Chemo-Winter Activities

Well, chemo last week almost killed me since they administered the bleo-the most toxic to the lungs- when I already had only 75% of my lungs working. I hallucinated, vomited, passed out- not in that order- and it was not fun nor pretty. My poor hubby...

Now, I have a pleural rub- which means my lungs are so inflammed that they rumble when I breathe and are KILLING ME to take a breath.

With the temperature being what it is in New York- about a 10 degree average- I'm under house arrest. This is what I've been doing---

• organizing the kitchen
• re-organizing the closets
• getting rid of clutter and things we don't use
• creating storage under the beds
• playing with recipes for the crock pot
• catching up on my correspondence (i loved being a pen pal when I was little, an addiction that has never truly gone away...)
• cleaning out the clothing drawers...
• gathering ideas for menus
• gathering ideas for travel and other activities I get to do when chemo is over (my new rule, that i'm VERY excited about- is at least ONE NEW THING EVERYDAY to do, be, or have, or make...)
• making appointments for my book discussions and thinking up/working on more book ideas
• watching my hair grow in like a chia pet...

At this rate- chemo will be completely over April 22nd, unless my 3rd pet scan (sometime in March) comes up COMPLETELY clear- which is what i am praying and hoping for...

the good news--- my 2nd pet scan showed that 70% of the disease/masses/whatever my body had is gone!!

GONE GONE GONEEEE

I'm still freaked out that this happened to me and that it happens to people. There should be a non-evasive cure for all cancers. I know it's out there.

In the meantime, I'm also excited about my hair growing in- and about the pixie cut I shall have! I was never ballsy enough to do it myself, but now...well, it's on it's way.

So keep toasty, send me light and love, and have fun out there for me...

love love love to y'all...

life: twisty turny, part 1

it's no joke that october is always a crazy month for me.
it really, truly is.

after a wonderful bout of illness, antibiotics and medicine, i have [finally] gotten back to my old self!

first off, i've been booking appointments to doctors. all kinds. ugh. moving on.

timeline'd:

• my book was released October 8th. Here's the facebook link here...it's been listed on 

1. amazon.com
2. arcadiapublishing.com
3. barnesandnoble.com

(the links should take you exactly to my book!)

• i'm doing a wholesale quote on 50 of my books if anyone wants to purchase them! e-mail me at whosthatgamine@gmail.com for details.
• i've booked author signings! another huge milestone for me- please check my facebook page for details.
• one of the most exciting things about this month is that we've celebrated our 12 years and one month dating anniversary/church-wedding anniversary. 
• in december, we celebrate the fact that we got married 3 times before we turned 25! we like to think that it's a huge milestone and to celebrate again...
• we're going away at some point in december! that means some more crazy adventures with my soulmate.
• then, there's halloween based fun. isn't that enough?
• my 'book launch' is this weekend.
• we are shipping some book packages off to family and friends in Greece.
• i've been working on my other book ventures- children's books, fictional novels and historical/pictorials. basically, i'm working on my empire around the clock.

there are so many celebrations to be had, and so many things to do before we bring in 2013. I will definitely be posting and hope that you'll follow my craziness. 

you're all awesome :)

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

almost!

(photo shot by me, long island, 2012)

this morning, i woke up to write a few notes and found that i couldn't. there has been so much going on that the only thing that gets to go down on paper is to-do list items and ideas for various manuscripts.

not that i'm complaining.

in a little over a month, my first "any kind" of book will be released in bookstores. Images of America: Greeks in Queens was a brain child born to honor my Grandparents and those who have gone before us who were brave enough to step into a whole new world.

Not a lot of us are so brave, and I am super lucky to be born to such a rich background, heritage, family.

That being said, have I mentioned that it's on pre-order and already killin'? Woo hoo!

Here's the amazon linky, and the Barnes and Noble linky.


Me being insanely happy? Check. Celebrations with amazing people? Check! Other opportunities abundant? Check check!


But mostly, just being happy to be alive works for me.


