Ruby.........

I know her name is Ruby. It is on the back of the picture. One of many that Very Mary sent me in a loverly little envelope. I wonder what the colors of the outfit really were. But look at her eyes - love them.

An update on the recovery process - i am struggling with what is known as adrenal fatigue. I lost an adrenal gland - there is one on top of each kidney and losing one "upsets the apple cart" in a serious way. By late day I am struggling and it is the kind of tired that you cannot force by willpower through. But last night after a nap I went to the studio and hunkered down for a while. I can't show you what I am working on, its a surprise for a friend so you get scans of old pictures.

Now I adore old pictures. In the past we have even done school projects with "adopted relatives" using old pictures I gather. So when Miss MaryAnn found these - I jumped on them. there are wonderful ones.

And you who are like me and love old pictures can add to your collection too - go to Magpie Mary's etsy shop. She will be adding these picures along, but take a look at all her stuff.

Not only does she have way cool stuff, she is absolutely one of my favorite people on the face of the earth.

Thanks for the pictures my friend. Have a wonderful day everyone.

Much love from my beautiful life.

Spain. and accountablity

See that stripey crochet thing. I am making myself accountable to finish that before I start another big project. I am trying to destash and also eliminate a few UFO's from the stash. Sorry - I may bore you to tears with this before I finish it. But - I promise there will be a twist at the end of the story. Just think BUTTONS.........

Gosh - I hope this works out.

Just so you know. The shoe pictures are a family thing. I snatched this from College Girl's facebook. Plain white sneakers - simply drawn on with a black sharpie. How cool are these? And with all the "new" sharpie colors, just imagine what could be done.

Now my favorite picture from spain so far.

How beautiful is this. She is all grown up. I adore her.

She's home......

Okay this is family journaling -- skip on if you wish. Please come back again though.

Some 16 hours after she started home, College Girl was safely retrieved from Spain. She was tired (jet lag sux) and hungry (body clock screwed up) and needed a shower. Overslept before they left.

We were excited to see her. We failed to activate her international calling plan and since her cell package is in her name, could not do after she left, so it was a long week for all of us. Only one phone call the entire time.


Okay - it was her first plane flight. It was her first really "big" excursion. It was the experience of a lifetime. SHE HAD A BLAST.

Her impressions of Spain were mostly positive. (except for one Dance Club, that she described as "sketchy") The food. The culture. The landscape and architecture. The people. The lifestyle.

Daddy helped unload the luggage. Molly talked on the way home continually - bits I loved......

Savannah was my room mate. I didn't know her until this trip. We may be best friends.

Oh the colors. They love some bright colors.

Kale was the only boy - we took him everywhere - he was our "protection"

They eat at strange times -breakfast is around 9 or 10 - potato omlets mom you gotta learn how to make those.

The food - everything is so fresh. There were no great big stores like super walmart. And the markets were awesome.

We went out every night.

One bit I am no so sure I am excited about........

I would go back tomorrow.

Where would she go? Was there a favorite? Yup

She is ready to move to Toledo, Spain.

My little girl is growing up. Happened so fast. She is also now seriously considering an internship application in Amsterdam. The two of us have changed in the last several years. Happened gradually, like it is supposed to. While I will always be her Mom, the conversations going into this trip and as she has returned are sounding more like we will are becoming friends.

I'm liking this a lot.

I have a beautiful life. I have beautiful children. I am trying to embrace the wanderlust part of this one right now. Its hard, but I am so glad she wants to travel and experience things.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Details

I was confined to the house for way too many days. Go ahead, feel sorry for The Man at My Address, I do. I would not mind being home like that if I had been able to DO things. And I did discover many things that I would love to do.

But this post is not about that. This post is about tiny things that make my house the home it is for all of us. These are things I noticed.

There is a loose brick in the floor in the living room. It used to bother me, then I noticed that it is where we all stand to say goodnight. It is right where we stop to let the others know that we will be in the back part of the house. I'll always be able to see my girls - stop right there and talk to us.

My kitchen screen door sticks - it's an old fashioned wooden screen door. You have to hit it just right or the top or bottom corner will stick. But it also is the most used door in my house. Family, friends, even the cute UPS guy, uses this door. I spent a lot of time thinking about how I am going to make the front door inviting. Not so worried about that any more. Gonna pretty up the entrance that really gets used.

