Breast Cancer Update

Greetings Fellow Readers - I wanted to update you on recent events that has kept me away from my writing, but at the same time has inspired me to get back on track and do what I love so much. On March 29, 2017, I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer and after going through two sets of doctors who wouldn't listen to my instinct, I finally was place in the best hands I could have ever asked for. I am now a patient at UCHealth in Aurora, Colorado. LOVE IT!  I just finished my fourth and final chemo treatment and will undergo a double mastectomy/reconstructive surgery in September. I will say this whole process has had its ups and downs, but I'm still here spite those who'd wish I'd move on in more ways than one - but that's their problem, I'm here for the long haul and here for my family, Nobody's going to fill my shoes.

I'm excited to get back to my keyboard and my paint brushes. I'm just about finished with a new novel called "Witch" and hopefully will be on shelves soon. I'm slowly updating my products on my Etsy.com Ukanducrafts Store. I'm just taking things day by day. Look forward to sharing my breast cancer survival story with you and my newest in original horror stories for this Halloween Season.
Until then - Blog ya later alligator.

Most Sincerely,
BU3 Stacey L. Bolin USN Ret Seabee

"Life's Bump in the Road"

Well hello everyone. First I'd like to say, yes I am still alive, no need to think I'd stopped writing for good. Everyone needs a breather and for me a breather was a must. Have had some unexpected life events happening here and I  want to be completely honest. I personally feel that to be able to bring you stories and/or talk about just general topics off the top of my mind, I need to be in the right frame of mind.  I know I promised you a big grand story for the summer, but when an unexpected accident happened that shook my family completely off their feet two weeks ago, I not only lost my ability to write...I also lost my focus that resulted in my being placed on a leave of absence from a part-time job that I really do enjoy. So my plan is to take my family on a much needed vacation, or as many of you also call it - a holiday, which actually I adore calling it that, as it just sounds so refreshing.

 

I have continued to go to my Vet Center for my weekly therapy visits and in the process of trying to get myself and my family back on a positive track...I picked up a new hobby. Below are some pictures of what I call "The Color of Therapy". What I discovered about myself is that I know how to paint more than just snowmen on Christmas ornaments.

 

"The Proposal" Copyright 7/2013
Artist: Stacey L. Bolin
Inspiration
I made this for my in-laws 50th Wedding Anniversary.
The location is Bear Lake in Estes Park Colorado.
 It was here with a view called Longpeaks -
He asked for her hand in marriage.
 I wanted to give them a gift that symbolized
their loving years together. I hope that they like it.



"The Eyes" Copyright 6/2013
Artist: Stacey L. Bolin
Inspiration
The endless want for this hot, hazy, humid, summer
to bring the chilly days of fall and the
excitement of a spooky hayride
through the woods during Halloween.



"The Path" Copyright 6/2013
Artist: Stacey L. Bolin
Inspiration
The book that I am writing with the hopes
 that it is on shelves by Halloween this year & a Bob Ross
video that I saw on you-tube on painting techniques.

 

My plans are to be on Holiday for the next 10 days. When I return I look forward to getting back into the writing saddle, wrangle my crazy thriller story onto this blog, and get ta' sharing the same excitement I had when I wrote it. In the meantime, keep those e-mails coming, with your story ideas, topics, oh and we must not forget, fall and Halloween are just around the corner. (Rubbing my hands together with excitement while an evil Halloween grin would like to find it's place on my lips). Send me pictures of your pumpkin plans and what you plan to do that is unique to get ready for all hallows eve at  throughthebarrackswindow2011@hotmail.com Until next time - Blog ya later.

 

 

Our Prayers & Thoughts

Our prayers and thoughts

to the

victims, families,

and the

Aurora Community.

Our Prayers and Thoughts -

Our Prayers and thoughts

go out to the

Victims, Families, and

the Aurora Community

Kindness at Christmas.

With the unexpected snow during our trip to Colorado, and the spectacular display of Christmas lights that adorned the trees of Main Street in Estes Park, I caught hold of that Christmassy time of spirit.  We walked the streets and went into every shop looking for that perfect holiday find. The stores were filled with a heavy sent of cinnamon and cedar and just the right amount of pine garland wrapped in colorful lights in their windows. It mesmerized me and with all the resistance in the world I couldn't overcome being caught in the shock and awe of it all. I was drawn in like a big mouthed bass on an experienced fisherman's line - hook, line and sinker. We were all on a mission to find the perfect gifts for friends and family when low and behold we found the perfect place.

