Fuggetaboutit

I've sort of stopped playing Mafia Wars. In the past few months, it has changed to become very task-intensive. I used to be able to click over 2-3 times a day, and it took about 2 minutes to steal and buy and murder or beat up everything and everyone I wanted to. Now it takes no less than 5 minutes, and sometimes as long as fifteen. It's mundane and too much dang time out of my day. I'm sorry to anyone who is waiting for me to do something for them. I may be back. Or not.

I spent most of the day yesterday talking with teachers about the RIF. All the people being laid off were told yesterday. A bad deal all around. :(

I received a very cool thing in the mail! I participate with tens of thousands of other childhood cancer survivors in a long-term follow-up study managed by St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. (Hodgkins is considered a childhood cancer, typical in ages 15-24.) They are making an effort to let us know things they learn from our data. That's a rare thing with these types of studies. Usually, if you're interested, you have to make the effort to keep an eye out for articles, etc. on your own.

This first report was about dental health of survivors. The most increased risk of various dental issues, including dry mouth, thin enamel, etc., are seen in people who were younger than age 5 during treatment, those with higher doses of radiation to the teeth, or those who had Cytoxan as one of their chemo agents. Then they give recommendations for people who fall into those risk groups on how to avoid the effects or how/when to have them checked out.

I am so impressed with the way the whole thing is being run. It not only benefits people receiving cancer treatment today in many ways, but these reports will help those who participate in the study as well!