This summer has been really long! Usually, I feel like my teacher vacation is over before it starts but this summer seems to have lasted forever -- like when we were kids! I didn't teach summer school this year for the first time in a while. I guess that's the reason it seems so long! I still have another week off, officially, but I have a meeting on Monday for team leaders. That's making it seem like summer's over. In Atlanta, most of the schools are already back. Only my district still has more time off. I'm not complaining!
I'm trying to get some appointments taken care of as I start planning our wedding. I have a place out of town (about 2 hours north of Atlanta) that has sentimental value and would be a fun destination wedding. I've got several places in town which I have been to for weddings before or have had lots of recommendations for. We're going this weekend to the out of town location -- it was here 2+ years ago that I realized I wanted to marry Max. It's at the top of my list for the moment, but we need to meet with them and make sure it meets the expectations my memory has set for it. We'll probably get married next June, which seems like forever from now.
I'm also trying to make sure that Max enjoys the wedding, and it's not just all about me. If I'd wanted to, I'm sure we would have had the judge marry us at the courthouse years ago. If he could have that and wear shorts, it would make his day! Any ideas for how to incorporate his tastes?
I'm looking forward to school getting started for the sheer purpose of getting myself back into a routine. Being at home with a filled refrigerator is not good for me, but I've been better than I could have been!
Thanks to those of you who checked in on me!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Let's give this another go
I'm fairly certain no one's following me anymore, but I'm ready to give this blogging thing another shot.
I've gained some weight but I've been back at WW for about six weeks. I've lost almost six pounds. This includes nearly four weeks of being out of town. I'm fairly pleased with the progress and am glad I'm back in town and can be more structured. I'm mostly back just to have a place to write down how things are going.
A lot has happened in the year+ that I've been offline. The biggest news is that after dating for a little more than three years, Max and I are engaged! We got engaged on July 17th while visiting Mesa, Arizona.
Unfortunately, much of our last two years together has really been rough for Max. You might remember that Max's brother died after a short and excrutiating bout with colon cancer. We've had a lot on our plates with his brother's estate. We are still dealing with probate attorneys and taxes. It's been a lot of stress for the last twenty months.
To make matters even sadder, Max's mom passed away in April. She had been battling breast cancer for about ten years and hit a rough patch early in the year. We had already planned a visit to her home in Mesa, Arizona during my spring break from school. That's when she passed. She was in hospice, and we were there for a couple days before she died. We then buried her in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania next to Max's dad. Max is now an orphan with a couple of cousins, aunts, and uncles, but his family is very small now. I find it very sad that he has so few family members and that I won't have any in-laws.
The second week of July, I headed out west to Arizona where Max's mom lived. As a teacher, I have a lot of vacation, whereas Max has almost none. I drove to Texas to my parents' house. My mom had decided to accompany me to Arizona so that she could help clean out Max's mom's house with us. We drove to Arizona, and Max flew to join us there. We spent a week there -- cleaning, donating, choosing things to bring home with us. The goal was to pack up my SUV with whatever we wanted for our home, and I would drive it home with me. I did that and included a week in Texas on the way home visiting friends and family in my hometown. On our last night in Arizona, Max took my mom, his aunt, and me out for dinner. It was on this evening that he proposed! I was shocked! Somehow, he had picked out a ring all on his own. When he was told that he wouldn't be able to take it home with him that day, he decided to have it shipped to his 83-year old aunt's house in Arizona (and not pay any taxes because it was being shipped to another state). His aunt loved being in on the surprise and keeping my ring in her underwear drawer for a week!
Max and I have now been living together for about two years. It's been great! It took a long time for him to propose, but I'm sure you can see that we've had a lot on our plate.
I've just started getting ready to plan a beautiful wedding. I'm sure there will be more plans to share along the way.
I look forward to catching up with each of you. If you're still out and reading my blog, drop me a line to let me know you're still out there!
I've gained some weight but I've been back at WW for about six weeks. I've lost almost six pounds. This includes nearly four weeks of being out of town. I'm fairly pleased with the progress and am glad I'm back in town and can be more structured. I'm mostly back just to have a place to write down how things are going.
A lot has happened in the year+ that I've been offline. The biggest news is that after dating for a little more than three years, Max and I are engaged! We got engaged on July 17th while visiting Mesa, Arizona.
Unfortunately, much of our last two years together has really been rough for Max. You might remember that Max's brother died after a short and excrutiating bout with colon cancer. We've had a lot on our plates with his brother's estate. We are still dealing with probate attorneys and taxes. It's been a lot of stress for the last twenty months.
