Nancy E. Dunne's Blog, page 9

Music Monday: Of Time and Bottles

This week starts a new round of infusion treatment for me and a new round of uncertainty. In that vein (see what I did there?), this song is speaking to me, because I'm not a real fan of being unprepared by design. I need to know what's coming, but you can't, of course. So when I was listening to this song as a part of my Nanowrimo 23 prep, the line "But there never seems to be enough time/ To do the things you want to do once you find them" really struck me. The first round of treatment I focused only on the treatment. I planned my life around it. And to some extent, you have to do that...but I haven't written anything since July's Camp Nano save my Very Short Stories on the bird app. That has to change. That will change. There is enough of me to do both. Let's do this. Hand me that bottle.

(lyrics on screen)

Music Monday on Thursday: How do you want to do this?

So, I've recently (like a year ago, but still) been able to fullfill a childhood goal and have started playing D&D with a group of my friends. I didn't think it would be too hard - I did play MMORPGs for more than a decade (still do, shoutouts to Everquest and WoW) and am currently working my way (slowly) through Balders Gate 3. 

I was wrong. So wrong. BDG3 helps, as it is part of the D&D universe. But you know what helps the most? The wonderful folks in my campaign. All but one of them are seasoned players, and they have taken my noob-ness in stride. Today's song is from my other newish obsession, Critical Role. It's like sitting down at my table! Friends (who are all voice actors, but still) gathering around a table to play D&D and I get to watch and learn! This is the opening theme from Campaign 3 and while I'm still watching 1, this is good stuff. 

Also, turn on the captions for the words, and you can see who is singing each line. Join the adventure, chose your actions...you can certainly try. 😈

Music Monday: More magic than tragic

This weekend was a welcome return to normal...whatever that means. I spent the weekend at the Upstate Renaissance Festival in Greer, SC, signing/selling books and talking writing with loads of people. I was apprehensive because my booth mate, the marvelous Misty Massey, had car trouble on Thursday and couldn't join me. I wasn't sure that I could do it - but when I got there, my years as a Rennie and my years of selling books kicked in and it was a breeze. The organizers and staff are amazing, and I'm planning to put in my application for next year as soon as they open!

The intrepid author melts into her seat...
My cozy little tent, Friday evening.
In fact, on Saturday, it was a swift breeze that made my canopy jumpy, but there was no lift off like last year. But I digress...

Hey look, I've got the same garb as...fifty-eleven others.
The view from the chair...

So the moral of this story is that cancer treatment has changed a lot over the years, and I must just be too stubborn to let it beat me. First round is finished as of this morning and I still feel pretty good. Bring it!

For Music Monday I've chosen a song by the late Jimmy Buffett to remind all of us how to get through tough days...Breathe in, breathe out, move on. Thanks, Sailor, for showing us how to live.

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move Onby Jimmy Buffett
I bought a cheap watch from a crazy manFloating down canalIt doesn't use numbers or moving handsIt always just says now
Now you may be thinking that I was hadBut this watch is never wrongAnd if I have trouble, the warranty saidBreathe in, breathe out, move on
And it rained, it was nothing really newAnd it blew, we've seen all that beforeAnd it poured, the Earth began to strainPontchartrain leaking through the door, tides at war
If a hurricane doesn't leave you deadIt will make you strongDon't try to explain it, just nod your headBreathe in, breathe out, move on
And it rained, nothing really newAnd it blew, seen all that beforeAnd it poured, the Earth began to strainPontchartrain buried the ninth ward to the second floor
According to my watch, the time is nowPast is dead and goneDon't try to shake it, just nod your headBreathe in, breathe out, move on
Don't try to explain it, just bow your headBreathe in, breathe out, move on

Time to be Brave...like the Lettuce...and Leap.

Right Outta Nowhere by Christine Kane. Lyrics in CC.

 Hey there, all you dozen or so Lettuce Readers. Today's post is going to differ somewhat from my normal musical musings and appearance agendas. Today, I want to tell you something that hasn't been made public yet, but I think it's time to come clean.

Leap, and the net will appear, right?

So, back in June, I got a doctor's appointment with a new doc - hooray for insurance companies that switch up preferred providers, right? Anyway, starting on June 7th, I was seen, poked, prodded, bombarded with several types/levels of radiation, and at the end of it all was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.

Still leaping, still hoping for that net.

I started chemo on July 31st, and as of this writing am about to finish the first round. It hasn't been too bad, other than my scalp yeeting most of my hair and some days where I just felt not quite right. But I am thankful beyond measure that most of the side effects they warned me about either didn't happen or were so slight that I could manage them. I was also having a week in between each infusion, so that helped with getting me back to normal...ish. 

