Stand Up To (2) Cancer

        Do you know anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer?  Did you know that 1 out of 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime…1 out of 2 men.  So unless you are a family of one, with no friends and you are the luckiest person in the whole wide world…cancer is going to touch someone you care about, at some point.  If you haven’t had to deal with the enemy cancer yet…consider yourself blessed beyond reason.  There is a movement afoot to Stand Up To Cancer.  It doesn’t matter if it is breast cancer, colon cancer, blood cancers, brain cancer,ovarian, or any other kind of cancer…it is a destroyer and needs to be eliminated.  Please join forces to battle a plague on the world that we live in…help fight cancer.

        The goal is to Stand Up To Cancer and understand it…take it apart…so that we can more efficiently battle it and WIN!  That is the end goal.   Cancer is the enemy…it is a thief…it has stolen enough, artists, doctors, mothers, muscians, pilots, cab drivers, babies, teachers, clerks, lecturers, fathers, students, writers, researchers, husbands, factory workers, miners, fire fighters, sons, nurses, daughters, child care workers, politicians, sisters, waitresses, brothers, lecturers, speakers, wives, caregivers, grandparents, role models, athletes, neighbors, librarians, friends, social workers, police men & women, military men and women, designers, dancers, clergy, you get the idea…Cancer is not picky about who it chooses to invade and try to destroy. 

          It could be you next, or someone you care about.  Cancer claims one life a minute each day!  Can you believe that?  One person a minute per day is too many loses! That is 1,500 deaths per day… that is unacceptable.    Protect your health best way that you can, eat right, exercise, protect your environment, take your vitamins, stay away from contaminants, be aware and educate yourself.  Honor those who have fought with everything they have…help out someone in a health crisis with cancer…be a supporter to someone in need. 

          Once cancer strikes…there are many needs, physical,spiritual, medical, emotional, financial, transportation, and daily care needs.  Do what you can to lift someone up!  Life is precious.  Will you make a commitment to be a force to be reckoned with and help make an impact in the fight against cancer?

         For us to win the war on cancer it requires courage, support, awareness, education and funding.  The television networks are joining together to bring those tools to the public and try to create a historic event that will hopefully rev up the odds of winning.  http://abcnews.go.com/Health/StandUp2Cancer/  There are many celebrities who are adding their voice and their talents to the project.  They have a wonderful website that you can view here that will explain more.  In the meantime, look for the program to hit the networks on Sept 5th, at 8 pm.  You can go to the website and read up on the idea here:  http://www.standup2cancer.org/  Let’s not be idle and let others do the fighting…there is something that we all can do…what are you willing to do to help?  Let’s envision a future without cancer!!!

Advertisement

Read Full Post »

Borrowed Books…Pay On Time Or Else! Love Your Library!!!

        Wow, i messed up.  Yesterday, i received an email notice (in an old email account) telling me that i had overdue books at the library.  I didn’t realize that my email address  that they had on file for notices was an old one.  So, it is an old account; and, i do not check it but every couple of months….that was a costly mistake.

         When i saw the email yesterday…it said that i owed like 6 or 7 dollars…ouch that hurt, but ok.  I found the books; took them in and went to pay the fine at the library.  When i told her that i had book fees and that i just found out about it she smiled at me.  I thought that is nice.  But, i did mention that since i checked those books out a couple of months ago…i had probably checked out another 30 books since then, and no-one had told me that i had overdue books & fees.  I found that strange.

          Anytime i have had fees in the past…as soon as i went in to check out more books…i paid them as soon as i found out.  They didn’t send me any notice in the mail or anything…no phone call either.  So, i was shocked when i read the email.  But anyway, when i got ready to pay her…she seemed embarassed and said…actually the fee was like 13.00 because more fees accrued since the notice was sent.  OUCH again.  But, i owed it…what could i say…i paid it.  I love my library and i would never, not pay it…nor would i go very long without paying it, if i owed them, once i knew about it…so it was a bit embarassing.  However, the worker was wonderful and gave me my receipt.

         Still, i wonder if people actually understand that sometimes people don’t pay their fines.  It can actually affect your credit and if you do have fines and don’t pay them…a library can contact a collection agency to get their money from you.  Wow, that is terrible that a library would actually have to do something so drastic.  It is important to understand that if you borrow it is important to return them on time…and when you mess up…pay promptly. 

