Shampoo, Swimming, and Skin Cancer -- OH MY!

Coloring eggs Saturday night

Happy Easter from Vermont!!

We arrived yesterday and settled in to a different condo. We all like our regular condo better, but we needed the switch to make it out over spring break. And yes, the Easter bunny found us this morning and the boys really cleaned up with the sweets and treats!

So, what's the "S" theme all about?

SHAMPOO - remember that old school kid trick of making someone repeat after you, "Ohwah tagu, siam" faster and faster? Well, that is what I felt like yesterday morning when I awoke in a hotel room just past Rochester, jumped in the shower and went to shampoo my hair. Friday when I packed, I filled my gym bag shampoo bottle with conditioner and my conditioner bottle with shampoo -- both were half full when I refilled them. A combination of shampoo/conditioner doesn't seem to work very well for either purpose. Today I dumped out half of each and I hope i can stretch them out through the trip. . . .

SWIMMING - yes!! After 3+ weeks out of the pool, I swam 20 mins. OK, the water was 88 degrees hot, but I swam. It felt great and my stroke seems fine. I just felt a little tightness across my pecs, but I'm sure it is from 3 weeks of not moving in that manner. I'm so psyched to be back in the pool, I won't let the HOT temps bother me. Plus, I'm taking it easy this week getting back, so the heat won't kill me like it would for a tough workout. OK, it was weird to have the teenage lifeguard boys watch me . . . good thing none of the kids swimming needed help!

SKIN CANCER - I have a pre-cancerous spot on my right cheek that we are treating with a cream that will basically make it raw for several weeks while it destroys the cells. I can't put anything on it except the cream (I got approval for some sunscreen), so I'm a little nervous when ever I'm outside. The sun is shining and the sky is blue and I'm freaked out whenever I step outside. Thankfully the pool is a short walk from our condo, but I'm nervous each minute I'm out. I have the nickle sized scar on my leg from the basal cell cancer in '97 as a constant reminder of what I don't want to have happen to my face.

Yes, I will put my post-op pics out soon! Patience grasshopper! These things take time to settle into their final place. My left side is there and I expect the right side to be "done" by the end of this week. Heck, I'm still bruised slightly. Dr. G. was really pleased with my progress on Thursday and I have the go ahead to start back to running. A special shout-out to Naira and Chuck for the HOOTERS t-shirt that arrived this week!! Excellent, my friends!

The boys are heading back out to ski now and I'm doing my yoga. Later I will make my Honey-Baked Ham recipe and King Crab Legs for Easter dinner. Yes, vacation for me is working out, cooking and laundry in another place . . . . not complaining though, enjoying the time with my boys.

More soon . . . .