About this journalThis Journal is the place I tend to write my general thoughts and feelings about all things in life....as they cross my path.
July 2009
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7/17/08 05:51 pm
As the housing bubble slowly deflates, so does the economy. (I guess :-)
The latest reports by the Onion News Service shows thatr the music industry is feeling the pinch!
Their news webpage screams out with the headline:
Steven Tyler Laid Off From Aerosmith As Band's Jobless Rate Hits 20%This can't bode well for any of us....especially those of us from the Boston Area. (Home of the band)
Anyways.....
<ok....so it's not an incredibly funny joke, cut me some slack already >
7/17/08 06:49 pm
 Doreen's brother Stephen Cullen is riding his bike 192 miles over two days to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer center, and I'd like to recommend that you help the cause yourself.
You can join the ride, but if you can't do that, I'd suggest making a simple donation to his team. (Any size too....because every dollar counts and this organization is great because it ALL goes to the cause!)
Everyone knows people who have died from Cancer. (My mom died of cancer back in 1999...my Uncle Jimmy, and Aunt Gert too. Our friend Donna....the list goes on and on.)
But more importantly, we all know more and more people who are survivors too....due to the work of organizations like Dana-Farber.
One other thing about this organization.....100% of the money ends up in the hands of Dana-Farber. No big bloated organization soaking up a percentage of the donations. Thats another great thing that makes me want to support it.
Here is what the Pan Massachuesetts Challenge Website says about it's own mission:
| Mission Statement | | The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through an annual bike-a-thon that crosses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since its founding in 1980, the PMC has successfully melded support from committed | cyclists, volunteers, corporate sponsors and individual contributors. All are essential to the PMC's goal and model: to attain maximum fundraising efficiency while increasing its annual gift. Our hope and aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber's doctors and researchers the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers. |
Here is a piece of the email letter he sent out to family and friends asking for support for his ride. (I'm sharing only the part I think he would feel OK with me sharing):
____________________________________
Dear Friends and Family,
Believe it or not I am about to embark on my fifth Pan Mass Challenge to
raise money for cancer research. Last year I was able to raise over $6,500
due to the generosity of family and friends. The PMC is a one or two day
bicycle ride across the state of Massachusetts to raise money for cancer
research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The PMC is the biggest
single fundraising event for Dana-Farber and raised $33 million dollars
last year alone and more than $204 million since 1980. One hundred percent
of every rider-raised dollar from last year’s ride went directly to the
cause of curing cancer.
Last year’s ride was challenging but extremely rewarding. I was moved and
encouraged by the prayers of the many people who sent beautiful words of
support along with their donations. It was a very emotional ride at times
as I passed supporters holding signs and photos of their loved ones who
were lost to cancer. There were hundreds of volunteers at each rest stop:
serving food, repairing bikes, managing the crowd, giving massages,
etc.... One of the things that struck me during the ride was just how many
people are touched by this horrible disease and, on a more positive note,
how many people are willing to work together to put an end to it!!
This year, on August 2 and 3, I will be taking part in the two-day ride
from Sturbridge to Provincetown, which is a total of 192 miles. On the
first day we will ride from Sturbridge to Bourne and spend the night at
the Mass Maritime Academy where I will be sleeping in a tent. On day two
we’ll be up and on the road by 5 a.m. to reach our final destination in
Provincetown.
The PMC is an EXTREMELY organized and successful event and although the
riders are important it is really the sponsors who make the PMC what it
is. As a two day rider, I am required to raise $4,000. I realize that you
all donate to various worthy causes throughout the year and I assure you
that any amount that you donate would be appreciated. If you cannot help
at this time I ask you to please keep me and all of the riders (and all of
those directly affected by cancer) in your prayers.
Thank you so much and God bless you,
Stephen Cullen
____________________________________
So what are you waiting for.....go to Stephen's page and donate!
Below is a view of his ride! (Also, see his route on his webpage too) | route | Sturbridge to Provincetown | | mileage day 1 | 111 miles | | day 2 | 81 miles | | total ascent | 2,500 ft | | degree of difficulty | most difficult | | dates of ride | Saturday, August 02, 2008 - Sunday, August 03, 2008 | | starting location | Sturbridge | | end location | Bourne | | fundraising minimum | $4,000 | | | | Day One Sturbridge to Bourne |  |  | | |
Finally....a couple of Videos about the Pan Massachusetts Challenge! (How can you NOT donate now? :-)
Love Love Love PMC
One Challenge
Rainbow
You Are NOT Alone
A PMC Hero Lies in YOU!Go on....Donate HERE!
7/17/08 11:54 pm
This week's questions were suggested by </a></b></a> ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) frieliegh. 1. If you could change one life-changing event in the life of someone important to you, would you?
A) Where would I start.....well, to be honest, I would say it would be the death of Cheryl. I have a sense that the question is looking for an accident or some sort of preventable incident...and in a way, her heart problem was.
The problem was that she didn't know she had it...no one did....but if she did, it could perhaps had been prevented, and life would have gone on for her and me.
But alas....life did not go on for her, and it took a slightly different turn for me.
I suppose there are other events that I might be able to think of, but this one sticks out boldly in my mind. (having my mother detect her cancer before it was way too late might be another I suppose)
2. Which do you think is easier to do, being friends for many years, or being life partners for many years?
A) What a difficult question.....I've had great fortune to have done both....and to be frank, neither was incredibly difficult. I've had a great life, and I've been connected with great people. This just makes things easier for me I suppose.
I was married for just shy of 25 years......and while that wasn't perfect, I have to say that the two of us enjoyed our time together, our plans for the future, and we had a lot of respect for one another.
Was everything perfect....of course not. One thing that sticks out is that I used to make a real mess of the kitchen counter....leaving all kinds of stuff there from work, the bills and other stuff. Cheryl wasn't a fan of that at all.
Yea, that's minor stuff....I'm sure we disagreements on other stuff a lot more thorny that that, but it never festered and became a big issue. We seemed to handle it and move on.
3. Have you ever walked away from someone you considered a friend?
A) I don't think so.....but I do have someone I considered a friend walk away from me for some reason....and I never exactly figured out why. When I told this story to my friend and co-worker Art at work, he is amazed that I even mention it....and that it bothers me in the least.
He tells me he has disowned many a friend over the years because of disagreements or basic differences. I guess I've never been friends with anyone with ideas, actions or anything that I found totally morally wrong....most any other disagreement is probably something I can "agree to disagree" with someone about.....too many things in life to disagree on....very little hope of finding a clone of myself....so I figure I had better cut everyone some slack.
4. If you had to choose between telling the truth and hurting a friend or lying and making them happy, which would you choose?
A) The world is not digital...it is analog. So there is no binary choices as is outlined here.
I will say that I try to always tell the truth. I was taught that it is much better to try to always tell the truth because it is easier than trying to remember which lie you told to which people and when.
So I would tell the truth.....now, holding back some of the truth might be an option....that is, to keep the person from getting very upset. I'm not talking about lying here...think of it as exposing them to the truth slowly.
5. Which would you rather hear--the truth which will hurt, or the comforting lie?A) Hit me with the truth every time.....slow or fast. I will always try to keep a level head, and to never shoot the messenger. I am a big boy, and can generally handle the truth. Again.....finding out the truth some point after being lied to is even harder than just accepting the truth right up front.
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giddy
Very Supportive!!!
contemplative