ALS Icebucket Challenge

Ok, so for the better part of two weeks my Facebook feed has been inundated with ALS Icebucket Challenge's and the videos of those who've accepted the challenge.

In short, someone nominates you and you have 24 Hours to "take a video of yourself dumping a bucket of ice water over your head - and donate $10.00 to ALS; and nominate 3 people to do the challenge," or you are supposed to donate $100.00 to ALS.

Now, while I do believe that this challenge has raised awareness and raised more money for this particular affliction than had the challenge not been going around, I'm pretty much over it.

I would MUCH MUCH MUCH rather see people posting information about ALS to raise awareness about it, and the $10.00 donation challenge, rather than wasting water and filling my Facebook feed with silly videos.

Now, for those of you who are not sure what ALS is, including one college gal who's interview I read after she'd done the challenge quoting her as thinking it was for people who were studying English As a Second Language, ALS is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a disease of the never cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement.

My feeling is that most people dumping the water over themselves do not really know anything about the disease, nor does dumping this water teach them anything about it.

I am also of the feeling that most people who have dumped the water have NOT also donated the "required" $10.00 donation, nor have most of those who've ignored the nomination donated the "required" $100.00 donation. AND, what if you're nominated and actually can not afford to make a donation of $10.00 let alone $100.00???

But I digress...here's a website that will give you more information on ALS should you actually be curious about it: http://www.alsa.org

And here's a website for Diabetes: http://www.diabetes.org

And one for Parkinson's: http://www.pdf.org

And one for Chron's: http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/what-is-crohns-disease/

 My final thought for the moment is this, if you are truly wanting to donate money to a cause, to raise awareness for a disease you feel is "under represented" than share information from qualified websites, share names of places one can make a donation ... don't just waste water! But I dirgess...

All The Books You'll Never Read

Have you ever stopped to think about all of the books you will never read? I mean, there are SO many books out there ... so many good books ... and even those who devour books - like my mother who can read several books at the same time and with a speed that rivals one little mouse named Speedy Gonzalez - even they will not be able to read ALL of the good books in the world.

Take the classics for a start ... so many and so long ... then think about all of the books series that exist ... don't forget all the new books coming out everyday ... the books on Oprah's reading list ... there are just so many books to read, so many good books ... and even those who live to be 100 years old, just think of all those books they will not get too ... and that's totally humbling, isn't it?!

I was not a devourer of books until I was out of college actually, I mean I read before that - obviously - and I read for pleasure as well as my studies, but it was not until I had graduated from college and was living with my Auntie Liz and cousin Tory in Long Island, and commuting to work in Manhattan, that I really started to devour books. Those train rides needed something, ha ha ha, and I'm not really a newspaper gal ... so to my aunts bookshelf I went over and over and over.

And now, at 35, I'm sitting here thinking ... I really need to bone up on the classics and get to reading even MORE - and watching TV less - than I do now! I started a book club last Fall which is helping me out, keeps me working on at least one book every month, and then enjoying the company and discussion with the other members.

I have several books shelves in my apartment, all of them stuffed with books (novels, theatre books, plays, etc.) ... if a novel is on my shelf it means I've read it, for those I have not read are in stacks on my coffee table, sofa table or night stand. 

Some books are quicker reads than others ... and I can only think of one or two books that I have put down and do not necessarily intend on picking back up - for it is not engaging or enjoyable, and with all the other books out there, why would one continue to read it, am I right?!  :)

But I digress ... I'm currently reading a novel called A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff, having just finished the latest book club read entitled The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom, and I think I shall get back to A Vintage Affair now.  

Star and Moon Gazing

I love love love laying out in a field - or back yard - and star and moon gazing! Luckily my current abode allows me to see some stars, even with all the ambient light that abounds.

I also love love love laying out in a field - or back yard - and watching the clouds float by, picking out shapes and images as they carry on their way.

Two things I intend on doing more of ... !!!

Now, if only I could find someone to do them with ... with a nice bottle of wine ... le sigh!