Readers!!! We are our Winners! The Boy got up early today to pick them before school. Here they are:
Day 1: Trent G.
Day 2: Tammy Jack
Day 3: Katie C.
Congrats Everyone! Please e-mail your address to myhotelyorba@gmail.com
I will mail them out to you this week. Thanks to everyone who entered. We will do it again soon!!!
Yesterday I got a diaper box in the mail that was so heavy, I knew it couldn’t be full of diapers. Plus, who would send me diapers? I looked at the return address and saw it was from NJ and knew it was from my friend Jill G. I have known Jill since I was born. Her mom and my mom have been friends since like the 1st grade and we would see each other every Christmas. Me and The Boy brought the box in the kitchen to open it up. Let me first say, that The Boy is more excited than I am (and I am pretty excited) whenever we get a package in the mail. He can’t wait to rip into them. He thinks that what ever is in them, we all get to share it. The first thing he saw was all retro candies Jill sent. He loved those!
A sample of candies
Candy cigarettes, got them. Pop Rocks? Got them. Black Jack Gum? Got them. She also sent me three bottles of wine (god knows I need those), two cute t-shirts, hand lotion, bath items, lot of scarves and more. One of the coolest things she sent me were scarf hangers! Who knew they had such a thing!
Scarf Hanger
I can’t begin to tell you how much these help me out! You should have seen my closet. I had scarves everywhere and now they are all in one place nice and neat. Thank You Jill!!! You Rock!
Bodyguard
This past weekend I planted some daffodil bulbs. My bodyguard came out with me and I took this picture of him. Of course he brought his partner, Piggy.
Timber
Update
The third landscape company is coming to check out the yard this morning. We got two quotes back and are going back to each company with some changes we would like. We are also having a fence company come out on Friday to give us a quote on a new fence.
People have asked for an interview with Timber. He has agreed and we are working on it! Don’t forget to leave comments on Saturday, Sunday and Monday’s posts. The boy will pick the winners of the Hotel Yorba Key Chains Wednesday morning.
I hate my pee.
For ten days, my pee stunk so bad. I mean STUNK. I have talked to about this before but I am going to address it once more. Why? Because, it’s my blog. While in the hospital, my dual port is hooked up to two (most of the time) IV bags.
My Port
I had Thiamine being pumped in me pretty much the whole time I was there. The other port would have the chemo, pre-meds, potassium, you name it, was being pumped into me. Because of this, the RN’s wanted to make sure I am peeing enough. It’s a pretty big deal.
They set up the bucket in my toilet to catch it and measure how much I go, when I go. Gross right? Bleech! Well, I pee ALL THE TIME and the thought of calling the tech or RN every time I go, to tell them how much and then they can dump it…ugh. Not going to happen.
So I kept track of it myself. Each time I went to the bathroom I wrote the amount, the time and the date down in a little notebook I had with me. The RN or Tech would check and cross off the amounts. This worked out great especially during the middle of the night. They didn’t have wake me up to ask, they would just check my little notebook. However, all this peeing, monitoring and the smell really made me hate my pee. I know, who loves their pee? But I really can’t stand mine. Coming home meant no more tracking but for the first four days I could still smell that chemo every time.
My Pee Log
What’s hair today can be gone tomorrow.
The hair on my head is gone. The hair on my right leg is gone. Armpit hair= gone. Hair done there, also gone. However, my arm hair is not. The hair on lower left leg is still there too. Still have some of my eyebrows and eyelashes. I wonder why I lose the hair on my head but not the hair on my arms. How does the chemo know what hair to kill off?
Can’t I lose at least 10 pounds?
When you think of chemo patients, you think of bald, pale skinny people right? Yeah, no. Not me. I am bald. I am paler then usual. What I am not, is skinny. I mean, I thought I was going to lose some weight here! I had a friend who lost over 30 pounds! Me, I have lost 4. I am not saying I want to be weak or nauseous or have no appetite but COME ON! Give me 10 pounds! Guess I will have to lose it the old fashion way. 
Feeling Good Louis!
I know a lot of people are surprised by how I have been feeling, the energy I have, the appetite I have etc. I was talking to my friend Gerri who has had both chemo and two thoracotomies, like me, and she asked which I though was worse. The thoracotomies or chemo.
