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 |  Fibro fog, pain, writing sandwiched in between. Quotes. Sermon notes. Encouragement. |
A Texas Sunrise  A friend, William Taylor, took this picture. He visits Surfside Beach with his dogs almost every morning, watching the sun rise while the dogs prance about at the water's edge. This is only about ten miles from where I lived in Lake Jackson, Texas. Sadly, I only visited this beach about four times in the six years I lived nearby. Each day is a challenge. A challenge to get by without thinking about the fibromyalgia pains. A challenge to stay awake when chronic fatigure wants to take over. And a challenge to navigate through fibro fog. I haven't been writing as much as in the past. For years, I wrote at least 500 words a day. Now, I'm lucky if I write 500 words in month. Sigh. For more information about what my day (or life) is all about with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic pains, IBS, depression and everything else thrown in, check this out:
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| As I logged on to the computer around...I don't know...maybe 8:30 pm, my Yahoo front page said something about a bridge collapsing in Minneapolis during rush hour. I wondered why it wasn't mentioned on the news, then realized there was a time difference. The accident happened about 5 minutes after the evening news finished. Still, I'm surprised that there wasn't some breaking news report a bit later. As I read the Yahoo information and viewed "raw video" with no words, I was amazed. The article said that there was some construction going on, as if that was an explanation. Later it was reported that they were filling in pot holes. Well, that certainly would not cause the damage that bridge experienced. The late news reported that at least 7 people were dead and "dozens" injured. I pray that our WDC folks and their families are not among them. I know I have read things here by Minnesota folks. I'm sure the rescue personnel (and divers) will be searching for missing persons for a while. Let's keep them all in our prayers. And the families involved. ********** For those who asked about those July 4th parade pictures, I got this from the pastor today in a newsletter: http://4Salem.org/images/2007July4.wmv Hopefully you'll be able to view this easily using Windows Media Player. (I had to re-download it myself and find a "codec2" before I could see and hear. Grrr.) The music was some of what was piped to the crowds as we passed by. Our church members sang along with the music (no, none of our folks were actually playing instruments, just marching and giving out bottled water to the crowds...and clapping and singing...  That song is one of the favorites of our praise and worship team and of our members.What was really fun was when folks in the crowd joined in to sing with us. |
| I never read Hillary's book, but for some reason as I sat on the porch the other day, the title came to mind. Behind that quick thought were a myriad of others...about how different things were when I was a kid. Back then, our neighbors did help raise us. And mold us. Our friends' parents and our neighbors told us if we were out of bounds in our behaviors. They took advantage of teachable moments. They yelled at us if we needed that. And some, depending on the neighborhoods and the agreements among adults, even physically disciplined us. That's just the way life was back when I was a kid in the 50's and 60's. Today, most of us don't even know our neighbors. Even if we know them well enough to have a few discussions, or our kids play together, we don't have the closeness of those old neighborhoods. I do talk with the neighborhood kids about what's right and wrong, at least as it applies to my own yard. For instance, hubby and I are not comfortable having kids playing in the backyard when we're not back there or when Tiff is not with them. We had to get rid of the partially erected swing set (long story about why it was never fully completed) because the neighbor kids insisted on playing on it. We threw out the old tire swing (that was in a rather dangerous place) because the kids kept trying to swing. Even though we asked them to wait until someone could watch them or until Tiff was visiting and playing in the yard with them. When I was growing up, I learned many lessons from the adults around me, even when they didn't realize they were teaching. (That's something we all need to remember!) My mom offered hospitality to everyone. (That got the town gossips talking!) She offered iced water to the mail man, bread man. ice cream man, even the construction crew that was putting in the sewers in our neighborhood. No, there wasn't more to it than that, although the neighborhood busy bodies liked to think so. Mom had three kids running around (plus all of our friends), her mother, and her youngest brother-in-law (18 and building a stock car in our back yard) all around her to play chaperon.  Our home was also the one where our out of town relatives stayed. (And my uncle's church youth group, missionaries, and church officials when the Methodist church was changing from Methodist to United Methodist, and a bunch of churches were joining together.) Staying in motels was just not an option. Yup, Mom taught me all about hospitality. The lady next door had her mother-in-law living with her. The old grandma had a stroke and wasn't able to talk much. (Besides, she still spoke "the old language" - whatever that was.) My neighbor taught me the importance of taking care of family. She also taught me about flowers and veggies, although I have never been able to grow things like she and her hubby did. And, most importantly, she taught me about praying throughout the day - while cleaning the bathroom, mopping floors, folding clothes and stirring soup. My own grandmother taught me that we make being a Christian such a complex thing, when it's really quite simple. She told me Bible stories from heart, helped me learn the old hymns, and explained things to me in ways that I could understand. One lesson that I remember was about tithing. She explained that each of us should sing in church if we could, should teach if that was our talent, etc. She told me that we were supposed to tithe our time, talent and treasure. The treasure part I got. She explained about time this way. If one is awake 16 hours a day, then 1.6 hours (at least) belonged to God. If