Pictures...as promised

This is a picture of my parents, my sister and her family, and me on Thanksgiving.









This is a picture of my grandmother and her sisters. Our large family traditions begun with their mother and has continued through them.. for over 30 years.






This was our crew for Thanksgiving... minus a few of us who were snapping photos. We had about 30 people this year... a smaller crowd than usual. It was a great day.



The boys assembled and painted lots of ornaments to add to my parents' Christams tree. My sister and I each painted an ornament too. You can predict who painted which...




The tree looks great!

It was a beautiful day.

Yesterday was a wonderful day.

As planned, my sister, her husband, and their three boys met up with us for Thanksgiving dinner. I knew they were coming, but had been sworn to secrecy. My dad was so excited to have them join us for Thanksgiving and was excited to surprise the rest of our family with their presence. My dad's mom got very emotional to see them all.

My family does a large gathering every year. This year the numbers were low, we only had about 30 people. My sister hadn't been able to come up since her oldest son, now 9, was a year old. So it was great for them to be here. We had a great meal with everyone then all travelled back to my parents' house last night. When we got here the boys were very exicted. We had to make sure we did the traditional measuring of the boys on a wall my parents have in their kitchen. We saw the mark made when my oldest nephew was here 8 years ago, what a difference. They are all growing up so fast.

Last night I made some ornaments with the boys and they decided which ones to take home with them and then hung the rest on Gramee and Grampee's tree. Today we painted a different kind of ornament and they will get hung on the tree later. Mom loves the Christams tree and having decorations from the boys means a lot. I will try to remember to bring some of the decorations to her in the hosiptal after surgery...

I know my last blog was depressing and while I am not sorry for its content I do hope it didn't dapen the spirits of other people's holiday. It's a tough time... but we are seeing the beauty in it too... ironic.

Today my dad, brother in law, and I did a huge project... the ceiling in my parent's bedroom began leaking the other night... and most likely will leak some during the winter. The leaks were right over their bed... so... mom was worrying about how that would play out as winter progressed and she said that sleeping with a towel over her for one night to catch the drips was one thing, but the whole winter was something else... so we moved their bed into a different space. Doesn't sound too hard, right? Well... my parents' bed is not a typical bed... it is a king size bed that is on a frame that was designed for a waterbed...that dad has "improved" upon using his yankee ingenuity. So... this thing was a massive project.. it involved lots of disassembling and reassembling as well as moving heavy pieces... then rearranging lots of other things as well... but it is done and I think it will make mom and dad feel more at ease about the winter... I am tired though...

I am taking some great pictures and will share them when I get home. For the moment... my freak out is under control.

Rico, thanks for your note...

Gobble gobble

I made it to my parents house last evening. It is nice to be here. I am looking forward to all the holiday festivities... today was filled with cooking, gaming, and tree put upping... It was also filled with a lot of underlying stress/anxiety... there is a lot going on.

My mom has to have another surgery. I mentioned that in an earlier blog. We got the date today... Dec. 17. Three weeks from today.

It's something that I know needs to happen... and for her, she needs to see if it can help... She talked to me yesterday about it and said.. that she had been praying, along with many others, for God to help her. She thinks maybe this is an opportunity God is providing... the surgery options are a.) they open her up and close her back up without doing anything- like before... b.) they can remove this thing that is inside of her by peeling it away from all of the things it has begun attaching itself to... which apparently is an option now because of its liquified status...

Without surgery this thing is going to continue to grow... and push her other organs around and possibly damage them...it could burst...which her doctor described as resulting in a massive planting of cancer seeds throughout her body... it could also rupture during surgery... but the docs say that is a more controlled situation and would be better than bursting in other circumstances...

there's another possibilities which nobody has said out loud yet... my fear... that she won't survive the surgery... that this may not only be my last Thanksgiving with my mom, but perhaps my last holiday.

