tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332321982011-12-28T11:28:54.914-08:00I have been dealing with breast cancer for a while, and have been sharing my journey with friends, family, and prayer partners. This blog brings all my updates together in one place, and leaves me free to muse on other parts of my life. Thanks for visiting!datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.comBlogger1951100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-71854061262823989692008-11-20T07:23:00.000-08:002008-11-21T10:15:44.237-08:00

Ruth's long battle with breast cancer ended at 8:15 p.m., Nov. 19, 2008. She is survived by her husband, Paul, her sons, Matt and Tim, and two brothers, Tony and Andrew.The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Falls Church, Virginia. (www.stpaulsfallschurch.org). There will be a viewing from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at Murphy Funeral Homes, 1102

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-65126033233635316802008-11-11T06:19:00.000-08:002008-11-11T06:28:44.672-08:00

I am in hospice care, though I haven't actually met with the hospice people. It looks like my time is running out faster than we had hoped.Our new computer is not working well, so please see this blog for updates until further notice.Also, my typing is not very good. I will try to get out updates as I can, but please check this blog for the latest news until further notice. You will not be

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-13560625354685167112008-11-04T16:31:00.000-08:002008-11-04T16:50:28.504-08:00

We have had computer problems, so am sorry that I have been unable to to put out my updates via e-email as I usually do. I hope to have that fixed some time this week.Also, my typing is shot. Combine that with my usual inability to get to work, and I have resigned my job. I will try to keep up with my blog and prayer partners listI had a medical procedure due yesterday, but it was canceled

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-65430153804692545322008-10-14T16:04:00.001-07:002008-10-14T16:04:48.752-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer partners,   I have been home since about 6:00 AM on Saturday.  The best part of the weekend was that my brother and his friend came to visit on Saturday and fixed dinner for us, with lots of leftovers.  Other than that, this was not a weekend I would care to repeat.   I was supposed to have chemotherapy today, but my white blood cell counts are still too

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-48551298823432713982008-10-10T09:30:00.000-07:002008-10-10T09:31:06.844-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I will be having a short stay in the hospital for a platelet transfusion.  I am sitting at home waiting to hear when a short-stay bed opens up on the oncology floor at the hospital.  They could call any time today, do don't rush over to the hospital looking for me.  I have asked Paul to come home, and he is on the way.   The thing is, I had an

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-7743390026590787512008-10-08T17:14:00.000-07:002008-10-08T17:15:12.410-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I went in to take my second dose of Gemzar on Monday, and found out that I was neutropenic, so that was delayed until next week.  I still had my monthly Aredia, though.   The next day, I had an appointment with my oncologist.  She had to make some phone calls and get a fax, but she got the results of my biopsy.  My cancer does not have the

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-87831675729302817932008-10-01T13:34:00.001-07:002008-10-01T13:34:38.372-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   The chemotherapy on Monday went pretty well.  I was glad to see that the two meds I got then are only half-hour infusions.  I didn't get the Avastin, as one of the possible side effects of that one is bleeding problems, and since I had a liver biopsy scheduled for the next day, that did not sound like a good idea.  The biopsy went well, though

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-41145897012928726882008-09-21T15:30:00.001-07:002008-09-21T15:30:50.658-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   Last Tuesday, after I sent out my last update, I went to my cancer support group meeting.  After that, Paul and I went out to celebrate his birthday, which was the day before.  Since he has a thing for ABBA, and I have a thing for Pierce Brosnan, we went to see "Mama Mia" at a local mall.  The cinema is right next to the food court, so we had a

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-7477497395017768482008-09-16T13:30:00.001-07:002008-09-16T19:33:05.412-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,"1. Fairly dramatic progression of metastatic disease to the liver. There is now involvement throughout all parts of the liver that is in many places confluent [the tumors are running together]. The burden of liver disease is greater than on any previous PET/CT study in this patient."2. Interval increase in activity at several sites of bony

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-73667424081830639172008-09-10T18:34:00.001-07:002008-09-10T18:34:42.044-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   When I was at the oncology infusion clinic last week for my monthly Aredia treatment, I offered some blood to do the cancer marker test, but the doc ordered a PET scan, instead.  That will be on Friday afternoon.  On Tuesday, September 16th, Paul and I will meet with my oncologist to get the results and make a battle plan.  Prayers are

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-34428835416390053882008-09-03T14:02:00.001-07:002008-09-04T17:11:44.229-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,My oncologist doesn't believe that the 300% increase in my CA 27-29 marker is a lab error. She will order a PET scan, and told me to stop taking Xeloda, since all it seems to be doing for me is giving me painful blisters on my feet.I appreciate the prayers, and will keep you informed.Get mammograms. Do self-exams.Love,Ruthhttp://

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-79689018243533022842008-09-02T19:33:00.000-07:002008-09-02T19:34:11.529-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I need some extra prayer.  My CA 27-29 cancer marker went from 354 on August 3, to 1164 on August 31st.   I don't know exactly what this means, but it cannot be good.  I am hoping for a lab error, myself.  I go to the oncology clinic for an Aredia treatment tomorrow, and I have a scheduled appointment with my oncologist on Tuesday, Sept. 16th.

