A Virgin Experience!

First, I'll catch up. Monday was HOT--90's hot. We don't do that--especially not in April. It was beastly. I was feeling somewhat better--the heat didn't help. At five in the evening, I practiced with the new band--it will work.

Got up early on Tuesday, breakfasted, showered, found that my navel was hot, red, and draining. I had another Christian Science moment, because I didn't want it to spoil the day. Bright and early, I drove to San Mateo, where I met my friends, Ted and Karen. We were once again the teens who explored Europe together 46 years ago, off on another adventure. We went to Filoli. Ted is a member and Karen has been there several times, but it was a first for me. I think I will let the pictures speak for themselves--as much as I can let anything speak for itself.

Wisteria isn't supposed to photograph well, but these two aren't bad.

These are both from the front entrance of the mansion.

Now for the gardens:

Azalea with garden hose

The Sunken Garden

Stray shots

Our garden ramble was followed by lunch, then ta ta for now, and off we went.

I visited the bloodsuckers in the afternoon and the evening was given over to a band practice--on the church patio since the inside was an oven. There was a small problem of getting the music to stay put because there was the San Bruno Breeze to contend with, but it was very refreshing--felt like music camp playing out of doors like that. Sue, the flute-piccolo player, is my own personal RN. She followed me home, agreed that the navel is indeed infected, cleaned it, dressed it, and thought it was a good idea to let my doctor know about it, even though I have an appointment tomorrow--so as soon as the office opens, I'll call them. Meanwhile, I had time to post this blog, so nothing is perfect, not even perfectly bad. I still have a sore throat from the cold, and a zit the size of China on top of my head. These little things keep me occupied.
xxooxx

I've felt better

I think the chemo I'm on now waits till I've forgotten I had it, then it strikes. It's a perfectly lovely day today, and I spent most of it resting. I went to church, serving as lay reader this month, so there I am, sitting in the chancel, and as the service went on (and it wasn't long at all), I felt worse and worse. The prayer was, "Please, God, let me get home to the compazine. Don't let me hurl in public." I got home, I got medicated, the Giants even won for me, but I really feel dreadful. I feel good so much of the time that I forget I'm sick. Today, I remember.
So, let's talk about the weather. I went downtown Tuesday, and it was so cold that I thought I'd overslept and woken up in January. The north wind didth blow, and I'm surprised we didn't have snow. Still, I managed to walk from my appointment on New Montgomery to Nordstrom and pick up two pair of pants I'd left to have shortened--and didn't but anything else! Since I've been in drunken sailor mode, that is a good thing.
Thursday it was pleasant but windy. Kathy and I got a good walk in--nowhere near the hike we did last time, but at least she escaped without catching anything on this walk.
Last night was a new venture at out church--Open Mic Night at Bethany--OMNAB for short. My band, Anne and the Bethany Brawlers opened. I had more energy than I did for the ceili, so we played faster. There were six acts in all, and I got another chance to fiddle out of the deal. I'm meeting with a new band on Monday to see how the fit is. Should be fun.
And now we are back to today. Remember how Tuesday was like the dead of winter? Today was sub-Saharan. The house has warmed up nicely, so now I'm glowing.
Not terribly exciting, but they can't all be winners. At least I didn't hurl.
xxooxx

I lead a charmed life...

I don't always appreciate the little things (and some great big things) that go right. Yesterday, after my full day of retail therapy, while waiting for the BART train, I looked down at my right hand--no pinkie ring--same one I thought I lost in November. I freaked--quietly, but I freaked. I checked pockets and purse, no ring. I thought--hoped--that it might have fallen off into one of the many bags I was carrying--no way to check at the BART station--maybe it fell off in the dressing room at Nordstrom. Maybe I never put it on in the morning, but that was almost impossible. Back to the Scarlett O'Hara mode. I was really tired and I'd think about that tomorrow. I did check my ring dish, just in case I'd gone without it. Elaine and her family were coming over, I didn't have time to brood about it.
This morning, when I was getting dressed, there in the ring dish was my Past Matron's ring. Now there are two explanations. First, I never put it on yesterday. Second, the angels swooped down, found it, and brought it home in the night. I'm going with door number two. So thank you, God, for taking care of me one more time.
It was lovely to be in church this Easter Sunday. I am Lay Reader this month--I was supposed to be Lay Reader last April, so when I was signing up this year, I made a point of taking April. I wore a brand new bright yellow dress with a little white sweater, and an old white hat that went perfectly with the ensemble. I love dressing up. After church, I made waffles for a smaller crowd than last night--Monica and Rebecca were with their other grandparents. Elaine et al were then off to spend the rest of Easter with Mark's family. I watched the Giants lose then napped till 60 Minutes. I'm all rested up and ready for real sleep now.
I think I'll be more careful with my jewelry.
xxooxx

Happy Anniversary

Just a quick note to mark the first anniversary of my blog. It has been wonderfully therapeutic for me. I had a good day today. The consult turned into a hair cut--the first in 13 months! I'm still very curly but now I have shape. I also got in some retail therapy--lots of choices of things to wear tomorrow.
I've had a house full of grandchildren. Fixed Elaine's favorite dinner. Monica and Rebecca are off to spend Easter with their other grandparents. Elaine, Mark, Rachel and Ryan will spend the night then, I hope, go to church with us tomorrow.
That's all, I'm exhausted.
xxooxx

