This Old House

Thom and I have decided to try to sell our house.

The reasons are many:

1) It's too big for just 2 people. We bought the house with the thought that it would be filled with children...

2) The commute is too long. It takes us about 45 minutes to get home, depending on traffic. We don't get home until 7pm most nights, and if we do ANYTHING after work, we don't get home until 10.

3) The gas prices are kicking our asses. We spend ~$250/month on gas. Yes, we have an SUV, but again, it was bought with the thought that it would have children in it.

4) No one comes to visit us. No one wants to drive that far. Slackers!

So there you are. Our project this summer is to get the house ready to be sold. There are projects here and there that need to be completed. Hopefully, by fall, it will be ready to be put on the market.

Of course, there's always that fact that it might not sell, the market being what it is. Keep your fingers crossed.

Where do we want to go? Anywhere within 15 minutes of work! We're going to look at Worcester, Shrewsbury, Holden, Auburn. We'll see if there's even anything we can afford. If would be so nice to be out of work by 5 and home by 5:30. I have a friend who lives 1.3 miles from work. How sweet is that?!

I have a plethora (like that word?) of emotions going through me right now. Sadness because I LOVE this house. We did so much work to it to make it our own, and I just love it. When we first looked at this house, I got a good feeling about it, a very comfortable feeling. I just FEEL at home here. Yes, I'm one of those that gets feelings from houses. If it's a bad, weird, uncomfortable feeling, I walk away ASAP. I don't question it.

Weird fact about this house: the previous owner had breast cancer. She's in remission, but that fact does not escape me.

The other emotion is excitement. It would be something new, something more manageable. We have rooms right now that we don't even use, they are used for storage. It's sad. A smaller, more cozier house would be great. We'd be closer to EVERYTHING!

We'd have to purge too, we have too much shit. I see a very large yard sale in the future.

Flood

We have seen some really crazy weather the past 2 days. High winds, torrential downpours, thunder, lightening and darkness. Seemed like one of the plagues of Egypt was upon us. I thought that maybe someone should start building an ark.

The circular driveway outside of work was flooded and the water was about mid-shin deep. Come to find out that the sewer drain was clogged. With what you ask? Let me tell you the story...

There once was a man named Tom,
Who should've listened to his mom.

He tried to save some baby chickens, or was it birds?
They fell into the sewer, how absurd!

With a windsock in hand, the birds he tried to scoop
To no avail, until it fell into the poop.

There it sat for about a week, clogging up the sewer drain,
when the rain finally came, it caused a large pain.

And ended up giving the city workers some overtime.

I am no poet, and I know it!

So a guy at work was trying to save some birds from the sewer with what looks like a windsock, or a butterfly net (just relace the netting with some non-porous material), for lack of a better description. Our safety officer uses it to flush the emergency showers in the laboratories. So, he tried to scoop them out with the windsock, and then the sock fell into the sewer. I don't think he told anyone, but was forced to once he realized what happened. He didn't save the birds, and nearly flooded the building in the process. That was our excitment for the day!

Heat Wave

It's been hazy, hot and humid here for 3 days. I'm loving it!

The doctor put me on a new medication, Neurontin, that pretty much took away my hot flashes! I've had maybe 1 in the past 2 weeks! It's amazing. Good thing too, can't imagine having 97 degree weather on top of a hot flash! I'd have to kill someone! ;)

We baptized my niece/godchild on Sunday. First time I've seen Brianna since she was born. She is beautiful! We looked at baby pictures to see who she resembles. Both my dad and Brianna's grammie said she looks like me. I kind of see the resemblance too. It made me feel good because at least now, there is someone out there who looks kinda like me. So in a way, I will live on. It was very emotional for me. I'll see her again for Thanksgiving. I wish we lived closer, I'm missing so much of her.

Thom and I were on vacation last week. We didn't go anywhere, just puttered around the house. We saw the new Indiana Jones movie, and to say I wasn't impressed would be an understatement. I didn't like the movie, it felt too forced, almost like they were trying to capture the essence of the past movies. I guess they were arguing a long time about the script...they should've continued arguing! Very disappointing. But it was nice to be able to sleep in and just do whatever. I want to be independently wealthy so that I don't have to work. Dream on!

Saw a coyote on the way to work this morning. We drive by a lake where there are a LOT of geese, and right in the middle of this is a lone coyote. He usually has friends, but they weren't around. Slackers!

Not much else to report. I'm feeling fine.

Back to killing zombies...

Is it just me, or is it hot in here??

Last night had to be the worst night for me and the hot flashes. I had constant ones all night. Had the ceiling fan on, outside of the bedsheets, sweating my arse off. I don't know how to dress for bed anymore. I go to bed with a long sleeve shirt sometimes, because I'm cold, that ends up coming off because I get too hot. Go to bed with a short sleeve shirt on, have to put on another blanket because I'm shivering. It's bizarre.

