So afraid.

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  • MaryRC
    MaryRC Member Posts: 114
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    Skiffin16 said:

    WINNER not whiner
    Mary,

    Maybe you just misinterpreted what they said. In our thoughts, you are a winner. You have confronted your illness, you have and are continuing to educate yourself, You have accepted the fact that it's going to be a rough road, you have fears, and you express those fears openly.

    All of those things are healthy and I hope that someone that has walked this same path is not the one saying you are whining.... This is a road that can only truely be appreciated and understood from others whom have walked the same path....

    John

    wont stop
    I wont stop posting, this is what got me through my ENT appt last week. I have always been a whiner when I dont feel good. My husband says he is use to it and when I am laying down quiet is when he worries. I was upset when my doctor said it wouldnt be until March 29th for my surgery. I was ready to go in and get it done!
    Now one part of me is saying I should take this time until surgery to stay home and get rest ( I never take time off in 15 yrs) or go back to work till then. I am already on SDI and so unless I cancel it, I cant work. Then if I cancel then have to reapply. My work is heavy with my boy patient,lots of lifting and I get hurt ( kicked, and head butted).
    I think I have excepted the fact that I have cancer. I just want it to be gone. I am ready for all to come. But I will whine :)My husband took care of me after my shoulder surgery, and boy was I ill from the anesthtic! Shoulder never did hurt. My husband told me to stay as long as I can this time in the hospital.
    Thankyou all for being so kind to me. I wish none of this has happened to any of us, but it has and I have to be strong like all of you .
    Steve and Mick, I hope your treatments are going well for you. I think about you all.
    Mary ( the whiner in Northern California
  • MaryRC
    MaryRC Member Posts: 114
    Options
    Skiffin16 said:

    WINNER not whiner
    Mary,

    Maybe you just misinterpreted what they said. In our thoughts, you are a winner. You have confronted your illness, you have and are continuing to educate yourself, You have accepted the fact that it's going to be a rough road, you have fears, and you express those fears openly.

    All of those things are healthy and I hope that someone that has walked this same path is not the one saying you are whining.... This is a road that can only truely be appreciated and understood from others whom have walked the same path....

    John

    wont stop
    I wont stop posting, this is what got me through my ENT appt last week. I have always been a whiner when I dont feel good. My husband says he is use to it and when I am laying down quiet is when he worries. I was upset when my doctor said it wouldnt be until March 29th for my surgery. I was ready to go in and get it done!
    Now one part of me is saying I should take this time until surgery to stay home and get rest ( I never take time off in 15 yrs) or go back to work till then. I am already on SDI and so unless I cancel it, I cant work. Then if I cancel then have to reapply. My work is heavy with my boy patient,lots of lifting and I get hurt ( kicked, and head butted).
    I think I have excepted the fact that I have cancer. I just want it to be gone. I am ready for all to come. But I will whine :)My husband took care of me after my shoulder surgery, and boy was I ill from the anesthtic! Shoulder never did hurt. My husband told me to stay as long as I can this time in the hospital.
    Thankyou all for being so kind to me. I wish none of this has happened to any of us, but it has and I have to be strong like all of you .
    Steve and Mick, I hope your treatments are going well for you. I think about you all.
    Mary ( the whiner in Northern California
  • MaryRC
    MaryRC Member Posts: 114
    Options
    Skiffin16 said:

    WINNER not whiner
    Mary,

    Maybe you just misinterpreted what they said. In our thoughts, you are a winner. You have confronted your illness, you have and are continuing to educate yourself, You have accepted the fact that it's going to be a rough road, you have fears, and you express those fears openly.

    All of those things are healthy and I hope that someone that has walked this same path is not the one saying you are whining.... This is a road that can only truely be appreciated and understood from others whom have walked the same path....

