DONE!

By the time we got back from the big celebration Friday, the apartment's internet access had been turned off. Not that they were rushing us or anything. But even after 24 hours without internet access, no one got the shakes. We were too rushed trying to pack up 6 weeks worth of "stuff" into 2 weeks worth of luggage. I think Mom and I were mostly appreciated for our baggage allowance.

Chase finished Friday afternoon and there was a big celebration. Here's a short video of "the gonging". What you can't see is the crowd of people, cameras, and cell phones in front of him - they really do it up right there! Unfortunately, Judith's camera doesn't have sound, so you'll just have to imagine a startlingly loud gong sound at the appropriate moment.



Applause! Applause! Applause!

Here, have a cookie!


If his face looks a little red, it's not because he's blushing, but because he just spent an hour locked down like this:


Aligning the acrylic forms for treatment.
But that's OVER - whew!

The celebration was fun, but...we still had to pack. Our flight wasn't at 7:30 Saturday, it was at 7:15! I did get the AM part right, though, dangit, and it's hard getting up at 4:45 when you were still packing at 0'dark thirty the night before. But we made it on time, thanks to no traffic and a very nice curbside check in guy. I think we had a total of 15 bags, including a last minute "throw it in that shopping bag over there" one.

We landed at RDU and headed for home - Buddy picked up Chase and Judith and drove to Greensboro, but I don't think Chase will light there long. NC State tonight, Chapel Hill tomorrow(?) and moving in to a Chapel Hill apartment on Monday. He's looking forward to becoming a college student again, ya think?

Many, many thanks to the friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, medical staff, and virtual strangers who made this passage bearable. Y'all are amazing!

I'm signing off and turning the keys to the blog over to Chase now. As rough as it was on him, at least he can never say he had a boring Freshman year!

Mom and I got in to Houston last night after a long flight on a teeny tiny plane. There were several doors leading out of the terminal, and we wandered every which way until we heard a voice we recognized say "Doesn't this mean anything to you?"



Houston's a big city. I know, Duh... Judith says we didn't see it all, but we did spend about 6 hours today in and out of the car. I need a nap!

This morning (and I use that term loosely), Mom and Judith left Chase snoozing (I was in the shower) and drove off to gape at all the huge houses in River Oaks. I told them to keep an eye out for secret service men, but they don't think they saw George Sr.'s house, reported to be in the area. By the time they got back, we had to rush to get Chase to his next to last treatment. We had lunch at a TX BBQ place, and then on the the Houston SPCA to thank them for their help with all the pets after Katrina. We came thisclose to bringing a darling, personable kitten home with us on the plane, but no... So cute, though!

Then we headed back to the Proton center to pick up Judith's phone...oops.

I have no idea what else we did today, but it involved a lot of traffic. Oh, we did pick up Chase's "goodie" for graduation tomorrow (a big chocolate chip cookie with the UNC logo on it). Judith was upset that Mom and I weren't particularly interested in shopping at the Galleria Mall. C'mon, Mom and me at Versace???

We're doing our best tonight to clean out the fridge and pantry of food - more chips any one? How 'bout a hot dog? Salad? Ice cream? :: burp ::

Tomorrow, the gong!



19 down, ONE to go!

Almost there... He's rounded the final turn and is racing down the home stretch. Or is it he's rounded third base and is heading for home? He's in the final quarter and up by 13? Are there any more sports analogies I can throw in here?

Packing up and getting ready to go, but Judith and Chase still have to entertain Mom and me for a few days. We'll be there Wednesday night to kick Chase out of his room for good (we get the twins, he gets the air mattress). There are a few things we need to see around Houston, and we wanted to make sure we were there for the final Gong on Friday. He had appointments with a bunch of doctors today and they all said he could leave Saturday. Good thing, 'cause we're all booked on a 7:30AM flight that morning!

Chase's treatments still take too long (at least according to him), but...

17 down, 3 to go!

Forewarning: a rather photo intensive blog ahead...

Since two influential presidents were conveniently born just 10 days apart, Judith and Chase had the day off. Not that they wanted it actually, but there ya go.

