CRAZY TOWN WAITING ROOM - TESTS coming up? All Stages Welcome.
Comments
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Sandy, I bet you are more accurate than the weather man! I've found my body always knows when rain is coming. I'm glad you were able to get some money out of all that suffering!
Octo, Welcome home!! We missed you. Sounds like you had a wonderful time with the grandchildren! I tend to get sad too when a holiday is over and I go back to my hermit living. Giving you hugs too to chase away the blues. (((((Octo))))) Thanks....I'm glad I'm not the only one that didn't know about the spatula. So gross if you think about it too much!!
Katy, Thank you! It's a total kids tree with homemade decorations and Mickey on top. I guess I'll always be a kid at heart. Chinese food and a movie sounds like a perfect way to spend an evening with a good friend! My sister and I did that last week. She asked me to come keep her company while she made her traditional pumpkin bread and we ended up getting Chinese food, and talking instead. I really need to get out more. I wish you lived closer!!
Ducky, You go girl!!!! I love seeing pictures of you cutting a rug!! Looks like you all had a blast!! No gold shoe pictures??? Thanks for sharing the pictures with us!!
Gaia, I'm glad you spent time in a place you feel nourished and safe. I miss my parents so much and long for that feeling often. Thanks for sharing those feelings with us. It brought up some good memories for me.
I mistyped....I meant to type cornmeal dumplings but my brain was thinking cornbread. I seem to do that a lot lately. I blame it all on chemo. hahaThere are so many wonderful cooks here in Crazy Town, I'm a bit intimidated to share my first culinary picture. Here goes.....
.....chicken, beef soup with CORNMEAL dumplings!! I'm so glad the weather has gotten cooler. It makes me want to cook more. It tasted pretty good!!
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....um... gaia... nothing rustic about that spa.. look it up, it's world class, and people do come from all over the world to go there. It's a stunner.
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Slow, the timeline does sound like fun, at least to us grownups. Your Christmas tree looks ready for Santa to arrive with some presents! I had no idea the rubber part of the spatula comes off, either. I wonder if it doesn't come off on the less expensive models. Thanks for the hug, having a sad night here. The soup looks good, I've never tried cornmeal dumplings.
Octo, sounds like you had a good time with the grandkids. Hopefully Christmas will be even better when your son will be there. The holiday is always too short, isn't it?
Katy, you are probably right to save the turkey for later in the season. Can you serve it when your niece comes for the tree trimming? It sounds like she missed out on turkey, too.
Ducky, I can't believe you did the Nae Nae! Oh my! Love the pics! No wonder you had to break in the shoes before you went dancing!
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The mud room0 -
Holy moly, Tomboy, that place is cool! Even I'd be willing to be covered in mud to sit in a place like that!
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Did you notice Ducky was a blur from moving so fast? No wonder her family has the chops. Look at that big smile on her face, too!
Sorry we didn't get to hook up, Octo. Next time for sure!
Bep, we would have laughed our asses off, guaranteed
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Right, Cub? It was quite a bit darker than that, and the last mud almost looked violet in the light, and I was pretty relaxed by then, it was the last mud, so I was drawing designs on myself. It was really warm in there, and they did a guided meditation that I kept forgetting to listen to! Monkey mind!
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Tomboy, which spa was that? I did Sonoma Mission Inn about 20 years ago and the Meritage in Napa back in 2013 (a year before the quake). Never did go for the mud--massages and facials were as adventurous as I got. Might book a massage on my cruise though.
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Oh Ojai! Sweet memories. No mud for me though. It's such a beautiful place. I think the cheapest room 25+ years ago was $250/ night. I can't imagine what it would be now. At the time I was flush with $$$ and in love.
Now, my new love- thanks to Rainny and Sula (and possibly a few others, sorry I can't remember all the good tips I got) I made a no knead loaftonight. Well started yesterday as the trick with this method seems to be time. Isn't it pretty?
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Hello Crazies!!!!
Finally have a moment... The last several days have been a mad whirl... Fill everyone in later.
Just quickly,
Ducky,
What a lovely bride and I can see your family really knows how to party!!!!more pictures!! I love wedding stuff.
Everyone else I will drop back and go through everything it's just the bride totally jumped out at me. So pretty!
It's 12:30.... Catch you on the flip side Crazies!!
