It's only hair...

In February of 2004, I took my oldest daughter Nicole for her first haircut, she was 4 years old. I had decided early on that if I was going to have it cut, I would grow it long enough to donate it to the cancer society, and mine would go too. As she sat on the booster seat in the barber’s chair, I watched the hairdresser take the scissors and begin to cut Coley’s long blonde naturally curly hair. In seconds it was done. My Mom was with us and we both had tears in our eyes. I was next. I sat patiently and thought, if she can do this, so can I. It’s only hair. My hair went from hanging down my back, to just under my ears. We had done it! Somebody else is going to benefit from what we have just done. What a wonderful gift.
I love seeing people with a new hairdo especially ladies and little girls that go from long, long hair to short hair. The thing that upsets me about it is when I ask if they donated it. I have heard all kinds of things from, “It wasn’t long enough” to ” they don’t take processed hair”…DO YOUR HOMEWORK PEOPLE!!!
There are places that take processed hair, and there are places that take smaller amounts….Coley and I didn’t have hair that fit the criteria for any of the Toronto locations, so we sent ours out of province. So I had to pay postage, so I had to spend more money to send it than I wanted to. I still had my hair, I didn’t have to sit in a chair with an IV bag full of chemo hooked up to me and then weeks later watch in horror as all my hair fell out. I watched my Mom go through this time and time again until she lost her battle July 19, 2004. I think hairdressers should have a list of places that accept hair donations in their salons and when someone comes in to get a haircut of that magnitude, the information is at their fingertips. “would you like to donate your hair?” should almost be the second question after, how short did you want to go.
I’ve done the work for you. Below is a list taken right from the Canadian Cancer Society’s web site outlining the criteria and locations of those places that take hair donations. More people need to be aware….after all, “it’s only hair….

Hair donations
The Canadian Cancer Society helps people living with cancer find wigs and other types of headwear when they experience hair loss as a result of cancer treatment. Although we are not involved in the collection of hair or the production of wigs, we get many questions from people who want to donate their hair as a way to support those who are living with cancer.

The following information might be helpful if you are thinking about donating your hair.
How to prepare your hair
The following conditions apply to hair donations:
· hair must be clean and dry and not swept off the floor
· hair must be a minimum length (this length varies based on a specific hair donation program’s requirements – see below)
· hair should not be chemically treated (bleach, colour or perm)
· hair should be bundled in a ponytail at both ends or a braid
Sending your hair
· send hair by regular mail to the hair donation program of your choice
· include your name and return address as acknowledgements may be sent
Since it takes approximately 12 donations of unprocessed hair and costs about $1,200 to craft a single hand-sewn wig for a child, it is not possible to find out or meet the person who receives a wig made with your hair.

If the donated hair cannot be used in the manufacture of a wig, it will not be returned to the donor.

Where to donate
The following companies accept donations of human hair for the manufacture of wigs for cancer patients. Please check the program requirements listed below before sending your hair.

British Columbia
Eva & Co. Wigs
950 West Broadway, Unit 107
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1K7
Hair donations will be accepted by mail only.
Minimum requirement: length – 8 inches (20 cm), do not braid

Havana Technical Hair Design
326 Gilmore Avenue
Burnaby, BC, V5C 4R1
Hair donations will be accepted by regular mail only.
Minimum requirement: length – 9 inches (23cm), do not braid

Alberta
The Fringe Hair Company
2609 14 Street SW
Calgary, AB T2T 3T9
Phone: 403 245 6232
Minimum requirement: length – 10 inches (25cm), no processing, no grey hair.
Please do not braid but secure hair at the top and bottom.

Manitoba
Evelyn’s Wigs and Breast Prosthetic Service
79 Lagimodiere Avenue
Lorette, MB R0A 0Y0
Minimum requirement: length – 8 inches (20cm), no processing, no grey hair.
Please do not braid but secure hair at the top and bottom.

