So here's the short of it,

I'm already looking forward to the long weekend! 

Oh my!

And here's the long

Tonight Alan and I went to Mom's house for dinner.  She's always glad to have us over as it's an excuse to cook dinner!  We enjoyed the company.  Between her doctor reports and her physical therapist, it may be that she's going to see a specialist about her back. It's been giving her quite a bit of trouble in the last few weeks.  It will be good to get another opinion.

Today I spent the day in a Training - NonViolent Crisis Intervention Prevention.  It was a good training.  My colleague Brenda Boyd led the training.  I got started thinking about when she and I first came to know one another.  She and I were both working as itinerant teachers at Hixson High School - we actually shared a couple of students!  All these many years later our careers have taken kind of parallel pathways.  This year we actually have our office in the same building.  She's going to be doing lots of training this year, and I hope they all go as well as ours did today.  We've come a long way - all those years!

We've got some staff changes happening tomorrow because of the numbers game.  Schools with enrollments up or down.  I'm hoping they all end up being good moves and that the people who are moved end up in places that they will enjoy. It's hard to make moves at this time of year.

It's only half way through the week, and I'm already thinking about this long weekend we've got coming up!  I'm pretty excited!  I think I might make a plan.  

So here's the short of it, 
 Moms at the doctors. 

And here's the long

Mommy Anne had a doctor appointment today.  She still has the clot in her lower leg, and they started her on coumadin again.  Mom had a doctor appointment as well to see about her back pain.  She had an X-ray but doesn't have any results yet.

Hershey came up and had a play date with Sophie late this afternoon after work.  They had a great time playing in the front yard and the circle.  Hershey is really beginning to calm down a little.  She still has her peeing going on, but it's getting much better. 

Today for me was lots of driving.  I'm glad that tomorrow I'm going to just be in one spot all day long.  It's the first day since school started that I've not had to drive somewhere!

I'm headed to bed and it's just now getting close to 10:00!  I'm really tired!

So here's the short of it, 
Mom and I went to Sarah's baby shower today.

And here's the long

Mom and I drove down to Atlanta this morning to go to a baby shower for Sarah and Ryan's baby, Jacob Dennison.  He is supposed to arrive sometime around October 12. 

There were lots of women there - Sarah's family, Ryan's family, women she works with, girls who are now young women that she went to school with, young women in the "small group" that their church has, and friends of the family.  It was a lovely and sweet afternoon.  I think she might have everything she needs to start out life with baby Jacob except enough diapers! 

Mom and I enjoyed one another's company traveling down and back.  We got there in enough time to get to see Madison for a little while - and that was pretty fun as well. 

It's very nice to be home!  Tomorrow will be here early and it's another one of being all the way on the other side of the county before I really even want to be out of the shower!  Oh well - I'll be up and at 'em. 

So here's the short of it, 
Butterflies and Tomatoes

And here's the long

 This fellow has been in the garden for a couple of days.  

I think he's really beautiful.

Today I went shopping at Green Life Grocery and found a new kind of tomato. The write ups say that it can be eaten at any stage of ripeness.  It's a dark tomato like the little Black Cherry we've enjoyed so much and like the Cherokee Purple that was so delicious.  It's a rather small tomato called a Kumato - it's size is more like a smallish Celebrity.  Apparently it's been grown in Europe and Canada for some time and is just now making its way into U.S. markets.  According to the information I can find, a person can't buy the seed.  The seeds are sold to producers who will agree to follow a very strict protocol for growing them and getting them to market.  I can't find any information about whether or not they are a hybrid, but I've got enough Gene and Emily in me to try to save some of the seeds and see what I can do.  Of course I'll have to name them, because the Kumato brand is a bit like the Vidalia Onion brand.  You can grow the Texas Sweet yellow onion anywhere you want, but you can't call it a Vidalia unless it grows in a certain area.

So here's the short of it,

Garden successes and failures.

And here's the long.

I've had some garden successes this year.

The tomatoes have been abundant and have tasted absolutely wonderful.  Right now the TFI's are beginning to come in.  The celebrity are also going and the black cherry and San Martino just keep coming on!  I've also got a great pepper plant!




TFI's (Tomatoes From I_ _ _ _ _) Mom and Dad thought these were the sweetest tomatoes ever and they've been propagated by saving seed for about 10 years now.







