More than a Dollar's Worth of Entertainment -- MUCH More!

I rode the Westheimer-82 bus home on Wednesday afternoon. My car was at the dealership-spa and the floor mats were still being shampooed, so I decided to leave it and go public transit. Truly, the one-hour ride eastbound on Westheimer from the Beltway into the Montrose was at once entertaining (damnedest looking people), edifying (small Central American-looking women speaking a language that was NOT Spanish), and fragrant (I kept thinking I was in the Paris subway!). I am reminded how diverse the Houston population is, how one's idea of personal space has to shift on public transit, and how fortunate I am to have a nice car to drive around in on most days.

Like Finding Yourself Suddenly Trapped in the Back of an Abandoned Moving Van. In the Sahara. At Noon.

In case you were wondering what chemically-induced hot flashes feel like, the description above is as close as I can get. I seem also to suffer from a heat-induced variation on Tourette's Syndrome, which causes me to swear uncontrollably, but with great feeling and creativity, for the duration of the event. I usually end with uttering the word, "Nasty!"

Forbidden Love

Maybe it's not so good that I've learned to post photos. But do click on it to get the full effect.

Another startling resemblance. Especially nude.

A special shout-out to Amy Mata for pointing out (GET IT? POINTing out?) that my hairdo makes me look like a kewpie doll. The body isn't quite right -- a couple of bandaids across a purplish chest would do it, though.

The girls and I are fine

Hi, Punks. No problems today. I must be made of naughahyde or something sturdy like that. I wish I had more drama to report, but I've had dental surgery with more pain and complications. This was just no big wup. My friend Amy from Shreveport is on her way to take care of me. We'll probably end up at High Fashion Fabrics to pick out upholstery material for the guest room.

I guess I'm back at work on Monday.

Anyone else see the resemblance?

I think Ann Taylor may be right!

There are THREE Grand Tetons!

So thank goodness I didn't ask for those*. Happily, I have TWO. They are situated in a standard position; they match, from what I can tell given than I'm kind of gauzed-up; and they are of reasonable dimensions. I will refrain from further description since this is a public blog.

Surgery started about 8:30 or so, and we were home at four, I think, although the trip home was fuzzy. I'm pretty sure I didn't drive. It's 7:30 pm now and anesthesia is wearing off nicely. I have pain meds to pop as needed, and I'm starting to get hungry. All is well. I'm home and accepting phone calls and e-mails and all that. Nurse McCabe is doing an excellent job of running up and down the stairs, taking and returning phone calls, providing updates, finding my phone, my blackberry, my glasses, my ice water.

Thank you to everyone for thoughts and prayers and worries. As we learned in January, all of those things have weight and mass, and they HELP.

More later. Oh, for those of you outside the area, a tropical storm is on the way to Houston. EXCITING!!


*Carole Corder was the Grand Teton expert. Her e-mail asked where the third one might be . . .

Give Me a C, a Bouncy C!

Reconstruction tomorrow! Seems like I'm early in the batting order so we'll drag in about 6 am or so. Surgery at 8:30 and I'll be home in the late afternoon if all goes well. Insurance stuff came through THANK GOD so we are calm. All is well. According to the surgeon, I will be sore for a few days but should be back in the office by Monday unless I'm too stoned on pain killers. We'll see.

For those of you who want details, we are replacing the tissue expander that went in after the mastectomy with another permanent implant. Then we are also "redecorating" the other one to match. The surgeon drew all over me this morning; I even have his initials on my chest. He insists that's hospital procedure, but I think he's just tagging me.

To amuse you, here is a photo of me with my new hair -- note the "fauxhawk" on top. That is NATURAL; I have done nothing to get this clever little hair-do. It is very dark brown, almost black, with grey (or, as I prefer to say, "silver") highlights. So much for blonde and curly.

Wish me luck! I'll post an update Wednesday evening for all.