Today is my birthday. In celebration of my birthday, this is what I would like.
I would like those who can, to purchase something from this party https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E3149186&from=DIRECTLINK
or this party
https://rachelmartin.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy?partyId=148738913
to help Mark and I afford adoption.
I would like those who can't, to share these parties links with friends.
And I would like everyone here to invite a friend. Please.
And I would LOVE if we had a few more donations to our GoFundMe adoption fund!!
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
If I can blow out 45 candles, you guys can handle this!
THANK YOU!!!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
The music I grew up listening to....and still love today
Turning 45
Tomorrow I turn 45. There have been many days that I never thought I'd make it to this age.
I thought that by now I would have a couple children, dogs, house, husband.....I almost have it all! And I have mothered over 15 children since 2005, so that's something!
Going out to dinner tonight with friends. So far, it's feeling as though I may have escaped the birthday curse of spending my birthday in the hospital! Yay me! Will not become overzealous until I make it through tomorrow. You never know with me!
This is the restaurant we're going to...and I am having the cedar plank salmon. I think. And the burnt ends for an appetizer. I think. Mark will have the brisket as always. Jen will have the chicken. Not sure about Bill and Annie......http://www.famousdaves.com/ I also love their desserts there, but unless I want to put myself into a diabetic coma, that would be a big "no".
The GoFundme fundraiser for Mark and I to adopt? It's at a standstill, has been for days.
It's been three days with no donations. I now have a friend doing a Scentsy Party to help
https://
And a friend doing a 31 Gifts party to help
https://www.mythirtyone.com/
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
I thought that by now I would have a couple children, dogs, house, husband.....I almost have it all! And I have mothered over 15 children since 2005, so that's something!
Going out to dinner tonight with friends. So far, it's feeling as though I may have escaped the birthday curse of spending my birthday in the hospital! Yay me! Will not become overzealous until I make it through tomorrow. You never know with me!
This is the restaurant we're going to...and I am having the cedar plank salmon. I think. And the burnt ends for an appetizer. I think. Mark will have the brisket as always. Jen will have the chicken. Not sure about Bill and Annie......http://www.famousdaves.com/ I also love their desserts there, but unless I want to put myself into a diabetic coma, that would be a big "no".
The GoFundme fundraiser for Mark and I to adopt? It's at a standstill, has been for days.
It's been three days with no donations. I now have a friend doing a Scentsy Party to help
https://
And a friend doing a 31 Gifts party to help
https://www.mythirtyone.com/
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
Friday, April 19, 2013
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I suppose I need to write something today!
Two days until my birthday. Feeling icky, but not "let's hospitalize her" icky. I think that, although they removed my uterus when they removed my bladder, I'm either experiencing menopause or PMS, to the Nth degree. I'm quite sure that you wanted to know that too, huh?
This time of month, for the past 8 months or so, I've felt like a truck ran me over. Almost like the flu. Plus a headache. Lovely. I'm hoping it's only PMS or menopause anyway. Multiple doctor's appointments this week, including Dr. Dreamy, the man who built my Indiana Pouch.
I mentioned this in the last posting, but since the only sales thus far have been ME buying stuff, I'm going to mention it again. If I can manage to sell almost $3000 in Scentsy to benefit OTHER people, then it's not saying a lot if I can't manage to sell squat to benefit myself and Mark and our adoption quest, is it?
Please, if you have a minute, click on the links. Tell your friends about the Scentsy and the 31 Gifts parties. Invite your online friends. Please. Thank you!
https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E3149186&from=DIRECTLINK
https://rachelmartin.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy?partyId=148738913
This time of month, for the past 8 months or so, I've felt like a truck ran me over. Almost like the flu. Plus a headache. Lovely. I'm hoping it's only PMS or menopause anyway. Multiple doctor's appointments this week, including Dr. Dreamy, the man who built my Indiana Pouch.
I mentioned this in the last posting, but since the only sales thus far have been ME buying stuff, I'm going to mention it again. If I can manage to sell almost $3000 in Scentsy to benefit OTHER people, then it's not saying a lot if I can't manage to sell squat to benefit myself and Mark and our adoption quest, is it?
Please, if you have a minute, click on the links. Tell your friends about the Scentsy and the 31 Gifts parties. Invite your online friends. Please. Thank you!
https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/catalog.aspx?eventId=E3149186&from=DIRECTLINK
https://rachelmartin.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy?partyId=148738913
Thursday, April 18, 2013
My 31 gifts and Scentsy!!
One of my friends has offered to have a 31 Gifts party to benefit our quest to adopt! She's giving her entire commission to us!!
Please, if you have a minute, check it out. I have some things in the purple paisley print and get tons of compliments on them!
Thanks!!
https://www.facebook.com/events/300692560060900/300700903393399/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
https://www.mythirtyone.com/forms/frm_event_my_events.aspx
And another friend has offered to have a Scentsy party and donate a percentage of her commission to our adoption fund!
Please, if you have a minute, check it out. https://rachelmartin.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy?partyId=148738913
Please, if you have a minute, check it out. I have some things in the purple paisley print and get tons of compliments on them!
Thanks!!
https://www.facebook.com/events/300692560060900/300700903393399/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
https://www.mythirtyone.com/forms/frm_event_my_events.aspx
And another friend has offered to have a Scentsy party and donate a percentage of her commission to our adoption fund!
Please, if you have a minute, check it out. https://rachelmartin.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy?partyId=148738913
Public Service Announcement:
It was brought to my attention last night that my OCD is a bit out of control and that I need help. I'm actually thankful for the observation, as I'd rather try to fix myself than annoy the heck out of all my friends.
Yes, I am really working hard at raising money for adoption. It's our last chance. I'm old. But that doesn't mean that I have to bother my friends with my multiple posts every day. I've also been offered the opportunity of having a 31 gifts party and a Scentsy party to help raise money for us. I don't know how I can do either without posting about them?
Anyway, it's going to end as of now. I am seeing my friendly neighborhood psychiatrist in a few weeks and hoping to get on something to help with my bothersome OCD. Until then, please bare with me and know that I'm trying.
Thanks.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
I might need a Facebook intervention. I try and try to stay away. Really I do. Once a month or so, I even post something about leaving Facebook for a few days, needing a break...and then I slither right back to my Facebook.
