Our camel ride was not a stargazing tour, just a ride and supper with samples of kangaroo sausage (good) and smoked camel meat (yuk).  Barb and I each got our own camel.   Barb rode Sally and I rode Sky.  We met Mary, Curt, Tom and Sue from Indianapolis and Sally and Phillip from England.  Turns out they were all going to our same hotel at Ayers Rock the next day and had booked the sunset supper in the desert and stargazing.  We all sat together under the stars and had a great time.  This morning, we went to Ayers Rock itself and tried the climb.  It was quite steep, and I' very out of shape.  We made it over half-way up, then ran out of gas and headed down.  There were chains to hold onto until the last part, where my shoes were slipping and I got scared.  I was certain that I would fall and die.  I think being scared, hyperventilating, and all the wine I had the night before all combined and I had another seizure on the side of the rock.  I sat down and Barb stayed with me.   It only involved my right side and was only 5 minutes, but I was terrified that it would become generalized (full-blown).  I feel tired now and need to get back to the hotel and rest.  It is 40 degrees C. today.  They closed the climb shortly after we got down due to the heat.  This is the worst Internet access I have found and the most expensive.  It does not allow me to proof-read anything I've written, and I may skip tomorrow's entry.  Love, P.

        1/28/02

After having reserved tickets for last night's show, we arrived at the theater to find that the show was not on that night.  We went to "Duds and Suds" instead and did laundry in machines that actually worked.  We are now in Alice Springs.   After lunch, Barb headed off on her own to find the Harley shop.  I told her if I had to go to another Harley shop, I may have to shoot myself.  I am checking out the galleries for an original painting, and found one I like but I'm not sure yet.   Saw this Internet place and jumped on.  We are signed up for a camel ride, an outback supper, and stargazing tonight, but it is overcast and just starting to rain.   I hope it clears, because tonight is full moon.  Not a very exciting town here.  I'm glad we are only here for 1 night.  Guess I need to start agonizing over whether or not to buy the painting.  It is Aboriginal art and quite different than anything I have already.  Hmmmmm.  Love, P.

        1/28/02

They called for rain today, but it is hot, sunny, and beautiful.  We caught up on our sleep last night after checking out the casino.  Today we went to the Melbourne Museum and the Melbourne Aquarium.  We sat out on the sun deck at the hotel to try to establish a base coat before hitting the 100 degree Outback tomorrow.  We are going to a show tonight called "Oh, What a Night!", which is supposed to be a 70's musical which we heard was good.  I wonder if it is OUR 70's or Aussie 70's?.   My blister on my toe is getting worse - if Chris S. can't come, maybe Joe DiSabato can - I know he reads my Journal!  Love, P.

        1/27/02

I guess you "silent readers" noticed that I didn't get an entry in yesterday.   We started the morning with a tram ride to Victoria Market which has hundreds of stalls which sell those must-have tourist junk and then hundreds more stalls of fresh food and produce.  We then went to the Melbourne Harley shop and later collected the car at the hotel to drive to Phillips Island, which is home of the famous Penguin Parade.   Each night at dusk, all these cute little penguins come out of the sea and cross the beach to get to their burrows where their chicks have been stashed all day.  They have a viewing platform set up, but don't allow cameras (the flash supposedly scares the birds, though the floodlights, loud-speaker, and hundreds of people watching don't?)   Dusk wasn't till about 9PM, and we arrived back in Melbourne after 11, after the Internet cafe was closed.  This morning a coach picked us up and took us up into the farm/wine/flower growing area east of the city, Yarra Valley.  We took a 30 minute ride on a restored steam train "Puffing Billy", had a roast lamb lunch at a winery, and went to the Healsville Animal Sanctuary which features only native Australian animals.  Many of my pictures are going to be of brown animals lying on brown rocks or dirt.  We did see koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, platypi(?), Tasmanian devils, ecchindas (sp?) and a wombat.  Another great day, though I'm tired from all this running around we are doing and have a blister on my toe.  I think Chris Stewart (my podiatrist) will have to fly over here and attend to that. . .  Thank you for all the Guest Book entries.  Mom has spurred some of you guilty readers to write.  Which Bob is it?  Barb and I know too many. Love, P.

