Facebook Plea for Donations

The begging has begun:

My Goal



Well, I've gone and done it again. I've decided to set myself a goal, and I just had to make it "challenging."

My friend Robin and I will be walking in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in May. The first day we will walk a marathon, the second, a half marathon. We have been training for several weeks now, which has been a huge commitment at times. (It's amazing how long it takes to walk distances of 16 to 24 miles.) And, sometimes, it's been hard. (Blisters and aching muscles make for a poor night's sleep.) But, the commitment to train for this walk is nothing compared to the commitment of the family and friends who stand behind a breast cancer victim. And the aches and pains we have worked through are nothing compared to the pain a breast cancer patient must face daily.


I'll be walking in memory of Robin's aunt, Angela Sullivan Junkin, who lost her fight with cancer on August 26, 2008. I'm also walking in honor of Alex Lawson. Alex is the son of my friend, Kristy, and he has been engaging in his own fight to begin walking. (You can find more information about both of these amazing people on my blog at christiegranec.blogspot.com.)


Please join Robin and I in fighting this terrible disease by donating today. Your donation will provide funding in five key areas for those who need it most: medical research, access to treatment, screening and diagnosis, support services and education and awareness.


You can donate easily at avonwalk.org. Or, if you feel more comfortable donating by check, please feel free to contact me.


Thank you all in advance!


Christie

P.S. Follow our progress on my blog "The Christie Project" at christiegranec@blogspot.com.

Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine

There are days when I just feel blah. Today was one of those days.

Not completely well, the sky a light gray, having a schedule that wasn't quite working out, and not feeling that I was accomplishing as much as I wanted, it just wasn't turning out to be my kind of day. Now, the only bright spot in this gloomy day was listening to Robin's even gloomier day.

Before you think me an evil witch, let me explain. Robin is one of the funniest people I have ever met. Even when she is having a miserable day, she can describe it in a way where I'm rolling and crying with laughter. And, as I laugh, she begins laughing. And then, most of the time, we both end up laughing, talking, venting and laughing some more.

Tonight was just such a night. With both of us having somewhat icky days, supper at Applebee's sounded amazing! And, with good food and a great friend, it really was!


“The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed.”



                                                     ~Bennett Cerf

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”



                                                     ~E. E. Cummings

My Invisable Tatoo

I have determined I must have an invisable tatoo. I must have "IDIOT" stamped across my forehead in big bold letters, and I just can't see it in the mirror. This is the only explanation I can come up with as to why people would attempt to "pull a fast one" on me.

Please, just so we are all on the same page, let me explain a few facts:

1) If you are going to try and fish information out of me, please at least think up an intelligent story. And, please, please, please get on the same page as any "accomplices" as too many coincidences tend to make the fishing even more obvious.

2) If you really want me to believe your sincerity regarding a subject, if you could at least keep with your story longer than 30 seconds, that would be great!

3) If you feel the need to try and "pit" me against another individual in order to gain some sort of advantage, at least pick someone with whom I do not have a decent relationship, as I tend to double check facts.

Excuse my bit of self-indulgence here. I just didn't feel I could get this all in a Facebook post. (A little inside joke there.)

“No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar.”



                                   ~Abraham Lincoln

Reading

I've come to the conclusion that people read and interact with others the same way they read books. Stay with me here. It might sound a little crazy, but I've really thought this through.

First, you have your non-readers. These people don't like to read, so they don't. Now, occasionally, if a book cover catches their eyes, these non-readers may pick up a book to look at it, and they may even begin reading it . But the book won't hold their attention long, and this is especially true if the material held within the covers becomes somewhat difficult.

Your non-readers in relationships are those that are not interested in a partnership--they are interested in a "me-ship." The world revolves around him or her.  Trying to learn and please someone else is a foreign and an unappealing idea, which means working through any problems is not even entertained as a possibility. It's just easier to let the relationship go.

Then, you have your Cliff Notes reader. These individuals actually kinda sorta want to know what the book is about; but putting in all that time to actually READ the book, well, let's not be silly. These readers are the same people who, if they decide they really DO want to read a book all the way through, will pick one up, speed through it, and not be able to tell you anything about the book 30 minutes after finishing it.

