The Thousand-and-Second Tale of LauraJeanette

We're Moving

2008-02-06T13:12:00.000-06:00

I'm switching my blog over to Wordpress to try it out. I think I like it better. We'll see. The new address is http://laurajeanette.wordpress.com/. Check it out.

Congradulations!

2008-01-24T10:39:00.000-06:00

From my inbox:

Congrads on your new position as editor.

Seriously? Come on people. For clarification, this was not some casual e-mail sent to me by a friend. If it were, I would have ignored it. (After all, I don't spell check casual e-mails I send to friends. I don't always spell check my blog.) But it wasn't. It concluded the opening paragraph of a well thought out 800+ word testimonial pitch (we don't publish those anyway) sent to me by a PR representative. Sure, "conGRADulations" is cute on a graduation card ... but if you're trying to pitch a story to an editor, please use spell check. Thanks.

So You Had a Bad Day

2008-01-22T14:30:00.000-06:00

http://www.glumbert.com/media/baddayoffice

Martin Luther King, Jr.

2008-01-21T14:32:00.000-06:00

I found what Greg Boyd has to say about today enlightening. Those of us who weren't alive during the civil rights movement have no real grasp of what Martin Luther King, Jr. Day means. Most of us grew up in a world where little black kids and little white kids did hold hands and play together. It wasn't always so. I could make a comparison of today's Civil Rights leaders and Rev. King, but I'm not going to. You can do that for yourself and see where you end up.

Doing Martin Luther King Jr. Justice

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. day, so I'd like to share a reflection on this great man and the movement he birthed.

For the first time in history, we have an African American who is a viable candidate for the Presidency of the United States. Barack Obama wouldn't be doing what he's doing today if it wasn't for what Martin Luther King Jr. did 40 years ago -- at great cost to himself. This man did more to free America from its historical racism than any other single individual (though, of course, we still have a long way to go). continue reading

It might be "worth while" to learn the difference between affect and effect.

2008-01-21T09:50:00.000-06:00

From my Inbox:

One suggestion I do have is to possibly get on a call with our president…He can talk about mold and its affect on allergies, and he can also provide solutions, with a VERY soft sell of our product (fact sheet attached). Let me know if that’s something worth while to pursue and I’d be happy to set it up for you (or the writer).

Manager, Marketing Communications

Cloverfield

2008-01-19T00:11:00.000-06:00

I went to see Cloverfield tonight. I don't really know what to think about it, other than maybe I should have taken a Dramamine beforehand. I would say that I only suffer from mildish motion sickness, but after about 15 minutes of the horribly shaky video footage, I had a major headache and felt like I was going to hurl any minute. I still feel sick. That said, it was a pretty good movie, but I don't know if it was worth the $20 spent or the nausea.

Before going into the movie, I already had a love/hate relationship with J. J. Abrams. I am a loyal LOST fan, but there are days, especially during that whole "tailie" storyline, when I want to strangle Mr. Abrams for asking more questions than he answers. In true Abrams fashion, that's exactly what happens with this movie. In the end, I was left a little ... unsatisfied. With all the buzz surrounding Cloverfield, I went into the theater with a lot of questions. And I left the theater with even more unanswered questions. Oh J. J., why must you torture your fans?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the movie was bad. There were some positive aspects. First, the few glimpses that we did get of the "monster" were pretty satisfying. Granted, we have no idea what the thing is or where it came from, but it looks pretty cool and has some rather interesting characteristics. (I can only wish J. J. would do the same thing with the mysterious "black smoke" on the island.) There was also an underlying love story (I'm not going to say how that ends) for those people who aren't that into suspense. One thing the movie did do well was suspense. I was never quite sure what was going to happen next. There were even times when I wasn't quite sure what was happening at all.

So, to wrap it all up, I'm kind of ambivalent about Cloverfield at the moment. I'm not one of those people who is going to spend hours and hours on the Internet visiting viral sites to try and figure out the "broader concept" of the movie, so if I have to do that to get the full story, then Mr. Abrams has left me a little disappointed. However, if J. J. is planning on following in the footsteps of the Godzilla franchise and making more Cloverfield movies, then I might keep watching, hoping for some sort of resolution. I do, after all, still religiously follow LOST. I am putting my movie/television faith in J. J. Abrams and hoping his "master plot" does not disappoint.

Old?

2008-01-17T13:13:00.000-06:00

I'm 26. I feel old. It sucks.

Scattergories(ish)

2008-01-11T19:43:00.000-06:00

1. What is your name: Laura
2. 4 letter word: lost
3. Vehicle: Lexus
4. A city: London
5. Boy Name: Luke
6. Girl Name: Lorelai
7. Alcoholic drink: Lynchburg Lemonade
8. Occupation: Librarian
9. Something you wear: lingerie
10. Celebrity: Lucy Liu
11. Food: lemon lollipop
12. Something found in a bathroom: loofah
13. Reason for Being Late: lost my keys
14. Cartoon Character: Linus
15. Something you shout: Loser!
16. Animal: llama
17. Body part: lip
18. Word to describe you: lovely

Things to Do in 2008

2008-01-07T23:14:00.000-06:00

drink less soda
run a 1/2 marathon
find a church that I can really get involved in
get more sleep
eat more veggies
send my writing in to a publisher other than my own
get more done on Saturdays
run 3 days a week
sleep in less
cook dinner more often, like once (maybe twice) a month
read more often

10 Things I Did on New Year's Eve

2008-01-03T22:09:00.000-06:00

watched football, lots of football
had a wonderful Italian meal
stood in line at a club and didn't get in, :-(
wore flats because of a stupid running injury, :-( again
toasted the new year with free champagne
drank a cafe au lait while walking down Broadway -- not the French Quarter, but close enough
met my first Aussie (Olivia Newtown-John doesn't count because I chatted with her on the phone, not in person)
had my first tequila sunrise, yummy ... and free
witnessed a chick fight in a bar over a stolen wallet, hilarious. the bartender kicked out the thief. so funny.
made jokes about a "queen" wearing a chicken hat. he was an easy target, but also a good sport.