    John

    wont stop
    I wont stop posting, this is what got me through my ENT appt last week. I have always been a whiner when I dont feel good. My husband says he is use to it and when I am laying down quiet is when he worries. I was upset when my doctor said it wouldnt be until March 29th for my surgery. I was ready to go in and get it done!
    Now one part of me is saying I should take this time until surgery to stay home and get rest ( I never take time off in 15 yrs) or go back to work till then. I am already on SDI and so unless I cancel it, I cant work. Then if I cancel then have to reapply. My work is heavy with my boy patient,lots of lifting and I get hurt ( kicked, and head butted).
    I think I have excepted the fact that I have cancer. I just want it to be gone. I am ready for all to come. But I will whine :)My husband took care of me after my shoulder surgery, and boy was I ill from the anesthtic! Shoulder never did hurt. My husband told me to stay as long as I can this time in the hospital.
    Thankyou all for being so kind to me. I wish none of this has happened to any of us, but it has and I have to be strong like all of you .
    Steve and Mick, I hope your treatments are going well for you. I think about you all.
    Mary ( the whiner in Northern California
  • MaryRC
    MaryRC Member Posts: 114
    Options
    Skiffin16 said:

    WINNER not whiner
    Mary,

    Maybe you just misinterpreted what they said. In our thoughts, you are a winner. You have confronted your illness, you have and are continuing to educate yourself, You have accepted the fact that it's going to be a rough road, you have fears, and you express those fears openly.

    All of those things are healthy and I hope that someone that has walked this same path is not the one saying you are whining.... This is a road that can only truely be appreciated and understood from others whom have walked the same path....

    John

    wont stop
    I wont stop posting, this is what got me through my ENT appt last week. I have always been a whiner when I dont feel good. My husband says he is use to it and when I am laying down quiet is when he worries. I was upset when my doctor said it wouldnt be until March 29th for my surgery. I was ready to go in and get it done!
    Now one part of me is saying I should take this time until surgery to stay home and get rest ( I never take time off in 15 yrs) or go back to work till then. I am already on SDI and so unless I cancel it, I cant work. Then if I cancel then have to reapply. My work is heavy with my boy patient,lots of lifting and I get hurt ( kicked, and head butted).
    I think I have excepted the fact that I have cancer. I just want it to be gone. I am ready for all to come. But I will whine :)My husband took care of me after my shoulder surgery, and boy was I ill from the anesthtic! Shoulder never did hurt. My husband told me to stay as long as I can this time in the hospital.
    Thankyou all for being so kind to me. I wish none of this has happened to any of us, but it has and I have to be strong like all of you .
    Steve and Mick, I hope your treatments are going well for you. I think about you all.
    Mary ( the whiner in Northern California
  • MaryRC
    MaryRC Member Posts: 114
    Options
    Skiffin16 said:

    WINNER not whiner
    Mary,

    Maybe you just misinterpreted what they said. In our thoughts, you are a winner. You have confronted your illness, you have and are continuing to educate yourself, You have accepted the fact that it's going to be a rough road, you have fears, and you express those fears openly.

    All of those things are healthy and I hope that someone that has walked this same path is not the one saying you are whining.... This is a road that can only truely be appreciated and understood from others whom have walked the same path....

    John

    wont stop
    I wont stop posting, this is what got me through my ENT appt last week. I have always been a whiner when I dont feel good. My husband says he is use to it and when I am laying down quiet is when he worries. I was upset when my doctor said it wouldnt be until March 29th for my surgery. I was ready to go in and get it done!
    Now one part of me is saying I should take this time until surgery to stay home and get rest ( I never take time off in 15 yrs) or go back to work till then. I am already on SDI and so unless I cancel it, I cant work. Then if I cancel then have to reapply. My work is heavy with my boy patient,lots of lifting and I get hurt ( kicked, and head butted).
    I think I have excepted the fact that I have cancer. I just want it to be gone. I am ready for all to come. But I will whine :)My husband took care of me after my shoulder surgery, and boy was I ill from the anesthtic! Shoulder never did hurt. My husband told me to stay as long as I can this time in the hospital.
    Thankyou all for being so kind to me. I wish none of this has happened to any of us, but it has and I have to be strong like all of you .
    Steve and Mick, I hope your treatments are going well for you. I think about you all.
    Mary ( the whiner in Northern California
  • micktissue
    micktissue Member Posts: 430
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    MaryRC said:

