This. THIS is why I’m going.

Posted 04 Aug 2010 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category blog bidnass, other people are awesome

Awesome post.

BlogHer’s Bright, Shiny Secret. @ Authentic Organizations

Almost all packed up and just about ready to go! I’m so excited! I’ll be posting something that will be a live twitter feed straight to my blog so you can keep tabs on WTF is up.

The never ending battle.

Posted 04 Aug 2010 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category cancer sucks

Today I decided to participate in a #CancerSucks bloghop hosted by straighttalkjess.com. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll remember how much cancer has affected my family. If you’re a new reader, this may shed some light into why every penny I can spare will always go towards cancer research.

This all started a long time ago, in 2003, back when the hubs and I had only been together for like, 8 months. My mom’s brother got married to his wife in a huge to-do in San Francisco and had a luxurious wedding at the courthouse. Our whole family was there from the midwest. It was awesome.

About a week after the trip, I got a call from my mom. She said “I have something to tell you. It’s about Gabba.” (Gabba was my grandmother’s “grandma name.” I couldn’t say “grandma” as a kid, and that’s what came out. It stuck, I guess, because everyone in the family called her that.) I had no idea what to expect from my mom, but it didn’t sound good. She explained to me that before my uncle’s wedding, Gabba had found out she had ovarian cancer. They gave her 3 years, max. She told my mother, and together they decided not to tell anyone until after the wedding so that my uncle could have his day, and that the focus wouldn’t be on her. Because for now, she was okay. I cried when she told me, but I had no idea what that really meant. Looking back on it now, I’m so glad I didn’t know what kind of sorrow it could bring.

After my grandma’s diagnosis, it seemed like a whirlwind of more diagnoses. I know I have my dates screwed up here with who was diagnosed when, but next came my mom’s sister Mitzi being diagnosed with breast cancer, then I think my dad’s mother (breast cancer), then his sister (breast cancer), and then my mom’s sister Julie (breast cancer again) over the course of a few years.

My dad’s mom & sister went into remission with chemo & radiation treatments. Mitzi struggled to get it under control for a while, ultimately deciding on a double mastectomy to remove a cancerous breast and preemptively strike against the other. It may have saved her life, as she’s been in remission for a number of years now as well. Julie used a combination of chemotherapy and alternative therapies and also went into remission for a while, but eventually it came back. Gabba, though…never really went into remission. It was always there. But she was always still herself. Wearing wigs and sometimes being ill, but still Gabba.

Then Julie got sick. Really sick. The cancer had metastasized. It was all over her body. She was in and out of the ICU and hospital for months battling pneumonia and just dealing with being sick. Finally early in the morning on April 28th 2008, she passed away. I was home visiting my parents because we knew it was any day. I will never forget the phone ringing around 4am…it was my Auntie Mitzi calling from the hospital. It was unbelievable. So young, and because of what? A disease? It blew my mind, and really messed with me. Prior to her death, I had committed myself to doing the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk. And later that year, I walked all 60 miles in memory of my Auntie Julie, and my other family members who had been affected by breast cancer.

In the early spring of 2009, Gabba got sick. Which for her, was odd. She had been living with her ovarian cancer for over five years, well past the three they’d given her. Then she ended up in the hospital. I was pretty newly pregnant at the time and let my mom tell her I was expecting, even though I was trying to keep it under wraps until 12 weeks. It was so hard to see her ill, knowing that this was finally it. It was different this time, with Gabba. With Julie, it was so upsetting and horrible, but with Gabba…it seemed so deep down. She was my rock, our family’s rock. I was so close to her. We had gone home before she died. I refused to say goodbye, but made sure she knew how much I loved her. Eventually I wrote her a letter that my mom read to her telling her everything I couldn’t say to her face. (I didn’t want her to see my cry.) And then on April 7th, she passed away.

Dealing with Gabba’s death was the hardest. Picking up the phone to call her forgetting she wasn’t there, seeing my mom fall apart, remembering she wasn’t going to be there for the birth of our baby…it was almost too much to handle.

However, on Gabba’s birthday last year, she gave me a gift that I will forever know was not just chance. Just after midnight on her birthday, Abigail Rita was born. (Rita was Gabba’s real name.)

This story of my family’s history with cancer wasn’t just to bring tears to my eyes while writing it, because lord knows it has. I’m telling it because all of this has done nothing but make me stronger…more vigilant in the fight against it. It does scare me knowing the chances I have of being stricken with this disease, but I’m more pro-active than ever and always doing what I can to help the fight against it. And my story is only one of THOUSANDS, likely MILLIONS of people affected by it every day.

So, yeah. Cancer does suck. And that’s putting it mildly.

Get to know Mrs Jenna:
A “So, you can’t make it to BlogHer” post.

Posted 03 Aug 2010 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category blog bidnass, I am awesome, other people are awesome, RAD

So, let’s say you’re one of the people who’s not going to BlogHer this weekend. That sucks. I am sorry. I will miss you.

