Illinois ladies facing bc
Comments
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Hi Laughing Water, I love the name. I live in Northbrook and had my radiation at Glenbrook. I guess they have a new center. It wasn't ready when I was there last year. My surgeon is leaving her practice (oh woe is me) so I cannot suggest her. I had my surgery in Evanston Hospital. My oncologists is in Highland Park Hospital and he is great (Kellogg Center). I have been pleased with my care, but I am on an HMO and couldn't just go anywhere. For me it was whirlwind, and I just trusted immediately that I was getting great care. That is just me. You are wise. Good luck.
It was so good to hear from you Connie. I am not doing lunch. I am sitting in bed, reading posts, and feeling cozy. The eggs sound like so much fun. The best time in my life (although now is really cool with my grandchild) would be the time you are in right now. I loved being a mom!
Nancy, I need to check with my adult kids to see if they will be walking or running and then I will register. Baby will be strolling as she is 7 months old! She has plenty of pink for the day! I wanted one of those smiley faces you use. Where are they?
Susan0 -
Hi all,
Not laughing due to weather...I'm hating it for all of you though I doubt too many of you need help for that. I am on the new computer....just managed to find enough info to get the sight back on a book-mark.
Had an appt. at the local V.A. and wouldn't you know......I could not find my car keys....boy did I panic big time. Tried to get BIL to take me...nothing doing...what a guy. I think he was afraid to go there but it's only 22 miles. We are having some high winds and will get rain....closer to evening I think. Still I didn't think it should be anything upsetting for him. Sigh !!!! I guess I still think anyone who drove the southern California freeways like we all did for as long as we did should see this as next to nothing.
Good news thoiugh....I called to cancel appt. and found out it was sort of a nothing kind of one anyway---follow-up on my recent hospital admission....nothing going on there so I cancelled completely. Once that pressure was off.....I re-checked my purse for the 10th. time and yes, yes, yes, there were the keys. Got stuck in an inside pocket where until you emptied completely you would never discover them.
I hope this has something to do with chemo.....because I do not panic like that and I did not like BEING terribly out of control.
Something else I will have to work on I guess.
I will actually get to relax somewhat today then....now no appt. and I can breathe once again because my keys are here with me. We went 50 miles North yesterday to Effingham and I was scared that they ( the keys ) might have accidentally fallen out of my purse in the restaurant.......didn't relish the thought of calling and driving all the way back there
Ok, nuf' of my key fiasco.
I'll try to properly continue to enjoy my life w/o Prozac and get straight.
Still praying that your weather problems are not too bad and very short lived.
Thinking about all of you.....those who are at lunch....and those not.
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Jackie: Do not worry about the key incident. Yesterday I panicked because I was sure I missed my appointment with the breast surgeon. I could not find where I had written it down. I called and said I was afraid I had goofed as all this week I thought it was on Good Friday (today) and that I now suddenly I thought I missed it (yesterday). She checked for the longest time and then said, "It is not for today or tomorrow. It is for one week from Friday. So I was wrong on all counts. Like you, now am having a lazy day as no appointment. I am totally convinced that chemo does affect the brain, especially those "executive skills" you need for planning in the future. It is scary as I am not always myself and I sure hope it lifts. I also find that my math skills are now poorer as well as concepts of dates, times, etc. I need to overcompensate by writing and repeating things. Have a happy day now. It is all over!
Susan0 -
Hi Laughingwater....I too love that name! Oh Goodness....you are not butting in! We love new people. I can't help you as I am in South Elgin and went to Delnor Hospital out here in Geneva. And soooo happy for you that all is well with your bx!
Connie....now you know why I immediately washed my hair after spiking it! Not a good look for me!
Susan....good for you! All nice and cozy. And YAY!!!! for your cousin! Good news!!!!
DH just got home...it has been snowing heavily for the past 1 1/2hours and he said the roads are just terrible so I am glad I gave up the 4WD to him and I stayed home. Hope the girls are having fun at lunch but are keeping an eye on the skies!
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Hey ladies hope all is well with every one. How was lunch? Make sure to post pictures.
