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Ladies, show your boobies some love

HAVE YOUR MAMMOGRAM THIS MONTH, if you haven’t already. And, if you have never had one, (CAT, you know I’m talkin’ to you) make an appointment. They are so important.

I have been having yearly mammograms for the last 11 years. Had my baseline at 35. Just last week I had my annual. I went to a new hospital, prompted by my dear friend Cindy who told me that hospital has digital mammography which is much more detailed than traditional mammography.

I’m glad I went there. Yesterday, I get a call back from my doctor telling me I have to go back for additional imaging, because I have a ‘density issue’ on the inside cleavage portion of my right breast and they need to check it out. VERY scary. You know, that kind of sensation you get when you hear terrible news, a flush of heat though your veins, followed by an immediate sense of panic. All kinds of terrifying thoughts soar through my mind thinking of what might be.

I Googled ‘breast density’ and read until I think I understand it. I also talked to the nurse and the technicians in the mammo department and they helped me to understand what is going on with me. They say, after comparing this most recent digital film to last year’s film the density is new, so they have to check it out and see if anything is behind it. The nurse told me there is a scale of ‘concern’ that goes from 0-5 and I have a 0. That is somewhat reassuring.

I have an appointment for the 29th and I will find out my results that day. I’m hoping I will be driving home filled with gratitude and not dread. Please say a prayer for me.

Has anyone experienced this density issue in their breast and had to go back in for additional imaging? What was your outcome? My technician tells me 90% of the time it’s nothing at all.

So, please, get your mammogram done. I understand it’s scary knowing there’s a possibility you will get news that is terrifying, but mammograms allow cancers to be caught so much sooner when the treatment is much less invasive and the cure rate is very high. We owe it to our families, (our children) to do whatever it takes to be around as long as we can.

Show your boobies some love and make your appointment. Then say a prayer and hope for good news.
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Meet our new Kitty…Help name him!

This past weekend my daughter and I went to Petsmart to get a collar and ID tag for Lilly and we made the mistake of looking at the cats. We saw this tiny, little cutie and couldn’t resist him. He is only two months old. I justified adopting him because we lost Blaze and Rupert the same week.

I learned the animals sold at Petsmart come directly from local shelters and the adoption money goes directly back to the shelter. So, that’s a good thing!

Anyway, he needs a name. Leave me a comment with your name suggestions. We really can use some help picking out the perfect moniker for him. Caroline wants to call him Pickles (blech), so please, any help would be great! I think he’s part, if not all Maine Coon, so he will be big and fluffy when he’s an adult cat. Thanks for your help!
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What the heck is wrong with me?

I’m not believing this. I am just so B L A H. I feel ((((fat)))), sluggish, uninspired, aggitated and achy. Not to mention tired. Gosh, I’m wondering where the old Emily went-I miss her.
I spent last week grieving over the death of my dalmatian, feeling very melancholy while watching old family videos of my kids when they were little (that was almost crazy sad) to spending the night at a friend’s house on Friday after our bunko group only to be humiliated over my snoring. Then I wake up Saturday with the hope I’ll have an art day with my friend and that fun day never happened. In fact, we were so far removed from an art day, it almost made me cry. I planned that day for a month and it never came to be. Life is full of disappointments. And full of disappointing people-I’m learning that in my old age. In additon, there were a few other unmetionables sandwiched in between the previous lovelies that added to my edgy-ness.

Maybe it’s perimenopause creeping up on me, maybe it’s my absolute lack of ability to shed pounds that’s getting me down. I don’t know. What ever it is, I can assure you I hate feeling this way. It’s difficult to be a joy rebel when you feel more like crawling under a rock.

I need to go try to make an attempt at re-adjusting my attitude. Since I’m the only one who can, I’m going to give it my best shot. I understand this crap that I’m dealing with is small potatos in the scheme of things and the real problems life shells out. This is really nothing. But, for now it’s something to me and I have to shake it off first in order to dig out my old self just so I can feel better.

