When I need a good laugh, or want to commiserate, or just want to read something interesting, these are the favourites that I turn to. Thought I would just pass this along in case you wanted to check them out and besides, everyone needs a little free publicity sometimes.
The Bloggess : If you want a good laugh, check her out. But beware, if you are easily offended by foul language, or sarcasm, or just don't know how to laugh, stay away.
So F*cking Fabulous I Piss Glitter : If anything can go wrong it will. But the good times are in there too.
Listen to the Voices : More for writers than the average blog reader but a great link for up and coming writers of all stages of mystery writing.
Such is Life : Dan is just a funny guy. And Charlie the Chicken on Saturdays, says it how it is.
To Make A Choice : Selfless acts should not go unnoticed.
Accidental Poet : Just too funny and sweet at the same time to pass up the read.
Elsewhere : Marcello is a great travel writer and has some great stories to tell.
There are so many more that I love so please forgive me if you weren't on this list. This also goes to show that you don't need to get a blog award to send out the good vibes.
Now that I've sent out the love...I'm gonna go write.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The Greatest Gift You Can Give
Whoa!
Two posts in one day. I don't know if you can keep up with this. But, hey, I felt it was important to share some information but I need to provide a little backstory first and explain why this has caught my attention.
Many of you know that I'm working on a novel. Have been for the past year. It's been through some hiccups, but I've managed to overcome the obstacles and am now on a pretty straightforward path to completion. It will still take awhile, but at least it's on track. The theme that seems to have presented itself, made its way up off the page if you will, is that of blood. Blood in terms of life, in terms of ancestry. All elements of blood. Oh and sex. There's gotta be some sex right?
Without giving away too much, one of the characters is in end-stage renal failure. In normal lingo, kidney failure. So of course I have had to research kidney disease, how it happens, treatments, etc. After much research, I was saddened to discover just how many people are suffering from kidney disease and besides liver transplants, kidney transplants are the only transplants that can be given by a live donor.
Most live donations have been done by family members. But there are many cases where a family member may not be an appropriate match and there are not enough non-familial live donors out there. Don't worry, I am not asking you all to give up a kidney because that is a serious decision to be made and it can't be taken lightly. No that's not the point here.
The point is, a friend of mine. Someone that I lost touch with for awhile though I still followed her on Facebook, has actually made the decision to be a live kidney donor. Of course, it's still dependant on whether or not she passes all the tests. But to even consider such a thing, whether or not she is a suitable candidate, is amazing. She hates the word "selfless" but really it is. Nothing will ever top giving the gift of life to someone that you don't know.
So I am pointing you in her direction. Follow Lauren's story from the decision, through the testing and maybe through to the donation. To Make A Choice
You can never have too much support when making a difficult decision. Let's show her just how much we do care about what she's doing.
Two posts in one day. I don't know if you can keep up with this. But, hey, I felt it was important to share some information but I need to provide a little backstory first and explain why this has caught my attention.
Many of you know that I'm working on a novel. Have been for the past year. It's been through some hiccups, but I've managed to overcome the obstacles and am now on a pretty straightforward path to completion. It will still take awhile, but at least it's on track. The theme that seems to have presented itself, made its way up off the page if you will, is that of blood. Blood in terms of life, in terms of ancestry. All elements of blood. Oh and sex. There's gotta be some sex right?
Without giving away too much, one of the characters is in end-stage renal failure. In normal lingo, kidney failure. So of course I have had to research kidney disease, how it happens, treatments, etc. After much research, I was saddened to discover just how many people are suffering from kidney disease and besides liver transplants, kidney transplants are the only transplants that can be given by a live donor.
Most live donations have been done by family members. But there are many cases where a family member may not be an appropriate match and there are not enough non-familial live donors out there. Don't worry, I am not asking you all to give up a kidney because that is a serious decision to be made and it can't be taken lightly. No that's not the point here.
The point is, a friend of mine. Someone that I lost touch with for awhile though I still followed her on Facebook, has actually made the decision to be a live kidney donor. Of course, it's still dependant on whether or not she passes all the tests. But to even consider such a thing, whether or not she is a suitable candidate, is amazing. She hates the word "selfless" but really it is. Nothing will ever top giving the gift of life to someone that you don't know.
So I am pointing you in her direction. Follow Lauren's story from the decision, through the testing and maybe through to the donation. To Make A Choice
You can never have too much support when making a difficult decision. Let's show her just how much we do care about what she's doing.
I feel like I’m on a merry-go-round. An invisible force is pushing and pushing. It’s going so fast and I’m dizzy enough to throw up.
Mini Me is driving me nuts. Those terrible twos really are terrible and she’s right in the middle of them with no sign of slowing down.
Yesterday went a little something like this…
ME: “Please don’t touch Christmas tree.”
HER: Continues to touch the Christmas tree.
ME: “Do you want a time out?”
HER: Shakes her head and moves away from the tree, only to do to the Christmas lights that hang and the wall and plug them in. Unplug them. Plug them in. Unplug them.
ME: “If you touch the lights again you’re going for a time out.”
HER: Smiles and touches the lights again.
ME: Put her in her time out spot. “Two minutes.”
HER: Cries, kicks, screams. But sits there.
ME: Sit and enjoy the two minutes of semi-quiet. Get her from her spot, explain why she’s there. She makes sounds like she’s talking back. We hug and kiss and off we go.
HER: Dumps out her toy box, turns it bottom side up so she can reach items on the top of her dresser.
ME: “Get down from there before you fall.”
HER: Sits on box with open container of bum cream in her lap. Smears it on her face, legs, arms.
ME: Go back to what I was doing. I can’t remember what I was doing.
HER: Pushes toy box into kitchen. Starts pulling stuff off the counter.
ME: “I asked you not to climb on that.”
HER: Smiles, laughs, grabs toy box and begins to run away with it.
ME: What was I doing?
HER: Rustle, rustle, scratch, scratch. Plunk.
ME: “Get out of the garbage can.”
HER: Hides under microwave shelf.
ME: Go back to whatever I was doing. I think it was laundry.
HER: Runs into her bedroom. Tries to climb the bookshelf which thankfully is strapped to the wall. She gets down, and starts to bring all her toys into the living room. Dances around, twirls, laughs, runs and kicks the ball. Pulls on stockings hung from the fireplace.
ME: Wants to laugh, wants to cry. I’m exhausted and I’ve only been up for an hour.
And the day continues mostly like this. More time outs, more blowing on my hot coffee and touching the cup when asked not to. Tipping the cup over so I have to wash the carpet. Climbing onto the kitchen table, pulling stuff out of the garbage can, opening the dishwasher, grabbing dishes and running and hiding with them. Opening the laptop, turning it off, turning it on, pulling shoes out of the closet. Refusing to eat what’s offered, taking off her clothes and diaper. Taking all the clothes out of her dresser, laughing and running away when I try to encourage her to help me clean it up.
Pulls it all out again.
Jumping.
Running.
Cries.
Tantrums.
Time outs.
Running.
Clean up toys.
Dumps toys out again.
Jumping.
Touching. Touching. Touching.
Won’t nap.
Cries.
Screams. Kicks. Bites. Slaps. (This is her, not me. Just to clarify.)
And around and around we go.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)