Monday, April 17, 2017

Easter Weekend

   Had the most amazing weekend with family.....feeling so blessed.  Having my sister, Mike, Colin, and Frankie down here was so much fun....Hung out outside on the deck all weekend.  Easter we went to Doug and Mary's farm in Pottstown ten minutes from where we live.  They raise chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, etc.....the kids love it there, and so do I.   We had an amazing feast.  So thankful.
   Back into the radiation game again....thank god its working....pain is almost gone, just dealing with weakness in my leg now.   Thank you for your continuous support and positive vibes!!!

Sunday, April 16, 2017

kiss you back

   Four a.m. post......sitting on a fucking balance ball, blogging on my phone.....what a wacky life!  I hate this ball, but it gives me relief, and I've even lost weight by using it.  So i shouldn't complain.
   My sis is in town, we had an awesome day outside cooking out/hanging out.  Listened  to some good R & B music nineties style..... Here is the highlight......enjoy



Saturday, April 15, 2017

Happy Easter Weekend

   Good morning post!  Been up since 4:30 with some pain ( hello pain )......going to take some meds that should help.   Three treatments down, eleven to go.  Going to focus on enjoying what I know will be a beautiful weekend.   Today my sista and nephew come downπŸ’ƒπŸ»......and tomorrow we go to the Toel family farm for Easter lunchπŸ’ž........Feeling blessed and hopeful.   I definitely feel cared for these days.   Everyone have a blessed Easter!

Friday, April 14, 2017

Thanks to all

   Five thirty a.m. post......drinking coffee, listening to Sade.....life is good in this moment.  I have two treatments under my belt.....12 to go.....the more I go, the more pain relief I get, as the radiation is shrinking the tumor in my lower back....go away tumor!
   I wanted to thank everyone for your outpouring of support!  It is an amazing feeling to know you are cared by many, and that's how I'm feeling these days.  With all the prayers and support, I feel like I can do anything.    So thank you thank you thank you to each and everyone from myself and my whole familyπŸ’žπŸ’ƒπŸ»πŸ’ž!

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

update

   Sitting here on my balance ball, because it's the only relief I can get right now.  Friday I learned that there is a tumor growing in my lower back, which is causing problems/lots of pain in left leg.  Thankfully when sitting on this ball I am virtually pain free.  I can stand in small doses.
   Wednesday I begin radiation ( again, for the third time).  I do well with this type of treatment, and I have 14 treatments to do.  They said within 7 treatments I should get some relief.


https://www.youcaring.com/patricia-mcfarlin-saunders-628969


Please if you haven't already, consider my family's cause, as cancer can be expensive.  Prayers welcomed and accepted!πŸ’•πŸ’žπŸ’•πŸ’ƒπŸ»πŸŒΉ

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Jane and the Shoes (Madrid 1992)

(cont.)

   At like 21:00 (I had to do it)....we went into another shoe store, because Jane, Kara, and I saw shoes we wanted to try on.  Both Kara and I tried on shoes, and then decided to buy them.  Jane finally got up enough nerve to ask to try on a pair.  While she was trying them on, we three were sitting facing the door.  All of a sudden, a man rushed into the store holding on to another man.  He had him in a headlock, and I just assumed he was giving him a friendly noogie.  I realized my blunder when I saw the blood dripping from his mouth.  It turns out that the bloody man tried to steal some shoes that were outside on clearance, and got caught in the act.
   So the shoe people rushed him to the back room.  Barb was about to throw up because the whole thing was pretty gruesome.  We wanted to leave, but Jane wanted to buy her damn black shoes.  So she got back in line.  I guess those shoes meant the world to her.  I guess she'd never seen anything quite like those shoes.
   Everyone else was running out of the store because the noogie victim was coming back to the front of the store.  But not Jane......the fighter for the black shoes.
   By this time we were begging Jane to leave the store, because the bloody man was screaming (right by Jane).  But she wouldn't listen to reason.
   Barb, Kara, and I ran out of the store.  Jane was the only person left in the store.  They had turned the lights out.  Jane was still in line, ladies and gentlemen.  We yelled at her to come on.
   Finally, ten minutes later, Jane came out from the store, with a bag in her hand.  The shoes were hers.  We asked her if she was crazy, and this is what she said:
 
   "Tricia and Kara got a pair of fucking shoes, and this fucking guy cut in front of me.  I wanted those fucking shoes!!!".......

   Needless to say, the "shoe incident" was just about the funniest thing that happened on the trip.

    (to be cont.)...

Friday, March 17, 2017

cussing sprees (Madrid 1992)

(cont.......)

