walking to save women (aka having cancer made me get off my ass)

Some of you already know I have cancer, and that I recently got the news that I am in remission.  Hooray!  Only three more years until I am declared officially cancer-free.  I know I'll get through it though, I'm in remission, and I'm staying there! 

Within days of finding out I was in remission I walked into Shoppers Drug Mart and saw the pamphlet for the Weekend to End Women's Cancers walk.  I picked it up and browsed through it... a 60km walk over 2 days where the proceeds go to finding a cure for breast cancer and gynecological cancers.  Hmmm.... I have gynecological cancer....  the walk is on my birthday weekend....

I decide that it can't be simply co-incidence that I just went into remission, this walk is fundraising for gynecological cancers, and it's on my birthday weekend.  I bring the pamphlet home with me and promtly sign up for the walk.  Then it hits me.  The realization that I have just agreed to walk 60km.  I don't mind that I've commited to raising a large sum of money for the cause, that I can deal with.  The problem is that I've been sick, for a few years now.  I've been home.  Sitting.  Puking.  Playing video games.  I'm not sure of the last time I walked 1km, how in the world am I going to manage 60???

Since signing up though I've been following my coaches advice.  Start small.  I started out walking 1.5km, then 2.6km, 3.5km, 4km, all in the comfort of my home on my manual treadmill.  Then on Sunday I participated in an official training walk for The Weekend.  It was a 5km walk around the mall before opening hours, so we even got to do a little shopping with no other people in the mall.  That in itself is a fantastic experience, especially if you're like me and can't stand the crazy crowds usually associated with downtown shopping malls. 

The 5km itself was just fine.  It made me realize that walking longer distances really isn't that hard when you've got something to distract you.  Walking on the treadmill staring at a wall makes time drag on for an eternity (although on a side note I've recently realized that I'm talented enough to play my Nintendo DS while walking on my treadmill...wooo!).  In fact after finishing up the 5km I walked another 2.5km.  Yay me!  Of course I paid for it that night and the next day.  I still get so rundown sometimes, and it seems to take me forever to recover from anything.  Unfortunately the effects of chemo stay with you for way too long after you've finished.

Now my problem is that it is soooo beautiful outside, that I want to start walking outside.  Plus the coaches said that only walking on a treadmill is not a good idea because you're feet have to get used to walking on pavement.  That's all good, I want to be outside roaming around my part of the city... but I have no idea of distance.  How am I supposed to know how far I've walked?  I thought of thinking of it in terms of time, but I don't know how accurate that would be because what if I slowed down to enjoy something that caught my eye?  I really wish I had a better sense of distance.  I really have no idea how far things are.  If anyone has any advice on this I'd really appreciate it.

Right now I'm off to go pick up some Lego (oh Lego how I love you!), and then I'm going to try to get in my first outdoor training walk.

Oh!  Stay tuned, I'm going to be starting a new blog with my home/cancer/health/family posts.  Posting about cancer walks on my gaming/book blog seems counter productive.  Procrastination and motivation just don't mix.  Once I start it I'll post the link.

adventures of a 30 something gal with braces

I'm not sure how many of you out there have had braces as an adult, but it's a pretty crazy thing to experience.  I got my braces on about 10 months ago (not that I'm counting lol), and life has certainly changed since then.  The story of how I got my braces is a long one that deserves it's own post when I have more time.

Since I've had my braces on I've suddenly become 16 again, at least in my appearance.  I get asked for ID everywhere we go.  Add to that the fact that people now look at my hubby like he is some sort of perv when we are out in public.  To be honest though, I really don't mind all of that, I love my new straight smile.... even if it is silver and shiny. 

I never had a straight smile when I was growing up, my teeth were very crowded, and although I was considered pretty I would never ever smile.  I was too embarassed.  Now that my teeth are straight I can't stop smiling though!  It's really amazing what it can do for a persons self-confidence.  People always say that no one discriminates against people that have crooked teeth, but that is simply not the case.  It's an inconvenient truth that the way we look (smiles included) makes an impression on people.  Once I got my braces on people actually said to me, "Oh it will be you're going to look so great once your teeth are straight!".  Nice.  Whatever, it is what it is.

Now that my front teeth are straight I'm dealing with the pain of moving my molars so that my bite lines up properly.  Ouch.  I got my wires changed last week and I've had terrible headaches everyday since then.  I've been surviving on mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and melt in your mouth cookies.  I really can't complain though, I'm am perfectly happy to go through all the anguish to get the final results.

