catching up at work

As soon as I got back from Memphis, I decided to go visit a member in Pittsburgh. Bert and I drove over on Monday morning the 20th. I met with the boat operators while Bert explored. Its kind of a funny city, all steep hills and houses on those hills. We did find a old brewery with great German food, which we always consider a gold mine any time we find that! Nothing like a good dish of red cabbage. After dinner, we rode one of the Inclines that the city is famous for, which takes you from the river up the hillside where a community is. We stood out on the observation deck, QUICKLY enjoying the view of the city. Had to be quick because it was 22 degrees out with a nice brisk wind, and it was COLD! No sign of spring over there, either, no bulbs, no leaves.

Drove back the "long way" detouring thru Johnstown, PA and made a quick stop at the museum of the Johnstown flood. Very interersting, but we weren't sure why anyone wants to live there in the first place, let alone rebuild it after such a massive flood kind of a gritty industrial place. But, it wasn't a very good day to judge, being cold and gray and still very much winter there. We were glad to cross back into Maryland and Virginia where it is warmer and spring is definitely on the way.

Cherry blossom festival started on Saturday, but so far the stars of the show have not appeared. The Park ranger says the tidal basin will begin to bloom today, and we are expecting warm weather this week, so check out the time lapse photographs at the washington post to see the blossoms. We are going down there this week, after it warms up!

In between all this, I have been taking calls like crazy from members, getting set up to start my radiation, and trying to buy a house. The members are all squared away (for now) the radiation started today, and it looks like we will own a small house by Friday. I go every morning at 7 am to the hospital for my radiation, and today was easy and painfree, so other than not being able to travel anywhere, it should be OK.

Now, if we could only be done with the anticoagulent (sp?) medication, which I appear to be resistant to because it is not working as predicted. But, again, thats still better than chemo!

Ready for warm weather, and everyone is invited to bring a hammer and a wrench and come visit while we remodel. I know EVERYONE will be signing up for that!

Busy Week

I continue to feel better each week, and better again since my last post. Not much progress on the feet, dang it, but the big event last week was that on Friday I had my medi-port removed! Was I glad to see the last of that clot-causing nasty thing. My surgeon removed it with just a local anasthetic, so we were chatting while she was working away, and when she pulled it out she says, hey, I think there is a clot in it! Duh, was my response! I was a bit sore after the surgery, but so glad to be done with that thing.

Then, we enjoyed a beautiful weekend and actually got out on a short outing. Bert, Rachel and I went and had lunch in Georgetown and saw a stone house built in 1750. Then we toured a beautiful garden on the hill in Georgetown owned by Harvard. It was a little too early, garden just coming into spring with some crocus and other bulbs, but still beautiful, and amazing to find a big chunk of garden in such a dense part of the city.

I was pooped when we got home, but it was sure nice to be out in the sunshine, it was in the 70's.

Monday I flew to Memphis TN for a conference. My co-w0rkers were there too, but it was mostly a tug and barge conference, so we were pretty much bored. We did go out and have Memphis barbeque and hear some blues, and we did a drive-by of Graceland, so that was fun. United airlines arranged not to have my luggage arrive with me (2 days later) boo!

We are still going back and forth on our house offer. Technically it has been accepted, but we are going back and forth over a sewage inspection which we are insisting on (Duh again). Meanwhile, Bert is planning his garage, and visiting the county office to talk about building permits. We should have a firm acceptance by Monday. I have never seen a real estate deal take so long! Amazing. Our seller lives in Pennsylvania, and doesn't use fax machines or FedEx.

Today, we are off to see Impressionist art at the National Gallery. Sunny like last weekend, but only 35 today instead of 75! two weeks until Cherry Blossom Festival, so hope it warms up by then.

Here it is March!

Two weeks past my last chemo, and things keep slowly getting better. Each day seems to be a little better; feeling the feet a little more, hands not so numb, and a little more energy.

Bert and I traveled to NYC this Monday. Nice trip up on the train, which sure beats driving. It was cold up there, but we had a nice walk around Mid town and Times Square Monday, and then had a cozy dinner. Then I went to a CG meeting Tuesday with all of the boat operators in NY while Bert went to museums. I have a VERY interesting group of members up there, so this annual meeting is always interesting. New York is certainly different than Seattle!

We made an offer on a little house on Sunday before we left town. Are still waiting to hear if our offer was accepted, but our realtor yesterday said it looks, unofficially, like they are going to accept it. It looks cute from the outside doesn't it?? Well, it is junkie inside, and we will be ripping out the kitchen and bathroom first thing. It is tiny, smaller than our apartment we live in, thats for sure. If you ever saw our house in Cle Elum, same genre!

