lornagrl

Peace

I had my 7th treatment of chemo on Friday.  (Taxol)  It's Sunday afternoon and I'm starting to feel some of the muscle pain (side affects of the Taxol) and the fatigue so I'm shutting down for the evening.  I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow.  Fortunately I can work from home but it would be nice to have one more day off to rest. 

I found a church I like in Park Slope that I've been going to for the past few weeks.  I have always considered myself a Christian but never really claimed a denomination.  I was baptized catholic (thanks mom) but raised protestant.  I stopped going to church as an adult, not for any particular reason, I just didn't go.  I find with everything going on I need to find peace in my life right now. 

Besides it gives me an excuse to ride the train into the Slope each week.

Just one more chemo treatment to go...

Attractive Eighties Women

Narratives...

I'm happy to announce that I have some of my photos appearing in show:

Narratives
Weekends 1-6pm
September 29-October 28
499 Van Brunt
Red Hook, Brooklyn, NYC
http://www.bwac.org

Come by and take a look. 

Dear Talula...

I am not sure that I can bring myself to watch this.  There is a documentary airing on HBO about Lori Benson's struggle with breast cancer.  I was watching television when the preview came on.  I was just thinking "I can relate" when I saw her hugging my oncologist.  (apparently Lori has/had the same onclologist I have.) 

The reason I don't think I'll watch it is because, I find that reading and or hearing stories about breast cancer tend to upset me more than help.  I find myself comparing my story to theirs and really, no two breast cancers are alike. 

It airs on 10/9/07.  You can see the preview you here.

New Henna Tattoo

I think this one is better than the last one. It's already starting to fade a little bit.

Declawed

So I brought Ophelia to the vet on Friday because (gross out warning) I noticed that she had worms.  This can be dangerous with my compromised immune system.  I took her to the vet on Saturday just one day after my chemo treatment.  I wanted to get it over with before I get too ill and I tend to get sick about forty-eight hours after treatment. 

When I brought her into the office she started to growl the moment I put her on the scale.  She was having none of it.  She spit, shrieked and growled.  Three technicians were trying to hold her down when the vet came in and asked "why is a cat behaving this way?" 

I was backed into the corner.  This was the reason I was putting this off.   A few weeks ago she scratched me just one week after treatment, which is the time when my white blood cell count is the lowest.  I told the oncologist nurse about this and she had a look of horror on her face. "It's extremely dangerous if she scratches you and you get an infection." 

Apparently it doesn't end after chemotherapy either.  I am having lymph nodes removed which puts me at a risk for lymphedema.  So the dr. highly suggested that I have her declawed.

I really didn't want to do it and was putting it off coming up with excuses.  I was too tired from chemo, too  busy at work etc...  But when I had to bring her in for the worms I reluctantly left her for the surgery.

I picked her up this afternoon and right now she is curled up next to me purring up a storm and glad to be home.  She seems a little sore but the vet told me that will pass in a few days.

She doesn't seem too angry at me.

Uh Oh!!

Yesterday I was on line at the grocery store when a little girl exclaimed, "uh oh! You don't have any hair!"

"No I don't" I replied. 

"Why not?"

I told her I was taking medicine that made my hair fall out.  She rolled her eyes like this was the silliest thing she ever heard. 

The past few weeks I have been just walking around with nothing on my head.  Wigs are so uncomfortable that I can rarely stand them for more than a few minutes.  The scarves make me look more like a cancer patient and besides, It's just too hot to have something on my head.  So, I've been walking around topless so to speak. 

This has lead to some strange reactions from strangers.  One woman took one look at me and started to cross herself.  Another woman stopped me on the street and told me that she went through the same thing herself about two years ago and that she also did not wear anything on her head either.  She congratulated me for being so brave. 

Once in a while I'll get some plain old fashion stares.  I react but simply staring back.

I am participating in 365 again.  It's a bit of a challenge this time because I often used my hair as a prop.

7th Avenue Books...

I ventured to the slope this Saturday and was sad to learn that 7th Avenue Books will be closing it's doors pretty soon. I bought so many books here and sold a bunch here as well. I briefly spoke to the owner. He has decided to do internet sales only and closing the store was his own decision. I would always look here for a book before I would go to Barnes and Noble or the Community Book Store. When I moved to Brooklyn ten year ago I always thought there were not enough used books stores and was really excited when this place opened up. I'm going to miss it.