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Saturday, December 25, 2010

Festive Wishes To You All

Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas 

And Happiness And Health in 2011


Me and my little blog mascot will be back in 2011 
with even more feisty attitude and sass.

Thanks for all your interest, support 
and all your fantastic comments this year.  

I look forward to another year of ranting and raving 
with you all right by my side.

Much love, peace and happiness to you all,

Anna and The Small Needy Dog 


P.S.  I hope you didn't find this touching little gift pack under your Christmas Tree




Sunday, December 19, 2010

Pink Boob Awards Gallery Relaunch

Given that the end of the year is fast approaching I thought it a good time to review my blog posts of the past year.  After reviewing my little "Stats" tool, to which I'm completely and unhealthily addicted, it seems that some of my more popular posts were those where I displayed and discussed the more heinous and/or tacky examples of pink ribbon and breast cancer awareness products that are so ubiquitous now, particularly in the U.S.

Her Name?
"A Vision of Hope". BARF!
My love affair with writing these kinds of posts probably stems from Christmas a couple of years ago, when I received as a gift from a well-meaning relative, this vomitous little "breast cancer awareness" figurine at left.  Talk about traumatic! If you're interested, you can read my my full reaction to this gift in the post entitled "The Adventures of Pink Lady: Part I".  It represents my first foray into this kind of a rant, and also explains why I think these kinds of products are simply a marketing scam foisted upon the unsuspecting good spirit of humanity, all in the name of corporate profits dressed up as breast cancer altruism.

I remember at the time, after opening the box, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.  Firstly,  the figurine was marked as being the first in a series, which possibly meant I was going to receive the rest of the series at some point. Arrrgggh!  And secondly,  I couldn't believe that someone actually thought that buying this gift for me was a good idea.   Thirdly, what I was going to say to the well-meaning relative?  I mean what do you say?  Thanks? And thanks for reminding me that I have breast cancer?  And by the way, this doesn't make me feel better?   (I think I completely chickened out of this potentially teachable moment and just muttered thanks, biting down on my tongue. Very hard!).

However, I knew instantly that I needed to keep this gift because it reminds me of all that is wrong with pink ribbon culture, and inspires me everyday to keep writing this blog.  So I put her in my dining room cabinet where she has become quite the dinner party conversation piece and the best excuse I can think of to get on my soapbox to rant about awful pink ribbon products.  I also keep her there in case the well-meaning relative ever visits my house.  Gulp !

Many months later, still feeling completely enraged by the plethora of pink ribbon tat that assaulted my senses everywhere I looked,  I halfheartedly launched something called "The Pink Boob Awards".  Readers sent me their examples, and I posted them to a not-very-exciting list on my blog.  And there the list sat, periodically updated, whenever I found another particularly foul example.  It became clear to me that it was going to be hard to pick a winner, because there were just so many to choose from.  So I just didn't.
Cleaning products and breast cancer.  Hmmmm.

Anyway fast forward to today, with more and more images starting to fill my little desktop picture folder  I realized that I needed to find a better way to preserve and display these images for posterity.  So today, readers I give you the Pink Boob Awards Gallery, featuring the best of the worst pink ribbon and breast cancer awareness stuff as judged by me.  This will be an ongoing feature and can be accessed from the right sidebar at any time.

So please bring me your ridiculous, bring me your egregious, bring me your distasteful and bring me your downright nauseating, and if I think it fits the bill, I'll add it to the Pink Boob Awards Gallery for all to see.

Email me your Pink Boob Awards Gallery nominations to cancerculture@gmail.com,  and it would be great if you could also include an Internet link to the original image source.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Well Trodden Path

Today I had the great privilege of being the featured guest post on the wonderful Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer blog.  A couple of weeks ago, Marie, who is the author of JBBC, had requested guest blog submissions from women dealing with metastatic breast cancer.  I decided to give this writing assignment a go, despite some misgivings as to whether I would be able to manage it.

