Big Bear cabin raffle update

I've been neglecting my page! I had to put the Big Bear raffle on hold due to the forest fire that started in October. The new cabin dates for the lucky winner: January 16-18, 2004. The Big Bear mountains have been packed with snow and skiers lately so it will definitely be a White Christmas for some. I'll be announcing the winner soon.

Student and Teacher

I enjoyed my return to school as a student. I just realized that I had a few things in common with my professors. I got an 11 out of 10 on my last project for my web design class. I didn't know that was possible. My instructor, Dr. Westfall, is a fellow cancer-survivor (he had colon cancer) and supports my web page ideas and even signed my guestbook. Dr. Aaron, my literature prof, is a fellow ukulele player and is a great lit professor. I enjoyed my classes immensely. I continue to teach fourth grade Bible study. I didn't think I would last because the kids were falling asleep on my first day. The kids will tell me what they like to do. They love to act so we act out our prayers instead of reading them. One student even wrote a script and gave me a part to play. Their favorite game is Jesus Jeopardy where they hum the game show tune and answer in the form of a question. They made my day when they asked if they could be in my class next year for fifth grade.

Win a shopping spree and weekend in Big Bear

It's time again for another raffle contest. The prize is a cabin vacation in Big Bear and shopping spree. Fishing, boating, off-roading, wild-life viewing, mountain biking and hiking are all possible for your weekend at the lake. If your name is chosen, your cabin holiday is reserved for November 7-9, 2003. The winner will also receive a $20 gift certificate to Von's grocery store, conveniently located in Big Bear. Spread the word! Tell your friends, family and co-workers. No purchase is necessary. Thank you to Jinky and David for contributing your home.

Peace to you Cindy

It's a girl!

It's official. Thanks to Jackie, I have adopted two babies, Lani and Kai, both girls and both adorable. I am adjusting to their early morning feedings as they are only six weeks old and cry for milk often. Their father is a dachshund (tiny weiner dog) and their mother is a chow chow/cocker spaniel mix. Imagine that!

Peace to you Cecilia

Teacher and Student

I volunteered to teach Bible study at church. I'll be teaching Saturday morning to fourth graders and they'll end up hating me for taking them away from cartoons, sleeping in and whatever else fourth graders do. I'll have to remember what it was like to be that age so we can better relate. I'm nervous because I don't feel that confident about the Bible and yet I'm teaching them. I pray for knowledge and confidence of the Bible. I'm more excited than nervous. Sunday school starts in October. My fall semester as a student starts next month as I am going back to school this fall to take a web design class.

Peace to you Chrisie

16-AUG-2003 PEACE TO YOU CHRISIE

Road Trip to South Dakota

Jackie and I drove to South Dakota and back to California in 9 days. We managed to drive through Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and Colorado. We rented a Ford Escape SUV, packed our sleeping bags, a tent, food supplies, and firewood. We didn't make any reservations and decided to drive wherever the day would take us. We camped out under a million stars and explored the National Parks and Monuments: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Little Bighorn, Devil's Tower, Mt. Rushmore, and Arches National Park. The highlight of the trip was the many wildlife roaming in Yellowstone: Buffalo, deer, elk, moose and pronghorn. Other highlights: A highway with no one on it (U2). Dodging birds that might fly into the truck's grill on the drive from Montana to South Dakota. Rolling hills and endless dusty roads leading to no where. A word of advice: You should never plan a road trip around the time of the Sturgis bike rally if you don't have reservations two years in advance. The town of Sturgis in South Dakota has a population of about 5,000. The rally held once a year draws in about 25,000 bikers! More...

Another Adrenal Cancer Raffle in the works

The ideas for another raffle keep pouring in. Within the last week my friends have offered amazing contributions such as a beautiful cabin retreat in Big Bear for the weekend, a signed music cd and photo by Chris Isaak (Dawna), Disneyland tickets (Jen), and original jewelry designs (Katherine).

Adrenal Cancer Raffle raised $1,150!!!

The Norah Jones concert tickets raffle was a success. A special thank you to all who joined and contributed to an amazing cause: CURE ADRENAL CANCER! Congratulations to Diane of Chino for being the lucky winner of the coveted Norah Jones concert tickets. Runner up winners had the opportunity of winning a Norah Jones dvd along with cd's by a variety of artists. Thank you to Star 98.7 FM for contributing these items. $1,150 was raised for the ADRENAL CORTICAL CANCER RESEARCH FUND at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. It was a day of feasting (b.b.s. style) and singing-along with the always entertaining karaoke machine. Thank you to Tita Sonya and Carli for passing the petition around. It was great to see friends I hadn't seen in several years. Thanks to everyone for making the party a success.

Affect Public Policy

Please sign a petition to beg President Bush and other legislators to fund adrenal cancer research. It only takes a few seconds. Help spread the word by forwarding to friends.

Peace to you Anita

What inspires you?

I called my former kumu, Maile, and asked her if I could join her hula halau and she said yes! I started in her halau when she still had a dance studio. My old class still meets every Thursday nights at her home. I can't wait to see everyone. I've put off a lot of things during the past year, having no motivation to do anything. I decided that if my one year CT scan was clear then I would pick up where I left off. I have this list of things to do in life. Hula is on that list. I haven't danced in over a year and I miss it terribly. I am so excited!

Norah Jones Website

Thank you to www.norahjones.info for posting my raffle on their site! Check out their amazing site (no, I am not biased) on the latest information on the soulful Miss Norah Jones. Her music and voice inspire me.

Test Results

Day two in Minnesota: Met with my wonderful oncologist and discussed results. All good news. Future CT scans will now include pre-medication the night prior and day of the scan. Seems I've developed a new allergy to iodine/contrast. Instead of every three months, CT scans are now to be done every 6 months or sooner depending on how I feel.

Return to Mayo

Flew to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, for routine blood work, CT, and oncology consult. Back at home, I visit the doctor every three months. I flew to Rochester to get reassurance that everything is okay from the same medical team that performed my liver resection a year ago. I finished the tests early so my sister and I drove about 2 hours to the Effigy Mounds Park in Iowa. We drove alongside an Amish woman riding her horse and carriage. The sun setting behind the prairies along Laura Ingalls Wilder highway provided us with an amazing drive back to Minnesota. Thanks to my sister who took time off from work to be by my side in Minnesota.

Peace to you Kenneth

Peace to you Steve

Dear Lisa

I lost a friend to ADRENAL CANCER today, one day after mother's day. She was a wonderful mother. She left behind a great husband and beautiful kids. I never expected her to leave so soon. I hadn't talked to her for a few months. I wish now I would have greeted her on Mother's Day. I'm sorry Lisa. May you rest in peace. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.


Nightingale
Sing us a song
Of a love that once belonged
Nightingale
Tell me your tale
Was your journey far too long?

Does it seem like I'm looking for an answer
To a question I can't ask
I don't know which way the feather falls
Or if I should blow it to the left

All the voices that are spinnin' around me
Trying to tell me what to say
Can I fly right behind you
And you can take me away

~Norah Jones