Thursday, September 18, 2025

Project 2025

 If you don't know what Project 2025 is, Google it.  It's from a group of ultra-conservative, Christian nationalists that want to rule the country.  I'm going to share some data from a Project 2025 tracker, here's the link if you want to see the info directly.  








Here are shots of some of the initiatives that I find absolutely ridiculous.

















I have to stop.  There's so much and it's so alarming and this is not good for my blood pressure (thank goodness it runs low most of the time!).  What do republicans have against clean energy? (other than they won't get rich from their investments in oil companies). We all know they have an issue with gender issues, and want to keep their women barefoot, non-voting, and pregnant, even if it kills them.


By the way - Stephen Colbert's show was cancelled, however so far he's being allowed to continue as he's under contract.  Jimmy Kimmel was just indefinitely suspended over whatever he said about Charlie Kirk's assassination.  Looky who's the FCC chair:






Trump is trying to shut down news agencies, reporters, and comics that report things that he doesn't like or agree with, or who actually ask him the questions that need to be asked. 























Thursday, February 6, 2025

Celebrations and Frustrations

 I'll start with the celebrations - tomorrow marks 1 year since my last chemo!  Woot woot yeah!  It kinda snuck up on me this week, but how could I ever forget.  I used to have all the dates of each specialist I saw in my head, but they are slowly disappearing from my memories.  I remember my 

  • biopsy date
  • diagnosis date
  • surgery date
  • 1st chemo and radiation treatment dates
  • port surgery date
  • last chemo and radiation treatment dates
It's amazing what our mind can remember and forget.  I am so thankful for the fuzzy memory on some of those appointments, especially the colorectal surgeon appointments and procedures! I'm still in shock sometimes about the whole diagnosis and process of being a cancer patient, I just couldn't fathom that I would end up with cancer.


Now for the frustrations.  I have been dealing with pain in my left hip joint since around the time I was diagnosed with cancer (Sept 2023). Before I started chemo on 12/27/23, I saw ortho to get it checked.  I had multiple x-rays taken at the ortho office and was told that I had a small amount of arthritis in the joint and had a good bit of space left where it's supposed to be.  They ordered an injection under fluoroscope, and that ended up happening around my 3 or 4th chemo treatment. By this point, my hip wasn't even hurting any more, but I went ahead with the injection just in case the pain came back.  I later realized that I'd been getting steroids each week with my chemo infusion, and that likely helped with the pain prior to the injection.

I visited ortho about every 2 months, got a joint shot in the office, got another 1 or 2 under the fluoroscope, and by late October, I could hardly walk. Back to the ortho on Oct.21.  New x-rays.  Same as the original ones, some arthritis, and adequate space in the joint.  The surgeon even said that it honestly didn't look like I needed a hip replacement, but if I was in that much pain, he could do it if that's what I wanted.  I did NOT want surgery and was hoping maybe it was the hip flexors or even my back.  

Also in October, I had just joined the gym and was starting to exercise.  I had one session with each of 2 personal trainers and informed them both of my hip issue.  They were both very thoughtful regarding my hip, and worked with me to find exercises that I could do.  I found that there wasn't a lot I could tolerate with the left hip, and I couldn't even lay flat on the floor and lift my foot off the floor with the left leg.  

Fast forward to November 15 - that night I was in the most pain I had experienced so far, to the point of tears (I kept this to myself so no one else knew).  My mother had come to visit and we had plans to go shopping the next day.  Those trips usually entailed Belk, Ollie's, Sweet Peas, Kroger, and any other place we had in mind.  We had breakfast, went to Sweet Peas, Kroger where I rode an electric wheelchair, and home.  The shortest shopping trip we've ever had!  LOL  

The pain had been tolerable that shopping day, but I knew I wouldn't have been able to stay out any longer. I kept the pain under control with Aleve and ibuprofen, and the heating pad.  The next day, the pain was screaming at me again, and while I so wanted to wait to go to the emergency room until my mom left for her home, I just couldn't do it.  She was getting ready to leave, and I had to have Brian take me to the hospital.

Because I was aware that I was a hip replacement candidate, the hospital didn't take any new x-rays since I had not fallen or had any type of injury recently.  They did give me a shot of Dilaudid, and that took the pain from a 10 down to about a 4.  Shortest ED trip I've ever had!