Horoscope

2007-12-20T08:57:00.000-06:00

I was in a gas station the other day when I heard the following conversation:

Lady in Line: My horoscope for today is so right, it's almost scary.
Cashier: Really? What does yours say?
Lady in Line: It says "In both love and sales, it is important to remember that a 'one size fits all' approach does not always work." Isn't that weird? That freaks me out it's so right.

This got me thinking that if enough Americans are this gullible/stupid, I could make a real nice living writing horoscopes. I mean, exactly how hard is it to write pseudo-profound generalizations that could apply to almost anyone who is reading them at any given time?

I think I'll give it a try:

When it comes to life, you will be much happier if take a glass half-full approach.
To succeed in business, determination is essential.
Keep your eye on the goal, and you will not be easily distracted.
This month, you may be lucky in love. But if romance does not come your way, you should embrace your singleness.
The only stupid questions are the ones not asked.

So, what do you think? Am I ready to quit my day job?

If You Are Against Child Abuse ...

2007-12-19T11:34:00.000-06:00

I recently received an annoying forward (copied below) urging me to "pass this on! IF YOU ARE AGAINST CHILD ABUSE." For starters, I really hate forwards. Moreover, I really hate forwards that ask me to pass them on, especially if the original forwarder implies that by not passing it along I don't love Jesus, or am going to hell, or, as in this case, am not against child abuse.

To clarify, and to keep from sounding heartless, I am against child abuse. Who isn't against child abuse? Even the people who abuse their children are against child abuse. However, that does not mean that I'm going to pass along your little (poorly written) poem. There are much better things one can do to prevent child abuse. The next time you are tempted to pass along such a forward, maybe you should instead heed the following advice from Prevent Child Abuse America:

Ten Ways to Help Prevent Child Abuse

Be a nurturing parent. Children need to know that they are special, loved and capable of following their dreams.
Help a friend, neighbor or relative. Being a parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand take care of the children, so the parent(s) can rest or spend time together.
Help yourself. When the big and little problems of your everyday life pile up to the point you feel overwhelmed and out of control – take time out. Don’t take it out on your kid.
If your baby cries… It can be frustrating to hear your baby cry. Learn what to do if your baby won’t stop crying. Never shake a baby – shaking a child may result in severe injury or death.
Get involved. Ask your community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop services to meet the needs of healthy children and families.
Help to develop parenting resources at your local library.
Promote programs in school. Teaching children, parents and teachers prevention strategies can help to keep children safe.
Monitor your child’s television and video viewing. Watching violent films and TV programs can harm young children.
Volunteer at a local child abuse prevention program. For information about volunteer opportunities, call 1.800.CHILDREN.
Report suspected abuse or neglect. If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, call your local department of children and family services or you local police department.

The Forwarded Poem:

My name is Chris

I am three,

My eyes are swollen

I cannot see,

I must be stupid

I must be bad,

What else could have made

My daddy so mad?

I wish I were better

I wish I weren't ugly,

Then maybe my mommy

Would still want to hug me.

I can't do a wrong

I can't speak at all

Or else im locked up

All day long.

When im awake im all alone

The house is dark

My folks aren't home

When my mommy does come home I'll try and be nice,

So maybe i'll just get

One whipping tonight.

I just heard a car

My daddy is back

From Charlie's bar.

I hear him curse

My name is called

I press myself

Against the wall

I try to hide

From his evil eyes

I'm so afraid now

I'm starting to cry

He finds me weeping

Calls me ugly words,

He says its my fault

He suffers at work.

He slaps and hits me

And yells at me more,

I finally get free

And run to the door

He's already locked it

And i start to bawl,

He takes me and throws me

Against the hard wall

I fall to the floor

With my bones nearly broken,

And my daddy continues

With more bad words spoken,

"I'm sorry!", I scream

But its now much to late

His face has been twisted

Into a unimaginable shape

The hurt and the pain

Again and again

O please God, have mercy!

O please let it end!

And he finally stops

And heads for the door

While i lay there motionless

Brawled on the floor

My name is chris

I am three,

Tonight my daddy

Murdered me

And you can help

Sickens me top the soul,

And if you read this

and don't pass it on

I pray for your forgiveness

Because you would have to be

One heartless person

To not be effected

By this Poem

And because you are effected,

Do something about it!

So all I ask you to do

Is pass this on!

IF YOU ARE AGAINST CHILD ABUSE

Dan Fogelberg Dies at 56

2007-12-17T08:51:00.000-06:00

Singer-songwriter Dan Folgelberg died of cancer on Sunday (Dec. 16) at his home in Maine. He was 56. Fogelberg had several hit records in the 1970s and '80s, fueled by soft-rock hits like ''The Power of Gold'' and ''Leader of the Band,'' a tribute he wrote to his father, a bandleader. His last record was 2003's Full Circle, his first album of original material in a decade. When he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer a year later, he released a statement thanking his fans: ''It is truly overwhelming and humbling to realize how many lives my music has touched so deeply all these years ... I thank you from the very depths of my heart.'' Folgelberg is survived by his wife, Jean. (AP via Yahoo!)

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20166663,00.html

I Could Care Less

2007-12-13T12:00:00.000-06:00

From a manuscript I'm currently editing:

I pick up a magazine, but I can’t concentrate on that either. The latest fad diet or newest winter fashions seem so inconsequential. I have a long “To Do” list, but I could care less.

And to save time, I'll just steal someone else's words:

The expression I could not care less originally meant 'it would be impossible for me to care less than I do because I do not care at all'. It was originally a British saying and came to the US in the 1950s. It is senseless to transform it into the now-common I could care less. If you could care less, that means you care at least a little. The original is quite sarcastic and the other form is clearly nonsense. The inverted form I could care less was coined in the US and is found only here, recorded in print by 1966. The question is, something caused the negative to vanish even while the original form of the expression was still very much in vogue and available for comparison - so what was it? There are other American English expressions that have a similar sarcastic inversion of an apparent sense, such as Tell me about it!, which usually means 'Don't tell me about it, because I know all about it already'. The Yiddish I should be so lucky!, in which the real sense is often 'I have no hope of being so lucky', has a similar stress pattern with the same sarcastic inversion of meaning as does I could care less. http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/g09.html

Apparently, the Brits really hate this American colloquialism:

http://spandg.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-biggest-english-peeve.html

Q&A with John Kerry

2007-12-13T08:45:00.000-06:00

This is just one question out of eight in the actual interview. It was the one that I found the most interesting. Enjoy!

