10, 000 Tastes, 10 Billion Reasons

On Wednesday, after the Gene Baur presentation at Kindfood in Burlington (read here about it), I attended 10, 000 Tastes, 10 Billion Reasons held at in Toronto. This was pegged as the largest vegan event in Canada. (That, I'm not too sure about.) But I did notice it was like a walking advertisement for all-things vegan. There were vegan t-shirts, games, books, and, most importantly, vegan food.

Organized by the Toronto Vegetarian Association and Empathy Unlimited, 10, 000 Tastes since the event was held at Yonge-Dundas Square, Canada's busiest pedestrian intersection.

10 Billion Reasons since this is the number of land farm animals slaughtered annually in the United States.

The even had a fairly good turnout especially considering I showed up after a heavy rainfall (at around 3pm). Unfortunately, I missed the performances which were from a vegan comedy troupe. If you are on facebook, you can see some nice professional photos from before the rainfall.

If you are not, you'll have to settle for my cool amateur shots.

By the way, I almost called this post, "What's a girl to do?" since there were tons of vegan companies doing free tastes and giveaways. Why would I choose 'What's a girl to do?' ? Well, I'm getting ready to return to work in September and I've started thinking about how to conveniently eat vegan. All of the foods that they were giving away all demonstrated convenient ways to eat plant-based foods. What can a vegan eat? The question should be, what do vegans get to eat? Well, here are a few examples. (You can try them if you want.)

An added bonus for this event: Veggie dog giveaways!!!


I'm here!!!






The BBQ Boys donated their time and efforts for the free dogs.







One of my favourite treats! Yoso soy yogurt.


Yoso soy cream cheese spread.


Tofurky cold cuts. Taste pretty good. I might try it on a sandwich.












Imagine, capuccino-flavoured soya milk? Mm mm mm. She came up with this flavour.

Propaganda and dilemma

Propaganda and dilemma are terms that usually sends "alarm bells off in my head". So when I have received ten comments about taking bovine or porcine thyroid supplements as forms of treatment, I become hugely suspicious.

1) As you readers on my blog know, I am a vegan so foods and medicines with the name porcine (from a pig) or bovine (from a cow), I choose not to consume.

2) Since a few of these comments are written by the same person and do not ( and repeat do not) address the post that it is attached to, I find it strangely odd. (These comments have nothing to do with the post. Duh!)

3) The terms bovine and porcine are highlighted, linked to a website, and there is a clear endorsement of the product. Are these animal thyroid supplement comments propaganda, an underhanded, evasive form of advertising through comments? Or are these comments from an honest patient? It's so obvious.

Let me say that some of you may be taking these bovine and porcine supplements and find them helpful. I have met one survivor who had taken porcine thyroid capsules while in Asia however when she returned to Canada, her endocrinologist told her not to take them. I am not sure where people would get them but apparently they are available in some health food stores and from the rare Endo who prescribes them.

Nevertheless, what I know is that livestock such as cows and pigs, would have been dismembered and slaughtered, their thyroid glands removed for my consumption. I don't like having to take a pill daily (like Cytomel, Synthroid, Eltroxin, etc.) but I will have to for the rest of my life. Since I am vegan, naturally I have chosen not to use animal products in my recovery. After all that I have learned, read, and seen about factory farming and slaughterhouses, this option sits best with me.

I'm all for alternative healing and treatments. I, myself, have been using acupuncture, naturopathy, meditation, diet, and fitness to aid my recovery. If you find something that works for you, by all means, do it!!! (Providing it's legal and does not harm or put lives at risk, of course.) However, my concern is the "underhandedness" of the promotion of this product. Through the comments section? Come on, people.

The dilemma is that I deliberated for a few months on whether or not I should write about these suspicious comments. I do not want you, the well-intentioned reader, to get the impression that I am advertising for these folks. However, I do believe in open dialogue, expressing opinions, transparency, and a "see for yourself approach".

There are other dilemmas too: testing of medications on animals, using animals to save human lives, etc. Yes, these are ethical dilemmas.

The nice thing is I have a choice in this particular scenario to determine the course of my healing. I choose to do this animal-free.

I Want A New Drug

Huey Lewis and The News - I Want A New Drug

"I want a new drug, one that won't make me sick. One that won't make me sick. One that won't make me crash my car. Or make me feel three feet thick."

They don't write them like they did in the '80s, eh? Did Huey Lewis go hypo? How does he know all of this stuff? Was he forbidden to drive and feeling lethargic and depressed, too?

"One that won't make me nervous, wonderin' what to do?"

Was he also hyperthyroid because his T4 was high from the dose of Eltroxin causing heart palpitations and some anxiety?

Being a child of the '80s as I am (and growing up in Canada), I thought of this song by Huey Lewis and the News. I decided to begin my .125 Synthroid today. My Endo #4 confirmed what I knew for the last month and a half (confirmed by my general physician too) that I am hyperthyroid. My TSH is way too low causing my T4 level to be too high. I have been hyperthyroid for at least two months now (my second time). This hyperthyroidity left me feeling pretty normal and very energetic (this has been welcome in the area of exercise, writing, and starting new things) except for a heartbeat which speeds up a lot more easily than ever whether it be from exercise or a stressful situation, I found myself feeling anxious and then it would disappear. My Endo #4 said that I should finish my bottle of .175 Eltroxin before switching to the new lower dose. I thought about this and the horror of the side effects that may eventually result from a medication switch when I return in September. I really wanted to avoid this... so I decided to make the switch while I am not working. (It turns out my general physician totally agreed.) So today, I took my first .125 Synthroid.

