INVECTIVE -- Word for the Day -- Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Invective • \in-VEK-tiv\ • noun

Definition: an abusive expression or speech; insulting or abusive language

Wow -- this is the Word for the Day in the dictionary... BUT, I can do this!

I got the message last week when my aunt told me she really hadn't been looking at my posts, BUT she knew I hadn't written since October 5. No, she wasn't invective. In fact, I have never heard a bad word come out of her mouth. I ain't like her.

ChemoSabe began his two week on; two week of deal last Tuesday. I don't believe he has had as much energy as in the past. I know this because -- he hasn't vacuumed! Although his appetite has increased due to the steroids.

It has been a very busy month. Much of my days off on Fridays have been spent with my little (6 ft. 2 in. tall) brother. He is the disabled wheelchair. We have had some interesting visits. I work on his computer for him and he is becoming quite the guru with my teaching. I introduced him to Yahoo IM a few months back and he wears me out until around 10 p.m. on my BlackBerry. ChemoSabe smiles when he hears the Taco Bell bell I put on the IM notification for Mike.

We went out Friday and got him a used 1997 24 ft. travel trailer. We all use to camp a lot in the day. He misses it and wants to take his adopted granddaughter camping. So, I approved the purchase.

Saturday night, very late, he tripped on a blanket hanging off the bed and fractured his right femur. He has two hip replacements. The surgeons will be deciding on surgery or not. I will be giving him stomach blood thinner shots for 21 days. I was already giving him his arthritis shots every Monday. When I ask if he is in pain, he just shakes his head no and says he is a Marine.

ChemoSabe and I made a much needed relaxing bike trip to Mountain View last Saturday. The weather was beautiful. Since it is the end of the year we haven't been able to do anything the last four weekends because of his work. All work and no play makes Pepper grumpy.

I have been taking my frustrations out of rearranging and cleaning out the garage, mowing, blowing and burning two acres of leaves. Bathing and beating the dogs! (Not) And, a variety of other things. The biggest and most fun is throwing my own pity party. Then, I wonder why I am the only guest... ha

I did have reason to whimper when I assumed the position of a hood ornament on the back deck last week while blowing leaves. I had the back pack blower on my back and slid on a wet spot. Left leg went straight out to the left and right leg bent underneath the big rumpus with ankle in twisted position. Right wrist attempted to hold up the blower; left wrist banged wildly against upper deck to steady myself. All the while my cell phone was vibrating in my back pocket. If I don't answer, the caller attempts again... Guess that helped the immediate bruising on my buttocks as I came out of it with a lot of soreness for two days and no cuts or bruises. Hope my neighbor wasn't looking out the window as I was surely invective!

Do you ever hang around waiting for the other shoe to drop? Things haven't been too peachy keen, but hardly anything to complain about. We have the regulars like all those damn bills from UAMS (about a foot tall). Price of gas; those guys cutting in front of me at the I-430/I-30 split in the afternoon. So, life is good. ChemoSabe has an upcoming colonoscopy that I hope he doesn't cancel. He has already postponed it. He has never had one, but his cancer doc has demanded it before December. She actually told him it was suppose to have been done last March. So, that is weighing on our minds... I would die if anything comes up positive on it. I know he feels the same. Once your body hears that WORD, then he never forget the impact it has on your lives. Oh, how many times I have thought -- "I wish it was like before."

The Lord has been standing next to me all through my trials. He gives me strength. He is the only reason I have made it through all the hardships the last year. He picks me up, dusts me off and guides me into another day. Do you believe He does the same for you?

The end of the month ChemoSabe begins his testing again. The dreaded bone marrow biopsy, MRI and CT scans. Our next appointment is the first week of December. I remember writing back in May 2008 about such visits as the "Dreaded Visit". We have a much better feeling each time we go now. Our last visit I was actually running late because the doctor came in an hour early... It took me about 20 minutes to arrive and she and ChemoSabe were having a personal discussion. I couldn't believe she actually waited on me... We really like her..

I look forward to the afternoon now. I suppose this is my favorite time of the year. I get home in time to blow leaves out of the drive and off the decks. I feel the autumn smells crawling up my nose as the leaves are blowing over with the dampness. It reveals healthy foliage underneath which reminds me I will have more grass to mow in the summer.

The birds are burrowing down for the evening and you can hear the dogs in far off yards greeting their masters as they arrive home from work. Eager for attention and their evening meal.

I love to bake a pie in the middle of the week because it is cool outside. And, to build a fire in the hearth. I love this time of year.

Have a good evening and Love -- Pepper