Senator John Kerry was diagnosed with prostate cancer while on the presidential campaign trail in 2002. In a recent interview with Coping With Cancer magazine, he speaks candidly about beating cancer, losing an election and advocating for the American people.

CM: What has been the one most difficult challenge you have faced since having cancer? How did you overcome it?

JK: You know, there are a lot of challenges at my age. You lose friends and family to illness and death. And in my case, I lost a pretty close election. The learning gained from getting knocked on my ass in defeat is not my favorite way to gain insight and knowledge, but it is an event in life that sticks with you, I’ll tell you that much. I was forced to confront my shortcomings, figure out what I did wrong, listen, and in defeat, I also was reminded what really mattered to me. As lousy as it felt to lose, life was a hell of a lot harder after November 2, 2004, for the working father who woke up still without healthcare for his kids, for families in New Orleans abandoned on rooftops while the water rose, or for troops in Iraq who got up every day in the middle of a civil war. I felt a really personal obligation not to lay around licking my wounds but to dust myself off and fight for those people.

Son of a Preacher Man

2007-12-10T08:19:00.000-06:00

Found this interesting:

"Tebow becomes the third Florida quarterback to win the Heisman and, as a result, every preacher in the Sunshine State will have his son throwing on Sunday. All three Gators quarterbacks who won the Heisman -- Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996) and Tebow -- are the sons of clergymen."

Other tidbits:

"McFadden made a little history of his own, becoming the first player in almost 60 years to finish second in consecutive seasons (Charlie Justice, 1948-49). "

"In Tebow's two seasons at Florida, not Alabama, he has won a national championship and a Heisman. The best news of all for college football: Tebow will be back in 2008."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3147187

More on Tebow:

"The legend of Tebow started at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., where he once finished a game playing on a broken leg.

Homeschooled by missionary parents who run an orphanage in the Philippines, Tebow took advantage of a Florida state law to play for Nease, about 90 miles from the University of Florida campus.

Tebow has worked and preached at his parents' orphanage since he was 15. He regularly speaks at schools and delivered his message of faith at a prison in Florida earlier this year."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3146714

From My Inbox ...

2007-12-05T16:16:00.000-06:00

E-mails like these (in reply to an acceptance letter I sent for her poetry submission) totally make my day and make the occassional stress worth it.

Laura, You cannot image how your email lifted my sprits yesterday. I teach struggling high school students, and by the end of the day yesterday, I rather felt that my essence had been vacuumed out entirely. It was nice to be reminded that I am a women who thinks, feels, and writes, as well as, teaches. It gives me great joy to know that my poem will be published and read in the waiting room where whence I spent many a day....

Is this a new cancer treatment?

2007-12-04T13:00:00.000-06:00

The following sentence is from an article written by a medical professional:

More importantly, the annual incidence of osteoporosis fractures is higher in prostate cancer patients treated with surgical or medical castration when compared to those treated without castration or with normal men.

This would be better:

More importantly, the annual incidence of osteoporosis fractures is higher in prostate cancer patients treated with surgical or medical castration when compared to those treated without castration or to men with no history of prostate cancer.

Now, wasn't that easy? My work is done.

Toad Smokers

2007-12-04T09:11:00.000-06:00

This is hilarious, especially the last few paragraphs:

Cops: More Smoke Toad Venom to Get High
Associated Press

Law enforcement authorities have discovered that people are willing to go to great lengths to get high, including a troubling new method that features a frightened toad. The toad's venom contains a hallucinogen that can be dried and smoked to produce a buzz.
http://tinyurl.com/2kr8sw

Dear Mr. Brown

2007-12-03T08:54:00.000-06:00

Dear Mr. Brown,

I know you want to steal my money, but did you really have to bring Jesus into it? Hasn't he been through enough already?

Thank you.
LS

Dear Friend In Christ,

I believe you will treat this mail with the fear of God. It is with tears that Iam writing you this mail; I dont need your pity, but love to my son. My mail may seem very painful and sorrowful, but there is more you can do in my request than to pity me, which is to show LOVE to my son. I was an orphan and do not wish myson to experience what i have been through on Earth after an automobile crash that nearly claimed my life.

My name is Edward Brow Jr, married to the late Janet J. Brown Jr, who died with our two daughters in Indonesia on 26th of December 2004 during the Tsunami Disaster, after this Painful and sorrowful incident, my condition worsened and I was diagnosed of cancer, which got worst and I have been suffering from heart failure and hepatitis since. My friends ignored me due to my relationship with God on sickbed.

My wife, our children and I have been in United Kingdom for a long time. We all were suppose to travel to Indonesia in December 2004, but my bad health, did not permit me to travel with them, which made me and my son stay behind while my wife and our two daughters traveled. If not, all of us would have perished in the disaster.

My reason of writing you this mail is due to the sad news that came to me recently from the doctors. After my last diagnosed result, it was proved by the doctors that i may not leave for more than one month ahead, due to the damage the cancer have caused in my system unless I undergo an urgent surgical operation which my chance of survival is less than 10% according to the medical experts. As it stands, I have given to fate and have found God on sick bed. But i have a more concern problem, which is why I have contacted you.

Please, this is about my son. Since it is now obvious that i will die, my son'sfuture has been the greatest problem i have. I want you to take care of my son please. He is only 13 years and we have no person here to take care of him if I die today. My friends for knowing God deserted me.

I left some money in a deposit house at United Kingdom, which i intended to use for investment in Indonesia. I want you to take this money and my son. Use the money into a big investment, that you will manage until my son grows up to take over the investment. I will like you to take my son as your own son, give him the love we the parents would have given him. Do not let him feel the pains of being an orphan, give him good education, bring him up into a responsible man. Make him have the fear of God. Please do not refuse this task. I have no one else to help me out on this issue, I am an orphan who grew up without knowing God rather focused on wealth and otherwise, living a life of fantasy and doesn't care or know who God is. Do not pity me, rather take good care of and bring him up to be God fearing.

