Hello....is anyone still out there?

It has been quite a long time since I decided to make a post. I was looking at the blog date, and it tells me that for approximately two months, I have tried to live in total oblivion and pretend that my life was simply filled with the good old chaos that existed prior to cancer entering our lives. It is very difficult to maneuver through all the yadda-yadda that seems to come with the territory. Shea had her procedure and we were waiting patiently to hear all about the results... Well, here's a news flash.....we STILL don't know. I kid you not.....not a word. Other than "it wasn't quite as successful as we had hoped.". Really? That's all you've got? As my father-in-law used to say...."I can kick a pig in the butt and get more out of it than that!" I am translating this to mean that the news sucks, and so no one wants to deliver it ( killing of the messenger and all that jazz). Kelt thinks that this means that the news is good, and so they don't feel like they need to tell us. It will probably take another year before they say anything, so I would tell you that I will let you know when I know....but I probably won't know. Just number 676 of the things that are beginning to annoy me about this cancer cruise. We were told that the chemo treatments that Shea has been having stopped being effective about a month ago, so they gave her a break for a couple of weeks and we will start with a new concoction of chemo drugs this Wednesday the 30th. I am not looking forward to the change, since this drug causes extreme nausea and vomiting.....not exactly on my list, or Shea's list, of things to do for a good time. Another side effect is the loss of hair, so we are holding our breath and praying that , in Shea's case, that won't happen. I had promised Shea way back when this started, that if she lost her hair, I would lose mine too....so I am planning a kick-butt wig wardrobe.....just in case. I'm thinking something along the lines of a Nicki Minage, a Lady Godiva and a black, punk rock do.....kind of like something Pink would wear to a bar fight. What I (and especially Kelt, who knows I can be quite frightening) am praying for is that I never have to worry about it because Shea won't lose her hair...done deal. Speaking of hair...... Shea is looking really sassy and sexy and is rocking a new look. Her boyfriends Mom treated her to a salon session in Park City over Thanksgiving break, and she looks good! I think when she feels good, she should spend her time walking a few runways! It has been nice to have her able to spend so much time with friends and family. It is fun for me to see her all dressed up instead of in bed in pajamas (although she has always looked really good while she does that.....many people can't believe that she is so sick when they see her. In fact, she was telling me that she is tired of the dirty looks she gets when she is riding in a wheelchair.....especially when she stands up to stretch her legs. It makes me catch how many times in a day I would make snap judgements and decisions about people without ever really having the facts. If anything good can be said about cancer, it is the fact that it teaches you many things about yourself that you otherwise would never know or understand. I think I am becoming kinder and more mellow (my family will tell you otherwise, but don't say anything to me.....I want to be as delusional as possible, thank you very much.). So the upshot of the long silence is this......no new knowledge as pertains to the liver procedure. It wasn't as successful as they had hoped, so jury is still out on the re-do option; we will be starting a new chemotherapy beginning on the 30th; the family is hanging in there, but feeling somewhat like cancer hostages; we really do feel grateful for all of the tender mercies and beautiful moments that our Heavenly Father generously gives us, and I am officially addicted to Coke, which makes me a liquid coke addict. We need intervention......most certainly, divine.

Just a Little "Whine"

