Week 15 and 4 weeks + 2 days to go

I am counting down. Not days yet. When we hit Oct. 1 I'll start counting days. Right now it's still weeks.

I started my new job this week. I feel officially incompetent, however, I don't have the threat of imminent dismissal and dissatisfaction hanging over my head. That's good. Our layoffs tend to be annually toward the end of Oct. into Nov. I don't think I'll have the same concerns this year that I tend to have since 2002 when I got exterminated! Lots to learn though. Whole bunch. My aunt tells the story of playing hide and seek with us as kids (she was maybe 7-9 years older than my oldest bro) and my brother just older than I would count, 1, 2, 3 hoe bunch. I love that story and count that way often. Hoe bunch.

Saw Dr. C this week. I had my grid of pros/cons, procedures, goals and all that stuff. I was thinking about him and how he seems to work. I thought, no, I'm not going to pull this out. I'm going to just talk about symmetry, proportion, and that what I look like unclothed is important. I won't get into procedures, we'll just talk. Seems to work well for him.  Had a good visit. Didn't really talk much about procedures. I'll ask him what he did after surgery. This is kind of difficult for me. I want to know who, what, when, where, how. But I also want what I want. I think I will be more likely to get it if I don't make him explain everything in advance. He goes a bit by feel. I can kind of understand that. I often need to do things myself  because I need to feel it. grrr.

We are at the beach this weekend. I've had opportunities to make jewelry. I need more storage space at home to keep the jewels. If you want something, let me know, I'll consider making it for you. I especially like wire and stone. I'll show pictures in a bit. A couple pieces are for friends and some are for me. Here goes....

My photo theme this weekend at the beach was seaweed. Have you ever noticed how many different shapes and colors there are? Amazing.

Can you just imagine working Monday with the ocean sounds crashing in the near background? I can, and I don't have to imagine it. I will hear it. I'll be on a conference call for about 3 hours. I think the folks on the other end of the line will hear it too. I'll have to try to muffle the sound.

I wore a very lightweight tank top this AM w/o bra. I/yi. It seems sans structured bra is not a good idea. But I think it's a matter of deprogramming or desensitization.  Need to change that cuz omg, not a good thing. Funny that nipple conservation ends up being painful! Only on part of it though, not all.

Hang in there. We only have a few weeks to go. I'll take you into recovery a bit, but won't bore you forever. Thanks for hanging out.

Week 14 and 5 weeks + 2 days

Nothing much going on. As you can see I am counting down. I'll start doing it by day soon!

I successfully prepped for my colonoscopy. Honestly, for those of you who may be putting it off, it's not that bad. I got a little tired of sweet so I drank broth and herbal tea towards the end. Took a nice little nap during the procedure which was good after being up several times during the night. Dr. B pronounced my colon healthy and let me know I didn't need to come back for 10 years. Yoohoo!

I discovered the other day if I put my right upper arm across my chest on top of my breast, I have a good shelf to rest my arm on, then I can put my chin in my hand. I think I could take a nap like that. It's firm enough that it just stays there - doesn't get squished. I had Mr. do a photo, but the effect didn't show. So... no pictures to post this week.

Tomorrow I start my new job. I'll still do 1-2 hrs a day on my old job to get things wrapped up. But I'll be in training for awhile. It will be strange to be learning new things instead of teaching new things. I'm looking forward to that.

Wednesday is my followup with my surgeon. We'll go over  priorities, goals, or whatever you want to call them. If  he's ready, we'll talk about procedures. I'll have my pre-op visit on 10/11, so we'll finalize things then.

There are times when it just feels better not to have a top on. It's getting a little chilly for that. Not sure what I'll do when winter sets in - turn the heat up. If the furnace is installed that might be an option! I'm sitting here tonight with a shawl around my neck and over the left side. I'm warm enough that way, and more comfortable. Sometimes I think it's wearing a bra that makes me uncomfortable, and others it seems like it's not wearing a bra and wearing a top that makes me uncomfortable. What to do?

Small family reunion today - aunt and uncle in from Maryland. Saw another OR aunt and uncle and two cousins hadn't see in awhile. That was nice.

Hoping to get a few more summer days before Fall sets in. We'll see...

Week 13 with 6 weeks + 2 days to go

Well, let's see.... We started out on a motorcycle trip for an extended Labor Day weekend and went as far as Sun River. Mr's. bike was having some loss of power issues. We felt that it might be a bit risky to continue given that I really needed to be back to work on the 6th as I am trying to finish up projects so I am ready to transition to my new position on 9/19. We spent the night in Bend and stayed near the McMenamin's St. Francis - no rooms available, but we were able to stay close enough to walk there for dinner and have some Terminator. We headed home on Thursday morning. As fortune or circumstance would have it, Mr. had no problems all the way home. We got home middle of the afternoon and prepared for a truck camping trip. We left for the east side of the mountains - east of Prineville and Post - to camp. It was nice to get away but for some reason I had major allergic response to the grasses, etc. Even Zyrtec didn't seem to help much. I'm still working on getting completely over it though am much better.

I'm counting down on a few fronts. 9/19 I start my new position. I have alot to learn. 10/25 is my 2nd surgery. If I am counting right that would be the 6 weeks + 2 days to go. By this time on the 25th, I should at the least be in recovery. Oh, and lest I forget, my first ever colonoscopy on 9/16! I went out and bought my prep stuff at Bi-mart and Safeway this afternoon. The clerk at Bi-Mart laughed and said "Oh guess what you get to do." We laughed. I even bought some extra things so Mr. will almost be ready for it when he schedules his. No food with seeds in it starting Tuesday. My advice to you is don't schedule your colonoscopy when there are so many fresh seeded things like tomatoes and cucumbers. 3 days with no seeds! Thursday clear liquids, I can have Ensure until 5pm. Need some protein source. Then the fun begins!

This past week I worked 10-11 hour days. Will probably do the same Mon - Thurs. again. Work days should get shorter soon!

Had a good time yesterday enjoying some art and friends. We went to Lake Oswego and ate lunch with friends at Lady Di's, a British tea place, then we did the sculpture walk. LO sponsors statues around town and each year the residents get to vote on one to purchase. Great company and great art. Nice treat. Here's a picture of one of my favorites. Check out some more at their website. http://www.lofa.org/

Glass & Steel

Nothing new on the breast front, though I did notice the other day that I do have almost normal sensation on the lower left quarter of my breast. Maybe more to come? I'll take what I can get. I am able to wear a bra the majority of the day, but it's always nice to get out of it in  the evening. They are pretty structured.

It's been warm, hot, though I am not going to complain. It took forever for summer to arrive. Tomatoes are finally ripening. We are hoping to get a new furnace installed before the cool sets in. Right now we have no heat source. So......

At any rate, I have nothing more to go on about, so I'll call it good for now.