Radiation: Day 1

That was easy.

Bonus points: So what is that white thing above the Easy Button next to the mouse?

Answer: Linus' paw. That was easy.

Bizzy days

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to radiation we go ...

It starts today and will continue for the next seven weeks. 

Life has been a bit busy lately...we got home at 10 p.m. yesterday from Ralph's co-worker's wedding and this morning I'm fixin' to head to my first radiation treatment.

Here's Ralph enjoying himself at the wedding. I had a tough time getting a good photo ~ I blame it on the soft lighting. This was the best one I captured.

Before we went to the wedding we visited our docent daughter working at an open house at the David Humphreys House. 

The annual open house features samples of Thanksgiving fare - turkey, cranberry sauce, cornbread, squash pie and more - prepared over an open hearth in the historic house. 

Here's a link to a post I wrote about the event three years ago! I would have guessed I had written it last year. Time sure does fly.  

Allegra surprised us yesterday when she told us she had made the tasty pumpkin soup.

My favorite is the squash pie. Our friend Christine who always makes the squash pies says she follows a pumpkin pie recipe and simply substitutes butternut squash, because it's sweeter than the pumpkin.

Yum!

That's about it from here. Off to get ready to be radiated.  

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ pix from a fun jaunt with a friend

Today I'm using more shadowy photos from a foliage trip I took in early October with my friend and chauffeur, Linda, through Connecticut, Massachusetts and into southern Vermont.

It wasn't easy finding autumn colors, but we did find some interesting places to photograph along the way!

This is an Episcopal church "somewhere" in western Massachusetts. I'm not sure what town we were in at the time.

We both liked the shadows created by the noonday sun.

 

 See lots more shadow shots from around the world at our awesome Aussie friend Tracy's Hey Harriet blog! 

Happy Veterans Day ~ 11/11/11

I'm heading to a Veterans Day ceremony this morning.

I'll see many of the veterans I've met through my newspaper work, and I'll remember several veterans I've known who have passed away in recent years.

Today is a perfect day to say thank you to all who served our country or who are serving now. Let them know you appreciate them!

My online cancer journey journal continues...

It's almost 5 p.m. 

I'm tired and I've caught a cold (boo hoo) but I'm still planning to attend a support group meeting that starts at 6.

I always enjoy my time with the ladies. Our group, Circle of Friends, meets every other Thursday but in two weeks we won't meet, because it will be Thanksgiving already. (gasp!)

I can't believe how fast November got here and how fast the month is flying by us. It has been one of my crazier years, it's safe to say.

Tomorrow I go for a dry run of sorts for my radiation treatments, which start Monday morning. 

Thanks for reading!

'Everything looks good'

That's what I wanted to hear on the phone yesterday regarding my mammogram results. 
And that's what I heard.

I'll get a letter in the mail confirming the good news. Yay!

Now on to radiation. I don't yet know when it will start.


(And so continues my online breast cancer journey journal..thanks for reading.)

I'm all about medical appointments these days

I had a mammogram yesterday before I start radiation.

Dare I make a joke and say the screening only took half as long as it used to take? Or would that be unbecoming of me?

Anyhow, I waited all afternoon for the results but no phone call. So today I wait again.

{My online cancer journey journal continues..thanks for reading!}

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ historic

Four weeks ago my friend Linda picked me up on a sunny Saturday to seek some autumn foliage in Connecticut. 

Of course we were armed with our cameras and were ready to capture colorful leaves and trees for posterity (or at least for our blogs!)

We didn't see much color in Connecticut, so Linda kept driving over the border into Massachusetts. Still not much color for Oct. 8 in New England. It was disappointing.

She saw that Bennington, Vt. was a mere 38 miles further north, so north we headed. I'm so good at being a passenger!  

Here are five of many photos I took in Bennington that have shadows in them.

The fall foliage was at about 10 percent there. You'd think Vermont would be colorful in October...not really. Maybe it's because we were in southern Vermont.

I did find shadows in the historic cemetery adjacent to the First Congregational Church of Bennington. 

