Yvette's Blog

Photo Book

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:15:44 PDT

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Discounted Avs Ticket to Benefit Mom With Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:37:37 PST

Most of us have been in situations where we feel helpless. We see people we love in trouble and we want to help, but we don't know what to do. This month my "Help Me Help Someone" story is about a group of friends who are banding together to help their friend, Michelle Kendall, a mother of three, who is dealing with a recurrance of breast cancer.

"Discount Avs Ticket to Benefit Young Local Mom with Cancer" was the subject line of Sharon Morrill's email that she posted to the McKesson bulletin board distribution list. Sharon's email described a situation in which her friend, Michelle, had gone through much financial hardship during her first battle with breast cancer in 2012 and now is facing new challenges and indefinite chemotherapy.

It's hard to ask for money, but here's a fund-raiser in which everyone wins. Avs tickets at half-price and money still going towards helping Michelle and her family! The details of the Avs tickers are below. Please help spread the word by posting on FaceBook, Twitter, or other social media sights. Or, if you're not a hockey fan, and would like to help directly, I've posted a PayPal link the group has set up.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers
Tuesday, March 12th, 2013
7:00pm Pepsi Center Discounted Ticket Pricing
:Upper level center/corner: $30 each (usually $40-$58)
Lower level corner/end: $50 each (usually $89-$112)
There are NO taxes or fees

Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars
Wednesday, March 20th, 2013
7:30pm Pepsi Center
Discounted Ticket Pricing:
Upper level center/corner: $30 each (usually $40-$58)
Lower level corner/end: $50 each (usually $89-$112)
There are NO taxes or fees

To order tickets online: http://www.avstix.com/michellekendall Tickets can be emailed, sent via Flash Seats, or left at will-call (if you select will-call, you will need a photo ID to pick up your tickets from the Pepsi Center Box Office on the day of the game).

Please call Sarah Feldman Johnston at 303-405-1376 or email sfeldman@pepsicenter.com with questions or for help ordering tickets. Thank you for your support of the Colorado Avalanche and the Kendall Family!

To donate directly to help the Kendall Family:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3NG6N4GU2BEEE

Sharon and her friends met last night to come up with additional fund-raising strategies to help their friend, Michelle. I will update this post with additional information as I get it, but in the mean time, I did want to get the information about the hockey tickets out to as many people as possible.

For questions regarding the Kendall family please contact Sharon Morrill at 720.352.0226

It's heart-warming to see people wanting to help others and finding these creative ways of helping a friend in need. Sharon has told me she's been moved by the outpouring of support from people who want to help. Let's join in on that... It's as simple as spreading the word about a good deal!

Best of luck to Michelle for a full recovery.

Sister's Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 19:26:10 PST

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Favorite memories from our sister trip:

Finding the picnic table and eating the delicious lunch at a super beautiful spot instead of at MacDonald's.
Yummy Cinnamon Rolls (and feeding the homeless guy who thinks I'm scared of him).
My perfect birthday presents right after I said I wanted necklace / earrings and photo stick.
Everyone knowing we must be sisters
Shopping and finding fun stuff
Michele's internal struggle about whether or not to get the second lady and then the look of "sure satisfaction" when recognizing that they would be "sisters".
Sharing our secret phobias (which will remain secret).
Arriving at the perfect moment for the most beautiful sunset at the SandCastle pier.
Watching Silver Linings Playbook (even though it skipped.)
Geocaching
Butterflies
Taking endless pics on a stick

And... from my journal which is much too long for a blog post:

The very best part of the weekend...the part that couldn't be captured with the photos..was the talking. Memories of Dad... Long talks about relationships with kids and parents, heroes and religion and homeless people, everything and anything.. And, of course, the LOL. Yeah we were LWDOP (Laughing With Danger of Peeing) (I just made that one up and think it's more accurate than ROTFLMAO). We were laughing the whole weekend, even at stuff that may be a little inappropriate to laugh at, but the laughter, inappropriate or otherwise, felt really, really good.

Help me help Andi help Lexi

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 12:58:10 PST

Andi Whaley has a goal of raising $5000 for Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America to help her surrogate niece, Lexi. She sent a link on the McKesson bulletin board to her Web page with photos of her and Lexi and I could see right away that both Andi and Lexi were special people.

