one of my former students, JD. He just graduated this year and will be traveling onto Northwest Missouri State University next year. His family is absolutely amazing and has done nothing but support me in everything that I do (school wise and now breast cancer fight wise). He was brave enough to shave his head to support me and plans on keeping it that way until my hair grows back. Thanks JD, I 'perciate it.
I really don't want to become a huge bother, but I'd really like for people to actually SUPPORT my foundation instead of just telling me they're going too. Even though I do not have the artwork proofs for the Drummin' for the Cure or Kickin' it! shirts, they are ready to be ordered (bu I need 12 shirts per order to get it rolling and I'm halfway there on both). The Drummin' for the Cure picture that can be seen on this post is the basic gist for that tshirt, and the Kickin' it! can be found through the "Kickin' Cancer's A$$" link.
I don't normally beg, and I don't want to become a pest, but PLEASE if you have any inkling that you want to buy a shirt, sticks, bracelets (currently waiting on the second batch to arrive) please please PLEASE get me your money. Remember that checks need to be made out to me for now, put "Drummin' for the Cure" in the memo line so when I have my tax-exempt status I can send you a receipt.
Shirts are $15
Sticks are $15
Bracelets are $5
Coming Soon: Car Decals, and chemo blankets, and other assorted items as we come across them...
will Monday be any better? I sure hope so. I don't know the last time I spent pretty much the *entire* day laid out flat on my back not wanting to move. I'm sure doing that didn't make the body aches any better, but damn I was tired and achey yesterday. Don't get me wrong, I had some short spurts of energy where I cleaned up the upstairs, did the dishes, flipped over a load of laundry, or hit the *B-A-double L* for a while but sheesh; I think I took a total of 2 or 3, 2 hour naps yesterday. The gals weren't kidding when they told me the second round of the Neulasta shot (bone marrow stimulation) could knock me flat. Dang. Today is another day, today is a new day, today will be a better day. I WILL be practicing yoga this morning (as soon as I'm done hitting the B-A-double L for the doggies and as soon as I finish my coffee. I got up early at least and went for a fast paced walk to get my joints moving and I think that's helped some.
Some good points so far, I'm not experiencing nausea like I did last time, and I don't have the raw "pukey" throat feeling that I did for the entire week last time. That's super nice; let's hope it stays that way.
One thing I know for sure...going to Drum Line rehearsal tomorrow and Wednesday is going to do me a world of good. I miss my kiddos, the sounds of the drums, and how they can just effortlessly make me forget all my problems and make me feel like the best teacher/"mother" in the world. Until tomorrow, though, I will enjoy a day of yoga, lounging at the pool and having Rachel stay with us for a few days this week. That should be great fun!
This is dedicated to all of the Phenomenal Women that I know in my life. Thank you for everything that you are and do for me. You are all truly Phenomenal...
Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Five years ago, at six o'clock on this day, we said "I do" to one another. We promised to take care of one another through sickness and silliness, to love and cherish each other even when we drive one another a little batty, and of course to support one another through good times and bad. Thank you for being my rock, my supporter, my biggest champion, and my compass as we move through this journey together. I know it's scary and I know it's absurdly stupid but I thank you for being my voice of reason, keeping me sane, and loving me even though I am bald. You are the man I love and the one I will grow old with. Thank you for choosing me, and continuing to choose me. I love you.
or so I'm being told, hahaha. I shaved my head last night, or rather my friends did it for me. I am so blessed and lucky to have such a good group of girlfriends, guy friends and of course an amazing hubby.
Everyone started coming over around 6pm to have some snackies and "liquid courage" *ha!*. We made sure to get some "before" pictures and everyone kept asking me "Are you sure it's falling out?" "Are you sure you want to do this tonight?", so I illustrated for them exactly *WHY* I wanted to do it that night by taking my side ponytail down and showing them the handful of hair that came out with the elastic band. Then to make my point even more I made sure to slowly and carefully run my hand though my hair and that wad of hair that came out definitely made everyone stand up and take notice. *wide eyed stare*
So finally 7 o'clock came and I didn't think I could procrastinate anymore. I told everyone to start moving upstairs so we could get the "festivities" of the night started, and of course that was like herding ants at a certain point but they finally all made it up.
