Birthday Wishes to fight Prostate Cancer

As some of you know, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer a little over a week ago.  He's currently undergoing tests and we'll be getting the results on October 4th and hopefully his surgery will be scheduled soon after.

For the past two years, on my birthday (October 6th), I have made a donation to a different cause/charity.. I figured that since I usually get many birthday wishes, I might as well make good use of them. :)

On year 1, I gave to SimpLEE4Kids to give kids who were stuck at the hospital over Christmas Lee DeWyze's debut CD.

Last year, I made a donation towards pancreatic cancer research.

This year, the answer to my queston, "Who should I donate to this year?", was answered for me.  I will be donating to Prostate Cancer research and patient support.  This has now become a cause very close to my heart.

So here's how it goes.  On October 6th, for every birthday wish that I receive on Facebook or Twitter, I will be giving a certain amount of money. (still to be determined).  

What I need now is that this message is shared over facebook and twitter so that I get as many birthday wishes as possible.

Let's make sure I get to my cap (which I will keep secret for now).

Oh...and to make this even more interesting, I am going to the Jordan Knight concert on October 3rd, if I am able to find a way to meet him, I will add a sizeable (for me) bonus to the donation.  Hey...I LOVE Mr. Knight!!  ;)

Thank you so much for participating.

Remember, it's on October 6th. :)

Julie/@Flip_4

WARNING!!! Dangers of....

Ok...so the title seems a little dramatic, but I just wanted to make sure to warn people about something really important!

Mini-Golf is really dangerous.

Now, where does this statement come from?  Last week, co-workers and I went to a local mini-golf for an afternoon of fun.  Well, it all started fun enough.  I was doing really well for someone who hadn't played that game in 12+ years.

Then...on the 5th hole played, I was going down some stone steps and somehow managed to sprain my ankle.

Now, I have had problems with weak ankles in the past, but it had been a good 19 years since my last sprain.  Boy...did I ever forget how painful a sprain can be.  I've got a fairly high tolerance for pain, but when your sight suddenly goes completely white, you know that it HURTS!!

The good thing is that the golf club was a makeshift cane and I was able to make my way to a bench to watch everyone else have fun while I iced my ankle.  Then I was able to finish out the round (I played 8 out of 18 holes).

I have to say, I think I jinxed myself that same morning.  I was talking to a friend about her mother-in-law who suffered a sprain over that weekend and I stupidly told her. "It's been a LONG time since I sprained my ankle".  Yeah, big mistake.  I should have just kept my mouth shut.

Now, the sprain was pretty minor when all is said and done.  It still hurts a week later, but mostly when I go up and down the stairs.  The swelling is almost entirely gone and I figure I'll be able to walk without a limp in a couple days.

I'm not sure I'll ever go mini-golfing again though.  It's really a dangerous sport!!  ;)

Can I pass this sprain off as a sports injury?? ;)

Words and emotions Continued - Cancer

About a month ago, the scary word for me was "biopsy".  That has now changed to "cancer".

Yesterday, my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Let's just say that the emotions the past 24 hours have been intense.

I've pretty much run through all stages - shock, panic, fear, anger, sadness.  You name it, I've felt it. I'm probably still under the shock of it, but what I call "Logical Julie" has started to peek through all the emotions after hiding for those 24 hours.

Since we don't have all the details of this cancer, we don't know just how bad it is.  Of course, cancer is never good, but as we all know, there are varying degrees.  We're not going to find out  too much more until my dad goes through more tests.

Then there's the chosen form of treatment to go through.  Either radiation or surgery.at this point.

I have read all the stats, I know that prostate cancer is one of the most treatable cancers and we have no reason to believe my dad will not be one of the survivors.

Now it's a matter of being there and strong for my dad and my mom.  I want my dad to know that I'm there for him any time he needs me.  I want to pass along some of my strength to him and I want him to feel like he can talk to me about anything.

I don't take my parents for granted as they are fantastic, and this just reinforces the appreciation for them even more.

I know I will still have the days where "Logical Julie" will take a vacation day or two, but I am lucky that I have friends and family to help with those times.   I think this will make my family stronger and closer.still.

It's time now for "Crazy Julie" and "Logical Julie" to get some sleep to be sure to be strong when needed.

Dad: Je t'aimes et je suis ici pour toi...toujours.

One year to 40

Turning 40 doesn't scare me.  It's just a number after all.  I actually don't feel or even act my age (as my family and friends know) so I don't believe it will be traumatic when it happens.

First, I need to turn 39 which will happen in a little less than 4 weeks. 

Why am I thinking of my 40th birthday now though?

Well, it's a milestone birthday and as much as I don't fear it, I've been thinking that maybe I should make a few changes leading up to that day.


