On My Own, I'll Dream My Life Away

And the winners are...

2005-08-10T23:37:00.000-04:00

Corey Seward, Will "SciFantasy" Frank and Jo Van!!

Good job, y'all! I'll be making your truffles by hand on Sunday, and will be sending them out on Monday. Congratulations, and thank you again!

And the answers...

On my own, I'll dream my life away - Monaco - Bert's Theme

We can make a party last all night - Madonna - Where's the Party

Some might say that sunshine follows thunder - Oasis - Some Might Say

I realize that nothing’s as it seems - Sting - Desert Rose

You like tomato and I like tomahto - Louis Armstrong (or George and Ira Gerswin!) - - Let's Call The Whole Thing Off

I’ll start a revolution from my bed, ’cuz you said the brains I had went to my head - Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger

It’s such a gorgeous sight, to see you eat in the middle of the night - The Cure - Friday I'm in Love

Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! - The Mock Turtle's Song - Lewis Carroll

And they throw away money on spectacular shows - Bruce Cockburn - Dancing in Paradise.

You live in a world where you didn't listen - Anastacia - Sick and Tired

When the horizons darkens most me all need to believe there is hope - Lunar: Silver Star Story - Original Soundtrack - Winds Nocturne (The Boat Song)

Lay down your money and you play your part - Bruce Springsteen - Hungry Heart

Only poor boys take a chance on the garden's song and dance. - Guns N Roses - The Garden

You're my sunshine and I want you to know my feelings are true - Queen - You're My Best Friend

You became the light on the dark side of me. - Seal - Kiss From A Rose

I came to get a case of factory outlet beer - Modest Mouse - Mice Eat Cheese

When you're chewing life's gristle, don't grumble, give a whistle! - Monty Python - Always Look On The Bright Side of Life

Now's the time that we need to share, so find yourself, we're on our way back home - Supertramp - Give A Little Bit

Everybody here is out of sight, they don't bark and they don't bite - Dancing in the Moonlight

I think tonight we can take what was wrong and make it right. - Mr. Mister - Broken Wings

I saw Peter, Paul and Moses playing Ring Around the Roses, and I'll whup the guy who says it isn't so. - Woody Guthrie - Just the Facts, Ma'am

Love you, such a sweet thing, good enough to eat thing - Ohio Express - Yummy Yummy Yummy

Keep holding my hand, it's so we don't get separated. - No Doubt - Running

Hips start shakin' and movin' all around - The Black Eyed Peas - Dirty Dancing

Treat him well, he is your brother - Abba - He Is Your Brother

Who can say when the day sleeps if the night keeps all your heart? - Enya - Only Time

Into the darkness - Nobuo Uematsu - FFVII Original Soundtrack

Sing to me the song of the stars. - Mandy Moore/Switchfoot - Only Hope

I got no car and it's breaking my heart, but I've found a driver and that's a start - The Beatles - Drive My Car

Yeah the band's so hot they won't play nothin' slow - Chely Wright - Sea of Cowboy Hats

And everyone would have a friend, and right would always win, and love would never end... - Carly Simon (or Amy Grant) - Grown Up Christmas List

Your love is better than chocolate, better than anything else that I've tried - Sarah MacLachlan - Ice Cream

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair - Scott McKenzie - San Francisco

Standing on the corner, I didn't mean no harm - Jerry Garcia - Blue Yodel #9 (Standing on the Corner)

And I will see you when the sun comes out again - Sophie B. Hawkins - As I Lay Me Down

You’re a heart attack, just the kind I like - New Radicals - Mother, We Just Can't Get Enough

In the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep - Billy Joel - River of Dreams

I was looking through the window I was lost, I am found - U2 - I Will Follow

I'll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete - The Goo Goo Dolls - Slide

Let me see that I.V. Here we go - time to operate - Weird Al - Like A Surgeon

Oh, slip me a slug from the wonderful mug - The Inkspots (or Manhattan Transfer) - Java Jive

Who holds the stars up in the sky? - Jonathan Freeman/Mandy Moore (or The New Radicals) - Someday We'll Know

It's just that I think my heart and soul are kind of famished - Nick Cave - Thirsty Dog

Too much information running through my brain - The Police - Too Much Information

Out of the stillness, soft spoken words - Donna Lewis - I Love You, Always Forever

What a lot of fun, you guys have been real swell! - Sweet's Departure - Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Once More With Feeling (For bonus trivia, Sweet was played by Tony award-winner Hinton Battle.)