I feel guilty for having that thought... I am supposed to have hope, right? I do have hope... but the fear I have is far outweighing the hope... and that adds to my fear...what if my fear and lack of hope sends the wrong message to the universe and takes away some of the good energy people are putting out there for mom...

I hate this... for her... for dad... for her friends... for my nephews... for my sister... and for me... I hate this. I HATE THIS.

Tomorrow will be a hard day... it will be hard to enjoy it all without cosciously taking those pictures for my mind... to hold onto as memories that I know I may need desperately. But... it will also have beauty.. because we are together and that was something that was not a given back in March when this all started... and really... as cliche as it is.. we don't know from year to year who will be present or absent, a nicer way to say alive or dead, at holidays... for other reasons...besides cancer... so.. I will get through it... somehow.

There are a lot of things to be thankful for this year. But... it's hard for me to feel thankful.

Staff Development.

I am sitting in a staff development meeting... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Updated Pictures

Ok... so I decided to take some pictures of my scars today because I haven't done so in a long time... I do think that there is a big difference... remember... if you don't like gross scars.. don't look... I am going to put up a series of pictures from the worst until now... to show the progression of the healing...

Here's the front:
July 2007













August 2007








Feb. 7, 2008









Sept. 13, 2008












November 22, 2008







Here's the back:
July 2007










August 11, 2007













Feb 2008









September 13, 2008












November 22, 2008


It really is looking a lot better. The back especially. I don't expect the scars to fade for a very long time. I scar easily and the scars tend to be very pink on me for a long time. But, it is cool to see the changes... and remind myself how good I feel... now.

Hope the pics don't bore you, I just wanted to put a progressioon of the PVNS scarring recovery for the open anterior and posterior synovectomies.

It's COLD!

I had to work at the toll booth today... and several people asked me, "Is it cold in there?" Well folks, the booths are heated, but... it cools off fast when the door is open taking people's tolls or carrying on a conversation... so.... I did get cold today, but it was tolerable. I do think I will take a hot shower before long to get warmed up. It was a decent day, my lane was pretty busy and I like it that way. After work I ran some errands. My parents had asked me to bring a few things up to them when I come... they live in a place where it can be difficult to find certain things... their town is very small, so they can't find things up there all the time. They could find it in a town about 45 minutes from them, but since I am coming up, it will save them a trip. But running around tonight was cold. I broke one of my rules too. I usually refuse to go near the mall after Halloween because it gets so crazy over there... but it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. I also ran into a few people I knew, but it was too cold to stand around and have a conversation.

I am so excited about Thanksgiving. It is nice to spend time with family and friends. Tomorrow I am working again, but then I will be heading to a friends house for a Thanksgiving dinner. It will be nice. It was funny, she and her daughter actually came through my toll today. Her daughter looked so cute! I will try to take some pictures tomorrow of the pre thanksgiving Thanksgiving!

Kids...

