New Project for Monday

I have been working on three HUGE projects this past summer, one was writing a family history book, another was doing a family reunion for my dad's side of the family and lastly a huge family history seminar where literally hundreds of patrons gather for an all day seminar of about 30 odds classes. It has been an exhaustive last year, add to that 5 surgeries and recuperation time in there to boot.

But we did it with a great team but today I went to get something in my office, went onto my online day timer and put only 1 thing on my daytimer for my todo list for tomorrow. CLEAN MY OFFICE. Now I have done many many times in the years but it will be the first time that I will clean and sort it without bending at the waist, don't bend to get anything , don't lift, don't wash walls, don't vacuum, don't take garbage out.. but where there is s will I will find a way. You can't stop me.


These are all the storage boxes that have gotten pulled out because someone needed something and they never got put back.



there is a spot from floor to ceiling beside the cabinet that the boxes are SUPPOSED to stored


THis is supposed to be my sewing area. And with Christmas coming I have projects to get completed



My poor dining room table would be so happy to get this cleared off and back onto my own desk so we can eat at the table again.


I'm not sure what scrapbooking projects I could work on here!! Bad bad bad



I have spools of ribbon that people have been using and most of the spools are unwound and all have to be fixed as well as things put away in drawers etc



And all the scrap papers and card stock now needs to be reorganized and sorted out, plus sort out and pout away kids play dohs and paints. But once all done I will be abl eto rest.. well until something else gets me going!

Mammograms

Tomorrow I have to go for my mammogram. I have been going for them since I was in my early 30's so basically 20 years. They have never bothered me. I could never understand why some women made such a big deal about it ...took 30 seconds per side, was never painful..piece of cake. I was very lucky to have doctors on my side that believed in letting women get them done before 50 when there was a strong family rate of breast cancer.

But this one tomorrow is scaring me to hell and back. First, it is the first one I have to have since my mastectomies. Secondly with all the surgeries I have to had these last 2 years I worry that something will split inside or tear or start bleeding... something to go wrong.

But I will be there, I will go through it because it is important to my family and important to me. So why am I telling you this? Because you can support me by getting yours done. If you have been putting yours off till "tomorrow" or next week, or later..don't. Just do it. Ignoring something does not make it go away. If I can go for mine tomorrow with everything I have been through in the last 22 months, you can go for yours. Please. Then let me know that you did it and I will smile and hug you and cheer you from my rooftop.

A woman like you

These last couple of years I have put Keith through paces that no spouse should ever go through. It brings on a whole new meaning to the term for better or worse, in sickness and in health... seriously... He has taken everything in stride..all the doctors' diagnosis, all the treatments, all the midnight wakings, ......

He makes me feel like I am the most beautiful woman on earth and takes everything with so much unconditional love for me. The other night he was working out on his exercise machine and I was working at the dining room table doing some work on the laptop when this song came on the tv channel CMT. Now I think everyone that knows me knows I am a die hard country music fan and if there isn't something on TV that we would be watching that channel is on so I can listen to the music.

There is only ever been in over 30 years one song that no matter what either of us are doing if that song comes on the radio or tv or anyplace no matter where we are we stop what we are doing and dance to this song... Three Times A Lady by the Commodores. We have pulled over on a highway to do this, in an elevator, in a movie theather... every single place we dance to this song.. But it has only ever been that song.

Well shortly after the song started he took my hand and started dancing to this new song. I had only heard it once or twice before. Now that was special enough but after each line that Johnny Reid sang Keith told me an example of how I fit that song.. needless to say you can very well imagine I was crying by the end. After the song ended he took me back to my chair and he went back to his weights. I sat in my chair wondering how on earth I am supposed to go back to what I was doing... my brain had lost all semblance of sanity at that point.

But it was exactly what the doctor had ordered. Depression semempression... that one little dance was exactly what I needed. What a man! I hope the link works..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09m8PMk9hm0

IKEA

Today I spent several hours in Ikea with Lareta to get things she wanted to get. As we were walking around I came to the realization I am not an IKEA person. I have been in there several times, have gone through their website, have gone over their catalogues that come to my door but I can't just warm up to their products. I do get their concept where no matter how small a home is, you can still make it a beautiful with amazing storage. That I get 100%! What I don't get is the tubuler furniture, plastic chairs, steel everything and the very bright colors everywhere!!.

I may be completely old fashioned but I am a traditionalist. I love wood. lots of wood, antique pieces, soft furniture that you can curl up in. My china is 65 years old. I have pieces that are probably close to 80-90 years old.. My wood is oak.

I always find things to buy when I am there, but it is usually candles and some decorating fluffs. I did get an ergonomic pillow today as I am tired of waking up with tension headaches from the pain in my neck from sleeping crooked all night :( So hopefully it will work.

No I will continue to comb antique stores for cool finds~

Sleep Study Results

Today I went to see the specialist to get the results of my 3 day sleep study that I had a month or so ago. I had my appointment late in the day so that Keith would be able to go to it with me. I hate it when I get a bunch of new info and I have to try and remember it all for when I get home to let Keith know. If he is there then it is one less step.. method to my madness hehehe. Well needless to say I was not so happy when I left there :(

Some things I already knew , some I didn't already know and others I did not want to know. Some things were the same as the last time I was tested about 5 years ago, some were different and others new. So here is the scoop...

-It took me an average of 3 hours to fall asleep once I was in bed with lights off.. knew that
-My legs twitch repeatedly at night although not hard enough to wake me up - knew that already although Keith asked did it count if it woke him up?
-I skipped all the stages of sleep and went straight into REM - did not know that and that is new from last time I was tested
-I was asleep 51% of the night the 1st night and 55% the 2nd night - well that sounds about right
-I did not have sleep apnea - I already knew that
-my medication I had been on did not work anymore - DUH
-I did not fall asleep easily during the day when I was supposed to - well kind of hard to force oneself to fall asleep when one trains oneself to NOT nap during the day otherwise even harder to fall asleep at night.- knew that
-once asleep I stayed asleep for at least 30 minutes at a time- knew that and this is new from last testing where I fell asleep easily but woke up repeatedly..now it takes me a long time to go to sleep but stay asleep for longer periods of time
-she said I did not have any brain tumours or diseases like Narcolepsy (where you fall asleep at the drop of a hat.
-she said the average time frame for a person with sleep problems to fall asleep during the day is 7.8 minutes..mine was 17.1..Keith comments "that's because her brain never stops talking enough to go to sleep".. she never replied to that comment either

She showed me the actual report with all the graphs etc that showed to the minute when I fell asleep, when I woke up and what I did in between.. it was kind of cool.. till I asked her.. ok so now what is the end result...her diagnosis?

