My week

4-17-09 routine brain

This week Greg is in San Francisco for a work conference. Originally we had planned that I would join him and we would make this into a vacation. However, since we bought the 2nd house, our budge doesn’t have as much loose change lying around, and I need to watch how I spend my vacation time since I’m saving up for time off this summer for family reunions.

I do have wonderful memories of another trip I made to SF with Greg in 2003. It's fun to look back at these pictures now. That was a good trip with nice weather. My favorite part was either the boat ride in the bay, or the bike ride we took along the bay on a rented tandem bike.


I am disappointed that I won’t have the chance to visit a cool couple, Jeff and Deb, who now live in SF. Jeff was Greg’s boss in 2000 and Deb played am important part in my life in 2001. Deb was my "personal life coach" when I was trying to figure out if I should stick with my current job. I was unhappy at that time. Deb gave me good advice and had me write down the plus side of my job and the negative side of my job. I then discovered that the few negative things that bothered me the most; I did have some control over. Thus I took control and was able to make some positive changes that worked for me. I really wanted to reconnect with Deb since she has had a rough 6 months due to the loss of two family members. I guess it will have to wait until another opportunity. Sorry Deb!

So instead of being on vacation this week, this is what I did:

1. Worked of course, Monday-Friday, I spent most of my time on a breast cancer quality control project and a few other smaller projects. And I either prevented a law-suit or helped save a cancer patient from a recurrence (see yesterdays post).

2. I wrote a Letter to the Editor for the Des Moines Register Newspaper and I received a call that it would be published if there was room this coming week.

3. Monday evening I had dinner with my friend Ann Marie and we watched Dancing with the Stars.

4. Tuesday after work I walked and visited with some neighbors as I made my way down the street.

5. Tuesday evening I watched American Idol.

6. Wednesday after work I raked the front yard garden and mowed the front yard. I was worn out then, so took a hot bath and blogged a bit before bed.

7. Thursday after work I had my monthly Jin Shin Jyutsu (it’s an acupressure type treatment). Boy I needed that and I could tell I was starting to drag.

8. Thursday night I watched the 2nd episode of "that island wedding killing show" on CBS. I wouldn't have watched, but my friend Molly got me started last week. I'm going out on a limb with my prediction- I believe the killer is the sheriff!

My week definitely was not as exciting as it could have been if I was in SF with Greg, but with my "split-in-two-life" there is a sweetness and need for routine. Plus this week I am enjoying perfect Iowa spring weather for a change.... the daffodils are at their peak, the yellow forsythia are in bloom and the grass is greening up fast.

Wednesday I made a difference

4-16-09 surprised brain
I don’t blog much about my 9 to 5 job. I guess after 25 years working for the State Central Cancer Registry it has become pretty routine for the most part, but Wednesday something very cool happened. I was visiting one of the hospitals in my territory helping with a quality review of their cancer data which gets sent into the Central Registry.

One particular prostate case, a 51 year old white male, had surgery and I noticed that there were positive surgical margins noted on the pathology report which means there was a chance that a small amount of cancer remained in this patient. In this case, one would expect this patient to receive adjuvant radiation treatment, but I didn’t see this information in the abstract I was reviewing. I wondered if this information had been missed, so I asked to see the follow up records from the urologist to see if this had been discussed with the patient, but there was no documentation of this in the medical records. The nurse I was working with then called the urology office and inquired. Lo and behold the positive margin information had been missed and they would now make sure that this patent would be contacted for a return appointment. Being a “young” patient, it will be important for this guy to get adjuvant treatment to prevent a recurrence.

If there is a lesson in this at all, it is to take an active part in your health care. If you have surgery, ask for a copy of your pathology report and have your family doctor or someone else to review this and explain what it all means. Second opinions are a good thing if you feel uneasy about anything. Also seek help from the American Cancer Society. They have a great program called the "Patient Navigator Program". They provide this free service to help cancer patients make informed decisions, and understand treatment options, as well as emotional support and day to day help with transportation and lodging.

I like their motto: Having cancer is hard, Finding help shouldn't be.

www.cancer.org 1-800-227-2345

Yes, I will "chuck it"

4-15-09 determined brain
After re-reading my posts from the last few days, and reflecting back on the Easter sermon at my church Sunday, I have come to a decision. I AM now going to have to put Steve Deace on my “Chuck-it” list. Steve Deace is one of the local conservation radio talk-show hosts I occasionally listen to while I drive in the car.

If you view life as a game (which I don’t necessarily do), at times you have to decide which “team” you want to be on. I’ve decided I still want to continue to be on the team that does NOT use words like “sodomy” and “baby killers” to describe a certain group of people. I don’t want to be on that team which appears to use fear to motivate people.

Our new pastor, Stu, during his Easter sermon, made some good sense to me when sharing the good news of the risen Christ. He said that our life, and they way we live it, is shaped by our vision of DEATH. If we are people who don’t believe that Jesus overcame death, then we are people who worry about safety, desire revenge, and want protection against those who appear to be different. OR if we are people who believe in Jesus and life after death, then we are people who believe in God’s everlasting life and love, and these people show this in by living without fear, believe in forgiveness, live with hope, and strive to "love your neighbor as yourself”.

