Now before I start talking, please remember that I AM a breast cancer survivor.  And with this said, I have the utmost respect for breast cancer survivors and the battle they fight.  I also have the utmost respect for the charities that help raise funds to support research for breast cancer survivors, and the impact that they make.  I am 100% sure this helped to save my life, but there are two things I would like to say, well and maybe three.

First, I don’t really understand why breast cancer gets so much attention.  There are so many cancers out there, and they all SUCK!  I mean…SUCK!  And some more then others.  All the treatments that I went through for my breast were horrible.  The surgeries, the chemo, the radiation, the embarrassment, and the total loss of personal dignity.  And on the funny side was radiation.  For Pete’s sake! For those of you who might not know, I had pictures taken, 5 nurses measuring me, making molds and fussing about doing their job, and then if that was not bad enough, when it came time to have lines drawn on my chest, boob and neck with a permanent marker, it was a man that marched in with the marker!  I had to ask him, how “he” got that job!

But I for one, have a friend who had anal cancer and having all this same stuff done with my bootie in the air, might in my book, be a bit worse.

So why not fight, I am mean fight to have ALL cancers defeated.  I mean, I don’t think there is a anal cancer month? 

So I say we have a “All Cancer Month”.  We fight as a group, as a country, as a nation as the world to cure a disease that effects us all no matter what body part.  No matter who, where, what, man, women and children…let’s fight!!

I think this bothers more people then we think.  One of the first questions I get asked about the book is, is this just for breast cancer?  And my reply is that it is for all cancers.  And I make a very good point of that in the book.

So although there is more I would like to say, for now I want to end by telling you that I am making this an “All Cancer Month”.  So, when you see me, or my posters, or even the book cover, it will be in purple.  Purple is the color for ALL CANCERS!  Keep in mind, I am not disrespecting any cancer….I myself am fighting to cure ALL CANCERS!  Please join me!

We just found out that we are unable to sell her book or mine at the event to raise money for this wonderful organization.  Because of this, I have an offer.

Anyone who would like to buy the book (and pattern)  from the website on Sunday and Monday, September 27th and 28th, will be donating $5.00 to “MomswithCancer”.  Yes, you will be helping an amazing organization that helps mothers with babysitting, meals, groceries, rides to their appointments, house cleaning and help with their medical and utility bills.  You should feel wonderful about yourself for helping moms with cancer!!  What a great feeling!  I feel great about it and hope that you will help me help them. What a perfect time to get the book for a mom you know and be able to tell her how you are helping her and others like her.

So for every book purchased (and pattern) for these two days, $5.00 from each book (and pattern) will go directly to their non-profit organization.

After all in a perfect world, that is what it is all about…helping, supporting and loving each other!

Let’s set a record….place your orders and I will tell you how much we raised on Wednesday!!!

After Tuesday, I will continue to support my two other charities, Healing Odyssey and AWOL. 

Stay tuned, on Friday I will help out another great group of women!!

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I met two wonderful women.  They both took me in on my very first day of our support group.  They had been there, they had been “veterans”, they were making it through and took me under their wings (hence the theme for my video, being true life).  They were wonderful!  We all had our days and during our treatments, we took turns.  On days we all felt good we went to lunch and took turns at each other’s houses.  On days one didn’t, the other two went to the one who didn’t.  We were a great support for each other and they were a huge support and kept me going. 

The very first “Race for the Cure” I signed up to do it with them.  When the day came, I was too sick to go.  I spent the afternoon watching the TV, because the local news had clips of the race and I searched desperately for both of them.  There was so many people, I could not spot them, but tired my best to be there in spirit, even though I was very sick.  I promised both of them we would all do it together the next year.  The next year came and they were both gone.  I spent that race with my wonderful family and friends walking that race for Lynn and Chris.

When I said earlier that I did not know what “Race for the Cure” was…I do now.  Not only for myself and the fact that I have survived, but for those who are working and fighting hard to survive at this very moment,  and with a very heavy heart for those who have not.

But this year, I get to do something amazing.  Not only do I get to be there in a booth, to spread the word about my book, about what I think is a very positive side to surviving, and something that I hope will help others, but again I get to help a organization that I think does an amazing job!

There is several organizations out there that help survivors and the fight against cancer and all do a truly amazing job, some get more press then others which is wonderful and helps us all, but there are some that might not be as well known, but change lives everyday for cancer survivors.  That is what I think about the two  I am supporting, they do an amazing job and I can speak first hand about their effect on women.  So, I will continue to support them all the way.  But at the race, I get to help one other.  At the race I get to be in the booth with “Momswithcancer”.  Momswithcancer is a 501c3 that is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of mothers facing cancer while meeting the needs of their children.  It is an amazing organization.  Check them out at www.momswithcancer.org  Momswithcancer also has a book that they will be selling for the organization.  This book is written by DeAnna Rice’s young daughter who writes about her experience with her mom having cancer.  Truly wonderful.

