Click on the link above to read the full report. I continue to be amazed at her incredible attitude in the face of a second surgery coming on September 16th.
Karen, you are one courageous lady. Our entire team will keep you close to our thoughts and deep in our hearts. Take care my dear friend and Godspeed.
7:59 P.M. – Mayor Nagin: Pumps at 17th street canal has failed and water will continue pouring into the city. Nine feet of water is expected on St. Charles Avenue that will be nine feet high. Water is expected to spread throughout the east bank of Orleans and possibly Jefferson Parish.
6:41 P.M. – Efforts to stop the levee break at the 17th Street Canal have ended unsuccessfully and the water is expected to soon overwhelm the pumps in that area, allowing water to pour into the east bank of Metairie and Orleans to an expected height of 12-15 feet.
6:03 P.M. – N.O. Councilman Oliver Thomas: “What you see on TV, you have no idea what the level of devastation and frustration is on the street.”
5:57 P.M. – Jeff Parish schools chief Dianne Roussel says two months is probably “optimistic” to get schools back and functioning.
Jeff Parish President. Residents will probably be allowed back in town in a week, with identification only, but only to get essentials and clothing. You will then be asked to leave and not come back for one month.
80% of New Orleans Under Water
3:13 P.M. – Governor Blanco: A lot of people have lost their lives, but we have no numbers because the priority is saving those who are alive so we don’t have more casualties.
2:41 P.M. – Jefferson Parish officials say schools could reopen by Dec. 1.
Break in 17th Street Canal Levee is now 200 feet wide and slowly flooding the City of New Orleans. Huge sand bags are being airlifted to try to stem the rush of water in that area. The expectations are that the water will not stop until it reaches lake level.
Best local coverage from New Orleans with live feed —-> WWL-TV
11:53 A.M. – Two dead in Slidell in rising waters after attempting to get back to their homes. The victims had initially evacuated. (15′ of water in downtown Slidell)
Please stay put. Jefferson Parish is locked down. No one admitted until Monday and only with proper ID. There is no electricity, water or working facilities. Officials will and are turning away anyone trying to return.
11:58 A.M. – Homeland security chief optimistic that 3,000 pound sandbags can plug 200 foot levee break at 17th Street Canal.
Flowers for my Grandmother, who turned 81 yesterday. She lives in Baton Rouge. The flower shop called me this morning saying they still could not deliver and didn’t even know when they would be able to receive another shipment of flowers.
So granny, until later, enjoy the beautiful tulips to the right. We’ll get real flowers to you as soon as we can. Happy Birthday!
My mother and grandmother in a photo taken just a couple weeks ago on St George Island. Both my mother and grandmother were able to join us for vacation. We all had a wonderful time and so good to have everyone together for an entire week.
More than 100 photos from New Orleans. There is just something about still photos that brings the drama home in a way video does not.
Latest Katrina Photos from WWL
As of 11pm ET, Associated Press reporting 55 deaths. This number is expected to rise dramatically with daylight tomorrow. Very sad and tragic news indeed. Thoughts and prayers.
As many as 500 still trapped on roofs as darkness set in. May God be with them tonight. Emergency crews attempt rescue again at first light. Reports say the water rose so fast, many who stayed were literally trapped in their homes.
J (from Orlando, FL) left this in the comments on the post below. Sometimes a little humor in the face of tragedy is the only thing that keeps us sane. For a sober account of news to come, read further into the comments from J.
J, brother, thanks so much for sharing. Mission accomplished, your post has taken my mind off the tragedy for a few minutes and for that I thank you.
For all those in harm’s way. Godspeed.
Spoke with my family in South Louisiana and they are all doing fine. Thanks to everyone for the many thoughts and prayers. Very much appreciated my friends.
J_Snow, joined Andrax on 2/13/05 as the team’s 24th member. J had been crunching molecules since 2/07/03 all alone. Then he found us and came aboard. J’s numbers exceed 500,000 points but the database backup is only showing about 2/3’s of his total contribution. Suffice it to say, J is a dedicated member of our team and we are fortunate he decided to become an Andraxian.
J, since we don’t know your exact point total, I’m going to take your contribution since joining Andrax and add that to a base of 400k. That should get us pretty close to your actual total.
J hails from Orlando, Florida. J, welcome to the blog stats. Glad to have you on the list brother.
All my relatives live in South Louisiana, which is where I grew up. Max sustained winds at 175mph with a direct line into New Orleans, a city below sea level–this is very bad news. I lived in New Orleans for three years. The city stays afloat by pumping water out and even with moderate rain, the city floods. A direct hit by a Cat 5 is very, very bad news. I know the mentality of the folks there well enough to know many will not heed evacuation warnings.
