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Writing.Com Time

Tuesday
February 14, 2012
6:51pm EST


Content Rating Notice:  Recommended for Readers 18 Years and Older Only
  >> Book >> Women's >> ID #1109290  |   Show DetailsPrinter Friendly Page Tell A Friend
Delving Under the Covers
Thoughts, musings, and blow by blows, bubbling up from the subconscious into my blog.
Rated:
18+
by
Avg Rating: (8)
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **


What perks upward from within? Is it shared? Is it a passing moment, cast off from another? Is it a central theme, interpreted by each of us in our own unique way? Below you'll find some of my catches from the pool, tossed into my blog entries. Scroll down below and may we all find our celestine moments of perfect synchronicity.

Disclaimer: Sometimes my replies will be instantaneous, my writing will be brilliant, and at other times, you will see errors, mixed up words, multiple edits and long absenses. The bad times are probably me on a bad day. Ain't it nice to have MS to blame for shoddy writing? *Wink* Bear with me, please. I do not wish to be defined as the lady with MS, but I am a woman who happens to live (creatively) with MS.

** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only **


the multi-colored prism ribbon is the symbol for MS because of the random and unpredictable symptoms and progression of the disease. This image, {image:1406363} is sharable to anyone at WDC and links to the folder:
ID: 1405594   (Rated: E)
Are you aware? (Multiple Sclerosis) 
A variety of activities, polls and FAQ sheets relating to MS (Multiple Sclerosis)
by Char


If you'd like to simply reference the folder, put http://www.writing.com/view/msinfo in your emails or use the WDC WritingML code {bitem:msinfo} *Smile*



*Bullet*Don't just think about it..."Invalid Item :

*Bullet*Help support Early Literacy. Browse through my Friends of the Library Shop. 100% of the proceeds go to support our local library in the efforts on early literacy. Click Here: *Right*http://www.friendsread.com

*Bullet*My published articles Click here *Right* http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/76632/charlene_s_noto.html. Want to be notified when another one is published? Just shoot me an email and I'll add you to my subscribers!

*Bullet*Char's Home Decor A shop containing my embroidery. Click here *Right* http://www.csnoto.etsy.com



There are 319 visible Entries. Viewing page 1 of 16 with 20 per page.
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319.  Ka-Ching...ID #598469 
Posted: 7-25-2008 @ 5:00 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

We hang on to things we know in our hearts are not right, because we’re afraid if we change something the alternate could be worse. What makes us grow that old?



Meanderings

I can’t believe it is the end of July. It seems we have not really had a summer this year. Spring seemed to ooze through its days, sluggish and interminable, but summer just happened yesterday.

One of the Buddhist teachings is called mindfulness. Some other religions call it focus, awareness or attention. It is something I sorely lack most of the time. If you’ve ever been in a crisis situation where time seems to slow down and every detail appears clear, precise and happening at a rate you can follow, then I believe you’ve experienced perfect mindfulness. They say the world is a beautiful and wonderful place when we really pay close attention.


~


Hmm…yesterday I closed with a little caveat on taxes. I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. I don’t like paying high taxes anymore than the next guy. But, I have also lived in a variety of places with different levels of services and taxes. When I first moved to SC, they had 15 year old school bus drivers. Now the fact that the seniors on the bus were older than the driver didn’t seem to faze anyone but the kids who had to put up with fights, bullying and vandalism because the driver was too afraid to confront anyone. When I complained to the School’s Dept of Transportation, the guy said to me, “We can’t afford adult bus drivers. What do you want us to do…raise your property taxes?” I said, “Yes, if it means we will have adult bus drivers” Keep in mind that we were paying $18 for our 1 ½ acres of land. We had paid almost 400 for our little plot in NY. The amount they were threatening to raise the taxes with was one quarter; yes an entire 25 cents a year.

Taxes should be fair and accountable. They, the government, should be audited by an independent auditor, just like a corporation would be. They must account for every penny and it must be public. I really do believe we need a flat tax: A certain percentage that comes out of everyone’s paycheck in the exact same ratio. For instance, if the tax was 10% (I just picked the standard tithe) and you made 10,000/yr, you would pay $1000/yr in taxes. If you made 100,000/yr, you would pay 10,000 in taxes. If you made 1,000,000/yr in taxes, you would have to pay 100,000 in taxes. Everyone would be paying the exact same ratio based only on their paycheck. Someone making 10,000 a year paying 1000 would be coming up with 19.23 a paycheck on a 52 week cycle. That’s not cheap for that salary, believe me but it is often less than what they pay now. And if someone made the money like the Exxon son of Satan does, he would be paying 1923.07 each week. And no, he doesn’t pay that now.

The difference would be no loopholes, no deductions. What you make, that’s what you pay. Would this penalize larger families? Yes. But then, having multiple children is someone’s individual choice. My parents had six kids. We did not expect to have the same level of goodies as our friends who lived in the 2 children home. We received what we needed but there wasn’t an obscene amount of luxuries. Note I said luxuries….

One other difference is what the government would do with that money. Our taxes should go primarily to taking care of our people and our country. Good roads, good schools, good hospitals, quality medical care, adequate defense, food for our indigent, medicine for our sick and comfort for our elderly and the ability to defend ourselves against invaders. Anything less is criminal and irresponsible. Not one child or senior citizen in this country should ever go hungry or die from something we know full well how to cure.

Believe it or not, I don’t believe in is blanket handouts. I think the WPA was an outstanding idea. There are plenty of community needs around the country that could use workers, providing fair wages, insurance and vacations. Not a handout. A job. And that brings me to jobs.

The immigration issue is a very mixed issue and not black and white like Lou Dobbs likes to present it. It definitely needs to be fixed but the solutions are not cut and dry. There are three reasons for immigration: protection from a government who tries to eliminate its opponents, a government who tries to annihilate its people because of different religions and economic devastation. If we uphold the values that our own ancestors came to America to pursue, we cannot close our borders. However, we do have the right and we should enact the right to hire Americans over immigrants and monitor carefully who does enter our country and what they are doing here.

If a company wants to bring in foreigners because they can’t find trained US citizens to fill the jobs, then our government needs to make sure its citizens can afford the education to train for the jobs. The minute qualified applicants are available; the work visas need to be canceled. How about colleges being non-profit organizations, free to US citizens? Why not? Plus, let’s remove the state driver’s licenses for non-citizens. If you get a driver’s license then you need to be a citizen. If they have to issue driver’s licenses for people on work visas, then they should be a different license…temporary and clearly marked. Some states (Florida, for one) actually tie their voters registration in with their driver’s license. Imagine the fraud this could spur at the voting booth. It also penalizes seniors and those who cannot drive. Bad idea all around.

If someone wants to come to this country, then they should be one of two things: a visitor/tourist on holiday with a valid passport, or someone who wishes to become a citizen. Anything else is bucking the immigration system. Can we kick everyone out? No. That’s why I said it’s not cut and dry. But we can fix the laws and THEN work on the existing problem. If we don’t find a solution because we’re too busy arguing over the existing immigrants, we will NEVER fix it.

I guess I’m rambling today. Just a lot on my mind.


For Your Amusement

(Found at http://www.coolfunnyjokes.com/Funny-Jokes/Medical-Jokes/Negotiations.html and altered to keep it G rated.)

Negotiations

Then there's the woman who goes to the dentist. As he leans over to begin working on her, she reaches between his legs and grabs on.

The dentist says, "Madam, I believe you've got a hold of my privates."

The woman replies, "Yes. We're going to be careful not to hurt each other, aren't we?"


On the MS Front

One thing I wanted to give you a head’s up on. Those of you who read my blog know how much I believe in having every American have access to medicine, prescriptions, eye needs and dental needs. I’ve also told you that MS requires medication. One of the problems years ago with MS is that there were no drugs to slow or halt the disease. When someone came down with relapse/remitting MS, they could pretty much plan on their wheelchair and being totally disabled. The drugs we have now have changed that. Many individuals are staving off that fate for years. But, as I’ve told you before, the medicines are expensive.

In the beginning of my blog, I talked about the flat tax. You saw the 10% figures and probably felt that almost 2000 a week for the Exxon son of Satan was outrageous. Well let me clue you in to a little cost perspective. My shots of Rebif cost $1894 a month. You heard that right. Now consider that the vast majority of people in this country do not have insurance. One step up from that are those who have insurance but don’t have prescription coverage. The next level provides prescription coverage but enact a co-pay. Only if you are in the top few, the very, very lucky in this country do you have full coverage on medical and prescription.

The very poor, can often go to The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and get assistance on their medicines, but these people are not the real losers in this scenario. It is those who work full time and make over the limit to qualify for aid, which is very, very low, but they are paying every cent they make into their rent/mortgage, utilities, gas, groceries, repairs and kids. These people have one option. They can hope to get on a research program where even then, they have often a 30% chance of getting a placebo. These are the ones who still face the almost certain fate of a wheelchair.

You can’t predict if your child is going to develop MS. My symptoms did not become truly evident and clear until after I was 50. Yet, now that we know I have it and we go back over the various weird happenings/symptoms/illnesses in my life, we have traced it back to 29. I was lucky. Having MS for over twenty years with meds is pretty risky. Some people don’t have a choice. Even if they want to take the meds, they could never afford it. To put it in perspective, imagine if your bank or realtor told you that your rent or mortgage was going to go up $1894 a month. Could you afford your home anymore?