It is showing signs of turning to spring around here, temperatures might hit the 70's this weekend. I am getting out and enjoying it, thats for sure. Cherry Blossoms won't be far away. Hope spring is coming for everyone. You Northwesterners especially must be getting sick of weather by now!

Maybe too early to say, but starting to feel better

Its been a hell of a week, but I think tonight, I am starting to feel like I might get over these chemo effects.

It all started on the 3 day weekend. My arm went numb, and my hand swelled up. So, off to the doctor AGAIN, and they determine that I have a clot in my vein, under my clavicle, that is causing the problems. My cousin Marianne arrived just in time to share the experience with me. So, after a 5 hour visit to the ER, I am now on anti-coagulents, that I have to inject myself with every evening. Of all the things I have been thru, somehow injecting myself is the worst!!!

But in spite of that, I went on Wednesday, the 23rd, and got my last Chemo!!! Glad to see the last of that place, thats for sure. I felt ok on Thursday and Friday, managed to have a nice evening out with Rachel and Marianne, dinner and the movies. Friday night Marianne made a nice dinner at home for all of us. Saturday we headed off to my favorite breakfast place, Cracker Barrel. But old Mr. Chemo managed to wreck that, as I started to feel crummy, didn't even finish my hash brown casserole! Those that have been to Cracker Barrel will understand the crime that this truly is! Marianne and Bert enjoyed a nice drive, and a visit to see some houses we wanted to visit, while I was crashed in the back seat. sunday, my birthday, was spent in bed. Bless Rachel for being such a helper, taking Marianne sightseeing and shopping. I got up at 2, back to bed shortly after. Today I managed to drag myself to work, but wasn't until this
evening that I actually feel better, and I have high hopes for tomorrow!!

Now maybe I can start growing some hair, and getting back to normal! Thanks to all for the cards, flowers and birthday wishes. they helped me get thru the lousy weekend.

Another Friday rolls around

And we are excited that it is a 3 day weekend!

I know I haven't posted anything for a while, but I hate to post whiny "I don't feel good" posts all the time! The good news is that there is only 1 more Taxol treatment, next Wednesday. The bad news is, just as I start to feel better, it makes me feel crummy again. I have really reached a low energy level, and I have less 'good' feeling days than I do 'bad' feeling days. And the lack of feeling in my feet and ankles, and now swelling in my hands and wrists is so tiresome! Oh, and maybe just a little depression? Ok, so almost done, anyway!

We have been getting out a couple times and looked for houses. We have had much better luck in Maryland, and actually tried to put an offer on a house last Saturday, but someone else beat us to it. We are trying to balance price vs. commute time, but looks like commute time will win the battle, and we will end up a little farther out than we had hoped. But, there are trade offs in that we can get closer to some recreational activities on the water, so that would be really nice. I figure it will be like the Sammamish house, the long commute is ok if the relaxation is worth it when you get home. But, we are excited to find that there are homes in our price range, which gives us some options.

Weather has been crazy here. the first Saturday we went out house hunting in MD it was a huge storm: raining, lightening, thunder, flooded roads. Then, cold all last week, below freezing, with bright sunny days and then Saturday night we got 14 inches of snow! I was feeling crappy, so never went outside in it, but by the time I went back to work on Wednesday, it was up to 50 outside, and by Thursday it was 67 degrees when I drove home. Crazy place! Now today it is going to cool down, and the weekend is supposed to be freezing again!

Off to Maryland tomorrow. Hope everyone enjoys a nice 3 day weekend, and we wish we were with Mary and Howard and Megan, who called last night to rub it in from their lanai in Hawaii where they were all sitting in the sun and sipping cold drinks! wouldn't that be nice!

TGIF!

It a beautiful day, 67 degrees outside, and I escaped work early! Too bad it won't last for the weekend.

Long week since last posting. That nurse I told you about, who said it wouldn't be as bad the second time, she is a big fat LIAR! The Taxol kicked it with its nasty little tricks Saturday night, and gave me no piece until Tuesday night. I crawled into bed Sunday after we went out and did a little house hunting, emerged briefly Monday for a presentation I had to give at a conference, and then back to my nest until Tuesday night. Awful. I don't read or write or do anything productive. Today the ultimate insult, most of my eyelashes fell out! The good news is, I scheduled the last 2 treatments, one next week and the last one on the 22nd of Feb.

But, I was better by Wednesday, and good enough last night to go out to dinner with Rachel and do a little shopping. Today we walked 2 WHOLE blocks for lunch.

