Take On Life

Hi everyone,

Although the Tamiflu seems to have fought off my flu symptoms, I’m now battling some kind of respiratory infection with a low-grade fever — an unwelcome aftershock of the flu, I suppose.

Hopefully, the therapeutic cocktail of an antibiotic called Clarithromycin, Mucinex (for the lovely mucus in my chest) and Advair Diskus (an inhaler to help my asthma) will do the trick.

Before I forget, Dr. Proctoplis, thanks for the well wishes and the provocative post. I hope all your hard work pays off and you land a great job soon!

As a ‘Cuse guy, I think the best medicine I’ve had all week came Thursday night when No. 24 Syracuse hammered No. 12 Cal, 95-73, at the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at Madison Square Garden.

The Orange should have a tougher road tonight in the title game against No. 4 North Carolina. The defending national champion Tar Heels escaped No. 15 Ohio State, 77-73, Thursday.

Our newspaper’s editor, Art Cummings, is a big North Carolina fan. I really must remember to shoot him a consolaton e-mail after tonight’s game.

Of course, there’s always room for one more on the Syracuse bandwagon, Art.

You can even sit next to me — when I get better, of course!

Hi everyone,

I hope you like the new and improved News-Times Web site as much as I do. It’s a lot crisper and sharper than the old version, that’s for sure.

As for me, I’m the opposite of crisper and sharper. I’m writing this blog post from my bed with a 103-degree fever and flu-like symptoms. With a suspected case of H1N1, I’m taking Tamiflu and doing my best to get better.

I’ve been out sick the past two days, so my regular “Take on Life” column won’t be appearing in Wednesday’s paper. I’m hoping to get back to work Thursday if I can shake this fever today and spend tomorrow fever-free.

If all goes well, my column will be back on its regular schedule Friday and Sunday. Keep your fingers crossed!

Thanks for reading and have a good day,

Brian

Hi everyone,

I am deeply touched by the response I’ve received to a column I wrote last week about a beautiful little girl named Kelly Galarza, who has brain cancer.

Kelly, who is 26 months old, lives in Danbury with her parents, Luis and Esther, when she’s not in the hospital. There’s a big fundraiser planned for her Sunday afternoon called, “Karing for Kelly.”

One lady from Newtown called me to say she wanted to donate a nearly new fur coat for a raffle prize.

Meanwhile, many of the e-mails I’ve received, including one from a retired Danbury police officer in Florida, asked for an address to send donations, so here it is:

Union Savings Bank, c/o Karing for Kelly, 225 Main St., Danbury, CT 06810.

The big event on Sunday, which will run from 1 to 6 p.m., will be held at The Palace Theater on Main Street in Danbury. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for kids, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Galarza family to help pay their medical bills and living expenses.

The event will include pizza and pasta donated by Nico’s in Danbury. It will also feature two live bands, delicious barbecue, a DJ playing tunes and several raffles, including one for a $5,500 spa donated by Nejame & Sons.