Christmas updates

Hi folks, Merry belated Christmas!

First update shall be about my little cousin Taylor. I am pleased to say that my Taylor was released to our family just in time for a mid afternoon Christmas meal. Still weak and shaken from her ordeal in ICU, Taylor managed to endure a couple of hours of visiting from the couch (with a smile).

Ironically the first thing she came out with upon entering my moms house was "Kali, what did you do to your wrist?" These kids are like that.

Kali really didn't know what to say. A fracture pales in comparison to a coma.

Despite the fact that Santa greeted Taylor (and all kids) at the Stollery - with his full on sleigh, toy bag and gifts - our family felt that his delivery of her to US was by far the best.

It was a great Christmas. I still don't care about the gifts.

But I aint gonna lie... I care about the food.

Jaime is in BC with her family visiting with her dad who was also just released from ICU. I know she is feeling helpless in regards to his health.

As parents we have the authority and ability to control the situation with our children's health, living conditions, exposures, etc.

Any parent that chooses to opt out of nurturing - I personally feel you should be tarred and feathered at the very least .... (just sayin'... ).

As children of older parents, we do not have that control unless it has progressed to extreme conditions where power of attorney takes effect. Sometimes after all of our support, all of our efforts, advice and resources exhausted - all we can do is pray for them and watch for the outcome.

I speak from experience as my own father and step mom are both recently fighting very serious health issues that have turned our family to prayers.

Jaime is praying too and soaking up precious time with her family in BC.

I am soaking my family at home. <3

Unfortunately winter months (campaign season) are not conducive to connecting with family very much, so this break has been very nice.

Brandi... well we believe she is on a lovely well deserved holiday (at least thats was her story when she left). Smoke and screetch from her tires in the Make-A-Wish parking lot Friday at 5 may have indicated she needed a break.

The GPS we fastened to her ankle when we took off the shackles has lost signal. Jaime and I have our fingers crossed... but then again - she really does love us. :)

A few more day after new years and the campaign will explode.

With HM on Feb 3, we have a very short window to cram our chaos into. I suspect lots of caffeine chocolate and Ritalin (for me) will be on the list.

Here are a few updates for you:

McDonalds Corporate Restaurants (BIG returning sponsor) shall be selling Kali Bears again as well as feeding our 400 volunteers (BTW - these paper kali bears were Jaime's brainchild when she implemented them years back as the C.R.)

Totem - our new BIG sponsor shall be selling Kali Bears and Pink Hard Hats (brain child of Paul Liimatainen years back - implemented by Paul Hobbs GM of Totem AB). Just discovered Kali Bears as far south as Lethbridge and north Grand Prairie!

Save On Foods - (returning BIG sponsor) shall be selling Kali Bears and Kali Pink / bleach and hair extensions in all Northern Alberta locations!

Corus Radio - Along with our returning big media sponsor CISN, they shall have CHED and JOE in tow this year - very excited to work with all of them!

West Edmonton Mall - if you haven't heard yet - they have donated the Ice Palace!

Romy Young Photography - will be working with us on creative design (check out our Xmas photos included in this blog), capturing and organizing photos and a promo video for next year.

We have a new social media sponsor (excited to share more SOON) - Pure Logic Solutions!

We have of course more wonderful sponsors that shall be showcased throughout this blog at a later time, just wanted to update on the new exciting items.

Stay tuned for more - perhaps another sponsor or too shall bless us for this anniversary event.

Tam

When Kailey got her wish!

I would love to share for you my families experience with our daughter being a recipient with Make-A-Wish.

I want to tell you specifically about the day she received the news that she would be getting to make a wish.

My daughter has had to fight for her life, literally since the moment she was born.....12 years ago.

When we first were told of Kailey being selected we were overwhelmed with many emotions. Grateful, Joy but to be honest it was a little sad too. To have your child selected it means they suffer with a "life threatening illness". The reality of this, to be blunt is that if Kailey gets sick or any cold, and it enters her lungs or even if she was to take a sip of a glass of water, we could lose our daughter.

This is something that as a parent of a child in this predicament, you avoid acknowledging. We strive to make Kailey's life as normal as possible and enjoy every healthy breath and once in a while it settles in just how scared you are. For me, her being selected was one of those moments. We knew Kailey was going to be presented with this moment a couple weeks before, so it was a good "processing time". When you have a sick child you are often riddled with guilt, what if's and wish I would of or wish I could just moments. I had time to "process" my crap and decide to take in the joy that this wish was going to mean.