I have to say that I really like the kids I have this year... I like all the kids I have worked with, but this year I have lots of favorites. Too many to share... but there is one kid who is in one of my math classes. Everything is hard for him... everything... when he physically leaves school, he mentally leaves school. He 'forgets' to do assignments and I believe it is because it is so hard for him that he has learned to separate his life outside of school which I think he feels good about, and his life at school, which he knows he struggles with... anyway... the last two days in class he has done so well... we are adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators and he is getting it... truly getting it! He is so proud of himself and has been telling everyone that he is a great math student. It's great! Another kid... makes up nicknames for people and depending on how much he likes you, the more often your nickname changes... we have had some fun exchanges. Recently, in one of my math classes, I had the kids practice their multiplication facts on this website called www.freerice.com. For every problem the kids get right, 20 grains of rice is donated to people in the world who need it. He is so addicted to that site, so I am now calling him "stir fry." He likes it. I enjoy him a lot. Then there is the girl who I am so worried about. She has anxiety higher than any student I have ever worked with... if things don't change I think she would be at high risk for suicide as a high school or college student. We are working on some daily things to try to help that and while we have only been implementing them for a couple of days, I think it helps her. She is a perfectionist and her anxiety relates mostly to academics. So in the morning she and I meet and set a non academic goal for the day and she also has to say something positive about herself to start the day. This is hard for her. We also try to predict possible successes for the day and possible events that could cause anxiety, like a test or a specific teacher, etc. We write down some strategies for how to deal with those situations as they arise. Then mid day we touch base about her goal and about her level of anxiety. We meet again at the end of the day and discuss how her day was, what she needs to do at night, and she has to say something that she did well during the day. Today she was happy that she didn't completely fall apart when a teacher reprimanded her.... This kid has talked to me a lot about her anxiety and how much she wants help, wants to feel better. When I started introducing strategies for us to use, I swear she wanted to just hold onto something that may make her feel better. I can't imagine having that level of anxiety as a kid... I was so lucky. Another kid that i have is an interesting character... I think that this student is struggling with some gender identity/sexual orientation issues, but I don't think that this student even realizes that this student's mood and depression is because of those issues... but I think that realization will happen soon. Another kiddo is one that reminds me of me... he is a big kid, bigger than all of his peers and even kids who are older than he is. There are a lot of issues with him, but...he is making some really bad choices...so I gotta do something. I think that when he skipped out on lunch detention with me and I went to the cafeteria and sat with him in front of his friends was a good first step. (He was mortified!) Another kid wants to be more independent and move away from special education a little bit... and I think that's a good thing... then there is this other kid that cracks me up... he is all about trucks and 4 wheelers and today had found a truck that he wants to buy. (He is 13.) He thinks it's awesome and asked my opinion on it... too funny!

I do love what I do... I love getting to know the kids and seeing what makes them tick. Today was a good day... even though it was hectic... I felt like my math kids were really understanding the math today... and I feel that I am at the point where I know my kids... it always takes me a while to know them, but I feel like that initial getting to know them phase is over. Thankfully!

It was a good day. Why the elephant picture? Because I saw it and it made me smile.

Cheers!

This is my friend Sue and I at one of our favorite local spots... we were out with some of our friends, Sheila and Jim. We were out to celebrate the completion of a class that Sheila had finished recently. It was fun. We have a good time there, at that restaurant. It is a Mexican restaurant and the men who work there refer to themselves as The Mexicans... so if I refer to them in that way it is because they have referred to themselves in that way... They are fun... and somehow I have earned some kind honor there... they enjoy my height... love to ask for/receive hugs and no matter how many times I go there, they are equally impressed. Last time I was there they asked to take my picture with a few of the waiters to send home to Mexico to show their families. I didn't mind.. but tonight I took my camera to repay the favor. However the one shot of me and one of them is very blurry... but I will post it anyway... they love it... it'e entertaining. Plus... the margaritas are magical... I am not kidding. They are powerful.... in many ways... It's good to be within walking distance of a place like that.

Anyway... life has been a little strange for me lately... I have been in some kind of funk... the kind where I can't even really identify it... sometimes I have felt lonely... and selfish for some of the thoughts that I have had... I know life is about perspective and choosing your attitude.. blah blah blah... I do believe in that.. but.. I have to say that... it's hard... and I am just gonna put it out there... sometimes it sucks to be single. Shit happens and who do I got? Really...

I have people in my life, yes... but... all the people I got... have other people too... I'm nobody's number 1. I want to be somebody's number 1. Bottom line. And...for the record... this is not a topic for a live discussion, period... it's just been in my head and I needed it out of my head...

Don't get me wrong. I appreciate the people I have in my life. I am blessed to have them. But... there is still something missing...

Anyway...in other news...

Today was the first meeting for the team that I coach. We met briefly after school with the girls who are interested in participating on the track team. The numbers were less impressive than we had hoped, but... maybe we can recruit a few more by the time the season officially begins. I am looking forward to it. It was nice to see the girls who are returning for another season and it was nice that they were excited to see me. I teach at a middle school and coach at the high school, so I get to coach kids that I don't see throughout the day. (I do coach middle school too, but not this season.)

