Mystery Monday

Mystery Monday! That sounds so exciting! I have to say that it sort of is, but it really s more fun.

I've been participating in a Mystery Knit-a-long with my knitting group, knitting a shawl. Sadly, I am behind, but I have a shawl that is growing that I really like! The pattern has been released in 5 clues with the final clue released this past weekend.

This is clue 1 (click to enlarge the picture).  Cute little diamonds with some wrapped stitches in the center.

Clue #2.... It's a little hard to tell in this picture, but the second clue looks like hearts.

Clue #3 looks like some kind of flower to me.  The flower clusters are very lacy and were very fin to knit!

I began Clue #4 today but don't have enough done to make it worth showing you.  It doesn't really look like anything yet.  I'm using a gradient kit from Black Trillium Fibers.  The yarn is nice, it's their Pebble Sock yarn in case you're wondering.  It reminds me of Claudia Handpaints or Koigu KPPPM The colors look very blockish in the pictures, but it's not as dramatic in real life.

I'm hoping to finish the shawl this week, but it's getting pretty big, and warm, in my lap. The weather is supposed to be stinking hot this week so it may get put aside for cooler days or cooler evenings.  Stay tuned!

Beam Me Up

I finished my chemotherapy four weeks ago.  The last few weeks were quite rough and I am very glad to have that part of my treatment behind me!  The very next week I began the next steps of my treatment.

First, I began the new dose of the Herceptin, which is much higher than the dosage I was getting with the chemo drugs.  The good part is that there are no side effects with this therapy!  The bad part is that it is given by infusion every three weeks, so I have to go to the Infusion Center for it.  Really, it's not a big deal, but it is time I have to carve out of my schedule to see the doctor and then get treatment.  Already I have four weeks completed with 36 to go.

Second, it's time for radiation therapy.  I met my Radiation Oncologist, got the full razzle-dazzle of what he does, and why it's important for me.  I had a "mapping" appointment where the technicians took a bunch of x-rays and measurements and placed tattoos on me so that they can be certain that I am lined up properly for treatment.  Then it was time for the Oncologist and the Physicist to put together my actual radiation treatment plan.  I had my test run yesterday.  Everything went smoothly so today it was "Beam On" as they say.

When I finished my chemo I was very anxious to begin the next step.  Every step forward is one step closer to the finish line.  One step closer to cured.  One step closer to normal.  I thought I was prepared.  I had done the hard part, this next step was going to be easy.  I knew the routine and I was comfortable with it.  And then I had to change facilities and I'm just going to admit it, but I don't really care for the new place.

The infusion center is very personable.  It's relatively small and there is a lot of personal interaction with the staff, including the nurses who are taking care of other people.  Pretty quickly I knew everyone's name, and they knew mine.  Sure it may have been only enough to smile and say "Hi, how are you today", but that familiarity was comforting.

The new treatment center is much more formal.  I'm pretty sure the sheer size of it makes that necessary, but that doesn't change the feeling of being nothing but a number.  There seems to be a large staff and there are new faces, where they should be familiar, every time I go.  Now that I'm going every weekday, I'm sure that I'll begin to see some familiar faces and this routine will become familiar too.  Right now though, I'm not loving it and I'm looking forward to it being over.

The Graduates

Two of my boys graduated this year. I already shared some pictures from Justin's graduation. Chandler graduated from Bishop Brady High School two weeks ago and we celebrated both of their graduations this past weekend.  Here are some pictures of our celebrations!

Grammy Pete made this pennant for Chandler.

The boys with their cakes.....

...and then a frosting fight...

More fun from Grammy

because the pillow she made him is so bright :-)

Grammy made Chandler a quilt for school too, but because it's not in his school colors, she added tiger paws to it.

Grammy had some fun with Justin too.

For some reason Blogger is not letting me rearrange my photos today, so these are out of order.

I was happy to be able to get some pictures of my boys together in their cap and gowns.  I think they're pretty handsome!

And here are some pictures form Chandler's graduation, processing in..

with Caitlin and Sophie who are two of the girls from our neighborhood that he has grown up with.  It was so sweet of them to come to his graduation!

Chandler with his girlfriend, Stephanie.  They are so cute together!

And finally, a family picture with the graduate!

Tom and I are pretty proud and happy parents!  Chandler has decided on Clemson University and will be moving to South Carolina in August.  He is excited for all the opportunities awaiting him there and can't wait to go.  We're very excited for him!

Justin accepted a position with Schlumberger and begins their training program in October.  He is home for the summer and enjoying his last hurrah before he truly joins the adult working world.  But we are so happy and relieved that he has a job, even if it doesn't start until fall, and is in Oklahoma!

Ten on Tuesday - The Movie Edition

Hello my dear readers!  I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I last blogged.  I sincerely thought with my chemo ending, which also ended my 4-5 trips a week to the infusion center, that I would have all kinds of time to do the things I love, and that included blogging.  I think it's been a serious case of my eyes being bigger than my belly, so to speak, because as I've begun to feel better, and I DO, that I've enjoyed returning to my usual activities.  That is good news!

I have plenty to share with you!  There has been plenty of knitting, son #3's graduation, beginning the next steps of my treatment, and other fun stuff.  Today though I'm going to get back into the swing of things with a fun Ten on Tuesday.  This week's topic is

10 Movies You Can Watch Over and Over Again

In no particular order....

1. Apollo 13 - Love the cast, love the story, love the dedication of "Houston" to get them home.
2. A Few Good Men - Another movie with a great cast and some great lines that we quote embarrassingly often.  You can't handle the truth!
3. Fried Green Tomatoes - Great story of female friendship in both Idgy & Ruth, and Evelyn & Mrs. Threadgood.
4. Driving Miss Daisy - Ultimately another story of friendship.  The scene where Miss Daisy tells Hoke that he is her best friend melts my heart every time.
5. Elizabethtown - Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst are perfect in this movie.  Honestly, I love this movie more each time I see it.  It's completely quirky, but I love it.
6. Scrooged - the one with Bill Murray.  We watch it as a family every year just before Christmas.  We all have our favorite lines.  Mine is the Ghost of Christmas Present "I'm so glad I wore my pretty dress"
7. It's a Wonderful Life - It's a holiday favorite of mine.
8. What About Bob? - Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfus at Lake Winnepesaukee.  Too funny!  If you haven't seen it, it's worth renting.
9. The Parent Trap - I like the remake with Lindsay Lohan and Dennis Quaid.
10. Forrest Gump - I can't pin down what it is about it I like best, but if it's on TV, I can't pass by it.

Some other notable favorites are Pretty Woman, Sleepless in Seattle, Miss Congeniality, Sweet Home Alabama, Sex & the City and various other "chick flicks".  Tell me what your favorite movie is!