I'm posting tonight because there will simply not be time tomorrow morning. I have an appointment at 8:30 a.m. at LabCorp in Laurel, an hour's drive from here, to have my pre-op blood draw. The fun never ends.
We are heading to Savannah, GA tomorrow, which is over 600 miles from Cindy's house, and we have to make the stop at Lab Corp first. Oh, well...
So I'm not going to fire up the computer in the morning to type a blog. Sorry!
Pre-op went well. I LOVE Dr. Marino! She's an amazing lady. Mark and I have been her patients for probably 25 years and have followed her hither and thither as she kept changing offices. She was so solicitous of me today, even offering me sleeping pills or tranquilizers! Ha Ha!! She didn't actually put it like that, but I think that's what it would have been. She also was the first doctor to say quite bluntly that radiation will make me TIRED!! She said it's killing cells in your body and it's cumulative and you will feel very tired. Everyone else hems and haws about how some do, some don't. I bet she's right. I bet everyone feels tired. Your body is being bombarded with deadly radiation. How could it not be tired trying to fight back from the inside?
Mark and I took a walk at noon today before we went to the doctor. We walked Cindy's mile and a half track and were shocked to see that it took as long as it took to do two and a quarter miles in the indoor track. We can only guess that the hills, uneven sidewalks, curbs, and excessive heat and humidity just take more out of you to do less distance. Weird, yet we enjoyed ourselves.
Tomorrow there will be no exercise, just driving, and driving, and driving some more. Fortunately, Mark and I like driving together. We buy USA Today and he reads aloud all the articles, especially the little paragraphs from every state. They are always amusing! You just have to wonder sometimes if really NOTHING else happened that day in that state that they had to print THAT story!!?? If you've never read the states in USA Today, you really must give it a try at some point. Especially if you're driving and someone else is reading.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Squatter's Rights
The flight to BWI from Orlando is remarkably short. It was amazing to be leaving our house around 1 p.m. and arriving in Baltimore by 6 p.m. There was more driving and waiting than flying. If it wasn't so expensive, we would do it a lot more often! LOL
As soon as we left the airport, we drove right over to Lowell's apartment and had a nice visit with him. I always enjoy seeing him and his two roommates. They are wonderful people plus they have two great pets, Logan the German Shepherd and Pip the tabby cat. It's fun to watch them play together. We have watched Logan grow up from a puppy to this huge, friendly, nine year old dog. He's just a great dog. Mark and Lowell had fun talking about the Baltimore Comicon that Lowell attended. I had fun talking to Chris and Allison about their house-hunting expedition. We also collected mail that had come for me to Lowell's address, medical bills and insurance forms.
It was kind of odd coming into Cindy's house without her there. We knew she wouldn't be here these two days, but it still felt odd. We made a nice dinner and finally sat down to eat around 9:20 p.m. She is so amazing. Not only is she allowing us the use of her house now and for months to come, she also remembered that I wanted the bedroom re-arranged. We planned to go up there last night and move the furniture, but she had already done it. I need to be mindful of my left side and arm post-surgery. I will need to sleep on the other side of the bed than usual, but that side was currently too close to a wall for me to get in and out easily. By moving the bed, I could be on that side and have easy access in and out. Cindy, you are AWESOME!! All in all, a very good day.
This morning was weigh-in day. Last Tuesday I weighed 218 and told everyone on the blog that I expected to behave, exercise, and lose some weight. I also promised to be honest, so here's the honest truth. I started out well, and I did exercise as documented in previous blogs; however, I gained a pound and a half. This morning I was 219.5. Hm...I'm thinking it was the penne salmon in vodka sauce Thursday night and the fish 'n chips and pizza Sunday night, not to mention a lot of alcoholic drinks. Even yesterday I had about 2000 calories.
So here's to the start of another new week, another opportunity to eat right and exercise. I promise not to weigh myself for the entire week again. We are driving back to Florida tomorrow and will be there for Labor Day Weekend. When we drive back up, it will be for Rosh Hashanah services and five nights at the Rosens' house. Fun times ahead, but September 16 is looming. I'm still feeling positive and trying to focus on the here and now and not worry about what might come in the future.
As soon as we left the airport, we drove right over to Lowell's apartment and had a nice visit with him. I always enjoy seeing him and his two roommates. They are wonderful people plus they have two great pets, Logan the German Shepherd and Pip the tabby cat. It's fun to watch them play together. We have watched Logan grow up from a puppy to this huge, friendly, nine year old dog. He's just a great dog. Mark and Lowell had fun talking about the Baltimore Comicon that Lowell attended. I had fun talking to Chris and Allison about their house-hunting expedition. We also collected mail that had come for me to Lowell's address, medical bills and insurance forms.
It was kind of odd coming into Cindy's house without her there. We knew she wouldn't be here these two days, but it still felt odd. We made a nice dinner and finally sat down to eat around 9:20 p.m. She is so amazing. Not only is she allowing us the use of her house now and for months to come, she also remembered that I wanted the bedroom re-arranged. We planned to go up there last night and move the furniture, but she had already done it. I need to be mindful of my left side and arm post-surgery. I will need to sleep on the other side of the bed than usual, but that side was currently too close to a wall for me to get in and out easily. By moving the bed, I could be on that side and have easy access in and out. Cindy, you are AWESOME!! All in all, a very good day.
This morning was weigh-in day. Last Tuesday I weighed 218 and told everyone on the blog that I expected to behave, exercise, and lose some weight. I also promised to be honest, so here's the honest truth. I started out well, and I did exercise as documented in previous blogs; however, I gained a pound and a half. This morning I was 219.5. Hm...I'm thinking it was the penne salmon in vodka sauce Thursday night and the fish 'n chips and pizza Sunday night, not to mention a lot of alcoholic drinks. Even yesterday I had about 2000 calories.
So here's to the start of another new week, another opportunity to eat right and exercise. I promise not to weigh myself for the entire week again. We are driving back to Florida tomorrow and will be there for Labor Day Weekend. When we drive back up, it will be for Rosh Hashanah services and five nights at the Rosens' house. Fun times ahead, but September 16 is looming. I'm still feeling positive and trying to focus on the here and now and not worry about what might come in the future.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Lots of eatin', lots of walkin'
Our perfectly planned day yesterday almost went south at the beginning when we got to the movie theater and there was no 10 a.m. show. I KNOW the website showed one, but they said the first one was 11:20. So...what to do! Hey, at Downtown Disney there's lots to do. We strolled from one end to the other, went through shops like World of Disney and thought about all the things we'd like to buy, sipped sugar-free lattes from a sidewalk stand, and then went to the movie. Unfortunately, during the stroll we passed Cooks of Dublin and drooled over their fish 'n chips lunch menu. So when the movie ended at 1:20, we decided to skip the drive up the road to the JCC. Who needs free, kosher food anyway? We walked back to the Pleasure Island side and ate fish 'n chips. I also got a small bowl of vegetarian curry lentil soup. OMG, it was SO good!
Animal Kingdom provided lots of opportunity for walking. In fact we walked about 2 hours through the Pangani Forest and saw gorillas, kangaroos, meerkats, all manner of rodents, lizards, snakes, and amphibians, as well as okapi and other hoofed creatures. I took a lot of pictures which I'll try to post later on. Exhausted and hot, we walked back to our car and drove to Epcot where we walked over one mile just to get to Mexico from our car. The new tequila bar was really worth it, though. The ambiance was great, and we each ordered a Tequila Flight of 3 half-shots. It was a delicious and fun tasting. From there it was an easy walk across the pavillion to ride through the Grand Fiesta. It used to be River of Time, but then they added Donald Duck and the other two birds in a cartoon in there. Not an improvement in my book, but Mark likes it. The most fun thing was that it was the first time we had been in the Mexico pavillion or ridden that ride since we had actually been in Mexico. It really made the views of Acapulco in the ride much more real, and I had a better appreciation for the country and its culture than before.
We then walked up to Italy to the new pizzeria. The water they use to make the pizza is supposed to be just like the water they use in Naples. We ordered a house salad and the Orotano pizza, which included cheese, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, artichoke (fortunately not many), and red peppers. It was thin crust and absolutely delicious. Mark had his usual Merlot with that, and I chose Sangria for something fun and different. There was also pistachio gelato with coffee for dessert. Hm...hm...good.
From there it was nearly a mile and a half to walk back to the car, so that's what we did instead of taking the tram to the parking lot. We figured it was the least we could do after all we ate. By 9:30 p.m. we were home and doing laundry. We LOVE that we can spend a day at Disney and be home in less than an hour. Unbelievable. I also got to chat with Evey about wedding plans for about half an hour last night, so that was just a wonderful ending to a wonderful day.
This morning we will go to the gym for the weight machines and walking the track, but that's the good part. Unfortunately we have to fly back to Maryland for my pre-op physical tomorrow. I really go hours and hours without remembering the cancer when I'm here. It's also weigh-in day tomorrow morning. I didn't exactly stay on my diet this whole week, so I just hope I didn't gain anything when I hit that scale at Cindy's house tomorrow morning. We are only staying two nights there before driving back down here for Labor Day Weekend, so I don't have to get too upset about leaving, YET.
Animal Kingdom provided lots of opportunity for walking. In fact we walked about 2 hours through the Pangani Forest and saw gorillas, kangaroos, meerkats, all manner of rodents, lizards, snakes, and amphibians, as well as okapi and other hoofed creatures. I took a lot of pictures which I'll try to post later on. Exhausted and hot, we walked back to our car and drove to Epcot where we walked over one mile just to get to Mexico from our car. The new tequila bar was really worth it, though. The ambiance was great, and we each ordered a Tequila Flight of 3 half-shots. It was a delicious and fun tasting. From there it was an easy walk across the pavillion to ride through the Grand Fiesta. It used to be River of Time, but then they added Donald Duck and the other two birds in a cartoon in there. Not an improvement in my book, but Mark likes it. The most fun thing was that it was the first time we had been in the Mexico pavillion or ridden that ride since we had actually been in Mexico. It really made the views of Acapulco in the ride much more real, and I had a better appreciation for the country and its culture than before.
We then walked up to Italy to the new pizzeria. The water they use to make the pizza is supposed to be just like the water they use in Naples. We ordered a house salad and the Orotano pizza, which included cheese, tomatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, artichoke (fortunately not many), and red peppers. It was thin crust and absolutely delicious. Mark had his usual Merlot with that, and I chose Sangria for something fun and different. There was also pistachio gelato with coffee for dessert. Hm...hm...good.
From there it was nearly a mile and a half to walk back to the car, so that's what we did instead of taking the tram to the parking lot. We figured it was the least we could do after all we ate. By 9:30 p.m. we were home and doing laundry. We LOVE that we can spend a day at Disney and be home in less than an hour. Unbelievable. I also got to chat with Evey about wedding plans for about half an hour last night, so that was just a wonderful ending to a wonderful day.
This morning we will go to the gym for the weight machines and walking the track, but that's the good part. Unfortunately we have to fly back to Maryland for my pre-op physical tomorrow. I really go hours and hours without remembering the cancer when I'm here. It's also weigh-in day tomorrow morning. I didn't exactly stay on my diet this whole week, so I just hope I didn't gain anything when I hit that scale at Cindy's house tomorrow morning. We are only staying two nights there before driving back down here for Labor Day Weekend, so I don't have to get too upset about leaving, YET.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Fun, fun, fun
Yesterday was great. We got to shul late, but so had the cantor, so they were still on the Torah service and Mark even got an aliyah. We left promptly this time instead of schmoozing until they kicked us out. Then we decided to try our local pool. Solivita has two huge pools as part of the two rec centers, The Palms and The Riviera, but many of the "neighborhoods" also have their own pools. Our neighborhood is Flora Vista, and our pool is less than .2 of a mile down the street. We drive by it every time we go out to shop and never see anyone in it, so we decided to walk down and check it out. It was empty and beautiful, quite big with restrooms and shower facilities, lots of chaise lounges and tables with chairs. The depth is from 3 feet around the edges to 5 feet in the middle, perfect for Mark to do his water aerobics. We floated and swam in the warm water for a half hour or so before anyone else came, but then we met some more Flora Vista folks. They were surprised to see anyone there because they often come and no one is there! It's like having your own private pool. Amazing.
Today we have a big day planned. Mark is currently making his Sunday morning pancakes for us, but we have to eat and run. Downtown Disney runs the first show of the day for only $6, so we are going to see the Jennifer Aniston movie, The Switch. Then we are going to the new JCC just up the street from WDW and next to the synagogue we attend. They are having a "Taste of the J" to celebrate their one year anniversary. We registered online for the free event, all the free food you want! That's our lunch today. After lunch we are going to walk around Animal Kingdom to see the animals and get some exercise (especially after what we'll probably consume at the JCC), then we're going to Epcot to check out the new tequila bar and pizza parlor.
I put on a new pair of shorts today which surprised me. I bought these months ago and never wore them because I didn't think they would still fit. I feel like I've gained 10 pounds recently, but they still fit! They'll be perfect for walking around the parks today because they have pockets.
Oops, got to go! Mark just said my pancakes are ready.
Today we have a big day planned. Mark is currently making his Sunday morning pancakes for us, but we have to eat and run. Downtown Disney runs the first show of the day for only $6, so we are going to see the Jennifer Aniston movie, The Switch. Then we are going to the new JCC just up the street from WDW and next to the synagogue we attend. They are having a "Taste of the J" to celebrate their one year anniversary. We registered online for the free event, all the free food you want! That's our lunch today. After lunch we are going to walk around Animal Kingdom to see the animals and get some exercise (especially after what we'll probably consume at the JCC), then we're going to Epcot to check out the new tequila bar and pizza parlor.