Ed Rappaport, deputy director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said, “If it came ashore with the intensity it has now and went to the New Orleans area, it would be the
strongest we’ve had in recorded history there,” Rappaport said in a telephone interview Sunday morning. “We’re hoping of course there’ll be a slight tapering off at least of the winds, but we can’t plan on that. So whichever area gets hit, this is going to be a once in a lifetime event for them.”
He said loss of life was “what inevitably occurs” with a storm this strong.
“We’re in for some trouble here no matter what,” he said.
Thoughts and prayers my friends.
As the team stats come fully up-to-date, Team Andrax has moved inside of the top 400 teams in the world, and that’s out of more than 42, 754 teams. As you might expect, such news makes me want to sing, and who better than Frank to launch us on our way to top 250 status. Enjoy!
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby kiss me
Fill my heart with song
Let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you
Some of you will notice a new name, MrBastage on our stat list and may be wondering who he is and how did he all of a sudden get so many points.
MrB, joined Team Andrax in February as mate #42. He lives in Pennsylvania and works in the medical research field and has been a consistent and steady pillar of strength at Andrax. He spends a lot of time on the Voodoo boards and posts there frequently in support of our team.
Recently, I asked those guys if any of them wanted me to include their stats on my blog, and wallah, here is MrB. Welcome to the blog brother!
Just off the phone with one of my managers. Discussion centered on a rookie rep and reminded me of a basic mentality we teach yet few grasp or apply. Here goes.
When you find yourself in conversation (with others or yourself–doesn’t matter) and find the gist is complaint, moaning, whining, finger-pointed, excuse-making, non-constructive critiquing, etc., ask yourself these two questions:
(1) What am I building a case for?
(2) Is that what I am committed to proving and believing?
In our own mind we win our cases. Do you know what cases you are currently working on because you are gonna win them–in your mind. Life has a funny way of becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy. Pick cases that move you forward because life is just too damn short to do otherwise.
If you find yourself in a situation not to your liking there are three constructive ways to move forward.
(1) Change it
(2) Accept it
(3) Leave it
There is a fourth option, and far too many choose it.
(4) Bitch and moan about the situation without changing, accepting or leaving it. I call this the quicksand approach with the bitching the equivalent of frantically moving arms and legs to free yourself, but unfortunately the effort only dooms the victim.
In an exclusive live television interview, seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong will appear on CNN’s Larry King Live tonight at 9 p.m. (ET) with Larry King and Bob Costas. This is Armstrong’s first television interview after recent allegations about performance-enhancing drugs.
Larry King Live airs nightly from 9-10 p.m. (ET).
Text of exclusive media Q&A with Lance today (8/25) posted in the comments. Enjoy.
Hal is the mysterious mate #104. He hails from Minnesota.
My friend, been a long time coming but I think the servers can now handle your presence (Hal had joined us several weeks ago and about 2 hours after joining the servers crashed and washed him out of the system–just coincidence I’m sure Hal–lol).
Hal we are very excited to have you officially on board and producing results. Look for your name on the stats soon. Take care my friend and happy 3rd anniversary this Monday.
Team stats are not updated yet on the roster. Hang in there, UD is making progress. If you click on your name on the roster page you will see your current total score, which is updated once a day in the early morning hours. Stats are just for fun, but boy it sure is nice to have them individually back. Please see JC’s comment under the post below for the official communication on the stat update process.
My cancer fighting friends, more good news communicated today. Although UD is still working on getting the stats (remember they are just for fun) database back up to date, we are still moving forward on the real work. Once the stats are back up, all the points you have accumulated in the interim will be credited (again, the stats have no significance and no meaning other than to invoke some friendly competition, a somewhat measure of work we have done, and just fun for us stat junkies). The real work is the data sent, and on that account we are moving forward.
My thanks again for all the love and compassion this team has shown Karen and Nate. I’ve said it in other places and I’ll say it here again, although we crunch molecules to help find a cure, I have always felt the crunching was secondary to the hope, strength and love we are able to share and give to those in their hour of darkness and need. For the love and support I have seen you guys share, I am forever thankful to have somehow been fortunate enough to cross paths with all you great guys and gals. It is my privilege to say we are teammates in this fight.
Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 10:00 am
We have completed another Rosetta job and are currently rolling up the final results. As mentioned earlier, we will leave the job active for a week so that any outstanding workunits can be credited. Hopefully this new process is working for everyone.
A new Rosetta job has been activated so you may continue to crunch away at the new data. Thank you for your contribution. _________________ —————–
Robby Brewer
Senior Support Engineer
United Devices
Often we are told how to do good. Lists and rules for such can be found seemingly everywhere. Yet, what if we approached “doing good” from the other side. What if, instead of trying to do good, we try, just for one day, simply to “do no harm.”
