TeamSonnet

2009-07-16T04:53:00.005-04:00

Boy, am I good! I managed to talk my way out of the hospital long enough to make a pilgrimage to Memphis. Physically it was a challenge, but worth every second to be immersed in southern language, food and family. My siblings and I were there, together, for the first time since 1968 and no, that's not a type-o. My dad has two siblings living and we so enjoyed being with them and their families

To post or not to post

2009-07-05T15:09:00.003-04:00

I've decided, for those loyal friends who depend on my blog to see what's up with me, that I should post more often, even if I don't have anything exciting to say. I hesitate to post especially when the topic is my health. I know, I know, it's important, but most of the time I just don't like to dwell on it. However, I realized recently that not posting allows for all sorts of imagination games,

That One

2009-06-27T02:57:00.001-04:00

I often wondered what position you'd have played if you'd been interested in football, if Brandon hadn't been the football player in the family. You've experienced some trials that many will never go through, and you've allowed them to turn you into the man you've become. I'm so proud of you. Happy Birthday. I love you.That Onebeneath the glare of the stadium lightsall eyes are on the high arc

Ocean City

2009-06-24T17:27:00.005-04:00

Highlights from the Ocean City trip:Watching Clayton with Rolan in the swimming poolChantel's fabulous roast beef dinnerWatching all the boys play in the surfMy ride down the boardwalk, people watchingGetting caught in that wonderful, sudden rainstormSeeing a double rainbow over the oceanSeeing the love among the CaldersSeeing the love between Michele and ClaytonSeeing the love between my

Last night

2009-06-16T22:21:00.004-04:00

Clayton and Michele got in and today we spent the day at the Calder's, then all of us went out for dinner at Carraba's. The food was excellent, but the best part was looking around the table at my whole family, watching the little ones stuffing pasta, and listening to the banter. I love each one of them so much! On Friday we go to Ocean City for the weekend to play on the beach and celebrate

And all this time

2009-06-07T10:22:00.001-04:00

I thought I was taller. I've always said I was 5'6". Wrong. I'm only 5'4". And I've lost 25 lbs. Not the most healthy way to do it but it's nice to get into some other clothes.

A Dog and a Daughter

2009-05-06T20:05:00.005-04:00

Oscar is heading to a new and wonderful home soon. I will miss him. But I realized that I can't give him what he needs. Every time I have had to leave him, especially for an extended time, he becomes stressed and anxious and all kinds of bad behaviors ensue. But I'm past feeling sorry for him now. He's been staying with Chantel and getting all kinds of loving and consistent attention, even

He Forgot the Poop Sac

2009-05-03T04:25:00.007-04:00

Sinai hospital. 4 am. Thanks for the Lasix (sp?) doc. I'm peeing every 1/2 hour. And starving--having eaten practically nothing but liquids for two weeks. Surgery soon. Looking forward to it. Blog surfing. Find one about a year's worth of crock pot cooking. Reminds me of my own crockpot story. I'm about to incriminate myself. Promise you'll still love me.About 1980. Larry brings home a

This is, by far, the most

2009-04-16T09:30:00.003-04:00

inspiring event I've seen in a long, long time. Susan Boyle, several days ago in the UK.

Mid-Week Catch Up

2009-04-15T19:44:00.004-04:00

This has been a good week so far because:1) I'm on an insurance-imposed break from chemo, which may be just what the doctor ordered. I find out next week. In the meantime--I'm lovin' it!!2) Sold two items on Ebay--fun and I made a few bucks. Have more to sell.3) Oscar and I called a truce. He's pooping outside again and I'm being more consistent with his routine and his diet.4) Went through files

Do these really need captions?

2009-04-15T19:35:00.004-04:00

Friend

2009-04-04T22:07:00.005-04:00

I looked for you againan unexpected emailone of your old friendsfeeling guilty that you diedshe didn’t know in timedidn’t call you back that nightoh, the sorrows and regretsgoogling ‘citicow68’ andthere you are, just like thatyour name, facereally just a glimpse on the internetsome personal detailsalmost like reading someone’s journalyour honesty, fearstrusting others to understandI didn’t

Rolan's Special Day

2009-03-29T16:30:00.002-04:00

Rolan in a chair that belonged to his mother when she was a little girl.Grammy, Michele, Rolan, Brent, Clayton, MikeMe with Rachel in her 'Brandon' sweatshirtRolan wouldn't give Rachel a kiss but he was happy to blow her one!Rolan received "A Name and a Blessing" on Sunday, March 29 at the home of his parents. Brent Echols performed the ordinance with Bishop Sincich while Rolan sat on Mommy's

Brandon's Life in Pictures

2009-03-28T15:15:00.001-04:00

My daughter created this beautiful slide show to honor Brandon on the anniversary of his death.Click here to watch it. Make sure your speakers are on.

