furiousBlog - in my diatribe » health

Every 38 Seconds…

furiousBall — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:13:54 +0000

Today, I wanted to dedicate my blog to an awesome family that lives right around the corner from me, Charlie Haughey and his family. I’m going to let his mother, Julie tell you guys what they are up to…

“I am writing you today to ask for your support of an incredibly important organization, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer. As you may know, my son Charlie was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma on December 24, 2009. Three days later he celebrated his 3rd birthday and began 14 months of very aggressive treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Your generous donation supports CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, a national non-profit foundation whose mission is to fund and support children’s cancer research and provide information and resources to all those affected by children’s cancer. CureSearch raises funds for collaborative research conducted at more than 175 hospitals across the nation, including CHOP. These hospitals participate in National Cancer Institute sponsored clinical trials conducted by the Children’s Oncology Group. In the last 40 years, collaborative research has increased the overall survival rate for children’s cancer from 10% to 78%. At CureSearch, our goal is 100%.

Two years ago, I ran the New York Marathon with Team CureSearch. This year, I have chosen to join CureSearch in their fight for a cure by participating in The CureSearch Walk. The CureSearch Walk celebrates and honors children, like Charlie, whose lives have been affected by children’s cancer, while raising funds for lifesaving research. I have set an aggressive fundraising goal, because all children living with cancer and those who have lost their fight deserve it. Please consider making a donation to my campaign – there is no gift too big or too small.

Thank you for your support. I can promise that you are making a difference in the lives of all those affected by children’s cancer. Together, we can Reach the Day when every child with cancer is guaranteed a cure.

With hope and gratitude,

Julie Haughey”

To donate to CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, please use this link.

Do something good today folks. A Child Dies From Childhood Cancer Every 38 Seconds. Who is ready to stand with this brave family? Make a difference today.

Movie Reviews…

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – there’s only two reasons you want to see this movie… either you’re 12 or you would pay money to watch Johnny Depp do anything. Or both I guess.

Small Business/Tech Links…

Funny/Interesting Links…

OK, Sonic you might be on to something here… the guys from the real TV commercials have filmed a response video to Giorgio’s I Love Sonic video (posted yesterday). If Sonic puts Giorgio in a Super Bowl commercial, I (and lots of other folks) will suddenly become big Sonic fans.
Is LoMoing the New Tebowing?
Old Spice’s Terry Crews Crashes a Bounce Ad
How to ward off a mental disorder during a meeting
What every woman wishes her ex-boyfriend’s dating profile looked like
Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say - thanks Bill!
Tea Party Jesus

Susan G. Komen for Women’s Health?

furiousBall — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:14:06 +0000

I am really saddened by Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s decision to stop funding breast screenings to Planned Parenthood. I would like to hear more from Komen on this issue. But it appears that politics played a role in a group (albeit, a private one) that is supposed to promote women’s health cutting off funding to cancer screenings. I am not donating to Susan G. Komen until further notice. They are a private organization and I am a private citizen that can also choose where to put my hard-earned dollars.

I posted this on Facebook last night with a fairly simple statement, I am not donating until I hear more – the screenings they are going to be denying women could help save women’s lives against breast cancer. And what I got from friends was pure politics due to PP being an abortion provider.

I am looking at this as the father of a daughter, the son of an amazing mother, a future husband, and an ex-husband. And all of those women in the roles I just mentioned – all have incidents of cancer in their families. I ran 40 miles about a month ago to fight cancer with Team in Training. And I have no time or money for anyone or group that stands in my way to fight that disease.

To me, this is about fighting cancer, not congressional investigations (which seriously, there is zero legal requirement for an investigation to be started by Congress, so skip that – that IS purely political). And OK, if SGK’s motives were political, why not find a right wing cancer screening group of hospitals that you could donate those funds ear-marked for PP to provide those screenings for women in need?

SGK has made waves previously for their lawsuits against other cancer fighting non-profits for using the “for the cure” slogan. While legally they were fully acting within their rights, I have to ask, are you really fighting cancer or just spending the money you are raising to pay attorneys and talk to right wing lobbyists?

One last time, I get that SGK is a private organization and they can make their own choices. Just like I and millions of others can as we make our donations this year and in the future.

UPDATE: A petition has started, sign and share please if you care to do so.

Movie Reviews…

Cave of Forgotten Dreams – this was a pretty impressive documentary. Cave art that goes back 32,000 years filmed by Werner Herzog in 3D, awesome.

Small Business/Tech Links…

Funny/Interesting Links…

Top 10 Racist Cartoon Moments - thanks David
Peavey Builds An Auto-Tuning Guitar
T-Rex trying things (11 Photos)
How the 7 deadly sins look when applied to your workday
Shockingly wise kids’ answers to questions about dating
How to let your coworkers know you’re one cup of coffee away from an office rampage - this really doesn’t mean much to my officemates, Ziggy (cat) and Titan (dog), but I still love it
The World of Corporate Logos as Seen By a Five-Year Old
Breaking Bad as an 8-bit RPG

go immune system!

furiousBall — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:57:59 +0000

Oh boy, Abbe and I both woke up feeling crummy. There is a really bad stomach virus going around our town and wow, that would really not be good if I get knocked out of commission for a day or two. I’m launching an all-out vitamin assault along with hydrogen peroxide in the ears. I hope we can fight this off.

Small Business/Tech Links…

Funny/Interesting Links…

The doctor has put me on “couch-rest” for the day. And by doctor, I mean me.

furiousBall — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:31:12 +0000

Today, I am going to do my best to not work. I already failed by installing phpMyAdmin on a client server, but that didn’t take long and I need that to do work this week. But that’s it. The doctor has put me on “couch-rest” for the day. And by doctor, I mean me. Bubs has an ice hockey game at 1:15 this afternoon and then I plan on just enjoying the conference championship games on TV for the rest of the day. ~~Dotcor’s~~ My orders.