Andi has found a kindred spirit in Lexi. "We're both high energy and silly," she says and fondly describes Lexi as a "funny, spunky kid." It's obvious that Andi is very close to Lexi and that she is committed to helping this little girl in any way she can.

Andi's been running for 11 years and her races have already included 4 marathons and a 50K ultra-marathon among other races. She'l be running the Chicago half-marathon with Team Challenge. It's a challenge to run long distances and it's a challenge to raise money. But those challenges don't compare to the challenges that 11-year-old Lexi faces.

For those of us who have the luxury of health, let's spare a little something to help Andi help Lexi. As someone who has seen the generosity from others who helped me raise money when I did fund-raising, this year I'd like to pay it forward by helping spread the word. You can do the same.

Andi's page: http://www.active.com/donate/chicagoRMD13/PrincessAndi

Photo Book

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:46:18 PST

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Weekend in Phoenix puts resolutions back on track

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:11:21 PST

Just like every New Year's Eve, this year I had a long list of "resolutions" which included stuff like

Find the good in everyone
Take a picture a day of something that makes me happy
Blog once a week about what I love about my job
Race once a month in costume

I was going to be so Pollyanna optimistic and happy and never have a moment of anger or frustration or irritation about petty things that really didn't matter.

Well that didn't work. I think it was 5 minutes into the New Year when I had my first pissy conversation with a woman I didn't know at the party I was at about something totally inconsequential. As for blogging about what I love about my job (a resolution that got me in the company newsletter, by the way)... I feel like the Universe (or whoever it is that holds you accountable for resolutions) is testing me or something. I have had more work stress in the past couple of weeks than I've had in the whole previous year! OK, so I'm not Pollyanna after all.

But, if the first 18 days of the year were not exactly as planned, the Universe is making up for it by giving me the perfect January weekend in Phoenix, Arizona.

I bought the tickets last Fall... "Winter getaway to Phoenix" is a "regular" on my resolution list, but I also have a long list of reasons why it rarely happens. Well this year, the stars were aligned and there was a cheap flight that would get me here for MLK weekend -- the same weekend as the Rock'n'Roll marathon / half-marathon / (and this year, the one I ran) "mini-marathon."

Just the fact that they're having a mini-marathon (5.4 miles) was pure luck. I don't think they've done that before and I'm in no shape to run any farther than that... in fact, I haven't been training at all. But I'm trying to make this year's running more about having a "good time" as in "fun" rather than "speed." Even running 5.4 miles isn't usually "fun," but it's more "fun" than running 13.1 or 26.2, and I still get all the other perks like the pre-race expo, post-race party, bands, swag, and of-course racy atmosphere.. full of excited, sweaty, in-shape runners. Another big bene of the mini-marathon is that it was only $40, as opposed to the $100+ price tag for the longer races. So I get all the "good stuff" (party, etc) for less than half the bad stuff (running) and at a much better price. I don't want to call anyone a sucker here (after all, those longer distance runners do have bragging rights and are in better shape) but the cheapskate in me is definitely celebrating the mini-marathon option.

OK, next there was the problem of going alone. Bonnie, my neighbor and running partner, surprisingly has been "all in" on the idea of racing once a month in costume. However, she was not keen about flying to Phoenix only to run 5.4 miles. (She apparently doesn't have the same logical mind as I do in thinking that races are about getting the most fun for the least pain.) (By the way, we did run the Quicker Quaker 5K in our "oatmeal" costumes last weekend in eight degree weather. Hence, I am revising my resolution to "Run 12 races in costume" and I'd just like to note to the resolution-accountability-Gods that I am ahead of schedule with two down in January.)

Going to a race alone definitely can put a damper on the "fun factor." In fact, traveling alone is not something I normally do. But, now in this new empty nest phase of my life, I'm finding there can be an exciting freedom in starting out an adventure alone and finding out who you meet along the way. So rather than the usual frenzied attempt to try and find someone to go with me, I decided to see how a short trip alone would work out.

