Healing the Scars of Sexual Assault
May 17, 2012A few weeks ago I had the humbling honor of receiving an invitation to a Take Back The Night (TBTN) event. The TBTN organization gives young people the support they need to take back their lives after a sexual assault. The group gives the young men and women the coping skills and tools necessary to talk about their experiences and, hopefully, heal the invisible scars that linger in their emotions and thought patterns. Peeking into Beauty and Pain I felt exceptionally honored because they invited me to host a Scars R Sexy t-shirt signing at the event – an event …
I Am My Brother’s Keeper and He Is Mine
April 04, 2012Editor’s Note: Amy Tippins has generously shared this moving and very personal story describing the guilt a sibling, living with a seriously ill brother or sister endures. Her brother’s name has been changed in the account for privacy reasons. A couple of nights ago, I sunk down into the cozy cushions of my sofa for a little rest and relaxation. I flipped through the TV channels for a bit and finally settled on watching the movie, My Sister’s Keeper. The 2009 film tells a haunting story about a girl, Anna, whose conception and sole purpose is to provide a necessary …
Scars — The Hot New Fashion Trend
March 12, 2012“Am I beautiful yet?” asks the timid child inside the adult’s body. “Almost, just one or two more tweaks – then you might not have to return for more.” The surgeon’s confident voice assures the patient, a canvas lying on his surgical easel. Increasing numbers of people choose to alter their physical features in an attempt to achieve their perceptions of beauty and sensuousness. But even the most skilled and talented surgeon cannot defeat the eternal and dangerous power wielded by scars left unchecked; angry marks, both physical and emotional, that lash out and pulsate with resentment because their …
The Miracle Of My Broken Heart
March 05, 2012My name is Melissa. In March 2009 my husband and I went on a cruise to celebrate a huge promotion I had just been given. Little did we know that less than three weeks later, I would not be able to walk the six blocks from my office building to the parking lot without gasping for air and clutching my chest. At 31 years old, I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy – Congestive Heart Failure. Within two months, it progressed to end-stage. June brought us the news that the only chance at survivng was to get a heart transplant; however, I was …
Living next to “that guy”
February 22, 2012Every day that I wake up I try to greet the world with a smile. Some days I am not as successful as other days, but for the most part I consider myself a nice person. I don’t cut people off in traffic. I have never been in a fight. I have never bullied anyone by calling them ugly, fat or anything else derogatory. Clearly, this is only true if you take out my teenage years when I called my mother “mean”, but I like to pretend those years didn’t happen. What I am not is an angry, bitter person! …
“The Scale”-The doctor’s premise to kill me!
February 07, 2012As most of you know, I am a liver transplant patient. Life as a transplant patients has it’s complications due to drugs. Side effects from these awful over priced life savers are cancer, kidney failure, loss of hair, osteoporosis, etc, etc. I could go on and on, but I don’t know how to spell half the names of the complications possible, nor do I have the patience to look them up. These past 2 weeks, I have had the fun of dealing with the possible risk of multiple complications. I found a lump in my breast which thankfully turned out …
Thankful Thursday-I believe in you!
January 19, 2012Lately, I have been hearing the phrase “I believe in you and I believe in RockScar Love” from so many fans, friends and customers. THIS is the thing that I am thankful for today. When I was sick I barely was passing high school because of the negative effect the disease had on my brain caused by the Encephalopathy. What is Encep……..or however you say it? It is a disease or a disorder of the brain brought on by liver disease. Imagine disorientation and amnesia all in one and you have the day to day experience of someone with Encephalopathy. …
Chattering from a mad, sick woman!