Dreams could never fool me, not that easily

Cause a thousand words
Call out through the ages
They´ll fly to you
Even though we can´t see
I know they are reaching you, suspended on silver wings - Sweetbox - 1000 Words (FFX-2 Original Soundtrack)

Whatever lies beyong this morning is a little later on.

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all. Nothing's like before. - Utada Hikaru - Simple and Clean (Kingdom Hearts Original Soundtrack)

...and for bonus points, the song snippets throughout the 4:00AM entry:

And every night, I think of you
You're everything to me
And every day, I think about
The way it used to be

- Monaco - The End of The World

...which had led to the LiveJournal entry written through tears, which led to my participating in Blogathon this year.

With deepest gratitude to all of my sponsors,

--Missy

Whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on.

2005-08-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Dearest Sunshine,

It's done.

One post, every 30 minutes, for 24 hours.

Forty-nine posts.

Fifty-one song references.

Facts about kidney disease and transplants that I don't think either one of us knew. Some slightly squicky videos.

A lot of tea. A lot of chocolate. A great whoppin' bit of silly.

But mostly, a lot of love.

Stay tough, dear one, but don't forget that you have people who truly care about you, to lean on when things get hairy. And some of us...well, you're kinda stuck with.

Love you.

-- Missy, who is quite exhausted, thank you, but thinks you're worth it.

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all. Nothing's like before.

Dreams could never fool me, not that easily

2005-08-07T08:30:00.000-04:00

I owe so many of you a debt of gratitude - for your contributions to the NKF, for your commentary here, for your encouraging e-mails, for your extra links and for the time you've spent reading along on this adventure.

When I first determined a year ago that I would participate in a blogging event for the NKF, come Hell or high water, I wasn't sure what I ws going to write about. I knew that I would talk about David, since I was going to write in his honor, but I didn't really want to tell the whole world everything. Yes, I'm terribly selfish - he's MY best friend, dammit, and I'm not so sure I want to share all of the things that make him that with a whole bunch of other people. Y'all might get ideas and try to run off with him, after all.

As it happened, the writing came easier than I thought. I caught a groove and just went with it...and now here we are, very nearly finished.

One post to go. That one is reserved for David, for whom all of this has been all along.

To all of you - my sponsors and readers and everyone who sent a kind note along the way - my deepest thanks, from the bottom of my incredibly exhausted heart.

I couldn't have come this far without you.

Cause a thousand words call out through the ages. They´ll fly to you even though we can´t see. I know they are reaching you, suspended on silver wings.

What a lot of fun, you guys have been real swell!

2005-08-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Good morning!

Just a reminder: All of my sponsors are eligible to participate in a game.

All of my titles have been song references - either lyric snippets or song titles.

The rules are simple - identify the reference. If it's a lyric snippet, please identify the song and the artist. If it's a song title, please identify the artist and the album or soundtrack.

The three sponsors who identify the most song references will receive a one pound box of my (almost) famous truffles, made with only fine chocolate, fresh, heavy cream, and real butter.

Answers MUST be submitted NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT EDT on TUESDAY, AUGUST 9th, since Blogathon is accepting pledges until sometime on the 9th. I will post the answers and the winners' names sometime on Wednesday. Send them to: maggie.brazeau@gmail.com

Good luck, and thank you for your generous support of the National Kidney Foundation!