I did, however, check OKCupid to see if I might possibly find someone who would be willing to meet me for lunch or dinner while I was out in Phoenix. My search revealed someone with a picture from 2011's Rock'n'Roll Half-Marathon, so I sent him an email and found out that he was indeed running again in 2013. Not only would he go with me to the race, he said he'd be happy to go to the expo with me, show me around Phoenix and take me to dinner! Jim was like my fairy Godfather! Handsome and gentlemanly he couldn't have been more perfect. Neither of us was looking for romance, so there were no expectations in that department, and instead an easy friendship immediately developed. If only all my online dates could be so easy. I suppose the "safety" of knowing there were no expectations made a big difference. And it was great having someone else to share the fun of a big race and the post-race feeling of accomplishment.

It turned out I ran at a much faster pace and finished stronger than I ever would have imagined! This low altitude really makes a difference. Or maybe, again, it was the lack of any expectations for a fast race that gave me such energy. Yeah, I felt a little like a cheater for only running 5.4 miles, but Wow! It was really a good 5.4 miles. Lots of people commented on my cool rock-n-roll sunglasses and sparkly top. Even though it wasn't a super-creative costume, it definitely added to the fun-factor and has motivated me to keep up the effort of finding theme-related accessories for future races.

I still have another day here in Phoenix. The weather has been absolutely, positively perfect -- Highs in the mid 70's. I was out at the pool yesterday soaking in the sunshine. They say this is unusual, even for Phoenix, so I lucked out again. I'm going out with a Realtor this morning to check out town homes Maybe some day I'll do the snowbird thing and spend my winters out here.

Tomorrow I will be back at work, trying again to stick with all my resolutions. I've come to realize that no matter how much I try to be happy and optimistic I'm going to have my ups and downs. Life will throw me curve balls and I'll get hurt or mad or stressed. But I know that just around the corner is that unexpected home run like I experienced this weekend, when all is right with the world.

Picture-a-day

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:47:50 PST

One of my resolutions is to take a picture a day of something that makes me happy.

Photo-a-Day

2012 Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:42:50 PST

Wow, it's been so long since I blogged, that I've kind of forgotten how this works. But new year, new resolutions, and this year I'm going to try and blog once a week with a photo that made me smile or something I'm grateful for. Of course, the biggest thing I'm grateful for is my amazing family. I am so, so, so proud of my kids and who they've become. And now, I have two little grandchildren living close by who I adore. So, I'm kind of breaking the rules with 12 photos (one for each month of 2012), but I need a chance to recap 2012 since I didn't do much blogging. It was a super-great year and I'm very excited about 2013.

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January Smilebox Update

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:44:39 PST

I haven't been doing much on this blog, but I have been writing a lot on my examiner column, sticking with my "alphabet year of dating" theme. January is typically a month I don't much dating... it's cold and dark and I'd rather be home. And even though most of my "dates" have been friends rather than romantic dates, I have been getting out a lot more, keeping with my resolution to "celebrate" each letter of the alphabet for two weeks.

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Awesome A-Day at the Art Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:42:14 PST

Personalize your own digital collage

Alphabet dating

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:39:01 PST

I've been waiting for New Years to begin my Alphabet-theme weeks and even though 2012 is only a few days old, I'm already having fun.

Basically it works like this. There are 52 weeks in the year and 26 letters in the alphabet so that means we have a new letter to celebrate every two weeks. Currently, our letter is 'A' but on January 15th, we'll switch to 'B.' My plan is to go on at least one date or do some kind of activity centered around the bi-weekly letter.

Since I'm the Boulder Dating Adviser, I'll write about the letter-themed dates and maybe even compile them for a book at the end of the year.

I already have

Alphabet dating throughout the year and A-week assignment: Assemble foods that start with the letter A.

There are also plenty of 'A'-words related to dating: Attraction, Arousal, Aphrodisiacs, Adoration, Affirmations, Appreciation, Authenticity, Appearance, Affection, Awkwardness, Anticipation... Certainly, I have an Abundance to choose from if I'm trying to come up with a topic to write about!

