My Thoughts on Turning 50 and Kian Horse Riding at WDL Ranch

On June 19th, I turned a half a century old!  It just sounds so. . . . OLD.  However, I was quickly reminded that only five years ago, I wasn't sure if I would be here to celebrate my 45th birthday.  Things quickly hopped back into perspective for me.  So what if I'm 50.  You're only as old as you feel, right?!  Well. . . some days I feel like I'm still in my 20's and I can definitely act the part too.  Other days, when my joints are aching and I'm swallowing my chemo pills only to feel a bit queasy and tired for part of the day, I feel 90!  LOL  But guess what?  At least I am here to feel it.  So no complaining about my age.  What good does it do anyway?  It's not like the number is going to change.  It's time to look at having another birthday as a gift. 


There were a lot of astounding things that occurred in 1965 (besides my birth!  haha)  Can you imagine gasoline only costing 31cents a gallon?  Malcolm X was shot to death, and the first U. S. Combat troops arrived in Vietnam.  That's a lot of history that happened in just one year. Miniskirts came in fashion and a car cost an average of $2,650.  Sometimes I think it would be easier if we could go back to the way things were when I think of the world we live in now.  However, we can't go backward.  We can only move forward. 

I love what the Kermit poster says:  "Be thankful for the bad things in life.  For they opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before!"  I was one of those people that took things for granted.  Then I got sick.  Talk about an eye opener.  After I finally convinced myself that I needed to fight, I started to really look at things from a different perspective.  I don't take things for granted anymore.  I try to savor the moments-even if it's "just another day."  I appreciate the sun rise and the sunset, the rain and snowstorms.   I look forward to spending time together with family and friends.  I am thankful for each and every day God gives me to be a part of this world. 

I still have those moments where I wonder why I have been given more time here on Earth and others haven't.  There were several friends I lost this year from cancer and I found myself asking why?  I believe they call it Survivor's Guilt.  Instead of feeling bad about it, I need to be thankful that I am still here and not waste time questioning it.  God must have a plan for me. It's not my time yet.  I know there isn't a cure, but I am still here, so there is work to be done!  I must be here to make a difference.  Now those are big shoes to fill.

I'm not quite sure what it is I am supposed to be
doing, but hopefully being honest about my journey might help someone out there who is facing ovarian cancer.  Or maybe there is a family  like ours that carries the BRCA1 gene and they'll decide to get tested to see if they carry the gene.  Those who carry it can be proactive and save the lives of their family members!   Maybe spreading the word is what I am supposed to do.  Maybe continuing to teach and work with my students is the difference I will make.  I know I still have my own children that I want to be here for; Danielle will soon be married.  Someday maybe there will be grandchildren!  I want to be here when they boys get married if they decide to one day and grow old with Rob.  However, none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.   That's why we have to make the best of EACH day! So forget about how "OLD" you are and just

make the best of each day.  Try not to complain so much.  What good does that do anyway?  Some people miss out on so much of the beauty around them and the relationships they could enrich but they are too busy complaining about all they have to do.  I used to be like that.  Type A personality; everything had to be just so.  Not so much anymore.  If you stop by my house, maybe the sweeper hasn't been run yet.  Or there may be dishes in the sink if I had an exercise class to attend.  My bed is not always made, 

where before April 1, 2010, when we got up for the day,
the bed was made immediately.  It's not that important to me.  I'd rather go downstairs and talk to the family or have coffee with Rob.  Everything doesn't have to be perfect anymore.  I just want to appreciate each moment because that is what is most important to me.  If someone asks me how old I am, I may say I am 29 for the 21st time, or I may say 49 and holding because after all, it's just a number!

Thank you for all the cards and wishes!

My nephew Kian has been a tough little guy all 5 years of his life.  He was born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida.  That is when the spine was formed on the outside.  After he was born, he was whisked away and had surgery to put the spine back inside.

This little spit fire walks, rides a two wheel bike, kicks balls, and will run circles around me!  He may not be the fastest kid on the team, but he still gives it his all.  Last week I took a ride out to WDL Ranch in Fairview.  He has been involved in a study involving horseback riding.  It is to help his muscles become stronger and be able to feel when his bladder is filling or feel that urge that he needs to use the restroom.  He wears little braces up to his calf to give him more strength and mobility.  He doesn't have those connected muscles in his calves, so he sometimes tires sooner than someone else might.  However, I rarely see this kid slow down! 

