Fisher and Collins

FISHSTRONG: The absence of fear in the face of insurmountable odds.

Click here to read - SWANSBORO RESIDENT RECEIVES SURPRISE GRADUATION CEREMONY - a great article about Jeff and his much deserved day.

If you read my blog regularly you know that Jeff Fisher (the pictured graduate) is a fraternity pledge brother of my brothers (pictured far left) that is currently battling a reoccurring brain tumor. Read the above article to get a better idea of Jeff's unbelievable story and to hear about the great weekend surprise he got over Thanksgiving. For those that don't know, Jeff has been on the fight of his life the past 2+ years with cancer and just 3 weeks ago was diagnosed yet again. I've never seen someone with such a positive outlook and such a strength to kick somethings ass like Jeff. It's amazing. Starting yesterday Jeff will receive 5 radiation treatments, along with 26 rounds of chemo through an IV, everyday, every 2 weeks at Duke, for 2 months. This kind of stuff weakens the immune system  so his visitors will be limited. Jeff has beat his brain tumor time and time again, and it's been with strong support from himself, friends, and family. You never know when you ask for someone to "Say a prayer" what they go and do next, but in this case, I ask again.....and follow that with a HUGE

THANK YOU!!!!

Look at our Nick Collins!! Check him out!

Back on August 10th I was asking you to cross your fingers, say a prayer, wear your pajamas backwards, whatever it took. We needed a miracle, and we got one. Time and time again.

http://hennesseyhits.blogspot.com/2012/08/nick-collins-miracle.html

Then, at the beginning of October Nick's story touched a whole bigger family, the Clemson family, and who knows just how many people have had him under their wing.

http://hennesseyhits.blogspot.com/2012/10/clemson-nick-collins.html

Nick's Dad posted a new Caring Bridge post today and it seems that his recovery is moving right along. No more infection, 1 more surgery, some recovery, and then off to rehab! Nick is ridiculous. I love it!!  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nickcollins

I couldn't be more impressed with these two guys. Keep the thoughts and prayers coming.

And of course, if some Angel from heaven is reading this and thinking about how much they hate how much just even 1 co-pay and prescription can cost, then starts to add up in their head what the Collins and Fisher families are enduring, please feel free to contact me to help in any way you may be able.

Happy Holidays!!



Thankful to be a Level 3?

Happy Thanksgiving loyal readers, or people who accidentally stumbled upon this site. Thanks for stopping by. Today, for only the second time in my life, I am without a giant group of loud family members around for the holiday. I'm spending my day in Greenville. I am one of 4 children (me being the 3rd) and as we have gotten older my 2 older siblings have started their own families. Whitney and John rotate heading to Ohio to see his family with Thanksgiving and Christmas, as do Lindsay and Dan with going to New Jersey. This year was the "off" year for Thanksgiving. Billy's friend, Jeff, that I spoke about in my posting Hell Week had another tough week himself, so now even my brother is off traveling and isn't around for the holiday (and for great reason). The Hennessey crew is all over the place, thus my stay in G-ville. Well that, terrible gas prices, and a pretty amazing football game on Saturday that I just so happened to have scored a free pair of tickets too - - Clemson vs University of South Carolina. Go Tigers! I can't even express to you how ready I am for the day to be here. But first on to more pressing matters.

Today people will stuff their faces, fill their bellies, hopefully tell family and friends how much they mean to each other, because, after all, that's what I believe this day is really all about.  Then tomorrow - well - tomorrow, or shall I say tonight, thousands of "tradition-ers", penny-pincher's, shoppers, bargain hunters, a few regular people, and plenty of idiots will stampede the Targets, Best Buys, Wal-Marts, Old Navy's, and Malls of the world looking for the best deals they can find. We call this day Black Friday. Perhaps because of the shadow that is cast upon us with the mobs of people, or maybe its just the fact that we're shopping at 2 am for a $5 turtleneck. Who knows. I say "We" because I have been one of these "Idiots" about 3 times and might go for lucky 4 this week. But as I told my friend Melissa yesterday, I would classify myself as a Level 3 BFS - that's code for Black Friday Shopper. Here's the break down as I've seen it:

Level 1-2               
These people forgot it was Black Friday, super confused at first (and kind of pissed) that there's so much traffic and that parking is a nightmare, but really excited about the deals. However, at 11am, not excited that they don't where a size 16 and that's all that's left of everything. Amateurs. Next year, will either up their Level of BFS (like me) or just not participate.

Level 3-4
The 8-10am-ers. These are the somewhat reasonable people. They aren't camping in tents, however, may have had their eye on something and are looking to save some money. If the item is there great, but they aren't waiting in that 2 hour line to save $20 either.