As a follower of my blog, you may have noticed that I tend not to talk about my own experience in too much gory detail.  I generally prefer to write about my observations of the popular breast cancer culture and how my experience fits around that.  But I decided that it was important to step outside of my comfort zone and write an honest account of what goes through my head on a daily basis in dealing with this disease.  It was a difficult exercise because it forced me to confront and articulate my many fears in a way that I am not used to doing.  After deliberating with the post for many days, I decided to take a deep breath and just go ahead and submit it.  Shortly after,  JBBC informed me that my post had been selected for publication.

And so I took another deep breath and laid myself bare for all the world to see.

Please click here to read my post entitled "The Well Trodden Path"

(http://beyondbreastcancer.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-well-trodden-path/)

Monday, December 13, 2010

Confronting Tragedy In The Age of Social Media

I know the following post is a drastic change in style from my last blog post, but that's how I roll.  I never really know what I'm going to feel like writing until the moment strikes and the events of this past week have certainly contributed to the grist for this post.

This past week saw the sudden passing of a dear old friend from an inoperable brain tumor.  I hadn't seen him for quite some time, but we had kept up with each other's movements through mutual friends and had traded emails from time to time, filling each other in on the details of our lives.  Apparently he had become ill whilst at work, and two weeks later he was gone.  It was very quick and, by all accounts, took most people by utter surprise.  But that's cancer isn't it?  It sneaks up on you when you least expect it and with no apparent logic as to who it is going to take next and when. The world is certainly an emptier place with the loss of this gorgeous amazing man, and his passing seemed to be a culminating moment in  a week where it seemed everything was about death, no matter where I turned.

I first became aware that my friend was ill via another friend on Facebook, and then on Friday I received an email from yet another friend who said she had some bad news.  When I googled my old friend's name, I was confronted with his obituary notice on a funereal portal site of sorts, where one could log in with their Facebook profile, find all of the funeral details, leave a message for the family, light a virtual candle and shop for flowers to send to the family.  One could also build a family tree and  a perpetual tribute website for the departed all for the bargain price of some low monthly fee.  It seems that most funeral homes are now associated with a funeral portal of some type, and this isn't the first time I have seen these online tributes being offered to mourners. At first I felt a little uncomfortable with the concept, but ultimately,  I think my friend would appreciate the messages that were left for him, and when they are ready, I'm sure his family will find some solace in being able to read all of the tributes left for this wonderful gentleman.

But it did all get me thinking.  How important has social media become in dealing with death in our society?

Earlier, this last week, I accidentally stumbled upon a breast cancer blog, where, literally, a woman's dying moments were being broadcast and recorded for posterity.  From what I could gather, the lady was in the hospital and was dictating to her sister who would record it on her blog or she would send a text message, which her sister would then transcribe to the site.  It was a very strange moment for me and I felt almost ashamed that here I was, seemingly lurking on the site, intruding on this, the most sacred of life's moments.  (To avoid any issues of rubbernecking you'll understand that I don't feel comfortable identifying the site, and I don't think it would serve any purpose to do so at this point anyway.  The woman in question had passed away by the end of the week).

Today it seems that living and dying, with cancer in particular, has become a public affair.  We blog about it, we tweet about it, and we post updates on Facebook for all to see. In the world of cancer blogging, "tombstone blogs" abound; those that abruptly end with  a post from a relative informing the world of the author's passing, or just nothing at all and only our assumptions as to the fate of our virtual compadre'.  There are even Facebook pages for those that have passed on.  A dear friend of mine who died two years ago from pancreatic cancer, still has an active Facebook page administered by her sisters, where her friends still go to post messages.  A sort of virtual graveyard where one can go to peacefully converse with the departed, in a way that almost feels tangible.

Indeed, this week participants in the social media collectively grieved with the news of  the passing of Elizabeth Edwards, attorney, author, health care activist and ex-wife of wannabe presidential candidate, John Edwards.    Mrs. Edwards was diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer in 2004, which then metastasized in 2007 and had been living with the disease ever since.  After it was announced to the world by her family, that she had stopped receiving treatment for her cancer, this message, ostensibly her last words to the world, appeared on her Facebook status:

"You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human.
But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn't possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know."

