Our Winter Home

We have been here one week today. It feels like we have come home.

It took a few days to get things put away and to find things we keep here. I still open the wrong cupboards looking for things. The same thing will happen when we get back to 'our real house' as Miss W calls it.

I have made made two shopping trips to the grocery stores. It was very nice to find the cupboards and fridge were stocked with essentials from last spring. (I had left quite a number of non-perishables as I expected to return in 5 or 6 months. I usually don't leave that much.) All was in good shape so I will do that again. The wine and beer was cold. The cans weren't bulged. Chips and crackers weren't soggy like they would be back home; even the opened bags and boxes.

Our KS neighbors had cold beer waiting for us when we arrived. Our first year at CV they lived across the street and were the first people to actually welcome us when we arrived in our little 27' travel trailer. We have lived on the same street or next to each other for 10 years now. Usually we are here first and welcome them. It was very nice to see them in their lawn chairs, waiting for us when we pulled into our spot. Thanks Sondra & Herman.

I went across the road and picked up Chinese take out for dinner that night and had enough leftovers for another meal or two.

The resort had a Sunday brunch buffet before church. It was very good with lots of food choices. Next time I would eat after church instead of before.

SD friends came by Sunday evening and we went out for dinner. On Wednesday we met ND friends who were heading back home at the end of the month. They came to our place for lunch (which I did fix) and a drive to Florence and the agricultural area and then dinner at our favorite burger, steak & ribs place. (Enough food for leftovers. Yippee!) On Thursday SD friends asked us to join them at the same favorite steak, burger & ribs place. More leftovers; enough now for last night's dinner.

Dinner with Joan & Rod at San Tan Flat

You get the idea here. Since arriving, I have cooked very little, but enjoyed some excellent meals! Hubby made pancakes this morning and I will cook tonight. (Saturday)

Being welcomed by those we know and those we don't is what makes this place special. Many people in the resort (population about 1000) knew our health issues' story. I can not believe the number of people (men and women) who have stopped to say "Welcome back! So glad you are here." The number of hugs and handshakes was amazing. Between the Sunday church service and the Monday morning coffee, it was like a family reunion, but better.

Early in our arrival, Mary stopped by to hand-deliver Flat Coleen & Flat Curt. Because of Mary's creative & clever idea, we have enjoyed many resort activities prior to our arrival.

Mary also made this luminary in my honor

for the Time for a Cure luminary lighting

on Wednesday of cancer week activities.

Both items reside by the back door

Nancy created this rubber band bracelet for me

and gave it to me Monday morning at coffee.

It represents the 3 colors for Thyroid Cancer.

And then there is the calendar. I do NOT kid when I remark that we go 'to our real house' to recover and prepare for the next winter season. Planned for this past week was church, Monday coffee meeting, Tuesday geocaching meeting and Wednesday with ND friends.

Unplanned, but wonderful additions, were the two dinners with SD friends, lunch with another friend AND the movie "The Imitation Game", a must-see! We also did some geocaching one afternoon, before going for pizza.

Dianne, the Friday lunch date friend and I agreed to schedule a lunch date every other week. We found our schedules so busy that we cannot meet for lunch until Feb. 19th! She goes home the following week.

I have notified the writers that classes will continue weekly beginning February 16th. (I am too busy to start before that Monday.) Writing Your Life Story classes will be MY only resort commitment this season. I think that will give us more time for socializing and geocaching.

Geocaching will be OUR focus. I have organized an event in February, but will attend several others scheduled in the east valley, including one on Wednesday. We have plans to go to Yuma for 4 days next weekend. We have met so many people through the AZ geocaching events, Wednesday will be very much like a family reunion.

There are a number of good movies to see right now. There are many geocaches we can find without endangering our limbs. And there are many good people to visit. The next two and a half months will be busy! And I love it!

