Letter to Cancer

Dear Cancer


F-*-C-K   Y-O-U!

Signed

Ben, Terri, Susan and Sharon's Friend,

To View or Not To View…That is the Question!

As a small child, my two favorite toys were Barbie dolls and books. While the Barbies have faded away to just a distance memory, the books have not.  It all started with my Grandma Hershberger and  my three Aunties Hershberger reading Cinderella to an adolescent Denise.  …. over and over again I.  Every gift giving occasion I would receive books.  I had the entire Nancy Drew series…until my mother sold them in a yard sale while I was at college.  But we will save that whole story for another post.   And yes, at 52, I'm still bitter about it. 

Sorry, I digressed for a moment…back to the task at hand.  To this day I read every moment I can.  I always have at least 5 books downloaded and waiting on my Kindle.  One of those books was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  I watched the movie on my flight back from Paris.  I loved the movie!   

So, I did something that I rarely do.  I bought the book after watching the movie.  Well, that was in March, but didn't get to the book until this August when my book club selected as the read of the month.  I was excited because I was actually

going to read the book!  I was apprehensive as I had seen the movie already.  We all know how the movies can ruin books.  I, too, was a book snob and thought the movies never did the book justice.  That is until now.  

My friend, Barb Whyte, and I had a discussion not long ago about the book.  She wasn't feeling it at first because she is a plot driven reader. (She is a retired English teacher after all!).  I was loving the book because we decided that I was a word driven reader.  I want the words to dance off of the page and take somewhere.  And boy did The Book Thief come alive for me…But not just because of the words, but because I saw the movie.  The imagery in the book was spectacular.  But when it was enhanced by my own reference to watching the movie, I was memorized.   I could see Liesel and Rudy and Rosa and Papa and Death in my mind every word of the book.  I could feel and smell the weather, the smoke,  the accordion, the death and destruction.  I could hear the bombs and I taste the horrible pea soup.  The entire book came alive like I have never experienced with any other book.  I contribute it all to watching the movie first.  

 

I was talking to a coworker about the book, and he told me he always watches the movie first whenever possible.  He says it makes the book more real.  The bonus is that you get added surprises with the book.  We all know that in order to convert a book to a movie, there are always parts omitted from movies.  So, when you read a book after the movie, you get an added bonus.  I have to agree with Chris.  This was a different experience for me.  Then I started thinking what it would have been like if I had read the Harry Potter books after the movies!  Or what about The Twilight series!  I could go on, and on, and on, but get the drift.

Now while I can't wait for every book I want to read to come out as a movie first, I do know that my reading experience will be heightened if I read it after the  fact.  What about you?  What do you think? To view or not to view?  That is the question?  What a paradigm shift!

Make A Every Day Count

Denise

"Go To The Doctor", they said!

I have been having some minor health issues the last six months.  Everyone told me it sounds like gall gladder issues.  So, two weeks ago, I was in so much pain that I actually called and made an appointment.  Why?   Beecause they all said, "Go to the doctor".  Well, they all suck!  Because now I find myself in a strict dietary hell!  He thinks it is thyroid and, therefore, a special diet is needed.

For the next 21 days my diet consists of the following:

Breakfast:  cereal and a banana
Mid morning snack:  granola bar
Lunch:  a Slim Fast and a granola bar
Mid afternoon snack:  granola bar
Dinner:  light menu of my choice

Folks, this is everyday for 21 freaking days!!!!!  First of all, I am leery of anyone who drinks their meals!  It's just not right!  One must chew their meals not drinking them. Of course the disclaimer here is wine.  I guess you could drink your lunch if it were wine.   Seriously!

I have tickets to the OSU vs. Cincy game on the 27th with pre-game tail gate party.   Who the hell takes a slim fast and a granola bar to a tail-gate party!!!!!!!  Seriously?!?!?!?  I'm freaking out here!

I'm supposed to go the Coshocton County fair in two weeks.  What am I supposed to do?  Slep my slim fast and granola bar there too?!?!?!?!?  Sit back and watch everyone else eat fries, pepperoni on a stick, Lemon Shakeup and  a candy apple while I eat a vanilla slim fast and a freaking Fiber one bar.

How many of these friends who encouraged me to go the doctor are going to step up and support me in my food hell over the next three weeks?!??!?  Shelly already told me she'd do but didn't think she could.  She did promise to not eat in front of me!  Grrrrr….

So guess what I did tonight?  I acted like a spoiled teenager and went out and ate everything bad!  I had potato chips, Coke, Chipotle, Sour Patch kids and wine!

I always try to find a silver lining in everything.  So here it is:  At least I don't have to pack a lunch for school for the next 3 weeks.  I can just keep a supply of everything in my room.

After more bitching and pouting, I know I will see the positive outcomes of this diet.  But in the meantime, I'm stomping my feet, crossing my arms and glaring at the world.  Tomorrow will be a brighter day.

Make Every Day Count…
Denise