The Big C Blog Hop and Anthology

My hugest thanks to Michael Di Gesu, who organized this. You are an amazing friend and I wouldn't know what to do without you.

As many of you know, I am currently locked in battle with the Big C...Cancer. Today I am celebrating the fight with my wonderful fellow bloggers on this Big C Cancer Blog hop. We are telling stories of the humor found in dealing with this disease. Humor helps a lot in this battle, it is a very effective weapon in keeping one's spirits up and at the ready.

Money is also an important part of the fight, so these entries you read are all going to be published in an anthology to help me in my fight. Whatever I do not use of the proceeds will be donated to Gilda's Club Chicago, a very important place for women fighting this terrible disease.

Thanks for reading. You can find all the incredible, wonderful participants here.

So without further ado, here is my entry....

An Unexpected Show

Chemo. Losing my hair. Vomiting. Losing my freakin' hair. I was upset and nervous and angry as we walked into UIC's Out Patient Cancer Center for my first chemo treatment. I had little enough hair as it was thanks to genetics now I was going to lose the rest. Perfect. I was going to be short, fat and now bald. Unless I got a wig. And my experience with wigs was almost non existent, except I knew they could be expensive unless one was talking Halloween costume types. Another expense. Great.

"You're scowling," my sister whispered.

"No."

"Yes you are. Stop it or you'll scare the nurses."

"Okay, fine."

She was right. It wouldn't due to frighten the people who were going to people who were going to take care of me.

After what seemed like hours we were called back to the infusion rooms.  The chairs were exactly like I'd seen in the movies, these uncomfortable looking recliners caught somewhere between spa comfort and dental office chic. I sat and my nurse introduced herself, a really nice, down-to-earth woman she was. She gave me the rundown of everything to expect. There was so much to process I felt like I was about to take a physics test without having learned the chapters.

First came the Benedryl, anti-nausea cocktail that put me to sleep. Just as I was beginning to enjoy a nap, the big chemo drug bag was administered. As I settled in and watched the drip, a little woman came in with a huge cart.

"Hi. I'm here from the American Cancer Society with some wigs for you. As a cancer patient, our program entitles you to one free wig."

Color me stunned.

My sister and I looked at each other, then at the wigs in the cart. The ACS rep left us with the wigs and we started pouring over them. An idea formed in my mind. I had to get into a better mood. After discounting all the ones that surely would not work, we snatched up the short. blonde ones.

"Let's do a wig show," I said.

"What? You mean try all these on and walk around in them?"

I nodded. "And take crazy pictures."

"Cool! Let's do this."

One by one I tried on the wigs, strutting around as much as my dance partner aka the IV machine would let me. The nurses came in clapping as I posed and pranced. A wig did not seem so bad now and neither was my mood. I laughed as my sister showed me the pics. I was determined to rock a wig and no longer afraid of losing my hair.

Greetings From The Battle Zone

Hello! Just wanted to take a moment and say hey, my Imaginarians. I know I've gone radio silent, but this cancer shit is just wreaking havoc with my schedule and my writing. Plus, now I have to  fight broke because well, my Unemployment is up. And there are not a lot of people ready to employ me as I am. Boy, the Universe must think I am Xena, Warrior Princess because if it's not one thing, it's another. But, I'm keeping strong. I want to thank you all for the well wishes and prayers. I have feel truly loved and blessed counting you all in my corner. I'm also making sure that I do a lot of sleeping, exercise and taking supplements to keep up my strength. Cancer ain't got shit on this chick.

I've gone through my first chemo treatment. 1 down 2 to go. So cancer is taking a beating and so far I'm not too shabby except for sleeping a lot.

To help keep me in fighting spirit, my nephew took me to see 22 Jump Street and Transformers. I had a blast seeing both. They were a fun ride that made me forget the fight for a few hours. Joshua is a great sidekick.

Sorry I missed Insecure Writers Support Group. I had intended to post, but never got the time or the energy in sync. My insecurity this month is time. Will I get to finish the projects that I've started on time? How can I work around chemo and tests and appointments? Ugh. It feels overwhelming sometimes.

I've Been Blitzed!

Happy Friday Imaginarians!! I'm feeling the love of this awesome community in super force right now. I got blitzed yesterday and just wow. Thank you does not even begin to cover the gratitude and positive energy I'm feeling. But all the same, thank you from the bottom of my heart, you all are wonderful, amazing, thoughtful people and I am proud to be a part of this community. I will be working my way through all the comments left and visiting everyone as my energy level allows.