As soon as I receive your reply including your personal details, all i will do is to authorize my bank to transfer the money to your account directly and i will also draw up my will in your favor. I will give the bank all the documentsthat is covering the deposit with the bank, i will transfer every power and right of ownership to you stating at my Will to enable you claim the deposit from the bank. It will be also included in the Will that you are the only person my son should be released to, if i die. All i need is your acceptance and assurance that you will not treat my son badly.

I am writing you this mail with great tears and i pray you will be kind & honest with fear of God concerning this mail to you today. Please reply this mail immediately if you have the love and care of God. at:

Thank you.
Mr. Edward Brown Jr.

Expect More ... Payless

2007-11-30T19:33:00.000-06:00

Why is it that all my "semi-expensive" department store shoes that I usually wear only to work and church and out to dinner and such always look so beat up and worn after only a couple of months and my one pair of five-year-old, been through hell Payless heels that I wear to bars and football games and other such places where shoes tend to get ruined still look like they did when I first bought them? Can someone please explain this to me? It doesn't make any sense.

Sleep Deficit May Be Impossible to Make Up

2007-11-27T14:57:00.000-06:00

USA Today

New research suggests an added risk to losing sleep day after day: Humans and animals that have chronic sleep deprivation might reach a point at which the very ability to catch up on lost sleep is damaged, says Fred Turek, a sleep researcher at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-11-25-sleep-deficit_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

November Marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month

2007-11-14T14:47:00.000-06:00

Ann Arbor, MI - This year, as in the past, lung cancer will kill more Americans than any other cancer. In fact, lung cancer will claim more lives than the next four leading cancer killers -- breast, prostate, colon and pancreas cancers -- combined.

The facts about lung cancer are startling, and few people realize the true scope of the disease. Gregory Kalemkerian, M.D., co-director of thoracic oncology at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center has provided the top nine facts to know about lung cancer:

1. The death toll is high. About 213,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year and more than 160,000 die from it.

2. For smokers, the symptoms are familiar. Coughing, shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue and coughing up blood are often the first symptoms of the early stages of the disease. "The biggest problem is that most people are diagnosed late, because early stage symptoms are common to smokers," said Kalemkerian.

3. Late diagnoses make it deadly. "Surgery is the most curable treatment for almost any cancer but few people with lung cancer come in early enough for us to do this," explained Kalemkerian, professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School. Most people seek treatment only after experiencing symptoms that are associated with spread of the disease, such as chest pain, weakness in a limb or bone pain. In fact, three-fourths of people with lung cancer are diagnosed with advanced forms of the disease.

4. There is an easy way to prevent it. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. "Many of my patients feel guilty that they have done this, not only to themselves, but to their families," Kalemkerian said. About 90 percent of those with the disease are or were smokers. A two-pack-a-day habit for 30 years leads to a 30-fold to 40-fold increase in risk versus a non-smoker.

5. Lung cancer patients and survivors feel stigmatized. "Unlike breast and prostate cancer, there is a significant lack of survivor advocacy," Kalemkerian said. This is due in part to the high mortality rate but also because of the stigma that most patients brought it on themselves by smoking.

6. Smoking is the easiest way to get lung cancer, but not the only way. Only 10 percent of cases are not caused directly by smoking. Many assume that certain occupational hazards, such as firefighting, are at high risk. Kalemkerian says this is not true: "There are few occupational hazards that have been directly related to the likelihood of getting the disease." Exposure to radon, asbestos and hydrocarbons do raise one's risk of developing this type of cancer.

7. It is complicated to treat. "Smokers, in particular, have had phenomenal exposure to carcinogens, the substances that cause mutations in cells and lead to the development of cancer," Kalemkerian said. This makes the disease harder to treat and more deadly. Cancers have identifiable mutations that doctors are now developing specific treatments against. Kalemkerian explained that lung cancers, because of the exceptional amount of carcinogen exposure, have multiple mutations that make treating and killing the mutated cancerous cells especially hard.

8. Testing for it is difficult. "We have yet to identify a screening test that has impacted mortality rates, but we are working on it," Kalemkerian said. More conclusive data should be available in the coming years, which researchers hope will produce a more effective test to catch the cancer earlier and save more lives.

9. It is a worldwide killer. Worldwide, 1.2 million people per year will die from the disease, and diagnoses are rapidly increasing. Sharp increases are being seen particularly in developing countries as tobacco products become increasingly available in these regions, Kalemkerian said.

For information about lung cancer, visit http://www.mcancer.org/ or call the U-M Cancer AnswerLine at 800-865-1125.

Kalemkerian will give a talk titled "Together Facing Lung Cancer" on Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 6-8p.m. It is open to the public and will be held at the Wellness Community, 2010 Hogback Road, Suite 3, Ann Arbor. For more information, visit http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/about/outreach_schedule.shtml.

This just in ...

2007-11-14T11:24:00.000-06:00

Report: Abstinence Not Curbing Teen Sex
Associated Press

Really? How is this possible? Maybe you should rethink that headline, Associated Press.

Kimmie

2007-11-02T22:59:00.000-05:00

My Kimmie called me today from China, and that makes me so happy. Just thought I would share. She's coming to visit soon, and it's the best birthday present ever. I just love her, and you would too. She's the greatest.

Kid's Meal?

2007-11-01T22:43:00.000-05:00

The other day, I went to Chick-fil-A and ordered a 6 count nuggets kid's meal for dinner. I usually eat the 4 count nuggets kid's meal, but I was really hungry. I couldn't finish the whole thing. That got me thinking. Who feeds their kids portion sizes that are too large for grown people? Seriously. No wonder the childhood obesity epidemic is so widespread. Come on people!

