Midlife Mutations

oy vey!

2012-01-29T21:16:00.002-06:00

Since I last posted, I've seen an endocrinologist.

She changed me to Lantus and Novolog. It's working great, well, when I have a brain.

This morning in a fog, I took Lantus when I wasn't supposed to. It's my beddy-bye med :) I'm supposed to take Novolog in the morning. Call to the nurse and just had to adjust things today but the problem is I've been overeating all day because I was worried about going too low.

Tomorrow is another day.

Say it isn't so . . .

2012-01-11T10:38:00.002-06:00

This is a darn shame, 'cuz I don't know where my leaky snow boots are. :(

I was hoping to get through January without snow. Of course, then in February I would hope the same thing :)

Perhaps I should move to aruba!

Dogs think we're crazy

2012-01-09T23:45:00.002-06:00

My husband, at my daughter's suggestion, bought me one of the massage chair back thingees for Christmas. I finally got it out tonight. I'm working late trying to get a project finished and thought, hey, that will be nice. And it is nice.

However, this has the dog perplexed. He keeps walking over and staring at my back. You know, the whole head tilt thing. Cracks me up. He actually growled at it once.

I love that dog.

Sunday night

2012-01-08T19:58:00.001-06:00

Ready for another week. Ye-freakin-ha.

Went to Outback for dinner tonight. Underwhelmed, completely underwhelmed by the food.
Service was excellent, though.

Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone.

Aruban Sunset

2012-01-07T20:27:00.001-06:00

2012-01-07T20:18:00.003-06:00

I know everybody's working for the weekend, but weekends are lonely for me.

My own fault. I've lived in Champaign since 2001 and I still don't have any close friends my age. Consequently, no girlfriends to go out for girls night or to grab something to eat or to catch a movie.

The person I live with is down watching some damn show about a bomb disposal team in Afghanistan --- which I'm sure is interesting to somebody but not to me. The television is inoperable to me because the person downstairs has the cable remote.

I can officially say that typing a blog entry is a time killer. I can only check FB so many times or play Words with Friends or Hanging with Friends before I want to gouge my eyes out.

Then today, I find out that I get to spend tomorrow alone, too. "Oh, yeah, did I forget to tell you I have to work Sunday?"

I act like it matters --- we never spend time on the same floor of the condo at the same time anyway.

Pointless.

Humpity Hump Day is over :)

2012-01-04T23:41:00.002-06:00

I assumed new responsibilities at work. On one hand, NOT excited. On the other I like the challenge. Seems like more and more is getting put on me, but I still have a job.

Even though I work at home for people I have never seen, I take my responsibilities seriously.

I will be invoicing for clients now. My clients and other people's clients.

My clients I understand. Their clients I do not.

I also had a bad experience to day with a contractor. I wanted to strangle the person which makes working over the internet a positive. I'd hate to end up in jail. So, I passed the person and their problem on to one of my co-workers when that contractor basically called me stupid. I was too stupid to work with them, that's for sure.

Granddaughter starts back to school after the winter break. I know she'll be happy to get back into her routine. She loves school. I'm grateful that my daughter was smart enough to do what she thought was right and got her the help she needed so she could be successful at school and love it.

Humpity Hump Day

2012-01-04T08:17:00.003-06:00

I'm told old for this but I love this video:
http://youtu.be/KQ6zr6kCPj8
This video is a parody of the 2002 horror film 28 Days Later.
The wonderful choreography is by Quest Crew.

I also find this one amusing, though some my be offended :)
http://youtu.be/wyx6JDQCslE
The hunky one is Wilmer Valderrama who played Fez on That 70s show.

Check them out and see how deranged I am.

New Year has arrived

2012-01-03T22:04:00.001-06:00

As it does every year or so.

Already working hard on getting some health issues handled.

new glasses
saw a podiatrist, new med.
scheduled to see an endocrinologist
need to schedule to see an opthamologist
need to schedule to get a colonoscopy (oh, joy)
need to get a mammogram

So, well not that much done but some.

Diabetes is almost a full time job. And after all these years, I don't fully understand it. I've been on insulin for over a year now and still don't understand that either. I never know how much to give for particular blood sugar levels. One of the reasons my primary care wanted me to go to an endocrinologist was so that I could explore changing from NPH to Lantus. Apparently it's more 'modern'.

It is hard to get back into a better eating pattern. I want what I want when I want it. Like right now? I want a coke. Really badly, I want a coke. And there is nothing else sweet in the house, because I drank the last of the grape juice earlier today.

I find that when I do best with diabetes is when I have a good schedule. As soon as the little one goes back to school I'll try to do just that --- schedule.

Realizing how sad it is that I was the designated driver at a party I wasn't invited to

2012-01-01T13:57:00.003-06:00

I was really depressed and upset last night. I had no one to party with. Well, the dog, but then he's not much of a party animal.

I was in bed by 7:00. Husband woke me up to eat.

Eat, mess on the computer for a while.

Back to bed.

9:00

Neighbors start shooting off fireworks at 15 minute intervals.

Finally, drift back to sleep around 11:00.

12:30 the phone rings - - daughter and family need ride home from NYE party they attended.

Back up. Drive across town. Bring them home.

Try to go back to sleep again. It was probably 2:30 before I could fall asleep again.

Up at 9:00, when sister calls. Nice chat.

Sad when you can't find a party on NYE.

Old Christmas poems

2010-12-17T22:48:00.001-06:00

At the Mall

Oh my word do I feel small
When I find me at the mall.
Humanity adorned in sweaters and coats
People cursing, shoving at each other's throats.

Often I find that this I do;
Find a bench and look anew
At each one with an eye of love
Trying hard my prejudices to rise above.

Over there looking frazzled I see
A woman that reminds me of Mayberry's Aunt Bee.
With her is a precious tiny baby
Not hers but a grandchild maybe.

In all the rush I see her place
A tiny angel kiss on that cherub's face.
She holds the child with loving care
I can't help myself, but stare.

Over there a sad, sad man
Looking desperate for a working plan.
Lost in the sea of busy faces,
I wonder if he's given up races.

Races for things that we take for granted
Unable to reap the seeds of friendship planted.
Across the space I send him a smile
Just to counteract the shopping bile.

Walking right in front of me
Is a happy family of three.
No packages yet can I see
But mirthful laughter full of glee.

I notice from just where I'm sitting
Their eyes often meet and they are knitting
A bond that will get them through
A life that often has a nasty hue.

Next to me two men sit.
With my big rump it's tight, tight fit!
Their colognes mix with a wonderful smell.
A story I hear the taller one begin to tell:

"My mother called a while ago.
She wondered if I yet know
Whether to the family Christmas I'll come.
Her question made me feel so numb."

"Christmas is for love not hate
And I'd rather spend it with my mate.
Since you are not wanted
We will face that day undaunted."

"My family is now me and you.
Since we've been together my heart grew
To see the world as a loving place
Not as a dark, forbidding space."

Now I spy a woman crippled.
Looks to me life has her burdens tripled.
With a back that bends her almost double
You'd think her world would be full of trouble.

But, in my mind's eye I'm made to know
That this woman has an easy way to go.
Her face beams with twinkling eyes and smile.
I wish she would stop and talk with me a while.

The people rushing to and fro
Not careful of the other's toe
They push and shove and curse and gripe.
If I'm not careful I'll think this is all tripe.

Humanity is not a waste!
But just like spices it's hard to taste
The flavor of each when they all whirl together.
So burst a down pillow and watch just one or two feathers.

Notice the way each moves this way and that
Not clumped together but following a path.
Sometimes they touch each other on the way.
Sometimes they bump each other in play.

If I stop and look closely
With a heart that is full of love mostly,
The mall can be a wonderful place
When I abandon the nasty rat race.

Each shopper has their own story.
Each story has it's own glory,
That I listen with my eyes to find.
Oh God, just don't let my heart be blind!

My Good Friend, John

John, you are so odd.
You prepared the way for the divine.
Yet who prepared your way?
Who made your road straight?
Looks like no one to me.
Odd clothes, odd diet!
Why, we could have you committed
And dosed with very effective drugs
Were you running around my neighborhood today.

Your look, your talk it is illogical
And radical
Shhhhh,
John the Baptist they call you,
Dunking people in the water and telling them to repent
Telling them to start anew.
How dare you preach against the gubment.
They will bug your camel and check your library card
If you continue saying these things.

So, tell me, John the Baptist
Did you and your cousin sit around
And talk of Divine stuff
When kids you both were?
Were you never little boys?
Did you always know how your lives
Would end tragically
Yet, have such deep meaning for those of us
Who seek to find our own connection with divinity?

Pause

Whirling round and round and round and round
Toward the morning of the tree and the gifts
Our heads are pounding and pounding and pounding
Trying to get everything done perfectly

We must pause for a moment somewhere this week
And think of that child being born inside our hearts
That child that knows no social discriminations
That child that connects us with the world

We must pause for a moment somewhere this week
And love ourselves like a little child loves his parents
Think of ourselves as our own hero
Think of ourselves as wonderful

Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!

soft joy

It snowed today and it was quiet.

I sat on the couch bundled in an old wool army blanket
And watched the flakes free-falling from above.

Outside the birds and the squirrels dug through the snow
To find their buried treasure of seed and corn.

Off in the distance a rabbit watched.
He will come tonight while I sleep and the others are gone.
I will see his tracks tomorrow.

I hugged myself and I cried because
It snowed today and it was quiet

what do you see?

i feel an unceasing urge to walk.
the days are short and dreary
the nights, long and cold and lonely.
i feel pulled to journey forward
to examine the unresolved and overwhelming grief,
to acknowledge it and love it and let it go.
that done i feel the urge to travel.
in the distance of my mind i see a star-laden night sky
crisp and cold, yet inviting,
an outbuilding of rough-hewn timbers,
and spaces as big as my hand,
that the cold, bitter winter winds rush through.
as i draw nearer i can see that this building is occupied
by a strong, concerned man with worker's hands
and a young woman barely of age, looking knowingly and lovingly
at a child, wrapped in rags and laid in straw.
in the distance of my mind i can almost hear joyful, lively music.
i see other grievers looking toward this harsh haven
with longing and hope in their tear-filled eyes.
i look again and see simplicity
and i wonder what it is we are all trying to see
in that place that protects the dumb beasts from the chill.