Out of the stillness, soft spoken words

2005-08-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

So...David has been undergoing evaluation for a kidney transplant at Stanford University Medical Center.

Stanford, it seems, leads all other US transplant centers in one year patient survival rates. Again! They've also been using stem cell research to help reduce patient reliance on anti-rejection drugs. Yup, stem cells. An FDA study is pending. Wouldn't it be wonderful if researchers were able to develop a stem cell treatment that would bypass transplantation altogether?

Too much information running through my brain

2005-08-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Mdevnich writes:

You go girl! BTW, are you doing all this research on the fly, or are these links that you already had?

I had intended to have a whole bunch of links on hand, just in case things got too crazy. As it happens, things got plenty crazy well before Blogathon, so I had just two links - that of the NKF and that of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

So, yes, I've been doing the research on the fly - along with playing with my dog and breaking my coffeepot. This has been helpful in keeping me awake (though, the busted coffeepot, not so much).

Corey has some links for us:

Here's links for the Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Irish Kidney Association, too.

Thanks Corey! Now "But I live in Ireland!" is not a valid excuse for not getting involved.

Almost done.

It's just that I think my heart and soul are kind of famished

2005-08-07T06:30:00.000-04:00

Look who's keeping me company! Everyone say Hi to Murphy!

These days I seem to think a lot...

2005-08-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

Do you want to be cool, like Zeynep? Or, cool factor aside, do you want to do some good for a great charity and get a little exercise in the process?

Sign up for the Kidney Walk in your area! There are a whole bunch scheduled between now and December - see which one is closest to you, then get out there and put some booty into it! For extra bonus points, I hear it's quite popular for sponsors to demand photos of walkers in something clingy or short...

Who holds the stars up in the sky?

2005-08-07T05:30:00.000-04:00

Last December marked the 50th anniversary of the first successful kidney transplant - and indeed, the first successful organ transplant ever! - which was performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray. (Yup, that photo is from that historic operation.)

In 1990, Dr. Murray earned the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his accomplishment.

A video interview with Dr. Murray is also available.

Oh, slip me a slug from the wonderful mug

2005-08-07T05:00:00.000-04:00

Ohhhhh...this week is going to suck...

I just broke my coffee carafe, and replacements aren't carried in area stores. I have to order one...shipping takes five days.

Sunday is going to be No Fun.

Let me see that I.V. Here we go - time to operate

2005-08-07T04:30:00.000-04:00

I'm still wandering around, looking at kidney resources, and I just found the coolest thing for anyone considering living donation: a webcast of a hand assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy!

OK, it's a little gross at this hour, but still! It's terribly fascinating, and the video does not feel like it's an hour long. Very educational!

I'll do anything you ever dreamed to be complete

2005-08-07T04:00:00.000-04:00

Last summer...last summer sucked. It sucked hardcore. I hated last summer.

I spent last summer crying nearly every day because life just plain old sucked and I was fighting with my best friend. It was horrible and hurtful and I can't remember ever feeling as awful as I did during the months where we were barely speaking to each other, so strained and stressed. I felt like my heart had been torn out.

And yet...in the middle of it all...in the midst of the strain and the hurt...I wrote...

(Reproduced from my personal journal, July 15th, 2004)

And every night I think of you.

On September 23rd, 1998, I got a sweet e-mail from someone with whom I had been bantering at RASFWRJ about music. He had been talking about a song that I had never heard, explaining how a line in the song just stole his breath away and brought tears to his eyes, and I expressed a desire to hear the song. Lo, there he was in my in-box, offering me this song and telling me how he was still misty-eyed over this song, even though he'd been playing hell out of it. (The song was Slide, by the Goo Goo Dolls.)

Later that day, our schedules synced enough to connect to ICQ at the same time so he could transfer the song. While the song transferred, we talked. The next thing we knew, it was 6AM in Toledo, 3AM in Berkeley, the song had finished 5 hours previously, and we had spent the entire night talking about books and music, laughing at each other, and slowly discovering that we had way more in common that we had expected, given our difference in age.