His horse's name is Hondo.  He is a chubby horse that Kian has been riding for two plus years now twice a week.  It is a wonderful program and he is actually showing improvement when it comes to feeling that urgency to use the restroom!

  He loves to make faces at me since he knew I had come to see him do his exercises on Hondo.  They truly do exercise while riding the horse!  They work on stretches and spinning around facing forward and backward on Hondo.  They also do a Superman stretch and then they ride the horse around.  I even got to see him get Hondo to trot! 

 Here he is riding Hondo backward!  I was really impressed with the program and how well Kian has come along with it.  He is doing a great job!  He's a  fiesty fighter like his Aunt Suzie!  :)

Of course the Program Director was showing him how to give Hondo treats.  I insisted we bring Hondo some carrots.  So Kian set the carrot down for Hondo, and then he gobbled them up.  We saved a few for ourselves for the car ride home.

 If we let our age or anything for that matter hold us back from experiencing life to its fullest, we are being foolish.  No one knows what the future holds, so get out there and surprise everyone you meet in what you are able to do! 

I'll have more to share as we continue to countdown to the wedding!  Have a wonderful upcoming week!

Shower Memories Part I of this weeks blog

                           

The Wedding Shower was a lot of fun once we got everything there and set up.  We did a pretty good job incorporating their colors into the winery, if I do say so myself.  Fuschia and orange.  Danielle LOVES pink and Corey is a Dolphins fan, so he wanted orange.  (We'll try not to hold that against him!  haha)  Thankfully this is a summer wedding with bright colors like that. 


We incorporated wine bottles in a few ways.  We took wine bottles and spray painted them orange or pink.  Then we got out the modge podge, covered the bottles, and brought out the glitter!  You can never have enough sparkle!  Finally, after a few coats of modge podge and glitter, we added the clear coat.  The directions for the bottles were found on Pinterest, of course. 

We also took some wine bottles to a local ceramics place.  They melted some down for us and made others with a concave look.  That way, one could be used as a cutting board and the other as a little snack dish.  They came out
 looking pretty cool!

 As for the favors, we chose wine glasses, of course.  Again, we did more modge podge and glitter to bring in the fuschia color.  Then we wrote the names of the guests so that we didn't have to worry about name tags.  Danielle did all the writing.  She has great penmanship!  The names washed off, but the bedazzled stem and bottom will stay on at least through hand washing.  We aren't experts; just a little glitter crazed! 

Other than having a few minor glitches, all went well. Our iced tea container decided to leak, but Rob fixed that up.  We didn't have the dispenser tightened enough.  And we were short a glass or two, so he made a few trips home for us.  After his last trip, he decided to stay for the last hour.  I think he kind of enjoyed himself.   There he is, below posing with Roberta and one of my college roommates, Tammy.  Roberta's beautiful daughter, Sarah, (center) is getting married two weeks before Corey and Danielle.  We are

 looking forward to that! She will make another beautiful bride.  The Chinese Auction was a hit as well.  I couldn't have done all of this without the help of my Mom, Marcia, Melissa, Michelle, and the bridesmaids.    Everyone was given an adorable  tiny polka dotted envelope with 10 chances to win any basket they chose to put their number in. 

Below, is the beautiful cupcake wedding dress also bejeweled.  My friend Carrie did an amazing job on it.  There is a little similarity to it and Danielle's dress, but we will all have to wait for 29 more days to see the real thing!

Corey stayed and enjoyed the shower too.  He was

Bridesmaids

introduced as well with the bridesmaids and his Mom and aunt.   The picture of the bridesmaids below (l-r) are:  Emily-this will be Danielle's sister-in-law.  She is married to Matt, Corey's brother.  Becky is Danielle's Maid of Honor.  They went to Iroquois and formed a tight bond during the 2006 softball season.  Becky was catcher and Danielle was pitcher.  They have been close friends ever since then.  Stephanie is also a longtime friend and softball teammate.  Then we have Jordan.  She was Danielle's college roommate and teammate.  Last but not least, is Julie, Danielle's cousin!   The food was delicious.  We had some catered and some we prepared ourselves.  My Aunt Carol made the delicious Spinach Dip and Mom's friend made bruschetta.  JoAnn, Marcia, Michelle, Mom and me did some nice work cutting up fresh fruit and veggies.  I don't think anyone left hungry!

