tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59714636628501867372024-02-20T02:23:25.345-05:00DesiderataUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger333125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-84771790580276936632013-03-28T12:35:00.000-04:002013-03-28T12:35:29.745-04:00Living in FearI have a friend who is striving to live fearlessly. Her proclamation started me thinking about how much I fear. And how much energy I don't have to deal with those fears.
These fears aren't huge philosophical fears. They aren't even cancer related fears--although there are plenty of those. I'm just playing ostrich about those right now.
I fear pain.
For over a year, I struggled with horrible Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-66224330396537522212012-12-16T14:31:00.000-05:002012-12-16T21:39:06.410-05:00Why I Refuse to "Shut up and Grieve"So, I gave up on the thankfuls thing because I was so bogged down with work. I guess it is all summed up with "I'm thankful I have jobs and a family to keep me so busy I don't have time to do the thankful meme."
One thing I'm no so thankful for though is that I live in a nation where school shootings and other mass shootings are becoming de rigour. And I'm angry. And I'm not going to shut up andUnknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-53477286297375347672012-11-10T21:29:00.002-05:002012-11-10T21:29:49.318-05:00Thankfuls Nov. 6-10So, on the day of the big election, I was stricken with a gnarly virus, which kicked my butt. So, I rather dropped the intention of daily blogging. And daily thankfuls.
I can't make up the missed days of blogging (well, maybe I can if I really try, and if I do manage to catch up with the other aspects of my life I've had to ignore for the past week, I might try), but I did make an effort tonightUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-46708198413289239982012-11-04T21:31:00.001-05:002012-11-04T21:31:53.017-05:00GOTV in the heart of it all...Yesterday, Saturday November 3, 2012, marked the start of Get Out the Vote all across the USA. GOTV is when volunteers hit the streets, knocking on doors, encouraging voters--usually very carefully chosen registered voters--to get out and vote. Seeing that I live in Ohio, supposedly the battle ground state, GOTV has been huge. Seeing as this is a college town (where 6,000 new voters Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-74167858931297051452012-11-03T22:14:00.001-04:002012-11-03T22:14:22.601-04:00Thankfuls: Nov. 3, 2012In all fairness, this month of daily blog entries just may be the undoing of me. I blog best when I'm ranty. Today, I'm not ranty.
I am, however, doing the "thankful" meme on Facebook this month. This meme takes several forms: 5 a day, one a day, the same number as the date. I'm toying with the same number as the date, but as the month goes on and school gets more and more busy as the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-41561038171442388362012-11-02T12:12:00.002-04:002012-11-02T12:12:54.815-04:00NaNoWriMo 2012Yes, it's NaNoWriMo.
I'm not participating.
However, I am going to attempt to post at least one blog entry per day for the month of November. Or several posts on certain days to total 30 in the Month of November.
This post brings me up to date, since today is 11/2.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-48451533571702863802012-11-02T12:10:00.002-04:002012-11-02T12:10:53.775-04:00It's been a long time and weighing heavily on my mind...Oh my...I haven't written a post since July. And that was a long time in coming. I've been busy, teaching 19 credits, tutoring for athletic services, the normal stuff. That's really no excuse. Blame in on the love of my life, my Droid Razr Maxx...enough computer to stay in touch but not quite user friendly enough to do much real writing. Facebook and Twitter, yes. Paragraphs? Punctuation? Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-11735598415312529302012-07-07T19:34:00.002-04:002012-07-07T19:36:28.796-04:00A very interesting question...It is going to be ironic that I'm posting this here, and the irony will probably double when I share this on Facebook, but here it goes.
On Wednesday evening at the fireworks, I was struck by the number of people who were in attendance with cameras in tow. My husband was one of them.
Then, about halfway through the display, I noticed a small group of people near us who were...every one of the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-41701427444757043102012-07-07T18:35:00.000-04:002012-07-07T18:35:09.229-04:00Heat!My goodness I have ignored this blog for a long time! I could say a lot about that and why, and I probably will at some point; however, just accept my apology and lets move on, shall we?
Yesterday on Facebook, I threatened to blog about the current heatwave sweeping much of the nation, especially the midwest (where I am) and the east coast. I don't want to get into the Climate ChangeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-58474639093156953542012-03-04T23:20:00.000-05:002012-03-04T23:20:33.574-05:00A favor for a friend? Spread the word....I have a friend who is trying to send her daughter to Interlochen Arts camp this summer. It's a pricey endeavor for a single mom who is also in school.
As they work to raise funds, they are also looking for uniform parts. If anyone of my readers know of anyone who might have pieces for less than list price, please post a comment here. Also, feel free to spread this request. &Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-45130179873289747822012-03-03T23:39:00.002-05:002012-03-03T23:39:18.999-05:00You Might Have Chemo Brain If...http://chemo-brain.blogspot.com/2012/02/you-know-you-have-chemobrain-if.html?spref=tw
Yep. What she said.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-10708289332612592722012-02-29T22:45:00.000-05:002012-02-29T22:45:57.219-05:00Sh*t Survivors SayA recent conversation on my Facebook page recently took on a life of its own, between me and two of my friends who are survivors/endurers.
I've changed names to initials and altered children's names. Unfortunately, some of the comments got cut off, but you still get the gist of it.
One small irony is that I've titled this post "Sh*t Survivors Say" ;however, we don't talk about shit at allUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-23594333122497284602012-02-21T21:46:00.000-05:002012-02-21T21:46:14.612-05:00Beads Please[/] [\]
I showed you mine. Now you show me yours.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-32260580966160677392012-02-13T22:44:00.000-05:002012-02-13T22:44:36.380-05:00Do a gal a favor?
