"Drinking and driving don't mix." Have you ever heard that one before? Most people have. Well, now it's time for a new one, "Texting and driving don't mix." What will it take for people to stop trying to read and send text messages while they're driving? Does MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) need to reinvent itself and become MADDD (Mothers Against Drunk and Distracted Driving)? And how MADD do they have to become before young people -- and some older ones, too, I know -- realize that your chances of getting into an accident when you're texting and driving are considerably greater than your chances of getting into an accident when you're driving under the influence of alcohol? You shouldn't do either, but taking your eyes off the road prevents you from even attempting to avoid an accident because you have no clue what's coming until it hits you.
I think AT&T should be commended for making this video. May God bless who those who chose to share their stories, and may He rest the souls of those who lost their lives.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Many Americans Support Juan Williams
National Public Radio (NPR) may not have appreciated Juan Williams' comments about riding on airplanes with people wearing "Muslim garb" on Fox News Channel's "O'Reilly Factor," but a quick survey of the general public, conducted by Poll Position, revealed that many Americans believe that Williams should not have lost his job.
Poll Position surveyed 1,017 people across the United States via interactive voice response. Of those 1,017, 46% believed that NPR was wrong to fire Williams. One reason might be because Williams voiced a fear that, regardless of how irrational, many Americans can understand, even if they don't share it. In fact, Poll Position conducted another survey, in which they asked 1,074 people across the country if they felt safe riding on airplanes with Muslims. Overall, 43% said yes, they do feel safe while 37% said they do not.
When the results of the survey regarding Williams' firing were broken down demographically, NPR consistently came out on the losing side of the debate, except with the 18-29 crowd. They were fairly evenly split with 38% believing NPR did the right thing by firing Williams and 37% believing NPR made a mistake. A bomb threat made against the organization within a week of Williams' dismissal could be inferred to mean that some people were violently opposed to NPR's decision, literally.
Most people would agree that Williams' comments regarding people who wear "Muslim garb" would have been better left unsaid, but an impromptu survey by Poll Position found that a clear majority of Americans agree that he didn't deserve to lose his job because of them.
Poll Position surveyed 1,017 people across the United States via interactive voice response. Of those 1,017, 46% believed that NPR was wrong to fire Williams. One reason might be because Williams voiced a fear that, regardless of how irrational, many Americans can understand, even if they don't share it. In fact, Poll Position conducted another survey, in which they asked 1,074 people across the country if they felt safe riding on airplanes with Muslims. Overall, 43% said yes, they do feel safe while 37% said they do not.
When the results of the survey regarding Williams' firing were broken down demographically, NPR consistently came out on the losing side of the debate, except with the 18-29 crowd. They were fairly evenly split with 38% believing NPR did the right thing by firing Williams and 37% believing NPR made a mistake. A bomb threat made against the organization within a week of Williams' dismissal could be inferred to mean that some people were violently opposed to NPR's decision, literally.
Most people would agree that Williams' comments regarding people who wear "Muslim garb" would have been better left unsaid, but an impromptu survey by Poll Position found that a clear majority of Americans agree that he didn't deserve to lose his job because of them.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Side Effect of Neulasta
While I never look forward to my chemotherapy treatments, I'm especially loath to go to the one that's coming up. The day after my last treatment, I had to have a shot of Neulasta to boost my white blood cell count. Fortunately, my treatment nurse told me about Claritin. Naturally, I Gogled it and looked at what other people who have used Claritin to cope with the side effect Neulasta had to say about how well it works.
My heart sank when I read about the excruciating pain people suffered because of Neulasta; however, I was encouraged when I read that some people went as long as four days without any pain at all, thanks to taking Claritin. So, I went out and bought a box of Claritin and took it one hour before my shot of Neulasta as my treatment nurse had instructed. It kept the bone pain at bay for two days.
After two days of nothing more than the needling pains associated with my chemotherapy drugs, I started to get extreme pain in my shins, knees and ankles. On a scale of 1-10, the pain ranked a 9. I tried to endure without taking anything but finally gave up and started taking Percoset left over from when I had my hysterectomy. It worked a treat but I only had a few doses left. I called the hospital and one of the doctors recommended using a high dose of ibuprofen. It didn't work at all. The pain didn't abate one iota. So, I called back and requested a new prescription for Percoset, which I received.
When I go in for my next treatment, I will go with the knowledge that I will have something to help me combat the pain caused by the Neulasta. Small victories can mean so much in epic battles.
My heart sank when I read about the excruciating pain people suffered because of Neulasta; however, I was encouraged when I read that some people went as long as four days without any pain at all, thanks to taking Claritin. So, I went out and bought a box of Claritin and took it one hour before my shot of Neulasta as my treatment nurse had instructed. It kept the bone pain at bay for two days.
After two days of nothing more than the needling pains associated with my chemotherapy drugs, I started to get extreme pain in my shins, knees and ankles. On a scale of 1-10, the pain ranked a 9. I tried to endure without taking anything but finally gave up and started taking Percoset left over from when I had my hysterectomy. It worked a treat but I only had a few doses left. I called the hospital and one of the doctors recommended using a high dose of ibuprofen. It didn't work at all. The pain didn't abate one iota. So, I called back and requested a new prescription for Percoset, which I received.
