Racing for the Cure!

On Sunday, I will be participating in my 4th Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Last year, I did a whole Boob Week to raise awareness. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to post as much recently. However, I am still raising money and would greatly appreciate any help you can give. Seriously, any amount helps. A dollar? Five? Twenty?

Today is the deadline for donations and you can reach my secure fundraising page by CLICKING HERE. That link will redirect you to my Susan G. Komen / Kintera fund-raising page. My nickname on the team is Mz Grinch (just in case you're wondering who the heck that is).

Thank you!!

It Ain't Easy Bein' Green

Over the course of the past few years, I’ve been making some greenish changes in my life (and not just the new blog color!). Along with the seemingly never-ending quest to eat less (making a smaller, leaner Ima), I’ve been trying to consume less in other ways. I want a smaller, leaner life. More balance, less excess. I’m making the move to a greener existence.

Food:
I’m buying less packaged foods. By focusing on the outer edges of the grocery store, I’m purchasing foods that have less packaging. I still hit the aisles because I do need some convenience items but I try to stay away from overly packaged goods. I’m buying in bulk when I can and when it makes sense. I’m fine-tuning my grocery shopping in an attempt to not throw away food because it’s spoiled. I could go on and on about my love of the FoodSaver for protecting food from spoilage and freezer burn but Duchess Jane has already covered that topic completely AND with pictures. I make stock from chicken, ham, and beef bones (shrimp is next!) along with peelings from my veggies. There are articles on easy stock making here and here. I’m buying some organic foods.

General shopping:
I’m purchasing less stuff. I’ve never been much of a shopper, so that helps. I use lists to keep me away from those impulse purchases. I try to only buy those things I need and/or love. My new peep-toe black pumps fall into both of those categories!

Gasoline Consumption:
I play a little game with myself since, admittedly, I drive one of those shame-inducing larger vehicles. I have a gauge that tells me what my current gas mileage is. Sure, it does the average, too, but by keeping my eye on the current number, I can see that gunning it makes it go down (duh) while a slow, steady pressure on the gas pedal has less of a bad effect on my mileage. It’s an ongoing contest with myself to see how high I can keep it. I try to figure out the shortest route to where I’m going and I combine trips as much as possible.

Electrical/Water Consumption:
I suck at this. I’m working on it. I leave the TV on when I’m going to sleep; although I do put it on sleep timer. I have a hard time remembering to turn the water off while I’m brushing my teeth but am working on that one, too. I’m slowly but surely replacing my light bulbs with these super-efficient, long lasting ones. They last for YEARS.

Existing Stuff:
I’m trying to give away much of the stuff I have in my home that I don’t need or love. If I feel “eh” about it, it’s going to end up at Hannah Home or Goodwill sometime soon. I’m not going all FlyLady about it (she scares me) but I’m trying to get rid of at least five things each weekday. MrWurdi’s son was talking last year about people who let their stuff own them. He’d been preparing to hike the Appalachian Trail and was, therefore, figuring his bare necessities so I suppose that had him pondering what he (we) really need. We end up accumulating so much stuff that we soon have to live in a bigger place or rent storage to keep up with all that stuff. We spend large quantities of our time maintaining and repairing our stuff. With all the time and money and effort we spend on our stuff, it ends up being our stuff owning us rather than us owning it. I will not be owned by my stuff.

Recycling:
We’re just getting started on this. Our local pick-up doesn’t have a large range of items they pick up for recycling but I suppose every little bit helps.

How Green Are You?
NPR has a neat, little quiz to help show you how green you are. The Consumer Consequences game asks questions about your lifestyle. While you play the game, it keeps up with how many planet "Earths" of natural resources it would take to sustain the 6.6 billion people on this one Earth - if everyone lived the way you do.


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I know I’m not going to live completely green. I drive an Avalanche and a ’77 Corvette (with a high performance engine). That’s not at all green. So, I make the changes I can and am willing to make. I also try to balance the “me stuff” by doing for others. Whether it’s raising funds for breast cancer research with Team GDT or donating goods or volunteering for a local clinic or goofing off, improving my vocabulary, and donating food to hungry people or just trying to help my family when I can, I try to make it all even out. Balance, not fanaticism about anything.

I’m always looking for ways I can be more green. Any ideas?

What Can One Person Do?

