Happy Thanksgiving

Hope everyone has had a splendid day and that ya'll are stuffed to the gills. We are. Spent the evening at our friends' Robin and Dan's house. 20-something of our pals were there. Much food and drink. Kids running around like crazy. Silas is lucky to have older kids that adore him and look after him while we chat with the adults. Actually, WE are the lucky ones.
In any case, it was a great night with great food. Pics will follow soon, once I get them from Robin. My camera pooped out ... batteries.
I am thankful, tonight and every day, for my beautiful life ... that I actually WAKE UP in the morning. I'm thankful for amazing and loving friends and family. I'm thankful to work where I do and with the amazing artists that are there with me. I'm thankful for the interweb. I love the interweb. I'm thankful for all the wonderful young breast cancer survivors that have made their ways into my life. I'm thankful for my cute hats that everyone is giving me to keep my bald head warm. I'm thankful for my oncology staff at Swedish that has and continues to save my life. I'm thankful for being able to GO HOME SOON TO BE WITH MY FAMILY ... BUT, ESPECIALLY GRAMMY AND POP. I'm thankful for my new boobies. I will get them on December 22nd. At that point, I will be DONE with my major reconstructive surgeries. I'm thankful for moving on!
xoxo
Anna
p.s. Tonight I am sending a request. My dear girlfriend Kristin is battling a new metastatic breast cancer and loads of treatment. She has two very young girls and a loving husband. Treatment takes its toll. Medical bills abound. Day to day life is just as expensive. If any of you wish to help out (little or loads) with some of their expenses you can go to "paypal.com". Click on "send money". Then, enter "kdawgfunds@gmail.com." You should be able to navigate from there. If you'd rather do it on paper, you can e-mail me at dorcasanna@gmail.com and I can give you an appropriate address. Thanks in advance.

Quincy Jonathan Flint

Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday Dear Quincy.
Happy Birthday to you.

Quincy is here!!! I'm so thrilled. Came a bit early. But, he is healthy as can be. 5lbs 6oz. Head full of hair. I know he's gorgeous.
Congratulations Jonathan and Tyanna.
We love you (three)!!!!
xoxo
Anna

I HATE CANCER. Cannot begin to explain how deep that comment goes. Cannot begin to tell you how pissed I am that some of my best friends have had bad news in regards to their cancer this week. You know what? Since when did it become OKAY for a child to have to spend their childhood racking up memories of their mother living with fucking cancer?!!!!!!!!! How in the name of GOD is that acceptable?! My childhood is ingrained in my head: swimming, skiing, laughing, friends, family, sun, snow, crushes, etc. NEVER IN THOSE MEMORIES WOULD I EVER FIND MY MOTHER BATTLING A LIFE THREATENING DISEASE. I makes me nauseous. It is horrid. No child should have to grow up with that in the forefront of their childhood memories.
For that, Cancer, I hate you. Not that I didn't before. But, I do even to a greater extent (if that's possible) NOW.
Please take time to send love and prayers to those that might need them right now. Please take time to reflect upon your own life ... children, work, relationship, lifestyle. Please make sure that you're happy. Make sure that you're doing what you need to do to be proud of yourself and do what makes you happy.
xoxo
anna

33 days and counting ...

That's right, dear readers. In 33 days, I will be, pretty much, a normal-breasted lady. I'll will get these damned expanders OUT and will have soft and squishy silicone implants placed. I'm am thrilled. These expanders feel like I have Tupperware bowls placed in my chest. They ARE that hard. They are like rocks. When I hug people, they take a step back. We bounce things off my chest right now. They have "ports" that are accessed with a magnet. If friends have really strong magnets on their refrigerator I put them on my boobs and they stick. Travis, at work, says that I'm a great "post-it." Man I've got great peeps.
In any event, On December 22nd I'll have my exchange surgery. I'm going to get the expanders out and the implants put in. I'm so excited to have them out. My back is killing me. My front is killing me. It's not that bad, as I've become really use to it. But, it'll be quite nice to be able to lay on my stomach and not feel like I'm on a hill. My right side is atrophied due to radiation, so it's not as "full."
I've chosen to get my port removed at the same time. My port was placed after my first mastectomy and prior to chemo. They put the port in your chest, as it saves the veins in your arms and allows easier access for blood draws and such. It is directly connected to your jugular. So, you can feel the wires winding up your chest, over/under your clavicle, and so forth. It'll be weird NOT to have it. It's been my constant companion since all this started. I plan on saving it and making it a Christmas tree ornament. It belongs in our "once a year keepsakes" AND ONLY THERE. Don't want to see another port in my long, long life.
So, we're hunkering down for the holidays. I plan on working extra hours throughout. We're excited to being heading back to South Carolina on New Years Eve. It's gonna be a fantastic trip. The family is gearing up. Silas is too!
xoxo
Anna

Just posting lovely pics, as it's been a long day.
I'm pensive tonight. Was in the ER with my T, as her hip went wonky. Fever, swelling, mucho pain. All's well now.
In the midst of this, I started thinking about the suffering and fear of so many people that are fighting for their lives and their livelihood everyday. You and I may know these people. We might even be extremely close to them.
Tonight, I hold those people in my heart. Life is so precious. Never, EVER, take it for granted.
I can assure most of you ... you have it REALLY damned good.
xoxo
Anna
p.s. please say prayers tonight for those that might need it...

Another great weekend...

