Best gift ever

I might need a haircut, or at least a good color job :)
Notice my pink crocs.  Great for bike riding.x

Bird House

May 30th  The definition of inactivity....Sitting on the porch with a hat on and a bird lands on it  :)  Cannot get any more stationary than that.  hahaha.  Maybe I better ride my bike more.

Thank You

May 20th I'm not sure that I have been expressing my gratitude and love lately for my friends and family.  I think it's been a while since I have told everyone how much I love them.  I will never be able to repay all that has been done for me over the last 7 months.  Maybe my answer for this disease is that it has put life in perspective.  Not because of the things that have been given to me, which is so overwhelming I'll never be able to explain, but because of the love that I have seen by so many.  The love that is given is not all due to me I'm sure.  It's due to the kind hearts of those around me.  If anyone ever thinks that our world has gone to hell then take a look around my small but magnificent group.  Why God has been so generous as to put these people in my life I will never know.  I know that I will try for the rest of my life to repay them.

Animal Planet

May 20th  You realize just how boring your life has become when you find yourself setting on your deck and you are truly interested in a toad that is eating ants.  I must have watched this fat toad for about 1/2 hour before I realized what I was doing.  Did I mention that the last nice day we had I was mesmerized by a little snake.  Oh well, it's a beautiful day and any reason to be sitting in the sun.  Really only 1/2 of me is in the sun.  The other half looks like I'm going on an expedition to the Artic :)  Okay, maybe not quite that bad but it feels like it.   I do have a couple of tomato plants that I need to get in the ground.  It's hard for me to dig up the soil however due to my arm situation.  Sounds like another chore to add to the "Dan" list.  I'm sure he's going to be SO happy when I'm released and back to work. 
The radiation is definitely not as bad as chemo.  It is having it's challenges though.  My radiologist told me that I am a strange creature.  Hmmm, good or bad??  My left side resembles a case of measles with a horrific sunburn.  The doctor feels that I have had an allergic reaction to the radiation.  No surprises here.  She's been trying several different cremes and I'm confident that one of them will work.  Favor to ask, is anyone available to braid the hair in my left armpit.  It's becoming a little unruly.  Maybe a ponytail holder?  hahaha  

Changing

May 12th  I think it's hit me.  Dr Price had told me that being tired was a huge part of radiation and you know what......she was right.  The hot flashes have become more of a large burn instead of a flash so sleeping has become non existent.   My biggest complained however, is that I'm so hot on the inside that it's hard for me to sit outside and let the sun warm me on the out side.  The sun, it's been what I have been yearning for all winter and spring and now it's here.  It's not the same looking at it from inside the house as it is being outside and feeling it on my face and skin.  I just don't understand why with all the advancements in medicine that they haven't come up with some type of medication for hot flashes.  Dr Whitaker told me I may not really even be in menopause right now.  It could just still be the effects of chemo.  He has done a blood test to let me know.  Do I still have menopause to look forward to after this?  Wow, if this isn't the change then does it get worse?  I think it's unfair that I could have had a few years before the change started but because of cancer...well, if I am in the middle of the change I can't wait to see what I might change into.  Maybe a 30 year old model???? Hmmm, the change might not be so bad :)

Daytime Activities

May 11th  When does it happen?  When do you start planning your day around your doctor visits.  I remember when my grandmother did this and then I remember when my parents started doing it.  What I want to know however is, when did I start doing it :)  Today I had an MRI and then radiation.   My test was scheduled for 7am.  Yuck.  I don't sleep well at night and I'm usually awake around 3:00 and then go back to sleep around 5:00.  So at 6:30 when I look at the clock and it said 6:30 I had to jump out of bed and literally just get dressed and leave.  Luckily, the people at the hospital don't care if you come there with makeup.  Of course, still no hair which is really nice when I'm in a hurry. 
My days are pretty much uneventful right now.  I take a nap, sit outside (thank goodness for the warm weather and sunshine), watch a lot of TV.  Television is the worst during the day.  I refuse to watch soap operas or Maury.  Not a lot else on.  I have started not eating a lot during the day.  It's hard to be hungry when you exert no energy.  I eat mostly just to be eating.  Anyone that knows me knows how I love to eat.  I surely cannot miss a meal.  The hard thing for me is to eat well not just sweets.  Even during chemo I could eat sweets.  Too bad not a lot of nutritional value, only fat content.  So, I guess the writings on the wall, all fat intake and no exercise....I'll need to go on a diet by the time I go back to work.  hahaha.  I've always said that I'm the healthiest cancer patient you'll meet.
I want to remind everyone that I have not forgotten what a wonderful family I have and the most wonderful group of friends.  Thank you all for everything.  You are all in my thoughts everyday.

Quiet Time

May 2nd  This is beginning my 2nd week of radiation.  I see the doctor every Monday, I guess just to be sure everything is going as expected.   I seem to be a little "sunburned" but not too bad.  I was out in the sun this weekend, well Saturday, but I have to stay covered up. 
My sister left yesterday to go back home.  She's has been with me for about a month.  The house seems awfully quiet now.  Just me and ole Hank again.  I feel like I winding down now and things have sorta quieted for me.  I sleep quite a bit during the day but not a lot of illness other than headaches.  I would like to buy a bicycle.  I think I need to get exercise, at least a little.  I tried walking but my feet just won't allow it yet.  I think if I could ride a bike, maybe to the end of the road and back, it may help to give me a little energy.  I'm not sure if I went back to work right now, that I would have the energy to walk from the parking lot up to the 3rd floor.   Maybe I should get a scooter :)