Bringing it Since 1964

The sweet surprise I came home to...

50 gajillion leaves in nice neat piles!

A HUGE thank you to the leaf fairy who did this while I was out of town yesterday. I was so surprised when I pulled into my driveway last night. In addition to clearing my yard of its blanket of leaves, you gave me a much-needed workout and an excellent way to burn off some of my steroid energy. I bagged some piles before chemo, then a few more after chemo. I should sleep really good tonight, and I saved a few piles to help me sleep tomorrow night.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
(unless it was the guys who mow my lawn,
in which case I expect a discount)

Tuesday Leaf Update:

All that remains as of Tuesday a.m.,
bagged another pile before work


Only a couple more piles to go!
I plan to knock these out tonight after work.

Tuesday - Leaf Update #2:

After work: I'm not going out there...it's dark and cold. I'm baking banana nut bread instead. Cozy and warm inside is where I'm staying.

If I could grow a mustache, Dad and I could be twins...
born 21 years apart

Our West Plains trip was great. Going back to WP always reminds me of how much I love and hate it there at the same time. I feel mostly love though...combined with gratefulness that I don't still live there.

I hated KC when we first moved here in the summer of '83. I was a bratty 18 year old who had been in college in Springfield for one year, and like most 18 year olds I thought I knew everything about life. Moving here took me further away from my friends and the party that was continuing into the summer. How dare my parents take me away from all of that to make a better life for their family! As an adult I know that it was the best thing they could have done for us.

As usual, I digress. So, anyway....

Mom, Dad, Tracy and I hit the road on Sunday around 8:30am and got home around 10:30pm. While we were there, we saw my uncle, my feisty-as-ever grandma, and then we went to see my cousin who is in the hospital for a leg injury that turned into a staph infection.

The weather was perfect, and the company was as well. Poor Dad was stuck with three women talking the whole way there and back...for 12 hours! On our way back, he tried to play some music about an hour from home. I was fully enjoying listening to Roy Orbison; but I got sucked back into the girl talk in the backseat. After a few songs, he just gave up, turned it off and drove faster.

It was a fun road trip. I felt good, and I was with 3/4 of the people I love the most in this world for 12 hours straight. Very cool, but no matter how much I love someone, I need some alone time after that much togetherness. I'm sure they feel the same way about me, and that's just one of the things I love about my family...lots of space to breathe in, but there in a heartbeat if you need them. The perfect family for a claustrophobic.

Chemoville
KCCC - Southwest

As I walked up to those doors today, standing right about where those people are walking there was an elderly gentleman smoking a cigarette. He had on one of those war veteran's hats, his said "WWII - I served proudly". And just like that, he was automatically forgiven for committing one of my major pet peeves by smoking right outside the cancer center doors. Once I got closer I noticed he had an oxygen tank. I've mentioned my love of irony, right? But still, I think he's earned the right to smoke anywhere he damn well pleases...oxygen and all.

I went inside to get checked in. He finished his cigarette and wheeled his oxygen back inside. Once we both got settled, I walked up to him, shook his hand, and said, "I just want to wish you a Happy Veteran's Day and say thank you". He thanked me and that was that.

Chemo went well. Long (11:00-4:30), but good. Dr. Doane and I talked about a whole bunch of non-chemo related stuff, then I talked to a bunch of people in the chemo room...I'm telling you, I bring the party.

Really it's just that the steroids make me a bigger blabbermouth than usual, if that's even possible. Just add Benedryl and it's like the buzz you get after you've had a few drinks and maybe a shot. The good; happy; everybody's my friend; hug them all; I love you SO much; we're, like, soulmates; I got your back forever, man; you're my girl, ya know what? listen to me...you are my GIRL; Ohmahgawd I LOVE this song, we HAVE to go dance!; the I just want to feel this level of buzzed forever kind of buzzed.

Cancer and chemo aren't all bad.

Some of the other people I love
most in this world