I have about 400 Facebook friends. I probably know maybe 100 in real life. Some I've met through other support groups (specifically PCOS and Bladder Cancer). Some are friends of friends that I just felt a "click" with. I love my Facebook friends. They have helped me through the past few years and I hope I've helped them as well.
If you read my blog and feel the urge to friend me, I'm simply Mindi Piasecki.
Before, during and after my cancer diagnosis, chemo and surgery, I have had Facebook by my side. During eight hour infusions (chemo), I brought my purple laptop with me and chatted. Mark was always by my side during treatment. He would talk with the other people having chemo. Most of the talk was about our dogs. Mark would walk around the treatment room with my laptop, showing the other people (those who weren't sleeping) photos of the Three Stooges.
Facebook has put me back in touch with people from my past, people I often wondered about. I'm Facebook friends with Tracy, my friend that I went to first and second grade with. I haven't seen her in, oh, 38 years or so? But we have had some great chats online! Same with Carrie, the girl I went to Conservation Camp with when I was 12. And Lane, who I went to high school (or part of) with. And because of Facebook, I am now friends with Tracy's friends and Carrie's friends and Lane's friends.
Would I be friends with all 400 in real life? I like to think so. They all have something in common with me or someONE in common with me. I think that I've gotten to know a lot of these people BETTER by not knowing them in real life. I like to hope that they're being truthful with me in our conversations, as I am being almost TOO truthful (TMI) with them! I would love to meet them in person some day! I'm Facebook friends with one woman, Lana, who lives literally right down the road from me. I'd love to meet her and her family some day! Maybe we should all have a big ole Facebook party! I used to hold AOL parties in Vermont. How difficult could it possibly be to gather all 400 of my Facebook friends??
I have about 400 Facebook friends. I probably know maybe 100 in real life. Some I've met through other support groups (specifically PCOS and Bladder Cancer). Some are friends of friends that I just felt a "click" with. I love my Facebook friends. They have helped me through the past few years and I hope I've helped them as well.
If you read my blog and feel the urge to friend me, I'm simply Mindi Piasecki.
Before, during and after my cancer diagnosis, chemo and surgery, I have had Facebook by my side. During eight hour infusions (chemo), I brought my purple laptop with me and chatted. Mark was always by my side during treatment. He would talk with the other people having chemo. Most of the talk was about our dogs. Mark would walk around the treatment room with my laptop, showing the other people (those who weren't sleeping) photos of the Three Stooges.
Facebook has put me back in touch with people from my past, people I often wondered about. I'm Facebook friends with Tracy, my friend that I went to first and second grade with. I haven't seen her in, oh, 38 years or so? But we have had some great chats online! Same with Carrie, the girl I went to Conservation Camp with when I was 12. And Lane, who I went to high school (or part of) with. And because of Facebook, I am now friends with Tracy's friends and Carrie's friends and Lane's friends.
Would I be friends with all 400 in real life? I like to think so. They all have something in common with me or someONE in common with me. I think that I've gotten to know a lot of these people BETTER by not knowing them in real life. I like to hope that they're being truthful with me in our conversations, as I am being almost TOO truthful (TMI) with them! I would love to meet them in person some day! I'm Facebook friends with one woman, Lana, who lives literally right down the road from me. I'd love to meet her and her family some day! Maybe we should all have a big ole Facebook party! I used to hold AOL parties in Vermont. How difficult could it possibly be to gather all 400 of my Facebook friends??
For lack of something more interesting to post.....
This is what we consider to be our "last chance" at having a child in our lives. I'm about to turn 45. I've lost three children and two years ago lost my bladder and uterus to cancer. We've fostered children for years and had four failed adoptions. Last chance adoption. If we can afford it.
My life reads like a soap opera. When I was 11, my sisters and I were hit by a car while waiting for the school bus. My little sister Kathy didn't survive. I was raised by a wonderful Mom and an abusive alcoholic Father. And then I married an abusive, drug addicted husband. Stayed with him for 12 years until I had the strength to leave.
In 2001, I met Mark, the most wonderful man ever. We married in 2003. In 2005, at the age of 37, Mark and I conceived our first child. In 2006, I gave birth to our son Daniel, too early for him to survive. Later that year, we lost our second child.
Fast forward to 2010 (time spent between 2006 and 2010 resulted in our becoming foster parents and having three failed adoptions). At the age of 42, I found out I was pregnant. Went for an ultrasound, where they found numerous tumors in my bladder. I lost the baby and started chemotherapy in Dec 2010.
In March 2011, I had my bladder surgically removed, along with my uterus....losing any chance of having our own baby. But, in the end, I was/am currently cancer-free. We named our third baby "Angel" for saving my life.
We became licensed as foster parents again, and had a 15 month old baby girl placed with us. On March 1, 2013, after living with us for over a year, baby girl was taken and given to an Aunt in another state. Failed adoption number 4.
Through all of this, my husband Mark has been the best friend, nurse, Father, husband, caretaker ever. He deserves to have a child. WE deserve to have a child. We've looked into adoption and have started the process, which could take years. Any financial help would be so appreciated!
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Yeah, that.
Boston. Fucking horrible.
I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, "Well, I've had it with humanity."
But I was wrong. I don't know what's going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths.
But here's what I DO know. If it's one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we're lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they're pointed towards darkness.
But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We'd have eaten ourselves alive long ago.
So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."
I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, "Well, I've had it with humanity."
But I was wrong. I don't know what's going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths.
But here's what I DO know. If it's one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we're lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they're pointed towards darkness.
But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We'd have eaten ourselves alive long ago.
So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."
I miss her
We are foster parents. Back in February 2012, we had a 15 month old baby girl placed with us. She was with us for over a year, almost half her life. I miss her. A lot.
So many things remind me of her every day. Silly things. She liked dancing and music. We had a bunch of CDs that my friend made/sang on. She LOVED his voice and his music! Every day, we would put the kitchen CD player on and she would boogey her heart out! She also danced to any theme song on television. And if I was in the middle of doing something and not paying attention to her, she would SCREAM "Mama, look!". I miss that.
I still hear her sometimes. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I can hear her calling for me. She was my alarm clock. She never tried to climb out of her crib, but would yell for attention. Sometimes she would throw everything out of her crib if we made her wait too long. One time, after a nap, I could hear her saying "Mama, look"....I went into the nursery to see her holding a dirty diaper in one hand, and her poop in the other hand. She was SO proud of what she was handing to me!
