Poor Little Lucky Me

Oak Creek Canyon before the recent Slide Fire. It has nothing to do with this post, but I like it.

I didn't fall off the planet, but it has been awhile since my last post. I completed the last of my four sessions of chemotherapy in April and had a follow-up PET scan last week. I got the results yesterday and the scan showed no sign of cancer anywhere in my body. Yippee!

This proves again how lucky I am. The much-dreaded chemo wasn't that bad; I was rarely nauseated and did not lose one hair of my head.

I was anemic for awhile, but a transfusion and a series of shots took care of that. 

That's the lucky me part.

Am I back to normal? Not exactly. Let me tell you a sad story about poor little me:

A year ago my income increased to the point where I decided I could afford my own apartment. I chose one close to my grandkids and started packing and making plans. I was going to volunteer at a nearby hospital, and maybe the library. I was going to help at school and have lunch with the munchkins once in awhile.

Well, you know what happens when you make plans. 

One day I noticed that my leg didn't want to bend as I was walking. A little while later I turned to do something and felt a sharp pain in my knee. I was hoping it would go away, but Tylenol and ice didn't help.

I went ahead with the move as I had already signed the lease and was still hoping that the knee pain was temporary. Instead it has become increasingly worse. I'm able to do a (very) little housework and I can drive myself to doctor appointments, but son Toby buys all my groceries and does my other shopping. I walk with a cane or a walker (which is too heavy for me to put in my car) and every step is painful. There is no pain when I'm off my feet.

As a result, I do as little as possible and am horribly out of shape. I am scheduled for knee replacement surgery in August, if my primary doctor and cardiologist give their blessings. I'm looking forward to the end result but the surgery and long, torturous recovery, not so much.

I'm losing weight and doing strengthening exercises to aid my recovery. I just hope it's enough.

OK, enough whining. I'm going to concentrate on all the great things in my life.

See you next time.

Marianne

Hair today, gone tomorrow?

Before and after haircut with two of my favorite people in the world, my 15- and 21-year-old granddaughters.

I'm having my second chemo treatment today and I hear that the bad side affects begin about this point. To stave off freaking out if/when I lose my hair, I decided on the preemptive strike of having it cut much shorter. My daughter-in-law Luisa did the honors. thanks, Luisa! 

If/when it does fall out, I'll go to a barber and have my head shaved. Yikes! I'm not going to buy a wig, but I will probably invest in a "chemo hat" or two. The world isn't ready to see my bald noggin. I haven't decided what, if anything, to do about my eyebrows.

Speaking of my eyebrows, back in my newspaper days I was doing a story about a new beauty salon that focused on skin care. I was interviewing the owner-esthetician when she suddenly asked if she could pluck my eyebrows! It seems hers were practically nonexistent so trimming them wasn't necessary. I agreed and in addition to the story, I left with beautiful brows and a happy advertiser.

Meanwhile, back in chemo land, I've made all the preparations I can think of to deal with the "what-ifs" that may come with this round of treatment. 

If I had my 'druthers, I would be like the man who complained that chemo wasn't working because he didn't have any side effects. Stay tuned!

* I created this post with the Blogger app on my ipad, which doesn't have all the bells and whistles (like spell check) that the full program does. Apologies for any typos. I also can't size photos or enable the "reply" feature for comments, but I'll take care of that as soon as I can. 

I'm taking you to chemo with me

If you've never had chemotherapy, and I sincerely hope you never have and never will, come with me to my first treatment and see what goes on.

The first thing is to sign in at the appointment desk, where a lovely paper bracelet is placed on my wrist. Then I am ushered into the Chemo Room by Bre, who will be my chemo nurse today. She lets me choose my seat and I select a recliner in the far corner. This gives me a view of the long room, which is almost full.

I can see but not hear John Goodman talking to a talk show host on the TV set at the farthest end of the room. I take note of my fellow patients, mostly female, mostly middle-aged or older. My son James accompanies me today and points out that they all seem to have their own hair, which I found surprising. The thing I'm least looking forward to is losing mine.

