Mukilteo Musings

2009-08-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Culture Queen is back!Many of you may remember my mother plugging my own blog, http://theculturequeen.blogspot.com, a long time back before the whirlwind of her illness hit. After much consideration and a newfound engine-revving of my writing, I've decided to return to my blog, whose goal is to bring classical music and gourmet food together for normal people to enjoy.I just wrote a "welcome

2009-07-11T21:15:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone!The Eatons are all safe and sound, back in Seattle after a glorious trip to Germany, Estonia, and Finland. I'll post pictures soon (there's a lot of them, so it will take some sorting out) so you can get a taste of our adventure!In the mean time, I, in my rebellious, secretive and impulsive way, decided that I would permanently pay memory to my mother on the way home from a concert

2009-06-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

Today I was alone in my house, like every day. It’s a big house to inhabit alone. No matter how old we are, solitude in a big house brings the unknown to the forefront. Especially doors – they loom, mysterious. What’ s behind them. When you’re alone, you can’t ask anyone, “hey, what do you think is behind that door?” And then when there’s wind –

2009-05-17T21:05:00.000-07:00

Goat Cheese I have a very specific memory of sitting outside next to a 10th century castle, that 2003 summer in France which incinerated the entire country, bicyclists and all. There was an umbrella over our heads, thank God; and red checked tablecloth, a (several) basket full of bread, a (few) bottles of wine, and sun-and-sweat (and wine) induced delirium. The ground

2009-05-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

Every night, without fail, I dream about my mom. Sometimes it borders on a nightmare, with me waking in the morning resentful that in my dream she was ill, or upset. But the other night, I dreamt that she was visiting – and it reminded me of the color of our relationship with perfect exactitude; and when I woke I felt not more agony, more emptiness, but a completeness, a realization that I can

2009-05-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

I hate sentimental writing. I absolutely despise clichés, hokey metaphors, things we’ve all heard before in Hallmark movies. On the surface, it seems like loss provokes really bad art; but one thing I’ve realized is that words and images we consider trite are maligned for their overuse, which, truthfully, just signals something inherently human. And therefore something inherently true. So while

2009-03-19T08:55:00.000-07:00

My mom always told me I was a "surprise", not an "accident". That I just decided to exist, and that's why she knew I was here for a reason. Here is my reason.mem·o·ry \ˈmem-rē, ˈme-mə-\ nounplural mem·o·riesEtymology:Middle English memorie, from Anglo-French memoire, memorie, from Latin memoria, from memor mindful; akin to Old English gemimor well-known, Greek mermēra care, Sanskrit smarati he

2009-03-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

Friends of Janet-Please see the lovely tribute to Janet, written by 'The World According to Chuck' Sigars, and also appearing in the Mukilteo Beacon this week:http://chucksigars.com/index.php/2009/03/18/dear-mrs-lucas/comment-page-1/#comment-41316Thanks for writing this, Chuck.Dave

2009-03-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

Janet Carol Lane Eaton 1953-2009Dear Blogger friends of Janet -- today is the last post, a tribute to Janet. Her obituary is below.Thank you all for the marvelous support you have provided us in this most difficult time. Don't delete your URL-- Kaley, who is a marvelous writer, has promised to write a few tributes to her mom for posting on the 'Mukilteo Musings' blog!DaveJanet Lane Eaton, J.D.

2009-02-24T16:30:00.000-08:00

[Dave transcribing for Janet - Tuesday, 2-24-09]Sorry this is so delayed. I got stuck in a nursing home for 10 days. Although redecorated, not a very nice place to be-- they didn’t even have wireless [much to Dave’s chagrin]! Luckily – or unluckily- they almost killed me yet again, so yesterday I was shipped back to the UW hospital. The nursing home failed to give me enough fluids so I became

2009-02-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

I'm still here![Janet speaking, dictated by Dave]:I just want to wear pearls, and sweeters and get dressed fast! And have fun. I gave my family a scare- again. I guess I bled in my stomach on Saturday; the ordeal took the whole day, and everybody rushed around. I'm sorry. I woke up surprise to find everyone looking at me. And I asked them "Did I scare you?" Evidently I did, in a big way.