We have one bathroom, and the mirror is always marked up. Toothpaste spatters, water spots, you know. But that mirror is also our message board. Since we all used the same bathroom, I keep dry erase markers in there and we leave notes to ourselves and one another. When I came home from the hospital - I found a note that said - "glad you are home" - written there. The fun part is that many of our friends also leave notes on the same mirror. I really think that is way cool.

There are clothes draped thru the house - I know - laundry should be put away. But guess what - I didn't wash any of those clothes, The Man did. He also dried them and separated them. His are on the dryer - Softball Girl's are on the video stand - mine are on the daybed. We do occasionally get a bra or pair of cute little panties in the wrong place, but that's because Daddy really don't wanna think about his girls wearing those things. That is an unselfish act of service on his part - I appreciate it too.

The rose at the porch corner - needs a trellis to climb on - but it came from the yard where I grew up. There are crepe myrtle trees at the driveway end - they came from the yard where the man grew up. A really pretty little red maple tree reminds us of Mama Norvan - the mans grandmother. My yards are not lush - I have a black thumb, but those are important items in my yards.

I am glad to feel like this is my forever house. I do know this is HOME.

See details in your house - tell me about them.

Love and beauty surround us - look for it.

I have a beautiful life.

Looky what I got.

The Man at my Address has been really good to me through this little roadblock. He was at the doctors office when we found out and he stayed night and day at the hospital with me. (He did leave me a few times, but he was really careful who got to stay with me - something that will forever be an inside joke) He has cooked, cleaned, shopped, talked to people about how I was doing. He kept track of food and other stuff that came to the hospital. He did pack my bags and bring stuff to the hospital.

But he did not bring flowers. Not the first time. There were no broad declarations of love and support. No cards. No letters. Not his style at all.

But people, DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR ME. Because in the middle weeks of this recovery, he got home one afternoon with this............

Yup - cubbies for my studio. Now my facebook friends have all seen this, but I missed posting it here. So no don't feel sorry for me, this man knows what I like. And when he discovered this was going to be discarded at work, he snagged it for MaggieGrace world. I think he kinda gets me -- what about you?

SAY FREE!!!!!!! I couldn't really jump and do the happy dance, but I was very very excited.

Look carefully at the other end, that section has been added on. It is now detached and sitting on the top.

As quick as I am fully able, I'll be rearranging the furniture in my house and in the studio, to accomodate this lovely. This is going to really work nicely and I have been looking for one that was affordable. I also have tons of those baby wipe tubs, that will be used for even more storage containers for this. I'll be using ModPodge to dress those containers up.

Speaking of ModPodge, I (specifically my lamp repurpose) was featured on the Mod Podge Rocks facebook page yesterday. Go here, to find lots of linky goodness for crafty peeps.

I am having a slightly better day today - feeling a little stronger. Gonna try to get back to my bootcamp schedule next week. I'm ready for some semblance of normal again.

Have a great day. I have a beautiful life.

Relay for Life.

Friday night was our local Relay for Life event. I have been a relay volunteer/participant for many years now. Following my first brush with Cancer some 14 years ago. But then it was different. I found a lump in my breast - I had it checked - family history dictated my decisions - I had it removed - the cancer found was enough to qualify for the term survivor, but it was tiny - two little cells - not even a cancer they staged. But I suspected what it was, and by the time I knew what it was, I didn't have it anymore.

Fast forward - to last month - I am healthier - I feel great - I have been diligent in followup for the breast cancer. I am eating right and working out. I thought I had a kidney stone, the docs thought it was a stone - I was sent home from the office and from the er with that diagnosis. Then BAM -- the phone call - the trip to the office - the words hung out in the air - hospital --- surgery --- follow up.............recovery

BLINDSIDED. Totally unexpected. Which is probably the case for most people who discover that they have cancer. I am, once again, very fortuate, they say they got it all.

So 4 weeks to the day - I celebrated being a survivor - AGAIN. With way too many others, I walked those laps. With my supportive loved ones, my friends, people I only know casually, I walked. It was a very emotional night for me.

