REDdimension Wiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:The Grand Band

2007-10-27T01:05:49Z

67.9.5.109:

(huge grin) Now there's another reason I love this damn wiki! I peeled all of this text out of a PDF I found on my brother-in-law's website and pasted it here, but got overwhelmed with the sheer volume of material and called it a day. Then I hop on this morning to see you have started to help me nibble away at the monumental task of reformatting. Awesome! Thanks, Kev. --[[User:Reddick|Jon]] 06:57, 26 October 2007 (CDT)

No problem! I'm not sure I'm doing a good job since I don't know anything about the band, but I figured I could at least change the tense and self-references. --Tai

==Formatting==
So, I've got all of these pictures, and what I'm trying to do is (1) upload the picture, (2) extract the commentary for the picture from the historical prose, (3) then attach the picture text to the picture's page and finally, (4) reformat the prose and place the picture inline with the section it came from. --[[User:Reddick|Jon]] 08:19, 26 October 2007 (CDT)

Darbi Beck

2007-10-22T00:10:15Z

67.9.5.109:

{{needabio}}
'''Darbi Beck''' was introduced to the [[REDdimension Wiki Circle]] in 2004 when she moved her family to Tallahassee, Florida as the next door neighbor of [[Jon Reddick|Jon]], [[Ro Reddick|Ro]] and [[Dana Reddick]] on [[Lucky Debonair Trail]].

==Trivia==
*Married to [[Greg Beck]]
*Has two children, [[Payton Beck|Payton]] and [[Amy Beck|Amy]]
*Poker player (nicknamed ''[[The Boss]]'')

[[Category:Biographies|Beck, Darbi]]

Darbi Beck

2007-10-22T00:10:00Z

67.9.5.109:

{{needabio}}
'''Darbi Beck''' was introduced to the [[REDdimension Wiki Circle]] in 2004 when she moved his family to Tallahassee, Florida as the next door neighbor of [[Jon Reddick|Jon]], [[Ro Reddick|Ro]] and [[Dana Reddick]] on [[Lucky Debonair Trail]].

==Trivia==
*Married to [[Greg Beck]]
*Has two children, [[Payton Beck|Payton]] and [[Amy Beck|Amy]]
*Poker player (nicknamed ''[[The Boss]]'')

[[Category:Biographies|Beck, Darbi]]

List of Veterans

2007-10-20T19:14:40Z

67.9.5.109:

The following is a list of [[REDdimension Wiki Circle]] members who have served in the Military, their rank at time of separation (if known), and their branch of service.

{| {{prettytable}}
|-
|{{Hl2}} |
| {{Hl2}} |'''Service'''
| {{Hl2}} |'''Wiki Circle Member - Rank'''

|-
|[[Image:usnavy.gif|U.S. Navy]]
|U.S. Navy
|[[Chuck Basham|Basham, Chuck]] - UNK

|-
|[[Image:usnavy.gif|U.S. Navy]]
|U.S. Navy
|[[Raye Crews|Crews, Norma Raye]] - Seaman Recruit

|-
|[[Image:usnavy.gif|U.S. Navy]]
|U.S. Navy
|[[Mark Donovan|Donovan, Mark]] - UNK

|-
|[[Image:usnavy.gif|U.S. Navy]]
|U.S. Navy
|[[Phyllis James|James, Phyllis]] - Petty Officer Second Class

|-
|[[Image:usnavy.gif|U.S. Navy]]
|U.S. Navy
|Justyna, John (father of [[Carol Phillips]]) - Chief Petty Officer

|-
|[[Image:usmc.gif|U.S. Marine Corps]]
|U.S. Marine Corps
|Maddox, Michelle ([[USS Khai Tam]] alumni) - Sergeant

|-
|USCG
|U.S. Coast Guard
|Mother Courage, Masibendi - Petty Officer Second Class

|-
|[[Image:usarmy.gif|U.S. Army]]
|U.S. Army
|[[James McNulty|McNulty, James]] - Corporal (brevet Sergeant)

|-
|[[Image:usarmy.gif|U.S. Army]]
|U.S. Army
|[[Kevin McNulty|McNulty, Kevin]] - Private First Class

|-
|[[Image:usarmy.gif|U.S. Army]]
|U.S. Army
|Glenn Normand|Normand, Glenn (brother of [[Ro Reddick]]) - Captain (artillery)

|-
|[[Image:usarmy.gif|U.S. Army]]
|U.S. Army
|Jack Normand|Normand, Jack (father of [[Ro Reddick]]) - Sergeant

|-
|[[Image:usarmy.gif|U.S. Army]]
[[Image:ang.gif|Army National Guard]]
|U.S. Army
Army National Guard
|Sean Normand|Normand, Sean (nephew of [[Ro Reddick]]) - Specialist (Army Rangers); Sergeant (National Guard)

|-
|[[Image:usnavy.gif|U.S. Navy]]
|U.S. Navy
|Padgett, Wayne ([[USS Khai Tam]] alumni) - Petty Officer First Class

|-
|[[Image:usarmy.gif|U.S. Army]]
|U.S. Army
|[[Charles Phillips|Phillips, Charlie]] - Sergeant

|-
|[[Image:usnavy.gif|U.S. Navy]]
|U.S. Navy
|Phillips, UNK (father of [[Charles Phillips]]) - Captain

|-
|[[Image:usnavy.gif|U.S. Navy]]
|U.S. Navy
|[[Ro Reddick|Reddick, Ro]] - Seaman Apprentice, U.S. Navy

|-
|[[Image:usaf.gif|U.S. Air Force]]
|U.S. Air Force
|[[George Sumpter|Sumpter, George]] - Airman Recruit, U.S. Air Force

|-
|[[Image:ang.gif|Army National Guard]]
|Army National Guard
|[[Pat Thomas|Thomas, Pat]] - ''still serving''
|}

 
[[Category:Lists|Veterans, List of]]

It's just one more dollar

2007-10-20T19:12:12Z

67.9.5.109:

'''''"It's just one more dollar."''''' -- [[USS Khai Tam]] member [[Kevin McNulty]]

==Origin==
A regular feature at [[KhaiCon]] was a fundraising auction for the club. The auction was frequently emceed by member [[Kevin McNulty]] who enthusiastically encouraged bidding from the members. One year a particular item (the identity of which is lost to time immemorial) was being hotly contested, with bids steadily rising at a frenitic pace until only two bidders were left: [[George Sumpter]] and [[Canon|James Lewis]]. The bidding was in increments of a dollar, and as the price got higher and higher, George got more and more hesitant. He would reluctantly bid and James would quickly outbid him. When George seemed ready to give up, Kevin said, "Come on. It's just one more dollar..." Kevin easily talked George into half a dozen more bids this way. The members found it so amusing that Kevin used the line for the rest of the auction, and it developed into one of the club's many inside jokes.