    wont stop
    I wont stop posting, this is what got me through my ENT appt last week. I have always been a whiner when I dont feel good. My husband says he is use to it and when I am laying down quiet is when he worries. I was upset when my doctor said it wouldnt be until March 29th for my surgery. I was ready to go in and get it done!
    Now one part of me is saying I should take this time until surgery to stay home and get rest ( I never take time off in 15 yrs) or go back to work till then. I am already on SDI and so unless I cancel it, I cant work. Then if I cancel then have to reapply. My work is heavy with my boy patient,lots of lifting and I get hurt ( kicked, and head butted).
    I think I have excepted the fact that I have cancer. I just want it to be gone. I am ready for all to come. But I will whine :)My husband took care of me after my shoulder surgery, and boy was I ill from the anesthtic! Shoulder never did hurt. My husband told me to stay as long as I can this time in the hospital.
    Thankyou all for being so kind to me. I wish none of this has happened to any of us, but it has and I have to be strong like all of you .
    Steve and Mick, I hope your treatments are going well for you. I think about you all.
    Mary ( the whiner in Northern California

    That's the way!
    Great post (10 times!). It is good you are staying and taking us with you on your journey.

    Best,

    Mick
  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
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    That's the way!
    Great post (10 times!). It is good you are staying and taking us with you on your journey.

    Best,

    Mick

    10 times
    Hi Mary,

    Yea you said you would keep posting and you are having great success!LOL
    It's all right, I did the same thing 4 times. When the site is crawling you just
    keep pushing the post comment button and it doesn't forget how many times you push it.

    Hang In There,
    Steve
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
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    stevenl said:

    10 times
    Hi Mary,

    Yea you said you would keep posting and you are having great success!LOL
    It's all right, I did the same thing 4 times. When the site is crawling you just
    keep pushing the post comment button and it doesn't forget how many times you push it.

    Hang In There,
    Steve

    geepers i missed a lot
    this site is at a crawl all the time anyway, and with my stupid dsl problems I am having trouble bringing up any lengthy threads, so i missed this post earlier.

    mary, i must be a big baby whiner too, because i don't think you are whining and for someone to say that to you really, reaallly pisses me off. the little new yawk city girl is coming out of rural pa. you can take the girl out of new yawk, but not the new yawka out of the girl. GRRRR. okay, now that I am over my fit....

    I am glad you will continue to post because i think it will be good for you through treatment and after. i am not a big touchy feely kind of girl and people have been telling me for a while to join a cancer suvivor group some where, but i am sort of not good with sharing my feelings in front of people. this space has provided me an outlet without invading my "personal space" so to speak.

    you are scared and rightly so. i think you have come so far from the first day you posted here. you will continue to have bad and good days, but you will be prepared thanks to all the info here. I know you want that thing out of you. i wanted my surgery done and over with. i know the day they were going to do all the scopes and stuff to look for my primary, i was really wanting them to get that lump out. they would not till they tried to find the primary. after the scopes, they found nothing and decided to just keep me overnight and do the dissection the next day. i was relived. especially because it was getting bigger by the moment and my neck was really hurting.

    as far as going back to work, just concintrate on building up your strength, maybe gain a couple of pounds if you can, and work on building up your immune system. you want to be prepared for the battle of your life. i was a serious work a holic and i went for a couple of months (3 actually) between surgery and radiation, more time than what they wanted, really. but i got 3 opinions total. needed a tie breaker as it was one vote radiation/chemo to one vote do nothing. in the mean time i tried to gain weight, not easy when you want to, juice daily with plenty of fruits and veggies, and take an immune booster. (3 opinions were geisinger, danville pa- cancer treatment center of america, philadelphia pa- and cornell university. also had a consult with a doc from sloan kettering and my dr contact at rockerfeller university, about the fanconis anemia coming into play with this mess). so think about using your time now to invest in YOU. don't worry about your patients, they will have good care by others.

    you will get through this. we are here for you. ignore the people who say stupid things to you. i do. they just haven't got a clue of what you are going through, and also, some people cannot relate to people with cancer. it scares them. it makes them confront their own mortality.