I was tickled pink to see that someone thought that AA meant Alcoholic An. Yes sometimes I wish I was. I can't remember the last time I had a drink except for taking communion.LOL. An no this bc thing does not in any way shape or form discriminate. When I read the statistic of AA women and caucassian women that blacks are most likely to die of bc than whites it saddens me because the facts are true. We do lack better health coverage heck if it wasn't for medicaid I don't know what I would do. We don't take good care of ourselves heck I am 200+ lbs. Where I used to have a big butt has now changed places with my gutt. Dang that chemo and steroids.LOL...When I am out and about I look at other black women and wonder if they even think or even know another AA women that has or is going through this? I want to ask them when was the last time they did a breast exam? I want to be so much an advocate for change for this cause. But I don't know where to start. I know that God has a purpose for my life and I feel that this is where he is leading me. I am so thankful for all of you that have accepted me as part of your group even after posting my picture. I am me just plain ole me.
Hi, laughing water welcome to the site. Feel right at home here. These women are great and informative.
Oh, an my husband cancelled our vacation. He didn't want to take a chance driving up in the snow. Which is great. Want to hit the outdoor water parks. So tonight is family fun night. Going out to a movie and dinner.
I hope everyone has a great Easter and weekend...
Sabrina
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Hey Wendy:
I was just thinking so hard about the good news on my cousin. That was Smerf's cousin LOL.
Sabrina, you say you don't know where to start being an advocate. You alrady have by writing about it here. We just have to get the word out farther.
The snow is gorgeous!
Susan
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Hi Ladies: Lunch Bunch update.
Just got home from the Lunch Bunch at Maggiano's..and it was good as always, great food, great friends and lots of laughs. We got treated like queens and even got free dessert. How about that. The waiter remembered us from last time and commented on the "wig removal" and all the photo's that were taken and how we all were laughing..It was nice.
Karin.. it was soo good to meet you. I loved your pond pics and yes you do have beautiful fish. I hope you get out safely at Midway. Please let us know when you get home safe.
Laura..you look great as always and keep up the good work.
JanClare.. I am so glad your are feeling better and could make it to lunch. How did Leesa boobs feel...lol Forget to ask you if you have a table for the April 13 lunch and what time are you going to be there.
Pat..it was so nice to meet you and yes we do have great doc's. Hope you are not still there having drinks without me...
Nancyla...glad to meet you too. The race sounds like fun and it is for a good cause. If I can change me schedule I think I can do it. But I will have to let you know.
Leesa..Spa day Monday..you are going to look hot in surgery. So relaxed ...think good thoughts and remember we are here for you.
Kater.. we missed your photo sessions..Leesa took a few pics of us.
Wendy..did you eat all those chocolate eggs yet. I hope not. lol
For everyone else we had you all in spirit with us. The snow is so beautiful but I would like spring now. Be careful driving out there.
Will check back later I have to shovel the snow now. Have a great afternoon.-
Blackjack
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Hi girls,
So glad that several of you got to go to lunch today. Enjoyed reading your post Blackjack and had I been there I sure would have been slurping down on the dessert. I have lost a lot of my sweet-tooth and it's a good thing, but I can rise to the occasion now and then....especially when someone does something so nice. You all sure made a favorable impression on that restaurant. Way to go.
I'm hanging in.....starting to get into some se territory, but so far sure feels nothing like last time with the throat. As long as that holds up ( and I feel certain it will ) then I will do ok.
Dh gets home from work tonight early for a change so he can pamper me just a bit this evening.
No more steroids so I will probably go back to sleeping a lot better and that too will prove quite helpful.
Anyway....hope all you and your families are safe and sound during this hopefully last snowstorm.
All take care.
Jackie
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Thanks for the welcome.
Zap, thank you for sharing your info. I've heard both the surgeons and the Kellogg Center are really good. The breast center at Glenbrook is pretty new.
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Hey guys...yep, got the cousin thing wrong....smerf, not zap! I am so sorry I missed lunch but as it turned out, giving up 4WD to DH...even he ended up off the road between here and DeKalb! So...I missed you guys! Hope you all ended up OK, back at home. Details...I need details!!!! I sure missed you guys.
