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...

holiday wrap up!

How were your holidays?  I hope they were beautiful!!

Mine? I spent my beautiful, happy holiday with my huge family.
I was pretty happy. I still am. This is a good week.

What else has been going on? Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Fun FUN.

NOOOOOOT. It should be re-labeled the wtf? disease.

But, GOOD NEWS: I had my doctor's appointment yesterday. They pulled blood and ran the factor 5 leiden test as well to see if I am prone to blood clots. It's gonna take some time to get the results in to me but I won't have to be on the blood thinners anymore no matter what!!!!

I was so, so happy.

Even happier when my amazing doctor (who I thought was amazing from the get-go) told me that he feels no more prominent lodes! gone gone gone...

Now all I need is a petscan to prove it!!

So here we go- I have my fourth chemo treatment on new year's eve...which is ironic since on New Years Day 2012 I was in the Bahamas...so 1/3 of the journey is over. I plan on going into full remisson, speeding towards the five year mark of cure cure cured!

So this is what's been going on in my head:

• doctor's appointments
• chemo days
• bone aches and pains
• chemo smells and taste. eew. eew. eew.
• stomach cramps
• having to force myself to have broths and soup. ew.
• when is this over when is this over 
• must prepare for upcoming book discussions and signings
• must sign up for college courses on specific things. sad part- a list of at least 6 classes i want to take that most (except for me) would deem un-fun.

What else? 

After this is over I need to find:

• a way to get my....certification. more on that soon.
• start my....more about that soon.
• re-organize my ransacked by paperwork life. Any Ideas?
• continue my manuscripts
• continue my illustrations
• a yoga studio!!! or wellness center! please shoot me ideas :)

what are you up to? are you preparing for new years 2013??

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

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!!!

the procrastinating queen

i have come to the conclusion
that i am the queen
of procrastinators.

i have not even closed to PARTIALLY
(does that make sense?)
getting over this writers block.

can someone who is so into
organizing and listmaking
also be such
a
procrastinator?

though- i am a lucky, lucky girl.
the other night, i thought to myself how
absolutely thankful i am
for my family, friends, puppy...
incredible husband...
book about to be published...
ability to cook (yay!)...
having travelled to 25+ countries...

yeah, if things were anymore perfect
people would throw rocks at me...
which is mean to say, but i know that's how they feel
from their words or lack there of.

it's sad since i'd like nothing but the best for everyone
in everything...
i literally can spend all day researching, writing, etc.
which is  very fitting about this new-ish career choice of writing.

thus the procrastinating schtick that has moved in to my brain
is not helping anything...

so pray that my muses come back
to kick me in the tush
so i can get a move on
on my next books!!

visiting my shop here...

and my facebook page for 'Greeks in Queens' here...

and thank you for all of your support...texts...e-mails...words...everything!!

the whole truth.

see that photo?

please look at it clearly.

yes.

i did it :)

i published a book.

lookie- my name's there...

this is what i've been toiling over/relishing/going crazy over

since i've been back in the states.

i am so happy-

that this opportunity presented itself to me,

and that my love of writing/history/photography/

and piecing everything together

has bought this to pass.

so...yes.

just a na-na-na-na-poo-poo

to the people who fueled my fire

and pushed me to accomplish yet something else

that is freaking amazing.

and it's just the beginning :)

learn more about my signings, reading and events, here

and thank you so much

for your kind e-mails, comments, texts, and snail mail.

you

are

fantastic!!

warmest,

globetrotting gamine

over and out :)

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!

enhance your life- february 3rd

"If a man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself."

-Jacques Yves Cousteau

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?

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

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.

love

apologies if i've posted these pictures before.

they are not mine, by the way.

i think what appealed to me most about

'letters to juliet'

was the fact that she was a writer.

on an adventure.

in italy.

with lotsa wine :)

happy weekend!