I'm Back::June 28

After reading a post that I wrote a few years ago and linking to it for my niece to read, I realize that I don't write on my blog like I used to. It made me think of why this might be.

One big reason is time. My life right now isn't condusive to sitting down and really thinking about something enough to be able to write about it well.

But the second reason, and one that *can* be changed is stage fright.

In the past year or so, I have invited real life friends and family to read my blog. Whereas before my audience was mainly faceless bloggy friends, now people that I knew were reading my blog. my ideas. my mind.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy having everyone look at my pics and read my ideas.... it just makes me more nervous to write what is on my mind and in my heart when people that I know read... I guess I just worry what they'll think.

Facebook is nice, but it just gives snippets of life, not, as Paul Harvey would say, "The rest of the story."

I'm going to try to conquer my fear. I'll put myself out there.. or here.. and hope that I am liked in spite of my quirks. That even though my likes my be different than someone else's likes, or my prejudices different than someone else's prejudices, that somehow we can come together and appreciate the differences.

So, with all that being said, I'm going to write a post right now. Not a picture post, but a wordy post....

My brother, Bill, had surgery. He had his kidney removed because it had cancer in it. The docs are pretty sure they got all of the cancer... but a few little cells were found in the renal vein, but not in the inferior renal cava.

He also has stage 4 liver disease. I always say "liver failure", but I have been informed by the liver docs that liver "failure" is what happens when the liver entirely shuts down, which is different than liver "disease", when the liver is just pretty much shot, but still functioning a little.

He was told that his surgery recovery time in the hospital would be 1-3 days... now, 10 days out from surgery, he still isn't home. They are now talking about placing a stint in the liver.... more info about *that* when it comes.

On a different note, I had really wanted to go camping this weekend, if Bill doesn't come home tomorrow, but everywhere is on fire! We have always been a camping family, but maybe we'll have to do something different this year. Maybe a hotel room is in our future...

Anyway, thanks for listening. It is good to be back and talking a bit. :)