Make a connection, Make it count, Don't forget it...

Before I started blogging over here, I had a blog for a couple of years that started on Yahoo360 and then moved over to a site called Multiply. I started at the urging of a friend in Minnesota, who had some "real life" friends who were bloggers on there. A large group of us became a family. In that family, there was a woman named Stacey. Stacey was friends in real life with my other blog friends Melisa, Mandi, Michelle and Dawn. I considered these women to that I met online to be close friends, even though I had not met many of them in person. They were my sounding board, my cheerleaders, my support system. Stacey was pregnant in 2007 with her 3rd son and in December, 2007, she lost baby Henry. During the same week (I can't remember exactly the timeframe) she was diagnosed with leukemia. It struck all of us to the core. We helped her fight her battle, someone I had never met but who's strength I was incredibly inspired by. While she was fighting her first rounds of chemo, I wanted to do something for her to let her know I was fighting along with her. There was a blogging term that we all used to use - FTC - which meant "First to Comment" and somewhere along the line, it became Stacey's and her friend's motto: but it meant something very different. It meant "Fuck the Cancer" or "fight the cancer" to the kiddos who asked what it meant. So, I emailed all my friends and asked that they show me what FTC meant in pictures.. I was overwhelmed by the response of the people I knew (who didn't know Stacey) but wanted to help me cheer her up. Finally, after getting about 10 versions of pictures of my friends with signs that said "FTC" I wrote a blog to Stacey. I was shocked at the response I got. I knew it would mean something to her, but had no idea that others would want to do the same. It was awesome to see how many people started sending in pictures, then our friend Mandi created a video with all the pictures and also encouraged people to get tested to see if their bone marrow was a match.



FTC Video

THEN, Melisa, organized a movement to make a quilt for Stacey and we all made a quilt square and Melisa's mom sewed it all together. And the movement continued and turned into a benefit for Stacey in May, 2008 in Minnesota. I was not able to attend but many of my blog friends flew and drove in from various locations to be there to meet and support Stacey. If memory serves me correctly, STacey was not able to attend but they presented her with the quilt.

Stacey's Surprise Quilt.wmv


Over the past year and a half, our little family of Multipliers kind of fell apart. I sometimes felt as if I had lost my best friends.. there wasn't one thing that "broke" us up, just life got in the way. My loss of some of my friends from Multiply is one of the reasons I always say I have a hard time connecting here. I'm still great friends with some of my Multiply peeps, but others, I have no idea what's going on in thier lives.

I always kept an eye on Stacey via Facebook and was always super excited when she was feeling good and moving on with her life.

On Friday, Stacey lost her battle with cancer... it has been on my mind ever since. I had somewhat forgotten about the pictures and the quilt and the benefit until Melisa posted the above videos on FB..

My point of this is to say, even if you haven't met people in "real life" it is entirely possible for someone you've never met to have such a huge impact on your life, for them to change your life, to want to be better, to want to do good. Embrace the blogging experience, I know I intend to.
xo,js

Dear Antonio....

(for those who don't know, Antonio Band-eras is my band name...)

My Dearest Antonio...
sweet, sweet Antonio... how can I love you one day and want to rip you out the next? Have you no consistency?? Why do you make me feel as if I've hit the sweet sweet spot one day and then have me hurling over a toilet/sink/plastic cup/trash can/what have you another couple of days?  Why must you tease me so?? Why when I am at my most favorite place (Pita Jungle for any of you newbies) with one of my faves (Michelle, again, for any newbies), must you force me to run to the restroom and spend at least a good 10 minutes spitting slime that looks a little like jelly-fish when it hits the water in the toilet?? This causes my fave to exclaim:  "is it me?? b/c you really seem to want to leave me alone in restaurants a lot?"... then, dear sweet Antonio, just when I think all is well, you trick me into believing I'm hungry and then I eat and then again, spend the next 15 minutes in the home bathroom.. at least you allow my little jelly-fish to be different colors again so that I don't get bored. That's so sweet of you. You really are a giver most days Antonio but why are you f'ing with me these past couple of days? I understand you are about to take a journey to a big city and you might be a little nervous that the flying might cause you to tighten your little buns around my stoma as if you were clinching to not pass gas.. but dear Antonio, can you give me a little break?  I would like to not have any added stress these next couple of days as I make it through 12 hour work-days, dealing with my new roomate, trying to prepare for my trip, etc...  please, Antonio, please!! 

Your only saving grace today Antonio is that when I had to go outside b/c there was a fire alarm and we were still in a meeting, I glanced back and caught a glimpse of my shrinking ass in the mirrored windows..  I had to do a double take b/c I wasn't sure it was me! If I could have kissed you in that moment Antonio, I would have, however that would have required major surgery and I'm not willing to do THAT again.

Smooches,
Jen

60!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's official, hell has indeed frozen over for me.. I got on the scale today and I'm officially 60 lbs down.. on.the.dot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Never in my wildest imagination would I think I'd ever be able to lose 60 lbs. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I LOVE MY BAND!!!!