See I walked with the knowledge that I have no treatments to endure. I walked with the knowledge that my life will pretty well continue on its normal course with only a few incoveniences. I walked with the docs assurances that I am now cancer free (again). Many of the people around that track with me don't have that. I am fortunate indeed.

But I walked --- and I bought luminaria for friends. I read my name many times on bags around the track. Thank you for those friends who purchased bags in my name.

I visited with many Friday night. It was fun to celebrate surviving.


Softball Princess - me - The Man at my Address.

It is a victory no one should have to celebrate. But we did. And we smile and we go on. And we push IT to the back of our brain.


Left to Right - Becky Jones, Sandra Dove Smith, me. All of our girls play ball together - we are all survivors.

I am battling IT right now. What is IT, you might ask? FEAR - FEAR - FEAR. See I was being so careful to do my followups, I was eating healthy, I was exercising, I see my docs regularly, I'm doing what you are supposed to do. I always thought I might have breast cancer again, or a metatastic cancer from that. Renal Cell Carcinoma - a totally different and unrelated cancer - found by accident because of a suspected kidney stone. This scares me.

What if there are more? What if they don't see it in time again? What if? What if? What if? And in talking to others about this -- the what if monster haunts their dreams too.

I am not depressed, but I am battling this huge thing right now. I promise this will not become a pity party site - I'll be back to MaggieGrace goodness asap. This blog is about me - about creativity - about life - love - and the pursuit of happiness - about the journey that is. So I share my thoughts here.

Right now I am scared - and nobody can help take that fear away. So I'll do what I did in the past - refuse to give in to FEAR. Because allowing IT to remain so strong will take away the joy of the blessed life I have.

So I am embracing strength and joy. FEAR - YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHANCE.

Y'all have a wonderful day.

A light in the darkness......

Mod Podge and spray paint to the rescue. No money spent today. A completely stash based project.

So - I had these lamps. Cast iron and heavy brass floor lamps. Free lamps. The wiring was damaged, they were in terrible shape. We used them at halloween because they were creepy. And they have been sitting by my kitchen door since then - please don't judge me.


So - I had this little cancer surgery. I'm home and have some serious restrictions on my physical activities. I actually feel sorry for the Man at My Address, he would come home and I was all ready to paint walls and do other stuff, because I was sitting there looking at them ALLLLLLL DAAAAYYYY.

Anyway, I decided that I wanted to convert these two lamps into candoliers or my front porch. Handling the lamps and spray paint cans, mod podge and paper was all within doable. I hobbled to the porch and took the first one apart. YUK. Rust and decay, and spider webs and creepy crawly critters abound. I cut all the wire out and then proceeded to wire brush the individual pieces.

This lamp at one time had a night light in the base. The lens is plastic and cracked. No worries. Check back later in this post to see what I did.

Hammered black spraypaint, with the new trigger sprayer (which I'm really not all that fond of), a couple of coats.

That night light lens - ModPodge - great stuff. I simply covered it completely with a garden themed tissue paper.

The rod cover was horrid, sorry these are out of order, but more tissue and ModPodge to the rescue.

Here's the reassembled base and rod. Happy Girl. But now what to do for candle holders. I wanted something fun. Back to the stash.

Small purple wine glasses glued to ModPodged jars and an inverted vase for the center with a dessert cup.

Still needed "something". Some "bling" So I added sewing hooks to the vase with E6000, and added some drops that were once upon a time part of a candle holder that I broke.


A little bit of an issue with stability on the wine glass assemblies. Think Think Think.

Styrofoam spools - E6000 again glued to the little base cups. The bases (tiny baby food jars) slip right over and the spool makes the assembly stable.

Run assembled lamp outside into the yard after dark last night. Add candles and sit on the steps - wishing I could have a glass of wine or a margarita with this moment.

College Girl came home to find me there - on the kitchen porch steps - candles burning. She joined me there in the dark with that little circle of light. I really can't remember being that relaxed and happy. We talked about being cancer free. She thinks I am the strongest person she knows. I told her how proud I am of her and who she is becoming. She leaves for Spain this afternoon, a Maymester trip with school, I am so proud that she wanted to go and then went to the effort to make it happen.