Since you’re missing out on the opportunity to talk to me, observe me hiding in a corner, or eavesdrop on my drunken conversation I’m having with the bartender, here’s what you’re not learning about me:

  • I blush very easily. Like, ridiculously easy. It’s embarrassing. So when I start to blush, I get embarrassed about blushing and then blush some more. Then I am essentially purple. It’s a hot look. Also, for this very reason, I do not drink red wine…because it literally does turn me purple.

    What you’re missing out on: My face turning red when I meet my bloggy friends for the first time. Also, the reason why I threw a glass of red wine at a waiter. How DARE he not know this about me? EVERYONE READS MY BLOG.

  • I talk really fast. I can’t help it. It’s probably because I’m hyper most of the time.

    What you’re missing out on: Me having conversations with people I don’t know and leaving them looking confused as to what the hell I just said. Sometimes this happens even if I talk slow. Remember, I’m a nerd. Occasionally I forget not everyone references Seinfeld episodes like the bible.

  • I have totally weird toes. I’m not exaggerating this at all. I got them from my mom. My second toes (also known as “monkey toes”) are trying to take over the world. So far they’ve only defeated my big toes.

    What you’re missing out on: People writing “weird feet” on my business cards to remember me, and me trying to walk in heels. By “trying,” I mean holding back tears with a huge fake smile on my face and walking similar to Ozzy Osborne.

  • I would prefer if every day were a slumber party. Complete with popcorn and sleeping bags and horror movies and girl talk and staying up way too late.

    What you’re missing out on: Me trying to find as many people that want to do this. In their room. Because I don’t think the hubs will be keen to this. And I also don’t think you want to see him in his undies. I mean, he is hot and all, but you know. It’s someone else’s husband in their undies. Weird. And awkward. But still cute.

  • If I get too drunk, I hide in the bathroom. It’s been my weird go-to for years. I assume it’s because I get the spins and figure – HEY! If I’m gonna spew, at least the toilet’s right there! Nevermind that it’s 9pm.

    What you’re missing out on: Hopefully, not this. I don’t plan on getting shitfaced, internets. I also don’t get piss-drunk very often. Usually the drunk sneaks up on me. I’m planning on “drinking responsibly.” At least while I’m at Martha Stewart’s.

  • And finally, I’m a really nice person. Yes, I judge people and am sarcastic and will almost always be trying to make you laugh, but I’m a really nice person. Come talk to me!

    What you’re missing out on: Getting to know the coolest, most awesome person on the planet. Oh, and I’ll be there too.

Whoomp! (There It Is)

Posted 02 Aug 2010 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category motherhood, TheRapists

I’m talking about mommy guilt.

As I was up with Abbers during her 3rd wake up at 3am, sitting in the glider rocking her back to sleep when it hit me. I’m leaving her. Again. We just left her with her grandparents about 10 days ago when we went to a cabin for the weekend. She stayed with them Saturday night for a concert we went to (also to get some much needed sleep). And now, Wednesday, she’ll be joining them until we get back from New York on Sunday.

And I cried.

I know I’ll have fun, and I know “we deserve to get away once in a while,” but that won’t stop me from feeling like the worst mother ever. And I know I’m not. But…you get what I mean.

Maybe canceling my TheRapist appointment today was a bad idea. But seriously, I HAVE TO PACK. And it will take me about 7 hours to do so, and feel comfortable that I didn’t forget anything important. Like, 3 pairs of high heeled shoes I’ll wear for 15 minutes each before removing and putting on my flats.

Did I mention I’m going to BlogHer?

Posted 29 Jul 2010 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category blog bidnass, other people are awesome, RAD, retail therapy

(that title is a joke, because, well DER.)

Yeah. This is me…panicking.

In 6 days I’m getting in one of those magical soda cans that can fly at high speeds and arriving in New York City where I will meet some of the most awesome ladies and go to parties and also BE IN EFFING NEW YORK. Oh yeah, and maybe learn a thing or two as well.

I have WAY too much to do in the next week. And not enough time to do it in. I also need to include time to panic about flying, my luggage getting lost, nobody talking to me, getting mugged, seeing one of those jumbo rats the size of a dog, and also panic about panicking.

To add fuel to my anxiety filled fire, I ordered a dress for one of the parties, and it was a big fail. So, now I need to travel to the MOA (that’s Mall of America, to you folks outside the Twin Cities area) and try to find some dresses that can be worn both to BlogHer AND a couple weddings I have coming up. And find a glittery obnoxiousness for Sparklecorn.

Sigh. You guys, even though I’m freaking out, I am SO EXCITED. I cannot wait to meet my bloggy friends/idols/twatpeeps in person and share laughing and copious amounts of the drink. CANNOT WAIT.

I hope one or a few of you won’t shy away from skipping a session and going shopping with me. Because SERIOUSLY LADIES. We’ll be in New York. We have to go shopping and drink martinis and also drink martinis while shopping.

Stay tuned, I’m working on a post about what you’ll be missing out on not being my roommate while at BlogHer. (You know, since I’m rooming with the hubs while I’m there.)