Tuesday

I was up really early again this morning.  Slept like a log and hardly moved all night.  So glad I am sleeping well.

Today a physical therapist will be here, then Tracy will be here to take me for the radiology treatment.  And make me eat, and eat, and eat.

In the meantime, I really have accomplished something - made some corrections on a couple of knitting projects.  That's always a hassle.  I am expecting some new yarn in the mail soon.  Yippee!  Spent time looking for my fingernail clippers, and didn't find them.  I am told I will lose my hair, so why are my fingernails growing like crazy?  I did order a new remote for the Bose docking station for my XM radio and IPod.  It was easy to find online, and cheap.  A lot of people must lose them!

Rainy, foggy day.  I know Pinedale is sick of rain, but it is sure pretty here.

 

I sneaked this picture of my pickup on Sublette for Sale this morning with Barrie's name and phone number.  I'm hoping people will bug her and she will get it sold for me!  I've changed my mode of transportation for a walker.  And it's red too!  I think I'll call it "Pappy" (short for Paprika)?  Why do we name things?

*********************







Monday

Big day today - both chemo and radiation treatments scheduled.  It's really an easy day, though.  I sit in a recliner for the chemo treatment, hooked to a big bag dripping the solution into my arm, covered with a warm blanket, and reading my Kindle.  I usually go to sleep.  Radiation takes about 10 minutes.  I'm never sure if I'm supposed to be taking my shirt off or putting it on.

 

My calendar is a little small, so Tracy brought me this new planner yesterday.  Pretty neat, especially what is written on the front cover.  A bonus six months is nice to plan on!  I don't know how they can guarantee that, but it's a nice thought.

Well, I will feel proud as soon as I get around to pretending to do something!

Saturday

I have achieved something!! Check out the time, people! I have beat Judi up and posted my blog.  Can't decide whether to eat some ice cream, or go back to bed!

My friend Mary Lou, who now lives in Bullhead City with her daughter, Kris, sent me this yesterday.  She sings "I Want to be Loved by You"! 

Mary Lou babysat Tracy when she was little, and they used to play a game called "The Horrible Pink Curtain", a totally original game they made up.  Neither one of them remembers what the point of the game was now, but they had fun.  Tracy thinks this must be "The Horrible Pink Curtain's" grand daughter.  Look at those knobby knees!

After just one song from her, Daisy stayed behind Paul for protection.

****************

 

I am supposed to be pushing the protein.  Seems like all I do is eat, sleep, eat some more, and sleep some more.  I guess that's my job right now.  And soon a physical therapist will be bossing me around a couple days a week. I may soon be sleepwalking just to keep everyone happy.

 

And how's this for a cool iPhone case? 



Thursday

I don't think I remembered to say that Tracy and Paul have threatened to put a "Grandma Block" on the TV.  I have no idea how I did it, but I managed to purchase a baseball game - for $40 of all things! When I saw what I had done, I immediately turned the set off - didn't even watch the game!  Tracy got it straightened out.  And no, they have not blocked me, not even from porn!

 

I keep forgetting to post "Throwback Thursday" photos.  Here is one of my old favorites.  Tracy and her sister Leslie are wearing the matching shirts I made them.  Marty and Sonny have slicked back hair that probably never moved all day. Sonny has been posting photos lately on Facebook of him dressed in his Indian regalia. 

******************

 

A physical therapist was here yesterday to start me on a program.  Okay, I said I'll try it for a while, and I will.  I don't remember now how often he will be coming, and they have promised I can quit if I want.  I'm sure I would rather be knitting, or reading.

 

 

 

I like this thought.

 

Wednesday

Another beautiful day in Colorado.  This place grows on you!

Tracy was up in the middle of the night again to check on me.  What am I going to do with her?  She is such a light sleeper.  Sometimes I am up in the middle of the night reading, or knitting.  It's not that I am lying awake worrying about anything.  Far from it!  It's just that the couch is so comfortable, I am comfortable, and just feel like reading, or knitting.

Also planning on how to get my drawing and painting area set up.

I told Tracy I DID need her last night.  I was almost to order some new yarn, and saved myself just in time.  But I may change my mind and order it anyway. 

