I received a sample of Biotene toothpaste in the mail a few weeks ago, and with all of the traveling we’ve done recently, I only just got to try it! I buy whatever toothpaste is on sale. 
I’m not very picky, or brand loyal, so I was more than willing to try a sample of free toothpaste. Biotene protects against tooth sensitivity and can also treat dry mouth - not something I have an issue with, but I don’t recall seeing another toothpaste that can say the same thing. I do experience tooth sensitivity though, and it seems to be worsening, the older I get. Cold water, ice cream, ice - they all bother me now. Biotene fights bad breath, helps to fight cavities, and offers potassium nitrate to protect sensitive teeth.
I gave Biotene a try and was surprised by the flavor. It’s not minty like regular tooth paste, and in fact, it reminded me a bit of the fruit flavored toothpaste my kids have used. It’s not overly sweet though, and it was a nice change from my regular toothpaste experience. I’m sure I’d need to use this new sensitive toothpaste a lot more often to reap the real rewards, but I was happy with it, and if I can help me enjoy ice cream again, it’ll be a regular in my medicine cabinet!
You may or may not know that my sister, who walked with me in the 3-Day last year, has a blog. On it, she talks a lot about her dog and cereal (her 2 great loves!) but she also talks about pancreatic cancer. If you’re wondering why someone who walks in breast cancer events is blogging about pancreatic cancer, it’s because her mom has pancreatic cancer. She was diagnosed earlier this year with the cancer, and is currently undergoing chemo.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, but we’ve found that most people don’t know much about pancreatic cancer at all. You probably know someone who died of pancreatic cancer in your personal life, and you definitely know of a few famous people who died of it. People like:
- Actor Brock Peters, who played Tom Robinson in “To Kill A Mockingbird” - one of my favorite movies.
- Actor and directory Michael Landon, who played Pa Ingalls on Little House.
- Actress Joan Crawford, one of the greatest female actresses in the 1950’s.
Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of all cancer deaths in the U.S, but it receives the LEAST amount of federal funding among all cancers.
Before the 3-Day walk this year, I went off to the drugstore for supplies to carry with me. I needed to get blister band-aids, plenty of Advil, and my very own tube of Freeze It. I knew from doing the walk in 2006 that my calves would be killing me by the end of the first day, and I also knew I didn’t enjoy using greasy pain relief creams. 
Sure enough, my calves were screaming at me with every step I took on that first day of walking - step after step after step will bring on that kind of pain quickly! When we were done walking for the day, and all showered, I grabbed my tube of Freeze It and rubbed it all over my calves. Freeze It Gel is amazing - I already mentioned that it’s not greasy at all, and it doesn’t have that old lady smell like the other pain relief gels have. I’m too young to smell like a nursing home!
By the end of the 3rd day, you can see I was a mess. My ligament was hyper extending, and my shin splits were marching to the beat of their own (very slow) drummer. I was rocking an awesome farmers tan, and had dunked my hat in cold water so many times it permanently shrunk. And I’m planning to walk AGAIN next year? Let me tell you, I see a lot more Freeze It in my future! You can use it for a muscle strain, or sore, over exerted muscles, arthritis pain, or for an aching back or neck. So…I can use it during the walk, when my calves revolt against me, and after the walk, when my back aches from camping for 2 days 
Just rubbing it on feels good - it tingles and it’s warm, and then cool…it’s instant relief!
What do I have to do to get Freeze It to sign up as a walk sponsor??
When I started our team for the Avon walk in NYC next October, I knew for sure it would be me, Tara, and Kim walking. I didn’t expect anyone else to join us, but I’m sure glad others have! My online friend Deb joined as soon as I formed the team, and a friend of Kim’s from NJ joined this week as well. I have a neighbor interested in walking, and I’m trying to convince my sister to join us as well. It’s going to be exciting enough to pound the streets of New York City for two days, but it’s going to be amazing to be surrounded by wonderful friends like these!
After 4 nights of walking around Las Vegas last week, I was beat. My blisters had blisters! Jim and I left Vegas and headed towards the Grand Canyon for a night there, and our hotel had a hot tub. We grabbed a few drinks and headed to the spa area for a little rest and relaxation. It was just what my aching muscles needed, and we slept SO good that night! We don’t have a hot tub at our own house, but there IS one next door at my mother’s home - we just need to take advantage of it more often! I always feel better and sleep better after a soak in it. One of the things my mom did with this hot tub was to buy a cover for it. It keeps bird droppings and bugs and leaves out of the hot tub, and allows you to keep the tub on all the time. It’s bliss not waiting for the hot tub to heat up, knowing you can just pop the cover off and go in anytime you want!
You can buy spa covers of superior quality at HotTubWorks.com - you want to be sure to get something that fits your hot tub or spa and something that will last a long time. Look for strong recessed handles and foam insulation. I prefer the covers with a skirt around the edge to keep the extra dirt out too. Tie down straps are helpful if your hot tub or spa is outside and faces the elements from time to time! HotTubWorks.com makes covers for almost any model of hot tub and they’ve got a great warranty on their product. For $299, you’ll get a cover guaranteed to fit your hot tub, and that includes delivery!
Due to time constraints and my trip to Las Vegas this week, I never did get around to recapping the 3-Day in Tampa for you all. I was reminded of that this Monday when I wore my 3-Day t-shirt and ran into a fellow walker wearing HER t-shirt in the Tampa airport. Small world, huh? Until I can get my recap typed up, I’ll leave you with this - I’m walking in a 2 day walk in NYC next year! So far, I’m being joined by a new friend I walked with this year, Tara, and a friend in New Jersey I’ve never even met, Deb. Kim also plans to join our team. Donations are happily accepted
It’s hard to watch a friend go through a tough time, especially when you’re too far away to physically help. I really missed Sindy’s presence this year during the 3 day walk, but I know she’s got a lot going on in her life with her family and her new job. I’m really going to miss seeing her this week in Las Vegas too, and getting the chance to celebrate her birthday with her. I haven’t seen her in quite a few months and with all that’s been going on in our lives, I’m really missing the chance to hut her and just sit and talk for a while.
It’s funny how I feel about Sindy now, considering I really didn’t care for her the first few times I interacted with her online. We’re both strong women with strong personalities, and I think we initially clashed a bit and ran in different circles. Kind of funny how things turn out, isn’t it?
When you can’t be there for a friend, you can still show someone you’re thinking of them. Send an email, a card, a text message. Send flowers just to show someone you’re thinking of them! Sure, it’s nice to get flowers on your birthday, or another special occasion, but it’s even nicer just to get the for no reason at all. Who wouldn’t like to know that a friend is out there thinking of them?
With Flora2000, you can order flowers online for any occasion, and send them to 150 countries worldwide. It sure does make it easy to let your friends and family know that you’re thinking of them, no matter where they are!
I miss you Sindy!
I’ve been remiss in sharing the people who sent me cards and letters during the walk. After such a horribly hot day on Friday, our first day, it was so nice to come into camp, take a cold shower, and relax by reading the notes from all of you.
I received cards from Tara’s girl scout troop, a card from each of my children, a letter from my husband, my mom, a card from my friend Kim, and cards from bloggers Mr. Fab, Jennifer, and Laurie.
I can’t even tell you how nice it was to get cards from people I’ve never even MET telling me how proud they were that I was walking!
Edited to add: My sister Cheryl is also a blogger, and she also sent me a card! (It was a Yoda card that played music, too!)