That was the night I "met" David for the first time.

Since then, with very few exceptions, we've talked to each other in some fashion every single day. A brief flurry of e-mail, an ICQ conversation, a few minutes on the telephone...just a few minutes to check in and say "Hi, I'm thinking about you. How's your day?"

He went away for three days once, and had no internet access and wasn't comfortable with a long distance call from where he was staying. When he came back, we pounced on each other over ICQ. "Oh my god, I missed talking to you so much! Let's not do that again, OK?"

We're a little better about that now, having spent so much time talking that we can speak in half sentences and know what the other means...a couple days of not getting to talk though, while not as traumatic as they used to seem, still seem strange and incomplete and vaguely wrong.

Most nights, still, six years later, we talk. Sometimes we talk until the sun has already crept up and asked me what the hell I think I'm still doing at my desk. When we're lucky enough to be in the same place for a couple days, we'll go off to sit together and talk...sometimes until oh-holy-fuck o'clock...realize we've been up all night...and keep talking anyway.

Night time is still my favorite time to talk to him. It just seems so much calmer then.

Every night, I think of him.

You're everything to me.

He called me one night, when I was going through some Really Bad Shit. We had already spoken on the phone several times by then, had teased each other about the way we sounded...he said I sounded short, I told him he sounded like a total brain...but really, his voice was soothing and sweet and made me feel calm.

After trying to console me online about the Really Bad Shit, he told me he was going to call me. When I picked up, he gently asked me if there was anything he could do to help...

In the dark, I whispered my pain and frustration through tears of sadness and rage. In the dark, he whispered back to me...softly repeating my name and telling me it would be OK, telling me that he would always be there to listen when I needed him, slowly soothing my aching heart and calming my raw nerves with his gentle care and soft voice. Across the miles between us, he made me feel safe and comforted, and I knew then that I could trust him with anything. When I've been certain that there was nowhere for me to turn, he's always been there to tell me that it will all work out. He's always listened and never judged.

I've done the same for him since then, listened to his fears and frustrations, been there to prop him up when he felt like he was falling down, been there to catch him when he's stumbled, given him my ear when he's needed it.

Last November, though, I was ill prepared for the propping up he needed and very nearly collapsed myself. He was diagnosed with a degenerative illness - Alport's Syndrome.

It was all I could do to hold myself together and talk to him and try to reassure him that his doctors would know what to do. When he went to bed for the night, I crept out to a quiet place and cried my heart out. I must have cried for hours, I felt so helpless and so angry that someone I cared for so much was getting kicked in the head by Life.

His illness has been progressing of late. He's back on ProCrit shots to stave off anemia, and learned today to administer them himself. He learned a few weeks ago that his creatinine levels are higher than expected - an indication of increasingly impaired kidney function. The nephrologist's appointment is yet to be made.

He's been reluctant to talk about his illness, not wanting to frighten me and not wanting to scare the hell out of himself. But he cracked a little this week, talking about the impending need for dialysis and eventually a transplant.

"I just hope I have some time."

Sunshine...if it comes to that...and we match...you can have one of mine.

I would rather endure the pain and the risk of surgery than live this miserable life knowing that he is suffering...or has gone to the Sunless Lands.

All this in the midst of one of the worst periods of tension we've ever had between us.

He's everything to me.

And every day I think about the way it used to be

Every day, I watch the health news, waiting for the breakthrough that will save David from this disease. Every day, I read every scrap I can find, looking for hope that something will be developed in time for him.

Every day, I wish he didn't have to deal with this. Every day, I wish the clock could turn back, to give him more time, to give the researchers frantically searching for a cure more time.

Every day, I wish for the days when he didn't have this hanging over him, when he was healthy and cheerful and ready to grab Life by the ass and make it his bitch.

Every day, I think about the way it used to be.