Me talking with Mrs. Vukovic and Emily

Mom (right in blue) with her lady friends

They were blessed to receive so many wonderful things.  There's my forever friend Kathy and Brenda, my friend and supervisor.

She was so excited to receive some moustache and lip bag holders.

Corey is thinking. . . I hope she can make toast at least!  hahaha

Corey knows his way around the kitchen, and I think he was happy to see these utensils.

Danielle has been admiring this Owl Cookie Jar for a while!  She was so happy she got it.  Corey is hoping she will make some cookies for it, I bet.

Her bouquet was filling up nicely for Rehearsal and she loved the mirror. 

The Keurig machine they were both thrilled to receive.  I'm not sure who enjoys their coffee more; Corey or Danielle. . .

Some of my dear colleagues who have helped me through so much over the past 5 years.

All in all, it was a terrific night; one I will cherish with me for a long time.  But who has time to think about all of that when I have a wedding to finish putting together!  29 days and counting!  Part II of my blog will cover turning 50 and the WDL Ranch.  Stay tuned!

🎶School's Out For Summer🎶 Shower & Moving Anticipation plus Sunshine ☀️

After a crazy week of wrapping up the school year, summer is finally here!  There was the Awards Ceremony, correcting final projects and papers, Field Day, completing progress reports and mailing them all out before I could finally walk out of the junior high doors and begin summer vacation.  What a great feeling of accomplishment!  The smell of summer has been in the air for the past week or so.  Have you noticed it?  I have been waiting for this moment for months.  No stress and it's Sunday night!  No packing our lunches or making sure papers have been corrected.  No upcoming meetings either!  So sweet!  I plan to stay up and read an extra hour or so just because I can.

Now that Summer is here,  we are busy preparing for Danielle's shower.  It's been slow going for over a year.  All of a sudden we are running around like crazy buying last minute items to make the shower a special time for all that attend.  Favors are just about done, table cloths and centerpieces are being put together and the food has been ordered.

Danielle has her first dress fitting this Tuesday.   Mrs. Vukovic is coming in to share in the moment.  She has raised 4 boys!  So having her along with us for the fitting will be extra special!  She hasn't had the opportunity to share in this from a mom's perspective.  I think she is in for a treat.  My Mom is coming and me too of course.  I will try not to cry!  It's one of those moments we've been talking about for over two years!  All of a sudden the time is almost upon us.

Many little girls dream of that special moment for a long time; when you  are walking down the aisle with your Dad and your husband -to -be is waiting for you at the altar.  Let's hope she keeps it
together better than I did!  I sobbed throughout the entire ceremony.  I remember Father Sperry
whispering to me, " It's okay.  You are going to be alright!  Just repeat after me. . ."  Rob probably thought I was going to make a mad dash off the altar and head for the nearest door!  Ohhh the memories!  My cousin Katie, who was in our wedding party, was fighting with a bee that was after her bouquet! She was only 12 years old and  flew all the way from California to Erie PA with a stewardess looking after her in order to be a part of our day.  We have always had a special bond.   Soon we will be reminiscing of Danielle's day we have anxiously been planning for.

This month we will attend Mrs. Vukovic's shower and my family's shower.  We also have a dinner at the end of the month with her bridesmaids. She is not into the Bachelorette parties or Stag and Drags like many choose to have in this area of the planet.  I must say, she's got a little of me in her.  I was the same way.   I NEVER drank until I was sick.  Heck, I even made it through three different types of chemo treatments over the past five years and did not have to visit the porcelain God.  No thanks.  That does not sound fun to me at all.

Living room and their 3 pieces of furniture!

Meanwhile, Danielle and Rob have been working away on her and Corey's house.  It is really starting to look nice.  All they need are the typical things we all use in our homes!  They are true newlyweds. They don't even have silverware, pots and pans or plates!  Corey has been busy preparing to take his Boards the week before the wedding.  He was emergency certified and hired at Nova Care recently.  He is either working or studying.  He does not have a lot of time to work on the house now that we are six weeks away from his test.  So Danielle has been having her Dad help her out.  They were weeding and tearing up a few dead bushes yesterday.  Today Corey joined them and took a much needed break.  They were mulching and planting flowers.  Rob really enjoyed meeting the neighbors with Danielle yesterday.  The one gentleman across the street from them (who walks his cat I might add) came over to introduce himself.  He thought Rob was her husband!!!!  Let me tell you,  neighbor, I think you made Rob's year.  He was so tickled by the compliment, he was sure to tell us all about it as soon as they dropped off a huge pile of tree limbs and leaves to burn at our house.