I started seeing a chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.  The first provider said the pain was most likely caused from really tight hip flexors, so she worked on my hips and gave me some suggestions for things to do at home to help.  Another one said it was a SI joint in the pelvis.  Some visits I would get relief and have little to no pain after, and even though I was doing the home things, I was getting worse, not better.  Right after Thanksgiving, I started to use a cane to walk.

I saw ortho again 12/30/24 and requested the hip injections.  They didn't do any new x-rays, since the ones in October were recent.  I did have a CT that morning for my routine cancer scans, and per the radiology report, it appeared that I had fluid in the joint, a new "lesion" of 3.5cm, with both of those pointing to bursitis.  Based on that, the physician assistant and I agreed to do an injection in the hip and another in the bursa, have one done under fluoroscope in mid-March (due to pre-planned and paid for cruise with my mother at the end of March), and we'd schedule the hip replacement in May or June, to allow for the steroids in the joint to dissipate.  

After a week, the injections in the hip did not appear to be providing any relief whatsoever (the last one I had in the office took about a week to provide relief).  I decided to get a 2nd opinion at another ortho practice, and the results were devastating.  My left hip had degenerated significantly between October 21 and this appointment (January 13) - in my untrained eyes, it appears that maybe up to 1/4th of the femoral head (ball in the joint) is just gone, the cup that it fits in is no longer smooth and rounded, it's jagged, and there is ZERO space in the joint.  If I shift my hip and leg around, my hip clicks and pops from the bones rubbing against each other (surprisingly that doesn't hurt).  I'm scheduled for the hip replacement on 4/09 (having to wait because of the injections, and also due to the cruise with my mom - I'll be renting an electric scooter for that trip).    

About a week after the 2nd opinion, I started using a walker.  The cane was causing me to put too much pressure on my arm, causing pain and stiffness in my wrist and elbow, and I feel a lot more stable with the walker.  It feels sort of weird, using a walker to get around, but I honestly would not be able to walk without it.  I'm having frequent pity parties - I can only sleep on my right side with a pillow between my knees, with my knees bent, and the last 2 weeks or so I've been waking up between 2am and 5am, with my hip and thigh aching. I end up going to the couch with the heating pad or ice packs and try to sleep until my normal wakeup time, unless it's 5am or later, then I just get my morning coffee and turn on the tv.  

Any positive energy you could send my way would be greatly appreciated, whether it's prayers, mojo, juju, spirit, whatever you got that's positive.  Thanks!










Sunday, November 17, 2024

The Future

Updates - I'm adding updates to the information below as things come true that I have predicted.  I will also include the date and links to supporting documentation.  New data will be in a color other than black.


The election is over (thank goodness, tired of all the ads everywhere) and unfortunately, my candidate did not win.  I've never been overly upset whenever my preferred candidate lost in the past, but this time was different.  Brian stayed up watching the election coverage and came to bed sometime around 3am or so.  He woke me to give me the news, and it was like someone poured cold water over me.  I stared into the bathroom for what seemed like hours, and the tears just came flowing as the realization sunk in that one of the vilest humans possible was elected as our president.

Donald Trump is a:

  • convicted felon
  • 91 criminal charges (dropped to 88)
  • 4 indictments
  • rapist
  • racist
  • con-man
  • liar
  • cheater 
    • he cheated on his wives
    • he cheats businesses out of payment
    • he hasn't paid the venues at which he has held his political rallies
  • insurrectionist
  • 6 bankruptcies
  • 2 impeachments
  • 1 convicted company
  • 1 fake charity shut down
  • 1 fake university shut down
  • 26 sexual assault allegations
  • $25 million dollar fraud settlement
  • $5 million dollar sexual abuse settlement
  • $2 million dollar charity abuse settlement
I could go on and on, but you get the point.  Those of you that support him seem to overlook all of these things, and claim that it's all "fake news", or that this stuff only comes up because the other side wants to smear him.

It's fact that he's a convicted felon.  34 felony counts for paying off the porn star to try to keep news of their one-night stand secret so it wouldn't affect the election.

It's a fact that he's a rapist - he was found liable for defamation against someone who alleged rape, and the judge stated that it was fact that he raped her, but unfortunately the statute of limitations had past for that crime.

