Author Archives: sghamer

Whatcha Reading? Whatcha Listening to?

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Reader’s!

Whatcha Reading?

Right now I am reading four books at one time. Crayzzzz. I know. Luckily three of them are by the same author and about the same topic.

Crazy, Sexy, Cancer

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Crazy, Sexy, Diet

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Crazy, Sexy, Kitchen

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So as you may have guess they all have a common theme. Cancer and food. I am really enjoying all of them. Kris Carr is a Sexy Cancer Survivor. I am praying to be just like her!

The Leftovers

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For those of you who have HBO you may have seen the commercials for a new series they are showing in June. I had come across this book in the past and walked on by. It wasn’t until I saw the commercial about the new series that I decided to give it another look. I am half way through the book and I am enjoying it. Here is the premise:

Author Tom Perrotta is a master at exposing the quiet desperation behind America’s suburban sheen. In The Leftovers he explores what would happen if The Rapture actually took place and millions of people just disappeared from the earth. How would normal people respond? Perrotta’s characters show a variety of coping techniques, including indifference, avoidance, depression, freaking out, and the joining of cults. Despite the exceptional circumstances, it’s really not unlike how people respond to more minor incidents in their lives (excepting cults). The result is a novel that’s a slow burn yet strangely compelling, one that leaves the reader pondering the story long after it’s over. In vivid and occasionally satiric prose, he takes a bizarre and abnormal event–the Rapture–and imagines how normal people would deal with being left behind. –Chris Schluep

Recent books I have read or at least tried to:

The Fall of Giants & Winter of the World by Ken Follett- I loved these two books. Thanks Geri for the recommendation! And it sucks i have to wait till September to read the third!

Since I like his other two books I had read I finally gave in and started The Pillars of the Earth. I was about 3/4 the way through it when I gave up. It is just to much of the same BS over and over and Over again. Ugh. Maybe when I have absolutely nothing else to read I will go back and finish it.

Maggies Man-Lisa Gardner- I gave up about 30 minutes into this one. Ugh. Annoying.

Chestnut Street-Maeve Binchy- I am about to stop reading this one. It better start getting good or it too will bite the dust. It is not grabbing me and pulling me in. More like repelling me.

I read a four book series by Jeffrey Archer. Only Time Will Tell, The Sins of the Father, Best Kept Secret and Be Careful What You Wish For. There is another one due to come out next year. They were good. No where near as the Ken Follett series but they were entertaining.

Whatcha Listening to?

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St. Paul & The Broken Bones- Half The City- My Leg Doctor aka Prothetist (I have a problem saying this word and always end up say Proctologist. Eeeck! For the record, I have never gone to see a Proctologist. So I just call him my Leg doctor, which is kinda funny since I am missing my leg!) told me about this band at my last appointment. They are from Birmingham, Alabama, and are really good. When Rusty, My Leg Doctor, first showed me their video I was like, they could all be on the Big Bang Theroy! They are kinda of a nerdy bunch. Then the lead singer opened his mouth and I was like, He’s white? This man is total soul. WOW. He grew up in a super religious family (his mom threw his Nirvana CD away) and the only music he was allowed to listen to was Motown and it shows. I totally suggest you check them out.

Whatcha Reading? Whatcha Listening to?

 

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Happy Mother’s Day Reader’s!

You mom’s out there! What are your plans today? Taking it easy? Going out to brunch? I am planning on staying home today. We need to clean the pool and get it all fresh for the summer. I also need to finish planting my flowers. There will be coffee drinking, TV watching and possibly a nap involved. I woke up way to early and did some snuggling with The Boy, which was very nice.

Got my Nails done!

Got my Nails done!

Yesterday I went out and got my nails done. I hadn’t been there for almost a year. It was so nice to see Yen, who does my nails. She said she had missed me! Very sweet. Last night My Man took me out to dinner. We have a very nice, although a bit long, dinner.

Ready for dinner

Ready for dinner

DInner

Dinner

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Wine pairings

Wine pairings

On Thursday I used the money that my Mom and Dad and My Man gave me for Mother’s Day/Birthday to buy a new pair of shares. Love them!

New Shades

New Shades

Today I woke up in the mood for a smoothie. I used strawberries, one banana, dynamic greens, protein, spinach, kale, almond milk, ice and some water. It was very yummy and hit the spot. Made taking all my pills very pleasant.

Yummy!

Yummy!

Have a wonderful day Reader’s! Make it a good one!

Happy Caturday Y’all!

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Caterday just got real.

Caterday just got real.

Reader’s!

It’s a rainy day in the ATL this morning. As I sit listening to Band of Horses Live at the Ryman, it is raining outside my window. And I am ok with that. Why you ask? I will tell you! Yesterday after I spent some time at the office and worked out with SK, I went to Lowes and bought more veggies (yes more!) and flowers for around the pool! I was able to get most of it all planted before mother nature starred watering it all for me.

