It’s a cup of coffee read a book kind of day.  Though I just did the cup of coffee part.  Otherwise I was catching up on email and Facebook “stuff”.  Loving on the dogs… like I am right now, excuse me as I pet Weston for a moment… OK, back.

Tonight we head to the kids house with Black Dog Smoke and Ale House BBQ in hand.  No date night this week.  We are just back from our trip so the kids are going to stay home with us and we’re going to hang out.  We’re looking forward to it.

Had a great visit last evening with Karen’s aunt and uncle.  I’d never met them and it had been a long time since she’d seen them.  It’s a perk of living here.  They travel from their home in Minnesota to their son and daughter in law’s place in Atlanta twice a year.  We’re on the route.  It was so lovely to meet them and spend some time getting to know them a little.  I enjoyed their company.

OK… time to pet Weston again.  He’s being a tad needy, but I don’t mind… who can resist that look of love.  Not I, that’s for sure.  I love this little guy…. and his cutie little sister.

Last weekend… had a great weekend.  Went to a family dinner at Mom and Don’s place on Saturday.  It was great seeing everyone.  Really good.  Had some tasty vittles as well.  Then Sunday we went to Chris and Jessica’s wedding.  It was great seeing so many people from the Juvenile Department.  I miss them and it’s always so nice to spend time with them.  They rock.  The wedding was nice as well.  Casual, comfortable, and laid back.  Nice.  Congratulations Chris and Jessica!

Maintenance starts today.  Two years of it, but hey… I get to get back to more of a normal life.  That’s the best part.  I will have a shot every Wednesday that we have to go to the clinic for and a med I’ll be taking every day.  Then there’s the ATRA that I will take for 15 days every three months.  Not too bad really.  We can work around it.  We picked Wednesdays for the shot so that we could go away for a long weekend if we wanted to and it wouldn’t interfere.  We are now working with Nancy to try and get it squared away for our planned trip to England over Christmas.  We already had our tickets before this all started and now are trying to work it out so that I can get my shot from an oncology department either in Lancaster or close to it.  Go Nancy!

I have an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat doctor on Friday.  My oncologist referred me.  I have this itchy throat that won’t quite go away.  Some days are better than others, but it’s annoying.  It makes me cough… sometimes so hard I start gagging.  Though I have a really sensitive gag reflex so it doesn’t take much.  But anyway… Dr. Bigler didn’t see anything in my throat, but wanted me to see someone who could look a little bit more.  They may put a little camera down my throat… yuck.  We shall see on Friday.  I just hope they can do something about this itch.  Maybe it’s allergies… maybe it’s my throat, etc. healing after my GI track was beaten up all this time by chemo… we don’t know.  Like I said… we shall see what the doc says on Friday.

Otherwise…. the weather is good.  Supposed to start raining tomorrow evening, but for now it’s beautiful. Blue sky out there.  Really lovely.  I love fall weather actually… it’s sunny, yet crisp out there.  It’s supposed to get up to almost 70 today, which is wonderful, but it’s crisp out there right now.  The light is always so fantastic in the fall.  Did anyone see that moon the last few nights?  Wow.  So bright out there.  Hope everyone has been enjoying these lovely lovely days!

Floating

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

I think Weston and Riley’s outside water bowl needs to be emptied and re-filled, don’t you? Though really…. they don’t stay out long enough in the rain to need a drink. They are fair weather pups. No rain shall touch them… if they can help it.

The leaves are changing, the weather has changed, and soon the time will follow. Yes ladies and gents… autumn has arrived.

Fall

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

I decided, since I’m pretty behind in posting the inner workings of our lives over the last couple of months, I would sort of post a general overview of what’s happened, what we’ve been up to, and general “stuff” related to that.

It’s fall now. Obvious, I know. For us this means leaves are falling like mad all around our little hovel. The consequence of this is that soon, very soon, the leaf blower and the rakes will come out. A task we both detest, but have to do. Not fun, but so great when it’s done and the place looks all spiffed up.

In The Clear, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The theme for this week’s Photo Hunt is purple. I remembered that I’d taken a few shots during the fall of 2007 that might fit the bill and when I looked I discovered this one.  Then I realized I’d posted it here at the Think Tank before.  Ah well… I like it, so it’s getting used again, but I realize it’s a re-posting party foul.  What’s a girl to do?

If you’d like to join in all the amazing photo hunt action, CLICK HERE for details.

The Last Bloom, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Here it is, the last bloom on our red rose bush this year. Sad to see them go. There’s something about fall though, putting things to bed, getting things buttoned up. I like it.

Geranium, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Sometimes a photo turns out differently from what you expected. I intended to take this as a macro shot, which I did. I just didn’t realize how it would look after it was taken. There’s something about it, very much like a portrait of a flower. I liked it.

We’re both sitting in the office, each at our respective desks on our respective computers, each with a cup of tea, music playing, and Weston curled up sleeping on his bed next to his red stuffed dog. It is storming outside… rain coming down in sheets, wind blowing all the leaves that had been clinging on for dear life off their trees and around the yard, wind chimes making beautiful sounds. It’s a great fall day in Oregon and here we are, all three of us, warm and cozy inside of our house. Life is very very good.

I love extra days off. It’s like getting a little gift. Extra time together to play or work around the house, to run errands, or just snuggle up and watch a movie. Any time out of the normal working week I can steal away for us, this little family of mine, the happier I am. As I said… it’s a gift. A gift I’m savoring today.