:: About Me Once upon a time, there was a good man and a good woman. They were introduced by a mutual friend, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida and fell in love. Upon marriage, the good man became a loving and devoted husband/father to the woman and her two children.
That woman is known as Boatswife, because of her husband's job, Boatswain's Mate, with the United States Coast Guard.
They have had glorious adventures in Mobile, Alabama ~ Destin, Florida and Bristol, Rhode Island. They homeported in Swansea, Massachusetts while in the New England area. After being selected, they embarked on a special trip to the South. Into unknown territories they went, eventually settling in Portland, TX. The good man fulfilled his mission for the Coast Guard in Corpus Christi, TX on the USCGC BRANT.
During the summer of 2004, he was asked to journey North to Sewickley, PA. Pittsburgh Steeler Territory and the USCGC OSAGE. Their Terrible Towels were overjoyed and even more so when they won their 5th Superbowl!
Our next adventure sent us to Sitka, AK in June 2007. We love it here and wake up every day counting our blessings. We live in the Great State of Alaska, enjoying the experience to the fullest and the best part is that we are getting paid to do that! It was my most favorite place we have lived. The Command on the USCGC MAPLE is excellent and they set standards for others to follow.
Guess what? Steeler Nation is rejoicing once more with an unprecedented 6th Superbowl win! *big grin*
In 2010, the CG sent us to another adventure in Kings Bay, GA. The Marine Force Protection Unit and to the South we go. It's been hard getting used to the climate change, but the having it sunny most of the time is wonderful. Daytona Beach and the Daytona 500 just around the corner....need I say more!
Fortunately we were able to go to the Daytona 500 Opener. It was the most fabulous experience.
Retirement has been thrust upon us on on December 1, 2011. We have settled close to family and we are living in Pensacola, Florida. I found a fabulous job working in the Surgical Center at Sacred Heart Hospital. I'm an RN Team Leader/Robotic Coordinator. I love the people that I work with and work for. They're all good people. With my job Rick has been able to, for once in his life, take it a easy. It's funny though, since he retired he is busier now than he ever was before. It's funny how things work out.
As of 4/2015, I decided to come back to the Surgical Center (the robot migrated to the main operating room and the fun changed). The hours spent with the Robot became too much for me to maintain my sanity and family life. Surprisingly I am doing much better now with a break and lunch everyday, plus getting off work on time! Who knew that these little things would actually matter!
The man, woman and children have had over 20 years together and hope to have many more. Bonds have grown stronger with the love of fast cars, football and hockey. The girls have done well adapting when they were growing up, but it hasn't always been easy for them. The oldest is married and works at Alabama One in Tuscaloosa, AL. The youngest works at Regions here in Pensacola. Both are doing well.
I can't forget our other child...Junior the Beagle. He is a doll....but what a troublemaker! The previous sentence has been on this page for what seems forever. I'm sad that Junior is no longer with us. We found him in the shelter in RI and it seems like it was just yesterday that I brought him home. Our peas, green beans and pizza crust loving boy passed away August 11, 2012. It was where he would have wanted to be, in our arms. RIP Junior
As life goes on and keeping with saving another dog's life........we adopted Sonny (as tribute to Junior) and then Sugar. They have helped to take away the pain of Junior's passing, but I think of Junior often. He was a good dog and now we have two that are going to have to fill his shoes. I can't believe how blessed we are again with wonderful pets.
06-27-16 Stay tuned for more of The Boatswife Saga..........
• On a more personal note, on August 6th, 2009 I was diagnosed with Oral cancer.
Thankfully my PET/CT scan the next day was clear, the cancer had not spread. On August 10th, I had a Partial Glossectomy with Suprahyoid neck dissection done at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA by Dr. David Moore.
My first post op appointment went well and the lymph nodes were negative. I still have a little bit more to do, but not a big deal. I feel really blessed to have such a good support network, from family and friends to the Command and Crew on the CGC MAPLE.
What started it for me was a little irritated area on the side of my tongue, just underneath. I didn't think much about it, just thought it would go away. A year later it was still there and was beginning to interfere with my speech and eating. It wasn't a "growth" then, but more like an ulcer/canker sore that wasn't going away. It hurt when my teeth rubbed against it and certain foods would make it burn. Eventually I saw our visiting ENT and soon after he sent me to Dr. Moore.
Oral Cancer is on the rise! It used to be more prevalent in alcoholics and smokers, it's not that way anymore. It's now been associated with HPV, the same virus that causes cervical cancer in women. This can happen to anyone, so if your Dentist is not pro-active in checking your tongue and mouth, make sure that you do. If you have an ulcer/canker sore that does not heal in two weeks or something just doesn't feel right in your throat, go see the Doctor. Don't be put off by them or become complacent, get it figured out by your regular doctor or go to an ENT doctor.
Update 2012: Everything is going well. I still keep an ever watchful eye out with my tongue. I still get worried when I eat something that irritates my tongue, until it goes away the next day. I guess you never get over that fear. Dr. McNabb at NAS Pensacola is wonderful. I'm now going every 6 months and after the next visit 1 year. Looking good!!
Update 2016: I can't believe that all this time has passed! Everything looks good and should be considered "cancer-free". Not sure that anyone would feel safe using that term. Still ever watchful.
Here are some wonderful sites that were my information lifeline when I was diagnosed with oral cancer.
The Oral Cancer Foundation and The American Cancer Society.
My Mom found encouragement through the story of Colleen Zenk Pinter, an actress on "As The World Turns". She is an Oral Cancer Survivor.