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Jackie, that loaf you made? If I thought there was any left, I would drive to your house right this minute! Can I have the recipe? I think I want to take it to bed with me. I am glad my mud adventure reminded you of sweet times. Wow! I had no Idea it was so expensive! The individual rooms have all gotten redone lately I guess his sis said. I am with you ,Chi. Mud wouldn't have been my first choice,, but it was gifted to me as a belated birthday, paid for in advance, so I felt I couldn't refuse. Slow knew I struggled with this, just really wasn't ready to be naked in front of people still. Bad me.
And I can smell your soup from my house, Bep!
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Here they are ladies "The Golden Slippers"...............
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I had to share this.........thought this was so touching......I was glad someone caught it on camera.....this is Kyle......big strapping 6ft 3in police officer........Kaileen was coming down the aisle.......
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Please.......if you ladies get tired of these pictures say something.........I don't want to bore any of you, ........I have to keep in mind this is my family........LOL......Just let me know.....
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You ladies are so talent in the kitchen....I use to be...spent most of my years in there cooking for my 6 children and husband........now its a can of soup, left overs from whatever I made yesterday, and eating whatever yo do make alone, and some how its not fun anymore..............how I loved making a big meal and watching the tops of their heads insted of their faces............hurrying to finish their first plate so they could get back in time for seconds before someone else got their first.....................0
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Ok, sorry ladies...........getting melancholy, and don't want to go there.........now I have my grandaughter's birthday to look forward to which we will celebrate next Saturday at my house (since Stella can't have company yet).........Makayla will be 15......hard to believe......0
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This is Kevin....he is the bride's brother, my grandson who lives in Chicago....he walked me down the aisle0 -
This is at my daughter's house before leaving for the church......Kaileen with her Mom and Dad......
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This is Patrick.....walking his Mother down the aisle...he also lives in Chicago.......and is Kaileen's brother also.....
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Here is a picture of me with my 6 kids.....no clue what I was saying.....Left to right in the picture is the oldest Vince 58...Genevieve (Ginny) 57.....Gene 52....(I call him Beany)
..Michele 56......Michael 49....Nicasia (Nikki) 46...........0 -
ducky, i absolutely LOVE your pics! Especially the big guy's reaction when the bride comes down the aisle, and of course, the golden slippers!
Katy, that bread is beautiful. You may have inspired me....or possibly hubby, who is the baker in my family, although I am the cook.
One of my Thanksgiving stories: World's Most Adorable Granddaughter has noticed that the women in the family do the cooking...and was commenting on it. I wasn't crazy about planting that idea in her head, so when World's Most Adorable Grandson, not yet quite three (his birthday is in late December) expressed interest in making cranberry sauce, I was all over it. With direction from grandma he was able to do everything but stir it on the heat (I told him next year he'd be old enough to help with the actual stove-top cooking), and he then loved eating it, although he kept telling everyone to 'try the raspberry sauce I made' :-)
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Meanwhile....back at home...I am a bit in CT this am and could use some help getting out. Well, first of all, my elbow is hurting like crazy...elbow cancer? Extremely painful and I didn't do anything to injure it that I can remember. Hope it goes away when it warms up...
but mostly I am freaking out about hair. Can those of you who had chemo and lost your hair give me any words of wisdom or comfort...I know, I know, only 2.5 weeks PFC, so I am probably (hopefully) just too impatient, but I really wish the hair was coming back. I have hair at the nape of my neck which IS growing, but it was there all through chemo, never fully went away. And I have stubble on my legs, but again, that never really went away. My eyebrows are thin, but hanging in. So are my eyelashes. Hair in all the places I don't necessary want it, but it didn't ever fully go away. The top of my head, OTOH, where it matters to me, is still shiny bald. I was hoping for some fuzz by now but just a few stray hairs.....Surely it should start to grow back if hair elsewhere is growing....
I am truly sick of hats and scarves, even though the weather is finally conducive to wearing them. I HATE looking in the mirror and being reminded of cancer. I want to look like me. I don't want to look like a sick person. I am becoming obsessed with my hair. How does one develop patience and move forward and feel well when one looks sick?