So off to the Make-A-Wish building in the west end of Edmonton with a bunch of the people that could make it that morning and that have been a part and watched Kailey through many battles. Dad, Me, Gramma (my mom), Auntie Christie and Kailey's long time aide Teresa. I knew Marta, (at the time she worked with MAW) and Tammy was our volunteer wish granter. We piled into the office and I am sure Kailey had no clue what was going on. Marta then begins to tell Kailey what MAW is about and delivers the news "Kailey, you have been nominated by your incredible doctor (our beloved angel Dr.McGonigle) to make a wish.

I look at my beautiful daughters face and in that second remember how many times we watched this precious face in sheer pain, held her down for needles and procedures and locked our eyes and hearts on the medical monitors begging God to PLEASE let her stay with me. Instead this time I see absolute JOY. I am thinking about how amazing this child is, thank God for her stubborn nature.

Kailey looks confused, excited and just in awe. We take a minute to clarify, "Kailey, YOU are getting to wish for anything or to meet anyone you want!" She bursts into laughter...it takes her little time to say "I WISH TO MEET JOE JONAS!!!!" I was not surprised! Marta explains that she has to make 3 wishes just in case they can't facilitate one..she looks astounded..."I WISH TO SWIM WITH DOLPHIN's" and "MEET ZAC EFRON"!! As we all cry and enjoy this the happiness my daughter is feeling I realize that she has already begun to change because of this wish and she has not even known for one hour yet! I see confidence bursting from her smile like I have never seen before.

As we walk to the car, I look at her face deep in thought and I ask this little miracle what she is thinking and this 9 year old child says to me something that I will never forget and she has no idea how profound the statement is. But with this statement it exactly describes the reason wishes for children in her position are so vital as we all know the child with spirt and joy has the energy to continue to fight.

Kailey says to me " This is the first time in my life that I have actually been given something because of my disability and not had something taken away". This is so accurate.

This is why I am so passionate about this organization. I saw my daughter change that day and we now have this wonderful memory to focus on when she is having a bad day or is not well. That's a gift I do not know how to ever say enough thanks for.

Praying for Taylor

I find a lot of irony in this particular blog.

This will be the 2nd Taylor that I have requested prayers for in the past year.

I thank God for the miracluous success with little Taylor (#1) who fought all odds last year with the rapidly growing tumours in her brain that called for an urgent widespread prayer chain. Taylor had an estimated 3 weeks left ... she's been recently captured in the cutest pics sitting on Santas knee (where I believe all children should be sitting close to Christmas time).

Now Im praying for a new Taylor. My Taylor.

She's my little cousin who I adopted as "my little kid" dating back to when she was born. We spend every Christmas together and now Im struggling with the second piece of irony.

My last 2 blogs:

http://hairmassacure.blogspot.com/2011/12/take-it-all-in.html

http://hairmassacure.blogspot.com/2011/12/climbing-out-of-christmas-despair.html

both reflect children suffering in hospital - going through the holiday season.

How could I have known that days after my last blog that another young family member would be taken to this place.... that I would return to this place.

Im feeling torn between my own selfish feelings and triggers and feelings for Taylor and all of the kids at Stollery right now. I shouldnt take this internally, I feel guilty for doing so.

I learned yesterday that its packed in Stollery right now :(

I also learned that Taylor was just transferred from ICU (a good thing) to 4E3 (our old stomping ground - Peds Oncology). Yuck.

I will return for a visit tomorrow and I will wear a smile for her, but inside Im absolutely dreading it. I don't want to go back in there at Christmas time, but again this is not about me.

Taylor was taken in this week by ambulance from her school. From what I understand she fell into her coma right there and then. Taylor is diabetic among other threatening conditions that impede her birthright to be healthy and normal.

When Taylor woke up a couple of days later, we breathed a sigh of relief until we learned that

her condition is still not understood and they are just treating symptoms.

Again, through the sick worry we are all so grateful that she is at the Stollery. She is really getting the best care she could receive in the country.

My last visit with her in ICU reflected a ton of teasing followed by soft little giggles.

I would not go in there and feel heavy, instead I would be the same Tammy that she is accustomed to.

