Another Chance Ranch

Cupcake Testing

Today, I am tasting different cupcakes. First, we tried cupcakes from Red Velvet Cupcakery.

We tried Cookies & Cream, Birthday Cake, and Black Velvet.

This afternoon we will be trying some others. I'll fill you in on those later today.

If I Were A Real Writer

If I were a real writer I think I could basically write a novel based on my own life.  I would change all the names to protect the innocent, of course, but I would lay it all out there for the world to read.  I honestly don't think anyone else would be interested in writing it for me, so it won't ever get written. 

Yesterday, I sat on the couch watching McD lounge in his recliner watching Alaska State Troopers.  I started thinking about how far we have come. You tell me, should I write a book or what?

As of today, McD and I have been married twenty years and one day. 

When we met at church in February of 1991, everyone there was all for us dating.  Then we got engaged in December, and people turned against it.  We weren't sure why, but oh well.  Some of the people completely against our marriage were family members.  Their opinions did not stop us.  We went to a church in a different town, spoke to the preacher, and set the date.  January 8, 1992.  Believe it or not, at that time I was not evening thinking about Elvis' birthday being the same day. I just happen to be a huge Elvis fan.

The day of my wedding I woke up with the flu.  Not just a few of the flu-like symptoms, the full fledge flu.  Some say that was an omen, but it didn't stop us.  I leaned on my dad as he walked me down the aisle, and when he passed my hand to McD I started leaning on him.  I've always leaned on my daddy, so how fitting was it to then lean on the love of my life at that point.  It was kind of symbolic, don't ya think?  Don't get me wrong, I still lean on my daddy and I am pretty durn sure that I always will.

We were married several years, and hit a rough patch.  At the time, in my mind, none of it was my fault.  Now, looking back, I know that it does take two to make everything work.  We separated, and almost got a divorce.  But we didn't.  We chose to work it out, and sixteen years later we are closer than ever.

We dealt with an ex-wife that did not like me, but honestly I didn't care for her much back then either. 
Just keeping it real here for ya.  We are completely fine these days.  In fact, I kind of like her.  :)

My dad was electrocuted, and that was a major tragedy in our family, but he recovered and is doing well these days. 

I dropped dead in 1999.  They got me back, and I didn't think I could ever get closer to McD after that. 

Life flew by, and it was pretty normal - whatever normal means.  We had grandbabies, lights of our lives!  Weddings.  College graduation - mine. (Go O-State!) 

I quit my job in 2009, I think, and that was the first time I have ever been unemployed.  I started my job as ranch hand.  That is what McD calls it.  I basically fed the cows, and anything else he asked me to do around here.

Then, last year (2011) I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Just when I thought McD and I couldn't get any closer, we did.  He has been by my side every step of the way.  He is my rock.

That is just part of the story of our lives, minus some of the juicy details. :)

Thank you for standing by me through all of this, McD.  I couldn't have made it without ya!  Love you Babe!

New Year's Resolutions? Or Not?

I don't like making New Year's Resolutions.  I just don't.

If I am going to be honest about it, it is because I don't keep them.  Really, who does?

I set goals this year.

I feel confident enough that I can reach my goals, so I will share them with you.  Usually, I won't share them because I am afraid I won't keep them and then everyone else will know I didn't keep them. 

Not this year!!

This year, I am putting it all out there.

Goal 1: Is to read the Bible in one year.  I have started this several times, and failed several times.  Not this time.

Goal 2: Is to lose weight.  Not just through out the year, but by March.  I am going to Hawaii in March, and I want to be able to fit into some of my cuter clothes. 

Two goals! 

That is all for now, but I might set more throughout the year. 

How about you?

Goals? Or Resolutions? (Yes, I know...they are kind of the same thing. Just play along.) :)

Happy New Year!!

Need Some Christmas Gift Ideas?

Today, I made a short list of books that I think everyone should read over on ENLR.

Please head over there and check them out! 

Tomorrow,  I will show you my favorite four-year-old feeding cattle.

A List & A Real Life Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots, minus the boots, lives here with me.  Just so you know.

Tonight I am going to see Buddy aka The Cake Boss, and I am almost giddy about it.  Silly, huh?  I may need to take binoculars so I can actually see him from our seats! 

I really should be cleaning house instead of sitting here playing on the computer.

My hair has started growing back.

I'm getting ready to lose at least one fingernail.  It is really gross!

I have the most amazing husband in the world.  Don't even try to compare yours, I'm just sayin'!

I have a really good friend that stood in line for hours to get me an autographed copy of The Cake Boss's new book!  I love you, Anya!

We got 2.5 inches of rain yesterday!!  Thank you Lord!

We've experienced earthquakes! Crazy!!

Our OSU Cowboys are ranked #2!  Go Pokes!!

I'm reading a really interesting book, can't wait to share it with you!

I'm a procrastinator!

I ate a brownie for supper last night!

I am looking forward to spending the weekend with some dear friends that I don't see nearly enough.

I miss my seester! A lot!

And I have to get my hiney into gear so I can make some things happen today!  Good things!  I hope to tell you more about them later! 

Have a great day everyone!!

Hello? Anybody Out There?

Okay, I've been away from the blog for a while.  I don't really have a good excuse.  I could make something up, but I just don't want to.  I'm not that creative anyway.

Sure, part of the time I had an excuse.  Chemo knocked me on my butt fast this time, and I didn't recover as fast as I think I should.  Maybe my body is just tired.  It could've been because I had just returned from Rhode Island, and I was just tired. 