To make matters even sadder, Max's mom passed away in April. She had been battling breast cancer for about ten years and hit a rough patch early in the year. We had already planned a visit to her home in Mesa, Arizona during my spring break from school. That's when she passed. She was in hospice, and we were there for a couple days before she died. We then buried her in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania next to Max's dad. Max is now an orphan with a couple of cousins, aunts, and uncles, but his family is very small now. I find it very sad that he has so few family members and that I won't have any in-laws.
The second week of July, I headed out west to Arizona where Max's mom lived. As a teacher, I have a lot of vacation, whereas Max has almost none. I drove to Texas to my parents' house. My mom had decided to accompany me to Arizona so that she could help clean out Max's mom's house with us. We drove to Arizona, and Max flew to join us there. We spent a week there -- cleaning, donating, choosing things to bring home with us. The goal was to pack up my SUV with whatever we wanted for our home, and I would drive it home with me. I did that and included a week in Texas on the way home visiting friends and family in my hometown. On our last night in Arizona, Max took my mom, his aunt, and me out for dinner. It was on this evening that he proposed! I was shocked! Somehow, he had picked out a ring all on his own. When he was told that he wouldn't be able to take it home with him that day, he decided to have it shipped to his 83-year old aunt's house in Arizona (and not pay any taxes because it was being shipped to another state). His aunt loved being in on the surprise and keeping my ring in her underwear drawer for a week!
Max and I have now been living together for about two years. It's been great! It took a long time for him to propose, but I'm sure you can see that we've had a lot on our plate.
I've just started getting ready to plan a beautiful wedding. I'm sure there will be more plans to share along the way.
I look forward to catching up with each of you. If you're still out and reading my blog, drop me a line to let me know you're still out there!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Home Again, Home Again Jiggity Jig
Max is en route from California. Thank goodness. I'll pick him up late tonight.
His brother is stable. He'll probably have to have the 3rd surgery this week, depending on the infection they're watching. Following that, he'll be moved from the ICU to the cancer floor. He'll probably stay there another week or so.
Max thinks he'll be home for about two weeks and then will head back out to help his brother put his affairs in order. I don't think there have been any decisions made about future treatment. I think Mike is likely to ditch the chemo and go live the rest of his days on an island somewhere. Really. Sounds kind of nice when you think about it.
I've already decided that I'm not going to weigh in on Wednesday. Everyone has been so kind ... taking me out for dinner, having me over, etc. I need about a week of normalcy to get back on the kinda lame track I had gotten on. I did get to watch one of my friend's toddlers spew carrots last night. That was a special time. For those of you who've been around a while, it kind of reminded me of last April when I was flying to Austin when the man in the seat behind me barfed all over my bare shoulder and hair. Ahh ... memories. :) That's still the most vile thing that I think has ever happened to me. Now, if it had been someone I knew, I think it would have been closer to okay. But, no, he was a perfect stranger with good aim.
His brother is stable. He'll probably have to have the 3rd surgery this week, depending on the infection they're watching. Following that, he'll be moved from the ICU to the cancer floor. He'll probably stay there another week or so.
Max thinks he'll be home for about two weeks and then will head back out to help his brother put his affairs in order. I don't think there have been any decisions made about future treatment. I think Mike is likely to ditch the chemo and go live the rest of his days on an island somewhere. Really. Sounds kind of nice when you think about it.
I've already decided that I'm not going to weigh in on Wednesday. Everyone has been so kind ... taking me out for dinner, having me over, etc. I need about a week of normalcy to get back on the kinda lame track I had gotten on. I did get to watch one of my friend's toddlers spew carrots last night. That was a special time. For those of you who've been around a while, it kind of reminded me of last April when I was flying to Austin when the man in the seat behind me barfed all over my bare shoulder and hair. Ahh ... memories. :) That's still the most vile thing that I think has ever happened to me. Now, if it had been someone I knew, I think it would have been closer to okay. But, no, he was a perfect stranger with good aim.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Just Thinking About Tomorrow!
First of all, Annie was my absolute favorite movie when I was in 2nd grade, so I think I screamed/sang Tomorrow about a billion times back in 1982. I wanted to BE Annie, despite the whole orphan thing.
Max is supposed to come home tomorrow night. I'm so excited I can't stand it.
His brother is in stable condition for the moment but has to fully recuperate from his surgeries and possible infection from the fecal matter leak before they can assess if he can go through chemotherapy. They are watching careful for infection. If he has an infection, he'll need to have a 3rd surgery to, as Max puts it, hose him down. Gross.