I put on a new pair of shorts today which surprised me. I bought these months ago and never wore them because I didn't think they would still fit. I feel like I've gained 10 pounds recently, but they still fit! They'll be perfect for walking around the parks today because they have pockets.
Oops, got to go! Mark just said my pancakes are ready.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Shul and Pool again
Once things settle down after my treatments and we live here permanently, this is going to be the usual Saturday blog title. Why would I change that? It's perfect.
Yesterday we walked 45 laps in the goldfish bowl (aka indoor track) for a total of 2.25 miles. I did it in 43 minutes; Mark did it in 38. Not bad. We want to work up to a 5k again which would be about 63 laps. If we were staying here longer, we could do it. Then we went to the weight machines. I did six machines. Mark did the same ones, but he takes twice as long on them. I have to work up to more weight. I'm doing low weights, two sets of ten. That's not much, but I don't want to pull a muscle since I'm not used to it. I don't know if we'll get back anymore before we come back for Labor Day Weekend, so it's hard to build up.
This morning is cooler outside. Our usual routine is to open all the windows on the lanai first thing in the morning because it's so pleasant and sit sipping coffee for awhile. Mark even plugs his laptop in out there and does all his morning computery things on the lanai. I enjoy listening to the loud cranes squawking and watching the palm trees blow gently in the wind. It's just beautiful.
We are considering a day at Walt Disney World tomorrow, but we're having trouble deciding which park. Oh, wait, we have season passes! We can do more than one in the day if we want. Last time we did Magic Kingdom and the Studios, so this time it's going to be Animal Kingdom and/or Epcot. We could get a nice long walk in at Animal Kingdom following all the animal trails and looking leisurely at them then go to Epcot for the new tequila bar in Mexico and the new pizza parlor in Italy. Ah, life is good.
Yesterday we walked 45 laps in the goldfish bowl (aka indoor track) for a total of 2.25 miles. I did it in 43 minutes; Mark did it in 38. Not bad. We want to work up to a 5k again which would be about 63 laps. If we were staying here longer, we could do it. Then we went to the weight machines. I did six machines. Mark did the same ones, but he takes twice as long on them. I have to work up to more weight. I'm doing low weights, two sets of ten. That's not much, but I don't want to pull a muscle since I'm not used to it. I don't know if we'll get back anymore before we come back for Labor Day Weekend, so it's hard to build up.
This morning is cooler outside. Our usual routine is to open all the windows on the lanai first thing in the morning because it's so pleasant and sit sipping coffee for awhile. Mark even plugs his laptop in out there and does all his morning computery things on the lanai. I enjoy listening to the loud cranes squawking and watching the palm trees blow gently in the wind. It's just beautiful.
We are considering a day at Walt Disney World tomorrow, but we're having trouble deciding which park. Oh, wait, we have season passes! We can do more than one in the day if we want. Last time we did Magic Kingdom and the Studios, so this time it's going to be Animal Kingdom and/or Epcot. We could get a nice long walk in at Animal Kingdom following all the animal trails and looking leisurely at them then go to Epcot for the new tequila bar in Mexico and the new pizza parlor in Italy. Ah, life is good.
Friday, August 27, 2010
"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Won't you be my neighbor?"
Who remembers who used to sing that? I'll wait...YES! Mr. Rogers! Good for you.
It is just 75 degrees and sunny right now as I sit on the lanai, listening to the birds chirp, Mark whine, the garbage truck rumble, and the TV drone. LOVE IT!!
I ate my usual 200 calorie breakfast yesterday followed by a pretty good 400 calorie lunch and a banana for an afternoon snack. Then I lost it at dinner: two rolls with butter, huge glass of wine, vegetable pot stickers for an appetizer, salad with cheese, and a huge plate of the evening special at the restaurant, penne salmon in vodka sauce with parmesan cheese. OMG it was SO DELISH!! Then we went to the free movie. Just like last time, it was a packed house. Everyone laughed so loud that sometimes you couldn't hear the next line of diaglogue. It was fun. Clearly it is THE place to be in Solivita on Thursday nights.
We also didn't exercise yesterday unless you count moving things out of boxes and around the house and lifting and moving boxes. I did plenty of that. I also got to sit and read for an hour last night in the living room. Most of those boxes are gone and the lamps are set up. It was very pleasant to have time to read my Kindle while sitting in my old comfy chair in the new living room.
My neighbors are going on a cruise, so they brought us half a honeydew melon. I'm about to go have that for breakfast this morning. We will empty some more boxes, buy food for tonight, explore Mark's new comic book store in Kissimmee, and go back to the Palms for weights and the Riviera for walking.
Hope your day is a great one, too.
It is just 75 degrees and sunny right now as I sit on the lanai, listening to the birds chirp, Mark whine, the garbage truck rumble, and the TV drone. LOVE IT!!
I ate my usual 200 calorie breakfast yesterday followed by a pretty good 400 calorie lunch and a banana for an afternoon snack. Then I lost it at dinner: two rolls with butter, huge glass of wine, vegetable pot stickers for an appetizer, salad with cheese, and a huge plate of the evening special at the restaurant, penne salmon in vodka sauce with parmesan cheese. OMG it was SO DELISH!! Then we went to the free movie. Just like last time, it was a packed house. Everyone laughed so loud that sometimes you couldn't hear the next line of diaglogue. It was fun. Clearly it is THE place to be in Solivita on Thursday nights.
We also didn't exercise yesterday unless you count moving things out of boxes and around the house and lifting and moving boxes. I did plenty of that. I also got to sit and read for an hour last night in the living room. Most of those boxes are gone and the lamps are set up. It was very pleasant to have time to read my Kindle while sitting in my old comfy chair in the new living room.
My neighbors are going on a cruise, so they brought us half a honeydew melon. I'm about to go have that for breakfast this morning. We will empty some more boxes, buy food for tonight, explore Mark's new comic book store in Kissimmee, and go back to the Palms for weights and the Riviera for walking.
Hope your day is a great one, too.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thursday is movie night.
Yesterday was an excellent day! I unpacked all the boxes of mugs, so my big cabinet that used to be in the dining room is all filled up. It's actually still IN the dining room. LOL
I also unpacked all of the pictures. The former owners left all of their picture hooks, so if the hook was in a good place, it got a picture. I need more hooks, but I put the pictures in the places I want them to be. It's starting to come together.
The best thing we did was eat all three healthy meals at home! That hasn't happened for awhile. We also went to The Palms recreation facility and used their weight machines. They are slightly different from the ones at the Greenbelt Aquatic Center, but they are really excellent. We did five or six upper body machines. I also got on a bike there for a few minutes to try it out. It went well. I watched a lot of people in the dance studio doing Zumba. It looked like a lot of fun. I got a class schedule and might try that in the future.
After that, we drove over to The Riviera Fitness Center and Spa. Ooo, such a nice long name. Mark had decided he didn't like the machines in that facility, but that is where they have the indoor walking track over the indoor pool. 20 laps is a mile, so we walked 2 miles in 40 minutes. I felt proud of us because it was a lot and at a good pace.
After 15 laps we turned around and went 15 in the other direction to keep our leg muscles even (thanks for that tip goes to my ATC daughter, Evey), then we turned again after the next 15 and did 5 in the original direction and turned again for 5 in the other direciton. The track is spongy, so it's a nice soft walk. There are four lanes, plenty of room for me and Mark and the other people who came and went walking in there. It was a little like being a goldfish going around and around and around, but the view through the floor to ceiling glass-enclosed track was beautiful. It was also a bit tricky trying to keep track of all the loops, but we'll get better at it, I'm sure.
Today's plan involves more boxes, more walking, some shopping, dinner, then movie night at Solivita. Every Thursday in the Starlite Ballroom there is a movie on a huge screen, complete with free popcorn and soda. The last time we were here we saw Steve Carrell in Date Night. Tonight we are going to see Chris Rock in Death at a Funeral. Can't wait. Another beautiful day in paradise coming up.
I also unpacked all of the pictures. The former owners left all of their picture hooks, so if the hook was in a good place, it got a picture. I need more hooks, but I put the pictures in the places I want them to be. It's starting to come together.
The best thing we did was eat all three healthy meals at home! That hasn't happened for awhile. We also went to The Palms recreation facility and used their weight machines. They are slightly different from the ones at the Greenbelt Aquatic Center, but they are really excellent. We did five or six upper body machines. I also got on a bike there for a few minutes to try it out. It went well. I watched a lot of people in the dance studio doing Zumba. It looked like a lot of fun. I got a class schedule and might try that in the future.
After that, we drove over to The Riviera Fitness Center and Spa. Ooo, such a nice long name. Mark had decided he didn't like the machines in that facility, but that is where they have the indoor walking track over the indoor pool. 20 laps is a mile, so we walked 2 miles in 40 minutes. I felt proud of us because it was a lot and at a good pace.
After 15 laps we turned around and went 15 in the other direction to keep our leg muscles even (thanks for that tip goes to my ATC daughter, Evey), then we turned again after the next 15 and did 5 in the original direction and turned again for 5 in the other direciton. The track is spongy, so it's a nice soft walk. There are four lanes, plenty of room for me and Mark and the other people who came and went walking in there. It was a little like being a goldfish going around and around and around, but the view through the floor to ceiling glass-enclosed track was beautiful. It was also a bit tricky trying to keep track of all the loops, but we'll get better at it, I'm sure.
Today's plan involves more boxes, more walking, some shopping, dinner, then movie night at Solivita. Every Thursday in the Starlite Ballroom there is a movie on a huge screen, complete with free popcorn and soda. The last time we were here we saw Steve Carrell in Date Night. Tonight we are going to see Chris Rock in Death at a Funeral. Can't wait. Another beautiful day in paradise coming up.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
September 16 is the surgery date.
I got the call from the hospital surgical scheduler. I am having the surgery on Thursday, September 16 and have to report at 5:45 a.m. Early, but what else is there to do that morning? Can't have coffee or breakfast anyway.
I have to go to the nuclear medicine department to get injected with dye first for the sentinel node biopsy. It has to circulate for an hour or so. At 9:15 I'm scheduled in the OR for three procedures: sentinel node biopsy, partial mastectomy, and repair ventral hernia. The insurance says I can stay as many nights as the doctor thinks is medically necessary and will pay 95% of it. I think one night will do nicely because I bet 95% of all of that is going to be a small fortune!! The good news is that they will pay 100% of the radiation treatments afterwards. Other good news is that I have already met my deductible for the year.
On happier notes, I have emptied two huge boxes of pictures and found homes for most of them. I used existing hooks, but I need to get some more. We had a lot of pictures and things hanging on our walls in the old house. I also got a lot of boxes just moved around to more appropriate rooms. Many things just got put in the living room and dining room even though they did not really belong there. Sadly that meant the family room and guest room are a bit messier now. Still, it's only temporary. Little by little things are getting done.
I'm about to go empty at least six boxes just by putting the coffee mug collection in the cabinet.
I have to go to the nuclear medicine department to get injected with dye first for the sentinel node biopsy. It has to circulate for an hour or so. At 9:15 I'm scheduled in the OR for three procedures: sentinel node biopsy, partial mastectomy, and repair ventral hernia. The insurance says I can stay as many nights as the doctor thinks is medically necessary and will pay 95% of it. I think one night will do nicely because I bet 95% of all of that is going to be a small fortune!! The good news is that they will pay 100% of the radiation treatments afterwards. Other good news is that I have already met my deductible for the year.
On happier notes, I have emptied two huge boxes of pictures and found homes for most of them. I used existing hooks, but I need to get some more. We had a lot of pictures and things hanging on our walls in the old house. I also got a lot of boxes just moved around to more appropriate rooms. Many things just got put in the living room and dining room even though they did not really belong there. Sadly that meant the family room and guest room are a bit messier now. Still, it's only temporary. Little by little things are getting done.
I'm about to go empty at least six boxes just by putting the coffee mug collection in the cabinet.
Lovely morning
I really don't have much to say this morning. It seems I said it all in the two posts yesterday.
I am enjoying the slow pace of the beautiful day in the beautiful house so much that I'm starting to fear not getting anything productive done today. I think if I unpack at least the mugs and get them in their cabinet today I'll feel a sense of accomplishment. We also plan to go to The Palms, our nearest pool/gym/rec center facility. We have been in there on the tour to look at it back in June, but we haven't been there yet as members. We plan to lift weights and walk today. I ate 1300 calories yesterday, and I plan to do the same today. I feel strong and in control again, for the first time in awhile.
Thanks again for all the messages and comments. I know I keep repeating myself with that, but it is so true. I really, really LOVE them!
I am enjoying the slow pace of the beautiful day in the beautiful house so much that I'm starting to fear not getting anything productive done today. I think if I unpack at least the mugs and get them in their cabinet today I'll feel a sense of accomplishment. We also plan to go to The Palms, our nearest pool/gym/rec center facility. We have been in there on the tour to look at it back in June, but we haven't been there yet as members. We plan to lift weights and walk today. I ate 1300 calories yesterday, and I plan to do the same today. I feel strong and in control again, for the first time in awhile.
Thanks again for all the messages and comments. I know I keep repeating myself with that, but it is so true. I really, really LOVE them!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
"There's No Place Like Home"
We walked in the door at about 7 p.m. (after a $105 cab ride from the airport, ouch), and I literally got tears in my eyes. It was so peaceful, beautiful, serene, perfect. Even with the piles of boxes to unpack, I felt at home. I can't wait for the cancer treatments to be over so we can stay here all the time, and so that all of our friends and family can come down here and experience it with us. I didn't make that guest room up for nothing, you know!
The doctor's appointment went well. I really have so much respect for this doctor, Keith Falcao. He has saved my life, twice. Once last April when he yelled at me about my weight and refused to do the hernia surgery unless I lost weight. Once again in July when he took out the lump immediately. He said to me today that he does not like the "wait and see" attitude for lumps. He likes to get rid of them. Thank God for that attitude!!