And just so you know our life is not perfect at our winter home, the washing machine is not working (repairman on Monday), the jeep's gas tank sprung a hole and leaked this summer (at the doctor now, parts on Monday) and the MediaCom technician has been here twice; a phone call finally fixed his screw-up.

It is what it is and Life Is Good!

Santa Fe Trail in KS

Driving through Kansas last week, one of our stops was at Pawnee Rock. The community is barely a dot on the map, but is a much bigger dot in the chronicle archives. It is a geological landmark as well as a historical feature.

Rising to the northwest of the highway, the hill of Pawnee Rock was a landmark for the natives living in the area and later for the early settlers traveling the Santa Fe Trail.

The 'hill' does not look very remarkable today, but a couple hundred years ago the hill was much higher. In fact, it was a high as the tops of the two structures now standing atop the earthen dome.

One can climb to the top of the brick structure to view the surrounding countryside, just as the natives and early travelers did in the mid 1800s. One of the posted signs said the hill was a war-free zone for the various Indian tribes living on the plains.

The monument is a tribute to the people who influenced, settled and passed through the area.

There was some red rock showing when we were at the base of the hill, but not like the red rock we see in the western part of New Mexico, southern Utah and northern Arizona. One sign stated, the hill decreased in size as settlers and others used the rock for their homes and buildings.

A headstone for Private Nehemiah Carson, who died in 1846 at age 20 and placed at the base of the hill.

This marker was placed in 1908 by the DAR of Kansas marking the road and hill as part of the Santa Fe Trail, 1822-1872. It was cool to come across this marker. Pawnee Hill was the location of 3 geocaches; well worth the stop and look-see.

Some of the historical things we missed along the Santa Fe Trail in that part of Kansas: Ed Miller's Grave, Durham Ruts, Coon Creek Crossing...

I did learn there was a Wet Route and a Dry Route on the Santa Fe. The wet route afforded travelers with good grazing and water for the large numbers of stock. The dry route was shorter but with limited water supply.

Farther along Hwy. 56 we came across The Cache Site.

"The Caches was a noted landmark and rest stop on the Santa Fe trail. Numerous trail travelers commented on these famous pits dug in 1822 by a trading party led by James Baird and Samuel Chambers. Baird and Chambers set out from Missouri late in 1822 when a blizzard stranded their pack train near this site for three months. They lost most of their pack animals and in the early spring of 1923, they dug pits to cache their goods and proceeded to Taos, New Mexico, to purchase mules. On their return trip to dig up the goods, a war party of Pawnees attacked the men. However, they accomplished their mission and returned to Taos. The pits remained open and became a landmark on the trail for many years, although no evidence of them remain today."

The historical Cache site was located between Fort Mann and Fort Atkinson. Only a roadside marker designates the location today.

After traveling on and reading about the Santa Fe Trail, I am very happy I was in the comfort of our Chrysler van, covering 1500 miles in 3 days.

Camp Concordia, WWII German POW Camp

Our first stop Thursday morning was the WWII German POW Camp at Concordia KS.  This stop was a disappointment. I had a vision of what we might find, based on what we were told by the lady at the museum when we had stopped in 2013 and first learned of the nearby POW Camp. There are no signs along the highway pointing the way. That should have been our first clue.

"From 1943 to 1945 during WWII over 4,000 Germans were held in an internment camp where they experienced a type of freedom they had never known at home."

"The camp was located on 157.5 acres. Camp Concordia consisted of 308 buildings including a 177 bed hospital, warehouses & cold storage, an officers club, barracks, mess halls & restaurants, a PX, post office, an administrative building for 800 American soldiers, a 100,000 gallon water tower, a fire department, officers quarters and nurses quarters."

"With roads, electricity, sewer lines, water lines, telephone systems and fencing the total cost of the camp was $1,808,806."

