Crazy to be Me's Weblog

…sharing one big fuzzy bone (it didn’t even last the evening!)

I really need to stop reading these kitty blogs…  If you are so inclined, please visit the True Blood kitties and help fund six eye surgeries to correct congenital eye-lid deficiencies.  They are the cutest kitties EVER (well, not ever – but they are SO cute!).

I’m such a sap – I donated yesterday and they count is already up to $1,100+.

These six meek darlings shall inherit your heart!

Edited 6:30PM – here’s the edit at the top of the post about the kitties. This interwebs thing is pretty awesome!

“*Edited to add (3:30 pm): We’ve received over $2,950 in donations in less than two days! That’s more than enough to pay for the surgeries for ALL of these kittens, thank you all so much! You guys are incredible!!!”

One the night that my friend Jeff begins his third round of chemo which involves a new drug – which we hope is the “silver bullet” for which we’ve been looking; I have dedicated a page to Jeff Gustafson at LIVESTRONG Action.

This page is a part of the world’s largest dedication book that LIVESTRONG Action will use to pressure world leaders to do more to fight cancer. Can you add your name to my dedication page? It’ll only take a second, and you can help me reach my target of 25 dedications.

Please click here, it only takes a second: http://www.livestrongaction.org/node/153809

Lance Armstrong dedicated his ride in the Tour de France to the fight against cancer. And after the race, he’ll send this dedication book – with your signature – to world leaders and pressure them to make cancer a priority in their own countries. It’s our best chance to push for better treatment, more funding for cancer research and access to care for everyone around the world.

But if people like us don’t stand up, these leaders won’t pay attention.

Will you check out my dedication page? Jeff Gustafson inspired me to take action – hopefully he’ll inspire you to do the same: http://www.livestrongaction.org/node/153809

In a video Lance Armstrong mentions that in the 1200+ days he was in retirement, over 27 million people died from cancer.  27,000,000+ mothers, fathers, sister, brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts, sons and daughters. A few were folks in my life.

Did you know that Lance rode with Team Astana for free (something that the Kazakhstan owned team didn’t really understand)?  He drew no salary.  He rode to keep attention on ending cancer in our lifetime.  After riding anywhere from 100-nearly 200 miles a day in the Tour de France he did speaking engagements bringing as much attention to beating cancer as possible.  He just just rode the Tour of Ireland this past weekend, doing the same things in the evening – keeping the cause alive.

Yes, I am a huge fan of the man, on and off the bike.  This cause needs as much attention as possible so more research money is devoted to the cause.  Enormous progress has been made in cancer research but there much more needed.

Been back in the old stomping grounds for a couple of days.  More so a homecoming for Mum, as this has not been my home for nearly 20 years.

Saw the neighbors, Mrs S (and I’ve got a tin of pizzelles!), Mrs H and N.  Peeked over the fence into the old yard – doesn’t look too bad but I think the new owners are figuring out its a lot of work.

Tonight we went to my fav Mexican place – Acapulcos in Norwood.  BEST Chili Verde (ok, only Chili Verde) I’ve found outside of Santa Fe.  Its really yummy and nice and spicy.  Had a meh meal at Bertucci’s last night – it just really wasn’t very good.

Had lunch with G from Seattle, she’s in town hangin’ with her family.  Hopefully tomorrow we’ll see her for a bit at the cousin’s house.

Today we did some serious shopping and tomorrow there’s more to be done.  Must hit Christmas Tree Shop on way out of town.  Went to Bob’s and got sneakers and some Red Sox tchotchkis.  Got some cool stuff at the outlet mall – car’s nearly full.

Almost got together with some high school friends but couldn’t put it together on such short notice.  Maybe next time.

Tomorrow we go to church (the one I grew up in and Mum went to until moving) and then we head to RI to cousin’s house for a family day!  Monday we recuperate and maybe go to Foxwoods and then Tuesday we head home – to the place I consider home and hopefully someday Mum will too.

Peace and love to my peeps at home!  See youse soon!

My mother lived in her house for 43 years and this hydrangea is in the back yard.  In the past few years it hasn’t bloomed – she asked D what to do?  D gave some suggestions…  We’ll Mum moved last Fall, we were by the house yesterday and here’s the hydrangea…  Guess she just had to move out to make it bloom (that and have extraordinary amounts of rain in May, June and July!).