January 14, 2012Being a transplant patient and being sick is quiet the dramatic event. For 90% of the transplant population it becomes an exercise in pill popping, but for me it is more about continual perfection of my ability to become a drama queen. Sadly, I am at the age of my life that my mother no longer falls for the drama and all she does is tell me to “suck it up and rest”. So, I have to rely on my friends to satisfy my need for attention. My mother, Susan, was one of those moms who believed in old wives …
Don’t be a victim
January 06, 2012By Brian Rudd Have you ever noticed in any horror or, even better, any disaster movie you have ever seen that the victims of such are typically the individuals that set themselves up to be victims? Think about it, the character, male or female, ignores all the warning signs that any person with a modicum of intelligence would be running from, FAST. Case in point, one of the Indonesian title wave videos shows a guy standing where 30 feet of ocean used to be. You then see that same 30 feet of ocean come roaring back at a speed …
Holidays of My Past
January 02, 2012The holiday season has just come and passed again. It is January 2nd and those of us who are responsible individuals have now tucked away the Christmas decorations in anticipation of 2012′s most expensive day. The holidays are generally considered to be the best time of year for all of us, but what society tends to forget is that most of us get a little sad during the holidays due to loved ones that are now shopping for presents in heaven. As a child, Christmas was the best time of the year, but not because I really cared about what …
How to enjoy New Year’s Eve if you don’t drink!
December 27, 2011Written by Victoria Dadi. I don’t drink. I used to but I don’t anymore. I never had a drinking problem that caused me to quit and I don’t have any health problems that prevent me from drinking it’s just that I have chosen not to drink. I’m a control freak and being drunk is being out of control and, while it seems fun at the time, I ultimately end up miserable. I also have a ridiculously low tolerance for alcohol so one drink and I’m buzzed, two and I’m drunk, three and I’m dancing on a table for about two …
Christmas Letter 2011
December 22, 2011Here we are, back at that time of year where we spend too much money, get stressed out trying to make it to all the family functions and at the end of the day we really wish we could spend Dec 25th snuggled up in the bed with those we love opening up our stockings. Yes, it is the holiday season and it is that time of year I search for the many great lessons of life while pontificating to myself on paper. This year feels as if life has come and gone before I had last year’s decorations put …
A homemaker’s state of suspension
December 18, 2011I am a southern girl from the great state of Georgia. In Georgia, we are raised with a set of impeccable manners and proper southern etiquette. My mother, Susan, would probably say that she failed somewhere in my upbringing because I consistently have guest over at the house without having sweat tea to offer, my makeup on and if you venture upstairs to my bedroom there is about a 95% chance that my bed will be unmade. I don’t know how to tie pretty bows on presents, one of my 5 strands of pearls have not left my jewelry box …
Compensation for Bone Marrow and Organs?
December 07, 2011Earlier this year I blogged about the value of an organ donated. If it was ethical to pay for organs (http://www.rockscarlove.com/the-value-of-an-organ/) which I voiced my personal opinion against it. As mentioned in the blog, I personally am against it, but I could see some benefits. My blog was brought about by a conversation with a friend of mine for which he wrote a response (http://www.rockscarlove.com/the-value-of-an-organ-part-2-the-other-side-not-written-by-me/) in which he supports the concept of financial compensation for living donors and donor families. Well, it seems that this conversation made an impression on him because today he sent me a link to the …
A Christmas gift list for the perpetually sick
December 06, 2011As the holiday season is upon us, we are all making out list of what we are asking Santa to bring us. I do need to point out that this season is truly about giving unselfishly of ourselves to those who are less fortunate and who can not pay it back. With all that said, I thought I would make up a Christmas list for those of us who are “medically gifted” to submit to Santa. (1) Snuggie-When I am sick nothing seems to make me feel better than a long nap on the sofa where I get twisted up …
Thankful Thursday: Katie P
November 17, 2011Thankful Thursdays are suppose to be warm and cheery, especially a week prior to Thanksgiving. My blog this Thursday is a bit of a sad one and grateful all at the same time because it is about my friend, Katie, who passed away last weekend. We all have struggles in life, some worse than others. My friend Katie was given quite the plate of challenges to deal with in her youth, but she never allowed them to change the core of who she was which was a kind person with a heart as big as an ocean. She was the …
Life Beyond My Imagination
November 08, 2011This past weekend I had the opportunity to give what will end up being probably the hardest speech of my life. I will be honest, public speaking comes pretty easy for me. I, like any good salesperson, like to stand up and talk about myself and during my last job I gave an average of 3 presentations a day/4 days a week. Last weekend I gave the “recipient thank you” speech for Lifelink of GA and I barely made it through without breaking down and crying. Anxiety twisted itself around my stomach in anticipation that what I would say would …
Happy Halloween
October 31, 2011Halloween is a holiday that I don’t understand very well. I was raised in a very conservative Christian environment and Halloween was one of the things banned by our denomination. I was the kid who every year asked my parents if I could go out in search for a sugar high and each time was told “no”. So, I will forever view this holiday as an excuse for excessive amount of sugar intake and paranoia that someone is out to kidnap my solid black cat named Lilly. With that said, I thought that if I could “Turn Back Time” (sorry, …