I was disappointed because I expected to see a building or two, maybe some foundations. 

looking north of the reconstructed guard house

I have learned the cement tower in the upper left is the base of the water tower. "POWs were housed, fed, clothed, allowed mail, and paid to work. Prisoners earned $1.60 per eight-hour day worked with 80 cents going to the prisoner and the remainder going to the government. Prisoners who did not work received $3 per month to spend in the canteen compared to the $13 those who worked had to spend."

camp is now a corn field, or was a corn field, looking east

The metal building in the upper center is the only original building remaining. T-9 was originally a maintenance building. It is now privately owned, but the POW Camp Concordia Preservation Society is hoping to purchase it and convert it to a museum. 

"POWs were used as labor on farms, the ice plant, (the railroad), and within the camp. Many of the POWs were farm boys and enjoyed working on the local farms. They especially enjoyed the home cooked meals they were fed at the farms.

Prisoners could purchase beer, Coca-cola, pipes, tobacco, cigarettes, soap, toothpaste, paper and ice cream."

more corn field to the west

When not working, "prisoners took part in many activities including sports, reading, painting, crafts, watched movies, performed plays, and even started orchestras and bands."

The POWs had their own newspaper.

"The camp had two libraries and POWs attended classes accredited through the University of Kansas allowing many to study who may have never had the opportunity to attend college in their own country,"

geese flying overhead during our visit

"On May 7, 1945 the Germans officially surrendered. The last prisoners departed October 31, 1945, with the camp closing on November 8, 1945."

Some interesting facts from the brochure:

* 793 American Military

* 171 Civilians

* 3,102 German enlisted

* 1,015 German officers

* POW deaths - 8 (1 shot, 1 natural, 6 suicides)

* American deaths - 2

* Escapes -2

A map of the camp and more information and photos of what the camp USED TO look like can be found on the web site: Camp Concordia WW2 POW Camp  Camp Concordia was one of three POW camps in Kansas during WWII.

Kansas BBQ

Our winter migration started Wednesday morning, finally. Light snow fell most of the afternoon, finally disappearing mid-Nebraska. No sunshine today, hopefully Thursday afternoon. The roadways were good even though the temperatures were in the high 20s in SD. It did warm up the farther south we drove. And that is the whole idea of heading south for the winter...warmer temps!

We got as far as Concordia KS the first day. The hotel desk clerk recommended a BBQ place for dinner. Good food, interesting decor and story.

Phone pictures in poor lighting leave much to be desired.

 Wall mural explaining the business name. It seems the owner is an outdoor and sports enthusiast...to the extreme.

skis on the ceiling

and wall

POW  Camp on the geocaching agenda tomorrow

Concordia is home to the Orphan Train Museum

(another trip & time)

a brick factory, 

a brick wall mural (my 1000th cache)

a number of interesting museums

the story of the 2-seater bike was funny

the rarely used, mostly unloved, 2-seater bike

the Tack Room decor from the family farm

dating from the late 1870s

Avon

No, not Avon SD. Avon, like door-to-door sales and order from a catalog.

I grew up with Avon products and merchandise. My mother would order now and then from a woman in our community. It was a way to have beauty products on hand when getting to a drugstore was not possible. When acne found me as a teenager, I used some Avon products to try and rectify the horror of teenage pimples. I don't remember that it worked all that well.

When I began teaching in a small community, like my mother, I ordered from the Avon lady. Jewelry, perfume, and other products because trips to a drugstore weren't daily or weekly happenings. Our nearest 'city' was 70 miles away.

When we moved to H20town in 1975, Curt transferred to a local National Guard unit and through the Guard Auxiliary, I met Judy, an Avon sales rep. Judy would stop at the house for a few minutes, chat and leave the sales brochures for the month. If I wanted something, I would call her home and place my order. She would return one or two weeks later with the products and more brochures.

Judy always looked like a million dollars. Her hair was washed and styled at a shop. Her makeup was perfection. She often wore dresses and high heels. She would be sporting the newest Avon jewelry or perfume. Sometimes, she brought the newest products to show her customers and entice them/me to buy. Over the years she knew what each of her customers preferred and she catered to those needs and wants. I remember her showing beer steins, Christmas ornaments and decorating items. I never felt pressured to buy any of the products. I bought Avon things because I liked them; it was and is a good company with good products.

