Rest in Peace Patrick.

Not tragic to die doing what you love. You want the ultimate thrill, you gotta be willing to pay the ultimate price. BOHDI, POINT BREAK

You just put your pickle on everybody’s plate, college boy, and leave the hard stuff to me. JOHNNY CASTLE, DIRTY DANCING

 Nobody puts Baby in a corner. JOHNNY CASTLE, DIRTY DANCING

Pain don’t hurt. DALTON, ROADHOUSE

 Ditto. SAM WHEAT, GHOST

Patrick Swayze

                                             RIP: Patrick Swayze 1952 – 2009

Where did it go????

My cynical, sarcastic self is rearing her ugly head these days and when she does there is not any particularily safe distance from here.  Since I have no “real life” to speak of in this one horse town I get most of my “news” online.  I do not spend a lot of time surfing the web per se – instead I read certain sites only and today there was a little blurb about Jade Goody.  If you know who Jade is, ok – if not read on.

Back in March (March 15, 2009) I wrote a blog entry tittled “What would you do for 15 minutes of fame?”  This is a quote from that entry:

“And last but not least, we have Jade Goody.  Jade was a Big Brother contestant in the UK and in India.  While on the India show making her mark as a racist,  she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.  Please do not misunderstand – I am so sorry that she is in the last stages of her life.  However, letting TV cameras record it all is just way beyond my scope of comprehension.  She was married on TV a couple of weeks ago, and now the cameras are recording her final days. Jade says she is doing this so that her sons will have a better life with the money she is being paid.  Sorry Jade, in my opinion that is a piss poor excuse for letting the world invade your privacy and watch you die.  Yes, I have said it.  You are dying Jade and instead of letting your boys have quality time with whatever time you have left you have instead initiated something they will have to live with for the rest of their lives – money or not!”

Jade has since passed away.  I was peeved to think that she would put her two sons through having to relive her final dying days – I do not believe that any amount of money would be worth it.  However, I did understand that she wanted to raise enough money for her boys to get an excellent education through private schools and part of her reasoning for selling the rights to her “death” were to fund that education.  Jade herself came from a spotted background and she was a mother trying to right by her children.  As I said, I thought her capitalizing on her pending death was wrong, but to each their own.

Today I read an article that reported that Jade managed to spend her way through most of the money before she died. You can read the article here but in a nutshell what was estimated to be an amount in the area of British Pounds $6million (at today’s exchange rate that would be approx $9.9million US or approx $10.7million Canadian) whittled itself down to a mere British Pounds $800,000 (or $1.32 million US or $1.42 million Canadian.

Of this amount $300,000 (approx $497,000 US or approx $535,000 Canadian) is owed in back taxes, leaving a paltry $500,000 (approx $827,000 US or $892,000 Canadian) in the pot.  The estimated amount for the boy’s education is $600,000 (approx $993,000 US or approx $1.07 million Canadian). It is hoped that the royalties from her book “Catch a Falling Star” will make up the difference required. So after all she went through and put her boys through to enable them to have a decent life after her death, there is a shortfall in the amount needed to cover their education , not to mention general day to day living expenses and all that other “fun stuff” that comes with just trying to survive life!!!!! 

I’m sorry – I am truly sorry that cancer took her life.  She was a young woman with two children and no matter who you are or what you have done in your life no one deserves to die from any disease, let alone cancer.  As a cancer survivor myself I can still only imagine the hell that Jade went through.  But that does not excuse the fact that she used her death for monetary gain.  Yes, her reasoning was noble and yes she did it for her children but how in the world did she manage to spend all of that money while she was dying.  The British Health Care system is somewhat like the Canadian so her medical expenses, treatments etc would be for the most part covered and paid for.  And as a cancer survivor I know first hand that there are other expenses that are not paid for (living expenses that do not stop just because you are ill.)  But to the tune of  British Pounds $5,920,000 ?????  (approx $9.77million US or approx $10.5 milion Canadian).  Even I could not spend that kind of money in that short a period of time. (However, there might be one or two people who would debate that remark).

Somewhere in all of this there is a need for someone to step up to the plate and find out where the money went.  If for no other reason, there is a 6 year old and a 4 year old that no longer have a mom who so obviously loved them more than anything in the world.  Someone needs to be accountable. 

