Sweet pic from Kat, Casey, Eva & Stewy....apparently I "inspired" them!!!

Thanks girls - what's with the "Jazz Hands"??

Before I go on, I have a little "Life Lesson from Fort"....put it in your pocket for a rainy day:

The "15 Items or Less Express Lane" does not mean you can checkout THIRTY PRODUCTS with two WICS vouchers and cash. Sorry lady, that just ain't right.

I cant seem to get something that happened out of my mind from this weekend. We all saw a man slap a woman on the street. Hard. They were both middle-aged.

There was a crowd standing there and a bunch of people saw. There were JUST police standing there and I couldnt find them. There was also a group of young men there who saw it to and didnt do anything about it. Brent at work described that as "weak sauce".....Weak sauce indeed, Brent. Weak sauce.

In my fantasy recap, I quickly tell my girlfriends to "Go Get KEVIN, NOW." Kevin is the younger brother of one of my old roomates who still works at The Pub. Kevin aint' afraid to scrap either....so in my fantasy, I tell the girls to get Kevin, I shove the guy in the back real hard like I used to do to my brother before he hit puberty, and then the guy gets all up in my face, and thats when Kevin jumps over the bar, runs out and beats they guy up for slapping his woman, and "gettin' all up in Fort's bizness"...

Sadly, thats not what happened. I looked around for the cops, and by the time i realized there werent any around, the couple had quickly disappeared.

Im waiting to show up on "To Catch a Bad Samaritan" where Chris Hanson jumps out and asks why none of us did anything.

I guess my reasons? He looked mean, and I guess I convinced myself that if someone intervened, who knows if it would have pissed him off so bad that he would have beat her even worse later? I dont know how these situations go.

I just cant stop thinking about it - has anyone ever run into this problem? What did you do??

I feel that this poster best describes how I feel about my life right now:

Im just going to get this out there and move on. The other day when I went to the bank, I was informed that my drivers license was expired....by almost EIGHT months. So I never get carded, havent gotten a ticket in a while, so it was totally off my radar.

Since I was driving to Athens this weekend, I figured id "swing by" the DMV and get my card renewed. Wrong. After six months, all bets are off. 1030 on Saturday, I was at ANOTHER DMV taking the written test, and this week? I need to schedule my ACTUAL drivers EXAM. With an INSTRUCTOR. What a fargin joke this is.

John was all, "Hey! You got your temps! Way to go! Ill have to take you down to the fairgrounds and let you practice!" Shhh....dont tell, Ive got to drive to work all week and im "Supposed" to have someone at least 21 years or older in the car with me at all times....sheesh.

So anyway - after I passed my written exam and was given my temps, I picked stacy up and we headed to Athens. Of course we had to go to the front booth of the CatsEye for a little bit, but since this wasnt a "Rugby Event"....our leashes were let go, and we were allowed to venture into other bars...Some of you remember O'Hooleys?.....Well, its called Jackie O's now, and its got a great back porch....who knew? Ten years Ive been going to Athens and just discovered this. Better late than never.
This is out of order, but Jami saw this when we were walking home...click on the picture and look at it up close - so scary!
Ang...does this place bring back memories? Particularly you dancing with a mop head in the corner of the bar about 11 years ago? The Smiling Skull Saloon. This place was a treat when we were freshman- one of the few places we got away with drinking underage. Maybe they thought freshman would be too scared to go into a biker bar....they were wrong. Love this place, many cheap pitchers of Killians Red consumed at that Pool table. That's Raeshael playing.
Ok- I thought this was funny. We were at the Pigskin out on the back porch and everyone was minding their own business and this guy gets up and walks over to use his cell phone and TLC's "Waterfalls" come on the radio and, well, you just watch the fireworks:


More at the Pigskin....who knew there were other bars in Athens?
My "Big Surprise" was to do a video blog at the end of the night. I envisioned us all sauced up with lots of stories, but it didnt work - Stacy had her nose in a photo album the whole time, Jami stepped up and did a little work, and I mostly just sat there, apparently fixated on my chin....>shrug< One last group picture before we head off to Cincinnati, Columbus, & Brooklyn.
Who wants to come over and paint my living room this week? Anyone? Anyone?

Tell me SOMEONE is watching "Rock of Love" with Brett Michaels? This show is the BEST.

Kat inspired todays blog post with an email she sent me the other day...

From Kat:
"What drives people to put stupid sayings on their cars/Trucks?

For example I was riding behind a Ford F-250 the other day and on the back of the window the guy had, "Not Cummin' Still Strokin".

Then I was behind another truck yesterday and all that was on the back window in Teal was- Spud & Mary, Then they had a Cartoon of Calvin Peeing."

