Girls with Pearls outing

Sunday was the 2nd outing for the "Girls with Pearls" group. 26 women went to see the noonish showing of "Eat, Pray, Love" followed by a early dinner at a local Italian restaurant. Scenery and acting was good, story a little slow in parts but I could watch Julia Roberts read the phone book. Friend Beth Palmer Martin and I enjoyed the food and company as well.

Where there's life, there's hope my mother said

I found this quote in the paper a while ago. "Hope arises when your situation seems uncertain, when your well-being is threatened. Hope is born in the belief that no matter how dire the current circumstances may be, it’s possible that your life can still turn out well. Hope prevents you from collapsing into despair by sustaining your belief that there’s something that can be done to turn your situation around."

Jenna says my name, Oma

After a lazy Saturday reading and resting, drove to Campbells on Sunday. They had spent a good day on Saturday with kids at the Howard County Fair. Turned out to be a rainy Sunday so played with kids before naps, then read while Megan did stuff around the house and Alex stocked up on supplies at BJs. After dinner I was heading out and asked Jenna to give me a hug goodbye. She did. So did Tyler. As Tyler was walking me out the door, Jenna, in Alex's arms, very clearly said, "Bye, Oma." Alex, Megan, who was standing right next to me, and I agreed we had all heard it. A red-letter day for me.

Feel better but CA125 continues to go up

Thursday 8/12 went to Weinberg OPC for Avastin #18. CA125 is 114.4 up 13 pts since last treatment. Magnesium level down to 1.1 so got 6 grams (3 hrs) of mag also. Fortunately had a good book from the library. Still got out in time to make 3:30 physical therapy appt for my rotator cuff. Got gas and then picked up some groceries for office lunches. Made it to Ditto's follow-up vet appt for his "dry-eye." He's got to have antibiotic ointment in his eyes am and pm as well as moistening ointment. Wuss dog hates it so I put a dog treat in my mouth so he'll look up and sniff the treat. He gets it after. Made it home before thunderstorm.

First vacation since diagnosis 9/06

A major step for me. July 31 I rode shotgun with my son-in-law Alex and two grandkids to Boston area. First drove to niece Alice and husband Don's house in Summit, NJ, visiting overnite with them and daughters, Ellen, 17, and Janet, 15. Also got to see Alice's mom Betsy and dad Alan. Betsy is bedridden and suffering from dementia. Not sure she recognized me but this was a pilgrimage of sorts. Daughter Deb & family and Megan had boarded a schooner in Maine on Thursday to spread Lloyd's ashes and one of his sailing hats on the waters of Penobscot Bay on what would have been his 75th birthday. Campbell kids too small to go on schooner so we met them at the Krisko's house in Danvers on Sunday. After showers and fresh laundry, Monday we drove to Cape Cod, minus Perrin, 16, who is taking a college course this summer. Andrew, 12, came to the Cape to play with Tyler and Jenna. Krisko's had gotten a 3-bedroom, 2 bath house near beach for the week.

Wednesday morning Megan and family drove me to the Hyannis Airport to take a puddle jumper to Boston to catch a JetBlue (our servers were calm women) flight to BWI. After cool temps in New England, my glasses fogged in the heat and humidity when I got home. I timed it right because temps got hotter after I left Cape Cod; house had no AC. It was a pleasant 5-day outing. Nostalgic for the days Lloyd and I and Megan and Dylan sailed Cape Cod and NE Atlantic coast.

My four grandkids (l to r) Jenna, 1 1/2, Perrin, 15, Andrew, 10, and Tyler 3 1/2, got to play together at the Krisko's home in Danvers, MA, before we headed to Cape Cod to enjoy the beach cottage in early August.