Over at Shutter Sisters there’s a post today about being “interconnected” and a comment about Nov 4, 2008 in Grant Park, Chicago. It was an amazing night of interconnectedness with those celebrating the election results. A peaceful gathering of thousands of people.

I attended the follow-up event a couple of months later (the Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2009) in Washington, DC where over 500,000 people gathered in celebration without one arrest.  Another moment where interconnectedness.

This is my view of thousands of my closest friends that morning.  It was (very) cold, we stood for four hours barely moving and it was very peaceful.  We even started singing songs together to pass the time.  Amazing.

J is fighting cancer and cancer is  fighting J – we all know who we want to win.  A small cadre has formed to sit up nights with J or just be there should he need something so he and his wife can sleep.  M needs to be able to work and take care of the house and kids and dog.  Its a small thing that we can do to sit up one night so they can sleep easier.

The first night when J called me and asked me to come, I stayed up all night and M slept.  The goal was achieved.  Later, talking to D who was on call for the coming night she asked “How did you stay up all night?”  I said “Ya just do.”  That’s what it means to be part of a family – and we are part of J & M’s family and they a part of ours.  It’s just what you do.

One blog I read often features wonderful photography (which I how I found it) but today’s message is the big take away – that we all matter and we need to take care of ourselves so we can take care of each other.

“So, therefore, it appears we each have a mission, should we choose to accept it: at some point today, let’s all take some time to take care of ourselves.  Do something that is good for you.  I’ll let you decide what that is.  But just do it.  Do it for yourself.  Do it for the people you love.”   Karen Walrond

She also displayed this video (click the link, I can’t embed the video for some reason) – I love it!  Have a good smile!

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Another home project completed – the switch on the light under the stairs (storage area, bae light bulb in a socket type thing) blew one day last week.  It provided one more moment to pray for a friend who is battling recently diagnosed cancer – when the switch went click and nothing happened, I said, “J!”  See, J is a contractor/handy guy and he’s who I would call to make it all better.  Well, he’s busy with other things right now – you know, fighting cancer – so I was going to have to fix this myself.  Well today I did.

Last week I bought a new light fixture thingy at Home Depot and today I installed it.  As I began the work and turned off the power I decided to call someone to let them know I was playing with electricity – even though it was turned off, I have a healthy respect for its power.  I called my mum but when she was taking long to answer I thought I’d have to call someone else.  Well, she answered – I told her I’d call when it was done.

Power off and screw drivers in hand, I replaced the light outlet.  I put the light bulb in (for some reason unknown to me the bulb is a 200W bulb – do we really need the light of the sun under the stairs?!? Anyhow, put the bulb in, turn the power back on and VOILA! YAY me!

So, I will share this story with J and he’ll just have to help me with my next home project – and I truly look forward to that day!

Overall this was a pretty busy weekend.  Yesterday a small crew tackled the attic at church and did some tossing of old stuff and organizing.  For some reason the co-President of the Altar Guild (me) was in the dumpster making sure that stuff fit and nothing was left out – because that’ll get you in lots of trouble.  After playing in the dumpster I immediately went home to shower and change clothes.  Headed to mum’s to hang valances and get her new comforter and dust ruffle on the bed.  After wrestling the queen size mattress (including flipping it), I was ready for another shower.  Instead we went to return some things to the store and then went out for din.

This afternoon I took a nice long nap – I do love taking a nap on the weekend. A good day and active weekend all around.  Now, time for bed.  I hope your weekend was great!

Random photo – above is the “tripod” I made to take the group picture below on a recent trip, we were on a hike and there were no folks around so these rocks helped.

First the update – the Klondike bars actually lasted past the weekend, I still have half the package left – but I still think an expiration date of 18 months out is excessive.

Now to the accomplishment. I successfully changed the timer for the front outside light on my house (those who stumbled in the dark last night will be especially happy to hear this). After the dance of running downstairs turning the power off and back upstairs to do the work – the new one is installed.

Note: If you use an Intermatic timer for your outside lights you cannot use a CF Lightbulb – its a known issue and they are just not compatible. Of course I only know that because the timer I just bought tells me so. The timer I’ve had in the wall for about 8+ years was installed before we had CFLs – but the packaging on the new ones clearly state it will (or can) burn out the timer. So, I’m back to incandescent bug light – gotta love that yellow glow!

The work week is over. The weekend will be calm and relaxing – - hahaha!!! Stop laughing! Well, it’ll be time away from work so that’s good.

Have a great weekend mai peeps!