Incidentally, James eventually smiled and let George have the item. He was just trying to drive up the price to make the ship more money.

[[Category: Quotes]]
[[Category: Khai Tam Trivia]]

It's just one more dollar

2007-10-20T19:11:36Z

67.9.5.109:

{{stub}}
'''''"It's just one more dollar."''''' -- [[USS Khai Tam]] member [[Kevin McNulty]]

==Origin==
A regular feature at [[KhaiCon]] was a fundraising auction for the club. The auction was frequently emceed by member [[Kevin McNulty]] who enthusiastically encouraged bidding from the members. One year a particular item (the identity of which is lost to time immemorial) was being hotly contested, with bids steadily rising at a frenitic pace until only two bidders were left: [[George Sumpter]] and [[Canon|James Lewis]]. The bidding was in increments of a dollar, and as the price got higher and higher, George got more and more hesitant. He would reluctantly bid and James would quickly outbid him. When George seemed ready to give up, Kevin said, "Come on. It's just one more dollar..." Kevin easily talked George into half a dozen more bids this way. The members found it so amusing that Kevin used the line for the rest of the auction, and it developed into one of the club's many inside jokes.

Incidentally, James eventually smiled and let George have the item. He was just trying to drive up the price to make the ship more money.

[[Category: Quotes]]
[[Category: Khai Tam Trivia]]

Talk:List of Veterans

2007-10-20T19:02:39Z

67.9.5.109:

So here's my theory on these people that (a) do have nicknames but (b) don't yet (or maybe never will) have biography pages. I say we link to a genuine biography page: <nowiki>[[Mark Donovan]]</nowiki>, but build the page to auto-redirect to the nickname.

That way it will make its way to the nickname for now, but if there ever is a bio, these links will already point to the right place. Just less work in the future and makes the structure more consistent. Sound good to you? --[[User:Reddick|Jon]] 12:10, 26 September 2007 (CDT)

Make it so! --[[User:Tai|Tai]] 12:46, 26 September 2007 (CDT)

Jon, do you want to change the title of this article to "List of REDdimension Wiki Circle Veterans"? --Tai

I don't think so. The RWC is just a concept I wanted to establish, and you're already using it in context where it's needed. I don't feel the need to include it in titles. After all, if it's on the Wiki in the first place, it already has to do with RWC members, right? --[[User:Reddick|Jon]] 06:31, 7 October 2007 (CDT)

I was just thinking it was a way to distinguish personal lists from lists that include the whole RWC. See the list of universities I just put up as an example. If you don't want to use the RWC in the title, then should we take it out of the universities list title?

BTW, congrats on breaking 200 articles!!! - Tai

Who put Raye as a private in the navy? Ther are no privates in the navy. It's an army/marine rank, not a navy rank. --Tai

Jack Normand Trio

2007-10-19T03:10:31Z

67.9.5.109: /* Trivia */

The Jack Normand Trio was the original name of [[Ro Reddick]]'s father's band in the 1940's. The group was comprised of Sage "Jack" Normand on piano/accordian, Pat Cook on upright bass and horn, and Vaughn Gammon on vibraphone and drums. It was in 1941 that Jack and his trio were first invited from their home in New Orleans to play for the reopening of a resort hotel in south Alabama called the [[Grand Hotel]]. After the war, they contracted him to play again for "a two-week gig," as Jack would tell it, in 1951, but then "they never let me go back home again."

The years went by, and night after night the Jack Normand Trio played at the hotel until late. As the time passed, the musician's families grew, and when Jack discovered his five offspring had musical talent, he recruited them to help in his band. One by one, he gave each of his children (willing or no) experience playing in his band, until all were capable of playing at least piano, bass or drums -- whichever was needed. Eventually, the Jack Normand Trio morphed into the Normand Family Band, as Jack's children filled in for the musicians who moved or died. The Normand Family continued to provide music to the Grand Hotel (eventually bought by Marriott in the 1980's) six nights a week until finally, their nightly gig came to an end in {{tellmemore}}. In total, Jack and his family were the "house band" for the Grand Hotel for an astounding 40+ years. Occasionally, a Normand can still be found playing in the hotel lounge or ballroom for a special event.

==Jack's Talented Family ==
*David Arthur - drums and miscellaneous percussion, piano, bass
*Glenn Anthony - piano, drums, clarinet, bass
*Jeanine Ann - piano, bass, drums, clarinet, oboe
*Robert Andrew - piano, bass, drums, trumpet, cello, and many, many others
*[[Ro Reddick|Laurie Ann]] - piano, bass, drums, clarinet, bass clarinet, guitar

==Trivia==
*Jack's very first paying gig was when he was a young boy, to play accordian for a man who wanted to impress his girlfriend. However, the little Jack only knew one song, and had to play it over and over again. The oblivious lovers didn't seem to mind, he said.
*Many TV/movie stars stayed at the hotel through the years and they all loved Jack's music, especially Joni Mitchell, who played beside Jack all night, and then went to his house later. Other famous guests the Normands played for include the Monkees, Tom Selleck, Red Foxx, Bobby Goldsboro, and David Carradine, to name a few.
*Jack and his family band were featured by radio personality Paul Harvey on his show in 1981
*Jack always had trouble remembering someone's name, but always managed to remember their favorite song. He would see a person walk into the hotel dining room and shout, "Hey, it's 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon'!" and then begin to play the song.
*When Jack's Trio started at the hotel, there was no dance floor. The management had to clear an area to make one, as guests who couldn't resist the music, would dance in between the tables and bump into them.
*Because of the flexibility of the trio's musicians, their repertoire of popular music was huge, as at least one person in the band would know how to play the lead for any given song requested.
*Jack recorded two albums: "Jack Normand at the Grand" in 1959 and "Simply Grand" in 1961.
*The only known recording of the song, "On Mobile Bay" was performed by the Jack Normand Trio, and was used as the nightly sign-off song for WKRG-TV, and WKRG-AM for their "What's Doing In Mobile" radio segment in Mobile, Alabama.
*"Stars Fell On Alabama" was Jack's theme song.
*Jack played with some of the great New Orleans musicians of the 1950's, including Al Hirt and Pete Fountain, long time friends
*The Jack Normand Trio had their own radio show which broadcasted from the Blue Room in downtown New Orleans
*The City of Fairhope, Alabama, owns a concert grand piano which resides in the Civic Center. It was purchased entirely with donations solicited by Jack Normand. The grateful City placed a plaque on the side of the piano with the name of everyone who donated towards the beautiful instrument. Above the piano keys they added a commemorating plaque that reads simply "Jack's Piano."

Paternal Pattern Expiration Date

2007-10-18T00:19:50Z

67.9.5.109:

'''Paternal Pattern Expiration Date''' or '''PPED''' is technically the date at which a son has lived to be older than the last memory of his father.