2009-01-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

(Dave is transcribing this:)My dear friends,Two days after my 'good news', I started not to feel so well (on Saturday). At the moment I'm at the UW Hospital. Evidently, sometime on Saturday I went through a severe bowel perforation. I guess the chemo worked too well and burned a hole through my colon. I've never been through such extreme pain in my life, even after having two babies without

2009-01-23T15:59:00.000-08:00

Yep, I am Getting Better!Yesterday, I went through both a PET scan and a CAT scan. They do not seem to have a DOG scan, at least not yet. Let me say, the tests are not fun. It took three hours and my bladder had to be catheterized which is a most unpleasant experience. In addition, they make me drink this Barium stuff which tears my stomach apart all night and into the next morning. The best

2009-01-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

Inauguration DayTaken this morning right after the ceremony.Yesterday, I sent Dave on a task after my chemo. He was to find an American flag for us to hang on this momentous day. And he did and here it is draped in our Puget Sound fog.Obama's speech was powerful to me. People were quiet, wanting to gather every emotion and hear every word. It is one for the books to be studied. I could have

2009-01-17T14:49:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Inauguration StoryGeorge Hickman, age 84 of Seattle, has been invited to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration. Mr. Hickman was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the segregated black air force that served and bravely fought during WW2. They were not allowed to be mixed with the regular Air Force made up exclusively of white men. When they returned from the war, they were excluded

2009-01-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

EntertainmentFor several years now, Kaley has thrown a large Christmas party for her friends. This year when she asked me if she could once again have her party, I said yes. Again, I thought I would not be on chemo. When I learned otherwise, the party invites had gone out and I did not want her to cancel her popular party. Even though my life is totally off kilter, I have this great desire for my

2009-01-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

FloodinessWe seem to be having 100 year floods every year now. You cannot have foot after foot of snow in the lowlands and the mountains with a warm up to 50 degrees without serious consequences. Mudslides, avalanches, and rivers over their banks surround us on all sides. For a while, all of the mountain passes were closed and I-5 was closed between Portland and Seattle. The Puget Sound area was

2009-01-09T15:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Was My Birthday!I turned 56 yesterday. Birthdays are a premium as one ages and especially so if one is sick with a serious illness. I still cannot believe I am in the pickle I'm in but it is what it is.My Mom and my only sibling, my brother, flew out here to be with us for my birthday. I have felt pretty good. When they made the original plans, I thought I'd be off chemo and feeling

2009-01-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

TriumphantTriumph and triumphant. I like these words. Now that we enter a new year, I do believe I want to incorporate them into my daily life. Saying the words out loud gives strength. Of course, the words are found in Christmas carols and this is why they came into my head this morning. Many issues lurk before me and my prayer is to be triumphant in dealing with everything.Dave and I were

2009-01-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

New Year's DayAs usual, we have been watching the Rose Parade. I remember back in the day when color TV's first came out and people were excited to be able to view the Rose Parade in color. The Rose Parade was the standard. Now it is HD and digital and blah blah. All I know is that even regular TV these days is infinitely better than the first color TV's. When we were first married, we still had

2008-12-31T11:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year?On Monday, we met with my oncologist. He was out of the country when the results of my last CT scan were available so he wanted to talk with us about my new chemo regimen. No new information was provided but being faced with the reality of my situation again upset me.This morning I woke up realizing it was New Year's Eve and all I wanted was to wake up from this bad dream. I was

2008-12-28T14:31:00.000-08:00

Church TodayIt is difficult for me to get anywhere or do much of anything in the mornings. Happily, I made it to church today with Lucas, Dave, and Kaley and was able to listen to Kaley sing three solo Christmas carols. The entire service was enjoyable. Two babies were baptized and along with them we all renewed our Baptismal vows. The music director also had a brass quartet playing carols before

2008-12-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas Follow UpI was blessed with feeling quite good on Christmas day. We managed to get in a walk through the snow and slush and we had good friends come over for a glass of wine in the afternoon. After dinner, we tried to get Lucas and Kaley to sing or play some carols on their instruments. Kaley responded we could hear her in church on Sunday where she will do some solo Christmas music.