First of all, let me tell you first that Synthroid and Eltroxin, as I learned yesterday, are brand names for the same hormone, levothyroxine (T4). T4 and T3 are produced by the thyroid gland. Since I had a thyroidectomy, I do not have a thyroid gland anymore so I have to take the hormone in pill form. So throughout most of the day, I felt pretty normal but the fatigue came on earlier than expected.

Having awaken at 9:30am this morning, I started feeling tired again at 8pm. Maybe the fact that I missed my nap has something to do with it Maybe not. We'll see.

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Part 1
This is the first time I felt compelled to write a book review in parts. I recently learned about The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, written by Siddhartha Mukherjee from Linda, a young breast cancer survivor. Linda reads and recommends a lot of great books. Thanks to her, I've read some great literature. You can check out her blog here.

OMG! What an intense drama! There are heros, martyrs, villains, and ideological, technological, and scientific wizardry. Author/oncologist (cancer specialist) Mukherjee pens a tale which inspires hope, terror, and pity. This non-fiction work takes you through the biography of the disease known as "The Emperor of All Maladies", aka cancer. From etymology (Karkinos- crab and onkos-lump) to various early crude form of treatment, cancer is an illness which has gone through tons of trial and error approaches ranging from the barbaric (acid and fire to burn off tumours) to bloodletting to radically radical mastectomies. I felt on the edge of my seat for most of this book, sensing the urgency of its players as they participated in the war against cancer. The lone "mad" scientists who worked on treatments in the basements of cancer hospitals, the scores of young leukemia patients who were the subjects of potentially deadly clinical trials, and the "stab in the dark" for an answer to this mysterious, allusive illness. From the first potential citing of cancer dating back to 2500 BC, doctors have tried to rid the body of cancer. The ideologies change and the approaches become more refined but essentially the disease, metamorphasizes, metastisizes, and fools. This book helped me to appreciate the sacrifice of the early visionaries, these oncologists who persisted in spite of the dissension of their peers, the limitations of the medical industry, and the thousands of children and adults who were subjected to these early critical trials when cures were so desparately sought after. I give my props for Siddhartha Mukerjee for compiling this rivoting book which must have taken years of tireless research through medical journals, newspapers, and interviews.

Unfortunately, I have to do this review in parts. I had borrowed Emperor of All Maladies from the library and now I must return it. There are 472 pages in this book and it is a "Best Bets: 7 Day Loan". I managed to get to page 167in seven days. So this is where I'll stop for now.

Coming Up Next: Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr

On Assignment: Gene Baur of Farm Sanctuary at Kindfood

Kelly Childs & Erinn's Road Trip to Farm Sanctuary 2007

I was so inspired by Kindfood, an amazing vegan restaurant in Burlington, Ontario that I decided to write vegan restaurant reviews on this blog. Vex in the City: Part 1 Kindfood was my very first vegan restaurant review. I have been so inspired by the type of work that Kelly Childs, daughter Erinn, husband Ken, and their crew do with their restaurant. Kindfood is more than a restaurant, bakery, and grocer, it is a cooking school and a community hub for vegan activities.

I was invited, along with other bloggers, by Kindfood to attend a talk with Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. Although Kindfood is located about an hour from Toronto, I decided that this trek was worth it. Plus, I am unable to attend Gene's talk later today. I was surprised with a delicious breakfast of scrambled tofu, sourdough toast, banana muffin, and a Gene's smoothie.




Yummy!!!! The tofu scramble was so tasty, sort of like curried scrambled eggs. As for the banana muffin, very good with chocolate chips.


Now in its 25th year, Farm Sanctuaryworks to protect farm animals from cruelty, inspire change in the way society views and treats farm animals, and promote compassionate vegan living. It is a home for animals rescued from factory farms and slaughterhouses. From its first resident "Hilda", a sheep which he found on the "dead pile" at a slaughterhouse (yet she was still alive and went on to live for 10 years), rescued and kept in a backyard in Delaware, Farm Sanctuary has grown to house animals in two locations-- Watkins Glen, New York and California. Being moved by this experience and his visits to slaughterhouses, Gene Baur began Farm Sanctuary which also helps to change farming practice in the United States, work on legislation, awareness, and promote vegan lifestyle.

In many of the books I read about veganism and factory farms, Farm Sanctuary is consistently mentioned as a model for farm animal rescue. It gives one a sense of hope that a compassionate place exists for farm animals. Baur says that farm animals are at our mercy, people control their lives from conception until death. Remembering the film Temple Grandin, I am reminded of the lead character saying that farm animals deserve to be shown "some respect".

Gene Baur believes that today we have more food options available than during other periods in history hence, we can choose to eat more consciously. Hunting societies thrived when plant-based food sources were scarce. People hunted and slaughtered animals as a means of survival. In times of scarcity and starvation, people have even resorted to cannibalism. Being a vegan since 1985, Gene recognizes that the way we eat affects other animals and encourages folks to align their values with their food choices. He believes that shutting off compassion towards animals, affects the way we act toward other people. Although he sites the huge environmental impact of the livestock industry and farming industries, he believes that the number one reason people are becoming vegan is for health. Regardless, being a vegan is positive physically, spiritually, ethically, and environmentally.



Kindfood owner Kelly Childs interviews Gene Baur, co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary

Gene speaks from a place of compassion. I am glad that I had this opportunity to meet him and learn about his work. I asked him which books he would recommend that I read. He named three which I have already read but mentioned Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy by Matthew Scully and, with some prompting, his new book Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food.

Gene Baur and I. He has that Superman smile (bing!)

