Feeling better.......

Act as if you were already happy and that will tend to make you happy.  -Dale Carnegie

Had a good weekend, and I’m feeling much better – mentally and physically.  Early Saturday morning, we went out for a really nice boat ride with our good friends, Debbie and Bill.  Of course, we took the dogs, too – our 2 dogs and their St. Bernard.  It was really nice and relaxing. Then we all (except the dogs) went out to breakfast.  Spent the rest of the day relaxing at the RV.  On Sunday afternoon, our good friends from Key Largo, Robin and Bunny, came to visit – along with their sweet black standard poodle, Pearl.  It was so nice to see them – it has been a long time.  They spent the night in their Sprinter van in the site next to us.  And they brought some fresh dolphin from the Bahamas for dinner, which Bunny cooked to perfection – delicious!  They left this afternoon – sad to see them go.  Now we’re about to get clobbered with yet another thunderstorm.  We do indeed need the rain, but we’re having an awful lot of serious storms lately.

Visiting with good friends is always good for the state of mind.  So that helped a lot this weekend.

Something else that helped tremendously was the “kudos” that I received from the doctor’s office I transcribe for.  I’m not usually one to brag, but I just want to share what the 2 nurse practitioners said after I sent them a copy of the photo of me doing their transcription from my hospital room.  I said, “How’s that for dedication?”  Here’s what they said:

Mary said, “Jill showed me the picture of you in the bed.  At first I laughted my A S S off, and then it made me melancholy.  Maybe melancholy is the wrong word, maybe pensive?  I was so totally filled with admiration for you, that I caught my breath when I saw the picture.  You were the perfect picture of devotion, dedication, willfullness, stubborness, peace, and determination all in one.  I really think you're tops, Suze.  I mean it.  I can't say that I know many people who would have continued with their work given your condition.  I wish I could see you more; you would be a daily dose of inspiration for me.  We all really appreciate your work.  I especially appreciate the devotion that you show towards our patients as emphasized by your constant need for performing at your personal best; you're really particular about getting things done in a timely manner.  I should be more like you!”

And Jill said, “I hope your weekend is better than last.  Hang in there.  Yesterday I was having a meltdown, and I do apologize for my gruff language [I don’t know what she was talking about…..never noticed it], but I felt like telling everybody in the office today just to…..grow up and do their job.  And then I got to thinking I’m the only one who works hard for a living, and then when I logged on AOL I saw your picture, and I felt really stupid because I think you’re more dedicated and work a heck of a lot harder than any of us, or maybe all of us combined, and we really do appreciate it.  Okay, like I said, I hope you have a better weekend than last, and I’ll talk to you on Monday.”

I guess I’d better shut down my computer now because the storm is imminent.  Just wanted to post a brief blog to let you all know I’m doing so much better.  As always, thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.

Feeling discouraged.....

Well, I’ve been holding off posting a blog until I got out of this “mental slump” I’ve been in all week.  But, it’s not happening, so I figured I should post a few words as an update.  Needless to say, I was elated to be discharged from the hospital.  But getting so sick really zapped me physically and mentally.  The physical part is slowly coming around, but I just can’t seem to get the mental thing on the right track.  Just feeling really discouraged, I guess.  I know I’ll get out of this hole – I’ve been here before – and found my way out before.  I’m still really tired from the whole physical aspect of it, too, so that doesn’t help.

Anyway, I had another blood draw on Wednesday, and we met with the oncologist yesterday – a hospital followup.  The numbers continued to improve, and the white count was in the normal range for a change.  Yay!!  Everything else looked pretty good, too.  Onco man said I was doing much better, but I wasn’t quite “there” yet.  I still need to get my strength back and give my body a little more time before injecting the next regimen of poison.  Originally I was supposed to start the Taxotere yesterday, but he pushed it back another 2 weeks.  July 6^th is the new start date.

He also strongly encouraged exercise.  I’ve been finding it hard to get motivated these days with a constant underlying nauseous feeling.  BUT, I forced myself today – went for a 30-minute walk around the campground and then went and swam 20 laps in the pool and walked 10 more laps in the pool.  Now I just need to stay motivated and keep it up.  I know work will get in the way, but I should just make myself set aside some time every day to get some sort of exercise. 

Here it is, not even 1900, and I’m ready to crawl into bed.  Think I just might do that.  Another thunderstorm is on its way, so I’ll lie in bed with my Kindle and listen to the sweet sound of rain on the roof.