    hoping i can get this posted. imo, i think we should start a new thread for you. :) i hate my dsl.
  • MaryRC
    MaryRC Member Posts: 114
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    Hanging in there.
    Sorry about all the copy posts. This site seems to crawl sometimes and i kept hitting the post comment button because nothing was moving!
    I have decided to stay out on my SDI and take this time to catch up on things, to rest and take care of myself. Surgery and treatments will be rough and I want to be ready to fight!
    Mary
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
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    stevenl said:

    Surgery
    Hi Mary,

    I have had, all in all, very good experiences with my medical team. Sometime Joe ain't talkin to Jack, and things get a little out of order. But one thing with me is, I almost wanted to tell em to slow down. Everything has been thrown at me so fast it's been hard to endure at times. As a matter of fact I am now the proud renter, yes renter, of a walk med chemo pump, which is hooked to me now, and it really is no big deal. I had my 1st chemo today-supposed to be yesterday-another story- and it was no big deal. Also had my 1st Amofostine I V and 1st radiation, also no big deal. My tumor was visibly growing at an alarming rate, thus the need for the rush, I think. Met a guy in chemo today same diagnosis as me and he is not even having surgery yet. Chemo and rads 1st,to get rid of the C, then possibly surgery to remove his right tonsil. Every body is different. But Mary, I understood you to say you got a call from your Ent nurse about your surgery date. If that is not want you want to hear, call in the morning, and make an appointment to see the DOCTOR. Do not take no for an answer. Insist, and try to be nice, but get satisfaction. If you do not understand why make them tell you why. I asked for a one on one with my ent and got to see him the day before surgery. I had only talked to him for 10 to 15 minutes in 2 visits combined and to be frank, I did not know what was about to happen to me . The why, what how and such. Be strong and make them help you understand.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you Mary,
    Steve

    Amifostine
    How are you tolerating the amifostine?
    I just finished up a four week course of it on Wednesday.
    Had to cut it back to 400mg from 500 mg (I am 4"11, 100lbs and thought I could tolerate a lower dose better, which did turn out to be the case...
    Good luck with your treatment.
    Stacey
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
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    MaryRC said:

    Hanging in there.
    Sorry about all the copy posts. This site seems to crawl sometimes and i kept hitting the post comment button because nothing was moving!
    I have decided to stay out on my SDI and take this time to catch up on things, to rest and take care of myself. Surgery and treatments will be rough and I want to be ready to fight!
    Mary

    Mary
    We all double post at times, just glad to have you here
  • Coupe35
    Coupe35 Member Posts: 45
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    MaryRC said:

    wont stop
    I wont stop posting, this is what got me through my ENT appt last week. I have always been a whiner when I dont feel good. My husband says he is use to it and when I am laying down quiet is when he worries. I was upset when my doctor said it wouldnt be until March 29th for my surgery. I was ready to go in and get it done!
    Now one part of me is saying I should take this time until surgery to stay home and get rest ( I never take time off in 15 yrs) or go back to work till then. I am already on SDI and so unless I cancel it, I cant work. Then if I cancel then have to reapply. My work is heavy with my boy patient,lots of lifting and I get hurt ( kicked, and head butted).
    I think I have excepted the fact that I have cancer. I just want it to be gone. I am ready for all to come. But I will whine :)My husband took care of me after my shoulder surgery, and boy was I ill from the anesthtic! Shoulder never did hurt. My husband told me to stay as long as I can this time in the hospital.
    Thankyou all for being so kind to me. I wish none of this has happened to any of us, but it has and I have to be strong like all of you .
    Steve and Mick, I hope your treatments are going well for you. I think about you all.
    Mary ( the whiner in Northern California

    Nasopharynx cancer
    Looks like I have this rare cancer. Had the PET scan and one node in the neck and the nasal area lit up. I will be having a biopsy on the node to see what type of cells are there. Why could I not be one of the rare one’s to win the lottery instead of this crap. I will go into a bit more about my story as soon as I make sure I’m doing this computer thing correctly. Here’s a prayer to all of us having the strength to get thru. thanks
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
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    Coupe35 said:

    Nasopharynx cancer
    Looks like I have this rare cancer. Had the PET scan and one node in the neck and the nasal area lit up. I will be having a biopsy on the node to see what type of cells are there. Why could I not be one of the rare one’s to win the lottery instead of this crap. I will go into a bit more about my story as soon as I make sure I’m doing this computer thing correctly. Here’s a prayer to all of us having the strength to get thru. thanks

    Coupe 35
    Glad you found this site. Hope to hear from you soon.
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
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    Hondo said:

    Mary
    We all double post at times, just glad to have you here

    A Second To That
    I second Hondo's post, Mary. I hope, now, that you do believe that. You're gonna be okay.

