I have a fever and a very sore throat and headache.  I haven't felt this kind of sick for a long time.  When I was at the oncologist Thursday, my temperature was 99.5.  The nurse asked me if I felt sick.  At that time, I didn't feel sick so I  answered her jokingly "after chemo, you think a 99.5 fever is going have an affect on me?"  she laughed and said I was right.  Well, that was just a premonition of what I woke up with Friday morning.  P?  Did I talk myself into this?  LOL... 

Speaking of the oncologist, I had a good visit.  He is going to keep me on Tamoxifen for 2 years to make sure I am in real menopause and then switch me to something else called aromtase inhibitors.  He also suggested that I have the genetic testing done that looks to see if I am a carrier of either breast or ovarian cancer.  Insurance will pay for this luckily, because I am a cancer patient.  Otherwise, it is 3,000.00 to have it done.  Once I've had my test, if it comes back that I am a carrier, then Nikki can have it done for about 300.00.  Dr. Ruggeri said if it comes back positive for ovarian cancer, then I get my ovaries out.  He also said that since I followed all the treatments, the chances of my cancer coming back are practically zero!  I said HEY WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT WHILE I WAS WAITING ON THE ONCOTYPE DX TEST"  he said he did, but I don't remember him saying "Karen if you do chemo and radiation your cancer will not come back"  I guess he can't really say those words though can he.  Practically zero isn't a guarantee that it won't come back.  He's got his bases covered.

I went out golfing a few times this week.  Today I went out, but only played 3 holes.  I took the D300 with me, and I wanted to take pictures more than play.  Here are a few I caught:

Pink

Here are some "weeds"

Yellow baby bells

Triplets

White clusters

Tree leaf bud before opening

Tree leaf blossom

Today I learned my lesson with caffeine.  I got the shakes so bad this afternoon.  Coffee with caffeine hasn't been part of my diet for more than a year now, and I must have had one too many cups.  I really thought if I drank some "real" coffee this morning, I'd feel better.  And I did, for a little while until the vibrations came! 

Tomorrow morning I might golf with DH in his men's club.  The only thing that would keep me in would be weather, and that is a pretty sure thing, its only supposed to hit 55 tomorrow.  55 is my official cut off.  I hate being outside and cold for 5 hours, yuckooo.  So if the weather comes through as predicted, I'll be here tomorrow editing and posting. 

Happy Saturday, cheers to Practically Zero!

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Taken with the PaS.  Its a bad hair day, but I've not showered yet.  Just enjoying cruising around and visiting my neighbors here this morning.  Although, I have done a load of laundry, loaded the dishwasher and made the bed.  Got the basic chores done so far!

So what do you think?  I know it is time to go get it trimmed up and styled, but I am so reluctant to have any of it cut off yet.  It took too long to get it this far.

Self Portrait Thursday Bad hair morning

Self Portrait Thursday Bad hair morning (1)

Self Portrait Thursday Bad hair morning (2)

Do you like the color?  The grays were really stubborn, but now at least they look like highlights instead of gray!  I was six months from last chemo on the 13th.  

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Who was the last person you offended?
Submitted by May.

This is easy, it was Nikki, on Saturday night.  I walked into the kitchen as she was looking through a hallmark, ready made, just add pictures scrap book that my stepdaughter made for her mom for mothers day proclaiming "isn't this the prettiest thing you've ever seen?" I was talking about the Prayer Blanket.  She thought I was talking about the scrapbook.  You see she had made me one for my 50th suprise party.   She said "aww Mom, what about the beautiful scrapbook I made for you for your birthday"  She misunderstood me.  If I could post the pages here, I would so you could see how lovely they are, but for some reason, they won't post.

Nikki, remember when you gave me the scrapbook and my reaction?  (I cried like a baby)  That too, was the prettiest thing ever, along with the sweetest thing, the most thoughtful and love filled gift I have ever received.

About misunderstandings...sigh.

I love you dearest daughter :))

edited 12:13 to include pictures I figured out how to upload!

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One of Michael's patients made this for me.  She said it was a "prayer blanket".  I googled that of course, and learned that each stitch is made with a prayer, so that when you cover yourself in it, you are covered with prayers.  I was touched.  She told Michael after all I've been through, she wanted to do that for me. 

Mothers Day 2008 068

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I took both cameras out today, but the only one that came out of the bag was the new Nikon.  Here are some pictures from Whitnall Park.

Blossoms 4

Blossoms everywhere

Purple tree and barn

And here are some pictures taken around my garden.  These were all shot with a 55-200mm lens

Daffodil

Orange tulip

Three tulips

One tulip in focus

Strawberry blossoms bee

Tulips birdfeeder base

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Crazy climb

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Tomorrow is turn in assignment day for my photography class, and I've overdosed on information.  The assignment was to take 4 shots with average tonality at f/16 at iso200, iso800, iso3200 and iso6400 on P mode indoors, in medium to low light.  Now let me start by saying before this class began, I had just the barest knowledge of photography.  Sure I've been printing and displaying for a few years using captured shots from a point and shoot, but that didn't require any actual working knowledge of what aperture and shutter speeds.  So in the last week I've been googling things like "define aperture" or "define f/s" in photography and todays was "basic photography principles".  If you are like me, after googling you get lost for hours reading, link hopping etc. 

Anyway, I've submitted my first lesson, here it is.  I'm not sure I'm crazy about the subject manner, but after googling "define average tonality" DH came up with this.  I was going to go for a small gray and blue painted clay pot, but he said this would be more exciting.

Iso 200 f16 r

Iso 800 f16 r

Iso 3200 f18 r

Iso hi f16r

I had a heck of a time keeping it at f/16, when I'd set the iso, the f number changed by itself on P mode.  I guess I'll find more out about this tomorrow.

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It was just fantastic.  The kids came over, Nick and Nikki and Diane and Christoper, Billy was here, we just had a great time hanging out.  We ordered pizza in, and Nikki and I made tag team guacamole. Our kids are party animals, I ran out of steam at 10:30, and DH followed shortly after, he told them to party on, and they all had strict "sleep over" rules...no driving if inebriated.  I woke up and found a note on my computer from Nikki saying she sobered up for three hours before they went home along with a Happy Mothers day wish to greet me first thing in the morning.  I wish Jeremy could have been here too.  I miss him a LOT but I know he is thriving in Philadelphia and for that I am thankful. 

Of course there are no pictures from last night.  When I signed up for the photography course, they asked what was my least favorite subject.  I didn't hesitate to answer:  people.  And the reason for that is, I am horrible at taking people pictures!  What is the secret I wonder? 

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Happy mothers day

To all my vox friends, mothers and daughters :))

((((((hugs)))))))))

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