One year ago today I was diagnosed with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma–breast cancer. The moment you hear the word cancer a backdrop of surreal images of your life pass before your eyes and it’s at that moment your life changes forever. You have no idea where this journey is going to take you and circumstances don’t always turn out as they should. Cancer is a beast and no one is unassailable.

Though the threat of recurrence is there especially within the first 5yrs being the most detrimental, but I will not allow this uncertainty to tear into the fabric of my life any longer. I’ve altered a few priorities and have had to accept a bit of psychological and physical distress along the way, and this year is not and will not be about cancer or any other pain-in-the-ass that should dare come down the pike heading in my direction. It’s all about me now.

I’ve learned I can only take control of myself and the way I feel, and continue too hold my faith close and trust that God will take care as he has always done blessing me with the most kindest loving husband and children, family, and loving friends that a gal could ask for. I love and cherish you all.

Today’s weather maybe cloudy with a slight mist and chill in   the air, but when I look out       the window into my backyard I   see warm sunshine, birds        singing out a tune and I can    smell the fragrance of spring  blossoms in bloom. There’s a  square patch of dark tilled soil  waiting to be seeded, and 3  wild crazy Chihuahuas just  waiting to water them. This is    the fabric of my life and what I  celebrate today.

God bless and much love to you all, be well my friend.

When we go out of town it’s not always feasible to leave our babies at home, so for the next 3 weeks they’ll retreat too the confines of their favorite canine resort–Fat Doggy Slim Camp & Spa.  Also, known as the local veterinarian hospital.

Here they will be pricked, and prodded during their annual physical examination, actively participate in outdoor sport activities, and on their last day they will be treated to a relaxing beauty day at the spa. Before, we rush to their rescue and scoop them up, as their little short legs come running down the hallway in full cartwheel fashion, totally over whelmed with happiness the torture is finally over and they are headed home. They will have lost 3-5lbs each.  It works every time.

We sadly dropped them off the night before last and yesterday they had their annual physical and shots. As of yesterday they were all doing fine. Well, this afternoon our second day here in Florida –it’s always something if it’s not my babies it’s one of the other 2 hell hounds. I received a call from the vet stating Skip has an ear infection they will be treating while he is boarded there. But, more concerning is Molly’s blood work came back showing – the Lyme disease bacterium. Obviously, the Lyme disease vaccine she has been receiving for at least the last 3 or 4 years has done absolutely nothing as far as prevention. Furthermore, we have never ever found a tick on her, or any sign of a tick bite, or skin irritation of any kind. Neither, Skip nor Molly has shown any signs of being sick in the past few weeks. Now, I really feel like a shit for leaving them boarded.

Oh…and let’s not forget the dental work they mentioned Chachi will be needing. Give me a break these people are trying to tap my wallet now. Grrrrruh!

**Calling in a delivery order of Chinese pork strips for those babies, they will feel much better**

An excerpt from a conversation I had with my 27yr old daughter today when she stopped by for lunch.  After I had explained that my breast cancer was hormone-receptor positive, and the hormone therapy that I will be starting in the next couple of weeks will suppress the production of estrogen in my body.

Her: “Estrogen?”

Me: “Yeah estrogen.”

Her: “Um, isn’t that kind a like, like your liquid?”

Me (perplexed): “My liquid?”

Her: “A yeah, so basically you’re a walking orgasm.”

Me (LMFAO!): “Well, I never really thought of it in that way.”

Her: “Aww mom…poor poor you.”

“I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.” 

                                                     – Frank A. Clark  

I’m booting cancer off center stage and go off topic today. Outside my studio where I spend a lot of my time during the day I have a couple of birdhouses hanging from a Cherry tree. Throughout the day a variety of birds stop by to feed and hangout in the trees outside the window. So I went to Home Depot and purchased a finch feeder to attract some yellow finches. I had seen them flying around the neighborhood but never stop by our house. About a months time had past and no sight of a yellow finch.

Everyone said “I hung the feeder upside down that’s why they don’t come by to feed; it’s upside down.”

“But the box it came in had a picture of finches eating upside down.”

“Well, maybe you were looking at the box upside down.”

Yeah, they really think I’m just that dumb, or possibly a tendency of doing things ass backwards.
You be the judge!

Today is a great day!