Welcome to the February 2008 edition of the SOS Porch Light newsletter!
No matter what language you speak, expressions of amore or the language of "love" is universal and understood by all. During the month of February, we focus our attention on a variety of relationships. We affirm friendships and celebrate love by exchanging poetic cards as well as traditional gifts of roses, jewelry, and chocolates by the pound.
While most people associate Valentine's Day exclusively as a "lovers' holiday," the truth is that this a day which is "not well understood." The true origins and traditions of this holiday are somewhat "mysterious" as stated in the following article:
DID YOU KNOW:
Valentine's Day Traditions Continue Despite Mysterious Origins
by Catherine Raposa
Features Editor
Each February 14th, Americans expose their romantic sides in order to capture the interest and heart of a loved one. Every year, American greeting card companies create more than $277 million worth of Valentines. There were 25,617 florists nationwide to help both men and women select the right flowers to send to loved ones this year. And lastly, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 1998, there were 114 unmarried men to every 100 unmarried women in the 18 to 44 age categories. These statistics may not prove to what extent lovers seek to please their mate, but nevertheless there is little question that Valentine's Day is steeped in centuries of tradition and culture that persist to this very day.
The true nature and past of Valentine's Day is mysterious and not well understood. Many details of the history's origin are missing. Incomplete history makes both the date and Saint Valentine's life a puzzle.
Two spring Roman holidays might have marked the original selection of February 14. On February 14, Romans celebrated a festival in the name of Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage that focused on young women and motherhood. On February 15, a Roman holiday named Lupercalia or Februarca celebrated Lycaeus, mother of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. Sacrifices of wolves were thought to improve the fertility of village women for the upcoming year and wolf fur was worn to improve the chances of pregnancy. Young Roman men would randomly select the names of local women from jars and escort them to the festivity's dances and dinners. It was believed that if the escort was successful then the young woman would make an excellent and fertile wife. This random love-match may have lead to the custom of 'selecting' a Valentine for the holiday.
Saint Valentine himself is an unknown and confusing figure, even to Catholic Church scholars. Three separate martyrs are recognized with the name Valentine or Valentinus. Legends centering on these figures contain a common theme of defiance for the sake of love.
The first legend states the Saint continued to perform marriages despite a Roman Emperor's ruling that men remain single. The Emperor was concerned with the dwindling military enlistment and determined that limiting family life and ultimately marriage would encourage men to join the infantry and train as better soldiers. Valentine continued to perform Christian marriages despite the strict rules on matrimony, and was ultimately imprisoned. Emperor Claudius II had him put to death on February 14 in 269 A.D. Allegedly, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as a special holiday for Saint Valentine in 469 A.D.
The second legend states that Valentine died while helping save faithful Christians from Roman prisons. In the era when Christians were persecuted for their religious beliefs, Valentine would arrange escapes from Roman prisons to prevent the faithful from being tortured or beaten.
Perhaps the most popular legend centers on an imprisoned priest during the Dark Ages. Local children missed him during his imprisonment and would throw flowers into his cell through the prison bars. He fell in love with the Jailer's daughter, who visited often during his confinement. Some sources state that she returned his love because he had cured her blindness. He would send her love letters frequently as a means of communicating his love. Right before he died, he wrote her a love letter signing it, "From Your Valentine".
These tales have persisted over hundreds of years. Saint Valentine was a popular character in Middle Age stories, especially in the countries of France and England. Valentine's Day is one of several holidays that was allegedly integrated into the Christian calendar in order to encourage pagans to convert to Catholicism. By keeping the Roman date but by changing its religious significance the romantic qualities of the holiday were preserved while dismissing the sacrifice rituals.
Although the story behind Saint Valentine is unclear, many of the symbols of Valentine's Day are better understood as universal signs of love. Symbols of Valentine's Day include doves, hearts, roses, and Cupid.
Doves are magical messengers that bring good luck and fortune. Hearts have traditionally been thought to contain the soul and the emotional center of the human body. They represent love, passion, and desire. Roses are one of the most popular gifts for Valentine's Day but the significance of the flower's color denotes how serious the gift is. Red roses represent love and passion, white true love, yellow indicates friendship, and black means farewell.
Lastly, Cupid, son of Venus or Aphrodite in ancient mythology, would play matchmaker to Roman and Greek mortals. His angelic and innocent physique transcends pagan myths and he continues to shoot lovers with his arrows, especially on this special day of the year.
