Saturday, October 18, 2008
Birthday!
Any year I continue to suck air has to be cause for celebration. Or at least I certainly hope so.
I'm home, albeit with digestive difficulties (probably from the IV antibiotic). I also have swelly feet, legs and belly. But I'm extremely relieved I don't have to spend my birthday at the hospital.
I am 36 today and have been fêted for almost a week (if you don't count the early gift of the Amazon Kindle). My mom brought stuffed peppers and a Sweet Dreams Bakery cake (much like the one pictured) to the hospital last Sunday. Thursday she took Brian and me to Musashi for dinner, yesterday Brian finished hanging curtains for me and gave me the DVDs The Red Violin and Walk the Line. Today he took down the butt-ugly pool hall style light over the dining room table and is putting up my Ikea octopus light, "Hörby". Tonight he is taking me to a Red Wings (hockey) game. I'm not a hockey fan, but I'm excited and kind of hope there will be much violence.
Not that I have rage issues, or anything.
I'm home, albeit with digestive difficulties (probably from the IV antibiotic). I also have swelly feet, legs and belly. But I'm extremely relieved I don't have to spend my birthday at the hospital.
I am 36 today and have been fêted for almost a week (if you don't count the early gift of the Amazon Kindle). My mom brought stuffed peppers and a Sweet Dreams Bakery cake (much like the one pictured) to the hospital last Sunday. Thursday she took Brian and me to Musashi for dinner, yesterday Brian finished hanging curtains for me and gave me the DVDs The Red Violin and Walk the Line. Today he took down the butt-ugly pool hall style light over the dining room table and is putting up my Ikea octopus light, "Hörby". Tonight he is taking me to a Red Wings (hockey) game. I'm not a hockey fan, but I'm excited and kind of hope there will be much violence. Not that I have rage issues, or anything.
Labels: ascites, birthday, Brian, edema, hospital, mom
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
May Have Played the Cancer Card
This past weekend I drove to Cleveland to see my dad and visit with my Grandma, aunts, one uncle, and several of my cousin's kids. On the way there, I was pulled over by one of Michigan's finest. I was driving somewhat fast-ish, and figured I deserved a speeding ticket.
When he pulled me over and asked for my license, registration, and proof of insurance, I accidentally gave him the Saturn registration and utterly failed to find my proof of insurance (which turned out to be at home in a different purse). Then he pointed out to me that my license tags had expired. Of course...my birthday came and went. I completely forgot about renewing my tags as the Secretary of State had not seen fit--for the second time this year--to send a renewal notice. Then he also pointed out that the expired registration indicated the car was a four-door and not a two-door. "Were you aware of that?"
"No," I squeaked.
He went back to his vehicle and did whatever it is they do back there while you are squirming in your seat. I might have cried a little bit. I blew my nose.
When he came back, he told me he would let me off with a warning, but I needed to get it taken care of right away. "Be careful," he told me.
I was very surprised, since I actually had committed a number of offenses (although the only one I did on purpose involved the celerity with which I was zipping down the road). I had not put on a wig that day, figuring the back would just get tangled in the car and I'd swap the bandana for hair when I got closer to Grandma's house.
Maybe I inadvertently played the cancer card. Maybe he decided not to give the bald lady a ticket because he'd feel guilty doing it.
It does happen: I think people panic and become unsettled with somebody who looks visibly ill or different. I have on more than one occasion cut to the front of the baby frappuccino line at Race for the Cure. Hollywood stars get clothes and jewelry all the time for looking abnormally fabulous; have you ever seen the amazing bags of swag they get for going to the Oscars? No one's giving me iPods, furs, and expensive perfume. No one need be jealous of us if we play the card from time to time--whether we mean to or not.
Neupogen to boost your white blood cell count: $1000
A Year's worth of chemo and Avastin: $100,000
A trip to the ER for an emergency CT scan: $50
Getting out of a ticket because you're bald and feeble: priceless.
When he pulled me over and asked for my license, registration, and proof of insurance, I accidentally gave him the Saturn registration and utterly failed to find my proof of insurance (which turned out to be at home in a different purse). Then he pointed out to me that my license tags had expired. Of course...my birthday came and went. I completely forgot about renewing my tags as the Secretary of State had not seen fit--for the second time this year--to send a renewal notice. Then he also pointed out that the expired registration indicated the car was a four-door and not a two-door. "Were you aware of that?"
"No," I squeaked.
He went back to his vehicle and did whatever it is they do back there while you are squirming in your seat. I might have cried a little bit. I blew my nose.
When he came back, he told me he would let me off with a warning, but I needed to get it taken care of right away. "Be careful," he told me.
I was very surprised, since I actually had committed a number of offenses (although the only one I did on purpose involved the celerity with which I was zipping down the road). I had not put on a wig that day, figuring the back would just get tangled in the car and I'd swap the bandana for hair when I got closer to Grandma's house.
Maybe I inadvertently played the cancer card. Maybe he decided not to give the bald lady a ticket because he'd feel guilty doing it.
It does happen: I think people panic and become unsettled with somebody who looks visibly ill or different. I have on more than one occasion cut to the front of the baby frappuccino line at Race for the Cure. Hollywood stars get clothes and jewelry all the time for looking abnormally fabulous; have you ever seen the amazing bags of swag they get for going to the Oscars? No one's giving me iPods, furs, and expensive perfume. No one need be jealous of us if we play the card from time to time--whether we mean to or not.
Neupogen to boost your white blood cell count: $1000
A Year's worth of chemo and Avastin: $100,000
A trip to the ER for an emergency CT scan: $50
Getting out of a ticket because you're bald and feeble: priceless.
Labels: Avastin, baldness, birthday, chemo, CT scan, Dad, Grandma, hospital, Neupogen, Race for the Cure, vacation, wigs
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Birthday in T-Minus One Day!
My Birthday, that is.
I never imagined when I started this blog that I would have to say so. I figured that all three of the people likely to read it are already related to me and would know that my birthday is October 18.
Libras represent, yo.
However, I seem to get comments and emails from people I've never met or people with whom I have a passing online-bulletin-board-acquaintance. Sometimes people find themselves here because they are Googling my doctor, or because I mention (and tag) something about which they are seeking more information. At least one person contacted me because of where I work, the university from which she matriculated.
So hi there, internet peoples. It's going to be my birthday! (Feel free to leave well-wishes in the comments or via email...you know you want to.) In other days I might have felt morose about turning 35. I do joke about how very ooooooold I am, but I don't really mean it. Every year I get to eat cake and open a card or two (not to mention a present or two) is a good one. This year I will say the same thing I plan to say on every special annual occasion:
Same time, next year! WOOHOO!
I never imagined when I started this blog that I would have to say so. I figured that all three of the people likely to read it are already related to me and would know that my birthday is October 18.
Libras represent, yo.
However, I seem to get comments and emails from people I've never met or people with whom I have a passing online-bulletin-board-acquaintance. Sometimes people find themselves here because they are Googling my doctor, or because I mention (and tag) something about which they are seeking more information. At least one person contacted me because of where I work, the university from which she matriculated.
So hi there, internet peoples. It's going to be my birthday! (Feel free to leave well-wishes in the comments or via email...you know you want to.) In other days I might have felt morose about turning 35. I do joke about how very ooooooold I am, but I don't really mean it. Every year I get to eat cake and open a card or two (not to mention a present or two) is a good one. This year I will say the same thing I plan to say on every special annual occasion:
Same time, next year! WOOHOO!
Labels: birthday