As you may or may not know I just spent nine days in the hospital and am preparing for the battle of my life. I went in for a simple x-ray of my hip and lumbar area because 'd been having horrible pain that would not allow me to sit, stand or lay down for very long. Well, they found a mass. I was admitted and scheduled for biopsy faster than I could blink. It is malignant, so needless to say I am in for the biggest fight, but I am bringing my A game and going total badass bitch on this.

I'll be around as much as I can, but since I have major health considerations now, I may miss time. Thanks again for being my friends, my support, my Imaginarians. I love you!!

What I Am Thankful For

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving already. On the one hand I am relieved since that means the year is almost over, on the other, it seems like time has just flown. 2012 has been filled with extreme lows and a few highs, which unfortunately did not balance out those lows. However, I did discover this year that I have the most amazing people in my life and that includes all of you out there who stop by, read my posts and leave wonderful comments. It makes me smile and feel loved and supported. You are my online family, my friends, my Imaginarians and I am so thankful for all of you. I would not be here without you. You are the very best and I love you.

I wish every one of you a very peaceful, blessed day filled with all good things. If I could hug each one of you I would, but alas I don't have access to the TARDIS or the Starship Enterprise. Peace and laughter, my friends.

Oh, How I Miss You Blogfest

Today is a cornucopia of awesome sauce as all around the blogosphere we celebrate with Captain Ninja Alex, Andrew Leon and Matthew MacNish with their incredibly brilliant and thoughtful Oh, How I Miss You blogfest. We celebrate those bloggers we love who haven't been around a whole lot of late and those we would miss terribly if they were no longer around to inspire us, to make us laugh, to make us think and to cheer us when the chips are down. For all the magnificent participants please click here.

Life happens and for whatever reason, these wonderful people have had to step back from posting as often. I miss their posts terribly. This blogosphere is indeed a dimmer place without their voices each week.

Matt Vanacore at FilmMattic Matt is truly one of the most gifted cinephiles out there. His knowledge of the film world is breathtaking. Each post is an in-depth look at directors, actors, film styles, movements and cinema history. He encourages discussion and debate in a professional, friendly manner. Flamers and ignorant folk need not apply.  He's not posting so much of late and I do miss his insights.

The second person I miss is someone I see every day, my sister Karyn. Doing It MY Way is her blog. She is one person I admire most in the world. A single mom who's been dealt some blows, but she handles it all with grace and humor. She doesn't post very often, months go by sometimes, but what she says is always thoughtful and inspiring. Karyn's not a blogger by nature, she started this as a way to help her deal with the stress, but I encourage her to keep writing. even though her uber busy schedule doesn't allow for much time to devote to writing. Karyn will probably kill me for shoving her into the spotlight, but I am so proud of her. I really hope that she continues to write because I know that there are people out there whom she does help, even if she doesn't realize it.

I love, love all my blog friends out there and honestly wouldn't know what to do without you all. It was very hard for me to narrow this incredible list so I chose three people I've grown closest to recently. These three bloggers are people I count on each week for laughs, for inspiration, for fun and just plain good company. They are pillars of this blogging community and this place would be a much colder place without their bright posts each week.

Ella at Ella's Edge. This woman brings so much sunshine and so many smiles into this world, it would indeed be a sad, gray time if she were to ever stop blogging. Her art, poetry and thoughtful words make her blog a must for me. I hope you all are following her because she is wonderful.

Robyn at Life By Chocolate Robyn's humor strikes me deep in the funny bone. I laugh at her trials and tribulations of being single and dating. It is a brutal world out there and Robyn skewers it with  sharp wit and a fantastic outlook.She also does fantastic posts about her city with great pictures and not to mention her love of al things chocolate. Follow her for sure if you're not already.

Michael De Gesu at In Time has become one of my dearest friends and go to support people. his warmth just radiates out to the rest of the community. he always offers smiles and encouragement. He also posts regularly about health and fitness, cheering us all on as we face the battle of staying an d getting shape.

There you have it, some of the exceptional bloggers I miss and would miss. How about you? Know these awesome peeps? Want to know them?

Have a great weekend. Go Bears and Go Notre Dame!