Down time???

I head out to Washington DC on Sunday to participate in peer review of breast cancer grant proposals. I am nervous and excited to be part of this process. I hear it is very mentally draining and very rewarding.

I am already pretty wiped out from the last few weeks at work and home but I am really looking forward to the down time too. I don't mind that I have a layover in Denver or that I will be on a plane for hours. I do have to study my critiques since it has been a few weeks since I wrote some of them but that won't take too long. I am hoping to get caught up on some sleep and some reading. I am months behind on magazines and I have been trying to read Obama's book since Christmas time! I also need to write up my story to be in a book about attitude. I have been promising the author for months that I would get to it when things slowed down. If I truly wait until things slow down then she will never get it.

Wha???

Ladies, give your breasts a rest, research says
The news that breast self-exams are officially on the way out is a relief for some busy women, but perplexes others. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25679831/from/ET/

Granted a self exam and even a clinical exam did not locate my tumor but I don't understand why they would say they do more harm than good... I know many women who found their tumors during a self exam.

Tell them it is important!

I have good news! The House and Senate budget bills for the government's next fiscal year include an increase in funding for cancer treatment and research. If passed, it would reverse the trend of flat or declining funding over the last six years. Not only will this money improve early detection and treatment options, it will support new research grants that may someday lead to the cures.The FY2009 budget bills are being negotiated in Congress and we must act quickly to make sure they are passed. I just took action by writing my legislators and asking them to support the budget bills and the new investment in the fight against cancer. Join me in helping to support increased funding for those who are fighting this disease and prevent future victims from facing it at all.It's easy to help - just click the link below to join me insupporting new federal funding for the fight against cancer:http://komenpolicy.org/campaign/us_fy09_budget?rk=R7ee5T9qagi2W

Stand up to Cancer

Tony Snow has passed away. I remember when his cancer returned in 2007. It was about the same time that Elizabeth Edwards cancer returned. I really struggled watching two well known people from the political arena having to fight the beast again. With Tony's passing, I have to wonder how Mrs. Edwards is doing.

I am sure their stories, along with so many others, helped inspire Stand Up to Cancer. In September the 3 major networks will hold fundraisers for cancer research. It will be similar to what they did after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. http://www.standup2cancer.org/ This is desperately needed. Many people do not know that government monies for cancer research actually come out of the Department of Defense budget. Since we are at war more and more monies are going to that battle and less is going to find ways to win the cancer battle. We must stand up and tell our Congressman that the cancer war is important too and we need to find a way to win it!

Finally a honest commerical...

...about weight loss in women.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amE18rxXhJQ

No idea if the product actually works but you have to love the ad campaign!

It is a numbers game

I am so tired of fighting with numbers. I am feeling pretty good and getting tone and almost back into my prechemo clothes. BUT - I am still 20 pounds away from a healthy BMI weight at and at least 30 pounds away from a healthy weight for someone my age. My waist line is not going down and borders on the magic number that puts me at risk for heart attacks etc. I haven't checked my fat percentage lately but last time it was still way too high. People tell me I look good and don't need to lose weight. When I tell them I am considered overweight with an unhealthy waist circumference some seem surprised. Part of me wants to throw the scale and the tape measure and even my trainer's fat pincher but I can't. I am addicted to knowing the numbers. I don't measure all my success on those numbers but they certainly play an important role in it.

Rough week

I am glad tomorrow is a holiday - except that we are running around getting ready to go camp with friends. They are already up in the mountains and we are going up to join them for just a night. We have too much yard work etc to do around here to be gone for 3 days. Not to mention the dog sitting issue. I don't want to leave my friend with a wild dog for too long and I don't know how he will react to being with them. We haven't been camping in years, only day trips. Being the anal person that I am, I am freaking out about what we might forget. We are going with 3 other couples, one in a trailer and one in a motor home so I am sure they could cover anything I forget but I still want to remember EVERYTHING!

This week we settled into the new office. There are still many things to find homes for and new routines to adjust to. It has certainly caused some stress but over all it went better than we had expected.

BSU football player Ian Johnson works for the contractor who remodeled the building. He was in the other day and I got a few autographs for me and the hubby. We had a nice chat about football and married life and his busy schedule. He is a very nice young man!

This week also brought my once every three month blood work. Everything looks great! So I don't have to see the oncologist again for 3 months as long as I am feeling "good".

In addition to the move I have been stressed with other things this week (thank goodness the blood work wasn't one of them). I am trying to get through these intense grants and get my write-ups done on time. Our daughter is in swimming lessons every night. So I am sitting out in the heat reading grants while she is swimming. I would rather be swimming laps but my problem graft isn't completely healed so the doc says no swimming yet.

There are some things at work causing stress besides the move. Of course there is always something stressful about work and dealing with people etc and this isn't the place to vent about since co-workers etc read the blog from time to time.

Our youngest son is on a trip with grandma which leaves us on dog duty in addition to doing his chores. (We forgot about feeding his turtle for a week but he is still alive and now eating pretty much nonstop since I remembered him last night.)

Well my break from cleaning and packing is done. I better get back to it or I will be up all night trying to organize cooking gear, food, clothes, fishing poles, etc.

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!! Be thankful for what freedoms we have even though gas is costly etc.