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 |  Fibro fog, pain, writing sandwiched in between. Quotes. Sermon notes. Encouragement. |
A Texas Sunrise  A friend, William Taylor, took this picture. He visits Surfside Beach with his dogs almost every morning, watching the sun rise while the dogs prance about at the water's edge. This is only about ten miles from where I lived in Lake Jackson, Texas. Sadly, I only visited this beach about four times in the six years I lived nearby. Each day is a challenge. A challenge to get by without thinking about the fibromyalgia pains. A challenge to stay awake when chronic fatigure wants to take over. And a challenge to navigate through fibro fog. I haven't been writing as much as in the past. For years, I wrote at least 500 words a day. Now, I'm lucky if I write 500 words in month. Sigh. For more information about what my day (or life) is all about with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic pains, IBS, depression and everything else thrown in, check this out:
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| When my son was a baby, I got a cloth scroll with the poem below on it. Every day, when I woke him, I recited the poem. As someone who writes myself - poems, stories, opinion pieces, guest articles for the newspaper - I don't like to share poems and stories if I cannot give the author credit. Because of that, I have periodically tried to discover the author/poet. Today, GROK on Twitter/X told me that the author's name was James Cash Penney. What ?!?!? J C Penney wrote the poem that I recited to my son when he was little...and sometimes I still wake him that way. Here's the poem: Begin the day with friendliness Keep friendly all daylong Keep in your soul a friendly thought In your heart a friendly Song. Have in your mind a word of cheer For all who come your way, And they will greet you too, in turn And wish you a happy day. By James Cash Penney How cool is that? |
I have always hated cold and snow. One of my earliest memories is of being a 3 year old stuffed in a red snow suit and hating every minute of it. I hated throwing snowballs. I hated making snowmen. I hated making snow angels. And once I was in elementary school, I hated having to wear red boots, leggings under my dress, a heavy coat, gloves and a scarf as I walked the mile to the bus stop with my friends. I also hated having to wait 30 minutes past when the school bus was due before we could go back home. If the bus did come, I hated how hot we all got inside the bus with all of our layers on. I rarely have driven in the snow, even though I have lived in PA, MI, MO and OH. And now I'm old. Having that latest snowstorm hit wasn't pleasant. We have 3 adults in our house unable to shovel snow. Hubby has to use a cane. Son is scheduled for hip surgery in February. And I would have to use oxygen while trying to ignore my fibromyalgia and arthritis pains. We did have some wonderful neighbors who shoveled for us. Our next door neighbor arrived without anyone asking, to clear our sidewalks and porch. He knows that we rely on delivery services. Another neighbor cleared off my car. (That made me feel bad, because she has been fighting pancreatic cancer for 3 years.) Another neighbor shoveled around both of our cars so we could get out. And then it snowed again and undid everything that they had done. My son braved the snow, struggling not to fall on his bad hip. And I was able to get to the three pharmacies that we use. Yes, since we all have different insurance, we all have to use different pharmacies. After warming up my car, I was off on those errands. But, uh oh. I have an electrical problem that my car refuses to show to my mechanic. As I drove down the street, my dome light blinked on and off. The doors unlocked and locked again. The heat shut off then on again. And the turn signals stopped working, then worked again. Since none of us have any doctor appointments between now and somewhere about the 29th, I will definitely be calling the mechanic to report my electrical problems again. The meds that I take that are helping to shrink my breast cancer tumor makes my body think that I'm going through menopause again. I have horrible night sweats, which then make me cold because the room is either 68 degrees or 73. With 73, I'm too hot. With 68, I'm freezing. But...in spite of everything, we are praising God for our wonderful neighbors and that we are all waking up each day still ready to face whatever is before us because we know that God is with us. My tumor continues to shrink, although more slowly now. Thank you all for your prayers. |
Studies show that people who tell the truth use complete sentences. People who lie don't. Now think about the people who are are so good at ridiculous word salads. You're welcome. |