Source: Tech News of Worcester Polytechnic Institute 2/14/2001
A Publication of the Newspeak Association, Volume 66, Issue 5 http://www.wpi.edu/News/TechNews/010214/valentine.shtml
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SPECIAL NOTICE:The SOS Support Group will hold its February meeting at La Madeleine Cafe & Bistro in Sugar Land on Tuesday, February 12th, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. In honor of Valentine's Day, each member is asked to bring one signed Valentine Card which will be randomly distributed that same evening. Please RSVP with Marsha Yaeger at marshayeager@yahoo.com .
Also, a reminder that there will be no meeting in March due to Spring Break, however the group will reconvene again in April at Holy Cross Episcopal Church as usual. (Directions below)
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MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION:In honor of "heart month," the following article debates the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs and was recently featured in the Houston Chronicle.
Jan. 27, 2008, 1:43PM
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY
By BY JOE GRAEDON AND TERESA GRAEDON, PH.D.
King Features Syndicate
It all seemed so simple. If you just lowered your cholesterol, you could reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Drug companies have done their best to keep you focused on medications that bring cholesterol levels down. Turn on TV or open a magazine and you are likely to see an ad featuring Dr. Robert Jarvik, known as the inventor of the artificial heart. He promotes Lipitor to lower cholesterol, and he has been wildly successful.
The company brags that its statin-type medication has been prescribed to more than 26million Americans. Lipitor earned its manufacturer more than $13 billion in 2006.
Lipitor is not alone. Millions of Americans take cholesterol-lowering drugs like Crestor, Mevacor, Pravachol, Vytorin, Zocor and Zetia. But puzzling new data have many patients confused.
Headlines recently announced the results of a study comparing Vytorin, which contains both Zetia (ezetimibe) and Zocor (simvastatin), to Zocor alone. Although Vytorin lowered bad LDL cholesterol 17 percent more than Zocor, the combination pill did not reduce dangerous plaque buildup in neck arteries. The patients on Vytorin may even have had slightly more plaque buildup.
Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Steven Nissen was stunned by the results and called on his colleagues to reconsider routine use of Zetia or Vytorin as first-line treatments. In 2006, 18 million prescriptions were written for Vytorin and 14 million for Zetia.
Lowering cholesterol, especially bad LDL cholesterol, is supposed to be the Holy Grail for preventing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. But an earlier study of a novel medication called torcetrapib that lowers LDL and raises good HDL cholesterol was abandoned when patients taking the medicine actually had more heart attacks and strokes. The new study of Vytorin suggests that reducing LDL numbers may not be enough.
Even for tried-and-true cholesterol-lowering drugs, the benefit for any given individual may be smaller than people imagine. Lipitor, for example, has been shown in studies to prevent heart attacks.
Media ads capitalize on this, announcing that Lipitor reduces the risk of heart attack by 36 percent. There is an asterisk next to that number, however, and here is the fine print: "That means in a large clinical study, 3 percent of patients taking a sugar pill or placebo had a heart attack compared to 2 percent of patients taking Lipitor." (See Business Week, Jan. 17, 2008.)
In other words, if you had 100 people taking Lipitor and another 100 people taking an inactive placebo, there would be one less heart attack after several years among the folks on Lipitor. That certainly matters a great deal if you are the one who was spared. But if you are one of the other 99, the cost and risk of side effects may seem high.
No one should stop taking cholesterol-lowering medicine without medical supervision, but cholesterol is not the only thing that matters. Physicians have known for decades that there are more than 200 risk factors for heart disease (New England Journal of Medicine, Nov. 14, 2002). Inflammation, stress, hostility, depression and high triglycerides are just a few of the other contributors to heart disease. Focusing on cholesterol alone could be a big mistake.
Source: Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com/
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/dailycols/5489595.html
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SOS SURVIVOR UPDATEFrom Lori Kwiatkowski:
Congratulations to Lori who is featured in an article about acupuncture treatments for pain management (at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center) in this month's issue of AARP Magazine
(Jack Nicholson is on the cover).
From Rosemary Herron:
Rosemary Herron has the new 2008-2009 Pink Phurree Dragon Boat Calendar in case anyone is interested in purchasing one. The cost is $25 for the two-year calendar. Rosemary Herron and Rosemary Barr are both featured in the calendar together! How cute!