    Believe.

    kcass
  • Coupe35
    Coupe35 Member Posts: 45
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    Pam M said:

    Coupe 35
    Glad you found this site. Hope to hear from you soon.

    Thanks Pam
    Good, my post was answered. I’m new to a computer so I was not sure I was getting thru. Nasal cancer is not my first involvement with cancer. In 1986 I found out I had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I was 42 at the time. Went thru 6 months of chemo and went into remission. There I stayed until now (maybe). This cancer could be the lymphoma coming back to life, or more than likely, a new cancer, nasopharynx cancer. I will be having a biopsy Wednesday to find out what it is. You would think that once you had a cancer, you could then go back to the end of the line and wait your turn again for something bad to happen, and since you have already had something bad to happen, your turn should not come up again. Right. But that’s not the way life is. I’m 65 now and it looks like I will be fighting another battle. At least God let me live this long, in that I was able to retire, see my kids grow up, married and have kids of their own. So no matter what the out come is, I’m very blessed for that. But just in case someone up there is listening, it would be nice to see 70. Of course, should I make it to 70, I would be praying for 75, and so on. If your feeling good, there never is a good time to leave this world, is there. I will let you guys know what the biopsy results are when I find out. And Mary, you hang in there. That lump could be the only cancer you have. Those PET scans are pretty good tools for finding cancer. That’s how they found my lymph node and nasal cancer. Thanks
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    Options
    Coupe35 said:

    Nasopharynx cancer
    Looks like I have this rare cancer. Had the PET scan and one node in the neck and the nasal area lit up. I will be having a biopsy on the node to see what type of cells are there. Why could I not be one of the rare one’s to win the lottery instead of this crap. I will go into a bit more about my story as soon as I make sure I’m doing this computer thing correctly. Here’s a prayer to all of us having the strength to get thru. thanks

    NPC
    There's a seperate thread in this head and neck community for NPC, Coupe35, which is what Nasopharynx/Nasopharyngeal is known by, here. Hondo started it. Hope you will add to it. How did you become aware of your C? Reckon you must have had a surgical biopsy and analysis. We, with NPC history, will greatly welcome your info. Couple others are currently very active, here, and going thru NPC treatment. I'm a 15+-month Survivor. Hondo is some 7 years, and Hawvet even more. We are proof you will survive this setback.

    Two different treatments are the standard: Cisplatin and Flourouracil, with 35 rads. The regime of the Chemo can differ, and I would be most appreciative of the specifics of your's, when your Drs. determine your path. Mine was a bit different, and so it is of a very special interest to me.

    Welcome.

    kcass
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    Options
    Coupe35 said:

    Thanks Pam
    Good, my post was answered. I’m new to a computer so I was not sure I was getting thru. Nasal cancer is not my first involvement with cancer. In 1986 I found out I had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I was 42 at the time. Went thru 6 months of chemo and went into remission. There I stayed until now (maybe). This cancer could be the lymphoma coming back to life, or more than likely, a new cancer, nasopharynx cancer. I will be having a biopsy Wednesday to find out what it is. You would think that once you had a cancer, you could then go back to the end of the line and wait your turn again for something bad to happen, and since you have already had something bad to happen, your turn should not come up again. Right. But that’s not the way life is. I’m 65 now and it looks like I will be fighting another battle. At least God let me live this long, in that I was able to retire, see my kids grow up, married and have kids of their own. So no matter what the out come is, I’m very blessed for that. But just in case someone up there is listening, it would be nice to see 70. Of course, should I make it to 70, I would be praying for 75, and so on. If your feeling good, there never is a good time to leave this world, is there. I will let you guys know what the biopsy results are when I find out. And Mary, you hang in there. That lump could be the only cancer you have. Those PET scans are pretty good tools for finding cancer. That’s how they found my lymph node and nasal cancer. Thanks