Hope you enjoy the rest of your summers!!!

lazy summer days

there has been plenty going on in my world as of late. bulletting everything wouldn't even begin to be enough. let's start off with the super duper fun things i can remember.

in my world, summer means this:

1)

 wine with friends. everywhere. beer with friends. everywhere. party party.

2.)

 planning future...plans. designs. events. publicities. ah, same old adventurous things that i'm in love with.

3.)

writing- and researching EVERYTHING! I have almost read an entire-library full of books this year...actually, two libraries. I'm moving in on the third library and am researching a fellowship i'd like to do. this and my upcoming book(s)- making me happy.

4.)

writing- the lists, the manuscripts, the notes. i'm writing it all and i have every facet available to me to do so. my house often looks like a school's study hall without the students and bad smell. i've discovered about myself this year that when i'm writing, i'm much more likely to do it swiftly with a pen in my hand rather than type it out. this has kept me motivated.

that and my haters.

there are so many good things going on around me that it's overwhelming to take in. i am thankful for so much all year round, but especially in the summer time. for me, a lot of reflection and friend-seeing goes on at this time of year. also, vacations and movie-watching (if you've been reading along ;) )

one of my beautiful friends is actually reading one of my books as we speak- and i am waiting to receive one of them back from a publisher. these past two years have been quite a whirlwind for me (and quite a few people around me) and it's all been for the better. i love karma and trust in God and the universe now more than ever.

more than my dreams have come true. i am so blessed.

and thankful thankful thankful.

more soon, and keep cool ;)

~the globetrotting gamine

ha.

So, the writer in me has something new going on. Apparently, breathing comes as naturally lately as writing does. Literally.
Ha.
I've found that writing is actually the key for me to keep my mind straight, be it a list, a blog post, a chapter or drawing for one of the 15 books I'm working on.
By the way- by 15, I am not exaggerating. Definitely not by any means exaggerating. In fact, I've cut back on   quite a few novels and have narrowed everything down to 15. I figure by the end of 2014 I COULD be done, IF I get an agent or a publisher interested in (at least) the trilogy I'm writing.
I guess you can say that writing has become a bigger part of me than I thought would be possible.

I guess, with my schedule and everything coming up, it should be expected that I am a little more stressed than usual...because usually, I'm not stressed at all.
Usually, I leave everything up to the universe and it all works out for me in the end...but yes, anxiety has set in for me at the age of 30.

There is so much to look forward to, that I know my to-do list, as short (compared to what's going on) as it can be will collect dust anyway.

So here are a teeny list of my goals for this summer:

• visit some museums i've not been to, and write/blog about them
• figure out places i've been to i haven't blogged about.
• blog about the books i've read this year, which will be no easy feat.
• maybe knock some items off my bucket list
• get just a smidge more organized!

what are your goals for this summer?

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

i understand

my beautiful Aunt pointed out yesterday...
that i have artist's block.

she's right, though i feel as if the term
is a complete understatement!

here i am with boxes and boxes
(not kidding)
of stuff i want to do
or have to do
and the mojo to do it
is nowhere to be found.

i should locate the book she recommended
and see if it helps...
but then it would be another item
on an ever growing to do list.

i've read about 3.5 books in the last few days...
which should have cleared my mind somehow
but it really didn't...and i spent the rest of the day
booking appointments and scheduling my dvr
for this crazy schedule i've got going on.

so today is all about gathering everything up
and executing as many of the tasks on my list as possible
before a beautiful weekend spent with LML...
and so that Monday...

I can get back to (you ready for this?):

• writing my screenplay
• working on my new y.a. novel
• maybe some illustrations for my next book
• queries
• travel plans
• library runs
• gym runs
• or just running in place?
• clearing out more clutter
• clearing out the basement
• thank you's to well...you'll find out
• and marketing

well...

i guess that explains the block ;)

Happy Weekend, lovely friends!

love love love,

the Globetrotting Gamine

grumpy

(shot in kalamata, 2008)

i have to admit, for the last two weeks i've been super-stressed and grumpy.
of course, it's all for a good reason and a good cause- my 'mission' is almost complete!
or will be complete on Friday.

thank goodness.

on monday, i'll admit to my bloggie friends what's been going on,
what's been crazy,
i'll be back to my regularly 'scheduled' programming,
which is comforting though it usually takes on a life of it's own.

i am ready to start quite a few new adventures,
that wouldn't have been made possible without
my incredible family and friends,
the LML,
and freaking awesome people.

it has been totally worth it.

that being said...
dear springtime,
where are you? i'm ready.

let's gooooo!

writing...exhaustion?

i know that only my blogger and writer friends will relate when i go over yesterdays schedule...

