Life

Whew! March was a busy month...I returned to chemotherapy. My daughter and I traveled 2500 miles in 4 days to visit a potential college choice in VT. Then it was back one week and prepare for another treatment.

The trip to Vermont was enjoyable, even though it was quick. I had never seen that part of the country so upstate NY and VT were really a pleasure to travel through. We even saw an open ski resort at Killington, VT but we ran out of time so no skiing took place this trip. Green Mountain College really appealed to me (too bad I'm not the one trying to choose)---it is so socially conscious with an eye on the future. Again, it's unfortunate it is so far away. We drove home in one trip, and with no stops except for gas, it was a good 19 hours. Still, you never know what Karrah might decide.....

We stayed in Cleveland, OH on our first day out. Here's a picture of me in front of Lake Erie.

Next, I want to show a picture of the oxen that GMC uses to plow their community garden that helps feed the student population:

And finally here is a picture of Kar and me after our marathon trip back----road weary? I should say so!

Hopefully the college selection process will soon be over. It's so close to graduation now, that I know it will be but a blink of the eye before she is packing up to leave. Oh, well best for me to not really dwell on that right now!

Back On 8 South

Well, my return to the infusion room on Friday at 8 South Mercy Hospital is not where I would choose to go for a fun time, but it is a place that I know well and seem to be pretty comfortable in, so I guess that is for the best. Anyway, a recent PET scan was ordered after small increments in my CA125 levels over several months. And that showed a couple of swollen lymph nodes that did not show up on a December CT scan, so it's back to chemo and then hopefully radiation. I had about a week after finding out the scan news until I had my first chemo and that time did end up being helpful in letting me prepare for this next leg in my journey. PEACE my mantra for 2009, I'm getting there.

TAGGED

OK, I've been tagged by Mary Perry. I am to search where my pictures are stored and find the 6th file, 6th picture. The file ended up being my Flora/Fauna file and this is a picture of one of my Zinnia's. The interesting part is when it was taken. July 20, 2007. On this particular day, I had found out about a week earlier that it was suspected I had a malignancy in my ovaries and was awaiting surgery on July 26th. This was the last day I was at work before surgery. I did not return to work until a day in latter September after my all encompassing surgery (removing just about all female parts below the waist) and 1 chemo. Funny, how this pictures takes me back to that time. It seems so very long ago now. I think this picture pretty much says it all. The future is bright, but the moment is really what it's all about.

Project 365

I decided to give this project a try, even though of course, I am starting it a few days late. Still I will have 355 days ahead of me to get it right! Here's
the project:

I plan to capture my family's journey through 2009 by taking one picture every day and keeping a Project 365 folder at Flickr with all of my thumbprint photos. So, understandably, this project will have way more appeal for me than anyone else, BUT if you should want to check out what I think are the pictures that are representative of my life this next year, you can go to this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/borkejr/

Usually intentions that are made public are more likely to be followed through by myself for whatever reason, so I'm assuming that will be the case with this as well. I'm looking forward to having a capsulized version
of 2009 ready to be scrapbooked next January!

Liberated, New Word, and New Pic for 2009

First and foremost I feel free and liberated today. I returned to work on December 26 and have been on call during all my hours not at work since then. My on call ended at 8 AM this morning. It's not really how many calls that make it so taxing, it's all the evaluations of does this constitute child abuse or does it not---the decision-making takes its toll. I basically set myself up in our den, did not go anywhere since the 26th, just sat by my phone and waited. Today when I could go out today without it, I felt very liberated. Now, I'm just a little tired and backed up on all the stuff that did not get done this past week, but plan to fall asleep watching a movie today and go to bed early! (Exciting life I have!)

Secondly, I am choosing PEACE for my word for 2009. For me PEACE means the end of man's inhumanity to man on a global front (and no, I am not in contention for Miss America or any other such event!), and finding PEACE in my soul no matter what the circumstances are on a personal level. I hope to make a scrapbook this year exploring all the ways I find to bring peace to my soul and my heart.

Thirdly, I am posting a new picture which was taken this past December. It's been so long that I haven't had hair that the old picture seems like it was taken light years ago instead of last April. I have lots of hair now and lots of curls---I tried to calm those down a bit with the hat. There is a nostalgic feel for the hat I'm wearing as I wore it alot last winter when the cranium was bare.

Lastly, it was my very good fortune to connect to two women, Victoria and Sandee, at the Ovarian Cancer Conference in September. Since then we have become friends and have formed our own little support network. We go out to eat once a month, and celebrated December by having our nails done, too. For January we are planning a day at the spa together to celebrate the end of our chemotherapy. For Vicki and I, it will be one year. For Sandee it will be two years. Here is a picture from our December get together. In case you're wondering what we are doing with our hands, we are NOT groping Lady Liberty (w/a hamburger), we are trying to show off our nails.

And, lastly (Did I already say that? Now I mean absolutely lastly) I will miss seeing my Ames Area Scrapbooking friends tonight at the monthly get together. My energy level is down so I won't be joining you. Wishing you lots of fun and I will look forward to seeing you and everyone else at the February retreat!

I wish everyone the best of New Years! PEACE for your families and yourselves, health, and lots and lots of joy!

OK, So What's in a # Anyway?

It's the funniest thing. 17 months ago I could not have even told you what a CA 125 test was. Now, it seems this little number has the power to some months make me feel like I'm walking on air, and other months not-so-much. My latest test at 19 is the highest I've had in over a year. I have to wait four weeks to do another monthly test and at the point a decision will be made as to whether there is an upward trend. I have to keep reminding myself that I just had a clear CT scan, I feel fine, and in the bigger scheme this is not a huge change. Still.... the mind has the ability to take over and become obsessive at times. I have to remind myself that I am not going to let this number take over me or my mind. This past month I've had a skin cancer body scan, a mammogram, and a meeting with my gynocologist/oncologist. Everything was good, so what's with this pesky number. I guess I'll have to wait until next month to find out. In the mean time I plan to devote some time to my art work, scrapbooking, organizing photos etc. ---the most therapeutic activities known to me. Onward.

Doing It All

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

The following were added by Janet:

Worn two different colored shoes (did this w/socks not shoes)
Worn your shirt inside out
Called someone by the wrong name
Driven the wrong way on a one-way street
Driven on a “buses only” street
Thought about stealing a cat
Actually stolen a cat
Assisted with a hemorrhoidectomy
Got lost going someplace you’ve been before
Eaten frosting straight from the plastic tub
Dropped your driver’s license into the toilet

OK this list was fun to do. The items in bold are things I have done. I re-ceived the list from Cheri. Though scrapbooking is my favorite way to spend my leisure time, I am glad that some of the memories of the above activities are captured in my mind and that there isn't a picture around somewhere to horrify me or my children. Now, the things that I have not done, this gives me pause, and there certainly some things on this list that I would like to do.