I have a friend who is battling esophageal cancer. Her sister sent me the following update, which I received today:

A few weeks ago she had a lung drained and they were going to drain the other the following week. After a week's delay due to the stomach flu she went in to have the procedure done. They determined the same lung had filled up again (worse than the lung they hadn't touched yet) and drained it again. As per (patient), they have no intention of draining the untouched lung. They stopped chemo (fluid in lung is side effect of chemo) and don't plan on resuming it until after Thanksgiving. They're keeping an eye on her lungs and she'll have a CAT scan just before Thanksgiving to determine how to proceed with chemo so that her lungs don't continue to fill with fluid (other side effects are tearing eyes, which (patient) says are much less teary since stopping chemo and thick crusty nails which she is grateful it's glove weather so she can hide her hands now, and also total exhaustion which she hopes, with these weeks off, will help her regain some strength).

I am curious as to why they wouldn’t drain the second lung, especially if it’s causing her pain, as is my understanding. Also, is this really a side effect of chemo (I don’t remember this being a problem with my husband)? Does anyone know?

...about going to the movies; and top 10 movies I want to see that are out right now:


Does it ever seem like the movie industry releases a bunch of movies at a time that you want to go see, or there is nothing out at all that you want to see? Why can’t they spread the good ones out so that there’s always something worth seeing? Anyway, I don’t know exactly why, but I love going to the movies.

So, here are the top 10 (random) things I like about going to the movies:

1. Approximately two hours of escape from your own reality
2. The smell of the popcorn (though I usually don’t eat it)
3. Big screen
4. Laughing out loud and/or having a good cry
5. Comfy seats with cup holders
6. No telephone (if you don’t stupidly mess up turning off the sound - like I did last time I went. I hate that!)
7. Sometimes the movie surprises you, taking unexpected twists
8. Sharing an evening with a friend
9. People watching in the lobby
10. Happy endings

Top 10 (random) movies I want to see that are out right now:

1. Nights In Rodanthe
2. Righteous Kill
3. The Secret Life of Bees
4. Miracle At Saint Anna's
5. Body of Lies
6. Burn After Reading
7. Rachel Getting Married
8. The Dutchess
9. The Women
10. The Dark Knight

(Most of them I probably won’t see till they’re out at Blockbuster-and, yes, almost half of them are "chick flicks.")

Took my daughter Halloween costume shopping today to the Spirit costume store. I could not believe how ungodly expensive costumes are. She got this little woodland ferry-ish/nymph costume (which is way too short and revealing), that really doesn’t have much to it, for $50. It is pretty cute - but $50? GEEZ! She actually wanted two costumes, one for school and one for Halloween night, but her friend and I talked her out of that. (There was no way she was getting a second costume.) She’s going to put something together for school from stuff she already has. We then went to the Blvd. Mall to pick up a few accessories. We were going into Spencers and my daughter said something to me in reference to the “type” of store it was (meaning it had “dirty” or otherwise “inappropriate” stuff), as if it would somehow offend my sensibilities. I thought the whole thing was rather funny. Still don’t have my costume together - having a hard time making a definitive decision but guess I better figure it out if I’m going to wear one. Eve or Lady Godiva are definitely out of the question, and I don't really do the slut/hooker/sexy whatever very well either - I'm not exactly 20-something, or even 30-something, anymore...

Went to the Battle @ Buffalo last night. We really enjoyed it. Turns out my niece knows the guy whose studio it is, and a couple of the dancers; the guy at the door collecting the $ went to high school with my son and niece; and my old next door neighbor was there with his kids. Briefly got to meet Felly and Lauren, which was also cool. It was a fun night and relatively inexpensive family entertainment. Pretty likely we’ll go again - only earlier next time - to get some seats.

I picked up my new car today - yay! I'm pretty excited. The dealer told me Buffalo has the highest car theft rate in NY state - I had no idea. I don't really think the car I bought is a usual car theft target - it's not exactly a luxury car or sports car.

Anyway, I was driving my daughter's friend home (who lives off Elmwood) and we saw a bunch of families out walking around with kids dressed up in costume. I guess there is some type of early celebration on the strip today.

Also, I had to stop at Wegman's this a.m. to pick something up for my sister and most of the employees were in costume. I guess they're all being encourage to dress up just this weekend. it was kind of funny.

Wanted to take my grandaughter to the Halloween thing at the Zoo last night but she had a party at school, and I have plans for this evening (going to the breakdancing competition Lauren posted about) so we can't go tonight either. Oh well, guess there's always next year.

