Some more photos of The Game

Ivy League Champions, AGAIN

What a fantastic game! Pictured in the photo are Sonny, Peter Ajaiy, Brian Sweeney, and Sean Hayes, Sonny's roommates.

We want to thank everyone that came to cheer on the Crimson, and celebrate the victory with us including: The McCracken's,Barnett's, Scott-Barnett, Doney's, Milano, Walling's ,O'Neil's, ! More photo's to come.

The 125th playing of The Game, Harvard vs. Yale

We are so excited to be heading off to Boston tomorrow. The weather will be cold, and the sky will be blue. Harvard is playing for the Ivy League Championship.
Go Crimson! You can catch the game on TV, on the Versus channel, here in OC on cox it is channel 334, beginning at 9 am!

Life is a roller-coaster!

and I don't like them.
You may probably guess that a career in real estate is a challenge right now. You would be right. But in a way, I feel so worthy to my clients, and so focused on the minute details of the everyday financial challenges,,,,that I love what I do! I feel like my knowledge and experience are really helping my clients wade through this financial nightmare , and steal some fantastic real estate deals! That makes me happy!
Personally, our life is cruising right along. I can not believe that Sonny will be playing his last football game, ever, on Nov. 22. We have a huge contingency going to support him. It will be Senior Day, Parent Day and also The Game. We don't know yet if it will be for the Ivy League Championship, like it was last year,,,,someone must beat Brown...but it will be the great rivalry that has existed between the 2 schools for the past 125 yrs. or so. Sonny started playing tackle football in 3rd grade when we moved to Charlotte. The funny thing about football is that there really is no after. Basketball, tennis, track, soccer, all have post college opportunites. Full tackle football, not so much. Sure he will have the opportunity to play flag etc. but it won't be the same. Most college football players hang up their cleats. But some may play on! It is so exciting to watch the MV connection of , Mark Sanchez,,Nick Reed, Konrad Reuland, RJ Toman, the Moline's, and all of the other hard working college athletes. I go to the MV football games now and see the tradition is continuing with great athletes moving on to fantastic college opportunities. Sonny accepted a job with PAAMCO, and is thrilled! He interned with them over the summer and had THE best time. He feels blessed that he will be going into a job that he knows intimately, and also knows the other employees, and best....will be in Orange County! Yeah!
Anothe Senior in our household, Colin. has been conditionally accepted by CalState, Monterey! Yeah! We still have to hear from CalSt Channel Islands, and San Marcos, but we were so excited to know that he is off to College! The lacrosse connection has invited many offers, however they are from private schools, and well, honestly, the off-side, location, cost etc. really can not compare to what Calif. has to offer. Colin wants to start a lacrosse team wherever he ends up....he realized that the game is what he enjoys...and wants to bring it to whatever campus he ends up on.

Many of you know that I am an animal person,,,,as are my kids. Four years ago we decided that we needed a bird, a cockatiel specifically. We headed to the local bird store and returned with "Malloy" named after that aussie surfer dude. He had the bright red cheeks and a yellow and green body. (usually indicative of a male) We didn't have his wings clipped, because we didn't know how to do it,,,and we had a "bird dog" in house.
Yes Thatcher "caught" Malloy once,,,gently in his mouth, as good bird dogs will do, and after a bit of shrill squaking...he dropped him...and he immediatley went after Thatcher...pecking, screeching, and flapping wings in sheer disgust. After that, Malloy would come out of his cage and just strut around,,,and go up to Thatcher and let him know who was boss. Clue, it wasn't Thatcher anymore. Malloy would jump on his back and pull his hair. We didn't really know what this was all about. Then one day we noticed Thatcher's hair in Malloy's cage, with an egg in it! He was a She! We were all excited thinking that we were going to have a baby bird! Then I realized, we still only had 1 bird. Didn't make any difference to Malloy! Now referred to as a she...she sat on that egg..and screeched at anyone that came near.
Malloy laid more eggs over the last 4 years. She was even "caught" by Bentley once, and gave him quite a thrashing once he let her go. Feeling a little guilty about her lack of "open access" to our house....I did feel that I had to be here when she was out and about...I bought her a new house only 3 weeks ago. Lovely three times the size etc...etc.. Thinking back on it now..I'm not so sure she really liked it. Last weekend, I was working on a contract on my computer, and I heard a loud thud. I thought wow...that was quite a jump for her...but then I remembered that her new cage was 2 stories....OK....
I packed up my work and headed up the stairs to bed. I passed her cage to cover her up for the night, and she was on the bottom, still, and dead.
I felt terrible. There is something about having an animal in your care that registers so loudly ...what did I do wrong? What could I have done? did she have a good life?
Her cage is still there. Empty. No more bird songs. Did I mention the time she escaped? We took her cage out to the backyard, on the table. She liked the breeze and sunshine. Somehow she got out. She was gone for 3 days. On the third day, Mairin went walking down the stree, doing the "malloy whistle" and she whistled back! She was on my neighbors 2nd floor windowsill...looking disheveled..and wanting to come home. Remember her wings were not clipped...but she saw Mairin and jumped onto her shoulder with such relief in her eyes! What a world it was for her!
Cockatiels can live for 20 years. We feel like we did something wrong with her.
We miss her. Miss her songs and screeches.
She added so much to our family. Afterall, life is a circle.
Goodnight Malloy. Thanks for all of the great memories.

