Saturday, April 28, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Stuff
2010- We made our plans for a trip to NY, NY in May to see Chick Corea at The Blue Note. Our friends continued to help make the new fence in the back back yard. Dave was still weak from brain radiation, he had some hair, but we shaved his head due to it starting to fall out again. I eventually bought a shaver to do myself and include his facial hair (Don Johnson look). Also started with new oncologist and planned chemo since the brain radiation treatments were done. Dave was eating pretty good and we went to Sagatuck for one of the best fried perch dinners with my mom and Julie Lester. Joni took Dave to chemo and stayed with him, I was working in Grand Rapids that day.
2011- PLG girls started a Team Trivia team. The electric company removed all the "cover" brush at the back of my yard. It hid so much and made the back back yard private. I hated when it was gone...it still is for the most part. I also saw lots of birds "doing it" last year in the front yard. Spring was and is in the air.
Tonight is the first planning committee for "Buds Vuds", our new Relay for Life team. The name is Loni's idea. Dave's family called him Vud from Da-Vud. His nieces and nephews even called him Uncle Vud some times. It seems like the right thing to do. I posted some facts and an opinion on facebook last week about lung cancer:
{"Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. Lung cancer claims more lives each year than do colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers combined "(Mayo 2012).
"It is great to see that medical researchers have made another breakthrough in our understanding of breast cancer. In the largest ever study of breast-cancer tissue, a team at the University of British Columbia have reclassified the disease into 10 new categories, based on the genetic make-up of different kinds of tumours. As the justifiably excitable newspaper headlines put it, this could help to "revolutionise" the treatment of breast cancer, allowing doctors to predict how a tumour might respond to certain drugs and therapies.
Yet at the same time as we welcome the ongoing medical war against breast cancer, it is worth asking why other cancers have been left largely unstudied, where breakthroughs are notable by their absence. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that a cancer hierarchy has been created, where breast cancer is seen as something we can all talk about and wear ribbons for and publicly lament over, whereas other cancers – in particular lung cancer – are viewed as dirty, shameful diseases undeserving of public sympathy or research funding. The end result is that while people with breast cancer are experiencing improvements in their life expectancies, people with less fashionable diseases like lung cancer are not" (The Telegraph- UK, 2012).
Let's fight Lung Cancer...give $10 or some of your time and make a difference. I do not mean this to sound like an anti-breast cancer tyrant...just care about many who have or have died from lung cancer that shouldn't have. We can fight lung cancer and WIN! Help me represent Dave at Relay for Life and get a voice. }
Everyone CAN help by increasing the number of voices the American Cancer Society has behind them. It's as simple as joining ACS CAN, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, for as little as $10. Or, you can let Congress know you support cancer research.
I realize we all have very busy lives and there are lots of great causes to support. Dave said to the nephrologist who had just recommended he not have dialysis..."so you can't help me, but what has happened to me may help someone else?" I want to see that happen.
peace, love, groove
2011- PLG girls started a Team Trivia team. The electric company removed all the "cover" brush at the back of my yard. It hid so much and made the back back yard private. I hated when it was gone...it still is for the most part. I also saw lots of birds "doing it" last year in the front yard. Spring was and is in the air.
Tonight is the first planning committee for "Buds Vuds", our new Relay for Life team. The name is Loni's idea. Dave's family called him Vud from Da-Vud. His nieces and nephews even called him Uncle Vud some times. It seems like the right thing to do. I posted some facts and an opinion on facebook last week about lung cancer:
{"Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. Lung cancer claims more lives each year than do colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers combined "(Mayo 2012).
"It is great to see that medical researchers have made another breakthrough in our understanding of breast cancer. In the largest ever study of breast-cancer tissue, a team at the University of British Columbia have reclassified the disease into 10 new categories, based on the genetic make-up of different kinds of tumours. As the justifiably excitable newspaper headlines put it, this could help to "revolutionise" the treatment of breast cancer, allowing doctors to predict how a tumour might respond to certain drugs and therapies.
Yet at the same time as we welcome the ongoing medical war against breast cancer, it is worth asking why other cancers have been left largely unstudied, where breakthroughs are notable by their absence. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that a cancer hierarchy has been created, where breast cancer is seen as something we can all talk about and wear ribbons for and publicly lament over, whereas other cancers – in particular lung cancer – are viewed as dirty, shameful diseases undeserving of public sympathy or research funding. The end result is that while people with breast cancer are experiencing improvements in their life expectancies, people with less fashionable diseases like lung cancer are not" (The Telegraph- UK, 2012).
