Can't Pass This Gas

I filled up yesterday at $2.69 a gallon. It was at a gas station somewhere between Charlottesville and Washington, D.C.

Can any of y'all beat that? Didn't think so.

I'm In The Mood For "Ty" Tonight

Sunday night, I was feelin' kinda' lazy (the usual). I turned on the boob tube, and watched "Extreme Makover: Home Edition" for the first time on ABC. Story of a mom with two kids who had 4th stage cancer somewhere (they didn't say, I'm guessing her big toe.)

I cried and cried. She was a wonderful woman filled with so much joy and her whole community loved her.

Hey- I should apply! Do I go on-line for an application? Is there a Extreme Makeover: Car Edition, or Extreme Makeover: Brain Edition?

Young Pervert

A list of my childhood crushes (don't laugh!):
*The professor from "Gilligan's Island"
*Adam West as "Batman"
*Gopher from "The Love Boat"
*Bo Luke from "Dukes Of Hazzard" (who didn't have a crush on him)
*Ricky Schroder in "Silver Spoons"

A Horse Named Chemo

Oye. People, I gotta' be honest with you.

Paul hears it every single day, poor guy. I am so freakin' tired *all* the time. When people call and ask how I'm doing, it's the same monotonous answer over and over in return: "I'm tired" or "I'm exhausted". I feel like a one-trick pony.

Some nights I sleep for a non-stop 9 hours (for some of you all, that's a Godsend) and I wake up *exhausted*. In the afternoon, I need a nap. You can't say it's from too much sleep, because if I only sleep the 8 1/2 hours I used to get before I was on chemo, I am groggy and feel like it's the middle of the night. After the 8 1/2 hours, I still need to go down in the afternoon.

Some chemo patients say they have good days and bad days. Not me. I have good hours and bad hours.

Today I was at the gym and a woman came up to me and asked how I'm doing. I did my one-trick routine, "I'm tired". She said she was sorry to hear that, and proceeded to ask if it's okay for her to ask, since some people on chemo don't like talking about it. I told her I'm fine talking about it.

Let's get this straight: I am completely fine talking about it. It's probably good for me. I like to talk about it, because a burden comes off my back. The question is this: But is it good for you to ask? You already know my same song and dance.

Don't ever be embarassed to ask. Only be afraid, because it'll get boring quick.

MRI next Tuesday, doctor's appointment next Wednesday.

School Pictures

Photos taken on June 4th, 2006 by professional and artistic photographers (at Wal-mart)

Low Carb Lie.

I tried to do low carb today, and I failed miserably.

Since I've gained a little bit of a pudge around my belly, I thought to myself, "Self, why don't you cut down on carbs and load up on the protein?"

I took a Step class this morning, downed a protein shake, some nuts, and peanut butter, and at 3:00PM, I hit a big wall. My body was aching. I felt so weak, so tired. I headed to Jamba Juice for a protein smoothie.

Not good enough. Still tired and could barely walk. Paul and I proceeded to a Vietnamese restaurant where all I had was grilled chicken. Again, little to no carbs.

I broke the spell when we went and saw "Cars" while downing a medium popcorn. All of a sudden, my energy was restored, and my body felt 100% better.

More power to those of you who do it and feel like a normal person.

Random Thoughts For Monday

I'm all over the place today. I've got so much on my mind that I don't know where to start.

1) Working full-time and doing chemo- I seriously doubt I can do both. I would do anything to get outta' Charlottesville, but I'm already struggling with chemo. Working at WAVA would bring down my overall wellbeing even more.

2) Speeding Ticket- I got one Friday afternoon, going 48 in at 25 mph zone. Oops. The cop was forgiving and didn't charge me with wreckless driving. Whew. But $5 per mile over the limit, plus a $51 processing fee brings it to...yikes.

3) Free ipod Video- Well, I could have gotten one. After working out yesterday, I went into the locker room to wash my hands, and lo and behold, someone left their big daddy ipod. It was in great condition. I did the right thing and turned it in to the front desk.

4) I talked with an old co-worker of mine who has pancreatic cancer in its fourth stage. He opened up and told me he's been very depressed because the doctor told him he only has six months to live. He's on two types of chemo and takes anti-depressants. I didn't have much to say after that. We laughed at how we thought some sayings are stupid and cliche- "Choose Hope" or "One Day At A Time", yet they really are true for those battling cancer.

That's all for now. Over and out!

Altoid Roid

My latest craze- Altoid Sours. They keep my mouth busy because I try not to chew'em, just let 'em dissolve in my mouth. The only problem: what do I do with the pretty tin when I'm done? It's such a shame to put them in the trash. I don't need a container for thumbtacks, paper clips, or pins.

Oh, I know! Medicine for a person with a brain tumor!

Where's Ernie's Head?

I don't know, but it ain't on his shoulders. I, without thinking it through, have a job interview Friday for my old job back at WAVA in Washington, D.C. I unexpectedly spoke with the manager yesterday and told him that I'm available to work again. He told me that if he gave me back my job it wouldn't be a walk in the park and I'm going to have to work hard.

As if chemo wasn't hard enough, I may end up ratching it up another ten notches.

Just Look At Them!

Awww, what a cute family. Too bad they're dysfunctional to the filipinoth degree.