I guess that means I need to try to love Steve Deace in spite of my beef with him. That’s going to be a challenge for me, but I know I can with the help of God’s love. But still, I’m going to put listening to the Steve Deace radio show on my “chuck it” list……. (I'm sure Steve won't even miss me)........ Until perhaps that unsuspecting day when God’s mysterious ways inspire me to tune in the radio as I drive in the car just minding my own business! I’ll still stay vigil to any opportunity to "be used" or to “feed a hungry bird” ...if that opportunity presents itself.

*Picture: Easter Garden at Westminster Church 2009

A bag of popcorn

4-14-09 inspired brain
This blog post will either illustrate that God works in mysterious ways….. or that I am insane.

This experience happened last month on the Saturday I was in KC helping Greg get moved from our apartment into the new house. We made a trip to Kmart to buy a few cleaning supplies and such. On the way there, close to the store, coming in on a side road, we saw two geese in an unlikely place. One was sitting next to the sidewalk and the other appeared to be standing guard. My brain instantly retrieved a piece of information I had heard on some TV show…. The fact that geese, on their migration trips, will never leave a sick or dying member alone. They stay in pairs and watch out for each other.

So of course me, being the acutely sensitive animal lover that I am, I assumed this must be the case. As we arrived at the store, my mind became fixated on only one mission….. I needed to find some food for those birds….. to help give them strength to keep flying north. Greg didn’t notice that I had wandered away, looking over the options. There was parakeet food in the pet area …. Maybe some breakfast cereal would work?…. Or a loaf of bread? We often fed the ducks and geese dried bread at the park on the Cedar River, back in my hometown. I needed to find something inexpensive and functional in case the geese were gone on our trip back to the apartment, and I didn’t want to raise Greg’s reservations on my proposal.

I was about ready to give up and was walking up to the check out counter when I spotted a large bag of popcorn. I grabbed it and set it along side with Greg's other purchases. Greg did question me…."You're eating popcorn"?... And with a silly smile, I sweetly said…. “It’s for those geese… I think one might be hurt”. Greg choose not to press me further…. He knows me well and loves me in spite of all the silly things I do. He did drive us back on the same road and was willing to stop the car to let me out to deliver my aid to the two geese. I happily was dumping the bag on the ground and felt relief when I saw them eating it. But I only gave them half of the bag. I’m not sure why really…. And Greg did question me when I got back into the car- why hadn’t I dumped the whole bag out? The first thing that came out of my mouth without any thought was, “there will be other hungry birds back at the apartment”.

As we were almost back to the apartment a few blocks away, on one of the corners of the Plaza, as often is the case, there was a homeless man standing with a sign. This man, instead of asking for money as most signs do, his said “need food”. As we approached and had to stop at the red light, I said, “I wonder if he would want some popcorn?” To my surprise, Greg actually rolled down the window (he usually poo-poos me when I talk to the homeless and give them money)… but maybe Greg is starting to get use to my routine…… Greg handed the half bag of popcorn out the window and the man was very appreciative and said “Thanks! I haven’t had popcorn in years”… As the man was starting to eat, the light changed green and we drove on….. I don’t know about Greg, but I was feeling that JOY of being used!

Who could predict that during a simple trip to Kmart, I could “kill/feed two birds with one "stone/bag of popcorn?”

God’s mysterious ways? ……Or insanity?
You decide for yourself!

The JOY of being used

4-13-09 frustrated brain

This weekend I came close to adding something new to my “chuck it” list.

What do you see here?

The logical side of my brain thinks I should stop trying to engage certain people in a conversation regarding their paradigm, their perception, and opinions on certain topics…. Like is this a vase or is this two faces?.... or topics like homosexuality, gay marriage, and even politics.

Some people seem to enjoy a good discussion and find it interesting to consider both sides of a topic. Others, I have found are closed, and their paradigm and opinions are set hard in stone.

Last year, I have had email exchange with a local conservative radio guy. This week I felt like I had to speak up to him again after listening to him rant about gay marriage on the radio on my drive home from Iowa City, Thursday night. He likes to constantly use the word "sodomy"...... and "baby killers" when describing people who believe differently than he.

When will I learn that I’m just wasting my time? ….. trying to talk to some people….some people like him…..people who like to use the word "sodomy" to get attention........ THIS is an activity I probably need to put in my “chuck it” list.

However, I am also aware that sometimes the spirit urges me to do things beyond normal reason. Sometimes God uses me …. And uses others… and uses you…. And there is often great joy. I don’t want to “chuck” that potential opportunity.

I love this “morning” prayer my Mary Ann Williamson from her book “Illuminata- a Return to Prayer”

Dear God,
I give this day to you.
May my mind stay centered on the things of spirit.
May I not be tempted to stray from love.
As I begin this day, I open to receive you.
Please enter where you already abide.
Make me the person you would have me be.
Direct my footsteps , and show me what you would have me do.
Make the world a safer, more beautiful place.
Bless all your creatures. Heal us all, and use me, dear Lord, that I might know the JOY of being used by you.