{{tocright}}This applies specifically to men for whom their father was generally a positive influence, and worthy of patterning after, but who died at an early age. The concept asserts that if a man's father was a strong, responsible role model for manhood, he becomes the measure and definition of what it is to be a man, and the son will use that guide to pattern his own social identity.

The PPED, then, is that date at which the information in that pattern has expired. Perhaps at 25 years, he might have some memory of his father when he was 25 and aspire to be that sort of man. Then again at 30, and 35, he will usually have a good recollection of his father was like at those ages. But should he live to be older than his own father, that running stream of information will eventually expire.

==Example==
At age 20, a son is born. The son grows to know his father, and by observing his father makes social constructs in his mind about what it is to be a man. The father dies unexpectedly at age 45, when the son is 25.

Assuming the son's memories of his father span back at least age seven, he has eighteen years of paternal patterning available. At age 30, he will remember his father at age 30, likewise at 35 and 40. But once he reaches age 46, that information has run out.

If in fact he has patterned his own social identity after his father's, any development after this point is done without a paternal reference.

==Variations==
*For women, a similar concept of Maternal Pattern Expiration Date may apply
*PPED may not exclusively apply to men whose fathers died at very early ages, but the concept asserts that the earlier the loss, the more significant the impact because the available pattern expires sooner in the man's life.
*PPED may not exclusively apply to the death of a father, but to other permanent loss such as abandonment or estrangement. However, the effect may be adversely affected by these alternate methods of loss as they may cast a negative light on the pattern, thus reducing its significance.

==Debate==
It could be argued that the loss of a father is just as significant for a daughter as it is a son. While acknowledging that each case is unique, generally women pattern their identity after their mother while men pattern after their father.

==Notes==
*The concept of PPED was wholly devised by [[Jon Reddick]] based on his own observations and experiences, and not based on any scientific or empirical evidence. Incidentally, his own PPED is December 9, 2020.

Paternal Pattern Expiration Date

2007-10-18T00:17:24Z

67.9.5.109:

'''Paternal Pattern Expiration Date''' or '''PPED''' is technically the date at which a son has lived to be older than the last memory of his father.

{{tocright}}This applies specifically to men for whom their father was generally a positive influence, and worthy of patterning after, but who died at an early age. The concept asserts that if a man's father was a strong, responsible role model for manhood, he becomes the measure and definition of what it is to be a man, and the son will use that guide to pattern his own social identity.

The PPED, then, isthat date at which the information in that pattern has expired. Perhaps at 25 years, he might have some memory of his father when he was 25 and aspire to be that sort of man. Then again at 30, and 35, he will usually have a good recollection of his father was like at those ages. But should he live to be older than his own father, that running stream of information will eventually expire.

==Example==
At age 20, a son is born. The son grows to know his father, and by observing his father makes social constructs in his mind about what it is to be a man. The father dies unexpectedly at age 45, when the son is 25.

Assuming the son's memories of his father span back at least age seven, he has eighteen years of paternal patterning available. At age 30, he will remember his father at age 30, likewise at 35 and 40. But once he reaches age 46, that information has run out.

If in fact he has patterned his own social identity after his father's, any development after this point is done without a paternal reference.

==Variations==
*For women, a similar concept of Maternal Pattern Expiration Date may apply
*PPED may not exclusively apply to men whose fathers died at very early ages, but the concept asserts that the earlier the loss, the more significant the impact because the available pattern expires sooner in the man's life.
*PPED may not exclusively apply to the death of a father, but to other permanent loss such as abandonment or estrangement. However, the effect may be adversely affected by these alternate methods of loss as they may cast a negative light on the pattern, thus reducing its significance.

==Debate==
It could be argued that the loss of a father is just as significant for a daughter as it is a son. While acknowledging that each case is unique, generally women pattern their identity after their mother while men pattern after their father.

==Notes==
*The concept of PPED was wholly devised by [[Jon Reddick]] based on his own observations and experiences, and not based on any scientific or empirical evidence. Incidentally, his own PPED is December 9, 2020.

Clan McNulty Timeline

2007-10-15T22:34:31Z

67.9.5.109:

* 1964
** February - [[Debbie McNulty]] born on 25th in San Diego, CA
** March - [[Kevin McNulty]] born on 29th in Mineola, NY
* 1966
** Kevin moves to Westminster, CA
* 1969
** September - Kevin starts kindergarten in Westminster, CA
** September - Debbie starts kindergarten in Thousand Oaks, CA
* 1971
** [[Pamela Harper]] born on January 18
* 1972
** Kevin moves to Chula Vista, CA
* 1973
** Debbie moves to MD
* 1974
** Kevin moves to Anaheim, CA
* 1975
** Debbie moves to Brea, CA
* 1976
** Spring - Kevin has tonsils removed
** Summer - Kevin sees Freedon Train at Anaheim Stadium
** Summer - Kevin sees Sequoia National Park
** Fall - Kevin joins [[Young Marines]]
** September - Pamela starts kindergarten in Tampa, FL
* 1978
** April - Kevin starts working at Del Taco
** July - Kevin has [[pilonidal cyst]] removed
** Kevin meets [[Kelie Ashwell]]
* 1979
** Spring - Kevin runs track at [http://south.auhsd.k12.ca.us/ South Junior High]
** Spring - Kevin joins [[Anaheim Police Explorers]]
** June - Kevin has second pilonidal cyst removal surgery
** September - Kevin starts at [[Katella High School]]
** September - Debbie starts at [[Brea Olinda High School]]
* 1980
** Kevin & Kelie Ashwell break up when she moves to San Francisco
** February - Debbie gets driver's license
** March - Kevin gets driver's license
** April - Kevin goes to state speech & debate finals with ''[[The School Cafeteria]]''
** May - Kevin gets in first traffic accident
* 1981
** Spring - Kevin competes on JV Badminton team
** Kevin meets [[Maria Thomas]]
* 1982
** May - Kevin graduates high school
** May - Debbie graduates high school
** September - Kevin starts at [[Cal State Fullerton]]
** September - Debbie starts at [[Cal Poly Pomona]]
* 1986
** May - Kevin and Maria Thomas break up just before graduation
** May - Kevin graduates Cal State Fullerton
** September - Pamela starts at [[Lakeland High School]]
** October - Kevin enlists in Army Reserve
* 1987
** February - Kevin starts basic training at Fort Bliss, TX
** March - Kevin contracts chicken pox & develops leg infection
** May - Kevin returns home due to leg injury
** May - Debbie graduates Cal Poly Pomona
** June - Kevin gets a job at General Dynamics
** August - 1987 - Kevin & Debbie meet at GD
** September 4 - Kevin & Debbie's first date
* 1988
** March - Kevin & Debbie move in together to house on [[Andrew Jackson Street]]
** March 4 - Kevin proposes to Debbie
** June - Kevin receives Honorable Discharge from army for medical reasons
** September 4 - Kevin & Debbie are married in Santa Ana, CA
** October - Kevin & Debbie purchase house on [[Calico Street]]
* 1989
** May - Pamela graduates from Lakeland High School
* 1991
** February - Kevin & Debbie move to Tallahassee, FL to the house on [[Doomar Drive]]
* 1992
** September - Kevin & Debbie purchase the house on [[McFarlane Drive]]
* 1993
** February 19 - [[Sean McNulty]] is born
** December - Sean takes first steps on the counter of the Sunglass Hut in the Tallahassee Mall
* 1994
** Sean says first word ("Mom")
* 1995
** July 12 - [[Erin McNulty]] born
** Sean still has only 12-word vocabulary - starts speech therapy
* 1996
** Sean finishes speech therapy
* 1998
** Sean starts kindergarten at Canopy Oaks Elementary in Tallahassee, FL
* 2000
** Summer - Sean plays soccer on Tallahassee Thunder
** August - Erin starts kindergarten at Canopy Oaks Elementary in Tallahassee, FL
* 2001
** June - Debbie is offered transfer with Peek Traffic
** August - Kevin & Debbie purchase home on [[49th Place East]] in Palmetto, FL
** October - Clan McNulty moves to Ellenton, FL to [[Shoney's Inn]] until new home completed
** November - Clan McNulty finally moves in to hours on 49th Place
* 2004
** August - Sean starts middle school at Lincoln Middle School in Palmetto
* 2006
** August - Erin starts middle school at Lincoln Middle School in Palmetto
* 2007
** May - Erin shaves legs for the first time
** July - Erin turns 12, is allowed to wear lip gloss and nail polish
** August - Sean starts high school at Manatee High School
** October 12 - Sean goes to first homecoming game
** October 14 - Sean shaves his face for the first time

