08 Wednesday Feb 2012
Right, I’m really scared. Will I be spared for another six months or has my luck finally run out? Also, the PET scan is in a different place this time, so no Team there, nothing familiar. I’m not even sure where it is, so will take a taxi. I think María Paz is coming with me but she has a bad cold and might not be able to make it, and Peter is working, so I might end up going all alone. But at least I’ll know that my Home Team will be here waiting for me.
See you on the other side…
06 Monday Feb 2012
Billions of dollars have been raised through the tireless efforts of women and men devoted to putting an end to breast cancer. Yet, breast cancer rates in North America have risen to 1 in 8. “What’s going on?” asks Barbara Brenner in Pink Ribbons, Inc. a new film coming in 2012.
This looks like an excellent documentary by the always excellent National Film Board of Canada. Hope it gets people to open their eyes. Have always hated the whole Pink Thing.
31 Tuesday Jan 2012
Posted in cancer, home, hope, retail therapy
I love new towels, but have yet in my life been able to buy the sort of towels I would really love to have (same deal goes with sheets). And as I can usually get by with worn out old towels – in other words, they are seldom a priority – it isn’t until they start getting a bit transparent that I go out in search of new ones. Best time for that here is during the after-Christmas or summer sales. Like now!
This is one of the many up-sides to having a working roommate who can pay his way – that there is actually enough money to buy stuff like this without it being such a big deal.
Also, since the whole cancer thing, I don’t tend to spend money on *stuff* unless it’s something very useful that would improve day-to-day quality of life. Heck, I haven’t even bothered to get my teeth fixed after losing fillings in two of them simply because there’s not that much money to go around and I’d rather spend it on experiences and enjoying life. Like going out for tapas, taking short trips, things like that. Oh, and an iPad. Maybe.
As usual, so much is hinging on the results of the next PET scan. It’s so stressful living in these six-month cancer-free stretches of time, never knowing if the next scan will bring bad news, never knowing how far I can plan ahead. And if anyone tells me I should THINK POSITIVE… well, just don’t, okay? You have no idea what this is like.
Meanwhile, the new towels are lovely and soft…
03 Tuesday Jan 2012
Posted in cancer, friends, hope, life stuff
Back on January 3rd 2009 I posted my first Photohunt entry. The theme that week was “hope” and I put up a photo of my daybook turned to January 3rd 2010 with the words “STILL HERE!” written on it. Since then I have posted a new version of this hopeful photo every year on this date, but this year when I turned the pages to find January 3rd 2013 I saw that it stopped on January 2nd (!!!), which seemed a bit ominous…
But, ever resourceful, I have used the January 2013 planning page for this year’s pic. And, ever hopeful, I wish with all my heart to see you all here next year!
27 Tuesday Dec 2011
Wow, seems like it was only five years ago I was making plans for my 50th birthday! In fact, I started thinking about it months before and ended up being treated to a trip to Barcelona.
But it only occurred to me the other day that – eep! – I’m about to turn 55. Which is pretty amazing. When I think about all that has happened since my 50th, especially the whole cancer thing, I feel so lucky to still be around and want to do something extra special this year. So, what should I do to celebrate?
I’ve been invited to Florence in February, which may or may not happen depending on my next PET scan, but I would like to do something on the actual day, January 7th, or at least nearer to it.
If I can get the use of Manolo’s apartment in Málaga I think that would be my first choice. There are two art exhibits on right now that I’d love to see, and of course I adore Málaga at Christmas time. If I go early next week then the lights will still be on. Peter is busy working on a translation job that would actually pay for this trip, so that means he’ll be coming with me 😉 . It also means leaving the cats alone. For… how long? I wouldn’t worry about leaving them overnight, but ideally I’d like to stay two nights and I’m not sure about Azar. The vet doesn’t think anything would happen to him in that time as he’d only miss one day of his treatment, so maybe?
If not Málaga then the other option is to take a couple of day trips next week while Peter is still off work for the holidays. Perhaps Cádiz and Córdoba? We’ll see. Getting kinda excited…
casa azahar 