How Not to Cheer Up a Cancer Patient

Sorry for the lapse in blogging, kids. Felt kinda icky the last couple weeks so it dropped to the bottom of my priority list. The little energy I could muster never added up to more than 140 characters. Which is why you should follow me on Twitter (@miavandy).

Anywho...

Came across this article while perusing the UCF Facebook page today. So spot on (and funny). Wish I had this to send to people 2 yrs ago. But good to read anytime for future reference. Ch-ch-check it out: How Not to Cheer Up a Cancer Patient.

A sample passage:

Ling Ling

One of the most common fear responses to the dreaded News is to e-mail the person you love with as much information you can gather on his/her particular cancer. The problem is this: The Internet was invented as a pornography delivery system. And for Nigerian princes to find your grandparents and convince them to go halfsies on a timeshare in Boca Raton. And of course for every jackass with a computer to offer up an opinion on the best way to cure cancer. Look, I know you mean well, but I have yet to see anyone pull out of a pancreatic cancer tailspin by sucking on a panda's claw for two hours a day. I'm all for alternative medicine or nontraditional ways of beating the shit out of this insidious beast, but sometimes I don't have enough time to take a few months off to try Bosco enemas and tickle classes.

Really!?!

Ryan Phillipe and Val Kilmer are both in the new Magruber movie?! A movie based on a crappy SNL sketch?! As Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler would say: REALLY!?!

THEN:
Ryan starred in fan favorites such as "White Squall,""I Know What You Did Last Summer," and "Cruel Intentions." He also appeared in the Academy Award winning ensemble drama "Crash."

Among Val's many iconic roles he played Ice Man ("Top Gun"), Elvis ("True Romance"), Batman, and my fave, Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's "The Doors."

NOW:
This garbage:

Oh did I mention that last week Ryan hosted WWE Monday Night Raw to promote this garbage. Uh yeah.

Oh, Canada...

Just got back from DC, tired as hell. But wanted to throw up a quick post to mention how much I HEART CANADA. Why you ask? Because Canada is responsible for Think About Life, who I'm mildly obsessed with after last night's DC-9 show. I want to be the chick bass player. And the guitar player looks like a hipster version of Matt Volouse. And Cesar the lead singer is just overall awesome (and apparently playing somewhere in Bmore tonight, according to insider Ryan Smith)

Listen to Think About Life here

More importantly, our northern neighbors gave me Dan Kurtz, bass player for the New Deal. Who (I can't believe I'm saying this) has ousted Ryan Reynolds as my #1 Canuck Crush. Seriously. Hot hot hot. And umm HE'S THE BASSIST IN THE FRIGGIN NEW DEAL!

Speaking of hot Canadians, I'm sad to say that we have to wait yet another week to see Taylor Kitsch (everyone's fave full back Tim Riggins). NBC has pushed the Friday Night Lights season 4 premiere to May 7th instead of the originally scheduled April 30th. So we're looking at 12 more days in our COUNTDOWN TO RIGGINS. Enjoy this pic to tide you over in the meantime...

OK, after posting that pic, I realize that Taylor must be my #1 Canadian. Then Dan. Then Ryan. Glad I cleared that up.

Spring/Summer Show Calendar

Well after seeing Bisco last week I've been once again bitten by the live music bug. It really shouldn't be a surprise considering I averaged a show at least every 2 weeks through college and most my early 20s. [Ugh, now that I'm almost 29 I have to refer to those years as my 'early' 20s - weird]. Anywho, I've spent the last few days planning out my shows for the rest of the spring into the summer. And I gotta say, I'm pretty pumped as to how the calendar is rounding out. Lots of acts I love coming to the area. And a couple excuses to roadtrip in there too. Here's what I have on tap so far. I've included links to band websites so y'all can check em out if you aren't familiar. Live music makes me happy. And it will make you happy too. So holla if you want to come with to any or all. Or have more show suggestions.

