Sorry about delay with zip 8

Somehow I failed to "publish" so even though I'd scheduled it for yesterday, it didn't appear. It's there now. Will schedule Wednesday post later tonight and remember to schedule and then publish.

Updates & freebie

It feels a little hectic just now. Went with June to see surgeon for pathology results. Not good. Cancer was found in the biopsied lymph node and she's been moved to stage 2. Now in addition to the mastectomy, there will be an axillary (underarm) node dissection. The possibility of radiation and chemo is greater now. Also, there is a "spot" on the same arm where she had skin cancer surgery previously. That surgery got complicated; a quarter size place in her forearm did not heal properly, went into staph infection and ultimately required another, deeper surgery during which additional cancer cells were found. Took about 6 months to get that cleared up and now the diagnosis of breast cancer. Skin cancer typically doesn't metastisize so I'm thinking now that maybe she had unknown breast cancer at that time and now it is spreading throughout the lymph system. Maybe I'm just catastrophizing, but she has been seeming so frail for the last year or so and I just have a bad feeling about this. I sure hope I am wrong. My Red Hat group let me re-schedule the meeting that was planned for the day we visited surgeon. I was able to convince June to come to the luncheon at Red Lobster on the new date and the ladies were so nice to her. As we prepared to leave, our co_queen, Doris, invited June to join our group and told her even if she doesn't want to join, she is welcome to come with me any time. Then Doris hugged June and told her she'd be praying for her. We took some photos of our Pink Hoot that day and I'll post as soon as I get a chance to download to the computer. I'd made a little fascinator with pink flowers and bow for June to wear and it looks so cute on her white hair. Tomorrow she will see our pulmonologist to get his okay for surgery. Like me, she has COPD so being put to sleep for surgery must be approved. As it is set now, she will finish up pre-op and get approval from her internist on 7/7 and surgery is to be 7/13 or 14 at Norfolk General's Breast Cancer Center. I volunteered to stay there overnight with her but the surgeon said it wouldn't be necessary since they have a special post-op section where there is a nurse for every two patients. Much better than in other areas. Will see how it goes.

Why the baby face? Just something cheerful. Husband is preparing to go on vacation or should I say staycation? He usually takes a week that includes our anniversary. We both have doctor appointments scheduled that week and hadn't planned on doing anything much. But today we were talking to his favorite cousin who lives in NJ. She's a little older than us and has health issues too. She was saying she'd like to see her aunt (my MIL) soon because the woman is in her late 80s and might not be with us much longer. Next thing I know, my husband offers to go get his cousin and bring her down for a few days around 7/4 and take her to visit with MIL et al. Got to set myself up a schedule to scramble and do some things before she arrives. It's looking like July is going to be a busy month & I'll be unpredictable in posts. But all that said, here is some more of Manly.

http://www.4shared.com/zip/Rhz2dc1lba/ws_Manly_zip_8.html?

freebie & news

Expecting company shortly. We have prepared pulled pork barbeque, potato salad, cole slaw, deviled eggs, and chocolate cream pie to celebrate Father's Day with my Dad and June. Things have been hectic her this past week. Went with June for her biopsy. Traveled to Vienna (a little over 3hrs away) to see Sleepy Man Banjo Boys. http://sleepyman.com/ https://www.ted.com/talks/sleepy_man_banjo_boys_bluegrass_virtuosity_from_new_jersey?language=en The last link shows them when just recently discovered. Hubby was a little disappointed because they didn't play more traditional bluegrass music and have now added an electric bass guitarist and a drummer. "No drums or electric bass in real bluegrass," he says. But I liked the drummer as much of what he did reminded me of the Celtic use of the bodran. We got back home in wee hours next morning and napped until Jeremy & Berkeley arrived. They were headed to OBX for a couple days then back to Yorktown VA for a cousin's wedding and from there back home to PA. Great to see them, just not long enough. Friday took hubby to a Chinese buffet that had Alaskan crab legs and lots of other seafood. That was his Father's Day gift from me. Yesterday my car went to Suffolk for new shocks & I worked on re-arranging the National Pink Day Hoot for Red Lilies. Tuesday will be National Pink Day and we were going to lunch at Red Lobster wearing something pink. However, June had called me with results of the pathology. Definitely cancer and her next appointment with surgeon was moved up from 6/30 to 6/23. She'd like me to go with her so I let my chapter members know what was going on and we have rescheduled for Thursday. I missed getting post in for more Manly freebie and I'm sorry.

Link: http://www.4shared.com/zip/-n3s89zkba/ws_Manly_zip_7.html? Think I have a few other pieces. I will check later after company leaves and post remainder tomorrow. Have a great day with your fathers and your children's father.

Friday freebie - Manly zip 6

First, thanks Stacy, for offering up prayers for June. Poor woman has been throguh much last few years. This cancer might be something easily removed - don't know yet - but radiation and chemo do so much to quality of life. I just don't think in her position I'd want to do much more than be kept from pain. But that is for her to decide. I've temporarily rigged up the wide brimmed red straw hat I found at thrift store for Saturday's Hoot. In time I'd like to cover it in fabric and doll it up like an Edwardian tea hat. For now, with all that old nasty trim off, I made a band and bow of a sparkling red tulle and added a couple large deep red flowers. It will do. Don't really have anything dressy in purple (or anything dressy any more in fact) so will wear my new purple maxi dress. It's a simple knit fabric for summer wear, sleeveless, gathered at bit underbust. I do have a garnet pendant on silver chain and a vintage look sterling ring with garnet for some bling. I can see where keeping up in Red Hats could get expensive and that word isn't in my vocabulary any more. And now, here is zip 6 of Manly, think mornings.

http://www.4shared.com/zip/Cyh9s5iace/ws_Manly_zip_6.html?