          Like i said, i was embarassed…the two books were tucked underneath some newspapers in the enclosed footstool; where i keep library books that aren’t being read at the moment, so they were overlooked for return, when they were due.  🙂  Glad to be in right standing with my library.  I check out about 10 books a week…so, i want to stay friendly with my buds at the library!

           Then today, i read about a woman in Wisconsin who borrowed books from a library and wouldn’t return them and wouldn’t pay her fines.  They repeatedly sent her notices, called her, and the library even contacted the police who cited her and set up a court date.  The woman did not repond to any of the notices, nor the phone calls….nor did she show up for the court date.  She was arrested…i am saying…geez…pay up or return the books already…that is nuts!!!  She ended up paying like a $170 fine.  But the woman says, she is not returning the books…she considers them paid for.  Say what??? i hope she has that in writing…’cause i just bet that the $170 fine was a fine just for court costs…i bet she still owes fines or fees for the replacement cost of the books. 

          I am glad that I opened that old email account…you can bet that i will update their records, so that they understand how to get ahold of me; if i should ever mess up turning in my books by the time they are due again…i try not to let that happen…but, i sure want to know about it; if i somehow miss my due date!  Love your library, treat them with respect, and you will have a lifelong lending/borrowing relationship with your pals at the library!!!  There is no where else in the world where you can get to know so much, go so many places, or meet so many wonderful characters as at your library.  It is great entertainment…and, as long as you return them on time…it is fairly cheap enterainment! 🙂

         

Read Full Post »

Buying & Selling Barbara Walters

        Well, i have to admit…i will be reading Barbara Walters’ book that was recently published.  She has done much over the years to further women in the media.   She has been at the forefront of many standout interviews, of the movers and shakers, in our country’s history; not to mention other countries who’s actions have impacted ours.  She is one of those people who mingles with celebrities, politicians, financiers, royalty, muscians and everyday people; and she does it well.

        Not only that; but, as an adoptive parent…i am interested in hearing the background of the adoption of her daughter Jackie.  I think that there is probably an interesting story behind it; as there is with most adoptions.  Barbara has led an interesting life.

        I will also say, that over the last two years i have lost alot of respect for Barbara.  This is just a personal observation; but, i’ve disliked the way that she handled the personal/professional conflicts; in the eye of the public. 

        I felt the issues she had with Star and Rosie could have been handled in a much better way.  Also, since the release of Barbara’s book; i’ve disliked the fact that for the publicity hype of her book; she has brandished her past affair with a married man not to mention riding on the emotion of her handicapped sister’s memory.  Those issues are at conflict with the woman that I have admired over the years for all that she has brought to our culture of working women in the media. 

        So, i will have to read the book to reconcile the two women in my mind; i must do this to understand her, or i won’t be able to watch her with any semblence of respect.  However, i won’t be buying Ms. Walter’s book…she appears to have more than enough money; so, i will hang on to mine.  I will borrow the book from the local library like the good library patron that i am.

Read Full Post »

library recon

      Well, yesterday i went to the library and did some recon work.  I made myself go down and study some of the best children’s books and what makes them so popular.  I have so many ideas for my children’s books but really understanding how they are set up and how the stories unfold makes all the difference in the world.

     With 6 children, i have read more than my share of children’s books.  Some are great and some are outstanding…then there are the sinker’s.  🙂  I don’t want to write a sinker. 

      I really am a believer in humor and color and texture.  I can appreciate all three.  I am not an artist.  Can’t draw much at all.  But, the great thing is that i don’t have to have that skill.  Wish i did but i don’t. 

     So anyway, i picked up a variety of books.  I read two of them (i am a fast reader and a voracious one at that).  I have several more that i am going to work on this week.   Then i think i will take a look again at the stories i had been planning to send out this week to publishers.  Maybe, i will see things that need to be re-adjusted.

      Gosh, why does it take so long to get feedback from the publishers.  I hate that.  I know why in reality because the balance is all one sided.  It stinks that the publisher’s are flooded with submissions so that the power is all one sided.

      Everyone knows that scarcity is what balances the power.  The problem, is that it is so hard to get out of the slush pile and noticed in a positive way.  No one wants to be noticed negatively.   The odds are not great for someone new.

      In any case, i must be a masochist because so far, i haven’t lost the drive to continue. 

Read Full Post »