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spring sprung
Ridiculously, I took these photos of pretty Miss Alex a YEAR ago, and for whatever reason (pick one: adult onset ADD, not pressed for a deadline since I asked her to model, moving them down the queue, procrastination, just burn out, sheer laziness?) I only edited them last week. So even though they are super late and Alex probably doesn’t even look like this anymore, the flowers were still beautiful and so was she. Plus, her sweater was a perfect match to my car so that had to be included somewhere. Thanks for modeling, Alex!
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a run to remember 2024
Another fabulous event put on by Kenny & family benefitting many charities and foundations in our area (and beyond). It gets a little bigger every year with more runners and more foundations to donate to. I’m so proud of my friend for not only running 27 miles in 24 hours to honor the last 27 days of his brother’s life that he lost to cancer, but for being such a light to our community and people who are in need.
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mohs on the nose {skin cancer- part 2}
I promise this isn’t becoming a skin cancer only page but in all my research before and during this process, I knew I wanted to see how other people progressed. There’s shockingly not a lot of “during” photos out there- mostly just before and after, where after is like a year.I’m hearing the first 3 weeks are the worst so let’s hope that’s accurate. Days 2-5 were by far the worst with pain, swelling, redness and a lot of being in my feeling verrrry sorry for myself era. Like how does this tiny dot become so fucking huge and take over your entire nose? Looking like this can’t be hidden and dealing with that is certainly not easy. I definitely feel like a Frankenstein freak. But that’s where all my awesome friends & family came in. Especially those who have been through it previously- reaching out and sending me encouragement and pictures of their progress. Friends that I didn’t even know had skin cancer too. So I saw there was hope and snapped out of it. Listen, I’m grateful af that I caught it early, it was “only” basal cell carcinoma, it wasn’t worse or more serious and could be easily treated with just mohs and plastics. But honestly, looking like this sucks. My face isn’t the greatest face, but it’s been MY face for almost 55 years and I’m kinda used to it. I didn’t/dont want to have frankenface. I know it’ll heal and you’ll likely not really be able to tell, but that’s a while off and you know me and my level of “patience” in life.Anyway, stitches are out which makes it much less painful and pully. Another week of restrictions and rest, then I graduate back to regular stuff. Except with hats and a shitload of sunscreen and cover so the scar fades as much as possible. Still a lot of swelling and redness but a little better each day.Also a big thank you to everyone who has reached out, texted, called, messaged, dropped off food or offered, driven me, told me it’s not so bad- it’ll heal nicely, sent flowers, snacks and treats! You guys are the best!! -
mohs on the nose {skin cancer- part 1}
WARNING: some gross shit ahead.Basal cell carcinoma. Ya know, cause that’s something everyone wants. I noticed a shiny spot on the tip of my nose that looked like highlighter but wasn’t. I went to the dermatologist and it was biopsied. And here we are. Had it removed 4/12 via Mohs surgery and plastic surgery. Just glad it’s not melanoma and everything went well. Plus, it was a cute heart shape. Now it’s the furthest fucking thing from cute there is. She was able to get it all with one pass on the Mohs. However the remaining hole in my nose was deep af. You could put a regular m&m in there!I left the Mohs surgeon at the dermatologist and headed over to the plastic surgeon later that afternoon. He did a bilobed flap to move the skin around and cover the defect (the picture with the purple lines on my nose). The worst part was the novocaine shots in the nose (I asked the doctor if he would be offended with cursing and he said “let me see what you got”. I told him that was NOT the thing anyone should say to me and then at the first shot I said MOTHERFUCKER really loud. At least he laughed.) The part where he’s pulling the cut skin around and stretching it felt SO gross. The stitches were no party either.Moral of the story: wear your sunscreen and get your skin checks! And pay attention to any changes in your skin in color, texture or anything that just seems off. We’re all old now, this is apparently what happens.Also, the doctor explained that none of this is due to current skin exposure to sun. This is all from “well now, isn’t this the consequences of our own actions coming back to bite us in the ass” from childhood/teenage/young adult years. Florida 3x a year during my whole childhood on all school vacations, coming home peeling and sunburned. Sleep away camp every summer, outside all day without a drop of sunscreen to be found. Laying out on my roof with baby oil. Beach all summer. Then 4 years at University of Miami, with a 1.74 and mono my first semester but a rockin’ tan. And an amazing tan for the remainder of my time there , where I improved my grades. And my tan. Using Hawaiian Tropic 2spf (I mean, seriously?! 2??!! Why be any?!) Watching my mom use bain d’soliel and a reflector. It’s a long, sunny history I have.For the last 20 years, I’ve been religiously using sunscreen at least 30spf and sitting under an umbrella. But the dermatologist said any damage I’m doing now will only show up after I’m dead, so there’s that I guess? -
rose & sean get engaged! {in the sideways rain}
Rain wasn’t stopping love! Corny, but true. It was pretty much monsooning raining out, complete with sideways rain. The end of the dock where the proposal was planned was covered, but that didn’t do much for the wind and rain coming in. Rose’s aunt set it up beautifully but there was no point in lighting the candles and the scattered rose petals really scattered! Like into the water. When the couple arrived, none of the weather mattered anymore as Sean asked Rose to marry him. Of course she said yes right away! We didn’t spend much more time taking pictures because the weather wasn’t getting any better but we were able to catch a few cute ones with umbrellas and kisses. Congratulations to the happy couple!