I did these letter-theme weeks in 2004 with Scotty and had a lot of fun with it. He was 9 at the time. Every other Saturday, we'd have a day dedicated to the letter of the week and it was like a scavenger hunt the whole day. We went to Arvada Center for the Arts and Arbys for lunch during A weeks and the Butterfly Pavilion, Boondocks, and Burger King when the letter was 'B.' It was a lot harder to find activities when we got to the end of the alphabet, but with a little creativity, we always came up with something fun. We even have a photo album that shows pictures we took during each outing.

Even though I had tons of fun finding kid activities with Scotty, I'm looking forward to applying this same concept to dating. (Maybe I'll even get to do some X-rated activity in X weeks!)Having a "letter" is a great way to make a decision about where to go on a date and to try out new places. And my first experiment with using it as a way to figure out what to make for dinner turned out AWESOME!

It really would be so much more fun if I could find other people who were playing along, though, and get some comments, ideas, or some discussion going.

I'd love it if you'd come subscribe to my examiner column and let me know all your creative dating ideas!

The Last Love Drop

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:39:31 PST

Looking for a way to help during the holidays? Consider the Love Drop.Every month they help a family in need, but this will be the last one, so if you want to help, now's the time! I've offered to help spread the word via my blog so here's the message from J$ and Nate:

Help give a Love Drop this season!

This Christmas the team's coming together for Diomi and her son Nallee, who are going into the cold Milwaukee winter with very little food, clothes, and other necessities. Diomi has been through so much, including the loss of her father, the loss of her job, and clinical depression. But even through the pain you can see all the love she has for Nallee, who has one of the most beautiful personalities you'll find. :)

We want to make this month special for them! We're working with their pastor to help get things they really need, including school uniforms for Nallee, interview clothes for Diomi as she looks for a job, and food to help them through the winter months.

If you can find it in your hearts to give one extra gift this year, whether it be money or a helpful item they can use, please send it in - our goal is to reach $3,000 worth of necessities.

Want to join us in helping Diomi and Nallee? Here are 3 ways:

Give $1.00 - This money will be put towards basic necessities and care. Maybe even a Christmas present or two (They're currently spending it alone, w/out anything at all).
Give a gift card - Gift cards are extremely helpful, especially to places that are national.
Donate personal products -These two need anything you can thing of in the personal product department: bathroom/kitchen/bedroom stuff, etc.

Just Do It! Flash Mobbing at DIA

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:21:58 PST

Yesterday I did something that's been on my "bucket list" for awhile: Participate in a Flash Mob! This is the kind of thing that once upon a time I'd sit back and say, "I want to do that, but ...I can't dance well enough, or ...I don't have a boyfriend, or ...my boyfriend doesn't like to dance or ...[other lame excuse.]

It's time to stop making excuses and Just Do It! So what if you're a newbie? Everyone is a newbie some time. As for waiting until you have a "partner," I have learned very well that it's easy enough to find someone else who doesn't have a "partner" and wants to have fun. In fact, many people who are partnered up in marriage or relationships often miss out on doing things that their partner doesn't want to do!

I actually have been dating a guy for the past few months, but he couldn't do this with me, so I just emailed a new friend (someone I knew had that "Just Do It!" attitude) and even though he, too, was a newbie, he said he'd love to participate! Sometimes we are all so afraid of taking risks, we don't even try. What's on your bucket list? What's holding you back? Just do it!

Staying Healthy and Active After Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 17:24:26 PST

The other day I got an email from someone who asked if he could write a guest post on my blog. Trevor Bradshaw (trevorsendeavors@gmail.com) is an aspiring writer, a health nut, and brother to a cancer survivor and is very passionate about writing about cancer and health. Read on to hear what he has to say about staying healthy. This is good advice not only for cancer recovery, but for cancer prevention!

For many people, a cancer diagnosis can be a life changing experience. While chemotherapy can be effective at treating many types of cancer, lifestyle can have a significant impact on the body's ability to heal and recover.

It's important maintain a healthy style before, during, and after cancer. Diet has a significant impact on overall health. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been shown to lower the risk of cancer in many people, and will help during the recovery process. It's important to watch one's weight, as obesity can impact the immune system's ability to heal the body.

