Sweets, I'm so damn sweet

It has been a problem of mine. My mother blames my father, supposedly he gave me coca cola in my sippy cup. All I have to say is, thank you dad, where would I be, who would I be? I love my cola, none of that diet shit either. That stuff gives you cancer.

I've been getting a lot of candy lately.

Growing up I mostly saw my dad on the weekends. We always went to the movies. There was candy involved,  lots of candy. As my belly grew into a big girl belly we began to pre-shop for our movie candy. First it was the sour patch kids ( classic) then we had the Airheads, Woppers, licorice, all that boring stuff. Where it got reaaaaallll was the toffee. SCORE bars, Heath Bars, RIPP your teeth pit of your head bars. Toffee and I had a good couple years together.

Candy.Good thing we live right above a 7-11, I haven't had any chocolate today, my donut daily doesn't count. I love my downtown San Diego 7-11.

I thought I loved by college days 7-11 in San Jose, that was a pretty good one. The main man, I don't remember his name, but I'm sure he remembers mine, was a total crack head- he looked like Christian Bale in TheMachinist but with long stringy brown hair. My friend Chelsea remembers his name- what's his name? He found me on the bus once and started talking to me, I got off and walked home. Sometimes he would run two cash registers at once, one time...he was in love with me, he was always so happy to see me, I'm glad I made him smile.

Ugh these stories suck, Mark has some really good stories. You wouldn't believe half of them....remember in that second or third Hannibal/ cannibal movie when they feed the bodies to the pigs, in gangster movies too- this seems like a great way to dispose of a body btw. So on this family farm in Poland Mark claims to have visited. They have these types of  pigs- but they don't feed them people. They feed them POOP. Human poop. Whhhhhhhaaaatttttttt. The outhouse is situated above the pigpen, I guess they live in a ditch. He said once the pigs saw you, they would squeal and ram the walls of the outhouse, then eat your poop. Best part ever.

The farm people would eat the pigs! Isn't that so sweet!!

I think I may believe this story, I believe 83% of it. To be continued....

Every weekend we saw maybe one or two movies, in one day! We became pros at sneaking into the second one! ONE TIME, proudest movie stealing ever, we snuck into the Lion King opening day show and they were even checking tickets at the theater entrance! Yes. Sometimes we even snuck real food in! So bad, cheeseburgers! Fat burger! We so bad.

Dad started coming prepared with candy, pre-stocked. I started carrying a purse- too much candy to put in our pocket.

We would finish off our movie date with dinner of course. We would go to Islands, in-n-out (which Mark says sucks-boooo) the Whole Enchilada, Thai food if I begged hard enough. I think that's pretty much it, I was picky. And then maybe we would top it off with Target or Mervyns. 

He spoiled me rotten, inside and out. Rotten teeth rotten mind rotten personality, NOT!! actually Im perfect. Who would I be if i weren't so spoiled ( Mark would say, I have a natural sense of being a pain in the ass- in a good way- desire and drive naturally) this is because I was spoiled.

That makes no sense. What I mean to say is,

Thank you dad for spoiling me. I cherish every movie we saw together. Every little bit of candy, can u send me some more please, and thank you. I just want more candy.

I always have to go to the dentist. I've been lucky to have always have dental insurance.no matter how well I take care of them, cavities, my teeth ...are soft. My favorite dentist, Dr. FUNada told me they are soft, he was probably just trying to make me feel better. He gave me an electronic toothbrush for a college graduation gift! Funny story about how I met him. Insert here. My mom thinks he had a crush on me.

Anyways I love the 7-11 downstairs. Alex and Rosa are the managers and they are my only friends here. That may sound sad, but once u meet them you would be like whhhhhaaattttt they are so cool! Whhhhhaaattttttt! That's what we yell when we see each other. They like my gory stories and surgery scar so it gave me somewhere to go every morning once I came back down south after my surgery. They have these breakfast sandwiches that taste like deluxe mcdonalds. 

