Bummer - Weekend Washout

The backpacking trip on Fire Island has been cancelled. All my gear was ready - dusted off and aired out since my last backpacking trip a year ago in Oregon. The good news is that I've been exchanging emails with the organizer and she will be planning other backpacking adventures!!! I'm excited!

I found a website that sells freeze dried vegetarian meals for backpacking - http://www.packlitefoods.com/ - My order should arrive any day now! YAY! I got a Katadyn water purifier and a Jetboil too. I'm ready! Got some Under Armour base layers for the cool weather. For some reason I call it Armour All - the stuff you clean the car with! LOL

This Sunday there is a fundraising ride for the Guide Dog Foundation. Do I dare attempt the 50-mile ride? Hmmmmmm......

October 3rd is the date of my next hike which will be in the Catskills. This will be my first hike in almost a year. I'm very excited!

CLL Clinical Trial - Hydrochloroquinine. Basically, this is medication for Malaria. I've been asked to participate in a Clinical Trial by Dr. Rai and his staff. For some reason, this medication reduces the WBC (white blood cell count). A normal person has a WBC of around 3,000. Mine is currently at 46,000. I've been taking the meds for almost two months now. I go every four weeks to give blood samples. Four weeks earlier, my counts were 58,000. So, my WBC has gone down by 12,000 injust four weeks. This can be just normal fluctuation. I'd like to think the meds are working. My platelets and Hgb dropped a little, but still are in normal range.

A friend of mine at work was looking at my arm and horrified to see how bruised I am. Actually, I have quite a few bruises on my arms and legs. Some I can explain, some I have no idea how I got them. My friend insisted I call my CLL doctor. I did. My doctor wants me to come in to do some blood tests. I'm going to think it over and decide on Monday if I want to make an appointment and go in to LIJ. I'm feeling pretty good - just been a bit tired, but I've had a lot on my mind the last week or so and haven't been sleeping as soundly. TGIF I'm sleeping in tomorrow!

It Has Been A While ... A Lot Has Happened...

So, I have not blogged since March. I don't anyone missed me either! LOL

Much has changed in my life. In May, I left my crack addicted husband. I packed up my son and sent him for a week to family in Colorado while I packed myself up and moved. My brother has been kind enough to let my son and I live in his house. It's the house I grew up in that my great grandfather built. So, it's kinda cool for Tyler to hear stories about the family and growing up.

Due to financial difficulties, I have not been able to stick to a raw diet. It has been difficult and I know I feel 100% better when I'm raw. My goal is to start juicing again and making green smoothies. I am enjoying summer fruits! I will blog about my progress.

So, living in my brother's house. My brother is currently living in Monroe, LA on a contract job assignment. However, I do not have the house to myself. I have a housemate. A Geek in the Attic. I will not use his real name but call him GitA. He's going thru a separation with his wife ): Seems like we get along very well. Actually, I could not ask for a better housemate. We work well together. He's good with Tyler too. He's fixed the brakes on my car, got me into cycling, nagged me about finances (thank you, GitA). We have not experienced any pettiness of any sort either. Although, he makes fun of raw foods and we don't see eye-to-eye on what healthy eating consists of, we get along. If only you could see his idea of a meal!!!! It is very scary. His meals are prepared foods, frozen and microwaved......ewwwwww! LOL

I've joined a cycling club. I rode 22 miles yesterday and took a 4-hour nap. Could it be that I'm seriously out of shape? Which I am! Or CLL fatigue? Hmmmmm.....I'll just ignore it and keep on cycling! Love riding my bike!!!! I hope to save up for a real road bike for next year! How cool would that be???

So, I must give a lot of love and credit to my CLLC Forum Friends who have supported me and seen me thru some hard times with leaving my husband. I appreciate their bluntness and telling me like it is. I appreciate the women who have taken me on as a "daughter" needing motherly advice. All of you are way to young to be my Mom! I love each one of you dearly! Without you, I would not have made it this far.

I appreciate the Facebook friends who have reached out to me too. The encouragement is priceless.