we only prayed or read the Bible 15 minutes a day during the week, then we had to make up the difference on Sunday, by serving and attending services all day if we must. Or by doing God's work in the afternoon - perhaps visiting shut-ins after church. The mother of two of my friends (girls - one was a year older than me, one was a year younger) taught me something about my behavior. If things weren't going my way, I would take my doll (or whatever other toy I brought with me) and pretend to leave. Actually, I hid on the cellar stairs, then emerged a few minutes later. Patty and Janet were glad I had returned and were more willing to see things my way. Once, though, Mrs. Rice caught me on the stairs and spent a good 30 minutes talking to me about what being a friend is really all about. I still remember that talk. The mother of another friend taught me things without every having much interaction with me at all. Because of her, I never wanted to spank my son, at least not much. Mrs. K used to paddle her kids over the most stupid things. They (and I!) were scared of her. I never wanted to have a kid (or kids) who was afraid of me. Today, I understand her a bit more than I did back then. Her husband had died and left her a single mother of 5 kids. She was pregnant with the last one when he died. That was before she moved to our neighborhood, so, of course, the busy bodies did lots of talking about her and her situation. I don't think they ever believe Mrs. K had been married. Some speculated that if she had been married, the last one was not his and finding this out caused him to have a heart attack. People could be mean. (Still are!) Today I realize how difficult life must have been for Mrs. K. In our neighborhood, most moms didn't work. But Mr. K didn't leave any insurance money, and in order to feed 5 kids, Mrs. K had to work after he died. You know...I have no idea what Mrs. K. did for a living.********* I'm not sure if I shared these links or not. I found them tucked away in a partially completed blog entry that was marked "keep private." I guess I had not finished my thoughts and forgot to finish them. This non-profit provides free movies to disabled persons. (Proof of disability required.) http://www.moviesforfree.org/Requestpage.htm Here's a great South Carolina resort. Prices for seniors, especially wanting to stay 6 months (and not minding a one bedroom) are great. Hubby and I have talked about going to North or South Carolina when we retire, so this was of interest to us. Of course, retirement is a way off.  http://www.myrtle-beach-resort.com/seniordisc.htm I'm not sure why I had this link tucked away. This is the URL where you can request all kinds of government (federal) brochures. http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/ |
| Jungle Jim's is a great grocery store here in the Cincinnati area. Jungle Jim's potties are in the running for America's Best Public Restrooms. There are 5 finalists, and voting ends today. You can still vote! Check out the story here, and don't forget to click on the movie camera that leads to a film all about Jungle Jim's and their weird restroom. http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?s=6801667 Did you know that last year the House of Representatives was in session about 79 days, but they got paid for an entire year. Something wrong with that picture, isn't there? Didn't these guys used to have other jobs to go home to when they weren't in session? Some of the guys from the House and the Senate will be holding town hall meetings in their "off time." Check here to see if your dudes (and dudettes) are doing that, and think about going to voice your opinions on what's important. http://www.house.gov http://www.senate.gov Find the local offices and call about where and when they're meeting. The other night when hubby and I were talking, for some reason something I wrote in the 6th grade came up in the conversation. Back then, we were assigned a paper on cancer. I got a C on my paper, which was quite unusual for me. My teacher told me that my construction deserved an A+, but that she didn't agree with my "findings" or "opinions." Know what I said? I wrote that I thought the only "cure" for cancer would be when God chose to cure one of His kids...because the doctors, hospitals and drug companies would be too busy making money on treatments to worry about cures. Perhaps those words and opinions would not surprise us from one of today's 6th graders. They've seen the medical machine at work. But the year I was in 6th grade was the same year that JFK was shot. That's a long time ago, and back then most folks still held the entire medical profession in high regard. There were probably still a few doctors who did house calls. Ours did up until he got sick when I was about 10 or 11, I think. That's why I got a C and why my teacher disagreed with my opinion of the medical profession. Thinking back now, I realize that I could not have written that paper all by my lonesome. I doubt that the resources I used - mostly encyclopedias and some library books - would have voiced the opinion that I embraced. Thinking back now, it almost appears like a....well, a prophecy? I came across that paper again when I was about 25. The teacher was right; the writing was rather good for a 6th grader...if I do say so myself. But the opinion was far from the norm.Sure wish I still had that paper. But, alas, it must have been dumped from the attic at my parents' home when they retired and sold their home. I remember my mother asking if there was anything I needed from the attic. She did send me a box of my old report cards, but my writings - and there were LOTS since I started writing so early in life - were tossed out. All I have now is the memory of some of them. Like that 6th grade paper. Wonder why that came to mind last night. Perhaps it was because I've been following along on the journey of our good buddy Budroe   and our ex-member Raven. Perhaps it was because I had heard from my cousin, whose mother died years ago from cancer. Or because I have not heard from another cousin much recently whose father died from leukemia. Yesterday, Marvin Zindler passed away from cancer of the pancreas. (See my entry yesterday for more information about him. Or here's KTRK Channel 13 in Houston's page with lots of info. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/front)What's even stranger is that right after this discussion with hubby, a friend sent me a link to an article written in 2006 by someone who voiced some of those same things I did way back in 1963. I was going to put that here, but now I've lost it. The link to the 2006 article. Grrr.Speaking of videos you can watch. Check this out. Here's a place where you can watch videos of your favorite Christian pastors and speakers: http://www.lightsource.com |