Harvard vs. Cornell on TV

If any of you are hanging out and don't have plans on Sat, at 9 am....watch the game on Versus TV. Some of you will get the channel...on my Cox,,it is on 334. I will most likely be watching it at our local sports bar, Friends with my Dad. Join us if you feel like it. Sonny is #49. He plays defensive end. He is playing with a high ankle sprain..I hope he does not re-injure it!
Nancy

updates and news

It was homecoming at Mission Viejo tonight. Last night was the football game vs. Murrieta Valley. Our team won, rather handily, and there was a fantastic half time show,,,,and then the homecoming....Melissa was nominated for Queen...and absolutely looked the part as she gracefully dismounted her flying carpet...Mairin was one of 4 Varsity Song girls that choreographed the JR dance for the half-time review. It was really good! The entire production was great. We had some friends visiting that don't yet have high school age kids...and they left very impressed with the game, the students and our girls!

Harvard won vs. Lafeyette,,,27-13. Sonny did not end up travelling because of his high ankle sprain. He was so disappointed not to be with his team. As a senior, every game is so special, whether you play or not.

Well, let me say Happy Birthday to my Uncle Bob in Rock Lake WVA! I hope you had a great bday week!
This last week has been crazy for work...as you can probably imagine. The federal housing bail-out seemed to create a feeding frenzy for good deals in real estate...at least with my clients..! Here in Orange County,,the "real deals" are gone very quickly.

Let me say that I am quite aware of this month's Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
I am SO blessed to have a great prognosis. I take my pills everyday. I am reminded everyday. I see in the mirror everyday. The date of my last chemo was Oct. 14. Wow! I have some new friends that I talk to one on one about their own particular journey. THEY are a blessing. We have so much in common.
I am not quite at the point in my recovery that I can be involved with focusing on the cause. Many of you may not understand this. I just need to feel me again. This sidetrack has been a blessing and a curse. The hard part of this is I don't want to be different. I just want to get back to me. My goal is to feel healed and share my story on a one on one basis. I have met some incredible women with various cancer challenges. We have been brought together because of mutual friends or doctors that know about my particular outlook. For now, that is what I can do.

What an incredible few weeks of my Theta friends going through "rush" again with their daughters! Just going through the college application process is a rush in it's own! I went with Colin last weekend to Cal. St. Channel Islands. We had a great time. He feels like it may be a good fit for him. He said he can start a lacrosse club team,,and join the surf team. The classes are small 15-18 in a class and the campus is somewhat small, yet only a 2 hour train ride home! The colleges that are recruiting him for lacrosse are private,,,and although they are offering scholarships,,,really are still costly.

My goal this year was to slow down and really listen to what my kids were telling me. My favorite quote is "speak without offending, listen without defending"
Wow. Each child is such an indivdual. I love their differences,,and mostly love seeing them enjoy each other. We laugh a lot.

what a weekend!

