I'm a Winner!

One of my favorite blogs to visit belongs to a very crafty and talented lady from the UK. Her blog, Paper and String is adorable and I swear I catch myself saying 'aaawwww....' aloud each time I visit. She crafts with fabric and ribbons and makes the cutest cupcakes, felt bags and ornaments. My favorties of course are the cute birds (especially those owls) followed by the little cupcakes. Everything she does is just so sweet.

Last month she had a giveaway. If you left a comment on her blog, she would choose a winner at random... guess who won? ME!!! I was so excited. The package arrived in the mail last week and the girls and I had so much fun opening everything. I knew I won a cute little felt bag with a cheerful flower sewn on it but I didn't know it would be stuffed with lots of goodies. Here is what was in the bag. Don't forget to head on over to Paper and String and see for yourself how amazing everything is....while you're there buy some owls...

This is the adorable felt bag that I won!!!

Tucked inside the bag was a container of pastel buttons

A whimsical corduroy and felt pin

lots of pretty ribbon

And my favorite item of all... 3 super cute cupcake magents. Emma has already claimed one for her school locker.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

There is so much still to be done regarding pediatric cancer. Huge strides, improvements and quality of life have been made in the last 10 years. If Ellie was diagnosed with a supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor in her brain just 15 years ago, she likely would not be here with us today. Heck, I don't even know if they would have had a name for the type of tumor she had back then. Lots of really positive changes have been made. I am grateful to the scientists, researchers, oncologists, & neurosurgeons that have greatly improved the length of life and the quality of that life for those suffering from cancer. Even with all these improvements, kids are still dying. If they aren't dying from cancer, they are dying from the chemotherapy treatment and its abrasive and toxic nature. I do believe cancer will be cured in my lifetime. I pray the breakthrough comes quickly and the map to turning off these mutant cancer cells is discovered.

September has been chosen as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I talked about the importance of that on Ellie's website. Please take a minute and read that entry. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ellie1

I 'officially' have the month of September to do my part and spread awareness. Tonight I will leave you with a few facts and figures from Candlelighters a website that puts the spotlight on pediatric cancer. Thanks for listening and spreading the word. Our kids are counting on us.

Childhood Cancer Facts

Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.

One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.

Each year in the U.S. over 12,600 children are diagnosed with cancer.

Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children diagnosed with cancer will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.

Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children - more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combined.

80% of children have metastatic disease at time of diagnosis as compared to only 20% of adults.

There are currently more than 270,000 childhood cancer survivors in the U.S.

Late effects of childhood cancer treatment are common in survivors, and approximately one-third are moderate to severe.

Fighting the good fight

Yesterday was Steven's birthday. I love that he is always older than me. We had a nice weekend celebration with just the four of us. Happy Birthday Mr. Man! The above cupcakes are from Cold Stone Creamery. Part ice cream, part cake, 100% fabulous. I would totally recommend them. There are two left in the freezer. I think I may need a cupcake intervention by the afternoon.

On Saturday night Steve and I watched the tribute to Edward Kennedy on CNN. Wow what a life. Such accomplishments and such tragedy. I really didn't know too much about Senator Kennedy other than the obvious. Democrat, Massachusetts senator for many terms, advocate for civil rights and health care, he had some issues with alcohol, he was brother to John and Robert Kennedy and he had a brain tumor. I did start to take more interest in him after the news of cancer was revealed. We learned of his brain cancer not too long after Ellie was diagnosed. I recall Dr. Gajjar commenting and saying that even though this was a tragedy for Kennedy (I think he knew there was nothing medically that could be done to cure him) it would probably be a good thing for those suffering with brain cancer. He said more money would now likely be spent on research at the federal level. I hope that is true. There is such little government funding for brain cancer and pediatric cancer as well. But that is a topic for another day...

