Hanging in There.....

My last post was nearly 2 months ago.  In that post, I disclosed our Buster Boy's illness, his lymphoma.  We since have found another vet, who seemed to think he would benefit from chemotherapy and who assured us that dogs don't react to chemo the same way humans do.  This vet is in Blythewood, which for us is quite a long trip.  So, once a week, Buster and I load into the car and I take him to the vet, sign him in as a 'stay for the day' and then I drive into downtown for work; in the afternoon, I go back and pick him up.  He started his chemotherapy regimen on April 30.  About 10 days into it, he developed a fever, and we had to give him antibiotics.  Basically what happens is the chemo wipes out his white blood cells, which are needed to fight infection.   The massive doses of chemicals that flooded his little body left him unable to fight the elevated temps.  So, he spent the night at the vet, got antibiotics, and came home.  He's had another week or so of treatments, then this past Monday when I went to pick him up, she (the vet) said his white blood cells were too low to give the treatment.  We go back tomorrow and hopefully he will be able to have it then.  His lymph nodes had virtually disappeared, but now I can feel them again - not terribly large, but still....

I hope this all is not uncomfortable for him.  He appears happy and his appetite is beyond good.  He will eat ANYTHING you give him.  Doesn't chew it, just swallows it!  But he always did that.  I guess as long as he's eating well, we have to be thankful. 

Let's hope tomorrow brings good news.  I'm so tired of bad news.  I just want more time with him.  And he wants more time with us.  Let's hope we can have that.

On a positive note, we have our house on the market.  So far, only 2 people have looked at it and neither of them were impressed.  Our listing does not expire until August.  I hope we find the right person to want our home.  We put our heart and soul into it and whoever buys it will get a wonderful home.  If it doesn't sell, well then I guess we will figure that out at the time. 

I am working downtown now - five days a week.  Every day I spend nearly 2 hours in the car.  Already I am tired of that.  I wish I was close enough to be able to go home for lunch.  And spend time outside...in the yard.  At the same time, I am fortunate to have a good job.  I am thankful.

We have a long weekend coming up.  Memorial Day weekend - the 'jumping off point' for summer.  I am so ready.  Ready to fire up the grill, sit back with a cocktail and just BE...

Happy Holiday, everyone!!

Merry Christmas!

This morning it is already 61 degrees outside.  Last night it was suitable tee-shirt and shorts (and Rainbows) weather.  Hardly conducive to singing Christmas carols and looking at holiday lights.  Right?  Well, unless you live in a tropical, always-warm locale when palm trees outweigh Christmas trees during the holiday season....

Today I have to finish up my stocking stuffer shopping and get the kids their Christmas 'bling'.  And I will have one last baking session before tomorrow night, when it's The Feast of the Seven Fishes.  Grease all the way, my friends!

For those of you unfamiliar with this 'fishy' tradition, check out this site:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Seven_Fishes

Hey, it's an Italian thing.

Santa visited the nursing home yesterday.  We had a lot of fun.  Had to go in the afternoon while the 'old' kids were still awake.  usually after dinner, they turn in for the night, even if it's only 6 pm!  Being 'senior' children, they are so entitled.  Here, Santa is wishing my mom a "Merry Christmas".  She thought he was her brother, Jimmy.  Then she thought I WAS her brother, Jimmy.  Oh mom....

Here's wishing you and yours the merriest of Christmases, and the most wonderful New Year anyone could have.  Please share in enjoying our Christmas with us:

 Here's our main Great Room tree - filled with collectible ornaments from our travels all over the place.

 This is 'the kitchen tree'.  It is decorated with food and drink ornaments, including mini wine bottles and corks.  The star at the top is a "Carolina Snowflake" from the Gift Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway - handmade.  Check 'em out:  www.brsbaket.com

 Our Colonial Christmas Dining Room complete with hurricane shades, fruit, berries and grapevine as the centerpiece.  Very Colonial/New England.  I like that.  (notice the Wine Santa in the corner?)

Notice, no fire....FIRST OF ALL, way too hot.  Second, Santa would burn his butt coming down the chimney.  Don't want to hurt Santa, do we?

So, from my family to you and yours, Buon Natale, Feliz Navidad, Buona Festa, Merry Christmas!!!