Clan McNulty Timeline

2007-10-15T03:47:28Z

67.9.5.109:

University of South Florida

2007-10-14T21:33:05Z

67.9.5.109:

[[Image:USFlogo.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The logo of the University of South Florida]]
The '''University of South Florida''', also known as '''USF''', is a public university system located in Tampa, FL, with an autonomous campus in St. Petersburg, and branch centers in Sarasota and Lakeland. The main campus is located in North Tampa, near the City of Temple Terrace.
The university is the third largest in the state of Florida, with a total enrollment of 44,891 for the 2007 academic year. USF is currently ranked ninth in the country in terms of enrolled students. The Princeton Review has ranked the University as one of the best Southeastern colleges and best value colleges.

USF's mascot is the Bull and its colors are green and gold. The university's sports teams participate at the NCAA Division I-A level. In 2005, USF joined the Big East Conference. USF previously belonged to Conference USA, the Metro Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference. The most notable USF athletic program is its football team which, in 2007, became the youngest program ever to be nationally ranked in Division I-A. USF only started playing football in 1996 at the Division II level. The team was ranked as high as number 2 as of October 14, 2007.

==Significance==
USF's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_South_Florida_Sarasota-Manatee Sarasota-Manatee campus] is the current school of [[REDdimension Wiki Circle]] member [[Pamela Harper]]. She is a senior and is scheduled to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hopitality Management in 2008.

==Notable Alumni==
* Chucky Atkins - pro basketball player, Memphis Grizzlies
* Nicole Johnson - Miss America 1999
* Kurt S. Browning - Florida Secretary of State
* Eddie Carpenter - President, Disneyland International and CFO, Walt Disney Attractions
* Mark Consuelos - actor (''All My Children'')
* Frank Davis - pro football guard, Detroit Lions.
* Leo Gallagher (better known as Gallagher) - comedian
* Emilio T. Gonzalez - director, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
* Anthony Henry - professional football cornerback, Dallas Cowboys
* Drake Hogestyn - actor (''Days of our Lives'')
* Pam Iorio - current Tampa mayor
* Kenyatta Jones - ex pro football tackle, New England Patriots and Washington Redskins
* Tony La Russa - pro baseball manager, St. Louis Cardinals
* Stephen Nicholas - pro football linebacker, Atlanta Falcons
* Kawika Mitchell - pro football linebacker, New York Giants
* John Patrick - former IBM VP of Internet Technology, Opera Software Board of Directors
* Kerry Sanders - correspondent for NBC News
* Robert Stackhouse - artist
* Ronda Storms - Florida State Senator

==Related Links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_South_Florida University_of_South_Florida] on Wikipedia
*[http://www.usf.edu/ Official website]

[[Category: Schools]]

Football

2007-10-13T05:34:31Z

67.9.5.109:

For purposes of [[REDdimension Wiki]], '''football''' refers to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football American Football] as played professionally in the [http://www.nfl.com NFL] and collegiately by the [http://www.ncaa.org NCAA]. Football is a competitive team sport known for its physical roughness despite being a highly strategic game.

==Significance==
Several [[REDdimension Wiki Circle]] members are avid football fans, most notably, [[Kevin McNulty]] and [[Michael Karmanos]]. The purpose of this article is merely to familiarize people with the team preferences of some RWC members in order to get to know them better.

==RWC Member Favorite Teams==
The table below shows the teams that many RWC members root for. If you are unfamiliar with the game or do not recognize the logos, merely roll over the logo to discover the name of the team.



{| border="1" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0"
|-
! colspan="9" align="center" style="background-color:#CCFFFF;"| Team Preference for RWC Member Football Fans
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" style="background-color:#66FF99;"| Likes|| width="150" align="center" style="background-color:#CCFFFF;"| RWC Member || colspan="4" align="center" style="background-color:#FF9999;"|Dislikes
|-
|[[Image:usf.gif|University of South Florida Bulls (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:uofh.gif|University of Hawaii Warriors (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:bucs.gif|Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)]]
|[[Image:seahawks.gif|Seattle Seahawks (NFL)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Pamela Harper]]'''
|[[Image:eagles.gif|Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)]]
|[[Image:packers.gif|Green Bay Packers (NFL)]]
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:usc-ca.gif|Univeristy of Southern California Trojans (NCAA)]]
|-
| 
| 
| 
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Michael Karmanos]]'''
|[[Image:fsu.gif|Florida State University Seminoles(NCAA)]]
| 
| 
| 
|-
| 
| 
|[[Image:bucs.gif|Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)]]
|[[Image:fsu.gif|Florida State University Seminoles(NCAA)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Mike McCall]]'''
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:uofmia.gif|University of Miami Hurricanes (NCAA)]]
| 
| 
|-
|[[Image:usf.gif|University of South Florida Bulls (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:lsu.gif|Louisiana State University Tigers (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:saints.gif|New Orleans Saints (NFL)]]
|[[Image:bucs.gif|Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Debbie McNulty]]'''
|[[Image:raiders.gif|Oakland Raiders (NFL)]]
|[[Image:cowboys.gif|Dallas Cowboys (NFL)]]
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:usc-ca.gif|Univeristy of Southern California Trojans (NCAA)]]
|-
|[[Image:usf.gif|University of South Florida Bulls (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:fsu.gif|Florida State University Seminoles(NCAA)]]
|[[Image:seahawks.gif|Seattle Seahawks (NFL)]]
|[[Image:bucs.gif|Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Kevin McNulty]]'''
|[[Image:raiders.gif|Oakland Raiders (NFL)]]
|[[Image:cowboys.gif|Dallas Cowboys (NFL)]]
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:usc-ca.gif|Univeristy of Southern California Trojans (NCAA)]]
|-
| 
| 
|[[Image:lsu.gif|Louisiana State University Tigers (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:saints.gif|New Orleans Saints (NFL)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Greg Mizell]]'''
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:usc-ca.gif|Univeristy of Southern California Trojans (NCAA)]]
| 
| 
|-
| 
| 
| 
|[[Image:fsu.gif|Florida State University Seminoles (NCAA)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Jon Reddick]]'''
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:uofmia.gif|University of Miami Hurricanes (NCAA)]]
| 
| 
|}
 