Ahimsa, the concept of non-harming. Try it for one day. Attempt to do no harm in thought, speech, or action to others, including yourself. Try it with a partner who will keep you honest and likewise you them. File this under the simple, but really, really not easy category.
I surf a lot of blogs. Too many actually and I’m sure the habit will slowly start to wane. My marriage depends on it and my eyes will surely thank me too. At the risk of hyperbole, of the thousands of sites I’ve perused, one stands apart. Clive Allen’s Gone Away. The man simply knows how to write.
Rare is the post, that upon reading it I’m stunned at the craftsmanship such that I can’t recall what the post was about. I have to reread it for content and guard against the seductive power of a sentence well-turned.
When Clive publishes his book, I will buy it, sight unseen, content not known. And I won’t care. To watch a master at work with words is a joy in itself. If the content is of interest to me–I’ll consider it a bonus. One day, I would like to say I could write in this man’s shadow. Right now, I’ve got my telescope out.
Oh, and should anyone think this post is simply payback for the link and the kind words Clive posted on Gone Away today, look at my last comment of my Peace post. This post came close to making it “live” last night. So, overdue and looking suspicious, I stand on my soapbox, naysayers be damned–lol.
Tour of Germany winner Levi Leipheimer, USA, of team Gerolsteiner is congratulated by Jan Ullrich during the winners’ ceremony in Bonn, Germany, today. Ullrich finished second in the 9 stage Tour of Germany. Wonder what he must be thinking about all these damn Americans getting in his way.
“This is the biggest success of my career,” said Levi. “This race has matured and is now one of the top three races so I am overjoyed to win it.”
Well, Levi, I’m not so sure I would go that far, but it is a great accomplishment and our hats off to you brother. Well deserved. Levi held the yellow jersey over the last five stages and bested Jan by 31 seconds.
Looks like the same two girls on the podium again. In fact, these two girls apparently worked the podium at the end of each stage. Looks like they’ve improved their technique, so good for them–lol.
Good news brothers–The Vuelta (Tour of Spain and the third of the major stage races after the Tour of France and Tour of Italy) starts on the
27th of August, that’s this Saturday, and finishes on the 18th of September. I think we’ve seen the “view” from Spain is not all that bad. Stay tuned.
French tabloid, L’Equipe alledges Armstrong used EPO in the 1999 Tour. Whatever it takes to increase circulation I suppose.
“French former Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon was more blunt in his assessment of the Armstrong brouhaha: ‘I don’t give a sh**. 1999? This is ancient history. What does this prove and what does this solve? What interests me now is keeping the next generation of cyclists clean and drug-free.’”
Have to agree with Fignon on this one. Here and Now–lol.
A statement by Lance Armstrong
regarding the L’Equipe article:
8/22/2005 – “Yet again, a European newspaper has reported that I have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Tomorrow’s L’Equipe, a French sports daily, is reporting that my 1999 samples were positive. Unfortunately, the witch hunt continues and tomorrow’s article is nothing short of tabloid journalism.
The paper even admits in its own article that the science in question here is faulty and that I have no way to defend myself. They state: “There will therefore be no counter-exam nor regulatory prosecutions, in a strict sense, since defendant’s rights cannot be respected.”
I will simply restate what I have said many times: I have never taken performance enhancing drugs.”
This non-story reminds me of my favorite Kipling poem. Time for a little poetry.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling
Team Andrax welcomes mates #103 and #104. Details soon–I hope–lol.
Mate #103 is Triton, a long-time Voodoo mutthaboard member. Triton hails from Canada. We are very happy to have him onboard.
Mate #104 remains a mystery. If you joined our team in the last 48 hours or so, you’re #104. Introduce yourself–you’re among friends–lol.
Been about a week since our team discovered our starfish down in Florida. I have been amazed by the outpouring of support you guys and gals have given our dear friend in her hour of darkness and time of need. As I was reading some of the posting you guys have left for Karen a smile permanently fixed itself to my face this morning and I thought “this is how life should be.” Relationship at it’s finest. I feel like a gardener watching the most gorgeous and wonderful flowers of support bloom right before my eyes. I’m here to tell you my friends, the view is magnificent and I am blessed to be a witness to such an outpouring of love. Well, as you might guess, all this reminds me of a song–lol–which is my preferred way to start the day. Enjoy a classic oldie this beautiful Sunday morning.
When you can’t find the light,
That got you through the cloudy days,
When the stars ain’t shinin’ bright,
You feel like you’ve lost you’re way,
When those candle lights of home,
Burn so very far away,
Well you got to let your soul shine,
Just like my daddy used to say.
[chorus]
He used to say soulshine,
It’s better than sunshine,
It’s better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Hey now people don’t mind,
We all get this way sometime,
Got to let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.
