I was tempted to make a new blog for my class, but I figured that I’d just post it here instead. I mean, I’ve GOT this blog, have had it for a while, and should be okay sharing it with people… and, conversely, nothing I am going to share with my classmates or instructor is anything that I should avoid putting here.
It’s a little more personal than you’re used to, readers, but why not? Tra la la!
So, my first post included this little tidbit:
If you’ve made it this far, I’m sure you’ve already been to my website and read my bio and all that fun jazz, but for a quick rundown: My name is Lacy Jae, I’m a full time student, a Silversmith, an Ovarian Cancer survivor, an only child, a silly young lady, infatuated with Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos… Okay, that’s enough for now.
To offer a little more insight:
I’m in my fourth year at ACAD, though I’ll be here a couple more due to a reduced course load. And because I love school and don’t really want to leave just yet. I love learning, exploring my thoughts and ideas and my entire world. School is such an inspiration, whether it’s the courses I’m taking, the assignments, or just interacting with other students. I forgot how much I loved it.
I had ovarian cancer when I was 22. It was crazy, I was sick for about six months before we finally found the problem, I had surgery, and it was another few months before my actual diagnosis – I had a very rare form of ovarian cancer, and my samples wandered North America trying to find a doctor familiar with it who could decide my chemotherapy treatment. I did eight months of that, and this January 16 is my 5 year end of chemo anniversary. 5 years is very important in the world of cancer, they say of a number of cancers that recurrence is much less likely when you’ve hit 5 years cancer free. Additionally, for me, it’s a big deal because ovarian cancer is really hard on the numbers. Because it’s mostly older ladies 55+ who get it, and the symptoms are so sneaky that they don’t usually find it until late stages, 5 years is often the time limit on an ovarian cancer survivor. I’m young and healthy and have been good so far, so my chances are rather small that I’ll get a recurrence within the next year, but… statistics are hard to ignore, and scary. Five years is MAJOR. Five years is winning, no matter what happens after that. I’ll have beat my time limit.
Ahem. Anyway. As a related aside, ovarian cancer is NOT just for older ladies. I was 22, and wasn’t diagnosed for six months because I was “too young” for cancer. It’s simply not true. There’s no age where you’re safe from it, no home base where cancer can’t tag you. More and more people, young people, are developing cancer and no one listens until it’s too late. I’m not saying to freak out over every sickness you get, but don’t get really sick and NOT get tested for cancer. Let me tell you, learning you’ve got cancer is way, way better than not knowing what’s wrong with you for six months. It was a relief because finally there was an answer, and a plan. Many cancers have mild symptoms. Don’t be a hypochondriac but… don’t be stupid, either. A test is not a horrible thing, and it’s better to know.
Okay, off my soap box. Sorry. *g* It’s very obviously a topic close to home. It is for a lot of people. I have friends who have cancer, friends who have lost parents to cancer, parents who have to watch their children fight it. No one is untouched by cancer these days, but it still isn’t enough. We need to be aware.
Complete change of topic! I’m a horror fanatic, and have been since I was six years old and watched Poltergeist and Ghoulies. I love horror movies, books, themes. I think my favorite theme lately would be zombies, but back in elementary school I was “the vampire expert” (for kids my age, okay, come on) and I’ve always had a huge number of novels AND reference books. Oh yes, I could tell you the old tales of ways to become a werewolf.
My favourite author is H.P. Lovecraft, hands down. He created this entire mythology through his short stories, from the 20s and 30s, and they’re still fairly popular today. A lot of my work references his writing pretty obviously, but I’m working through how his mythos relates to my own personal mythology, my beliefs and ideas on the world. It’s a slow process, but I’m enjoying it. 
I’m not sure what else to put here. Hopefully this whole blog thing is enough.
I’m going to go back to carving my Elder Signs and searching for more info on carving waxes. Tirrah!
There’s a hole to set a stone, but I’m not really sure if I want to set one now.
