02/06

Currently listening:

By Death Cab for Cutie
Release date: August 2005

I heard today that Terri and Kathy's Uncle John was finally released from his long and difficult battle with cancer.

The girls (and Kathy's teen daughter Katrina) have been on the RFL committee probably since the beginning of it in our town. Last year Terri was even our co-chair. She took this well-deserved year off to rest after all her hard-working years of service.

Their family has fought a lot of cancer.

What we can do is keep raising funds for research and please tell your elected members of Congress that you are opposed to the President's proposed cuts to funding for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in his budget for Fiscal Year 2007. Please.

This week I also did a little running along with the other things I needed to do while my visitor was in da house...

This was for John and Carol (Carol is Terri's mother-in-law. They recently learned that she has stage 3 lung cancer.)

Sunday's miles: 4
Total so far: 132.

5
Still to go for goal: 367.5

Saturday's miles: 4
Total so far: 128.5
Still to go for goal: 371.

Playing in my head: The Moment I Said It From Imogen Heap

Not a great day for news on the hometown cancer front. A friend of mine who was one of the chairs of the Relay last year has learned that her MIL has lung cancer.

And her Uncle John is in his final stages of the battle. :(

Adding Carol M to the list of inspirations. John is already there.

They'll be the focus of any and all running for the week.

Playing in my head: I Shall Believe by Sheryl Crow

The close of another weekend.
..

Can't believe it is Sunday night already.

Been a busy weekend cleaning and packing things away. Don't believe I've mentioned it around here but we're getting the house put together to put on the market.

I did get an opportunity to do a little farkeling on Saturday evening with Bill and Kathy.

This was after the big surprise party for my sis-in-law's surprise 40th birthday party. I think she was actually surprised, too! It was a fun afternoon and a nice break from the action at the house.

And winter has arrived with a vengeance. Not so much snow, but cold like you wouldn't believe if you didn't live in the north country. The wind (out of the north, of course) has been incredible.

At least there has been some bright sunshine.

Glad I got that propane tank filled the day they said they'd fill it! Or we'd be freezing our butts off!

For those who have inquired, yes, there will be more artwork up for auction one of these days. Or at the very least, a print or two if not originals. ;) I'm not so sure how many originals I can part with, after all.

I've been told that I should take the ribbon tortilla chip (do ya'll remember that? from my sweet nieces? I'll have to go digging for that photo.

..) and auction it off on eBay for the Relay.

I'm still giving that some serious consideration.

And finally, there's still time to get your donations in to Kel's great buzz-cut for cancer. Just head on over to her ACS Relay .

I'll be updating that with a photo from the actual event as soon as Jessica gets back from her vacation and I can get my happy little mitts on one or two jpgs. :) Thanks to everyone who has donated already and helped move our team that much closer to the Platinum goal we are shooting for! (over $10,000 to the American Cancer Society!

) You can donate with the simple click of a button, or by clicking on the printable form link you can fill out for sending with a check. Thanks again! Smooches!

I just realized the travesty of having absolutely no Beatles tunes on my iPod. Must remedy that situation..

. soon.

What's your favorite Beatles tune?

Playing in my head: Blackbird from the Fab Four

I have a few readers due to the holiday letters I sent out last month (yeah, that's right - they were late, what of it? ;)) who might be totally new to this whole blogging phenomenon and may not have found the comments area. At the bottom of the post you'll see the section that starts "posted by Keri @" and gives the time and date stamp.

That's where it all begins. The actual comments are found behind the section that has a number in parentheses and "told me". If no one has commented yet it simply says "what say you?

"

Please click on there and leave a comment. Say hello! Let me know you are here visiting!

I know I'm getting drop by's by some of you because I'm seeing new locations in my statistics and those locations are very familiar cities to me (well, not that I've visited, but that I've mailed things to recently!) and I love that you are stopping by. Now I'd just like to hear from you!

After the last very generous bid by the Internet Connection of Anonymous, I am announcing the closing of bidding on piece of art. Those of you who missed out, a fun broke out in the comments yesterday.

(Note to Anonymous: If it isn't signed? The artist will sign it before delivery..

.)

Thanks for playing! We'll work out the payment details to her ACS Relay online fundraising website (found ) upon delivery of artwork.

Playing in my head: I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man the Eric Clapton version

Thanks for the kind words about and suggesting I get another dog. This really isn't a good time for that, though.