The  relationship Cliff Noters are those that love being "in love." They crave the  fireworks and champagne moments of a new relationship; and, they sincerely believe that they are ready to work for the relationships they begin. But, like those that rush through a book and learn little from it, these people rush through relationships, glossing over problems and ignoring the "hard stuff" of a relationship. In doing this, yes, they "get through" the relationship, but no enrichment comes from it.

Finally, you have your avid readers. These are the people who cherish the time they have to read. They want to read every word, discover every nuance, savor every turn of phrase. They love a good story; but, more importantly, they love being able to discover something new every time they read a story, no matter how many times they do so.

Avid readers of relationships love every aspect of a relationship. The good, the bad, the "what they heck was I thinking" parts. They love those with whom they have the relationship, and they love learning something new about the other person daily. The "Avids" finds beauty in the quirks of others; and, even when they are questioning the sanity of both themselves and the other person, they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the struggles are worth it in the end.

See! Told you I had thought this all out!

     “We control fifty percent of a relationship. We influence one hundred percent of it.”

Fallen

Tribute To A Fallen Soldier
by James E Martin
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Rated "G" by the Author.
A poem of reflection on some of America's best

 

A SOLDIER GAVE HIS LIFE TODAY,
AWAY FROM HOME, SO FAR AWAY.
HE HAD OFTEN WONDERED HOW IT WOULD END
AS HE, HIS ENERGY DID ALL EXPEND.
 
BACK AT HOME HIS FAMILY CANNOT BELIEVE
THOSE HORRID WORDS THEY HAD JUST RECEIVED.
SO YOUNG WAS HE, YET HOW HE HAD AGED
IN THOSE MANY MONTHS THE WAR HAD RAGED.
 
HE DIED KNOWING HE HAD DONE HIS BEST.
NOW HIS BODY WILL BE LAID TO REST.
WILL THE PRICE HE PAID BE REMEMBERED WELL?
WHAT WORDS WILL THEY HIS LOVED ONES TELL?
 
WILL A NATION’S GRATITUDE HIS FAMILY KNOW?
FOR THE DEVOTION TO DUTY HE DID SO BRAVELY SHOW.
HIS MEMORY WILL LIVE ON THOUGH HE BE GONE,
MAY HONOR AND RESPECT BE PROPERLY SHOWN.
 
 
Copyrighted 2007 by Dr. James E. Martin
 

Beach Bums

Well, it's official. My children make really great beach bums!

I have to admit, it's not that bad of a life. I'm definitely a little bit (a lot) burned, and I don't like half the sand on the beach leaving with me. Other than that, though, I think I could go Jimmy Buffett with my lifestyle.

Here are just a few pics from our spring break getaway. (Thanks again to Hannah, Mark and Madi! I love you all!)


USS Alabama

The great sandcastle architect

Two jellyfish managed to sting my babies, but many of their brethren were captured in the process.



Hitting the waves



Big bro giving "surfing" lessons

The end of a wonderful day!




“I honestly think the beach is the only place children actually entertain themselves.”



~Donna McLavy



Day 1 of Beach Trip

We all made it to the beach alive. Granted, it was touch and go a few times as the kids were contemplating beginning their lives as only children.

After making it to Hannah's house, we went to the Fairhope pier. Let me just say, as soon as I become a multi-millionaire, I'll be moving down to Fairhope. Michaela has already stated she likes this plan.

"You never know how many friends you have until you rent a house on the beach."

(Or buy a house close by. Thanks Hannah and Mark for putting me and my motley crew up for a few days.)

Beach Bound!

Me and my kiddos are heading to the beach! We're heading to the beach! We're heading to the beach! Me and my kiddos are heading to the beach! I'm so very excited--Yes I am!

Smells

I had a very interesting conversation with a friend tonight. We were discussing how people smell. (It's a very long story to explain how we got into this conversation, so I ask that you just go with it.)

