Get thru the night! - (& watch out! I have nails now!)

February 18/12.

Ever since being diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago, I've done a lot of things I never imagined I'd do. Cancer messes not only with the body, but the mind, heart & soul. (just in case you didn't know). No excuses. No prisoners. Shit happens & you roll with it, day by day. Some of it, - fantastically fun - ("Intensity Entity"), - never felt anything LIKE it. Absolutely WILD! - Some of it, emotionally painful - (tons 'o tears). The rest of it, just funny as hell. (Carrie? Prickles? Loretta? Franelle? Joanne? Bruce? Bill?) Bring on the laughs! The more, the better. ONLY way to let your freak flag fly! Won't reveal EVERYTHING I've done to cope. Just too frickin' out there. No one would believe it anyway! (unless you've followed this blog from Day ONE). Best concept I CAN give comes from John Lennon. "Whatever gets you thru the night, it's alright, it's alright." Agree with you there Lennon! Go with what works!

Mmmmmmm hmmmmmmmmm....What's helped? Let's see. Mega-blonde hair colour, piles of makeup, tight clothes, lacey La Senza/La Vie En Rose lingerie, high-top boots, wild & crazy emails, radiation table-top fantasies, "Me days," 3 Stooges marathons (an absolute MUST),  Jerry Lewis, House, (Hugh Laurie!), fab voice-over course with Jason Deline, (with demo recording still-to-come on February 21st), Friendly Greek take-out, Henkell, (duh), hot HOT showers, Body Shop vanilla-scented cream, trying to learn digi-photography, Howard Stern, Robin Quivers, the Wack Pack, NewsTalk 1010's Mike Bullard, Jim Richards & Dave Agar, Carrie's "Prickles the porcupine" puppet & videos, family, friends and - the famous flying fickle finger of fate! (not sure if Dick & Dan got fickle finger manicures!) - More to come on that in a sec.

 ("Say good night Dick." - "Good night Dick.") - Sock it to me!!

To quote Norman Bates from Psycho - "We all go a little mad sometimes, haven't you?"

Uh, yep, indeed.

That being said, did something today I've only done ONCE in my life. (for my wedding day). Had a manicure! WTF?  Anyone who knows me must be freaking to read this tidbit of info. UNHEARD of.

Before shot


Being the "calm, cool, collected" individual I am, (NOT!) - I've made annual new years resolutions for DECADES to stop biting my nails. Those "promises" always lasted exactly ONE day. Then, 364 days later, I tried again, with the same result. Over & over & over. But for SOME reason, THIS year, something snapped or zapped. Don't know WHY, don't know HOW, but it did. Had so many OTHER stresses in my life, I just stopped biting! Started to think, "Hey, maybe I can actually get my nails done!" (ha ha! - ya, this is the BEFORE pic...NOT great, but the best my nails have been since, well...ever). I know, a joke, right??

Then, in a grocery store line-up the other day, saw a woman with nails like this! (even BETTER than this actually). I told her she has GORGEOUS nails, and said I've stopped biting and want MINE to look like HERS. She advised me, "Go to a manicurist and ask for Shellac. You'll NEVER want to bite your nails again!" After that brief conversation, all I could think about was Shellac!

Made an appointment for 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Urban Nails (said to be the BEST salon on the Danforth!) I've been there several times to buy gift cards for other people, but never frequented the place for myself! - (what's the point, when you have no nails?)

Upon entering, encountered the stunning Christine at reception. Perfect hair, makeup, clothing and so very charming. I told her I wanted to meet Kevin Nguyen, (who I'd read about online. He owns the place).

He turned out to be two feet away from me, working on a client!  Asked him if I could take pics at his salon and run them on my blog.  He was very nice, said OK, and even offered to take pics for me! (Gave him the blog address so he can read this later).

After checking my nails, (with a bit of a sigh, LOL), Kevin "assigned me" to Kelly. She turned out to be the loveliest young woman from Vietnam (who grew up in the same town as Kevin!) They worked together at a salon in Cabbagetown and then he launched his own business and she works with him at the Danforth location, three days a week (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). She has a nine-and-a-half-month old baby boy and looks after him the rest of the week. Most members of her family live in Toronto now. She moved to T.O. in 2003, with NO skills in English. You'd never know it. I clearly understood every word she said and she is just a delight. I told her, when I come back to Urban Nails, I want to request her, personally. Such a sweetheart. I recommend her highly! - and great at her job!

Kevin kindly came over several times and took pics of Kelly working on my nails. This is the high-speed curing light, to dry nails in just two minutes! Coolio! They also turned on the massage chair, which shocked the hell out of me! Incredible! I think I need to BUY one!

Since my nails are so short, I chose the most natural, light pink Shellac shade. (next time, when my nails are a bit longer, I'll go a little more vibrant).

