Saturday, July 30, 2011

Good Morning | Halifax, NS

I rub my eyes, roll over, and shield my eyes from the window light and look at the clock.  It's much too early.   I hear the rain outside and pull the blanket up a little higher.  I'm awake, I should get up.  I walk quickly to the living room, careful not to wake Jason.  He'll sleep awhile longer so I plan to busy myself at the computer.  As I settle into the computer chair, my hand reaches for the mouse to stop the screen saver.  

I look up and smile.  I'm greeted with a note left from the night before...





Loved - it's the best way to wake up.

  
...Kare
email:  karenk{at}eastlink.ca

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Who Turned Up the Heat? | Halifax, NS Breast Cancer Survivor

We sat in the cafeteria, catching up on the past few days.  We had had lunch together daily until I started my treatments.  Since I've headed back to work, Dy and I haven't had the opportunity to catch up over lunch, but today we jumped at the chance.  We talked about work, her kids, life in general.

Then I felt it.  The warmth.  All over.  It can't be that warm in here, I thought, we're in an air-conditioned building.  In a moment I stopped listening, curious as to what was happening.  Suddenly, my arm felt clammy and it dawned on me.  Dear God, I think I'm having my first hot flash!  I said it out loud.

Dy smiled a knowing smile.  She's been there.  For her, a side effect of chemo; for me, it's likely a side effect of Tamoxifen.   

I started taking Tamoxifen in June, once I had finished my radiation treatments.  It's one pill that I take every day.  There are lots of side effects to be on the look out for, some not pleasant, but I trust my oncologist's opinion that the good outweighs the bad.

I remember years ago when Mom was having her hot flashes.   We all sat at the dining room table, Mom's roast beef and mashed potatoes piled high, plates passed around as we each served ourselves... peas, carrots, gravy.  Suddenly, Mom jumps up from her chair and leaves the room.  She darts around the corner and we hear the door to the garage open.  Ahhhhhh, it dawns on us... another hot flash.  We laugh, not able to sympathize.  Moments later, Mom returns.  Her cheeks are flushed, but she smiles, picks up her fork, and continues her meal.

My hot flash was slight, hopefully they will all be so easy.  As I cooled off, Dy and I finished our meals, sharing stories now consisting of work, her kids, life in general, and cancer.

  
...Kare
email:  karenk{at}eastlink.ca

Monday, July 25, 2011

Trash the Dress - Krista, Part 2 | Halifax, NS, Wedding Photographer

As you saw earlier, my friend, Krista, and I were off on an adventure, looking to trash her dress.  We drove around Sambro, stopping any time either of us saw something that caught our eye.  

Lobster traps, anyone?


Next up we had a little fun with Krista's Jeep, stopping along the side of the road, having a little damsel in distress moment...


We had parked across the street from someone's house.  We must have piqued their curiosity as they watched from the window.



Our next stop took us to the beach.  Well, sort of.  We headed to Crystal Crescent Beach but it was packed!  One of the hottest days of the summer will do that.  We turned onto the dirt road that leads to the beach and cars were lined up, not able to get anywhere.  We turned the Jeep around and continued our adventure.

Our goal was to get the dress wet!  Access to the ocean was limited, but we found a path.  Or so we thought.  Park the car, gather our gear and trudge through the forest.  


 
We knew we were close, we could hear the ocean and children's laughter.  But there we stood in the midst of the trees, she in her dress, me with my gear, and we looked at each other, then looked around, and realized right here is perfect.  And we got down to business.





The moss was so soft and spongy, Krista said it was softer than a bed.



Still we went in search of water.  We live along the ocean, it shouldn't be hard to find.  Apparently it was just hard to get to.

We finally spotted something on the side of the road, a little opening in the trees, a path perhaps?  We stopped the car and weighed our options.  Sure, we found water, but it's not going to be easy to get to.  There was no path, just a little cliff that we'd have to maneuver down.  Krista's braver than I, so she went down first.  As I followed, she turned to me, "Um, Karen, there are people here."  Having a birthday party, apparently.  Oh dear, we're here now, let's just do it.

As she walked into the water, we heard a little voice ask, "Mommy, why is that lady getting into the water with her dress on?"  We never did hear the explanation.



You can see the party-goers in the background, on the deck, watching, wondering what the heck we were up to...

Such a fun fun day for both of us.  If you have a prom or wedding dress and want some fun pictures, let me know.  You can trash it as much or as little as you want.  If you don't want to trash it, we can just rock it out and get fashion shots.  Still fun, though!


 
 
 
  
...Kare
email:  karenk{at}eastlink.ca

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Trash the Dress - Krista | Halifax, NS, Wedding Photographer

My friend Krista had a wedding dress that was itching to be trashed.   We met on a hot summer day last August and headed out to Sambro, in search of anything that looked interesting.  I think we found it.  Our first stop was definitely interesting and Krista rocked it out:









We got so many fabulous shots on this one day, all at locations within a few miles of each other.  Think lobster traps, moss, and a lake.  But you have to wait for those... coming soon!



...Kare
email:  karenk{at}eastlink.ca

Coming soon... | Halifax, NS





...Kare
email:  karenk{at}eastlink.ca