Puttin' on the Pink - Photos by Randy Milstein

I finally had a chance to upload photos from Puttin' on the Pink.  This time, the photos are by Randy (Randall) Milstein, a professional photographer.  Enjoy!

Randy had me pose by the canoes at Peak Sports.

Now, I'm posting with the sunflowers at Peak Sports.

This is the head shot for the Fashion Show.

I'm at Sibling Revelry with Roseanne and Jeannie - all of us survivors.

Roseanne and me . . . I attended the support group a few years ago with Roseanne.

Looking for earrings to go with the outfit at Sibling Revelry.

Getting last minute make-up touch-ups before the show.

Yikes!  My lips are soooo red.

I'm doing the shimmy thing on the runway.

Trying to be dramatic on the runway.

Another pose on the runway.

Model Parade after the show.

All of models posing for a final picture.

Thank you, Randy, for sharing the pictures!

Wow

I saw the surgeon yesterday and there wasn't a lot of necrotic tissue that he could clean out. He and his nurse were also quite impressed to see how much the area had changed in just one week. No more raised mound, no more Mount Herminator. The area now looks more or less like the right side. Except of course, it has a deep wound that goes down to the chest wall - about 4 cm.

It isn't draining as much. If the plastic surgeon is available, it looks like I may have the surgery in December, after the next round of Abraxane.

Also, more of the satellite tumors seem to be shrinking and disappearing as is the swollen lymph nodes elsewhere in my body.

Had lunch yesterday at Pastini's with the other models from Puttin' on the Pink (now, POP for short). I thought there was only four of us, but it ended up being about 11! It was fun! Randy Millstein, our photographer, was also there and he distributed CD's of photos of the night, including me doing the shimmy-like surf move! AS soon as I can download the photos, I will post them.

Another of the models, M, knit a pink winter hat for me. And, my colleague N gave me a new scarf and earrings plus she gave me four more beautiful scarves on long-term loan.

Eddie and I are heading to Bend today, for the night. We'll see a friend and colleague there - she has a new baby girl. I think we'll also talk about work some. And, I'll take Eddie to Sun Mountain Fun Center to play at the Arcade. We may even play in the snow. Another friend, B., who went to the coast with me last month, will join us for the trip.

All in all, life continues to be good. Good news on the cancer front; friends are giving me gifts again; I get to celebrate life this week-end. I love holidays!

A big thank you to M and N for the gifts! As I've said before and I'm sure I've said again, I have great friends!

Pictures - Puttin' on the Pink

I will write captions later, but for now, here's the pics!

Amy, Me, and Rena (my sister) posing on our front walk.

Another shot of us three ladies.

And, yet another shot of us three!

Me and Rena, at the cocktail hour before the fashion show.

Me and Amy at the cocktail hour prior to the show.

Modeling my outfit - North Face vest, Ex-Oficio Pants and Shirt, Keen burgandy shoes

(I was starting to do a pose from Lady Tata's video, but got only half way there . . . )

My Escort, Rena, waiting for me to walk down the runway.

Walking Back Up the Runway

I am greeting the next model - after the high five, we did the twist!  (I almost forgot to do it, though!)

The models after the show.  The harsh lights really made my make-up stand out, in an unflattering way!  I think I look like a clown.  But it's still fun!

And, my shoes!  I got a 30% discount off them.  I love them!  Comfy, but Northwest chic, too!  Ha!

Puttin' On the Pink

Even if I say so myself, I think this event was a success. There was a lot of sitting around and waiting, but fortunately, all I needed to do was mingle, then dress, then walk down the runway. I got touch-ups on my hair and make-up when I got there - my hair was really fluffed out and I hope to post pictures at some point. My cocktail outfit was a pretty black dress with heeled sandals and a black sweater over it.

Then, about 8, we changed into our model outfits. I had these comfy khaki slacks from Ex-Oficio and a plaid shirt, with a pretty North Face vest (which got HOT under the lights), and matching Keens. I am definitely buying the Keens - they have a strap and are a pretty violet red. I think I may have had red shoes only once before in my life . . .

When we showed up in the afternoon, we practiced walking down the runway. I had forgotten that they wanted us to do a flourish as we paused, like wave or dance or whatever. So, on the way to get my hair done, I told my sister I should do that '60s/'70s move, where the girls (I'm reminded of surfer girls) hold on to their nose, raise their other arm and shimmy down. Rena said I should definitely do that.