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Bye Bye Blazey

Today, around 5pm, Blaze crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I hope this isn’t goodbye forever, but just a brief separation until he’s standing there at the Bridge waiting, knowing I’m coming for him, wagging his tail as he sees me walking in the distance. Run free Blazey-Doo, your legs are restored now. There is no more pain. I will always love you.
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Larry and I wanted to keep Blaze alive as long as he had a spark in him…you know, if he still had an appetite, if he was still being with our family. Over the past 3 days, he’s done nothing but lay in a corner behind the couch-which told us he was in pain. Larry heard him whimpering last night when he was by the couch. Today he had to be lifted inside the house after we let him out. Also, lately he had been having accidents in the house. His paw was swollen so much and the tumor was becoming enormous. We didn’t want to wait till Wednesday which was the only time the vet could come to our house. So, I called and took him to a different vet that could fit him in at 4:45. Larry, Caroline, Brittany and I took him. Scott carried him to the car and tearfully said goodbye.
The Dr. gave him the first shot, a strong sedative like the one they use for surgerys. It took about 3 or 4 minutes for that to take affect. In that time, before he fell asleep, we hugged him, kissed him, talked about what he did when he was a puppy, reminded him about how he used to love to lay by Grandpa, all the time we just stroked him gently till he fell into a deep sleep. I apologized to him for making him hate me for all the times I clipped his nails and cleaned his sore ears-I was only trying to help. When the sedative started to take affect, it seemed like the pain went away. Kind of like how we feel when we have a bad back ache and take 4 motrins and suddenly that feeling we get when the pain starts to lift. It was just like that. After he was completely out, I left the room. The other three were there with him (although at this point, he wasn’t aware of anything). They shaved a little spot on his leg and gave him the lethal injection. Brittany stroked his face gently and Caroline was lying on the floor next to him and had her face pressed against his side. Before the Dr. was finished injecting the shot, Blaze took his last breath. Caroline wanted to be there till the end. That was her dog….she’s such a trooper.
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The stupidest thing I’ve ever seen

Determined or Happy…hmmm…which one is more laughable?
I keep seeing commercials for these ridiculous things. I believe this is bordering on insulting and I’m not even a fan of Obama. How hilarious-a plant grows out of his head to create a green afro. One of the first things Obama should have done when he took office is ban this product that so very unflatteringly bears his likeness.

Do any of you agree with me? It really is laughable, and the commercial trys to make it out to be so dignified and commemorative. I seriously could pee in my pants laughing everytime I see this advertisment on TV.

If you disagree with me, or just what to own one, go here to get yours. Don’t tell them I sent you.

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A real son of a Beotch

I need to share this with you. It’s true, there really are a__holes in the world. Listen to this:

About an hour ago, my three kids, David (21) and Caroline(16) and Jeff (11) were out on the side of our house (we live on the corner) playing frisbee. My daughter threw the frisbee and it hit a tree branch and veered into the street. An SOB in a pick up truck veers toward the frisbee, (now lying in the street), runs over it and cracks it into 10 pieces then proceeds to hang out his window and flip my children the bird. WTF? My son David was (is) livid….kids can’t seem to even have fun anymore, and no, the kids didn’t thow the frisbee at the car. I told you just how it happened. Can you believe this crap?

In my world (see post below) people like this are tied to a chair and get bitch slapped. By women.

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If I ruled the world….

I was thinking of how I’d make some definate changes if I were to rule the world. Here are some of my ideas. I hope they don’t offend anyone, and if they do, I apologize in advance, but I remind you this is my blog, so I will express myself accordingly. It’s all in fun, so here goes.

