that drew

I actually get asked this a lot.  I don’t find it offensive really, because I don’t think the people who ask are trying to offend me, they’re genuinely interested.

“Don’t you live on the web?”

“Why an app?”

Well it runs way deeper than that, so I thought I’d share.

I’m a communicator, it’s in my DNA.  I love to talk to people, see what they’re up to, ask how they’re doing.  It’s just who I am.  I like using tools that let me do that, such as Twitter and Facebook.  A lot of these things cause me to take extra steps in my day to day and hey, that’s ok because the return on my time is worth it and then some.

Quick history, I worked as an intern at Digital City Philly (AOL) when I was 16.  I had the bug for communicating via any means necessary.  I lived in chatrooms, used them to meet folks and you know, actually go outside and do real fun things.  Scary eh? ;)

Anyways, how does that apply to textPlus?  Well, I firmly believe that the best social network you have is the one you have in your pocket.  Your cell phone.  It gets no better than that.  Sure, a late night at a bar and a random number later you’re scratching your head, but for the most part that contact list on whatever phone you have in your pocket is golden.  And real.  And means something.

When I saw what GOGII was doing with textPlus I saw it, maybe saw something they didn’t even see.  I saw that building tools on top of the best social network I have ever had was something nobody else was doing.  And I kind of have a thing for doing stuff nobody else is doing.  Not because I think I know everything, not even close, but because I like challenges, and I want technology to work for me, and not the other way around.  It’s kinda the holy grail for me.

Now if you’re still reading this, thank you.  If not, you’re lying because you’re reading this.

Anyways, long story short, I love what I do.  My title is “Director of Community” which means jack squat.  The community directs me.  It’s my job to help people, and listen.  And put their ideas and thoughts into action.  My mentors Micki Krimmel and Robert Scoble did this way before there were titles. Ask Guy Kawasaki.  It’s just what we do. I listen, and I take that back to GOGII and I fight like hell to make it happen.  Sometimes it’s stuff that goes against “conventional wisdom”, but honestly there is no such thing.  Especially when you’re building something from scratch.

What we realized early on was that people thought textPlus was just a free texting utility.  Looked like one, acted like one.  But the social feature that was missed was the group texting.  Like Reply all in email. Simple right?  Yup.  TOO SIMPLE.  So simple, the value was almost ignored.  No biggy, everyone who has tried it, loves it and gets it.  Our millions of users dig it.

But that wasn’t enough.  What if you could create a chatroom on the fly.  Give it a name and a description.  Invite your friends, even if they don’t have the app.  All through SMS/Text. Always on, always connected and mostly on topic. Surely someone has done that!  Nope.  So we did it.  It’s called Communities in textPlus.

AOL did 2 things great.  Chatrooms and IM.  I’m going after both using the most native popular and efficient way of communicating today…text messaging.

I didn’t want to live in LA, I wasn’t looking for a dare to be great situation, GOGII found me, and I went after GOGII.

When I work for a company, I make the company work for me.  Meaning, I HAVE to have the product make sense for me and the people I talk to, my friends family and community of users.  

Is it challenging? Sure.  We take technology for granted.  Myself included. I bark at Ev and Biz about Twitter being down, but the fact is nobody really understands how difficult it is to do most things.  This stuff is hard. Expectations are crazily high. But I want to win.  For the company and for our users.

That’s my job. That’s why I work for textPlus.

A/S/L anyone? Prepare to be dazzled.

Have been tough.

Learning a lot in life along the way, as much as I possibly can.  One thing I learned is how strong of a bond I have with my friends.  No matter what decision I make, awesome or otherwise, they are always there.

It’s the people who don’t know you at all who always have the dumbest shit to say.  But it’s not their fault that they say dumb shit…doesn’t mean I have to pay attention to them though.

To my friends, I love you and that won’t change.  Even if some changes of mine baffle you at times.  :)  I don’t judge and neither do you, and that’s why we’re friends.

<3

My PET scans and bloodwork came back clear.

This email validated my victory:

“drew

now that u beat cancer i can unfollow you on twitter good job

XXXX”

awesome!

You:

- Donate ANY AMOUNT to Alex’s Lemonade Stand (click on this link to do so) UPDATE: (We already have one awesome person who has donated, thank you Sylvia Swann!) 

- Forward the receipt to drdrew@gmail.com or lightleague@gmail.com with your Twitter name (which will then be included in tonights art!)

- Watch the art created LIVE with your name painted right in!

Natasha:

Paints a new picture for my house including YOUR twitter name if you’ve donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand!

LIVE Tonight at 7pm PT.