Maybe later. But definitely not now. Too much is up in the air and changing.

I'm gone too much of the time and that isn't fair to a new member of the family. When things settle down again, then I will consider it. But not now.

Now there is Relay. And College. And graduation.

And lots of other things.

Blogging wasn't part of my life when Keli decided to cut off all of her long hair and donate it to Wigs for Kids (similar to Locks of Love) when she was in middle school. But if it had been, I'd have been able to post her before and after photos at that time.

You know. Something like this. Well, that was after until she decided that she didn't have the after look quite right.

.. (and that's not a swim cap, folks)

Well, this whole cancer thing has her feeling pretty angry right now.

She's feeling it in a big way at the moment. It took a lot away from her Dad. It took away his freedom to get around because he isn't able to drive.

It took away much of their time together because he ends up living where he works because of that lack of freedom. And it has taken away many friends and family members. And now, it is impacting in a big way, the life of a good friend of hers, too.

Kiersen's mom has been battling breast cancer like such a fierce warrior.

So Keli has decided that it is time once again to show everyone her support of the victims and the survivors of cancer. Will you jump on board and show her your support?

She doesn't even know I've cooked this up. She was just planning on getting together with friends, including Kiersen, and letting them buzz her hair off in honor of Kimberly, Kiersen's mom. One or two of the gang is bringing a camera to mark the occasion.

I asked a friend for a fundraising idea from the almost too late plans and she suggested we ask people to donate a dollar (or whatever people want to donate) for every inch Keli decides to cut. Well, at it's longest, Kel only has six inches of hair, so that isn't asking too much!

Will you join in?

I'm going to be the first here...

I'm offering $5 per inch of hair. So for every inch she cuts, I'll donate $5 (remember, I'm not employed..

.) to ACS Relay For Life. If she cuts five inches off, I'll be giving a $25 donation.

I'll keep you posted and update with a photo as soon as I can get one online. You can donate with a credit card by visiting her Relay site , or you can print a donation form at the same place and send a check. Either way works.

And either way is equally appreciated.

Doesn't she rock? That's my girl.

Today's miles: 3.5
Total so far: 121
Still to go for goal: 379

Playing in my head: Strange Beautiful (I'll Put a Spell on You) by Aqualung

Sure do miss .

:(

It was fun playing with Jane and Louie's pooches last weekend, but I'm sure not ready for another dog in my life full time yet. They are heartbreaking little guys.

I would have liked to watch Westminster, though.

It would have been fun to see the Schip if they had one.

Playing in my head: Collide from Howie Day

I said I had work to do.
..

But I told that I was doing this last night, so I better get to it!

I don't think I've ever mentioned the out here before and for that, I believe I've been remiss.

I have heard so many great stories about how much the Navigators and/or the 800 number (800.ACS.

2345) to the ACS helpline have helped friends and families of a newly diagnosed cancer patient in some way. So I think it is of critical importance to get the word out about their programs.

What is a Navigator?

American Cancer Society Navigators act on behalf of those affected by cancer in every community to identify and obtain beneficial resources. Navigators offer free, confidential assistance to cancer patients and those who care for them. Navigators are trained to listen to you, learn your needs and put together a plan of action that is tailor-made just for you.
On the web, just click on for up-to-the-minute information about programs, services and events in your community.

What can a Navigator do for you?

Provide extensive cancer information
Assist in locating local and national resources
Arrange for durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers and beds
Coordinate transportation and lodging
Connect you with wigs, hats and prostheses resources
And so much more…

If you or someone you know has cancer, a single toll-free call to 1.
800.ACS.2345 will put you in touch with your American Cancer Society.
Trained Cancer Information Specialists are available to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are calling during business hours, ask to speak directly to your local Navigator.

It's a great program helping cancer patients and their families every day.

And another great thing about it? It's one of the things that your dollars are helping when you are donating to me and my team with this whole Relay For Life thing I'm always squacking at you about. So if you are wondering what I'm doing with that money I'm asking for with this year round fundraising with the running and the truffles and the knitting/crocheting and hot dogs/brats stands and whatever else I've got up my sleeve throughout the year?

This Navigator thing is one of them. Along with the research, of course. But this is such a great direct help that I've personally seen helping my friends, so I want to promote it out there to the bigger world.