2008-12-25T14:28:00.000-08:00

Merry ChristmasDave had no presents from me under the tree thanks to our snow and UPS. It seems as though FedEx had fewer problems. They managed to get my online orders to Montana in horrible weather conditions on the day I requested. But getting packages from Everett to Mukilteo by UPS? Nope. Kaley's presents to us also did not make it so we will continue to have Christmas in the tradition of

2008-12-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

Dreaming of a White Christmas----NOT!Seattle had ten inches of snow. I was a little concerned about getting to my chemo yesterday but Dave got me there. And my regular nurse made it there, too. I didn't want my schedule to be off. Thank goodness Dave is such a good driver in the snow. His Montana upbringing along with an accident or two as a teen in the snow has served him well. The hills in our

2008-12-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

BlanketedSanta's back with his head still attached.The Puget Sound area had another storm move through yesterday afternoon and last night. It was predicted to be crazy and insane with high winds and snow. Some areas did receive more extreme conditions than others. We did not have wind but we did end up with five more inches of snow on top of snow that never melted. This is highly unusual.About a

2008-12-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

Look for Each Day's GiftsLike this morning's view out my back window:Snow at sea level on Camano Island.In addition, I have a list of more positive aspects of my life in the last couple of days:1. Having my family around makes me feel more normal and it keeps my mind off of myself. Lucas and Magali have been here this week and they are such a delightful and funny couple of kids. I enjoy them. As

2008-12-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

The Paralysis of Snow in SeattleRather than melt away, the snow stayed and then it snowed some more. It is so weird how our huge mountain ranges influence where and when the snow falls. For example, we have about four or five inches but not too far north of here, they have two feet. All over the Puget Sound area, cars are abandoned and parts of our freeways are shut down. Schools are closed. TV

2008-12-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

SNOW in Mukilteo!Even when it snows up the street, we rarely get much snow down here at sea level. But last night we had a lovely snowfall and it happened while Lucas, Magali, Dave and I were decorating the downstairs Christmas tree. It was magical.When I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I was stunned by the view from the bathroom. It was truly a winter wonderland. Cold

2008-12-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

My ProtectorsThe eagles woke me up this morning with their squawking at 7:30 AM on the dot. It is ok because I think of them as my protectors. My comfy perch on the family room couch has a view of the water, the mountains, yes, the TV, and one of the eagles' favorite trees. I was just watching the two of them, probably a matched pair for life, sitting closely together on the very top of the tree.

2008-12-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

Life is a TapestryOne of my friends, SusanG, posted a beautiful poem about God's weaving of our life into a beautiful tapestry. Go read it. It is in the comments to the post below. Weirdly, from several different and unconnected places, I have seen and heard reference to the tapestry since last Thursday when we heard the news about my CT scan. It is true, I am having difficulty seeing the purpose

2008-12-06T11:05:00.000-08:00

How Am I Feeling Today?In my life, things have usually worked out well for me. I like to feel in control of issues. This cancer business has changed all of this. There is not much I can do about these next rounds of chemo except to relax into them with a positive attitude.I have been having moments of anxiety. I am facing fear and my own mortality right in the face. My priest was helpful and I

2008-12-05T08:38:00.000-08:00

The Grinch Who Stole My ChristmasI am devastated today. I am in pieces. I am Humpty Dumpty and the Grinch pushed me off the wall. The CT scan did not have the results we expected or wanted. Evidently, the two large liver tumors have become resistant to the chemo and decided to grow a little bit. The colon tumor is still gone completely, thank God. This is such difficult news because the first

2008-11-30T12:38:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Animal CountEveryone who reads this blog knows I grew up in Montana and all of my family still lives there. Thanksgiving is a time of hunting and phone calls from Montana include the stories. My husband hunted with his father and friends as a child and young man in Montana. In fact, when I first started dating him, I was concerned that he skipped school to go deer hunting. Being that

2008-11-28T11:38:00.000-08:00

My ThanksgivingYesterday morning was rough for me. The steroids from Monday's chemo had worn off and after eating my cereal, I retreated to my bed feeling terrible. The chemo is hard on my gut and the pain I experience is worse than any pain I felt from the no-longer-existing colon tumor. In addition, I just felt exhausted and crummy. My children are home and not being able to get out of bed and

2008-11-25T10:52:00.000-08:00

The Day AfterMy final and 12th chemo happened yesterday. Most of the time I had the same nurse, Eileen, so we gave her a little parting gift. Today and until tomorrow I am on my pump. My next CT scan will be Wednesday, a week from tomorrow. I don't feel too bad so I changed my dining room table to look more like Thanksgiving thanks to my high school friends (yet again, you darling people) who

2008-11-22T12:47:00.000-08:00

The Most Touching GiftOne of my best friends from my childhood created the most wonderful gift. Cathy and I have been friends since the second grade. For first grade, I had attended Helena's ghetto school. My parents bought a house on the growing east side of Helena and we moved out of the tiny basement apartment in the middle of town. Second grade landed me in a brand new school figuratively and