==Unique Nicknames==
[[image:chokes.gif|thumb|right|100px|Scottsdale Community College is indeed the home of the Fighting Artichokes.]]Sports teams, especially college teams, can come up with some pretty unique nicknames. The "Fighting Banana Slugs" of UC Santa Cruz or the "Anteaters" of UC Irvine would both be contenders for the quirkiest nickanmes in football, except neither school ''plays'' football. The rallying cry of "Slime 'em slugs!" might make it worth going to a basketball game though.

So in the sport of football, the top runners among the popular schools would have to be the University of Akron "Zips" (a kangaroo) and the University of Maryland "Terrapins" (a turtle). These two mascots are so inauspicious that the schools both have similar rallying cires: "Fear the Roo!" and "Fear the Turtle!" If you have to order people to be intimidated by your mascot, you may want to rethink your namesake.

But to find the hands-down winner for the quirkiest football nickname, you would have to look to the community college leagues. There you would find, in Arizona, the Scottsdale Community College "Fighting Artichokes". I kid you not. Who could make that up?
 
==Links==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football Football] on Wikipedia 
[http://www.nfl.com Official Site of the NFL]

Football

2007-10-13T04:37:32Z

67.9.5.109: /* RWC Member Favorite Teams */

For purposes of [[REDdimension Wiki]], '''football''' refers to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football American Football] as played professionally in the [http://www.nfl.com NFL] and collegiately by the [http://www.ncaa.org NCAA]. Football is a competitive team sport known for its physical roughness despite being a highly strategic game.

==Significance==
Several [[REDdimension Wiki Circle]] members are avid football fans, most notably, [[Kevin McNulty]] and [[Michael Karmanos]]. The purpose of this article is merely to familiarize people with the team preferences of some RWC members in order to get to know them better.

==RWC Member Favorite Teams==
The table below shows the teams that many RWC members root for. If you are unfamiliar with the game or do not recognize the logos, merely roll over the logo to discover the name of the team.



{| border="1" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0"
|-
! colspan="9" align="center" style="background-color:#CCFFFF;"| Team Preference for RWC Member Football Fans
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" style="background-color:#66FF99;"| Likes|| width="150" align="center" style="background-color:#CCFFFF;"| RWC Member || colspan="4" align="center" style="background-color:#FF9999;"|Dislikes
|-
|[[Image:usf.gif|University of South Florida Bulls (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:uofh.gif|University of Hawaii Warriors (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:bucs.gif|Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)]]
|[[Image:seahawks.gif|Seattle Seahawks (NFL)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Pamela Harper]]'''
|[[Image:eagles.gif|Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)]]
|[[Image:packers.gif|Green Bay Packers (NFL)]]
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:usc-ca.gif|Univeristy of Southern California Trojans (NCAA)]]
|-
| 
| 
| 
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Michael Karmanos]]'''
|[[Image:fsu.gif|Florida State University Seminoles(NCAA)]]
| 
| 
| 
|-
| 
| 
|[[Image:bucs.gif|Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)]]
|[[Image:fsu.gif|Florida State University Seminoles(NCAA)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Mike McCall]]'''
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:uofmia.gif|University of Miami Hurricanes (NCAA)]]
| 
| 
|-
|[[Image:usf.gif|University of South Florida Bulls (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:lsu.gif|Louisiana State University Tigers (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:saints.gif|New Orleans Saints (NFL)]]
|[[Image:bucs.gif|Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Debbie McNulty]]'''
|[[Image:raiders.gif|Oakland Raiders (NFL)]]
|[[Image:cowboys.gif|Dallas Cowboys (NFL)]]
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:usc-ca.gif|Univeristy of Southern California Trojans (NCAA)]]
|-
|[[Image:usf.gif|University of South Florida Bulls (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:fsu.gif|Florida State University Seminoles(NCAA)]]
|[[Image:seahawks.gif|Seattle Seahawks (NFL)]]
|[[Image:bucs.gif|Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Kevin McNulty]]'''
|[[Image:raiders.gif|Oakland Raiders (NFL)]]
|[[Image:cowboys.gif|Dallas Cowboys (NFL)]]
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:usc-ca.gif|Univeristy of Southern California Trojans (NCAA)]]
|-
| 
| 
|[[Image:lsu.gif|Louisiana State University Tigers (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:saints.gif|New Orleans Saints (NFL)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Greg Mizell]]'''
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:usc-ca.gif|Univeristy of Southern California Trojans (NCAA)]]
| 
| 
|-
| 
| 
| 
|[[Image:fsu.gif|Florida State University Seminoles (NCAA)]]
|align="center"|'''[[Jon Reddick]]'''
|[[Image:uoff.gif|University of Florida Gators (NCAA)]]
|[[Image:uofmia.gif|University of Miami Hurricanes (NCAA)]]
| 
| 
|}

==Links==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football Football] on Wikipedia 
[http://www.nfl.com Official Site of the NFL]

Fibromyalgia

2007-10-04T01:26:04Z

67.9.5.109: /* Prognosis */

{{tocright}}
'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia]''' (FM or FMS) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_%28medicine%29" chronic] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndrome" syndrome] characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms. Recent research suggests that the underlying physical process to the syndrome is an inability of the central nervous system to properly process pain, with a tendency to amplify or even create pain signals such that an amount of pressure that would not elicit a pain reaction in the average person elicits a much more painful response in the person with FMS.