We were in the middle of potty training and had bought her a musical Princess potty. When she "did her business", the toilet would play a song. And she would give herself a standing ovation, clapping and saying "YAY". She made potty training fun. I miss that.
I miss posting daily events involving her on Facebook. "Overheard at the Piasecki house".....she was such a character and kept life exciting. It was just so neat to watch her grow and learn.
She had all of us wrapped around her little fingers. If I said no to her, she knew that all she had to do was run to "Da-Ye" and he would give her what she wanted. The Three Stooges knew who buttered their toast too....they surrounded her whenever she was in the high chair. When she was done eating, she would simply clear everything off the tray and let the dogs have at it. Yes, all three gained weight over the past year!
One of the hardest things as a foster parent is learning to let go. I'm so grateful that we were able to give her a happy life for over a year. So grateful for everything she taught us. I hope and pray that she's doing okay and that she's still happy and healthy. And I hope she has a great life. Mark and I did what we could to help her on her way.
So many things remind me of her every day. Silly things. She liked dancing and music. We had a bunch of CDs that my friend made/sang on. She LOVED his voice and his music! Every day, we would put the kitchen CD player on and she would boogey her heart out! She also danced to any theme song on television. And if I was in the middle of doing something and not paying attention to her, she would SCREAM "Mama, look!". I miss that.
I still hear her sometimes. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I can hear her calling for me. She was my alarm clock. She never tried to climb out of her crib, but would yell for attention. Sometimes she would throw everything out of her crib if we made her wait too long. One time, after a nap, I could hear her saying "Mama, look"....I went into the nursery to see her holding a dirty diaper in one hand, and her poop in the other hand. She was SO proud of what she was handing to me!
We were in the middle of potty training and had bought her a musical Princess potty. When she "did her business", the toilet would play a song. And she would give herself a standing ovation, clapping and saying "YAY". She made potty training fun. I miss that.
I miss posting daily events involving her on Facebook. "Overheard at the Piasecki house".....she was such a character and kept life exciting. It was just so neat to watch her grow and learn.
She had all of us wrapped around her little fingers. If I said no to her, she knew that all she had to do was run to "Da-Ye" and he would give her what she wanted. The Three Stooges knew who buttered their toast too....they surrounded her whenever she was in the high chair. When she was done eating, she would simply clear everything off the tray and let the dogs have at it. Yes, all three gained weight over the past year!
One of the hardest things as a foster parent is learning to let go. I'm so grateful that we were able to give her a happy life for over a year. So grateful for everything she taught us. I hope and pray that she's doing okay and that she's still happy and healthy. And I hope she has a great life. Mark and I did what we could to help her on her way.
Candy Crush
I have been stuck at level 45 for about a week now. Why in the world would I continue to torture myself with this damned game?
I see that the majority of my friends are also addicted to Candy Crush. We might need a 12 step program.
I see that the majority of my friends are also addicted to Candy Crush. We might need a 12 step program.
Things I don't understand II: The good stuff
I don't understand why I am so blessed.
I don't understand why I survived bladder cancer when others don't.
I don't understand living through septic shock when 50% don't.
I don't understand how Mark puts up with me but I'm glad he does!
I don't understand why I have so many great friends
I don't understand why all those great friends are so nice to me!
I don't understand how I lucked out in having everything I need.
I don't understand how I quit smoking three packs a day.
I don't understand how I have such a great husband.
I don't understand how I have such a nice roof over my head.
I don't understand how I have found such wonderful fur babies.
I don't understand how I've survived and overcome
I don't understand why people have stayed in my life, but I'm glad they have!
I don't understand why so many people are donating to our adoption fundraiser.
I don't understand how people I have never met in real life can love me, but I'm glad they do!
I don't understand why I have just enough.
I don't understand why I survived bladder cancer when others don't.
I don't understand living through septic shock when 50% don't.
I don't understand how Mark puts up with me but I'm glad he does!
I don't understand why I have so many great friends
I don't understand why all those great friends are so nice to me!
I don't understand how I lucked out in having everything I need.
I don't understand how I quit smoking three packs a day.
I don't understand how I have such a great husband.
I don't understand how I have such a nice roof over my head.
I don't understand how I have found such wonderful fur babies.
I don't understand how I've survived and overcome
I don't understand why people have stayed in my life, but I'm glad they have!
I don't understand why so many people are donating to our adoption fundraiser.
I don't understand how people I have never met in real life can love me, but I'm glad they do!
I don't understand why I have just enough.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Things I don't understand
WHY?
I don't understand why my little sister had to die.
I don't understand why our family had to go through that life-changing event on Nov. 29, 1979.
I don't understand why my friend Jill was murdered by her estranged husband.
I don't understand why my ex-husband needed to beat me.
I don't understand why my ex-husband treated me like shit for 12 years.
I don't understand why I had/have PCOS.
I don't understand why Mark isn't allowed to be a Dad when he'd be such a great Dad.
I don't understand why we were allowed to conceive three children only to have all three die.
I don't understand why I have panic attacks and social anxiety and OCD.
I don't understand why I had cancer, especially when no one in my family had cancer?
I don't understand why my father-in-law died from cardiac arrest when he had no heart issues.
I don't understand why 9/11 happened.
I don't understand how people can be so hateful.
I don't understand how someone can kill innocent children.
I don't understand why some people are allowed to be parents when they are undeserving of that roll.
I don't understand why, in the eyes of social services, family is always best.
I don't understand what goes through some peoples' heads.
I don't understand how "out of control masturbation" can be construed as a disability.
I don't understand people who can use abortion as birth control and be OKAY with that.
I don't understand what is going on in this world today.
I don't understand.
I don't understand why my little sister had to die.
I don't understand why our family had to go through that life-changing event on Nov. 29, 1979.
I don't understand why my friend Jill was murdered by her estranged husband.
I don't understand why my ex-husband needed to beat me.
I don't understand why my ex-husband treated me like shit for 12 years.
I don't understand why I had/have PCOS.
I don't understand why Mark isn't allowed to be a Dad when he'd be such a great Dad.
I don't understand why we were allowed to conceive three children only to have all three die.
I don't understand why I have panic attacks and social anxiety and OCD.