"Quote" Depression
.. what?
Depression.
. are you kidding me? I'm not depressed.
This report shows you are.
The report is wrong. I have been depressed in the past.. twice in fact .. I know depression and this is not it. What does that 25 page questionnaire that I filled out in my first visit show?
Well that was inconclusive which was why we did the sleep study
I'm telling you there is something else because I am not depressed (This said as I try to not look at Keith who is making funny faces at me behind her back cause he knows I am about to bust a nerve and trying to calm me down)
Did you not tell me you were diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years ago and had to have a bilateral mastectomy
Yes
Did you not tell me you lost your only sister and other family members recently to caner?
Yes
Did you not tell me you left your job since the last time you were tested due to your illness?
Yes
Did you not tell me you were diagnosed with Fibromyalgia since the last time you were tested?
yes
Did you not tell me you live with chronic pain?
Yes
Sally any 2 of any of those things would be enough to put most people into depression let alone that many
Maybe most people but not me. I\m telling you I am not depressed
(Few moments of silent staring contest going on )
So what do you suggest?
I will send a copy of this report to your family doctor with my recommendation of you going on any of the antidepressants that I will include.. (Keith at this point is staring at the ceiling and refusing to look at me)
So what are the chances that it is something else that needs more investigation?
Pretty slim
But possible
The report is pretty clear..it shows you are depressed.
I am not depressed. I live a very full very active life.
Not all depressions are characterized by laying in bed all day and night with no human contact.
But they are all characterized by treating with anti-depressants?
That is my experience
So what are the side effects of these anti-depressants?
Oh slim to none.. very little
What are they?
Nothing to even none
Hmm well the two times I was on them in previous years, one I gained over 100 pounds in less then one year and the second time, my blood pressure lowered to dangerous levels as did internal bleeding. Both times I walked around like a zombie. Two different drugs.
Drugs have changed over the years, they are much easier to take with little or no side effects.
I take 6 medications right now and each comes with a long list of side effects.
Oh they all have to come with "possible" side effects just so the patients are aware but doesn't mean people will actually get them
But more then just a couple do get them correct?
Well yes
So then there are side effects to them
Big sigh.. well why don't you wait till you see your family doctor when she gets this report and you can decide then what you want to do but my diagnosis is still the same - depression with anti-depressants as suggested treatment.
Thank you I will do that thank you for your time

We walk out and as soon as we are in the hallway little granddaughter asks Papa why Nana is walking to the elevator so fast and that he has to hurry up so they can catch up and Papa tells her it's better that Nana has a time out right now.

Now let me set something very straight here... I do believe depression is a VERY REAL thing. I do believe that at times medication is needed to help get people that have depression over a rough time whether the reason they are going through it in the first place is medical, physical, social or any reason. I do truly believe that. And my denying I was/am depressed at this time of my life with the doctor does in no way minimize that others are going through a very real thing. I just know my body and my head and I know 100% that this is not the problem with me at this time of my life.

I think part of the problem is I have the BEST doctor on the face of the earth.. absolutely the best. I have mentioned that on here many times over the years and will continue to say the same thing. Because of her, I judge all doctors the same way and hold them all under the same category. So when others don't treat me the same way, or have the bedside manner of an ice cube or are unwilling to entertain the option of a 2nd or 3rd choice it rubs me the wrong way.

I know I have a sleeping problem. I did not have to spend 3 days hooked up to all these wires to know that. But going on antidepressants isn't going to fix the problem. It is just a bandaid solution. So when we got home, Keith and I talked about it and I finally asked him if he thought I was depressed and he said yes.. WHAT?? Why? his reply was "Look at your reaction" So because I am stating my case that means it's true? He said Sally you know most people that are depressed deny they are depressed. Most people Keith. I am not most people. No you are not Sally.

Needless to say I am not feeling very charitable right now

I participate

Last few weeks there has been extensive coverage on the news about this new cause "I PARTICIPATE" which is about people that care about their community and doing something no matter how little it is. So my little 5 year old granddaughter and I have spent the last couple of days thinking about what we can do to improve our community. Most things she came up with I knew I physically could not do it because of bending etc which is such a no no these days. This morning I had to keep her home from school today so we talked about it again as we were curled up on the couch and we came up with a great idea.

We are going to use my "grabber" which is a long handled claw kind of thing which I use to get things off the floor etc and we are going to go around our complex on Friday and clean up garbage laying around. Then one day next week we are going to go to the local animal shelter to volunteer our time and efforts to help out anything they might need help with. Of course mom and dad have to say yes first.

So how about you.. what are you going to do to participate in improving your community?

iparticipate.org

Twist and Shout

That has been my life last while..Twisting and shouting cause it hurts so much. It has gotten bad enough to go get the pain in my lower back checked out recently. Now 30 odd years ago, I started having problems with pain in my lower back. I know it is something that happens to a lot of people in my family. For me it started with the disc degenerating in the L5 area..then L4 then S1 then S2.. About 7 years ago or so my neck and shoulders started really giving me pain and after xray-ing those they found the degenerating had jumped the thoracic discs and gone straight into the cervical ones in the neck.

I have gone through just about every quick cures, to painful procedures, and every thing in between, some worked some hmmm not so much.. then about 7 tears ago I thought this weight is killing me so I got my butt and head in gear and lost 150 pounds in 2 years. That gave me a HUGE reprieve. 3 years later there was a clean slate.. the degeneration had not progressed. I now was in more pain then before but I had way more mobility.. give and take,,,But last couple of months it has gotten REALLY bad..bad enough to go to a walk in clinic rather then My doc cause I knew I would never make it to New West to see her.

He called me back a week or so later and said you need to go see your own doc if you have one as you have severe nerve root damage in your L5/S1 space. IT also stated severe narrowing of space. So I got a hold of my doctor and she had me in the next day. So went over the report and said here is your To Do List that you HAVE to follow: No bending at the waist EVER, no making bed, no picking things off the floor, no lifting anything, no sweeping or washing floors, no vacuuming, no washing walls, windows or floors, no playing golf, no loading or unloading dishwasher, no bending to take clothes out of the dryer.


She is sending me to see a specialist that I have seen before and gave me one exercises to do in the meantime. I called the office and said look I know the specialist is out of town till early next year and I explained why I needed an appointment. She said well we are not making appointments but he actually will be in town next Thursday to wrap up papers etc before he heads out of town again for a few months. If you can get here then we will squeeze you in. oh YEA!! I'll be there.

Do you have any idea how many things you do in any given day that involves bending at the waist? It would be easier to say what you can't do. This really sucks. She said sitting and laying down will irritate it as will standing in one spot.. or long walks.. I did tell her it had gotten worse after the race a couple of weeks ago. She said no more walks unless you are going to the corner store.

UGHHHHHHH...........

Computers and Smiley Faces NOT!

So here is my day so far... It is now 4 days before our huge genealogical seminar and I have a last minute to do list a few miles long it seems. I had an executive meeting this morning with my committee to go over the items left to take care of. I had my lists of things to do today while I was there. After the meeting..I am ready to work... but the computers wouldn't cooperate with me... I couldn't find a file I was needing off of one of my flash drives and yet I knew it had been there last night.. so had to go and open up each and every single file on the off chance that I had not saved it under what it should have been. So that took a couple of hours. In between doing that there were other distractions at work and other things that needed taken care of. I finally gave up trying to find it and started a new file.. then one of the computers went down (we have 9)... One of our computer guys happened to be there and so he took a look at it, fixed it and went home.. half hour later, a different one went down.. of course we had no way of knowing that one or more was down till a patron would come in and would go to work on it.

So I did what I knew I could do to fix it and worked on it but it wouldn't go so I put a call in and one of the guys came back... got it working... an hour or so later, 3 more went down, 2 hard wired ones and 1 wireless one.. got them working.. and back to my file.. lots of distractions by this time.. Then in comes another patron and it starts all over again..now we are down to only 3 working computers. I needed to shut down the modems to reboot but wanted to wait till we didn't have any patrons in there using them so that I didn't inconvenience them... when they both left, I turned everything off, shut the modems down and rebooted everything. This time NO Internet on ANY computers, not even the main one that I had been working on all afternoon.. ughhhh

It was now way beyond my pay grade and patience level so I put another call in and over comes one of the techs at 3:30. At 5:45 I knew that the evening shift would be there but I still had another couple of hours of work to do on the file I was working on.. I was about half way through and didn't want to stop but I moved everything over to one of the back computers so the other shift would have the front desk to help patrons. I saved my file on my flash drive, move everything over, go and open the file on another computer and could not find it.. again.. well actually I did find it and it came with a "File is corrupt" message.. what????

