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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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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. |
Some of us were talking about the weeks leading up to Obamacare passing. I first became disillusioned with politicians as a teenager in Pittsburgh. But that's a discussion for another day. Since then, there have been many times that politicians have proven to me that they cannot be trusted. I remember when they were supposedly arguing about Obamacare. I and many others asked where does the Constitution say that the federal government should control our health care. Some ignored our questions. Some tried to say that it was so that we could pursue life, liberty and happiness. Some claimed that the federal government is supposed to take care of our general welfare. Some boldly said that they didn't know. Or care, obviously. The ones who really bothered me were the ones who said that their job was to create laws and the job of the Supreme Court was to determine if the laws that they passed were Constitutional. Some of the ones who said that were supposed Constitutional scholars themselves or supposed conservatives who ran on wanting limited government. It was then that I realized that none of them would ever want limited government nor would they want to stop creating laws to control us. |
"We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that what's deep inside us is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit." - E.E. Cummings |
There is good news and bad news. The good news is that on my right side, I have a benign lump. The bad news is that on my left side, I have invasive ductal carcinoma. I have to choose my cancer doctor soon, because this cancer grows quickly. |
"A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket." ~ Charles Peguy |
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