Chemo 2.5

Was actually yesterday. There were some problems getting it started--these things happen with ports. It is still better than starting an IV each time. It starts with the lidocaine, then they access the port with a huge, blunt needle (hence the lidocaine--I don't feel the poking around with the huge, blunt needle). The first thing they do is draw blood to see if it is a oint where you can get chemo. Mine didn't want to come out. We tried different positions. We tried heprin. We tried saline. Stuff was going in but not out. There was always the possibility of going in with an IV, but they don't like to do that with my chemo, doxil, just in case it leaks out. Oh, goody. Finally, they tried something like draino for veins. They pushed that in and let it sit for 20 minutes or so. Woopie, blood! And my counts were good. Hemoglobin is up to 11.6, which is still under the 12 they would like to see, but way better than the 9 something it was all fall. First the steroid and nausea meds, then the red-orange doxil--90 cc's at 1 cc/minute. Watching it doesn't make it go faster. My doctor stopped by to visit. She spoke sternly (hard to do for such a little one) when I told her about my cold. But hey, it was just a little cold. I'd have called her if I'd run a fever--which I never do. Next time (should there be one), I'll let her know I've got a cold. The doxil was finally all in, followed by saline to push the last little bits in, and a heprin flush for the port. Whew. We reviewed my calendar--I couldn't get an early appointment May 7--can't run into Glenn's work time. I could take myself there and back and if not, I have plenty of friends who could get me there and back, but Glenn likes to be there. So we get to go one day out. Next appt May 8.
It wasn't bad yesterday. I started getting a little flushed at our Eastern Star meeting--my Dex flush, but it was practically the shortest meeting on record, so there you are. I was a little nauseaus when I got home, but my drugs worked for that.
Today I felt well enough to pull a bag of weeds. There is lots more to do, but I'm pacing myself. I have some abdominal pain, but not bad.
There is great excitement tomorrow--I have a consult with my hair stylist! I don't think it's time to cut yet, but I want her to look it, check the texture, curls, etc, and make a plan. It hasn't shown signs of coming out with this chemo, so we might as well get things in motion.
That's it for now.
xxooxx

The Queen of Snot

Just so my sister won't worry about me--I've been lying low, raising the earnings of Kimberly-Clark. I shouldn't complain, I haven't had a cold since August. Mostly I've been hanging around, blowing my nose. Glenn had some excitement he could have done without. Saturday night, someone who had nothing better to do, broke his driver's side window. He discovered it Sunday afternoon when he was leaving for work. He was not a happy boy. Fortunately, he has a friend in the auto repair business who replaced the window for what his deductible would have been. All is made well again--wish other things were that easy.
Glenn and I had planned on weeding today, but we were saved by rain in the morning, and the Giant's home opener in the afternoon--and a Dr. appointment for me. Except for cancer and a cold, I'm healthy as a horse. The Giants are currently on a winning streak--they have won 100% of their game--and yes, I do mean game. A 1-0 record is better than 0-1.
There is an owl somewhere out back, serenading us--pretty cool!
That's the snot report for today.
xxooxx

Catching up--again

So--what have I been up to. Tuesday was a therapist day, so I took BART downtown for my appointment, after which, I walked up to Union Square for a little retail therapy--well, a lot of retail therapy. Macy's can stay in business. I took home outfits to wear on Palm Sunday and Easter and had the rest sent. The rest being all every day wear--way too much for me to try to carry down to the BART station. It must have really worn me out, because I napped in my chair till about 7. Good think I woke up when I did, because it was just about time for the band to come and practice.

I went to Curves on Wednesday, which was the highlight of the day. The evening, however, brought over my friend Roberta, her daughter Laura and Laura's friend Monica for an evening of knitting and movie--the movie being Little Miss Sunshine. I loved it, and I laughed so hard that Roberta wasn't sure I'd make it to the end of the movie. I did. All thumbs up. I had just the teeniest bit of a sore throat, but I ignored it.

Thursday was out walking day. Kathy and I hiked instead. We went to Edgewood County Park. I started training for hiking in Canada. I don't know how far we went, but we hiked for about 2 1/2 hours. We hiked up through the woods--and poison oak--sorry, Kathy, up a pretty steep grade, to a meadow.

It was a little early for Edgewood's wild flowers. There were actually lots of flowers, but they were very tiny. Kathy has a macro lens, so she probably got better pictures than I did. After a week of really pretty weather, it was foggy at my house when we left. As you can see, it was beautiful at the park, but the fog was working its way down the Peninsula. The wind was kicking up. Glenn said it was brutal that night.

We did find a few poppies--I was hoping for a sea of gold. We talked about going back in a month or so, but Kathy picked up poison oak just from the air, so I think it will be a pass. Of course, I am able bodied and I could take myself down there any time and do more training for the Rockies in July. Judging from how still I was after we got back, it might not be a bad idea...

And here we are, watching the grass wave in the wind, looking out over the East Bay. It was a great hike, even with poison oak and stiffness. I didn't ask Kathy if she was stiff too.

We stopped off at the Deli by my oncologist's office to pick up sandwiches, then the bakery to pick up hot cross buns (they have a a very short season, I take advantage of them whenever I can), and took our goodies back to church, where we had an indoor picnic with our director of music. Indoors because it was still cold, foggy, and windy in beautiful uptown San Bruno.

Remember that sore throat that was trying to break through Wednesday night? By Thursday night, there was no denying it--full fledged cold. Snotty nose, sandpapered throat, bit of a cough. I felt very sorry for myself. So Friday and Saturday, I just whined and rested. Went to church today, wearing my new Palm Sunday outfit. This afternoon, about half of the Brawlers met at the Belmont Convalescent Hospital (where our piccolo/flute player works) and put on an hour program for some of the residents. They liked it--we did well. My energy level was much higher than it was for the Ceili last month, so I flew through some of the tunes. One of the gentlemen said "sehr gut" after each number, so i said "danke schoen" back to him.

Now it is time to rest up for the busy week I have ahead of me.

More later

xxooxx