Kathy's chemo went fairly well yesterday. It took them awhile to get all the paperwork squared away and to get the process started, but we're pretty used to that at this point. We had some guests through part of the the 4 hour process, and we also kept entertained by watching the videos at www.willitblend.com. If you want to see some crazy stuff get annihilated in a blender, check out the site.

We are now in room 677. As Kathy has just had chemo, she is considered to be at high risk for infection. We still welcome visitors (it really helps to pass the time), but please be germ conscious when you visit. If you are sick, we would ask that you stay away. However, if you're not sure, the hospital will provide masks to wear while you visit and every room has the waterless hand sanitizer.

It is pretty tough for Kathy to get decent sleep here, but the staff have been very accommodating about adjusting their routine here and there to open up windows for Kathy to get some extra sleep. Of course, she still is looking forward to going home so she can return to getting 8hrs of sleep at night ;)

That's it for now, keep those positive thoughts coming :)

-Jay

Hi all and happy new year!

Well, I'm still hanging in there and keeping my attitude as positive as I can. It can be easier to roll over and just accept the doctor's prognosis, but I've decided that I'm going to be the difficult patient, and not buy into any negativity. I can kick this thing, and I will. :) I'm reaching out and accepting help where I can.

My blog on the diagnosis and process I'm going through is located here:
www.triteq.net/blog

Peace and be well!
~K

Craftwise: Short, flirty skirts for All Souls Procession
Nothing new on the needles.

Brain-stretching at work: I'm learning how to do e-learning by working with Authorware. It's a major transition step for me from normal customer end-user manuals and online help to computer-based training. It combines my need to educate along with my graphic design and tech writing skills, so it's an enjoyable experience. I'm lucky to get such a creative opportunity.

Recently though I've been dealing with a pretty scary real-life experience. And it's become clear to me that I haven't really been living. Just getting by, floating along... you know, letting life lead me around. And I'm bored with that. Time for some changes and time to figure out what is really important to me.

I love dancing. I receive so much joy from practicing and performing tribal that the thrill overtakes me and makes me feel amazing about myself. And I wish to find others that have this same passion that I can share this with. It's time. I've been waiting too long for others to get swept up too, but it's not happening for them like it has for me. I'll have to step out of my comfort zone and reach beyond what I know to find others I can share this joy with. And that is a really scary step....

Peace.

Seems like it's hitting us earlier this year...

On the needles:
* Royal blue bolero top with trinity stitch and tie front in bamboo yarn (!!)

On the sewing machine:
* scarves
* black chiffon midriff-baring top

In life:
Read about the Arabian Spices dvd and promptly had to launch out to get one for myself. Just got it yesterday, and it looks smokin! Can't wait to try out these moves when I have some free time!

Lots of WOW (World of Warcraft) lately -- fun to finally be able to game online with our friends. Gaming grrls rule!

Dancewise:
Working on proper form, poise, and grace with moves.
I've found that it is so important to speak from a common language when dancing with others, moreso with tribal dance. The moves are the phrases spoken, and the performers need to be on the same page of music. If not, the dance is no longer a harmonious blending of voices, but rather a mishmash of solo dancers all vying for their 15 seconds of spotlight. It has ceased to be tribal.

I feel so strongly about this that I went out and spent $40 on materials to make a large portable "mirror" for our practice group. Yep, I could have spent that on costuming or dvds, but it went to the 'mirror.' So, that's my most recent WIP. :)

Cheers and have a wonderful month.

If there's not a pair of knitting needles or crochet hook in my hand, then I'm obviously on the computer... or dancing. :)

Currently on the hook or in queue (4/20'ish/06):
* Macrame-style hippy belt in sunglasses-needed bright green (and pink too, for Aly).
* Tribal halter top for Aly
* Tribal bra for me

Life projects:
* Birthdays and the parties that go with them
* Poi, and lots of that
* Dancing
* Organizing our home office (that'll take awhile)
* WOW (yeah, it's in there somewhere)

It's Birthday season for us (April - June), which means parties of some sort. This upcoming weekend is Aly's cookout and slumber party. Seems like everyone we know has been invited to this.

Then there's my Hafla on mother's day weekend. Always weird having a birthday so close to Mother's Day, but then I was born on that day, so I'm sorta used to it. There's the dancing to coordinate and the poi, not to mention food, places for people to sit (unless they want to sit on the dirt in our backyard), and other stuff. What fun! So busy!

Cheers!
~~K