I'm out of jail!!

Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.  ~George Weinberg

Yup, I’m out of jail!  And OOOOEEEEE, it is so good to be home!  It was a rough weekend, although the nurses/staff at the hospital were really wonderful and took very good care of me.  They all seem to love their jobs.  But if you need some rest, don’t go to the hospital.  I got a lot less sleep last night than the night before!  I didn’t think that was possible.  The problem was that they didn’t start the blood transfusion until after 2200, and it took all night.  So they came into my room EIGHT – yes, EIGHT – times between 2200 and 0600.  Maybe there were even more and I slept through one or two.  Is it possible?  They had to check my vitals, change an IV bag, check this or check that…..I don’t even know what they were doing half the time.  But I do know that they woke me up 8 times!  When the nurse was leaving at 2245 after checking my vitals, she said in her sweet, sing-songsy voice, “You can get a good 2 to 2½ hours of sleep before I have to come in again!”  as if to imply (1) that I would close my eyes and be instantly asleep (does that happen to anybody?!) and (2) that I would be so excited about 2 hours of uninterrupted sleep!!  PULEEEEEZ!  How about 8 hours??  What happened to that concept? 

Anyway, I survived the night, which culminated in a visit by the oncologist at 0600, who asked how I was doing?  Even at 0600, after not sleeping all night, I said, “I’m doing great!  I’m ready to go home now!”  He sort of laughed (not really) – he doesn’t have a lot of personality – and said, “Not so soon.”  He said it depends on the numbers, to which I replied, “You mean a few little numbers are going to keep me trapped in here?”  During our 3-minute visit, I heard 3 various possibilities – not for awhile, maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow.  I was sure to blurt out “tonight” several times as he was heading for the door. 

So I was anxiously awaiting “the numbers.”  The nurse finally came in around 1000 and said things were improving.  I can’t remember any of the numbers she told me except the white blood count, which I knew was the “big one.”  Yesterday it was 0.5 and this morning it was 2.3.  YESSSS!!  That’s still pretty low, but it’s a real hike up the pike from 0.5!  Grounds for discharge in my book!  The nurse then informed me that they usually won’t discharge until it’s at least 3.  Brought me down off the clouds again.  She said she had to call the oncologist later to give him “the numbers.”  I BEGGED her to BEG him to let me out.  Gave her a sob story about how my husband had to take the RV to the shop Monday morning, and nobody could pick me up tomorrow, so tonight would be much more convenient.  How silly!  They don’t care about that stuff.  It’s the NUMBERS that count.  Anyway, she was a really nice nurse, and I really liked her, and I think she liked me.  She also agreed with me when I said I shouldn’t be in such a germ-infested place in such a compromised state.  I felt like she would go to bat for me….if she had the guts to BEG the doctor on my behalf.  I doubt she ended up begging, and I have no idea what she said to him, but she came back to my room around 1400 and said that he said I could go home tonight!  I wanted to jump up and hug her – I might have if I didn’t have a big huge IV pole with 100 bags of whatever hanging off it.  I thanked her profusely, though.  She said he said no at first and then asked what my stool cultures and blood cultures were – negative!  So then he relented and said I could go tonight. 

Well, it got even better.  She came back in around 1445 and said I could go now!  Yeehaw!!  She said she would disconnect the IV, get my discharge papers together, and another nurse would come in to de-access my port.  And then I was a free bird! 

Kenny came back and picked me up – he had actually been there earlier, but I told him there was no sense in sticking around because I actually had some transcription that I had to do.  So he left, and I called about an hour later with the good news.  So I didn’t get much work done, but I did do some – I have a picture to prove it (see below).  You can see my head phones and lap top but not the foot pedal (trust me, it’s there).  And you can see the big ol’ IV pole right next to me, dripping as I was typing. 

Guess that about sums up today and now it’s time to get some REAL sleep!  Life is getting better all the time.  And I feel really good once again, which is such a wonderful feeling!  Thank you all ever so much for all those positive, loving thoughts and feelings and prayers.  I appreciate all the support and concern, all the wonderful blog comments, emails, phone calls, cards – and just all of you being out there thinking of me, WISHING ME WELL!  It’s working!    Good night, all! 

Blogging from the hospital......

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.  – Lewis Carroll

All of this cancer stuff is just a big, huge complete 100% drag right now.  (I would like to use MUCH stronger adjectives than that, but it wouldn’t be appropriate).  I’m just so tired of it all, quite often wonder if I made the right decision in going the “conventional route,” and quite often wonder if I can make it to the end of treatment.