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-38390918799923129672008-08-31T17:15:00.000-07:002008-08-31T17:21:58.178-07:00

One of my husband's college degrees is in agronomy. We have a garden plot we rent from the county for a pittance every year, and that is his little farm.He likes to save seeds from tomatoes from year-to-year and plant the seeds directly in the garden. This leads to a late harvest for us, and to some surprises.Originally, we had some small, pear-shaped yellow tomatoes, and some fairly standard

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-86107803406296051042008-08-30T15:30:00.001-07:002008-08-30T15:38:48.416-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,Matt is back at school and Paul is on the way home from taking him there. Matt and I posted a couple of videos on YouTube before he left. Here's mine: and here's Matt's: We had fun. I read somewhere recently that about six percent of women who are diagnosed with metatstatic breast cancer are still alive twenty years later. Sounds good to me, as

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-87095629544941579602008-08-23T12:43:00.001-07:002008-08-23T12:43:53.874-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   Remember how, last time, I said that after the trip to Disney World my knees would never be the same?  It looks like that might be true.  Actually, I have feared this was coming on for some time, as I would have pain in my knees now and then.  Last Sunday, three weeks after coming back from Disney World, I found that my right knee was hurting

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-4319333931302373942008-08-12T09:02:00.001-07:002008-08-12T09:02:29.229-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   We are having a new furnace/ac installed today, and I am staying home, out of the way.  It is so nice to have somebody to fill in for me at work when I need to have days off for things like this.  Thanks, Rosalie!   The trip to Disney World was great, but tiring.  I don't think my knees will ever be the same.  Thanks to a letter from my

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-62117708908755682912008-08-11T17:47:00.000-07:002008-08-11T18:21:13.959-07:00

We begin our show in Birmingham. Paul's brother lives near there, and "Dreamland" is a popular BBQ joint. Just my speed! The food was good, too!Once we got to Disney World, we found it really hot. Timmy found one of the cooling stations, and his abundant hair retains some evidence.Some of the wildlife we found at Walt Disney World:These birds were all over the place. Any birdwatchers in the crowd

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-26581685124385351682008-07-21T15:54:00.000-07:002008-07-21T15:55:10.912-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   We leave on vacation tomorrow, and I will not be sending out these updates until we get back, as I have not tried to duplicate this list at my Yahoo mail, and couldn't figure out how to upload my address book to my Cox Mail.  I do plan to check our e-mail regularly, as Matt is bringing his laptop, and I will try to post some updates to my blog 

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-70543312140716348362008-07-08T17:46:00.001-07:002008-07-08T17:46:34.643-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I'm free, free, FREE!  Well, for a little while, anyway.  Three weeks ago today I had my last treatment of Taxotere, and one week ago I took my last dose of Xeloda until after we come back from vacation.  This means, I hope, that my hair will start growing back, I should stop getting blisters on my feet for a while, and my finger- and toenails

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-75377659017082531722008-06-25T18:14:00.001-07:002008-06-25T18:14:56.856-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   That is one strange play, and I enjoyed it.  It is very darkly funny, as it is set during the Black Death in France, and concerns a monk who feels inspired by God to form a troupe of clowns to bring mirth to everybody.  The "church" thought that was fine during the plague, but changed tacks after the epidemic burned out.  Not a play for people

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-32691166312290593612008-06-23T16:42:00.000-07:002008-06-23T16:43:14.041-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   Last Tuesday was a big day.  I had my big toenails removed, and I had my last treatment of Taxotere.  The toenails were so far gone I didn't need an anesthetic (just held the medical assistant's hand), and the Taxotere treatment went without incident, but I am surely glad to be done with the drug.  I fear I may lose at least one more toenail

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-20753537137565875442008-06-11T17:23:00.000-07:002008-06-11T17:55:36.567-07:00

The Parade of Pink. People who register as breast cancer survivors get pink t-shirts, and if you get there early enough, you get to sit near the speaker's platform.Where you can take pictures of our Secretary of State . . .Nancy G. Brinker, whose sister, Susan G. Komen, was the inspiration for the foundation named after her . . .and the actress, Cynthia Nixon (I think), from "Sex and the City"

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-53408813757356535052008-06-11T17:06:00.001-07:002008-06-11T17:06:26.857-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I thought I had gotten away with it.  I felt really well, considering I had walked three miles in DC heat, but I found out the next day that the piper must be paid.   You know I have been having trouble with my feet and toenails.  One of my big toenails was about to fall off, so I wrapped it with gauze and tape so it wouldn't rip off during the

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-67667291030910764692008-06-07T13:14:00.001-07:002008-06-07T13:14:02.957-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I can't believe I walked the whole thing!  Yes, indeed, I managed the whole 5K, which, I am told, is 3.1 miles.  I looked at the cut off for the one-mile route, and two members of our team were planning to take that one, but, we figured if one of our team members, who is a long-time survivor, could make it, then so could I.  We had three Ruths