Judy was a petite, busty, plus-size woman. When Avon started to sell clothes, it was a bonus to ask her if something might fit me, because of our similar body attributes. She was always honest and usually, accurate.

Only once as far as I know, Avon sold a terry cloth shower wrap. It was available in several sizes, including a size for a busty woman. I don't remember if it came in a color other than white. I ordered one based on Judy's size recommendation. I liked it so much I ordered a second, to "have on hand". I have worn the Avon white terry cloth shower wrap for 20+ years. It is a bit ratty, but I like it so much, I can not bear to part with it.

Before Christmas Target advertised a terry shower wrap for $10. I searched all over the local store looking for the shower wrap. Finally, after asking for some assistance, I found them and bought two. I brought them home and tried one on. No way was that bit of patterned terry cloth able to cover my body. They went back to the store. And the hunt continued...online. I found a company that promised their product was a plus-size. I ordered it in blue to compliment my eyes. (Like anyone is going to see me in my shower wrap!) It arrived in two days. (Isn't Amazon amazing?)

It is a heavier terry cloth material, has a two-inch elastic band, and does cover my body. I just haven't decided if I am ready to toss the old white ratty one.


There is one other item that I think I got through Avon many years ago. If it didn't come from Avon, I apologize to all the Avon reps who might be reading this. This item is also older than dirt and has become my new best friend.

I have used the lighted, magnifying make-up mirror off and on over the years. It was very handy when I broke my ankle and my leg and could not stand for 3 months. Hubby used it this fall for shaving when he was unable to stand at a bathroom sink.

After my facial hair experience last month, I decided maybe I should use the lighted, magnifying mirror when examining my face. This topic has been a conversation item at some of my meetings and gatherings lately. Some women just don't understand the need or concern and others give advice. This tool will be making the trip to AZ this month. It was amazing what I could see with the magnifying lighted mirror, especially after thinking I had plucked and tweezed all the embarrassing facial offenders. 

I have no idea if the product is sold anywhere, anymore. I am glad I had mine tucked away on the top shelf, in the corner, of the linen closet.

Although Judy has retired as an Avon rep, I continue to use some of their products; items I prefer over other brands and companies.  I now purchase the items at a market/swap meet. Walk in, pick up what I want and need, pay the cashier and I am on my way. My kind of shopping!

New Chairs? NOT!

I always check the weekly newspaper ad from a local furniture store. I don't NEED new furniture, but since Hubby's hip replacement and broken leg bone mishap, we are more aware of the size and seat height of the sofa and chairs on the main level. My mother also has issues when she comes to visit, which is several times a year. Although the chairs have good arms, they are hard to get out of because of the low seat height and the age of the furniture. So although I don't NEED new chairs, I am always looking...just in case.

And that was the case a couple of weeks ago. The colored ad from the local store showed a comfy reclining arm chair with a seat height of 41 inches. The colors would work with the walls and couch until it could be replaced. Hubby and I made a visit to the store, sat in the chairs, discussed colors, made a decision and wrote the check. Chairs would be delivered on Thursday of the following week.

Two strong young men knocked on the door at 8:30 AM. (That should have been an omen; they said they would arrive between 9 and 9:30.) They carried the two chairs into the room and placed them for perfect TV and fireplace viewing.

I sat in the chocolate chair off and on all day. I LOVED it. Great height. Easy to sit down and get up. My feet touched the floor. The recliner level was comfortable. The seat length was good. I LOVED it.

But as I sat there thinking about how the furniture could be arranged other than its current plan, I was befuddled. I like the couch to be in the position of the chocolate chair now and then as it provides a nice divide between the dining and living spaces. Having the couch as the divider also provides the proper placing for the sofa table, which only works when the couch is the divider. Right now the sofa table is under a window and blocks the view of the fireplace, from the position of the chocolate chair.

