Monday blahs

cakana

Re the Angelina thing, it sure has gotten a lot of press. I had the same genetic testing done and had it come back showing I carried the genetic marker, I'd have done the same thing as she did. I don't think any other option is quite as foolproof.

I think the studies are still out on this, and I believe at least from a bit of reading, the medication options continue to improve in that regard. Also, not everyone with the gene will get cancer, and breast removal does not completely remove the risk because there is still some tissue left before. Ovary removal before menopause seems to be pretty important, and the ABC story this morning said she was going to do that soon.

 Granny Lautenberg died. Deb, as a New Jerseyan, do you care?

That sounds like fun, Julie! I wish my SAR group had been more organized.

Jen, I agree. I really don't give a hoot about some celebrity's boobs. (Although I would love to go topless on really hot summer days!)

Lisa, sorry you're sick. And that fire is just so heartbreaking! It was such an amazing house. Hopefully the owners have good insurance.

Jamison! You little hussy.

Same old here... I've been busy with work, Willa's 1,000 sporting things that she's in, a wedding…

Oh, speaking of the wedding. My aunt got married on Saturday afternoon. I drove down with my Dad (2.5 hours.) DH was playing a show in a town about half way between where we live and where the wedding was. So it worked out perfectly. After the wedding we drove to the bar where DH's band was playing. I told my dad he could drop me off and go home if he wanted. He sounded interested in staying and said he needed to expand his musical horizons. I totally love my dad but I was worried he wouldn't like the music (punk) and would feel a bit misplaced… a nice button-up shirt and khaki-wearing 50-something amongst a bunch of youngish grubby punks. lol (I brought extra clothes and changed after the wedding.)

Turns out he had a great time and was very impressed by the musical talent. He said he's never seen so many people having so much fun at a bar with live music. Usually the band just stands around and plays while the people just sit around and drink. Here, the bands were more animated and the people were all up and dancing/moshing, singing along, and cheering them on to play more. He said if anyone asks, he's a talent scout for a really big recording company. lol!

griffinej5

Granny Lautenberg died. Deb, as a New Jerseyan, do you care?

Not a whit.

Deb W.

 I don't follow celebrity anything BUT I think her coming out and stating what she did and why is a good thing. Its a darn brave decision and as far as I know the most successful way of preventing breast cancer - even if as you say there is a little bit of tissue left.  It is not something to be done unless you are at super high risk - as she is - but I see her, someone known and admired for her looks - to continue to be doing the whole glamor scene as a role model for others, even those who have had a single mastectomy. I think if my cousin had made the same decision she might still be alive instead of dead at 43. I know several others - including my now deceased aunt - that struggled mightily with having a mastectomy to treat cancer and how to feel normal afterward.

Despite my not caring about what the 'stars' do in their lives I am not so naive as to believe that if Jane Doe (which I recall their being a youngish woman on a news feature a few years ago who had had a prophylactic double mastectomy) came out to say the same thing as Jolie, it would reach as many people and have a normalizing effect. There is no doubt that it will now become a more viable solution for some woman and ultimately save lives.

An adolescent fox taunted B today on our walk, I truly hope we don't have to do that again. 

I need to go run errands, I would prefer a nap

griffinej5

cakana

Re the Angelina thing, it sure has gotten a lot of press. I had the same genetic testing done and had it come back showing I carried the genetic marker, I'd have done the same thing as she did. I don't think any other option is quite as foolproof.

 

I think the studies are still out on this, and I believe at least from a bit of reading, the medication options continue to improve in that regard. Also, not everyone with the gene will get cancer, and breast removal does not completely remove the risk because there is still some tissue left before. Ovary removal before menopause seems to be pretty important, and the ABC story this morning said she was going to do that soon.

I gave DH a $50 Amazon gift card for his birthday and he decided to look for it today. I had one of those "ah crap" moments when I remembered he'd left it in the birthday card and after about a week, I'd taken all the cards off the mantel and thrown them away :(. I can't find the little receipt either, so I only hope that the recycling folks find and enjoy it.

