Saturday, February 26, 2011

My afternoon field trip.

I took myself on a field trip this afternoon to the local Asian market, hoping to find some Guarana to take to my brother's birthday party tomorrow.



No such luck. No Guarana to be found. (In fact, the typical Brazilian aisle seemed to be oddly missing. The Indonesian aisle? Check. The Tawain aisle? Double check. The Hispanic aisle? Of course. But no Brazilian cheese puff mix or Guadana to be found. Poor Spencer and Kirk. I had such great intentions, too.)

But I did run across all manner of other interesting (by which I mean: unusual and gag-reflex-inducing) foodstuffs. Like:




Really? Like I wanted to drink grass in the first place? No. No, I did not. (I am not one to add wheat grass juice to my Jamba Juice. Maybe some protein powder, but most definitely NOT the wheat grass.) Add the word "jelly" to the grass juice, and it just takes on a whole new level of horror.

Then there was this can of aloe vera drink:



What the heck? ... Uh, no. Nope, I'm pretty sure you couldn't pay me to drink this. (And I don't care how much honey you added to aloe vera plant, I don't know how you could make it delicious.) There were at least five different brands/versions of aloe vera juice/soda. What the heck?!

On the other hand, I am a big fan of pretty dishes:



Seriously, I spent a good 20 minutes in this aisle, just checking out blue and white faux china patterns. (I heart blue and white china. I really do.)

Look at this bowl:



It was, like, $3.50 or something. I sooo wanted to buy it, but then I remembered that I already have too many serving dishes in my cupboards that I never use, so I made myself leave it at the store. But seriously, I wanted it. Badly.

But what didn't I want? I will show you. Look at this bizarro fruit:



I can't remember what it was called, but the word "fresh" was in the name of it (or was on the sign, anyway). I don't know if that means that they were actually fresh/new whatever-they-were, or if fresh is part of the name of the fruit. (Or maybe it's a vegetable. I don't know. It was in the produce section, so it could go either way.) All I know is, I had never seen anything like it. They were about the size/shape of watermelons, but they were pokey. And more than a little bit scary to me.

Huh.

The Asian market. Always a good time. ... Until you get sick of breathing through your mouth so you don't gag and you have to leave before you lose it. (I tell you, it's the live fish they keep in the back of the store. When I first walk in, it smells a little fishy, but I think I can take it. After 20 minutes or so of walking the store, perusing unusual foodstuffs, I realize I'm about to be done in by the smell of fish and I have to run for the exit like I'm running for my life. Every time.)

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

It's Ba-ack...

To be read in a sing-songy (semi-creepy) tone, of course.

Some of you may recall a little post I made last summer about my body growing an abnormally large tumor. I'm so sorry to have to say that it's back. (The good news? This time, they caught it while it was little. To date, it's about the size of a chocolate Easter egg. ... Much better than the size of a watermelon, right?)

I had my first 90 follow-up CT at the end of January and met with my oncologist on Feb 11th to get the results. He told me at that meeting that I was a vibrant young woman (I told him that I loved him for that). He also told me that it looked like the cancer may be back (I told him that I still loved him, even though that is the opposite of what I wanted to hear). He advised that there was a growth on/near my left kidney that appeared to be in the resection bed (where they'd scraped the original tumor from). He wanted to do an MRI to get a better, clearer picture of the mass. I had the MRI last Friday, and met with my surgeon today to get the results of the MRI. The MRI shows conclusively that there's a tumor on my left kidney. (Look, I'll show you a picture. Don't judge the arrow pointing to the little gray/tumor area just to the right of my kidney. I do not have photo shop skillz. Obviously.)



So, that's the little egg shaped tumor that's attached to my kidney. It must come out. (And by "it", I mean the kidney.) Per my sweet doctor, he wants to take the kidney out, so this can't happen again. Before he takes the kidney out, however, he wants to do a biopsy to make sure that this tumor on my kidney is, in fact, a recurrence of liposarcoma. The last thing he wants to do is remove a vital organ if it's something other than regrowth of the same cancer I spent all summer fighting. The plan is to have a biopsy done next week. After he gets the results of the biopsy and can confirm if it's the same type of tumor/cancer, or if it's something new, decisions will be made about surgery and possible treatment plans.

The best news I've heard all day/week/month is that if it's the same kind of tumor/cancer, he should be able to just remove my kidney and call it a day. As in, no follow-up treatment. (Can you hear the angels singing? Because I sure can!) This, of course, isn't a for sure done deal until we have more information - and is subject to change up until after surgery, after my oncologist has been able to review everything and make a final decision. But for now, the thought of only having to recover from surgery is enough to make me weep for joy.

So, it's back. But it's definitely not worst-case-scenario. Yay!

