Saturday- it's the weekend!!

Hello, everyone!

Saturdays always feel special to me.  My lilacs are blooming....so many shades of purples and the whites too. This is the first Spring that we haven’t had dozens of baby kittens.  They are so sweet and fun but not good to encourage cats to continue to breed. I’m glad we made the choice to have all 28 ferals neutered, vaxcinated and microchipped last Spring….at least they are much healthier. And half now have a furr-ever inside home.

I am feeling a bit better the last two days….being back on my cancer meds, I am cautiously optimistic that the severe bone pain will settle down a bit.  Finally, I was able to get off the “bread stuff”..garlic toast w/ cheese is my downfall……that was so hard for me….but I am slowly losing again…my weight gain….and I feel a lot better walking (albeit with my cane).  It’s usually when my energy level falls from the meds, that I walk wobbly and with a limp.

This summer will be so busy and I need to be in better shape to do all that I am committed to. There is a new swimming pool in the city with an area especially for “seniors”…all accessible too and warm (93, I think they said) and sal****er too. If I can just get past my lifelong insecurity of how fat I look and my ugly swollen legs and scars from the lymphodema. Unfortunately, my 6 sisters-in-law and JB’s girl cousins belong too, and they are all like thin models” and so quick to gossip and criticize.  Always felt so chunky and clunky beside them.

Today it’s laundry, online bill payments, order ink cartridges again (so many pages to print off to be ready for our BPW Provincial Conference at the end of the month), and, if it’s stopped raining, I will go and sit outside on the verandah   awhile with tea and maybe cut some bouquets of lilacs too. The fragrance is so beautiful…..a shame they don’t last long.

I bought an electric toothbrush, advised my the dentist as I have a tooth that is losing it’s gum protection…she said it’s from my cancer treatments and meds… so I have to have gum surgery soon.  But the electric toothbrush is easy to use, doesn’t make me gag like flossing does and hopefully will strengthen my gums.

Oreo is in the kitchen talking…he wants more “spin-a-roonies”, it seems. Hosey is sleeping on our bed. And I am headed there ,myself.

Best wishes to all, positive thoughts and energy flowing from me to you….

Nancy B.

Good Morning Nancy and OFF Family,

Nancy, it's always good to hear from you.  Glad you are feeling better the past few days.  As for swimming, and bathing suits, wear your bathing suit, and enjoy your time in the pool.  Don't give gossipy relatives, and friends, a second thought.  You are a survivor, and should feel good to be able to go to the pool in the first place.  If those people are so shallow, as to talk about you for your appearance, they don't deserve your time.  Enjoy the pool.  I find swimming to be my favorite exercise.

I made the mistake of of drinking two cups of real coffee this morning.  I take Prilosic and Tums for indigestion.  I normally drink half decaf/half regular.  Now, my pouch is miserable.

We had glorious Spring weather for close to two weeks.  Then, yesterday, we had rain and falling temps.  Now, it is overcast and cold.  My Munchkins have a soccer game this morning, and I was really hoping for sunshine.  I hate cold, damp weather.  It goes right to my bones.

This evening, Colleen is having me over for a Mothers Day dinner.  She has to do something with her in-laws on Sunday.  She also wants to have some time alone with her hubby and kids.  I don't blame her.  

I hope everyone has a blessed day.

Hugs,

Trish

Oh, Nancy, don't let those mean Bees keep you from something you love!  Honestly, as adults, they should be long past such behavior, but since they're not, just ignore them.  I echo what Trish said: you are a SURVIVOR!  We are all so proud of you and your fabulous attitude about life and struggles and cancer and kitties and--well--everything!  Those Bees could learn a lot from you if they ever quit thinking about themselves long enough to appreciate the rest of the world.  I hope you go to the pool and love it!  If I was there, we could go together!  Strong strong, honey!  You're one in a million!

Nancy B-

I agree with Trish and Vickie, ignore the biddies and use the pool.  I took up water fitness two years ago and I love it.  I miss it dearly when I am in Maine.  There are so many suits available now that are comfortable.  As Trish and Vickie say you are a survivor and if you can survive cancer you can survive nasty old women who love to gossip and talk about others.  Go to the pool, it's wonderful exercise with support by the water.

If your lilacs are blooming I suspect that mine are blooming early this year in Maine.  I hope I get there before they're done.  I love lilacs.  I talked to my caretaker yesterday and he said the black flies had emerged due to the recent influx of warm weather.  Can't wait to get in the garden and start reclaiming it from winter.  Another 10 days and I'll be there.

Thoughts to all of you in need of hope and comfort!

Cindi

Good mornin' ya'll.

It's been so long since I've been on here!

But it is so nice to see all my friends again!

Nancy, you have earned the right to do whatever the heck you want. Sounds like you are srill busy and enjoying yourself. Our neighbor to the right has a huge row of lilacs across their back property line. These new owners don't seem to care much about them, and they seem to have become overgrown with some kind of vine that has choked them out. Lilac is my favorite fragrance and I missed being able to enjoy them. I have some very small bushes that had a few blooms, but not nearly enough for me.

i can't remember where my life was when I was last here. Our daughter's divorce  has been final for awhile. Her ex has the OR house up for sale and has bought a home in Vegas. She is pretty happy about that. Only drawback, if/when the kids go to visit they have no place to go to get away from his drunken tirades. I feel they won't be going to see him often.