I wasn't sure if I would or not, but during the cocktail hour, I drank two glasses of red wine. Also, when we greeted the model coming back up the runway, we were to do some kind of fun interaction. There was a male cancer survivor in front of me, who was fun and a complete ham, and he thought that we would do a "high 10", then turn sideways to each other, lick our fingers, and point at each other's rear ends (as in "hot stuff"). So, between his antics and the liquid courage, when I reached the end of the runway, I held my nose and shimmied down and after my turns, I did it again. I think the crowd really enjoyed it.

I was so glad my sister, Rena, and my friend, Amy, were there! We ut streaks of pink in our hair beforehand!

I got lots of compliments on my hair - other models kept saying that it was fun and edgy.

I chatted with OSU's President Ray. When I introduced him to my sister and Amy, I said, "Dr. or President Ray" and he immediately said, "Call me Ed". He remembered me from the Phyllis Lee Award day last January so he very graciously asked how my treatments were going.

I ran into the past and present breast cancer coordinators at the clinic, Sue Merrill and Joanne Stutzman. Also, Dawn Jones from Project H.E.R. I also saw the radiology techs and other staff from the Cancer Center there - all really friendly. I got hugs all around. My own oncologist was there, too, and I got to meet his lovely wife, who makes the most beautiful quilts which are on display at the Cancer Center and the Infusion Center.

I had fun. I was more uninhibited than I expected - I just decided to be silly and fun and channel my old softball team's energy from the Reedsport Tournaments years ago. A couple of people kept saying afterwards, "Wow, where did THAT come from?", meaning my holding the nose and shimmying thing. They complimented me on my smile and my hair.

It was fun. I am still really really tired.

A huge thanks to my sister and Amy for being there to support me, and to my sister for being my escort! I was so glad they were there! A big thanks to the organizers of Puttin' on the Pink. It is a big event, with lots of auction items, lots of community people, food, drink, decorations, etc. A big thank you to Linda Howard and Roseanne and Dawn for helping the models - thanks, Linda, for getting me out of my comfort zone! Thanks to the audience for supporting all of us models. Thank you for everything! I had a great time!

Puttin' on the PInk Today

I will be a model this evening for Puttin' on the Pink, a fundraiser for a local breast cancer organization.

At 1pm, my escort (my sister, Rena) and I will go to the Alumni Center to practice our walk.

At 2pm, dad will take Eddie to a birthday party.

Then, at 3pm, I get my hair styled by my stylist.

If I am done, I will pick Eddie up from the birthday party at 4pm.

At 5:00pm, Rena and Amy (a friend of mine) will come to my house to get ready.

At 5:30pm, I will go get make-up.

At 6:30pm, we have the cocktail hour/silent auction/snacks/wine. I'm wearing a black dress I got for a friend's wedding and will also wear a sweater I got at Macy's this week.

At 8:10pm, I go back to put on my model outfit. Models come out at 8:30.

We end about 10:00pm.

It should be fun!

Puttin' on the Pink

I may have said something before, but I will be a model for a local fundraiser called Puttin' on the Pink. It is a benefit that raises money for Project H.E.R., for women have been diagnosed with breast cancer in our local community. They have mentors that help the newly diagnosed navigate cancer treatments, they gave me two free meals two? years ago, they offer Mammacare classes, and pay for the local breast cancer coordinator. They are a great resource for our community, so when this year's co-chair asked if I would model, I said sure.

Last week, I had my fitting at a local sporting goods store that sells high end sporty clothes and equipment. At first, I was disappointed that I wasn't wearing dressy clothes, but in the end, with my Exu Date dressing, I figured it would be better to wear something comfy and casual. The outfit we settled on has some khaki-colored (with a bit of an olive green tone) slacks ($99) made by Ex Officio that are really soft and comfortable (not cotton, but a synthetic material, I think), a fine-striped plaid shirt that has maroon/dark purple stripes and also a grayish-green ($65) with a shiny Reddish-purple North Face vest ($95), plus a purplish red leather pair of Keen shoes (like Mary Janes, about $90). It was fun trying on clothes! And they looked good on and I felt comfortable. I went across the street and found some garnet earrings and necklace - I just decided to buy them. The store gave me a 10% discount. The sporting good store also offered me a discount of the clothes (30%) and I must say I am tempted to buy the Keens, the vest and/or the slacks. But I should save my money.

My sister agreed to be my escort so today, she and I found her dress. I also need to find one for the pre-show cocktail hour and silent auction. I might already have one that works, but I may look just in case!

Anyway, at first I felt a bit intimidated by the formalness of the affair, but now I have decided just to enjoy myself and have fun dressing up! Luckily, I should still have all my hair. I will see my hair stylist earlier that day to hopefully get an edgy, spiked, sort of hair style! I will post pictures!