I am having lots of problems with Amazon.  It seems some of my orders are being shipped FedEx and those people can't get their act together and my orders are being sent to the post office box in Pinedale, and end up at Sublette Center.  UPS is getting my goodies here just fine.  I need to get that straightened out soon.

I actually texted Barrie this morning!  I'm learning.  But my fingers are too fat! Love the new phone!

I promised myself about thirty years ago I would never get another flu shot, but I got one yesterday.  No ill effects, and I even forgot which arm it was in.

Tuesday

Long day yesterday, but easy.  Had both chemo and radiology which takes several hours.  Things are going good.

Woke up on the couch at midnight and had a tough decision - either go to bed and maybe not sleep well (maybe), or stay up and knit.  I drank water, had some Ensure, stayed up and knit and watched part of a movie!  It woke Tracy up, and she came down to make  sure I was okay.  I should have remembered she is a very light sleeper. I think I'll get her a little beeper thingie.  So I can assure her I will beep her if I fall at night.  Paul didn't hear me at all.

New iPhone is working great.  Now to explore everything about it, which seems to be exactly like the iPad.  Somehow, I have XM radio playing on it right now.

Sunday

Tracy took me to Cocso yesterday, put me in an electric chair, and we shopped!  I now have an iPhone 5 and am trying to figure it out.  It helps to have some experience with the iPad, but it is confusing.  Having fun, and Tracy is so good with technical stuff.

The electric chair was quite an experience.  I didn't run over anyone, and had a few near misses on the corners.

After Cocso, we went for a drive.  The colors in Colorado are "peaking" and Tracy and I definitely "peaked." A beautiful drive!

This is Gilman, Co.  It is an abandoned mining town.  I guess the company just came into town one night and moved everyone out, even leaving their dishes on the table.  The town was abandoned in 1984 because of toxic chemicals.  It is currently a ghost town on private property and is strictly off limits to the public.

There are the abandoned houses of Gilmore.  There are cars still left in garages, toys, clothes, etc.  Kind of spooky. 

 

This is the bridge over the highway into Redstone.

 

When I saw the main street of little Redstone, I told Tracy I wanted to buy the town and just live there!

Saturday

One of these days, Judi, I am going to beat you up and have my blog written before you do!  I woke up early, was just lying there looking out the window at the sky and decided to get up.  Paul and Tracy are having a bed delivered today, so they are moving the one out of their bedroom downstairs.  Daisy and I are supervising.

****************

 

Am loving watching the Rockies pulling out their wins the last two nights. 

 

Plans for the weekend - I get the weekend off from treatment.  Paul plans on golfing, and Tracy  mentioned that the fall colors are at their peak.  Am looking forward to the day.

 

The furniture is coming from Denver, so no telling when it will get here.  And Tracy has new drapes to hang.

 

 

 ****************

Thursday

Tracy is at a conference in Keystone, so Paul is in charge of getting me to treatment today and tomorrow. 

I went to sleep on the couch last night and Tracy didn't have the heart to wake me up and make me go to bed.  Couch sleeps nice!!

 

This is what I see in the ceiling in the radiology room while I am laying on my back looking up.  Gorgeous.  There are two of them, very similar. 

My friend Claire is just about the most thoughtful person I know.  She sent me a head cover, bandana type, yesterday.  I have been knitting a hat, which will probably fit the Jolly Green Giant, and I will probably never wear it.

Hmm, eat, drink, take pills, sleep, read, etc.  Exciting life.  The new walker came, and all we had to do was take it out of the box and unfold it.  Have to think of a name for it!

There are two hawks circling in the sky outside the window.  Hope they aren't watching the little rabbit.

Things to do today

Number one on my list of things to do today:

1. Get up early to watch beautiful sunrise
2. Turn on fireplace because it's chilly in here
3. Sit on couch and blissfully ignore smoke filling the air

Well, I got all that done.  Tracy has called the fireplace man to come.  That was the first time it has been used for more than just turning it on to see if it worked.  It took about 30 minutes to fill the room with smoke, and the smoke alarm never went off.  I will not charge Paul and Tracy for testing it out for them.

********************

 

Tracy plans on taking me to the Verizon store after we go to Shaw today and get a new phone.  I have cancelled everything I had with Century Tel.  Barrie called yesterday, and I told her I am going to learn to text.  Kasey already knows how, of course.

