The Venetian Affair

So it took me a while to stumble on this book. Finding books is sort of like working through a maze. You are always on the look out but sometimes the clues to good books or the direction sends you down another path. This book seems like an obvious candidate for my Pre-Venice reading but it is so so good. A great love story written by the lovers themselves from letters gathered from many parts the world. It is not really complete though because many of the letters of Andrea and Guistianna Wynn are still missing but there is hope they are in an attic somewhere.

Very interesting to read from such private letters during a time we think of as stuffy. Guistianna becomes a writer and this passage from one of her books was interesting. I thought as I read it that I am glad we live now. It must have been awful to think your life was done at 23.




Laugh heartily, charming and innocent youth! The age of smiling will soon be upon you. That will be followed in turn by the years of the expertly contrived smile: an air of peace and serenity will often hide the truly agitated state of your soul. And in your old age, when the book of passions is over, it will be too late even to smile. Your face will have lost all of that soft elasticity that allowed your expressions to change with so much ease. The Scissor of Time will have deepened those furrows drawn by the passions of your life: they will have become wrinkles that will never be erased. So what purpose could an awkward smile possibly have? It would only suggest ridiculous claims. An air of thoughtfulness and kindness will be all you really need. That is the natural order of things in the revolution that takes place on the face of a woman.
Guistiana Wynn 1786

Trying to Figure Out Life

Someone came to me with a big problem. Lots of bad decisions leading to a bad result. It is so hard not being able to always be able to help others. I take on too much sometimes and then I feel defeated by life. I have to let it go. Mom always says that certain things have to be our of our WORRY ZONE. I wish I had a better grasp on where the

WORRY ZONE

was located.

I think to make matters worse, there seems to be changing and moving lines to the ZONE. I believe the ZONE is not a place but rather a rapidly moving amoebae. Not only does it have not healthy and well defined boundaries but it also the ability to cut part of itself off and stay behind and then rejoin the main body. Sort of like the organic, cold pressed, first run, virgin, free range, no BST olive oil in the pasta pot. Little blobs head off on their own and come back at will.

Having a child with Lhokemia creates lots of little side blobs. Sometimes you notice them, other times you don't. They are there and attract attention when least expected.

Is she tired because she is watching to many episodes of Friends or is it her Liver? Are her little bruises really from Volley Ball or are they a sign of relapse? Why are so many kids at St. Joe's coughing? Did influenza A really mutate into another form that she can catch? Will her numbers be good enough to really go to Venice? Who keeps messing up my house? When will NCIS come out on DVD? Where are my good hand clippers? Who will win the NCAA Pool? .....................

AnnaBelle Handbags.

Here are the new ones. My great orange one is on it's way back to have it's handles repaired.
Don't you just love local businesses that make good......

Miss Marion is 25% of the way to her Goal

Thanks to everyone that sent money to Ms. Marion. She asks Mary-Elizabeth if she knows Vickie, Mime, Clair........ It makes M-E smile.

The Volleyball team won both times this week-end. M-E played and has a dynamite serve. Two games this week-end. Volleyball was a good way to get M-E headed back to normal.

Something New Every Day

We have a park around the corner that the whole neighborhood came together and built. It took a few years but it is now finished. It is a nice neighborhood spot. M-E was able to be involved in several aspects of the project. She was so sick when they did the tiles that she does not remember which one is hers but knows it is there. We have some money left over and Carol (the person that probably did the most work) wants a peace pole.

She sent out the site and it is the link of the moment. I think it is something anyone could do and is a wonderful idea. We may have to make one for our yard. These might be a great thing for lots of people.

The summer is coming together. M-E is going to camp with the girls ( we hope Laura can come). She and Whitney are going to Camp Good Times in Post Falls Idaho, I am taking the girls to Walla Walla for the Bar Convention. I am sure they will have a good time with the other kids. And I have to set the date for the Beauty Way ceremony. As soon as it is set, I will let everyone know. I like that ceremony has been translated to Beauty.

Dinner and a Movie

A little Italian a cheezie movie with funny moments (Failure to Launch) some great conversation with Maggie and Dr. Tracy. I even slept in this morning. That was a great feeling.

Here are some spring moments. We must grab them when we can.

Mary Has Been to Chinle

About a week ago I boxed up Mary and sent her to the Medicine Man in Chinle. She was part of a three hours Protection Way ( Ceremony) Her various notes were examined and read. Her amulets examined and she was blessed with special smoke and dusted with sacred Pollen. Chants and Songs were conducted and the Medicine Man will do a Blessing Way ( Three day) ceremony this summer. M-E's picture has been attached and Mary is on her way home.

Merchant of Venice

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I had seen the Merchant of Venice. I am watching all movies made in Venice, about Venice, all books about Venice, written by Venitians, you get the picture. I am Venice, but back to my point.

There was a monologue by Shylock ( The money lender). He is asked why he wants a pound of flesh if Antonio does not make good on his loan. I was not as much amazed by the speech but more about the writer. To think that this was written in the 16th century is pretty remarkable. We have struggled for centuries with the ever present issues of prejudice and intolerance. Maybe we need to give ourselves a break when instant progress is not made and try harders. Maybe I should not be so critical of George Bush.......NOT. So addressing the issue of intolerance:


Salerio: Why, I am sure if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh. What's that good for?

Shylock:

To bait fish withal. If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.

He hath disgraced me and hind'red me half a million,

laughted at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation,

thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies- and

what's his reason.

I AM A JEW.

Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? --fed with same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same disease, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is?

If you prick us, do we not bleed?
If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
If you poison us, do we not die?

And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resembled you in that.

If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong of Jew, what should his sufferance be but by a Christian example?

Why revenge! The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better than my instruction.

The world is truly coming to an end.

Jessica Simpson is in Washington D.C. and is lobbying for a charity and this is News.

My NCAA bracket is still number one after day One. ( Could it be that my dad filled it out?)

Belle has been made Chief of Psychiatry in Chinle.

Archbishops all over America have had to give out dispensation so the Irish can eat meat.

I am thinking about doing all my Laundry this week-end.

Prenisone is making both M-E and me crazy. ( That is not earth shattering).

Beware the Ides of March

I was on the computer last night and M-E picked up Julius Cesar and started to read it. She found the language to be a bit difficult at first but then it began to flow a bit better. She did not get very far but I think these kids could benefit from some Shakespeare.

Each month has an "Ides". It is the 15th. I guess our mantra is "Beware the 13th of August". We all have such days. They are the days that certain life changing events occurred. As our "Ides" slips by each month I say an extra prayer. I don't ever want to ignore that date. I don't want to be silly enough to assume that there will not be more of them in the future. Days where the news alters reality forever. I don't want to slip back into the complacency that gives us all an unending future.

