actually took picture of my closets. And I'm sharing them with you!! Brave, aren't I?  Now I don't have big walk-ins like most people do, with their modern homes. My little house was build in 1938 (started out as a horse barn or some such thing), and it's been added onto a couple of times. Therefore, our closets are minimal. Hey, maybe that's the root of my problem. Anyhoo, I am sick of everything being crammed into a too-small space. It's like shoving 10 pounds of sugar into a  5 pound sack. So . . .  here goes.  The dreaded BEFORE pictures.
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Yup, that's a whole lot of crap. Then, I worked feverishly for several hours (actually just a couple) and deleted a large portion of things.  I am so proud of myself. Marie Kondo would be proud of me.
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My only questions is WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL THE STUFF THAT'S LEFT OVER? Where am I gonna put it?  sigh
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I did what any smart thinking woman would do. I went into town and bought some big plastic tubs and stashed the overflow  in them and hid them in our storage area. Let the kids figure it out when Hubby and I are gone. hehehe.

                                   GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY

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I'M BEING A "NERVOUS NELLY"

4/9/2019

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​IT IS HORRIFYING THAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT OUR OWN GOVERNMENT TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
                                                                                                                               Ansel Adams

Hi, Kids! What's shaking?  Nothing? Same here. Thank goodness. Except for all the cray cray going on TV. You know . . .  government stuff. I'm sorry but I can't seem to get my mind off what is happening in our country. It makes me nervous.  Jeeze, I know there will normalcy once again, but everything is in such disarray right now. Since the weather is nicer, I find myself away from television more. It also helps that I can now maneuver and get out and about. Wheee! Better weather and getting healed up is a real game-changer.

Yesterday, I went to town and did some "junking". Love it. If you have a Stuff Etc. store around you, check it out. I find some of the neatest things for very little ka ching! I have been finding some cool pieces to put in the yard spaces at The Woodbridge Building. You know, lawn "eye candy". I've got a big enough open space, that we can do certain individual areas and make it look more interesting and homey for our visitors.

My social schedule is getting busy. For once. Usually it is just a bunch of doctor appointments. Blah! Anyhoo, I actually have two events coming up that are at the same time. One of our neighbors is having a wedding reception at Woodbridge next month. Hubby and I were invited to it. I accepted. Told them our choice of chicken or beef. Then Hubby reminded me that it fell on Mother's Day weekend, and we already had plans to spend it in Minnesota with son Dan and his wife. Dan has purchased tickets for all of us to go to a vineyard Mother's Day brunch. And I am excited to see his new house. Haven't been able to visit it until now. But, I feel bad that we will miss the reception, plus it means I won't be here in case there is some little glitch or problem with the building that needs my attention. Oh, well, I'll just make sure they have an ample supply of toilet paper for the bathrooms, and hope that they don't need me. 

I talked to son Dan yesterday on the phone. He was quizzing me on how I felt when I got hit with Vertigo years ago. Apparently he is having some odd symptoms of dizziness and getting light-headed. That makes me a little nervous. If any of you have experienced Vertigo, you know what I mean. The first time I had it, I woke up one morning and Bam! The bed was spinning so fast, I was clutching the sheets, thinking I was going to fly right out of bed. Yuk! Some of the symptoms lasted for three months. The more people I talk to, the more I hear that others have suffered from it. I never even knew what it was until I experienced it. huh

Good news . . .  maybe. When I was down at Woodbridge yesterday, I had a fella stop by. He was with one of the local major fundraising clubs, (I won't mention which organization it is at this time), but he said his club members in the community heard of our non-profit for autistic individuals, and want to write a proposal to help us get funding! Whoopee!!!!! He said it sounds very promising that we are eligible for assistance. Major news! Our board has already decided that we are going to have to build up a "War Chest" fund before we open the doors for our day-habitation services, to insure that we have the proper funding to keep going. In Iowa, we are again losing one of the Medicaid providers, so things may get kinds sketchy getting our clients' waivers paid in a timely fashion. In other words, we don't want to open the doors and not have the backing to keep going through bad times (late payments from Medicaid), if that should occur. So, we shall see what happens. This news makes me a bit nervous, too, but also excited. One can only hope!

Tomorrow, I have my CT scan, to check on that node, or nodule, or lumpy thingy . . .  whatever it is, on the edge of my lung. That should be interesting. I will get the results Friday when I go to my oncologist. Jeeze. It's always something, right? I am pretty confident that it is a nothing-burger, but it's best to get it checked out.  Not too nervous about that. Everything just seems to be a routine experience anymore. What happens, happens. There ain't much chance of changing things. 