The Bestest Gift
Christmas 2003

The bestest gift isn't under the tree or even wrapped
and the bestest gift cannot even be seen
because
the bestest gift is the gift you give yourself
by recognizing that part of you
which strives to be holy in a seemingly unholy world
and by recognizing that part of you
which loves that part of someone else
who wants to be holy in a seemingly unholy world,
and that gift will teach you not to look at or for the evil in another
but will ask you to celebrate their spirit.

A Brisk Winter Walk
Christmas 2003

A brisk winter walk to clear the mind
Walking past houses with garish twinkling lights
And inflated snowmen and wire reindeers
And wreaths made from man-made materials

A brisk, winter walk to clear the mind
Looking up at the bright constellations
Seeing the footprints left by a rabbit
Brushing back the low-hanging branch

A brisk winter walk to clear the mind
Thinking about the light that shines in dark places
And about the sheep left by shepherds
Looking for the root of Jesse.

Waiting

I wait
For the hope of a better world
To be reborn again this season

I wonder
If I quit waiting and just acted like it had
Would that rebirth begin to occur?

I could
Start by finding my own light
That might light the way for others.

I might
Be able to see the divine
In the weakest of creation.

I should
Name the injustices
Heaped on those who need.

I will
Be a part of the hope for a better world
That is reborn yet again this season.

Do Not Tiptoe
Do not tiptoe into Christmas day
Wake your soul!
Shout
Sing
Giggle
Stomp
Clap
Blow your horn
Snort
Laugh
Pray
Slap your thigh
Eat too much
Love more than you think possible
Trust
Remember
Think
Forgive
Seek
Cry, if you need
Dance
Give gifts
Hug
Kiss
Hold hands
Make funny faces
Mend a fence
Light candles
Tell stories
Tell knock-knock jokes
Who's there ?
Wayne Wayne who ?
Wayne in a manger... !

Who's there ?
Rudolph Rudolph who ?
Money is the Rudolph all evil !

Decorate cookies
Call an old friend
Look for peace
But whatever you do, let your soul LIVE!

Party

In the living room is a pile of wrapping paper and ribbon and boxes
And a cat enjoying a very early Christmas.
The cat doesn't enjoy the money we spend, just the trappings.

It's a party, I tell you, not a national holiday
It's a birthday party to celebrate the child's birth.

Just as the cat throws the bits of ribbon and wrapping in the air,
Let us throw our stodgy, old lives up
And capture them, in a new way, before they hit the ground.
Let's pitch out the guilt and misery.

And instead Celebrate, Celebrate and dance to our own music.

Invite Santa, invite trees and meaningful presents if you wish.
Invite eggnog, spiral-cut hams, good friends and family if you wish.
Invite sappy music, sleigh rides, and blinking lights if you wish.
Invite that child within waiting to be born and sing.

shine

from an infant this man grew
his love grew
his compassion grew
his wisdom grew

this man showed us our divine light

much brighter when we shine together

this man showed us how to shine our divine light
on the dark places
on the scarey places
on the lonely places
using our hands, our hearts, our minds

surely a star brightly did shine that night
shine

shine
shine
on that infant who would show us our own divine light

Christmas Terror

Terror alert set to high
No kidding!
Christmas brings terror to many.
Don't need the gubment to point that out.

Unrealistic expectations fed by media
Strike terror into the hearts of many.
Families torn apart by grief and hard feelings
With fake smiles over a dinner.

People with no hope of another Christmas
Striving to pack it all into one day.
People who spend Christmas alone
Fighting off overwhelming feelings of isolation.

The divine birth did not come to strike terror
But to shine a bright light
That all could see
And gather us all together like chicks to a mother hen.

Time passes . .

2010-02-22T00:00:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I've blogged.

Time passes, life goes on.

I am working from home, taking care of my grandchild and just being silly.

Still crazy

2010-01-22T01:15:00.001-06:00

after all these years.

2009-12-06T09:38:00.002-06:00

I'm reposting some poems I wrote in 2003. I hope you enjoy.

At the Mall

Oh my word do I feel small
When I find me at the mall.
Humanity adorned in sweaters and coats
People cursing, shoving at each other's throats.

Often I find that this I do;
Find a bench and look anew
At each one with an eye of love
Trying hard my prejudices to rise above.

Over there looking frazzled I see
A woman that reminds me of Mayberry's Aunt Bee.
With her is a precious tiny baby
Not hers but a grandchild maybe.

In all the rush I see her place
A tiny angel kiss on that cherub's face.
She holds the child with loving care
I can't help myself, but stare.

Over there a sad, sad man
Looking desperate for a working plan.
Lost in the sea of busy faces,
I wonder if he's given up races.

Races for things that we take for granted
Unable to reap the seeds of friendship planted.
Across the space I send him a smile
Just to counteract the shopping bile.

Walking right in front of me
Is a happy family of three.
No packages yet can I see
But mirthful laughter full of glee.

I notice from just where I'm sitting
Their eyes often meet and they are knitting
A bond that will get them through
A life that often has a nasty hue.

Next to me two men sit.
With my big rump it's tight, tight fit!
Their colognes mix with a wonderful smell.
A story I hear the taller one begin to tell:

"My mother called a while ago.
She wondered if I yet know
Whether to the family Christmas I'll come.
Her question made me feel so numb."

"Christmas is for love not hate
And I'd rather spend it with my mate.
Since you are not wanted
We will face that day undaunted."

"My family is now me and you.
Since we've been together my heart grew
To see the world as a loving place
Not as a dark, forbidding space."

Now I spy a woman crippled.
Looks to me life has her burdens tripled.
With a back that bends her almost double
You'd think her world would be full of trouble.

But, in my mind's eye I'm made to know
That this woman has an easy way to go.
Her face beams with twinkling eyes and smile.
I wish she would stop and talk with me a while.

The people rushing to and fro
Not careful of the other's toe
They push and shove and curse and gripe.
If I'm not careful I'll think this is all tripe.

Humanity is not a waste!
But just like spices it's hard to taste
The flavor of each when they all whirl together.
So burst a down pillow and watch just one or two feathers.

Notice the way each moves this way and that
Not clumped together but following a path.
Sometimes they touch each other on the way.
Sometimes they bump each other in play.

If I stop and look closely
With a heart that is full of love mostly,
The mall can be a wonderful place
When I abandon the nasty rat race.

Each shopper has their own story.
Each story has it's own glory,
That I listen with my eyes to find.
Oh God, just don't let my heart be blind!

My Good Friend, John

John, you are so odd.
You prepared the way for the divine.
Yet who prepared your way?
Who made your road straight?
Looks like no one to me.
Odd clothes, odd diet!
Why, we could have you committed
And dosed with very effective drugs
Were you running around my neighborhood today.

Your look, your talk it is illogical
And radical
Shhhhh,
John the Baptist they call you,
Dunking people in the water and telling them to repent
Telling them to start anew.
How dare you preach against the gubment.
They will bug your camel and check your library card
If you continue saying these things.

So, tell me, John the Baptist
Did you and your cousin sit around
And talk of Divine stuff
When kids you both were?
Were you never little boys?
Did you always know how your lives
Would end tragically
Yet, have such deep meaning for those of us
Who seek to find our own connection with divinity?

Pause

Whirling round and round and round and round
Toward the morning of the tree and the gifts
Our heads are pounding and pounding and pounding
Trying to get everything done perfectly

We must pause for a moment somewhere this week
And think of that child being born inside our hearts
That child that knows no social discriminations
That child that connects us with the world

We must pause for a moment somewhere this week
And love ourselves like a little child loves his parents
Think of ourselves as our own hero
Think of ourselves as wonderful

Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!

soft joy

It snowed today and it was quiet.

I sat on the couch bundled in an old wool army blanket
And watched the flakes free-falling from above.

Outside the birds and the squirrels dug through the snow
To find their buried treasure of seed and corn.

Off in the distance a rabbit watched.
He will come tonight while I sleep and the others are gone.
I will see his tracks tomorrow.

I hugged myself and I cried because
It snowed today and it was quiet

what do you see?

i feel an unceasing urge to walk.
the days are short and dreary
the nights, long and cold and lonely.
i feel pulled to journey forward
to examine the unresolved and overwhelming grief,
to acknowledge it and love it and let it go.
that done i feel the urge to travel.
in the distance of my mind i see a star-laden night sky
crisp and cold, yet inviting,
an outbuilding of rough-hewn timbers,
and spaces as big as my hand,
that the cold, bitter winter winds rush through.
as i draw nearer i can see that this building is occupied
by a strong, concerned man with worker's hands
and a young woman barely of age, looking knowingly and lovingly
at a child, wrapped in rags and laid in straw.
in the distance of my mind i can almost hear joyful, lively music.
i see other grievers looking toward this harsh haven
with longing and hope in their tear-filled eyes.
i look again and see simplicity
and i wonder what it is we are all trying to see
in that place that protects the dumb beasts from the chill.

The Bestest Gift
Christmas 2003

The bestest gift isn't under the tree or even wrapped
and the bestest gift cannot even be seen
because
the bestest gift is the gift you give yourself
by recognizing that part of you
which strives to be holy in a seemingly unholy world
and by recognizing that part of you
which loves that part of someone else
who wants to be holy in a seemingly unholy world,
and that gift will teach you not to look at or for the evil in another
but will ask you to celebrate their spirit.

A Brisk Winter Walk
Christmas 2003

A brisk winter walk to clear the mind
Walking past houses with garish twinkling lights
And inflated snowmen and wire reindeers
And wreaths made from man-made materials

A brisk, winter walk to clear the mind
Looking up at the bright constellations
Seeing the footprints left by a rabbit
Brushing back the low-hanging branch

A brisk winter walk to clear the mind
Thinking about the light that shines in dark places
And about the sheep left by shepherds
Looking for the root of Jesse.

Waiting

I wait
For the hope of a better world
To be reborn again this season

I wonder
If I quit waiting and just acted like it had
Would that rebirth begin to occur?

I could
Start by finding my own light
That might light the way for others.

I might
Be able to see the divine
In the weakest of creation.

I should
Name the injustices
Heaped on those who need.

I will
Be a part of the hope for a better world
That is reborn yet again this season.

Do Not Tiptoe
Do not tiptoe into Christmas day
Wake your soul!
Shout
Sing
Giggle
Stomp
Clap
Blow your horn
Snort
Laugh
Pray
Slap your thigh
Eat too much
Love more than you think possible
Trust
Remember
Think
Forgive
Seek
Cry, if you need
Dance
Give gifts
Hug
Kiss
Hold hands
Make funny faces
Mend a fence
Light candles
Tell stories
Tell knock-knock jokes
Who's there ?
Wayne Wayne who ?
Wayne in a manger... !