| Marvin Zindler passed away today, at the age of 85. He was part of Houston's KTRK-TV news gang - the consumer reporter. Most recently, he'll be remembered for his reports on the cleanliness (or not) of Houston area restaurants. He wasn't shy about telling viewers about roaches and rats or rodent droppoings found in restaurants. And every one of his segments ended with reports of slime in the ice machines. There was even a jingle about that. I moved to Houston in 1978 and loved Marvin's reports from the first time I heard them. Perhaps his voice reminded me of someone I knew in Pittsburgh - Myron Cope, a commentator for the Steeler's radio broadcasts for 35 years. I left Houston in 1986, then returned to the viewing area (Lake Jackson) in 1997. How exciting it was to hear Mr. Zindler's voice again. "Marvin Zindler, aaaaaah (eye) witness news." If you're not in or near Houston, you still might know something about Marvin Zindler without realizing it. Zindler used to work the sheriff's department. After he was fired, the TV station hired him and shortly after that, Zindler reported on a brothel in La Grange called the Chicken Ranch. Yes, that's what inspired the musical and the movie, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." In the movie, DomDeLuise played Melvin P. Thorpe, the character based on Marvin Zindler. I wonder if someone else will step up to do those slime reports now. Don't think it will be the same. Here's something I found on YouTube about the slime in the ice machine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUqlbjxznZA |
| Our small group's appointed time for working the booth at the festival was 7:30 to 10 p.m. A few of the younger women had committed to being there the whole time. That left us older folk the choice to decide if and how long we would be there. I was actually thinking that if I felt able to be there, I would try for the whole time. But plans are supposed to be flexible, right? One of our neighbors was sitting on our porch and sharing kitty and kid stories with me and hubby. I'm not sure how much bonding with older (and hopefully a tad wiser) folks this young woman has had in her life. I've been trying to get her, her boyfriend and their two children (about 18 months and almost 5 years old) to come with us to church...or to find a church to their liking. So, I figured the porch talking was a good thing. I finally did make it to the booth about 8:30. A little while later, our neighbor and her boyfriend showed up at our booth. Later, when we were all home again, her only comment to me was, "It looked like you were having a great time with your church friends." I was! And I'm glad my neighbor got to see that. Well, you know. Some folks think that all church folk do is fuss amongst each other. We sold sodas, iced tea, bottled water, and lemonade - all bottled and convenient - for $1.50. The sign on the booth said that all of the proceeds from that booth were going to the township recreation center. So, I take it that our church does this to be neighborly. We did have our church banners at the top of the booth and brochures that folks could take if they were interested. But, as my neighbor pointed out, our camaraderie was probably the best advertisement. I'm not sure if the township collected money from the first shift (5-7:30) or if what we ended the night was from the whole evening (5-10), but we figured that there was over $1,000 in the money box when we turned it in. That's lots of $1.50 sodas. And, many were sold in the last 30 minutes before the fireworks started at 10. I did have fun, but was reminded of something this morning when I finally got out of bed. Everything I do takes its toll on my energy level. Since I went to church (and I do clap and sway and actively praise Him) and then worked that booth all in the same day - with a very short nap in between - I think I used up some of today's energy yesterday. Golly gee whiz that makes me mad. I'm only 55 for pity's sake. I should still be dancing! On a whole different note... Have you seen this New York Times article? Scientists’ Tests Hack Into Electronic Voting Machines in California and Elsewhere. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/28/us/28vote.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&or... With Presidential elections looming (and primary voting even before that), this is a pretty scary discovery, if you ask me. It also does make one wonder about those last elelction results. But that's another story... Devvy Kidd, contributing columnist for NewsWithViews.com said, "The only way we the people will know if we have fair and impartial elections is paper ballots, hand counted inside the precicnts before they are transported to the county clerk. Anything else will be a continuing illusion and a tragedy for this nation. Do Americans want fast-food style elections or honest ones? High-tech can be good, but we cannot allow it to steal the ballot box in favor of speed." http://www.newswithviews.com/NWVexclusive/exclusive118.htm |
| Well...our township's annual festival is this weekend, and my woman's small group is working our church booth tonight instead of meeting at someone's home. I think we'll have a great view for the fireworks. Last week was so strange that I never got last Sunday's sermon notes posted. Now I have today's too. (And someone asked if I was ever going to post notes from the sermon I gave on July 15.) Okay...I'll work on all of that early in the week. Promise. I'll be leaving soon. Think I'll take a chair so I don't get stuck standing for 3 hours. |
| I didn't have to pick up my son from work this morning. Yippee. But I was awake. So I sat outside a while and watched the world awake. You know the drill. How I love watching the squirrels and listening to the birds. I talked with God a bit too. Then... This strange jumble of words insisted that I write them. Seriously, the weird words took over my mind and body and refused to let me finish up the load of laundry or work at cleaning up the kitchen. They made me write them.
