2012. it begins.

I need a break!  I've worked only nine days this calendar year and I'm underwater already.  We are so busy at Amgen.  If only I could get away from my desk, writing reports, and meetings.  My hands are getting dirty with three products:  denosumab, prolia and xgeva; ganitumab, pancreatic cancer; and AMG 827, psoriasis.  My role is to support the downstream operations for all these products.  Without question, we intend to successfully execute the projects.

My iPad 2 is working out great.  It's not a perfect product, but it is serving my needs.  The best application I have installed so far is Accuweather.  It is beautiful and functional; two qualities you need in a good application.  I consider it a well spent $1.05.  Truthfully, I spend most of my time with it watching ridiculous videos.  The internetz are great.

I feel like 2012 is going to be a year of change for me.  I'm taking new approaches to a few things; both personally and professionally.  My plan is to become a better me.  

Wish me luck.

osu v mich

Today is The Ohio State University versus Michigan game.  I'm definitely going to watch.  It could be that the Michigan losing streak will finally come to an end?

Our fundraising is over the $1,600 threshold.  Our goal of $5,000 will not be reached unless we have a mysterious angel investor who swoops in at the last moment.  I've tempered my expectations and would be delighted with $2,500 raised.  Here is my latest mugshot:

Finally, based on the video below I might consider wearing my moustache full-time!

movember update

Let's be honest, I'm looking incredibly handsome at this point.  If only looks could translate into dollars!  The team is disappointingly behind schedule on our fundraising; we just passed the $1,000 mark.  Thank you to everyone who has donated so far!  DONATE TO ME.

Comedy:  My landlord (and housemate), just backed her car into the garage door.  For a brief moment our cars were trapped in the garage until we bent the door back into place.  A repairman is on the way.  Support railings are bent and one of the door panels is cracked in two.

funding

As you can see, my moustache is coming along nicely.

For this season, I tried to go with a less creepy look.  Who knows if that has been accomplished, but I sure feel tougher and more imposing.  It's likely you are probably imaging on motorcycle right now...

Our fundraising is going worse than expected.  To date, we have $605; about 12% of the goal.  I do realize that several of you have let me know that you will pledge, so we are looking forward to those donations!  Again, if you want to donate to me or my team:  ME or go to the Movember website and search for Team LongMOnt.

it's movember-time

What's that you say?  Two updates in as many days?  Yeah, amazing I know.

Today's posting is not about being silly or sharing photos.  It's about the serious business of growing moustaches!  Movember is here again and I'll be sporting the ol' cookie-duster again.  I did so well fundraising last year I was nominated the team captain this year!  I've set our goal as $5,000 for this season; we were over $3,500 in 2010.  Worldwide Movember raised almost $81 million dollars in 2010 for prostate cancer and other men's cancers.  The main recipients of the funds are the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.

Here are some sobering statistics:

1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 3 women will be.

Prostate Cancer:

1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime – a new case is diagnosed every 2.2 minutes.

A man dies from prostate cancer every 15.6 minutes.

240,890 men will be diagnosed and 33,720 will lose their lives to the disease.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men.

A man is 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

The incidence rates are significantly higher in African American men.

97% occurs in men age 50 or older.

Prostate cancer is over 90% curable -if detected and treated in its earliest stages.

Testicular Cancer:

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 34.

The number of men diagnosed with testicular cancer has grown by approximately 60% over the past 35 years, but the reason for this is not known.

8,290 new cases of testicular cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2011

350 men will die from testicular cancer in 2011

It's not often I'm going to have prostate and testicular in a single posting...if you can help out me and my team that would be awesome!  We get to look like fools for a month and you get to feel good about yourself for donating.  If you want to donate:  ME or my team (Team LongMOnt).  Alternatively, you can give me the money directly and I can double your donation thanks to my company, Amgen, which matches charitable contributions dollar-for-dollar above a $50 threshhold.