Well, it's not going to kill you

I just think it's funny

Only my MIL who lives in Ohio would send fruit from Texas to California

The internet and me or me versus the internet

I cannot Tell you how much I hate Hughes.net my satellite internet connection. The past few days service has been erratic - nothing new there.

But the worst part is their customer service.  You call cs and end up in God only knows where India talking to people named "Dave" or "Susan" because there are so many East Indians with American names, ya right.  Besides it's demeaning to the cs techs to have to pretend they have an "American" name.

You explain your problem, get it repeated back to you in Indian English.  I don't mind Indian English at all EXCEPT when you're trying to get tech support then I want English English.  Trying to communicate can be well trying.  It makes me want to politely say "I can't understand you, can you transfer me to someone in the States".  Then it makes me want to reach through the phone and strangle the person who decided that tech support should be outsourced in the first place.

Oh Wild Blue please have an opening soon.

Thought for today

Most of us look at our ideals, say how far we are from them, and get depressed. But it is heroic simply to say, "Here are my ideals," state them before the world, and then spend your life trying to live up to them.
Keshavan Nair
New Dimensions Radio interview

 

That's how I try to live sometimes it's easy other times it's trying but none the less it's the striving that makes me a better person

Fight Like A Woman

I visit this site every day http://www.thebreastcancersite.com

They've been having a Fight like a Woman photo contest which caused me to reflect upon what fight like a woman really means.  It's not fighting in the traditional sense of the word.  You're diagnosed and suddenly you find yourself thrust into this foreign world.  You're immediately, or you should be, hooked up with a surgeon, medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist.  All strange territory and they're on your side but when they're assaulting your body it's some times hard to remember that fact.

That's the outer level of fighting surgery, chemo and/or radiation.  The real battle is in your heart and mind.

I've seen people who've just given up after a diagnosis.  They just assume they're going to die and take their hearts and minds down that road.  I've heard of people who just ignore the very obvious fact that they are sick and end up dying rather than fighting.

The inner level of fight is what gets you through.  The positive attitude that this disease is NOT GOING TO WIN.  You endure surgery or surgeries in my case.  You let yourself be pumped full of drugs that can kill you and you let yourself be radiated knowing that it might cause skin cancer, rare but it happens.

All the time thinking THIS DISEASE IS NOT GOING TO WIN.  That's what is means to fight like a woman.

I don't know, because I'm shallow?

I couldn't help but take gleeful notice of a piece I read in the paper yesterday.  Our former Supervisor Paul Kelly had been appointed to the California Water Board.  Paul has never met a piece of asphalt that he didn't love, not exactly a beloved point of view here in our agriculture county.

Back to the point Mr. Kelly, a dedicated Republican, was appointed by Governor I'll Be Back.  Now that the power has changed in Sacramento Paul is being tossed off the board.   See shallow glee.

Water is a BIG deal in California, Southern California siphons water from Northern California in our considered opinion so they can fill their swimming pools, golf courses and general turn a desert into livable space.  We don't like that very much.  It's not as if SoCal doesn't get a fair amount of rain it's that they can't be bothered to build the storage to hold it.  Thus their frequent flooding, houses falling off cliffs, etc.

I finally figured it out

It being what bugs the absolute hell out of me about Mitch McConnell.  I mean beside the fact that he's a hypocritical Republican and a liar. 

He has no lips or chin and he's smug as all get out.

That is all, actually that is more than enough!

Words of wisdom

From my calendar no less.  As I switch the page from July to August I leave behind this powerful wisdom.

She Explore the Depth of Her Power

As life ripens and seasons her, failure and pain are inevitable , defeat is option.  A fearless woman gains wisdom from failure  - as well as courage. Knowledge, fortitude ... and a little attitude.

 

working on the knowledge and fortitude... got the attitude!

Wrap it up

Yes now that the great cancer adventure of 2006-11 is over I'm starting over.

But before I head off to my new blog I thought I should let you know that Colin the $7000 dog made it through recovery great.  His staples were removed this morning and he's a FREE dog.  No more great race to the front door while he tries to get out. No more ignoring his toys when he wants to play and best of all he's on his way back to his regular food.

Much thanks to the Banks of Mom from whom we borrowed heavily.

Come visit me on my new blog Nearly Normal

Wow what a week!

A week ago today we had to rush Colin to the emergency vet at 2 am.  We didn't know what was wrong but when he cried like a baby we knew it was bad so off we went money be damned.  It turned out that his stomach had flipped, apparently very common in big dogs, and he was close to dying.  Instead he had surgery the next morning, had 40% of his stomach removed and the rest sutured to his rib cage so it won't happen again.  It was all very touch and go the first 72 hours.  The toxins that are released when the surgery is done can effect other organs, in his case the heart.  Fortunately his heart decided to keep beating all be it a bit funky for the first 4 days and we got to bring him home Monday.  He's laying here next to me on his back showing me his shaved belly and a big row of staples that must itch like hell.  When we're not around to watch him he has to wear an Elizabethan collar so he can't pull at the staples.  I keep thinking of the "cone of silence" from the old Get Smart series.

While Colin was busy trying not to die I was busy being busy.  Thursday was a loss as we didn't get home until 4:40 am and were awoken at 7:30 to be told Colin was going into surgery.  Needless to say it was a very stressful day.

Friday I had an appointment in her new role of cancer survivorship doctor.  It was a luxury to have an entire hour with her while we discussed the long term effects of chemo, chances for cancer recurrence, etc.  I'll be seeing her every six months from now on to watch for said discussion items.  It's a comfort knowing that there is someone dedicated just to watching out for cancer effects.

Saturday I took an all day Jin Shin Jyutsu  class.  Sunday I helped run the silent auction at the Pinot Family reunion.  I didn't get to taste much but what I tasted was suburb.  Monday we brought Colin home and I headed off to a refresher crochet class and yesterday was therapy with Dr. Sanity and a doctor's appt for an infection on my nose.  

Not a small inconspicuos one.  No bright red with a scab right below the bridge of my nose.  Today I hit the wall and napped. 

Thus endth the week that was WOW.

My next career move

Yes a new career opportunity has arisen.  It's called rescuing the cat 

the cat from the roof.   Sophie, is now 18 and her back legs are not once they once were.  She can climb up with ease, down however is an entirely different thing. Record for rescuing said cat - yesterday 4 times including once with an audience cheering me on.  Moral of the story: never try to reason with an Abyssinian.

On another career front Amy has finally started her focus group for cancer survivor care.  We've only had one meeting so far.  It's VERY clear from sharing our stories I was the "luckiest" of the group as I already knew most all the players before I started. I heard some real horror stories from around that table.  We all know what we don't want, now we just have to figure out what we DO want.  The great thing about Amy's project is she has 3 focus groups, the oncologists, the primary care physicians and us to bounce ideas off of.  I've been waiting for her to start this group since I finished treatment and ended up on the edge of a cliff.  If I hadn't had the good since to take Dr. Sanity's hand when it was offered I'm sure I'd be dead and wouldn't that be ironic.  Survive the treatment, cure the disease and not survive the aftermath.