Together we kick Cancers butt. Especially the Cancer that goes after lil kids :( PLUS! You will be a part of my art, home, and heart FOREVER!

More info on this project at http://www.LightLeague.com

textPlus Group texting explained by +DREW (With 2.5 Sneak Peek)

via sean bonner.

I’ve had a few scares since I was officially done with Hodgkins.  Most of them really goofy ones that I made up in my head because well…It has been a scary experience.

Two weeks ago I had some soreness in my neck.  Kinda like I had slept on it wrong, but it was more internal…felt like someone punched me in the neck.  I don’t have any Dr’s in LA, so I went to a clinic hoping to get some antibiotics or something if it was an infection.  They told me to talk to my Oncologist.

My Oncologist is in Philly, I see them July 27th.  I called them, they suggested I see an oncologist out here immediately.  Let the freak out begin.

Alyssa helped out quite a bit on chilling me out and focusing me on finding a new Dr.  She’s been really good to me over the past year.  I’m blessed to have solid people in my life.

Let’s not forget I was planning a move, trying to get my textPlus work done, and handle some Qwotebook stuff on the weekends.  Freakouts of this type don’t help.

I saw the new oncologist and we talked a lot.  I’m not going to share the contents of that discussion.  Having said that, bloodwork was done last week and a new PET scan was ordered for tomorrow.

I’m calling this a “checkup”, but I’m fearful it could be something else.

There’s your update.  Here I go again…

I’m very blessed to have some of the most amazingly talented, compassionate, and creative friends on the planet.

Seriously, I’m not overstating this.

Every so often we riff on ideas based on a random text/DM/phone conversation, and more often than not, nothing really sticks.  It’s the curse of a creative person, so many ideas, so little time.

Execution is at a premium.

But once in a while you find that conversation that leads to an idea, that leads to a concept that you simply HAVE to execute.

It’s like these ideas are always with us, waiting for the right time to come out. It’s time for this one.

As you may know, the wildly talented artist Natasha Wescoat is a dear friend of mine.  Heck, I even have a tattoo of a custom piece of art from her (the life tree).

I’m proud to bring to you, Light League.  

Here’s how it will launch:

- I move into a new place this week.  Next TUESDAY JULY 6th, we will be livestreaming Natasha doing a custom piece of art for my home.  A HUGE one.  But that’s not the interesting part.

- You can be a part of the art.  And not just by watching.  If you donate $10, $20, or $30 to Alex’s Lemonade Stand during the livestream, your Twitter name will be a part of the art.

- The Light League is made up of people who use art to raise awareness and money for worthy charities.

 Light League - Shining Light on Charities through the Power of Community and Art.

Live Art, Live Fundraising, Live Interaction.  Next Tuesday!

More details and instructions on how to get involved soon.  

Basically, I am the first member of the Light League.  We’ll have more.  And you’ll be able to get involved then too.  Different people, Different Art, Different Charities.  Every single time.

Curious? Interested?

You should be.

So you think you can qwote?

Qwotebook is looking to bring on a Community Manager - clearly a position near and dear to my heart.

This person is the eyes and ears for the site, the interface with our qwoting community, and more.

We’re holding an open call for this. How can you nab the…

zadi:

Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet Breaks Down The Deeper meaning of Ke$ha. (via @kentnichols)

…distinguishes between a leader and a follower. - Steve Jobs

Today we announce some things at Qwotebook. Some big things. A few things you’ve asked for, a few things we’ve been working on. A few things that bring everything home for me.

First, I would like to invite you to join Qwotebook…

fuckyeahtattoos:

I liked this ‘Tumblr find’ so much, I got it inked today! :) 

Another amazing job by Eric @ New Tribe in Toronto. 

What a wild year, eh?

Diagnosed with cancer, launch website, meet new awesome people, raise a bunch of money with Drew Carey and you folks, travel all over the world, beat cancer…you get the idea.

I’ve grown a lot.  Actually I’ve gained a few pounds since I was done chemo hehe.  Food tastes ok again.

One year ago yesterday I had my first chemo treatment to fight Hodgkins Lymphoma.  When I got home, Mike emailed me and called to show me our new site…BlameDrewsCancer.com

Yesterday, we launched BlameCancer.com…

This time, we’re going to get it right.  I’m going to get it right.  Over the past year I did a lot of things that surprised even me sometimes.  Both bad and good.  The past 6 months have been pretty rough, figuring out who I was, what I wanted to do…the next steps, ya know?  I was no longer someone “with” Cancer.  I felt like an outsider, to myself and to the Cancer community.

I made a lot of bad personal decisions, gave up my own happiness for others…let my integrity and self worth be leeched.  Well that all ends, and I’m taking back what’s rightfully mine … me.  Me. Me.