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-63515376978661734562008-06-05T19:05:00.001-07:002008-06-05T19:05:36.456-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   On Tuesday, I had a treatment with Aredia, which is the bone-strengthening IV I get every four weeks.  This was one week after my Taxotere, so they did a blood test to see how my white cells are doing.  Not good at all.  The good news is I am not sick to go along with it, at the moment.  I called the HMO advice line, just to check in.  I have a

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-89189758545396268422008-06-01T18:26:00.001-07:002008-06-01T18:26:26.841-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I had chemo last Tuesday, and I am feeling pretty well at this point.  My doctor lowered my dose of Xeloda for now, after that scary episode with no white cells.  I go in again on Tuesday to get the Aredia bone-strengthening IV, and will have my blood counts checked at that time.  I don't expect too much to be wrong.   To be honest, I had a bit

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-22250790497842277402008-05-22T18:43:00.000-07:002008-05-22T18:46:21.219-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   "There has been a partial positive response to chemotherapy treatment with some improvement noted in the inferior right lobe of the liver . . .  Likewise, there has been some improvement in previously noted hypermetabolic foci in the skeleton.  Careful follow-up is suggested.  Previously seen abnormalities in the right nasopharynx and

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-73222178262099790992008-05-20T18:28:00.000-07:002008-05-20T18:32:10.141-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I am doing "remarkably better," to use the words of the oncology nurse who reported my Monday blood counts to me.  Good thing, too, because I was at work at the time she called!  I had the blood drawn on my way in.  One of the things I had to do while my counts were so low was to avoid raw foods, so as soon as I got home Monday, I had a salad.

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-39158774131409547432008-05-16T17:52:00.000-07:002008-05-16T17:57:04.543-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I left work early today, feeling pretty poorly.  After lots of phoning of various doctor's offices, I did finally see an MD this evening at our HMOs after hours care.  She prescribed me some codeine cough syrup and an antibiotic, which I think is what my oncologist wanted.  Anyway, I am going to lay low this weekend, and avoid crowds, by

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-73856113675086846712008-05-16T14:00:00.000-07:002008-05-16T14:06:54.920-07:00

In spite of not feeling well yesterday, I went to get my new wig.Hey, we have our priorities.

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-55554017579057866772008-05-15T09:20:00.000-07:002008-05-15T09:22:54.682-07:00

The link to the Washington Shakespeare Company is working. You can order tickets there and get directions, which sound kind of convoluted. All I know is I had no trouble getting there just using the ADC map of the area.

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-3596099510775555992008-05-15T07:23:00.000-07:002008-05-15T09:13:28.448-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,I am doing this a bit backwards this time, and publishing the update on the blog first. The thing is, my "Prayer Partners" e-mail list only exists on our home computer, which lives in the basement of our house, and we had a lot of rain earlier this week. Paul is working to dry it out, but I am trying to avoid the place. When I get home, I will publish

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-79257548767786348292008-05-13T15:42:00.000-07:002008-05-13T15:45:24.344-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I'm doing okay.   Now that I have that over with, here is the big news:  my baby is a working actor!  To get his whole story, see my blog and the video I have embedded there:  http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com  Or you can go to Matt's video directly from this link.   Through the Grace of God, which some people might call luck, my son got a role

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-7734604385178497552008-05-13T09:27:00.000-07:002008-05-13T09:28:19.079-07:00

There will be an update, but all the pertinent information is in Matt's video:I are so proud.

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-59739656296731510142008-05-05T18:51:00.000-07:002008-05-05T19:55:37.185-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I have my next round of chemotherapy tomorrow.  Since this is one of the times when my every three weeks chemotherapy (Taxotere), and my every four weeks bone-strengthening med (Aredia) fall at the same time, I will spending a loooooong time in the chemo clinic.  I plan to pack a lunch.  This is the first time I have had them on the same day,

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-68003232391014507562008-04-30T17:31:00.000-07:002008-04-30T17:34:06.202-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I am feeling much better today and made it in to work with no problems.  If you didn't know I was sick, it is probably because you have AOL.  I had 34 messages returned on my last update, and all were from AOL.  I even tried to forward one from my Yahoo mail, and it bounced, too.  So, if you want to catch up, please see my blog:  http://

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-9821486847069271762008-04-29T13:35:00.000-07:002008-04-29T13:50:57.650-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I spent today home.  Last week, Paul stayed home one day with a cold, and I think I got it from him.  As colds go, it is not too bad, but considering the rest of my health, we voted for discretion being the better part of being a stubborn idiot.  I only have a little bit of congestion, and have a little cough, but I was very tired, and actually

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-787534757709907252008-04-25T05:47:00.000-07:002008-04-25T05:50:12.852-07:00

Yes, this video is unapologetically Christian. I say this because I know some of my blog readers are not Christian, and I don't want to spring anything on them that they might find offensive. Okay, you have been warned! I really think you should watch the first part of it at least, for the musicology explained. Yes, I went home and sat at the piano and tried it!

