Getting Better All The Time

Since it's been 1 1/2 months since we last updated the blog I thought I'd spend some of my lonely time giving all an update - Marcus and Mandy are with ex-Phantom Ranchers (Grand Canyon) on a 6 day river trip from near Moab, Utah to the top of Lake Powell! Me? I have school...But, not to worry about me missing out on fun this fall. W build it in whenever we can!

Since the last update:
* Marcus had one more trip to Flag with Mandy for chemo. He got out of his last cocktail due to low white blood count - actually quite ok since they said 3 or 4 rounds and he managed 3 1/2.
* Mandy and Marcus went to New Mexico to pick up our new (to us) Eurovan camper - Mandy learned about stores on the Rez (Navajo Reservation) - fresh fruit, veggie choices? Huh?
* In mid August, Wes and Alena flew into Las Vegas where Julie and Paul picked them up and headed for Big Water. The next day they picked me up from school at noon and we had a little caravan - Julie and Paul with Mandy in BABBs and us in our EV camper, to the mountains near Teluride, Colorado where we met Kurt, Laura, Ali, Mia, and Neeve for 3 three nights of camping fun. Kurt, Marcus, and Wesley had time to fish (so did Alena who even cleaned fish!) while Paul went with all the women to Teluride. Camping was wet but worth it. Before, during, and after rains, the cousins entertained with Uncle Paul providing prizes which lead to even more entertainment. At one point Julie had to put Paul on time out. He was ticked that some campers (I use that word loosely here) moved in and intruded on our fun with their generator and to drown out the noise, we had a dance party. Unfortunately, this annyoyed everyone nearby except the noise making "campers" so we had to turn the music down. Paul wasn't really ready to end our dance party (he always has been one to supply music, fun and games) but Julie put her muddy food down and put him in time-out. I'm ready to plan another trip for next summer.
* Mandy took Wes and Alena back to Vegas where she caught a flight to SF to begin her journey to Burning Man. She has stories...and pictures...we'll post some soon. Mandy made costumes for Burning Man (I even made her some fake fuzzy fur leg warmers) and she looked like a pro! When they get off the river I'll have her post some pics. She gave us the fever and we plan to attend the post-party (Arizona Decompression) near Sunset Crater with her and some Grand Canyon friends. While we were discussing details, Mandy said she didn't plan to pitch her tent near us (not the place you need to be near your parents...). I asked her if we needed to include her in meals planning and you can imagine her response...well yeah, I'll eat with you. Maybe she'll share some costumes in exchange for food.
* Lake View Elementary (my school) has Camp Lake View at Jacob Lake (not really a lake) in mid Sept. so we took our camper for another trip. Beautiful weather for hanging around the campfire and a day trip to the North Rim - always a favorite destination for us.

Mandy and Marcus have done a little substitute teaching and Mandy's remembered that she hated middle school and loved high school. We're loving having her here, but realize it's pretty boring! So glad she had a week in cali and another at Burning Man. Also thankful they are on the river. I'm busy with my new job - love doing classroom guidance!

All is good with us as we head towards the middle part of the cancer experience. Marcus is nothing short of amazing and I gain my strength from him.

COMING UP!
* Extreme Makeover, Big Water style. Julie and Paul are coming from California to head up the project(s). Dan and Terry, Bob and Laura, Pete and Becky, Matt and Jeanne (all from Grand Canyon), our friend Norma, from Vegas and hopefully some local folks, will provide the man-womanpower to complete some projects. Our goals are to get the garage room in good enough shape for Mandy to have some space of her own, split and stack wood, finish the fence and maybe lay some flagstone. We have some other smaller projects as well. If you live nearby and get the urge to help - come on over! WE'll figure out where you'll sleep! Email or post a comment so I'll know how much food to have on hand.

* Dan and Terry, maybe Dave Cooley, and maybe Keith and Nancy, will join Marcus, Mandy and me plus some crazy Arizona Burners, for the Burning Man Decompression Party near Flagstaff.

* Marcus, Mandy and I head for Tucson Oct. 9th for a final consultation before surgery which will be scheduled within the next few weeks after that. We're still figuring out where we'll stay but have a few leads from Kelsos and my school's new social worker, Johna (an amazing woman!).

* Spend some time with the Talkers - between Gracie, Maddox, and Shelly being sick and Marcus getting a bug too, we haven't had much Talker time. We plan to attend Gracie's First Laugh party too. It's a Navajo thing!

Hope to be reading comments from you, our loyal followers, soon!
YOLO, OPT, EDAG, Peggy