Jeannette, Paul, Jonathan, Keith, Daisy, Stormy and Buster Pompi!!!!

Giving Back

Today I did something that I have never ever done before.  I volunteered to give manicures at the nursing home where my mom is.  Now, before I started going to nail salons and only having my nails in either a neutral or French manicure, I did my own manicures and as a result, had MANY bottles of different colored polish.  So, I loaded the polishes, some remover, and some "aromatherapy' hand lotion and headed to see them!

I got there about 2:00, and left at almost 5:00.  During that time, I did a dozen manicures - all different.  I evan gave a manicure to a male resident.  He would not let me polish his nails, and I showed him ALL different colors.  He was just not a good sport.  So, I filed his nails, and massaged his hands with aromatherapy lotion and he loved it.  So many of the other little ladies loved having their nails done.  Most got polish, some did not, and they ALL got the hand massages.  They were SOOO sweet.  One little lady asked me how long I had been doing nails.  My response,, 'About an hour'.  She didn't get it.

So, I was about ready to leave, and this one little lady rolled in and asked "do you have any openings this afternoon?".  Oh. My. Gosh.  She thought she was at a nail salon.    I told her, yes, I had an opening just for her.  She got the bamboo colored polish.  They all were chattering away, none of it making any sense (at least I don't think it did) and we talked about Pearl Harbor Day.  I asked them if they remembered it and what they were doing then.  One lady said she had just gotten married.  One said she was still in high school.  It was then I realized that ALL THESE people were once children; teenagers; young adults.  They had lives. families, laughter, JOBS, and a story.  I might decide to sit down one of these days with each of them and let them tell me their stories.  I'm sure they would have some very interesting tales to tell...

All in all, I had the most wonderfully fulfilling afternoon.  Did I get my house cleaned?  Nope.  Did I do any Christmas shopping?  No.  Did I get any decorations up?  no.   But I did something even better.  I turned a dozen or better "extremely" senior citizens into painted ladies!  Ladies with good looking manicures.  And I got more out of the visit than they did.  I got this warm, wonderful feeling in my heart and soul.  I gave something back.  And took much more away.

See you in two weeks, ladies!  And remember, Santa will be arriving on the 22nd.  Buon Natale!!!!

Turkey Day

Today I began preparing my Thanksgiving menu. Well, I sort of already knew what I planned to have, but I sat down this morning with a cup of coffee and pen and pad and wrote down each thing I plan to cook; and made sure I had all the ingredients. I will never forget one holiday many years ago that I did not have any celery and my mother swore the turkey 'wouldn't be fit to eat'. Well, fit or not, we ate it. God forbid!

Anyway, we are having turkey (unbrined, but seasoned under the skin) with meat stuffing (yep, stuffing - which means inside the bird; dressing is the same food but cooked separately in a pan), rice & giblet gravy, Italian broccoli with garlic and lemon (this stuff will make you want to slap someone; if you wanted to do that anyway, you have a legit excuse), steamed green beans with almonds, pan sauteed' brussel sprouts; ginger glazed baby carrots; sweet potato souffle (sort of) with maple syrup infused right into the whipped baked potatoes, along with creamy butter & miniature marshmallows, then baked in a casserole dish; fresh cranberry-orange relish (and the canned jellied variety, my mother in law's special recipe!!), potato rolls, and my desserts that I spent most of today making. They are (in no particular order): creamy chocolate pie, gingerbread, maple pumpkin pie, and spiced almond wafers. There will (naturally) be fruit salad of some type, prosecco, white & red wine, water, iced tea, and coffee!

Later in the afternoon, we have a couple coming over for Thanksgiving cocktails. So, more prosecco, wine and beer will be served, along with Italian Antipasti items (you know, cheeses, salame, proscuitto, cheeses, olives, etc.).

I would like to hear what everyone else has planned. Turkey is not my favorite thing, but once a year I can handle it. This is why my food preparations are taking 3 days; I want to be able to do something on Thanksgiving besides COOK, EAT, and CLEAN UP!!

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Given that this year has been a rough one, we've made it virtually unscathed. I hope that continues. My mom will be here too - and at age 96, I'm truly thankful for that above all else.

So, tell me - what's on your menu for Turkey Day?