Wishing for the past isn't helping the researchers find a cure, though. Wishing for the past isn't going to keep David out from under the knife, either.

From what I've read recently, there may be hope, and maybe even sooner rather than later. Researchers at the University of Utah have isolated three mutations of the gene responsible for Alport's. If they can figure out a way to shut that damned thing off, it could open the door for gene therapy and a direct treatment. It might even happen in time to help David. They need time. They need information.

They need money.

I worked a lot of hours last week. Today, I got paid. There are things I need, and some things that I want...but nothing that I need or want more than for my best friend to be rid of this illness that could steal him away from me.

I gave half of my paycheck today to the National Kidney Foundation.

There are thousands of Alport's patients all over the world, but selfish me, there's only one I give a damn about. If they don't find the treatment in time, or he can't get a transplant in time...it might as well be the end of the world.

I found out about Blog-A-Thon too late to blog for The National Kidney Foundation this year, so instead, I'll offer this: make a donation to the NKF in David's honor, then ask me to write about something. Ask me to tell you a story. Ask me for recipes. Ask me to tell your future. Ask me to sing you a song of stars or paint you a picture of sun-kissed tears.

Just...before you ask...help try to hold off the end of the world. Even if it's only for one day.

That's why I'm here this year. That entry is the real beginning of this wild ride that has been Blogathon 2005, that steamy summer day when my life was crashing down around my head and I was on the outs with the one person I knew could help me feel better.

Some things...they're just worth digging in, hanging on, and fighting for. A friend who won't laugh at your jammies and will stick by you even after you've both screamed your guts out at each other? Hell yeah.

I was looking through the window, I was lost, I am found.

2005-08-07T03:30:00.000-04:00

I think it's worth noting that Blogathon has exceeded its fundraising goal of $50,000:

219 Participants · 1740 Sponsors · $54156.97 Total Pledged

For my fellow 'thoners and all of our sponsors: WHOOHOO!!!

How impressive is that?

In the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep...

2005-08-07T03:00:00.000-04:00

Three AM. Three-quarters there. Six hours to go.

I'm on my second pot of Dragon and Phoenix tea from the British Pantry, the box of chocolates from the Chocolate Vault has come out, the wrist brace is on and I'm in dire need of a shoulder rub.

And a nap. But no sleep until that last post goes up at 9AM!

You’re a heart attack, just the kind I like!

2005-08-07T02:31:00.000-04:00

I've been learning things during this adventure across 24 hours of blogging. Earlier, I learned that I myself am at risk for kidney disease because I'm hypertensive. That was news.

About five minutes ago, I learned that hypertension is the SECOND leading cause of kidney failure, right behind diabetes, and that hypertensives shoud have their kidney function tested annually as well as keep their blood pressure under control.

I'm kind of surprised that I got the heart attack lecture from my doctor, but he never mentioned the possibility of diminished kidney function. It would appear that the next time I see him, I need to poke him about some things:

-- Blood serum creatinine testing and glomerular filtration rate
-- urine protein

If any of my readers are hypertensive or diabetic, you might think about visiting the National Kidney Disease Education Program and having a look at what they have to say. You might learn something new and important today, just like I did.

And I will see you when the sun comes out again.

2005-08-07T02:00:00.000-04:00

In August of 1992, my friend and co-worker died in a boating accident on the Maumee River. Eric Light, affectionately known to all of us on the Dominic's crew as Beige, stood up on the boat he was riding on and was thrown off by a wave.

Beige was about 3 1/2 sheets to the wind, alas. Unable to control his muscle function enough to struggle, he drowned. It was a shock to all of us to lose Beige - he was just 24 years old, handsome, energetic and lively. His loss struck us hard.

At his funeral, Beige's mom handed us all green satin ribbons. "We donated Eric's organs," she told us. "His kidneys went to two little kids and his heart is going to young woman at the University. He'd want you all to know."

