What's Up and In the Next 30 Days

So I should be exercising right now but I'm catching another cold. So I'm sitting on the couch, under a blanket with the fireplace on.

Bryan and I started exercising last week. He shifted his schedule a bit in the morning and is exercising before work. And it's my turn after work. We have always wanted to work out together but that doesn't seem possible during the week. Wish us luck!

News on me:

All my blood tests came back good. They tested my cholesterol levels (which I didn't know about and hence no fasting). Overall good but my triglycerides are a little high. I'll have to get retested for real soon.

Still pending is the tamoxifen absorbtion. They now have a test to make sure you are metabolizing it properly. If I come back either low or intermediate, I'm not sure what happens at this point. Since we don't know if I'm in menopause yet, tamoxifen is my only option.

Also still pending is the bone scan. That was just to see where I'm at if I am starting menopause. Tamoxifen actually helps with bone loss so I think I'm okay but wanted to know.

Endimetrial lining biopsy (yeow) came back clear. I had a slight thickening of the lining of my uterus (I'm sure everyone is happy to know about) which can be a indication of uterine cancer. Another lovely side effect of tamoxifen. Lucky me! But at the time of the ultrasound that found the problem, I had only been on it for 1 1/2 months. Which doesn't SEEM like enough time but who knows. They weren't expecting anything. It was a very proactive test. But I'm guessing that they will keep an eye on it.

Mammogram today - I'm a very busy woman. All clear mostly - I have some small calcifications near the lumpectomy site. This is not unusual. For now - also something they will keep an eye on and compare at my next 6 month mammogram.

On to more interesting things:

-Next week we are taking a cheese making class at Sur La Table.

-End of May is our anniversary trip. We'll be spending Memorial Day weekend at Colette's, a B&B near Port Angeles and Sequim. Our room is 500 sq ft, which was the size of my first apartment. I don't know if that means the room is big or my apartment was small. Anyway, very much looking forward to spending some time away with my Sweet Baboo.

And a big (early) Happy 75th Birthday to Bryan's Aunt Nancy!!!!

Love to all...

"Toni's" Plane Taking Off

Here is a picture of the 787 that Toni helped to build.   A rare photo of a clear enough day to capture Mt. Rainer.   Double click on the picture and enjoy.

WHATZ UP??? Overdue Blogging.

Catching up:

• Happy Easter!!!
• Tulips  (A LOT OF THEM)
• Brandon visits Seattle
• Up date on Toni

Toni and I spent a couple of days in La Conner, Washington.   Every year there is a tulip festival. The city of La Conner and Skagit County produce more bulbs (flowers) than any other county in the US. We went about a week early trying to avoid the peak crowds. The city is like 850 people... and 100,000+ will visit the city in the next few weeks. We spent a wonderful evening at a terrific place called the Skagit Bay Hideaway : http://www.skagitbay.com/. 

Toni on the deck of the guest house at Skagit Bay.

The tulips did not disappoint.   The northwest has had unseasonably warm weather.  And the flowers are blooming early.  Too much to capture in one picture.

So... just a few daffodils in this field.

Rows of tulips with Mount Baker in the background.

A lone white tulip in a sea of red.

 

As we were leaving La Conner we turned down a road in an attempt to avoid the crowds in the "downtown" area.  As we crested the hill, this (above) is what we saw.   Toni (number 1 lover of wildlife) yells out "DUCKIES!!!) Her remark so stunned me... it wasn't until after we enjoyed a few moments with the "TURKEYS" that I had to tell her what she said.   A warm hilarious moment. Apparently this group of turkeys is quite famous in La Conner.   Toni finally had to shepard them so we could drive down the street.   Wish I could have captured that moment, but she had the camera.

Toni and one of the La Conner Tulips at the Calico Cupboard bistro. 

A wonderful lunch and the pastries are to die for.

We also visited the Quilt and Textile Museum. http://www.laconnerquilts.com/.  This house has its own unique history and was nearly destroyed by fire.   But now it displays some of the most contemporary quilts ever made.   Seeing is believing.   These quilts are made up of digital images and ingenious hand craftsmanship.  I know very little of quilting and now I am a fan.  The work of Laura Schwartz Smith is featured below.

This one reminds me of Toni's daily routine of making her bun.

Brandon came up to visit with us during his spring break.  We toured the city, including a rare visit to the Space Needle on a somewhat clear day.   He toured the Genie Industries and Boeing plants where Toni and I work.   The pictures below are from the Warbird museum.  Most of the aircraft fly each year.   Awesome.

This aircraft was flown by (then) Soviet women pilots at night.   They would carry a couple of bombs in the cockpits; they would turn off the engine, swoop in above the Nazi army, and throw out the bombs.   And they would do this several times a night, regardless of how cold it was. Most impressive.  

Two of the aircraft in the museum are noted to be the last of their kind in flyable condition... the one above and the P40 below (with the shark teeth).  

So, are you wondering how these aircraft could possibly be maintained.  Well, Paul Allen is the major investor of the Flying Heritage Museum.   Yes... that Paul Allen... co founder of Microsoft, current owner of the Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trailblazers, and the Seattle Sounder soccer team.   And if you need more about Mr. Allen... just "Google" him.   Brandon, who is quite the musician, got to experience Paul Allen's other contributions to Seattle including the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum.

Toni is progressing along with her Tamoxifan therapy.   She still has issues with lymphedema and as of late has wound up with a nerve problem in her neck/back/left arm, which makes her quite uncomfortable.  And she has a cold.   Next Monday she visits with her oncologist to get an update on some of the benchmarking imagery they did a few weeks ago.   She is just quite the strong person... and still is as radiant as ever.