I asked her why she chose this particular method of skipping school, what was up with her hair, why she decides to take "naps" in the middle of the day and why she seems to think she needs a higher IV tower than everyone else? I told her that when she decides to cause some trouble I would help her, and that I was gonna tell on her to my daughter Meagan about the hair thing (Megs is her hair stylist).

Every giggle was like music, every smile was gold.

Still I left feeling like I had been hit by a truck (and I really have - so I know the feeling).

I dont understand why some children are meant to suffer and why "bad guys" often go unscathed.

Like everyone who has lost or been affected by a suffering child - we feel desperate and helpless at the same time.

I will update my Christmas visit to Stollery, stay tuned.

Jaime's Gadgets

Something you would learn about me rather quickly is how much I love new gadgets. I love iPods and iPads and if my husband had not locked the shopping channel, I will believe that you NEED to boil eggs in little cups and all I need is one more hand blender. I love any kind of object that makes life easier. Why wouldn't I? Life as a working mom is busy and any little job means more time with my kids...lol...or my gadgets.

The problem I have is that the gadgets don't see to like me! I have had my computer crash more times than I can count, I think I may be on a list somewhere to mail viruses to me to see if they work! And they always do! So what did I do to combat this issue? I started learning how to back my files up, the problem with that is that I actually have experienced my back up files crashing! So, to be ahead of this I decide to back up my back up files...now I am so confused as to where the files are and even more confused than when my computer crashes!

Then there is the battery problem, I have spent more hours searching for chargers than the average person spends sleeping! I seem to run out battery power more often than any other person I know. I am quite confident my skin gives off a battery charge that helps to drain batteries! I have owned more cameras than your can imagine due to the fact that I have lose the chargers!

So, is it no surprise then when I get introduced to the world of the "Mac" computers I would suffer serious frustrations?? Thank god for Glen Peters and his super powers of fixing Jaime's computer issues...over and over and OVER again...I think when he hears a DING in the middle of the night he is now accustomed to to thinking, " what did she do now?"

So I finally get up and running and learn some cool tricks and decide, I need to own an iPad! There is this new wonderful gadget called, "iCloud"! Not only does it sound really cool, I am positive this will make my life so much easier! My hubby should have booked Glen for his duration of Christmas holidays before he decided this ipad would be the perfect Christmas gift for me!

Glen made plans to go home with his OWN family for Christmas and I am not sure I will be okay without my super computer fixing friend! So, in the 3 days I have owned this iPad ( we opened presents early in my house due to traveling for Christmas), Glen had to update my entire system on my Mac. His first mistake was sending me home With the computer installing as it was taking a really long time, but he was confident I could handle this and the system would walk me through what to do next! So, I thought I did that right, whew! Quite chuff with myself I decide, I am on fire and I can handle updating the new iPad, then set up the cloud! I discover late at night (cause that's when my computer crashing skills are the strongest) I have lost the capability in the upgrade to use microsoft word or excel files...problem..ALL MY FILES ARE WORD OR EXCEL!!!!

Again Glen hears the DING at 11:30 at night and replies back....again...What did you do????

I know this may sound spoiled but I know not to worry to much, because super Glen, I know, will get me up and running...again...and I am sure in the near future...again.

Thank you Mr. Super fixing friend for all your incredible patience....DING..I need help!

What I REALLY want for Christmas

Well, here we are just four sleeps until Christmas. As I recently said on Twitter - that count only applies if you are actually sleeping :)

We put so much pressure on ourselves to do more, buy more, be more at this time of year, don't we? Why is that? Truth be told most of us have everything we need. Friends and family ask "What do your kids/you want/need for Christmas?" in genuine hopes of fulfilling wishes. The honest answer would usually be "Nothing". Yes, maybe we could do with a new pair of slippers (mine are actually my crocs) or a new waffle iron (cause I really like waffles) or a new... wait - I can't say more in case my kids read this! But my point is we actually don't need more stuff.

What I'd really like this Christmas is the ability to slow down, unplug from technology, and just be in the moment. I'd like to watch the excitement in my son's eyes when he opens the BIG box behind the tree from his Nana instead of rushing to clean up the paper. I'd like to linger in the moment when my daughter sees the thoughtfully chosen gift from her brother. And I'd like to savour the laughter that I know is going to come when my honey opens the little-bitty box in the corner.

