Sharpie happy team of Radiation Therapy Nurses.

I was always told not to write on myself or the ink will poison my blood and I would get really sick.  Uhm…no one seems to have told my team of Radiation Therapy Nurses.

I have a line drawn down my sternum.  Kind of looks like an off kilter butt crack.

Sharpie mark on my sternum

I think the nurses are going to be playing a game of Tetrus on my upper belly instead of doing Radiation Therapy as I have been lead to believe.

Maybe a bit of Tetrus being played

Maybe some drunken pirates couldn’t remember exactly WHERE “X” marked the spot on my map.  I have an “X” in my left armpit and one to the front of my left underarm.  This is where, I’m told, my lymph nodes are that are being treated.  Likely story.

Which “X” actually marks the spot?

I have an “X” from last Friday when I went for my initial CT scan on the outside rear of my right side.  A new one was added to the outside rear of my left side.

Rear outside of my left side

Rear outside of my right side

No one has even signed their artwork!  Can you imagine that?!

I have been told that I will get a burn, similar to having been outside in the hot sun, before the week is out.  I have been given a lotion that I have to use each night before I go to bed.  The radiation is going to not only burn my skin, it will also dry it out.  Hot damn!  We are going to have some fun now.  I also have a cleansing foam that I have to use on the area being radiated.

Lotion and skin cleanser I have to use during radiation therapy

After I got home from my trek to downtown Oklahoma City for my first treatment, I spent a few hours working on my IKEA drawer sets.  I’m liking how they are coming together.  I was not so very sure about the color choices Pantone has put together, but now I do have to say they are quite pleasing to my eye.  The colors I am using are in their “Grand Canyon” collection.

Close up view of the paper covered drawers

Unfinished drawers at the bottom

I’m going to keep working away on this project.  I probably should be putting some things in the drawers as I get them finished.  There are some drawers with contents inside, I just can’t remember what is in them right now.  I may have to put some kind of fixture on the front with a label to remind me.

Well, off to my second radiation therapy session.  I wonder if there will be more drawings made with the Sharpie?

Leslie

IKEA Moppe Collection and Pantone Color of the Year

I have just about got everything put back into my room.  In order and organized.  I have done a lot of purging.  I have a pile of stuff that I will be giving away either on my YouTube channel or here on my blog.  Once I get that mess sorted into something more than a pile that is threatening to become an avalanche, that is.

My room needs some color…other than stark white.  I have a set of wooden drawers from IKEA.  When I bought these….in about 2003….they went by a different name.  Today they are called MOPPE.  These cubes are unfinished wood.  Check out Pinterest to get some ideas for your storage needs.

I am using the Pantone Color of the Year.  I am choosing the papers to cover the drawer fronts from the “Grand Canyon” collection.  Deep earthy tones ranging from rich browns, deep purples, blue gray, dark peach, and greens.  I can do this from my recliner.

As you can see, by the photo below, prints don’t matter in this case.  Just use the color range if you have the vast array of paper scraps as I have.  Good Lord!

IKEA Moppe collection

Hey, look a bit further down on the wooden drawer fronts and you will see that I had made an attempt to cover the drawer fronts years ago.  The great thing about this IKEA set of drawers….there is another side of the drawer if you don’t like what you have done.  Just like our paper when rubber stamping.  Make an “Oopsy”, flip the paper over and try again.  😀

I’m using papers that I have on hand in my various scrap paper bins.  The purple drawer, you see in the photo below, is using a 12 x 12 piece of Halloween paper I’ve had for a number of years.  One side has glitter and the side I chose has circles.  I had to piece the paper together to get it long enough.  These wide drawers are more than 12 inches.

Purple and green on the first set of cubes

I’m using a mix of text weight paper and card stock.  Whatever has the color I want to use and that will fit.

I keep the Pantone colors open on my iPhone as I go about the color selection.  The actual colors from the site and the papers I have in my stash don’t necessarily match each other.  I am using it as a guide to introduce me to being bolder in my paper choices.  Meh, failure just means I’ve learned something.  And I do have the other side LOL.

Pantone site on iPhone

Once you choose the paper for your drawer front, check it for fit.  I hold it as firmly as I possibly can.  Press along the edges of the drawer front then use a pencil to draw along the drawer.  Include the finger notch.  Then cut along the inside of the pencil lines.

Fit the paper and press along the edges

Using a pencil, draw around the drawer front, including the finger notch.

Apply glue of your choice to the drawer front then smooth out.  Check to make sure you don’t have any voids or dry areas.  Especially along the edges.

Add glue of your choice

Smooth it out and check for voids

Apply your paper and press well to adhere.  Use a brayer or a credit card to get out air bubbles and seat the paper well into the glue.

Apply paper to the glued surface

Use a brayer or a credit card to work out air bubbles

My radiation treatments begin today.  This afternoon I will start a five to seven week regimen which will be Monday through Friday.  Wonder if I will glow in the dark by the time it is over.

Never fear, I will be back to making video tutorials.  Hopefully next week.  This week I will finish editing the videos I have made for the wonderful and loving gifts I have received.  Watch for those.

Leslie