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FROM THE KITCHEN: Love BitesLooking for breakfast ideas for Valentine's Day? Think "berries for breakfast" and leave the "chocolate for dessert!"
Recipe #1 - Cranberry Coffee Cake
Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 1 3/4 hr
Servings: Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries (8 oz)
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup whole milk
Garnish: confectioners sugar
Special equipment: a 9- by 5- by 3-inch loaf pan
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Pulse cranberries with 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a food processor until finely chopped (do not purée). Transfer to a sieve and let drain while making batter.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat together butter and remaining 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes with a standing mixer or about 8 minutes with a handheld. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture and milk alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour and mixing until just incorporated.
Spread one third of batter evenly in well-buttered loaf pan, then spoon half of drained cranberries evenly over batter, leaving a 1/2-inch border along sides. Top with another third of batter and remaining cranberries, leaving a 1/2-inch border along sides, then cover with remaining batter. Bake in middle of oven until golden brown and a tester inserted in center comes out without crumbs, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Cool cake in pan on a rack 30 minutes.
Invert cake onto rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cooks' note: Coffeecake can be made 1 day ahead. Cool completely, then store in a cake keeper or wrapped in foil at room temperature. If desired, warm in a 350°F oven 15 minutes before serving.
Source: http://www.epicurious.com/
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/valentinesday/valentinesday/recipes/food/views/107775
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Recipe #2 - Raspberry Chocolate-chip Pancakes
Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
Servings: Makes 10 pancakes
Ingredients:
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons milk
1 large egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup picked-over raspberries
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Accompaniment: pure maple syrup, heated
Preparation:
In a small saucepan melt 2 tablespoons butter over moderately low heat, stirring. Stir in milk and heat until just warm. Remove pan from heat. In a bowl whisk together milk mixture and egg. Into another bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt and stir in egg mixture until just combined. Gently stir in raspberries and chocolate chips.
Preheat oven to 200° F.
Heat a griddle over moderate heat until hot enough to make a drop of water scatter over surface. Add 1 teaspoon butter and with a metal spatula spread over griddle. Working in batches, drop 1/4-cup measures of batter onto griddle to form pancakes about 4 inches in diameter and cook until bubbles appear on surface and undersides are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip pancakes with spatula and cook until undersides are golden brown and pancakes are cooked through. Transfer pancakes as cooked to an ovenproof platter and keep warm, uncovered, in oven. Make more pancakes with remaining butter and batter in same manner.
Serve pancakes with syrup.
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/howtocook/seasonal/cooknow_chocolate/recipes/food/views/14163
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Recipe #3 - Valentine Smoothie
2 servings
10 min preparation time
Ingredients:
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 ripe banana, peeled, frozen, and sliced
2 tablespoons strawberry jam
1 tablespoon honey
3-4 drops red food coloring
Preparation:
In a blender container, add yogurt, banana, jam, honey, and food coloring.
Cover and blend on high until smooth and foamy.
Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
http://www.recipezaar.com/51688
Source: Recipe Zaar
© 2007 Recipezaar. All Rights Reserved. http://www.recipezaar.com/
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PARTY OF THE MONTH - Focus on FriendshipThis Valentine's Day gather all your girlfriends together for a casual mixer, and spark up some fun! Here are tips for making your party love-ly:
Idea # 1 - Fill champagne flutes and martini glasses with classic Valentine's Day candies like conversation hearts and Red Hots®, and place them on tabletops to spice up your décor.
Idea #2 - Chocolate Tasting -- it's a great way to get people talking. Put out bowls of fancy chocolates in different varieties, and watch the magic happen.
Idea #3 - "Can't Get Enough" - Have each person at the party write down 5 things that they can't get enough of (or a list of favorite things), and make sure that they don't put their names on the lists. Gather the lists and read them to the group one by one. Everyone has to try and guess which list belongs to which person.
For more party ideas , visit: http://www.evite.com/app/cms/ideas/valentines-day?src=textletter_20080122_1
Provided courtesy of http://www.evite.com/
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FYI:From the Texas Department of Transportation:
Over the last 30 years, designs for the state's general issue plate have ranged from a plain, white background to the flying Lone Star Flag. In January of 2009, production of the next plate will begin. Texans will have the opportunity to vote for one of four new designs or to keep the current plate.
Let your voice be heard. This is really important! So exercise your right to vote.