It's a fact that he's a racist.  There are court cases and statements regarding this.

It's a fact that he's a liar. There are over 30,000 documented and proven lies that he told in his first presidency term.  He told multiple lies during his only debate with Kamala.  

It's a fact that he's a cheater.  He cheated on his first wife with his second wife.  He cheated on his second wife with his third wife, and he cheated on his third wife multiple times, including with the adult film star.

It's a fact that he cheats businesses out of payments.  There are multiple cases known where he refused to pay, violating the contracts, but he bogs the businesses down with legal filings, making it too expensive for the business to keep fighting for payment.

That's all I have to say about the list above, as it's all documented fact and you can look it up yourself.

Here are my predictions, and honestly, my fears, for what this Trump presidency will give us:
  • will weaponize the DOJ to go after his political enemies, having them arrested and prosecuted.  He has stated that he will do this.  Updated 1/14/2026:  These charges were brought in a hurry, just a day or 2 before the statue of limitations expired on the alleged crimes.  In September 2025, former FBI Director James Comey was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia on felony charges of making false statements and obstructing Congress regarding his 2020 testimony about authorized media leaks. A federal judge dismissed the case in November 2025 due to an unlawfully appointed prosecutor, but the DOJ is actively attempting to revive prosecution, with a trial originally scheduled for January 2026. 
    Key details regarding the United States v. Comey case:
    • Charges: The indictment alleged two felonies: a false-statements violation (18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2)) and obstruction of a congressional proceeding (18 U.S.C. § 1505).
    • Allegations: The charges stemmed from Comey's September 30, 2020, testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he denied authorizing an FBI official to act as an anonymous source for news reports.
    • Dismissal: On November 24, 2025, Judge Cameron McGawan Curry dismissed the case, ruling that the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed, rendering the indictment invalid.
    • Current Status: Despite the dismissal, the Justice Department has indicated it may seek to re-indict Comey, leading to ongoing legal battles over evidence and the validity of the prosecution.
    • Defense: Comey pleaded not guilty and has described the prosecution as a politically motivated effort by the Trump administration.Federal prosecutor in Virginia fired after refusing to lead Comey case | Virginia | The Guardia Letitia James, James Comey take aim at DOJ attempt to revive failed criminal cases - Democracy Docket
    • After hhe posted this on Truth Social 12/28/25, there was a rush to get charges brought before the statute of limitations expired on potential charges against Comey and James

  • is already buddied up with Putin and will buddy up with Kim Jon Un if he hasn't already. (remember - he has praised them multiple times and mentioned he wants to be like them) - Trump's flip-flopping conceals a deeper truth, and it's not good news for Ukraine

For those of you who insist that he was telling the truth that he "knows nothing about Project 2025" - do you really believe that?  His name is mentioned in it more than 300 times.  The vice president-elect wrote the forward.  Over 200 of his previous administration officials are involved in the project.  This project was created by his loyalists and allies. He runs in the same circles with many of these people. There is just no way in the universe that he could not know about this plot.  And now that he's won the election, there are several in his circle saying that yes, they are planning on implementing this project, that it's the real agenda.

Trump doesn't understand how tariffs work.  He thinks by implementing tariffs against foreign goods, those foreign countries will be penalized and paying the tariffs.  He doesn't understand that it will make the prices increase for those items, and many of those items imported are not manufactured here in the states.  I understand the purpose of tariffs, and why he'd want to implement them, but it will ultimately cause inflation.  Inflation has begun to rise.  As of 9/18/2025, Trump's tariffs have been ruled illegal by an appeals court.  Most Trump tariffs ruled illegal by appeals court  added 9/18/2025

He wants to "deport all the illegals" and has said that there is no price tag too high to accomplish this.  What he and his supporters don't understand, is that this will cost at least $100,000,000,000 (billion) dollars, and will take 20 years to accomplish.  In the meantime, this deportation will cost the country millions of dollars in taxes (immigrants pay sales tax, ad valorem tax on property, property taxes, etc.). Creating "shelters" where immigrants would stay until they are deported would cost around $40 million PER MONTH to operate. Using existing jail or prison space to house the undocumented until deportation would cost around $350 a day. Currently the average time it takes a case to make it through immigration court is 1016 days - at $350/day, that would cost $355,600 per immigrant. 