Let's fight Lung Cancer...give $10 or some of your time and make a difference. I do not mean this to sound like an anti-breast cancer tyrant...just care about many who have or have died from lung cancer that shouldn't have. We can fight lung cancer and WIN! Help me represent Dave at Relay for Life and get a voice. }
Everyone CAN help by increasing the number of voices the American Cancer Society has behind them. It's as simple as joining ACS CAN, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, for as little as $10. Or, you can let Congress know you support cancer research.
I realize we all have very busy lives and there are lots of great causes to support. Dave said to the nephrologist who had just recommended he not have dialysis..."so you can't help me, but what has happened to me may help someone else?" I want to see that happen.
peace, love, groove
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Reviewing Posts and Spring Chick
Reading back over April posts from 2010 and 2011 this morning I found a few that didn't get posted. I will try to post them when discussing the past years events (as I've been doing this year).
2010- Dave was finishing up his brain radiation treatments. He had been on high doses of steroids and they started decreasing the dose. I wasn't able to take him to many of the treatments due to work, Julie and Joni took him most of the time. They have the radiation patients see the MD once a week or so, I never could make many of those either. It was so comforting to know that our friends would be there with Dave and help him remember what to tell me. About this time we were also preparing for a trip to Chicago to see Chick Corea and Gary Burton. It was so amazing...this is when Dave, Tim and I met Chick! We could only have 3 of us meet him (6 of us went: the Kings, the other Maki's and us) and I remember struggling with the decision that eventually all helped to decide. I had agonized over telling Dave or waiting, we didn't find out it was a go until about 6:30 pm when I got a call. I don't remember now if I told him it was a maybe...I think I waited and got to tell him after the call. I remember jumping up and down and trying not to scream!
When we started the blog I made it so Joni and Dave could write posts too. I guess I thought if I was working and out of town it may be easier to have one of them write about his day. That never really happened except one post. I somehow convinced Dave to write about meeting Chick. He said it best, here are his words:
2010- Dave was finishing up his brain radiation treatments. He had been on high doses of steroids and they started decreasing the dose. I wasn't able to take him to many of the treatments due to work, Julie and Joni took him most of the time. They have the radiation patients see the MD once a week or so, I never could make many of those either. It was so comforting to know that our friends would be there with Dave and help him remember what to tell me. About this time we were also preparing for a trip to Chicago to see Chick Corea and Gary Burton. It was so amazing...this is when Dave, Tim and I met Chick! We could only have 3 of us meet him (6 of us went: the Kings, the other Maki's and us) and I remember struggling with the decision that eventually all helped to decide. I had agonized over telling Dave or waiting, we didn't find out it was a go until about 6:30 pm when I got a call. I don't remember now if I told him it was a maybe...I think I waited and got to tell him after the call. I remember jumping up and down and trying not to scream!
When we started the blog I made it so Joni and Dave could write posts too. I guess I thought if I was working and out of town it may be easier to have one of them write about his day. That never really happened except one post. I somehow convinced Dave to write about meeting Chick. He said it best, here are his words:
The Chick Meeting....according to Dave
WOW--WOWIE-ZOWIE!!!!!!!!!! What a great weekend in Chicago, celebrating life and music. Lee and I were accompanied by our great friends Tim and Joni King and my brother Phil and his wife Loni. We had a great time gallivanting around, eating, shopping, snacking, eating, and also got some time to relax. Of course the highlight was the concert Saturday night, a duet with Chick Corea and Gary Burton at an exquisite small theatre with 3rd row seats right by Chick. The show was mixed by Chick's life long friend, and my new friend, Bernie Kirsch. The best part for me was a personal meeting with Chick that my lovely wife, coolest person in the world, secretly arranged behind my back. About 10 minutes of personal face to face time that he graciously agreed to. I had thought and thought about what I would say to him through the years. I told him how he had inspired me and thanked him. I presented him some of his favorite gum, he thought it was a "sweet gift". Towards the end of our time I told him I had never really seen him in an intimate setting and would like to some time. He immediately invited us to the Blue Note in New York City and described it as the kind of venue I was thinking of, or something like that. He recommended the second week of May when Eddie Gomez and other guests would be joining him. I asked if I could say hi if we got there, he said "of course" ( you can't believe how humble I feel around him). Upon leaving, Bernie confirmed the second week at the Blue Note would be the best.
All and all this was an amazing weekend, it definitely represented a full circle in my life.