In the grand scheme of things this is really none of my business and I should probably keep my mouth shut.  I am by no means perfect or even close to it, I know this.  However Jade Goody invited us (the rest of the world) into her life.  Whether I liked her or not, there is still the issue of the two boys and that’s where my anger lies.  Children have enough to deal with in this day and age.  They do not need to have extra piled on their plate because mom needed her 15 minutes of fame. And with that I am going to shut up – going on would just lead to other issues I have with the world today and it’s just not worth it~

Under The Influence

Over the last month I have undergone my annual check ups following my treatments for Esophageal Cancer. I am happy to report that all is great!  My CAT scan was normal, no evidence of disease.  My gastroscope looked fine.  For 5 years out I am part of a miracle – I survived the second most deadly cancer out there and by the look of it, I will be lucky enough to celebrate my 6th Anniversary next year. That may be putting the cart before the horse however, the enthusiasm I get from my doctor’s gives me hope that I have beaten the “Beast” and will continue to do so.  But I will admit that there will always be that little voice in the back of my head saying that sooner or later it will return.  Pessimistic – no, not really.  I prefer to think I am realistic.  EC has a nasty habit of returning, more so than any other  cancer so I would rather think that it might return rather than be totally shocked if it does.  If nothing else I have learned that nothing is impossible.

I have had many scopes – I lost count after a while.  I was having them every 3 months at one time.  It was always the same thing:  appointment booked for first thing in the morning, usually the first or second patient of the day.  In by 7:00 am out by 9:30 am, no worse for wear.  Grab something to eat on the way home, usually Burger King French Toast and at least a good cup of coffee.  By the time I got home, I was ready for the day – no need to sleep or rest; I was fine.  I was never groggy or disoriented from the sedative I had been given for the scope.  In fact, I could never understand why I was not allowed to leave the hospital on my own.  No, I had to be wheeled out to a waiting vehile after signing a waiver that I would not be left alone for 24 hours and I would not drive a car.  Ya, whatever!!!!  For a time when Jeff and I were still together he would drop me off at the hospital, come get me when I was done and then I would get my car at his place and go home.  No big deal!

But, that was then and this is now.  I have no recollection of the things I was told today I did after the scope.  In fact, when Sue told me I was a little surprised of my actions.  Ok, not really surprised, I did manage to burst out laughing while trying to drive the car.

Apparently, and this is the story Sue is sticking to, after my scope they let her in to sit with me.  Gastro Guy came in and said everything was ok – see ya next year (if I thought I needed a scope at that time).  I then took off the blood pressure cuff and out it on Sue’s arm…I also removed the monitor from my finger that recorded my breathing.  And all the while I was laughing my head off.  Sue quickly removed the BP cuff from her arm and put it back on me, just in time too because Nurse Ratchet came in and gave me hell because they needed to “record” my vitals before they would let me leave. Of course I laughed at her too!!!  I haven’t heard from Gastro Guy’s office that I have been “banned” from the Day Surgery unit at the hospital and I probably won’t but I think my reputation as a “model patient” has now come to an end.

BUT, I do have a defence…

It has only been in the last year that I have been taking meds to control the residual pain that I have from my surgery and subsequent chemoradiation. My upper right side (mostly right arm) is in constant pain.  This, I had explained to me is because when the thorocotomy portion of my surgery was performed there were many lymph nodes removed from that part of my body.  Lymph nodes provide a type of filtration system and drainage system for  the lymphatic system.  The fluid that would normally accumulate in those nodes has nowhere to go and thus does not drain properly.  This is an after effect that affects many Breast Cancer Surgery patients also.  Combined with the loss of the lymph nodes, the nerve paths that were severed by the thorocotomy and the general area in which all this occured it is unlikely that I will ever regain the strength or agility that I once had.  Additionally the pain will likely lessen overtime and become more managable without pain medication but that remains to be seen.  So, for the time being I take medication to control the pain.  During the day I take ibruprophen  (Advil, Motrin etc), however by the end of the day I am tired and the ibruprophen just doesn’t do the trick so I take Demerol to kill the pain and hope for a peaceful nights sleep.  Sometimes it works, and sometimes I take an extra Demerol just so I can get an hour or two of shut eye. (Extra as in 3 instead of 2 every 4 hours).  Originally, I refused to take the pain meds, but then I learned that if you do not control your pain, it will control you!  Add in the back pain from the radiation  and the overall pain every where else from the surgery and some days I was ready to pack it in and give up.  After speaking with my surgeons and oncologists and getting the “You will not become addicted if you have real pain” speech I agreed to take the meds. (And the pain is real.  I don’t always let on about how much pain I am really in – it seems pointless, there is nothing anyone can do so why dwell on it.  Some days it is bad enough that lifting my purse is almost impossible – and believe me my purse is not as heavy as it once was – I have learned to scale down on what I carry on a daily basis. It is also the type of pain that, at times, catches me totally by surprise, causing me to drop whatever I have in my hand or arm.  This is not a good thing if I am carrying groceries – there are many times when I return home with scrambled eggs in the grocery bag.)  It took a while to figure out which ones worked the best.  Morphine did nothing but make me tired and want to sleep. It did not get rid of the pain.  And since it was a very low dose I didn’t even get the benefit of the “Still got the pain but don’t care” morphine “high”.  I have a nasty reaction to Codeine so that was out.  After some trials and tribulations my Dr. went with the Demerol and I have been taking that since.