Nurse Bre checks my veins in my forearm to make sure they can handle the IV. When she finds one that she likes, she wraps my arm in a warm towel to help prepare the vein for the injection, which doesn't hurt at all.

She then gives me a B-12 shot and an injection of an anti-nausea drug, and starts the IV session with a 30-minute drip of more anti-nausea meds. Bre puts my feet up and puts a pillow behind my back. Now that I'm all comfy, all that's left to do is wait.

I brought my trusty iPad, so I start taking notes about my experience while watching the comings and goings of a very busy day in the chemo clinic. (Note to self: try to have the IV in my left arm next time. I have to hold my right arm still and type much slower with my free left hand.)

One woman appears to be getting a blood transfusion, but it's just a different color of chemo drug. Some people have been there for hours while others seem to be in and out in a jiffy, depending on the treatment they're getting that day. Some have a friend along and chat quietly (during their fast-food lunch!). Others read or doze alone.

Thirty minutes have passed, so it's time for the first chemo drip, which will only take 10 minutes. I
tense up when the drug starts to enter my body, but it feels no different. I relax and return to my notes. The last chemo drip takes about an hour, during which time three gentlemen join me in my empty corner and start talking. I listen to their military histories with interest and the time flies by.

My treatment started at 1:30 and I'm on my way home at 4:00 - with no side effects except that I will sleep poorly that night and that my blood sugar will rise sharply the next morning and drop sharply the morning after that.

Chemo class was a real education

I can't tell you how glad I am that I attended chemo class today. I am in a much better frame of mind now.

The "class" began with blood work, then the lovely Jessica, my oncologist's assistant, told me what my particular treatment will entail. The nurse will insert an IV and give me anti-nausea medicine before two chemo drugs are administered. The first takes about 10 minutes and the second takes about an hour. The whole thing takes about two-and-a-half hours, rather than the much longer time I was expecting.

I will be able to make the half-hour drive to and from the treatments myself. Since they don't know how I'll respond to the drug, they want someone to be with me for the first visit in case they have to give me something that may make me drowsy.

Chemo can't distinguish between good cells and cancer cells and has a nasty habit of killing them both. White blood cells are particularly vulnerable, so I have to go back the following day for a shot that will boost my white cell count.

Jessica said I will definitely lose my hair (sob), my nails may become brittle and I may get mouth sores. Any nausea I may experience can be controlled with a prescription she has already sent to my pharmacy. She said I will be probably be a little more tired than usual for a day or two.

I am to call right away if I have a fever above 101.4, if nausea is worse than expected or if I get dehydrated. I must increase my water intake, and I am not a water drinker. I mean, I wasn't a water drinker.

After Jessica talked to me I got a B-12 shot and then met with Sara, who gave me the bad news about the cost. I'm amazed that I survived that part of the class! Each of my four treatments will cost about $10,000! Ten grand! My insurance will cover a big part of it, however, and Sara told me about some options to help with the rest so I could breathe again.

The class ended with a trip down the hall to the Chemo Room, where there is a row of recliners and their accompanying IV stands. It looked pretty boring, but hey, they have free wifi.

I'll begin treatment next Friday, Feb. 7, and have three more three weeks apart. I don't expect it to go quite as smoothly as I was told today, but it sounds like it will be much easier than the nightmare I was dreading so. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks to everyone who sent prayers and good wishes my way. They are much appreciated!

Cancer pulls a fast one

On Dec. 18 I had surgery for lung cancer. The surgeon said I had a small cancerous tumor that was confined to the upper lobe of my left lung. Take out the lobe, remove the cancer. That's what I thought for over a month.

I was discharged from the hospital on Christmas (best gift ever!) and my recovery has been good. I can't even tell I'm missing half of a lung. The sugeon said the operation was a success and that I should should follow up with my oncologist.

I did so on Friday, expecting a brief visit just to arrange for future follow-up scans to check for the possble reoccurrence of cancer.