Plus every book that I sell in connection with this day, although I will continue to donate to HO and AWOL (with every book sale), for the Race for the Cure day, I will donate $5 from each book sold to MomswithCancer.

I hope all of you will stop by, say Hi, meet DeAnna and just have an all around great day!!  And while you do…feel wonderful about yourself for supporting those we love, for supporting ourselves, for supporting those we miss and for continuing to fight to help others!!

Thanks so much for all your support, I would not find it possible to help these organizations as much without the sale of my books and your help.

This is definitely a “Cheerleader” day for all of us…get out there and “CHEER YOURSELF ON”!!

Peggy losing her hair! Or someone said her "wig"!

Vicki & I at the show....look at those smiles!

Wow...there they are....my books! I am so proud!

Well, Vicki, Peggy and I are all back safe and sound from Northern California.  We had a wonderful fun-filled weekend for our first show together in the Bay Area of San Francisco.

Vicki Riley from DinkyBaby.com arrived up north late on Tuesday in order to set-up on Wednesday.  Peggy (the cheerleader doll) and I arrived Wednesday afternoon to meet Vicki for dinner and to get ready for our big day on Thursday.

We had a great show at the Fairgrounds.  We took Peggy and the book and showed the whole north county.  I met wonderful people at the show and had a great time. 

I sold several books and Peggy patterns, but the best part was how happy everyone was to buy the book.  All but one (she was a one year cancer survivor and bought it for herself) bought the book for a friend, sister, or loved one, and once they took a look at it, realized it was upbeat and humorous, they were thrilled they could get something to make someone they love, laugh, cry, giggle and realize they are not alone in this battle they are fighting.  And I got some wonderful, warm, grateful hugs that made me cry!

That is what it is all about.  It is about helping, giving back and taking something so “”sucky” and trying to make it a little better.  It is about sharing, about saying “hey…. I have been there, and I made it through with my humor intact”.  In this journey over the weekend, it was about having those who love us, be able to “do something” to feel good about making even one moment better for those they care about.  We forget how hard it is for them.  We have our head down, our fight on and are dealing with the monster, but they are on the outside looking in, hands tied, doing all they can to love us, support us,  and let us know they are there, but it is still a helpless feeling.  So this, this made me cry.  To know that I made someone feel better, and that they can make someone they love feel better, makes me cry for joy!!

**Check the blog tomorrow night for some exciting news for this weekend!

Speaking at the Healing Odyssey Luncheon

The "Real" Peggy and my step-dad Bob..taking a break!

All set-up and ready to sign

Signing my very first book

Well my first book signing, as most of you know, was this past Saturday.  It was at the Mission Viejo Readers Festival and it was a great time!  I truly enjoyed myself and had so many wonderful people stop by.  My Mom, Peggy and step-dad, Bob where there helping out, as well as my good friends Li’ Barb, Elva and Michelle and that was not it, we had all kinds of folks stop by for a visit.  My brother Bob and his wife Linda drove up from San Diego and brought all their friends, lots of teammates from the dragon boat team, and even my mom’s neighbors and friends, Cathy, Marge and Sue, plus just people at the fair.  I signed books, visited, laughed and got to meet all kinds of nice people and it was success!  What a wonderful way to start my book off right then to celebrate with family, friends, and new friends.

Mom even got to meet Henry Winkler and have him to sign her books, and being such a wonderful Mom, gave him my book to read in his spare time.  I am convinced he has read it already and is on the phone with Oprah, as we speak, telling her to have me on her show.  I just know it!

Then we went from Saturday’s book signing to Sunday charity luncheon for “Healing Odyssey” and a chance to speak at this event about my book.  Again, what a nice day, great people, good food and just renewed my belief that this is such a great charity to donate too and have a portion of your funds support them as well. 

Then Monday…off to Big Bear for the day.  This is the local mountains, where “Hallmark”, the local bookstore; “Book and Bean” and “Paisleys”; a beautiful store in town are now selling my books and we will have two book signings up there for October, as well as one in December for the holidays.  Plus the local hospital is considering them for their newly re-decorated gift shop.

And now today….I am in San Mateo with Vicki Riley from Dinky Baby.com for our first show together.  I am so excited, this should be a great time.  We will be here until Sunday and I will tell you all about it.  In the meantime, if you are in the area, please come and see us and meet “Peggy the cheerleader”, her designer, Vicki and myself.  We would love to see you!!

