Helloooo!!! Happy New Year!! I’m all kinds of HECK YEAH. Bring that bad boy on. I finished chemo on December 3rd so this was something to celebrate!

I wanted to bring in the New Year with style. That said, here’s a cool pic taken just moments after midnight in downtown Denver. The Sheridan hotel blasted fireworks from its rooftop. Here you see the surreal reflection of the sky party in the nearby buildings. Double the pleasure, like double-mint gum.

And here I be. Making the most of the wig-moment of my life. On the up-side, aren’t wigs cute!?

On that note, I’m learning to work around this no-hair business. Every morning you have to think about your head. It’s like, “Oh Yeah. What contraption do I walk out with on this day?” It’s like having a stereo with a broken speaker. It’s annoying but tollerable.

Hats rule. Like this one. I LOVE this red hat! Here I am holding a new born baby boy named Henry.

While on the subject, I’ve thought about the benefits of a hairless life:

1.) The money you save because you don’t have to buy razors, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, flat irons, curling irons, blow dryers or gel. Whew! That exhausted me for a minute.
2.) Free’d up counter space.
3.) The endless possibilities of multiple-personality syndrome with all the various looks you have.
4.) Ignoring the aisle of hair products at your local grocer.
5.) No more bad hair days. Sorry, that was cliche’ and predictable of me. 8Þ

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My seestor Kim was with me during my last treatment. Here are some pics from that day. This was taken about half an hour after I was done. I look tired.

During treatment passing time. My favorite fun, cozy cap…

When I was done the nurses gave me this certificate and some gifts. They made it very special. I’ve graduated! This cert says “Elana Rogers formally, officially, and emphatically concluded her chemotherapy regimen as prescribed and administered by the caring professionals of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers.”

Afterwards we celebrated with an exoctic Korean BBQ meal. Chicken soon-to-be cooking on our table.

Mom and Kim came up from Dallas to see me for XMAS. It was our 1st time ever to have it together in Denver. Thank you Mom and Kim!

Globe trotter:

The look I will not leave the house with.

Kim was here for Thanksgiving too. Here we are with Tempa and friends:

I escaped to Mt. Evans one day in December for a hike:

Gotta have some purple geese-feet!

And finally, kudos to the man who’s been there for me during this journey, Mr. Glyn Jones:

What’s next? Getting my body back to normal, which will still take some time. Next surgery is March 17th. Let’s just say that my Dr did not tell me “you’re cancer free”. I think it’s more assumed. With the surgery plus the 4.5 months of chemo, we’re going with – I’m covered. The next step is going in for bloodwork every 3 months. They’ll look at these criteria called “tumor markers” to see if there are any changes. I’m pretty amazed that they can just tell by looking at a “tumor marker”.

I’m looking forward to a long-overdue vacation! My birthday is January 13th. And on the music front, I’m working on a celebration gig with the boys! Eddie Garcia on guitar, Mark Mauldin on pedal steel, Rob Cameron on drums and Spencer Pyne on bass. Keep your eyes and ears open for a gig in early March!

UPDATE: Celebration gig at the Toad Tavern on Friday, March 5th!

Until next time, have a happy and wonderful 2010!

Elana