Shea had her scheduled procedure on her liver. As she was getting ready to go see Dr. Eugene (or Dr. Whoa, as one of his receptionists call him...and no, I still don't know what his name really is), a nurse came into the room we were in and asked Shea to disrobe, and put on only the hospital gown. Normally, this would be expected, but the room we were in had about 12 feet of open windows on one side and 6 feet of windows on the other. No curtains, etc......just windows. Shea and I laughed and she said, "Oh well, I've never undressed for all of Salt Lake before.....I hope they are ready for this". We figured that the windows were tinted in such a way that no one could see in, but it had to have been weird to get all naked when you can see people in the restaurant across the way.....cancer really 'treats' you to all kinds of things and situations you never thought you would be in. Oh well, after a few pokes, and a bunch of preliminary drugs, she was off to the big dance. Kelt and I waited for several hours in the waiting room since it ended up taking over 4 hours to complete the procedure. As Shea was brought to us, we noticed that she was very groggy and just not feeling real well. As time progressed, her pain level began to spike. The nurses were doing everything they could to try to help her, but nothing was working. Several times a nurse would stand on one side of her bed and I would be on the other side, trying to massage her back muscles so that they wouldn't keep cramping up. It didn't help that she had to lie flat for five hours, so she couldn't even adjust her legs or anything to try to alleviate the pain. When Dr. Eugene came in to check on her, he was shocked to see the level of pain that she was experiencing. He felt like it had something to do with the fact that she was on the operating table so long, combined with the forced lying flat. Her back muscles and stomach muscles just kept rippling and cramping. He began to throw whatever pain medication and muscle relaxers he could at her, but her body would just absorb it. He was amazed that 8 mg of morphine only showed any effect for less than 30 minutes. Her muscles sometimes made it look as if she were bouncing on the bed, while lying flat. Overall, it really was one of the most brutal things I have ever seen. It was horrible to stand there and just look and feel helpless. I have not been able to post this blog for so long, because the memory of that pain and helplessness has just been more than I could bring myself to revisit. And the lovely thing about all of it, is the fact that we may have to do it all over again. I so appreciated her boyfriend for being there for so much of it with us. He is so tender and loving and giving....it was more than amazing, and I am so very grateful that he is in her life. At one point, the pain was so great and her stomach was cramping so much, that Shea had to throw-up. I happened to be watching his face, and he didn't even look fazed by any of it (I, on the other hand, probably had a look of total horror on mine). Right after the nurse wiped her mouth, he went in for a kiss. Shea gasped out an "I just threw-up!", and he just brushed some hair behind her ear and said, "I don't care". For that, he can rob a bank....kick a cat...I don't care......he is definitely one of my heroes. Kelt was the other one. I would have fallen apart through all of the nightmare, but he stayed calm and steady....just what I needed to avoid a total freak-out. The pain lasted until the next morning, which meant that she really didn't get any rest or relief until the next day. Dr. Eugene said that they have a leader board at Huntsman of who has required the most medication during a surgery or a procedure, and Shea just toppled the leader right off the list. What a lousy thing to 'win'. It took her a couple of days before she was ready to come home, which was a very good thing, since her bedroom wasn't quite ready. Finally, when she could come home, I knew her bed had arrived and all was going to be fine. I had seen the room before I headed to Huntsman to pick her and Kelt up, but I couldn't help but gasp when I saw it with her when we arrived home. It was absolutely gorgeous and amazing!! And....it just keeps getting better and better as last minute things like curtains and blinds start coming in. I can't believe what was accomplished in so little time. So many people donated several days and hours to make a dream room for Shea. Once again....words really don't suffice....so all I can say is a heartfelt "Thank You".....and I can let you know that I still kind of 'tear up' every time I go in to her room. It truly is beautiful. Shea had chemo this past Wednesday on the 5th. Since her birthday was on the 4th, I was glad that it came after, so that she could get out with friends and enjoy herself. No one should have to be worrying about cancer when they are turning 24....but Shea had to....which can I just say as politely as possible.....totally freakin' sucks!!! (sorry once again Bishop, but believe me.....I did 'edit' and use the 'filter' button) So I was happy when she assured me that she had a great day. She was tired, but happy. When she went for chemo, she was told that we will meet again with Dr. Eugene...time and date TBA...we only know the where and that is at the Huntsman. At that time, we will know if this procedure was 'successful' or not and whether or not we are going to give it a go again. So.....I will post and let everyone know when I know....but I am not holding my breath, since it seems like it may be a couple of weeks out...or not....who knows. I just know that if I am only now able to type about it, I am not too sure I can go through it again. Which is really stupid, since I did nothing the first go around. I just know that I am sure that before I came to this world, I knew I was going to have this experience....but that was before I realized that I am not super-woman and that sometimes life just is crappier than I had formerly realized. I don't feel like I was lied to in the pre-existence.....I was just too stupid to read the fine print....and I am not as strong and evil as I would like to think that I am. I really think I would rather face down a mugger than see Dr. Eugene again....but no one is asking me. And I feel really lousy when I think of what Shea must be thinking and feeling....so I will stop my whining and complaining (well, some of it anyway)...and I will continue to remind Heavenly Father that my name really isn't Job.....and I think I do have a breaking point....and then I will get a coke and some McDonalds fries and remind him to just keep hanging on to us....and not to let go....and I will try to settle down and not kick and fuss so much. I will strive to feel what I felt over conference (Thank You Father! ) and realize that this too shall pass( and just because it feels like an over-sized peach pit, it will pass all the same)....and we will once again pull though...because the Liston's are tough and ornery and stubborn.....and sometimes that is all you need.

