Testing. Testing 1, 2, 3. Sorry folks, I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on with my feed & my feed reader. It seems my feed doesn’t show up in Google, and I’m not sure about other feeds. If you read this blog via a feed — please help a sister out & let me know if everything shows up properly or doesn’t! Thanks loves!
Thanks to sick kids and snOMG ’10, I haven’t left the house since last Sunday. Sunday as in January 30th, Sunday1. I think it goes without saying that I’ve gone beyond stir crazy. Until tonight that is…
After some deliberation about trains, roads, etc. I’ve decided that I’m sticking with my plans to go up to NYC for the night & spend it with my sister & brother-in-law. Our plan is to go see Tramps Like Us (fake Bruce FTW!!), and then who knows…whatever the night holds! And sometime tomorrow we’ll make the trip back down so they can spend the weekend at my parents house.
I’m really looking forward to tonight, especially after the hellish week I had. I mean, the week was filled with sick kids, horrible doctors, and endless fights about taking medicine. Who wouldn’t need a night out after that madness?! I promise there will be lots of pictures of our crazy night in the city!
1 ok so that was a lie…I left the house three seperate occasions. But only going to the pediatrician those three times is close enough to not leaving, haha!
The quandry: We feel terrible. Just horrible. And oh so helpless… if only there was something we could DO for them.
The answer: Ummmm. Did you forget that WE ARE THE INTERNET?!?!!??! And also, Yes We Can!!!
The result: Brandy and your Hot Awesome Dude… this one’s for you. Love, The Internet.
Our friend Brandy is a brilliant writer, a wonderful teacher, and a generous friend. And she is in love with a man who has just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
We are raising money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Fund in his name. For the price of a cinnamon dolce latte, half-caf, hold the whip, you can be part of an effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people worldwide.
Every dollar brings us a dollar closer to a cure. And every donation brings a sliver of hope to a girl who needs all the hope she can get.
Love Harder,
Caitlin G. (lifeofme.org)
What You Can Do
- Give. Be part of a worldwide effort to cure a disease that affects approximately 750,000 people worldwide. Every dollar helps.
- Pass it on. Forward this story to five people. Share this blog post. Become our fan on Facebook.
- Love harder. Life is short, love is unbending, and no one knows what could happen next. Tell someone you love them today.
Where Your Money Goes
- The American Institute of Philanthropy recently named The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation one of the best organizations to give to in terms of their accountability and use of resources.
- By working closely with researchers, clinicians and partners in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, the MMRF has helped bring multiple myeloma patients four new treatments that are extending lives around the globe.
- The MMRF has advanced twenty Phase I and Phase II clinical trials. They need your support to advance these clinical research programs and accelerate the development of better, more effective treatments.
- The MMRF’s Multiple Myeloma Genomics Initiative recently became the first to sequence the multiple myeloma whole genome in its entirety.
- A whopping 98% of your donation to the MMRF will be used immediately to support high-priority multiple myeloma research.
- With diminishing funding for early stage drug development and the next myeloma treatments not expected to be approved until 2011, the MMRF desperately needs your help.
Brandy’s Story (if you already posted this, you can just link to your original post)
My name is Brandy. And I have a blog.
And a plea.
I use my blog to showcase the crazy I meet everyday, share the stories of the kids I teach, and document my love for tequila, dairy products and the abdominal muscles of Ryan Reynolds.
Rarely do I talk about personal issues on my blog– as personal as the dude that I adore. But I need your help. And it involves my dude.
He’s a guy who made math comics for my class, so they would love learning about addition. He’s the guy who sends my friends gift cards when they are having hard times, who remembers every story I ever told him, who was the first person I celebrated with when I got a teaching job.
He’s the guy who sent flowers to me at school– dozens of my favourite pink roses just because he loves me. He’s a guy who has spent a year patiently explaining (and re-explaining) everything there is to know about football during the important games when silence is preferred.
He’s made me word puzzles and comics and stayed up late playing Scrabble with me (even though I beat him almost every time). He’s listened to me cry about school and family and jobs. He is everything I never knew I needed and everything I always knew I wanted.
