thick skin

You need thick skin to be in our family.

It's always been that way.

I commented on my brother's nose the other day... saying, he's got the "Sam nose." If you look at any of the Sam's you'll know what I mean =p

Dad agreed and confirmed that I had the "Chu nose." The "better nose." He said, "in fact, you have the better features of everything, except when you put it all together, it doesn't look too great."

Thanks dad. Again, thanks dad.

boggled down by stats

It's sooooo easy to be discouraged by the statistics for pancreatic cancer.

Dad was diagnosed on January 5th, 2009 with PC.

That same week, Patrick Swayze went public with his cancer and promotions began for his interview with Barbara Walters.

• 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women in Canada and the US
• 99% mortality rate
• 3,400 new cases will be diagnosed in Canada in 2007 (37,170 in the US) and 3,300 will die that year (33,370 in the US).
• Approximately 85 out of 100 pancreatic cancer patients will die within one year of diagnosis. Only 4% will survive through 5 years.
• In BC, 240 men will be diagnosed in 2007 (I guess the article I'm reading from was written prior to 2007), and 240 men will die from pancreatic cancer that year. The figure includes people previously diagnosed with PC.
  

Dad's cancer was between a stage III and stage IV. Now, three months later, it's clearly a stage IV cancer. It has spread outside the pancreas.

The almost 100% mortality rate is probably due to a number of factors. One, lack of early detection. Two, lack of funding. Did you know that in 2006 PC reseach got 66.7 million per year (in the US from National Cancer Institute). A lot? This is about 1% of the 4.8 billion cancer research budget. BILLION.

And it's the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths.

So if I was a researcher... I'd probably go research another cancer. Go where the funding is. Where there's even a chance to find a cure... unfortunately.

Apparently PC is where Breast Cancer was in the 1930s...

Here's to hoping dad is one of the 4% who survive past 5 years!

twenty-five day countdown

Do you remember these?


I wish I had a chocolate calendar!

helluva week

It's been quite the week. A birthday week busy with just stuff.

Two Fridays ago, I went to a battle of the bands fundraiser. The "Wally Project" raised money so that the group could pay down the mortgage/rent for some families so that they could have a decent Christmas.

Two Saturdays ago, I attended my church's 4th, (yes, it's only four years old) birthday. International Global banquet, they call it. Everyone brings a dish from their culture. We got some Dutch foods, a Cheese curry, some Indian... and even KFC - from Canadian culture, I suppose.

Two Sundays ago, I had my own birthday bash! We volunteered for the Richmond Christmas Fund, painting a Christmas scene on one of the dealers (Audi) in the Richmond Automall. They in turn donated $$ to the Richmond Christmas Fund which buys toys for underprivileged kids. My friends had so much fun, it was a great way to spend the afternoon. I always marvel at the generosity of my buddies. Some of them even made Christmas shoeboxes because I had requested it - and others just made them because they do it every year!

Monday and Tuesday were dinners dad and mum.

Wednesday was my friends goodbye "party." Not sure how celebratory the event was, but it was a send-off of sorts. The only person in our group to actually leave the city for an indeterminable amount of time. We were/are good friends and probably became even better friends the last couple of months. So for me it's really sad to see her leave -- to Toronto of all places! Every person has their journey of discovery and perhaps this will be one for her too.

Thursday's evening was thankfully free.

Friday evening some friends and I headed across the border to join in the Thanksgiving shopping madness. We didn't find much in terms of sales, but it was great for conversation and well shopping. Thankfully no one around us died as that would have sucked. Who carries a real gun into Toys-R-Us?

Came home yesterday. Exhausted and wanting my bed.

Phew.

Boring post, I know. I'm feeling rather listless.

thanks

To the people who wished me happy birthday, thanks.

-facebook friends, near (across the street) and far (australia, montreal, los angeles, hong kong...)
-friends for life and friends recently met
-cousins who call and text
-brother and SIL who send a card for London
-the drivers license renewal lady
-my mom's credit union teller
-salespeople and the administration at the Richmond Automall
-my life insurance guy
-DQ friends and family

China Series 1.2 08.08.08 at 8:08pm

The Olympics begin in 1h45 minutes, PST.

Excited?

Maybe if I was in China.

I find it "neat" how the Chinese government can get everyone, seriously, everyone, on the same page. Perhaps that's one of the "positives" of Communism?

On arrival at Beijing International Airport, the Indian team were greeted by volunteers, "with a proper folded-hand 'namaskar' and introduced themselves as Charu, Shanti, Vishnu and Raj Kumar."

I guess names like "Cherry," "Cinderella," and "Sue" (for a boy) are out.

Beijing also has nearly 100,000 volunteers...that's in venues alone. 400,000 volunteers around the veunes, and about 1 million in the communities. Meanwhile 67,000 taxi drivers are donning new yellow (of course) shirts and blue trousers.

Oh and for the non-Chinese, you'll be happy to learn that Beijing has "standardized" their menus. No longer can you order "bean curd made by a pock-marked woman," but need to request "mapao tofu."

PS. "Racist Park" no longer exists. Ask to visit, "Park of Ethnic Minorities."

Cheers,

China Series 1.1 - Civilizing the Chinese

The Chinese Government recently issued the "Eight Don't Ask Questions" list, distributed to their people.

• Don't ask about income or expenses.
• Don't ask about age.
• Don't ask about love, life, or marriage.
• Don't ask about health.
• Don't ask about someone's home or address.
• Don't ask about personal experience.
• Don't ask about religious beliefs or political views.
• Don't ask what someone does.

So what are you allowed to talk about?

The weather.

believing in China?

Has China claimed the title of "god?"

Someone once said, if you have faith, you can move mountains.
Moving mountains proves to be an easy task, look at the Sea to Sky.

Yahweh once rebuked the seas, and they dried up.
China diverted the Yangtze.

The gods have always been associated with dictating the weather.
And the Middle Kingdom's latest claim to "fame"? It will be controlling the weather for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Yes that's right. The Chinese have triumphed over nature. Prior to the games, they'll clean the polluted city by with rain, shooting "silver iodide over the city's skies" to provoke a chemical reaction.

Speaking about chemicals... does this trigger global warming?

These are my people.

Never have I been more proud. Sarcasm intended.

ran out of creative complaints.

I'm at a lost for words.
And I'm tired of talking.

To avoid sounding like an old hag and a broken record, I've stopped complaining and I'm starting to find humour in my life circumstances.

What do I do, you ask?

I've filed for early retirement. I sleep. I eat. I nap. I watch tv. I eat. I sleep.

heartaches and pains...

Can't help but grieve with this family whose music touched me in profound ways... Music is an emotional experience and often reaches the inner recesses of the heart. Often I've felt, it's like I know the lyricist...

Beautiful family.

I read this book in my local bookstore and fell in love with the Chapman family once again. Their work with adoption in China both amazes and convicts me. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to adopt. Seriously! I thought it would be cool to have a UN home. Then I found out it cost >10K per kid.

Ouch.

ouch!

My back/neck hurts.

I think my head is too heavy for my heck.

MSN with a baby boomer

A riveting conversation with my technologically savvy auntie on MSN

Shale: Oh yeah, Happy Valentine's Day. K is working, if S is not home for dinner than you and Uncle can have a romantic dinner together :D
CCC: S has to go to school he will come home late. but we still have a dinner at home.
Shale: then you and Uncle can have a romantic dinner together. bring out the candles and wear a sexy dress. Haha :D
CCC: I can't because my father in law eat with us.
Shale: oh...yeah.. nevermind