So, back to the house hunting. We went Sunday and looked at a couple condos in Alexandria, in anticipation of moving our office in March. The location was great, south of town on the Potomac, with the George Washington Parkway and bike trail only blocks away, but they sure want a lot of money for not much square footage, so we didn't get too excited. Tomorrow we are going to foray into the wilds of Maryland, where homes and taxes are both much lower, and see if we can find anything we like without an unbearable commute. Wish us luck.

We are having fun with Rachel here. Well, Rachel and I are having fun anyway. Bert is disgusted with our tv watching "project runway" and "Dancing with the Stars". He comes in, sits down, and stands up and walks out in disgust! Its really funny when we go look at houses, the realtors ALL ask "are you staying at home while you finish school"! Thats better than the day a woman in a store offered her a part time job until she gets out of high school! Michael arrived safe and sound in Seattle, after driving across country, and has rented a nice apartment for he and Rachel in Green Lake, so eventually she will leave us.

We are excited for the big game on Sunday. Go Seahawks! Sorry everyone on the West Coast is going to spend another rainy weekend. It must be getting really old by now!

I have been a bad little blogger!

How could 3 weeks have gone by without a post! Weird how that happens, and just when you guys were getting really good about reading my blog. I promise to do better.

Right after my last post, Michal's friend Jason came to stay with us for a few days, so they were busy seeing the sights, and watching college bowls. It was fun to have him here with us, and we see more of Michal, since she doesn't have her face pressed to the cell phone all the time when Jason is here. Unfortunately, they both had to go home on the 8th. Sorry to see Michal go home, as always, but it was extra nice to have such a nice long visit this time. And that night, Rachel and Michael took me to see Wicked at the Kennedy Center, and that was really fun, so I didn't sit and miss my Mikie!

On the 10th, I got my first dose of a new round of chemo called Taxol, and by Friday night, it started to kick my ass! We were out to dinner with a friend when my leg and foot muscles started twitching and cramping and going crazy! By Saturday night, add numb feet and hands, and I was not a happy camper. Luckily it had started to subside by Monday morning when Bert and I had to get on the plane to Seattle. We almost didn't go, but I was glad we made to decision to tough it out, and stopped at my doctors office on the way for a prescription for pain meds, so that helped alot, and I was able to get some sleep that night for the first time in 4 days. By Tuesday, it was pretty much over, and my coworkers made sure I took it easy and stayed off my feet as much as possible during the convention, so it worked out. I was tired and ready to fly home by this Tuesday though, I tell you! Got to see a lot of folks, but not everyone, and sorry we didn't get around better than we did. Nice to see Bert's folks, who came all the way up from Portland just for dinner.

Rested up on Wednesday, so that they could hit me with the next dose of Taxol yesterday. The nurse, however, predicts that it will not be as bad as last week. In the famous words of Jim Carrey, "we'll just see about that, won't we"!

The convention took tons of time before we left for Seattle, but our work load here at the office should drop to normal now that that is over, and I will have more time to keep my blog up.
And, only 2 more chemo doses to go. We are in the home stretch! My doctor calls it the "aren't we done yet" stretch.

Another busy week ushers in 2006

The holidays themselves are quiet, but in between, we seem to go, go, go!

We all enjoyed a quiet, rainy Christmas at home. We all enjoyed good presents, and Bert made us a great dinner. The next day, we picked Ann Marie up early at the airport, and she stayed the next 3 days with us. We saw the Holiday displays at the Capitol and the National Botanical Garden, we saw the bonsai trees at the National Arboretum, we spent one day at the American Indian museum, we went to the movies and we did a little shopping/exchanging. Packed a lot in 3 days, and dropped her off again early the morning of the 29th back at the airport! And, we would have done more, but it was pretty cold for sightseeing. On the 29th, Rachel had arranged for us to visit the White House and see the holiday decorations. My first visit inside the White House, and it was very nice! I really enjoyed it. We met a very nice secret service man who knew tons about the house, and was thrilled to talk to us about our questions, so that was great. He was a Washington state native, of course! We came away with new ideas for our christmas tree next year, because our favorite tree was the one covered with white lights and fresh white lilies! Very nice, and smells good too. Friday Rachel and I got off work early, so we found a little time to look at wedding and bridesmaid dresses. Still haven't found "the one"! New Years Eve, the kids went out to a party, but Bert and I enjoyed a nice dinner and quiet evening at home. We deserved it after the busy week! Cleaned up the house, and put the christmas decorations away. Isn't it true that we love to decorate for the holidays, but the house never feels as clean and tidy as when the decorations get put away! Sunday we went up to stay at a lodge in the West Virginia mountains to go sledding. Too bad when we got there the snow wasn't thick enough to sled! then it started raining Monday morning, to add insult to injury, but we had a nice getaway, and a short hike in the rain to see the waterfalls the park is named for. It was just like a hike in the Northwest!