As you all know, I try really, really hard to be positive and upbeat all the time…..or at least MOST of the time.  Well, I’m sorry, there just is no positive attitude today.  Must’ve forgotten to put it in my overnight bag – hopefully it’s still in the RV somewhere cuz I’m gonna need it REAL soon! 

I ended up in the hospital.  I went back to see the oncologist on Friday morning.  My fever had broken, which was a good thing, and I was feeling a little bit better, but he was still really concerned about whatever infection I seem to have picked up due to my weakened, compromised, neutropenic (my white blood count was slightly above 0 at 0.77) state.  He said there was a 50/50 chance I would be okay going home and continuing the oral antibiotics, but he wasn’t comfortable with those odds.  I told him I hoped the oral antibiotics weren’t going to go to waste because they cost me $300!  He was shocked and said if he had known that, and that I had to pay for them, he would’ve just put me in the hospital the day before and saved me the money.  But he also said I’ll be taking ‘em when I get out of the hospital….so they won’t go to waste.  Was he just trying to appease me? 

So off we trudged to the hospital, after stopping at home for a few things.  We got all registered, and the woman said, “You’ll be in room 550, bed 2.”  I was so disappointed to hear that I wouldn’t have my own room.  What if I got a roommate who liked the TV blaring all night??  Or somebody who snored obnoxiously??  Or somebody who had 100 visitors all day long??  All sorts of dreadful thoughts were going through my mind.  But we were pleasantly surprised when we entered the room – there is no bed 1 in here!  How could I be so lucky?!  There is actually a spot where they could put another bed, but they’ve replaced it with 2 love seats that actually pull out into sleeper beds.  Kenny could spend the night……if we didn’t have the dogs.  Then again, why would he want to spend the night in a depressing hospital room where they bother you all night long?  I wouldn’t even want him to do it.  It’s enough torture for one of us to be here.  The nurse also told me that in my neutropenic state, they would never put me with a roommate – too much risk for germs, disease, illness, etc. 

So yesterday, after I got settled in my “new quarters,” they kept coming in all afternoon for various things – health history, blood draws (I’ll tell you more about that later), urinalysis, to take me for a chest x-ray, etc. etc.  They also came in and explained how to use the TV, which has regular TV, movies, games to play, relaxation/spiritual videos (maybe I need to watch some of those?!), and they told me how to order room service.  There’s a menu in the room, you pick any items you want off the menu, dial the number on the phone and tell them what you want and what time you want it.  I thought it was pretty cool until I called down to place my order for a grilled chicken salad and some black beans and rice.  “Sorry, Ms. Carpenter.  You’re on a neutropenic diet and can’t have any fruits or uncooked vegetables.  No salad.”  Wow!  So I switched to chicken stir-fry, which was pretty lousy.  It’s funny because this hospital used to be known for its great food.  In fact, several years ago, there was an article in the local paper about the food being so excellent that the locals would often go out to dinner at the hospital.  Now that I’ve been here for a little over 24 hours and have had a few meals, I can tell you they weren’t eating the same food the patients are eating.  Maybe the food is really great in the public dining area……or maybe that was a true story years ago but isn’t true now.  The food I’ve been eating is definitely nothing to rave about.

I’m quite decorated with beautiful colored bands.  The bright pink one on the left wrist says “Limb Alert,” which means no needles or blood pressure on left arm (due to the lymph node removal and possibility of lymphedema).  The bright yellow one on the right arm says “Fall risk,” which means, because of my weakened state, I’m supposed to call for assistance before getting out of bed, going to the bathroom, etc.  Well, the nurse saw me walk around and said I was fine and didn’t have to call all the time if I didn’t want to but to call if I felt dizzy or felt like I needed help.  The bright green band says “Isolation.”  This means I’m in “isolation” due to the neutropenia.  I can still have visitors, but everyone who enters the room must wash his/her hands upon entry and then wear a face mask – to cut down on the spread of germs.  If I go out into the hall and take a stroll, like Kenny and I did earlier, or go down to x-ray, etc., then I have to wear a face mask because of all the other people out there wandering around. 