I don't understand why I had cancer, especially when no one in my family had cancer?
I don't understand why my father-in-law died from cardiac arrest when he had no heart issues.
I don't understand why 9/11 happened.
I don't understand how people can be so hateful.
I don't understand how someone can kill innocent children.
I don't understand why some people are allowed to be parents when they are undeserving of that roll.
I don't understand why, in the eyes of social services, family is always best.
I don't understand what goes through some peoples' heads.
I don't understand how "out of control masturbation" can be construed as a disability.
I don't understand people who can use abortion as birth control and be OKAY with that.
I don't understand what is going on in this world today.
I don't understand.
Hard Work
Is it this much hard work for "normal" parents to become parents?
For Mark and I to become parents, even foster parents, the jumping through hoops is amazing, and somewhat tiresome.
We've had to fill out miles of paperwork. We've had to go through hours of training via both online and in person classes. There's fingerprinting. There's background checks. There's reference checks. There are medical exams and paperwork for our doctors to fill out. In the past, we've also had family reference checks. Hours long psychological evaluations. Meetings with psychiatrists (due to my being on psychiatric medicines). They check our insurances. They check our home. We had to install smoke alarms in every.single.room. Carbon Monoxide detectors on each level of the house. Fire extinguisher in kitchen. Mapped our safety escape route. Locks on cupboards. Plug in thingies in the electrical outlets. Adjust to the right water temperature in all faucets. The house temperature cannot be below 68 degrees. Crib must be non-lower (we had to buy a kit and fix our crib so the side doesn't go down). No bumper inside crib for children a year and under. No blankets or pillows in crib with baby. Correct five point harness car seat with correct expiration date printed on bottom. All vaccination records for all animals in the home.
Makes me wonder, if "normal" birth parents had to go through with all of the things listed above, and PASS all of the tests.....would there be as many "normal" birth parents out there with children?
For Mark and I to become parents, even foster parents, the jumping through hoops is amazing, and somewhat tiresome.
We've had to fill out miles of paperwork. We've had to go through hours of training via both online and in person classes. There's fingerprinting. There's background checks. There's reference checks. There are medical exams and paperwork for our doctors to fill out. In the past, we've also had family reference checks. Hours long psychological evaluations. Meetings with psychiatrists (due to my being on psychiatric medicines). They check our insurances. They check our home. We had to install smoke alarms in every.single.room. Carbon Monoxide detectors on each level of the house. Fire extinguisher in kitchen. Mapped our safety escape route. Locks on cupboards. Plug in thingies in the electrical outlets. Adjust to the right water temperature in all faucets. The house temperature cannot be below 68 degrees. Crib must be non-lower (we had to buy a kit and fix our crib so the side doesn't go down). No bumper inside crib for children a year and under. No blankets or pillows in crib with baby. Correct five point harness car seat with correct expiration date printed on bottom. All vaccination records for all animals in the home.
Makes me wonder, if "normal" birth parents had to go through with all of the things listed above, and PASS all of the tests.....would there be as many "normal" birth parents out there with children?
Sunday, April 14, 2013
I have good people in my life
Mark, it goes without saying, is the goodest of them all. No idea how I lucked out on getting him to marry me...but not looking that gift horse in the mouth!
There's Jen and Annie. I met them through a dog rescue, Heavenly Hearts. And they've been coming to our rescue ever since. Literally. When I had just gotten out of the hospital in Milwaukee, and thought I could handle having the two Pugs with us, only to figure out rather quickly that I could not....all it took was one phone call and Jen and Annie came and got Barney and Mrs. And kept them for a few months. Who DOES that for someone? Apparently, they do. As recently as a few weeks ago they have come to our rescue. I was once again in the ER and Mark had to work that night. One phone call the Jen and Annie and they came to the hospital and stayed with me so that Mark could go home and sleep for a bit. I hope that they both know just how much Mark and I appreciate their friendship.
So then there's Lane Wilder. Lane I met when I was in the 6th grade and new to town. Lane taught me how to play cribbage. Even though Lane and I have led very different lives and she lives half way across the country from me....she offered to come and help after my surgery. And I took her up on her offer. Wow, what an amazing person she is. She flew in (on her own dime), rented a car, and actually came and slept overnight in the hospital with me for a few days. And then she came home with us, cooked for us, cleaned for us, saw WAY too much of my icky body, helped with everything. I cried when she left. She even missed out on her son's birthday to be with us. Amazing friend.
Our family. Mark and I both have caring, good people in our family. Last year when I was, yet again, hospitalized, and we had baby girl foster daughter....my biggest concern was who was going to help take care of baby girl. Mark's Mom and sister and niece came here from 4 hours away to help. As luck would have it, my mother-in-law got sick while at our house....the day I was released from the hospital, Chris was put into that same hospital....into the same room I had just left! The Piasecki's took over Theda Clark Medical Center! Chris had a much longer road ahead, with an air transport to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and a two month stay there. Connie, my sister in law, traveled back and forth, stopping in at our house and helping with baby girl every chance she got. We're blessed.
All of our friends, some I haven't even met in real life, have helped by donating or sharing the word about our adoption fundraiser. And I know that we're in many of their prayers and thoughts. With support like what we get from Melanie and Missy and Noelle and Deb and Jen and Jen and Oana and Amanda and Heather and Elizabeth and Angel and Bryan and Mary-Jo and Tara and Sara and Becky and Melissa and Terri and.....how can we not realize our dreams? I'm quite sure I forgot some names here....and I apologize. It's all so overwhelming!
There's Jen and Annie. I met them through a dog rescue, Heavenly Hearts. And they've been coming to our rescue ever since. Literally. When I had just gotten out of the hospital in Milwaukee, and thought I could handle having the two Pugs with us, only to figure out rather quickly that I could not....all it took was one phone call and Jen and Annie came and got Barney and Mrs. And kept them for a few months. Who DOES that for someone? Apparently, they do. As recently as a few weeks ago they have come to our rescue. I was once again in the ER and Mark had to work that night. One phone call the Jen and Annie and they came to the hospital and stayed with me so that Mark could go home and sleep for a bit. I hope that they both know just how much Mark and I appreciate their friendship.
