Good morning one and all, it's a beautiful morning here in Northern California.  The birds are singing the sun is out drying off the little showers we had last night.  My 2 new treasures from the SF Garden show seem to be adjusting to their new environment and no leaves dropping yet!

Yesterday we went to the GoodGuys Auto Show in Pleasanton.  OMG I could not believe the number of people there.  We left home about 8:00 am....did not arrive inside the fairgrounds until about 10:00 am.  We were lined up in traffic on a major freeway (Interstate 680) for over an hour and 45 minutes, there were that many people going to the show.  The only reason I can think of (since we've gone to the shows before and not that many people were there) is that no one wanted to stay home and watch TV with almost nothing on but the war.  There were so many families there, unlike any show before.  The only thing we purchased was K&N Performance Plus air filters for both of our vehicles.  Supposed to help with better performance as well as improved gas mileage, and with the cost of gas today every little bit helps.  Additionally, they have a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty, you don't replace them at every oil change....interesting, only time will tell.

We've finally got our flooring for the kitchen and family room.  Now we need to find someone to install it.  We have linoleum in the kitchen and wall to wall carpeting in the family room but we are going to lay down Prego laminate.  I'm really excited about this and can't wait.  My kitchen is 14' x 18' with an island, the family room is off of the kitchen and is what looks out to our backyard deck.  The family room is 18' x 20' and we still have to pull up the old carpeting.  Guess I better get busy looking for some quality installers and see about getting the bids.  I'll take pictures when it's finally installed.

Looking forward to a great week, you all do the same.

I'm not usually outspoken on political issues.  I personally think there are a few things that one should never bring up in conversation, one of those is politics.  I do not agree with all the anti-war demonstrations that are going on right now.  Since I am in California the news has been showing all the demonstrators that are trying to clog up the financial district of San Francisco by laying down in the middle of the street, blocking all the major businesses so employees cannot get to work.   Basically they are trying to make their own opinion's be known that they disapprove of Bush and his decision to get rid of Sadam.  I do not want to stir up a hornets nest here, however, what do they think they are accomplishing?  No one in Washington is paying any attention to them.  I was not for this war either but what are we supposed to do, sit around and allow these terrorists to continue their rampage on us?  ~shaking my head~

Since I am at home having not returned to work from my carpel tunnel surgery yet all that the television is showing is what is going on whether in Kuwait or Iraq.  As I write the sirens are going off in Kuwait City and the newsman has a gas mask on for protection.  How sad that this has to happen, but now that we are committed I do believe that we must support our President and all the troops that are over there and pray for their safe return.  Enough said on my soapbox for today.

On a lighter note, we went to the Garden show of all garden shows (so we're told) in San Francisco yesterday.  It is a 5 day show and costs $20 per person to get in and $7 for parking.  A little on the pricey side but WOW what a show.  Of course I had to come home with a couple of treasures.  One of those being a Mikawa Yatsubusa variety of a Japanese Maple.  It is more of a bush versus a tree and we fell in love with it, additionally we bought a pretty old Juniper Bonsai Tree.  As soon as I get the pictures downloaded I'll post a picture  (that is if Xanga will be cooperative).  We also picked up the 2 benches and corner planter we purchased at the San Mateo show back in February.  The vendor got us in free and all we had to pay for was parking, very cool.

During that San Mateo show we also purchased a VitaMix.  It is mailed from the company and we finally received it last week.  I went to Costco and stocked up on every vegetable and fruit I could and have been cleaning them and freezing them all morning.  I finally mixed my first fruit smoothie in there and geesh it is wonderful.  I'm hoping that I'll be able to shed a few pounds by drinking my way out of them

It's a little difficult to keep on trying to blog when there is nothing but this war keeping my attention.  Everyone have a great day and pray for the safe return of all of our troops.  Bless you all.

Well, the bandage came off yesterday and I was able to take a shower.  I know, I know you don't want to know how rancid I had become...I'll let you use your imagination for that   Just remember the last shower I took was at 4:00 am Monday morning on the way to the hospital!  The hand does not look pretty, very black and blue down my arm towards my elbow, the palm of my hand and it looks like my hand has been sewn up in a running stitch ?  This is the wrist that I used to help break out the window during the house fire to try to get my kids out.  The tendon was totally sliced in half and they told me I probably would never use my baby finger and ring finger again since that tendon controls those 2 fingers (proved them wrong!)  During the surgery I can remember the surgeon discussing the damage with someone else in there and that he was going to try to repair something he found.  I'm at a loss for now and hoping during my next week's appointment he will enlighten me on exactly what he did.  I'm thinking that's why it looks so bad.  It does feel much better (outside the pain from the surgery) so I guess time will tell.