We desperately need to fix the medical/insurance situation in this country. Not just for those with MS, but for every type of illness and disease which when prevented or managed allows people to live a fulfilling life.



Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:37 am

69oF - Blue and soft white today. The clouds are separate from each other but are so fine and wispy, they are just a hint in the sky.

Sunset: 8:51 pm




~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

318.  Political Wonders...ID #598310 
Posted: 7-24-2008 @ 3:38 pm EDT 
Edited: 7-25-2008 @ 2:34 am EDT 

Jogging the Brain

We hang on to things we know in our hearts are not right, because we’re afraid if we change something the alternate could be worse. What makes us grow that old?



Meanderings

I don’t get it. I look at the polls (which I realize don’t mean much this early in the election process) and I can’t believe McCain is only six points behind Obama. I wonder how, after eight years of the Bush administration, someone could even consider voting for McCain. It boggles my mind.

When I look at the issues, it becomes even more astounding.

Let’s start with our veterans. No matter what your views on the occupation in Iraq or the war in Afghanistan, I can’t find one American who doesn’t admire and support the efforts of our soldiers or want the best for our veterans. At least that’s what they say. Yet, on veteran’s issues, McCain has consistently voted against supporting them. No on their benefits, no on improving their care, no on increasing time between tour of duties. This has been completely the opposite of Obama’s voting record and is in direct contradiction to what McCain says he does for veterans. He claims the support of veterans and yet most veteran’s groups do NOT support McCain. They do, however, support Obama.(1)

Next, look at women’s issues. When you hear all those Clinton supporters who were so favorable toward Hillary because she is a woman--how could they even conceive of voting for McCain, someone with the absolute worst record on issues relating to women, children and families is beyond me. His surrogate may try to convince women all she wants that McCain was for funding birth control if they were going to support Viagra, but McCain actually voted against that. His record does not match her rhetoric in any way, shape or form. In this area, he runs directly contrary to both Hillary and Barack. Just one example is insurance for children. He voted against the S-chip, a very successful and proven program which provides the only medical insurance for thousands of our kids. With the rising rate of uninsured or underinsured kids, how could he vote against the expansion of that program? Yet, he did.

How about our seniors? From the end of 2006 to 2008, his voting record here is abysmal. He voted against the bill to allow seniors to join the prescription plan late and to waive the penalties for their switching plans once they have signed up. He voted against the plan to allow managed care facilities to lower premium rates for seniors. And even after Bush’s disastrous attempt at privatizing social security, where even the AARP was completely up in arms against it, he still touts this method as the best way to go. We’ve seen more than our share of the failings of privatizing a multitude of government programs under Bush. Do people want more of the same continuing decline of service? How can one senior or parent even consider McCain as an option?

And next is the economy. McCain’s economic plan was devised by Phil Gramm, the guy who pushed the demolition of the bank safeguards which started the whole mega merger schemes, got the Commodity Futures Modernization Act (the Enron loophole) into play, largely to blame for the housing fiasco we’re now dealing with and finally, shows his sympathy for the housing crisis and cost of living increases by stating the entire economic situation is in our heads. This is the plan McCain touts as the one he’s pushing for and his buddy, the guy who would probably end up with a Treasury cabinet position. How any working class, blue collar, middle class or senior voter could consider voting for someone with that little concept of what’s going on in this country blows me away. How could they possibly consider voting against their own economic interests like that?

Speaking of oil, look at the off-shore drilling. There’s a flip-flop for you. Not only did McCain switch positions entirely on this, but then, when congress tries to get the oil companies to drill on the lands they already lease from the government for more oil, he votes against it. How does that work? Supposedly more oil would do the trick but instead of drilling where they already have the land, they need to go open new sites? Does that make sense to anyone? If more oil was really the answer, why not support that bill?

What about the Iraq occupation, the war in Afghanistan and the general foreign policy aspect? His latest fit of pique over Obama’s success on his foreign fact-finding trip, is to say that Obama won’t recognize the escalation (what the administration successfully coined as the Surge, though escalation is what it really was) and then McCain’s taking credit for that maneuver. Not only does McCain completely screw up the timeline on that, claiming that the Sunni awakening happened after the surge, having the surge date a year before it actually occurred, but he gives no credit to either the awakening or the fact that we paid groups not to fight us, he has mixed up Sunni/Shiite, stated that Iraq and Pakistan share a border, talked about Czechoslovakia even though that country hasn’t existed for years and claimed mistranslation when the Iraq government was clearly stating they wanted America out of that country. These are just a few of his gaffes lately. If Obama had said them, everyone would have been all over them for weeks on end. Why does McCain, who is supposed to have foreign policy as his strong point, get away with them? McCain claims the media favors Obama, yet most people are not even aware of these mistakes or are not aware of how serious they are for someone who claims foreign policy as their strongpoint. So is it senility or proof that he doesn’t know as much as he is supposed to know?

I certainly don’t think that Obama is a cure-all, nor do I agree with everything he says or does. But, I have to say that given the two candidates, and the plans both of them have put forward, the only people who would benefit from a McCain administration are the very top few in this country who have benefited from the Bush administration. Yes, some people are better off now. But the vast majority has given up more than they realize over the past eight years. It is my great hope that people in this country will finally understand that they need to get past their fear, that which has been drilled into them for years, and vote to move away from the greed infested, lobbyist filled corporate path this country has been headed downhill on.

One president will not be able to undo all the damage that Bush has done to this country. However, if we (and he does say we…not I) can make a dent: improve our standing in the world, get our companies to find a benefit to producing in-house again, start serious efforts at alternate energies, restore some of the damage to our constitution, shift our military concentrations to areas where they can really do some good….these would be worthwhile changes. McCain won’t start us on that path but Obama might just do it. Will he cure all our ills…no…will he shift the pendulum more toward the needs of every day Americans…I believe so.

One last caveat: There are those who say the Dems always raise taxes like this is a black mark against the entire party. Yet, for me, I would rather pay reasonable, accountable taxes than to sell this country and their businesses off piece by piece to foreign interests which is the way this administration has paid for all their debts. We can't call China to the mat for their poisoning our pets and our kids because quite frankly, they now own us. Think about it.


For Your Amusement

(This is my warped way of sympathizing with my friends in Texas dealing with Dolly. From Science Jokes: Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Weather Jokes)

Top Ten Reasons Hurricane Season is Like Christmas

10. Decorating the house (boarding up windows).
9. Dragging out boxes that haven't been used since last season (camping gear, flashlights).
8. Last minute shopping in crowded stores.
7. Regular TV shows pre-empted for "specials".
6. Family coming to stay with you.
5. Family and friends from out-of-state calling.
4. Buying food you don't normally buy ... and in large quantities.
3. Days off from work.
2. Candles.

1 And the number one reason Hurricane Season is like Christmas...
At some point you know you're going to have a tree in your house!

Hope you all are safe, sound and dry and I'm thinking about you!


On the MS Front

Well, my sickness yesterday was definitely a med induced one. Whether it was the Vicodin alone or the mixture of Vicodin and Rebif, it is definitely a no-no pain pill for me. One of the Rebif side-effects is flu-like symptoms. I rarely have them that bad. Yesterday, it was definitely like the flu: upset stomach, muscle aches, headache, and dizziness. I’m calling the doctor and having him put Vicodin as a bad med for me on my chart and getting a different one called in. I’m staying on the heating pad for my back and it does seem to alleviate the sciatic pain.

On the MS side, I’m doing okay. A little confusion, a little fatigue but compared to the leg and the Vicodin nausea, it’s truly hunky dory. No, I won’t be running a marathon or even a few blocks, but it is between relapses and that’s always a better time.


Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:36 am

62oF - The forecast is for partly cloudy but the sky outside my window is that clear blue and sunshine.

Sunset: 8:52 pm


(1) http://vetsforobama.org/
(2) http://www.juliantrubin.com/tornadojokes.html

~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

317.  Sorry Folks...ID #598151 
Posted: 7-23-2008 @ 1:38 pm EDT 

A little queasy this morning. If it steps down a bit, I'll write more later.
 


316.  La Dee Da...ID #598049 
Posted: 7-22-2008 @ 8:04 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

Another day, another dark cloud of doom that settles in, turns the world into a scary place and wreaks havoc with my normally sunny and astoundingly funny sense of humor.



Meanderings

Today’s one of those days. You know those days when the glass is not half full, it’s freakin’ gettin’ low, and the things I observe make me more morose than anything else. Why? Who knows. Sun spots? Some weird whacko thought-wave wandering into my territory? Air pressure changes? Some hormone that decided to go south today? Exposure to some stray electrical field? Or, perhaps I got too close to the microwave when I zapped my coffee this morning. Whatever it is, the mood is black.

For instance, M told me to be sure to watch the TV show, Monk, saved from yesterday, because there was a nice tribute to the psychiatrist on it. I said, “He died? I didn’t know that!” And I suddenly felt very sad...ridiculously so. Of course that set me off today, thinking of how many people on television had died recently, like it was any more than have died every other month of my life. At first I thought I’m noticing it more because I’m getting older and therefore people I’ve grown up with are dying. But that’s not really true. Well known people have always died at a pretty standard rate unless sped up by drugs or other risky behavior. Yet, as we get older, we think everyone is dropping like flies around us.

It simply isn’t true.