I got the impression that he agreed with my decision, although I think he would have supported any decision I made. I will have the re-excision lumpectomy (partial mastectomy) with six weeks of radiation, sentinel node biopsy, and the incisional hernia repaired again. Unfortunately he has to do the hernia with a complete abdominal incision again, so it will be very much like what I had back in November. After two surgeries in the same site, I'm not eligible for a laparoscopic procedure. Three procedures back to back to back, about 2-3 hours under anaesthesia, and one night at St. Agnes Hospital. It's all good. I'll be sore and tired for a few weeks, but I can do this.
He said only 1 in 10 women actually have lymph node involvement, so my chances are good that there won't be any. It was a good sign that there was nothing showing on the MRI for the other breast. He will be taking all of the nipple and aerole and about half of the breast tissue in the front, so I'll be smaller on the left side. So what! I'll have a thin scar across the front, few inches. OK. There is always a chance of recurrence, so I'll have to be extra vigilant at self-exam and mammograms. I have always done that regularly, so I'm not worried about that.
The only other hurdles now are whether he can get a clean margin. He said he cannot tell by looking at the tissue since this margin is on a microscopic level. He will do the best he can, but if there is no clean margin, then there will be a full mastectomy later. If there is no clean margin or there is lymph node involvement, then there will be chemo later also. If the cancer is negative for the hormone receptors, I will have chemo. We can't know any of that until after the surgery and the pathology reports come back.
Right now, I'm not thinking about that. I need to do this like I did the house, one step at a time, one hurdle at a time. Now there are boxes to unpack in Florida, so tomorrow morning, that is the step, the hurdle to get over. I'm looking forward to it.
The doctor's appointment went well. I really have so much respect for this doctor, Keith Falcao. He has saved my life, twice. Once last April when he yelled at me about my weight and refused to do the hernia surgery unless I lost weight. Once again in July when he took out the lump immediately. He said to me today that he does not like the "wait and see" attitude for lumps. He likes to get rid of them. Thank God for that attitude!!
I got the impression that he agreed with my decision, although I think he would have supported any decision I made. I will have the re-excision lumpectomy (partial mastectomy) with six weeks of radiation, sentinel node biopsy, and the incisional hernia repaired again. Unfortunately he has to do the hernia with a complete abdominal incision again, so it will be very much like what I had back in November. After two surgeries in the same site, I'm not eligible for a laparoscopic procedure. Three procedures back to back to back, about 2-3 hours under anaesthesia, and one night at St. Agnes Hospital. It's all good. I'll be sore and tired for a few weeks, but I can do this.
He said only 1 in 10 women actually have lymph node involvement, so my chances are good that there won't be any. It was a good sign that there was nothing showing on the MRI for the other breast. He will be taking all of the nipple and aerole and about half of the breast tissue in the front, so I'll be smaller on the left side. So what! I'll have a thin scar across the front, few inches. OK. There is always a chance of recurrence, so I'll have to be extra vigilant at self-exam and mammograms. I have always done that regularly, so I'm not worried about that.
The only other hurdles now are whether he can get a clean margin. He said he cannot tell by looking at the tissue since this margin is on a microscopic level. He will do the best he can, but if there is no clean margin, then there will be a full mastectomy later. If there is no clean margin or there is lymph node involvement, then there will be chemo later also. If the cancer is negative for the hormone receptors, I will have chemo. We can't know any of that until after the surgery and the pathology reports come back.
Right now, I'm not thinking about that. I need to do this like I did the house, one step at a time, one hurdle at a time. Now there are boxes to unpack in Florida, so tomorrow morning, that is the step, the hurdle to get over. I'm looking forward to it.
Big Day
I weighed in this morning, and it's acceptable. I weigh 218, not the lowest ever obviously, but five down from that horrible 223 just a few days ago. Eating right, drinking more water, and exercising took care of that. I am not taking my scale with me, so I'll be back next Monday night and weigh in next Tuesday morning. Haven't done that in awhile.
I have my 9:10 a.m. appointment with the surgeon, then the next time I see him will be in the OR. I am a bit apprehensive because the two of us will be making the final decision today about what type of surgery. My plan is to walk in and say lumpectomy with radiation. Officially it is a re-excision lumpectomy since the lump is actually already gone. I don't expect the committee I met last week to give him any news that they didn't give me, so I expect that to be the plan. Still I'm nervous because it seems so final, so definite, so real.
Then we are going to try to find someplace to take a half hour or more walk, a quick lunch at Subway, and a flight to Florida. Tonight I will sleep in my own bed in my own house in Poinciana. That is HUGE! I drove up the coast, quite depressed last weekend, thinking it would be months before I could go back. This bonus week to spend down there is such a blessing!
I want to thank all the people who have posted comments on this blog. It's like a little present to me every time I check back and find a comment. I can't tell you how uplifting that is. I also have enjoyed the many emails that people send me with good wishes, comments about the blog, and cheery news about their own lives. It's not good for me to dwell only on my situation all the time. I really need the distraction of other people's news. I'm loving my Facebook page and all the comments that show up there as well. Facebook is an excellent source of distraction! LOL
I am shutting down my computer this morning in a few minutes at 7:05 a.m. here in my sister's house in Baltimore and will bring it back up tonight before bedtime in my own house in Poinciana. Can't wait to see what comments show up on the blog, Facebook, or in my emails. Keep them coming! I love you all. Having cancer really does make you realize what is important to you. The new house is great, but it's really not the house, not the furniture, no single THING, only good friends and love.
I have my 9:10 a.m. appointment with the surgeon, then the next time I see him will be in the OR. I am a bit apprehensive because the two of us will be making the final decision today about what type of surgery. My plan is to walk in and say lumpectomy with radiation. Officially it is a re-excision lumpectomy since the lump is actually already gone. I don't expect the committee I met last week to give him any news that they didn't give me, so I expect that to be the plan. Still I'm nervous because it seems so final, so definite, so real.
Then we are going to try to find someplace to take a half hour or more walk, a quick lunch at Subway, and a flight to Florida. Tonight I will sleep in my own bed in my own house in Poinciana. That is HUGE! I drove up the coast, quite depressed last weekend, thinking it would be months before I could go back. This bonus week to spend down there is such a blessing!
I want to thank all the people who have posted comments on this blog. It's like a little present to me every time I check back and find a comment. I can't tell you how uplifting that is. I also have enjoyed the many emails that people send me with good wishes, comments about the blog, and cheery news about their own lives. It's not good for me to dwell only on my situation all the time. I really need the distraction of other people's news. I'm loving my Facebook page and all the comments that show up there as well. Facebook is an excellent source of distraction! LOL
I am shutting down my computer this morning in a few minutes at 7:05 a.m. here in my sister's house in Baltimore and will bring it back up tonight before bedtime in my own house in Poinciana. Can't wait to see what comments show up on the blog, Facebook, or in my emails. Keep them coming! I love you all. Having cancer really does make you realize what is important to you. The new house is great, but it's really not the house, not the furniture, no single THING, only good friends and love.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tortilla Night
Mark informed me this morning that Monday is tortilla night. I said, "But you are making enchilladas?" Oh, wait...yes, enchiladas are made from tortillas. LOL
We have fallen into a rut with dinners, but it's a rut I love and don't want to leave.
Monday: Tortilla night (or something MADE with tortillas, like enchiladas)
Tuesday: Amy Bowl Night (or any frozen prepared dinner from Lean Cuisine, Wt. Watchers, etc.)
Wednesday: Spaghetti Night (with miracle noodles)
Thursday: Eggy-thing can Happen Day! (from the old Anything can Happen Day on the Mouseketeers)
Friday: Shabbat (something more elaborate or upscale)
Saturday: Burger Night (veggie burgers, of course)
Sunday: Grilled Fish Night (Yum. Last night was blackened tuna steak, baked potato, and broccoli)
Every one of these nights also includes a big homemade salad and enough possibilities for variety to keep it interesting.
This is the routine we followed when I was losing the 100 pounds. If we had to eat out, it was only Subway or Denny's because I could keep the calories low.
We have moved away from this routine, and my weight has crept up. Time to get back on the routine. It is also a big money saver, which isn't a bad thing right now.
My sister blocked out a route for a longer walk than yesterday, about two miles, through her neighborhood. I might go drive it first to clock it. We are also going to the Greenbelt Aquatic Center and Gym where we will lift weights and swim. I haven't been there in a really, really long time, so I won't be able to lift what I used to, but it's a start. Once we get back to Solivita, we can go to the gym there. They have two huge exercise facilities with pools that are spectacular, and we have not had a chance to use them yet. We are determined to get to them this week on our visit back. In fact, one of the facilities, The Palms, is only a 1.3 mile walk from our house. On nice days we could walk up, lift weights, swim, and walk back. Whoee! I'm tired thinking about it, but that would be so healthy. I hope to have that as part of my regular routine eventually.
As predicted by some of you, I had retained water from the big Indian dinner Saturday night. I'm down two and a half pounds this morning. Good but not good enough. Today will be another excellent day and so will every day for the next week or so until surgery. I can't lose a lot in that amount of time, but I will definitely be below 220 before surgery. I was 220.4 this morning and there will NOT be going UP anymore! As I've said before in this blog, I was 220 last November 2 when I showed up for the big hernia operation, and I'm NOT going to show up for this breast cancer surgery higher than that.
Tomorrow is my "official" weigh-in day, so I will post my weight. Since I do not plan to take the scale back to Florida with me, I won't be able to weigh again until next Tuesday when we are back here at my sister's house. That's what I'm supposed to do, weigh in only Tuesday mornings. Wish me luck!
We have fallen into a rut with dinners, but it's a rut I love and don't want to leave.
Monday: Tortilla night (or something MADE with tortillas, like enchiladas)
Tuesday: Amy Bowl Night (or any frozen prepared dinner from Lean Cuisine, Wt. Watchers, etc.)
Wednesday: Spaghetti Night (with miracle noodles)
Thursday: Eggy-thing can Happen Day! (from the old Anything can Happen Day on the Mouseketeers)
Friday: Shabbat (something more elaborate or upscale)
Saturday: Burger Night (veggie burgers, of course)
Sunday: Grilled Fish Night (Yum. Last night was blackened tuna steak, baked potato, and broccoli)
Every one of these nights also includes a big homemade salad and enough possibilities for variety to keep it interesting.
This is the routine we followed when I was losing the 100 pounds. If we had to eat out, it was only Subway or Denny's because I could keep the calories low.
We have moved away from this routine, and my weight has crept up. Time to get back on the routine. It is also a big money saver, which isn't a bad thing right now.
My sister blocked out a route for a longer walk than yesterday, about two miles, through her neighborhood. I might go drive it first to clock it. We are also going to the Greenbelt Aquatic Center and Gym where we will lift weights and swim. I haven't been there in a really, really long time, so I won't be able to lift what I used to, but it's a start. Once we get back to Solivita, we can go to the gym there. They have two huge exercise facilities with pools that are spectacular, and we have not had a chance to use them yet. We are determined to get to them this week on our visit back. In fact, one of the facilities, The Palms, is only a 1.3 mile walk from our house. On nice days we could walk up, lift weights, swim, and walk back. Whoee! I'm tired thinking about it, but that would be so healthy. I hope to have that as part of my regular routine eventually.
As predicted by some of you, I had retained water from the big Indian dinner Saturday night. I'm down two and a half pounds this morning. Good but not good enough. Today will be another excellent day and so will every day for the next week or so until surgery. I can't lose a lot in that amount of time, but I will definitely be below 220 before surgery. I was 220.4 this morning and there will NOT be going UP anymore! As I've said before in this blog, I was 220 last November 2 when I showed up for the big hernia operation, and I'm NOT going to show up for this breast cancer surgery higher than that.
Tomorrow is my "official" weigh-in day, so I will post my weight. Since I do not plan to take the scale back to Florida with me, I won't be able to weigh again until next Tuesday when we are back here at my sister's house. That's what I'm supposed to do, weigh in only Tuesday mornings. Wish me luck!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Very bad girl
It's not Tuesday, my usual weigh-in day, but I got on the scale anyway. After what I consumed at the Indian restaurant last night, I was expecting a few pounds up. I was not disappointed.
YIKES!! I hit 223!! I haven't seen a number like that since last October. I am not doing anything I am supposed to be doing.
Things I am not doing--
1. not exercising or walking,
2. not writing anything down,
3. not tracking my weight in my notebook or on RealAge,
4. not eliminating bread and alcohol in restaurants (au contraire, I'm devouring both regularly!),
5. not planning my meals in advance,
6. not eating slowly, savoring and noticing the food.
So by not doing the things that I know I should do, that I know work for me, that I know are the right and healthy things to do, WHY should I be surprised to see this weight creep back? I guess it's because self-delusional thinking is so easy. Sure, I can have that garlic nan and mango ice cream dessert on top of the appetizers, wine, and huge potato-stuffed crepey-thing for an entree, and I won't weigh over 220 the next day. Sure, I can eat out day after day with friends and family and not gain weight. Sure, I don't need to walk an hour four or five days a week. I'll be just fine.
Guess again, Becky!! This is foolish thinking. This is the kind of behavior that got you to 322 pounds. This is the kind of behavior that has to STOP. NOW!!
I came downstairs and told Mark what I just posted here. I have to stop going to restaurants. We need to start doing the things that I know work. Having said that, we are scheduled to go to the kosher Chinese restaurant in Pikesville at 1 p.m. today with friends. So...I can still do this. I can eliminate alcohol, eschew the rice bowl, eat less than the whole portion. I could even bring half home for tomorrow. I am eating a normal breakfast and a Hungry Girl dinner that Mark is going to cook. That's good. We are now planning a long walk this afternoon. That's good.
