I'm Back!

Where is time going??   I just logged on here and found that I hadn't posted a blog since December 11!!!  Insane!  So much is going on around me, but time doesn't stand still enough for me to organize my thoughts and write.  I have to make time.  So today is Wednesday, Feb. 22, and I'm at the office on my lunch break, with my salad, my water, and my Django Rinehardt playing and two-plus months worth of catching up to do.

My health is good, thank God.  The worst part of surgery/reconstruction (post-mastectomy) is over, and I have a little bit of cosmetic stuff to go through in a couple months, but all in all, I am well.  Well enough to train for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this coming September.  Wait, not only train, but lead a team of amazing women and men (20 in total) as Team In Her Shoes.  It's been fun.  We've been doing weekly training walks, fundraising, and raising awareness for breast cancer.  We each have to raise $1,800 to participate...and with 20 walkers, that makes our goal $36,000.  So we've started early and we're 23% of the way there.  info.avonfoundation.org/goto/inhershoes   So here's a shameless plug:  If you'd like to donate, here's the website!  We're walking to put an end to all cancers and will walk in memory, honor or celebration of your loved one, so send me their name and I will carry them on our 39 mile journey!

My daughter Ani and her fiance Eric set their wedding date, so that's very exciting.  They'll be getting married in the Fall, and it'll be here before you know it.  So there's exciting times ahead.  She's actually started a blog about the whole experience called Bacheegs & Love.   I linked in if you're interested to click and read.  Last month we got to go to Ani's residency graduation.  She's now a full blown pediatric nurse and on her own at Children's Hospital.

The illustration job is COMPLETE as of last night at 12:45 a.m.!!!  Yep, I scanned the last two drawings to the East Coast this morning, and now we're in the process of sending all 15 panels over for publication.  It was part of my Lenten Journey to get these done and over with already!!!  And here we are on day 3 of lent and I'm done (all except for a little sliver of cloth on the priest's waist band.  Really!)

I think the one thing that has really been suffering is my jewelry business.  I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to work in silver or beads at all and given that this year's goal is to "Build my Business" I really need to get off the stick and push, push, push.

I did some writing on Hub Pages over Christmas.  Recipes and whatnot.  If you're interested, check it out.  http://www.hubpages.com/  and you can search for me as "ahnoosh".  Looks of canning and cooking recipes and the recipe for my grandma's yalanchi sarma.

Anyways, that's about all the time I have today.  I just wanted to check in.  I'm going to try to write more regularly.  And I have a lot of ideas.

Here's today's question:  Lent is here.  What is your lenten journey about?

Rain, Drain and BlogWorld Again!

It's November 4, just 3 days after surgery.  Today was the BlogWorld Expo at the L.A. Convention Center, and DV, Suzie and I had planned on going prior to my surgery.  It rained today and my brother didn't want me driving so soon after surgery, so he decided to come pick me up at the house and we'd go together.  I'm doing well...for being only three days post op, there's been very little drainage and after a call to the surgeon's office it was decided that I could have my drain taken out today.  This is a wonderful thing.  The drain leaves my body right under my right arm pit....with tubing that continues to a Jackson Pratt drain that hangs from a clip attached to my waistband.  Not only is it ugly, but it's very painful.  So the idea that I can have this removed today is wonderful.

So first things first, the three of us checked in at the BlogWorld Expo.  It's so much fun.  We went around to all the booths learning about blogging, marketing, monetizing, promoting, and picking up great swag from tshirts, and back scratchers, to insulated cups...you name it.  Belesh!  "The Next Step with Fr. Vazken" Podcast was nominated for a People's Choice award for best religious podcast.  As Suzie is the producer of the show and DV is the host, we were anxious to find out if they had won, but found out that the winners will be announced tomorrow (not today).  Here they are relaxing at the SouthWest Airlines both at the convention center:

Blogger also had a cool photo booth where we took our individual photos.  Here's mine:



After several hours of the show though,  I have to admit that I was exhausted.  My arms and shoulders were aching, and I was just pooped.  We decided to drive out to Encino, closer to my surgeon's office and find a place to have lunch rather than staying around L.A. and risking the traffic.  It was raining, and things were getting messy.

We had lunch together and then made it to the doctor on time.   After a definite okay from the nurse, they removed my drain!  I also have permission to shower now, rather than taking a sponge bath.  More great news.  

Hand bruised from three tries to get the
IV line started

Forearm is bruised as well....
another two tries there.  Imagine, he wanted
to then try my neck!

I am still bandaged but healing okay.  I'm still pretty bruised up from the whole IV line fiasco.  I'm posting a couple pics so you get the idea.  So I went to the doctor today, and the nurse removed my drain!  Afterward, the doctor checked in on me.  I showed him my bruised hands and arm and thanked him for not letting the anesthesiologist tap into my neck vein.  He said, "Well, at least you have a sense of humor about it...I just didn't see why we couldn't use your bad arm for the couple hours we'd be in surgery."  Okay by me!

I have a follow up appointment on November 9 -- next Wednesday, when hopefully, I'll get my stitches removed.  Til then, just taking it a day at a time.