So then there's Lane Wilder. Lane I met when I was in the 6th grade and new to town. Lane taught me how to play cribbage. Even though Lane and I have led very different lives and she lives half way across the country from me....she offered to come and help after my surgery. And I took her up on her offer. Wow, what an amazing person she is. She flew in (on her own dime), rented a car, and actually came and slept overnight in the hospital with me for a few days. And then she came home with us, cooked for us, cleaned for us, saw WAY too much of my icky body, helped with everything. I cried when she left. She even missed out on her son's birthday to be with us. Amazing friend.
Our family. Mark and I both have caring, good people in our family. Last year when I was, yet again, hospitalized, and we had baby girl foster daughter....my biggest concern was who was going to help take care of baby girl. Mark's Mom and sister and niece came here from 4 hours away to help. As luck would have it, my mother-in-law got sick while at our house....the day I was released from the hospital, Chris was put into that same hospital....into the same room I had just left! The Piasecki's took over Theda Clark Medical Center! Chris had a much longer road ahead, with an air transport to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and a two month stay there. Connie, my sister in law, traveled back and forth, stopping in at our house and helping with baby girl every chance she got. We're blessed.
All of our friends, some I haven't even met in real life, have helped by donating or sharing the word about our adoption fundraiser. And I know that we're in many of their prayers and thoughts. With support like what we get from Melanie and Missy and Noelle and Deb and Jen and Jen and Oana and Amanda and Heather and Elizabeth and Angel and Bryan and Mary-Jo and Tara and Sara and Becky and Melissa and Terri and.....how can we not realize our dreams? I'm quite sure I forgot some names here....and I apologize. It's all so overwhelming!
Is this me?
TAURUS - The Tramp (April 20 to May 20)
Aggressive. Loves being in long relationships. Likes to give a good fight. Fight for what they
want. Can be annoying at times, but for the love of attention. Extremely outgoing. Loves to
help people in times of need. Good kisser. Good personality. Stubborn. A caring person.
They can be self-centered and if they want something they will do anything to get it. They
love to sleep and can be lazy. One of a kind. Not one to mess with. Are the most
attractive people on earth! 15 years of bad luck if you do not share this post.
Aggressive. Loves being in long relationships. Likes to give a good fight. Fight for what they
want. Can be annoying at times, but for the love of attention. Extremely outgoing. Loves to
help people in times of need. Good kisser. Good personality. Stubborn. A caring person.
They can be self-centered and if they want something they will do anything to get it. They
love to sleep and can be lazy. One of a kind. Not one to mess with. Are the most
attractive people on earth! 15 years of bad luck if you do not share this post.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
I would love some more followers on Twitter. Please add/follow me if you Tweet!
Mark and Mindi
@MarkandMindi
44 year old bladder cancer survivor, married to my best friend, trying to adopt a child. http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
Mark and Mindi
@MarkandMindi
44 year old bladder cancer survivor, married to my best friend, trying to adopt a child. http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
$30
Can you share this please?
Who wants to donate $30 to make it an even $600? That will pay for our registration fee! Yay us!
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
YAY! Update: Only $9400 left to raise to help us adopt!! Please pass the word! http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
The story of the Three Stooges
When Mark and I decided to move to the Midwest (Mark is from Michigan to begin with), I was very hesitant to leave my Vermont. And all my friends in my Vermont. Mark found a bargaining tool that was just cute enough to bribe me into moving. And we named him Barney. But only because the name that I REALLY wanted to name him, Fred, was taken by our Uncle Dave and Aunt Linda's dog. I digress.
I'd been looking online at local Minnesota papers, and found a listing for a Pug puppy. Having never had a Pug puppy and only being able to judge by his utter cuteness, I wanted him. Mark told me that if we moved to MN, I could have my Pug puppy. And so that's how, the day after we had driven five days to move from VT to MN, we went to go get Barney. And OMG was he ever adorable.
No one had told us what an absolute nightmare Pug puppies can be. For the first four years of Barney's life, he tried everything he could to destroy our house. He would go outside, supposedly to do his business, and then run back inside, jump on the couch, and poop and pee. We ended up having to throw away numerous pieces of furniture. We had to keep a leash on Barney inside the house...just to catch him. Barney ran so fast that the only chance we had was to stomp on the leash that was trailing behind him.
Fast forward to four years of Barney and moving to WI. We started fostering Pugs (and other dogs). We swore, after the nightmare of raising Barney, that we would NEVER have more than one dog. EVER. We were fostering one or two Pugs at a time, taking them in from IL for a while and then from a rescue in OK that brought them here to WI. And I saw this face.
Come on, who could resist this face? Her AKC registered name is "No Not Now". They had been calling her Nora. And when I got my hands on her (under the disguise of ONLY fostering her), she became "Mrs."
Mrs. was 10 when we adopted her. Thrown out on the streets because she could no longer have puppies. Yes, the tongue sticks out constantly. She is both the most mellow Pug you could ever meet, and sometimes the most bitchy. She does what she wants, just like her human Mama. Most of the time, what she wants is to sleep. She's been with us for three years now, making her an older lady at the age of 13. I can't imagine our lives without her.
So, two years ago, when I was almost recovered from my chemo and cancer and surgery, and we finally had our two Pugs back (our wonderful friends Jen and Annie had taken them for us for a few months because I couldn't be around their jumping)....I was reading online about a local animal shelter in town. The Neenah Animal Shelter.
The Neenah Animal Shelter had at their facility a white boxer that they had named Picard. Picard was a gorgeous Boxer mix. Picard had arrived at the shelter with a tumor the size of a baseball on his back leg. Picard had cancer. Picard had failing kidneys. Picard was also deaf. And when we saw Picard's photo, Picard became ours. We renamed him Mister Petey Picard. Just because, that's supposed to be his name. Duh.
And thus, our household that was supposed to have only ONE dog, became a household with the Three Stooges. And although I sincerely doubt that we will ever have this many pooches under our roof again, it's fun, and rewarding, while it lasts. All three are getting up there in age, and I imagine there will be some sad goodbyes in the near future. But until then, they will be our Three Stooges!
I'd been looking online at local Minnesota papers, and found a listing for a Pug puppy. Having never had a Pug puppy and only being able to judge by his utter cuteness, I wanted him. Mark told me that if we moved to MN, I could have my Pug puppy. And so that's how, the day after we had driven five days to move from VT to MN, we went to go get Barney. And OMG was he ever adorable.