Voting begins at noon on Monday, Feb. 4 and ends at noon on Monday, Feb. 11.
http://apps.dot.state.tx.us/services/vehicle_titles_and_registration/vote_received.htm
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From National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC):
Save the Date
2008 Annual Advocacy Training Conference
Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel
999 9th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
April 26th - 29th 2008
Register now to attend NBCCF's 16th Annual Advocacy Training Conference. Join hundreds of national and international breast cancer activists in our fight to eradicate breast cancer.
NBCCF's yearly gathering helps participants hone their advocacy skills and learn about the latest in breast cancer science, research and policy. Hear directly about the controversies and issues from important leaders, scientists, and advocates.
To learn more about this event and registration, visit: http://www.stopbreastcancer.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=598&Itemid=1
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From Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization:
Y-ME Advocacy reminds you that the United States Presidential primary elections are right around the corner. Have you registered to vote yet? If not, register now!
https://ssl.capwiz.com/y-me/e4/nvra/
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From Susan G. Komen for the Cure:
Tell the candidates: I Vote for the Cure!
Our I Vote for the Cure (TM) campaign calls on the candidates to address how they would increase funding for breast cancer research and improve access to screening and treatment for all Americans. These simple, common-sense ideas unite the American public:
6 in 10 voters are willing to raise taxes to ensure all women have access to quality breast cancer screening and treatment. 70 percent of voters said income level impacts quality of care and half think ethnicity affects quality of care – a view supported by Komen's research.
Half of voters feel candidates are not spending enough time on healthcare issues, a top priority for both men and women surveyed. And only 12 percent are aware of their preferred presidential candidate's position on issues relating to breast cancer! With so many voters agreeing with us already, the wind is at our back, and momentum is on our side. Now we need your help to reach 100,000 signatures!
Help us make breast cancer a top issue in the '08 elections – sign the petition TODAY.
http://komenpolicy.org/campaign/ivftc/8kgxk8n4r7ttwx3m?
Our I Vote for the Cure (TM) campaign is one of the most ambitious we've ever launched. In just a few short weeks, 31,944 people have signed the petition! But it doesn't stop there – from our voter survey, to on-the-ground presence at the debates, we are leading the charge for better breast cancer access and care in 2008.
Thank you for all your efforts. We couldn't do any of it without you!
Sincerely,
Diane Balma
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance
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From Rosemary Herron:
I will be bringing the 2008-2009 Pink Phurree Dragon Boat Calendar to SOS on Tuesday evening, in case anyone is interested in purchasing one. They are $25. Rosemary Barr and I are in it - together. Thank you for your support.
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From Brenda K. Hoffman:
Next breast cancer workshop - Bayshore Medical - 2-23-08
If anyone is interested in paddling with the Pink Phurree's Dragon Boat Racing Team... this would be a good time to get started with the Trainer!!!
I'm working and can't make this particular appointment... but encourage you all to. This has been so much fun for me!! So motivating and so encouraging... I'd love to have you all paddling in the boat along side me!! We have a boat for Survivors and Friends, as well...
Love & Hugs!! B. Kaye
b.kaye@earthlink.net
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From AztraZeneca:
The Celebration Chain—Better Than Ever!
Not long ago, AztraZeneca announced the launch of the Celebration Chain Web site. The Celebration Chain is a way to honor special women in our lives who have been touched by breast cancer and to celebrate their unique, endearing qualities. It’s easy and fun and, not surprisingly, has gained tremendous popularity. To date, more than 5,000 people have created more than 7,000 celebrations for women in their lives who have faced or are facing breast cancer.
How does it work? You design a personalized, animated doll that represents your loved one’s unique attributes. She will receive an e-mail telling her how to view her celebration doll. You’ll also receive a confirmation e-mail. You can invite friends and family members to participate. As her Celebration Chain grows, check back often to see what’s been added.
To get started go to: http://www.arimidex.com/celebration/
For every new doll created, AstraZeneca will donate $1 (up to a total of $25,000) to a breast cancer charity.
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AROUND & ABOUT HOUSTON Mark Your Calendars!
SOS SURVIVOR GROUP MEETING
Tuesday, February 12, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
La Madeleine, Sugar Land
Please RSVP with Marsha Yeager at marshayeager@yahoo.com
Note: We will NOT be meeting in March due to Spring Break.