   So there was this huge mess, because Kara and I had to hunt the Bakers down to tell them that so far the trip was terrible, that there was no way we would go to different rooms, and we finally found them in the lounge.  That was pretty much the first chance that we had to get to know Barb.  She is seventeen, and lives in a suburb of Las Vegas called Henderson .  She is very punk rock and wears Doc Martin boots and vintage clothing.  She was asking us what the matter was, and she asked if we wanted to go out with her that night.
   It finally got arranged that Kara would share a room with Barb and another Vegas girl named Kristen.  I would have to share a room with Jane, who by the way is a hypochondriac.  She suffers from flat feet, toothaches, severe thirst that can never be quenched, and a bladder control problem (evidently when she went to Girl Scout camp in third grade she didn't go to the bathroom even once, because the outhouses were "so fucking disgusting ", and hence the bladder problem).  She is also half deaf in one ear.  Yesterday she was complaining because her feet were "pussing", and her toenail was split in half.  She also can not be around cigarette smoke ( which is a problem in Europe) because her eyes water, and she is unable to breathe through her nose.
   I really feel sorry for her, and I've tried to be nice to her, but it's hard because Kara and I find it all too funny.

   ***Jane also goes on cussing sprees.  For example, "I fucking came on this fucking trip so I could fucking sleep with you guys, and not some fucking girls who can't talk right.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

hilarity ( Madrid April 19, 1992)

   (cont.......)........

   This Spanish man wearing these Top Gun sunglasses was in the square pretending to hold a microphone and singing at the top of his lungs.  Everyone else seemed to be ignoring him, but of course Kara and I were hysterical.  Then he was looking at one of us, and we pretty much assumed that we were being serenaded.  Whenever he would pause between songs, he would applaud himself. I started to applaud also, but since no one else in the whole square did, Kara made me stop.
   So then we headed back to the Hotel Regina, where the man at the front desk was rude as hell.  When I asked for our key, he informed me that all three of us would have to move our stuff immediately to different rooms.  I told him to fuck off (just kidding).  Anyway, when we got to our room, we noticed that the maids had attempted to pack our stuff for us.  Then we got a call from Carina telling us to immediately evacuate our room," bring our luggage to the lobby".  I told her to sit and spin (just kidding Jane said that ancient phrase throughout the trip though).

(to be cont.....)

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Madrid April 15, 1992

(cont.)

   I hated walking around with the Bakers because they made us stop at every bakery so they could get free samples ( we can't take them anywhere).
   We went to a currency exchange place, and Scott was showing off his Spanish skills by asking a whole bunch of irrelevant questions ( he is such a cutie).
   Then we walked to the Plaza Major, which is exactly the center of Madrid.  It was super sunny, and there are hundreds of chairs set up, kind of like an outdoor cafe.  There were artists who were doing grotesque caricatures of people.  One of the shops had these dead baby pigs displayed in the window, which was disgusting.   They are really into meat here ( we saw a shop here called the Museum of the  Ham (Museo del Jamon).
   Well anyway, Kara and I got sick of following the Barkers (someone called them that, and it kinda stuck), so we decided to sit down in the chairs in the square and just people watch.

(to be cont.)

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Madrid April 14, 1992

   (cont.).......

   At first things were really bad, and Kara and I were like, "WHY were we stupid enough to go on an A.C.I.S. trip two years in a row!"....Our courier's name is Carina.  She is British, and is nothing like Hugh ( from last year).  I really don't like her, so I am not going to describe her.
   The reason things were going badly is because after we had gotten situated in our hotel toom, which had a bathroom the size of a gymnasium, Carina told us to move to three separate rooms.  We were like, "No way in hell!".  After about two hours of Mr. Baker arguing with her, Jane and I were put in a room with two girls who are part of our group, but not from our school. Kara got put in a room with Barb and Chris.  They are kind of under the Bakers' care because their advisor couldn't come on the trip at the last minute because of a death. 
   I ended up moving my stuff with Kara, Barb, and Chris, leaving Jane with those other girls.  Which isn't nice, but I really wanted to be in Kara's room.
   Anyway, before all the room confusion happened, all of us (minus Barb and Chris) went on a walk with the dreaded Bakers.
   I really like the "Madrilenos" because they seem really laid back--not always friendly though.  Watch out if they're driving, because they will hit you with no remorse!

(to be cont.......)