(picture was discovered when I went into an old computer and messed around with the files. It was from a Brain Tumor Race I ran in 2004. I was the second brain tumor survivor to finish. I'm on the far left.)

You're In All Urinals.

Ladies, this one's for the boyz, so get back in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant (wink).

Boys, let's talk. I wonder what etiquette you practice when you're at the urinal.

For instance:

1) When you and someone else are at the urinal, do you think it's okay if you or the other person farted?

2) If it's not an automatic, do you hit the lever and flush? Why/why not?

3) When you're done, do you really wash your hands or only wash when others are around? If you do, do you wash both hands or just the "one" you used? (Please don't say you use both because you're so huge. I ain't stupid.) Do you use soap? Same practices at home?

My philosophy about 2) . I never ever flushed if a non-automatic until I helped my mom clean church bathrooms. They get rancid when nobody flushes after several visits. Just 'cuz you don't see the pee don't mean the pee's gone.

So So Wrong.

This is just miserable.

And her hair looks like Chewbacca's.

My Inspiration For Today

The paparazzi caught Winona Ryder at dinner last week at an Italian restaurant. After having her pictures taken she replied, "I'm going for that extra bowl of pasta. You only have one life to live."

You gotta' treat yo'self, before you cheat yo'self.

Give The Bootcut The Boot.

Straight leg jeans: they're back, they're hot, and according to the men's magazines I read (GQ, Details, Men's Vogue) they're here to stay. In GQ's words, "Leave the bootcuts to your girlfriend- it's time to go straight." Boys, it's time for us to pull those 501s out from the back of the closet and squeeze into them. (Mine are 30/30. I don't think so.)

If you want to up the ante, the "hotter" thing is to wear "skinny jeans"- the kind neo-punk band members wear. But what shoes should men wear in order to pull the whole look off? According to a fashion-conscious trendy Chicago store, men don't have as much choices as women. Men should wear sole-less shoes, such as Vans or loafers.

I guess I'll give it a try.

I Don't Get The 'Vette.

If you give me a penny for my thoughts, I thought the Corvette was for men who go through a mid-life crisis. There. I gave you my two cents worth. (What happens to that other penny?)

Anyway, the 'Vette as a car for mid-lifers is what I used to think. I also thought it was a dreamcar for rednecks. I also thought it was a car for men who were for men who were (he-hem) "small" downstairs. But I've been proven wrong: I can name two average, non-redneck, perfectly happy middle-aged men who said the car they would like to have other than their minivan is the Corvette.

What is up with that? I don't get it- I'm a car person, but I've never been emotionally attached to the 'Vette or even the Mustang. I guess maybe I have a thing against American cars.

My dreamcar choices: a Range Rover HSE, a S Class Mercedes, or a 750li BMW.

The "Man"

A word about Paul. I call him the "Man" because that's all he is. Have you seen him lately? He's nothing but muscles and washboard abs.

Now seriously, some of you aren't too crazy about the "Man" because of mistakes in the past, but I moved on. Maybe someday you will too. Until then...

"Man" has a tough job on his hands. He re-married someone whose chemo makes him "hormonal" (you ladies know exactly what I'm talkin' about). I'm very moody: one moment I'm smiling and greeting everyone on the streets, the next I'm hating everything and everyone in my path. When I'm hungry or tired, I take it out on him. It's all his fault. And whether he responds politely or rudely, neutral or supportive, his reaction is wrong.

"Man" also deals with a new side of me: my doctor has pulled me off a medication that increases my muscle to fat ratio. Because of this, I have more pudge to nudge around my stomach. It's frustrating because to a certain degree, no matter how much I exercise or diet, it will not go away. That makes me irritable and insecure.

While I put up with the "Man", I applaud him for putting up with me. He always finds a way to stay positive about what I'm going through when I don't see any good at all (which makes me even more irritable yet somehow encouraged).

Almost As Cute As Me

I actually know this puppy- it's not a random picture from the web.

Drop It Like IT'S HOT

All last week, I wore a sweatshirt and jeans. I even walked around with my arms crossed because I was still cold. Then the weekend came and BAM! It's hot. Sticky hot. Sticky hot Cinnabon (sorry, I just had to say that.) What's up with this weather? One day I've got the heat on in the car, the next moment I'm racing home because my Ben & Jerry's is melting.

This is my first summer in a long time because I've been through two winters in a row. I moved to Australia in December 2005, the end of summer in Australia. As the weather turned warmer, I moved back to America in September, the end of summer in USA.

Think I'll go to the pool today and show off my new ice cream belly.

A Chemo Update

I've been doing chemotherapy now for 2 1/2 weeks, and I'm doing okay: not great, not terrible, but so-so. While some people say they have good days and bad days, it seems to me that I have good hours and bad hours. One moment I'm fine, the next moment I'm so tired I can fall asleep wherever I am (at the mall, at the dinner table, behind the wheel). One thing fer'sher: when I do some cardio at the gym, it definitely takes everything within me to reach my goal.

I thought to myself "Self, if this is all that chemo is and all that it's got on you, then you can go back to work!" I called my doctor and asked him whether two weeks is a fair test and the right amount of time to see how a patient is coping. His reply: "Some people may even get better because their body may adjust itself to the medicine. But if you're doing fine, then we may try doubling the dose you're currently on."

I shouldn't have opened my big mouth.