Steve Spurrier on the BCS

2007-10-24T11:43:00.000-05:00

"Vanderbilt is a good team. They lost to 3 ranked teams. If Vanderbilt scheduled 3 cream puffs on their schedule instead, they could be undefeated and ranked right up there by Ohio State."
~ Steve Spurrier after losing to Vandy on Saturday (I despise him too, but this was funny.)

Soulmates (stole this one from my friend Kim)

2007-10-18T11:07:00.000-05:00

from eat pray love.

people think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. but a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. a true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. but to live with a soul mate forever? nah. too painful. soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. and thank God for it.

Could I Ever Have Said Enough?

2007-10-17T21:18:00.000-05:00

There is something that has been weighing on my mind a lot recently, brought to the forefront by the re-emergence of a guy (I'll call him B) I used to know. Thank you MySpace. This guy is someone whom I never knew very well, but was always nice to me. I also knew his brother (J), again not very well, but he was always nice to me. I haven't seen either of them in years. B is serving his second tour in Iraq, God bless him. And J, well J is no longer with us.

This is the part that I can't get off of my mind. The last time I saw J was probably about five years ago, and about two weeks before he decided to take his own life. Some would say it was a random coincidence that I bumped into him that day when I did, I would disagree with that sentiment.

I had gone out to lunch with a friend when she noticed a guy, who was at this particular restaurant alone, constantly looking in our direction. He looked familiar, but not instantly recognizable. I asked him if we knew each other, and he told me who he was. I remember being somewhat taken aback because I hadn't seen him in several years, and even then it was just in passing. What happened next is something I will probably never forget.

He began to open up to me, about his life, how bad it had been going, and how he had just moved back home to make a fresh start. He said he knew I had been through a lot in my life and wanted to know how I was able to not let it get me down. We talked a little about joy, and about peace, and about the source of that joy and peace. But I only said a little, and he had to leave, and I thought I would bump into him again. But I didn't. And I never will. I'll never get the chance to say all the things I wish I had said, and I may never know if the few things I did say ever made a difference.

Now, there is his brother, who has opened up to me a little in an e-mail. Not much, but just enough to make me believe that this too is not a coincidence. I want so badly to tell him about the last time I saw J and to tell him all the things I never said to his brother. I just don't know if I can. I don't know if I have the right words. And I worry, a lot. I worry about IED's and roadside bombs. I worry that I might miss this second chance.

Frosted Pink: Putting Women's Cancers on Ice

2007-10-12T11:34:00.000-05:00

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance invites you to join us for an exciting and unique nationally televised event that will raise awareness of ovarian cancer and empower women to take action! The special program will air on ABC-TV and ESPN this Sunday, October 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. ET.

The Alliance has teamed up with the National Breast Cancer Coalition, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation to produce this program, called Frosted Pink: Putting Women’s Cancers on Ice (www.frostedpink.org). We believe this event will significantly raise awareness of women’s cancers and inspire them to take action.

The event showcases Olympic Champion women’s skaters, Grammy Award winning artists and Hollywood celebrities for this first-ever collaboration. They include Rascal Flatts, Peggy Fleming, Sharon Osbourne, Olivia Newton-John, William Baldwin, Anastacia, Joss Stone, Oksana Baiul, Sasha Cohen, Kristi Yamaguchi, Kenny “Babyface” Edmunds and many, many more!

During the event, the Alliance will be featured in a 60-second public service announcement where women with ovarian cancer talk about its symptoms and encourage viewers to join with the Alliance and take action. In another 60-second video, Oksana Baiul, who won the Olympic Gold Medal at age 16, talks about losing her mother to ovarian cancer at an early age and the impact that that has had on her life.

Frosted Pink’s main purpose is to connect with a national television audience and empower women to be their own health care advocate. There is also a fundraising potential from Frosted Pink. For example, Five Rivers Winery is donating a portion of all wine sales during the month of October to be shared among the Alliance and our three partner organizations. We also hope that the program will inspire viewers to go to our Web site (www.ovariancancer.org) to contribute. This is particularly important because the Alliance has just launched the National Agenda for Ovarian Cancer, a 10-year platform to advance ovarian cancer research and patient care and continue to build the national movement of ovarian cancer advocates.

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, October 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. ET and please forward this e-mail to everyone you know. Ask them to watch this exciting program and toast its success with a glass of Five Rivers wine!

(If you miss the program this Sunday, “Frosted Pink presented by sanofi-aventis and Wachovia” will re-air on the Style Network on Monday, October 22 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by subsequent airings throughout the remainder of the month.)

Star of the Month

2007-10-12T09:09:00.000-05:00

A person I have worked with was just honored as a star of the month by the Star Campaign, a national effort by The Wellness Community to honor family members, friends, healthcare professionals, social workers, and others who provide support and care to cancer survivors.

Dave Balch
Twin Peaks, CA
Honored by Christine Balch

Dave Balch has scheduled and accompanied his wife Christine to over 240 appointments since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2002. He has driven over 26,000 miles between their ranch in the San Bernadino Mountains to chemotherapy, radiation, surgical, and general doctors’ visits in the Los Angeles area. When Christine was diagnosed, Dave told her, "It's your job to get better, and it's my job to do everything else." And that's exactly what he's done. Read more here.

Football on the Brain?

2007-10-10T13:43:00.000-05:00

Every so often at work, I send out assignment letters asking doctors, nurses, and others in the oncology field to write articles for our magazine. After I make the assignments, I keep an Excel document with the authors, the article title, etc. so I can track their progress and make follow-ups if necessary.

Well, one of them called me today saying she would love to write for Coping. Her last name was Hornig, and when I looked up her name (in the middle of the phone conversation, mind you, because it is hard to keep track of everyone, and I never want to give the impression that I don't remember someone, which happens a lot, anyway, back to the point), she wasn't there.

She wasn't there because I had typed her name in as "Henig" instead of "Hornig." So not only does he frustrate me during games, but he also pops up at work. How is this possible?

Anne Thompson and Dr. Death

2007-10-09T21:19:00.000-05:00

Here are snippets from my latest Coping magazine articles. If you want to read the full versions, you'll have to visit my Facebook or ask for a copy. I don't think I can post them here. At some point in time, I may post parts of my older interviews, like Olivia Newton-John or Patrick Dempsey, but those are currently on my Facebook as well.

