s e p t e m b e r . 2 0 2 6

vacation, a wedding, and Finn! 

counting down to our trip to SoDak.  

     I started my vacation the Tuesday after Labor Day ... well it actually started at 5:01 the Friday before!  got in a little R&R before I flew out to SoDak on Friday 9-11.  it was odd flying on that date, the 25th anniversary, and all the pilots made a small statement and asked for a moment of silence.  the second flight was a little late, but luckily I booked my first hotel room in Rap City so I had a short drive before falling into bed.  one bonus this trip - - the rental car I requested, a compact, was not available so they upgraded me for free to a minivan!  wooo hooo!  that will come in handy.  

     the next day, Saturday, I stopped at the grocery for some supplies and then headed to Joyce's to make the last updates to her wedding dress ... and to see Finn!   for her dress, which she got for a reasonable price on Amazon, but it needed more stability in the strapless top, so I made an extra sturdy inner bodice with heavy duty interfacing and strong cotton lining.  it made a big difference.  there was one more fix I needed to make on the dress - - adding a coat or skirt hook to the panel under the back lacing so it wouldn't slip during the wearing. 

     Finn only took a few minutes to get over being shy, and we had a wonderful time playing together.  he has gotten so big, so heavy!  I'm definitely glad my plastic surgery incisions were healed, but I could still feel the pull on the tender skin.  

     Joyce gave me the name of her town Quilt Shop, so I dropped in and met Bev, and bought a little quilt panel too.  she didn't have any hooks, but told me to try the Michaels and Hobby Lobby in Rap City.  I ended up going to both, and finally found what I needed at HL.  

     on Sunday I changed hotels, moving to the Inn I stayed at on my first trip.  I could only get one night here, but it was worth it!  before I checked in however, I went in to Hill City where I had seen signs for their annual Quilt Show!  lucky me!  Joyce had said she had wanted to attend in previous years but it had never worked out.  I decided to attend for her.  it was wonderful to wander among beautiful quilts and other hand crafts, and talk with the artists too.  I met one quilter, Susan, who was also a pilot with the air force.  she and I got to talking about Janet and her historic service so many decades ago.  Susan asked me to give Janet her thanks for her leadership that benefited so many other women.  I would definitely do that! 

     before checking in, I went into Custer to the grocery and got dinner and breakfast supplies, then went back to the Inn.  I recorded a video message for my oldest friend Bill who is running for his second term on his Township's council.  he asked me personally if I would, and I told him I'd be honored.  he said I was going to be his secret weapon!  awwww! 

     after all the walking I did at the quilt show, I pulled on my bathing suit and went for a dip in the hot tub and the swimming pool!  so DEEE-LUXE!  well worth changing lodging.  then I cooked the TV dinner and drank the single serve margarita wine cooler, and fell asleep.  much needed rest before a couple of long days.

     

a u g u s t . 2 0 2 6

summer is bringing the heat

gathered with friends in fun places

     we regularly get lots of event opportunities all over California for meetups with the various regions where our pink sisterhood gather.  there are at least 5 groups around my area!  we just hit 4000 sisters in our all-Cali FB group!!  our group leader hosted an event down in the bay area, in the east bay, on the first Saturday of the month; and another group leader hosted a wine-tasting event the same afternoon, after the lunch - across the bay!  well who could pass up an opportunity to meet with two groups of sisters with only a bay between, I ask you?!  so for lunch we gathered at the east bay Texas Roadhouse, then drove across the bay to San Carlos for wine tasting at a lovely winery and tasting room!  I gave two of the ladies who ride-shared there a ride back to their hotel.  they had traveled far enough (from the central valley) that they planned to stay overnight.  they had a third party there - to which they invited me (but I had to decline) - and from all accounts that party was the rowdiest and went on for some time!  I made the long trek home and poured myself into bed to get rest before the next excursion on Sunday. 

     on Sunday I travelled back up to Woodland again, to our favorite Mojo Kitchen, to join the "50th Reunion Committee" of Kermit and Robert.   again we had a long conversation of reminiscing and catching up on our separate activities!  they got me laughing so hard I was in tears!  it felt good to be able to make them laugh too, laughing at me.  just like old times.  

