The Village

Heroes often stop at villages throughout their journey. These stops are vital for obtaining supplies, as clearing houses for information and just connecting with people after long periods of isolation. Today I stopped at one of my favorite villages -- the office.

I had an appointment near the office and arranged my day so I could meet Kelly and Marion for lunch. I made a quick visit into the center to say hi to friends and co-workers. Everyone I spoke with was welcoming and warm. It was good see people like Brian and Randall, Deb and Paula, Debby and Susan, Beth, Linda and Deb, Cheryl, Paul, Nicole, Darrin and Mary...I'm sure I'm missing a few. I was drawing such a crowd at one point, I was afraid of distracting the associates. It is hard to believe it has been two months since I stopped work. I even got a chance to chat with Mark, who called Kelly while I was there.

Lunch was fun. There is a church near the office which operates a cafe. It started as an ice cream stand and grew from there. They make the best sandwiches using fresh fillings and their own homemade breads. The portions are generous and the iced tea is sweet. Marion just returned from chaperoning a Dreams Take Flight day in Disney. The program takes underprivileged children to Disney for the day. Yes, for the day. They leave Halifax at 3am and return at 3am the next day. Each child receives a t-shirt, shorts, sneakers, fanny pack, pocket cash, plus the flight down and passes for the rides, etc. Marion had tons of photos and stories from the trip.

This morning the FedEx man showed up at my door with a package. Inside was a soft yellow lamb and a purple dragonfly with glittery wings (he has a wingspan of about 12 inches). The box was from the Colorado crew. I sat the lamb on our home office desk where Cole eyed it intently for awhile. As I've mentioned before, Cole seems to think he has first right of refusal on all stuffed animals entering the premises.

Rob took advantage of the great spring weather and took the afternoon off to go fishing. He caught eight brook trout at a nearby river, the same one we fished last weekend.

The warm weather is also coaxing out the blooms on the forsythia bushes, and the redbud, lilac and potentillas are budding out as well. Unfortunately, the warm weather also seems to be waking up the black flies.

Chocolate is Good for the Soul

If it isn't already, it should be a book title -- Chocolate is Good for the Soul.

The Hero needs sustenance along his journey, and while some may say grains, vegetables and lean protein should make up the menu, for my money a little chocolate soothes the body and the spirit.

Today I received an extravagant gift basket from the local team (thank you Tammy for dropping it off), and you guessed it -- my chocolate cup overfloweth. There are some healthy oranges and apples in the basket which I will enjoy, but many of the other treats have a chocolate theme, and hey, scientists now say a little dark chocolate has health benefits.

The basket included a card signed by members of the team, each of them wishing me well and providing encouragement. As each day goes by work gets a little further away and my focus becomes more insular. It's nice to know people are keeping me in their thoughts and prayers. It seems many of them follow the blog and are keeping up-to-date on my progress that way.

I've been much more tired this time around than before. I'm not sure if it is the cumulative effects of three rounds of chemo, or if perhaps I pushed myself too hard and did too much because I didn't have the nausea this time. Yesterday I slept until 10, got up, laid on the couch, napped and was in bed by 10 and asleep not too long after that. I was quite cross because I didn't have the energy to take advantage of the beautiful weather. Today was a little better; although I still napped I was able to run the vacuum over the floors and put some dishes away. I had hoped to have the energy to walk Cole, but at this rate I barely have the energy to walk up and down stairs.

I also feel bloated and puffy. I'm guessing its the drugs, but even my face looks odd. Something to discuss at my next appointment.

I was feeling sorry for myself so I opened a gift from my joy box -- a bear dressed up as a rabbit, holding a banner saying "Hang in there baby!".

Today's mail had a card from Kathy E. As always her notes are beautiful and inspirational.

Planning is underway for the Relay for Life at work. As previously mentioned the teams are using the Hero's Journey as their theme. I puttered away at creating a poster today to promote the event and sent it to Kelly for input from the teams. I have a couple more ideas for posters, and will work on them tomorrow.

Can't believe the week is already half over and April is wrapping up. My daffodils are blooming and all the seeds I've planted have sprouted -- tomatoes, basil, lettuce, beets, spinach and cosmos. Now I just need the energy to clean up my flower beds.