Who's there ?
Rudolph Rudolph who ?
Money is the Rudolph all evil !

Decorate cookies
Call an old friend
Look for peace
But whatever you do, let your soul LIVE!

Party

In the living room is a pile of wrapping paper and ribbon and boxes
And a cat enjoying a very early Christmas.
The cat doesn't enjoy the money we spend, just the trappings.

It's a party, I tell you, not a national holiday
It's a birthday party to celebrate the child's birth.

Just as the cat throws the bits of ribbon and wrapping in the air,
Let us throw our stodgy, old lives up
And capture them, in a new way, before they hit the ground.
Let's pitch out the guilt and misery.

And instead Celebrate, Celebrate and dance to our own music.

Invite Santa, invite trees and meaningful presents if you wish.
Invite eggnog, spiral-cut hams, good friends and family if you wish.
Invite sappy music, sleigh rides, and blinking lights if you wish.
Invite that child within waiting to be born and sing.

shine

from an infant this man grew
his love grew
his compassion grew
his wisdom grew

this man showed us our divine light

much brighter when we shine together

this man showed us how to shine our divine light
on the dark places
on the scarey places
on the lonely places
using our hands, our hearts, our minds

surely a star brightly did shine that night
shine

shine
shine
on that infant who would show us our own divine light

Christmas Terror

Terror alert set to high
No kidding!
Christmas brings terror to many.
Don't need the gubment to point that out.

Unrealistic expectations fed by media
Strike terror into the hearts of many.
Families torn apart by grief and hard feelings
With fake smiles over a dinner.

People with no hope of another Christmas
Striving to pack it all into one day.
People who spend Christmas alone
Fighting off overwhelming feelings of isolation.

The divine birth did not come to strike terror
But to shine a bright light
That all could see
And gather us all together like chicks to a mother hen.

Stress kills

2009-09-29T15:53:00.002-05:00

Why am I so stressed all the time?

I know I do it to myself. I know it's my fault.

The word 'balance' has been playing with me for the last few days. There is no balance in my life.

No balance between fast and slow.

No balance between empty and full.

No balance between what I need and what you need.

No balance between what I want and what you want.

No balance between rest and work or play.

Is that enough?

I find myself doing for others but not doing for myself. I stuff food in my mouth and call that doing for myself. I go get a coke as a treat for hard work. Others can ask me to do things but I find it difficult to ask for myself or at least get mad if I did ask and it doesn't happen.

I find myself not even really having enough time to sit down and manage my diabetes. I'd been off my oral medications for a few weeks because I wouldn't take the time to reload my pill minder. I'd been off my insulin for a few days because I was 'busy'.

Stupid.

Getting off the insulin is deadly but the really stupid med to quit taking is my anti-depressant. I do much better when I'm on it in so many ways. I don't get down so easy and it curbs my appetite which then helps with everything else.

So, this lapse hasn't been as long as the others were and I only gained a few pounds and it will just take me a few days to get my sugars back down because they really aren't that high.

BUT I WANT A F'ING COKE.

remembering

2009-09-29T12:39:00.000-05:00

Zona Garrigus

September 03, 1956 - September 29, 2008

Zona Garrigus

Zona Rae Garrigus, 52, of Terre Haute, passed away September 29, 2008 following a car accident.

She was born September 3, 1956 in Brazil the daughter of Lowell and Carolyn Cooper Garrigus.

Zona graduated from Brazil High School with the class of 1975 and then Indiana State University in 1979 with a degree in Graphic Arts. During high school she participated on the volleyball, basketball and softball teams. She also participated on the softball team at ISU until retiring due to a knee injury. She worked for Machine Tool Service as a draftswoman and most recently in the Engineering Department for Duke Energy for more than 20 years. She will forever be remembered as a kind and loving person with a great since of humor who loved animals and was a wonderful aunt. She enjoyed watching movies, listening to music and playing sports.

She was preceded in death by her father in law William Ritter; grandparents Frank and Irene Cooper and Mildred and Eugene Garrigus.

Survivors include her partner Sara Ritter; parents Lowell and Carolyn Cooper; mother-in-law Mary Lou Ritter; sisters Marla Norris and husband Gary of Terre Haute and Felicia Face and husband Ronnie of Clarksville, TN; brothers and sister-in-law John and Jeanine Ritter of Wichita, Kansas, Stefan and Muffy Ritter of Decatur, Georgia and Mary Beth Walter and husband Ken of East Hartford, Connecticut; as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family members including Megan, Preston and Logan Face and Griffin Norris.

I don't find gall bladders amusing

2009-09-21T16:33:00.002-05:00

On Friday, I got a somewhat panicked call from my daughter, saying she hadn't slept and was in excrutiating pain. She had me call the doctor and we went in when the office opened.

The doctor thought it was gall bladder and ordered a sonogram. She was right. There were gallstones. From there, we proceeded straight to the surgeon.

I have NEVER, EVER had a doctor so thoroughly explain a procedure. In fact, he went into such depth, my eyes were glazing over.

I imagine she will have the procedure at the end of this week.

How dare he . . .

2009-09-09T09:11:00.002-05:00

How dare Obama speak to the children of this nation about the importance of education. How dare he?

How dare Obama try to get health care covered for everyone. How dare he?

How dare Obama try to be a consensus building president rather than try to ram things down people's throats. How dare he?

How dare he?

Chilly had a play date

2009-09-05T16:53:00.004-05:00

Chilly had a play date with his new friend Ellie. He had a great time, got lots of exercise and some lovin'.

He came home and crashed!!!

Of grandchildren and dogs . . .

2009-09-04T06:48:00.002-05:00

Things that have happened lately

2009-09-02T19:29:00.002-05:00

----granddaughter thinks my bedroom walls are canvas. I really should take a pic and post it.

----still working on training the dog. He sits, he lays, he stays ANDS POOPS in the house!!!

----still working. Some days it's a lot of hours some days not so much.

----granddaughter is back in preschool and loving it. She is going 5 mornings a week now.

That really is about all I know.

Things that make you go woo-woo

2009-08-23T11:21:00.003-05:00

Not really.

Just checking in with my faithful blog readers, both of you :)

Late July, I got myself a puppy at the Terre Haute Humane Society. He's a little chihuahua mix. He's very sweet and very rambunctious.

It's been a little bit of an adjustment for the granddaughter. She's got some jealousy stuff going on. She wants to play but she gets him so riled up that he inevitably ends up scratching her or nipping her and then she of course screams which escalates it MORE!

The cat at first was standoffish but now they play/fight continually. I noticed this morning the dog has many bite marks and scratch marks on his tender little puppy flesh. I'll have to remember to trim nails often.

Potty training is hard! But we are working hard at it. I'd like to have it accomplished before winter.

He walks with me some times but I've decided I need to do leash training outside the confines of my walks. I'm walking for my health and stopping continually doesn't cut it.

Hubby, granddaughter and I traveled to Indianpolis yesterday to have lunch with our son and his wife. She fixed a really nice turkey meatloaf and roasted veggies. I was impressed.

We also delivered their Christmas present. Yes, we know it's August, but they needed it now. We got them a new computer. It was a Lenovo. The same one I bought myself in July.

* Model Number: Lenovo K220-K3644-53581FU
* CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200
* Memory: 4GB DDR3-1066 SDRAM
* Video: Integrated Intel X4500, DirectX 10 supported
* Hard Drive: 500GB, SATA II
* Optical Drive: 16X DVDRW DL w/ 12X DVD-RAM Drive
* Card Reader: 16-in-1 Card Reader. MD, CFI/II, xD, MS Pro/Duo/Pro Duo, SD, SDHC, Mini SD, Mini SDHC, MMC
* Network: 10/100 ethernet connection
* Accessories: Keyboard and Optical Mouse included
* Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit w/ SP1
* Warranty: 1 year limited warranty

Other than that my, uh, part time job is keeping me really busy.

Peace to you and yours.

Tomorrow

2009-08-21T14:20:00.001-05:00

We are headed to Indianpolis, to see our son and his wife. We'll have the munchkin with us. Daughter-in-law is planning to fix lunch for us and I can't wait. I've never eaten anything she made that I didn't love.

We have a surprise for them, but she reads here so I'll share it after the fact.

Interesting

2009-08-21T14:19:00.001-05:00

We are about to get it..... duck!

2009-08-19T16:39:00.000-05:00

Food for thought

2009-08-19T16:31:00.001-05:00

not always in person but in spirit.

I'd like to share a poem with you that I heard at the funeral of Dr. Paul Siebenmorgen.

THE BRIDGE BUILDER

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim-
That sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when he reached the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,
"You are wasting strength in building here.
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way.
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head.
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

-WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE

Still here

2009-08-03T09:19:00.001-05:00

... snowed under with life.

I've started a work at home, part-time job and what was supposed to be 3 hours a day is so far 8-10 hours most days. Trying to do that and keep the granddaughter has been difficult and there have been a lot of wee hours of the morning going on.

It should start getting less now that I've got a handle on what I'm doing.

Good news, NO GREAT NEWS!!!

2009-07-22T21:31:00.002-05:00

I got my lab results back today from last week and boy was I happy. In fact I was so happy, I cried. My numbers with the exception of my HDL were phenomenal. I was stunned by the HGA1c. I knew it would be down but I expect 8 or 8.5 not 6.5. What I am doing is working and no one is more surprised that I am.
I called the nurse and she was so nice and so happy for me. She said I was their star-patient. She kept me going, she was my cheerleader and I have her to thank for keeping me motivated.

I got the bolded results today. The next column is what they were on April 30th and the last is what the ADA recommends.

Total Cholesterol 144 April 241 (should be below 200)
TriGlycerides 89 April 355 (Should be below 140)
HDL 36 April 33 (Should be above 50)
LDL 90 April 137 (should be below 100)

HgA1c 6.5 April 11.5 (should be below 7)

	FAST		*2 PM*		*8 PM*
Thur July 16	83	55 N	*105*	0	69	26 N
Fri July 17	78	55 N	88	0	84	26 N
Sat July 18	79	55 N	*155*	12 R	*109*	26 N
Sun July 19	92	55 N	NT	0	*128*	26 N
Mon July 20	88	55 N	*110*	0	90	26 N
Tues July 21	88	55 N	*101*	0	*107*	26 N
Wed July 22	78	55 N	*144*	8	62	26 N

Granddaughter quote

2009-07-21T10:58:00.000-05:00

"I don't like to kill pigs and just eat them."