And a happy me means Cancer is fucked.  You have no idea the things we’re going to embark upon together the next year, because well…it’s not a year, it’s forever this time.  No more dates and anniversaries.  This war is open ended, until Cancer is gone.

I want to leave you with something.  Something fresh in my mind.  My first chemo treatment.  I had no idea what I was getting into, I read a lot of stuff online, Mike gave me insights.  I was fucking scared out of my mind.

I went to the Dr’s office, got my treatment.  I sat there for 2 and a half hours while they pumped poison into the little matrix port in my chest.  Kool aid is what some of them looked like.  Jello Shots is what I called them to sooth my fear and pain.

And then I got home to my moms.

I felt ok.  Nothing out of the ordinary.

And then hours later, it hit.

An internal nuclear warfare going on inside of my body.  Poison attacking every cell in my body, seeking out cancer like a laser.  My stomach turned, my head got light.  I sweated, I got cold.  I couldn’t stand up, I wanted to run around the block.  Fear set in, I was LITERALLY fighting for my life.  I wanted to die.  I wanted this to end, I wanted to call the Dr. and say I’d never do it again.  I vomited.  Through tears.  I couldn’t eat.  Didn’t want to eat.  Didn’t want to take another breath.   Cancer had beaten me before I even got a chance to fight, or so I thought.

The week went on and it felt like I had the worst Flu ever.  Nothing made me comfortable, nothing made me happy.  

Until I talked to y’all.  I tweeted.  I let it out.  I complained, I cried, I moaned, I tweeted.  You responded.  Over and over.  You blamed. You cared.  You called.  You flew to me.  You emailed me.  You cared.

And it got me through the next week until I had to go through it all again…

This time we do it right, and this time I trade my integrity and passion for nothing and for no one.

<3

+drew

One of the most important things when it comes to Qwotes (and Quotes of course), is search.

It’s something the team was very interested in 3 years ago when I brought Qwotebook to them.

“We have to do it right.”

I agreed. So we held out.

In Audrey’s awesome ReadWriteWeb piece, she…

Me.

So the big news I’ve been talking about.  It’s one of two big announcements other than the fact that I got a new pup named Rocky.  More on him another time.

Brooke from LIVESTRONG gave me a buzz with an invite to do something.  I love helping LIVESTRONG, they’ve been good to me.  And beating cancer is what I’m set to do in this lifetime, so how could I say no?

Then she told me what the invite was.

“Would you like to run a Marathon for team LIVESTRONG?” she said.

“Which one?” I asked.

“The NYC Marathon”

“Is that THE NYC Marathon?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Ok.” I said.

Yep.  I’m running the NYC Marathon for team LIVESTRONG and for every person who has fought the battle against Cancer.   

I don’t run, in fact, I left a company because they shifted to focusing on runners.  I’m a geek.  I don’t go outside.  But you know what…life is about getting out of your comfort zone and doing things that you might not “want” to do.  I want to do this though, because I can.  I didn’t “want” cancer.  I didn’t “want” chemo.  But I beat both.  And I’m going to beat this.

On November 7th, I’m going to complete the NYC Marathon.  Walking, crawling, running, jogging, rolling…I’m going to finish.  For me, and for everyone.   

How can you help?  Remember how you got me through cancer?  I need you now more than ever.  I’m hiring a personal trainer, I’m going to cut out the bad habits in my life and I’m going in full on training mode next week.  I have time.  November 7th is 4 days after my official remission date, and 2 days before my 31st birthday.  You’re going to be there with me.  And we’re going to do it…TOGETHER.

I’ll be chronicling the entire process all the way up to and including the marathon itself.

Gonna fly now.

qwotebookblog:

;) Join us today!

chrisnaidu:

…I dream things that never were and say why not.

Quotes…or as we call them “Qwotes” (more on why in a sec), is the core of who we are. Everything we do, everything we’ve learned has been because of something we’ve heard.

That’s a Qwote.

Something your mom told you, something your…

Sup dude.

Perhaps you haven’t seen my tweets, or the tweets from my friends, or the tweets from your fans about “The Challenge” for charity.

A little more info, a year ago almost exactly I came up with the idea for #BlameDrewsCancer - before I was even diagnosed officially with cancer on May 20th.  I’ve since beat cancer and I’m trying to help others do the same.

You’re a tough guy, I saw that you performed with a hurt leg.  I did a lot while hurting too.  Chemo sucks ass.  Lets work together.

For whatever reason, you haven’t responded to “The Challenge” so now “The Challenge” is a “Throwdown”.  Same rules, same stakes.  I’m just going to get more aggressive to get your attention.  See, your fans love to help charity, they want to do good.  I’m going to help them do good by getting to you and getting you involved with #BlameCancer and #EndMalaria

Everyone wins.