Maybe when we’re young, we mark time by births (beginnings) and when we allow ourselves to get older, we start marking time by deaths (endings). Maybe all of us old farts need an attitude adjustment and start noticing beginnings more than we do endings.


For Your Amusement

(Another goodie from email)

PET RULES

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.


Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food.. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate does not stake a claim for it, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also , I have been using the bathroom for years --canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:


To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it 'fur'niture. )

3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

4. To you, it's an animal. To me, they are adopted children who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.


Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

1. Eat less

2. Don't ask for money all the time

3 Are easier to train

4. Normally come when called

5. Never ask to drive the car

6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends

7. Don't smoke or drink

8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions

9. Don't want to wear your clothes

10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and...

11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.



On the MS Front

Today was the trip to the doctors about this pain in my leg. It seems my prognosis of the sciatic nerve was both correct and incorrect. Correct in that the doctor thinks it is the nerve that is causing me this pain but incorrect in the cause. He does not feel the Rebif shot was the problem.

Basically, he told me that if I hit the nerve, which with the tiny needle the Rebif shot is given with would be unlikely, he said I would know it immediately. Sticking a needle in a nerve is not something you don’t know you’ve done. He said the reaction would be immediate and very, very painful. The Rebif injection is very shallow, meant to be subcutaneous and wouldn’t penetrate that far.

So, what did cause it? He thinks it is actually an injury to my back, most likely another herniated disk. After considering that, it is very possible. Thus, he told me to stop the ice treatment and use a heating pad for my back instead; he prescribed some Vicodin, and he told me to go back to physical therapy. I’ve made the PT appointment and after taking the Vicodin, I’m feeling dandy. Onward and upward.

(P.S. To Eric Wharton : Smarty-pants!)


Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:33am

64o F - Very cloudy and chilly today. It still hasn’t rained but if there was ever a rain sky, today is one. A very solid, soft gray. And can you believe it’s currently 4:20 my time and on a July afternoon, I’m still less than 65o? Unbelievable.

Sunset: 8:54pm




~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

315.  Got a Life?...ID #597750 
Posted: 7-21-2008 @ 4:35 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

The ability of some people to take offense at the nonsensical always amazes me.



Meanderings

One of the things we did during our 11 year old grandson’s visit last week was to see the movie Wall-E. This movie was really enjoyable. I actually laughed out loud at some of the scenes and all three of us had a great time. M and I don’t often patronize the “children’s movie” genre, but we are really glad that Wall-E was the one we decided to splurge on.

We had heard the rumors that a certain segment was bent out of shape over this movie, stating it had a “liberal agenda”. This, of course, only made me want to see the movie, particularly after the ridiculous scuttlebutt on the Telly Tubbies, Sponge Bob Square Pants and any number of others that have attached “agenda” to kid’s programs. Frankly, the only agenda I find in most kid’s programs is called GREED. When they have the toys ready before the movie or program hits the air, you can pretty much figure that money is the motivator…not morality, ethics or politics.

In the past, many great children’s stories have had moral lessons…although to tell you the truth, the moral agenda of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Cinderella” and “Thumbelina” escape me right now. I guess my analysis isn’t up to par today. Wall-E does have little moral threads you can pick up: One is personal responsibility and another is you can escape your programming and grow greater than the box you’re place in. Now, I don’t consider either of those “liberal” but considering some of the whacked out opinions I’ve read or seen on the news, maybe there are some who would. Evidently there are some who believe in the caste system and that people should always be exactly what they’re programmed to be, and those who feel you shouldn’t try to improve anything that is not strictly your job.

At any rate, for those who are overly concerned with maniacal liberal agendas disturbing your children, Wall-E is fine. It is a funny story about devotion and has action, humor and a lot of hurrahs thrown in. Even if you don’t have kids you can enjoy this little flick.


For Your Amusement

A funny sent to me in email

A sweet grandmother telephoned St. Joseph's Hospital. She timidly asked, 'Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing?'

The operator said 'I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number?'

The grandmother in her weak tremulous voice said, 'Norma Findlay, Room 302.'

The operator replied, 'Let me place you on hold while I check with her nurse.'

After a few minutes the operator returned to the phone and said, 'Oh, I have good news, her nurse just told me that Norma is doing very well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back as normal and her physician, Dr. Cohen, has scheduled her to be discharged on Tuesday.'

The grandmother said, 'Thank you . That's wonderful! I was so worried! God bless you for the good news.'

The operator replied, 'You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?'

The grandmother said, 'No, I'm Norma Findlay in 302. No one tells me shit.'


On the MS Front

I’m beginning to think the severe pain in my right leg is the sciatic nerve and not the MS. I probably hit the stupid thing while giving myself a shot of Rebif. It does seem to get worse when I sit, particularly in the car or at the computer and alleviate somewhat when I’m walking about for a bit. I watered the garden yesterday and by the time I finished, the pain in my shin was gone. After sleeping, it’s back and sitting here, it’s getting worse.

Anyhoo, I’ve got an appointment with the doctor tomorrow and it will be interesting to see what he has to say instead of doing my own little prognosis.


Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:32 am

66o F - Sunny, sunny, sunny. Not a cloud in sight. We haven't had any rain for a while now but I haven't heard a word about it being a problem yet. Probably because of the massive snow we had over the winter. The grass is looking a bit puny though. I water my plants but we don't waste water on the grass. Considering we have two labs traipsing through it and pooping on it, lawn maintenance other than our daily poop patrol seems rather pointless. Wink

Sunset: 8:55 pm


~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

314.  leavin' on an airplane...ID #597198 
Posted: 7-18-2008 @ 1:24 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

Saying goodbye gives me such an achy feeling, a hole meandering its way around my chest and throat.



Meanderings

The grandson is on his way to the airport with M. The airlines only allow one person to go to the gate with an unaccompanied child, and that means one of us would have to wait outside for over two hours. Since my mental confusion increases in heavy traffic or a hubbub like an airport, we felt it best for M to drive him to the airport. Soooo, I said my goodbyes to the little sweetheart here at the house, snapped another five pictures or so of him getting in the car and promised I’d send him a CD of all the pictures we took this past week.

It was a wonderful visit, though, I admit, extremely fatiguing. M’s arthritis was really acting up and standing in lines or walking up and down steps only makes that more excruciating. The walking was difficult for me, but the heat is really what got me. Finally, M and I started taking turns in the lines. I went up in the Space Needle while he sat outside on the bench, and he went into the Sci-Fi museum while I sat on the bench. However, in spite of our being decrepit dinosaurs, we managed to go on the Mt. Rainier Train Ride, ate at a wonderful Chinese Restaurant called The Rose Garden, rode the Ducks and the Monorail in Seattle, went up in the Space Needle, ate at Pete’s, visited the Pacific Science Museum, had a yummy cook out, and went to the Sci-Fi Museum. Of course there were souvenirs at the end of each trip. The kid’s going home load is definitely heavier than his arrival’s. We tried to break the week up into a sight-seeing day and then a rest day. That was not quite followed but it did help.

He turned out to be a wonderful guest and I was very impressed with his manners and his heart. My son always had a big heart (he was also a wise guy comedian and intelligent as all get out) and it seems his son has inherited that trait. It’s a lovely one to have. He and M watched Godzilla (two different versions) and Spiderman III, and we all watched Superman Doomsday.

Superman Doomsday was actually not a bad movie. I hadn’t seen it before and was expecting to be disappointed that another actor would play Superman instead of Christopher Reeves. Since it is animated, it was more like watching a comic book.

Anyhoo, I’m tired, but wanted to make a Friday entry, say hello and all such like that there. Smile Back on Monday!

Latest Projects

Since the last project was put up on Char's Home Decor, I’m working on a repeat of the paisley design that sold previously. This is slightly different but still in the blue/green range the other set was embroidered in. I decided to make this set again as I had several individuals tell me they liked it and then look two days later and found it gone. I am going to be doing more paisley in other colors too. Is that a new decorating trend? Must be.


AC also published my article on “Cognitive Issues in Multiple Sclerosis” (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/877289/cognitive_issues_in_ms_multiple_...) and a news article I wrote about the eighth district race here in Washington between Dave Reichert and Darcy Burner. (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/887765/in_washingtons_eighth_district_i...)

Dave’s pretty well entrenched in the district but Darcy gave him a run for his money during the last election. It will be interesting to see how she does this time.

I also submitted an article on the Mt. Rainier Train Ride we took this week but they haven’t accepted that one yet. Keep your fingers crossed.


On the MS Front

The MS was a total pain this week because of the extra exertion and particularly the heat. I was hoping to have made my cooling vest prior to the grandson’s arrival but I hadn’t managed it. I will definitely have it done before we go visit family back east in the Carolinas or in Buffalo.

I’m also calling the doctor about my right leg. Two weeks ago, I started having severe shooting pain in my right leg from my hip to my ankle. It spirals from the outside hip to the inside of my knee and then back out to the outer calf muscle. It was sporadic at first, but with the walking increased to a constant thing which prevents me from being comfortable in any position. This also wreaked havoc with my walking this week. I’ll tell you the truth. Though I really would rather be able to walk, that hover-round was being looked at wistfully as I struggled up the walkways and streets of Seattle. Without my cane, I would never have been able to manage.

Of course the heat also added little moments of idiocy to my conversations. Fortunately, both M and the grandson love me dearly and instead of aggravation, found me vastly amusing. I suppose, if you can’t communicate what it is you’re trying to say, it’s nice to at least be able to make people laugh. Wink Ahhh me, life is never boring, is it?



Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:29am

57o - The Marine layer has socked in again which means cooler temps during the day. We had lovely sunny weather up until yesterday morning. Then it started out cloudy but was burned off my 2pm. Today, it looks pretty dreary. Not sure if it's going to do the same thing or if we're headed for a little rain. Since it hasn't rained for three weeks, it wouldn't be a bad thing.

Sunset: 8:58pm




~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

313.  Super size it...ID #595644 
Posted: 7-10-2008 @ 12:46 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

Just like the grinch, it is possible for our hearts to grow bigger. That enlargement is called grandchildren.



Meanderings

I may be absent for the next week. As of tomorrow, our eldest grandson will be arriving from back east to visit us. I can't wait. It's been a long time since we had him to ourselves and a visit we have looked forward to for some time.

Grandchildren make your life very special. When you're a parent, you're new on the job, you worry about everything, the "example" thing is in full effect where you feel everything the child does is a reflection upon you, and you feel much more responsible for their acions.

When you are a grandparent, things change. You feel much calmer, more ready to not sweat the small stuff and just enjoy their company. You're past the "example" stage or you're at least getting there. You don't mind "spoiling" just a bit. And if you're lucky, your sense of humor has grown exponentially.

This one is very bright, gets along with his Papa beautifully (they have a love of old Godzilla movies in common), and he has a heart of gold, just like his Daddy.


Latest Projects
I promised you a picture of the finished pillowcases. Well, I just uploaded them to my shop on Etsy. If you'd like to see them, here's the picture listing:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13252829

AC also published a couple of articles yesterday:
Part of the continuing series I'm doing on embroidery

Embroidery Tutorial: Getting Started
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/868697/embroidery_tutorial_getting_star...

and

Embroidery Tutorial: Counted Cross Stitch
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/869399/embroidery_tutorial_counted_cros...

I was a tad dissapointed with the layout on the getting started one. I had used bullets and though they showed well in the AC preview before submission, when AC translated it into the actual web page, the bullets vanished and so did the spaces between the bulleted lines. A shame because I thought it was more readable the way I had it. I adjusted the cross stitch one to compensate for that. Ah well, live and learn.

On the MS Front

Have a lovely new sensation of stabbing pain in my right leg and hip, though that could be an old age thing and not an MS thing. It's hard to tell sometimes. LOL

Other than that, things are hunky dory right now.

Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:21 am

59o - A repeat of yesterday and predicted to remain this way for over a week. I'm going to get the opportunity to use my rain barrels. You can also get an idea of what time I write my blog entries. If it is in the 50's like today, you know it is early morning. If it is up to the 70's, it's mid day and if in the 80's, it's probably near dinnertime.

Sunset: 9:05 pm


~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

312.  Round and round...ID #595481 
Posted: 7-9-2008 @ 4:27 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

What goes around sometimes ends up traveling to places you really don't want to know.



Meanderings

The brain's a little better today so I suppose I'll simply point you to a few things that caught my attention and offer a tad bit of commentary on them.

The first is a 60+ librarian who was issued a ticket and threatened with arrest if she didn't vacate the premises where a McCain Town Hall was being held. The reason? She was holding a sign that said McCain=Bush. Some would say, "So, what? I can see why they'd be upset over her sign.." but I believe that is missing the point. The very action of ejecting her proves the point of her sign. Bush was/is an over-protected imbecile who cherry picked every audience he ever had on his public appearances and press meetings. The media could only show happy, cheering people because they were the only ones allowed to ask him questions. If Americans do not see a problem with this, then we really have sold a piece of our souls to gimmicks and propaganda. Think about it.

If you want to see the entire video, you can find on YouTube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6lyaMrS0hzk and all I have to say is, "Thank God for YouTube" because our media is falling down on their job of real journalism.

~

The second thing is the day of mourning every American should be having today. Why? The FISA bill. This controversial action has finally been played for political gains and our 4th Amendment is the loser. Some would say the very fact that I can write this affirms the freedoms we have in America, but that is splitting very fine and fragile hairs. If our fight against terrorism is to mean anything, we must keep America free, strong and maintaining the very ideals that made America a country worthy of fighting for. When we give up fundamental rights, we have sold our souls to our fear, chained ourselves to protectionism, and relinquished the very rights we hold dear to tyranny.

The 4th Amendment states:

"Search and Seizure
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
"


The reason for this amendment can be found in our Declaration of Independence when discussing the grievances against King of England:


"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
"


Those statements above should be ringing loud alarm bells in anyone paying attention to our current events. And any American who says, "Yes, but..." misses the point of that 4th admendant. Nothing changes the reason for that right and nothing is worth losing it for. Our entire legislature has failed us and once you relinquish a freedom, it is not easy to find it again. We are the losers today.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25605640/
http://www.newsweek.com/id/143257?from=rss

Time to change the subject...


For Your Amusement
sent to me in email and slightly modified for readability...hmmm...not politically correct either, so check your warped sense of humor before reading or skip to the next section.


A very loud, unattractive, unkempt woman walked into Wal-Mart with her two kids, yelling obscenities at them all the way through the entrance.

The Wal-Mart greeter said pleasantly, "Good morning, and welcome to Wal-Mart Nice children you have there. Are they twins?"

The bitchy woman stopped yelling long enough to say, "Hell no, they f@*!#$@ ain't. The oldest one's 9, and the other one's 7. Why the f@*!#$@ hell would you think they're twins? Are you f@*!#$@ blind, or just f@*!#$@ stupid?"

"I'm neither blind nor stupid, Ma'am," replied the greeter. "I just couldn't believe you got laid twice."

"Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart."


Da Dum Dum...


On the MS Front

After shot day but I'm doing fine. A little achy in the head but it's not full of fog either. Hoo rah!

Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:20 am

78o - Very blue and sunny today. I don't see one cloud in the sky. This will mean increased temps toward 5pm and then very cool temps tonight. Actually a pretty normal July day for the Seattle area.

Sunset: 9:05 pm




~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

311.  I got nuthin'...ID #595228 
Posted: 7-8-2008 @ 10:27 am EDT 

Jogging the Brain

Sometimes nothing arrives to jog my brain.



Meanderings

Generally, when I start to write my blog entry, a phrase or a topic will pop into my head and I'm off--rambling about whatever that topic is.

Today...nada...nothing...zilch.

A total blank slate on which to base my thoughts for the day. Oh, I'm quite sure that I could take a peek at the news and instantly be transported into a rage, but I'm not in the mood to rage today and there are many other excellent blogs for that.

My blog is not really a "ranting" blog. I do rant on occasion, rage against the system, but I don't want people to open my blog and ask themselves, "I wonder what she'll be upset about today?" It's nice to keep you guessing on both topic and tone, much like my life keeps me guessing on it's own topic and tone. Meandering really is a much more accurate depiction of the contents.


Yesterday I got to meet and spend a large chunk of my day with Kare (Corey). He was visiting in Washington and it was quite nice to put a face to his poetry and his blog entries. I enjoyed the visit very much and also got to see a few sites around here I had not seen before. That's always nice about visitors here.

The Seattle area offers so much to do and see and normally we are too busy to really spend time at all of them. Visitors offer us an opportunity to not only share some good times but also to see, with them, something interesting for the first time. Lovely moments. We'll be receiving a visit from our grandson in less than a week and I look forward to even more opportunities for sharing the sites with him.


My latest Projects

A little bit about what I've been up to

*Bullet* What is the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism)?
Living the Dream of the Modern Middle Ages

"You might have seen them at some time or another. Perhaps you went into a grocery store and noticed a small group of individuals dressed in Elizabethan clothing, maybe even mixed with a Viking or two. You may even have asked them if they were in a play. When you're in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), you get used to that question." http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/854087/what_is_the_sca_society_for_crea...


*Bullet*Life Between the Surreal
A Poem About Living with Multiple Sclerosis

"It seems I've found my voice of late;
my brain, dotted with specks to sate
the god of unpredictability,"
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/862861/life_between_the_surreal.html::Q...

*Bullet*Clean Keen Things to Do with Zucchini
"If you grow zucchini, you know how prolific those little plants can be. Halfway through the summer, you start to wonder what in the world you can do with your zucchini. Here are some ideas you may not have thought of, which can help with your bounty."
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/864841/clean_keen_things_to_do_with_zuc...


*Bullet* Still working on the new pillowcases too. Finished one and am working on the last touches of the second of the set. Hopefully, I'll finish it today and be able to post it up on csnoto.etsy.com tonight. My little table topper up there is looking kind of lonely. *Laugh*


On the MS Front

Mixed blessings. *Laugh* I did well yesterday. Kare (Corey) and I walked quite a bit and I was able to manage quite nicely. I barely needed my cane. The day was sunny with a nice breeze to keep me from being overheated. The temperature was great.

Today, I'm a tad tired. My head feels a bit woozy (not dizzy...just not all there today) Se la vie. It will be better after a rest. And on that note...I'm outta here.

Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:19 am

56o - Yeppers, you read that right and yes, it is July. When the sky is clear, like it has been lately, the day warms up but the nights drop down. Makes for good sleeping weather but does create a chilly summer morning. It will warm up to about 80o by 5pm today and should remain clear and sunny.

Sunset: 9:08 pm




~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

310.  Reasons...ID #594586 
Posted: 7-4-2008 @ 12:18 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain


Sometimes the reason to go on is right in front in you and you just never noticed it.