Monday, March 13, 2017

Madrid April 13, 1992

   Well, it's like 11:00 p.m. here in Madrid, Spain, and I'm in my hotel room with Kara, Jane, and two girls from Nevada:  Barb and Chris.  Barb is a sweety, and is always nice to everyone ( Oh and they're from Las Vegas, Nevada!).  This is our second day here, and all and all things are going well.  It was bad at first.
   First of all, an eight hour flight to Zurich, Switzerland.  Jane was sitting to the left of me, and Kara to my right.  It front of us were Mike (a sophomore who is really uptight), Scott ( the funniest person alive), and Jim Gay( a freshman with a really great last name).
   The Bakers kept stashing airplane food into this bowling bag that they used as a carry on.  They also asked everyone if they could eat their leftovers.  They're so embarrassing.
   Kara and I laugh so hard we practically die, at everything and anything (especially the Bakers).  Our seats were really uncomfortable, and so we didn't sleep.  There was this gorgoeus man who looked like Adam Clayton from U2, but that's about it.
   When we finally got to Zurich, we had a three hour layover, and we ( Jane, Kara, and I ) were so tired, and I felt so dirty.
   Basically everyone in Europe smokes.  I say that because I was people watching in the airport, and everyone had a cigarette in their hand.  Then we finally got on our flight, and I saw the Pireneas (?) mountains through the window, which were so beautiful. They were snow capped....
   The airport at Madrid was FILTHY! ...cigarettes and other trash all over the ground.  We went through customs and got our luggage, and then someone from A.C.I.S. took us to our hotel.  It was sunny and warm, and I love Madrid.  The streets are so narrow--so many sidestreets.  The buildings are close together...........( to be cont.)........

Saturday, March 11, 2017

early morning musings

   Ugh....I've been up since five....that's what time I get up during the week....that's what I'm used to.  I feel pretty good....I hurt myself a little using my new elliptical machine....I hope it's cleared out by Monday.
   I was looking forward to sleeping in too!  Oh well.  So my sista is coming into town today with my nephew, Colin, and I'm pretty excited.  Tomorrow she and I have a box of memorabilia to go through.    
I've already found my sophomore year high school journal for Mr. Don Baker's honors English class.
What a hoot!  I thought i knew everything!  I'm going to post some of the entries on this blog soon.  We could all use a good laugh.  I'm praying my Europe trip and Lebanon journals are in there.  Those are priceless.
 

Monday, March 6, 2017

smelly cat

      Laying here relaxing after a busy morning/afternoon.  Louie and Sitzah are with me, and Louie is one smelly cat.  Beautiful.  But smelly!  Oh well, I still love him---I must because I haven't kicked him out yet;).   Now Squishy has joined us..... yes we have three cats.  Don't judge me.
      Kids are home for Polaski day, and we've pretty much been eating all day....and catching up on laundry.  Kind of a balance I guess.
      On the third cycle of my new meds, and it's going pretty well.  Other than some dry peeling skin on my hands, I feel good.  Yesterday I was tired.  Today is better.  This is gonna be short and sweet-- I love comments!

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Riders on the Storm

   "They've got a name for the winners in this world, i wanna name when i lose........call me Deacon Blue"-----Steely Dan

   Oh boy.....where to begin?  My world is a little upside down these days, but from what I'm hearing, I'm not alone.  The whole world is upside down, and I'm holding on for dear life.
   It all started a couple of weeks ago when my Uncle Ramone died.  My Lebanese uncle who was like a father to me, he took me to Lebanon with his six children ( Paul stayed home, there are actually seven) when I was twenty years old.  That two month trip changed me in so many ways, and I am forever thankful to you Ray for the huge gift!!
   On top of his loss, I am dealing with a lot.  To say I'm overwhelmed is an understatement.  But when it rains it pours, and I'm just going to ride the storm out....like I always do.  Have an awesome Monday.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

One World

      I haven't written in a while......just haven't felt like it.
   Had some good news yesterday at Cancer Care.  First my nurse was giggling because my blood pressure was "textbook perfect"..... she said she had never seen that before!  I swear that it's a combination of using frozen lemons, and really intense Lebanese garlic sauce.  Old folk remedies for a multitude of sins.
   Not only that, but my "tumor marker" is the exact same from last time.  So no spreading!  I say yay!!
   To top my day off, three of my neighbor girlfriends took me to our local favorite cafe, One World.  I worked there for years, now I just get to go and enjoy the atmosphere from time to time.  We sat on our asses for three hours and chatted.  The only problem with One World is that it is so loud!  It has the original tin ceiling, maybe that's why.
   It's 5:45 in the morning.....I've been up since 5:11.......start my new cycle of medicine today, so I have to keep to a schedule.  I guess that's all for now.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Magic pills

   Wow I am so tired this morning.  Dia woke up crying she didn't want to go to school.  Had to make her go, she's missed so much school already.  Eddie woke up with a horrible earache.... he is staying home.  Gonna have to take him to the doctor later.
   Well I got through another cycle of this latest chemo pill I'm taking....now I get one week off.  Thank God.  Some minor side effects, but not too bad.  Just pray those magic pills are working.
   Well I think I am going to post a video and call it a day.  I am in love with this U2 song.  Have a glorious one.