The night before my scope I could not injest anything after midnight.  I took my meds around 10:00 which is  earlier than usual.  I had nothing to eat after the pills which meant they were taken on an empty stomach and in the morning I had nothing to eat before heading to the hospital at 8:45am.

For the scope I am given a cocktail of Versed and Demerol. When the scope is completed I have no recollection of it but as I said I am usually wide awake, alert and able to drive.  For what ever reason, that was not the case this time.  Not only do I not remember the hospital shenanigans, when I did finally get home I was ok for about 10 minutes and then felt very ill and went to lie down.  It was almost 4 hours before I got up.

So I have learned my lesson – from here out I will follow instructions to the nth degree and not complain that I cannot leave the hospital under my own “steam”.  I will stop being adamant that I can walk out, I will accept the wheelchair ride with grace and say thank you when I get out the door.  I will accept the ride home with gratitude and will no longer be a “pain in the butt” to whomever is giving me said ride home.  I will take a nap when I get home whether I need it or not.  I will become the wimp that I have always said I am not!!!!!

It’s really burns my butt that I have to concede this defeat.  But I will and I will do so quietly… NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Have a safe and fun Labour Day Weekend.

Nancy

I have been noteably absent as of late…

and I have no excuse except that I my brain has turned to mush and I have nothing remotely interesting to write about.  At least nothing that I think is interesting.  Not that my blog has ever been really interesting but at least it was mine.  It still is, I know that but I feel like someone else has taken over my body and thoughts so…

 

No, I am not drunk.  No, I am not stoned.  Maybe just crazy.

When the Saints…

In 1982 I travelled to Nova Scotia with Mom and Dad to visit Uncle Jerry who was vacationing there.  On the way home we went via the US, crossing over from New Brunswick, stopping at the famous LLBeans store in Freeport Maine and then heading to Portland Maine.  In Portland we stopped at a Holiday Inn to have some breakfast and to make a reservation at another Holiday Inn in  Burlington, Vermont  for that night.

While sitting in the Dining Room having breakfast there was a table behind us with a group of people having a very spirited conversation.  By spirited I mean loud but not obnoxious, a conversation that one could not help but overhear.  There was also a voice that I will never forget – one that could be heard above all the rest.  She was lamenting that the donations were not coming in as fast as she would like and therefore it was time to “get off their asses” and get the “money  coming in”.  I looked over at the table and knew immediately who the voice belonged to.  I had been a Kennedy follower for many years, since my Grade 12 American History class taught by Phil Sharp at PCI.  However my fascination with America’s “Royal Family” was limited to the political side and mainly JFK  (who, to this day, I swear I remember watching his funeral and seeing JFK Jr., salute the cassion as it went by even though I was the same age as John-John.) But I had seen enough Kennedy Family photos to know that the woman who was speaking was Eunice Kennedy  Shriver.  What I didn’t know at the time was her passion and devotion to the Special Olympics and many other charities involved with making the world a better place for everyone.

I didn’t know that until today when I watched her funeral.  I wish that in 1982 at the young age of 22 that I had had more of a social conscience than I do today, that I had listened more carefully to her as she spoke and that I had taken the time to introduce myself and tell her what an awesome woman she was.  But, back then I didn’t know what awesome women were nor that there were so many people less fortunate than I was.  I didn’t know that I was “priviledged”, not by money or social stature but by the mere luck of being born female and caucasion and “normal”  in a country as diversified as Canada.  Hell, I didn’t even know what diversified was – we were all Canadian’s and that’s what I knew.

