What if Jewel gave blood while eating a Subway sandwich while blogging about it?

Its 5:08 am

  Running on fumes as I had a rugged day getting only 2 hours of sleep the past 24....and I am no Jack Bauer.

(Jim Davis)

  Like to thank everyone who came and supported my first Blog Hop...so many kind comments,really warms my heart. I do think that some folks either couldn't grasp the reason behind my writing or they were on cruise control in dropping a comment...it left me a little flustered. But overall it,it was a positive experience and I hope Tiffany and Brad will follow through and do a blog hop as well. Lisa gets a pass because its rather hard trying to write during a chemotherapy cycle. I know which chemo she is on and its not a very pleasant ride..
Maybe with her permission,I can do a blog hop in her name and post it on here.


  Its 11:42 pm

   Still working on my newest "8 Questions with....." interview,its going to be slightly larger then the normal sized ones as this person has a lot to say and I want to provide the space for them. Its one of the advantages  of doing interviews in a blog,one is having someone not only write their own answers but also being able to be flexible in the size of the interview.
   This will be the biggest "name" interview I have done here on this blog so I am wanting to do everything correctly,it could lead to more heavyweights actually agreeing to talk with me on here and I would really like that to happen. With this interview,I am hoping it will open the doors to that.


   While out promoting my blog,I have stumbled across a weird trend...people are now getting products from companies to push their goods. Bloggers are becoming paid hacks to tell us how awesome some companies new products are. They have disclaimers up stating they have been paid or been a product for free to write about it. Now I can understand doing this maybe on a 1-2 times a month but on a daily basis? That is not writing nor is it blogging. I am only mentioning this because on some blogging PR groups,we are encouraged to share our blog while visiting others and dropping a comment as well. It just seems all of a sudden I am reading more about how company's new diaper is catching 89% more poop then last year's diaper or how exciting that the new shoelaces they got from someone not only will help keep your shoes on but in a pinch,can be used to defuse a nuclear bomb.

(Adam Sandler in "Happy Gilmore")

  I find myself trying to relate to this and coming up short,I am supposed to be supporting other writers/bloggers but feel like I am in a Adam Sandler movie (Adam's films are the king of product placement)
reading about stuff I will never try. I think there can be a happy balance between writing about products and writing about things that really matter to you,places you have been and how cute your kids,husband,wife,cat are in your daily life.
   Am I being a bit too harsh or do I have a legitimate complaint? I welcome your feedback both pro and con.

   Lately I have been on a serious Jewel kick,listening to her greatest hits album while I have been blogging as of late. I don't know how to explain this other then suddenly her voice speaks to me. This happens to me when I listen to a handful of artists like Barbara Manning,Sarah Brightman,Penelope Houston,Dave Alvin and as late,Paramore.
   So it was pretty sad to sign on and see that she and Ty Murray are divorcing...quite shocking actually as many (including myself) thought that was a til death do us part type of marriage. Maybe she got tired of staying on the ranch,she still has a lot music in her and I just couldn't see her fade away to small concert tours and an a TV appearance here and there. Jewel just needs to go back to listening to her voice...it was maddening watching others trying to twist her into a sexy pop singer and then reshape her as a country singer
  She needs to forget the imaging part and trust in her songwriting which as always been her strength as a artist,not her figure or trying to please everyone except herself.
  I am sorry for both Ty and her because on paper,it really seemed quite a good match...

Today I had a appointment to give my 5th pint of blood. I drove to the Red Cross donation site and checked in. I had drank a ton of water as they always ask you to do so after I checked in,I had to use the restroom(because once you get hooked up,you are hooked up) and then get my blood tested.
Lo and behold,my hemoglobin was too low....I don't eat a lot of red meat but I do take a multi-vitamin every day so I was a little confused why it would be low....turns out when I switched from coffee to tea,that tea absorbs the iron and lowers your hemoglobin. Oh I still drink coffee but its more as a treat now then everyday. With my sleep already shot to ribbons,tea is a better way to go for me...unless I want to donate blood. The nurse suggested "no tea" for a week before donating,that seems logical and so the Red Cross calls me back,I will be ready.


  I have a new Pink Hat mission for July. I am asking you all to collect any books/novels that you have read and calling a local hospital,senior center,hospice or VA center to donate them. I recently had a chance to donate a large bag of books that I got in turn from someone else. The books are going to a large church parking lot sale. I decided that would be a good idea for a mission and so July that is what I am doing and I am hoping some of you will join me on this.
To learn more about the Pink Hat,click the link here to see the history behind the missions.






Well that is it for me,sorry its a bit of a short entry....but I will try and do better next time...

Oh....before I go, it seems like a very sweet woman who has supported many people through her various acts of kindness,once again stepped into the breach when she saw a woman in distress.  I first met Michelle Ball through our mutual friendship with the two Amys...journalist Amy Lange and Amy Neilson,who was fighting recurrent breast cancer.
   When Lori got sick with her own uterine cancer,Michelle extended her kindness and friendship to me as well,talking with me and supporting my family at Lori's funeral.
I had a chance to return some of that kindness when Michelle's beloved dog crossed the Rainbow Bridge and we chatted on the phone.
So when I saw this story about Michelle, I wasn't surprised at all by it because it was so her. She is an amazing young lady who helped a lot women through the years.

Only kindness matters


If you are on Twitter,follow me sweater monkeys or perish at @Jinzo_2400

Next entry up will be guest blogger Alexandria Ingham.