So they started out in a park in Houston where the arty boots are hanging out. If you click on the link, there are a lot of boot pictures there, or if just one will do, here's one for you:



There were some fancy kites flying as well. Judith took this movie of a circular kite flying (then, well, not flying). As of midnight, it's...not working, but hopefully by morning, youtube will have finished "processing" it (whatever that means).



Once it works, you'll see the slowly rotating rainbow kite, and behind it you'll see the Geico gecko taking off (or maybe it's a dragon - didn't the Chinese New Year start Sunday?)

After enjoying the park, they headed down to Galveston.

Who woulda thunk? The Gulf is cold in February!

Out on the pier (psst! Judith - "i" before "e", except after "c", not "p" ;-). Self portrait - notice Judith's arms reflected in her glasses.


They went to Pier 21 and saw the film on the Storm of 1900, when over 6,000 lives were lost, and the history of the protective wall guarding Galveston Island. The wall has held up through all the hurricanes since it was finished in 1905.



Just one of the friendly locals. Did he think Chase had a can of tuna under his cap???

So tomorrow begins the Last! Week! of Treatment!!!

Still...16 down, 4 to go!

In honor of Judith and Chase's final week in Houston, may I present:
Cowboys on Ice



I did talk briefly to Judith today, and from the sound of it, they had a great day off in Houston and Galveston. I was promised photos and maybe even a video. Until they surface, though, the cowboys will just have to do!

It was nice while it lasted :: sigh :: The weather cooperated, and a good time was had by all.

Buddy and Jacob are back home - already...but they had a very good weekend (many thanks to Susan and Charlie for the tickets!) I got a jumble of info in an email from Judith - she mentioned going to a Booster Ball with Debbie - cowboy chic dress requested:


A little bull riding (and showing off her new boots):


Those bulls look a bit different than I expected...


Meanwhile Chase and Jacob went to an Aeros hockey game where Chase was welcomed by name on the Jumbotron. Then they went back to Sugar Land with Debbie and Jake's two boys to play video games. I didn't even hear of any sibling fussing going on (not to say there wasn't any, of course!)

One more photo, and no, it's no one we know. But how often do you see a guy with a red mohawk riding a moped?



Countdown to Saturday - and home!

Many people seem to expect daily blogs. Okay, a few. Well, one, really.

Mom.

But Mom, if your daughter and grandson are too busy to call and update me, I can't just make stuff up out of thin air, can I?

Hmmm....Or can I....This could get interesting...

But truthfully, Chase has started on his "boost" treatment. No longer is he getting full head and spine radiation, but just the tumor bed (the origination point), and the two spots on his spine. So the sessions are supposed to be shorter, and he only has 4 more to go until he's DONE! Since Monday's a holiday, he'll be done on Friday, the 23rd, and I think he'll be home on Saturday!

16 down, 4 to go!

Y'all done good! I'm no longer pouting and Judith's no longer crying. I'm sure the latter has nothing at all to do with Buddy and Jacob's arrival in Texas. Wow, the family's all together now (well, except for her pooch JD, back at home, no doubt running around with...Sadie is it?) So anyway, they celebrated in style at Massa's.



You know, I worked on this picture for a long time, but that still doesn't look like Buddy. *g* Laugh if you will, but I'm so tired tonight that it took me a while to figure out why there were 4 people in the picture but Buddy wasn't one of them...

Regardless, they had a great time celebrating Judith's birthday (did I mention that it was her 44th?)



She really should be 45 by now since she celebrated yesterday as well at a restaurant which shall remain nameless since no one, not even the manager who collects bottles has ever been allowed to take one home before. The tears worked, though, and she got one for her beautiful birthday rose.



By the way, I blurred out the restaurant name so don't even try to make out the Truluck's name, okay?

Well, well, well...

Over 100 people have viewed this blog since I broke the news about Judith's 44th birthday . I'm soooooo sad that only 2 people left her comments on just how old she's getting! (and one was MOM!)