Can I interrupt for a little self-promotion?

Stacy emailed this to me the other day and I started to fill it out and then realized I was voting for my own blog. Thats just wrong. YOU GUYS need to vote for the Best blog in CINCINNATI!!! (ps - vote for mine)

http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/5953g2b1b3

just click on the link and submit your vote - If I win the iPhone Ill totally let you ALL check your email on it!!!

Ok....back to the Truck signs issue:

>Insert Seinfeld voice here<

"What IS the deal with all the vulgar, Calvin pi$$ing truck signs??"

Sneak peek - Ive got something special in the works for Monday's post-weekend blog. We'll see how it goes. Im REAL Excited.

I hope you're able to read this...I wrote my blog entry at work and took a picture of it...clever, I know.

Ok, if you can watch my videos....this is kind of funny...I tell my nurse Im going to take a picture of her "shooting me up"....Joni doesnt know im taping her so she goes and puts lipstick on!! Then she comes back and tries to find a vein unsuccessfully....but stay tuned because she sings at the end!

....And then Joni finally finds a good vein! (Thats me showing her my "good" hand....the side they took lymph nodes out on....im always tempting them to stick me there, but they cant because I have no LN on that side. But it sucks because at this point they've got NOTHING to stick in my right hand).....so here goes nothing

Alert! Alert!

Harry Potter Spoiler!!

HARRY POTTER SPOILER!!!

So Harry Potter came out. I dont read Harry Potter. I think I started to read the first one and decided to watch the movie instead. Please dont give me that holier-than-thou "The book was better than the movie" crap. I hate when people say that. You might as well say, "You're too frigging lazy to read the book like I always do, so I make that comment just in case someone around thinks you're smarter than me, which you're obviously not."

Ok, so maybe I just feel dumb when people say that. Either way, I dont read the books but I do enjoy the movies. Some day Im going to watch them all.

Now this is why I dont know if I can get into Harry Potter....I googled "Who dies in Harry Potter" and found this review. It was a well written review of a book I have no intention of reading. Now what I found HILARIOUS, was one of the comments posted about the review:

"this review is simply childish from the third paragraph we see this reader clearly never understood the books. Of course Harry should've died that would be the right thing, since the first book everyone I knew had already solved that his death would lead to the end of Voldemort mainly because we can infer from the last few chapters they were the same person. The fact that the author pulled a few plot tricks to make Harry live is a slap in the face to readers who believed he should have died as well it was just as bad when through twisted logic it turns out that the elder wand actually belongs to Draco. How is it that a disarming spell stops the killing curse and actually kills the dark lord? It was stated that by the Voldemort himself he could use the wand but not to its full potential afterall he was able to kill with Lucious's wand. But no Rowling disregards all logic in this novel and says I think disarming spells could block an instant kill spell and actually kill someone yea that makes perfect sense just like Marth's Falchion"

WHAT!?!?!?! I mean, WHAT???

I can hardly fully comprehend the Gyno Q&A section in Cosmo and I need THIS kind of attention span to appreciate Potter? Im bowing out of this one.

The weekend was definitely full of never-befores. Never before have I gone to work on a Saturday morning, never drove to Karen's on a Saturday night to hang out and eat pizza and hang out with the kids, and never spent EIGHT hours at a high school Volleyball tournament on a Sunday morning. The girls did great though - Our "Davids" knocked off a few Division I "Goliaths" and made a big statement. I was really proud! Im excited for the season.

Pauly, Stacy and Emma came over on Friday and J-mac made some incredible ribs. Stacy and Pauly were both stag for the weekend so it worked out well.

Dare I confess Im going back to Athens this weekend? Some of our old Montrose Roomates took off to come this weekend - it was the original weekend Dave was supposed to be in - so we're going back to meet up with them.

Im pretty pumped because every time I go for a rugby function, Im always the one who gets made fun of because I want to "Walk around Campus" and tour the place. You see, rugby weekends, any thing that strays from eight hours at the Catseye followed by three painful hours at "afterhours" is considered "lame". (and no, I never make it to afterhours....and never did before)

That's why Im happy Jami will be down. She's lame and has the same crazy "itch" to trapse around all the dorms wishing we could be freshman again. Good times. Love you James, "you're so lame, you probably think think this post is abooout you...you're sooo LAME!" HA HA!!!!

You might have noticed that I turned on the "approve post" thing....Im turning it off... I just had it on in case Mr. Wonderful came back.

Question of the week:

What was your favorite book in Jr. High/High School?

(mine was The Color Purple......but I LOOOOVE THE MOVIE!!!)

