When we learned Jim had Cancer – we didn’t have enough time to breath. He went into the hospital on April 28th .. and passed away just two months later. If we had known earlier that he had cancer I’m sure our time together would have become much more meaningful – and better spent. He would have had time for that last party he wanted .. with all of his friends and family. I learned that life is much too short to take for granted.
Just a few days ago a member of the Blogging Community learned that she was battling cancer – FOR THE THIRD TIME. Lisa over @ Clusterfook is a two time survivor of Ovarian Cancer – it’s back again and this time attacking her organs as well. Cancer is a b*tch of a disease.
We’re banning together to help Lisa spend some quality time with her family. Over at Miss Ann Thropes they’re hosting a raffle to raise money to help send Lisa and her family to Disney World. Living in Orlando – seeing the work of Give Kids The World – I understand the power that Disney has in healing the spirit. Laughter is often the best medicine – and what better way for a mother to remember how to laugh than by watching her kids having the time of their life?
Please take a minute to buy a raffle ticket – help this young family enjoy life! Help Send Lisa to Disney World!
On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.
Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.
What will you do when the lights are off? We have lots of ideas.
Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change. Don’t forget to sign up and let us know you want to join Earth Hour.
One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour!
I’ve been watching the Today show .. and NBC nightly news this week as NBC goes Green. You really have to stop and appreciate the world around us after seeing some of the stories they are covering. I’ve learned more about the Environmental Factors of our world in the past two days than I’ve learned in a lifetime.
Seeing places like Ecuador, Greenland, Antarctica … it makes you realize also that our world is a much bigger place than imagined. It makes me yearn to travel more … to see some of these beautiful locations myself. Who says that I have to be stuck in Orlando, FL for the rest of my life? Why can’t I find a travel companion and go on the adventure of a lifetime? The only thing stopping me is a sense of obligation and societal dictation that I must stay in one place and do the responsible thing. To hell with society – I’m going to do my own thing from now on – and who cares what anyone else thinks?
I set my ultimate reward when I reach my goal weight as a trip back to Scotland and Ireland. I hope to reach that goal by October next year … and will then schedule my trip late spring 2009. I know this sounds forever away … but it will mark the first leg of my great adventure. I’m hoping to plan a trip each year following to take advantage of our wonderful world. I want to see places like Australia {visit my online soul sister Ozzie!}, Kermacki, Finland – where my paternal great grandparents are from, Russia, Victoria Falls in Africa, Egypt to see the pyramids, Morocco, and more!
I’ve always had a fascination with other cultural celebrations and traditions .. what better way to study those behaviors than to watch them take place first hand? Perhaps this is the fodder for my book? Should I be searching the web for Grant money … wouldn’t THAT be cool?! And why not turn this dream into a reality? Other people take that leap of faith … don’t I owe it to myself to follow my heart?
For now I’ll be on the look out for a serious travel buddy. I’ll take a look at grants for writers, and start digging through travel books. It doesn’t hurt to start dreaming .. does it? Who knows …. I might just find myself out there in the big bad world!
From Willo’s Notebook:
Watch out ORLANDO – here I come!!
The new and first IKEA in Orlando has finally opened!
LET THE SHOPPING THERAPY COMMENCE!!!
I came across a great web site tonight – one that helps send care packages to our military members overseas. I’ve been surfing the site most of the night – it’s addictive – some of the request you’ll see will make you cry! Please consider “adopting” one of these soldiers and sending out your own care package!
Help on the Way for American Troops via AnySoldier.com
Civilian Organization Supports War Effort with Care Packages(LAPLATA, MD) – Back in 2003 when Marty and Sue Horn said goodbye to their son, Sergeant Brian Horn, an Army Infantry Soldier with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, they had no idea that in addition to their own son, they would later be heading up an organization that supports thousands of military personnel.
Any Soldier Inc. (www.AnySoldier.com) now helps nearly 100,000 American soldiers in all branches of the military, both active duty and reservists, and has become one of the leading efforts in making sure the men and women who have been deployed for the war are cared for, via letters and packages from “home.”