There are several simple diet tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Avoid eating foods with refined sugars and carbohydrates, such as white bread, potatoes, candy, and soda. Many processed meats and cheeses contain high levels of nitrates, preservatives that can cause systemic inflammation in the body. Diets rich in meat and cheese can also cause inflammation, which will reduce the body's ability to heal. It's important to include omega-3 fatty acids in a diet. Omega-3 can be found in fish, nuts, and flax seed.

Exercise is essential after a cancer diagnosis. An active lifestyle offers many health benefits to cancer survivors, and can improve recovery time. Exercise doesn't have to be complicated: a 30 minute walk outdoors is a great way to start. There are many low impact physical activities that are great for cancer patients. Swimming can be a great way exercise and tone the entire body, without putting excessive stress on joints or tendons.

Yoga is a great way for cancer patients and survivors to stay healthy and relaxed. Yoga is a type of meditation, combined with physical poses. Yoga is designed to stretch and exercise the entire body, without putting excessive strain on any individual part. Many yoga classes teach students how to relax through breathing exercises, and can show cancer patients and survivors how to relax.

Exercise releases natural painkillers, called endorphins. During cancer treatment and chemotherapy, many patients may experience systemic pain throughout the body. Exercise can help lower pain without the use of dangerous analgesics.

In addition, exercise can be a great way to beat depression. Cancer can be a scary experience, and it's important to maintain a positive attitude during recovery. Exercise can improve mood, improve recovery time, lower pain. While cancer does require medical treatment, maintaining a healthy life can help recovery times and prevent recurrence.

Milkshake - All that's good!

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 07:21:03 PST

The thing about blogging is that the more you explore, the more sites you find that are doing wonderful things. I started The Love Project at the beginning of the year and, as a result, I found a bunch of other sites that are about spreading the love. And those sites promote other sites and soon you realize the world is full of so many good people, making a difference and spreading goodness.

One of those sites which I discovered recently is "Milkshake." I get a daily newsletter from Milkshake that is (in their words): "dedicated to finding the good in everything: Companies, causes, people, places and products which give back and make a difference."

I've been getting the daily email for about two weeks now, and I'm always inspired by the messages and products and cool causes they promote. I encourage you to check it out for yourself!

Ten reasons to subscribe to...

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:39:07 PDT

..my relationship column on Examiner.com

To learn:

1. How to make dating fun
2. How to reconnect with a spouse or partner
3. How to pick a great venue for a date
4. How to date successfully
5. How to navigate the online dating sites
6. How to play on a date
7. How to get over insecurities and build confidence
8. How to get dates
9. How to build intimacy
10. How to banish dating fears

But even if you don't need to learn these things, subscribe for these reasons:

1. To help teach others
2. If you have a business, product or event, I may be able to help you promote it
3. Spark conversation
4. Make new friends (maybe even a date!!)
5. Ask questions
6. Trade links
7. Help spread the word
8. Help me make a little cash! (If I get a certain number of subscribers, my pay level gets bumped up.)

Everyone (whether single or married, male or female, old or young) would benefit from dating. So, go ahead! Subscribe!!

November Love Drop: Marci from Colorado

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:17:46 PDT

This month I resolved to blog more and stay on top of things like the Love Drop, so when I got the email this morning, I watched the video right away.

This one really hit home for me. First of all, Fort Collins is only an hour away... maybe I'll even tag along for the actual "drop" and meet Marci and her family. Secondly, I have good friends who are breast cancer survivors so I am close to the cause. And finally, I am a mother, and I'm certain Marci wants to be healthy not just for herself, but for her children and husband.

Please pass the word along. Let's help Marci and her family have a vacation to remember.

From the love drop team:

Meet Marci: http://LoveDrop.us

She's a super strong wife and mom of three from Colorado, who's not only beat breast cancer ONCE, but TWICE. And unfortunately she's been diagnosed yet again, but this time with Stage IV cancer that's spread into her lungs and lymph nodes :(

The most important thing in her life right now is quality time with her family, so we want to give them an all-expense-paid vacation before she begins her toughest battle yet. All of the money y'all have already sent in (or will be sending in) is going straight for them to spend some time together. So if her story resonates with you, or you happen to have some good airline/hotel/vacation hookups going on, def. be sure to give us a shout :) She's been through some tough times in the past 10 years so far, but she's remaining positive and gonna do her best to kick its ass again!

