PIRATES THINK PINK!!

[Merrydeath]

I"m coming out of the pink closet.. I have Breast Cancer, ironically.

I had a positive hit on my mamogram and will have to have a lumpectomy on my left breast in June, then radiation, no chemo as of yet. I have an MRI today to see if everything got caught already.

Then surgery June 10-12 and radiation after.. I have 6 weeks left of FMLA and my insurance changes to crappy stuff at work May 31. My ex is letting me stay in the house longer, but after that, not sure what will happen. I might not have a job, a home, money, a breast, or insurance.

Its in very early stages, (stage 0), and its micro calcifications, so its very common. One of my friends has it, and will be my mentor.

I dont want any boo-hooing.. I've done most the crying already.. what I need is your support and mostly.. support for Breast Cancer Research.

I want to start PIRATES THINK PINK. We all show off our boobs and the men love it! Then think how to save them and what you can do to help research continue...

There are tees here that say SAVE SECOND BASE that sell for $10. If you have any ideas, let me know!! and help me blast this thing out of existance.

send me mojo and your ideas!!

PIRATES THINK PINK.

[Red-Handed Jill]

A friend of mine was in the exact same boat as you. Same stage, same treatment and she got through it with flying colours and has been in great form ever since. I'll keep sending good thoughts your way for the same result!

[Silkie McDonough]

Merry,

My first thought (after the initial shock) was what a great idea!

Visually my first thought is a skull and crossed ribbons ...maybe the crossed ribbons with the skull in the opening ...but GAH! maybe not ...I was thinkng the Pirate image of the skull but ...ummm ...maybe not so good ...ummmm ...I'll be back

...think ...think ...think ...think

[Iron Bess]

No Boo Hoo-ing.... it's of no help anyway.

However a pat on the back and a *atta girl* is called for.

Shall I talk with a Disney Designer I know?

He's awful good at t-shirts....

Let me know.

[Hester]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Merry.

To help give you some piratey ideas for fundraising, you might check out "Save the Boobies", an organization that raises money for Breast Cancer with punk rock and tattoos:

http://www.myspace.com/savetheboobies

They have a CD available for pre-order now:

http://www.savetheboobiestour.com/cd.html

And "Save the Boobies" temporary tattoos:

http://www.tatdudegirls.com/tats.html

[Cheeky Actress]

Merrydeath,

How courageous and ingenious of you! I think it’s a wonderful idea and perhaps brain storming with us will help.

I don’t think I can think of a signal person who has not been touched by this disease in some way. You got checked out, they caught it and you are moving ahead with treatment. My prayers go out to you and all your love ones.

[Black Hearted Pearl]

I'm sending positive thoughts your way and lighting candles for your prosperity.

I have a friend who is also going through a similar situation. I'm bringing her with me to the Big Bear Pirate Faire where I have arranged for her shoot the 6lb cannon.

I will think pink for you, my friend. I already support Breast Cancer Research by funding 2 runners every year. They are teachers at my autistic son's school.

{{{Hugs}}}} to a very brave and fun woman,

~BHP

[MadL]

Best o' wishes 'n God t' speed t' recovery for ye lass!

My ex had something similar, I be'n of male in nature do not know all the differences, but they had to lift the...er, tip o' one for t' go in 'n remove a lump 'bout th' size o' a large walnut, then they sow'd th' ....er, round pointy end back on.

She was quite excited a couple year later when she said I "You made my inn'ie pop out 'n become an out'ie again!"

....must'a been all th' practice from try'n get th' last drop o' rum out'a empty bottles she left for me after I get home from work'n all day

[Zephaniah W Nash]

I'll do no boo-hooin, but I'll expect you to let me know what I can do when I can do it.

My good thoughts go out to you regardless -- and if you think of something concrete I can do for you, all it takes is asking...

[Red Bess]

I sent you an e-mail, but I'll say it here, too: we love you and we are here for you! *hugs*

You will be living proof of the value of early detection -- I am sending e-mails to all of my girlfriends to remind them to get mammograms.

Pirates Think Pink is a great idea. Let's see what we can do...

