Terri Schiavo

I've been following this case quite extensively and I have my own feelings about it.

I don't believe that Terri Schiavo would want the media attention, the court or political involvement either, I believe that Terri Schiavo would want this matter to be kept private.

I understand that is it hard for her parents to let go, I believe that Terri Schiavo should have been allowed serious rehabilitation years ago, now would probably be too late anyway. What kind of a life is this for a young woman who was full of promise?

I am not advocating Terri Schiavo die any more than I am saying Michael Schiavo should get to keep the money. This is a disturbing case that is tearing more than just the family members apart. The entire world is now involved in this family matter.

When I got my diagnosis in 1999 I made sure I had a Medical Power of Attorney, A Living Will and a DNR in place.

If for nothing else this is a perfect example of why everyone should plan for the worst. What has happened to Terri Schiavo could happen to any of us for any medical reason.

Think about it and plan for yourself, do it now!

I've spent the last month trying to recover from a cold that went to my chest. There is nothing quite like sitting next to a guy who blows his nose into an airsick bag. He was sick flying home and I was exposed to him for 12 hours. By the time we got to Chicago I knew I was picking up whatever he had.

I then had to pick up my connecting at Ohare to get home to Dallas. Ohare has cold pockets in the airport and I froze my ass running from concourse C to B underground. Thank God Starbucks is there because it was wonderful to get something hot into me.

I'm still hacking as if I smoke 20 packs a day, but I felt like getting out today so I attended a meeting of the Funeral Consumers Alliance here. I'm up for a board position for my area and the folks I met today were wonderful to talk to. I am up for confirmation in April. This is a really great opportunity for me and I really feel I bring some great experience to the table.

They were very cool about my website bluelips.com, in fact most of them loved the 3 page review that's in the book "Internet Babylon". Greg Holden wrote a really wonderful piece about us in his book, but what surprised me is his writeup took about 3 pages. I was really surprised to find out we'd even been reviewed for the book one of my regular customers happen to see the review and told me about it. It's nice to be appreciated and the publicity certainly doesn't hurt.

Life continues to be an interesting adventure for me. I've had some problems with the drug zometa (the side effects are bothering me), but there is never a day I want to give up. I do think I'm going to ask my oncologist if I can go back on the original drug aredia, even though the infusion is longer. There are days I barely function because of the side effects. For those of you who are unfamiliar with breast cancer treatment. Aredia and Zometa are used in patients with metastatic disease (the cancer has spread beyond the breast). Some of the side effects of these drugs are:

headaches
nausea
pitting edema
chest pain
bone pain
fatigue
flu like symptoms
stomach and bowel problems

Sometimes the drugs we are on cause more problems than the actual illness.

I get asked the "why me" question a lot. It's getting old. I knew I was a high risk person for breast cancer, so the "why me" has never come into play.

The question for me that has come into play is "am I going to die from this?"

I try not to focus on the possibility as it's too damn depressing to think about. I have more important things to do today besides focus on my death. I have taught my dog how to belch.
Isn't that a more fun thing to do?