It got me to thinking, what are my favorite smells? New baby ranks up there. Also chocolate chip cookies, new cars, and puppy breath. But, I think one of my absolute favorite smells in the whole world is my daddy's shop. That mixture of dirt and oil with just a touch of diesel. It's probably one of the best smells in this world.

Now, if my dad was a jerk, I probably would have a completely different reaction to that smell. But he's not. One of the most loving, intelligent and funny guys walking the planet, he has always let me know that I'm his little girl. And, although we haven't always seen eye-to-eye, I've never doubted his love for me. I just hope I have never caused him to doubt how very much I love him.

So, as odd as it may sound, the mixed up smells of dirt, oil and diesel will always arouse feelings of love in me. If I ever find a man who smells like that, I just might fall in love with him.

“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived.”



                                      ~Helen Keller

Family

I love family. I love the different personalities and eccenticetries that everyone brings to the table. Having a family gathering is kinda like going to the cupboard and throwing a bunch of ingredients together and coming up with a dish. Everytime there will be a surprise, sometimes good and sometimes bad.

But what is family? I know I have some people that are technically my family, but I wouldn't know them (and, honestly, probably wouldn't claim them if I did) if they walked by me on the street. Then, I have friends that make me understand the old saying, "Friends are God's way of apologizing for family." These are the men and women that make my life a joy to live.

And, recently, I've discovered a whole new catagory of family-- the "ex" zone. Time and again I'm coming across situations that reaffirm to me that my divorce hasn't been the "typical" breed of divorce. My ex spends the night at my parents' house during hunting season; my nieces by marriage are my nieces from now until eternity; and, today, my ex-sister-in-law's husband and his nephew came out to visit with me and my parents. Like I said, not "typical" behavior.

So, how do I explain all of this strange behavior? It's simple. They're family, and I love them. No marriage license required.

To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.

                                               ~Barbara Bush

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.



                                               ~Jane Howard

Sacrificial Love

There are days when I wonder if evil has taken over this world. I see the pain caused by parents harming their children, strangers willing to take advantage of those less fortunate to get ahead, and just the random acts of violence that seem to be becoming more and more common place. But, as awful as this world can seem at times, the sacrificial love I see daily by others makes me believe that God's world is still a beautiful place.

I've watched as a granddaughter works diligently to make life easier for all her family members as they deal with a crisis involving their mother and grandmother.  I've watched as a single mom works two jobs in order to make her childrens' lives a little bit easier. I've watched as a young soldier deploys overseas, leaving family and friends behind, in order to protect that which he loves the most.

All of the above sacrifices were not done out of necessity. These sacrifices were made out of love. And, because of just such love, there remains beauty in God's world.

"True and sacrificial love is giving up your happiness and comfort, over and beyond your own, just to consider the needs of another person."

Bonus Blog--Wisdom of Facebook Part II

Okay, Robin posted this as her status; and, since it SO fit my life at times, I just needed to acknowledge the wisdom of the statement.

"I wonder why we are expected to manage our anger when the people that make us mad are not expected to manage their stupidity."

Mardi Gras 2011

As promised--PICTURES!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2112932&id=1320433359&l=c2daa8acd3

 

Did I mention I had a blast?

 

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. 

                                ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It's good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind.                       

                                ~Toni Morrison, Beloved

Fat Tuesday + My Birthday = A Blast

Whoo hoo! It's my birthday and Fat Tuesday! I'm in Mobile with my best friend and her family, which means I've gotten myself some beads, eaten some funnel cake and a huge sausage dog, and walked my four miles around downtown. (I'm counting that as training.)

Pictures have been taken and will be posted tomorrow. I'm now off for round two of my birthday celebration!

“The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.”



                                                 ~Lucille Ball


“And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.”



                                               ~Abraham Lincoln

“Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternatives.”



                                               ~Maurice Chevalier

Practice What You Preach

As all of my kiddos know--biological and work--Ms. Christie has some standard sermons that they often hear. Now, I wish I could say that I always follow my own advice. I'd be lying if I said I did, though.

So, here are some of the pearls of wisdom I have the hardest time following myself:

1) You can't control how others act. You can control how you react.