The next day, the world was informed that Mrs Edwards had died.  The outpouring of emotion on Twitter, Facebook, the blogs, and the many online articles that appeared after her death was overwhelming.  Although virtually none could have claimed to have had a personal relationship with Mrs. Edwards, it seemed like her death was a polarizing moment of sorts, especially in the online breast cancer community.   Many waxed lyrical over a life lived with "grace and dignity" and of a "peaceful death at home surrounded by family and friends".  Now we can't really know the truth about the circumstances of her death, whether she was in pain, whether she had accepted her fate, or even whether she was aware until the very end, but as a virtual group of "sisters"all dealing with breast cancer, we took comfort in knowing that she seemed to finally be at peace after a "brave and courageous" fight against metastatic breast cancer.

To me, although obviously a sad moment, her death was more of a stark and tragic reminder that breast cancer is not the "chronic disease" that many in the cancer industry and medical fraternity would have us believe.  Mrs. Edwards' death simply bought into focus, for me, the lottery-like nature of this disease.  After she was diagnosed in 2004, the same year as me, her cancer returned in 2007, like me.  Whilst I'm certain that we both had access to all that the medical profession has to offer in terms of treatment,  I've just simply been "luckier" with my disease than Mrs. Edwards,  in that I'm still here. Although treatments proliferate, even for Stage IV, their efficacy is uncertain, and what can work for one patient won't for another, for no clearly identifiable reason other than what I can only term as "dumb luck".  At that's what makes me mad when I think about her death.  That yet again, another woman has to die from this stupid disease because we can't figure out how to stop it.  We can spend all the money in the world on breast cancer education and awareness campaigns, but this didn't help Mrs. Edwards one iota, and nor does it help the hundreds of thousands of people currently living with metastatic breast (and other) cancer.  We just have to do better on this score.

And in some ways that's why I'm thankful for the advances in computing technology that have given us the tools of social media.  Because the existence of social media is keeping cancer in the public eye in a way that is confronting and personal, and in a way that reminds us all, that cancer can strike anyone and at any time.  Cancer doesn't discriminate. Mrs. Edward's' death and the collective online coverage and dissemination of grief clearly displayed a personal reaction that went far beyond that which a simple newsprint obituary would have evoked.  Indeed, I felt incredibly sad that yet another woman had died from this disease, but I was almost guiltily glad that her fame and celebrity, and associated online persona was bringing much-needed attention to the fact that metastatic breast cancer is for many, a fait accompli, to which death is the final outcome, despite the proliferation of treatments and the very best in medical care.  And it is from this perspective, that I hope for myself and the many other women dealing with this insidious disease,  that the public won't soon forget exactly what it means to be diagnosed with breast cancer.  Mrs Edward's death should serve as a call to action to do better in the fight to combat and eradicate this disease and we must keep talking about it and using social media to keep the message never far from the public consciousness.

For those of us living with cancer and other serious illness, social media has allowed us to connect as a giant virtual support group where we find like-minded individuals and where we are able to shout our frustrations to the universe without judgement.  We can find information at a moments notice and count on the fact that someone will always be there who's going through exactly the same thing.  Even though we generally never meet these virtual compadres or form a relationship beyond our online forums, discussion threads, blog comments, twitter feeds or Facebook pages,  there's something incredibly powerful in being part of a group mindset, in dealing with emotions and challenges of catastrophic illness.  Although many of us come with completely different viewpoints, different strategies for coping, and some come simply to read and ponder, whilst others are motivated to activism of some sort, there is comfort in knowing that you are not alone.  In fact Chemobabe in her latest post entitled "Good Company" articulates why we have this innate need to seek each other out  when she said:
"We survivors need each other. We live in an emotional reality that might be conceptualized but not fully understood by others who are outside of our experience, no matter how much they love us. It is often a lonely place."
Ultimately, living and dying in the age of social media may seem incomprehensible, and even abhorrent to some. But it does serve a purpose, especially for those dealing with serious illness.  Feelings of isolation and inherent loneliness are common problems - often it's easier to write about what's going on than it is to talk with close relatives or friends, and there is certainly therapeutic value to be gained from being able to honestly articulate what you are feeling by shouting anonymously to the universe.  You are being heard and you are not insignificant.