If I ruled the world…
1. Celebrities and professional athletes would not be paid the exhorborant salaries they are paid today. That is just plain ridiculous in my book of how the world should work. Now, I understand in this free society, there’s such a thing called Capitalism, and my way would go against the very thing Capitalism stands for, but I don’t care. They make WAYYY too much money. There would be salary caps on Celebs, CEOS and Athletes. Celebritites would get paid well, but the movie stars in my world would be required to be egomaniacs who would be satisfied just from getting their face on People or Us magazine, and would work mainly for the notoriety. Sports players would be in their business for the love of the game and for the simple fact they could get paid quite well for doing something they love to do. Athletic ability would remain the same as now. Ego-maniac athletes would have an added plus, they’d get to see themselves on TV.
The people who had brains and ran the cities and took care of infrastructure and the scientists and researchers would be paid more than the celebrities. After all, they use their brains for a greater good to help everyone. Frivolous celebrities are less important. They just entertain us.
2. In my world, the bank wouldn’t charge bounced check fees if you overdrew your account a miniscule amount of money like say, $1.29. In fact, in my world, the bounced check fee would only kick in after you overdrew your account starting at $200. I am so irked by how banks can just zap us a fee for the tiniest mistake. It makes me want to hide my money in a mattress. In my world, this wouldn’t be a bother for any one.
3. In my world, the drinking age would be the same as the age a person is considered old enough to go to war, leave home, get a tattoo, and be considered an adult for all legal purposes. This crap of being old enough to get married yet you can’t drink liquor legally at your wedding is for the sparrows. In my world, the legal age for becoming and official adult and also be legal to drink would be 20. Not 21. Twenty. As soon as you’re done being a teenager, the next year when the digit rolls over to 2, you are offically a grown up who can drink. End. Of. Story.
4. Although I love shopping, in my world, there would be less stores and more restaurants. There especially wouldn’t be retail strips built willynilly so they could sit empty for years, going unoccupied because the retail market is saturated with more storefronts than it needs. There would be more eating establishments with healthy food.
5. The driving age would be upped to 20. I believe 16 year old teenagers are just as dangerous on the road as elderly people who can’t see or hear and drive way too slow for conditions. 16 year olds in Blondie’s world are simply too squirlley to get behind the wheel.
6. Wholesome-ness would be reinstituted. No more MTV, SEX IN YOUR FACE on TV and potty humor. We would revert things back to when something was left to the imagination and we could confidently watch television with our kids without fear of a sex scene sneaking its way in without warning. Let’s have a rebirth of the 1950’s.
7. No gangsta pants allowed. Definately no asses hanging out of their pants. Yuck.
8. Facial tattoos wouldn’t be allowed.
9. Money that would normally be handed over to celebrities who are overpaid for their work would be poured into research for the obvious cancer, diabetes and other ailments. In addition, research would be intensified to create a pill that when taken, burned 1000 calories a day, aiding in effortless weight loss. And, when a person reached the weight they desire, another pill would be taken daily to maintain the new weight loss.
10. Fat women would be the sex symbols, not skinny waifs.
11. People who tortured then killed animals would be put to death. People who killed children would be put to death. End. of. story.
12. People would be allowed 1 year sabbattical to pursue their dreams and bliss.
13. When people reached a ripe old age or were so sick they couldn’t be cured/ or were in a coma or vegitative state, they would be allowed to be put to sleep with the same dignity they give their pets. People shouldn’t have to suffer for a lengthy period of time or be a burdon to others, especially if they WANT to die. It’s a person’s right in my world.
14. In my world, all food would be organic.
15. In my world, you could only buy the light bulbs that were flourescent. There wouldn’t be a choice. Same goes for all other products. The energy efficient/green choice would be the only choice.
16. In poor countries, it would be mandatory for adults to take birth control, until the hunger problem was contained, fixed and people fed.
17. There wouldn’t be as many style trends or fashion rules. My world is an artsy one, and I’d encourage individuals to dress the way that expresses their creativity. Well, within reason, that is. Mostly, we wouldn’t be allowed to be slaves to fashion because in reality, it isn’t that important.
18. We would stress that people seek their bliss, find joy and seek contentment, as long as their bliss, joy and contentment didn’t come from hurting others or being difficult to society. Unhappiness is difficult to tolerate and would be discouraged. This will be a happy place! Zanax would arrive monthly in people’s mailboxes.
19. Flowers would be everywhere. Especially fragrant lavender.
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20. No Viagra in my world. When women reach menopause, they’ve got much better, more interesting things to ‘do’ than their aging husbands.
How would the world be if YOU ran it? Blog about it!
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A painful decision to make…

Blaze’s lump 3 weeks ago…and below, just before I wrote this.