Black Cherry Tomatoes  The size and almost the color of some grapes lots of people have said.  An absolutely sweet and wonderful flavor! These are still coming.

And a pepper plant that just keeps bearing!  









I've also had some failures.

 No picture available, because they are dead and gone!  But my zuchinni got squash vine borer and I didn't get even one zuchinni!! http://entomology.unl.edu/charts/sqvinbor.jpg

My Loufa plant is growing like crazy. The vine is all over the fence - probably 12 or 14 feet of fence is covered with this great big viney plant - but I have not seen one flower bud nor one little squash beginning to grow.  I'm afraid that I'm not going to be harvesting any Loufa gourds this fall!  Bummer. 






And finally my two very tasty wonderful large heritage tomato plants - the Brandywine, and the Cherokee Purple, got late blight (I think) and although we got lots of good tomatoes early in the season, I was disappointed that they were gone so early. 

So here's the short of it, 
A good day on many levels, and tomorrow is a Friday!

And here's the long

Today was a a pretty productive day at work.  I felt good about it all in all even though there are some problems that I really wish were already solved that are not.  All things in good time I keep saying to myself....

This evening we had dinner with some friends that we haven't seen in at least 2 months.  We met a little early so we'd have plenty of time to visit and talk.  It was a nice evening and very nurturing.  Maybe it won't be another 2 months before we can do that again!!

I'm sleeping a bit better.  I'm working really hard on those sleep hygiene things that Dr. Johnson recommended.  Just making myself get in bed, turn off the lights, cover my eyes so it's really dark and then consciously relaxing each muscle group starting at my feet all the way up to my scalp.  I'm also taking some melatonin.  I'm going to keep working on that!

So here's the short of it, 
My arm is OK. 

And here's the long

I had the ultrasound done on my arm this afternoon.  The technician was delightful and shared some of her life story with me as she was doing the work.  She's had lung cancer, breast cancer, and brain cancer.  I asked how she was doing and she said, "I'm working full time, so I guess I'm doing just fine."  In her last bout, with brain cancer, she lost her job and lost all her insurance, and was evicted from her apartment.  She went to live with her sister and learned how to do ultrasound...and then today came and she was the one.  As she was doing the test, I asked her if it looked OK.  She said that she was just a technician and she wasn't really allowed to tell me anything.  Then she said this - "If when it's all over, I tell you that you can leave, it means I didn't see anything suspicious.  If I tell you to wait while the doctor reviews it, it means that I saw something and the doctor needs to see it."   She did tell me that she could see remnants of the blood clot.  She said that they could just stay in your body for a long, long time and that the body just made other ways for the blood to get where it needs to go.  I will have to say, I thought to myself, "... I am fearfully and wonderfully made".

This evening, we had a visit from Hershey -- she's getting much calmer - at least her bladder is!  Unless I just haven't found it yet, the only pee-pee incident we had was when we went "out front" to walk and our neighbor was out walking her miniature dachshund.  Hershey went running over and Abby let out her biggest bark, and Hershey just squatted in the street and did her pee-pee.  The vet told Mom that it's her way of showing submission.  Anyway, Hershey and Sophie had a great romp for about three hours while Mom went to Wednesday evening church.  I'm glad she and Sophie get along so well!

I went to bed a bit earlier last night.  My doctor asked me if I wanted a pill or if I was willing to try some "good sleep hygiene" first.  I came home with a hand out and am trying to do some of the things suggested.  I imagine, it will be helpful, and maybe even enough not to have to take a pill.  So I'm going to try to go to bed in a bit. 

So here's the short of it, 
Today I learned how to do some new stuff.  Don't I love that!

And here's the long

So today I spent the day in the office getting caught up on a few things.  I had a new something - actually it's two new somethings that I had to learn how to do for posting our professional development.  It's two new techie kind of things.  It was not that hard and now that I've done it, I think I can remember for the next time I need to do something like this, but the last time I called Alecia for help, she picked up the phone and said, "Hello, Lynn - your quota is up!" I just had to laugh... Between Alecia and Ann, they got me talked through it!  Thanks wonderful ladies...

