Not Forgotten...

How could we??

I remember WHERE I was, WHEN it happened.

I remember HOW it was during and after.

But what I remember most, aside from the fear and grief,

I remember that there became no such thing as "random" acts of kindness.

It was just KINDNESS.

There was this overwhelming sense of love and support from friends, neighbors and strangers.

EVERYONE came together, with a sense of unity and protection for their fellow man.

Please remember that sense of unity, that love, and that pride you felt for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

REMEMBER...

Save Them!!

It's that time of year.

Are you going to help?

What will you be doing?

Raise awareness folks...

SAVE THE BOOBIES!!!!

Rejection

Everyone in the blogosphere, and in real life, has an image they try to portray. I've never really known what my image could or should be, I'm kind of all over the map and it's actually worked okay for me so far.

I find that when I try to "categorize" my blog, I can't. I don't really count as a humor blog because let's face it, I'm not really funny all the time. I'm not a news blog. My other site doesn't even exactly (actually not at all) count as a technology site, unless one is trying to laugh at the daily struggles of the technically challenged. Really people, I had NO IDEA that I could find something to blog about every day, as far as all things technology...and how I struggle with them. WOW!

Grandy has a bloggy buddy that had a Birthday yesterday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN! I know, I'm a day late...but I was a day late on posting even my own birthday. Jen has 3 blogs.

She blogs at Red Head Ranting, in which she rants about the daily happenings in her world. Her EC card looks like this:


Her next blog is Ergodic Cogitation/ I'm too tired to remember exactly what that means, but it's another good place for her to air her daily witticisms. The card she uses for EC is this:

I believe her last blog speaks for itself in the title. Kids of Queers is a blog that has some funny stuff. I think they are still Jen's outtakes on life but sprinkled a little more with a definite focus. It's more of a chronicle of how she grew up the product of a gay father, and a straight mother. That card used to be this:

But then I hooked her up with some killer resources and now it looks like this:

Part of the fun of Entrecard is the exposure you get to other blogs and learn more about the blogosphere. To earn credits you drop your "cards" on people, and to buy exposure to your blog, you pay with those Entre-Credits that you earn by clicking. Well, each blogger has the opportunity to accept or reject an ad.

I have to say that my ad has only been rejected once, in the entire time I've been with EntreCard. That rejection came by way of a (are you ready for this?) convention blog. I don't mean any old convention either. I mean you must imagine the type of convention that requires you to have either pointy ears or speak in another language entirely. Really...the Girly Anti-Geek has been rejected by geeks. And the reason given? Not relevant.

Hey, I'll admit even I've declined a couple ads here and there. I won't post ads where the chick is hotter than me. Granted, there are a couple on the adgitize site, but at least he polices them regularly.

What I have not had to deal with is how society still views homosexuality even today. Why would I? I'm not gay. I have a couple gay friends and family members, and love them very much, but I have not had to face the adversity they do every day.

As you can imagine, Jen has had her last ad rejected quite regularly. The reason given? Not relevant. Really? Is that it? Because I'm afraid you might be judging that book by a cover and really missing out on something good. That is truly a loss.

In honor of Jen's birthday I am here to show her some bloggy lovin'. I'm also here to say that Grandy judges no one, as she has no room to talk. I was only a little irritated when I got rejected by the geek squad (but only until I remembered the William Shatner SNL classic moment) so I can only imagine how it felt to continuously be rejected.

Sometimes I hide in the fog of what's considered a "mixed bag" of life, but do envy those brave enough to take a stand on something and be strong in the face of adversity.

What about you, reader? Have you ever been rejected for no darn good reason? Please share.

Whether you are part of Entrecard or not, would you share the KOQ card on your site? I just did. :)

Happy Belated Birthday, Red!!

World Diabetes Day

Today is World Diabetes Day!!


We tried to get the petition signed over at Google, to have a special doodle in honor of the day, but I guess the f*ckers had other more pressing matters to attend to. Perhaps they were preparing for World Save the Idiot day.

Anywho...this post is all in blue for my peeps at tudiabetes.com so I can send them some normal blood sugar lovin'.

If you are diabetic, or know someone who is, I encourage you to check out this network. They have groups for every type of diabetic, and with people who go through the same things you do...it's nice to know you're not alone.

I want to thank my doctors who work so hard with me to manage my diabetes. I LUV YOU!!