That was then and this is now.  And I as I watched her daughter Maria speak about her “Mummy” and as I listened to the many many things that Eunice Kennedy Shriver had accomplished in her life I finally understood what it truly meant to “Celebrate” a life.  If there ever was a life to celebrate it was this one. 

Later in my life I became a Special Olympics volunteer.  My neice Maggie and I volunteered to teach Autistic children to swim.  It wasn’t until today that I found out that I had Eunice Shriver to thank for that opportunity.  And it was an opportunity; one that taught me humanity and compassion and how, as humans we are not really all that “different” no matter what label has been placed upon us.  I am just sorry that it took 40 years of my life to realize something she had so much earlier in hers.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver is one woman I will never forget.  One woman who made such a difference in so many lives.  One woman who’s legacy will live on in her children and their children and the lives she touched.

Rest in Peace Mrs. Shriver, you have earned it.

5 Years and counting

Although my official date is not until October 28, 2009, I had my 5th year annual check up with the Radiation Oncologist this past Wednesday.

I really never thought I would see the 5 year mark.  The surgery went well, the chemo and radiation went well while they were happening.  However, it was the after effects of said radiation and chemo that almost killed me.

Happily enough I managed to kick them in the ass and well, here I am 5 years later.  Somedays I almost forget – but then a little twitch or pain shows up and I am again reminded that I am a SURVIVOR.  That’s right I am A CANCER SURVIVOR and try as I may, I will never really forget.  And to be truthful I don’t want to forget.  Forgetting would mean that I didn’t care and that’s just not true.

 

See, as I have said before I will tell anyone who will listen and even those who won’t about the dangers of heartburn and living on antacids and prescription Acid Reflex drugs.  Listen up people, believe me YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH WHAT I DID!!!!

Although cancer stats are getting better on the whole there are some that are not getting better and EC is one of them. 

I implore you – if you suffer from heartburn on a regular basis please, please see your Doctor and demand that you get a scope.  Barrett’s Esophagus is now becoming a “common” disease and it can be treated.  A very small percentage of people diagnosed with Barrett’s will be diagnosed with EC.  I cannot see wating till that time – so if you have heartburn, if you scarf down handfuls of Rolaids or Tums and they are becoming one of your major food groups, go to the Doctor.  Do not pass GO, do not collect $200.  JUST GO!!!!!

I am one of the lucky ones thus far – don’t wait to be able to call yourself LUCKY because it might not happen that way.

I know I go on and on about EC but I have to.  No one and I mean no one would want to have this incidious form of cancer.  Believe ME.

 

Nancy

Wasting away again in Margaritaville…

I wish I actually had time to waste away doing nothing.  It seems the more I try to streamline my life the busier it gets.

I spent all after noon “polishing up” my resume and writing a dynamite cover letter for a position I am applying for with the Alzheimer Society.  The cover letter is a killer, if I do say so my self but it had to be – I lack the specific post-secondary education they are asking for.  Somehow Police Sciences is not the same as Media Sciences.  The only thing they have in common is the “Sciences” part although I did have to take a course on Media Relations when I took Police Sciences.

The position I am applying for is one of a Fund Raiser.  As someone who cares for two Alzheimer patients on a 24/7 basis I am well aware of the need for funding that this agency and others like it require to offer the services that it does to the people who need it the most.

The job is part time only, 22 hours a week.  In addition to me being perfect for the job, the job is perfect for me.  Recently we were approved for 24 hours of respite care a week. This means that I can hire someone for up to 24 hours a week at $10/hour to look after mom and dad while I am at work and it will be paid for.  Anything above that will be our own responsibility but that is ok.  I can’t see us needing anymore than 5 or 6 hours on top of the 24.

I am really excited about this job.  I know I can do this.  I am no stranger to fund raising – hey, I used to sell the most Girl Guide cookies in my group. Fund raising for cash is the same just a little different.  The principles are the same the outcome the same just different.  (If you understand what I just said,  you too can be a fund raiser…)

Anyhow, wish me luck.  I am dropping off the resume on Tuesday, tomorrow is a holiday here and they will not be open.  I’ll keep you posted.