Empathy Unlimited and the Toronto Vegetarian Association present 10 000 Tastes, 10 Billion Reasons, a two-part event going on today, August 10th, 2011. Free veggie dogs and vegan food will be given away today at Yonge-Dundas Square from 12-6pm. That's right I said free. I like free! As part of Farm Sanctuary's 25th Anniversary Tour, Gene Baur will be speaking later in Toronto.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Butterfly Tales

WANTED: More Real Stories About Thyroid Cancer and Thyroid-Related Illnesses

Calling all Thyroid Cancer Survivors, Patients, and Thyroid-Related Illnesses!!!!

Do you have a Butterfly Tale? Of course you do!

I am looking for more Butterfly Tales to add to my blog. Also click there to read examples of Butterfly Tales which have already been submitted.

Being the all-time most popular page, I know that many folks are interested in these personal accounts of thyroid cancer. I know that early on in my diagnosis, I did not know anyone who had thyroid cancer and I found it difficult to access personal experiences with thyroid cancer. I created this page so that no other thyroid cancer patient should experience that form of isolation.

In addition, by posting our Butterfly Tales, I hope to shatter the fear, stigma, and invisibility attached to thyroid cancer. So many people feel that they need to keep their diagnosis secret because they are afraid. Although this disease is the fastest growing cancer and the most commonly occuring cancer in young women, very few of us actually know someone with thyroid cancer. Plus, often people trivialize thyroid cancer as being "the best" or "the good cancer" hence dismissing the impact of this diagnosis and side effects on one's life.

I welcome submissions from folks with thyroid conditions too! These include Grave's disease, Hashimoto's disease, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and goiter. The reason? Sometimes thyroid cancer patients experience at least one of these conditions as well. Plus, we all have wisdom to share about dealing with our endocrinologists.

How do you submit a Butterfly Tale? Thought you'd never ask.

1) Think of the name you wish to use for submission. You select your preferred name. It does not need to be your real name. You can make it as anonymous, fantastical, or as real as possible. Keep it tasteful.

2) Select a recent photograph of yourself which will post easily. If you wish to have a photo accompany your post, please submit it. If you don't wish to have a photo of yourself, you don't have to.

3) Answer these questions.
Name (first name only, nickname, or alias)
Gender
City/Province/State/Country
Current Age
Thyroid Cancer/Condition
Age when diagnosed with Thyroid cancer/condition/Disease
Did you know much about your thyroid condition/disease before your diagnosis?
How did you discover your condition? (e.g., felt lump, was sick, doctor's visit)
Were there any clues about your thyroid cancer/condition before the diagnosis?
How did you first feel when you were first diagnosed?
How did your loved ones react when you told them?
How was your condition treated? (e.g., surgery, medication) Were there complications?
Do you take medication for this condition? If yes, which ones?
What side-effects did you experience from your treatments?
Do you use alternative medication/treatments? If yes, which ones? (e.g., homeopathics)
What helped you to cope with your thyroid cancer/disease/illness? (e.g., television, yoga, staying busy)
Did you join any support groups or get information from associations? If yes, which ones? How did you learn about them?
Do thyroid cancer/diseases run in your family?
How has your thyroid cancer/condition impacted/changed your life?
What was the most challenging thing about your thyroid condition/cancer?
What have you learned from your experience with your thyroid cancer/condition/disease that you can share/teach others?
What is the latest update on your illness now?


4) Send your Butterfly Tale and photo. You may send your Butterfly Tale in one of two ways. First, you can send it as a comment to this post or you can e-mail it to: bluebutterflyblog33@gmail.com If sending a photo, please submit it through e-mail.

Thank you for helping people everywhere!!!

Vex in the City: Part 10 Uptown Juice Bar in Harlem

BUTTERFLY VEGAN RESTAURANT RATING
(Written in Jamaican English with approximate Standard English translation)

>< >< >< >< >< a dis' ya' top of de' line someting(Outstanding)


>< >< >< >< everyting irie(Good and very good)


>< >< >< alright still(Just okay)


>< >< C'mon man! Unu c'yan do better 'den 'dat(Needs improvement)


>< a what de ras'?(Deplorable)


Taste of the food
>< >< >< >< >< Amazing, tasty, authentic. Great.
Look of the food
>< >< >< >< Since I had buffet food the presentation on my plate was generally up to me. I think I did pretty well. As for the food set-up at the buffet, I thought it all looked very appetizing.
Environmentally-Responsibility
>< I didn't really see other evidence of environmental-responsibility. I ate in the restaurant from a plastic plate with a plastic fork. The plastic cup was not reuseable. The refrigerator was one of those "open refrigerators". Doesn't that burn more energy? Or at least, release the refrigeration? During my trip, I did notice that Toronto is ahead when it comes to environmental responsibility than New York City. For example, in Toronto, the trash bins on the street have sections for recycling, plastic bags must be purchased, and compost collection is each week. These types of things do not exist in New York City.
Health Savvy
>< >< >< >< >< The food that was on display was very healthy foods minus the junk. The refrigerator contained healthy products as well as raw foods. There was no soda pop or sugary drinks but instead such items as coconut water and juices. Also, I noticed that in the juicer/smoothie section of the restaurant, there were posters on the wall describing
Hospitality/Warmth
>< >< >< >< The staff were friendly enough. The staff member snapped a photo of my fiancé in front of the Bob Marley painting, no problem. Although, the kitchen staff were watching me photograph with a little suspicion, when I explained what I was doing, they were totally cool. Also, the woman at the cash, welcomed me photographing her blue butterfly necklace.
Décor/Vibe
>< >< >< I think there was music but I didn't hear it too much. I loved it coming into the restaurant which was very warm with its brown brick walls, natural lighting, and beautiful paintings. The metallic chairs at the tables were a modern classy touch. As I approached the back toward the buffet, I felt that this ambience was lost a bit with the fluorescent lighting, stark white floor, and metallic-ness.
Added Perks
>< >< I did not receive any freebies for reviewing this restaurant. However, I think the fact that they serve such a wide variety of diverse foods (raw, vegan, juice, smoothie) and have revolving specials are major bonuses.
Ethical and Community-Minded
>< >< >< Uptown Juice Bar did seem to have Harlem in mind by offering affordable and tasty dishes that reflect the palates of the community. By providing Caribbean-themed foods with African-American soulfood options as well, they cater to the local tastes. I did not get to speak with the owners so I do not know what else is done to support community initiatives.

