Is Chemo Brain Contagious?

Today was my flex day.... a day off every two weeks - my "Golden Monday". I treasure it! So I started my day today by reading an email from an online promotional sales site that I had placed an order from recently.

I was trying to add one more item to the order and so had sent an email to the art department that I communicated with previously. They replied that they can't help me and I should talk to Customer Service. So I emailed customer service and they emailed back and said they can't help me, I have to phone Sales. So I phoned Sales and they said they can't help me I have to talk to Customer Service. So I explained the sordid circle to them and she put me on hold presumably to look into it. After several minutes, the phone went dead. So I tried to use their online chat help and explained the circle on THAT and the woman told me she can't help me and I need to talk to Sales. So I explained the story AGAIN that all those departments said they aren't the right one so she said 'sorry - why don't you try Customer Service?' - AAAAAACCCCCCCCKKKKK OK I realized in a hurry that besides this not being the right person to help me, she REALLY wasn't the right person to help me... clearly not the brightest bulb in the chandelier. So in the end, I tried the Sales number again & went through it all with another person, who promptly helped me and resolved the issue within a few scant minutes. So I ended up with some competency in the end, however, it was looking a little dicey there.....

So my next chore was to book a rental car with Airmiles. In speaking with my rep, she asked me if I had coverage for insurance or will I need to buy it. I said I was pretty sure I was covered- but she didn't think that was a good enough answer and encouraged me to put her on hold and call my insurance company using my cell phone. This was very gracious as Mondays are the busiest phone days for Airmiles and I already waited a long time on hold to get through. So I DID call my insurance company and was assured that I had coverage for the one car. So as a back-up I asked him about my second car to make sure that if I used that insurance instead, it would still offer the same protection. He then proceeded to inform me that my second car's insurance expired MAY 15!!!!! WTF?!? Ummm It's September 12..... that is FOUR MONTHS of driving without insurance! Yup - that's right - it's not like the car was sitting idle.... we've been using it as our second car - and NEITHER of us had any clue we were driving with expired plates. (hence my Post Title - since Cam didn't notice either).

So after I freaked out upon hearing the news, my insurance guy calmed me down, told me he would renew it online right there & then DELIVER it to me within 10 minutes!!!! Holy Crap - who does that? And remember, my Airmiles lady was still holding for me..... so I went back to her, explained my freakout and thanked her for encouraging me to phone the Insurance company..... Then got my rental car booked, and then had my insurance papers delivered TO MY DOOR minutes later. Wow. PRIME INSURANCE in FLEETWOOD. Go there!

Sometime before all that, I found time to put a first coat of paint on my deck stairs - task that has been overdue for several years now. When we first built the deck, I only ever got one coat on with the intention of adding another when the weather cooperated - but never got around to it. So today was the day. After my Airmiles/Insurance freakout, I had to zip over to New West to get my (newly insured) car sorted out at the mechanic's. When I came home, I put the 2nd coat of paint on and have been feeling pretty damned smug all day about my accomplishments.

I even squeezed some other tasks in like arranging for roof replacement quotes - yup - it's time. Our roof is trashed and all our neighbours have had it done - so I guess it's our turn.

And most people know I'm heavy into flyball these days (sucker....) and got several flyball chores done today as well. There is NEVER nothing to do.... And I keep telling everyone over and over - working REALLY interferes with my personal life.... It's hard to squeeze everything in.

Yesterday we did a Demonstration of Flyball at the SPCA Paws for a Cause fundraiser in Richmond. We couldn't get our whole team out there so we patched something together with a mish-mash of people and dogs. And the results showed..... our flyball demonstration was a bit of a fiasco with dogs running down the wrong lane & dogs refusing to run and dogs missing the jumps... but the crowd was amused at any rate, until we finally got our 'S' together and ran some decent races for the crowd. But they seemed to enjoy it. For those who forgot, check out our website at www.flyingsquad.ca. As a reminder, our team is always collecting items to raffle off at our November tournament. If you have anything you want to donate, please just let me know. New & gently used accepted!

On the long weekend, Cam and I took the dogs to see our good friends in Oroville and had a wonderful weekend relaxing on the mountaintop ranch with a view of the lake. SO serene and beautiful.

The weekend before, we met Suzy at the cabin in Tulameen and enjoyed Otter Lake daily! The weather was so awesome - I'm really enjoying summer - it reminds me of Palm Springs.....

Our next trip is booked - leaving Nov 7 & returning Nov 20. Got the flights booked (and of course, the rental car). Dogs are staying home this time (THANKS MARK & VIKKI!)

Well, I think that's it - I'm pooped. Just got home from flyball practice too..... Yup - flyball BBQ on Friday night, flyball practice Saturday morning, flyball demonstration on Sunday (12 - 5) and then flyball practice Monday night. PHEW. We're glad for a rest until Saturday..... (we practice 2x per week). The dogs love it, but the humans get a little tired of it....especially this human.....

So that's about it.... actually, it's enough - this post is enormous! You're basically caught up now..... Ciao!

I look normal!

So the last couple of weeks I've been wondering how this diagnostic mammogram thing works so I finally remembered to call my doc's office & found out that I have to go in to arrange that. So I went in today (I mean, WHY? - I need a mammogram - phone me.....). Anyway, I guess he has to put his kids through college....

So I went and he put in the order - hopefully it's sooner than 3 months since I'm due for my annual on Sep 8. And so I confirmed with him that it is up to ME to remember - no one will track it in a system & make it happen..... UGH.

So he asked me if I was back to work full-time (yes), then he announced "you look normal, how do you feel?", - great to have a professional's opinion - he must be really good.... Then he quizzed me on whether my hair colour was natural or not (it is) - and he expressed surprise that I don't have to dye it.