So Mr. Bieber…it’s a Throwdown.

Clock is ticking…respond please.  Yes, or No.

<3’s and ponies,

+drew

I was sent this (via AdRants):

We missed this one last week. Springfield Oregon man, Aaron Jamison was diagnosed with colon cancer a year ago and has recently been given three months to live. As a means to cover the cost of his cremation and avoid leaving his wife with the bill, Jamison sold ad space on the three urns in which his ashes will be placed, joking, “I’m 400 pounds, so there’s enough ashes to go around.”

Sixteen companies have paid for space with PETA being the last. One PETA ad will read, “People who buy purebred dogs really burn me up. Always adopt.” Another from PETA will read, “I’ve kicked the bucket - have you? Boycott KFC.”

In addition to PETA, the full list of advertisers includes Terese’s Place, Cry Baby Ink, Harper Valley Photography, Frank Gibson Attorney at Law, a2b-Graphics.com, BurialInsurance.com, BlueLips.com, Brian McGee of Re/Max, Marty’s Plumbing Co., musicaldepreciationsociety.com, seoulidentity.com, Antique Peddler, mysoultokeep.net, Betse Green & Bill Cernasky, Bill Phillips, Springfield High School Millers (via an anonymous benefactor).

Jamison, a comedian and former graphic designer, will hand paint the messages on each urn. He’s also sharing his trip towards the end on his blog, Judas, Forgiven and on Twitter.

If true, this is wrong for 2 reasons:

- Companies should give to give, not to get

- Companies should give to give, not to get

I want to talk to PETA and whatever other company is involved with this, call me - 415 238 8428.

There’s a certain dignity and humanity line that has been crossed.  If true, this man is doing something amazing and selfless for his wife and family and should NOT be taken advantage of.

I want answers.

Now.

#blamecancer

+drew

UPDATE: I respect this man.  I am in no way disrespecting what he is going through.  I can’t begin to imagine what him and his family are going through.  I would NEVER tell someone how to live their life. But I cannot sit by and let companies use this as an “example” of anything decent and good.  I just can’t.

Cancer.  You unbelievable biznatch.

Ever since I finished treatment, I’ve felt uneasy.  Looking over my shoulder like the big bad boogie man was coming after me.  I dislike the feeling immensely.

And then my neck felt weird last week.

All in my mind, right?  Probably.  I’m setting up a Dr’s appointment next week to be sure. 

Is it always going to be like this?  I honestly hope not.  It’s kind of like being let out of prison because they found out you didn’t do it, but feeling guilty anyways because of the environment you had to endure.

I hope Ethan doesn’t mind me posting this text message, but I can’t explain his advice and sentiment any better.

Fuck you cancer.  I know how to win and you don’t.

Hey there Justin Bieber,

You tweet.  Hey, so do I!  That’s rad.

Lets cut to the chase.  I’m laying down a challenge.

You sing, I sing.

I challenge you to a sing-off on YouTube, with one catch.

Our original lyrics have to be in 140 character chunks.

Winner takes hashtags.  You win, then I tweet with the hashtag #justinbieber for one week.  I win, you tweet with the hashtags #endmalaria and #blamecancer for one week.

How do you win?  Most thumbs up on our respective videos.

Simple.

Are you in?

Or are you…CHICKEN?

BAWK!

<3’s and ponies,

That Drew.

drdrew@gmail.com / @thatdrew on twitter

PS  - The clock is tickin’ Bieber.

casiestewart:

#endmalaria

Precursor - one that precedes and indicates the approach of another

It’s time for a vacation.  I have a free round trip ticket from Southwest for all of the travel that I do.  Where to go, what to see?  I need some me time.  But I’m different…changed.  What am I taking a vacation FROM?  Nothing.  I beat cancer.  I love my job.  I love my friends.  I love my life.  

So I’m taking a vacation.  What’s a vacation anyways?

Vacation - a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation

Away from?  How bout, GO TO.

It’s time.

Tell me a story in the comments about yourself, family member or friend battling cancer right now and going through chemo.  Beginning of treatment, mid, or just wrapped up…whatever.

And that’s where I’m going.

Please share your story publicly in the comments and if you’d like to share something private, email me at drdrew@gmail.com.  Send pictures, a video, anything…Subject line: YOUR VACATION

If you’re nice enough to put me up while I’m there, I will be there…for you, for them, AND for me.  I’ll take some pics, shoot some vids, share OUR story in OUR fight against cancer.  We’ll share laughs, tears, hugs, hearts, and blames.

