There is nothing major going on, but I haven’t been feeling very connected lately. I wish it was easier to snap out of it. I snapped at a man who was doing the right thing yesterday. No matter how much it hurt me, he didn’t deserve it…I did apologize! I snapped again this morning at a man who totally deserved it, I am considering writing a letter…jerk.
I don’t want to whine any more than I already have, but I do want to briefly shine a spotlight on a sweet charity that was highlighted on the news the other day.
This little girl, Allison Winn, and her story rocked me!
Winn was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. Recovery was miserable until Coco the dog came into her life. ”The dog instantly bonded with Allison,” said Dianna Litvak, Allison’s mother. “In the process, we realized that the dog was making Allison feel better.”
One day, Winn decided she was going to make dog biscuits. She wanted to sell them to raise money for another child to get a dog. From that idea came Project Stink Bug, named after what Winn called her chemo treatments.
Winn sold the homemade dog biscuits in her front yard all summer long. Word spread. ”People are so generous,” Litvak said. “One guy rode by on his bike and gave her a hundred dollar bill.” Soon Winn had enough money for two dogs. That’s when Winn’s idea moved to the state prison system. Why the state prison? Because the state of Colorado has the prison-trained K-9 companion program where inmates train rescue dogs.
“We have a reason to wake up every day,” said inmate Terrina Flora-Alexander. “We have a reason to do something positive.”
From Allison’s Stink Bug web site:
Allison is a nine-year-old who was diagnosed with a brain tumor which was successfully removed in its entirety on April 6, 2007. The brain tumor, a highly malignant medullablastoma, is very treatable and has a 80-90 percent survival rate in children. Allison endured six weeks of radiation and nine chemotherapy treatments that began on her seventh golden birthday (May 7, 2007) and ended in June 2008. In September 2008, after treatment was over, her family adopted a bichon frise, Coco, that had been rescued and trained by Colorado Correctional Industries Prison Trained K-9 Companion Program. Coco became an important member of the family and Allison realized that it would have been nice to have Coco when she was home recovering from her treatments.
Allison returned to school and Brownies with the renewed vigor of a survivor, determined to help other kids going through the pain and loneliness of cancer treatment. She conceived the Stink Bug Project in the summer of 2009 after she went to a camp at the Denver Dumb Friends League that emphasized the importance of caring for dogs and how dogs make humans feel better. She decided to bake homemade dog biscuits and lemonade and sold them to friends and family and at a table near her house through the summer. By the end of the summer, she had raised $1500. On October 20, 2009, Allison got her wish when Krysta, a two year old left partially blind by a brain tumor, became the first child to benefit from Allison’s Stink Bug Project. Now, supported by a network of family and friends, Colorado Correctional Industries K-9 Companion Program, area hospitals, and her school, Allison is continuing her efforts at baking dog biscuits and helping more families stricken with childhood cancer.
Allison drew a picture of a Stink Bug to represent chemo. In May 2009, when treatments were over, she declared “Bye Bye Stink Bug!”
My friend Rosemary shared this with her friends this morning. It was a lovely gift. She might just change my mind about poetry one of these days!! I loved it and it brought tears to my eyes, so I am sharing with you. Link in the title goes to Maya’s blog.
I want the water to fill your glass the moment
it sees your thirst.
I want the staircase to meet your footfalls.
I want the line to the freeway to move like breath.
I want the wind flattering your hairline, the rainshower
a welcome refreshment. I want the parking space to fit your car.
I want the birds on your back deck to warble in the exact way
they did during your childhood. I want the photographs
of all your holiday dinners buzzing with a certain unnamable
happiness. I want the dry cleaners to understand
your outrageous requests.
I want the man calling your house to survey
your thoughts on phone companies to remember
the evening is precious as silk. I want your new jeans to not
come undone in the wash. I want snow to land on your eyelashes
like it does in the movies, an etheric, slow-moving kiss.
I want a letter to arrive the moment
you feel most unwelcome of your own company.
I want the scent of lemons in the air. I want the power lines
overshadowed by the view your neighborhood offers at twilight.
I want the downtown ice rink to keep your fantasies aloft.
I want the moon to articulate your most punishing silence.
I want the willow tree revived and teeming, the broken daisies
resurrected and obstinate with brightness.
