- This recent post over at Sweet Tea and Sunshine’s blog really made me smile. She had some inspiring things to say and some beautiful pictures to share. While my favorite was the ocean, this shot is something I wanted to share with all of you:

Thank you all for your comments, or cards, or gifts, or texts to support me…I appreciate each and every thought and gesture and kindness more than you’ll ever know. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. <3 !

- I went to get my hair done last Saturday; Quiana was fun as always. I've known her for quite awhile now and in the course of our conversation she asked me if anyone was going to my chemo appointment with me. I said no, it's at 730 in the morning! She said she was free Tuesday and could do something for me if I needed and I thought that was so sweet! She must've mentioned this to her friend & business partner, Caitlin, because I got a message from Caitlin on Facebook the next day saying that she had Monday off and would be more than happy to come with me, which, again...amazing. I don't know her that well, and she's quite pregnant and recently lost her Dad to cancer, so for her to even offer is just beyond thoughtful. BTW, the above is in no way critical of anyone else in my life or anything like that; I am beyond used to doing things by myself and I don't mind it at all. I brought my cell & my laptop & book and between those and the wicked cool nurse (whose name is Jackie, lol) I didn't have a dull moment.

- Jen, who is coming in to walk the dogs twice a day for the duration of my treatment, and giving them lots of love and a couple treats, has been a lifesaver!!! The neuropathy in my hands & eyes, particularly, makes it impossible for me to take them out for any more than 3 minutes at the maximum. Right after treatment, I can barely walk to the car without them freezing up and yesterday had numbness & tingling in my right leg, as well. Plus, every now and then I'll text her with stupid requests like, "can you bring two eggs over?" or "can you bring a couple slices of bread" and she happily does. Her husband even put together a photography light stand that I bought eons ago and couldn't for the life of me figure out how to put together. He muttered: "stupid directions" and proceeded to put it together in a snap. Course...he thought it was an ugly lamp that Jen had wasted money on which made me laugh when she told me LOL! And she'll stay and talk with me for awhile, too.

- I reconnected with an old friend on Facebook recently...hadn't seen him since probably 1974 or so LOL! We met in a very unconventional way back then and for whatever reason were drawn to each other. I loved his artistic talent, omg you should see his work! We're getting together Friday for coffee and a movie, Crazy Heart, which I thought he'd like as it's about a musician and he plays guitar in a band on weekends. It'll be nice to see him after all these years!

- Another old friend was in town this weekend...he's not good with remembering phone numbers and such, so his wife emailed me to let me know he was in town and to give me his sister's number, which is where he was staying. So I called and he said he wanted to get together Friday or Saturday and that he'd give me a call. He called Sunday and said he'd gotten busy installing a heating for his niece and could we get together Monday? I said sure...and no call. Normally this wouldn't bother me because that's just the way he is and I accept that. But...this time, with all that's going on, it really did bother me. It's one of the reasons I hate to make plans in advance...I hate disappointment! So having no expectations works well for me...I'd rather have none than to be let down. Weird, probably, but there it is.

- I've been listening to The Hobbit followed by The Lord of the Rings books on audio in the car lately...and then my friend, Cheri, sent me Adam Lambert's CD and I fell in deep and total love with the 13th song on it, called Broken Open. It's kind of minimalist, and his voice, oh it just soars! Beautiful song...sigh. I listened to it over and over to get it stuck in my head. Who knew!

- My cousins, Mel & Maribeth, have been sending me cards lately and little things often fall out of the cards, like little containers of paper soap and lots of love. Thank you guys and love you, too!!! MB, I especially liked the dackel valentine card! That was frame-worthy! Nice artwork

- I've re-fallen in love with my dog, Max.

At one point, I thought I might have to find a new home for him because of his barking (I live in an apartment building that’s been converted into condos and while his bark can’t be heard in the neighbor’s homes, it can be heard whenever they open a door to the hallway or walk up the stairs)…but Jen and I have been working with him and it seems to be helping. Wolf, as always, is mostly quiet and even when he does bark it’s a soft one that isn’t ear splitting like Max’s LOL.