Why oh Why oh Why... another hour and a half of trying to repair that file did not work.. I did everything I knew to do and it still would not work. I couldn't even open up the original file.. then I thought wait.... if I go back to the main desk and open up my flash drive there maybe I can find it so I tried and although I could not find the file that I had been working on all afternoon I was able to open up the original file .. but 5 hours worth of input all gone :( That is where my sarcastic smiley faces come to play! So now I have to re-enter it ..all that data ..sigh... just what I wanted to do tonight :(.. and 5 hours after he got there, the tech was still there...

Tomorrow is another day..

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!

What I am truly thankful for today? For a husband who loves me unconditionally, who never says no to me, who goes without so I can do with, for children who give up their day to do a race with me, for a daughter who knows me but loves me anyway and doesn't think it is strange to hang out together, for sons that continually help me with my computer problems, that never make me feel stupid because I don't get it; I am thankful for daughters in law who forgive me when their husbands are going through their childlike stages and they don't blame me for it; for grandchildren who think I walk on water no matter how late I am with their birthday presents; I am thankful for friends who know everything about me and still love me; I am thankful for visiting and home teachers that faithfully come out every single month and that check up on me during the month as well; I am thankful for Del and Violy, who have seen me at my worse, wearing my worst, no brushed hair or teeth worse and come over anyway to help take care of me at times; I am thankful for my consultants at work who continually surprise me by pitching in to take on extra shifts when needed, help where they are needed; I am thankful for an executive committee who right now are going above and beyond the call of duty to get things ready for our seminar on Saturday; I am thankful for my computer gurus at work who help me keep things under control, who put out our "fires" for me, who patiently remind me that yes I will have wireless for Saturday to not worry; I am thankful for brothers and sisters in laws who keep tabs on me and how I am doing; who go out of their way every time I go back to my mom just so they can see me; I am thankful for my mother who is still in very good health, who still treats me like a child, who makes me have naps when we are together and who makes me eat porridge cause it's good for you; I am thankful for having God in my life; this past 18 months would have been a nightmare for me without His constant guidance in my life; I am thankful for having such a phenomenal medical team who still practice medicine the way the old family doctors did,they do house calls, they deal with the entire body not just the one area that you are having a problem with, they talk to each other, they report back to each other, and they treat me like a human being, I know dealing with my health issues and now the cancer, I would be lost without them. I am thankful for those that invented Facebook, due to you, I have found lost cousins and now keep in close contact with them and their families; it gives me a way to share their lives, their pictures, their children at any given moment.

I try and remind myself throughout the year that I am a very blessed person for all I have in my life; that I need to tell others thank you, and that I need to give credit where credit is due. So if I have neglected to tell you all of this throughout this past year I am saying it now, thank you everyone.. thank you for being a part of my day to day life, thank you for all that you do for me, thank you for loving me, for keeping in contact with me; most importantly...thank you for making me feel like I am important, that I matter to you and that I am loved. Thank you....just because I love you too.

Fall is in the air

Hello Hello Hello!!

It is fall outside and Mother Nature is at her best :) All yellows. oranges, greens, reds and purples.. Artists must be in their heyday just trying to capture it all on canvas or on film! Summer is still my favorite season though just cause we can go camping and fishing etc. But I like spring and autumn for the simple fact is that for the most part, the weather is gorgeous!! Nice and sunny but not overly hot, I can go walking in the middle of the day without feeling like I'm in a sauna.

But the REAL reason I love the fall is .. are you ready??? SWEATERS!!!! I love sweaters!! It's a terrible addiction way more then shoes although I would never admit I had a shoe addiction cause to do that would have to admit to Keith he was right and that would never work hehehee. I love all kinds of sweaters but my favourite are thick cable knit high turtle necks.. You know the kind that you have to roll down the neck 2-3 times .. so warm and comfy.. kind of like someone has their arms around you in a permanent hug 24/7. There is nothing that stops me dead in my tracks when I am window shopping then a window full of sweaters!

I have been working on our annual genealogical seminar for last few days almost non stop as it is coming up next Saturday and was getting frustrated. I am a perfectionist working in an imperfect world and it is frustrating when things don't go my way in my time frame. So this morning I needed a release so started vacuuming. I leaned under the bed to make sure there weren't any run away socks hiding and saw our storage bags filled with SWEATERS!!! Even though we have lots of closets I have to keep my summer and winter clothes apart otherwise I have no room. So thought hey.. temperature is cooling off .. I need a release valve.. so let's pull out all my winter clothes.

But it wasn't just pulling them out of storage it was having to take all the summer ones out of the drawers, the closets and the cupboards first to have room. It was very relaxing and therapeutic. I know I know I am weird what can I say ? :) So here is the end result. I know what Keith is going to say though tonight hehehehe "Why is it my side of the closet keeps getting smaller and smaller?" Sorry Love.. :-D

OOPS I forgot

I forgot to add the link to the news story from CTV news. I am about 2:04 time spot

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/top-picks/run-for-the-cure/#clip220475

Run For The Cure 2009

Well we did it!!! Our family completed our 2nd annual Run for the Cure to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. It was a great success! I can't even begin to describe my feelings of that day...of the love I have for my family members that were there, their getting up at 6am to get going on a day when they could have all slept in, of the love I have for my friend Leo from high school and his wife Carolyn, who took time out of their work week to run with me... of the love I have for Keith, who continues to support me day in and day out.

Last year when we did the race for the first time, I didn't know what to expect so my eyes were just bouncing everywhere just being caught up in the whole thing. This year was different for some reason. It was way more emotional for me for one thing.. it took sheer will power to be able to talk over the huge lump in my throat. Last year I ran with excitement, this year my head got involved, stats of survival rates, ratio between pink shirts and white shirts (survivors wear pink t-shirts and supporters wear white), stats of new diagnosed cases, how many "young" women were wearing pink, what my daughter was thinking about throughout the race, if she spent her days wondering and worrying about me.... head space things..

I had gone out a couple of weeks before the race trying to find something that we could wear as a family to show unity. Lareta and I came across pink cowboy hats at a store that was dispalying Hallowe'en things and there was EXACTLY the number that we wanted.. how perfect was that?? So we decided on that and pink bandanas.. it was a reminder to me of my roots. The men in the family never even argued that there was no way they were going out in public wearing pink cowboy hats they just did.

Last year I had trained to get my time in under an hour.. but ended up leaving my family "in the dust" till almost the end of the race. Here was my daughter who had just given birth 6 weeks before with a dislocated pelvic joint racing with me, a son who has a hard time walking a block racing with me, and there they were way behind me. This year, it never occurred to me to watch my time, we started as a family, we walked as a family and we ended together as a family. When we crossed my daughter was beside me and when I went to hug her thank you, my emotions just let go.

Just before the race started, our daughte rin law who is about 5 months pregnant almost collapsed. I was very worried for her and we had first aid attendants come quickly to where we were. She wasn't able to race with us obviously and our son stayed with her rather then racing with us. We kept in close contact with them with our cells and when we got to the end of the bridge and near the finish line they met us so they could go through the line together.

What possibly could I have ever done to get blessed with such an amazing family!!! At one point CTV news happen to come across our family before the race. They noticed on my race number on my back that states "Who I am running for" that it had a LOT of names and they wanted to know what was going on. I told them about the high rate of cancer in my family, of how there were 5 of us dealing with it right now and that I had an aunt that had died from hers earlier this year. I told them that I was going to be the one that broke that "tradition" that I was going to be the one that died from old age instead of cancer. Every innovation always starts with one person willing to step out from the crowd and that was going to be me.

I am going to do everything in my power to raise awareness for breast cancer this next year, I am going to do what I can to raise my voice to let others know that no matter how little one does for this cause it will count in the long run. So keep reading and listening and passing along any information that you feel might be useful for someone else you know.