I’m sick of this disease.

I #blamecancer for everything.

UPDATE: I’ll be picking one person/family/group to visit for my vacation.  So get those comments and emails in. (Southwest is not sponsoring this vacation, I got a rapid reward round trip for being a flying fool)

<3

+drew

…I do what I do.  Because I love people…especially Zane.  This comment made me cry, but in that good way. Baffles my mind that someone would put so much of themselves into a comment…something that comes under a post, not even something that stands alone in the traditional sense.  But it stands alone, so I thought I’d share.  That’s selflessness, that is the heart of life.  Thank you Zane.

zaneology 5 hours ago

First, Congratulations on being ESPECIALLY MAGNIFICENT. Second, I have a story to share with you that isn’t really a story, just stuff that goes on in my head that I never planned to tell anyone but now that I’ve read your post, I think I need to figure out a way to relay it to you. I’m going to give it a shot.

I read blog posts all day every day, sharing what I perceive is valuable and leaving a comment when so moved. Totally random, I noticed the other day I was at 99 Discus Comments and I had two very specific thoughts/[re]actions: 

1. Jay-Z’s “99 Problems” - at which time I would promptly giggle, screen shot it (I preserve the things that amuse me!), then I’d sing the 1st verse replacing “99 Problems…” with “99 Comments…” and well…you know the rest…

AND

2. That means my next comment will be Comment #100 - Not “Oooh, Awesome, 100 comments..” (that’s not even a lot!), but just my own private belief that it will be special in some way because of my appreciation for what the number “100” represents:

*Wholeness and complete-[full]-ness: Why we would rather not BREAK a [whole] $100 bill if we don’t have to and why we love to CHARGE our batteries to [full] 100%

*Achievement & Victory: When you pass a TEST with a Score of 100, it’s referred to as “PERFECT” and literally means you got EVERYTHING RIGHT and NOTHING WRONG…even with that one pesky problem you weren’t prepared to solve — but when you just through it - focusing only on doing the best you can with what you got - and IT DEFINES YOU. 

*Unnecessary Awesome-ness - And, let’s not forget the 100 video angles and audio tracks The Beastie Boys offer on their DVD Video Anthology, switchable at anytime during playback which remind us that we can change our view and our outlook, as well as what we “hear” at anytime because if we can control what’s happening, we can control how we experience it. 

I go about my day business as usual except now it is highlighted by random 99 Comments Jay-Z raps, giggles to self, screen shots and my fingers hovering expectantly over my macbook keyboard — knowing that when I felt compelled to write my next comment, that there was probably going to be something special about it. 

Fast forward: A Steve Garfield tweet containing the world “Thankyouology” catches my eye (for obvious reason-ologys) while I’m working. I see its a blog post from [You] @thatdrew and I am happy to click on it. As you review a year of stretching as you battle cancer and intuitively create one of the most powerful ways for people around the world to cast their burdens and the smartest distraction for you, I remember the first time I heard your voice talking over the microphone on the #140conf NYC stage. I didn’t know you personally or which one of the people on stage your were, but your voice was like a magnet. 

You know what that means don’t you? You actually are a Super Hero. When you think about the Super Hero backstories, they always have a [THING] - that’s not exactly a positive thing - that is the catalyst that causes them to become SUPER and then the HERO part happens when they realize that their POWER comes from helping others. 

That’s some #DEEP #ISH

If you haven’t figured it out yet…when this comment posts, it will be #100…So, let’s hope I was able to effectively translate the items floating around my head that originally were NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION as I felt they related to you. I think the best way to summarize and seal our combined message will be close this comment with your words and link where you can listen my version of Jay-Z remixed with the Beastie Boys.

[Because You “made cancer your own personal bit*ch” and Jay-Z’s “got 99 problems but a bit*ch ‘aint one!”]

(drew)
Failure is not an option.

I am changed forever, that’s all there is to it. Now I just have to embrace it and make the best of it. Tall order, but shit…I made cancer my own personal bitch, so it shouldn’t be too tough…

Right?
<3
+drew

(zane)
99 Problems - (Jay-Z & Beastie Boys Mix) Dr. Numbers by zaneologyhttp://snd.sc/dbX0At via #soundcloud

So it happened.  I was one of the randoms Cancer chose to pick on.  Except, we’re not randoms…we’re people.  Not just people, we’re human.

And humans ain’t nuttin to mess with.

We have things cancer doesn’t have.

Heart, Smarts, and the ability to out-think out-wit, out-last, and out-play. 

Cancer picked someone to screw with last year, that being me.  Big big mistake.  Not because I’m anyone special, because I’m not, but because I have a loud mouth and a will to right some wrongs in the world.