Julie, before you even made the reference, I was thinking, "This sounds like a game of Clue!"  Pretty cool experience.

Lisa, what a horrible loss for the new homeowners.  Thank God no one was injured or killed.  The house where I rented a couple rooms the year before we got married was lost to fire the year we had moved back to CT.  It was a beautiful old house with original woodwork, glass doorknobs, really awesome historical character.  It was some kind of electrical fire (ancient wiring).  My friend (the owner), her son and their dog were home when the fire broke out -- they got out OK.  DH helped them salvage what they could a few days later -- I didn't want to see it up close like that.  It was upsetting enough just seeing it from the street.  They tore it down sometime later.

That story about Jamison is hilarious! 

My friend had a double mastectomy after having pre-cancerous lesions/lumps removed three years in a row.  She wasn't tested for the gene, but they told her she would likely get full-blown cancer due to these recurring lesions, and she decided she couldn't handle the worry and stress every single time she had a mammogram, so she chose that option.  She wanted to be proactive and felt much more relieved.  However, the risk isn't totally eliminated after such surgery.  My MIL had two masectomies (cancer diagnoses 20+ years apart) and just last year they found a breast cancer lump in some tissue under her arm (they removed it and she's okay).

I often have sleeping troubles -- not being able to fall asleep easily, or waking up at 2AM and not getting back to sleep.  Last night I truly did not sleep one wink.  I haven't stayed up all night since I was single (and then I'd come in at 5AM and sleep for a few hours).  Today should be fun.  Tonight I'll take the valerian for sure --- I often forget to take it.

Janice, your Dad sounds like a great Dad!

I agree with Karen about it being a good thing Jolie has made this public and that it's all over the news.  I remember when Betty Ford made such an impact on breast cancer awareness when she disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis and again when she entered rehab for her alcohol addiction.  Famous people make the news and if it benefits others that they come forward, I'm all for it.  If only a few lives are saved I'll put up with the coverage about Jolie.  It's not like anyone is forced to watch it anyway. 

So the group that I've volunteered for is having another meeting this Thursday.  I got the email and figured it was for people who couldn't make the Saturday meeting.  I emailed back to confirm that I wasn't needed at this meeting.  The reply said no I wasn't needed but I was welcome to come and I could meet Rambo because this meeting is at her house.  Rambo is a retired military dog adopted by the CEO of this group.  He lost a front leg and is the poster dog for the local chapter.  I do want to meet him but not bad enough to go to another meeting so soon after the first one.  lol  I figure I'll have lots of opportunities to meet him at events, etc. 

Cathy, was it ordered online? Maybe you can look in your orders?

Tracy, yes, my dad is cool! 

janobonano

Tracy, yes, my dad is cool! 

janobonano

Cathy, was it ordered online? Maybe you can look in your orders?

Cathy, that's too bad about the missing gift card.  I've noticed several times people stick gift cards inside the birthday card.  I bet they often get thrown out accidentally. 

Tracy, I missed your mention of not getting a single bit of sleep last night.  I did that once or twice when Twister was sick.  Talk about feeling like a zombie.  Sleep well tonight with a little help from Valerian.

Jano, I guess I can feel less self conscious about the tattoo convention knowing your dad didn't get thrown out of the bar for being overdressed or in my case under tattooed. lol 

Jackie, you can always get a couple temporary "stick-on" tattoos to put on the day of the convention, just in case.  DH tried one once, and it actually looked pretty authentic!

Yes, I had a few nights like that in Tonka's final days.  But even then, when I was lying on the floor with him, I would doze off for a few minutes here and there.  Last night I didn't even do that.  Usually if I toss and turn, I eventually fall asleep about an hour before an alarm goes off, but at 4AM, I realized it was quite possible I'd stay awake.  Sure enough, I did.  DH said, "Why the heck didn't you get out of bed and read or watch TV??"  I never do that because I think if I stay in bed, at least I'm resting my eyes, right?!