It is always a struggle to know that we must plan and prepare for the future but then know that there might not be a future but then need to prepare for the future. Hummmmm maybe that is a problem I can not solve.

I found a Venetian Mirror

It was only 4900.00. I have decided that it should not be in my Venetian Room. I have been looking at the sort of things we might find in Venice. I guess it goes without saying that the irony that all of the very fine things in
Venice are fragile and beautiful and elusive. I think that says it all about M-E's current state of remission. It is a thing of beauty but one bad throw by a luggage handler and it is shattered. It has to be protected and wrapped carefully and placed on a special shelf. The problem is that if it does not see the light of day and have some sunshine hit its surfaces, the world never sees the beauty that it holds.

I guess it is better to enjoy while we can and not lock it up.

Thoughts and worries

"Daylight will peep through a very small hole."

I found that saying today and I should have tatooed it on my forearm in preparation for a test. Each time I think we are out of the fog and heading to clear skys and warm days, a hook comes a pulls me back around to the world of confusion and concern and worry.

I guess the day started with Dana Reves dying. What is that poor 13 year old boy going to do, both parents dead in less than a year? Then I trot down, (trot might be a bit overstating it) to the Make-A-Wish office. Great place. Happy people, lots of fun things to look at on the walls, lots of new toys to give to the children. I dropped off a quilt for their auction this week-end. If they raise a bit of money I won't worry about the cost of M-E's wish. I saw the pictures and realized that I knew some of the kids and some had since died.

See, in my tiny little mind if we made it to the "Wish" we would be home free. We would be able to sail on past any other scary or tricky stuff with great aplomb. My worries would be over. I am so silly some times. It just yanked me into dispair so fast. She looks great, there are not many bumps in the road but the big
R

is alive an living over my head.

I need to find some happy pills. It will be alright in the morning. I always wakeup on the positive side of the bed but sometimes the other side is so so scary.

Progress

M-E is registered at Holy Names. Big steps. Some decisions. I have become an over protective parent. Proud of my daughter's accomplishments but cognizant of the issues she still has to deal with, one being pressure. They had her ready to go to both Honors English and Honor Algerbra. I would have been tickled pink about that two years ago. She has worked so hard and done so well but she has another calendar year left of treatment if we are lucky. As much as it feels like it is over, it is not, yet.

We are adding some things back in slowly bit by bit. I said no to the Honors English for this next year at least and yes to the Algerbra. Once she gets settled in school she can take on more challenges.

She will be taking Spanish for real for the first time and all the other, World Cultures, Biology etc. It will be a full and busy year. She is already worried about the home work.

I reminded her that she should take care of today. Maybe it seemed like too much when she had to think about some major projects due for this month in 8th grade. She agreed.

Cook Books

I love them. I buy them. I read them. I pack them up. I never use them. I have discovered they can be useful. I will be needing them these next 40 days.

I gave up take-out and fast food for Lent. I am going to cook. I am going to take that next step back to real life. I know how, I kind of excel in fact. I guess I have to just do it. It did occur to me that I don't need to make up a new recipe every time I cook dinner. I could follow one for once. What a concept.

I find that the hardest part of the cooking thing is deciding what to have. So I have decided. Tonight we are having Pecan Crusted Chicken, asparagus and baked Sweet Potatoes or Garnet Yams. I think I can pull dinner together without going to the store. I just love that.

I might actually look in the cook books and do some planning. What a novel idea! Maybe I could bring some order to my kitchen. Oh, maybe I need to go find a new cookbook and buy a new stove and maybe go to
Whole Foods for new spices and find one of those terracotta cookers with a cone and a hole in the top. I need my knives shapened and a new apron and perhaps a blender............... See maybe giving up take-out and fast food was not such a grand idea.

Leukemia, Leukemia, Leukemia

Yes I do know how to spell it. I have been working on the blog. Boy, can I tell when I did not have a spell checker.

I had a bit of a scare today with the L word. M-E showed me her fore arms and they were covered with little bruises. Peticii (SP) like. Those are very very bad juju in the Lookemia world. You never ever, ever, never,ever want to see those. While I was waiting to talk with the nurse, I printed a months worth of early blogs. I am going to finish editing the hundreds of pages ( double spaced and 14 point type) and see if anyone but those near and dear to me want to read it.

I began to spell check on month and it picked up lots of mistakes and other anomalies but each and every time, no matter how I spelled Luekemia. It picked it up and spelled it correctly. Now this is a spell checker that had to taught the word BLOG. Go figure.

Back to the Blog..... I am so glad that I wrote when I did. I don't remember half of the words on those pages. It is like once I put it on paper, it was released.

Well time to walk the dog and try and help M-E up the stairs. She had her first Volley Ball practice and her quads are not happy with her.

Projects Come to Completion

Here is the project the kids did. It is coming to a bus shelter near you. Each child is holding the project they worked on.

Hope is The Thing with Feathers

Ms Willett has been working on Poetry with the 8th graders. I remember those painful painful classes as a teacher. I had learned to love poetry from such a teacher and but getting past that resistance is a challenge. I always find it ironic that children who raised with lots and lots of nusery rhymes, rhyming music/jinggles and play ground chants are so afraid of poetry when they face it on the written paper. It scares them for some reason. I have no fear that Ms. Willett is up for the challenge.

I loved that when M-E was working on the poetry, she was reading it outloud. It so needs to have voice and not remain in someone's mind. She was looking at some Emily Dickinson poems and I was helping her find some from the books we have at home and found one that I thought had a special message for me.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sing the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

As we travel through Lent and as Mary-Elizabeth continues to remain in remission, I am so greatful for the presence of hope.

Our Venetian Home

This is where we are staying in a couple of months. Yes we are excited. This is east of the train station in a very residential area of Venice. It is close to the Ghetto. I guess since I really bonded with Merchant of Venice it is only appropriate.

I am very excited about the laundry facilities. That is the best part.

This is becoming more and more real every day. We have made it to this trip.

All is quiet in Venice

With Ash Wednesday coming up. It might be interesting to watch the Venice Cam right now. Things should be hopping


Just click on the title and you will be swept away.

I just finished watching Merchant of Venice. Very interesting. How have I missed this play? How have I failed to hear the Shylock speech. As soon as I find a full copy, I will post it here. I will have to dig out my book of plays. I am also starting Bleak House. I guess we are doing a short course in the classics.

But they are classics for a reason.

Holy Names Won the Recruiting Wars

Click on the Title of this Blog and you will be taken to the Holy Names Web site. The video is really cool.................

We had a talk last night. My dad told her that it is
never good to settle for less but help other strive
for more.