Robert Frost is buried there, and we weren't the only ones walking down the path through the graveyard to see his gravestone. 

There were arrows pointing the way to the Frost family's site, and there were lots of folks there when we were, thanks to lots of tour buses in the area.  

The fence below was in front of the cemetery, along the sidewalk. I was able to get a photo without cars and tour buses in it! Woo hoo!

I thought it was pretty and so typical New England. Notice the green leaves on the trees.

And here's Linda photographing The Walloomsac Inn, directly across the street from the church.

It was once a grand hotel, but now it seems like a perfect place for someone to set up a scary Halloween house. It looks kinda haunted!

I read that someone lives there, but I have my doubts. Who'd want to live there?

I urge you to visit our awesome Aussie friend Tracy at her Hey Harriet blog to discover lots of shadowy shots! 

If I glow, it won't be from the radiation

I went to see the radiation oncologist yesterday for a consultation. She explained everything that will be happening with the upcoming radiation treatments and it didn't sound bad at all.

She said it's easier to take than chemo. I feel fortunate to have gotten through five months of that with nothing more than tiredness.  

I also had an unexpected CT scan. That wasn't on my agenda!

It turned out fine, but when I first saw the scanner (don't know correct name of it) I flashed back to my MRI experience in February when I freaked out. 

At that time Ralph had to bring me back another day with a medication inside me to get through the claustrophic feelings I was experiencing.

So now I wait to find out when I start the five-days a week radiation treatment. The nurse assured me I wouldn't be radioactive. So apparently I won't be glowing.

I don't mean to sound flip about any of these important procedures. I simply want to keep my sense of humor about all of this.  :D

{And so my online cancer journey journal doth continue ~ thanks for reading!}

Our friend 'Jack' made it through the night

He looks a bit cold though!

Hope everyone weathered the snowstorm OK.

We're so thankful we didn't lose electricity.

Happy Sunday to all!

Jack gets some air

Our friend Jack that I carved last Saturday was getting all moldy so I thought I'd let him go outside to get some cold, crisp air.

Doesn't it look like he's exhaling?

Getting ready to be 'spellbound' Saturday

Tomorrow night is an opening reception for the Valley Arts Council's 'Spellbound' Halloween show. This year I'm entering this photo, which is near and dear to my heart. 


It features the feline members of our family. Sadly our loopy guy Rigby, on the left, is no longer with us; Linus, on the other hand, is usually no more than a few feet away from me.  =^. .^=  

He stays close, that's for sure. Ralph thinks Linus needs a kitty playmate. We'll see..

For local readers, the Valley Arts Council's Gallery@37 is at 37 Elizabeth St., Derby, Ct. The reception is from 6-9 p.m. and the show runs through Nov. 19.

UPDATE: The reception has been postponed to 2 p.m. Sunday, due to the Halloween weekend snow that is falling. Hopefully tomorrow's weather will be more cooperative.

See you there!

Haunted tour fundraiser was a spook-tacular success

On Saturday night Ralph and I volunteered for three hours outside a stately (and haunted?) Victorian mansion that is now a funeral home.


It was one of several stops along a Halloween-inspired haunted lantern tour through downtown Derby, Ct. 
We told a spooky story hat we read from a script given to us.
Hundreds of people - who paid $5 apiece - came to get spooked and learn local history.
I counted 20 tour groups, although I could have lost track, because I was getting rather punchy near the end of the event.
 

So does Ralph look kinda creepy here? I think so.
It was cold out there and the wool cape added a bit of a 'Grim Reaper' look, in my opinion...


We told the story of a young woman, Emma Schabert, who lived in the house with her first husband - who was 40 years her senior.
She and her brother were lucky enough to survive the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 after being rescued from a lifeboat by the crew of the Carpathia.
The question we posed was: would her wealthy husband, Rufus W. Blake, who owned the Sterling Piano Co. in Derby, be as lucky?

