How do you talk to your kid?

Me & The Boy

Me & The Boy

Happy Friday Readers! Are you not so happy that it is Friday? I am. It has been a roller coaster of a week. Between chemo, how I am feeling, homework, tests, The Boy’s feelings and the crying that I am ready to chill out. Oh the crying! I am drained Readers. Drained. It has been an emotional week for the The Boy and I. Yesterday he admitted to me that sometimes he was angry/mad at me for being sick and that is why he lashes out at me. What do you say to that? Well, I had and idea what to say thanks to my conversation with my friend Judi R. on Wednesday.

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She told me about a book called How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk and suggested the I take a look at it. Well, I am glad I did. I downloaded a sample and what I was able to read was perfect in helping me reply to his comment. I told him that I too was mad and angry at myself. That I don’t understand why tis was happening to me and if there was anything I could have done to stop or fix it. I told him I too got scared, sad, angry, upset, felt guilty and that it was all ok. It was normal to feel that way and he had every reason to. We sat up at the chicken coop/fire pit area and just talked about how we were both feeling. There were tears and hugs and questions and listening. But the thing is, even how great it was to have this conversation with him was (and I think it helped), I should not be having this conversation with my 9-year-old son.

Whatcha Watching?

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Outlander on Starz

Follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

I have been aware of the Outlander series of books for a while now and to be honest, was not interested in reading them. A few months ago I started seeing ads on TV but I have never really watched anything on Starz (did I even get the channel). Well about a week ago my friend Heidi A. suggested I take a look at the first episode that they were showing for free. I had the time and thought what the heck, I would give it a try. Well, turns out that I do get Starz and I was hooked! It is a pretty good show. Now, I have heard from two people who have read the first book (which the first series is based on) that the show is better than the book. When does that ever happen?! Have any of you read the books? Are you watching the show? What do you think?

Pro’s- The setting is beautiful. The accents are beautiful. The story is very interesting, not to hooky yet. Strong female character, I like Claire. She is tough and stand up for herself. I do wonder if she is a little to strong since she is not from 2014 but from 1945 when woman still were expected to act a certain way. There are some very nice looking men, Jaime, one of the male leads is nice to watch.

Con’s- The accents are hard to understand. For some reason I think if I turn the volume up louder, it will help but it doesn’t. My friend Heidi watches some of the shows over again to try to catch things she missed the first time around. In fact she thought one of the leads accent was a bit over the top only to learn he really is from Scotland. There are some really ugly, dirty, bad teeth looking people in the show. It was a dirty, smelly time. The last episode was 1/2 in Gaelic. That was hard because I don’t speak that. What the hell is going on?

The show airs on Saturday but if you have the On Demand feature (OMG, I love it! I know kinda late to the game) you can catch up pretty quickly. That is what I did after watching the first show. Heidi and I think they are going to air two more shows and then take a break and play the rest in 2015. I hate when they split the season up like that. I am hooked, you don’t need to try to hook me! Just make more shows!

Whatcha Reading?

I am reading three books right now. A Year Without Sugar, How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk and The King’s Curse. As I have shared before I also listen to audio books via Audible.com. I haven’t been listening to anything for awhile and have 5 credits and a $10 coupon to use. My Man and I are big Agatha Christie fans, we watch all the shows on PBS when they come on. Years ago I read all of her Miss Marple books and have decided that I will listen/read all of her Hercule Poirot books. The first one is The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Plans for the weekend Readers? None here and I am good with that. Well, maybe some cleaning. I would love to go through out glasses, coffee cups, mugs, wine glasses and clean it up some. The cabinet is full!! I hope whatever it is you end up doing you have fun!

RTR! GO SPARTY! RISE UP!

 

Say goodbye…

…and there it goes…

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Look at those roots!

Look at those roots!

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Maybe I will stop here.

Maybe I will stop here.

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All gone!

All gone…almost.

Readers, my hair is gone…well almost. I have some fuzz left. Yesterday while I was in the shower washing my hair a small clump came out and I was freaked out. I knew that I was going to have to shave it because I did not want to have that happen again. No waking up with my hair all over my pillow. That would be too much. I will probably use a razor this weekend to get the rest. That picture will not be posted. You wouldn’t think that a little fuzz would make such a difference but it does. Shaving it wasn’t as big deal this time however, it still sucked. My hair was so soft! Hopefully when it grows back, it will be just as soft. Who knows what it will look like next time.