The Secret

Okay....I know it has a been a long, dry spell of no information shared through the blog, but I am not going to provide any excuses...I have enjoyed every moment away. Just kidding. In fact, the reason that I have not blogged until now is because I am a mean and ornery person who couldn't think of a single positive thing to share. Not one. And even though I had several people beg, plead and threaten me to write some more, I absolutely refused. Because, I really wasn't in that great of a frame of mind. Talk about a yo-yo of emotions! If I wasn't already menopausal, I'd think I was going through menopause (sorry to all the men reading this....I'm sure your eyes are burning and the words 'too much information' are war-chanting through your brains). Anyway, I think I'm coming out from the dark side...it has taken a lot of coke, candy and tears, but I'm starting to feel a bit of a groove again. Shea had met with a team of doctors to discuss 'options'. When Huntsman called, they said she would be meeting with a Dr. Lowe. I said, "Dr. Lowe as in L-O-W-E?" and the nurse confirmed that I was correct. When Shea and Kelt got to the Huntsman, imagine their surprise when they were told that a Dr. Lowe did not exist. Turns out, the physician is from somewhere in the orient, no one knows how to spell or pronounce his name (I still don't know who the sam-hill he is, or what his name really is) and he answers to the name of Eugene. Does that crack anyone else up? Eugene? Really? Wouldn't Bob be better? or Blade? But Shea's new team doctor is Eugene. It was decided that the best thing to do next is surgery on her liver. Rather than go in and start cutting, we have opted for a less invasive form of surgery. Essentially they will go through the groin and place little balls coated in chemo into the liver. The balls will then migrate/or be placed in such a way as to cut off the blood supply to the largest tumor in the liver. If all goes well, we will repeat the procedure a couple of weeks later. It is a fairly easy operation, so to speak, but the problems involved for Shea are two-fold. The first problem is the fact that she has to be awake the entire time. She can't even be semi-asleep. This operation takes 3-6 hours, so that is a long time to try to not psych yourself out. Eugene was kind enough to also tell us that the liver spasms to try to get rid of the little balls, so it is excruciatingly painful afterward. She will have to stay at the Huntsman until the pain is under control. I hope that part does not take too long. We have known for a couple of weeks that surgery was pending, and Huntsman told us they would let us know exactly when. Well, they just told us at around noon today, and surgery is tomorrow. In the morning...at 9. Thank goodness Kelt and I have such fabulous bosses or we would be in trouble. Shea put it very well..."Sometimes they act like...'Well, you have cancer. It isn't as if you are doing anything else other than lying around. We'll get to you when we get to you'" So now we are in super-pack and plan mode. On the upside to all of this....Thanks to a wonderful, insightful friend and at team of other super-wonderful friends, Shea has been given a fun activity to look forward to. A friend has organized a complete bedroom make-over, including a new comfy, adjustable bed. So while Shea is in the hospital, this team will be moving in and redoing the hovel that she has been consigned to. And when I say hovel, I mean hovel. The wallpaper in this room dates from the 30's ....it is oh so attractive. The lighting is a stupid bulb. We have been meaning to address the issue, but just didn't have the time or energy, so I am so grateful to everyone involved. Malt-O-Meal donated $850.00 which went toward the bed, and several other individuals have participated, as well. So once again, I am struggling for words adequate enough to say Thank You. Because sometimes, Thank You just doesn't cut it. For me, it isn't about the bed, or the paint or the ceiling fan/light...it is about Shea smiling and being excited and not focusing on this stupid operation that we have to do. That has meant the world. Someone asked me today what helps the most, and I would have to say...anything that puts some "happy" into her life. That's the secret. Speaking of the secret....that is a book another friend has given me to read. She was telling me today that everything that I put out into the world will come back to me.....kind of like wicked karma/universe garbage/mother's curse....you get the idea. So to all those people that I have wanted to punch lately (you don't know who you are, but I am positive it isn't anyone reading this) or to the one I want to run over (you know who you are...you might be reading this)...I am saying I forgive you....I am moving forward and hopefully upward....I am determined to be happy....and we are going to get through the next week smoothly and without any extra stress or pain. Coke and candy and tears will help....and that's my secret.