I made my speech, thanked everyone for being there and then took the first cut. THAT was hard. I'm sure the last time I cut my own hair in such a fashion was with my mother's pinking shears when I was 5 or something like that. I had already decided that I wanted it cut into a mullet first then into a faux-hawk, then we went into more of a mohawk by shaving the sides down, then finally buzzed it all off. Everyone was yelling at me "You're so HOT!" "Oh you look so good with short hair!" "You should leave it like that! It's awesome!" and I, of course, didn't believe them. I still don't really because it's just so surreal to look at myself with no hair on my head. There's definitely going to be an adjustment period for me...
Huge thanks goes out to the following people....
My wonderful hubby Tim; on the eve of our 5th wedding anniversary (tomorrow) I want to take a moment and thank you for being my honey. Thank you for taking part in shaving my head and for telling me I still look beautiful. You were the only one that I wanted actually shaving my head and I must admit I didn't know if you were going to do it or not, so thank you very much for that. I love you to the depths of my soul and am so happy that I have you alongside me on this journey. Love you!
My bestest friend in the whole wide world, Mischa; Thank you for listening to me cry on the phone yesterday morning as I called to tell you I decided to shave my head; and thank you even more for coming. I know it's a drive from Lawrence and it made your workday even longer but it meant the world to me that you were there *and* that you brought my beautiful goddaughter with you. Love you!
My other bestest friend in the whole wide world, Dana; Thank you for everything. The encouraging smiles, the shoulder to cry on, for taking the first cut of my hair, for wrapping locks up in ribbon, for telling me I'm beautiful even though I know I'm kind of odd looking right now. Mostly just for being you. You're a class act and a beautiful friend. Thank you for being in my life. Love you!
My dear friend Teddy; How cool is it that you came?!?! Thank you so much for that. I'm so glad that you got to finally meet my doggies, see my house and hang out with Tim and I somewhere other than the restaurant. Thank you for shaving your head along with me as well. You're one cool dude and I'm very thankful and blessed to have you in my life. Love you!
My girlfriends Angie and Anne (and their beautiful daughters Addie and Johnna); Thank you for coming over and hanging with me before the party started. I haven't had anyone come over and play with scarves with me yet and that was just what I needed. The girls are getting *so* big I can hardly believe it. They were too cute playing with my shoes and running around the house. :) Come over anytime you want. Love you both!!!
The fabulous Stacie: Thank you so very much for coming over last night to help me take my hair off. I hope you got some good practice in with those scissors! ;) As always you are a fabulous friend and I am blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for being there, it meant the world to me. Love you!
The incomporable Heather and Jeff: Thank you, Jeff, for being brave enough to come and for manning the camera for a little while. You're an awesome dude and I'm very happy to count you among our friends. Heather!! Thank you for the wine, for being you, for being silly, making me smile, and telling me I looked good with no hair. Thank you for taking awesome pictures of the party. I truly appreciate it and am glad you're my friend. Love you both!
Rachel, Jay, Thomas, Shawna, Marilyn and Miss Myka; Thank you all so so SO very much for surprising me and coming to my party. That meant the world to me. I miss you all and miss GC but we're finding ways to get around all of that aren't we? Thanks for being crazy (Jay I *still* can't believe you shaved your head), for being fun, and for making me laugh even though I was losing my hair. You're all awesome and I can't wait to see you again. Love you all!
I hope I didn't forget anybody! Please let me know if I did! Thanks again for a wonderful night everyone. Here's to being bald and making it beautiful in the only way I can; with Stout style!
http://tinyurl.com/376bdln