Been super busy at work all week....the days are flying by.

When we were over at nick and merediths place the other day, meredith asked me if I wanted this cute little mirrored, entry way shelf. of course. I said Id probably paint it black. She gave me fifteen minute tutorial on how I should sandpaper it......prime it.....get this special kind of paint for it....."ok, ok", I nodded in agreement and squinted my eyes as if mentally visualizing the process and how I was going to complete this project.

I just spray-painted the sucker in the garage. And the mirrored mail slot-thingy by the front door.

I was out in the garage enjoying the fumes when John stepped outside.

"You gonna lay some newspaper down or something?", he asked in futility, seeing the big black blotches on the garage floor.

I looked up smiling like very proud 6th grader who knew they could NOT get grounded anymore...."Im just leaving my mark!"

"You sure are," he smiled as he finished his beer.

I got an oil change tonight and got my car washed and vaccumed. I would guestimate no less than five pounds gravel got sucked up at Mikes Express Carwash on Winton.

For those of you Cincinnati natives always looking for the next great hideaway restaurant...get this.

So my Aunt Jean is telling me the other day about this couple she knows who lives in Centerville who were discussing where they were going to eat....Carvers (a high end steakhouse by the Dayton mall) or this restaurant in a bowling alley in Cincinnnati.

My aunt was shocked and asked where this bowling alley was. Finneytown, they said! So she tells me theres this great restaurant in the back of Brentwood Bowl....oh, about a 1/4 mile from our house. We had to go.

We checked it out on Monday and I must say, I had THE best chicken sandwich Ive EVER had at JB's Bar and Grill. Its not "in" the bowling alley, just in the same building. I reccomend it highly. Great food, very reasonable.

And since I dont have any pictures of alumni weekend, Ill share with you the ones KJ sent me this week. I was sleeping while all of this debauchery went on.

Ok wait, not this picture...I left shortly after this was taken. Actually it was Amy who took me home.

Dave, Watts Jr. and KJ look extremely well behaved for having come home at five in the morning....
Ok, thats more like it....
Oh, now thats just awkward.....JWJ and Rob show Dave just how much they missed him. In light of the feature on the Today Show this morning about children making homemade flame-throwers, I kicked around the idea of not posting this. But I will. If you've seen it done, you know what's involved. If you havent, dont do it. But it is a pretty spectacular photo and if you ever have a chance to capture Darwinism in action, dont hold back.

Oh yeah...and I changed my myspace page around....I liked the other one and had no intention of changing the background but i accidentally deleted it and I cant find where in the heck I got that background......http://www.myspace.com/fort00

I actually dont mind the new background too much, but Im not happy with that new slide show....Ill need to work on that one.

Special Birthday Wishes to my youngest cousin, Willie Miller!

Something SPECTACULAR happened this weekend!

Ill start from the beginning. Friday, Stacy, Alisa & I headed to Athens for our "Welcome Back Dave" alumni reunion. I was pretty bummed that I was still feeling so wiped out that I could only drink water (ok, ok, I nursed ONE beer for like an hour and then drank water) but it was so great to see Dave home and safe and sound, playing pool and enjoying the catseye like we all did 10 years ago.

Amy Trout, (who I still call "Jennings"...maiden name) showed up too. She lives in Athens just had a baby a week ago. Drove up to see everyone a week after a c-section!!! She was still hurtin' so it was great to see her. She took me home around 10:30 and we were talking - I said I never thought, ten years ago, that we'd all be back in the Cats Eye, one of us home from a war, one of us fighting cancer, and one of us one week out of a major surgery! We might not have been partying, but we were there!!!
Sadly, I didnt get many pictures AT ALL. I was kinda stuck in a booth the whole time rubbing my temples but I did manage to get this shot of the sign I had made for Dave hanging at the bar.

When Dave was growing up in Long Island, he and his brother were into break dancing. Dave actually was in a few competitions, and, as he tells it, if you win the "Dance-off", you take the moniker of the opposition. One of Dave's winnings was a new nickname, "Cosmic Freeze"

I came home with KJ & Aaron on Saturday and hung out at mom & dads just lying around watching movies all night. Got a well needed night of sleep and woke up early Sunday morning to go to my cousin Ryan's (and second cousin Josh's...and neigbors grandkid Kevin's) baseball game. They play for the 8th grade Carroll feeder team and were playing in a tournament that was named after the father of one of my mother's high school friends, Teri Young, who is also a dedicated blog reader! (Above, Me, Teri, Josh Fortener, Ron Adams, Dad, Mom, Ryan Adams)

After the game we all headed over to Nick and Meredith's new home! Its adorable and they've done more work in two days than we've done in a year. Its got so much character and the space is just great - heres a blurry picture of everyone hanging out in the living room. Ill post more pictures once they get everything in order.