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-35667013424003565732008-04-23T18:21:00.000-07:002008-04-24T14:14:02.414-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   Which would you rather have from your doctor:  bad news that turned out to be false, or good news that wasn't?   Having had both of them, I think I would rather get erroneous bad news, as long as it didn't lead to some erroneous treatment.  This is what I got today.  My doctor should really not be checking her e-mail at home late at night.  Bad

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-46875775307838455782008-04-16T18:33:00.000-07:002008-04-16T18:35:55.593-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I had my chemo yesterday, and worked today, but am getting to the point where I won't be able to concentrate much on writing, reading, knitting and crocheting.  My "bad days" of lying down, eating a bit, trying to rest, etc., are really not restful.  I can't do anything much productive, but maybe a little laundry, and thank God for Maytag.  So,

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-70124569293183868132008-04-14T18:13:00.000-07:002008-04-14T18:16:01.442-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   First, thanks to those of you who have gotten the ball rolling for "my" team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  We are off to a good start.   I had a pretty good weekend.  Matt's girlfriend, Katherine, and I visited him at Radford.  He was running a spotlight for Pippin, neither of us had seen it, and she is a theater "techie," so we

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-42306151508343927422008-04-08T18:49:00.000-07:002008-04-08T18:50:45.799-07:00

72 words SpeedtestOkay, okay. Time for my walk. Or bed, or something.

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-40787763758089294142008-04-07T19:37:00.000-07:002008-04-07T19:40:18.896-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   One thing I forgot to mention in my last update -- I have a head and neck CT scan scheduled on Tuesday, after I see my oncologist on Wednesday.    I am having my head examined to see if there is anything there.   Get your mammograms.  Do your self-exams.   Ruth http://ruthsmusings.blogspot.com    

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-22147379157923985292008-04-06T14:40:00.000-07:002008-04-08T18:36:56.471-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,My week has been pretty uneventful. No particular treatments, except for the oral medication, which continues into Tuesday, and then I have a week off, before they fire me up again.This week will be a little busier. I have an appointment with my oncologist on Wednesday, followed by an Aredia treatment. That is the IV medication meant to strengthen

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-54049362153794261392008-04-01T17:52:00.000-07:002008-04-01T17:55:34.106-07:00

No foolin'!   Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   Spring is bursting all over Northern Virginia, and today the sun actually came out, so I took some photos.  Please see the blog.  I don't want to clog up your inboxes.   I am doing pretty well considering I had chemotherapy (Taxotere) a week ago today.  I took Thursday and Friday off work, and spent Saturday at home alone.  Paul

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-88718240221483225592008-04-01T17:11:00.000-07:002008-04-02T10:27:09.967-07:00

It's time for the Cherry Blossom Festival in our National Capital Area. These cherry trees are in Northern Virginia. You can find anything at your public library.I don't know what these are called, but I bet they are considered a weed. I prefer to think of them as wildflowers. They turn whole slopes purple, and love to live in lawns. These may look like cherries, but are actually ornamental pear

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-63030140400965078632008-04-01T09:51:00.000-07:002008-04-01T09:54:45.729-07:00

In reading blogs you come across some interesting stuff, and it might even have some value:67 words Speed testI did notice about this site, though, that I did not see any "q" or "z" in any of the words they give you. I could actually use the practice on those letters.

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-18183389675210086492008-03-25T19:03:00.000-07:002008-03-26T08:15:56.868-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,It occurs to me that I should thank ALL blood donors, not just the O's. Thank you to all of you, as I am sure you have saved more lives than you know. I may have gotten plasma from some of you A's, B's, and AB's, though I bet your red blood cells went to save somebody else!Matt has posted the video of my haircut. If you have a slow internet

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-36723794784650201422008-03-24T17:17:00.000-07:002008-03-24T17:20:18.638-07:00

Dear Prayer Partners,   My Mom gave birth to her first baby almost exactly nine months after her wedding.  She had pre-eclampsia, a multi-symptom condition that just about killed her.  Her heart actually stopped at one time, and a shot of adrenaline got it going again.  Baby Mary Lynn was born with complications, too.  Her muscles just never developed, or never got signals from her brain. 

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-33758442500403761812008-03-23T16:02:00.000-07:002008-03-23T17:55:45.475-07:00

Thanks, GladysThis was an unexpected gift that we have all enjoyed. Most of the flowers are gone now, but some remain. Matt took some photos while I was getting a treatment at the oncologist's officeHere you see where my medi-port is. It is completely under the skin and saves my very few accessible veins for use by people who are not authorized to access ports. That would be RN's and "above."