I wish mcdonalds were closer, it's maybe 6 blocks away, 3 too many blocks away for me. Mark and I don't like to leave our threeish square block hood, so if u wanna hang with us you better pick someplace close to meet, or Mark is going to be in a bad mood. Maybe I will take my walk to mcdonalds, ONLY if I go to the gym first (maybe)

So Easter is my favorite time of the candy year. WHY? Cadbury EGG time of course! And now they have the chocolate cream and Carmel and the ooeygooey used to gross but now is delicious white yellow slime eggs. BUT, these, are,nothing, compared to their classic little baby sugar covered milk chocolate eggs. The ones in the purple bag? Do u know what I'm talking about?

These are my absolute favorite. Dad would get me dozens of bags a season. Ohhhhhhhh man. They are so expensive now, 2 bags for $7, that's a little steep on on my candy budget. But I got a care package from my Dad and momma Jan a couple weeks ago, and they HOOKED me up. It was actually kind of gross, there was already a lot of candy in the house. Everything is almost gone now. So I need another box people! Get on it!

So my mom is an ANGEL, anyone who has met her, heard me speak kindly about her lol, or has seen her photo can see- an angel. So maybe my dad spoiled me rotten, but my mom Spolied me.....the eff up. She effed me up. I am down right bad.

I'm the baby gotta love me.

So we are headed to my sisters house in amanhattan Beach from one of my 3 month check ups.

So here is how it goes....every 3 months for the last five years I go in for an MRI of my brain, a blood draw, and visit with my neuro-oncologist. This usually takes all day. 

So we are at UCLA, timing is always difficult, don't want to go too early or too late because of traffic coming up and back down from my moms house in Orange County. So it ends up not being that great of an appointment, and I want some flipping cookies. Not any cookies. But these frosted, as pictured, cookies that I can only get at a particular bakery that closes in 30 minutes. It is bumper to bumper traffic....

Damn I ran out of steam writing this. 

Anyways, she got me there in time, in crazy traffic, with me flipping out about cookies- literally, remember they call me the flipper?As they were locking the doors, we got there.of course I had called them hysterically telling them I was on my way and that I was sad and that I needed cookies.

I got all cookied out on that place tho, so now we do the see's candy. Then there was delicious Mexican food and my sissy. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Going to get sees this weekend, a pound! And Mark can't have any because he says Sees sucks, then he eats them anyways, he sucks.

My mom is an amazing cook and baker. Last time we made these little chocolate nests, with the Cadbury eggs in them! You see., u see the eggs!! The nests tasted really good at 2am when I couldn't sleep. She made my birthday cake this year- which I don't have a photo of, pissed. But it was from scratch, angel food cake strawberry short cake magic. Insert birthday story here.

I think I will ask her to bake something this weekend with me. I'm going to take the train up on Friday and spend the weekend with her! I have some Nordy gift cards I've been trying to spend but the mall here blows as I've told you. It's absolutely horrendous, Im going to have to write a letter.

I'm in the market for a weekend bag for all my upcoming travels. the one I have doesn't have a shoulder strap, one of the handles is tied on, and is heavy- it's pretty though. I like to shop..a lot...but it seems like there is nothing I want these days.kinda sad. We are going to go to Nordstrom rack- I can't handle paying full price for anything, especially when everything is such poor quality, and I  get I get excited with sales...CVS ( they literally gave me $30 this week in extra bucks) Mark isn't allowed to go grocery shopping alone anymore because of his lack of sale purchases.

Whhhhewwwwww. No headache today. I slept horribly last night. I wake up, pray that it's 3 am and not 1130. Bird was less screamy last night. Every time I woke up I pet his head- I think giving him more attention is helping. He's so sensitive, he took a human size poop a couple hours ago and didn't cover it up- ugh probably because he's mad. 

I will never talk about poop ever again, it's so unladylike.

I wish I were sleepy right now. I'm bored- but don't want to do anything. Makes me binge eat-- I realized that my favorite snack of rice crispies cereal with milk is only 170 calories per serving, and the serving is big, too bad there is no nutritional value what so ever.

