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!!!

I'm home AGAIN.

Was in Houston for 4 days doing a training and got home last night. Stayed in a hotel and had a good time, but was glad to come home. I don't intend to leave home again anytime soon. Goal is to get enough unpacked to be able to do all the "home functions." Cooking would be useful. I'd like to use my shower... I'd like to use my computer... Lots of cleaning and unpacking to do.

Oh, yeah. Chris and I got new phones! Same numbers, though.
More later.

I'm home!!!

Got home last night at about midnight. Chris wasn't expecting us until tomorrow and was surprised. We were driving (Mum and I) and it was 7:30 p.m. We saw a sign saying "Galveston 88 miles" and thought that it was silly to spend another night in a motel. Oh. You are asking yourself why did it take so long to go 88 miles? Well, we went down 87 to Sabine Pass, not realizing that the road no longer goes all the way through. They still haven't rebuilt it since Ike. So, we had to go back and retrace our steps. THEN we had to wait a good long while for the Ferry, since they only run one an hour so late in the evening and we had just missed one.

We are still waiting to hear word on where Mum's stuff is. The truck broke down somewhere and they missed the scheduled delivery date of Monday the 12th. Good thing we didn't rush.

The house looks beautiful. The mountains of boxes in the center of each room distract a bit, but we will get to them eventually. Anyway. Home safe and sound. I will write a bit about the journey later...

No name

No new name yet.

Packing is getting done. Carrie and Kimon (DeLa Garza), who may as well be cousins, since we were raised together, were here this past weekend. Carrie is the daughter of my Mum's BFF Sally and Kimon married into the family. Point is: They are family. Their son Karl is 14 and HUGE. A string bean, but very tall. I saw him last when he was a toddler! They helped by packing a lot of stuff. It was nice to see them. They moved here to Florida just as Chris and I were leaving in 2001. Mum and I plan on visiting at their place in Cleremont for a day or so on our way out of Florida. They are really great people and good company.

Today we went running about. Mum and I went to Chase Bank to deal with the condo. Mum has applied for a "deed in lieu." We await the answer. The lady there made it as pleasant as possible, and was very kind. Then we went and ate at an Amish restaurant-to celebrate our bravery and tenacity. Never had Amish food before and it was amazing. The coconut cream pie is(I say IS because the pieces are HUGE and I brought some home - still working on it) to die for. We also returned something to the bookstore and went to the library...

It has been raining every day in late afternoon and we haven't been to the pool. I wish we could make more use of it. Before we leave here we DO plan to get to the beach.

Health: my chest has been just a bit swollen and uncomfortable, and my knee has been letting me know it is still there. Otherwise I feel pretty good.

Mum has misplaced her keys and we are searching... Since this is a 3 bedroom condo and there is stuff in various states of packing EVERYWHERE, the search is frustrating. She has extra keys for everything except the mailbox, so we are just going to camp out and wait for the mailman to appear tomorrow. You know how this works: As soon as she "writes them off" and decides to stop looking, they'll turn up.

Hope everything is OK in Galveston. Hurricane Alex caused them to close the schools (summer programs) in anticipation. I think they may have some high water and winds, but our house should be fine. Chris tells me that they have stained the entire floor!!!