As the story goes, the couple was home one night playing cards when Rufus went upstairs and accidentally shot himself in the eye. He never regained consciousness.
Newspaper accounts at the time said his death was accidental. However, the "accident" left Emma a very wealthy young widow.


Coincidence? No one can say for sure.

But as the script we read says, "Someone in the house rests uneasily.  Footsteps are heard echoing through the building, cigar smoke is frequently smelled and doors open and close without explanation."


Hmmm... 

Before the tours there was a Jack O'Lantern contest. Guess who didn't win?

 BEFORE
AFTER

 

Bwahahaha ~ I've only carved three pumpkins in my entire life, so I'm not too skilled at it.

I do believe 'tis better to give than receive

...but receiving lots of support since my cancer diagnosis from family, friends, and even from folks I don't even know is almost as good!


On Wednesday I received some unexpected recognition from a group of wonderful people, and I'm trying to figure out how to thank them for their thoughtfulness.

I'm purposely being vague here...need to think about what to do to show my gratitude.

~ ~ ~ 

In other news, Ralph and I are taking part in "Haunted Lantern Tours" tonight in downtown Derby, Ct. 
The cool thing is we're not attending, we're two of the presenters. 
He and I will be at one of the stops on the tour to tell a story about the former inhabitants of a (haunted?) Victorian house that is now a funeral home. 
We'll mention the sudden death of one them inside the house ...

Spooky!

Put a fork in me

...'cuz I is done!

With chemo. Hopefully forever!

Next up, radiation.

{And so my online breast cancer journey continues.}

Last 'chemo light' treatment delayed a day

... but tomorrow it will finally be here!

The doctor had a day off today so I must wait until tomorrow to have the 12th and final treatment.

That's OK. Time flies anyway. I don't wish it to go any faster than it does.

{And so my online breast cancer journey journal continues. Thanks for reading.}

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ road trip

Last Saturday I accompanied my blog and real-life friend Linda, of Are We There Yet? and The Distracted Wanderer fame to find some fall foliage. 

You'd think being in southern New England in October we'd find some.

Not really.

But I did get some shadow shots! We headed to northern Connecticut, not much color. We went into Massachusetts. Still not much color to be found.

When Linda discovered it was a mere 38 more miles to Bennington, Vt., we headed there. My guess was the foliage there was about at 10 percent color.

Boo hiss. But we had fun trying and exploring...and the weather was spectacular. Sunny and actually too warm for October. Linda and I both prefer "crisp" air.

But that was OK.

And at least we found some wildlife! 
We saw a beaver.
 

And a moose!

(taken from the passenger seat ~ we didn't feel like getting out and dealing with the crowds)

And we later spotted yet another moose on a sidewalk in Massachusetts on our way home. (Photo quality is poor because I snapped it through the windshield when we were stopped at a red light.)

And I have many more shadowy shots to share from the day in future posts. So all was not lost ~ just the hoped-for colors of autumn!

See lots more shadowy photos every weekend at our awesome Aussie friend Tracy's Hey Harriet blog. 

Life imitates blogging

Or something like that!


So happy it's Saturday morning...had another busy week. Whew!

Today I combine blogging about my breast cancer journey with my journalism.

Please click here (it's a quick read) for my story in today's paper and join me in celebrating my return to a wonderful support group. I haven't been going but hope to start anew.



{My online journal about breast cancer continues. Thanks for reading.}

It's Tuesday and I'm 'supposed' to be hyper

...but I'm not. I don't know what happened. Maybe I didn't have enough coffee (yet) today to keep me going. I try not to drink too much of it.

Oh well.

Hmm.. I think take-out may be an idea for dinner. 

'Cuz I'm just plain tuckered out.

Back from second-to-last trip to chemoland

... and I'm exhausted.

Even after a two-hour nap.

It's after 5 p.m. Should I have a cup of coffee? Or just relax?

Decisions, decisions. 


{My online breast cancer journey journal doth continue. Thanks for reading}

Steroids + coffee = a hyper me

Up, down, up, down. What a week. Blame it on the steroids I got Monday, I suppose.