Depending on the outcome over the next few days, Max will stay home for a few days or weeks before heading back out. I hope it's weeks. Their mom is going to stay there until the next step is known.
I have some great friends here. I had done a favor for a friend while he was out of town (had packages come to my house so someone could sign for them), so he took me out for dinner last night. Tonight, one of the girls I sing with (whose husband has befriended Max ... they go bowling together) has invited me over for dinner. Thank goodness. Those, plus Aida on Thursay, have really kept me from going stir crazy the last few days. I did try to sleep in the bed last night, but that only lasted about 20 minutes before I got all sniffly and headed to the couch. How totally pathetic and lame is that? Max thinks it's sweet. I think it's codependent.
So he comes home late tomorrow night, and then has to turn around and be at work at 6:00 on Monday morning. Actually, he's looking forward to getting back to his routine. With his overnights prior to his going to California, we haven't been in our regular routine since early June. The overnight project got completed while Max was gone, thank goodness. I haven't made dinner for the two of us in about a month. I didn't know how much I liked doing that (most of the time).
Anyway, I imagine you are all as sick of hearing about this as I am of living it. I'm going to try to refocus on me now. By the way, my house is almost completely ready for Max to move in except for the room of woe. Now I just have to scrub a few things and clean out the refrigerator, and we'll be ready to go. I started bringing over some random things of his yesterday. I can't believe this is almost ready to happen. I can't wait!
Max is supposed to come home tomorrow night. I'm so excited I can't stand it.
His brother is in stable condition for the moment but has to fully recuperate from his surgeries and possible infection from the fecal matter leak before they can assess if he can go through chemotherapy. They are watching careful for infection. If he has an infection, he'll need to have a 3rd surgery to, as Max puts it, hose him down. Gross.
Depending on the outcome over the next few days, Max will stay home for a few days or weeks before heading back out. I hope it's weeks. Their mom is going to stay there until the next step is known.
I have some great friends here. I had done a favor for a friend while he was out of town (had packages come to my house so someone could sign for them), so he took me out for dinner last night. Tonight, one of the girls I sing with (whose husband has befriended Max ... they go bowling together) has invited me over for dinner. Thank goodness. Those, plus Aida on Thursay, have really kept me from going stir crazy the last few days. I did try to sleep in the bed last night, but that only lasted about 20 minutes before I got all sniffly and headed to the couch. How totally pathetic and lame is that? Max thinks it's sweet. I think it's codependent.
So he comes home late tomorrow night, and then has to turn around and be at work at 6:00 on Monday morning. Actually, he's looking forward to getting back to his routine. With his overnights prior to his going to California, we haven't been in our regular routine since early June. The overnight project got completed while Max was gone, thank goodness. I haven't made dinner for the two of us in about a month. I didn't know how much I liked doing that (most of the time).
Anyway, I imagine you are all as sick of hearing about this as I am of living it. I'm going to try to refocus on me now. By the way, my house is almost completely ready for Max to move in except for the room of woe. Now I just have to scrub a few things and clean out the refrigerator, and we'll be ready to go. I started bringing over some random things of his yesterday. I can't believe this is almost ready to happen. I can't wait!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Nonami II
I've got to take today just for me. Is it selfish that I just want my boyfriend to come home? The bed is too big for just me, so I've been sleeping on the couch. Otherwise, I was finding myself reaching for him and crying in the middle of the night. How pathetic and yet sweet at the same time. So, tonight will be my sixth night on the couch. The first two, I tried the bed, and never actually got to sleep.
My friend is playing in the orchestra (violin) of a local production of Aida, so I went and saw that tonight. Then, I went and hung out with her and her husband at their apartment. I've met them through weight watchers. Her husband has lost over 100 pounds, and she has lost 40. They both look awesome! They're big fans of Max as well, so it was good to just get a night out of the house with some friends. Aida was very well-done. The woman who played Aida had an amazing voice, one you usually wouldn't find in community theater. I was pretty much blown away. She stole the show.
I need to spend a little time tomorrow making at least some weekend plans. I've been so ready to drop things at a moment's notice, that I have nothing to do this weekend. I have been going stir crazy. I expect to finish cleaning my house this weekend (all except the Room of Woe). All that's left is that I need Max to help me take the NINE bags of trash and 6 boxes of crap to the garbage and Goodwill, respectively. Then, I can actually clean, and we can start bringing some of Max's things over. I was going to start packing his things while he was gone. But, honestly, he's a total bachelor, and I'm hoping that many of his things never see the light of day in my house. We have a lot of donating to do.