Who knows.

All I know is that I've missed you guys!

I don't really have anything important to say. 

I am doing well. (Now.)

I only have one more chemo treatment!!  YEAH!!

It seems some of the side effects are just now starting which is kind of surprising me.  My eyes started watering all the time.  At first I thought it was my allergies, so I took allergy medicine and it didn't help.  When I finally saw my doctor, he told me that it could be a side effect of the chemo.  Great!  I look like I am crying all. the. time.  The skin under my eyes is red and almost raw from me wiping the tears away all the time.  Nice. 

We have decided that we will not be doing Christmas photos this year.  At first I thought it would be a fun photo to have.  You know, since McD and I are both bald and all.  But, I have gained a lot of weight, I look like I am crying all the time, and redness under my eyes.  I really don't want my photo taken right now.  Can you blame me?

Oh, and to make everything even better...I think I am getting ready to lose my fingernails. 

Yep.  You read that right.

I feel like someone shoved something up under all of my fingernails and then just left it there.  I am pretty used to it now, but when I have to apply pressure to anything I certainly feel it.

The other night I described what it felt like to McD, and he looked at me kind of funny.  Then he asked me if I've ever had anything shoved under my fingernails.  And I have.  One day we were working outside and I got a splinter way up under my fingernail.  I worked for a doctor at the time, and he met me at the office to remove the splinter.  He had to ram some tweezer like things up under my nail to get the splinter out.  It hurt like h e double hockey sticks, but...I didn't cry.  :) 

So yes, McD, I do know what it feels like to have something shoved up under my fingernail.  :)

That is kind of my update, and my apology to leaving everyone hanging lately.

I'll try to be better.

 

Let's Be Honest...

I want to write something, but I have no idea what to write. 

How Not To Fight A Fever

When I had my first chemo treatment they went over a bunch of different things with me.  One of which was what to do if I got a fever.  A fever to a chemo patient is not a good thing. 

When one thinks of getting a fever it is usually 101 or higher, but when you are a chemo patient it is different. 

I was told that if I get a fever of 100.5 then I was to call the nurse, no matter what time.  So, I did.  At 2:30 on a Saturday morning, I called the nurse; my fever had gotten to 100.9 in the night.  I called the number, gave my name, birthdate, phone number, and then told them about my fever.  I was told that they would give my message to the nurse and she would call me back.  This was exactly how I was told it would happen, but I was also told that if they didn't call back within thirty minutes that I was to call back again.  Again, this is what I did.

When you are lying there not feeling well, and waiting on top of that, time seems to move so slowly. 

Nurse Nancy called back, and told me what I could do to get my fever down.  She said that I could take Tylenol, and I could use cold packs under my arms and on the back of my neck. So, this is what we did.  I had to call the nurse several times over the weekend, and on one of those calls she mentioned that I could take a cool bath to bring my temp down.

She was a very nice nurse.  In fact, she even called me on Sunday to check on me, but I couldn't get to the phone because I was shivering in the cool bath when she called.  When we called her on Monday, July 4th, and told her that I still had the fever she consulted with the doctors and sent me to the ER.  I was admitted to the hospital and spent two nights there.

On Tuesday, the doctor came to see me.  He asked about my fever, how I tried to break it, and then he told us how not to fight a fever.  I bet you can guess.

How not to fight a fever - do not place ice packs under your arms or on the back of your neck, and do not get in a cool bath. 

Really.  That is what he said.

Mothers have been doing that for years!  Well, the cool bath anyways.  My mom always put a cool wash cloth on our forehead and then if she absolutely had to, a cool bath.  I will never forget getting a cool bath when I was a kid.  I cried.  It was cold!  It felt like torture.

The doctor said the reason that we shouldn't fight fever that way is because when we apply the cold our blood vessels constrict, and it makes our core temperature rise.

I felt like I should pass this information along.  I hope it helps someone else.

Here's Your Assignment

Compliment someone today. 

Compliment a complete stranger. 

Have you ever received a compliment from someone and have it brighten your whole day?

Do that for someone else.

Don't worry about coming back here and telling me who you complimented, or what you said, yada yada.  The only thing that matters to me is that you make someone else feel good about themselves, what they are wearing, etc.

You can leave stories about how you've been complimented in the past and how it made you felt.  I think it would be fun to read those types of stories.  What do you think?

I will even try to add one to the comments a little later. I am late for a lunch date right now. :)

Threes - Part 3

I mentioned in Part 2 that I had an announcement to make.  I've already made the announcement on Facebook, and on Twitter, but I wanted to make a special announcement here.

Yesterday, I made a pretty big decision.  I decided to stop writing on the Testify blog.  There were several reasons for me wanting to stop writing there, but those really shouldn't matter. 

There are several of us that have decided to leave the group, and I wanted to make sure that all of you had links to each of our personal blogs.  You obviously have the link to this one, so I will share the others. 

Anya just recently started her own blog called Shenanyagans.  She will be writing some of the same kind of content that she posted on Testify, but it will be more like the way I do things.  Here and there; we aren't gonna thump you in the head with a Bible, but we will be voicing our religious beliefs. 

Beth has several blogs.  And as you can see, there is one about her journey to a healthier her, her faith walk, her being a work in progress, and one that ties them all together.  You will be glad you stopped by.

 

 

 

Both of these women are excellent writers, and have lots to say.  I love the way they are open and honest about things.  It is my hope that you will continue to follow each of them, and encourage them.  That is in fact what our goals were from the beginning, to encourage one another.