It's time...

I'm not looking back with regret.
I will bring the good memories with me.
Much of what's ahead is unknown, but
that's true for every life.

Berry's help in this transition is amazing.
 
Please keep my sister and family in
your thoughts and prayers.

Be well, my friends. Love life.

 

remember Bane's daughter Maiden?...

She recently started a new blog - Dog Spit and Doll Hair  -
enjoying life and sharing her blessings. Go say Hi.

I managed to leave a comment for her the other day...
today blooger says no way. Dammit! 

.
.
(I'll try to be back one more time before I unplug the computer.)

Where is the poetry?...

slid right out the door
nasty skid marks on the floor.

Dumpster gone, on to the next step...

I could've done better but it's time to move on.
Got a stack of boxes waiting to be filled.

If I keep on schedule, we'll be heading north in eight days.

My sister had her second chemo treatment last Friday.
She said her hair is falling out in clumps so she's planning
to shave her head and start wearing a wig or hats. Still in 
good spirits, she is. No other side effects  so far.

Originally, her oncologist planned four treatments. She has
now adjusted that to six, possibly eight. Reason being that
she believes the cancer has been there several years and 
considers my sister between stages three and four.
She is encouraged, however, in that the mass has shrunk
since the first treatment and blood tests are good. 

Did I just read that the northeast is expecting snow soon?
Crikey.

testing whatever they've done with format...

More change ferchrissake.

Maybe it will let me comment at everybody's
blogs again...?
Testing.

That was then, this is now...

Dad would've been 89 today.





















Sparky was 4 last month. I was 61 last month.

Wherein my brain spins scenarios galore...

"You and your dog have to go!"
"This is MY house!"
"You can't tell me what to do!"...etc.

Of course, I come back with scathing replies.
(That I will not repeat here.)

Anger saturates the air. In my head, anyway.
How can I even think angry thoughts about my sister?
Anger oftentimes comes from fear, doesn't it?

And, I am afraid.

Afraid that I won't do enough.
Afraid that I'll make terrible mistakes.
Afraid that I won't do what I'm supposed to do.
Afraid that fear becomes anger and I cause pain.

She is a simple girl. Life has been rough and
some of those rough times were her fault, even though
she won't admit that.
She is also sensitive and very proud. She needs my help
and that's why I'm going and she seems glad.

Tonight she said "I signed a power of attorney form and
I put your name and (brother's) name on it. You know,
in case I get sick and can't write checks myself for a while.
Just in case."

I had to hold my breath a long time until I could swallow
the sob in my throat.

Not much new but I'll blather a bit anyway...

Friday the 13th has always been a good day for me.

This Friday the 13th I had a long lunch and visit
with my good friend, Jan. You might remember her
from the Blue Spring visit and photos (oh, and the bear,
which has made return visits recently). I'm going to
miss her a lot when I move. The good news is that she
is from Ohio, too, and visits family there periodically
so we can still visit in person on top of keeping in touch
via phone and email. Yay!

After our visit I realized I was very close to a big-box
pet store, so I stopped in and picked up a harness and
new leash for the Sparkster. Primarily for keeping a grip
on him when we make pit stops on the drive to Ohio.
I have yet to wrestle him into the harness but that will
happen soon so we can practice walking on a leash. Yeah.
I've spoiled him by letting him have the run of the fenced
yard here all these years and have neglected leash time.
BUT...getting the harness and leash is another item I was
able to check off my things-to-do-before-moving list. Yay!

Then, I decided to stop at my auto mechanic's shop and
ask some auto mechanic type questions re: my 15 year old car.
It's had some tranny issues forever but driving in flat Florida
made those issues not much of a worry. Now, though, possibly
driving it 1000 miles north over some mountains and hills had
me very concerned. After discussion and inspection he concluded
that the drive would be very risky. An option would be to tow
the Blazer behind Berry's truck but Akron is hilly so how long
would it last anyway? I decided to sell my Blazer. Mechanic
offered to buy it. It will be enough to almost fund the move. Yay!
(Sister has a car she said we can share.)
And another item checked off the list.

I'm still tossing crap into the dumpster although not much
of that happened today because I was busy getting other things
done. I want to finish with the dumpster and have it removed
next week. Then I can start serious packing.
When Berry gets here (approximately) April 30, I'll take the
Blazer to the mechanic and get the deal done at the tag & title
office. Then, we start packing the truck and hit the road
May 1 or 2.

Still have to schedule cancelling utilities and 'net here, do a
change of address for for the post office and research
pet-friendly motels. I have a small storage unit reserved.
I'll need to change banks, get an Ohio drivers license, find
an inter net provider, get a library card so I can use their
computers in the meantime...
and so forth.

My sister is still feeling well. No side effects from chemo
treatment #1. Her second chemo treatment is next Friday.
She's scheduled for four, three weeks apart, and then surgery
sometime after chemo treatment #4. Then radiation.
Gonna be a long process but, she and all her family and
friends continue to have hope.

oh my aching back...

I need a sit-down project for Monday morning.




















Gonna pack up my movie collection.




















After I gather up the other 100+ from the living room.

ixnay on the one week dumpster fill...

Good grief.

Making progress slowly.

Florida would pick this week to heat up
to the high 80s. gah.

Sorry about the lack of anything worthwhile here.
Maybe in a few days. Maybe.

Sweaty reality...

Wonder how long it will take me to fill it?
A week? Two? Three?

Ice water and aspirin will be consumed.