Do It

Click on lemons for more info

2008 Kansas City Lemonade Stands for National Lemonade Days
Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th
10 am to 6 pm
All 25 metro area HyVee Grocery Stores

If you're in the KC area this coming weekend, please stop by your local HyVee and give to this worthy cause. If you're not in KC, look for them in your area...or you can donate online.

Alex Scott
Hero
(click on pic of Alex for video...and grab a tissue)

Here is the story of how these lemonade stands started:

In 2000, a 4 year old cancer patient named Alexandra "Alex" Scott announced a seemingly simple idea -she was holding a lemonade stand to raise money to help "her doctors" find a cure for kids with cancer. The idea was put into action by Alex and her older brother, Patrick, when they set up the first "Alex's Lemonade Stand for Childhood Cancer" on their front lawn in July of 2000.

For the next four years, despite her deteriorating health, Alex held an annual lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. Following her inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands and other fund-raising events have been held across the country by children, schools, businesses, and organizations, all to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for childhood cancer.

On August 1st, 2004, Alex died peacefully at the age of 8 -- she had raised over $1 million for childhood cancer research in her short lifetime.

Alex's spirited determination to raise awareness and money for all childhood cancer while she bravely fought her own deadly battle with cancer has inspired thousands of people, from all walks of life to raise money and give to her cause. Alex's family and supporters are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501c3 charity. As of June 2008, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised over $19 million for childhood cancer research. The result -- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation has given millions of dollars for childhood cancer research across the country!

Lemonade Blog

Children's book about Alex
and the lemonade stands

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Lightning causes fire in KC ~ 6/3/08

(click on pic to enlarge...it's cool)

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Evil in a bag

I heard about these chips from some Canadian bloggers. I guess ketchup chips are a staple in Canada. I looked for awhile but couldn't find them in KC so finally I gave up.

And then I stumbled upon them in the K-Mart in Olathe earlier this week. I was practically jumping up and down in the store.
They are good. I like them...way too much. I don't normally even buy any chips other than tortilla chips. Canada is smart, but they need to keep their addictive, unhealthy, evil chips to themselves. So so bad, but still...you should try them.

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I am feeling pretty good this week despite the fact that my counts are in the danger zone. Funny how that works.

Thanks to everyone for their continued prayers, love, and support. I got a pretty big response from my 'Free of Me' post last week.

I could sugar coat things, or live in denial...but that's just not my style. I don't think it's healthy or that it does any of us any good.

I am basically an open book and I have always believed that talking and/or writing about things openly and honestly is the best therapy. I don't want to scare or hurt anyone with what I say about how I am feeling or what is happening to me, but...cancer is scary, especially this Stage 4 crap.

I can't always think about how what I say here will affect others. I can't always be positive or censor things. I have to be real. This is my life, my story, my truth. It's not pretty, but it is mine. Most times, what I share here is just the tip of the iceberg.

I think Deb in Alaska said it really well in her blog:

I am basically a positive person, but I think too much stress is added to a cancer patient’s life when they are told they have to stay positive all the time. I had pessimistic days before I got cancer. I still have them now. I think it is normal and healthy to acknowledge the fear, stress and sadness a cancer diagnosis brings. As the article suggests, there are certainly days I would rather give cancer the middle finger than a thumbs up!

Especially since my mets diagnosis, I have tried very hard to be honest about how I’m feeling. I try to give an honest answer to the inevitable “How are you” questions. I don’t think it does either me, or the person asking good to just reply "Fine".

Ditto on what she said...I could not agree more. Two middle fingers from me though. I'm not so nice.

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I have been spending a lot of time away from the computer. I spent time with Toye on Thursday, Cathi on Friday, and Carie last night; smelled the roses at Loose Park; hung out with Paul watching the storms roll in; ran errands; napped.

Loose Park

If you live in KC and haven't been to Loose Park...GO! Especially now while the roses are in their full glory. Loose Park is one of my favorite places in KC...year-round.

Toye and I went to Joe D's in Brookside and discovered the pleasure of sitting on their patio with a cool glass of Riesling (my favorite summer wine) and some yummy appetizers.

Carie and I went to Carmen's (my favorite restaurant...also in Brookside), and discovered the pleasure of arriving during a downpour, watching lightning all around us, splitting a bottle of Riesling, and eating some of the best chicken spidini ever.

Carmen's Chicken Spidini

(definitely DO IT)

Tonight (or tomorrow night) I am going out for chinese with Cathi. No worries about my weight getting too low these days.

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Other upcoming summer stuff:

6/10 - Girls' Day w/Toye & Steph
6/11 - Chemo, Michelle & Cathi's b-day, Sean & Amanda in KC
6/15 - Father's Day
6/20 - Girl's W-end w/Vinda, Terri, Michelle & Kim
7/02 - Chemo
7/13 - Kori's b-day, Family Vacation in Arkansas
7/21 - Toye's b-day
7/22 - Becky's b-day, Tom Petty concert w/Cathi
7/23 - Chemo
8/10 - Race for the Cure
8/12 - Chemo

More good times ahead for Kelly.

Enjoy your summer!!!

Some Summer Songs...a little sumpin
for (almost) everyone:

Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald

Hot Fun in the Summertime - Sly & the Family Stone

In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry

Summertime Rolls - Puracane
(Jane's Addiction cover)

Summertime - The Sundays

Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams

Summer in the City - Lovin' Spoonful

Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks

Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft

Long Hot Summer Nights - Jimi Hendrix

Cruel Summer - Bananarama

Summer Nights - Grease

Girls in Their Summer Clothes - Bruce Springsteen

All Summer Long - Kid Rock

Indian Summer - The Doors

Doin' Time - Sublime

Summer Soft - Stevie Wonder

It's Summertime - The Flaming Lips