Imagine my surprise (shock, dismay, fear and anger) when he advised me to have chemotherapy! He said microscopic cancer cells were found around the tumor and on lymph nodes that had been removed during the surgery. I had been mistaken in thinking that the surgery was a "cut and cure"
procedure. I had all I could do not to break down right then and there, but I made it to my car before shedding a tear or two.

So many questions ran through my mind. Why was I finding this out now instead of right after the surgery, or at least before I left the hospital? Will chemo be as horrible as I have heard? How will I get to and from the treatments? How will I cope, living on my own? How will I be able to care for my grandchildren? What will it cost?

I will attend a class on Tuesday that will address some of my concerns, including the financial bit, but  there are so many variables with chemo that I will have to experience it for myself to answer the rest.

I've even questioned whether I should have chemo at all, but the oncologist says it will increase my chance of a total cure by as much as 20 percent, so I'm going for it.

Could it be ... Rain?

The sky is gray today and there is some kind of wet stuff falling from the clouds. It makes the road shiny and has a musical sound that makes me want to curl up with a good book. I believe, if memory serves, that this mysterious substance is called rain. 

According to Wikipedia (and they ought to know), rain is " liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then precipitated - that is, become heavy enough to fall under gravity." I knew you wanted to know that.

Rain is a rarity in the Phoenix area; we average about 8 inches a year. Not quite in the same league as New Orleans, for example, which drowns in more than 60 inches of rain annually! 

It's cold outside, too, only 55 degrees, dropping to 48 tonight. That's downright chilly in this neck of the woods. If I had some beef shank, I would make a pot of soup. It's hard to find, though, especially now that grocery stores no longer cut their own meat. When I do find some, I'll share the recipe with you. It's awfully good!

I'm off to brew a cup of tea and find a book.

Till next time,

Marianne

It Could Be Worse

Landscaping around the lake at Cesar Chavez Park in Laveen, Arizona

After a CT scan of my chest, a PET scan of my whole body and an MRI of my so-called brain, I finally have some definitive answers about my lung cancer.

The best news is that the cancer has not spread. Whew! Unfortunately, I will have to say goodbye to the upper lobe of my left lung to ensure that the cancer is removed completely. (Did you know that there are three lobes in your right lung and two in the left? Strange.) But at least I'll have a lung and-a-half to breathe with.

Surgery will take place the week after Thanksgiving, and I should be almost back to normal by Christmas. I was worried that I would miss out on the holidays, so that's a relief. I will be hosting a family dinner the day after Thanksgiving due to scheduling conflicts of one kind and another, but as long as we all sit down to turkey and all the trimmings the date doesn't matter. 

Till next time, 

Marianne

Blogger for iPad - Who Knew?

I've been thinking that I need a laptop, especially for blogging, but they are a bit expensive. The cost is hard to justify when I already have my handy dandy workhorse desktop computer. It has everything I need, but it's not exactly portable.

I have a feeling that I'm going to be laid up for awhile after my lung surgery, and I get withdrawal pains if I'm off the Internet for more five minutes (ok, slight exaggeration there). My iPad will be perfect, but how will I be able to write and publish my blog posts?

Every once in awhile a little light bulb comes on in my little brain and thus it was that I thought of the App Store. There's an app for everything, right? So why not a blogging app? Well, lo and behold, a quick search turned up Blogger itself! (I'm probably way behind the rest of the blogging world with this discovery, but it was a Eureka! moment for me.)

This is my first attempt at using the app and I can already see a few shortcomings. Luckily, I can upload photos directly from my iPad albums; I can't seem to find any way to resize them as I can in the full version. There are buttons to click for bold or italic text, but there doesn't seem to be an HTML editor - or spell check, yikes!

The app is free, though, and I think it will fit my needs. I can even use it on my iPhone. As you can see from the photo, Google has wisely made the app compatible with other devices as well.

Till next time,

Marianne

The Joys and Woes of Being a Reader

via Pinterest



To say that I love to read isn't really true. To say that I have to read is more accurate. I've been this way since I was small. I bugged my mother to teach me how to read when I was four, and I've been fascinated by the written word ever since.