Meanderings

Thought I'd post this in honor of today. If there is ever a reason to celebrate this Fourth of July, or to discover why some people would want to protect, serve and fight for our country, whether by public service, military uniform or dissent against the governments policies, this is why. If you have never stopped to take the time to read this, please do it today in honor of why we really celebrate the Fourth of July:



The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.


Have a Happy and a Safe Fourth Everyone!


~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

309.  Watch Dogs...ID #594471 
Posted: 7-3-2008 @ 5:50 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

Notice to all Burglars: Please don't scare the dog on your way in.



Meanderings

Well, the Mariners won the game last night so all is right with the world. They've lost more times than they've won in the games I've attended this year, so it was nice to leave the stadium impressed by their effort for a change. Even Sexson was worth his paycheck.

The thunderstorms started in earnest as we were leaving the stadium. As we drove, we got to watch a magnificent display of lightning over the foothills. By the time we got home, I knew the dogs would be spooked, but at least I had left them in the house when I left so they wouldn't be barking all night and irritating the neighbors.

We walked in and Max was no where to be found. After about 10 minutes of calling him and looking for him, with me worrying that perhaps I had left him outside, he came out of wherever he had been hiding. I still don't know where that was.

The remainder of the night was spent trying to calm a 90 lb black lab who was trying to squeeze his large body into some seriously small hiding spaces, jumping on our bed and then pacing in circles and all the while panting and drooling. Molly was torn between watching Max as if he was some alien creature or getting slightly nervous herself since surely with all the commotion he was causing, there must be something to be afraid of.

M occasionally likes to remind me that Max did not use to be like that. The first time (supposedly...M could be just yanking my chain) Max did the freaked out routine was a few years ago when M's job took him to India for seven weeks and Seattle had a freak thunderstorm. Though it was brief, it was brilliant: huge streaks of lightning followed by cracks of thunder that would rock the house. They were so loud and sudden that even I would jump. That was followed by a 4th of July where the young couple across the street had a party and were shooting fireworks diagonally across the streets. They were exploding right in front of my house further turning the dog into jelly. As you can see, none of this was my fault so when M reminds me of Max's former bravery I simply nod and say, "Imagine that...wonder what happened" along with the obligatory dirty looks.

Max's chicken hearted attitude extends past the thunder though. Loud noises of any kind freak him out. Drills, lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, smoke alarms, you name it...he cowers. The other night when I let them out for their "last time...go on...last time" potty break, he walked to the back door, looked out at the dark backyard, lowered his ears and then cowered back to the kitchen. Now, since there have been several bear incidents in Issaquah...not that far from our town...naturally, that reaction also spooked me. Molly went right on out in the yard though and since she didn't even bark, I knew there was nothing out there to worry about. Molly barks at anything that she even remotely suspects is near her domain.

So, Max is no watchdog. Lucky for him, he has oodles of other endearing qualities.


For Your Amusement

Yesterday I was at the local Wal-Mart. Now I was only in there for about 5 minutes and when I came out, there he was - a damn Motorcycle cop writing a parking ticket

...So, I went to him and said: "Come on Buddy, how about giving a guy a break?"

He simply ignored me and continued writing the ticket.

So, I called him a pencil necked Nazi. He then glared at me and started writing another ticket for having bald tires!

So, I called him a sorry excuse for a human being. He then finished the second ticket and put it on the car with the first. Then he started to write a third ticket!

This went on for about 25 minutes ... the more I abused and hurled insults at him, the more tickets he wrote

...But hey, I didn't give a damn. My car was parked around the corner ...


found at http://jokes4all.net/jokes/cars/jokes.html along with another zillion car jokes.


On the MS Front

Well, I guess the heat was getting to me or it has just been a couple of those days. My headache that kept me up the night before continued right on through the game into the night. I was burning up too. M said he wasn't hot so it must have been my screwed up thermostat but I drank a gallon of water and looked forward to my air conditioned car. I enjoyed the game in spite of it.

The air conditioned car then broke last night. I always drive to his work before a game so we can go in one car. After the game when we picked up my car, I turned off the fan to hear what M was saying as he was getting something out of his trunk. When I backed out to follow him home, the fan wouldn't come back on.

One day I'm just going to shoot that Murphy.

With Max waking us up all night, blissful sleep was also not an option so I had a time getting up again today. But! It appears the weather's breaking again so I'm hopeful we'll be back to normal temps and normal sleep patterns. Keep your fingers crossed.

Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:16 am

65o - A white filmy sky again. Keeps the temperatures lower but is also hiding the sun. Because the clouds are so light, I don't anticipate the thunderstorms we had last night. Maybe a sprinkle or two but it looks like it's going to be a better sleeping night. Smile

Sunset: 9:08 pm




~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

308.  Foot stools...ID #594271 
Posted: 7-2-2008 @ 5:05 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

Sometimes you just have to stop, sit down and put your feet up.



Meanderings

This is going to be short today. I’m conserving my strength for the Mariner’s game I’m going to tonight. But, I did want to let you know how the psych eval went and what’s happening here on this fine sunny day. Sometimes, instead of my meandering questions and rants on the nonsense that comes over the news channels, I like to sit back, put my feet up and just chat.


My latest embroidery project is a fun one. A touch of retro flowers I’m doing up in purple, red and blue, with borders in two shades of light green, it’s very pretty and just a tad funky. I’ll let you know when I’ve got a pic up for it. I like this one because it uses a variety of stitches: feather, straight, satin, and stem.

On the writing front, AC published a few more articles:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/812935/a_cruise_on_the_columbia_gorge_s...
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/837155/10_gardening_tips_to_assist_the_...
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/854087/what_is_the_sca_society_for_crea...

and just today I accepted the offer on

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/838243/imipramine_side_effects_and_effe...


Writing for AC has been a very pleasant experience for me. I feel like I’m actually being productive. The money isn’t much (kind of depends on how many people read them) but the point is that I’m actually bringing in a little spending money that I would otherwise have to get from M. Not that he minds, of course, but that’s not the point. I’ve always worked and contributed to our income. Now, I’m scared to death that I’ll be at a job and suddenly forget where I am or what I’m doing. (the MS cognitive issue). Working from home allows me to get up from the computer when I need to and continue on when I feel better.

Sheesh…and I said today would be short. The coffee must be kicking in.


Joke of the Day

Almost forgot your Joke of the Day for this July's Anti-Boring Month...

What is the difference between a cat and a comma?

One has the paws before the claws and the other has the clause before the pause.


found along with a zillion other cat one-liners at http://www.moggies.co.uk/html/jokes.html


On the MS Front

Today is my illustrious after shot day and last night must have been a dilly. I woke up several times with a splitting headache and kept going back to bed. I finally dragged myself out at 11:30 and decided that enough was enough. Now, I’m just going to sit on the couch and work on my latest project until time to leave.

But I digress...the psych eval test. Okie dokie. It turns out that they had a scheduling snafu. Instead of scheduling me for the cognitive testing, they scheduled me with the psychologist/psychiatrist (not sure which) who will be evaluating the results and consulting with me on the process from there. I'm actually supposed to see her AFTER the test.

Though they may have made a mistake, I did enjoy talking with her. She wanted an earful on my life, family, past history, MS symptoms, things that bothered me and so forth---and you know how I am---rambling is my strong point. Thus, it was an enjoyable appointment in spite of the mix up and even she said it was well worth it since she had a much better idea of how to proceed. Life sometimes throws some sugar along with the lemons.



Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:15 am
82oF - yes, sunny and hot again. Fortunately the fans seem to be doing their thing right now and it’s not too bad. I’ll be leaving when the sun hits the west side of the house and we get to the hottest part of the day. Being in my air conditioning car will be a bonus at that point.
Sunset: 9:09 pm



~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

307.  Loonie Tunes...ID #594028 
Posted: 7-1-2008 @ 11:33 am EDT 

Jogging the Brain

I'm beginning to think all the crazies live here.



Meanderings

Over the years we have made so many advances in the study of the physical human body. I wish they could do the same for the mind. In that area, we're still dealing with the great unknown and using many corrective measures that should probably be relegated to the dark ages.

So many of our crimes indicate a real sickness in the psyche of the perpetrator. Crimes such as cruelty to animals, abuse of children, abuse against the homeless, arson, to name just a few, indicate a detachment from humanity. Though the crimes can be horrendous and brutal, they display a real illness that the psychological sciences do not have a clue how to treat or prevent.

What makes someone able to torture a defenseless animal or harm a small child or burn an apartment building full of people? How can someone willingly and knowingly inflict tremendous pain on another who has never once hurt them? Some people advocate religion but many of these individuals actually use a twisting of religion as the psychological reason for their sick behavior. The sickness in the individual is blatant yet our only recourse is to lock them up where they can do not further harm to society.

This is sad and shows our ignorance. I don't advocate letting the crazies out, of course. With our current knowledge, it is all we can do and must do. But, I do wish we could make some of the same breakthroughs in the area of psychology that we have made in the area of medical science. I wish we could find the cure that would allow these ill people to rejoin the humanity they have departed from.

This also touches on my reluctance with the death penalty. No matter how viscerally I would want to kill some of the people guilty of horrific crimes, there is still that small knowledge that they are ill. No stable, well adjusted, healthy individual harms, deliberately and coldly. They can't. It simply isn't in their nature. It is one of the reasons "Temporary Insanity" is given when someone snaps. So when advocating the death penalty, I know that it is condoning the treatment of illness by annihilation of the individual suffering from the illness.