More good news. I had another diagnostic mammogram and MRI on Friday. My breast lump continues to shrink.  "My Favorite Neighbor"  "Sharing Sunshine...It's What I Do!" "Admirable Women" "Whose Work Are You Stealing?" "The Potter's Cup and Saucer" |
Conservatives have been called a lot of things. I don't always talk about my political preferences. But here's the first hint. I was very active in the TEA party movement. Today, I'm a Trump supporter. Under President Trump we had lower taxes, lower food prices, lower gas prices, lower utility costs, energy independence, a more secure border and no new wars. Some of us want all of that and more. We're excited about Trump and Elon Musk working together to shrink the federal government. And we're excited about RFK Jr and President Trump working together on health care. Just so you know I have adored Trump since the late 70s/early 80s. As a member of Women in Construction, we loved that he hired women project managers and paid them as much or more than men, based upon their own and results. He has always cared more about results than having a wall of useless college degrees. But leftist media and politicians have decided that half of the country is to be ridiculed. Constantly. Obama made fun of Bible thumpers. He was the best divider-in-chief our country has ever had. Hillary called us deplorables. The Cackler and Tampon Tim called President Trump Hitler and his supporters Nazis. Yesterday Biden called us garbage. If you plan on voting for this party that disrespects half of the nation, I have to admit that I disappointed. Maybe we have nothing more to say to each other. Not if you are okay with the media and politicians being this disrespectful.  "My Favorite Neighbor" "Sharing Sunshine...It's What I Do!" "Admirable Women" "Whose Work Are You Stealing?" "The Potter's Cup and Saucer" |
A post on Facebook made me remember the granddaughter of a pastor we had in TX. Stephanie was a precious angel. She was one of those babies that some people want to abort. The pastor's daughter was raped. The rapist went to prison. And she ended up with a daughter with Down's Syndrome. Once in a while some old biddy would start yapping her gums about how horrible it was that the pastor's daughter had a baby out of wedlock. As the church secretary, I set them straight. The family was not afraid to talk about it. Eventually, they even planned to explain it to her, probably when they started discussing about how special touching only belongs in marriage. (That's how the parents of another Down's Syndrome girl that we knew explained things to her.) I wonder how Stephanie, her mom and grandparents are doing today. Would you join me in praying for them? """""" As for us, my son had a biopsy done and the lump at the junction of his leg and groin is not cancer. But it is growing. On Wednesday, he has an appointment to discuss whether he needs it surgically removed and when they will proceed with surgery on his hips. My next appointment with the oncologist/hematologist is Thursday. I should be scheduling another mammogram at that point. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers. |
Good judgment comes from experience and a lot of that experience comes from having bad judgement. People disagree about where this quote originated. Some say that it is a quote by Mark Twain. Others think that Will Rogers said it. |
| My son will finally be getting a biopsy of the lump in his lymph nodes at the juncture of his leg and groin. If he knew that they will be knocking him out for this, he would probably put it off even longer. But we need the biopsy done so that they can figure out if he just has an infection or something more serious. After that he will be scheduling his hip replacement surgery. So bizarre for someone only 40 years old. The other hip supposedly "only" needs bone grafts. This mommy is hanging in there. My breast lump continues to shrink. Thank the Lord!  "My Favorite Neighbor" "Sharing Sunshine...It's What I Do!" "Admirable Women" "Whose Work Are You Stealing?" "The Potter's Cup and Saucer" |
More good news. I saw the oncologist/hematologist today. When my breast lump was discovered, it was 2 3/4 centimeters x 2 1/2 centimeters. (For those of us who don't do metric, that's 1. 83 inches × .98 inches.) Now, the doc says it's 2 centimeters x 2 centimeters. (Or .789 inches X .789 inches.) The medication (or your prayers...or both!) is working. The doc couldn't find the lump at first, and I actually had the same problem this morning. Next visit in a month. I really want the lump to be almost impossible to find by then. Thanks for caring! |
We promised that we would never forget. Are any organizations or churches in your area having a remembrance or memorial service for 9/11?