Whatever

Chocolate egg it is.

Later gators

-k

This is my father and I going to a 50's themed GirlScout dance, my mom made my skirt, and me with a asain candy care package package from the Louie family, Hello Panda is my favorite! 

Today, back at the GYM!

Well hello there. Today was long, it felt like I got a lot of good work done today but I can't remember exactly what I did. I remember the morning starting off rocky.....then...exhaustion. UNTIL I looked at the photo collage I made- duh I guess that is what I did.

April 1st was my due date to be back at the gym! Isn't it weird how pants that are too small sometimes seem to slide down your waist more? I would think they would stay up better? So that was kind of annoying, gym clothes will fit better soon. I don't mind much, I pretty much didn't move, let alone break a sweat for six weeks. And eat massive amounts of donuts, I don't mind much. 

I go to 24 hour fitness-I had to restart my membership and was fully prepared to have to 'deal' with the front desk and there being something totally annoying and complicated I would have to do in order to get in. Nope. Went smooth. Usually dealing with the gym is as difficult as dealing with the cable company. 

I did a good ten minute sweat on a sit down bike. I SWEAR, I got some leg muscle bulge back already.   C'mon- we all know how much I check myself out in the mirror- I would know! Mark calls bullshit.

I was going to share a story about bulging muscles and The Bar Method (my previous exercise obsession/love of my life.) but I am mad at The BAr MEthOD. They burned me, maybe some day I will gush about them again and tuck tuck hold foreeevvverrrrr. (Respect me or I quit) uggghhh i  can't help it--- The Bar Method exercise program is the best workout you will ever get in your entire life. It's a mix of ballet/Pilates and isometric moves. It will mold your body into a piece of juicy perfection. I would eat me. My sister spoiled me with a membership while we lived together in San Francisco,( and I worked at the Boston location)That was also the year I had my favorite job! I walked the city 40 hours a week putting flyers on doors. That's a really long story- one of my favorites. 

And thennnnnnn....Feeling pretty good I continued my uber not that exciting but somewhat not really entertaining  day with a visit to my place of previous employment, The New Children's Museum of San Diego! well I technically still work there, I'm on leave until May I hope I can go back- or go back sooner! Once I find out if the chemo is working I will have a better idea. Anyways.

 So going in there is going to be totally awkward. Thank goodness it's closed- totally forgot we are closed on Tuesdays. Snuck in, got what I needed, attempted to say hello to someone who I emailed who didn't respond- happy he didn't hear me call his name. And I'm out! 

I truely love the museum- let's hang out some time and I will tell you all about it. 

Here is a photo of our garden. Daily we have garden workshops for the kiddies where they build little origami pots out of newspaper and put our garden seeds in them. U can just throw the whole thing in the ground and supposedly it grows! I found the project quite challenging actually. But the kids seem to get it. So everyone who works there eats the veggies we grow!( not me veggies- I know not what to do with them) And we have chickens too so they get to eat veggies too, annnd we eat their eggs! I haven't -- I haven't been lucky enough to win the egg lottery. I asked some of the chicken coop kids whether or not we would eat the chickens eventually, to continue the circle of life. They got kinda pissed- I guess they're more pets than a food source. I asked-- but what if one gets too old to lay eggs or gets sick, duh to meI'm not sure if eating old sick chickens is a good idea. They probably think I'm so weird.

Insert- rabbit story from Polish farm via Mark, which may or may not be true.

The garden is so pretty- why don't the thousands  of downtown San diegan bums eat the vegetables? Or piss on them? Or smoke crack in them. They probably do right? I don't want your damn eggs children's museum! Please- be kind to our garden- it actually is magical.

That's body pump in the background of my kicks photo. While I stretched I occupied myself with picking out the best muscles in the group- they weren't that good- next month they will be, because I will be there! All jacked up, all RIPPED.