I have to say this one store helped us do just that, The shop was called MOOSELY T's, and it was right on the main street of town.  Awesome store! And awesome owner! She had a way of making you feel as if you had known her all your life and she wasn't afraid of sharing her life with you. She wore a red Santa hat, sweatshirt, shorts and boots. I knew she'd lived there awhile as she was used to the cold weather of November to be able to wear shorts. She had a sparkle in her eye and smiled a genuine smile with every word she spoke. I can't tell you how many times I have gone into stores these days, and that customer service just isn't there, but at MOOSELY's - It's there and then some. We immediately felt at home. We had found so many unique things in her store, that most of our shopping was done there during our stay.  OK we also hit the Taffy Shop where my husband used to go when he was a kid; he suffers from an extreme disorder called O.A.S.T. - Over Active Sweet Tooth. (Smile).

Several times we'd remember someone else on our list that we wanted to get something special for, and we'd go back over and over again to both shops until we were satisfied. Needless to say, we assault our credit cards quite heavenly in these stores, with the exception of Cabela's in Sidney, Nebraska.  It's a great feeling when you can connect with people, even when they are strangers, especially at Christmas time. So if any of you happen to find yourselves in Estes Park, Colorado, be sure to stop at these two stores. You won't be disappointed.  To the owner of Moosely's, many thanks for the black n' white chocolate dipped oversized pretzel's. They were delicious.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We survived the Thanksgiving Holiday...and then some!

I had been fretting for months that my husbands family would not be happy with me due to my recent book I had published. I also feared I would once again be left out in the cold while another family member would treat my husband as the long lost boyfriend and do their fair share of keeping us apart, yes oddly enough this has happened before.  I also worried extensively, as I had said in my last blog, that our flight would be treacherous because of my fear to fly. There was a lot going on in this mind of mine, you name it I feared the worst for the last three months since this trip was planned. As much as my extreme thoughts had me anticipating a trip filled with disappointing moments resembling the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, I found a way to change all that and it rendered our family trip over the Thanksgiving holiday, anything but eventful.  On December 18th, the day we were leaving, I decided that I was not going to worry over anything. Life was going to happen and no matter how much I want to control the outcome so that nobody was hurt or disappointed, I threw caution to the wind and let my guard down once and for all. Doing this was the best medicine that our family of four has been seeking for so many years.  Not only were they happy, it let life fill me with so many moments of joy, happiness and a deeper connection that my husband and I and our boys have needed.

I will say, I couldn't help but wonder when the drama would begin and for each moment that in years past would have resulted in such extreme negative behavior, this time it was just the simple life, quality family time, great conversation and a true inner peace enriched with unconditional love.  This had always been my secret Christmas wish that I longed for, only to realize it had always been there - I just wasn't awake in my mind to see it until now. I had let the hurt of all those moments in years past, constantly dictate my distant personality - I was so tried of feeling so bad for so long, that this idea of changing my worrying ways was the moment in which I found complete peace. At this present time as the words in my thoughts find their way to my pen and paper, I shed tears of happiness and contentment. I can honestly say that my fear of the changes in my life had actually been the fear of would I ever get home in  my mind to be the wife, mother, friend and lover that had been trapped inside me, doing everything and anything to be heard, to be seen, but was suffering inside through my own invisible destruction. I guess the old saying - If ma'ma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy, really was true.

I sit here today, joyful of the moments that I was apart of and memories that will be forever etched into our souls. I can still hear the laughter of my boys and husband as we drove to places such as Sidney, North Platte and Scottsbluff Nebraska. The excitement that filled our SUV as we drove up the mountain to enjoy a weekend in Estes Park, Colorado where we experienced a grand snow during the "Catch the Glow" Christmas parade in Estes Park. Our trip was one of pure relaxation and fun. None of us wanted to come back to the world of reality, but like all things fun, our trip would soon end and we'd be flight bound back to the east coast. But I am happy to report that life has been just as grand at home as it was on our trip. For me, I can honestly say - Hello life, I've missed you. Thank you for bringing me back to reality and helping me see that what is important are the people around me, not the material things we have. That we don't know how long we have in life and to make the most of every day. If you are occasionally dealt with some negativity from others, learn to deal with it, but not consume it. People are who they are and some will never learn the value of changing within themselves and there is nothing you can do to fix it.  I have also found that if you love yourself, than you can show love to those who are important in your life. All my love to the three special men in my life - My husband Ron, and my two sons, Ryan and Reese.