NBC News Correspondent Anne Thompson
'Every day is going to have a moment to savor'

Cancer isn’t about dying, it is about living. I know, I’ve been living with cancer for the past year, and you’ve been watching me. These words, penned by NBC News’ chief environmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson, began a confession of sorts, a divulgence of a secret that Anne had kept from her television audience, and many of her NBC colleagues, for a year. The response from viewers, she confides in an interview with Coping magazine, “blew me away.”

Anne was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2006. She decided early on that work would be her “cancer-free zone.” As a journalist, she wanted to keep her diagnosis private. “My job is to get people to talk about themselves or an issue they’re involved in. And nothing stops a conversation quicker than to say, ‘I have cancer.’ And I didn’t want the focus to be on me,” Anne says. “If my appearance changed dramatically and I didn’t look good, I didn’t want to be on the air because that would detract from my story. I didn’t want to be the story.”

Professional Wrestler Dr. Death: In the Ring with Cancer

During his professional wrestling career, which spans over two decades, Dr. Death has stepped into the ring against numerous menacing foes, including tough guys like Dick Murdoch, Ric Flair, and Dustin Rhodes. But in 2004, he faced his toughest opponent yet when he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Though he was unable to speak at all for several months following surgery to remove his tumor, Doc now uses his voice to inspire others by sharing his story from the wrestling ring.

Recently, I had the chance to talk with Doc about how he went head to head with cancer and came out on top. He relies on a stoma to communicate, but his voice is clear and strong. It’s the kind of voice you would expect from a man with the nickname “Dr. Death.” Despite his menacing name and his gargantuan stature, Doc admits he is not dauntless. “Cancer was the scariest thing I have ever been through in my life,” he confides.

On Self-Pity

2007-10-09T11:53:00.000-05:00

"I’ve said this many times, you don’t want to wallow in self-pity. It’s okay to swish your feet in it a little, but then get out."
~Coach Kay Yow, NC State women's basketball coach, breast cancer survivor

More Top 25 Votes for the Bulldogs: It's Only a Matter of Time

2007-10-08T08:28:00.000-05:00

ESPN

It's turning out to be a great year for SEC football.

AP Top 25
1. LSU (65) 6-0 1,625
2. California 5-0 1,538
3. Ohio State 6-0 1,511
4. Boston College 6-0 1,346
5. South Florida 5-0 1,339
6. Oklahoma 5-1 1,221
7. South Carolina 5-1 1,183
8. West Virginia 5-1 1,059
9. Oregon 4-1 1,047
10. USC 4-1 1,024
11. Missouri 5-0 966
12. Virginia Tech 5-1 910
13. Florida 4-2 822
14. Arizona State 6-0 752
15. Cincinnati 6-0 705
16. Hawaii 6-0 634
17. Kentucky 5-1 612
18. Illinois 5-1 595
19. Wisconsin 5-1 551
20. Kansas 5-0 336
21. Florida State 4-1 307
22. Auburn 4-2 248
23. Texas 4-2 136
24. Georgia 4-2 131
25. Tennessee 3-2 90

Others Receiving VotesTexas A&M 79, Purdue 48, Colorado 48, Indiana 40, Michigan 31, Texas Tech 27, Rutgers 25, Virginia 22, Connecticut 20, Kansas State 18, Boise State 17, Clemson 13, Penn State 13, Maryland 11, Alabama 9, Nebraska 9, Mississippi State 3, Washington 2, Wyoming 2.
Dropped From RankingsRutgers 21, Clemson 22, Purdue 23, Kansas State 24, Nebraska 25.
Complete Rankings

USA Today Poll
1. LSU (58) 6-0 1,498
2. California 5-0 1,416
3. Ohio State (2) 6-0 1,399
4. Boston College 6-0 1,283
5. Oklahoma 5-1 1,145
5. South Florida 5-0 1,145
7. USC 4-1 1,000
8. Oregon 4-1 936
9. West Virginia 5-1 931
10. Virginia Tech 5-1 913
11. Missouri 5-0 897
12. South Carolina 5-1 823
13. Arizona State 6-0 763
14. Florida 4-2 714
15. Wisconsin 5-1 689
16. Hawaii 6-0 632
17. Cincinnati 6-0 578
18. Kentucky 5-1 493
19. Illinois 5-1 425
20. Kansas 5-0 390
21. Florida State 4-1 213
22. Texas 4-2 195
23. Georgia 4-2 188
24. Purdue 5-1 149
25. Auburn 4-2 143

Others Receiving VotesVirginia 67, Tennessee 60, Texas A&M 52, Texas Tech 44, Rutgers 44, Boise State 37, Connecticut 36, Indiana 30, Penn State 27, Michigan 22, Maryland 20, Wyoming 18, Clemson 16, Colorado 15, Wake Forest 12, Nebraska 10, Mississippi State 6, Brigham Young 6, Alabama 6, Kansas State 5, Stanford 4, Michigan State 3, UCLA 2.
Dropped From RankingsRutgers 21, Clemson 22, Nebraska 23, UCLA 25.

New Shoes, Same Problem

2007-10-03T15:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was day two of The Couch to 5K Running Plan. It started off well -- brand new shoes and plenty of enthusiasm. Neither of which held out very long. About half way into the run/walk, my calves were burning and I was finding it hard to breathe. I did, however, persevere and make it through. After the run, my running partner Kim and I even added in a little weight training and ab work. I felt good, not in too much pain, only to later discover that the blisters were back.

This leads me to the conclusion that the problem is most likely not in my shoes, but in my feet, or maybe in my form (I am an overpronator, after all). Or, I could just have really bad luck in picking out running shoes. Either way, I'm going to stick with the new shoes and try and tough it out. Maybe it won't be too bad, and I'll be running 5K's in two months. That's what the plan promises, anyway.

If any runners out there (or non-runners who just happen to know a bit about the subject) have any suggestions for fixing this problem, I would gladly accept them.

