Week in Review/Week in Preview

After successfully finishing Round 6 of chemo and ringing in the New Year in New York City, it's hard to see how this coming week can compete in the exciting department, but I think it will!

Week in Review

• * Chemo Round 6 - crushed cancer and had a great time doing it. Laughs with Dr. Lenz, quality time with my parents, Will, and Sabrina, catching up with my old pal Tiffany and her mom Carol, all while being pampered by the best nurse at Norris.
• * Grabbed dinner with another old pal, my best bud from middle school Cindy, and her mom Marcia. It's funny how you just pick up where you left off with old friends. It's awesome, too.
• * Had a beautiful Tuesday with my bag o' chemo -- gym, acupuncture with Mary Ellen, strolling around Santa Monica with Anna and my mom, fancy tea and scones, and True Grit with Will. 
• * Took it easy on Wednesday and successfully dodged any real chemo-induced fatigue. Had a centering reiki session, pumped iron at the gym, watched my Blue Devils win, played DJ Hero 2, had a gift exchange with my friends Aymee, Nick, and Jessica, and saw Black Swan. That list of activities doesn't actually sound like taking it easy, but I was very relaxed and rested all day. I promise! 
• * Got up at the crack of dawn (6:40am is the crack of dawn to WunderGlo, at least) and slept most of the way to D.C. Had dinner with my second cousin Vivian, her husband Brendan, their awesome kiddies Erika and Erin, and my great-aunt Katie. It's sweet to have family on the East Coast.
• * Headed to New York City on New Year's Eve. Quick pit stop in Jersey to see my mother-in-law, Carol. Dinner with my "other three" plus Rhett at Klee Brasserie. Shed a little tear of gratitude and happiness when the clock struck midnight. Snowball fight on the way back to our hotel.
• * Spent the first day of 2011 in beautiful, 50 degree New York City. Saw Laura Linney's play from the best seat possible, squeezed through the crowds in Times Square, and spent the night in Brooklyn at Rhett's place. Got acquainted with his roommate's cat (her name is Senorita Pumpkin), then we (which also included my mother-in-law Carol, sister-in-law Marie, and cousin-in-law Justin) grabbed dinner and desserts on the mean streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Just kidding - the streets of Williamsburg are far from mean. Hipster and unique, yes. Mean...no.
• * Wrapped up my time in Williamsburg with Sunday brunch (where I met Rhett's friend Didi, who is now my new friend Didi). Headed to the East River Park to admire the view of the city. Hit the road and headed back to the D.C.-area. Got to Vivian and Brendan's house just in time to watch the Tivo'd Duke vs. Miami game (we won) and munch on some gluten-free mushroom pizza.

Week in Preview

• * On Monday, I get to meet the man who will save my life: Dr. Paul Sugarbaker. It doesn't get much more exciting than that. We'll chit chat about my surgery, I'll probably ask for a hug, and after that, I'll get to meet a fellow cancer warrior who is also a patient of Dr. Sugarbaker's: my pal Howard. He's a big shot over at 60 Minutes and a very cool guy. The fact that we're on parallel paths to rubbing
• cancer's face in the dirt is absolutely awesome. I call him my cancer killing tag-team partner, and I finally get to hang out with him tomorrow. If there's anything more exciting than meeting Sugarbaker, it's meeting Sugarbaker AND Howard on the same day. 
• * Planning on catching up with my roommate from Duke, Katie, while I'm in DC. Will also chill out with my high school friend, Meghan. Am also open to seeing any other of my DC homeys -- you all know how to reach me. 
• * Flying home on Tuesday. I love the East Coast, but I love L.A. even more. 
• * Acupuncture with Mary Ellen on Wednesday, followed by a trip to the Self-Realization Center for some mid-week meditation. I should call it Zen Wednesday.
• * Working on the book...like a madwoman, actually. I've got many chapters to go before I get to the topic of my next surgery, and only a few weeks in which to write them. I am a woman who abides by deadlines, even self-made ones.
• * Painting some more "Love Life" paintings - I love that moment right before I start to paint and the canvas is completely blank, just waiting for me to make the creation I've dreamed up real. 
• * Reiki on Thursday and perhaps another trip to the batting cages 
• * Reading Louise Hay's You Can Heal Your Life, another awesome book about mind/body techniques in preparation for surgery, and The China Study
•  * Hitting the gym hard this week - only a few more weeks left to train for this surgery, and this lil' Rocky Balboa is going into serious lil' Rocky Balboa mode
• * Taking all my vitamins, getting all my Lovenox shots, getting lots of rest, drinking lots of water, and continuing to murder cancer. And loving my life.

Have a great first week of 2011, everyone!