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| Hey! Remember I said that the Cincinnati Enquirer was using my opinion piece/guest column? Here's the link:http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070724/EDIT02/707240305/10... We don't subscribe to the newspaper, so we didn't see it on the 24th. Yes, I do read the paper. We buy it on weekends and I usually check the online version every other day. But I was not being diligent (or vigilant) in checking for my article. ******** I was looking at my blog statistic page and checking to see how folks found their way to my blog page. Someone did a Yahoo search using the words: Book, Good, Lord. And they found their way to my blog. Pretty cool, huh? |
| Just wonrdering... Have you ever known a man to organize and conduct a garage sale on his own? Even when a garage sale is supposed to be a family affair, the woman usually spends weeks sorting through junk, tossing some, organizing and pricing the rest. On the appointed day(s) the man of the house might help put out a few tables for the junk, and furniture if they're selling any. (But, hey! Not that ugly chair that he's had since he was 13!) But that only really happens if you can put the tables out the night before. What man wants to get out of bed hours before the garage sale? Nope. They like rolling out of bed 10 minutes before the sale, throwing on clothes and asking, "What's for breakfast?" They don't understand, either, when the woman throws a really good plastic flashlight. "Hey, that's my flying pig flashlight! You can't sell that!" I guess that's why women don't complain. They put up with being the chief thrower-outer, pricer, and sales person because if the man actually likes participating he might notice all of those clothes she put out (he never wears them!), or those baby food jars. The guy insists that baby food jars might come in handy some day. Sure. When pigs fly, right? Those jars have been around for 12 years without being used. If the woman of the house needs a pit stop (heaven forbid!), the man hates being left alone. Of course, people (women) tend to know when the man is all alone with the garage sale stuff. Soon, he's totally confused by the women in 6 cars that drove up just as his wifey went into the house for her 5 minute adventure. Yikes. When she comes back, she discovers that he sold one lady a $2 item for $20 and another lady a $20 for $2. Well...not so nice for the one, but it evens out. Another kept asking if she could have "all of this for $10?" He got nervous and said yes. Ooops. Looks like he sold a box of about 75 old videos for $10. Well, not to worry. This is not going to happen at our house today. Why? Well... The hour by hour weather report that our local TV station puts on their web site says that we're going to have rain at 6, 7, 8 and 9 a.m. Our sale is supposed to start at 9 (which means the early birds should be showing up at 8). But if it's going to be raining right up until the sale is supposed to start, I'm going back to bed. No sense in me getting all hot and bothered about how men don't do their parts in the whole garage sale process. Nope. This chick is heading back to bed. Now...if hubby wants to handle a garage sale all by his lonesome, well...he's welcome to do that. Who's taking bets on this one? I'm telling you...men just don't do garage sales on their own. I'm pretty good at garage sales. (Both having them and finding other people's bargain junk when I'm out and about. ) When I was married to my son's dad, I used to have sales twice a year. He was always surprised that I (he thought we - ha!) brought in $300 or more each time. Haven't done that well here with Incurable Romantic . Know why? We've only been married since 2/05, remember? It will be a year or so more before I feel comfortable getting rid of his unnecessary junk.Remember yesterday I said we had 17 truck loads of stuff. That's his stuff. He's a collector of junk and a pack rat. I told him the other night that he would have to take a week of vacation to sort through the stuff. It's true. Pick up something, hold it and walk down memory lane, put it in the "keep" box. Repeat a gazillion times. After sorting through an entire basement and garage, I'm betting he'll come up with one box to be thrown away and one to be sold. The rest will continue to fill the shelves that line the walls. But that hasn't happened yet. I'm figuring...when pigs fly. Disclaimer: I am NOT saying hubby didn't do anything to get ready for this garage sale. He probably spent 6 hours sorting through old player piano music rolls that he's willing to part with for $1 each. In the process, he found a few for which he can get more like $10 each. Hey, y'all want any antique player piano rolls? Stats for Friday - 113 folks took a peek. Or maybe 10 people took a peek 11.3 times? Friday afternoon, I thought of a really good entry for early Saturday morning. You think I can remember what it was? Ha! |
| "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..." Isn't that how it goes? "These are a few of my favorite things...???" This one has her blinders back on folks. I'm going to hide away in my own little world of sunshine and Sonshine. Y'all can come visit if you want. But leave the negatives at the door, okay? My tummy really cannot take any more negatives. It's screaming. Hubby and I (and two other neighbors on our street) are going to try to have a garage sale tomorrow. We have about 17 truck loads of stuff we could get rid of. But there's not really time to sort through it by tomorrow. And...it will probably rain...if the weather man is right. So, that's where I am as I log off. Sorting through stuff just in case. Pray for sunshine, okay? And that we drag out lots of stuff and sell it all. Right. Hey, you know what? Yesterday I had 107 hits to my blog and already today 43. Guess that just shows to go ya that folks like fussin' and fightin' lots more than they like raindrops on roses. Oh well. I'll happily go back to having my 30 visitors. Y'all come. |