Granddaughter Cate just bought her first house. She is getting excited about getting into it and doing the painting and decorating . . . you know, to make it her own. If anyone can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear (that's an old person's saying, for you younger folks), my Cate can. I have offered to help her do some initial cleaning, but I think my painting days are over. I need to do some of that around my own house, but I can't reach up high, can't squat down to reach down low, and there is no way in Hell that I am climbing on a stepladder.  UH UH!!!! I have no desire to create any chance at all of having to push the button on my emergency button necklace and call for HELP! 

You know, I can't believe that less than two years ago, BFSILPIC (Best friend, sister-in-law, partner-in-crime) Nina and I were running around Vegas on our yearly long-weekend vacay. I was doing all kinds of yard work in my large and hilly backyard, and lifting and reaching things around the house. It's really frustrating to not be able to do sooo many things that I have always done over the years. But I have hope that things will change, and I will get back into my groove eventually. Ya think?  :)

Anyhoo, have a good day. Don't be nervous. I got enough of that going on for the both of us.

                            GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY









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WARMER

3/22/2019

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THIS IS A TINY REMINDER THAT YOU ARE CAPABLE OF AMAZING THINGS.


Not a whole lot of anything going on, which is just fine with me. The sun continues to shine and the mud is drying up, so I feel gooood. Yup, it's getting warmer.

I have stuck with my "bucket list" plan and am working hard to clean closets, cupboards, etc. to get rid of stuff I have held on to for years. I've decided if I haven't used it in quite a while, it's gone! It's amazing how better you feel when there is less chaos around you. Try it. As Marie Kondo emphasizes ---  being tidy is joyful.

Lots of medical reports about people you do not know, but are close to me.  Sister Karen went under the knife to get her torn rotary cuff (?) repaired. Remember how she was run over by a  pallet-loaded flat cart in one of the big box stores, before Christmas? She toughed through the surgery and is doing well, but she is probably going to have problems using her left arm for the rest of her life. Then wonderful cousins, Deb and Connie both got sliced-and-diced this week. Deb with her back and Connie got a hip replaced. Yup, that's what us old broads do. Maintenance is everything when you get to be our age. grrrrrr

Here's something I'm sure you have been waiting for (kidding). The latest flowers put on my parents grave. Bear with me. I couldn't change them out for Christmas because . . .  well, I was stuck in the house. There was no way I could go out in the snow and ice, and walk across a rural cemetery with a broken leg. So Ma and Pa had to put up with the fall decorations until yesterday. Sisters Sandy and Karen live far enough away, so this is the only way they get to see what the flowers look like .

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I have been watching way too much politics on TV. How about you? I can't get enough of this amazing "major history in the making".  It is truly addicting. I try and change the channel to check in on HGTV which I also love, but then I have to switch back for just a second, to see what I've missed. The Mueller report is expected any minute now, and that is going to be a hoot to see what that says. True, we probably won't get any info for months, but I'm sure little tidbits of stuff will leak out. 

I've been working on something else that is on my bucket list. sigh  I have finally been sending some of my kids' stories to a wonderful agency, to try and snag an agent. It's tough. Or, maybe, my work stinks. But it is doing something! Time's running out, Kids. I love to sit at my computer and just start writing. Sometimes, after a long period of time, I stop and read what I have just written. The time has flown by, and I don't even realize what I've put down on paper until I read it back. Cool!

Easter will be here before we know it. Sunday, after church, one of my dear friends, Connie (not cousin Connie with the hip replacement, but whom has also has given me wonderful gifts in the past),  gave me a gift bag. Just to be nice.  I think she was concerned about the Mayo Clinic visit and was cheering me up. She did! What a sweet thing to do. Look.

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It is the neatest bunny candy dish along with goodies  How very nice. What thoughtful friends I have.

The latest Hair Report:  I have gone through the Mike Pence look, then on to the punk rock star Billy Idol (previously, I mistakenly called him Sid Vicious who incidentally has dark black hair!), and now that my hair has grown a teensy tiny bit more, I am now resembling the late Barbara Bush. It is really taking a long time to come back this time. I guess it is because I am still taking the chemo pills. Only three more months and that will be over. 

I do have to go in and have a chest CT scan next month for a nodule that was detected on my last PET scan. It did not sparkle (indicate cancer) on the film, so it is probably not anything to worry about. I'll be concerned about that only  if the test gives me something to be worried about. Right?

Well, I must get back to work. There is still a ton of crap to go through to pitch, set aside for the Goodwill, or find a place to store it.  Marie Kondo, where are you when I need ya, Girl??????

                                        GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY

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IT'S THAT 'PEEPS'  TIME OF THE YEAR!