Whew head just started hurting, a little light headed. All this ripped muscle vegetable talk. My head muscle must be fatigued. I'm hoping working out will help me sleep.i sleep horribly these days. I have a cat named Bird, he screams every night of his life, for the last eight years. He jumps out of bed, he falls asleep in my arms every night btw, we have to pick him up, put him in front of his food, then put him back in bed when he is finished. This ritual is my/ our fault completely. It's too late for us now. 

We give Sunny melatonin for his skin condition. Maybe I will start drugging Bird with it, it helps you sleep. I'm going to try taking one right now.

Damn head . I haven't had a headache in a few days. I was having them everyday since the surgery-they are mostly gone for the last week or so. Yay. Especially since I was banned from Tylenol. I guess if the Tylenol doesn't work- you should probably not take double the dose. It's not good for your kidneys. Doctor thus had to prescribe me something extra- which I hate hate taking. It doesn't do anything more than the Tylenol anyways.

My sister warned me not to go sell it on the corner. I think she actually thought I may. Silly sister. Wink.

Donuts- Dunkin- check. Terrible selection- I may have to write a letter.

I made my kale salad again today- everyday since Lindsey left I have made it- she taught me how. I should probably eat more vegetables.i promise to try.

Time to close my eyes a bit and put on an episode of SVU, I've seen them all by now, my step mom too- it's our thing. I wish they had Criminal Minds on netflix too. I wish I had cable! Then I could watch new episodes! A girl can dream- the cable company won't even answer my calls! I love those quotes they have on the beg/end of Criminal minds- insert great quote here.

Goodnight Y'all.

And thank you for all of the words of encouragement on GoFundMe regarding my post! And all your donations of love and money, and help and work you have done getting my story out there! Every penny helps! 

"My dream tonight is to get the sleep I haven't been getting" - my baby boy Mark, I feel so bad for him.

Goodnight for realz now. - k

I had such an amazing weekend!

My best friend visited from San Francisco this weekend. We met in the dorms at San Jose State University almost ten years ago! The weather was perfect, so we started our weekend off with my favorite combination of Thai food and sunshine. I could eat yellow curry everyday of my life. In a job interview I once got asked what would be my last meal on death row. Yellow curry, just the juice, straight up. They also asked me what a goal of mine was, I said by 30 to get ripped and go to Coachella. 

I have never been! Last year my favorite band in the world, The Stone Roses played, I doubt they will ever play again, sad days. I learned of the Stone Roses from a 7ft Native American man on a bicycle in San Jose who attempted to heal me from a nasty cold with their music. I had to stop speaking to him once I realized there was probably a reason the bars wouldn't let him in the doors.

 Anyways I think the interviewer thought I meant ripped as In wasted, I got the job, I do well in interviews! Really!

We then went to to the worst mall in America, Horton Plaza. Whoever designed it is a serious asshole.Then Lindsey took me shopping at the best Forever 21 in the world at said mall. Mark says I'm too old to shop at Forever 21, obviously he doesn't get it, FOREVER 21 yo!

I am so happy that I felt well enough to get out of the house this weekend-Mark has been soooo busy and stressed with work and all the attention to my medical and fundraising I'm sure he needed some alone time. We have lived together in a studio apartment 24 hours a day for almost three years now. Mark has no body odor whatsoever, he can go months without washing his hair, I'm sure this helps. Two of my favorite qualities that Mark possesses,

1. Likes to tan, laying in the sun is the best, I hope to be on a tropical island soon, or at least Palm Springs that would be great!

2. Amazing legs, I want to eat them! I always let him walk upstairs first so I can sexually harass him.

My two least favorite things Mark does,

1. His dozen half empty soda cans around the house daily waiting to be spilled- lately I've enjoyed picking them up- it's a treasure hunt, and when they are fully empty I am so proud of him.

2. I can't think of anything else.

Later on Mark and I took Lindsey to our favorite Downtwon San Diego Bar. It is called the The Commons- after Boston. We love our cheap beer, and miss our old dive bars in Boston so much. punters on Huntington Ave. (where we fell in love-thanks Jess Anderson!) Whiskeys, andBukowskis.     PS. Only the strong survive St. Patricks day in Boston.