Thom and I are going to be on vacation next week! Can't wait. We are not going anywhere, just taking time off where we don't have doctor's appointments. I just want to be able to sleep late...late for me is like 7:30am! The dogs won't let me sleep any later, because, by that time, they can't stand it anymore. Tanner is outside the bedroom door whining. Max is at the bottom of the stairs barking. I can translate the whining and the barking: I need to go outside and I need to go NOW! If you don't want to have to mop up pee in the kitchen, you better get your ass down here and let us out! DO YOU HEAR ME?! Yes, I hear you, and I'm sure the neighbors can hear you too!!

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer - Part II

The walk was this weekend. My friend Coral did the walk and has blisters to show for it. She said to me, "Blisters don't need Chemo". So she is wearing her blisters with pride! (No, she didn't show them to me!) Want to let you all know that she surpassed her goal!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!

A few people have asked me if I was going to do the walk, and if I did the walk. I'm almost embarrassed when I say no. I'm just not ready yet. Coral kept telling me about how emotional those 2 days were. I don't feel up to being so emotional. I'm emotional enough on my own. Maybe next year.

Forgot to mention, had my 3rd harpoon shot last Wednesday. It's getting better, the lump gets smaller and it hurts less and less. Hey Mayonnaise, you missed the harpoon by 3 days! If you care to plan your next vacation around it, I get it around the 13th of every month! HAHA

This is the first time I've said this in about 2 years, but work sucks. It's been very frustrating because I'm doing stuff I shouldn't be. And that I don't want to do. But oh well.

Going to the gym tonight. If any one of you need encouragement to either start a workout or continue one...don't come to me!!! I'm not the person you want to see to get pumped up! LOL

No sleep for the weary

It's 2:55am and I should be sleeping. Unfortunately, I am not. My hips have been bothering me and tonight I'm having some major hot flashes. Keep waking up in a sweat. So, what does one do when they cannot sleep? They blog!

Tanner is wondering why someone is up, but when she realized I wasn't up to anything fun and exciting, she went back to bed! Not even company from my own dog. Fair weather friend my ass! :)

Ahh, my World of Warcraft patch has completed downloading! Hurray!

Work is good. My friend Libby is returning to Athena after an 8-month vacation! LOL It will be awesome to have her back! Although, we are having a space issue. The issue being there is no space! I suggested that we build UP, double decker cubicles! They laughed. Yuck it up, but that's the wave of the future, mark my words! LOL

We were discussing comedians at work, and my all time favorite is Jeff Dunham. He has specials on Comedy Central and he uses puppets. He has me in hysterics! Some of his puppets: Jose the Jalepeno (he's a jalepeno on a stick), Achmed the dead terrorist, and a crumudegy (sp?) old man named Walter! Look him up on Youtube! You'll be glad you did!

Well, I'm going to go now. Try not to miss me too much! :)

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

My co-worker and good friend, Coral Titone, is participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this weekend, May 17-18. The following is part of the letter that she is using to further the cause:

On May 17-18, I’ll spend the weekend walking, along with thousands of other people, in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I will walk the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles) on the first day, and a half marathon on the second day. I will also raise at least $1,800 in donations to the cause. I’ll have to spend the next few months training, fundraising, and preparing for the event. It’s one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever taken on, but I’m very excited about doing it because I know it will make a real difference to the millions of people affected by breast cancer. I lost my mother-in-law, and have had several friends and relatives beat it. I also have friends who are fighting it now. I am sure that most of you have had someone close to you diagnosed.

Coral has been fundraising and training for this event for the past 8 months. We created a poster together that is displayed in the cafeteria at work.

I am once again asking for your help. Please help Coral reach her $1,800 goal. She is 72% of the way there! She will still be able to take donations after the walk. Please go to her website and help if you can:

http://tinyurl.com/37q3rn

You can copy and past the address in your browser window, for some reason, the program isn't creating a link, so you will have to do it manually. Sorry!

Many many thanks to all of you who have already contributed! You DO make a difference!!!!

I might as well give you an update while I'm here. I've been having some hip pain for the past week or so, but Advil keeps it at bay.

My brother-in-law is now in Dubai. He's a pilot and got a job flying some hoity-toity people around and he moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. He landed at the airport around midnight and he told us that the temperature was 102 degrees...at midnight!! He said the earth caught on fire after that! I don't care if it's dry heat, moist heat or whatever, that's friggin hot! He's the color of mayonnaise, so he needs to wear sunscreen with like an SPF of 135! LOL

Happy Anniversary??

Today is the one year anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. I'm kind of torn about this day. I'm happy because I am able to celebrate another year here, but I'm sad because it's become a day to acknowledge. April 25th will not just be any other day for me anymore. I can remember that day vividly in my mind. What I was wearing, where I was sitting in the waiting room, what was in the waiting room, what was on the TV that was playing in the waiting room. Walking into the Xray room, seeing my mammogram up on the light box, and thinking to myself, "Wow, that doesn't look normal." And also thinking to myself, "That's not what I pictured cancer to look like on an Xray."