Cheers...

Still Here..

Hello...
I am still here... been really busy. Lots to do before turkey Day... Will write more soon... promise.

Which shoe will drop next?

Just when you start to be comfortable with uncomfortable circumstances, crap happens... My mom had a doctor's appointment yesterday and I am still processing it all... I am not sure how to react... but my anxiety has increased since yesterday. (For the record, it is never nonexistent.) Apparently in addition to a massive tumor being attached to her kidney, there is now also a cyst. I am unsure if the cyst is attached to her kidney, to the tumor, or to both... I am not sure if the tumor is encapsulated by the cyst... and I am not sure my parents know at this point either.. because I think they were a little shocked and didn't quite know how to process it all either... Anyway... my mom's doctor took her case in front of a panel of surgeons and oncologists and the consensus is that the cyst needs to be removed. Not removing the tumor will result in it rupturing... and I am not sure what the consequences of that would be, because I don't know the nature of the cyst...but the doctors are concerned and said it would be an emergency situation. So... they think my mom will need to have another surgery...there is no timeline right now... but she will be meeting with a team of doctors who are urologist oncologists... I think... they may remove the cyst and while they are at it, "de-bulk" the tumor.

There are lots of things I do not understand... de-bulking... if that is a possibility, why was it not a possibility when she had her last surgery in March, when the docs opened her up and closed her up without removing anything because of its complexity and location of the tumor... has the medication made it so that this inoperable tumor has become operable?

They also learned that her medication may not continue to work... the docs anticipate that the cancer will outsmart the meds... so then what?

Mom and Dad said, it could be a mix of good and bad news... good, that mom could get some physical relief from having the cyst and possibly part of the tumor removed...good I suppose, because the docs would get a first hand picture of what is going on in there.... bad...because the cyst threatens my mom's life in a new way... bad...because the development of a cyst means that there is something not right going on... bad...because they said it is possible that the cyst could have elements that could put toxins into her body...

What I KNOW.. is this... this Thanksgiving... means a lot... and... every day is precious.

Groceries... and sexism?

OK.. So I was going to find some cute piece of clip art pertaining to grocery shopping for today's blog... and I noticed that the majority of the clip art pictures were women shopping... there are a few with men shopping, but most of them were women... so...do we still associate certain tasks with gender? Perhaps. Today is not a bad example of that... I was getting some things outside ready for winter - raking leaves, putting my bike away, etc... and called my parents to ask about my grill... should I put it on the porch that has a roof over it? Should I leave the propane tank outside or in the basement? Would it be ok if I just left it outside where there is no protection covered with a tarp? So when I called home my dad was not home and my mom said... well... you'll have to ask your father. (His advice was to store it on the covered porch... as it turns out, my landlord is going to let me store it in the garage... I don't have access to the garage, but they will get it out for me when I need it in the spring...it just means no grilling this winter... I am ok with that.) Then... tonight I went to the grocery store to use the turkey gift certificate... and after I got there I was not sure if I should buy a whole turkey or three turkey breasts... so I called home and mom answered.. and after much discussion and knowing that our family rarely eats the dark meat from a turkey... we opted for the breasts...then on my way home I called them again, Dad answered... I asked about transporting the turkey breasts to their house... do I need to put it in a cooler? with ice? his response? I don't know... ask yuh mothah...(that's dad's Maine accent... not quite the same on the blog!) so mom got on the phone... (Granted... both the grill question and the turkey question are ones that I am probably smart enough to figure out on my own, but... I like asking them questions and want to make sure that I make the right choices... yes I am 33 and I still like my parents opinions... I mean... they have done pretty well so far in life, they must be doing something right!) So anyway... Dad knew about the grill, mom knew about the turkey... traditional? Sexist? Or... simply.. that's what they each knew?

