If you didn’t know, I love the television show “So You Think You Can Dance” that airs on FOX. It also is no secret that I have a tendency to have extremely vivid dreams. However, when desperate measures dictate the use of prescription sleep aids, those vivid dreams have a high incidence of transforming into dramatic hallucinations. Having been depraved of sleep for several weeks, I have been trying to glean every possible minute from a night with the help of Ambien CR.

In any case, the SYTYCD finale show included one of my favorite choreographers, Wade Robson. He choreographed the following group performance which is a song titled “Homage to the Rabbits” by Eric Serra. It is from the Cirque du Soleil’s production, “Criss Angel Believe.”

\”Homage to the Rabbits\”

Suffice to say, the bunnies have been around every night since. While they seem somewhat menacing in the performance, I’m quite happy to say they’ve been nothing worse than a bit exuberant and jovial in hallucinated form. They’ve had quite the fun over the last several nights dancing in the living room, out on the back lawn, etc. Hmmm. Now I’m hungry for carrot cake. With raisins. And lots of gooey cream cheese frosting. Yeah, think anyone can arrange for that? That helps fight off MS exacerbations. Right?

Do you want to be a part of The Mooving Hurd? If you don’t remember, that’s the name of my Walk MS team. As you can see in the photo, Gunnar has his horns ready to be part of “the hurd.”

Sadly, at this point, I’ve only achieved 45% of my goal. This hurts because I live each day knowing what MS does to a person. I want to reach my goal so that other people can have the support that I’ve had battling this disease.

Won’t you be as enthusiastic as Gunnar and join “the hurd’?? Will you please consider making a pledge? If you don’t prefer to make your pledge online you can also mail me a check. Please email me at themoovinghurd @v3rnon.com and I will provide the address.

Thanks for your time and thanks in advance for your support!!

Pledge Online: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/v3rnon

(The National MS Society is a non-profit organization and all pledges are tax deductible.)

Five years ago this month I believed that the numbness that began in my left shoulder was nothing more than a pinched nerve that would work itself out. As the weeks passed, the numbness enveloped everything from my left shoulder to the very tips of my left hand. The continued progression and intensity to a feeling of pins and needles accompanied by burning sensations ultimately led to a doctor’s visit. After countless tests I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Even after five years the numbness, tingling, and burning still remain.

The reason I share this is because this weekend I and several friends will be joining thousands of other people across the country as we walk. We walk to fight Multiple Sclerosis. We walk that others might know the terrible effects that this disease inflicts upon individuals, families, and children. We walk to bring hope that researchers will find the cure to this disease. We walk for those that cannot.

The research, educational, and support programs that are funded by The National Multiple Sclerosis Society change the lives of people with MS. People like me. People like my father. When my father was diagnosed in 1982, there were very few of the treatments for Multiple Sclerosis that we have today. A diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis was in essence a precursor to disability. Research funded by the MS Society has helped to discover the treatments that allow us to continue to live our lives, advance our careers, and build our families. The educational and support programs help us to understand what MS is, how it will affect our lives, and how it will affect those around us. It provides us with the tools and knowledge to keep moving despite the disease.

Unfortunately, none of these programs are possible without the necessary financial resources. It is my hope that you will join me in helping meet these financial needs. I realize that no one likes being asked to donate money to something. However, knowing firsthand the impact that the MS Society has empowers me to make this plea. It is also easy to advocate for an organization where nearly 80% of all income is directed to research and local programs.

You can make a donation/pledge online quickly and easily. I’m not asking for anything eye-popping. I’m hoping you’ll join me and support my team with a donation/pledge of just $20. Together, each of our $20 could be what makes the difference in finding a cure. Even if it doesn’t find a cure, I hope you’ll smile knowing you made a difference in the life of someone with MS!

Thanks in advance for your support of me and my team – the mooving hurd!!

I’m not sure I even know where to begin. I realize it’s been more than three weeks since I last updated my blog. One could assume from that fact that nothing of significance has taken place in that time. However, the assumption would be incorrect. My head hurts so I’ll try to provide at least a short summary.