About 3weeks ago, I noticed a hard, protruding lump sticking out from my dalmatian’s front left leg. It seemed to have developed over night. The next day I took him to the vet and he was almost immediately diagnosed as having bone cancer. 15 minutes later an X-ray confirmed the worse.

The vet told us osteosarcoma is fairly common in dogs and there’s nothing they can really do. Amputation is an option, but strickly for pain management. You can’t save a dog who has bone cancer. It is in the bloodstream and settles next in their lungs. He told us in 26 years of being a vet, amputation only helped one dog live to a ripe old age, where he didn’t die from cancer. It is very bleak. He’s already 12, going on 13, so we know he’s lived a long life, but still, it’s difficult to face euthanasia. I feel guilty doing it, even though I know it’s the best thing for him.

In the 3 weeks since he was diagnosed, the lump has doubled and looks like a baseball wrapped around his leg. We know we have to put him down-and soon, but it’s so difficult. We are noticing he still has signs of life in him, despite his limping and the ever growing tumor. But, nothing can be done and I believe this is the week we will have to say goodbye to him. I’m having a really difficult time calling the vet to come to our house on Wednesday, the only day he can make house calls. I feel it will be best to have Blaze die at home where he is comfortable and calm. Just the ride in the car is nerve wracking for him and going to the vet fills him with anxiety. I don’t want him to feel that way moments before he dies. I want him to be calm and happy, as happy as a dog can be who has a painful bone cancer growing in his leg.

Just wanted to share this with you all….life can be so good and yet, there are times when it really sucks. This is one of those times. This old spotty dog is packing his bags for the rainbow bridge. I wonder if we see our animals in heaven. What do you think?
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My new painting, and my new direction

I got to thinking about the kinds of things I’d like to paint. I decided to celebrate the fleshier, female form. I want to paint big women. As most of you readers know, I am an advocate of curvey women, being one myself. I think we don’t get enough appreciation for our loveliness, despite what the mainstream media and most of America is led to believe. With my paintings, I hope to show how lovely those curves can be.
I completed my first painting and it has a bit of a tropical feel, although that wasn’t really my intention. I drew her from just remembering how to draw the female form from life drawing class back in art school. It helps to be plump to know just where those ripples and rolls fall.
This painting is a beginning. From it, I am understanding what I want to change about the next one. This will be an evolution for me and I will post my paintings up on this blog as I complete them. It’s starting to gel for me, and that’s a good thing.

Here’s the next one I’m working on. So far, it’s only drawn on the canvas. I’m not going to do collage on the canvas first like I’ve been doing lately. This time, I’m going to strickly paint on the canvas and if I add collage embellishments it will be on top of the painting rather than underneath it.
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Ephemeral magnolias and other things PINK

ephemeral \ih-FEM-er-ul\, adjective:
1. Beginning and ending in a day; existing only, or no longer than, a day; as, an ephemeral flower.2. Short-lived; existing or continuing for a short time only.

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A friend of mine suggested I go back to a color theme once and a while when I have writer’s block. I thought about it and decided yes, that might be a good idea! I decided to go with pink today because I had a bouquet of mini pink carnations that opened up and were begging to be photographed. I also have a blooming magnolia tree outside my front door and the blossoms are fragile and ephemeral, coming back maybe once in the summer if I’m lucky. I must catch them on film before they’re gone, too.

So, for today, pink it is. What a lovely color.

Vintage lady in a lipstick pink coat

Sweep it under a pink rug.

Sweet pink cheeks and lips


My ephmeral magnolias

My pink carnations