DH and I went on a Carnival Cruise. I have always wanted to do that. It will be our last cruise. The ship and everything was fine. We had a fantastic balconey suite. However, we don't drink or gamble or party all night. And the food was mediocre at best! I had 2 excursions planned that I cancelled. The first one because my DH had tummy trouble. The second one because I did. But that was only a 1 day thing for each of us. The shows didn't sound very interesting. We went to an 'early' show that started at 7:30. Not impressed with the comedian. No more shows. We played $25 on the 2 cent slots. Played a little each day over the week, wound up cashing out at $22. My DH just couldn't make it from one end of the ship to the other very well. We rented a wheelchair so I pushed him everywhere. His diabetic neuropothy is getting so bad. When we got back we got him a walker, but he won't use it in the house and he uses a motorized chair when we go to the store. But the walker is in the car if he needs it.  

Next week I will be going to OR. (I was just there the first part of April). Our daughter was gonna go somewhere for her birthday, but has decided she can't afford it. My ticket is paid for so I'm still going. It will be prom for the grandkids, so I'll get to enjoy that. Our grandson is 'acting out'. Not sure you can call it that at 18. While his Dad has been gone the last few months (to Thailand and then Vegas), he spent the entire time at the old house partying with his buddies. They broke the garage door, and a few other things. Burned a hole in the hardwood floor with his hookah, and left food containers, cigarette butts and empty beer cans everywhere. I think he is trying to punish his Dad. But he did wait till his Dad bought him a car. He has also decided that pot is better for him than cigarettes! Our granddaughter has become the ultimate manipulator! She can play her Dad like a violin. She makes him think she is so unhappy at her Mom's, then she guilt trips him until he is a mess, then hangs up on him. then he will call her back, cry uncontrollably for awhile til she hangs up on him again. then he calls back and promises her the world! I guess each of them have their way of rebelling. My DH and I will be going back in June for the grandson's high school graduation. He is sure he is gonna graduate. I guess he can with a straight D average!

Our NC grandson that married, had our great grandson and joined the Navy is doing fine. He is stationed on shore duty in FL for 2 years, then who knows. They are doing great. They were just here on their way to FL. The baby is getting huge, has 3 teeth and is as cute as can be!! His brother is transferring to a different college next year. I think his girlfriend is going there too. Our son is fully retired from the Marine's after 29 1/2 years. He has a very good consulting job with a company that does gov't contracts. He and his wife are looking for a bigger house with some wooded acres so he can hunt deer to his heart's content in the fall. You would think they would want to downsize now that both boys are out of the house. It is soooo funny to see him doing the exact stuff his Dad did when he retired from the Navy. Growing his hair and his beard, sleeping later, no****ching his weight as much as he did. I wonder how long it will last?

I have my new band and just got my third fill on Thursday. Last band I had, I only needed 3 fills to get perfect. Not this time. I think I'll need at least one more! I'm not losing weight, but I am holding the line and not gaining! Woohoo! My Dr. appointments, blood work and CT scans have been good. I can't believe it has been over 3 years since my cancer! But I still have to deal with the Dr. every six months for another two years. Then to once a year!

My thoughts have been with all of you often. I still pray that all of you have happiness and success in every aspect of your lives!

I guess this book is done. I will really try to check in more often. Gotta go, DIL is on her way over with another project for me. I only have three going at the moment.

Everyone have a fantabulous day!

Carolyn, so good to see you again! I was unimpressed with Carnival Cruises, too. I did like Princess Cruises, however. Much better quality of everything ... food, etc. I'm not much into shows either. But I like cruising because I can get to one place and then get on and off the boat for excursions. However, can't afford them right now. My vacations are visiting family now (and can't even find a place to stay now because the house is too crowded now that mom has a 24/7 caretaker plus my brother). I don't gamble and only drink a little (one a night). But everyone has their own thing. My brother didn't enjoy the cruise we went on, either. He tried going to the shows (I'm not interested in most of them; he did enjoy them). I went to one show that was a Motown revival and I enjoyed that. 

Carolyn, Im still in Asheville helping my friend!!!!! I dont like Carnival cruise line because of it being a party boat!!!!! Carl and I ate going on a cruise in November on Holland America.,

I guess I wont catch up with u this trip!!!!! There will be other times!!!!!!

Im heading south on Tuesday. Carl and I are going camping Memorial day weekemd!

Carla

Carla, I'd love to be able to catch up with you next time around! I'd love to be home long enough to visit with people! Maybe this summer!

Hey Carolyn!  Good to hear from you!  You are missed here.

So funny you should post today.  My oldest daughter and I are headed to Tijuana on Monday for her WLS with Dr. Ortiz on Tuesday.  She is having the vertical sleeve.  Can't ever thank you enough for the recommendation.  Glad you are having some success with the band again.  Hope they get your fill just right soon!

Don't be such a stranger!

Vickie

Vickie, I love Dr. Ortiz! Although I think I am his only sleeve patient that it didn't work too well with. But I have my band back and I know that will be the answer again.  If you tell them I referred you I can get a free fill! I could zip down there next month while I'm in Oregon. I would really appreciate that. I am Carolyn Lewellyn. 

It sounds like things with Benny are doing well. I really love the recumbant bike. My daughter has one I use while I'm there. My son and DIL are taking their eliptical back that they have been 'storing' here for them. They are putting their weights and exercise equipment in the bedroom their oldest son just vacated. Now I can move my treadmil out of my dining room!