Odds and Ends: Cancer Free!

• First and foremost, as you can probably read from my title today, my grandma is cancer-free! Her colonoscopy came back completely clean and healthy, not even a polyp! I was at work when my mom texted me and had just taken a bite of breakfast when I looked down at my phone and saw, "Grandma is cancer free." You guys, I can't even begin to tell you the amount of emotion I was feeling at that moment. Utter elation and ecstasy. I cried tears of joy and I'm still pretty emotional about it. She will have to have more PET scans, just to be sure the cancer doesn't come back. I'm not sure how long, but I want to say 6 months. Don't quote me on it. She's also taking a pill that is supposed to help with keeping the cancer away. I have never felt a pressing need to find a cure for cancer more than I have during these past few years.
  
  
• I got my hospital bill. It's not pretty. I almost cried about it. In case you're wondering, the price of an ER visit, 3 x-rays of your thumb, and a doctor giving you 3 stitches comes to $2,400. I'm going to punch the next person whoever complains about insurance. Be happy you have it. Because many people don't, and live in constant fear that they're going to get sick. I couldn't imagine what a overnight stay or actual surgery would cost!
  
  
• Tomorrow, I'm covering a 5K event. One of the courses I'm taking is Sports Journalism and to be quite honest, it's not my favorite. I contemplate dropping it multiple times a week. But I'm sticking through it. I had no idea what to do for my first assignment. The last thing I wanted to do was hang out at a high school football game and interview the players. Intimidation, much? (Sure, I'm 4-6 years older than them, but I'm smaller than them and look like I'm 15.) I found this 5K through active.com and it's raising awareness for ovarian cancer. I have been in touch with the race organizers and an ovarian cancer survivor who is competing in the race. I'm actually really excited about this opportunity and will be waking up super early tomorrow to attend the race, talk to some of the runners, and get an overall feel of the people.
  
  
• Tonight, my nephew is coming over. He's turning two next week. WHEN did that happen? I feel like it was yesterday that Mark was telling me Jenny was pregnant. And now he's this walking, talking, bilingual, funny, adorable toddler. He's absolutely scrumptious.
  
  
• I've been doing a lot of thinking (and doing) about healthy living. I think I'm realizing that I don't want my life to be measured by points or calories. I want it to be measured by feeling good. It's a work in progress and I have a post coming about it, but I find it's helping me not to give up so easily. I bounce back quicker onto the healthy living bandwagon. But I would love some motivation buddies, someone to talk to about what I'm eating and challenges I'm facing and someone who will do the same. Maybe someone who's also on the same journey or someone who has been through this and could give me advice. Any takers?
  
  
• I've decided, after talking about how I need to run more consistently, that I have to give up running until I can purchase new shoes. On my last few runs, they've been killing my feet. I've been dealing with a pulled muscle in my calf all week from my 5K on Sunday. And my left feet/left ankle have gotten numb from running. I've never experienced this and I have to think it has to deal with my shoes. They are literally falling apart. I wear them for work and exercise and I've had them for over a year, so yeah, I definitely need new ones! I'm planning on writing a story on why you need proper running shoes, and also going to a running store to get fitted properly for one as part of "research". I can't wait!
  
  
• Can we just talk about Big Brother for a second? First of all, I wanted Lane to win but I wasn't too sad Hayden did. I just didn't want Enzo to win! But forget that, let's talk about the dresses the Jury House girls wore. Britney, of course, looked absolutely gorgeous. I loved her dress, a little on the modest side on top (which I loved) yet still short enough to be sexy! I want! Kathy's dress did nothing for her. I'm sorry but there comes a time when you're too old to wear a dress with your boobs hanging out. (But maybe that's just me.) And Rachel's dress? She looked like freaking Ariel from The Little Mermaid! And was just as skanky as I suspected her to wear. She disgusts me. (Oh! And Britney and Lane together? Almost as perfect as Jordan and Jeff. There's just that little problem of a fiance. Lane could take him, though.)
  
  
• And Whitney won Master Chef! She's the sweetest, most humble, most adorable cook ever. I'm so happy she won. This little 22-year-old spitfire took down all the cocky chefs. I'm totally going to buy her cookbook when it comes out. And I watch way too much reality TV.