Where would we send these immigrants once they are scheduled for deportation?  There are at least a dozen countries that do not accept immigrants being deported from the US.  These countries include China, Cuba, India, and Russia, as well as Venezuela. In spring 2025, immigrants were sent to CECOT, a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, where conditions and treatment are inhumane.  Of the first 200+ men shipped there, 3/4 of them were NOT CRIMINALS, EVER, IN ANY COUNTRY.  No criminal records.  Many of those men were in the US legally, and contrary to what Trump wants people to believe, the majority of the men were NOT members of Tren de Aragua, MS-13, or any other gang.  added 9/18/2025

5% of the American workforce is undocumented immigrants.  5% might not sound like a lot, but those folks make up a large percentage of our food processing (think produce harvesting and packaging, and working at meat packing plants), as well as construction.  By removing these folks from the country, we would see crops die and not make it to the grocers, produce and home construction costs will skyrocket because Americans generally don't work those jobs.   

Removing all of these people from the country would also affect other businesses.  Think about it - the immigrants would no longer be here to buy food, clothing, and other goods, which would cause those businesses to lose sales, and the governments to lose tax revenue.

I agree that we need to fix the immigration problem; I don't know the answer, but mass deporting people will not solve the problem.  

On the immigration topic, Trump had promised the government would only be concerned with getting the "worst of the worst", the "violent criminals", deported.  ICE has picked up many Puerto Ricans, mistaking them for immigrants, as well as people who are US Citizens, or are here LEGALLY and are following all laws and requirements to stay in the country. People are being arrested at their green card appointments, after coming here LEGALLY, following the rules, just to show up to continue the process and be deported.  added 9/18/2025

One thing mentioned in Agenda 47, the "official GOP platform", they intend to cut federal funding for any school that is "pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children".  Who is going to determine what is appropriate or not?  Just because YOU don't believe in more than 2 genders, doesn't make having just 2 genders true.  Just because YOU don't want children to learn about our country's racist past and how it affects things today, doesn't mean our children shouldn't learn about it.  We cannot grow and improve without learning about our past, no matter how ugly it may be, otherwise we are doomed to repeat it.  Trump is putting people in positions over museums to control the history that is presented.  He wants to make slavery appear like it "wasn't that bad". Trump rages that ‘woke’ Smithsonian teaches ‘how bad Slavery was’ | The Independent  added 9/18/2025

Oklahoma is trying to force religious education that amounts to Christian Nationalism but so far, the courts are striking it down.  Conservative State Supreme Court Halts Plan for Bible Instruction in School - Newsweek  added 9/18/2025

If you've made it this far, thank you for reading.  Please don't respond back with hate, or with "fake news!" comments.  None of this is fake.  It's all real, and it's all documented.  If you can't research on your own and find these things, then I can't help you.

I sure hope that I am wrong about these things, but I just have an awful feeling that most if not all of these things will happen.


Saturday, September 7, 2024

One Year Ago Today...

...I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in the right inguinal lymph node.  Thus began my journey as a cancer patient, and thankfully I am now a cancer survivor. 

Reading this: 

was certainly NOT what I expected that day when the results came through.  I'm not going to rehash everything I went through, but I am forever thankful that it is over, at least as far as treatment goes.  I've got a negative PET scan and a negative CT scan under my belt and have my next scans in late December.  

I still have dreams of having to have surgery, the type of surgery is usually different, and I honestly cannot remember actually knowing the type of surgery I was having. In my dreams, I don't think I have cancer, but I can't remember all of it to know for sure.

I had my port removed on August 23 and am so happy to be able to wear my seat belt properly while driving now!  

I think I mentioned in my last blog post that I was adopting the mantra "All will be well" and "this girl can".  Today I did a little something...

Colby at Long Live Tattoo in Lagrange added this little reminder to my arm today.  It didn't even dawn on me until I was talking to my sis-in-law that today makes a year since diagnosis.  How fitting that I chose today as the day to have my mantra inscribed permanently on my arm.  It will serve as a reminder to me that I went through something pretty tough, and if I can get through that, I can get through anything.

