November 1st - Day One of Lung Cancer Awareness Month

I hope everyone is well, I have many things to touch on today, so here it goes!!

As many of you already know, my nonprofit is getting off of the ground fairly quickly, the website is officially up, but under MAJOR construction at the moment. However, please check it out and consider joining our gift program, the information is all there, it's just not completely organized and perfected yet.
You can check out CancerScore Today By Clicking Here Thank you in advance for your support and help.

Today also is November 1st! Where did the year go? November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Christine Dwyer, who happens to be my Media Relations Director for CancerScore Today (and is doing a fabulous job!) has an organization called Make Some Noise For Lung Cancer Awareness. Her website can be found by clicking Here

Christine has her hands full this month, as her organization is sponsoring Illuminate The Falls for Lung Cancer Awareness. On Wednesday, November 16th, from 8:15pm and again at 9:15pm (Eastern Standard Time) Niagara Falls will be illuminated with white lights in honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. In addition there will also be links for the live feed of the falls that night so EVERYONE can witness the event. The Live Feed Links are posted below. Check out the EVENT PAGE as well as the Story that was featured on About.com by clicking on these links: The EVENT PAGE and THE ABOUT.COM ARTICLE Please check out these links and help support Lung Cancer Awareness & Christine! The facebook page for Make Some Noise For Lung Cancer Awareness can be accessed HERE. 


All of the Links:


Make Some Noise for Lung Cancer Awareness Website
Facebook Page for Make Some Noise for Lung Cancer Awareness
The Event Page for Illuminate the Falls
The About.com Article about Illuminating the Falls


The Live Feed Links to Watch as Niagara Falls is Illuminated November 16th at 8:15pm and 9:15pm


http://www.niagarafallslive.com/american_falls_live_webcam.htm
http://www.niagarafallslive.com/Niagara_Falls_Webcam.htm
http://www.fallsviewcam.com/


I will be posting more about CancerScore Today very soon. In the meantime, please go to the event page and support Christine's cause, and check out how neat I know Niagara Falls is going to look!!! Support Lung Cancer Awareness!!!

My Bucket List Continued....

Have a bowl of Captain Crunch


Buy a star and have it named for someone

Ride an Elephant


Plant a Tree


Get your hair Cornrowed


Make Your Own Beer

Dye your hair


Throw a coin in the Fontana di Trevi in Rome

Finish a dissertation

Ride a gondola in Venice

See a live performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Take a helicopter ride over NYC

Go wine tasting in Sonoma County, California

Change my first name

Learn Sign Language

Roast Marshmallows in my backyard

Make Paper Dolls


Fly a Kite

So, Change of Plans... I'm making it to Vegas...

Leaving tomorrow. Enough said. So happy and relieved that I get to go!

I Figure It's Time to Check in and to Add Some New Bucket List Items :)

I hope everyone is doing well. I've had crazy doctor appointments this last week and ended up finding out I have Lymphedema in several spots, so I will begin treatment for that. But hey, it's not cancer, right? I'm counting my blessings.

So here's some updated bucket list items:

Smoke a BIG FAT cigar
Rearrange all the furniture in my living room
Leave my umbrella and take a walk in the summer rain
Have someone else clean my place from top to bottom
Build a Birdhouse
Talk a Cop out of a ticket (I've done this a bazillion times, lol)
Mosh
Watch a baby being born
Wear a fez, turban, or fedora (Thanks to John "Shockey" Komorowski)
Read or listen closely to King's "I Have a Dream" Speech
Perform a citizen's arrest
Vote
Re-think my stance on abortion
Plan the perfect April Fool's Day prank
Win an Argument
Let someone else win an Argument
Adopt a Greyhound
Drive a Maserati
Call my Mother
Get Call Waiting
Get Rid of Call Waiting

"If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right". ~Mary Kay Ash

Things Cancer Has Taught Me...

This may be another one of my ongoing "lists" because I know I'll miss lots of things cancer has taught me in just one post Anyway, today I just feel like taking a little time to remind myself some of the things I have learned from cancer. Some of the things I still tend to forget, even after going on 4 years of battling this horrible disease. In order to stay hopeful, I think it's important to keep some of these "things learned the hard way" in front of your mind, not in the back where they are simply forgotten until another rough day comes around.

Yes, cancer is one of the worst things that can happen to a 21 year old, however, I wouldn't trade in the experience for anything. It has made me the person I am today. Cancer has taught me true determination and how to reach deep inside of myself when I thought I had nothing left to give, and to find the strength and will somewhere in myself. It has taught me that I can do and accomplish anything.