See the rest of you all tomorrow!!!

D-Blog Day 2009

Grandy was 6 months pregnant when she got the call.

We need you to go straight to the endocrinologist.

Endo-what?

Endocrinologist!!

From then on it was this:

Blah blah - Count Carbs - Blah - Insulin Shots- Blah blah

Only while you're pregnant - blah blah - "gestational" - blah blah

Blah blah - don't eat crap - blah blah

Well...that was bullsh!t!!

Then there was the ever popular:

Blah blah - you're too fat - blah blah - don't eat crap - blah blah

Just lose weight - blah blah - exercise - blah - don't eat crap - blah

Highest A1C 2007 - 13.4

Latest A1C - 7.7

Grandy is 80 pounds lighter than she was 18 months ago, but guess what?

She's still a diabetic.

So here you go...

Blah blah - I am stronger than this - blah blah - still take insulin shots - blah

gotta take a pill - blah blah - exercise - blah - can't eat crap - blah blah

November 9, 2008 is the 4th annual D-Blog Day.

A day for diabetic bloggers to send a shout out to all other diabetics out there.

If you are diabetic, or know someone who is, let's give a shout out.

You can post this logo on your blog too.

Let's just raise awareness about this disease.

And if you haven't done so, please click the widget over there. --->

Sign the petition to get Google to do their Doodle for World Diabetes Day.

Thanks so much!!

View my page on Tu Diabetes - A Community for People Touched by Diabetes

Goin' Pink for the "GIRLS"

As Grandy has stated, October is a big AWARENESS month. It's so big we had our hands slapped washed for a good cause.

With the recent tragedy of Jennifer Hudson, her family, and all the other families that face horrible abusive actions, I'm reminding everyone again that it's also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Well I have been tagged for another meme. This one I can't put off any longer because we want to get the big push out there this month. (And no, I'm not talking about rock the effing vote. I'm SO DONE with political propaganda.)

This meme from Mariuca is to Join the Pink Sisterhood.

On her site, Mariuca sited some important facts that women should know about breast cancer and awareness. Well, Grandy realizes that everyone is out there reminding women to check their breasts. Some blogs are out there reminding men to check their women's breasts, although I'm not sure they feel they need to be told. If you don't believe me, check out this link: Breast Exam and see the video. If my techie skills didn't suck so bad, I'd be able to put the video here for you.

So Grandy is going to make you aware of a few different things related to breast cancer...in her own Grandy style. Ready? OKAY! (Ugh...little bit of vomit...sounding like a high school cheerleader)

1. Have you seen staypositivegreetings.com? Kathy DiPofi Shelton is a breast cancer survivor who, like so many brave women with her, has decided to do her part to make a difference. What she has done is create an entire website that sells cards and gifts for women battling breast cancer. They have support cards, funny cards, and fun little gifts. She and her family then donate 10% of all sales to various cancer research sites. This woman chose to find laughter through her adversity...and for that, I raise my hat BOOBIES to her and her site.

2. Zazzle.Com sells some great T-Shirts. If you are a spirited cancer survivor, or want to raise awareness (and other things) in your own way, you must go check out this site. You can find TONS here. Let me show you a couple samples:

Created by cancerapparel

Or.......

Created by DiscoverBG

3. Lastly...women...let's learn about our breasts. No two apples are the same, so why not embrace what you have and study up with 8 Fun Facts About Your Breasts.

This meme requires that I tag 7 other blogs to help raise awareness. I follow so many, and also know that many of you have already posted about the awareness.

But what do ya say?

Feel like a challenge?

Join the Pink Sisterhood and let me know if you want to join the push to save the BOOBIES.

It's awareness time again

Alright readers...

Grandy didn't have a chance to post her "AWARENESS" feature for September. Oh sure, she sheepishly tried to throw something in last minute, but let's face it, she was under the weather and forced a weak attempt at raising awareness.

So...to make up for blowing chunks slacking in September, I'm going to pack in a double whammy for two very important issues. One effects us all, and the other effects more people than we even realize.

You might all know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. How wonderful that I can't walk down the grocery store aisle without having pink stare me in the eye. I'm a personal fan of the color of pink and purple (it's one of the few girly things about me) but think of how far they have come in the past 20 years with their "Pass the Word" initiative.