If you want to know more about my journey with cancer, please message me on Facebook or comment here.  I'm an open book when it comes to matters of my health.

Thank you to all of you who prayed for me, sent positive energy, mo-jo, ju-ju, etc., to me over the last year.  I've definitely felt the positivity!

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Update on Me

 I can't keep up with who I've talked to and who I haven't, so some of you may already know these things and some of you may not.

I had 11 inguinal-femoral lymph nodes removed on November 20. We knew going into the surgery that at least one of those lymph nodes had cancer, and per pathology, none of the others had cancer.  That was fantastic news, and I'm so very thankful that it had not spread to additional lymph nodes.  

My recovery has been going well so far.  I have a drain coming from the groin area which I have to empty a couple times a day.  It clogged yesterday and I had fluid spilling out around the drain.  I was able to get the clog cleared and it's back to normal now.  But y'all - the drain stuff grosses me out!  I've been dealing with it myself since I came home from the hospital and blech!!!!!  

I have a lot of numbness in the groin, hip, and thigh, which I think helped me with the pain level.  I've never been one to take many pain pills after a major surgery, and this one was no exception.  I've only had 2 or 3 of the prescription pain meds, and I've taken Tylenol a couple of times to take the edge off.  (talked to my mom today and she was expecting me to be in agony, as she reminded me of how I complained and whined so badly as a child when I would get a cut or a scrape! LOL)

I have my post-op appointment coming up on 12/5, where I hope to have this drain removed.  I'll have my next oncology appointment on 12/6, and I would imagine that this appointment is to set my radiation and chemo schedule.

On December 18, I'm scheduled for a high resolution anoscopy.  This is done under general anesthesia, and there will be multiple biopsies taken.  For those that don't know what this is - it's an examination looking for anal cancer.  The regular anoscopy hasn't shown anything for concern, so they're doing this to make 100% sure that there's nothing to worry about.  

All of the providers I've seen (oncologist, general surgeon, colorectal surgeon, gyn oncologist, and dermatologist), are baffled as to the source of this squamous cell carcinoma in my lymph nodes.  All of them have said that for cancer to have spread from a primary location to the lymph nodes, the primary tumor should be of some size.  And yet I have nothing that anyone can see that's of any concern, anywhere.

I appreciate the prayers and positive energy that all of you are sending my way so very much.  I have no doubts that I will beat this and be well. Keep sending the prayers, mojo, juju, and all the positivity that you care to share with me, it is a definite help!

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Shaken to My Core: Life-changing Diagnosis

 Hello everyone.  Lots of changes in my life over the last year.  For those of you who didn't know, I had gastric sleeve surgery last year in July and have lost 92 pounds.  I'm about 10lbs from my goal weight, but honestly if I stay where I'm at, I won't be upset.  I have bigger fish to fry now, and I'll get to that in a minute.

Losing 92lbs of course has changed my body in so many ways.  I left the hospital after surgery off of my pre-diabetic medications (ozempic and metformin), as well as my lasix and potassium supplements.  I came off the blood pressure medication in October last year, and my weekly mega-dose of vitamin D earlier this year.  The cardiologist has taken me off the cholesterol medication, pending the outcome of my bloodwork that I'll have at the end of November.  All I take now is vitamins (multi, B12, and biotin), Celexa, Singulair, and a probiotic.  

My obgyn found a large nodule on my thyroid in January.  I went through 2 biopsies to ensure it wasn't cancer (less than 4% chance that it was), so that was good.  Turns out I have a few more nodules on my thyroid but the largest one was the biggest concern.  The doctor might not have felt the nodules in the past due to the extra weight I was carrying, so who knows how long I've had thyroid nodules.  Thankfully my thyroid function tests are all normal, so we're just on a watch and see plan with it.  If it continues growing and becomes a problem, we can remove it, but for now I'm content on leaving it alone.

In February, the morning of my routine well check with my PCP, I found a lump in my groin.  I figured it was a lymph node and of course I brought it up to the doctor.  She ordered a CT scan to check it out, which I ended up having the scan done at an ED visit for a very painful tummy the next week.  The CT scan just gave the dimensions of the lymph node (something like 2.1cm x 1.5, I don't recall exactly); the scan also confirmed that my severe fatty liver disease is GONE.  No more fatty liver!!!!!  The PCP took a wait and see plan with the lymph node, as they can sometimes swell due to some sort of infection the body is experiencing, and she didn't seem too concerned as I am generally healthy and didn't seem to have anything going on.