On the MS Front

This morning I go to my cognitive evaluation test. It should be interesting (read...draining, intimidating, possibly aggravating). Will let you know how that works.


Things to ponder for the month

According to: http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/july.htm
July contains the holidays, "National Blueberry Month", "National Anti-Boredom Month", "National Hot Dog Month", "National Ice Cream Month". In addition, this first day of July heralds the "Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day" and the "International Joke Day".

Between the "Anti-Boredom Month" and today's "International Joke Day", this lovely Tuesday should keep you amused.

Of course, don't go by today's Meanderings. Guess I'd better add a joke in here, hmm?


One of the sent to me in email ditties:

A man asked his wife what she'd like for her birthday.

"I'd love to be six again," she replied.

On the morning of her birthday, he arose early, got up, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms and then took her off to the local theme park.

What a day! He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was. Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. Right away, they journeyed to a McDonald's where her loving husband ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie to see the latest blockbuster, a hot-dog, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favourite candy, M M's. What a fabulous adventure!

Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his precious wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, "Well, dear, what was it like being six again?"

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. "You idiot, I meant my dress size!"

The moral of the story:

Even when a man is listening, he's gonna get it wrong.




Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:14 am
61oF - Last night was enormously cooler and I was actually able to sleep well. Sunny and blue with some soft little clouds floating low in the sky. The clouds indicate the change in our weather. Though today is predicted to be hot, we are not supposed to hit the highs of the last three days. I'm saved!
Sunset: 9:09 pm




~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

306.  Out with some steam...ID #593878 
Posted: 6-30-2008 @ 3:41 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

When the doctrine of allegiance to party can utterly up-end a man's moral constitution and make a temporary fool of him besides, what excuse are you going to offer for preaching it, teaching it, extending it, perpetuating it? Shall you say, the best good of the country demands allegiance to party? Shall you also say it demands that a man kick his truth and his conscience into the gutter, and become a mouthing lunatic, besides?
-The Complete Essays of Mark Twain, p. 582




Meanderings

I was going to use the quote that Barack Obama referenced in his speech reiterating his patriotism against the stupid, ignorant attacks via back alley emails on that very subject. ("Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it")However, I had also decided to speak out against this FISA mess and on that subject, I stand squarely on the opposite side from Obama.

Thus, while looking for the actual quote that Obama used, I found the one above in "Jogging the Brain". That quote fits my thought process much more accurately.

She's rambling again, you say. What is she talking about, you ask?

If you can call up YouTube, watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOA1YAglmUw

To explain, as much as I support Obama as our next President, I also do not support everything that comes out of his mouth, or every decision he makes. This is one of them. I totally disagree with his stated intentions of voting yes on this bill as the damage it allows far outweighs any lack of having FISA currently acting on our behalf. Eliminating the ability to stop Bush's actions on this, eliminating the ability to prosecute those corporations who have aided and abetted in illegal activity is not acceptable and cannot be compromised. Yet, Obama will probably join with some of the other democrats and almost all republicans in voting to support the "FISA compromise".

So what does this mean? Do I stop supporting Obama? Decide to either not vote or vote for McCain? No. Neither of those is a viable option for me.

McCain's proposals on every subject run contrary to what I believe. Every vote he has cast against the veterans, every vote against children's health care, women's rights and his message on the environment tied in with his messages on the economy run squarely against mine.

Not voting is also not an option for that is tantamount to voting for McCain. Bush has been the very worst President in our history. I didn't think he would be and felt there were a few who perhaps topped his stupidity and disregard for the constitution and the American people. But, I was wrong. Bush is, by far, the worst. He has made ignorance seem to be a worthy thing and sadly convinced a nation that intelligence is an elitist and "bad" thing to have. I can not allow that regime to continue through McCain because of my own disgust over an issue or my apathy.

By voting for McCain or not voting, I would be resorting to the very acts of some of the Hillary Clinton supporters who threatened that very thing if their candidate did not get elected. Those individuals I had major disdain for. Would they rather have McCain, one of the worst when it came to supporting women? Really?

So no, I don’t agree with Obama on this one. But, unlike the Republican propaganda, I was never under the impression that Obama was the “most liberal senator in the senate”. Far from it. Only someone willing to negotiate across party lines could get the cooperation between parties that Obama has been able to do, both in the Senate and when he was in the Illinois state government. If I wanted the most liberal, I would have voted for Kucinich. Kucinich would never have made it to the Presidency. Obama can and I hope he does.


On the MS Front

This past weekend was a killer. Friday night was okay but Saturday my area hit the low 90's. Sunday was worse and today, though cooler, does not feel any better. Without air conditioning, "I'm wilting" is an understatement. My MS does NOT like temperatures over 71o maximum. So writing this is a tad hard, but I'd like to end June with an entry.

Today was also my spit test/strength test/blood work/MRI/mthly stress call. All that is for the research group I'm in, studying stress and multiple sclerosis. Every two months I get the whole shebang above.

One of the tests and the one that does me in quicker than any of the others is part of the cognitive evaluation. Here's how it goes:

Have someone write down a random series of numbers from 1 to 8, for say...35 numbers. Then they have to read them to you, one number at a time. When you hear a number and then the next one you add them together. The next number you hear, you add it to, not your added answer, but the last number you heard in the previous set.

For example: If I said 1...2, you would answer 3. If the next number I said was 5, you would said 7. (adding 5 to the last number of the previous set you heard, which was 2)

Lovely ain't it? Give it a try sometime. You'll be swearing too. For me, it is a study in my patience at sounding like a dumbfounded, stuttering idiot...but...all for the cause, right? LOL


In the Garden
ending June with a joke sent to me in email, which tickles the warped side of my sense of humor.

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.

3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH

6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - W D-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.


DAILY THOUGHT: SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.


Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:14 am
79oF - Humidity at 64%, no air conditioner and the hottest time of the day is five hours away. Blue skies, sunshine and the water vapor is coming from the sweat rolling down my face. As soon as I post this, I'm getting an ice cloth out of the freezer, placing it on the back of my neck and becoming a vegetable on the couch.
Sunset: 9:09 pm



~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

305.  I believe...ID #593443 
Posted: 6-27-2008 @ 6:30 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

When charity toward others becomes a guiding rule, mankind can rise above their personal issues.



Meanderings

One of the things I have found enormously disturbing over the last couple of decades (yes, I've always reminded you guys that I am old, old I tell you...LOL...but, I digress) is the trend in militant religious attitudes that exclude and divide peoples into camps. These camps cannot rise toward finding solutions to problems because they exclude all others who do not believe as they do.

When you look at various world religions comparatively instead of at dogma in individual sects, you find charity toward others, caring for the poor, the weak, the sick, doing no harm as a basic guiding principle in all of them. It is a fundamental moral that is inclusive, not exclusive and is also logical from a self perpetuation of the species. Eating your own is a move toward extinction that charity overcomes.

Unfortunately, because of a few, religion itself has gotten a bad name. The concentration has moved toward laws and strictures instead of the fundamentals of caring for the neighbor and doing no harm.

One of the visible banners of this is the propensity for judging our political leaders on their "faith" and "religious affiliation". I believe I said in my blog almost a year ago that we would one day have a real democracy when a black, lesbian woman who was a practicing Wicca could become President of the United States. That would truly signal we determine our President upon their merits for leadership, character and love for their country and citizens rather than which personal dogma they adhered to, which race they were or which gender.

Recently, the most ugly of these exclusive devisive traits has become front page news and back alley emails because of the ignorant controversy over which religion Barack Obama adheres to and quite frankly, whether that matters. It came to a head when James Dobson leader of the group called "Focus on the Family" started publicly attacking Obama on his "confused theology" and "distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible" to fit his own needs.

Well, this morning I was pleased to find that some people who claim the Christian faith as their own are finally fighting back against those who use Christianity as a weapon instead of as a means to care for those around them. There is now a website, "James Dobson does not speak for me", http://www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com/, where individuals can express this message. It also gives a clear comparision of each of Dobson's statements against the "Call for Renewal" speech Dobson rails against.

One of the sad fallouts from the past two decades of religious wars is in the backlash against the very religions who adopt this exclusive attitude.

*Bullet* Christians find themselves confused between their own belief in caring for others and the hatred many of their leaders offer as public examples of the tenants of their faith.

*Bullet* Many of those practicing Islam feel their own faith is being characterized by radicals who claim their destructive attacks are the true expression of that religion.

*Bullet* Many Jews find their religion being despised by those who feel that Judaism represents only condescension of all others or that Jews express nothing but a means to an end of their making.

*Bullet* Atheists and many pagans feel the world spits on the idea that they can love others or be just as compassionate and moral as those who profess a belief in a particular God and that they must be converted.

*Bullet* Many Hindus and Buddhists see their religion being characterized by those who have no concept of the faith and guidance behind the symbols.


It is my belief that one's personal moral adoption, one's personal attitude toward what guides their life, whether deity, deities or science, fails society and the individual, when it excludes the rights of others to personally arrive at their utmost and highest potential. That act of helping others reach that potential, not through dictation of dogma, but through charity, caring for our environment and for our fellow man is fundamental. To me, it is not being naive but living with a sincere and profound hope that mankind will evolve.