I have one more of these to make - because it will be a stash project - it will be similar, but different.

This was worth the effort to make - because last night we took the time to talk - to slow down and really talk. I am ready to make my front porch more of a living space, because this current cancer situation has made me more aware of the fact that we all need a time and a place to slow down and relax and really talk to one another.

Have a wonderful day.

More Catching up.....

I had surgery on April 16. I came home from the hospital on April 19. The next weekend was an art event I wanted to attend in Savannah. Needless to say, I did not get to attend.

But my blog buddy - JulieAnn did. We had planned for her to spend some time with me anyway after the event. The event was over on Sunday - she did not fly back until Tuesday. So phone calls were made - apologies raised for the house not being really ready for guests - and JulieAnn came to Comer GA - late on Sunday night - April 25. Yes I allowed a stranger into my house exactly 9 days after losing my left kidney.

Sunday night -late - the softball princess drove us to Athens and met JulieAnn, who then followed us to the middle of nowhere. If she was freaked about how far out we were, she did not let on.

Then on Monday, we spent the morning getting to know each other - JulieAnn is beautiful, smart, funny, and talented. She unpacked all her goodies and I got to live vicariously through all the pretties. Did I mention that the Poca Dog - loved her?


Monday midday - I decided to call my favorite junk haunt in my town - the Hardware Store. We love Steve and his wonderful wife Carol. I wanted to see if we could get upstairs. Think old fashioned store and antiques and stuff upstairs. I really think JulieAnn began to grasp just how small my town is, when Steve started asking about my surgery. But yes we could get upstairs.

So into town I went. Shh. Don't tell the docs. We poked around and explored. Gathered up stuff and to the checkout we went. Well some was not priced, but Steve just pulled a number out of the big blue sky and away we went.


Of course there were buttons and other goodies. I got us a bowl and we poked and picked and laughed and totally enjoyed ourselves. Oh. how much fun. I was so happy she decided to come on even if I was moving very slow and had to nap - a lot.

On Tuesday - we took her back to the interstate - but had some time to spare before she had to leave. This is another SHHHHHHHH story. The Man at my Address insisted that my mom go as a chaperone - to "watch me". Well we went to an antiques store and I found the captains treasure chest of mis-matched silverware. Keep in mind - I have a 12 inch incision that is 10 days old across my abdomen. I couldn't pick the basket up off the floor to go through them, so I did what any self- respecting junker would do. I eased myself to the floor and dumped said baskets out and proceeded to dig through them. My mom - you know the chaperone who was supposed to watch me - did just that. She watched me - mouth ajar - wordless - pale faced - thinking "oh shit" - get in the floor. I bought 12 pair of silver for bracelets for 15 dollars - 24 pieces of silver for 15 dollars - not too shabby.




This is JulieAnn my beautiful friend - she needs a job in research in the Athens area - so she can be closer. My mama loved her - my family loved her and would welcome her back any time. I just wish I had felt better - then we could do some serious junking.

One more note - JulieAnn cut me off some stunning trim. As she was packing thinks up, my mom asked her what she was going to do with her portion of that. Won my mama's heart when she answered - in true creative person style - "look at it". Come on ladies - we all know that answer is the right one don't we.

JulieAnn - please come again really really soon. Love ya.

The prom post......

Time spent here early on Saturday.

Will convert a serious athlete.

And her big sister.

Toss in a boy - getting dressed at my house. (they say everyone has a little captain in them.) Sorry - but blogger refuses to take the rotated picture.

Add a little bling on the dress -- and do not forget the shoes

The outcome of all that prep work. Beautiful and happy girls. Handsome young men.

The Princess and her Prince. Too hot and humid for the jacket.

Confident stroll up the street. This is one of my favorite images.

Man when did she become that young woman. Oh my. And she went to the all nighter at some friends home.

Full length - I love the contrast of the greens with their clothes.

Her version of the pole dance - an inside joke from my recent hospital stay - she shares my twisted sense of humor. Every girl deserves to feel this stunning and (shh don't tell dad) sexy at least a few times in her life.