 

Nancy

Guest Post: LEAP of FAITH (to all cancer warriors/families)

I was blog surfing last night and came across this blog. I was very impressed by the writing.  This post put into words what so many of us feel and think but cannot figure out how to say it – Keith Ng has done an excellent job in saying it!!!!

I asked Keith if I could repost this on Serendopeity and he agreed.  I wanted to post it here as I think it can help many of us explain how we feel.  I don’t know about you but I sometimes have a hard time putting into words how I feel about a lot of my cancer experience.  I can talk about Esophageal Cancer until I am blue in the face, but trying to explain how I feel personally about the disease is sometimes a futile attempt.

So with Keith’s permission I present:

LEAP OF FAITH

To all cancer warriors and their family members:

 Cancer does not and will not define who you are. It is just a part of life. Everyone of us have our own trials and obstacles. But it does not define who you are. If you have goals and dreams that you want to pursue, don’t stop. Go ahead and accomplish what you want. Just because you are restricted in some ways, it does not mean you’re restricted completely. Don’t stop living. Set your goals. This is just your particular journey, your particular experience. You may have to modify the way you can achieve them, but complete them in the best way that you can. Just be realistic as well. Keep going, while knowing what your limitations are. Having cancer, of course, it is inevitable that you have days which you don’t feel comfortable and needs more rest. Get ready for this. Have as much right nutrition as you can and ask as much questions from your doctor and fellow fighters who have been through what you will be going through. In any case, even the average person falls sick on certain days. It just simply means that you have to learn to adapt to some changes into your life. Addressing cancer may be a difficult issue, because even if you choose to ignore it, it is still there and it still changes things. But at the same time, it also doesn’t change things. It’s hard to explain. Most survivors would still be the same person as they were in many ways, but at the same time also not. They may appear different, feel different and think a little different. But then again, even if for someone without cancer, he would also probably look, feel and think differently after a few years as well. The first thing that you have to do is to get yourself as educated as possible on your situation. I know that with the prognosis, it can be quite hard to get your thoughts clear, but you got to make an informed course of decision to see how you can get yourself treated with the best possible options. Life gains a certain urgency when you have cancer but it will focus your mind on what’s really important in your life. There are a lot of things you can learn from having cancer. It’s kind of bad that we have to have a disease like this to learn so much. We would have wished that we could have learned the things we know now without having to go through it. But that is part and parcel of life. Everyone knows that you never know how many tomorrows you have left. But it changes you somehow when you are actually being told that you have something that you can die from. It changes the way you look at things. It changes the way you approach things. It changes the way you feel about everything. But those are not bad changes. Cancer is not good, but sometimes the things that evolve from it can be very positive. Having that realization would make us reevaluate and prioritize the things that are really important to us. Whenever events or specials occasions have been planned for, go ahead and realize it. Don’t put off vacations or any other time with your family if you would like to. Being a cancer warrior gives you something that the average person doesn’t have. You learn to value and love life more. You appreciate friends and family more. It helped you to not sweat about the small stuff anymore, which the average person can be so miserable about. You will have a greater understanding of what it means to be alive and to appreciate the suffering that other patients have been going thru. And when you finally come to the point whereby you can proudly say that you have been through something really horrible and you overcome it, you might want to spread the light. There are two ways to spread the light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Be a source of inspiration to other warriors. Everyone who got to where he is had to start from where he was. Now that you have come a long way to learn how to manage cancer, you might want to guide others and bring them through this the way that others have done so for you. Share your experiences to fellow warriors who might need your knowledge on certain issues that comes along. Alternatively, simply introduce fellow warriors to people whom you know can be of great help to them. Every small act that you do will be critical to their recovery phase. Nevertheless, uncertainty is an issue that you will have to learn how to grapple with. It can cause a lot of frustration and anger. That is normal. You might be wondering if you are going to live to an old age. But then again, think about it. Even if you have not been diagnosed with cancer, there is also no guarantee that you would live to an old age. Life itself simply has too many uncertainties and cancer is just one of them that are made known to you for now. There are people out there unaware of the illness that’s within them, but are still living lives to the fullest. The same should go for us. It is those people that live with the false sense of illusion that they are going to live forever, that are going to have a lot of regrets in their life. One day, you life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching. Humans have a strength that cannot be measured. This is Keith Ng. By reading this, you are the resistance. The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. Never stop fighting. The battle has just begun.