The Kennedy documentary we watched was so impressive. A great tribute to his life. Edward Kennedy was a man just trying to make a difference. He was flawed, he wasn't perfect and he knew it, he made amends and he kept going and kept trying. That's all any of us can really do. I did not know he had a son with bone cancer. His eldest son, Ted jr, had his leg amputated when he was 11. He survived his cancer and his father was his biggest advocate constantly telling him he could do things like other kids and that he should always be proud of his journey. That's exactly the philosophy we have with Ellie. We are so proud of her. I think the most important thing you can do in life is to see the positive, the miracle, the good. It's so very easy to go the other way. In fact I believe our society pushes us to be negative, to be self absorbed and we aren't cool if we don't trash talk someone and pick apart every little repugnant thing we can. I guess it's suppose to make us feel better about ourselves if we can find someone that we think is worse off. I admit I have been an active member of that train ride at times in the past and made adverse comments about things that really are not a benefit to any purpose or anyone. It's a struggle at times to stay focused on the positive but I can see the changes in me and my attitude over the last 16 months have changed for the better. I have fallen off the wagon a time or two but at least now I am aware of it. I do find myself reevaluating and refocusing all the time and I am in the process of dropping some bad influences that are present. After going through our journey and having this new outlook for the gifts we have been given, there are certain things and people that I just don't want to deal with anymore. Change is sometimes hard but I really feel that personal struggles and challenges makes you more genuine, more effective and happier. Senator Kennedy faced these types of challenges as well and he ignored the naysayers, he tried to argue his point passionately and he never stopped trying to reach his goals. Never give up I guess is the moral of the story. Stay true, stay positive and you'll get through those tragedies and challenges and be better off for it. Thank you Senator Kennedy for your years of service and for holding your family together during the hard times and for dealing eloquently with your cancer.

This post is Kanye approved

Kanye, Ellie's kitten, is about 5 months old. He has been such a treat to watch the past few months. He is definitely crazy, probably the craziest kitten I have ever had but he is so sweet and funny that I tend to forgive him when he is behaving badly. (which he does all the time) He is truly the Dennis the Menace of the cat world and he totally lives up to his rapper inspired name. This cat has edge and dare I say it, cattitude.

The girls have fallen in love with him as have the other cats. Of course there are days when Charlotte gives him a whack with all her claws extended but for the most part she enjoys her new little brother. Tucker on the other hand is not so sure. Kanye likes to chomp on his tail and follow him from room to room sniffing him. He gets easily agitated but would never growl or bark. I think out of all of us, Tucker is the least impressed with Kanye's arrival into the family, followed by Steven who doesn't seem to be wooed by Kanye's cat charms all that much either.

I'll let the photos speak for themselves. The majority of the household finds him irresistable.

A calm, reserved & reflective Kanye relaxes before finding some trouble to get into.

Dodge & Kanye face off for a rumble. Kanye is forever pouncing on him.

Dodge is a good sport. He could easily hurt Kanye but holds back for the most part.

peeking out from his cat condo.

Playing with his best bud Ellie. No hamsters were harmed obtaining this photo.

What did you just say???

Do you have a star crush? That one celebrity that makes you swoon? When I was in my early 20s my favorite television show was the X-Files. I loved the government conspiracy based dark drama about two FBI agents that investigated alien invasion and unexplained phenomena. It's still my all time favorite and it was love at first sight the moment my eyes focused on agent Fox Mulder, played by David Duchovny. I usually don't get too caught up in something as silly as a TV show, let alone a fictional character but there was just something different about Mulder. I was so head over heals for this show and character that I still have magazine articles and cut-outs, a Fox Mulder action figure that sits on my book shelf, the series on DVD, and a limited edition Barbie and Ken doll version of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully (complete with FBI badges). Steven, my sweet husband, has rolled his eyes numerous times at my infatuation over the years and he knows that if we ever had permission to have that one dangerous liaison with another person just who I would choose.

Anyway, where am I going with this you ask. This morning Steve flew up to Boston to catch a Red Sox game with his friend Jerry. While in a coffee shop, Jerry says, 'Hey, that's David Duchovny.' Steve looks up and there he is. Right. In. Front. Of. Him. The clouds parted and the sun began to shine, angels sang, happiness filled the world... OK this only happened in my world but still....can you believe it? He was with his children and no one recognized him. Steve was walking by and David walked into him and David politely said 'Excuse me'. Steve would never invade a person's privacy by asking for a photo or autograph, and 99.9% of the time, I would agree with that... but not this time! I so wish he had his camera and got a photo of the two of them. How weird cool would that be? I probably would have gone over to him and made a fool of myself in some way if I were there. There would probably be a restraining order issued at some point. When Ellie did the commercial with Jennifer Aniston last summer, I asked her bodyguard if he knew David Duchovny and he said he did but he was kind of a jerk. I pretended not to hear that but sadly, I have read on more than one occasion that he isn't too nice when fans approach him. I have blocked that character flaw out and maybe someday, in some coffee shop, our eyes will meet and the angels really will sing...