Edamame

Edamame

Peppers

Peppers

After I picked The Boy up at the bus stop I got to planting! I bought peppers, more cucumbers, and edamame. The Boy and I are very excited about the edamame. How cool would it be if we could pick fresh edamame, steam it and eat it all up! Very Cool.

Photo Bomb via Timber!

Photo Bomb via Timber!

Pretty #2

Pretty #1

Pretty #2

Pretty #2

I still have to plant the flowers in the planters that will go by the pool. This year I chose all perennials so that I won’t have to replace them next year. I still have a few containers to fill and will hopefully go back to Lowes on Sunday and by a few more plants. Maybe even more veggies! I am on a mission y’all!

Juice!

This morning I added more lemon and an extra apple to my juicing. It made a big difference. Very yummy. I drink it while I take my $400 or so worth of pills in the morning. Makes me feel like I am doing my part in fighting the little f*cker in my chest.

Happy Saturday! Be Good. Be Safe. Be Happy.

Crazy, Sexy, Cancer

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Reader’s! How are ya?!

The other day I was talking to my friend, Judi, and she remind me of a book I had been given last summer when I started chemo treatments. The book is called Crazy, Sexy, Cancer by Kris Carr. Kris kicks ass. She was diagnosed with a type of sarcoma that has no treatment and no cure. She has about 24 tumors in her liver and lungs. She was diagnosed on Valentines Day 2003. Yes, 2003. And yes, she is alive and well.

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Kris also made a documentary about her cancer journey also called Crazy, Sexy, Cancer that Judi told me about. That night I went on iTunes and downloaded the movie to watch. It was so good. First of all she did a great job. Second it is an uplifting documentary. I totally suggest you take a look at it ( I am talking to you my Sarcoma Girls and Mom and Dad). I think you will all get a lot out of it. Sure, I shed some tears but hell, I do that for a good Hallmark commercial! I could really relate to what she went/goes through. There are parts where she is getting her CT scans, the doctors visit, the panic you go through when driving up to the hospital, they “why me” questions, the anger, the “how and when did this happen”, the “what can I do” questions. It is so real. If you have been diagnosed or know anyone who has been (which means all of you!) you need to check it out.

Juice!

Juice!

One thing that Kris does is juice everyday. Everyday. I am in the process of reading her section on juicing right now and thought I would give it a try. I am hoping to do it (juicing/smoothie) 3 to 4 days a week. I would love to do 7 days but I need to start with a goal I may actually meet. This morning I juiced the following: 3 handfuls of Kale, 1/2 of a Cucumber, two organic apples and 1/3 of a lemons juice. It wasn’t bad. I think tomorrow I will add more lemon juice. I ordered a vegan cook box that Kris and Chef Chad Sarno wrote called Crazy, Sexy, Kitchen. I should get it on the 13th…My Birthday! I will let you know what I think.

I have more I want to write…Whatcha Reading? But I have to go take my shower and get my butt into the office. Hopefully I will have some time this weekend. Enjoy your Friday!!

It’s been one week….

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…and about $2,100.00 worth of pills later and I am feeling fine. Pretty good actually. I get a little tired here and there (thank you Rebecca for letting take a nap at your house on Sunday!) and I am still taking my pills for the nausea. We are going back to see Dr. Read on the 12th. They will just take some blood and run tests on it. They will be checking my liver, kidneys and white blood cell count. At this point, I have no reason to think they won’t come out good.

Who doesn't love a picture of Panny?

Who doesn’t love a picture of Panny?

I do get sharp pains in my right side every so often. They remind my of the pains I would get in my left foot back when I had one. They feel like being stabbed with an ice pick (not that I know what that feels like!). It also seems that these pains usually happen when I am in the car! Not good.

Look! A Headband! And Hair!!

Look! A Headband! And Hair!!

On Saturday night My Man will be taking me out to dinner to Quinones at Bacchanalia for my birthday dinner. My big day isn’t till the 13th but I will be going out-of-town on the 14th. I can’t wait. I took My Man there for his birthday dinner last November. It was SO GOOD! I am really looking forward to it.

Bedtime #1

Bedtime #1

Zazzles and Terrance Peterson are moved into the Majestic. Turbo and Poppy still pick on them a bit. They want all the treats for themselves. I think they will soon find out that will not fly for much longer. Z and TP will continue to grow and soon will be the same size has Turbo and Poppy. They may have something to say about the sharing of treats then!

Sleeping in the nesting boxes.

Sleeping in the nesting boxes.

No matter how much I try, they all insist on sleeping in the nesting boxes!

