The Singing Patient (Carla): Links

My Blog: thoughts on chronic illness, our messed up medical system, keeping hope alive, other random stuff.
Notes From the Couch: A psychologist who is dealing with chronic illness- a wounded healer, and really neat lady I met at a luncheon. Great bunch of links to other fab resources here.
Jack Lalanne: An inspiration! Swimming while towing huge boats filled with people in his 60s and 70s. Old does not have to mean decrepit.
Movie Mom: This site helps you protect your soul from being exposed to violence, or other objectionable content in movies. Find out what you're in for before you go- no more bad movie nights!
Find Carla's Book in the library: List of libraries who carry Carla's book "How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This?"
Rhode Island Nightclub Survivor Story: Remarkable story of how one man beat all odds and stood up and walked away from a disaster while nearly everyone around him perished.
Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor: Organization of professionals and nonprofessionals dedicated to research and education about the healing power of laughter. Big annual conference, CEUs available.
Cure for Lupus: SLE - Lupus Awareness, Information, and Merchandise
Promoting Lupus Education, Awareness and Research. Shop for a wide variety of hard to find, unique Lupus Merchandise.
New Zealand tries to ban nutrasweet
Blog on Diet and Health: Wow- what a courageous blog. You really are what you eat. We can control our own well-being!
Farmer's Market Search: Eat fresh- no, not a bunch of pre-cut packaged vegetables and lunch meat on a sub roll, *really* fresh- find a farmer's market near you. God's medicine.
Gluten-free diet helps many diseases: an interview with an author about the benefits of eating gluten-free
Vitamins and lupus?: Blog
8 medical terms your doctors uses to insult: * contains bad words! shocking, insulting, and true.
The Patient's Bill of Rights: Did you know we had rights? Read and be empowered!
Carla on facebook: Like facebook? Add me to your profile.
Carla in concert: Here's a little demo video of me on youtube.
(Anti) Cancer Diet: Budwig diet, for creating an environment in your body (through diet) that is friendly to healthy cells and unfriendly to disease (cancer).
Great advice for lupus from Dr Weil: Doctor and author Andrew Weil dishes some great advice on dealing with your or a loved one's lupus.
Chet Atkins' Website
Seaside Naturals Cleaning Products: nontoxic cleaning and personal care products, makes for a healthier home and world. Invented by a woman with lupus.
The Cure Zone: Got an ailment? Look it up here and get educated instead of medicated. Lots of great natural cures for whatever ails you.
Famous Last Words: The last words of illustrious figures: presidents, actors, emperors, poets, artists.
Nutrasweet Controversy: Case of a woman whose debilitating health problems seem to be entirely caused by consuming aspartame (Nutrasweet).
Myasthenia Gravis Assoc. of Colorado: "Feelings I Keep to Myself" by Mark Flapan, PhD. A wonderful article about all the stuff that goes on emotionally when you develop a rare and/ or chronic illness.
Think Outside the Bottle: Tap water, bottled water- learn about it.
Consumers Union: Tips on staying safe in the hospital. Hospital error is the 4th leading cause of death in the US! Don't eb a statistic!
Hospice Regatttas: My Dad is involved in the Hospice regatta (sailboat races) every year at the local sailng club. They raise money for Hospice, which is an incredible place. Local hospices care for the dying with compassion and gracefully lead them toward the other side when it is time to go.
Dementia Radio: streaming radio programs of wacky songs. (nothing to do with actual dementia, the illness. This is an unofficial off-shoot of Dr. Demento).
50 spf clothing: how awesome is this? I discovered 50 spf shirts when I tooka surf lesson in hawaii! You don't have to hide from the sun all day if you're worried about melanoma or other skin conditions. I think I need the driving sleeve- at least for my left arm.
Natural remedies for Hair Loss: list of extracts and herbs to help regain your lovely locks.
Carol's Daughter Natural Makeup: No lead, no petroleum, no nasty stuff, just pretty makeup with shea butter and other natural healing ingredients.
The Spoon Theory: Best explanation I've seen about managing fatigue with a chronic illness.
Water Cure: drink water, feel better, prevent disease. it's that simple. (soda, alcohol and caffienated beverages do not count)
How Laughter Works: The How Stuff Works website.
World Laughter Tour: These folks have local chapters all over the world. You can always spot a member by their smile and shining face (and their laughter!).
Lupus Foundation of America: National Organization dedicated to educating patients and spreading awareness about lupus. Local chapters all over the US.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America: These are the folks you hear about on the TV commercials. They have sponsored and attended a number of AATh conventions, so they are serious about humor...
The singing patient's fave flix: My favorite movies- some funny, some sad, some action-packed (but not too gory or dark). I put the G-rated ones at the top (goes downhill from there) :-)
Gotham Writers Group: Hone your writing skills! Great classes, great teachers, reasonable prices, and you can take classes *online*.
Bravo's 100 Funniest Movies: Well, it's just one TV channel's opinion, but there are at least 20 good ideas for a great laugh on this list of 100. Start your own list on their site!
AFI's 100 funniest movies: Again, I haven't seen all these, and haven't found all the ones I have seen to be funny. But- good place to get started.
The Serious Comedy Website: Reviews and links to all the funny CDs, DVDs, Tv shows, books, articles, you can think of.
Journalist Discriminated Against for having Parkinson's: This is the very reason many folks hide their illnesses. I was fired from a stupid job for being sick, which in the end was blessing, but I probably could have sued them. I just didn't want to go down that path. this guy didn't either.
Life with Lupus: Online support community; patients helping patients
We Have Lupus: Chat Room: Sometimes when you're lonely or overwhelmed or can't sleep- or all of the above... it helps to "chat" with others who know exactly what you're going through.
Upright Citizens Brigade: Have fun and get your butt kicked in some comedy improv classes (or go see some shows). I took Comedy 101 here. Got my butt kicked. Had fun.
Everything But the Mime: My college booking agents. They only do colleges! Please e mail bookings@thesingingpatient.com about other events.
My secret Identity: All "superheroes" (and supervillains) have a secret identity. Well here's mine. Guess it's not so secret now.
Jest For the Health of It: Patty Wooten, RN and speaker, presents programs for nurses on humor.
People's Improv Theater: Another place to take comedy classes and get your butt kicked! This page is for the NYC location.
Joe G: Great songwriter and guitar player, both funny and poignant. And that is why he's my lovemuffin.,
Grant Livingston: A very fine human being, and a great South Florida-based songwriter. We spent many hours together in 2002 and 2003. After I had the strokes, he learned all my songs on guitar so I could sing them. Once I ran over his laptop with my van. And he is still my friend. I told you he was a fine human being.
Throwing Toasters: This comedy music "band" is the brainchild of my very funny pal Grant Baciocco. I have 2 dear friends named Grant. This Grant lives in Burbank, CA and his hair sticks straight up. I've stayed at his place, we've done ridiculous stuff on internet radio and done some shows together. Oh yeah and Waffle House.
Deirdre Flint: Another petite female funny songwriter, she's now part of the 4 bitchin' babes. We've done numerous shows together. She's very smart and funny.
guide to safe household cleaners
Enell Sports Bra: The bra Oprah loves because it holds those puppies in place while you work out.