[Captain Jim]

Pyrates Think Pink is a great idea. As an additional thought on T-shirts and such, Save the Boobies has already been taken. As Pyrates we should think more along the lines of "Save the Treasure Chests!"

After all, we Pyrates are all about treasure chests and booty.

[Silkie McDonough]

Very good Captain Jim! hmmmm ...think ...think ...think ...think ...think

[oderlesseye]

Oderlesseye gives Merrydeath a hugg **

Remember nauhwt to do this eeerr thing alone..

Thar be Support groups fer this kind of thing..

Your local hospital has that kind of info...

It is great to hear your taking the high road on

this one.. Lance Armstrong might say live strong...

Well Oderlesseye says live piratety too!

[Merrydeath]

Thanks all.. does a pirate's heart good to hear that you will kick my butt if I get teary, but also that you want to kick Cancer's butt too!

I count most of you as extended family anyway, so you all had to know. I was a bit tired of just saying I was having tests. Today was the MRI and I'll know the results by Thursday latest, to see if there is any that was missed. Nothing like being in a steel drum for 25 minutes with construction going on.. Next time I use the earplugs.

I bought a tee today that $5 of the $10 goes to research... FIGHT LIKE A GIRL with boxing gloves on it.. they might be able to make something up for me too, but Iron Bess, if you have Disney behind you, that might be a wider scope. I know some stars are helping promote the mammograms and research support... gods bless them!

I found out about the C when I had to have my mammogram before my insurance changed. It was have it then or wait til after the crappy work program started in a year or two. I shudder to think of me putting that off. I"m at stage '0' the earliest possible stage.

DO ME ONE BIG FAVOR, AND GET A BLOODY MAMMOGRAM NEXT WEEK!! I dont wany anyone here to find out later then I did!

-----------------------------------

ideas for tees and more:

more later.. and bless you all!

[Captain Jim]

OK, how about a T printed as a treasure map, dotted line leading not to one but two X's on the front (use your imagination here.) On the back , still printed like a map, the dotted lines weaving around "Save the Treasure Chests, Support Breast Cancer Research."

[Silkie McDonough]

ooooh ...nice ...and the dots in the back can be in the shape of the pink ribbon?

Merry ...those are fantastic.

Geeze my brain needs to start working. lol You guys are good!

[Merrydeath]

wow.. i like that! very piratey and also artistic.

I was also playing with the idea of a jolly roger with the eyes EXed out over the chi-chis... but I do like your idea, JIm and Sikie.

maybe the ribbon on the compass?

more?

[Merrydeath]

i had a number of bumper sticker ideas here.. before someone used them for their profit. Major thing was he proposed it as fun and then didnt offer us anything for it, not even 1 sticker.

I had planned to go to a faire this weekend and sell pink ribbons with beads on them ala Jack Sparrow, or with a sunbead on a pinned ribbon. I think that would work on a smaller scale.

[Capt. Sterling]

What's there to brainstorm about Cheeky, you will show yer boobs to anyone. You've been doing it for years!

Praying for you Merrydeath, my cousin got through it and is fine now...

[Cheeky Actress]

What's there to brainstorm about Cheeky, you will show yer boobs to anyone. You've been doing it for years!

????

[Dutchman]

i like capt jims idea about saving the treasure chest- how about treasured chest though. maybe the chests can be locked with a chain somehow.

[Zephaniah W Nash]

Here's a general idea -- with a couple of caveats. First, it'll take a better artist than I to do it well, but this will maybe give an idea. Secondly, the muzzles of the guns should likely be larger, rounder, and put into... strategic locations -- I'm sure you all know what I mean...

[Merrydeath]

I took off the tee shirt ideas until I can copyright them.. i had some bumper sticker ideas taken and then used by someone who has a magazine who then made money off them and never give of us a pence...

'save our treasured chests' sounds wicked tho!!

have some other ideas rattlin around.

[Merrydeath]

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/breastcancerawareness

this is kind of what I was thinking about. A logo that will work on tees or doorags or whatever. Thhink Pinnk, or real pirates wear pink??

We could have more then one design, and Zeph, your pirate lass will work great on a tee!

[Silkie McDonough]

Well for starters maybe a pink ribbon can mark the spot rather than a red x? or two?