Laughingwater....even tho you got lucky, don't go away. Il gals are really strong, should you ever need us and maybe we might need you!
Nancy...sorry I missed meeting you.
Blackjack...I am so sorry to have missed lunch with you. Next to Rita, in my humble opinion, you have taken charge and have made yourself into...well...into...I don't know! My special, extra-special, BC, fairy boob sister person. Does that work for you? Love and hugs and thanks to the bc gods for the day you joined...
Is Laura still so gorgeous? Is JanClare still so Absolutely, Frickin',red-headed...cute?
Did Nicki come? Where is Leesa having her surgery?
I MISS YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!
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OMG..Karin...I missed meeting you! How was it? Aren't we all a simply gorgeous bunch of pulcritude or what????
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Udate on the March Lunch:
What a lunch!!!! as usual my dear friends are my heart and strength, we missed all of you who couldn't make it.
I love this group. I met Pat, Nancy and Karin,
Karin is adorable, I kept interupting her when I was asking her questions and she never got aggravated, I came home and thought, why don't I ever shut up.
Nancy is just like on the boards a go getter who's gonna kick some ass. I want to walk with her.
Pat is great, we sat and talked and talked we nearly stayed through dinner. Pat's always saying she's the oldest one in the group yada yadda yadda...you would never know it she's gorgeous.
Yes, Laura is still a knockout... if she wasn't so genuine and kind and sweet I would hate her.
Michelle... what can I say...I am blessed to know her, I truly believe she is a gift from God.
This time Jan felt my boobies and I felt hers (where they used to be lmao) wait still laughing at my own joke.
Okay back has anyone heard from Kater????
Laughing water: my surgeon is the breast cancer survivor at LG, I'll let you know how her work is soon.
Update me Spa Day Monday, YEAH Tuesday, surgery at Lutheran General in Park Ridge, yeah it will finally be over.
Love you all
Leesa
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Morning! I see we got another inch or snow overnight. Oh goody!Leesa....so glad you are moving ahead, and I bet Tuesday can't come soon enough!
Blackjack....you brought chocolate? Please go ahead and eat mine. I still have 16 cadbury easter eggs sitting in my kitchen. Okay,okay....15. and shut up.
Did Nicki come? What happened to Kater? I haven't had any e-mails from her this morning, but I know she had to be in Maple Park yesterday afternoon by 5...
Karin...how was the traveling to Midway? Did you get out on time?
NancyLa...what walk?
What lunch on 4/13?
Boy...miss one lunch and I am out of the loop! But still glad DH had the SUV as I found out later that not only did he slide off the road, he hit a bush or something and there is a little dent in the side...can only imagine what could have happened in the Maxima! So I stayed home and blew snow. I did ours and our neighbors and I still had lots of gas so I did the new neighbors (the house next door FINALLY sold after 1.5 years). They haven't moved in yet but she was there, doing some stuff (I haven't met her yet) and she saw me doing all the sidewalks and she came out....silly me...I thought to say "hi" or thanks or something. She asked could I speed it up as it would be easier for her to back out her car if I could clean her driveway. All I said was "Hi. My name in Wendy. Welcome to the neighborhood." And no, I didn't blow her driveway. Hmmmm.....went home and told dh "uh-oh"...bad neighbors! Later tho, husband was over next door and came to the door to say "wow-thanks for doing the sidewalks and everything". I guess we'll see.....
Off to shower and do laundry. Never ends......
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Morning to all.
Loved your post this a.m. Wendy. Interesting about the new neighbor.....hopefully it really was a quirk. At least her hubby realized it would be a bit more wise to be gracious.
I am still bemoaning the fact that anyone had to get such weather up your way.
We won't have it too nice here the next couple of days...but not bad either. More gray and a bit blustery.
So far se's are not too bad though it's a bit early.....but I've got my fingers crossed.
I have to go help Maggie a bit this a.m. and making that Frog Eye Salad later for tomorrow.
Slept well last night....little achy when I woke up but hey---nothing that was a problem that's for sure.
