F#ck Cancer

I got an email from a good friend today that an old co-worker of mine passed away last night.
I hadn't seen him in a few years.
Hadn't seen him since he was diagnosed with cancer.
My friend is obviously upset, as this guy was pretty awesome.
He was a dad, husband, friend and one of those co-workers that was always smiling.
I didn't know him well.
But I know he will be greatly missed by everyone that knew him.

A old friend and co-worker was diagnosed with colon cancer years back.
She is having to have surgery again to remove some questionable looking spots. (from what I understand)
As she wrote on FB "Going to be a little more tricky than the first time as he will have scar tissue to work with and because my organs have been previously operated and disturbed. He says he'll ultrasound the entire liver to make sure he got everything."
She is the mother of two, married to a great guy and an all around good person.
We aren't close, but I care for her.

A friend I worked with in my early 20's (who I haven't seen in years)...her teenage daughter is battling cancer.
This is her FB post from earlier:  "Without a successful surgery, Kenzy's life expectancy goes from below 20% to 0%. This is the ugly truth about Osteo when there is recurrence. We are not looking at statistics cause Kenzy proved all the doctors wrong last time."

W.T.F?

This all came across my email/social media today.
I can't even imagine what ANY of these situations would feel like.
All I know is I am hoping and thinking of those that are fighting and those that have been left behind.
I know it's set me back emotionally - thinking of all these wonderful people.
Makes one think.

There Is No Place I Rather Be... (LAMBEAU!!)

My aunts and uncles (and a couple cousins) are at Lambeau as I type this blog.
They are watching the greatest team ever: The Green Bay Packers.

In November my Grandpa passed away.
It was a little expected....
But it's never easy.
My Grandpa was a very intelligent man.
Loved his beer.
Loved his Packers.

He would always give us a dollar and walk us to the corner store when we visited in Texas.
We would buy candy cigarettes.
It wasn't frowned upon then... and they were yummy.

My mom and dad, her brothers and sisters, with their significant others (and a couple cousins), are at the game tonight to say "Goodbye", to my Grandpa.

I know he's happy that his kids are gathered together, in Green Bay, cheering on the Packers.

I hope the Packers take the win.
But if they don't... I still know the power behind the Frederick family, the memory of my Grandpa and the night game at Lambeau is one that my family at the game will remember and cherish forever.

I know, sitting on my couch in Iowa, that I will always remember it also.

I love you, family.
I love the Packers.
Lets do this! GO PACK GO!

A Few Random Things

To start out, I love my new job.
I notice so many things about kids.
How they act.
Behave.
Tell tall tales... constantly.
And pick their noses...constantly
I never thought I was a patient person, but I have proven myself wrong.
One of my students calls me Mrs. Crazy (or Mrs. Cray Cray - and it's just between us).
She thinks I'm so funny, silly and, well, crazy.
Which I like, because she still respects me, we have fun with her school work and we still follow all the rules.
Today I didn't feel the best and when taking her to the bus she looks at me and says,
"I know you said you don't feel good today, but I hope Mrs. Crazy is back on Monday, ok?"
And she left me with a big smile.
I'm making an impact.


I'm teaching Mary about the important things in life.
Need To Breathe, my favorite band.
We listen to it in the car and she likes most of the songs, sings a long to a lot of them.
It makes me happy.
We have started watching the first Harry Potter movie - and she is actually into it!
Loves all the magic, the mystery, the what if's...
I love that she likes it.
There are actually a lot of great life lessons in Harry Potter... besides just learning how to ride a broom and play quidditch.

She watched Captain America 2 and The Avengers... she thought Avengers was a little boring.
I am slowly, but surely converting her to a nerd.
And I'm SOOOO proud.