Good News!!!

Well, much to report on from the blustery 16 degree temps here in Ohio.

My sister got some really good news this afternoon. The cancer had not made it into the muscle tissue, they managed to catch it early. She goes in on Thursday to get the tumor scraped out and a chemo drug injected directly into the bladder. They will run more tests on the tumor. She will need to be monitored closely to watch for any new growth, and if all goes well, new growth will get the same scraping treatment. It sounds like it did not get the chance to spread anywhere.

I did not realize how worried I was about her (I think they call it denial...) until she told me the results of her visit today. I started sobbing, you know that whole body sobbing. And just writing this I am getting worked up. I couldn't handle losing her, not any time soon and she is so far away that I don't know how I (or mom) would have been able to handle it, never mind what my big sis would go through.

So, whew.

Mom is up to 110 pounds - she was so excited that she got on the scales to show me the number! She had a dental appt today and lucky for us, when we went to the nearby grocery (mega grocery store) they had a starbucks.. guess who sucked down a venti strawberry frapp? She drank the whole thing. 790 calories.

The grocery also had samples out all over the place, so she ate cheese samples, spreadable cheese on crackers, chips, cookies, fruit, mini cinnamon buns and a few other things... she was stuffed by the time we left...

and, the news just keeps a coming... I have a second interview for a job. I think they were salivating. They tipped their hand when they called me about 2 hours after receiving my resume (not a good move for salary negotiation tactics) but since it is a nonprofit, I know there isn't much wiggle room involved...

So, the first interview was 2 hours and 20 minutes long. 4 hours later the woman that would be my immediate supervisor called me to get my feelings about the job - she said, well I think it is obvious that we are really interested. Ya think? So, I have a second interview on Monday morning and I think it is a t crossing and i dotting kind of thing.

It isn't a dream job by a long shot, and there are some aspects of it that are really not terribly appealling. But, in this market, it will do. I am at the point where I feel a real need to get a J-O-B since they are in such short supply. Sounds like I am going to have to fire my only direct report employee. Nice, huh!

Well, I asked them all the expected questions and then my final question was how my being an out lesbo was gonna fly (my office will be at a residental care facility). Turns out the "man in charge" is a big ole' out homo (he was the primary interviewer - and the instant I saw him I thought to myself "I really hope he knows he is gay...")

He said he was out when they hired him to run the 170 employee org, and it has not been an issue. He moved up from Florida and said he was really pleasantly surprised at Dayton's tolerance levels. Well, he is also a single Jewish man raising a young black daughter and he moved into the conservative section of town and he said he is doing just fine... so not to worry.

So, looks very likely that I will start a full time job on 2/16.

Sleep? who the hell needs any sleep?

I may have to hire someone to go handle mom's outside care for the rest of winter. It took me a few hours to break up that inch of ice that was coating her sidewalks and I still did not even get started on the one that goes to her garage... but I have been driving her everywhere so she has not had a need to use that walk. Guess I better get on that detail before the new job.

Well, I will let you all know if I end up with the job. Having to report to a residential care facility (ready nursing home) everyday may be hard to take, especially given the way dad was in his last 3 weeks of life) I choked up about it in the interview.

My mind flashes around with it. Sometimes I see him laying there in that bed - not at all my dad, but still my dad -- and other times I see him at home messing around, being silly or something. I am sure those images of his final days will always be with me - they were, after all part of his life, but they sure are hard to choke down. I suppose in time the memories of the 45 years will eclipse them. I sure hope so.

Ok, back at it folks...