The surgeon who is going to do the lumpectomy is the same one who yelled at me over a year ago when I saw him the first time about the hernia. He did NOT like my weight, and he made me cry about it. Of course, he was right about everything and when I saw him in November at 220 for the hernia surgery, he was quite pleased. I also thanked him for getting me motivated enough to drop that weight. He expected me to lose more weight, which I briefly did, getting down to my lowest point of 205. He hasn't said anything more about weight now that we are dealing with breast cancer. Maybe he doesn't remember, but I do.
Any of you who have read this blog from the beginning know that my way of dealing with stress is to overeat. Do you think I have just a little stress in my life right now? Moving AND breast cancer?? OY!! Still, that's no excuse, and I have to find other ways of dealing with the stress. I'm hoping that when we fly home Tuesday I can spend that week in a routine that includes eating healthy meals in the house, expending extra energy and stress by unpacking boxes, feeling happy about the new house and how it's looking, and getting into a routine of walking everyday. I hope to come back the following week with a nice week's weight loss in preparation for the pre-op scheduled for August 31. The date of the actual surgery cannot be far away.
Those of you who read this blog regularly will find out how I do. You know I won't lie or hold it back. The point of this blog is to tell it all no matter how embarrassing!
YIKES!! I hit 223!! I haven't seen a number like that since last October. I am not doing anything I am supposed to be doing.
Things I am not doing--
1. not exercising or walking,
2. not writing anything down,
3. not tracking my weight in my notebook or on RealAge,
4. not eliminating bread and alcohol in restaurants (au contraire, I'm devouring both regularly!),
5. not planning my meals in advance,
6. not eating slowly, savoring and noticing the food.
So by not doing the things that I know I should do, that I know work for me, that I know are the right and healthy things to do, WHY should I be surprised to see this weight creep back? I guess it's because self-delusional thinking is so easy. Sure, I can have that garlic nan and mango ice cream dessert on top of the appetizers, wine, and huge potato-stuffed crepey-thing for an entree, and I won't weigh over 220 the next day. Sure, I can eat out day after day with friends and family and not gain weight. Sure, I don't need to walk an hour four or five days a week. I'll be just fine.
Guess again, Becky!! This is foolish thinking. This is the kind of behavior that got you to 322 pounds. This is the kind of behavior that has to STOP. NOW!!
I came downstairs and told Mark what I just posted here. I have to stop going to restaurants. We need to start doing the things that I know work. Having said that, we are scheduled to go to the kosher Chinese restaurant in Pikesville at 1 p.m. today with friends. So...I can still do this. I can eliminate alcohol, eschew the rice bowl, eat less than the whole portion. I could even bring half home for tomorrow. I am eating a normal breakfast and a Hungry Girl dinner that Mark is going to cook. That's good. We are now planning a long walk this afternoon. That's good.
The surgeon who is going to do the lumpectomy is the same one who yelled at me over a year ago when I saw him the first time about the hernia. He did NOT like my weight, and he made me cry about it. Of course, he was right about everything and when I saw him in November at 220 for the hernia surgery, he was quite pleased. I also thanked him for getting me motivated enough to drop that weight. He expected me to lose more weight, which I briefly did, getting down to my lowest point of 205. He hasn't said anything more about weight now that we are dealing with breast cancer. Maybe he doesn't remember, but I do.
Any of you who have read this blog from the beginning know that my way of dealing with stress is to overeat. Do you think I have just a little stress in my life right now? Moving AND breast cancer?? OY!! Still, that's no excuse, and I have to find other ways of dealing with the stress. I'm hoping that when we fly home Tuesday I can spend that week in a routine that includes eating healthy meals in the house, expending extra energy and stress by unpacking boxes, feeling happy about the new house and how it's looking, and getting into a routine of walking everyday. I hope to come back the following week with a nice week's weight loss in preparation for the pre-op scheduled for August 31. The date of the actual surgery cannot be far away.
Those of you who read this blog regularly will find out how I do. You know I won't lie or hold it back. The point of this blog is to tell it all no matter how embarrassing!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Shabbat rest
It's Shabbat morning in Cindy's house. She is not here right now, but Mark and I are preparing to go to Mishkan Torah as always on Saturday morning; however, today it will be about an hour's drive. That's ok with us.
I think today is the day I say mourner's kaddish for my Dad, who died in August of 1988. I think I remember getting the notification from Mishkan Torah, but in all the confusion of moving I can't find it. Maybe it's at home. It still feels funny to say "at home" and mean Florida, but in a really nice way. I bought a yahrzeit candle, so I'm hoping to find out when to light it today.
After services, Mark is going to the gym and I'm going to play Mah Jongg with my girlfriends. I'm excited about that. I like to play, and I especially like to play with these ladies. I don't know when I'll get a chance to play again with them, or anyone, for awhile so this is a real treat. They have Mahj twice a week in Solivita, Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning, so I hope to go on a Tuesday and meet some new players sooner or later. I'm sure it will never be as much fun as it has been with the Mishkan Torah Mah Jongg Maniacs! You rock, girls!!
I did a lot more reading about lumpectomy and radiation vs mastectomy, recovery times, complications, etc. last night online and in the booklets. I'm becoming convinced that radiation isn't too bad and the less surgery the better. I'm getting worried about lymphedema and it's consequences. It's a risk after lymph node dissection no matter which type of surgery I choose. If they can find the sentinel node and take only 1 to 3 nodes, obviously my risk for lymphedema will be less, but everyone is at risk for it after breast cancer surgery. It's one of those things no one told me except the websites, breastcancer.org and the lymphedema site. No doctor has mentioned it.
Some of the ways to prevent developing it after node dissection will definitely impact my personal lifestyle: no articifical fingernails (boo hoo), no professional manicures (sad), and no hot-tubbing (almost unbearable). I will continue to look into this possibility, even though there isn't anything I can do about it. I will be having a few lymph nodes removed for biopsy, and obviously the fingernails and hot tubs are not worth my life. I know it, but it's just one more thing I don't have to like about having cancer.
I think today is the day I say mourner's kaddish for my Dad, who died in August of 1988. I think I remember getting the notification from Mishkan Torah, but in all the confusion of moving I can't find it. Maybe it's at home. It still feels funny to say "at home" and mean Florida, but in a really nice way. I bought a yahrzeit candle, so I'm hoping to find out when to light it today.
After services, Mark is going to the gym and I'm going to play Mah Jongg with my girlfriends. I'm excited about that. I like to play, and I especially like to play with these ladies. I don't know when I'll get a chance to play again with them, or anyone, for awhile so this is a real treat. They have Mahj twice a week in Solivita, Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning, so I hope to go on a Tuesday and meet some new players sooner or later. I'm sure it will never be as much fun as it has been with the Mishkan Torah Mah Jongg Maniacs! You rock, girls!!
I did a lot more reading about lumpectomy and radiation vs mastectomy, recovery times, complications, etc. last night online and in the booklets. I'm becoming convinced that radiation isn't too bad and the less surgery the better. I'm getting worried about lymphedema and it's consequences. It's a risk after lymph node dissection no matter which type of surgery I choose. If they can find the sentinel node and take only 1 to 3 nodes, obviously my risk for lymphedema will be less, but everyone is at risk for it after breast cancer surgery. It's one of those things no one told me except the websites, breastcancer.org and the lymphedema site. No doctor has mentioned it.
Some of the ways to prevent developing it after node dissection will definitely impact my personal lifestyle: no articifical fingernails (boo hoo), no professional manicures (sad), and no hot-tubbing (almost unbearable). I will continue to look into this possibility, even though there isn't anything I can do about it. I will be having a few lymph nodes removed for biopsy, and obviously the fingernails and hot tubs are not worth my life. I know it, but it's just one more thing I don't have to like about having cancer.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Going Home!
Mark and I had a brainstorm today. My appointment with the surgeon is next Tuesday, August 24. My pre-op appointment with the primary care doctor is the following Tuesday, August 31. What do we have in between? Nothing much. So...why not go home?
YES!! Why not??
We have $379.60 credit with Air Tran for canceling our plans to go to a convention in Michigan, so we have cashed it all in on two round trip flights to Orlando from BWI. The afternoon of August 24 we are leaving and will arrive at home around 6 p.m. that night. Whoee!! We'll have six nights in our own home to unpack some boxes and enjoy some time in the pool, maybe even Disney. Then we'll fly back on Monday, August 30 in the evening.
I'm very excited and happy!
YES!! Why not??
We have $379.60 credit with Air Tran for canceling our plans to go to a convention in Michigan, so we have cashed it all in on two round trip flights to Orlando from BWI. The afternoon of August 24 we are leaving and will arrive at home around 6 p.m. that night. Whoee!! We'll have six nights in our own home to unpack some boxes and enjoy some time in the pool, maybe even Disney. Then we'll fly back on Monday, August 30 in the evening.
I'm very excited and happy!
Nothing to say
I am sitting here in front of the laptop trying to think about what to post today. I have nothing to say. Who would think THAT would ever happen.
Today we are having a low-key morning, relaxing with TV news, not rushing to eat breakfast and run out the door. That has been a pleasure. The only tasks for today involve going to a local mall here for Mark to buy comic books at a store near Cindy's house. There is also a grocery store there, so we are going to buy the things we need for tonight's Shabbat dinner. I have a lunch engagement with my friend Chantel, and then we'll be back in the house all afternoon and evening. Cindy is gone for the weekend, so Mark and I are left alone in her house. We promised not to throw any wild parties or trash her house while she's gone.
The only concession to cancer that I plan to make today is to continue to read the pamphlets and booklets that the hospital gave me. I read a little last night, but there is more. I have learned a lot, and I think that there is nothing else to know until after the surgery. The decision to make now is what kind of surgery. I'll keep thinking about it until next Tuesday.
I have an online support group of women in a similar situation to me. I enjoy reading their posts and chatting with them back and forth. I am learning that I am in a very normal stage of indecision, but most of them feel that whatever decision I make, it will be the right one for me. I believe them.
Today we are having a low-key morning, relaxing with TV news, not rushing to eat breakfast and run out the door. That has been a pleasure. The only tasks for today involve going to a local mall here for Mark to buy comic books at a store near Cindy's house. There is also a grocery store there, so we are going to buy the things we need for tonight's Shabbat dinner. I have a lunch engagement with my friend Chantel, and then we'll be back in the house all afternoon and evening. Cindy is gone for the weekend, so Mark and I are left alone in her house. We promised not to throw any wild parties or trash her house while she's gone.
The only concession to cancer that I plan to make today is to continue to read the pamphlets and booklets that the hospital gave me. I read a little last night, but there is more. I have learned a lot, and I think that there is nothing else to know until after the surgery. The decision to make now is what kind of surgery. I'll keep thinking about it until next Tuesday.
I have an online support group of women in a similar situation to me. I enjoy reading their posts and chatting with them back and forth. I am learning that I am in a very normal stage of indecision, but most of them feel that whatever decision I make, it will be the right one for me. I believe them.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
And the verdict is...
Good news! The MRI showed nothing abnormal on the right breast. Big sigh of relief!
The left side showed nothing other than the original site. Second big sigh of relief!
So that's one big hurdle finished and finally some news going in a positive direction. The team meeting included a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, general surgeon, oncology nurse, and plastic surgeon. Each came in individually, studied my case, examined me, and talked about me as it related to their specialty. No decisions were made.
I got the feeling that they feel positive about my outcome, so for the first time I feel very positive. They all seemed to agree that since the MRI was so good and the tumor small, it is unlikely that it is in the nodes, although they admit they cannot say that for sure until the biopsy. They also do not know the staging, the agressiveness of the tumor, or the hormone/receptor markers because those tests were not performed in the original biopsy. Those things will be done after the next surgery, so we'll know more then.
So I still have the same two choices I've always had: lumpectomy with six weeks of daily radiation or mastectomy with no radiation. Chemo is a possibility after either surgery if some other currently unknown factors come into play following whichever surgery I decide to do. The team was to meet together and discuss my case this afternoon, then send a report to my surgeon. I now have a meeting with him in his office next Tuesday morning to discuss everything again with him and to make the final decision.
Last night I was positive I wanted a mastectomy with no reconstruction, at least not until after January when I could get it done and paid for in Florida. This morning I was leaning to the lumpectomy with radiation, and no reconstruction would be required. The long term survival rates are identical for both procedures, so it seems silly to go through a bigger surgery and many more surgeries for reconstruction if the lumpectomy and radiation are all that is needed for the same outcome. I didn't want to do the radiation at first, but I'm starting to believe it won't be so bad after all.
I also got lots of pamphlets and reading material today, so I'll keep reading about it and thinking about it until next Tuesday when some decision will have to be made.
Afterwards, Mark and I took my car to Jiffy Lube and then to lunch at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants with three of my former co-workers. I love those girls, so it was a lot of fun to eat and schmooze and just have fun for a few hours. Now I'm exhausted and about to take a nap!
The left side showed nothing other than the original site. Second big sigh of relief!
So that's one big hurdle finished and finally some news going in a positive direction. The team meeting included a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, general surgeon, oncology nurse, and plastic surgeon. Each came in individually, studied my case, examined me, and talked about me as it related to their specialty. No decisions were made.
I got the feeling that they feel positive about my outcome, so for the first time I feel very positive. They all seemed to agree that since the MRI was so good and the tumor small, it is unlikely that it is in the nodes, although they admit they cannot say that for sure until the biopsy. They also do not know the staging, the agressiveness of the tumor, or the hormone/receptor markers because those tests were not performed in the original biopsy. Those things will be done after the next surgery, so we'll know more then.
