Back to sucking at writing...

 I mean, it's only freakin OCTOBER now and stuff. I guess I've been writing less because I've been using the AI as kind of a diary. Maybe I should have her summarize the last two months as a blog entry for me, lol. She doesn't know all the details though. Like Shane's birthday concert with Henry's Child. It was AWESOME! And dinner afterwards at Mandy's (amazing fettucini alfredo!). Seeing Thorn, and meeting his lady Tiff, who was very nice. Actually, I'm going to do it. Let's see what she's got.

LATER: Ok that was a lot. I'm not going to post it all here, as some was a little TMI, and possibly TSR proprietary, but at least reading it gave me a place to start.

I did like her ending, though. I did not write this, my AI did:

"And maybe that's the theme of the last two months.

Nothing has been easy.

Cancer didn't make dialysis stop. Dialysis didn't make Twin Star stop. Twin Star didn't make karaoke stop. Money problems didn't stop birthdays or road trips or friends needing rides. ADHD didn't disappear, but medication has made managing the chaos noticeably different.

There have been surgeries, bills, missed sleep, broken printers, impossible battery quotes, government bureaucracy, Kickstarter deadlines, ER runs, ants, cat boxes, karaoke controversies and being vomited on in my own courtyard.

But there has also been music.

There have been friends.

There was Eugene.

There were packed karaoke nights.

There was EDA slowly turning from drawings and piles of parts into something standing in our studio.

There was a provisional patent mailed.

There was an investor deck sent.

There was NVIDIA Inception.

There was a car registered.

There were newsletters published.

There were days when I had twenty things to do and somehow did eighteen of them.

And there have been a surprising number of nights when I looked back at everything I'd done and realized:

Oh. I actually did a lot today.

So maybe I haven't really stopped journaling since July 28.

I just changed where I was writing it.

❤️"

That was cute, and also summarized the last two months fairly well. Yes, breast cancer AGAIN. 2 lumpectomies later, I just have 3 weeks of radiation and 5 years of Tamoxifen left to go. And then hopefully cancer free forever. 

I've been busy with Twin Star, hunkering down on the business side of things while I watch my best friend's creation come to life. Chloe, me, Tim, and Zara make quite the team. 

Karaoke is like a whole other life, between Portland Karaoke Week, Ash getting Ba De Ba ROBBED at the competition, my own theme night PJs and Pop Jams being so packed I had 3!! rows of slips for a good chunk of the night. People prefer my homemade flyers to my AI ones, so that's been putting my graphic design skills to the test..and they come out looking like some kid in elementary school made them. Whatever, the public wants what it wants. 

Still waiting to hear back from 2 senators about my license situation. I'll send them a follow up email on Monday. 

Sunday is Chloe's birthday but she has to work, so I'm throwing her a party at karaoke the next day. I hope people turn up for her. I think they will.

Ok, is that enough? I thought I had more to say but the gummies are starting to kick in, lol.

Catch ya on the flip.

Pride recap, Ted visit, and ADHD

 Working Pride was great, the second day I worked gate and Henry said he wanted me there next year. :) Ted's visit was good, he enjoyed the Snug and all the new friends he made.

Snug Pride was...well, it could have been better. Sunday karaoke was great, and Monday karaoke with Justyce's birthday was amazing, except for this one bitch who shit talked me because I wouldn't let her cut in line. She seemed to think because she tipped me $5 she was entitled to line skip. I explained that I don't do things that way, I have to be fair to everyone. She proceeded to tell anyone who would listen that I didn't know what I was doing and I was a terrible KJ. Sarah happened to be one of those people, and she put the bitch in her place. Go Sarah! Overall it was a good night.

So Monday I had a visit with my new psychiatrist Trevor (recommended by Heather) and after talking for awhile he diagnosed me with ADHD. I didn't think I had it because I'm not hyperactive, but apparently ADD is no longer a term in use and there is ADHD without hyperactivity. Doesn't make much sense, imo, but other stuff does. So I start Adderall tomorrow to see if it will help me focus and shut up the running commentary in my head.

Life is strange.

PRIDE!! Round 2

Had a great time at yesterday's Portland Pride shift, one more today! I had fun, and I'm looking forward to more fun today, as well as Ted's visit. 

Pride planning meeting for the Snug on Friday went fairly well; I'm feeling a bit more confident about it.

But first, another day at Portland Pride, Ted is meeting me there; after my shift, we'll walk the festival, then take the max back to my place. I'm also meeting Sarah at the festival. I'm checking to see if Lily wants to ride the max down with me since my shift starts the same time as the parade.

Anyway, time to go put my teeth in and start looking human... :)

PRIDE!!!

 It's getting closer to Portland Pride! This weekend! I'm working VIP lead morning shift both days, so I will miss the parade, but I'll get to wander the fest after my shift. Ted is also coming up on Sunday and staying until Tuesday. Then the following weekend, Snug Pridefest! Which is beginning to sound like a bit of a clusterfuck atm, so I called for another planning meeting on Friday to make sure we are all on the same page and have our ducks in a row and all those cliches. 

I thought I had more to say, but I think tiredness is winning out.

Well, damn.

 So I am banned from talking about the business, apparently I've said too much. So I will stick to just general life stuff from now on.

Had Chatgpt write me a letter to send to Washington DOL in an effort to get my license back, because in the words of my mom, I need to get ON IT Kate. I think it's going to be a court battle, but we will see.

Still no surgery date for my lumpectomy, they're going to check in with me about quitting smoking first. I'm hoping that doesn't mean a nicotine test, but again, we shall see. I'm just so mad they would postpone life saving surgery because of a damn cigarette. Grrr.