I grew up thinkin’ that I had it made,
Gonna make it on my own.
Life can take the strongest man,
Make him feel so alone.
Now and then I feel a cold wind,
Blowin’ through my achin’ bones,
I think back to what my daddy said,
He said boy, in the darkness before the dawn:
[chorus]
Let your soul shine,
It’s better than sunshine,
It’s better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Yeah now people don’t mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.
Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness,
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul.
A woman too, God knows, she can feel like this.
And when your world seems cold, you got to let your spirit take control.
[chorus]
Let your soul shine,
It’s better than sunshine,
It’s better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Lord now people don’t mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.
Oh, it’s better than sunshine,
It’s better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Yeah now people don’t mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.
Allman Brothers
2 Hours
2 Days
2 Weeks
2 Months
2 Years
Simple technique. Next time you find yourself getting upset ask yourself this question, “Will this really matter 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks, or even 2 months from now?”
Never let the circumstance trump the relationship. Circumstances come and go. Relationships define our lives.
What better way to start the day than with a little Jimmy Cliff. How can you not love I Can See Clearly Now
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW THE RAIN IS GONE
I CAN SEE ALL OBSTACLES IN MY WAY
GONE ARE THE DARK CLOUDS THAT HAD ME DOWN
IT’S GONNA BE A BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT SUN SHINY DAY
IT’S GONNA BE A BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT SUN SHINY DAY
OH YES I CAN MAKE IT NOW THE PAIN IS GONE
ALL OF THE BAD FEELINGS HAVE DISAPPEARED
HERE IS THAT RAINBOW I’VE BEEN PRAYING FOR
IT’S GONNA BE A BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT SUN SHINY DAY
LOOK ALL AROUND THERE’S NOTHING BUT BLUE SKIES
LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD THERE’S NOTHING BUT BLUE SKIES
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW THE RAIN IS GONE
I CAN SEE ALL OBSTACLES IN MY WAY
HERE IS THAT RAINBOW I’VE BEEN PRAYING FOR
IT’S GONNA BE A BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT SUN SHINY DAY
IT’S GONNA BE A BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT SUN SHINY DAY
BRI-RI-RI-RI-RIGHT
BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT SUN SHINY DAY
OH YEAH
IT’S GONNA BE A BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT SUN SHINY DAY
IT’S GONNA BE A BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT SUN SHINY DAY
IT’S GONNA BE A BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT SUN SHINY DAY.
oVo, been wondering why your numbers have been down just a bit lately. No need to explain brother 
Would you rather be Levi, winner of today’s 4th stage of the tour of Germany
Constantino Zaballa after winning the 25th edition of the one-day San Sebastian classic World Cup event in northern Spain last Saturday?
Don’t see this in football, baseball or basketball now do ya–lol. As a Russian friend of mine might say “Cycling, what a sport!”
These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones; they are for what they are; they exist with God to-day. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence. Before a leaf-bud has burst, its whole life acts; in the full-blown flower there is no more; in the leafless root there is no less. Its nature is satisfied, and it satisfies nature, in all moments alike. But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
There is a bank account that credits your account each morning with $86,400.
It carries over no balance from day to day.
Every evening, it deletes what you failed to use during the day.
What would you do?
Use all of it, of course . . .
Each of us has such a bank.
Its name is timeEvery morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds.
Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.
It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.
Each day it opens a new account for you.
Each night it burns the remains of the day.
If you fail to use the day’s deposit . . . the loss is yours.
There is no going back. There is no drawing against the “tomorrow.”
Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success.
The clock is running . . . make the most of today.
Take responsibility for your own happiness . . . now.
Enjoy life. Now.
To see the above set to music and a slide show go Here
Scott’s Time movie has been viewed over 1,500,000 times since October 2003 in over 120 countries. Enjoy.
If you like the music on the slideshow, the artist Fisher has the
vocal version availible for download–free. Go here Fisher and click the music link. The song is called I Will Love You
By the way, if anyone remembers the Nike “Magnet” commercial from last year where they showed Lance riding across the country on his bike (with geese, buffalo, bats, in front of a children’s cancer ward, etc.), Kathy Fisher is the artist who’s vocals you hear. I can send a link to anyone interested in the mp3 90 second version of the music.
Heads up to Karen for this wonderful find. Great job girl!
“Yahoo! and the American Cancer Society are breaking new ground in an effort to connect individuals in the fight against cancer. In a 30-day Blog for Hope event on Yahoo! Health, celebrities from every walk of public life will share the triumphs, insights, and personal stories of how cancer has affected their lives. Join these bloggers and millions of blog readers around the world as we unite to raise awareness and bring an end to cancer.”
