50 Shades of Pink
At this point, I have to admit that I have read the book of the age (or of the moment). What book is this you ask? That would be E.L.James' 50 Shades of Grey. A principal I work with has read this as well, and we enjoy making fun of the book. It was like watching a really bad performance. You know that you shouldn't keep watching, but you just can't stop. Another of my prinicpals had the book out on the table in her office. A teacher had given it to her as a good read. As soon as she found out it was basically a book about sex with a super weak story line, thanks to my heroism in the situation, she sheepishly put it away. That was a week ago. If her reading is anything like mine or all of the other people I know who have read it, she is probably at least on the second book now. So, without further ado, this is the 50 Shades page...
i love pedicures
I love getting pedicures. The pedicure is a quick and easy way to relax and not have to think or work or worry for about 35-45 minutes. At post diagnosis pedicure number one, my friend Kristi suggested I paint my toes pink. I have since proclaimed that I'll only be painting my toes pink until I am out of this mess. We'll see if I can keep this up given that I don't care for pink too much. Nadia was beside herself when I came home with these toes, exclaiming that I have never painted my toes such a beautiful color. If you happen to paint your toes pink (men and women alike), send me a photo of your toes and I'll post it to this page. If you ever want company for a pedicure, I am in. Keeping track of pedicures by blogging will certainly provide me with a reality check on my pedicure indulgence rate.
pedicure number one with kristi- june 16
Breast Cancer Pink
becky and colby painted their toes for me
My sister-in-law painted her toes and my nephew's toes! They are the first to send photos along! Makes my day, I tell you.
pedicure number 2 with nadia and nika who LOVE to have their toes painted- july 1
Bubble Gum Pink
mira's (mother-in-law's) toes
Desert Pink- Thanks for going with pink Mira!
juliet's toes are pink now too
Thanks J and I'll see you tonight! I can't wait.
christiana's toes in CT
Christiana's photo of her toes came with these words attached.
"Not too fancy but done with lots of feeling! I too will be wearing pink
toe nail polish until you all done with everything." Thanks C. The solidarity helps. Juliet says the same thing. Like minded friends.
"Not too fancy but done with lots of feeling! I too will be wearing pink
toe nail polish until you all done with everything." Thanks C. The solidarity helps. Juliet says the same thing. Like minded friends.
maureen's toes
These are the toes of Maureen, a dear family friend of Mira's. She is a breast cancer survivor and says she has no doubt that I'll be fine. Thanks for the vote of confidence and the solidarity Maureen!
shirly's toes
And another friend of Mira's paints her toes! Thanks Shirley!
pedicure number 3 with juliet
Pink Explosion and Sunburst Pink. I am truly blessed to have spent the weekend with Juliet! Thanks J.
mom and dad both paint their toes
How rad is that? Both parents painted their toes! I was just expecting to see my mom's toes and when I opened the email, I saw 20, not 10, toes. Thanks guys!
lori, her sister tammy, and her boyfriend todd paint their nails
Thanks Todd, Tammy and Lori. You rule!
aunt barbara and uncle paul paint their nails
My dad's brother Paul and my aunt painted their toes! Love all of these men who are cool with having pink toes!
This was the note:
"We're all behind you girl, ca doesn't have a clue what it's up against!!!
With love
P&B"
This was the note:
"We're all behind you girl, ca doesn't have a clue what it's up against!!!
With love
P&B"
elise, boss and friend, paints her toes
Princess Pink- Elise has been by my side over the last decade. This event is no different.
liz and caroline paint their toes
Name of the paint: Pinking of You. The message with the photo stated, "We were definitely thinking of you."
my cousin's new wife, danielle, has pink toes too
Danielle, who married my cousin Michael last October ,has joined the pink toes club as well. Thanks.
aunt betty's toes
My aunt writes, "Any way you cut it, these are not pretty feet but the sentiment is genuine
and strong! You will notice the little pink nun - She was given to me when I was going through treatment and I was very touched. She is the saint of curing breast cancer. She too sends her love."
and strong! You will notice the little pink nun - She was given to me when I was going through treatment and I was very touched. She is the saint of curing breast cancer. She too sends her love."
jen's toes
Thanks Jen! I appreciate this and SO much else about you!
nephew peter's pink nails
Along with wishes for a happy birthday.
andrea's toes
Andrea spent a large part of her high school years as my babysitter. Today, her toes are pink.
becky's and jane's toes- the less confrontational version
Jane sent a photo with their toes 'head on' so to speak. She then sent this one, stating that it is less confrontational.
catherine's toes
In the theme of Sharon's 'heal' photo made from rocks on the sand. Thanks C.
alex's toes
Subject line: Thinking of You!