No one had told us what an absolute nightmare Pug puppies can be. For the first four years of Barney's life, he tried everything he could to destroy our house. He would go outside, supposedly to do his business, and then run back inside, jump on the couch, and poop and pee. We ended up having to throw away numerous pieces of furniture. We had to keep a leash on Barney inside the house...just to catch him. Barney ran so fast that the only chance we had was to stomp on the leash that was trailing behind him.
Fast forward to four years of Barney and moving to WI. We started fostering Pugs (and other dogs). We swore, after the nightmare of raising Barney, that we would NEVER have more than one dog. EVER. We were fostering one or two Pugs at a time, taking them in from IL for a while and then from a rescue in OK that brought them here to WI. And I saw this face.
Come on, who could resist this face? Her AKC registered name is "No Not Now". They had been calling her Nora. And when I got my hands on her (under the disguise of ONLY fostering her), she became "Mrs."
Mrs. was 10 when we adopted her. Thrown out on the streets because she could no longer have puppies. Yes, the tongue sticks out constantly. She is both the most mellow Pug you could ever meet, and sometimes the most bitchy. She does what she wants, just like her human Mama. Most of the time, what she wants is to sleep. She's been with us for three years now, making her an older lady at the age of 13. I can't imagine our lives without her.
So, two years ago, when I was almost recovered from my chemo and cancer and surgery, and we finally had our two Pugs back (our wonderful friends Jen and Annie had taken them for us for a few months because I couldn't be around their jumping)....I was reading online about a local animal shelter in town. The Neenah Animal Shelter.
The Neenah Animal Shelter had at their facility a white boxer that they had named Picard. Picard was a gorgeous Boxer mix. Picard had arrived at the shelter with a tumor the size of a baseball on his back leg. Picard had cancer. Picard had failing kidneys. Picard was also deaf. And when we saw Picard's photo, Picard became ours. We renamed him Mister Petey Picard. Just because, that's supposed to be his name. Duh.
And thus, our household that was supposed to have only ONE dog, became a household with the Three Stooges. And although I sincerely doubt that we will ever have this many pooches under our roof again, it's fun, and rewarding, while it lasts. All three are getting up there in age, and I imagine there will be some sad goodbyes in the near future. But until then, they will be our Three Stooges!
Do only the rich get to adopt babies?
So should we have surrogacy as a back-up plan? Where are all the unwed pregnant teens when I need one? If we find our own baby to adopt, it's like half the price to adopt. Does this feel like we're buying a baby to anyone else?
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
Friday, April 12, 2013
Should we give up?
Apparently since we hired a lawyer and fought with "the powers" in court for our foster child to remain with us (or at the very least to transition to family slowly), we are considered Parana. We had been giving thought over the past month on whether we even wanted to deal with these people again (in a foster care capacity). We were leaning toward not. But today, the powers have asked us if we would like to not have any more placements and either contemplate providing just respite...or contemplate closing our license. Insert knife in back and twist it around a bit.
I don't know what to do now. This is making me feel that fighting for our foster child was wrong. This is making me feel that maybe we're just crappy parents. This is making me feel that maybe pursuing adoption is just a stupid idea. This is making me cry.
If we can't handle even being foster parents, why in the world should we try to adopt a forever child?
NEED comments. Please.
Publishing?
I've been approached by someone who owns a self-publishing company.
My dilemma....is what I write interesting enough, and just plain enough, to put together into an article/book/published blog? It's really just about me and my life. Feels kind of narcissistic in it's entirety.
I suppose I could add in my QOD, Question of the Day, that I've been doing for years now on Facebook. But then would I have to ask permission from each and every responder? That's a lot of permission! Some of my QODs resulted in over 100 responses. And not always the QODs that you'd THINK would warrant a cornucopia of responses. The question about wearing pajama pants in public was quite the attention-getter. It also ended some friendships. Yes, it really WAS just about pajama pants. I KNOW, right?
Is my mind back to working at normal capacity? I don't think that it is. Although I have to say, my getting back into writing my blog seems to have helped jump start the wheels. I still haven't attempted to read a book yet. Although I read, and re-read, my posts every few hours. More so to check for spelling errors and grammatical snafus. Almost perfect is not an option.
Could I write about my life NOW? The Three Stooges? My wonderful husband? We all live quite a boring life. As I type this, the Three Stooges are all three snoring. Mark is out putting the old, flooded carpeting into the van to bring to the town dump. And I am typing and sipping my fresh-brewed Red Rose iced tea. Wow, simply fascinating stuff!
My friend Lane Wilder told me today that I AM a writer. She always knows the right things to say to me.
My dilemma....is what I write interesting enough, and just plain enough, to put together into an article/book/published blog? It's really just about me and my life. Feels kind of narcissistic in it's entirety.
I suppose I could add in my QOD, Question of the Day, that I've been doing for years now on Facebook. But then would I have to ask permission from each and every responder? That's a lot of permission! Some of my QODs resulted in over 100 responses. And not always the QODs that you'd THINK would warrant a cornucopia of responses. The question about wearing pajama pants in public was quite the attention-getter. It also ended some friendships. Yes, it really WAS just about pajama pants. I KNOW, right?
Is my mind back to working at normal capacity? I don't think that it is. Although I have to say, my getting back into writing my blog seems to have helped jump start the wheels. I still haven't attempted to read a book yet. Although I read, and re-read, my posts every few hours. More so to check for spelling errors and grammatical snafus. Almost perfect is not an option.
Could I write about my life NOW? The Three Stooges? My wonderful husband? We all live quite a boring life. As I type this, the Three Stooges are all three snoring. Mark is out putting the old, flooded carpeting into the van to bring to the town dump. And I am typing and sipping my fresh-brewed Red Rose iced tea. Wow, simply fascinating stuff!
My friend Lane Wilder told me today that I AM a writer. She always knows the right things to say to me.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Enjoy what you've got and try to build on it!
Happy Day
I just spent some time talking (private messaging)
with one of our favorite and longer term foster daughters. we normally took in young babies, but when we got the call for an 11 year old little girl who needed a place to live, we said yes. She recently lost her birth Mom and I wanted to let her know how sorry I was. All the memories came flooding back.
Kayce holding my hand going into a store and saying "you and I look alike. you could be my Mom"
Kayce deciding that she was going to call Mark and I "Ma and Pa"
Kayce dancing in front of the mirror.