Ontario
A- Bientôt
371 Wellington Road South, Unit 5
London, Ontario, N6C 4P9
Minimum requirement: length – 12 inches (30cm)

A Child's Voice FoundationAngel Hair for Kids
3034 Palstan Road, Ste. 305
Mississauga, Ontario, L4Y 2Z6
Minimum requirement: length – 10 inches (25cm), no processing, preferably braided

Hair for Kids Program, c/o Continental Hair
92 1/2 Avenue Road
Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2H2
Minimum requirement: length –10 inches (25cm), minimal processing acceptable

Wigs for Kids Affiliate, c/o The Medical Image
603 Argus Road, Suite 108
Oakville, Ontario, L6J 6G6
Minimum requirement: length – 12 inches (30cm), no gray hair

Last Day of School!!!

Today is Nicole's Last Day of School --Friday is a PA day....Next year she will have Mrs. Free.

Monday both girls start swimming Lessons again.....

Congratulations Nicole and Jenna!!!

On Thursday June 8, 2006 Jenna graduated from her first year of Nursery school. She brought home her final report card that said "Jenna is a quiet participant who sometimes needs assistance moving around the room"...MY child?...a child of mine is a quiet participant?...It cant be, my report cards always said..."Cheryl needs to spend less time socializing and more time on her school work..." Zoo-to-you provided entertainment with many animals and creatures to see. Even the dreaded 8 legged arachnophobia like creatures. As I am petrified of them, not knowing that one was VERY close to me caught me off guard and I ran away crying like a baby. I was told afterwards that Nicole HELD it!!!....Again I ask--are we sure these kids are MINE???

On Friday June 23, 2006, Nicole graduated from Senior Kindergarten!! I proudly watched as she entered the gymnasium with one hand on her hip and a finger pressed to her lips signaling the understanding that they were to be quiet as they entered the gym (can I try this trick at home?) Nicole is very excited to go to Grade 1 next year! (so am i as she will be in school everyday!!)

Congratulations to both of our girls--Mommy and Daddy are very proud of both of you!!

Happy First Birthday Carson!

My Nephew turns one on June 28, so the family is getting together tomorrow to celebrate!

Nicole and Jenna always look forward to seeing their cousin. I recently got him a t-shirt that says..."are you SURE these are my relatives?"...and I am pretty sure he will now wear it when he knows the girls are coming for a visit.....

The training wheels are off!!!

Yep, you heard me right. Yesterday at the babysitters, Coley pulled out a 2 wheeled bicycle and asked if she could ride it. When I reminded her that she didn't know how, she proved me wrong by getting on it and taking off! Tonight when I got home from work, I took the training wheels off her bike and away she went!!!!!!!!
I was more concerned with getting it on video, that I dont have any still photos...will take some shortly and post them!!!

I'm not ready to make nice

Forgive, sounds good.

Forget, I'm not sure I could.

They say time heals everything,

But I'm still waiting

I'm through, with doubt,

There's nothing left for me to figure out,

I've paid a price, and i'll keep paying

I'm not ready to make nice,

I'm not ready to back down,

I'm still mad as hell

And I don't have time

To go round and round and round

It's too late to make it right

I probably wouldn't if I could

Cause I'm mad as hell

Can't bring myself to do what it is

You think I should

I know you said

Why can't you just get over it,

It turned my whole world around

and i kind of like it

I made by bed, and I sleep like a baby,

With no regrets and I don't mind saying,

It's a sad sad story

That a mother will teach her daughter

that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.

And how in the world

Can the words that I said

Send somebody so over the edge

That they'd write me a letter

Saying that I better shut up and sing

Or my life will be over

I'm not ready to make nice,

I'm not ready to back down,

I'm still mad as hell

And I don't have time

To go round and round and round

It's too late to make it right

I probably wouldn't if I could

Cause I'm mad as hell

Can't bring myself to do what it is

You think I should

I'm not ready to make nice,

I'm not ready to back down,

I'm still mad as hell

And I don't have time

To go round and round and round

It's too late to make it right

I probably wouldn't if I could

Cause I'm mad as hell

Can't bring myself to do what it is

You think I should

Forgive, sounds good.
Forget, I'm not sure I could.
They say time heals everything,
But I'm still waiting

Casino Rama Presents...

Sugarland..... This hot new country group will perform their chart-topping songs, such as: "Baby Girl", "Something More" & "Just Might (Make Me Believe)".