Reading this brings back a few more memories. We knew Chicks favorite gum from the Return to Forever concerts we attended the summer of 2009 (Chick gave Dave his pack with 4 pieces left). Dave looked on line to find where he could buy some gum when we got to Chicago. We found the store and he bought a few packs. Then when we told Dave about getting to meet Chick, he brought them along and had Chick choose between four flavors- one he had never tried and that's the one he picked. Chick also signed one of the packs for Dave. I'll scan that later and post.
peace, love, groove
peace, love, groove
Friday....really....already (September 2009)
(looks like this wasn't posted? not sure about that) Post from 2010
Wow...the week just flew by. I'm behind...again. So Dave has had his ups and downs this week. He's been very funny this afternoon. His jokes don't always make sense, but he laughs and almost cries. I love that. The nephologist called me yesterday and we will see him Monday. He said Dave's kidneys aren't doing much better and ordered more lab and a urine sample. Homecare came over to get those (how much easier is that- WAY EASIER) and start Dave's IV fluids while I was in Holland today. Tim and my mom were here with Dave. My mom always seems to find a project for Tim. Thanks for tolerating that Tim. Tomorrow I'm going to Chi-town with Loni and Al (2 best sister-in-laws in the world). We're going to eat, drink and be merry. Phil and Mark will stay with Dave. I have 3 local RN friends "on-call". Dave is looking forwarding to spending time with his bros. We are so lucky. I'm so thankful we got the opportunity to know that.
Wow...the week just flew by. I'm behind...again. So Dave has had his ups and downs this week. He's been very funny this afternoon. His jokes don't always make sense, but he laughs and almost cries. I love that. The nephologist called me yesterday and we will see him Monday. He said Dave's kidneys aren't doing much better and ordered more lab and a urine sample. Homecare came over to get those (how much easier is that- WAY EASIER) and start Dave's IV fluids while I was in Holland today. Tim and my mom were here with Dave. My mom always seems to find a project for Tim. Thanks for tolerating that Tim. Tomorrow I'm going to Chi-town with Loni and Al (2 best sister-in-laws in the world). We're going to eat, drink and be merry. Phil and Mark will stay with Dave. I have 3 local RN friends "on-call". Dave is looking forwarding to spending time with his bros. We are so lucky. I'm so thankful we got the opportunity to know that.
Now, here's my bitch of the week, well maybe the year. KCI sucks! They don't have to follow the Family Leave Act because there are less than 50 employees in Michigan. The poor lady I talked to today. She said "I've heard this so many times, I hear you, I'm just the messenger" So I can get 30 days personal leave in a year. After 14 days they can" drop" my benefits, which would be insurance for Dave. The best thing to do is 2 14 day leaves. I have to call Fred Upton and President Obama. How dare they mess with their employees like that.... I feel a fight comin' on. We, well I, think this is America and a law is a law. But big business continues to think only of the "share holder" and "bottom line". ... (deep breath)....I'm done. Enough said.
I continue to work on getting pictures on the computer. I have some great pictures of Dave and our yard and our cat....they'll be on next week, promise.
peace, love, groove (except not to KCI)
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Lucky Earrings
I'm going to guess it was around 18 or 20 years ago that I announced to Dave I wanted diamond earrings for X-mas. He had his marching orders and produced a pair of 1/4 caret (each, total 1/2 caret) diamond studs . I've worn them most of the time until 2 or 3 years ago. I lost one of them and it showed up a few weeks later. Then late summer or early fall in 2010, 1 earring fell out of my ear while my mom and I were moving a chest of drawers. I said then..."it will show up". Well, when I was going through the drawers after Dave died...there it was, sitting against the front of the drawer and easily seen when everything had been removed. It was like Dave saved it for me (I know he didn't, but it feels good to think that). I wore them everyday until this winter. I lost one again at night when I took them off. The other one was still in a dish by the bathroom sink. I thought this time I had lost one for good. THEN, about a week later, I found the gold earring on the bathroom floor WITHOUT the diamond. Obviously a dog had gotten a hold of it. I crawled on the floor hoping a dog didn't swallow the diamond and I FOUND IT!!!!!! Whew!
