Lorin May 27

It's late, so this will be brief. But I want to get this down before I forget it. So, okay, traffic hour no longer exists and "travel time" is in. And there is a volume of traffic that is greater than that in Cambria, for sure, or Morro Bay, or even San Luis Obispo. Granted. To be expected. And getting around is different, too, which is why we have this great GPS tool we've christened Athena. Well, even Athena took note of the travel time yesterday coming home from a long day at UCLA with traffic backed up on PCH heading to Malibu at about 3 miles an hour. Suddenly the message popped up on Athena's screen "Switch to pedestrian mode?" That about says it.

JOY May 19

Hi all
I had good news this morning, the biopsy taken last week came back negative. YEA Most of the time I don't enjoy being negative, today i am celebrating it.
Thank you all for your love and support, you are powerful and i am blessed to have you in my life. love, joy

May 9 Lorin

I meant to post the photo below several days ago. It's another one of those signs that I come across from time to time. Joy reminded me that it should go on the blog, so here it is:

The other thing I've been doing a lot of lately, in between the visits to UCLA and the marvelous people working with Joy, has been taking pictures of flowers. Right here in the Malibu Beach RV Park there is a magnificent stand of cactus, well, several. And they are in bloom. Lots of different colors, mainly reds and yellows. Here's one sample below; I'll put others up on my web site www.cambriacreations.com

And to our surprise, it is raining! I was thinking as it started really pouring, you know, at least our electric won't go out. That's when the cable TV went. What's the company? One guess. CHARTER.

Over and out for now.

May 6 Joy

COLOR ME YELLOW



Hi All,
UCLA is amazing. yesterday i had an apt. with Dr. Lee, radiation oncology. He does 6-7 weeks on one breast -- which would have had us here for 3 more months and i knew that was not going to happen. Because the cancer was caught so early he told me of another treatment. Brachytherapy done by Dr. Jeffery Demanes. I am sending a link to his information if you feel like looking up him and this method. Lorin and I met with him yesterday and were impressed with what he had to tell us. The treatment lasts a week and i will be done with this challenge. If i walked away and just been tested every other month there was a 20 % chance the cancer could come back. With this treatment there is a 4% chance.
UCLA is so integrated -- all of my Dr.s get updates whenever there is a visit or change or apt. or tests -- on and on.
We are also seeing (later in the month) Dr. Mary Hardy, who will be teaching us what to expect from the treatments and how to deal with life after cancer. She will educate us on nutrition, life style, etc. There is a 8 page questionnaire to fill out, med history-life style-spiritual background and one that i will be busted for--- exercise.
She is a Integrative Oncology Dr. In fact all my Dr.s are oncology Dr.s
We have not experienced ego stuff - all the Dr.s and workers in the Dept's we have been in are a team for the patient, they confer-email-and choose the best way to go. Dr. Chang has sent me to wonderful Dr.s and i feel i am in the best hands.
So given what i was first told in SLO and that breast cancer can be a killer i am again blessed with what i have. Thank you all for holding me in healing light and love. I am happy you will keep it up. I have felt well taken care of from the beginning.
love Joy


http://www.cetmc.com/CETmedteam.html

Lorin April 30

Getting lazy and have not kept up with so much more important things going on, which Joy has kept you posted on. So I thought I'd note a couple of side things. Like when we went for a visit to Cambria, so much needed!, and I walked with Dandy in the old neighborhood. He spotted a concrete pig (no kidding) and had to investigate:

The other day, back in Malibu, we decided to wander down to Venice beach, an area we've always loved. It was a Tuesday morning, so the normal crowds weren't there, but it was fun anyway. You know how I love signs. The picture below gives you a sample, two star signs in one. In case you can't quite make them out: "Evaluation Center Medical Marijuana," and "Botox on the Beach"

And then there is the sadder side, the homeless. You can't read the sign that this man is wearing, but it reads "Venice, Don't Dump On The Homeless." Written right on the toilet seat lid. A sorry comment on our society today.

And that's it for now. It's warm and windy on the coast. Thanks for all the good words and thoughts for Joy; they help.

Lorin April 23

We're back in Malibu after a short time in Cambria visiting with our wonderful circles of good friends, feeling grateful that we could be with so many of them and blessed to know such fine folks. A short visit, and a good one.

Now we're back in Malibu, the land of normalcy...."normalcy," a word coined by Warren Harding....Oh, here's a glimpse of normalcy Malibu style:

On a different note, the numbers of pelicans flying over has been incredible. Even tonight. Walking Dandy just a bit ago, I snapped this:

Joy April 14

Hi all,
As you may know i got a call from Dr. yesterday and i am in the clear. I go to her on the 26th for post check up. I know there will be no Chemo and i am working in my fiendish mind on a plan to get out of radiation--ha, lots of luck. She is a very little woman who packs a big authority stick. I will do it her way.

We have been watching whales and pelicans and enjoying the day. temp here ,72 or so.. clear tho there is wind and the sea is choppy.

I am in a strange kind of head place. I have known all along i was healthy and this would be more about a life affirming process -- never thought i was in danger, really. If i was in a state of denial of "reality" so be it. I would much rather spend my days enjoying life then worrying about death.

There have been exquisite writings coming in from all of you and i am so grateful for them. thank you