On Tuesday I felt like I was in perpetual motion. I covered two live events, wrote a third story, and did some other stuff for work.

On Wednesday that "energy" was gone, but I did cover a live event first thing in the morning, and also filed a second story.

By Thursday I was "mezza-mezza" energy-wise, but managed to cover yet another live event at night.

Now it's Friday afternoon, I filed a story. And I'm hoping that's it for this week.

Before I know it I'll be back in chemoland, and the cycle will begin again.

Only two more treatments and I can get off this roller coaster for now.

{Now it's Sunday. Thank you for reading my online journal about my breast cancer journey ~ I don't like to complain but was urged to post what I had written Friday, so I did.}

Friends, foliage and no whining

So I wrote a post yesterday afternoon about my crazy week, but didn't hit publish.

It was another in my continuing series of online journal entries about this breast cancer journey.

But it sounded way too whiny (overworked and exhausted was the theme) so I canned it.

In other news, for the two or three of you who read this who know our friend Linda, I am awaiting her arrival to pick me up for our second annual fall foliage trip!

Woo hoo! I don't know how she does it. She just returned last night from a trip to the White Mountains.

I hope we find some color north of here ~ there is still way too much green on the trees here in southern Connecticut.

Hoping to be posting some beautiful photos next time. 

Happy Saturday to all! 

Back to the grind...the chemo grind, that is

It's Monday morning and I'm all set to go back for treatment #10.

Only two more after today! Yay!

I always get hungry while I'm sitting there, so once again I'll bring my peanut butter and jelly sandwich for a snack. This time on multi-grain bread instead of whole wheat. Exciting, eh?


I'm going to wear my new long-sleeved T-shirt that I got for participating in the walk on Saturday. I'd take a picture of it but my rechargeable batteries aren't recharging any more. And I can't seem to find any AA batteries. Must buy some. I hate to be without my camera.


I guess that's it for now. Thanks for reading my online cancer journey journal!

I did it!

So happy I completed the 3.1-mile walk this morning.

It was amazing - as I was pulling out of the driveway the rain was letting up and the sun was breaking through the clouds. It ended up being a perfect, albeit steamy, morning for the event. There were so many participants. I'd say it was a huge success.

I was among friends. I saw two of my doctors, both oncology nurses, an extremely energetic and enthusiastic nutritionist and fitness expert named Samantha (who has been strongly suggesting to me that I get into an exercise routine), and several other hospital employees.

Samantha was at the finish line and gave me a big hug when I completed the walk. I think she was happier than I was.

Thanks to all my supporters. ;-) I must say I enjoyed the hugs and kisses and handshakes and all.

I also love the T-shirts they gave out. I didn't know they were going to be long-sleeved. Woo hoo!

Walkin' in the rain

We'll see how this goes...getting ready to leave for a walk/run (I'll be walking, not running) to benefit the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Ct.

And it's pouring out.

Being part of a group with the same goal of raising funds and awareness will keep me inspired, I hope!

Happy to report I raised $155 for the cause.

More later...

Only three more to go!

Yesterday was my chemo day again...Happy to report I feel fine. Just tired. 

Three more chemo treatments left, then at some point after that (hopefully there will be a bit of a break) I'll start five weeks of radiation. 

That will be five days a week. Woo hoo!  I'm guessing it will be a tiring experience..

On Saturday I'll attempt to walk 3.1 miles in a fund-raiser for the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Ct. It's the third annual event and the first one in which I'm participating.
I plan to take it easy...the second half will be the hard part, since I'm so out of shape. 

Maybe I'll ask Ralph to ride along nearby in the van so he can pick me up when I'm losing my energy. (just kidding) 

My friend Linda suggested I amble. I agree ambling is good!

My (sometimes hurty) knee and I did fine Sunday walking in an event along the shore in West Haven, Ct. to raise funds for the Center for Disability Rights. 
Ralph works for the nonprofit, which gives college scholarships each year to students with disabilities. They said the route was 1.5 miles. It felt like more, but maybe because it was so muggy out.

