Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids – Which should I choose?

Okay, Everybody! I’ve decided to take the plunge. It is Thursday now. This coming Saturday, the 9th of January 2010, I am going to get my long hair cut off. I will donate it to either Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids. Both organizations provide wigs for kids who lost their own hair due to cancer, burns, or that incurable disease called Alopecia Areata.

My hair is below my waist now. I believe I will have it cut to shoulder length. They need at least ten inches or twelve inches. They will be getting more than that, I think.

Years ago, I had hair down to my knees. I had my hair cut off to about shoulder or mid-neck length. I gave 26 inches of hair to Wigs for Kids that time. Since I already donated to them previously, I may just default to Locks of Love. I will not be sending it off right away as I will need time to let it dry completely before mailing. So I would love to hear any feedback from people who have experience with either organization.

My hair grows pretty fast. What I have now constitutes about 6 years of growth. It grows about 6 or 7 inches a year. I will definitely post an after picture once I have this done.

I think my husband is pretty happy. Even though he loves me unconditionally, he likes me better with short hair. For one thing, I won’t keep shedding little nests of hair around the house and in the tub. For another thing, he thinks short hair makes me look younger.

I will kind of miss the braids. They are my trademark as a storyteller. But this is for a very good cause. I am all about helping a child with potentially low self-esteem feel better about him or herself.

Please share your ‘cutting hair’ stories as well. Have a great day, Debbie

Bozo the Clown Memory

Photo Info: [IMG]http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u118/swimskisurf/bozo.jpg[/IMG]

Does anybody remember Bozo the Clown? My husband and I were driving home from a restaurant and he shared with me an anecdote he heard from his first wife. As a little girl, she recalls watching him on TV once. He had selected a little girl from the live audience and was doing his routine with her. She apparently said a little more harshly than I will write, “STUFF IT, Clown! You’re not funny anymore!” The first word of her quote was a lot less polite sounding than what I wrote – not that what I wrote is polite.

All of a sudden, an old memory came drifting back that I had not thought of in years. I am 51 1/2 now. This happened when I was 11 or 12.

When I was in the sixth grade, my Girl Scout troupe went to be in the audience of a Bozo the Clown television show that was on live TV. Bozo selected me to do his little routine with. I have this vague memory that he made me put on this wool, navy blue blazer such as a man would wear. Then I think he put me in a headlock. I was so embarrassed as I strongly suspected it would ruin my hard-won status in my K-6 elementary school. I prayed that nobody that I knew was watching the show that day.

Of course, many of them did watch – simply because they had heard we were going to be in his audience. I think I blocked the memory out until all these years later.

Does anybody else have a Bozo the Clown or some other kind of clown story to share?

How to go through a Breast Biopsy with the least amount of pain and stress

Should your diagnostic mammogram reveal that your breast lump might indicate that you have breast cancer, the doctor will conduct a breast biopsy as soon as possible. The breast biopsy takes thirty to forty-five minutes. Here are some steps you can take to survive the Breast Biopsy with the least amount of pain and stress.

Click BREAST CANCER to read the entire article on eHOW.com.

How to take the Necessary First Steps should you Discover a Lump in your Breast

If you suddenly discover that you have a small or large lump in your breast, these are the necessary first steps that you should take.

Click BREAST CANCER to read the entire article on eHOW.com.

How to Negotiate Controversial Discussions With These Three Easy Ground Rules

Dealing with controversial topics can be a challenge for two people with opposing belief systems. How do you express your views fully and without fear of reprisal when the other person is ready to pounce upon every idea with armed argument of his or her own? Can this conversation take place without raised voices and increased pulse rates? Can you both survive this unveiling of views without hurt feelings or injured pride? Is this a pipe dream or can this truly take place?

What is the best way to negotiate controversial discussions? It can happen with a set of three previously-agreed upon ground rules.

Click on CONFLICT RESOLUTION to read the entire article.