I've been enjoying the "typical" Seattle weather. Rain, clouds, and calm. I hate the winds that pop up. But, I'd be as happy as a clam if it rained for the rest of my life. My husband doesn't understand that. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT ... considering the fact that I'm generally a pretty happy gal. In any case, we're settling into Fall quite nicely.
We've had a pretty mellow weekend. Had a party on Friday night upstairs at "T's" place. It was great to see everyone. T is having her other hip revision on Monday. I think it's a good omen that my best friend and sister-cousin's birthday is the same day. So, we're gearing up for it. Her best friend "P" is in town from LA. P is such a wonderfully cool lady. I, absolutely, ADORE her. She's gonna be in town helping out until Wednesday. That is a testament to true friendship.
So, we're doing great. I FINALLY GOT MY IRS CHECK. Wow, it took me telling them that I had talked to lawyers and the fact that I've always filed early AND that I've been waiting since February. If I have a deadline, shouldn't they? It is unbelievable the standards to which they hold us, yet they sit there ... on their hands ... and do nothing. Pretty telling.
On a different note, I'm asking for your love and prayers for some dear friends during the next few weeks. "T" has surgery tomorrow. Please keep her in your thoughts. K-dawg gets results, tomorrow, from scans she had last week. Please send B9 vibes her way. Korrelly will be going into surgery on the 18th to check lymph nodes that showed up "hot" below her chest wall. The surgery is very invasive and she will be in the hospital for AT LEAST 3-5 days. Please hold her in your hearts, as well. Whatever you do to support loved ones, please do it. If you light a candle, if you chant, if you pray, if you do nothing, if you laugh, if you smear yourself with peanut butter and howl at the moon ... please do so. These ladies need all of our love and support.
Nighty, night my friends. Thanks in advance.
xoxo
Anna

President Barack Obama...

All I can say is that I'm thrilled to bits.
I'm so proud of our country.
I'm looking forward to a country that might be making baby-steps towards a future that encompasses acceptance, health care reform, education reform, and a new acceptance by the rest of the world. I hope that we regain respect from the rest of the world. We ARE the greatest country in the world ... in my eyes. I hope we prove that.
We shall see ...
xoxo
Anna

Weekend...again ...

Well, the weekend was loverly. I had a wonderful time at my girlfriend Elizabeth's birthday party. She made a grand speech that had me blubbering like a baby the ENTIRE time. Normally, I'm pretty calm during those speeches. But, I was THAT person in the room that looked like I had just watched some horrible Lifetime Channel movie. Several of the Cancer-Club ladies were there, as well. We ALWAYS end up having a hysterical time. The pic is of the ladies that night.
On my way home, I noticed a woman in her car with her hazard lights on. She was by herself. So, I pulled up behind her to see if I could help. Her car stalled and wouldn't start. Nice BMW, nice lady. BUT ... she was freaked out. New to town. Apparently knew that she was in the "not so nice" area of Seattle. When a man drove by and asked if he could help, "Sure, it'd be great if you and I could push her car into this lot." As soon as he got outta the car she started acting weird and said, "no, no, no ... let's wait for AAA. I don't want anyone to get hit by oncoming traffic." He walked back to his car. I apologized and thanked him for his time. As soon as he left, she said, "couldn't you smell the alcohol on him. He was DRUNK!" I told her NO. He, honestly, wasn't drunk. HE WAS BLACK. It was so damned obvious why she was reacting the way she was. I wanted to say, "um, I've had a couple glasses of wine at my function. Why didn't you complain about me?!"
In any case, I stayed with her until the cops came. That's right, she got AAA to call the cops. So, they show up and I pull out the camera. Had to take pics that. At that point, I found it funny that I'm sitting on the side of the road with 2 men in "Gang Unit" attire. I'm sure, once she saw that, she was putting her new condo on the market and heading back to Oregon.
AAA came, I went home.
The other pics are of Silas going to the store. He decided, last night - when our pal Lisa was here, that he needed to go to 7-11. He got his back pack on and we acted like we would stay here and let him go. It was hysterical. He actually, as we hid in the bushes, said "burrrrr ... it's cold. I need my hoody." He came back inside and got a jacket. At that point we asked him if it was okay if we went with him. Thank God he said yes!
xoxo
Anna

Long night ...

Well, we had a great Halloween. Many folks didn't figure out what I was. I can tell you that the pics above, were after I had taken off the real Ghandi garb and glasses. I was rockin' out with my grannie-panties and wife beater-ish top. But, earlier in the evening the costume seemed to be a hit with the more cerebral crowd. Maybe I'm just getting old, but since when does a BABY have glasses and a mustache. Seriously.
Silas scored on the candy. He will now be the most hyper child this side of the Mississippi. We spent the evening at the Davis'. We all boogied until about 4:00am. We also drank too much wine and vodka. Of course, I woke up to Silas saying "Mama, I gotta go poo poo" this morning. So, I was up with the kids hanging out and trying my best to get all the bottles ready for the recycling. You've no idea how many there were. And, Sandi, as per her usual, made delectable treats that wowed us with their scary Halloween themes. So, I was picking up half-eaten spider webs and pulling corpses out of various dips.
It was a great night. Tonight, I go to my dear girlfriend Elizabeth's 40the b-day party. E is a breast cancer survivor and a wonderful woman. Sharp as a tack and pretty to boot. I'll try to remember to take pics. The party is gonna be in a funky art gallery in SODO. Many of our cancer-club girls will be there. I'm sure we'll end up getting into some sort of trouble ... as usual!
xoxo
Anna