Don’t you just love the synergetic effects of teamwork 
Max, as I posted on the Voodoo forums, I cannot begin to tell you how much it means to have you join our team. So many of our members either own a Voodoo computer or want to own one and our community is strong on those boards. To have you join us sends such a good message I cannot begin to think how much good your example will do. Needless to say, we are thrilled to have you onboard.
Max hails from Canada and works for Voodoo, a maker of the most beautiful boutique personal computers made anywhere in the world. Many of our mates hang out on the Voodoo forums and we have a long standing thread there on Team Andrax and our fight. As many as perhaps 30 or 40 of our mates first heard about our team from those forums, including myself. Thanks JC for being such a strong voice for this great cause.
Once again, welcome to our fabulous international cancer fighting team Max! I know from the care and concern you display on the mutthaboards in support of Voodoo customers that your heart is in the right place, and once again we have found a mate that makes us better.
Karen, welcome aboard my friend. We are so excited you have decided to join us and allow us to join you in this fight. I think you have seen today, you have folks on this team from around the world pulling for you, praying for you, and are there for support when you need it.
Likewise, I believe strongly in the comments your sister left on the starfish post about you, which is to say, I have a feeling your energy, your determination, your spirit to fight this disease with everything you’ve got is going to do as much to energize our team and make us better, as we can give back to you in love and support.
Oh, and your comment on your blog today is just priceless,
“and a starfish tattoo will be in order after all the surgeries are completed! Much love to all.”
That is wonderful my dear friend. When we get to that point, I want a picture of that tattoo. Team Andrax just might need a backup mascot
Smoochdog, aka Michelle, joined our fabulous international cancer fighting team last night.
She lives in Boston, at least that’s where she works as a software project manager. Her blog, Calmly Neurotic is always a pleasure to read. Written with honesty and beautiful insight, please be sure to stop by and take a look.
Michelle is also a cancer survivor. She fought this terrible disease at the tender age of 3. Cancer (WhilmÂs Tumor) claimed her left kidney but 30 years later she is a living testament to survivorship.
Michelle, welcome aboard. We are so glad to have you join us in this fight!
Do you believe in Starfish? If you have heard Loren Eiseley’s starfish story (and don’t want to read it again), skip to the second half of this post, if not enjoy. Eiseley’s account sets the stage for the rest of the story, so please don’t skip.
The Starfish Story
Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”
Our beach, in the world of cancer, seems to be one of endless starfish, as far as the eye can see. Sometimes the battle seems too overwhelming, the suffering too much, the losses too high, the price too great. We witness, like our good friend Chow, a twelve-year old boy succumb to the disease and we feel helpless to do anything.
As I have often said, we can always give hope. And with hope, perhaps the strength, spirit and energy to fight and the will to overcome. I’m asking those reading this blog to help me with one particular starfish today. Her name is Karen.
The help I ask for is simply your thoughts and prayers–no more, no less.
Last Thursday I was blog surfing, walking down the beach so to speak, when I came across this particular starfish named Karen. God only knows why out of literally hundreds of thousands of blogs, I just happened upon Karen’s. Perhaps fate, don’t really know, and right now, doesn’t really matter. Fact is, I did.
Karen is a Real Estate agent in Florida who has very recently learned she has cancer. You can read the medical updates on her blog yourbestagent.
I don’t know Karen. I was blog surfing, just clicking away at the “next blog” button when I stumbled upon her site. I almost clicked right past it, because her site is really about her Real Estate business, but the leading post called “medical update” caught my eye.
You can read the two updates on her site, but here is the executive summary. Friday she had surgery and yesterday (Monday) she learned that the surgery did not get it all. Hard choices will need to be made in the days ahead . In her own words:
Well surgery went well on friday and I am recovering at a rapid rate. I met with the doc tonight and not the best news. They took out two cancer sites and there is now a third in a different quadrant. Which means another biopsy and surgery or can the whole thing and get a double masectomy. I am feeling like I am floating on another planet. Just floored and shocked as I was a week ago. Not much I can do for a few weeks till I recover from this one. I have some decisions to make. Hang in there with me. Hopefully this will all be over in a few.Thanks again for all your support.
To all my fabulous friends, I thank you for taking a few minutes today to offer a few thoughts and prayers to a kind hearted soul facing a terrifying unknown. If you so feel moved, please visit her blog and leave a comment of support. I know from her comments that the simple act of posting a comment means a great deal to her at this time.
I want to finish by repeating the last two paragraphs of the starfish story. Pick up that starfish today and say a prayer for Karen.
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”
This is an often told and often circulated story. Still, every time I read it, it touches a place in my heart from whence I know not where.
We crunch molecules for these little souls and if I ever forget why, I just re-read the story below and all is clear again. For the love–enjoy.
A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups, and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.
“Mister,” he said, “I want to buy one of your puppies.”