Mesothelioma Cancer Awareness

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 07:13:38 PDT

Don't know what Mesothelioma cancer is? Check out http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I must say, I'm more aware of breast cancer than ever. There are all sorts of efforts going on. Even examiner.com is having a drive and asked us to write about breast cancer awareness in our topic area. (Since I'm the dating adviser, I came up with some date ideas!)

However, there are other, lesser-known cancers that don't get nearly the same kind of visibility. As a result of my last post about Race for the Cure, David Haas contacted me and asked me about being a guest blogger on my blog about Mesothelioma Cancer. He said:

I recently have been researching and writing about how beneficial cancer support networks and also staying physically fit is to people going through treatments, in remission, and even family members of cancer patients.

To be honest, I hadn't even heard of Mesothelioma Cancer until I checked out the site David referred me to: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog This cancer is a result of exposure to asbestos and it's deadly.

David is a guest blogger for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. Their blog and site provides inspiration and information for researchers, bloggers, survivors and advocates that cover all different kinds of cancer and topics.

Though I told him my site is probably not the best avenue for cancer topics, I was happy to write a post to help get the word out.

This is just one more instance of how social media can change our world. I'm glad those who are living with cancer have places they can go for inspiration and support. And we can all do our part, at the very least, by letting others know what's out there. It's very easy if you're a blogger or have a social media network to spread the word. It can be as simple as a ReTweet!

So please help spread the word to visit http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog

By the way, the Komen Race for the Cure was incredible! Huge crowds wearing pink and running in support of such a worthy cause. And I am so proud of my friend, Rebecca Ritter, a survivor who raised over $2500 for the cause!

Racing for a Cure - Please Help!

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:08:29 PDT

Anyone who's known me for any length of time has probably been hit up by me at some point or another to sponsor me for some kind of charitable event. Last year I asked for prayers, rather than money, but I know many of you still contributed to charities, cause... that's just the type of wonderful friends you are.

Well, this year I'm back to asking for money.

One of the people who's been in my prayers is my amazing friend, Rebecca Ritter. She's a breast cancer survivor. In fact, she's done more than survive. She lives life more fully than most of us ever will. So when she asked me to join her and her daughter in the Race for the Cure this year, I said, "Absolutely!"

Now, instead of asking you to contribute to my page, I'd rather help Rebecca reach her goal of $1500. She's about half-way there, but I told her that I would love to help her reach that goal. I assured her that my friends were very used to my frequent pleas for contributions and that they were generous, both with their money and their prayers.

To contribute to the Race for the Cure, go to Rebecca's page and click on the link to the right, under her picture that says: "Donate to Rebecca!"

All the money goes to the Komen Foundation which will continue to help people like Rebecca, who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks to research, we have come a long way, and I am so grateful that Rebecca is strong and healthy. Let's make sure she and others who have been diagnosed with breast cancer will get the help and support they need to beat this disease.

PS.Think about joining us on October 2nd by pressing the "Join Rebecca's Team!" link on Rebecca's page. It's a 5K (3.1 miles) with lots of walkers, so no need to be a runner to join in the fun!

New Love, New Life

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:17:14 PDT

Here's a picture of my new love -- my baby granddaughter born August 29th.

I was hoping she'd be born on August 26th -- the first Anniversary of her great grandfather's death -- but the 29th is close enough.

The year + 3 days between my Dad's death and his great granddaughter's birth has come with many ups and downs. I think much more often about mortality. My amazing friend Craig died in December at age 50. And other friends and family have received the awful news of a cancer diagnosis. I wonder if this is what life will be like now in my later years... Worrying about who will be next?

I have been searching for another love, but lately, I've been morosely thinking that I'd rather be single than be a widow. I don't know if I could bare the grief of losing a spouse to death.