On the 25th of this month, I will start a new round with a new drug, but this time it will be every week, so here's hoping my luck holds out longer than I fear my eyebrows and eyelashes will. My oncologist says that he sees I am responding well, so I guess that means that the tumor (whom I have named Eugene) is reacting unfavorably to the chemotherapy. Good. I hope it hurts, Eugene. I hope it hurts.

So why am I telling you this? Well, I'm staring down an author appearance at the Upstate Renaissance Faire in Greer, SC this weekend and for the first time I will be out in public, all day, in garb. I've mostly been staying home since diagnosis, and even cancelled my trip to Baltimore for my DayJob™ professional conference before any of this wacky rollercoaster ride started. No one outside of my families of origin and choice have seen me in person, especially since my hair fell out. I needed to be okay with this, I guess, before it became public knowledge.

Am I okay with it now? Of course not, but that keeps me fighting. I'm not a warrior, by any means, but I will be a survivor.

Trusting the net will appear.

So, here goes. I'm taking a first brave step out into a wider world, like my MC Gin did when she was yanked out of the Great Forest in Wanderer. (Y'all didn't think I'd completely stop pushing my books, did you? 😂) I just hope that I can handle what comes with the same grace that she did...and does. I hope to see you at the faire this weekend, at Multiverse in Atlanta in October, and the Geekery Market in Concord in November. I'm usually up for hugs, but I may need masks in place first. 

Leap and the net will appear.

Music Monday: Slight Hiatus

Midnight in the Great ForestHey, so things have gotten a little complicated around here...and as a result, there won't be another Music Monday until September. Y'all go scare up some songs to suggest, will ya? 

In the meantime, I'm going to juggle ALL THE THINGS and then spend some time trying to get past the first part of Baldur's Gate 3.

See you in September!

Music Monday: Goodbye Earl

 Now, I'm not one to name names...but this song brings it out in me. Not only is the message of sisterhood and unconditional love something that I find coming out in a lot of my writing and my music...this is a nevertheless moment. She saves herself, y'all. (Also The Chicks are just awesome, so there's that...lyrics are in the CC in the video.)

Music Monday: We're all a little unsteady...

I am almost positive that I've posted this one before, but it is speaking to me, my situation, and even my characters right now. You can't really ignore those kinds of convergences, now can you? So on this last day of Camp NanoWriMo for this year I think that if we are all a little unsteady we can support each other...right? (Lyrics are in the video.)

Music Monday: Twin Flames

I'm very into Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, so when I saw that this actress was also a singer I was HOOKED. But the concept of the song is very familiar too...Sath and Gin, Hack and Elys, Maggie and Henri, Lex and Em...even Taeben and Gin. As much as I say I'm NOT a romance writer, it always ends up there in the end, somehow. Enjoy.

Twin Flamesby Christina Chong
We we were told we met before thisThen I knew it from the first kissAnd all that I felt when you touched me againFeeling you through me don't want this to endLost all focusLeft me soullessBlinded by the lightTwin flamesTwo heartsCan burn outIn any second andTwin flamesTwo heartsCan implodeLive in the embers andOh oh, oh oh, oh ohTwin flamesTwo heartsOn fireWe're burning togetherNo holds barred now I'm addictedI left my mark on you with my lipstickThe fear of me losing you not in my bedI wake in the night all alone in my headLost all focusLeft me breathlessBlinded by the lightTwin flamesTwo heartsCan burn outIn any second andTwin flamesTwo heartsCan implodeLive in the embers andOh oh, oh oh, oh ohTwin flamesTwo heartsOn fireWe're burning togetherWe burn, we're burning togetherWe burn, we burn, we're burning togetherWe burn, we burn, we're burning togetherWe burn, we burn, we're burning togetherWe burn, we burn, we're burning togetherWe burn, we burn, we're burning togetherTwin FlamesTwo heartsOn fireWe're burning together

Music Monday: This Weekend, I Cosplayed my Hero

This past weekend was my first trip to ConGregate, and it will not be my last. What a great group of people, good panel discussions, and just an all around good time. Many, many thanks to the Con staff for that weekend away from the chaos that is my life right now. They have a tradition that everyone wears Hawaiian shirts on Friday, both in memory of a specific member of their con family but also for those lost in Sci-Fi/Fantasy fandoms over the past year. So quite accidentally I ended up cosplaying one of my personal heroes, my friend and adopted sibling, Robby Richardson. 

All I needed was a turkey on my head and some Elvis glasses, right? For Music Monday, please enjoy this Jimmy Buffett tune that always makes me think of good times and friends from the "Baby Rich" era of my life. I miss you, Baloo. Thanks for the inspiration.

Music Monday: Dance, Monkey

So...It's going to be a long few months, and right now I have run out of bandwidth to explain further. This song is representative of one of my new video obsessions - West Coast Swing. This keeps me sane, at least for now. Camp Nano continues, ConGregate 9 is coming up this weekend, and I am holding on with all I've got. Enjoy.