Loooooving My Nook

I'm really enjoying my nook. Whenever I'm reading, Blair looks over and sarcastically apologizes for getting me such a sucky present. It's actually in his top 3 or 4 - with the Star Trek lunch box and the BE-MEUP license plate. I get pleasure out of it every day.

One of my favorite authors came out with a new book and I >had< to read it in paper form (it's a keeper) - that was weird!

I just found out that Analog and Asimov's magazines are offered by subscription to the nook (and the kindle). I let my subscriptions lapse several years ago - but I'm thinking about them again; so many of the award winning short SF stories get published in those 2 magazines.

Today was a nice day. 


We took Dumble to the vet (he got shots, but he needs steroids for skin inflammation and to have his teeth cleaned and some removed. Maybe they have a payment plan for the teeth cleaning?) 


I had my yoga class at the hospital from 10 to 11 or so (there's chatting afterwards), then I went to my local salon and had a mani-pedi (shimmery dark red - ooh la la) and an eyebrow wax. 


Then there was a presentation back at the hospital (called Look Good ... Feel Better) where I got a goody bag of makeup and stuff and a cookie. 


Then I ran downstairs for my 2pm radiation treatment and was able to move my appointment for the Friday after Thanksgiving to right after yoga so I don't have to make 2 trips to the hospital. 


And now I'm home with all my guys and my puppy.

Today was my second day of radiation and tonight was the BC support group. The gals at the group were very emphatic that I should be slathering on the lotion I was given samples of, especially since I am fair.

Yesterday afternoon, Blair and I were puttering around the house and I started to feel shaky and emotional. It was weird because my conscious mind was not nervous at all. Afterwards I calmed down but felt pretty wrung out. (I fell pretty wrung out most of the time actually).

After my treatment, I chatted a moment with the lady whose appointment is after mine (we recognized each other from yesterday.) She said even when things are going well, and the outlook is good, it will hit you what you're dealing with.

There's job I could have if I were willing to relocate to Chicago right now (assuming I could pass the security clearance). With Blair losing his job, I felt really pressured to take it. I'd been stewing about it for a couple of days, and Blair and I were sitting on the couch together (me computering and he reading), and I started sobbing. I can't go through it again. It was hard enough the first two times (and I had my aunt for the last one). I need my family and they need me. 

Yesterday, Daniel sat next to me for a bit, leaning against my shoulder as we played Bookworm on my ipod together. He told me he was so happy I was home, and I kissed the top of his head. Even if I wasn't sick I don't think I could do it, it sucks the life and energy right out of me and I have nothing to give to my job.

Freshman Forum on Underage Drinking

There was a required meeting at school this evening. Half the kids in the auditorium and half in the gymnasium, and the speakers were going back and forth to speak in both venues. There was a doctor to speak about the physical effects of binge drinking (liver damage, accidents, etc), a cop talking about having to tell parents their kids were dead, a man who had killed his stepbrother while driving drunk, and a mom who had lost her son. The cop also talked about an anonymous tip line (to report parties with alcohol) and calling your folks when you find yourself in a situation and need to get out (and telling the parents not to punish the kid if he calls in that situation).

I went in thinking it would be lame, but it was very affecting. Daniel thought it was a good presentation as well, and we had a nice talk afterward. They've been doing this for 5 years now and they've been surveying the kids about drinking and supposedly these lectures have had a positive effect.

Radiation

My radiation starts next Monday - every day for 6.5 weeks. I'm to expect fatigue and possible redness and or swelling.

It's 3.7 miles and takes about 10 minutes to get there. :-)

This is the same hospital Daniel was born in and my grandmother was a volunteer there for many years and was once their volunteer of the year.

It's a really nice place - the cancer center is very restful and reassuring 

And it turns out that my brother has participated in the Swim Across The Sound (from Port Jefferson on Long Island to Bridgeport) and has swum the whole way a couple of times. The Swim is what paid for the SWIM Center and pays for a lot of the services for patients (like the classes and massages).