…..So the doctor said, forget about it and go get a hobby. Hmmm…..I’ve just received some really good news that my blood count is stabilized (which means no new cancer); the radiation to my rib/shoulder seemed to have worked (to zap the cancer); my surgery to remove my ovaries went well; my hot flashes from hell have subsided (a bit); and now my only worry is find a new hobby. Not too bad.

Geo-caching. Ever heard of it? Well, it’s basically high tech hide-n-seek, and this is our new hobby. Keith and I have had a few adventures hunting for the caches. Let me just say, the map reading in the Army has finally paid off. We use a compass, GPS locator, and our wits (well, at least Keith does). Gypsy “The Wonder Dog” tags along on our hunts, but she doesn’t seemed to be as enthusiastic and generally sits down and watches us go traipsing through the brush, turning over logs and rocks, and running from wasps. Oh the wasps. Well, as luck would have it, I managed to step on an underground wasp’s nest. I initially got stung on the back of the leg and while Keith was looking at my sting, we were attacked. I ran one way, Keith ran another, and Gypsy ran too. We all got stung – 8 stings for me; 6 for Keith and Gypsy had at least 2. Off to CVS for Benedryl. We used my family’s remedy of sliced onion on the stings (it really works…but smelly).

Ok, running through the woods screaming like little girls isn’t exactly a fun hobby, and we didn’t find that particular cache, but overall the hunting is fun. There are over 900,000 caches in the US, and even more globally. If any of you are interested go to www.geocaching.com and check it out.

Stayed tuned for my next blog post, as we take a road trip from New York to Colorado — Oct 2-11.

Another summer has come to an end…..   Keith and I kicked off our summer with a 3 day trip to Washington DC and 2 days in Atlanta.   Washington DC is amazing!  Neither of us had been there and if you haven’t you really need to make plans to go there.   Keith was a bit disappointed we could not tour the White House; and actually couldn’t even get close to take a decent picture without a zoom lens.  The first evening we walked to the monuments (WA Monument, WWII Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial) and viewing them all lit up was cool.  We later returned during day light hours to see the Vietnam Memorial and Korean Memorial (better seen in daylight).   During the day we spent inside the museums (it was hot out) and thankfully they are air conditioned.  Our favorite museum was the Air and Space Museum; although we enjoyed the Presidential portrait museum too.   The National Museum aka “America’s Attic” was awesome, but we were limited to about an hour as they were closing early for an event – had we known, we would have gone there first.   The quirkiest museum was the SPY Museum….you assume a false identity and then throughout the museum you have to pass certain tests (as if you were being questioned at a check point) – and graded to see if you blew your cover or not.  Of course, I was a female Astronomer smuggling scientific papers; and Keith was a 12 year old boy on vacation….too funny.

We made a trip to Ohio and visited Keith’s family first week in August.  Went by our Cleveland house (anyone want to buy it?) and it’s still standing.   I can’t say I want to ever live there again — -it’s no longer our “home”.   Good time visiting family, but of course, I managed to fall down my Mother-in-law’s steps and twisted my ankle.  Keith had to play EMT and go buy a wrap and ice bag.  I limped around, but nothing major…I’ve had worse sprains during basketball in High School (25 years ago!!)

 My summer ended with an operation to remove my ovaries on Aug 24^th.  Of course this was outpatient, laparoscopic surgery, but it wasn’t a walk in the park.  My doctor/surgeon is an OB/GYN and she had delivered two babies before my operation…..so I told her she was delivering my twins (ovaries).  I figured this would be the closest to any delivery I’d have.  She took pictures of my “insides” (I’m not kidding) and showed them to us; and kind of weird to see pictures of your own “insides”.   Not as gory as you would think…   

 Just when I was almost recovered from the surgery, my arm decided to go “whack-o” and I developed cellulitus again (the Friday before Labor Day weekend).   Cellulitus is a bacterial infection in the layer just under your skin.  This is the 3^rd time in 3 years I’ve had cellulites in my left arm.  It hurts!!! I run a temp and can’t move my arm.  7 days of antibiotics and I’m on the road to recovery.  The other downside is that the antibiotic is Levaquin which is prone to weakening your Achilles tendon.  I already have plantar fasciitis so this just adds to the hobbling effect in my right foot.   Does this ever end?

 As for my cancer – well, as far as I’m concerned it’s in check.   I can’t say I’m “cancer free”, but it hasn’t shown up anywhere else and the rib (under my shoulder) shows the radiation has worked!!!   So, with the daily oral meds, and removing the ovaries, I pray all these preventative measures work.   DAMN IT, it better!!

 Keith, Gypsy and I have started a new hobby.  We are now geo-caching.   For those of you scratching your head saying “what?” – here’s the Wiki definition: “Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which the participants use (GPS) to hide and seek containers (called “geocaches” or “caches”) anywhere in the world.”  We are rather enjoying our high tech hide and seek.