friday was the first home game for MVHS....Mairin's Godparents, Morgan and Diny Underwood, came down from Pasadena to watch Mairin do her song thing....we had so much fun catching up with them...they just recently enrolled their youngest at USC in the honors program...and are now officially "empty nesters". And they are so proud of introducing their 3 kids to this world with all of them at top rate colleges and are going to be contributing members of our society. I admired the fact that they were looking forward to spending more time with each other, and being on the "outside" of their kids day to day decisions. Must come from confidence in their kids.
Sat. morning I tuned it to the station that was playing the Harvard vs. Brown game.
In between I was getting things organized for our trip to Channel Islands for the college visit with Colin and his friend Dillion and also his Mom.
I had to leave with 2 minutes left in the game...in order to catch the train up to Camirillo...Channel Islands. Harvard was down by a touchdown...H scored..and then had to make the 2 point conversion to win...they didn't make it.
Such a sorry state for our seniors...they took it really hard. Sonny actually sprained his ankle in the first quarter,,high ankle sprain..and played up until the
4th quarter. He is really trying to savor each and every game, practice and team meeting,,,knowing that this is all the last. WOW even though Sonny won't play this weekend.. he will be travelling and supporting his teammates. He really is enjoying this last and final year.
Kevin and I talked and as excited as we are to have him go out with a fantastic year..we are so hopeful that he finishes college with only some minor bumps and bruises..before he heads off to the corporate world.
thanks for staying in touch with us
Nancy

Football days!

I was glued to my computer yesterday, listening to the Harvard vs. Holy Cross football game. Sonny had a large fan base attending, which was awesome! His Dad and Uncle Mike were there, as well as former high school parents, the Tomans and Herren's and Joey. Also, my sorority sister, Darrell's daughter, Gibson and some friends came down from HC to watch the game.
The game was soooooooo exciting, and Harvard pulled it off by scoring 19 pts. in the 4th quarter to win 25-24. Sonny contributed a ton, and had a great time!
The next two weekends are away games, and I think on TV, (satelite, so I'll have to be one of the few fans in a sports bar at 9 am!
I'm sitting here now watching my Bruins vs. Arizona. Come on Bruins! I love Saturdays in the fall!
Nancy

what a great weekend!

I hope you all had a fantastic labor day weekend like I did. First of all I took charge of my crazy hair and had it cut, and highlighted. Shannon did a great job and cut off my "mullet" and thinned it out a lot. I now feel like I have a cute short haircut, instead of my "chemo" hair growing out. I still want to get some length to it, but I am so happy.
Monday early am I met a co-worked, friend of mine for the RSM 5K run/walk. We did it and had so much fun. There were about 1000 of us out there and it was a beautiful morning.
Then Mairin and I headed up to UCLA Rose Bowl to watch the UCLA vs Tenn. game. We joined my friend Cherie and her hubby Mark after seeing their gorgeous new home. We practically lost our voices and stayed for the fireworks. We were proud of our "homeboys--the Molines" (MVHS grads) and had a blast.
Health-wise I got my 3 mo. check-up from my plastic surgeon who removed my stitches and gave me the go-ahead to do upper-body conditioning. I went full-out for 3 days and can hardly move my arms to type. A little over-zealous after not using them for over a year.

Audio postcard

Hey,,,check out this new technology that I just discovered. Better yet,,,it's free!
Let me know what you think.
http://www.yodio.com/yo.aspx?CardId=OdcJ8Nhthm5JWNTBIEDiF1

Inspired...

I have been keeping up with the blog of my friend that is battling ovarian cancer. Today she wrote a beautiful story about just sitting in her backyard early in the morning listening to the birds, and joggers go by. She had been lamenting the loss of her eyelashes and eyebrows,,feeling a little insecure. If you all could see her,,she has the most gorgeous eyes, and yes, I'm sure everyone tells her that time and time again. Now she's not so sure. Then she talks about her daughters, her husband, and her faith and blessings,,,,and she has all of us reading her blog feeling like SHE is the one who is helping all of us!
Yesterday I told someone that this humid weather was just NOT a good thing for my already challenged hair. I look like Will Farrell in "Semi-Pro" I told her...and with all seriousness.
Then this morning I read my friend's blog about her eyelashes and eyebrows. Ugh. I am a cad.
Kim you are such an inspiration for me.
Humbly,
Nancy

Would you want to know the date of your death?

Around dinner tables, and cocktail parties, one of the most frequently asked questions is

"if you could know the date of your death, would you want to? "

Most of us laughed or gave a smart ass answer. But we probably thought about that question a bit later on in the evening. Would we really want to know? We all know that we will die, and most likely pay taxes. April 15th is a set date,,,,the other unknown.

