Chemo Party #2 with sister Gigi

Race for the Cure

My friend Anne Marder, my book club and a few others have decided to enter a team for the Race for Cure on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Cal Expo, Sacramento. Although Anne tried to name the team boob trotters, that was taken, so she settled on the brilliant and creative name of Jaime's Team. She set a very reasonable goal of $500.00. No pressure. If you want to partake by joining the walk or making a donation please feel free. I like to think that I might be able to walk for a short while that morning with my friends. We shall see. Calvin has participated before with good friend Pam Kunkel and her family. I have also had numerous friends participate in the longer events, all for a good cause.

Not sure if the links listed below will actually work. You can always contact Anne if you have any problems or questions. Here is her message.

Won't you consider joining us, and bringing daughters and friends? (sons) Go to http://www.sackomen.org/ for more information and to register. Go to the home page, click Race for the Cure, then find the Team Rank and click to find Jaime's Team, which will allow you to register. You do not need to make a donation other than to register, unless you are so moved. We will organize more as we know who will be participating. Please send this information on to anyone who might be interested in doing the event!
Thanks all!
Anne
a.marder@comcast.net

Okay, I am frustrated and can't quite get this link to work so copy and paste it into your browser or follow the instructions above.

http://komen.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=301523&lis=0&kntae301523=6D527EDC14E34CF8A120B62BBD2FB071&team=3367249%0A

Update Hair and Chemo

I made my last public appearance at my book club meeting last week with my short hair. Just as my doctor predicted it was starting to come out in clumps at about 2 weeks after my first treatment. As soon as I got home Mark got out the clippers and started in on my lovely highlighted blond locks. First he took the bulk off and then buzzed me down to a #2. I look just like Calvin after he had he head shaved for water polo during championships each fall. We do have the same facial structure although his eyebrows are perfectly shaped and mine always need help. I think I had come to terms with loosing the hair earlier in the week. Although I shed a tear it didn't last long. I was more worried about Mark nicking me with the clippers. He didn't. He did a great job. It was probably harder on him than on me. So now its scarves (need some work on how to tie those), hats or nothing. Oh and my wig. I actually didn't get the Denver wig, ended up trading it for a shorter one called Wind Swept. It's a little more styled than I'm used to... but makes me look like I am not sick. Wind Swept made her debut at lunch last Thursday and then at again at a business meeting last Friday. I ran into an old childhood friend at the meeting. I told her that in the wig I feel like I am playing "dress up" again. It's been confusing looking in the mirror lately. I have gone from long hair, to the short bob, to the buzz cut and then to a wig. Mark says he is used to looking at me with the buzz and that I look great. Like I said before, I guess I will keep him! The hair is actually still falling out, getting a bit patchy in some places. But it's part of the process of getting better.

I had my second chemo treatment. Also part of getting better. But of course it really doesn't make you feel better. I had a bit harder time tolerating the chemo medication this time. I had to stop for a while, have an additional dose of benadryl and then they had to slow down the drip line. As a consequence I was there for 6 hours. My Mom and sister were there with me so we just had a "chemo party" and covered about every topic you can imagine. I know I will feel very crummy (understatement) for a few days but then I can say I am half way done with chemo! Actually I have decided to call it a "chemo hangover"... leftover from the "chemo party" that I attended on Monday. Don't think I have ever had a hangover for this many days.

Wish I could make it to the movie theater but will have to settle for video on demand. Watched "Australia" which I think was panned by the critics. But come on... Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman and the spectacular scenery of the outback? How could it be bad. I thought it was a great epic! Would watch it again. Warning... it is long. Glad I could watch it in the luxury of my own home and take breaks when necessary. Then I resorted to a teenage chick flick. Not having a daughter I never knew much about the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" books and movies. But I watched the second movie and it helped me through the hangover. Liked it a lot except for the fact that all the girls have beautiful hair and mine is gone. Mark tells me I look normal. He tried to tell me that lots of women are wearing their hair really short these days... I told him he was "full of shit"!

Love Short Hair

I have really enjoyed my short hair cut! Everyone I see seems to love it. Your earrings really show more with short hair. I find that I am wearing different earrings that I barely wore in the past. Unfortunately the time with my hair is fleeting. I am afraid to brush my hair. Each time I run my fingers through my it I have about 20 -30 hairs in my fingers. I will probably have Mark shave it off on Wednesday... How fair is it for a woman to loose both her breasts and hair at the same time? Actually I do have small breasts forming and have another appointment tomorrow. I am growing by the week! I did pick up my wig and was loaned two others from a fellow member of this club. Watch out, I might have different personalities when I wear different wigs. This could be fun. Also, won't have to shave my legs for the next few months. Now that is a positive side effect from chemo.

Finished the book I was reading about Julia Child. I really enjoyed it. I like biographies, love food and love France so how could I go wrong. I remember Julia Child's unique laugh and watching her do food demonstrations on TV. Now we have the Food Network and all those cooking competitions. I think she started it all. And she didn't publish her book until 1961 when she was (I think) 49 years old. Then her career took off. Evidence that there is still a lot to look forward to for all of us who continue to celebrate life after 50. "My Life in France" by Julia Child and Alex Proud-homme. (By the way... is the proper way to cite a book with underlines? I can't seem to figure out how to do that in the blog so it will have to be quotes.)

Now I have moved on to another famous chef, Alice Waters. "Alice Waters and Chez Panisse" by Thomas McNamee. One of the first art works that Mark and I purchased was a print designed by friends of ours for Chez Panisse in 1982. It still hangs in our house today. I think Alice had a poster designed for the restaurant every year. Some of my fellow Berkeley friends might remember if this is right. Not that we frequented her restaurant. I remember going once. But according to the introduction of the book, she really got things started with "fresh, local, seasonal and possible organic ingredients". Her restaurant is credited as the most "influential" restaurant in the U.S. I look forward to this read. My book club is reading "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell ("The Tipping Point"). Mark, Calvin and I all read it over the Christmas holidays. Definitely a worthwhile book.

Obviously I am trying to focus on things other than my hair. I could talk about "chemo brain"... a term used to describe the mental cloudiness experienced during chemo. I am a bit more forgetful, but trying really hard to stay on top of my game. Please forgive me if I do forget something important... its all part of this ride.

Hair Cut Day

I had been advised by many to cut my hair short so that when it starts to fall out (and I shave my head) it is not such a shocking change. I am sure it still will not be any fun at all to have chunks of hair falling out ... but I have always wanted to see what I would look like with short hair so what the heck. I had a friend's niece come to the house and voila! here is the new me. I haven't had short hair since about 4th grade. It feels weird not to have anything hanging on my neck, almost like I am missing something. But kind of fun...
"cute and sassy" as described by my friend Julie. Mark even said he liked it... and he is the one who always loved my long hair. Well, another new experience. Aren't I having fun!

Last week I did feel pretty darn crummy from the chemo. This week I feel much better except for the expanders. My body is not reacting well to them. I have an appointment for a "pump up" on Friday and will discuss with the plastic surgeon then. In the meantime Hi to you all!

Would You Recognize Me?

Casey and Jaime / Poison