I finally got my new blog up and running — holler! The woman is still working on my layout, so in due time I will have it all put together. In the mean time, if you want to know my new digs, well … leave me a comment and i’ll be happy to give it to you!
August 18, 2009
on educating others
Posted by Kate under cervical cancer, it's for a good cause, Run 2 Inspire, The Important Pieces[7] Comments
FACT: Human Papallomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States.
FACT: In 2008, over 3,700 U.S. women died of cervical cancer — a deadly disease that is 100% preventable.
******
Last night I talked to a 25 year old woman who knew practically nothing about HPV and cervical cancer. She didn’t realize that she should continue getting a Pap, even though she’s engaged and knows her fiance will never cheat. “But cervical cancer can take years to develop and he could have very well contracted HPV from a girl he slept with prior to you.” She didn’t know what Gardasil was. And even worse? She didn’t know the difference between HPV and cervical cancer. I wanted to slap her across the face cry.
FACT: An HPV infection can take years or even decades to appear. Even if you’ve only ever had one partner in your life, you could have been infected by HPV.
It breaks my heard to know that most women are just ignorant towards and uneducated on HPV and cervical cancer. Even worse, this woman could very well have HPV and not even know it. Hell, most women out there could have HPV or cervical cancer and not even know it. Now that’s scary.
******
FACT: Gardasil is the only cervical cancer vaccine that protects against four types of HPV — 2 types that cause 70% of cervical cancer cases and 2 types that cause 90% of genital warts cases.
******
There’s big controversy over the Gardasil vaccine recently. U.S. schools want to mandate that girls 11 and older get vaccinated for HPV and cervical cancer. Mothers are protesting against this, saying that it isn’t necessary and because the vaccine has dangerous side effects. Since when did saving your daughters life become unnecessary? As bad as it is to think that your 15 year old daughter could already be sexually active, it would be worse if she was diagnosed with cervical cancer by the time she’s 30. The reasoning behind getting 11 and 12 year old girls get vaccinated is so that the vaccine is already completely in their system by the time they become sexually active later.
GSK has come out with a similar vaccine, Cevarix. And while the FDA hasn’t approved use of it in the States or the UK yet, it’s only a matter of time before it will be. I can’t wait to see the top two pharmaceutical companies duke it out over a cancer vaccine. I’m hoping that once Cevarix gets approved here in the States, more girls and young women will get vaccinated. And maybe more people will support raising awareness for HPV and cervical cancer.
I wish more people knew about this. I wish more people knew how serious it is. I wish more people knew how a deadly disease can be completely preventable with proper education, treatment and awareness. I wish more people cared.
******
FACT: 80% of all sexually active women will test positive for HPV by age 50.
It’s a shame there isn’t more awareness and education on HPV and cervical cancer. But breast and prostate cancer? It’s all up in your face like a dirty prostitute with syphillis. I wish *Susan G. Komen would take a year off from having stupid races/walks for once. But I guess that’s what my purpose is, eh. It starts with awareness and education. You can’t prevent this from infecting other women if those women (and men) don’t know about it.
So for all you women out there reading this, consider this your educational session on HPV and cervical cancer. Get tested. Get PAP’d. And get vaccined if you are between the ages of 9 and 26 and have not had cervical cancer.
It’s all about being “one less.”
*Susan Komen, if you are reading this, I am kidding really mean it. Take a break. You already have enough money to support breast cancer. How about spreading herpes breast cancer the love, shall we?
August 14, 2009
to-do list:
Posted by Kate under complete randomness, drinking, friends, happiness, injuries, pushing my body to the limit, road trips, the City life, things I can't afford but buy anyway, things I hope don't happen to me, things I shouldn't do when drinking, vacations[2] Comments
In an effort to “leave my problems at the door” (thanks, lover) I’m making a to-do list for my big awesome-tastic (yes, that’s a word) road train-trip to NYC this weekend. When I get back, I’ll do a checklist to see how many tasks I accomplished on my list. Ready? GO!
