Hi, hello, and I am finally back here typing a few words for you...
What's been going on?
1. I moved from Palm Springs to Ventura, CA...a small beach town located between Santa Barbara and the valley area of L.A. on July 22. The doctor had said he didn't want me living alone for a few months while I recovered , so my kids found this place --" active senior living". Not sure how " active" they are cuz there are a lot of walkers and wheelchairs here, but I am sure of one thing -- everyone is interesting, charming, lovely and has welcomed me with open arms and affection.
The building is lovely with gardens and walkways and is located within walking distance of all major stores and more VIP, a Barnes and Noble.
There are only 40 residents, so this feels like a residence hotel with media rooms, computer rooms, a gym, beauty parlor, lounge and dining room serving meals from 7 until 7.
So far I like it. Most of all I like not eating alone and I like the fact that I am close enough to my grand children that they can come and stay overnight or drop over for lunch.
I'm not sure how long I will live here in my cute little apartment but for now, it is working.
What did I do with all my furniture, dishes, etc? It is all in storage but the storage is one of my kid's garages, so I can go and get things as I need them or add to it at any time and that knowledge and the knowledge I can always move on a month's notice makes this less stressful than having taken a lease on some apartment in a strange town.
I moved on the hottest day of the year --- 126 - and with power outages, to boot -- but I'm here and , I think, finally getting settled. It was a real culture shock on so many levels. ... leave my house, leave an area where I had lived and raised kids.... move in to an apartment in a town I never have been before.
How am I doing? Fine. Better than fine. Of course, I am homesick for my house and my friends but I don't miss the desert climate at all. I went back " home" for a week in late September, it was still hot and I was eager to get back to my new home and cool ocean breezes.
I used to live around the corner from my son, Tod, ( tod Goldberg. com), and now am miles away so I miss him a lot but I am closer to my other son, Lee, ( LeeGoldberg.com), and my daughters, Karen Dinino and Linda Woods ( sistersonsojourn.com).
My daughters? In less than 30 minutes I can see them. On ABC, on THE VIEW, talking and demonstrating art from their book, " Visual Chronicles". From advance word, they will be doing an art project with Rosie O'Donnell and were very excited about it all.
Every member of the ABC studio audience will get a copy of their book and one of their T-shirts, " I AM ART". You can get the book from any book store or from your favorite on line seller. The T-shirts? Available, as of today on Ebay. ( type in colormetrue and it should come up.)
They are having a book signing tonight , in New York, at a Barnes and Noble and have other signings around the country, so check their web site, sistersonsojourn or go to visualchronicles. com to get the dates and places.
My health?
One of the reasons, and probably the main reason, you haven't seen words from me on here is that I have been battling the fatigue that follows radiation and a move, too. I've just been toooooooo tired to log on and write something.
My weight? I dropped 20 lbs during radiation but am happy to report I have gained 10 of them back, maybe more since I just came back from 10 days in Seattle visiting my Mom and eating three great meals a day!
My hair? Would you believe I am still wearing the wig? I began in Dec. of '03 wearing it from hair-loss due to chemo , and then, each time my hair grew back I went back in to chemo again and off went the hair. I think it just decided it was tired of trying to grow , year after year , only to get zapped again. I do have some hair, the bottom half of my head is a nice growth and needs a trim every 3 weeks or so --------- but the top is so slow to grow, is thin and wispy. Maybe I can start a new hair style????
Want to see how I look? Let's see if I can insert a photo here, one taken in Seattle with my cousin Linda. Let's give it a try.
Well, I tried three times and nada. That means I also won't try to insert a short video in here, either. Maybe something fishy with my internet connection -- not sure. Sorry.
My love life?
Nothing to report in that area. I'm sorrier about that than I am about the photo not appearing!
The VIEW is on, just saw a promo for my daughters.. so need to get off here and put myself square in front of the t.v. so as not to miss even one minute of them. Hope you are doing the same.
See you on here, soon. I promise not to wait so long for the next post, in fact I go to the oncologist today so will have something to report.
Hope all is well with you.
Jan
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