Later that day, we headed up to Tremont for my cousin Willie's 9th Birthday. I was told weeks ago that my presence was MANDITORY and was not told anything else.

When we arrived, Willie gave me a big hug and then took my brother, cousin Chris and I upstairs to show us one of his video games, and then we headed to the back yard for the cookout - TONS of food and lots of great company.

After everyone had eaten, I was told to come up to the front table where some of Willie's presents were and have a seat. The camera's all come out.....Willie pulls out a paper and starts to read: When he is done reading, he then hands me a wrapped box. Inside is a scrapbook he and his family made for me documenting this project he did through his Sunday school. In it were photos of him making buckeyes and fudge with his grandma that they sold at Church and other events.

Willie's older brothers work with a good friend of mine from high school, Joe Krebs, who manages the restaurant they work at. There was also a picture of Joe and Willie, standing by a fundrasing bucket they placed at the counter.

It was all pretty amazing, and then he lastly handing me small pink playmate cooler and asked me to open it. It was full of bills, and thats when he read me the total: $2755.00.....all raised for me since Mothers Day.

I was speechless, and Im never speechless. I have a lot of bills that show up every month that simply get ripped up and thrown away. Maybe I pay ten dollars, sometimes I dont. Ive just learned that stressing about bills is one thing I wont let get to me, but it still doesnt make them vanish. This will allow me finally pay off my last round of Xeloda they've been billing me for months, as well as my last PET scan, which is usually a little over a grand a pop.

More important than the money though, this gift fulfilled a bigger need in my life right now. A little light from God that was about as pure as it can get. I've found myself struggling in the last few years with an overall discouragement in religion and what Christianity is supposed to be about.

Its so easy nowadays for people to be turned off by God, ever since a few people made him the Pro-War, Anti-Science mascot......but when you strip away all the confusing messages, conflicting ideas, you find that one stronghold that keeps people like me open to it. It's a beautiful thing when a 9-year old does a better job expressing than many adults!

Its hard to imagine how many people walked away after contributing to Willie's efforts thinking about how they, too, could help someone. Maybe something as simple as a friendlier face or as great as relieving the financial burden of their own loved one. His "Pay It Forward" effect could be nationwide. I know Im already thinking of something to do myself!

It was a great day, and Im thankful for such a great family. Thanks to Willie, and Judy, Bobby & Letha, and Aunt Helen, who all contributed to this project. I know your influence on him is amazing. I really dont deserve it.

Good news! Tumor Marker went from 129 to 98!!!

Bad News? My non-existent white blood cell count has had me in a fog for the last two days, bad. I dont feel well at all.

Ill only be going to athens for one night for dinner with everyone, then Ill just head back to Dayton to see Nick and Mere's new place, and then onto Willies B-day party in Springfield on Sunday. John ended up having to work all this weekend so Im flying solo.

Cant wait to see leary in person finally! Im sure Ill have some good pictures.

Im working from home Friday. With no wbc, Ive been pushing my luck...

Ill have more up early next week. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Heirlooms at thier finest.....

John and I were both estatic to find out that Grandpa had sent home with my mother the family heirloom Ive had my eye on since day one. Some people dream of the day they'll have that antique china hutch or the expensive jewelery collection. Not me....

We now have the best piece of my grandparents home on Mertland Avenue. The Schlitz Malt Liquor beer sign with the bull who's eyes light up RED!!! This thing is vicious! Someday we plan on having a bar in the basement, Until then, we'll keep it in the living room.

Im too wiped out right now to write much. I told john on the way home from work that I just wanted some comfort food.....I got home and he had a double batch of shells & cheese on the oven. Oh how I love that man.

And Im figuring Ill get 15 posts below, you're all on a roll. Thanks for participating. Now take a look at the most God-Awful photo EVER taken of me. Its just wrong. Just one of those awkward dance floor fat armpits photos. Enjoy.

BIG, LONG, LONG DAY..... So last night I headed to Dayton since I had chemo this morning. Stopped by Barnes & Noble and picked up some volleyball coaching books to study up on during chemo. Why you ask? Oh, no big deal. I was only running my first high school volleyball practice by myself for the very first time. Nervous? Uh....yeah. Thats my practice plan im holding above. Did it run smoothly? Ill get to that later....

This morning I go to Dr. Romers for chemo at 8am sharp. Ive had a pretty busy week and after doubling my doses last week I was a little nervous about getting my "Pre-chemo Blood Counts" ......rightly so.