Leave it to Beige to give his big, generous heart away. He couldn't say no to anyone.

We knew anyway. Beige used to ask random people - staff and customers alike - if they were organ donors. If they answered "No", he would ask them if they recycled. Invariably, someone would get indignant and snap "Of course I do!" Beige, with his impish grin, would ask "Then why won't you recycle yourself?"

When I came across this site tonight, I immediately thought of Beige, and I laughed and laughed. He would have been first in line to buy one of those t-shirts.

I still miss his laugh and his after-hours goofiness and his willingness to dance at 3AM after a rough 14-hour shift. I miss his corny jokes and his mischievous smile and the kind way he would help our more elderly patrons to their favorite tables.

I miss the glint he would get in his eyes when some poor, unsuspecting soul asked him "Why do they call you Beige?" Someone always assumed that it was because he was a very light-skinned African American fella - which, in truth, it was - but Eric liked to tell people "When I'm making love to my girl, she always says 'Beige. I think I'll paint the ceiling beige."

It was always great fun to watch those folks splutter and stammer and eventually crack up in the face of Beige's gorgeous, bright smile.

I still have the green ribbon from Beige's funeral. I think, though, that I'd rather have one of those shirts, and I imagine that I can hear Beige laughing and telling me that he thought of the phrase first.

Standing on the corner, I didn't mean no harm...

2005-08-07T01:30:00.000-04:00

...except, he wasn't quite on the corner.

Another picture from the Las Vegas Social in 1999. The sign? It tells us that no person under the age of 21 shall be permitted to loiter in casinos.

Where were we? Caesar's Palace. How old was David? Nineteen. Bad me, I incited him to break the law and loiter in a casino, all in the name of silly pictures.

Silliness seems to be a running theme with us, and I don't mind that in the slightest.

No music on this one - it's late and I have to pee

2005-08-07T01:00:00.000-04:00

Sponsor Shout Out!

Two of my sponsors are business-folks and friends. They've kindly stepped up to pledge for the NKF (and Spookz, what the hell are you doing up so late?!), so mosey on over and give them a bit of custom:

The Boulevard Market - Tecumseh, MI. Erika doesn't have online ordering - yet! - but if you give her a call, she will ship to you! She's currently got me hooked on an incredible Goat Gouda and a Portugese yummy called Bica, a delightful, semi-soft cheese rubbed with paprika. Cheese is my drug, and Erika is my pusher.

Shiny Shirts - Abilene, TX. Spooky's got it going on with the raging Serenity fandom. Not only are her shirts just plain COOL, they're high quality and comfy as well. David sent me the Jayne - Big Damn Hero shirt a while back, and it's so soft and snuggly! You need one of these shirts. No, really, you NEED one of these.

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair

2005-08-07T00:30:00.000-04:00

When I die...if you don't donate my organs, I swear by the All-Father that I will come back to haunt you.

This is what I told the Monsters recently, during a dinner table discussion about Blogathon, The National Kidney Foundation, and the importance of being an organ donor.

Aside from filling out an organ donor card, the single most important thing you can do if you intend to donate your organs is to talk to your family about it. Firmly, clearly, and often!

Eighteen year-old Julian Byrd, of Philadelphia, had done exactly that. The memories of those conversations helped his grieving mother come to a decision and consent to donate Julian's organs.

Julian was able to help six people - strangers all - lead healthier, longer lives. His gift of his kidneys helped two fathers - one of three children, one of four. He may be gone, but his mother knows that he still lives on through the people whose lives he helped extend through his gift of organ donation.

Susan Deaton raised a hell of a generous young man, and that's something to be proud of.

Your love is better than chocolate, better than anything else that I've tried...

2005-08-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

I'm hungry again. What, it wasn't obvious from the picture of me, three boys and a gigantic ice cream sundae?

David and I make a point of going to Ghirardelli's together whenever possible. We've visited the Factory together, as well as the locations in Chicago and Las Vegas - which is where the picture at the right was taken in the summer of 1999. Clockwise you'll find me, David and our friends Steve Ginter and Dennis Higbee.