Reading has been a joy and a curse.

Through books I've traveled the world, and beyond. I've met fascinating people, witnessed amazing feats and fallen in and out of love more times than I can count. I know that the correct pronunciation of the Levitation Charm is Wingardium Leviosa, not Leviosa. (Thanks, Hermione!)

I know that hobbits have hairy feet and curly hair. That "real" vampires sparkle in the sunlight, that you really don't want to mess with Joe Pike or Jack Reacher or Harry Bosch. I know what the Deathly Hallows are and who Sethos really is.

History, real and imagined, has come to life before my eyes. My imagination has reveled in fictional accounts, and my perspective has been widened through non-fiction.

My taste in reading material is eclectic, to say the least. Fiction, non-fiction, good books, bad books, so-so books - I'll try them all, although bad books never get read through. I'm not that desperate! Life is too short to read bad books.

In addition to my reading addiction I am a very fast reader. This is not a good thing. I try to slow down, I really do, but it never works for long. I want the story to go on and on, but, alas, the last page is turned all too soon. That's why I like books with hundreds and hundreds of pages, like the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon. It also helps if a book is at least a bit complex. I can read (and enjoy) a Spenser novel by the late Robert B. Parker in a few hours, but Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache books take awhile longer to digest.

Read my books over and over again. I cringe when I seek books used solely for decorative purposes. Make a lamp out of a stack of books? But I might want to read them sometime! I guess it's OK if they're copies, but still...

If you visited my house today, you would see why the above slogan is so appropriate. I will put down a book if I must, but I do it reluctantly. Who wants to scrub floors when the Orcs are about to attack Helms Deep? Or when Mr. Darcy is just about to say something profound to Miss Elizabeth Bennett? Or when the Volturi come calling? First things first, people!

My addiction is quite sad, really. In doctors' waiting rooms I was once reduced to reading poorly written brochures about obscure diseases, ancient copies of Field & Stream, even old Highlights, the children's magazine. (I almost always find all the hidden objects in the picture!)

Now that I have an iPad, I can take reading material with me. E-books are a wonderful convenience, but nothing can take the place holding a real book.

I admit I stopped reading long enough to write this post (although, technically, I'm reading as I write), but I really must find out what the Emersons are up to now. (See, the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters.)

The Big C Comes Calling

Desert sky, North Scottsdale, Arizona

 

I've already broken my vow to blog every day this month, but this time it wasn't due to procrastination. I've been diagnosed with lung cancer, which kind of knocked me for a loop.

 

I had read that a mass in a lung is almost always cancer, but somehow I wasn't prepared for the idea that it could apply to ME. But, as my doctor informed me Thursday, it does.

 

There is good news, however, and that has managed to keep my outlook positive. My oncologist believes the cancer was detected early and that there's a good chance that surgery might remove it entirely.

 

It's early days yet and I have to have few more tests to determine if the doctor is correct. Next week he wants me to have a PET scan, which detects cancer anywhere except the brain, and a CT scan of my brain. I have a copay for both procedures, but I think I should get a refund if the CT scan fails to find any brain at all, which is entirely possible. The oncologist is also scheduling an appointment with a lung surgeon, so no time is being wasted.

 

Is it scary? It may be, depending on the test results. The idea of surgery doesn't thrill me, but if it has to be, it has to be. I know so little yet that, aside from the first moments of panic, I'm not wasting emotion on what may or may not lie ahead.

 

That's why I chose this photo for today's post. Storm clouds are gathering, but there's still a glimpse of blue sky hanging in there, just like me.

 

I'll let you know how it goes and if you have a story to tell or just want to say hi, feel free to add a comment below.

 

Till next time,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change Only One Thing? Let Me Think...

Interesting prompt for today's post from Blogher's NaBloPoMo . If I could change one thing about myself, what would it be? Well, as you can see by the above photo, not one darned thing!

Oh, wait, that's not me. Rats. This is going to take some thought.