Research suggests it is not contagious, and that people with fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed. The ratio of females to males diagnosed with FMS is currently about 9:1 (American College of Rheumatology) though this may be because diagnostic criteria are not consistently applied to both sexes equally. Fibromyalgia is seen in 3% to 6% of the general population, and is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50, though onset can occur in childhood. The disease is not life-threatening, though it can be debilitating, and the degree of symptoms may vary greatly from day to day with periods of flares (severe worsening of symptoms) or remission. The syndrome is generally perceived as non-progressive, yet that issue is still debated.

==Significance==
[[REDdimension Wiki Circle]] member [[Kevin McNulty]] was diagnosed with FMS in April of 2007 after suffering symptoms for more than six months. This article is written by him in order to attempt to explain to others what it is like to have FMS. For more information on FMS in general, please use the links at the end of this article.

==Onset of FMS==
The symptoms of FMS are so varied and so variable in each individual that there is not a universal onset or progression of symptoms in every person. For Kevin, with hindsight as his guide, he can see now that his first symptoms probably appeared somewhere around 2001. It was about that time that Kevin would occasionally notice a sharp pain in a random location, usually a muscle, that would seem to suddenly appear and within a few minutes just as quickly disappear. This would happen only once a week or so and it did not present any major difficulties, so Kevin chalked it up to getting older. After all, having "aches and pains" was something that just happened with age, wasn't it?

By 2003, he was having back problems and fatigue. Work was particularly stressful at that time, so the fatigues was attributed to stress and the back problems to a poor workstation. When Kevin changed jobs, the symptoms were significantly reduced, so even though FMS flares can be caused by stress and the symptoms can certainly be mitigated by them, there was no reason to imagine a larger underlying cause for the symptoms.

Then in the fall of 2006, the aches and pains started lingering on a more consistent basis. About this time, Kevin was learning to stage fight in order to perform on the chess board at the [http://www.sarsotamedievalfair.com Sarasota Medieval Fair], so the increased joint and muscle pain was attributed to fighter practice. An increase in headaches at about the same time was easily explained by seasonal allergies with sinus problems.

By November, the palms of Kevin's hands had a nearly constant sting to them, similar to when one has a limb "fall asleep" and then slowly come back to life. His legs and feet hurt, and his back would ache even though no particular activity would have occurred to cause such pain. By December, the aches and pains had spread to include much of Kevin's body. Headaches were more frequent as well, and his ability to perform every day tasks was impacted. He finally went to his family physician to seek treatment.

==Diagnosis==
A battery of tests were run, all showing negative. FMS is a diagnosis of exclusion, since no tests have been developed for the condition yet, so everything else which could explain Kevin's symptoms had to be ruled out first: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease), thyroid malfunction, etc. Kevin saw a pain specialist, a neurologist, and finally a rheumatologist. Finally, the rheumatologist confirmed the diagnosis of FMS.

Most FMS suffers take nearly 2 to 3 years to get diagnosed, so by the time they receive the news and adjust to it mentally, their symptoms are as bad as they are likely to get (though recent studies do show a progression of symptoms with age, it is still generally believed the syndrome is not degenerative). Kevin actually got a fairly early diagnosis, so the syndrome is still surprising him with new symptoms and patterns. He still has generally more good days than bad, though he is sometimes still surprised at how bad the bad days can be.

==What It's Like to Have FMS==
FMS is different for every sufferer. Some people are barely impacted while others are completely disabled. About 30% of the people who contract it wind up unable to work. And one of the most frustrating parts of the syndrome for sufferers is that symptoms can change in nature and intensity from day to day. A "good day" with very light symptoms if any can be followed by a near-crippling "bad day" with little or no warning.

There are two major components to FMS: the pain, and the fatigue. They are frequently connected and as one increases, so does the other. But some days one dominates. There are days with relatively high energy where pain interferes with daily function, and days when relatively low pain levels are overshadowed by an all-encompassing exhaustion. For example, on the day this article was written, Kevin had to call in sick to work because he simply ''had'' to sleep some more. Despite going to bed at a reasonable hour, he slept until nearly 2:00 p.m. By 3:30, he felt like he could have taken a nap. The exhaustion can strike suddenly and with no warning, like someone just "pulled your plug" and you suddenly feel as if all you want to do it curl up in a ball and go to sleep. Other times it comes on gradually but lingers for days. The energy to do even the most mundane things is just not there, and despite having an overwhelming desire to get up and do something productive, all you can do is lay there.

The other major component to FMS, pain, is nearly a constant companion for Kevin, though the location and intensity of the pain is widely variable. Imagine waking up on a day after you have seriously "overdone it" physically. The first thing you move reminds you that everything hurts. You start a mental inventory of body parts, trying to catalog which ones really hurt and which ones are relatively unaffected.

That is every morning with FMS.

Kevin has pain medication, but its effacy varies with his symptoms. Sometimes the medication keeps everything "below the radar" and the good day is that much better. Other days, the medication seems ineffective. Bad days can be really bad, though fortunately they are much fewer. If you want to know what dealing with chronic pain is like, try the National Fibromyalgia Association's "Clothespin Challenge": place a clothespin on your fingertip and see how long you can tolerate the pain. People with FMS can't take off the clothespin when they've had enough.

==Living with FMS==
The most important thing for Kevin has been learning what activities today will lead to FMS consequences tomorrow. Not overdoing it becomes a key life skill, and the definition of overdoing it for an FMS sufferer can be significantly different from the average person's. A great explanation of what life with a chronic disability like this is like can be found in an essay called [http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/the_spoon_theory/ "The Spoon Theory"] which explains that people with chronic illness only have so many "spoons" to get through the day, and that everything you do and each decision you make can cost you those spoons. When you are out of spoons, there are no more, and suffering ensues. Kevin encourages everyone unfamiliar with chronic illness to read the essay.

Life with FMS means planning ahead. For instance, when Kevin goes grocery shopping, he could walk the whole trip without too much difficulty. But later that day or even the next he would pay for it with pain and fatigue, so he rides the electric cart provided by the supermarket. He feels ridiculous, but he finally understands that he has to do it if he doesn't want to suffer (and by extension make his family suffer).

==But You Don't Look Sick==
This brings up a point that many FMS suffers have to deal with on an ongoing basis: the fact that they don't "look sick." Kevin has a handicapped parking permit because if he had to walk a great distance from his parking place to the store, the amount of time he could spend in the store without suffering later would be reduced. But when he gets out of the car, he doesn't look handicapped to anyone, so he often feels "guilty" for using the parking space. He wonders what others think when he walks in and takes the electric cart, or when he has to ask for help in lifting or carrying what used to be an easy load for him. Other FMS suffers have had to actually defend their disability to insensitive bystanders who confront them on the use of handicapped parking spaces or other accommodations. Fortunately, Kevin has yet to encounter this particular behavior from others, but he is aware of the potential for it. It is just another thing that FMS sufferers have to deal with.