Doing God's work!

2009-07-17T09:16:00.002-05:00

Learn more about Cat Snap here. For the last few years, I've had the privilege and fun of watching cats come in and out of my neighbors garage as she volunteers her time, energy and resources to this organization. They have the cutest kittens for adoption and today they saved to wonderful beagles from be euthanized.

Can you help out with your time, resources or money?

Nurses and labs and . . .

2009-07-16T10:44:00.003-05:00

I took my blood sugar readings in to the nurse today and had blood drawn for A1C and a lipid profile. The nurse was really please and we didn't change any dosages today. So now I get to wait 2 weeks to bring in my blood numbers.

When I go in next time, she will set me up at the sports clinic to have my shoulder evaluated.
Late summer last year I started having trouble with . . . pain, limited range of motion . . . I kept thinking that it would get better, but it really hasn't. The worst part of it is not being able to fasten my bra in the back. I haven't had it evaluated before now because I knew that if I had to have surgery, like if it was a torn rotator cuff, they wouldn't do it without my blood sugars being in line.

	FAST	2 PM	8 PM
Thur July 9	88	89	115
Frid July 10	74	110	79
Sat July 11	79	134	100
Sun July 12	86	109	118
Mon July 13	95	118	135
Tues July 14	66	107	117
Wed July 15	109	144	97
Thur July 16	83

Observation

2009-07-15T14:20:00.003-05:00

It takes less time to get your blood sugar numbers out of kilter than it does to get them back in line. I had a few (too many) calories at bedtime last night and I STILL can't get my numbers back in line.

This is irritating.

Finally

2009-07-12T21:50:00.004-05:00

I am so grateful that I have finally been able to bring my blood glucose number down to a reasonable, acceptable range. I've been working with my doctor's nurse since the 29 of April to get these numbers. Every week she has put up with me coming in with my numbers and actually taken the time to see me for a few and go over my numbers and adjust my insulin. She has been my pep team, for sure. In the process of getting diabetes whipped into shape, there is no substitute for a great medical team.

Along with the insulin, I've been getting more exercise. Most days I have been walking for 45 minutes at least one time and some times, two times a day. Recently, my husband and I have been riding bikes together (He got a new Jamis Commuter 3). I am so out of shape and it is difficult for me at times, but today we rode over 4 miles. I was so proud.

The chart below shows my fasting blood sugar, my 2 p.m. (2 hours after lunch) and my bedtime number. My Tuesday and Saturday 2 p.m. numbers are higher than I want them but far below what they were when I started in April, which was 315.

Mon July 6	71	84	106
Tues July 7	73	140	118
Wed July 8	87	110	127
Thur July 9	88	89	115
Frid July 10	74	110	79
Sat June 11	79	134	100
Sun June 12	86	109	118

Working

2009-07-10T13:11:00.002-05:00

I'm loving my new job. What else can I say.

I have a nice boss. The work is challenging (at least it is right now).

I've kind of worked out what do with my granddaughter.

Employment

2009-07-07T10:39:00.003-05:00

After several years of not being employed at all, I've picked up a part-time, at home job. It will be
quite challenging for several reasons.

The first thing is that it involves a lot of proofreading of grammar and spelling, etc. as well as correct formatting for the situation. The manual has 44 pages. OY VEY.

The other challenge is time management. I have granddaughter most days all days and I suspect there are going to be times that I just have to give in to parking her in front of the TV, especially for the next several weeks. She'll get over it and I'll try to pick the best possible programs.

Another issue is that as far as time management, I'm used to doing what I want to do when I want to do it. As I learn the job better, I will be able to pick my hours, but for now I have to kind of work when my Pacific Coast boss is around.

Wish me luck.

Talking about great service

2009-07-06T17:47:00.003-05:00

Today, Daughter and I went to have a manicure and a pedicure. Daughter didn't want to go to Wal Mart well, because it's Wal Mart so we hunted around and came across Anna's Nail Salon at 905 S. Neil St.

We were MORE than pleasantly surprised by our visit.

The chairs were very comfortable and gave a back massage almost as good as a human. The Trans, who own the place, were courteous and friendly and did a great job. The salon was very clean and pleasantly lit. The cost was competitive.

I don't have any stake in the place but if you feel the need to get a manicure or pedicure, give them a try. They are open Monday-Saturday, 10 am - 7 pm and the number is 355-6135.

Thursday Report

2009-07-02T10:26:00.001-05:00

Every Thursday, I communicate with the nurse at my doctor's office. Usually, I just run by and she makes time to see me. Today, I just faxed my weeks worth of blood sugar results in. She'll probably call me later today or tomorrow.

I can't quite seem to get my numbers down where they should be. Like this morning... just because I was up until 2 a.m. making that doggone-good Sundae Cake, which of course included licking the beaters, bowls and assorted spoons, should have caused a fasting blood sugar of 115 or...should it.

I am walking 30 minutes most days and really enjoying it. I put my headphones on an take off and I love it. If something interferes with my walk, it irks me... really it irks me.

Anyway, here is my record for the last week. Friday was really stressful for a couple of reasons and we had a huge meal for dinner (I knew better). Sunday's evening meal was also too much.

Self control...self control.... self control... my new mantra.

	FBS	2P	8P
Thursday	96	172	102
Friday	100	202	198
Saturday	124	88	124
Sunday	102	181	206
Monday	117	180	138
Tuesday	106	194	134
Wednesday	105	139	105

I actually baked!!

2009-07-02T10:01:00.004-05:00

I never, ever, have considered myself a baker or a cook for that matter. I get by but just barely.
I can screw up the simplest thing.

Recently, I found a blog, The Good, The Bad, ok mostly bad.. that I adore and through that I found a cooking blog that has recipes that appeal to me and that I feel like I can actually attempt. The Southern Plate is the best cooking blog I've seen, not that I've seen that many.

For a week or so, I've been wanting to make her Sundae Cake and last night I stayed up late and made it so that my husband could take it to work this morning. (I kept out three pieces...one for me, one for my daughter and one for my granddaughter.) My husband WHO IS A COOK, is never effusive in his praise of anything I cook but evidently his co-workers have been sending him emails asking for the recipe. He forwarded me an email that said: I’m not a big choc cake fan (generally too dry for me), but that tastes goooood…like there’s pudding in the mix or something….had a little bite…good stuff, thanks!!

So, I'm feeling pretty puffed up today. I'm a success. The ingredients are cheap and simple... a boxed chocolate cake mix, cool whip (I used lite), chocolate syrup, nuts and cherries. This is a great 4th of July recipe for those family and friend potlucks and cookouts.

My next cooking foray will be her Crock Pot Chicken And Dressing.

Weekends that refresh

2009-06-29T09:51:00.006-05:00

What started out as a trip to St. Louis for a Cardinals ballgame became a shopping trip to Indianapolis.

Friday night we arrived in Indianapolis and checked into Fairfield Inn. Our room was nice and the beds very comfortable. Although there was a pool we never got around to getting into it.

Our son and his wife met us for dinner at Abuelo's. The food was very tasty and I would recommend it to anyone. We started our meal with Abuelo's Dip Sampler. Two of the three dips were cheese dips and they were a little better than average but the Avocado Cream Dip was to die for. The portions were large and the service was excellent.

After dinner we gave them our Cardinals tickets and a little bit of green stuff as an early birthday present for our son.

The next morning we headed out on our quest to spend money to stimulate the economy. Our first stop was Bicycle Garage, Indy which wasn't open yet.

So, we decided to head up to Fry's in Fishers and check out computer. Mine is beginning to show its age and is a pain some times. We found a Lenovo that will work just fine for my purposes.

Back to BGI where hubby looked for a bike he is interested in, the Jamis Commuter 3. They didn't have what he was looking for. While I was there, I started feeling like I was low (blood sugar) and I was. I ingested 3 of those hideous tablets and started feeling better.

Lunch was next on the agenda. Our daughter had recommended Joe's Crab Shack on a lake.
We were so glad we chose this for lunch. We had the Classic Steam Pot for 2, which included crab, shrimp, sausage (delicious), corn and potatoes. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the experience. An added bonus was this lunch didn't drive my blood sugars up.

Onward to the next bike shop, ICS. We really enjoyed looking in this shop. The people were appropriately helpful and it was just pleasant. However, they did not have what hubby was looking for.

Alas and alack, I believe he will be order his bike from Bicyle Bananas in Reno, NV. They have what he wants at a good price.

We headed home late Saturday, fully intending to meet our daughter and family in Arcola for the fireworks show. Given what happened, I'm glad we begged off.

Sunday morning, I fell out of bed and went to church, heard a wonderful sermon, sang uplifting songs and had my soul renewed. Pastor Brad preached a sermon meant just for me.

After church, daughter, granddaughter, hubby and I made a journey to Clinton Lake and made use of their wonderful beach. Granddaughter and I had a wonderful time playing Super Duck be chased by Evil Shark. (I was the evil shark.)

The day ended with dinner at Rainbow Garden in Champaign where son-in-law joined us.

Quack

2009-06-24T09:27:00.003-05:00

Hubby leaves for Chicago for 3 days.

It's quiet.

I settle into the recliner. Surf the channels. Nothing much on.

Check out Pay-for View. Ah, Gran Torino. Nothing like Eastwood.

Noise outside. Ignore. Man, that crow is loud. Movie gets interesting.

Noise. That almost sounds like a duck. Continue watching.

Noise continues. Sounds like it's right under the window.

Pause the action.

Walk to the back door.

Open back door and almost step on a baby duck.

Mother duck hissing. Lots of baby ducks.

Try to remember where the camera is. Ah, the daughter has it.

Grab phone with camera. Go out front door. Walk around behind the house.

Hostas contain mother duck and eight little ducklings.

Mother leaves yard and crosses cul-de-sac.

I follow.

Mother and her babes wind through yards staying close to houses.

I follow at a distance.

Realize she is taking the ducklings to lake across major road.

I stop traffic in both directions.

Mother and ducklings cross and disappear into corn field on their way to the lake.

I get Hi-5's from the motorist in both directions.

I am amazed.

And grateful.

Thank God for my mother who taught me to appreciate wildlife.

Walk home.

Finish watching Gran Torino.

Good movie. Moral: There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Great afternoon.

Plugging away

2009-06-11T14:10:00.003-05:00

I continue to plug away at getting my diabetes under control.

I went in and talked to the nurse today and we further tweaked my dosages and set some goals.
My fasting blood sugar for the last week averages 100. While that is much better than it's been for a long, long time, it still needs to be a little lower.