An update on my cousin (Shirley).  She saw the Oncologist Wednesday and was told she has 2 different kinds of cancer and that he will be treating each of them differently.  I feel so bad that I was not able to go with her but being on these meds and the distance I would have had to travel I don't think anyone would have wanted me on the freeway   I want to thank everyone for all your prayers and good wishes for her, it appears to be working.  She is getting so much better and starting to get into a positive frame of mind.  I feel that is so important to her recovery as well as being able to fight this disease.  Again, Thank You!

I think I've given enough of a workout to the hand so everyone have a great weekend, stay safe.

Well...I'm using one hand typing and I can tell you it hurts!!  They gave me Vicodin that did not work, they now have me on Darvocet.  At least it gives me some relief but not much.  What are they afraid to give drugs out these days?  Having been a burn patient for over 2 months and getting a shot daily of morphine to get in the tub my tolerance is very high for drugs.  This stuff hurts, my hand is swollen and I can't even pull up my pants when I go to the bathroom!!  I know too much information huh?  Well, typed enough really hurting now, hope everyone has a good hump day

On my way to the hospital, have to be there at 6, I'm the first surgery scheduled for 8.  Didn't get much sleep last night...I get a little anxious with this stuff.  After spending two months in the hospital when I was burned I have all these reservations.  My veins hide and they have a hard time poking me with the IV, so needless to say I look like a pin cushin afterwards.  I am beginning to get a little dopey (finally) they gave me Valium to start taking last night to expel the anxiety.

Hope everyone has a great start to their week, might be a few before I get back and I'm able to visit everyone site.  Know that I'll read my daily SIR's email and keep up with what's going on.

Ciao Bella

Went to the hospital today for my pre-op appointment.  I couldn't believe it....my appointment was at 2:10, the doctor came into the room at 3:05 extended his hand and said sorry I'm a little late!  Can you believe it?  I was so hot I didn't know what to say, except of course "A little late, my appointment was at 2:10, I think that is a little bit longer than a little late"!  I was looking for an excuse to just walk out but know I would have been in a lot of trouble with the hubby if I had of.  I have been putting off this surgery for several years.  So come Monday morning off I go to have my left wrist done for carpel tunnel.  It is of course by far the worst, partly because of the prior injury from the fire.  I used my wrists to break out the window to try to get the kids out.  So needless to say my left wrist ended up with the tendon sliced in half.  They told me when I was in the hospital that I would never use the baby finger and ring finger again...certainly proved them wrong!

Looks like my cousin is going to be able to get care at UCSF.  We finally got someone in gear that working for her and cutting through all the red tape, YEAH!!

Everyone have a good week and I'll get back as soon as I can.

Here's hoping that all my Xangan friends are having a good weekend.  The weather is beautiful here, makes me want to get out and start planting and working in the yard.  But alas, I know it is too early and it could still get mighty cold and kill everything.  On to my dilemma

I'm hoping that some of you can help me what my cousin is going through right now.  Her husband (now deceased) was retired from the service...so she is going to the Air Force hospital in Fairfield, Ca (Travis).  They are sending her to an outside Oncologist because all the support staff have been deployed (geeze, wonder where to?), so they are very few nurses there.  Subsequently why they have authorized her to go to one from their approved list.  Since I have never dealt with the military I'm at a loss of how hard to push these guys.  Will it interfere with how they treat her, supply her, etc.?  This is serious stuff and I do not feel they are attacking this at the speed they should be.  Is that normal...is that because she is at the bottom of the food-chain within their realm of things?  Do I need to get nasty? (which by the way I can do).

She is not doing well at all.  Not sure I indicated all that is wrong with her or not, so if this is a repeat just look at it as a brain fart.  Not only is she dealing with the cancer in both lungs, she has severe COPD as well as asthma.  The PETscan said that it was confined to just the lungs and that they are small lesions (right now).  But we need to attack this aggressively and not be submissive to this nasty thing.

Sorry I haven't been around to everyone's site lately, between work and the 2 hour drive back and forth to her place and during the week to Travis has not been leaving very much time for me.  I'll eventually get back in the grove of things, thanks for being patient.  At least I do usually read all your blogs via my SIR email so I'm keeping up with what's going on. 

The best to each and everyone of you.  I'll be back soon