Tomorrow I have what could turn into a fairly long meeting on the north side of the county, so I went ahead and scheduled another stop there.  Then in the afternoon, I'm going to take a half day sick - so that I can get my ultrasound done.  I know it doesn't really take that long, but by the time I get there early enough that I can get registered and get "walked up" to the imaging area, and then wait until it's my turn and on and on - I wouldn't have 30 or 40 minutes left in the afternoon to work unless I just worked way late in the evening.  I know I won't find out anything - the technicians aren't really allowed to tell anything, but I'll be glad to have it done and find out that I just have some weirdness going on with my arm, and not anything related to that clot!

So here's the short of it, 

Well, it looks like I'm getting an ultrasound of my right arm. 

And here's the long

Lori, my oncology nurse got back with me today to ask if someone had contacted me yet to schedule an ultrasound for my left arm.  All the medical people think it's probably OK - actually, I even think it's probably OK.  But I'm glad we are going to err on the safe side.  If I hadn't experienced the blood clot, I don't think I would be thinking this might be something, but even though it's almost outside my consciousness, there's definitely something different in that arm.  My primary care physician thinks it could just be everything returning to normal, or even a nerve thing going on, but, she agrees that just to be safe we need to check it out.  So I should hear sometime tomorrow about an appointment.

Mommy Anne moved today from the nursing home back to Elmcroft.  She's in a section of Elmcroft that's a much higher level of care, and so far she seems to be doing well.  Pennie was a great help to Alan in getting her moved. I hope she'll be much happier!

So here's the short of it, 
It's already tomorrow and I'm not sleepy. 

And here's the long

I am not sleepy!
Today was a busy and very lovely day.  Grocery store this morning.  Lunch and a play with friends.  Dinner with Pennie. And then home for a TV date with Liga. 

I should be tired!!!  I'm not. 

So here's the short of it, 
Today was Mom's birthday!

And here's the long

I think Mom had a nice birthday today.  Steve drove up from Atlanta and spent a good part of the day with her.  He got here pretty early and I think they had a really good visit.  Lauren was headed to Atlanta today and she came through and stopped for a good visit - MaMa and Madison had a good visit!  Happy Birthday Mom.  I'm glad you are here in Chattanooga!

Mom made a crustless quiche for lunch and had garden tomatoes and cucumbers as well as peaches and blueberries and to top it all off her wonderful pound cake for dessert!  It was a lovely lunch - Alan joined us and had a good visit with Steve and Lauren, and brought Mom a dozen red roses for her birthday!

After lunch Steve and Mom and I went down for a visit to the cemetery.  It is such a beautiful place. 

So here's the short of it, 
Tonight Alan and I took Mom out to Red Lobster for an early birthday dinner.  

And here's the long

Alan and I took Mom out for an early birthday dinner.  She wanted to go to Red Lobster so that's where we headed.  I just knew we'd be sitting on the waiting bench for a 45 minute wait, but wait.....

First of all when we got there, we saw several parking spaces without cruising the parking lot.   Then when Alan took us to the front to drop us off at the door, there was a parking space right at the bottom of the entry steps!  Then when we got to the podium to get our name on the list we were escorted right to our table.  And we had an absolutely wonderful young man as a server!  Everything went as though the way had been paved for us. 

I ordered a salad - actually we all did.  It was a good start to our dinner, but I was really aware of  this salad with two tomato slices and two cucumber slices!  Here at home when we make a salad we pile on the homegrown tomatoes and the cucumber slices!  Anyway, this observation is not to take away from the wonderful dinner at Red Lobster!  It was a lovely evening, especially the opportunity to celebrate with Mom.

After dinner we went to Babies "R" Us to shop.  Next weekend we are going down to Atlanta for my niece Sarah's baby shower, and it was great fun to go look at all the cute things and find what we wanted to select.  It will be really fun to watch her open the gifts.

Tomorrow Steve is coming up for a visit and Lauren is coming through town with Madison and plans to stop for a visit.  Those visits will help make her actual birthday a special occasion.

So here's the short of it, 

Kittens are pretty fun!

