Leading Ladies

I wish I could sing, because these ladies deserve their own theme song.  Last Thursday at Charlotte's beautiful Palmer Building, we honored the 2009 Link Leading Ladies.  I'd already met them during our on-air interviews.  I had the opportunity of learning from them, getting inspired by them and feeling hopeful because of them.  The banquet gave them an opportunity to meet each other.  It was a room filled with women who simply make you want to try harder, work smarter, dream bigger, serve better...

This year Cambria Estate Winery and the YMCA of Great Charlotte made it possible to honor these worthy women.  Thanks to them we were able to give a $5,000 check to Leigh Brown, our Link Leading Lady of the Year.  Leigh is a wife, mother of two and a broker and owner of a Re/Max office.  While working tirelessly to run her business she still finds time to volunteer at her church.  Through tears of joy, she promised to use the money to provide housing in Haiti.  Leigh knows a thing or two about helping people who need a home.  She sits on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Cabarrus County. Leigh uses a portion of the commission for every home she sells to go towards building a home for a family in need. Last year, she donated $60,000 to build a home with Habitat for Humanity.

As if that wasn't enough...we received this message from Suzi Alora, one of the other Leading Ladies...

"Just wanted to say THANK YOU for such a lovely evening last Thursday honoring the Link Leading Ladies. I was so moved and inspired by the positive energy in that room.

Great news, Birthday Blessings and Suzi Skinny Cakes are joining forces to give a birthday party for the ladies at Florence Crittenton this Thursday!" 

Laughter, tears, connecting, encouraging.... the 2009 Leading Ladies dinner will be hard to top.  But that won't stop us from doing it all over again in 2010.  There are too many girls and young women who need a role model for us to stop here.  There are too many uplifting people to talk about who we'll never see on the news.  So, we're teaming up with the YMCA and RE/MAX to honor more women.  Nominate the leading lady in your life.

Consider Yourself Warned Simon Cowell

I remember Angela Martin from last year's "American Idol" auditions.  She was the single mom of a child with special needs who delivered a great rendition of a Stevie Wonder song.  Angela dreamed of becoming a successful singer to help pay for her daughter's treatments.  Last year after telling us her touching story, the Idol judges cut her before the public had a chance to cast a single vote.  Did I mention that she toughed it out in Hollywood even though her father was killed shortly before her trip to L.A.? 

Well Angela is back.  She was awarded a second golden ticket.  Only now, in addition to struggling to care for her child, Angela's mom is missing.  I'm telling you right now, Simon Cowell and company, if you are stringing this woman along AGAIN I will quit your show like a carb-free diet!  

Attitude Adjustment

Fearing that I was making too little progress toward my 2010 resolutions brought on a nasty case of the "woe is me's."  I know January isn't over yet. I've just been infected with the HWN virus.  That stands for Holloway Wants it Now!  Some of my worst (and maybe one or two of my best) decisions can be blamed on impatience. 

Thanks to an earthquake and a fetus my spirit is back on track. 

1)  Gotta give credit to the faithful earthquake victims in Haiti, who've been gathering nightly to praise God for just being alive, for teaching me a valuable life lesson about gratitude.  With a house lingering on the market and layoffs at work I must admit that my anxiety meter had been peaking. 

2)  Gotta give credit to Baby Harris.  Just over a week ago my co-host Matt Harris shared with me that three different doctors told him and his wife Amy that their unborn baby had a potentially fatal heart problem.  They went back for a check-up last week and the doctor couldn't find a problem.  Amy says she prayed for a miracle.  Thanks Baby Harris for teaching me a valuable lesson about hope.

Prick Free in 2010

This is the year I find a cure for diabetes.  I have a dream of being so determined to be free of finger prick testing, visits to the doctor and lifelong meds, that I discover some amazing food combination that puts this disease in remission.  It sorta happened like that in the movie Lorenzo's Oil with ALD, why not diabetes?

What I've learned so far in my quest for answers is that there is no easy way out.  From  incredibly restrictive diets to surgery, it all requires the type of vigilence that I've only been able to manage for a few months at a time.   I've found out that folks who have gastric bypass surgery or get the lap band are five times more likely to see their diabetes go into remission than patients who opt for diet and exercise classes.  I admit that more than one doctor has used the O word to describe my weight, but obesity surgery seems like such a drastic step.  I imagine having just a quarter teaspoon of salsa when my friends go to Cantina 1511 while they enjoy my favorite chopped salad and margaritas.  I'm not into clubbing or camping.  Fine dining with family and friends is my favorite way to unwind and have fun.  In fact, my mom Wheezy (who also has diabetes) went with me to last night's bariatric surgery seminar and while the doctor was talking we both had chicken wings on the brain.  I guess that proves I've got a long way to go before I'm prick free.

Breathing Easier

I spent Tuesday morning at the hospital with Wheezy and her lung doctor. She's been awfully wheezy lately. After her nasty battle against pneumonia two years ago and fear that she might have lung cancer, you can imagine how relieved we were when Dr. Hendler said we had nothing to worry about. 

We found out she was using her inhaler too much, but not using her Advair enough.  It isn't easy to keep up with all the meds.  Her list of prescriptions takes up a page.  I carry her health folder with me all the time, but there are easier ways for caregivers and concerned adult kids to keep track of all the meds.  Consumer Reports has developed a free desktop ap that lets you privately keep track of medication history.

New Approach for the Same Old Resolutions

Just read my blog entry from last year around this time.  I wrote,
"Every year I vow to eat healthier, drink more water, get more exercise, get more organized, read my Bible more, learn how to say "no," and do a better job of keeping in touch with loved ones."
I give myself a C for the progress I made last year.  I did drink more water and thanks to my little dog Henri, I walk more.  A new cell phone helped me to manage my schedule and contact list a bit better.  I'm grateful for Facebook because keeping in touch has gotten easier.  I did a better job of saying, "no" in 2009 (though I felt really guilty every time I did and sometimes I lied to get out of stuff).  So, I'm not bragging about reaching any big goals, I'm just giving myself a little credit for small gains.

Making the same resolutions that you did last year doesn't make you a loser if you're trying a new approach.  So this year, the healthier eating will focus on smaller portions.  I want to do a better job of living the Bible instead of just reading it.  A little bit of progress is what I'm shooting for so that next year I can look back on some small gains that made a big difference in my life. 

Vampires Don't Make Good Boyfriends

I spotted this tshirt while shopping. Sorry "Twilight" fans, there is nothing you can say or do to convince me that a blood-sucking, undead dude would be a good boyfriend.  My family would rather I bring a gang banger to the Christmas party than a vampire.  Frankly the vampire craze is a fad I hope we'll leave in 2009. I'm also hoping fashion designers will stop putting skulls on everything from leggings to earrings!