What I often lack is the ability to stop thinking. Stop planning. Stop evaluating. I wish I could just "be". Maybe it's a learned thing. And I'm really trying to learn it. My goal this year is to slow down and not let the little pressures get to me so much. Working at HM, you'd think I would have automatically grown more able to appreciate the little things - considering the families we meet are struggling with such heart-wrenching situations. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate small victories (mine are often associated with finishing a document or solving a process-related problem). I just wonder why all these pressures still get to me when I should be more grateful for all I have and what goes right.

So, my wish for all of us this Christmas is that we do some of the things we talk about. Hug more, smile more, worry less, slow down and be in the moment. Remember the line that says "Life isn't about the breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away". I wish you LOTS of those moments.

Merry Christmas,
Brandi

Take it all in

I have been reflecting today. My rekindled Christmas spirit that I spoke about in my last blog is still alive and well.

I am visiting with my cousin Becky, a dedicated Missionary from South Africa.

Becky has been away from the family for 6 years now, beckoned by God to leave her long standing job with Telus and all of her possessions to help children in a far away land. Her obedience to the divine message has allowed all of the necessary doors to open which have provided her with everything she needs to sustain herself as a missionary.

Coming back to Canada once a year continues to be a culture shock for her.

Children afflicted with Aids and Hep B surround her daily, lives lost weekly, stabbings, corruption and poverty - everyday life. She chooses to embrace. She does not see kids in hospital beds - this is for the rich.

There are no toys, no teddy bears, wishes for kids, Christmas trees, carols, fancy baking, or fundraising events.

The children need food and medicine. They need support, education, and healthy mentorship.

Its all about perspective.

What Im reflecting about is OUR children here.

If you have children, or are an older sibling, or have some type of relationship with a child - give them your time.

Invest in the development of their character.

Play cards or a board game. Its remarkable how a simple game can teach a child so many values and life skills.

A game can provide opportunity to teach a child healthy competition, patience, self confidence, strategy, loosing gracefully and developing genuine excitement for your winning opponent.

Many valuable social skills can be developed within such a simple little opportunity.

So why do we opt for technology as parents?

As society leans towards virtual connections and television, our children and teens are living and playing independently. They miss out on these vital social opportunities.

As Becky pointed out to me - "its like we all live on our own little islands".

In the Christmas season - bake cookies with your kids.

Construct a gingerbread house.

Plan and cook your Christmas meal as a family.

Build a snowman.

Go skating on a pond.

Take in a hay ride.

Visit with friends and family.

Sing some carols.

Pick up some real games for your family.

Then think of the kids that cannot do these things.

There are quietly fighting in hospital beds.

Many of them cannot have family around them due to compromised immune systems.

Many are not wishing for toys, gadgets or things - they have greater wishes.

In a blink of an eye, our kids will grow up and start their own lives.

Grab your kid and play a game.

Climbing out of Christmas despair

11 years ago, we spent Christmas in the Peds Oncology unit at the Stollery.

Our daughter Kali at the age of 2 1/2 was more aware of her current state of being than most 10 year olds.

She fully understood that Christmas was not going to be experienced in the same way it was portrayed by the visual clues around her.

Christmas is cosmic fun and excitement to a child. Families celebrating, visiting Santa at the mall, singing carols, eating goodies and the heightened anticipation of Santa's visit (whats inside my presents?) is magic for kids.

Children aught not to be praying for their lives so as not to devestate their families in their permenent absence during the festive season. We saw plenty of this with the older kids.

With our Kali, it was simply a crushing of her little spirits that we watched helplessly.

A child needs their family around them during celebration and crisis - not in Oncology.

Sadly, the presense of family to a child lacking an immune system will place their fragile lives at great risk.

Cancer patients cannot enjoy home baking due to handling (germs), therefore festive baking must be secretly consumed by immediate family members away from the patient.

To ask family and friends to leave the hospital or your home is beyond awkward, in some cases it destroys relationships due to a lack of understanding its severity. Its also very lonely without ones peeps.

Visiting the mall to see Santa and Christmas displays is not an option when white counts are critically low (which is often).

Lining up with other children to sit on Santas knee is simply out of the question.

So then what is Christmas? It's redefined.

It means "Im too sick to get out of my bed to watch the snow fall, too sick to eat Christmas baking, to weak to sing or celebrate with family .... (hmmmm .... celebrate what??),

I just want Christmas to be over".

To be surrounded by such despair can truly impair a parents perspective about Christmas or any other celebratory occasion.

I can't speak for Gord, but for myself it has taken me 11 years to find the festive spirit and embrace it.

