We're walking...

Chris and I will be walking in the Susan G. Koman walk on October 2nd. I will really have to work up to the stamina required, but I know I can do it! If you are able please contribute. I DO really wish that nobody had to go through what I did, or worse, die from breast cancer. I had the benefit of really good treatment and a support system -things that not everyone has. I can truly say the experience was not a good one. There is a link to my page above.

I am very grateful today for what I have. I am cancer free. I have a husband who is my best friend and whom I love. I have friends all over the world, who although I don't necessarily communicate with them regularly, still love me and I them. I have a job that I am passionate about and that allows me to make a difference in the world. I have a house with walls that go all the way to the floor! I have a bunny who is finally happy. My mother, who I am closer to than ever, now lives across the street! And... I have you!

One week down...

We made it through to Friday!!! I still do not have textbooks, but luckily have enough experience/chutzpah to be able to wing it. Today, after doing a bunch of sequencing exercises using a/the recipe, I made banana splits with the 5th graders. Messy. Fun. The 9th graders have begun annotatingTo Kill a Mockingbird and I've completed diagnostic tests on all the students from 5th up. I have earned the weekend.

Have been crashing hard at night. Last night after work we celebrated -yes, again- Mum's birthday at Tiki on Bolivar with steaks and margaritas. My friend Jessie and Mum and I had been trying to get together. Unfortunately, I got home and was able to putt around for only an hour before I went to bed... I guess I have to build up the stamina again. I am both physically and emotionally spent. I have a bunch of the afore mentioned diagnostic tests to grade and have made the decision that THEY WILL NOT GET DONE THIS WEEKEND!!! I will be busy decompressing.

Coinin got adopted! We are very happy. He and Haas had been trying to kill each other and we decided that Coinin would be the most likely to get adopted, due to his age. He was living with a foster family and up for adoption for over a year!! I can't tell you how it felt seeing him on the website month after month. Interestingly enough, although he was up for adoption with the Houston Bunny Buddies, he was adopted by a family in Galveston. As an aside, Haas has come into his own lately. He wanders around the kitchen, dining and living room and has even made his way into our bedroom! He will come running(hopping?) to get a snack or head rub. He is a happy guy.

School

Today was the first day of school and I'm already exhausted. My teaching assignment is REALLY heavy(and crazy): 5th grade English Language Arts, 6th grade English Language Arts, 7th grade English Language Arts, 8th grade English Language Arts, 9th grade Pre-Advanced Placement English I, 7th and 8th grade Theatre Arts. I have the 5th and 6th graders every day and everything else every other day. Arrgh. I only have one conference period each day. Hate to sound like a whiner, but I still don't have my textbooks for each level - the ones I'm supposed to use as the curriculum. Each level has their own textbook and I haven't read any of them let alone planned anything useful. I was expecting to teach 6-9, and already strategizing how I could handle it and then I got 5th!

I am trying to be zen and BREATHE.

It is August already?!

Today I was in yet another training for the upcoming school year. This is a 4 day thing and should be fairly interesting. It has to do with the new 9th grade Pre-Advanced Placement class I'll be teaching.

Hope you like the new layout. New name. Maybe I'll change the name monthly?

Just booked a ticket to go to El Paso on August 11 for a few days. A crown that I got the last time I saw Patrick, my brother-in-law the dentist, seems to be "faulty." I am heartened by the fact that I'll get to see family (Patrick and Lauren and clan) and friends, particularly Danny and Lisa. It is almost enough to make me look forward to the trip! I am so fortunate that Patrick will squeeze me in to his schedule. I also have a whole week without any trainings so I'm available to go.

Had an appointment with Dr. Silva, my surgeon, last week and she feels I'm doing well. I am on her schedule for December to check in again, but there are no new concerns. Interesting thing happened at that appointment: I was speaking with the Resident and he asked me all sorts of history questions. I had a hard time placing the events of my cancer treatment in order. I find it curious that, the human mind - at least mine- copes with stressful stuff like cancer by "forgetting." Then, he asked me to estimate, from before treatment to now, where I "was." He meant, am I now at 80%, whatever... I was feeling pretty good that day and said 85%. When I told Chris about the conversation later he estimated 50%! Perhaps he's right. MENTALLY I'm at 85+, but physically more like 50. Still get tired very quickly.

I tried to make an appointment with Vickie, the lymphedema therapist, and she has the temerity to be on vacation! Yes, more evidence that the world doesn't revolve around me. I suppose I'll connect with her later.

Our house is starting to come together. Chris has been doing a lot of work. Today, while I was at work, folks came and cleaned the ducts and put new grills (registers?) in the house. Chris has finished my bathroom - new shower curtain with a curved rod! We also picked up Haas yesterday. I missed him. We were worried he may have forgotten us (or maybe he was just pissed?) but he seems happy enough today.

Mum is steadily unpacking at her place. Oh! By the way, she celebrates her 70th birthday on the 15th! Donna and Michael(Chris' brother and his wife - they took care of Haas) are going to come down and we'll go out to eat. i've also invited my friend Jessie. Mum loves a good steak.

More soon. I mean it this time! I might even be able to update with my NEW iPhone!!!