Um... okay... er... So I have something to say
Hi LJ... so it has been quite a long time now since I have legit written and a lot has happened that caused that:
~ My two graduate classes were quite overwhelming this semester.
~ I hired myself a personal trainer for three months... that meant three days at the gym a week, at least.
~ I bartend on Friday nights still.
~ and with my free time, I hung out with my mum and aunts and cousins, because Leslie was dying... slowly and heartbreakingly and unnecessarily.
Leslie was misdiagnosed at first, because her asshole doctor somehow did not realize that her stage one breast cancer was breast cancer. By the time doctors figured out what was going on with her, she had stage four cancer and it had spread through her body. The doctors told her she did not have much time left. So she packed up her husband and two daughters (both in their mid-twenties) and went for two weeks to Hawaii, because she had been waiting until she retired to go and she no longer was going to reach retirement. That was two years ago. In May of 2008, Leslie got really weak and things looked really bad. They put a shunt into her brain and she again was doing well... Leslie was quite the quiet fighter. In October, things again took a turn for the worse and this time, Leslie could not bounce back. On December 14th, after a heroic battle, the cancer took Leslie away from us.
Between October and December, my family would spend whole weekends and evenings and days off sitting at Leslie's house. I did not know that my already close family could possibly BE any closer, but that is what happened. I just wish it didn't have to be for the reasons it was.
Because of Leslie, my family first began trying to help fight against breast cancer. The day after Leslie's shunt was put in in May, her two daughters walked in the Avon Two-Day Walk for Breast Cancer... my mum and I worked on the crew for the event and it was a life changing experience.
Last week, while hanging out with Kristin, Leslie's daughter closest to my age, I registered for the Avon Walk 2009. This May, I am going to try to walk 39 miles in two days. I am petrified, but am also looking forward to being able to feel like I am doing a small part in honor of Leslie.
So that is what has happened in my life lately. And now I have one more, tiny thing to discuss:
It is a new year and I am determined that THIS is the year I lose the crackhead Olsen twin that has attached herself to my ass! But I also want to challenge myself to push my comfort zone. I am wrapping up with graduate school and want to experience some new things, but I need your help. What should I attempt to dabble in during 2009? Right now, the only things besides goodbye Mary Kate that I know I want to do is travel; I want to go to NYC more often and to get down to DC to visit my friend Marlisa and her beautiful little girl. The other thing is that I would like to learn how to cook, like legit be able to make a meal for myself.
The rest is up for suggestions... what do you think I should do, LJ world?