I want the labyrinth of what ifs narrowed
to a single, poignant sentence.
I want the tulips to be wild as clover, as fog, as good intentions.
I want your heart to cut through its own brutality,
for your body to see everything about you that’s beautiful.
I want love to come at you in thick pats of butter,
in strands of spun sugar, heavy and light as cream.
I want it to bathe your skin until you are nothing
but forgiveness, until your shadows have disappeared,
until all of your perfect right angles have collapsed,
until you are a curve of a curve,
and your hands slide forward and open
and are able, at last, to feel everything.
I thought it might be fun to start the week with this video which was posted last Friday by Pamela at A Novel Woman. I still smile just thinking about it:
“I Want it That Way” – Backstreet Boys
Five brave workers decide to record themselves simultaneously at their office doing something…unthinkable…
From Wednesday night’s So You Think You Can Dance, choreographed by Tyce Diorio. Inspired by a friend’s struggle with breast cancer and the importance of having someone there to lean on, this powerful, emotional performance is one reason why we love to watch this show! In the past, these videos have disappeared quickly from YouTube, so watch it soon!* And watch it all the way through as Nigel, Mary, Mia and Ellen share their thoughts!
I received a link to this site, Postcards From Yo Momma, in my inbox this morning, I enjoyed it greatly. Apparently, I have been hiding under a rock, because how could I have missed this?? They have a big enough following, and have been around long enough to put together a book!
I spent a great deal of time this morning being completely amused by some of the mom wisdom/stories on these pages (while I should have been working!!)! I am going to pull an example or two:
Backstory: Two nights before my wedding mom thinks we need to have “the talk”.
Honey,
I just want to let you know that if you have any, you know, QUESTIONS, you can ask me anything. Your father isn’t the best lover in the world, so I also know a lot about toys. Let’s get dinner tonight.
Love,
Mom
I warned Starr not to send in any of the crazy things I say…she said that she already had a few in mind! Darn it, I knew I should have kept the site to myself! So, as a preventative strike, I thought I’d share a little something that happened just this morning:
Starr: (bounding into my bedroom with tons of energy) You know how I am the most awesomest person ever?!
Me: Mmm hmm?
Starr: That’s it. I just wanted to make sure that you knew!
The package arrived late last week, I was so pleased. I expected a bubble mailer, which would have been fine, but what I received was a 6 x 6 square box with this inside:
Isn’t it pretty?
I loved the ribbon.
When I opened the box, I was surprised again by the cute crocheted bag.
I won something! I was blog hopping with Ann Again…and Again’s Virtual Girls Night Out on a recent Friday night when I visited Little Miss Julia who was having a Mother’s Day giveaway.
My prize is a cute silver pendant from Little Jewel. I have just spent a some time browsing their collection. They have a lovely selection of adorable jewelery for children and moms. I will have to keep them in mind for when Starr has babies and I become a grandmother.
The sun is shining today! It is a nice change from the chilly gloom that we have been living with for the past few days. I am going to get out in it…in one way or another today!
Starr, Skye and their friend Sookie (along with Sookie’s boyfriend, C) are planning a summer trip.
Sookie has taken charge of planning. Starr and I absolutely loved it when we received a spread sheet detailing the trip last night. Since I copied and pasted from a spread sheet, the columns are a little messed up, but you can get the idea of all of the hard work and research Sookie has put in to planning this trip. Her efforts are appreciated by all. She has planned every detail, including movies that they will watch…movies that are tied to the locations that they are visiting!
Sookie, I love you. You made my week! Please help Starr keep track of her camera and cell phone during the trip. Thanks!!