I am one of those that was given a shock...reality check. When I was initially diagnosed, and I waited for the rest of the test results, I wasn't sure if my doctors were going to be handing me a recipe for a cure, or a timeline to avoid death. Thankfully I have no set date for death, just like the rest of us out there. But still, I had a crazy year. Now my hair is growing out, I'm back in business with real estate, Sonny, Colin and Mairin are doing great. They are all involved in their own stuff. I know I've said it before in this blog, but something good has to come out of this experience.

Perhaps the most important for me is what do I want to be remembered for? What is my legacy? One thing about getting this early gut check is that now we may have time to make a plan and, in my case try and savor the small things...as well as the big. I also have made a point to share more of my family stories, about my youth, my grandparents etc.

Mairin never knew the Great Aunt that she was supposed to be named after, Aunt Causbie, until another Cosby became a famous TV star, and we just couldn't strap her with that name. But she did know about Causbie, and Ada, and Glen ,Roy and Artie...and of course Uncle Bob. They are the names from my Mom's side in West Virginia. They also know that I took a small 12 seat plane with Sonny on my lap, seated next to Mary Lou Retton, AFTER she won all of her gold medals and was making her way back to WVA.

My kids have also heard the story many times about how Sonny got his name.....Kevin and I were in Palm Springs, with "Kevin Jr." and I heard a shout,,"Hey Sonny!" It was from John Elway! I asked Kevin what that meant and he told me that at Stanford he was #9, and also looked like Sonny Jurgensen, and was a QB,,and so he was given the nickname Sonny. I had never heard this. When John looked down at Kevin Jr. he said, "he looks just like you,, a little Sonny!" Well, I was having a hard time with 2 Kevin's and so we looked at each other and laughed and said, yes he is Sonny.

This year has seen Mairin turn 16, Colin 18 and Sonny will be 21 on the 1rst of July. WOW.

I have talked with many friends whose kids are now all away at college, or off to new jobs, leaving an empty nest behind (Cherie and Mark, Morgan and Diny, to name just a couple) but are using this to jump start new lives. This is not a sad occasion! Are we kidding? Great kids off to start new lives, and parents left to start new lives,,,,,how awesome.

I must say that when I look at this new generation of 18 + kids and how great they are.....they will be taking their roles seriously when they realize that they have a say in the elections. What a tremendous opportunity.

Colin got his voters card in the mail after he turned 18, and asked me to tell him how he is supposed to do this research "thing". He already gets so mad at all of the commercials and news reports. "I can't believe paid ads..." I was so thrilled that he was interested.



I have thought long and hard about this question I posed tonight.

My answer is no. I don't want to know. I am being truthful when I say that my cancer scare was enough of a gut-check. I DO appreciate every day that I wake up. I say my prayers for another wonderful day, and how can I make a difference.



Love.

Nancy

Made it past one year!

Feel great. Let's live everyday!
Nancy

D-Day for me

June 13th, 2007.
That was D Day for me. Diagnosis day. But really just another day. While the feelings that I felt when she said the C word, are as clear today as they were then,,,the rest is fuzzy. It's not like I dwell on those days. Today I re-read my blog. It really outlined the roller-coaster I was on and how many people joined me on the ride. What stands out most in my mind is how much I had to slow down , duh, and that in itself gave me time to appreciate the little things.
Work has really picked up, and with all of us living here, going in different directions, always short a car for someone, I find that we get caught up in the momentum and maybe don't appreciate the small things again. Gut check. The experience that I (we) went through is not going to be lost and just 'back-to-business". Come on I challenge those of you that are still reading this to feel that scared feeling I felt when my DR. said cancer, and use it to motivate you to let the small stuff roll off and be the best you can be.
I am trying.
Carpe diem, every, single, day.
Love,
Nancy

WOW...so NOT me!

Sorry, faithful blog readers! A weak moment, also called a pity party. Just got back from the gym in fact. I must own my full recovery and just do the best that I can do. So there.

Last night I was at a fundraiser party for a friend that is undergoing chemo for ovarian cancer. Wow,,did that reinforce my positive attitude! The room was filled with love,,,,and NEW friends, OLD friends and ALL friends by the end of the evening. And a great time was had by all!

Let's keep it going. With an occasional slip-up allowed.

Love you!

