Forgot to tell you that our CFR fundraiser was a huge success. Plus it was a pretty dang good party. A couple weeks before our event the landlord at our office (the party was in the atrium of our building) tore out the fountain. Bad timing. But we filled the hole with pink and purple balloons and the pink kayak floated on top - pretty dang cute. No own in the Brehm family won the kayak, darn, but the guy at Emotion Kayaks has offered to help me get one later. whoohoo. Thanks to all who bought raffle tickets and auction items and helped out.

Snow!

Not a lot of it, but I came out of a meeting yesterday, and little flakes were floating past the window! Not that I should be that surprise I guess, because it has been coldy coldy here all week.

Sorry I didn't post an update all week, I gave myself permission not to carry my lap top home all week, but also would not allow myself to blog during the hours that I was at the office, so it was a conundrum!

Last week was a low energy week, that's for sure. Saturday we had big rain, and I was surprised when I went out to do some errands that although it was pouring it was 76 degrees, very odd. I got some stuff done in spite of the rain, and Bert and I went to friends Saturday night to celebrate my friend Jorge's birthday. We stayed out until midnight, I was amazed. Jorge left Sunday for the conference in Seattle that we have always gone to each year, it felt funny that I was not going too. The conference I use as an excuse to conveniently be in Seattle the week before Thanksgiving....darn!

But the next morning, the temperature had already dropped 20 degrees from the day before, and the wind was really blowing, not very nice at all. So between it being icky, and low get-up-and-go, I slept almost all day. Bert did a couple errands, and was nice enough to just leave me on the sofa. Monday went to the doctors and tried to get rid of the #$%#^^&@ drain, but no such luck. It is still with me, and no sign of relief. Tuesday I got up, got ready for work, but wore myself out having breakfast (now you know that is bad) so had to take a nap! The fact that it was 34 outside didn't make me move any faster. Did finally make it to the office about 11, and then the rest of the week I was able to work a full schedule, and even went to the movies with friends Trish and Jen. Feel pretty good this morning.
Bert was up and out early today (at 27 degrees!) to go to the International Fly tying show in New Jersey (he didn't even ask if I wanted to go along!) so I am getting a few things done, and then our friends Heather and Bethany are arriving from Seattle, and going to take me out to dinner.
We put our final details in place for our Thanksgiving this week. I think it will be nice, but I can't help thinking that at some point it may hit home that we won't be seeing all of you this week. I will take pictures of our trip for my next post. Hope everyone has cozy plans of their own!

Rainy day and chemo

For all you in the West, we are getting your rain again. On my way to the lab today, it was raining like crazy! And two hours later, no sign of it even slowing down.

But I guess that is perfect weather for sitting here in the special chair while the icky stuff runs in. Hoping to finish my infusion in a record 5 hours today, so I can be on my way to our big fund raiser tonight. Assuming I have the energy to go that is.

So, had a good busy week. Last Thursday I flew to San Francisco and stayed overnight with my folks. Then the next morning Mom and I drove to Cal Maritime and attended a conference for women in the maritime. Saw alot of women that I have either worked with or went to school with, or worked for me! So it was fun, as well as educational, and everyone was so impressed at our Mother/Daughter team. Mom and I stayed up in Vallejo overnight so that we could hang longer with the ladies, and it meant we got to sleep in the next morning, too.

The only bummer of the whole week was that my hair started coming out Saturday morning, so I left a little bit of me all up and down the West Coast.

Saturday night we stayed in Orinda again, and Dad took us out for a nice dinner at the local Japanese restaurant. No sushi, dang, since it is not approved for chemo patients, but great Tempura.

Up and on the road early to fly to Las Vegas were it was cool and raining. Who knew that it got cool and/or rained there! I always remember when we were there for Dee and Kendra's wedding and it was so hot that Kelly and I didn't want to get out of the pool, and almost missed the wedding completely!!

My members that I was in Vegas to work with drove me out to Boulder City, which is such an interesting little town with interesting history, and we worked all day at their office on Lake Mead. I stayed at their home, and they spoiled me with a great dinner and relaxation. Worked again Monday morning at their office, and was back at the airport by 2 PM, which was good cause the place was a mad house. But, had a nice easy non-stop home with a whole row to myself on the plane.

Good to be back in the saddle, that's for sure.

Tuesday I went to see my surgeon, and as feared, she put the surgical drain back it. Ick! But, she didn't give me any restrictions, and didn't take away my driving privileges, so I am not complaining too much about it. Yesterday, I found this awesome guy that is a wig maker/hair stylist. So he has washed trimmed and styled my wigs for me, and I am good to go there. He even showed me how we can style "Red" into an updo for Michal's wedding. He says he will style it, put it in a box, and then I can put it on after my dress is on and makeup is done. Kinda makes the rest of you women jealous doesn't it? OK, maybe not, but it makes me laugh to think of bringing my hair in a box!

Our CFR fundraiser is tonight. Hope the rain doesn't scare off our guests. Cross your fingers for us that we don't spend more than we raise!

Election Day!

Well, I spent all day at work today, and don't feel like I did my civic duty! I had to withdraw from being an election judge, but ended up not doing anything today. I guess the fact that Bert will end up working from 5:30 this morning until about 11 tonight, and their polling place had about 300 people in line all day gives me the ability to claim a proxy on my duty! I got up this morning and made sure that Bert had lots to eat and drink and some goodies from the bakery to keep him going, and then headed to work. Had to go to the doctors today and got chastized when I went. Too much fluid retention, and it looks like when I get back from my trip I am going on this weekend, she will be putting a drain back into my chest. Blah! She also expanded the implant by another 2 ounces, so now you can start to see what my new 'profile' will look like...sorry, no photos!

Last week was not my best. I went back to work on Monday of last week, but by the end of Tuesday was not feeling too hot, and by Wednesday ended up staying home and taking pain pills and anti-nausea pills again and sleeping for a couple days. Don't know if this is a sign of how my chemo rounds will go or not. Funny that you feel low 6 days after they pump in the bad stuff.

By Friday, I was up and feeling good. Traveled to Annapolis to visit with a team of government guys working on a investigative report, so had a good meeting. Annapolis is such a great place, I love to visit there. Friday night we went out with a couple friends in Alexandria for dinner, and should have been suspicious when I found a great parking spot down in Old Town. After we had a nice dinner, walked back to my car to find out I had parked in the middle of "Halloween in Old Town". Right in the middle! A couple thousand families and their kids, dogs, you name it were trick or treating up and down the street. It was actually pretty cool, with the homeowners taking their huge bowls of candy (you can only guess how much candy was given out) and sitting on their stoops while the ghosts and goblins walked by. Jen and I ended up hanging out for an hour looking at the costumes, the decorations on the houses, listening to some live music and watching the fun before we could get the car out.

Saturday I went to a Halloween party, very briefly. Thanks to the girls in Portland that gave me the cat ears in my box of goodies, I put together a quick costume that was not too shabby! Didn't stay long, but it was nice to go out and be social.

Sunday morning, off again to try for the kayak. This time the pass off went off with out a hitch, and we were headed down the road with a pink boat on top of the car. Bert had the great idea to put the boat on display until the auction next week, and so, Orvis Clarendon is nicely hosting our kayak (and hopefully selling raffle tickets). Dang it looks good.

Well, still at work, but it is time to go home and watch the election coverage. All those big surprises for my state (not!) Bet Maryland goes blue again. Tomorrow, I hope, we will know who won. Go Blue!