GO CELTICS!

I am totally ready for this game. Cannot wait!

Crazy re: that green line train collision in Newton (less than an hour ago). I just had dinner across the street from that station less than a week ago. So far, no casualties. Luckily, the injured passengers can quite literally walk across the street to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. God, that was terrible.

We saw some interesting properties over the weekend. We are looking at 2 more on Friday night. One is in the Oak Hill part of Pawtucket, which, from what I read, is a pretty desirable area. Kind of artsy. The place looks very promising. Kind of like Pee Wee's house from the outside. Ish. Wish us luck.

First Road Win!

The Celtics came out with both barrels loaded last night! They beat the Pistons 94-80. They kept a 10-15 point lead consistently. They kept their composure, even though there was at least one instance of funny business. Kevin Garnett was forced into his 2nd personal foul because one of the Pistons grabbed his arm (very clear in the replay) and tried to pull Garnett down to the floor. Garnett yanked his arm back and a foul was called on him. He was a little shocked, but he let it go. The C's proceeded to answer for every point scored by Detroit. It was the compete opposite of Game 2. I guess the Pistons have learned what the Celtics are capable of.

We are looking at 6 properties today. I can't wait!

Wig Shopping

Though my mom's chemo is not technically supposed to cause her to loose her hair, it's thinning quite a bit (it was already very thin to begin with) and she's decided to have it cut really short and buy a wig. So ... that's what's on the agenda today. Somehow, I don't think it's going to be as fun as the old days of going to department stores and trying on the worst ones, then breaking out in huge fits of laughter. Who knows? Maybe she'll be in a goofy mood. She had a blood transfusion this week and she feels like a million bucks. Lots of energy, full appetite, more color in her face. She's like a new person.

I can't WAIT to start looking at houses this weekend. If I had loads of expendable cash, I would opt for a retro kitchen in black, red and white. Check out these amazing (and super expensive) appliances from Northstar in Candy Apple red:





I would also go with a 1950's table and chairs. Look at this gorgeous number:



I adore this button back chair in Tiffany blue, but they do make them in a "crushed ice" red:




And in sports:

The Celtics are going to have to win a road game, it seems. And how about the Red Sox? Two grand slams? The Royals are probably feeling pretty low right now. They really got knocked around.

Happy 125th Birthday ...

... to the Brooklyn Bridge.



The city is planning a huge celebration on Saturday in honor of the bridge and the brave and hard workers who built it.

Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library

True Gibberish

I am going to make a horrible mother someday because I will actually take my child out of a quiet public area if he or she is screaming their head off. Or I will at least apologize to those around me. Over the weekend, I went to the laundromat. There, a lovely woman and her 3 children were waiting for their clothes to dry. The eldest girl was nicely behaved. The middle child was borderline and the little boy was a maniac. Now, let me first say that I understand that being in a laundromat is not fun for a child. It's not fun for an adult, either. I remember going with my mother when I was about 5 or 6 when we were renting an apartment, and then again when I was about 10 or 11 when our washer and dryer crapped out. As a tot, I passed the time by studying the coffee vending machine and making spiders out of plastic cups by ripping the sides into strips. When I was 11, I just read Circus magazine and fantasized about having Def Leppard over our house for dinner. I was occupied and I stayed out of people's hair.

This little boy was obviously looking for something to do. Heck, it was a sunny day and here he was with his mom and sisters, stuck in a big building filled with smells of hot fabric and detergent. Can you blame the child for running around, jumping in front of people, screaming at the highest decibels known to man and slapping all the chairs in the laundromat many times over? And can you blame the child's poor mother for somehow drowning out the noise and acting completely unaffected by the display? If you answered no to both questions, then you certainly can't blame me for whipping out my iPod, adjusting the volume to "eleven" and filling my ears with Megadeath, Metallica, and The Cult while perusing my Real Simple magazine.

Society. Ugh.

The Celtics shined last night at the Garden. And Ray Allen actually made one of free throws! The clear plastic face masks that some players wear really freaks me out.

So, I am wondering - what's your ultimate symbol or icon from the 1970s? There are so many to choose from, I know. Banana seated bikes with metallic handle bars are my latest fave, along with Love's Baby Soft and "pull off" soda can tabs. I also liked Ginger's sparkly dress on Gilligan's Island. I always wanted an occasion to wear a dress like that.

In real estate news: We are pre-approved! It's official! I really can't wait to start looking at places on Sunday. This is so exciting!

Speaking of ...

