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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Monday, October 27, 2008

Life is too short

If there is one thing I have discovered over the last two years it is that life is short and saying that someday you will get around to it just doesn't cut it anymore. I have been taking a different view of life and even my past...My 20 year reunion is coming up next June and many of us are reconnecting on Facebook. I am enjoying catching up with friends from 20 years ago but it also makes me sad to think that we have drifted apart so much. Sure we have different lives etc but we would be able to stay in touch every now and again. So life is short. Go out and find those old friends and even family memebers you have lost touch with and still wonder about. It shouldn't take a life changing event to make you get back in touch.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Working out is FUN!!!!

I have seen this before but I think we can all relate on some level!

If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into regular workout routine.

For my fortieth birthday this year, my husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local gym for me. Although I am still in great shape since my track andfield days some 25 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the gym and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Damon,who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! Thegym encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

Monday: Started my day at 6:00am. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Damon waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair, seductive eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Damon gave me a tour and showed me the machines. He took my pulse after five minuteson the treadmill and was alarmed that it was so fast, but I attribute it to standing next to him in his gym top and bulging shorts. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring. Damon wasencouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!

Tuesday: I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Damon made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air - then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. Damon's rewardingsmile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT!! It's a whole new life for me.

Wednesday: The only way I can brush my teeth is by lying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I ran over the gym manager inthe parking lot. Damon was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for this early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so he put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Damon told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.

Thursday: Damon was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late; it took me that long to tie my shoes. Damon took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the women's change room. He sent Cheryl to find me, then, as punishment, put me on the rowing machine - which I sank.

Friday: I hate that jerk Damon more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, masochistic gym-jock. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. He wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the *&%#(#&**!!@*@ barbells or anything that weighs morethan a sandwich. (Which I am sure you learned in the sadist school you attended and graduated magna cum laude from. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on the nutrition advisor. Why couldn't it have been someone big and soft, like an ice-cream salesman or a fireman?

Saturday: Damon left a message on my answering machine in his grating, whining voice, wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing him made me want to smash the machine with my rolling pin.However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.

Sunday: I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband (the butthead) will choose a gift for me that is fun -like a root canal or a pap smear...

(Laughing does not count as a cardio workout! Get out there!!)

Monday, October 13, 2008

Two years

Yesterday was two years since my diagnosis. Last year was much more difficult. This year it fell on a Sunday so my son and I went to church and I stayed busy the rest of the day with projects around the house. November 1st will be my two year anniversary of being a survivor and that is always a day of celebration but October 12th is more depressing because that was the day I felt beaten down, lost, and somewhat hopeless. Obviously those feelings didn't last long but that day is always a reminder of when my life changed forever. I am looking forward to November first to celebrate the day I took control over cancer!!!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

More traditions

A few Sundays ago was our annual apple picking trip to Emmett. We have been doing this since I was pregnant in 2001!


I have been waiting to post because I wanted to put some of the old pictures on but I will just have to do that later. Here are some of the pictures from this year.


Trin got an apple that weighed in at 1.05 pounds!!! The biggest of everyone.




The kids got pumpkins from the firefighter fundraiser.


Cheesy!


Scary group!


Whoa look at all the apples


All the kids (except Jill's baby and my boy Geoffrey, who was in Salt Lake).








Yoplait's response

Thank you for contacting General Mills concerning BST.

BST (bovine somatotropin) is a hormone naturally found in cows. The synthetic version of this hormone (not to be confused with a steroid hormone) has been subjected to extensive testing. The Food & Drug Administration, American Medical Association, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture along with a number of other science-based organizations have concluded that there are no food safety issues in conjunction with milk produced by BST-supplemented cows.

Because BST is naturally found in all cows′ milk, there is no scientific way to test the milk to determine if the BST present is from synthetic sources or natural sources. The amount of BST present in milk will not be greater from a synthetic source than it would be occurring naturally.

For more information about Bovine Somatotropin (BST) or Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH) you may wish to visit the United States Department of Agriculture′s website at www.usda.gov.

We hope you will continue to enjoy our products.

Sincerely,
General Mills Consumer Services

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Quarterly check up

Well the blood work looks good! And they said they would call if there were any concerns with my chemistry labs. It is 8:00 p.m. and they haven't called so I am celebrating that as no news is good news.

I was 90% sure the tests would be fine but there is always that 10% in the back of my mind. But I have told myself that God allowed me to have cancer and get through it to make me stronger and give me a higher calling in life (advocacy and awareness etc) so He couldn't and wouldn't give it to me again. Doing so would keep me from fulfilling His greater plans for me. You can take it for what it is worth but this allows my obsessive personality to make sense of the last two years of my life.

On a side note, my oncologist says a chest x-ray at least annually will be my new "mammogram" testing.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Welcome to PINK month

Today starts Breast Cancer Awareness month. Just like last year I encourage everyone to do what they can to support the cause but be aware of how much money is, or isn't, going to the cause for the pink things you buy. Check out http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/ Here is an interesting note from their website...

Yoplait is urging consumers to buy its yogurt in the name of breast cancer. But what’s under the lid might not be so good for our health—it’s actually made with milk from cows that have been treated with the synthetic hormone rBGH.
This October join us in asking Yoplait to do the right thing for women’s health:


There are several products that support awareness and research that also could be causing cancers with chemicals it uses or creates. Maybe it is out of guilt that they start giving money.

As for me - I can never have too many pink M&Ms! LOL!!!!