So I still have the same two choices I've always had: lumpectomy with six weeks of daily radiation or mastectomy with no radiation. Chemo is a possibility after either surgery if some other currently unknown factors come into play following whichever surgery I decide to do. The team was to meet together and discuss my case this afternoon, then send a report to my surgeon. I now have a meeting with him in his office next Tuesday morning to discuss everything again with him and to make the final decision.
Last night I was positive I wanted a mastectomy with no reconstruction, at least not until after January when I could get it done and paid for in Florida. This morning I was leaning to the lumpectomy with radiation, and no reconstruction would be required. The long term survival rates are identical for both procedures, so it seems silly to go through a bigger surgery and many more surgeries for reconstruction if the lumpectomy and radiation are all that is needed for the same outcome. I didn't want to do the radiation at first, but I'm starting to believe it won't be so bad after all.
I also got lots of pamphlets and reading material today, so I'll keep reading about it and thinking about it until next Tuesday when some decision will have to be made.
Afterwards, Mark and I took my car to Jiffy Lube and then to lunch at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants with three of my former co-workers. I love those girls, so it was a lot of fun to eat and schmooze and just have fun for a few hours. Now I'm exhausted and about to take a nap!
Stay Tuned
I'm leaving an half an hour to head to St. Agnes Women's Health Center in Baltimore for my multi-disciplinary team meeting. I had received a phone call from someone in the admitting department who pre-registered me for the surgery next week and explained what would happen today. I was advised to wear a two-piece loose-fitting outfit. I will be in a room for two and a half hours. During that time a parade of oncologists, radiologists, plastic and general surgeons will come through. Each will have read my mammograms from the last two years, my recent ultrasound, the MRI, and the biopsy report. They will examine me and give me their opinions of my treatment options. Mark is going to be there to take notes and a representative from the American Cancer Society will be there the entire time along with my care co-ordinator. I feel like such a big deal! Tonight I will blog again to share the results and decisions made.
Last night Lowell came over to join us for spaghetti, salad, fruit salad, Tullamore Dew, and wine. It was awesome. Thanks, Lowell!
Last night Lowell came over to join us for spaghetti, salad, fruit salad, Tullamore Dew, and wine. It was awesome. Thanks, Lowell!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Breast MRI
This morning I had my double MRI to look for cancer on the right side. My kind of breast cancer, lobular, is often found lurking on the other side.
I was not afraid of doing this, but I was nervous. I had read online that dye is used for the MRI, and I have not had good experiences with dye. In 1985 I nearly died from going into anaphylactic shock when an x-ray technician injected contrast media dye into my veins to take pictures of a kidney stone. I ended up spending two nights in the hospital after waking up in intensive care. The allergist who was called in on my case said I should never have that dye again unless I was in a hospital and received regular doses of benadryl over a 24 hour period prior to the administration of the dye.
Well, I have NEVER allowed dye again. This morning I was supposed to sign papers saying they could inject dye for the MRI. I refused to sign it until I spoke with the radiologist. He assured me that the IVP dye with radioactive iodine that sent me into shock was NOT the same as the dye used today for the MRI. We went back and forth, but he finally won me over when he said that they did indeed have lots of benadryl and crash carts standing by, that I would never be left alone, that I would be continually monitored, and that I could have some benadryl in advance to mitigate any effects should they occur. So I signed and swallowed a nice big benadryl capsule.
I went into the room with the MRI, wearing my hospital robe, opening in the front as per instructions. I saw the tube and the table. The helpful technician, pointing to the table, says, "I guess you know what those holes are for." Hm...yes, clearly I was to lay on my stomach and let my breasts dangle down in the holes. I thought to myself, well, this is probably just the beginning of many weird, uncomfortable, and fairly undignified things I'll be subjected to in the near future.
I climbed up on the table, lay on my stomach with my breasts dangling in the appropriate holes, put my arms up over my head, selected country music for the headsets, and got rolled into the tube. Ooops. Hey, I'm touching the sides of this machine. When I made the appointment, I asked if this was an open MRI. I explained to them that when I weighed over 300 pounds, I could not fit in the tubes. Now I weigh about 220, but I'm still not small. I was assured that it was open and rated up to 500 pounds. Wow! That table might hold a 500 pound person, but the tube surely would NOT. I could not take in a deep breath without feeling squeezed by the tube. If I had gained another few pounds, I don't think I would have fit in there. It's a good thing I'm not terribly claustrophobic, but it was a bit unsettling. I tried to stay calm and breathe steadily but not deeply.
So there I was, in the tube, listening to music, and my hands dangling out the end of the tube. They took several pictures without dye, but then the moment arrived when they needed to set the IV in the back of my hand and inject me. I was nervous, but the benadryl was making me feel calm and slightly sleepy. The IV line was inserted easily and someone, I could not see who, held my hand through the whole rest of the test. Both the radiologist and the technician could not have been kinder to me through the whole thing.
When they said it was done, I was so relieved. After they pulled me out of the tube, I could barely lower my arms. It had taken about 45 minutes, and I was STIFF. I was also woozy and sleepy from the benadryl for the next five hours or so. Mark did the driving as we finished our chores for the day.
We ordered my mammograms from the last two years, returned our MD tags to the MVA, had a nice lunch of salmon salad at a local restaurant, shopped for a week's groceries in two different stores, and went to pick up some mail at our former neighbor's house. After all this, we got back to Cindy's house about 4:15. I barely had enough energy to put the groceries away before falling into a deep sleep in the living room for two solid hours!
Tomorrow does not include cancer on the agenda. I'll get my nails done and a pedicure. I'll go to the bank, and I might even relax and read a book!
I was not afraid of doing this, but I was nervous. I had read online that dye is used for the MRI, and I have not had good experiences with dye. In 1985 I nearly died from going into anaphylactic shock when an x-ray technician injected contrast media dye into my veins to take pictures of a kidney stone. I ended up spending two nights in the hospital after waking up in intensive care. The allergist who was called in on my case said I should never have that dye again unless I was in a hospital and received regular doses of benadryl over a 24 hour period prior to the administration of the dye.
Well, I have NEVER allowed dye again. This morning I was supposed to sign papers saying they could inject dye for the MRI. I refused to sign it until I spoke with the radiologist. He assured me that the IVP dye with radioactive iodine that sent me into shock was NOT the same as the dye used today for the MRI. We went back and forth, but he finally won me over when he said that they did indeed have lots of benadryl and crash carts standing by, that I would never be left alone, that I would be continually monitored, and that I could have some benadryl in advance to mitigate any effects should they occur. So I signed and swallowed a nice big benadryl capsule.
I went into the room with the MRI, wearing my hospital robe, opening in the front as per instructions. I saw the tube and the table. The helpful technician, pointing to the table, says, "I guess you know what those holes are for." Hm...yes, clearly I was to lay on my stomach and let my breasts dangle down in the holes. I thought to myself, well, this is probably just the beginning of many weird, uncomfortable, and fairly undignified things I'll be subjected to in the near future.
I climbed up on the table, lay on my stomach with my breasts dangling in the appropriate holes, put my arms up over my head, selected country music for the headsets, and got rolled into the tube. Ooops. Hey, I'm touching the sides of this machine. When I made the appointment, I asked if this was an open MRI. I explained to them that when I weighed over 300 pounds, I could not fit in the tubes. Now I weigh about 220, but I'm still not small. I was assured that it was open and rated up to 500 pounds. Wow! That table might hold a 500 pound person, but the tube surely would NOT. I could not take in a deep breath without feeling squeezed by the tube. If I had gained another few pounds, I don't think I would have fit in there. It's a good thing I'm not terribly claustrophobic, but it was a bit unsettling. I tried to stay calm and breathe steadily but not deeply.
So there I was, in the tube, listening to music, and my hands dangling out the end of the tube. They took several pictures without dye, but then the moment arrived when they needed to set the IV in the back of my hand and inject me. I was nervous, but the benadryl was making me feel calm and slightly sleepy. The IV line was inserted easily and someone, I could not see who, held my hand through the whole rest of the test. Both the radiologist and the technician could not have been kinder to me through the whole thing.
When they said it was done, I was so relieved. After they pulled me out of the tube, I could barely lower my arms. It had taken about 45 minutes, and I was STIFF. I was also woozy and sleepy from the benadryl for the next five hours or so. Mark did the driving as we finished our chores for the day.
We ordered my mammograms from the last two years, returned our MD tags to the MVA, had a nice lunch of salmon salad at a local restaurant, shopped for a week's groceries in two different stores, and went to pick up some mail at our former neighbor's house. After all this, we got back to Cindy's house about 4:15. I barely had enough energy to put the groceries away before falling into a deep sleep in the living room for two solid hours!
Tomorrow does not include cancer on the agenda. I'll get my nails done and a pedicure. I'll go to the bank, and I might even relax and read a book!
Makin' a list; checkin' it twice.
I have to make a list because the things I have to do today are so many that I'm afraid I'm going to forget them.
At 9:30 I have my MRI of both breasts. That's the next chore on the cancer list. I also have to order copies of the last two years of mammogams to take with me to the meeting on Thursday. We need to take our old MD tags to the MVA, pick up some mail from our former neighbor, shop for food, and make many phone calls for various odds and ends of things. I'm sure there's more that I can't remember right now. That's why I have to make the list and check it twice!
I have joined an online support group for breast cancer patients, and last night and this morning I spent a lot of time reading their posts and putting up my introduction. I'm learning a lot of things, not all good, from these women. So far there are two things they have brought up that I had not considered. First is that after surgery and during this odyssey, many of them feel that they have lost their old self. They didn't see it coming, and they miss their former self. They feel a sense of loss and feel there was no closure for that loss. Hm... Second, they are tired of "doing" cancer. It consumes their lives for months and months like a full time job. Hours are taken up driving to and from countless appointments, waiting for and having treatments/appointments, and sleeping/recovering from treatments/appointments. This is their new life, their new self, and most of them are not that happy about it. They really preferred their old life and their old self.
Now granted I am in a group for newly diagnosed and ongoing treatment women. They are all a little further along than I am, but they are not cancer-free and living a happy "survivor" life at the other end of the tunnel yet. I have also met many women in the last month who are years past all of this and they seem fine. Still I'm learning that my life is going to change far more than I have wanted to admit. I'm learning that the changes are going to take a lot longer than I have wanted to admit. I have just begun to change my life, and I thought I knew what those changes were going to be. Now I see that I really don't.
At 9:30 I have my MRI of both breasts. That's the next chore on the cancer list. I also have to order copies of the last two years of mammogams to take with me to the meeting on Thursday. We need to take our old MD tags to the MVA, pick up some mail from our former neighbor, shop for food, and make many phone calls for various odds and ends of things. I'm sure there's more that I can't remember right now. That's why I have to make the list and check it twice!
I have joined an online support group for breast cancer patients, and last night and this morning I spent a lot of time reading their posts and putting up my introduction. I'm learning a lot of things, not all good, from these women. So far there are two things they have brought up that I had not considered. First is that after surgery and during this odyssey, many of them feel that they have lost their old self. They didn't see it coming, and they miss their former self. They feel a sense of loss and feel there was no closure for that loss. Hm... Second, they are tired of "doing" cancer. It consumes their lives for months and months like a full time job. Hours are taken up driving to and from countless appointments, waiting for and having treatments/appointments, and sleeping/recovering from treatments/appointments. This is their new life, their new self, and most of them are not that happy about it. They really preferred their old life and their old self.
Now granted I am in a group for newly diagnosed and ongoing treatment women. They are all a little further along than I am, but they are not cancer-free and living a happy "survivor" life at the other end of the tunnel yet. I have also met many women in the last month who are years past all of this and they seem fine. Still I'm learning that my life is going to change far more than I have wanted to admit. I'm learning that the changes are going to take a lot longer than I have wanted to admit. I have just begun to change my life, and I thought I knew what those changes were going to be. Now I see that I really don't.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Florence to Baltimore in the Red Zone
Every morning we watch Good Morning America, and Sam Champion (seriously, that's his real name) shows the weather map. Today the big red blob with dangerous lightening and storms is from southern VA to Boston. Hmm...could be a bumpy ride this afternoon.
We had rain from the FL/GA line all the way to Florence yesterday. It looks like today will be bad from just north of the VA/NC line up to Cindy's house. UGH! That makes this long, depressing drive even longer and more depressing.
The only good thing I can say about yesterday is that I only ate 1500 calories. That's the first day in a long time that I had under 2,000 calories. Hopefully today will also be a good day. When I got up yesterday, I was 219. Not great, but still not worse than my surgery last November. It's not great because it still means I put back 14 pounds from my lowest point around mid-February, but I have had too much eating out, too little structured exercise/walking, and too much stress to lose the weight I gained on the cruise. I know that's just an excuse, but there it is. I'm going to try to do well again today. Taking it one day at a time. That's all I can do.
We had rain from the FL/GA line all the way to Florence yesterday. It looks like today will be bad from just north of the VA/NC line up to Cindy's house. UGH! That makes this long, depressing drive even longer and more depressing.
The only good thing I can say about yesterday is that I only ate 1500 calories. That's the first day in a long time that I had under 2,000 calories. Hopefully today will also be a good day. When I got up yesterday, I was 219. Not great, but still not worse than my surgery last November. It's not great because it still means I put back 14 pounds from my lowest point around mid-February, but I have had too much eating out, too little structured exercise/walking, and too much stress to lose the weight I gained on the cruise. I know that's just an excuse, but there it is. I'm going to try to do well again today. Taking it one day at a time. That's all I can do.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Heading North
We all knew today had to come, but somehow I'm still not happy about it. LOL
Today is the day we have to head north to stay with my sister and remember that I have breast cancer. We are driving as far as Florence, SC today, about 490 miles. Tomorrow we will get to my sister Cindy's house in Baltimore. I have two appointments next week leading up to surgery the following week. I'm resigned to it, and I will do it, but I don't have to be happy about it.