4/23/10 - Dragonette & Think About Life @ DC-9, the New Deal @ 9:30 Club (late night show)
4/26/10 - Phoenix @ DAR Constitution Hall
5/21/10 - LCD Soundsystem @ Terminal 5, NYC - UPDATE: scored a ticket for face on eBay. woot!

6/2/10 - Passion Pit @ Ramshead Live
6/3/10 - moe. @ Ramshead Live

6/5/10 - Starscape Festival @ Fort Armistead Park, B-More - featuring the Disco Biscuits, Pretty Lights, Lotus, Future Rock, the New Deal, and lots others

6/15/10 - Phish @ nTelos Wireless Pavillion, Portsmouth, VA
7/22/10 - Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes @ Webster Hall, NYC

8/4/10 - Hot Chip - Central Park Summer Stage NYC
8/15/10 - STS9 & RJD2 @ Pier 6
8/18/10 - Phish @ Jones Beach, NY

Countdown to Riggins: 12 DAYS

I was playing with my Netflix queue, as I'm known to do, and noticed that all of Season 3 of Friday Night Lights (aka one of the best shows EVER) is currently available on Watch Instantly. So watch up my friends, because the COUNTDOWN TO RIGGINS is on. New eps on NBC start April 30th. Bring on the hotness.

Face Melting

Went to Richmond last night to check out the Disco Biscuits show with Evan. His first real show (had only seen them at Artscape before). Excellent time but now I'm super tired. TGI Sunday.

We went with new friends Katie and Brandon. Officially 2 of my new favorite peeps on the planet. Super cool, really chill, and love to dance. Already have plans to see New Deal with them at 9:30 Club this Friday and am likely on their bandwagon for Camp Bisco in July. Yeah and I may have offered to let them live in our basement for the 1st week of June for Passion Pit > moe. > Starscape.

Barber still nursing wrist injury so he sang and stuck to comp. Tommy Hamilton from Brothers Past/American Babies and Chris Michetti from RAQ filled in like champs on guitar.

Setlist (according to Brownie's Twitter - @Marc_Brownstein)

SET I: In the Flesh > And the Ladies Were the Rest of the Night > Helicopters, Fish Out of Water, Shelby Rose > The City > Shelby Rose

SET II: 42 > Lunar Pursuit > Ladies. Little Lai > I-Man > 42 

ENCORE: Pimp Blue Rikkis

Helix and 42 are 2 of my all time fave Biscuit's songs so I was definitely pumped.

Some show pics (pardon the quality - working w an iPhone w no Flash bc my digital camera is dead)...

Also, I made the exec decision that when I get my kitten next month, if its a girl she shall be named Shelby Rose. [If its a boy we will be sticking with the original game plan of Tim Riggins - yay for Friday Night Lights!]

Bang

A few people have already asked me yesterday and today if the Texas Stadium implosion yesterday was my Dad's company, CDI. Unfortunately no. But we have some cool projects coming up soon and will be sure to keep y'all posted on anything worth making a trip to see.

In the meantime, enjoy a clip of the coolest CDI project I've gotten to help with, the Gotham Hospital sequence in The Dark Knight. CDI and the stunt team planned and coordinated the whole blast sequence. I actually did some of the stunt blocking for Heath Ledger on the day of the shoot...

Here is the DVD special feature w my Dad re: the blast itself:

Thought of the Day

My thought of the day, courtesy of ALF's Twitter (yes, that ALF - @Verified_ALF)

"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad."

BTW, in case you were wondering, you can watch all 4 seasons of ALF on Hulu. Yes, ALF was actually on for 4 whole seasons.

In the spirit of warming weather, enjoy this Gilligan's Island themed episode

Happy OOOOOOOpening Day!

Strangers

So its ridic how hot is is out right now. I mean 92 in the beginning of April? What's July going to be like? Did I really have 4 feet of snow outside my house 2 months ago? I was planning on playing some tennis today but it was so hot I opted to stay at work in the AC. On the way home I swung by Coldstone to pick up a tasty lemon sorbet / rasberry sorbet combo w gummi bears to cool off. [I really really was craving a snowball, but I've yet to find an open stand and have also expressly promised a certain someone that we would get our 1st snowballs of the season together].