My friend Angela is running for Congress. She's already beaten out 4 other men and will be going into the primary unopposed. This means that she will be facing Rep. Bob Latta, voted one of the Worst Enemies of the Environment, for the real election. Latta rode into office on his father's coat tails. He's cut spending to the military, environment, education, poor...
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-11977506915463513842012-02-12T00:49:00.000-05:002012-02-12T00:49:46.625-05:00Angry and SighingI wrote this in the midst of waiting to find out if I had metastatic cancer. I saw that damn cancer Care Bear in the side bar on my Facebook page.
Living with, living through, living beyond cancer is the exact opposite of everything that bear evokes, except that in me, that bear evokes anger. Whether it is breast cancer, or pancreatic cancer, or brain cancer, or small cell Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-63850755227948821482012-02-11T00:28:00.000-05:002012-02-11T00:28:28.196-05:00Yet Another abNormal, Normal Experience after Cancer DiagnosisAs soon as a person is diagnosed with cancer or suspected cancer, this train ride starts. If the diagnosis has been made or seems certain, it's a ride on a bullet train. From the day I first went to the CNM with my suspected lump until I got "the call" and had my pathology read to me, I experienced a mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy, and MRI. Those were 5 expensive days! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-13398010980209619452012-02-10T00:33:00.001-05:002012-02-12T02:12:59.470-05:00Not sure what to say about this...I saw this image today in the ad bar on my Facebook feed. Of all the silly pink images I've seen in the last 2.5 years, this is the most offensive.
Two days ago, two wonderful women of the blogosphere died from metastatic breast cancer. Rachel, at Cancer Culture Chronicles, and Susan (@whymommy), at Toddler Planet , were not the cute, retiring, fluffy, demure Care Bear Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-6725056922749895282011-12-20T08:32:00.000-05:002011-12-20T08:32:50.883-05:00The Times They Are A'Changin'"Come gather 'round people, where ever you roam....."
Yep, that's what it feels like here these days as we approach the Winter Solstice, which for my family is our midwinter holiday.
It's always somewhat of a hassle seeing as my university semester frequently ends less than a week before the solstice. In fact, there have been years when graduation was as late as the 23rd of December. &Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-67098482688474904252011-12-18T18:59:00.000-05:002011-12-18T18:59:47.756-05:00It's so much better in my memoryA long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a (much) younger mother of two sons with a husband who worked two jobs. I, also, worked two jobs. I had the same job I have now, only part time, and I babysat for two other little boys, who were, age-wise, on either side of my then youngest child.
In my memory, those were sweet days. I remember giving in gracefully and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-70184793378858860642011-12-11T11:16:00.000-05:002011-12-11T11:16:13.812-05:00The Harsh RealityMany bloggers have caught a lot of flack for not being gung-ho SGK/Pinktober rah-rah.
Part of the problem is that the Pinking of Breast Cancer denies reality for many. Of course, we all want to hear stories about long term survivors and those whose lives weren't drastically changed. Even more, we want to know about people who have survived treatment and then climbed Mt. Everest or Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-68178662508600190002011-12-02T17:51:00.001-05:002011-12-02T18:03:47.990-05:00Slip, Sliding Away, reduxAbout 11 months ago, I wrote this.
The past few days, I've been having some odd twinges, feeling swollen, weird PMS-like pains on the same right side. I really feel like something is off on my right side.
Having been sidelined by foot problems and elbow problems for the past several months, and coupled with dealing with the declining daylight, end of the term stress, and financial woes Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-70500690107382810822011-11-20T23:03:00.000-05:002011-11-20T23:03:19.977-05:00Thankfuls Nov. 14-20, 201114. I'm thankful for Smartwool socks. They are just about all I wear. They are clearly worth the investment. I'm also thankful that I am able to find them at greatly reduced prices. They are incredibly comfortable on my chemo-ruined, always cold feet.
15. I'm thankful for weekends away, even though I rarely go far, even if they would be seen as many as mundaneUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-86805284700831605602011-11-20T12:06:00.000-05:002011-11-20T12:06:15.564-05:00Memes, again.I was just copied on another "awareness" meme on Facebook. This time, the person who sent it to me is a long time, much loved, highly respected friend of mine. One of those awesome friends I met online over a decade ago and whom I have grown to love deeply. She is, in many ways, a much loved mother figure to me. And I don't want to hurt her feelings although I fear I may Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-50144797851038213602011-11-13T22:46:00.000-05:002011-11-13T22:46:30.627-05:00It's the little things in life...It's the little things in life that can make or break you. For the last six months or so, a little thing has been wearing away at me, and I'm nearing a breaking point.
an example of extreme lymphedema
I've had problems off and on with "Golfer's Elbow" in my right arm. However, somehow, in trying to be healthy, I injured my left elbow sometime last winter or spring. And now Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5971463662850186737.post-28549888137461375142011-11-13T21:45:00.001-05:002011-11-13T21:47:16.296-05:00November Thanks 2011, week 27. I'm thankful for good friends, too many to list. They support me, make me laugh, and help make life fun and exciting.
8. I'm thankful for a dishwasher. Need I say more?
9. I'm thankful for good mentors for my boys.
10. I'm thankful for health insurance. Very, very, very, very thankful for health insurance.
11. I'm thankful for pain relief of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0