As you can see in the photo it was an overcast morning.

Meanwhile my oncologist said yesterday he'll be making some brief remarks at Saturday's event, as will several other health-care professionals. He jokingly asked me if I wanted him to mention me.

No thanks, Doc, just wave. I'll see ya. ;-)

{That's about it today for my online journal about my breast cancer journey. Thanks for reading.}

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ morning sun

When I was eating breakfast the other day I spied this shadow on the wall.

Meow!



Visit our awesome Aussie friend Tracy's Hey Harriet blog every weekend where you can check out lots of shadowy pix from around the globe. 

Happy Shadow Seeking!

Out of my comfort zone

I've never asked anyone for money but I've decided to take a step outside my comfort zone to ask for sponsors (any small $ amount would be much appreciated) as I participate in next week's third Annual 5K Walk/Run to benefit the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital.

That's the facility in Derby, Ct. where I'm currently getting chemo and will soon be getting five weeks of radiation treatments.
 
The fun never ends! 

The state-of-the-art facility (below see photo of the healing garden outside the treatment room) opened three years ago. 

 

I took this photo in August. It's such a peaceful setting.

I guess I never dreamed I would be a patient myself in 2011. Goes to show one never knows.

Anyhow, I wrote a story for the paper about the walk/run that you can read here. I hadn't planned on blogging about the event, but I decided to give it a go. 

It's always a good idea to raise awareness of breast cancer. It seems to affect so many people.

The walk organizers' goal is to raise $75,000 this year. I set a goal of $200, to do what I can to help. 

To make a donation click here. Thanks so much!

Kemo brain kicks in

Methinks the kemo is kicking in big time. I feel like I can't keep up with anything.

I really could use a mental health day. 

Looks like I'll have to wait until Saturday ...

P.S. I spelled chemo wrong just because I could. ;-) 

{And so my online cancer journey journal continues.} 

Chemo light #7 turned out to be #8

Time sure flies when one is having fun! Looks like I lost track of time.

Yesterday I wrote here that it was day number 7 - glad to learn that it was number 8! One less to go until I get to the magic number 12. 

The chemo kinda messes with my sleep, but I much prefer that side effect to others I won't bother mentioning.

I came home exhausted yesterday afternoon and slept for more than two hours to recuperate. Then this morning I woke up after a less than full-night's sleep. :- (

Maybe it's because I skipped a week, and my body has to get used to it again.

{Thanks for reading my online cancer journey journal}

Back to chemoland today

I missed a treatment last week because the doctor was on vacation and the other oncologist in the office is not authorized by my insurance or some such thing,

I was given the option to see a different oncologist in the medical group in another city, if I didn't want to miss a treatment. 

But they said it would be OK to take a week off, so I did.

I believe this is number 7, but who's counting?

I feel fine, and for that I am grateful. 

{Thanks for reading the continuing saga of my cancer journey.}

Cute and observant, if I do say so myself

I went through a drawer yesterday that hasn't been gone through in quite a while.

I found a scrap of paper from 1995, when our daughter was 6 and our son was 4, with the following written on it:

July 30, 1995:

Allegra said, "Cam, you're confusing me." 

Cam replied: "I'm confusing myself."

So Allegra said, "Write it down, Mommy."

~ ~ ~

She knew I was always writing down cute things they said. A lot of it is on scraps of paper.

Now to find them all!

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ Sergio edition

I took this photo last Saturday as Ralph went up a long drive into the Stonington, Ct. estate of the late romantic tenor Sergio Franchi. 

We were there to attend the 17th annual Sergio Franchi Memorial Concert emceed by his widow, Eva Franchi.

He died in 1991 and she started hosting the concert a few years later.

The grounds are lovely, and offered plenty of seating for the approximately 4,000 in the audience.

A friend of ours got free tickets to the concert, because a close friend of his, and an acquaintance of ours, was one of the performers.

We had a grand time, enjoyed a picnic lunch and sipped wine on a picture-perfect September afternoon.