I'm glad I wasn't there.  He might have thought I was the grandmother!  Painting and pulling out dead bushes is not my kind of thing.  I will wait until it is move in day.  Then I can help organize drawers and get things packed away for them.  I was pleasantly surprised Rob has been able to do so much to help out at their house.  He has been having some back problems and was literally on his back for a few weeks.  Hopefully it continues to heal and he doesn't reinjure it as he is doing manual work.  

Meanwhile, I will continue to try to hold down the fort around here.  I have my own weeding and cleaning to do right now!  We  have six adults living in this house.  Corey has all of his books and notes spread out on the kitchen table.  Then the kids drop off mail, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc. . . as well.  It's a wreck!  

The boys perception of working full time is quite funny.  Andrew is working about 70 hours a week.  So he is unable to even put his clothes in a neat pile!  I went downstairs to throw a load of laundry in and it looks like his hamper exploded all over my floor!  

burn pile #1

                                                                                              

I will post a few more pictures of Danielle and Corey's house as they  have been slowly painting and decorating.  They were talking about TV's.  Men!  Corey wants a 60" television.  Rob and I gently reminded them that it would be nice to have something to sleep in as well such as a bed!   Or how about a kitchen table and some chairs?!  Priorities!  

Zach has been working 3-11 and then the past few days 7-3. He doesn't even have weekends off.  He will have a Tuesday and a Thursday off.  It changes each week.  On his days' off, he enjoys working some hours with Erik, too.   Zach is also having trouble doing anything other than work.  I had to threaten to throw kitty litter droppings in his bed in order to get him do his job and change it!  It's quite comical when they're all of a sudden thrown into the real working world!  No one can function or do anything other than go to work!  What do they think Rob and I have been doing the past 27 years?!  A reality check has been granted!  What really cracks me up are the text messages I get such as:  What's for dinner?  They'll always be my boys!  I apologize ahead of time to their future wives.  I did not mean to spoil them and they know how to do a lot of things.  However, they feel it is always better when Mom does it for them.  <3

Then, as I mentioned, Andrew is home from college for a bit and likes to tell us he doesn't live here anymore.  Apparently he believes he is a house guest.    Really?!   Last time I noticed, he was eating our food, showering, and sleeping in the basement!  So where does he live?! Welcome back from college!  Oh to be almost 23 again. . .

These pillows are sooo Danielle!

Front windows of house taped up ready for paint.

Bathroom # 1 Moustaches and Lips

Mrs. VandeMerwe sent a cute mat with their name on it

Other view where open window is

It has really been fun so far watching them choose things for their house and turn it into their own place.  Combining both of their tastes and sticking to Corey's "strict" budget, according to Danielle, is going to be tough.  How will she live without her Starbucks visits whenever she feels like it?!  I told her that it will become a "treat" again rather than something you just expect every day.  

I hope you have all gotten outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.  I was sucking up some of that sunshine again today.  I didn't realize how much I missed that over the past five years.  It feels wonderful!  I hope you get a lot accomplished as I plan to.  These past two weeks I was taking three and four hour naps after work.  That did not leave much time to get anything accomplished, so I have some catching up to do this week.  With not having to work, I think it will make a difference for me.  I will have a little more time to exercise, get things done around here, prepare for all the festivities, and even squeeze in a nap when I  need to.  Enjoy the week!  I will let you know how the shower goes next week.

                          

Happy Birthday Dad, Wedding Planning Craziness, and Countdown til Summer!

Dad with all of his grandchildren and great grandchildren 

minus Zach

This past weekend we celebrated my father's 77th Birthday!  Double sevens.  I told him this is his lucky year.  Sevens are considered lucky.  I started to wonder why?  What makes seven so lucky?  Of course we do have seven days in a week.   There were seven ancient planets; the sun being the greatest and then the moon.  In the book of Genesis, God created the world in seven days.  There are seven colors in a rainbow, and who can forget the Seven Dwarfs?  There are the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  There are even seven continents.  How about 007 representing the secret agent number for James Bond.

