This morning we’ll get ourselves up early (as early as we can, that is) and make brunch for my husband in celebration of Father’s Day. Talk about your rough year for him as well: leaving the comfort of the city he’d lived in for 15 years; moving across the country to a job market that is less than embracing; and watching your new wife suffer through cancer treatments. One thing that has been really beneficial for him is that he found a dojo that supports him as a teacher and another that supports him as a student. This past Friday he fought in his first MMA fight and won resoundingly by an arm bar in the second round. Through all of the stress of the past year the one thing that has kept him sane is going to work out with the guys... [Read more]

Last week when my DH had his interviews he said he felt really confident about both of them.  Both jobs were fulfilling the same function, but one was with a new contract and he was most excited about getting that one. Not only did he get an offer from the folks at my site, he also was offered the job on a new project down the street.  He starts on June 18th and couldn’t be happier. It’s nice to be getting so much good news these days. [Read more]

I’m not sure if somehow they’ve found me out here in cyberspace or if they’ve done a little research and figured  out that at around the year mark I should be “safe” to deal with again, but a lot of the folks who immediately disappeared after my diagnosis have started contacting me again.  It’s really difficult for me to open my email and have a “hey girl, what’s up?” message from someone who hadn’t responded to my emails or phone calls.  It tears me up to get a voicemail from someone who turned tail and ran. I have to say that I understand on some levels the amount of fear that cancer brings to people.  And I am a person who often puts her foot in her mouth in delicate situations, so I understand part of that as well. ... [Read more]

I’ve been saying that I wanted to do a century ride for about two years now and I keep getting derailed.  While spending some time on Google this past weekend I ran across the Hope On Wheels site and thought “I wish they had something like that close to where I live.”   Then I noticed that the contact us information said Nashville and the wheels started spinning in my head. The thing is, I’m a good eight hours from Nashville, and that seems like a ridiculously long way to go for a breast cancer fundraiser.  But my good friend Ivy lives in Nashville.  She and I met when we were both host parents on a parenting site and she is hands down one of the coolest people I’ve ever met (and quite handy around the house it seems).  When... [Read more]

It’s still a shock to see myself in the mirror some days: the very short extremely straight hair; the belly that is much rounder after a year of treatment; and the odd half-moon dent in the side of my breast. I won’t say that I turn away in horror, but there are plenty of days that I do a double take at the stranger in the mirror. I was delighted to stumble upon Elizabeth Gray-King’s blog and this painting that she shared in one of her posts. I don’t know if I would have the balls to pose semi-topless, but I appreciate the model’s bravery. [Read more]