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| I know. You're not supposed to laugh at people. My mom and my grandma taught me that. But sometimes it's impossible not to laugh. I haven't stopped laughing since early this morning. A local media person was reading the teleprompter...and not well. She got to the name of a book that someone local wrote. The book is called From Heartache to Bliss. Easy peasy, right? Nope. The news lady called the book... From HEAR...TA...CHEEE to Bliss. Seriously. HEAR...TA...CHEEE instead of Heartache. I hope that I can find a video clip. I want you to laugh as hard as I did "My Favorite Neighbor" "Sharing Sunshine...It's What I Do!" "Admirable Women" "Whose Work Are You Stealing?" "The Potter's Cup and Saucer" |
It appears that I have not given a recent update about the health of the occupants of our house. I do think that the medication that I am taking for my breast cancer is doing its job to shrink the tumor. I pray that continues. My son appears to have swollen lymph nodes. His primary care physician thinks that it is an infection, supposedly, but he has been scheduled for a biopsy. But here's something. My son, at age 40, might have to have both hips replaced. Yikes! He'll know for sure about that probably about the same time that he learns the biopsy results. Keep us both in your prayers, please. While you are at it, pray for my hubby too. Our primary care physician told him to see a kidney doctor back in April and he keeps rescheduling appointments. |
| The media is doing it again. The word of the day about VP candidate JD Vance is weird. https://youtu.be/Oa0jolLZOXg?si=AWNgX9zKslnU7BwL |
As I read a few stories and poems today, I thought about something that William Stafford said. "We do not correct a piece of writing; in doing so, we question a life." William Stafford Stafford started writing as a youth, but his first poem was not published until he was 48 years old. In his lifetime, he wrote 22,000 poems and had 3,000 published. None of us should give up. Robert Frost's poetry was first rejected. And Stephen King was among the many writers who had to self-publish their first works. Keep your chin up. And write on! |
When my son was little and we lived in the same small town as Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan) we often ran into him in the grocery store and at the gas station. He always wore his Christian Athletes Association hat. When Derek was 3, he had his photo taken by my mom with Hulk Hogan at Orange Blossom Groves. That's where she worked, in the gift store. And Terry frequented the produce section and the gift store quite frequently. We enlarged that photo to poster size and Derek took it to preschool to show everyone. My brother "knew" Hulk Hogan because he followed wrestlers. He was jealous of Derek getting his picture with him. Derek and I enjoyed watching Terry talk about Trump, the man that he has known for decades. "When they took a shot at my hero Donald Trump, I realized that I couldn't be silent anymore," Hogan told Fox News ahead of his appearance at the RNC. "I had to step up, I had to be a real American just like all these real Americans here, and Donald Trump. I have a voice too and I want people to know, it's time to talk, it's time not to be silent anymore." |
| Huckabee made a comment on his new show Huckabee Today. I think that he might have been quoting someone, but I didn't get a name. Think about what you have seen in other instances of people shooting into a crowd or a venue. What is the normal reaction? People try to flee, often times killing each other as they stampede. Now think about the rally where President Trump was shot and almost assassinated. Nobody fled, in fact authorities had trouble getting rid of people. They ducked. They prayed. And they stayed. Huckabee said that most of us probably hadn't thought about that. I certainly hadn't. They ducked and they prayed. They didn't trample each other. |
So, I've been on the medication for over a week now. There are many possible side effects listed for this medication. One side effect that most people have is hot flashes. I haven't had those. ..although maybe I have. In this heat wave our air conditioning isn't working like it should. Or is it just me? I have had some heart palpitations, which is another common side effect. I have talked to my primary care doctor and my cardiologist. But this medication is supposed to shrink my breast cancer tumor, so for now I will continue taking it. "My Favorite Neighbor" "Sharing Sunshine...It's What I Do!" "Admirable Women" "Whose Work Are You Stealing?" "The Potter's Cup and Saucer" |
For those of you following my breast cancer adventure, I met with my hematologist oncologist yesterday. Our first appointment was quite informative. For the next month, I will be taking a medication that is supposed to curtail the over activity of estrogen that likely helped trigger my cancer. If I have tolerated the medication well, I will continue taking it, and have mammograms at 3 and 6 months. It is expected that in that timeframe, the tumor in my left breast will decrease in size. The most optimal result will be that it entirely disappears. But if that doesn't happen, it is expected that it will be reduced to a size that will be either watched or perhaps removed by surgery. Surgery is not what any of my doctors want based upon my age, my many maladies, the medications that I take and the fact that when I do have anesthesia, it is always difficult to wake me up afterwards. Let's pray that the medication works so well that the tumor disappears, shall we? |
| I saw the surgeon oncologist today. Or rather, we spoke. I was having trouble getting to the appointment because of my many other physical problems, so we scheduled a video conference. Neither my phone nor laptop could complete the necessary form that would allow me to enter the video call, so we spoke just on the phone. My appointment was with a surgeon because based upon the size of the tumor - about 2 inches in diameter - the medical professionals, including my primary care doctor, thought for sure that the first course would be surgery. The surgeon and her team were concerned with my age, the fact that I take quite a few medications, that I had a heart attack, that I'm on oxygen and that I don't heal quickly. So they spent time looking at my past mammograms as well as some chest xrays and other tests done over the past few years. They determined that my tumor was a very slow growing tumor. And just as we began talking, they got the one piece of information that they had been waiting for. I am HER-2 negative. The surgeon and her team concluded that surgery should not be the first treatment. They concluded that the kind of cancer that I have was caused by my own body and the levels of hormones I do and don't have. Therefore, she is suggesting that I see another cancer doc closer to my house who can prescribe the hormones (and anti-hormones - not the scientific term, but you get the picture) that I need. They predict that the tumor will shrink with this treatment. Meanwhile, they will watch its size plus monitor whether or not there is activity in my lymph nodes. Right now they are fine. So all of that was great news. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has been praying for me. And I would ask that you continue. |
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