There are a few minor things I could change, of course. Like being a little lighter, poundage-wise, or a little fitter, exercise-wise. Or maybe a lot of both. I would like to be able to see without glasses, but I don't look like me without them.

I could opt to be taller or have the green eyes I always wanted (or lavender, like whatzername above). I could be younger! I could sing so that people would actually want to listen. Maybe I'd like to be famous. I wouldn't mind having just a little more money. Is it possible that I could be a hunk magnet? Hmmm. I'd have to change a whole lot of things to accomplish that!

I think I'll pass on the unrealistic changes. Changing my appearance or personality isn't the big deal it might once have been. I'll just work on being a better person in general. I don't need a prompt for that; it's on my daily agenda anyway.

My Blogging Workspace

Yes, folks, this is where all the excitement happens. On one wall of my bedroom I have an old-fashioned set-up, including a desktop computer, color printer, mouse, keyboard, etc. Following my procrastinating habits, the speakers have yet to be unpacked.

On the little shelf on top of the desk is my slide scanner, which I plan on using as soon as I figure out where all my slides are. I think they're on the top shelf of my closet, but it will require the height and muscles of one of my offspring to find out for sure.

My oldest accessory is to the left of the monitor, my old friend Opus of "Bloom County" comic strip fame. Ah, Berkeley Breathed, wherefore art thou? Opus has helped me meet many a deadline. He's sitting on a shoebox containing all computer-related CDs.

Almost as old is the mouse pad on the right, made from a photo of my two oldest grandchildren a few years back. It was a gift from my son Tim, who is no longer with us and is sorely missed.

The desk chair was a gift from my son James. There was a time when I was at the computer a lot, so this wonderful back support was (and is) much appreciated.

The desk itself is the newest part of the ensemble. I bought it at Fry's Electronics almost two years ago. It doesn't take up too much room, but it holds everything I need.

The printer has its own stand, with shelves for paper and miscellaneous items.

The blinds came with the apartment and I plan to cover them with drapes. I don't open the blinds because the window looks out on another apartment's patio and I'm shy.

I love my computer, with its Photoshop and Microsoft Word and a myriad of other goodies, so this is where I go when there's blogging and hardcore photo-editing to be done. However, since I discovered a certain distraction called IPad, most of my web-browsing (and, possibly, game-playing) is done in the comfort of my chair in the living room. But it's just a toy and my computer is the real thing.

Until next time,

The Blog Must Go On

 

I wasn't sure I would feel like blogging today, in spite of my promise to blog every day this month. I had a lung biopsy this morning and didn't know what to expect.

They were going to insert a needle into my lung, for goodness sake! Would it hurt, would they hit the right spot without involving any blood vessels? Would my lung collapse, causing them to pump it up like a flat tire with a chest tube (shudder) and keeping me overnight?

All my worrying was for naught, thank goodness! I was under conscious sedation and was given pain meds anytime I got uncomfortable. The biopsy itself wasn't too bad; the hard part was having to keep my arms over my head and not move a muscle during the entire procedure, which seemed to last forever. My shoulders were killing me!

The doctor used CT scans as a guide for the needle insertion, so he would roll me into the scanner, insert the needle a bit, then scan again and insert some more, and so on until the procedure was done. The final step was to snip a sample of the walnut-sized mass in my lung and send it to the lab for testing. I heard a sharp snap but didn't feel a thing.

Once it was over and my poor, aching arms were lowered to my side I was sent off to the recovery room where I waited and dozed for about an hour. I had been fasting for about fifteen hours, but I didn't feel like eating. A cup of ice water was very welcome, however.

I had a chest x-ray to ensure that my lung hadn't deflated, and my son brought me home. (We may have stopped at McDonald's on the way and I may have scarfed a Quarter Pounder and some fries.)

My doctor should have the results of the biopsy by the end of the week. I can only hope that they give me as little cause for worry!

Until next time,

Top Reasons Why I Live in Arizona

Location, location, location. It's a relatively short drive to the attractions of neighboring states - the Pacific Ocean, Disneyland, Las Vegas, etc. as well as Mexico. Within the state we have our own natural wonder in the Grand Canyon. Mountains and desert are bosom buddies here. We can always go where it's cooler or warmer.

