Sep. 21: Daybook

Today…

Outside my window... the weather’s kinda sucky. Fall is here, for sure. Summer was awfully short in the Northwest this year.

I am thinking... about how much I’d love to go to bed right now. I’m not even a little bit tired, though. I had chemotherapy today, and the steroid always keeps me awake for a few days unless I do something about it. Tonight I’m going the Benadryl route. Anyway, I’ll be thankful for the energy tomorrow, when I’ve got a million things to do.

I am thankful for... commas. (That’s for you, Val.)

I am working on... lots of forms and flyers for upcoming meetings, etc. Getting the PTO budget up to date. Too much, really. If you know me, though, you know I thrive on this stuff. Gimme more!

I am going... to read Cosmo before I go to sleep tonight. Such trash!

I am reading... um… Cosmo. Don’t you pay attention?

I am hoping... Cosmo will help me fall asleep. Also that I can get back into the mode of regularly updating my blog again. The overwhelming-ness of everything lately has left me with little creativity or urge to write.

I am hearing... “showtunes radio” on Pandora. Love it. I’m thumbs down-ing all that Andrew Lloyd Webber junk though. Oh, how I hate everything that guy’s ever done. Ick.

Around the house... the puppy is showing some signs that maybe he isn’t so well potty-trained after all. Fortunately, he’s highly motivated by food, so we just need to treat him more often and he’ll remember the important things. Our next lesson: not licking my tongue.

One of my favorite things... is spending time with friends. I’ve been so lucky this week, and it’s only Tuesday! Here’s Val, me, Sunshine and Kim F’n at lunch yesterday:

We are very, very happy to be together. We are also very, very happy that our tummies are full of yummy cheese fondue and other German delights. One thing about which we’re dreadfully sad is Sherilee’s absence. She was unable to make it to Portland and we missed her very much. NEXT TIME, FOR SURE.

Plans for the rest of the week: the first PTO membership meeting of the year is tomorrow afternoon. That’s a biggie. There are tons of things I need to get done around the house too. I shall be as busy as a beeeeee.

Here’s a photo I want to share:

This is my dear friend, Kim F’n, and her fiancé, Eric. Yep, they’re getting married! I’m so happy for them! They’re doing the Brady Bunch thing and it’s going really well—such a blessing. Watch for lots of updates over the next several months. Maybe even a countdown clock to their big day. Happy friends make Jen happy too.

Congratulations!

What’s your celebrity couple name? Keric? Erm?

Also, Eric, that’s exactly like the shirt Jack wore for his school pictures today. I’m pretty sure he’ll think that’s way cooler news than you will.

Want to blog your own Daybook? Here’s the info: The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

For now, I leave you with my favorite quote from the Broadway musical Avenue Q: “We'll be fine, thank you! See ya! Hope you don't get gonorrhea!”

Apr. 14: Crisis averted; thanks, Grandma

My mom just got here, and she came loaded up with Grandma stories! Yay! This is my favorite so far:

Grandma called Mom the other day to say she had some magazines for her.

Mom: “Great! I’ll get them from you the next time I’m over.”

Grandma: “Well, there are six of them and they’re really heavy.”

Mom, trying not to laugh: “That’s fine, Mom. I’ll be able to carry them alright.”

Grandma: “I don’t want you to hurt your back, so I’ll put them in a bag, but they’re still very heavy.”

Mom: “Well, I’ve got my car.”

I suggested Mom could use her Camry’s tow hitch and the problem would be solved.

The next time Mom was at Grandma’s, she picked up the (heavy, heavy) magazines.

Grandma: “Y’know, Jen might also enjoy these.”

Mom: “Oh, good idea! I’ll take them up to her this week.”

Grandma follows Mom to the door with one last assurance: “Now Mary, I’ve read through all the magazines and there’s nothing in there that Jennifer shouldn’t read.”

Sooo glad my reading material has been approved and/or censored by Grandma.

Dec. 22: Chemo #2 done

If you ever have to have chemotherapy and Loveliest Lori offers to come sit with you for the much-too-long amount of time it takes to get all the poison in you, LET HER. She made it fun! It helped that she brought a bazillion trashy magazines, like:

	Lori said I’m too young to read this magazine so I snuck it home. I must see the 14 sexy party hairstyles! Yes, that’s the part I’m dying to read.
	I didn’t get to this one during my appointment so I brought it home, because I simply must find out why guys love me just the way I am. I’m also pretty sure only one guy actually does, and even that’s debatable. But it’s a lovely notion.
	How can I possibly resist such exciting and TRUE accounts of scandals and shockers???
	A celebrity split? Such a shame. But I’ll read any Us magazine for their “Fashion Police” layout.
	I don’t know if I’ve ever read this magazine in my life, but it was scandalicious and that makes it the perfect thing to read during chemo. Hear me? PERFECT.
	Lori was disgusted at herself for buying the “Country Special” edition of People. I thought it was still a fun time-waster, even if she refused to read it.
	It wasn’t the Bobby Sherman edition, but it was still a good one. I can honestly say it’s been at least 30 years since I’ve held a Tiger Beat. I looked through it, thinking, “I’m old enough to be this kid’s mom… and this kid’s mom… and Zac Efron’s… um… girlfriend…”

Loveliest Lori also brought Now & Laters, one of my favorite candies, and her laptop so I could watch the DVD she gave me—the Journey: Live in Manila concert video, which totally cost more than $10. I love the DVD even though it wasn’t autographed by her drummer bro. (She sent an autographed DVD to Mike Devitt, who she’s never actually met in person and Mike doesn’t even have cancer! But whatever. I still love Lori. Not so sure about Mike. And I’ve met Deen in person on more than one occasion, so suck on that, Mr. Devitt.)

Anyhoodle…

Chemo was uneventful. Before they got me all IV’d up, I met with my oncologist, who was thrilled with my bloodwork. I worked really hard on my blood since I last saw her, so this was no surprise. She was impressed to hear that I’m sleeping in a bed again and taking far less pain medication than I was two weeks ago; she says it’s “almost certainly” because O.J. is shrinking. Isn’t that great news? It is. It is great news.

Now it’s all a waiting game to see how this treatment affects me. Except for feeling tired, which is nothing new, I don’t feel much different tonight. But I’ve got all my anti-nausea drugs nearby to take at the first sign of feeling pukey, and Ensure to deal with my lack of appetite. Oh, and my new satin pillow cover, another treat Loveliest Lori brought for me today! It’s slippery!

My next treatment is Tuesday, January 12. Kim F’n and Sheila R have both offered to sit with me for that one. I’d like for them to get together beforehand to prepare a little IV pole-dancing show for me that day (Lori refused to perform today—something about a busted ankle or pride). Do I have the most wonderful friends, or what? I can’t forget Rockstar Cassie, who took Katie and Jack for a sleepover at her house tonight, and Jenn K, who brought us a delicious lasagna dinner. And then there are all the texts and messages and FB comments I received from well-meaning friends and family today. I tell ya, there are some fabulous people in my life, and I have no idea what I did to deserve them.

But boy, do I like them lots. Even Mike Devitt, who has an autographed DVD but no cancer, because he’s been known to say nice things to me too.