I'm incredibly grateful for doctors who had a much more aggressive treatment plan than I thought made sense, because they caught something that had grown in the last 90 days. I'm grateful for office staff who know my face and remember my name. I'm grateful for doctors who care about my body and my spirits, that both of my doctors have delivered news and then asked "How are you?". I love them, and that makes it so much easier this time around.

I'm grateful for my family, and for my friends. I have always known that I had the most incredible people in my life. The last year has proven that to me on so many levels. Thanks, all, for being the kind of people you are. I love you, and I'm so glad I have you! (Even when I don't have the cancer, I love you. But somehow, when a girl hears some truly hard news, it makes the love all that much stronger.) You're all my favorite! (And I'm not just saying that because I may need someone to come over and vacuum in March. And April. And maybe May. I promise.)

Stay tuned for further updates and/or service opportunities. :-)

Monday, February 14, 2011

Stuff I love-love-love

It's Valentine's Day, so I thought I'd make a list of the things that I love in my life. Why? Because it's always fun for me to make a list. And it's Valentine's Day. So, there.

I loooove...

Kit-Kats
Oranges
Good books
Blue cheese
You've Got Mail
Banana popsicles
Julie's cinnamon rolls
My favorite aunt
My sister
My parents
My brothers, and their families
Kazoozles
Wheat Thins
Symphonies (the candy bar AND the musicians)
Cotton candy
Winter grass
Musicals
Fleecey throws
A good bra
My friends
My cousins
Lillies
Daffodils and tulips
Blaring trumpets in a big band
A ticking clock
Holding a baby
The smell of baking bread
Clean sheets
Fingernail polish
Grape juice
Ben & Jerry's
Sunshine
The sound of running water
Red smudges on my fingers from eating raspberries out of a bowl

And so many other things. And people. Like you. Whoever you are, reading this.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, Me

Monday, January 31, 2011

Reason #743 why I love Joe Fox. (F-O-X.)

Joe Fox is pretty much the most perfect internet chat room BF of all time. Why? Because he knows when his mango's ripe. (Don't mind me. That was just a little inside, once-you've-seen-it-1,439-times-you-can-throw-lines-like-that-out-in-your-sleep, joke. I can't help myself. Sorry, there I go again. Thank your, ladies and gentlemen, thank your. ... Again. Sorry. I'll stop now, I promise.)

Anyhoo, it's no secret that I love this movie. (It's only been one of the two predictable contenders in Laurie's List of Top Five Movies Ever for ... oh, I don't know, forever.) I love Joe. I love his humor, his witty banter and depreciating humor. I love his empire (a man who owns stock in a book store? oh, be still my beating heart) and I love him for his caviar garnish stealing ways.

But one of the things I love best about Joe is that he read Pride & Prejudice because Kathleen Kelly told him that she loved it.



Oh, Joe. I love you, and if anyone but Kathleen had ended up with you, I would be beside myself.

The End.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

It came.

My Cancer Care Package from my best BF. It came!

(You may or may not remember a rather cryptic post I wrote about this back in August. Those of you who are FB friends may have seen this little exchange back in the day, as well.)

It came in a protective cardboard box stamped "do not bend, pictures enclosed", straight from *Crossroads Books. (I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I have the best friends. Ever.)

And when I opened my little package, I pulled this out.

For Laurie. That's me!



And then I slit the tape and looked at what was inside the protective cover boards and....

I swoon.



Would you look at that? My very own pic of my boyfriend. That he signed, just for me, because I knew someone who had access to the man.

Honestly, as I live and breathe, I am going to frame this picture and put it in a place of prominence in my little abode.

One of the (very few) perks of having had the cancer? Nathan Fillion found out who I am. (This is just step one in a multi-level scheme that I've cooked up to make him love me. I'll keep you posted on how that works out.)

*I'd like to take a minute and give a shout out to my friend, James Owen, who made my own personal Make a Wish dream come true. (Mind you, what I'd asked for was to have dinner with Nathan. But he was on set for Castle - and frankly, I couldn't eat much at the time - so Jamie did what he could to get me something from the man.) Bless him for that. Truly, my friends rock. I'm the luckiest girl in the world!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Watching water dry

You know that phrase "watching paint dry"? Yeah, I could totally do that. I have done it. I've literally sat and stared at a wall while I waited for paint to dry, so I could do a second (or third, or fourth) coat. Why? Not because I didn't have other stuff to do. Oh, no. Because sometimes I really enjoy having nothing better to do that just sit and stare.

I'm boring.

And maybe just a little bit nutsy.

But you all love me anyway, so it's alright.

