Today, January 13, holds a couple anniversaries for me. I remember the day of the Air Florida Flight 90 Crash in 1982 so well. We were living in the Metro DC area and our young son had just turned 2 in December. Tom, my DH, worked in DC and I was never sure the route that …
Category: Memories
Sep 11
We Remember September 11 ~ Always
I originally wrote this on 9/11/01… I, too, was stunned to hear the news this morning and continuing throughout the day. It was just something unbelievable. My husband and I were on a Land Rover 4X4 tour of the off-road areas of Barbados when we first got the news. At first, when we …
Aug 19
Today Is World Photo Day!
Today is another of those “Who Knew” holidays. I was recently talking to someone about our upcoming trip to Scotland and she reminded me to take lots of pictures. Then, she said to be sure to print them out so she could see them. Um, no way! I haven’t printed out pictures since probably …
May 30
Bill
Tom’s youngest brother, Bill, died, which was a major shock to all of us. He’d had Polycystic Kidney Disease and decided to go for a kidney transplant. William T. O’Connor (January 19, 1949 – May 29, 2016) Send Sympathy Gifts Guest Book | Sign Guest Book | Send Private Condolences | Send Sympathy Card …
May 30
Memorial Day 2016
Thanks, Grandpa… You weren’t American, but you fought valiantly for the cause overseas. I never met my grandfather. He had died in Peshawar, India, fighting for the Black Watch during World War l. Peshawar was on the northern frontier of British India, near the Khyber Pass. In 1947, Peshawar became part of the newly …
May 24
That TV Show
When I was a young woman, I just loved That Girl. I’d rush home from school to watch. Later, several of us would watch in the common room of our dorm at college. Over the years, I’ve owned video tapes, DVDs. My mom bought me an episode guide for Christmas one year – which …
Cushing’s
- ❗️Yes, You Need a Medical Alert Bracelet!#3– DO NOT MAKE IT “PRETTY” OR “NOT SO OBVIOUS”. I can not stress this enough. Ladies I know that you want the cute ones that look like normal bracelets, and have pretty charms, etc on them… THE ENTIRE point of a medical alert bracelet is that someone needs to see it and know that […]
- 🦓 Day 29, Cushing’s Awareness ChallengeI’ve been thinking about this since the article I posted on doctors not understanding what it was like for a post-op Cushing’s disease patient – ME! I’m updating this for Cushings Awareness Month 2025.
- ✍️ Add or update Your BioPlease add your bio. Your information will help others. If anyone would like to do something for the Cushing's Awareness Challenge but you don't have (or want to have) a blog, why not consider adding your bio?
- 📰 Cardiometabolic Complications After Cushing’s Disease RemissionCushing’s disease (CD) is associated with phenotypic traits and comorbidities that may persist after the normalization of cortisol levels. Medical therapy is usually given in recurrent or persistent CD after transsphenoidal surgery. We aimed to investigate the impact of long-term normalization of daily cortisol secretion on clinical picture and cardiometabolic comorbidities, comparing surgical remission to […]
- 📅 Adrenal Insufficiency United’s Lunch & Learn, Los Angeles California, May 3Adrenal Insufficiency United’s Lunch & Learn Events are one day mini-conferences located in different cities in the USA. We find great local speakers to lead sessions and give presentations about issues affecting those with adrenal insufficiency. These one day events will be packed full of opportunities giving attendees more chances to ask questions, share their […]
- ℹ️ Cushing's Disease BasicsCushing's Disease is a rare condition caused by excessive production of cortisol, a hormone essential for various bodily functions. It is a specific form of Cushing's Syndrome, where the overproduction of cortisol is due to a tumor in the pituitary gland. The condition affects 10 to 15 people per million each year, predominantly women between […]
- 📚 New Book - Surviving Cushing’s Disease: A Young Man’s JourneyThis narrative nonfiction novel chronicles my son’s twenty-year journey to get his Cushing’s disease diagnosed—a journey that took far too long. Throughout the book, I highlight opportunities for testing that could have been done according to endocrinologist guidelines. The core message is clear: early diagnosis is crucial for people to live vibrant lives. Read Surviving […]
- ℹ️ Cushing's Syndrome OverviewCushing’s syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs when the body is exposed to too much cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the body and is also used in corticosteroid drugs. Cushing's syndrome can occur either because cortisol is being overproduced by the body or from the use of drugs that contain cortisol (like prednisone)…
- ℹ️ Adrenal insufficiency BasicsAdrenal insufficiency is a condition where the adrenal glands don't produce enough of certain hormones, primarily cortisol and sometimes aldosterone. This disorder can be categorized into primary (Addison's disease) and secondary forms.
- 🦓 Day 28, Cushing’s Awareness ChallengeIn 1983 I came across a little article in the Ladies Home Journal which said: “If you have these symptoms…” I found the row with my symptoms and the answer read “…ask your doctor about Cushing’s”.
Music & Local Events
- ✅ AA Open Meeting, WednesdaysDiscover a supportive space for new beginnings! Join us every Wednesday at 6:00 PM, in the serene ambiance of Pender UMC's Library. At 5:00 PM there will be a time of casual chat, known as the "meeting before the meeting". Engage in meaningful conversations and find camaraderie at our AA meetings, guided by the experienced […]
- 🧵 Free Hand Embroidery, Apri 30Freehand embroidery involves creating designs and patterns directly on fabric without using a pre-printed pattern or template. It allows for creativity and flexibility, as the embroiderer can freely create and experiment with different stitches, colors, and designs. Every 2 weeks until May 28
- 🌸 Flower Scavenger Hunt, April 30Be on the lookout for pictures of blossoms scattered among the children’s books. Spell out the secret message and earn a prize.
- 📚 Wee Bilingual Korean-English Storytime, May 1Join us to have fun together with songs, fingerplays, dances, and stories in both Korean and English.
- ✡ Jewish American Heritage Month Scavenger Hunt, May 1Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month at the Centreville Library with a scavenger hunt highlighting foods from Jewish culture. Stop by the children’s area to pick up a scavenger hunt and search the library for the hidden clues to match up the food items with their names. Daily through May 12
- 🎹 MrsO Played the Easter Sunday Postlude | “Easter Medley for Piano and Organ”As a joyful conclusion to Pender UMC’s Easter Sunday service on April 20, 2025, Jane McKee and Mary O’Connor offered a beautiful piano-organ duet titled “Easter Medley for Piano and Organ” arranged by Lois Mountz. This uplifting medley included: 🎶 In the Cross of Christ I Glory 🎶 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 🎶 […]
- 🧐 Brain Power, All AprilEnhance your mental fitness with “Train Your Brain” activities! Sudoku, crosswords, Color Me Happy, and word searches. Each activity is aimed at stimulating cognitive function and supporting memory improvement.
- 🐸 Froggy Friends Scavenger Hunt, All AprilFrogs and toads are hop-hop-hoping around Children’s Section for the entire month of April! Find all 10 amphibians for a prize!
- 🐕 Canine Caper Scavenger Hunt, May 1Pups are sniffing up and down and all around Children’s Section for the entire month of May!
- 🌱 Help Start a Seed Library By Donating Your Seeds!, May 1Centreville Regional Library is starting a seed library! Donate your vegetable, ornamental, or native plant seeds to Centreville Regional Library’s information desk. The first of every month through April 2026