 If you are a Harry Potter fan, seven is very lucky.  Besides the fact that author J. K. Rowling wrote seven books in the series, did you know that Ginny Weasley was the seventh child and only daughter?  Harry Potter's birthday is in July, the seventh month.  Wizarding students have to complete seven years of school at Hogwarts.  There are seven secret passages leading out of Hogwarts.  Have you checked out Harry's robe when he plays Quidditch?  There is a number seven on it.  Professor Moody was hidden in a chest that had seven locks on it.  Even Lord Voldemort hid
 six Horcuxes dividing his soul into seven parts, although he made an extra one.  There are seven
maximum games played in the NHL during playoffs.  Same with the MLB and the NBA.  Musically, there are seven notes in the major and minor diatonic scale.  There are so many significant things that deal with seven.  Thanks Wikipedia for helping me share some of them. 

Most importantly this year anyway, is my Dad who turned 77.  He is one heck of a guy.  He loves to go "feed the horses" at the race track.  Golfing is another one of his favorite past times.  Even after a hip replacement and knee surgery he still likes to get out there. Not as often as he used to golf, but enough to still enjoy the game.  Of course if it is 85 degrees out, he is in heaven!  The hotter the better for him.  He has always been in the stands cheering his grandkids in all they participated in; wrestling, softball, baseball, and hockey.  He still comes out and cheers Danielle and Rob on now that they are the coaches.  

As he celebrates more birthdays, Dad has a few things that just get under his skin.  I now know where members of
my family and I get our OCD from!  Every time he sees Danielle has visited yet another Starbucks
establishment to purchase a drink, he goes on a tangent about how he would never pay $3.00 for a cup of coffee.  He tells her how Mr. Starbucks made $9,200. per hour last year.  Why do you want to help him make more money?!  He does like to look up interesting facts on the Internet!  Give him his perked Maxwell House and he is happy as a clam.  In fact, he's even had words with McDonalds workers.  Sometimes he'll go buy him and Mom a sausage Mcmuffin for breakfast, but he will not buy the sausage egg Mcmuffin because they charge almost $1.68 more for
the egg!  He takes them home, fries up his own eggs and
enjoys it that much more because he didn't get "ripped off."  Do not bring up the price of gas right now, either.  He will just shake his head and tell you how we are barely paying $100 for a barrel of petroleum.  In fact, he's been calling Country Fair lately to give them a little bit of hell for raising the prices!  Finally, they gave him the number to the person who sets those prices.  The problem is, this individual will not answer Bob's phone calls.  So he leaves him a voice mail.  Ohhh, how he keeps us laughing! 

He loves his Netflix and his 10 High Whiskey and grapefruit pop.  No one drives safer or better than he does, according to Dad.  The rest of those people that zoom by him when he is going the speed limit are just a bunch of idiots and they need to slow down!

He loves his peanut M&M's, ice cream, and
Dots. He loves to play cards too.  Whenever Mom comes over for a party, she always has bags and dishes.  She loves to cook, but since they moved to an apartment complex just two miles down the road from us, they don't have the room to entertain big groups anymore.  So we usually gather at my home.  Their most recent purchase has been this white cart that they load up and then wheel it into my house.  Of course, I was teasing him about it, and we got him laughing.  That grin is from us and the fun we were having or a little 10 High blush; I'm not sure which.  Either way, we love having them around.  My mom had bought Danielle a cart like this only in purple, when she was in 4th grade and was a walker.  She would load that thing up with her books and saxophone and off she would go.  It was hysterical.  She did not care what other people thought about it! 

Dad is carnivorous.  Mom is always trying to get him to eat more veggies.  The only way he'll eat his broccoli is if she melts cheese over top of it.  One particular vacation we went on when I was a child was down to Virginia Beach.  I remember dad ate about four plates of shrimp!  It looked like a graveyard.  He keeps trying to get me to eat fish.  I'm allergic to halibut and haddock, and just never have become a big fan of it.  Dad enjoys mystery meats on occasion such as the giblets in gravy at Thanksgiving and head cheese from the deli department.  Have you ever seen what that lunch meat looks like?!  UGH.  Mom and Dad loved bringing me braunschweger or kieshka when I was on chemo and would finally get to a point where I would be hungry.  Tomato sandwiches, too.

