And in non-Relay related news...
The gallery opening for the show I made it into is Thursday. Even though it's only one painting in a multi-man-and-woman show, it's still pretty cool. And openings are always kinda fun.
And I've been tightening up some work for a one-man exhibit next month! It's small, and at a public library, but in a pretty affluent town. Who knows? There will be some music, courtesy of a flutist friend and her violinist companion. I haven't decided between fake wine and cheese or cookies and juice. (Okay, who am I kidding. It's going to be fake wine and cheese. Unless I receive a mysterious shipment of cookies from the Mid-west. Hahah!)
I also sent submitted some work to the authors/artists in charge of this Children's Lit Conference later in the year. Only have to wait till August to hear if I made it in!
Maybe things are starting to turn around?
Monday, June 21, 2010
Awesome.
Last weekend, we held the most successful Relay For Life event the city has ever seen. Over 500 people attended (most between Kick-off and the Luminaria Ceremony) and we raised over $78,000.00 and counting. The weather was beautiful for us!! No rain for the first time in years. We held an entire event, not to mention our first Fight Back Ceremony. In all it was amazing.
I'm actually allowing myself to feel a little satisfied! Chairing this event is always a little challenging, and leading up to the finish line things were getting nerve wracking. We had almost 400 people signed up on the website prior to the event, so we knew it was going to be big. Speaking in front of that many people is always a little embarrassing! And there's only so much making fun of oneself and muddling through that can be done. But it went over pretty well.
And my mom! Best survivor speaker ever. Of course I'm a little biased. And of course, my committee sort of coaxed her into it. But she did great. I barely choked up introducing her. And she didn't skip a beat till the end. Since a majority of my family participated in or helped run the event this year, it meant all the more.
But now I find myself at a crossroads. I have been looking to step down as Event Chair. However, as long as I'm where I am (location, job, etc), I can't imagine not being a part of Relay. I'd at least be a Team Captain. Attend the event. Walk the laps instead of running back and forth across the stadium for 20 hours.
So much of my time and energy has been spent trying to build this event up to what it's become today. I won't pretend that I'm the reason it's successful, and I know it will go on without me. I'm trying to figure out if I should step back and groom a replacement. Chair from the side. Or vice-chair. I don't want to see it fail.
On the other hand, this would be the perfect year to step back. We beat our city-wide goal of $57K (by $20,000.00!!!). My team raised over $12,000. And we were the second highest fundraiser! Our top team brought in over $20,000.00! Aside from the other event-wide successes, I surpassed my personal goal of $2,500.00.
I might actually let some pride sneak up on me this year.
Alas. That doesn't help me make a decision. And we all know how good I am at making decisions.
I guess we'll see what happens...
I'm actually allowing myself to feel a little satisfied! Chairing this event is always a little challenging, and leading up to the finish line things were getting nerve wracking. We had almost 400 people signed up on the website prior to the event, so we knew it was going to be big. Speaking in front of that many people is always a little embarrassing! And there's only so much making fun of oneself and muddling through that can be done. But it went over pretty well.
And my mom! Best survivor speaker ever. Of course I'm a little biased. And of course, my committee sort of coaxed her into it. But she did great. I barely choked up introducing her. And she didn't skip a beat till the end. Since a majority of my family participated in or helped run the event this year, it meant all the more.
But now I find myself at a crossroads. I have been looking to step down as Event Chair. However, as long as I'm where I am (location, job, etc), I can't imagine not being a part of Relay. I'd at least be a Team Captain. Attend the event. Walk the laps instead of running back and forth across the stadium for 20 hours.
So much of my time and energy has been spent trying to build this event up to what it's become today. I won't pretend that I'm the reason it's successful, and I know it will go on without me. I'm trying to figure out if I should step back and groom a replacement. Chair from the side. Or vice-chair. I don't want to see it fail.
On the other hand, this would be the perfect year to step back. We beat our city-wide goal of $57K (by $20,000.00!!!). My team raised over $12,000. And we were the second highest fundraiser! Our top team brought in over $20,000.00! Aside from the other event-wide successes, I surpassed my personal goal of $2,500.00.
I might actually let some pride sneak up on me this year.
Alas. That doesn't help me make a decision. And we all know how good I am at making decisions.
I guess we'll see what happens...
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Captain.
Last month's test results were a mixed bag... No, the cancer didn't spread (awesome!). But, the chemo isn't working and it's still there (wtf?).
On to another chemo... Another drug... Another slew of side effects. 5 hour chemo sessions. Self-administered injections.
It's frustrating.
So what do we do? "Face forward, move slow, forge ahead."
Relay For Life barreling across the squares on the calendar, refusing to slow down. It's become this pretty massive thing this year, which is amazing. There are 10 days until our event, and we've already surpassed our goal of $57,000.00 (I only have $373 left to reach my own goal!!). At almost $60,000.00 raised to date, with one person shy of 300 registered, this event has become bigger than the previous 5 in this city. This is going to be the biggest year we've had. It's sort of scary and kind of thrilling.
I don't know how I fell into this role of leadership. It doesn't seem right. It doesn't quite seem like I know what I'm doing. But no one seems to notice... Am I just pretending? Or am I really being a leader?
"Courageous, just like the captain."
The past few days I've been overwhelmed with a few things... (Haha, okay, sort of like "I'm frozen, tied up, cast in lead.") I want to run away! But I can't.
I can, however, put all of this on hold for a few days to totally immerse myself in a most wonderful wedding weekend for two people I could not be more happy for. A couple days of fun to supercharge the batteries... (And give a best man speech!)
"It's simple, so says the captain."
Monday it'll all be there to great me again. But you know what? I'm going to make this start working for me. I'm tired of the frustration. The uncertainty. I might not be able to do anything more for my mom than what I'm already doing. I can't control the weather for this Relay event. I might have absolutely no clue what to do with my own life. My responsibilities aren't endless. "My conscience, mistrust and regret" will still be there for sure.
But it's time to be more like the captain.
"Marching forward, with no doubt in his head."
On to another chemo... Another drug... Another slew of side effects. 5 hour chemo sessions. Self-administered injections.
It's frustrating.
So what do we do? "Face forward, move slow, forge ahead."
Relay For Life barreling across the squares on the calendar, refusing to slow down. It's become this pretty massive thing this year, which is amazing. There are 10 days until our event, and we've already surpassed our goal of $57,000.00 (I only have $373 left to reach my own goal!!). At almost $60,000.00 raised to date, with one person shy of 300 registered, this event has become bigger than the previous 5 in this city. This is going to be the biggest year we've had. It's sort of scary and kind of thrilling.
I don't know how I fell into this role of leadership. It doesn't seem right. It doesn't quite seem like I know what I'm doing. But no one seems to notice... Am I just pretending? Or am I really being a leader?
"Courageous, just like the captain."
The past few days I've been overwhelmed with a few things... (Haha, okay, sort of like "I'm frozen, tied up, cast in lead.") I want to run away! But I can't.
I can, however, put all of this on hold for a few days to totally immerse myself in a most wonderful wedding weekend for two people I could not be more happy for. A couple days of fun to supercharge the batteries... (And give a best man speech!)
"It's simple, so says the captain."
Monday it'll all be there to great me again. But you know what? I'm going to make this start working for me. I'm tired of the frustration. The uncertainty. I might not be able to do anything more for my mom than what I'm already doing. I can't control the weather for this Relay event. I might have absolutely no clue what to do with my own life. My responsibilities aren't endless. "My conscience, mistrust and regret" will still be there for sure.
But it's time to be more like the captain.
"Marching forward, with no doubt in his head."
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