For some reason I let Joni just prick my finger for the blood counts. This is significant because it was my way of telling her I had a feeling i might be in trouble. I mean, I felt "OK".....but I was a little wiped out and that always is a sign that my white or Red blood cells might be off. So i let her do the quick and easy way of taking blood (not taking the time to put in a whole iv) in case they were going to send me home.

Oh....funny story, so Joni goes to prick my finger on my left hand....I cant have BP taken or IVs there because of all the Lymph nodes that are gone there. I was like, "Uh....are you allowed to do that on that hand?" She just looked at me with a strange look, "Melissa, you're not going to get a blood clot from a finger prick".....fair enough.

What you say? Fort? Go home without chemo? I dont know what got into me. At the moment I just didnt feel like fighting about it. This is where it gets funny.

So one of the nurses comes in and tosses my results on my lap and sarcastically says, "Oh, these look GREAT."

"Are you being sarcastic?" I ask.

She nods. Her face also says, "duuhhh"

I know who im taking this to. Joni is going to handle this one for me.

"Joni, whats up with these counts? Your not going to send me home are you?"

Joni shakes her head. "Uh, yeah....probably. You have NO white blood cells. you're gonna be in the hospital if you dont watch it. Dont get near any sick people! Ill go run this by Romers nurse practitioner."

Dr. Romer now has a nurse practitioner working with him to help him - I guess he's got a tremendous client load these days and I was told that the NP is a nurse with a masters....practically a dr.....she can meet with patients and write Rx's. Thats good!...lots of people want Romer!

So Joni comes back and tells the story of her visit to Romers NP and subsequently, Dr. Romer. I guess Joni showed the NP my blood counts and commented, "Yeah, I bet he lets her get chemo and just cuts the Gemzar in half".....(The Gemzar is what is messing with my WBC counts)...to which the NP apparently was shocked that he might let me proceed.

Sure enough, "Dr. Clutch" comes through again. Joni was close. He let me have chemo but pulled the Gemzar for this treatment. If my counts get up again Ill probably go back on the Gemzar. I was ESTATIC, and further deepened my appreciation for this Doctor who has gotten to know me well enough to trust my instincts. We play it by ear, push the envelope, and keep it agressive. Thats exactly what I want.

So I got my chemo, AND had a few hours to work up my practice plan.

Got to work around 1:30, and was super busy right up until I left at 4:30. I felt a little bad because I got there RIGHT at 5:00p and this was the first time I was on my own to unlock the place. Everything went smoothly. Got into the main doors, got into the gym....and then I had a bad key for the most important door! The closet with the balls and the net!!! Arrrggghhh!!.

I had to call the head coach and she came out and went and made me a copy of her key. She got out there around 530 and helped me get in.

But I had to do a little improvising for that time and work the girls with no net. Running laps, some wall sits, situps, plyos and some more laps. The girls were great and went with the flow until we got the net up and the balls out.

Serving drills, Hitting, a 3 on 3 "queen of the court" drill and we were done! Everything went well. Im getting excited about the season. I hope I can see this through with some visible success for the team. They're a great bunch of girls.

John actually walked over to the gym and sat through practice with me and then we headed over to Kroger for some grocery shopping. Just got home and I am seriously wiped out.

Just need to do some dishes and then its off to bed.

I did have the tumor marker test today so Ill find out about that hopefully by Thursday. This weekend were off to Athens for Dave's big homecoming from Iraq. Cant wait!

Thats all folks. Sorry this post was kinda lame. Oh yeah. Marisa got THE WORST picture of me dancing at the reception.

If I get 10 people to answer this question, I show it to you. (IF you have it DONT POST IT!)

If you could wake up tomorrow having acquired any skill or trait, what would it be?

Congrats Tracy & Ross Kincaid!!!

It was a beautiful day with a beautiful bride! Tracy's dress was gorgeous. That photo doesnt really do it justice. Saturday morning we all got up and had early 9-930 hair appointments at Square One in Centerville, then lunch at Panera and a few hours to kill before reporting to the church at 1:30. I had found the best shade of green that TOTALLY matched my dress, but Tracy said I had to keep it red or pink....So that gave me just enough time to go home kill the green off my fingernails, repaint all, and head out for a quick 15 min tan.