Procrastination Takes Coordination

Okay....so here I am, adding another post. Mainly to quell the rumours that I have fallen off the face of the earth (sorry to disappoint some of you..heehee). And can I just say that part of the reason why I have waited so long to post is the fact that this stupid I-Pad truly drives me crazy. already it has wanted to change rumours to dimples , heehee to hedged and quell to quack. It gets rather irritating to change those things back a few times just because the computer is much, much smarter than me....so that drives me crazy. That being said, that is only partially the reason why I have waited so long to blog again. The real reason is because I have enjoyed pretending to be "normal"for the last several weeks. See, in my other "normal" life, I hate to write. I mean really, really, really hate it. I procrastinated every writing assignment from junior high on through grad school....waiting until the last bitter moment for my 'muse' to kick in ( I learned that my 'muse' is basically Nacho Cheese Doritos chased by some Coke or Dr. Pepper depending on which decade we are talking about). So basically, I would rather have a homemade bikini wax (now there's a story......) than write. It was very surreal for Shea and I to go through a few days of notoriety leading up to the benefit. We were on an amazing radio show...the Freak Show, no less....and yes, the irony was not lost on me. Basically, because when you ares a member of the CCC, you spend a fair amount of your life feeling somewhat like a freak. So we really appreciated the fact that these guys made "freak" look good....and I mean really good. And nice....as in really, really nice. Shea and I were both ready to vomit with nerves when we pulled into the parking lot, but after being assured not to worry since "no one ever listens to this radio station anyway", we settled down....Shea in front of a mic and me on a back bench far, far away from a mic which is a good thing, since I like to talk as much as I hate to write. If I could figure out how to talk all day and get paid for it, I would......oh, wait.....I already did hahaha. So after a wonderful time on the air, we traveled home and prepared for the big benefit night. That is when we realized that it wasn't nerves that Shea was suffering from, but some good old-fashioned tummy upset. She felt so badly about not being able to attend the benefit for the entire time, but she was glad to be able to see some things and participate in the program. I know that it meant so much to her to be able to look out over the crowd and see so many people who care about her and support her. It was a wonderful lift to her spirits. I had to keep wiggling my toes and looking up at the ceiling to avoid bawling like a stupid baby all night. It was beyond words incredible. I will never be able to pay back or pay it forward.....the hours and dedication in our behalf was so huge. It was so fantastic, we had so many people tell us that they had never witnessed something so amazing in Brigham City.......so from my heart to all of yours....many thanks! Unfortunately, Shea had a very bad few days following the benefit. It is much harder for her to bounce back from any activity that she is able to participate in. She goes for another infusion on the 15th and then will run through the series of in-depth scans on the 22nd. We will meet with her doctor and oncology team on the 29th to hear about the promised "options", so we are getting anxious to hear what they are going to say/suggest. The other day I was in Pleasant Grove visiting some friends. I had a few minute before I needed to leave for Salt Lake, so I attended their city 'Promenade'...a kind of a craft show/farmer's market/get together. When I was there, I saw a lady advertising that she could "read faces". Needless to say, I was intrigued. I have always been curious about all of that hocus-locus kind of stuff, and I thought for five bucks...what the heck. I was walking up to lay down the money and fully expecting to hear "Oh.....your face is saying 'dang, I sure am old!' and 'do you think you could maybe moisturize once in a while?'" when a lady in a track suit shoved on by me. Soooo, no reading of the face......and here is the dumb thing. It keeps bugging me. You would think that I would dwell on the credit crisis (no, not mine....the governments. Although Kelt wishes I would dwell on mine a little bit more LOL) , or the fact that school is about to begin or on Shea's cancer....but, no! I have to continually think about that stupid face reading (and yes Bishop....I know what you are going to tell me and you are absolutely right of course), but there it is. It is almost as if I think she can look at my face and say to me, "Hold on for just two/ten/twenty-four more oaths and all of this Huntsman crap will be over". I just do better when I have a deadline looming. I like them, they make me comfortable. If I had a deadline, I could eat Doritos and guzzle Coke right up to the end and right before it was through.....BAM....I could stand up, do the cancer thing, turn it back over to God and then wait for the final grade......just like the papers back in school. Because I am brilliant when it comes to procrastination....that I can do. And I oh so want to procrastinated everything that cancer and the Huntsman stand for, because the hardest thing right now is to just keep keeping on. My feet hurt, and I'm tired of playing the game. And the thing that hurts the worst is watching the toll that this takes on Shea. It is really driving me crazy....just like the Face Reader. Anyone want to go for a drive to Pleasant Grove anytime soon? Doritos and Coke required.