With the help of Vicki Riley from Dinky Baby.com “Peggy” was created.  She is  15″ soft sculptured doll with removal hair.  Her hair comes off so when you lose yours or someone you love loses theirs, the doll can lose hers as well.  Always good to have a partner!!  No judgement  just you and “Peggy” hanging around the house with your bald heads comparing notes!  Does my head look okay?  Hey, I have never seen the back of my head (this was one of my revelations with no hair)…so that is what it looks like!  Also, there is the conversation of “good shaped” heads and if you have a good one for the bald scene.  This can all be brought to light with laughter and love and with the help of “Peggy”.  She doesn’t say much but just know that she was designed and made with love, and if that is not enough remember she is your own personal cheerleader!!

“Peggy” was designed with my Mom in mind.  My Mom has been my biggest cheerleader, never missing a doctor’s appointment, even to this day.  Always seeing in me that which I do not see myself and inspiring me to move forward, step out there, and take the world on!!  Hopefully we all have these people in our lives, whether it be a family member, a husband, a wife, or a friend.  They kick us in the booties when need be and keep us moving!

So, buy the pattern and make “Peggy” for yourself or make her for someone you love, so when are not able to be with them they will know you are still cheering them on!  And as with the book, you will also be supporting two wonderful charities.

The pattern comes  equipped with a  step-by-step instruction CD, beautifully put together by Vicki.  Vicki Riley has been making beautiful dolls for years and her love and ability show in each pattern!  Vicki is a cancer survivor as well, and has been a huge support and inspiration.

So, now here is the really exciting news!!  “Peggy” the cheerleader doll (the actual doll from the video) will be at the book signing this weekend!! So you can swing by and meet her and try and get her to sign your pattern, she is a bit shy about her signature so don’t count on it but we might be able to encourage her.  And if not, the REAL Peggy, my mom, will be on hand as well and I am sure she would be thrilled to sign your pattern, give you a big hug and invite you over for dinner!!

So, don’t forget to swing by the booth, get a book, get a pattern, meet both Peggy’s and myself, and just have a great visit, on a beautiful, well deserved, great to be alive….day!!

Queen Illustration for the book..check out the wave!

Have you ever thought about, what does it feel like to be Queen?  I would imagine a bit surreal.  I mean after all, people bow to you all day, you have servants, maids, I am pretty sure you don’t wear sweats around the palace, and for Pete’s sake…you run a country!!  And then, there is the wave thing, you know, the ever so graceful, beautiful, slight wave were you hardly move your arm, just your hand ever so slightly.  Who taught them this, or started it in the first place?  I have decided I know the answer!  I believe this slight of hand wave was the work of us women years ago not to have the upper arm jiggle thing going on when you are all dressed up!  Am I right?  I bet  you think about that the next time you are waving that arm of yours!  Of course my wave is the whole arm jiggle, how are you, what’s happening thing going on, big smile, waving like a fool!

So here is my thing, by no way am I saying I am a Queen, or imagining it really, well, I take that back.  I am pretty sure in my dreams I imagine the whole “maid” thing quite often, but that is about as close I get.  What I am really talking about is the surreal thing.  I mean really surreal.  I have my first book signing and it does just seem surreal.  I mean come on, a book signing…how exciting is that?? And in the company of such great Authors as Henry Winkler, Lisa See and Dean Koontz.  Wow…is all I can say.

I was invited to my first book signing by the City of Mission Viejo, for their Mission Viejo Readers Festival being held next Saturday, September 12, 2009.  Before I go any further, I have to say thank you to two amazing women who have helped and supported me as well as sent my invite.  A big thank you to Gayle and Susan, who both work very hard for the Mission Viejo Library and are a huge part of the success of this festival.  So when you see them at the festival, tell them you had a wonderful time and can’t wait for next year (and for more books from me…of course)!

So now as Queen for the day, I would like to invite the WORLD to my book signing.  Yes, I said it the whole world, you are all invited.  Take a plane, train, car or the subway (dq) and let me sign your book!  And let’s make this a great showing, and support a great group of people at the library in Mission Viejo for all their hard work and effort.  And when you get there, come by my booth and I will smile, sign your book, and wave like a fool!!

Mission Viejo Readers Festival:

Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92692

I will be in my booth from 3:00pm until 5:00pm

But check out their website for more information at the City of Mission Viejo.com

And keep an eye on my blog as I will be sending out more  information on exciting  items at the book signing, plus an exciting new addition to my website!!  And after the show I will post pictures for all of you to see who could not make it that far on the subway!!