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-17283072720059296312008-03-17T19:10:00.000-07:002008-03-17T19:11:50.600-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   Happy Birthday, Matt!  He was home for the whole week for spring break, but had to go back to classes today, so we had his birthday celebration on Saturday.  Tony was here, too, and it was great to have him.  Especially since we had Big Tony's pizza.  He had some advice, but he made some fine pizza.  Used my recipe for the flour, but he did

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-5038430559589119582008-03-14T09:57:00.001-07:002008-03-14T09:59:44.437-07:00

. . . you might be interested in this:

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-52734443985587227852008-03-10T18:48:00.000-07:002008-03-23T17:58:35.058-07:00

Matt has entered a contest on YouTube to win an IPod Touch. To win, he has to get the most views of his video of all the people entered. So, keep watching it over and over and over until you absolutely cannot stand any more. And then keep watching:(Edited: The contest is over. So, you don't need to watch any more than you want. He did get over 900 hits, though he didn't win. I don't think.)

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-58205865736217206762008-03-10T18:44:00.000-07:002008-03-10T18:58:17.374-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,First, a big thank you to all the people who have been praying for me during the past week. I made it to church on Sunday, and was at work the full six hours today. Whenever anybody asked how I was feeling, I said "mildly crappy." I feel like I have a bit of flu or something. I don't know if this is how I will continue to feel while I am on this

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-81060343955635528362008-03-07T08:31:00.000-08:002008-03-07T08:49:06.241-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I have been letting you down.  Please forgive me.   I had my first treatment with Taxotere on Tuesday, and began taking Xeloda that same evening.  I went to work on Wednesday, and have stayed home today, Friday, and yesterday.  Actually, I felt pretty well on Thursday, when I first woke up, but things went downhill after about noon, so I am

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-83469178869680189862008-03-02T13:22:00.000-08:002008-03-02T13:23:41.232-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   Just a quick note to let you know that we fire the first salvo of this battle on Tuesday, March 4th, beginning at 10:30 AM.  I will get the Taxotere via IV at that time, and will start taking the Xeloda pills that day.  I assume in the evening.   I appreciate your prayers and good thoughts.   Get your mammograms.  Do your self-exams.   Love,

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-57352475361818817132008-02-28T16:48:00.000-08:002008-02-28T16:49:18.033-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   We have decided on the drugs we are going to shoot at the cancer this time:  Taxotere and Xeloda   I don't have an appointment for the administration of these drugs, yet, but hope to hear from the nurse who schedules the IV treatment (taxotere) tomorrow.  The Xeloda is an oral medication.  If you click on those links, as I have, it is pretty

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-90459600576229785312008-02-26T20:12:00.000-08:002008-02-26T20:14:18.704-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I just heard from my doctor via e-mail.  She had spoken to the pathologist who examined my liver biopsy and confirmed malignancy in one of the six samples that were presented to him.  This is not news.  Unfortunately, there was not enough malignant tissue to do the test for the HER 2 receptors, which would tell if I could use the drug

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-18439340837802597772008-02-22T14:41:00.000-08:002008-02-26T06:14:49.638-08:00

On Thursday, I came home to some really nice mailMy cousin had "partial success" in her quest, and she sent me some nice lilac hand cream, along with other goodies -- chocolate covered sunflower seeds, a bracelet with the "Fruit of the Spirit", and a nice prayer/poem. My friends in California had sent four bars of lilac-scented soap, and some lilac "body mousse." I have really smelled nice for

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-24436662921156295252008-02-20T13:47:00.000-08:002008-02-20T13:48:26.090-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer partners,   The liver biopsy went fine.  I am a bit sore, but hope to have the results on Friday or Monday.   It got off to a rocky start.  I was supposed to get some mail from my HMO about it, and didn't.  I was supposed to get a call from a nurse at the hospital, but didn't, and by the time I realized that none of that had happened, it was too late last

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-53499926202777630402008-02-16T14:45:00.000-08:002008-02-16T14:47:06.112-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   Thank you for all of your messages of support.  I am embarrassed when people call me "brave" and "courageous."  Any strength I have, I get from the LORD.  I thank Him that I was baptized at birth, reared in a Christian home, and have had good Bible teaching along the way, even when I was in the Army.  Paul is my earthly rock, and I also thank

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-8285877305513973212008-02-13T13:17:00.000-08:002008-02-13T13:21:32.412-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I had a couple of things I wanted to include in my update yesterday, but I kind of ran out of steam.  I think you all had about all you could take from me in one day, anyway!   First of all, my son has gotten into YouTube.  He has a "channel," which, at this point he is using mostly as a blog.  The hot link there is to the video reply to

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-74509631518945793662008-02-12T17:55:00.000-08:002008-02-12T17:59:03.398-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   "Impression:  Continued progression of bony metastatic disease, with new areas of metastasis in the liver and possible metastatic disease in the right neck involving the fossa of Rosenmuller and vallecula.  Direct visualization of these regions may be warranted."   In other words, we need to call out the big guns again.  My cancer has spread

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-35370977367133198902008-02-07T18:44:00.000-08:002008-02-07T19:10:37.115-08:00

I'm not very political, really. I do vote, but I don't live or die on the outcome. Probably. Until today, the races for the presidential nominations were pretty interesting, though. The Democrats still have a horse race, even after Super Tuesday. The Republicans did, too, but now Mitt has bowed out. Paul and I thought that was pretty sudden. I think that maybe somebody in the party got to

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-4207530382421302182008-02-05T10:06:00.000-08:002008-02-05T10:09:26.068-08:00

My son, Matt coerced me into adding a link to his YouTube Channel I think it's great, but I am not exactly unbiased. You can only see my feet and hands in the "Fat Cat" video. I suppose somebody should get him a real digital video camera, so he doesn't have to shoot with his laptop. Let's see, his birthday is coming up . . .

