2nd Amendment

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Please don't hide behind the "right to bear arms". I have no problem with gun owners other than the fact they like to paraphrase the Second Amendment to suit their needs. Remember that when the amendment was written, the United States did not maintain a standing militia. Now we do. Personally, I see no need for military type weapons in the hands of non-military personnel or armor piercing ammunition in the hands of civilians. Body armor should be limited to military and law enforcement use only. Hand guns have only one real purpose - to kill other human beings at close range.

It was a nice idea

Well, some plans just don't work out the way you want. The trailer for instance. It was just too small, so we sold it. Surprisingly, we didn't lose money on the deal! A nice couple from Minden bought it. They have a much better tow vehicle. Hope they get a lot of enjoyment from it.

We like the idea of travelling around with a trailer, but we don't want to go in to debt to do it comfortably. A bigger trailer would require a bigger tow vehicle. Have you seen what a plain Jane Ford pick-up sells for now?

We will still travel, but plan to stay in motels on the way.

In the mean time, I've been busy building a pergola in the back yard and Lynn is working hard to finish the "quilt from hell". Oh, and we got a cat.

Honeymoon Suite

Part of the post-marriage plan, prior to Kyle's death and to Lynn's cancer, was to travel to some of the sites I have seen in my travels that Lynn has never seen. She has not been to Yellowstone. She had not been north of San Francisco until I took her to Washington last year.

We are doing our best to get back on schedule. To that end, we have been discussing whether we would travel between motels or look for an RV of some sort. Affordable motorhomes were too old. Travel trailers were too heavy for our Escape to tow. Tent trailers are too cold and don't have toilets.

It looked like we would be living out of suitcases.

Then I saw a craigslist ad for this.

We bought it. Fourteen feet long, 1960 pounds when empty. AND it has a bathroom!

Home Sweet Home

We have been home for a week. Sigh of contentment.

The house is surprisingly free of dust. It closes up tighter than we thought. Our neighbors did a great job keeping an eye on the place. We quickly put the air conditioner in the kitchen window and cranked it on "High".

Back to some of those projects we started before we left for Arizona. New door to the laundry. Window treatment on the back door.

Lynn's sister Roni rode her motorcycle down from Alaska and spent a couple days with us. She left her bike and flew back to the frozen tundra for an urgent surveying job.

We made arrangements to get a couple trees planted. Landscaping the back yard is in the planning stage.

The El Camino is in the shop to get some major oil leaks fixed. Rear main seal and oil pan gasket require removal of the engine. Might as well rebuild the heads and do a few other things while it's in there - right?

Lynn got an elliptical machine to help with her recuperation. The surgical area across her chest is still very tight and sore. She says she has bricks under her arms.

The refrigerator that was in the house when we bought it has decided to act up. It's 17 years old, so I guess we are lucky it lasted this long. Found one in town that will be delivered Thursday.

Lynn finished a quilt for her niece's baby shower.

We visited the Senior Center - they asked if Lynn was returning to work - NO! I visited the golf course - they asked if I was returning to work - NO!

We're going home

Here is Lynn's decision:

I just wanted to let you know the latest.   After much research, consideration and a lot of inner turmoil, I have decided to terminate my chemotherapy.  I was never okay with it from the start. I refuse to continue to put any form of these horrible poisonous toxins in my body.   I am cancer free as of now and will make some lifestyle changes to help prevent recurrence.  I am 100% comfortable with my decision and am willing to take the risk of living another year, 5 yrs, 10 yrs or more cancer free vs loading my body up with toxins that produce no guarantees of my survival and studies have shown to even cause other major health issues down the road.  We already have a referral to a Medical Oncologist in Fallon, who is affiliated with MD Anderson where I can get follow-up scans in 6 months. My Med. Oncologist here said she supported my decision and that even though I have not finished all of the chemo regimen, I would have definitely reaped some benefit from the 2 months of dose-dense chemo that I have already received.  

My wonderful husband is very supportive in my decision and understands completely my feeling on the subject.  

I'm scheduled this week to get my port out.  After that we will pack up and head back home soon.  

Round 4

Just got back from the cancer clinic. Round 4 of the A/C "Red Devil" knocked Lynn on her butt. She is out cold in the recliner beside me. Thank goodness this is the last of this drug combination. In two weeks she will start with weekly injections of Taxol. Here's hoping it will be less taxing on her body.

Sorrow

She hurts so badly. The lymphedema flares up a few days after her infusion and I can't even touch her arms, let alone hold her when she cries in the night.