Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Hey I Read a Book this Weekend!!
Hi Everyone!
I had such a great time with the last post that I have been putting off doing another one. Just didn't think I could do a decent follow up to that one, but I guess I have to jump back in here sometime huh?...It is Sunday night and I am typing to the sounds of Sunday Night Football. This is a weekend ritual for me, the last thing that I hear on a Sunday night before finally dragging myself off to bed. I say that because I hate to go to bed on Sunday nights. At least if it involves getting up for work on Monday morning...Not so much if I have off on Monday morning...But anyway, that is not what this post is about, not really...that could and probably will, be another post some day...I just spent a very enjoyable fall weekend enjoying one of the things that I like to do most with my spare time! I read for a good part of the weekend. The weather was glorious on this fall weekend and so we had the front and back doors open and I could hear the rustle of the leaves and the sounds of the baseball and football games on the TV...Wonderful! Can you picture it?
I have always been an avid reader. I read all kinds of things. When I was younger my concentration was mainly in the romance genre, but I can honestly say that while I can still be seen reading a good romance, I have branched out quite a bit. I have a whole host of favorite authors and it must be said that I am now a steadfast fan of the e-reader, the Amazon Kindle. I simply love it, even though it does not come in pink...mine has a pink cover! Anyway, most of you know that I am an embryologist by trade but what I really wanted to be when I grew up was an archeologist. I am still, and always will be fascinated with history, ancient history, to be exact. I love it when I can find adventure books that combine all of my loves. David Gibbins has written just such a series. These books can stand alone...I just happen to have read all of them so far, and this weekend I read the latest. They feature an underwater marine archeologist named Jack Howard and all of the wonderful supporting characters one could ask for. The stories move from the ancient past to the present and back, are fast paced, and keep you on the edge of your seat...you can't wait to find out what happens next and then when the adventure is over you can't wait for the next book to come out...I had to actually read this one in book form as it was not available in kindle form...what the hell?...I mentioned to a friend while on break when she commented on seeing me with an actual book that my thumb was getting sore from holding the cover down! She laughed and commented back that I needed to "get it back in shape" lol...
The author of these incredible books, as I mentioned before, is David Gibbins and he is, himself, an archeologist that does underwater excavation. Thus, much of what he writes is based on his own experiences, although it is fiction. I learn a lot about history through his books and I like that. He, of course, has a website www.davidgibbins.com It's a great place to visit. You can get his books anywhere. I got them at www.amazon.com! Oh, the name of the book I just finished reading? It is The Mask of Troy!
Hope you had a great weekend too!
Stay Pink!
I had such a great time with the last post that I have been putting off doing another one. Just didn't think I could do a decent follow up to that one, but I guess I have to jump back in here sometime huh?...It is Sunday night and I am typing to the sounds of Sunday Night Football. This is a weekend ritual for me, the last thing that I hear on a Sunday night before finally dragging myself off to bed. I say that because I hate to go to bed on Sunday nights. At least if it involves getting up for work on Monday morning...Not so much if I have off on Monday morning...But anyway, that is not what this post is about, not really...that could and probably will, be another post some day...I just spent a very enjoyable fall weekend enjoying one of the things that I like to do most with my spare time! I read for a good part of the weekend. The weather was glorious on this fall weekend and so we had the front and back doors open and I could hear the rustle of the leaves and the sounds of the baseball and football games on the TV...Wonderful! Can you picture it?
I have always been an avid reader. I read all kinds of things. When I was younger my concentration was mainly in the romance genre, but I can honestly say that while I can still be seen reading a good romance, I have branched out quite a bit. I have a whole host of favorite authors and it must be said that I am now a steadfast fan of the e-reader, the Amazon Kindle. I simply love it, even though it does not come in pink...mine has a pink cover! Anyway, most of you know that I am an embryologist by trade but what I really wanted to be when I grew up was an archeologist. I am still, and always will be fascinated with history, ancient history, to be exact. I love it when I can find adventure books that combine all of my loves. David Gibbins has written just such a series. These books can stand alone...I just happen to have read all of them so far, and this weekend I read the latest. They feature an underwater marine archeologist named Jack Howard and all of the wonderful supporting characters one could ask for. The stories move from the ancient past to the present and back, are fast paced, and keep you on the edge of your seat...you can't wait to find out what happens next and then when the adventure is over you can't wait for the next book to come out...I had to actually read this one in book form as it was not available in kindle form...what the hell?...I mentioned to a friend while on break when she commented on seeing me with an actual book that my thumb was getting sore from holding the cover down! She laughed and commented back that I needed to "get it back in shape" lol...
Hope you had a great weekend too!