FACES BEHIND BREAST CANCER BOOK EVENT
Thursday, Feb 14th, 11:00am - 3:30 pm
Appearances Breast Care Boutique
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Mays Clinic
2nd Floor
Houston, TX
FACES BEHIND BREAST CANCER BOOK EVENT
Save the Date! Valentine's Day Tea Party
Hosted by KnockOut Roses
Sunday, February 17th, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Randall's Community Resource Center
The Rose Medical Plaza
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
BYOTC (Bring Your Own Tea Cup)
RSVP with Amy Rigsby at 713-254-1399
arigsby@the-rose.org , by Thursday, Feb. 14th
M. D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER LECTURE SERIES
Drowning in Calories: What It Will Take to Turn the Tide
Featuring David L. Katz, M.D., M.P.H,
a syndicated nutrition columnist for The New York Times and O, The Oprah Magazine
Reserve your seat today!
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008
5:30 p.m. Check In
6:00 p.m. Program
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
South Campus Research Building
7435 Fannin Street at Old Spanish Trail Houston, TX 77054
Free admission and parking
Registration deadline: Feb. 18
To register, e-mail publiced@mdanderson.org
or call 713-745-0549.
Y-ME SHARE RING NETWORK
Wednesday, February 20th
7 - 8pm - Central Time
Topic: "Fertility after Breast Cancer"
Speaker: Karine Chung, M.D, M.S.C.E.
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Division Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine
Free presentation followed by a discussion. Sign up now at
http://main.y-me.org/site/Survey? SURVEY_ID=7140&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&autologin=true&s_src=feb_08&JServSessionIdr004=gs2tmh3c32.app14a. The February call is presented in partnership with the Young Survival Coalition and Fertile Hope.
VICTORIA'S PLACE
Essential Oil-Making Class
Saturday, February 23RD
2:00 TO 4:00 PM
$28 includes supplies, refreshments and
TWO 1oz. take home bottles of your own blend
Anyone who loves using essential oils... needs to take this class... so you
can make your OWN high quality blends, instead of paying those HIGH PRICES at the store...this is a hands on and super fun class! Go to
http://www.feminineliving.com/ for the details. See you there!
M. D. ANDERSON SPRING WORKSHOP
Innovations in Breast Cancer and the Art of Cancer Survivorship
Saturday, March 1, 2008
8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Cancer Prevention Building, 8th floor
1155 Pressler
Houston, Texas
Keynote Speakers
Melissa Crosby, M.D. - Developments in Reconstructive Surgery
P.K. Morrow, M.D. - Future Directions in Breast Cancer Treatment: Updates from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Multidisciplinary Panel Discussion
COLLAGE: Art of Survivorship
http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/yngbreastsrv/dIndex.cfm?pn=C6D164AE-19F1-4DD3-B99D0566A30B813F or You can RSVP at bsmp@mdanderson.org
THE ALICE THOMSEN LYMPHEDEMA AWARENESS GROUP of Houston Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building, 6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview). Please join us on March 18, 2008 at 7 pm. Hope to see you then, Cynthia Gdula.
M. D. ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
Fatigue Awareness Week - April 7 -10, 2008
Monday April 7th, 10am - 1pm - Clinic Open House
Mays Clinic, Sixth Floor
Tuesday, April 8th, - Cancer-related Fatigue Video Viewing
6:30 - 7:30pm
Cancer Prevention Building, Eight Floor, Rooms 1 & 2
RSVP: 713-792-2808 or e-mail bsmp@mdanderson.org
For more information, call the Patient Education Office at 713-794-5379
or e-mail www.mdanderson.org/departments/patedu
SOS SURVIVOR MEETING
Held the second Tuesday of each month for those living in Fort Bend County.
April 8, 2008, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Holy Cross Episcopal Church
For additional info and directions: http://sosporchlight.blogspot.com/
AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER
Houston - April 12 - 13, 2008
Congratulations on deciding to register for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer! By registering online now, you will have immediate access to all of the tools of your 'My Avon Walk Center' and can begin fundraising towards your goal today. https://secure2.convio.net/avon/site/TRR/Walk2008/Houston/1021196898?pg=ptype&fr_id=1420&JServSessionIdr004=x9jrwe2701.app26b or For more information, please call us at (713) 968-9250. Email: volunteer.houston@avonwalk.org
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Relay for Life, 2008
April 18, 2008 6:00 PM - April 19, 2008 6:00 AM
Location: Rice University Track Field, 6100 Main, Houston, TX 77005
Contact: Shelton Moore,Rosalyn, (713)706-5634 x296
Email: Rosalyn.SheltonMoore@cancer.org
No registration fee. Each person is asked to raise $100.00
Agenda: Survivor Ceremony, Luminaria Ceremony, Entertainment, Food and Games. For more information: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/coe?EID=62080
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER COALITION (NBCC):
2008 Annual Advocacy Training Conference
Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel
999 9th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
April 26th - 29th 2008
Register now to attend NBCCF's 16th Annual Advocacy Training Conference. Join hundreds of national and international breast cancer activists in our fight to eradicate breast cancer.