There would be no way for the couch and one or the other of the chairs to be aligned as a 'room-divider' and allow a pathway for walking between the two.  At least one of the chairs has to be in the position of the chocolate or tan one because of the position of the TV and fireplace. I could get a smaller couch, in the future, but if the couch is too small, there is not enough seating space. This is the main entertaining space in our home. 

As comfortable as the two new chairs were, they totally dominated the room. I placed one of the chairs currently in the room to show how much larger the new chairs were. At 4:00 I called the furniture store and told the manager I wanted to take advantage of the 90 days satisfaction guarantee. I told him I really liked the chairs but they just did not work in the space I had.

The same two strong young men were back to the house in 30 minutes and hauled the chairs back to the store. For 7 hours I enjoyed the perfect arm/side chair. The hunt will continue...

Gourmet Gals

In the fall of 1975 a small group of us got together at a monthly Welcome Wagon meeting to start a new Gourmet Club. The purpose of the Welcome Wagon monthly meetings was to get to know other new to Watertown women. There were card groups, craft groups, couples groups for pinochle and cooking. The previous Welcome Wagon gourmet group had 12 members and felt that was the right size for entertaining in members' homes. If others were interested in gourmet cooking and eating, a new group had to be started. I was one of the charter members. New to the community women could join the group through the Welcome Wagon meetings. Women would come and go for various reasons. In the late 70's WW was no longer a funded community program, so Carol (the other charter member) and I would ask neighbors, colleagues, or friends to join the group as other women left. Our group never had more than 12 members, and usually it was less. Women continued to come and go as they left the community or circumstances changed in their lives. Most of us were young mothers, with a career and husband, meeting once a month to eat an out-of-the-ordinary meal and drink wine. We treasured those once a month gatherings. (Carol's husband called us the gallon of the month club.) As our families grew, so did our bond.

Some years we had themes for our meals. Often we cooked new recipes for the group that were never cooked again. At one time I created a cookbook of some of our recipes over the years. One member in our group, Kathe, can recall dishes cooked by other members from YEARS back. Some of us have found favorite recipes that we continue to make many years later (Marilyn's Cranberry Jello). Sometimes the entree was a complete flop, like the Irish meal Lorraine and I attempted.

In the early years it was cooking to impress. Many hours went into planning and preparing the meal, the table setting, the appetizer and the dessert. The meal often was five courses. There were creatively folded cloth napkins and napkin rings, lighted candles and center pieces. To distinguish our gourmet group from the original WW gourmet group, we named our club Cuisine Limited. We always had more than 8 members so I rarely could use my eight-place-setting of wedding china. I bought dishes to feed 12+ (my first set of Corelleware) and crystal goblets for wine and water, for 12.

As the years passed we got to the stage of hamburger and chicken. We have gone to pot luck in the later years and drank less wine. Now as we have aged, there are dietary restrictions for some. We no longer prepare a five-course meal. We eat out, supporting the economy of our community, trying out new eating establishments.

We are now a group of 8 who have been together for 20 years or longer. One of our long-time members passed away last year at the age of 61. Although we should have more time now that our families are grown or we ourselves have retired, we no longer meet each month. We do lunch and happy hour now and then and maybe two or three times throughout the year, we gather at someone's home for dinner and and a glass of wine.

Tonight (Thursday) was that night. The food was nothing spectacular. I needed to clean out my freezer so I furnished the entree from Sam's Club, lasagne. Chips and dip were available with the first glass of wine. Salad was served before the main dish. Ice cream with fruit topping and coffee completed the evening's dining. It was all good and tasty, and no one spent hours preparing anything.

The evening was made special by the stories and laughter shared amongst 8 women who have been together through good times and bad; through births and weddings of our children and baby showers for our grandchildren; through job changes and address changes; through funerals of our spouses, our parents and our friends. (I am the only one who is living in the same house all these years. None of us are divorced. There is about a 25 year age difference between the youngest and the oldest.)