I am liking the new pc so far.
BIL turned out to be not such a whiz....I'm having to put in all my addresses the old-fashioned way. He did not want to use the USB cable to transfer data.....shame on him. I even offered to go buy anything he needed. Sigh....oh well, as long as this thing works.
Kater---did you make the lunch? We will all be waiting for some kind of picture. Hope all went well with your kitty.
Well, I'm going to run for now and find something to nibble.
I'll be checking back later.
Jackie
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Hi Gurlz!
Wendy and those who were not there yesterday: JanC handed out info on the DAY OF SHARING Conference on Apr 13th. I HOPE YOU CAN ALL ATTEND! It would be great to spend the day together. You can register on-line at http://www.advocatehealth.com/ YOU HAVE TO ENTER CLASS CODE 3C15 in the search box. It costs $20 - but it's all day and lunch is provided...and lots of speakers and health topics, etc. It's from 8:30 to 4:00 - There's a fashion show and our LOVELY & FASHIONABLE JanClare is going to be model!
Wow...that ride home yesterday was a white knuckler indeed! Yikes...I "crawled" home...even in my 8cyl. 4 W-drive Explorer! I was supposed to drive from Magg. to Northbrook to p/u my niece for the weekend, but I chickened out. I was a nervous wreck...several cars were in ditches...tow trucks everywhere...but I made it home, safe and sound. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...home sweet home!
Karin - Wondering if you made it out of Midway! Hope so!
LUNCH WAS FAB! It was awesome! Meeting the new girls was great. You are all so sweet! Those who couldn't attend...were truly missed!
I don't have a lot of time...I am having Easter and I have a gazillion things to do.
Leesa - I updated the addy list---OMG I noticed we were born in the same year! I thought you were younger...you look a lot younger than me! LOL We are all cheering you on through this next chapter.
Anyone else who would like to get on the Illinois Addy list...just PM me with the following:
first and last name
address
home phone
cell phone
e-mail addy
birthday
dx date
(all of the above is, of course, optional)
GURLZ:
How about if we all add our dx stats. Just a brief descript. (It's difficult to remember it all):
mast or lump
hormone status & her2neu status
stage & grade
chemo y or n
rad y or n
Any suggestions are appreciated. Let me know your thoughts!
Gotta go...go...go! We're making home-made Pierogis (a family tradition)! A true work of "heart"!
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It was such a pleasure meeting some of you at lunch yesterday. I am so sorry I had to leave early.....
as I missed out on feeling the boobies. Michelle thank you for the chocolate. I am savoring every bite.
Laura, thank you for the puzzle charm, I put it on my key chain and every time I look at it I will think of your kind pretty face.
Jan Clare thanks for moderating. I know it must have been difficult with all of us talking.
Leesa you will be in my prayers on Tuesday.
Karin I hope you had a safe trip.
And Pat, what can I say....someone has to be the oldest, but know you are blessed and look great!
I look forward to seeing you again. Have a Happy Easter to all.
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Sounds like you all had a great lunch! Sorry I missed it. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the April 13th date either as we are celebrating my daughter's 7th birthday that day.
Well, I headed out and got a trim this morning. I had been bouncing around with hairdressers before my dx, so I just headed over to Hair Cuttery and they fit me right in. I got with a lovely gal, who was so kind. Her 12 year old son has been on chemo for 4 years for leukemia that has now spread to his brain and spine. Life is just not fair. She was so nice to me and said she knew just how to deal with my hair and how it would grow back, etc. since she has watched it with her son. So, she shaped the back and cut a little from the sides so that it would all be even. Looks much better now.
Sounds like Kater and Karin are missing. Check in girls!
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Sorry I'm slow at checking in.....LONG trip home. I couldn't beleive the blizzard like conditions when we left lunch! But about 5 miles from midway it turned to rain!!! I was SOOOOO HAPPY!!!! But since Ohara shut down Midway was packed! My flight was 1 hour late taking off, needless to say when I got home I was sooo tired
but dh was waiting up for me & even had a nice glass of wine to help me relax!
