Summer's End

In my last post, I stole, I mean, borrowed a "no whining" sign from a blogging friend. I'm trying to hold to it.

The only REALLY good thing about the end of summer is that autum arrives with all her beauty and bounty; and we can eat apples and things made of apples (which includes drinking cider.)
And we can make/eat pumpkin pies, eat pumpkin cheese cake and decorate with pumpkins.

Another pretty good thing is I get to substitute in my favorite schools, again; and get paid for it, too!

Being able to take a walk in the fields or in the woods without sweating is another good feature but it takes me awhile to get used to wearing long pants again. With all the eating I mentioned above, I better get to it.

But this autumn has been different. I am preoccupied by finding a lump in my breast and though I have prayed, had tests, had my surgeon think it was not cancer; had a biopsy (yesterday) and should have the results today, I find myself with a sick stomach and a headache. I waited until after 1pm to call the surgeon's office for the results but they are not in, yet. So I am writing to pass some time and vent some thoughts.

Finding this lump to begin with was a bit strange and almost humorous: I tried on my new "body shaper" and put it on backwards ... yes, you may laugh! When I tried to get it off, it got stuck and squashed "the girls" like nothing I had felt before except a mammogram!! Well, I managed to get out of it, spin it around and put it on correctly. Trying to take it off again, resulted in more squashing but I finally figured out how to w/o any further discomfort. (I was suddenly reminded of my mom wearing girdles.)

Anyhow, the next morning, during my shower I discovered this lump. I had checked just two weeks earlier and found nothing so this was a complete and frightening surprise. I scheduled a mammogram and ulstrasound through my GP who thought it was a cyst. The mammogram did not show anything! The ultrasound showed something but was not definitive.

It's biopsy time. Honestly, it took longer for the paperwork to be done than it did for the prep and surgery! First off, the hopital had me down for the wrong breast.... uh... no, it's my RIGHT one; the one with the lump in it!! Happily, the Dr's info was all correct so the red faced nurses corrected all the wrong info and it went all the way to the top. A very nice hospital staff, though and friendly, calming (also humorous) nurses in the OR.

And guess what? Halfway through I realzed I could see a reflection of my surgery in a small area of the overhead light!!! I watched him poke around, wipe away some moisture, (no blood because they had already cauterized the little vessels) and then suture it! When I could feel the tugging, I decided to stop watching but that was it! In and out!

I'm hoping and praying this is it; that there is no need for further tests. I've been this route before and each time I wonder if "this" time it is the big "C"... My God knows, and he has been my ultimate source of comfort during this time. It's is amazing how and when he chooses to send me "special" comfort! Passages of Scriputre that come to mind, hymns sung in church and some that just float into my head; friends contact me out of the blue; family members need a baby sitter for the weekend (really took my mind off of it!)

The worst so far, though, is that I had to be without my husband for all of this time, but God carried me through. My blood pressure didn't even go sky high! Bill was in training in New Hampshire all while I had my mammogram/ulstrasound and first visit to the surgeon; but he was with me for the biopsy and he's here with me, now. Actually, he's always with me... even when he was 5 hours away. That is the kind of relationship we have and I'm going to give God ALL the glory! Some day I'll post how He brought us together...such a cute and wonderful story!

Well, I need to get laundry done, biopsy results in or not. I'm waiting until @3 to call them back. I think I can do that.

Needing to end on a humorous note and not being able to think of anything, God just allowed my husband to turn to me and say: "We are entering the Snapdragon phase of our lives." I said nothing, but looked at him with raised eyebrows. He continued, "Part of us has snapped and other parts are dragon." HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! If you identify with this statement, please leave me a comment!!!

Oh the SHAME of it!

I decided to get serious about blogging last year and kept up with myself fairly well; then sunk to a new low this past spring. It's been a few days since April 25th and not that my life is so interesting that anyone has missed any thing, but some of you get a good laugh (or cry) and just a knowing smile out of the antics I post and I hate to disappoint people! I am ashamed of my self. (anyone laughing, yet?) Thanks http://www.theimperfecthousewife.blogspot.com/ for the inspiration!

Bill and I buried ourselves up at http://www.grandviewminigolf.com/ and finally surfaced for air, only to find it was still raining. ENOUGH! We are trying so hard not to whine because other states have had it much worse than us. But we opened for business the end of May and made as much all Memorial Weekend as we did on one day last year. It was cloudy and cool the next weeknd and the one following that, it rained both days. Last weekend we had nice weather and finally had some business on Father's Day. FINALLY we can pay our bills! I hate leaving people hanging like that, especially since some of them, like Cal's Printing and DeJong Septic let us take the goods before paying! (Well, DeJong delivered, actually ... and they also take away ....)

