Mathoms, etc.

Amazing how a simple text message from a friend can make your day: Hey I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you today.

Woke up feeling unwell today. Headache, neck ache, low grade fever, more fatigue. I'm hoping this is from discontinuing the Decadron. I got nothing done today; just kept falling asleep.

Sanya Richards after she won the bronze in the 400 m. She was way ahead of everyone until her right hamstring cramped up on her.
(photo from here)
Pole-vaulter Jennifer Stuczynski won silver in her first Olympics ever, and her coach chewed her out afterwards! What a world-class jerk. Shame on you Rick Suhr! Kudos Jen. You only came second to the world' s greatest female pole-vaulter.
(photo from here)
Lolo Jones after she failed to medal in the 100 m hurdles. She stumbled on the 9th hurdle. A class act. No excuses. She said: "It's the hurdles. If you can't get over all 10, you can't be the champion.''
(photo from here)
Houston's Jonathan Horton nabbed a silver medal with a crazy routine on the high bar.
(photo from here)
Iowa must be very proud of Shawn Johnson. I got teary-eyed watching her mother. Shawn was positively beaming afterwards. And to think she wasn't even feeling well.

I still think Nastia Liukin was robbed of a gold the other night with that tie-breaker.
(photo from here)

Happy 34th Birthday Cecile! May you always have love, peace of mind, joy in your life.

I think I've been having auditory hallucinations. I keep hearing things and my sister always denies talking to me or making a sound. Unless she's just messing with my head. Which would be cruel. I'm on to you Lynn.

Congratulations to Michael Phelps on his 8 gold medals! I almost didn't want to watch his last event.

Congratulations to Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson on their Olympic wins! Nastia was perfect. I thought Shawn deserved higher scores.

And though it does sound a bit like sour graping, the Karolyis are correct in questioning the ages of the Chinese gymnasts. They look too young to be 16. Of course on the day China won the team gold, they were the better performers.




(photo from Getty Images)

I found out from the Today Show this morning that this little girl, Lin Miaoke, was only lip-synching "Ode to the Motherland", a touching moment during the Olympic opening ceremony. Image-conscious Chinese officials didn't think the real singer was pretty enough.
Yang Peiyi, the real singer. She's cute as a button. Shame on them for doing the switcheroo! As if little girls don't have it bad enough in China.

I have a fibroadenoma on my right breast. I had it biopsied last year and was thankfully benign. I have to go for an ultrasound every six months. I had one done last Friday and the radiologist called me today to recommend surgery. She said it's most probably benign but for my peace of mind, to just have it removed.

@&#*!!!!

I'm glued to the TV set watching the Beijing Olympics coverage. Of course this is the only time I watch any sports...every four years. I didn't see all of the Opening Ceremonies but what I saw was amazing. The Chinese have set the bar pretty high. What's London going to do to top it?

Michael Phelps rules! I'm also happy for the men's gymnastics team. I was falling asleep last night but I wanted to see if they were going to medal. And they did.

I kept asking my doctors what the verdict is on the link between cancer and cellphone usage. They say the jury's still out. I always suspected cellphones and all these gadgets, electromagnetic waves and new technology can't be good for us. This video scared me.

St. Jude is known as the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes.

email from Marj: Hang in there and we are all rooting for your safe and swift
recovery.... of your hair:)

PET Scan and MRI: CLEAR! w00t! Past 2 weeks have been nerve-wracking: the fear of the unknown, the uncertainty, the waiting, the what-ifs. I haven't had a good night's sleep. Cindy, my BFF nurse practitioner kept telling me to take 3 more months off from work, so that made me even more worried. Did they see something? Am I going to need 3 months for treatment? What is this lump? Do I have a headache? Oh the paranoia.

But all is well. Thank God, Jesus, the Blessed Mother and all the saints in heaven. It is so true that when the ground shifts or shakes underneath you, you look heavenward.

I don't have to see the doc until December. Staying on the anti-seizure meds; getting weaned off the steroids. Just in time, because I kept telling my sister my face looks fuller. Blaming the 'roids instead of my huge appetite :) One good thing about this whole cancer experience is that I'm eating healthier. Organic fruits and veggies. Also using eco-friendly household items. I'm becoming a nag to my family about toxins and carcinogenic materials. Cancer is a disease of modern living. We have to fight back. Also nagging them about staying positive. Our words, thoughts, our minds are THAT powerful. I couldn't have endured without my meditation and breathing, my yoga. Caroline Myss's writings have also been especially helpful. I thank Everett, a guest at Hope Lodge, for telling me about her.

A special Hollah to a lovely couple we met today at the hospital: Rob and Lisa. Sending you guys positive healing thoughts and energy. I'd love to hear how you're doing. Be well, healthy and stay strong.

And while we're on the subject of animals...





AWWWWWW!!!

I got this via email and looked it up on Snopes. Turned out to be true!

I am a little anxious about my doctor's visit this Wednesday. I hope the PET scan and MRI will be unremarkable.

With the kind of year we've had, I never thought I would ever long for the mundane.

I was eagerly anticipating but half dreading watching The Dark Knight because of Heath Ledger. Believe all the hype about this excellent film: it is violent, dark, moody, relevant, replete with moral complexities. I never thought a superhero movie would leave me feeling sucker punched. Then again, Christopher Nolan's Gotham is nothing like we've ever seen before.

But Mr. Ledger owns this movie. His Joker is a tour de force, certainly worthy of an Oscar even if he wasn't taken from us too soon. It was chilling to hear him say " You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little…push.", knowing what's transpired since.


(photo from Movieweb)

Patti Lupone is an über diva. I thought her Mrs. Lovett was amazing. Her Gypsy Momma Rose is even more spectacular, unbelievable, tragic, poignant. Still sympathetic and likable though.

And I got to congratulate her on her Tony win at the stage door! She sweetly said thank you.

Thanks Lynn for the photo!

I love love ABBA. Having thoroughly enjoyed the jukebox musical version on Broadway, Lynn, Rose and I watched Mamma Mia! the movie last Saturday. If you can get past the bad singing and overacting, and people bursting into song bit, it's fun, high energy and campy. The way God intended. Just pure entertainment and joy onscreen. The Greek scenery is breathtaking and makes you want to book a ticket right now for your Greek holiday. The MegaMix at the end is to die for. It's Meryl like you've never seen her.

(photo from About.com)