Hey! It's my birthday!

Wow, where did the year go? I was undergoing my 3rd chemo treatment this time last year. Hard to believe that much time has passed already.

I saw a new ENT doc yesterday. I like him. They did another hearing test and my hearing in my right ear is actually worse than the last one. My hearing in my left ear is perfect. Thank God for small favors. There was a point about a month ago that I thought my hearing had slightly improved. This was just as I was finishing my 2nd (and stronger) round of steroids. Since I had a ravenous appetite the entire time I was on them, I've decided I'd rather live with hearing loss than wanting to eat 24/7. The other downside to long-term steroid use is that it can cause necrosis (the death of living cells or tissues) in the hip joints. Since I already have severe arthritis in my left hip...well, steroids is probably not the best option. The ENT said they can inject a steroid into the inner ear canal, which would avoid the systemic approach of oral treatment, but I will need to see an ear surgeon for that. I will have that MRI I've been putting off. It will hopefully determine the cause of the sudden hearing loss and perhaps it can be treated. Until then....HUH??? Talk to my left ear please.

I am discovering how many times one can renew a library book. FIVE. I'm lucky if I read a chapter every other night. So I am only halfway through "Prodigal Summer" by Barbara Kingsolver. I find some of her views slightly annoying, but I enjoy her writing style and she is often able to combine descriptions of nature with some very profound thoughts. I'll share one with you:

Eddie Bondo had spoken of acorn woodpeckers he'd seen in the West, funny creatures that worked together to drill a dead tree full of little holes, cached thousands of acorns in them, and then spent the rest of their days defending their extravagant treasure from marauding neighbors. How pointless life could be, what a foolish business of inventing things to love, just so you could dread losing them.

So very true and something I need to be reminded of often. It brings to mind Matthew 6:19-21:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Take a moment to pray...

...for this amazing family. Cancer devastates families. I have the link to their CaringBridge website in the sidebar on the right. The Taylor family pours out its soul and they articulate things in a way that will break your heart. I am embarrassed by some of the inane things I post here when I read their blog. Read it....you will be touched and inspired, AND very much inclined to pray for them.

Yadda, yadda, yadda

I'd like to blog more often, but I've been running out of things to talk about, in case you haven't noticed. Part of it is me just being lazy. I need some motivation. What kind of updates would you like me to post about?

Waiting for Autumn (Florida-Autumn, that is)

It's Friday already? Gee, where does the time go?

Again, nothing much to report. It's still HOT here.

My life is boring.

Have a great weekend everyone!

I just want to say....

...one thing about the presidential campaigns. Why, why, why do we need to obtain our information of the candidates via the filter of the news media? And I mean both sides...conservative and liberal. Do we no longer think for ourselves? I wish the American public could submit questions to candidates that WE believe are important and have a forum where the politicians could respond directly to the voters of this country without a bunch of talking heads going on ad nauseum about their perspectives. And that's all I'm going to say. I'm not going to use my blog to spout off on my political opinions. I promise. :-)

Let us not forget....

O'LEARY / THE WASHINGTON POST
Each of the 184 benches in the Pentagon Memorial is mirrored in a pool of trickling water that contains an underwater light to shine each bench's underside at night. The benches are oriented along the exact path of Flight 77, arranged according to whether victims were killed in the plane or in the Pentagon.

As for me, same old, same old. Not much new to report. I started painting again. I really want to get the rest of the house down before the holidays. It's been so humid that it's really not a great time to paint. We have a little rain and wind from Ike, but it looks like it's definitely headed for Texas. I hope it weakens before that.

Hi all

Sorry I've been lazy about posting. Not much new here. Still job-hunting, weed pulling and avoiding hurricanes. Ike could pose a problem next week, but it's still too early to know for sure. Won't worry about it for now.

Joe and Linda have Wii Fit and I got to try it out last Saturday and Sunday. I did lunges for the first time in ages and my quadriceps were sore for 2 days! I am trying to do some type of physical activity every day. I'm looking forward to at least slightly cooler temps in the fall, but it won't be until late October, early November at the earliest.

I'll check in again soon. I hope you are all doing well! xoxoxo