Big sis was gorgeous too. She leaves for Spain this coming Thursday. Mom is very uneasy about that trip. But I know she will have a fabulous time.

I'm amazed that these two are all grown up. Seems like yesterday they handed them to me at the hospital and we all came home to learn how to raise each other. Somebody was watching over us, cause these two are amazing and beautiful ladies - inside and out.

Have a wonderful day.

24 days post surgery -- cancer free -- back at work 1/2 days -- making serious progress on healing - my Mother's Day was a very special one this year --- I have so many blessings to celebrate.

Long in Coming..........

I think I have written this post a hundred times in my head. It's time to get this on out there. Please bear with me, I want this to be as special as the feelings I am trying to get across.

I grew up poor, not in the no money for food way, but in the every penny was accounted for way. We always had what was needed and planned and saved for what was wanted. The house we lived in had space heaters, but no heat in the bedrooms. I also spent many nights at my grandmother's house with the same kind of heat.

Winter nights were interesting. Back up to the heater to get warm, run to the bed, crawl in the covers and be really still once you got your spot warm. Those covers were not fancy bedspreads with matching sheets, they were basic sheets with handmade quilts and afghans. Those handmade things had weight to them, substance. That feeling stays with me today.



CANCER - what an ugly word. It hangs in the air almost like you can see it. It echoes off the wall - that phrase was from the Man at my Address. It temporarily sucks the breath out of you, especially if it comes as unexpectedly as this did. I went in for a kidney stone - I came out a statistical freak. A second primary cancer. Not everyone gets this priviledge of two completely unrelated occurances.

I called a few friends. I facebooked the series of events. I spoke with my pastor. I turned to my natural weapon - sarcastic humour. I refuse to bow down to it.

Here is where I want the special to come in.

As quick as word hit the the streets and the internet - people responded. People near to me. People far away. Friends, family, total strangers. Churches all over the world prayed for me. The support, the encouragement, the love, the prayers, the blanket of healing fell over me. Almost as if it was tangible. Like I could reach for it and wrap it around me. Like those quilts handmade by my grandmother and mama, on a cold winter night.

I was warm. I was comfortable. I was loved. And in those moments of weakness and darkness my support network became my strength and my light. Not just mine either, my entire family. In the good moments that occured, this blanket of support celebrated. When the fear or pain won the battle and I felt sorry for myself, this blanket wrapped tighter and reassured me that I was not alone.

I'm starting here with recognizing two friends - and so many more for an unexpected act - that still amazes me. MaryAnn and Jen immediately set to work putting together this. Their friends and some of mine are contributing. Overwhelmed does not begin to describe the feelings I have. I do not quite know what to say - except thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you. I have never met either of those ladies face to face, but they both are among the friends I am closest to. The contributors are amazing as well, and the donors too. I wish I could see and hug and thank each one personally, it truely means so much. Again a corner of that blanket that I can pull around me.

My work team at my grown up girl job - has rocked. Being out for some three weeks and no major crisis to come back to.

Melissa - we have been friends for many years now. Our Girls are friends. She has organized food and has called and checked and made sure that I'm ok. A true angel and one day, I might actually grow up and be like her.

Becky - I really don't have words here either. She stayed with my family at the hospital during surgery. She and her husband brought food and encouragement. A text or a phone call. Took the softball princess to her prom dress fitting when I couldn't. And I know that I can call her anytime.

Jones Chapel UMC - they are my extended family. Susan, our pastor, was right there, praying and loving and building the family up. I know that Donald Sartain wore that bandaid with my initials on it. Veronica Reno - called and visited and checked. And the food - nobody goes hungry physically or spiritually in this church.

MCHS, SMACK, and FURY SOFTBALL - who knew when those girls were playing t-ball just how important we all would be to one another. Thank you thank you thank you.

Family - near and far. the distance doesn't separate the heart does it. I love you all so much.

Ellen - email after email of beautiful words. To build me up. My family up. Time taken to care for a virtual stranger. Awe inspiring.

Local Best Friend - hospital visits, home visits, laughter, love, the knowledge that no matter what - you are there - amazes me. Even though you think my hair looks like a frazzled chickens ass. To think that night that I listened to your story would come to the kind of relationship we have - never in a million years. Thank you - and you know I love you too.