Lunch was wonderful!! Laura Thank you so much for the charm, I put it on a different chain & will wear it all the time! You said something about GD marketing her poem, how would she go about doing that?
Next time Laura askes to be packed in your suitcase when you leave town, agree to it she is so small she could fit w/ room to spare!!! ( And so cute! But then we all are!!LOL)
Will type more later right now have to catch up opn laundry ect..
Loved meeting you!!
Those I didn't have a chance to meet hope to meet you some day!!!
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Connie...I'm glad you got your cut, but so sad about the young boy. Life is so not fair!
Lunch was so much fun, and I think this group made quite an impression at Maggiano's last time. They were so extra nice to us, and I think we all really appreciated it.
Laura...thanks so much for the puzzle charm. I'll think of you everytime I see it. You are so cute, and thoughtful too!
Michele...Thank you for making the reservation for us, and for the yummy chocolate treat. You have a new career as party planner.
JanClare...It's so good to see you again, and to know you are feeling so much better. You had quite a job as moderator, because we sure do go off on tangents. You do it well.
Leesa, Karin and Nancy...it was good to meet you all at last. Karin, I sure hope you got out of here last night. It was nice to not be the only 60 something there this time.
Nancy...You should have seen the other ladies in the restroom when Leesa and JanClare disappeared into a stall together. I needed the camera.
Leesa Hang tough, girl. We are all here for you, and will get you through this.
I've been on the phone last night and this AM, talking to family about the kidney transplant. It couldn't have gone better, and she may go home Monday.
Missed Kater and Nicki...where are you?
Dh went out early this morning to use snowblower on driveway. He managed to run over the paper, and clog the blower. That's what happens when you clean the driveway before coffee. You have to wake up first! He left and went to work, so I've been trying to get the plastic and newspaper out of the machine. Somehow this made me think of you, Wendy.
Happy Easter to all!
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Hi, I am getting ready for the Easter Rabbit here. Man, that bunny demands a lot in terms of food and baskets for all the little and big kids in our lives.
Connie, don't you just think that all those coincidences in life, like meeting the hair dresser with the child with cancer, are maybe not coincidences, afterall. It sounded like you needed each other and met up while geting your hair cut.
The lunch sounded like it was fun. I am teaching in April, so hopefully we can plan one during the summer so I can meet you in person. I feel like I know you all in some way, yet would like to see a face (and not just the avatar).
Wendy, your neighbor is probably hiding under the bed with embarrassment. Maybe she thought the neighborhood chipped in for a snowblower (like an association fee) person and she thought dear, sweet Wendy was that person. There just needs to be an explanation and you will find out soon. I would give her the benefit of the doubt. No one is that rude.
Leesa, so glad you are rallying for this surgery. I know you are afraid, fear goes with the territory, but we are all here with the one thought that you are going beat this thing. I am impossible at graphics, so please accept this humble show of support
!Susan
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Karin...I think we were posting at the same time. Glad to hear you arrived home safely, without too much waiting. I'm glad we didn't give up on lunch, but getting home was a challenge.
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RITA OFF TOPIC
how many of you see Rita's first lines when we log in? smile
I'm on a caffeine high (maybe all this caffeine is causing the headaches I've been having, which is part of the reason I didnt make it to the luncheon, didn't get much sleep, plus needing to take care of my fishing lure hooked kitty from vet)....
"I'm very curious about all the Illinois ladies who are making this breast cancer journey o"
Wasnt there an xrated movie "i am curious", i guess i could google it, chuckle. where did that come from??!!
chuckle, yes, it was!
i quote: wikipedia
...was a landmark film that helped define the emergent change in Swedish film of the 1960s. Like a French New Wave film, the movie uses jump cuts and its story is not structured in a conventional Hollywood way. ....Censorship A notorious scene inwhich Lena kisses her lover's ..."
i will delete this soon, it's SOOOOOOOOOO off topic! chuckle
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Wendy's neighbor ALSO OFF TOPIC
"please do my drive way first i gotta run"
i was thinking the lady was highly stressed and could it be she is like terry hatcher's character in desperate housewives, things come out wrong and she really means well?
i hope so, cause otherwise BOO HOO on the neighbor.