Last night I was hoping for a good night’s sleep because they say “Rest is Best.”  Well, first of all, I can’t sleep without a white noise machine – something I forgot to bring.  It masks out all the other noises around and provides a calm, constant sound if a room is too quiet.  Can’t sleep in a room that’s too quiet.  No way.  The only noise last night was the beautiful (not) sound of my IV machine.  It does have a nice whirring noise, but about every 20 seconds there is a clunk – I guess when it’s opening up the line to let a drip through.  A non-constant sound like that is extremely annoying – maybe even worse than a really quite room.  SO, it took me quite awhile to get to sleep, even with a sleeping pill.  Then at 3:30 a.m., the IV machine started beeping – a bag needed to be changed.  At 4:30 a.m., the nurse came in to do a blood draw.  Would it have been possible to do it at 3:30 when I was already awake??  Then at 6:00, the doctor came in on his rounds.  I wish it had been my doctor, Dr. Sprawls, who is such a likeable guy, but it was another doctor in the practice – all business and not much personality.  But then again, it was 6:00 a.m.  Maybe he has more personality as the day wears on.  He didn’t say too much other than I didn’t have to be on the neutropenic diet anymore (yay!  grilled chicken salad tonight), that he would take a look at my blood work, and that he would keep me informed.  What does that mean?  Will I hear from him again today?  No.  Tomorrow I only have one thing to say to him – I need to get out of this place!  I will BEG him to let me out of here tomorrow.  In my compromised, weakened state, I should not be hanging out in a hospital filled with germs, infections, and diseases.  Couple of days of IV antibiotics and fluids and then send me home!

Now let’s talk about this whole neutropenia thing.  I think I’ve mentioned before that I got a Neulasta injection after every chemo session.  The purpose of the Neulasta injection is to boost up the white blood count that the poison (chemo) destroyed the day before, AND the billed charge for this injection is $5000!  The epitome of Big Pharma highway robbery.  Actually, I’m sure it’s not the epitome because I’m sure there are even worse charges, but I don’t even want to know about them because I’ll really get on my soap box then.  Anyway, needless to say, the $5000 injection failed to do its job this time for some reason.  Maybe my body just finally said, “Enough is enough already!” and couldn’t handle any more of the toxins that were being dumped into it.

Oh yeah, I was going to talk about the blood draws.  I have had 6 blood draws in the last 3 days!  Have I told you how much I love blood draws?!  When will this torture end?  The icing on the cake was this afternoon when they came in to do a blood draw – because I had just been informed that they had to transfuse me with 2 units of blood and 1 unit of platelets (which I was NOT happy to hear) – and they had to do a typing, etc.  The girl got out all her paraphernalia and starting going for my arm…..my poor, abused right arm.  I asked her, “Why can’t you do it from the Infuse-A-Port?”  And she said, “Because that’s all hooked up and everything.”  Stupid me listened to her and let her try the arm.  Gave her my usual, “I’m a tough draw.”  And she rammed the needle in there so hard I thought I was going to go through the roof.  And guess what?!  No blood flowed.  So she rolled the needle around a few times, poking, prodding….until I finally yelled, “This is torture!”  So she pulled it out and went to get the nurse to see if we could use the port to draw the blood.  And the nurse said, “Sure we can use the port.  No problem.”  And she got all the blood she needed…..piece of cake….in about 2 seconds.  Sure could have done without all that torture beforehand. 

I just had the platelets transfused.  Now I’m getting another antibiotic dose.  And then they’ll start the blood.  And then hopefully I can get some sleep!  Kenny brought the white noise machine, so hopefully it will be a better night.

  

Physically, I am feeling much, much better.  I feel like a human being again and actually feel pretty darn good.  Mentally, I have a little ways to go, but hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.  And hopefully they will let me out of this prison.  I’m terrified they won’t, which makes me feel very trapped.

Maybe my next entry will be a little more positive and upbeat.  Sorry for the negativity today.

Maybe NEXT week will be a better week.......

This week has not proven to be a better week at all, so maybe NEXT week will be.  We did go to the beach on Monday, which was really nice.  However, the achiness I was experiencing got progressively worse.  By Tuesday, I was downright sick, and that, too, has progressively worsened.  When my fever reached 101.6 this morning, accompanied by diarrhea, chills, sweats, total body aches, splitting headache, and an excruciatingly painful hemorrhoid problem, the oncologist wanted to see me right away.  My fever was 102.6 in his office, and I was totally miserable.  I asked him if he had a miracle up his sleeve, and he said, “Yeah, but it’s not the kind you’re hoping for where I tell you take a pill and send you home.  I need to put you in the hospital.”  When I gasped in incredulous shock, he relented to letting me try oral antibiotics for 24 hours and see him back in the morning.  Probably should have just gone to the hospital because one of the prescriptions was $267 for 7 pills!  Big Pharma highway robbery!!  Nearly gave me a heart attack since I don’t have any Rx insurance, and the cost is totally on me.  Anyway, if I’m not any better tomorrow morning, he will put me in the hospital.  Ugh! 

