First day...

Well, today was our first day "nannying" Xander. And, what a day it was. Not often are the fates on the Warren-Schumachers' side. But, today they rallied.
Silas and I had a wonderful, wonderful day with Xander. This little man ... a Russian orphan adopted by dear friends of ours ... is a hoot. He was thought to be, sort of, shy and docile, at adoption. He has proven otherwise. Ten fold. Xander is a rock star. He has the most infectious smile. He has the most hysterical laugh. He has the most amazing drive to learn the English language and to roll with tens of thousands of punches, whilst giggling. He's a cuddle-bug. And ... he's a little sneak!
Today, he learned "apple", "tissue", "no, no Silas", "no, no Xander", "no barking, Chloe", "hot, hot', and "leave it".
I told Robin that I feel like I'm talking to my dog, as his first language is Russian. She feels the same. Those hand gestures you throw at your dogs, while training them, seem to pop out with children while "training" them.
The great thing is: this child is infinitely wise. Having lived in an orphanage since birth, I believe his wisdom of personal relationships may be much more intuitive than ours. He gets it. Though he may not know EXACTLY what I'm saying, he KNOWS what I'm saying. He's never had parents that snuggled with him, cried with him, laughed with him, read books to him, bathed him, punished him, etc. And, still, he is such a strong little guy. It's just bizarre. And a great, great lesson for Silas and me.
He has this look in his eyes. He seems so innocent. But, at the same time, he's an old, old soul. To imagine that he's been there for two years, breaks my heart.
He's made it through a long, hard battle. And, now, he's found his way home...with Noel and Robin: the 2 people that have spent an entire year fighting for him.
I remember Robin calling me, this same time last year, and asking me if I'd be a reference for them. I was more than happy to oblige. When I got the questionnaire from the adoption agency, I felt like I was taking the SATs all over again. They weren't f-ing around. But, this time, I knew I'd end up with a perfect score. It was easy to stand by these two wonderful friends, that I've known for 7 years, and let the agency know why they were lucky and blessed to have a couple of their caliber as clients.
I might be a breast cancer survivor. But, I don't even come close to the strength and endurance of our sweet Xander. What an amazing survivor and soul...
He is my hero.
xoxo
Anna

Vaginal atrophy aside....

Sounds like the NYC benefit and show were a hit. Spent an hour or three on the phone with my dear Donnetta tonight. I've also chatted with several folks that took part in the whole shebang. It's amazing that these "old school" pals of mine have come out of the woodwork to help make this show a reality. Not only that, but new friends are selflessly lending themselves to it as well.
What I know about the benefit: The food was amazing (thank you Carla ... for the food, and ALL that you've done). The actors were brilliant ... this was shared with me by several people NOT associated with the piece (a big thanks to these busy actors for taking time to share a young survivor's story). The YSC gals spoke ... and they made our worlds, as young survivors, a tangible reality to the audience. Thank you, ladies, for stepping up to the plate. Coyote Rep has balls ... cannot say enough about this theatre company. As a professional actress, I'd cut off my boobs ... if I had them ... to be associated with such an amazing and progressive theatre company. Hats off to you all. Our world needs theatres that are willing to gamble. Art SHOULD move our souls ... the movement of cash should be secondary. My dear friend Patrick filmed it all. It is, certainly, a labor of love for him as his sweet, sweet sister Katie is also a young survivor. I've had the honor to chat with her and we've shared our stories and experiences. Thanks Patrick. Kiss Katie for me.
And, let us not forget my Donnetta. My Donnetta spent tireless hours rehearsing shows with me at the College of Charleston when we were young thangs. The woman is a rock. She's a beauty inside and out. I cannot express how amazing it is to be told that someone wants to share your story. Actually, that's not the only amazing part. The follow through trumps it all. I'm not a micro-manager and I'm not a person that has "the odds" on her side. But, when I heard, "Hey honey ... I'd like to share your story."
I said "go right ahead".
And she did.
I love you, D.
xoxo
Anna

The reading...

And, there you have it. The loverly folks of Coyote Rep took to the stage in NYC and read Miss Donnetta's show-in-progress. I have no clue what the hell they were saying, but I bet it was pretty great.
Just hope that they didn't include the part about vaginal atrophy.
xoxo
Anna

Coyote Rep Fundraiser Pics

Yahooo, Coyote Rep benefit!!!!