So soft.

So soft.

Me and Simon

Me and Simon rest in on the couch.

Such a good boy.

Such a good boy.

Shout Out

By Eve Sch

By Eve Schaub

Panny can't wait to try it!

Panny can’t wait to try them!

Stephen and Eve S.- Thank you so much for the syrup and maple cream. Since they live in Vermont I know they will taste great! I can’t wait to try them both this weekend. I am very excited to read Eve’s book. She has been on the Dr. Oz Show and Fox News to name a few shows and has been interviewed my countless of newspapers and magazines. Their whole family went an entire year without any sugar! I can’t even begin to think how hard it was…I will know soon though. If you are interested in lowering your sugar intake or stopping all together, take a look at her book. From what I have seen, read and heard, it is a great read.

Whatcha Reading?

Right now I am on a historical fiction kick. I am reading The White Princess by Philipa Gregory. I also read The Kingsmaker’s Daughter. I have read many of her books in the past that focused on the Tutor Royal Family aka Henry VIII. I like her books. I know there is a lot of fiction in these stories but they are somewhat educational. They have taught me that being King or Queen or a woman back then kinda sucked. You could trust no one if you are the King because everyone wants you dead and your job. Being a woman just sucked. You are property of your husband and your father before that. If they could only see us now.

The book that kicked off my historical fiction kick was Bittersweet by Colleen McCullough. It takes place in the 1920’s-30’s in Australia and it about two sets of twin female siblings. So four sisters growing up after WWI and the different paths they each take. It was good but I am not sure if the characters are anything like the women of the the time. These women were written as very strong, outgoing, outspoken women and I am just not sure if the women back then were like any of the sisters. Falling in love in one day? Getting married a week later? Telling your husband you are leaving him to live with another man? Telling a man off in public? Marry a gay man so he will fund your medical education? Sure things like that happen now but in the ’20s? I am not sure. Oh! and their father is a man of the Church so, I am just not buying it. That being said, I would recommend it. If anyone reads it or has read it, let me know what you think.

I also read Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (I wrote about it before). I think I have read all her books to date and this one did not disappoint. It takes place in Australia present day. It focuses on three women and a death/murder in the town, so there is a little mystery. Read it.

Readers, thank you for all the writing suggestions. I will keep them in mind as I think of topics to write about. Have a wonderful Friday! Be Good and Be Safe!

Round 1 Part 2

New scarf

New scarf

Readers! For yesterday’s chemo treatment I thought I would wear one of my new scarfs and wear some make up. So fancy. What do you think? So pretty! I love the soft pink of the lace. My Man came to the hospital with me today. I took little cat naps. Due to the study they have to check my vitals every 15 minutes for 2 hours! So you really don’t get to get a good nap while you have to open you math for a thermometer and hear monitor.

Cold!

Cold!

The infusion center go pretty full while we were there. It is crazy how cold they make it in there. I had a sweatshirt on and two warm blankets. I think next time I will have to wear a warmer jacket. I brought my iPad to read my new book.

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I finished The Silkworm and am now reading Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. So far it is pretty good. I have read many of her is the past and have enjoyed them all. They all take place in Australia so there is a lot of tea drinking going one just like in The Silkworm. makes me want some hot tea!

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I thought about down loading a movie or tv show to watch but could find anything that I was interested in. There are TV shows but I know I will get hooked and end up buying the whole season.Am I ready for that commitment? Maybe I should just bite the bullet. Any movie suggestions? Any TV suggestions?

This morning I went in bright and early and got what I am calling my “booster” shot. My immune system will be going crazy  after this second dose and the shot should help me level out and not get too sick. I was super tired driving there (along with having serious stomach cramps) but luckily it didn’t take to long at all (so speedy). The shot was given to me in my stomach and then I was free to go. I came home and proceeded to take an hour nap. I had hoped the shot would have given me some extra energy but not so. Pus the stomach cramps are back. I took some pills for that which will hopefully kick in soon.