Small Business/Tech Links…

Funny/Interesting Links…

back to work and a sick pumpkin

furiousBall — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:45:05 +0000

Abbe is off to her first day at her new job. I’m very happy that she will be working again. Being unemployed really is rough on one’s pride, Abbe was no exception – she was having a tough time with it. Although I’ll miss her being home while I’m working, I’m happy that she’s going to be bringing home the bacon again.

Viv is home sick today with what sounds like the same tummy bug that Bubs had last week.

I think today is the day that I go sneak a couple mile in on the treadmill.

Ok, back to work!

Movie Reviews…

IMAX:Magnificent Desolation – Walking on the Moon – this was cool, although I am sure it would have been more impressive in an actual IMAX theater (as opposed to watching this on my PC). Great for kids interested in space.

Small Business/Tech Links…

Funny/Interesting Links…

New Study: Heart Risk ‘Low’ in Distance Races - thanks Susan
Get low, get dirty, and have a good time

na na na na naaaaaaa slow down you’re gonna crash

furiousBall — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:32:08 +0000

Oh boy, I am not feeling well this morning. Everything is catching up to me now – the marathon, traveling, getting back to work, this hockey tournament (had to be up at 6am today and yesterday), and worrying about Abbe. That said, we’re home, Abbe got a job, and the hockey tournament is over and I am very proud to get up very early to watch my son play hockey. I have some work to do today, but I need to get myself some rest in a big way. Or this happens…

Small Business/Tech Links…

Funny/Interesting Links…

coming down

furiousBall — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:33:34 +0000

When marathon runners are gone running and come home, we have to rest. Have. To. It is surprisingly difficult to do this, you have this big whole in your week that running used to occupy and we get, well fidgety. Luckily, I have a big pile of work that is keeping my mind off of it. Along with that restlessness, depression is also very common for runners coming down from the big run(s). This weekend will keep me plenty busy – Bubs is participating in a hockey tourney (with two 7:30am games, ouch) and I have a mini-project with a launch date of Monday. I’m mostly concerned with Abbe. Her tongue seemed a little better last night and she’s able to talk now. I want her to feel better and have a great day today. She could use one.

Small Business/Tech Links…

Funny/Interesting Links…

I see sick people

furiousBall — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:49:22 +0000

Bubs is home from school with a bad tummy and Abbe’s tongue is still really bothering her (bitten during the second seizure). Abbe will probably need to be seen by a doctor today to get some prescription pain relief – she was in pain all day yesterday. While we were relaxing on the couch last night, we were talking over Facebook chat sitting two feet away on our laptops because she was in so much pain.

Small Business/Tech Links…

Funny/Interesting Links…

What God Said to Tim Tebow After He Beat the Steelers - Number 4 killed me
Pizza Boomerang
Sh*t Nobody Says: Will This Video Stop the Viral Madness?
5 Alternatives to Consider After Spotify’s Free Music Cutoff
Muppets take over some of your favorite movies (17 Photos)
The Beauty of Pollination
Boycott Girl Scout cookies says a young Girl Scout - don’t kid yourself, that’s hate, not “beliefs”

Last Day in Disney

furiousBall — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:43:23 +0000

Our last day in Disney was pretty great. We hit Hollywood Studios and Epcot. I felt pretty crummy in the morning after breakfast, but that was due to me overeating at breakfast (not a good idea the day after a marathon). Abbe is in good shape, but she is down about not being able to do the half marathon. So although, we pretty much had our minds up NOT to Disney for a while, that could change – there is definitely some unfinished business for her. We are considering doing the Perfect Goofy which is a small step up from the Goofy – adding a 5K to the half marathon and full marathon on consecutive days.

In the ER, Abbe and I talked about getting married – and although we talked about grand plans of doing a getaway vacation – we just want to be married. In my mind, the immediacy of being able to protect her really are in the forefront of my noggin. I want her to be OK if something ever happened to me. I want to be able to cover her with a health insurance policy. And most importantly, I want to call her my wife.

Abbe was so sad about missing the half and not completing the Goofy. I reminded her that what she did – having two seizures a day and a half before running a full marathon may not have ever been accomplished. She is a much more elite person than I am in my mind, but then again, she always has been to me.

And here are some pictures of our last day in Disney! Leaving Florida this afternoon and back to Jersey!

Small Business/Tech Links…

Funny/Interesting Links…

a little humbug, a little merry

furiousBall — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:18:57 +0000

Well, this was both a very good and crummy Christmas. The good was that the kids had a great time, we got to eat lots of food with our family, and just general merriment. The crummy is that we are 99% sure Viv has strep throat. This means that Viv will be staying home with me to go see her doctor, get the antibiotics started, and miss out on our Christmas with the Mecks. This sucks so bad, but it is the smart thing to do – no need to expose little Bradley and Mia to catching it. Also Abbe’s Mema recently got over a bout of pneumonia. Viv feels pretty OK aside from a sore throat, but she is very sad to not be able to see Abbe’s family.

On the good side of that news was a slight surprise from my son. Once we took a look down Viv’s throat and saw some white spots, I knew there would be no Longswamp in Viv and my immediate future. And I thought Bubs would stay too, but as I made Viv’s doctor appointment, Bubs surprised me by asking if he could go with Abbe. It’s a real testament to the Mecks and how great they are to my kids. Viv is really bummed to miss out, but she understands she needs to get better for her upcoming trip to visit her family in Georgia and the trip to Disney.