Mother Nature. There are no earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis or other freaks of nature here. We do have (sometimes deadly) dust storms, however, but I've only been in one once.

Temperatures. Aside from the oven-on-clean-mode summer heat, our temperatures are quite moderate. I've had my patio door open all day every day for a month and haven't turned on heat or AC. Can't wait to see my bill!

Rainfall. No one is in danger of getting webbed feet due to excessive rain. We don't get drizzly day after drizzly day, but we do get some awesome thunderstorms.

Plenty to do. There's always a festival or a rodeo or a concert or a play or opera or ballet, as well as nearly every outdoor activity you can think of, including snow- and waterskiing.

Places to go. There are so many things to see here, whether its the Challenger Space Museum or the dusty streets of Tombstone. The red rock country of Sedona, the smooth blue expanse of the Colorado River, the quaint hillside town of Jerome, the depths of the Copper Queen mine in Bisbee. You'll never run out of day trips here. If you're a fan of the Old West, Arizona is paradise.

Plant life. Arizona boast two gardening seasons, and roses bloom nearly all year long. We are one of the few places where you'll find the mighty saguaro (suh war oh) cactus and few jillion other cacti as well. Bougainvillea, Mexican bird of paradise, and lantana thrive in the Valley of the Sun. Tall pines, junipers and cedars grace the higher elevations.

Family. I have a special perk for living in Arizona. My sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren are here. Not just here, mind you, but within easy walking distance (youngest son and three youngest grandchildren) or a short drive (east for oldest grandchildren and widowed daughter-in-law, and south for oldest son, daughter-in-law and grandpuppies.)

If you've never visited Arizona, you should try it some time. There's a lot to like here. (Might not want to come in July, though).

Till next time,

The high cost of procrastination

The view from my "new" apartment. If you look closely, you can see my mountain view! One of the perks of living here is that my son Toby lives about a block west of that bend you see just up the street.

 

With a very red face I admit that I haven't blogged for more than a year. My last post told you that I had moved in with my son James and lovely daughter-in-law Aubrie - and their five dogs. I had my own room and a room upstairs for my office/library. Living with them was great, but I really missed having my own place "with my things about me." And my knees didn't like going upstairs every time I wanted something to read, which was all the time! So, at the end of July I moved into my own apartment. It's only one bedroom, one bath, but it's all mine.

 

Which brings me to the topic of this post - procrastination. I am the queen of that particular realm and I'm sure you'll find my picture next to the word in any dictionary.

 

My favorite saying is, "I'm going to." And somehow my brain translates "going to" into "done" and forgets all about it. I was going to continue blogging after I moved. I was going to start blogging when I moved again three months ago. There are so many things I'm going to do - eventually.

 

I can't begin to tell you how much that nasty little habit has cost me over the years, in rebates not mailed in on time, bills paid late, phone calls and letters unanswered, events not attended, weight not lost, exercise not done, etc. etc. A wealth of money and opportunities missed. I really need Nike's "Just Do It" slogan tattooed on my forehead.

A little boot in the booty from BlogHer finally has me at the computer again. I signed up for their National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo), which asks participating bloggers to post daily during the month of November. They even offer prompts should I fail to come up with a topic on my own. I was going to start yesterday, Nov. 1, but here I am with my first entry on Nov. 2. Typical!

But I vow, if I do nothing else that I'm "going to," I will blog every day this month! You should too. The deadline for signing up (and winning prizes) is Nov. 5, so hop on over to BlogHer now! Don't procrastinate!

 

 

 

Warm Welcome

I am slowly but surely recovering from the process of moving from one end of Phoenix to the other. The move - from a two-bedroom home to two rooms in my son's home - required a lot of decisions about what could come with me and what had to be given away, either to family or the Salvation Army. I probably brought too much with me, but I'll know more as I get settled in.