Thankful Thursday-Foot Massages
October 26, 2011Wooten, Stieber, Spivey, Smith, Harper, Ugwonali, Nahai and Beskin. This is not the name of the law firm I use for RSL or the last names of a long string of boyfriends. This is the names of all the medical specialist I have had in the last 6 months. Yes, you read right…the last 6 months. Four of them have operated on me in the past 2 years. Between the pharmacy and the doctor’s office the number one aspect of my life that gets the largest investment of time and money is medical. At this point you might be asking …
Libre Clothing-Providing Freedom in Dialysis & Chemotherapy
October 21, 2011In January of 2008 I learned of kidney disease, and inconsequentially, dialysis for the first time. By February, I knew it all too well. My mom had been put into the hospital, and ultimately, put on dialysis because of sudden loss of kidney function for unknown reasons. It was scary and sad, and ultimately I wanted to help in whatever way possible. I wasn’t sure what to say or do. It was new to us all, and being away from her at school was harder than I had imagined. From that day on our lives were changed, hers especially, with …
Childhood is torture!
October 15, 2011Sometimes I have these fantasies that one day I will be lucky enough to become a mother. That my mornings will be started looking at my beautiful child’s face smiling up at me sticking out it’s chubby arms to be picked up. That any money I ever make from RSL will go to buying diapers, a DS and school fundraisers. Of course, the best part about being a parent is having the joy of humiliating your children or at least I am sure this was the best part of my parent’s journey of raising me. So, I thought after great thought of how I can “pay it …
I really do hate who I have become
October 02, 2011I am not the kind of girl who hates herself. In fact, except for a few minor personality flaws (we all have some) I like who I have become for the most part. When we are maturing into adults we all fear of becoming who our parents are; I fear the same. What I have realized is that I am becoming them and that is a frightening reality to come to. Let me explain: Driving: My mother has mentioned many times how she does not like to be out after dark. I commonly laugh at her and call her “old …
Thankful Thursday-Google
September 15, 2011Rumor has it that today is National Google Day and while I have not found any documentation (on google that is) of the accuracy of this rumor, I still think it is appopriate time to express my gratitude for it’s development. I believe google is the greatest gift to lies, fact sharing and diagnosis of the chronically ill. Google has provides multiple hours of entertainment for those of us who do not have children to occupy our time with and on occassion it because an unending well of information when researching ideas or concept for business. As a person who …
Thankful Thursday-Chatty Cathy Mother
September 08, 2011When I was a little girl my mother use to irritate me when we were out. She had this ability to strike up a conversation with a stranger at anytime she chose to and make them her new best friend. This chatty personality trait delayed a lot of my plans to get home and play Legos and honestly, parents are never concerned about a child having to stand up for an hour while mom talks about her struggles of raising children with a complete stranger. Even as an adult, it has become annoying a few times, but at the same time …
How technology screwed the single girl
August 29, 2011As most of you know, I am a 36 year old single girl living in Hotlanta. I have had 2 great loves in my life so far, a live in boyfriend and a few other serious relationships through the years. Like every single person, I am in pursuit of “The One”. With all that said, I hate dating. I don’t hate the act of dating, but more that really, really early initial honeymoon stage as it is today versus how it was in my 20′s. When I was a teenager one of the rules in my parent’s house was “no …
Helpless, but Helpful…
August 26, 2011Here’s a solid metaphor for life as an expectant father: Your arms have been amputated at the shoulders and your wife is playing Madden Football on the Playstation while you watch. She’s doing well, better than you could ever have hoped. She has mad video game football skills. Your passions for her are inflamed by her ability to read the Cover 2 defense. Bragging to your friends about your wife’s sterling record in online competition is your new part-time job. Bedtime conversations now include discussion on the reliability of third-down blitzes. As a man, you are in heaven (aside from …
Thankful Thursdays-Country Music
August 25, 2011I am a music connoisseur. I have one of the largest collections of music that I have ever seen or heard of with over a 1000 CDs and close to 30,000 songs in 3 ipods that I own. There are only two types of music I hate: trance and bluegrass. I find both types to be like nails down a chalkboard. I am sure that you can imagine with anyone that has invested as much as I have in music then they fancy themselves as someone who has dancing skills like Justin Timberlake and the voice of Pink (even though …
5 Things to Do to Stay Healthy
August 24, 2011Despite the fact that I am immunosuppressed, I consider myself fairly healthy (if you do not count the broken bones). I have not been hospitalized in 18 years due to illness or have had a fever. My only illness has been the occasional flu and/or sinus infection. So, I thought I would share a few tips for others who are chronically ill (once again, please consult your doctor for their advice before using any of these tips): (1) Garlic-Who doesn’t love this wonderful spice? It tastes good no matter what you add it to and will keep you from having …
“So, does the kidney grow back?”