Look Good Feel Better

Today was a busy day. I took advantage of one of the many programs available to women battling cancer and attended the "Look Good, Feel Better" workshop at the hospital. I'm wiped, but hey that doesn't take much any more, especially the Monday following treatment. And as I learned from one of the women sitting next to me, it could be worse...she says she is exhausted for a good week to 10 days after her chemo.

That's part of the of purpose of the workshop, to connect with others going through the same steps you're taking. The main goal is to help women adapt to the changes in their skin, hair and body which they may not know how to address. For example, I learned today that olive oil is not just for cooking, but makes a wonderful scalp massage oil to banish "cradle cap" or dry skin caused by losing your hair.

In addition, I walked away with a box full of skin care products, sunscreen, moisturizer, make-up and tips on how to use them. It is a worthwhile workshop for any woman going through cancer.

Checked the mail on the way home and had cards from my Dad's twin sister, Trudy, one from Ilene, and cards from two of Rob's aunts, Myrtle and Vivian, both of whom have been following my blog. Thank you ladies! I appreciate your warm thoughts and best wishes. I also received an email from Dad's older sister Joyce as well; she has been tested for the BRCA1 genetic mutation and fortunately doesn't carry it.

I signed up for an archery workshop in May. It is a Beyond BOW (Becoming an Outdoor Woman) experience building on a weekend retreat Kelly, Marion and I attended a couple of years ago. We had a blast and Kelly and I are going to take the archery course together. Hopefully I won't find it too strenuous, but I'm learning to take things at my own speed and not push myself too much.

Time to take a rest. It has been a busy day and I haven't even started to think about supper yet.

First Fish of Spring

The benefit of good, effective drugs is taking advantage of a beautiful day like today. Rob and I took the dogs to a nearby river and cast out the fly lines for the first time this year. The stoneflies were hatching and Rob caught his first trout of the season.

Tess got bored with the whole affair and chewed her leash in half, which means she probably won't be allowed to go on any more fishing trips for a while.

I still tire easily and after an hour or so I was ready to head home. But it was enjoyable to be casting a fly into the stream. I don't normally get out this early in the year because I'm what we call a fair-weather fisherwoman.

Checked the mail last night and received another card from the Colorado team and a card from the administration team locally -- Beth, Linda and Deborah. Thanks ladies, it gave me a chuckle; I love The Cat in the Hat.

I also received a care package from Trudy -- seasons one through four of Sex and the City, a card from her, homemade cards from her daughters, some trashy romance novels and a "Thingamaboob" which is being sold as a cancer awareness fundraiser in her community. It is a key fob with beads representing the size of lumps women find on their own, versus what a doctor or a mammogram can detect. She also inlcuded a bar of really good chocolate. Thanks Trudy. Kelly and I are planning a "Sex and the City" Marathon next weekend, although the chocolate is already gone.

New Drugs, New Attitude

As the Hero makes his journey he often picks up better tools, armor and enhances his skills. For me this comes in the form of a new drug prescribed by my wonderful doctor, and in doubling the dose of anti-nauseants given before and during yesterday's chemo treatment. So far so good.

Last night I came home and curled up on the couch. I find the treatments always make me tired. However, I was able to eat and keep down two small pieces of pizza. I started out slowly, making sure the first stayed in place before ingesting the second...there's no need to waste pizza.

The headache is still a problem and I've been faithfully eating Tylenol to keep it under control. I also had a little heartburn this morning when I woke up so I took my Losec today and will continue for the next four or five days. If anyone is counting I had to take five pills this morning.

Overall I'm thrilled things are much better. Hopefully today continues along the same vein. If this keeps up I'll be able to enjoy the sunshine this weekend (although I have to keep covered up and slathered in sunscreen -- side-effect of one of the drugs is sun sensitivity.)

Had dinner with Paul on Wednesday, and got a call from Dave on Wednesday as well. He and Ang might come out this weekend if I'm feeling up to it. Rob received a card this week from Lisa and Kevin, just to let him know they're thinking of him too.