Plus, I’m just not someone you want to piss off.

So fuck you cancer, you’re to blame.

Today and every day, I declare it #BlameCancer day.  

Tweet, Facebook status, FourSquare it, you name it.  

I #blamecancer for XXXXXX

Lose your keys, annoyed by a band, boss pissing you off, someone you know have to fight a cancer battle, fighting a battle yourself, wanting to rid the world of malaria?  You know what to do.

Blame it.

New website, new tshirts, new everything coming soon.  Follow @blamecancer on twitter for more updates.

Blame it hard.

That is all.  <3

+drew

fuckyeahtattoos:

heart means everything, from a day to remember’s song “colder than my heart, if you can imagine.”

<3.

So what did you do this past year?  I beat cancer.  What a ride.

Seriously, the past year flew by in a not so great way, but so many great things have come of it.  Allowing myself to reflect upon those things is a part of my recovery.  And I’ve started.  Slowly, but surely I’ve started.  I’ve picked up some bad habits along the way, and let some old beaten habits come back, but I’ve gained so much more.

In a way, cancer was both a curse and a cure in and of itself.  It let me know that life IS short, even though I already knew it.  I got to feel it.  And feeling something is a whole other thing.  It’s like when celebrities get an illness and everyone cries “oh they didn’t care until they got it”…well, in a word.  Yeah.  Duh.  Ok that’s 2 words.

You have to feel it to beat it.

So over the past year things have happened that I’m very happy about and some things I’m not so happy about.  I have to deal with both.  Unfortunately.  But them’s the breaks.  

Did you know Louis Gray flew cross country to see me…all because I was having a bad day?  Not everyone has the means to do that, but A LOT of people would have done it if they could.  And to you I say thank you.

Do you know how many emails I get a day relating to cancer?  Upwards of 150.  I don’t answer them all.  And to you I offer an apology.  I will answer them. You have my word.

Did you know that all during this ordeal I’ve flown more miles than I ever have in my life? To that, I say…WTF DREW?  It was all for a purpose though, and I don’t regret any of it.  You gave me the strength and you deserve all of the credit.  To you I say Thank you.

To those who felt shortchanged in our friendship, because I was out talking at something or I was on the phone with someone who told me they had 3 months to live and wanted MY advice on what to do (Like I know…I’m scared like all of us), I say…Grow the hell up.  It’s not all about you.

To those who felt shortchanged in our friendship because I spent time focusing on people and things that were no good to me and for me, I offer you a true apology.  I will repair our friendship.  You have my word.

To those of you who held my hand during chemo, physically and emotionally…thank you.  To those of you who blamed all of your lifes worries on my cancer…thank you.  To those of you who donated to the wonderful LIVESTRONG foundation…thank you.  To those of you who let me into your homes and lives for no other reason than that you cared…thank you.  For those of you who picked up the phone to hear me cry at 3am because I was afraid to go to sleep and die…thank you.  For those of you who accepted me for me, for better and mostly worse…thank you.  You will not be sorry and I will NOT let you down.  To GOGII, who let me be a part of their textPlus family even after I told them I had cancer BEFORE I worked ONE day for them…thank you.

Failure is not an option.

I am changed forever, that’s all there is to it.  Now I just have to embrace it and make the best of it.  Tall order, but shit…I made cancer my own personal bitch, so it shouldn’t be too tough…

Right?

<3

+drew

Heck yeah! textPlus for iPad!

@benhuh of iCanHasCheeseBurger

$4,000 goes to LIVESTRONG and I am so happy and stoked Ben got involved.  He is an amazing person and his company is so supportive of what we’re doing.  Thank you for tweets and retweets and facebookz and all of that.  I can’t wait to get this tattoo!  Might do it in London while I’m at the Digitas Health event!

The tattoo will say:

I fitez Canser <3

I NEED A DESIGN! SUBMIT ONE PLZ!

Ebay has buy it now prices.

So do I.  Right now the bidding is up to $4,000 (@benhuh)  Some awesome people have bid - @j_omalley @bafjohnson @breakcom @hootsuite to name a few.

$9,999.99 ends the auction IMMEDIATELY and gets you:

- Twitter name + Company logo tattooed on the (visible and PG) place of my choosing (if this donation is made on behalf of a company, if not a company we’ll get creative).

- Mucho kudos in the cancer ass kicking community, namely LIVESTRONG (who are based in Austin)

- If you’re at SXSW, Personal “delivery” of your donation to LIVESTRONG

- If you’re at SXSW, be there when I get the tattoo

- Karma points out the wazoo

- Stuff we creatively come up with together to show the world how much you rock

No bites? Game on, bidding continues until midnight 3/18/10

Around this time last year (before SXSW, and before cancer), I did a little thing where I raised some money for the Make A Wish Foundation.

