Ann

What a sweet story, Lil. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

This is great, Denise! I am so happy when people get messages from their loved ones!

Heather, I'm so sorry you have so many family issues you have to deal with on top of the grief of losing your mom. I think it's so great that she is sending you lots of signs that she is still with you. When that happens to me, I just get the warmest feeling. I fell like I'm completely wrapped in love.

Nancy...I'm right there with you and Lynne and just think we should grab the covers up to our neck and stay put during the rest of this month. Everything I see, do, hear, or think of brings tears at this time of year. Honey, I just can't imagine how very hard it must be for you, as you losy Mike and your brother in such a short time. Just remember that I'm thinking of you, sending lots of hugs and saying lots of prayers. We'll all pull through this....together!

Other than your spouse, who was the very first person you told about your (or your loved ones) cancer?

Addie...I think this is absolutely wonderful news! I am so happy that you're home and won't be subjected to any more of thouse yucky sticky noodles!!!

I have two dachshunds Molly and Harley. i am such a sucker for animals that need a good home and love. I have always wanted a golden retriever, so about 4 months ago, I added Tanner to my clan. He's now almost 7 months old and is so full of himself. I haven't had a need for baby gates in my house for almost 25 years now but I have two of them just so Tanner won't eat the Christmas tree. They all bring such love and joy! Molly and Harley are two years old and pretty calm but Tanner is truly a terror. I'm sure the poor baby thinks he has a full name of "No Tanner."

ROFL....

Cindi and J.C....can I tag along? I love lobster and crab legs but I'm not so sure how I would look in that mink bikini!

Good one , Frank!!!!

How To Shower Like a Woman: Take off clothing and place it in sectioned laundry hamper according to lights and darks. Walk to bathroom wearing long dressing gown. If you see husband along the way, cover up any exposed areas. Look at your womanly physique in the mirror make mental note to do more sit-ups/leg-lifts, etc. Get in the shower. Use face cloth, arm cloth, leg cloth, long loofah, wide loofah and pumice stone. Wash your hair once with cucumber and sage shampoo with 43 added vitamins. Wash your hair again to make sure it's clean. Condition your hair with grapefruit mint conditioner enhanced. Wash your face with crushed apricot facial scrub for >10 minutes until red. Wash entire rest of body with ginger nut and jaffa cake body wash. Rinse conditioner off hair. Shave underarms and legs. Turn off shower. Squeegee off all wet surfaces in shower. Spray mold spots with Tilex. Get out of shower. Dry with towel the size of a bedspread. Wrap hair in super absorbent towel. Return to bedroom wearing long dressing gown and towel on head. If you see husband along the way, cover up any exposed areas. How To Shower Like a Man: Take off clothes while sitting on the edge of the bed and leave them in a pile. Walk naked to the bathroom. If you see wife along the way, shake wiener at her making the 'woo-woo' sound. Look at your manly physique in the mirror. Admire the size of your wiener and scratch your *ss. Get in the shower. Wash your face. Wash your armpits. Blow your nose in your hands and let the water rinse them off. Fart and laugh at how loud it sounds in the shower. Spend majority of time washing privates and surrounding area. Wash your butt, leaving those coarse butt hairs stuck on the soap. Wash your hair (with bar soap). Make a Shampoo Mohawk. Pee. Rinse off and get out of shower. Partially dry off. Fail to notice water on floor because curtain was hanging out of tub the whole time. Admire wiener size in mirror again. Leave shower curtain open, wet mat on floor, light and fan on. Return to bedroom with towel around waist. If you pass wife, pull off towel, shake wiener at her and make the 'woo-woo' sound again. Throw wet towel on bed. Find the remote – ITS GAME TIME!