New Scarf #3

New Scarf #3

I am going in to my office to look at some paperwork and then I am treating myself and getting my nails done. Hope the nap was long enough to keep me awake! Have a Happy Wednesday Readers!

 

Whatcha Reading?

Readers!

Whatcha Reading?

The Cuckoos Calling

The Cuckoos Calling

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling

From Booklist

London PI Cormoran Strike’s final feud with his arguably insane fiancée leaves him camping in his office, wondering how his last two clients will keep him afloat and pay for his new secretary, Robin. When a childhood acquaintance asks him to investigate his supermodel sister’s apparent suicide, Strike finds a distraction from his problems that’s happily attached to a check. Lula Landry was surrounded by rabid paparazzi, a drug-addled social circle, a dysfunctional adopted family, and a shifty, newly found birth mother, making suicidal despair hard to dismiss. But with Robin’s surprisingly adept assistance, Strike dismantles witness statements, applying masterful deductive skills to find evidence of murder. This debut is instantly absorbing, featuring a detective facing crumbling circumstances with resolve instead of clichéd self-destruction and a lovable sidekick with contagious enthusiasm for detection. Galbraith nimbly sidesteps celebrity superficiality, instead exploring the ugly truths in Lula’s six degrees of separation. Strike bears little resemblance to Jackson Brodie, but Kate Atkinson’s fans will appreciate his reliance on deduction and observation along with Galbraith’s skilled storytelling. –Christine Tran –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
As with books written by English authors set in England, I have at times no idea what they are saying. I will admit that I am not up on my English slang. Other then the occasional “what? What?”. I really enjoyed the book. The two main characters are both relatable and likable. Cormoran, is, like me, and amputee which I thought was pretty cool. However from the sound of his prostheses and dealing with it, I am much better off! There are no wizards in this book it is a murder mystery. I think J.K. writing as a man works for her.
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith aka J.K. Rowling
From Amazone

When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, Mrs. Quine just thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days-as he has done before-and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home.

But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine’s disappearance than his wife realizes. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were to be published, it would ruin lives-meaning that there are a lot of people who might want him silenced. 

When Quine is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any Strike has encountered before… A compulsively readable crime novel with twists at every turn, THE SILKWORM is the second in the highly acclaimed series featuring Cormoran Strike and his determined young assistant, Robin Ellacott.

This is book two in the London PI Cormoran Strikes series. It takes place about six months after the first one ends and learn early on it is right before William and Kate get in engaged. Nice to but a time with the setting (although to be honest it could have been taking place   day, you can’t tell). I am about one-third through this book so far and am liking it just as much as the first. In the first book we learn a lot about the world of models and in this book we learn about the publishing wold. One I think our author probably knows a bit about. Once again, no wizards or muggles, just a mystery and so far a pretty good one at that.

Big News!

I looks like all four of The Girls laid an egg today! How cool is that Readers?!

 

 

The Boy is Back!

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The Boy


 Readers! The Boy is back! We made the two-hour drive to Alabama early yesterday morning and picked him up from Camp Winnataska. It was so nice to give him a big hug. I think he grew. He talked non stop for 20 minutes about everything they did during the week. To say he loved it would be an understatement. He even said the heat and falling asleep where not bad at all. Bugs? No problem. The obstacle course was a favorite.

SO cool

SO cool

He also said that he won the award for muddiest camper and by the looks of his shoes and beach towel, I can see why. He loved the care package items he got, played cards with his buddies every day and loved his shorts and new shirt. He even met a girl!!! WOW! Her name was Izzy and she is from Birmingham. They held hands at the country dance. That is all I could get out of him. Nice! I am so happy we sent him to camp this year. Perfect age. He is all ready to go back next year too.

Best Buddies!

Best Buddies!

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New Sacroma Pj’s! Thanks Devra!

On Friday night My Man and I spent our last night childless and went out to dinner and watched the Braves play when we got home. They won! For a second there I wasn’t to sure they were going to pull it off.