And this is why I think the dying lady felt the need to blog her final moments to the world.  Because she wanted to remind the world that she still mattered.  And that she still had something to say.  And this is also why Elizabeth Edwards chose to publish her final words via her Facebook status.  Because she too, still wanted to be heard.  And that's all any of us want.  Just to be heard.

It's kind of interesting to think that our blogs, Twitter feeds, and Facebook pages stored as binary code and bits and bytes on a server somewhere, may one day become our opus.  In perpetuity, we can continue to be heard.

So my friends, I say to you.  Keep writing.

People just want to be heard

Saturday, December 11, 2010

It's Not Too Late for Breastmas Shopping....More Last Minute Gift Picks !

I was going to post a far more serious blog this week, but I'm still working on it and quite frankly my heart's just not in finishing it right now.  I just received news of an old friend who passed this week and I'm finding it a bit hard to gather my thoughts in any kind of a cohesive manner so the serious breast cancer blogging will just have to wait until I can get it together.

So I'm going back to my old standby for now.  Poking fun at all the pink ribbon crap that's out there.

And with Breastmas just around the corner, it's not too late to pick up a few last minute gifts that say "I'm Aware of Breast Cancer and Merry Breastmas".

So without further ado, here are my last minute suggestions for the breast cancer victim in your life:

1.  Breast Cancer Research Grill Charms.  For all the red meat you should be grilling and eating.  And be sure to get it really good and charcoaly.  And carcinogenic.

Make sure your steak has the pink ribbon grill charm on it
Then there'll be no mistake that you're the  one with breast cancer.  Just in case anyone wasn't sure.

2.  Pink Ribbon Guns.  Okay we've all heard about these, but they're still out there and there's still time to purchase one to put under your Breastmas Tree.  Now feel even better about shooting all those furry little creatures.  Because even though you kill things, you're still aware of breast cancer.  Breast cancer and guns.  A marketing marriage made in heaven to be sure !
Note the beautiful awareness ribbon detail on the top of the gun carriage.
And a portion of the sale proceeds go to a Breast Cancer AWARENESS Charity.  Not  research.  AWARENESS.
I feel even better about purchasing this gun now.
Unfortunately you can't buy this one.  It was custom-made and raffled off for "breast cancer charity" a couple of years ago.  But it's nice to dream, and perhaps if you're very good you can write a letter to Santa Cause and you might find one in your Breastmas stocking next year.
You've got the Breast Cancer Awareness gun.
Now top off your thoughtful gift, with matching breast cancer awareness gun cases.
Because there's nothing like being fully accessorized  at all times.
Look good and feel better because you match !

3.  Pink Ribbon Knife.  If you're going for a theme of breast cancer awareness AND deadly weapons then you can't go past a breast cancer awareness knife for the ideal awesome deadly stocking stuffer.  (Actually I stole this idea from Katie  @ Uneasy Pink but it's a fair trade for the pink garbage truck I gave her a couple of months ago ;).

Good for gutting small furry animals and lancing pesky tumors as well.

4.  Pink Ribbon Archery Arrows.  The cancerous person in your life doesn't like guns ?  No problem !  These arrows will still do the job just as well, and support breast cancer via Susan G. Komen For The Cure.  Oops I said "For the Cure".  Hope I don't find a legal summons in my Breastmas stocking.  But do yourself a favor and buy these arrows and your special cancerous person can kill stuff AND show your fellow hunters that you're "For the Cure".  Oops I said it again.  I can't help myself.  For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure, For the Cure,.......okay I'm done now.

KILLING STUFF FOR THE CURE !

5.  Breast Cancer Awareness Beer Pong Table.  Yes readers, I know.  I hear you swooning already.  Leave it to me to find the ultimate in unique and tasteful Breastmas gifts.  Now you and your loved ones can be aware of breast cancer as you gather around your new Beer Pong Table and indulge in some seriously altruistic binge drinking.  This one actually makes me feel a little teary thinking of all the touching moments you're going to have.  Enjoy !

Seriously, how can your Breast Cancer Awareness philanthropic efforts be complete without this little beauty.
BINGE DRINKING FOR THE CURE !