Stay Pink!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
There are no words...just watch! Please...
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1610073979292This is an amazing story. I live in the area and so this is a story that is close and the team involved is my home team...I am proud of all involved and I am "friends" or at least follow this on facebook. I am sure you can see why. I am also sure you can see why this has garnered the attention of ESPN...
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Why We Walk
I have been wanting to post about my incredible experience of Friday night all weekend but I am just getting to it, and now I am afraid I won't be able to do it justice. I feel I must give you a little background, but will try not to bore...As a blogger, you must figure that I do follow a few blogs...as most of you out there know, I am a tireless and very active breast cancer advocate...this story kind of touches on both and a whole lot more...
Last weekend we had our Maryland Race for the Cure. It was a very busy time around here, it was an exhilarating time around here. The survivor tent, for which I was responsible, was beautiful, and a huge success! Back at work, I spent the week recovering...towards the middle of the week I received a voice mail message asking me if I might like to speak Friday night at the Komen DC 3 Day as a representative of Komen Maryland. Of course, I said sure. I am to speak for five minutes or so on a mission/research related topic. The camp is an hour or so away...
My husband has been sent down to the college to finally take care of a dorm related problem for my daughter...we don't like to play the squeaky wheel but sometimes it has to be done and up until now, my daughter has handled it all on her own...a story for another blog post...
I also have an advocacy related conference call after work Friday and before the 3 day...sheesh...should I have passed this up?
Well, boy am I glad I didn't! I follow a blog called "My big girl Pants" the author is a young breast cancer patient that is fighting stage IV breast cancer and has been since being diagnosed at age 21. I read this week that she is doing the DC 3 day...hey, I think, perhaps I will meet her!
I am on face book this week and a friend is crewing for the 3 day. hey, I think, perhaps I will see her...
So, Friday comes and I finish up work early and do my call and then head over to Germantown, MD to the 3 day camp. The Komen 3 day is an event where the participants raise money to participate and then walk 60 miles over a 3 day period! I was one of the speakers on their first night of camp. It took me an excruciating one and a half hours to make the drive. I barely made it to the stage on time!
After a lovely introduction I did my thing, it was fun, it went well, and I enjoyed, it. Afterward, I sat down and listened. A young woman sat near me and she asked me to say hello to our executive director for her. She told me that her name was Bridget and that she was the woman's daughter's best friend and that she lived across the street. Of course, I agreed to do this...The next thing I know, the young woman is being introduced as a participant and she is there to explain why she walks.
Well, she walks because she was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 weeks after she graduated from college at the age of 21. She had found a lump in her breast 6 months earlier. The doctors assured her that it was nothing...Six months later it became clear that it was not nothing! It turned out to be stage IV breast cancer with a tumor in her liver! It was predicted that she would not live through the treatments...You have to under stand that I remember hearing about our executive director's daughter's best friend and her diagnosis...OMG! I had just met her...what a small world...Bridget continued to talk...she spoke about the fact that she met someone and that she became engaged and they are now married and that they have been changing her chemotherapy cocktails along the way because the cancer will figure out what they are doing and so they will have to change it...This all compliments what I had talked about when I spoke...Then she talked about the fact that it is 6 years later she is 26 now and she and her husband would like to talk about the future and a yard and a puppy and maybe children, but sometimes they just pray for one more day. Tears flow...
She was given 2 weeks off of chemotherapy for her wedding and for the first time she was able to feel her age...All of this was said with good humor and laughter! I was listening to an incredible young woman! Then she made the comment that the cocktail she was on now had actually, for the first time, shrunk the tumor! And the coin dropped into the slot...I had met "My Big Girl Pants" she is Bridget...all this time, and I had no idea...I waited for her to finish. We gave her a standing ovation. She went over to sit with her husband. I walked around in front of the stage and over to her chair and knelt next to her(hoping that she would not see that I had been crying) I said to her, "you're Big girl pants" she laughed and said "yes!" I said " I follow you, I was hoping to meet you!" We hugged and I told her she was right that her husband was cute and we laughed. He looked a little shell shocked...I believe that this was his first walk, and after all he had just listened to the story also...her Mom was there and her team...they had raised over 85,000 dollars! As I stood up I felt someone tap me on my shoulder, I turned around and there was my FB friend Mollie. We hugged! Now my night was complete!
What an incredible night. What an incredible woman! It all gave me chills. I went over to the 3 day shops and bought a shocking pick travel mug...it's what I do...
Bridget, you are why we walk, I am why we walk! And nights like these are why, when the body and mind gets tired, the spirit is renewed!
Stay pink Bridget and stay well!
