Chain of Events

Many events have transpired since I last blogged. To save myself the trouble of posting 6,000 separate blog entries, what follows is just one big ol' blog post, divided into lovely bite-size segments.

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When I was about 14, my parents adopted my cousin, Megan, therefore making her my sister, in the legal sense of the word. We were raised side by side, and she has always been my sister in the emotional sense. For those of you who crave details about the blood relation between us, or think there is something incestuous or extremely southern going on here, get your mind out of the gutter. She is the daughter of my mother's brother, who died in 1984.

Last Thursday Megan lost her boyfriend, Marc Carson. Marc was the son of one of my dad's best good friends (as Forrest Gump might say) from school, and Megan had met him and fell in love about a year ago. He was a vivid personality. I remember him when I was a child, but our families had lost touch over the years. I am glad that I got to know him again. He was truly one-of-a-kind, appreciated a good joke and had a roaring laugh that I'll miss and always remember. He said what was on his mind, and when he offended, he apologized sincerely. He was a good heart and a good soul. He was 35 years old.


Megan and Marc - Marc, may you rest in peace. You will
be missed by many.

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Saturday was my first real chance to spend some time with my cousin Jessie's new baby. I was on my way to the grocery store and passed my Mamaw's house. The second I saw Jessie's car in Mamaw's driveway, I knew the baby was there, so I turned around and high-tailed it back to the house to pick up Matt. :)

The baby is precious. His name is James, or Sweet Baby James as I like to call him :) He's a quite little guy, just two weeks old. He slept through most of our visit, which is fine by me, because I just want to cuddle him anyway. He did open his eyes once, and they are blue. He coos a lot. He's cute. Period. See.


Sweet Baby James all smooshed up with Matt


Sweet Baby James with his favorite second cousin


Precious.


Matt and Sweet Baby James enjoying some naptime

Saturday night was hectic, and not in a "WHOOO! It's Saturday!" kind of way, but I just don't feel like getting into that. I'm writing this down only for the sake of my own memory, so that I won't forget about it later, but it's a long drawn out story, and there is no need to bore you with it. Don't worry, it's nothing bad.

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Regretfully, we weren't able to have Easter dinner with Matt's Dad, Ann, and John. Matt has been having some trouble with carsickness (is that a word?) and he just didn't feel like he could make the ride all the way to their house. Since my parents are only 2 miles away, we did go have dinner there, and as usual mom totally overdid it. There were more deserts than there were people in attendance, but dad will solve any issues with leftovers ASAP. :)


Daddy and me :)


Mom and Aunt Tammie fussing over the ham. Tammie has
a knife, watch out!

Yesterday Matt's mom arrived for her visit from Florida. Matt was so happy to see her. He's been looking forward to this visit or a LONG time. Megan was also here for the night, and it was really good to have a house full of family, even though I wish that we were all together under better circumstances. It was a good time.


Matt's mom wasn't here for Christmas, so she got her
gifts last night. This was a top from Matt that didn't work
out quite as well as he planned. It was good for a laugh :)


Megan and Me

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Today is the only day this week that we have to go in for chemo. We did that this morning and it went off without a hitch.

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The weird and incredible disturbing part of today was that a couple got into a terrible, physical, fight today while driving beside our house, literally Chris Brown/Rihanna style (I am NOT making fun of domestic abuse here, it is NOT a laughing matter, but that's the best way I know to describe what happened.) By the time it was said and done, the woman had jumped out of the car and taken off running. The man tackled her on the pavement and continued to beat her. The police were called as soon as someone realized what was going on. He was still beating her when the police arrived. I don't know if the man was arrested or not. If he wasn't, then there are at least 6 cops in this county the definitely need to find another vocation. I did see the woman, once it was all over, and he had knocked all of her teeth out. She was sitting in a pile of wet muddy weeds, shaken, and looking surprised to be alive.

