Hello friends --It's BLACK FRIDAY. Have you been out shopping?? Do tell. I've never been able to handle those crowds. And by never I mean since MS  made a grand entrance into my life!  It's too much - too much movement, too much volume, too much anger! I envy those who can handle it and go get some great deals. Let me know what you did today - shopping or napping?? I think those are the choices on Black Friday, right??It's been a rather HUGE, MONUMENTOUS week at FUMS HQ (i.e., my home office). I'm going to take up a FEW of the 6-pack slots today just to toot my own horn! So - let's do it:

1. FUMS MERCH!!! Finally - after people have been asking literally for YEARS, I have my first blush attempt at an FUMS shop on the site. It's got FUMS logo's tshirts, sweatshirts, mugs, tote bags, socks and phone cases. I'm going to be adding more soon - but I'm so amazed that I got that much up!!  And just in time for the holidays. See what I did there?! Here's a link: FUMS Merch

2. The annual FUMS Holiday Gift Guide is up - with more than 50 gift ideas for MS'ers and those that love us. There are a number of new items in there so be sure to check it out. FUMS Holiday Gift Guide

3. I just published a new podcast this morning. It's a REALLY short (7 minute) message from me for the start of the holidays. You can listen from right here: Holiday Message from ME

4. Do you ever have trouble with words? Do you occasionally sound drunk - slurring your words even though you haven't touched a drop? It's got a name and it's not uncommon in our MS community. Read more here: Dysarthria

5. Bowel and bladder issues - especially urgency - is another common gift (read: pain in the ass - quite literally) of MS. Too often it hits when you're out and about and don't know where the hell a bathroom is, am I right?  Well - there's an app for that!! This is ingenious. Read more here: Flush.

6. Let's finish up strong with some exciting news in MS: Multiple sclerosis patients could get better quality of life through a new therapy. Sounds good, right? Read more here: Cellular Immunotherapy Treatments. 

So that's it for this week's 6-pack. Oh wait - I almost forgot. I'm opening up a wonderful bottle of wine this evening (Cooper & Thief) in celebration of surpassing the 20,000 downloads mark for The FUMS Podcast Show!  Those are big numbers I never thought my little podcast would ever see. It deserves a toast (or 7)! If you haven't given it a listen yet, maybe you should. After all, 20,000 people couldn't be wrong. Here's a link: The FUMS Podcast ShowI sure do LOVE hearing from FUMS'ers. I appreciate the kind messages, the helpful "here's where you could improve" and the "guess what I've been up to" messages! Just hit reply to this email and make my day - or meet me over in the FUMS Facebook community and let's chat!  Thanks.Cheers -- Kathy#FUMS 

Sometimes it helps the stress, just to say "F-U-M-S"