Last weekend we had our Maryland Race for the Cure. It was a very busy time around here, it was an exhilarating time around here. The survivor tent, for which I was responsible, was beautiful, and a huge success! Back at work, I spent the week recovering...towards the middle of the week I received a voice mail message asking me if I might like to speak Friday night at the Komen DC 3 Day as a representative of Komen Maryland. Of course, I said sure. I am to speak for five minutes or so on a mission/research related topic. The camp is an hour or so away...
My husband has been sent down to the college to finally take care of a dorm related problem for my daughter...we don't like to play the squeaky wheel but sometimes it has to be done and up until now, my daughter has handled it all on her own...a story for another blog post...
I also have an advocacy related conference call after work Friday and before the 3 day...sheesh...should I have passed this up?
Well, boy am I glad I didn't! I follow a blog called "My big girl Pants" the author is a young breast cancer patient that is fighting stage IV breast cancer and has been since being diagnosed at age 21. I read this week that she is doing the DC 3 day...hey, I think, perhaps I will meet her!
I am on face book this week and a friend is crewing for the 3 day. hey, I think, perhaps I will see her...
So, Friday comes and I finish up work early and do my call and then head over to Germantown, MD to the 3 day camp. The Komen 3 day is an event where the participants raise money to participate and then walk 60 miles over a 3 day period! I was one of the speakers on their first night of camp. It took me an excruciating one and a half hours to make the drive. I barely made it to the stage on time!
After a lovely introduction I did my thing, it was fun, it went well, and I enjoyed, it. Afterward, I sat down and listened. A young woman sat near me and she asked me to say hello to our executive director for her. She told me that her name was Bridget and that she was the woman's daughter's best friend and that she lived across the street. Of course, I agreed to do this...The next thing I know, the young woman is being introduced as a participant and she is there to explain why she walks.
Well, she walks because she was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 weeks after she graduated from college at the age of 21. She had found a lump in her breast 6 months earlier. The doctors assured her that it was nothing...Six months later it became clear that it was not nothing! It turned out to be stage IV breast cancer with a tumor in her liver! It was predicted that she would not live through the treatments...You have to under stand that I remember hearing about our executive director's daughter's best friend and her diagnosis...OMG! I had just met her...what a small world...Bridget continued to talk...she spoke about the fact that she met someone and that she became engaged and they are now married and that they have been changing her chemotherapy cocktails along the way because the cancer will figure out what they are doing and so they will have to change it...This all compliments what I had talked about when I spoke...Then she talked about the fact that it is 6 years later she is 26 now and she and her husband would like to talk about the future and a yard and a puppy and maybe children, but sometimes they just pray for one more day. Tears flow...
She was given 2 weeks off of chemotherapy for her wedding and for the first time she was able to feel her age...All of this was said with good humor and laughter! I was listening to an incredible young woman! Then she made the comment that the cocktail she was on now had actually, for the first time, shrunk the tumor! And the coin dropped into the slot...I had met "My Big Girl Pants" she is Bridget...all this time, and I had no idea...I waited for her to finish. We gave her a standing ovation. She went over to sit with her husband. I walked around in front of the stage and over to her chair and knelt next to her(hoping that she would not see that I had been crying) I said to her, "you're Big girl pants" she laughed and said "yes!" I said " I follow you, I was hoping to meet you!" We hugged and I told her she was right that her husband was cute and we laughed. He looked a little shell shocked...I believe that this was his first walk, and after all he had just listened to the story also...her Mom was there and her team...they had raised over 85,000 dollars! As I stood up I felt someone tap me on my shoulder, I turned around and there was my FB friend Mollie. We hugged! Now my night was complete!
What an incredible night. What an incredible woman! It all gave me chills. I went over to the 3 day shops and bought a shocking pick travel mug...it's what I do...
Bridget, you are why we walk, I am why we walk! And nights like these are why, when the body and mind gets tired, the spirit is renewed!
Stay pink Bridget and stay well!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
I am a Blogger! Hear me ROAR!!!
Hi There,
I really can't believe that I am actually taking time to do this this morning, but here goes...I have a lot to do today. That is an understatement. Our Race for the Cure here in Maryland is tomorrow and I have a tent to get ready...Not just any tent, THE TENT. I am in charge of the survivor tent...but that is a story for another day...