APPOINTMENT... or why I am about to do jail time!! I actually kept my mammogram appointment. I was met with, "Hi, I'm Belinda!" This perky clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted her head to one side and crooned, "All I need you to do is step into this room here, strip to the waist, then slip on this gown. Everything clear?" I'm thinking, "Belinda ... try decaf. This ain't rocket science." Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors. Call me crazy, but I suspect a man invented this machine. It takes a perfectly healthy cup size of 36-B to a size 38-LONG in less than 60 seconds. Also, girls aren't made of sugar and spice and everything nice... it's Spandex. We can be stretched, pulled and twisted over a cold 4-inch piece of square glass and still pop back into shape. With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left and said, "Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so we can get everything?" "Fine," I answered. I was freezing, bruised and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off? My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other boob wedged between those two 4" pieces of square glass) when we heard, then felt, a zap! Complete darkness and the power went off! "What?" I yelled. "Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag." Belinda headed for the door. "Excuse me! You're not leaving me in this vise alone, are you?" I shouted. Belinda kept going and said, "Oh, you fussy puppy...the door's wide open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be right back." Before I could shout, NOOOO!" she disappeared. And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance men extraordinaire, found me, half-naked and part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life and the other part smashed between glass! After exchanging polite "Hi, how's it going" type greetings, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off. Trying to disguise my hysteria I replied with as much calmness as possible. "Uh, yes...yes I did, thanks." "You bet, take care," Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been standing in the line at the grocery store. Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin and making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said, "Oh I am soooo sorry! The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to lunch. Are we upset?" "And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the clamps."

Oh, Maryanne...THANK GOD! I am so very happy for you. This is just the kind of news you need right now to get you into the holiday spirit!

Although broken ribs are certainly no picnic, I'm glad it's that and not mets. Please take care of yourself and thanks for letting us know what's going on. I'll be saying prayers that those ribs heal quickly!

Girls Rule....Definitely! Frank, if you'd lay off the chocolate donuts and beer a bit, you'd know what GTKY means! Anyway...you do a wonderful job of keeping this forum rolling right along! Thanks to all for making us laugh!

Old Man An older man goes in for his yearly physical, with his wife tagging along. When the doctor enters the examination room he says, "I will need a urine sample, a stool sample, and a sperm sample." The old man, being hard of hearing, turns to his wife and asks, "What did he say?" The wife yells back to him, "GIVE HIM YOUR UNDERWEAR!"

DITTO, Addie! Hope you're having a great day! We love and miss you and join Pat in sending lots of Addie-Hugs.

Val, how truly wonderful. I am so happy your mom was there with you! It's amazing how God can grant us peace through dreams of our loved ones. Hope you're smiling!

Lil, I have been thinking of you for the past couple of days, knowing how hard this time is for you. My heart just breaks for you. You and I have always shared almost the same timelines. Yesterday was the first day that Hospice came into out home and I knew the end was near. I'm at a loss for words, as only the heart can get you through times like this. Just know that even though we are across country from one another, my heart strings are truly tied to yours during this time.

Karen, I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of your friend. Such a shame.

To see all three of my sons, happy and financially stable. I'm almost there on that goal. If it weren't for student loans, they might me there...especially the attorney! If everyone knew how expensive attending a good law school is, they would realize why attorneys charge the rates they do. The other thing that I can't wait for is to be a grandmother. Right now, I have three wonderful grand dogs but that just doesn't make it!

It sounds like you have some really great things going for you. I am so glad that surgery is an option. Follow Cindi's advice. We were told that cancer patients can be approved right away for benefits. If that's not the route you want to take right now, then talk to Bunny about your work rights. Saying prayers that everything works out for you.

Deb, I hope something can get worked out to take a little pressure off your already heavy shoulders. Was there a reason your mom didn't call on your sister to help you with this? I'm sure she knows, especially after seeing Alan recently, that things are tough for the two of you right now. I would try turn this mission over to your sister, if I were you.

So sorry to hear that there are so many "side affects" asscoiated with your wifes' treatment. I pray that none of these symptoms will ever become a part of your lives.

Lots of prayers for Jackie!!!