Merry Christmas!

Well, here it is Christmas Eve already. The presents are wrapped, the apartment is pretty much clean after weeks of having paper and ribbon scattered about.
We enjoyed a quiet Christmas Eve, I finished up the shopping this morning while Bert started into baking for Christmas dinner. Then we met the kids, as Rachel and Michael were so nice to pick Michal up from her very late (or early, depends on how you look at 3 am) flight in Baltimore. We joined up down at the river to watch Santa waterskiing on the Potomac. After weeks of freezing weather, today was a beautiful 55 degree sunny day. Still not warm enough for waterskiing in DC, but it was fun to watch, even if very silly! Rachel was so smart to bring a picnic, and while everyone else fought traffic, snarling and honking in a very un-Christmas like manner, we sat in the sun and enjoyed a picnic lunch in the park! Then we watch the Seahawks whoop up on the Colts, and then enjoyed a nice dinner out at our favorite steak house. A lovely Christmas Eve, all in all. The only thing missing is all of our friends and family! Hope you are all having as nice and cozy a holiday as we!

December 21st

Pay day and chemo day! Guess the good comes with the bad....finished my last round of A/C drugs today, uneventfully. Feeling good, other than those same annoying side effects. Now its my fingers, tips are kinda numb and full of little ouchies. No big deal, but this dang cold weather doesn't help. Woke up to 20 degress this morning, no wonder everyone is complaining of dry skin, not just me.

Monday night Rachel and Michael came over, and helped us rearrange the apartment. Beginning to make room for Rae to move in when Michael heads off to Seattle in January. And we put our nice little Christmas tree up, but now I can feel it staring at me, waiting for ornaments! It has lights, and our little glass raindrops that remind us we are still Northwesterners at heart!

Last night we went to the movies, and as always happen in movies, the snow started falling right on Christmas Eve, and it was beautiful and snowy on Christmas day. Well, life ain't the movies is it, cause we are scheduled to warm to 50 degrees on Saturday and have rain on Christmas. Doesnt seem fair, after we have had one of the coldest Decembers on record here in No. Virginia. Oh well, Michal will arrive EARLY Saturday morning (1:30 am!) and Michael and Rachel will be here, so let it rain! We will all be cozy and warm here by the fire, all together, and I suppose I will get the tree decorated by then!

Friday December 16th

Another week gone by, and we are having an eventful Friday night (not), so seems like a good time to blog.

Michals friend Lisa sent me a nice new hat to keep my head warm, which arrived just in time for our 15 degree day.

Last Saturday, we stayed home all day, and then went so far as a movie Saturday night, and then Bert made me pancakes for dinner! Yummie on my sometimes particular tummy. Sunday Rachel, Katy, Meghan and I went wedding dress shopping. What a work out some of those dresses are! We ruled out all the dresses that are too heavy to lift off the rack, and all dresses where the train was longer than Rachel is tall~ that still leaves many many more dresses to sort through before any kind of decision is made. Then a big night of pizza, beer, football and West Wing at Rachel's house. Wow, do we know how to show Meghan a good time when she comes to town!

Had a quiet week, mostly because I am having a new side effect, sore feet!
By Monday my feet hurt really bad, and by Wednesday, I finally broke down and made a Dr. appt. But, with snow on Thursday, I finally went today, and the nurse told me not much for it but to suffer through it, and in 30 days or so, it will be fine. Thanks for nothing! She did prescibe that I put ice on the bottoms, and tonight they actually feel much better. Not ice, actually, but frozen vegetables! Bert says best use for lima beans!

Today was our staff holiday lunch. John took us all to downtown DC, and invited our significant others, and we had a very nice lunch and ate way too much, which is really why we are home doing nothing tonight. We had lobster and oysters and shrimp and that was just the appetizer. Everyone was there (we are such a big staff at 6!), so it was very nice.

Tommorrow, I am going to a day spa for a full massage! Looking forward to that.

December 8th

Knocked out the 3rd chemo round yesterday, so home today being lazy, and actually feel so good I am feeling guilty I am not doing more.

Berts and my 26th wedding anniversary today, so we snuck out tonight and had a quiet celebration at our local restaurant when Bert got home from work. The little 21 year old waitress told us we must have been high school sweethearts- ha, course it got her a big tip!