Think about it ladies, we ARE a unique and amazing group of eight women. Thank you for many great memories and an evening of laughter and joy. Let's do this again, soon!

Cuisine Ltd.

January 2015

Update on Hubby

Thought you might like to know the outcome of Hubby's latest eye surgeries and his progress with walking, unaided.

The eye business has been going on for six+ months. He disagrees. We saw the world-renown eye specialist regarding cataract surgery on June 23rd. It is now January. It is seven months. Because of his severe astigmatism we were told at the very first visit more than one surgery would be required to get his eyesight to the point of happiness...Hubby's happiness and the surgeon's happiness. After Wednesday's surgery he is getting much closer to that happiness point.

Wednesday's surgery included a LASIK on the left eye to correct the cataract lens implant and a YAG surgery on the right eye to 'tweak' the vision. He had a previous YAG on the left eye, but that procedure did not bring satisfaction. The check-up and testing this morning with a local optometrist showed vision has improved in both eyes! Woo Hoo! I have been waiting five months to hear this news. I will no longer have to be the nighttime driver.

Walking unaided is going well. He started using the cane while I was in isolation last month and has not used the walker since that time. He uses the cane when we leave the house, especially on the snow and ice we are encountering. He uses two walking sticks when he walks each morning at an indoor facility. The two sticks help with balance, gait and posture. I was introduced to the two walking sticks by a friend in AZ when I was recovering from my broken ankle & hip years ago. I am a firm believer in the positive therapy provided through the two sticks. Walking in warm weather and sunshine will also help.

Speaking of warm weather and sunshine, we are heading south on January 21st...if the weather cooperates! The second Woo Hoo for the day!

The Side-Effects of No Thyroid

It has been two months since my thyroid was removed, surgically, from my neck. It was a "working just fine" cancerous thyroid. It is now two weeks since I have been on a thyroid replacement pill. No one has told me how long it takes for the pill to really kick in and replace the "working just fine" but cancerous thyroid. I have been told it could take a year, or longer to get the dosage 'just right'.  A YEAR???? Does the correct dosage equal working just fine????

In the meantime, I have looked for and not really found a list of symptoms I might experience during this thyroid-less, waiting for the pill-to-pick-up-the-slack time frame. Discussions with others who have experienced similar thyroid issues did not touch on the changes I have noticed. One doctor told me the only symptom related to the thyroid would be lack of energy. I really haven't experienced that since early November. Another doctor said, when I shared some of the changes I had noticed, that all were related to the thyroid and lack thereof. I really didn't experience any of the possible side effects from the radioiodine treatment. So in the interest of baring my soul and educating the public, I am going to share the changes I have noticed, particularly those I have experienced in the last two to three weeks.

Dry Skin: Yes, this could be because I am residing in the northern part of the US in winter, but I don't think the alligator hide on my index fingers is due to cold temperatures. I am no longer washing my hands as often as I was during the quarantine period. I apply lotion several times a day. I have bought special healing lotions for my hands and feet, but they are not getting better. My lips are also super dry. The balms I have used in the past for dry, chapped lips are not proving any help right now. I am blaming the thyroid, or lack of thyroid for this issue which I noticed about two months ago.

Aching Joints: Again, not sure if this is due to the winter temps in SD or my age, but it seems to be worse than usual. One doc said to keep taking the Tums to replace the calcium. Another said the joint ache is a direct correlation to the missing thyroid. My GP questioned taking all the Tums AND calcium tablets. So I am still confused and will also blame the aching joints on the missing thyroid. This also started two months ago, but then so did the cold weather...