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-89924972235416172322008-02-03T15:49:00.000-08:002008-02-03T19:32:11.594-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,There is really no news. My PET/CT scan is scheduled for Saturday, February 9th, at 10:15 AM. Paul is going to take me to it this time. You see, one of the things with a PET scan, is you lie on the skinny cot with your hands over your head for the duration of the scan, which is, I suppose, about 20 minutes. No big deal, except that my shoulders are

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-57315405605121483052008-01-26T15:41:00.000-08:002008-01-26T15:42:58.812-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   My dear son pointed out that it had been a while since I had posted, and all of my fans were wondering what had happened to me.  This is the same son who made the dean's list his first semester in college.  By the way.  Not that I am proud of him or anything.  He also has his first job, a work-study thing in the theater department.  I don't

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-45013127236050956372008-01-11T19:02:00.000-08:002008-01-11T19:21:27.415-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   I had a treatment today, and all went pretty well.  I got a little woozy at the end, while I was getting my intramuscular injection.  I had to sit down rather quickly, and the nurse made sure to check my blood pressure before I got up.  I don't know if it was the "sting" from the medication (the stick itself wasn't bad), or if was a side

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-63636813006871104892008-01-11T18:34:00.000-08:002008-01-11T18:52:24.048-08:00

One thing we did while we were in Minnesota was attend a hockey game. Roseau High School is the defending state class AA boys hockey team, and they have a tournament over the holidays. The games that we saw (I only saw the first one), the Rams pretty much mowed down the competition. My brothers had never seen a high school hockey game before, but I think they enjoyed it. Tony said he now has

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-7670024089699619512008-01-09T08:10:00.000-08:002008-01-09T08:16:05.614-08:00

One thing I try to do when I see someone in military uniform is to say "thank you for serving." It doesn't always happen. Sometimes it just doesn't feel right.Anyway, when traveling over the Christmas Holidays, there are a lot of people in uniform in the airports. At one point, I saw two young men in their battle dress uniforms going the opposite direction from us. I noticed their First

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-37136797977811652002008-01-06T18:03:00.000-08:002008-01-06T18:25:25.324-08:00

When my brother Andy said he would have Christmas week off and would like to spend it with us again, I had to tell him that we were going to visit Paul's parents and family for the holiday in Northern Minnesota. One thing led to another, and both my brothers spent the week with us and Paul's family. They assured me that they enjoyed it! For one thing, they had never driven snowmobiles. Paul's

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-66276130856791641932008-01-06T15:10:00.000-08:002008-01-06T15:11:39.566-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   May you have a Happy New Year, and I hope you had a Blessed Christmas and Epiphany!   It has been brought to my attention that is has been a long time since I sent out an update.  I guess that is because there is no news on the cancer front.  My cancer markers in my last blood test were slightly elevated from the previous month, but my

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-55862234143713125732007-12-10T17:08:00.000-08:002007-12-10T17:10:04.112-08:00

Dear Friends, relatives, and prayer partners,   To coin a phrase, no news is good news.  I had blood drawn today in preparation for my treatment on Friday, so I may be getting some more news later this week.  I imagine sometime in the near future I will have another PET scan to see what the beast is doing.  My pain is less than it was, so the bone-strengthening medicine, Aredia, seems to be

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-80565571070740075972007-11-26T17:39:00.000-08:002007-11-27T06:51:24.366-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,It has been a while since I sent an update, though I have posted a few things at the blog. Mainly, I have had no news on the cancer front. I feel weirdly well, actually. It is a bit disconcerting to know that I have an incurable, fatal disease, and I feel pretty well. Aches and pains, of course, but I am an out-of-shape fifty-year-old woman. I think my

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-30591319158393788982007-11-19T16:59:00.000-08:002007-11-19T17:02:21.243-08:00

I walked three miles on Saturday, on the Walk for the Homeless. We lagged behind our party, but most of them were members of the church youth group. Paul, Matt, and Timmy stuck with me. Actually, Matt and Timmy went ahead for a while, but stopped to see some juggling, so we caught up.Speaking of Matt, who is home for the week for Thanksgiving, he has a video on YouTube. My son, the magician!