So instead of grocery clip art... I searched for one about being indecisive... because that's how I felt a lot of today... And I really liked that picture. Click here for the website for it.

I went to the gym today to work out... Today was arms... so I warmed up on the bike, did my arms... sometimes I hate doing arms... because my arms are so weak compared to my legs... but I do feel stronger when it is over. Then I did a mile on the elliptical followed by more biking....it was a good workout... plus the leaf raking and everything else outside was a pretty good workout too...

It was a good weekend...

Ahhh.... the gym...

So my goal last week was to get to the gym four mornings... I made it three times in the morning before work... not too bad. I didn't go yesterday because after staying home I felt like it would not be right to go out and work out... I just got home from there today. My friend/neighbor came with me. I had a great workout. I warmed up for 10 minutes on the bike, then stretched, then did my legs on the weight machines. I increased the weight on one of the machines and increased the reps on some of the others. It was good... I had to work hard! Then I did some squats and back extensions, then back to the bike for a cardio workout. I sat down on one of the recumbent bikes, like the one in the picture... and there was a man a couple bikes away from me... and after I got started I found myself looking at his screen to See how fast he was pedalling, how far he had gone, etc... and decided I wanted to compete with him... he was older than me... probably late 40's or so.. .in decent shape and he was going at a good pace... so I decided to catch up to him, even though he was about 3 minutes ahead of me... I think he noticed what I was doing and he began going faster... then I went faster and then we were going at about the same speed. I admit I got tired, but was determined he would quit before I did... (Of course that is subjective because when you start a program on the bikes you set the amount of time you want to go...and I had no idea how long he had set his time for...) After 21 minutes I was at 7.4 miles ... he was at 24 minutes had gone 8.6 miles.. So I pedalled like crazy...and when he got to 25 minutes he stopped... what?? that means I had to make sure that I was ahead of him at 24 minutes... and I was... I got to 8.7 miles! Oh yeah! Take that older guy! Ha ha ha... so.. it's not about beating him... well... not completely... it was about going fast and getting a great workout. It was good.

Now I am going to eat a healthy lunch, then get ready to head to work. Hope you are all doing something to take care of yourselves today!

School Pictures & Turkey

I did not go to work today. Nope. I was lazy. I called in sick, stayed home, slept in, went to physical therapy, then went shopping to buy in bulk. (cat food, chicken, etc.) I actually didn't feel great today. It's one of those days where I feel like I am coming down with something... stuffy...headachy... and believe that a day of rest today will help me stay well. We'll see if it works. This is a picture of Lucy. The other day she was trying to get my attention as I was getting ready to go somewhere and the next thing I knew she was on top of the refrigerator. She is so cute! I am also including a picture of my school picture... the quality is not great because it is a picture of a picture, but I am actually not unhappy with my picture this year. If this was of better quality, I may put it on here as my primary picture... but... it isn't great. So I haven't found a good picture of myself that I want to use at the top of the page here.

I have had several new emails in the last week or so, from more people suffering with PVNS or who have family members who are suffering with PVNS. Once again, I am hearing that people are so scared by what they are finding online. I am not saying that I will never deal with PVNS again...I AM saying that right now, I feel good, and am PVNS free... and I am more cognisant of my body and how it feels.

I had physical therapy today for the pain I have been having in my foot... it is unrelated to PVNS... mostly... but they did say today at PT that chances are having knee problems exacerbated my feet problems, just as feet problems exacerbate knee problems.... so... if I have any advice for those of us who are recovered/recovering from or who are facing/dealing with PVNS, it's this... do not hesitate to go to the doctor. For anything. It's real... it is not in our heads... and if the doctor makes you feel otherwise... go to another doctor. Period.

I am working tomorrow... and need to go grocery shopping...for the non bulk items.

Oh yeah... I got a gift yesterday... from the turnpike...





















