Back to Reality

Over the last couple days I have been wishing I was still here....

...but instead I have been here. Friends, you gotta do it....and mine was clean!  I left the medical center with a heart full of gratitude and a gut full of gas.

Big T knew just what I needed.

Needless to say, I have had a little down time lately, so I finished some Needlepoint North business...

...while I listened to this.   I think it is, well, boring...a lot of minute details without giving the big historical picture.  I guess Larson assumed I paid better attention in my US History class.  But what do I know?  Big T loved it.

Florida Friends, Food and Fun

I just returned home from a week in Seaside. Friends, you know that travel and eating out are difficult for me, but I am determined to keep practicing until I get better at it.  

Here is the Florida restaurant report:

great mojitos, grouper and friend green tomatoes

eat in or carry out

Cafe 30A -- pricey, but delicious

off the beaten path, but worth it

shrimp roll heaven

Bud and Alley's...have fun guessing the time the sun sets.

unique and delicious

We stopped at the bar in The Pearl...

...where I had the best Old Fashioned of my life (made with Traverse City Cherry Bourbon, of course.)

I love chocolate, so...

...can someone get me the recipe for their molten lava cake?

In the middle of our time, we headed over to Jacksonville, where we worked up quite an appetite watching the Midshipmen sink the Irish.

Best seafood of the week was at The Blue Fish in Riverside.

Across the street at Biscotti's, Big T wisely chose the bread pudding. 

Beach walks, sunsets, good friends....definitely worth fighting for.

C-Fighting Treats

Friends, I hope you had a Happy Halloween with lots of treats and no tricks.  Speaking of treats... lately I have had a lot of people ask me what to do when a friend has been diagnosed with cancer.   First of all, just do something.  It doesn't have to be perfect...the gesture is what counts. Here are some treat ideas: 

Treatment often dries out your lips, so.... this is my absolute favorite lip balm.

A small case to bring the necessaries to the infusion clinic-- my neighbor and dear friend gave me this when I was diagnosed.  Her thoughtfulness made me feel loved!  And it reminded me of happy days in London.

Chemo is rough on your mouth. ( Make sure  the candy has only real sugar.) 

In the chemo lab, sometimes you simply do not want to talk to anyone...you just want to escape with music, an audio book or video.

An easy reading book helps with the aforementioned escape too....and is perfect for resting which is so important to healing.  My BFF Wendy, who shipped me so many wonderful books during that time, recently told me about this great English author---love her.

As they say, your presence is the best present.  When I was going through treatment I treasured the time my friends and family took to be with me...and this sweet thing was always by my side...I think she knew....

Cast Your Ballot

I miss my friends on the peninsula...

Before I left, I drove by this, my favorite campaign sign.  It really says it all.

I am going to be traveling on election day, so this week I did the early voting in KC...it was so easy and convenient.  Hopefully, everyone (are you listening, T, S, C, M and B? ) will be able to find a way to make their voices heard.

I know daily life can be overwhelming, especially when you are going through treatment, and I know this election is one for the history books, to slap a euphemism on it.... but this is important.  Ok.  I am done now.

Twenty Four Little Hours

Friends, I am grateful to report that, according to my oncologist:

Once again, I am so grateful for all those who have prayed for me, for my incredible doctors and our loving God.

Riding high with gratitude, Big T and I headed up to Atchison to take M and some of his friends out for dinner....and to see his off-campus pad.

I was expecting a house like the one Big T lived in at ND....but their place is beautiful and CLEAN.  I just love these Benedictine kids.

Crying in the Car

Yesterday I awoke to a beautiful morning in KC.  I had a  lot to do, so I  headed out with a spring in my step, ready to take on the day.  On my calendar for 12:15 was my 6 month blood draw.  I strode into KU's Cancer Center, confident.  After all,  I have been cancer free for 2 years, 10 months and 12 days.

The smells, the sounds, the encouraging smiles....the memories all came flooding back in an instant.  I was not prepared for the panic that overtook me as I returned to the scene of the crime.  I was friendly and chatty to those around me (many of whom are still in the trenches) keeping it together for the 15 minutes it took for them to draw my blood and hoping that they all would not know that soon I would be crying in the car.  Sometimes even the idea that I had cancer is just too much for me to wrap my mind around.

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 Thankfully, last night at 7PM I had "porch night" on my calendar.  Some of my oldest KC friends were getting together for cocktails...and to remind me that life is good even especially as a cancer survivor.

Fall Break

Friends, a week ago I left the northern color show...

...and headed down to ND for another Irish defeat...this time at the hands of Stanford.  I was just happy to be watching with all three of my boys.

Next stop was Florida with Big T and B.  It took B awhile to disconnect from her twitter followers...

...but she eventually cut loose.  A little break from the college grind once in awhile is good for everyone.

While B chilled on the beach, I did one of my favorite things....we were so glad we invited ourselves on Big T's business trip to the sunshine state.

The Miromar Outlets on the way to the Ft Myers airport were full of great deals....and then we were on our way back to KC.

Back home B had the usual dentist/doctor appointments, and, of course, we had to check out some of our favorite restaurants.... preferably al fresco because  the weather has been amazing. 

While hitting Nordstrom in KC, B introduced me to this amazing cologne, made famous by the Kate Middleton effect.  I am breaking up with Chanel No5 for her 'Wood Sage and Sea Salt' (the most popular scent in the world  right now) and feeling really organized for stocking stuffers!

After putting B on her plane today, I tackled the garden.  After four months, the weeds had taken over.  I never enjoy saying good bye to my baby, but digging in the dirt always makes me feel better.  I hope you all had a great week!