| You know which one I mean? The one that was always soooooooooo inspiring to me. She's quite a fighter, that one. Reading about her fight always made me realize that my own pains and illness were really nothing compared to hers. Grrr. Come back, pleeeeeeeeeeeeease. Now that we know how mean and rotten people can be to you, we'll try to protect you. Won't we people? Won't we??????!!!! Remember how in the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy clicked her ruby shoes together to get back home? Think that would work? We could try... Ready, click your heels together. "There's no one like you know who, there's no one like you know who." Or...remember how in Peter Pan, kids were urged to clap to get Tinkerbell to appear? (That was it, right?) We could try that. Okay, ready, set, go. Are you clapping? Or...maybe we could....I know! Say it with me, "Star light, start bright. First start I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight." Or, better still we could pray. But, no. None of that is going to work. Our friend is way too fragile to survive the negatives around here. She needs our prayers, of course. She may be in remission now, but we need to pray for a huge God miracle for her. I surely have been blind to things that happen here. Really. A few months ago, I encountered two writers who used to be here. One was here as long or longer than me. The other was only here for about....maybe 6 or 8 months. Both of them are happily sharing their works of heart at another writer's site. Both of them told me that they left here because of the cliques. "Cliques?" I asked. "What cliques?" Each one told me about being shown the door by some really mean blue case persons. (One of them had been a blue case writer too.) Of course I just poo-pooed the idea that there were cliques or mean blue cases. Psssshhhhaw. Not here at good 'ol WDC. No sirrree bob. (As someone in my family used to say.) Then I remembered a few other people who have gone from here whose "real" email addresses I had. There were about 3 or 4 of those people with whom I corresponded after they left here. A few of them mentioned cliques too, but I had ignored their comments. One of these disgruntled ex-WDCers called those who made his life miserable before leaving the BCWs (Blue Case Wonders). One said he had been dumped out of here for some really petty reason and I could not believe what he was saying was true. He must have done something worse than that...But now? I'm not so sure. There surely are cliques. There surely are people who can - and do - make life miserable for those who....what? Don't conform to their way of thinking? Don't bow down at their feet? Or those who defend persons who were wronged? Seriously. Remember how happy David McClain was about being on Center Stage. And then.....poof.......he's not there anymore. Here's what he said about that. "Invalid Entry"  Did his writing suddenly go from being good to being bad? Nah. He made someone mad. Go figure. Let's see... Is this a writing site, where folks go to learn about writing or a place to go to be in popularity contests? Hmmm.I've been pondering this a bunch, as my blog entries show. I guess this Pollyanna (as my sisters call me...that and the Ms. Merry Sunshine label I admit to) wears those rose-tinted glasses waaaaaaaaaaaay too much. I just don't see the bad stuff happening all around me. Usually. But my blinders have been lifted and what I'm seeing is really ugly. Yucky. Ewwwwwwwww. Stinky too.  Since I became a blue case myself (which seems like forever ago), I've had black and yellows write to me and tell me what a nice blue I was compared to some others. I thought they were exaggerating about the others. Now, you know, I'm just not so sure. I used to be proud of WDC and of being a blue. But these days, not so much. Well, I'll ponder all of this later. Perhaps after sleeping the world will look bright and sunny once more. Meanwhile... I've heard that she's still fighting....today...and she'll be fighting tomorrow...and the next day, and the next, and the next.... This just in from Jem. I don't know how long it will be available. "Invalid Entry" This entry names names and gives details, so it might disappear. Probably will. She and Raven are leaving for sure now, I guess. That's probably the right thing to do. Raven DOES NOT need to be around such negatives. She needs positives. Well, I'll miss her and her inspiration. Bunches. |
| But it won't be much of a secret once I share it here, right? Actually, I think I have found a secret. The secret to getting lots and lots of blog views. Want to know what it is? Well, based upon the number of views of yesterday's blog entry, it is one of two things. (Is it just two? I think I talked about two things.) 1) Call blue case persons "hoodlums." Yes, I really did say that. We're not all that way, but some definitely are - from the complaints going about this site right now. 2) Remind folks that they can save their entire portfolio by using the "site tools" drop down menu and clicking on "export portfolio". Which one do YOU think brought all the traffic to my blog yesterday? Something did, because I got 75 views yesterday. 75 Before that, my highest number was 57, I think.Hey, you think if calling blue case people hoodlums worked, will calling them dunderheads work just as well? Let's find out. Y'all are dunderheads! There. Now... I'm going to cross my arms across my chest and kick back and wait to see if the masses come.... I know, I know. Yesterday's entry was a bit cryptic. For those who didn't know what in the world I was referencing, I'm sure it was confusing. I'm sorry. For those who did know, they know I support them and their cause. Here's something else. Some may wonder why I'm bring this up now, but others will know. In 2003, I fled an abusive relationship. I left Texas and went to Michigan to get away. I spent a week with one sister, then ended up at my parents' home, where I experienced even more abuse - not physical, mind you, just....well being wakened at 3 a.m. and asked to leave for no cause that I could determine. (Except that later on it became apparent that Dad had Alzheimer's and mom suffered some kind of dementia.) I spent a month in a women's abuse shelter that year, then lived with an 84 year old lady for about 6 months, then was back with my parents. Note: During all of that, no one could have found me if they wanted to. That was the point. I was hiding from the man in Texas, remember?In 2003-2004, I was in the hospital twice, and you know what? If you had tried to find me or to send flowers to me you could not have done so. Why? Well, for one thing, I was in a hospital in a completely different town than where I lived for one visit. For another, I instructed the hospital staff that they were to give information to no one, even if they claimed to be family or friends. You know what else? If you had asked my parents if I was in the hospital, their response would have been, "No! She's not sick." They were clueless. Whew. Can you imagine what might have happened if some hoodlums and dunderheads decided they wanted to send flowers to me in the hospital? I can... They might have decided that I was lying about being in the hospital. They might have believed my parents! They might have decided to tell the world - well, the WDC world - that I was a liar. ....'Cause that's what hoodlums and dunderheads do. They assume things that are not true. Then when confronted with facts they refuse to listen to them. Aren't you glad we don't really have hoodlums and dunderheads here at WDC? I know I am. 