From my Cancer Blog-- Shannen Doherty has Breast Cancer that spread. Personal thoughts-- hang in there girl!

http://www.today.com/health/shannen-doherty-s-breast-cancer-has-spread-unknown-scariest-part-t101358

The article popped in my feed on Facebook and Yahoo! the last few days.  Shannen Doherty has breast cancer, and the pictures of her losing her hair, looking fragile and thin, and the worst news for anyone...the cancer has spread.

Its all over ET (Entertainment News), Yahoo! Bing, MSN, Today.com, facebook, twitter, and GMA (Good Morning America).  The sad thing is I was in high school when Beverly Hills, 90210 made its way into pop culture.  I was a freshman, with long dark brown straight hair and blunt bangs.  I had big plump lips and big eyebrows.  I felt like Brenda Walsh...in a new world...high school in Northwest Indiana in 1990.  Life was good and everything was new.  The digital age was coming, and nintendo and Sega Genesis were all the rage.  MTV still showed music videos (well, now we will have Classic MTV soon, right?).
I grew up with Brenda Walsh and then I became an adult while Shannen played on Charmed.  People my age can relate.  I fought leukemia, so I can relate on another level.

My heart goes out to not just Shannen, but her family as well. My heart goes to everyone who has been affected by cancer.  Family, friends, patients, caregivers...

In fact, today, I talked to my good friend, Sonda.  She is wonderful, we met when we both worked for the same real estate company, practically ten years years ago.  Today, Sonda has her own daycare she runs.  She is passionate about life, God, and her family...and I feel the same, so today was a great day, because I got to talk to my friend, whom I adore.
She reminded me to trust God, he got me this far.  He blessed me so many times, why would he have me go through all I went through with my leukemia, just to let me get trapped up in my own fears...the fears of relapse, the unknown, other health issues, more cancer...you name it...why would that be?  She is right.  I hold a fear of the unknown very strongly...and it keeps me from doing even greater things in my life.

That has to stop today.  I need to put that fear aside and become fearless.

Suck it up, buttercup!  

PS
Shannen: If you read this, hang in there!  It's not fun, regardless of what type of cancer you have--- chemo every day like me or once every week or two weeks...it sucks and we are not ourselves, but we are in warrior training through it.  I feel its like a conscious coma, we are going through the actions, we know what's going on, but its surreal and when its done, you won't think it was that bad.  What happens to our bodies makes us think we are experiments--- that we pay for.  Insurance companies are headaches and nightmares that we think about daily.  We miss a lot and we feel like a dish in the china cabinet everyone is afraid to touch----like we might break.  People you love will be scared to come near you or even touch you....why, for various reasons.  Don't let that break you--- be strong, be you.  You are not alone, and you will get through it.

Breaking the Facebook Habit

Lately, I've been glued to fb.  I don't know why, I just have. 
I'm not as busy as I would like to be at work, and my mind loses focus and I am always catching myself checking my facebook.
Now, I know it can be a great marketing tool in my profession, so I try to post things on my public page a few times a week.  I also try to make comments on my friends pages to keep me 'top of mind'.


Today, though, I decided to put it down and leave it be until Tuesday.


Today, I saw pictures from one of my closest friends recent wedding.  She was one of my dear friends in high school, albeit it a super long time ago.  She never really would post anything on facebook...until this past week...including her fabulous wedding photos.  She looked great, everything looked perfect (maybe that's just it...everything looks too fun and perfect with other's posts).


It was depressing.  Depressing for me, as I saw other people we went to high school with that she obviously stayed in touch with...and I wasn't one of them.  More and more, I notice that the people I went to high school with really don't care about me and never did.  I was never someone's good friend that they wanted to keep touch with.  I need to hold on and pause:  There are 2 people that I have kept in good contact with.  I love them with all my heart, and I am super happy for them always.  They are the best.  The 60 or so others from high school that didn't care I had cancer or just don't make any comments on my posts...screw them. 

Rainy Sunday

My list of things to do is growing.  Its rainy out, Frank is not happy about it one bit, and I haven't blogged or wrote anything for quite some time.

