I spent a few days in Richmond this week with family. It was fun going to museums and enjoying family time. It was also nice to be in Richmond and not have to see my oncologist. I had to pass by St. Mary's Hospital on the way back to the hotel from dinner last night. I felt like yelling "Nyah nyahhh, you can't have me until August"! Seriously, I've seen enough of the inside of that hospital for a few lifetimes!
I've lost count how many times I've been there in the last two years, starting with my first exam. Two minor surgeries (chemo port placement and removal), two major surgeries (total hysterectomy and hernia repair), six rounds of chemotherapy, three sessions of hydration infusions, two port flushings, and at least a dozen office visits and blood tests. I'm so happy that my follow up appointments are now going to be only twice a year.
Trump was always going to be acquitted. Now we have to endure his sneering and gloating. His behavior at the National Prayer Breakfast made me want to give up religion. I couldn't stand to watch his press conference later. Reading the descriptions was bad enough. We've never had a president swear and attack the Speaker of the House and others (including Mitt Romney) in a speech before. He is a pathetic child. God help us if he gets re-elected. At least Clinton apologized for what he did!
He may be the president, but he will never be MY president. And he will always be an impeached president, one of three that went to trial (Nixon had the decency to resign).
I saw my oncologist today. Everything looks and feels good, so I don't don't need to see him again until August! Unless something changes before then, we're switching to two check-ups a year instead of four. He didn't even order a blood test or scan, just told me what to look out for (odd bleeding, etc.) and to call right away if anything changes. But for now, I don't have to worry about anything.
Just an observation. I noticed this week that my chemo curls are just about done. Once I get my hair trimmed on Tuesday, they'll be gone. A year and a half after I lost my hair, it's almost back to the way it was before I got sick. It's already longer than it was before chemo!
My next appointment is next week. And the second anniversary of the beginning of my cancer journey is coming up.
I'm dog sitting Giada again. Katie is still in North Carolina with George. He's making some improvements, but it's a slow process. He's getting his trach tube out tomorrow, which is a big step.
Unrelated post- RIP to Monty Python's Terry Jones. Holy Grail is one of my all time favorite movies, and I just watched Life of Brian for the first time. Also, NBA legend Kobe Bryant and one of his daughters died in a helicopter crash today, along with seven others. January has really sucked.
Christmas 2019 was a bit less festive this year. Katie left before Christmas Eve to have Christmas with Sam in Charleston, then went to North Carolina to take care of George. He's making very slow progress, but does well when Katie's there. She's been down there with Giada for three weeks.
I spent most of December at Katie's house watching Giada, until she left for the Carolinas. I didn't get a lot of time to bake and decorate this year. We still had a nice Christmas and New Year's Eve. The trees looked great once I finished them, and I was able to get my cookie gifts done. Many nice presents this year. I hated not having Katie (and Giada) around, though. I'll post some pictures later.
Katie and Giada are coming home tomorrow. Katie will go back to George after a few days, but Giada is staying home, meaning I get to dog sit again. Fine with me, I love that dog!
I had leftover Christmas/dog sitting money, so I decided to go ahead and buy American Girl's Girl of the Year, Joss. She arrived today and I totally love her!
She has a hearing aid!
I was bullied as a kid because of my hearing aid. I would have loved a doll like Joss then.
Quick Fuck Cancer update: My next quarterly check up is on February 4th. I'll probably have to have a scan, because it's been a year since the last one. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything continues to be clear!
Caroll Spinney, the legendary puppeteer behind Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, has died at age 85. So many children grew up enchanted by his work. Sesame Street wouldn't have been what it was without Spinney's collaboration with Jim Henson.
Not long after hearing about Spinney, I learned that Rene Auberjoinois also died today at age 79, of lung cancer. He had a long career in film, stage, and television, but to me, he was Odo of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. I'm really sad about this one! We already lost Aron Eisenberg this year. Fuck cancer.
And Star Trek The Next Generation's Marina Sirtis (Troi) suddenly lost her husband last night. Just died in his sleep.