But why am I here talking about death, when just the opposite has occurred. A beautiful, perfect baby has been born. How will Dad find his way in her? Will she have his love of Math? His corny sense of humor? I look at those tiny hands, at that blissful, sleeping doll and think how miraculous life is. I remember that day I became a mother -- the day I looked at my perfect daughter, this baby's mother -- and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, there was a God. There is no way something so wonderful could have just been created "randomly."

When the people we love die, life can feel so meaningless. Is this it? We're just going to live until we die? All this "stuff" we do all day... why do we even do it? Why does it even matter? We are just going to die.

And then there is a birth. I look at the innocent baby and know she will have the love passed down from her great grandfather who loved me who loved her mother who loves her. And I know then that it does matter. Every smile my father gave me. Every day he worked hard to give us a wonderful childhood. Every tickle he tortured me with. It mattered. Love matters.

And now, beautiful little girl, though you will never get to meet him, your great grandfather's love lives within you.

Love Drop: Help Felicity

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:47:08 PDT

I've been very remiss on passing along news of what's going on with the Love Drop. What a great group of people that pull together to help someone in need. This month they are helping Felicity, a little girl with a brain tumor. And this family has also had to endure the recent and sudden loss of Felicity's young uncle. I can't imagine what they must be going through.

Here's the information about Felicity and how you can help:

The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $5,000 worth of cash and goods to their recipient, the Aubin family, who was struggling financially after the passing of their dad, and this month they're ready to do it again and help out another person :) They've given out over $45,000 in the past 6 months, and show no signs of stopping. If you know of anyone yourself that could use their help, make sure to let them know.

This month they're heading down to Atlanta to help Felicity, a little 4-year-old girl who was just diagnosed with brain cancer. Felicity had immediate surgery and is currently undergoing aggressive radiation treatments for the remaining portion of her tumor. We want to raise $5,000 for her family to help cover mounting medical costs, as well as the future expenses a new baby on its way will bring. With your support and generosity, we can really do something special for them!

Here are three ways you can help:

1. Give $25 towards medical bills <-- Click this link to contribute $25 towards Felicity's radiation treatments. It'll help them out a ton!

2. Give a gift or service- Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc would definitely help them out. Services too - especially those you can offer yourselves, or from your company.

3. Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.

Thanks so much guys! Here's to a great month of paying it forward!

Can You Feel Intimacy From Blogging?

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 06:56:58 PDT

I've been quiet on this blog lately, thinking about why I blog -- what's good about blogging and what's not so good.

My life has been going through the usual ups and downs. One "good" about blogging about my life is that it's very therapeutic to write my thoughts down. I often journal privately and just the act of writing down my thoughts and feelings helps me think more clearly. My mood comes through. If I notice that my words are negative and that I'm in pity-party-mode, I play "therapist" with myself. If I'm in a happy mood, I write about why I'm happy -- the awesome things I'm experiencing and about the people I'm spending time with. Reading about these things when I'm in one of those down moods reminds me of how much I have to be grateful for and helps me snap out of the pity party.

Now, private journals are one thing, but blogging and making these feelings public can be... well, both good and bad. Exposing our vulnerabilities and making a connection with someone who understands what we're feeling is wonderful. You feel this intimacy with someone who you've never met.

There are bloggers and writers who have such a talent for enveloping me with their words of wisdom. So while writing and reading my own journals is nice, sharing with a fellow-blogger who is able to so clearly articulate exactly the feelings I'm trying to describe -- well, when that happens, I feel like I've met a kindred spirit out here in cyberspace who really understands me and it warms my heart.

I read a post this morning, Have You Found the Two Great Treasures of Blogging?, in which the author, Stu, talked about the importance of building "community" when we blog. I agree that this "community" and the virtual friendships I've made is probably the biggest benefit I've gotten from blogging.

What about romantic relationships? Can they develop from a virtual friendship? I know that I'm a sucker for the written word. One time I met a guy from online dating and we used to write these wonderful emails back and forth where we shared so much of our lives. He called it "eIntimacy" and I thought it was a very cool word. It's a new form of intimacy that really wasn't available to us before we had the Internet.

However, one of the things that makes "intimacy" intimate is that it's one-on-one and personal. When you are sharing with the world, it takes away from the intimate nature of the conversation. You are no longer sharing your feelings with someone special, you're sharing them with everyone, which actually seems to be the opposite of intimacy.