And here's the long

Tonight Dexter has the run of the house.  He's finally big enough and I'm confident enough that he can get along with Sophie and Lola that I let him just have the run of the house.  Today while I was at work, I closed the den door and left the bathroom door open.  I've hated keeping him cooped up in the bathroom during the day while I'm at work, but it's worked out fine.  He's having such a good time running around the house now though.  He has discovered the ironing board.  It's one of Lola's favorite places when I leave it up - maybe it's a cat thing.  It's nice to have the opportunity to Kitty Sit!
Dexter has just decided ]]that he needs to help me \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ [[[ on the keyboard.  Of course, Lola is not at all happy with Dexter's expanded territory!

Today I've felt a little more tired than usual, and I got sleepy at work late in the afternoon.  The tired part is usual - just not quite so much, but the sleepy part is a new thing. 

We have a new issue with Sophie.  She's never been a good car rider and we've had to make her get into the car if we needed to take her anywhere.  Now she not only won't go near the car - she won't go into the driveway if there's a car parked there, and she won't walk down the back pathway even if she thinks we are going out the gate to the car!

Tomorrow is the last work day of the week!  Thank goodness.  I'll be glad to get to the end of the day and look forward to a weekend when I can sleep in a bit since I can't seem to get sleep to come early. 

So here's the short of it,
Kitty Sitting and trying to make myself sleepy...

And here's the long

Wednesday night is here again and Dexter was here when I got home.  He is really feeling at home now.  He is running all over the house and he and Sophie really are getting along in a great way.  Lola still does NOT like having him around.  This evening he decided that he wanted to help me with the blog.   He's a funny, furry little guy, and it's fun to have him a couple of nights a week. 


I didn't sleep well last night.  Some nights I'm afflicted with cramps in my feet, legs or the large muscles in my back.  Last night I got them all!  So I was tired at work today, especially since I started out at 7:30, but I managed fine. I wonder why that tiredness doesn't kick in at the right time for me to get to sleep a little earlier in the evening!  It seems that I'm almost destined to be a night owl!

We are supposed to get a really big rain tonight.  If that happens we could get some cooler weather, and that would be such a relief to all or most living things.

So here's the short of it,
Tonight I had a fun evening opening presents from California cousins!

And here's the long

So in early August Mom forwarded me the e-mail below from my cousin Ann.

Dear Aunt Frances, Aunt Joyce, & Aunt Emily,
  Hello,
Aunt Frances already got her birthday box. Now Aunt Joyce & Aunt Emily's is on the way. It has one present for         Frances because Frances has one present (a garment) from her box to give to Joyce. And there are a few presents for Lynn. If there's something you don't like, you can "re-gift" it, but don't feel you have to give anything away. We went to a little trouble to get the box together for you. Joyce you have a small, black squar-ish, useful one--the package is written entirely in Japanese (Andy brought it back from Japan). If you can't figure out what it is, let me know. I love it and have one more. People from southeastern Kentucky would never guess that coal could be used for this purpose.
 I think it's also ok if you open Lynn's presents just to see what they are---IF you wrap them up again. The presents are wrapping-paper coded. All Aunt Emily's are wrapped in one kind of paper; all Aunt Joyce's in    another, etc. There's a key in the box. There's a key in the box.
Happy Birthday to all. Please consider this your card!!  Love,
Ann, Hannah, & Andy

Last weekend, Mom went to spend "the birthdays" with her sisters.  Not really any of their real birthdays, but a time near their birthdays.  They had a lovely time doing some sister things, and they got the "birthday box". Tonight I went down to visit with Mom for awhile and She had the cat and dog presents which she and her sisters had unwrapped and checked out!  It was fun to open them. 

My sweet cousins - thanks, thanks, thanks.  I feel very loved to know that you spent so much time planning and implementing this fun idea!

So, here was the key.  You can see that HV, AJ & AJ really do understand that I'm a dog and cat person!

Here's the stash of gifts before I opened them.  Mom, Aunt Frances, and Aunt Joyce had already opened them, checked them out and rewrapped them per instructions!

Here are the gifts - Scented soap, a little pink travel bag, lovely earrings, a great ring, and a beautiful long sleeved t-shirt. 



 !!!

So here's the short of it, 
Wonder if my arm is just asleep? 

And here's the long

So we are at the beginning of another long work week.  It's so hot - I don't remember gong to school as a youngster when temperatures were in the 90's.  I don't know if that's because of where I lived or when we started school or both.  I wonder what kinds of memories the kids are making now as we start school when the heat advisory keeps them from going out for recess!