 We are planning a vacation road trip in October (2-12).  We’re driving from New York to Denver to visit my Brother, his family and my Mom.  We’ve decided to take I-70 and make some stops to geo-cache; and see some local sites.  Of course, we are planning 3 days to drive 1800 miles, so not sure how much time we’ll have to stop.  We plan to do some geo-caching while in Colorado – there are over 850,000 geo-cache’s in USA.   Gypsy is going with us on the road-trip, so that ought to be an adventure with her in the car for 3 days…..

 To summarize summer, went to America’s capital and Ohio,  left my ovaries at the hospital, blew up my arm with cellulitus, hobbling on one foot, started a new hobby, and kicked out cancer.  All and all, not too bad!

 Hope you all enjoyed your summer – and happy Fall !

 Becky!

I’m living proof Stage IV Breast Cancer is not the final act in my life. It’s been one year since my shocking news of the reoccurrence and I’ve learned a lot about myself and how others react (or don’t react in some cases).

Four tips to surviving Stage IV BRCA.

1) Face it head on. Find out what will be the course of treatment. In my case, a change of my oral drug; radiation to zap out the bone cancer; monthly IV treatments (not chemo thankfully), and having my ovaries removed. There’s more here, but let’s not get bogged down with medical jargon and procedures. The treatment is just a medical process, a cold reality, but it is what it is.

2) Have a sense of humor. I found the cancer has allowed me to exercise certain liberties. For example, why worry about eating that chocolate bar, it’s not going to give me cancer; I already have it! Now if you didn’t laugh at that, then so much for my career change to comedy. But you get the idea that you need to check your priorities in life.

3) Don’t use cancer as a crutch. I still go to work; I still produce and still continue to climb the corporate ladder. Work is a priority, but not quite the same as before the diagnosis. Prior to my cancer diagnosis, I was a maniac, work-a-holic, type A, who didn’t stop until the job was done. Post-diagnosis, the job will still be finished and done professionally; it’s just not with a rectum rocket lit on fire. I decided to work smarter. Wow, why did it take cancer to come to that realization? Duh! Ok, maybe I’ve slacked off on the household chores. So is that using cancer as a crutch to forgo housework? Heck no, I’ve just decided I’d rather spend some of my free time with my hubby and dog rather than a vacuum and mop. I’ve allowed myself not to stress about how the house looks; I’m at peace and much happier believe it or not.

4) Don’t make a bucket list. What if you make a list, complete it, then what? Have you ever watched the movies where the person finishes their list right before the end? I don’t want to go through the remainder of my life checking off items on a list. Instead shift your priorities. Why wait until you have some dreaded, life changing disease or illness to write down what you always wanted to do with your life? Don’t misunderstand, there are places, people and things I want to see and do before I kick the bucket, and I now have to be cognizant of my time. Instead of a list, my priorities have shifted post-diagnosis.

•Work is a priority, but perhaps not the job. I’m taking steps for a career change and that feels good.

•When I walk the dog, I notice the neighborhood, and the people (I stop to visit now). I’m not in a rush to have the dog trot around the block, do her business so I can hurriedly run back to the computer to do more email/work. Not only is the dog happier now that the walk is longer and more leisurely, I am too.

•I’ve started dreaming again. Not R.E.M. dreaming, but rather about the priorities in my life that will make the most sense. You’ll have to determine your own direction, but take the time to do it.

• I recently bought a bike to ride. I don’t enjoy the exercise part, but that just a benefit. What I enjoy about the bike ride is the cool breeze on my back and the peace of the ride.

It’s the simple things in life that now make me happy. Go find what makes your happy. Go live. Go laugh. Go love.

Hey everyone.  It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and I have no excuse other than I got lazy.  Since my last post many months ago, seems our economy hasn’t improved much. In fact, a trillion dollars seems to roll off our tongues as if it’s just casual talk now.  How sad.   Anyway, the point of today’s post does come under the heading of the downward trend of the economy.  Why do I have to go into the office every day?  It’s such a drag, and here’s why.

Why did I use the word “drag”.  Well, first, physically going into the office is a drag on my time, it’s a drag on my productivity, it’s a drag on my wallet, and it’s a drag on my employer.  Here’s why.  

Time – We trade hours for dollars – period.   Our work environment has changed with the electronic age.  Most of us are hooked up 24/7 to email and cell phones.  I work for an international company and we joke about “the second shift”  – which is the time our HQ office in Asia is open  — 12 hours ahead.  So our second shift is from 9pm-12am – the time we can talk (phone or email) directly to our colleagues in Asia.  Do we really work 9am -5pm anymore.  NO we don’t.