I want to give a huge thank you to all of you that have posted your support on here or on Facebook, through your emails and calls. Every email, letter and card all have gone in my Sunshine Book that I take out on my dark days when I am tired of this, and it reminds me that this cancer didn't just touch me it touched everyone around me and that people love me. So thank you. You will never understand how much you mean to me. Enjoy the pictures :)

Our daughter in law Linda









What do you mean my hat is too big?? It just means I will be able to still race until it fits me :)









the poster on my front door that goes up about a week before the race. The reason I am making a "muscle" is to show cancer it will NOT get me, I am a SURVIVOR and will survive this











My favourite daughter Lareta as we wait for the train to take us home :)











My high school friend Leo and his wonderfully supportive wife Carolyn. Leo and I found each other on Facebook a year or so ago.. YEA Facebook!










Keith and I on the Burrard Street nridge.. and yes I do know I am wearing 2 hats, one for me and one for the women in my family that had lost their lives to cancer. Keith also is NOT that big lol he was wearing a down vest under his shirt as it had been very cold that morning. Most of us had worn layers and had been peeling them off during the day but Keith hadn't











Who says you are too young to do the race... I don't think so!











Angel's wings











Another set of angel wings











The start line.. it took us a good 15 minutes just to get to that point












gathering up the troops











The end of a very long day :)

Go Pink for October

Web sites will Go Pink during the month of October to bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, get people talking about breast cancer, and raise money for research.

But to be clear, raising money isn’t the primary purpose of this web event.

The hope is that you turn your site pink (in whatever way works for your site), go out to that World Wide Web thing and educate yourself about the multiple issues related to Breast Cancer, then take that new-found knowledge and tell someone else what you’ve learned.

We hope that you will:

1. Turn your web site/blog pink (however you like, it’s up to you).
2. Educate yourself about the multiple issues related to breast cancer.
3. Take that new-found knowledge and teach someone else what you know.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in helping with this event. But even if you don’t have time to dedicate, consider redesigning your site for the month of October — Go Pink!

2006 (our first year) was a great start with the roughly 1500 sites that Went Pink. 2007 saw roughly 3000 sites Go Pink. 2008 was our biggest year with roughly 15,000 sites.

We are looking to make an even bigger splash in 2009, but we’ll need your help to do it.

Blog about it, invite others to join, become involved, help increase awareness, learn something new, and teach others what you know.

Many thanks!

~Matthew Oliphant

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure

Fooz table and toys

We have this big yard sale coming up on Saturday to raise money and awareness for the Run for the Cure race that I am doing next month. I have been asking, nicely of course, if friends and families have items from their homes that they had been wanting to get rid of that they would willingly donate it to me for such a good cause. All week I have been collecting things filling every square foot (at least in Keith's mind) with stuff for the sale.

But 2 incidences happened this week that really touched me. One of our neighbors and friends have 3 children, 8, 6 and 4 years of age. They have a Fooz (sp?) table that they had planned on selling so they could have some spending money. When their mom told them what I was doing they decided, on their own according to mom, that they would donate it for our yard sale so the doctors would fine a cure so I didn't get cancer again. And one of our granddaughters who protects her toys with every being of her little body and would never ever let them go, decided to let Mommy and Daddy pack them all up to bring to the sale so that Nana would never get sick like she did last year.

How do you respond to something like? By swallowing the thick lump in your throat.

Sleep Sleep Sleep

Or rather lack of it.. so today begins my 6 day regime of no medication. Nothing Nada Rien, I am scheduled for a 2 nights and day sleep study at the UBC hospital beginning Monday night. For 2 nights they will hook me up with all the electrodes and read how I sleep. After the second night, I will remained hooked up all the following day so they can gauge how I react from sleep deprivation... uh... come hang around me on any given day. Sitting at the hospital with nothing to do doesn't give you a true reading.

But I can handle all that. It is the get off all medication beginning today that won't be so easy, no get out of bed card, no do not go past the bed card, and the do not collect your medication card. No medication for my FM, nothing for my restless leg syndrome (Keith has truly been missing his black and blue shins)and definitely no medication that fools my brain into thinking it actually is sleeping so it stops talking to itself and actually goes into deep sleep so my body heals.

Good thing I have the yard sale on Saturday so I can keep busy and not go to bed at all :)

Sunday a day of rest

Keith has really been on my case to slow down this past year and a half and to me I am already slowed down!! But what he said really hit home these last 2 weeks while I have been helping with my friend's husband for her funeral. So I told him last week that I would consciously keep one day a week completely work free..not even computer work although emails were ok. You would think that would be a snap right? WRONG!

Every time I turned around today I could feel Keith's eyes on me or hear his throat clearing. I don't know which was worse..sitting still or knowing he was watching me lol. I had promised I wouldn't do more then go to church, make meals and read or do letters etc. At one point I was on the couch reading and he was watching a movie and he tells me that tapping my foot against the coffee table was NOT being quiet and that he knew I really wasn't really reading because he knows I am a speed reader but had not turned a page in several minutes..sheeesh. Who would have thought staying still would be so difficult?? My mom has also been really on my case since last year as well telling me to slow down, asking me if I had a nap that day.. uhhh mom I had a 53 mother of 5 and grandmother of 14 I am too told to be go to my room for a nap... of course I would NEVER say that with my outside voice..nope nope nope. I am never too old to be brave enough to say that out loud!

So I decided to at least work on my day timer tonight for this coming week seeing as I couldn't do anything else productive today. Although I did do spagetti squash and some homemade sauce for dinner. Last week was an emotional and mentally busy week..this week I can put my brain on R&R and have a normal week.

Monday am: Executive meeting
Monday afternoon: doctor appointment (just for checkup so no worries!)
Monday evening: do rest of grocery shopping, go to ICBC for insurance for the new car; work on getting handouts for October's seminar

Tuesday am: put battery in car; take car to Air-Care, get it to the car wash and clean it out;
Tuesday afternoon: make some homemade pasta dough ahead of time for Wednesday's class I am teaching so I have some extra on hand, not too sure how many people will be at the class
Tuesday night: go through dining room and kitchen for items for Saturday's yard sale; write our recipes for Wednesday's class; work on October's seminar

Wednesday morning: Take Rosaleen to her first full day of Kindergarten, gather up all equipment for tonight's class and get it to Suncreek common room
Wednesday afternoon: print all the recipes, double check attendance and list items; send out all letters and schedules to family history centres and genealogical societies in BC
Wednesday evening: Teach homemade pasta and sauces class; clean up and get all things back home

Thursday morning: get all instruction packets out to all the presenters for October's seminar; go through linen closet and bathrooms for yard sale
Thursday afternoon: go to work
Thursday evening: Get poster boards and supplies for yard sale posters; go through spare bedroom for items

Friday morning: go through office for sale itmes.. try not to panic but yet be objective to getting rid of things
Friday afternoon: do up posters and pink ribbons/signs etc; start pricing items; do some baking of items for kids snack table to sell
Friday evening: focus on yard sale, make sure I've gone through the house with a fine tooth comb, try not to nag at Keith to go through his things and the storage room; get hot dogs and pop for the sale; get posters out in the neighborhood

Saturday morning and afternoon: YARD SALE!!
Saturday evening: Keith's surprise birthday party

Sunday: day of rest

I think that's about it for this week.