My mid afternoon and pre-bedtime numbers are still out of whack by a larger margin, though I've had some days in range.

Yesterday I added up what all my meds and supplies were gonna cost me a month and it is at least $200 bux (with insurance, even). I am looking for ways to cut down on this.

Anyway, I am more hopeful than I've been in a long time.

Ah, hurry up would you!

2009-06-01T14:25:00.002-05:00

Twice this weekend, I had the privilege of coming to a full stop and waiting for a gaggle of geese to cross the road. The first time was Saturday morning near Culver's on S. Neil. I believe there were close to 50 of them and they took their sweet time crossing.

Yesterday, we got to wait on West Springfield just past Prairie Gardens. It was a smaller group but they were taking their time also until a car swerved around them. They can move a little faster when motivated.

A couple of years ago, while walking the trail across Robeson Park, I was shocked to see a mother duck and her ducklings in front me crossing the bridge. The board bridge is barely above water level so each duck had to hop up on to the bridge and then hop off at the other side. The mother duck stood between us with a menacing look on her face. There were eight and I felt like God had given me that show just to lift my spirits.

I don't really want them to hurry up. I want to slow down.

Laughing

2009-05-28T09:54:00.002-05:00

Since granddaughter is here all the time, I've become well-acquainted with Sponge Bob, Little Bill, The Backyardagains and The Wonder Pets.

The Wonder Pets are three pre-school class room pets---Tuck, the turtle, Ming Ming the duckling, and the leader Lennie, a guinea pig. The music is wonderful and the 2 segments are generally amusing. When school is out, they generally get a call on their tin can phone and they are off saving animals in distress.

I'm not watching but listening to day when I realize their quest today is to save Polly, a pirate's parrot. The pirate is missing and Polly wants a .....

This is serious.

Ends and Odds

2009-05-25T15:48:00.003-05:00

Sorry to have been so absent. I've had to use my emotional energy for myself for a couple of weeks and so I haven't felt like writing.

First update: I started on insulin on April 29. It's working. We're still tweaking it but my blood sugar numbers have come down remarkably. Below are the averages for last week, and the week before. Sometimes day to day it's difficult to really see how remarkable the progress is but when you start charting and graphing and Exceling, it's easier grasp.

Week One Week Two
FBS 125 FBS 114

2 p.m. 244 2 p.m. 199

8 p.m. 184 8 p.m. 165

In addition, four nights last week, I had real honest to goodness lows. I'm type 2 Diabetic so I've always had high numbers. The first time it happened, I was shocked. That's all straightened out now but I was thrilled because up until that time, I really had no hope that I might EVER be healthy again.

2nd update:

Granddaughter had her dance recital last week. She was so cute and did well. She did tap to Zippety Doodah. This dance thing has been a struggle with her this year trying to get her to concentrate in class but she made it.

The recital itself was MUCH better than I anticipated. I really enjoyed myself, although it was way too long and she was in the 3rd Act.

3rd Update: I've learned that my Uncle George has a tumor in his liver which is evidently untreatable. I ask you to send out positive energy to him and his wife Pat as he makes that final journey.

I have some things to look forward to... soon I will be going to visit my sister in Arkansas. She just bought a house and I'm anxious to see it. In addition, I am excited about taking granddaughter on the SS BADGER across Lake Michigan and going for a few days to Green Bay or the Dells.

When I feel stupid, I cry

2009-05-17T15:19:00.002-05:00

I just spent 25 minutes trying to get the fluorescent light bulb out of my aquarium top. My guppies have been 2 days without light. I think their tans will fade, soon. When I saw this was not going to happen, I cried.

The other day, I desperately wanted/needed to print something to take the nurse who is working with me on my insulin. It would not print. So, I put the document on a thumb drive and I went to Kinko's, to find that they weren't interested (though there was not another customer in the store) in helping me get it printed either. So, I cried. (The next morning, it miraculously printed)

There are many things like this that happen and I just cry. I should have been a rocket scientist.

Greetings and salutations (random notes)

2009-05-12T09:54:00.001-05:00

I'm still here :) Over the past few weeks I've been struggling, first with insulin, then with Strep and then more with the insulin.

Everything is fine and I'm feeling great, now.

We are still working on the correct insulin dosage.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day--two nice cards from my kiddos. The day was spent at Allerton with hubby and granddaughter. We had a nice long walk from the visitor's center to the Indian. While relaxing at the foot of statue and group of students from UI were playing their string instruments. I took granddaughter down and one of them let her play their violin--very, very cool.

I've been enjoying getting outside in the afternoon with the granddaughter. She can find more things on the lawn than I ever knew existed.

Up and at 'em

2009-05-07T09:52:00.002-05:00

I am feeling much better today.

The strep throat knocked me for a loop last week, combined with starting on insulin on Wednesday. I've not felt good emotionally or physically.

I was too sick on Saturday to attend my granddaughter's birthday party. That made me really sad.

I am still working with the nurse and doctor on the insulin dosages.

I'm sick as a dog not a hog!

2009-04-28T14:14:00.002-05:00

I spent the night relieving my stomach of it's contents. That lemon cupcake wasn't so great coming back up.

This morning, I woke up to more nausea and a groovy headache. This is not fun.

Yet, I think it's just nerves.

I finally went back to the doctor yesterday, not the crappy doctor but the good one. The nurse that I love there seems to be back and we had a good talk. I wish I'd listened to her a year ago when she suggested insulin.

Anyway to make a long story short, I'm starting on insulin tomorrow. I'm tired of messing with medications that make me sick.

It was so nice talking to a doctor and a nurse that actually listened to what I had to say.

Usurped again, naturally.

2009-04-22T19:14:00.002-05:00

How come I can never have a problem, a worry, an illness that is not usurped by someone else's problem, worry or illness?

I'm going through something, that to me is pretty bad and pretty upsetting but I can't get any support because other people are naturally going through a bigger problem worry and/or illness at the present time.

I might as well keep it to myself, but you, my readers are going to read my whine.

I honestly sought to tell somebody about something that is going on with me and I barely had the first sentence out of my mouth before I was told that they were going through something much worse.

I want to be supportive. I really do. But shouldn't that be a two-way street? Shouldn't it?
Why should I care about their shit, when they totally ignore mine?

I guess I can just sit here and cry for a while.

Short word of wisdom

2009-04-20T14:46:00.004-05:00

Don't ever buy one of those small, plastic kids aquariums. You aren't doing yourself a favor. You aren't doing your kids a favor. You aren't doing the fish a favor.

I would not know this had I not just spent about a month trying to get one up and going. I finally gave up. It just isn't big enough to have tropical fish in. They really shouldn't be sold.

Now you are that much wiser.

Don't know whether to laugh or cry

2009-04-17T11:22:00.003-05:00

I did a google for liberal organizations and the 2nd entry was hysterical on one level and sad on another.

The site is called Conservapedia and on it's logo it says: The Trustworthy Encyclopedia. The very first thing on the page is their definition of liberal: A liberal is someone who rejects logical and biblical standards, often for self-centered reasons. There are no coherent liberal standards; often a liberal is merely someone who craves attention, and who uses many words to say nothing.

I could go on and on about this but it would be more fun for you to look at the page.

They give a list of things liberals support and among my favorites are:Environmentalism, Disarmament treaties, support of labor unions, and my personal favorite, insisting that men and women have the same access to jobs in the military.

My husband continually asks me why I read such things. I think it is important to know what others are thinking and WHERE their information is coming from.

I watched Janeane Garofalo on Countdown with Keith Olbermann last night. I found myself really upset by her rhetoric, even though we largely agree. The way she was talking about the tea part protestors was at the very least disturbing. Although, I am inclined to give Obama a chance with his program and fully support him, I understand people who don't want to see more government. I think they mainly don't understand but I think they want what in their minds is best for the country. Liberals don't have to act like Sarah Palin to get their points across right now.

Recently, I had a conversation with my pastor, in which I said that I thought Obama was the most Christ-like leader we've had in a long time. I think that, because he is trying to have dialog with those countries we've had differences with. The Bible INSTRUCTS us to have dialog. Obama has reached across political divides in this country and tried to have dialog. The Bible INSTRUCTS us to have dialog. I know some see those attempts as failures but I would point out to you that Jesus' success was only recognized after-the-fact.

I guess I'll end this by saying that I wish people could treat each other better.

Lawless, Lawbreaking, Grandparent Criminals

2009-04-17T09:06:00.004-05:00

is what we are.

Daughter recounted this story to me just a few minutes ago:

Daughter and Granddaughter were in the grocery store and a woman stopped to comment on Granddaughter's eyes (which is happening more and more often). She went on to say that someday granddaughter was going to be a heart breaker.

Daughter replied that she couldn't wait for that.

Then Granddaughter chimed in with "Paypoo and I are lawbreakers."

Daughter said "I thought you were partners in crime."

Granddaughter replies, "That too, but we're lawbreakers".

Background on our criminal activities: Often, when the weather is nice, Granddaughter and I will walk up to the main road (we live on a cul de sac) to meet Paypoo when he is coming home. Granddaughter will then get in his lap and "drive home".

Yesterday, she was driving like a maniac, (which, I thought to myself, is why 3 year olds can't drive) and Paypoo said to her "You know we are lawbreakers".

I thought to myself, she is going to repeat that to someone and of course she did.

Over and out

2009-04-16T10:03:00.001-05:00

Well tax day has come and gone. My returns were placed in the mailbox at 7:59 p.m. last night. We owed more than we did last year.

Next year, watch my blog, my taxes are going to be done much earlier. This year, hubby kept saying he would do them and wouldn't give me his W-2 when I asked for him. Next year I may just have to tie him up and torture him until he tells me where they are.

That kind of stress is totally unnecessary. We knew we owed. We always owe because hubby won't change his withholding.

Anyway, it is done. Off to bigger and better things.

Singing

2009-04-15T10:03:00.003-05:00

I am doing a benefit at my old church, June 20. I can't
think of anything new to sing. I usually sing standards
like Stormy Weather,As Time Goes Bye, Somewhere
Over the Rainbow.

I need new standards.

What songs do you like? Keep in mind I'm 53 years old
and can't do songs meant for 20 year olds.

Leave me a comment with any suggestions for songs. Also
there is a section in this benefit for sacred. Anyone know
any really pretty contemporary Christian songs that a
53 year old can pull off?

Blogger

2009-04-15T10:02:00.000-05:00

is having a scheduled outage at 2 a.m. on Thursday.

