Miscellaneous Monday

It's been awhile, no? I suppose each of these items could be their own post but that is just boring.

• I hesitated to post this but it's too powerful to ignore. Do you remember my post about Punk Rock Mommy's Andrea Collins-Smith? She had terminal inflammatory breast cancer and was a mother to six children. She passed away on July 5 and wrote this pre-written blog post for all to read. When I read it that Saturday, I couldn't let myself think about this too much. It was too much to bear. But then Andrea's husband, Kelly, posted this today. And I had to share, because it's something to put things into perspective. And who doesn't need a little bit of perspective at times? Please keep her family in your prayers, as I cannot imagine what they feel right now.
  

• I'm sure some of you are wondering about MY breast issues. I have an appointment on Thursday at the 'reputable breast care center' in our area. I'm a little bit excited [just to put this all behind me!] and a little bit nervous. I don't even want to mention this, and jinx it, but I think the thickening MIGHT have shrunk a bit. Maybe it's just recoiling from the constant palpation but I really think it's smaller. Of course, I'm still going on Thursday to see what they say....so wish me luck!

• Also, in more breast news, Keri is having a rough time with her 6th of 8 rounds of chemo. To use her verbiage, she feels like she got hit by a truck, and for Keri to admit that she feels less than 100% says a lot. Next Friday, July 25 , is her 27th birthday [and of course, it just so happens to be a chemo day]. So say a little prayer for our girl, especially on her birthday, that she can make it through the last rounds of chemo like a champ. If you haven't visited her journal in awhile you should [and maybe leave her a nice message, she loves that!] because she posted an adorable picture of her bald head! Tell me this isn't the cutest little head ever?!

• In NON-breast care news: I went a little nuts on iTunes this weekend and it felt SO good! Purchases include: Katy Perry's album "One of the Boys," Paramore's album "Riot!", John Mayer's song "Free Fallin," and a whole bunch of new techno songs for my long runs. Not to mention that a few weeks ago we bought Coldplay's new album "Viva la Vida" and Death Cab for Cutie's "Narrow Stairs." So yeah, we are jamming out over here and I would recommend each and every album to you [sans the random techno songs, I know nobody else appreciates those.]

• Speaking of random, I get tomorrow off! Completely unplanned and probably not something I SHOULD do [I don't have that much PTO you know] but my boss offered it to me and I pounced all over it. No real plans, except I should probably run the six miler tomorrow instead of Wednesday after work, but aren't those the best days?
  

• This weekend we have to run 12 miles. From here on out this training is NO joke and I'm starting to get nervous. I wonder if I'm mentally tough enough sometimes. Such a head case!

• Although I am anxiously awaiting proper visual documentation [ahem, I need pictures], one of my best friends Lindsey got engaged on Saturday!! She is the last one in the 'fab five' to get engaged and now we are officially old hags:) Obviously I'm losing my mind with excitement for her, and yet a twinge of sadness hits me, too. I wasn't there to see her bling in person that night and events like these make me miss my girlfriends badly.

Aren't we the epitome of beauty while sweating profusely? I agree.

• Please guess where this lovely body of water lies:
  

Key West? The Bahamas? Somewhere tropical? NOPE. Try Milwaukee, suckers! I love it and I'm gloating about Lake Michigan right now. But isn't it pretty?