Nancy

Don't listen to the stories

Last week I had a friend relate to me that her best friend had a double mastectomy, and chemo...at age 49....and seemed fine...then it was back....she died at age 52.
Wow.
I think that image kind of set me back ...but also made me aware that this is an ongoing battle that I am engaged in. I can not accept the fact that I am cured. There may be cells in my body that are ready to take over. My doctor prescribed 30 min. a day of hard cardio...it is proven to benefit the percentages of recurrence. Have I done that? No. Will I ? Absolutely.....
I also should not have watched the movie tonight,,The Family Stone.....because the Mom,,,played by Diane Keaton,,,dies of breast cancer...and they even show her mastectomy scar. It is so weird seeing these scars....with no nipples.. And that is me. Then she dies. NOT me.
Good night.
Nancy

growing hair

Almost 3 inches long! Shannon put some highlights in it too. Of course she flatirons it, and makes it look cute and funky. I still struggle with the curls, and usually end up with poodle head.
I am going to get as much mileage from this, and not wash my hair for a few days!

For those of you that were following the baby swallow story, I am sad to say that they went to the swallow nest in the sky. We did all that we could do.

Sonny is home for the summer! He teammate Peter is here for the week, surfing, and hanging out. They went to SC last night to check out that scene with Mark. Colin has been without a car, but with the gas prices around 4.20, not necessarily a bad thing. Sonny's job starts June 9th.

update on swallow(s)

Well, I just re-read my blog. It was Sunday that we had to deal with the little baby swallow, who had fallen out of the "mess nest" in the eves of my roof. My sister assured me that if we didn't put it back right away, we were basically giving it a death sentence. OK,,that was what the swallow organizations, and bird books say too...but we really didn't have a choice. Well, if anyone is interested, another little guy decided to try his wings,,,and faltered.. He joined swallow #1 , in the temporary nesting box that we had set up. Then yesterday the weather went from 100 to 60 in the course of 24 hours. I found an old heating pad, wrapped it up in one of Sonny's old t-shirts, placed it under the "nesting box" and ran the extension cord. I must say, they seem really content. The parents swoop down and feed them and the remaining chics seem to teeter precariously out the edge of their "mess nest" with envy at their siblings enjoying the clean cedar, and heating pad.

Colin and Mairin are having a contest to decide what to name them. So far their favorites are Hansel and Gretel, and Jack and Jill.

No one asked me my opinion.

Enjoying life and the birds,

you should too,

Nancy

Winding down

What a week! I just re-read my last 2 entries, I laughed, they were actually pretty funny.
My recuperation period was put into high gear when I had a call from a client that they wanted to see a particular property on Friday. The weather was in the scorching 100's and I had an appointment with the doctor in the am. I didn't feel like I was quite capable of driving, so my friend to the rescue, Claudia, picked me up and off we went. Won't go into the details, but it was a successful appointment, although I did have to put the seat all the way back and lie down flat on the way home. Thanks Claudia, you are a trouper.
I managed to rally and show the house to the clients, then head over to the lacrosse banquet for Colin. Seriously folks, it was HOT! Sticky, yucky hot, hot, hot. The multi-purpose room for the banquet was beautiful, but with all of those boys and close quarters, hot.
I got there an hour late, due to my appointment with the prospective clients, but was able to hear all of the accolades of our JV and Varsity boys. I felt like I had melted.
My shoes squished and squished as I made my way to the parking lot. Cold shower and off to bed!
Saturday brought more showings to my buyers. YEAH! Do you even know what it means in this market to have a BUYER?? There was no way I would let on that I had recently had surgery.
Obviously, my vicodine had found a place on the shelf, and I would probably never re-visit it.
I was a Tylenol gal..from here on out.
Sunday morning, Colin and I headed up to Riverside for Mairin's dance competition. We left at 7 and arrived just in time for her first dance, a duet, with Kendall, which ended up winning best overall duet of the competition!
I know that I write this blog for myself. If anyone out there is still actually keeping up with me, well, god bless you. This is cathartic for me.
On a side note, have to mention the little wildlife situation. It seems that we have a swallow nest (let me clarify,,really a muddy looking mess located under our roof eve) that they keep coming back to year after year. It is definitely a mess, but we kind of like the idea that this couple picked us! (Yes, they are monogamous!)
However today we saw that a fledgling had fallen from the nest! It was so cute! It didn't appear hurt, and definitely wasn't shy. What should we do? Of course I called my sister, wildlife expert extraordinaire, and asked her what to do. She said we had to put it back in the nest immediately or it would die. WOW. Of course my upper extremities (arms) were not up to their full function, due to the recent surgery...and Mairin claimed she was afraid of heights. This nest was at the second story rafter. Way high.
To wrap this up...sorry I went on and on. We sent an email to the wildlife rescue federation, and they sent us back an email that said, put some shelter out there and leave it for the night.
Well, I looked out the window and saw the mother/father down there on the ground with it and chirping with each other. I am going to bed now. I hope and pray that the baby is OK...and that the weasel family does not find it. Oh..so much to worry about!
Love you..
Nancy