So, I've had this pair of earrings in my wallet for at least a month and today I took them to a jeweler who got me new backs (the dog destroyed one and I had lost the other) and prepared them to send off to a goldsmith to fix. He tested them to make sure they were diamonds (I said they better be, my husband bought them for me here-hehe) and asked me their value. I sort of remember Dave telling me he spent way too much on them because he asked for a good quality and wanted me to be able to "see them" , so I guessed he paid about $500. I now think it might have been closer to $800. Well, the jeweler told me they are now worth $1500. WOW! But I had to tell the jeweler that this pair of diamond earrings are priceless to me...please don't lose them. They should be back in my ears by next week as good as new......they are lucky for sure.
peace, love, groove
So, I've had this pair of earrings in my wallet for at least a month and today I took them to a jeweler who got me new backs (the dog destroyed one and I had lost the other) and prepared them to send off to a goldsmith to fix. He tested them to make sure they were diamonds (I said they better be, my husband bought them for me here-hehe) and asked me their value. I sort of remember Dave telling me he spent way too much on them because he asked for a good quality and wanted me to be able to "see them" , so I guessed he paid about $500. I now think it might have been closer to $800. Well, the jeweler told me they are now worth $1500. WOW! But I had to tell the jeweler that this pair of diamond earrings are priceless to me...please don't lose them. They should be back in my ears by next week as good as new......they are lucky for sure.
peace, love, groove
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
April Fools Past On By
2010- On 4/3/10 we had the usual friends over to do some yard work and a cook out. The day started rainy but everyone still helped and Sue's jacket got damp. A couple hours later the sun was out and we had a great fire and cook out. I decided to throw Sue's jacket in the dryer. I didn't want to ruin it, so I sent the timer back from 20 minutes to 10, started the dryer, ran up the stairs and outside. About 45 minutes to an hour later I remembered Sue's jacket and came in to go get it and found......YOUR RIGHT..Nancy-Boy was in the dryer. It was so scary, I thought I had killed him. It took him more than 2 days to get back to normal (after a steroid shot).
2011 - The PLG girls played Team Trivia. I'm not sure when the first time we went was, but it seems like we started in the spring. Then about this time last year I had finished all the boring estimates and made a decision on new windows. They went in last April. That was a great investment.
I had the hardest time working in the yard Sunday. I started crying and just couldn't stop. It just isn't fun doing yard work alone. I've started "begging" a friend to help...."it's great exercise" nudge, nudge. Well truly the best thing about yard work is watching the summer yard take off. At least 2 of the bird houses have a couple of renters. I see my favorite boy cardinal almost every day. And I've decided not to go to Lori's Place for now. Too many other meetings and yard work to do, plus I'm going to start taking the dogs to Agility Class. Maybe I'll check Lori's Place out again next winter. I guess the bottom line is: I'm normal and we're going to be okay. Thanks to all who keep an eye out for me. I got your back too!
peace, love, groove
2011 - The PLG girls played Team Trivia. I'm not sure when the first time we went was, but it seems like we started in the spring. Then about this time last year I had finished all the boring estimates and made a decision on new windows. They went in last April. That was a great investment.
I had the hardest time working in the yard Sunday. I started crying and just couldn't stop. It just isn't fun doing yard work alone. I've started "begging" a friend to help...."it's great exercise" nudge, nudge. Well truly the best thing about yard work is watching the summer yard take off. At least 2 of the bird houses have a couple of renters. I see my favorite boy cardinal almost every day. And I've decided not to go to Lori's Place for now. Too many other meetings and yard work to do, plus I'm going to start taking the dogs to Agility Class. Maybe I'll check Lori's Place out again next winter. I guess the bottom line is: I'm normal and we're going to be okay. Thanks to all who keep an eye out for me. I got your back too!
peace, love, groove
Sunday, April 1, 2012
35,383
I know I just posted, but I looked at the all time statics for this blog. 35.383 is the number of views since this blog started. I dont' have anything to compare to...yet this sounds amazing. The highest views were in 2009 and then October 2011. Thanks to all who followed and those who still do. I'm sure Dave would be honored.
peace, love, groove
peace, love, groove
When there are tears
Picture: bean soup Ala DaveI've had some problems with my refrigerator a couple weeks ago and that lead to losing some frozen foods. 4 packages were frozen soup that Dave made. I should have eaten them soon, but I didn't. So last week I had some of this bean soup and it was WONDERFUL. The ham was a little "chewy" if I'm being honest, but the soup was still dang good. Bean soup with onions and carrots. Very ALA Dave. It's sorta strange to touch, feel and taste something he actually made...wow, I can't help but think this will never happen again. I have 1 more zip lock in the frig. It's priceless. I'm very tearful today and miss Dave so much. I guess that's the way it goes....up and down and then around again. I've written a lot about moving on and days like this make me think I'm not ready at all. I just have to keep moving forward and see what happens.
peace, love, groove
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