When I go in for my next treatment, I will go with the knowledge that I will have something to help me combat the pain caused by the Neulasta. Small victories can mean so much in epic battles.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Second Treatment
It's the day before my second chemotherapy treatment. To say that I dread going would not be an understatement. The one side effect that I had really hoped not to get showed up about ten days after my first treatment.
As a writer, having tingling in my fingers is an unpleasant experience to say the least. I have the same tingling in my feet, which could cause serious navigation problems should it get worse. If the tingling in my fingers gets worse, it could hinder my ability to write. The up side is that if the tingling gets so bad that it hinders my ability to perform normal, every day tasks, then I will be taken off the Taxol and given Taxotere -- a drug I'm already familiar with from when I had breast cancer -- instead.
No one can say that battling cancer isn't adventurous. The trouble with ovarian cancer is that it has a high incidence of recurrence. I'm hoping to get more than two years of cancer free life. If I'm truly blessed, it will never come back.
As a writer, having tingling in my fingers is an unpleasant experience to say the least. I have the same tingling in my feet, which could cause serious navigation problems should it get worse. If the tingling in my fingers gets worse, it could hinder my ability to write. The up side is that if the tingling gets so bad that it hinders my ability to perform normal, every day tasks, then I will be taken off the Taxol and given Taxotere -- a drug I'm already familiar with from when I had breast cancer -- instead.
No one can say that battling cancer isn't adventurous. The trouble with ovarian cancer is that it has a high incidence of recurrence. I'm hoping to get more than two years of cancer free life. If I'm truly blessed, it will never come back.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Awaiting Side Effects
Waiting for other side effects to begin is a study in frustration. I don't know which ones I will have. It can take as much as two weeks for hair loss to begin. That's no big deal but the mouth sores, gastro-intestinal issues, etc. are what I'm waiting for. I should be glad that right now I only have to deal with aching all the time and feeling tired all day. I'm not.
Knowing that other issues could arise is what's making me anxious. I want them to happen so I can have some idea what I'll be dealing with for the next five months. Being unemployed doesn't help matters either. I have trouble staying busy all day and as a result, my days seem to drag on forever. No wonder time seems to be going along at a crawl.
I wish I could find another telecommuting job. That would be ideal, especially now that I'm on chemotherapy.
Knowing that other issues could arise is what's making me anxious. I want them to happen so I can have some idea what I'll be dealing with for the next five months. Being unemployed doesn't help matters either. I have trouble staying busy all day and as a result, my days seem to drag on forever. No wonder time seems to be going along at a crawl.
I wish I could find another telecommuting job. That would be ideal, especially now that I'm on chemotherapy.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Battling Ovarian Cancer
When I won my battle against breast cancer two years ago, I thought my battles with cancer had ended for good. I was wrong. Early in August, I learned that I had a tangerine sized tumor on or near one of my ovaries. A skilled surgeon removed the tumor completely but now I must go through chemotherapy once again.
I am only required to take two drugs this time. That's a blessing. Chemotherapy scares me because I have no way of knowing how my body will react until the side effects come. I can handle mouth sores and this constant aching that started yesterday. I can handle hair loss and fatigue. What frightens me more than anything is the low white blood cell count, low red blood cell count and low platelets. Getting sick while getting chemotherapy terrifies me.
After only three days, I am already wishing these treatments could be over with and behind me. I have five more to go, provided I do well with this one and the next. My nurse told me that the first two treatments determine how someone will tolerate the drugs. If I do well this month and next month, then I should be OK.
I hope and pray that my body will tolerate these chemotherapy drugs as well as it did the ones I had for my breast cancer.
Cancer sucks!
I am only required to take two drugs this time. That's a blessing. Chemotherapy scares me because I have no way of knowing how my body will react until the side effects come. I can handle mouth sores and this constant aching that started yesterday. I can handle hair loss and fatigue. What frightens me more than anything is the low white blood cell count, low red blood cell count and low platelets. Getting sick while getting chemotherapy terrifies me.
After only three days, I am already wishing these treatments could be over with and behind me. I have five more to go, provided I do well with this one and the next. My nurse told me that the first two treatments determine how someone will tolerate the drugs. If I do well this month and next month, then I should be OK.
I hope and pray that my body will tolerate these chemotherapy drugs as well as it did the ones I had for my breast cancer.
Cancer sucks!
Monday, August 2, 2010
You'll be Hooked From the Moment of "Inception"
WOW!
I haven't had a movie experience like the one I had when I went to see "Inception" in almost 30 years. I wanted to stay and watch it again.
Everything about this movie is great, the writing, the directing, the acting, the special effects, even the music, which I usually only vaguely notice, is great. The music is so prevalent that it's almost an additional character.
"Inception" is a movie about corporate espionage to put it as simply as possible, but the way the characters go about getting what they want is so complex and so thrilling that I was almost literally on the edge of my seat as I waited to see what happened next.
Continue reading ...
I haven't had a movie experience like the one I had when I went to see "Inception" in almost 30 years. I wanted to stay and watch it again.Everything about this movie is great, the writing, the directing, the acting, the special effects, even the music, which I usually only vaguely notice, is great. The music is so prevalent that it's almost an additional character.
"Inception" is a movie about corporate espionage to put it as simply as possible, but the way the characters go about getting what they want is so complex and so thrilling that I was almost literally on the edge of my seat as I waited to see what happened next.
Continue reading ...
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