        1/25/02

We started off early this morning, heading west on The Great Ocean Road.  We found a Harley shop on the way, then had breakfast at a cafe called 'Texas'.  There was some old guy there with only a few teeth left, who gave me his phone number and address.   He told me I could stay with him 'forever' and he would marry me, because his wife died last year.  Gee, what an offer!  I was able to drag myself away, and we drove on (no doubt breaking his heart).  We had been told that the public golf course in Anglesea had kangaroos on the fairways, so we stopped and saw some.  We got pretty close and got some photos.  I am happy that the first kangaroos I saw were not smashed ones on the highway!  On to Aireys Inlet lighthouse, then to see The Twelve Apostles (a bunch of rock outcroppings in the sea) and the beach at Port Campbell.   Very beautiful, though the flies here in Australia are horrible.  It was sunny and in the 80's all day until we got back to Melbourne, where it is now raining.  In all, we were on the road for nearly 11 hours.  Barb was getting sleepy driving, but did a great job. Love, P. 

        1/23/02

Many near-disasters today.  We started our day with the alarm going off at 3.   We got to the airport and after I had dropped the key in the night drop box, Barb realized that she had left her camera under the front seat.  I was able to jam my hand down the slot and grab the key before it slid the whole way down.  The Sydney airport experience was also a near disaster, with long lines at security, immigrations, and customs (we had to get our bags at Sydney and re-check them, and take a shuttle to another terminal).  Having the stupid golf shoes nearly made us miss the flight to Melbourne (they had to spray them).  We boarded just before they rolled back the plane!  But, we made it!  From what we've seen of the hotel, it is going to be fine.  We are in search of lunch while they get the room ready.  My hair is almost completely gone now.  Sigh.  Love, P.

        1/23/02

Today was our first disappointment.  Not too bad, considering we got here a week ago.   We had booked the TranzAlpine train across NZ from East to West and back, through the Southern Alps, Arthur's Pass, and into Greymouth.  It was long, redundant, and we barely had time to potty and eat lunch before we loaded back on the train to ride the same tracks back.  The only highlight was the farm we passed which had ostriches (yes, African ostriches, not emus).  We have to be at the airport an hour and a half before our 6:30AM flight to Melbourne, so we'd better get to bed early.  Trouble is, a big portion of our laundry is wet from last night, because the dryers were more like airers.   We had wet clothes hanging all over the room last night, from every surface.   I wish one of us had thought to get a picture!  Love, P.

        1/22/02

We seem to be adjusting well to the time, and stayed up to go to the movie "Rat Race" after posting last night's Journal.  Today, we did some morning shopping in Nelson, and with it being the artsy part of the country, I bought a New Zealand painting.  (Some of you must know that I like to buy a trivet, a Christmas ornament, a fridge magnet, and an original painting/objet d'arte on each big trip). We then drove up to the beach in Tasman National Park.  I swam in the Tasman Sea, though it was more of a brief dunk so I can say that I did it.  Barb stayed on the beach and took photos.  Too bad we aren't digital, but we are taking lots of photos.  We drove back to Christchurch in time for supper.  Barb loves the 100 km/hr speed limit, and we shaved an hour and a half off the "suggested travel time".  When we go back to the hotel, I believe we are doing laundry.  My hair is really shedding now, and Barb says I look like a mangey mutt!  I hope it all comes out or I'll look funny.   Love, P.

        1/21/02

We are 7 hours northwest of Christchurch in a town called Nelson, which is on the coast.   Barb was a champ driving over the mountains and made good time.  We saw sheep, sheep, sheep, sheep, and cows and deer.  The whales were too far out at sea, but we pretended that some of the tiny black specks we saw were most certainly sperm whales.   It'll make Marcia a bit relieved to know that supper tonight was not very good.   We had planned to start the day with a hot-air balloon ride over Christchurch, but it STARTED at 4:50AM.  Sleep was more important, especially with such a long drive planned today.  Large clumps of my hair are coming out now when I shower, and stray hairs are falling out on the keyboard as I type.  I'm sort-of relieved, because I was getting concerned that the radiation hadn't worked!  Love, P.