 

 

      and as if I didn't already pack in three activities into two days when temps were over 100 degrees all weekend, no I also planned to attend a 4:30 matinee of my fave musical Newsies at the little local community theater!  it was just as wonderful as it was on preview night, and I congratulated several of the performers after the show.  it was so hot I got a Ben&Jerry butter pecan ice cream cone to eat in the theater, and had it finished by the opening curtain.  after the show I stopped at the Fat Rabbit Pub and got fish&chips for a late supper.  it will be awhile before I'm out and about again.

     with referrals by my oncologist and surgeon, I was able to schedule plastic surgery to remove more of the fat tissue around the original mastectomy site.  I needed to squeeze it in soon since recovery time before the wedding in September was going to be tight.   everything when smoothly, and I was in and out in a couple of hours.  she removed 3 more pounds of unnecessary tissue.   five days later Finn had successful installation of ear tubes.  hopefully this will help him hear better and have far fewer ear infections.  just like Joyce.  for the one week re-check, Craig was working so I took the bus (not allowed to drive yet) to the surgeon's office - - 10 miles but nearly an hour on two different bus routes!  luckily the recheck went well so I don't need to do that again any too soon!  the re-check doctor said I could drive short distances if I needed to.  

 

     Joyce and I lost another theater friend this month, someone we'd known for a number of years, who had a loving and generous presence each time we saw her.  I was blessed to act on stage with her in 1776 - we would usually be up for the same parts in auditions so rarely played onstage together - and it was a joy to be able to see her from time to time in audiences around town.  Sadly, lately, the last time I saw her was at another celebration of life.  I will always remember Becky for her generous soul.  

     had several old apples nearly turning so I made a batch of apple butter - - so delicious!  I used date molasses instead of sugar, so it was mildly healthier than a commercial product. 

     we lost the wonderful Dolly Parton this month.  what an international legend and generous soul.  I watched the Grand Ol' Opry tribute to her at the end of the month.  talk about a tear-jerking production!  

     the Recovering After Cancer Lifestyles classes my onco recommended several months ago finally started at the end of the month.  luckily I had already started so many of the processes that the classes will be teaching, and had lost a few pounds before the big event next month! 

j u l y . 2 0 2 6

readying for an epic Fourth

     at work, we have a 4-day weekend to celebrate! 

     for this momentous anniversary I acquired three shirts, to fit the political mood and still honor the achievement.  

     it all started with a harbor full of tea.  now we have our own traditional tea companies to brew a colorful selection!  (from new york, atlanta and california)

  

  

  

     the weekend after the Fourth I watched the live webcast of the Sail Boston Tall Ships event!  it was glorious watching all the beautiful and historic ships in full sail on a fabulous day in the harbor. 

     another big event this month ... soccer came to Cali, and England made it to the semifinals!  I made a point of watching that game.  if only the internet would cooperate  ...  it kept dropping out  :-/  BTW, I'm rooting for the country of my beloved ER II.  sadly, it was ARG who moved on, and finally lost to Spain in the finals.  from what I observed in both games, they deserved their final defeat!  

     one of our volunteer activities at work is to attend the final dress rehearsal or preview performance of the shows put on at our nearby community theater.  the show this month is one of my most favorites!  Newsies!   I invited Craig to come along, so we had dinner at the local pub, Fat Rabbit, and each had Fish&Chips.  it was SO good!  I also splurged (because I already was!) and had a pint of Konig Ludvig (or King Ludwig) ale.  also, so good!   then we walked the three blocks to see the show.  the cast was phenomenal and they did so much with the staging and choreography to make the scene changes on that tiny stage all work seamlessly.  SO impressive.  so far I've loved every production I've seen there.  

     toward the end of the month one of my pink sisters offered the opportunity to watch the Rivercats baseball game from a suite!  so a bunch of us (5) carpooled and since one of us (not me) had a handicap placard, we got primo parking for a quick walk up the stairs, to the exclusive elevator, a free nip and bottle of water (my nip was vodka, with green liqueur, called the Grinch, since it's Christmas in July!)  the suite was awesome, with air conditioning, since it was incredibly hot outside in those suite seats. 