2008-11-20T15:36:00.000-08:00

Piles of StuffSince my diagnosis, cleaning my house has been limited. I find picking up a few things, dusting, and making my bed to be the extent of my energy. The dog hair drives Dave crazy so he is motivated to sweep and vacuum. Without the children here, these small efforts keep the house fairly orderly.However, an exception exists in the form of piles in the family room/kitchen area. We all

2008-11-17T13:41:00.000-08:00

Busy Morning at SeaWhile I was in my shower this morning, I watched a bald eagle swoop from tree to tree. Immediately after that, I saw a blue heron change roosts. Next, a Navy ship sailed by. And then going the other direction was a log jam pulled by a tug boat carrying its usual passenger load of seals.Certainly, I was hoping none of the seals had any high powered binoculars but then I

2008-11-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

It's a Beautiful DayAnd I am alive for this day. Yesterday was a good day for me. I felt well enough to piddle around my house and clean it up a bit. You see, I was expecting guests. My good buddy, Tina, and her husband traveled here from Colorado to see their son who is a sophomore at one of our local colleges. In the process, they stopped by to see me. Tina was my college roomie and the maid of

2008-11-13T13:39:00.000-08:00

Made It!The chemo is affecting me harder as I near the end. Yesterday, I was unhooked from my pump and usually I feel pretty good on pump unhooking day. But I felt yucky and I think it may have had to do with the fact that I received a flu shot on Monday. When I went to bed last night, I took a Tylenol and then two more in the middle of the night and I sweated all over the place. I felt a little

2008-11-11T16:10:00.000-08:00

Chemo Room Gossip1. Private room. Actually, since I had a private room and bed (YES!), I did not eavesdrop on other patient's conversations. I did meet with the oncology nurse about my neuropathies. I guess I have to be severely gimpy for them to stop the one drug that has this side effect. In other words, my feet would have to be so numb that I could barely walk. I am not in that category and

2008-11-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

How do I Feel?Yesterday, I felt pretty good in the afternoon. Lucas came home to eat lunch with me during his noon break. I had two friends pay a delightful visit to me and I walked Apolo. Apolo was not a good dog when he decided to drag me across the street to stake his claim to the neighborhood over two dogs being nicely walked by their owner. I can no longer restrain him because I am not as

2008-11-05T11:38:00.000-08:00

My ThoughtsWe have a new president-elect this morning and a new dawn for America. Lucas and Magali spent last evening with us and Kaley was connected to us by cell phone as we watched the returns. Seriously, I thought McCain would win because of past elections and the still huge undecided voters. This was my daughter's first presidential election and my son's second. I believe what has been

2008-11-03T15:37:00.000-08:00

The Ads are Getting to MeI just got back from the dentist. I had to cancel my regular appointment a while ago because with the chemo and feeling ill, going to the dentist was not a priority. But, chemo can be hard on gums and teeth so the oncology nurse suggested I make a visit. The dentist told me everything looked just fine! Whew! I must say going to the dentist now is not so bad when put in

2008-10-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

Spooky HalloweenFinally, we have some Halloween candy to give out this evening. It is always difficult to judge how many trick or treaters we will have because we live on a hill and a dead end street. Our weather is breezy and drizzly so my guess is we will have older kids and teens but not too many little ones.I am feeling good today so I braved the rain to do my walk with Apolo. I do not know

2008-10-31T09:48:00.000-07:00

HorribleYesterday, on the news I heard that a man had committed suicide by setting himself on fire on the UW campus. I was sorry and horrified. I did not assume Dave would necessarily even know about it because the campus is large and he has two offices.But last night when he arrived home, he explained that he witnessed the tragedy along with many students. Dave was in his upper campus office

2008-10-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

Chemo Room GossipUnfortunately, on Monday, the beds were all taken and I had to get my five hours of chemo in a chair. At least it reclined but the chair rooms are only separated by curtains and the area was extremely noisy. Since my chemo seems to take longer than most people who are in the chairs, I had the chance to overhear several stories. Oh, and by the way, my nurse looked at me when we

2008-10-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

Some This and That1. Chemo. Out of the two weeks, I seem to get one afternoon of feeling near normal. Right at this moment, I feel pretty good and it will stay this way for a good share of the afternoon. But, of course, tomorrow morning I go in for my 10th chemo and I start the coping and enduring all over again. The other day, I caught myself saying, "This damn chemo." I realized immediately the

2008-10-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

One of Those DaysFall is in full swing. Sometimes when I am dealing with my symptoms, I fail to look around me. Today is outstanding if a little coolish. The foliage is turning all hues of gold, red and yellow and it is set against a backdrop of brilliant blue. I took these pictures this morning:From the Back Deck.From the Front Deck.Apolo On the Back Deck.

