Go Fightin' Stem Cells!

Well, time for another update. It has been about four weeks since my last chemo and I feel pretty good. And I have been making good use of this bonus time. On Friday night, Amy and I had a meeting down at her house for Women's Group. I played bartender. (I may not be able to drink, doesn't mean I cant mix) Then we watched the Devil wears Prada. Very funny movie.
On Saturday, I went to a friends birthday party in the city. Actually it was on a boat around the city. I wasn't quite sure how my stomache was going to like that, but a compazine helped it.
On Sunday, I did the usual. Taught Sunday School, sang in choir, and then mom had lunch back at the house for Kat, Chuck, Erica and Drew. (Did I forget to mention that Erica and Drew were in for the party?)
However, the best time was yesterday. Monday.
I went to go see the Daily Show. I'm still grinning.
I love the Daily Show. And I now have my parents hooked on it as well. Several months ago, my mom sent away for tickets. Then I relapsed and we were afraid I wouldn't be able to go. However, Dr. Ahmed is a fan and Denise was warned a month ago that I had to be well enough to go.
We got into the city at around three, and mom brought a folding chair along so that I could sit while we waited in line. At some point mom cornered a security guard and asked him about possibly getting me and maybe chuck, seats up front. I would have killed her for asking, but in the end it turned out great. So I guess I owe her a thank you.
A little while later, we met Teri Abrams, the audience manager, who pulled us off the line. Since I still had no idea what mom had said to the security guard, I thought that we might be getting kicked out. (hey - with mom you never know. she is just as likely to piss someone off.) To our surprise Teri took us inside and into the staff lounge. All five of us were told to make ourselves at home. We sat on the couch and mom helped her self to some fruit salad. I snapped a picture of her eating the fruit salad to send to erica with the caption "mom eating jon stewarts fruit salad." I'm not sure erica ever got the picture, because I was trying to figure out how to work my new camera phone, Jon Stewart walked through the room and into the studio. I nearly choked on the chocolate/cheesecake thing that I was eating. Exciting stuff right? But wait. it gets better.
We watched the rehersal run through on the tv in the lounge, which was just as cool as watching the show itself. Then Teri came back in and after a few minutes of chatting and getting some of my information, walked us into the studio. Not through a normal audience door. No. Through the set. Once again.So very, very cool.
She got us set in our seats and told us that there may be a chance that Jon Stewart would come over and say hi. That is about when the perma grin started. In all honesty, I was thrilled just to have seen him walk by. The show was great and funny as hell. (You could watch the videos at Comedy Central if you want. ) After the show, when the audience started to file out, Teri motioned for us to stay seated. She talked with us for a few minutes, and gave me the blue papers that Jon doodles on during the show. I was trying to stay calm, I really was. ...and then Jon Stewart came out.
There are no words. All I kept thinking was, don't say something stupid and make a fool of yourself. I don't think I did. Maybe a little but what do you expect. I was a little star struck.
He spent a good ten minutes talking with us. And even autographed the sheet for me. ( "Go Fightin' Stem Cells!" is his phrase the autograph) We then took pictures with me in the chair. That's what's posted. I ...I am so very very happy. over 24 hours later and I still have perma grin. It was a great day and everyone was so down to earth and nice. It was just a perfect day. I'm sure there is more that I am forgetting but I am a little tired. So, I'm going to bed now.
I'll update again later in the week.
-Elizabeth