I did not see this, and I will not say who witnessed it for obvious reasons. But I will say, I am shaken. I know people always say this, but we don't live in a neighborhood where a domestic dispute is likely to erupt right in front of your home. I have been thinking about that woman all day and willing her the strength to get somewhere safe and get as far away from that man as possible.

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Last Thursday a life ended to soon. Saturday I held a new life in my arms. Sunday was spent immersed with family. Today I witnessed the evil of the world and the struggles of a stranger very close to my home. It's enough to open my eyes, and hopefully yours, to the fact that (though it sounds hokey) life is short and unpredictable, and should be spent with as many moments of peace and love as possible.


Immersed in love

Primary Stage 1B Testicular Cancer with Secondary onset Cabin Fever

Matt's week, though not as intolerable (so far) as I had anticipated, has been monotonous to say the least. Monday we went to the oncologist's office at noon, Matt had 5 hours of chemo, we left at 5:oo pm, spent the evening on the sofa, Matt forced himself to down water, eat dinner, and then we went to bed. Tuesday we went to the oncologist's office at noon, Matt had 5 hours of chemo, we left at 5:oo pm, spent the evening on the sofa, Matt forced himself to down water, eat dinner, and then we went to bed. Today we went to the oncologist's office at noon, Matt had 5 hours of chemo, we left at 5:oo pm, spent the evening on the sofa, Matt forced himself to down water, eat dinner, and then we went to bed.

Ok, well, maybe that's a bit exaggerated. We have had visitors in and out. We have had something different for dinner each night. There has been sparse vomiting thrown in the mix. He did get to witness the joy of the arrival of my new smartphone. Some lovely glassware that he had ordered arrived yesterday. So there have been some exciting bits and pieces here and there. Nonetheless, as expected, tonight the steroids that he is getting with the chemo finally kicked in and Matt found himself with a serious case of Cabin Fever.

He wanted to go somewhere, but he didn't want to go anywhere. I'll say that he was "restless", to spare you a long explanation involving chinese food and a disastrous trip to the laundromat. We finally decided to go to mom and dad's for a visit, since the drive is short and they always have good snacks.

Sorry, the story kinda ends here. We are home now and Matt seems to be feeling alright. Tired and alright. What more can you ask for?


Me, Matt and my wonderful mother :)


And, for your viewing pleasure, here is a gratuitous shot of me and my not-so-little brother :)

Rudy and Mickey

Rudy is about 80. He has a top-of-the-line, single-cup coffee maker at home and orders from a selection of 250 different types of coffee (yes, Fair Trade is included) from his computer at home. He knows how to use a sewing machine and stitch. He prefers to iron his own shirts, now that they make wireless irons. He talks fast. He likes pets. His pants are polyesther. Back when he lived in Chicago, he saw Perry Como perform live.

Rudy has a wife, Mickey. That isn't her real name, its the name she decided that she wanted when she was 4, and began refusing to respond any other name henceforth. Mickey likes to sew. She shares Rudy's liberal political views and they attend a local Episcopal church. Her first husband died 30 years ago, quickly. She likes to drive her cars until they just fall apart. Tonight Rudy and Mickey are planning to watch "Slumdog Millionaire", and they are waiting for "Milk" to arrive via Netflix.

Rudy enjoys life "by the quality, not the quantity", which is an interesting thing to hear out of an 80 year old man's mouth while he is receiving chemotherepy. That's why he likes his port-a-cath, so that he doesn't have to ever have an IV started again. He is on his second round of chemo, and he is yet to vomit once!

Rudy and Mickey are gonna save us a seat in their chemo room tomorrow.

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I woke up today without a clue what to expect. It was Matt's first day of chemo. We arrived at the doctors office at noon. We had packed heavy, preparing for hours of boredom. We were NOT enthused to learn that we would have ROOM MATES (!!!) in the chemo room! We sat down expecting and awkward, silent afternoon with two strangers. We left at 5:00 pm, having gained two new friends who have renewed my faith that there are some really kick-ass people in this world.

