Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Black Mountain
This afternoon I summitted Black Mountain, along with my mom and Abs. At the top there was a beautiful view of the Bay, even with the dark clouds overhead. The hike was just under 6 miles, and we saw an astounding 24 deer scampering about! Great way to end the week and head into the weekend...
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
What the World Needs Now, is Love, Sweet Love...
it's the only thing, that there's just, too little of....
The past few days I've been grappling with the loss of my grandmother, Mary Kilroy. The last time I saw her, we sang this song together......
It's never fun to lose someone you love so much. You always wish you had more time. It's always too soon. A life too short. Unfair. Irreplaceable. Your Grandma plays such a unique role in your life, always rooting for you, ready to have fun, to indulge and splurge with all the love and joy a grandmother has for a granddaughter. The pressure is off, no need to impress, no judgements, just love. The loss of a grandmother really hits you hard. Both of my grandmas have very, very special places in my heart. Grandma and I got really close in the last few years, and I will remember and cherish those moments for the rest of my life. I am so blessed to have such loving family. Grandma you are missed and loved. Whenever I eat my butterscotch squares, use my tea kettle or salad spinner, wear my cute Michael Korr skirt suits, travel with one too many bags, read a good book, catch an awesome sale at the mall, or watch a really good cooking show, you know I"ll be thinking of all the wonderful moments we've shared together. Love you. Here's a memory from our post-LA makeovers....
The past few days I've been grappling with the loss of my grandmother, Mary Kilroy. The last time I saw her, we sang this song together......
It's never fun to lose someone you love so much. You always wish you had more time. It's always too soon. A life too short. Unfair. Irreplaceable. Your Grandma plays such a unique role in your life, always rooting for you, ready to have fun, to indulge and splurge with all the love and joy a grandmother has for a granddaughter. The pressure is off, no need to impress, no judgements, just love. The loss of a grandmother really hits you hard. Both of my grandmas have very, very special places in my heart. Grandma and I got really close in the last few years, and I will remember and cherish those moments for the rest of my life. I am so blessed to have such loving family. Grandma you are missed and loved. Whenever I eat my butterscotch squares, use my tea kettle or salad spinner, wear my cute Michael Korr skirt suits, travel with one too many bags, read a good book, catch an awesome sale at the mall, or watch a really good cooking show, you know I"ll be thinking of all the wonderful moments we've shared together. Love you. Here's a memory from our post-LA makeovers....
Friday, October 15, 2010
Platelet Donation
The last time I donated blood, I asked the nurse to check if I was eligible to donate platelets. A very small percentage of people are eligible to donate, for a variety of reasons, including prior pregnancies. too small, not enough iron, cytomegalovirus, travel exposures, I could keep going...
A week later I received a call from a very nice woman who was just SO excited to inform me I was an eligible platelet donor. Her words were "there are so few of you out there, I'm so glad you're eligible. You can give every 2 weeks!"
This evening was my first platelet donation. First impression: they take more care of you, give you selections of dvds, a nice tv with headphones, sweet deal. It takes longer than a whole blood donation, but that means I can settle in and read for a while. The platelet process is strange. Whenever I donate blood, I always think of the scene in the StarTrek movie where they enter a hospital on Earth for a sick man who is about to undergo brain surgery, the Space doctors are outraged at the barbaric, ancient care and use a laser to heal him instantly. It makes me think about how in the future, hopefully we'll have synthetic platelets and blood, and we won't need centers all around the country leeching blood from willing donors...The process really is oldschool when you think about it. Nonetheless, the platelet machine is a fancy centrifuge with a lot of dials and ringing bells. It felt very strange feeling blood pushing through my veins back into my body. I also felt a little strange in general after giving, but I'm doing alright.
Why do I give platelets you ask? In honor of my lovely grandmother, who is very fortunate to be the recipient of weekly platelet infusions. And all the other family members, mothers, fathers, daughters, cousins, grandfathers, who wouldn't be here today without platelets. I may not be a doctor yet, but I'm finding ways to contribute to treatment and care in my own way...
So, next time you give blood, check if you can give platelets. It really is a blessing.
A week later I received a call from a very nice woman who was just SO excited to inform me I was an eligible platelet donor. Her words were "there are so few of you out there, I'm so glad you're eligible. You can give every 2 weeks!"
This evening was my first platelet donation. First impression: they take more care of you, give you selections of dvds, a nice tv with headphones, sweet deal. It takes longer than a whole blood donation, but that means I can settle in and read for a while. The platelet process is strange. Whenever I donate blood, I always think of the scene in the StarTrek movie where they enter a hospital on Earth for a sick man who is about to undergo brain surgery, the Space doctors are outraged at the barbaric, ancient care and use a laser to heal him instantly. It makes me think about how in the future, hopefully we'll have synthetic platelets and blood, and we won't need centers all around the country leeching blood from willing donors...The process really is oldschool when you think about it. Nonetheless, the platelet machine is a fancy centrifuge with a lot of dials and ringing bells. It felt very strange feeling blood pushing through my veins back into my body. I also felt a little strange in general after giving, but I'm doing alright.
Why do I give platelets you ask? In honor of my lovely grandmother, who is very fortunate to be the recipient of weekly platelet infusions. And all the other family members, mothers, fathers, daughters, cousins, grandfathers, who wouldn't be here today without platelets. I may not be a doctor yet, but I'm finding ways to contribute to treatment and care in my own way...
So, next time you give blood, check if you can give platelets. It really is a blessing.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Best part of my week
Was this evening, Abbey and I ran and hiked in Arastradero and had the wonderful gift of seeing seven beautiful deer on the trails... By far, the best part of my week! What would I do without a great sister and the outdoors?
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