Just to show that there is a whole nation of Mulder/Duchovny stalkers fans out there, I present the 'David Duchovny, Why Won't You Love Me' song. The video is a bit on the cheesy side (OK REALLY on the cheesy side) but there are some cute photos and I so love the words to this song. I could have written it myself. sigh....

UPDATE--- Ellie just came in and asked me what I was doing. I showed her the post and video and she told me there was something very wrong with me. Too funny and in this respect, true.

My Bucket List

Now that I am old 40, I have been taking some personal stock on life accomplishments that have been achieved and those that have not. So far, I am pretty pleased with what I have done in my life and there are no regrets. I am so grateful I can say that. I truly mean it, no regrets whatsoever, about anything. How many people can say that!? So... the bucket list of things I would like to do sits before me. I am pretty good at achieving goals (unless they are exercise related) and I feel strongly that most of my bucket list items will be satisfied. Actually, one just was this past week. One of my bird photographs will be published in a NWF (National Wildlife Federation) publication this fall, with photographer credit and everything. Pretty cool huh?

I thought I would share my bucket list on the blog. There are probably more things to add as time goes by but for now here are 20 things I would like to do before I kick the bucket. Here we go, in no particular order.

1. Learn to play piano
2. Learn to speak fluent French
3. Visit Ireland
4. Buy a kayak
5. Continue to be a living testimony for what God can do
6. Meet Bill Clinton
7. Visit Vancouver, British Columbia
8. Camp along the ocean in a tent
9. Write a book
10. Go to a taping of Oprah
11. Be a guest on Oprah
12. Volunteer at an animal shelter
13. Own a summer home on Cape Cod
14. Go on a birding excursion in South America
15. Learn to sew
16. Meet Tina Turner
17. Visit the Galapagos Islands
18. Make significant monetary donations for pediatric cancer via the Friends of Ellie charity
19. Go on an African Safari
20. Visit Alaska

Hurricanes and Helicopters

Some thunderstorms came through this afternoon so I turned on the Weather Channel for an update. Nothing major coming our way but because it is hurricane season, there was a documentary about Hurricane Katrina playing. Hard to believe that was 4 years ago this month. As I watched I remember the feeling of helplessness to do anything to improve or assist these people as well as the anger that this sort of unpreparedness, lack of communication, planning and action on the part of our federal government exhibited. One line in the documentary summed it up pretty well. "...from internet, cell phones and communication to a third world country in just 8 hours". Mother Nature sure is powerful. Thankfully Hurricane Bill is staying out to sea and hopefully it will bypass Cape Cod and not cause any problems. There was a report from my new favorite place this morning on the news, Chatham MA. All swimming in the ocean has been prohibited due to strong riptide currents. Glad we picked 2 weeks before to plan our visit. I hope my new love does not suffer any damages.

Switching topics, I have this weird thing going on with my left ear. It's like a pulsating helicopter sound that I can hear. It's throwing off my balance just a little bit but is more annoying to listen to then anything else. It comes and goes but it's here more than gone. Of course I have googled my symptoms and there is everything from possible fluid blockage to an impending aneurysm slowly making it's way up to my brain to signs of old age. I am only 8 days into my 40s....oi vhey! I am going to visualize fluid and call Steven's ENT doctor on Monday. If I don't make it due to an aneurysm explosion, thanks for reading.

The thunderstorms have cleared and Steve and Ellie will soon be home from dropping off Emma at grandma's for a few days. School starts in about 2 1/2 weeks so Emma is spending the next few days hanging out with her grandma. Ellie will miss her but I am sure we can find some fun things to do. Steve actually flys up to Boston Monday for a RedSox game. He has his birthday on the 30th so this will be a good present for him. Hopefully the Sox will win and make him happy. He is going with one of our friends who is a die hard Yankees fans. Let's hope they make it out of Fenway Park alive.

Can you believe that I do not have any photos in this post? I think that is a first. Not that I don't have a slew that are waiting to be downloaded but I will get to that tomorrow. :)