This Snuck Up on Ya (FGF)

BOO!!! Scared ya didn't I? I've been lurking just around the corner (out of sight) waiting for the perfect time to sneak up on you. Really!!

For a quick update: the storm has passed and Mawmaw's doctor has declared her to be CANCER FREE!! We've very pleased and excited. I thank all of you for your kind words, thoughts, prayers, good vibes, positive thoughts, and everything else. Whatever ya'll did - it worked!! I sincerely thank you.

Everything else has been crazy and crazy HOT around here. I'm just trying to make it through the days. Grand Assembly is coming up and I'm trying to find dresses, fit into dresses, and get some gifts done. I'm off work today and plan on doing some serious shopping (in the gosh darn heat that is Southern Alabama). Wish me luck!!

For now, here's some "Feel Good Friday"

• Maybe this just makes ME feel good, but check out these new images from the Walt Disney/ Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland.
  
• How about 50 summer crafts for kids.
  
• With the summer heat coming on, so are sunburns. Here (from Men's Health) is a list of how to beat the burn. I think this will work as well for women as for men.
• While thinking about sunburns, think about these 10 of the coolest places in the world to swim.
• Just fun- a Star Trek and Monty Python Mashup. He He he he
  

So that's it for now. Let's see if this will post since I started it yesterday and blogger is trying to argue with me about saving it.
Happy a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!

Update on Mawmaw

For those of you who don't follow me on Facebook or Twitter, I wanted to do a quick update on the status of my grandmother. Even if you do follow me there, I'm sharing a bit more here.

So, the surgery happened.During the process of the surgery, the surgeon and radiologist realized that the nuclear dye stuff they had injected was not moving into my grandmother's lymph nodes like it should. In fact, it was not moving into her lymph nodes at all. Basically, this meant that there was some blockage. This could either be caused by some swelling in her breast (from a bruise or the like) or be caused by having cancer filling up the nodes. As such, it was a best bet to go ahead and remove ALL her lymph nodes in that arm for testing. They should have the results of this test tomorrow, but her follow-up is not until Wednesday. So, we don't know on which of these days we'll get the news. Upon asking the surgeon what the next step would be if the lymph nodes are cancerous, he said that NORMALLY he would refer a patient for chemo. Unfortunately, because of my grandmother's age, the chemo therapists would most likely refuse to administer the treatment. So, we're hoping and praying that the lymph node tests are negative for cancer. I just hate the waiting. This whole process seems to be about waiting.

I've been spending a lot of time at my mom's house. In fact, Friday was the only night I have spent at my house since Monday. I miss LOML SO MUCH!! I miss my crazy cat. But, I can't bear to leave my mom and grandmother right now. It's such a tug-of-war. I'm taking it day by day right now.

SO, that's it for now. Tomorrow is Made Me Smile Monday and hopefully I'll be able to check in with some happier thoughts.
Til then!!

Packing Up and Getting Ready (TRT)

So, my grandmother is having her mastectomy in the morning. I'm trying not to focus on it (I'm neurotic, I'm already worried enough.) I'll be staying at my mom's house for the next several days while Mawmaw is recovering. LOML and I have plans to see Steeley Dan on Friday night and I'll be at home that night, but then who knows what for the rest of the weekend.

I packed up this morning. Best part by far- packing the craft bags. I haven't mentioned my craft bags in a while and today seems like the perfect opportunity.

First off, yes I said bagS. There are two sets. One is more for at my mom's house and is all jewelry (beads, pliers, chain, wire, findings, etc.) supplies. The other bag is a general sit-in-the-hospital bag. In addition to the craft supplies I have books, magazines, and my game boys. So what other crafts are going with me? Well, some pretty standard stuff: embroidery floss, scissors, o-rings, glue, a crochet hook, large jump rings, shrink plastic, sharpies, doodle book, colored pencils, and a clipboard. I really would love to take more to soothe the hungry crafty spirit that is eating at my soul. But, I've got some gifts I need to work on and I only wanted to take some specific supplies for those. Besides, I might come up with some really great stuff just using what I've got rather than the multitude of supplies I have in the craft room.

Now, it's "Totally Random Tuesday" Let's get to it!

• 10 items needed for your home bar (sounds like a shopping list for a trip I need to make).
  
• 
• Harvard Psychiatrist explains the neurobiology of Zombies. I love this article, it touches me in so many ways, my love for horror/ sci-fi as well as my love for psychology and the human brain (I do have a BS in it). Of course, LOML's not going to like that I found a logical article on zombies b/c I do have nightmares about them (it's a purely unconscious/irrational thing- I KNOW there are no zombies, most likely). Anyway, it's a fun article.
  
• wal-mart bingo card app for your iPhone
  

So, with lots of prayers and positive thoughts I prepare for tomorrow.

Want, Need, and Desire To Do (MMSM)

I actually tried to get in and create in the craft room last night. I was so excited about squeezing in some time for creative purposes. I played around with some collage, but it just wasn't working for me. I looked around the room and realized that it was the space (or lack thereof) that was limiting my muse. I REALLY want to clean it up and do some work on eventually getting my etsy shop opened.