After shot

This may not look like much of anything to those who've had great nails all their lives, - but for me?
Almost life-changing! Gak! (and I'm NOT trying to give you the finger - of fate, or otherwise!) Thank you Kevin & Kelly! As Arnold Schwarzenegger would say, "I'll be back!"

http://www.urbannails.ca/

FINALLY!

May 13/11

Bring it ON McCready!!

This DARN blog site (blogger.com) has been out of service for 24 hours! Wouldn't you KNOW, it HAD to happen on the ONE day I had the BIGGEST news! Anyone following this must have been wondering what the HECK was going on and why I hadn't posted the latest!

So - here it is. (drum roll please).

After seeing "the Man," Dr. David McCready at Princess Margaret Hospital this morning, the word on the pathology results is:

NO spread to the lymph nodes!
They GOT clean margins!
NO further surgery!

There's a good chance I won't need chemo (which would be my dream).
WILL need radiation (which I already knew).

Will soon have meetings with a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist to work out schedules for future radiation procedures.

The docs told Sam and me it was the BEST NEWS they could possibly have to give! I could barely breathe (in between tears).

Just after getting the good news - Relief!

TOLD you Friday the 13th has always been lucky for me!

Called Carrie right away! (she was so happy she cried. Are you surprised?) Sam texted the kids. Called my Dad, my parents-in-law, Auntie Ray, my cousins, Kevan and Marilyn, sister-in-law Carolyn and some friends and emailed my two other sisters-in-law, Jan and Debbie. They were ALL jumping for joy.

My best friends, Franelle and Joanne (and Joanne's husband Bruce), are so happy for me and sent these messages).

Friday the 13th is still our lucky day!!!!!!!
Love, Franelle
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Yaaaayyy!

We couldn't be more excited! See? The good news is they had caught it so early. There was something positive about this. Couldn't be happier if it was our own armpits and lymph nodes and, well, whatever. Thank God and as thrilled as could be. Don't worry about the blog, celebrate your health. Happy news. Happy day. We're tickled, (as long as we're talking about armpits). Great going.
Love and enjoy the big news. Always in our thoughts,

Bruce and Joanne
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Received MANY more wonderful responses and kind messages on Facebook and want to thank EVERYONE who was pulling for me. The fight's not over yet, but I'm just SO happy to finally KNOW what I'm dealing with and it's all good!

My long battle with courage, led me to look up that word and this is some of what I found.

“Courage is something you just can’t be afraid to have!”
- Frank Burns – M*A*S*H*

“Courage is admitting that you’re afraid and facing that fear directly. Courage is thinking big, aiming high and shooting far. It’s taking a dream and doing anything, risking everything, and stopping at nothing to make it a reality”.
- Caroline Kent

“There comes a time for courage.”
-Jill Loring - (thanks Mum)

Cowardly Lion:
“What makes a king out of a slave?
What makes the flag on the mast to wave?
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist
or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder?
What makes the dawn come up like thunder?
What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the ape in apricot?
Whatta they got that I ain’t got”?

Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman: “Courage”!

Lion: “You can say that again! Huh?”


Now, go on! Get outta here Cowardly Lion! - Right out the window!

Friday the 13th

May 11/11

This Friday’s all-important appointment to see my surgeon, Dr. David McCready, has been moved up from 11:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Princess Margaret Hospital. (So, I’ll be learning the pathology report results two and a half hours sooner!)

During my initial consult with Dr. McCready back in March, he told me we would meet again two weeks following my surgery to “map out a treatment plan.” That plan all hinges on what the results have to say. Best case scenario - (which I’m hoping for and thinking positively about) – is clean margins, no spread and no lymph node involvement. After that, it’s on to radiation - or whatever else the Doc has up his sleeve.

And why SHOULDN’T it be good news? So WHAT if it’s going to be delivered to me on Friday the 13th? That’s always been my LUCKY day. If you’ve read this blog, you already know about the infamous and sneaky Silver sisters.

I met Franelle, Joanne and Valerie Silver back on Friday March the 13th, 1970, (yep, – while waiting at the Toronto airport to greet our teen idol, Bobby Sherman who was coming to town for a concert).


Peace & Love Babe!

I didn’t know it then, but meeting the Silvers turned out to be one of the best and luckiest days of my life! There’s no way even to CONTEMPLATE what my life would have been like without them. Thinking back, several of my boyfriends back then would never have had a date with me, if not for Franelle & Joanne, “covering” for me, (in case my Mum, or anyone else who wanted to interfere, called, looking for me!) – They always had a “line” ready to explain where I was! Bobby brought us all together, and the shenanigans we got up to over the years – truly unbelievable.

The first time I ever flew to Hollywood (my big dream at the time), was with Franelle and Joanne when I was 17. (As Sinatra sings, “It was a very good year”). My Mother was a nervous wreck, considering Hollywood was “sin city” in her mind.

Here’s how we looked on the day we travelled to York Mills subway station to catch a bus to the airport and then take off for a couple of weeks in L.A. (after saving money for a year, from low-paying jobs, or (in MY case), a part-time job, to get there). The trip “cemented” our friendship, as you’ll see.