The rehearsal dinner went well, although I couldnt quite wrap my brain around how a 15 minute service warranted an hour and a half rehearsal. Rehearsal dinner was at the Spaghetti Warehouse (same as Nicks, but different room). The family made the nicest speeches to each other - both parents wrote letters to Tracy and ROss and read them out loud, Ross's sisters wrote Ross a letter and read them out loud, Tracy and Ross both read letters they each wrote to their parents....Everyone was crying. At my brother's rehearsal, we yelled at each other about what was the best way to distribute the cheese cake. Below, Tracy's sisters Stephanie & Shannon give thier co-maid of honor speeches:

Ok, this is out of order a bit - Jeremy, Ross's friend and Tracy's roomate gets cozy with Christy & Holly on the party bus.
Wow....really out of order- Cheryl Warner, Meredith, Nick and John are all giddy with excitement over a 15 minute wedding.

As usual, the self portraits were aplenty...That was Ross and I at the dollar dance and Tracy & I, well, I dont know when that was......

As for the hair, I dont know if you can tell but I just had them chop it shorter in the back and left it long on the top. Its amazing how that little amount of hair could take an hour to fix, but i did really like it. THe girl who did my hair graduated with MEredith...small world!

Below- did you notice the reception hall? Its the same place NIck and MEredith had theirs at....although when I accused Tracy of copying my brothers wedding she assured me, "Fort, I had this hall booked FIRST!"

If you havent checked this place out and have any input on planning future weddings in Dayton, I highly reccomend it. The food is always great too.
Heres everyone's favorite Fairmont Class of 1996 representing!!!.....From the left: Marisa, Vince, Janicki, Ang, Gordo, Tracy, Rock, Cunningham, Glaser, Me & Bone. What a great time. And yes, Mr. Anonymous, I was WRECKED. Look at my fancy pants husband and his glass of wine! Distinguished!
After the reception, we headed over to Taggarts. Great time. I ended up talking to a deaf man all night and really found out how bad my signing is. Luckily I was able to spell out most of the stuff and if I got stuck on a word, I would just ask him, "What is?" and then spell it. I learned a lot, like the word for "Drunk" and "Sucks" and "Awkward"....and I forget the difference between "K" and "P" and "Q" and "G" and "H" .....It made me want to take another signing class. He was very patient with me and I appreciated that. We also talked by writing on napkins. He went to Colonel White and we were talking about the guy who goes to all the basketball games and mops the floors - he's mentally handicapped and shows up to every game. Actually announced a bball game I played at CW. We couldnt think of his name and I said the first one to come up with it owes the other one a beer - He came up with "Otis" and i said - "Thats it!" and bought him a beer.....then my parents told me when I got home it was actually "Andre".....

In reference to 'Mr. Anonymous', I think KJ and my SIL were right...just a random troll stirring up shit, never to come back. I havent made this private and I dont intend on doing so. I wont lie and say that that didnt feel like a punch in the gut. I even started to write this dissertation response and then I just decided against it. Thats what they wanted after all, right?

If anything, I wanted to thank Mr. Anonymous. That was the most passionate, albeit profane, declaration my husband has ever....declared. And all the other responses were great too. Thanks. Guess what Mr. A? Im always wanting more people to post to this site......and I had EIGHTEEN POSTS ON THURSDAY! So thank you!


I have another chemo tomorrow at 8 - and Ill also have another Tumor Marker test as well. Keep sending all that positive energy and prayers!

One more thing.... I have a confession to make. I never thought I would say this. I dont know what's come over me, but I can hardly describe it. I.........am.........enjoying........doing........dishes.

>gulp<>

I used to wash dishes when I was a kid. I dont think we had a working dishwasher till I was in high school. I dont really remember enjoying it then, but I dont remember hating it either.

This new "situation" wasnt immedate. Even with a dishwasher, we sometimes would leave 2 days worth of dishes out on the counter before being forced to do the dishes. Two days doesnt seem like alot, but when you've got someone like my husband who cooks like he's got his own television show, it does pile up.

So slowly, Ive been staying on top of the dishes. But today it struck me when I started doing the dishes before John was done eating, and brace yourselves, I actually made dinner tonight. I mean, it wasnt anything special, just salad with grape tomatoes, feta and grilled chicken on top, but it was pretty good.

I bussed the dining room table and promptly washed the plates, our cups and the pan I cooked the chicken in. The warm water had a calming effect and the Dawn soap smells so good. Ive always seen myself as domestically challenged, but doing the dishes has, of late, felt like therapy. I even pulled some of the wild flowers on the side of the house and put them in a glass so I have something to look at.

Sorry, I just had to get that out. I dont see me calling to get the dishwasher fixed anytime soon. Seriously, and I am NOT drunk.

Im going to go put the dishes away now.

MR REDLEGS! IM SORRY I DOUBTED YOU!!!

