Archive for September, 2009

Bloggers for More Birthdays

Posted by Birthday Cate on September 30, 2009 in General

MoreBirthdays_blogbadgeIn a continuing effort to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays, the American Cancer Society Blogger Advisory Council — a group of prominent bloggers dedicated to harnessing the power of women in the blogosphere to fight cancer — conceived the Bloggers for More Birthdays blog chain. The blog chain will be an ongoing conversation in the social media space to generate awareness and inspire action around cancer issues. We’re kicking it off today with a simple “Dedicate and Celebrate” theme — we’re dedicating our blog posts to someone we love who’s been affected by cancer.  It’s a simple way to celebrate those you love.

We’d love for you to add your voice too — just write a post, grab the special “Bloggers for More Birthdays” badge, and know that whatever you write, you’re raising awareness and inspiring others to create a world with more birthdays and less cancer with the American Cancer Society (and gaining visibility for your blog too!).  There’s nothing more inspiring and healing than sharing our stories. Don’t forget to come back to our special blog chain page to share what you’ve written.

To kick off this special effort, blogger Julie Pippert, a member of the Blogger Council, creator of the blog Julie Pippert: Using My Words and contributor to Momocrats and Motherhood.com has written this beautiful dedication post. We are grateful for her support and the support of the entire council. I can’t wait to see where this conversation goes.

Celebrating More Birthdays

It was days, really, between learning my friend was being sent home, cancer treatment suspended, and learning she had passed away. Sadly, the first symptom came well after the cancer had already metastasized and spread. They began intensive treatment, aggressive. It was hard on her, but she had a lot to live for: loving family, loving friends, and two beautiful children, as well as all of her work, including a book she authored for children about children on the autism spectrum. That was her: a do-er.

She was the sort of person you could picture growing older, still doing. I could even picture her forty years from now blowing out a cake full of candles. In my imagination, over her cake, her hair was still bright, as it was before she got sick. She’d do that, I knew, keep herself looking nice. She’d have a big smile, and she’d tell everyone they shouldn’t have made such a fuss, but everyone would ignore her because they knew she was deeply touched — family and family times were everything. I wished that for her with all my heart.

When I got the message she was gone, I denied it. I didn’t believe it until I read her obituary in the paper. I left a comment on the online memorial. I spoke about what a fantastic person she was. I spoke about how heartbreaking a loss it was. I mentioned nothing of my anger.

The next day, I went for a run. My feet pounded the track in fury. The hot Texas summer sun pounded me back, just as brutal as my anger. I hate this, I thought, I hate this day. My children had been surly, uncooperative, and cranky. The day was intolerably hot and humid. The sun was relentless. I pulled myself along the straight stretch before a curve that took me along the water.

My iPod stumbled out of my pacing songs and Falling Slowly came on. I nearly clicked to the next song, but the lyrics caught and tugged at my grief. We’ve still got time…the song trilled. But my friend doesn’t, I thought, my friend hasn’t got more time. Why not? I knew how she’d feel about that, and that she’d be of two minds, and unapologetic. That’s how she was. She called it like it was. But she also called blessings for what they were too. I felt ashamed of my ingratitude: for having known her, for all the gifts I received from her, for the beautiful children she brought into the world and would not get to see grow up, for the fact that I had today, another day with my children even if they were cranky and I was grief-stricken and miserably hot.

I took the curve in the track a little slowly and I thought hard about her. She’d have loved this hot day. She’d have loved to be healthy and bickering with her children about getting ready for day camp. She would have loved having this day, I knew. And I wanted to give her to, a late or early birthday gift, depending upon how you looked at it.

Here it is, I thought with my mind and heart, here is this day, another day, one you would have liked, one that was hot, one that was about being a mom, one that was about making  a healthy choice. I sent the experience of the day up and out, and away to her. And a little bit of grief fell away from my heart.

She may not have another birthday, but I do. She may not get to celebrate another birthday with her kids, but I can. And I can send the appreciation and joy from that to her.

My friend, and all the other friends, mothers, sisters, daughters, brothers, fathers, husbands, wives – all the other people who have gone, or are still here fighting, or stand beside someone fighting cancer – are why I joined the American Cancer Society’s More Birthdays effort. I can take a page from my friend’s book and be a do-er. I can celebrate and recognize that every birthday is a blessing.