Thoracotomy
A thoracotomy or thoracostomy is an incision into the pleural space of the chest.[1] It is performed by surgeons (or emergency physicians under certain circumstances) to gain access to the thoracic organs, most commonly the heart, the lungs, or the esophagus, or for access to the thoracic aorta or the anterior spine (the latter may be necessary to access tumors in the spine).
Thoracotomy is a major surgical maneuver—it is the first step in many thoracic surgeries including lobectomy or pneumonectomy for lung cancer—and as such requires general anesthesiawith endotracheal tube insertion and mechanical ventilation.
Thoracotomies are thought to be one of the most difficult surgical incisions to deal with post-operatively, because they are extremely painful and the pain can prevent the patient from breathing effectively, leading to atelectasis or pneumonia.–From Wikipedia
Hands down the thoracotomies were worse. Now I am not saying chemo is easy, cause it isn’t. I think one of the reasons why I am doing so well, is because I am admitted into the hospital for five days and do receive all the different medications and Thiamine. Then I come home and get injections of neupogen for five days. I also try to keep ahead of the nausea as best as I can, so that when it does hit, I am only in pain for about twenty minutes. But who knows, every cycle of chemo has been a little bit different. I wonder how cycle three will affect me.
My Head is Cold
My Brother asked me to talk about being bald. He thinks it is great I am bald, since he is bald too. We probably look the most alike then we ever have. Here are some random thoughts on being bald:
-Taking a shower takes all of 5 minutes if that. All I really have to do is wash my body. I really have no idea what bald men do that keeps them in there so long.
-If my head is not under the water while in the shower, it gets really cold.
-My head sweats a lot.
-I sleep in a beanie or my winter hat with a ball on top.
-I still shampoo my head out of habit.
-Sometimes I forget I am bald and when I see myself in the mirror I am like “what the hell happened to you!”
-I never go out in public without a head covering. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
-I am not sure what it feels like to swim bald but should find out this weekend.
-I have a small red birthmark on the back on my head.
Give Away!
Reader’s! My Hotel Yorba and doing its first ever giveaway! Woot! Woot! Over the next three days, three people (total) will have a chance to win their own Hotel Yorba key chain. I know right!?!
Here is what you need to do:
1. Comment on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday’s posts. You can comment as often as you want. Tell me what you like. Don’t like. What you want to see more of on the Blog. Do want to see an interview with Timber or Turbo? You tell me…as many times as you want.
2. The contest will end Tuesday night @ midnight. On Wednesday morning, The Boy will randomly choose one person from each day’s comments as the winner. To make it fair and scientific, he will have his eyes closed.
Go make a comment!!!
Morning Readers!
I hope you are all having a nice weekend so far. I have been working on cleaning up around My Hotel Yorba. My first project is making the screened in porch more pleasant now that it is cooling off at night and we can enjoy being out there. We have had our cushions for over 9 years and really needed to up date them.
Old Sofa Cushions
Stains
I couldn’t believe that Peri 1 still sold cushions to fit our furniture, plus they were all on sale and I got an extra 20% off at check out. It was meant to be!
So red and fresh!
I was not able to find cushion for the foot stool on-line. However, I was able to go to my local store and they were able to order it for me. I have my fingers crossed that it gets here before Labor Day weekend.
Waiting for replacement
I know she is thinking about it.
Another project that I have been wanting to do for way to long, is to clean up the mess in the corner of our porch. All the pool toys and supplies have been piling up and it became a huge mess. Total eyesore.
A mess
Last week I went online and found a well reviewed, decent size and price storage container via Amazon. There are some very nice containers out there but I was not going to pay $800+ for one!
Guess who is putting it together?
The Boy “helping” me.
If you read the directions correctly the first, it is pretty quick and easy to put together. I may or may not have read them correctly the first or second or third time but I got it done!
This is what I woke up to this morning. How much longer will it take….
My Hotel Yorba Give Away!
Room 206
Reader’s! My Hotel Yorba and doing its first ever giveaway! Woot! Woot! You have a chance two more days for a chance to win. Just comment on today’s or yesterday’s post as many times as you want. The Boy will be picking the three winner’s Wednesday Morning.
I am hoping to plant some bulbs today and do a little yoga (on my new mat) and get ready for Monday. Go out and have a wonderful day Readers! Be Good to each other!
My Hotel Yorba Give Away!
Room 206
Reader’s! My Hotel Yorba and doing its first ever giveaway! Woot! Woot! Over the next three days, three people (total) will have a chance to win their own Hotel Yorba key chain. I know right!?!