They gave me a gift certificate for $25 towards a turkey for Thanksgiving. How nice is that? I will be taking the turkey up to my parents house for us all to enjoy while we are there visiting. (I will need help cooking it... never have cooked one...get ready mom and dad!)

Dance, Be Happy!

Ok, so now I can say that I voted for Obama and am so excited about his victory. I also have to say that I admire McCain's concession speech. (In my opinion, the best part of his campaign.)

Today I had some great discussions with my students. And the timing of these discussions was perfect. Some teachers with whom I work have made some inappropriate comments about some of these kids...basically saying that there is little to no hope that these kids will amount to much. (Trust me, this infuriates me and I do all I can to contain myself... if you feel that way, GET OUT OF EDUCATION!) One of the kids, who is cognitively quite limited, but has some strengths said something pretty profound. Somehow in our discussion about the election the N word became a topic... she raised her hand and said... "i hate that word... I hate even reading that word... it makes me feel.. like ... well... like I am insulting myself even...not just black people...it's just such a mean word that I can't stand it...why do people want to be mean to themselves and that word is mean to everbody..." ahhh... good kid... The discussions with the kids today were interesting... kids get things that adults don't often give them credit for. Another girl asked, "Why do white people hate black people at all, I mean where did that even come from, it's so stupid." Smart kids...

I was emotional about the election today, more than I thought I would be. After hearing the results I thought immediately of one of my former students... who last year was called the n word at our school... I brought him and the two boys who called him that together and had an amazing discussion. That boy, in that discussion, talked about what it meant to him to see Obama even running for president... coming from Africa, this student was in awe that someone who looked like him could maybe become president... he was so emotional talking about it and... also shared his fear about a possible assassination because of race, but... his insight about racism, even at his young age, was amazing to me. So I wondered this morning, when I heard the news, how this young man feels today.

Anyway... I made it to the gym this morning and neither of my potential eye candy guys were there... don't they know they are supposed to be there, purely for my oggling? Geesh! But I had a good workout and if I go again tomorrow morning, I will have met my goal for this week... I will. Yahoooooo...

WOW

A day to be proud.

Did you vote? Didja, didja?

OK... So... Today is a BIG day in American History. One way or another, history is in the making. That's exciting.
I am watching Oprah and she said that the last election was determined by 537 voters... that's awesome... crazy but awesome. 537 people... that's cool.

So.. I just got home from PT and have both of my feet taped, it will be interesting to see how I feel having them both taped. The woman who is doing my PT this week, while the other guy is in Ireland, was telling me that she had another client who had PVNS. She said she was so surprised by it because she knew of its rarity. She said the woman only came for two sessions because her insurance would not cover more, and that she remembered the woman being frustrated because PVNS had returned for a third time. I hope I don't have to experience that... please please please.

Oh yea, I did hit the gym this morning. I was running a bit late and didn't get there until about 5:20, so didn't get started until 5:25 or so. I like to get started by 5:15 or earlier... those 10 minutes make a difference. Plus I needed to get things done at school this morning so really needed to get there early too... Anyway... The gym was good. I warmed up and then did weight training for my legs. I did not do cardio... I was happy though because one of the leg machines was out of commission, and this thought entered my mind 'guess I don't have to do that today...' But then, I kicked myself a little because I need to think of it differently... I re-thought that thought and said, 'Darn, I don't GET to do that today." So I went upstairs and did an alternate exercise to work those same muscles. I will go again tomorrow morning... although it may be tricky with my feet being taped... I am supposed to keep my feet dry while taped... so either I go in the morning, come home and shower here with bags on my feet... that will take more time....or go to the gym in the afternoon... but I really want to go in the morning... so I will have to let you know how it goes. Oh, a clarification on a post in which I referred to my OLD eye candy guy.. I meant the guy I previously looked at as my eye candy... not a hunky man who is significantly older than me.... and... for the record, one of my possible new eye candy guy was at the gym this morning... he might get my vote... ha ha...