1. MS Awareness Week came and went. I still need to write my personal story.
2. Christian won Project Runway. I don’t have an issue with that.
3. Chris versus Rami. I do have an issue with Chris being selected over Rami.
4. The new season of Top Chef has begun. I’ve begun to assign names of former cast members to the new cast members. (e.g. Manuel is the new Miguel)
5. I’ve lost track of American Idol. Too many people that just aren’t in my opinion amateurs making the show. At this point I want it to be over simply so that So You Think You Can Dance will start it’s next season.
6. Easter came and went. Soup surpassed peanut butter eggs in order of preference.
7. I visited Kansas City, MO to see Hedwig & The Angry Inch as well as Rent. Hedwig was good; reminiscent of small stage theatre in Chicago. Rent was superb.
8. The Kansas Jayhawks won the Big 12 Regular Season Championship (tied with Texas), won the Big 12 Tournament Championship, were chosen #1 seed for the Midwest Bracket of the NCAA Tournament, defeated Portland State and then UNLV to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, defeated Villanova to advance to the Elite Eight, squeaked out a win against Davidson to make the Final Four, and most recently defeated North Carolina to advance to the Championship game against Memphis.
9. The weather continues to toy with me. One day it’s in the 70’s and the next it’s snowing. I’m ready for Spring to be here in a more finite manner.
10. One of our neighbors set fire to the neighborhood. On a day when we’re under a Red Flag Warning he decides to burn what appeared to be trash in an overgrown pasture. Suffice to say it got out of control quickly and while he had insignificant damage to his property there was significant damage to neighbors’ property in the way of damaged or completely lost out buildings. City folk.
11. Gunnar changed veterinarians, returning to his original(s) at Oakley Veterinary Service. He simply did not like Dr. Tammy and it made it not only intolerable for him but also for her staff. He’s clearly much happier going back to the folks in Oakley.
12. Gunnar was very sick but is now recovering which also was the impetus that returned him to Oakley. Short story is fungal infection which lead to additional bacterial infection which lead to severely swollen lymph nodes and difficulty eating. He’s on antibiotics, steroids, and bi-weekly baths for two weeks which isn’t fun for any of us because of the side effects and such.
13. Speaking of Gunnar, Rodney helped sew a new bed for Gunnar which so far he seems very pleased to lay on. I’m slowly introducing him to it in order to ensure that he doesn’t decide to make it a chew toy. So far so good.
14. I got a new office chair which has really made my back and legs much happier. Just another tax deduction for the home office.
15. I’ve changed doctors myself. There were insurance and billing issues with my last so suffice to say I’ve changed and so far am very happy. His attitude is very much like Eric(MD)’s from Chicago. If only he’d move to Western Kansas.
16. I’ve created a team for Walk MS: Western Kansas 2008. Our team name is “The Mooving Hurd.” Fundraising pleas and more information to follow.

Okay, it’s time to go make my world famous homemade pizza dough so it’ll rise and be ready in time to indulge in prior to tipoff of the game tonight. Tipoff is at 8:21 CDT on CBS. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!

Depending on the depth of our relationship as friend, family, colleague or random reader it may not be well known that I have MS — Multiple Sclerosis. This week is one of the few times each year I make an effort to talk about the disease, it’s effects, and the future. And me. The rest of the year it’s merely another thread that is woven in with countless others that makeup me, my life, and experiences.

Before the sun sets on the 17th it is my endeavor to share with you my personal story. I’ve yet to determine how I’m going to do that. I’ve considered writing, of course, and also the possibility of using video to tell my story. In retrospect, video is something that will have to wait for later — not enough time.

My question to you today is… Won’t you join me? Join me in becoming aware of Multiple Sclerosis. Aware of its effects on countless people across the country and throughout the world. Aware of the reality that you already know someone that has MS but don’t realize it.  Please join me today. If nothing more, take just a few moments to go to the website and learn a little more about MS.

And no, this isn’t the disease that Jerry (Lewis) does a telethon for each year. I’ve been asked that question countless times.