Yesterday was another great day. We enjoyed the synagogue service very much, although we got there really late. It's a solid 45 minute drive, so we need to get an earlier start. At kiddush I spoke to another wonderful woman who is a breast cancer survivor. I never tire of these women's brave stories. She has hit her five year mark cancer-free.
After synagogue we went back home, but we had no time to go to the pool after all. We had lunch, organized a few things, and it was time to head to the Disney Hollywood Studios. This time we ensured that there would be no rain by packing our new ponchos and schlepping them around in the park. It worked like a charm.
Our objective today was the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror because they had tweeked it just a bit for the Summer Nightastic program, and Saturday, August 14 was the last night of that program. We arrived about 4:30 and the park was closing at 7, which was odd. Usually it closes at 9 or later in the summer, but we found out that it was also the final day for the long-running ride, Star Tours. So tonight there was a special ticketed party for Star Wars fans which started at 7. It was fun for us because there were lots of people looking very hot walking around in really cool Star Wars costumes.
We thought it would be hard to get on the rides, but the park was not crowded, maybe because people were coming for the party later on. At any rate, we walked right on the Tower of Terror and dropped four times. Very cool. Then we decided to see if it was possible to do Star Tours on its last day. Yup. Just walked right on. Amazing. I don't really like simulation rides much and have not done this one in literally 20 years, but I did it yesterday just because it was not going to be there anymore.
We also came for a special live band performance, which was on the half hours. We caught the second half of the 5:30 show on the way to Star Tours. After ST we rode The Great Movie Ride because it's one of my favorites, no line either. Then we had only a 5 minute wait for the next live band show. We wanted to see the first half that we missed but realized they were doing an entirely different batch of songs. It was fun. We reluctantly left the park at 6:50 p.m. to head home for dinner and a movie. Mark watched the second Transformers movie with dinner and when he was done eating, promptly fell asleep. The only reason I didn't fall asleep was because I was trying to make and upload a video of the house for Evey. It took hours! Eventually I was able to get a six and a half minute video online for her.
This morning we are going to pack. It's not fun. It's not like packing for an exciting and much anticipated vacation. I have no comparisons to make for this trip. It is not going to be fun, that is all I can say.
Today is the day we have to head north to stay with my sister and remember that I have breast cancer. We are driving as far as Florence, SC today, about 490 miles. Tomorrow we will get to my sister Cindy's house in Baltimore. I have two appointments next week leading up to surgery the following week. I'm resigned to it, and I will do it, but I don't have to be happy about it.
Yesterday was another great day. We enjoyed the synagogue service very much, although we got there really late. It's a solid 45 minute drive, so we need to get an earlier start. At kiddush I spoke to another wonderful woman who is a breast cancer survivor. I never tire of these women's brave stories. She has hit her five year mark cancer-free.
After synagogue we went back home, but we had no time to go to the pool after all. We had lunch, organized a few things, and it was time to head to the Disney Hollywood Studios. This time we ensured that there would be no rain by packing our new ponchos and schlepping them around in the park. It worked like a charm.
Our objective today was the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror because they had tweeked it just a bit for the Summer Nightastic program, and Saturday, August 14 was the last night of that program. We arrived about 4:30 and the park was closing at 7, which was odd. Usually it closes at 9 or later in the summer, but we found out that it was also the final day for the long-running ride, Star Tours. So tonight there was a special ticketed party for Star Wars fans which started at 7. It was fun for us because there were lots of people looking very hot walking around in really cool Star Wars costumes.
We thought it would be hard to get on the rides, but the park was not crowded, maybe because people were coming for the party later on. At any rate, we walked right on the Tower of Terror and dropped four times. Very cool. Then we decided to see if it was possible to do Star Tours on its last day. Yup. Just walked right on. Amazing. I don't really like simulation rides much and have not done this one in literally 20 years, but I did it yesterday just because it was not going to be there anymore.
We also came for a special live band performance, which was on the half hours. We caught the second half of the 5:30 show on the way to Star Tours. After ST we rode The Great Movie Ride because it's one of my favorites, no line either. Then we had only a 5 minute wait for the next live band show. We wanted to see the first half that we missed but realized they were doing an entirely different batch of songs. It was fun. We reluctantly left the park at 6:50 p.m. to head home for dinner and a movie. Mark watched the second Transformers movie with dinner and when he was done eating, promptly fell asleep. The only reason I didn't fall asleep was because I was trying to make and upload a video of the house for Evey. It took hours! Eventually I was able to get a six and a half minute video online for her.
This morning we are going to pack. It's not fun. It's not like packing for an exciting and much anticipated vacation. I have no comparisons to make for this trip. It is not going to be fun, that is all I can say.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Shul and Pool
I think Saturdays here are going to fall into an excellent routine of shul and pool. That's what we did last Saturday, although last week it was from the hotel that was already close to the shul. Today we have a 45 minute drive to the synagogue and back, but then we do plan to spend the afternoon by the pool. It is predicted to feel like 107 today. OUCH. That's the worst yet, but only 30% chance of rain.
Ha Ha!!! It was 30% chance of rain yesterday, but we got soaked at the Magic Kingdom and had to buy two more Disney rain ponchos. For some reason we went over there with hats and sunscreen. Before we got two miles from the house, a huge thunderstorm came up and lasted for hours. We never needed the hats and sunscreen, but we sure did miss the five rain ponchos and four umbrellas we left back at the house! So now we own SEVEN rain ponchos, but we are leaving the new ones in the car from now on.
As usual for this area, shortly after we bought the ponchos, we didn't need them. It stopped raining and turned into delightfully perfect weather. We had a kosher corned beef dinner with rolls, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Then we watched the Main Street Electrical parade, which is special for Summer Nightastic, followed by the BEST fireworks EVER!! It was an amazing display. That was the first use of our new Florida resident season pass to Disney World.
Later today we are also going to drive the 45 minutes back to go to the Disney Studios for the last night of Summer Nightastic events. They are doing something special with the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Ride. The park closes at 7 p.m. tonight, so it won't be a late night.
I'm listening to a news report on the "Humiliation Diet." Apparently there are now thousands of people tweeting every meal they eat and their daily weight. I guess I sort of do that on this blog, which was my intent. I didn't intend to humiliate myself; I just needed some accountability when I started this back in October. It worked great for awhile, but I don't seem to be focusing on that anymore. Lately the blog has turned into a report about the house selling/buying/moving process and the breast cancer. I'm pretty sure there will be many blogs in the future about my CURE!! I know there will be a cure. There are so many prayers and healing thoughts going out on my behalf. I feel very positive. The environment here in this house and this community down here is so physically beautiful and relaxing that I can't help but feel positive. When I go back north tomorrow, the love and support of our huge network of family and friends will surely provide the same positive feelings.
Got to go to shul. Bye Bye!
Ha Ha!!! It was 30% chance of rain yesterday, but we got soaked at the Magic Kingdom and had to buy two more Disney rain ponchos. For some reason we went over there with hats and sunscreen. Before we got two miles from the house, a huge thunderstorm came up and lasted for hours. We never needed the hats and sunscreen, but we sure did miss the five rain ponchos and four umbrellas we left back at the house! So now we own SEVEN rain ponchos, but we are leaving the new ones in the car from now on.
As usual for this area, shortly after we bought the ponchos, we didn't need them. It stopped raining and turned into delightfully perfect weather. We had a kosher corned beef dinner with rolls, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Then we watched the Main Street Electrical parade, which is special for Summer Nightastic, followed by the BEST fireworks EVER!! It was an amazing display. That was the first use of our new Florida resident season pass to Disney World.
Later today we are also going to drive the 45 minutes back to go to the Disney Studios for the last night of Summer Nightastic events. They are doing something special with the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Ride. The park closes at 7 p.m. tonight, so it won't be a late night.
I'm listening to a news report on the "Humiliation Diet." Apparently there are now thousands of people tweeting every meal they eat and their daily weight. I guess I sort of do that on this blog, which was my intent. I didn't intend to humiliate myself; I just needed some accountability when I started this back in October. It worked great for awhile, but I don't seem to be focusing on that anymore. Lately the blog has turned into a report about the house selling/buying/moving process and the breast cancer. I'm pretty sure there will be many blogs in the future about my CURE!! I know there will be a cure. There are so many prayers and healing thoughts going out on my behalf. I feel very positive. The environment here in this house and this community down here is so physically beautiful and relaxing that I can't help but feel positive. When I go back north tomorrow, the love and support of our huge network of family and friends will surely provide the same positive feelings.
Got to go to shul. Bye Bye!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Off to Disney World
I finished setting up my part of the bedroom today. Mark needs to replace the broken dresser before he can finish unboxing and setting up, but that has to wait until we return. Still it looks pretty good. The kitchen is done, although the family room right next to it is not. Again we need to get some more bookshelves to replace ones we didn't bring or we cannot unbox all the cds, dvds, and vhs tapes. That will also wait.
Meanwhile except for the living room, dining room, and den, which we haven't started, the house is liveable and looks acceptable for now.
We have done some more chores today, forwarding mail to my sister's house for awhile, picking up a prescription for Mark, and buying a few things we needed. Soon we'll be heading off to the Magic Kingdom to buy our Florida resident season passes, have dinner in the park (kosher food!), and see the Main Street Electrical Parade and the special fireworks for Summer Nightastic.
Meanwhile except for the living room, dining room, and den, which we haven't started, the house is liveable and looks acceptable for now.
We have done some more chores today, forwarding mail to my sister's house for awhile, picking up a prescription for Mark, and buying a few things we needed. Soon we'll be heading off to the Magic Kingdom to buy our Florida resident season passes, have dinner in the park (kosher food!), and see the Main Street Electrical Parade and the special fireworks for Summer Nightastic.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Been busy
The furniture and boxes were unloaded, so we have spent hours and hours unboxing. The kitchen dishes are all in the cupboards, the lanai looks great, the guest room is ready for company, and the bedroom is almost finished. Don't ask about the living room, dining room, and den. Those will have to wait until October.
We also managed to get our driver's licenses and car tags. I chose the End Breast Cancer tag; Mark chose the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia tag. Both provided an opportunity to make a $25 donation to these causes.
Tomorrow we have so many chores left on the list that we may have to prioritize since I don't see how they will all get done. The most important one is to go get Walt Disney World Florida resident season passes and get into the park. We are going to the Magic Kingdom for Summer Nightastic, which ends on Saturday. With luck we'll get to go to the Disney Studios park on Saturday for their last night of the special Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride.
Tonight we participated in our first Solivita activity. Every Thursday is movie night. Starting at 7 p.m., a fairly recent movie is run and free soda and popcorn is doled out. All you have to do is show up with your resident ID. We got there just as the movie started and discovered the Starlite Ballroom was packed. We barely found two seats. The movie was Date Night with Steven Carrell. It was very funny. We really enjoyed it. When we got home, we broke down 16 more boxes and tied them into bundles for recycling. Then I had some of the brownies my neighbor baked and brought over this morning. Nice.
We also managed to get our driver's licenses and car tags. I chose the End Breast Cancer tag; Mark chose the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia tag. Both provided an opportunity to make a $25 donation to these causes.
Tomorrow we have so many chores left on the list that we may have to prioritize since I don't see how they will all get done. The most important one is to go get Walt Disney World Florida resident season passes and get into the park. We are going to the Magic Kingdom for Summer Nightastic, which ends on Saturday. With luck we'll get to go to the Disney Studios park on Saturday for their last night of the special Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride.
Tonight we participated in our first Solivita activity. Every Thursday is movie night. Starting at 7 p.m., a fairly recent movie is run and free soda and popcorn is doled out. All you have to do is show up with your resident ID. We got there just as the movie started and discovered the Starlite Ballroom was packed. We barely found two seats. The movie was Date Night with Steven Carrell. It was very funny. We really enjoyed it. When we got home, we broke down 16 more boxes and tied them into bundles for recycling. Then I had some of the brownies my neighbor baked and brought over this morning. Nice.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Brief Blog
The hotel's internet has been out for two days, and our new house internet won't be connected until noonish tomorrow. This morning, bright and early, Mark and I had about a half hour to log onto the Solivita computers at the Business Center. These are awesome machines, but we have to get back to the house because the crew to unload the pods wil be here in about half an hour. I just wanted to check my Facebook, but this computer has it blocked. HUH? Old people aren't allowed to do Facebook in here? Really? At least I could read my email and blog. Just wanted everyone who reads this to know that we are fine and loving the house.
We met two very nice neighbors yesterday, Ken and Tom. We had actually met Ken's wife Louann last Friday on our very first day in the house. They are directly next door. Tom is five doors down. Both seem great!
Today there will be chaos in the house as the crew brings in the 100+ boxes and crappy furniture. Sigh. Seems a shame to mess up the clean, empty house with all of our junk. LOL Still I'm looking forward to the bedroom furniture so we can sleep here tonight for the first time.
Got to get back before the crew shows up.
We met two very nice neighbors yesterday, Ken and Tom. We had actually met Ken's wife Louann last Friday on our very first day in the house. They are directly next door. Tom is five doors down. Both seem great!
Today there will be chaos in the house as the crew brings in the 100+ boxes and crappy furniture. Sigh. Seems a shame to mess up the clean, empty house with all of our junk. LOL Still I'm looking forward to the bedroom furniture so we can sleep here tonight for the first time.
Got to get back before the crew shows up.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Some chores; Some fun
This morning, after our usual delicious hotel buffet breakfast, we went to the house. Ooooo, we just can't get over the beauty of it. We also took both cars over and discovered that they sit side by side in the garage with room to spare. Nice.