Level 5-6
The "It's tradition" women. Ladies, you know who you are. I know you. I'm friends with you. It's ok. You can't wait to get up at 5 am and get that Panini press for $4.99 at Marshalls, or was it Kohls? We've talked about it so many times, I get confused. And the $2 Toaster at Walmart....girl, you can do it. In fact, I need one. Get 2 if there's no limit. These are the women that see a deal and NEED to save. But I ask, is it saving? And without a doubt they say YES! These "Tradition-ers" get alllll their Christmas shopping done in one day, so you better watch out. They are on a mission, and the mission is savings. Especially if it's a vest for $10 at Old Navy. Get one for everyone......I'd call that an inVESTment. Wouldn't you?

Level 7-8
The turds who ruin Thanksgiving for the dear souls who have to leave their families and go work their retails jobs so this Level 8 BFS can buy an updated version of the 1998 Used-to-be-Cool Battery Operated Keyboard for $19.99 just because its on sale. These people camp out in tents. Not because they want that new Samsung flat screen, but because they saw others do it on the news last year and they hope NBC makes another run around this year and they get their 5 minutes, too. These shoppers fill their carts with everything they can get their hands on and they bring friends. They are starting the Black Thursday trend and they LOVE it. The earlier the better. You can normally identify one of these shoppers by their "uniform". Just look at the sneaks.

I'm a terrible person, but I'm willing to bet during this time frame these people aren't the nicest either, so it's almost a trade off.

Level 9-10
Literally, just hours after we are discussing what we are thankful for and this....these people are up there. There are no words.

Me and CeeLo

In my current career I can't deny that I've had the privilege of meeting some pretty cool celebrities. Sitting at a friends house recently with NBC's The Voice on in the background, I suddenly realized something. I want to meet CeeLo Green. I've never had such an urge before. This man would love me. I have no doubt, and I began to explain to my friend why. Mostly joking reasons of course, but every good joke has some truth behind it. Follow me and try and forgive my over confidence, but after discussing with my other super confident showbiz friend, we really found some similarities. Now, if you've ever watched the show, he gives off a little bit of a 'pervie' vibe, but I do think its in a charming way, if that possible - and for him it totally is. CeeLo has the ability to make creepy, totally ok (no people, that's not one of our similarities, keep reading). I'm just saying, good for him. Just look at this class act! Who wouldn't want to be friends with him? I can hear that raspy, yet smooth, laughable tone, sayin' "Wahcha name darlin'?". With just one response of my own somewhat raspy voice, that I've been told on a few occasions sounds like Emma Stone, I'd say, "Lacey Hennessey" (with a big 'ol smile added in of course). Let's be honest, just with the name Hennessey, I don't think he'd forget me. You follow me? Similarity numero uno. Good names. Soul sista and brotha ;)

We both have big hair....and its full of secrets. Sitting next to Christina Aguilera for an entire season while wearing a leotard I'm sure he's bound to hear or see a few thing that are meant to be kept to themselves, and mine, well my luscious locks just can't be contained. Literally, sometimes I think each strand has a mind of its own. Its everywhere. He'll love it.

#3. What can I say? We just love animals. Now I'm more of a dog lover myself, where as CeeLo tends to frequent cats and dress in bird like costumes. But opposites do attract, thus again, making us best friends in what we in 'the biz' like to call 'the biz'. I too like colorful outfits and big sunglasses, so, I have that goin for me, which is nice (Caddyshack reference, he too will understand).

Last, but certainly not least (I could go on forever but he is a man of little words), CeeLo recently showed his patriotism by wearing one of the most interesting, yet beautifully, glorious garments I've seen in while. Just one more thing we have in common  - -that great American pride of wearing our red, white, and blue. See for yourself. Nicely done future B.F.F. Good Work. Just as random as this post.

Hell Week

"Hell Week". Most commonly known as the inaugural week among some fraternities in which the new members (pledges) are rigorously abused and tortured as an endurance test. If the pledges make it through Hell Week, then they can become full-fledged fraternity members -- thank you Urban Dictionary.com. For example this may, or may not happen during Homecoming Week, which coincidentally was this week at Clemson. We played Maryland, killed them, and it was amazing. This is not the "type" of Hell Week that I had, however, I did feel like it was a test of endurance, patience, and honestly a reminder that we are only given as much as we can handle (supposedly). Mine was much more of a "real world" experience, and no - not 7 strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives taped, even though once upon a time in my life that was a very close possibility....almost too close. We'll save that MTV story for another day.  Hell Week started on Monday (well kind of). I got a text from my landlord on Sunday afternoon saying that she was coming by on Monday with the gas guy to check out my heater since the winter months were upon us. Great, a proactive approach. I love it. I told her to please let herself in, and let him check it out. Monday roles around, and come 4ish I get a call from her letting me know that the old as the hills heater in my 1940's apartment needs to be, and has been, immediately shut down. And oh yea, there appears to be a crack in it, and you have a carbon monoxide leak. UMMMMMM...excuse me? Isn't that what you hear about on Dateline NBC of families going to sleep and just not waking up? Great...lets rewind here.