It’s weeks like this when I wish I had a “corporate job” and could just call in sick, not worry about it, and get paid to stay in bed!  No such luck.  I had to continue to work even when I was totally miserable.  Fortunately, I have 2 great gals working for me, and they have offered to jump in and take on some extra work this weekend.  I’m so thankful because I didn’t know what I was going to do if I end up in the hospital.

Meanwhile, I need to climb back in bed and try to get some sleep. 

Hoping for a better week this week.......

The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.  – Sven Goran Eriksson

Last week was a rough one – too much work and too many dang appointments, which led to way too much stress.  By Thursday afternoon, I was really stressed out.  In fact, my onco man noticed it and doubled the strength of my anti-anxiety pills.....LOL!  I’m hoping for a better week this week.  At least I have NO appointments scheduled this week, which will be a really wonderful thing. 

As for last week, the liver ultrasound went smoothly, as did the blood draw.  I warned the girl that I was a “tough draw,” and she proceeded to tell me a story about a guy who had been in the week before and asked how her aim was.  He said he had been to one of the local hospitals for his previous blood draw, and it took 18 sticks(!) to get blood from him.  Holy cow!  I would have given up long before that!  Anyway, this phlebotomist was able to get him on the first stick.  So I was hopeful.  And she got me on the first stick, too!  

On Thursday I had my last round of the A/C chemo regimen, and Friday was my last Neulasta injection.  Yay!  Progress!  So glad to be finished with those 2 items.  Supposedly the next chemo regimen (Taxotere) is milder than the A/C – hope so.  The biggest drawback will be that it is every week instead of every 3 weeks.  Weekly appointments are going to be rough with my work load.  Can hardly wait for radiation – with daily appointments!   

Had a fairly relaxing weekend, which was nice, although I still had some work to catch up on.  Finally finished that around 1400 yesterday afternoon.  Today I’m off the hook work-wise until later this afternoon, so we’re thinking of going to the beach for a few hours.  Canaveral National Seashore – a gorgeous beach (similar to Anastasia in St. Augustine – unspoiled for miles and miles with no condos, hotels, restaurants, etc.) is just up the road a little ways, so that is where we will head for some R&R.  I’m feeling a bit achy and wiped out today – probably from the Neulasta – but hopefully the sun and surf will cure that.  And hopefully the jellyfish are no longer a problem.  Over Memorial Day weekend, they had 1600 reported jellyfish stings in Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral!  And how many unreported?? 

It seems like I had lots of things to write about this morning since I haven’t written in awhile, but I’m drawing a big huge blank.  So, I guess I’ll go ahead and post this for now. 

The crazy week has begun.....

Admit that your own private Mount Everest exists.  That is half the battle.  – Hugh Macleod

We’re back in Brevard County now, although we opted for a county park in Titusville instead of the park we were staying in on Merritt Island.  I guess I’ve said this a bunch of times, but it WAS really hard to leave Anastasia State Park.  Staying there for a week was the BEST therapy.  We had a very enjoyable final day there.  Went to breakfast and then I had to do some transcription (not enjoyable) and Ken washed the car and the front of the RV and started getting some of the stuff ready for our trip south (you know, check the oil, check the air in the tires, etc. etc.).  Then we went to the beach for a couple of hours and had our last swim and some more of that fine beach relaxation.  After returning to the RV, we took the dogs for a nice long walk, and then we headed over to the Conch House Marina to listen to some live reggae music.  They actually have a “barge/floating platform” in the marina with a big tent covering the whole platform.  The band sets up there and the rest of the platform is a dance floor.  Turns out it was pretty crowded down on the barge, and there was a cover charge to go down there, so we decided to have dinner in one of the “treehouses” at the restaurant because we had a gift certificate to use.  We had a nice “hut/treehouse” all to ourselves, and the reggae music was just off to our left, so we could hear it just fine and watch all the crazy/silly people dancing, drinking, trying to get in and out of boats, falling in the water in the process, etc.  It was quite entertaining, and we had a delicious dinner! 