3/12/2019

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IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MARCH DAYS WHEN THE SUN SHINES HOT AND THE WIND BLOWS COLD, WHEN IT IS SUMMER IN THE LIGHT AND WINTER IN THE SHADE.
                                            Charles Dickens

Another lovely morning, Kids! Just with the sun shining the last few days, has made such a difference in my state of mind. I have been doing a lot of cleaning and even went into town Sunday after church and did some shopping. I was trying to find some tops that had high necks or turtle necks. Kinda hard to find them this time of year as the stores are starting their spring lines. I found a couple of pieces that will hide the scar on the front of my neck.

I did find a dress that I just had to have. I normally never wear dresses. I am so short-waisted that my waistline literally starts right under my armpits! I look totally stodgy wearing a dress. But, I got myself into a pickle on Facebook. I have several long-time friends that I occasionally get into silly back-and-forth discussions. The other day I noticed that friend Jodi from California, had posted several pics of herself at her workplace. The co-workers keep snapping her in cute situations (standing in front of a truck or holding onto an engine block ---she works at a truck parts place). I mentioned that they should make up a calendar of all these cute poses. She laughed it off. Then some guy posted  that she should wear a swimsuit! She laughed it off. Then the other kooky girls I grew up with, joined in. A few actually started planning on making a calendar of all of us older...er...more mature chicks. Jodi offered that we should all pose in flowered dresses and sensible shoes.  (I think she was talking about those flowery cotton shirt-waist, short sleeved frocks that our mothers wore).  

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I know … just turn your head to the right.  Anyhoo, I've got my outfit! But like I mentioned, I look terrible in dresses. Remember when our kids were little and , perhaps, a bit on the chunky side? There was a line of kids clothes for chunkies in "husky" sizes for the little guys, and the girls could pick from a selection of "Perfect Plus".  Well, this dress makes me look like it came from the Old Ladies' Perfect Plus Collection. Whatever, I am prepared. It's amazing how those wonderful girlfriends can still put peer pressure on me and I ALWAYS CAVE!  heh

I got a couple of letters from the Mayo Clinic. One was asking permission to use the video footage that they shot of my operation, to use in some of their studies. I think this is just business as usual. However, the surgeon was extremely iterested in studying my humungous tumor (40 times normal) so this footage will be a little out of the norm. I said yes. Who cares? If it helps some study, I say "go for it!". The other letter was actually a packet. I joked to Hubby that it was probably our hospital bill. But, no. It was a complete discription of all the tests and procedures that took place whle I was there. Very interesting. I do have to laugh about one of the  personal discriptions that they had in the  information. They said I was a "pleasant, middle-aged woman".  That reminds me of the first info I got when I started going to my oncologist. He listed me as a pleasant, well-nourished woman. I took that as politely saying I needed to drop a few pounds.  Anyhoo, when you think of me, please remember I am a pleasant, middle-aged, well nourished woman.  What a legacy!

My Alec came and spent a night with me this past weekend. I had him move some furniture in the family room which was a big help. I taught him to play Tri-Ominos and it was fascinating to watch him figure out which tile was the best one to use. He beat me every game---and I honestly try to beat the grandkids at games.  sigh

I have been spending more time at my "happy place" The Woodbridge Building. I love going down there and messing around. Alec joined me the other day and we put moldy, oldie, goldie music on the stereo and jammed. He loves to sing along with Frankie Valli and The Monkeys and others. What fun! I get phone calls regularly about my event room and the rentals have been coming in at a steady pace. This is so much fun.  I am really eager for the weather to warm up so I can get mowing and doing some yardwork. I think Jenna has some ideas about new landscaping, so we will see what wonderful things she comes up with. Can't wait!

Sister Sandy had Lasik surgery done yesterday, so I went and sat with her son. I got to talk to her, and she did great! That a trouper. She has had so many operations lately, that eventually, she's gong to be a whole new woman! She was really nervous about anyone working on her eyes, but she got through it! I am very proud of her.  

Sister Judy just had a birthday. She turned 70 and is embracing her years gracefully and joyously.

I was checking some ancient emails on my computer, and came across the address for a wonderful, old friend. I wrote her a message update, and it got sent! Now we are friends on FB. How wonderful to hear from my Shirley S., after several years. Whoo hoo!

And one thing I am so happy about . . . IT'S PEEPS TIME!  Love that time of year when the little yellow and pink bunnies and chicks made of crunchy, sugary marshallows burst forth. so, run to your local grocery store and get yourself some Peeps. It will make your day.

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                                    GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY
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ROAD TRIP IS OVER

3/2/2019

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COURAGE DOESN'T ALWAYS ROAR. SOMETIMES COURAGE IS THE LITTLE VOICE AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT SAYS "I'LL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW."
                                                                                               Mary Anne Radmacher

What a whirlwind trip I was on. Last Monday, we set off for the Mayo Clinic in. The weather sucked! Snow and ice, and all kinds of road closing reports. We headed out and stopped at a DOT (Dept. of Transportation) station to check and see if US 63 was going to be open. We were told that it still was open, but they didn't know for how long. Hubby kept driving until we came to a barricade that was marked "ROAD CLOSED". And he drove around it! I kept waiting for him to find some place that was not neck deep in snow, to turn around. When I questioned him about it, he said that we were going to get there one way or another. So, slowly but surely, we did make it. Sometimes driving 27 mph. Whew.

