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Feb. 28, 2024, 11:02 a.m.
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Catching up with life…it’s been a while. So much has happened.
I went to the fun lesiban dance party! It was so interesting. The Birthday Girl (my crush-ish) had invited several people who live in the complex, and I had no idea there were so many lesbian, non-binary and trans folks living here in my tiny village of an apartment complex. We started at Birthday Girl’s (and partner) apartment. She wanted to “get ready” there - and that was all fine and good, if not slow-moving. But isn’t getting ready most of the fun? The trans girl looked sooooo masculine when I first arrived, and suddenly morphed into a super pretty girl (only she had man hands). Most of us were non-drinkers, but they all seemed interested in popping adderalls before going out. This is a thing? I’m clearly OLD. And I also needed to take my own car because I needed to be at the marathon aid station by 6am the next morning, so I knew I was going to leave early. The parking situation was sketchy, as most downtown parking can be. I ended up parking in a creaky, dirty old parking garage and the car next to mine had people sitting in it, smoking weed, so I was hopeful that nothing was going to happen to either me or the car (lots of people on the street). But once I got to the club, it was ON. There was a DJ playing fun Latin music mixed with other poppy beats, and everyone was sooooo happy and dancy. And they had this really great selection of mixed drinks that you could either add alcohol or not. I had some kind of spicy cucumber concoction and it was fantastic! I need to take a n/a cocktail class. I loved the vibe, danced, wished Birthday Girl a great rest of the evening and bid farewell and got to my car and home with no trouble at all.
The Marathon. The next morning was rough getting up for a couple of reasons. (1) I got up insanely early because I’d never been to this marathon before and I didn’t really know what the parking situation would be, and (2) I went to bed around 12:45 or 1am and got up at…oh, like 4ish. So. Yeah. Dragging ass. AND it was freezing cold but going to get really warm as the day progressed, so I had to figure out layers upon layers, including hat, gloves, the whole nine. I also got to the parking lot super early and was the only one in the lot for over an hour. It was weird, but once people got there, it felt fun and festive. We were split into groups and my group was in charge of mixing electrolyte powder into water and then filling all of the little Dixie Cups with the juice and handing them out. Yeah, all fun and games until the massive crowd comes and all of your fellow volunteers only want to HAND out the refreshments, not MAKE them. I quickly found a friend in a cute guy named Fernando, and he and I ended up being the only ones making, mixing and refilling the cups (with the exception of a couple people from time to time), and we were KILLING ourselves to get the stuff made and poured fast enough for these thirsty runners! But we did it (I cussed to Fernando from time to time and made him laugh), and in the end, we got to walk around and check out the finish line. Fernando actually grabbed me a little beer at one of the sillier refreshment stands, and I told him I didn’t drink (more on that later), and then he and I walked around together, shooting the shit. I don’t know if he was into me-into me, but we had a little fun flirty thing going on. I got his IG - he plays in a Latin band (sensing a theme that weekend?), and I think it’d be fun to see him sometime! All in all, it was a fun, refreshing morning!
75 Hard: Well, I love this challenge, but I blew it on Day 49! I forgot to take my progress pics and **boom***, that’s the end of that. If you miss one element of the program on any given day - even something as “small” as forgetting the 30 seconds involved in taking a progress pic, you have to start back at Day 1!! The thing is, I don’t mind starting over again because I think I want these new habits to become permanent. I like my new eating methods - increased protein (still working on getting more in), intermittent fasting is easy to me now, and zero alcohol - I have many, many thoughts about finally quitting alcohol. It’s going to have to be a separate entry. So MUCH to say about 75 Hard. [Athena] sent me this article in the NYT about the cultish frenzy over 75 Hard and I agree, but I love challenges and I love rigidity, and even though I only made it through 49 days, I saw a huge difference in myself. Namely, my bloated tummy that I thought would be bloated until the day I die because of my colon cancer is now almost FLAT! I lost 10 lbs in those 49 days and I felt GREAT! So much so that I decided to start again at Day 1 on Monday (the 26th). I knew that last week was going to be difficult because of my colonoscopy (more to follow), but I also knew that afterwards, I can begin again! And so I did. I’m on Day 3!
