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>> Hello Everyone!!
>>
>> Another week has gone by. It's mostly the routine-delivery of 142 boxes,
>> Ann's
>> treatment progress, animal wars, Rick taste testing the new cat food-you
>> know, the normal routine stuff, almost not worth writing about-almost, 
>> but
>> not quite. We begin with a note from Ann herself:
>>
>>
>>
>> This is Ann with my contribution to this update.  We have a cat named
>> Eddie
>> and a dog named Marcina in this household, and they're both shedding.
>> Now,
>> I am shedding as well.  No, it is not the chemotherapy.  This chemo is in
>> pill form, and does not cause you to lose your hair.  They've told me 
>> that
>> there will be hair loss at the radiation site.  But, I fear it's more 
>> than
>> just the radiation site.  I think it's near the radiation site, in any
>> direction.  My hair is fairly long, right now below my shoulders, and on
>> the
>> right side of my head, it's thick, as it should be.  Near the surgery
>> site,
>> to the right of my left ear, and on the left side of my head where they
>> shaved hair underneath so they could operate, the hair is thin because of
>> the surgery and the hair they removed. And now, it's getting thinner, and
>> also is thinning near the radiation site, on the right. Since it isn't
>> falling out all at once, I can never tell if it's done coming out, or if
>> we'll
>> be losing more.
>>
>>
>>
>> Why am I writing this?  Well, we're going to have a contest.  The winner
>> will receive.well, I won't tell you that yet.  But we need to come up 
>> with
>> what to do with my hair.  My brother came up with a movie character who
>> tried to destroy the universe who had one side of his head shaved and had
>> long hair on the other side.  But since some of my hair leaving me is in
>> the
>> back, he couldn't come up with a character that fit that description.
>> What
>> you will have to work with in the entries into this contest is that I
>> don't
>> like hats.  I had to wear them as a child (that was what I had to wear
>> when
>> I dressed nicely to go to church), and I hated them.  And, if I wore
>> stocking caps in winter outside, they either blew off, or one of my
>> teachers
>> told me I looked like little Orphan Annie.  So of course, many years
>> later,
>> I have a complex about this, you see. So, if you win this contest and
>> assist
>> me in my new hairdo, you will receive.. You will receive.. You will
>> receive.
>> 142 boxes!!! Actually, maybe not quite that many now, but I'm sure we can
>> find some for you!  Actually, I know there are lots of things you can do,
>> and the first thing I'm going to do is get my hair cut short, and I know
>> that there's lots of different hats, and hats (or maybe even wigs) at one
>> of
>> the hospitals here, but I thought I'd add a little creativity to this
>> update.  Who knows, you guys may come up with something nobody has come 
>> up
>> with yet! And I'm sure that Debbie and I would like to move a few boxes
>> out
>> of here!! (I didn't inquire of Rick about the availability of the prize
>> before I wrote, so you guys may get off really well!)
>>
>>
>>
>> OK back to Deb:
>>
>> Yeah, let's put it this way. Ann can't be Rapunzel in the school play.
>> When
>> the prince starts climbing down her hair, he's going to fall right on his
>> royal butt.
>>
>> Treatment this week was pretty routine. Good thing because nothing else
>> was.
>> Ann is tired, but is still generally feeling pretty well and is eating
>> much
>> better. She is beginning to appreciate more food treats and I've tried to
>> come up with a few special meals.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wednesday we got the 142 boxes.
>> We've had wonderful help with the sorting and moving, and frankly they're
>> almost gone from the basement with particular thanks to our friend dave
>> who
>> has been here every day since they came. And, Rick's delighted to have 
>> his
>> stuff again. Feels a bit more like home. But I do have a little story to
>> tell on Rick. We decided that Eddie should have higher quality cat food 
>> in
>> order to resolve some minor health problems. I bought the food yesterday
>> and
>> commented that it smelled really good. So, Rick did a taste test between
>> the
>> old cat food and the new stuff. Yes, Rick will even eat the cat food. 
>> And,
>> this may be the last update because I may be dead soon.
>>
>>
>>
>> All of the paperwork is finally in place for Ann to receive the Long Term
>> Disability. Right now, we probably have enough donated leave to carry us
>> to
>> the LTD. When she returns to work, we may need some again if she is not
>> able
>> to return full time or close to it right away, but for the moment we're
>> doing really, really well. We sure do appreciate the generosity of
>> everyone
>> who has been able to donate leave and will let you know if more appears 
>> to
>> be needed. And of course we also appreciate the countless other things
>> people are doing for us. It's all of your contributions, great and small,
>> deed and word, that make this very doable.
>>
>> And, if I'm dead after Rick reads this, there will even be more you can 
>> do
>> to help out.
>>
>>
>>
>> Ann was not up to attending the Christmas play practice last Sunday but
>> hopes to be practicing again tomorrow. She reminds all of you that
>> performances will be December 7, 8, and 9. More details as we get closer.
>>
>>
>>
>> I think that's about it for this week. Thanks again to all of you for 
>> your
>> prayers and support.
>>
>>
>>
>> Deb
>>
>>
>>
>> *** For GREAT listening variety, check the schedule at
>> http://interactive.acbradio.org to find live broadcast times for: Deb's
>> Oldies Mix, Deb's Country Mix, and A New song.***
>>
>>
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