 

 



 






 



 











"Life's not the breaths you take,
but the moments that take your breath away"



HELLO!! I suggested to do what for the Holidays?

Well hello everyone. I do apologize for the sporadic writing on my blog.  Some days I have a big folder of words to share, which is stored in this uncharted mind of mine.  Other days, I feel I have misplaced the folder and can't put a decent sentence together.  I'm told with my sporadic way of thinking that is the mind of a writer with occasional road blocks.  Ha ha. OK I'll accept that, but really it is a mind of an unorganized thinker with all kinds of thoughts.  Most of my writing comes from something that has happened to me, my family, even a possible stranger walking down the street. The bad part about that...I'm never in front of a computer when I need to be. Today's humorous little story is about traveling for the holidays.

On occasion I would have to say that I suffer from anxiety, well that is what my doctor calls it. I call it an ultra-hormonal whack me in the head, knock my butt out, invisible destruction, and panic attack. Phew, I typed that in one breath.  I know what causes them and I know what to do when I begin to feel that I am not myself...yes I'm hearing you - a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde personality.  The biggest trigger for these weird feelings is fear. If I am scared of something...OMG, my world will begin to spin like the Tasmanian devil on a Bugs Bunny cartoon. I am not one that runs to the doctor every time I have hurt myself or feel out of sort. If anything I am told that I should not try to be my own personal doctor and go in when necessary. But for this fear I am presently dealing with, there is not much a doctor can really do unless beatings were legal. So knowing this tid-bit of information about mwah, let me get into this glorious tale.

My friends and my family have had the luxury, and I mean that most sarcastically, of being on a plane with me in bad weather, and know exactly how bad I can be.  It is my own inner turmoil.  I don't stand up and scream, I don't foam at the mouth, I don't wet my pants...as I pee before I get on a plane, and I don't drink to get myself through hard or scary times.  I have however, learned an excellent exercise called - Fear Llamas.  In through the nose, out through the mouth slowly and is repeated about 10,000 times while squeezing my temples which turns them a beautiful shade of purple, until the plane is out of the storm clouds and on the ground. My family and I are planning our first big trip to my husband’s home state for the holidays.  He misses living out West and our plans are to move that way in three years...but I'll get to the rest of that story in another blog.  Anyway we have gone out West numerous times but there way is always one thing that was different, because of me - We drove.  So what changed with this trip....oh you'll love this. Because we didn't want to waste four days of driving in our vacation, I was the first to suggest flying.  HELLO!! I suggested doing what? I must have been out of my mind? Was I hungry or lacking so much sugar from all the dieting I have been doing, that I completely lost my marbles? I wanted to fly instead of drive? Now this idea came to me in the middle of the summer. I was completely fine with the idea. Now with this pending trip just around the corner, the little voice that lives in the back of my mind moved to the front right over my eyes causing me to rub my forehead any chance I get. Forget waiting until my butt is on the plane.  So what is it that bothers me about flying, truthfully - I have no control over any possible situation such as plane delays, bad weather trips, crying babies, and the biggy - getting from A to B, safely. But let’s look on the bright side, if it is a nice sunny day, just keep the word searches in front of me with endless bags of peanuts, that usually have, 14.3 peanuts in each package, and I'll be just fine.

My youngest son is a little anxious about this trip as it has been a long time since he has been on a plane. The last time he had flown was during his fearless years in elementary school.  So yesterday I did what any mom would do to keep the worry warts busy - I hit the "Five and Below" store and got a few word searches and Sudoku books for me.  For my sons, I got them both "Ripley's Believe it or Not" and some really good gross joke books for them.  I am also told that since this flight is over 2 hours long...there will be an in-flight movie and brunch. Waa whoo! Food is fun! Our trips always have some kind "Griswold" adventure and I am sure our time we will be spending in Colorado and Nebraska will not be any different from our travels in years past. If we get our rental car, and it is the one we reserved, that is half the battle. I'll be sure to document our travels with video, pictures and my trusty, to share all of you. If I find out location is to remote to use a computer or my oldest son can't pry himself from his girlfriends I-phone, that she lets him use, the only solution to share my stories with you, is that you'll have to check back soon to find out what crazy adventure/s we faced this time. Who know, maybe more Jurassic Gummie Bears that break our teeth?  Or here's a new one - Dad gets another speeding ticket, but this time in a different state. Oh, that would be different. So to all of my readers out there, I wish for all of you a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving filled with lots of stuffing, turkey, cranberry sauce and we can't forget the most important dish - a side of FOOTBALL!