2008-10-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

First OutingSince my diagnosis, I have not really been on any kind of outing except for my medical appointments, my walks, and an occasional brief trip to the store or the beach. On Saturday, Lucas came over for dinner because Magali was ice climbing on Mt. Baker and he asked us to come and visit them to see their apartment. Yesterday afternoon, I felt well enough to take a little trip into

2008-10-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

LaughterDifficult times make laughter hard to come by. And yet, it is during these times that laughter becomes important for life, enjoyment, and healing. Some days I watch "Ellen." She makes me laugh. My favorite prayer book at the moment, "Praying Through Cancer" by Sorenson and Geist has a prayer about humor. Eva Rice, one of the contributors laughed about how her eldest daughter referred to

2008-10-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

Ode to the Colon StentYesterday was my ninth chemo and I intended to take the camera with me. But, since my infusion was scheduled at 8:30, meaning we had to leave at 7:30 because of traffic, it was too early for me to remember. Why would I want to take the camera to chemo, one may ask? Because of the sculpture.A sculpture was created and erected at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center which is

2008-10-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

What is in a Name? Our names are precious to us. Seeing my name written on anything makes me think of myself and who I am as a flesh and blood person. It just so happens my name is a little off on my credit card but I do not really care about that. It shows how much I value the small piece of plastic. They just forgot to leave a space where there should be a space. It seems the credit card

2008-10-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

Lemons to Water BalloonsOn Monday, I had my second CT scan to document my progress with the chemotherapy. We found out the results late yesterday afternoon and did not get home from Seattle until 6 PM. Since I am a political junkie, the Presidential Debate took precedence over updating my blog. I do not have a lap top to type away on while I watch TV like Dave does.This time with the scan, they

2008-10-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

My SanctuaryThe eagles had not been around lately. I suppose they headed for better fishing spots but yesterday, I saw one of my protectors. He landed magestically on top of one of the big doug firs on the bluffs. I watched him for a while with the binoculars. Also, I received notice from my Orca Sighting Network that the J, K, and L pods had swung down here from the San Juans. They were seen

2008-10-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

My Infusion PumpI have described before how after I receive my five hours of chemo which consists of a number of toxic bags of chemicals being dripped into my body, I go home with a small pump in a fanny pack to deliver one last bag over two days. It is a pain to carry the thing around. It is kind of heavy and it is attached to my shoulder port with long thin clear plastic tubing. One has to be

2008-09-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

A Little Bit of This and a Little bit of That1. Last Days. Oh NO. My last days are here. At least according to Best Western they are. They send me e-mails and the shortened title I see is "Janet, Enjoy your Last Days...." Ah SCREAM! How do they know I have cancer? Please do no send e-mails like this to cancer patients even if all you are saying is enjoy the last days of nice weather somewhere.2.

2008-09-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

Symptoms of Colon CancerI realized in reviewing my past posts that I did not go into detail about what my specific symptoms were and what led me to the doctor finally. The different nurses who take care of me during chemo who tend to be about my age all want to know. I guess I have put myself out there in the world for all to read about so I should provide more information in case my experience

2008-09-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

Our Favorite CommercialBirds seem to have become a theme of my cancer journey. Obviously, when one is suffering from an illness, as I am, you do think about what is important in life. Having tons of money is not one of the things that leads to happiness. On the other hand, having good health care coverage is. Thank God we have good health care coverage and everyday I think about those people in

2008-09-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Update---I'm Doing BetterWhen we were having our conversation with my oncologist last Monday, Dave and I were doing all of the talking. Dr. Back then asked if he could put in his two cents worth. It was quite a funny moment, actually. We stopped talking and listened. My problem is that I have been afraid to take too much of the powerful medications they have provided for me but Dr. Back was

2008-09-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

Police Beat (Car Story Grande Finale)Sometime during the month of November, we received a phone call from Mr. Wooly, the owner of the upscale used car dealership where Dave had purchased our mint green Jag with beige leather interior. I did not keep track of exact dates because to be honest, I was not taking anything to do with our automobiles seriously. I have left such matters up to Dave as

2008-09-16T15:32:00.000-07:00

How Did This Law Abiding Family End Up in the Mukilteo Beacon Police Beat??Part 4When Kaley returned home from college and saw and drove the new (used) dark blue Acura, she was smitten. This was her car and she would no longer share with risky Dad. Besides, we were letting her take the car to college her sophomore year again leaving Dave without. The big old suburban was stored with our boat.