August 22, 2011by Victoria Dadi When asked to write a story about being a living donor, I didn’t really know what to write. ‘Living Kidney Donor’ is something I knew I would be sixteen years before I became one. It no more defines who I am than any other single act I have committed but it is merely part of who I am. I could write about the saga of my mom’s illness and what it was like for me to become a caretaker at age 16 (eh). I could write about the adversity in high school I had to overcome because …
Thankful Thursday-Synthetic Sweeteners
August 18, 2011Many people criticize the use of splenda, sweet n low and other manufactured sweeteners because of their potential to cause cancer. While it is important to limit the bad foods/drinks that can cause our body damage, we all need to remember that no matter what we put in our body (good foods) that eventually they can cause damage too. Besides, everything causes cancer now days, right? With all that said, I love synthetic sweeteners because without them I would not be able to get sugar free peanut butter cups. Let’s be honest, every woman needs chocolate at certain times of …
10 Stars with Scars
August 15, 2011Padma Lakshmi~model/actress: Top Chef’s Padma does now allow her 7 inch scar on her right arm define her, but she is defining it as part of who she is. The scar was caused from a awful car accident when she was a teenager. As a model she is expected to look perfect all the time, but she is defining that perfect is being beautiful with what life has given her! (2) Seal~Singer: Singer Seal is married to one of the most beautiful women in the world, Heidi Klum. A woman who is paid to be flawless married and is passionatly in …
20 Great Songs In Search of a Smile
August 14, 2011I am a music lover. I believe that music is one of the special gifts from The Universe that can put a smile on your face on a rough day! Without a smile, you can’t heal! Here are 20 of my favorite songs to make me want to smile no matter how bad my day is going! (1) Footloose by Kenny Loggins-If you are between the age of 30-60 years old there is a strong chance that you have danced to this song at least 100 times. Before Carrie Bradshaw was ruling the streets of New York, Sarah Jessica Parker was the …
Thankful Thursday
August 05, 2011I am thankful for my friend, Gari! Gari is the perfect non-boyfriend boyfriend. He has taken me driven me to surgery when my family has been unavailable and dealt with my anesthesia induced ramblings. While I can’t remember, I am sure he has changed a few dressings on my wounds. He has dragged my butt to the grocery store when broken bones have kept me from driving (let me state now that I did not make it through the experience without getting mocked a bit). He has listened to my tearful bitching about men and has never judged, but given …
10 Rules of Hospital Stay
August 02, 2011As with every good blog post by me, do not as I say or as I do. Consult your mother before taking action on any suggestions provided. (1) Pack pretty underwear-Take your best to the hospital with you. Let’s be honest, not many of us have the backsides of Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt and with an open gown you need all the help you can get. Rest assured, there is a 98% chance that one of the draw strings on your hospital gown is going to be broken and the most attractive sight needs to be painted for all …
Parenthood and Chronic Illness
July 29, 2011Lately I have been thinking about the possibility of parenthood one day. Most people start thinking about this long before the age of 36, but I have been known to be a little late in my desire to follow traditional roles. I find the thought of how to become a parent a little bit overwhelming and since I am traditionally a planner and that is not a good thing. Whenever someone has to deal with life threatening medical challenges when considering parenthood the first thing that goes through their mind is “can I have a child”? I struggle with the …
Thankful Thursday-Stealing a Deal
July 28, 2011Ok, this Thankful Thursday might be a bit silly, but after visiting Camp Independence (camp for kids with transplant) I need a bit of an emotional break. With that said, here it goes… I am thankful for “hand me downs”. I will be a honest, I am a bit of a frugal woman. Some of my friends call me “tightwad”, but I prefer to call it “financially wise”. I like to save money and I tend to get a high off finding the best deal when shopping. I take peronal pride in being able to declare what kind of deal …
Thankful Thursdays
July 21, 2011Today, I am thankful for the fact that Camp Independence is next week. While I will not be able to spend alot of time at camp, the time will remind me what is important in life. Being around kids with medical problems who have never worried about what designer they are having, but if they are going to see their next birthday is the Universe’s special way of putting into perspective my priorities. Even when adults get sick they sometimes get wrapped up in the wasteful things in life. As I have said before in many posts, hearing a child …
Can I suck your…energy?
