That's weird.

I'm not an academic (I work as a communications manager in high tech), so it's always weird to find out that universities and authors use my M.A. projects in their classes, websites, and books. I was part of a very small group of folks (I think it was seven) who went through the innovative English/American Studies program at UVA in the mid-90s. We were, I think, the first program to put projects - and our MA theses - online. This was back in the days when Yahoo! was new, when we had to code by hand. Man, that makes me feel old. You kids get off my lawn!

Anyway, it's just odd to find out that my work has been quoted in a book or used in a university course. I'm looking forward to the day that my fiction is quoted and used as well, LOL!

Please Help

I want you to do something.
It will take less than a minute and is something you do unconsciously every minute of every day.

Take a long slow deep breath. Feel the way the in-rush of air tickles your nose, moves through freely your trachea and bronchial tubes, filling your lungs. Feel the way your lungs receive the air, graciously and effortlessly.

If you have something to eat or drink nearby, take a sip or a bite. Chew it slowly and think for a minute about how easily your body accepts that food or beverage and how readily your digestive system starts to absorb nutrients and transform that bite of food or sip of beverage into energy-giving, cell-rejuvenating, life-sustaining fuel.

It's not easy for everyone.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that affects the lungs, sinuses, pancreas, liver, intestines, and male reproductive system. CF is caused by a genetic mutation. In healthy people, a gene, referred to as CFTR, produces a protein that regulates the movement of salt and water through the cell walls.

This process directly affects how the body makes sweat, mucus and enzymes for digestion. In people with CF, this protein does form properly, which impedes normal cell activity. A thick, heavy mucus develops that clogs the internal organs, impedes digestion, makes the patient susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, and makes taking a simple breath a moment-by-moment challenge. CF is the most common life-shortening disease diagnosed in children.

There is no cure.
My friend Jenn’s daughter Cassie was diagnosed with CF three years ago. Cassie is a beautiful little girl, and I think she deserves a fighting chance to grow up to be a beautiful woman.

Jenn is participating in the CF Great Strides walk, and is holding a number of auctions on eBay to help raise money for Great Strides and the CFF. 100% of proceeds from each auction will go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Please take a moment to visit http://cassiebug.jcracek.com/cf_auctions.php for links to the eBay auctions, which begin on April 1. Auction items include original artwork, signed books, collectibles, gift baskets, jewelry, crafts, and more.

Please take a moment to bid, and to pass this on.

Original post by Yaaresse on LiveJournal

Arcade Fire - "Keep the Car Running"

I really love this performance of this song - how can you go wrong with a couple of fiddles, a mando, a sax, and a hurdygurdy for pete's sake? And the lyrics are right up my alley:

Every night my dream’s the same.
Same old city with a different name.
Men are coming to take me away.
I don’t know why but I know I can’t stay.

There’s a weight that’s pressing down.
Late at night you can hear the sound.
Even the noise you make when you sleep.
Can’t swim across a river so deep.
They know my name 'cause I told it to them,
But they don’t know where And they don’t know
When It’s coming, when It’s coming.

There’s a fear I keep so deep,
Knew its name since before I could speak:
Aaaah aaaaaah aaaaah aaaaaah
They know my name 'cause I told it to them,
But they don’t know where And they don’t know

When It’s coming, Oh! when It’s coming

Keep the car running

If some night I don’t come home,
Please don’t think I’ve left you alone.
The same place animals go when they die,
You can’t climb across a mountain so high.
The same city where I go when I sleep,
You can’t swim across a river so deep.
They know my name 'cause I told it to them,
But they don’t know where
And they don’t know
When It’s coming, Oh! when is it coming?

Keep the car running

I am so over breast cancer

Last year, two of my friends (one 38, one 42) got breast cancer, within a couple months of each other. After surgeries, chemo, radiation, and ongoing medication, they're both doing great, but it was a hard, hard year.

I just found out a friend of a friend got it.

I'm really over breast cancer.

Are you over it too? Want to help? You can start with one of these great events:

• ACS Relay for Life


• Komen Race for the Cure


• Avon 3-Day

Happy Blogoversary to Me!

There's been lots of family drama 'round these parts lately ... well, since October, but particularly the last week or two. So, I was completely distracted and didn't realize that my one-year Blogoversary was on Monday. Yay!

I've been on LiveJournal since 2003, and on message boards and BBSes (OMG that dates me) since 1991 or so. BUT I'd never had a blog, so this is very exciting.

It's been a super fun year - among other things, I taught myself how to podcast (holy moley that's fun), and more importantly, I've met some really lovely people. Hurrah!

Well, that was interesting

5.6 earthquake tonight, about 10 miles NNE from where I live. It was only (they're saying) 5 miles down, which means you feel it more. First, the big shaking jolt, and then rolling waves that went on forever, or so it felt. All told, about a minute, and no damage here at our place, unless you count a very scared Pandora who took about an hour to peek out from under her safe place under the couch.

You know, it felt like the Loma Prieta in '89. Funny, I was just talking with friends at work this afternoon about my bridge phobia, and how that's directly related to earthquakes, and how we haven't had a "good" one in a while. Eerie.

Home again, home again

Finally back home after my trip to London. The business part was, well, business. Good and useful and all of that. I spent the day in London on Saturday, which was fantastic, if exhausting. I got home to a pile of laundry and chores and yes, more work, but also to my very own copy of Wil Wheaton's new book, The Happiest Days of Our Lives, which I can't wait to dig into. I also had forgotten about a couple of books I'd ordered from Amazon, plus the two I had out from the library, plus the two I'm reviewing for Historical Novels Review. Um. Oops? Oh, how I wish I'd had some of those on that 10-hour flight home yesterday...