One Bowl Brownies

I got this recipe from one of my mother in laws cookbooks that I inherited after she passed away. I have been thinking of her a lot recently and thought I would make something from her book. Well I came across this brownie recipe that looked so easy a child could make it. But I have to tell you this recipe BY FAR is the BEST brownie recipe I have ever tasted in my life... hands down... so thought I would share with you. I think a recipe a week would be a cool touch to my blog :)

One Bowl Brownies
4 squares Bakers Unsweetened Chocolate
(I did not have any because I have a husband who constantly eats them so I checked the Chipits bag and for cup chips is the substitute for the squares)
3/4 cup butter
Microwave both items in large bowl on HIGH for 2 minutes or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is melted
Stir in 1 cup white sugar and 1 tsp vanilla until dissolved
Mix in 2 eggs until well blended (still only using spoon)
Stir in 1 cup flour and 1 cup chopped nuts until blended

Pour in 9X13 pan which you have lined with foil that has been extended over the ends so you have handles later. Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 30-35 minutes until toothpicks inserted in middle comes out with fudgey crumbs. DO NOT OVERBAKE. It should look slightly "wet". Cool in pan. Life out from pan by foil ends onto cutting board. Cut into 24 brownies

I loved this because I did not have to use the mixer, I didn't have to use 2 bowls, my pan remained clean and they are so moist and delicious!!!!

enjoy!

PS. All of my new cookbooks or recipes that I get all have nutritional values attached to them with calories and fat content. But because this is an old book it does not have them so that means they are calorie and fat free. WOOOHOOO Bonus!!!!!

Who Will You Run For

Hello Family and Friends
Getting a cancer diagnosis is probably one of the most devastating things a person has to experience. You read all of the time about people telling you how to cope with cancer and what your treatment options are, so I'm not going to do that. What I am going to do is to tell you that you are in my heart and on my mind, and I promise to continue saying a prayer for you every day for all the support I have received from my family and friends these last 18 months!
If there is one thing I know, I know that God is able. And as if that weren't already enough, I know I’m a trooper. I instantly thought that if anyone could get the diagnosis and beat it, surely, it was me. I can't say that I wasn’t scared to death when the doctor told me the news, but I can tell you a few things grounded me in that instance first, my faith, then, my love for my family, and then my zest for life.
I didn't flinch as I asked my doctor, "So, what's next?" She said, "Well, I believe I've removed all of it, and it doesn't look like it has spread. Through 6 long surgeries and recuperation sessions in these last eighteen months I’m happy to say my story ends well. The cancer hadn't spread, and I will be fine. I know everyone's story doesn't end like his. And I didn't tell you that to make you feel bad if your experience with yourself or someone in your life isn't looking like it will end the same. What I do want to offer you is hope; hope and belief other good things may come from it like how something like this pulls and welds families together.
So, if you're living with cancer or experienced it the way I have or through a loved one, a diagnosis doesn't have to be the end. Everything happens for a reason. Whatever season I’m in with this disease, I take it one day at a time and sometimes one hour at a time. My prayer is that a cure will be found to stave off this disease once and for all. But until it is discovered, I take heart that someone out there loves me and is praying on my behalf.
I also have an amazingly strong will to live.
I get out of bed every morning as if nothing is wrong. I may have known I was going to have to face things and could feel sick during the day, but I never got out of bed that way. There was a lot I was fighting for. I have children who think I am the best thing since sliced bread, a wonderful life and a magical love affair with my husband and since I was diagnosed I now have 2 more granddaughters making a total of 15 grandchildren! Who wouldn’t want to live after that?
My will to live means that I really want to live, whether or not I’m afraid to die. I want to enjoy life, I want to get more out of life, I believe that my life is not over and I am willing to do whatever I can to squeeze more out of it. The threat of death often renews our appreciation of the importance of life, love, friendship and all there is to enjoy. We open up to new possibilities and begin taking risks we didn't have the courage to take before. Facing the uncertainties of living with an illness makes life more meaningful. The smallest pleasures are intensified and much of the hypocrisy in life is eliminated. When bitterness and anger begin to dissipate, there is still a capacity for joy.
A way to strengthen this partnership is to extend the relationship to others. The emotional experience of sharing and enjoying your family and partnerships supports your love for life and your will to survive. This was the main reason I NEEDED to do our family reunion this year even if it meant it would exhaust me. I knew that being around that large of a family would be a drug that was like no other medication I could have been put on.
As I made the transition from helpless victim to activist, one of the most important realizations is that you have everything to do with how others perceive you and treat you. If you can accept your condition and hold self-pity at bay, others won't feel sorry for you. If you can discuss your disease and medical therapy in a matter-of-fact manner, they'll respond in kind without fear or awkwardness. You are in charge.
Sharing my life with others and receiving aid or support from friends and family will improve my ability to cope and help me fight for your life. A person who is lonely or alone often feels like a helpless victim. There is a need to share your own problems, but helping others find solutions or cope better with the problems of daily living gives strength to both the giver and the receiver. There are few more satisfying experiences in life than helping a person in need.
Hope can be maintained as long as there is even a remote chance for survival. It is kindled and nurtured by even minor improvements or a remission and maintained when crises or reversals occur. There are times when I feel exhausted and drained by never-ending problems and feel ready to give up the struggle to survive. All too often it seems easier to give up than to keep on fighting. Frustrations and despair can sometimes feel overwhelming. Determination or dogged persistence is needed to accomplish the difficult task of fighting for my health.
The experience of cancer is not only destructive in a physical way but can be a major deterrent to my fighting attitude and will to live. But even during the roughest times, there are often untapped reserves of physical and emotional strength to call upon to help me survive one more day. This reserve adds meaning to my life as well as serves as a lighthouse that leads me to a safe haven during a turbulent storm. Hope has different meanings for each person. It is a component of a positive attitude and acceptance of our fate in life. I use my strengths to gain success to live life to the fullest. Circumstances often limit my hopes of happiness, cure, remission or increased longevity. I also live with fears of, pain, of being a real financial burden to my husband, a bad death or other unhappy experiences.
Each of us has the capacity to live each day a little better, but we need to focus on both purpose and goals and set into action a realistic daily plan--often altered many times--to help us achieve them. These resources are the foundation of the will to live. Only by using the power of the will to live--nourished by hope--can we achieve the sublime feelings of knowing and experiencing the wonders of life and appreciate its meanings though vital living.
So that is why I am going to put my body into action so that it practices what it preaches. I have registered to attend my 2nd annual Run For The Cure Breast Cancer Race on October 2nd 2009. I had been unsure whether or not I would be able to attend as I knew I had my 6th surgery coming up in the fall. So needless to say when I came home from our family reunion in Sask in August I was thrill to find out I had a call from my surgeon’s office saying she had a cancellation that week did I want it?? YESSS!! And the first thing I did once I could move my arms without so much pain was to send in my registration to do the race. Here is where you come in by choosing one of the following ways you can assist me with my goal to raise awareness for breast cancer research.
1. Join our race team named SMILESONLY. If we can get the minimum of 10 people registered we get our t-shirts monogrammed  You can still do the race with us and not register. You can run the race, walk it, be in a wheelchair, stroller or any other way you need to do it by.
2. Send a monetary donation either through my snail mail address or through the website (at end of letter)
3. Join us for our 1st Annual Race For The Cure yard sale on September 19th. Address below. That date is actually our 31st wedding anniversary and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate it then by being thankful we still have one to celebrate and by using the funds collected that day to donate to the Breast Cancer Research. You can either come by and support us by visiting us that day (and buy things hehehe) or else if you have household items you are trying to get rid off please feel free to drop them off the day before with the understanding ALL monies collected will go to Breast Cancer Research,
4. Offer your continued support through letters, emails, calls, cards.. all things I get I print and place them in my pink scrapbook. So on days where I don’t get dressed and I spend more time with my head in the bucket then out of it, I open up my scrapbook and I am reminded I am loved by a lot of people.
5. Do the run in the city you live in
So whichever way you wish and are able to support me, I am eternally grateful. On closing I would like to give you the lyrics by Melissa Etheridge to a song she wrote after she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She too is a survivor.
It's been years since they told her about it
The darkness her body possessed
And the scars are still there in the mirror
Everyday that she gets herself dressed
Though the pain is miles and miles behind her
And the fear is now a docile beast
If you ask her why she is still running
She'll tell you it makes her complete

[Chorus:]
I run for hope
I run to feel
I run for the truth
For all that is real
I run for your mother your sister your wife
I run for you and me my friend I run for life

It's a blur since they told me about it
How the darkness had taken its toll
And they cut into my skin and they cut into my body
But they will never get a piece of my soul
And now I'm still learning the lesson
To waken when I hear the call
And if you ask me why I am still running
I'll tell you I run for us all

And someday if they tell you about it
If the darkness knocks on your door
Remember her remember me
We will be running as we have before
Running for answers
Running for more
Again thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul!!!! If you have any questions please ask away or if you have any fund raiser ideas that I can do in one more month let me know that too!!
All my thankful love
Sally
#101-13340 70B Ave
Surrey BC V3W 7Z1
shaysom@gmail.com

Shoe Additction:NOT!