Join the American Cancer Society in the effort to celebrate More Birthdays. All you need to do is dedicate a blog post to someone you love who has been affected by cancer and celebrate their lives. You can check out other posts on the American Cancer Society’s Birthday Blog for inspiration, but know that whatever you write, you’re raising awareness and inspiring others to join ACS in the fight against cancer. It would also help if you could host the badge on your blog (or Facebook page, or MySpace Page) to encourage others to join.

Happy Birthday.

Celebrating More Birthdays

Posted by Julie Pippert on September 30, 2009 in Bloggers for More Birthdays

Julie Pippert is a member of the American Cancer Society Blogger Advisory Council, creator of the blog Julie Pippert: Using My Words and contributor to Momocrats and Motherhood.com.

It was days, really, between learning my friend was being sent home, cancer treatment suspended, and learning she had passed away. Sadly, the first symptom came well after the cancer had already metastasized and spread. They began intensive treatment, aggressive. It was hard on her, but she had a lot to live for: loving family, loving friends, and two beautiful children, as well as all of her work, including a book she authored for children about children on the autism spectrum. That was her: a do-er.

She was the sort of person you could picture growing older, still doing. I could even picture her forty years from now blowing out a cake full of candles. In my imagination, over her cake, her hair was still bright, as it was before she got sick. She’d do that, I knew, keep herself looking nice. She’d have a big smile, and she’d tell everyone they shouldn’t have made such a fuss, but everyone would ignore her because they knew she was deeply touched — family and family times were everything. I wished that for her with all my heart.

When I got the message she was gone, I denied it. I didn’t believe it until I read her obituary in the paper. I left a comment on the online memorial. I spoke about what a fantastic person she was. I spoke about how heartbreaking a loss it was. I mentioned nothing of my anger.

The next day, I went for a run. My feet pounded the track in fury. The hot Texas summer sun pounded me back, just as brutal as my anger. I hate this, I thought, I hate this day. My children had been surly, uncooperative, and cranky. The day was intolerably hot and humid. The sun was relentless. I pulled myself along the straight stretch before a curve that took me along the water.

My iPod stumbled out of my pacing songs and Falling Slowly came on. I nearly clicked to the next song, but the lyrics caught and tugged at my grief. We’ve still got time…the song trilled. But my friend doesn’t, I thought, my friend hasn’t got more time. Why not? I knew how she’d feel about that, and that she’d be of two minds, and unapologetic. That’s how she was. She called it like it was. But she also called blessings for what they were too. I felt ashamed of my ingratitude: for having known her, for all the gifts I received from her, for the beautiful children she brought into the world and would not get to see grow up, for the fact that I had today, another day with my children even if they were cranky and I was grief-stricken and miserably hot.

I took the curve in the track a little slowly and I thought hard about her. She’d have loved this hot day. She’d have loved to be healthy and bickering with her children about getting ready for day camp. She would have loved having this day, I knew. And I wanted to give her to, a late or early birthday gift, depending upon how you looked at it.

Here it is, I thought with my mind and heart, here is this day, another day, one you would have liked, one that was hot, one that was about being a mom, one that was about making  a healthy choice. I sent the experience of the day up and out, and away to her. And a little bit of grief fell away from my heart.

She may not have another birthday, but I do. She may not get to celebrate another birthday with her kids, but I can. And I can send the appreciation and joy from that to her.

My friend, and all the other friends, mothers, sisters, daughters, brothers, fathers, husbands, wives – all the other people who have gone, or are still here fighting, or stand beside someone fighting cancer – are why I joined the American Cancer Society’s More Birthdays effort. I can take a page from my friend’s book and be a do-er. I can celebrate and recognize that every birthday is a blessing.

Join the American Cancer Society in the effort to celebrate More Birthdays. All you need to do is dedicate a blog post to someone you love who has been affected by cancer and celebrate their lives.
You can check out other posts on the American Cancer Society’s Birthday Blog for inspiration, but know that whatever you write, you’re raising awareness and inspiring others to join ACS in the fight against cancer.
It would also help if you could host the badge on your blog (or Facebook page, or
MySpace Page) to encourage others to join.

Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday Wallace and Gromit

Posted by Josh on September 30, 2009 in General

thumb-wallace-gromit-sidecarIt’s hard to believe that it’s really been 20 years since the claymation pair made their debut in the British short film A Grand Day Out, but what started off as a student production went on to entertain children (and adults) around the world. Paste Magazine has a great salute to the series, and here’s an excerpt:

Begun while director Nick Park was still in college, theWallace and Gromit series is likely the most successful franchise ever built out of a student film. That the film “A Grand Day Out” went on to an Academy Award nomination at the same time as another of Park’s works, the equally surreal “Creature Comforts,” is a testament to just how good Park was right out of the gate, appearing in even his earliest works as a fully-formed artist in a way that’s pretty rare for any medium, let alone one which requires the shear level of craft as animation. Since then, the Wallace and Gromitpictures have gone on to win three Academy Awards as well as pretty much every other award offered to animated films under the sun. Not bad, considering that the series has only had one feature film and, frankly, it’s not even the series’ strong point.