        1/20/02

I have reached a life-goal!  I played golf in NZ!  I played really poorly.   61/59 = 120.  I DO have lots of excuses - rental clubs with no 6 or 7 iron, wind, strange course, tough sand traps, and had to walk 18.  But, I did it and it was dirt cheap - 15 NZ dollars for 18 holes (about 7.50 US).  Barb was a great caddy and dragged my rental clubs the whole way.  I was joined by a retired male nurse and a Japanese guy who didn't speak English well.  They were also playing poorly, and I beat the Japanese guy.  The hotel here in Christchurch had us booked in a room with only one bed, but they were able to switch it.  I thought Mom had Vicki working on that?  I hear it is snowing there.  Ha!  I did have to wear slacks for golf, but it was in the 60's.  Tomorrow we are going on an adventure towards the north part of the South Island, with no set agenda.  I may not be able to log on tomorrow, if we spend an over-night on the road.  You'll have to stay tuned.   Love, P.

        1/19/02

Today was our all day adventure by coach through Fiordland Park to Milford Sound and back, over 400 miles round trip.  It was rainy to start, but turned out to be a beautiful day.  Our tour guide used the word "awesome" in every sentence, but it WAS pretty awesome.  We saw several million sheep, and decided that we had to have lamb for supper.  Our restaurant had been a brothel in the days of the goldmining.   We skipped the sauna last night, and the casino was a bust.  Love, P.

        1/18/02

A less active day today, mostly travel.  The weather is chilly and rainy.  We saw a sheep show including shearing and herding.  I bought a New Zealand sweater (for ME!).  We are now on the South Island in Queenstown in a room with a view of Lake Wakatipu.  We had planned to take the Gondola up Bob's Peak, but were told that the view would not be good in this weather.  We'll head on foot instead to shop and to someplace for supper (it'll be tough to top last night's roast lamb).  There is a casino across the street, which we will HAVE to check out.  It stays light out till about 10PM, and the sauna is open till 10:30.  This may be a late night.  Love, P.

        1/17/02

Great day today!  We drove down to the caves region.  The glow-worm cave was quite spectacular.  We saw some kiwi birds and Barb got her Harley shirt.   Pretty countryside.  Barb is doing quite well driving on the "wrong side" of the road.  We arrived at the hotel in Rotorua to find an Email awaiting us from Kat.  What a nice touch!  Our room has two beds and a view of the thermal springs.  Tonight's supper was a traditional Maori hangi feast with cultural show.  I'd have loved to get in the hot-tub, but it is late and has been a long day.   Is it true about McDonald's in Australia?  What will I do??  We are having a blast.  Love, P.

        1/16/02

Hello from Auckland, NZ. Neat to pull up the website from so far away! I have no idea what time it is there, but we've had a LONG day.  The flights were as expected, though I slept more than I thought I'd be able to.  Poor Barb was randomly selected to have her person and carry-on examined.  I was ready to turn around and come home, because we waited over an hour and a half for the shuttle to the rental car place, and then they told us they couldn't use our voucher or give us a car because we had planned to drop it off in Rotorua.  We took a cab to the hotel (3 hours after landing), to find that the room had one small double bed.  After being moved to a room with 2 twins, taking a shower and an hour nap, we rode the city bus line to the marketplace, the Auckland Museum, the Winter Gardens, the Sky Tower, and have just returned from a seafood dinner.  We were able to arrange a rental car for tomorrow, and have a full day planned of Hamilton (where there is a Harley shop for Barb), the Glow Worm Cave/Grotto, and the Thermal Springs.  I overdid it today, and will be in bed shortly.  Sunny, 70's, shorts weather today.  My hair is still intact.  I'll be much happier tomorrow after a good night's sleep. Love, P.

        1/13/02

Last Journal entry before I embark on my fantastic journey tomorrow.  We are heading for the Hospital for my last 'brain zap' at 6:55 AM.  Mom will have Barb and me at Dulles by 11 or so (after breakfast somewhere - hmmm, how about - McDonald's!).  Our flight is not till 3, but with added security and my need to grab what rides I can, it may not be a bad idea to be there that early.  Kat (webmaster) has updated the January and February calendars with a mini travel-itinerary.  I'll put Journal entries in when I can, but don't expect them everyday.  (I sort of like cousin Tom's idea of writing them in advance.)  Kat has also loaded in a few new photos for the Photo Album - me with more hair than I'll have for awhile.  I think I'm packed.  Will I be able to sleep tonight???  G'day, mates!  Love, P.