“Well,” said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, “These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.”
The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.
“I’ve got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?”
“Sure,” said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle.
“Here, Dolly!” he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.
The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.
Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up….
“I want that one,” the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.”
With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers.
In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.
Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.”
With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down
and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.
“How much?” asked the little boy. “No charge,” answered the farmer, “There’s no charge for love.”
Yesterday, I passed a young man, probably 10 years old, on my ride. As we made eye contact he gave me a smile and a thumbs up sign. A simple act, yet the energy and joy such an act gives is hard to describe.
I had a similar encounter this past spring, which lasted all of about 5 seconds but at the time, and still today, seems more like 30. I came to a stop as a school bus was unloading it’s precious cargo. The sky was crystal clear blue and the temps were in the mid-70s. About as perfect a day to ride as there is. As the children crossed in front of me, a young girl, she must have been 7 or 8 years old, bookbag over shoulder, stopped right beside me.
My first jaded thought was I don’t want to be seen “in conversation” with such a child or that she was going to have some “smart*$#” comment to make (happens more than you would think). Men in lyrca wearing a funny helmet and shaved legs tend to be a magnet for verbal abuse–lol.
Instead, with her long brown hair and big bright eyes–at that
age where the eyes seem out of proportion to the rest of the body–she tilted her head up and with the biggest, most genuine smile, blurted out, “What a great day for a bike ride.”
She paused for just a second, her eyes locked on mine, waiting for my reaction. I was caught so off guard with the wonderful simplicity and pure authenticity of her comment, I could only mumble something to the effect that it was.
Seemingly pleased to have her undeniable insight acknowledged, she skipped off home, and I could only think she was rushing to her bike on such a gorgeous day to share the wonder.
These experiences, in contrast, bring forth two other remembrances. A few years ago I read a passage, most certainly apocryphal, but nonetheless I’ve never been able to get the simple idea out of my head, on the assassination of Gandhi. The story goes that when he was shot, the last word he uttered was “love.” The commentary: the only thing that can come out of you is what is inside of you–and all Gandhi had inside was love, thus even to his assassin, with his last breath, there was nothing but love.
The second remembrance is from many years ago. I was having lunch with my mentor and he made the comment that people are generally not happy when you succeed. The thought had honestly never occurred to me that those around me would not be genuinely happy for me whenever I accomplished something. I’m sad to say, his comment has proven right more often than not, and when I have good fortune I’ve learned to be careful with sharing it for fear of stirring the muck of resentment, envy or whatever else success tends to stir in others.
Both these stories remind me of the joy and innocence of childhood. The joy of a thumbs up or a simple exclamation of goodness without anything else attached to it. Just pure happiness and joy uttered from an unfiltered heart. God bless the children.
Congrats to Bobby for breaking the 50k barrier!
I am so proud of all you brothers and sisters for the outstanding commitment to do something rather than nothing. Our cause is needed, our cause is just, and our cause is righteous. As our mate Nate, who is fighting this disease with his wife presently, likes to say, “Someone is counting on you.” When he posted that quote next to the smiling picture of his two young children, you would have to have been made of stone not to be moved.
You guys are hope givers. Don’t ever underestimate the power and value of giving hope to those who often feel abandoned and alone, who feel helpless and afraid. Crunch on my friends!
10 songs on my current playlist
At last, all good things must come to an end. This is the last photo taken this morning before departure. This shot looks more like evening than morning, which is more a result of my rush to snap the shot and lack of proper metering. All in all, it conveys a sense of leaving, a certain sense of sadness at goodbye.
Sand between my toes
Mother ocean’s warm embrace
Love rediscovered
Waves of remembrance
Memories long forgotten
Music will do that
Waves of remembrance
First true love twenty years hence
Blonde hair and blue eyes
Autumn, thanks so much for joining our magnificent international team in the fight against this most relentless and brutal foe. Cancer takes no prisoners, no holidays and attacks when least expected against the most innocent of victims, young and old alike. I am very, very excited to have you onboard!
For my friends who might not know, Autumn writes some of the most amazing, eye-opening, thought-provoking material on her blog The Decadent Autumn Storm.
Some of you may remember I copied an entire post of her’s a few weeks back and posted it HERE–that post was just that good. Sometime in the future, when we have all long forgotten, I will post it here again. Just good stuff–no doubt. By all means, do not miss reading her blog.
Autumn, once again, thank you so much for joining us in this endeavor. 
Well, guess I should open the polls. Since it is Friday, should we have another “Friday Night Flirtation?”
Don’t hesitate to vote. Polls tend to close arbitrarily and without notice.
Still summer persists
An autumn storm my heart longs
To see post again
Eyes that do not see
Ears that fail to comprehend
Is anyone here, now?