When I got my braces on I was told that I would have them on for 24 months, but now I'm being told that my teeth moved so quickly that it will probably be over much sooner than that.  I have speed braces on which work differently than traditional braces, the wires are able to move on their own through the brackets so they don't need elastics... which, as the name implies, speeds things up considerably.  Honestly, I'm kind of enjoying having them.  I don't mind if I have to wear them for another year.  I don't mind feeling young again.  I don't mind brushing my teeth 5 times a day to make sure I don't end up embarassing myself when friends arrive for tea ;)

Now I have to decide what to make for dinner, and I think it's a toss up between creamed corn, mashed potatoes, and soup.  My hubby must hate the week after my orthodontist appointments ;)

Giveaway: Stephen King's The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands

Okay, everyone knows how much I love Stephen King, and that the Dark Tower series is my absolute fave! I'm currently re-reading the third book in the series which is The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands, and since I love it so much I want to share it! I have a brand new copy just waiting to grip someone's imagination.


If you've never read any of the books in the Dark Tower series, they are a bit different from what Stephen King usually writes. A mix of horror, western and fantasy that grips you right from the first page. Each book you finish in the series leaves you aching for the next.... it's a very addicting journey. In this third book in the series Roland (who is the Gunslinger) is continuing on his quest to the Dark Tower with Susanna (a woman who lost her legs under a subway train) and Eddie (a heroin addict who's brother was killed along their quest for the tower). The journey takes them through different times and places, through our world and other worlds.

I highly recommend take in the first two books in the series first, they are certainly worthy of the read. But be warned, once you start on this series you're not going to want to put it down, it's amazing!

Buy it, and the rest of the series on Amazon here.

The giveaway is for one copy of The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands

TO WIN: Main Entry - Leave a comment with your favorite Stephen King title.

Bonus entries (You MUST do the main entry first):

• Follow my blog via Google Friend connect (sidebar on the top right) and leave a comment saying that you are following. (Gets you 2 entries)
• Follow me on Twitter (@Natr_nVideoGamz) and leave a comment here telling me that you're following. (1 entry)
• Tweet about the giveaway daily and leave a comment here with a link to your tweet (1 entry per day)
• Blog about the giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your entry (Gets you 2 entries)
• Enter my Revlon Beyond Natural giveaway here (Gets you 2 entries) 

Remember to leave a separate comment for each entry, and PLEASE leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents. Winner will be chosen randomly April 12th. Good Luck!

the weeks winnings

Wooo!  I was fortunate enough to win something this week!  And since I said I would post all my winnings, that is exactly what I am going to do. 

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not rich now.  I haven't won anything of any huge significant value.  I won't driving any new vehicles, or topless tanning on an exotic beach.  That doesn't mean I'm not excited.  It's the start of a trend for me!  (If I say that it makes it true right?)  I'm just starting out small.

So here's the list... drumroll please...

Yesterday I won 1000 iCoke points (and now my iCoke account is screwed up and won't let me play anymore, so if any iCoke tech guys happen to be reading this... please fix my account!  I like the roll and win game). *ahem*, moving right along... Then I won a free music download from a box of Alphabits, which I promptly used to download the Opeth song "Throat of Winter" from puretracks.com.  For those of you who don't know Throat of Winter is from Blood and Metal, which happens to be the soundtrack for God of War III, and the God of War series of games happen to be my favorite games ever, and Opeth happens to be my favorite band ever, so all of these things mixed together make me a happy girl.

Okay, focus... Then (and I'm super excited about this) I won an Ugly Doll from TheBigToyBook on Twitter (@TheBigToyBook).  They also had a super fun giveaway party last night too I might add.  They're my new fave toy store for sure.  I know a certain little someone who's going to be very happy when it arrives!

Finally today I woke up to an email saying that I had won advance passes to Max Manus for next Tuesday.  I'm very excited about that one too, but the show is at 4pm, and everyone else I know is working, so I'm not sure who I'll be able to take with me... booo.

All in all a very good 24hrs! 

I'm also super excited to be doing my first organized training walk for the Weekend to End Women's Cancers on Sunday.  The big 60km walk isn't until Sept, but since I'm recovering from chemo I figure I need all the extra training I can get!  Unfortunately it's at 9am.  I'm not sure who invented being awake and doing physical acitivity before 11am, but I'm not pleased.

watching hoarders makes me itchy

I turned my TV on a few hours ago for some background noise and a mild distraction while I am doing work on my laptop.  I haven't changed the channel at all, so I've ended up watching a few hours so far of "Hoarders".  In case you've never watched Hoarders before it showcases the lives of families (usually 2 families per episode) who have extreme issues with hoarding stuff... garbage, animals, paper, crap....