On the MS Front

Last night was shot night but since I wiped myself out in the garden last night, I slept through the sledge hammer routine this morning. I'm moving a bit slow but feeling just fine.


In the Garden

Speaking of the garden and what I did last night, I helped S with her planters. She had the most marvelous idea and I told M that next year I'm stealing it. Instead of buying individual little seedlings to fill her planters, she bought some lovely hanging planters, full and blooming. We filled the planters and then transferred the hanging plants from their container into the new large planter boxes. They are gorgeous. Instant flowers without waiting a month for them to fill out.

Yes, that idea is going to be used next year for certain.


Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:12 am
79oF - The clouds are gone, the sky is clear and sunshine is everywhere. This is also the first of the days where the temperature is supposed to climb into the upper regions. Fortunately at the moment, our fans seem to be working well and circulating the air through the house. It's still very comfortable in here.
Sunset: 9:10 pm




~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

304.  You can't change that...ID #593229 
Posted: 6-26-2008 @ 3:13 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

The traditions we hold dear are often based on the most practical but obsolete of motives.



Meanderings

I was listening to the Thom Hartmann show on AirAmerica today while on the way back from the MS Center. He had Flemming Rose on as his guest and aside from the cartoon which stirred up so much controversy in Denmark, they were also discussing culture differences and Denmark’s democracy versus our democracy. Interesting show.

Anyhoo, one of the subjects that came up was about Denmark’s tradition of smaller buildings (I think he said something like 22 meters being norm for highest height possible (that is a guess, because my MS does not let me catch things sometime when people speak too quickly and there is no rewind on my radio…) at any rate, not five stories which the new ones were being built at. People were getting all bent out of shape and calling the new buildings their “Manhattan”. Not traditional…they didn’t do things like that...it disturbed the city, etc. However, it was the reason for the original height that had me laughing and brought up this food for thought today. The reason? Back in the days when the buildings were originally being built, that particular height was the length of the longest fire ladder in the city.

That then reminded me of the supposed reason SRB’s on the space shuttle were actually related to a couple of horses butt’s, however, on looking that up to make sure I was accurately retelling the tale, I found “The Straight Dope”, a nice site that goes over the whole thing. Evidently it is sort of true and sort of not true. You can read about it here: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000218.html

Then, I also thought about the mystical dot matrix printer driver. Back when Microsoft first bought FoxPro they were working on a windows version of the product. Now, this was the days when dot matrix printers were still in heavy use in many companies, though most white collar offices were trying to go the route of the jet printer or better yet, the laser printer. However, most dBase programs were written for a dot matrix, as was FoxPro. Microsoft Windows had their own dot matrix generic printer driver, so when they started coding for their version of the FoxPro program, we found they had to “put” a bug in the printer code. Why? Because the original dBase has a bug in the print code which gave a faulty linefeed to the printer. Since many dBase coders went to FoxPro and subsequently to Microsoft, Microsoft did not want to break the code of all the programmers they were trying to convert. Yes, all the early programs had hard coded their reports to account for the bug, soooo, Microsoft had to incorporate the bug into their generic printer driver because they didn’t want to break all the programs in Dbase and FoxPro they were hoping to automatically convert to the windows version of FoxPro. At least this is how I remember it from way back then.

So, what does any of this have to do with each other? Things we think are sacrosanct can sometimes and I would even wager to guess, often, based on purely practical reasons which after time seem to be “the way things have always been and are supposed to be” The “thing” becomes the tradition and the practical changing nature of why is long forgotten. Keeping things the same just because they’ve always been that way is then seen as rather dumb.

I hope this makes sense because I do think I’m making a muddle of this entire thought process.


On the MS Front

Well, the doctor’s visit went well. The results of the MRI last week was good. No additional lesions are showing up. I asked him if there were no additional lesions why I can’t get back to the way I was prior to July of 2007. He said he understands my frustration but just because there are no NEW lesions does not mean there is not additional damage to existing lesion areas. Since I don’t have any NEW symptoms, that is what he suspects. Thus, the verdict on the Rebif is that it is seen as helping me and we won’t be changing my meds.

I told him that lately I felt good enough to where I was starting to fall back into old patterns of denying I had MS in the first place since I’m sick of taking medicine. He kind of chuckled and said that a great many people were very adept at denying the had MS. But we both know I have it.

I told him, there’s no doubt I have MS when my legs totally give out on any incline or my coordination goes bonkers and my brain stops functioning well when I’m under stress or overheated. Then I added, “But, I know I have it really good for having MS”. And this next statement just tells you what a sweetheart this doctor can really be. He said, “No, if you had it really good, you wouldn’t have MS” Wow. I’m keeping him.

We also scheduled me for a cognitive test next week. This one I’ll actually go to because it’s at the MS Center and I won’t have to drive down 520 into Seattle during the morning rush hour. That trip I just couldn’t handle. This one at the Center I can manage.


For Your Amusement
Sent to me in email *Smile*


When her husband finally died the wife put the usual death notice in the paper, but added that he died of gonorrhea. No sooner were the papers delivered when a good friend of the family phoned and complained bitterly, "You know very well that he died of diarrhea, not gonorrhea.

The widow replied, "I nursed him night and day so of course I know he died of diarrhea, but I thought it would be better for posterity to remember him as a great lover rather than the big shit he always was."




Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:12 am
61oF - Bright sunshine and fluffy clouds in white and slightly smudgy shades of gray. We're supposed to be headed for a heat wave. With no airconditioning in most of the houses around here..wish us luck.
Sunset: 9:10 pm




~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

303.  Poppies, lovely poppies...ID #593022 
Posted: 6-25-2008 @ 11:40 am EDT 

Jogging the Brain

It is true that my eyes are open but it does not follow that I am awake.



Meanderings

I've always had the scary ability to appear as if I was awake, even to the point of carrying on conversations with people, yet still be fast asleep. My poor son got the brunt of this when he was trying to get ready for school and I would start talking to him about purchase orders and demanding to know why he hadn't put them on my desk. Absurd conversations are generally the only clue someone has that they are talking to a consciousness operating on a low voltage.

The thing is, in this state of seeming functional pseudo consciousness; it is very real to me when it is happening. That things do not make crystal clear sense is usually incorporated into this dream like state and accepted as part of the reality. Until someone jars me completely awake, a shocking occurrence on my end, I'll continue in that state. How long, I'm not sure. Most of the time, people do not allow me to wake-dream in peace. They can't handle the conversation that doesn't match their current reality or simply feel the need to "enlighten" me.

This actually touches on something I mentioned yesterday and a comment from a friend of mine on the subject of dogma. Caveat: If you're not into comparative religion or feel that any discussion that might seem to negate your own belief system is offensive, please do skip to the next section. You can end your reading of this section on the bizarre mental visual of a zombie Char walking and talking.

Still with me? Okie, dokie. A friend of mine brought up Discordians. Now, I hadn't really read much about Discordians at the time and thus made a joke that had little awareness to it. That's one of the problems with communication and humor...much depends on context.

I started reading about Discordians on Wiki and yes, for those of you who bemoan the accuracy of Wikipedia, I truly understand but it was the first thing that came up in my Googling and I'm much too asleep right now to pursue it much more on an intellectual level.

Anyhoo, one of the things mentioned was the law of fives. According to Wiki, and paraphrased by the nearly comatose woman writing his right now, the law of 5's is that anything can be related to a group of 5's if you look for it hard enough and this is somewhat proved by the fact that you can relate all sorts of dire, unique, miraculous consequences to something if you look hard enough.

I had to laugh at that because it does match my idea of reality. Our personal "Reality" is entirely based on our belief system. If the belief is based on an error, it follows that the reality will also be in error.

"Dubito ergo cogito; cogito ergo sum" (I doubt, therefore I think; I think, therefore I am - Rene Descartes)

I wonder if that then also means "Those who never doubt, don't think; Those that don't think, aren't."

On another note, this entire scenario does explain how certain children told they are always wrong/sinners/bad seeds/nin-com-poops/etc when they're kids-- if they belief such slander--then grow up thinking they are always screw-ups. The belief is the key and unfortunately small children do have a tendency to believe their parents and grandparents know what they're talking about.

Okay, going to my next cup of coffee now...



On the MS Front

Unbelievably, since it is an after-shot morning, I am actually up early and somewhat functional. The extreme fatigue in my legs has subsided and no signs of vertigo appear. Voila, Scarlet O'Hara was right (read yesterday's entry if this makes absolutely no sense to you)

For Your Amusement
Sent to me in email, and is specifically for my male readers. Females may snort with derision or ignore, whichever makes them feel better. *Smile*


Warning to Single Males

Police are warning all men who frequent clubs, parties and local pubs to be alert and stay cautious when offered a drink from any woman. Many females use a date rape drug on the market called Beer. The drug is found in liquid form and available anywhere. It comes in bottles, cans, from taps and in large "kegs."

Beer is used by female sexual predators at parties and bars to persuade their male victims to go home and have sex with them. A woman needs only to get a guy to consume a few units of Beer and then simply ask him home for no strings attached sex. Men are rendered helpless against this approach.

After several Beers, men will often succumb to the desires to perform sexual acts on horrific looking women whom they would never normally be attracted. After drinking Beer, men often awaken with only hazy memories of exactly what happened to them the night before, often with just a vague feeling that "something bad" occurred.