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-86957247100959696502007-11-15T18:29:00.000-08:002007-11-15T18:30:49.430-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,   Thank you all for your support.  My solo went well.  I stayed on pitch, anyway, and only wavered a little bit.  I did not burst into tears, but avoided eye contact.  I am sure that had something to do with it!   Also, the china cabinet arrived.  Please see my blog for some photos.  I need to get upstairs and help with washing china and crystal

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-60448522504684221972007-11-13T17:37:00.000-08:002007-11-14T08:59:26.193-08:00

The china cabinet arrived today. Paul and I played tag team a bit. They were running late, and Paul had some mandatory training, so I came and relieved him. I snapped a quick picture and went back to work.The young men who brought it were embarrassed to say that they forgot the light bulbs. One even remembered thinking about it when taking it apart at the show room. They will send them to us.

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-738110458483862692007-11-11T16:19:00.000-08:002007-11-11T16:51:50.503-08:00

Timmy and I were invited to a Sweet Adelines concert on Saturday. Timmy slept through it, but I really enjoyed it. It was hosted by the Vienna/Falls Church Chorus.Their special guests were a men's quartet from New York: 'Round Midnight. They were very good. Now I need to find a CD.I checked Amazon, but, though there are other things titled 'Round Midnight, they are albums by Miles Davis and Linda

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-54262564189625803752007-11-11T14:52:00.000-08:002007-11-11T15:09:49.716-08:00

My solo went fine. I think it could have been better, but I stayed on pitch and didn't waver much. All my friends thanked me and said it was good.I also got to speak to the early service on the wonderful topic of stewardship. As part of it, I told them how much the congregation meant to me. When I mentioned the casseroles, that is when I teared up. It is a wonderful congregation, and is like

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-31783383923368616512007-11-09T20:28:00.000-08:002007-11-26T18:03:54.523-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,My cousin Jan came to visit this week. She arrived Sunday evening from Nebraska, and we spent Monday taking Timmy to the International Spy Museum in DC (worth the money, by the way). On Monday evening, Laurel, the music director from St. Paul's came by so I could run through the song I am singing at church on Sunday: "Fill My Cup, Lord," to practice it

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-37905198996530097422007-11-04T10:52:00.000-08:002007-11-09T20:57:28.143-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,Today, the bell choir added to the service at church. That bell piece I mentioned in my blog, that I had been doing for years and years? I screwed it up. I picked up my bells wrong on the hard part, and completely botched it. I knew before I started ringing, thank goodness, so I just kind of had to sit those measures out. Better to not ring than ring

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-44067838281682554102007-11-03T18:22:00.001-07:002007-11-03T18:39:28.030-07:00

Just to let you in on our day in Hershey, a little, anyway.For the record -- this is me the day after my 50th birthday, and Timmy, on his 13th. Dang, another teenager!Oh, yes, the scary ride. I wanted one of the up-and-down horsies! Instead, I got a boring, outside one. Ah, well, made for a good photo, anyway. Timmy is back there somewhere.Timmy wanted his photo taken with a big Hershey's

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-30998375610365528852007-11-03T14:04:00.000-07:002007-11-09T20:58:45.380-08:00

I posted this link a while back, and I think it is time I did it again:Self-exams for men and women

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-63690151546446763222007-11-03T09:38:00.000-07:002007-11-09T20:59:13.858-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,Please forgive me for my silence. I was busy for part of the week setting up a private blog for my cousins. We started out on e-mail, but I think I convinced most of them that a blog would work better. I could be wrong, of course. Last Saturday, we celebrated Timmy's and my birthdays by going to Pennsylvania. We have finally ordered the china

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-48276458441184269142007-10-26T12:09:00.000-07:002007-11-09T20:59:55.146-08:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,I was pretty bummed at the beginning of this year, because it was one of those "7," years, which I haven't enjoyed since 1977.My attitude has changed a bit since then. I am really glad to be fifty years old. I will be glad to see the next "7" year, too.Happy Birthday to me.Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams.Ruth

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-60447474750984346362007-10-23T14:09:00.000-07:002007-10-25T11:25:14.983-07:00

My old sneaks were worn out. I had already ripped out the lining of the insole on one of them, and I was coming through the toes. I was wearing my work clothes Tuesday, with my black leather, low heeled, trouser pumps, when Timmy and I stopped at a local self-service shoe store. All the Chuck Taylor Hi-Tops they had there were in boring colors, so Timmy wasn't interested. I thought I would try

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-16129125643519702172007-10-21T14:58:00.000-07:002007-11-09T21:00:27.438-08:00

Somebody on an online list asked me if I had a good time at the mall.Did I have a good time at the mall? I rarely have a good time at the mall. I go there when I need something that is best found there, as in LensCrafters, where we go mostly for the convenience. The plan was to go there, and while the glasses were being made, go to the DMV. The best laid plans gang aft agley (or something like

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-61289157029938693672007-10-19T17:42:00.000-07:002007-10-20T15:02:36.949-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,I have been trying out a new, short, description of my current condition. If people have not been brought up to speed, I tell them "I am now in the chronic, incurable phase of my cancer." What do you think? I usually go on about new discoveries all the time, but that pretty much sums it up, right? How would you feel if another friend hit you with that?