We emptied all the stuff out of Mark's car, which included a lot of kitchen things. I spent about four hours cleaning cabinets and setting up things in the kitchen. It was fun deciding which cabinet would be meat, which dairy, which spices, etc. We also took our two plants, Treeful, the gigantic 20 year old philodendron, and Plant, a vine that my friend Marie gave me about four years ago. They made the trip to Florida like real troopers in the front seat of my car. Now they have a sunny, warm place of honor on the lanai. I also did three loads of laundry in our new washer/dryer. I love them! They are so convenient, right off the kitchen.
Our new phone is working in the house, and Mark was able to hook up our small TV and watch the basic cable channels that are included in our HOA fees. The High-Def, digital, and premium channels will get set up on Wednesday.
Around 2 p.m. we tried out one of the local Chinese restaurants. It was delicious, but their Hunan Chicken, although good, wasn't at all like any Hunan chicken in any other restaurant. I think I'll try something else next time. Mark had Ma Po Bean Curd, a dish we had never heard of before, but he liked it a lot.
After lunch, it was POURING down rain, but we read/napped on the outdoor lanai by the pool and waited for the storm to end. Once it did, we had a nice swim, soak in the hot tub, kosher hot dog dinner at the bar/restaurant, and some nice restful time sitting by the lake and watching the birds and squirrels. So peaceful, so beautiful.
The PODS arrive tomorrow. We hope that goes smoothly, just getting them through the guard's gate and parked in the driveway and street. The crew to unload will come Tuesday.
Life is good.
We emptied all the stuff out of Mark's car, which included a lot of kitchen things. I spent about four hours cleaning cabinets and setting up things in the kitchen. It was fun deciding which cabinet would be meat, which dairy, which spices, etc. We also took our two plants, Treeful, the gigantic 20 year old philodendron, and Plant, a vine that my friend Marie gave me about four years ago. They made the trip to Florida like real troopers in the front seat of my car. Now they have a sunny, warm place of honor on the lanai. I also did three loads of laundry in our new washer/dryer. I love them! They are so convenient, right off the kitchen.
Our new phone is working in the house, and Mark was able to hook up our small TV and watch the basic cable channels that are included in our HOA fees. The High-Def, digital, and premium channels will get set up on Wednesday.
Around 2 p.m. we tried out one of the local Chinese restaurants. It was delicious, but their Hunan Chicken, although good, wasn't at all like any Hunan chicken in any other restaurant. I think I'll try something else next time. Mark had Ma Po Bean Curd, a dish we had never heard of before, but he liked it a lot.
After lunch, it was POURING down rain, but we read/napped on the outdoor lanai by the pool and waited for the storm to end. Once it did, we had a nice swim, soak in the hot tub, kosher hot dog dinner at the bar/restaurant, and some nice restful time sitting by the lake and watching the birds and squirrels. So peaceful, so beautiful.
The PODS arrive tomorrow. We hope that goes smoothly, just getting them through the guard's gate and parked in the driveway and street. The crew to unload will come Tuesday.
Life is good.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Perfection
The settlement yesterday was extemely smooth. We never experienced anything like it back in Maryland where every time the buyers and sellers were in separate rooms, lawyers talked, deals were made, tears were shed, hours passed. It's better in Florida where the buyers and sellers were in the same room, coffee was poured, warm fresh-baked cookies were served, smiles and stories were shared, papers were signed, 50 minutes passed. We started at 9 a.m., then walked out with keys and handshakes at 9:50. Unbelievable.
After an hour or so of exploring the beautiful but empty house, we went to lunch at the Stonegate Grille, a restaurant in Solivita over at the Village Center. The blackened cod sandwich was delicious. We strolled across the street to the Membership office and met with the lady who gave us our orientation. This consisted of having a photo taken for our official Solivita Resident ID card that gives us access to all the facilities. We also got transponders for the cars in order to access the community from any of the four gated entry points. I also just love the garage door opener. I'll never tire of pushing that button and having it open and close. LOL And there's a motion sensitive light in there, too. I LOVE this house and this community.
We also got mail at our new house. Mailman Mike pulled up in his little jeep with a letter in his hands. I had just stepped out onto the driveway to bring in a few things from the car, when he called out, "Hi! Are you the Silversteins?" He had a birthday card for me from Leslie and Marc Gaertner, Evey's future in-laws. That was so cool that our first mail at the house was from them for my birthday and hand delivered my our new Mailman Mike. He was so nice. He explained things we wanted to know about mail delivery when we are away. It seems that we will have him regularly on our route and he will know when we are there or not and take care of things for us. So different than Laurel where the guy or girl, many different ones during the week, were listening to ipods or talking on a hands free phone the entire time and seemed completely clueless. We often got other people's mail and had to go deliver it ourselves.
Our electric and water were on when we got there, so that was good. Our phone will be turned on Monday and the premium cable channels will start Wednesday. There are FIVE cable outlets in the house. They are in the family room, both bedrooms, the lania, and the garage. Garage? That guy must have been obsessed with TV. There are also so many electrical sockets we are just amazed. Even in the garage there are a dozen outlets. It's going to be so much easier for Mark to set up all his gadgets in this house, far fewer extension cords.
After our orientation meeting, we went to Disney World for my special birthday dinner. Mark had selected the Trail's End Restaurant, a buffet at Ft. Wilderness, for several reasons. He and Evey had gone there last December and really enjoyed it. It had salmon and many vegetarian options. It also has the western theming Mark enjoys and a reasonable price. I really enjoyed it, but oh, boy, did I overeat! On the other hand, that was my intention when I walked in, so I completely fulfilled my objective! It was fabulous.
Today we plan to go to shul at Ohalei Rivkah, also called The Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation. We have been there twice before on vacation. It could become our new shul sooner or later. Afterward, we will spend the afternoon at our new pool, if it doesn't rain. Rain chances are considerably higher today than they have been, and afternoon thunderstorms are so typical for Florida in the summer.
Thanks to everyone who has posted Facebook messages or sent me emails or phoned me yesterday for my birthday. It was so heart-warming and loving. I surely did enjoy it.
I loved everything about yesterday. Mark and I are 100% convinced we have done the right thing. It feels right. It feels good. It will be hard to leave next Sunday, but meanwhile we will focus on being here and having fun and setting up the house. I can't wait to sleep in the house Tuesday night for the first time after our furniture arrives.
Friday, August 6, 2010
It's my big 6-0!!
So much is going to happen today, all GOOD. It is my sixtieth birthday. Years ago, 1983 to be exact, when my mother died of colon cancer that had already spread to the liver, I felt that I would not make it to sixty. She died at age 58 and her mother died of colon cancer spread to the pancreas at age 60. Back in 1983, at age 33, I felt I would never make it to 60.
Well, this is one time it's good to be wrong. Here I am celebrating my 60th birthday in Florida. At 9 a.m. we will sign the papers and own our dream home in Poinciana. We are both getting ready to go to breakfast now then head over to the title company, praying that there are not going to be any ugly surprises waiting for us over there. We feel burned by the nasty three hour settlement for our Laurel house, so now we really are just wanting to get this over with and get the keys. At 1 p.m. we have an orientation meeting to Solivita where we will get our resident IDs, info on guest passes, and probably a huge tome of covenants. Ha Ha! As long as they cut the grass, I'll do whatever they say!!!
Tonight Mark is taking me to dinner at the Trail's End buffet on the grounds of WDW at the Fort Wilderness Resort. Evey and Mark ate dinner there back in December when he went down to help her move out after her internship. They both loved it, so Mark wanted to treat me to that restaurant for my special birthday dinner. I told him that I did not intend to hold back on my food choices, but I will behave myself at breakfast and lunch so it won't be too awful. LOL I just want to enjoy myself all day.
If the paper work goes smoothly, I'll be changing my "current city" on Facebook next time I log onto the computer.
Thanks to all of you who have already sent me e-cards or Facebook greetings. Before 6:30 a.m. I had 7 greetings waiting for me! Technology is awesome.
Well, this is one time it's good to be wrong. Here I am celebrating my 60th birthday in Florida. At 9 a.m. we will sign the papers and own our dream home in Poinciana. We are both getting ready to go to breakfast now then head over to the title company, praying that there are not going to be any ugly surprises waiting for us over there. We feel burned by the nasty three hour settlement for our Laurel house, so now we really are just wanting to get this over with and get the keys. At 1 p.m. we have an orientation meeting to Solivita where we will get our resident IDs, info on guest passes, and probably a huge tome of covenants. Ha Ha! As long as they cut the grass, I'll do whatever they say!!!
Tonight Mark is taking me to dinner at the Trail's End buffet on the grounds of WDW at the Fort Wilderness Resort. Evey and Mark ate dinner there back in December when he went down to help her move out after her internship. They both loved it, so Mark wanted to treat me to that restaurant for my special birthday dinner. I told him that I did not intend to hold back on my food choices, but I will behave myself at breakfast and lunch so it won't be too awful. LOL I just want to enjoy myself all day.
If the paper work goes smoothly, I'll be changing my "current city" on Facebook next time I log onto the computer.
Thanks to all of you who have already sent me e-cards or Facebook greetings. Before 6:30 a.m. I had 7 greetings waiting for me! Technology is awesome.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Productive busy day
Today we jumped over many of Florida's hoops towards home ownership.
First, we had to show up in person with a house contract, photo ID, and a credit card to pay a year's home owner's insurance policy with Farm Bureau Insurance in order to get the proper paperwork to take to settlement tomorrow.
Second, we went in person to Toho Water Authority to set up a water account. They wanted a contract for the house, photo ID, social security card, and a $150 deposit, refundable after two years of paying the bill on time, but there will be water in the house tomorrow.
Third, Mark called Progress Electric and some time between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. the electric will come back on. We certainly hope for the earliest possible time.
Fourth, Mark called Verizon to set up a new land line phone for local calls only just so we can get delivery trucks through the guard house at Solivita. It will be effective tomorrow, but it took many phone calls to get that done.
Fifth, we went to the bank to wire money to the title company. Here they like the buyer to send the money the day BEFORE settlement. We had never wired money, so we didn't know that the bank stopped doing that two hours before closing, which was exactly, to the minute, when we arrived. Turns out the title company will take a cashier's check after all. Now I have a whopping big check made out to the title company in my purse.
Sixth, I got my eyes examined in order to pass the Florida driver's license eye exam next week. I thought I'd need new glasses, but it turned out my prescription had not changed. I only had to pay the price of the exam, which wasn't bad. I really liked the eye doctor, so I'll be his patient forever!
Seventh, we got excellent news from the title company about the settlement costs. Our agent had estimated them to be in the 4k to 5k range. Mark's research online had shown them to be more like 1k to 2k in Florida, so we were curious as to how ours would turn out and what they would be. We were in for a very pleasant shock. Our total costs over the actual price of the house, are you sitting down and holding on to something?, only $482.10. Unbelievable. When we finally got the email around 10 a.m. this morning, we actually called to be sure we didn't owe more. We just could not believe it. Very, very nice surprise.
The day started out a little rough with Mark and I getting frustrated and a bit testy with each other at breakfast. I was gloomy over my prognosis and took it out on him, I guess. Anyway we put all that aside later and the day went well.
I know it's really, really important to say positive, energized, focused, and stress-free in order to maximize my chances of a full and complete recovery. Unfortunately that is not as easy as it sounds.
I ate really, really WELL today! I'm proud of that and all the things we got done today.
At 9 a.m. tomorrow, barring anything unforseen, we will own a home in Florida. It has been our dream and our goal for a decade. It still is.
First, we had to show up in person with a house contract, photo ID, and a credit card to pay a year's home owner's insurance policy with Farm Bureau Insurance in order to get the proper paperwork to take to settlement tomorrow.
Second, we went in person to Toho Water Authority to set up a water account. They wanted a contract for the house, photo ID, social security card, and a $150 deposit, refundable after two years of paying the bill on time, but there will be water in the house tomorrow.
Third, Mark called Progress Electric and some time between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. the electric will come back on. We certainly hope for the earliest possible time.
Fourth, Mark called Verizon to set up a new land line phone for local calls only just so we can get delivery trucks through the guard house at Solivita. It will be effective tomorrow, but it took many phone calls to get that done.
Fifth, we went to the bank to wire money to the title company. Here they like the buyer to send the money the day BEFORE settlement. We had never wired money, so we didn't know that the bank stopped doing that two hours before closing, which was exactly, to the minute, when we arrived. Turns out the title company will take a cashier's check after all. Now I have a whopping big check made out to the title company in my purse.
Sixth, I got my eyes examined in order to pass the Florida driver's license eye exam next week. I thought I'd need new glasses, but it turned out my prescription had not changed. I only had to pay the price of the exam, which wasn't bad. I really liked the eye doctor, so I'll be his patient forever!
Seventh, we got excellent news from the title company about the settlement costs. Our agent had estimated them to be in the 4k to 5k range. Mark's research online had shown them to be more like 1k to 2k in Florida, so we were curious as to how ours would turn out and what they would be. We were in for a very pleasant shock. Our total costs over the actual price of the house, are you sitting down and holding on to something?, only $482.10. Unbelievable. When we finally got the email around 10 a.m. this morning, we actually called to be sure we didn't owe more. We just could not believe it. Very, very nice surprise.
The day started out a little rough with Mark and I getting frustrated and a bit testy with each other at breakfast. I was gloomy over my prognosis and took it out on him, I guess. Anyway we put all that aside later and the day went well.
I know it's really, really important to say positive, energized, focused, and stress-free in order to maximize my chances of a full and complete recovery. Unfortunately that is not as easy as it sounds.
I ate really, really WELL today! I'm proud of that and all the things we got done today.
At 9 a.m. tomorrow, barring anything unforseen, we will own a home in Florida. It has been our dream and our goal for a decade. It still is.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Finally in Kissimmee, but with disturbing thoughts.