Old Stinky

For the past 2-3 weeks I had turned the heat on occasionally when it got chilly (super. Just soakin it in). I hadn't smelled anything, as I guess with a CO2 leak I wouldn't, and as you might know, I've had a weird medical history anyway (click here to refresh your memory), so what I'm about to share seemed like just another hurdle, but now as confirmed by both of my doctors, girlfriend here was cutting it pretty close. The week before Halloween I got an absurd amount of migraines. I'm talking knock me to the floor, sick to my stomach type of pain, and they came out of no where. Because they are so random I try to stick em out and take the meds I have been prescribed to help. One night in particular I went to a friends to get some lessons on my new iPhone 5 (upgraded from a Blackberry what whatttt!). I noted to him that my eye was doing the 'weird blinding thing', I felt my fingers tingling, and told him that I was probably about to get a migraine. I took some Tylenol he had and we carried on. A few minutes later nothing I was saying was making sense. My entire sense of speech was gone. It was so bizarre. I knew what I wanted to say, but just couldn't say it. Like I could talk but it was jumbled. It's hard to explain, but trust me when I say its incredibly frustrating and makes you panic when you realize its happening. He asked what I was trying to say a few times, then I just gave up and patiently we just sat there until I headed home and hopped straight in bed. I called the doctor ASAP the next morning and you would have thought by how fast they got me in there that half my face was drooping off. They completely changed up the approach to my migraines medicine wise. This happened again the Sunday I got back from the mountains, and again baffled my doctors. Once finding out about the leak, I called them back and sure enough, it wasn't but a few minutes to get a response back to hear that I was extremely lucky that I caught this when I did, and should be thankful that I got out and "got some fresh air" at my friends' houses those nights, as well as been working away from home. We'll never know how long it had been leaking or what could have been, but I'm considering myself one lucky lady.

 Tuesday they came to measure for the unit. Wednesday was installation day, which turned into all day Thursday, too. You see I have plenty of luck, but its not always the good kind. The space for the new unit was too small and every piece seemed to have the need to be custom built. There was black dust everywhere. Really wonderful. I got out Wednesday night and saw the new 007 movie. Bad ass, go see it.  When I got out I had 4 missed calls from people in my building all informing me that the men who worked on my heat turned off EVERYONE's. Thus making me probably the most hated tenant in building 4 on the 35 degree November night. I tired calling everyone back but of course it was too late. Throw on some bad family friend news about a brain tumor, and you've got one hell of a hump day.


Thursday - the brightest light of the week. No joke. Seriously the best day of my week. I got more done in the morning at work then I bet most had a in a week and that night I was going to see The Who at the BILO Center with a great group of people. It was highly anticipated. The heater was finally done. It worked. Everyone's gas was turned back on. This is like when the fraternity pledge finally learns that he may actually get to not only go the football game, but not have to drive, and actually get to drink a beer before, during, and after the game, possibly take a nap, and never see another float pomp again. I was ecstatic. Friday was almost just as great. I learned that an electrical issue was also getting fixed, and it had been. My mom was coming to town, she made me long awaited/desired curtains for my bedroom, and my house was getting back to normal.

 Spoke too soon. We went to the Clemson game, came back, I went out for a few more beers at a local bar with some friends down the street, and then came back and snuggled in with my mom. What seemed to be a blink or 2 later (around 3am) I get awoken by a phone call from the neighbor below me. "Lacey, its Adam, I just got up to get a glass of water and there is water pouring into my ceiling". FML. My water heater, this time electric, burst. I had to call a plumber - - or shall I say 20+ and finally one amazing soul named Steven answered. He came out and shut off the water so dear Adam didn't have his own personal waterfall in the kitchen. By the time the Panthers lost, the Ravens won, and my neighbors were over me completely, I had a brand new set of utilities.
When it rains, it certainly pours. In my case this past week, literally. I'd like to think the next week will be easier than the last. It can always be worse. Cross your fingers for me that the CO2 issue is truly what caused the "episodes" of the flare ups recently; I have a follow up this week. And say a prayer for our friend Jeff Fisher.  Jeff found out that his brain tumor is back, and once again declared stage 4. He is unbelievable, and has defied the odds time and time again. In his own words..."I have been dangling from a string at the end of my rope for two years. It is not the time to fall. It is the time to create more rope." Lets get Jeff more rope.



Jeff, my brother Billy, and his friend James, and Stephen