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-33711923588588254602007-10-18T10:19:00.000-07:002007-11-09T21:00:43.632-08:00

Just something I noticed --When I had a fever the other day, I bought a new digital thermometer to monitor it. I made sure that it was one that signaled when the final temperature was reached. It does beep -- at about the same note that my ears ring. I can't hear the thermometer!

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-65059087544457906542007-10-16T19:32:00.000-07:002007-10-16T19:46:56.138-07:00

Thanks to all of you who have called me "an inspiration," "my hero," and other things that make me blush. I certainly did not ask to be put in this position, and I only hope that I can do a little good by telling you all, once again, to "Get your mammograms. Do your self-exams." I know of one person who did that, and caught her cancer early. For that I am grateful.I am not all that strong. The

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-57013129349790468442007-10-15T14:09:00.000-07:002007-10-15T14:10:51.582-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,It is amazing how little life changes when you find out that you have incurable cancer. I go to work, I go to the grocery store, I sleep in my own bed, and do laundry. I worry about Timmy's school work. I think about what I will crochet next. I even ordered some yarn! As if I didn't have enough stash.At the same time, I have learned a little about

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-3014108972962268322007-10-10T18:20:00.000-07:002007-10-12T10:39:59.836-07:00

Yes, it's a college dorm room. I don't know why I thought he might possibly clean it up for our visit.The old self-portrait.Some of the sorority girls said "Awww" when I made out who I was walking in honor of.Timmy had more fun on the playground than on the walk.It is amazing what you can fit into the trunk of a car if you really try! Our suitcase fit in there, too.

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-87612274347497492812007-10-08T18:03:00.000-07:002007-10-12T10:35:39.365-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,We did indeed go to Radford to visit Matt this weekend. We left here about 6 pm and got to our motel in Christiansburg at about 11:15 pm (Radford was full up, surprise, surprise). We went on a walk for breast cancer research. I hope they made lots of money, because the route was kind of lame. They roped off a "course" which was a rough oval, and you

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-3786772187964340782007-10-04T17:49:00.000-07:002007-10-12T10:36:11.840-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,I met with my oncologist yesterday. She is going to treat me pretty conservatively for now, watching closely with another PET scan in three months or so, but I should not be missing any work, besides a few hours once a month, so we can all calm down. I will be getting Faslodex which is a once a month intramuscular injection (a shot in the butt), and

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-7335706851532464962007-10-01T18:47:00.000-07:002007-10-12T10:36:33.064-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,The honeymoon is over. The results of my PET scan show a malignancy in my T8 (eighth thoracic) vertebra. Maybe the guy reading the MRI counted wrong. It also shows areas of "increased metabolic activity" in some other places in my skeleton. None of these places hurt. That's the good news. I think God sent me a back spasm to force me to get an MRI,

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-33087492837091234132007-09-26T13:08:00.000-07:002007-09-26T13:53:37.166-07:00

Here are the promised pictures:Matt was pretty happy to be there. Or can you tell?Here's a picture of the actor Matt was hoping to see, but he was taking the day off.Here's the lineup of people hoping to hit the lottery. That's Paul in the middle, there. While we were waiting for the shows to start, we had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Pretty cool stuff, actually! Here's the line that Paul and

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-21323510920756965932007-09-26T13:07:00.000-07:002007-09-26T13:08:24.131-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,I saw my primary care physician today. It seems that there is something suspicious on my seventh thoracic vertebra. I will be having a PET scan as soon as possible. Dr. Ryan said that the radiologists who read the MRI's very seldom raise an alarm unless there is something that really looks like it could be something. Of course, with my history,

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-58610549952338197662007-09-25T20:15:00.000-07:002007-10-12T10:37:30.923-07:00

Dear Friends, Relatives, and Prayer Partners,We got that trip to New York. Matt and I hit the RENT lottery, and got to sit in the dead center of the front row for $20 per seat. Considering seats in the third row are $110, that is pretty good. To see how we managed to do that, see: http://www.siteforrent.com/rushticketpolicy.php Mine was the fourth card called. Paul and Timmy went to see Spamalot,

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-69962550520845561332007-09-24T09:36:00.000-07:002007-10-12T10:37:49.658-07:00

Matt really loves this dish, though Timmy doesn't. He liked it the first time! I made it for dinner on Sunday, just before Paul took Matt back to Radford.Linguine with Tuna, Capers, & RaisinsA more elegant presentation would be to individually plate the pasta and then spoon the other items over it.Sophisticated yet incredibly easy, this dish brings the flavors of Sicily to your table. Prep time

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33232198.post-89872554701107666602007-09-21T13:05:00.000-07:002007-10-12T10:38:14.661-07:00

When Stephanie Pearl McPhee said she was short, we didn't realize how serious she was:But, seriously, when knitters go to a Yarn Harlot event, they wear their best stuff. Unfortunately, my best stuff is crocheted:Stephanie didn't hold it against me, though, and she signed all four of my books, and even let me hold the travelling sock! We did not plan our wardrobes. Honest.There were, of course,

datatech57http://www.blogger.com/profile/18357732385861126397noreply@blogger.com3