He has some nice things. His couch and coffee table will eventually make their ways into the Room of Woe, and I will sell or donate the 10+ year old couch and love seat I have in there. I'm giving a coffee table and 2 side tables to the couple I mentioned before. Max is also bringing his desktop computer (I only have a laptop issued by the school), as well as a carpet steamer, a DVD player to replace my VCR, and his clothes. Everything else ... I could live without it. So, if I were to do all the packing, I think he'd miss a few things. I'll be a nice girlfriend and at least let him check things off on a list.
I've been meaning to write about this for a while. My very best girlfriend (lives here, but we grew up together in Texas) gained about 10-12 pounds. That means she went from about 115 to about 128. Poor thing. So, she decided to do Nutrisystem and buy a stationary bike. She's down to 115 again. That took about three months! So, she's stopped doing Nutrisystem. But, since she thought that it was 'just way too much food for her' she has a LOT of extras. She gave me some (like 10 dinners)one day to keep at my house for the very few times I'm actually there. They're actually quite good. When I mentioned how helpful they were to have while Max was working overnights for a few weeks, she gave me a ton more (like 30 dinners). It's been so nice to have that since I'm not cooking for anyone right now. Have any of you done nutrisystem? I know Julie from Flip this Body did, but she's the only one I know of. I'm not considering doing it ... just wondering about you guys.
My friend is playing in the orchestra (violin) of a local production of Aida, so I went and saw that tonight. Then, I went and hung out with her and her husband at their apartment. I've met them through weight watchers. Her husband has lost over 100 pounds, and she has lost 40. They both look awesome! They're big fans of Max as well, so it was good to just get a night out of the house with some friends. Aida was very well-done. The woman who played Aida had an amazing voice, one you usually wouldn't find in community theater. I was pretty much blown away. She stole the show.
I need to spend a little time tomorrow making at least some weekend plans. I've been so ready to drop things at a moment's notice, that I have nothing to do this weekend. I have been going stir crazy. I expect to finish cleaning my house this weekend (all except the Room of Woe). All that's left is that I need Max to help me take the NINE bags of trash and 6 boxes of crap to the garbage and Goodwill, respectively. Then, I can actually clean, and we can start bringing some of Max's things over. I was going to start packing his things while he was gone. But, honestly, he's a total bachelor, and I'm hoping that many of his things never see the light of day in my house. We have a lot of donating to do.
He has some nice things. His couch and coffee table will eventually make their ways into the Room of Woe, and I will sell or donate the 10+ year old couch and love seat I have in there. I'm giving a coffee table and 2 side tables to the couple I mentioned before. Max is also bringing his desktop computer (I only have a laptop issued by the school), as well as a carpet steamer, a DVD player to replace my VCR, and his clothes. Everything else ... I could live without it. So, if I were to do all the packing, I think he'd miss a few things. I'll be a nice girlfriend and at least let him check things off on a list.
I've been meaning to write about this for a while. My very best girlfriend (lives here, but we grew up together in Texas) gained about 10-12 pounds. That means she went from about 115 to about 128. Poor thing. So, she decided to do Nutrisystem and buy a stationary bike. She's down to 115 again. That took about three months! So, she's stopped doing Nutrisystem. But, since she thought that it was 'just way too much food for her' she has a LOT of extras. She gave me some (like 10 dinners)one day to keep at my house for the very few times I'm actually there. They're actually quite good. When I mentioned how helpful they were to have while Max was working overnights for a few weeks, she gave me a ton more (like 30 dinners). It's been so nice to have that since I'm not cooking for anyone right now. Have any of you done nutrisystem? I know Julie from Flip this Body did, but she's the only one I know of. I'm not considering doing it ... just wondering about you guys.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Weigh-In Wednesday
I wasn't sure what this crazy week would have resulted in on the scales. Somedays, I had to remind myself to eat. Other days, I totally made up for that. So, when the WW lady told me I was exactly the same, I was surprised, but knew that it made sense. I have never been exactly the same.
I heard from my gynecologist's office today. They basically said the biopsy showed no signs of cancer or precancerous changes. I still have the HPV, and I'm supposed to have another Pap in 6 months. Phew! We needed no additional drama here.
No new updates about Mike's condition yet. They're supposed to bring him out of his induced coma today. Hopefully, he'll be coherent enough to sign the power of attorney while he's awake.
