Skee ball...

I took the boys on a detour today. 

To Chuck E. Cheese.

It's likely you could hear me groan when I typed that.

Oh how that place drives me nutty. It's not just the incredibly ridiculous noise level...it's the crowds of people, the dirty coins, the smelly pizza, the tables that "were wiped once....long ago", the bathrooms (I won't even describe the mayhem in there), and the germs from every person who touches everything.

Yup..I'm a germaphobe...and a crowd-a-phobe (whatever the real phobe word for that is)...and a neat-a-phobe (like everything in 90 degree-angles-a-phobe). :)  

That place does not meet those criteria...it's the opposite.  And actually the one near our house is pretty clean and we go REALLY early when they open up so the crowd isn't as bad...

BUT it brings my boys so much joy to go there!! They LOVE it. Braden loves playing basketball and skee ball and Zach loves the shooting games.

So I follow along toting the bucket of coins...and then watch as they giggle while they feed their tickets into the machine to get their plastic toy crap that will be broken before we even pull out of the parking lot..true story. Happened more than once. :)

But the memories and the giggles and the happiness...totally worth pushing me outside of my comfort zone.

So...Chuck E Cheese made it on the Summer Detour List for 2013.  

Yes...we have an actual list and yes...we cross things off as we do them.  We have been doing that since Braden's diagnosis and it is SO much fun!! I know my days of having two boys will tolerate running around to various parks, pools, etc. with just mom are numbered so I'm soaking it in.  Zach's on the verge of being too old to be with just his mom and brother...he's going to have to suck it up a little while longer...and he can have friends come with us on occasion! Detours are more fun with friends!

Well today we went to hell...and the boys had a blast. 

I don't think they share my opinion of that place at all! :)

Crossed that puppy off the list! WOO HOO!!!

Braden spent most of his coins playing Skee Ball.  He's pretty dog gone good too!! And everytime he gets the ball into the corner 100,000 point cup, he squeals and screams, "I GOT IT!!!" and jumps up and down.  He almost made the record today!!

Every single shot he takes is aimed at the 100,000 point mark. He doesn't even TRY for the 50,000 or the 40,000...so when he misses it often rolls into the 10K mark.

He doesn't get as many tickets on some of his runs because when he's not "hot" and doesn't hit a 100,000 he gets a far lower score.

But he still tries for the big winning goal every single throw.

Pretty cool.

Obviously, we are all very concerned about Braden's test on Thursday. We've got a 50/50 shot of finding out that his disease has relapsed for a third time. 

If that is the case, any reasonable hope of him ever being "cured" is gone. The docs have been very clear about that.

And we go back into treatment mode...well...search for possible treatment mode...we don't even know if there is anything out there that we can do. 

I can't even wrap my head and heart around him fighting a third time so I'm living for the moment right now.

But Braden is Braden and there's no one in the world like him.  He has no idea anything is in question or could be wrong. Once again, he is just continuing to live.

Everything he does is like how he plays Skee Ball.  

He fights. 

He tries for the big win.

He doesn't even consider trying for anything less.

He is my hero.

And when I grow up, I want to be JUST like him.

As I watched him concentrating and working so hard to get it in the winning spot today, I started thinking that I want to approach life the way that Braden Hofen plays Skee Ball.

Throw for the 100,000 mark every single day, in everything I do, every single throw.

Why settle for less than 100% of your best effort each day? 

Each day is a gift...we should be thankful we got it and we should use it to try to make a positive difference in the world.

So thank you Chuck E Cheese.

And thank you Skee Ball.

Mostly, thank you Braden Hofen. Once again, you have clarified life for me.

I love you with all of my heart buddy.  

Mommy will ALWAYS try to be like you!!

You give me hope!

Detour in a bra, down a runway...

I just walked down a 50 foot runway, in front of over 500 people… in a bra.

No kidding!

It was for an event called Art Bra and this was the third year they have done this fundraiser. Some of my very best friends had been models and were organizers.  Breast cancer survivors wear the bras on the runway which is awesome and I had been asked before and graciously denied that request. (secretly thinking…there is NO WAY I would wear a bra in front of 500 plus people…not because of the breast cancer, just because it’s a bra in front of 500 plus people!) LOL!!

In January, a very sweet lady called and asked me if I would do it.  She told me that one of my besties had given her my name and number. Initially, I said no. Then she told me that the proceeds went to help under and un-insured breast cancer patients. Pretty important stuff!