'Cause since I made a public accusation of them being hoodlums and dunderheads, finding them to actually being intelligent and caring individuals would mean that I would have to apologize in public as well. Yep, that's how things should work. Accuse in public and apologize in public. Make a note of that kiddies. Disclaimer: If you are an admitted thug (I mean hoodlum) and/or blockhead (I mean dunderhead), and I have offended you, I am really, really sorry. I did not intend to offend anyone. I didn't realize we had persons at WDC who admitted to being in these groups. In the future, I will try to use different references to persons who don't have a clue, but choose to point fingers and wreak havoc around WDC. Hmmm. Hubby said that early on it's not clear whose side I'm on. Hopefully that's not the case, but as I told someone else just recently....I don't care what is your case color. What's important to me is that you are kind and truthful. And if, somehow, you've made a mistake, you own up to it. Well, I guess that's part of being truthful, isn't it? |
| I have been here since September, 2001. I think I arrived the week before 9/11. In that time, I have seen people come and go. I have hurt when writers were hurt - by their fellow writers or the general public. I particularly hurt when writers are hurt by those at a higher level, like the blue cases. Yes, I am a moderator myself. But I would never attack people like I know some mods have attacked writers. How do I know? Word gets out. People talk. Sometimes you can take what folks say with a grain of salt, I know. But sometimes, when the same stories are being circulated by persons who have not yet come in contact with one another, you know that the stories are real. Besides, I have had my share of accusations, about both writings and pictures. Sigh. I really have been writing since I was a kid just old enough to write. I don't steal the writings of others. I don't have to! And I have been taking pictures almost as long as I have been writing. I don't remember the first camera I used, but I do remember the one I got when I graduated from high school. It was a Kodak Magic-Cube. Are you old enough to remember those? You had to use a flash cube with an "X" at the top. But can I prove that the pictures I have used in my portfolio or my blog are my own creation? No, probably not. There are some on my computer that the church secretary at my church scanned for me in 2000 and put on a disk. I immediately went home and transferred them from that disk to my computer. When I worked for the newspaper in Texas, I also had some pictures put on a CD for me, by the guy we used to make copies of pictures for us when folks requested them. (We took good digital pictures for events, but had no way of making copies of them at the paper.) Again, I transferred those pictures from the CD to my computer. Could I prove that? No, probably not. Should I have to?????? ABSOLUTELY NOT! As anyone who reads my writings has to know, I am not a liar or a thief. Well, enough of that. I'm sure some of you are wondering. I know this is rather cryptic, and I'm sorry. Actually, after learning about something that happened here recently to a member of our community, I'm wondering if I want to even stay here and be a part of it all anymore. This time, it wasn't about whether or not said writer had written something, but it was a bunch of blue case hoodlums attacking someone's integrity. With my own personal (health) problems, I don't always see these things as they happen, but I have heard some things from a number of different sources - people whom I trust to be correct in their telling of the tale. Frankly, I'm feeling badly for two reasons: 1) That I wasn't around to put my two cents worth in as the drama enfolded. Not that my input would have made any difference. But it would have made me feel better to know that I had defended the writer involved while this was happening. 2) I wonder what kind of moderator I really am if I cannot be here as often as I once was or offer help to as many as I once did. Make that three reasons: 3) I am disappointed in my fellow blue cases, even though, to be honest, I don't know which ones participated in this event. That makes me wary of being close to any moderators, and I don't like that feeling. Perhaps just sharing that much will get me in trouble. Perhaps questioning whether or not I want to be here will be enough for someone to decide that I should not. Stranger things have happened... If my portfolio up and disappears one day and you haven't heard me say that I'm leaving, then remember that TexansBeatTheMiamiDolphinsBy3 has at least one of my other email addresses.That reminds me... Writers aren't always diligent about saving their writings. Did you realize that if you go to "site tools" and choose "export portfolio" you can save all of your writings? I suggest if you have not saved everything already, that's a great tool for doing so. Take a look at my hubby's comment to this blog entry. (You know, Incurable Romantic .) He has a point...And that reminded me of how our brother Paul used to end his letters: "Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love." Ephesians 6:23-24 NIV |
| I wrote part of an entry and marked it "keep private" so that I could finish it later, after I get back from volunteering at the church. I previewed the item. Then I hit "save and view." And...the item was gone. Makes me wonder, that's for sure. What I was writing about would not please the entire community. Oh well. I'll try again later. For now, I'm off to the church. |
