eatthefrostingfirst

DH and I are big fans of Billy Joel so when we knew he was playing in Fenway Park again this year it was no question we would go. As always, he is a fabulous entertainer but this year I think the entertainment surrounding my seats was worth the price of my tickets. Dear 20 somethings 2 rows in front of me. Please put your phones down. The 7 selfies you tried to take during "The Entertainer" because I'm guessing you didn't know the song was a bit tiresome to watch. I tried desperately to photo bomb but you only got the top of my new cropped do. And Blondie texting throughout the show- tell me why you bothered to attend? Kudos to the mom and teen daughter a few seats down. I loved that you attended a concert together and loved your daughter even more for knowing every word to Big Shot. I did have to chuckle as you told the couple in front of you to stop yapping. It's hard not to have to shout in a concert if you want to talk but I agree with you, a concert real...

So a new sister turned me on to a new blog which turned me on to a challenge. A challenge that doesn't require me running a distance or trekking through mud- I'm in. Away we go...   1. Share anything you want about your cancer diagnosis (or your loved one’s). Share your age, cancer type, stage, when you were diagnosed, family history (if any), your reaction, how you learned the news, or whatever you’re comfortable sharing.  Round one was age 41. "JUST DCIS". I always felt the need to defend myself amongst fellow cancer pals. Because mine was "only" DCIS and I "only" needed a single mastectomy I felt like a fraud. Like I wasn't worthy of the cancer label. Which is just plain stupid because who the hell wants the label? Fast forward 7 years and woo hoo- I'm worthy. Not only am I worthy but I'm a fluke because I got invasive cancer on the side I had a mastectomy on. I'm talked about during tumor boards and amongst surgeons an...

I was tired of the scarves that I once felt okay about. I missed having hair that I could run my hands through and although the ease of hopping out of the shower and going in 5 minutes flat has been lovely; it sucks at the same time. So I made the leap and made an appointment with my hair stylist to get my 1.5 inch of hair colored. I wasn't about to lose the scarf in public until the gray was gone so off I went to the salon. And I walked in... in a scarf. Naturally walking into a salon with a head covering got me some looks. I mean, if you're going to get your hair done you kind of have to show your hair. But was still petrified of the world seeing me exposed. I still feel like I scream "cancer girl" and I suppose I will for a while longer.  Until I can sport a short bob or something that makes me a feel a bit more like "me". And it's not like the scarf doesn't scream cancer girl either but I feel like it's more known. You see the s...

Since becoming a parent I base my calendar year on the school year. Therefore; the year is almost over. Youngest comes home from overnight camp tomorrow and the re-entry of life begins. It has been 7 weeks of the summer of "oldest". He doesn't have to give in on decisions like restaurants or tv shows. He has been able to walk around the house without his little brother commenting on his___ (insert anything because that's what little brothers do). I know deep down there's some kind of love between the two of them but I know neither is excited for the year to begin. Same goes for youngest. He has been away for 7 weeks and I'm guessing that he missed none of us except the dog. (Or perhaps the ability to walk into the bathroom and shower without flip flops on). He has not been told to work on his summer reading, 12 hours of math, brush his hair, wash his feet, or floss. Somehow the 15 boys he has been living with are not nearly as annoying as his brother ...

I have to laugh out loud when the oncologist asks me :" So, how have you been sleeping?" Oh you nice man..I haven't slept since 2003. Isn't that when you became a Mother? Why yes, yes it is. Things that make you go...hmmm... I am queen of worrying. DH will not beg to differ. Honestly I could teach a class on it- I'm THAT good. I'm not sure I was always this way and pretty much blame motherhood, but, in my defense, oldest had a rocky start to life. He was almost 2, I believe, and he wasn't clapping. He was in Early Intervention and I became an expert on learning what "crossing the midline" meant. He had a tracheostomy and tubes and was delayed, but the fact that he wasn't clapping was the bane of my existence. Fast forward and oldest is 14 and youngest is 12. Oh what I wouldn't do to have clapping replace  food allergies, food struggles, attitudes, nightly reading struggles,  speech delays, medical issues, braces, social issues...

DH took the day off today and we went to the beach. No kids. No more daily radiation trips. Some clouds Feet in sand Cute kids chasing seagulls Seagulls eating a bag of popcorn Seagulls circling food the minute people got up. Ocean at my fingertips For 2 whole hours I rested. Really rested. Really breathed in and out without cancer cancer cancer cancer slamming into my brain. Ate ice cream out of a waffle cone (because screw the 20 lbs when you're done with two huge treatment chapters. I deserve the ice cream) A matter of fact friends, YOU deserve the ice cream. Eat the ice cream. And get it in a cone (because for some reason it tastes better). It's summer and if you're worried about your bikini bod I'm going to tell you something that is 100% truth. LIFE CAN CHANGE IN AN INSTANT. In a instant!! Do you hear me? No lie. Eat the damned ice cream with the cone. And sit by the beach while you can. And if you're kids are with you just take some ...