A day I had anticipated...

Rest in peace, Edward Kennedy.

Senator Kennedy was always a benchmark for me in my Dad's battle.  He was diagnosed about a month before my Dad, and he lasted about 5 months longer.  Sadly, Senator Kennedy made it to the average survival time frame of this horrible disease...About 15 months.

It goes to show you how deadly and aggressive and unrelenting this disease is.  It goes unnoticed by so many until it is usually too late.  Often, headaches that most people ignore and treat with Tylenol or Advil (which Dad never had), and most of the time, seizures caused because the brain has swollen or been damaged by the tumor.  Dad had a few "focal" seizures which appear that to be someone staring off.  Senator Kennedy was alerted by a seizure to his tumor.

Senator Kennedy received basically the same treatment as my Father...Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy in the form of Temodar.  There is some indication that he also may have been prescribed Avastin, which in clinical trials has been shown to slightly extend the survival range.

I guess it also shows that little is still known about this disease.  They do not know what causes it, they do not know how to prevent it, they do not know how to slow it very much, let alone beat it.  It is an equal opportunity offender, it knows no race, creed, or age...Even Senator Kennedy, who spent his career looking out for the "little guy," and most recently, the health care bill, who had access to the best doctors, treatments, hospitals, etc...Could not beat this monster.

The only answer from here on out is research.  I have resurrected Team Scotch On The Rocks for the San Diego Brain Tumor Walk on Saturday, September 26, in Mission Bay Park.  It is a 5K fun walk that was very inspirational and fun last year.  I would love to have as many of you as possible join me on Team Scotch On The Rocks for the walk next month.  It is a very easy walk, and there is something so special about so many people coming together for a common cause that has touched them all.  If you would like to join the team, or would like to support us by donating, you can get to the Team Scotch On The Rocks donation page by clicking on the following link:  http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/TR/Events/BTW-SD?team_id=29340&pg=team&fr_id=1420

My thoughts go out to the Kennedy family, for like us all, they lost a friend, father, uncle, brother, husband, warrior...

Much love.

My new feature...

Where is this summer going? I cannot believe it is August. There is still so much to do, and time is just running away from me! I am struggling so much with all there is too do. I am trying to figure out a way to delegate, but the things I want to delegate are things I need to do myself. Ugh! It is a matter of time....And that is the problem with time...It stops for no one. This brings me back to the knowledge that I need to treasure each day, and appreciate all of the gifts that are all around us. The weather has been warm and humid (for SoCal), but the sunsets have been incredible. The color of the sky goes through the most amazing array of colors...Blues, indigos, purples, with reds and pinks and oranges...Incredible!!! I struggle a little with treasuring each day because I feel that I have so much to do...But I guess I can just do all that I can, and be at peace with that...Easier said than done.:)

So, in addition to my blogging about my life and experiences, I have decided that I need to incorporate one of my true loves in life...Each week, I will be sharing a "Shoe of the Week." Most of the time, it will be a beauty from my own personal collection, but if I see something wonderful, or timeless or amazing at a store, in an ad or perhaps on a friend's foot, I may include it as well. To start out, I want to introduce you to a pair of mine. Simple, classic, but sassy...And who can go wrong with black and white. They are Joey O's...Black patent leather peep-toe pumps with a white strap and buckle across the toe...4 inch stiletto heel, Size 6.5. Yum!

Much Love!

What a wonderful world...

One of the songs I had on the playlist for both my parent's memorial services was "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstong.  I remembered that both my parents liked that song and it truly represents the amazing world and people that surround us ever day.

I just feel that the events of the past year or so have obviously had a profound effect on me.  It has made me almost hyper-sensitive to most things and emotions.  I think the best way to explain it, is I am scattered, but able to focus on little things all at the same time.  Grief works in mysterious ways...

One of the things that has been abundantly apparent to me lately is the beauty of this wonderful city.  The weather has been a little different the past few days...A little more humid than most would like (for CA), but it has really had a profound effect on the skies...The most amazing cloud formations have hung over the city like buttercream frosting....And the contrast against the amazing blue sky has been stunning.  In addition to this, we are coming up on a full moon and the combination of all these things adds up to some of the most amazing, breathtaking views, and demonstrates the blessings that surround us all...

Much love! 

C'mon...It's bulk food, not brain surgery!!!

Well, today proved to be a challenge...Waking up with a crazy bad headache that I could not get rid of was the very worst part, for sure.

I was able to summon the strength to make a Costco run mid-afternoon...My first mistake.  I needed food for the week, there was just no two ways about it.  Sunday afternoon at Costco is an absolute zoo.  So, here I am, not exactly on my "A" game, and I am struggling to find my membership card walking in the door, and I hear this commotion behind me.  A man walks in, and directly behind him, a woman rushes in after him, followed by another man.  The door employees start saying "can you believe it???  All over a parking space???  There were tempers flaring!!!  Now, here I am, feeling poorly, and just shocked at the pettiness of some people...Well, that was was an isolated occurrence...Right?  Not so much...

I was trying to navigate the tricky frozen food section, which is made more difficult for the tremendous crowds due to the sample carts at the end.  I squeezed through behind the sample cart, and got stuck by this man that pushed his way in to a space where he could not go any further, but managed to block my path.  Not in any hurry, and too headachy to say anything, I just wait...About 4 seconds, and this man in front of me starts raising his voice at the man in front of him..."let's get this moving along..."   And a moment later, loudly, to his wife..."If this guy would just keep moving forward..."  Now the man in front of him takes a moment from allowing the older couple in front of him to squeeze past him slowly, and turns around and says "Just one moment sir, these people are coming through."  Mr. Cranky man belts out "well tell him to hurry it up!"  The patient man turns around and says "are you serious?" and Mr. Cranky belts out "yah, I'm serious...Move it along!!!"  The patient man turns around and says "geez, maybe you need to get back on your meds" and laughs a little...Mr. Cranky blows up and says "maybe you need to get the hell out of my way..."

Ok, really...I know it is warm outside, and in this economic downturn (yah right, not at Costco), and everyone is anxious to get home with their 72 rolls of toilet paper and 47 pound bag rice, but c'mon...Let's all have a little patience people!  Why can't we all get along...

Much love.