Glad the hubby came forth, i would have been very mad!!
I cant believe she thought you were hired help but you never know! Maybe she thought her husband hired you...ha ha...it's a full moon yikes...xxxxxxxxxxxxx
cancer hairdressers kid
Connie
I k now what you mean, we were all congregated this summer in m iddle of sams club because a tornado was sighted and this lady started talking to me about her 14 year old that just had his brain cancer come back , chemo, etc. i still remember her face, she was so nice and i started crying right there at sams club...also someone in walmart parking lot told me how her son had testicular cancer and DID NOT make it. i think its 96% odds people survive that, he was young, also, like in his 20s so that was sad!
you remember those things and they both said they would pray...you just are glad God knows who you are talking about!!
re: luncheon and waiters.
I supposed flipping off wig is not social etiquette but i do it so much at home, i have worn that new wig maybe a total of 5 hours in 6 weeks...hot flashes and all....i prefer to go with one inch head...but wear the wig mostly to make my Mom feel i'm more presentable. smile.
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doc list
i'd still like to volunteer to start a list...
doctors we like and don't like and why
if anyone wants to!
it's too much to ask Laura to add to her list...
it could be anonymous....if we had questions we could just ask on here for more info.
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Glad to see you finally showed up Kater....was starting to wonder about you and kitty.
As as aside.....I have felt for a long, long time that there is no fate, no coincidences, no chance,no just because, no happenstance----for me while we often miss it....because we may put a lot of stock in the above words......there is an orchestration that goes on to take care of our needs--whatever they may be. And it may be just someone finding a hairdresser where there is something like cancer in both of these families.
We are not here on this Earth alone and adrift---I believe with all my heart and soul we planned our entire life before we got here and included those people we would need---all of you wonderful, caring, supportive people who chose to avail yourself at the same time. I still sometimes marvel at trying two cancer sites and just knowing that this is the one where I would flourish. Almost as though I knew it somewhere inside my heart first.
Reading and studying spirituality as I have for so long---and I have read lots and lots.....Wayne Dyer, Doreen Virtue, Deepak Chopra, Brian Weiss, Sylvia Browne---and felt at least for myself that I made many break-throughs along the way. We were never here alone. But for the record....I really don't get into preachy aspects too much. We are all on slightly different spiritual levels....so what I find completely true for myself may not be that way for you and vice-versa. We don't want to be clones of each other...we would not learn and grow our soul very well that way.
Well, nuf' of that for now, but it is often hard for me to resist when I hear certain words or phrases.
Hope you all have a lovely, lovely Easter.... and none of the eggs are frozen in the snow. How so un-cool of Mother Nature, huh !!!
I'll be checking in later.
Jackie
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Kater...glad you checked in. Wondered what happened with you and kitty. Hope he's okay now. Ouch!
Wendy....Could it be neighbor's strange sense of humor? Otherwise....OMG!
Jackie....You seem to be feeling better, and that's good news. Thinking of you, and hope one day to meet you at lunch. Very good desserts at Maggiano's.
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So sorry I missed the March lunch, well maybe April. Sounds like you had a great time.
Kater-Hope your cat is doing better. I remember when our dog decided to pick up a fishing lure from the garage. It was stuck in 2 places in his mouth. I was panicking and asked one of my boys to get a neighbor to help, but somehow, before the neighbor arrived it was out. Yikes scary!
Karin-again, sorry that I did not get to meet you this time. Glad to hear you made it home safely, even though your flight was late!
Wendy-glad DH wasn't injured during his off road experience. Heard there were alot of cars in the ditches on my DH's way home from work.
Leesa-I missed something - Spa day Monday? Sounds good!
Any lunch pictures ladies?
Happy Easter
Michele0 -
OFF TOPIC
Thanks for all the cat thoughts, He's been behaving really well!
He was such a wonderful baby kitten, I will never forget (thanks to the videos I took, he was about as big as my hand). 8-)
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To all!!! 0 -
To all!!! 0