That is all ending today.  I have a ton of stuff to do, and I need to get my butt in gear!  No fooling, this time, either.

This past summer (yes, summer is almost over) has taught me a few things about life, including a need to work, a need to be healthy, and a serious want for a vacation back to vegas.  Hoping BD can make it happen for this fall, we really need it.
I also am on a quest to lose 20 more pounds by then.  Think I can do it?  I'm trying.  Here's to a great attempt-- lets see if I can make it work!  Runkeeper and My Fitness Pal apps are my best friend...and walking Frank is good for it, too.

Now, on to other things like cleaning and organizing my desk today.  Tomorrow is Monday-- a day I plan to be busy.  I am going to make this week a great work week, take my career seriously and make it great.

wow, I've sold a lot of homes!

Ahh the end of the month! Craziness Ensues

Yep, you got me two days in a row.  Not that anyone is reading (seriously, if you read this, please leave me a comment and let me know!)


Trying to grow my business, I have started a postcard mailing featuring some of my best recipes.  I bought some extras, too, to send to ones I want to add or to leave when I door knock.  Yes, I door knock.  I am a proud door knocker and I will be doing it today, and soon.


August's postcard is a recipe for my gingerbread cookies.  August's enewsletter is a recipe for Cherry Walnut coffee cake.  September's postcard will be for Cherry-Walnut Coffee cake and the enewsletter I haven't decided yet.  I need to coordinate them to be the same...will do that for October.


Man, I have a lot to do today, but I really wanted to share a few pictures I took this morning of our lovely fairgrounds---

Sometimes (even when its crazy) you need to stop and appreciate the finer, simpler things in life.  I had to include the pic of Frank from the other day, too.  That was also taken at the fairgrounds...he's always looking for something there!

Wow I've forgotten to blog all summer

I'm sorry about that.
I've been busy, and it hasn't been easy.
Back at work, with a great company, and I have been hitting the pavement (literally), trying to find clients interested in buying/selling real estate.


Real estate is filled with highs and lows, for all parties involved.  I feel sometimes like I am on a roller coaster of a ride, yesterday I was worried, today the worry got worse, but now I'm at a point that we had some small happy bumps and that it will work out.  The feelings as an agent are ridiculous.  I know I shouldn't take it to heart, but I can't.  I work so hard and want my clients to get their best deal/home/sale that it becomes too emotional for me.  Maybe men have it easier in real estate in that aspect, I don't know.  I am so emotional for my clients it really isn't good for me.
However, typing this and getting my feelings out is helping.  This five minutes today of venting that I'm worried and want everything to go smoothly and that I need more clients is actually helping me get through the rest of the day.  Gosh, I love real estate, but when you were forced to take a break, you kinda forget the highs and lows that come with the job.  I need to keep it a bit less emotional, though.


I can work on that, I think.

Trying to get back to living

Yep, I'm trying to get back to the grind of blogging about living again.  I've been so depressed, hateful and resentful about food and the ridiculous allergies and itchy skin that yesterday I realized its not helping.  The attitude has got to go, because I am alive, working, and I have my family, dog, and the love of my life with me.  I won't give up on wheat totally, though.  I decided to indulge a small amount once a week until I am no longer allergic!  I will train my body to resist the release of histamines after wheat!  (big smile here).


Life is too short, right?  I'm just happy to be alive and share my world with anyone that wants to read it.  I have big plans and I'm not going to let another illness or health issue get in my way.  I will heal and I will be better soon.  God has big plans for me.


Today is a day I have been looking forward to all week.  I get to have lunch with an old dear friend, Sonda.  We both worked at the same real estate office many years back.  She is just who I need to help give me strength today.  I can't wait to see her, and I even have a lunch meal plan in place on what to order! 
Then, this afternoon, my sister K and I are meeting with some people at our church about forming a cancer support group/ministry.  I feel like this is part of the plan.  I know I say this a lot to people and probably on here, but I promised God the day I found out I had leukemia that I would make a difference.  I made a promise and I plan to keep it.  I've been trying, but sometimes I let lazy get in the way, and I cannot do that anymore.  Today, K and I make a difference together!