Today when  woke up I had a really odd sensation in my left arm.  At the crook of my elbow I have a cold tingly sensation.  I really wouldn't have thought very much about it - except - that's the arm where the clot was located.  The sensation has moved up and down my arm most of the day.  I have a call in to my oncology nurse.  She's going to check with the doctor and let me know what he says.  It's so strange that something this small makes me call the doctor.  In the past, I wouldn't have even thought about calling a doctor unless it had been bothering me for several days. 

We've had a lovely week of lots of family visiting.  Tomorrow morning Myra leaves to head back to Philadelphia and we'll be back to the normal routine.  We really enjoyed Shelley and Max and then Pennie and then Myra.  It was really kind of nice to have everyone coming in and leaving in an overlapping schedule. 

Tomorrow I have a long day that starts early , so I'm going to try to go to sleep early.  I have the perpetual "big eye" as my Mom would call it.

So here's the short of it, 


And here's the long

This has been a lovely day.  This morning early Liga met me for grocery shopping.  It's pleasant to go shopping with her and now that she's moved to an apartment, it's just a nice time for us to be together.  I also went to Linda's - our closeby farmers market.  They had some lovely corn which was one of Alan's requests for tonight, so I got that, as well as a few other things. 

Myra, Liga, and I went to see Eat, Pray, Love.  It was a lovely movie.  Myra said she could have watched it again.  There were lots of moments in the movie - it left me in quite a reflective mood this afternoon.  It also made me want to read the book.  I think it might be time for a visit to McKays used bookstore. 

This evening, we did the eat, pray, love at our house.  Myra, Mom, Liga, and Valdis with his girlfriend Kalie came to dinner.  I found some wonderful wild caught Pacific Salmon.  Linda's Produce gave us the yellow and zuchinni squash as well as a nice cucumber and of course the wonderful corn.  Our little garden patch supplied the tomatoes. Very slender asparagus came from the grocery store.  Myra brought a great broccoli salad from the fresh market.  And Mom made one of her marvelous pound cakes to go with more of Linda's bounty - peaches and blueberries!  Of course the love part, that's the family that we had sitting around the table together and just having a good time visiting. 

Then at 9 this evening, Liga and I had our regular Sunday night television date. 

What a lovely family day. 

So here's the short of it, 
It's been a pretty good Saturday, and I'm pretty tired!

And here's the long

Another of my tomato plants has fallen to whatever is getting to them.  Maybe it's late blight. I need to find someone who can help me identify it!   This morning I got out into the garden a little before 8.  I only worked about an hour and I was absolutely drenched!  Sophie, Hershey, and Dexter helped me out a bit.  Dexter sat in a crate most of the time while Sophie and Hershey wound in and out around the tomato plants. 

I tried to nap a bit today, but it just didn't happen.  I've been pretty tired, but I can't get the brain to slow down enough to actually sleep.  I'm envious of Sophie, she seems to be able to just stretch out anywhere and take a little snooze. 

Shelley and Max have gone home.  We miss them.  Pennie is home now as well, and Myra will be here for a few more days.  It's been nice to have so much family around.  It's a bummer that it happened right as work started cranking back up for me, but that's just the way it happened. 

Our zoo is back to normal now!  We had Dexter and Hershey for a few days.  When Liga works two shifts we are still keeping Dexter because he's so small he still needs more feedings than he could get with her gone that long.  And Mom was out of town so Sophie had such a big job watching both those little animals.  Now it's just Lola and Sophie and they are both snoozing away - worn out I would guess!

I'm headed to bed a tad earlier than usual - I hope I can get to sleep pretty soon!
 

So here's the short of it, 
The worst and the best...

And here's the long

Yesterday when I went to Dr. Schlabach, one of the questions he asked me was, what did I think the worst part of the treatment was.  I think I answered something about being so sick. I've had a little time to reflect on that.  What's the worst part of the treatment.  I think that it was the feeling of being so absolutely out of control.  Of course the nothing will fix it diarrhea was certainly the most apparent loss of control, but everything from sleeping for 20 hours a day to having my taste get so out of whack were all about no control.  But I guess the most difficult was not being able to decide when I could go to the hospital to see Dad.