And then some lady in line just comes up to me and asks if I'm in chemo. Well yeah, I did do some pretty hard core chemo back in September before my transplant. And yes, my hair is in the process of growing back. But I don't know you. What makes people have the balls to just ask that? Well it turns out, this lady had breast cancer 5 yrs ago, and had been through it all herself and she just wanted to congratulate me on my well-being. Which is nice, and I do feel bad for my initial annoyance.

But sometimes it boggles my mind things people will say to a stranger. Or do for that matter. You'd be surprised how many people thought it was cool to just come up and touch my head when I was bald. And I hear pregnant ladies get randoms touching their bellies all the time. I mean being sick, or being pregnant, sometimes thats when you most want boundaries yet that's when people opt to ignore them.

Sigh, sorry to vent there. I'll be nice and calm in a couple hours after yoga. And then probably immediately tense again when I don't make it home in time for Lost. Thank god for Hulu. Too bad I'll basically have to stay off the internet completely though til the ep is posted to avoid spoilers...

Just to lighten things up, enjoy some pictures of Lucy lounging on our lovely new comforter from Pottery Barn...

The Weekend Download...

Wow what a great weekend. I'm definitely tuckered out, but it was worth it. I have to say, I've definitely gotten to the point where I'm understanding my limitations. My doctors encourage me to be cautious all the time, but at the same time tell me not to get caught up in being sick and to try to move on and live my life. Finding a balance is hard, but I'm starting to get there. Having hit my 6 month post-transplant point, I've gotten pretty excited making plans for the next few months. But I'm still getting back to 100%...

There is definitely no way I could have gone to NYC any sooner than I had, I just wouldn't have had the energy to get around that much. But I did just enough these few days to have a good time but not overdo it. I opted to drive up on Thursday and hit alot of traffic, but honestly didn't mind it at all. I wasn't allowed to drive at all for 4 months, and haven't driven more than 2 hrs anywhere in ages. Stocked up on new tunes courtesy of Brent, got a new book on CD from Pratt Central on Jess's rec ('World World Z' by Max Brooks - on disc 3 of 6 and its great so far), and jammed out to some random old mix CDs. Cruised on up with the windows down. Got my mandatory NJ rest stop Cinnabon. All good stuff.

Got there and met Emily and Doug at their new (well 6 mo old) apt in the UES. So cute and homey.


(These are from Emily's "work in progress photos from Febuary. Things are even cooler now!)

I could live there in a second. Sometimes I forget how crazy similar our taste's are. Not just design but food, tv, movies, clothes, books, art. If the girl ate meat and hated mayo we could be the same person sometimes. And Em's new gardening obsession has me hooked too (Another post on that to come). Anywho, we checked out The Smith for dinner and drinks as planned. You can check out my Yelp review here.

Friday in true Emily fashion we had red velvet cupcakes for breakfast from the Two Little Red Hens. Officially has replaced Butterlane as my cupcake go-to in NYC. Brought home some Red Velvet & Brooklyn Blackouts for Easter for my Mom and Evs to rave reviews. Hit up H&M where we bought essentially identical clothes, got a slice & some tasti-D-lite, then hit the train to the Bronx Zoo. A beautiful day to wander outside, and the seal feeding was a highlight. Yes, I'm a nerd.

Friday night I ventured 20 blks south and traded couches from Em/Doug's to Bridget/Geoff's bc Emily's mom and step-dad came in town. It was wonderful catching up with one of my all time favorite co-workers. We pre-gamed with some homemade guac and margs, in true Bridget style. Then off to Maya where we had some great Mexican tapas. B&G had plans the next day, so our visit was short, but I'll be back soon I'm sure.