We went to the Reds/Giants game last night with Alisa and David. They got us the best seats we've EVER had at the ballpark, and who comes down the asile but Mr. Redlegs. I blurt out that I want to get our picture taken with him and then I hesitate. Do I want to run out into the asile and make an ass out of myself? Then all the sudden I get a little timid. Mr. Red Legs is making his way down to the asile en route to the Giants Dugout where he'll pretend to run while they put "The Race" on the big screen where Rosie Red, Mr. Red and Mr. Redlegs all race via digital animation....everyone cheers for one and pats themselves on the back if their guy finishes first. You win nothing.

So anyway, Alisa gets motivated and jumps over the two people next to us and is softly lurching towards Mr. Redlegs in the asile, while he gets his picture taken with another group...I say, "Hang on, we'll get him on his way back up"......Alisa is doubtful and waits in the asile and finally comes back to sit down when he gets up on the dugout for his "show"....and of course, he (above) returns off the dugout UP THE OTHER ASILE.....we missed it. Alisa, props. You were right, we shoudla got 'em when he was there. We missed out.

Despite the reds lackluster performance as of late, we were lucky enough to catch a WIN! And we got to see Barry Bonds hit his 751st home run, just four short away from Hank Aarons record AND we got to see Brandon Phillips hit a grand slam, which is always a sight. Also cool was that in the early innings the jumbo tron cameras run a promotion for a local grocery store and the kids get to pick a player....and if the player gets a hit, they get a certian gift certificate......I think they get more if its a double or a triple. ANYWAY, these little kids picked Brandon Phillips so hopefully mommy got a free trip to the grocery store!

I was lucky enough to get Bonds Homer on film- you watch him get a few pitches before he hits it...what was funny was that when he went up to bat, everyone booed.......and then when he got the hit, everyone was like, "Ok, Barry, we're sorry, good job" and cheered. Only in Cincinnati. Check it out:UGH - YOU TUBE ISNT LETTING ME POST THIS FOR SOME REASON....I WILL TRY LATER AND POST WHEN THEY LET ME.

Then after the game, they had one of the most amazing fireworks shows Ive ever seen. They dimmed the lights in the stadium and the audio that went along with it was great. You can kind of get a taste of it in this little clip I took.....I scan around the stadium and then get a little bit of the fireworks.....the grand finale was, well, grand. Check it out:
Im so PROUD of J-mac! He's really learned to embrace my self-portrait taking ways. His goal is to try and take the picture and give you no clues that he's the one taking it.

An unexpected ending to the night....
After the game we had $10, and I asked if he wanted go to Haps, and J-Mac suggested hitting up "O'Malley's in the alley" Cincinnati's second oldest bar. It was only a block up from where we parked.

Oh yeah, I should also tell you that I had chemo this day and Romer pretty much DOUBLED my doses. I guess Ive been tolerating it pretty well and it may have been partly a punishment for skipping my last weeks appointment. My treatments have been lasting FOUR and a HALF hours for this round which sucks. On our way to the game, I told John I wasnt feeling too hot and that I might want to leave early, just in case. But as usual, a few beers sparked me out of my chemo-induced "Icky-ness" and I was good to go.

So we head into O'Malleys, have a pint, and get motivated to head up a few blocks into downtown because the Rumrunners (the band that played my fundraiser last year and who also played our 10 year reunion) were playing at the Lodge Bar. Short of the events listed above, and one show at the East End Cafe where about 30 people showed up, that was my only RumRunners experience. Imagine my surprise to show up to the bar and find a line 75 people strong outside the front door:

I had to ask, "Is this where the RumRunners are playing?"....and then I saw the poster. Luckily, there was a fellow Kelt in line who INSISTED we pull Cut-sies. Im sure these people appreciated I cut AND THEN took their picture.

Always a fun show. Ang yelled at John (in the flag) and pointed at me and John got on the mic and said, "Hey everyone, FORTS here!" Definitely my "Special moment" of the evening.
Maybe it was the six beers, but I didnt even realize at first that John had jumped off the stage and started singing in the crowd -that his Brother Ryan that works with Angie.....hell, I cant even remember what he was singing but soon after I took this picture Ryan took the mic and just started whaling the song...I mean, he really looked like a star.