What are you doing to help "Pass the Word"?

Well you can find plenty of suggestions here.

All of this ties in with my pledge to Fight BACK!! as I indicated back in August. I had committed to raising awareness and doing MORE.

Many of you joined me in the pledge and took your own steps to do something and Fight BACK!! It's time for me to check in so...How's it going? I know some have quit smoking. Some have taken family members to treatment. Some even post the names of people who are suffering, or facing treatment or surgery, and ask for prayers from across the globe.

RIGHT ON!! You don't realize how one act can make a difference...but it does.

Now...for awareness in a different form. This one is near and very dear to my heart too. Hey, what can I say? My heart's big enough, so why not?

Many of you know that Grandy has suffered from Diabetes for many years now. It is a daily struggle to keep matters in check.

Well...November 14th, 2008 is World Diabetes Day. Manny Hernandez, of TuDiabetes.com, has started an initiative to help raise awareness for this event, which is designed to bring diabetes to the forefront for a day. With the petition at diabetesdoodle.com, they are hoping to get 20,000 signatures by the end of October.

To spread the word, and the awareness of Diabetes, there is a petition with Google to have them do a Doodle art for the day. We're asking you to click this link and sign the petition.

***SPECIAL NOTE*** When you sign the petition and click next, you may be taken to a donation page. The donation has nothing to do with diabetes and you can close out from that screen because your signature has been counted.

See how easy this is??

Click away... Sign away... Spread the word!

Fight BACK!!

See this picture?

I took this picture with my cell phone at about 10:00 last night, 12 hours into our 24-hour fundraiser for RELAY FOR LIFE this weekend.

This year we were at a different location, and it seemed a little more disconnected as we were farther spread out, but it was a success. Our little community raised about $58,000 towards cancer research, and assistance.

This year's message, "FIGHT BACK!"

We all wrote personal pledges to do something to "FIGHT BACK!" against Cancer. The pledges were no more than a personal commitment to make. Simple or grand, the choice was yours. Some wrote pledges like:

- Help my Grandma quit smoking.

- Drive a cancer patient to treatment.

- Wear sunblock

- Get a mammogram

Ty's personal pledge cracked me up. Maybe it was the fact that he told me at the end, and I was feeling a bit punchy, but his pledge: Not to smoke. Great pledge for a 12 year old, don't you think?

The purpose of taking this pledge is that you...that's right YOU can make a difference in saving someones life, saving your own, and making a difference.

What was Grandy's personal pledge?

To raise awareness... and do more.

I don't know how yet, but I'm hoping I can use my blog to help with that. I will commit to doing more to raise awareness. As I think back, I have been trying to do more to raise awareness already...May was Race for the Cure, June had Click My Button for Cancer, and of course last week's RELAY FOR LIFE.

I was trying to do this without even realizing it...raise awareness that is. If I can get everyone of you to be more active and aware of what you can do, and what is out there, then I'm meeting my goal. Hey, your clicks helped raise enough to grant a free mammogram to one lucky woman. See how easy it can be to do more?

It was an emotional weekend indeed. After several years of trying to get my dear friend's mother to come...she did. Her husband battled cancer for several years, before it took him 2 1/2 years ago. Then this last year she battled it herself. She is a survivor.

In the evening we all got together and had our Luminaria ceremony. People wrote messages on bags to honor their survivors, or remember those they've lost. They lit the track and we had a ceremony and silent walk in honor of them all. It is always an emotional walk, but she came in time for this. She began to cry... heavily.

By the time we had made it around the track, she felt emotionally drained, but charged at the same time. She has always kept her pain to herself, but by being surrounded by so many survivors, and family, and caregivers, she realized she was not alone.

As we hugged at the end of our lap, and cried, she thanked me. She thanked me for all my efforts, and for asking her to come every year. She thanked me for the connection she had made that night, and the support she felt. She cried as I reminded her that we are all in this fight together, and she need not feel alone. We cried together...and it was beautiful.

Grandy is a bit tired. She was visiting with Hubby, after taking a shower, and didn't realize she was falling asleep as he filled her in on his weekend. Sorry Sweetie!! After about a 4 hour nap, I figured I would come back and let you all know how it went.