We had an easy drive today from our usual motel area off I-95 in Savannah, GA into the Orlando area. We have checked into the Seralago Hotel and Suites in Kissimmee, very near to an entrance to Walt Disney World. It feels funny not actually being here on vacation and preparing to go into the parks!
It's been frustrating trying to set up the water, electric, home owner's insurance, and landline phone. We have an appointment tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the home owner's insurance. We have to come in with a contract and the full year's payment and do it all in person. Right after that we head to Toho Water. It's weird that water here is a private company. We have to show up in person with the house sales contract, a social security card, photo ID, and $150 deposit to get water for the house. In Maryland, since the water is a county service, it's magically handled through the title company at settlement. I think we got electric prepared to start sometime between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, the day of settlement. They wouldn't commit to any particular time. That seemed weird also. When Mark spoke to them, it seemed as if the electric is already off in the house. Bummer. It will get very hot and take awhile to cool back down. No luck on the phone yet at all. Down here we had to give our social security numbers to everybody so credit checks could be run to get water, electric, phone, and insurance. Does that mean that the usual homeowner down here is a really bad credit risk? We don't remember having to have credit checks run on us for those things in Maryland.
Still we are keeping positive and feel happy to be in the neighborhood.
The only other wrinkle so far is that we were to have an email of the HUD-1, which is the closing costs statement. Down here they want the entire costs wired 24 hours before settlement. In Maryland I can't believe a buyer would ever have to pay the day before settlement, but down here that's normal. So we have to go to the bank tomorrow to wire all the money. Problem is that we didn't get the HUD-1 tonight, despite the fact that the agent told me that by law I was entitled to it 48 hours before settlement. Well, they surely missed that deadline. Hopefully it will show up soon tomorrow otherwise we don't know how much money to send them.
Finally I had one more unsettling bit of knowledge added to my breast cancer case. I had read online that women with invasive lobular cancer have higher amounts of ovarian cancer, so I called my GYN to ask his opinion of having a pro-active hysterectomy. He had not been in the office when I went with the lump back in June, so he had not seen my file. He was STUNNED. I have been his patient for over 15 years, and he remembered just seeing me in April. He said, "But you had a normal mammogram in April." I said, yes. Then...he said something a bit disturbing. He said, well the one from two years ago said there was a mass but it was listed as benign and then this year it showed the mass was smaller and still benign. WHAT???? The little paper I got in the mail always just said normal. There was a MASS two YEARS ago???? No one told me??? And these mammograms were taken and read at the same radiology place as the recent ultrasound that also said benign lump, re-evaluate in six months. Are these radiologists crazy? Incompetent? Not LOOKING???? I'm appalled.
It's been frustrating trying to set up the water, electric, home owner's insurance, and landline phone. We have an appointment tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the home owner's insurance. We have to come in with a contract and the full year's payment and do it all in person. Right after that we head to Toho Water. It's weird that water here is a private company. We have to show up in person with the house sales contract, a social security card, photo ID, and $150 deposit to get water for the house. In Maryland, since the water is a county service, it's magically handled through the title company at settlement. I think we got electric prepared to start sometime between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, the day of settlement. They wouldn't commit to any particular time. That seemed weird also. When Mark spoke to them, it seemed as if the electric is already off in the house. Bummer. It will get very hot and take awhile to cool back down. No luck on the phone yet at all. Down here we had to give our social security numbers to everybody so credit checks could be run to get water, electric, phone, and insurance. Does that mean that the usual homeowner down here is a really bad credit risk? We don't remember having to have credit checks run on us for those things in Maryland.
Still we are keeping positive and feel happy to be in the neighborhood.
The only other wrinkle so far is that we were to have an email of the HUD-1, which is the closing costs statement. Down here they want the entire costs wired 24 hours before settlement. In Maryland I can't believe a buyer would ever have to pay the day before settlement, but down here that's normal. So we have to go to the bank tomorrow to wire all the money. Problem is that we didn't get the HUD-1 tonight, despite the fact that the agent told me that by law I was entitled to it 48 hours before settlement. Well, they surely missed that deadline. Hopefully it will show up soon tomorrow otherwise we don't know how much money to send them.
Finally I had one more unsettling bit of knowledge added to my breast cancer case. I had read online that women with invasive lobular cancer have higher amounts of ovarian cancer, so I called my GYN to ask his opinion of having a pro-active hysterectomy. He had not been in the office when I went with the lump back in June, so he had not seen my file. He was STUNNED. I have been his patient for over 15 years, and he remembered just seeing me in April. He said, "But you had a normal mammogram in April." I said, yes. Then...he said something a bit disturbing. He said, well the one from two years ago said there was a mass but it was listed as benign and then this year it showed the mass was smaller and still benign. WHAT???? The little paper I got in the mail always just said normal. There was a MASS two YEARS ago???? No one told me??? And these mammograms were taken and read at the same radiology place as the recent ultrasound that also said benign lump, re-evaluate in six months. Are these radiologists crazy? Incompetent? Not LOOKING???? I'm appalled.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Road Trip
We are having a good time on our trip to Florida. Sunday night at our friends Tom and Cathy's house was a lot of fun. Coincidentally, our mutual friend Shari and her boyfriend Steven had also planned to stop over. So the six of us had a delicious dinner at a Greensboro, NC Indian restaurant, lots of great conversation, and a fabulous home-cooked breakfast in their dining room yesterday morning. Bonus: They have two fabulous dogs, an elderly little one and a two year old crazy puppy. The puppy, aptly named Chewy, is part Australian Shepherd and part Australian Cattle Dog. He was sweet and cuddly, soft and fluffy. I loved playing with him.
Although I overate terribly at the restaurant and the breakfast, I did have one "skinny" moment. Cathy had bought a pair of 2X Just My Size pants, black cargo capris with a zipper, button, and drawstring, very cute. They did not fit her and still had the tags on. She offered them to me, but when I saw them I figured they would not fit because JMS 2x clearly said 18-20. All my pants with zippers (which is a recent thing for me anyway!) are size 22. So I told her they wouldn't fit. She insisted I try them on, and MIRACULOUSLY they fit perfectly!! I KNOW I have not lost weight, on the contrary, but maybe these pants were cut big or my weight has been redistributed (LOL), but they really fit well. I was very proud to wear my size 18-20 pants to dinner that night and again the next night in Myrtle Beach!
With promises to return, we bid a fond farewell to Tom and Cathy and drove to Myrtle Beach to visit my brother Mark and his wife Carol. I was embarrassed that Mark has lived here so long, but we had never visited. On the other hand his previous wife, who died unexpectedly a number of years ago, was not especially friendly to the family. He met his new wife Carol not long after he became a widower. They have been together a few years, but they are newlyweds since they just got married on March 2 of this year. They are SO happy together. We felt so much love in their house last night.
Mark (my brother that is) has been drunk for years and has recently sobered up. The family is very proud of him for that, so it was fun to be around him again. They took us out to dinner at Bonefish Grille, a restaurant I had been wanting my Mark to try. It was delicious. Then they drove us to the beach. Their house is about four blocks right to the ocean. Amazing. Carol parked right by the beach, and we strolled out in the dark, kicked off our shoes, walked on the soft sand right out into the warm water. Fireworks were being set off in the distance to our left and to our right. It was very dark, overcast, no moon, no stars, but warm and magical. Wow!
Of course, I won't even tell you what I ate at the restaurant. Very naughty. Today is Tuesday, weigh-in day, but the scale is buried in the car and inaccessible. I guess I might be able to drag it out if I tried, but I'm not trying. OY! I am fearing that moment when I have to step on it. I did get on the scale Sunday morning back in Laurel, and I weighed 217. I just hope I'm not going over 220 on this trip.
Today we are going out to breakfast (HA! another opportunity to overeat) with one of Mark's former co-workers who now lives in Myrtle Beach. That should be fun. Then we are taking a leisurely drive south to Savannah, GA for our next stop-over. Wednesday we will be in Orlando.
The settlement on the house is proceeding smoothly. I spoke to our agent yesterday, and it looks like it's going to be first thing in the morning on Friday, August 6 so we can have the rest of the day to enjoy being homeowners in Florida.
Although I overate terribly at the restaurant and the breakfast, I did have one "skinny" moment. Cathy had bought a pair of 2X Just My Size pants, black cargo capris with a zipper, button, and drawstring, very cute. They did not fit her and still had the tags on. She offered them to me, but when I saw them I figured they would not fit because JMS 2x clearly said 18-20. All my pants with zippers (which is a recent thing for me anyway!) are size 22. So I told her they wouldn't fit. She insisted I try them on, and MIRACULOUSLY they fit perfectly!! I KNOW I have not lost weight, on the contrary, but maybe these pants were cut big or my weight has been redistributed (LOL), but they really fit well. I was very proud to wear my size 18-20 pants to dinner that night and again the next night in Myrtle Beach!
With promises to return, we bid a fond farewell to Tom and Cathy and drove to Myrtle Beach to visit my brother Mark and his wife Carol. I was embarrassed that Mark has lived here so long, but we had never visited. On the other hand his previous wife, who died unexpectedly a number of years ago, was not especially friendly to the family. He met his new wife Carol not long after he became a widower. They have been together a few years, but they are newlyweds since they just got married on March 2 of this year. They are SO happy together. We felt so much love in their house last night.
Mark (my brother that is) has been drunk for years and has recently sobered up. The family is very proud of him for that, so it was fun to be around him again. They took us out to dinner at Bonefish Grille, a restaurant I had been wanting my Mark to try. It was delicious. Then they drove us to the beach. Their house is about four blocks right to the ocean. Amazing. Carol parked right by the beach, and we strolled out in the dark, kicked off our shoes, walked on the soft sand right out into the warm water. Fireworks were being set off in the distance to our left and to our right. It was very dark, overcast, no moon, no stars, but warm and magical. Wow!
Of course, I won't even tell you what I ate at the restaurant. Very naughty. Today is Tuesday, weigh-in day, but the scale is buried in the car and inaccessible. I guess I might be able to drag it out if I tried, but I'm not trying. OY! I am fearing that moment when I have to step on it. I did get on the scale Sunday morning back in Laurel, and I weighed 217. I just hope I'm not going over 220 on this trip.
Today we are going out to breakfast (HA! another opportunity to overeat) with one of Mark's former co-workers who now lives in Myrtle Beach. That should be fun. Then we are taking a leisurely drive south to Savannah, GA for our next stop-over. Wednesday we will be in Orlando.
The settlement on the house is proceeding smoothly. I spoke to our agent yesterday, and it looks like it's going to be first thing in the morning on Friday, August 6 so we can have the rest of the day to enjoy being homeowners in Florida.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Wagon Train South
Today we head south with two cars packed tightly. We are beginning our new life as Florida retirees. Two cars will be hard because Mark doesn't like to drive and usually he keeps me amused and awake while I drive, so we decided to break the normal two day trip into four. Our goal today is to drive about 300 miles to Greensboro, NC to visit some friends, Tom and Cathy. They retired and moved to their dream home a few years ago, and we have missed them. Tonight we will stay with them and enjoy some Indian food in one of their new favorite restaurants. Fun.
Last night we had a BLAST at the home of Jeff and Sara, along with our good friends Saul, Phyllis, and Frank. Sara made a spectacular dinner of veggie egg rolls, tossed salad, smoked turkey, broccoli, and homemade coleslaw. Spectacular. There was fresh fruit and a little chocolate cake for dessert. The wine was free-flowing. Hm...Hm...Good! Thanks guys for hosting and providing a marvelous night of carefree conversation.
We also went to our synagogue for the last time as Maryland residents yesterday morning. It was bittersweet. Lots of people came because they knew we were leaving today. It should have been a somewhat sad farewell with lots of good wishes for our future happiness in Florida. However, it was tinged with sadness for the future I face with breast cancer. We are going to Florida to buy the new house and have a few days to set it up before turning around to drive up here again for treatment. We'll be driving back up here in just two weeks time.
But I am not going to talk about it anymore for two weeks! (Well, with the possible exception of tonight at Tom and Cathy's and the next night at my brother's house in Myrtle Beach.) Mark and I are going to talk only happy talk about Florida! We are going to focus all our energies on getting to the new house, getting Florida driver's licenses so we can buy Florida resident Walt Disney World annual passes, getting our new Florida license plates for the cars, and trying to enjoy some time as Floridians. I think we can do it. We are very excited and happy this morning to start this new chapter of our lives. We have talked about it and planned for it literally for nearly 10 years. This is THE DAY! Let's do it.
Last night we had a BLAST at the home of Jeff and Sara, along with our good friends Saul, Phyllis, and Frank. Sara made a spectacular dinner of veggie egg rolls, tossed salad, smoked turkey, broccoli, and homemade coleslaw. Spectacular. There was fresh fruit and a little chocolate cake for dessert. The wine was free-flowing. Hm...Hm...Good! Thanks guys for hosting and providing a marvelous night of carefree conversation.
We also went to our synagogue for the last time as Maryland residents yesterday morning. It was bittersweet. Lots of people came because they knew we were leaving today. It should have been a somewhat sad farewell with lots of good wishes for our future happiness in Florida. However, it was tinged with sadness for the future I face with breast cancer. We are going to Florida to buy the new house and have a few days to set it up before turning around to drive up here again for treatment. We'll be driving back up here in just two weeks time.
But I am not going to talk about it anymore for two weeks! (Well, with the possible exception of tonight at Tom and Cathy's and the next night at my brother's house in Myrtle Beach.) Mark and I are going to talk only happy talk about Florida! We are going to focus all our energies on getting to the new house, getting Florida driver's licenses so we can buy Florida resident Walt Disney World annual passes, getting our new Florida license plates for the cars, and trying to enjoy some time as Floridians. I think we can do it. We are very excited and happy this morning to start this new chapter of our lives. We have talked about it and planned for it literally for nearly 10 years. This is THE DAY! Let's do it.
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