2008-09-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Life's PicturesDave took the first two pictures about a week ago. We have had some lovely sunsets. This morning Dave and Lucas went fishing for silvers (salmon) but they did not catch anything. I guess they had a good time watching sea lions and some porpoises, though.I try to enjoy my dinners. I try.Glorious sky.Power washer Dave!Update on the days activities: I just returned from taking Apolo

2008-09-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

An Update and Departure from AutomobilesI will post the finale of this family's car issues in the next few days. It is amazing how much an inanimate object such as a car becomes such a huge part of our lives. I remember my Dad used to call our Ford Falcon station wagon, "Betsy" back in the 60's. We have not given our vehicles human names but the way they control many aspects of our day to day

2008-09-12T10:16:00.000-07:00

Car Drama, Driver Sharing Part 3The Porsche was gone. Lucas was falling in love with a Jeep he cannot hurt. We had driver child number two coming down the pike. Ok, I won't get into the fact that our Einstein-like IQ daughter blessed us with an additional year because of difficulties passing driving tests. Never mind that we paid for an expensive driver training course.We had inherited a 1986

2008-09-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

Car Drama, Part 2Fast forward about 15 or 20 years and parents come to the realization that their progeny have to learn to drive. Not only do they need to learn to drive, they seem to need access to an automobile. At the time Lucas was learning to drive, we still had the 1979 Porsche. We also had a 1987 Jeep Cherokee we had purchased new when Lucas was two years old. The Jeep had become

2008-09-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

What is it About Automobiles? Part 1Drama has been created in our lives because of cars. I do not know where it all started. When I was dating Dave and when we were first married, he drove a gold Pontiac Firebird with a tachometer on the hood. In Kansas City, I worked in an inner city all Black elementary school the first year we lived there, and I drove the Firebird everyday. The children loved

2008-09-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

We Made It!My Mom had no idea when she flew here from Montana this time that she would be in a parade, go to the beach, eat crab and salmon, and sit in our bath tub to watch the Mukilteo fireworks. Don't fret--we all had our clothes on. It is just that our new bathroom has a pretty good view of the fireworks from Mukilteo Lighthouse Park over and above the trees, of course.I did make it to the

2008-09-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

Forgot the Camera Yesterday!Friday and Saturdays after my Monday chemo tend to be a little rough. At the moment, I do not feel that great. I have some bowel issues, I feel nauseated, I am tired and a little dizzy. I have been in bed with all of my clothes on watching "The View." When I am like this I have a hard time concentrating so it is difficult to read a book or the paper. YUCK! But I'm

2008-09-02T10:41:00.000-07:00

A Bit of This and That1. Bird news: A bird hit our window yesterday morning. Luckily. it was simply stunned and sat on our front deck while waiting to fully recover. He was in a spot in full view of Apolo who proceeded to bark at the poor thing. I was worried he would give the bird a heart attack but no, the bird seemed to revive more quickly in order to get away from the giant gold furry monster

2008-08-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Cancer Is Not For WimpsI read this somewhere and it is true. Many of my friends and neighbors ask me how I am doing. Usually, I answer that I am doing ok. I do not want to say "fine" because a good share of the time I feel like I have a flu bug or I feel like I am pregnant. Those of you who have been pregnant understand how smells can be overpowering and how certain foods are no longer appealing.

2008-08-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

Loose Ends1. As I mentioned before, Indian Paintbrush is my favorite flower. The colors are most spectacular at Branham Lakes near Sheridan, Montana than anywhere else. And believe me, I have seen Indian Paintbrush in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado. My nephew, Rick, sent me this photo taken at Branham Lakes and I thank him!2. Here is a photo of Branham Lakes from last weekend evidently

2008-08-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

My Angel Sings!All of you who read this blog know my daughter sings. Some of you have heard her and others have not. Many of you have expressed an interest in hearing her. I made it to church yesterday because our music director, Andrea, asked Kaley to sing again while the choir is on hiatus. I am so grateful to Andrea because I do not get to hear Kaley sing as much as I would like. It got me out