What do you think? Have you met virtual friends from blogging? Do you feel like blogging can enhance or detract from having an intimate connection with someone? Should our deepest feelings be saved for truly intimate relationships rather than airing them on a public blog?

Remembering Dad

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:50:32 PDT

Just remembering my Dad today...

Happy Father's Day!

Looking for my soul mate, "Joe"

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:59:33 PDT

I don't put much stock into all this cosmic woo-woo stuff about love. I think there's something to be said for being positive, which is a lot of what "the law of attraction" is all about, but I have to resist from rolling my eyes when people start talking about soulmates and putting things out into the "universe." But let's face it. I've tried just about everything else, so I'm going to do what Arielle Ford suggests in her seminar on how to "manifest my soulmate." She says the first key is to have clarity in who I'm looking for. So here goes:

I want someone who has a genuine, friendly smile coupled with a mischievous, playful twinkle in his eye. We'll be able to look at each other across a room and share a secret look... a look that might say, 'I can't wait until we're alone' or maybe just say, 'I have gas. Aren't you glad you're over there?' His smile, his touch, his voice will make my heart beat faster and fill my stomach with butterflies. I'll love his words, his humor, his intelligence, and his kindness. He will most likely be a father, but even if he's not, he will love kids - being somewhat of a kid himself... loving to play and laugh, happy to join in any goofy game or activity.

My "soulmate" will laugh when I make a corny joke, hold me when I cry, and be happy to snuggle as we watch a movie or just read quietly together. He'll think I'm pretty even when I don't have makeup on and he'll find creative, personal ways to show me he loves me. He'll love it that I celebrate the anniversary of our first kiss, the summer and winter solstice, and every unusual holiday there is.

He will be handsome but humble, strong but vulnerable, confident but not arrogant. We will both be independent, keeping our hobbies and friendships... but we won't feel insecure or jealous when we're apart, because we feel sure of our mutual love for one another.

He will care about health and won't smoke or do drugs. He'll have a healthy mind and won't dwell on anger or past hurts or grief. And he won't be judgmental of others. He'll be grateful for his strengths, passions and skills, and won't act superior to others.

When we talk, we'll each listen and support one another. We'll never run out of things to say, but sometimes we'll be happy just laying quietly together.

We won't share all the same interests or passions, but it won't matter. We will find things we both enjoy -- maybe traveling or cooking (and definitely eating!). He'll be happy to teach me things and learn from me, too. He'll love to learn and when he's excited or has learned something new, he'll want to share it with me as soon as he can. He'll text or call just to tell me something trivial because he'll know that I'll love that he wanted to share it with me.

He will prefer summer to winter and love sunshine and beaches. He'll be excited to explore new places and find something fun to do whereever we go. But it won't really matter where we are... even if we're stuck in an airport with a 3-hour delay... we will have fun because we're together.

So there he is. Now I think I'm supposed to talk to this guy who's out there in the Universe somewhere... I think I'll call him... Joe... (Joe was my first boyfriend's name. And it does have a nice generic feel to it.) If any of you know Joe (oh yeah... he also has to be single and around my age) please let him know I'm looking for him.

OK, Joe. I know you're out there! Come find me before we get much older, please!

7 Shockingly Interesting Dating Articles

noreply@blogger.com (Yvette Francino) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 08:16:20 PDT

My obsession with getting traffic for the Boulder examiner dating column has gone depressingly poorly. I have written something each day and always advertised to Twitter and Facebook, but the resulting page views have been completely unpredictable and, in many cases, quite low.

I read a bunch of stuff that tells things you can do to build traffic... comment on others' sites, get involved in networks, write "pillar" content, etc. etc. I'm going to focus on something new each week and see what happens.

This week, I read about the importance of the title (hence my rather embellished claim about the "shockingly interesting" articles I wrote last week.) But, hey... I think they're interesting. The one about checklists vs. intuition generated a lot of discussion on Facebook. Let me know what you think!

Which of these titles draws you in and makes you want to click on the link? Why or why not?