At other times these unfortunate men are swindled out of their life's savings, in a familiar scam known as "a relationship. In extreme cases, the female may even be shrewd enough to entrap the unsuspecting male into a long-term form of servitude and punishment referred to as "marriage. Men are much more susceptible to this scam after Beer is administered and sex is offered by the predatory females.

Please! Forward this warning to every male you know. If you fall victim to this 'Beer' and the women administering it..... there are male support groups where you can discuss the details of your shocking encounter with similarly affected like-minded guys. For the support group nearest you, just look up "Golf Courses" in the phone book.




Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:11 am

59oF - See? M was right. We installed the rain barrels and it's never raining here again. *Laugh*. Very blue skies, very bright sun and I'd best go water my plants.

Sunset: 9:10 pm


~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

302.  I wanna be...ID #592852 
Posted: 6-24-2008 @ 12:12 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

Does it matter more what you do, or rather if you do it well?



Meanderings

Although the Leo in me has the secret desire to be number one at such illustrious jobs as actor, doctor, scholar, writer, musician and so forth, in reality I think in much lesser terms. I know the sanitation worker is important, the person who hands me my coffee at Starbucks is important, the clerk who rings up my groceries is important and such is life.

What made me think of this? The death of two people I admired: Tim Russert and George Carlin; Two completely different individuals both in style, outlook and attitude. Yet, they were both great at what they did, had bright, quick minds and lived by their ideals.

I didn't always agree with George Carlin but he never failed to impress me. I envied the ability to see the ludicrous in everyday circumstances, to find the nut job in each situation. He never failed to make me laugh.

Some people found his humor offensive, particularly his attacks against religion. I must admit that I felt a twinge or two of discomfort when he would tread upon a pet belief or two of mine. Oh, I didn't mind jeers against dogma for I believe that it is dogma that is the cause of much more strife in the world than balm. Attacks against the core though, the basic belief in a higher consciousness leave me a tad cold.

But humor is a gift. It shocks us out of our complacency into a world where we see a bit clearer and appreciate the ridiculous in life.

Enough rambling for one day...


On the MS Front

A little slow going. Don't ask. Who knows? It happens; just one of those days when my legs feel like 50 pound weights. In shades of Scarlet O'Hara, "Tomorrow is another day".

For Your Amusement
Sent to me in email, of course *Smile*


When I went to lunch today, I noticed an old lady sitting on a park bench sobbing her eyes out. I stopped and asked her what was wrong.

She said, "I have a 22 year old husband at home. He makes love to me every morning and then gets up and makes me pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit and freshly ground coffee."

I said, "Well, then why are you crying?"

She said, "He makes me homemade soup for lunch and my favorite brownies and then makes love to me for half the afternoon."

I said, "Well, why are you crying?"

She said, "For dinner he makes me a gourmet meal with wine and my favorite dessert and then makes love to me until 2:00 a.m.

I said, "Well, why in the world would you be crying?"

She said, "I can't remember where I live!"



Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:11 am

58oF - Beautiful blue skies today. I don't even see a cloud from here. The sun's out and it really is gorgeous today. *Smile*

Sunset: 9:10 pm


~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~





 

301.  Letting go...ID #592663 
Posted: 6-23-2008 @ 2:10 pm EDT 
Edited: 6-23-2008 @ 2:11 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

Nothing unites people more than hate.
(although several blogs claim this as their own line, I've heard my husband say this for years and he doesn't read blogs. I believe it is simply a common thought expressed by many people and no one person "owns" it as their line...JMHO)



Meanderings

I saw a news broadcast this weekend showing some of the controversy over the new marriage law in California. In one scene they showed the protesters across the street from a couple exiting the church. One protester, in particular, caught my eye.

There on her banner in huge letters and echoed by her screaming voice was the statement "God hates people like you"

It struck me as so jarring---those two words "God" and "hates" together. It doesn't even compute for me. I want to ask her, "Are you listening to yourself? God hates? How can you even think that God hates anyone? Who are you to presume that God hates this individual?"

It's sad. It's so very, very sad. It's sad that people can not accept that some individuals do not believe the same translations of text that someone else may believe. There are Christian churches all over the United States that do not condemn same sex marriage. It's sad that someone would feel that their personal interpretation is the only way and the right way and that God hates all others. I find it so arrogant, so "un" godlike, so anti-Divine.

It is sad that someone would think unkindly of couples together for 20, 30, even 55 years...dedicated, committed and caring for their partner and refuse them the right to publicly declare it.. That they would deny them the opportunity to say to their friends and family, "I love this person. We are one."

Gay partnerships do not destroy the sanctity of marriage for there have been gay partnerships for eons. And not too long ago, and in my lifetime, mixed racial marriages were considered along the same lines. "They will destroy the family." "It isn't natural." "God doesn't want mixed couples to marry (associate...drink from the same water fountain...use the same bathroom...sit together on a bus)"

What is obscene is telling that gay partner who has lived with and loved an individual for decades that they cannot be at their partner's deathbed because "they're not related".

And for those who say, "Well, I'm not against a civil union giving them those rights...but I don't believe they should be allowed to have a real wedding and call it a marriage.", I ask you--Is getting married while jumping out of an airplane, getting married while underwater, and all the other crazy wedding ceremonies that straight couples indulge in...is that really more sacred than two people who love each other dearly, saying, "With this ring, I thee wed"?

And for those who say, "It's tradition", I say, "So was slavery and stoning. It doesn't make it right."

Hate is blackness, a dark hole lacking light and willing to swallow up all goodness. I don't accept that God hates but I do accept that people hate and do so with enthusiasm, willingly casting that aspersion on God.


On the MS Front

Things went pretty well this weekend, considering. We finally had two warm sunny days. This allowed us to spend time in the garden potting up a few more plants and weeding around those vegetables trying to grow in this cool, wet weather we've had lately.

I did have to stop yesterday. I got much too overheated and my balance left while my energy faded. There is a trick I was inspired to do based on a mountain climber who has MS. She says she has to concentrate intently on each step she takes, willing her leg to move forward. When my strength went, I tried that. It doesn't make it easier, but it did get me from the garden to the chair in the shade where I could rest.

In the Garden

I picked up a lavender plant at the Farmer's Market last week. That was one of my potting tasks this past weekend. I tried to grow one last year with no success. Lavender is not that difficult but it does require very good drainage and a sunny spot. This year, I'm growing it a large pot. I could control the soil I put it in and with the pot, I know the water won't sit in the bottom and drown the roots. So, we'll see. If it blooms, I'll take a picture for you. If it dies, I'll hum taps.


Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:10 am

58oF - Well, the sun's out, but it's one of those hazy white skies which could go either way. It's Tuesday and the Farmer's Market. Wouldn't want to have a sunny, non-rainy day for that, now would we? Bigsmile The temp's low again but perhaps it will climb up later in the day and we'll have some 70 weather again. *Smile*


Sunset: 9:10 pm


~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~




 

300.  Fourth Dimension...ID #592152 
Posted: 6-20-2008 @ 3:05 pm EDT 
Edited: 6-20-2008 @ 3:07 pm EDT 

Jogging the Brain

It's Friday and the clock is ticking, reminding me not of what I can do ahead, but instead, nagging me for all I've left undone.



Meanderings

My To-Do list has grown while my Get Up and Go is diminishing. Taking things one step at a time will alleviate the problem as long as my procrastinating evil twin doesn't convince me to have just one more cup of coffee. *Laugh*

Max is trying to escape to China. That's the only explanation I can find for the absolutely gargantuan hole he has created near my garden. The sucker is at least three feet deep. I told M that only thing to do with it is to plant a shrub there. I'm big on shrubs

(...a path...a path...with a nice two level effect...sorry...Knights of Ni from Monty Python...if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's from the Monty Python movie "Monty Python and The Holy Grail". You must have a demented sense of humor to enjoy it, which I do very much.)

M has opted to fill in the cavernous hole, believing we have planted enough shrubs for this year. He is removing sod at the edge of our garden fence, which he needs to get rid of anyway, and throwing all the clods into the bottomless pit. Max simply watches, knowing that as soon as our back is turned, he'll continue his escape routine. When he hits water I'm building a water feature.


On the MS Front

Not too bad even though it is an after shot morning. I'm having a heck of time getting to sleep lately. I'm hoping this is simply a schedule screw up and things will go back to normal quickly.

Saturday is my yearly MRI for the MS Center, but I won't know the results until next week when I go in to the see my regular MS doctor.

On the Working Side

AC bought another article from me:
("Gardening with Children: Kid-Friendly Summer Landscaping", http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/829811/gardening_with_children_kidfrien...)

and I shipped out another set of pillow cases today after loading up a new set this weekend.

("The Blues", http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12622085)

although I may have already mentioned all this to you. Ye Gad! I'm losing track! LOL

I am pleased with these projects. I enjoy doing these things but it also gives me an opportunity to actually contribute a bit and try to cover at least my own spending money. Anyhoo, I'm excited about it.


Outside my Window

Sunrise: 5:10 am

73oF - Not sure how we could lose a minute on sunrise prior to June 21st but according to the weather channel, we did. However, look at that temp! What a gorgeous Friday. And with that, I'm off to the Post Office and then will plan on sitting in my back yard for a bit. The sky is very blue with a few wisps of hazy white clouds sprinkled across it.


Sunset: 9:09 pm


~
Later... *Reading*


~ *Snow2* ~





 


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