2008-08-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

A Virgin Mai Tai EveningMy family in Montana is celebrating Labor Day a week early with their annual camping trip at Branham Lakes near Sheridan, Montana. My Mom, of course, will set up her tent and refuse to sleep in my brother's new little trailer. To her, camping means a tent and heaven forbid if there are more comfortable options. They are up there at about 7000 feet and I cannot breathe just

2008-08-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

GiftsI have written about gifts before. Actually, I am talking about literal gifts. People have been so generous. But you know what? Gifts really do brighten my day and they help us out. I thought after my initial diagnosis, the cards and well wishes would die down but they have not. To feel continually uplifted is an absolute joy! For example, last Friday was Dave's birthday. His original plan

2008-08-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

ExpletivesOk, I am human and so is my family. It is true this cancer thing has opened my eyes to my faith. Connections are being made. Bible verses are making sense. Prayers have become more meaningful. I was grateful for the Gospel last Sunday. This determined Mom starts bugging Jesus to heal her daughter. And guess what? Jesus became quite perturbed with her and wanted her to quit harassing

2008-08-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday Afternoon RamblingsHow about those Olympics last night? Sure, Michael Phelps is impressive and I am old enough to have had a crush on Mark Spitz back in the day along with every other red blooded American teen age girl. Yes, Phelps is cool and winning all of those gold medals and passing Mark Spitz by one is for the sports history books. But me? I was more thrilled to see Dara Torres win

2008-08-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

A New Day and A New AttitudeWe have had some difficult days over the past two months. I do not deny it. Very early on when I first received the diagnosis and when all of the procedures and the first chemo left me quite ill, there were times I was not sure I'd make it through the summer. I would be curled in the fetal postion on my bed saying to Dave I did not know if I could do this.But then,

2008-08-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

A Smiling OncologistI can read people's faces quite well. Back in June when we first heard the news about my CT scan, the look on the surgeon's face, a young woman, was disturbing. The words that came out of her mouth were, "It's not good. The CT scan is not good." She then went on to explain where all of the tumors were entangled and that surgery would not be possible. Obviously, Dave and I

2008-08-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Good Things About Having Cancer10. My children have become remarkably independent. Not only are they helping me but they are taking care of their own needs.9. My husband will do anything for me and if I give him the "look" about his laptop, he will turn it off. And it is not allowed in our bedroom and bathroom which is MY sanctuary.8. I can say and do whatever I want even if that means

2008-08-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

BabiesEvery couple of years or so, we have a pair of swallows who want to nest inside our portico. Usually, they decide it is too much like Grand Central Station and they move on. This year, however, they moved in. I believe it is because I am the one who uses the front door the most and since I have been out of commission, the swallows believed our porch would be a quiet home to raise a family.

2008-08-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

A Bit of This and That1. My puppy Apolo loves me. He wants to be with me or at least cuddle where I last left my smell. He takes great delight in crawling onto my couch perch when I leave the family room. The other evening, we retired early into our bedroom so I could soak in the bath. Apolo started with his high pitched baby barks in the family room complaining about being left alone. I told

2008-08-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

Chemo Room GossipYesterday, I had my fourth chemo. On Friday of this week, my CT scan is scheduled to see what progress we have made and we will find out the results next week. After that, we will figure out what is next. Yes, I am scared but I want to know what is going on inside of me. God keeps whispering to me, "Fear not, for I am with you--always!" Of course, I have no choice so being

2008-08-03T12:29:00.000-07:00

But Wait, There's More!These past couple of months I have spent more time in front of the TV than I normally would. I have my perch on the couch with my pillows and afghan. Oftentimes, when I am in pain or feeling particularly tired, reading books, looking at magazines or even reading the newspaper is a little more than I can handle. Cable TV gets my business. Even though my appetite has been

2008-08-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

Shout OutMy mother encouraged me several years ago to join a very special group of women. From the time I was a little girl I always knew my Mom belonged to P.E.O. I was not a sorority person in college but I still decided that this sisterhood was worth being a part of. P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization dedicated to the support of women's education worldwide. I am particularly impressed

2008-07-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

My HouseholdCraziness! On top of my daily issues which usually involve tough mornings while I try to eat and get my damaged system moving, if you know what I mean, we have Lucas to deal with. Technically, he was classified as a student in Chile even though he was teaching which meant he could still be on our insurance with a grace period until his job benefits kick in. As such, we scheduled

