ALthough I look bored and morose........

I actually was quite excited about this beautiful flowering plum tree in our front yard. It's exciting for us to be in a more developed yard, I am enjoying the squirrels and birds who also share our yard. However, we have considerable work to do, removing an overgrown elm tree, lifting up the deck, etc....etc..

Right now the major project is the driveway which does NOT look like the photo above...... it has been completely removed and the entire thing is being redone. Thanks to my dad (Jim Condon) he has lined up reliable contractors and is the chief superintendent of the project. If not for my dad we'd probably be living with the crappy temporary stuff for longer than we should, so we are VERY grateful. Our house will look stunning with it's new concrete!

Michelle was home this weekend and we had a quiet and lovely time.

For me, same old, same old.... Round 6 of Xeloda, the side effects do accumulate so I have more challenges than before. I also have a nasty cough which either lingers from my viral infection, or is the cancer raising it's ugly head again. I honestly cannot tell which it is, but my functional ability is quite limited at the moment.

However, as I may have mentioned, I live a life filled with love, and I have many loving family and friends who make it possible for me to enjoy every day as normally as possible. It makes me realize just how lucky I am, although I realize that is going to sound like a ridiculous idea, given my overall circumstances, but it is honestly what I feel.

So cheers to all and I hope you are enjoying spring, my favourite season! Joanne

Me in my sunroom

This is pretty much where I hang out these days.... we have a lovely sunroom, and recently added "real" (translated = comfortable) furniture to it, and it is pleasant and lovely. Ideal spot for reading or my current activity, needlework. I am still recovering from that darn virus and my activity level is very low. Staying in one spot quietly, helps me to easy breathing, so, the sunroom is a real "gift".

I see my doctor on Tuesday (May 22), so I will add the results after I have them. I expect no changes. I am not better or worse, so my guess is that I continue to be "stable".... but I will be scanned sometime soon to see what is really going on.

Medical Update: things appear stable. I continue on Xeloda at a reduced dosage, since I have developed Hand-Foot Syndrome, one of the common side effects of the drug. Next CT scan will be in about 3 weeks.

J

Woo Hoooooooooooo the "girls" are cruising

This was me within half an hour of boarding our Carribean cruise last December. And I am so lucky because I am going again in June!

Kelly and I got set on going on a "scrapbooking cruise" after we created Dad's birthday book, we got 'bitten' by the croppin' bug..... at any rate, we were all set to do a scrapbook cruise - with Mom, Karen Kelly and Joanne...... Sails from L.A. port and just 3 nights.... includes a day stop at Ensenata and cruising the rest of the time. Yippeee....

(OK, small detour, we couldn't make it on the scrapbooking cruise, but we are cruising anyway! We got a fantastic bargain on the fare, airfare, etc.... and we are GOOD TO GO.... Kelly is now the scrapbooking instructor, I am the cruise director, mom is the ultimate decision maker and queen poo-bah.... Karen will make sure we don't get arrested.... uh, Karen, of note in photo above, no glass bottles in the pool, could you keep control of your group, please!!!!

My health has been a bit of a disappointment, no change from last Monday. Side effects from Xeloda are accumulating, making some challenges.....

Anyway........ Get ready to cruise wity us!