Quadruple Tribulation

Is anybody still out there?
If so, take a breath...a nice, deep breath.

I am sorry to say, that it is no longer a Triple Tribulation.
It has Quadrupled.

Cancer has metastasized to the Fourth Sister...Lisa.

My Birthday Buddy, Lisa, was diagnosed this week with Breast Cancer.
How stupid is this?

I am numb.

Lisa is exactly five years younger than me.
She is 47 years old and way too young to face this battle.
Lisa's life has been filled with many challenges, but I know that she can rise to this occasion
and Conquer Cancer!

Lisa moved up from Florida to help care for Paula. She had been living with Paula until recently.
When Lisa found out she had Breast CA, she was still able to access her sense of humor.
Lisa, with a giggle, said to me, "I caught it from Paula."

So, what now brown cow?
Where do we go from here?
How do we muster up the energy to go through this...again?

Well, we're off to a good start.
The sistas supported Lisa in her first visit with the surgeon.
Gail, Debbie and I were there for Lisa and will be there for Lisa...always.

I will continue my journey through Cancer Land with my Birthday Buddy.

Again, it is not the trip I wanted to take...
and I would prefer to have traveled a different road...
but I guess I don't have a choice...
so here we go...
again.

Are you ready?
Fasten your seatbelts.
We're in for a bumpy ride and bumpy blogging.

White, White Wine

Today is Sunday.
Another great Sunday.

Thank you God.

Yesterday I felt sick-with-a-cold.
Today I feel-good.
No headaches.
No pressure.
No bra.

Just a hang out in your worst/best sweats
and do a little of this
and a little of that.

Ooooo...
I just had a good idea.
I think I will take one whole day off from work to BLOG.
Like the old days...
but with a whole new twist...

A good twist.

Today I am cooking with wine.
Boy am I cookin'...and twistin'...with wine!!!

I am Tom Cruisin' around my kitchen.

Hummmm........
White wine is goooooooood.

Yes, I know Michele, you like Red...any Red.
I Love Red.

But...sometimes
White is Right.

If Neil Diamond and Bob Marley can sing about Red, Red Wine...
I can Blog about White, White Wine.

Anyway,
Tonight,
Sunday Night,
I am being very creative...
... with chicken.

Exotic natural-organic rice
mixed with a can of
all preservatives-additives-cream-of-mushroom soup
and steamed boneless slices of poor-little-chicken BREASTS.

Buzzzzz
A quick trip back to the kitchen.
The rice is al-dente.
The canned green beans are al-mushie.

Cooking with Wine is Fun!

Stirring the rice in beat with Rhiana,
while inhaling the scent of
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.

Mmmmm...
The Spice of Life
right here...
in my kitchen.

Life is good.

The music and vapors
penetrate the house
filling it with
incense
reminiscent
of Sunday Mass at St. Helen's.

No church choir here.
Just me and Kiss 108.

A quick caress
of my
stove
dishwasher
and wall oven -
with a torn-T-shirt
and a can of spray cleaner.

Shiny-Stainless-Steel
What a turn on.

Cooking dinner with wine is great foreplay.
Try it.
You'll like it.

Who needs a whole day off to BLOG?

My best blogs were when I was just living
and letting my friends know
about ME ...
...living.

Today I am living...
and I am blogging.

A little Riskie Business Blogging going on.

But hey, that's ok.

I am having a little fun with Breasts and Wine

White Wine.
Healthy Breasts.

I'm Fine.
It's about Thyme!




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My Michele

Michele, Ma Belle

These are words that go together well,

My Michele...

I would like to introduce to you, Michele, aka Sandcastle.

Michele was my best friend in grammar school.

We grew up together on Doris Ave in Norwell.

Her brother Mark, was my second boyfriend.

Her sister Mina was and still is my sister Gail's best friend.

Her brother Michael, was married to my sister Paula, when they were five years old.

Michele recently came back into my daily life via blogging.
Little did I know,
that someone so special to me when I was 10
would become dear to my heart at 50.

Memories of Michele:

Skating on Jacobs Pond

Bumble Bee Tuna Sandwiches made with Miracle Whip

Drawing at her Little Round Table

Playing in Puddles

Riding Bikes

Sharing My First Signs of Puberty

Fighting

Making up

Fighting

Laughing

New Memories of Michele:

Laughing at her comebacks to my blogs.