Spent Monday and Tuesday up in Boston, visiting ferry operators and Coast Guard. It was cold there, but they did not get the predicted snow so I was happy to get home earlier than expected on Tuesday night. Have to go back to Boston some time when I am not busy working, and see all the sights, especially Salem.

Snow here tonight, coming down pretty good after false warnings all week. No commute tomorrow, have to stay home again, so let it snow! Just so we can get to the airport tomorrow night and pick up Meghan, who is coming from Atlanta for the weekend!

December 4th

A whole week went by, and and got lots done this week, but none of it was blogging! A busy work week and busy weekend getting ready for Christmas. Even went out to dinner with friends Friday night. Today we went to our favorite Christmas event here in the DC area, the holiday sing along at WolfTrap Park. The Marine Corps band plays, and Bert, Rachel and I all sing really loudly and really badly! Oh, and ring bells during Jingle Bells. Bert always makes hot buttered rum, and Rachel got holiday cookies, but it was cold!! No snow, but felt like it could. Snow forecast for tomorrow.
I am off to Boston for two days, and then scheduled for chemo This Wednesday (round 3).

Had my blood work and Dr. check up last Friday. All was great, Anne says I am making this look really easy. Worst thing I had to report was heartburn. Which seems important when it was going on, trust me!
What do you think of the new hair?

Thanksgiving

A great Thanksgiving celebration was had by all as you can see! Bert's sister Mary and her husband Ron joined us, and of course our Mikie was home for the celebration. Only one missing was Michael, who spent the holiday with his family in Connecticut, but we were lucky enough to keep Rachel home with us. We had a great day of feasting, Bert did a fabulous job of cooking, and I had a big nap while all the work was going on.

After dinner we went to the movies. A great day over all.

Tuesday, 22 November

Dr. check up today went great. Results from the CBC (full panel of blood tests) looks great. No problem with white blood cells, no depressed immunity. Thats good since everyone else around me seems to have a cold! Got a flu shot today, too. Dr. said if I had an easy time with the nausea the first time, it shouldn't get much worse. So, I am ready for the next round of chemo tomorrow!

Friday November 18th

What a busy week. Or maybe it just feels that way since it was the first week I think I have work five full work days. Not a single doctors office, no going home early. Amazing how great it is to feel normal. Plus, the work week was demanding and busy, didn't feel like anyone was keeping work from me, to be certain I didn't "over do" it!

Went out last night to movie and dinner with my friend Trisha. Saw Prime, don't bother. It was funny that it was only 2 of us in the theatre, so we could gab whenever we wanted. Then went out after the movie with other friends for cocktails and stayed out til midnight! Ain't I something!

Getting ready for Turkey Day! Only 5 days till Michal arrives!

wednesday, cold Weather 11/16

OK, so in spite of Rachels lessons on how to Blog, you can see I am having trouble getting the hang of it. Tried to change the heading on my entry, and ended up posting only the headings! I will have to get a second lesson from Rae.

Finally, Wednesday, winter arrived in Northern Virginia. When I left for work today, it was 75. When I got home, it was raining to beat the band, and 40 degrees. Felt so good I went back to my volunteer group tonight, and helped pack 2200 backpacks for local school kids. The city figures that for many of these kids, the book inside is the only book that these kids own! Pretty amazing in a county where the average home price is something like $800K. The project was fun, and its nice to be busy and normal. Beth's Blog

one week since first medically approved poisoning

Beth's Blog

Beth's Blog

Tuesday, November 15th

Feeling great today.

I get a shot 24 hours after each chemo dose, to make me produce white blood cells. They gave me a 15 minute, I think, description of all the side effects, and how my bones would be all achy and sore on Sunday and Monday. Made it thru both days without a twinge. My only complaint today is the hot flashes caused by the medications, and since it is 75 degrees, in spite of being the middle of November, I keep complaining that the apartment is too dang hot!

First Chemo Treatment!

Mom had her first chemo treatment on Wednesday morning. She had to be at the hospital at 9am and didn't leave until 1pm! They fed her soda and crackers and let her listen to Harriet the Ipod, and she stayed warm under the nice blanket knitted by Joanna. All of the nurses were jealous of the beautiful handknitted blanket!

She spent the last two days feeling a little tired but mostly good. She's taken a lot of naps and a lot of drugs to counteract any nausea or sickiness.

Dad and Rachel and Michael are taking great care of her!

Thanks for all the cards and notes - its great to have all your support!