On Vegas Time

Recovering from a fun weekend is hard. Recovering from a fun weekend in Vegas is even harder. It was marvelous - I enjoyed every second with my dear friends celebrating three fantastically wonderful people's birthdays (CS, CS's little bro, and AB's sister). My one hope is that the birthday girls (and boy) enjoyed how they rang in their new birth years. New birth years are significant to me and I think everyone should get to spend it with those that they love.

Anyway, back on topic. This trip consisted of a lot of firsts for me. It was my first time in Vegas as an adult, it was my first limo ride, it was my first Cirque du Soleil show, and it was my first time gambling. I also got the opportunity to meet some awesome people. These people will be (actually already are) major players in CS's life. It was neat for me to acutally meet those folks that I had only heard about. It's always nice to put a face/personality with a name.

There were parts that I didn't love so much - like the airport situation, but BECAUSE of the airport situation I got to spend more time with my friends, so I can't hate too much. Another thing I'm not loving is that I'm still on "Vegas Time"...it's not even West Coast time. There was very little sleep to be had during this trip, but as AB says "we didn't come to sleep." We came to party. And we did just that.

Just Breathe

Even winning the lottery wouldn't top how I'm feeling right now. A dear friend of mine is now cancer-free. CANCER-FREE. And I'm overwhelmed with emotion. I'm so happy. So, so very happy. Nothing can top this feeling. I must say, she continues to amaze me every single day. Her spirit, her courage, her confidence, her "ass kicking the cancer-ness." I knew she'd come out on top. I just knew it. Here's to you, my love, my dear AB!

I have had a day to absorb all of this. I keep pinching myself just to ensure it's not a dream. I guess it's because my family and I have had to deal with several situations of this nature, especially lately. And the outcome isn't always what we hope for. It's been an absolute rollercoaster. I don't want to say my Aunt C lost her battle with cancer. I hate that term "lost her battle." She didn't lose, she fought very hard until the last minute, and if that isn't the definition of a winner/warrior, then I don't know what is. Saying that she lost the battle means that cancer won. Cancer didn't win. Cancer will never win.

AB telling me that she is CANCER-FREE allows me (and I'm sure her too) to yell loud and clear, "FUCK YOU, CANCER." And I'm positive it is such a good feeling for her, her family, and for all of us - her friends.

It's over. Cancer lost. Now, we can all just breathe.

Even winning the lottery...

wouldn't top how I'm feeling right now. A dear friend of mine is now cancer-free. CANCER-FREE. And I'm overwhelmed with emotion. I'm so happy. So, so very happy. Nothing can top this feeling. I must say, she continues to amaze me every single day. Her spirit, her courage, her confidence, her "ass kicking the cancer-ness." I knew she'd come out on top. I just knew it. Here's to you, my love, my dear AB!

Dear Smoker

Dear Smoker,

Please stand in one place and smoke and do not walk down the street puffing away on your cigarette and then blowing it so that I walk directly into it. I don't need your health issues. Thanks!

MKP

I've been reading a lot lately, and it seems that second hand smoke is causing just as much cancer as actually smoking the cigarette. I have to admit that I'm quite happy that restaurants, bars and clubs are going to a smoke-free environment. What I want to know, though, is the root cause of smoking. Why do people start in the first place? When I was in NC, I learned that it was the governor who advocated smoking because it would help the tobacco industry. That's why everyone and their brother either chewed or smoked. At that, many of the folks I spoke to admitted to starting at the ripe age of 14. So young. But, I'm serious. Do people start because of stress? Do they start because of boredom? Do they start because of peer pressure? Maybe it's a combination...maybe I'm completely off the mark.

There's one image that will never, ever leave my head. I was doing an internship at the hospital one summer with the PR director. We were walking together to another building and she lit her cigarette up (and was blowing smoke away from me to "protect my young lungs"). As we approached the other building, there was an emphysema patient outside in a wheelchair hooked up to an oxygen tank and taking short breaths as if he was gasping for air and the PR director said in her deep, raspy voice, "Yeah, if I don't quit this shit, that's going to be me in a few years." The sad thing is that the patient looked longingly at the cigarette and I wanted to say, "That's what got you where you are in the first place!!!"

Everyone's got a vice, I'm not denying that. And I know many smokers and love them dearly (which is why I'm supportive when they decide to quit). I've been told many times that quitting is an act that is self-motivated. I just hope the motivation kicks in before the oxygen tank switches on.