Category: My Life

Here is the report on my meeting with DH Hospital.

I started the meeting with the Patient Relations Man by talking about all the positive experiences I have had there. I even explained that the other doctors involved with this cancer surgery were wonderful.

Then I told him about the lack of communication, being shocked when I woke up after the first surgery and seeing my ‘Klingon Nose’, the fact the surgeon went on vacation moving my second surgery back a week, the fact that when I had difficulty understanding what he had done, and then he did not want to see me for ‘several’ months, that I was very upset.

I told the Patient Relations Man how the Physicians Assistant had gone out of the room and then she came back and said that this was correct, he didn’t want to see me for ‘several’ months.I explained that I was furious that he didn’t take the time to talk to me that day.

I showed him the pictures. The ones taken on the first day after the forehead flap. Then I showed him the ones taken before this whole thing started. I explained that I will not be going back to their doctor. That I have gotten a second opinion, in Boston and will use the Boston doctor, Dr. P. and that the Dr. P. indicated that I should never have had the forehead flap!

I stressed how happy I have always been at DH Hospital. However, this doctor was not only poor with his people skills, but has scarred me for more than likely the rest of my life. I sure hope the new doctor can do something, but I am not expecting miracles.

I got the ‘sometimes life isn’t fair’ speech, (If this man only knew how well I know that life isn’t fair!) and a firm handshake, but no real satisfaction. He did keep two of the pictures ‘supposedly’ to send to the Board of Directors, but again, I don’t know if he meant that or not.

Hubby has encouraged me to write to the Board of Directors, and include a summary of this meeting, the pictures, and my experiences.

So now I am exhausted, and I have a headache! Time for a cup of tea!

I finally was able to go to my dentist for my bi-annual cleaning and check up. No cavities, but a crack in one old filling. So, I go on Friday to have it worked on.

The only problem is, after they cleaned my teeth my face started to throb! I can only image what Friday will bring!

When I got back home, Hubby had errands he wanted to do, so I tagged along in order to buy the dogs canned food and other perishable items for us to have in the house.

Then, finding no other TV program on (but news) and wanting to fill the air with something positive, I grabbed my copy of “Mama Mia” popped it into the DVD player, and have it on. I just love the music!

Hubby is working on the trees now that the rain has stopped and it is dead calm. I told him to go ahead as I am not really hungry for dinner, so off he went on his tractor.

Gosh how he loves that thing! Best gift I have ever given him, I think!!!

Just three weeks and I will be going in for the next surgery.

As much as I can hardly wait for this, I am also really nervous!

Deep breath! It will all be good!!!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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Friday and Saturday’s posts pretty much fill you in on those days. Sunday, however, was a special day.

I woke at a nice time. Eight o’clock. Since it was Father’s Day, I made Hubby French Toast for his breakfast, before throwing on my clothes.

You see the morning news said the first half of the day would be nice, and then we would have rain.

My friend, Carolyn has a summer job as a Lake Host, so I wanted to take Greta out for a walk and go down for a visit.

Well, Greta is simply hysterical to watch during these outings! She struts her stuff as she walks, and she even lifts her back leg to wee!

When we got to the boat access she wanted a drink, and so I walked her down, but a wave came in and she jumped back a foot! She did this several times, with us laughing at her, before she realized that the lake wouldn’t get her!

On our way home we saw a cute little girl with her parents. Greta was so happy. But this adorable little child didn’t even want to pat Greta. She looked terrified! “I’m afraid of dogs”, she said. I tried to quietly tempt her, but she was truly afraid, and her parents did nothing to help her.

How sad!

I told her we would walk by again, and maybe next time she would feel a little braver. She smiled. I sure hope that is the case. I hate to see kids not have a relationship with an animal. It teaches them so much about love.

The day ended with the man who cuts the field behind our house slicing up our hose. It’s been so wet this year and sadly, he waited too long to cut, so with the hay at 6 feet his machine slid a bit and chopped up the hose.

Hubby is not amused!

Happy Monday!

I’m starting to get nervous about my appointment with the plastic surgical specialist on Wednesday. I know he is a nice man. A friend uses him as her doctor. I know he does good work on fixing faces after cancer surgery. Again, I have seen his work.

I think what worries me the most is that I will get in there and he will look at my face and tell me that there is nothing he can do and I will always look like this.

The stranger I see in the mirror!

It’s an odd feeling when you have something like this happen on your face. Inside you still feel like the same person, but then you catch site of yourself as you pass by a mirror or in a store window, or even when you are backing up your car.

The startling feeling inside causes you to catch your breath. To wonder who that stranger is.

I always thought that I never gave my face much thought. I never wore make-up and always felt that a smile was my best feature. A window to my soul.

Had I lost all my teeth I could always get dentures, but the scars of the surgery have made me more than aware of the fact, (that I am slowly coming to terms with), that my best days (face wise) are behind me.

Oh I hope so much that this doctor looks at me and says he can make me at least pretty. Someone who can walk around in the world, without people staring with a startled look at me.

It happened again today as I shopped. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t. I smiled and kept walking. I wonder, what do these people think? How can they be so cruel?