I see trees of green…….. red roses too
I see ’em bloom….. for me and for you
And I think to myself…. what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue….. clouds of white
Bright blessed days….dark sacred nights
And I think to myself …..what a wonderful world.
The colors of a rainbow…..so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces…..of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands…..sayin’.. how do you do
They’re really sayin’……i love you.
I hear babies cry…… I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more…..than I’ll never know
And I think to myself …..what a wonderful world
Louis Armstrong–could anyone sing it better. Come join us in this fight and help someone else think . . . what a wonderful world.
Join us today. All Welcome in this fight against cancer. All needed. Every work unit sent back to Oxford moves us forward. The life you save could be your own. More likely, it will be your child’s life. Put yourself in the spotlight. Position 104 is yours.
The exchange below is very, very exciting news.
“A while back, I spoke with my contact at Oxford, and he stated they had made a very interesting discovery. To back that up, JP said this:
Concerning the ” discovery,” he stated to me :
Our good news is that from among the hits for the phophorylase we had
some of the compounds made and tested and have found about 10% [which is
very good] are indeed genuine inhibitors and what is more are quite novel
structures. We are now trying to interest pharmaceutical companies to take this further.”
More than 1 million volunteers from around the world have been crunching molecules in conjunction with the University of Oxford in the largest distributed computing project to find a cure for cancer ever undertaken. The scientists at Oxford feel this volunteer effort will cut 10 years off their research.
Thanks again to everyone on this fabulous international team. We are making a difference in science and we are giving hope and perhaps strength to those engaged in this terrible fight. As always, I take my hat off to you wonderful folks. Crunch on brothers and sisters. The goal is to examine 3.5 billion molecules and we are on our way!
For those not on our cancer fighting team, these numbers represent the point value assigned by the project based on total amount of work each person’s computer(s) have returned. The points themselves have no significance other than friendly competition and a sense of accomplishment and measurement of completed work.
Ocean breeze delights
Symphony orchestrated
By waves on the beach
These guys are everywhere on the beach and just amazing to observe.
Dana Reeve, 44, just ten months after her husband Christopher Reeve passed away, has learned she has lung cancer. She displayed great courage and devotion to Christopher throughout his illness and death and now must summon the strength just a few months later to wage a battle for her very own life.
Dana is a non-smoker and at such a young age, we see once again this terrible disease attacking those we would least expect. One can only imagine the pain and anguish between mother
and son tonight. Dana’s son, Will, is 13. What that young man is experiencing is beyond my comprehension. To lose his dad, and now, today, to learn his mother has cancer. Thoughts and prayers to two courageous and caring individuals as they face another agonizing battle.
In her own words: “I hope before too long to be sharing news of my good health and recovery.”
“Now, more than ever, I feel Chris with me as I face this challenge,” said the 44-year-old actress. “As always, I look to him as the ultimate example of defying the odds with strength, courage, and hope.”
Girls on the land line
Calling all their friends back home
Technology, hmm . . .
Echo of a snore
Slumber never rang so sweet
Gran sleeps, no TV
The beach to myself
Not another soul in sight
Baywatch this is not
Alaskan Snow Crab
Ordered off the lunch menu
When dad is paying
I just don’t understand why the kids won’t go in the water.
This friendly mammal must be at least 20 yards off the shore.
Brad has worked with me for about a year and tomorrow is his last day.
Earlier this year he traveled back to LA and happened to meet a lovely young lady. The relationship grew, and with only eight days of actual togetherness, Brad has decided to “sell everything” and move to be with his true love. Romanticism lives.
Brad, my son, I wish you all the luck in the world and even though the logical side of me pauses, I applaud you for following your dreams, your passions, your heart. That young lady is one lucky girl. I hope she knows how lucky. If not, just tell her to call me and I’ll tell her.
Best of luck to you my friend. Make it work. Us romantics in the world are pulling for a story book ending. We will miss you dearly in the office. Take care my friend. Godspeed. Oh, and make sure you work your rear off tomorrow. Just because it’s your last day, I still want my ounce of flesh–lol.
The bane of mankind
Followed me 500 miles
Let’s call it TV
Love the image and love the title. procycling Sept issue available now, probably not yet in the states but for my UK friends you should be able to pick it up now. Those stateside, both Borders and Barnes & Nobles carries procycling so look for it soon.
Catherine Ryan of The Fountain Pen, a wonderful blog with a beautiful design has join Team Andrax as mate #96. Catherine is an East coast 40-something, happily married, mother of two, suburbanite professional with eclectic interests and a liberal bias. Catherine, welcome aboard and thanks so much for joining us in the fight against this terrible disease.