Now, I really, really, really try to follow this one. And, most of the time, I do a pretty good job at it. But, I must admit, there are a few people who can make me wish I was proficient in voodoo curses. I let these people get to me, making me angry or frustrated or depressed. Luckily, I have amazing friends who can help me work through all the negative emotions that some people arouse in me, allowing me to wait on the voodoo classes.

2) Try to put yourself into the other person's shoes.

I'm usually good at this one. There are times, though, if I feel someone is REALLY wrong, that I just can't figure out what the heck he or she is thinking. As such, I just figure the shoes wouldn't fit and move on with my life.

3) People can't read your mind. You have to speak up and let other's know what you are thinking.

I have to admit, I'm not that great with this one. I've gotten better with age, but I still will keep my mouth shut at times when I probably should speak up. This is especially true with those that I love, as I always want to make them happy. I'm learning, though, that I don't have to sit quietly and be miserable for those I love to be happy.

4) Everyone makes mistakes. Just be sure you learn from your mistakes.

I still need to work on this one to which my love life will attest!


The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself.

                                                 
                                                   ~ Oscar Wilde

Fundraising 101

When you have school-aged children, you somehow become a full-time fundraiser. Boosterthon, Hoops for Hearts, cookie dough sales, wrapping paper sales, Krispy Kreme donuts...you get the picture.

So, to be perfectly honest, I feel I am highly qualified to raise money for the Avon Walk. Granted, the $1800.00 goal is a bit daunting. Okay, a lot daunting. But I really feel like it's doable.

Having said that, Robin and I brainstormed this great idea. We will have a HUGE yard sale the first weekend of April. HUGE. MAJOR. GARGANTUAN. And we will be trying to raise the total amount of $3600.00 for the two of us. 

So, if you are interested in donating any items for the yard sale, please just let me know. If you'd like to donate money to the Avon Walk, I will be posting that information soon on the blog. And, if you'd like to come buy some of the wonderful items we will be having, we'd love to see you!

Fundraising requires both optimism and realism. Without the first, few if any gift solicitation efforts would be made. Without the second, few if any would succeed.



                                         ~Howard L. Jones

The Dentist

I really like my dentist. Good guy. Personable. Great chair-side manner. Knows me and my kids and is fluent in parentanese. After leaving his office yesterday morning, though, I had to remind myself that I like my dentist.

In all fairness, Dr. David Scott (shameless plug) did a great job as gently as he could. It wasn't his fault that, during stressful times, I clench my teeth in my sleep. Nor was it his fault that this clinching caused my gums to begin receding. And it certainly wasn't his fault that, by receding, my gums left the portion of my teeth not covered in enamel exposed to the elements of the mouth.

All of that is to say I have five cavities. Well, now I have one cavity. Four were filled yesterday morning. And the actual filling of the cavities wasn't that bad. It was the after effects of not being able to feel my tongue, half of my lower lip and half of my face the majority of the day that became annoying. (I had to drink coffee from a straw. That is sad.)  And the injection sites in my mouth were sore, to put it mildly. (Still can't open my jaw completely and not have it twinge a little.)

But, on the bright side, I'm almost done with all things cavity. I have a tax refund coming which will pay for all the drilling and filling. And, last but not least, once my last cavity is filled, I have at least five more months before I have to sit in the dentist's chair again!

If suffering brought wisdom, the dentist’s office would be full of luminous ideas.
                                           ~Mason Cooley

How to Make a Mental Health Professional Gag

10) Put a 40-year-old overweight woman in a skin tight pink camoflage mini-skirt and have her chain smoke cigarettes.

9) Have Charlie Sheen open his mouth.

8)  Have Lindsey Lohan do anything.

7)   Post on Facebook how incredibly wonderful you are.

6)  Hide bottles of urine and bowls of milk in box springs to be found later.

5)  Have a client explain how basic personal hygiene items are unimportant.

4)  Write a fictional blog but present it as factual.

3)  Show Lady Gaga dressed as a condom.

2)  Report on any human participating in a sex act with any animal.

1)  Have a deer suffer with diarrhea while sitting in some one's lap.

Special thanks to Robin for helping me with me with this list!