==Prognosis==
As of 2007, there is still no cure for FMS. This means a great adjustment for FMS suffers and their families and friends. Social commitments have to be much more flexible, and hopefully friends understand that you may have to cancel at the last minute because you simply don't have enough "spoons" left that day to go out and do something. Though there may be an increasing number of things you can't do, you must start focusing on what you ''can'' do in order to keep some semblance of an optimistic outlook on life.

Research into FMS continues. The FDA recently approved a new drug, Lyrica, specifically for the treatment of FMS, a first in itself. Kevin has gained some relief from the Lyrica, but it is not a cure. Daily management of activities and energy expenditures are still the most important factor in managing the syndrome. You never get better, but you can manage the affect of FMS on your life. It is learning how best to do this that Kevin is now engaged in. He appreciates the support of his family and friends as he learns to deal with this. He knows he could not do it without them. It is difficult, though, for anyone without FMS to understand what it's really like to have it, and he wishes he could adequately explain it...but by the same token, he hopes that no one he knows will ever have the common frame of reference necessary to truly understand.

==Links==
*[http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/the_spoon_theory/ "The Spoon Theory"] 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia Wikipedia Entry on FMS] 
*[http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer National Fibromyalgia Association] 
*[http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=clothespinchallengecampaign NFA "Clothespin Challenge"] 
*[http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/ But You Don't Look Sick]

Fibromyalgia

2007-10-04T01:24:08Z

67.9.5.109: /* Living with FMS */

{{tocright}}
'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia]''' (FM or FMS) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_%28medicine%29" chronic] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndrome" syndrome] characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms. Recent research suggests that the underlying physical process to the syndrome is an inability of the central nervous system to properly process pain, with a tendency to amplify or even create pain signals such that an amount of pressure that would not elicit a pain reaction in the average person elicits a much more painful response in the person with FMS.

Research suggests it is not contagious, and that people with fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed. The ratio of females to males diagnosed with FMS is currently about 9:1 (American College of Rheumatology) though this may be because diagnostic criteria are not consistently applied to both sexes equally. Fibromyalgia is seen in 3% to 6% of the general population, and is most commonly diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 20 and 50, though onset can occur in childhood. The disease is not life-threatening, though it can be debilitating, and the degree of symptoms may vary greatly from day to day with periods of flares (severe worsening of symptoms) or remission. The syndrome is generally perceived as non-progressive, yet that issue is still debated.

==Significance==
[[REDdimension Wiki Circle]] member [[Kevin McNulty]] was diagnosed with FMS in April of 2007 after suffering symptoms for more than six months. This article is written by him in order to attempt to explain to others what it is like to have FMS. For more information on FMS in general, please use the links at the end of this article.

==Onset of FMS==
The symptoms of FMS are so varied and so variable in each individual that there is not a universal onset or progression of symptoms in every person. For Kevin, with hindsight as his guide, he can see now that his first symptoms probably appeared somewhere around 2001. It was about that time that Kevin would occasionally notice a sharp pain in a random location, usually a muscle, that would seem to suddenly appear and within a few minutes just as quickly disappear. This would happen only once a week or so and it did not present any major difficulties, so Kevin chalked it up to getting older. After all, having "aches and pains" was something that just happened with age, wasn't it?

By 2003, he was having back problems and fatigue. Work was particularly stressful at that time, so the fatigues was attributed to stress and the back problems to a poor workstation. When Kevin changed jobs, the symptoms were significantly reduced, so even though FMS flares can be caused by stress and the symptoms can certainly be mitigated by them, there was no reason to imagine a larger underlying cause for the symptoms.

Then in the fall of 2006, the aches and pains started lingering on a more consistent basis. About this time, Kevin was learning to stage fight in order to perform on the chess board at the [http://www.sarsotamedievalfair.com Sarasota Medieval Fair], so the increased joint and muscle pain was attributed to fighter practice. An increase in headaches at about the same time was easily explained by seasonal allergies with sinus problems.

By November, the palms of Kevin's hands had a nearly constant sting to them, similar to when one has a limb "fall asleep" and then slowly come back to life. His legs and feet hurt, and his back would ache even though no particular activity would have occurred to cause such pain. By December, the aches and pains had spread to include much of Kevin's body. Headaches were more frequent as well, and his ability to perform every day tasks was impacted. He finally went to his family physician to seek treatment.

==Diagnosis==
A battery of tests were run, all showing negative. FMS is a diagnosis of exclusion, since no tests have been developed for the condition yet, so everything else which could explain Kevin's symptoms had to be ruled out first: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease), thyroid malfunction, etc. Kevin saw a pain specialist, a neurologist, and finally a rheumatologist. Finally, the rheumatologist confirmed the diagnosis of FMS.

Most FMS suffers take nearly 2 to 3 years to get diagnosed, so by the time they receive the news and adjust to it mentally, their symptoms are as bad as they are likely to get (though recent studies do show a progression of symptoms with age, it is still generally believed the syndrome is not degenerative). Kevin actually got a fairly early diagnosis, so the syndrome is still surprising him with new symptoms and patterns. He still has generally more good days than bad, though he is sometimes still surprised at how bad the bad days can be.

==What It's Like to Have FMS==
FMS is different for every sufferer. Some people are barely impacted while others are completely disabled. About 30% of the people who contract it wind up unable to work. And one of the most frustrating parts of the syndrome for sufferers is that symptoms can change in nature and intensity from day to day. A "good day" with very light symptoms if any can be followed by a near-crippling "bad day" with little or no warning.

There are two major components to FMS: the pain, and the fatigue. They are frequently connected and as one increases, so does the other. But some days one dominates. There are days with relatively high energy where pain interferes with daily function, and days when relatively low pain levels are overshadowed by an all-encompassing exhaustion. For example, on the day this article was written, Kevin had to call in sick to work because he simply ''had'' to sleep some more. Despite going to bed at a reasonable hour, he slept until nearly 2:00 p.m. By 3:30, he felt like he could have taken a nap. The exhaustion can strike suddenly and with no warning, like someone just "pulled your plug" and you suddenly feel as if all you want to do it curl up in a ball and go to sleep. Other times it comes on gradually but lingers for days. The energy to do even the most mundane things is just not there, and despite having an overwhelming desire to get up and do something productive, all you can do is lay there.

The other major component to FMS, pain, is nearly a constant companion for Kevin, though the location and intensity of the pain is widely variable. Imagine waking up on a day after you have seriously "overdone it" physically. The first thing you move reminds you that everything hurts. You start a mental inventory of body parts, trying to catalog which ones really hurt and which ones are relatively unaffected.

That is every morning with FMS.