On Monday we had to pack up all our stuff and begin the trek south.  Arrived in Titusville around 1400 yesterday and got a relatively nice site at Manatee Hammock Campground.  We got everything set up and then met some good friends for dinner – hadn’t seen them in awhile so it was a nice evening. 

This morning I went for my ultrasound.  Won’t know the results until I see the onco man on Thursday.  Tomorrow is another dreaded blood draw.  Last week’s was another terrible one – 3 sticks – one in the elbow joint and 2 in the back of the hand and lots of probing.  Seems to be the status quo these days.  Keeping my fingers crossed that tomorrow goes more smoothly.

Well, it’s only Tuesday, and I’m already behind in my work.  They saw 49 patients today.  You guessed it – that’s 49 reports I have to type.  Looks like I’ll have about 11 hours of solid typing to do tomorrow to get caught up, only to get behind again on Thursday because I have to go for chemo.  WAAAAAAHHHH!  I knew it was going to be a brutal week.  I took a couple of anti-anxiety pills today; I think I’ll continue them for the rest of the week! 

On Friday, we have to take the RV back to the shop so they can reinstall our microwave/convection oven (which hopefully is repaired after they’ve had it for a month).  They also need to fix the dash A/C and a couple of other things.  So that’s going to make for a crazy day because I don’t know where I’ll be able to do my work – not in the RV.  I also have to go for Neulasta that day, which is usually a shot of instant fatigue.  Where will I crash?  And we’ll have the dogs with us, too.  Oh well, somehow everything will work out. 

I need to stop whining (one of those blue days) and go to bed so I can get up early and get some work done before I go let them use my arm as a pincushion. 

And a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful, loving, supportive Mom who turns 85 tomorrow (6/8)……and looks more like she’s 55!  I LOVE YOU, MOM!  And Happy Birthday!

I didn't get a picture of the reggae platform; in this photo, it was just behind us and to the right.  A fun evening and really good food, although a bit pricey. 

Ocean therapy is sublime.......

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it is going to be a butterfly.  – R. Buckminster Fuller

Our little “mini vacation” in St. Augustine has been really wonderful.  Can’t really call it a vacation because I’ve still had to do my transcription.  However, since Monday was a holiday, I had a tiny bit less work this week than I normally would have had.  We’ve gone to the beach – gorgeous beach – every day.  And we’ve gone swimming in the ocean every day.  Just being on the beach watching and listening to the surf is so relaxing and calming and therapeutic.  We’re truly dreading leaving this little paradise and going back to “reality.”  Next week is going to be a really rough week.  Monday will be spent packing up and driving back to Brevard County (Merritt Island).  Then I have an ultrasound on Tuesday, a blood draw on Wednesday, chemo on Thursday, and Neulasta on Friday (the latter two of which are pretty much guaranteed to make me feel lousy next weekend).  HOWEVER, that will be my final round of the A/C regimen.  Yahoo!!  Hip hip hooray!  That will be a huge milestone in my book when that’s over and done with. 

Believe it or not, my hair is starting to grow back already.  I’m still pretty bald (no, not pretty……I mean, quite bald), but there is some peach fuzz starting to show up!  I’m pretty excited about that.  Now if the boobs would just grow back!  Just kidding.  Don’t even miss ‘em, and I LOVE "no more bras."  I just wish the numbness would go away under my arms and across my chest.  That might never happen, though.  Oh well, can’t have everything.

This morning we went to see Born To Be Wild in 3D at the IMAX theater.  It was really excellent, and I highly recommend it to everybody who might have an IMAX theater nearby where it might be playing.  In a nutshell, it is about 2 women – one who rescues orphaned elephants in Kenya and one who rescues orphaned orangutans in Borneo.  They raise the orphans until they are old enough and capable enough to survive in the wild on their own.  Incredible story.  And the 3D feature made you feel like you were right there. 

Well, I guess it’s time to call it another day.  Hate to do so because that only leaves one day left here.  We’re just going to set our sights on truly enjoying the day tomorrow, and we will try NOT to think about the reality of next week.

And I hope you all truly enjoy your day tomorrow, too.  Hugs all around……  

Ken and Suzy at Conch House Marina -- St. Augustine

Ken and Suzy at Saltwater Cowboys restaurant -- hate the wig; only the 2nd time I've worn it (probably the last time, too)

Our chairs on the beach at Anastasia -- paradise!