Dr. Schlabach didn't ask me what the best thing was that happened, but I am amazed at how many blessings came to me through that difficult time.  I saw a friend today and she told me that I'm still on her church's prayer list.  I also know that so many individual people kept me in their thoughts and prayers.  I know I had a very large and very multi-faith prayer circle which helped to sustain me. 

But I think that the very best outcome has been my different take on life.  I think I just appreciate every single thing a bit more than ever before.  It's almost like the year of my treatments passed in black and white, but day by day, first one thing and then another became ablaze with Technicolor!  I do seem to be much more in the now than ever before.  And I do think that I got to practice lessons in patience many times.  I think I've been working on that for many years, and I'm sure that even though I got lots of practice, I m likely to have many more opportunities to work on that character trait!

So here's the short of it, 
There's disappointing news, but it's all about earlier good news.

And here's the long

Today I went to see Dr. Schlabach, my oncologist.  The appointment was great, and my labs showed that I'm all normal. I was very glad to see that I'm no longer anemic and my white counts are in the normal range.  I don't have to return for 4 more months.   I was eager to talk with him about the possibility of getting into the Clinical Trial for Lapatinib.  After I finished up with him, I went to speak with the research nurse, and there's the good news bad news.  I don't qualify to participate in the clinical trial.  The trial was intended to look at adjuvant treatment with Lapatinib - which means that it's used to prevent the cancer from returning, rather than teating a cancer that has already returned (metastasized).  When the study first opened I would have qualified, but it has now been closed to people who did NOT (this is the good news part) have any positive nodes.  The trial was to include both people who did and did not have positive nodes.  Apparently in the first phase of the trial, about 80% of the people who signed up did not have positive nodes.  I imagine that they felt a lot like me - thinking it might be extra insurance just in case one of those cancer cells got loose in the body and was hiding out somewhere waiting to grow again.    So right now, the trial is only open to people who DID have a positive node, to try to even out the numbers.  The research nurse has promised to be in touch with me if anything comes along that I would be eligible for.

So, in fact, all my treatments are over.  I'll just be in the routine of seeing my doctors on a rotating basis and having mammograms every 6 months to check out everything.   So that's all good news.  

So here's the short of it, 
Tomorrow the kids arrive!

And here's the long

Today was really busy - another round of traveling from school to school for meetings with principals and a couple of parent meetings.  It was a good and highly productive day but I was really tired. I came home and sat down in a chair and the next thing I knew I was waking up!

We had dinner with Marjorie and Issi and MAX and Shelley tonight - Valdis was able to join us a little later.  It was such fun to watch him - he's learned to negotiate the step that goes down into the living room at their house.  He's such a fun little guy to hang around with. Here's a photo from the other night of Liga and Max having a conversation.

Tomorrow I have to be across the river pretty early and I'm wanting to be sleepy!  I've taken melatonin tonight.  Wonder if it will help me fall asleep. 

So here's the short of it,

Today was a really busy and tiring day.

And here's the long

I'm really tired tonight.  Today was meeting heavy, and full of good results, but it was tiring.  Tomorrow's schedule is pretty much the same!  So this is short and sweet as I get headed off to bed at a decent hour!

Tonight we went to hear Rabbi Harold Kushner of When Bad Things Happen to Good People fame.  We actually saw a taped version of the talk done at the 92nd Street Y.   There was a nice small crowd and I enjoyed it, but was just worn out by the time I got home.

Sophie was ready for a walk when I got home and I was glad, because I don't think I would have walked if I hadn't thought how much she needed to get a bit of exercise.

I'm about done!  Falling asleep, which is a wonderful and rare sensation this early in the evening!

So here's the short of it, 
Today was a wonderful family day. 

And here's the long

So today we had a good family day.  This morning we went to the zoo with Shelley and Max.   Shelley's friend Erin and her son Spencer joined us.  The Chattanooga Zoo has done major improvements and it was a pretty fun morning.  The zoo is pretty small, but really a good amount of fun for a time out with kids.  I loved all the animal exhibits.  The African Crowned Crane was just a study in beautiful colors.  The jaguar exhibit was lots of fun as well.  The two Jags were playing in their water pond, and having a really good time with one another.   I had heard that they are the most water loving of all the big cats and are really good swimmers, but it was pretty interesting to actually see them romping and playing in the water!