Crying at her words of encouragement.

Enjoying her sarcasm, wit, and sentiments.

Thank you Michele for being with me every step of the way while
I blogged my heart out.

Your daily routine of reading my blog was like a vigil to me.

I am grateful for your support and for your diligence in teaching me about
blogging my way through Cancer.

Me and My Michele

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Hi Everyone

Just a quick note to say hi.
I guess I have been cheating by sending Joelle's excerts, but hey...it was for a good cause.
Don't chya think??!!


It's Wednesday night. Just had dinner with my 5 sisters, Maureen and Carol Draheim.

Carol is a friend of the family. We lived in a two-family house in Quincy with the Draheim's when I was 3, 4, or 5ish.


Earliest recollections:


Riding down the hill on Dartmouth Street on my tricycle; falling off my tricycle and really hurting myself. Not sure if I got stitches or not.


My first boyfriend...Lenny. He was Italian. Imagine, a boyfriend at 4 yrs old.


Eating a whole bottle of St. Joseph Children's aspirin and loving it.
Not only did it taste good...I loved the attention of having to be rushed to the Dr.'s office and having my stomach pumped.
Sicko that I was...am!


And Carol.

Beautiful Carol.


She is 72 years-old and she looks 50. She is one of the most beautiful women that I know.
Never ages.
Timeless beauty...like Anne.
Old beautiful souls.


Carol blessed me and my sisters tonight.; annointing us with oil and hugs.
I guess we needed it, eh?

We are blessed to have had Carol in our lives.
Our mother is gone, but Carol is here .
She reminds us of what is good and pure.
Carol speaks of Angels, God and of the Swanson Girls.

God is good.
God is Great.
Let us thank him for our food...and for Carol.
Amen.


Must get to sleep.
Tomorrow is my last day at work before our trip to D.C.


Looking forward to seeing Jenna.
Sad that I cannot see Joelle and my nieces walk the 3-Day.

However, my heart is big enough to spread between the two cities.

There's enough love to go around.
Don't chya think???!!!





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Paula's People Update!

Newsflash From Joelle:

A new update on the fundraising progress of Paula's People!

Due to an overwhelming amount of response over the past few hours Joelle has reached her fundraising goal!

Thank you everybody!

Rather than exceed that goal we are hoping you can extend your generosity to the other team members of the Paula's People team, including Kristi (walking her 3rd 3-Day) as well as Jessie and Laura (both first timers like Joelle). In order to walk all four women must raise $2,200, a daunting and yet reachable goal with your help!


Please feel free to donate online at their sites and read about their individual experiences.


Kristi: http://08.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/BostonEvent?pg=personal&fr_id=1182&fr_id=1182&px=1358457


Jessie: http://08.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/BostonEvent?pg=personal&fr_id=1182&fr_id=1182&px=1522342


Laura: http://08.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/BostonEvent?pg=personal&fr_id=1182&fr_id=1182&px=2239662


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An Excert from Joelle's Journal

Help me walk towards a cure...
Donate to Joelle!
Join Joelle's Team!
Paula's People
MY PROGRESS
Goal: $2,200.00Achieved: $1,958.00

3 days, 60 miles... help me get through the sweat & smiles!

Breast Cancer effects thousands of women each year and in my family, this past year alone Breast Cancer has taken a target at us, 3 times over.

My Aunt Paula, a 5 year survivor was re-diagnosed in August of 2007 with Stage IV, after she had just completed her 4th 3-Day walk.

Following Paula's diagnosis, my mother, Trisha, went in for her routine yearly mammogram in which they discovered a lump and she was given the diagnosis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

A month later, Christmas Day, my family was told that my Auntie Debbie, also my Godmother, had Breast Cancer.

These three sisters have joined together along with the constant support of their two other sisters and battled together through the past months.

It has been a rollercoaster ride, through numerous surgeries, endless treatments and mountains of medications, but we have all rode the ride together.
The strength, determination and endurance of my entire family has given me the inspiration to walk the Breast Cancer 3-Day.

