Category: My Life

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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It was a busy weekend! Crazy busy! Loaded with work, cooking, laundry and planning. Oh yes, and then there was the phone.

We’re one of the few, who has kept their land-line. The last few days I’ve noticed a hum on the line, and this morning it just was terrible and I could hardly hear the person calling. So Hubby and I spent about 2 hours troubleshooting the problem, and it came back to the fact that it was the phone companies problem, not ours!

So, Hubby called them and they will be here by six o’clock tonight. I hope this will fix the problem once and for all!

Friday the Plastic Surgeons office called and switched my appointment to Monday at 8 AM! This means I must get up at 5:45 to get to the other side of the state for the appointment. Ah well, at least I get in there faster. The appointment they canceled was for this coming Wednesday.

It is bright sunshine and 44 degrees here this Sunday afternoon! Just beautiful! I could say goodbye to Winter and just go right into spring.

1. My real life friends came through with another question this week so thank you real life friends. When you’ve eaten in a restaurant do you complete their comment card? Do you take online surveys highlighted at the bottom of store receipts?

I do. I was even offered free juice, or coffee, or a free appetizer, when I answer restaurant comment cards. These people really want to keep you coming back, as times are tough and many people are not going out to eat right now, or if they do it is to a fast food place.

2. The (US) ban on women in combat was lifted at the end of January. It will probably be next year before specifics are worked out, but its been reported over 200,000 front line positions will eventually open up to women. Your thoughts?

This is a very tough question. I hope the women will be well vetted before they are allowed in the field. I would worry about their overall strength. Also I freely admit, I am such a girly girl, I would be in a corner crying and afraid in the combat battlefield.

3. In looking back at all the blog posts you’ve written, what’s your favorite post title?

Welcome Sweet Savannah Rose!

4. What’s worse-overly permissive parents or overly protective parents? Did your own parents lean more to the permissive or the protective category? If you’re a parent where do you fall?

I think overly permissive parents are worse. Their kids never learn limits. I was pretty strict with my girls. I guess I had expectations that they behave in public places, and treat other people with respect. I also do not think I was over protective. The girls did so many things and I tried not to be a nervous nelly!

5. Candlelight-moonlight-firelight-bright lights in the big city…which one’s your favorite?

Firelight. I’ve been lucky that since Hubby and I have been married we have had a fireplace in our homes. I hope it will always be this way.

6. Dr. Seuss’s birthday was celebrated on Saturday. What’s a favorite book you remember (Seuss or otherwise) from your own childhood?

Make way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey was my favorite book. My grandparents lived in Boston and I often walked down at Boston Public Gardens.

Did books play an important role in your growing up years? Explain.

Yes. I’ve always loved to read! I also loved to make up little storybooks. When my cousin had a little girl, I made up coloring books with little stories in them.

7. To quote Dr. Seuss…

“From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.”
from One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Share something funny you’ve recently read, seen or heard.

That question is a bit hard. It has been a rough few days.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Wednesday I am off to meet my Dermatologist Cancer Surgeon. He will explain what I will need done and tell me if he thinks I will need reconstructive surgery. Hopefully, I won’t. More than anything, I just want the surgery over with so I can get on with my life.

Good Tuesday to you all.

I spent the greater part of Monday working on paper work. Yes, paper work! Can you believe it? In this day and age, when everything is done on the computer, I actually had to sit down and fill out paper work in long hand!

Oh, my aching fingers!

However I finished it quickly, and then began my attempts to FAX the paper work. Well, that was an exercise in frustration! It took me 4 times before I finally got through!

After that I worked at making lunch, going to get the mail, picking up some groceries, and now making dinner. All in all, sort of an ordinary day!

But it wasn’t. I was thinking about my friend Margarita and how I simply cannot believe that she is gone. How I will miss her and how no one else will ever fill her place in my heart.

I know she knew of my love for her. After she was diagnosed I spent one afternoon with her before she left for Florida (and her family) with her. I held her and told her how much I loved her.

Isn’t it funny how sometimes people will pass and you feel sad, but it is not life changing. Then someone will pass who is like family, and you somehow know that life will never be the same.

I’m so lucky to have a group of women in my life that I love and who love me like this. It reminds me of what is really important in life.

Hubby has been wonderful. He has been so supportive of me during this time. I am blessed with him too.

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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As wonderful as my Saturday was, I found my Sunday has been a little more unsettled and, well crazy.

It started early on with the roaring wind and bitter temperatures. We live at the south end of a lake and the wind just rolls out of the north and roars against our house. At one point on Sunday afternoon, the wind speed hit 51 MPH! It held for a moment before settling back into the 30 mph range.

My laptop mouse died. A few months ago, Hubby’s mouse died, so I gave him mine and ordered a new one. When it came we switched and today the old one died.

At first I just reordered that one again, but then I decided to get a cordless one too. Since they were very cheap, and had no shipping charge, I ordered both. At the rate we go through them an extra mouse is always welcome in this house!

Saturday night I cooked a lovely meal of scallops and asparagus! It was so good. Now how could I make a meal on Sunday to top that? I’m planning a nice steak and brussel sprouts.