Timber & BFF Rebel

Timber & BFF Rebel

Today is day 24 of my 30 day 10,000 step FitBit/LifeTime Fitness challenge. I have been doing pretty well so far. I am getting tired but I will not give up till it is done. Right now, I am in 7th place at my gym! Whoot! Whoot! I have no idea that I would even be in the top 10. After the challenge is done, I am going to take a day off but then try to hit the 10K mark five days a week.

Getting two new legs!

Getting two new legs!

I know many people can’t say it but I am getting two new legs soon! One with an everyday foot like the one I have now. I can move the heel depending on the height of my shoe heel. The other will be a “sporty” foot. One that I can work out in and that is extra bouncy and light. It was crazy switching between the two. This will be the first time I have a workout foot/leg. I can’t wait! I will take pictures of them when they are all done. I am hoping to get them by mid June.

Have a Happy Thursday!!

Know any bedtime stories for chickens?

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Good Morning Reader’s!

Happy Saturday! The sun is out here in the ATL this morning. It was nice to sleep in for a change. Today is day 3 of taking my $$$ pills. Yesterday morning I was a bit nauseous and didn’t think I was going to be able to make it to the gym for my workout. I took one of my pills left over from my chemotherapy treatments and it was able to settle my stomach. Even though I wasn’t in the mood to go workout with SK, I did and am happy I did. It was nice to see SK and to show the f-ing tumor that I was in charge!

Zazzles, Terry Pete & Turbo below.

Zazzles, Terry Pete & Turbo below.

What is he doing???

I just looked out my office window to see Timber digging a hole in the bushes. I think he got a whiff of a rodent and has a mission to make him his. I should probably go stop him before he digs a hole to China!!

On his way to China?

On his way to China?

For the past two nights Zazzles and Terrance Peterson have been sleeping in the big coop. I have had to put them in the coop and help them up onto the roosting bars which is pretty funny sight. Yesterday morning Timber and I went out to see how they made it through the evening. Turbo and Poppy were out and about but Zazzles and Terry Pete were still in the coop on the roosting bars! They wouldn’t come down! I had to use the pole of my rake to help them get down. Then they walked out the big door and hoped onto the top of the green run!

Zazzles, Terry Pete & Poppy down below.

Zazzles, Terry Pete & Poppy down below.

Last night I went up there around 8:30pm and they were on top of the green run like they were waiting for me to put them to bed! And I did. This morning Timber and I headed back out around 8:15am and there they were still in the coop. I told them that they were going to have to figure it out for themselves. I waited till about 9:30am before I went back out to check on them. They were out!! So proud of my little girls.

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Tonight will be the big test. Will they walk the plank up into the coop and fly up to the roosting bar? If I was betting on it, I’d say no. I think they will be sitting on top of the green run waiting for me to put them to bed and read them a goodnight story! What they don’t know is that tomorrow I will be moving the green run out of The Majestic. They are going to have to figure it out fast.

Happy Weekend Reader’s!!

The $75.89 pill…

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Reader’s!

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This is what a $75.89 pill looks like. I thought it would be bigger. And Orange. And Glow in the dark. Nope. Looks like an average pill. Let’s hope it doesn’t work like an average pill but like a SUPER pill.

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I got my pills around 11am today and took my four. I am to take them all at once (much easier) and on an empty stomach. So far I feel ok. My head is a bit fuzzy but I forgot to take my allergy pills and even though we have had a lot of rain over the past few days, the pollen is still out there.

Birthday

The Boy’s Birthday is coming up this month. Truth be told, The Boy has too much stuff as it is. I always get him clothes, he needs those but I really don’t want to by him stuff that he will forget about in a months time. So this morning I came up with an idea. The Boy loves animals, especially cute ones (who doesn’t?!). Recently I came across Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary in Australia. They take in hurt and abandoned farm animals and provide them a home and healthcare. In some cases they adopt them out. On the site they have a page where you can “sponsor” an animal on the farm. I took a look and have found the perfect one for The Boy for his birthday. Reader’s! Meet Boots!

Boots!

Boots!

Isn’t he the cutest thing ever?! Make sure you take a look at his video on the website. He jumps around like a jumping bean! I also love his sweater. I wish we could bring him home. Aidan will get a Welcome packet and then will be sent updates on Boots via e-mail for the year. I hope they send some pictures of him in his sweater with his friends! Such a cutie!

If you go checkout the website take a look at Little Miss Sunshine. She is a super smart Chicken. Check out her video.

I am happy that the weekend is almost here. I am planning on adding Zazzles and Terry Pete to the big coop and run permanently. My fingers are crossed. Zazzles and Terry Pete have gotten the hang of roosting and if they need to, they can hop up and get away from Turbo and Poppy. Hopefully they will get use to each other soon.