I also pointed out that there were lots of
kids that had no choice and it was not fair to hold
two spots and in her heart she knew where she
belonged.

We filled out the paper work last night and will be at Holy Names on the 5th for registration.

She has always been a very introspective child. This
process was not easy for her. She felt that being
true to herself made her disloyal to people that she
loves.

When she went to bed she asked if there was
any going back and I told her the decision was made
and we move forward to make it the best decision ever.
I love that she is thoughtful.

She was pleased with her shirt that announced she was a member of the Class of 2010 and her call reminding her of the Ice Cream Social on Monday.

We were
already going to the Social on Monday.
Here we go. It won't be
easy for her because of everything that has happened
but she will thrive and grow and be such a wonderful
young women when she graduates.

We are iced in. No one is moving in our neighborhood. We are having a snow morning.

Now The School Thing is Getting Really Really Interesting

Okay now who do you believe. We sat down with the directory to see who was going where. It is obvious that Prep has a million spots and is the favorite. Most say they were accepted there. I think there are lots of wait listed hopefuls.

Now I did some checking and if you are wait listed that is a good thing. They think you are a good fit but they do not have space. I was figuring waitlisting was equivalent to
"Maybe you can have a pony" I learned that they only wait list those they are interested in having at school.

We have learned that the kids are less than the best reporters. I asked the kids for a report and from what they knew most of the class was headed to Prep. Now prep takes about 100 or so and 30 or more of them were from St. Joseph's. I was surpized to see some the future "Prepsters" at the Holy Names ice cream social. I asked one mom and she pointed out that it did not matter where her daughter thought she was going, tuition was only being paid to Holy Names.

So the slots are now getting released and the kids will be coming off the wait lists. I am not sure when they send out the next set of letters but it should be in a couple of weeks. Lots of people are waiting for the Lakeside, Bush U-Prep decisions. I guess this part of it still goes one.

M-E is still undecided. She has to think about it and worry about it and wonder a bit more.

Mom, I don't think the Leukemia has sunk in.

Where did that come from? I did not know what to say. Here we are in month a zillion. She has had 2.8 million doses of chemo and been poked a few thousand time. I have administered gallons of hydration and flushed more lines than toilets. I have counted out a few guthousand pills and put on enough emla cream for a face lift and ME is still wondering about the Leukemia. I guess I am not the only one in denial.

Maybe that is how we get through theses things. Our mind goes onto automatic and we simply do what needs to be done, near term. As I think about it, I should not be surprised. It has not been about the overall process but a treatment, by treatment mode. We have not discussed long term effects of the treatment or really long term prognosis. It has been very day to day. Little bites of the apple. Maybe after so much and so long and now that things are sort of quiet, she is starting to think about what it means to be a Cancer kid.

I guess on some level I am in the same boat. I don't think I have ever spelled Leukemia in this blog. I know in my mind I certainly don't like the Cancer title. She does not have Cancer she has Lukemia.

I too have focused on the moment. I have been afraid to consider a future. It took all of my courage to make reservations at Palisaides for this year. I have even thought it might be time to make reservations at Toyota's Sushi for the ITS FINALLY OVER party. We are so close to only having a year left.

I think this whole high school thing is starting a whole "looking toward the future" process. She is so so stressed. She is freaked. She is worried about all of her friends and how the final decisions are going to affect everyone's lives. She is worried about high school and all the new type of pressure. We all know she is ready but she is not so sure.

Maybe the title of this entry should be :I CANNOT BELIEVE SHE IS ALMOST READY FOR HIGHSCHOOL.

Message from a hurting Mother. ( Not Me)

I mentioned the other day that I had been reading some other blogs. As we have been away from the hospital more and more I have had less contact with the usual gang of people that we have meet. I have looking to see if any of my cohorts have similar blogs. I get caught in reading them sometimes and they often do not have happy endings.

I found one that was about a very little girl name Rose. She was diagnosed with AML ( Not what M-E has) and did not make it more than 45 days post transplant. I have not read it all but she had died on the day I found the blog. February 13 of this year. She had been diagnosed on Friday the 13th of May. ( See why I might relate).

As we all know, I am terrified of a relapse. Let me tell you when you relapse post transplant it is not a good thing. I will go and read it some day. I am afraid to read it all right now. Reading it, I realized how hopeless it feels to read about events in people's lives and not be able to change anything. I do find bits of wisdom in the writing.

They had a service for Rose and at the service the Mom was able to read the following from an Ancient Korean Chant

Everything lost is found again
In a new form, in a new way.
Everything hurt is healed again
In a new life, In a new day.

I thought the words were so simple. I think it says it all.

Admissions

Well what a strange journey. I guess I should know that nothing is easy. ME will not commit until she knows all the variables, like Who is going where, will they be able to be together.

Whitney is huge in this equation. She is such a part of M-E's support system. I think she might just need her permission to go to Holy Names if Whitney was not accepted. While I know that this choice is not just about being happy, it is a huge element.

The problem with this process is that with kids that are waitlisted, there is still a possibility that each child will have more choices. There are a number of kids that have more than one choice. When they release one of the slots the choice goes to someone else. I was silly to think that February 18th would be decision day.

I just finished a book I found on Saturday. ADMISSIONS by Nancy Leiberman. I am going to give it to the school tomorrow. I think it should be mandatory reading for all 7th and 8th Grade parents. It is so funny but so telling. The following is the first paragraph.

The Tuesday after Labor Day marked the official start of admission season, the Manhattan parents' version of a blood sport. The ferocity with which Wall Street traders worked the floor, mergers-and-acquisition's lawyers closed their deals, magazine editors staked their claims on a hot new trend, the ladies who lunched jockeyed for positions at the fall shows couldn't hold a candle to the intense competition between familys to secure that most coveted of accessories: a space for their child in the school of their choice.

It is a funny book. The person who wrote it had to have had the experience. I realized that I really need to back off and let M-E take the lead. I was told that she had not made her decision yet and realized that this is her decision. I told her she had to at least let me tell her what I see as the strengths and the weaknesses of both. We shall see. Whitney comes home on Tuesday.

Well the Results are In but the Decision is not Made

Mary-Elizabeth was accepted to Holy Names and Blanchett. We received the BIG envelopes yesterday. We had gone to look at new flooring and Mom wanted to be dropped off and we saw the mail truck. We watched as the mail man made his route. I could see the big envelopes tucked in his arm and I knew where they were headed.

Having gone through this process in my own life. I knew the big envelopes = Welcome. Little ones mean, sorry or maybe.

Big relief for about 2 minutes. Quick call to Sister Mary-Annette. Realized everyone but this family is on vacation. No one is home!!!!!!!!!!

