FarmStrong

This has been a very draining week. I went to work the day after I got my diagnosis and I decided that I wanted to tell some of my co-workers about the cancer. It was hard, and people were shocked, but very, very supportive. Sometimes I could talk about it matter of fact, other times I would become very emotional.

My co-workers all told me that I was strong and they were confident that I would get through this. I was touched that they thought I was strong and I needed to hear that. One of my colleagues said I was tough like my dad the farmer and he called me FARM STRONG. I loved that! I decided that FARM STRONG would be the theme that I am now going to use as I move forward through my life.

Another friend at work had the same cancer that I was diagnosed with and she was a big help with technical information. She has been cancer free for 10 years. I am so lucky to have her at work as she will be very supportive and help me through the days.

And still another friend had the exact same diagnosis also 10 years ago. So I will have plenty of support!

What is driving me crazy right now is some sort of rash that I am getting on and off. I see the doctor tomorrow to get that checked out.

My phone has been ringing off of the hook with people calling to share their experiences and support. Last night, I sat on the couch about nine o'clock and felt I could not speak another word.

Thank you for all of the comments of support and concern. I really appreciate you all. You have been with me through tough times before, and I could not do it with out you.

Crisis or an opportunity for growth?

I was diagnosed today with breast cancer. I still can't believe it is true even after sitting with the doctor and reading the lab report over and over again. 85% of biopsies are benign, and I fell into the 15% of women who have positive results.

I had a post up last week about the titanium breast markers that they wanted to put in during the procedure. (I took the post down, not sure why.) I was fighting having the markers put in because I didn't want foreign objects in my body, but they said it would be necessary in case things turned bad.The markers would help them to find the exact spot where the biopsy had been performed. After much stress and discussion with radiology and my dermatologist, I agreed to it. I guess that was the right decision considering the outcome.

I will be seeing an oncologist and a surgeon asap. I know there are a lot of you out there that have been through this or are going through it right now. I have a strong supportive family and wonderful friends. I will get through this.

The hardest part was telling my sons and my 85 year old mom. I am glad that part is over.

I still am hoping that this is all a dream and I will wake up from it soon! Shake me, wake me, please!

Interviews

My husband had an opportunity to do a telephone interview with Janis Ian for his radio show this week. Janis is songwriter, performer, and author with 9 Grammy Nominations. Her songs "At 17" and "Society's Child" are in the Grammy Hall Of Fame. I listened to her at lot when I was in high school as I so related to the song "At 17." Does anyone remember it? I learned the truth at 17 that love was meant for beauty queens... And dreams are all they gave for free to ugly duckings girls like me.

My husband had never done an interview with an artist before, so he was a bit nervous and also very excited to have this opportunity. He said it all went well and we will all hear it in a couple of weeks on his radio show.

So on Tuesday he was off doing his interview and my younger son showed up on the Today Show. He had been in New York a few weeks ago and he ran into the the Today show crew setting up at the NBC store, so he hung around and he was interviewed for a segment on Lucky Charms. We all missed it when it was on TV, but other people called to tell us they saw it, so we were able to find it on the Internet.

My day on Tuesday was very boring in comparison.

There is a hole in the bucket

All the ice and snow on the pool this year caused our liner to break and all the water drained out of the pool. The husband has grown tired of the pool up keep and thinks this is a good time to take it down and be done with it. It is a lot of work and an expense to own a pool, but I enjoy it so much. There is nothing more soothing to me than making whirlpools in the pool on a sunny day in my back yard.

We put the pool up about 22 years ago. I think this might be our third liner. He isn't sure the rest of the pool is sturdy enough to put more money into it. He wants it gone. The pool deck needs some work, too, so he would be happy to get rid of it all.

This is one of those issues where we have to come to some compromise or one of us has to give in to the other. He does do all of the maintenance so he does have a point. But I have counter points.

We will see what happens. I suppose this is a silly thing with what is happening all over the world with lately. The world is falling apart and I sit here whining about my swimming pool. But day to day stuff still goes on and decisions have to be made, regardless of how insignificant.

Saturday get away

Yesterday we decided to take off in the morning and take a ride up to Newport, Rhode Island. Little did we realize that it was their St. Patrick's Day parade and we would get stuck getting off of the bridge and every darn road would be closed for the longest parade ever.

So it wasn't the day we planned to have, but getting away is always good. The sky was bright and clear and we did make it to visit a couple of the beaches and take some good pictures. Downtown was just out of control. It was the start of spring break and there were more drunk college kids than I have ever seen in one place before. So we didn't hang around there too long.

On the way home we stopped in at the casino. My husband and I have only been there a few times. While it is fun to play the slots for a little while, I don't want to throw money away like that. So I spent my big $5.00 at the penny machine. My husband isn't interested in slot machines at all, so he just hung around me waiting. Then we grabbed some dinner and headed home.

Today I am staying close to home. Lots of catch up stuff to do around here.

Boob tube

I have been watching way, way too much TV. I am following American Idol once again, and I realize it just has been eating up hours of my time. I enjoy the music and I do think that this season has some of the best talent yet. I pretty much watched all of the auditions and I never do that! I usually wait until they pick the top 10 to watch. So I will be addicted to this show until the finale in May.

We have also been watching Mad Men on DVD and having Mad Men Marathons! Hours of TV.

I must find some hobby. I need some inspiration.