Today's blog, before I drag my family out of the house, yes my daughter came home, and head over to the site, is about something that took place over the last few days...Yesterday I was, quite simply, enraged by it. We have been thinking of adopting another dog, another little Eskie girl to keep our sweet Lily company.(that's her) Lily had a sister that we lost to renal failure last year...Since Caitlin has gone off to college and we both work we feel that Lily needs company. We like to do the rescue thing. A few months back we had a home inspection and we were hoping to adopt a little Eskie girl named Little Girl. She was a mirror image of Lily, but not in personality that is for sure! She terrorized poor Lily. Well, we thought, we can work through that...Then we humans sat with her...she snuggled but had a tendency to snap and growl all of a sudden for no reason...We spent the better part of an afternoon with LG and her foster human Cheryl. Well it seems that LG did not like me for some reason, to the point that she actually bit me! Twice! She actually broke the skin! I just sat there calmly and waited for her to let go,,,which, I must say, did not happen all that quickly and Cheryl seemed not to think to help me with it...
So flash forward to this week...Caitlin has left now and we decide to pursue the idea once again. I look at a few pictures put in an inquiry. A woman answers...I explain that we have had a home inspection and that we had been assured at the time that all was well and that we would not have to have another one should we decide to adopt a different dog. Needless to say, we had decided to forgo LG.
However, I could not remember Cheryl's name so I looked up Little Girl to find the foster mom's name. While there I read LG's little blurb...imagine my surprise when I read that she has uncontrolled snapping but "has never bitten anyone" I thought well that is interesting...but I decided not to say anything, although it did make me very uncomfortable. Well I gave Cheryl's name and the information and waited...Word came back that Cheryl did not remember doing our home inspection...well, I thought how could she not? Her damn dog bit me!! So I, of course, being the bitch that I can be, proceeded to mention this...
Well you will not believe the response that I received...not only did the paperwork miraculously appear, but apparently we had failed both our vet inspection and our home inspection! Well now, I am just plain pissed!! Because, of course this is just not true. So not only has Cheryl lied about Little Girl on line about the biting but now she is lying about us!! She has messed with the wrong person. I shoot off a masterpiece. I laid it all out. I mentioned the untruths in the Little Dog write up, the fact that when she left we were not to worry about adopting another dog, home inspection done etc...and that I felt that all this had come down because I had caught Cheryl in a lie and had had the gall to call her on it. I ended with the fact that I did not believe that we would be able to trust the organization enough to adopt from them in the future. To this person's credit, her response was very professional and soothing. She said that she in no way had sent any response due to what had been said, she would see to it that if biting had occurred that the write up would be changed and that we could start over and she would give us another chance. I have no intention of doing that, but I do give her credit...Heidi was caught in the middle of an awkward situation and handled it well. Unfortunately for them and the little eskies, I am a blogger! Hear me ROAR!!!
Oh, and the organization? Eskerescuers.org.
Stay Pink!!
I really can't believe that I am actually taking time to do this this morning, but here goes...I have a lot to do today. That is an understatement. Our Race for the Cure here in Maryland is tomorrow and I have a tent to get ready...Not just any tent, THE TENT. I am in charge of the survivor tent...but that is a story for another day...
So flash forward to this week...Caitlin has left now and we decide to pursue the idea once again. I look at a few pictures put in an inquiry. A woman answers...I explain that we have had a home inspection and that we had been assured at the time that all was well and that we would not have to have another one should we decide to adopt a different dog. Needless to say, we had decided to forgo LG.
However, I could not remember Cheryl's name so I looked up Little Girl to find the foster mom's name. While there I read LG's little blurb...imagine my surprise when I read that she has uncontrolled snapping but "has never bitten anyone" I thought well that is interesting...but I decided not to say anything, although it did make me very uncomfortable. Well I gave Cheryl's name and the information and waited...Word came back that Cheryl did not remember doing our home inspection...well, I thought how could she not? Her damn dog bit me!! So I, of course, being the bitch that I can be, proceeded to mention this...
Well you will not believe the response that I received...not only did the paperwork miraculously appear, but apparently we had failed both our vet inspection and our home inspection! Well now, I am just plain pissed!! Because, of course this is just not true. So not only has Cheryl lied about Little Girl on line about the biting but now she is lying about us!! She has messed with the wrong person. I shoot off a masterpiece. I laid it all out. I mentioned the untruths in the Little Dog write up, the fact that when she left we were not to worry about adopting another dog, home inspection done etc...and that I felt that all this had come down because I had caught Cheryl in a lie and had had the gall to call her on it. I ended with the fact that I did not believe that we would be able to trust the organization enough to adopt from them in the future. To this person's credit, her response was very professional and soothing. She said that she in no way had sent any response due to what had been said, she would see to it that if biting had occurred that the write up would be changed and that we could start over and she would give us another chance. I have no intention of doing that, but I do give her credit...Heidi was caught in the middle of an awkward situation and handled it well. Unfortunately for them and the little eskies, I am a blogger! Hear me ROAR!!!
Oh, and the organization? Eskerescuers.org.
Stay Pink!!
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