Voice Changes: This is one I expected, especially with two back-to-back surgeries in the same area and then the swallowing of the radioiodine pill. I find people have trouble understanding me when I am talking on my cell phone. I don't 'hear' my voice differently. I REALLY noticed the change when I tired to sing the Christmas carols at the Christmas Eve church service. I used to be a soprano, although not a very good one. Now???? A tenor and I am even worse at that! I am not sure if my voice will get back to 'normal'.  I KNOW this is a direct result of the thyroid surgeries and cancer treatment. (I did hear of a 21 year-old who lost her voice permanently after thyroid cancer. I won't complain about my tenor voice. I won't sing as loudly as I used to sing.)

Nose Bleeds: This is a recent issue. When and IF I have a sore and bleeding nose, it is because there is not enough humidity in the air. That is why we have a humidifier going in our bedroom in AZ from the day we arrive to the day we leave. That is also why we have a humidifier attached to the furnace here at home. The humidity is now set to almost 50% and I am still having issues with a sore, bleeding nose. Since I have NOT had this issue last this long before, I am also blaming this one on the lack of a thyroid. (Again, this is not a serious issue, just an irritation.)

Distasteful Taste: This is a very recent aggravating issue, also. One of the radioiodine side effects could have been a metallic taste and/or dry mouth. I have had the dry mouth issue for a couple of years and have tried different toothpastes and mouth washes. I have recently found a product that seems to be helping at night. (I wonder if the cancer might have been causing the dry mouth????) I didn't experience the metallic taste during or after the radioiodine treatment, but in the last few days I have a distasteful taste...before I eat, after I eat, when I drink water, after I brush, before I brush, before the mouth rinse, after the mouth rinse. Chewing gum doesn't make a difference, nor does lozenges. This one has me puzzled. I think I will blame the missing thyroid for this one, too.

Facial Hair: OK. This is baring my soul. I have been plucking, trimming, shaving facial hair for several years...maybe more than several. It isn't a topic of conversation with my book club or other gal pals...it is just something one does...behind closed doors...in the privacy of the bathroom. I try to "clean-up" before going out to eat with friends, or appointments, or hospital stays, or camping trips...you get the idea. I have installed stronger/brighter light bulbs in ALL the bathrooms. I have purchased stronger reading glasses for this grooming ritual.
          So near the end of my week in quarantine, preparing for the second body scan and my return to society, I took the stronger reading glasses into the basement bathroom to check my eye brows. But before I even looked at the top half of my face, my eyes widened in dismay to see not one or two but dozens of LONG, BLACK hairs growing from my cheeks, my chin, my neck! Where in the H*** did these come from?  I am so glad no one has seen me! OMG! These things of horror have grown in just four days! Black? The hair on my head is becoming gray! Is this what I have to look forward to now that I don't have a thyroid??????
          Rosie O'Donnell had an afternoon talk show (1996-2002) years ago. I happened to see the show when she addressed the issue of a rogue hair growing on her body. (I don't remember where exactly the hair was growing.) It was measured and discussed for several weeks. I remember thinking how weird. Rogue hair. Weird, because I didn't have that issue at that time and I didn't know if every woman had rogue hair or just Rosie? But looking at my face that Monday evening, Rosie's show flooded my brain as I plucked and tweezed my own long, rogue, facial hairs.
          Now that I have been on the thyroid replacement pill the long, black, rogue facial hairs have not reappeared. However, I continue to check...often. (And now, you will too, every time you see me!)


When I visited with my GP earlier this week, I asked to see the report from the first, 2006 thyroid ultrasound. It stated there were three nodules in the right lobe and one in the left. All were small in size, but should be watched and followed-up with ultrasounds in the future. Since I was not exhibiting any thyroid issues, nothing had been done. I praised my GP for noticing the lack of follow-up and thanked her for ordering the September ultrasound that found the cancer.  She smiled and said, "By the Grace of God."

There has been no report from the endocrinologist regarding the last body scan. I don't know if that is a "No News Is Good News" deal or if I won't hear anything until my appointment with him on January 20th. I do know he was on vacation during Christmas week. There was a holiday this past week and that may have affected a report or his schedule.

It is what it is...