I've been incredibly spoiled today! For this, our 13th anniversary, my lobster showerd me with a dozen roses, and rocked my day with an iPod. As if my early anniversary gift, the gift that moves me, hadn't been enough!

Ehem...

As it will be in the next few moments, I'm going to play around with my iPod, and upload all my goodies into it. My lobster is at the moment otherwise engaged with his new Xbox 360, and God of War. Tourist Trophy should arrive soon. He'll have to wait a bit for the sweater I'm going to knit for him. *grin* He should be able to enjoy it's warmth come next Winter season. Dessert... later tonight. ;)

Kids got games, too. Kingdom Hearts II, and Burnout Revenge for BlogBoy; Sonic Riders for Kiki; both receive a book or subscription of their choice.

My anniversary presents are above.

The real gifts in my life are with me everyday, blessing me with their presence and love:
my precious princess, my bright and handsome prince,
and my lobster, who's grown to be the best friend, lover, and life companion I could ever wish for.

I'm slowly getting better, and it feels good to just say it out loud. I still cannot get away with not taking the muscle relaxant and pain medication before bedtime, as it leaves me with lots of pain the following day. However I'm finally off all antibiotics and other medications. Yay!

I ran today. I haven't run like that in years. I stopped track shortly before graduating high school, due to an ankle injury. Almost coughed up a lung today, but I ran. I needed to. This morning I came online to check on emails and catch up on some of your blogs, perhaps even make a post myself. Answered and email or two, and off I went to begin my blog-hopping. First stop, Amanda. I recently found her site, cancer. it's not just an astrological sign anymore. She blogs about her husband Eric, and their battle with cancer. A wonderful, beautiful, young couple. He had been diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, the same my husband had sixteen years ago.

Eric passed away Friday night.

I was angry. I was heartbroken. I needed to run. So, I ran... for Amanda.

Keri is another online friend. She runs. She has the longest list of amazing people she runs for. Keri runs for their cause. I admire her greatly. I can't run like she does, but she is truly an inspiration.

Read The Cancer Blog's tribute to Eric here: The Cancer Blog

Been offline dealing with some health issues. For the most part I'm OK. Had an episode at the doctor's office when I went for my follow up visit, which almost landed me at the emergency room. I went to the office earlier because I wanted to tell the doctor my back spasms were back and really doing a number on me. I was barely able to sleep with the pain, and taking deep breaths was almost impossible. As he checked my back and my breathing, the spasm tightened leaving me unable to breath at all. Not being able to breathe for a minute feels like a lifetime. Not being able to speak or scream, tears rolling down my cheeks, quick thinking Doc shot me up with some painkillers for the spasm.

I've always suffered musculo-skeletal spasms, just never one like this past week. Now I'm on even more meds -which I hate- but they relieve the pain, so I can breathe. So... a necessary evil.

I've been doing a lot of thinking and writing these past couple of weeks... many things in my head. I'm also hoping for a package within the next few days with some books and some yarn I had ordered; they should keep me busy for a couple of weeks.

I wish I were somewhere else right now, instead of home, lying in bed, trying to nurse myself back to health. I wish I was visiting my friend, Debbie.

'Friend' is too little a word for what she is in my life... she's my sister. She's earned her way deep into my heart. Together and over the years, we've been through good and bad. And even when the bads made us lose each other for over a year, we found each other all over again. And now our ties relationship is even better, stonger. Full of truth, sincerity, genuineness, compassion. She's the friend I want to surround myself with every day, the one I want to share every new thing I learn or see. With her, there are no need for secrets. With her, I'm real.

What's bothering me is that a few weeks ago, when I had my meltdown, I needed some time by myself. Of all the people in my life, I know she understands. But then we all got sick at home, and I didn't get a chance to call her. Now, I have no voice, and I can't go visit her because I'm still ill, and I don't want to get them sick. But... she needs me, I know it, and I can feel it. Among many other things, the anniversary of her mother's death is close to a week away. Loss of a loved one is always a tough wound to heal, taking years, and even at that, I believe it always remains open. What changes is how we deal with it. Still, when this time of year comes around, it seems to hit her like a train. I know she needs her time alone, to sort out her thoughts, but she also needs a friend, someone who will listen, even when she has nothing to say. Someone who will listen with the heart.

So Debbie, even though I can't physically there with you... I'm listening.

Since you are here, and if you are so inclined, why don't you stop by her place, and share an inspiring word or thought?