2008-07-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

How Many Ways Can We Say It?Peace of mind, contentment, serenity, chillin', calmness, relaxation......? It is difficult to come up with all of the words in our language that represent this state of being. In the last month and a half, beleive me, I have learned a tremendous amount about trying to achieve peace of mind. To me, it is letting God's spirit take hold within you so that you see the

2008-07-25T15:04:00.000-07:00

July SunsetSunset last night.My Mom left this morning. She claims I have improved quite a bit since she was visiting the first time. I agree with her. I am feeling more normal instead of sick all of the time. The food thing is still a problem with dinners being the most difficult.I am still thinking about the marijuana option as private offers continue to trickle in. The problem is, marijuana is

2008-07-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Tough to TypeOne of the cancer killing drugs I receive gives me a type of neuropathy in my fingers. They tingle and feel like a million pin pricks. Touching something cold really sets it off and typing on the computer aggravates it as well. It will wear off in a few days. As such, my blog post may not be as long today. I am the type of person who is able to work through pain. I am highly pain

2008-07-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

I Believe in Miracles!The incident happened too fast to get it on video, of course. Last evening was lovely so after dinner Dave, Lucas, and I were lounging on the back deck enjoying the setting sun and the boats on the Sound. It was quiet without even a breeze."Thud." I barely saw the tiny bird fly into our glass deck railing. A few minuscule feathers floated away."Oh no. You guys, I think that

2008-07-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

And Life Continues1. Dave has been staying home with me since all of this started. After 30 years at the UW without ever having taken much vacation, he has their support. Of course, he is connected by phone and computer and is still managing to keep up. Also, he has done a bunch of things around the house from building a flower box and BBQ work station on our deck, to repainting a weathered

2008-07-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

Thirty-five Years AgoEnough suffering and illness! Today I will post about our wedding. June 16 was our 35th anniversary. Before all of this cancer business happened, I was planning to write about it anyway. All of the friends who visited me last weekend were involved in our wedding and I regret I did not pull out pictures while they were here. In one of my scrap books, I found a newspaper

2008-07-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

ResolveI have received feedback from a variety of folks who are reading this blog. Not only are people from my neighborhood and town clicking in, but it seems to be reaching other parts of our country and even the world. This is a bit frightening because then I tend to think I need to deliver particularly brilliant posts. But no, I will continue to share as best I can what is inside of me. Hmmmm.

2008-07-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Old FriendsL-R standing: Barb, Annie, me, Tina, Cathy. Seated: Leslie and VidaYesterday and Friday evening were wonderful because of seeing my dear old friends. These women have known me my whole life. They do not always agree with me on politics and so forth but the really important stuff--like faith--our hearts are pretty close. Actually, I misspoke in the post below. I met Cathy in the

2008-07-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

Enjoying LifeUp until yesterday, I have had this sadness or something. All of our remodeling is done and the weather is lovely but I have had this attitude that I can't enjoy it because now I am sick. Like, what's the use of our nice bathroom, now?This weekend, I was supposed to go to Montana for a reunion with my childhood friends. There are seven of us. Five of us have been friends since

2008-07-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

A Day at a TimeWhen we first moved to Seattle, our second place to live was a little rental house. The front yard had several hydrangea bushes. I had never seen anything quite like them before and have loved them ever since. Montana is not the place for these flowering bushes and when we lived in Kansas City, we were not exactly in a neighborhood with lovely gardens. Our hydrangea is gorgeous

2008-07-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

It's a Beautiful Day in the NeighborhoodLately, all I have had here is text so I thought I'd take a picture this morning from my back door to brighten things up a little.Yesterday, I had my second chemo. The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance parking lot was plum full so I was not the only one. We have a lot of sick people in Seattle. It never ceases to amaze me how young so many of the patients are

2008-07-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Proud of Myself!Yesterday, I had a blood transfusion with two units of blood. About half way through the second unit, I started to get the chills and spiked a fever. They finished the unit but my fever kept going up even after everything was finished so, of course, they kept me for observation until about 5 PM. I do not know anything about this so I was a little freaked out. After consultation

2008-07-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth of July!Needless to say, my Fourth is a little quiet. I had blood work done yesterday to see if chemo can go as scheduled on Monday. We went to Providence Everett for the blood draw because it is closer and then they sent the results to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. My chemo will go as scheduled Monday but I am terribly anemic which I have been since the beginning of all of