weasels and vicodin

I wrote yesterday that my sister Karrie was helping to rescue a trapped baby weasel from my neighbor's garage. She elaborated on the story when she returned from her venture. Another neighbor , a fire fighter assured her that there were many wild weasels in our area, and the best thing to do was release it from the garage to the back, where it would most likely find it's family in some underground tunnel. This was quite a relief to her because she thought she would be bringing it to her house and adding it to her managerie of 3 dogs, 3 desert tortises, a 2 foot long iguana, and the wild deer that she fed from her bird bath. She managed to free baby weasel using thick gardening gloves and take it to the back of the house. It was brown with a little black mask around it's eyes. It was maybe 4 inches long. She said it made noises like a combination tree squirrel (not to be confused with a ground squirrel) and a small chirping bird.
Karrie then made sure we were all taken care of for the night, and headed up the 405 to her family of 5, not including the pets.

Meanwhile I took my meds, and headed off to bed. The air was cool, so I left my window open. I think I dozed for a little while when I heard a sound from outside that could only be described as a combination of a tree squirrel and chirping bird. The weasel! Was it scared? Lost? Had it's family abandoned it? I listened again, then called Colin and Mairin in to verify that it was not my vicodine making me hear things. They heard it too. Then they went to bed. After about 20 minutes of this sad chirping noise I tried to imagine what I could do to help. I thought about sneaking into my back yard with the cat carrier we had and trying to capture it,,,but was wary of being attacked by the entire family of weasels, I have heard they have big sharp teeth and eat bunnies. It also occured to me that if anyone saw me in my crazy looking bed clothes, and drains hanging from my sides, and my hair in rare poodle form, not to forget my wild, red, crazy vicodine eyes....yup...not a good sight.
My attempt at this mission, which never even began, was quickly aborted when I remembered the neighbor right below me was the one that shot the couger in his backyard, aiming into my backyard while I was out there with my dog, that early morning a few years ago.
So I said a little prayer for the weasel, and tried to fall asleep.

the end. this was a true story.

Nancy
I am now going out to see if I can find that little weasel in the daylight.
I hope he is OK.

I feel happy, so happy........

Happy, relieved, woozy, groggy, curious and so ____ glad to be home and out of the hospital.
Today went beyond my expectations. Colin drove me to the hospital at 5:30 where my sister Karrie met me. Checked in, surgery at 8, recovery, then home by 2.
I slept, and was awakened by dinner from Beth , while looking for my missing sister. Her car was still here. We found her trying to rescue a baby weasel in my neighbor's garage. So like her! She has been so amazing to me. I love you Karrie.
Thank you to everyone for my prayers and well wishes.
Nancy

Surgery date has arrived!

I just got a call from the hospital saying my surgery is the first one tomorrow, I have to be there at 5:30 am. The actual surgery will probably take place around 7:30. My wonderful sister Karrie is driving down from Pacific Palisades to take me. That means she is getting up and driving at 4 am! Wow. I am so blessed. I find myself quite anxious today. I'm having a few hyperventilating sessions. Got the brown bag in hand. It must be my past surgery coming back to haunt me. It will definately be a sleeping pill night!
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and helping me get over this last hurdle.
Nancy

Prom Night!

Here are Colin and Melissa heading off to their prom at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda.

Melissa had to run in the SS CIF track meet prior to the prom. She went and had her hair and makeup done...took pictures, ran the race, and then changed in the back of her Mom's car.

She obviously dosen't look like she just ran a race!

Oh, and they won. They now move on to the finals next week in Mt. SAC.

Great news for Colin as well. He was named to the first team all league in lacrosse. He had a great season!

What a talented couple.

Last phase of surgery!!!!