Visit there website and check out their music at

http://www.sugarlandmusic.com/start.asp

Thursday, July 6

8:00 PM

Christmas in June

We made it back from Santa's Village today, but found that there just wasnt enough time to see and do everything that the "park" had to offer. I would definately go again, this time bringing the wagon so that we can put the cooler in it and tow it around with us. That way if the girls get tired, they can have a rest. We left the school at about 8:45 and made our way to Bracebridge. We got there approximately 10:40. By about 12:15 we decided to have lunch and since I went on the bus and my dad and Jenna drove the van, I had to go back to the van to get our lunches. It ws about 12:55 when we prepared to come home--we hadn't even DONE everything yet either!!...There just wasnt enough time to enjoy it all...

Santa's Village

Tuesday June 20, My Dad, Jenna and I are joining Coley's class in a year end trip to Santa's Village in Bracebridge. To check it out go to www.santasvillage.ca Will post pictures soon

Wedding photos

Lyle & Bernice Archer

Congratulations to Lyle and Bernice who were married June 17, 2006!!

Jim's older sister got married on Saturday.
At least there was no rain, but Mother Nature wasnt too co-operative with the heat. Temperatures were at a scorching 34+ degrees.
It was a nice day despite the heat. Nicole and Jenna were flower girls. Will post more pictures of the girls shortly...

Arizona Sherriff

WE NEED THIS GUY IN ALL JAILS. TO THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH JOE ARPAIOHE, HE IS THE MARICOPA ARIZONA COUNTY SHERIFF AND HE KEEPS GETTING ELECTED OVER AND OVER. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY:

Sheriff Joe Arpaio (in Arizona) who created the "tent cityjail":
He has jail meals down to 40 cents a serving and charges the inmates for them.
He stopped smoking and porno magazines in the jails.
Took away their weights.
Cut off all but "G" movies.
He started chain gangs so the inmates could do free work on county and city projects.
Then he started chain gangs for women so he wouldn't get sued for discrimination.
He took away cable TV until he found out there was a federal court order that required cable TV for jails. So he hooked up the cable TV again only let in the Disney channel and the weather channel.
When asked why the weather channel he replied, so they will know how hot it's gonna be while they are working on my chain gangs.
He cut off coffee since it has zero nutritional value.
When the inmates complained, he told them, "This isn't theRitz/Carlton. If you don't like it, don't come back."
He bought Newt Gingrich' lecture series on videotape that he pipes into the jails.
When asked by a reporter if he had any lecture series by aDemocrat, he replied that a democratic lecture series might explain why a lot of the inmates were in his jails in the first place.
More on the Arizona Sheriff:
With temperatures being even hotter than usual in Phoenix (116 degrees just set a new record), the Associated Press reports: About 2,000 inmates living in a barbed-wire-surrounded tent encampment at the MaricopaCounty Jail have been given permission to strip down to their government-issued pink boxer shorts.
On Wednesday, hundreds of men wearing boxers were either curled upon their bunk beds or chatted in the tents, which reached 138 degrees inside the week before.Many were also swathed in wet, pink towels as sweat collected on their chests and dripped down to their pink socks."It feels like we are in a furnace," said James Zanzot, an inmate who has lived in the tents for 1 year.
"It's inhumane."Joe Arpaio, the tough-guy sheriff who created the tent city and long ago started making his prisoners wear pink, and eat bologna sandwiches, is not one bit sympathetic.
He said Wednesday that he told all of the inmates:"It's 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents too, and they have to wear full battle gear, but they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your damned mouths!"Way to go, Sheriff! Maybe if all prisons were like this one there would be a lot less crime and/or repeat offenders. Criminals should be punishedfor their crimes - not live in luxury until it's time for their parole, only to go out and commit another crime so they can get back in to live on tax payers money and enjoy things taxpayers can't afford to have for themselves.

What a Girl!!!!!!!!!!!

Coley was a trooper, just as I thought she would be. The new tubes are already helping! Such a change in her already. We may have to have her adnoids removed at a later date, but for now, she is healthy again....! Many thanks to Dr. Finkelstein and his team at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket!!!