We stayed at a hotel that is connected to Mayo. It is so cool. You just walk underground in the subway tunnel, as they call it, in nice carpeted hallways to get to all the buildings. The most time it took us to get to any of my appointments from our hotel room was 5 minutes . . .  and that's with me limping along. Location, location, location. 

The clinic is amazing, and the people are fantastic. Tuesday morning I had a blood test at 6:10 AM, then bone density tests at 7:00 and 7:50. At 8:20 I had an electrocardiogram test, at 9:00 there was an ultrasound head neck exam, and then the evaluation of all the tests at 12:30.

Wednesday I had a nuclear medicine parathyroid does at 8:00 AM, then the parathyroid scan at 10:00. At 3:30 there was the endocrine consultation. This is where I found out that I was really going to have surgery the next day. Evidently, I had hyperparathyroidism, which has nothing to do with the regular thyroid. This little bastard was really acting up and going bonkers. It was time to get rid of it!

Thursday, I checked in at 8:30 AM,. Man, I was thirsty, but they said they wanted me dried out as much as possible. Right before surgery the doctor had prescribed 2 Tylenol. I told the nurse, "Good. I get to take it with water, I'm dry as a popcorn fart!" I was a good girl and took a tiny sip to take the tablets. She winked at me and said, "I think those pills got stuck. You'd better drink a bit more water." Eureka!After getting a lot of prep done, went to surgery at ll:30.  Got out of recovery around 4:00.

In the meantime, my son, Dan, had driven over from Medelia, Minnesota, to be with Hubby while I had the surgery.  I was pleased to get back to my room and see him with his dad. When the surgeon came in to tell us what had gone on, it was really interesting. We all have four parathyroid glands. The one he removed from me was 40 (yes, I said 40) times larger than normal. A regular gland is about the size of a pea, but this sucker was like a small carrot! He told me that immediately after it's removal, my heart, muscles, and nerves were going to be loving me now. Something (I can't remember what) was supposed to be rated at 10 to 67 in a normal person, but my tests showed that I was at 1,600. Wish I could remember what it was. (Chemo brain and anesthesia brain). I asked the doc how long I had had the tumor. He estimated 10 to 12 years! That explains a lot about my not-so-clear thinking over the past decade. Anyhoo, I am feeling great. I got to remove the bandage on my throat today and was shocked. There was absolutely no blood on the bandage, the incision was a 3 1/2 inch long cut which looked like a thin, red pen mark. They must have glued the cut shut.

That guy was a surgeon rock star!!!!! I have had little pain, and best of all, most of the leg pain that I have been suffering the last two years is almost gone! The stupid gland has a lot to do with different body functions. Who knew? The only complication I have had is . . . well, there is an issue with my voice. He warned me that there might be a problem with my vocal chords, since the vocal nerve is so close to the parathyroid. I am hoping that it is just bruised a bit right now. If not, I can live with a weird voice. Hubby said it sounds like a combination between Olive Oil and Donald Duck. In other words, I now talk like a cartoon character! sigh  It's better than not have a voice at all. Right?

So that is the saga of Janene. We are all hoping that this will finally eliminate the leg pain that I've had so long. Mayo was my last chance. I've seen a chiropracter, a nerve specialist, and exams from all the rest of my doctors. This may be the answer. And if any of you ever get a blood report that shows you have elevated calcium in your blood, you might want to have your parathyroid checked. I was just lucky enough that my oncologist's wife had had this and he recognized all my symptoms. Talk about lucky!!!

So, back to the old grind. I need to finish some laundry. Oh, by the way, I tried folding my king sized sheets like Marie Kondo (the super dooper neat person who keeps everything crazy neat)  does. Didn't work. That little lady can zip zip zip and fold all kinds of clothes and bedding in a flash. But she does it so fast,  I can't follow her on the videos. So, I ended up with my usual large, squarish, odd looking bundle of bedding. It works for me.

                                        GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY


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BACK FROM MAYO CLINIC

3/1/2019

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I'll make it short and sweet. Just got back from five days at Mayo. I'm tired. Will let you know how it turned out tomorrow.

Good night.


​Janene

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    Janene...

    ... was diagnosed with breast cancer on November 11, 2013. This is a place for all of the people who love and care about her to get the information about her treatment and her personal experience of kicking cancer's ass, (sometimes from her daughter's perspective). It's hard to stand by and not be able to do anything to help. Writing gives my mom an outlet and allows both of us to share information during this time. Therefore, we blog :) 

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