Yes, surgery is approaching. I've been doing a few things to get ready.

I haven't spent the night in the hospital since I was born. What does one bring for a sleepover there? My favorite pillow? Laptop? Bjorn? A fine Chassagne-Montrachet? Bathrobe? Suggestions (serious or humorous) welcome.

My sister Donna is flying down for a week, arriving the day before surgery. A day or two after she leaves my sister Judy will fly in to spend some time here. My parents will also be down in July. Some very kind neighbors have offered me a spare condo in my complex in case we need some extra space.

In preparation for surgery I have pre-op appts lined up. I ordered a velcro belt that has four pockets for my drains. On the message boards women refer to the drains as "grenades" but I am choosing to think of them as "Christmas ornaments". Got a few oversized button-down-the front shirts. Got four brand new books from some of my favorite authors. This is a big deal to me because I never buy new hardback books; that is why God made libraries.

I got a little info from a nurse at the plastic surgeon Bashore's office. She says some women spend one night in the hospital, some spend two. Dr. Korey will be the one to decide when I get discharged, and will be the one to give his approval that I am healing well enough to begin chemo. Before I leave the hospital I will have a post-op appt lined up with the plastic surgeon for the following week, I will see him frequently because he will be the one to decide when my drains can come out.

The oncologist Levine's nurse says I have an appt with him July 12 and that I will probably start chemo within the following week or two if I am cleared by Dr. K.

In preparation for chemo, from ACS I got a wig, a quilt to stay warm with during chemo, a head scarf, the not-so-coveted "survivor" t-shirt in Classic Pink, (pink IS the new black) and tons of good literature, especially the pamphlet on exercise after breast surgery. I ordered a turban for lounging around the house when the time comes (and the hair goes). I'm going for 1950s glam. Think Ava Gardner in her well appointed dressing room, maybe I should get one of those long cigarette holders to complete the look....

What you can do to help me prepare is tell me the best book you read in the last year and I will add it to my stack. Ditto with movie suggestions, I can add them to my Netflix queue. Thanx!