- What the heck! I’ve missed the last two 24s and while I tivo’d Lost, I still haven’t watched it! I have watched Modern Family, which I tivo’d and it just makes me laugh so hard! So apparently, I need laughter in my life right now and not drama. Oh, well, I’ll get around to it eventually…I mean…I can only put off Sawyer for so long

- Well, I think that’s it for now…and I think I’ll go back to bed for a bit.

And here’s Heidi’s shot!

What was your best day of the week last week and why? Saturday night, by far!!! My friends Eileen and Michelle came over and brought chocolate and cheese and crackers and fruit. We ordered subs for dinner, of all things, and had fun. Afterward, we feng shui’d my living room and kitchen–I have to take pictures so you can see how amazingly good it looks! I’d hung pictures and a mirror on the walls earlier in the day, too, which helped make it feel more like a home and less like a small box. It’s so nice to have another set of eyes to see how things would look moved here and there.

What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep? No more than a day, I’m sure. I need my sleep, y’all!

Is how old you look and/or how old you feel right now different from your actual age? Hmmm…for the first time in my life, I’d have to say no. I’m feeling every one of my years lately. Chemo’ll do that to you!

Flowers from another planet

1. Wouldn’t it be easy to love people instead of hating them; to be kind instead of unkind; to be positive.
2. Chemo’s back…and better than ever! [NOT!!!]
3. I love the taste of my cousin’s moonglow pickles.
4. Right now there is a snoring shiba in the living room.
5. The first thing we’re going to do is roast some winter vegetables.
6. My nose goes drip, drip, drip; you’d think Day Quil would work better.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to making a pot of chili and a pan of cornbread, tomorrow my plans include hopefully feeling good enough to go to Megan’s book party and then dinner with Michelle and Sunday, I want to be rid of this cold!

Anyone want a cuppa tea?

If you could only have one section of the bookstore to visit, which section would it be? Fiction…there is so much to go through there!

If you could only subscribe to one publication for the rest of your life, what would it be? Bon Appetit I love reading about recipes and food and all that!

What activity always makes you lose track of time? hahaha just about any one!

Shooting From The Hip: Let’s go see what Heidi captured! Did you play along? All it takes is a cell phone

Cobblestones, one of my fav places to go for a bite and/or a drink in my city.

One of the rules of photography is to divide pictures into thirds, a sort of compositional tool that produces a nicely balanced picture…do you think that was done well with this shot?

Skelly, balanced on Max’s head! Look at Max’s eye…he looks a bit nervous, eh?

food and drink in one!

I stamped my foot like a spoiled brat when I found out their red velvet cuppies were sold out! And I was going to crop out the “D” … but when I saw it there, it kind of made me laugh LOL!

Growing up, what was your favorite sitcom? Bugs Bunny when I was a kid, The Monkees…and any number of old time sitcoms…The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour, The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, The Addams Family, The Munsters, Bewitched, All in the Family, Maude, The Jeffersons, etc., etc.

What’s your idea of a romantic date? ahhhh…a walk up and down the VA Beach boardwalk, him reaching to hold my hand just when I want him to, seeing dolphins leaping in the ocean just when the thought pops into my mind, him kissing me at just the right time…

What are you most afraid to lose? My freedom…my ability to live as I want where I want.

Had a visitor today during the snow storm!

1. The lesson I learned yesterday was put the fill-ins up while I’m thinking about it.
2. Parties, restaurants, churches, homes, beaches: All of these are where friends and family meet.
3. All these years later and I’m still right, damn it all.
4. I was on time when I arrived.
5. The truth is I used to always be late…but not so much anymore.
6. A bright blue sky filled with puffy white clouds is what I remember most from that day.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to the Harry Potter exhibit at the Museum of Science, tomorrow my plans include game night! and Sunday, I want to win a million dollars, but most likely I’ll be meeting a friend I haven’t seen since the mid-1990s for lunch and meeting another friend for dinner!

I love the color in this shot and wanted to share. My nana made this many years ago and still the colors are vivid and the blanket used.