Head Dressing

I have acquired yet another noggin covering, this one from my friend Angela. It is a festive aqua-colored knit cap by Under Armour -- I feel very special. It is cozy. It is my new night cap.

Monday and Tuesday have flown by, leaving me with just eight more radiation treatments. I met on Monday with Dr. Quick, my radiation oncologist, who said she was pleased with how I was doing. After looking at my microwaved chest, her opinion was that my skin should make it through the rest of treatment without any extreme reactions. Come what may, I'm almost done with being in regimented treatment for the CBitch!

Pics o' the Day

An unenthusiastic chapeau model ...

... got a much better attitude upon hearing
there was a reward for serving as my fashionista!

Good Busy

What a full and wonderful weekend.

• Friday night: dinner with friends Tina and John
• Saturday morning/afternoon: conference at OSU on breast cancer survivorship
• Saturday night: benefit for Mercy Medical Center in Cambodia
• Sunday morning/afternoon: Church at First Community followed by Riley Catherine's baptism
• Sunday night: get together with my good friend, "Scoop!"

And, tomorrow: start of the final 10 days of radiation!

Sedona's Big Day

Sedona is one lucky dog, if you didn't know that already. Today she went to work with me and was oohed-and-awed over more times than I can count. In the afternoon, we took a walk over to the Statehouse so she could water the lawn and inspect some of the statues. Later, she meandered into the JobsOhio kitchen where she put on her best "no one ever feeds me face." I looked away, so not sure what might have fallen from the counter! :)

I'm glad to have such a great place to work.
It was a busy week and I'm sure glad the weekend is here.
I'm also glad to have enjoyed a great dinner with two special people, Tina and John.
Lastly, I'm glad I'm about to turn out the light and go to sleep!

Pics o' the Day -- Sedona's Day Downtown

Heads Up

Decided it was time for an update on what's sprouting up top. As you can see by the picture below, coverage is coming in, but it's not exactly the same color as when it went out! No problem, I'll take what I am given.

After tomorrow, it's two more weeks -- just 10 days more of radiation: Yee Haw!

Mostly white, but a wee bit of brunette poking through.

Time Traveler

I was at the park tonight with Sedona and as we walked by the silent tennis courts where leaves were already mounding up along the fence, it made me think of how quickly the summer past for me. I remember back in May thinking what a dreadfully longtime I had in front of me with chemo then radiation. Yet now, here it is 18 days into autumn and I'm less than three weeks away from completing radiation. Truly, it's a miracle how time past as if in the blink of an eye. 

Pic o' the Day

Not the best photo, but that's Sedona giving me a kiss
on our way to the park. And, yes, we were stopped
at a traffic light when I snapped this pic! :)

Aware of Others' Awareness

Looking the part of someone going through treatment for breast cancer during National Breast Cancer Awareness month is just plain weird, especially at the grocery store where product after product has been repackaged in pink, all to "promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to services." I know it sounds paranoid, but with my peach-fuzz covered head I can't pause for more than a few seconds in front of those displays without getting long stares. Maybe I should charge the store a commission as a breast-cancer poster girl pimping their products. I don't mean to appear flip, it is, as I said, just weird.

Pic o' the Day

I pass this landscape every morning on my way to the Spielman Center 

and have witnessed some stunning morning skies.

Camaraderie-filled Weekend

My outdoor weekend was, as always, special. The myriad and diversity of courses offered is amazing, but what makes this annual outing so wonderful are the people -- those who put so much of themselves into preparing and running the workshop and the women who participate. My friends, Alice and Karie, neither of whom had ever attended Becoming an Outdoors Woman, had a really great experience. Witnessing their excitement and enjoyment was a real gift to me, too. Another cool thing about the weekend was a silent auction, which raised $1,409 for a Recreation Unlimited cancer scholarship. Auction items ran the gamut, from a heated toilet seat to baskets filled with camo gear (I bid on and won a cool, fleece camo hat!).

It was a busy weekend with lots crammed in, so I am tired and needing to retire. With that I leave you with a few photos from a fabulous weekend ...

Pics o' the Day

Alice down by the lake

Alice getting ready to get her
"gun on!"

Me and Alice

The "fruits" of my canning class -
all low impact courses for me
this year!

On Holiday

I'm headed to the Ashley, Ohio this weekend for the Outdoors Woman workshop -- I'm leaving off the "Becoming an" part of the title because I've never been anything except and outdoors woman; well, I was first an outdoors girl, I suppose! Any way, I don't want anyone to wonder what's going on if I don't post for a couple of days.

The weather is not looking so promising, which is a bummer, especially for the women who've never experienced this great weekend. As for me, because of the CBitch battle, I've restricted myself to more mild-mannered courses, two of which are all inside. Friday afternoon I'll be learning how to make soap (guess what everyone's getting for Christmas!). Saturday morning is Outdoor Photography followed that afternoon by Canning. Sunday morning is Dutch Oven Cooking, which is always a workshop favorite because there are so many good eats afterward!

On another note, please keep my friend Tina in your prayers as today was her first chemo. She's going to do great, but we all can use a little prayer bump:)

Pics o' the Day are of my gal pal and soul sister, Cindy, who has participated in a couple Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshops. Click HERE to see more pictures.

I encourage all of you gals out there who wonder about shooting a gun, trying a bow and arrow, climbing a 50' Alpine tower, or how to use a map and compass to give this workshop a whirl. It's always held over the first weekend of October -- never too early to start planning for next year!

Just Saying "No!"

I've hung up the wig. Well, maybe not entirely, but it's not making as many appearances during the work week as before. The thing is, as tender young shoots of hair sprout upon my bald pate, I have begun to encounter the itches -- prickly sensations that make me want to haul off whatever's covering my head to pass a gentle, calming hand across the scalp. Imagine feeling this urge several times a day then tell me what would be easier and less obnoxious: popping a hat off and back on the head or yanking away a wig then readjusting it without the courtesy of a mirror?

Fortunately, wearing cute knit caps and festive neck scarves is in season as the cooler temps begin to blow into the Ohio Valley.

On my way home tonight, traffic slowed to a stop just before I crossed the Scioto River, giving me ample opportunity to admire how the soft light of sunset illuminated some early autumn color along the water's edge. With luck, Ohioans will have some beautiful fall foliage to enjoy this year -- just cross your fingers that no big storms come through and blow it all away. And, as a former Dept. of Natural Resources employee, I am duty bound to direct you all to the agency's Fall Color web page. Check it out and plan a scenic drive or fun fall getaway in the Buckeye State!

Taken last year at
Alum Creek State Park

Posed Pic o' the Day: This is in homage to my days at DNR (and to when I had a head of hair!).

Time Gets Away

It's one of those things that happens without even realizing it: the day dawns, the whirlwind begins then next thing I know it's approaching midnight -- a time, these days, when my brain is challenged stringing together two coherent thoughts. I'm slacking on the blog, I'm failing to reply to emails, and Sedona is still shredding paper. I need to step off the treadmill. Alas, that's not something I can do until the end of October when radiation is completed. What a sweet surrender that's going to be!

Saw my radiation oncologist, Dr. Quick, on Monday and she said all looked good. She also noted that I'm starting to get a tan in the area being radiated. And, no, I'm not going to show off my tan lines!

Pic o' the Day

Some truly "rad" girls!

October 1 kicked off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "My girls" at radiation were all decked out in their pink finery and I had to share (the gal at the far right is a student & she didn't know any better!). What you miss in the photo are their cute pink mules -- I neglected to include those in the photo frame.