  

Sergio seems to be looking out into the audience enjoying the sights and sounds on his 240-acre estate.

Sadly he was only 64 when he passed away.

The program was mostly opera, with a few Broadway show tunes in the mix. 

And the weather could not have been more cooperative!

Below you see our daughter Allegra's bare foot...we go from the sublime to the ridiculous, I guess you could say. Not that our daughter is ridiculous...I merely mean the subject matter of the photo.

 

 

As you can see we sat near the side of the stage for most of the concert, except when our friend performed.

I am not a music critic, so far be it from me to review the performance. But I will say even though we are not into opera, Ralph, Allegra and I enjoyed ourselves! 

See our Aussie friend Tracy's Hey Harriet blog for many more shadowy photos.

It's almost worse than losing one's hair

Eyebrows. 
I never thought much about them until I didn't have any. : (


I realize there are worse things.
And I know there are artificial ones I could get, or I could use eyebrow pencil. 

But I prefer the real kind.

And they're not there any more. 

At least with my head I can find a variety of chapeaux and scarves to cover up the few remaining strands of hair I have. And the wig option is still there.

But eyebrows and for that matter eyelashes (they are mostly gone too) are so visible, unless one wears large sunglasses to cover the blank areas.


Oh me, oh my. 

OK, done whining for today.

{My online journal about my cancer journey continues.}

Pointin' and shootin' through the windshield

 

 

 When Ralph is driving, I like to take photos through the windshield. I'm easily amused, I suppose.

These are five of the nine I took Saturday. It had been a gorgeous day at an outdoor event we attended.

The view is along I-95 in southeastern Connecticut, as we headed home.

Shadow Shot Sunday: A local remembrance stirs emotions

On Friday morning Ralph and I witnessed an impressive demonstration of patriotism that occurred right outside our front door.
We live near four schools: two elementary and two high schools. Our town's commemoration of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 was due to the creativity and determination of the technical high school principal, Laurie LeBouthillier.
She managed to pull off the coming together of more than 2,400 students and staff members from all four schools, and they lined three streets forming a circle of unity in our neighborhood.


She also coordinated a parade featuring local volunteer firefighters riding in several pieces of fire apparatus, a high school band, elected officials and more.


I covered the story for the newspaper, which you can read here.


Neighbors came out of their houses to watch; parents of children involved took photos and videos along the route. People remarked about how well-organized the solemn event was, and how it stirred their emotions to see so many people take part.
The event apparently went off without a hitch.


I congratulate Laurie on following through on an idea and turning it  into a reality that those involved will long remember. 

Visit our hostess, Tracy, at Hey Harriet to see lots more shadowy pix from around the world.

Tossin' and turnin'

... it's not something that I normally do.
I'm blaming my insomnia  on yesterday's chemo light treatment #6.


I woke up after only four hours of sleep. Wasn't happy.
Finally got back to dreamland after about two hours of tossin' and turnin' thanks to a soft and furry heating pad we call Linus. He snuggled up to my back, I was able to relax, and all was well.

Awww ... what a helper he is.  And what a sleeper! He's asleep as I type this. What else is new? Tee hee.

{And so my online journal about my cancer journey continues ... thanks for reading!}

Shadow Shot Sunday

'Twas the first day of school Wednesday and I visited an elementary school to write a story. A friend and former colleague from many moons ago is the principal there now, and I wanted to capture her first "first day of school."

As you can see the kids and parents were waiting for the door to open to start the big day ...

The opening of school was delayed a day in the next town because of some power outages in the district. We lucked out and had no loss of electricity here at our humble abode. 

I feel like I'm jinxing myself by writing that, since it is still hurricane season through the end of November.

Ralph and I didn't participate last week in Tracy's shadowy meme, because we were preparing for and getting nervous about the impending storm. But we're back. ;-) 

I pray there are no more storms like Irene thinking about forming out there in the Atlantic. Just stay away!

Visit Tracy at Hey Harriet and join the shadowy fun!