Something clicked with me this week, amidst all the stress I was having about work, the BIL moving in, etc... I didn't eat until I was hungry. What a freaking concept that is!!!  When I did eat, I ate slow, small bites and I was full after only a few bites.  This is no shocking concept to most of you banders but I can't tell you how many blogs I've read where you all have talked about this and I've just wished that would happen to me.  Well, thankyoubabyjesus, it finally did.  I think I might have hit my sweet spot. I spent no time thinking of food, worked out regularly and upped my water.  Why did it take so long?? I'm stubborn I guess!! 

I'll have more to say tomorrow, but for now, I'm going to relish in my 60lb less high!!!

Hope you all have had a great weekend!

xo,js

Losing my Blo-Jo.... (blog mojo)

In an order to avoid being a debbie downer (wah-wahhhhh), I'm just going to post and say HI!

I've got nothing new to talk about!! (shocking) Weight loss has again plateaud (wah-wah)... work is still work (wah-wah)... and lots of it (wah-wah).... my allergies are killing me (sniff-sniff)... thought that by living in AZ, wouldn't have allergy problems.. not the case....(wah-wah)... brother-in-law/new roomate arrives tomorrow (oh shit...)....  did I mention my allergies? (yuck)

6 more days until my mini-vacation in NYC.. (yahoo!)

Peace out.
js

The "Mother" of all VLOGS!!

It's not really that ominous!!! 

**Sidenote - forgot to mention the other fabulous mothers in my family - SIL Beth, Aunt Joan, and Susan... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YOU!!!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Lots of Stuff...

Ok, so still at work (big shocker) but figured I'd get some time in with a blogerooo..
and I made a list!!

1.  First, I met Jenny last night!! So fun!! She is just as warm and genuine as she appears on her blogs.  She is a true band success story and she looks fantastic!!  We probably could have spent all night talking and laughing (and drinking wine)!!!  It was so nice to "talk" to another bandster.. and we have the same love / affection for Bret Michaels too!! :) Here is the one pic we took

I'm not a big fan of myself in this picture b/c while I thought that shirt was cute and flattering.. notsomuch!!! (I prefer my pics to be "boobs up"!!   I look like  I haven't lost a pound!!!  But Jenny is adorable.. hopefully we can catch up with other band friends in NYC in 2 weeks! 

2.  Went to the PA today. Got another .5ccs so I'm not at 8.5 in a 14cc band. The biggest shock of the day is that I lost 9 lbs in the last 5 weeks. Why is this shocking?? I'm a 5lb a month girl.. 9 is good for me!!!  I attribute this loss to a couple of things - the last time I went I was wearing jeans, I was just starting my period.. but hey, I'll take the 9lbs!! I'm about .5 from 60 down.. hallelujah! I feel good today too. I've only had a little cup of soup and a frappucino and I'm not real hungry. I really hope this is the one!!

3.  Did anyone see Gaga on American Idol last night? I love me some Gaga, but she was a little kooky..  I mean, she is a little kooky but last night just was wierd. I am going to see her on 7/31 and can't wait!!

4.  Work is still bananas.. i'm working on my 10th hour right now.. good times!!

5.  My legs are killing me b/c Kathi, the trainer is mean.. enough said there...

6.  Little personal stuff going on..  Tim's brother is coming to live with us for a little while. I'm not really happy about it and that's a whole another blog in and of itself. Right now, I just keep telling myself it's the right thing to do and it'll all work out, but let me just say my in-laws (Tim's brother excluded) suck BIG TIME..  I'll expand more another day.

7.  Sunday, I'm going to the spa with Michelle and Joy.. it's their Mother's day treat from their hubs and I'm tagging along b/c I'm no mother.. I think they feel bad for me but if I can get a day spent with some of my faves and a massage , I'm happy to join!!  At least I can count on some bellinis!! :)

Gotta run!!

xo,js

Crazy...

That's how I feel these days!!! My work life has taken over.. I was just saying to my friend Julie today that I hate how work has taken over my social life. I had such big plans for tonight - haircut, return a bathing suit, go get a box so I can FINALLY ship Amy the mountains of clothes I have for her.. and here I sit.. at my desk! Haircut rescheduled to next Friday, bathing suit sitting in my car and the box will have to wait until tomorrow.. sorry Amy for the delay!!! UGH! 
BUT, the one good thing about my job lately is my new view.. check it out..

if you know Scottsdale/Phoenix, you know in the background that is Camelback Mtn...  right across the freeway is where they are building the new Diamondbacks/Rockies Spring Training "Facility"..  it's going to be completed by next spring, just in time for Spring Training!! So exciting!!!  Gotta tell you, the view is fab..

Tomorrow, I'm meeting Jenny for dinner!! So excited!  Her's is one of the first blogs I started following and she's been hugely successful which I admire, so I'm a little nervous but excited to meet!  We'll take pics of course!

Hope all is well.. I know I have more to say but I need to get out of here before the sun goes down!! 

xo,js