So today, you don't HAVE to vote... you GET to vote! Do it!

Vote Tomorrow

So tomorrow is the big day... history will be made... one way or another... but hopefully the correct way! My school had a mock election today and the results had Obama winning as president. Does that reflect the community in which my school is located? maybe. I was a bit surprised... thinking that the community was more conservative.

Interesting stuff... politics... divides people.

Anyway... I went to the gym this morning. It felt good to get there early. I was happy to get it done. I will go again tomorrow morning. I am scoping out some new eye candy... and today saw old eye candy guy...such a shame... but... this mornings workout was good... I did my arms. My arms are so much weaker than my legs... it makes me crazy. Tomorrow I get to do my leg workout... my favorite! I think its because I feel like my legs are strong and I like feeling stronger... while doing my arms makes me feel stronger in the long term... when I struggle to do the arms... I realize how weak I am... I am tired today but a good tired... productive tired.

My students met roadrunner balloon guy today. They were excited. I told them an edited version of the story... that didn't involve being at a bar... but a restaurant instead. One girl, a little 6th grader, asked me if I was given the roadrunner because the guy had a crush on me... I laughed and said I didn't thinkn so... and she proceeded to tell me it probably was the reason because "You are cute, you know, Miss [teacher]." That kid gets an A!

Oh yeah... other big news... I wore heels today... all day... and felt fine. I go back to PT tomorrow and hope to get my foot taped again. And that massage...

anyway... get to the polls and VOTE!

A day of work, time with friends, magic, and ..the road runner?

Ok... So today was quite a day... I worked on the turnpike today and it was an ok day... nothing big... then I came home and got together with my friends Kris and Sue. We had dinner at Sue's then went in town to have a girls' night out. We landed at one of our favorite places... the place where Sara and I have had many adventures... and while it seemed that the night was going to be low key... events began unfolding... and we had a blast.

We sat at the end of a table already occupied by a few guys...but they are not important characters in this story. As we were sitting two guys pulled bar stools (the twisting kind) over near where we were seated... one of the guys started spinning in his chair and somehow we ended up in conversation... I thought that they were going to beat me at my own game of making up stories about themselves....(I may have once told someone that I was a championship log roller... or maybe a lawn tractor race champ....) because they told us that they were magicians...they said that they do a weekly show and also do other entertaining like make balloon figures... in fact one of them had created a five foot tall road runner being ridden by Wile E. Coyote. So... in believing they were BSing us... I was about to tell them I was an acrobat, they started to show us a magic trick.

AS it turns out these two were magicians... the balloon artist/magician asked me if I had a 5 foot tall road runner balloon, if I would walk through the bar carrying it as I left... I said that I was... because it really would not create any more of a scene than I do walking by myself... (because of my height... plus tonight I was wearing my heels!) I was sitting down at the time so had to explain a little to them... but anyway... while the other guy was showing us these amazing card tricks, the balloon man left and returned with the balloon figure. OMG... this thing is awesome... and he gave it to me.

How cool is that... here is a picture of me with the balloon figure...

It was fun... several people came over to ask about the road runner and people were pretty jealous that it had been given to me. I heard the guy say that if he had made it for a party or something, he would charge $75 for it!!! Whoa!! So... we had some fun with them and their tricks and I got their cards because they say that they have some magic tricks that I could use to teach math.. how cool is that? SO when we left.. the bar had become very crowded... very... so much so that in order to get the road runner out of there, I had to hold it up over my head... (If you think this didn't get attention, you are nuts!) And... while holding the road runner over my head and walking through the crowded bar... I felt like I was at the Macy's Day Parade with one of those giant balloons!

I am also posting a pic that I took with the camera tonight using the timer to show you just how tall this thing is... compared to me... so that you get an idea of what I would look like carrying this thing through a crowded bar... Trust me, you need the visual!

Oh my goodness... we had some good laughs... good times!