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Popularity: 20% [?]

When Jim and I decided on a whim to get a dog during our vacation to Tennessee back in October of 1996, we certainly didn’t think about the future and the events of this morning. We decided on a name (Bailey of Strawberry Plains for the AKC) and w focused on then “right then and now” stuff, like will this dog be good with our kids? (She was.) Will she be protective of our family and a great watchdog? (She was.) Will we enjoy having her in our lives? (We did!)

But this morning, we had to put our loyal companion and friend of over 13 years down to rest. Bailey had developed cancer in her leg several months ago, and while we were dealing with that she continued to be a loving and loyal friend who enjoyed her life. Sure, she was a little slower to get up from a seated or laying position, but she was a senior citizen. She didn’t make the trek upstairs too often, but who could blame her? She was still always happy to see us, anxious to be loved and petted, thankful of any treats or ice cubes that came her way, and her tail wagged constantly.

Over the past 48 hours, her quality of life declined. She had severe stomach issues and we saw other problems as well. Jim and I made the tough decision that it was time to let her go. Bailey rallied briefly this morning and was able to enjoy her last minutes with our kids. Jim and I drove to the vet, who was wonderful. His staff laid out a large quilt on the floor so we could sit next to Bailey and love on her. The sedative was administered and they all left the room for Jim and I to say our goodbyes. We told her she was loved and what a good girl she was. Her tail was still. My favorite vet administered the last injection, and it was over.

Thank you Bailey for being a fabulous friend and pet. You’ve made my children feel better when they were sad. You gave me the chance to exercise when you escaped from the yard and I needed to chase you down. You were patient with my babies when they poked you in the eye, pulled your tail, and climbed all over you as you tried to nap. You chewed the rungs of my dining room table and ate my shoes, but who could be mad at you when you came to me with that tail between your legs and a pitiful look on your face?

You were a gift to our family for the past 13 years and we enjoyed every minute of your time with us.

Popularity: 100% [?]

Here I sit at IzeaFest2009. I’ve used the time productively – while speakers are on, I’m in the background updating Wordpress on my blogs and trying to fix the errors caused by updating Wordpress on my blogs.

I’m also enjoying a girls weekend with Jennifer – we’ve got a very strict schedule of blogging, naps, dining out, and visiting bars. Last night was Ice Bar and tonight is Howl at the Moon. Tomorrow is a day at Sea World. It’s rough, but we’re managing!

Popularity: 60% [?]

It was only a matter of time before we saw this headline:

Patrick Swayze, star of Dirty Dancing and Ghost, dead of pancreatic cancer at age 57.

A few years back, I had the opportunity to walk with my family in a 5k to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. Now, at the three breast cancer walks I’ve participated in, there are many survivors. In fact, during the closing ceremonies of the Komen 3 Day, the survivors come in at the end and stand in the center and all of the walkers applaud for them. At the pancreatic cancer walk, there was one survivor…maybe two? The disease often goes undetected for months, so that when it finally is discovered that someone has pancreatic cancer, it’s often too late to do anything. I knew that when Patrick Swayze was diagnosed that this wouldn’t end well, and frankly I’m surprised and amazed he hung in there this long.

I hope now that a celebrity from *my era* has given this disease such a public face that pancreatic cancer will begin to see the research dollars it so desperately needs to up the survival rate for this disease. If you’re interested in supporting a great cause, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network would be most appreciative of your time, talent, or monetary donations.

Rest in Peace Patrick.

Popularity: 66% [?]

I’ve come pretty close to logging in here and posting an entry about the events of the past 2 weeks numerous times…but couldn’t put my heart into it. I’ll just say that losing a friend is tough at any age, but it is especially tough when that friend is young and so are you.

When I get sad, I love to escape to the magical world of television. People are usually dealing with more difficult situations and bigger problems in TV Land, and it’s a marvelous escape from reality – I highly recommend it. So over the past 2 weeks I’ve watched:

• Watched Tropic Thunder. Hated it.
• Watched Sense & Sensibility. Enjoyed it.
• Currently watching Brokeback Mountain…for the 2nd time.
• Watched every episode of Hung using HBO on Demand. Hooked.
• Became engrossed in reruns of Magnum, P.I. and renewed my crush on Tom Selleck.
• Enjoyed the original Charlie & The Chocolate Factory for the 103rd time and wondered why we don’t eat more candy and where can I get an Oompa-Loompa?

Moving on now…better times, they are a comin’.

Popularity: 46% [?]

So….Atonement. I DVR’ed the movie when it was played on HBO last week, for two reasons:

1. Keira Knightly + James McAvoy = HAWTNESS.
2. The movie won an Oscar, was nominated for a billion more Oscars and won 37 awards I’ve never heard of…so it had to be good, right?

I’m not ashamed to admit that the subtleties (had to retype that 3 times to avoid writing “subtitles”) of this movie confused the HELL out of me. Critics apparently love subtleties which is why the movie won all of the previously mentioned awards.

Me, I guess I need to stick with schlock like “The Notebook” with an ending I can see a mile away.

Popularity: 39% [?]

I broke up with my former hairstylist today…she just doesn’t know it yet. I’d grown increasingly frustrated with the job she was doing and the corners she was cutting, so I made an appointment at a high end place near work. Holy shit, what a difference. Scalp massage? Back massage? Arm and hand massage while I have a hot towel on my head with a conditioning treatment? And all of that for the same price I’ve been paying my regular stylist all along.

I was so happy, I tipped the new stylist 35%! Now, if she’s just come over to my house 3 or 4 times a week and do my hair for me, I’d be set for life.

Popularity: 41% [?]

Having been a fan of Shel Silverstein since my 2nd grade teacher (Miss Carol-Ann) introduced me to him, I was delighted find this piece of Mental Floss detailing how a guy who was thrown out of the University of Illinois rose to fame and became beloved by children (and adults) near and far.

After reading the link above, I felt compelled to pull down my own copy of A Light In The Attic (a gift for my 10th birthday) to share my favorite Shel Silverstein poem with you. I also feel compelled to share that I have been known to write rhyme to people I feel will get it – be they known followers of Shel or not. Which leads to emails like “My computer is fine for worky, but the fonts are kind of quirky.”

And now, on to the poem:

Clarence

From A Light in the Attic
by Shel Silverstein

Popularity: 35% [?]

The State is one of my favorite sketch comedy shows ever. I can instantly bond with anyone who remembers this show…but not many people do. It only appeared on MTV for 3 seasons, maybe 1993-1995? You can still catch members of the troupe on TV – Thomas Lennon and a few others do Reno 911, and Michael Ian Black has apparently sold his soul to VH1, judging from the number of appearances he makes on “Best Week Ever” and the various “I Love (insert decade here)” shows.

They were at their best when they appeared on MTV though, and this video clearly proves it:

$240 worth of pudding

Popularity: 35% [?]

I was going through old blog posts here this morning in an effort to organize a few things, and came across my birthday countdown from last year – the one with a LOT of old pictures of me. When I spotted my graduation picture from 1993, I knew I had to do this with it:

At the left, me at 16 after my high school graduation in 1993. At the right, me at 32 after my college graduation in 2009. I just did the math in my head and realized that I doubled in age between these two pictures….damn!

Popularity: 44% [?]