Remember that Knowledge is Power and could save your life!
That woman is known as Boatswife, because of her husband's job, Boatswain's Mate, with the United States Coast Guard.
They have had glorious adventures in Mobile, Alabama ~ Destin, Florida and Bristol, Rhode Island. They homeported in Swansea, Massachusetts while in the New England area. After being selected, they embarked on a special trip to the South. Into unknown territories they went, eventually settling in Portland, TX. The good man fulfilled his mission for the Coast Guard in Corpus Christi, TX on the USCGC BRANT.
During the summer of 2004, he was asked to journey North to Sewickley, PA. Pittsburgh Steeler Territory and the USCGC OSAGE. Their Terrible Towels were overjoyed and even more so when they won their 5th Superbowl!
Our next adventure sent us to Sitka, AK in June 2007. We love it here and wake up every day counting our blessings. We live in the Great State of Alaska, enjoying the experience to the fullest and the best part is that we are getting paid to do that! It was my most favorite place we have lived. The Command on the USCGC MAPLE is excellent and they set standards for others to follow.
Guess what? Steeler Nation is rejoicing once more with an unprecedented 6th Superbowl win! *big grin*
In 2010, the CG sent us to another adventure in Kings Bay, GA. The Marine Force Protection Unit and to the South we go. It's been hard getting used to the climate change, but the having it sunny most of the time is wonderful. Daytona Beach and the Daytona 500 just around the corner....need I say more!
Fortunately we were able to go to the Daytona 500 Opener. It was the most fabulous experience.
Retirement has been thrust upon us on on December 1, 2011. We have settled close to family and we are living in Pensacola, Florida. I found a fabulous job working in the Surgical Center at Sacred Heart Hospital. I'm an RN Team Leader/Robotic Coordinator. I love the people that I work with and work for. They're all good people. With my job Rick has been able to, for once in his life, take it a easy. It's funny though, since he retired he is busier now than he ever was before. It's funny how things work out.
As of 4/2015, I decided to come back to the Surgical Center (the robot migrated to the main operating room and the fun changed). The hours spent with the Robot became too much for me to maintain my sanity and family life. Surprisingly I am doing much better now with a break and lunch everyday, plus getting off work on time! Who knew that these little things would actually matter!
The man, woman and children have had over 20 years together and hope to have many more. Bonds have grown stronger with the love of fast cars, football and hockey. The girls have done well adapting when they were growing up, but it hasn't always been easy for them. The oldest is married and works at Alabama One in Tuscaloosa, AL. The youngest works at Regions here in Pensacola. Both are doing well.
I can't forget our other child...Junior the Beagle. He is a doll....but what a troublemaker! The previous sentence has been on this page for what seems forever. I'm sad that Junior is no longer with us. We found him in the shelter in RI and it seems like it was just yesterday that I brought him home. Our peas, green beans and pizza crust loving boy passed away August 11, 2012. It was where he would have wanted to be, in our arms. RIP Junior
As life goes on and keeping with saving another dog's life........we adopted Sonny (as tribute to Junior) and then Sugar. They have helped to take away the pain of Junior's passing, but I think of Junior often. He was a good dog and now we have two that are going to have to fill his shoes. I can't believe how blessed we are again with wonderful pets.
06-27-16 Stay tuned for more of The Boatswife Saga..........
• On a more personal note, on August 6th, 2009 I was diagnosed with Oral cancer.
Thankfully my PET/CT scan the next day was clear, the cancer had not spread. On August 10th, I had a Partial Glossectomy with Suprahyoid neck dissection done at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA by Dr. David Moore.
My first post op appointment went well and the lymph nodes were negative. I still have a little bit more to do, but not a big deal. I feel really blessed to have such a good support network, from family and friends to the Command and Crew on the CGC MAPLE.
What started it for me was a little irritated area on the side of my tongue, just underneath. I didn't think much about it, just thought it would go away. A year later it was still there and was beginning to interfere with my speech and eating. It wasn't a "growth" then, but more like an ulcer/canker sore that wasn't going away. It hurt when my teeth rubbed against it and certain foods would make it burn. Eventually I saw our visiting ENT and soon after he sent me to Dr. Moore.
Oral Cancer is on the rise! It used to be more prevalent in alcoholics and smokers, it's not that way anymore. It's now been associated with HPV, the same virus that causes cervical cancer in women. This can happen to anyone, so if your Dentist is not pro-active in checking your tongue and mouth, make sure that you do. If you have an ulcer/canker sore that does not heal in two weeks or something just doesn't feel right in your throat, go see the Doctor. Don't be put off by them or become complacent, get it figured out by your regular doctor or go to an ENT doctor.
Update 2012: Everything is going well. I still keep an ever watchful eye out with my tongue. I still get worried when I eat something that irritates my tongue, until it goes away the next day. I guess you never get over that fear. Dr. McNabb at NAS Pensacola is wonderful. I'm now going every 6 months and after the next visit 1 year. Looking good!!
Update 2016: I can't believe that all this time has passed! Everything looks good and should be considered "cancer-free". Not sure that anyone would feel safe using that term. Still ever watchful.
Here are some wonderful sites that were my information lifeline when I was diagnosed with oral cancer.
The Oral Cancer Foundation and The American Cancer Society.
My Mom found encouragement through the story of Colleen Zenk Pinter, an actress on "As The World Turns". She is an Oral Cancer Survivor.
Remember that Knowledge is Power and could save your life!
