Wild Wednesday!!

August 3/11.

This was the best Wednesday I've had for, - well, at least two weeks! Just kiddin' ya here. This day was pretty frickin' fantastic & hard to top. Right Cayr?

Carrie & me. I love this pic! You can really see how much alike we are. (only my opinion).

After my final treatment, Carrie & I were hoping to get a pic together. A man outside the hospital offered to snap the shot for us, and he did. When he asked why we were doing this photo, I told him my 16 radiation treatments were over. He informed us he had just started a round of 25 treatments for prostate cancer, and had completed #2. I almost cried.

My friend, Cynthia Mulligan (CITYNEWS reporter), a cancer survivor, told me way back in March, that one of these days, I would be the one to inspire others, as she did for me. I didn't believe her. Then, I met this man. Not that I inspired him. Far from it. But I felt such a connection, knowing what he's going thru. Before I could even say a word, he wished me the very best as he handed the camera back to me. I wished him the very same, with tears in my eyes.

Still can't believe my final day of radiation - (treatment #16), happened to coincide with the same day my great friends/family members, Franc & Mary, were set to entertain in the Wednesday Atrium concert series at Princess Margaret Hospital. Too bizarre that this was their scheduled performance day too!

And, a special surprise guest!!

Not only did Franc & Mary perform, but my brother-in-law, Garth of The Nylons, (Franc & Mary's bro), dropped by to appear with them! GENES reunited!! I was SOOOOOOOO surprised!!

Garth, clowning with Mary & Franc - They are the greatest!!

With my bro-in-law, Garth Mosbaugh, whom I have adored since he was a teenager. Through everything that's happened, we remain close and he is oh-so-special to me. It was a blast to see him perform old Genes numbers with Franc & Mary! (And The Nylons have a new CD out called Skintight!) They are in town to promote it and perform some concerts.

The Nylons - Gavin Hope, Tyrone Gabriel, Claude Morrison and Garth

With the Fabulous Franc, Marvellous Mary and Great Garth!! What a fantastic final radiation day with a concert "just for me!!" They even dedicated a song to me - Here Comes the Sun!

"Where's my stylist?" shot - out the door today!! The medical gown is no more!! Bye Bye blue monstrosity!! It's been real.

And the day's "number shot?" - NO numbers. On this, the 16th treatment day, only thumbs up! All is well and now, I'll spend some time recovering at home from all the burning. Carrie took my pic as stand-in "construction worker" today. I got cards, prezzies, you name it!

Lain in front, back row: Kate, Carrie, Tina Nodwell, Franc, Mary, Nancy

Today's table top fantasy? I went skinny dipping! Can you believe it? Not sure where it was, a lake somewhere in Ontario. It was picturesque and isolated. I was alone and just jumped in! Funny. What happens in radiation, stays in radiation. (except, of course, if you have a blog).

(something like THIS, I think).

Quite sure it represents the ultimate freedom I've been feeling, now that radiation is over. Only recall skinny dipping once in my life, while at a cottage on a beautiful secluded lake near North Bay with my boyfriend, when I was 19 (the "ultimate age of freedom," - at least, for me). What a time we had. I still remember what it was like - cold, exhilarating, fun & free. I don't expect to be doing it again, but, never say never I guess!! If the right person were to ask! - who knows! LOL Could happen!

I think I'm a little shyer now than I used to be, (although, there are those who would tell you otherwise!) Gotta work on being a bit bolder - more daring. Makes life more out there and exciting, right?

Table top Muzak today? Nothing! Seriously! They didn't playing ANYTHING!! (maybe they read my complaints the day before about Cry Me a River!! - and shut the whole system down!)

Didn't matter anyway. (Who needs music when you're splashing around in a lake with no clothes on)??

Once again, this imagination notion came from the suggestion of a friend who loves skinny dipping and jokes with me about it all the time! (Does this table top escape mean I really want to do MORE of this? Sure would cut back on bathing suit costs!!) I never think these crazy ideas given to me by friends will affect where my brain takes off, but it's happened a number of times. To quote Shatner, "Weird or WHAT??"

So, treatments are OVER!! Guess it's back to reality! (whatever THAT is!!) Don't think I KNOW what "normal" means anymore! - only, the "NEW normal!" - and the new normal is pretty OUT THERE and over-the-top! (But I'm getting used to it!!)

Thanks for a more-than-memorable day gang!! Can't imagine a day like this could EVER happen again!!

No surprises??

July 12/11.

So the first radiation appointment at PMH late this afternoon was fine! Went to the hospital, not feeling nervous in the least, (I mean, this is NOTHING compared to surgery!), and didn't take a tranquilizer or anything else. I've been completely drug-free for months. - However, am about to start Tamoxifen, to ward off recurrence...maybe tomorrow. We'll see. Will tell you all about the side effects asap. (Don't need anymore hot flashes thanks)! Intensity Entity will confirm, - 'Hot enough Babe'.

I threatened to wear my kickass silver stilettos for the first treatment today, (so you KNOW I have to stand by my word)! Brought them with me, but couldn't take a pic in the treatment room. (Them's the RULES!) This is the best I could do to "kick cancer in the butt," as my friend, Cynthia Mulligan of CITYNEWS, (who is pretty damn kickass herself!), often says! I told her about it in a FB message today. I'm following in her footsteps all the way. She wrote back to wish me well and tell me, "You will soon be a fellow graduate"! Can only hope Cynthia. Thanks for everything.

After the treatment, wanted to take a shot in the gown and heels, but camera wouldn't work. Finally got it to go, but only blurry. Bathroom photog style...best I could do!

Two young women "worked on me". They were both very nice and told me everything I should expect to feel. I was lying there, arm way over my head (ouch), staring at the ceiling, which was covered in these weird, psychedelic green neon zapper lights preparing to hit me. There was music playing. Strange, while these two women did their thing, I was hearing two ladies singing The Flower Duet for sopranos used in the Canuck flick "I've Heard the Mermaids Singing." Before I knew it, the treatment was over.

The "big surprise" I referred to in the previous blog entry, turned out to be the fact that I went into major shakes afterwards! Didn't think I was nervous, but after being told not to move at ALL, (and then, suddenly, everything started to itch!), practically went into convulsions when it was over! Hopefully this won't happen after EVERY treatment! When I left the hospital, tried to take a shot out front in the silver heels, when a man suddenly offered to do it for me! (hmmmmmmmm, guess these shoes work!) I offered to put his name on the blog, but he said he prefers to remain anonymous! OK then.

Kicking you in the butt cancer!

Will be back again for treatment number 2 on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
To quote Jim Carrey, as The Grinch, "But what would I WEAR??"

Who knows? (maybe I should dress as The Grinch!?!)