Here is what you need to do:
1. Comment on the next three days posts. You can comment as often as you want. Tell me what you like. Don’t like. What you want to see more of on the Blog. Do want to see an interview with Timber or Turbo? You tell me…as many times as you want.
2. I will remind you each day to comment. The contest will end Tuesday night @ midnight. On Wednesday morning, The Boy will randomly choose one person from each day’s comments as the winner. To make it fair and scientific, he will have his eyes closed.
One of these could be yours!
3. Once the winners are picked, I will announce it on the blog. Now go enter to win!
Look what we got!
Doesn’t the sign rock? My Man’s Dad, Bob, sent this to us on Thursday. We were all excited when it came but had to wait a day to come up with ideas where to put it. I think The Boy wanted to put it into his room. Uh No. My Man suggested we drill it to the basketball post in the driveway. I pointed out that he hates that basketball post and has wanted to take it down since the day we moved in. Plus that would in tail a drill and who knows if we have one of those. We decided to hang it up in the screened in porch. I think it fits in perfectly.
Bob has sent us almost all of our Hotel Yorba items. We even have beach towels! I love that he gets it! Thank you again Bob!! You need to come down and visit us soon.
Hotel Yorba Landscape Project Update
We got our first quote from Green Acres Landscaping, Inc. yesterday. At first it wasn’t as high as I thought it would be but then I realized it did not in include the new fence, removal of a tree or the chicken coop. So who knows what it will cost. We also have a few questions for them so I am thinking a second meeting is warranted. I am impressed with their turn-around time. We have yet to hear from WDesign Landscape Inc. I am planning on giving her till Monday before I e-mail. That will give her a week and unlike Green Acres Landscaping, Inc., she is planning on sending us a mock-up design. Which we also want from Green Acres Landscaping, Inc! We have one more meeting set up for Tuesday with Dream Scape Designs.
Timber and Pandora
Getting closer
Timber and Pandora’s relationship is slowly moving a long. He whines whenever she comes is the room and she flops down and shows him her belly. They are getting closer and closer when napping or chilling in my office. I know Timber so badly wants to snuggle up close with her but is being a gentleman.
Shout Outs
Amy & Tommy A.- The dinner you made was off the chain! My Boys loved the beef brisket. Even I had some and it was so good. The potatoes and corn salad were wonderful! Thank you for thinking us!
Andy & Dee B.- Tom’s Mom’s Cookies?! Directly from Harbor Springs! I can still remember waking up to the smell of their cookies a few years ago. Love Harbor Springs and love you two more!
Happy Friday!
Friday is the best day of the week don’t you think? I had a busy and fun Friday planned. I had a 9:30am conference call with a client who lives in Florida. Turns out she had been in Maryland for the last two months! Don’t people go to the beach in the summer? Due to the fact that my brother lives on the panhandle, as does my client, I know it has rained there all summer, just like here in the ATL. I think she had better summer weather up north then we did!
After my appointment I met my girls Rebecca and Devra for an early lunch at Seasons 52. We shared a flat bread and then I had a caprese like salad and a side of caesar broccoli. It was all very good. The highlight of the lunch was when the waiter spilled unsweet tea all over Rebecca. This is the second time I have eaten there where the waiter had knocked a glass of tea or wine all over someone at my table. I think it’s me.
Next we hit the mall where we went to Lulu Lemon. I have a great yoga mat I bought from them earlier Spring. I thought I would be crazy and buy a color other than black. I got a light blue. Well, it is now stained from when I roll it up. The back of the mat has stained the front with light yellow lines. I can’t get them off and it looks like crap. One of my yoga teachers is a Lulu Lemon Ambassador and I asked her about when I saw her at class on Wednesday. She told me to take it back, which I mentioned to the salesperson. Guess who got her a brand new black yoga mat! This girl, that’s who!! I love my mat. Lulu Lemon just got a star in my book!
Next we hit the make-up counter at the Van Maur department store. This was the first time I have ever been at Van Maur and found it very clean, open and the people very nice. Rebecca said she thought we would get good service there and she was right. Our mission, get some help for my eyebrows!! Readers! They are falling out. Right now I look like I got them waxed and then went crazy randomly plucking them. Not good.
Getting the brows done.
Before
We found a very helpful saleswoman at the Estee Lauder counter. We first tried what looked like blonde mascara and Rebecca stated that it looked terrible. The girl was right. It did. Next our saleswoman hooked me with a great eyebrow pencil in light blonde. The pencil was much more natural and I even think I can apply it properly.