He has always been a hard worker.  He has had a job since he was 13 years old helping down at the shipping dock.  He was also in the National Guard.   When he was 18 years old, he was hired at Erie City Iron Works.  He worked up to be a welder full time and also held part time jobs welding for other companies.  He was then promoted to a Group Leader in charge of a building on East 12th Street.  When they closed and moved the business to another country so they could pay lower wages, he went back to school to learn about computers.  He hated it!!!  He was in his mid to late 50's I believe, and it was just not his cup of tea.  To this day if you want to get a hold of him, do not text him.  He doesn't know how to answer back nor does he care to learn.  He always tells me, just text your mother.  She'll tell me.   Call him but do not leave a voice mail.  Mom will retrieve it for him; otherwise, he will never get your message!

Dad is set in his ways and is a routine kind of guy.  Every morning he rises at 4:30 a.m and reads the paper from front to back.  Then he works the crossword puzzle.  He still has a part-time job because he always needs to be doing something!  We've been telling him to quit, but he refuses.  So he delivers flowers to local companies as well as to Jamestown, Dunkirk, and sometimes Ohio.  

We love to get him laughing because once you do, he laughs so hard he cries as he tips way back in his chair and his eyes become like slits.   He tells us he hears just fine, but after working all those years in a shop he doesn't always catch what you are saying.  This has brought lots of laughter in a fun kind of way what he deciphers we said vs. what we actually did say.  He's always a good sport about it and we love to reminisce with him about some of those misinterpretations.  We are lucky to have him in our lives and look forward to another fun filled year of memories.  Love you, Dad!

It is wedding craziness at the Chase household! We were hoping to be stuffing and addressing  wedding invitations this past weekend since we had Monday off in remembrance of those who

fought for us.  However, the company we went with had some technical difficulties and still hadn't even sent them out to be printed. . .thankfully, we believe it has been resolved and they were sent to print Monday night.  So we needed to start on the shower favors and get those done in order for the upcoming weekend to be free  to work feverishly on getting them mailed out just in time.  Needless to say, we are all covered in modge podge, fuschia glitter, and glaze, including the animals!  I never realized how messy glitter was until I finished working with it last night.

I put the final coat of glaze on the wine glasses and I must say, I am quite happy with how they turned out.  We ran more errands and picked up more items we needed.  A final meeting with the winery owner is set for tomorrow to go over last minute details for the shower.

Michelle has been busy printing and cutting out Chinese Auction numbers.  She's done a lot of running around with me for supplies.  It's a good thing too.  Add some chemo pills and little over load on things to do, and who knows where I would have ended up.  It's been a great help and she keeps me laughing.  A big thank you to my brother-in-law Scott who has enjoyed some extra time with his son Kian the past several weekends.  It just made it easier to shop, try dresses on, and pick up supplies.   I believe Kian enjoyed himself as well playing with his excavator at home in the garden.  He even wanted to try it out on my Dad's brownies thanks to my brother for giving him the idea!

Rob has had a rough weekend.  He has had a pinched nerve in his back it seems.  We call it the Chase curse.  Grandpa Chase has a bad back, and so do Rob, Tim, and Michelle.  It has been pinching at his tail bone and down his leg.  Even his calf and outside of his foot are numb.  He had been to the chiropractor at least three times this past week.  Thank God his chiropractor is one of his great friends.   This weekend, however, he mowed the lawn and I think that might have done it.  He has  been to the Emergency Room at the suggestion of his chiropractor and got a steroid and an anti-inflammatory shot.  He is also taking pain meds.  This is not a good thing.  He is in a lot of pain.  You know he is hurting when he takes off from school.  He is on the couch laying flat.  Anytime he tries to walk, sit up, or stand he is in pain.  I hope it heals soon.  He is not a happy camper.  I think he may be heading to the E.R. again tomorrow to try and find some relief.   He was hoping to make it to school at least a half day to see his seniors on their last day of school, but I don't see that happening.  Say some prayers for him if you could, please.

I hope everyone gets out and enjoys the beautiful weather!  I was in heaven sitting out in the sun a little at a time each day this weekend!  There is nothing like that sunny feeling.  Ohhh how I have missed it!  I plan to make up for it this summer now that I got the go ahead from my oncologist.  It's been a good week for the most part for me.  I had a bit of a cold/virus but some extra napping is helping me fight it off.  One more glorious thought about the number 7. . . only 7 more school days left!  I love my job, but I am so ready for summer!  Get out there and make someone's day!

