MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Please take a moment to be present and remember the reason for the season!
Take care. Chat soon. Marie
"Thoughts for a Sunday"
Hi Everyone! No wordy blog today...perhaps during the week.
MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Please take a moment to be present and remember the reason for the season! Take care. Chat soon. Marie
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Hi Everyone! Hope this finds you well and you had a good week. I can't believe Christmas is a week away and Hanukkah begins this evening. I hope you take a moment to be present and remember the reason for the season.
Well, I shared my big news of the week the other day. Since then of course I have been doing research so I understand what will happen and the possible side effects. I don't care what medicine/treatment is out there the side effects are never pretty. I understand that this treatment is not a cure all, but will hopefully slow down the return of the cancer. The treatment will take about an hour and be given via IV. I was told I did not need an escort, but my BFF offered to chauffer me just in case. I will have my first treatment at the end of the month. Now to get all the baseline testing done. The other big news of my week....I resigned from my job. As I mentioned in a previous post, I submitted a proposal to my boss and the office manager (I cc'd her on all correspondence) to reduce my schedule and remain with the same client. Well, I never heard anything back (not even an acknowledgement) so when I got the word regarding treatments, I decided to resign. I then heard back from the office manager apologizing as she left the company two months ago and did not realize I did not know. I was a little angry and then in the moment I thought, "things happen for a reason". I have not told my client yet - may do a surprise visit today as I also want to drop off a Xmas present. I have to be honest in that I've become a little lazy without having a schedule. So this past week, I did a bit of grocery shopping, gathering items for a few meals and even cooked a time or two. Now to get my sleep schedule on track...LOL! After the first of the year, I'll be doing something, not sure what yet, but something. This past week I finished reading three very different books: "WISE GALS" by Nathalia Holt - The spies who built the CIA and changed the future of espionage. Excellent book - I worked there over 30 years and never knew this history. "REMEMBER" by Paul S. Boynton - a little book of courage and hope - very well written and meaningful. '"DECK THE HOUNDS" by David Rosenfelt - part of the Andy Carpenter series. The daily and wacky holidays for the week...provides something lighthearted to think about: December 18 Bake Cookies Day Chanukah begins – the date varies National Roast Suckling Pig Day December 19 Look for an Evergreen Day Oatmeal Muffin Day December 20 Go Caroling Day December 21 Crossword Puzzle Day Forefather’s Day Humbug Day Look on the Bright Side Day National Flashlight Day Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year, the date varies December 22 National Date Nut Bread Day – or September 8!? December 23 Festivus – for the rest of us Roots Day December 24 National Chocolate Day National Egg Nog Day A huge birthday shoutout to my niece Melanie as she celebrates on the 23rd! I am leaving it here for today - perhaps I'll head back to bed. I hope you all have a wonderful week. Take care. Chat soon. To my friends who celebrate Hanukkah - Hanukkah Sameach! "The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." - — Michael Altshuler “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” — Albert Einstein “Always keep your eyes open. Keep watching. Because whatever you see can inspire you.” — Grace Coddington Hi Everyone! I thought I would provide an update on my health journey.
I met with the oncologist this morning and received my treatment plan. She is wonderful and I got such good vibes from her. Turns out she is the head of her department (leave it to me to go to the top). She checked out the surgical site and took a picture to send to the surgeon. She emphasized how it was amazing that everything was captured and lymph nodes and such are clean. She did a physical check of my lymph nodes (her hands were cold) and said indicated everything felt good. Well, the good news is that I will not have chemo or radiation at this time (and hopefully not any time). In the next week or two I begin Immune therapy (yes I'm busy doing research). It will be given via IV every 21 days for the next year. As there are side effects of any treatment, I will have blood work completed fairly frequently. There will be MRIs of the brain and stem done fairly regularly as well as Petscans. I felt/feel such a sense of relief. On the way home, we decided to stop at the Chik-fil-A drive thru for salads and peppermint shakes for lunch. I suddenly was so hungry I ordered waffle fries to share and we finished (yes I ate the majority) before we arrived home...LOL! Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. My support group is awesome! Enjoy the rest of your week! Marie Hi Everyone! Hope this finds you well and you had a good week. As I sit in my living room, the glow of the angel lamp casts the nativity scene in beautiful silhouette.