Now back to the hectic part of the weekend. The dogs have all been so good lately, that I really should have suspected that they were planning something.

Today Greta took off and found some uncooked rotten lamb chops, and came in with it. I’m telling you it just plain stunk! I mean, really. Just think how horrible rotten meat smells! I have bathed her once, but I am afraid she may need more washing as I can still smell her! Ugh!

My weekend ended with a nice fire in the hearth and plans to watch some TV tonight. All in all, a good weekend, just a tad hectic!

Saturday was wonderful! I did just what I had hoped to do today. I relaxed! I made Hubby and I a nice breakfast, finally got that Chinese food lunch, and discovered how to use my “Smart TV” to tune in You Tube.

I baked potatoes, steamed asparagus and baked scallops for our dinner. An incredibly easy meal to prepare, and enjoy!

Our weather was so pretty today and I really loved seeing the sunshine! We didn’t get the snow this time, luckily!

I took the dackels on walks, and have decided to get Arnie’s harness back out. Perhaps the girl’s harnesses too. Arnie pulls on the lead so much that he chokes himself. The girls don’t do this, but I am thinking they would be easier to handle in a group if I had their harnesses on.

I cannot begin to tell you how many people have written me about having undergone the Mohs Surgery for skin cancer. The bright spot is that these people have done wonderfully well, and the surgery is becoming more and more common.

I received the pathology report from my biopsies, and I sent them to my daughter, who previously worked in oncology research. She was able to ascertain that this is a pre-cancer type of carcinoma and that the Mohs Surgery is extremely good at eradicating it, along with the chemo cream!

So I am feeling like I have a whole new lease on life!

Have you ever found that good news tends to take some time getting through, but bad news travels fast?

I sort of feel like I have been traveling in the fast lane over the past week. I went into see my own doctor on Monday February 4th. He also felt I should see a good Dermatologist. I’d found Dr. A. and I wanted to be sent to her.

When my doctor’s secretary called for an appointment, she was told, June or July would be the first available appointment. In the meantime, they asked my doctor for his notes.

By the time I got home I was telling myself to not be picky and go to the first available Dermatologist. Then on Wednesday February 6th I got a phone call from Dr. A.’s office asking for my surgical records.

That afternoon Hubby drove me to the local hospital and I signed the privacy form so that my records could be sent to Dr. A.

By Friday, I had an appointment for the following Monday. On Monday, I had two biopsies taken.

On Wednesday, February 13th, in the early afternoon they called to tell me that it is a return of the cancer. I now must go to a special surgeon for a Mohs Operation. The good news is, that this procedure gives you a 98-99% chance of a full recovery with no relapse at that sight.

Then, as I sat thinking about the road ahead, I was reminded about my favorite movies. And this segment!

Who knows? Maybe they’ll find my twin!

Back in July of 2008, I was diagnosed with, and operated on for Skin Cancer on my nose. You can go back HERE and read all about that time in my life.

Recently, I noticed that the scar on my nose was reacting badly. By this I mean, it was once again getting red, the skin was scaly and the scar looked like it was growing.

So last week I went in on Tuesday and saw my doctor, who referred me to Dr. A. at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital. That day we were told that the soonest I could get in was JULY!

Then I heard that Dr. A.’s office wanted all my surgical records. So we drove down to get them the next day to have them faxed over to Dr. A.’s office.

She looked them over on Friday morning and her nurse called me with an appointment for Monday morning at 10 AM.

I tried not to worry or freak out, but frankly, it concerned me that they’d found an appointment space so quickly after getting my records.

In fact I told my cousin there were no worries, and she wrote me back asking “Who are you? And what have you done with my cousin?”

Have I mentioned that in fact I am a BIG little bit of a worrier?

Monday came and Hubby offered to drive me. Our roads are still not the best here in New Hampshire, after the big storm on Friday/Saturday, and today’s surprise storm!

Going over wasn’t so bad, but the return trip was scary as all get out!

But, I digress.

When I got to Dr. A.’s Office I was escorted into her examination room. After examining my nose, she was not happy. It seems my original surgery was not done correctly and that was why she wanted to see me so quickly.

She believes the cancer has come back and she would like an extensive surgery done to further remove the cancer and then do plastic surgery on my nose.

Meanwhile, today, Dr. A. took two biopsies on my nose and then she put in stitches. I must leave them for a week before they are removed.

I do not know when my next procedure will be. I guess as soon as they can arrange it. After the skin heals, I will need to use a chemotherapy cream until they are sure the cancer is completely gone.

I’m feeling a little headache-y now and my nose also hurts. But I think it is to be expected.

Hubby drove me over and back, as I said. The ride over was not so bad until we reached Lebanon, NH. Then the snow was falling pretty heavily. Then I was in for my appointment and when I got out, the snow was already 3 inches deep! And very slippery!

Mountain roads are not the easiest, and I swear I couldn’t breathe the entire time we were in the car. Now we’re home, I am feeling a little better, just cold. At one point a large propane truck was coming our way, and he was sliding! Talk about scared!

So thank you all for listening to me today. Yes, I am a little freaked now, and I will keep trying to chill out.

Keep your fingers crossed that all will turn out okay!

Thanks!