One of those days

I ran into Anka at the Gloucester Mall this morning. It was getting close to lunch so we decided to have a bite in the food court. Anka was more than a little amused when I went up to get my sandwich and she noticed that I had my top on inside out, complete with white tag, very visible on black material.

Now if I could only remember what I went to the mall for...

What I'm grateful for today: Only 12 days until the prodigal son returns!

Do you eat the ears first?

It's probably in poor taste to post a bunny suicide picture at Easter.

Which, of course, makes me want to do it even more.

My daughter-in-law Tara loves bunnys (she even has ashes from her dearly departed pet rabbit in an urn). She also has a collection of Bunny Suicide books, which appeal to my warped sense of humor (and apparently hers too).

I hope the Easter Bunny called the suicide hotline and survived to deliver you some chocolate today.

Happy Easter!

This appeared in the Ottawa Citizen

Way to go, George!

On hold

I am in on-hold-hell.

Yesterday it was with Amazon.com, trying to track down a book that I ordered that never arrived.

Today I’m listening to really annoying elevator music, waiting to order a part for my vacuum.

I think when the “service” rep (I use the term loosely) comes back on the line, I’ll put him on hold and go to the bathroom. I'm sure I'll need to go by then.

Thufferin Thuccotash

There are a gazillion blogs out there written by people with cancer (and I thought I was the only one!), so many in fact that I can only manage to read a few on a regular basis. One of my favorities is called Thufferin Thuccotash - Laughting and Suffering. While the posts usually make me laugh, there is almost always something I can relate to in a serious and real way.

Here are a few lines from a recent post about the author's thoughts while waiting for x-ray results.

"I thought of the worst case scenario and how I might react? Surgery, chemo, bald, thin. Lord knows I've been on worse diets! I remember my reaction the first time I was diagnosed with cancer. I was hysterical, phoning everyone I knew, and then I started at the beginning of the phone book with people I didn't know. It was all about me! I panicked. I cried. I planned my funeral and thought of songs I wanted them to play. You know that song from the movie Platoon - Adagio for Strings, opus 11? Gah..that's such a moving song, perfect for my rainy afternoon funeral in March, a few days after my birthday where I turned 51 years old and so cute still!! The songs I chose would make me cry and then I'd get depressed. I was gnashing my teeth (what few I have left), back of my hand to my forehead. I picked out a lovely coffin, even wrote my guest list on a post-it note. Had chemo, went bald and survived (so far).

Now I sometimes feel guilty that people who grieved with me initially are annoyed that I dragged them into an emotional frenzy yet I didn't die. I mean, all that drama for nothing (or for, what now feels like, nothing in the scheme)."

What I'm grateful for today: All of the amazing, honest, crazy, ballsy, funny and inspiring women so willing to share their heart and souls with all of the other amazing, honest, crazy, ballsy, funny and inspiring women out there who need to know they are not alone.

All I want for Christmas

Santa sure had his hands full this morning! After seeing the movie Amelia, the Toonie Tuesday gals stopped off at Santa's workshop to let him know what we want for Christmas. I hope he has a good memory because when I told him that I wanted a new car, he didn't write it down...

What I'm grateful for today: Honey mustard. It really is better than regular, don't you think?

Hot Chick x 3

After another look, I realize that there are 2 other ‘hot chicks’ in the picture. I’m thinking this looks like the work of Mary O…

Hot Chick

You never know what little thing might brighten your day.

While looking for a bag to put something in this morning I found an unexpected surprise. I was about to throw out the ball of tissue paper from the bottom of a Starbucks bag when I noticed there was something wrapped inside. What I found was a little silver frame with a picture of me in it. The label reads "HOT CHICK" (although the picture says otherwise...).

I'm not sure where it came from, but this "hot chick" started her day with a smile on her face.

Pink glove dance

The employees of Providence St. Michael Medical Centre put together this video to generate breast cancer awareness ... and it looks like they had fun doing it. :-)

A good laugh!

Laughter is therapeutic. If you are feeling under the weather: get lots of rest, drink lots of fluids, and watch this video. Enjoy!

Best dog costumes ever

The monsoons cometh

Due to our Ottawa weather this year, here is the latest in footwear fashion.

Good friend

I just had an email from my friend Anka that made me laugh. I'm not sure why she was thinking about this early on a Sunday morning ... but she said she thought she should shave my neck hair before I leave for Halifax next week.

Isn't it great to have friends who will tell you when you have excess neck hair or broccoli in your teeth?

Isn't it great that I have excess hair that needs shaving?? :-)

(Even more) cancer terminology

I came across an old medical report from August 1998, in which the doctor uses a rather funny term to say that there is no cancer in my other breast.

It states that the mastectomy site appears well healed and there is no evidence of infection. It goes on to say "The left breast is unremarkable".

I think that's a matter of opinion!!

(The bra in the picture is one of many interesting exhibits in the The Artful Bras Project.)

Just for a laugh

Do you sit unnoticed on the sidelines while others are picked?

Try the latest scarf fashion and you too will be the center of attention:

Yes, you lose your hair EVERYWHERE during chemo

I really miss my nose hair.

I have to take tissues everywhere because my nose constantly drips.

Not a lot like when you have a cold; just enough to make it really annoying.

More fun with Wigs

I attended a Halloween potluck/baby shower for a co-worker on Friday. We were asked to dress like hospital staff or a pregnant woman.
I was a trailer-trash expectant mother, complete with curlers in my Broom-Hilda wig and a bulging baby bump that read "Property of Billy-Bob... or maybe Bobby-Ray". It seemed like a good idea at the time - at least until I saw the pictures!

Other wigs I've considered:

I'm thinking of knitting my own wig.

For someone who spends most of her time wearing scarves, I do seem to be wig obsessed...

No, I'm not bald; I'm just taller than my hair!

When I was a kid some women wore wigs just for a change of hairstyle. I can't imagine why because they are hot, itchy and uncomfortable. Most of the time I wear a scarf or hat on my head, but there are times when nothing but a full head of hair will do. So I have several options...
The Blonde Bombshell. This is what my real hair would look like if it didn't have a mind of it's own.
Shirley Partridge. This is my backup wig in case I take bread out of the oven wearing the Blonde Bombshell wig. Don't laugh, I did it 10 years ago and melted the bangs into a solid clump.
Broom Hilda. A friend passed this one on for me to use as my 'hat wig'. Wearing a scarf or hat on top of my good wig can damage it (they are very fragile!) so this one will do in a pinch. Even the hairstylist who trimmed it for me said it was rather 'broomy'.

Pretty in Pink. A picture is worth a thousand words.

(see also Run for the Cure)