So Keith and I are watching TV tonight while we have our laptops on the dining room table doing work and Ikea comes out with this bedroom closet organizer commercial. It shows a couple getting all dressed up fancy but neither speak it is just the Ikea narrator having this 2 sided conversation. You know kind of the inside voice versus outside voice that we all have had.. you know what I am talking about.. you know when people ask you how you are doing and you say oh fine and smile and the whole time you are cringing with a migraine.. yeah you.. see I knew you did that.

Any way.. the man is taking a tie out of a tie drawer (now that is OCD.. have you seen how neat that drawer is and how each tie has it's own compartment.. oh puhlease!) and smiles at his wife but the guy is thinking how lucky his wife is that her 73 shoes never fell on his head. I snorted or some similar thing.. the wife's shoes are all above his head and each shoe is securely held in place with individual hooks. I said what? Keith said that guy knows the truth.. what??? He said why do women have to have such shoe addictions.. what shoe addictions? There was hardly any shoes on the wall!! I mean he had a WHOLE drawer of ties.. get real! Keith replies about how ALL women have a shoe addiction that even our 4 year old granddaughter has more shoes then most adult women. I replied I don't have a shoe addiction.. now his turn to snort and asks if I even know how many pairs of shoes I own... no why would I need to know that? He said guess... I said I don't know maybe 20 pairs.. he laughs out LOUD and says he has 3 and 1 doesn't count cause they are his work boots.. well duh.. how many screwdrivers do you have? He said Solange (I hate that tone... )I need those for work,, uh huh then why are they in my storage room...

So he said you don't even know how many pairs you have do you? Sure I do.... He said you don't even know how many BLACK pairs of shoes you have.. yes but they are all different shoes..how many different pairs do you need.. uh.. dressy high high heel for dress up, flats for skirts and leggings, loafers for pants, pumps for other skirts, slingbacks just because every girl needs sling backs.. open toed sling back because uh I am a girl hello!! Then I need leather ones and suede ones and matte ones and high gloss ones.. the eye rolls begin at this time with the tongue sticking out his cheek..

Ok and how many white ones do you have and how many colored shoes and how many brown ones.. I only have 2 pairs of brown I say in self-defense! One high heel pump and 1 loafer so he goes to get the other "brown" ones.. uh Keith that is not brown that is taupe and that one is sand and that one is beige and that one is nude.. there goes the eye roll again.

So he bets me supper dishes of who gets closer to the amount of shoes I have.

Bet:
Keith: 34
Sally: 25
Actual: (not counting flip flops cause we all know those are not considered real shoes thank goodness)
35 pairs of shoes
3 pairs of runners
5 pairs of boots

It's not important to dwell on who's right in this case.. the important thing is that we all learn a lesson through all this.. and I will think of what that could possibly be while I load the dishwasher!

Thankful for Smart Hubbies

For many MANY years Keith has always told me to always back up my work.. he usually says it AFTER I start freaking out thinking I have lost something.. well upset because I think I have lost it and that Keith has retrieved it which usually comes attached with a "did you back it up before you decided to change it" which I normally have to grudgingly say that I didn't or that I meant to right after I was done what I was doing which I hate admitting I didn't do something properly!!


Last while my blog template has been bugging me.. I wanted something new and fresh and so decided this morning I was going to work on it at 4:30 in the morning when I thought it was 9:30.. first mistake.. but I worked on it, changing this changing that moving things around.. the site kept reminding me to save it and I kept thinking uh huh just as soon as I am done this I don't want to lose my concentration... but then Keith's voice kept ringing in my head which was pretty good seeing as he was wrapped up in watching a movie.. but I finally did and kept working a couple of hours more.... so I hit save and went to check out the new site..

YUK!!! I did not like it.. did not like the formatting, was missing several links and html gadgets that I thought I had entered in.. groan groan groan.,.. Keith kept asking what was wrong of course of which I replied nothing! Heaven forbid I would have to tell him I lost my site and ask for help. I HATE asking for help.. drives me crazy.. especially if it is for help because of something I neglected to do.. but then his inside voice spoke out about backing up and thought WOOHOOO I did back it up, pulled it out and the site was back to the way it originally was with all my links... phewwww.. thanks Keith :) I love you too :) Even when you are right.. but you being right does NOT mean I was wrong hehehehee

But now back to formatting...........

To My Dear Friend

Today I grieve for the loss of my dear friend. When I had my mastectomy last year she kept me together, held my head out of the puke bucket, arranged for someone to stay with me, feed my family for 3 weeks till my mother got here and took over like only a mom can do. These last couple of weeks I watched her slip farther and farther away. Then in her last hour I watched her face turn into peace, her breathing became less rattly and noisy, she became quiet and I knew she had started her path towards her next life and she was ready.

I told her I loved her right in her ear right till the last breath. I know hearing is the last sense that leaves a person and I needed to make sure she knew I had kept my promise to her and had not left her alone.

I know that if my friend could stand in front of those of us who are grieving at the loss, I think this is what she would tell us:

I've traveled paths you've yet to walk
Learned new lessons old and new
And now this wisdom of my life
I'm blessed to share with you

Let kindness spread like sunshine
Embrace those who are sad and grieving now
Respect their dignity, give them joy
And leave them feeling glad

Forgive those who have slighted you, offended you
And though you have your pride
Listen closely to their viewpoint
Try to always see the other side

Walk softly when you are angry
Try not to take offense
Invoke your sense of humour
Laughter's power is immense!

Express what you're feeling
Your beliefs you should uphold
Don't shy from what is right
Be courageous and be bold

Keep hope right in your pocket
It will guide you day by day
Take it out when it is needed
When it's near you will find a way.

Remember friends and family
Of which you you are a precious part
Love deeply and love truly
Give freely from your heart

The world is far from perfect
There will always be conflict and strife
But you can still make a difference
By how you live your life

Take your marriages to heart
Learn to forgive hurts
Learn to say "I'm sorry will you forgive me?"
Life is too short to let things get to you

Take those disagreements with others
As a way to communicate your feelings
If often is difficult to see another's view
But forgive and ask for a new beginning

No life is worth wasting
Every marriage has worth and worth saving
Families need to be together and eternal
So do what you need to do to, stand strong and do not cave

I have been very blessed to know
The wonders you have done and will continue to do
Because you are my family and friends
And I have always believed in you.

Take care my dear friend,I shall miss you dearly but I will remember our time together, I will remember the laughter we shared, the tears we wept, the hugs we gave one another. I will remember the love we had together. Be at peace now and let Heavenly Father take you home now. Save a good spot for me! I love you.