My one favor to ask of all of you out there, if you see someone like me walking around, smile at them! You will simply make their day!!!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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The weekend was a strange one. A bit emotional with the departure of our camper (see yesterday’s post) and a lot of work, as I am washing things and either putting them away, storing them, or getting them ready for the recycling center.

The day started early for me on Sunday. I woke up feeling very groggy and stuffed up. My head also was not on a comfy pillow either. It was on…..Greta’s belly! And…she was snoring! It made me start to giggle, so I quietly got up and took the dogs out so Hubby could sleep.

I’ve been getting all my paperwork together for my second opinion with the plastic surgeon specialist on Wednesday. Mandy and I are going together. I’m glad she will be with me.

I saw that The Little River Band was going to be at our local venue “The Flying Monkey”. When I researched it I discovered that none of the original members are with the band. This a licensed band to use their names and sing their songs.

I bought their Greatest Hits album instead!

I tried to make Sunday a bit of a quiet day for me as well. Life has been a bit complicated and also stressful, and I needed the time to regroup. Did I find that? Not really. In fact I’ve been feeling very tired and wrung out!

I guess this tells me I need an early bedtime tonight (Sunday).

Happy Monday Everyone!

Last night I made this great meal. I sauteed onion, peppers and mushrooms, cooked some chicken, and served it with boiled California New Potatoes (my favorite!), and corn on the cob. The meal was stupendous, and best of all, it was so easy. I hardly gave it a thought.

Tonight, not so much. I had a meatloaf in the freezer that I took out and thawed, potato salad (okay, that was good) and green beans. The meatloaf was just terrible!

Hubby didn’t complain, but I sure did. Being on Weight Watchers means eating meals and enjoying them. This meal tonight was not enjoyable at all (except the potato salad!)

Now I am thinking about tomorrow night and what I can make for dinner then. Will it be an easily produced masterpiece or a hard fought disaster?

Stay tuned!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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Hi Everyone, welcome to Monday. My weekend was a good one. It’s the first time since this whole skin cancer thing began that I actually stopped thinking (negatively) about myself, and started to see the lilacs, the sunshine and yes even a wonderful Pileated Woodpecker who has taken up residence in our yard!

This is Woody Woodpecker! A male Pileated Woodpecker!

I knew he was in our area, because I could hear his incessant tapping on the trees, but until today I had never seen him. This morning I had gone outside with Anneliese to get the paper, and I heard the tapping. I looked up and there he was!

Now these birds are pretty large. 12-15 inches in length! When they are in flight their under wings are white, despite their black tops!

I stood there, snapping pictures, and I forgot all about myself! Isn’t it amazing how when something happens to us, like cancer, or a severe trauma, often times we get so lost in ourselves that we forget about all the wonderful things happening around us.

So here I am, in my nightgown, in the back yard snapping pictures, of this marvelous creature, and suddenly I felt the world had opened back up to me!

Our lilacs are blooming and when I walk through the yard I am overwhelmed with their sweetness.

Lilacs are my favorite flower and I have them all over the edges of my yard. The sight, the smell, reminds me that there is a God in Heaven, for certainly no mere mortal could have thought up something so very splendid!

In the afternoon on Sunday I did the re-potting of the patio plants (tomatoes, eggplants and peppers), and made a venison stew.

And because I wasn’t busy enough, I also did laundry and made biscuits to go with the stew. I just told Hubby I am nearly done for the day, he just smiled and laughed. I think he is happy to see me living life again!

I went off to the hair stylists today to get my roots done. This erases the tell tale signs that I’m getting old by taking that gray and washing it away!

When I got done, I came home and went to sign into Facebook to check on everyone. What I found sort of shocked me.

I was being scolded by Facebook for being an over tag-er. They claim I tag too many people when I post pictures.

Now, in my own defense, the only time I tag people is when I am posting Savannah pictures and I never tag more than 6-7 people at a time. And then, I only tag family members.

Today I was forced to take a test where they sort of shamed me for tagging people. At the end, I was told I would be monitored and if I continue to “over tag” I will be suspended.

I’ve wondered if someone I have tagged in photo’s (so they could see Savannah right off) complained about me?

I really do not know. What I will do in the future is make an album of the pictures and then send a post separately to contact the family.

Meanwhile, Facebook really made me feel bad, and I just didn’t need that!

Monday found me trying to catch up with stuff around the house, as well as begin my ultimate plans of selling our pick-up truck and motor coach. The pick-up truck was a breeze. It’s sold and will be picked up on Monday.

However, the same deal gave me a rather insulting lowball offer on the motor coach, so now I am planning to advertize on a web site and Craigs List. Perhaps Ebay as well.

Since Hubby’s stroke a few years back, we have not used the motor coach and it is time to get it….gone.

When we were in there today I noticed a few things need to be done. I need to vacuum and wash done things, and also remove all of our stuff and have clean, clear shelves.

I want it ready so that if someone buys it, they can take it the same day if they want to. So cleaning of the motor coach comes very soon.

Meanwhile, I made a quick dinner of meatloaf and mashed potatoes and carrots. Easy.

Tuesday I am off to The King Arthur Museum! I shall report in tomorrow!