Me, Joanne & Franelle – fresh-faced kids off to L.A. (1973)

We had such a blast, visiting Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to put our feet in the movie star’s (CEMENT – get it?) footprints, going to TV tapings, looking for celebs, and staying in what we THOUGHT was a fabulous place called the Hollywood-Vine Motel, (it turned out to be a fleabag joint on the strip), but we loved every minute of it!

Our room at the Hollywood-Vine – (not exactly The Ritz!)

Franelle looks at “the view” from our 2nd floor room

Franelle & Joanne with famous footprints at Grauman’s

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Franelle had big ambitions of becoming a TV comedy writer (and she later DID, winning an Emmy for her work on The Carol Burnett Show!) We’d been corresponding with a famous TV writer, Robert C. Dennis who scripted more than 500 episodes of shows like The Mod Squad, Dragnet, Emergency, The FBI, Kojak, Starsky and Hutch and so many others. Strangely, “Robert C,” had been born in Courtright, Ontario, but ended up in California! He invited us to drop by his Hollywood Hills home to talk about the writing biz. We saw stacks and stacks of his scripts, (he even GAVE us a few copies!), and we had such an exciting time visiting with him and his wife. He was very encouraging to Franelle about her goals. Sadly, Robert C. passed away of cancer in 1983. We have never forgotten him.

Me, Joanne and Franelle meet writer Robert C. Dennis

When Franelle and Joanne moved away to live in L.A., I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to see them much anymore, but fate intervened and I was unexpectedly hired by Global TV as an entertainment reporter. Little did I know I’d soon be flying to Hollywood for movie junket interviews about once a month, so we were able to get together all the time. Valerie remained in Toronto (like me), so we would all hook up together whenever Franelle or Joanne would fly back home.

Valerie, Franelle & Joanne Silver with Joanne’s son, Andrew Kirschbaum

The Silver sisters have remained my closest pals for 40 years and their friendship has meant the world to me. Even now, so far away, they’ve been completely and whole-heartedly involved in my current predicament, supporting me in more ways than I can even write about in this blog! (some of you may understand what I mean). So why SHOULDN’T I believe that EVERY Friday the 13th will forever and always be my lucky day?

Oh, and on top of all this, in later years, my son Max and I started watching Friday the 13th movies together. Winning! As a lifelong horror movie fanatic, I was thrilled to discover HE loved them as much as me! We’ve shared a ton of fun, screams and laughter ever since, over the scary antics of Jason Voorhees.


Jason comes calling! – Friday the 13th

So, bring it on Dr. McCready! See you at 9 a.m. - on Friday - (the 13th).

Bobby Sherman!

March 13/11

Today marks the 41-year anniversary of the day I met my best friends, Franelle, Joanne and Valerie Silver. It happened at the Toronto airport on March 13th, 1970, when we were teeny boppers awaiting the arrival of our idol, Bobby Sherman. He was coming to town to perform concerts at the O'Keefe Centre (as it was called way back then!) If it hadn't been for Bobby, these three unbelievable women would never have entered my life and THAT is something I can't even fathom. The crazy things we've done together over the decades are unforgettable and I love those girls.



I decided to call and email them, as I always do, every March 13th. Hadn't spoken to Franelle in quite a while, and this time, had to break the news about my breast cancer. She was great about the whole thing, just as you'd expect your best friend to be. Franelle is always loaded with suggestions and ideas. Naturally, we talked a little about Bobby and what he's up to now. He became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) who volunteers with the Los Angeles Police Department. He works with paramedics and gives CPR and first aid classes.

After our chat, I felt much better and decided to go out to buy a few groceries. Was only gone for about 10 minutes and was just pulling up in front of my house when my cell phone rang. It was my son Max. He said, "Mum! Mum! BOBBY SHERMAN just called!!!"
I shrieked and burst out laughing, realizing that sneaky Franelle must have arranged the call. WHY did I go out? I missed him! But when I got inside, I discovered he'd left a fabulous message.

Franelle told him about my health issues and he immediately agreed to call. I know his voice SO well after a lifetime of listening to it. (and interviewing him several times over the years). He sent me his best wishes and love, called me darlin', and told me, "You will overcome!"



I called him back (from the call display number) and got his machine. The message I left started off fine - I was calm, cool and collected, thanking him for the call. But as I tried to tell him what it meant to me, I completely lost it, choking up and sputtering through tears. I was 14 again! I ended the call with Bobby's own famous words, "Peace & Love Babe!" When I hung up, my husband said, "Now he'll NEVER call you back!" I just laughed. Not true. Bobby has heard crying girls in person AND on the phone for many years. He's used to it. Don't you think that was about the sweetest thing for your teen idol to do? (not to mention, what it means to have a friend like Franelle who would arrange that for me!)

How was I to know that Bobby's special phone call would lead to a very unusual event the next day?