On Saturday we had a wonderful lunch at a vegetarian restaurant with my momma , the fact that it was vegetarian kind of freaked her out-she's old school. My mom lives in Orange country about 1.5 hours away, so we decided to each take the train and meet half way, Solana beach. Lindsey got to see the beautiful so.cal coast from the train. I liked that. And thennnnnnnnn, we went window shopping in some ridiculously overpriced antique stores and saw some pretty cool stuff!  And thennnnnnnnn, visited a store with evil women who pulled a Pretty Woman, I don't think we have anything here that will fit you. And thennnnnnnn, the other worker woman  proceeded to SHOVE me, literally shoved my arm away, in order to place a couple hangers back on the rack ( thank goodness I'm not all cranked up on steroids right now or I would have flipped out. I want a mugshot, maybe could have been good timing.) How can these women live with themselves, so NASTY! Why you gotta be so nasty! 

We finished Lindsey's trip with a relaxing picnic at Balboa Park with Sunny. Since I no longer can walk Sunny he has turned into a beast on a leash with Mark. Sunny has been very sensitive to downtown craziness. We really need a trainer to help us- but money honey- kils. Money sucks. BUT Sunny was an amazing doll! He saw other dogs and didn't bark and go crazy! Hopefully we can find a way to get Sunny better socialized soon. When we travel with him, and have to board him it can be stressful worrying whether or not Sunny's social skills will lead to any trouble. He is a GOOD BOY. He is an angel. He's always been an apartment dog and it's hard for us to get him enough exercise, it's our fault completely. After our lease is up we are moving to a house with a yard. And I'm going to have a garden, my garden, this is very important to me.

I am so very greatful to have had this time with my best friend. We haven't been ble to see each other as much as we like, but now that we live on the same coast that is going to change! When my mom and I visit the doctors in San Francisco next week she is generously putting us up for the night, and her family lives super close to the hospital- NICE! 

This is my first REAL blog post. I feel weird..will you understand my sarcasm? How crazy do I seem? They called me crazy Katie in college. And my family used to call me the Flipper. You can follow me on Instagram @ KRAZYKKATIE. Oh yeah! Lindsey is a super cool blogger social media star ultimate coolest person in the world, so she showed me all these cool apps for photo editing and hooked up my computer and what not so it actually works. Super stoked. 

Alright cool, how did I do?

Proof of Purchase Presented by Samson Gallery to benefit The School of the Museum of Fine Arts

I will be participating in this! The twist is that you don't know the artist who created it until you purchase the artwork! So this is mayyyybbbbeee my artwork? My website www.katherineromero.com is unfortunately down right now and we haven't been able to fix it, but I have a tumblr floating out there if you google me. Hope everyone is having a great day! Xo - kat

Go Fund Me Donation Page LAUNCHED!

http://www.gofundme.com/Katherinefights

Katherine says hello

Katherine Romero's  family and friends are uniting to help arrange support for Katherine and her fight with brain cancer.  Through this blog, Katherine would like to share her diagnosis and journey with cancer from A-Z. Katherine is curious, and she thinks you may be too! Most importantly this blog will exist for her to share her daily thoughts, art, news, and photos.  There will also be links on how we can help Katherine and her family  better navigate the cancer world. We are looking for angels to help us keep Katherine emotionally and physically well. With the help of friends, we have been able to start a fundraiser page to receive donations for medical bills, transportation, and feel-good stuff. Katherine Thanks you for checking out this blog!

2013 emergency room visit, seizure on the Boston Trolley. I was NOT very pleased to be on the subway station floor once Mark sounded the alarm and lowered me to the ground. It was my first time wearing these seriously destroyed/ripped skinny jeans given to me by my friend Jess, and got all dolled up... Well anyways my pants  left nothing to the imagination for the Boston spectators- and we missed the polish soccer game at the Polish Citizen American Club in South Boston but all in all it was a good adventure ! 

XO
Kat