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Chemo Report, Day One: Obviously, we like our room mates. Matt is tolerating everything well so far and is feeling fine. Big thanks to all of the people who have sent well wishes, prayers, gifts, cards, and disinfectants (you know who you are :p) We love you all, and I will keep you updated as things progress. Mad props to Matt for downing enough water lately to drown a fish. I am so proud of you :)



Chemo does not include free Wi-fi, but it does include free, fresh, coffee (thanks to Ralph down at Fatz for donating the cups) and all the nasty Laura Lynn powdered creamer your heart desires. We have GOT to remember to bring our own creamer tomorrow.

It's been a while

With the new facebook layout, which sucks hardcore, I realized that I have not updated my blog at all this year!

2009 has not been the best year. As usual, everything seemed to be going fine until February. Then I found out that I was pregnant, had a miscarriage, and Matt was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It would take me forever to try to catch up on everything that I want to write about, and I will get to that stuff in later posts. Soon. Until then, here are some pics of us trying to be happy and normal amidst life's shit storm. Enjoy :)


January- Before my pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage. Way before cancer.



February: After miscarriage. Matt with Elena.



With Gina, Mid February Post miscarriage, pre-Matt's cancer.



March 13. Right before Matt's surgery



March 24. Post-surgery, Pre- Chemo at the Peace Center
Thanks to Liz and Benjie :)

My Favorite Amendment is the First One

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Hello? Hello? Hello? Is there any body out there...out there.

This is just a quick shout out to all of the people I am following. Where the hell are you guys??? I miss your writing. BLOG MORE, PLEASE!

This is why there is an adult content warning on this blog.

You guys are not even gonna believe this shit.

I got a phone call today around 4. I pick up, and some guy says "Hi. This is Travis. I got your number off of the bathroom wall at the truck stop and it said on the wall that you would give me a blow job." As if the bathroom wall read specifically "Hey, Travis! Call 867-5309 and the chick will give you a blow job."

Anyway, I proceeded to tell "Travis" (like that's even his real name) that there was not a rats ass of a chance in hell that he was gonna be getting ANYTHING from this bitch. He went on to beg, at which point I lied and told him that I was married to a very large, angry man. He then told me that he was more sensitive than my (fictitious) husband, and maybe we would have a good time together. I guess he assumed I may want to ride off into the sunset with him, side by side in his big rig. At that point I decided to go ahead and extend my lie, by saying "and I'm pregnant. What kind of person would that make you?" His response, "Oh, OK. Then I should just wait a few months and call you back?"

"Hell to the NO, Travis!!! FORGET MY NUMBER, and a good exercise to help you forget it would be to take your vile ass back in the bathroom with a sharpie and scratch my number off of the fucking wall!" Click.

Now, if you know me at all, you know that this pissed me off. Pissed me off good. So tonight, Hemp (name withheld for his protection and mine) made a trip to the truck stop. I had asked Travis specifically which truck stop he got my number from. So we went there, and Hemp checked the walls and couldn't find my number. I then asked Hemp to escort me into the men's room so that I could get a look-see for myself. I did not find my number, but I did find a lovely piece of artwork depicting an ass (like a butt, not a donkey) with shit (yes, human feces, no.2) smeared as if it were coming out of the anal area. There were many men in the men's room, including a large black man who seemed more afraid of me than he should have. I asked them all if they were "Travis." Not surprisingly, I didn't get any takers on that. We checked all of the showers, and the ladies rooms for good measure. We never found my number, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't there. There were hundreds of entries on the wall and neither Hemp, nor I, were willing to get close enough to look at some of them.

I spoke with the clerk, who promised to go in the bathroom and mark he numbers off of the wall as soon as the other clerk got back from break.

I do not know if it was a prank call, or if "Travis" really did get my number off of the bathroom wall. Either way, it was weird as hell. I have been getting a lot of calls from private numbers, which I normally do not answer, but have lately because I am expecting packages, and there is always a chance that the FedEx guy might call. I see my phone number changing in the near future.

Travis, if you are reading this, go blow yourself.