Saturday was really one of those real New York days. I had been there long enough I was comfortable getting around on my own. And it was just random and awesome. In the AM I snagged a copy of the Times, a nice chewy sesame bagel w a veggie schmear, and a big ass coffee and walked my way to Central Park. Emily was running in a 10k that morning, and I met up w Doug and her fam at the finish point. We took the train downtown and went to lunch at Stand (HOLY AMAZING - see my Yelp review here)
After we went to The Strand. Thank god I don't live in NYC, bc I would regularly drop $100 in that place. They have sooo many books its almost overwhelming. But I found an out of print copy of Evan Handler's first book for only $6. It took so much restraint not to just start buying up art books. Only the thought of having to carry them around for the rest of the day kept it from happening.

We also had 2 celeb sitings. The guy who's Pete on 30 Rock and....TOM COLICCHIO. To me that was the friggin ultimate bc I LOVE LOVE LOVE Top Chef. (New season of Top Chef Masters starts this Wednesday BTW. Hizzah!) And then...the weirdest. We kept seeing NYU kids walking past us w pillows, and finally found out that they were having a MASSIVE PILLOW FIGHT in Union Square Park. The whole thing was mind-boggling to me. Mostly, bc it went on for like an hour. I would think it would get old after about 2 minutes. Kind of like tickling. Does anyone like to be slammed in the face with a pillow repeatedly? Or tickled obnoxiously? But on it went and it was quite the spectacle. At this point I figured I really had a good day, and while I was debating staying in town for one more night to try to meet up w some Vandy peeps and/or check out a show at Mercury Lounge I opted to head back to Bmore. Was home in less than 3 hrs and in bed by 10 (though alas not asleep til like 4am. Doh!) I'm lamely proud of myself for being so responsible.

Today was a lovely lovely Easter w my Mama. I dressed Lucy in her Easter best (adorable I must say) and went over to her apartment, cupcakes and flowers in hand. She treated us to a delish lunch of the Barefoot Contessa's Engagement Chicken. If you're looking for a simple and yummy roasted chicken recipe, this is the one. I'll prob make it at least every other week from now on I swear. Then went to Grand Cru, my mom's fave hang out (I swear Norm is to Cheers as Mary Garson is to Grand Cru) for the afternoon. Came away w a Easter basket chockful of Cadberry Creme Eggs and jelly beans. Happy Mia.

Ok, that was a little babble-y and prob more info then you needed or wanted. But hey, you're choosing to read this. Or you're not. Either way I feel like I wrapped up my weekend. Off to bed, onto a productive week. OOOOOOOOpening day on Friday. Woot!

Couch Crashing

First off, I want to say how awesome it is when friends let you crash with them for a night. Its so generous to let you just come in and take up their space. BUT, is there seriously anything more awkward then waking up while they're still asleep and not knowing what to do with yourself?

Puppy-walking habits had me up at 7am this morning and I've been tip-toeing around the place ever since. I was going to make coffee, but couldn't locate filters (apparently they're fancy machine doesn't need em). I debated going out to grab coffee and bagels for my hosts, but didn't know which key to take. And I didn't want to turn on the TV or take a shower out of fear of waking up those sleepy heads.

Oh well, at least I'm up in time for Phish Summer Tour public sale. Berkeley Greek Theater tickets, you will be mine.

NYC Eats

Is it bad that it's only Tuesday and I've already planned out where/what I'll be eating for almost every meal when I'm in NYC this weekend? Blame my weakness for Food Network and the fact that I'm seeing Emily who is probably a bigger foodie than me.

So far planned stops:

Thursday night dinner - The Smith - East Village

Gael Greene says the Mac n Cheese is to die for. Oh and they have a little appetizer called BRAISED BACON w red onion marmalade on the menu. Yes please.

Friday lunch:
Ace Hotel. Apparently pretty cool lil sandwich shop in there.

Then off to the Bronx zoo! No, I will not be eating the animals. Just observing the adorable baby ones!

Friday dinner:
Somewhere w Bridget - TBD - any UES dining recs, people? I have a distinct feeling this could end up being more drinking than eating, knowing Fidge.