Productivity – When I’m in the office, my productivity tends to wane.  I have meetings to attend (ugh); I have a constant flow of people in/out of my office.  If they would simply state their case and leave, that would be great.  But you have the “lingerers” and the “Chatty Cathy’s” and the “Know it alls”, “I’m taking a little break, I’ll hang out in your office” and the “Let me repeat myself 12 timers”.  I don’t want to be a “bitch” but I have my own work to do….I helped you with your problem, now leave me alone to do my work.  I know they have work to do, so why are they lingering…..well, I think it’s because we are working the “second shift” and we are not robots. We need a little down time - more than just the hour for lunch or 15min break.  We need the flexibility to niche out our work time — which leads to being more productive.  

Really, think about it.  Those of you that go into an office for 8 hours a day, are you really working a full 8 hours between 9am to 5pm.  NO, you are not.   You tend to have 2-4 hours of real work productivity — the rest of the time is receiving and returning phone calls, meetings (that have no productivity value), chit chat at the water cooler or non-work related email, checking your personal email, paying your bills,  or just wandering around talking to people, etc.  

When I work virtual, my day tends to go like this:   I sleep until 8am (an extra hour of sleep for me).  I shower and change into comfortable clothes (sweat pants and t-shirt).  I make coffee and make a bagel.  By 9am, I’m sitting at my desk in front of my computer — begin the work day.    For the next 3-4 hours I’m very productive — answering emails, creating emails with pertinent work info; answering phone, returning calls, etc.  By 12:30 or 1pm, I’m hungry and go for lunch.  I walk away from the “work area”.  I eat lunch, take the dog outside, maybe run to the post office or dry cleaners.  By 2:30 or 3pm, I go back to work.  Yes, I’ve taken almost 2 hrs for lunch, but let’s face it, I wasn’t going to be productive.  I carry my cell phone, so I do answer it during this time.   Around 3pm I go back to work — and this last until around 5pm or 6pm.  At 6pm I cut it off.  6pm-10pm is FAMILY TIME.  No cell phone answered (unless it’s my boss), no email, no work.  Then around 10pm I boot up the computer and check emails.  I call Asia if needed and finish up the email in my inbox until around 1am (I’m usually sitting in front on the TV, and hubby is on his computer too — sad quality time, but we do chit chat back and forth).  Then I’m off to bed.  It you add up my total productive work hours it’s 4 hours in the morning; 3-4 hours in the afternoon; 3-4 hours in the evening = 10-12 hours.  WOW, my employer getting more productivity from me when I work virtual!!   I can work 10-12 hours a day for 5 days under these virtual conditions and not get burned out.   If I’m forced to go into the office for 8 hours, and then work another 4-5 after hours, I get burned out by Wednesday. 

Drag on my wallet – well let’s face it commuting costs are adding up.  Not just gas, or bus passes, but buying clothes for work, insurance for your car (if you drive), shoes for work, makeup, etc.  If you work from home 2-3 days a week, you can significantly reduce your “work” wardrobe.  Reduce your commuting costs, etc.   Not to mention, your employer has to pay for the electricity usage, coffee, janitorial service etc.  If less employees were coming into the office, they could reduce these costs.

Last thought, if you approach your employer about working virtual, start our with 2-3 days a week.  And you’d better have the following in your speech to them as reasons why it will work and benefit both of you:

1) You need to already have hi-speed Internet service (you pay for this).  If you don’t have a company laptop, be willing to use your own or your desk top.

2) If you have a company cell phone, then it needs to get good reception at your home. 

3) If you have a home phone, make sure that has good long distance service.  I have internet, cable and phone all on one service.  I have unlimited free long distance, so I can use my home phone at no additional costs to me.  I do not ask the company to pay my cable/internet/phone bill — I just write it off on my taxes as unreimbursed work expenses.  Talk to your tax guy about how this works.  Remember, you were already paying your cable/internet/phone bill before going virtual…..

4) If you have dogs or kids at home, make sure you are set up in a quiet room.  YOU MUST REMAIN PROFESSIONAL — you don’t want to be on the phone and have your dog barking or kids screaming in the background. 

5) Always be accessible.  If you take extra time at lunch, then have your cell phone and answer it…remember you are on “company time”.  Make sure you stipulate the hours you will not be available.  I specify 6pm-10pm (except for my boss, but he’s pretty agreeable).  If you don’t work with overseas personnel, then you need to put in more productivity time during normal business hours.

6) Don’t get into bad habits.  Just because you are at home, don’t forget to work.  Working Virtual is a priveledge…so don’t blow it goofing off and not working.  Get into good habits.  Get up and get ready to work (shower, get dressed for the day -same as if you were driving into work).  Set a START time…..

7) If your employer is reluctant, as for a trial period of 30 days.  1-2 days a week….. 

Last but not least, if your company is pushing a “going green” initiatives, then working virtual should definitely be in their plans.   Less cars on the road, less electricity at the office used, etc.

