Pow Wow @ Garden Grove High School

We went to a Pow Wow today. It was our first time and it sure was fun! The costumes and dancing were amazing. There were also vendors making necklaces and moccasins. Other items for sale were dream catchers, bows and arrows, blankets, jewlery...all handmade by tribal artists. I don't know how many tribes were represented but it seemed like quite a few.

The video shows one of the dancers who I thought was the best. At the end of the day he competed with the other male dancers and he won first place. I knew he was good!

I got my eyebrows threaded today. Have you ever done that? This was my first time. I got them waxed before so I kind of knew what to expect. And I plucked my own eyebrows for years until I could no longer see up close without glasses. It was a bit painful... sort of like waxing only it took longer and I got to participate by holding the skin around my eyebrow so it was tight. I decided to give threading a try because it was half the price of waxing without the chemicals. Bally wood music played in the background so I tried focusing on seeing myself belly dancing so not to flinch. After my eyebrows the girl started threading my forehead...wait I now have hair growing out of my forehead? Then of course she saw my upper lip. Ugh! That poor girl needed a leaf blower to clean up her work station from all the hair she got off me! I do look much better now. One of my girlfriends gets a bikini wax every 6 weeks...you couldn't pay me to do that! I don't think I have to worry about that though because the radiation treatments seems to have taken care of that area!
xo Inge

I am reading my book, "Getting Well" and just came across an eye opening paragraph. I mentioned in an earlier post that I understand I participated in my illness because of how I handled the stresses in my life. The author writes that most c-words develop because of a rundown immune system and most patients experienced stressful events up to 18 months before their diagnosis. I'm not talking about everyday, pick up the kids from school, what to cook for dinner, not enough time in the day to get the chores done... I mean loss of a job, loss of a loved one, divorce, etc. After thinking about it awhile I had been dealing with major stress for the past 6 years. I know we cannot get away from stress but there are people who handle it better and then there are those who self medicate with drugs and alcohol. I did none of those but instead always put on a happy face while inside I was a mess.
Now back to that paragraph....here is the quote, " It is a particularly sad course of events, that many times those people who most steadfastly and responsibly attempt to live up to cultural rules develop the most serious illnesses. The literature describing the emotional aspects of cancer is replete with examples characterizing cancer patients in general as ' to good to be true' - people who are kind, considerate, unselfish, and pleasant in the face of all adversity. "
The cultural norm the author is talking about is the tacit agreement to not "rock the boat" and keep our true feelings to ourselves. I am definitely guilty as charged ... I'm not saying I am a saint by any means but I have a habit of keeping my true feeling to myself for fear of rejection. Remember the words " Don't say anything unless you have something nice to say "? That was my mantra for years and look where that got me... 10 % of my liver chopped off and the real possibility of wearing a colostomy bag for life.
The author went on to write... and I'm paraphrasing here... " Those willing to accept responsibility for influencing their health through self examination, will also find the courage to stand up to the cultural rules and reject those not conducive to health."
From now on... no more Miss Goodie Two Shoes!
xo Inge

I feel better today. A couple of days ago I was in alot of pain in the rear end area. It burned like it did when I had radiation treatments. That scared me because I didn't know what was going on with me, but today that area feels better. Hubby's sister and husband are coming to visit from Switzerland August 7th and I am working on getting a wheelchair for me. I want to go out and site see with them but my energy is only good for 45 minutes max. I have to rest for a while before going on...so I thought a wheelchair would come in handy...that way I can walk until I get tired and have hubby wheel me the rest of the time. There is so much red tape to rent a wheelchair...approvals from insurance, etc. I decided to get this started now and hopefully I will have one in time. Whoever said that our health care is between the patient and doctor is a real joke and obviously has never been seriously ill. It is the insurance companies that have the final say and that is just too much power. The only way the patient and doctors have power is if the patient can afford to pay cash!
Don't forget to eat your fruits & veggies! xo Inge

I found another website that might be helpful to anyone fighting the c-word
http://cancerawakens.com/home.php

I saw my oncologist yesterday. I had a list of questions for her this time. I don't like to complain when I am not feeling as good as I would like so I usually just tell people (when they ask) I am good, but I have to do things differently now...I have to be honest and if I don't feel well, I have to say so. The good thing is that I am off the morphine... I have been taking it 7 months and for the last 3 weeks I have weaned myself off. Let me tell you...getting off morphine is a bitch...all the joints in my body ached...daily...then there was the night sweats and anxiety. I will do everything I can to take some other pain reliever. I understand how an addict must feel even though my symptoms are probably minor compared to theirs. I am not about to spend time in a rehab facility...that is what kept me from taking those pills.

I have some other issues that I am dealing with. I don't walk normal...hubby says I walk like Walter Brennen from the "Real McCoys"...remember that show? I cannot step up a curb without help because I lose my balance. If I close my eyes and try to walk, I lose my balance. I can walk for 30 minutes but after that I am tired and have to lay down...I would sit down but my butt is still sore. My legs tingle, my skin feels too tight and when I walk I feel like I am carrying around weights. I also have trouble getting up and have to hold on to something. Then there is the issue with weight...I am not gaining and the 6 pounds I did gain 2 months ago..I lost. I eat better and drink more green smoothies instead of the juicing so I can get more calories...but it isn't helping. Bummer! I know some women wish they had that problem but I am 6ft. tall and weigh 129 lbs. I haven't been that skinny since high school when a boy told me there was more meat on a canaries legs than mine! I had trouble gaining weight back then too. I weighed 148 before I got sick.

My doc sent me to get my thyroid tested. She is also sending me to a neurologist and physical therapy. Hopefully we can get some answers. I know the radiation/chemo did a number on me and these issues could be a side effect from treatment. I hate to complain to my doc about it because I am so grateful to be alive. I am told if I keep my mouth shut they cannot help me.

Hope you are feeling good today. xo Inge

Dog Is Better Than You At Boardsports

John & I went to Huntington Beach yesterday. I haven't been since last year so it was so nice to feel the ocean air. I always feel relaxed by the ocean. This coming weekend is the big surfing competition in Huntington Beach....which I didn't know until yesterday is one of the best places to surf outside of Hawaii. There were lots of bleachers and tents lined up on the sand...people were everywhere...laying on the beach and playing in the water. In fact there were so many people in the water it was interesting to watch the surfers maneuver their boards around them.
There was even a woman wearing a thong and 6 inch heels walking with her beau! She was pretty far away when I got my camera out, but I couldn't help myself, I had to take a picture.
Hope you got to spend time doing something fun today. xo Inge

I love going to flea markets because of all the ecclectic items that are for sale. It's a great way to spend time in the fresh air and find one of a kind items. I always find lots of goodies I want to bring home. Shopping at flea markets helps me support my two biggest passions...supporting small business and recycling. I think it is so important, especially now to support American jobs and business. As I mentioned before I vote with my wallet. I also think it's important to keep vintage and antique items in the marketplace because these things are a part of history. Many of these items have an interesting story behind them and of course were once treasured by someone else. I enjoy bringing something home that was loved by someone else. It is the thrill of the hunt that always brings me back. I like selling at flea markets too, but getting up at 4am to get ready to go is definitely my only gripe. If they only had evening or late afternoon swap meets...hey, maybe I'm on to something!
Why do you enjoy going to flea markets?
xo Inge