This evening we cooked out for Pennie, Mommy Anne, Mom, Liga, Valdis, Mia and Clyde, and Shelley and Max.  Arvin and Lil came over and joined us for dessert.  Dinner was good and it was really nice to be together. 

Tomorrow is a pretty busy day, and it's pretty late already!  I'm going to try to see if sleep will come a little earlier than usual tonight.  

So here's the short of it, 
It's hot and I'm having tomato troubles!

And here's the long

This was another really hot day!  I'm eager to have some days with temperatures in the 80's and humidity a little lower!

This weekend is the sales tax holiday in Tennessee - I ventured out to WalMart without remembering and ran into quite a crowd. 

I've lost my Brandywine tomato plant.  It looks as though the same thing got it that got my Purple Cherokee.  I think it might be late blight, but I'm not sure.  I spent a little time working in the garden and so far none of the other tomato plants seem to have gotten it yet.  My black cherry are still coming on like gangbusters!  My zuchinni didn't ever even produce fruit this year.  The squash vine borer got them before I even got one fruit.  My loufa gourd is vining like crazy, but hasn't produced any flowers, so no fruit there yet either.  I wonder what's going on with that! 

Sophie helped me while I was working in the garden today.  She likes to be nearby when I'm outside and we have the gate locked to keep her out, because she will pick the tomatoes if left on her own.  Right now, she's snoozing on the sofa and lifting her head every now and then as if to say - when are we going to bed. 

So here's the short of it, 
I had a really great day today!

And here's the long

I took the morning off today and went for my first Mammogram since my surgery. 

I was a bit nervous that my left breast would still be really tender and the mammogram would be more painful than normal.  I was wrong about that!  In fact, it was, if anything, less painful than the "normal" side.  I had an appointment right after with Dr. Witherspoon so got the results immediately.

My mammogram is clear.  There is NED - NO EVIDENCE of DISEASE. 

I have some thickening of the skin from the radiation and the visible skin especially  around the surgical site is still pink and obviously not entirely healed from the radiation.  But the tissue under the skin is healing nicely. 

I spoke with Dr. Witherspoon about the trial using Lapatinib as a follow on drug.  She was very familiar with the drug and led me to believe that there are some side effects that some people experience.  One of the side effects is GI issues.  I'll have to sort all that out.  Next week I have an appointment with Dr. Schlabach, my oncologist - we'll see what he has to say about it.  And that decision will come when it's time.  For now,  I've had a great day!
 

So here's the short of it, 
What a good day!

And here's the long

Today was our special education in-service.  I know that lots of teachers really hate in-service days, but I like them.  I always have.  This afternoon I got to be a part of a training for a new program we are going to pilot in 16 schools.  I'm so excited about the possibilities for students!  It makes me kind of yearn for a school and caseload of kids and access to the program.  Oh well, I'm feeling like I had lots to do with making this happen. 

I also really liked our opening speaker today.  He is an attorney and the parent of a child with a significant disability.  I thought he really helped teachers hear a parent's point of view and what a good way to start the year. 

I think the thing I like the most about opening in-service is the opportunity to see all the people from all the schools that you run into all year long.  It's good to say a hello and get the year off to a good start by seeing lots of people!

I was reminded of this time last year when I wasn't able to go to in-service because of chemo, and low blood counts and not able to get off the couch!  I felt remarkably blessed to be there today!

Shelley and Max are here!  They arrived this evening and are at Shelley's Mom's house.  We went over and took them a car to use and had a quick visit.  They both look great.  I couldn't get a good picture for the blog, but I'll work on that tomorrow! 

I have my first mammogram since my surgery tomorrow morning and a visit with my surgeon.  I'm expecting to hear good news.  

So here's the short of it, 
 I'm pretty excited about a new program we'll be piloting in some of our schools.

And here's the long

All summer long we've been working to get a pilot program approved to do in some of our schools.  It's called the Renzulli Learning System.  Today all the pieces fell into place and we got the PO - the gal who's been working with me said that the 11th hour was her favorite time of the day.  That was pretty funny after all the stress of trying to make sure we had what we needed for the training to take place tomorrow!  Anyway, I'm really excited and hope that this delivers as I imagine it will.

