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.