    Coupe35 - I Started a New Thread
    Hi - I'm afraid your post might get lost in the shuffle, so I started a new one for you in the discussion - "Please Welcome Coupe35"
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450
    Options
    Kent Cass said:

    A Second To That
    I second Hondo's post, Mary. I hope, now, that you do believe that. You're gonna be okay.

    Believe.

    kcass

    Sweetblood wrote ...
    "i am not a big touchy feely kind of girl and people have been telling me for a while to join a cancer suvivor group some where, but i am sort of not good with sharing my feelings in front of people."
    I was exactly the same way. Having been a reporter for 30-some years, I've seen it all: witnessed executions, covered murders, interviewed child-rapists, watched the cops pull dead bodies from the Delaware Bay, the whole nine yards. I'm tough as nails, simply because you have to be tough in my business or you won't last.
    I was the same way about my personal life, tough as nails -- until cancer came along. Before cancer I never would have considered getting on a board and posting things about myself. Now it's actually a great joy, particularly if I occasionally can pass on some tidbit that helps someone else through this experience.
    So, MaryRC, don't worry about being a whiner. There's no more life-changing experience than cancer -- and it may not look like it now, but some of the changes can be wonderful.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • MaryRC
    MaryRC Member Posts: 114
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    delnative said:

    Sweetblood wrote ...
    "i am not a big touchy feely kind of girl and people have been telling me for a while to join a cancer suvivor group some where, but i am sort of not good with sharing my feelings in front of people."
    I was exactly the same way. Having been a reporter for 30-some years, I've seen it all: witnessed executions, covered murders, interviewed child-rapists, watched the cops pull dead bodies from the Delaware Bay, the whole nine yards. I'm tough as nails, simply because you have to be tough in my business or you won't last.
    I was the same way about my personal life, tough as nails -- until cancer came along. Before cancer I never would have considered getting on a board and posting things about myself. Now it's actually a great joy, particularly if I occasionally can pass on some tidbit that helps someone else through this experience.
    So, MaryRC, don't worry about being a whiner. There's no more life-changing experience than cancer -- and it may not look like it now, but some of the changes can be wonderful.

    --Jim in Delaware

    Thanks
    I have had so much help since I joined this group. You have all been wonderful. I know I can do this. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, like today. Ok.... I had a few hours of "feeling sorry for Mary day" Cried a bit, but I am over it. I need to stay away from web surfing.. I need info I need to come on here where it is positive.
    Was reading some messages on Facebook and some friends told me they would come over and kick my butt if I didnt get over the feeling sorry for me day... so I got over it.
    Thanks again to everyone!
    Mary in Northern California.
  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,030 Member
    Options
    MaryRC said:

    Thanks
    I have had so much help since I joined this group. You have all been wonderful. I know I can do this. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed, like today. Ok.... I had a few hours of "feeling sorry for Mary day" Cried a bit, but I am over it. I need to stay away from web surfing.. I need info I need to come on here where it is positive.
    Was reading some messages on Facebook and some friends told me they would come over and kick my butt if I didnt get over the feeling sorry for me day... so I got over it.
    Thanks again to everyone!
    Mary in Northern California.

    Mary the Whiner : )

    Mary,

    I got a good chuckle today by your post as being a whiner. Reminds me of the Saturday Night Live skits with the family named the " Whiners " ever catch it, too funny.

    As you mentioned, now is a good time to get caught up on some things that you may need to do before your surgery. You won't feel like doing allot after that for awhile. Think of things that you might have planned on doing at the end of March and early April and GET'er DONE now as the Cable guy says. Do some of it now if you can.

    I wish there was a way I could ship you some of our snow, as we have had 4 times our normal so far this year. It has been on the ground now for 4 weeks. Can you use a Snowman : )in your front yard.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here