The Good News!

4-11-09 holy brain

Tomorrow is Easter, I won’t be posting then….. so after I came back from the Good Friday service last night, I was remembering the experience in 2000 when Greg and I were fortunate enough to make our first trip to Europe, this time with our church choir. Greg and I don’t sing in the choir, but they had a few seats left to fill out their trip, so we jumped at the chance with the encouragement and some monetary support from my parents.

This trip started with a few days in Paris and some of the usual tourist sites of the Louvre and Notre Dame. The choir sang at various sites on our trip including in Notre Dame which was so very cool!



We then made our way by bus down to the south eastern part of France to several smaller villages, then on to Geneva into Switzerland and over the mountains into southern Germany. Our trip’s real purpose was saved for the end,..... to attend the Passion Play at Oberammergau.


This is a 360+ year old tradition for this Germany village to put on the Passion Play every 10 years. It’s an all day event with a break at lunch. I cannot even describe with words the magnitude of this production…. Maybe you can get a glimpse of it by visiting this web site.

http://www.passionplay-oberammergau.com/index.php?id=59


Emotionally for me, it was an extremely moving experience. To see such a real portrait of the crucifixion of Jesus had every cell in my body on overload. During the nailing on the cross, I found myself frozen to my seat in real time…. But in my mind and my soul, I found myself running up to the foot of the cross screaming and wailing "NO! NO! NO!…. you can’t do this to my Lord!" …. I wanted to desperately stop this from happening by calling on the power of all the angels in the Universe. “Save Jesus”!

But what if the crucifixion had been stopped?
Would LOVE, salvation and redemption be in the world as we faithful followers of Jesus believe? Would God’s BIG picture plan for humanity be changed forever? A plan so big that no human can comprehend. And if we think we do understand “God’s way”….the “correct” way…..the “only way”…… are we fools? We need to remember our human perspective is so small, …. as a single grain of sand on the beach.

I was thinking about this in relationship to the Gay Marriage in Iowa. On my prior post on Monday, I probably didn’t report the whole story. Yes, there is much support for providing equal rights under the state law for all people…. However, there also is support opposing this. Very vocal people are screaming … "NO! NO! NO! Marriage is only between a man and a women!"

What if Equal Marriage rights would be stopped?
Which side of this debate is a part of God’s plan? …….. I don't know….. Except the only “clue” I try to use is to remember what Jesus taught….. he stated the most important commandment is: “You must love your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. AND Love your neighbor as yourself”; (Mark 12: 29)….

LOVE is the "clue" for me. Jesus loves us ALL even in our sin and brokenness, nothing can separate us from the love of God. That is the "Good News"!

Happy Easter!

"Chuck-it" list

4-10-09 unbalanced brain

Last week I read something in the Kansas City Star newspaper addressing the topic of a “Chuck-It List”. This is a play off of the 2007 movie, the “Bucket List” staring Jack Nicholson. The “bucket list” is a list of all the things the two old guys in the movie wanted to accomplish in their remaining months (before they kick the bucket).

The twist to this, the Chuck-it List, was the brainchild of comedian Michael Ian Black. His list is all the things you DO NOT need to do before you die. Black’s list included such things as
-Appreciate Mozart more
-Tour Europe’s great cathedrals
-Attend a major-league baseball game in every stadium
-Watch the sunrise
-Drive cross country in an RV

Although I never have seen the Bucket List movie, this had me wondering what my Bucket List might be as well as my Chuck-it List. My Bucket List might include wanting to see the Northern Lights in Alaska before I die, and re-visiting the Grand Canyon one more time and possibly hiking down to the bottom.

I don’t think I’m willing to put much on the Chuck-it List, since I never know what I might be in the mood to do in the future. I like to keep my options open and even if I think something doesn’t sound like too fun to do now…. I’ve learned to… “never say never”.

However, I do remember recently telling Greg something I had come to realize I was too old to do….and I never needed to do this as long as I lived. So something that I can put on my Chuck-it list is….. to purposely roll down a hill, either by somersaults or log rolling. I decided to “chuck” this recently, soon after I did this in October as I celebrated 53rd birthday. Greg and I were walking on a beautiful fall day along the hilly lawns of the KC Art Museum. I had the urge to “act like a kid” again, thus I took off rolling down the hill, and I believe I was screaming as I did it.

It seems that at age... my equilibrium isn’t what it use to be. When I got to the bottom of the hill I was so dizzy I felt as if I was going to throw up…. and on the spot, I regretted that I choose to do this. I also know now that I can “chuck” spinning in circles with my 3 year old nephew.

Then today, as I looked in the mirror, I decided I probably need to “chuck” wearing my hair in pig-tails…. At least not wearing pig-tails out in public. AND maybe I need to "chuck" these pink reading glasses too! ?


Other than that…. I’m still game for most things in life that are moral and legal.

How about YOU? Consider posting your own "Chuck it list" as a blog challenge!