 

  

Full-Time Jobs, Bridezilla, Positive Parp Report, Graduation, Softball, and Beast on the Bay!

Yesterday, my dear friend Kathy and I set out for West Penn Hospital to see my oncologist, Dr. Krivak for my three month check up.  Lots had changed since my last visit with him at the end of January.  I was feeling a bit of gloom and doom with a CA125 reading of 196 and lots of spots including on my lymph nodes.  Then he put me on an oral chemo, called Lynparza where he has me popping 16 pills a day- 8 for my Breakfast of Champions and 8 for my evening snack.  My latest CA125 reading is 59 and Dr. Krivak said my spots are shrinking!  They are even gone from my liver.  My Erie oncologist said today I have one spot on my colon that got larger, but I'll go by Dr. Krivak's report.  He's going to continue to keep me on the parp inhibitors for the next four months and he doesn't need to see me until September 18th!  I am looking forward to a summer with oral chemo!!!  Dr. Krivak even said I can tan in the natural sun.  Get that Vitamin D!

The past five summers, I have had to hide under umbrellas and in the shade.  I was nauseated and had no energy.  I slept a lot and I was pumped with steroids too.  So this summer is going to ROCK!  I am going to be able to get so many things accomplished that I have not had the energy to do.  Organization 101 here we come!   I also have a bridal shower and wedding to continue to put together and I am going to exercise.  Granted my joints ache like a 70 or 80 year old at times, but I can walk, ride a bike, swim, and stretch.  So look out as you see me buzzing around the area this summer!  Thank you, Lord, for a summer that I believe I will thoroughly enjoy!

Speaking of summer, my family has started to witness a bit of Bridezilla in our Bride-to-Be, Danielle.   Most of you see her with this big grin on her face like in the photo below with her high school coach.  The rest of us at Cavaliero Drive get to see a crabby young lady who is stressed and grumpy.  Her softball team made a great comeback during the second half of the season.  They tied for 3rd place in the region only to be beat by Fairview when they had to play one another a third time to see who would move on to take that spot in the playoffs.  It was heart breaking.  No one likes to see their season come to an end.

They also played Iroquois.  This is the team Danielle played for in high school for Coach Parker and her dad.  Harbor Creek beat their JV team the week prior twice in a double header.  However, the Varsity game was another story.  I believe it was the first time Iroquois has beat Harbor Creek at the Varsity level in the past two years.  It's always nice to see all of the familiar faces, but no one likes to lose!  Everyone was a good sport and there is still such a fun rivalry between the two schools from when we used to play against one another all the time!  So needless to say, this was a rough week for the softball girls and Bridezilla. . . I mean Danielle.  

She also had to say farewell to her seniors.  This is always tough.  I'm only Coach Mom Chase and usually only make it to the home games.  I greet the team each day at my hall duty post at the end of the school day when they are heading into the locker area to get ready for practice.  I know how much I will miss seeing these girls, so I can only imagine how Coach Dad Chase and grumpy girl. . .I mean Coach Danielle Chase will miss them.  They spend a ton of hours together during the spring.  I always see the girls heading down to her classroom during her Plan period.  They have been excellent role models on and off the field and remarkable students as well.  

SENIOR NIGHT!

Only Coach D. Chase would have such a girly and colorful bulletin board outside of the locker rooms for her players!

Husky Softball Team showing support for Ovarian Cancer Awareness. <3

Thanks for all the memories this year, Lady Huskies!  I look forward to the next several years.  Although we will miss the seniors a ton, we've got some phenomenal talent in the girls that will return next season.  I believe we will be hearing a lot more about them as they grow and play ball together the next several years!  Oh, and what about the ones who will come out next year to tryout as well?!  Ohhhh it's going to be exciting!  Even the softball gods were with us and some how the company that is supposed to be coming to fix the field's drainage problem during one of the biggest weeks in softball had to cancel!  Thank you!  They are actually coming in June and that will work out perfectly.  That was just another thing that was bringing the crankiness out in Miss D. Chase!

