From the E-Mail Box

One of the really fun things about blogging is the mail that I get. I never got this kind of e-mail before I had cancer (BC)!

Potential Canadian Husband
I received an e-mail from a Canadian man who lives in Vancouver, B.C., suggesting himself as husband material. He didn't tell me much, just suggested that I look at his profile on facebook and e-mail him if I was interested.

Well, I'm not on facebook, and I don't want to have a profile on facebook (I have enough of an online presence as it is: 784 hits on Google, as of this morning). But I was curious about this guy, so last night I went to facebook and tried to set up a profile, and IT WOULDN'T LET ME ON!

Was it because of my year of birth? I know facebook is primarily for college students, but really!

There is a security window when you set up a new account, like the one people have to use when they post comments to my blog, but the security window wouldn't come up. So no luck. I haven't been able to look at this guy's profile.

I thought I might ask Younger Son (who IS on facebook, natch) to sign on and show me the profile, and YS was home last night, but then I thought: Do I want my son involved in my love life? Even this much?

The answer, of course, is no.

So I guess I will try facebook again later today, once I finish the story I'm working on, and if that doesn't work, I'll just have to e-mail Larry and ask him if he'd like to tell me about himself in e-mail. If that's too much trouble, I don't think he and I have much of a future together anyway.

Don't know what I'm talking about? Read about my search for a Canadian husband: Dating
Scroll down. The oldest posts are at the bottom.

An Invite
Then there's the invitation from a woman who works for a PR firm in New York City, asking me if I'd like to take part in a round-table discussion about cancer and careers.

The date, amazingly enough, is next Friday, when I will be in New York. It couldn't have worked out better, actually, because Younger Son and I will be arriving by Amtrak Thursday evening and staying with Jacqueline of Rebel1in8 fame in her loft in Brooklyn. I'm wondering if Jacq. is responsible for this invite--have to e-mail her to ask.

The event is put on by something called Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) and sponsored by Roche, a drug company. (I'll be sure to wear lipstick, and I'll take notes if there are any weird drug company freebies on offer.)

But it sounds pretty substantive, according to the e-mail I received, which said, in part:

... addresses the unique challenges of cancer in the workplace and focuses on issues patients face when trying to balance both treatment and work.

The roundtable discussion offers an opportunity to present questions about challenges that your readers may experience, and we would love to have you or a representative from your blog attend. ...

Carlotta Jacobson, CEO and Founder of CEW, and board certified medical oncologist Dr. Ruth Oratz, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University School of Medicine, will discuss the best ways to transition back to work and maintain a work life balance. ... We will also have a legal expert on hand to discuss national and local laws which protect and offer support to those working and living with cancer.

I've already accepted.

I was fired once while in cancer treatment, by a health and fitness Web site, no less, so this is a topic that is near to my heart. The settlement paid some of my cancer debt and gave me the down payment for my house.

Read: Blindsided by disease and life, she fights to survive

More Questions About Tykerb
I also received an e-mail from a woman who is in remission with Stage III breast cancer after treatment with Herceptin. She wants to get Tykerb, and her oncologist is telling her she isn't eligible.

I'm not going to argue with her doctor, but I sure admire her for looking into this, and I gave her contact information for Dr. Livingston in Tucson and also for the "Tykerb Cares" drug program. Awful name, isn't it? Trust drug company execs and marketing folks to come up with some real winners like this--I feel so warm and fuzzy knowing that my drug company cares about me! Never mind that they delayed shipping my Tykerb to me for THREE WHOLE WEEKS on one pretext or another.

Yes, that's steam coming out of my ears.

Not really, I've been amazingly mellow lately as my energy continues to climb. I don't need afternoon naps anymore, but I do shut off the phones and get into bed with a book and my dinner at about 6 p.m. or so.

"A book"? There are so many books piled around and on my bed that I'd be in danger if an earthquake of any magnitude hit Seattle during the night. The dogs, too, except they are smart enough to crawl under the bed.

@ Jeanne Sather 2008.

Comments

[jessica]

i know several young people who are on facebook and would be happy to help, if i can. maybe copy and paste what i can and send it to you? let me know. i'm actually staying with a few of them right now while their mom, a friend of mine, is on vacation.

my mind's eye had a fun little chuckle at your potential facebook use. those kids practically have their own language! i'd love to see you there, leaving messages on the "wall." (i think that's what they do on facebook, anway!)

[jeanne]

Jessica--Are you LAUGHING at me?

Go ahead. I'm laughing too.

I sent it to Amorette, and she couldn't get past the first page. I will forward you the link in e-mail.

[jessica]

no, dear, not AT. WITH.

laughing WITH you. ;)

(and planning another wedding, now, in the technological age. where invitations go out via text messages and dresses are bought on ebay... the iWedding! yes! that's IT!)

[debutaunt]

I've been online dating for longer than I care to admit. I actually *finally* did the eharmony thing after spending so much time mocking them.

My best and superfavorite match is in Seattle. He's coming to see me April 1st. How cool is that?

My bed looks like that too. The leaning tower of books.

[jeanne]

Jess--I know you were laughing with me. I know you well enough to know that you would never laugh at me (Well, unless I did something totally, totally rediculous, which does happen).

An iWedding! That's a thought. Although I am clinging to my fantasy about the wedding at Lake Quinault with 10 or 12 bridesmaids all in pink with huge BUTT BOWS. You are on the list for that honor.

Jeanne

[jeanne]

Debs! Where have you been? I've missed you.

What is eharmony? Should I be looking there?

Should I save you some books for when you come to Seattle for the Cancer Bloggers Reunion? Light reading? Otherwise, they are going to Goodwill.

Jeanne

[jessica]

Jeanne-

i didn't forget about the butt bows-- how could i? think of the laughing WITH there will be when (not if) that day comes!

let's get going on that eHarmony profile, eh?