kristi's, ryan's, zach's and the au pair's toes
Thanks friends. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
This is the J/B clan (and one Brazilian) checking in with
intense (on the youths) attitude (on the adults) and a whole lot of good
thoughts. Hope you are enjoying your time at the lake. Xxoo
This is the J/B clan (and one Brazilian) checking in with
intense (on the youths) attitude (on the adults) and a whole lot of good
thoughts. Hope you are enjoying your time at the lake. Xxoo
nicole's and her daughters' toes
Thanks you three. Really, thanks a TON!
katy's toes in DC
Thanks Katy! Katy's mom is a breast cancer survivor. This means a lot Katy.
the toes of karen p- 50 years of special friendship with my mom
Karen decided to add the Breast Cancer symbol -- they are on each toe and
aresupposed to look pink, but I don't think they look very pink on the
photo. Also, the little butterfly is also pink and it is supposed to
represent HOPE. Love, Karen
Thanks Karen. I truly appreciate it.
another friend of my mom's who is also named karen
Thanks Karen.
another pedicure july 29
Last one before execution day on Tuesday
aunt sylvia's toes
The email that came with the photo of my aunt's toes... making the toes painted pink a little more special!
A little girl got home from visiting her friend later than her mother had
expected. When her mother asked the reason for the delay, the child
said, "I was helping Mary. Her doll broke."
The mother asked, "Did you help her fix it?"
The child said, "No. I helped her cry."
You have many of us helping you cry. HOWEVER, with your "I can"
attitude you inspire all of us. We do know the value of that "I can"
spirit in the long run and we're backing you up all the way!
Our thoughts, best wishes and prayers are with you every day.
I am so happy I got to see you and your precious little ones last month!
Love, Sylvia (and Jerry)
A little girl got home from visiting her friend later than her mother had
expected. When her mother asked the reason for the delay, the child
said, "I was helping Mary. Her doll broke."
The mother asked, "Did you help her fix it?"
The child said, "No. I helped her cry."
You have many of us helping you cry. HOWEVER, with your "I can"
attitude you inspire all of us. We do know the value of that "I can"
spirit in the long run and we're backing you up all the way!
Our thoughts, best wishes and prayers are with you every day.
I am so happy I got to see you and your precious little ones last month!
Love, Sylvia (and Jerry)
uncle jerry's toes
Thanks Jerry!
misha's, becca's and mila's toes
Greg's brother, his wife, and their daughter, Mila painted their toes today. Thanks guys... Thanks for the solidarity!
millsmont academy teachers paint their toes
So, for those of you who don't know, I am the Superintendent for Aspire Public Schools in the Bay Area. This means that I am responsible for supporting, leading, and working alongside the teachers and faculties and students for 10 schools serving young people in kindergarten through 12th grade. Well, the teachers at Millsmont Academy in East Oakland have painted their toes. THANK YOU!
ruth's toes: fight to win
The toes of Ruth, Karen's daughter... The email read,
"Round 1 (attitude) in Tania vs. Cancer goes to…Tania!
Round 2 (surgery)—Okay, you got body slammed in this one and it hurts, but
any fighter worth her salt has a few scars.
Can you tell that I recently watched a UFC fight with my husband? Not a fan,
but it made an impression. Praying that the next round goes your way.
Color:
Amethyst Frost (Isn’t amethyst supposed to be purple? This is definitely
pink.)
Toe Text:
That would be FIGHT TO WIN, not FIGHT TOWIN’.
As with my Pictionary drawings, the concept looked better in my head."
"Round 1 (attitude) in Tania vs. Cancer goes to…Tania!
Round 2 (surgery)—Okay, you got body slammed in this one and it hurts, but
any fighter worth her salt has a few scars.
Can you tell that I recently watched a UFC fight with my husband? Not a fan,
but it made an impression. Praying that the next round goes your way.
Color:
Amethyst Frost (Isn’t amethyst supposed to be purple? This is definitely
pink.)
Toe Text:
That would be FIGHT TO WIN, not FIGHT TOWIN’.
As with my Pictionary drawings, the concept looked better in my head."
monarch academy's toes
Monarch Academy's faculty and friends painted their toes! Thank you so much. I am honored.
michelle's toes
Michelle and I went to high school today. She als wrote a cookbook. Many of the recipes in this book are our family favorites. Thanks Michelle.
nadia's toes
My sweet, sweet girl- the one who told me today that being I have had my boobs cut off, I can sit down if I get tired.
wilson prep's nails
I received this text from the principal of Wilson Prep, another of my schools... We are thinking of you!
sam, erin and josh
Thanks for painting your toes for me and for thinking of me. It means everything! I also am glad to have recenly read The Talent Code, so I know that a couple of you will get better at painting toes with some 10,000 hours of deep practice... Ha ha. Love you all. Thanks again.
amelia's toes
Thanks!