$ $ Very reasonable. For that heavy plate of food, I paid about $ 10. In my plate, I had one curried drumstick, teriyaki soy stir fry, chow mein, curried chick peas, rice and peas, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and plantains. Definitely a filling and satisfying meal. Although my fiancé had spent just less than $ 5 on his meal, he felt it was filling with rice and peas, curried chick peas, sweet potatoes, and plantain, he felt it was filling. He also got a juice which also meant everything for him totalled less than $ 10.


"I can't believe it's not chicken!" might be a caption for the curry drumsticks at Uptown Juice Bar as it was for my experience with the soy nuggets at Peacefood Café. What is it about New Yorkers and their "unchicken"? It tastes so good and scores very high points with me. So flavourful, textured, and moist, it really fools the palate and reminds the "newly-turned vegan, chicken lovers of yesteryear" of that taste. (I'm a confessed recovered chick-a-holic.) New York City is well-known great vegan fare (check out SuperVegan for a guide of NYC's vegan restaurants) , yet in other ways, it ranks so low for vegan options at fastfood and street meat. I was shocked with what I discovered! When I asked multiple street vendors for veggie hotdogs or veggie burgers, they gave me strange looks and said 'no'. They all advertised falafels but when I asked, they were completely out of them. (Clearly, the veggie options are in demand!) When I walked into a healthy sandwich and wraps place, I asked if they had hummus. The attendant did not know what that was. (Really? Really!) So, I relied on bean burritos, which could easily be adapted to vegan, to get me through a few meals (hold the sour cream and cheese). Imagine my excitement when I came upon the Uptown Juice Bar located in Harlem.

Years ago, I visited Uptown Juice Bar for a juice but now, in a new location, my fiancé and I were refreshed to find this concept-- affordable and fast vegan food! Vegan restaurants are generally pricier than average restaurants, especially since most fast food places do not cater to a vegan customer-base. Uptown Juice Bar is a pleasant combination of affordability and plant-based goodness. Besides being what it is known for, a righteous juice and smoothie bar, it is also has a vegan bakery and boasts a hot Caribbean food buffet. That's right, folks! Hot Caribbean vegan buffet!!!! Music to my ears. When I get to buffets, like this one, I usually get excited. I pile up my plate with modest servings of EVERYTHING. Given the variety and selection of meals, my plate was quite weighed down. Yet I got an amazingly filling meal for $ 10. My fiancé, who is a lot more selective, managed to get a more modest-sized meal for under $ 5. (Uptown Juice Bar prices its meals by weight. I swear it was because I had the soy drumstick.) Yum! The clientele at Uptown Juice Bar is reflective of the many peoples who reside in Harlem-- African-American, Caribbean, a spiritual Black woman wearing eclectic garb, a Jamaican Rastaman, natural-haired sisters (including myself), and the occasional white guy (my fiancé). Uptown Juice Bar is part restaurant juice bar when you enter, then when you approach the buffet you kind of feeling its a cafeteria/industrial kitchen with refrigerated goods. Uptown Juice Bar is an excellent stop along the way through Harlem. Next time, I visit I need to hit up this tasty and convenient location.


Going through my photos I realize that I was a little skimpy on the photos this time. (So unusual for me.) But I hope to convey how great the meals are at Uptown Juice Bar.

Uptown Juice Bar in Harlem. Celebrating its Grand Opening after its move further west on 125th.





Juices and smoothies to go.





Loads of baked goods.





Hot food buffet.





Good food. The middle one on the right is soy fish. A lesson in the past has told me to stay clear of the soy fish. (I'm allergic to real fish and my body seems to not be able to tell the difference between the real and the fake stuff. Hmmm....)





Refrigerated items are available.





My plate is F-U-L-L! I have teriyaki soy, chow mein, curried drumstick, curried chana, collard greens, sweet potatoes... oh yes. There is a bit of soulfood at this restaurant too.





The really amazing curried soy chicken drumstick. A-m-a-z-i-n-g!





Uptown Juice Bar had a few beautiful paintings on its brick wall. We loved the Bob Marley painting. My belly is so full. (Pat! Pat!) A bit of a mugshot for my fiancé.

Polkaroo? Was Here? Didn't Miss Him This Time.

Polkaroo was here but I didn't miss him this time!!! (And we even match!)

You'll get that reference if you grew up in Ontario during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. However since many of you readers did not grow up in that period of time, I found a youtube link so you know what I mean.