When she first received the letters she said: I have always seen myself as someone that goes to Holy Names. I am certain that is where she will go in the end but at this age friends are a big part of this equation. She and Whitney are very close. We don't know where she has been accepted because they are on vacation and no one will let me go and take their mail out of the slot. I have a key to the house, know the code and could find the key. I just guess we will be waiting.

Mom and the Basement

She wants to touch my stuff. Put or throw away my Christmas Treasures. Oh, Well that is what Moms are for. We are working on finding new flooring. I am leaning toward the brightly colored linoleums and highly colored bamboo. I find little enthusiasm for my ideas on kitchen flooring. My brother David suggested I was simply ruining the house in every way and that orange linoleum would not make any difference. The damage has been done.

Oh, well. I see no reason to not put down lots of fun colors.

Keep Me out of Other People's Blogs

I was looking around in blog world. It is not good for me to read other parent's blogs.

Not everyone has a great result. We are battling ALL. That is such a good thing. I will quit whinning about the long treatment. At least we have treatments that are affective.

A bit of snow. It will slow me down but not stop us.

Balancing Act

Her numbers are good by doctor's standards. Her liver is getting unhappy which makes me unhappy but is not unhappy enough to make the chemo change so that her liver is happy but then the doctors are unhappy because her numbers are not where it makes them happy.

Well Happy Valentines Day.

13 Months more. Seems like an eternity but then we have traveled on this road for 17 months.

It is almost time to start planning THE END party. I am just not brave enought to do that yet.

Ms. Marion Needs Help

http://www.active.com/donate/tntwaak/tntwaakkMarion1

Mary Elizabeth -"Don't forget to relax and enjoy yourself and those around you."

Kathy Marion's Team in Training

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.
I am once again taking on a triathlon challenge. This time I have increased the endurance level as I will be participating in a half- Ironman this coming June. However, the operative word here is HALF.
I am calling this event my swan song for triathlons. No matter how hard I try and the positive self-talk I give myself, I am still unable to find the zen experience with swimming. This year, like last year, I am dedicating all my training in memory of Joseph Boyle and for the inspiration and courage of Mary Elizabeth, a current 8th grade student of mine.
The team’s honor patient is the daughter of my mentor who was diagnosed two years ago at three.
As we gather for morning or evening practices all decked out in layers to keep us warm, I begin to ask myself, “Isn’t there an easier way for me to help this cause?” I don’t like cold, let alone cold and foggy and worst of all, the Seattle winter archetype of cold foggy rain. Yes, there is an easier way, I could write my own personal check for the cause which would be a drop in the bucket to assist with the research to find a cure for a disease that impacts so many people. Thus, if I say yes to the insane practice schedule and seek out sponsors, I can put even more into the bucket.
This year I have one lofty goal. Even though I am required to raise at least $3,000, I would like to raise $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Why such a huge amount you might ask. Simply, it is my way of saying “Thanks” to the gift of Mary Elizabeth’s courage and smile these past two years. I want this swan song event to be my ultimate gift to the society in Mary Elizabeth’s name as she graduates with honors this coming June.
Any amount LARGE or small will be greatly appreciated as well as your moral and prayerful support. I know with all avenues of support, this lofty goal can be reached.
Thanks a million! Kathy Marion
TOTAL DONATIONS COLLECTED: $1,025
GOAL: $10,000

Titanium $1,000
Platinum $500
Gold $250
Silver $100
Bronze $50
Elite $25
Other:


©Copyright 2005. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.All rights reserved.

Methotrexate Tuesday

I report to those that ask that M-E has chemo every night. I think about what she takes and it is sort of mind boggling. It has become old hat in a way but then the worry is always there lurking like dry rot or carpenter ants.

She takes her chemo at night. I think it is to keep away the bad side affects. These are the type of drug that if you forget a night dose you don't take them in the morning.

On Monday nights she takes oral methotrexate. We have finally found one that does not give her hives so she is back on track with that one. We were going to have to do shots or IV's that would have been bad. The thing is it really really wipes her out. She went to bed and to sleep by 8:15 last night and can not get out of bed this morning. I will try again in about 45 minutes. Sometimes she can make it and other times she cannot.

We shall see. It is so hard to be in this part of the treatment because in so many ways we are done. We are over the really bad stuff but looking at a year more of treatment. She looks great but there are small cracks that remain. I still can not relax and let go.

Oh, well. We are were we are.

I found that you don't need to plant primroses. You can just set them in the pots and all is good.

I finally Got IT

Just as they were about to toss the coin I switched to the station that was going to be showing the Seahawks game. I saw the 70,000 people, the lights the officials and I realized that this was a big moment for these people and this team and this city.

We watched for a few minutes and then went out for Chinese food. The city was abandoned. I now know what it will be like when the bomb hits. I also discovered that it is very hard to listen to a game when you don't know the names of any of the players.

Oh well. Next year.

The List

Fill the Bird Feeders
Cut the tree so it can go to be recycled.
Laundry
Recycle the cardboard outside
Take down some Christmas Lights
Put out Slug Bait and pull easy weeds ( I have the wrong kind of Slug Bait but I tried so I think it should count.
Go to Greenwood Hardware and buy Ringers Restorer and fertilize the lawn
Laundry
Purge the Fridge of Scary items that used to be food.
Buy groceries ( pick up some primroses)
Continue to read March
Laundry

See I have good intentions.

Colored ones are done.

Broadway Dinners

We went to dinner last night on the spur of the moment on Broadway. We drove around and tried to find a parking space and ended up under the Broadway garage. It has been forever and day that I had taken M-E to her birth place.

It was an interesting trip. We ended up eating at the Broadway Grill. We may only live 4.5 miles from Broadway but it is certainly a different world. One that I loved before I moved to Ballard and bought a station wagon. (Automatic of course.)

We entered and were seated in the back under the OH MY GOD COULD WE GET A BIGGER CHANDLER and the palm like trees ( alive). The room is dark and cozy and so much better now that the smokers are out in the streets. We ordered. Sweet Potato Frie just because, salads, M-E choose crab stuffed shrimp and I had the lobster macaroni and cheese.
I also had the rare glass of wine. I found my wait person ill informed as to the proper pairing for Sweet Potato Fries but then...........

In the same room were a number of people. The newly out lesbian and her shocked Midwest parents. She was trying to explain all the wonders of Capital Hill, the parade, the fanatic devotion to Halloween, the plethora of tattoo Parlors and the shopping, where else could you buy dog collar accessories and organic miso and High fructose Corn Sweening free bread int in the same building! They were smiling and saying things like "I see." "Oh how interesting", "Oh how nice" 24 places to be pierced, I never knew". For those of you that have not lived in the Midwest the proper translation would be:

Oh my God, get me out of here...
I can never face my bowling group again.....
I should have let her date when she was in high school, what would have been wrong if she married a tractor salesman.....
When will this end, oou.... Those boys are holding hands and kissing..... I am going to die, and then my friends will know.
I know I have to accepting like Ellen's Mom, I know I have to accepting like Ellen's Mom,,, ooh, we are not in Kansas anymore. Could someone bring another of those pink drinks..........