Kevin has pain medication, but its effacy varies with his symptoms. Sometimes the medication keeps everything "below the radar" and the good day is that much better. Other days, the medication seems ineffective. Bad days can be really bad, though fortunately they are much fewer. If you want to know what dealing with chronic pain is like, try the National Fibromyalgia Association's "Clothespin Challenge": place a clothespin on your fingertip and see how long you can tolerate the pain. People with FMS can't take off the clothespin when they've had enough.

==Living with FMS==
The most important thing for Kevin has been learning what activities today will lead to FMS consequences tomorrow. Not overdoing it becomes a key life skill, and the definition of overdoing it for an FMS sufferer can be significantly different from the average person's. A great explanation of what life with a chronic disability like this is like can be found in an essay called [http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/the_spoon_theory/ "The Spoon Theory"] which explains that people with chronic illness only have so many "spoons" to get through the day, and that everything you do and each decision you make can cost you those spoons. When you are out of spoons, there are no more, and suffering ensues. Kevin encourages everyone unfamiliar with chronic illness to read the essay.

Life with FMS means planning ahead. For instance, when Kevin goes grocery shopping, he could walk the whole trip without too much difficulty. But later that day or even the next he would pay for it with pain and fatigue, so he rides the electric cart provided by the supermarket. He feels ridiculous, but he finally understands that he has to do it if he doesn't want to suffer (and by extension make his family suffer).

==But You Don't Look Sick==
This brings up a point that many FMS suffers have to deal with on an ongoing basis: the fact that they don't "look sick." Kevin has a handicapped parking permit because if he had to walk a great distance from his parking place to the store, the amount of time he could spend in the store without suffering later would be reduced. But when he gets out of the car, he doesn't look handicapped to anyone, so he often feels "guilty" for using the parking space. He wonders what others think when he walks in and takes the electric cart, or when he has to ask for help in lifting or carrying what used to be an easy load for him. Other FMS suffers have had to actually defend their disability to insensitive bystanders who confront them on the use of handicapped parking spaces or other accommodations. Fortunately, Kevin has yet to encounter this particular behavior from others, but he is aware of the potential for it. It is just another thing that FMS sufferers have to deal with.

==Prognosis==
As of 2007, there is still no cure for FMS. This means a great adjustment for FMS suffers and their families and friends. Social commitments have to be mush more flexible, and hopefully friends understand that you may have to cancel at the last minute because you simply don't have enough "spoons" left that day to go out and do something. Though there may be an increasing number of things you can't do, you must start focusing on what you ''can'' do in order to keep some semblance of an optimistic outlook on life.

Research into FMS continues. The FDA recently approved a new drug, Lyrica, specifically for the treatment of FMS, a first in itself. Kevin has gained some relief from the Lyrica, but it is not a cure. Daily management of activities and energy expenditures are still the most important factor in managing the syndrome. You never get better, but you can manage the affect of FMS on your life. It is learning how best to do this that Kevin is now engaged in. He appreciates the support of his family and friends as he learns to deal with this. He knows he could not do it without them. It is difficult, though, for anyone without FMS to understand what it's really like to have it, and he wishes he could adequately explain it...but by the same token, he hopes that no one he knows will ever have the common frame of reference necessary to truly understand.

==Links==
*[http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/the_spoon_theory/ "The Spoon Theory"] 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia Wikipedia Entry on FMS] 
*[http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer National Fibromyalgia Association] 
*[http://www.fmaware.org/site/PageServer?pagename=clothespinchallengecampaign NFA "Clothespin Challenge"] 
*[http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/ But You Don't Look Sick]

Erin McNulty

2007-09-20T11:58:19Z

67.9.5.109: /* Trivia */

[[Image:erin_mcnulty.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Erin and her brother, Sean]]'''Erin Caitlin McNulty''' was born July 12, 1995. She is also known as "air-bear," "Sunshine," or "Baby." She is one of two children born to parents '''[[Kevin McNulty|Kevin]]''' and '''[[Debbie McNulty|Debbie McNulty]]'''. She has one brother, '''[[Sean McNulty|Sean]]'''.

==Childhood==

Erin was born in [http://www.talgov.com/ Tallahassee, FL]. Her father was a stay-at-home-dad until she reached kindergarten in order to help raise she and her brother. She has always been a creative soul, showing inherent talent in art and singing. She also studies guitar along with her brother.

She started school at [http://www.canopyoaks.leon.k12.fl.us/ Canopy Oaks Elementary] in Tallahassee until moving to Palmetto, FL with her family. In Palmetto, she attended [http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/blackburn/ Blackburn] and [http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/mills/ Mills] Elementary Schools, and [http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/middleschool/lincoln/index.htm Lincoln Middle School]. She now attends [http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/middleschool/buffalocreek/ Buffalo Creek Middle School].

==Residences==

Erin was born in [http://www.talgov.com/ Tallahassee, FL]. In 2001, her family moved to [http://www.palmettofl.org/ Palmetto, FL] where she currently resides with her family, two dogs ([[Mysti]] and [[Pugz Lee]]), and snake ([[Scully]]).

==Hobbies==

* Music (plays guitar and sings)
* Dance Dance Revolution
* Reading
* Drawing
* Hanging out with friends

==Affiliations==

* Buffalo Creek Middle School ''Builder's Club'' (member)
* '''[http://www.sarasotamedievalfair.com/ Sarasota Medieval Fair]''' (cast member, chess board fighter)

==Achievements==

* Erin was one of only 5 sixth-graders to receive all A's at LMS in 2006-2007
* She has been on the Honor Roll every year she has attended school
* She has only received one "B" since starting school
* Erin completed her babysitting certification course in 2006

==Awards==

* Outstanding Advanced Language Arts Award - Lincoln Middle School, 2006
* First Place, 4H/Tropicana Speech Competition - Ms. Crotty's ALA, Lincoln Middle School
* Most Outstanding Reader - Kindergarten, Canopy Oaks Elementary

==Trivia==

* Erin once had her Dad paint her face like a tiger when she visited the Lowry Park Zoo
* She broke her arm in 2006 <s>while fending off a ninja sneak attack</s> in a tragic scooter accident
* Her favorite color is purple
* Her birthstone is ruby-red
* Erin's favorite flower is a lily

==Links==
* http://www.clanmcnulty.com/

[[Category:Biographies|McNulty, Erin]]

Sharon Whitman

2007-09-20T02:12:11Z

67.9.5.109:

Sharon Whitman was born in Akron, Oh to Raymond Charles Gibson and Rita M. Gibson. She had one brother, Raymond Gibson. Sharon was reared mostly by her mother Rita after her father's death at the age of 52. Her father was the third person in the world to have the angeoplasty surgury on his heart. Unfortunately, three days after his surgery, he died of infection. Sharon was 16 and her brother was 18. The death of their father caused Rita to become a stronger more indapendent woman.