1. The first thing I realized and said to myself after I processed and accepted that yes, I did have cancer and there was no more denying it was "Well, Crap. I guess I'm not really as indestructible as I thought, this can happen to me". I think everyone, whether they admit it or not, at least on the surface, believes that nothing will happen to them... it's always someone else, until it happens to you. I realized that I am not guaranteed another 50 years in this world and that I have to live every day for that day, not for the future, or in the past, but for TODAY. Each day is a gift.

2. Cancer has taught me to LOVE and TRULY appreciate my family, for everything they are, everything they have done, and everything they have done. I would never, ever have made it this far without them. They cry for me, they pray for me, they visit me, they make me STRONG.

3. Cancer has taught me to truly TREASURE my life I guess this is similar to number one, but it's taught me the value of life. It has taught me to be THANKFUL that I have the ability to walk around, go shopping, attend school, have a few drinks with the best friends I could ask for, to truly be able to LIVE.

4. Cancer has taught me that LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

5. I have learned who my TRUE friends are, and the friends who were never friends, I have slowly learned how to let go of the people who were not true friends, no matter how badly it may have hurt at the time. The people who matter in my life know it, and to me that's all that matters.

So yes, I want to get this up and posted, I've worked on it a while now. I have decided it definitely is going to be ongoing, because I can already think of more things I have learned from cancer on my journey, I don't want to get to lengthly either though, so be watching for additional posts

As always, love & hope,

Stacy

Latest Bucket List Items.....

Sit in First Class 


Have a truly amazing one - night stand ..... (Is this even possible??) Kidding...


Buy a $100 bottle of wine and share it with your oldest friends (Does this mean age, or length of friendship??...Again... Kidding :) )


Have a local restaurant deliver breakfast in bed for two


Send someone a "just thinking of you" card


Have your palm or tarot cards read

Walk on the beach in winter

Don't save for a few days (who HASN'T done this??)


Order myself a birthday cake 


It's been a rough day....and insomnia has gotten the best of me. So tired, but just can't sleep. Lots to do though, so I guess it can be a good thing. Definitely have lots of very good things going. Excited about a lot that is coming up. A more lengthy update later in the day.


Love & Hope,


Stacy

Lots and Lots of Great Things Going On!!

First Things First, some new and important Bucket List Items:

Attend Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball in Las Vegas - Will be accomplished this year! Have the plane tix and Event Tix.... now for the perfect costume. This party is rated the #1 Halloween Party in the world, and one of the top 10 parties in general. I cannot WAIT! Not to mention, it's in Las Vegas....Check it out Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball Site

Jump off the Stratosphere in Las Vegas - Also will be accomplished at the end of the month... LOVE Vegas! Check it out Here: Sky Jump Las Vegas Site

I have the BEST friends in the world, and I consider myself so, so, so incredibly lucky.

Next, my non-profit organization is coming along, slowly, but surely. Thanks to many people, I will be able to launch it soon, even if the initial website is just a blog temporarily. More details about the mission of the organization, etc. coming very soon.

A Tribute to JP

"Stupid cancer. We all want a new car, a new phone. A person who has cancer only wants one thing... to survive"

So, at this point, most of you probably know of the passing of one of my best friends, JP last week. I appreciate all of the support and kind words I've received from so many people. He was a wonderful, wonderful guy. Below is a recent picture of us.

 For JP:

I wish there was just one more day. One more time that he would tell me "Girl, you need Jesus", or "B*tch I WILL stab you" Or "Don't EVER touch my phone again" (Response to when I switched his new phone he didn't know how to work too well yet to Spanish... haha) We had many, many "inside" jokes that no one else really understands. JP, one of my best buddies... you are missed, so much, by so many. I'm trying not to be selfish, I really am, because obviously you were needed up there for something special God had in store for you, but sometimes I feel like I need you here more. I will never forget you or the amazing friendship we had. I have been so blessed to have you in my life, if only for a few short years. I know you're looking down on me, and right now that's bringing me comfort. I love you - You're my angel now.

 

More from my Bucket List....

I've been enjoying creating this.... so I thought I'd continue to share.

Fast for 3 days - just bread and water

Do a backflip on my Trampoline

Paint my bedroom red, black, or hot pink

Ride Space Mountain

Prepare a Lobster Dinner

Invent an identity

Surf

Sit in a skybox at a sporting event

Catch the bouquet

and last but not least tonight - Roll my own sushi :)

Something Different....

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend, I did! It went by too quick! 

So I decided to try something a little different today and use some images that really struck home for me. Enjoy! And I MAY decide to tag on some bucket list items at the end.... 

And for the VERY beginning of my Bucket List (I have SO many things).... The Bold items in red have already been accomplished. This is just a very random order, starting from the beginning of my list. So here it goes:

Attend the Olympics

Go Up in a Hot Air Balloon

Finish a marathon without throwing up

Learn to Sew …. Like actually be able to make things, not just sewing broken buttons.