6:30 to 9:30 am ::: up, get dressed, errands, make the coffee, drink the coffee, clean the kitchen, construct to do list, make the files, pinterest, phone calls, leave the house

9:30 to 10:30 am ::: make sure your ten notebooks are in your extra carry on, head to the gas station for more gas, proceed to destination to meet with writer friend(s)/colleagues

10:30 am to 12:00 pm ::: more tea, writing, ideas, plans, know that either allergies or cold have begun to kick my ass. and buy eggs cuz i ran out.

12:00 pm to 1:30 pm ::: hit places of research for 2 more meetings, pick up snack because i just realized i didn't eat all day, wipe tears from now-exhasted eyes, and make way to parentals house so that i can (sorry) use their bathroom

1:30 to 3 pm ::: get to parentals house and use that bathroom, wash up, eat now soggy snack and down 2 bottles of water, curl up with my notebook and write down even more ideas that have appeared in my head since all the meetings. see family, talk. stretch. get into car to go back home.

3 to 5:45 pm ::: takes extra long to drive home because someone is driving in front of you with no clue how to do so, thus doubling the time it takes for you to get home and use your own toilet because now you have to pee again, run inside and notice that the dog made a stinky you have to clean but you don't care because you still have to pee, so take care of those two things and wash up again AND start dinner. and clean again. and make your to do list for tomorrow. and pour a glass of wine and curl up on the couch, utterly defeated from ideas and the cold or allergies you have comin'.

5:45 to 6:30 pm :::

"woof woof woof" says pup.

"daddy's not home yet, boy."

"woooooooo" says pup.

"but..."

knock knock.

hubby walks through door.

6:30 to 7:30 pm :::

dinnertime

7:30 til bedtime :::

talk. cuddle. bother pup. get harassed by pup to go to bedroom so he can lay on the bed and start snoring before we do. check to do list. lay down and pass out after the big bang theory.

does anyone relate?

adoption from pup's point of view

hi.
pup here.
how is your weekend going?

i just wanted to share a little story with you.

7 years ago i was born.
and 8 months after that
i was adopted by this really tall guy
who fell right in love with me.

he took me away with all of my stuff
and on a long journey from where i used to live
we pulled up to what he said was my new home.

i was so scared
that he was going to leave me
somewhere i didn't want to be
because the truth is...
i liked him.

so he walked me into this house,
knocked on a door and ordered someone to hide...
and then he set me down on the floor.

doing a quick check-- the house smelled good...
it was decorated for autumn
and even though it was very clean
you could tell that a lot of people were always there

then this new guy yells to no one, to open the door
and i saw this frazzled looking girl
who was suddenly so happy to see me!!

ME!
was this my new home?
were these my new people??
so i ran and ran and ran
for what felt like forever

until i took a running leap into the girls arms
and licked her ferociously
so that i could show her i wanted to stay....

and i wanted to make sure
that the guy who smelled good
knew i liked him, too,
so i ran to him and gave him some licks.

and then the most wonderful things happened.
they scooped me up into both of their arms
and gave me hugs...

and shut the door.

they told me i was home.

well, hello there friends!

how are you? i hope everything is great in your world!

I am GG's assistant, pup. A lot of you guys know me by name- but that's not important.

what's in a name really?- anyway...

i figured i would wake up and stop by to say hello

Hiiii

since my Mama is working on this huge, huge

 writing and photography project

and has been on the phone booking appointments

with VIPs

for the last two days.

i'm sure she needs lots of help and support,

and even though i don't have thumbs, i inspire her

as much as i can.

so please leave a comment

or a note

for me or my mama!

and we will get back to you as fast as we humanly can

since we may be on a tiny hiatus...

sending out lots of love

and cookies to my pup friends--

Vasi the Pup

firstly...