Just got word from Donnetta that the benefit in NYC was amazing. I just can't believe that some 6 months ago (or so), Donnetta approached me about writing a play based on the plight of the young survivor. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that, slowly but surely, we have been heard. That the plight of the young survivor will be common-place (work, babies, dating, boobies, sexual dysfunction, youth, gay, straight, asexual, adopting, divorcing, marrying, black, white, Asian, Latina, alien ...), is a dream for me.
I'm incredibly blessed to have so many amazing folks in my world. So, so many of them have gone out of their way(s) to donate money, time, space, and talent to the breast cancer cause.
I'm, now, awaiting more news and the actual video of the event.
Cannot wait to see the people that are fighting for us. Those that I've never met in person.
I was nervous as a Mama dear tonight for everyone. Just wished I could be there giving hugs and kisses or martinis or anything...
Thank you, thank you Donnetta for putting us on the map. Thank you Coyote Rep and all the amazing folks involved in this beautiful venture for making this a reality for us young survivors.
And, I'd like to send my love to the YSC gals of NYC that came out! Cannot wait to hear about it girls!
Again, thank you Donnetta for being such an amazing friend and inspiration. You have no idea how much that means.
xoxo
Anna

Perfect Storm...

Greetings this lovely Friday evening. I've spent the past week house sitting for a dear girlfriend while she and her family are partying at Lake Chelan. They have been having a ball. I, personally, have been having a ball on the memory foam bed in their master bedroom. Is it just me, or are those things like a large (and foamy) piece of non-smokeable crack? I've found myself finding ANY excuse to climb into the damned bed ... just to get sucked into a soft molding of my own body. It's become a bit addictive, honestly. I, personally, do not have the means to buy one of these "crack mattresses." But, many of my peeps own them. So, don't be surprised if you wake up, on any given morning, and find me and my drool snuggled up beside you. I'll find a way to keep up this habit.
I've been seeing pictures, lately, that my friends in the South have been taking of these amazing clouds and storms. I SO miss those. The blue/grey/green clouds hovering over the horizon and the air as thick as honey. Storms and rain are definitely one of my favorite things on this earth. I miss storms. I miss the beauty and drama and smell of them. They make your senses perk up. They are almost sensual in that way.
Here in Seattle, it pisses rain. It dribbles. It weeps. It sprinkles.
Back home it rages. It howls. It thunders. It screams. It is one of the most perfect dramas I've ever seen. So, sultry and passionate ...
I miss those perfect storms. I miss the smells left behind. Clean and sweet.
Keep up the pics, folks. I'm loving them and can feel the humidity every time I see them.
xoxo
Anna

Long, long night...

Well, it's been a long evening because I took a 3 hour nap late this afternoon. For those of you that know me well, you know that I'm not a very good napper. Tend to have the attention span of a Tsetse fly. Funny thing: just found out, via "google" that they are the main cause of "human sleeping sickness". So, it makes sense that I'm still awake and typing. The "irony."
We spent the evening watching "I Love You, Man." Save yourself some cash and some snores. Not a good flick. The actors were fine. The script ... not so much.
Last night was spent with some of my dear ladies from the Young Survival Coalition affiliate here in Seattle. We met at Havana, the venue where we are hostessing our big fund raiser on October 3rd. We walked through the space, chatted about the logistics of what and who goes where, talked money, talked about our procuring silent auction items (what we have so far is amazing), talked press, talked about the future of YSC-Seattle. Oh, and we laughed ... a lot.
I'm amazed at how many women go through the trials of this disease without anyone, that has walked the same path, holding their hand. I cannot imagine never having met these women after being diagnosed with breast cancer. I assure you that I would not have the strength that I now have without having spent the last few years amongst these brave, lovely, and damned hilarious young women that are walking this unknown road with me.
Oh wait ... we're young thangs: we prefer to skip, hop, and cartwheel down said path!
xoxo
Anna

Money=Huh?

Quoted from the Huffington Post:

"Whole Foods CEO John Mackey penned an op-ed on health care reform in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal in which he pressed, amidst more standard conservative talking points, a "simple" solution.

"Recent scientific and medical evidence shows that a diet consisting of foods that are plant-based, nutrient dense and low-fat will help prevent and often reverse most degenerative diseases that kill us and are expensive to treat."

As TPM's Brian Beutler put it: "Translation: Whole Foods is the solution to all of America's health care woes."

However, for those of you who are tempted to follow Mackey's advice (and can afford it!) be warned: not all of the foods found at Whole Foods will actually make you healthy. As Mackey himself admitted last week, "Basically, we used to think it was enough just to sell healthy food, but we know it is not enough. We sell all kinds of candy. We sell a bunch of junk."