Then there was the girl with her best "friend". They clearly loved each other and had a great relationship. She was enamored but when he took out the chapstick and smacked his lips I hoped she noticed. Their relationship will never go beyond the "Will and Grace" kind.

The entry is wonderful, where else can you go and find great suggestions for costumes. I will return before Halloween. I am always confused as to what I should be for that most difficult of events.

Oh, the 65 mile an hour winds helped bring down the outdoor Christmas lights. See, I don't have to worry.

Interesting House Guest

David brought a co-pilot with him this trip. He has done that before. Ken is staying with us. He is a recently retired Marine. He is was a pilot and flew C somethings in three "engagements" Both wars in Iraq and Somalia. Very reserved. Still has the hair cut he sported for 20 years. Very quiet. Hard to get anything out of him. It did not take him long to figure out Bush was not my favorite person. He was surprised that I was mad at him for how he sent the troops over with no real thought with how to get them back. He was surprised that I was upset because the troops did not have the support they needed either there or here when they returned.

I told him I was glad this country was not condemning those that went to war like they did during Viet Nam. I don't think I have been forgiven for being a Democrate but then maybe those are just titles anyway.

Oh, M-E is better today. I have to go get her up. Stuff that we fight off, she takes and really makes it her own. I guess it is hard to fight any illness if the meds you are taking are killing off all your fighting cells.

End of January. I cannot believe it.

Books

I have been reading more. I have not been taking down Chrismas Stuff (yes the Village is still up but the elves work all year round). I have not been doing Laundry. I have not been cleaning the basement, I have been reading and doing a bit about round the edges.

As has been pointed out by my mother, I read weird books. I read two kinds of books and I don't think they are weird.

They are either substanial or sort of quirky and funny.

The substantial books always have dark covers and dark topics but must not just be sad to be sad. I can not handle those kinds of books.

They have lots of 12 cent words and complex charactors. The books make me ponder about lots of things like Mummification( The Egyptologist) Eastern Europe and Dracula ( The Historian) or the plague ( A Year of Wonders). Often times I am not seeking new topics to consider but love to learn new things. The world we live in swirls by with it's 10 second sound bites and then moves on to the next topic with such haste that it is impossible to know anything in any depth. Like what has happened to Sharone? We learned every deep secret about him and then.........

I also like very funny books. I loved "Bridget Jones Diary. It has a sense of self confusion and acceptance of that state in life that still makes me laugh. I loved "Confessions of a Shopaholic", and "Lamb the Gospel according to Biff Christ's Childhood Friend." I loved "Lady of the Lost and Found." I am loving "Hypocrite in a Poofy Dress and look forward to finishing the "Deep Dark" ( Sunshine Mine disaster)

I don't know what draws me to books. I love to laugh, learn and escape. I want to learn or consider a topic in a new way. I love to crawl into the world of another's perception for just a moment.

I will finish the laundry and move the Christmas Tree, David is going to be here for a night so we should get the lights down and the curtain rod put up so I can put up the curtains I made from some really pretty bright(of course) material that Belle and Karen gave to me.

See, I know what I am supposed to be doing and I will make some progress.

Raccoons and Whooping Cranes

I bet you never knew they sounded alike. I was channel surfing and came across a program where they were hand raising chicks. They are raised to never see a human and listen to the sounds of the flock while growing up. They make a clicking /purring sound that brought Sadie to life.

She is on high Racoon alert. Her alert status increased as the wind blew and she just knew they were out the window having a party. What a night.

I have long had an interest in Whooping Cranes. One of my parent's college roommates worked with them. When he started there were 16 in the wild. He would fly to Canada and swap out a few Whooping for Sandhill eggs. The Sandhills would be raised by the Whooping Cranes and the Sandhill raised the Whooping Cranes. The Sandhills had great success rates but the Whooping Cranes never formed mating pairs, they were a bit confused. 200 live in the wild now, mostly in Canada and between Florida and Maryland.

We would receive Christmas letters all about the new baby Whooping Cranes from Mr. Erickson. I will have to check on the population count..

In case you were worried, Sadie has patrolled the back yard and it is all clear. She has been out there three times. I feel safe now.

I do wish the sun would come up.

THE FUNNIEST PIECE I HAVE READ IN YEARS

Here's a prime example of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" offered by an English professor from the University of Colorado for an actual class assignment.

The professor told his class one day: "Today we will experiment with a new form called the tandem story. The process is simple. Each person will pair off with the person sitting to his or her immediate right. As homework tonight, one of you will write the first paragraph of a short story. You will e-mail your partner that paragraph and send another copy to me. The partner will read the first paragraph and then add >another paragraph to the story and send it back, also sending another copy to me. The first person will then add a third paragraph, and so on back-and-forth. Remember to re-read what has been written each time in order to keep the story coherent. There is to be absolutely NO talking outside of the e-mails and anything you wish to say must be written in the e-mail. The story is over when both agree a conclusion has been reached.

The following was actually turned in by two of his English students: Rebecca and Gary.
THEIR STORY:
(first paragraph by Rebecca)

At first, Laurie couldn't decide which kind of tea she wanted. The chamomile, which used to be her favorite for lazy evenings at home, now reminded her too much of Carl, who once said, in happier times, that he liked chamomile. But she felt she must now, at all costs, keep her mind off Carl. His possessiveness was suffocating, and if she thought about him too much her asthma started acting up again. So chamomile was out of the question.

(second paragraph by Gary) Meanwhile, Advance Sergeant Carl Harris, leader of the attack squadron now in orbit over Skylon 4, had more important things to think about than the neuroses of an air-headed asthmatic bimbo named Laurie with whom he had spent one sweaty night over a year ago.

"A.S. Harris to Geostation 17," he said into his >trans-galactic communicator." Polar orbit established. No sign of resistance so far..." But before he could sign off a bluish particle beam flashed out of nowhere and blasted a hole through his ship's cargo bay. The jolt from the direct hit sent him flying out of his seat and across the cockpit.

(Rebecca)
He bumped his head and died almost immediately, but not before he felt one last pang of regret for >psychically brutalizing the one woman who had ever had feelings for him. Soon afterwards, Earth stopped its ointless hostilities towards the peaceful farmers of Skylon 4.

