Treatment yesterday was uneventful. Met with Dr. D. and he did have the test for the tumor markers drawn. I should have the numbers by Monday or so. Fingers are crossed.

I got the triple treatment today. The Abraxine, Avastin and the Zometa. I should be feeling pretty crappy by Saturday or Sunday. The Abraxine ain’t so bad and the Zometa is nuthin’. However, the Avastin is what pretty much does a number on me. I mentioned to Dr. D. about the funky mouth reaction and he said that was a common side effect of Avastin. He asked how I was dealing with it and I just told him that I was avoiding spicy food. He said that was the perfect way to treat it. Avoid that which bothers you. Boring, but works for me.

Hair is still growing back — sparse. Looks really stupid so I’ll probably have my sister in law shave me again. I’ll let it go a little longer to see just how stupid it gets, but in the end its probably better to lose it.

Other than those minor things, been feelin’ pretty good. Fatigue is a norm, appetite is still good, much to the detriment of my hips and the mouth thing is manageable. So, I have little room for complaining … even if I wanted to.

And remember to repeat after me …“YOU ARE A CANCER WARRIOR”

What is it about moms (and dads) nowadays? You raise this child, give him or her everything you possibly can … probably to make up for what you didn’t have as a kid, and then let them grow up into a useless mass of DNA who should never be allowed to reproduce.

Was talking to my co-worker “A” the other day. Wisconsin got hit by a massive snowstorm last week Wednesday. We were lucky closer to the lake. Got very little compared to the rest of the state. Because she lives further West and because of the wretched driving “A” didn’t make it into work that day. However, she was out there at 7:00 in the morning shoveling snow down to the pavement (doesn’t want to leave any since we were going into a deep freeze and she didn’t want ice) while her 18 year old son was still asleep in his beddie-by. Let me repeat that … her HEALTHY 18 year old son was still asleep in his beddie-by.” Then “A” comes into the office the next day complaining that her arms and back were “killing her” because of all the shoveling. Uh — EXCUSE ME! 18 year old boy - not working. Mom — working full time, bad back and some health issues. You tell me what’s wrong with this picture.

When I pointed this out to “A” she just made excuses. “Oh, he would never shovel down to the pavement.” “He looked so comfortable.” “I can handle this.” Well, then you know what? Don’t bitch to me. Personally, I would have had his “comfortable” little ass out of bed, shoveling down to my specifications. If he didn’t do it right the first time … do it again.

We’re raising a generation of lazy, “I’m entitled” kids. I saw this happen to my youngest brother (who is now in his mid-forties and still feels he’s entitled), I’ve seen this happen with many other kids being raised by my generation, and I won’t even get into the horror stories related to me by another party about her brother’s stepson.

I’ll tell ya what … we’re not doin’ them any favors by coddling them and making excuses. One day they’re going to find out that the big bad world does not revolve around their entitled asses.

And believe me … I’m paying attention and taking notes. My little darlin’ is going to learn to stand on her own two feet and learn what life is all about. If she wants a special electronic gadget, you can bet she is required to raise the money and buy it herself. Which she has, a couple of times. Yes, I indulge her far more than I probably should, but she also reciprocates.

Yes, its difficult to raise kids, but I refuse to raise a kid who will grow up into the aforementioned useless mass of DNA.

I finally hit on something that the little darlin’ is willing to read cover to cover! Feelin’ pretty good ‘bout this.

My daughter and I were at the local Barnes and Noble the other evening and looking through the young readers section … searching for a Goosebumps book by S.L. Stines that she thought she’d like. Naturally we didn’t find it, but we did find a book called “Just for Girls. A Book About Growing Up.” This is a book which addresses all of those changes that will take place in my daughter within the next year or two when she hits puberty. It covers what to expect when she begins to grow hair on her legs, when her monthly cycle begins, what to do if she gets a zit. You name it, this book covers it.

I was pleased to find this book because I knew the questions were coming. This at least allowed my daughter to determine the coming issues and then ask more detailed questions. And — quite frankly, being an older mother, these are issues that I haven’t had to face for almost 40 years.

My daughter has gone through it nearly cover to cover and I’m in the process of reading it. I knew I was going to need a refresher course seeing how this was going to affect us directly during the next few years.

Yes, I was happy to see the little darlin’ finally reading something that captured her interest. Bonus is that she was reading something that was educational and will direct impact her life. Here’s hoping we find a few other books that will capture her interest like this did.

First off, treatment yesterday was nothing new or exciting. Just got siphoned of a quart or so of blood and then had an infusion of Abraxine. All went normal.

However, I was sitting next to a woman by the name of Mary. Very nice lady in her early 80s and who’s going through a second bout of treatment. Some fairly heavy duty stuff. So we got to talking, comparing notes, etc., etc. The same thing all cancer patients tend to do.

At one point she kept looking at the stuffed bears lined up over the high cupboards by the oncology nurses. It’s my understanding that some ladies from a retirement home makes these teddy bears and donates them to various oncology treatment clinics. There was one that Mary kept eye-balling. One dressed like a clown — which she evidently collects. At one point she asked her nurse, Sarah, if she could have it, but Sarah said that they could only give them to patients once. Mary tried the argument that this was her second round as a new patient, but Sarah could only smile and say something about rules.

Well, I piped up and said I’d been coming to this clinic for over ten years and that I’d never gotten a bear. Weeeellll — that was different. So I asked for the clown bear and gave it to Mary as an early Christmas gift. She was thrilled, I felt good, and the nurses got a nice chuckle out of it.

Personally speaking, I thought the clown bear was a little creepy, but then, I’m not a fan of clowns. So maybe it was just as well that bear has a happy home and is no longer looking down at me from on high.

And remember to repeat after me …“YOU ARE A CANCER WARRIOR”

Now — don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas songs. My bitch here is when the radio stations begin playing them immediately after Halloween. Gimme a break. Let’s at least wait until after Thanksgiving, people!

Then there’s the selection. For a switch from my regular classic rock, I tuned in to a local station that plays nothing but Christmas music. (This is the same station that starts right after Halloween). It seems like I hear the exact same song at least three or four times while I’m at work. And these are the times when I’m actively listening and not running around. I mean, how many times can you stand to listen to Bing Crosby sing “White Christmas” without wanting to barf? And don’t even get me started on that stupid Hippopotamus song. I’ll save that bitch for a later blog. (Absolutely HATE that song … if that’s what you want to call it). I know there are far more versions of any given song out there. Plus there are a lot more Christmas songs that can be played, yet it seems like the radio station has a set selection and sticks to it. This is something I noticed last year when listening to Christmas music on radio stations.

Yes, I know all about coughing up cash for permission to play copyright music, but c’mon — what about Angela Langsbury’s version of “I Need a Little Christmas”, or even John Denver and the Muppets? Believe it or not, they have some terrific songs … if you don’t mind creepy little puppets.

I’d like to hear a little variety … even if its for music which will be playing (or that I’ll be listening to) for only a month or so.