Tuesday, May 13th will be my reconstructive surgery!
I can't wait. These "bad word" expanders have really been a pain, to say the least.
I anticipate that this surgery will give me relief, and greatly improve my physical abilities, and most importantly my overall mood!
Ahhhhh someday soon I envision sleeping on my side....or maybe even my stomach again.
On a side note, I just ran out of TP and paper towels from my so kind friends who kept my stocked during my ordeal last year! WOW. All of you were so awesome.
We have been blessed.
We love you!
Happy Mother's Day to all of you Moms out there.
Nancy and clan

Annual Theta Retreat

One year ago today, I was in Palm Springs with my annual KAO Sorority retreat. And here it was again! The years seems to fly by,,,and I am always amazed that we are yet another year older! So many of my "sisters" still look like they did in college,,,and have just as much energy as they did then.

This past weekend was such a reflective weekend for me. I had so many questions thrown at me regarding my experience with cancer over this past year. My message was basically follow your intuition, ask a ton of questions. and don't let cancer become part of you. My motto is "deal with it and be done with it".

I have also learned that so many people are dealing with their own "cancer", either physically or psychologically.

When we get together, we draw on each other's strengths. We play cards, eat great food, sleep little, and talk, talk and then talk some more.

We all agree that we are so fortunate to have each other in our lives. We knew each other when we were carefree (somewhat) college students, and now we are all adjusting to our kids heading off to college, dealing with job changes, and are SO gratefull to get together and reminisce about our days in college and laugh about those times.

Hey Thetas....send some pictures.

Easter Photo

Here is our Easter Photo. We also got great news that Sonny got the internship here in Irvine for the summer. We are thrilled for him, and also happy to have him home with us. Colin's lacrosse team is now 9-3! They are really coming on strong. Tomorrow we are going to the college fair at OC fairgrounds. We are so busy. Mairin's OnCue Dance, scholorship team performed at the Shark Club in Costa Mesa today. What an incredible nightclub. I could just imagine it with the over 21 club on a Sat. night. Oh I remember those days. For some reason it doesn't seem like that long ago. Meanwhile, my Bruins lost in the final four today. At least I won't be glued to the TV for the finals. This is also the time of year that high school seniors are hearing from the colleges whether they are accepted or rejected. Trying times, exciting times, and obviously stressful times. I hope that it works out for everyone, though many might not realize it yet, but they will once they get there!

Love,

Nancy

Mairin's dance, and my surgery scheduled.

I can't believe it has been so long since I wrote on this blog! I went in last Mon. for my final expansion. My surgery has been scheduled for May 13th. (at least it is not a Fri. the 13th!)

I will be having it at Irvine Regional Hospital, where I had my masectomies. The recovery will be about a week on some kind of pain medication. I will be relieved when this surgery will be behind me. I am a little frustrated that it is so far away. They did put me on the cancelation list, so if there is a closer date, I'll take it!

My hair is growing in. I am at a loss as to what to do with it. If I leave it alone, it gets curly and fluffy and I look like a poodle. But it really isn't long enough to "style". I usually just put some stuff in it and smash it down. Then try and resurrect some sense of style with a headband or scarf. I'm not complaining!

Work keeps me busy, trying to stay on top of all the latest information on the crazy real estate market. Weekends will usually find me at an open house. This past weekend however, was spent driving back and forth to Upland for Mairin's first dance competition. All of the girls did very well, and the Studio was happy with the results. See photos above.

Sonny arrives back on the west coast tomorrow night. He is eagerly looking forward to sunny warm southern CA! This year all 3 kids will have the same spring break. We have no specific plans, I imagine the kids will be hanging at the beach a lot, and taking in some movies. It is always interesting when Sonny comes home, and he and Colin have to share the car. Meanwhile Mairin is bugging me to get her behind the wheel lessons started!

I am participating in Oprah's live webcast book discussion of Eckert Tolle's book The New Earth.

The book is amazing, and I love the global discussions of each chapter. I am a dutiful student and complete my homework prior to each weeks live class on Monday nights. I am stretching my spiritual self. If anyone reading this is also participating, or has read the book, let me know what you think.

Happy Easter and happy spring.

Love,

Nancy

Hair is slowly growing in!

I have not written in a long time. I have been so busy working 6 or 7 days a week. Last week we were blessed with the assistance of Holly Maids, through the cancer foundation, that I mentioned in the last blog. We also had the local Mormon missionaires stop by to help tackle the garage. Clean up garage duty fell to my dear neighbors, Kathy and Scott Steinart. Thank YOU!!!! I have many bags of donations for pick up tomorrow.

