Rollercoaster o life

Over the past year my doctor has been checking, probing, testing and retesting me for breast cancer. As is the life of many women, we have so many parts that require monitoring-damn girl parts! Some of the women in my life who have gone through the “FIGHT” have demonstrated strength, optimism and hope and their example in grace provided me a vision for which I hitched my wagon to. I have a personal history with my Mom surviving breast cancer; therefore, I have jumped on each concern and test. Last Wednesday, due to suspicious calcification's and papaloma cell growth, I had a lumpectomy with the love of my life, there by my side (yes with his camera/phone). I'm recovering by being forced to eat comfort food, watch daytime tv, loads of Food Network, reading, napping, jigsaw puzzles, receiving loads of love from friends and family. The best news came in today, from my surgeon, that no cancer was found. Back to recoup'ing as the animals are loving it and icing the “ol girl!!!”

Ps. I know my mini surgery is minor but a reminder our path in life is still yet determined and full of different experiences from which I still have stuff to learn from.

ppss. Hot Tub Time Machine Anyone???

What A Week

Well its been a hell of a week. Eppies was Saturday and Team ARFCD Flood Fighters did great. David was a bit hampered by the Mountain Bike but next year with a better bike we will RULE.

2:11 is a time to be proud of and Christians 6 minute miles went a long way to getting us a free breakfast. As for the old man of the crew a 47 minute Kayak leg was not to be ashamed of...only saw 2 boats pass me and I left quit a few in my wake.
Sunday I insatalle the Laminate floor in the spare bedroom....did I mention that it was 103 degrees that afternoon....Weight lose program by home remodel .

Tuesday I left for the DHS conference in Memphis. We were trying to work out the operational details of deploying a floating levee breach repair.... harder than I had thought it would be. It was a trip to be invited to a Dept of Homeland Security conference but I think it went well.
Memphis is wicked hot and the Mississippi is humongous.. some good BBQ and Music but home is where I wanted to be by Friday.....however....Delta Airlines had other ideas ...they had a plane computer fail and after being in the airport for 6 hours I ended up back at a Delta paid for room for the night. 6 am flight to Atlanta on Saturday and that meant getting up at 3:30...yes that is east when I need to go west but after a whole bunch o hours in the air and airports ... home and safe on Saturday. Spent the day reconnecting with my wife(Yup still in love with my wife)
Back in the bedroom today and rented a cordless finish nailer to install the molding,,,,(That is a cool gizmo)...Move the furniture back in and started on the new closet shelves...WHEW...cant wait to get back to work..Glad to be home....

Cookie and Tom visit

Friday I attended a friends funeral, and although I felt surrounded in love...my heart was crushed and I really can't make it through any rendition of "amazing grace" without losing it. Chris Littlefield was one of the two bosses at Hill Physicians and died of a sudden heart attack. Boy this was just shocking and the tremors are still being felt. I don't cope well in public when "big things" are going on, so the best thing Rich and I thought to do was stay busy. So Friday afternoon we started working on the guest room. Plus his sister and bro in law were scheduled for a visit the next day....

Saturday we woke early, started on the room and ended in cleaning the house. Tom and Cookie showed up with beer in hand (genius) and willing to have a full Marck Adventure. So given the unbearable heat, Cookie suggested going to the river. So we're were like... lets walk upstream, jump in and float back down to our house. IT WAS FREEZING but the numbness became familar and comfortable...we were the floating four heads bobbing down the river...it was just what we needed. Once back home it was time to go to Oto's cuz Cookie and Tom wanted sushi. And of course Rich was in, with bells on! We just love these twoooo and together we just laugh, trade stories, eat and drink. Plus the sushi was PERFECT! We capped the night with BBC's An evening with Johnathan Ross (I love that show)

It all was soooo sudden and then they had to leave...so all in all-very productive weekend with a splash with our fav family!!!! When your heart needs pure joy and healing...Cookie is the "go to!' and for that she has a very special place in our hearts and lives.

Omega, Omega, Omega

So there are those that shall remain “nameless” requesting a blog update...so, two beers down...and I'll give it a whirl.

Camping at Kellys this weekend was utterly drunk-tastic and just what I needed. I'm employment challenged right now and we didn't have any plans...so we threw in the towel, and did what we've wanted to do for years. Packed the dogs, bean bag game, Woody, as many beers as possible and headed up the hill. Kelly's celebrates his birthday July 4th and his gathering calls to many across state and nation lines...his land is in the Tahoe National Forrest just below Truckee.
We arrive midafternoon, only to be shocked at the number of cars there already...the place was packed. Might I remind you, we camp at Kelly's but Labor and Memorial day...but its been years since we were there for a July fourth. July Fourth is Party-spectacular, young and old, near and far....and thankfully its the one time a year I get to see certain friends...its more important to me than any class reunion...Kelly's reunion is special in that the memories I share with these people are some of the most cherished memories I have...or those that I remember :P

So we set up Woody...2 minutes....I Love WOOODY!!! Then we opted to introduce the bean bag game...its like the most simple game but it unifies a group. And though Rich fought this game...he's grown to love it, My heart doubled in size when Steven, Kelly's brother joined in and was loving it...I thank my nephew Noah for turning me on to this game.

Kelly's is home of the most diverse, dynamic and dramatic people I've ever met a few key time througout the year. And now those people kids are equally “super cool.” Yvon and Jude (the man) were there in thier unflinching glory and I got to visit with Robin, who I haven't seen in 5 years, Mary Linden in more like 15 years ect...and then there's Taylor...Rich and I watched Taylor grow up and as an adult, this dude is just rockin it- His way. Love you Taylor. Love to the entire Kelly posse...except the guy drinking “Jack” from the bottle-he was kinda a DOUCHE.

Then it was the quest for the Super 8. Eddie O'conner, from the East coast, and practically Kelly's Royalty, had a vision. He brought a Super 8 film of Kelly's July 4th from '81...we were all a twitter and bowed in awe...but he neglected to confirm the freaking machine worked. Rich worked his magic for an hour, stole my hair tie and tried duct tape...ultimately to be disappointed. That damn machine refused to work....so it was off to dinner.

The transition from twilight to night time is realllly when the magic happens...bellys full, seats are found next to the campfire, liquior is poured and the music begins. It always starts slowly, quietly almost a whisper....but then one hour in the hooting and hollering is in main stride...then ultimately this partyier pooped out...leaving Rich and Mark at the fire. And I didn't mention due to the impacted camping options we parked Woody RIGHT NEXT TO THE CAMPFIRE. So although I was done...the party had found its rhythm and that rhythm included Mark chanting “Omega, Omega, Omega” Now all that I could deal with but when the chant changed to “girls in the fire, girls in the fire....” I got a bit nervous...not nervous enough to get up but enough to put ear plugs in. I knew I'd hear the stories of Rich and Mark's exploits in the morning. RIch showed up in the middle of the "what the hell time is it?" morning....

Ok so my internal clock wakes me most mornings at 5am...um after going to bed a 1am...I got up a tad later....and Rich getting to bed at 3 (yes he denies this time profusely)....morning came whaaaayyyy tooo early for him. But although his hands hurt from the 4 hours of drumming...think his head was a bit fuzzy but heart full of doing exactly what he wanted, as Kelly's heals all that ails you.

As soon as we were there and set up, it was time to head back home...so we packed up the poochies and soul's smiling... we headed back down the hill. Quickly down the hill to to beat the Pyles to the In and Out in Auburn...two Double Doubles please.