TVOntario Polkaroo was here ... and I missed him 1981

Aside from the bad acting and low budget film quality, I loved to watch the Polka Dot Door as a kid and it took me years to figure out that Polkaroo was always the man dressed up in the costume. No matter which man was cast in the role, he always had an excuse to leave before Polkaroo showed up. Polkaroos would then emerge saying one word which was, you guessed it, "Polkaroo!" with various intonations and pitches (depending on his feelings when responding to a question and the voice of the male actor cast for that episode.) How original! And depending on who the guy on the show was for the episode, the "Polkaroo!" would range in pitch. Don't laugh! A lot of Canadian actors got their start on this show. For example, Tonya Lee Williams went on to star in the American soap opera, The Young and the Restless.


Shout out to Tonya Lee! I have met her several times through the "film festival world". Years ago, when I told her I wanted to tour my festival ICED IN BLACK across Canada, she laughed (hard). (Very humiliating.) I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and then went on to run my festival across Canada to nine cities in seven provinces for two years on a shoe-string budget. I proved her wrong. Tonya Lee also began her film festival called REEL WORLD which is currently in its tenth year.

When I wrote the post Thyrogen? Was Here? I Missed It Again on April 17th, I was aware that this expensive medication which would have prevented me having to "go hypo" and experience hypothyroid side-effects, was on an extended short supply from May to June to July.

Now according to Genzyme Canada, as of July 15th, that the "limited inventory of Thyrogen in Canada is now completely depleted. There is no availability of Thyrogen in Canada". They also expect temporary shipment delays and regional disparities throughout 2011 and 2012. What the *$%# ?

But apparently, I'd still be missing the Thyrogen if I chose to have waited for it.

This is extremely unfortunate news. Thyrogen is a medication administered before radioactive iodine (RAI) in the treatment of thyroid cancer. Given that the price of Thyrogen ranges from $ 1500-2000 for two single doses, was unavailable when I needed it, and was not covered by my medical insurance, I decided to "kick it old skool" and go hypo, which is what everyone who had thyroid cancer had to do before Thyrogen came along. As a result, I had bloating, sleepiness, lethargy, weight gain, depression, etc. I was not permitted to operate a vehicle. A lot of folks had many and even worse side effects than I did. Fortunately, many of my side effects are now gone.

But if I had waited.

Waited for the Thyrogen that they said would have come but never came.

What would it have been like?

What about the thyroid cancer patients who have to wait or are still waiting?

All in all, despite the side effects of going hypo, I am glad I went through it when I did. I got the RAI over and done with. Besides, "going hypo" gave me a lot of material to discuss on this blog. (Visit my posts from April and May 2011).

Lotus in the Fire

Lotus in the Fire: The Healing Power of Zen by Jim Bedard

'Do not underestimate the healing power of prayer!' seems to be the most important message of Lotus in the Fire: The Healing Power of Zen by Jim Bedard. In 1995, Jim Bedard was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). AML is a quickly progressing and deadly form of blood cancer. I knew that Bedard was an otherwise healthy, strong, active, vegetarian who meditated regularly, and would have been considered "low risk" yet he still got cancer. There is an irony in that which I have encountered in my readings on healthy, nutrition, and cancer-prevention. Bedard comments on this when he is confronted with loads of unsolicited advice on treatments, diets, and therapies from random family members as well as strangers. He at once realized that in his healthier state, he used to deliver this advice to the "couch potatoes" in his circle. How annoying and inundating! I pray that I do not become like these folks as it is evident that practicing an active, plant-based lifestyle does not fully prevent cancer.

In this book, Jim Bedard seems to focus on describing the lengthy, painful, and complicated treatment of AML. He brings you into the trenches with him and I felt as if entered his mind, sensing his worries, defeats, aches, as well as his triumphs and joys (even his nausea) at times. Lotus in the Fire was not quite what I expected. Before reading this book, I thought it would be more of a "how-to" get through cancer book through meditation and Zen philosophy. Instead, it was a diary about one man's spiritual journey through healing. I felt this book was inspiring but written more for a Buddhist audience. Published by Shambhala publications, a publisher of "books on Buddhism and classics of the wisdom traditions", I felt that I seriously needed a dictionary to comprehend some of the words used in this text such as sesshin, zazen, kannon, and bodhisattva. Although I appreciate and practice some aspects of a Buddhist worldview including meditation and read the work of visionaries like Thich Nacht Hanh, a lot of terms and ideas were new to me including the idea that his cancer was caused by "past lives" or karma being played out.

Through the bone marrow transplant, surgeries, three chemotherapy programs (each lasting several weeks), radiations, unrelentless nausea and vomiting, severe headaches, lengthy hospitalizations, isolation, and intensive care unit (ICU) stays, atrophy of his muscles, weightloss, hairloss, dehydration, internal bleeding, weakness, and medication side-effects, Bedard really paints a detailed picture for the reader about the beastly nature of AML. There are several moments when Bedard thought he was going to die and in fact this might have been an easier choice in his mind, yet he continues to fight and "choose life" throughout the journey. Although he has had a "few out of body" experiences. Despite it all, he is able to inspire other patients and find solace in his spirituality. Bedard continues to remain thankful, express gratitude, and pray throughout his arduous ordeal.

There is a lot to be said for the effectiveness of prayer in this book, whether it is from his Buddhist sensei (teacher, I know that word), friends, and members of his Zen centre or his Catholic nieces and nephews, family members, and members of congregations around the world. There is a lot to be said for the effectiveness of a devoted spouse, spiritual congregation, and caring family, friends, and teachers who consistently surround him even if it is just to sit in the same room or chant in another room. There is a lot to be said about the human spirit and how it can persevere in times of difficulty. So there you have it! A plan for healing. Faith, community, and self!