:: sniff ::

C'mon, y'all! You can do better than that! It just takes a second to leave an annoymous annoying comment. I think I'll go off and pout until there are a few more comments. Yeah, that's it. I'm withholding info on Chase's boost radiation treatment and Buddy and Jacob's weekend trip - no more boring blogs until at least 5 people leave a comment! We can't have Judith's 44th birthday ignored!

Pssst! Mom, Karen, Memaw - I may need your help to spam the comments...

A new friend! Actually, two new friends!
Eva (who put together the song/photo montage I linked to a couple days ago) came to the apartment today to meet Judith and Chase. They had a good time at lunch (even if it was interupted several times by Judith's rude family member's phone calls - guilty!)

Then later, Judith figured out how to stop the dog upstairs from whining all evening - the owner brought Zenji down to visit!



Cute puppy, and with some warm furniture (i.e. laps) to sit on - no whining! I think this will work out very well.

Psst! Thursday's Judith's birthday! Let's all jump out and say "Surprise!"

Okay, that won't really work here. Sooo....

Happy Birthday, Judith!

15 down, 5 to go!

Midterms time...so this is just about all Judith saw of Chase today:



It's been a while since I was in college, but seven 5+ page papers? assigned by one teacher? due within 30 hours of assignment? Am I missing something here? like reality? At least he didn't blow off his radiation treatment like he threatened (I would threaten bodily harm if he had!) For all I know he's still sitting in that chair typing away right now, at 2 points off per hour past deadline. I sure hope I got some misinformation, 'cause that just ain't right!

Judith had an "interesting" day as well. Tired from the joys of apartment life (i.e. a neighbor's new puppy whining late into the evening), she nonetheless headed off to school to tutor - only to find the classes out on a field trip. So now she knows what it's like on the other side of the equation, having previously forgotten to alert parent volunteers about special days. Oops!

Judith's also been busily traipsing up and down the stairs to the laundry room, getting sheets washed and everything ready for Buddy and Jacob's visit this weekend. She gets to do it all again next week because Mom and I finally got our tickets to go down for Chase's last 2 days - coming up fast! I don't know quite how we'll fit everything in; Mom wants to visit the space center, the Houston SPCA (because they helped with Katrina animals), the Parasol Project, and be at the Proton center for the ceremonial banging of the gong after Chase's final treatment on Friday, the 23rd. Since Mom generally travels at about the speed of sound, I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

14 down, 6 to go!

A couple of pictures from the weekend. Apparently the Globetrotters' game was the only time Judith was allowed along...





While Chase and friends went out and drove (i.e. got lost) all over Houston, Judith was taken shopping by Debbie. She's now the proud owner of a pair of Texas cowboy boots. Not her first pair of cowboy boots, but the first in, oh, 30 years, I'd guess.

Uncle Mitch co-wrote a song for Chase a while back (I think the lyrics have been posted before), but now a friend of his, Eva, has put together a montage with the song and photos on her myspace page (scroll down). It's very good - check it out!

12 down, 8 to go!

This space intentionally left blank.

I would have a blog here, but someone hasn't called me back, even though she said she would.

Yesterday.

:: insert whiny voice :: Mommmm! Judith's ignoring me! :: whiny voice off ::

Chase's friends have arrived in Houston - and what a smile. Was he really afraid they wouldn't recognize him? Naw, he was just being silly. Your limo awaits...


Here's one Ashleigh took on the plane:


Too cute.

So tonight they're out on the town, with only the occasional "Mom, I'm lost" phone call. *g*

Back to knitting that sock monkey dress for Judith... Shhhhh!

Griffin and Ashleigh should be at the airport by now and will arrive in Houston around 8PM, just in time for a late dinner with Chase - and without his Mom!?! How could he do that??? What will she do??? All alone in the apartment with nothing but a pint of Ben & Jerry's to keep her company. Oh wait, that would be me.

Chase got his bloodwork done today, but when I talked to him, he actually seemed rather chipper, so I'm not too worried. His friends will keep him busy (and if I know Griffin, laughing), so the break will be good. The weather in Houston's not to bad, and it beats what we had up here today. It sure was cold and rather drafty in my house today. Having work done on your house is ever so much fun!