NBCCF's yearly gathering helps participants hone their advocacy skills and learn about the latest in breast cancer science, research and policy. Hear directly about the controversies and issues from important leaders, scientists, and advocates. To learn more about this event and registration, visit: http://www.stopbreastcancer.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=598&Itemid=1
SUSAN'S RALLY in the Fight Against Breast Cancer
The Susan Roberson Wade Memorial Car Rally
Save the Dates: Rally - April 27, 2008
Golf Tournament - October 27, 2008
For more information: http://www.susansrally.org/
HOPE STONE, INC.
Save The Date for our Premiere Piece
PEACE PIECE ...May 1st, 2008
by the Kid's Play Ensemble and YouthSound
Tickets on sale soon!!!! Details TBA
Y-ME NATIONAL BREAST CANCER ORGANIZATION
Houston Walk to Empower, Non-Competitive 3-mile Walk
Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, 2007
Check-In Begins: 7:30 a.m. Walk Begins: 9:00 a.m.
Sam Houston Park, Houston, Texas
During the past 15 years, Y-ME’s Mother’s Day Events have raised more than $26 million to help ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone. In 2006, $6 million was raised. Please join us this year -- you’ll be proud to know that your support will help Y-ME continue providing its essential programs and services to people and their loved ones touched by breast cancer.
For more details: http://houstonwalk.y-me.org/site/PageServer? pagename=MDE_HTX_homepage
M.D. ANDERSON 3-DAY WELLNESS CONFERENCE
Living Fully with and beyond Cancer
September 4 - 6, 2008
Houston Marriott Westchase
Details TBA
"UNBEATABLE"
Stages Repertory Theatre
Coming September, 2008
The new musical Unbeatable is coming to town in September 2008 in a World Premiere production produced by Houston’s acclaimed Stages Repertory Theatre. This brilliant new musical follows the true story of a strong-willed woman and her life-changing confrontation with Breast Cancer. http://www.unbeatablemusical.com/
Details TBA
SUSAN G. KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE
Houston, Saturday October 4th, 2008
Save the Date! Details TBA
For weekly updates and additional events, please refer to: http://pinkcrusader.blogspot.com/
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Directions to Holy Cross Episcopal Church: From the corner intersection of Hwy 6 and Hwy 59: Continue South on Hwy 59. Exit at Grand Parkway-Texas 99. You will go by an H.E.B. grocery store on the right as you turn right at a traffic light to get on the Grand Parkway. Proceed to the next traffic light (River Park Drive). Turn left. You will be facing the church. Go through the next intersection (traffic light at Texas 99) and park in the church parking lot. The address is 5653 West River Park Drive. If coming from New Territory: Go to the intersection of New Territory Blvd. and Texas 99. Turn South on to Texas 99. River Park Drive is one intersection (traffic light) past New Territory Blvd. Turn right at that intersection. If coming from 90A: Turn at intersection of 90A and Texas 99 (Grand Parkway). Go South on Grand Parkway, passing Sand Hill Blvd. and New Territory Blvd. Next intersection is River Park Drive. Turn right. Church is right there.
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This concludes this month's issue of the SOS Porch Light. We encourage you to share your thoughts, suggestions, photographs and topics of interest with all members for future editions of the newsletter. Comments may be posted directly to the blog or by email to JosieSethi@aol.com
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THOUGHT OF THE MONTH:
Gonna Be A BearIn this life I'm a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear. When you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that. Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that, too!
When you are a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you are sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that!
If you are a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business! You swat at anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat at them, too. I could deal with that.
If you are a bear, your mate expects for you to wake up growling. He expects that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat......Yup, gonna be a bear! - Unknown
Until April, take care, stay well, and remember to spoil yourself as well as others.
BIG HUG!
Josie Sethi
Editor & Survivor
JosieSethi@aol.com