So ? Run with it and push it to the Really Big World. :)

800.

ACS.2345 Use it if you need it. 24 hours.

They know what they're talking about. If you have questions, they'll find answers.

And if you ever need info and just don't feel like talking to a live person, in taking some time to look around the ACS online website today (again - www.

cancer.org), that has come a long way over the past couple of years, as well. It's got a whole lotta information connected with it these days.

Those darned photos of that one kid..
.

I created a couple of collages of that one kid a couple of evenings ago. The first one I went through and picked out a bunch of photos, created it, hit the create button, did some shuffling to get it sort of how I wanted it and then.

..

it disafreakinpeared.

So I had to created another one. But when it happened I had to go through and select the photos all over again because the software tossed them all back into the mix of thousands of photos again. This was a frustrating experience!

So I spent another hour or so doing it over.

The next day when I jumped out into the software and looked, they were both there. Now I want to have one of them printed and I can't decide which I like better.

So let's take a vote.

Which collage do you like better.

Letter A?

Letter B?

They are very similar, I know. But they each have their merits because of subtle differences.

Click to embiggen...

Now I have a day's worth of work to do before I head out in the morning to spend a weekend with my Incredible Internet Diva Friends! Yeehaw! The only thing that could make this weekend better would be if more of them would be able to make it.

Playing in my head: Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch (from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack)

She hates all of this attention.
..

But I don't care.

:)

The portfolio has been approved! Props to Keli! She'll know by mid-week next week if she's been accepted.

..

Anybody wanna see how her Capote is coming along these days?

*feeling like showing off now...

Playing in my head: We Built This City by Jefferson Starship (because it is the song that wouldn't die...
dogdamnit)

Maybe I should change my name..
.

Dude, you.are.
killing.me.

woah .
don't you ever complain about not having pictures of me again.

Or perhaps someone already did without telling me?

Whichever.

It's okay.

When I was in second grade I traded names with the girl who sat in front of me. We just decided we liked each other's names better than our own and decided to go by the other's.

I wrote her name on my paper and she wrote mine. The teacher somehow knew that mine was hers and hers was mine, if that makes any sense. So now you can call me Keri or you can call me Dude.

I answer to either. And I call my daughter Dude, too. It's a universal name.

Brandon is Dude, too. How we can tell each other apart, I'll never know. ;o)

Playing in my head: Tongue-Tied from Aqualung

I've been struggling with how to write this post. I've sat down to do it about a billion times it seems. The wording always seems completely wrong.

I keep getting so emotional. And that's not a bad thing. It just makes for difficult reading.

And difficult writing to be honest. So I'm going to just state a few facts. "Just the facts ma'am.

" Keep it straight up for now. I'm sure there will be a lot of time to get personal about it later. But for now?

Just a couple of bare minimum facts. As I know them. I still need to talk with my cousins.

That would help, I think.

She has cancer. Lung and bone.

Not good. She's a strong woman. I've yet to call a team meeting of the brain trusters.

I need to talk with the main man about this, too. But I'm thinking..

. a team dedicated to a specific person. This person is deep in the middle of it.

We could be dedicated to her this year.

I ran for her on Thursday. My strong Aunt.

Smooches to you, dear. I love you.

Thursday's miles: 4.

5
Total so far: 114
Still to go for goal: 386

And the mileage for Fr. Peter's run from Wednesday was as follows:

Wednesday's miles: 4
Total so far: 109.5
Still to go for goal: 390.

Playing in my head: Photograph from Nickelback (thanks, J - first they play it all of the time on the radio so that it is forever in my head and then you tell me you are going to the concert which reminds me of it being stuck forever in my head and reintroduce this earworm!)

I learned late last night that there is a new warrior in the battle fighting cancer.

Fr. Peter baptized Keli and buried more than a few of my friends and family during his tenure as priest of the local catholic church. Bone cancer will be one of his bigger battles in this lifetime, but he is a worthy adversary.

Today's run will be for him.

Today's miles: TBD
Total so far: 105.5
Still to go for goal: 394.

Playing in my head: Clarity by John Mayer

Keywords: Acs Relay, Death Cab, American Cancer, American Cancer Society, Cancer Information, Uncle John, Cancer Society, Last Year

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Currently listening: By Death Cab for CutieRelease date: August 2005