"Congress Passes Law Permanently Abolishing War and Space Travel," Laurie read in her newspaper one morning. The news simultaneously excited her and bored her. She stared out the window, dreaming of her youth, when the days had passed unhurriedly and carefree, with no newspaper to read, no television to distract her from her >sense of innocent wonder at all the beautiful things around her.

"Why must one lose one's innocence to become a woman?" she pondered wistfully.

(Gary) Little did she know, but she had less than 10 seconds to live. Thousands of miles above the city, the Anu'udrian mothership launched the first of its lithium fusion missiles. The dimwitted wimpy peaceniks who pushed the Unilateral Aerospace disarmament Treaty through the congress had left Earth a defenseless target for the hostile alien empires who were determined to destroy the human race. Within two hours after the passage of the treaty the Anu'udrian ships were on course for Earth, carrying enough firepower to pulverize the entire planet. With no one to stop them, they swiftly initiated their diabolical plan. The lithium fusion missile entered the atmosphere unimpeded. The President, in his top-secret mobile submarine headquarters on the ocean floor off the coast of Guam, felt the inconceivably massive explosion, >which vaporized poor, stupid Laurie.

(Rebecca)
This is absurd. I refuse to continue this mockery of literature. My writing partner is a violent, chauvinistic, semi-literate adolescent.

(Gary)
Yeah? Well, my writing partner is a self-centered, tedious neurotic whose attempts at writing are the literary equivalent of Valium.

"Oh, shall I have chamomile tea? Or shall I have some other sort of F--KING TEA??? Oh no, what am I to do? I'm such an air headed bimbo who reads too many Danielle Steele novels!"

(Rebecca) As*h@le . (Gary) B*tch!

(Rebecca) F**K YOU - YOU NEANDERTHAL!!

(Gary) In your dreams, Ho. Go drink some tea. ---------------

(TEACHER) >A+ - I really liked this one.

Happy Holiday Family

They live down the street. They are really, really, really! into Holiday Decorations. Liz Rosback just plain hated them. She told me once that she was sure they all had matching holiday sweaters for each season and wore them while decorating.

They are sort of out of control. I have not taken a picture of the Valentine Decorations but they have been up since January 6th. They will soon disapear for the giant Easter Eggs.

Why am I complaining? I guess because my Christmas lights are still on the house. I have unplugged most of them. I have the village still up and the giant ornaments. The tree is off the porch and now has to be cut down to size for the compost people.

I guess I should be happy just know that someone in the neighborhood has their act together.

High School Applications

Candles lit in ancient ritual beseeching the Gods and other powerful entities to assist in goal. Prozac would also help if I had some.








A new rite of passage for the 8th graders is the

HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS

It is sort of like college. Can you remember what activities you did as a 3rd grader? Were you asked your future goals and plans for high school? Did anyone care if you had done community service? Oh, well, I guess were were watching The Monkeys and reading Gone with the Wind and wondering if we were going to get asked to dance.

So it goes like this:

First you have to visit the school. This requires permission from all the teachers and then a report back to the academic Vice Principle.Then you go to a variety of Open Houses to tour the school and see if the programs they offer are ones that will fit for your child. They you fill out the packet. Recommendations need to be done by the Teachers, The Priest. Grades and test scores need to go to the school. Then there are the:

Why do you want your child to go to Blanchet Essay

Dear Admissions Director. I want my child to go to Holy Names but you are our second choice in case she does not get in. I don't want my child to go to such a big school with so many BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! are you nuts. You have a thousand students and BOYS she does not know. She is really cute and she is going to figure it out and spend hours on the phone and have her heart broken and worry about her hair and ...............
She needs to stay focused.

I am not sending her to Seattle Prep because of the rowdy and obnoxious boys that have plagued her class for 9 years. I hope they are going there and not to Blanchet We are so glad to see them go somewhere and we know they can not go to Holy Names.

Thanks for considering my daughter. She would be an asset to any school. Did I mention we really want her to go to Holy Names. Could you call and recommend her?

So then you package it all up and send it off. I of course found a great folder and added a very cute picture and a note written on one of her Art Cards. She is quite the artist.

Now I can guarantee you, the amount of tension at the schools is scary. Kids are freaked, Parents are freaked, Teachers are freaked. We are very calm, right now. Maybe it will get worse when we find out. (That is when I freak because this costs money that is not readily available but we will make it work.)

Trust me, this month I will be lighting lots of candles.

My Second Favorite Christmas Present

Of Course because I purchased a new washer the Car wanted a present. New Radiators are such nice special accessories.

Trees on the Porch

Some people feel the urge to rush through life. They do things in very predictable ways. If they start to unload the dishwasher, they finish, if they take out the garbage they get it all out, they never leave a few items for next week.

Well, I am not one of those people. My goal was to get the tree out of the living room. Accomplished. I am not sure when it will leave the porch. I am sort liking the look. What do you think? Oh, I found out that I have not accomplished anything until the Nutcrackers are in their boxes and put away.

Do we not need them for Valentines Day? I thought the Nutcracker was a love story........

The tree is down the puzzel finished the basement organized the pictures in albums, the garage..........

Dreams are very important things...........
Baby steps. so what if the tree is still in the stand on the front porch
so what if the boxes are only partially labled
so what if there are pictures all over the house

We have to have goals.

12th Man?

What is that and why should I care? I thought that it had something to do with the Seahawks winning 12 games.

I guess I am a bit behind.

M-E is better. She sounds like a long term smoker and has little or no energy. Given how sick the other kids have been, I am a believer in Tamiflu.

Books worth reading CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC. MARLEY AND ME, and of course THE HISTORIAN. I still don't know what happened in the Egyptologist./

RAIN: 25 DAYS. I think that if no on had mentioned it we never would be counting. I don't really notice the rain until the houses on the clifts begin to slide. That gets my attention.

Sadie is shredding paper and bags and.......... I took her for an extra long walk. I think she is asking me to get the tree out of here. Oh, well, I can vacuum up paper. I am going to try. I am really attached to the tree and thinking maybe I will give up and become Mrs. Fabersham.

Sick, Sick , Sick

Nasty bug. It is Influenza A. Tamiflu has been administered. Soup is on the stove. Chicken and mushrooms. She does not like celery, cooked carrots. I am going to put in snow peas and some zucchini because I have to do that. It just looks wrong in it's current form.

Now the trick is to keep it from becoming something really nasty.

Drink lots of fluids, avoid human contact. Wash your hands and pray.

Chinle Flea Markets

Mom loves to shop. She has been our personal shoppers for a very long time. Boxes of stuff shows up and if you ever get on her list you will be very blessed.

Belle and Karen receive many many boxes. They have received things like potatoes, shallots, beans and other goodies like movies and beanie babies. Recently Mom sent a big box of snap lid plastic containers. She has left several here and they are very handy. The box of containers never arrived.

