One last reminder… today (November 16) is Prematurity Awareness Day, which, of course, goes hand-in-hand with the March of Dimes campaign to save these babies’ lives. You may remember from a previous post that there are several things you can do to help, from signing the petition asking Congress to increase funding to making a donation to spreading the word.

To celebrate the event, there are a variety of activities planned both in Washington and across the country. Of special interest to Blog Exposion surfers: a “live blog” that will feature pictures, interviews, celebrity blogging and an interactive photo quilt.

From the March of Dimes:

This is a very special day for premature babies and their families – other parents, grandparents, children, friends, health care providers and advocates. To raise awareness of premature birth, the March of Dimes is hosting a series of events in Washington, D.C., and all across the country, that will include a “Moment of Hope” lighting ceremony. In D.C., the Wilson Building on Freedom Plaza will be lit with a signature display of pink and blue lights.

Across our nation, many buildings and landmarks also will be illuminated in pink and blue, including:

• Niagara Falls
• New York’s Con Ed Building
• Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Bridge and CIGNA Building
• Chicago’s 311 S. Wacker Drive and La Salle-Wacker Towers
• Boston’s Leonard Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge
• Miami’s Bank of America Building
• Louisville’s Gas & Electric Building
• Detroit’s Blue Cross/Blue Shield Building
• San Antonio’s Tower of the Americas on Hemisphere Plaza
• Portland’s Liberty Center

On Prematurity Awareness Day, you can be the voice for babies born too soon. Support the March of Dimes as we call for a 50% increase in federal funding for research into the causes of premature birth.

So I had been having this weird sort of pain in my tooth (#7, if you must know) when I brushed. A wierd sort of “icepick to the brain through my nose” sort of pain. So I went to the dentist (even though the pain had stopped), and she leaned me back in the chair and began saying things like “Hmmm…” and “Uh huh…” and “Interesting…” She popped the seat back up and said, “We’re going to get an x-ray of that” and then everyone began moving sort of quickly.

Cut to the chase: I had a “condition” called root resorption, whereby the body, for as-yet-unknown reasons, decides it wants the tooth back, and begins dissolving it from the inside. Odd, not understood, and fairly rare.

And that was how I came to be sitting in the chair of the endodontist, having a root canal, a mere 24 hours later. He was saying things like “Hmmm…” and “Interesting…” and “$700, please.”

Fast forward another few hours to about 1:30am, when I woke up in excruciating pain. “From the tooth,” you’re wondering? “No,” says I. “from the kidney stone.”

So, with Ma in her kerchief and the kids dreaming about sugar plums, I did a quick search on WebMD for the “call you doctor immediately” signs related to kidney stones. I had every condition on the list. So I told Char I was leaving and drove myself to the emergency room. Gingerly, but quickly.

Fast forward another few hours, a dose of toridal and two doses of morphine, an xray and an MRI (why, I haven’t the foggiest idea), and the doctor is standing over me saying things like “Hmmm…” and “Interesting…” and “Go home, take some Vicodin, and this too, shall pass.”

Oh, and they also said, “$3,600, please.”

The moral of this story? I’m not sure. How about: “Drink cranberry juice”.

I’ve recently completed the final book in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. Seven books and thousands of pages later, I can only say, “Ka [fate, destiny] is a wheel.” If you haven’t read any of these — and you particularly like long, epic stories — then you should read these (even if you don’t consider yourself a fan). Start at the beginning with “The Gunslinger“, which opens with the memorable line:

“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”

To me, at least, very possibly the equal of “Call me Ishmael.”

Now I’ve moved on to “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time“, a book I have been wanting to read for some time and have only just begun. It’s about an autistic boy who sets out to solve a murder mystery — the death of a neighborhood dog. So far, it’s fascinating. I’ll keep you posted.

In the interest of full disclosure: Yes, I’m getting old. Yes, I’m getting more conservative. But seriously, shouldn’t all of us have a problem with this?

“Pole dancing classes for British children cancelled after uproar”

LONDON – A plan to teach British children the risque art of pole dancing, usually the preserve of strip bars, has been cancelled after an uproar from child welfare groups, the teacher said. Dance teacher Sarah Davis announced pole dancing classes for children over 12 at her studio in Birmingham, arguing it was a demanding activity which would improve fitness.

The routine — at least, the version seen in late-night joints — usually involves a scantily-clad female draping her limbs around a pole in a sequence of highly suggestive poses.

But the children’s charity Childline, which campaigns on behalf of abused and at-risk youngsters, condemned the lessons. “At the least this is misguided, at worst it’s an outrage,” said its chief executive Carole Easton. “There are hundreds and thousands of other, much more appropriate ways in which children can keep fit, enjoy sport and dance.”

Davis said that because of the outcry, she had decided to restrict classes to adults only.

Feel free to pass this along; it’s surprisingly true…

Rebekah Tauber, a 15-year-old Houston girl, is suffering from a rare form of cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy in Texas. Rebekah is a Christian who believes in the power of prayer and is wearing a “prayer pager” supported by the Second Baptist Church in Houston. (The church is currently providing prayer pagers for five people, three adults and two children.) Here’s how it works: Take a moment to say a prayer for Rebekah, and then dial 1-800-250-6939 for her pager. You’ll be greeted by the following message:

You have reached the Second Baptist Church prayer pager for Rebekah Tauber. At the tone, please enter your five-digit zip code followed by the # sign and Rebekah’s pager will go off. Rebekah will know she’s been prayed for by you. Thank you and God bless.

After you finish your message, Rebekah’s pager will vibrate and she’ll know that someone is praying for her.