Our first Christmas, (inside our modified lifestyle) lead me down a path of holiday resentment.

I did not want any exposures around me - no tree, no decorations, no carols, (baking... well I compromised).

Treatment left us flat broke with no opportunity to leave our child to shop, so the salvation army paid a visit to our home with a Christmas meal and gifts for our kids. It was humbling to say the least.

Gifts and baking flooded in from our community and karate school.

My mom (who's all about Christmas) bypassed her grinch daughter and brought over a tree and decorated it for the other girls left at home.

I had selfishly robbed my other kids of their right to celebrate.

Mom was NOT ok with that. I received her gentle kick to the derrière with humility.

Appreciation and gratitude for these kind gestures were fully experienced, but not enough to lure me into the festive spirit.

Even the surprise visit from Santa at Stollery Christmas morning - via a real sleigh (assembled in Stollery), and an authentic massive bag bursting with gifts for the young patients was stirring... but not enough to move me.

I have been quietly boycotting the movement ever since. Containing my feelings (or lack thereof) Ive played along with my ho hum attitude each year so as not to totally demolish my family's right to feel holiday pleasure.

I guess time eventually heals.

Im proud to say that this year I have a REAL tree, as I desperately wanted to take in Christmas with all of my senses.

The smell of the tree when I walk in my front door reminds me of what I have missed out on for so long. My home decorated early this year, my choice (not begrudgingly - for the sake of the kids), and Ive even hummed along to a few tunes. Baking is coming along nicely and I'M cooking this years turkey.

Yesterday we did a neat little Christmas photo shoot for Hair Massacure (which will be revealed very soon) and tomorrow we are having a small gathering of HM peeps to celebrate the season.

I can't ever say that Christmas has returned to me in the same fashion.

I will always feel annoyed with the hype, exagerated marketing, unnecessary financial pressures and obligations, and wasted focus towards aspects of Christmas that do not reflect spirit.

my wish for all of you to feel spirit as did the Wisemen who awaited the miracle that ultimately created CHRISTmas.

Goin' to Grande Prairie

Yesterday Jaime and I ventured out to Grande Prairie to spread a little Massacure around. Neither of us had been there, the size of the city surprised us.

Prior to our early departure I updated my GPS to ensure that I would not get us lost (it pains me to say that being a trappers daughter did not influence my sense of direction).

Tracking my mileage, I realized that we travelled further within the town limits than travelling to it - GPS you are NOT my friend.

"Save On Foods" took us to a school, "Totem" took us to a residential area, "McD's" took us clear around the town - the long way, as did the hotel which lead us on a dirt road, and the "movie theatre" was 271 miles away.

Jaime became the navigation with her blackberry uttering verbal directions to a person with ADHD who is directionally challenged.

Meeting at Save On Foods went very well. We referred to ourselves as Divas of Massacure and the staff there seemed to be the perfect fit for us - they're nuts too :)

As Jaime spoke of sponsorship details, I drifted off into my phone in desperate search of every stupid picture I could find - a story HAD to be told.

Of course I had pics of various Save On events - my fav being "dudes in dresses" day.

Regional manager bearing his oranges (squeezed from behind) whilst wearing a pink dress and sporting pink hair. He just happened to be up there yesterday.... I needed to share.

Oh and here's one of an armpit shave, here is a hairy chest and check out this guys legs.....

An impressive hair donation, ya'll know Dawn Marie? I could have went on and on...

They are very excited to sell Kali Bears for their walls. I could not find the actual version of the bear - only the revised version where I defaced by adding braces and pimples. Kali wasn't hugely impressed, but I think they liked it.

Save On will also sell Kali Pink and hair extensions, following suit of the stores out here.

Next we hooked up with a friend Kalie, a high achieving charasmatic participant of Red Deer, now resident of GP. She became inspired by the concept, the story and my daughter - now compelled to share in new territory. I remember being mesmorized by how pink had complimented her face, then her hair came off - another wow.

After our enjoyable hook up with Kalie, the movie theatre beckoned us. We needed to decompress. The theatre that hosted Breaking Dawn did not have heat, over an above a draft that caused visible breath and ovaries to shrivel. My full visit to the mens washroom must have been influenced by hypothermia, we opted to change theaters.

Over late supper Jaime's name was dropped and recognized (from her previous career) by a young man who revered her in the highest honor. We all agreed with him that she is very nice (for someone who so prominent). He proudly informed us that he knew her. She did not know him.

