yoga
November 2008 
My Latest Pedicure
Posted on Nov 14th, 2008
by 
Gail
Gail
Festive, right?
Access: PublicDaisy: Ain't too proud to beg
Posted on Nov 14th, 2008
by Gail
Gail
This is Daisy--begging for my blueberry scones.
Laugh, Laugh, I'd Laugh --Seems so funny to me...
Posted on Nov 14th, 2008
by Gail
Gail
It's been six months since my cancer diagnosis. Believe it or not, I'm celebrating this landmark. My cancer markers are one tenth of what they were in May...the mysterious rash (which was actually cancer on my chest wall scars) is pretty much gone. I still have my yoga practice and I'm still working full time and helping teach yoga to kids at my yoga studio.
Once, when I was on Amazon.com I came upon a book suggestion called I'd Rather Do Chemo Than Clean The Garage by Fran di Giacomo. Intrigued, and in agreement with the title, I read the reviews...You wouldn't believe the readers hating on t poor Fran. They don't like her irreverent attitude. But, I still bought the book. Because I recognized a kindred spirit--she's just as much of a smart- ass as I am.
In a nutshell, Fran says that you should see the humor in your situation. I admit her humor-seeking is a stretch sometimes. But, she's just the type of person who survives.
I agree with Fran when she says you should find your passion. Hers is oil painting--she's an accomplished artist.
My passion is, of course, yoga. Yoga takes my mind off the cancer. When I go to yoga, I feel like a normal person and I focus on the areas in which my body is strong. Plus I believe yoga is good for chemo's side effects. My hair is growing back, as you can see in the photo. People at yoga tell me it looks cute. My teacher, Barry told me that I never would have known I'd look good in short hair if I didn't have cancer ...One of cancer's many gifts. (only said with a modicum of sarcasm)
Now we're back in the fight
Posted on Nov 12th, 2008
by Gail
Gail
Now we're back in the fight
Were back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang
Were back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang
--The Pretenders
Then he told me it was taking way too long for them to poke me so I had to be off chemo until I had the surgery. Now I have the purple power port in my chest. The surgery was a breeze--I was up and walking around by noon that day. I've had two chemo treatments since then and it's just great. No poking around my forearm for veins.
The good news is that I had a CA27-29 blood test after being off chemo for a month. My tumor markers still went down by 15 points. Hooray!
Labor Day Weekend--Call me the working man
Posted on Sep 2nd, 2008
by Gail
Gail
Well, Friday of Labor Day weekend, I stayed late at work because I knew I wouldn't be there Tuesday. I was getting ready for a substitute and after over 20 years of teaching, I still haven't figured out how to do that in a short time. Then, I went home and went to bed.
I was having a substitute teacher because I had my chemo appointment on Tuesday.
Saturday, I got up early to go to yoga--yay! I made 8:00 class and stood in the front row and did all the poses. Although the weekend was a blur, I remember it being a good class. Then I went back home hung out for a while and then at noon, we were back at the studio to take Bikram's advanced class. Why? Sandy wants to compete this year. I'm not sure I want to compete, but they let me take advanced class anyway. Advanced class is very challenging and, honestly I can't do most of the poses very well, but I try.
After taking Advanced class, Sandy and I ate lunch at PF Changs. They have a lot of yummy vegetarian options on their menu.
So, we went home, I ended up going to bed early. Then, it was Sunday. We slept in, then I made 10 grain pancakes. We didn't do too much on Sunday...I remember going to the grocery store and Starbucks, going home, taking yoga and cleaning the Sparks studio afterwards. Another good class, where I stood in the front, did all the poses, etc. There is a small white board behind the desk, where I write positive, or especially truthful song lyrics. What can I say? Barry, the yoga studio manager loves rock and roll and he likes it when I do this. This time I chose Working Man by Rush...it's Labor Day, after all.
Monday, I had to get a shot of neupogen so I could take chemo on Tuesday. My red blood counts were low and they won't give me chemo if they are too low. You might say so what? Chemo's a drag anyway. But I want to continue to get better.And I hate wasting a sick day . I had to go to another cancer facility because my doctor's office was closed. I had to fill out all the paper work and they asked me if I needed another appointment.
Then, we went to the Rib Cookoff...because Sandy wanted to. Not a real good place for two vegetarians! She had some Hawaiian Shave Ice and I had a $6.00 order of deep fried zucchini.
I did eat the zucchini, but whenever I order some breaded and greasy thing, I always regret it. I settled on zucchini. I like deep fried mushrooms, except for when you bite into them, molten-hot mushroom liquid squirts out in your mouth. Then, you have too deal with a burned mouth for days. Deep fried stuff is so heavy, too.
Someone at yoga later that night called the Rib Cookoff the "obesity fest". I agree.
Sandy and I went to 4:30 yoga, where I had a mediocre to poor class. i was just tired and I sat out about half the poses. (In Bikram yoga, you always do two sets.)
After yoga, we stopped at Starbucks. I had a "treat receipt". When you go to Starbucks in the morning, sometimes they give you a treat receipt, which enables you to come back after 2:00 and get any cold drink for $2.00.
Patrick, the barista, waited on me. "Your treat receipt is no good here." (I checked the date on it...it was.)
"I want to give you these drinks, so you don't need a treat receipt."
So, Patrick made Sandy and me 2 1/2 Vivannos--the new Starbucks smoothie. Barry was there writing or planning for his University of Nevada Reno class, so I went and talked to him for a little while. I mentioned that the music they play in Starbucks is better lately. All of a sudden, they play cool classic rock...Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc. Instead of bluegrass or jazz or crappy modern rock, like Coldplay.
Barry told Patrick, I said that and he told the story about how they can't play the Starbucks radio station anymore because they blew out the speakers. Darn! Turns out Patrick, though seemingly in his 20's is a huge Beatles fan and has all the Beatles on vinyl.
Sandy was in the car waiting for me to bring her Vivanno. She refused to go into Starbucks, not because Barry was there, but because, 1. her flip-flops hurt her because she took the dog for a long walk while wearing them. 2. She was cold because, well, it was cold out there yesterday and all she had was her skimpy yoga outfit.
So Barry came out and talked to her through the closed window. (He has a loud voice.)
Now it's Tuesday. My blood tests were "shining". I only had to take Taxol today. After leaving the doc's, I was starving. I ate lunch at Whole Foods. And got tumor marker tests. I'm hopeful that the numbers will continue to plummet.
Then I went to the American Cancer Society for my free wig. They had a lot of them there, and some were really cute. You can see the one I picked in the photo. I'm just not used to having hair. And that is what I did on Labor Day weekend.
Dogs Working Together
Posted on Sep 2nd, 2008
by Gail
Gail
These three dogs are owned by the same people. Their "dad" would throw the giant branch in the water and the three would cooperatively retrieve it.
This is the end of my summer photo fest. Now I plan to write my next entries.
Smile for the camera
Posted on Sep 2nd, 2008
by Gail
Gail
This is a picture I snapped of Sandy and me at Lake Tahoe. I do this all the time with different backgrounds. I'm lucky Sandy isn't rolling her eyes here. She used to do that , but then she told me I smile like a big dork and that makes her smile too.
Sandy and Cedar--post riding lesson
Posted on Sep 1st, 2008
by Gail
Gail
Sandy is grooming Cedar after her lesson. The lesson went well and Sandy liked it. My sister in law said, "It's either horses or boys". I still think boys are a lot cheaper than horses.
Riding Lesson
Posted on Sep 1st, 2008
by Gail
Gail
This is Sandy at her first horseback riding lesson. (English style) She did so well she was allowed to do some low jumps. All that yoga has helped her balance.