My commute to visit/babysit grandchildren has tripled, but the trip isn't too bad. Good thing I like to drive!

My son and daughter-in-law (and their five dogs!) welcomed me with open arms, always a plus. I'm getting acquainted with my new neighborhood and I plan to go on a photo safari soon.

The beautiful sunset shown above greeted me on the night I moved in. I took it as a sign that all will be well. So far, so good.

Until next time,

Bubble Wrap and Boxes and Tape, Oh My!

My son James is making a huge batch of gruel for me, which is all I'll be allowed when I move in with him and his lovely wife Aubrie. I will be limited to one bowl per day and will not be allowed more, even if I say, "Please, sir" like Oliver Twist. You see, I will become part of their household by the end of this month. I think he's kidding about the gruel.

I'm actually doing something smart, which is an extremely rare occurrence. No matter how much I enjoy living on my own, I simply can't afford to live on my Social Security income and my present health concerns, while not major, don't make looking for a supplemental job a good idea.

So when James and Aubrie lovingly invited me to live with them and their dogs, I hemmed and hawed and finally accepted. There was no mention of gruel at that time.

They have a lovely, two-story house on the opposite end of Phoenix from my present home. My bedroom will be on the ground floor, but it is tiny, so I have also been given a large office/sewing room on the second floor. I love the area, and I'm looking forward to decorating my new digs.

This will probably be (unless I win the lottery) my last move. Of course, I said that when I  moved into this place a little over a year ago. And the place before that.

I have listed my home for sale and am busy packing. I've moved so many times that I'm quite expert, but that doesn't mean I like it. Because I'll have much less space for my stuff, I am purging like crazy and trying to be practical, which is not one of my best attributes. I think the Salvation Army will be pleased.

One thing that kept me from leaping at the offer is the distance from my grandkids. I babysit three of them two or three days a week and have the other two spend the night, go to movies, etc. fairly often. But I think the increase in my gas costs will be more than offset by the expenses I will no longer have.

It seems like a win-win at the moment. I'll be with people I love and who love me, and I'll still have plenty of my things about me. I'll let you know how it goes and how much weight I lose on my gruel-only diet. Now back to packing before I take a break to watch The Golden Globes.

Till next time,

I Won!

Just before Christmas, I was notified that I was one of the winners of a LoveFeast Coffee Cake giveaway hosted by Pizzazzerie!

I chose (wisely, it turns out) the Triple Berry version. They also offered their Signature version, along with Pumpkin or Chocolate Chip. I'm sure they all would have been delicious, but I doubt they could top this berry-loaded treat, which featured raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

Colorful and delicious, this coffee cake would be a great family brunch addition. Or pop it in the freezer and warm up a slice to go with your morning coffee or tea. Go to LoveFeast to try it for yourself!

Till next time,

Welcome, 2012!

Currier & Ives print courtesy of The Stock Solution

Every new year seems to sneak up on me, and 2012 is no exception. I saw the old year out with a snore rather than a bang, which may have something to do with it. My granddaughter spent the previous night with me and I stayed up till 1:00 a.m.(!), but two nights in a row was more than this old bod could take.

But 2012 arrived before I had even made my New Year's Resolutions, so I had to scramble to come up with these:

1. Be more appreciative of what I have
2. Take better care of myself
3. Find a cure for procrastination, the bane of my existence
4. Reorganize my priorities
5. Love more, laugh more, live more, blog more

I think that just about covers it. It all boils down to wanting to be a better person when I go to bed each night than I was when I woke up that morning.

I wish you all a healthy and happy new year!

Till next time,

A Good Time Was Had By All

My grandchildren (and granddog) enjoy some Christmas fun. We had a wonderful time, with good food (fried ham, eggs and waffles for breakfast, then baked ham with the trimmings for dinner).

We didn't have any snow, of course, but we did enjoy a beautiful fire in the "fireplace." Santa was very generous, especially for the little ones.

Now the mess is cleaned up, for the most part, and another batch of happy Christmas memories are safely stored away. Can't wait for next year!

Till next time,