Skinny Dip

Cut a Demo tape at a recording studio

Press Flowers

Learn to play an instrument

Venture cross country on a Harley

Catch fireflies

Learn to Sail

Attend a Catholic Mass WILLINGLY

Swim with Dolphins

Wow, I didn't realize out of this bunch that I have accomplished so many. There is still so much left though! And I'm afraid, no matter how long I live, whether it be until next week or for 70 more years I don't think I will accomplish them all.... But that's the fun of it I suppose :) Will add some more later on :)
Leave some comments, or any Bucket List ideas! 

Something I Received and Definitely Needed Today...

As many of you know, my birthday was 9/11... I received a birthday card from my piano teacher when I was younger with a piece of writing called "The Optimist Creed" I had never heard it before (maybe I am just behind on the times?) but I really needed it today... it really lifted me up. And I hope it does the same for all of my readers!!

The Optimist Creed

Promise yourself: To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. 

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all of your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and to give every living creature you meet a smile. 

To give so much to the improvement to yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and to happy to permit the presence of trouble.

I found this to be absolutely beautiful and wanted to share with everyone. Thank you to Mary G., My piano teacher for years for sending this in my birthday card. She did it in calligraphy and I am definitely having it framed, she is truly a beyond talented woman. Thank you Mrs. G for all you have given me in my life, and for keeping up with me, even when I fall behind. You are truly loved. 

P.S. How is everyone, especially all of my dedicated followers? I've missed our ranting and raving about life and would love to get back to it again. 

To New Beginnings....

This post has been a long time coming. So, I'm officially a quarter century years old as of yesterday, and the 4 year mark of the beginning of my battle is coming up very soon.

Things have been hectic, per usual, but I've also had a lot on my mind as well. I've met so many inspiring people throughout my battle with this horrible, horrible disease. I'm sick of seeing it take innocent lives way too early, and I continue to fight. 

Things have been almost too good lately, I've been so incredibly blessed with amazing people in my life, some new, some old, some re-kindled friendships. And for that, I cannot be more thankful. The support and help I receive from friends and family astonishes me every time I think about it. I would like to take a second to thank someone who has been such an inspiration in my life, Deb Overly. I met Deb when I was in high school, and you could never ask for a more supportive, loving, and encouraging individual. I consider myself so blessed to have Deb in my life. I wish everyone fighting this disease was fortunate enough to have a "Deb" in their life. 

And then there's the negative. The Whys.... The begging for answers. It goes through my mind every single day. I find myself trying to find reasons why I have this disease, and why so many other people end up suffering so much because of what this disease does to you not only physically, but psychologically. Since I was diagnosed, I've watched so many people lose their battle to this disease and I'm determined to make some sort of difference, in what exact way, I'm not yet positive. Right now my focus is on me, getting well for good, continuing my job search, and getting 100% healthy. 

Since my last post, almost 2 years ago, (GOSH, I cannot believe it's been so long) so much has happened. I lost my grandfather (mom's dad) last October, one of the greatest men I've ever met, and I miss him terribly. Everyone has their own struggles, and I am not one to judge another person's life or even compare it to what I have been through personally. That's not my job here. My goal is to reach out to other people and find a way to beat this thing.

Also, in the past two years, I've started quite an extensive list of "Things I want to Do Before I Die." I think I am going to start posting a few at a time as I continue to update, which, I promise, will be much more often. So along with school, job searching, and of course periodic checkups and medication changes, I've kept pretty busy. I also have started a list of "Things People Probably Don't Know About Me" which I will also try to keep updated. Here goes the first few:

Things People May Not Know About Me

When I love you, you have my whole heart. 

I love being up at the lake in the summer with my family, our "family week" when 20+ of us are staying in one house is something I look forward to every single year.

I make most decisions very quickly.

I love laughter and laughing.

I still find myself wondering why the heck life has to be so challenging at times. 

I HATE cancer and all of the people it has affected in my life. 

I have been a nail-biter as far back as I can remember, but have recently quit. 

Cancer has changed me and my life forever. 

And last but not least for today, I'm learning simplicity. Keeping things as simple as possible, and enjoying every minute of it. We only get one life, and I want to live it positively and happily. I thank a certain individual who knows who they are for helping me realize this. 

I think I will post the "things to do before I die" separately from my blog postings... I'm also looking into getting away from the blog and possibly going for an actual website. We will see what happens :) 

As always, to all of you out there who read and support this battle called cancer, thank you. And to those of you who are fighting the disease, don't give up. Keep on keeping on. This monster CAN be beat. And all of you who are supporting someone with cancer...thank you. Your positive attitude and all you do is beyond appreciated. 

So, there was a brief little update... I look forward to hearing  from some of my bloggers soon! I've missed my writing time:) I'll be working on another post this afternoon, I do have a lot to catch up on!!

<3 Stacy