Is this book for cancer survivors?  Yes.  Is it for other people who are not cancer survivors? Yes.  It is unbelievable, but it is hard these days to find anyone who does not know someone with cancer.  Whether it be a sister, a mom, a Aunt, Grandma, girlfriend or wife.  Whether it be a husband, a boyfriend, brother, co-worker or a friends friend, this book is for all of them and it is for those who love them to maybe understand a little better through the eyes of someone who has been there, who has decided not to let it hold them back, not to let it sit on her shoulders like a creature in the dark, but to face it, laugh about it, cry about it, and move on!!! 

Is it for gals with no hair? Yes.  When you are sick, tired, confused, scared and don’t know which way to turn, then add the fact that you look like a cue ball with eyes, there is no hiding from it.  For a time, you can not get away from it, and this book is for that, to take a break, to look in the mirror and laugh!!  Laugh at the hair you have drawn for yourself, and to keep looking at it all day when you pass the mirror to remind you to laugh and to respect however it is that you are feeling.  It is also a “mirror meter” as well, for family members and friends.  If you are just not sure what is in the cards for the day (good day, bad day, just don’t know day) sneak in the bathroom and look in the mirror.  If it is “Biker Gal” or “Medusa” drawn on the mirror, run and hide and mind yourself all day, but be supportive.  If it is a cheerleader, do some cheering, if it is “Towel Gal” give a little massage, but mostly if you look and get caught before the artwork is completed, and all you see is the beautiful person looking in the mirror, love them for exactly who they are and who they have always been, just the way they are! And remember to say, “You, my dear, look MARVELOUS”!

To begin, I am a cancer survivor.  Wow, it still seems weird to have to have those words come out of my mouth, I am a cancer survivor. Who knew?  Never in a million years did I dream I would be saying those words or living it.  But let me start from the beginning.

Baby sister
I was born and raised in sunny southern California; I have a wonderful Mom, Dad (now a step-dad) and four older brothers.  Suffice to say, “ I am the youngest and the only girl and therefore was a bit spoiled, well not really, but I let my family think so”.  Oh it was all-good until the days of “you can go as long as you take your baby sister” then I fell from grace a bit and became a nuisance.  But then the day came that I could go on my own and they no longer had to drag me along, and again I became interesting.  Then came the dating days, could you imagine four older brothers and a dad all lined up to check you out as you came to pick me up?  (I think the word is still out, but I digress.)  Really, I have had a wonderful life and I would not trade it for anything, plus I think in life all things make us stronger, especially those we pay attention to.

Stopped in my tracks
So in short, I grew up, got married, got divorce and have tried to travel the world.  I have always been full of adventure and love to see and do new things, part of the four older brothers I think.  But I had to take a break from life when I was knocked-down by cancer.  That will stop you in your tracks.  I went through a year of surgeries, chemo and radiation, and all the weird stuff that goes along with that, which bring me to this point my book, “Mirror Makeovers and savvy insights for the everyday gal surviving cancer and baldness with a sense of humor”.

Mr. Clean
I have written this book for two reasons.  One, I wanted cancer survivors to have something to relate to, to a person who had been there through the weird stuff, the hard times and the “just trying to make it through times.” And who was not afraid to be blunt.  I found that when I was going through the disease it was very hard to find books or articles on the real stuff, the “unrecognizable you” stuff and just someone with a sense of humor and not doomsday.  After all come on, you are sick, you are confused, and to top that off you look like a cue ball with eyes.  Someone has got to do something with that.  It is not so much that you lost your hair, it will grow back, it is more that you just cannot hide from the disease.  Even on the days you are feeling pretty good, boom you look in the mirror and who the heck is that looking back at you?  From my perspective, you have got to have some humor for that!  And when you think about it, whomever you might believe in, a higher power, your doctors, etc, someone had a sense of humor, because wait, first you have cancer and if that is not bad enough, you lose your hair too!  So I did the best with it in my world and went out on Halloween as Mr. Clean!  And since I did the winter baldness, I pretty much went from Thanksgiving all the way to New Years with the world thinking how festive I was, wearing a Santa hat everywhere I went.  After all, it covered up my bald head and it was soft and warm.  Plus as you will see in Mirror Makeovers, my book, I used this system as a great way to a sense of humor and at the same time, dealing with your emotions.  Because believe me, rightly so, those emotions are on the rise as well.

A journey you never asked for
And secondly, I wanted to give back.  I wanted to help other cancer survivors, as I had been helped, to deal with the challenge of going through this disease.  I want them to find humor, to laugh, to hold their head up and fight the good fight (yes, I said it; I know it is a cliché, but it works here).  And at the end of the day, find pride in themselves for fighting a battle, and taking a journey they never asked for, but survived.

View the “Power” video