I edited the schedule to remove travel dates and personal information, emphasis is mine:
Vacation Day Activities Time Cost $ Daily Cost Total Cost
Day one: Depart from Home to Houston 6:10-9:33 $118.70
Layover in Houston and Lunch for Plane 9:33-10:55 $6.00
Arrive in Washington D.C. 2:59
Metro to Hotel
(Money is for the whole trip) 3:30 $10.00
Check into Hotel
Hotel location removed 3:40 $150.77
(For all 3 Nights)
Arlington National Cemetery 4:00-5:30 $0.00
Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean Memorial 5:30-7:00 $0.00
Pizza at Hotel 7:30 $5.00
Movie Night (National Treasure) Night $0.00
$290.47
Day two: Start the Day 8:30
World War II Memorial 8:45-9:15 $0.00
Washington Monument 9:20-10:15 $1.50
Breakfast at Holocaust Museum 10:30-11:00 $1.50 - $3.00
Holocaust Museum 11:00-1:30 $1.75
Lunch 1:30-2:00 $7.00
Smithsonian: American History 2:00-5:00 $0.00
Smithsonian: Natural History 5:00-7:00 $0.00
Dinner 7:00-8:30 $10.00-15.00
Hotel Night
$21.75 - $28.25
Day three: Start the Day 8:30
The White House 8:45-9:15 $0.00
Walk and National Christmas Tree 9:15-9:45 $0.00
The National Archives 10:00-11:30 $0.00
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum 11:30-12:15 $0.00
Lunch at the Old Post Office 1:00-2:00 $8.00
Ford's Theatre Tour and Performance 2:30-3:45 $3.25
Spy Museum or Shopping 3:45-6:00 $18.00
Dinner in Georgetown 6:30-8:30 $10.00-$15.00
Hotel 8:15
$39.25 - $44.25
$351.47 - $362.97
(for Washington D.C.)
Day four: Start the Day 5:00
Metro to Union Station 6:00
Train Ride to Pennsylvania 7:25-11:03 $56.00
Head to House 12:00
Grocery Store 12:00-1:00 $40.00
Relax at our hosts Home Rest of the Day
$96.00
Day five: Start the day 8:00
Central Market 9:00-10:45 $10.00
Tour Lancaster 11:00-1:30
Lunch 1:30-2:30 $10.00
Tour Willowstreet/Pick peaches at orchard 1:30-3:00 $5.00
Afternoon Icecream at Mack's 3:00-3:30 $4.00
Relax at our hosts Home 4:00-?
Movie Night (Remember the Titans) 8:00
$29.00
Day six: Start Day 7:30
Gettysburg 9:00-11:00
Lunch (fast food during drive) 11:30-12:00 $5.00-$10.00
Hershey Tour 12:45-2:45 $0.00
Walk around downtown Hershey 3:00-4:30
Dinner 4:30-5:30 $10.00-$15.00
Optional Sunset Admission into Hershey Park 5:30-8:00 $26.95
Get Gas ~ $10.00
$51.95 - $61.95
Day seven: Start Day 8:30
C, Sookie, Host go golfing 8:30-12:30
Skye, Starr, Host go shopping 9:00-12:30
Meet up for lunch 12:30-1:30 $10.00-$15.00
Relax 1:30-Night
Barbeque at house 6:30-7:30
Catch Fireflies Night
$10.00-$15.00
Day eight: Start Day 5:00
Thank you gift for hosts ~ $15.00
Head for Airport 5:30
Flight out of Philadelphia 8:29 - 10:45 $106.60
Arrive Home 10:45
Home Sweet Home! 12:30
$121.60
$308.55 - $323.55
(for Pennsylvania)
Total cost for entire trip = $660.02 - $686.52
Things we still need to reserve and pay for:
Washington Monument: $1.50
Metro Pass: $10.00
Holocaust Museum: $1.75
Ford’s Theatre and Tour: $3.25
Spy Museum: $18.00
Train to Pennsylvania: $56.00
Name? Kelly. Mysterious? Not really. Passionate? Yes. Lazy? Sometimes. Outgoing? Not a bit. Trusting? Mmhmm. Artistic? On good days. Crazy? Could be. Trustworthy? Absolutely. Graceful? I wish. Sarcastic? Often. Deserving? You bet. Forgiving? Yes. Religious? No. Spiritual? Yes. Uncertain? At times. Confused? Sure. Distracted? Daily. Silly? Yeah. Talkative? Not. Punctual? To a fault. Breakable? Quite.
This is not a music blog. While it is my desire to share free and legal music here (music is a part of me), it is not my goal to critique this music.
If I have posted music, it is because I like it, and it moves me at the moment. It might match my mood, it could be on repeat, or mirror the sentiment of my post. It might be quite random, and just what I wish to share.
*Older links may not always work, as promotional MP3s, in particular, are known to disappear without warning.
Artists and labels: if I have erred and posted a song inappropriately, let me know, and I will remove it.
To download a song: on a PC, right click the link and choose "save link as"