1. Start drinking before or right after I board the trip to New York. Penn Station, here I come!
2. Laugh as much as possible.
3. Drink as much as possible. But not to the extent where I get alcohol poisoning or end up in the hospital.
4. DO NOT END UP IN THE HOSPITAL.
5. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
6. Spend no more than the $200 cash I am bringing for the trip — this includes all food, drinks & miscellaneous expenses.
7. Take lots of pictures.
8. Dress one of my hotel-mates up like baby jesus when they are passed out.
9. Make sure none of my hotel-mates dress ME up like baby jesus.
10. Visit Times Square & Central Park.
11. DO NOT INJURE ANKLE MORE THAN IT ALREADY IS.
12. Do not get separated from my lover.
13. Do not go home with random boys at all this weekend.
14. Do not bring random boys back to the hotel room this weekend (that one could be really awkward considering one of my hotel-mates is male).
15. Do not lose my cell phone this weekend.
16. Meet some awesome people this weekend.
17. Hi-Five at least 20 people (that I don’t know) this weekend.
18. Do not lose my keys this weekend.
19. Do not lose my credit cards this weekend.
20. Do not blackout at all this weekend.
Here’s to a great time in New York City this weekend!
Sianara, bitches!!!!!!
August 14, 2009
If you want something done right, sometimes you just have to do it yourself.
Thanks to those of you read my protected post and gave me some words of advice and inspiration to keep on truckin’. They meant so much to me.
“[sometimes] You can’t trust anyone except yourself.”
August 13, 2009
Protected: A Wish For Wings That Worked
Posted by Kate under cervical cancer, Epic Fail, friends, Run 2 Inspire, The Important Pieces, wise wordsEnter your password to view comments.
August 12, 2009
on still believing
Posted by Kate under cervical cancer, finding my way..., happiness, it's for a good cause, Run 2 Inspire, The Important Pieces, the real "me", wise words[2] Comments
“There are moments in your life that make you and set the course of who you’re going to be. Sometimes they’re little, subtle moments. Sometimes they’re big moments you never saw coming. No one asks for their life to change, but it does. It’s what you do afterwards that counts. That’s when you find out who you really are.” — Whistler
Sometimes I feel like I have too high of expectations than I should. Sometimes I feel like I have these great ideas that will produce great results, but I just end up disappointed in myself at the end. The question of where did I go wrong continues to linger in my head with every project I set my mind to. I want to make the next project bigger and better than the one before. But the problem with expectations is that most often than not, they won’t be met.
It’s taken me a while to find my career niche. I have bounced around in just about every legal position there is (except attorney, of course) and I am still not sure if I’m in the right place. But then again, do we ever feel like we’re in the right place? When my BFF and I started our non-profit organization, we weren’t sure what to do. We were relatively fresh meat out of college and had no clue how to run a business or organization and we had very little funds and resources at our disposal. But after many, many phone calls we found a research hospital to team up with and donate money we raised to support their gynecological research. We held our first event in January 2008 and we raised a little over $900. With all of the hard work we had put into that event, it surely paid off.
Two years later and now we are starting to plan for that 2nd Bi-Annual event. This time we are a little more experienced and more prepared on what to expect. We have been holding fundraising events over the last year to help raise money for this thing. We are holding a big golf tournament at the end of the month, in the hope that it will bring in a couple thousand dollars. I’m also in the middle of organizing a dek hockey tournament to help us raise some money to aid women who can’t afford the necessary treatments.
I’m finally doing something I love to do – which isn’t something that most working people can say – and I’m happy with what we have accomplished these last two years. Do I wish it was better than what it is? Absolutely. I’m always looking to improve and succeed. I’m always looking for ways to make the next event better than the last. But considering we had no experience and we basically threw caution to the wind and went at it, I say we are doing a pretty good job. My desire and passion to help people stems from the fact that I was given a better chance at life. And the fact that even young girls are suffering from this deadly disease? Well it makes me want to do more to prevent this from happening.
I’m trying not to hold my expectations so high – especially with these two events we have coming up – but sometimes it’s hard not to. I hate falling short. I hate failing at something I knew would have (and should have) been successful. I hate knowing that I could have done something more…something better.
