My Cousin is walking the 3-day

My cousin, Wendy Weeks and her daughter, Anna Wicks are walking the Boston 3-day in the middle of July. This is not the first time that Wendy has walked it. The year before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, she and her sister, Cathy, walked the 2003 3-day in Atlanta. The 3-day is a massive event that takes place every year in many cities across the United States. It raises money that funds breast cancer awareness, mammograms, research for treatments and funds quality of life initiatives for the survivors of breast cancer such as "The Wellness Center' and "Look Good, Feel Better" workshops and nutrition seminars that help women who are undergoing treatment. I was a recipient of many of the services that were offered with funds raised at 3-day events. The programs and research were very helpful to my survival of this disease.

If you would like to donate to help her to raise funds for this wonderful cause please follow the link. Tell her that thepinkteeshirt says "Hey Y'all"

We don't do snow in the south y'all

Or at least we don't do it very well. When I was a child growing up in the Atlanta area, a snow like this would have closed all schools for the entire day and been the cause of the interstates and freeways completely closing down along with all secondary streets. Yesterday most schools only closed for half a day and because of the addition of dump trucks loaded with salt and gravel most of the highways and interstates as well as some of the bridges on secondary roads were passable. I guess it took a generation of snowbirds flocking to our area to teach us the importance of keeping pine branches away from power lines and our roads opened. The nice thing today is that while most of the mess on the roads has melted until it refreezes tonight, the hills still have a nice powder on them for these boys to play.

All that being said, you'd think that a long time GRITS like me would know better than to be driving around in the snow. But, I'd planned on playing with Jack while Tim and Jenn went out to a romantic hockey game for their Valentine date. (Really it wasn't meant to be romantic, but they were having Pink in the Rink and The Knightmare Continues that evening and Tim wanted to go.) I did actually get to play with Jack some. I went over and Tim and I took him to play in the snow for a few minutes. But Jenn has a nasty flu bug and wasn't feeling up to braving the snow and cold to see a hockey game. Tim asked me if I'd like to go with him. We ate at Fontera before the game and then made our way across slushy slippery roads to the Arena. Since most folks have the intelligence to stay home in weather like this the parking was prime. Tim had gotten seats just a few rows up from the ice, so the view was great. Tim enjoyed seeing the Gladiators playing in the old Atlanta Knights jerseys. He said it made him feel like he was 10 years old again. Except the seats when he was 10 were in the nosebleed section. The ice was pink and the Glads were sporting pink ribbons on their sleeves and playing with pink sticks. All the proceeds from the game went to support breast cancer research. We had a really good time and then made our way home on the roads where the slushy snow had turned to ice. Going slow with 4 wheel drive vehicles made the trip doable for us over to Tim's house, and I was ok for most of the way home. On my way home I encountered many bridges where people had gone too fast and spun out. There were many wrecks. I was taking the interstate at about 25 miles an hour with my hazard lights flashing. I was by far not the only person who was using this tactic. I did fine until I got up to Marietta. About a mile before the North Marietta Parkway exit traffic stopped. I stayed in the same spot for almost 2 hours. I turned my car off and climbed into the back where I have a sleeping bag that I have been too lazy to take into the house. With the reassurance that I wouldn't freeze to death before morning, I was able to relax and people watch for a while. Some people throw the most incredible fits when they can't be in control of the situation. There was one man who kept getting out of his car and knocking on people's windows. I'm not sure what he wanted as he didn't approach me, but I thought it was bizarre and pretended to be on the phone every time he was walking near my car. When traffic started moving again, I could tell that the bridges had been salted and was grateful even with the wait I'd endured. But the roads were still slippery and I saw several people get too cocky and spin out on the ice. I maintained my 25 to 30 miles an hour and it took me almost an hour to get home after that. Having made it home without wrecking my car and being in my own bed felt so good last night. Next snow storm, I'm staying home with a hot cup of cocoa, unless I get an offer to play with Jack or Clifton and Tony.

Waiting

Last week on Thursday I had a bone density scan done. The radiologist commented on how straight my spine was and told me that a report would be sent to my doctor and I would hear from him in three to seven days. My doctor is very good about following up with test results so I was expecting to hear from him before now. I'm wondering if not hearing anything is a sign that nothing is wrong and I shouldn't stir up trouble or a sign that the test results just haven't come in yet. The tests was given just as a routine screening. But other screenings that I've had a health fairs have suggested that I do have osteopenia, and I know that it is a late side effect of the chemo I have done, so I'm interested to find out what the scan says. I think that I'm going to call tomorrow to see if the results came back.