So to keep warm, I've taken up knitting. My first project was going to be this, but Judith said she wouldn't wear it. So I'm starting out doing afghan squares for a group Warm Up America project. I think Judith should do a square too, don't you?

I was going to have so much fun with this post, but just like last time, Judith shut me down. I can't make fun of her. Okay.

Judith went to a local school to volunteer her time. I think boredom's really setting in about now. She was asked if she'd like to tutor some kids in math, and she said "That's my favorite subject!"

:: snerk ::

Oops, did I say that out loud?

But as long as it's an elementary school, I'm sure those kids will be fine. ;-). They don't get into percentages until later, right?

The good news is - Chase is halfway through his radiation treatments! More good news - the cables arrived and both computers are now connected to the internet. The bad news is, Chase is just not feeling well today. Some bloodwork, etc. is scheduled for tomorrow (hey, why not today???) At any rate, I do hope he perks up before Griffin and Ashleigh fly down tomorrow for the weekend!

10 down, 10 to go!

Not much happening today. I tried to eek out some more details about radiation treatments from Chase, but the monosyllabic answers meant he really needed to get his homework done before the Carolina/Duke game - and Carolina won, so I'm sure he's happier tonight.

Judith seemed entranced with what she was told were Purple Martins flying around, roosting in trees, and hanging out on the power lines. I tried to find out if they were indeed Martins, but I haven't gotten too far.

My bird book is for Eastern US, and Texas is decidedly...not Eastern. Everything I've seen on the web so far says that Martins hang out in huge flocks in TX in July prior to flying to South America for the winter.

Scout reports indicate they're just now starting to trickle in to TX on their way back for the summer. Since I saw these flocks back when I was in Houston in January, I'm even less convinced they're Martins.

This survey from last winter has a list of high population birds in Houston, and I'm wondering if these are the more boring starlings?

Aaaand I've wasted an hour of my life and about a minute and a half of yours - sorry!

9 down, 11 to go - Thursday's the half way point!

One more treatment completed, but the bad news is that Chase's computer still won't work. But Judith's will, so at least I know it isn't my router. Whew! Calling Geek Squad! Um, wait. I just checked their prices. Nevermind... How 'bout IBM's Lenovo support pages? Hmmm... I hope these links aren't still dead in the morning. No warm fuzzies from Lenovo. Well, Chase, if your computer didn't come with phone support, you must know a computer geek or two at school. Or send me an airline ticket!

Some pics from last weekend:

At Emeril's Restaurant

In Jackson Square

And at a Mardi Gras parade!

8 down, 12 to go! Why that's...2/5ths done!

It's still Monday somewhere, right?

They had a great weekend, and now they're back in Houston, away from family and friends again. :: wipes tear ::

I'm a bit worried because Chase says Judith's sick. Then again, I shouldn't be too worried since she had enough energy to stop and shop at the Tanger Outlet Mall on their way from New Orleans to Houston today. They enjoyed that so much they almost missed his treatment appointment! Well, between that and the traffic, I suppose.

Chase called me tonight and I thought he was going to regale me with a weekend's worth of stories for the blog, but no. He called because the internet is down. Again. And trying to remote troubleshoot makes me feel like pulling a Catbert. So, trying to make my life and theirs both easier, I ordered a 75' and a 25' ethernet cable - look for the DHL truck on Thursday! Please make it work.

If the cable modem's not up by Thursday, we're gonna see if "smooothoperator's" router is within 75' of Chase's bedroom window ;-).

7 down, 13 to go! Hey Chase, you're over 1/3 of the way through!

I so love North Carolina snow. See?

Here today:



Gone tomorrow:



Well, actually, here Thursday, gone Friday, but you know what I mean. And look what popped up from under that snow at Mom's house:



Buddy's brother is the baseball coach at Tulane, so Chase, Judith, Buddy, and about a hundred or so more enjoyed a party at their house tonight, and many, many more will be enjoying Alumni weekend in New Orleans.

See ya Monday!