July 18, 2011A few years ago I hired an executive coach. For those of you who do not know what an executive coach is I will sum it up simply for you: a person you pay to call you out on your shit from a business perspective. His job was to help me think outside the box, see solutions that I couldn’t see and take my emotions out of the business decision making process. My executive coach’s name was Bob. Bob was a prior practicing psychologist and marriage counselor. So, I got a little therapy while planning out the next 14 years …
Thankful Thursday-Job Experience
July 14, 2011My last position before starting RockScar Love Designs was one that I did group presentations 3 times a day. Most of the groups were 5-100 people. My job was essentially to educate the spectators on 401(k) plans, sales ideas and retirement planning tools. While it doesn’t sound exciting, I can promise that 401(k)s did have their own thrill attached or maybe something is just wrong with me, but I digress. When I started this position I had maybe done 6-8 speeches in my life. I might have led my senior management staff to think there had been a bit more, …
Thankful Thursday-Family relationships
July 07, 2011Family relationships…they are what make us who we are and they are predictors of who we most likely will become. They can be the place where we question our sanity and yet, some find it to be a place of emotional stability. My family is known for their strange dynamics and that makes the relationships a challenging thing to navigate at time, but that is okay. What I am coming to learn is that my family relationships are making me a wiser person. I have come to recognize that when interacting with your family they are the ones who really give you …
Thankful Thursdays
June 30, 2011Showing gratitude is one of the simplest things that we can do to give back to other people. It doesn’t always come with words or in a card; it can come in the twinkle of an eye when presented a gift. It is recognition of someonething unexpected or someone’s unselfish act. An easy gift to give, but one of the rarest ever given. I know that I commonly find myself complaining about the materialist thinigs I don’t have versus the wonderful blessings that I do. It has been said that you can not be open to recieve more if you …
Modesty in the Hospital from a Man’s Point of View by Don P
June 14, 2011“Modesty” as defined by Merriam-Webster’s online addition is ~ 1: freedom from conceit or vanity 2: propriety in dress, speech, or conduct I’m here to tell you that in the hospital, this word does NOT exist. I’m sure that almost everyone has heard, at some time or another, usually from their parents to make sure you have clean underwear on, in case you’d have to go to the hospital. Ha!!! That’s the least of your worries if you’re in a hospital. I know that I was comatose for a couple of prior to my heart transplant, and for another week …
God’s Blessing is My Broken Heart by Katie Cataldo
June 10, 2011I am Katie Cataldo, I am 16 years old and I was born with CHD (Congenital Heart Disease). My life has been a long and hard road, but it has had some good moments. My walk has definently made me a stronger and more caring individual. I might have a broken heart, but I believe that people with broken hearts have bigger hearts to give love to the rest of the world. The last few months I have met so many wonderful people who share my disease and I am amazed at the work they are doing to raise awareness …
Teenage Ignorance is Bliss by Valerie Hoven
June 08, 2011There is no right way to react when you hear you have heart disease. When my dad told me at age nine, I told him he was wrong. I told him it was a mistake, and I blamed him. I said it was his fault for having the test done. He was mad, too. Perhaps at me, the doctor, God, the world or maybe all of the above. The doctor told my dad that I would end up needing a heart transplant, and eventually my dad told me this, too. I can’t remember the exact age when I heard it …
It’s All About Me!