Anyhoo. The reason for this post is that I was at work today, and I went into the bathroom just as the janitorial staff was heading out. They'd just barely mopped. I noticed this as I walked into the bathroom, because it had a delightfully Pine-Sol-ish smell going on. (I heart the smell of pine scented cleansers.) Also, the floor was all wet and shiny. I walked into my favorite handicapped stall and... well, you know... sat down and then looked at the floor. (Because what else do you look at when you're in a stall in a public restroom, the art?)

And what did glorious sight did mine eyes behold?



That's right. Water drying. In the space of a couple minutes (or however long it takes me to pee), I was able to actually watch water dissipate.

It was a fine moment.

Watching water dry. It's infinitely more fun that working.

True story.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Mich is here!

So... My friend Michelle's coming in tonight. I'm pretty excited, and that's not just because I'll be having fried Nutella and banana won tons for breakfast tomorrow. Oh, no. It's exciting, just to know I'll be spending the next 72+ hours in The Beal Dimension. (Always a good time.)

Some of you may have heard me name drop my friend Mich before. She's the one I went on Ye Olde Singles Cruise with.



Also, she swam with the sharks in San Francisco.



Mich is fabulous. She's hilarious. She loves blue cheese and butter as much as I do (which is... uh... a lot). It's gonna be a great weekend.

With any luck, I'll have some fun photos (and recipes) to share soon!

Wahoo!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Preparations for company...

My friend Mich is coming to visit Sunny Arizona (oh, and me) this weekend. So, I went shopping and bought us some good things. I'll show you a virtual shopping list, because I know that will make you happy. (Also, because I know it will make you a little bit jealous. And that's the kind of friend I am.)

I bought these things:







So we could make Blue Cheese Bites. Seriously... bread, butter and blue cheese. How could a girl go wrong with these three ingredients? My mouth is already watering.

And I bought these things:







So we could try this new recipe I just found for Bacon and Parmesan Pasta. ... Bacon, cream, cream cheese and parmesan cheese all rolled up into one fatty and delicious sauce, and then poured over pasta? Sign me up! (And then roll me out the door.) This looks soooo freaking good!

And I bought these things:




So we could make some lovely Nutella and Banana Won Tons for dessert. (Mich and me. We love some Nutella. And bananas. And fried foods that are dipped in sugar.)

It's gonna be a super fun (food filled) weekend for the two of us. (I also have three - count them, three - packages of blue cheese in the fridge. In case we feel the need to whip up a batch of Blue Cheese Mac and Cheese or ... just eat blue cheese and Wheat Thins with walnuts.O

Cheese. And butter. And cream. And another kind of cheese. And pasta. And Nutella.

Oh, and Michelle.

Bring on the good times!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!

H appiness depends upon your outlook on life.
A ttitude is just as important as ability.
P assion - find yours this year!
P ositive thoughts make everything easier.
Y ou are unique, with special gifts. Use them.

N ew beginnings with a new year.
E nthusiasm - a true secret of success.
W ishes - may they turn into goals.

Y ears go by too quickly, enjoy them.
E nergy - may you have lots of it.
A ppreciation of life, don't take it for granted.
R elax - take the time to relax in this coming year.

Friday, December 31, 2010

2010: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

As the year draws to a close, and hinges at a beginning, I am grateful.

I am grateful that this year is over, because it has been unspeakably hard. I am equally grateful that it happened, because I have a new perspective on life, and a greater appreciation for the importance of finding joy in the day-to-day, regardless of what that day holds.

I am grateful for the refining and defining summer that I had in 2010.

I am more grateful than ever before for my friends and for my family. I had literally dozens of people come out of the woodwork, who offered and then forced me to let them help me. I've always known I had great family and friends. I am now humbled by how truly great they are.

I am grateful for the tiny glimpse that 2010 gave me into the number of lives that have been affected by mine. It is amazing to me, the sheer number of people who have called, texted, emailed, written, Facebooked or otherwise contacted me in the past few months to check in, touch base, and let me know they care. George Bailey, I am not. There was no Clarence to show me what the world would be like without me, but one of the greatest blessings of my life has been to be able to see and feel the reach I have had, as people reached out and back to me in the past six months. My life will never be the same. Thank you, all of you, for giving me that gift this year.

I am grateful for the clarity that being sick brought me. That which has always been precious to me (family, friends, the gospel - life) has become truly treasured.

I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for where I have been, because I survived it. I am grateful for wherever it is that I am going, because now I know that I am strong enough to go there.

I am grateful for my life, for this year, and for this holiday season. Having lived through the hardest summer/fall of my life has made this the most incredible winter I have ever seen.

2010 gave me many, many gifts. It has been the hardest year of my life. It has been the best year of my life. And with that said, I welcome 2011. May it carry all of the joy of 2010 forward, and leave all of the crap (stool softeners and all) behind.

Amen.