Croxie, aka Christa, has joined Team Andrax as mate #97. Originally from Sweden, Christa calls the UK home for now and does wonderful work with the paintbrush and camera. Please visit Awful Souls to see more of her writings and links to more of her work. Christa is also a cancer survivor, and although she has survived her fight of 10 years ago, still battles lingering issues and side effects with great courage. She is a living testament to the merciless nature of the disease we are fighting. Christa, you have found a home of caring and compassion souls. Welcome aboard!
Front facade facing the open water. Called “Another World” all five bedrooms face the gulf, each with a balcony off the bedroom. Good news: Built just last month, the house still has that brand new smell. Bad news: now my wife’s “let’s buy a new house” fever has been reenergized. And I had worked so hard to put that silly notion to rest.
Upon arrival we were greeted by this wayward soul taking up
residence in our pool. This little guy appears to be terribly confused as to where he should be. We kicked him out and a few hours later had made his triumphant return. Looks like we might have to share
Som beech, I survived
Ten hour drive with wife and kids
Thanks to my iPod
For those on our cancer fighting team please see the comments section for the lastest news from UD concerning new protein data. Thanks again for the dedication each and every one of you have shown. You guys are golden!
As always, if anyone has any questions, don’t hesitate to email me or communicate here. Crunch on brothers and sisters. Or in this case, we fold on for the time being–lol.
Water warms to the touch and the sand welcomes the soles with a beautiful velvet clay-like texture. Nature’s red carpet, it neither judges nor rushes.
Smell of salt in the air with a cool breeze coming from the south. A few privileged seagulls and the ocean gently lapping the shore, reminding me of her immeasurable charms, supply the only audible sounds.
Sun warms the skin with a soothing constant presence that lulls one to sleep with lazy indulgence and dreams of delightful empty agendas. Nothing to do, a phrase seldom uttered, yet, today, held in my mind like a precious jewel, rolling it over and over, contemplating its implications.
The sky reflects the deep blue depths of the ocean with a few interloping clouds plying us with a few moments of respite. One can see clearly to the horizon.
Next to me lies a bucket of ice-cold longnecks, glistening with beads of anticipation, not long for this world. Won’t be long now, as the days have slipped to hours and the hours slip toward departure.
Mike Cameron, Mets outfielder, dismissing the problems caused by the sun at Shea Stadium.
Me, busting some stress. The second best way I know–lol.
Fire engulfs airliner in Toronto
_________
Update: Firefighters are battling a blaze after an Air France passenger jet overran the runway at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and burst into flames. All passengers and crew survived but some have been taken to hospital with injuries, officials said.
If you have OLN, Lance gives an exclusive one-hour interview tonight (8pm and again at 11pm EST). Enjoy.
Letterman was nice last night, but short and sweet. Tonight, Paul and Phil should take us a little deeper into the race and life post riding. Should be interesting.
Do you like how I just had to slip that pic of Sheryl into this annoucement–shakes head and quickly slips away . . .
I think that hammock is calling my name.
Keshi, this one’s for you sweetie. Can you guess where this was taken? Think close to home.
Bringing my own Corona’s this time. Just can’t count on those Canadians.
From time to time one stumbles upon a post in the blogosphere that is so good, and in this case, so haunting, it simply must be shared. I read this post last night and when I woke this morning I found it still taking up residence with no intention of leaving.
Written by Autumn Storm and posted on her blog The Decadent Autumn Storm. Visit her site for more fascinating postings. The picture, by the way, is not part of Autumn’s original post. Somehow, this little girl’s expression captures my mood. Autumn, as I commented on your blog–this is one beautiful and powerful yet haunting evocation. Thanks so much for sharing.
Waking up to CNN
Last night,
As I was wondering what show to watch on the telly
Children went to bed hungry without food in their bellies
As I sat there snug, pondering tomorrow’s attire
Somehow, somewhere someone perished in a fire
As I sat sipping cocoa curled up in my chair
Innocent children lived with abuse hard to bear
As I painted the toenails of my pedicured feet
Gunshots rang out, people lay dead in the street
As I wondered whether to cut my long hair
Spouses were beaten to the point of utter despair
As I rigourously cleaned and flossed my teeth
A family lost a loved one and were consumed with grief
As I motioned perfect circles with age-defying cream
A life of peace became just a far-fetched dream
As I slipped on my favourite silk nightdress
Prostitutes were out there scouting for business
As I kissed my daughter, said sweet dreams, goodnight
Gangs of youths met up in a deathly fight
As I pulled back the sheets and blissfully slid in
The rapist luring found his unsuspecting victim
As I sighed and happily closed my eyes
Tears fell and no-one heard the lonely cries
As I laid me gently down to sleep
Disaster occured, victims reaped
Only thing missing in this photo is me and a couple Coronas. Mmm, better add my wife there too before she checks this blog this morning–lol.
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