One thing we didn’t expect going into this was having to fight a tough economy. Businesses are cutting back on the number and amount of sponsorships they give out to charities. Even the other cancer-related non-profits have decided against sponsoring or donating to us because their budget is just too tight. My thought to them is: Try not having any kind of budget at all. Most of the events we are doing, we are spending the money right out of our own bank accounts. It’s not easy having to budget for your personal life, as well as your professional organization. But it’s the sacrifice we are willing to make if it means putting our name out there.
I still believe that we’ll get that one big shot. I still believe that we will get that one business who hands us a $10,000 check. I still believe that we will become a national non-profit organization one day. I still believe in putting my heart and soul into this thing if it means saving another woman’s life from this deadly disease. How many people you know can say that?
“We don’t wish for the easy stuff. We wish for big things; things that are ambitious, out of reach. We wish because we need help and we’re scared and we know we may be asking for too much. We till wish, though, because sometimes they come true.”
— Grey’s Anatomy
“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less-than-perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more self confident, more and more successful.”
— Mark Victor Hansen
August 10, 2009
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride…
Posted by Kate under don't judge me, exercise and fitness, love, Men, relationships, sports, The Important Pieces, tools & douchebags[3] Comments
Saturday was spent soaking up some sun at Brigantine beach, walking the boardwalks in Atlantic City and getting my palm read. I do it every summer (don’t judge me), usually with my BFF, but this time I flew solo. We started doing this about six years ago at Arts Fest back at home. We did it for shits and giggles. Now it’s turned into a ritual. Six years ago a psychic told me I was going to lose someone very close to me within that year. Months later, my mother passed away. If that doesn’t make you a believer, I don’t know what will. I know it’s stupid and a waste of money, but every year psychics have told me something that has inevitably turned out to be true.
So my palm reading started out like every other, telling me I will live to be old and healthy and that I will travel a lot in the next year. Then she goes about telling me that someone close to me is sick (true – my brother has a recurring brain tumor) but that he is stressed and I need to be with him but that he will be just fine (phew). I’m going to have two kids in the next two years (this is the part I question because I’m pretty sure every psychic has told me this before). And she told me that I’m confused in my love life (so true) and that I have no problem getting the guys, I just can’t seem to hold onto them (so true and actually pretty crazy!).
“You have no problem getting the guys, but you just can’t hold onto them.”
No truer words have been spoken. My list of “guys who are madly in love with me but who I don’t want to date” is A LOT longer than my list of guys who make up my magic number. Like this one guy who I see during my hockey tournaments who is literally falling head over heels for me RIGHT NOW. But me? I’m not interested. Mainly because the dude is 15 years older than me, married for 16 years and is now divorced, doesn’t ever want kids and he’s a huge pot head. If that doesn’t describe old, smelly baggage, I don’t know what does. Oh, and then there’s this other guy that I only see during my hockey tournaments. He’s actually currently in a relationship but he’s a swinger and wants to swing with me.
::crickets::
And no, I’m not talking about swinging on a swing set at a playground.
And how about this other guy I see in my hockey tournaments who is married, his wife is bisexual and they want to have a threesome with me. And even propositioned me with a threesome while we were in Vegas. Oh and then there are these two other guys that I play soccer with who are also falling head over heels for me but I am just not interested.
I’m starting to think that I hang with the wrong crowd or I need to stop meeting creepy guys who play sports.
The psychic was right – clearly I can get the guys, just not the ones I want to hold onto.
August 9, 2009
To one of my favorite people on this earth:
Posted by Kate under friends, happiness, road trips, The Important Pieces, vacations, wise words1 Comment
Within just a short couple weeks I created what has become a wonderful, close friendship with one of the most genuine and warm-hearted people on this earth. Without hesitation, she volunteered to help me plan events or my non-profit. When ever I have a question or need advice, she is there. Whenever I want to grab a drink (or ten) and some dinner, she is right there beside me drinking laughing our problems away. She is smart, witty, hilarious, and beautiful.
If you saw us, you would think that we have been friends for years. We laugh with each other, at each other and at other people. It’s just that kind of a friendship. She’s instantly become one of my best friends and that makes me so happy. I don’t have to try to pretend to be someone I’m not with her – the first day I met her she truly accepted me and my life for what I am. It’s so hard to find such genuine, caring people in this world. She is just simply an amazing person. And I am so lucky to have her in my life.