Once we got home from picking up The Boy on Saturday, I went out and water the garden. I pulled more carrots for my morning juice and watered the plants by the pool. Then The Boy and I got in the pool and guess what happened? It started to rain. Of course it did. My plants should be good for the next couple of days. I was kinda bored and had no idea what to do to keep me busy so I ended up working. I got a lot done, ready for next week and finished a financial plan. The Boy and I will be going to the lake to stay with his best buddy, Zach, and his mom and sister for three nights next week. I will have a couple of conference calls but no wifi! Pickles. Hence getting everything ready this weekend. We will be going to Lake Martin in Alabama, not far from Auburn.

Hi.

Hi.

Their lake house looks wonderful. Jennifer said she was going to get me out on the paddle board. Wait. What? They also have canoes and a pontoon boat. I know The Boy will have a blast with Zach. It should be a lot of fun. Looking forward to it. I ended up downloading a new book for the trip. Still reading Radical Remission but know I need another one. I picked The Giver by Lois Lowry. I had been looking at it for a while and thought I would give it a try. But there is a problem. I am pretty sure I could finish the damn thing before we leave for the lake! I have really gotten into it. Pickles! Any suggestions?

Today the sun is out and My Man and The Boy plan on getting in the pool and do some cleaning. I will be heading to Costco where I hope not to buy too much! (It is just like Target!)  I hope you all have a nice and peaceful Sunday!

My LT (little tumors)

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It’s Monday Reader’s! How are you doing? I woke up an empty nester! The Boy is at sleep away camp. My Man and I dropped him off yesterday at Camp Winnataska in Alabama. Four of his friends from school are also going so we feel much better knowing his best buddies will be there with him. I think he was excited but also a bit nervous. He told me he is just going to think about like he is spending the night at a friend’s house. We wrote him letters also with his grandparents so he will get mail each day. I also purchased him some goodies that he will get throughout the week.IMG_4391 IMG_4379On Saturday we celebrated Timber’s “Gotcha Day”. I can’t believe it has been one year since he has come into our lives. He has brought such joy to our house. We went out to lunch and then to his best friend, Rebel’s, house. Rebel’s mom bought Timber a beer made esp. for dogs. How nice!! She also got him a yummy cookie.IMG_4376

Yummy!

Yummy!

Whatcha Reading?

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The Son by Jo Nesbo- I finished listening to this one a few weeks ago and like with his Henry Hole series, I loved it. Jo Nesbo is a fantastic writing and I suggested anyone who enjoys crime/mystery books check him out.

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Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds by Dr. Kelly Turner- I started reading this after I saw an interview Kris Carr did with her.

n her New York Times bestseller, Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds, Dr. Kelly A. Turner, founder of the Radical Remission Project, uncovers nine factors that can lead to a spontaneous remission from cancer—even after conventional medicine has failed.

While getting her Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkley, Dr. Turner, a researcher, lecturer, and counselor in integrative oncology, was shocked to discover that no one was studying episodes of radical (or unexpected) remission—when people recover against all odds without the help of conventional medicine, or after conventional medicine has failed.  She was so fascinated by this kind of remission that she embarked on a ten month trip around the world, traveling to ten different countries to interview fifty holistic healers and twenty radical remission cancer survivors about their healing practices and techniques. Her research continued by interviewing over 100 Radical Remission survivors and studying over 1000 of these cases.  Her evidence presents nine common themes that she believes may help even terminal patients turn their lives around.–Amazon.com

So far I have read the first three chapters and am hooked. The stories of the survivors are very uplifting and encouraging. I am using what I am learning in my own fight to get my LT’s (Little Tumors) healthy again. I have decided not to hate them. Not to want to kill them. They are just blood cells who minding their own business, working hard for me and the bam! They get sick. I know the feeling and I want to help them get better. I want the big LT to lose some weight cause he is really hurting my ribcage. So I am going to be positive, tell them I will help them get better. Watch what I put in my body, how I treat it and to breathe. Most people don’t really breath. I don’t need the negative energy in my mind and body right now. Who wants to go around being angry all the time? I know there are some out there who think the chemo, radiation and drugs have all gone to my head and maybe they have but this feels right for me. Of course when I told My Man about LT he said he would just be happy to kill the little fuckers. Oh Well!

 Whatcha Reading?

Whatcha Reading? Whatcha Listening to?

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?