We're hoping for a nice weekend (to make up for this past week) and, since it's graduation weekend (here in upstate NY) AND my birthday, we are having some special specials! Graduates play free and so do my friends! We also get to eat cake!

I did have a good laugh last weekend. It seems that Mooch (aka Kittykittykitty) realized the mini golf was opened for the season and came running over to visit; only to lie down (as usual) on hole #18 (unusual) and block the putt. What was so funny was, as the ball hit her in the butt, she didn't move. She didn't even flinch. She just laid there like the Queen Kitty that she is and we had to remove her so this family could finish their game...if they could finish their game as they were laughing so hard no one could breathe! Kittykittykitty (as I like to call her) was oblivious to the laughter and had the nerve to return to #18 to lay down AGAIN! She finally found wandrered off on her own hopefully to chase some mice, a local red squirrel or to intimidate still another cat from entering HER property. Sheesh!! I feel like I'm opening a petting zoo!

Choosing

Limerick style ... just a little fun poem for the L-O-N-G month of February!



I like summer better than winter
with AC instead of a heater;
when my brain doesn't freeze
and my cold nose can breathe
with my nostrils not sticking together!

Ta Dahhhh!!! Fall ....

Hey! What happened to summer? My tomato plants are asking the same thing. They sit there with green tomatoes ... My corn is almost ready to be picked which seems a bit late but I had to plant it three times .. once because of temps and twice more because of birds! They didn't like the balloons that hung out there this last time :-)

Grandview Mini Golf was our busy spot this summer, having taken it over from our son and daughter-in-love. Friends own it but lease it to the Pitchers each year .. at least one more year, I think then they may be ready to run it themselves. They're quite busy with several other investments and enjoy having us in charge up there. One less thing for them to worry about.

Sacandaga Bible Conference was my other place of "employment" this summer :-) Actually I volunteered there as their arts and crafts director. Fun stuff with, at one time, 34 kids at 3 picnic tables! It could have been worse ... it could have rained! They brought mne another table! WHEW! Looking forward already to next year ... great couselors/staff and great kids, too!

But summer is over and after a few weeks of "me" time, I will be back to subbing in the school districts. I really enjoy this ... two or three times a week and ther rest of the week is mine! Bill does the same thing with the Sherrif's dept.

With all this time on our hands, you'd think the housework/landscape work would be done! HA!

We are planning our annual "Last Vestiges of Summer" vacation to Ocean Ctiy NJ in a few weeks ... Ahhhhhh!!!!!!

Right now, as I type, Bill and a friend are on the first part of their "New England Road Trip." Bill has a new motorcycle .. Harely Davidson Road King that replaces the one he wrecked earlier this summer. He was only slightly injured and the other motorcylist he hit was ok .. both bikes totaled, though. Thankful for the lessons learned.

That's about it ... see you all when it's winter. Ta Dahhhh!!! ... just about that fast, too!

Ta Dahhhh!!! Summer!

Well, the first day of summer was an absolutely beautiful day but I had to work :-( However, subbing is over and mini golf is here .. with me ... right here under my feet! Running Grandview Mini Golf this year instead of our oldest son and his wife will prove an interesting occupation for the summer months. 7 days a week with a great helper in the AM on weekdays but still, no running away with my hubby for at least 2 1/2 months!

Of course, we already ran away to Oklahoma for Shelly and Jim's wedding (awesome) ... (I think their video stream has been removed) and a family reunion with distant cousins ... a great trip, too! No rain til we were headed back through Tennesee and Virginia. Got to visit some really great people and were treated to some fine dining and entertainment!

But now, it's time to work and garden and vaccum the pool .... ick ... what a shock THAT was when we took the cover off! For the last two years, our springs have been cool and the pool water has been ok at first peek ... but not this year! Maybe if we had opened it sooner than usual, but we weren't going to be home ... oh, well; we're hoping for some swim time on Monday ..

Looking forward to spending a little more time with my granddaughters this summer .. maybe at the same time and in the same place :-)

Congratulations go to our neice, Amber, who graduated with honors this past weekend. You GO, girl! She's headed for Bible School on Long Island and then perhaps nursing school. Our nephew, Brandon is also graduating this weekend and I have no idea what his plans are but he is a great kid and will be successful no matter where he goes or what he does!

Bill and Julie are working at Sacandaga Bible Conference ( www.sacandagacamp.com ) for the summer. Julie for the week days and Bill on the weekends .. cooking, of course!

Chris and Kristen are in the process of buying a house not too far from us.

Jeff and Amanda continue to write new songs and perform them as openings come up .. all for and to the Glory of God ... great music from dedicated Christians :-)

Bill's working p/t and volunteering and riding his motorcycle ... a full summer for him and he's smilig big time because of his semi-retirement! Hey ... me, too!