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Devil’s and Inflatable Boats

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Today we took a small boat (with one other couple) from where we are in LaPointe to the northernmost Apostle Island called Devil’s Island to visit the caves. Keep in mind I’m a Floridian - but when I tell your our boat partners are from MSP and were also cold, you should give me a little street cred. Getting on a boat wearing leggings and a sweatshirt and carrying a bag with my down Patagonia and a RUMPL blanket feels as foreign as boating and not getting salty. Regardless, we rode out there and proceeded to launch off the back of the small craft into these inflatable double kayaks. Just use your imagination for how graceful that was! We did it though, and it was so worth it. These caves and rock formations are just stunning. I’ll post some pics - sorry if it’s overload but every new rock formation was more glorious than the last. K was particularly fascinated with the rippled ceilings. Crazy right. Luckily I didn’t need to paddle at all since I had a man in my boat 🤣 Re-entering the ...
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Bears!

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Today on Madeline Island is 180 degrees opposite of the last two days. Beautiful sunshine. 70 degrees. Can’t make this up. This morning we took the doggos on a walk to the beach - a flat mile each way on shaded dirt roads and through the woods. We came out on a beautiful sand beach in a bay. And we were the only people there. We ventured into “town” and found the “Food Truck” (truck is used liberally as this thing hasn’t moved in a minute). So damn good though. You know me, I also had to get my Amazon packages which is an adventure here. They come over on the ferry and then get taken to a little building where they can be retrieved between 11&4. When you go in & tell them your last name, they say “Oh I have 2 for you.” The post office was closed on Tuesday because of a labor shortage. Not lying. This afternoon we went back to Town Bay Beach which we visited yesterday when it was completely deserted, 50degrees and windy. Totally different today. It was crowded with families (in ...
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Cold and Rainy. And Amazing.

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Yesterday we made it to Madeline Island, Wisconsin - part of the Apostle Islands. Never heard of it? Neither had I (and I truthfully don't remember how I chose this as a stop on our trip).  Madeline Island (and it's bustling town of LaPointe) are accessed via a ferry from Bayfield, Wisconsin. We drove about 6 hours yesterday from our previous stop in the UP to reach Bayfield. On the way we stopped in a Michigan state park to see Lake of the Clouds. Gorgeous and totally worth it! I don't venture too close to the edge so had to peek around a corner to take this pic. SO windy up there - better shot of the Lake of the Clouds behind us in this obligatory selfie. Aren't they perfect? Elvis, Jagger, Mazzy (L to R) Me & my best doggie girl Anyway after this little detour we headed for Bayfield - such a sweet little lakefront town. We took the ferry over to M.I. - the first boat trip for Mazzy and for Jagger. I don't think they had a clue they were on a boat. It's a ...
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5 Years

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Happy Thanksgiving!!  I hope today has been a day filled with love and happiness.  We have enjoyed a laid back day with way too much food accompanied by a lot of time together enjoying each other's company.  Just as the day should be - my favorite holiday! On Tuesday I spent half the day at Vanderbilt for my five year check up.  Its a long story that has to do with Vandy's electronic health record transition which caused a bunch of issues with my scans, but I didn't find out until yesterday afternoon what the results were.  I saw Dr Keedy Tuesday morning.  Hard to believe I've been seeing her for nearly 6 years - in January it will be 6 years.  Her nurse, Liz, is like a friend after all this time. As I sat in the "belly of the beast" as I call the Cancer Center check in area surrounded by people affected one way or another by cancer, I felt nothing but lucky.  There are a lot of reasons for that.  But, I couldn't help but feel sympathy f...
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Why now?

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Its been a while.  Okay, thats an unfair understatement.  Its been, literally, years since I have written a post.  I was editing the Favorites in Safari today and came across the link to the Blog.  Haven't given it much thought in a long time, but something caused me to click the link today. And here we are.  This is a big week for me, cancer-wise.  I don't have a lot of tests - just a "simple" chest x-ray, but Tuesday morning I see my oncologist, still Dr. Vicki Keedy, for what I hope will be the last "NED" report of the 5 year period following my treatment. My diagnosis was January 5, 2012, with surgery at the end of that month.  I began chemotherapy at the end of March 2012, added radiation to that for all of April and half of May.  Chemo then continued until September 12, 2012.  Five years ago. In the last five years, I have had my port removed, dozens of blood tests, CT scans and MRIs; five PET scans; 2 bone scans; a ton of x-rays...
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Life is measured in months

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Who knew that post cancer life was measured in three month increments?  I go thru every day looking forward to the time when it will be measured in six month increments.  Its an interesting psychology & not one I had ever thought about before I had cancer. I find myself drawn to writing on here around the time of each quarterly check up.  Last Monday was scans & I saw the orthopedic oncologist.  Thursday I saw the sarcoma oncologist.  All was well, thank god, but there is no feeling like that wondering what they will say.  Every quarter is all comes flooding back - just going in the cancer clinic makes me want to vomit - thank goodness I don't have to go by the chemo clinic.  I don't even get off on the 2nd floor where chemo is - I go to great lengths to avoid it. But sitting in the belly of the beast waiting to see my intelligent, sweet, kind oncologist is absolutely hell on earth for me.  I feel guilty that I'm healthy looking at the o...
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I hate cancer

Sitting in the waiting room at Vanderbilt, the "belly of the beast" as I think of it. Just a routine (hopefully) three month check up for me. But even being here makes me nauseous. Looking at all the people waiting to see their doctors and get their labs checked brings back so many memories. Some have physical components like feeling sick or my hands sweating. It's just awful. Monday is the worst day here when everyone comes to see their doctors and start their chemo which they call "infusions" like that makes it better?  I'm glad I'm not here on a Monday & I make it a point never to schedule Monday appointments. Thursday is a slow day & there is still a line to check in. At Vanderbilt the chemo room, or "Infusion suite" as it's called, is on the second floor. So is the cafeteria which has a panda express. Still can't eat that food or go on the second floor here. I can't avoid the main clinic for check ups tho. Without fai...
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