Ramblings....: Tumor, Music, Kidneys and Crafts....

Like the title? Ha!

Let’s start with the news that has been giving my tummy aches and tossy turny night’s sleep for a couple weeks -The tumor has not grown! Woot!

If you are not familiar with what I’m talking about here’s the blog I chat a bit about it. Anywhoo, my yearly MRI was Thursday January 9^th. I hate those things. So friggin loud and they last an hour or so and I feel all dizzy and wonky afterwards. Blergh.

My follow up appointment wasn’t until the 21^st so I tried my best not to worry too much about it during those couple weeks. I brought mom with me to the appointment (I always like to have a parent or friend with me in case the news is bad) and as my specialist opened the door coming into my room he said “Well there’s no growth!”

Sigh of relief.

Now I wait another year. So there’s that update. Yay!

Last week my favorite cousin was in town from Wed-Sat attending the NAMM show. I conveniently had a Women’s Conference Seminar at one of the hotels right in the middle of all the NAMM fun so we scheduled to meet up after my seminar. So friggin perfect! Just leave my car in the hotel I parked at and stroll over! I’d like to touch a bit on the lame seminar first:

So in my current position at work, there really isn’t anywhere for this position to go. I have no problem with this at the moment because I am super happy here and adore my boss so I’m perfectly content working here until she retires. In the meantime, I’ve talked to her about bettering myself as a person thus bettering myself as an employee so if I ever see anything that may be helpful could I take it. She agreed. So I saw this seminar and the way it was advertised, I thought it was going to be a great networking event where we get inspired and learn some cool shit about women in the workplace or something.

WRONG.

There were 2 ladies that were going to split up different sessions. I attended 2 of each thinking they were going to help us learn ways to help others (Since I am already plenty assertive and a non-stress case already) learn to be assertive and chill. Not so much. When the women weren’t trying to push on us the other crap to buy they were rambling about nothing and talking in circles and making these women I was surrounded by think they were learning something. At one point we were supposed to check a box about how we would handle a situation. I didn’t like any of the choices so I made my own little box and checked it. The woman noticed this and asked me to explain. I did just that and half the women wanted to change their answers to what I said. HA! I found myself at breaks chatting with some of the women and seeming to inspire them but I have no idea. They all seemed to be a bunch of weak women who didn’t know how to speak up. Guess this wasn’t my cup of tea. My boss told me the next day when I bitched to her about the seminar that maybe I was put there to help the other gals. I sure hope so because then at least maybe something came out of it.

Anyway – on to the total shift to the evening. I brought a change of clothes and met up with my cousin about 5. I got a big ol bear hug since he hadn’t seem me since Pre-head pop. We had drinks at the Marriott listening to the bands in the background as we caught up on life. My brother, his wife and a friend of theirs met up with us and we headed out to the plaza where Jonny Lang (THAT’S RIGHT JONNY LANG!!!!) was playing and they had a food truck rally. We grabbed some corndogs (which I regretted later) then my cousin and I made our way up towards the front and watched him tear it up just like I saw him do a few weeks earlier! My cousin had never seen him and I enjoyed watching him pick his jaw up off the floor multiple times. I could not friggin believe I was standing here watching Jonny Lang for free!!!!!!! Such an amazing show! We then headed over to the Hilton for more drinks and bands in the background. Huge thanks to my cousin for paying for my wine and dogs! Talk about a perfect evening!!!! I mean honestly, the stars could not have been more aligned! I was meant to be there and it was fun and the crowds were cool and it was just rad! I could have not asked for a more perfect night to hang with my favorite cousin and watch some kick ass music!!!

Then last Friday night T, Jill and I caught the show Blessing of the Boats: a remix It used to be a one man show about Sekou Sundaiata's trials and tribulations with kidney disease and now it’s performed by 3 guys, all who had a connection with him. The show was beautiful. It was a performance art/spoken word like piece and all three of the guys were fantastic. One man’s voice was so deep, lord I shivered every time he spoke! A few of the parts hit close to home when they were talking of hospital stays, etc. and I found my breath caught and tears run down my face. There was imagery, and great lighting and the three captured this man’s story beautifully. I could have done without the talk back after the show. T and I were joking that they were trying to harvest our kidneys. But otherwise a great night! This was part of the Off Center Festival at OCPAC which I plan to pay more attention too for sure!

Then Saturday D hosted our next craft night/day. She chose scrapbook paper on canvas. She had seen a flowery looking piece on Pinterest she liked. We did a brunch at her house and what I loved the most was that everyone had a totally different piece! It was so awesome to see everyone’s creativity! I chose to make a tree. I figured it was the easiest to do! He he! I did of course enlist Mel’s help in turning my trunk that looked like a hand more into a trunk and asked mom to write the passage I chose since she has such beautiful handwriting! We had a great time as per usual, listening to the Billie Holiday radio station and laughing and talking over cutting and spray painting and modge podging!