I am a fantastic procrastinator and suffer from extreme laziness when it comes to certain things like taking care of myself.  I don't really eat that well and I certainly don't exercise.  That would mean having to cook and actually move around.  Are you kidding?? ;)

I think that maybe I should change that before my 40th birthday.  I'm just not sure how to go about it all.  I cannot afford a gym membership so that's not an option for me.  I'm also a terrible cook and picky to boot.  I would need some wonderful people out in the cyber world to maybe help me out.

I would guess that setting goals might be a good thing, but I'm not even sure what kind of goals I should set.


Are there good exercises I can do at home?  Any good recipes (easy and healhy) that I can make? 


I'm not giving up all the food I love even if it's not good for me, I just want to limit my intake of such foods.

Anyone have any suggestions to help me get started?  I have a little over a year to "improve" myself.  Feel free to leave a comment on this blog or send me an email at julie_auger@hotmail.com

Thank you :)

Julie / @Flip_4
*Waiting for the NHL hockey season to start*

Family and Summer 2012

After a comment posted on twitter by my favorite Ottawa Senators PA Announcer, simply saying "Best part of Summer 2012:", I started thinking about it.

I remember working all summer in a little cubicle in an office building, looking outside, wishing I was retired. I thought, well, summer sure was horrible.  I barely got any vacation and all I did was work.

Then I started thinking about it more and realized that, no, that's NOT all I did this summer.

I spent  a lot of time with family.  There was a family reunion where we celebrated my grandparents' 65th wedding anniversary and my dad's 60th birthday at the same time.  There was another one a week or so later where we celebrated my uncle's 50th birthday.  We went to my dad's sister's house just to spend the day swimming and enjoying each others' company.  My 2 nieces spent a few days with me in my house where we went to the park, had movie nights and just had fun.  My nephew celebrated his 1st birthday and being the fantastic aunt that I am, I bought him some nets and some hockey sticks.  We also went to the cottage and spent time together as a family.  There were also the multiple times where we just got together during the week or weekends.

To be honest, my summer was fantastic. 

After losing my grandmother (dad's mom)  in February, it makes you realize that all the times you do get to see family, even if only for a few minutes, is not to be taken for granted.  You may not always get along with them, but that doesn't matter at all.  In the end, they are your family and will always be. 

Any time you get to spend with them, whether they are siblings, parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, even friends that you consider family, should always be cherished and remembered fondly.

After my moment of thinking, "Summer was horrible because I worked the entire time", I realized that it wasn't so bad after all.  I'm so grateful that my ENTIRE family lives close enough that I can see them whenever I want.  We might not see each other as often as we'd like, but I will never take for granted the amount of time I can spend with each and every one of them.

I'm glad that I was able to give some thought to my summer and how great it actually was. 

Hockey Season 2012-2013

Well, here we are, nearing the end of August and this is usually the time of year I really start looking forward to training camp and the upcoming NHL season

Unfortunately this year, we have absolutely no idea when that season will start.

I'm not going to pretend to know what is going on with the CBA, NHL and NHLPA, all I know is that all these people are making a whole lot of money.  I'm not really on either side since I don't understand all the issues, just what is reported in the newspapers and sport shows,  The side I am on, is the fans' side.

The fans are the ones buying the game tickets and hockey merchandise that is allowing all these people to make the money they do.  Maybe some of the billions of dollars of revenue the league makes could be passed on to the fans as savings on tickets or lower merchandise prices.

Yes, that is really not how the hockey business works, but a girl can dream can't she?

Well, I guess we'll see soon enough if there is a lockout and for how long

In the meantime, I will enjoy the rest of my summer!!  )

Words and emotions

Words are so powerful and some more so depending on how close to a situation you are.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine had a family member who needed to go for a biopsy.  I was concerned for her and her family and made sure she knew I was there if she needed to talk.  I also sent prayers and good thoughts her way. (We do the only thing we can in situations like this).  

As scary as “Biopsy” sounded then…it sounds worse now.

Last week I found out that my dad needs to go for a biopsy for his prostate.  Suddenly the word is so much scarier to me.   The first thought that came to my mind of course was “Cancer”, another very scary word.  

I then went into my ‘logic mode’ and decided that there wasn’t any use in getting overly worried over something that we don’t have any information about yet.  Yes, of course I am concerned, but am waiting for the results before letting full panic set in.  

As strong as my ‘logic mode’ is though, the thought of a biopsy and what it could mean to everyone involved is terrifying right now.  I’ve spoken to people who have gone through this and have done some basic research and I know that the chances are good that everything will be ok…but the word “biopsy” still scares me.  I’m just hoping that it isn’t followed by that other horribly scary word.

The biopsy is tomorrow and I will be there with my parents for support.  I don’t like feeling helpless and any little thing I can do, I will do.  Then all we can do is wait until the results come in.

I will be strong for my family and will try to remain that way through the next couple of weeks. 

Biopsy…I don’t like that word and I will never like it. It doesn’t matter what the results are.