| They do, you know. If I'm having a "grrrrr" or two during the day, if I'm open, I find there is at least one "yippeee!" too. Maybe that's even more true as I get older and as I'm not as healthy as I once was. God knows how much I can take...and how much I can't. My "grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" today: The doctor's office - AGAIN. Actually, someone from the doc's office called yesterday before the office closed, but I didn't hear my cell phone. She said I should call this morning, so of course I did. Nurse: If you insist, Dr. V says she'll run the liver function tests in two weeks. Your prescription is waiting at Kroger. Me: Excuse me? Does my file show the message I tried to get to Dr. V yesterday? Nurse: I'm not sure. What was the message? Me: (Sighing 'cause I've been through this - first two years ago when the doc said she would note my file and obviously didn't and then yesterday.) My doctor in Michigan said that my liver function test results were SO BAD after just two weeks of taking that drug that he said, "Don't ever take this again." Nurse: So you're refusing to take the script? That's certainly your choice, but the doctor just wants you to know what she recommends. Me: Really? Is she recommending that after learning that my last doctor said to never, ever take that drug again? Nurse: I'll make sure she knows that. And you're refusing to take the medication, right? Me: Well, yes, I am, but please make sure the doc knows why. And ask her if she has any other suggestions. Nurse: Well, her suggestion was that you start taking the medication and be tested in two weeks and then again in six weeks. Me: If a doctor told you to never take a drug, would you take it? Nurse: No, probably not. Me: Me neither. Yes, this IS the same doctor who refused to fill out my forms for the disability hearing. I really need to work on getting a new doctor. *************** And the "yippees!".  First, I got a notice today that I can have four free movie screening tickets for the new movie Arctic Tale. The movie screening is on August 4, so Tiff will be with us that weekend. Should be fun. Of course, hubby will have to get up early on a Saturday. The movie starts at 10 a.m., but there's no guarantee we'll get in. We're supposed to arrive early. My son figures we should be there around 8:30 to make sure we get in. That means leaving the house between 7:30 and 7:45 so we can drive to Newport, KY and get a parking place, take the slooooooooooooooooooow elevator (remember my experience with walking the three flights of stairs? - over a week to recuperate?) and be there early enough to really get in.There are mixed reviews about this movie. One said that it's a mix between The March of the Penguins and Al Gore's movie (Inconvenient Truth?). It's sort of a documentary and sort of not. I think it sounds like a fun family adventure. (Hey, I'm a true Scotsman. I love free things! They're even better than cheap ones. )FYI, the movie's web site says that there are still free screenings available. http://www.arctictalemovie.com How about this. Did you know that there's a ministry that will send up to 30 pocket Gospels to you every month? FREE. (Yes, they will/do accept donations, but they're not required.) You can even choose which version/translation you want to give out and what cover you'd like on your pocket Gospels. For years, I've purchased Bibles at garage sales and estate sales to have to give away. I like being able to share God's Word when someone is ready. This ministry allows you to give out the Gospels - a really easy way to introduce someone to Jesus. Interested? I'll send you the link if you are. You can check out the site's statement of faith and other things to make sure it lines up with what you believe. I've already ordered my 30 Gospels for the month. *************** Look out! I'm "grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring" again. The doc's office just called - AGAIN. The doc said she would "let me" take half of the dosage of the prescription and test my liver function in two weeks. I really need to do some research on this tonight. This time, I insisted on getting the numbers for LDL and HDL. |
| I had my physical on the 13th, remember? This afternoon I talked to my doctor's nurse. I think she was surprised when I argued with her on the phone. Back when I was still in Michigan, my doc decided that my cholesterol was a bit high, just borderline, actually, and put me on a drug to lower it. The doc scheduled me for more blood tests two weeks later, at which time my liver function tests came back looking really bad. That doc told me to never take the cholesterol lowering drugs again. Two years ago when I had my first physical with my current doc, she said my cholesterol was a bit high, nothing serious, and tried to put me on those same drugs. I told her what the doc in Michigan said, and she changed her mind. Today, the nurse called to inform me that my cholesterol was even higher than last time and that my doc had called in a prescription for me. I told the nurse that if the drug was in the class of drugs that lowers cholesterol, but affects liver function, I was not going to pick up the prescription. I asked the nurse what would cause my cholesterol to raise, if I wasn't eating lots of fat (not much at all) and no one in my family suffers from it (it's not genetic). She couldn't answer that. Since then, of course, I've been on the internet to see what causes it and what I might do to lower it by diet and/or supplements/vitamins. The next time I talk to someone at the doc's office, I'll have to find out what my exact numbers were. But even without knowing, what I determined - plugging higher numbers than my last readings into formulas I've found, it looks like my risk factor is low to moderate. So why the rush to medication? That really bugs me. The first - and usually only - answer for doctors today is to prescribe a drug. Gosh golly gee whiz. I already take so many medications. Grrrr. Oh, I know that high cholesterol means that one is more at risk for having heart disease. But I also know I don't want my liver to be affected by taking a drug I don't absolutely need. I have heard - on commercials (another grrrrr) - that there is at least one cholesterol lowering drug that does not affect the liver. I'm wondering...if they can make one that way, why in the world are they still selling the others?????!!!!!! Yeppers, I think my doc's nurse was surprised that I didn't just say, "Yes, m'am. I'll run right out and get that other prescription to take." And you know what? If I didn't have fibromyalgia, I probably would have done just that. Having something that some doctors still don't even recognize has a "real" malady has made me so much more aware of my own body and what it likes and doesn't like. I guess it's the same for anyone suffering a long-term/chronic illness, though. We sort of take control of our health, out of the hands of the medical people. And I don't think they like that. Oh well.Did you see the news about canned meat products that might be connected to a botulism outbreak? When I logged on just now, my Yahoo front page had an update. "Castleberry's Food Co. of Augusta recalled more than 80 types of canned chili, beef stew, corned beef hash and other meat products over the weekend, in addition to the 10 brands it recalled Thursday. Brand names of the recalled products include Austex, Best Yet, Big Y, Black Rock, Bloom, Bryan, Bunker Hill, Castleberry's, Cattle Drive, Firefighters, Food Club, Food Lion, Goldstar, Great Value, Kroger, Lowes, Meijer, Morton House, Paramount, Piggly Wiggly, Prudence, Southern Home, Steak N Shake, Thrifty Maid, Triple Bar and Value Time. The recall also includes four varieties of Natural Balance dog food." Now, that's scary. Here's the whole article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070723/ap_on_re_us/chili_sauce_botulism |
