WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE & One Word for 201

Thank you once again Joyce for the questions this month.  Good ones!! Also my one word for 2013 is under my random thought.  

1. May is National Blood Pressure Month...what sends yours soaring, either literally or figuratively? What calms you down? When did you last have your bp checked?

I'm lucky to have normally low blood pressure (90/60) and it was checked yesterday. I will say that my blood pressure goes up every time I hear about Dr. Kermit Gosnell.  The facts of what he did to those babies makes my blood boil!  He was found guilty but may NOT get the death penalty also soars my blood pressure.  He should not only be found guilty but should then be taken from the court room, down the hall to a closet, and have his spinal cord cut without benefit of drugs to relieve him of pain!! Let him feel what those precious babies felt!! With out care, with out a chance to plead for their life.  

2. You just found $1-what do you spend it on? How about 10$ 100?

A dollar will not go too far so it may just go into the pocket UNLESS I saw who dropped it, then I would run up to them and return it.

If I found $10 or $100. I would do my best to find it's owner. Money is tight all around and that may have been someone ones money for a Rx refill, or doctor visit.  I would feel terrible if I lost that much so I would do my best to find the owner.  If I couldn't then I would give it to the church where is would do some good for someone.

3. Mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food has been proposed, but not enacted in the US. How much attention do you give food labels before you buy? Are you in favor of labeling if it means an increase in food prices? Is this an issue you've been following and feel strongly about, or is this the first you've heard of the controversy?

I've heard about the controversy and would want my food labeled even if meant an increase in food prices.  It's important to know what is going into your body because I really do feel strongly about the connection between the food we eat now and all the health issues we find ourselves having. I do look at labels before I buy anything. It's amazing what gets hidden in our food.

4. May 15th marks the birthdate of Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz. At this point in time, are you more in need of brains, courage, heart, or a trip back home? Explain.

Today I would say I need a brain. Mine is so full of stuff that I find I forget stuff. I even forgot today was Hodgepodge day!  My wonderful husband remembered and copied the questions for me - the answers are completely mine.  I just have a lot of balls up in the air, a lot on my plate as it were and wish my brain was bigger, faster or something to keep up with it all.

5. "There's no place like home" is an oft repeated line from Baum's book. When was the last time you felt the truth of that statement?

I love being home!  I love cuddling with my husband, watching TV. I love having the grand kids over playing in the doll house, or cooking on the play stove.  I love it here. So I feel the truth of that statement all the time, but I do believe it was originally meant in a more negative way as in Home is never the same once you move away.  However, I believe HOME is wherever your heart is and since my heart and Hubby's heart are one, we are home as long as we are together. Not the answer you were looking for.....?

6.  Steak...yes please or no thank you? What cut do you prefer and how do you like yours cooked? Sauce or no sauce? Besides your own kitchen, where's a place you like to go to get a great steak? 

 I do like a good steak every once in a while. The Outback Restaurant has some good ones.  I like Sirloin steak cooked very well done without all the sauces that they sometimes offer.  

7. When was the last time you were in a genuine hurry?

I tend to leave in plenty of time to get to where I'm going so I really can't remember the last time I was running late and in a hurry.  I don't like driving stressed and I like to have time for the sometimes crazy traffic we will have up here.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

JOY within me.

   I've been keeping a secret from just about all of you.  Today I am letting the secret out. Eleven months ago I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer that affects the plasma in my blood. I was told it was "Smoldering" which meant it was not doing anything, just sitting in my blood.  So we didn't do anything except tell our kids and a few close friends.  They became my Prayer Warriors and together we have kept the illness at bay.  

   Every month I saw a doctor, either my Primary Care Doctor or our Oncologist, for blood tests. Every month I was told I was healthy.  Then in early April the blood test showed that the cancer was growing. More tests showed it was growing at a faster rate, so on May 3rd I had a Chemo Port implanted in my chest (we named her Pebbles, as in a little bump in the road to better health) and on Tuesday the 14th I had my first Chemo Treatment.  

   In all I will have 16 treatments, one every week. 2 different Chemo drugs and a steroid for side affects as well as taking a anti-viral pill 2 times a day for the next 4 months.  This is a grueling treatment, but I feel strong, not sick at all and we are ready to fight.  I am also a good canadate for a stem cell bone marrow transplant sometime in the future.  

   It's time to let the cat out of the bag as it were so if you don't see me blogging it's most likely because I under the weather or that this illness does take up a lot of space on the calendar.  I have a lot to do to get well and so the Joy within me is that I'm healthy enough to do what the doctors want me to do and I have Prayer Warriors that have been bringing me before God for eleven months now.  Best of all I have Hubby, who has taken up a lot of extra duties since this thing started.  He is the best and I'm so glad to have him by my side.  Good thing he's retired right?

Ok you're turn, how would you answer these questions?