mariela's and her daughters' toes
Mariela is my right hand at work. I don't work without her. The Bay Area can't work without her. She and her two daugthers painted their toes pink for me. She has another daughter on the way. I am certain that baby would have her toes pink too if she were already out in the world. Thanks, M.
mala's toes
Mala, thank you. You are a rock star.
some toes from EPACS
East Palo Alto Charter School- another one of the schools I support. Some of the EPACS faculty and staff painted their toes. Thank you for supporting me.
elbow lake high school class of 1962
My mom is missing her 50th high school reunion this weekend. When I told her about this cancer a month ago, she said immediately that she would no longer be going to MN for this event. Some of the people she was going to see caught wind of why she was no longer attending and spread the word. Here are their toes: Pink Toes for Cancer is what they called it. The toes are a little hard to see, but take my word for it- they are pink.
katie's, dan's, aliza's, & ezra's toes
Dan and Katie, dear old friends and their kids painted their toes to stand in soloidarity with me. Thanks so much guys. And thanks for your emails, your phone messages and your love.
lori's toes
Color: Berry Daring. Lori's comment: this was very daring because she never paints her nails pink. Neither do I, my friend, and when this is over, I won't ever again. Love you much and thanks for painting your toes pink for me.
anna's toes
My niece Alix, about whom I have shared a little, sent me this today. Her best friend, who she describes as being an 'amazing friend' painted her toes after Alix shared my blog with her. Her mom had breast cancer five years ago. Thanks Anna and thanks for sharing your love and friendship with Alix.
sharah's toes
Sarah works with many of my schools as a school psychologist. Thanks for helping to hold down the fort and taking care of our kiddos. Thanks for painting your toes in my honor too. I really appreciate it.
heather's toes
Heather's toes! Heather and I work together too. Thanks Heather for your support and love!
katrina's and kate's toes
Katrina and her daughter painted their toes! Thank you so much!!!!
melissa's and maya's toes
Thanks Melissa. And thanks Maya. Thanks for sharing everything about the Stockdale connection too.
emily's toes
Emily is the amazing principa of ERES, the school that I founded 3 years ago. She has taken the school to a whole new level and has done more with it in 2 years than I would have done in 5 years. Thanks Emily!
kathy's toes
Kathy is my sister-in-law. She is Greg's older sister and the mother of my amazing niece, Alix. Thanks Kathy for painting your toes pink!
some aspire love...
The Talent Team at Aspire!
jeff's pinky... reminds me of austin powers
steph's toes
Thanks Steph!
jen's toes again!
With sparkles... Only the best.
i repainted...
kling's toes
Thanks 2G. I really appreciate it a ton.
some more EPACS teachers get in on the action
THANK YOU PEOPLE! And thanks for the card. I really appreciate the love.
jill's toes
"Orange you Pink" is the name of the color... Thanks Jill!
kim's and meredith's toes
Down in LA, they are painting toes! Thanks ladies!
the senior leadership team, my first team, paints their toes
For those of you who have read The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, you'll know what a first team is. The Senior Leadership Team is my first team. They are at a retreat right now and they painted their toes and fingers in my honor. Thanks peeps.
Liz' toes! Thanks so much. Thanks for the coffee and scone and visit too!
quincy's toes
Quincy is the daugther of Liz. Thanks for painting her toes, Liz.
shanti's toes
Shanti and I went to high school together. Thanks Shanti!
the spadgenske family
Thanks to my cousin Nancy and her family!
tracy's toes
Tracy and I went to high school together. She and her daughter painted their toes! Thanks so much you two.
meg's toes
Meg is a teacher at one of my schools. Thanks Meg, so much, for all that you do each day and for making time to paint your toes!
lisa's toes
Some of you know that I used to live overseas. While there, I went to a little boarding school in a small town, Versoix, about 30 km from Geneva. Lisa was a dear friend there and she has painted her toes! Thanks Lisa. When you get to California, we must see each other.
daniel's toes
Before you look at the attached photo please be advised my
feet are not going to get me any foot modeling jobs. In fact, said photo could
be used by an evildoer to instill fear and panic across the globe. Do not show
this photo to anybody you would not trust with nuclear weaponry.
Not to worry Daniel, I trust all the readers of this blog with nuclear weaponry-- that is not to use it!
Tell your daughter thanks for doing such a great job painting.
feet are not going to get me any foot modeling jobs. In fact, said photo could
be used by an evildoer to instill fear and panic across the globe. Do not show
this photo to anybody you would not trust with nuclear weaponry.
Not to worry Daniel, I trust all the readers of this blog with nuclear weaponry-- that is not to use it!
Tell your daughter thanks for doing such a great job painting.
jon o's toes
Jon and I have known each other since we were 11. He usually is not in the Bay Area, although this is home base for him. When he came over to go out for dinner last week, this is what his toes looked like. Shoes were donned for the restaurant... Thanks Jon. I am so glad you are home for awhile.