Because I Have Been Given Much

It's just after 1 in the morning and am just getting home from my time by my close friend's hospital bedside. She has been there for over 6 months now and for the last couple of weeks has been deteriorating. I have posted a few times in the past on here on how I have been friends with a lot of women in my life, even more acquaintances.. but over the course of my life I have only gotten very close with a very few women. These women I have called my "Almost Sisters". Almost because we aren't biologically related but that is all that prevents us from being true sisters.

We all know or at least most of us know that we were all brothers and sisters in the pre-existence but at times in this life certain people cross our paths for no unknown reason they just do. Six times this has happened in my years. Each time for different reasons, these same 6 women have left my side. Each time I tell myself I am NOT going to get that close ever again.. but then just when I least expect it in walks someone. I really am beginning to believe that God insists that I need a bosom buddy that is not my husband.

This friend, is one of those women and my heart aches while I watch her slip from us. It aches because I am watching her suffer. It aches because I am watching her husband by her side trying to hang on to her. I was telling a co-worker today how I wish that in an ideal world our hearts and heads would be on the same page at the same time.

I have been asked many times these last couple of months why I keep going back to the hospital every day, when I have just myself gotten out of the hospital just 2 weeks ago from my own surgery. I just keep saying because I need to. Last year when I had my mastectomies, this friend arranged for meals to come to my home for 3 weeks, arranged for my home to be cleaned, arranged for rides to appointments, most of which I tried overriding her with my pride and " I don't need help I can do it" attitude which she completely ignored. I was telling her night nurse this when we were changing her and cleaning her up. I said it's my turn now to take care of her.

On the quiet ride home tonight I thought of a hymn we sang at church on Sunday. Keith had been sitting sort of turned away from me dealing with a grandchild and all of a sudden he sensed I had changed inside. I don't think my singing had changed or that I had even shifted in my seat but he just knew the song had hit a raw nerve in me as I thought of how much God had given me this past year and a half. Most of all He gave me my life back, he gave me 2 new granddaughters, a new grandchild to be, the chance to reconnect with my family this summer in my home town many of which I had not seen in 20 years; He gave me the ability to be a little bit more patient with others; to learn to trust in others; to have trust not only in Him but in His timing.

As I thought of the words to that song on the way home, I knew why I was going back to the hospital every day.. it is simply because I have been given much...

Because I have been given much, I too must give. Because of thy great bounty, Lord each day I live. I shall divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see, who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care… I cannot see another’s lack and I not share-my glowing fire, my loaf of bread-my roof’s safe shelter over head, that he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love dear Lord, I’ll share thy love again according to thy word. I shall give love to those in need. I’ll show that love by word and deed, thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

10 Brilliant Uses for Aspiran

I came across this article while I have been sitting by my friend's hospital bedside. It gives ideas to use aspirin other then taking it for a headache. Some I already knew about, some I had known before but I had forgotten and some I didn't already know so thought I would share them with you.

1. Battery Boost
You get in your car and find the battery is dead. It will take too long to get the auto service over to you drop 2 aspirins into the faulty battery. The acetylsalicyclic acid will react to produce a strong enough charge to charge your car and you will be in your way.

2. Patch up pin holed walls:
In a small bowl, crush 3 aspirins into a fine powder, then add 2 DROPS of water. Stir until blended. Using a plastic spoon, apply the paste to the affected areas and smooth it with the back of the spoon. The paste will fill the holes without having to sparkle and re-paint.

3. Lift stubborn sweat stains effortlessly
place 5 aspirin under running water to soften them a bit then smooth the pills over the tint. Rinse with hot water in the morning then wash as usual. The asa will loosen the dirt, sweat and antiperspirant residue which discoloration.

4. Restore and refresh faded highlights
mash one aspirin tablet and add it to a bottle of shampoo then wash hair as usual. The asa will dissolve the chlorine buildup from too many dips in a chlorinated pool which is the major cause of brassiness, restoring your hair's shine in a single wash.

5. Soothe a scratchy throat fast
Dissolve a tablet in a glass of water. Gargle with the solution for 10-15 seconds then swallow. Repeat the following day if needed. The asa will penetrate the inflamed throat tissue to quickly numb the pain and reduce swelling.

6. Eliminate bug bite itch
Moisten the affected area of your skin then rub an aspirin tablet over the bumps. The pill's anti-inflammatory agents will seep into the sores, reducing swelling and discomfort

7. Minimize pores in just minutes
Simply crush and aspirin in a dish and add enough water to form a paste. Apply the mixture to the blemish and leave overnight. Aspirin restricts the production of prostaglandins (unsaturated fatty acids secreted by cells that cause inflammation) while easing irritation.

8. Soften calloused heels in a pinch
Mix 1 TBSP of lemon juice with 5 crushed aspirins tablets. Apply the blend to your calloused heels and cover with a plastic bag. Leave on for 10 minutes then rinse off with warm water. The combination of the acids in both lemon juice and aspirin will exfoliate the rough layer of dead skin cells to reveal the rough layer of dead skin cells to reveal soft smooth skin

9. Double the life of cut flowers
To make cut flowers last longer, drop 2 tablets into the water filled vase BEFORE adding the flowers. The H20 is a breeding ground for bacteria which causes blooms to wilt before their time. Aspirin decreases the pH level of the liquid which makes it inhospitable to the tiny organisms, ensuring the water and the bouquet will stay fresh longer.

10. Wipe away pesky rust marks
To remove rust rings left by hubby's shaving cream can, wet the area then smash an aspirin and sprinkle it on the mark. Let sit for 10 minutes before rubbing with a damp sponge. The acid components in the aspirin will loosen the iron oxide particles while the abrasive quality of the powder will help scrub off any stuck on grit.

So there you are.. my good deed for the day :)

Last surgery ~~~ I think

So here I am a week post op with what I hope to be my last surgery. With having had 6 surgeries last year, 3 of which happened in a 5 week period, I developed a nasty bout of scar tissue that was affecting my left arm. I saw my surgeon at the end of April and she said she would have to go back in to remove it.

So last Tuesday I went under the knife.. it's bad when you have been in the same OR so many times you actually know the nurses by name and they ask you about the new granddaughters you have! I saw the surgeon yesterday and she said everything went well. She ended up taking out about a 6-7" length of scar tissue but I never thought of asking how thick it had been. She only took out about half of the stitches as part had not quite healed enough and she did not want a repeat of earlier where one end did not close letting infection set in.

I have to go back on Monday to get the rest out and that should be the end of that era. Today was a different story. As any one that reads that knows me knows I don't sleep very well or very often and my doctor sent me back to the sleep disorder clinic at UBC hospital. I had been there in 2001 where they had found I had episodes of alpha delta sleep resulting in brain activity that continued throughout the night. I went on medication for it and slept really good for several years but last couple of years it has gone back to the way it had been before I was tested. I had to fill out a questionnaire a few months ago that had me keep a detailed diary of my day and nights for a 2 week period. I am sure she must have looked at that and decided I was half crazy. But she was very polite and neglected saying it out loud :)

She went over current health history for about 20 minutes then concluded I needed to be checked in for a 2 day overnight sleep study. It basically would be come in early evening, get hooked up to all the electrodes, spend the night, be released the next morning, go back for the evening, spend the night again as well as the whole next day where they will check me for 4-5 "scheduled" naps throughout the day. It never registered for that part till I was on my way home when I thought uhhh just exactly how do you schedule a nap let alone that many? Maybe knock me over the head??But I guess they know what they are doing. But the part that I did NOT like was the fact that I have to be off ALL my medications for 4 days before the first night, stay off of them for the 2 nights I am there so basically off of them for 6 days and nights. Not a good thing.