AnySoldier.com features emails from different military personnel regarding the type of support needed in the field. The support could be in the form of a simple letter or package, or it could toiletries, food or even newspapers and magazines. Donors address their letters and packages to the writer’s name, but also add the words “ATTN: Any Soldier” on the second line. The writer shares the mail with fellow servicemen and women. If there is “Any Soldier” who is not receiving a lot of mail from home, that soldier will be the first person to receive the letter.
“AnySoldier.com started as a simple family effort to help our son who was one of the 1,000 soldiers that parachuted into Northern Iraq back in March 2003,” explains Marty Horn, a 20-year Army veteran. “We knew his unit was living under very rough conditions so whenever we sent care packages to Brian, we always sent enough to share with fellow soldiers.”
The organization grew through a network of family and friends. When the website launched in 2004, 7 soldiers had been added to AnySoldier’s contact list. One year later, the list has ballooned to over 3,500 contacts, and the web site has received over 4.5 million visitors from around the world. In August of 2005, AnySoldier.com also took on the names AnyMarine.com, AnyAirman.com, AnySailor.com and AnyCoastguardsman.com.
One international visitor is writer and Alabama native Priscilla Lalisse, who lives in Paris, France. During a recent trip back home to Alabama, Lalisse was touched by the number of servicemen she saw headed for Iraq and wanted to do something to help them. After doing some research over the Internet she found AnySoldier.com and proceeded to send an armful of letters and packages off to soldiers stationed in Iraq and Kosovo.
“I was so touched by the letters and when you’re living in Paris, you often feel so far away from the events taking place back home,” says Lalisse. “AnySoldier and the Horns have given us a chance to feel like we, too, can be a part of the support effort for our troops who are in harm’s way.”
Many of you were asking how my walk went yesterday .. so I thought I’d give you a quick update on how the event was. The crowd was much smaller than I had originally anticipated .. and the organizers also seemed a bit disappointed. They had hoped for 400 walkers .. and I think there were about 30 of us there. There was a nice breakfast laid out {of which I didn’t eat – be proud of me!}, and a short time between registration and the start of the walk to mix with the others.
I learned that the majority of people walking were Gastric Bypass patients … this discovered as they all walked over and asked “And when did you have the surgery.” Where I looked up and smiled politely and replied .. “Oh no .. no. I’ve not had the surgery. I’m losing weight by cutting my calories and exercising more .. so I don’t have to have the surgery. ;;) ”
The Doctor who allowed his staff to organize the walk said a few words, the gave a gift certificate to the top fund raiser, and off we went! With my handy-dandy Nike + on my iPod – I listened to my Walk mix, set it for 3 miles , and grabbed a bottle of water. I was in the front of the group as we started, but went into my usual pace and fell to the middle of the pack. There were nurses walking with us .. thin ones .. they walk fast! I wasn’t too concerned with anyone else. I knew if I walked on pace, kept my heart rate between 125 – 145, then I was doing my personal best. It was HOT! There was no shade! But there was plenty of water .. and a lot of persistence in the group.
The Doctor ran around our loop a couple of times, picking up several walkers who couldn’t go any further. For some reason he kept asking me if I was doing ok .. because my face was bright red. I reminded him it was 150 degrees outside, and if he weren’t in his shaded cart perhaps he might be a little sunburnt as well – haha! But I was ok – I was right on target – and I was feeling good!
I ended up as the 4th from the last to cross the finish line … because so many had been given a ride back to the end during that last mile lap. That’s OK – I finished the 3 miles and I really wanted to go around one more time to get 4 in for the day. But I crossed the finish line and waited for the last 3 to arrive. I spoke with the nurse who organized the event and suggested that next year they focus on helping people prevent lapband surgery … and open the walk to anyone who wants to get fit. If they promote it more .. more will come. She told me of a new program opening up at the Hospital .. but it wouldn’t be available till 2008.