June 04, 2011Birthdays are the only day we are at liberty to be completely self-absorbed and narcacistic. Rules do not apply when it comes to food, working out, being kind to others or sharing our toys. Our family and friends gather around us to triple our caloric intake and tell us how wonderful we are (even if they think we are a pain in the ass most of the time). Luckily, if you are a transplant patient you get two of these days and your “liver/heart/kidney/lung-aversary” gives you a much greater hall pass to commit sin, but that is not what this …
A Chance At Life by Kerry Shepherd
June 03, 2011I sat with tubes of red coming in and out of veins A ritual to endure, if in life I was to remain, A life of weakness and lethargy, Conversing with others almost like a zombie. Thanking God for advances in technology He lay only alive because of machines, Bloods and tissues positively matched and screened. One family mourns, cries and grieves, One family smiles relieved at the reprieve. Thanking God for advances in technology The donor may be gone from earthly plains Thou he and his brave family have allowed me to remain For both families he is in …
The Unworthy Joneses
May 20, 2011When we turn on the tv daily we are confronted with television shows that brain wash us to believe that we are unworthy unless we can “keep up with the Joneses”. That importance of life is a reflection bank accounts and brand names. Blemishes, wrinkles, love handles and clothes older than 6 months should be hidden from the public. I will admit that sometimes I buy into this concept or at least the wrinkle and love handles part (I think I still have a few shirts that date back to college). I was raised in a family that we might not have had …
Memoirs of a Transplant Sunbathing Goddess written by Valerie Hoven-Heart Recipient
May 10, 2011As a heart transplant patient and hospital employee, I am often asked to “mentor” patients on the waiting list for a heart transplant. We go through the basics: biopsies, anti-rejection medication, recovery time and more. For the ladies, I have to warn them about bikini season. Depending on their level of comfort, they might not want to show too much skin. It’s not a warning about the scar that rides down the middle of our cleavage. It’s about the shape of our breasts after surgery. During a heart transplant, we are separated down the middle. Our sternums are sawed open …
A mother’s love….written by mother and living donor, Tresha Glowacki
May 08, 2011When asked the question “Why did you become a live donor?” There are many reasons. I met Jun, my recipient, through a friend that had lost her son. Her son and Jun were good friends, classmates and neighbors. Jun had just had both kidneys removed and with dialysis ten-(10) hours a day every day and less than two-(2) years to live, at best. With that time frame, Jun wouldn’t ever get a driver’s license, go to prom, graduate from high school or anything a young person has to look forward to. After the funeral and as time passed, Jun …
Food, History and Money! Happy Cinco De Mayo!
May 05, 2011Did you know that Cinco De Mayo is not a Mexican Independence Day? Cinco De Mayo dates back to 1862 when the Mexican army defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla! Read the history here along with finding out Forbes’ suggested spicy stocks to watch today! Also, try out this authentic Cinco De Mayo recipe for Puebla Chicken and Potato Stew: Ingrediants: 2 lb chicken thighs (with skin and bone) 6 cups water 1 large white onion, quartered 2 teaspoons salt 2 garlic cloves (not peeled) 1 (14-oz) can whole tomatoes in juice 4 teaspoons chopped canned chipotle chiles in …
Breaking the bubble means breaking the rules
April 27, 2011Disclaimer: I live on the edge as a transplant patient with my activites and therefore, this post is not medical advice. Consult your doctor before breaking the rules to understand what the medical risks are. Last of all, live your life passionately. When you read any transplant blog/discussion forums you always find a list of “no’s” for a patient that is long and laborious. Sample of the rules are as follows: transplant patients can’t own pets (especially cats), no sun bathing, no ocean water, no tattoos, no raw veggies or fruits only cooked), no going out in crowds without a Micheal Jackson mask, no being …
Sex, Drugs and Transplant
April 12, 2011If you have ever suffered from a chronic illness then you know the love doctors have for writing prescriptions. In transplant, there are only a hand full of critical anti-rejection drugs (which for most patients end up being between 5-10 pills a day) and then you have your ancillary drugs to battle all the side effects. So far, I have been lucky enough to wean myself off the secondary drugs with the support of my doctors. Most of the time the secondary drugs are to battle the hellish damage the transplant drugs do to a patient’s body. That is the …