Check out my hair! I was brave this weekend and didn't wear a wig. My clients thought I looked good! Let me know what you think.

"Cleaning for a reason"

I just found out about this organization. It is a national foundation that provides free house cleaning services to cancer patients. They partner with local cleaning companies. What a blessing to me and my family when friends sponsored Holly Maids for me! I wish I had known about this program then and could have saved them some $! It is easy to do, just go on their website and sign up. You can even sign up a friend or relative, or make a donation on someones behalf! I signed up yesterday and already received a call!
go to www.cleaningforareason.org

Sonny's intersession trip to upstate NY

Uncle Michael invited Sonny and his friends up to his "country house" in upstate NY during their intersession break. They had an incredible time. Saw hundreds of deer,,,more than the squirrel population in the Harvard Yard! Had great meals, lots of R& R and came back to campus ready to tackle the second semester.

winter formal photos

New short wig

I had to take my wig in for maintenance today. Picked up a little short wig that was on sale! Let me know what you think. My own hair is about 1 inch long. When your hair is as short as mine, you tend to feel like a pinhead. So I think I'll be in wigs till the heat of summer forces me out wig free!
I go back to the doctor tomorrow for yet another expansion! I am dreading it already. The good news is that I see my arm doctor on Friday, and am hoping that I can stop wearing this half cast. I think it will still be awhile before I can type on my laptop, and this "hunt and peck" takes forever.
Business is heating up. I've worked for 20 days in a row! Buyers are out looking at the great opportunities. Need my services? Know someone who could use my help? Call me!

How foolish do I feel?

How was your New Years?
I spent mine watching Mairin's dance production at city hall. Some of you already know that from this blog. What I didn't tell you was the rest of the evening. I came home and got dressed up, including my brand new Jimmie Chou"s stilettos with 4 inch heals. I got to the party and felt like I was back in college. The music was pounding and I was really cutting up the dance floor. Then my Jimmie Chou caught in the hem of another , someone, not really sure, and down I went crashing into the table with arm, jaw and leg. Embarrassed, I jumped up and said I was fine. I pulled down my dress, picked up my broken shoe and limped away. Well that makes a good story anyway.
Truth be told, I was in my sweats watching Ryan Seacrest's Rockin Eve with Mairin. I stood up
and stepped on Bentley (small dog), then shifted and caught myself before stepping on Thatcher (medium dog) and then crashed into the wrought iron coffee table. It is now 2 weeks later and I finally decided to have an xray on my arm because it was just not getting any better and I got worried since it was my arm that still had the blood clot. Looks like a hairline fracture. Got a soft cast, until I get to the orthopedic. At least I know why it was still causing so much pain.
NEXT YEAR ......I am going to be at a party wearing Jimmie Chou's!!!!!!!!

New Photo from Harvard Football Banquet

Hello. I just received this photo from one of Sonny's friend's Mom. I loved it, so here it is! That weekend was absolutely perfect! Huge thanks to my amazing sister Karrie.

Happy New Year

I hope you all had a safe and happy New Year! I spent the eve watching Mairin's dance company perform at the RSM city hall.
Got Sonny on a plane back to Boston on the 2nd, from LAX was supposed to leave at 10 pm but the plane sat on the tarmac until 12:30am. He arrived at Harvard at 10 am, just as practice was starting. The temp. was -10 degrees! A little shocking from the gorgeous weather here in "the OC".
I have thought about putting this blog to rest at the end of 07, but I have had so many friends, especially those of you from out of town request that I keep it up. I will focus on our busy lives, and include pictures from time to time. My recovery from cancer is continuing with medication, and I still have surgery in my future, to finish the reconstruction. However, like the Kaiser commercial says, I may have had cancer, but it didn't have me! I feel a desire to help other women going through this, but more on an individual basis instead of the organized group settings. On a positive note, my hair is now about 1/2 long! I also had to start shaving my legs again, which I really did not miss in the least!
After missing Colin's entire lacrosse summer season, I am really excited to watch some club lacrosse, and also the start of the MVHS lax team next month. I will be attending some basketball games to watch Mairin and the song girls cheer!
As far as work, I am now pulling full days on the job. My energy level has returned, and I am really excited about buying and selling real estate. Do you know anyone that needs my services? I have a website for work,,check it out: http://www.nancymccracken.com/
Please, stay in touch with me! You all have meant so much to me and my family. We want to hear what is going on in your life too.