I'm kitten sitting for Dexter again for a couple of nights.  He's a little sweetie and he's doing well.  When Liga first got him he was barely weaned and eating was a bit of a puzzle for him.  He knew to use the litter box, but wasn't quite sure about the proper cat procedure in there. And he cried.  He was such a lonely, scared little fellow that he just cried.  Now he's eating well - can lap up his Catsip with no problem and is just fine by himself in the bathroom with the door closed .  Right now he's on a stool watching me write about him, and keeping an eye of Sophie.  Sophie really likes him, but thinks it's her job to herd him from one place to another. 

Tomorrow I have to be at work really early.  Shoot.  This sleep thing - or should I say not sleeping thing is getting really old!  I'm for sure putting that at the top of my list on my next visit to my oncologist.  I've been taking Tylenol PM all this week, but can't really tell much difference --- I just yawned as I wrote that!  Probably the first time I've yawned in months and months.  That has to be a good sign!

Tomorrow Shelley and Max arrive!  We are so excited to get to spend some time with them.  I know he's grown so much since the last time we saw him.  Can't wait. 

So here's the short of it,
 Today we heard a great motivational speaker.

And here's the long

Today we had the privilege of hearing . Dr. Adolph Brown address us at the opening convocation for Hamilton County Schools.  

I really love the message he brings and he is such an entertainer.  It's sure good to start the year off with a good laugh!

There were lots of take homes from today's message but there were a few that I want to write down, because that makes it stick with me a little longer --

So here are just a few of the pithy remarks that landed right on bull's-eye with me.  

Some people are just looking for an opportunity to be offended. 

Television teaches our children without their permission.

Children who read more, fight less.

The tree is in the seed.

If you don't know what to ask for, you might not get it.

Behavior is either learned or allowed.

There is a difference between a mistake and a bad choice.
     A mistake is something you didn't really mean to do.
     A bad choice is something you do intentionally and hope you don't get caught.

When things go wrong you don't have to go with it. 

If it's something you want, claim it. Speak it into existence. 

So here's the short of it, 
My colleague's father is not doing well.

And here's the long

My friend and colleague, Delane, is having a difficult  time.  Her father has been diagnosed with advanced cancer and they believe that he doesn't have very much longer.  Her mother is also not doing well.  She is coming to work every day, but each time I see her I can see the stress and the difficulty she has concentrating.  And each time we talk, it seems we both end up teary eyed.  I cannot think of any more difficult passage in my life than the death of my father.  I am really doing quite well, but sometimes just out of nowhere something happens that just takes my breath and hollows out my heart.  It might be a picture of a hummingbird that reminds me of the story Dad told about having a hummingbird fly back and forth through the spray as he was watering the garden down at Crabtree, or it could be a poem, or just something someone says.  I know that nothing I can say to Delane will help - she just has to walk through it and come out on the other side. 

Tomorrow we have our opening convention.  All of the employees are supposed to be together at the Round House Arena.  We'll be entertained by students representing all different school groups and then hear an inspirational speaker.  I hope it really does get us all feeling like we can have a great year. 

So here's the short of it,
Reflections on heading back to work.

And here's the long

Well, tomorrow it's back to school for all the teachers.  There are posts all over facebook reflecting the pre-school feelings that teachers and students have about going back to school.  Some are nervous, they know there will be changes and aren't sure how they will fare.  Others are excited, they have plans for something new, or different, or just love the idea of being back at the work they love.  And yet others don't really want to go back -  they are teaching because it's what happened to them somehow and it's not for the love of the students or the profession.  Everyone is somewhat nostalgic about the end of the summertime.  Pennie, my sister-in-law, retired at the end of the school year this year - so when it comes time for Florida teachers to head back to work, she'll just do what she wants or what comes.  I'm beginning to see that time approaching for me as well, but I still have a couple of things to do!

I'm happy with the little bit of gardening this summer.  This evening for dinner we had a tomato salad with three kinds of tomatoes!  So delicious.  But I didn't get my big long list done this summer -  I guess I need to learn to make manageable lists!

So it's to bed a bit earlier tonight and up and at 'em in the morning.