Short and Sweet

Shea had another round of chemo yesterday. We think that they finally have the right doses of everything since this seems to be going much smoother. She even felt good enough to eat a baked potato during her infusion. You should have seen the horrified look on a couple of doctor's faces when I put an entire stick of butter on it, followed up with a bunch of cheese and sour cream. I think they were waiting for me to have a stroke right there on the spot. I left them speechless when I smiled and said, "Hey, it takes a lot of work and sacrifice to keep a figure like mine". I could tell one was dying to say "Do you own a mirror?" hahaha. Shea even made the comment that in the past she would have worried about the calories, so it is fun that they are telling her to eat more of the 'bad' stuff. They sent us into the back, private room with the bed for this infusion, so that meant that I was privileged enough to take a nap on the killer loveseat. I am gearing up to begin sewing a few voodoo dolls....a project apparently long overdue:). This week we are going to sit down as a family and see if we can squeeze a little bit of Summer into our plans. I've been so busy, I haven't been able to read or even think thoughts hahaha, so today will be a very short post....Shea wants Mac and Cheese and I am just the one to get it for her...

Homeless

I have to start out with a BIG Thank You to everyone who helped us "travel" a little bit away from ourselves. It was fun to read your posts and think about where we would like to vacation, when given a chance. Life has started to feel like it has a "normal" flow to it lately. Days moving along....dishes in the sink....children bickering......ahhhhh! Just like the good old days LOL! Since my life has started to fall into a manageable routine, I started to read a few books. Anyone who knows me really well, knows that I like to read three or four books at a time. It stretches the really good ones out so that they aren't over in a flash, and it helps be get through the informational ones without getting bored.....it is just how my ADHD works hahaha. In the midst of all of this reading, Shea has been doing some living. She has had some good visits with some great friends and she has been able to do a few things with them. Last night I thought I would have a stroke watching Shea and Bella (our little pest of a black cock-a-poo dog that I adore even though she drives me crazy) run around the house chasing each other. It was so unexpected ....Shea just burst from her room and the games began...what fun! Everything continues to go well for Shea, and we are grateful for every moment we get to spend together. She told me the other day that she has always loved the things I have to say...I seriously wondered if the morphine levels were too high, 'cuz that was way funny to me! I had to remind her of high school and all the eyeball rolls she gave me. Friday will be our countdown for three more chemo sessions before being presented with the options. I am excited, but also scared....the known evil is easier to handle than the unknown one...but I am excited to hear what the team of doctors will say. Now that I have rambled a bit, I will get back to the topic of today...So I have read or am reading a wonderfully eclectic line-up......"50 Things Your Colo-Rectal Surgeon May Not Tell You", "Cold Sassy Tree", "Chocolat", "Health and Healing", "The Seduction of Water", "Driving With Dead People" and "Same Kind of Different As Me " (since I haven't had the opportunity to read much lately, I am acting like an addict left alone in the marijuana field....wallowing in my addiction and loving every minute of it.....at least that is what I imagine an addict in a marijuana field would do, as I can't speak from personal experience...although I did see an entire village getting their groove on once in Mexico while the police burned about a ten acre field of marijuana....and they looked just as happy as I have felt while reading....in my pajamas....all day....you get the idea) and when I haven't been reading, I have been listening to a CD of quotes by Mister Rogers....so now you know how close I am to falling off the deep end. It turns out Mr. Rogers was a pretty smart guy, and I get a kick out of the fact that he was a hard-chargin' vet who wore that sweater to cover up all of the tattoos that he got while serving his country....and who knew that he had a lot of smart things to tell children (and adults) on how to get along in this world. I have to admit that as a child, I was somewhat bored by Mr. Rogers....I was more an Electric Company kind of girl, but as an adult...I can really admire what he did with his life. So there I was listening to Mr. Rogers one day and he said something that explains, in part, some feelings that people who are struggling ( or who have struggled) with cancer feel. He said " What has been important in my understanding of myself and others is the fact that each one of us is so much more than any one thing. a sick child is much more than his or her sickness, a person with a disability is much, much more than their handicap, a pediatrician is more than a medical doctor. You're much more than your job description, or your age, or your income or your output.". Sha and I had just been discussing how she is now and forever....Shea with cancer; and that is hard, when she longs to just be Shea...undefined by the disease that grips her. We have a friend who shared with us that even after five years of being cancer-free, she is still being defined by it. Sometimes in our struggle to move through this life as quickly and painlessly as we can, we define ourselves and others according to our own past or present circumstances. I know I do it all the time.....determining who and what people are, based on what I can see or experience when I am around them. That is why reading "The Same Kind of Different As Me" really hit home for me. For some reason, when I went to get a book from the bookstore, I was drawn to this one. As I began reading, I was intrigued by the story.....and then I was floored to read about a diagnosis of colon cancer that had spread to the liver....and the strength and faith of the people involved. So I want to share some of the ideas that I read ....words of wisdom from a man who was homeless for decades......"There's somethin' I learned when I was homeless. Our limitation is God's opportunity. When you get all the way to the end of your rope and there ain't nothin you can do, that's when God takes over.". And each day that goes by shows me the truth of that statement more and more.....we are all here on earth doing the best we can to make it through whatever stands in our way, and at some point we all reach the end of our ropes, but that is when God takes over. Sometimes it is in a sunrise or a sunset, or in a smile, or a good night's sleep, or in a book you pick up and unexpectedly gain a stronger testimony from. I have been so worried about all the earthly things....health, wealth, happiness, etc ( how to get them, how to keep them, what to do with them when I have them, what to do with them when I don't) that I have lost sight of the fact that I need to get out of God's way, trust him and totally let go. And that is exactly what Peter did when he was walking on the water....trusting God and letting go. And that is what I started out on this journey doing, but somewhere in the middle of life, I forgot to live and see life. So I am grateful to a sweet, homeless man in Texas who taught me more than words or feelings will ever express, and I will end with paraphrasing his final words in the book....."I used to spend a lot of time worrying that I was different from other people, even from other homeless folks....But I found out everybody's different-the same kind of different as me. We're all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or something in between, this earth ain't no final restin place. So in a way, we is all homeless-just workin our way toward home." So I am learning to trust God and let go on my journey home and hopefully, God will take my limitations and create His opportunities with them. I think that would make the journey worthwhile.....