 

 

j u n e . 2 0 2 6

 welcoming summer

     blooms from the garden!  the two varieties of my glads bloomed a couple weeks apart.

  

     after about a month and a half after speaking with my onco about having more surgery to remove flab areas around the original surgery, I finally had a consult with my original surgeon who made the referral to a plastic surgeon.  now all I can do is wait.  

     on the first Saturday in June, I watched the Race Day activities at the famous track in upstate NY, in Saratoga.  this is the final year they will run the Belmont Race here.  the Kentucky Derby winner won wearing the #9 blanket, so if I had bet I would have won!  

     there had been a heavy rain storm just before the race, so the track was muddy.  the horse came out of the gate last and stayed there ... until he moved all the way to first!  A beautiful rainbow filled the sky for Golden Tempo. 

     this handsome champion descends from two Triple Crown winners, Secretariat and Seattle Slew! 

     there were 15 races run on the day, and three of them were won by #9 horses!  the network also started the broadcast showing the Epsom race from the UK, so we watched Christmas Day win that race too! 

      the next day I attended the end of season concert for the band I used to play in.  evil perfume-wearing woman!  it was a two day music in the park so I got there early enough on the second afternoon to hear two other bands play their 45 minute programs.  

     I had my last appointment with the group leader who will be leading the recovering after cancer one-year program that was also referred by my onco.  the program starts again at the end of August, and she wanted to get my agreement to participate.  [I'm sorry, I met with a dietician and gave you my blood and vitals; what part of that isn't agreement!?]  

     I got my third Zometa infusion on the second Friday of the month.  because the appointment had been pushed out, it now conflicted with a support group lunch at our local Mexican food restaurant and a band concert at a local bar, but I was determined to attend both anyway. 

who doesn’t want a selfie with The Rock?! 

coincidentally I sat in front of the Singer

the guitar player was at the end of the bench

     I splurged and ordered a non-vegan meal; this is Jalisco-influenced Chicken Mole, and it was delicious!  I washed it down with a mango margarita that I made last thru most of the meal. 

     Craig had golfed that day, so he opted out of going to the concert ... his loss.  the venue is fun, the vibe is tropical, and for this band at least the demographic was perfect for us! 

sitting at Table "#9 ... #9" (Beatles reference)

my bev was from the flamingo tap

I splurged again on a non-vegan Hawaiian Burger and Mac Salad ... so delicious!

     our table was technically the handicapped table, but the chairs were so much more comfortable than the bar chairs at other tables.  I was a single, and a group of three arrived and shared the space with me!  we were all about the same age, so we enjoyed the music and sang along with many of the songs!

signed guitars decorate the walls and ceiling

     we sat at the very back of the space, so we couldn't see the stage from our seats.  luckily, the closed circuit camera system showed the concert on several monitors around the space!  the guys all dress like crew on a yacht, except for the woodwind player, who dresses like Gilligan!

     in keeping with the yachting or tropical theme, I wore my flamingo Hawaiian shirt.  either the venue or the band provided light-up leis to some of the patrons!  I left just before the band took a break, and the hostess, who is also a cancer survivor, told me how I could log in and watch from home!  I watched the rest of the concert - - until 11:15 - - from the comfort of bed :-D 

     it has been two years since my last chemo infusion.  Juneteenth is also a company holiday, so again, I got to take the day off! 

     and at the end of the month our all-Cali pink sisters group leader hosted an appreciation lunch at our local Texas Roadhouse.  I guess most if not all of them support BC research/etc. across the state, because it's the traditional place she holds these lunches.