Anyway, everytime I watch this show it makes me itchy.  Seeing how dirty their houses are, and how unsanitary they are.  Ack.  And then it makes me want to get rid of everything I own.  Now, I'm no hoarder, but everyone has stuff they don't need.  Oh don't throw out those magazines, I might read them one day.  Oh I'm going to keep that dress I've had since tenth grade because it might come back in style.  You know how it is. 

So everytime I watch this show I end up getting rid of something, and after I do I'm always surprised at how relieved I feel. It's nice to have a little extra space, or at least to know that something useless is out of the house... or that someone else is getting some use out of something you have no use for anymore.

Right now I got an episode on pause (thank God for PVR's) because I suddenly feel the need to put my dishes away and wipe the potato chip crumbs from off the couch next to me ;) 

After I finish the episode I'm certainly going to need some stress relief.  Screw Calgon.... Kratos, take me away!

i love stephen king

I probably say this way too often, but I love Stephen King.  The first Stephen King book I read was Pet Sematary when I was 12 and I have been hooked ever since.

There is just something about escaping into a world of horror that makes you realize just how great your own life is.  Or how boring.  Either way.  I'm currently hooked on the gunslinger series.  So... Freaking... Awesome!  I'm on book 3 of the series right now (The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands), and I LOVE it.  The series is very different from most other Stephen King books I've read, but still so well written.  These are probably my favorites of all his books, but for different reasons.

I actually got to see the fabulous Stephen King when he was on his tour promoting Under the Dome.  It was an evening with him and David Cronenberg.  Simply amazing, a chance to experience two fantastic minds, in a very casual, informal discussion.

At the end of the evening they drew tickets for a chance to purchase an autographed copy of the book, and I had one of the winning tickets!  I felt like Charlie must have felt on when he found his golden ticket for the chocolate factory.  Of course I don't want to read it.  I'll buy another copy, sans signature, and read that one.  The "good" copy is going in the vault with my other valuable books, first editions, etc.  The vault of course being a cardboard box with bubble wrap in it.  Rest assured though, one day I will have a vault, and those books will make their way directly in there... bubble wrap and all.

I'm torn at the moment for who I should go spend some time with.... Roland on his quest to the Dark Tower, or Kratos on his way to slay Zeus (again).  Decisions, decisions.

cool contest I found

In my quest today for contest gold, I came across a giveaway for these super cool wine charms by BByeButterfly .  Basically they make these scrabble tiles into awesome wine charms.  I like wine.  A lot.  I also like not confusing my glass with someone elses.  I dislike strange peoples germs.  A lot.

Thanks to Jot Giveaways for giving them away, here's hoping I snag a set.

to play or not to play.... an exercise in patience

I received a wonderful package in the mail on Tuesday.  Something I've been expecting since xmas, but have been dreaming of for several years.  Something so wonderful it makes my heart race to type about it... and the much anticipated item is...

Oh joy!  It is finally here!  Kratos how I've missed having new adventures with you!  And to see you in such quality, such stunning clarity...  so.... fucking... excited.

BUT, the problem is that while I was impatiently waiting the arrival of the new game I decided to purchase the new HD versionof the original games.  Even though I've played God of War and God of War II countless times, I was so excited to have the chance to experience them with their new superior look.  I haven't been disappointed, it's so much more fun to slay gorgons tear apart harpies when everything is a little more crisp and clear.  (Even if the aspect ratio is off... I don't mind, I can deal with oval buttons).

I am nearing the end of the HD version of God of War II, but now that long awaited God of War III has arrived I have a decision to make.  Do I keep playing the old game, or do begin the new one.  I mean I could just throw it in the PS3 right?  Just to see how it looks... just to get a taste...  what's a girl to do?

But I can't, it's just not right.  I have to finish what I started.  I have to be patient.  I know if I put in the new one I'm not going to be able to just look. 

This week has been standing in my way of finishing my current battle and beginning my new one.  Tuesday I couldn't miss LOST or the season finale of Death Comes to Town (ok, and Biggest Loser, I'll admit it, I love that show).  Last night I went to see Alice in Chains, which was an amazing concert by the way.. and William DuVall is a damn sexy man.  It really sucks being a petite girl at a concert, generally everyone else is much taller than I am and I have a terrible time seeing the stage (any my neck is sore as hell the next day), but I was able to get close enough to the stage to get a nice clear view of the band.

Anyway, getting back on topic, hopefully tonight I will be able to finish GOWII, so that I can start the new one.  As soon as Survivor is over of course.  Or maybe Survivor can wait.