(from my 'happiness looks like...' album, shot by me!)

i know that writers' have this problem: when they're staring at something for so long or they're reading/researching so much, they stop and wonder..."firstly. FIRSTLY. Hm, is that a word??"

today, firstly doesn't sound like a word.

so, first off i want to thank my bloggie friends- for your kind emails, messages, comments. i love you. you have no idea how happy it makes me that someone reads/looks at my photos/and shares my thought bubbles. thank you times infinity.

2012 has been severely whipping me around left to right. i am so excited about the major projects and opportunities that have fallen across my "now in ruins" office...and thankful. i know that the opportunities are "wow" and that they've come into my life because of the decisions i've made so far.

2012 is my year for being super-conscious of everything going on around me.
things like...what food i put into my body, because after many hours of research what i'd been eating ten years ago really makes me sick to think i did that to myself.
...who i hang out with. let's face it, there are certain people we want to leave in the past and i am so thankful that people have stayed in my past. oh, and there's those people you just have a feeling about? do you know what i mean? like...wow, i've heard all these things about this person so why would i put myself through that?a long time ago i realized i'm past all the small minded people. my friends are so amazing and can pretty much put a smile on my face at anytime. especially my nephews.
...what i read- um, big plus. love love love what i'm reading now which i'll blog about soon ;)

granted, there are major things i need to work on that will make me even more happy, if that's possible. for the past few years, i have had my ups and downs but it's only looking like up's are happening this year.

i promise to tell you about all of these soon. in the meantime, it's back to the writing, drawing and organizing board for me...

how are you??

love love love,
me

a life lesson at 30

the one most important thing i've learned in the 30 years i've been around?

don't be afraid to go out and *live!

back to greece

(shot by me- greece on the beach, baby)

i hope that those of you who know me...
or who have been following my blog
(thank you! I love you!)
can realize that this picture was taken
way back in Greece.
This was the beach, and spot--
where the LML (love of my life, in case you haven't been following ~:)
wondered outloud finally...

why wasn't I writing anymore?
Why didn't I start?
You used to love it-- what's wrong with you?

My ex-job had been what was wrong with me
and until the very moment this picture was taken
that hadn't been realized.

So with the help of a beach
in Greece
under the sun
with my hubby...

I went back to my roots :)
Quite literally.

wisdom of the snoopy!

snoopy
is my writing muse.

how i feel

dear snoopy:

i love you

snoopy fun- again!

(this is not my property- but i love snoopy. love love love love love!)

snoopy writing fun

i reserve NONE of these rights.

i just love snoopy and charlie brown...

ok ok, i love peanuts.

all of them.

update:: another book published

seek happiness

is the title i chose for this t-shirt

that i 'created'

with an actual illustration

from my first book

'Where Did All the Cookies Go?'

i know you had questions for me,

so here goes:

• i've self-published all three of my books on lulu.com
• i have about 14 manuscripts that i am working on
• i also write poetry
• photography is a vice to me, and it runs in my blood. Thank you, Grandpa <3
• i would love to have more time to draw
• i have three facebook pages--'Where Did All the Cookies Go?', A Coincidence Away and my new big project (e-mail me for information at whosthatgamine@gmail.com)
• i love THIS VERY blog like you have no idea
• i am constantly querying agents and would love to get signed by someone really cool!
• if anything, my books are very different. if you would like to read a couple of chapters of 'A Coincidence Away', please e-mail me with the word Coincidence in the subject line and your blog/name in the body of e-mail.

if you have any more comments or questions for me, please let me know!

warmest regards,

the globetrotting gamine

snoopy wisdom

featured! yay!

I have been featured on Becks and the City.

I am crazy-excited like you have no idea.

Becks is incredible-- and if you don't believe me, why don't you just check her out herself? Her expertise on writing surpasses mine by milllllleeeessssss.

Thank you so much, Becks. We love you!
(i am so thankful for you all...i really know all the best people!)