I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand the "ins" and "outs" of a deadly cancer diagnosis. What is it like to be told that you may have only days or weeks to live? How does it feel when you are offered treatments that could help you but there is also a chance that they could kill you? How does a cancer diagnosis affect the "co-survivors"-- the spouses, children, parents, family, and friends? How can one's faith assist in the healing process? After reading this book, I became even more grateful and aware of the blessings in my life. It is a reminder to prayerfully seek the learning opportunities in even life's most difficult situations.

I Cancervivor

Over the last two weeks, I feel like I have remained relatively quiet about my cancer survivorship. As I mentioned in Cancer Survivor Playlist #1, I needed some time to reflect on this important period of my journey. I still continue to reflect... I do continue to write and post about other topics however I needed some time to reflect specifically on being a cancer survivor is quite different. I think that the songs on my Cancer Survivor Playlist #1 express some of my feelings best. Gratitude, pride, relief, blessed, strong, bold, anxious, excited, scared... I felt these things and more.

My therapist asked me what is it feel like to be a cancer survivor? I feel like I have been given a second chance at life. Although I know that papillary thyroid cancer has a very high survival rate, I still feel greatly affected by this life experience. I was always aware of my own mortality, or so I thought, and now I'm even more aware and greatly appreciative of each day and every one and every experience. I have a new sense that there is a brevity to life and that each moment should not be taken for granted. I feel a sense of urgency to accomplish my dreams and not to put things off until tomorrow. I feel like I faced death, or at least had a touch of it, which caused me to love my life even more.



On Saturday, July 23rd, when I received the news that R&B singer Amy Winehouse died, I thought it was sad. However the very next day, again after watching clips of her last concert in Sarajevo, I became quite upset. This twenty-seven year young woman was visibly dying and suffering from her illnesses and addictions and not getting the help she needed. I had a hard time watching it. I felt disappointed and disgusted that somehow I became a spectator to her deterioration. I wondered why no one intervened or stopped the concert. I feel she may have been alive if she got the help she needed.

On Tuesday, July 19th, I learned that I am cancer-free. I am alive because I received the help I needed. From spiritual help and guidance to prayers and faith, from cancer support centres, workshops, and classes, from my physicians, counsellors, and surgeons, from family, friends, and strangers,... I am truly blessed. I had a community of interventions at various levels. I also love and value myself enough to seek this help.

As a result, I do not want to waste any time. It is so important to me that I truly live life and pursue my dreams. The Country song by Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dying, comes close to summing up my feelings. Changed is my workaholic approach to tackling obstacles and goals. That workaholism does not help me. However, I will use my driven, tenacious, ambitious, and passionate nature to nurture myself. I have learned the importance of being kind to myself, rest, relaxation, restoration, and reflection. Achieving goals means nothing, if I do not care for the most important person-- and that's me. When I love me and care for me best, I can then help others better.

Like some thyroid cancer and other survivors, I felt some guilt at different times for having a cancer experience that did not involve such challenges as going through bouts of chemotherapy, mastectomy (removal of breast), hairloss, infertility, paralysis, extended hospitalizations, expensive and complex surgeries, life-saving treatments that could also kill, excruciating pain, and other side effects. However I continue to meet cancer survivors and read books which teach me a lot about these types of experiences. For example, Crazy Sexy Cancer author Kris Carr has been diagnosed with a stage 4 inoperable cancer but did not have to undergo surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. While Jim Bedard, author of Lotus in the Fire: The healing power of Zen, went through a very risky and lengthy treatment program which involved pain, transfusions, bone marrow transplant, numerous radiation and chemotherapy programs, and surgeries. In Everything Changes and other books, I learn that some cancer patients have recurrences or even die while in treatment.

Despite this, I have decided not to rank cancers. There are hundreds of cancers in the world so of course our experiences and treatments with it will all be different. The impact that this disease can have on one's life is devastating. I also become very frustrated when mostly older people have said to me that you got the "good cancer" or the "easy one" or "you're young". Isn't that terrible? These are the types of comments which make it harder for thyroid cancer survivors to speak up about the life-changing impact that this disease can have on their lives. I have received e-mails from readers and met thyroid cancer patients who are SCARED, TERRIFIED about what is to come. Thyroid cancers can have their own complications too. Many survivors come from cultures or families of origin in which it is not encouraged to discuss cancer or sickness.

Cancer is a beast! And I wish very much to end cancer so no one else would have to suffer in these ways. But cancer also can be a teacher if you let it. Kris Carr calls cancer her guru. Sickness, death, and suffering are all part of the human existence. It is inevitable. Having had cancer is kind of like getting a dose of all these things. So be it. Axé! Now God let me learn from this experience.

I decided to create a list (I love lists) and I changed the name for copyright purposes, calling it Funky Sexy Manifesto or my Survivor Resolutions. I was inspired by a young woman survivor I met (she was my roommate) who created a blog called 100 Cancer Resolutions. It is her "record of my commitment to doing everything I took for granted before my diagnosis". She reflects on each one. I loved this idea so much that I created my own list. (So far I have about 31 resolutions.)

Some cancer survivors and patients express that they want their life to return to normal after treatment. Some survivors do not change their routines, work through diagnosis by choice or by obligation, and look at cancer as a "blip" in their plans. How each survivor looks at their experience is a totally individual thing and there is no right or wrong way. I don't want a normal or "my normal" life. I seek a "new normal". My life will never be the same thanks to this experience with cancer and I wish to live better for it.

So I am embarking on a life as a cancer survivor or a Thry'vor. Carpe diem!!!