So to my friend (she knows who she is) who has blessed my life, I thank you. Thank you, for all that you are doing for me and my non profit. Thank you for making me laugh so hard it hurts. Thank you for being such a wonderful, genuine, and caring person. Thank you for being a part of my life now, and hopefully, forever. And most importantly, thank you for being such a wonderful friend to me. I look forward to NYC, New Orleans and hopefully Phoenix….as well as the many, many other road trips, vacations, concerts and debauchery that we will experience together.
You are simply amazing, wonderful and beautiful. Don’t ever let anyone make you think or feel that you’re not.
Lose what’s not, keep what’s real
August 7, 2009
it breaks my heart
Posted by Kate under cervical cancer, it's for a good cause, Run 2 Inspire, The Important Pieces1 Comment
I’m a strong believer in making a difference in this world.
I’m a strong believer in being passionate about what you do.
I’m a strong believer in standing up for what’s right.
But most importantly, I’m a strong believer in saving womens lives from a deadly disease that is nearly 100% preventable.
Today I received a phone call from a woman in Erie, PA. She was referred to me because I am the Director of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Cervical Cancer Coalition.
Her daughter-in-law is 24 years old and was diagnosed with Stage II cervical cancer in May. She has no health insurance and has $5,000 worth of un-paid medical bills that are just piling up. She needs a hysterectomy but can’t get one because she doesn’t have the $10,000 to cover it. She reached out to me because she needs some kind of financial assistance and she doesn’t know who to turn to.
My job is to raise awareness for this disease. I’m supposed to educate men and women as well as promote the NCCC as a place where patients, survivors and friends can turn to when they have no one else. Now I realize that my other job is to save this woman’s life. It breaks my heart to know that this preventable disease is trying to take a young woman’s life.
My heart aches for this woman.
I wish my non-profit had the money to help her. I wish other non-profits would step up and donate. I wish we had more people in this world who could be a little less selfish and a lot more generous.
I want to save her life.
August 4, 2009
On money
Posted by Kate under economics, finding my way..., friends, my brothers, quarter-life crisis anyone?, The Important Pieces, the recession, things I can't afford but buy anyway[4] Comments
I live a comfortable life. I can afford going out to happy hour or dinner with friends somewhat regularly. I can afford buying my lunch a couple times a week. And while I may not make the smartest decisions with my money (i.e. dropping $95 at the Continental in a span of 8 hours on a Saturday — oh but it was well worth it!), money doesn’t really phase me too much.
I’m working on making smarter financial decisions, like packing my lunch and drinking at home more than at bars and restaurants. I find it more gratifying to spend $300 on a plane ticket to a city I’ve never been too, than on a 2-day drinking binge. I’m learning how to budget and become more financially responsible. Slow and steady wins the race.
But some people are just funny with money. I’ll never understand why someone drops $100 at the bar on a Saturday night, buying rounds of shots for all of their friends, but they can’t donate a measly $10 for charity. I know we are in a recession, but COME ON!
I’ve done my fair share of racking up my credit card bills and always saying, “oh I can pay that off later.” I’m still waiting when “later” will turn into “now.” But I’m learning. It’s not easy and it’s not really fun to pay your bills before going out to the bar with you friends, but it’s all part of growing up. Truth be told, it really sucks. Now I know why my mother wouldn’t let me have a credit card when I turned 18.
I like to take my friends out to dinner for their birthday, because it’s their day. I like to spend a little more on my brothers for their birthdays and Christmas because they truly deserve great gifts. I like to splurge a little on myself after I pay all of my bills and realize I have more money in my checking account than I thought I would. I know money doesn’t grow on trees and that I need to spend it carefully, but at the same time, I enjoy spending a little more than I can afford. I’m hardly ever broke and I have a great job that pays me exceptionally well considering my work experience, but I still live paycheck to paycheck. And maybe I would have a little more money saved up if I stopped going out so much, spending a little more on holiday gifts for family and traveling around the country… but the way I look at it, I only have this one chance at life – I want to live it up.
No regrets.
That's what she said... 