Armchair Travelers

We just got back from the Huntsman. Chemo day was switched this week to Saturday since Shea needed to undergo a little procedure Friday morning. It seems that the tumor in the colon that was almost obstructing the bowel has shrunk enough that the stent that was placed there had slipped off and migrated down, so it needed to be removed. Her colo-rectal surgeon feels like it does not need to be replaced at this time, so that is also good news. Saturdays at the Huntsman are much more relaxed than on the weekdays. I think if the word got out, most patients would have chemo on a Saturday....it is so quiet and relaxing. The nurse today told me that if we come again on a Saturday, I could sleep in one of the beds while Shea received treatment. Awesome! Either I looked really tired/old and haggard/sick or all of the above, for her to suggest such a thing, but hey....I am so going to take her up on it if I ever get the chance :). they have reduced the amount of chemo that Shea will receive each time, and it seems to really be helping. She is talking about enrolling in a "nail" class this fall. She is beginning to feel like she can maybe start driving and getting out a little bit more. It is nice to see her start feeling better and begin to make plans for the future. She slept through most of today's treatment, so on the way home we had Chick-Fil-A (really good fast food, but it doesn't compare to a steak as an after chemo treat haha). After writing about being "normal", it seems as if the good Lord is granting that wish (maybe I had better write about the desire to be rich and skinny and see if that gets me anywhere LOL). I am enjoying the feeling of normalcy that we have been able to start to feel over the last couple of days....gives me hope and a spring in my step. The only thing missing is a little bit of travel...or a camping trip or two. That is the stuff that is hard to do when you are starting out on the cancer road. Shea and I were talking about how exciting it is that we have over 80 followers reading the blog (she thinks it is cool that so many people care about her....I just feel sorry that I am torturing so many people on a fairly regular basis), and we know that many more are reading it that have not become followers. Soooooo..........we are curious about where the readers are coming from. We know several in Utah, but does anyone want to post and tell us about your exciting surroundings? We are not able to travel...which we love to do....so this will give us a chance to see the world through your eyes. You can keep it anonymous, just tell us what you see.....fun things to do/eat/etc. We look forward to reading the comments.....you could say it is what we live for. So how about helping out a couple of armchair travelers? We hope it will be fun for everyone involved!