If memory serves, it was about 106 degrees in the shade that day, and we were out wandering around together, generally up to no good. I had just stopped on the sidewalk to take off my shoes when I spotted Ghirardelli's across the street.

ICE CREAM! I pointed, squeaked and took off, pretty much leaving the boys to follow or melt in the heat. I didn't have to ask them to follow - they were at my heels, laughing and remarking that the pull of chocolate would always have hold of me.

The looks on the faces of the other patrons as we tumbled up to the counter, ordered an Earthquake, and polished it off amidst laughter, tying cherry stems with tongues, Steve singing The Drunken Scotsman and telling the Sub Sandwich story, and Dennis telling the joke about the Scotsman with a fly in his soup. ("Spi' i' oot, ye wee bastard!")! They surely must have thought they'd been invaded.

David and I have made many trips to Ghirardelli's, but this one has always stood out in my mind as one of the most hilarious. There's nothing like summer days, good friends, and ice cream.

And everyone would have a friend, and right would always win, and love would never end...

2005-08-06T23:30:00.000-04:00

iKidney has a list I've never seen before - the top ten things you need to know for a successful kidney transplant!

Written by two-time transplant recipient Heather Powell, the list includes getting to know each person on your transplant team individually, knowing the signs of rejection, and joining a support group to share your experiences and learn from others.

Yeah the band's so hot, they won't play nothin' slow

2005-08-06T23:00:00.000-04:00

We weren't even drunk! Seriously!

This was taken Millennium Eve in Indianapolis, just before heading out for Mark Loy's Millennial Marathon Social - a New Year's party given by one of the most beloved posters of rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan. Yup, Usenet. I met my best friend on Usenet. In a book discussion group, no less.

Gods, but we're geeks.

Anyway, silly hats have appeared at nearly every Social I've attended - usually because I bring them - and the Millennium was no exception. I think David makes a great Bunny!

I got no car and it's breaking my heart, but I've found a driver and that's a start

2005-08-06T22:30:00.000-04:00

How cool is this? That old jalopy that Uncle Bud stashed out back when he bought his shiny new 'vette? If it's in decent condition, you can probably donate it to the National Kidney Foundation through its Kidney Cars program.

You can take a tax deduction of the current Blue Book value of the car, minus the cost of repairs to get it running (if it doesn't run), and the NKF can re-sell the vehicle at a dealers only auction to raise funds for kidney patient education and support and kidney disease research.

The NKF gets back more than 67% of the proceeds of these auctions to fund their programs.

Sing to me the song of the stars.

2005-08-06T22:00:00.000-04:00

As we push into the night, a reminder: All of my sponsors are eligible to participate in a game.

All of my titles have been song references - either lyric snippets or song titles. I expect there will be a few entries where there will also be another song reference in small text at the bottom.

The rules are simple - identify the reference. If it's a lyric snippet, please identify the song and the artist. If it's a song title, please identify the artist and the album or soundtrack.

The three sponsors who identify the most song references will receive a one pound box of my (almost) famous truffles, made with only fine chocolate, fresh, heavy cream, and real butter.

Answers MUST be submitted NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT EDT on TUESDAY, AUGUST 9th, since Blogathon is accepting pledges until sometime on the 9th. I will post the answers and the winners' names sometime on Wednesday.

Good luck, and thank you for your generous support of the National Kidney Foundation!

Into the darkness

2005-08-06T21:30:00.000-04:00

According to the Renal Support Network, there is currently legislation before both the House and the Senate intended to improve access to Medicare benefits provided for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), provide public awareness and education programs, and help ESRD patients manage their illness while undergoing dialysis or waiting for a transplant.

Don't you think it would be a great idea to locate your Congresscritters and tell them to get on the stick and pass this?

Of course it is! So what are you waiting for?