Shout outs

Miguel Diaz - Thanks for the refreshing talk,we may not see eye to eye but at least we listened to each other.
Barb - thank you again!
Sue - and thank you as well. That was a nice treat tonight.
Cheryl - I was going to write about your friend but I am going to wait...hoping Jerry and you have a nice vacation!
USA Today - San Jose State at No.76? I think we can do better and outside Auburn,we can win every game.
Lisa Adams - Light and love to you.
Dominic - We need to kidnap Rome for a SyFy Creature movie marathon!
Dollar Tree - About time you had a DVD sale! I was running lowish on Dollar Tree Theater flicks
Angie H - Happy birthday again detective!
Tiffany and Brad - Hope you will do the blog hop!
Derek Jeter- All Star.....yep,that is about right!

Acts of Kindness

Its 10:20 am

   Been a restful evening here...it was a chilly and overcast day here in SE Michigan. I was woke up by a 12 pound ball of purring cat in my ear again. Paladin is enjoying sleeping on a dining room chair at night but dashing up and cuddling up in the morning. He is a very loving cat and I can't help but think of his old owners,their carelessness in letting such a great cat go outside to be lost is tragic. He still runs at the sound of a door opening but I pick him and talk sugar to him while leading him away from the door.



 As you may know,I am all about paying it forward. I think that random acts of kindness are one of the things that is sorely lacking in this world. Right now at work,I am being subjected to ACTS of kindness by a gracious lady named Barb. What started out as "pick up me a Dr. Pepper and I'll pay you back" which was declined,has grown into getting a bowl of homemade chicken soup a week and a sandwich a couple of times a week. I have offered to pay but the Manning Rule (thanks again,Todd!) has been invoked. I have tried paying her back many times,including asking someone else to slip the cash into her apron. Of course it was top secret and when Barb found the money,she asked the person who gave her this...which in turn,my asset,burned me and sold me out. Barb walked over and said "No,this is yours".
  Being that I am living on the edge as so many of us are doing,I am very grateful for the meals. Its very touching to know that someone is doing such a unselfish act for me. And in this day,when it all it seems that people just want to "take",its truly is awesome to give.
  Which brings me to this,yesterday saw me heading to Target for some cat supplies. I needed a new pooper scooper,a scratch pad,some catnip and whatever else I might have seen.
  While I am standing there in the cat food section,a man is on the phone asking what kind of cat food to get. I wait til he finishes his call and asked him if he needed help. He said "yes" so I spent 10 minutes explaining the differences between cat food. He asked several questions and I was pretty much able to answer them all and gave a couple of suggestions I picked up from Cat Fancy Magazine.

  I finished getting my items and headed up to check out. Again,here is where Barb came into play. She had generously gifted me a 15.00 gift card for Target before Derek Jeter passed away,I had planned on using that for cat litter but instead,I used it for Paladin's new items.
  The cashier was new and when she bagged my items,she made top heavy...and one bag spilled on the floor. As I bent over to pick it up a young woman's voice  asked "Do you need help,sir?" I picked up the bag and turned to look at a young couple with their daughter. They were in line waiting to buy some kids clothes and a couple of toys. I smiled and said "No,but thank you so much for asking". Its sad that this stands out because 99.9% of people would have said nothing to me or anyone else for that matter.
 As I was now paying for my items,I saw the toys and clothes. I looked at the parents again,they seemed a like a nice couple and the father was doting on his daughter.
  I reached over and selected a clothes item and a toy and said I like to repay your kindness. The young mom said "You don't have to do that" but I said "I know,which is why I want to". She then introduced herself and her husband,Starr and Tom, and said "Thank you!".
The amount that was rung up? 15.00......the same amount on the gift card. I said good-bye and headed home.
  Paladin was waiting for me at the window...I called his name and he started meowing and purring. I can't get over such a huge purr in a small cat!



   Kudos to Michelle Wolford Ball whose 5th Annual Bras for a Cause was another major success. The event,which raises awareness for breast cancer,is a labor of love for her both for the loss of a beloved friend but also a celebration of life as well. Michelle herself is a breast cancer survivor (as is Lori's best friend,Deb...the lady who went with me to the Memorial service which I blogged about) and works tirelessly to support others with breast cancer or in our case,uterine cancer.
  You'll note that the show was hosted by our own Amy Lange (seriously,when do Michael and Amy ever rest?) who gives back so much to our community. While I had originally planned to attend this event,the UM Memorial came a week before this and I don't think I would handled two events back to back. Besides,I think there larger forces at work,if I had gone to the show,I would have missed out on meeting and adopting Paladin. But next year,count me in 100%,Michelle!.




That is it....I know,two entries in a week! Feels great to get back in the saddle...


Shout-outs

Huron Valley Humane Shelter - Thank you very much for helping me find Paladin. He is a wonderful cat!
Barb- I can't thank you enough,I am very grateful.
Rob W - Thanks for the late night chat,you will always be a Hall of Famer in my book
Kim and Angie - you rock
Melanie and Terrie - Angels!!
Kerri - I can't wait to squeak!
Brad - How about those Pirates and Roberto is one of my heroes as well.
Bene - How about beating the Warriors this week! Can't do it without you!
Wendy- So nice to reconnect again on Twitter,you are doing wonderful things!

Thank you all so much for reading my blog,please feel free to hit the "Follow this Blog" on the upper right side.

If you have Twitter,add me @Jinzo_2400