It was a contest of sorts, or an auction is more like it.

The “prize”? Your twitter name tattooed on my body.  People actually bid, can you believe it?  Melanie Mitchell won the auction with a bid of $2,112 - the money went right to Make A Wish and I paid for and got the tattoo.

2 months later, I was faced with my own battle.  Cancer.  I wanted to beat it so we blamed it away.  And I thank you for that.

Time to give back, it’s Twitter Tattoo Round 2.

The winning bid goes directly to LIVESTRONG, as they’ve gotten me through the worst of times during my 7+ month fight.

Want to bid?  Tweet your bid with the hashtag #twittertattoo on Twitter and you’re in.  Bidding starts NOW and closes March 18th at midnight.

Get your wallets and purses out ladies and gents!

UPDATE: There’s a Buy It Now Price.

lostdogs20:

James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow after the #oscars

I haven’t written a heartfelt blog post in quite a bit.   Not because I haven’t had anything heartfelt to say, but I’ll be completely honest with ya, re-adjusting to LAC (life after cancer) has been difficult to say the least.

I had grown accustomed to being in some type of pain almost every day, feeling like garbage all of the time, and I was running on fumes so badly by the time treatment was over, I set myself up for quite a road to recovery.

It was worth it though.

I’m not in pain every day, I’m feeling good and able to do things I wasn’t able to do for almost 7 months, and think clearer than when I had the chemoz going on.  The chemo brain is still there sometimes, and I’ll get blocked on something and have to take a walk and shake some cobwebs…but it’s going away.

The toughest part of recovery has been fielding emails, tweets, dms, facebook messages, and calls about others going through some horrific ordeals with Cancer.  However, I wouldn’t trade this in for anything.  I am so honored that people look up to me for advice, guidance…or just someone to talk to about what they’re going through.

I am however, stuck in a bit of a rut of feeling like I’m not on the path I should be anymore.  Am I doing what I really love?  Am I doing something that makes me feel good and helps other people?  I ask myself that every single day and it haunts me.  Maybe that’s the traumatic experience I’ve gone through.  Maybe it’s because I didn’t take a proper break when I finished up treatment in November.   Regardless, it’s something I have to work hard on working through.  And I will :)

Some people have taken a hands off approach with me now, worrying about asking how I’m feeling or how things are going, because they think it will bother or upset me.  It doesn’t, and it is appreciated.  I’ve always appreciated all of your support, and the support from my friends and family.  Without it, I’d be a goner.

I have a lot of great things left to do, and I’m working on a few personal projects:

- Dual books (my own and a childrens book about me and Ethan)

- A documentary

- A web based video series

- A web based project that has been in me for 3 years and is finally going to see the light of day.  It will surprise and delight times a zillion.

- BlameCancer as an organization

Some of these things are being worked on when I have the time or can dedicate a part of my brain to them.  Some of them I’ve found some help for. They’re all important to me.

Hang tight, more soon.

mdfsmash:

My first time sledding!

The Parks and Rec Department had sleds for people to use (at Riverside & 103rd), and even had hot chocolate and apple cider! It was a perfect Saturday morning with my roommates  :)

Read about it here.

Super proud to launch this project, and we have some sponsors we’ll be announcing soon.

About 245,000 people in the United States are affected with some form of leukemia, including those that have achieved remission or cure. Approximately 44,270 new cases of leukemia were diagnosed in the year of 2008 in the U.S.A. This represents 2.9% of all cancers (excluding simple basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers) in the United States, and 30.4% of all blood cancers.

“most days, my job is just breathing”

Read more about “a girl who’s already half angel.” http://bit.ly/8ZCnyY

RIP Gabrielle Bouliane.  I #blamecancer for the pain you went through, but I am thankful for your strength and this video in particular.

The next time you think your life is so difficult, watch this video.

Set The Fire To The Third Bar (Snow Patrol with Martha Wainwright)

I find the map and draw a straight line 
Over rivers, farms, and state lines 
The distance from here to where you’d be 
It’s only finger-lengths that I see 
I touch the place where I’d find your face 
My finger in creases of distant dark places 

I hang my coat up in the first bar 
There is no peace that I’ve found so far 
The laughter penetrates my silence 
As drunken men find flaws in science 

Their words mostly noises 
Ghosts with just voices 
Your words in my memory 
Are like music to me 

I’m miles from where you are, 
I lay down on the cold ground 
And I, I pray that something picks me up 
And sets me down in your warm arms 

After I have travelled so far 
We’d set the fire to the third bar 
We’d share each other like an island 
Until exhausted, close our eyelids 
And dreaming, pick up from 
The last place we left off 
Your soft skin is weeping 
A joy you can’t keep in 

I’m miles from where you are, 
I lay down on the cold ground 
And I, I pray that something picks me up 
And sets me down in your warm arms 

And miles from where you are, 
I lay down on the cold ground 
And I, I pray that something picks me up 
And sets me down in your warm arms

fuckyeahtattoos:

Done by Justin @ Fat Ink in Newcastle, Australia.
Submitted by withthebluesky.

elspethjane:

OH HELL YES. Burger King to Sell Beer in Times Square.