Sam's Mom - Jennifer - an unlikely series of events brought us together, but look what we gained. Thank you for everything - for understanding the bad jokes, for contributing to the raffle, for chocolate and even a book I can destroy in the name of art.

JulieAnn - a blog buddy who decided to come stay with me a week after my surgery. I am so glad you did. I enjoyed getting to know you a little better. The poca girl loved you. My mama loved you. I'm looking forward to spending more time with you.

Facebook - Texts - emails - phone calls - blog comments. Read them all - printed most of them - keeping them. Visits - flowers - food - cards - notes. It all mattered. It all still matters.

See that blanket. The squares were made by someone else. I put them together and added material from my stash. I finished this in the doctors office on Tuesday. I have said prayer after prayer of thanksgiving for all of you while I crocheted on this. Thousands of stitches - thousands of prayers - blessings counted. It's colorful - like my cast of characters.

I'm sending this with our mission team to Mexico at the end of this month. I hope that somehow, the blessings in my life (that would be all of you) will somehow spill out for the person who receives this.

I am covered with a tangible prayer blanket. It is beautiful. It is real. It sustained me. I contines to sustain me.

I needed all of you - I thank you so much for responding when I was in need. You have blessed me so much. I will never forget. The smallest of actions - even the prayers lifted I do not know about - they all were there. Woven into the threads of my support blanket. I have it wrapped around me now.

Love you --- Teresa

aka MaggieGrace.

All about the shoes..........

Several things occurred in my temporary Kidney Cancer Vacation. One of which was prom. Softball Princess first prom - College Girl's 3rd. College Girl is dating a young man who is still in High School.

There will be more posts about prom to come, but this one is just about a fun little detail.


College Girl's bare tootsies. Standing in the covered bridge at Watson Mill Bridge State Park. Take note she is dead on 6 feet tall in this format.


She is barefooted because strolling out on a covered bridge in these was not exactly comfy or safe. Add 5 inch heels to a 6 foot tall girl and she is imposing. But that's her - prissy and frou frou and very feminine in her attire.

Softball Princess - is beautiful too. But some what more practical in her attire and lifestyle. She's a serious athlete and you can tell that by looking at her. But prom night she was stunning. Every girl deserves to feel and look like a princess on those special occasions. Again more of that in the next few days.

When we bought the dress, we bought the very first one she tried on. I knew it too. The smile on her face told the entire story. It fit and it made her feel great. She came to me later to ask about shoes. She knew what she wanted but wanted me to be okay with it. Her choice.......



Yup - converse sneakers. Bright shiny white canvas, with a really pretty black and silver print on the flap. The barefoot boy also sacrificed and wore the traditional white loafers with his tux.

So there you got it. A portrait of my girls' personalities summed up perfectly in one shot. I love this picture. How about you guys????

This last one is an oops - that I love too. College Girl and Sam walking out of the bridge. I love the silhouette effect this one has. (yes Jennifer you can snag it.) Notice - she is still carrying those sandals.

More to come as I slowly catch up.

Have a wonderful day.

Glimpses of the return...

I am a blogger. Unfortunately I live in the middle of no where. Ask JulieAnn. My laptop has wireless capabilities, but we are still Dial up at the house. I do have several things to share with you from the last few. Now that I am back at work 1/2 days, let's catch up.

Bootcamp saved my life. Everyone - doc included - thinks that a drill we do pulling tires up and down the field via a strap around our waist, may has damaged the tumor and started the bleeding. The amount of blood I was passing was dangerously high (2 units of blood worth) and the CT scans revealed the cancer.

Remove Kidney was the only option and turns out give the best long term prognosis.

I have a twelve in incision across my upper abdomen. Only southern folks will understand this statement (Tipper this is for you). This bad boy itches like a twelve inch chigger bite. Julie Ann wanted to know what a chigger was. The incision cuts through my entire left side trunk muscle structure.

I am so much healthier now than this time last year. 50 pounds lighter and stronger. Been eating better and working out. I have been anxious for approval to return to work and return to exercise. I will not be letting that hard earned better health go wasted.