My Colon: So yeah. Last week was my 2-year follow-up colonoscopy after the successful treatment of my Stage 3 Colon Cancer. Long, long story but I wanted to make sure that the surgeon who found my tumor - who was the same surgeon who performed the surgery to take out the tumor along with my sigmoid colon and reattach the two segments - was also the one doing my 2-year follow up since my last CLEAN colonoscopy (a year after cancer was dx). And that meant going back to my former city. Luckily, our wonderful [Athena] offered me not only a place to stay, but a beautiful BIDET to help me with my prep! Y’all. GAME CHANGER. I am a terrible prepper in that my BODY holds onto things and my colon moves sloooowwwly. So. [Athena] was such a gracious host, gave me her bed and her bathroom and just said, have at it. And I did. I prepped all day the day before with some success, but knowing that the bulk (ha) of the work was going to happen in the middle of the night. And boy howdy. Bottom line (heh), was a CLEAN and CLEAR colonoscopy! No polyps, no nothing! The doc even showed me a pic of the scar where he attached the two parts of my severed colon back together. Everything is GREAT! And my sweet Maria picked me up afterwards so we got to spend some time together having lattes and bagels immediately after. I just know that eating right and getting my exercise and getting away from the insanity that was The Cutie Pie Company has kept my bowels from going rogue again. I’m grateful for every freaking cancer-free day I have. Thank you, GOD.
Werk Stuff: I mean, I’m working right now, so I’ll say that I’m starting to get the hang of multitasking during WFH, even though I will always, always prefer the focus I have when I’m working in an office and being able to see folks face-to-face. And sure, my boss is a weirdo and an anal one at that, the times when he’s a dickhole are few and far between. Same with the founder of the company. He’s suuuuuuch a stickler for dumb things (and not-so-dumb things), but then it’s HIS brand and HIS name and HIS face on the products I’m developing, so I absolutely give him credit and agree with him 10,000%. I’m digging working with him. And my fellow workmates are freaking cool, although two of them quit since I’ve been working there (and there were only 8 of us!), but whatever. That’s gonna happen. I just hope I can keep doing this for a while, add on a side hustle of some sort, and then find something better with better insurance. That’s my prize. But I do love what I do. And I’m rather enjoying sitting here with my tea, looking out the window over the creek and the trail, with the Today Show on in the background. I’ve already talked with China this morning and I’ve got a personal webinar during lunch. Then I’ll take a nice walk in the fresh air and…call it a day right at the stroke of 5. It’s not always this way - sure, there’s some stress and some longer hours at times - but again, nothing…and I mean NOTHING like Cutie Pie.
Okay, I better get back to it for now. I do want to write about Mom and Dad and some other things, but I don’t want to get into it now. More to follow after I kick some ass at work! Ha!
Love you!
GS
Complicated Disaster ⋅ February 28, 2024
So much stuff!
I'm hardly surprised about the LGBT community in your complex given the city you live in!
The marathon volunteering sounds rough after such a late night!
The 75 HARD is clearly well named!
And great news about the colonoscopy!!! Whoooooop!
xx
Ginger Snap Complicated Disaster ⋅ February 28, 2024
Re: LGBTQ stuff: right?! But for some reason, I didn't see it in broad daylight, if that makes sense?
Loved the volunteering part so much I want to do much more of it.
And thank you, thank you for the cheers about the colonoscopy. I feel amazing!
Complicated Disaster Ginger Snap ⋅ February 28, 2024
I love volunteering at parkrun! It's such a rush. And it only lasts a couple of hours! lol xx
pandora ⋅ February 28, 2024
49 days is pretty impressive, as is starting it all over again! Good luck! And yaaaay N/A - the movement is growing!
Ginger Snap pandora ⋅ February 28, 2024
Yes, oh yes!! I'm actually really, really excited about this and need to write an entry (or several) about it!! And thank you!
Satine ⋅ February 28, 2024
So glad you are clear!
Ginger Snap Satine ⋅ February 29, 2024
Thank you SO much! Me too ❤️✨
Florentine ⋅ February 29, 2024
I love everything about this update. Sounds like your physical and mental health are in a good place and the dance party and marathon clearly fed your social and emotional heath, too. I always admire your drive to be an "all in" kind of person. You take control and make your own happiness. <3
Ginger Snap Florentine ⋅ February 29, 2024
What a super nice thing to say, thank you. I love your last sentence. I'm really trying to make my own happiness and I'm glad it shows ❤️
Serin ⋅ February 29, 2024
Hurray for your colon-awesomely. I'm citing it as a positive example for my own innards to strive towards.
You sound good in this. Whole, maybe a better word. "Nothing like Cutie Pie" seems to look really good on you. :)
Kate ⋅ March 01, 2024
I'm glad you have a job you like. And a clear colon!
Weird questions, but I've been wondering: do you speak Chinese?