Good luck and try it out.  You’ll like it and be more productive and a happier worker.

What is going on with this bail out mess?   I don’t profess to be an economist, but I can smell stink when it’s pass around. 

1)      Lehman Brothers out of business – was it due to a bad economy?  Hardly, they practiced greed which equals bad business practice.   Good riddance to the weak and greedy. 

2)      AIG – Executives want an outing, how about community time for blowing more taxpayers money on an outing for rest and relaxation.  This is hardly the time to go on a retreat.  Maybe you should retreat back to the basics of practicing solid business principals (don’t spend what you don’t have).

3)      Bad mortgages.  Well, Mr. Bank you loaned the money, you need to figure out how to bail yourself and the homeowner out.  Here are a few ideas:  a) how about restructuring your loan terms with the homeowners….maybe extend interest only payments for another year to eighteen months; or extending the term of the loan for a more manageable payment.? Some effort of restructuring the home loans has to be better than foreclosure – because with foreclosure the homeowner loses, the bank loses, the next door neighbors lose, the City/County loses (no property tax), the tax payers lose too (more bailout money).  AND Mr. Homeowner, you’re to blame too. Why don’t you take on a part-time job to help bail yourself out too (you’re greed and stupidity helped get you in this mess too).  They’re hiring everywhere right now for Christmas help….go get a second job. 

4)      GM and Ford – these “sacred cows” need to wake up.  Why would the tax payer want to bail out businesses that have a combined loss of over $2 Million per month?  We (the tax payer) loan you money, you just lose it.  Here are some suggestions: Ford and GM, you do need to retool and make more economical cars and maybe think about making fewer (create a little demand). Oh yea, remember that little mechanism you make for the Brazilian market which allows them to put Natural Gas in their cars instead of gas.  Hey, why don’t you partner with Exxon (with Billions in profit) to put CNG pumps at their gas stations so we can use Natural Gas; US consumers can then buy your cars that run on natural gas – and use our own Natural Gas (remember US is the “Saudi Arabia” of Natural Gas) and get away from Foreign dependency on oil.   Also, the Unions need to restructure their contracts — if they don’t there won’t be a company anyway (restructure or no job – gee what do you think!?)  P.S.  I don’t want anyone to lose their jobs, but greed won’t keep your company afloat.

5)      Hillary for Secretary of State.  Now I’m on the fence about this one.  I’m not an Obama supporter, but he’s the President Elect, so that’s that.  She’s got Joe Bidden (Mr. Foreign Policy) to contend with – and you know he’ll be poking his nose into foreign affairs.   She’s really got a tough decision — I do think she would be a great Secretary of State – and maybe that would be the best place to be.  Maybe she’s thinking, hey I won’t be stuck in the Senate trying to bail out the Banks, Ford and GMs….I’d rather deal with Putin.

6)      G-20 – Hey wake up world!!!   Reducing taxes around the Global – oh please, oh please, oh please consider this (US – Obama are you listening!!).  Gee, you can just look at Ireland’s Economy and see what happened when they lowered their business tax (a win-win).   I heard on Fox news today by several guests – you can’t throw money at a problem and expect it to be fixed or go away.   Lower taxes, try it we’ll all like it!! 

Since I’m not an economist, maybe some of my hair-brained suggestions might work?   HA HA – my own little joke, but we do need to practice COMMON SENSE, not greed and stupidity.

Another rant, another day. 

My husband, the master blogger, has been bugging me non-stop to start blogging.  Ok, enough already!  So, I told him to set up the blog for me because all I wanted to do was just log-on and start writing out the post.  I didn’t want to know how to set up a blog, or any of that technical stuff – like plug-ins or themes.  GEEZ, who cares!  So, he left the room to go set up the blog, and 15 minutes later….voila!  I’m a blogger.  The sight is still under construction…..hubby still has to do some ‘tweaking’.  I’ll put the ‘tweaking’ on the honey-do list.

My name is Becky, but my last name is not speak — the speak is basically my rants.  I’ve left part of my first rant (aka blog) on another person’s comments section – but thought it was worthwhile to repeat here.

What do you think of your healthcare coverage?  Hopefully you have some level of coverage…    I left a comment on Clusterfook’s blog, a blog I read often, on the subject of how whacked out the health care system is.

Here’s a snippet of my comment:  ‘I think the system is a mess. But I don’t think Universal Health care is the solution.. That sounds like a cookie cutter approach to health care — one plan, one price — at the sacrifice of the “care” of the patient. This is America – land of opportunity. If we take the opportunity away from doctors to make a living, we will end up with less doctors, less specialists, less care. But we’ll only have to pay $5 (is that worth it?). I don’t have a solution, but there are definitely a lot of people in America going without health coverage, and suffering from poor care because of it. ‘

Open for comments.