Kayce coming with me to the doctors, me in tears from the pain of an ear infection. Kayce rubbing my back and telling me it was okay.
Kayce discovering the joy of guacamole and chips.
Kayce going to the waterpark with us and extended family.
Kayce meeting extended family for the first time. Driving up to the hotel and having her ask us "do you think they'll like me?"
Kayce asking us one night, when we tucked her in, if we could tell her that we loved her.
Kayce and I used to ride around in the minivan and blast music and sing and dance in our seats. This was our favorite song, played over and over and over. She's become a beautiful young woman now, and I'm so glad we were a part of her life for a while.
with one of our favorite and longer term foster daughters. we normally took in young babies, but when we got the call for an 11 year old little girl who needed a place to live, we said yes. She recently lost her birth Mom and I wanted to let her know how sorry I was. All the memories came flooding back.
Kayce holding my hand going into a store and saying "you and I look alike. you could be my Mom"
Kayce deciding that she was going to call Mark and I "Ma and Pa"
Kayce dancing in front of the mirror.
Kayce coming with me to the doctors, me in tears from the pain of an ear infection. Kayce rubbing my back and telling me it was okay.
Kayce discovering the joy of guacamole and chips.
Kayce going to the waterpark with us and extended family.
Kayce meeting extended family for the first time. Driving up to the hotel and having her ask us "do you think they'll like me?"
Kayce asking us one night, when we tucked her in, if we could tell her that we loved her.
Kayce and I used to ride around in the minivan and blast music and sing and dance in our seats. This was our favorite song, played over and over and over. She's become a beautiful young woman now, and I'm so glad we were a part of her life for a while.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
You are not forgotten
Angel saved my life. Finding out I was pregnant at the age of 42 with no fertility meds was a shock. Finding out I was losing the baby and had many tumors in my bladder was devastating. But had Angel not been conceived, I might very well be dead now. Were it not for the ultrasound to see how Angel was doing, the tumors would never have been found.
Once we bail ourselves out of the latest mess (flooded basement), we need to add baby Angel to the memory box. There's just enough room for Angel.
Hate
I dislike the word, and the concept. I can think of maybe one person in my life that I would maybe use that word as a label.
I guess I don't understand how someone could have someone they have intense hostility for in their lives?
When I was 11 years old, my little sister Kathy Jo (eight) and my older sister Lisa (13) and I were standing opposite our home, waiting for the school bus. A car came around the corner, slid on black ice, and landed on top of Lisa and Kathy Jo....and threw me across the street into our front yard. The car broke every bone in Kathy's body and she was killed.
That morning, before the accident, Kathy had finished the box of cereal that I wanted. How dare she? I guess I told her...."I hate you and wish you would just die". Yes, the words go through my head, even 34 years later. How can I forget? It might have been the last time I used that word in anger...or in any form.
Today has been a day and a half. One of those days that you just want to crawl back into bed, pull the covers over your head, and block out everything. I came THIS close to using that word as a description of today. And then I remember. And then I think of everyone who has it much worse off than Mark and I. We have each other. Some people don't even have that.
Don't hate.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hate
of hard work>
I guess I don't understand how someone could have someone they have intense hostility for in their lives?
When I was 11 years old, my little sister Kathy Jo (eight) and my older sister Lisa (13) and I were standing opposite our home, waiting for the school bus. A car came around the corner, slid on black ice, and landed on top of Lisa and Kathy Jo....and threw me across the street into our front yard. The car broke every bone in Kathy's body and she was killed.
That morning, before the accident, Kathy had finished the box of cereal that I wanted. How dare she? I guess I told her...."I hate you and wish you would just die". Yes, the words go through my head, even 34 years later. How can I forget? It might have been the last time I used that word in anger...or in any form.
Today has been a day and a half. One of those days that you just want to crawl back into bed, pull the covers over your head, and block out everything. I came THIS close to using that word as a description of today. And then I remember. And then I think of everyone who has it much worse off than Mark and I. We have each other. Some people don't even have that.
Don't hate.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hate
Definition of HATE
1
a : intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury
b : extreme dislike or antipathy : loathing hate
Black Clouds
Mindi's "Stating the Obvious" moment of the day:
If you all didn't already know....Mark and I have a huge black cloud hanging over our heads. We've (or more like "I've"....Mark's just lucky enough to be along for the ride) lost three babies, had cancer, had bladder removed, had uterus removed, been hospitalized three times since operation, lost our foster daughter.....this is just in the past 7 years.
So, things were looking up, right? We have an adoption fundraiser going on, have our application in to adopt through Lutheran Social Services, have a class tonight to go to so that we can be in the May drawing/pick as an adoptive family.
Oh wait, what's that you say? Things are going too smoothly for the Piaseckis? Yeah, let's throw some more shit their way. That'll be fun. Let's have a big old ice storm overnight, lose power around 2 AM, make sure it's raining along with the ice storm so that their basement floods (and let's do this 20 days before their new homeowner's insurance kicks in, so the damage to finished basement isn't covered).
Oh, and that adoption class tonight? Since Mark's been awake since getting home at 7 AM and he's still sweeping water down the drain, and since Mindi's still on her doctor ordered bed rest and can't lift over ten pounds and can't vacuum or push or pull or pretty much do ANYTHING or she'll end up in the hospital....so she isn't worth squat when it comes to helping Mark out here.....we're not going to make the class tonight. Of COURSE not.
But on the bright side.....I'm still alive. Yay.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Am I a Mom?
When is Mother's Day? One of the saddest days of the year for me. Am I a Mother? I've been pregnant three times. I've been foster Mom to numerous children. I've almost adopted four different children. I'm Mom to three Stooges and have been foster Mom to numerous pups. But when you have no child with you, no child to pick dandelions for you for Mother's Day, no child to give you hugs and sticky kisses....are you a Mom?
I wanted to be a writer
Most of my friends from my childhood know this. It was always my dream to become a writer.
When I was in the 6th grade, in Mr Johnson's class at Chester-Andover Elementary School in Chester, VT, they had a Halloween writing project. You could choose the title from a list of titles. I chose "the Icy Fingers of Doom". I wrote about a teenager who went for a run and kept feeling something was wrong. If I remember correctly, she got home, felt the icy fingers of doom, and found her parents dead. My story was published in a children's magazine. The year was 1979. I'm sure you must have read the story, perhaps multiple times.