6.  Breast Cancer Awareness Cigarrette Case.  My last gift pick of the Pink Ribbon lighter attracted a lot of attention, and what better way to round off that gift than with a matching cigarrette case.  Now smoke in real Breast Cancer Awareness style.  Be the envy of your smoker friends.  And the most Breast Cancer Aware.
SMOKE FOR THE CURE !
Could also double as a pill box for all your chemotherapy drugs.  Lovely !

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Only 19 Shopping Days Til Breastmas! My Top Gift Picks.

To all my dear readers who've been following along over the last few weeks,  you'll be pleased to know that I have stopped wallowing (for now) and I'm back to my usual business of taking cheap shots at the  surrounding breast cancer culture.

And what better way to kick off December, than to firstly remind you that there are only 19 shopping days until Breastmas.

(Okay okay readers, I know we've been in this territory before, but it's been a rough few weeks so I need to ease myself back into the serious business of breast cancer blogging.  Think of this blog post as a little bit of breast cancer brain candy if you will).

So if you're looking for that special something to share with the cancerous person in your life, well nothing says "Merry Breastmas I love you !" like one of these little gift items:

1.  Breastmas Tree Ornaments.  You can never have too many of these unique and tasteful beauties adorning your Breastmas tree as far as I'm concerned.

Ornament Style 1












I think this one works really well, especially if you're looking to tie in a bladder cancer theme as well in your Breastmas Tree trimming.










Ornament Style 2

This is a nice addition to your Breastmas tree, especially if you're feeling nostalgic for all those needle sticks and chemotherapy.  Note the lovely black and white etching of the tattoo hypodermic. Okay it would have been better if there was a picture of an IV pole attached to a port saying something like "Chemo For A Cure", but sadly that doesn't seem to exist.  Yet.    Ah, *sighs very loudly*,  this one just makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.








Ornament Style 3


In Breastmas Tree decorating, sometimes less is more.  The design and message ? Simple, poignant and elegant.  Nothing more needs to be said.

2.  Earth-tone 3 in 1 Disease Control Concentrate.  75c from every purchase goes to support the fight against breast cancer !  Now before you go adding this to the Holiday Egg-Nog thinking I've managed to find a cancer cure in a bottle, it's disease control for plants.  Not humans.  But that's okay, the plants sickness is my gain.  Yay for chemical concentrates and yay for breast cancer research !

A Cure in A Bottle !
Lucky Plants !
3. Breast Cancer Awareness Pet Clippers.  I know it's kind of annoying and ironic that you're bald, but you have to give the dog a haircut.  Don't worry, Fido will appreciate the fact that he's helping the cause. And if you feel a little peach fuzz coming in,  just give yourself a once over as well.  I just love a gift that does double duty.  Don't you ?  

Note a bonus hat is included !
Great ! Cover your bald head whilst giving Fido a haircut.

4.  Breast Cancer Awareness Balloon.  Amaze your friends at chemotherapy and  balloon-sculpt a pink ribbon  for everyone.  Fantastic fun for all ages and disease stages.

What else can you make ? A pink giraffe ?
 A pink hat ?  A huge pink sausage ?
5. Pink Ribbon Pepper Spray.  Because even though you've had the misfortune of getting breast cancer, there's always the possibility of a violent crime being committed against you.  Yes, you could really be that unlucky.  Always be prepared, and show that perp who's boss, and who's aware of breast cancer. 

Also very useful when your oncologist starts to get on your nerves.....

6. Pink Ribbon lighter.  Now you too can remember those fighting breast cancer when you light up those cigarettes.  And if you smoke a packet a day, think how many times you'll be aware of  breast cancer.  This is just the gift that keeps on giving.

Or use it to spark up a boobie doobie.
Perfect for the medical marijuana recipient in your  life

If you have any other Breastmas gift ideas that you'd like to add to this list, please email me at cancerculture@gmail.com and I'll feature over the coming weeks.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Moving Forward. Hopefully In A Red Karmann Ghia.

I don't like myself very much right now.  Now this is unusual, because normally I love my own company.  I laugh at my own jokes, I entertain myself in a hundred different ways, I wake up with a zing,  my mind brimming with new ideas and excitement for a new day.  It's never been a case of passing the time but more of a case of where did the time go today ?  But something's changed.  Even the dog, who's normally surgically attached to my feet, doesn't seem to want to be around me, and has taken himself into monastic seclusion under the bed, only coming out for meals and the odd game of "destroy-the-monster-toy".