 

 

This watercolor painting hangs in the hallway at the Shaw Center.  I had Tracy photograph it for me yesterday.  Eye Candy.  I love this artist's style and colors.

 





Tuesday

"I don't always go to WalMart... but when I do, I'm reminded that I have hit the genetic lottery."

This is from my friend, Alan Berge, in Wyoming.  Thanks, Alan!  I hadn't been to a Walmart in a long time, and just sat in the car and watched the parking lot.  I have a new walker ordered, so when it comes and is ready, look out Walmart!  Tracy has to take me.  And yes, I am taking my camera!

 

And taking a camera to Walmart sounds like a good way to start!

***************

 

I had my first chemo treatment and first radiology yesterday.  It took a long time, of course, but no pain, and so far no after effects that I'm aware of.  I took both my kindle reader and some knitting, and got in a good nap.  I will have radiology every day, and chemo once a week.  The radiology only takes a few minutes.

 

*****************

 

I am having my land phone, internet, and email account from CenturyTel turned off the end of the month. I called them this morning.  I have discovered something when dealing with places like that who are usually so difficult to deal with.  First thing, tell them you have cancer and let your voice tremble a little bit.  They immediately turn into a helpful person who speaks perfect English, and give you the assistance you need without many questions!  Keep that in mind.

 

I have discovered something else.  You remember the old prayer (I think it is a prayer) about fear of "things that go bump in the night?"  Well, that "bump" is actually just the ice maker in the big fridge/freezer in the bar, kicking out ice cubes!  No need to be afraid. 

 

****************

 



 



Tracy brought me this little planter full of succulents last week.  Aren't they beautiful?  They may be in trouble, though.  She thinks she brought home some of those pesky little flies that like to come home with from you from places like Walmart and the grocery stores.  I hope not.

 

*****************

 

For those of you who read my blog, I will now be using my google email account, which, is duene7@gmail.com.  You may be getting notification of this more than once, but the old account will be cancelled as of next week, and don't want to miss anyone. 

 



Saturday

 

Okay friends, I believe the above picture explains my status for today. Constipation and dehydration problems solved.  That's all I am going to say on the subject and more than I'm sure any of you want to know.

Radiation and Chemo both start Monday.  The show is on the road.

 

And this little guy came out on the deck yesterday just to say hello.

Living Life in the Fast Lane

Sat in the car while Tracy went in a super-duper Wal-Mart somewhere for groceries on the way home from Vail hospital.  Now I know why people take their cameras to those big Wal-Marts to watch people dressed (or not), and what they wear.  I didn't have the nerve to take photos!

This is why we were almost late for our appointment!

Also heard a train. 

Nap time now!

Tuesday

Same old, same old.  Not doing a very good job of keeping up with all my friends and relatives, but I hope you understand. 

Beautiful rainy day today in Gypsum.  Flash flood warnings, but NOTHING like the Southwest is getting!  Leaves are turning here quickly. 

 

 

This sign is still in effect.  No exceptions!

Sunday

I spent time yesterday writing a group email to everyone in my address book.  It was a great, newsy letter, and I have no idea where it went when I pushed "send".  The only thing of real interest was my constipation story, which I don't want to talk about and you don't want to hear.  When I told Barrie, she laughed and said "Yeah, been there, done that."  I guess dogs get constipated too.

I'll catch up more later.  In the meantime, I am being well taken care of by all!

Love you all and thanks for your thoughts and good cheer.

Settled in

 

 

I'm all settled in at Paul and Tracy's house.  Had an uneventful six hour drive to get here.  Paul and Tracy packed all my things downstairs and Tracy unpacked everything.

Here we are on the downstairs deck.  It's hard for me to think of this as "downstairs", as it is on a hillside and looks out over a large golf course. 

Here is the view out my window this morning. 

 

And here is my very own "Red Solo Cup".  Sorry, it's got something like "Pedialite" in it, and it is for sick kids to keep them hydrated.  Tracy brought it home. Well, I can pretend, can't I?  And there is a full bar down here!

My first doctor appointment is tomorrow afternoon.  Things are finally getting started!