Hugs, Octogirl
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Octo, I had the same feelings as you 3 weeks post chemo. I felt fine, so every time I saw myself it was a slap! 1.5 months after last chemo I had enough hair to shave it off, and it would look intentional, if that makes sense. I didn't care what I looked like, as long as I didn't look like a cancer patient lol. My MO suggested biotin supplements, so that might be worth looking into. Patience is really the hardest thing...
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Hi Crazies! Back from Thanksgiving in NJ: 12 of us, and 83-year-old mother hosted and pretty much insisted on doing much of it herself. And did a fine job! That said, sister, SIL, and I brought in a lot of food. In spite of our water main break, I did make two trays of lasagna, one vegetarian, one with turkey sausage, for the Friday night dinner, as well as rolls and cranberry sauce for the main event, and cranberry bread for the between-times noshing. Lots of food, card-playing, bananagrams, and teenagers sprawled on furniture with their electronic devices. We had 5 of the 7 grandchildren ages 12 to 16. Came back yesterday completely wiped, but we did have a good time.
Ducky, cute pictures. I'm SO glad everything went off okay.
Katy, I feel honored that you made the no-knead bread. I might start a batch tonight.
So glad that everyone seems to have a good holiday!
Octo, okay, the hair. I'm about 11 weeks PFC. I'm wearing a wig and honestly can't stand to see myself in a mirror without it. That said, I'm rationing myself to weekly hair checks just to check the progress of things. The rule is I can feel it whenever I want but only do a visual check on Sunday morning, in the spirit of watched pots not boiling. So I'm a couple of months ahead of you and have hair that's completely suitable for a 10-year-old boy. It's about an inch long on top and at the nape of my neck, and a little shorter on the sides. Does that help? The top part is my favorite because there's a lot of brown, but at the sides it's mostly gray. Haven't checked the back for color. I'm going to do some temporary hair color rinses while I'm still keeping it covered, just to play with tints and see what might look good. Or better than not coloring, at any rate. Go to the Hair Hair Hair thread, and there are a lot of pictures of hair in its various stages of growing back. I hear you about hair in other places; there was a point where I was still mostly bald on top and was plucking and shaving elsewhere like crazy, which was NOT okay. At this point, I'm mostly happy that my skull is completely covered, but of course I will be much happier when I have a cut that looks like it belongs on someone of the female gender. (Fully acknowledging my limitations in considering the female gender, I know.)
Katy, you're my hero for just going about your business while hair is growing back, but I just find that I'm happier and more secure with my wig. C'est la vie.
Happy Sunday! We have friends coming later in the day, and I have actually convinced DH to cook; he's making chili. I'll do some sides, and they are bringing dessert. Nice way to end a long weekend. Cheers, all
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Hi group, back from my usual pool and gym thing, cut it short as just felt like nap day was upon me.
Cubbie, think I need you to help fix my vacuum as well. Very old and crankie
Octo, sorry you are feeling blue. I was talking to a gym pal this morning, Ricki is a hoot, never takes any pills~~good for him but he is also a nice source of suggestions at times, he did give me the name of my lovely chiro. Anywho, he is a social worker and works with a lot od teens who are challenged. He gives the ADD ones sleepy time tea and claims it calms them down enough so he can teach them! Guess it is a relaxant.
Ducky, your family is quite the party types! My family is mostly of German back ground and would not be much on party stuff but your family clearly likes celebrations!
Tomboy, love that spa photos, maybe I need to tell someone in my life to give me one of those! Glad you got to enjoy the pampering
LBT, interesting on the biotin, my dentist told me to use the mouthwash as he knew I took many meds and felt it good for dry mouth and I just started to use it. Then this morning I was talking to a pal who swims a lot about how thin our nails have become from the chlorine. She takes the biotin pills and says it helps her nails. I need to get the pills as my nails are so thin
well afternoon all, ready for my nap now
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I logged on quickly and saw your post Octo. Like Rain said, it's a watched pot for sure. My hair was so long when I was diagnosed. Not looking too good here because it was in a pony tail prior, but this is how long it was when I went in to get it cut right before chemo. I donated it all to Locks of Love.
I had ZERO patience for re-growth. I was driving myself crazy checking for growth every day. I remember that time well. Here is a little timeline that may give you some idea where yours will be. Keep in mind I had Herceptin which is supposed to slow down growth. I know many say it's just hair and I guess in the grand scheme of things that is true, but for me, my hair was my shield. Without it I felt naked and exposed. Some may understand that and some may not. Hang in there sweet sister.
