Boy, what a difference a week makes. Last Monday we were complaining about the hot, dry, summer-like weather. This past weekend it rained and it's predicted to rain all week. It's cold rain. Not the kind of nice, spring rain you like to walk in. The kind of rain you run to get out of.

So, I can't take photos of the box of fiber that was waiting for me when I got home today. My daugher Elanor said "your package came" when I got in the door. Now, those are some of the best words to hear other than

The tumor is benign!!! They determined it's a Schwann cell tumor, or schwannoma. This means no radiation, just surgery to remove it. They have a genetic component and I'm afraid it's probably me. When Em told me what it was, I remembered a lump I had on my wrist that they told me was a lump on the tendon sheath (which is what a schwannoma is). It was removed with needles and was not very big. It was caught early because it protruded from my skin and was easily seen. I've never had another one, although I read today that they can come back. So, now there will be surgery and healing and life will go back to normal.

And I can breathe.

But, back to the package. It was a usps box with penguin stickers all over it and it was from Julie. She sent me a bump of purple trainwreck roving (yay!) and some green and yellow sock yarn. I'm supposed to share it with Em but shhhhh, don't tell her that. It was an unexpected pleasure. Julie mentioned how it feels when she imagines the Goober having an illness and she wanted to give me something to distract me. It is hard when your kids are sick. You want to throw your body in front of them and protect them from everything. This has been a loooong several weeks. Thanks, Julie. I'll post some photos when the sun comes out or the rain stops for a little while, whichever comes first.

A young woman I know painted this and gave it to me because I admired her art. She is graduating from Moore College of Art with an MA this week. The amazing thing is that she has bipolar illness and despite the dificulties of dealing with an illness that is really hard to treat, she has finished her degree program and is graduating. So, I'm

giving her a gift. I wanted it to be something special that acknowledges the work she's put into this degree. I decided to give her this. My Wildflowers shawl. I struggled with it and to me it represents an accomplishment, just like her getting her degree. She's invited me to her art show next week and I can't wait to go. Pk and I will go after work one day (when it isn't raining!)

Well there you have it, an eventful Monday. I'll let you know when the surgery is scheduled for and how it all comes out. Pk says we should have a pool to guess the alien baby's weight. I'll suggest it to Em. It could be fun.