Happy birthday Wallace and Gromit. Keep enjoying the Wensleydale cheese and here’s to many more!

As 50th birthday approaches, Simon Cowell writes letter to his younger self

Posted by Josh on September 29, 2009 in General

simon-cowell2Ahead of his 50th birthday next week, Simon Cowell got introspective and published a lengthy letter to his younger self in the UK’s Daily Mail. In the letter, he looked back on the past few decades, scolding himself for poor decisions, and patting himself on the back for good ones.

“You are on a roll and you think the good times will last forever but, oh dear, Simon. You are so, so wrong,” he writes to the 1980s version of himself. “You look like a complete idiot…you are overconfident, far too cocky and dressed from head to toe in expensive designer gear…It hasn’t dawned on you yet, you idiot, that you can’t afford any of this stuff.”

Of course, toward the end he’s a bit nicer to himself:

“I must say, despite everything, I’m quite proud of you, Simon,” he says. “You’re happy, you’re content and just incredibly grateful for where you are.”

I must admit this is a nice idea – taking a step back on a milestone birthday and looking at what you’ve accomplished as well as the stuff that didn’t work out so well. Of course, mine probably wouldn’t be published in the Daily Mail, but oh well. :) Here’s to many more birthdays, Simon.

Tip Tuesday: Birthday parties for the older crowd

Posted by Josh on September 29, 2009 in Tip Tuesday

433128_grandmas_birthdayDuring the past week we’ve been talking a lot about birthdays involving some pretty lofty numbers (whether it was Astrid Thoenig who turned 100 at work or Walter Breuning who became the world’s oldest man at 113). So that got me thinking … we really need some party tips for the slightly older crowd, because there’s no such thing as having too many candles to light. Here’s a great idea I came across from lifetips.com:

Photos from Days Gone By

Ask each of the guests to bring photos of themselves with the birthday person from years ago. For instance, if the person is celebrating their 60th birthday, ask guests to bring a photo of themselves when they were together in college, or were coworkers, etc. Makes for great memories and lots of talking over of old times.

Even if you’ve had more birthdays than you care to remember, there’s no reason you can’t party with the best of them. Here’s to many more good times and birthdays to come.

Birthday parties for teens: The guide – Pt. 1

Posted by Josh on September 28, 2009 in Teen Birthday Guide

316751-main_FullKids parties aren’t necessarily simple, but there’s definitely a logic to them: baking a cake, playing pin the tail on the donkey, letting them run around in the back yard etc. But once they hit their teen years the logic goes out the window, and many parents are left scratching their heads. Luckily, we’re pulling together a comprehensive guide on how to  throw your teen a party they’ll love and you can manage.

For our first installment we’re covering planning, because having a solid plan and starting the process early will save you countless headaches as the party draws closer. Here’s some tips from about.com:

3 Months Before the Teen Birthday Party

Make the basic decisions. How large will the party be? Can you have it at home or do you need a bigger space? Secure the location. What day and time will the party be? What does your teen want? What are the rules? Are guests bringing gifts? Are family going to be a part of this party or is it a friends party with a family get-together at another time? These questions need answered before you plan anything else.

Plan the budget. How much will your teen be allowed to spend totally? Do this job together. Take that figure and split it between the expenses for decorations, food and activities – plus the location if the party is not at home.

Choose a teen birthday party theme. Is your party going to be a spa sleepover or a pool side bash? While a theme isn’t always needed, it can help you and your guests choose what to wear and sets the tone for the teen party.

Invite the guests. After you have confirmed the date and time for the party, your teen will need to get invitations ready. Be sure to make a list of all those invited complete with phone number and column that can be checked off if they are attending or not. If you do not want the guest list to multiply, write on the invitation whether or not guest is allowed to bring a guest. Send out the invitations at least two weeks before the party, but four weeks is best. You can use one of our free printable birthday invitations.

Have the invitation list readily available at your home phone so that anyone can check it off when someone calls. Parents should be ready to answer questions that other parents may ask. You’ll want to keep this list handy at the party too, incase you need the phone numbers.

