1 year, and 5 months after diagnoses, I've finally started radiation. I'm being treated in Mt. Pleasant. The plan is to receive 33 doses. I go into the clinic every day (Mon.-Fri.). If all goes as planned, and the machine cooperates, I should be finished by the first week of December. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.

On a more upbeat note, I drove down to Anahuac a couple of weekends ago for a quick visit with Mom and Dad. They rode out Hurricane Ike amazingly well. I think they were lucky this time. I hope they don't try it again. While we were having dinner in Baytown Saturday night I ran into a friend from high school. I'm not going to say "an old friend", because she looked fabulous. The years have been kind to Barbara!!!!

I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. Where does the time go?

I've started walking again. An old friend, Vicki, called out of the blue one day and said, let's go for a walk. I've done it everyday since, and couldn't feel better. We are back up to 2 miles, with plans to get up to 3+ a day. I'm noticing that my clothes are starting to fit better again. Yeah!
I won't need to go shopping for a while since I have a huge range of sizes hanging in the closet.

Vicki and I have also been volunteering at the cancer center twice a week. I don't know how much help I've been, but I keep going. We were in charge of getting the place "pinked up" for breast cancer awareness month, so we spent most of Thursday morning making and hanging pink ribbons. I told everyone that would listen that March is colo-rectal cancer awareness month, and our color is blue. I want some attention for that too! I have been surprised at how many patients here have the same kind of cancer I do (did).

I've helped out at the flower shop a little, but the girls had homecoming under control, so I stayed away as much as possible this week. Homecoming never was my favorite thing. Now, the fall flowers are starting to come in, and that's another thing all together. I LOVE fall colors. I did a little light decorating at the house last week, we have pumpkins, and "the crow" on the front steps, and fall arrangements and pumpkin pie candles burning in the house. I'm ready for the leaves to start falling.

Don has been doing well, he's still swimming every day. We are going to have to join the gym when it gets colder, either that, or heat the pool. He ordered a wet suit so he could continue to swim, but he's had some "issues" with it, I wonder if he has a plan "B"?

We spent last Saturday at the steer sale at the fair. I didn't go last year, since I had just had a treatment, so I really, really enjoyed the funnel cake we shared. The weather was "fair-perfect", and it was nice to get out and walk around like normal again. Pops even went, but not with us! His sitters found a wheel chair, and took him out for about an hour. He had a big time.

We finally got around to celebrating our 32 anniversary last week. I can't believe we've been married that long! We took a quick trip out of town, spent the night, and had a lovely dinner at our favorite Asain restaraunt. It was a nice break.

Pops's care has had to increase, he now has a visiting nurse that will come by 1-2 times a week. An aide has been added to his team too. She is scheduled to be here everyday at 6:00, and will stay until 7:00. She is responsible for night-time meds, and helping him with a bath before bed. We are hoping that that will help him sleep better. Seems he's been getting up a lot every night, and has had a couple of falls. Don can no longer get him up by himself, it takes two men to lift him, remember he's a big guy! The amazing thing is that he can't walk into the bathroom without falling, but he can wiggle his way out of his hospital bed, complete with rails without falling down.

The campaign is gearing back up. We put up a few signs last night, and I've noticed them popping up around town. There is a Democratic Rally planned for today, and we'll be stopping by for a while. The next debate is scheduled for Oct. 14, at the Civic Center. November will be here before we know it!

Hope everyone is able to enjoy this wonderful weather. There's something about that first little fall briskness in the air.