A little after 5 PM yesterday, I called my mother. I had been on the phone with a mortgage lender earlier in the day and felt really good about beginning the process of buying a home. The pre-approval should happen before the end of the week. Between some money I have saved and some savings bonds I inherited from my father (who inherited them from my grandmother), I've managed to put together a little down payment. I wanted to share this with my mom. She answered her cell phone from the emergency room. At this point, I don't panic at the idea of knowing she is there. It's more like, "What, now?" She's had shortness of breath and lightheadedness and was advised by her oncologist to go to the ER. They proceeded to run their usual battery of tests, including an EKG and a chest x-ray. Both came back normal. To the chest x-ray results, my mother replied, "Normal, except for the cancer, right?" (I may have mentioned that the cancer metastasized to both lungs.) "There is no evidence of cancer in your lungs," the doctor said.

No cancer in the lungs.

NO CANCER IN THE LUNGS!

I guess the chemotherapy is doing it's job. We don't know about the other areas, but my mother did say that the tumor under her rib is loosening up. I don't want to get my hopes up, but when you are dealing with cancer, you have to celebrate all the victories - big and small. Because you don't know when it's going come around and take the wind out of your sails again.

The shortness of breath is due to a low oxygen level in her blood. She will need to discuss a way to treat that with her oncologist. It is supposed to be at least 60 and it's fallen, continuously, down to 21 since last year. This, combined with her asthma, is causing her to feel winded just by walking from the driveway to the back door. She may need iron supplements or possibly a blood transfusion.

She is going in for a port-o-catheter today to make her chemotherapy treatments a little easier. It's better than digging and digging for a vein that eventually presents itself. She's got tricky veins. She would make a terrible heroin addict. Or, at the very least, a very slow one.

Speaking of cancer ...

On another happy note, Lester pulled a no-hitter out of the ether yesterday! I wonder if he had a port-o-catheter. Someone at work just pointed out that he has an enormous head. It's true. And it's all fuzzy bear on top. Anyway, you've got to tip your hat to John Lester. Cancer survivor. Pitcher extraordinaire. Until his next start, anyway.

Speaking of pitching ...

We lost our softball game last night. You want to know why? Because we played a team that clearly belongs in a more advanced league. It sucks that a group of highly skilled players gets together and decides, unanimously, to play in the recreational league simple because they'll breeze their way through. Jerks. Plus, I struck out looking during my last at bat. Jere did great! Came up HUGE in the outfield and robbed these jackasses of a few good rips.

Speaking of coming up HUGE ...

The Celtics play game one against the Pistons tonight at the Gah-din. I am so excited! Prepare to be riveted, people! I predict that Ray Allen is going to step up his game tonight. And hopefully Doc will let Eddie House play again.

Ocean State

After that exhausting, but incredibly exciting 7 game series, I hope that the Celtics advance to the big show. I still can't believe they've made it this far. Paul Pierce was just incredible. 42 points, all by himself? I think that was the number. He was definitely in the zone, making all of his shots and the whole team displayed tight defense all game long. It's a tough break for Cleveland, but the Celtics are so deserving. I just hope that they aren't too pooped out for the series with Detroit.

Well folks, we are officially moving to the greater Providence area in September. This decision was made so that I can be closer to my mother's house. We have a very helpful real estate agent and I feel really good about this move. I will still commute to Waltham 4 days a week. We begin looking at properties next weekend. I have to get pre-approved before the weekend. The prices are really good and I don't anticipate any bidding wars, so we should be able to snag a sweet deal. I am hoping to have a large, usable basement to turn into a workshop for my soap business. I will need a sink, electricity, lots of available space and a refrigerator. I will miss Somerville miserably.

Mom update: She's had her 4th dose of chemo. At this point, she's fatigued 24/7. And she's really weak. At least she's in a position where she can continue to sleep as she needs it, totally uninterrupted. But I'm sure it's frustrating for her to not really be able to accomplish much on a daily basis.

Oooohhh!

This movie looks really good. I am always interested in a good horror flick. These days, I haven't been terribly interested in the newer ones. But this one intrigues me.

Where's Abe?

Does anyone know what's going on with Matt Clement? Haven't heard anything from that camp in a while. I suppose I could look it up, but alas, I am too lazy.

18

To each her own, but this is nuts.

BLOW OUT!

Simply put: the Celtics freaking rule.

Red Hot Celtics

Can you believe it? I really don't know what to say. Last night's game was riveting. And a little bittersweet. I really like Delonte West. And in Red Sox news, you have to love being on top in the division standings, and 4.5 up on the Yanks. [Boy, the Yankees are in rough shape these days. And how about that psycho Yankee fan in New Hampshire, killing a Red Sox fan with her vehicle?]

I am on vacation from my day job this week, but it's been anything but a vacation! Doctors appointments, lots of Stella Marie work, shopping, softball, real estate research ... whew!

My mom is getting accustomed to her chemotherapy. And by this, I mean that she knows now what to expect. It's her week off, so she and her husband are spending several days at a Bed and Breakfast on the Cape.