I've been making this new mix of songs for Zach. Along with the kid's stuff, I also like to include world music and old catchy pop hits from the past -- you know, the stuff on the radio that everybody knows and is impossible to get out of your head. Yes, yes, yes ... People who know me will know that listening to Top 40 flies in the face of my indie nature and tendency to seek out and exalt obscure bands (especially British). But for kids, who love repetition and like to bounce, pop hits have their place. Of course, I've also included some of the classics like Rose Royce's "Car Wash," Tom Petty's "American Girl" and countless Beatles songs. The boy's got to have an education.
Well, the result is that today, I can't get The Bangles "Manic Monday" out of my head to save my life. I think my head is going to explode. I can see it now:
Putting together song lists is just one thing I do with my days. I still go out walking, read books, follow more news than I'd like and watch some television and movies. I also have a new (actually I'm revisiting) addiction to Yahoo's Text Twist. It's an online game where the goal is to make words out of six given letters that you can "twist" around at the touch of a button. On the left-hand side of the screen, there are empty boxes representing all the words they want you to find. To get to the next round, you must find at least one six-letter word. If you find all the words, you get mega-extra points. I have some vague notion that this game is keeping my mind sharp, but in reality, it has kind of a nice numbing effect.
Tomorrow I have clinic and I'm getting a bone marrow biopsy. They're going to stick a long needle into my hip bone to collect a sample of my bone marrow to see if they can find any CLL cells. I've had this procedure before and would describe it as "uncomfortable," not painful. They numb the area really well and give you something special to make you forget you're having your lower back plunged like a clogged sink. I don't know when I'll get the results, but I am hoping for no CLL cells.
Lastly, I am loving having my PICC line out. It is healing nicely and is no longer tender to the touch. My next goal is to get off the immunosuppressant drugs -- something that the nurse practitioner says will probably happen roughly three months from now. Ideally, they'd be weaning me already, but with all the GVHD I've had, they are holding off. Waiting makes me a little sad, but I know it's a "do it once, do it right" situation. You better believe that, when this is over, I'm never getting cancer again.
much love,
Katie
Comments (6)
Huzzah about getting your PICC line out! I love New Orleans brass band music in general, but especially for kids. I think they enjoy the dancing parade aspect.
Posted by Shona | September 22, 2008 2:12 PM
Posted on September 22, 2008 14:12
Yay progress! I look forward to being able to visit you again without fear of infecting you with my toddler's I'm-in-preschool-now germs...
We are currently very fond of the Putomayo Playground cd (French I think) -- lots of boogie-ing going on in the living room to that one.
Posted by Tara Hernandez | September 22, 2008 5:07 PM
Posted on September 22, 2008 17:07
Dear Katie,
Just a quick thought about music before I go to bed. What about KARMA CHAMELEON by the Culture Club? It's catchy tune and a lot of repetition and Of course, I love the Culture Club!!! i get to really walking fast with this one.
Good luck with the Bone Marrow biopsy tomorrow? I will be thinking about you and being there in Spirit and Heart to support you through it. I used to assist with these when I worked for a doctor in Turlock. Your dad's CA doctor from Modesto used to come and see patients once a week at the office in which I was the nurse. I cannot remember his name. He was the father of that assistant who came up missing in DC in the early 90's and was involved with the senator from CA. Nothing was ever proven but she was supposedly gotten rid of by this Senator. That is os very sad.
Well, got lots to do tomorrow-going to Tulsa to pick up books for group that I attend and am now the literature coordinator and I have a meeting there also and have some other errands to do. I'm getting dizzy just thinking how I am going to get all this done. BUT I am getting quite familiar with Tulsa. I already have dinner in the crock pot because Iknow this will take a lot of the day.
Lots of love and hugs,
Mom
Posted by Mom | September 22, 2008 7:45 PM
Posted on September 22, 2008 19:45
Good stuff Katie! Glad to hear you got the Borg contraption outta the arm (for those of you not into Star Trek TNG, the Borg are a race of cyborgs that terrorize deep space and assimilate other races). Well, anyway, glad you weren't assimilated into the collective Katie.
So enough geeking out on Sci-Fi... time to geek out on politics. Anyone wanna move to Denmark? I got a sinking feeling here... Somehow people still want to believe that Palin sold her plane on ebay (she didn't) and that she opposed the bridge to nowhere (she didn't) and that she opposed earmark spending (she didn't) and really overall, jsut can't stop talking about her! The conservative movement seems to have hit on the perfect strategy for these media orgies we try to pass off as elections - keep the public distracted with soap operas and cheerleader platitudes and exibit a Limbaugh-esque indifference towards the truth in any public statements. Worked in 2000, 2004, and seems to be working in 2008. Mark my cynical words... if Obama doesn't go into the election with at least a 7 point lead, say hello to president McCain.
Rome is burning...
(ps - sorry for the super downer email. It's just that I missed your last post... Plus, I've grown to like this country, and am sad to see it go.)
Posted by Aaron | September 23, 2008 11:31 AM
Posted on September 23, 2008 11:31
Since reading your email, my mind has been taken over by that late '80s headshaker (as in why did it become a hit?), "Don't Worry, Be Happy." I suggest its catchy Caribbean beat for Zach and its message for you. Good luck with the bone tap. Lovingly, Eva
Posted by Eva | September 23, 2008 9:36 PM
Posted on September 23, 2008 21:36
Dear Katie,
I been racking my brain and it takes a lot of effort at my age and a lot of yeears stored up in there. But I have been trying and trying to think of your dad's Oncologist in Modesto. I finally thought of his name whild going throught the alphabet;Dr.Robert Levy. His daughter's name was Chandra, I think. anyway, you might remember this story in the mid to late 90's.
How did the bone marrow biopsy go? I thought of you all day and was hoping for the very bestest report and a good person doing the procedure. That makes all the difference in the world.
I tought of another catchy tune "DA DOO RON RON" by Shaun Cassidy. It was in 1977-I had to go to my record colection to get this one!!! Remember when I used to do arobices to a lot of those old tunes? In the living room no less and almost flew out the door a couple of times. Yes, those were the days!!! HIPPO MOM BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE DOING AEROBICS!!!
Well, got to get to bed
Love and hugs to you all,
Mom
Posted by Mom | September 25, 2008 8:11 PM
Posted on September 25, 2008 20:11