Vex in the City: Part 9 Peacefood Café in Manhattan

BUTTERFLY VEGAN RESTAURANT RATING
(Written in Jamaican English with approximate Standard English translation)

>< >< >< >< >< a dis' ya' top of de' line someting(Outstanding)


>< >< >< >< everyting irie(Good and very good)


>< >< >< alright still(Just okay)


>< >< C'mon man! Unu c'yan do better 'den 'dat(Needs improvement)


>< a what de ras'?(Deplorable)


Taste of the food
>< >< >< >< >< This is fully deserved. Peacefood does not skimp on flavour.
Look of the food
>< >< >< >< Presentation ranks well in their books. They do not go overboard with floweriness in food presentation however but make the food appear its very best (and in the most appetizing ways).
Environmentally-Responsibility
>< >< >< >< There were reusable utensils, cups, plates, etc. I didn't really see any other evidence of environmental-responsibility.
Health Savvy
>< >< >< >< Peacefood gave me a really healthy vibe. There were juices, smoothies and raw foods available. They endeavour to be a healthy restaurant and it's all over their publication materials. However, I did not see information that was specific to what made them healthy.
Hospitality/Warmth
>< >< >< >< The staff were friendly enough.
Décor/Vibe
>< >< >< >< I did not hear any music playing in the background. The decor was a fresh mix of nature, library, and gallery. I really appreciated the white walls, big windows, and plants.
Added Perks
>< >< I did not receive any freebies for reviewing this restaurant. However, I think the fact that they serve such a wide variety of diverse foods (raw, vegan, juice, smoothie) and have revolving specials are major bonuses.
Ethical and Community-Minded
>< >< >< Planetfood had some materials about veganism but not that many. They did display a number of vegan cookbooks in a glass case. I loved that.

$ $ $ A little on the pricier end of vegan restaurants. For my half of the appetizer (soy nuggets $7), roasted potato pizza with Daiya cheese, and macaroon and tip, I spent about $ 26 US dollars. (In Canadian Dollars, this would now be about $ 24.96. Sorry but the weakened US dollar works a little in our favour now.) Not too cheap on the price, but definitely made up for in the flavour. Yum!

Coming from a beautiful day at typically New York tourist afternoon the museum (the Guggenheim to be exact) and a stroll through Central Park , my fiancé and I were on a mission. A mission to a meal. A real one. I had kind of eaten "unbalancedly" that morning (most of a vegan peanut butter chocolate brownie, almonds, a fruit cup) but since we woke up late, I didn't feel all that hungry. Yet, I knew it was time for a real meal. So I knew where we were headed to this restaurant which I had looked up on the internet the night before and my sister had received a glowing recommendation about called Peacefood Café. Mind you, we almost got sidetracked when I spotted a vegetarian Indian restaurant. (There are several Indian vegetarian and vegan restaurants in New York and my fiancé and I love us some Indian food.) But when I asked a staff member if they served vegan food and he did not know what that was (he directed me to another staff person who did), I opted out. So then we continued quickly to Peacefood (and very quickly mind you as the clouds continued to darken the sky and rain began to drop.) I am so glad that I did. Peacefood reminded me of a larger (much larger) version of Kindfood in Burlington (see Vex in the City: Part 1 Kindfood). Hey, the names sound similar! Located on the Upper West side of Manhattan, guests to Peacefood are immediately greeted by a display case of baked goods-- cakes, cookies, bars. This café, more of a restaurant than a café, was kitchy and funky and bright and had lots of space. The staff was a multi-ethnic group of young people who fit my vision of musical theatre casts for Broadway musicals like Rent and Fame. The clientele were mixed too-- a young liberal family, a same sex couple, Rasta women, hipsters, yuppies,... I was quite observant of the customers, the staff, the menu, and the rain which was then a torrential downpour. My fiancé and I ordered baked soy nuggets to start which were to die for. You would swear that these were chicken nuggets (but they're not). Never had I such crispy and tasty "fake chicken" which was not rubbery or weird-tasting. For my main dish, I had roasted potatoes pizza loaded with Daiya cheese for $ 3.50 extra. I wondered why adding cheese was so expensive but when my pizza arrived, I quickly understood why. (Mounds of Daiya cheese). I enjoyed my pizza which was so fresh and flavourful and cheesy with bits of moist potatoes and fresh green arugula. I ate every bite of pizza. My fiancé ordered the green Thai curry and found it tasty but extremely filling. (I had to help him finish. I just had to.) Raw food options and juices were also available but I am happy that I selected the food that I did. (Oh, how there were so many options to choose from.) I ended with a half-chocolate dipped macaroon and loved it. The manager was not in but we got a chance to express our thanks to the raw food chef and waitress. I wish there was this kind of restaurant in Toronto.

Peacefood Café, almost missed it.




We are finally here.




A glass display case to show off the wonderful vegan baked goods.




The sitdown counter gives you a first-hand view of the juices, smoothies, and raw foods being prepared. Stools where you can sit and eat.




Green plants are welcomed here.




A display case of mostly vegan cookbooks. Among them are raw books as well as a few vegetarian. The titles I remember are Donna Klein's Vegan Italiano (I review her book Tropical Vegan Kitchen) and one by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau who I met at Compassion Week.




I am a sucker for food descriptions. So I am just going to tell you in great detail what these foods are, straight from the Peacefood menu. Baked soy nuggets served with fresh herbed vegan mayo.





Roasted potatoes with sautéed mushrooms, arugula, oil cured black olives, pesto, and truffle oil on a pizza with Daiya cheese




Green thai curry which is tofu and assorted vegetables with curry and coconut milk served with brown rice and jicama salad Originally my fiancé and I thought the salad contained radishes, then I thought apples but then we learned that it is jicama. (Pronounced "hicama" so the "j" is pronounced in the Spanish way).