Monday, January 23, 2017

tabouli

   Well here we are Monday already.  This weekend was a whirlwind as it was Dia's birthday.  Sunday we had everyone over.  It was a good day.  A few of Dia's friends, my sister and nephew, and a lot of McFarlins ( my dads side of the family).  I loved hearing the laughter coming from the kitchen from my aunts and uncle---like the good old days.  My son Eddie calls it the "naughty past" when he hears them telling stories.  Growing up in this family was definately.....interesting.....gotta love being half Irish half Lebanese.
   Anyway, yesterday exhausted me, but in a good way.  I love my family, and the party gave me an excuse to get my house in order.
   Above I am posting the video highlight from our dance party the orher night.... It's my daughter's favorite.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

morning flow

   Well I've been up since six, on a Saturday for God's sake.  But I'm watching the sun rise, and listening to Erykah Badu.  Oh yeah.  And I enjoy solitude..... immensely.  Call me a hermit.  A few hours in the morning with my coffee, and no one else, and I'm happy as a clam.
   Can you believe I blog on my phone?  I have one of those giant Iphones, so it makes it easy.
   Dia had her best friend spend the night last night.  Thank god it was just one friend over, because it was like they were on acid.  Running around, falling down, laughing hysterically..... I felt like it was the nineties again, and I was at Eastern.  They were scary.  We had a dance party and played the Tabouleh Song.  You'd have to be Lebanese to understand.  That part was fun.  What wasn't fun was when they got the turtle pie out after I told them no, and they dropped it on the floor.  God I was pissed.  Then they proceeded to try to eat it off the floor....like savages.  I was officially done at that point.  And that wasn't even her party.
   Sky is brightening up, but the street lights are still on.  And I am slowly waking up.

Friday, January 20, 2017

A hard stick....

      Home from Cancer Care, and couldn't be happier.  The hardest part about that is when they have to draw blood.  I'm a "hard stick", and today the technician looked about thirteen.  "Shit", I thought-- "A newbie"....I nervously suggested she try in my hand, since I seem to have better look there verses my inner arm.  Well she couldn't get it.  Thank God another girl---older, she has taken good care of me many times-- stepped in and took over.  She was my angel today.  I look for the blessings, and they are everywhere in plain view.  Blessings even in this whole cancer situation.  When you are vulnerable you notice them more I think.
   Anyway Dia turns eleven today-- she went to school with eyeliner on, and it looked like she paid an expert to perfectly apply it... scary.  I guess she is going to skip the awkward stage.
   Well I have some party planning to do--- catch y'all later.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Hello Goodbye

   Hello Goodbye by the Beatles is playing on Pandora......it's 5:47 in the a.m., and I am sipping my coffee.  For some reason I'm starving.  Ooooh Corinne Bailey Ray just came on----I am in love with her voice.  Sweet and sultry....Let me post this song for you......Might not work on your smartphone, you may have to watch it on your computer;)....
   Yesterday was fun with my aunt, we walked the not so "lazy" river at the Riverplex.  For an hour.....against a current.  The shit was not easy!  All part of operation, "lose some weight".
   Dia just came down.  Anyway, I hope you have a fantastic day, full of mirth and 🎢.......

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

hello world

   Well hello world..... and how are we today?  I did the usual wake up at five this morning.  It is now 7:07.  Kids are gone to school, and I just took my chemo pills.  Four rather large chemo pills.  The biggest problem I have with my new medicine is remembering to take it.  You would think it would be foremost in my brain.
   Drinking my super charged smoothie.  It's latest form has been enhanced with the addition of grated frozen lemon.  It is supposed to knock cancer in it's ass.  Please let that be true God.  I need all the help I can get, even if it's from a frozen lemon.
   I have all kinds of lofty plans for the day, including my morning Pilates, tackling a pile of bills, walking the lazy river at Riverplex with my aunt, then out to lunch.  Just now getting to the point where I can be busy again, and it's not so exhausting.  It's kind of nice.
   Watching the sky brighten up through a south eastern facing window.  Oh please let us see the sun today.  It makes all the difference.