Written May 19, 2012 7:00am

Wow!

I am up early this beautiful Saturday morning. I can’t believe that it’s been about 7 weeks since I posted last. No news continues to be good news in this case in regards to the b.c., but I’m not ready to wrap up this Caring Bridge blog just yet, so I thought I should post an update.

The past two school years have been the most stressful in my life for very different reasons and I am SOOOOOOOOOOO ready for summer vacation this year. We get out June 1st (remember we started August 1 if you are thinking this is early) and I can not wait!!!!  Michigan and Chicago (with a few stops on the way) here I come!!!! Don’t worry Kelly, I plan to be in New Orleans when you are here! 🙂

Since Easter vacation, I’ve tried to be proactive in dealing with the feelings of isolation that I can get bogged down by here in NOLA.  Remember, the closest family/friends are in Englewood, Florida. It gets lonely around here. Anyway, I’ve taken a series of basic sewing classes (creativity and socializing all in one), attended two breast cancer support group meetings (so far I’m the baby in the meetings), and done a lot of reading of blogs written by women who are moving through breast cancer survivorship and sharing their stories (extremely motivational).

Terry and I went to the Lafayette International Music Festival at the end of April and while it was fun, the music was good (and free) and the LaQuinta in Lafayette was very nice (we took Zoey with us), the thing we loved the most was the corn bread stuffing and beef brisket at Glenda’s Creole Kitchen we picked up in Beaux Bridge, LA on our way home. Glenda’s came with an Anthony Bourdain recommendation and the stuffing was the best we have EVER had. It was soooooo yummy.

The following weekend, my good friend Carol W came into town for weekend 2 of Jazz Fest and it was incredibly positive to have an old friend come into town for a visit!!!!! We had an awesome time heading to a day of Jazz Fest (Carol got a pic with Aaron Neville and fulfilled a dream), eating good food and generally just hanging out, catching up. So, so, so good to have that female bonding…

On the whole, I’m doing very good. Fatigue hasn’t been as pronounced post-Easter as before and I’ve regained full range of motion with my arm–with few aches, pains or discomforts. Stress at work has been ramping up with it being the end of the school year, however. This summer’s To Do list includes getting into an exercise routine that will help combat the stress next year, but in the meantime I’m keeping my eye on June 1st. 🙂

Can I just say, the whole cutting back on alcohol consumption in NOLA has been a major pain. It is such a part of the culture here and such a major part of socializing, that it’s taking some major getting used to. I’m not only rebooting my habits, but I’m having to retrain people around me. Not easy.

Thanks Aunt Anna for the suggestion of Land’s End for mastectomy bathing suits! I had to chuckle with your suggestion. I overlapped with Barb and her family for a night in Florida and she had just given me a Land’s End catalog. People are looking out for me! 🙂 I did find one, too.

All right, I think I’ve rambled on quite long enough for now. I hope all is well with you and yours.