A Couple of Things…

The Predator (the cat, not my daughter Sydney)

The Predator (the cat, not Sydney)

1.  It’s the first day of June.  How did that happen?

2.  There’s something magical about that moment when two strangers acknowledge with “the head nod” that they both just saw something weird.

3.  Final grades for the semester in, I am jazzed to report that I am maintaining the “A” average.

4.  Sydney Rose’s final grades in, 3 A’s and 2 B’s.  She killed her semester in Culinary Arts at Santa Barbara City College.  But I may be more pleased with the fact that she now makes some pretty awesome bread from scratch!

5.  I struggle internally when I see people support someone they know behaves poorly to another or others.  I understand there is such a thing as freedom of choice, but unfortunately it shows their true colors.    It makes me a bit sad. No, make that disappointed.

6.  I hate to use public bathroom facilities when there’s a woman in another stall speaking on her cell phone. I get gun shy. She could be speaking to George Clooney for all I know!  TMI?

7.  I saw a book recently called, “Your Hidden Food Allergies are Making you Fat.”  So I guess I’m allergic to Cake, French Fries, Doughnuts, Bread and Snickers candy bars.  Who knew!

8a.  I so rolled my eyes when I found out recently that Sydney Rose had her grandpa come over to handle a “HUMONGOUS” moth the cat had been batting around in the house.
8b.  Glad Grandpa was around to handle the lizard the cat dragged in this week.
8c.  The recent baby snake eating incident was hard to witness.
8d.  Sydney and I have decided that the cat is NOT offering up gifts to us when she brings in the occasional bird, Humongous moth, lizard or baby snake.  If she were, she’d leave them for us.  Instead, she maims, tortures, and then devours her prey.
8e.  We may have to feed the cat more often.

9.  My friend just went in for reconstructive surgery after her mastectomy earlier this year. Now just recovery time.

10.  Ventura Music Week is less than a week away now.  It’s all a volunteer activity.  No one is profiting.  Actually, I think our community is profiting.  This year will be solid.  Next year off the hook!!!

11.  From my Favorite Facebook Posts file:  “Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.”  Jack Handrey

Thanks for listening.

The Cancer Card Update…January 16, 2013

My Wedding 1989

(Originally posted January 16, 2013 on Facebook)

Update from the cancer front.

In case you missed it. My friend got the news late Saturday night that the Path report was in. There was no invasive cancer anywhere in her tissue. There was no invasive cancer. Her doctor said, that’s it. No chemo needed.”

She told me last night, “Thank you for beautiful post on my health and recovery on Facebook. That made me cry. A Good cry.”

She also wanted to express her gratitude for the love and kindness from those who Liked & made comments. She said that the love and good energy makes all the difference and it was really appreciated.

I told her, “My message on FB was completely heartfelt. I’m glad it was a good cry. Continue to mock up being healthy, because you are!”

My friend belongs to a prestigious business community here on the Gold Coast and so I will keep her anonymous. She continues to keep a strong front for her colleagues, friends and family, especially for her beautiful young son.

We’ve been though so much together: grade school, jr. high, high school. We’ve celebrated the best of times being in each other’s weddings, and then the births of our beautiful children, a daughter for me and a son for her. But we’ve also been through the worst of times, our divorces, my mother’s suicide, very bad men and illnesses.

But let me just sum her up to our conversation we had last night. While she thanked me for that post, she was all about trying to help me solve a problem I’ve been dealing with. I love her!

She really is a big tremendous being.

I’m thrilled to know that we’ll continue to grow old together.

The Cancer Card…January 12, 2013

(Originally posted January 12, 2013)

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to my friend  and the fact that she’s been dealt the Cancer card.  Some of you know her.  I know her well, like a sister for almost 45 years.

One can say trite things like she’s so brave or she’s a fighter, and she is, but she is also vulnerable.  We all are.

My friend lost her left breast this week.

Prayers are welcomed. But what I would love from each and everyone one of you, is to mock up seeing clean healthy tissue in the rest of her body.  Mock up a strong healthy body.  Do not mock up her fighting cancer. Do not mock up her trying to be healthy. Mock up her being healthy.

Thank you.