The Mandelbear's Musings

Most of the afternoon was taken up with a couple of outings: first to the AT&T store with Colleen and the YD, then to Santana Row with Colleen. The women got new Android phones; I didn't because none of the Death Star's phones have Ice Cream Sandwich yet. (I now know that the HTC Vivid and Samsung Galaxy S II will definitely get upgraded. Recommendations? Other things being equal I think I'd go for the Samsung, but there's a $100 difference between the two. Worth it?)

The trip to Santana Row (local very-upscale shopping street) was less successful; my hips were hurting pretty badly. Got home, took ethanol and naproxen, and decided not to go out for a walk today.

Lots of links. Playing Black Sabbath on Tesla coils with an iron guitar, standing in a Faraday suit may have to stand in for this week's Songs for Saturday.

STUNNING: When a Single Image Cuts to the Core of an American Injustice is simply infuriating: there are 24 empty houses for every homeless person in the US.

And this video -- "What Breast Cancer is, and is not" -- is a MUST SEE. Really. Mind-bogglingly good. Cue verse 2 of Quiet Victories, and tip your hat to a very brave woman.

Barb, who lost her battle with breast cancer last year. Lynn, still fighting more than half a century after two mastectomies and a hysterectomy. Abe, pancreatic cancer, and Shirley, breast cancer, 11 years ago or close enough It still hurts. And that's just close family. Friends. Acquaintances. I've lost track.

In memory of family and friends who have lost the battle with cancer; and in support of the ones who continue to conquer it!

I've taken out the memish part -- post this if you feel like it. I know there are people on my friends list fighting cancer right now, and others who are grieving. I could name many of them, but probably not all. You know who you are.

I was talking on the phone with Mom this evening; she mentioned that yesterday would have been her 65th anniversary, if Dad were still alive.

I told her that I mention her whenever the subject of breast cancer comes up -- she had her surgery in 1953 and 1966. Hang in there!

I don't suppose it's entirely a coincidence that I've been listening to a sermon on grief that I got from this post by gmcdavid, is it?