Unless Mike has a really bad turn for the worse, Max thinks it's best for me to stay here and take care of the cat. I'm totally cool with that. So, I'll be doing that and maybe even tackling the room of woe until then. Max may still need to go back to California for several weeks or months. We'll see what Mike's progress is or isn't over the next few days.
All I know is that Max sounded like himself today ... the first time I can say that in the past week.
Thanks for your continuing support and patience!
Kim :)
I heard from my gynecologist's office today. They basically said the biopsy showed no signs of cancer or precancerous changes. I still have the HPV, and I'm supposed to have another Pap in 6 months. Phew! We needed no additional drama here.
No new updates about Mike's condition yet. They're supposed to bring him out of his induced coma today. Hopefully, he'll be coherent enough to sign the power of attorney while he's awake.
Unless Mike has a really bad turn for the worse, Max thinks it's best for me to stay here and take care of the cat. I'm totally cool with that. So, I'll be doing that and maybe even tackling the room of woe until then. Max may still need to go back to California for several weeks or months. We'll see what Mike's progress is or isn't over the next few days.
All I know is that Max sounded like himself today ... the first time I can say that in the past week.
Thanks for your continuing support and patience!
Kim :)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Exhaustion
One day I will reclaim this blog to be about me. However, today's not the day. Sorry!
By the way, what follows might be a little TMI.
Mike had an emergency surgery today. It turns out that during his surgery the other day to remove most of his colon, he wasn't sewn up quite well enough. All this intense pain he's been in in the last few days wasn't all from the surgical pain. He's literally had fecal matter leaking into his body since last Wednesday. Max has had such a rough time getting the nurses to help his brother. There seemed to be a much larger amount of pain/psychotic behavior over the last few days than really should have been expected. It turns out there was an actual reason for the severity of the situation.
Mike is out of the surgery -- cleaned up, sewn up, etc. Things are very touch and go. They've induced a coma so he can get some rest and hopefully not feel too much pain. As you can imagine, Max and his mom are beside themselves. He could still die in the next few days -- infection, fever, etc. Max is also convinced that they're not receiving good enough care and enough attention from the nurse staff. I'm not there to watch the goings-on, so I can only listen and report his side of the story.
I think I'll be going out to California at some point before week's end. As Mike was in surgery, I packed a bag of nice (funeral) clothes for Max to take with me. I hope he doesn't need to use them.
I'm exhausted and a little stir-crazy. I had to get out of the house today. So, for the first time in days, I showered, shaved, and headed to the grocery store and to return some library books. As lame of errands as those were, two hours out of the house were great.
I finally called my gynecologist's office today. They told me if I didn't hear the results of my biopsy within 2 weeks to call. I left a message and no one has called me back yet. I pray it's nothing serious. We can't deal with anything else right now, thank you very much.
I'm going to try to go to bed now. That hasn't been so easy lately. The bed just seems so big to sleep in alone. :(
By the way, what follows might be a little TMI.
Mike had an emergency surgery today. It turns out that during his surgery the other day to remove most of his colon, he wasn't sewn up quite well enough. All this intense pain he's been in in the last few days wasn't all from the surgical pain. He's literally had fecal matter leaking into his body since last Wednesday. Max has had such a rough time getting the nurses to help his brother. There seemed to be a much larger amount of pain/psychotic behavior over the last few days than really should have been expected. It turns out there was an actual reason for the severity of the situation.
Mike is out of the surgery -- cleaned up, sewn up, etc. Things are very touch and go. They've induced a coma so he can get some rest and hopefully not feel too much pain. As you can imagine, Max and his mom are beside themselves. He could still die in the next few days -- infection, fever, etc. Max is also convinced that they're not receiving good enough care and enough attention from the nurse staff. I'm not there to watch the goings-on, so I can only listen and report his side of the story.
I think I'll be going out to California at some point before week's end. As Mike was in surgery, I packed a bag of nice (funeral) clothes for Max to take with me. I hope he doesn't need to use them.
I'm exhausted and a little stir-crazy. I had to get out of the house today. So, for the first time in days, I showered, shaved, and headed to the grocery store and to return some library books. As lame of errands as those were, two hours out of the house were great.
I finally called my gynecologist's office today. They told me if I didn't hear the results of my biopsy within 2 weeks to call. I left a message and no one has called me back yet. I pray it's nothing serious. We can't deal with anything else right now, thank you very much.
I'm going to try to go to bed now. That hasn't been so easy lately. The bed just seems so big to sleep in alone. :(
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