But, I'm conflicted. My grandmother's surgery (mastectomy) is scheduled for Wednesday morning. I'm planning on staying with her and my mom on Tuesday night so I can be at the hospital with them first thing Wednesday morning. After that, who knows how long I'll be staying in Mobile to help out with things and be at the hospital. The problem is, I should really spend some time with LOML tonight before I spend so much time away. We have plans to see Steely Dan on Friday night, but between tonight and then- there's little time for him in my plans.

I guess I should just see what he wants to do. If he just wants to browse the internet for hours on end searching for property, I can get into the craft room. If he doesn't, I'll entertain him in some way or another. In the meantime, I'm making lists of what craft items to pack for the hospital/mom's house. Hopefully, I'll be able to find everything on my list in the craft room without the overhaul it needs.

Oh, and my weekend -
Friday: Margaritas
Saturday: Tour of the Fantasy (Carnival Cruise Ship) in New Orleans then dinner and beers (AWESOME) at Hopjacks in downtown Mobile.
Sunday: Looking at property with LOML, some limited time in the craft room, True Blood's season opener (GREAT!!) on HBO

Now, while I contemplate what to do, here's some "Made Me Smile Monday" for you!!

• Top websites for laughing at others - http://yepyep.gibbs12.com/2009/05/top-websites-for-laughing-at-others/
• 10 awesome moments from Seasme Street with 40th anniversary coming listed on this one blog. While I do like C is for cookie and grover's near and far, they didn't list my two favorites: 1) Hole in the bucket AND 2) anything with the aliens (yip yips) Here's where they discover the telephone
  

• Top 100 funniest one liners. I'm not sure about funniest, but there are def some on there that you'll want to remember. My favorite on the first page: "We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public." He, he, he - then I NEVER have to grow up, right?
• Funny and clever tip jars.
• Unintentionally funny headlines. Some are NSFW, some are just tasteless, there are a few real gems in there though.

Oh, the picture at the top? While riding to New Orleans I found this face in my muffin. How cool and creepy is that?
Have a great week!

Down in the Dumps (MMSM)

I'm utterly disgusted with everything right now.
I had an alright weekend: Margaritas, a 21st birthday party for a co-worker, and a casino bus trip (where I lost all my money), but nothing really lifted my spirits.
A combination of the news that Mawmaw has to have a mastectomy in a little over two weeks and damn PMS has resulted in my emotional decline over the past several days. It's been hard for me to be happy, optimistic Hope. And, a part of me doesn't want to be. How can I be when my grandmother is going through this? As well, everywhere I turn someone else has some bad news: other sick relatives, bad relationships, putting cats to sleep, and on, and on.
I'll wear the brave face and be strong (as I always am). And, once the PMS passes, I'll be a little more myself again. And maybe you'll get a longer post from me then.

For now, how about some "Made Me Smile Monday" to make this post a little more bearable:

• boat launch fail
• Check this out, it's a whole blog dedicated to awkward family photos. You gotta see it.
  
• Soap that's shaped like an x-box controller and is Mountain-Dew scented. I actually KNOW and work with the people that this was made for. Hmm - Christmas gifts perhaps.
  
• Denny's commercial
  

So, I hope those lightened this a little for you. Sorry to be such a downer. If you've got any good ideas for cheering me up, bring it ON!!

Mmm Huuuuh Vacuum Vacuum Vacuum (FGF)

Oh, the title - that's what I apparently (according to LOML) said in my sleep sometime this morning, "mmm huh vacuum vacuum vacuum." Whatever that means. . .
I know I was having some crazy dreams, and that's how the subject came about in fact. I was dreaming about vampires and werewolves and other fun, fantastic things when I suddenly awoke very early in the morning with the urge to write down my dreams (I remembered at least 2 separate ones) so I could write books about them. I didn't get them written down and don't remember any dreams after that, especially not ones about vacuums.

It was a rough day yesterday. Little Miss Pirate (LMP) graduated from kindergarten, I stayed to get Her Royal Highness (HRH) from school, and attend the used book and uniform sale for my mom. On the way home and then continuing after arrival, LMP had a major breakdown over GUM!!!!!

When we finally calmed down (following a nice long time out) and were engaged in preferred activities - my mama and mawmaw got home to tell me that mawmaw has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She's 82. How much more can she handle? It's a bit of a shock. I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I haven't had my own breakdown yet, just ruminating over it. And over it. And over it. We really don't know much - how far it's advanced, how big it is, etc. She's set to see a specialist today so maybe we can learn some more. I'm in total disbelief. For now, I'm just asking for prayers and positive thoughts to be sent to her.
And, through all this - I'm being pleasured by vacuums, or eating some really delicious vacuums, or calling up some weird BeetleJuice-vacuum hybrid in my sleep. What next??

While I'm not exactly feeling it - it's still "Feel Good Friday" and I gotta give the people what they want:

• Basic chemistry of marinades (check out the comments, there's some great recipe ideas there too)
  
• another awesome music video by lisa hannigan

  Lisa Hannigan - Lille from ATO Records on Vimeo.

  
  
• 15 foods that burn more calories than they contain
  
• 63 tips to stay focused

I've got lots of plans for the weekend. Hopefully, I'll start feeling up to them soon. Enjoy yours, and I'll be back!! Now to figure out my unconscious obsession with the vacuum.