Oh yeah, the dead dear in the parking lot thing was gross. I hate that I really like chinese food because you hear so much disgusting stuff about what chinese restaurants do (cats, dogs, rats, pigeon, now deer) that it really makes you not want to eat there. It's sad. ;(

A little Halloween silliness to share:

http://minibytes.mondominishows.com/poo/main.asp?affil=email

is better with sound on

I was at Walgreen's at Hertel & Parkside late (9:50) tonight. While I was standing in line at the checkout, I saw a woman stuffing her jacket full of candy in the candy isle. She then gets in line behind me to pay for 1 or 2 things. I couldn't believe it! I think the lady maybe was intoxicated, but that certainly doesn't excuse her. I don't know why I was so stunned, except that, I'm guessing the woman was at least in her mid to late 30's (not exactly a kid anymore) and stealing candy, of all things. I could maybe understand it better if she was swiping some medicine she needed or baby formula or diapers or even real food, but candy? It was too weird.

I got this announcement in my e-mail at work today - thought I'd share if anyone is interested:

The City of Buffalo is giving families free smoke detectors and batteries at various open houses across the Queen City. It is a first come, first served basis. (They recommend folks go early)

October 25th

Engine 2, 376 Virginia (and Elmwood)
10:00 AM â€" 11:30 AM

Engine 28, 1170 Lovejoy (and Gold)
11:00 AM â€" 12:30 PM

Engine 22, 1528 Broadway (and Wick)
12:00 PM â€" 1:30 PM


November 1st

Engine 34, 2837 Main Street (and Mercer)
10:00 AM â€" 11:30 PM

Engine 26, 703 Tonawanda (and Progressive)
11:00 AM â€" 12:30 PM

Engine 4, 939 Abbott (and Hollywood)
12:00 PM â€" 1:30 PM

OK - time for a little comic relief - albeit twisted...

Next year's dancing with the stars duo to watch for:



Also, the chili I made last night - it turned out really good. I used cumin in it, which I've never done before, along with the other spices I usually use. I like it.

My union at work is supposed to be in negotiations tomorrow a.m. with administration. Should be interesting to see how that goes. Would be really nice to get a raise - anything would be better than nothing at this point. The old contract was negotiated through 2003, so we’ve just been operating on that contract since then. I’m not generally a huge union fan but can see that they have their place and I will, of course, be glad if they happen to get me to where I’m at least just a little less behind. Unfortunately, the rules and rigidity often removes some of the opportunity for flexibility you might find in a non-union place.

Took my daughter to get her braces off today - she’s so excited. Her teeth look strangely large without them. Supposed I’ll get used to it again. And, wow, only four more payments to make. Dropped her off at school, went downtown to work, and, I swear, I actually saw a flake of snow while I was still in the parking lot - say it isn’t so... It sure got a whole heck of a lot colder.

Came home from work (late of course), made a big pot of chili (no beans) that we’ll have for dinner tomorrow. Turned up the heat a couple of degrees (all the way to 67); I just couldn’t seem to get the chill out of the air. It usually doesn’t bother me much but today it seems to be going right through me - bbbbuuuuurrrrr.

My mom stopped over, had a bandage on her pinky finger. Asked her what happened; she said she cut herself with some (garden) clippers and had to get 6 stitches - yikes! She makes me nuts sometimes, but I love her. This “sandwich generation” thing is kind of tough. Trying to keep track of your kids and your parents can be challenging. I sometimes think the parents are harder to handle than the kids. The parents tend to be much more unruly and stubborn.

Well, guess that was mostly my exciting day. I have an idea for a Halloween costume but don’t know if I can pull it off, or even if I’ll be able to attend the party. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

...but you can’t pick your family.

Here is the latest incite-to-riot bullshit that my (must be Fascist) uncle sent me that I’m sure he’s passing around to as many of the fringe idiots as he can. The subject line of his e-mail was: “We are what we read.” Are you effing kidding me? How unbelievably stupid can people actually be? Geez, does that mean if I read about Hitler and Nazi Germany, then I’m a Nazi? The logic somehow completely escapes me. What continues to totally blow my mind is that someone with any brain function can actually hop on this irresponsible, unreasonable, ridiculous notion as having even a modicum of validity. Perhaps it’s just that we’ve spent the last 8 years with a president whose literacy is so questionable, that some people don’t know how to act when they see an intelligent man who actually reads running for president. I keep wondering if maybe my grandmother dropped my uncle on his head when he was little - cause I can find no other reasonable explanation. Sadly, perhaps my new pet name for my uncle should be “uncle cracker” - what a world!

Here's the stupid e-mail message:

WHAT IS OBAMA READING? This should tell us what we need to know about this man's plan for America!!



He is reading 'The Post-American World' -- A Muslim's View. Please send this to those who think he walks on water and should be the next President of this Great Nation.