Check back regularly for more installments in our guide to teen birthday parties. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave a comment and we’ll answer them. Here’s to more sanity for party planners, and many more birthdays.

The history of the balloon

Posted by Josh on September 28, 2009 in General

index_01Kids love them, they make a party a party, but have you ever wondered where they come from? After a bit of digging, it turns out that balloons have a long, interesting history:

Balloons started out as entrails or bowels filled with air, and the Aztecs were actually the first people in history to make animals out of them.

The first rubber balloons were made by Professor Michael Faraday in 1824 for use in his experiments with hydrogen at the Royal Institution in London. `The caoutchouc is exceedingly elastic’, he wrote in the Quarterly Journal of Science the same year. `Bags made of it…have been expanded by having air forced into them, until the caoutchouc was quite transparent, and when expanded by hydrogen they were so light as to form balloons with considerable ascending power….’ Faraday made his balloons by cutting round two sheets of rubber laid together and pressing the edges together. The tacky rubber welded automatically, and the inside of the balloon was rubbed with flour to prevent the opposing surfaces joining together.

Toy balloons were introduced by pioneer rubber manufacturer Thomas Hancock the following year in the form of a do-it-yourself kit consisting of a bottle of rubber solution and a condensing syringe.

You can find much more on the history of balloons by checking out balloonhq.com. Who would have thought that something so seemingly simple had such a fascinating history. Here’s to many more years of balloons… the rubber ones that is.

‘Tighty-whiteys’ turn 75

Posted by Josh on September 27, 2009 in General

jockey25p8It must have been an odd event – 350 people gathered, looked into the camera, and shouted “Briefs!”. The 350 people were employees of Jockey International Inc., and they were celebrating the 75th anniversary of the invention of men’s briefs.

Otherwise known as “Tighty-whiteys”, briefs were invented after an executive of the company received a postcard from the French Riviera showing a man wearing a bikini-style swimsuit. The executive, Arthur Kneibler, thought the style would work as underwear, and a legend was born.

But how does one celebrate the birthday of an underwear type? The Milwaukee Sentinel was there to report:

The celebration at the company’s Kenosha headquarters included a fried chicken lunch, a ceremonial signing by employees of several pairs of the largest briefs Jockey makes (waist size: 60), and the group photo. Everyone received free mini-brief key rings and folding chairs, which they used to view an outdoor “Jockey’s got talent” show in the park across from the headquarters.

So here’s to the venerable “tighty-whitey” (I never thought I’d say that), and many more birthdays.

NJ woman celebrates 100th birthday… at work!

Posted by Josh on September 26, 2009 in General

Working at 100Yes, you read that right, Astrid Thoenig turned 100 with an office party. While so many others her age might be retired or living in a nursing home, Astrid’s still plugging away. And her current job is her favorite, working alongside her son and grandson at the family-owned insurance company. Her son jokes “I’m 67, and one of our jokes is: ‘How can I retire before my mother does?’”

“If you had to pick a dramatic century to live, it has to be Astrid’s,” her grandson told the AP. “The invention of the automobile and the airplane, television and computers, the moon landing and two world wars. 1780 to 1880 would have seen changes from a musket to a rifle.”

Thoenig says “thinking young” has helped her take a century’s worth of technological changes in stride. The daughter of Swedish immigrants, she credits her strong constitution, a wonderful family and getting up every day to get dressed and go to work with keeping her mind sharp.

I hope that at 100 I’m still spry enough to head into work each morning. My hat’s off to Astrid for breaking the mold and showing us that 100 is the new 80. Happy Birthday Astrid, and here’s to many more!

Fun Fact Friday: The Bill of Rights turns 220

Posted by Josh on September 25, 2009 in Fun Fact Friday

bill-of-rightsOn September 25, 1789 – 220 years ago today – First Federal Congress of the United States proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution. While the first 2 were not ratified, the rest would go on to be known as the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution containing guarantees of essential rights and liberties.

Today you can find the Bill of Rights at the national archives in Washington D.C., but how did they get there? Here’s an interesting bit from the National Archives Web site:

On December 13, 1952, the Constitution and the Declaration were placed in helium-filled cases, enclosed in wooden crates, laid on mattresses in an armored Marine Corps personnel carrier, and escorted by ceremonial troops, 2 tanks, and 4 servicemen carrying submachine guns down Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues to the National Archives.

To learn more about the Bill of Rights, see a high-definition copy, and read a full history, visit the National Archives Web site. Here’s to many more years of rights and freedom.