Happy Birthdays!

Couple of quick shout outs for birthdays...

Yesterday my cousin Randi turned 36! She is a fighter and a kind person. I don't know if she knows how much she means to me, but it I had to call someone my sister, she would be it (along with her sister Jill of course). When I am with her, I just feel at peace and such a strong connection with my family (both those who are still with us and those who have passed on). She just amazes me!

Today my Grandma would have turned 87. I truly would have loved to see how beautiful she would be at 87. Grams was intelligent and full of style, class and grace. They just don't make women like her anymore. I can still hear her Boston accent and smell her perfume and cigarettes. She was taken from us all too soon, but we never doubted her love and all the joy her grandchildren brought to her life.

Happy Birthday to 2 of my favorite women! I love you always!

Its official!!!

I'm all registered for October 9th! Now, to just finish training and beat my personal time of 34:12!!!

CelebratePink 5K Road Race & Walk (2010): "CelebratePink 5K Road Race & Walk (2010)"

Back from the brink...

Its been a crazy week and a half!!!

Last weekend (not this past one, the one before that) I took the 4+ hour drive from NY to NH to visit my darling cousin (but might as well be my sister) Randi and her family. Had an absolute blast! Not only was I able to spend time with Randi, Rich and the girls...we also went down to MA to visit my other cousin Brett and his family. It was a weekend full of happiness, warmth and reconnecting with some of the most important people in my life. The down side? Keep reading

I now am getting over an unconfirmed case of H1N1. Randi's clan had been sick and the youngest was really sick while I was there. So, I got back into town VERY early on Tuesday, went to work and was back home after lunch with a pounding headache, killer sore throat and a fever. I basically didn't move much until Monday morning when I had to get back to work. Of course I moved to take Lupe out and a quick run for soup and supplies, but that was it.

I feel much better, but still not 100%. The fever is long gone and so are the aches, but the cough, sore throat, headaches and lack of energy are not fully gone yet. It was quite the battle and Saturday night I didn't know if I was going to be able to stop coughing or to get the nose to stop bleeding. Obviously, I did and am taking it easy as I fully recover from this.

Looking forward to next week and seeing family for the holiday...organizing a small get together with family on the day after Thanksgiving and hope to see one of my friends from grade school, middle school and high school while we are both "home" for the weekend. Only sad part, miss seeing BF on her birthday...snarf!

Not the most meaninful post, but I'm back which is a good thing. :)

Its October already?

Which means fall, baseball playoffs, candy corn, Halloween and Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

This is a disease that has rocked my life too many times...(chronological in order of diagnosis)

Auntie Steffi - fought and beat it twice, once when I was a teenager and the second time just a couple of years ago.

Mom - fought and beat it in 2005. Treatment took a lot out of her, but I know she was proud to consider herself a breast cancer survivor.

Naoko - fought and beat it in 2005/6 as well. She is an amazing woman who kept her battle very private, but it worked!

Randi - okay, what do you do when one of the people you consider your sister tells you she has breast cancer at 32 and is 5 1/2 months pregnant? Happened in 2007 and after treatment and many surgeries later (and some still to come), she is even more beautiful and stronger than ever before. And did I mention that beautiful daughter of hers?

Julie - in the fight of her life and doing wonderfully! Julie just finished her first round of chemo and is gearing up for her second when she returns to CA next week. I had the pleasure of seeing her and her 15 month old adorable little boy, Cooper, last Friday. It was amazing day and she truly inspires me.

So, make sure you check yourself this month and stop and remember those who are fighting and fought...those who have won and those who have lost. Let's hope there is a cure for this soon!

Love to all!!!

Minor Meltdown

Okay, I know this is silly and strange to post, but I had a minor meltdown this morning. Since finding out about Julie's breast cancer, I've been trying to get the nerve to perform self exams. So, today was the day I stopped procrasinating and decided to do it. I couldn't!!! I freaked out and cried instead.

I know they say ignorance is bliss, but this isn't something to be ignorant about. I remember being so upset at my Mom when she told me that she knew about her lump for over 6 months but was too scared to do anything about it. I also know that early detection saves lives, cases in point, Julie and Randi. So why can't I suck it up and do it? Am I afraid of what I may find? Well, yeah, who wouldn't be?! Or is it just being scared of what Julie is facing? Or maybe both?!

So I'm thinking that I will set the 24th of each month as my day to check. 24 is a significant number in my life (parents' birthdays and anniversary) and its a date I won't forget. Now, to just get the nerve to do it... *sigh*