EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE

More good news. We waited, rather impatiently, for 2 and 1/2 hours for the buyers to complete an inspection--they choose to use a contractor family friend--top to bottom. After a white knuckle night, we heard today that they have signed off with no additional work, accepting the purchase as is. That ends several years of fretting about some of the problems with the old place. We are very pleased.

Closing is May 21, possession is 14 days after that. If we can get the bathrooms done (they haven't started yet), we will likely be in the condo before that. We are going to tell Kahle's that we are going to go ahead and change the carpets before they start and that they will have to try their very best to avoid damage. That will allow us to start getting some things over there to make decisions about what goes/what stays.

Week two is a little better--no Zeloda--but I still get completely exhausted in a couple hours of being up and around. Trying to trim down the list of things to do in the condo. At least we are now done with trying to keep 742 spotless. Wanted to go to band tonight, but didn't have the strength. Looks like I am pretty well done with that.

EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE

Well, the first couple that went through our home at 742 Corwin made an offer--full asking price! We approved the offer today but asked to extend the time to closing and possession by several days. While we are delighted that someone wants our lovely home that much, we are concerned about getting everything ready at the condo. We are hoping to have until June 1. While all the arrangements seem in place, we do have to undergo an inspection. We have always been uncomfortable with the thought--the house is 65 years old and nearly all the maintenance over the past 40 years has been done by me. So wish us luck with this.

Quick Update

So in Series V, the first week has been a challenge. On Monday evening, after my 2 p.m. infusion, I had some quick-onset, abdominal pain. Lasted about an hour. It was intense enough to send us to the ER for a check. The Doc more or less said, "well, you certainly have the potential for pain there, suck it up." So after it went away, he sent me on my way. Tuesday I was pretty well, worked in the condo on walls and electrical. Wednesday, as has happened several times before, I was flat on my back. Extreme fatigue and little interest in even being up. Had a couple of long naps. Today I am better, but my energy is good for about an hour, then I need to sit.

In the meantime, the house has been listed, the sign is up (gulp), and we have two showings yet today and an open house on Sunday afternoon. Good to have the early interest, but we still worry about getting the condo ready (the bathrooms continue to be the problem) if we sell early. Progress at the condo is good: electrical is done, den is painted, wall repair is nearly done, paint decisions have been made for the bedroom and kitchen. All thanks to our dear friends.

Big Things Happened

In addition to Easter, this was a great weekend for progress. Andy and Wally, Bob and Marion, and we of course--attacked the garage. With everything out on the driveway, four passersby stopped to see if we were having a garage sale. Defiance loves their garage sales. We said, "not yet, but watch the ads!" I am planning a "guys only tool sale" in a few weeks--once I am sure we don't have projects requiring the stuff. Women will absolutely not be allowed and Marion says she will dress up as the "tool time lady" to take the money. That would be something.

So, the garage is done, all patched and freshly painted. It took us two days to get the job done. It has never looked as good as it does at this moment. Far cry from when it used to be filled to the brim with pianos in various states of disrepair.

We had some wonderful lunches and dinners with everyone, courtesy of Beth who sent a complete lasagna meal, and the church that sent left over beef stew. Lunches on the deck, what a great setting.

You should have seen all of us sitting in the garage on lawn chairs and on ladders Friday evening, enjoying the gorgeous weather and the smell of fresh paint. Felt like a square dance to me--or folks in the holler.

Saturday, the activity moved to the condo. I had tried to get an electrician there to move a couple of ceiling boxes and get power to the bedroom fan without surface molding. They didn't seem too interested for these little pesky jobs. So it took a whole morning to get a wire from the wall outlet to the ceiling fan--finally had to buy a wire snake to get it done. Now we can have a ceiling light that can be turned on at the door, and a remote controlled fan. Nice. The ceiling box moves were in the kitchen/breakfast area and took the rest of the day. Had to make a spot for Emily's tulip pendant over the table, and a spot for the wildest little chandelier in the kitchen--wait until you see it. Funky.

I was strong enough to help a good deal, but completely exhausted after the experience. I did not recover much taste this week, which was discouraging. But my energy was certainly a bit higher and I enjoyed working with the "guys." They enjoyed it too, some time away from the office is always welcome. So with a couple more patches on walls and ceilings, the bedroom and kitchen are ready for the painters. Good progress.

Gemzar and Zeloda tomorrow. Joy.