On August 24, I found a 2nd enlarged lymph node right next to the first one. I knew that one was new, as it had not shown on the CT scan back in March, so I contacted my PCP for advice.  She referred me to the surgical group here, and I was able to be seen the very next morning.  I had already consulted Google for the possibilities - and yes, I know - you should NEVER consult Google with medical things, so I was looking for reassurances that this was no big deal.  The surgeon didn't seem overly concerned with it; he removed the original swollen lymph node on September 5 and of course it was sent to pathology to see what was going on with it.

On Thursday, September 7, my pathology results were delivered to my patient portal (MyChart). My life changed forever when I saw the words "squamous cell carcinoma" and "the malignant results were delivered to the ordering provider".  I never, ever, dreamed I would be diagnosed with CANCER!  I go to the obgyn every year.  Get a mammogram every year.  I have whatever tests and scans and vaccinations that are suggested, at the intervals recommended.  

As I'm sure many of you can imagine, I was devastated at the news.  I got the results at quitting time from work, and I cried all the way home.  I cried when I told Brian.  He held me and he cried, too.  I decided that I wasn't going to tell my mother or Steven until I had more information on what kind of cancer, what stage I'm at, what my treatment plan is, etc., and I knew that some of this may take some time to get.  This meant I had to straighten my crown, fix my face, and head to American Pie for Carrollton Pride Spirit Night to support Steven and the community that evening.  I managed to make it through dinner and held myself together pretty good.

I'm so thankful for the gastric sleeve surgery and losing the 92lbs.  I might never have found this lymph node had I not lost the weight.

I had to see the surgeon again on the 11th so that he could check me for skin cancer and another type of cancer that I'd rather forget about, and I'm clear in those regards.  He was baffled at how I could have cancer in my lymph node but no obvious primary tumor.  Squamous cell carcinoma is a skin cancer diagnosis, and I don't have anything that caught the surgeon's eye as being suspicious.  He ordered a PET Scan, which I had on the 12th.  The only thing that lit up on the scan was the remaining enlarged lymph node.

I had my first visit with oncology on the 13th.  I didn't get the answers I was looking for that day, as now we were on the hunt for a primary tumor so that they'd know what this was and how to treat it.  I've had a cystoscopy on my bladder, and thankfully that was all clear.  

I decided to go ahead and tell my mother and my son on Friday, September 15, as Mom came to visit for the weekend, and I wanted to tell her in person. I knew I wouldn't be able to see her and not fall apart.  I needed my momma y'all.  BAD.  I think she handled the news better than I expected, but Steven, omg that freaking broke my heart.  I remember being broken hearted when I told him I was divorcing his father when he was 11, but that was mild compared to the heartbreak I experienced that night.

I saw a surgeon at the gynecologic oncology office on the 27th, and after his examination he found nothing wrong either.  (I had seen a different surgeon at that practice that has now retired, for the VIN III surgery I had in 2017) This surgeon suggested that it was possible that somehow this could end up being vulvar cancer, in relation to the VIN III from 2017.  He recommended that I have surgery to remove more lymph nodes in the inguinal region, as well as radiation and chemo.

I saw the oncologist for the 2nd time on the afternoon of the 27th, and she agreed with the gyn oncologist recommendations.  Because there's no primary tumor, I'm told that it's really hard to give a stage.  I was told we're looking at either stage 2 or stage 3.  Definitely not stage 1 since it's in a lymph node, and definitely not stage 4 as it's only in the 1 lymph node based on the PET scan and has not spread elsewhere.  I'm good with 2 or 3, and it gives me comfort that it hasn't metastasized.

So now I'm waiting for a surgery date with the gyn oncologist, and 4-6 weeks post-op I will begin the radiation and chemo.  I'm told that the particular chemo I will have doesn't typically make your hair fall out, but I don't care if it does. I'm also told that the nausea from this one is pretty bad, so we shall see how that goes.  I'm going to do anything and everything that I can to beat this!

THIS GIRL CAN!