 Leap of Faith

Live Strong,

Keith Ng Zhi Wei

www.therulesofwealth.wordpress.com

Conversations with my Mother.

Me:  Good Morning Mom. How are you today?

Mom:  Just peachy.  What’s for breakfast?

Me:  What would you like?  Toast, crumpets, cereal.  Name it, we probably have it.

Mom:  Oh yes, that sounds good.

~~~~~~~

 

Me:  Hey mom, where’s your glasses?

Mom:  Right where I left them, where I always leave them. I’ll go get them.

(5 minutes later)

Me:  Did you find your glasses?

Mom:  No.  I don’t believe this place. 

Me:  Those darn dogs have been at it again have they?  I will have to talk to them.  They are always putting your stuff away where we can’t find it.

Mom:  Don’t be stupid.  The dogs can’t reach the dresser drawer, even I know that.  Someone must have took them in the night.

Me:  Oh ya, that’s it.  Someone came into the house last night while we were all asleep and out of all the stuff in here, some of it worth a lot of money, the only thing that was taken was your glasses.

Mom: What’s for breakfast this morning?  I am famished.

~~~~~~

Mom:  Is there any coffee left? 

Me:  Yep, its in the coffee machine in the kitchen.

Mom:  Finish your breakfast, I’ll get some.

Me:  Do you remember how to use the coffee machine?  (note – The coffee machine we have has no pot.  It’s a Brew Station whereby you press the mug against the bar and the coffee comes out.)

Mom:  Do you think I am stupid?  Of course I know how to use the coffee machine.  I wasn’t born yesterday.

(Mom goes into kitchen – returns emptyhanded).

Me: Would you like me to get you a cup of coffee?

Mom:   No, I couldn’t eat or drink another thing, I’m full.  I think I will have one of those things.

Me:  What things mom?  Can I get you something?

Mom:  I said I would have one of those.

Me: One of what?

Mom: You know, one of those doodad things.

Me:  Let me get you a coffee Mom.

Mom: Thank you, that would be great.  I never pass up a cup of coffee.

~~~~~

Mom:  The dogs are on the bed.

Me:  And…

Mom:  I am just telling you.  I just made the bed and they jumped up. That little guy sure can jump high.  The big brown one must be getting old.  How long have you had him?

Me: 6 years  in September.

Mom: I thought he was older than that.

Me:  He is 7, I got him when he was a year and a half old.

Mom: I remember when he was just a pup and would jump up on my lap.

Me: (laughing) He was a little bit bigger than a pup when I got him mom.  He already weighed 75 pounds.

Mom:  Well you should stop feeding him.  He is getting too big and I don’t think a puppy should be that big.  What does the doctor say?

Me:  The vet says that you shouldn’t give him part of your breakfast every morning.

Mom:  I don’t.

Me:  Well mom, yes you do.

Mom:  Well someone has to feed him.  He is always hungry.  You should give him more of his food and then I wouldn’t have to give him mine.

Me:  Ya mom, you are right.  I will get on that right away.

~~~~~

Mom:  So whats on the agenda for today?

Me:  You have your ladies group at 1:00 and while you are there dad and I are going to go to Sue’s for a coffee.

Mom:  Have I ever been there before?

Me:  Sue’s house or your group?

Mom: Both.

Me:  Yes you have. You have been to both on several ocassions.  We used to go to Sue’s every Thursday after lunch to play BINGO.

Mom:  I play BINGO?  I don’t think so.  I haven’t played BINGO in ages.  Are you sure it was me that was there?

Me:  Actually mom, you are right. It wasn’t you.  It was your evil twin sister.

Mom:  My sister?  I don’t think so.  I don’t have a sister so it must have been someone else who went with you.

Me:  Ya mom, it must have been.

Mom:  I like it when we play BINGO.  I always manage to win at least one game.

~~~~~

OOOPS

This is  test of the Emergency Broadcast System. In the case of a real emergency please stay tuned for more information…

OOPS sorry wrong warning…

Spelling and grammatical errors in the preceeding post occurred while the author was under the influence of heavy duty pain medication.  We apologize for any inconvience caused by the laziness of the author and her refusal to edit the post.  Additionally any complaints received will be immediately trashed.

We now return you to our regulary scheduled broadcast…