The post office seems to not be the most accurate, nor problem solving institution. Things just don't always make it into their box. Evidently Belle and Karen do not stand out in Chinle. I can only imagine that a town of 8000 people has more than one Dr. Foster and her partner Karen. I am sure that there is plenty of room for confusion.

Belle was at work and her secretary came into the office with a cool snap lid plastic box. Belle remarked that she really wanted to get a hold of a couple of them. Glenna looked at her and sadly remarked "I wish I had known, I would have picked one or two up for you at the flea market."

Well, that's a relief, the box did arrive!

I don't get Hem/onc Parent of the Year for 2006

I was a very bad bad Mom. M-E started coughing on Saturday night. Whitney was sick and so are a bunch of other children. They were all hacking like 46 year smoking coal miners. I heard about the cough, the sore throat, the achie body. The flu.

Well she hit 101.9 and I just stopped taking her temperature. She was sick, she had what the rest had, I just could not face a trip to the ER on Sunday night. I don't have my car back and our hospital bags are not packed and they are not going to make us stay and they are very inefficient at the ER and we would have to wait more than than an hour for a blood draw and I could take her to the hospital in the A.M.to the clinic where things run like clock work.

So, I gave her a couple of tylenol and went to sleep. Granted it was fitful but it was in my own bed and she was in hers.

I let them know we were coming in and sure enough. ANC 4200. She does not have pneumonia and she just needed a liter of fluid to replace all the blood they drew and then off to home.

Okay, so what it is the problem? Oh, yeah. She is at risk for infection in her Port. That little dohicky that has a line that goes into her heart. I had forgotten about that problem.

I have been scolded, by lots of people and have been forgiven. Maybe.

Back to School keeps us hopping

Big steps. M-E spent the night away from home. I had two days by myself. I read, I worked on the puzzle, I did not perform all the laundry steps but am thrilled with my new Santa Present. I have wanted a front loading washer since I abandoned the one at the condo almost 12 years ago. My machine started to make that "noise" the one that comes and goes and then one day leaves your machine full of water.

I guess I really bought it for the Laundry fairies that have been so nice to come and try and teach me the entire process. Remember

a. Sort
b. Wash
c. Dry
d. Fold
e. Put away.

I am sure those last two steps are too complicated for me to do. I am so certain being clean and dry should be enough.

I will try and put a picture here soon.

Well lets see. The Sierra clan was sick but finally ended up here for an evening. No one was nearly impressed enough with the book I found "Isabel and the Hungry Coyote". It had Spanish words and everything. Isabel is still a bit under the weather.

The week was exhausting but we have made it to the end. I have to face the Christmas Take Down process. Of course I am sure I can put all of Christmas away in an orderly organized manner that will include cross referenced indexes and inventories that will be kept on a spread sheet with instant data base access. All items will be in their appointed boxes and safely tucked away for easy retrieval for next year.

Yes, I agree. I need to be put on drugs very very soon.

Christmas puzzle

I love doing the Christmas puzzle. I don't do other puzzles, but like all things Christmas, it is a challenge. A way to make that time between Christmas and New Years feel somewhat productive.

The last few years we struggled to find good puzzles. We have exacting standards. They must be 1000 pieces, why bother with anything less. They must have Christmas theme and they must be done before school begins or Epiphany at the latest. If at all possible, they must be Springbok puzzles. Hallmark carried them since time began but due to some shifting and corporate by-outs ( I think Subway owns them now), they stopped having them. We had to do inferior puzzles but I found them on the internet and we are back in business. I picked this one because it was pretty. Oh, well, I am glad it is a challenge. I have a picture of the box and our current progress. Should be interesting.

I find I do lots of thinking while I am working puzzles. It is good to look at something a long time. A chance to digest it's intricacies and it's detail. It is good to know that sometimes you have to change how you look at things and leave a frustrating situation for awhile and look at it again. It is important to keep an open mind. Sometimes pieces surprise you and fit where least expected. The star in the middle is a good example. I was heartened that M-E took that one first thing.

I guess 2005 will be the year of the challenge. The seemingly impossible challenge.

The Egyptologist

Okay, I read this book, the title above. It is a book that required lots of concentration. It is complicated and the story is told by three different people during two different times. I finished it and still don't know a bunch of answers to some basic questions like
Was Paul Caldwell and Hugo Marlow killed by Ralph Trilipush? Was Ralph Paul or just a crook with good luck. Did Ralph kill his future father-in-law and then himself and put new stuff in the tomb?

Oh well, I will just wonder and pass the book onto someone and see what they think.

Boxing Day

Okay, it is hard to see but in the tree is one of our flickers. They are defiantly our friend. They love the suet and come three or four times a day. I love to watch them. I suspect we now have two pair. That lets us know the neighborhood has some nice rotting trees and sufficient cover. I am sure that is a good thing.

We did a couple of things today. I even did a load of laundry. I have better hopes for tomorrow ( in the laundry arena.)

Christmas Day and naps

It has been very sucessful 24 hours. Good friends for dinner, Midnight mass, easy Christmas morning, long Christmas nap, only one more load of dishes. No complaints. Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas Eve Eve

Just a moment, our pair of Racoons are coming into the yard. They look fat and happy.

Well we did the last of the shopping last night. We went out to accomplish three things. Obtain a copy of the American Native Christmas, a CD done by a women with a great voice, singing traditional songs in lots of different languages. Well, we failed. We are headed to Amazon.Com. They promise delivery in 4-6 weeks. Oh, well. See if you are not the only one the listens to NPR in Seattle it is a problem. We did end up with 5 other Christmas CD's, no Very Brady Christmas but Barry M did come home with us.

We then were successful at going to Marie Callendars for dinner. Turkey Pot pie was a perfect end to a very rainy day. Then off to Greenwood market. Three items, potatoes, jello and stuff for it, and eggnog. How hard it that? Well let me tell you they have moved some things in the store. Marchino cherries are not easy to find. First they are not with the baking stuff nor are they with olives. Now there are 64 kinds of olives and pickled sun dried tomatoes. I asked two clerks and they were easily confused. They were finally located. Well geeze, they are not in a tall bottle and now they come with stems still on them. What is that about. Oh, well, the jello was just as hard. Their are still really only 4 choices, green, red, yellow and now blue. There are more kinds of red, raspberry, cherry, cranberry, strawberry. It is sort of amazing what they can do with red food coloring.

We accomplished our mission and headed home. Now if I can just figure out how much the prime rib weights. I know how much it cost. Oh well, there always has to be a challenge.

Christmas friends

They are all around. We are so lucky. The Flickers are here this morning. They are working on the Suet. I put a sheaf of wheat in the branches of the tree and they love to hid around it. The other birds have not figured out what it is. I keep thinking they will catch on some day.