I remembered what I had for lunch that day...a Lean Cuisine panini...and where I threw it up. To this day, I cannot even look at a panini sandwich without getting nauseous. I remember getting home that day, crying my eyes out, and then taking a nap on the couch. I just wanted to sleep so that I would stop thinking.

Those first 8-9 months were the hardest to get through. I don't know how I did it, well, actually, I do. With the love and support of Thom, that's how. He's been my rock and he has been there through it all. Thank you, Thom. I didn't think it was possible, but each day that goes by, I love you more and more.

I've been doing surveys for Dana-Farber since I started there, it's the Young Women's Breast Cancer Study. They want to know about all kinds of things from the perspective of a woman under 40 with breast cancer. They ask about background, work status, health status (umm, I have cancer!), emotional status (not enough room to discuss that!!), body image, activities, social impact, etc. I get a package in the mail a couple of days ago and they want to know how my life is one year after diagnosis. They want to compare it with the first survey. For the next 2 years, I will receive surveys every 6 months and subsequently, I will receive them yearly for 7 years. So I will be around for at least 7 more years so that I can complete the surveys!! At least! God willing!

So, today I am celebrating surviving one year! YEAH ME!!

Baby steps, one day at a time.

I want to thank you all for being here too. Your support and laughter help me more than you know!!

And I'd like to thank the Academy...

LOL, I crack myself up!!

Doctor's Appointment

Went to Dana-Farber on Friday. Guess what?? He looked at me, told me I looked fine and sent me on my way!

We scheduled a CT scan in July. He measured the lump on my left breast and told me that it got smaller. I don't really notice it too much because I feel it everyday, but he has the advantage of only seeing it once every 3 months.

The hot flashes have been bad, but they go away so quickly, it leaves me wondering if I was just imagining it. The doctor told me they might get worse in the summer. He prescribed some medication that may help relieve the hot flashes, Neurontin. I used to be on it for my restless leg syndrome. Yes, that is a real phenomenon. It's worse at night when I'm trying to sleep. Thom tells me that it seems like I "walk" in bed because I have to move my legs to make them feel better. But I digress...

Got the latest picture of my niece Brianna. She's beautiful.



Not much else happening here. I am going to have my next Lupron injection tonight. (Get the harpoon ready!) Let's hope it doesn't hurt as much as the last time.

I'm excited...the new season of The Deadliest Catch starts tomorrow on the Discovery Channel! LOVE that show. Thom bought me a tee-shirt for my birthday which reads, "It's twelve degrees, sleeting sideways, and there are 40 foot swells. Go Fish." I LOVE IT!

Well, not much else to report. It's getting warmer out, which means Summer is on the way!!! My favorite season.

Say What?

I went to see an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor today because I think that I'm beginning to lose my hearing, in the words of Roger Clemens, I "mishear" things.

Well, I walk into the exam room and the first thing I see is this old fashion-looking chair. I was asked to sit in it. OK. I look over to my right and there's this weird looking table, and some old looking instruments. I'm getting nervous here. Did the sign on the door say Dr. Frankenstein? What kind of a joint is this?? I look around and I see rubber tubing...who still uses rubber tubing??

While I'm sitting in this peculiar chair, the vent above me turns on and starts making a lot of noise. My over imaginative mind starts working and I'm picturing some kind of knock-out anesthetic is coming from the vent and that I'm going to be knocked out in a matter of seconds. Then Dr. Freak-a-zoid was going to come into the exam room and do something funky to me and no one would be able to hear my screams!

Doctor comes in, looks semi-normal, looks in my ears, tells me that everything looks fine, and I'm going to be given an auditory exam. OK. Walk into another exam room and there is this old looking machine, which I assumed was the hearing test machine.

The "audiologist" walks in and tells me he's going to give me a hearing test. I put on the earphones and then he proceeds to test my hearing. Beep, Beep, Beep, lower and lower the tones get, but I can still hear them. Then he takes out this piece of paper with words on it, and the paper is yellowing! How old is that piece of paper?? What kind of a joint is this?? He says a few words and asks me to repeat them. No problem. He announces that I have perfect hearing. Huh?

Soooo, I go back to the "doctor" with the results of the hearing test and he tells me that I probably get distracted and don't concentrate on what's being said to me.

This whole thing took about 10 minutes. I left there not feeling any better. It can't be that most people around me are mumbling! So please, if you talk to me, please be sure not to mumble. I would appreciate it. It's NOT me, it's YOU! :)

Might go for a second opinion, and if I walk into another exam room with some weird looking torture-like instruments, I'm walking out!

On Monday, I had my Zometa injection. Nothing out of the ordinary there. Thom and I got some lunch and sat down in the lobby to eat it. While we were sitting there I noticed something. "There's a boy...in the hospital...with a broken leg!" Thinking of you Jerry!! There really is a boy...in a hospital...with a broken leg! You weren't lying!

And oh yes, forgot to mention that the doctor that I see for my monthly injections is leaving the practice and going somewhere else. Wonderful.

That's all from the land of the fruity and nutty! Remember, it can only happen to me!