When a task seems so daunting you don't even know where to start, the question of "What can I do?" might discourage you from even trying. Let me tell you what one person can do. One person can have an idea and share that idea with another person. From there, it grows until "just one person" turns into a team with a mission.

Susan G. Komen's sister, Nancy Brinker, made a promise. As her sister was losing her battle with breast cancer, Nancy promised to do what she could to warn women that breast cancer can strike unexpectedly and that mammograms and breast self-examinations can save lives. Nancy started the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation and has made huge strides in research, education, and assistance.

Where does the money raised go? What does it do? It provides meals to families dealing with breast cancer; it provides breast cancer patients with transportation to and from treatment; it helps underserved patients receive medication and mammograms; and it helps patients get prostheses or wigs. It funds research. It provides for education and awareness. It matters. Every penny matters. Each "just one person" who does something, anything, makes a difference.

Is it all serious? No. There was much laughter and celebration associated with the race weekend. Survivors were cheered, friends reunited, fake boobs dispensed, cookies eaten, money raised. Lots of money. As the matching funds come in over the next few weeks, that dollar amount will rise. A screen shot of the TeamGDT page is below.



I'm so proud to be a part of this cause. I AM THE CURE!

Historical Boob Trivia

Boobs have been celebrated, reviled, revealed, covered, lifted, separated, bound, augmented, reduced, removed, and more. While the entire history of the boob is interesting, I’ll leave further research to you and just give you a few highlights.

Venus is kind of famous for being topless. Sometimes, when I hear the word ‘Venus,’ I admit Bananarama comes to mind but that’s not really my fault. I blame MTV.

The Venus de Milo was my next thought.

I think she lost her right to bear arms somewhere along the way. Poor thing.

According to Wikipedia, “The Venus is not a realistic portrait but rather an idealization of the female figure.” Below is a rather famous Venus figurine, the Venus of Willendorf:

(This image used with permission of the owner, Matthias Kabel. Reuse must include credit to the owner.)

“…idealization of the female figure.”
Would someone please explain to me why the hell am I trying to lose weight? Bring on the tres leches cake!

A Christian saint, Saint Agatha, was said to have had her breasts cut off as one of the tortures she endured. In art, she is often shown carrying her breasts on a platter. She has recently been recognized as the patron saint of breast cancer patients.

Kannagi, in a South Indian Tamil legend, violently removed her breast and used it to curse a city.

Marie Antoinette’s breasts were said to have inspired the shape of champagne glasses.


Janet Jackson’s boobs caused more than a little bit of controversy but, as you can see, she was not the first famous person to suffer a very public wardrobe malfunction.

Sophia Loren's expression kind of makes you believe she wasn't that pleased with Jayne Mansfield's outfit and nipple peep show, doesn't it?

Lastly, rumor has it that laws against women being topless in public are starting to be challenged…successfully! Check out the Wikipedia article on Topfreedom.

Let's Get Serious about Boobs for a Minute

Did you know?

- Ten to fifteen percent of breast cancers are not detected by mammography?

- Men are also at risk for developing breast cancer?

- Having no children, or a first child after age 30, are among some of the risk factors for breast cancer?

- Breast Cancer accounts for 30% of all new cancer cases in women.

- When breast cancer is confined to the breast, the 5-year survival rate is over 95%.

- Breast cancer is the #2 killer of women ages 35 to 54, and approximately 80 percent of those diagnosed with breast cancer have no known risk factors.


Early detection is key. Do a monthly self-exam. Get a yearly clinical exam. Follow your doctor’s guidance on mammograms and other diagnostics tests.


Coming up tomorrow... Boobs in history - surprisingly, not political!

A Poem, a Haiku, and a Limerick Walk into a Blog

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It's BOOB WEEK at The Wordy Bitch. As the Saturday, September 15th deadline for donations approaches, I'm focusing on boobs. In Saving 2nd Base, I gave the details on TeamGDT and what we're trying to do to help find a cure for breast cancer.

Boob poetry seemed a good way to start the week. Enjoy!

Boob Poem
The men I meet are fond of boobs
But I can’t help my jeers,
“What you’re looking at aren’t eyes
And boobs do not have ears!”

Boob Haiku
Boobs change over time.
It’s so completely unfair!
Once round and now long.