One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingies

2009-03-18T23:16:00.006-04:00

Hmmmm....I wonder how many people who read my posts actually know where this post's title comes from....I'm lying on a 'bed' in the ER. I've been there about 5 hours (not in the bed, but the ER). I've had a run-in with a nurse with control issues and I've won. No arguing. Just the good 'ol passive response of ignoring her and doing what I wanted. OK, sidebar: I HATE it when people try to use

New Guy

2009-03-09T21:33:00.005-04:00

OK, so I have a new guy in my life. Chantel gave her approval. I am still so surprised at how it all happened. A friend introduced us to each other and there was an instant connection. Of course, he doesn't have even half the qualities I thought I wanted. For example, he's shorter than I am. But he can dance so that's a plus. He depends on me for a lot but I depend on him too. He doesn't really

Weirdness for sure

2009-02-18T18:05:00.002-05:00

Ok. So I know I've posted about my strange sleep habits but today tops them all. First of all, I've been going to bed at a decent hour (between 10 and midnight) and sleeping all night without interruption. Heaven! So this morning, I woke up at 6 am. Rather than stay up, I decided I'd lie down for about one more hour. Ha! No such thing. I woke up at 1:30 and I had not moved at all. The worst part

I Love You, Still

2009-02-14T00:00:00.005-05:00

What will a quarter get you?

2008-03-14T20:22:00.006-04:00

I'm sitting in a bathroom stall in Walmart and Owen is waiting for me outside the stall. Chantel and Soren are across the store."Grammy, what's this?"Since I can't see what Owen's talking about, I tell him to wait and I'll let him know when I come out. Then I hear his little mind going to work..."Well, let's see, it takes quarters...I wonder what will happen if I put my quarter in here...maybe

Another Lesson (Re)Learned

2008-03-13T10:12:00.003-04:00

I withdrew from grad school. I know it was the right thing--the only thing, actually, that I could do given my present circumstances, but I still felt sad about it. What I realize in looking back, is that I shouldn't have enrolled this semester to begin with and here's why.I have long been of the mind-set that when I'm trying and trying to do something and everything I do doesn't work, it's

I have done so much genealogy

2008-03-11T19:05:00.014-04:00

that I know some families really well. Above is a picture of my grandmother with three of her five sisters and below another picture of the whole family from about 20 years earlier.Eva (Granny), Josephine, Katheryne, Clara.All the Pearce's on 5th St in Memphis (house is no longer there) 1916. The couple on the front right are my grandparents with their first baby, my Uncle Lester.I know who

There's a down side

2008-03-07T18:56:00.002-05:00

to having a blog, I just recently discovered. That is, that everyone who checks in knows whats going on in my life so I assume you feel up-to-date. Drawback is, that most of you don't comment or respond which makes it a little lonely out here. Last I heard, relationships are still two-way, so think of my blog as a look into my personal scrapbook, not a substitute for calling or emailing. I

Chemo: Match 2 Round 1

2008-02-29T23:02:00.006-05:00

And in the blue corner wearing a Citiknits black and coral three-piece ensemble and a very chic do, we have defending champion Maaaaartha, the Maaagnificent! ding ding ding ding!So, any ideas how my first chemo here went?? It was GREAT! I felt anxious the past few days but the closer today came, the more peace I felt. No tears this time at all, no feelings of fear or 'I don't want to be here' or

By way of information

2008-02-26T08:42:00.003-05:00

Chemo has not started yet. Apparently red tape at Kaiser is nation-wide, not just on the West Coast. Kaiser here should have sent approval of my treatment plan back to the doctor already, but they haven't. When one of my doctor's employees called yesterday, she found out that the process hadn't even been started! She was pretty upset and told them that someone had to print out the ok and hand