I guess if a guy is going to jump into one of your self-portraits, its ok if he's hot!!!! Yeah ang, you're right. I do need a haircut before this wedding. My hair has been getting a little "mangy" and its two days till the wedding and JUST YESTERDAY I decided I would join in and get a hair appt with the rest ofthe bridal party at Square One. I honestly just didnt want to fork over the bones. Im seriously CHEAP when it comes to my hair, or any thing fashion related for that matter. I just dont give a shit honestly. But I dont want to f**k up all of tracys wedding pictures by looking like a nerdy 7th grader who insists on doing their own hair. Whatever, Im sure they'll make it look good. MANY people want me to cut it short like it was for nicks wedding, but im a little scared of that, but im just going to close my eyes, and say, "DO WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT WITH IT, I DONT CARE"

Here's a picture from Nicks wedding- remember? Was that too short? What does everyone think? I dont know: Its 11:30 on the fourth and we're not doing ANYTHING. I will probably just clean all day and take a walk and try to detox from all the chemo, beer and regretably, the landslide of Pizza Rolls John and I consumed last night in what seemed to be a great idea at the time. Hopefully Wal-Mart is open, I need to go get a cheap printer. Maybe Ill clean out the garage too. Ugh. Happy fourth allright.

The hair- whats the consensus on the hair? I said I didnt care but I lied.

Wow, I dont know if the JW topic was too conversational or everyone was too busy, but we can drop that!

Ive got chemo tomorrow morning at 8am....then back to work, then to the Reds game. Still dont know what we're doing on the fourth. Im sure fireworks will be involved at some point.

Im watching Maury and this girl brought her bf on to share a secret. they interview the guy and he's all, "I have no idea what Letitia could be bringing me here to tell me. I hope it doesnt hurt our relationship."

Really? You really dont know why EVERYBODY goes on the Maury show? You have three month old and your girlfriend has a sketchy past? You're white and the baby looks mixed? Really? You had a big fight and split up twelve months ago for a few weeks? Really.

I dont belive anyone can be this stupid. And I dont know how they let kids under 18 come on the show for paternity testing...they yell and scream at each other...seems like way too much induced drama for a juvenile....

For those of you who dont get the pleasure of watching Maury every day at 5p, heres a taste of what Im talking about.


Enjoy.

Friday we headed to the Greenhills Pioneer Festival up the road....

Stacy came over after work and Casey brought Emma over and we had some beers before heading over to the festival for dinner. Of course we had to get out the Paddy Hat - Emma didnt seem to mind it so I got lots of pictures.

I took this video of Emma out on the back porch....yes, that J-Mac with a sombrero on. He went downstairs to fetch Casey a chair and came up with that on.

Saturday we headed over to Spoons and Kristen's for their yearly fourth of July Party. Lots of fireworks and more pictures....I tried out the "Heads In" shots a few times, as well as a foot shot, but I'll have to admit, those are much better with fancy girl shoes on for sure.


Pauly & J-Mac hang out:

Take the time to watch this clip - Its good. Spoons had this "Rocket Launcher" out to shoot off rockets. I was lucky enough to catch on film why its good to always film the first tries with ANYTHING. Here, you'll see why they later covered up the hole in the back of the Rocket Launcher....

Here all the guys are in the garage right before we took that head shot. I probably shouldnt tell you that they later did another one where they all pulled their pants down and got a shot of five or six bare butts from the floor. Of course I deleted it right away, much to their dismay.

Sunday I slept in and then drove up to Dayton to meet mom at Splash MOraine. Just laid out and hung out on the Lazy river for about 20 min. It was relaxing and fun.

Came home to find a Jehovah's Witness Book on the porch. I forgot to mention they stopped by Saturday morning. There was a group of about 6 of them, tag-teaming houses along the way. I didnt see them coming and got up and answered the door. It was a middle aged man with a little boy, maybe two, and an elderly man who stood at the bottom of the steps.

I kindly opened the door and spoke with him for about 15 minutes. He read some scripture from his book and talked about "Whats going on in the world"....I offered a bit of self-disclosure and said I had gone through some rough times and found that God wasnt necessarily found in church and he said, "Well, maybe my wife and I could stop by and bring you a book"....spineless, I said "Sure".

Luckly they came back today when I was at the pool with mom, and John was working on the side of the house and just told them to leave it on the porch. For as agressive as they can be, Im wondering if they approached John at all, I can only assume he wasnt nearly as receptive!

Now Im worried that I may have shown them some "Red Flags" with the "tough times" and my "issues" with religion.....Do they think Im ripe for the pickin now? I sure hope not.

I went online and googled "What do you say to a Jehovah's Witness?" And there were some interesting responses/websites. Most people were honest and said they were polite but uninterested, some invited them back and then made sure their minister was there to deflect any advances.

I suspect they'll be back and Im just going to have to tell them Im not interested. Does anyone know what their end goal is here? Are they trying to convert me? I also read that they dont belive in donating blood, so Maybe Ill just tell them I cant talk, Im on my way to the blood bank.

Question of the week:

What have your experiences been with LDS/JW door to door missionaries, etc.??? How do you deal with them? Im really interested to hear