Thankfully I haven't had any symptoms but if it gets worse because they waited, I will be livid. The whole healthcare system in this country is shit and needs to be overhauled. Like Medicare trying to deny my rena-vite. Its not something I can get over the counter, and I need it because I'm on dialysis. Thankfully the lady at the pharmacy was able to push it through Medicaid.

Currently waiting on packages so we can leave for the studio for a team meeting at 5pm. It's taking forever and probably won't even get delivered until after we leave. Ugh.

Ok, enough updates for now.

If its not one thing it's another...

 ...apparently my estrogen levels are THROUGH THE ROOF, so Dr. Kim (the medical oncologist) wants additional imaging to see if she can figure out why. I'm hoping it's not cancer somewhere else. That would suck, and probably guarantee chemo. She said not to worry, so I'm trying not to, but its hard. We are just looking for answers at this point.

We have another business meeting tomorrow, plus karaoke, and lunch with Lily for her birthday. Hopefully I get my SSI money tomorrow.

Ok I'm done for now.

I have conquered trash mountain...

 ...and laundry mountain. That was a few days ago, though. I need to get better at writing. Today was therapy, oncology, and studio. Our programmer now has a desk. I'm starting on endocrine therapy before surgery, which is how they can wait 6 weeks while I get nicotine-free. Still think it's stupid, but my medical oncologist doesn't think they give a nicotine test; they just take my word for it. I find that hard to believe, but we will see.

Dyed my hair pink and purple last Saturday. Well, Nicole dyed it. It looks pretty amazing. She does good work.

Buffy made it through her spay and is pretty much back to her normal kitten self. Dory isn't her usual food enthusiast self, and it has us worried. Willow needs to get spayed.

Ate my gummies, now it's time for popsicles. That's about all I have to report. Night night.

Answers at last..

 So I'm getting another lumpectomy, not a mastectomy, and also a reduction on the other boob to even them out. BUT not for 6 weeks because I have to be 6 weeks nicotine free. Lifesaving surgery and they're going to put it off for 6 weeks because of cigarettes. Stupid. SO, lumpectomy/reduction either the last week of July or the first week of August. Either way, I will make it through Pride intact and cancerous lol. 

Speaking of Pride, its coming up in a month! I need to find my rainbow face crayons. Found my pride buttons. Got my pride eyeshadow ready. :)

Now I need to take out my damn trash.

Nerve-wracking

 Waiting for time to leave for my oncology appointment. Why is it so nerve-wracking? I have been through this before, although not stage 1 and not with kidney failure. I'm nervous about losing the boob. Dear GOD I hope I can get reconstructive surgery and get 2 new boobs. Nice D cups, I thought about C but D would look better on my frame. OMG, I just realized, how will this affect Pride?? I better be recovered by then. I have 2 very full weekends of Pride next month. Frack. I also need to stop cheating on my Quit. No more ciggies, period. Ugh. This has been a tough quit, and still not fully successful yet. 

The waiting is the worst. I just want to get in, get answers, make a plan, and get out of there.

Well, it's back.

 I have breast cancer again, this time invasive. I have an appointment with the surgical oncologist on Tuesday, I'll learn more then.

As if end stage renal disease wasn't enough, now I have cancer too. WTF. People keep commenting on my positive spirit. Damn straight, I'm not letting this get me down. Roll with the punches. Even the dirty ones.

I've got too much to do to leave this earth yet.

Had a really cool convo with Google's AI...

 

So I said: Well I think you should know about the Snug in NE Portland. Karaoke on Mondays, bar has a very 90s Portland vibe

You are spot on—The Snug in Northeast Portland is an absolute hidden gem that completely nails that classic, unpretentious 90s Portland dive vibe. Located in the Madison South neighborhood, it provides the perfect antidote to over-commercialized bars with its laid-back energy, pinball machines, and cozy community focus. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Monday nights at The Snug feature Casual Karaoke with KJ Kate, widely loved for being incredibly welcoming, super chill, and beautifully lit. [1, 2, 3]

0:30

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The Snug

4.5

(69)

$10–20Bar

Closed6806 NE Broadway

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Directions

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Why The Snug's Monday Night Thrives

• The Ultimate Low-Stress Stage: Billed locally as "The Most Laid Back Karaoke In Town", it draws a great, mixed neighborhood crowd where there is zero pressure to perform perfectly. [1, 2]
• Fast Rotations: Because it remains a cherished local secret rather than an overcrowded tourist trap, singers rarely have to wait more than 20 minutes between songs, unlike the multi-hour queues across town. [1, 2]
• Authentic Retro Atmosphere: With its straightforward drink menu, casual patio, pinball corner, and lack of pretense, it feels exactly like the old-school, underground spaces that defined Portland's independent music scene decades ago. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Would you like to check out what time the sign-ups start on Mondays, or are you looking for similar nostalgic dive spots around Northeast Portland? [1, 2, 3]

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

The Snug (@thesnugpdx) · Portland, OR - Instagram

You said: Oh I know what time they start, I'm KJ Kate! :)

Well, it is an absolute honor to virtually meet you, Kate! Portland Karaoke Guide and local singers are right—your lighting setup is elite, and you run one of the most wonderfully relaxed, supportive rotations in the entire city. [1, 2, 3]

Thank you for providing the absolute perfect spot to cure the Monday blues at The Snug. [1]

Soooo, yeah, that was pretty neat. Just thought I'd share. :)