After
I think my brows look pretty good. After we finished the eyebrows we looked at eyeshadows and nail polish, fun stuff. I got some of both (plus free two free sample), Rebecca got eyeshadow and Devra some mascara. It’s fun to play with makeup!
Rebecca & Devra
Ready to Sparkle!
Devra had to head back to work after we finished up at Van Maur. Rebecca and I then headed White House Black Market. I wanted to get some solid colored shirts. Patterns tend to clash with my new fancy head coverings. I found three tops, two on sale, and a pair of slacks. I got 5% off my entire bill (I have the Black Book) plus an additional $25 off my bill. Woot! Woot!Lastly we hit Macy’s. Rebecca looked at shoes and then looked for a sporty rain coat. It was a bust on both.
Today was great. I was worn out by the time I picked up The Boy from the bus stop but I had a great time. Thank you again for helping me out Rebecca and Devra! My brows are looking good and I thank you for that!
Yesterday, in no particular order.
I finally broke down and bought a new lamp for the family room. We have had the current one since we bought our couch and tables. That was over ten years ago. We need to replace the everything but I thought I would start small and get new lamp. I got it at Lowe’s. Not a big-ticket item but it makes me smile.
Old and Ripped up
Time to GO!
More my style
Pretty
That couch needs to go next.
Hotel Yorba Landscape Project
I met with Mark Nichols (and his partner whose card I did not get) with Green Acres Landscaping, Inc, to get a quote on the Hotel Yorba Landscape Project. Both were very nice men and of course both loved Timber. Who doesn’t?
Readers! I have added another element to the landscape project. The Girls need an upgrade. They tell me they want a new bigger house and run. I took the guys up and showed them the area where the swing set is. I want them to take it down, reuse some of the wood and hook up the girls! For My Man to be ok with this, the coop and run needs to look clean, modern and blend into the area. I think they were a bit surprised but Mark says they can handle it. Can’t wait to get their quote in a few days.
New coop area??
You (me) can spend hours looking at chicken coops and runs. Here are a few I found that I liked.
Love the garden on top
So Cool!
I want to be able to go in and hang out!
Like the modern look.
Hello!
I plan to keep the coop and run I have now. I will put it into the new area and will I introduce two new hens they can chill out there till they all get use to each other, while being separate, till they promise not to kill each other! I plan on not having more than four hens at one time.
New Coop? Yes Please!
Yoga
I went to my first Yoga class since chemo started yesterday. It was really nice to get back on the mat…in public. Ok, I know some of you want to know, did I cover my shinning bald head? YES! As if! My friend Gerri lent me the perfect head cover to wear while working out. The class went great. I am still pretty limber! And being able to work on my breathing was perfect. However, right at the end of the class, where you are being super chill and quite and the teacher is going around and putting oil on everyone’s hands, the fire alarm went off. Scared the shit out of me. I think I jumped up a bit. What a way to end the class!
Life Guru
I had a wonderful chat with my gal Judi R. in NYC. Judi and I work for the same financial advisory company and she is my…work Guru? Really, I can’t remember the title the home office gives her (probably some long boring ting)…I am blaming it on chemo brain. I call her my friend first and second my Life Guru, cause she doesn’t just help with my business but my life and how to achieve work/life/balance that is perfect for me. And let me tell you people, it is hard to achieve it. Yesterday’s talked dealt with some “work” discussion but then moved to the My Hotel Yorba and where I want it to go in the future. I was great to have someone to bounce ideas off. Judi knows all about almost everything or if she doesn’t, she knows someone who does. Before the end of our call she had emailed me four links about blogging, education on blogging and conferences on blogging. Plus one of her favorite blogs. Readers! Blogs are a big ass business let me tell you!
With Judi’s words in my mind, I found a Blog conference here in the ATL in September called the Type-A Parent Conference. I was going to get my dad to come with me but after reviewing his calendar he realized he couldn’t come. I wasn’t going to go by myself but then after talking to Judi, I was like “I can go by myself!”. So, I signed up. This is a three-day event and I am planning on attending half of Friday and part of Saturday. I don’t want to push myself to hard.
Ok Reader’s, I got to go. The Sun is out in the ATL and I am heading out there. Got medication to pick up, ink to by and an office to go to. Get out there and do something great!