Who can blame him really though ?  It's no fun when the center of your universe seems completely distracted and otherwise engaged in the deeply dull topic of cancer when all you really want to do is go for a run on the beach, chase some seagulls, and maybe if you're really lucky, roll in some disgustingly smelly unidentified-animal goop.  Now there's a perfect day,  for a belligerent furry little so-and-so who only stands ten inches high, but is pure heart and full of joyous zest for life.  I definitely need some of what he has.

Now before anyone jumps to the medicine cabinet to reach for an easy fix of little blue feel-good pills, I think the problem is this.  Lately, the whole cancer maelstrom feels like it has collided in some kind of perfect storm worthy of a Lifetime Movie script.  My darling husband and I never seem to get a break from having to think about the cancer thing.  In fact someone asked me last week, whether I ever get a moment of clear, pure, joyous, freedom of thought, and honestly right now the answer to that is no.  It just seems like there's always another scan around the corner with slightly worse news each time we go (which is every three months now), decisions to make regarding treatments, adapting to new treatments and their associated side-effects,  and all of the emotions and frustrations that go along with dealing with all of that.  Meanwhile, the people that surround us are just getting on with their lives.  For our peer group, that generally means having babies, planning for  a new home, celebrating children's milestones, advancing in or changing careers, and just getting on with life with all of its normal ups and downs.  Normal ups and downs.  What we wouldn't give to be able to get back to that.

So the question is now, how do we move forward from this latest setback, and keep moving forward ?  Because that's what life's about, isn't it ?  Moving forward.  A trick that we have used in the past and one that worked pretty well, is making sure we always have something to look forward to.  Even though there's no running away from reality to be sure,  having something fun to grab onto can help you get through those tough times.  Well that's my theory anyway.  So readers, here's what's on my list of things I want to have to look forward to.  Even if I can't make them happen at least it's nice to daydream.

Also, before anyone freaks out and thinks that I'm publishing a "Bucket List",  IT'S NOT A BUCKET LIST ! Just things that calm my mind and make me happy.  Okay ?  Moving right along.....

1.  A Tiny House In The Middle of Nowhere.

I am fascinated by thought of living in space smaller than my existing bedroom.  I'm also fascinated by the thought of being out in the middle of nowhere.  Okay, being near a little town would be good, but at least the perception of being in the middle of nowhere would be enough.  How fun to be able to just go and disappear for a few days and live off the grid.    Am I just looking for another reason to run away and not deal with reality ?  Absolutely, if only for a few days.

Not a doctor, medical file, or pink ribbon in sight.  Bliss!
2.  A Vintage Karmann Ghia.

Now I'm the last person to be interested in cars, but for some reason I'm completely obsessed with this car.  In fact someone quite regularly drives one up and down our street to visit one of the neighbors.  Obviously it's complete torture for me and just feeds my obsession.  Not sure where we would keep it but these are just minor details.

Isn't she a beauty ? I would name her Gwendoline.


3.  The Lava Rivers of Hawaii.

I want to stand at the edge of one of those lava rivers and bask in the awesome power and beauty of Mother Nature.  And stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in Maui.  Now this one we might be able to make happen if we start saving our pennies now.  Time to cut out all emotional spending immediately !

Amazing !  I have to go and see this for myself.

4.  A New Blog.
Yes !  I have an idea for a new blog.  Something to do with women's history, their place in society and how society has viewed them through the ages.  I'm not going to give up writing The Cancer Culture Chronicles, but I do want to expand my writing interests beyond the world of breast cancer, and what better way than to indulge my amateur sociological fascination with a novel, interesting and hopefully interactive blog dealing with this very topic.  I won't say any more than that until I'm ready to debut it, so please watch this space.


Yes I Can ! Watch This Space !

So now that I've shared my current list with you, I'm going to take a cue from the lovely and talented Nancy Stordahl who writes an excellent blog entitled Nancy's Point, and ask you a question.  I'd be thrilled to hear your answers.

What's on your list of things that you want to make happen or are looking forward to ?