When I was in high school, under the teachings of Mr. B, I started writing the story about Stanley and his life at Sunshine Sanctuary, a retirement village. I loved that story. I also had Mr. B as a college professor and continued to write about Stanley in my college English course. I remember that because Mr. B made me feel SO proud when he read MY story out loud in class! To this day, I love getting pats on the back for something I do well. But who doesn't?
I used to read a book a day, when I had the time. And then I got cancer, had chemo and was put under anesthesia for 12 hours. That was two years ago, and I have yet to complete even a magazine article since. Something happened to my brain, I have chemo brain. Yes, it actually exists. Trust me.
The local library is offering a series called "Memory Cafe" to help people with memory loss. I've been following it's progression online, but am too filled with social anxiety to actually join. I think it's a wonderful idea, different speakers giving tips on rejuvenating your memory. I might pop in one of these weeks.
My favorite thing to say to people when I have one of my "I can't think of the word" moments is "I used to be smart, really I did". Maybe I'll be smart again someday.
When I was in the 6th grade, in Mr Johnson's class at Chester-Andover Elementary School in Chester, VT, they had a Halloween writing project. You could choose the title from a list of titles. I chose "the Icy Fingers of Doom". I wrote about a teenager who went for a run and kept feeling something was wrong. If I remember correctly, she got home, felt the icy fingers of doom, and found her parents dead. My story was published in a children's magazine. The year was 1979. I'm sure you must have read the story, perhaps multiple times.
When I was in high school, under the teachings of Mr. B, I started writing the story about Stanley and his life at Sunshine Sanctuary, a retirement village. I loved that story. I also had Mr. B as a college professor and continued to write about Stanley in my college English course. I remember that because Mr. B made me feel SO proud when he read MY story out loud in class! To this day, I love getting pats on the back for something I do well. But who doesn't?
I used to read a book a day, when I had the time. And then I got cancer, had chemo and was put under anesthesia for 12 hours. That was two years ago, and I have yet to complete even a magazine article since. Something happened to my brain, I have chemo brain. Yes, it actually exists. Trust me.
The local library is offering a series called "Memory Cafe" to help people with memory loss. I've been following it's progression online, but am too filled with social anxiety to actually join. I think it's a wonderful idea, different speakers giving tips on rejuvenating your memory. I might pop in one of these weeks.
My favorite thing to say to people when I have one of my "I can't think of the word" moments is "I used to be smart, really I did". Maybe I'll be smart again someday.
Yesterday was rainy AND a Monday!
The Carpenters vinyl record was one of the first I owned and is still one of my favorites. As children, we used to play the album and dance. As a child, I thought they were such a romantic couple. As an adult, I thought that the thought of this brother and sister being a romantic couple was quite sick.
Does anyone else just feel like going back to bed and pulling the covers over your head on rainy dark dreary days?
Does anyone else just feel like going back to bed and pulling the covers over your head on rainy dark dreary days?
Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit, nothin' ever seems to fit
Hangin' around, nothin' to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothin' is really wrong, feelin' like I don't belong
Walkin' around, some kind of lonely clown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Funny, but it seems I always wind up here with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny, but it seems that it's the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me
(The one who loves me)
What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out
[From: http://www.elyrics.net]
(Talk it out)
We know what it's all about
Hangin' around
(Hangin' around)
Nothin' to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Funny, but it seems that it's the only thing to do
(Only thing to do)
Run and find the one who loves me
What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out
(Talk it out)
We know what it's all about
Hangin' around
(Hangin' around)
Nothin' to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Hangin' around
(Hangin' around)
Nothin' to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Lyrics from eLyrics.net
Monday, April 8, 2013
Instant Gratification
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
So right now, I have a fundraiser going on to raise money for our adoption that will hopefully happen in the near future. A couple friends convinced me to start a "Mindi Party" for donations to Mark and I. I'm not all that happy with the results thus far.
Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful to the friends who have donated almost $500. I really am! And that will help with the application fee for adoption. I guess I just expected more. Maybe not more money, but more help with getting the word out. More sharing of the link to the fundraiser. I guess I envisioned my friends wanting to post the link and help raise money for us.
But when I think about it, I'm the one who has always done all the "advertising" for my friends' benefits. To the point of annoyance. And I know that I post too much. And I know that it bothers people. But I also know that, in the past anyway (when it didn't involve fundraising for myself), it has worked. I've raised some decent funds for others. So why can't I do it for myself?
We're asking a LOT.....$10,000. And that doesn't even cover the entire amount. That's a LOT. Especially in this day and age. I get that. I also get that some of the donations have been from total strangers, people who saw the link to the fundraiser, read our story, and donated. All it takes is sharing the link.
If everyone who saw the link donated $10.....we'd have our adoption fee and home study fee. I guess I'm just surprised that some friends haven't donated. Maybe I'm hoping for too much? Maybe I'm being too greedy.
Maybe I should just have another Scentsy party.
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
So right now, I have a fundraiser going on to raise money for our adoption that will hopefully happen in the near future. A couple friends convinced me to start a "Mindi Party" for donations to Mark and I. I'm not all that happy with the results thus far.
Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful to the friends who have donated almost $500. I really am! And that will help with the application fee for adoption. I guess I just expected more. Maybe not more money, but more help with getting the word out. More sharing of the link to the fundraiser. I guess I envisioned my friends wanting to post the link and help raise money for us.
But when I think about it, I'm the one who has always done all the "advertising" for my friends' benefits. To the point of annoyance. And I know that I post too much. And I know that it bothers people. But I also know that, in the past anyway (when it didn't involve fundraising for myself), it has worked. I've raised some decent funds for others. So why can't I do it for myself?
We're asking a LOT.....$10,000. And that doesn't even cover the entire amount. That's a LOT. Especially in this day and age. I get that. I also get that some of the donations have been from total strangers, people who saw the link to the fundraiser, read our story, and donated. All it takes is sharing the link.
If everyone who saw the link donated $10.....we'd have our adoption fee and home study fee. I guess I'm just surprised that some friends haven't donated. Maybe I'm hoping for too much? Maybe I'm being too greedy.
Maybe I should just have another Scentsy party.
http://www.gofundme.com/2g6mss
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