In this amazing journey, I will join my cousin Kristi. a weathered veteran as she embarks on her 3rd 3-Day. Also, alongside me will be my cousins Jessie and Laura, who like me are walking their first 3-Day. The three of us will walk, forming 'Paula's People' in honor of our Aunt (Laura's mother) who continues to fight and inspire us with her zest for life and will to live.

Together we will also support each other through the sweat and smiles of 3 days, 60 miles.

So please help us in our efforts to raise money and awareness so that some day hopefully, families, like ours don't have to worry about Breast Cancer. Please donate to our cause and help me reach (and hopefully surpass) my goal of $2,200! Sweating & Smiling towards a Cure.

Love, Joelle


P.S. from Trisha...
Thank you to my friends and family that have contributed to this wonderful cause.
I am blessed to have you all in my life.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to watch Kristi, Joelle, Laura and Jessie cross the finish line.
Greg and I will be in Washington D.C. helping Jenna begin her own journey.
However, my heart and soul will be in Massachusetts with Paula's People.

You go girls!

xo
Me

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Joelle's Journey

Hi Everyone!
Miss me?
I truly have missed my blogging, but duty calls.
Trying to make a living, reviving a relationship and getting healthy.
A girl's gotta do, what a girl's gotta do. Ya know???!!!

Joelle asked me to post a blog about her own upcoming journey...The Breast Cancer 3-Day.
I think it only fitting that I use her words instead of my own.

So, in the words of my biggest supporter, I give you ...Joelle.

Hello Family & Friends - my amazing and generous supporters!

I can't believe it is a week away from the start of the 2008 Breast Cancer 3-Day! One week from today I, along with the Paula's People Team, will begin at Gillette Stadium on our 60 mile journey towards the finish line! It's starting to finally hit me that all the fundraising and dedication will pay off next week when I join thousands of other walkers in this incredible walk!

I'm starting to battle the pre-walk jitters and excitement between checking the weather forecast constantly (fingers crossed for cool, non-humid temps and no rain!), going over the packing and supply checklist and trying to squeeze in a few last walks to break in the new sneakers!
Speaking of new sneakers, when I went to Marathon Sports (who offers discounts to the 3-Day walkers!) there was another customer there being fitted for sneakers. We struck up conversation when she overheard me tell the salesman that I needed sneakers for the 3-Day. Having walked a prior 3-Day she began telling me a bit about her experience and also offered up some helpful tips and words of encouragement. I shared my family's experience with Breast Cancer over the past few years, more so this year and told her my reasons for walking alongside my cousins. Before she left, she came over and gave me some money for a donation and wished me the best of luck. I was so sincerely touched and impressed by this stranger's bigheartedness and generosity.

I have also been touched and impressed with all of my family and friends support, encouragement and most importantly your generosity. It may sound cliché, but without you this would not have been possible. With your help, I have raised $1800 dollars and donations are ongoing! If you still would like to donate, feel free to contact me or visit my walker site at http://08.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/BostonEvent?px=1764986&pg=personal&fr_id=1182. I can not even express how much your support means to me and it will definitely help me push through the sweat and smiles that 60 miles is sure to bring!

If anyone is interested, the 3-Day puts out a support guide for the supporters of the walkers! I have included the list of cheering stations and the location of the closing ceremony. Aside from my family's battle against Breast Cancer, this closing ceremony to the walk was what inspired me to become a walker! I highly recommend and encourage it! This year it's located on the beautiful waterfront campus of UMASS Boston so bring a picnic, chairs and signs and sit back and relax and watch the walkers (who can be highly entertaining in our various states!) and cheer us on as we take those last few steps!

Typically walkers begin crossing the finish line between 11am-12pm. In the past few years, the team, Paula's People has crossed between 1pm-2pm. Closing ceremonies begin at 3:30 and last usually about an hour. Anyone who would like to come, I'd LOVE to see you there or at one of the cheering stations along the way during the few days! I've listed all the locations at the bottom of this letter! I will also have my cell phone on periodically throughout the walk so please feel free to call as well!

Again, I thank you so very much for your continued support of myself, my family and Team Paula's People! And maybe, we'll see you next year with your sneakers laced up to join us on 60 miles! Yes, I haven't even crossed the finish line on my first 3-Day and I'm making plans for the second, perhaps in Denver or San Diego!

See you at the finish line!

Kristi (Team Captain!), Laura and Jessie are your feet ready!?!

Love, Joelle