I hope I sleep through it.

Taxing time of year

2009-04-14T10:39:00.003-05:00

Have we done our taxes yet?

Are you kidding? It's only the 14th of April.

Our taxes are really pretty simple. All we need is hubby's W-2s and our mortgage statement-plug the numbers in, computate, write a check, put a stamp on the envelope and some time before midnight tomorrow, drop it in the mailbox on Mattis.

Daughter, on-the-other-hand, has complicated taxes. Has she started on hers? Yes, she did yesterday and couldn't find anything she needed. Oy vey! I wanted to strangle her.

Son, did his the very first minute he could, already has his tax refund and spent it.

Odds & Ends about out trip to Arkansas

2009-04-13T16:58:00.002-05:00

The beginning of our lovely trip began with a family meltdown. While trying to get breakfast in Matoon, everything just kind of exploded. I guess everyone was tired and there was a lot of tension around the trip.

Friday night we spent a nice evening at my sister's with my brother & his family. All three kids managed to come which was good because I've only ever seen them 1 or 2 times. The oldest is in college and the youngest in high school. I really enjoyed getting to visit with the kids. Excellent pizza, excellent bread pudding with rum sauce made by my sister and a really good pasta salad, also made by my sister.

Daughter, granddaughter, husband and I stayed the night at my sister's while my son and his wife stayed at their Uncle's. After everyone was asleep, granddaughter got up and got herself a tall glass of water, sat down on the couch to drink it & spilled it everywhere. This necessitated a change of clothes and mopping up of the couch. About 30 minutes after everyone got to sleep the 2nd time she fell off the couch and cried for a bit. Put her back down and then she could stop coughing so I sat up with her in the recliner until she fell back asleep.

Day two was with my husband's family at his brother's house. It has been a long, long time since we've all been together. The only person missing was daughter's husband who had to go be with his stepmom upon the death of her brother. Granddaughter had a really good time playing with her cousin Kylee. My brother-in-law and his wife are gracious hosts and we were really well-fed.

Saturday night found our group looking for a Mexican restaurant in Austin, Arkansas called Coco's. We ended up in Beebe, Arkansas at Chipotles, which was tasty. It was quite an adventure, as we were in two cars and kept losing each other. We stopped 2x to ask for directions and sister drove over a curb and nearly killed us all :)

We had to leave the next day, bright and early. We drove by Lamberts in Sikeston and it wasn't crowded so we stopped in and had some rolls thrown at us.

As I was driving, I saw a huge bird flying across a farm pond and I couldn't figure out what it was. I knew it was a heron of any kind. It didn't look like a vulture and then I saw it's beautiful white head. It was an eagle... the very first one I've ever seen in the wild. I felt blessed. (Mom always visits with me by sending me birds to look at)

Four hours out, everyone else asleep, daughter and I realized granddaughter was too quiet and she had her blanket pulled up over her head. I wish I had a picture but her whole face and her hands were covered in chocolate. She had broken into the Easter basket and gotten out a large Kiss and had been sneaking it. We got her cleaned up but what came next was priceless. She had a chocolate high. She giggled & carried on and sang and said ridiculous things until all of us were nearly dead from laughing so hard. My ribs still hurt today.

Finally made it home safely.

Oh a churching we will go...

2009-04-08T10:36:00.002-05:00

I just got back from a meeting with my pastor.

I joined this church in November after attending there about a year.

I'll be frank, I started going there because of the children's programming. My granddaughter's opportunities include Circle of Friends Youth Club, Vacation Bible School, Children's Choir, Sunday School, and a great worship service. An added bonus is that the church started Faithful Friends Preschool this year.

My daughter also joined when I joined and has attended sporadically since then. We go to granddaughter's functions like the Youth Club ending program and the Thanksgiving Dinner.

We've both had problems meeting people at the church and that was the topic of my meeting with the pastor. In my deep place I know that all churches have some issues with welcoming people and folding them into the life of the church but I wanted to be special. I wanted people to get to know me rather than me get to know them, I guess.

What brought this problem to a place of importance in my life is the previously mentioned Youth Club Dinner. Daughter, Son-in-law, granddaughter and I attended. We sat at a table by ourselves, and no one spoke to us. Well, one guy spoke to granddaughter as she was dragging chairs to the side to put away. I do make an attempt to converse with people and they aren't unpleasant but they aren't friendly either.

The pastor, who I really like, acknowledged the problem and apologized.

Now, my daughter and I have to get to work to see what it's going to take to help this church recognize their obligation to be the light of the world, or at least the light for the new people joining their midst.

Tell me why

2009-04-07T22:49:00.004-05:00

...the United States Postal Service has tracking numbers and tracking website. I've never seen a more poorly articulated idea in internet land.

I frequently order items from Amazon.com. Occasionally packages are sent via USPS but often me my packages come via UPS. Now there's a tracking system. I can follow my packages from Memphis to Illinois to California to Istanbul. I have a pretty good idea what day my packages are going to be delivered, also.

The post office on the other hand doesn't have a clue where my package is and when it will be delivered. It is usually delivered before the tracking software shows it being picked up.

New do

2009-04-04T19:10:00.004-05:00

Dixie Chick, Natalie Maines, has a new hairdo and I guess some folks don't like. I LOVE IT!

You can see it here

Granddaughter fun

2009-04-02T16:54:00.002-05:00

Last night I got a phone call from my granddaughter. She called to let me know it was snowing outside and I should go look. Of course then it was "April Fools". She did this to her mother and father, too. Each thought the other had put her up to it. Most likely she got it from school. She made the rounds calling Aunt Ashley and Uncle Simon and her grandfather and I don't know who else. She was very pleased with herself.

Earlier today, I came downstairs and granddaughter said "I got a fish for Taggie but he didn't like it"

Uh oh. I have 4 aquariums down there.

I asked her to show me the net she used to catch Taggie's fish.

She got it and lo and behold there was one of my little guppies, gasping for air. I put him back in the tank and seems to be doing fine. sigh

Later, I asked granddaughter if she wanted to help me fold towels. She loves to fold those towels. I asked her to go check and see if they were dry yet. Less than a minute later I headed that way and she had a funny look on her face. She'd poured about a cup of fabric softener in the dryer with the towels.

It was an accident she said. sigh

Starting over, over over....

2009-04-02T10:16:00.003-05:00

Monday, my cellphone gave me a reminder that I needed to do my fasting labs for my appointment with my endocrinologist on the 13th. I stewed about this for a few days.
There's really no point in doing those labs for 2 reasons. 1) I haven't been taking my medicine, dieting or exercising for quite a while now 2) I'm not going back to that doctor.

I don't like him and I've tried to tell myself that I don't have to like him, I just have to take his advice. There are three reasons I don't care to follow his advice. 1) I'm not going to explain to you. 2) He's shorter and fatter than I am so obviously he doesn't follow his own advice. 3) He has a lousy personality and bedside manner.

I don't want to be coddled but I also don't want sarcasm or distaste from my doctor. Yeah, I'm not the world's greatest patient. I fall off the medicine regime frequently.

You might not think so but getting through that thought process was a positive thing for me.

I did call my other doctor and scheduled an annual with her. She was willing to treat all my crap originally and I'm going to ask her to try again. Originally she wanted to put me on insulin. I think I'm ready. I'm not ready for the constant nausea that I get from the other medications, which is why I quit taking them frequently. I just want to feel normal.

Spring is here and maybe I can get myself to start walking again. The granddaughter is getting a bike for her birthday which will stay here. She and I can walk/ride to the park a couple of times a week.

What do you think?

What Monday Brings

2009-03-30T10:18:00.002-05:00

Well the weekend is gone and a new week starts and hopefully a better attitude.

It was a quiet weekend with the kids gone and hubby working but I made it through.

I'd like to thing that in my previous post about being lonely, I was just stating what I was feeling and not feeling sorry for myself or trying to make you feel sorry for me.

Often times, I don't stop to examine what my feelings really are. I just kind of bull right through them. Friday, I wanted to name what I was feeling so I did. I was feeling lonely.

I slept in a little this morning, since the little one doesn't come into my care until noon and I feel rested. I am hoping it will be warm enough outside to take a walk this afternoon. She really enjoys our walks and picking up objects of nature to carry around---a stick, a rock, a leaf.

Her birthday is at the end of April and Hubby and I went bike shopping last week. I dreaded it, as I thought we might go to every bike shop in town but we found just what hubby was looking for at the first one we walked into--wrote a check and came home with at 16 in. pink bike complete with a basket and a little bell to ring.

Next big event/obstacle is another trip to Arkansas to visit hubby's dad again. Both our children and their spouses are going along with the grandkid. I rented 2 cars, rather than a van (for under $200). We are going on Good Friday and returning on Easter. The kids hope they will get to see their cousins on this trip because it's been so long since they've seen them. I'm hoping for good weather. The kids are staying at their Aunt and Uncle's house. They have a basement apartment complete with shower. Hubby, granddaughter and I are staying at my sister's house.

The Father-in-law has chemo again this week after finally being able to get his port put in last week. He has blood clots in the veins (not arteries) of his leg and arm and finding it quite painful to walk. Mother-in-law reports that he is losing his hair rapidly. I can't remember how much hair he lost with the last round of cancer.

I'm on the beginning quest to get a new computer. So many other bills but a computer I must have :)

Look what I saw in my backyard

2009-03-28T20:35:00.001-05:00

Friday night

2009-03-27T18:24:00.002-05:00

Loneliness is about the scariest thing there is.

I don't know if I am depressed or lonely. Hubby's in the other room, angry with me and so our weekend will go. The daughter & her family have taken off for the weekend.

I've lived here six years and have absolutely not one friend. I've always had friends where I've lived before. I'm a friendly person. I joined a church last year and thought an outcome of that might be a friend or two or even an acquaintance.

Where you live, do you go to the store and run into friends, neighbors, acquaintances or co-workers? That doesn't ever happen to me. I never see anyone I know at the store except the guy behind the chicken counter (which only tells me I've been eating too much store-bought chicken).

I really miss having friends.

How bad is the economy when someone breaks into your car and there's nothing to steal?

2009-03-25T08:10:00.002-05:00

Last night, someone went through our car and the cars of several neighbors. The took---nothing. At least I can't remember anything left in the car that isn't there now. My car was unlocked, so no damage.

