This Doesn't Have Anything To Do With Chemo

but I got my anniversary ring in the mail the other day and I wanted to show y'all a picture! It's the top ring with the ten little diamonds, one for each year of unmedicated bliss :D

This Morning

... woke up craving waffles. It was 5:30 a.m. So I made some waffle batter, and heated up the waffle iron and made waffles. Ate them, read the paper, did the dishes, then went back to bed. Everyone else got up and went to Target, and tho I had left the batter and waffle iron out, apparently they did not feel like waffles.
Had lunch today at an Indian restaurant with Elizabeth and Darcy, two ladies I know from church. Elizabeth is from India, and she'd wanted to cook for me, and I'd asked her to make sag paneer (an Indian dish with spinach and cheese, very yummy). She was afraid her recipe would be too spicy, so she just asked us out to lunch instead. Poor Darcy had never had Indian food before, and was a little overwhelmed by all the different tastes, I think. She tried everything, though. Except the goat. Pretty sure she skipped the goat. Intrepidity can only take you so far.
The girls and I left the restaurant and then went to 4 different bike stores so I could look at bikes. The girls had a great time tooling through each bike store on whichever kids' bike they could lay a hand on. I found three nice mom bikes that I like, so I'll go back in a couple of days and ride them again and pick one.

This N That

So I'm outside today, tidying the recycle bin, when this bird starts flying into the back yard and squacking fit to beat the band. I turn around, and my precious Mordecai kitty has A BIRD in his mouth. I am aghast. I run at him and do some squacking myself till he drops the bird and runs away. I chase him out of the yard, and go back to the bird who's just kind of standing there.
Me: You ok?
Bird: Yeah, I'm good. (flies off)

Then I step on a slug. Bleugh!

Feeling Better Today

Didn't have any insomnia last night, praise God. Have tidied the kitchen a bit, as it was very messy, and no one around here tidies except me, and if I don't feel good, it doesn't get done.
Still feel kind of weak and shaky. Will work a bit, then lie down and watch TV a bit. Am watching a DVD of "Hamish McBeth", a show set in Scotland. Sure wish it had subtitles....
My friend Lori is taking the girls to a movie and ice cream later, so they can have a chance to do something fun today.

Tonight

We went out to dinner around the corner, and then had the fabulous strawberry cake, and presents. I got 2 candles, some stickers, and "Thoroughly Modern Millie". Next week, we'll buy me a bike, so the girls and I can tool around the neighborhood. Nothing fancy, of course. I'm never going to ride in the MS150 like Dragana -- I just want a plain old mom bike.
Then Linda dropped by with another musical card! I love those things. The girls and I have been opening them and dancing to them. Robin's plays "Shake Your Groove Thing" and Linda's plays "Ladies Night", both fine examples of the best disco had to offer.
I didn't sleep well last night, so I'm going to go to bed now. Truly a great birthday, thanks to all of you who called and emailed and sent cards -- it ain't bad being 45 with friends like y'all!

HB To Me!

I turned 45 today! And I have always believed that birthdays are a Big Deal. Around our house, on your birthday, it is Your Day. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, that's what we'll do.
Accordingly, I have spent the day is Blatant Self Indulgence. I had brunch with Debbie, who gave me a gift card to Studio Movie Grill ( a movie theater/restaurant nearby), then I bought some used books, got a mani/pedi, and then went to Studio Movie Grill and spent the gift card seeing the new Bruce Willis movie, then bought myself some flowers.
Plus, my dear friend Dragana made me, from scratch, a strawberry cake with pistachios, and got me a scrapbook and some strawberry tea. My friend Robin got me some balloons and a musical card that plays "Shake Your Groove Thing", and I've gotten some nice phone calls and emails.
It's a good day.

I'll Readily Admit

..I should have been doing this more often, but I just checked my insurance coverage hoohah, and the little lab that's been testing my blood before each chemo? Not on my plan. No one SAID they weren't on my plan. They took my insurance card and didn't charge me a dime, which I guess should have been my first clue. So, $189 a pop. I'm so happy!