Saturday (any meal!):
Stand - Greenwich Village

Michael Symon says the Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake there is one of "The Best Things I Ever Ate" and according to everything I've read on the interweb, he's not the only one that thinks so.



Of course I'll be getting a nice slice and a big ole bagel at some point while I'm there for sure. And I'll swing by my fave, Butterlane on my way out of the city to snag some cupcakes to bring to Mom's for Easter dinner.

Gah, that's alot of eating. But its supposed to be loverly this weekend, so I'm sure I'll walk it all off. Right? RIGHT?

annnd I'm back...

Well so much for using this blog to keep everyone updated on my transplant process. Yeah, kinda dropped the ball on that one. Its been a smidge over 6 months now, and I'm doing as well as could be hoped at this point. I got results of my 6 mo follow up tests last Thursday, and I'm happy to report that there is currently no leukemia cells in my blood and that I've completely 'taken' my donor's marrow. I do have a bit of GVHD (graft vs host disease) which is fairly common post transplant. In fact a little bit of it is good, bc it means my immune system is actually working and recognizes I have something foreign in my body. But its not totally rejecting it, obviously a good thing. So the docs are monitoring me weekly at the Hop, and they have me on a pretty hefty dose of steroids at the moment to keep the GVHD in check. Which is making me really wired, BTW. Prob what motivated me to start blogging again...

So moral of the story: am I cured? am I in the clear? Not per say. But my news was as good as I could have hoped for. And I have a giant weight lifted off my shoulders for a while. I'm cautiously optimistic. And with the good news I feel like I can actually live a bit before my next big set of tests in September. With that said some fun stuff on the horizon:

Visiting Em and Fidge in NYC this weekend!
Yoga class!
Kickball!
O's Opening Day!
Hanging out on my new roofdeck!
Hopkins Fair!
Going to Nashville in May for Steeplechase and playing w Kat!
Anthony Bourdain @ the Hippodrome!
Steamed Crabs!
Phish Summer Tour! (BTW, hey Phish ticket lottery, did I get my Greek Theater tickets or not??)

Obviously there's still going to be a lot of resting in there. I'm not going to be 100% for at least a year according to the docs. I'm working part time in my dad's office but I should prob start working on figuring out a "real job" but that will come in time.

A big regret has been not writing on this blog during all this down time. I mean I wish I even wrote a sentence a day, just to document for my own purposes. With that said, I really will try to put something on here at least once a week. Hey, its on my iPhone calendar now. So it clearly has to happen.

M

happy birthday to me

my nurse lisa tells me that many people consider the day you get your bone marrow transplant to be your new birthday. well i got my transplant at 4am this morning so happy birthday to me.

to be honest, i really feel terrible, and i know i have a long long way to go before i even feel remotely myself. but ive been getting your emails/texts/comments so i wanted you to let know im hanging in.

love, m.

ugh

My game plan coming in here was to write these witty funny blog posts every single day. But I didn't realize how much this chemo would completely kick my ass. With that said, there not be full posts for a couple days, but know that I'm ok and that everything I'm going through is normal.

M

getting settled in... Hospital Stay Day 1 & 2

Well I've finally found some time to write my 1st blog post since checking into the Hop. You'd think I'd have nothing BUT time sitting around here in the hospital, but the last 2 days have actually been pretty eventful. To give you a rundown...

First of all, I barely got any sleep on Wednesday night. You'd assume it was because I was nervous. But honestly I was really just upset over the prospect of not seeing my silly puppy Lucy for 5 whole weeks. I haven't been apart for her for longer than a week EVER. But I know Luce will be fine b/c she's being watched by her Aunt Devon, who loves her ALMOST as much as I do.