So being a blogger - I took the Man at my Address to bootcamp with me for my return. Hand him camera and tell him this needed to be documented. He really does not understand, but he did follow instructions.


Left to right Melissa (hiding in the back) Becky, Christie (fearless leader) Me (sporting a lovely white corset), Tanya Tonya Torrie (Tanya is her real name but nobody gets it correct), Jan, and Renee.

The ladies welcomed this poke along right back. This will be a very slow rehab process. I can walk all I want for a couple of weeks. Do some light warmup and stretching and a tiny bit of leg work. I could be up to 6 months before I can do any ab work.

My first outing was two measly laps - then I had to go home and nap.

Because we blog everything - here is a back side view. I have 30 more pounds to lose.

Last night - I walked over a mile and did two 1 minute wall sits. I also did a few step ups on a short retaining wall. It was still a better night than the first night I went last year. My first mile time was 24 minutes and I thought I might die. Last night was 17 minutes and I probably could have done better than that.

Exercise saved my life - in many ways. It feels really good to be moving again.

Today's half day of work has been exhausting. There will be a nap in my afternoon.

Love ya'll - more catch up tomorrow.

things they don't tell you

The doctor dropped that word on April 9th. Just like saying "it's lunchtime". Then on April 16th, they removed my left kidney and with it a golf ball sized cancerous tumor. Going into surgery, I was afraid. Afraid of two things, pain and puking. I had no idea what to expect pain wise, but puking that was familiar. Everytime anethesia is used on me I throw up -- big time. It was a topic of serious discussion with my anesthsia team. They did a fabulous job of controlling that -- I had traditional drugs - Zofran and phenergan, plus a motion sickness patch - all done before - but the seemingly magic ingredient in that concoction - benadryl. No idea why that worked but it did.

Arrive at the hospital - happy drugs - no more fears until they are sitting you on the side of the bed. By then it's too late to worry about the pain, you just do it.

Here are the fun things nobody really tells you.

1. They will teach you to get up and down from the hospital bed. This is great information for the few days you are there. It won't help at all when you get home. My bed ain't got any of those damn buttons and the call nurse feature involved tapping the snoring man to my left until he was awake enough to pull or push or whatever we were trying at that moment.

2. Taking pain meds in the middle of the night. Those nurses brought them to me in my bed, with juice or water and a little something to eat. At home, tap said man, drag butt out of bed, go pee, then stand at the kitchen island, eating whatever cracker is handy and drink soda out of the bottle. (Shhh - that's our secret)

3. That big cushy sofa that swallows you so nicely for a sunday afternoon nap, well it is not friendly with a twelve inch gash across your abdomen. You may need the man and a softball player to help you up from there. Not a great feeling when the urge to go to the bathroom finaaly comes.

4. About that -- TMI WARNING. Take your pain meds and take your meds that offset that side effect of the pain meds. Eat more fiber than the field next door. Be ready for that urge at random and inconvenient times. Be warned, this is quite possibly more uncomfortable than anything else. Here's one more for the TMI file - next time you go, try wiping on the other side. It is an enlightening experience that everyone should have.

5. It does not matter what time you shower, the second you get in the shower, someone will arrive at the door, with food, or best wishes. Again, you cannot plan to avoid this. I have showered at 7am and at 10pm - this has happened repeatedly.

6. Wander outside in your pjs - say around noon - serious bed hair because the sofa has had you swallowed. YOU WILL RUN INTO THE REALLY CUTE UPS GUY YOU GO TO CHURCH WITH. He will smile and wave and be super nice - he's really thinking -"glad that didn't wake up at my house this morning."

7. It doesn't matter how much weight you have lost, adding an elastic and velcro corset will destroy any illusion of a waistline you have. Plus this nice undergarment has no provision for garters or stockings, therefore rendering it useless for future corset wearing opportunities

8. Toenails - can't reach them - wear socks.

This one is serious - those little bolster pillows filled with the fiber pellets. The super squishy ones. These are wonderful. I got all that we had in the house and I get in bed then poke and tuck them to pad sore spots ---- yes blissful relief. It also keeps the man from rolling over and endangering his life, because something hurt you.

Hey ya'll MaggieGrace is back. I have missed you.