We have been very quiet here. Just mellow. I have to pick up a few things today but we are simply waiting, waiting for a gathering of friends. It has been very nice. I have had to do a couple of things but it has simply been a time of renewal and rest. I am decompressing after a very long time. I am a bit at wits end. We spend so much time running around and have such busy lives that real time, real time to relax feels foreign. I am working on it however and bonding with deep breathes and just time. Time, a wonderful thing.

Christmas Rain

Pictures from last years Christmas. Things are so much better now.

It is coming down. It does not hamper the birds or the christmas lights. It does make Sadie a bit reluctant. For Christmas, I am going to find her rain coat and her sweater. It is in the basement. I do not have enough nerve to even take a picture of the basement. There is a challenge.

Off to the store, time to do Christmas dinner prep. Today the vegies are being roasted and I am scouting for green beans that look edible.

Wish me luck.

Okay who is the Meanie

Okay, what do you think of this. It is bright and early on the 21st and I am sitting here talking to Mom and the Ballard Florist Truck shows up. Out of the Back comes a huge center piece. He walks to the door and then looks and goes to the neighbors.

I told him he better get back in that van and get me something. I gave him a jar of Jam and we both laughted. I told him to be careful, not everyone has such a great sense of humor.

Do you think it is bad that Santa is hanging above Mary? It is not a statement on our priorities, it is just that there was a hook that worked. I am all about practicality.

Last Minute....

I just hate when stores are so busy serving their customers that they will not answer the phone for those of us that are very particular about how often we venture out among or is it amongst the Christmas Crazies.

Years ago, I came down with nasty case of pneumonia the last week of November. It wiped me out like a sparrow in the path of a Bazooka. I was so sick that I had to drop layers and layers of the Christmas fesivities. It was the year I discovered it was possible to have Christmas without one trip to the mall or without Christmas stamps. I found that Christmas came no matter how many projects were completed. It was great training.

I am working on not getting stressed. It is the year that I have been given an extra day to prepare. I found out that I am a day ahead of myself. Oh, maybe I will be able to go to Trader Joes to pick up a couple bottles of Balsamic dressing. We shall see.

New Dresses and Old Friends

Lots of good food, good entertainment, lots of things to see and the kids had a great time. All the 13 years old played dress up. They have become such nice young ladies.

Christmas in Venice

http://turismo.regione.veneto.it/it/webcam/webcam2.html

I spent a Christmas in Venice. Almost 30 years ago. It was cold and people were rushing around. There were a few decorations up but mostly it was just simply beautiful. The creche at St. Marco's was amazing. Lots of gold.

Lots of simple quiet waiting for the birth of Christ.

I have a new appreciation for the waiting part of this time of year. I have found that the darkness is a protective place as long as the little lights are on.

It does not take much to make the darkness feel safe.

New Meds, Old Reaction

I just don't know who messed up my table.






Mom, My stomach is upset........

I had not heard that one for six months. It took me a moment to react. First line, zofron. But it takes a while to work. Old stand by, Benydryle and Reglan, a good dose of a sleep inducing anti histamine and an anti-psychotic, good combo.

It seemed to work. We have just 4 days of school and work left this year. I just want to make it through to collapse time.

One More Week of School

We have lots to do before this week is over. We started the week with a trip to the hospital. M-E had an appointment today with the Clinic. She is examined and has IV chemo once a month.

Her labs took a very long time. ( ANC 2100)

Things were a bit off today. Lots of people were waiting. There are times that just happens. If the Hem/Onc labs take 2.5 hours there are lots of sick kids in the hospital, new admits.
It is sort of like pizza or the cab. If you call and have to get a recording it is going to be awhile. The kids are good the parents keep busy. The clinic could use some better magazines.

We always run into someone we know. That is a good thing most of the time. It is when you don't run into someone for awhile and then ask and get the "look". It makes you not ask after a couple of times. It is better to just assume that they are doing so fantasic that there are not more reasons for any visits.

I have been a bit tense and I think I dread each of these blood draws. It feels like we are playing roulette. Will the bullet fire this time. We are 4.5 months into maintenance and things are smoothing out. I have convinced myself that if I can get her past the 6th month mark we can breath a sigh of relief.

I will be so happy when I don't have to hold my breath any longer. I am turning very very blue.

Glitches in the System

Things seem to go along and we do okay. But it is never quite 100 percent. I always have great ideas for how to handle this time of year and then it all goes to hell in a hand basket. (Better than a laundry basket, I suppose.)

We have made some progress this year. I did find the lights for the tree but then put them out side. I found ornament boxes but no ornaments. I found ornaments but not the major ones. For example, Baby Bear is holding up the fairy tale all by himself! I will keep looking for the rest of the family. I don't have any of the nativity scenes out. We want this to be an Isabel friendly Christmas. It needs to be a time of great touching and not lots of no.

The village is up, lit and the snow has fallen. The angels are out for the first time in a while. The orchestra is ready. One of the arch ornaments is up, M-E wants to put them up but the right moment has not presented itself.

Oh, yes, the advent candles are in the back of the car waiting for their place to cleared but that would be the dining table that can not be cleared until the pictures arrive for the card that are ready to go. See, that is the problem. Maybe I can work on it a bit today. Maybe I should get one of those storage units to sit outside in my yard for this time of year. It could hold all my Christmas stuff, I could have it delivered the day after thanks giving and taken away the day after Epiphany. I will look into that as soon as I..........................

The Continuing Saga of the Tree.

One Santa, Gorham snowflakes and a crooked star. Is that progress?

Tree is up and has a few ornaments.

Some day I am going to get the Christmas stuff better organized. I think they should have a class on how. I try. I really do. I have boxes and labels and more boxes and last years labels. I have Christmas do dads that run out my ears.

Nothing is one step, everything is a process. I have the cards ready to go but the pictures are yet to arrive. I have the tree up, but have not run into the ornaments for it yet. I have the village out, but not lit yet because we are looking for a couple of more pieces. Oh, well, Life is a process. Only that weird cake you make in a pan without any bowl is one step, and even that has to be mixed and baked.

Snow Part II

What a beautiful day. Snow fell and then promplty melted ( in down town). We have a bit on the roofs and some slush in other places.

It did cause a fair amount of mass hysteria. The entire Puget Sound emptied on to the free ways and began to clog traffic. I made the mistake of taking I 5 north and it was not an original idea. We have to venture out today but it will be fine. Sadie was pretty excited but she was a bit confused as to why big hunks of stuff would fall on her head each time she was under a bush or a tree. It is pretty funny. She was just fed up at one point and simply barked at the tree.