        1/12/02

Lots to do today and tomorrow.  Barb and Kat helped me pack most of my stuff while Mom baked Kat's birthday cake.  David is napping, thank goodness, while Andrew "redecorates" my house.  I feel as though I have a million things to both do and remember before I leave, but as I keep telling Barb, "they have stores there."  The Gardellas, Sterlings, Wilsons, and the rest of the family are having dinner here tonight, 19 in all -- again, what was I thinking?  Thank goodness I still have another day to get things done.  Love, P.

        1/11/02

Kat, Bob, David and Andrew arrived at lunch time.  David is great at giving hugs.   Andrew actually smiles at me instead of looking at me like I have 3 heads.    Bob was kind enough to stay home with the kids while we went into town to get the travel documents for the big trip, and he made supper for us while Kat drove me to tonight's Movers and Shakers party.  Andrew is asleep.  David shows no signs of wearing down.  I think I'll be a rude hostess and go to bed now (of course it goes without saying that I mean after my bath).  5 radiation treatments down, 2 to go.   Feeling good, but tired.  My hair is hanging in and looks a lot like Andrew's (15 months old).  Mom and Barb should be here tomorrow.  Love, P.

        1/10/02

When they told me fatigue was the biggest side-effect from radiation, they weren't kidding!  I had a wonderful lamb and rice dinner at the Haas' and nearly fell asleep at the table.  I practically ran upstairs when they dropped me off to put this entry in and will be in bed moments after my bath.  Trouble is I'm soooooo tired but lie there with racing thoughts and can't sleep.  Maybe tonight I'll sleep like a baby.   Happy Birthday to Kat.  I can't wait to see you and family tomorrow!  I managed to save some cookie dough without eating it all.  Drive carefully. Love, P.

        1/9/02

I have 30 minutes of "down-time" before zipping off to Radiation and "Girl's Night Out".  I'll put this in now in case I end up partying all night (sure).  Seizuer-free since Saturday.  Blasting headache.  Not sleeping well, but feel pretty good considering.  As the radiation is zapping me, I am picturing cancer cells screaming, cluthing their chests, and keeling over dead.   Ha!  Take that you bastards!  I met again with the travel agent.   She is still juggling flights, visas, cars, hotels, etc., but nearly has it all figured out.  Bless her.  I got some preliminary documents today and it is making me all excited.  Total hair loss is usually by day 7 - 9, so I'm sure it will hit on the plane, and I'll fly off with hair and land bald with all my hair on the back of the seat.  Cleaning crew will love me. Love, P.

        1/8/02

Long day.  They said fatigue was the biggest side-effect from radiation.  I don't know whether I really am tired or if I'm just thinking that I ought to be.  My friend Kathy was my driver this afternoon.  She is thinking of getting a cap made of white with black polka-dots (melanoma) cloth, and wearing a jacket with shoulder epaulets and white gloves.  Lou (LM Ma) took me in for my second radiation treatment.  I do not yet glow in the dark.  I then had supper at The Pub with Joan, Marilyn & her mother and I'm more than ready for bed (bath first).  Tomorrow, my schedule is even more hectic - Journal entry will be late tomorrow.  I've been good about taking my anti-seizure pills and my steroids (reduce brain swelling).  I think it is the longest I've actually taken a prescribed medicine (3 whole days) - doctors make the worst patients!!  My poor travel agent is ripping out her hair trying to add Mom to the second half of my trip, but I know she will get the job done.  Love, P.

        1/7/02

I thought that things were getting too boring with my Journal, you know, all that feeling great, doing well, and traveling.  Saturday's seizure was a good start to breaking up the monotony.  Today's MRI was bad.  I have 6 new brain lesions, 4 of which are dime-sized (the other 2 are tiny).  The radiologist was amazed that I have had no symptoms except for some mild numbness in my hands and left foot.  My oncologist has officially retired me from work, and I won't be returning to my job when I "get better".  They can't do Gamma-Knife radiation to more than 3 lesions, so I started whole brain radiation this evening.  They are speeding up the schedule so I WILL BE GOING TO AUSTRALIA AS PLANNED, leaving 24 hours later and skipping the layover in LA.  Cleaning out my locker at work made me cry.  I am unable to drive, either, so will need to rely on friends and family to cart me around.  Many thanks and a big hug to Pastor Bill, who "got his butt down" to Radiation Oncology this evening for a prayer.  I don't feel very brave or like anybody's hero today.  Love, P.