We also got an invitation to Rebecca's wedding, which is the weekend after my last chemo. The doctor says I should be fine to go, but if we discover the next treatments have adverse effects we may be able to postpone the last treatment until after the wedding.

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts, support and prayers. It all is appreciated and welcomed.

Gearing Up for Round Three

Thursday marks the halfway point in my chemo treatment. In the context of the hero's journey, these treatments are comparable to a series of small crises the hero must face before reaching the inmost cave, where he grabs the elixir and prepares to head for home. He's halfway through his journey, but there are many more challenges, monsters and complications to face before he can be homeward bound.

For me each of these treatments is different. Fortunately, supporting me on this journey is a good team -- my doctor is doing what she can to make sure I sail through these challenges as easily as possible. Today at my pre-chemo appointment she wrote me a prescription for a new drug to see if we can avoid the nausea and vomiting which accompanied the last two rounds. However, this is the last round of this particular cocktail and even I if I have a bad reaction, hopefully it will be the final time I need to go through it. The next three sessions are a different type of drug, with a whole new array of side effects.

The good news is the tumors continue to shrink. She couldn't feel the one in my lymph nodes at all, and the one in my breast is now about a centimeter.

Today's mail contained four cards. There were three cards from work -- one from the crew in Colorado, one from Kelly in Kentucky (this would be Kelly A, as opposed to Kelly B who visits on a regular basis) and greetings from Ilene (my boss' boss). In addition, Diane G. from my home church also sent a card to let me know she's thinking of me. It's wonderful to open the mailbox and see it full of good wishes...much better than the bills and circulars which are the norm.

Rob and I decided to have supper out tonight and stopped at a sushi place on our way home from the hospital. The restaurant also serves up Thai food which I enjoy more than the sushi.

Tomorrow I'll get my new prescription filled, and maybe do some preemptive cleaning so I don't have to look at dust bunnies when I'm not feeling well. I may even start reading the Sue Grafton novel I picked up tonight. Who knows, maybe if I'm engrossed in a good book, the nausea might not even be an issue.

Quiet Days

Today is Sunday and as Kelly reminded me last evening, my most recent blog was Wednesday night. Time to write again. The week before chemo is my best week. I feel more energetic and less introspective which sometimes makes it a challenge to write. Besides, who wants to know I played Zelda on the Wii for hours at a time?

The week was quiet. I did receive a couple of cards on Thursday. One from Helen with the "Footprints in the Sand" poem and a disk to remind me I never walk alone, and one from the team in Colorado.

I've been taking advantage of the sunshine and planted some seeds in starter pots in my studio. So far I've planted tomato, cosmos, basil and spinach -- the spinach I'm trying in a window box outdoors. I plan to try some lettuce in a window box as well, that way I can hang it on the deck outside the kitchen where it cannot be run over by the dogs -- or worse.

I also started a new painting, which means I now have three pieces in various states of completion.

Yesterday Rob and I went to the driving range to hit a few golf balls. It was the first day out with the clubs he gave me for my birthday. Note to self...next time try a small or medium bucket of balls. The large bucket is too much for the first day of the season. I can feel every muscle in my body from my buttocks to my neck. It does feel good in a warped kind of way.

As alluded earlier, Kelly was out last night. I cooked my barbecue bruschetta and mixed feta cheese into the grilled peppers and tomatoes with outstanding results. Kelly brought out a cake from Pete's Frootique...lemon raspberry...very tasty. She also brought out the movie Twilight. We both read the book and enjoyed the movie adaptation. I think we were making Rob crazy with our comparisons, he told us at one point just to watch the movie. We're looking forward to seeing the next adaptation, although not as much as we're looking forward to the next Harry Potter movie.

I took advantage of yesterday's sunshine to finally take down my exterior Christmas lights and decorations. They're all packed away until next year. A little later than usual, but the chore is now complete and I can think about scraping the deck and prepping it for painting.

I think today, if the weather holds, we'll do some exploring. Rob is ready to look for some promising fishing spots and Cole is in need of a long walk. If the weather doesn't hold? Well, there's always another hour or two of Zelda, I'm a long way yet from finishing the game.