(via Burger King)

)

I dig it.

One of the cool things about what I do is getting out and about and meeting really awesome people.  Surprise randomness is great, and most of my best friends in the world are because of something random…rarely a friend of a friend or by “normal means”.

Chrissy is no exception.

A sucker for cowboy boots and chick flicks, (i mean who isn’t right?) Chrissy loves the Packers.  Kind of sucks they didn’t make it further in the playoffs, but Favre still kinda counts right?  Ack, she might not agree *hides*

Not just football though! Being in and around San Francisco…you can’t stay away from AT&T park.  I <3 this picture:

Ever notice you can’t get AT&T reception in….AT&T park?  I don’t get it.

Anyways, Chrissy Emmons is someone you have to meet.

Never one to turn down a camping expedition, or a travel with the family and friends (especially mom), this girl never stops.

Did I mention that Chrissy Emmons is someone you have to meet?

One thing though.

You can’t.

And neither can I.  Nope, I’ve never met her.

Chrissy completed her battle with Cancer yesterday.  She’s still my friend though.  She’s yours too.

She found a swollen gland on her neck in April 2009.  It wasn’t just swollen, it was melanoma.   From what her mom Sue tells me, she was a fighter.  She got to enjoy Christmas, and ended her battle on her own terms spending time with people who took good care of her and realllllly cared about her.

I Blame Cancer for this.  There’s nothing else to blame.

I blame cancer that I don’t get to meet Chrissy in person.  More than likely we would have, because well I’m very blessed to have met so many awesome people.

She didn’t “lose” her battle, we are the ones who lose out.  Time to put the boots on and do some kicking of our own.  Kicking cancer’s ass into oblivion.  Are you doing what you can?  Are your eyes and ears open to how you can help?

Seriously, don’t wait until you don’t have a friend like Chrissy around to watch movies with anymore.

I’m not.

I’ve always been willing to speak at conferences or events, I did it a bunch during treatments.  Wasn’t always the smartest decision where my health was concerned, but I have zero regrets. The LIVESTRONG challenge was a great experience, the panel at BlogWorldExpo was an honor, the 140conf, the company talks I’ve given…I enjoyed them all.

Towards the end of my treatment in November, I shut things down.  I was really really humbled to get so many requests to speak about what I’ve gone through, what we’ve done to do some good, and what we’re doing in the future to kick even more of Cancer’s ass.

The emails came in and I’d fire back a “I wish I could, but I’m taking a bit of a break.  Please keep me in mind for the future”.

The future is now, I guess.  I’m ready to talk again.  I went through a really rough patch where I didn’t want to talk to anyone let alone get up in front of people and talk about something I’m really passionate about, deeply affected by, and driven to destroy.  But I’ve worked through it.

I have too many important things to do and too many important things to say not to share.

So, feel free to email me at drdrew AT gmail.com with your speaking opportunities.

(photo by ken yeung)

Thank you to Drew Carey and his staff for being so awesome to us.  We had a total blast, and I’m really stoked that LIVESTRONG got some major airtime at (18:25).

Plus, I got to say something pretty cool.   Next up “Live from New York…”

Everyone knows the joke about “Liquid Courage” - saying and doing things you normally wouldn’t when you’ve been drinking some adult beverages of your choice.

Can be cute at times (especially when its playful), but it’s mostly obnoxious.  Guys say things to girls they never would say if they weren’t well…drunk and hazy.  Girls are way more impressionable when they’ve had a few as well.  Everyone says dumb stuff.  Some people do things they regret.

Sound familiar?

Digital courage.

You’re online, you’re talking in AIM, text, on Twitter, etc.   Do you say/do things you normally wouldn’t be saying/doing in person?  Do you support a cause on your Facebook status that you wouldn’t jump right in and help on the ground?

Do you say nice things to people to get their attention that you wouldn’t be telling them to their face?

Digital Courage makes you look like a drunk ass.  Might as well grab a beer or 8.

Be yourself and speak your mind, no matter where you are.