Not complete without my chocolate-dipped macaroon.

10, 000 Pageviews Party Music and Cake!!!!

10, 000 !!!! (10, 015 to be exact)

Thank you, thank you, thank you blog readers!!! Here's some party music!!!! I'm going to have some cake.


Kool & The Gang "Celebration"




Jill Scott "Golden"




Bob Marley "Jamming" (Live)




Inner City "Good Life"




Jamiroquai "Alright"




Robin Thicke "Magic"




Mc Fadden and Whitehead "Ain't no stoppin' us"





Jimmy Cliff "You Can Get It If You Really Want"




Soul II Soul "Keep On Movin'"

10, 000 Pageviews

My fiancé and I on the 86th floor observation deck at the Empire State Building.



I just got back from a much needed vacation in the Big Apple just yesterday celebrating my fiancé's 30th birthday. We had an amazing trip!!! I got to spend quality time with my fiancé as well as see my sis, nephew, brother-in-law, and some of my relatives. I also got to "play tourist" in a city that I have been to about twenty times by visiting such New York landmarks for the first time like the Guggenheim Museum, the Village Vanguard, the Empire State Building, and Central Park (second time). Stay tuned for some Vex in the City posts in Harlem and Manhattan.


My nephew and I. That baby got soul!!!



From my diagnosis of thyroid cancer to my survivorship, I have gone through my own challenges with sharing this news. Originally, I told only my family, closest friends, and fiancé. I needed time to truly process the diagnosis. I was scared to tell other people. I continued to work and put my thoughts and fears about cancer somewhere inside where it did not affect any aspect of my life. I did not want "my business broadcasted" in the media. I did not want to use the "c" word and cringed at the thought of telling others, making them uncomfortable. But as time went on, I found this to be a huge and lonely burden. So I decided to reach out and tell the world... starting first with attending programs at Wellspring cancer support centre, sharing the news with my coworkers, relatives, and then this blog and facebook. I began to attend workshops and forums on thyroid cancer and young adult cancers. I joined support groups. I am now part of these communities.


My YACC community



This blog has become a creative outlet for me to express myself and (self-)publish my writings. It has become a community as well as I speak with some of you. It has touched and inspired many of you and I aspire to do just that through my life work.

As a little girl, I began to write and illustrate picutre books. I started writing a novel at the age of eleven that went unfinished. In high school and university, I wrote articles, poetry, and even an advice column regularly for school newspapers and began a church newsletter. At twenty, I interned at Psychology Today magazine in New York and then went on to write infrequently for community newspapers. I dreamed of being a professional writer from then but for many reasons, deferred that dream. Blogging has helped me to gain more confidence in my writing and the possibilities for publication. I will continue to attend writing workshops and classes and LEARN and DO writing.

This blog has helped me to achieve my dream of writing and publication. I am currently working on a picture book as well as a children's novel. Stay tuned for more exciting projects.

I have been thinking about how to celebrate my 10, 000th pageview. I am so excited to know that since April 8 this year, I have had almost 10, 000 visits to this blog. I am thrilled that more people are learning about thyroid cancer, young adult cancer, and veganism. It has been very helpful for me as well to share my healing journey with you my readers.

In Canada, a bestselling book is 5, 000 copies sold. With 10, 000 visits, it is like being a bestseller twice in Canada. Since many of you, my readers, also live in the United States (US), Australia, United Kingdom (UK), India, and many other exotic locales, it is also like being an international bestseller. I'm just saying...

So I have spent a few weeks thinking about how I would like to celebrate my 10, 000th Pageview. So far, I am almost 50 pageviews away from this goal. (I love me some goals.)

Here are the ways I will celebrate my 10, 000 pageviews:


* a new page tab on Cancer Survivorship Many cancer survivors will tell you that surviving cancer is a life-changing experience. I totally agree with this. Some survivors also feel that the battle really begins after you are cured.

* reformatting this blog to ease navigation and location of posts on the pages

* the launch of a new blog about the planning of my wedding. STAY TUNED!!!

* an official call for submissions for BUTTERFLY TALES

* after much, much thought I decided not to place advertisements on this blog. I struggled over this one. On one hand, I could definitely use the money for good purposes, including young adult cancer, thyroid cancer, and even my own bank account. However, I can't help feel that it would be a bit like "selling out" and profiting from cancer. I have seen ads on other blogs and found them way too distracting. Plus, so many of you read my blog as you go through your own journey with cancer. I would hate for there to be any confusion about my intentions with this blog. Also, I know how much pharmaceutical and medical companies would love to advertise on this site. (I already get ads sent to me as blogger plus, so many folks have posting me with recommendations of porcine and bovine thyroid. No thanks.) I don't want you think that I'm endorsing any of these products especially if I don't know they truly work.

* all the stuff you have come to love about this blog like MORE vegan photo albums, MORE Vex in the City, MORE book reviews, MORE blue butterfly photos, MORE Butterfly Tales and survivor celebrities, MORE resources

Henna butterfly tattoo from Afrofest. At this point my henna tattoo is about four days old and still holding up. I was told that it would last 1-2 weeks. It lasted just over a week. Not bad for $ 5.


This is Nancy from my church and she was rocking not only the blue butterfly necklace, but the blue butterfly earrings too.


Instant replay of the blue butterflies!


This lady is one of the staff at the Uptown Juice Bar in Harlem. She knows how to rock the blue butterfly.