I also want to ask you...what will be your pledge to "FIGHT BACK"? Can you commit to one thing? Something for yourself? I know this is a personal thing for everyone, so if you want to share your commitment in the comments, you can. If you are not comfortable sharing what your pledge is, please just drop a line to tell me you've made one.

Come on everyone... FIGHT BACK!!!

RELAY FOR LIFE

Grandy is very sorry she's been out for so long.

Where does the time go? There's always a cause that Grandy is working towards.

ALWAYS!!!

So, what's Grandy's cause for this month?? Actually it's an all year project, just this year it snuck up on me. Usually we do this event in the end of August, and this year it's in the beginning.

Every year, Grandy and son participate in RELAY FOR LIFE with some very dear friends.

What is the RELAY FOR LIFE? It's a 24-hour Relay to raise money for cancer research. My son and I started this years ago, and have only missed it once...The year my father passed...and that was ONLY because the funeral was on the same day 3 hours away. We originally started to do this for his honor as a survivor. 4 years ago, that all changed and we do it in his memory now.

I even published an article over at Associated Content about the Relay HERE. Grandy is still getting her feet a little wet in the publishing her writing content, so she tried it. Go take a look...I'm not worried about the number of views, but you will see Grandy published somewhere other than when she struggles to be functional.

So...have you followed the link to my website for the RELAY FOR LIFE? Did I do the link correctly? If you go to my team pic, you'll see all my friends. This pic was taken a couple years ago.

Our team? The Marrow Menders

Our Mission? To raise awareness about the importance of Bone Marrow Donation, against the Leukemia fight. My dear friends lost their daughter to Leukemia years ago, and we just love them so, we wanted to be part of this. When Dad got sick with Leukemia, it only made it that much more important.

Our team color? Hot Pink...because that was Danielle's favorite color.

What's cool about this event? The money we raise stays local. They have this event all over the place, and the money stays and helps treatment in local areas.

Where else can you go take your children to learn the importance of doing for others, and fighting a cause together?

Well...the RELAY FOR LIFE of course!!

So...Have you ever Relayed?? Do you want to?? Take a look and see what's in your area.

If you can't support Grandy at this time (trying desperately to NOT sound like a feed the children commercial) we ask that you keep us in your minds, hearts, and prayers on August 2nd & 3rd as we do our part for this worthy cause.

Thanks!!!

We Made It... or did you remember?

Readers who ROCK... UNITE!!!

Yes...You, in the back, I'm talking to you.

Can you see the picture from back there? No? Well get up here and see what you helped with.

Photo provided by The Breast Cancer Site

I know, only because I am learning how to use my sitemeter, that it was not the gazillion hits on my little Functional Shmunctional website that did this. I know several blogs specifically posted on this. I do want you to know that you did make a difference. Just think, if you stopped by even 10 times in the month of June, then they would have only gotten 7,999,990 clicks.

Remember...You alone can make a difference.

Thank you, faithful readers, for the difference you make. Whether you posted about this awareness, participated, or even cliecked it once. You are good folks.

Thank you for stopping by to read, click, and enjoy the frivolity of it all. :)

What... did you think Grandy was going to go on and on about the importance of voting? Nahhh... You guys all helped remind me, even through your sites, that it's important to have a voice, whether you use it or not ...that is completely up to you.

Thanks for "voicing" from this site. Make sure you stop and "voice" again sometime.

Click My Button for Cancer

In my pursuit of the all mighty EntreCard today I came across Mommy's Little Corner, who had posted about this as a meme. As I read more about it, I thought it most appropriate to steal the idea contribute to the cause.

You all know how important this cause is to me, and so many others. Cancer is a horrible disease, and I'm all about raising awareness along with a little fundage for the cause.

See the button at the bottom of the page? It should be over in my sidebar too. See it??

Well click it! I know, Grandy has told you to do so many things associated with it, but for this one I will send some subtle (and not so subtle) hints so you'll remember.

CLICK the button. Come on...You know you want to!!

You see, if the Breast Cancer Site receives 8 million clicks on the pink button in June, their premier sponsor -Bare Necessities- will donate $10,000 for more free mammograms.

CLICK the pink button today and EVERY DAY in June. You have to come see the Grandy anyway, so why not click. It's free and shouldn't contribute to your carpel tunnel...too bad.

Tell all your friends about it...put it on your site, or just send them this way (I would love that) and have them CLICK.

Go ahead...everyone is doing it.

CLICK