But the good part is they had a cancellation and could fit me in 3 weeks so am ready I guess. But let me be perfectly clear... This last 2 years has been enough already health wise..it is someone else's turn!! Actually I change my mind.. I wouldn't want to wish this past health issues on anyone. But I really have had enough.. time for a new me :)

TV Land

Ok if the powers to be are listening, these are my requests for the 2009/2010 TV season:
1. No more vampire/satanic/devil worshiping shows
2. No more teenagers/high school/young adult shows
3. No more 30 minute comedy sitcoms where the wife brow beats or makes fun of her husband
4. More shows that actually make you use your mind to think
5. That if shows begin the season that they be allowed to continue the season and not take it out after the 3rd episode
6. No more reruns half way through the 2nd month.. come on at least make it till Christmas season before you start
7. No changing nights for a show once you start the season
8. Get a better rating system then what is in place already cause it sucks..there should not be swearing on a show that is rated PG13. Are you telling me a 13 year old needs to hear that kind of language?
9. No More Reality shows of celebrities or any other kind..I really don't want to watch a show about a person that hoards garbage
10. Get rid of Paid Programming late nights or at least keep it to only 1 channel. Why does there have to be so many?
11. Why is Treehouse on in the middle of the night? Why are all the young teen channels such as YTV and FAM on in the middle of the night.. they should all be in bed.
12. Somebody needs to police the MTV channel.. have you seen the videos on there? The kind where you would find in the BACK room of an adult video store. Why are they on during the day when kids are at home or early evening?
13. Bring new cooking shows on the Food Network Channel. Some of those shows are from 2004/2006
14. Finally get some better cliff hangers at the end of the season.. enough to keep you hanging all summer otherwise I move onto another channel
15. Get better movies that aren't R rated on your movie channel so the rest of the world gets to watch them as well.

I am I said

I AM... I SAID
Written by Neil Diamond

Ponteix's fine, the sun shines most the time
And the feeling is 'lay back'
Poplar trees grow, and rents are low
But you know I keep thinkin' about
Making my way back

Well I'm Ponteix born and raised
But nowadays, I'm lost between two shores
Surrey's fine, but it ain't home
{onteix's home, but it ain't mine no more

"I am," I said
To no one there
An no one heard at all
Not even the chair
"I am," I cried
"I am," said I
And I am lost, and I can't even say why
Leavin' me lonely still

Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of bein' a king
And then became one
Well except for the names and a few other changes
I you talk about me, the story's the same one

But I got an emptiness deep inside
And I've tried, but it won't let me go
And I'm not a girl who likes to swear
But I never cared for the sound of being alone

"I am," I said
To no one there
An no one heard at all
Not even the chair
"I am," I cried
"I am," said I
And I am lost, and I can't even say why
Leavin' me lonely still

Hospital Policy made by Idiots

I just got back from visiting a dear friend in the hospital who has now been there for 5 months. She was shivering when I got there and when I went to hold her hand, it was ice cold. I noticed her extremities were quite swollen and I asked how the swelling had been. When we left it had been quite bad with skin weeping it was so thin from the swelling. She said it was getting much better although to me it was worse then when I left 2 weeks ago. I went to pull the sheets up and noticed the sheets covering her were wet and when I checked under it her gown was soaked. I asked her how long she had been wet and she said a long time. I went to get the nurse who tells me that she had been changed when they got on shift at 7ish (it now was about 1 in the afternoon). I told her she is really wet and needs to be changed.

Her reply was that she weeps quite a bit through her skin and if they changed linens all the time they got wet they would be changing them every hour! I stood there absolutely dumbfounded. I must of have had an incredulous look on my face or something cause all of a sudden she had the deer in the headlights look on her face! I said "So are you telling me you WON'T go change her till shift change 6 hours from now?" She said well if she REALLY wants to be changed we'll go change her. My mouth just kept opening and closing I was just stupefied at what she was telling me. I just very quietly said " No that's fine I will do it myself where are the linens?" She then tells me oh but if you change her then you will have to un-gown, scrub up again and re-gown as if that was going to deter me. I just looked at her and said "That's my almost sister laying in a pool of wet fluid, I will change her I wouldn't want you to be putting yourself out."

When I gathered up my things and went back in the room Keith asked me what that was all about as apparently by this time my face is all red and I have that "don't talk to me look". I repeated the conversation and my friend started to cry saying how much she had missed me taking charge while I was gone. I couldn't stay long as I could tell she was tired even though she wanted to talk so said we had to go. All the way home I kept going on and on to Keith about the idiocy of hospital politics and that they were so concerned about the bottom financial line that they had forgotten about the patients. Keith had left the room so I could change her and her skin was all red and raw from being so wet for so long. So needless to say the old fingers are going to be busy as I get a hold of Fraser Health so I can go to bat for my friend. Idiots.

Family Reunion

I apologize for not writing in here this last month or so. My whole life has been wrapped up in the family reunion I did for my dad's side of the family. Now if you know me you know I can't stand things not done the way I want it done in my head. But with my health I had to put a couple of projects on the back burner and that ate away at me. No one else knew I was working on them outside of Keith and Lareta but in my head I knew it and it was bugging the heck out of me.

We headed off a week before the reunion helping us to break the 19 hour trip into 3 sections. We spent some time with Keith's dad and his brother/sister in law in Saskatoon before we headed off to my hometown. It was a wonderful reunion!! Everyone kept talking about it and how great it was. But I pushed myself... 18 hour days for 5 days straight while I was there, on my feet the whole time.. but I didn't care.. that is what medication is for :)

Once there my brothers pitched in to help and my mom kept right by my side at 79 years of age. I was so proud of my family.. you know I never let go of my emotions.. I have such an ugly cry.. all red faced and splotchy and can't catch my breath so you get these big old gasps.. terrible.. so my cries come in the shower where no one can hear me.. but it was difficult this past weekend. I felt my grandparents around me most of the weekend especially my grandmother. I felt her hand on my shoulder several times and I know they were both pleased I had kept my word to them that I would do every thing I could do bring the family together.

Sunday night my mom, brothers, sister in laws and nieces/nephews took me aside and gave me some beautiful candles! Lareta had told me a few weeks ago that I really needed to get rid of the ones on my coffee table!! And now there they sit in honour. And tonight my oldest brother sent me a beautiful poem written in both English and French that I will treasure forever.

To me there is nothing more important then my family. Nothing. No one. And this weekend for the first time in the 20 years we have lived in BC, I have not only felt homesick (which I do all the time) but I felt like I was leaving a part of my soul behind. For the first time in all those years I have questioned my sanity in moving here. It was a completely different life there, main street consists of 2 blocks, I could walk the whole town in 30 minutes, the kids just would take off to play and there was nothing to worry about. I truly felt like I was missing a big part of my life not being there.

But then my children would not have met their spouses nor had the children that they have gotten. I would not know the joy I have felt. I love my life here, but I love my family there.. this past 2 weeks has put the question in my heart.... which do I love more.

Here are some pictures. The first is of my grandparents with their first child, followed by a picture of all 13 of their children ( a 14th child died shortly after birth). The next picture is of my mom, my brothers, their wives, all our children and grandchildren for some of us. The last one is of my family.

Letter to TLC

This is a copy of a letter I sent to TLC today..

Hello
I just wanted to say how upset I am that TLC has decided to continue airing new episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8. It used to be one of my favourite programs. Once it became apparent that there were marital problems, TLC and it's affiliates should have made an executive decision of not re-instating any new episodes. It is bad enough that children have to go through any separation/divorce it's even worse that they have to go through it through the television media. With all the publicity this separation has generated over the last few months people that are "thrill-seekers" are going to tune in just in case they get to see some fur fly so to speak. Even viewers that never watched the show previous to all of this are now going to tune in much like drivers slow down to see a car accident.

It would have been more advantageous if TLC had decided on a moral standpoint to not air any more episodes until things cleared with the Gosselins. I won't be watching any more episodes and I may be just one viewer but I am a viewer with a voice.