My dad was supposed to come pick me up a little after 7am to take me to Hopkins. He showed up at 6. Clearly someone else was having problems sleeping too. We got to Hop and went to the Interventional Radiology section of the hospital to get a Hickman catheter inserted in my chest. Its through this line that I'll get my chemo, fluids, and transplant itself. The procedure itself was pretty freaky since there was no anesthesia and I was only numbed locally. But the staff there couldn't have been nicer and let me listen to music to calm my nerves. The whole thing is a bit of a blur b/c they gave me some 'happy drugs' but I'm pretty sure we listened to Motown. Which always puts a smile on my face. (Also putting a smile on my face: the large dose of Oxycodone I'm on for pain in shoulder from surgery.)

I was wheeled up to my new home in the Weinberg Building to recover and hang out for a while. And I have to say, the room really isn't bad. I've been told this is actually one of the 4 'big rooms'. So lucky me! I took sometime to unpack and am pretty settled. Below is a pic of my sitting area:



For lunch I got my first hospital meal. And it lived up to the hype - terrible. Luckily my dad ran down the Einstein Bros Bagel place in the cafeteria and fetched me my fave - honey whole wheat bagel w light cream cheese and tomato. mmmm!

In the mid-late afternoon yesterday I started chemo - Busulfan - and I've been getting an IV drip of it fairly consistently since. So far its just made me feel sleepy, and a little loopy. Had a wee bit of nausea but they gave me some magical pill that nipped that in the bud pretty quick. I'm on this protocol through Tuesday so I guess I should get used to it.

Really the biggest issue so far is lack of sleep. Its not that I can't FALL ASLEEP. But they have to wake me every 4 hours for vital signs (which includes a bunch of questions to tell if I'm cognitive - like 'what day is it' and 'was 32 minue 6'). Also everytime I start a new drug, they take a blood sample once an hour to see if they need to adjust my dose. So no real sleep for Mia.

Well what have I been doing to entertain myself. So far:

Watched 3 Netflix including:
Little Giants (classic!)
One Tree Hill Season 5 Disc 5 (go ahead and mock me - you know you love Chad Michael Murray too!)
Beverly Hills 90210 Season 3, Disc 1 (specifically decided to start w this season bc it has the 'Donna Martin Graduates' ep)

Started reading 'Touchdown Jesus. Faith and Fandom at Notre Dame' to get psyched for tomorrow's game against Michigan

Did a handful of puzzles from the New York Times Ultimate Crossword Omnibus

Played 'Words with Friends' on my iPhone w Evan and Nick (download app if you have an iPhone and play w me too!)

Napped (multiple mini naps)

Pretended to eat crappy hospital food

And thats about it.


What I'd be doing tonight if I wasn't in the hospital:
Disco Biscuits @ the Hippodrome, Fortune5Fifty Aftershow party

What I'll be doing instead:
Listening to 4/4/09 Disco Biscuits Crystal Bay Casino show, eating pudding, doing crossword puzzles

So thats it so far. I'll keep y'all posted, and I promise it won't all be medical stuff.

and i'm back...

Well its been 6 months but I'm finally back to my poor neglected blog. Unfortunately with the advent of Twitter, Notorious M.I.A. fell by the wayside, becoming the red-headed step child of all my social media endeavors. But with my impending bone marrow transplant and the 2 months of essential 'girl in a bubble-ness' that will come with it, I figured its time to return to the blogosphere so I can a) keep my friends/fam in the know about my health and b) I can do my best to keep myself from going batty with boredom. So stayed tuned kiddies...

colbert oscar predictions

I love Stephen Colbert for many reasons. One being that he has the same birthday as me. Which obviously makes him awesome. Because only cool people are born on May 13th. Other examples: my friend Ashley, Stevie Wonder.

But I digress. The main thing I heart about Colbert is his ability to make me laugh out loud while I'm alone in my apartment. And I mean loud enough that I worry that Devon can hear me from upstairs and thinks I've lost my mind. Last night was one of those nights...

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

The DaColbert Code - Oscar Predictions

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Funny Political News

Christian Bale Parody
Joke of the Day

Plus this makes me excited for the Oscars. Because I'm just an award show geek at heart. OK fine, I'm an all around geek.