10 WEEKS AFTER LAST CHEMO:
TWELVE WEEKS AFTER LAST CHEMO:
18 WEEKS AFTER LAST CHEMO:
This was taken JUNE of this year. It's much longer now. Once I stopped Herceptin it went crazy.
Sorry about all the hair pics on this thread. It's difficult to maneuver the hair thread when you're looking for something specific. Hope this helps in some way.
Waiting for your hair to grow is a whole different trip to Crazy Town!!I'll BBL to catch up. DH is dragging me out the door as usual.
Love you all!!
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Ducky- you looked absolutely radiant coming down the aisle! Love all the happy pics and your golden slippers!
Rainny- loved the description of your holiday. The food, the family, teenagers spilling out of couches. Just how it should be.
Octo- about your elbow. Could it be you held your arm at a different angle driving all those hours in a different/new car? It's the first thing I thought of. Your story of teaching your grandson to cook was so very sweet. Moments like that are powerful enough to change the course of one's life. And I bet he just cannot wait until his promotion to line cook next year!
About the hair. Everyone reacts so differently. Cancer seems to attack us both physically and emotionally wherever we are the weakest. I will post below a pic taken today, 4 months PFC, to the day almost. I know I am lucky that the hair thing bothers me less than it does others. I look in the mirror and I don't see me. I say fuck it. But I do care, in fact am very concerned, that my equilibrium is still off and I'm still in daily pain from a surgery almost a year ago. I slipped and fell, hard, in the kitchen today. I'm ok, but it scared me. If I lose my independence, I will lose my mind. No joke. So I wish upon you grace and patience. Just hang on to the knowledge that it will come back.
So you see mine is still very short, because it is so curly. At least the Tamoxifen keeps me warm at night! Ugh.....
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Beppy- your hair was and is lovely. Whoever received the gift of your locks was not lucky, per SE, because of the need for them in the first place, but what a far superior product than most! I also wanted to get a spoon out and reach right into my iPad for a taste of your soup. Corn dumplings! Yum!
Tomboy- about the bread. Rainny gave me the original recipe, but as is my custom when making something new, I read lots of other recipes, and even the wiki page on no-knead bread so I could understand the principle (and become a believer). The trick seems to be wet dough, much wetter than I'm accustomed to, and time. Lots of time. The fact that my niece canceled, and it became much less pressing to finish it, worked in its favor. I left it alone on the first rise for almost 18 hours. After that, I could have punched it down once, but I still wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do, shape-wise, so I punched it down several more times, at 2-3 hour intervals. Finally I just stuck it in my best bread pan for two hours and it filled 1/3 if the pan. Two hours later, it was getting late, and even though it was still 2/3 in the pan I cooked it. 350 for 35 minutes in an unreliable oven. I couldn't believe how huge it got. The texture is very good, fine, and not too dense. It stood up well to slicing, and was great toasted with my eggs for breakfast today.
I used a food processor (still haven't felt the strength to haul the kitchenaid with the dough hook out) but it really isn't necessary with this method. I had some melted butter I was going to use for something else so I threw that in, just to use it, and substituted 1/3 milk for some of the water. Final ingredients were:
3 cups all- purpose flour
1 package fast (what a joke this bread took two days haha) acting yeast
1cup water (not hot or you may kill the yeast)
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp melted butter
You just mix the dry ingredients together, then dump in the wet, while running the good processor. You stop when it suddenly forms a lump. I didn't grease it. Just out it in a large bowl in a warm place with a tea towel over it. The rest I explained above. Sorry for using so much space on this. But I think it helps more to know why than how. This recipe would surely self correct most errors if just given more time.
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Jackie....thank you so much.......when we started down the aisle my grandson said "Nan you look beautiful"................when we hit the pew before I stepped in he smiled, gave me a big hug, a kiss on the cheek and said "I love you Nan"......I have so many reasons to glow........
You ladies look so pretty with and without hair............0 -
I just got these pictures .......this is my youngest daughter Nicasia with her husband, her son, and daughter........Sean Jr. is 17.....Makayla his sister with him is 15......super kids.....my loves.
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