Not Again

2007-10-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Josh Riddell tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during Saturday's loss to South Carolina and is out for the rest of the season.

Bulldogs athletic department spokesman Mike Nemeth said Sunday that Riddell will have surgery, probably next week. Riddell was 9-of-21 for 101 yards and an interception before leaving the game. South Carolina won 38-21.

The injury puts the Bulldogs (3-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) down two quarterbacks. Starter Michael Henig broke his hand during Mississippi State's 24-16 win over Auburn on Sept. 15.

Riddell had been splitting playing time with Wesley Carroll, a freshman, who is expected to take over behind center at least until Henig returns in several weeks. His backup will likely be another freshman, Chris Relf.

Out with the Old, In with the New: I'm Talking about Shoes, of Course

2007-09-28T15:16:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, I started my new 5k running plan, with brand new Nike running shoes, of course. All went well, or as well as can be expected, except for the fact that my wonderful new shoes left blisters on the bottom of my feet after only 30 minutes of running/walking. So I took them back to Academy and got a new pair, New Balance this time. The girl in customer service didn't ask me if I had worn them, so I didn't have to lie and say I hadn't. I have the right to return something if it's not what I expected, right? I shouldn't have to waste money on a product that isn't useful. It's not so wrong, is it? And I can switch these as well if they don't work out either, can't I?

Today I start this:

2007-09-26T13:30:00.000-05:00

The Couch-to-5K Running Plan
Our beginner's running schedule has helped thousands of new runners get off the couch and onto the roads, running 3 miles in just two months.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

I hope it works. I'll keep you posted.

We Got One Vote! That's one more than Ole Miss.

2007-09-25T09:20:00.000-05:00

USA Today Poll

1. USC (44) 3-0 1,481
2. LSU (8) 4-0 1,438
3. Florida (4) 4-0 1,347
4. Oklahoma (4) 4-0 1,336
5. West Virginia 4-0 1,260
6. California 4-0 1,137
7. Texas 4-0 1,103
8. Ohio State 4-0 1,092
9. Wisconsin 4-0 1,026
10. Rutgers 3-0 901
11. Boston College 4-0 881
12. Oregon 4-0 878
13. Clemson 4-0 767
14. Virginia Tech 3-1 585
15. Kentucky 4-0 545
16. Georgia 3-1 516
17. Hawaii 4-0 479
18. South Florida 3-0 451
19. Penn State 3-1 397
20. Missouri 4-0 369
21. South Carolina 3-1 335
22. Nebraska 3-1 209
23. Michigan State 4-0 167
24. Alabama 3-1 154
25. Arizona State 4-0 151
25. Purdue 4-0 151

Others Receiving VotesCincinnati 84, UCLA 69, Miami (FL) 52, Texas A&M 20, Kansas 20, Louisville 18, Boise State 18, Michigan 17, Georgia Tech 10, Florida State 8, Virginia 7, TCU 6, UCF 5, Tennessee 4, Iowa 3, Air Force 2, Mississippi State 1.

Dropped From RankingsTexas A&M 16, Louisville 19.

From http://www.espn.com/

In Marital Disputes, Silence Isn't Golden

2007-09-24T10:18:00.000-05:00

Los Angeles Times Married women who keep silent during marital disputes have a greater chance of dying from heart disease and other conditions than women who speak their minds, new research shows. http://tinyurl.com/yschu6

A post from my friend George Carter. Enjoy!

2007-09-24T08:54:00.000-05:00

All About The Winners Of The Official George Carter Super Bowl XLI Challenge!

This post will officially close the book on the Official George Carter Super Bowl XLI Challenge...seven months after it happened. Sometimes I am a bit slow on getting things done.

This was an actual statement from the very end of my last Xanga post on February 5: "My next post will be all about the winners. Look for that later this week!"

One of those sentences was correct. This is my next post, and it will be all about the winners. However, one of those sentences was a bit misleading. "Later this week" turned into "later this year." If you were anxiously awaiting that post, I apologize. But you don't have to sulk any longer. It's here!

P.S. This isn't the first time I have done something like this. I didn't even give out the awards to Joy Rumley, the Super Bowl XL contest winner, until shortly before Super Bowl XLI...Last week, I gave Jen Hall her birthday present. Her birthday was in March...And I still have an unfinished poem I started here on Xanga in 2004, a poem in which I asked readers to help decide the ending. Again, sorry about that. Maybe someday I'll get to that, and we'll see what happens to Squeaky the Squirrel. No, I'm not making this up. Feel free to go back into the archives and find that.

Anyway...this post is all about the winners. But the last thing I want to say before honoring them is that the real reason I am finally doing this is because I have a sweet Xanga post I want to make soon, but I can't do it without making this post first. I need to make this post now or it will never get done. Actually, there are two posts I want to make. So enjoy this post, but understand that in the on-again, off-again relationship I have with Xanga, I am on again for now. Yay!

PARAGRAPH OF ADULATION
Andy DeLong, Jessica VanHoose, Jonathan Hensley, Laura Hitt Shipp, and Lyndsey Stewart are football geniuses! It is hard to believe that anyone would have the intelligence, insight, and guts to defeat so many people in a contest like this, but that's exactly what these five amazing superstars have done. These folks are in the upper echelon of the world's prognosticators. They deserve to be hailed as heroes henceforth. Congratulations on your superior achievement.

WHO GOT WHAT?
Since there were five winners, I had to split the prizes amongst them. I tried to do this as evenly as I could, even allowing them to rank the prizes in order by what they wanted the most. I couldn't give everyone their first choice, but I did the best I could to make them happy. The prizes ended up being disseminated thusly:

Andy DeLong received five dollars and a six-pack of Ale-8.

Jessica VanHoose received a box of Cap'n Crunch and a miniature Etch-A-Sketch. (Now that I think about it, I think I gave her a miniature magnetic pad thingy because the Wal-Mart was out of miniature Etch-A-Sketches. But that might be an upgrade.)

Jonathan Hensley received a rubber duck and a yo-yo.

Laura Hitt Shipp received five dollars and a bag of candy.

Lyndsey Stewart received five dollars and a Slinky.