Really Late Update

Don't give up on me, gentle readers. We have been really busy--that is certainly good. We enjoyed the DCCB Cabaret Concert, even though I wasn't able to play. I had never heard the band from the audience before and it was a pleasant surprise to discover that it sounds even better out front than sitting in the last row tooting. Sunday we ran to Toledo, Sammy's Club, and a look through some furniture stores. No luck there. Monday we began to seriously take advantage of our dear friends, Bob and Marion. They helped complete the paper stripping in the condo--the bedroom and kitchen are done and ready for wall repairs. Tuesday, Emily and Cathie continued to plan decorating and went to Archbold to visit Rupp's furniture. Bonanza! They called me to join them and we found a beautiful table--40 inch round pedestal with a 24 inch leaf and four gorgeous, padded chairs on casters. Exactly what we wanted but had become convinced did not exist. Also the sleeper sofa for the den--you will be amazed with the color. Mint green! Nothing like we have ever done before.

Today Bob and Marion dug up the ornamental grass and divided it--it is voracious. Then they helped Emily put down Preen in the hosta beds. What great friends! Tonight Andy and Wally arrive to attack the garage right away in the morning. We should be able to get the job done and have them help with a couple projects at the condo as well.

I continue to enjoy (at least to try to enjoy) my week off Chemo. I certainly have more energy but have not recovered my taste or appetite. Had a blood draw today in preparation for my check up the the Doc on Friday.

Isn't the weather great? We had lunch on the deck and the grass is greening up and the perennials are jumping. Hallelujah.

Tardy Update

Sorry, gentle readers. It has been several days. We have been really busy, stripping wallpaper at the condo bedroom. It was blue/grey/foil swirl. Sounds like a latte of some sort. If you have done this job, you know it is really awful. I tried to help as much as possible, perhaps too much, and have been completely exhausted by mid afternoon. But it is done now, and our dear friends, Bob and Marion, are back from a chilly three months in FL, so they will do the work in the kitchen, sparing us.

I have not had a very good week. Have to wonder how much of that is because I don't expect to have a good third week of the series. Just one more day of bullets to take, and then a week off. I have not had any appetite, no taste, and general fatigue. I did go to the last Bands, Bands, Bands! concert Thursday evening--but left at intermission. In a little while, we are going to the DCCB Cabaret Concert. I had hoped to play, but I just don't have the strength, and playing is starting to bother my stomach muscles, where I have a tumor that is growing near my navel.

To add insult to injury, this morning I rubbed my right eye and had a hemmorhage--a large one--that made most of my eye bloody. Since I am on blood thinners and have a depressed platelets count, we made a trip to the ER. Oncology is closed on Saturdays, so we couldn't use them. We were there for two hours waiting for the blood count (which was acceptable) and for a contact with my Oncologist for a recommendation on my daily blood thinner injection (it was skipped for one day). Though this is a harmless condition, it looks absolutely grisly. I am sure it will likely take weeks to clear completely. The adventure continues.

Events Galore

Glad to report that I have felt well enough to attend several events over the weekend--The DC Players did their spring show, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, in the Arts and Media Center. We went to the Saturday matinee. The hall is not great for matinees since you can't darken it--in fact, the stain glass windows are beautiful in the sun light--but with a show like this it really doesn't matter. The space worked very well for this little show, intimate with good audience involvement. It was gratifying for me to see folks enjoying the space.

On Sunday, we skipped church, conserving my energy, so that we could go to the Fort Wayne Civic performance of Joseph, and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We had planned on attending with Sam and Cathie, but they had to make a quick trip to Texas for Sam's oldest brother's funeral. Instead, we took Kris. We were so glad we attended as this was the very best production we have ever seen there. The cast was uniformly strong--as well as large--and the production was over the top. Costuming, choreography, extra stage stuff, and some adlib all contributed to a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. After, we stopped at Casa Grille, which is by far our favorite eatery just now. Kris ordered a seafood selection--she loves seafood--complete with mussels and clams in the shell which she handled surprisingly well. She had a good time, was in a good mood, and we enjoyed spending the afternoon with her.

Monday evening, a wonderful piano recital at the A and M Center. This was a bonus performance for the sponsor members of both the Sunday at the Center and the Bands, Bands, Bands! Series. Warren Mailley-Smith, a concert pianist from London, is at the end of a self-arranged recital series across the States. The contact came from one of my friends in the Ohio Arts Presenters' Network. It was a great performance, with Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, and Chopin--and ending with the piano only version of Rhapsody in Blue. The man is a true virtuoso, liked the space and even the Steinway 7 foot, which is pretty well worn out I think. Again, the space is absolutely wonderful for this kind of event and I am a little over whelmed with seeing it. I think this will be a legacy that folks will continue to use and enjoy.

I had week three infusion yesterday and am back on the Zeloda for the week. The switch to Miralax from Senna seems to be working better--particularly less cramping. That is good.