I hope you are enjoying the holiday season and not racing around like crazy people. Take a moment to be present with friends and family. I think I am done pointing and clicking (at least for Xmas). I ran a few local errands this past week, got everything mailed and even wrapped yesterday. I think I'm ahead of the game. My week overall was not bad - an update on my journey. I had an appointment with the dermatologist for a full body exam and that went well. For a doctor I only met once before, she walked in and gave me a hug. She told me she followed my case and was so relieved that the surgeons got all the melanoma and my tests were clear. She told me how bad the melanoma was and that she would take lead to follow-up with oncology and my primary as she believed a chemo treatment plan was coming my way. She did take the lead, as I heard from my primary on Wednesday and have an oncology appointment this coming week. I must praise my primary as well as she has been on top of things and keeps in touch. When the nurses or doctors see who my primary is they all say wonderful things about her and her care of patients. I have to say I lost Wednesday. I woke up extremely nauseous, but took a shower and got dressed as I was going to help my bff. Well, I looked at my bff and said, can't do it, I am going back to lay across bed. I slept the whole day away - did not move. I know my bff checked on me a few times and covered me with a blanket. When she woke me about 5 pm I had some warm ginger ale and saltines. I sat in the living room for a little bit and then went to bed. I don't know if the tension/stress from the past few weeks caught up with me or what, but I was knocked out. I felt much better on Thursday and have been fine since. Friday I received my latest Covid booster - no pain or reaction whatsoever. I still wear a mask everywhere I go as I figure it's a little self help. There is so much illness going around right now that I'm truly trying to protect myself. I was at the chiropractors office yesterday morning and seven people canceled appointments due to illness. This past week I finished reading: "RESCUED" by David Rosenfelt - part of the Andy Carpenter series. "THE TWELVE TOPSY-TURVEY, VERY MESSY DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" by James Patterson and Tad Saffran - completely different than other Patterson books - good in a weird way. The daily and wacky holidays for the week...provides something lighthearted to think about: December 11 International Children’s Day – Second Sunday in December National Noodle Ring Day December 12 Gingerbread House Day National Ding-a-Ling Day Poinsettia Day December 13 Ice Cream Day National Cocoa Day Violin Day December 14 International Monkey Day National Bouillabaisse Day Roast Chestnuts Day U.K. National Postal Worker Day December 15 Bill of Rights Day National Lemon Cupcake Day December 16 National Chocolate Covered Anything Day December 17 National Maple Syrup Day A huge shout out to my cousin Edna Marie who has a big birthday this week. Also, thank you to my friends Diane and Mary for texts, phone calls and dropped off meals. I am so blessed to have you both in my life. I so appreciate all who check on me, I don't always respond right away, but please know you are in my heart. I am leaving it here for today. I see the sky getting lighter as I finish up. I hope there are not too many mistakes today, my mind is wandering. I hope you have a wonderful week. Take care of you. Chat soon. Marie "The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it." - ~C.C. Scott "Seeds of faith are always within us; sometimes it takes a crisis to nourish and encourage their growth." - ~Susan Taylor Hi Everyone! Hope this finds you well on this first Sunday of December and you had a good week. Are you getting ready for the holidays? I've talked to several people who started decorating mid-November this year (including us).
I had a good week which I wrote about on Monday. Such a good way to start the week! My head feels a bit lighter and I don't feel like I'm leaning. My scalp feels really weird and will have a dent and bald spot for life. I was able to wash my hair in the shower on Friday (using baby shampoo) and I think since then I've washed it at least a dozen times. The problem is I have to use vaseline for a few more weeks so my hair feels like gunk. At least I'm getting much of the ugliness out. I'm wearing mostly turbans to cover everything up until I can get the rest of my hair cut. I am researching a mobile hairdresser type service as I truly don't want to go to a salon. We'll see what I come up with. I do have a full body dermatological exam coming up this week. As I've written before when we cleaned out our garage we sorted/organized our Xmas decorations and pared down somewhat. Well, we swapped out a big heavy tree for two small more manageable trees. But we have so many ornaments (both homemade and from travels) that I went a little crazy and ordered two more small trees. That's right so now we have four! I think all four weigh less and are easier to put together than old tree. Now we have two with white lights and two with multi color lights. Two are in the living room, one is in the sunroom and one is on the stair landing. It's pretty festive and brings us joy! I feel accomplished as I got my Xmas cards done (only took four days) and they will be put in the mail either today or tomorrow. I also pointed and clicked my way through the majority of Xmas shopping (just don't feel like going in the stores) and had things delivered directly. The items may arrive early, but they will arrive. My client is doing well. We text almost every day. I have not returned to work. I made a proposal to my boss about cutting back my hours/days, but have not heard back. I have not told my client yet as I don't want to get her hopes about my return too soon. I'm hoping to start back in the New Year, but we'll see how it all works out. If it's meant to be it will work out. This past week I finished reading: "OUTFOXED" and "COLLARED" by David Rosefelt - part of the Andy Carpenter series.and "TRIPLE CROSS" by James Patterson - the latest Alex Cross thriller. Also, been watching lots of Xmas movies - the DVR has been working hard trying to capture all the channels showing movies. The daily and wacky holidays for the week...provides something lighthearted to think about: December 4 Santa’s List Day – we hope you are on the “Nice” list Wear Brown Shoes Day December 5 Bathtub Party Day Repeal Day – The 21st Amendment ends Prohibition. I’ll drink to that! December 6 Bartender Appreciation Day – in Europe St. Nicholas Day Mitten Tree Day Put on your own Shoes Day December 7 International Civil Aviation Day Letter Writing Day National Cotton Candy Day – would you like some fairy floss? Pearl Harbor Day December 8 National Brownie Day Take it in the Ear Day December 9 Christmas Card Day National Pastry Day December 10 Human Rights Day Nobel Prize Day I am leaving it here for today. I hope you have a good week and look for the joy. Take care. Chat soon. Marie “The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us.” –Anonymous “We light candles in testament that faith makes miracles possible.” –Nachum Braverman |
Welcome to "Thoughts for a Sunday," the weekly blog of Marie Nagle of Beacon Coaching. Let's have a life changing conversation! Please share your thoughts and insights with me by submitting a comment. All comments are moderated and subject to approval. You can Like/Follow me on FB to receive weekly posts. Thank you! Archives
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