HOW I KNOW THE WINNERS

I know Andy from high school. No, we didn't go to high school together. I taught him in high school. I spent some time teaching geometry as a long-term substitute during my year away from Morehead and Andy was one of my students. I actually graduated high school with his brother Corey. Andy went to Morehead State, but I think he has since transferred to Marshall.

Jessica VanHoose is my cousin, so I've known her since she was born.

I met Jonathan through Allyson Dockery, who used to be my RA in Fields Hall.

I worked Centrifuge with Laura in 2004, my first summer with Fuge! We were on the Mississippi College team. She now lives in Nashville and works as an editor for a magazine called Coping With Cancer. An interesting fact about Laura is that she recently had the opportunity to interview '80s wrestling superstar "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, who recently wrote a book about becoming a Christian and dealing with cancer. You can order it here.

I don't even know Lyndsey Stewart. For some reason, however, we are Facebook friends.

FROM THE WINNERS THEMSELVES
I asked each winner to share some information with me regarding their strategy as well as other random tidbits. Here is what they had to share...

Andy DeLong
On his strategy: Well the Colts have a high-powered offense, which would have steered me to give them lots of points, but then you have to realize that the bears have a very good defense. So I figured the Colts would still put up a lot, but not huge numbers like they've done before.
On the magnitude of winning the contest: This is a huge award. I'm honored to be one of the five winners out of 166. I haven't won very many contests, so this is a pretty big one.
Favorite NFL Team: Colts/Eagles

Jessica VanHoose
On her strategy: Honestly, I took a guess. I would love to say that Fantasy Football helped out, but I really just guessed.
On the magnitude of winning the contest: I think it's cool. I've seen you hold the competition the other years and didn't participate. I Just thought I'd take a chance this year.
Favorite NFL Team: Cleveland Browns

Jonathan Hensley
On his strategy: Its kind of funny how i came to the score, I was checking facebook the night before when I found out about your competition and I really wasn't sure about the score so I went to sleep, While I was eating my breakfast the next day(cinnamon toast crunch) it came to me, 30-17 colts so that's what I sent in. I would have had it perfect if the colt didn't fumble an extra point attempt.
On the magnitude of winning the contest: Its pretty awesome winning considering the amount of people that signed up.
Favorite NFL Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Laura Hitt Shipp
On her strategy: I knew that the Colts were favored, but that the teams were fairly equal, so I, along with my husband, chose a mid-range score with the Colts on top.
On the magnitude of winning the contest: I think it's awesome, especially since it was the only NFL game I watched all season.
Favorite NFL Team: I grew up watching the Saints, but I should probably say the Titans like a true Nashvillian.

Lyndsey Stewart
On her strategy: Well, the Colts are my team!! I knew I had to pick a score that would make them win. Other than that, i just pretty much pulled the numbers out of head
On the magnitude of winning the contest: I was very excited!! I haven't been a fottball fan very long adn this was my first year participating in the challenge , I was very proud of myself
Favorite NFL Team: Indianapolis Colts
Lyndsey also says she is going to marry Eli Manning, the starting quarterback for the New York Giants (and Peyton's little brother).

So there you have it...the Official George Carter Super Bowl XLI Challenge is officially over in every way possible...three weeks into the next season. As you can tell, it takes a lot of football knowledge and serious contemplation to make these winning picks. Or just picking random numbers because you don't watch football. Apparently you can win either way.

The anticipation is building for this year's contest. Begin studying now.

The Way I See It #265

2007-09-19T09:33:00.000-05:00

Wild animals often do a much better job of caring for their offspring than we civilized and educated humans do. If we cannot keep children safe in their own homes, how can we hope to make ourselves safe in the world?

-- Lee Grogg

Really, wild animals? Don't they kill and eat their offspring?

My Mother Is a Fish

2007-09-18T16:33:00.001-05:00

Order Has Been Restored

2007-09-18T08:14:00.000-05:00

There were tons of people at Starbucks today, and I was, once again, late for work.

Welcome to the Twilight Zone aka Starbucks

2007-09-17T08:07:00.000-05:00

I have a really bad habit. I'm not too proud to admit it. Every morning on my way to work, I pass Starbucks, and every morning, I stop to order a latte of some sort, non-fat of course. I can't help it. It's there calling my name like a heroine addiction. Every morining, the drive-thru line is backed up into the street, blocking the entrance for those of us who want to park our cars and go inside to get our coffee, or in my case, lattes. (Here's a little secret for those of you in the drive-thru line: there are usually two registers open inside and only a couple of people in line.) So, back to my story, every day before I head in to work, I fight all the other Starbucks addicts to get my daily fix.

That is, until today. On my way to work today, I turned into Starbucks and (gasp) pulled right up to the empty drive-thru window. And you may be thinking that all the other people had simply been clued in to my little Starbucks secret, but the parking lot was empty, at 7:53 on a Monday morning. Naturally, I did what any semi-neurotic person would do: is there some holiday that I don't know about, is it really 6:53 instead of 7:53, is it Sunday instead of Monday, was there some huge natural disaster that happened and only Starbucks survived, did the Rapture happen in reverse, or maybe, just maybe, did Starbucks stop adding heroine to their espresso?

Resurrection

2007-09-15T01:16:00.000-05:00

I'm at a loss for words, there's nothing to say
I sit in silence wondering what led me to this place
How did my heart become so lifeless and cold
Where did the passion go?

When all my efforts seem like chasing wind
I've used up all my strength and there's nothing left to give
I've lost the feeling and I'm down to the core
I can't fake it anymore.

Here I am at the end I'm in need of resurrection
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead
What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again

You speak and all creation falls to its knees
You raise Your hand and calm the waves of the raging sea
You have a way of turning winter to spring
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering

Here I am once again I'm in need of resurrection
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead
What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again

You have a way of turning winter to spring
Make something beautiful out of all this suffering

Here I am at the end I'm in need of resurrection
Only You can take this empty shell and raise it from the dead
What I've lost to the world what seems far beyond redemption
You can take the pieces in Your hand and make me whole again, again

Nicol Sponberg