Catching up!

Wow, the previous two weekends were SO busy that I had no time to sit down and write a blog post.

Two weeks ago was the dance retreat.  My dear friends from Chicago came and took the workshops with me, and we performed at the dance party on Saturday night.

They arrived on Thursday evening, and came straight to our house.  We rehearsed for a couple of hours, and then ordered dinner to be delivered.

They Ubered to their hotel, and we went to bed because we had to work Friday.

Friday evening, the workshop started with 2 hours of lecture.

We danced literally ALL DAY Saturday. The teacher, who is Algerian, partnered with me for the whole first half of the day, and it was an honor and privilege to have her compliment my dance.  She said "you're VERY good!  Maybe I hire you!"  *blush*

It was fun, but exhausting.  I was in so much pain on Sunday, probably due to the treatments I am on right now.

Then, Sunday's classes were about sacred dance, and Sufi healing traditions.  It was very powerful.  I experienced a healing and cleansing that I didn't expect.  I have felt released from fear, and much lighter, ever since.

It changed my perspective on several areas!  I once again believe that I will be fine.

SOMEONE anonymously paid for me to attend this weekend, because I could not justify it with medical bills on the way, and I am SO grateful.

Then, last weekend, my friend Margaret came down to spend Valentine's weekend with me.

It was also the 6 month anniversary of the sudden death of her husband, Bill, whom I had introduced to her in 1999.

We cruised around town on Saturday, spent time in the hot tub, and ate good food.

Sunday, we went to the art museum and did some more cruising and eating.

Both nights were spent relaxing and talking (and crying) in the hot tub.

It was good that we had this time together to reconnect.  We've been friends since we were in high school. She was an incoming freshman, and I was one of the youth group leaders at our church.

She's 3 years my junior.  Her family was originally from Oklahoma City, and she spent a few years living here at the end of high school when they moved back down here from Wheaton.

After college, she moved back to Illinois, but her parents lived out their lives here in Oklahoma.

When I saw her back home in September, we only had a couple of hours together, and Bill's death was still VERY fresh.

She has made a lot of progress in getting things settled, and getting their house ready to sell.  She plans to move to their house in Michigan, which is paid off, and was always their retirement destination.

She will be able to retire early, and move up there-- hopefully this summer.  There are also things that need to be done to the Michigan house, but she is all set financially, so it won't be a problem.

We took her to the airport Monday after breakfast, and then went to see Pop.

Pop was up, and watching tv when we got there.  We took more batteries for his tv remote (someone keeps stealing them), and got him set up with being able to change channels and turn the tv OFF again.

Then, we got him into his wheel chair and took him to the dining room for his lunch.

THIS weekend has been a LOT quieter!  We finally celebrated Dave's birthday (which was the weekend of the dance retreat).  We met two other friends who have February birthdays and went out for dinner.

We got our taxes done yesterday, and sent off via TurboTax.  There WILL be a refund this year, which pleases us no end.  We had heard rumors that the real estate interest deduction was being taken away by Trump, but it was not.

We don't have any MAJOR repairs for the house this year, so we will buy a new bed, and a new water heater, the wash basin faucet, and maybe some other small things, and save the rest for ... MEDICAL BILLS.

Yay.

Today, I am taking a 2 hour class in bodywork techniques and yoga.  I already know a lot about the technique (myo-fascial release), but this will be a new approach to it for SELF care.

I am hoping it will give me some new tools to work with the pain caused by treatment.

Speaking of treatment, I completed my first round of the chemo pill, and have started taking the hormone blocking pill.

The pain in my legs from the dance retreat never fully went away, and this concerns me.

I have had poor appetite, some nausea and diarrhea, and my finger and toe tips are going numb.  My eyelashes are falling out, and my hair is thinning.

Whee.  At least I know it's all temporary.

Now, during my first break from the chemo, my stomach/intestinal tract is fine, my appetite is good, but the numbness hasn't changed, and my hair is all over the place.

I will get a blood draw tomorrow, and then Tuesday, everything else happens.... port flush, bone builder injection, and that awful hormone blocker injection in my belly.

I will see the doctor, find out my bloodwork results, and give him my list of complaints, and see what he says.

I start round 2 of the pills on Wednesday if he orders it.

In happier news, I am writing a story that was inspired by a silly post on FaceBook.... this is HUGE!  I used to write stories, and had a fiction blog about a dragon.  It's been AGES since I have felt inspired to write.

When it's finished, IF I actually finish it, I will post it here.

Off to the shower.  My dance class is rehearsing after the myo-fascial workshop, so I need to get my day going.