In fact a lot of people express surprise to know that I don't have much grey hair. Come to think of it, considering who I'm married to, I'm very surprised myself....

I'm looking forward to a flex weekend coming up - I'm going to Tulameen to see Suzy! And even more surprising, Cam is coming too! And then on the long weekend, we're back to Oroville..... we're busy beavers! (anyone want to babysit birds for the weekend?)

It's been a fun summer.... OK - not as fun as last summer since I still wasn't working.... although last summer I was doing and then recovering from radiation treatments.... OK - this one is better.....

So to sum up - I look normal! And more importantly, I FEEL normal! I'm slimming down to where I want to be and I got my vitals done for the BC Generations Project and I'm in pretty good shape - almost....

I'm at 26.5 BMI (should be 25 or under). I'm at 34.8% body fat (should be under 34%).... but my lung function was excellent - no surprise there really..... over 80% is good and mine was at 124%.... and my bone density was in the normal range. Normal is considered minus 1 to 2.5 and mine came out at 0.4. So while it's in the normal range, I still pulled up my brochure on preventing Osteoporosis to refresh myself & get working on strengthening my bones.

Hopefully my mammogram gets booked sooner than later but when I have it, I'll keep you posted...literally!

BC Generations Project

please check out www.bcgenerationsproject.ca to learn about a study that is being done to help learn why how and why people develop cancer over time.

They are looking for people 35-69 to participate. They need 40,000 people and they aren't getting as many men as women so it would be great if you could encourage the men in your life to have a look at this important study.

They will be tracking 40,000 over 25 years to see if they can see any patterns or contributing factors for cancer. So they ask your eating habits, environment, physical fitness levels etc. In some cases, they will get blood samples etc.

I feel this is VERY important research that may help generations to come. The information they learn with my help won't be useful for another 20 or so years, but I will be happy to know that I helped them identify some factors down the road for our young people being born today!

I urge you to consider participating if you are between 35-69 & live in BC.

Thank you!

Officially full time back to work.

As of Monday July 4. 7-hour days (yup - government) and now I can accrue vacation..... once I got over the shock of the inevitable I just wanted to get back to the grind so I can save up my vacation days and head to Desert Hot Springs! Right now I'm doing basic 7-hour days but on July 18, I'll work a longer day so I can take my flextime. My first flex day will be Tuesday August 2 (tagged onto the long weekend - woo hoo!)

Also, I learned that even though I've been away, my vacation bank still grows because they base your allotment on years of service. So I earned 2 more days while I was away! Of course, I will only get to take one of them since I have to be working to earn vacation and this year I will only be working half..... but 84 hours is better than nothing!

Returning to work has been harder than I thought it would be. At least I think it has..... I'm not really sure how hard I thought it would be but I certainly was NOT looking forward to it. I'm finding it harder to manage the stress of it than I thought. And I also found that I took on some projects during my leave because I had time - but now I don't have that time and so the projects will have to be pared back....

It's a lot harder to fit all the napping in when 7 hours of the day is filled with working. It's rather inconvenient.

Anyway, I'm happy to see the good weather arrive - reminds me of California - and today I got to ride in a 2-seater convertible Audi and it was SWEET! Gotta love a convertible on a beautiful summer's evening.

I've had a couple (few?) meltdowns the last couple of weeks. I'm hoping I can find my centered and happy place and not forget what is important. I guess I didn't learn as much as I had hoped to - but at least I've learned that! (meaning I recognize this and will attempt to improve)

I better sign off before I confuse the hell out of everyone. I'm already there.....

Tick Tick Ticking Along

So I've been gradually returning to work - adding a bit more time week to week to get myself back up to full speed.

I'm not sure what happened yesterday - maybe a little brain overload - but I was SO tired I couldn't stay awake at work so I left early & came home to sleep. I probably hit the pillow at 12:30 and didn't wake up until 4:45! Just in time for the game - not that it was much to stay awake for....

Wasn't able to sleep until midnight but still got a solid 7 hours of overnight sleep even still. So I guess my body just needed the extra and thankfully it is no issue for me to do so at this time.

Otherwise, work is improving as I am remembering more of my job & getting more and more comfortable.

I've been trying to get more fit but seem to be at a plateau weight-wise. I guess I have to change something up to get that last 10 pounds off.

Don't really have much more to report.

My new nephew

Jennifer had Baby Iain on Sunday May 15 at 12:46pm. He was born at home with midwives present at a weight of 9 lbs 1 oz (4.15kg).

Chatted with Jenn today - she said the baby was 'brilliant' but the labour was the worst pain she's ever felt in her life. So everything was normal from what I've heard.... LOL

Here are some pics! https://picasaweb.google.com/jennsbow/IainBornMay15th2011#

Improving my Attitude

OK, I have to admit that I have been less that enthusiastic about my return to work. I have been bitching & moaning & pissing to anyone who asked me. (not about the work itself, just having to be there instead of in California playing waterball....)

I then started wondering why I would have that crappy attitude about something as simple as going to work when I had a great attitude all through my cancer treatment. And as I said to a friend on the weekend, 'going to work HAS to be better than cancer, right?'. So I've decided to put a positive spin and attitude on my return to work as well.

And this morning I was cleaning out some old emails and came across some that will help me do this. The following story is one my mom sent me because she said 'it fit me to a T'. It made me cry and was one of the nicest things she has ever said to me (and naturally there have been many... )

Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.' So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. 'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.' So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.' So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. 'YAY!' she exclaimed. 'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

So I am going to use this example to make the best out of returning to work - like the good things of seeing my awesome colleagues who are all great people, and also the bigger paycheque! And the fact that being at work means I don't have cancer! So I have now given myself an attitude adjustment - my own 'kick in the ass'

I have another great email to share but I'll save it for next time.....