Boob Limerick
Boobs used for nursing are pure
Boobs flashed for beads, I’m not sure
Virtue or vice
Boobs sure are nice
Boobs: Why we RACE FOR THE CURE!
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My goal this week is to entertain as well as fundraise. If you're so inclined, please donate.
Learn more about TeamGDT and bid on auction items.
Order the Team GDT cookbook, Eat for the Cure, directly from the publisher..
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Saving 2nd Base!

Dear Blog Reader,

I am not becoming a professional begger. This is the one major fund-raiser I participate in each year where I ask for cash donations. I will not bombard you with requests for money. I anticipate only having two or three posts before this year's fund-raising deadline so if you aren't interested in donating, please bear with me. I'll have a banner on my page for the next two weeks.

Please consider making a tax deductible donation.

Great strides have been made over the years in the treatment of breast cancer but a cure still doesn’t exist. The Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation is a leading force behind cancer research and awareness.

As some of you might know, I’ve been doing Weight Watchers for several years. I started participating on one of the Weight Watchers message boards for tips and support. In 2003, a bunch of my virtual friends from Weight Watchers decided to make an exercise goal of doing the Susan Komen 5K Race for the Cure in Boston. Not only was it a good way to exercise, it was an excellent cause. Many of the people on the message board, including myself, supported the team with donations and encouragement.

The next year, I and nearly 30 other women from all over the country went to Boston to join the original Team GDT. The year I joined, our team raised over $33,000 in donations.

Thanks to some amazing support, we raised almost $40,000 last year, placing 1st in the team rankings, and making Team GDT the nation’s top non-corporate fundraising team for Komen. Since our team began, we have raised over $125,000!

I am calling upon your generosity and support to help us raise as much money as possible to help find a cure. I am honored to wear the names of those you’d like to honor, support or memorialize on my shirt while I participate in the race. When you make your donation, please include those names or enter them in the comments section and I will wear them proudly.

Any amount, big or small, is GREATLY appreciated! So please, as you are willing and able, help me in my mission to create a life where my daughter and granddaughters never have to worry about a lump in their breast. Thank you for your time, support and generous donations! With your help, the fight will continue and a cure will be found!

Because of the public exposure of our team and the nature of the Internet, I prefer to not have my real name on the list. So, if you’d like to make a tax deductible donation, you can click on the link below to access the donation site.

Official Komen Site
After clicking the “Sponsor a Participant” button, type in the following:

First Name: Mz
Last Name: Grinch

There'll be a link to my donation page right below.

Or, you can use this quick link: I Like Boobies or click this banner.


TeamGDT has a website. Click on this banner and you can learn more about the team and bid on auction items.


The team also contributed recipes. An amazing woman on our team compiled those recipes into a beautiful cookbook. You can order the Team GDT cookbook, Eat for the Cure, directly from the publisher. Here's a picture of the front cover:



Much love and thanks in advance,
Ima Wurdibitsch aka MzGrinch aka Too Many Aliases to Mention

55 Fiction Friday! August 31, 2007

It's time again for 55 Fiction Friday!
Quick explanation: 55 fiction is a very, very short story of exactly 55 words. It needs to have a character, conflict and resolution.

The Wikipedia article on 55 Fiction is here and some great examples are here..

If you'd like to play along, I tell you how at the end of this post.

Katia contributes a 55:
Untitled
Crawling out from the darkness, she suddenly saw clearly. Her throat, raw from the intense smoke, her head ringing from the wail of the sirens. Finally, her senses were strong enough to reach for something to knock down the source of the wailing that rang unmercifully. Her toast ruined, she sought a slice of cheese.


MrWurdi writes:
Traveling Blues

My wife hates rodents. Well, really any small animal of questionable origin.

If it doesn't go woof, meow, or moo she gets all skeeved.

I feel horrible; every time we turn around her hands go up and she's screaming. They are everywhere - no way I can protect her here.

But the kids really love Disney!


Here's my 55 for this week:
Rescue!
“Keep digging! We have to dig deeper!”

The urgency and concern were evident in the voices of the workers. They’d been working hard but time was running out.

“Please, hurry! I know we can save them.”

No one was sure exactly what it would take but the team was determined. They must save the boobies*.



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Come play! Add your story to the comments or put it on your blog and I'll link to it. It's fun. You'll like it.
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*This year will be my third year participating in this race. In the next few days, I'm going to be blogging about the most wonderful group of people and what's being done to find a cure for breast cancer.