I realize this all sounds dramatic, a Lifetime movie in the making– but this is life. Right now. And I’m throwing away any hint of ego and am humbly asking for you to pray or think kind thoughts. If you are able to pass this on, thank you.
This isn’t a call for sympathy or a plea for pity. It’s just one girl hoping you can think positive thoughts for the person she adores. If my current heartache provides you with anything, let it be the reminder that life is short, love is unbending and no one knows what could happen next.
Thank you for reading this, and if you haven’t already? Please tell someone you love them today.
I did.
DONATE: http://www.loveharder.org
CONTACT: theloveharderfund@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.loveharder.org
MORE INFO: http://www.themmrf.org
Since I started blogging long ago (99-00ish?), I never imagined it would go this way. To be honest, I never really thought that I’d stick with blogging. But then a few months went by, and it turned into years. I found myself going from an angsty teen, to a struggling college student, and eventually to a wife and mom. For the most part, I floated around kind of off the radar. I had my clique of friends, some of which have come and gone. It something I always did for me anyway…
Then a few months ago happened. I stumbled upon 20 Something Bloggers, after reading through a few member’s blogs. I figured “what the hell”, it’s something new. I never imagined that in the short time I would meet some of the amazing people that I have. Especially since I’m still a bit of a lurker, learning who everyone is, and just getting into the lives of a lot of these people. But I feel like I was welcomed with open arms. Up until this point I’ve never met any blogger offline before. Like Rachel had said, I never put much thought into it, and I didn’t ever really have too many “close friends” online, just people that I talked to occasionally whose blog I read.
Then Thursday came. After a bit of a delay (thanks L for almost needing stitches), I made my way to PATCO to hop a train into Philly.There I was to meet Rachel, Jess, Katie and Rachael. Sadly I missed the fun they had walking around, snapping pictures, and getting on the Discovery Channel at Love Park. I ended up meeting them at Osteria for dinner, where as Rachel said it best — we put ourselves into a cheese coma! OMG — mozzerella en carozza has to be the best thing on the face of this earth (and now I’m craving it!).
It was by far one of the best nights I’ve had, ever. We laughed, talked, joked.…as we’ve known each other for ages. It was amazing. So amazing, that we’re now making it a monthly thing. I’m already excited for Feb.25th @ Shecky’s Girl’s Night Out — and if you’re in the area, come join us! We’re an awesome bunch 
So I’ve put up a new design here @ Lifeofme.org. Nothing major, just something simple and fairly easy on the eyes. Some elements still aren’t quite done yet (like the comments are quite the way I’d like), but I was tired of being in Maintenance Mode. I love it though…hope you guys do too. Any likes/criticism/suggestions wanted please 
ps. not all the pages are up yet, as I’m still updating them. They’ll be ready soon.
So good news — my dad is home! He’s doing well, and it seems everything is under control. Turns out he has shingles, and probably a secondary infection which caused the other issues/symptoms. He satyed in the hospital for around 36hrs or so,and had a couple rounds of antibiotics along with seeing a few different doctors, including an infectious diease doctor.
At first they thought there was a possibility that it was MRSA, so he was somewhat isolated and we had to “gown up” in order to even be in the room with him yesterday. That was quite a sight to se, but it added a little humor to the whole thing. I must say though, my dad seemed like he was in good spirits the time I spent with him at the hospital.
But now he’s home safe & sound, with just a couple prescriptions. It turned out to be rather minor, but thanks so much for all the thoughts/prayers/good vibes — it meant a lot <3
Well…the two days were good. After that, this new year of ours has taken a turn in the opposite direction. It seems that a rash my dad has ended up being some sort of infection, and he’s been admitted to the hospital for treatment. I’m not sure of too many details right now (I’m stuck at work), so I’m waiting on a phone call from my mom. The only thing I know is that they want to give at least 24hrs of antibiotics, and they’re calling in a few doctors.
There’s all kinds of possibilities being thrown around, so we have to wait and see. I’m headed up there when I leave work, so hopefully I’ll get more info then. For now, keep any thoughts or prayers out there for him…and maybe send some good vibes? Thanks!
