Good phone

The ability to give good phone is important. A good speaking voice is important. I've known this for years, as the best still is and always has been Ian's Godfather...the king of good phone.

Anyway, for those of you who know what I'm talking about...I'll let you know how this one works out. It felt comfortable... and I don't think this one will completely BOLT at the idea of meeting a witch. So, this one will get past a phone conversation, YA KNOW! And no matter what, you MUST give me credit for putting myself out there...you know how much I'd rather just stay home with the boys, or my fav chicas.

Tommorrow night is a Safari moonlighter, then practice Saturday morning and off to Huntington Beach for another Half Marathon on Sunday...followed by Super Bowl (oh yeah) and SLEEP!

Thinking about doing the Pasadena in March...anyone?

Happy almost Friday my friends!
xo

I never thought...

that this day would come in my lifetime. The skeptic in me wonders how many voted for our new President because of his color but then I wonder, how many didn't for the same reason.

Growing up where I did, and exposed to more than most white folk, I am proud of our society and look forward to 8 years of change.

I wish us all...a great future, and I wish the President and his family...love and contentment.

If this doesn't scream me...what does?

True Friendship (With none of that Sissy Crap!!!! )
Are you tired of those sissy "friendship" poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality? Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little smiley faces here, just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.
1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.
2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
3. When you smile -- I will know you finally got laid.
4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.
5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.
6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.
7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want to catch whatever you have.
8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.
9. This is my oath..... I pledge it to the end. "Why?" you may ask; "because you are my friend".

Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.

And remember.... when life hands you Lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me over!!!!!

HAPPY...

Holidays to everyone I love. If you're reading this and you know I love you, know that I wish you and your family a new year filled with great health, great contentment, great joy, and a reasonable level of non-stress... and a little prosperity couldn't hurt! If you're reading this and either know I don't like you, or are here even though I don't want you here... Happy New Year and GO AWAY!

I never wish bad...I just wish the peeps I love all that is good!
xo

life

Today I am listening to what my innerds have been saying all week (which isn't good, because my innerds have been a bit flu-ish). Anyway, here is my list of things/ people I'd like to do without (your list is probably different):

• having the Oncologist as one of my regularly scheduled visits, and wishing that the frequency went to longer between instead of shorter


• metal in my body, which actually gets cold in the cold weather, and causes me to stiffen up like an old person in the cold


• the man who does not realize how very lucky he is that I love him at all, and that I have not ever sat in judgement...just tried to be Jiminy Cricket


• the man who does not realize that I'm really what I am, and that I will never be more then that for him...because I just don't care


• the Trader Joe's that has become such a Corporation that they don't care about the fact that they are responsible for my injury and that I will never again be able to do anything having to do with physical labor...and therefore they fired me! For the first time since my injury I will say this: TRADER JOE'S SUCKS!

Here are some good things:

• I can get up every morning, and drive through my fabulous Starbuck's


• My baby boy has an adorable girlfriend, and they know that sex will get them both killed (if not by me, by her 3 older brothers)


• My house may not be finished, but I am putting it back together


• Today is our office holiday party, so we get to leave early for lunch, and then we are being treated to a massage or facial (my choice, as I trust no one with my aches and pains)


• Tomorrow I get to do the SM-Venice 10k with Tara (will miss Becka), then meet Ian and his girl so she can meet the grandparents, then to the nail shop holiday party, then to the OC for the sis' B&K

A few complaints, but life is lovely!

Happy Friday to all, xo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME...

It is not actually my brithday, but today is the 1st anniversary of my first of 2 back surgeries...tomorrow is the 1st anniversary of my 2nd back surgery. And this is a picture of Colleen visiting me in the hospital on day 6 of my stay: I smelled bad, but she got close anyway (she loves me).

It was the Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving last year, and it was the scariest thing I'd ever done, but also my only choice...I could not live my life like that. And I had 100% confidence in my surgeon, Dr. Thomas Hopkins in Encino (yes, this is my plug for him).

Since those days 1 year ago I:

• went on a family cruise (this was a hoot)
• received final divorce papers (OMG...how fabulous)
• started walking
• was diagnosed with melanoma
• had surgery and got all of the cancer removed
• visit the dermatologist and oncologist every 3 months
• walked a marathon (26.2 miles)
• raised $4100.00 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• lost 33 lbs
• am mentoring new Team in Training participants, and am preparing for many half and full marathon events
• have a boss who rocks/ have a sis-in-law who is really a sis
• have a family others would LOVE to have (and they share well)

My life is so blessed. I hope you and your family have the blessing of time together this holiday season... and if it isn't the family you're born into, I hope it's the family you've created.

Love, hugs and Happy Thanksgiving to all,

S

PATHETIC!

It has been one month since my last post, but really a lifetime!

After much cursing and anger (me), and many phone calls back and forth (again, me)... I made it to San Francisco... finally got into a hotel room, and finally got registered for the Marathon. The weekend was perfect, except for one thing: the pink Nike wall. Every participant was listed on that wall...I will be next year! Everyone should have the opportunity to feel, at least once in their life, the way I felt at the end of the Marathon; not the overwhelming exhaustion, but the overwhelming sense of accomplishment. One year ago this month, I could not have accomplished this awesome task, and feel quite humbled by the experience.

The following weekend was the Ontario Expo, and hanging out with the "G" chicas. The posse that is so cool, I'm not sure how I got lucky enough to be included. OMG: what a FABulous group of women! You all surely lighten my heart when ever we're together! And the weekend after this was a "G" crop...oh, 2 weekends in a row: SCORE! xo

Good thing I thought to vote by mail because on 11/3, when they sucked out 1 ovarian cyst, 1 ovary and one fallopian tube I was going nowhere for a few days. It's amazing: first that they can suck all that shit out of 2 tiny holes, and then that that ittie-bittie surgery knocked me on my ass for days! Apparently the doctor inserted a bag into my abdomen and bagged the cyst before popping it, so that any cancer wouldn't spread...but it was benign, so all is GREAT!

I completely missed election day, and only vaguely remember David telling me that Obama is our new President, before I rolled over and continued my very long sleep. I am fascinated by the process, and hope that you all made the choice to vote...I told Ian that unless you vote, you have no right to voice your opinion. For my darling friends: 8 sucks, and we will continue to fight to overturn it... I truly believe it was a twist on words, or is that me being naive?

I saw the doctor yesterday for a follow-up. He proclaimed himself a brilliant surgeon. My grandmother would have told him to be careful not to break his arm, patting himself on the back so much. Grammy was surely a tough cookie, but fiercely protective and quick witted...she was truly a Frankel woman, and I'm proud to follow in those footsteps. Then I headed to Topanga for some retail therapy: I LOVE H&M (even if I do size up on their silly European-sized pants)!

Today was my first full day back at work, and my butt is kicked. I'm still working on putting the house together. Perhaps by New Year?

I'm back with Team in Training for the Spring season...we're training for a variety of events, including the Carlsbad Half, the Surf City Marathon, etc. L.A. was just switched to summer, since as of yesterday they moved it to Memorial weekend: I won't do it, as 4 weeks later I'll be in Seattle for the inaugural Rock & Roll Marathon (SO me-ish)! When did I stop being a sidelines girl and start being an ATHLETE?

Join us! Call me and join the team! OR don't join the team, and come do events with me: City of Angels, Carlsbad, Surf City...I know there are more, but I can't keep track!

We are 16 days from Thanksgiving. Today I am thankful for being cancer-free and pain-free. I am blessed.