My car was a mess, so I'm embarrassed that my thief saw it that way. My self-esteem is shattered today because someone out there knows I have a really messy car. Coke cups, except last night we brought them in. Fast food bags, granddaughter's art work from school. Junk mail. What must they think? Do the thieves get together and talk about the slobs they rob? Do they laugh and hoot and holler? Say things like: Man you should have seen this one car I was in last night, it was so dirty I thought I might find a pig in it?

The shame.

A police person just came to take a report. I told him: They took nothing. I have nothing to take. He understood. I did not tell him that when they caught these criminals they would confess to not robbing the dirtiest car they'd ever seen.

I'm trying to remember whether my Dixie Chic's CD was in the car or not and I'm too lazy to go look for it right now. I hope they aren't Dixie Chic fans. I hope they are Toby Keith fans. (I did NOT have a Toby Keith CD in the car.)

sigh

Home

2009-03-16T09:20:00.002-05:00

We got back late yesterday from our whirlwind trip to Arkansas.

When we arrived Friday evening, my father-in-law was on the phone with his oncologist. His blood pressure was in the 70/50 range. The doctor told him to go to the ER (evidently so he could hurry up and wait).

I don't know why he didn't just drink some damn Gatorade and see if his BP came back up but he has really good insurance and it won't cost him a dime.

Hubby took them to ER and other son and wife met them at the ER. Hubby came home about midnight and the rest of the entourage evidently got home around 2 a.m.

Me? I took the grandchild and went to my sister's. We had a lovely relaxed evening, eating sandwiches and ice cream sundaes.

The granddaughter really enjoyed my sister's dogs. In particular she spent the entire weekend carrying the smallest one, Suki, around. Suki was very patient--never growled or snapped. We didn't see the cats, which proves that cats are smarter than dogs.

We visited a couple of times with the inlaws, went out to lunch at Dixie Cafe & had another round of those delish sundaes, Saturday night.

Sunday morning we got on the road and got back about 6 last night. The granddaughter is a wonderful child to travel with. No whining, complaining, etc. We stopped pretty often to stretch and for bathroom/smoke breaks.

So, now it's back into the routine.

still relevant

2009-03-12T16:36:00.001-05:00

Old ladies using profanity for a good cause

2009-03-10T16:48:00.002-05:00

One of the best written and funniest blogs I've come across in a while is Margaret and Helen.
The latest entry titled, Rush Shut the Hell Up is just a stitch.

Margaret who seems to do most of the writing is in her 80's which makes this more fun.

Please give 'em a view and tell 'em a Midlife Mutant sent ya!

Oh yeah Lynilu pointed this out on her blog, Neverending Journey, which you should have already checked out by now.

Back to Arkansas we go

2009-03-10T14:06:00.003-05:00

Hubby, granddaughter and I will be traveling to Arkansas for the weekend.

Mainly to see my Father-in-law. It seems his cancer has recurred and he is in chemo again.

And then to see my sister and lend my hubby to her for some handyman work around her new rental house. She's been very frustrated by the inability to get minor things done.

So all I can say is YEEHA

Champaign, Illinois preschool registration

2009-03-07T10:27:00.003-06:00

A reminder from Jenna over at A Mom for All Seasons about getting registered for preschool:

Again, this is the time to be enrolling in school for 2009-10!

If you are looking for a great program for your 2 year old (or soon-to-be 2yo)....
check out Faithful Friends Preschool in Champaign (preschool@champaignfaith.org or
(217)359-3631). We may have openings for older children as well.

My kids love it! And so do I!

Our family are also fans. My granddaughter attended there this year and we have nothing but positives to say about it. Go, call, get registered.

Random pics from the trip

2009-03-04T11:17:00.005-06:00

Arkansas, home of the Razorbacks

2009-02-28T08:20:00.002-06:00

We arrived at our destination yesterday, safe and sound.

The dogs are in the kennel for the weekend and we are in our hotel. It feels odd not having the 6 creatures to look after.

The kennel attendant offered me a puppy, half Japanese Chin and half chihuahua and I really wanted to take it but in the end I remembered how hard it is to have a pet.
It was stinking cute though.

We are hoping all will go as planned and sister will take possession of her rental property tomorrow. We drove by and there was a UHaul there yesterday.

I got 11 hours sleep last night and I feel refreshed.

Hope all of you are doing fine.

travelin'

2009-02-26T08:06:00.003-06:00

Quick update... 1st nite..Havasu City where the dogs locked us out of the car and we had to find a locksmith...2nd night Albuquerque.. what a beautiful view this city has.. today .. on to OK City.

Traveling Mercies

2009-02-16T15:04:00.003-06:00

Just one week from today, I will be on a plane headed for Sacramento.

My sister is leaving California behind and moving back to what passes as home for our family, Arkansas.

On Tuesday we will get in the rented SUV, load 4 Japanese Chins, and 2 cats and make the 2000+ mile trek.

We need to be in Arkansas by Friday by 5 p.m. so that's roughly 500+ miles a day.

I think our overnight stops will be:

Night1 Needles, CA
Night2 Albuquerque, NM
Night3 Oklahoma City, OK

& then on in to Cabot, Arkansas.

I have never done a trip this long and I do have some trepidation but there is nothing that my sister and I can't do working together.

I think it will be quite an adventure finding hotels/motels that will take that many animals or that we can sneak them into. :)

I am trying to borrow a laptop so that I can keep connected to the internet and if so I'll update you all on our adventures and post pictures.

Writing your name is important

2009-02-13T10:46:00.003-06:00

The granddaughter accomplished a huge task and a big goal for her this week--she learned to write her name. She is just about 2 months shy of her 4th birthday.

We've noticed over the last few months, first a desire to discuss the letters in her name, then an increasing desire to see the letters in her name and finally wanting some help making the letters in her name. Portions of her name appear frequently on coloring pages and drawing pages and other assorted small pieces of paper.

Wednesday night her mom sat down at the table with her to help her do her Valentine cards for school. Mom reports that after helping her with several, on number twelve she happily wrote her name herself.

I shared this happy news with one of her preschool teachers on Facebook that night and she said that granddaughter has been working very hard on this at school, too.

The last couple of days she has been a rhyming girl. We were in the car, just kind of zoning, when granddaughter says, from outta nowhere, (some word that I know can't remember) rhymes with (some other word I can't remember) Then she said, her name rhymes with Mamie and then started coming up with all kinds of rhymes... pig & wig...say, may, hay, day... this is going on without any comment from me. After she goes through probably 10 sets of rhyming words she says and I do quote this: That's some learning with those rhyming words.

This child was read to in utero. She has been read to nearly every day of her life. Books have been important to all of us. As an infant she loved the flow of Sandra Boyton books like Barnyard Dance (who wouldn't?) Although reading is an important part of her bedtime ritual, she is read to at other various and sundry times of the day. She loves her "poem" books. She pitched a fit at Hobby Lobby the other day because she wanted The Wizard of Oz book found on an end cap.

Reading is fundamental and this is the time in her life that although she is not reading she is building a strong foundation in both the skills needed to read like predicting but in finding enjoyment in reading.

Her preschool does not drill their students. They do not "do academics" but they are rather experiential. They take ordinary household items and do extraordinary things. They provide a safe environment for children to take mental and physical risks.

Our granddaughter will be ready for public school on time because her parents, before she was even born, realized the impact they would have on her success in school and the world. The take the time to do things that stretch her mind. Also, they took the time to research and find the perfect preschool for her to attend.

If I haven't said it enough and you are looking for a preschool in Champaign, Illinois for your child or grandchild consider looking at Faithful Friends Preschool, a ministry of Faith United Methodist Church.

Start your week on a down note

2009-02-08T22:11:00.003-06:00

The daily bleeding of thousands of jobs will soon turn our economic crisis into a political crisis. The street protests, strikes and riots that have rattled France, Turkey, Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Iceland will descend on us. It is only a matter of time. And not much time. When things start to go sour, when Barack Obama is exposed as a mortal waving a sword at a tidal wave, the United States could plunge into a long period of precarious social instability.

You can read the rest of this article by Chris Hedges here

Preschool for 2009-2010

2009-02-06T13:39:00.004-06:00

With the end of winter and the beginning of spring comes the need to register for preschool in Champaign (Illinois) for the next year.

I have a recommendation for you:

Faithful Friends Preschool, a ministry of Faith United Methodist Church is where my granddaughter has been going this school year and we give it two thumbs up.

It is a warm nurturing environment that our little one has thrived in.

Julie Healy is the director and does a wonderful job with her staff of making it all come together.

You can get more information by calling the church at 217-359-3631.

Too funny

2009-02-05T18:25:00.001-06:00

via videosift.com

Just some odds and ends

2009-02-05T09:57:00.003-06:00

My sister has decided to leave California and move back to the area we were raised. This is fast and furious getting everything done. At some point I will fly out to Cali and then drive back to Arkansas with her---2000+ miles. This has thrown us into a tizzy around here trying to arrange childcare for the grandkid. I will be gone from a Sunday to a Sunday or Monday.

Monday is easy because her dad doesn't work. Tuesday, Mom is taking off. Wed is school, home for the afternoon with a friend and then Youth Club at church Thursday we haven't figured out. Friday is school and then Grandpa is keeping her in the afternoon.

Hubby's not happy with Obama---and is really angry about it. I'm just not going to listen to the news in his presence. Re: hiring lobbyist, not letting officials in previous admin be prosecuted for torturing folks, etc.

I'm back on my Meds again and going through that wonderful nausea thing AGAIN.

Facebook has turned out to be interesting. I had added my hubby's family to mine until I realized they must have attended a class at church in Facebook-Use your family's connections to Preach. So I started another facebook account and moved them all there. What I found out was amazing. I thought I wanted to know more about them, be more connected. No, I don't. Between the rants about Obama and Obama being black and Obama taking their tax money for abortion and stem-cell reasearch and the picture posted of my 7 year old great niece with a Chinese assault style gun, I realized no.. it's better not to know. So I closed that
account and I'll just go back to Birthday and Christmas cards. They really make no effort to keep up with us or contact us so ...

As I type, I am getting kitty lovins.

I continue to pray and hold the folks at The Sandwich Life in my heart as they go through many, many tough things including the conclusion of the blogger's sister's life. May peace come to them through many unexpected ways.

Movie

2009-01-28T09:58:00.003-06:00

Sunday, the daughter & I took the granddaughter to see Hotel for Dogs in Savoy. She'd seen the previews & had expressed a desire to go.

Granddaughter has never been to a movie at a theater but has been able to sit through movies like Wizard of Oz.