A Dog Really Is Man’s Best Friend (or in this case a woman’s)
April 07, 2011We have all heard that a dog is man’s best friend. Personally, I am a cat person. I have had a few too many in my life and as a child my parents feared the days I found a new stray to bring home! There was Precious, Zacchaeus, Oreo, Stormy, Sasha, UT (University of Tennessee), Sam, Lilly and Michaela. I did have two dogs (Meghan and Boom-Boom) because of my brother’s affection to them, but only one did I ever call mine (Prissy). Dogs have proven themselves to be useful companions and workers over centuries of existence. They are hunters, retrievers, rescuers, herders, medical …
Genetics Do Not Define Family
March 04, 2011There is one thing that everyone in the world shares, and that is family. Even if you are an orphan there are still two people who you share your DNA with out there. Growing up we fight with our siblings, rebel against parents, and we are allowed to commit murder when under the watchful eyes of our grandparents. Genetically we inherit wonderful things like wide butts, ugly feet and sensitive stomachs. Environmentally we learn to be passive aggressive, pick up relationship faults, and later get the joy of working through our issues with a therapist. Our parents always talk about …
Holiday Letter 2010
December 24, 2010Happy Holidays to All, If there was ever a year that I looked back on and scratched my head, this would be it. What an awesome, beautiful and extremely challenging year 2010 turned out to be! The year kicked off feeling like I had really pissed off a Higher Being, but I have ended up looking back on the year’s gifts and they were greater than I could’ve ever dreamed of. Tip and Henley continue to be one of the greatest gifts. Henley is turning out to be one heck of a swimmer and if she continues on this athletic …
Night of the Killer Raccoons
December 08, 2010Every few months I go to Palm Beach Gardens to visit one of my best friends and his family. I sleep in the guest room that has a glass sliding door downstairs on the main floor of the house. In the case of a fire, I think I probably have the best room in the house. When it comes to a group of mass murderers coming to get us, I am totally screwed. This past trip I was leaving to come back home on Monday morning around 5:30AM but ended up getting an early 3AM wake up call. Being the …
Images of Inner Beauty
November 03, 2010Girls are taught that looks are important; I was raised in an environment that looking perfect all the time was stressed. It was pointed out to me by family and coaches when I gained an extra 5 pounds; food taken off my plate to help me shed the extra weight. On the days that I am sporting a pimple or my hair is oily it has the potential to send me over the edge being that I am already OCD about maintaining the perfect image. Like many women, I have more days where I feel more fat vs beautiful. So, …
I Suck at Compromising
October 29, 2010Relationships and life are about compromises. Recently, I took in a stray – my roommate. Yes, he is a human. He’s not furry and I cannot discipline him if he breaks the rules. I am finding myself for the first time in 15 years living with someone. Two years ago I sold my 1100sq ft house for a 1900 sq ft house because I felt like my first home was too small for me, my two furry children and a closet full of clothes. How did I end up taking in a stray human? Well, a need to conserve money …
Bad Attitude, Rule Breaking and Back Talking Authority
October 13, 2010When I was a little girl it was not uncommon for me to get in trouble for having a bad attitude, mouthing off to my parents or just intentionally breaking the rules. I was always considered the “Trouble Child”. If authority told me to go left then I would go right and might even flick you a bird on the way out the door. My stated philosophy has always been “life is about coloring outside the lines and breaking the rules”. Many people wonder where the sassy attitude for RockScar Love comes from?!?! Well, it is that side of me …
Transplant Has It’s Privileges
September 27, 2010One of the most common complaints from transplant patients is about the medical bills. Non-transplant people are always shocked to hear that our meds alone, even with no doctor’s appointments, can cost up to $2,000 a month without insurance. Astounding, I know! Well, I finally found a positive aspect to being a medical high-dollar woman: preferential treatment at the hospital. Case in point: on August 17, I woke with an incredible stomach ache that ended up being appendicitis. Minutes after texting, “So, what is appendicitis like?” to him, my transplant doctor called me and told me to meet him at …