        1/6/02

A dreary rain and sleet kind of day.  Kind of like my mood.  Kat was right - I didn't sleep well last night, and probably won't tonight, either.  One bright spot is that Mom is looking into joining me in Australia when Barb leaves, so I don't have to be alone.  Much depends on what the MRI shows.  I'm thinking that there will be this tiny little left temporal lobe metastasis of little consequence and I'll be able to have Gamma knife radiation done to it when I get back from my trip.  I would think if there were multiple lesions or swelling (either of which would forfeit my trip) that I'd be having more symptoms such as headaches, etc.  I'm optimistic that I'll still be able to go.  It was so wonderful to have people at Church praying for me today, and the notes from Susan Ruffini and my sister were touching.  I love you all. P.

        1/5/02

I had a setback today.  I had a seizure.  It was not the kind of seizure where you foam at the mouth or pass out, but a type called a focal seizure or partial complex seizure.  It involved the right side of my body and lasted about 5 or ten minutes.   It almost certainly means that I have a new spot of tumor in my left brain (the prior one was on the right side).  I will have an MRI scan of my brain on Monday to find out what I'm dealing with, and my Australia trip is no longer a sure thing.  I will continue to try to be brave and strong, though this has shaken me (no pun intended!).   Thanks for the hugs, Mom - I can feel them.  More news Monday after my scan.   Love, P.

        1/4/02

I see that I will soon reach the 9000 mark for hits to my Home Page.  Jim called me today and was upset because he had been the 8000th hit and hadn't gotten credit.  I had to tell him that I can't tell who any of the hits are unless you leave a guestbook message crowing about your accomplishment.  I think he believed he would win some sort of a prize - but, that's for number 10000!  Another day with not much to show for it.  I did take down my Christmas tree, and wondered the whole time why it was exactly that I got one this year since I'm hardly every here.  I lit a fire in my wood stove and curled up with the lastest David Baldacci novel and watched some of the Mercedes Golf Tournament.  My dinner and a movie plans for tonight got cancelled.   More snow in the forecast for Sunday.  New Zealand in 9 days and counting (actually, I leave for New Zealand on the 13th, but don't arrive there until the 16th because of my LA layover and the International Dateline) - I can't wait!!!!!  Love, P.

        1/3/02

We did get 2 or 3 inches on snow this morning.  The school system will be paralyzed for days!  I was amazed to find that the grocery store still had some bread left, though they were out of English muffins.  I'm trying to decide whether or not I should bother to watch yet another football team from Florida beat up the rest of the country.  I don't think Nebraska has much of a chance.  Today's big and exciting "snowed in" project (other than playing free-cell on the computer) was to balance my checkbook, which I have neglected since March.  It took awhile, but I got it balanced.  Now I'll know how much I can spend in Australia.  Love, P.

        1/2/02

I'm safely home from CT.  It was a nice trip, but a killer drive home.  I drove my truck (SUV) up there in case of snow.  I never needed 4WD and had to suffer driving that gas-guzzling not-designed-for-comfort beast the whole way down I-81 - ta-chuck, ta-chuck, ta-chunk.  Ow, my butt hurts!  I stopped at Carlisle Hospital on the way down.  I worked in the Carlisle ER for 3 years before coming to VA 5 years ago.  I knew that some of the nurses have been reading my Journal, so I thought I'd stop.  It was great to see Tracey, Sue, Laurie, Donna, Barb, Chase, Ron, Kim, and Joey.  It hasn't changed much in 5 years (though I did notice better security).  Kim Diehl - where were you?  Sorry I missed you!  Lou & Al tell me that they are calling for snow down here.  I should have stayed up North! Bubble bath tonight.  Love, P.

        1/1/02

Happy New Year!  I went to bed after our second movie last night, and was asleep before midnight.  I figured it was New Year's somewhere in the world, so it was safe to go to bed.  I must say that "Cats and Dogs" is a very stupid movie, and if it had been the second movie we watched, I'd have been in bed much earlier.  I did like "Remember the Titans".  We still have "The Score" to watch tonight if the kids go to bed early enough.  Sean wants it to snow tonight so that I stay longer.  It is nice to be staying with people who don't want you to leave.   Dave gets good beer, too. (Beck's)  Less than 2 weeks till Australia!   Love, P.