I see now how Netflix stays in business. The cost of tickets is ridiculous even for a matinee and of course the concession stand wants your arm and your leg for popcorn and a drink. I will say that the little kid's pack with a little bit of popcorn, a small drink and some candy that coats your teeth with sugar for days was somewhere around $3.00.

After sitting through about 79 trailers for other movies. The movie finally began.

It was a slow starter and the granddaughter became restless, playing on the bars in front of us. At one point she slipped through the bars and ran out of the theater with her mother in hot pursuit (it was time to go potty). At another quiet moment in the movie, granddaughter announces to the entire theater that before you go to the movie you should stop and get candy at the gas station because it's cheaper (which her mother had done).

She actually attended to the movie pretty well. Toward the end when something particularly sad happened she began weeping. As adults, we all know that the situation is going to be worked out and all will be well by the end of the movie. This child did not know that. Nothing we said would convince her that it was going to turn out all right. She has such a soft place in her heart for animals. I was glad that my daughter had thought to bring her "taggie" in the theater at the last minute. She loved on taggie and cried until the movie finally worked everyone's problems out. It was a lesson for both of us about remember her maturity level.

She was glad she had gone but wanted to stay and see Mall Cop and pitched one on the way out to the car.

I don't necessarily recommend this movie. It was about has weak as you think it is but it did have some cute "dog" moments.

Letting go of bitter, divisive thoughts.

2009-01-21T11:32:00.001-06:00

*
If I voted for Obama because he's black, did you vote against him because's not white?
*
I've been told by numerous people that they voted for Bush because of abortion, homosexual marriage and stem cell research. What exactly has Bush done about abortion in this country in 8 years? What has he done to stop homosexual marriage in this country? If I'm not mistaken there is more stem cell research now than when he took office. I've got news for you conservative voters...Bush, McCain neither one of them give a rat's ass about abortion, they are just pandering to that "right-wing base".
*
Barack is not a Christian? He says he is. He has the actions of a Christian? So tell me, you get to decide who is Christian and who isn't now? We are going to just leave God out of the deciding business, all together?
*
That fact that you voted for John McCain does not make you ignorant. The fact that I voted for Barack Obama does not make me ignorant or niave. I knew exactly why I was voting for him. He wasn't fooling me.

Barack's views on abortion, torture, fixing the economy, stem-cell research, wiretapping citizens, Guantanemo, the environment, his plan to get us OUT OF IRAQ and improving education in this country roughly match with mine. I do not agree with his views on homosexual marriage but the other issues outweighed that for now.

I did not vote for McCain because of his temperament, his stated views on abortion, his plan to fix the economy, his stated view on torture, his views on privacy legislation and his hawkish tendencies. I did not believe that he could help this country in any meaningful way.

It's a difference in political ideologies not a division between good and evil or Christian and un-Christian as is being portrayed by some right-wing conservative Christians.

A highlight from today.

2009-01-20T19:09:00.001-06:00

Great post from a friend

2009-01-20T15:41:00.003-06:00

I stole this from my very good friend here

Cartoons,editorials and comment about current events and more.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A New Day Dawns...

Outside my window the sun is shining and a cool breeze blows over a beautiful day. I am watching the inauguration of Barack Obama and I am rejoicing at the changing of the guard and the end of our eight year national nightmare under the G.W. Bush Presidency.
A friend sent me a message this morning which I print below.

From Steve Schiwetz:
Seamus Heaney wrote a version of Sophocles' Philoctetes called The Cure at Troy and
there is a passage in it which came to mind while I was thinking of how things were
when I was a kid growing up white in south Texas and what is going to happen in the
morning.

History says, don't hope
on this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime,
the longed-for tidal wave
of Justice can rise up,
and hope and history rhyme.

Verity Jones

2009-01-19T19:59:00.001-06:00

Verity used to be my minister in Terre Haute. Here she is in Washington D.C. to cover the inaugural sermon of Sharon Watkins for Disciples World Magazine.

The gentleman she is pictured with is CNN commentator Roland Martin.

You go girl!!!

Where are they coming from?

2009-01-18T17:01:00.003-06:00

As I watched the concert at the Lincoln Memorial today, several times I was brought to tears. My son-in-law said I must have "unresolved issues" and that is going to be a long 4 years.

He's probably right on the first part and wrong on the second part. I don't know why I was crying. I think perhaps it was that moment of letting down after the long election cycle. Although I knew Obama was the right person for the job and I supported him from day one, I don't think I ever really believed that it would happen. Perhaps right up until today I've been afraid to take a deep breath.

It is here and in less that 48 hours, God willing, he will be our new president. Hopefully, it will usher in a change particularly in terms of civility between the political parties so that this nation can be a place where you can enjoy the fruit of your labors while helping those who need a helping hand.

As for being a long four years, I don't agree. The time will speed by before we are in that DAMN election cycle again.

I did appreciate the fact that HBO chose to telecast it for all of us to watch that wanted to.

I still have the inauguration to get through. Where is that other box of tissue?

Where are they coming from?

2009-01-18T17:01:00.000-06:00

I've missed my calling-I'm an artist

2009-01-15T18:37:00.002-06:00

Slip Sliding Away

2009-01-10T11:14:00.002-06:00

The first clue should have been the walk from the house to the car. It was a little slick.

I get in the car, look at the road. It looks wet.

I put the car in drive, inch out of the driveway, pull into our street, put it in to drive and proceed.
Drive slowly. Creeping actually.
Start to turn left. Car proceeds forward. Finally stop. Back up.
Creep slower. Back up and turn left.
Go to the head of the street. Slow way down. Start stopping way back from stop sign. Car proceeds forward, not stopping. I go through the stop sign, onto Duncan (for those of you who don't live here, it's way busy) and finally stop.
Back that Mercury up. Back into a free driveway and creep back to my driveway, park my car, carefully go back into the house.

Where I am staying until the spring thaw.

Since I got home, I've heard copious amounts of sirens.

A Small Price to Pay for Security

2009-01-08T13:45:00.006-06:00

Granddaughter spent the night with us New Year's Eve while her parents went to Terre Haute and partied with friends.

A very tragic event happened that night. Tragic indeed.

Granddaughter's security blanket ripped down the middle.

The security blanket is actually her infant comforter, bought for her
before her birth by her Great Aunt Bambi. It came with a beautiful
crib bedding set.

Somewhere along the way, Granddaughter became attached to the tag
on this comforter. She rubs it across her lip to soothe herself.
As you can imagine, it is worn from all this love.

So what actually happened New Year's Eve was that there was a
small whole up by the tag on the backside and she probably got her
toe in it and ripped that side of the comforter right down the middle.

Grandpooh and I tried to figure out a quick fix but we don't really
sew and don't have a sewing machine.

As it turned out, they returned to Terre Haute for the weekend and
TA DA... Grandma Brenda saved the day. She does sew or rather she
and her sister sew. She took taggie, got in her car and drove to
Greencastle, Indiana (about 45 minutes away) and she and her sister
were able to fix taggie bye sewing the crib sheet on to the back of the
comforter and also affixing the tag (or taggie) that was on the
crib sheet next to the original taggie. The job they did looks
absolutely professional and should get Granddaughter into Kindergarten
age at least.

Neither of my kids ever had a security object so this has been quite
a learning experience for us.

Today, Granddaughter and I took a picture of her with Taggie, and we are
going to send it to that wonderful Grandma Brenda. Sometimes a hero is the
person you would least expect to be a hero.

Below is a picture of Granddaughter with Taggie before we all knew his name. And oh yes it is a he, and he is her "brother".

New hobby (or picking up old hobby)

2009-01-04T14:38:00.007-06:00

Hubby and I have picked up an old hobby, that of being aquarium
keepers. It started with one free aquarium and stand from freecycle and then
cleaning up an old one and getting a stand. I picked up another 29 gallon and
stand that needs to be refurbished. Son gave hubby a 6 gallon hex for his office
for Christmas.

We've had successes and failures but we keep on trying and learning.
Here are some pictures from the 2 tanks we have running.

The first tank, which is teaming with fish has guppies, kuhli loaches,
corydon catfish, and neon tetras. The 2nd tank has Tiger Barbs. 2
Pictus Catfish, one of which is laynies and she has named "dot, and 1
Plectostomus.

James has a set up to hatch brine shrimp to feed the fish. The baby
guppies are particularly grateful for his efforts.

James is trying to decide what to put in his tank at work.

Anyway I hope you enjoy the pictures.

2008-12-31T23:41:00.000-06:00

A very Happy New Year, to all five of you who still read my blog!

thought

2008-12-29T16:44:00.003-06:00

when violence is answered with violence
then we truly see the meaning of

"violence begats violence"

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light."

Christmas 2008

2008-12-27T14:55:00.001-06:00

Click on the collage to enlarge.

Christmas was delightful

2008-12-26T22:46:00.002-06:00

I am left with a warm glow and a feeling of deep satisfaction instead of that
post-Christmas letdown.

Spending time with my sister was wonderful. She is a warm, wonderful person though
she wouldn't want you to know it.

She got to spend time with my granddaughter and the two of them, well they
were like peas in a pod. My sister was wonderful with her.

Our trip to Indianapolis was an experience. The Omni was lovely and St. Elmo's lived up to it's reputation for sure.

Presents were exchanged and Santa was wonderful to me. It was fun watching the kids open their presents from my sister. They were not expecting what they got
and they were all thrilled.

Christmas day was quiet with a meal at the local Chinese buffet and the movie "Marley and Me".

It was hard to see my sister go home this morning but I treasure the time we did have.

Goose egg Redux

2008-12-26T22:42:00.002-06:00

Or son of Goose Egg
Or Goose Egg Part II

Whatever you call it.

I ended up with ANOTHER goose egg on the same spot on my head this week. My husband pulled the back gate of an SUV down on my head. I cannot in anyway convey to you
how painful it was or how upset I was that it had happened again.

I went back in the house, put ice on it and balled like a baby while screaming at my husband to stay away from me.

# days later it is no longer a goose egg but it hurts quite a bit.

Goose egg

2008-12-22T17:55:00.002-06:00

While vacuuming one's stairs, remember to vacuum with the vacuum below you, not above you.

Why you ask?

See title.

2008-12-17T20:35:00.002-06:00

2008-12-17T20:34:00.003-06:00

Today

2008-12-12T12:48:00.002-06:00

is my 53rd birthday. Happy Birthday me.

It is a quiet day, filled with working online and cleaning house.

My son-in-law painted my upstairs bathroom for my birthday--two shades of green. It looks delicious.