Then she said that we could design our own bra and it could be a childhood cancer bra.

AND…it could cover as much of me as I wanted covered.

I said yes!

Then I hung up the phone and said, “what the hell did I just do??”

Immediately, if not sooner, J I began a workout regime to lose pounds and tone up.  I really didn’t think I was that vain, but I was wrong. LOL!  I worked out 5 days a week until my cardio workout burned 600 calories or more, and then I lifted weights. Two of my very good friends helped me with diet and workout plans. I didn’t join a gym, I didn’t “do” a program, I just worked out at home and I worked out hard.

Accountability is the key…and walking down a runway in a bra was certain reason to be accountable…it was my coach and babysitter.  I ate the right carbs, protein (YUCK), fruit, veggies, all whole foods, and made sure I got fat in my diet…really…and I gave up sugar (for the most part, I wasn’t a fanatic).

I was working out with the Evil Twister Chick and her DVD workouts…she pissed me off.  I couldn’t do them without falling so she went back on the shelf and I did interval training and walked…fast.

I lost ten pounds…still have 5 to go.  And I have so much more energy than I could ever explain. I feel 10 years younger!  Unfortunately, my wrinkles and turkey wattle did not follow suit.

Damn.

Friday, May 3 came and I walked into the downtown Kansas City Airport Museum and saw this absolutely stunning venue with chandeliers and white curtains and beautiful seating…

And a 50 foot white runway.All I could think was “Oh dear Lord…WHAT HAVE I DONE!?”

Largely due to my MS, my balance SUCKS…and I have never been coordinated and graceful…but I was supposed to walk down this runway and smile and be all model-like and swooshy and glam….

I knew that wasn’t going to happen…it’s not me. Silly, irreverent, and crazy…that’s more me!!

My girlfriends were in the audience and they promised to raise the roof with noise!!  I knew that would do the trick for calming my nerves! I was relying on them!

They did our hair and makeup and off we went. My bra was in the live auction, which meant I got the added perk of extra time on stage to strut my stuff. 

Now let’s stop there for a minute and talk about “strut” and “stuff”.

BWAHHAHHHAAAHHHAAAAA…strut and stuff!!!

I don’t strut and I don’t have stuff…well I do have some stuff. My “girls” are beautiful. I love them!! They are perky and plump. Silicone ROCKS!!!But I’m a 47 year old, mom of two, former elementary school Principal who wears sweats and jeans and t-shirts 99.9% of the time.

I don’t routinely show my cleavage to 500 people while walking down a runway…in a bra!

Again…”WHAT HAVE I DONE?”

The bras in front of me were auctioning for like $5000 each!! HOLY SCHMOLY!!!  That’s a lot of pressure…are you even serious?  Okay…those bras also had beautiful ladies wearing them who had escorts who were professional athletes. That helped. J

 

Then there was little old plain, Jane me.  In my childhood cancer bra.

“Why the hell not!” overtook What have I done?” and off I went.

And it was SOOOOO much fun!! My girlfriends SCREAMED and ROCKED it out!!! They were right there, front and center right beside the runway. That made me feel 100% better!  My posse had my back!! Love those girls!!! And Brian was there cheering me on too smiling and clapping alongside my friends.

And then…the best part of the night. As I was standing in front of my unruly crew, Brian pointed to someone sitting beside him.

It was a very special little guy. His name is Quinlan and he is the son of one of my friends, Jennifer, who earned her angel wings after a battle with colon cancer. Jennifer is one of my heroes and her son is too.

“Q” was there with his grandpa taking pictures for an amazing local magazine called 435 South.  One of the bras that was in the auction was created in Jennifer’s honor and when I saw it, I cried.

I had seen Q backstage and talked to him and already gotten a hug.  He looked up and me and smiled and I bent down to give him a high five, which turned into a “near hug”. I couldn’t quite reach him.  His big, beautiful smile gave me courage!

And off I went.

My little childhood cancer bra brought about $1,300 dollars (which is still a boatload of money to me) and it will greatly help those breast cancer patients!

It was simply a magical night and I am so glad I did it.

One time.

Detours come in the strangest packages sometimes…and this time it came in the form of a beautiful blue and gold bra and a 50 foot runway.

TAKE THAT cANCER!!

Info on the event is at artbrakc.com J