Danielle had tryouts on Saturday with her dad for Colorguard at Iroquois.  They had a really nice turn out.  It was a bit of a debacle prior to tryouts because Corey was graduating from Youngstown State

Corey receiving his diploma after 7 years of hard work!

this weekend as well.  First he thought he was graduating on Sunday.  Then he told her Saturday.  As her plate runeth over, she missed the memo.  Somehow, though, she was able to hold tryouts, drive to her old stomping ground, YSU, watch Corey graduate with his PhD in Physical Therapy, celebrate with the Vukovic's and head home that same evening so they could work on their house                                That grin says it all!  Corey has been focused and has waited for this day for a long time.  Not only was he offered one job, where he completed an Internship, but two at another place he completed an Internship in.  Thankfully they were both in Erie, too.  We are very proud of him.   My girl might be a sassy pants right now with all that is on her plate, but I was hoping now that she has an excellent teaching job and is the head softball coach, which are two goals she had listed on a piece of paper she used to keep in her sock drawer since her high school days, they would stay in this area.  She had told Corey when she was hired at Harbor Creek that he would have to find a job in this area!  This just makes it a for sure thing.  Seven miles away is much better than thousands.  We'll take it.

So although my girl is cranky and went to bed at 5 pm last night and then 8 pm tonight, I can see why.  She is on overdrive!  I just need to get her to not bite our heads off.  She has lived with us since she graduated from college.  We have been doing all we can to help them out so they will have a nice start when they begin their life together.  Just do not ask her to cook, clean up after herself, or stop at the store!  Only ten more days and we will be on summer vacation.  Then I am sure she will start to enjoy some of the most exciting days of her life that will be coming up and maybe, just maybe she will appreciate her family again just a little bit more.

Zach was hired at Perseus House Residential a few weeks ago as a full time Behavior Specialist.  He is

Brock Lesnar

really enjoying it so far as he is meeting the clients and staff.  Of course, he has already earned the nickname of Brock.  Apparently, they think he looks like some WWE guy named Brock Lesnar!  Now I do see a little resemblance, but some of the pics of this guy are scary!   The photo on the left I can see a little bit of resemblance.  The hair color, maybe even the hair style a little bit and even the face.

Zach

However, when I saw the picture below, I was afraid, very afraid!  I do not see any resemblance in that one!  It's fun to meet new people and it's even more fun when they tell you they think you resemble someone.  So, the nickname sticks.  Last weekend, he and another staff member took the boys to the YMCA.  The boys wanted the two staff to have a lift off contest.  They told the boys they would only lift 215 lbs since they did not have time to warm up.  Zach beat the guy and benched it 20 times vs. the other guy who only made it to 12.  The boys were definitely impressed.  Then they shot some hoops before heading back.

Yikes!  That is scary!

Zach also continues to work with his buddy Erik.  He is a young man who has autism.  He said there was no way he was quitting that job.  He and Erik have been hanging out for the past two and a half years or so.  Another woman is working with Erik, too, but Zach was adamant that she would not be taking his place with him!  So he puts in a few hours with him as many days or nights he can.  He is fortunate to have found such a great family to work with.

Andrew also works with a terrific family and a young man with autism, named Donovan.  He is hanging out with him on the weekends.  They go to the YMCA or he takes him for walks.  He also really enjoys hanging out with him and working for the family.   Andrew is  also working a physical job, full time for the summer, lugging concrete in a wheelbarrow.  He also just started a job as a Bouncer at a local establishment on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.  Needless to say, the kids are busy "making bank" as Andrew tells me!

 Lifting, running,  and working out at the gym as well as having a physical job will help both of the boys prepare for BEAST ON THE BAY!   Santa brought the boys a workout shirt and signed them both up for Beast on the Bay.  I am sure you've heard of it if you are from the local area.  This is an extreme obstacle course designed by a Navy Seal along the Peninsula.  I believe it is about 10 miles long.  You can join a team and then you train.  Be sure to train in sand too, because that's what a lot of it is in.  All benefits go to the National Barber Institute.  The boys are on a team called Beauties and Beasts.   This group is lead by Erik's mom, Karen.  Karen's sister Elaine, is also on a team called Krauza's Krazies.  They love to have fun competing against one another.  If you haven't already signed up, you should!  Either of these teams would love to have any of you on their team.  I will be a spectator on September 12th.  I don't think my body needs to go into an acidic mode training that hard.  I have my own fight going on!  So I'll stick to a gentler work out.  I would love to cheer any of you on, though!

Well, enough for tonight.  Have a good week.  I am sure I will have lots more to share next week.  Take care and God bless!