I have had this happen to me a few times. Most interesting to have a discussion about yourself with someone who apparently knows you.

Supper was eaten in the car, both of us still thawing from the theatre - unprepared to leave a heated car with a heated seat. Checking into the hotel was kinda fun.

Hotel staff assumed we were a couple. Resembling the movie - pale skin, blue lips, dark circles... we were Bella and Edward. Or maybe it was the discussion about sharing a bed and wanting a jacuzzi?

Hotel room was a tad chilly as well. At 4 am our lips were still blue, we both shivered off the calories we had consumed at supper. By morning - an epiphany.

The big space heater lured our bums over to have a seat atop a blasting surge of heat, Marilyn Monroe style. Did not want to leave our spot for a cold seat in the awaiting vehicle.

Off to Totem Building supplies. Lost and late, thanks G.P.S. (initials now have new application....)

Another success, more paper Kali Bears sold, and a concept launched as a result of a highly engaged participant Paul who's brain child became the pink hard hat campaign.

Speaking of brain child - Kali Bears originated in Jaime's brain years back when McD's launched that in their restaurants.

Now we have grocery, hardware, fast food and pubs selling these.

Kali baby, you are sure getting around.

The ride home was carefree, singing along to itunes and reading aloud Brandi's tweets, and blogs (which are developing some nice flavour and interest). Brandi darling - YOU ARE FUNNY.

Jaime you are a great travelling companion. Brandi you are coming next time!

Grande Prairie, we will visit you again.

Thank you for the enthusiasm and support!

A helpful volunteer

You know, sometimes I wonder what makes a person volunteer. I mean, we're all busy right? Why on earth would we want to give up what precious little time we have, and what's more - not get paid for it?

OK before you start rolling your eyes THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS (though that will come in January...).

I'm actually pondering this because across my desk earlier this week came a volunteer application from the spouse of a long-time supporter of HM. The application said she'd like to help pre-and post-event. She's apparently got great admin and organizational skills (which means I already like her and we haven't even met yet). In essence, this amazing woman is saying "What can I do to help you?" just like that. No strings attached - because there are no perks to volunteering in the office. No dilly bars, no chance encounters with celebrities, and not even any pink hair... yet. So, it got me to thinking about how small acts of kindness can make such a difference to another person.

Of course, at this time of year lots of people are thinking they should do more, be more appreciative, and show others compassion. But you know, I get the impression she's just that kind of person and it has nothing to do with the "season".

I've worked with a lot of volunteers in my lifetime. Some do it for the perks. Some do it because it's the "cool" thing to do at a high-profile event. Some do it to get credit at school. Some do it because their companies pay them to volunteer. Some do it so they can teach their children the value of giving to others. Many have come to the realization that sometimes their time really is more valuable to someone than just their money.

So, I am very much looking forward to meeting Sherry this afternoon. I am already grateful for her generous offer of time and an extra pair of hands. I just hope she can count... we'll be doing LOTS of that :)

December!

Holy lightning! How did it get to be December already? I can't hardly believe it's been almost one full year since I joined this crazy team. I do recall telling Nicki to "bring it on - I can handle it". Well, they brought it, alright. And I'm still here.

These days the office (and by that I mean the phone, the email, the texting, meetings, running around) is buzzing. Literally. There are days when I don't think any of us stop to catch our breath. I suspect there are days when we forget to eat/drink/pee... Never mind - that's probably too much information :) I know for a fact there is some thumb-sucking going on in some houses these days.

We are frantically trying to learn the world of social media so we can keep up with Twitter and Facebook. Insert sarcastic "thanks Carmelle" here.There are some of us who don't quite like Twitter yet (me) but I am trying. This old dog can learn new tricks, she just isn't happy about it. Hey - maybe FRED should tweet for me! Some others are pretty good at it (Jaime) and some of us are afraid (Jaime and I) of what the other (Tammy) might tweet about! Follow us @hairmassacure to see if anything embarrasing gets said. Bets anyone?

So, I guess what I'm getting at is this: it's only December 1 and we already have 100 registered particiapnts, 16 teams, just over $10,000 raised, and we're just starting to hit the schools. This 10th Anniversary year is shaping up to be a pretty incredible machine.

If we can keep up with it, that is...

By the way, now that it's December, I can turn on my Christmas lights, right? YAY!!

Happy thoughts everyone!