Manly zip 5 freebie

So much to do, so little inclination to do it. There were a lot of things on today's To Do list but I didn't accomplish much: got dental insurance stuff straight, picked up prescriptions for husband, paid bills, put some laundry away, made turtle brownies, and waited to hear from June. Today was just a consult with the breast surgeon who did another ultrasound there in her office, confirmed there is indeed some kind of lump (June didn't know whether in ducts or glandular tissue) and a concern about a lymph node. June called me in afternoon to report in. Says she likes the doctor and had an opportunity to talk with one of her patients who was there for a follow-up and is doing well. She felt less anxious afterwards. Asked me to go with her on Monday for the biopsy. Until we have those results we won't know what the situation really is. I had learned she doesn't have an advance medical directive in place and talked to her about it the other day. Today I printed out information - a "tool kit" the state has put together to explain what the directive is, how it works, why it's important. Also printed out the form so I can help her get that in place. There are things none of us want to think about but really should.

Here is the next Manly zip:

http://www.4shared.com/zip/hYownl_Ece/ws_Manly_zip_5.html?

Manly zip 4

Another Monday gone. Visted my dentist & hygenist for cleaning, x-rays & general checkup. Okay for now. Did a little shopping, grabbed a burger at Burger King. Went by my Dad's to check in on Miss June who got some bad news the other day. After routine mammogram and then an ultrasound, it's fairly certain she has breast cancer. Always devastating news but after that long struggle last year with the skin cancer in her forearm and complications, this is overwhelming news. However, she's been referred to the best breast cancer surgeon in the area and will know more on Wednesday after she sees the specialist. I have met that doctor a couple times and know she can come across abrupt at first so explained to June what to expect and not to be put off by the gruffness because that doc is terrific to her patients. She just doesn't sugarcoat anything. I said, if she doesn't understand anything to keep asking quesstions until she does. I also told June that there are so many new procedures, drugs, and options today to try not to worry at this point about what might happen. And reminded her it's her body and her life and she should make the decisions she wants to make and not be pressured by anyone to do something she doesn't want to. I let her know I will support whatever decisions she makes and do what I can to help her. My Dad and her son will be taking her to the doctor on Wednesday & I don't want to just crowd in but said if she wanted me to go, I will. I understand medical terminology while the others don't. She is afraid, of course but you know the waiting is often the worst part. June seemed to really appreciate me coming by and talking to her and I hope she will call on me when needed. And that's what is on my mind tonight.

That's zip 4. I know this kit is all over the place but I'm putting in a variety of masculine stuff. http://www.4shared.com/zip/r5T2-JkRce/ws_Manly_zip_4.html?

Manly zip 3 freebie

Quick post to give you more of Manly freebie.

Link: http://www.4shared.com/zip/uqnD_xQRba/ws_Manly_zip_3.html?

Manly zip 2 freebie

Hi! It's Wednesday freebie time. Another rainy day here but while the area has had some flooding, we are thankful not to have the massive flooding happening in other areas of the country. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered loss. It's officially hurricane season, so we can only hope that we don't get hard hit this year as hurricanes begin to form. Reminds me that I must pick up some bottled water & flashlight batteries on next trip to Costco. Without further rambling, here is zip 2.

http://www.4shared.com/zip/jXr1yh1Hce/ws_Manly_zip2.html?

Missed planned Monday post but here is the Monday freebie

Last few days have been very busy! Saturday I went to lunch at Olive Garden with the Red Lilies chapter of the Red Hat Society. We had a wonderfully patient waiter named Jim, who shared he was 2nd generation Sicilian when he learned a couple of us were married to Italians. There were 6 of us present along with one lady's daughter who was visiting because her daughter (our member's grand-daughter) is due to give birth shortly. We got around to discussing some ideas of things we want to incorporate into the group, like the logo I made, having a private Yahoo group and so on. Gee, I think we were there about 3 hrs! I got appointed to set up the meeting for June and have been mulling over some ideas and locations. Got home and found husband had made chicken Parmesian and baked macaroni for dinner. Very tasty and plenty of left-overs.

Yesterday my husband and a friend went to the Patriotic Festival at Virginia Beach to hear Alabama. The friend had won tickets and offered to take my husband if he'd provide transportation since the man no longer drives. With traffic and high parking fees at the Beach, I took them, dropped them off, then picked them back up. After the concert we went to dinner. Guess where? Olive Garden! Yes, they had agreed on that way back and I didn't complain. Tried their new Lasagna Fritta that my son's fiancee had told me about. Very good! Talk about an Italian themed weekend!

Then Monday we met with our insurance agent so we could set up the change in medical insurance when hubby goes on Social Security in September. Now we will get back to what passes for a "normal" week. With Father's Day coming up I decided to make a few manly items for you and since I couldn't come up with a better name, I'm calling these freebies "Manly." Here is zip 1

Link: http://www.4shared.com/zip/-vbXmW2Uce/ws_Manly_zip1.html?