Sunday, 10:40 PM
High-Level Journal Summary: The birth of the Primo Fest fundraiser for 38 Lemon, as spearheaded by drum corps brother and sister Mike Collette and Linda Bevilacqua Duff. The Celebration includes limousine-chauffeured wine tour, costume ball, tour of Niagara Falls, and a visit to the Niagara Falls Casino, all starting the day after Halloween.
This is yet another way that people in my family are reaching out to help the mission of 38 Lemon to provide a Brain Tumor Perspective -- from a Patient's Perspective. And if you can take my word for it, these are kind people who really know how to celebrate in good ways. Be ready to laugh and hug perfect strangers.
Countdowns:
1.) On 9/9/08, check my blood levels again. The purpose is to check where the White Blood Cell (WBC) count is right now. Today, it was at 2.6 K/uL instead of the 3.0 K/uL needed in order to be in the Avastin + Enzastaurin Clinical Trial. We are moving in the correct direction, but there is very limited time to achieve this medical goal (and secondarily save lots of money in the process).
2008 Seizure Activity:
1.) Last Simple Partial Seizure, or SPS, was 10 days ago.
2.) In 2008, I have had 79 SPS's in 251 days. This is an average of 1 SPS every 3.2 days.
Website Updates:
All messages were responded to on Page 205 of the Messages tab.
Actual Journal: In my 9/2/08 online journal entry, I wrote about a dozen external events. Almost all of these events involve the heavy work of other parties, which is a personal thrill to watch. This means that they are reaching out to the world of brain cancer, trying to help in real and tangible ways.
Enter Collette
I had this strange dream last night, and Mike Collette was at my funeral at some point in the future. That was a short part of the dream, and I concluded that his joking, intelligent humor would be a great part of whatever funeral I have in the future, many long years from now.
Mike Collette is on the far right at the 2007 Drum Corps International (DCI) Finals.
This part of the dream was only a few seconds long. I cannot even dream about a funeral or being taken by brain cancer. Still, there was this momentary dream which included Collette last night. It's amazing what happens when we march together in drum & bugle corps. We are family, and we treat each other like brothers and sisters, in real ways.
Enter Bevilacqua
Linda is another beautiful member of the 1983-1986 Garfield Cadets, just like Mike Collette. Mike played the baritone, and Linda was part of the color guard. She had a dream the previous evening about how to financially help the mission of this website, so she got on the phone with Mike and here is what they came up with together.
Linda Bevilacqua (Duff) at a 2008 DCI Performance.
Primo Fest
I was given a nickname of "Primo" back in my 1984 year with the Garfield Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. It is a nickname that lives with me each year when I return to the drum corps medium. After I got the phone call from Mike, we confirmed a date which would work with me and details were locked into place. This was especially convenient to set up since Mike is both Captain of the Fire Squad in his town as well as owner of his own limo company. He knows his town inside out. Here is what he sent me within a few hours of calling me this morning.
Saturday, November 1 – Sunday, November 2, 2008Where monies will go
The Celebration includes Limousine-Chauffeured Wine Tour, Costume Ball, Tour of Niagara Falls and Visit to the Niagara Falls Casino
Saturday, November 1st (GET HERE ANYWAY you can!)
Arrive in the morning to Lewiston N.Y. Check in at the Barton Hill Inn and Spa in Lewiston N.Y.
Barton Hill Hotel & Spa
Noon. Wine tour- Meet in front of the hotel to depart on a wine tour in a fleet of limousines and limousine buses donated by my company, Mac Limousine. The "Niagara Wine Trail" wine tour offers traditional and fruit wines from the region, and includes a tranquil limousine ride through the picturesque escarpment area, rich in history and wonderful vineyards. One of the wineries is the famous Marjim Manor, featured in this season's Sci-Fi hit show "Ghost Hunters."
5:00 p.m. Arrive back at the hotel and rest up, recover and prepare for the Ball.
7:00 p.m. Costume Ball in the Banquet Room of the Barton Hill Inn
Cocktails at 7 p.m., Dinner at 8 p.m.
The evening will also include:
• Drum Corps trivia contest (given at check-in and turned in at the Ball for prizes)
• Karaoke contest
• Dancing.
Sunday, November 2nd
9:00– 10:30 a.m. Brunch at Hotel
11:00 a.m. Limousine tour of Niagara Falls; visit to the Niagara Falls Casino.
*$229 per person, plus hotel. All proceeds go to 38 Lemon. (Meals, Tours, Food & Entertainment included.)
Must book by Oct 7th – Checks to: Michael Collette, 5480 Pinecrest Drive, Lockport, NY 14094, note Primo Fest on checks. Please book hotel rooms directly with Barton Hill. Contact the hotel at 800/718-1812 and ask for the Primo Fest Group rate. Special room rates of $169.00 double occupancy have been reserved.
Email Michael at maclimo@msn.com or call 716/471-1654 with any questions.
I should take a moment to explain that no monies will be going to me personally. 38 Lemon is a separate entity from me, and I receive no salary from this organization. $0.00 is how much money I have every received in salary from 38 Lemon.
Instead, all the monies would be going to support the mission of "Brain Tumor Awareness -- from a Patient's Perspective." This is receiving international attention, but it has certainly cost a great deal of money to create the website at a world-class level. We have had some great patrons for 38 Lemon to date, but this event certainly has the potential to help in this effort and reach even more people.
Bottom line
And if all else fails, there is wine to sooth our spirits. How in the heck can we lose on this one, a day after Halloween?