Funny thing: today John Mackey is getting shit for saying that he doesn't believe that universal health care should be provided to the people of America and that the constitution reflects that. I, personally, wonder if he missed The Preamble to The United States Constitution (I had to memorize it in 5th grade):
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

"promote the general welfare", to me, was written in an extremely vague manner FOR A REASON. "The GENERAL welfare" is so very open and vague for a reason. Our brilliant predecessors, obviously, had the intelligence to know that what they wrote would be the standard for years to come. They, obviously, knew that times would change and the words that they wrote would have to withstand such. But "general welfare", to me, means that it applies to the general populous of our country and the welfare of that group of people.
So, our health care system ain't cutting it.
Mr. Mackey is an enigma to me. I'm still astounded at his words.
It's a shame that he is using our Constitution to further his ignorant cause.
It's a shame that he's choosing to shit where he eats, as those progressive folks that are the life-blood of his business are, now, the same people upon whom he is shitting.
Why is it so easy for people to forget?

xoxo
Anna

August is a big month...

Happy Saturday to all.
Many folks are working overtime, lately, to bring awareness to the breast cancer cause.
Donnetta and my peeps over at Coyote Rep have organized an AMAZING benefit on August 24th in NYC for the project that they have so tirelessly been working on. Here's a link to the benefit that anyone in the NYC area should attend. These are new friends and old-school friends of mine from the College of Charleston. They are busting their arses to get this project up and running (Broadway, baby ... or a bit off). So, please help support them in this cause. They are a force of nature. Or craziness...

http://southbend.broadwayworld.com/article/Coyote_Rep_Hosts_Summer_Rising_Moon_Fundraiser_824_20090806

The newest affiliate of the Young Survivor Coalition is right, smack dab, here in Seattle. YSC-Seattle will be holding a benefit on October 3rd at Havana Nightclub on Capital Hill. I'm so thankful that my dear friends Angela and Jeff (and the other partners at Havana) have so warmly welcomed us there to throw our benefit. Hats/boobs off to ya'll.
There will be a silent auction, food, drink, DJs (Masters Jeff and Sandi), laughs, pretty people, and awareness for a great cause.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend and is able to sleep in for 5 more minutes tomorrow. As a Mama, I know the pain.
xoxo
Anna

Blast from the past...

Studying acting afforded me so many opportunities. Namely, the exposure to great, great works of literature and theatre. Of course, one of my favorite playwrights is The Bard ... William Shakespeare. He will, forever, be one of the most brilliant writers on this planet. Simply amazing.
I was just flipping through a book of his plays and the page fell to The Tempest.
I had the honor, in college, to be a part of a beautiful production of The Tempest.
I, of course, was cross-cast (female playing a male role) ... as the comic relief. I played Stephano. At the time, it bothered me that I was always getting the roles that would make the house laugh, but never the role that would always make them cry.
I, now, appreciate it. I understand comedy and what it takes to make it work. It's an honor to be the person counted on for that "comic relief." Thanks Todd.
In any case, in doing The Tempest, I began to realize that The Bard had so much to say ... and in such a gorgeous manner. To be limited to prose when writing is quite limiting. However, I've never witnessed a moment in his writings that reflect that constraint. He continues, throughout time, to surprise and inspire artists so easily and flawlessly. It's amazing.
So, back to The Tempest. It's a great play. Chock full of adventure and laughter ... mystery and truth ... honor and love.
And the basic point ... once all is said and done ... is that everything that was written or seen will disappear as soon as it had begun.
And, one of my favorite quotes from Shakespeare appears in one of Prospero's monologues:

"Our revels now are ended. These our actors, As I foretold you, were all spirits, and Are melted into air, into thin air: And like the baseless fabric of this vision, The cloud-capp'd tow'rs, the gorgeous palaces, The solemn temples, the great globe itself, Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, And, like this insubstantial pageant faded, Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff As dreams are made on; and our little life Is rounded with a sleep."

And I love that. I love the final quote: "We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep." I remember it being a motto of mine in college when I was feeling overwhelmed with studies and money and in thinking about my future. And, it still holds true. But, now it holds true in a different way.
I see the quote now and all I can feel is that I need to learn a lesson from the very same lesson posed to me when I was a senior in college. Enjoy it: life. It's not forever. It's not perfect. But, it's there ... for a moment. And that moment will end. So, make the most of that damned moment. I'm gonna milk that shit like a Jersey Cow.
xoxo
Anna