Another Week Gone By

I had a CT scan this morning! OH JOY! Actually, they are getting way easier, the more I do them! I called last night to confirm the fasting deal they usually have me do before these tests and the lady I talked to said I didn't have to fast at all! She said I could eat right up to the time I arrived (an hour before my test) to drink the barium. This was GREAT news to me, since I can't really function without my cereal and coffee in the mornings! And the barium didn't taste very badly at all this time. It was vanilla flavored, maybe that made the difference. And it was room temperature, too. Usually I get 'em cold. Brrr. Anyhoo, I had no trouble gulping it down in one hour. I wore my own gown (the fairies one!) and the technician was super nice and answered all of my random questions ("why does the injected contrast make me feel hot from head to toe?" - because of the molecular iodine within the contrast, which is quite different than the iodine we all associate with the dark color red; "How come I only had to drink one bottle of barium instead of three like I usually do?" - because this is a scan of my abdomen only, really focusing on the liver, the bowels, pancreas...previous scans have been of the abdomen AND other places like either the chest or pelvis, which require more contrast.)

Oh wait. I bet you're all wondering why I even had this CT scan in the first place?! I don't know if I already told you or not. Well, it is way too early to determine HOW WELL the proton radiation treatments worked. So don't go getting all psyched up for that kind of news. No, this one was for my oncologist who wants to (*gulp*) make sure "it hasn't spread anywhere nearby" since we've only been focusing treatments on one particular spot and basically letting the rest of my body hang out in the wind untreated for 2+ months. What a good idea! Now hear this: no matter what she learns from the images next week, I will continue to be treated the same way as I have been this whole time with chemo cycles, possibly another embolization, etc.

And I am considering asking her to NOT tell me the results. What good would it do me if I knew, huh? Especially since the treatment would be the same. She may want to change chemo drugs on me but who knows. Anyway, I'm just considering that option. I don't have a lot of options in this chaotic war I'm involved in...so please allow me to enjoy this small one that I can make on my own. :)

We'll see Kane next Tuesday and begin a cycle of chemo next Friday.

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We now interrupt this cancer update to bring you more important news! The news that REALLY matters! The news that's BIGGER and BETTER than all that cancer crap! No big announcements and really, nothing serious to address...just an update about THE MAJORITY OF THE REST OF ME!
Read on...
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This past week I've been keeping busy. Honey and I developed this new technique to make sure things get done around our house like chores and stuff so that they don't get neglected forever and I end up feeling like I'm nagging him to help me out with some of these tasks. This is especially hard when I have those bad chemo days and can hardly get off the couch. So we've been making to do lists every night for the next day. It's been a little strange but very effective. And I think it makes doing the chores less horrible. Ask me again in a month or two. I might hav a different feeling altogether!

I've also been seeking out creative writing classes, random writing groups in my area, and getting more serious about getting this bad boy blog and my story published! I found such a class that starts in April. A new friend of mine who is persuing a similar goal found a writers group that meets once a month in a nearby book store. And a certain awesome cousin of Pete's put me in contact with an actual real life publisher who gave me some tips on how to get started and what the publishers are looking for these days. Horray! I've been setting all this up so that when I slow down during chemo, all I have to do for a while there is write...no researching and networking as much as I am right now. Just write. :)

Honey and I have also been cleaning out our house. The Great Purge is what I like to call it sometimes. We did this before we moved from Fort Collins and it worked out great! We split the amount of STUFF that we had to move in HALF, if not more so. Just by cleaning out and giving or throwing away much of what we pack rats have accumulated over the years: the drinking glasses that may match my dishes but we never, ever use (not to mention I want to replace the entire set of dishes we currenly have anyway!); the one zillion old towels that we just could not seem to part with when we'd invest in their replacements; a whole bunch of clothes that fall into the category of "it doesn't fit me now but it once did and it will again...someday...not soon but....someday." You get the idea. We all do this from time to time. We're doing this now not only for my own peace of mind but also because we still want to sell this house and move to a newer (not brand new!) house within the next year or two. I tell ya, these Great Purges really help the packing and moving ordeal! We're putting off the basement until...well...just until. Something. Whatever. Oooh Look! Something shiny!!!

Finally, but certainly no less significant, I've been working on strengthening the friendships I already have and beginning new ones, too. I have had some friends in the past (and one who still lingers and haunts me with this BS I'm about to describe here) who are unable to contribute to a healthy friend relationship. Not everyone knows that friendships are TWO WAY STREETS! Both parties in a friendship must GIVE AND TAKE, not just TAKE TAKE TAKE and then, whoops, gotta run GOODBYE! Those kinds of friends I have absolutely no interest in and no room in my life for anymore. Instead, I've been looking at some of the friendships I currently have and nurturing those that are healthy, that already have a nice pattern of give AND take. Plus, I've been fortunate enough to have some new people in my life whom I already consider good friends and they are also very much aware of this give and take deal. The ones who only take take TAKE can just move along and leave me in peace. I have no interest in coddling you any longer. Thankyouverymuch.

And now, since I had to get up way earlier than I normally care to today, I am going to take a nap. A famous rock star from a band that Honey and I both love has a winery and he is selling and signing (in person) his bottles of wine at a nearby Whole Foods this evening and Honey and I are planning on going to get us some of that! *Mint In Box Wine* Ask Pete if you must know what that means.

I hope all of you have a fantastic weekend! Enjoy the weather no matter what it is! TTFN!