| Howdy, howdy, howdy! Are you ready for an awesome week? Remember a few weeks ago when I wrote the article about chain emails? (It's tucked away in my What's New? folder if you didn't read it. ) I also sent that article out to a few newspapers - the one I worked for in Texas, one in Pittsburgh (because I grew up there), and the Cincinnati Enquirer. Guess what! I heard from the editor of the Enquirer a few days ago. The article is too long for a letter to the editor (I knew that) but it's just right for a guest column or opinion piece (I knew that too.) The editor was writing to tell me they wanted to use the article and needed a picture of me and a few lines about me. This is not a paid gig, mind you. But it is an opportunity for me to get a recent publication for my portfolio. When I was in Texas, the 4 or 5 guest columns I did before working at the local paper were what got me my job there. I have also known freelance writers who ended up with contracts for weekly columns because they first submitted a few guest columns. TexansBeatTheMiamiDolphinsBy3 tells me that she likes contest without entry fees. Well, here's one that you can enter with or without a fee. With a fee, the prize is larger.SIXTH ANNUAL FUNDSFORWRITERS ESSAY CONTEST - SPONSORED BY NABBW.COM FundsforWriters and the National Association of Baby Boomer Women announce the Annual FFW Essay Contest with the theme: Make Us Want to Be You! In 750 words or less, either send us a remarkable promotional plan for your writing project or tell us what you'd do with your writing career if you had a year to devote to your passion. As always with a FFW contest, you choose whether to pay a $5 entry fee or not. The first prize for the entry fee division is $200. The first prize for the non-entry fee division is $50. Deadline October 31, 2007. Winners announced December 1, 2007. Visit our sponsor at http://www.nabbw.com http://www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm By the way, in either her FFW Small Markets or Funds for Writers newsletter, C. Hope Clark included an article about writing for small markets by Nadia Ali . The writer said that in the summer, she doesn't like to write long articles or strict deadlines. She's trying to have fun in the summer months, so she concentrates on some of the small markets, where you can earn $10 for 400 words. Not a bad idea. For links to both of Hope's newsletters, just check the left side of my blog page. |
| Poor hubby. One minute I was leaving the church service and the next he didn't know where I went. I went to pray with the women in my small group. This week has been a bad one for my small group. One of the women had an MRI on her back. It looks like she has a degenerative (another maybe?) disk. Another was just diagnosed with breast cancer. She's rather young, I think. At the most in her mid-thirties. And she has at least two young children. Another's daughter was just diagnosed with scoliosis - a curvature of the spine. The pediatrician was the one to detect the condition. The specialist cannot see the girl (teen) until October, so the family will be left wondering until then. Is it just a slight curvature? Or a more severe one? Will just watching it be enough, or will she need a brace? Our small group leader said that the children's Sunday school lesson she taught to her class today said it's important that we take our fears and joys, our prayers, to God as soon we realize there is a need or celebration. Since Susan discovered all of these things today, she called our group together after the church service so we could pray together. She said that when she teaches her kids' class, she is often reminded of things we should be doing as adults. Like today. My own aches and pains seemed rather small today. That happens pretty often. I may hurt, but the pains and afflictions I have are not life-threatening ones. That doesn't mean they are not there. It just means that I know how blessed I am. ********* You know...ever since the politicians started fussing and fighting about what to do about illegal immigrants, something has really been bugging me. I've noticed that a few columnists have written about this same thing. If there were terrorits in our midst in 2001 who hated us so much and did so much damage, why in the world aren't our government leaders concentrating on securing our borders? It makes you wonder. There are some who think that they're not worried about our bordes because the 9/11 happenings were an inside job, not something the "terrorists" did. If that was the case, it would make sense that the country's leaders would not be worried about the borders. I don't know what I think about all of that. But I do know that ever since 9/11 I have wondered why we haven't worked harder at closing the borders. Remember FDR? He would have probably found a way to take the unemployed and send them to guard our borders. Just some things to ponder. |
| Sometimes I realize what a sheltered life I live. Not working makes for a much different world the the world of those who work. Today I realized how long it has been since I visited a flea market. It was fun discovering again what kinds of things sell there. For instance, I had no idea that my dish soap bottle and liquid soap bottles might be feeling ashamed to be naked. Seriously, I feel badly that I have not covered them. Each crafty-type booth at this HUGE flea market (and some other booths with not so crafty items) had coverings for dish soap and liquid soap bottles for sale. They were cute little apron thingeys to put on soap bottles so that they're more fashionable and matching one's home decor. Great idea, huh? Except that when I buy dish soap and liquid soap, I go the dollar store and spend a buck. I really don't want to spend $4.95 to cover those cheap bottles! I think if I wanted my soap bottles to match my decor, I could spend a bit more for the soap bottles, right? I mean, I have seen decorative liquid soap bottles for the bathroom. Maybe dish soap doesn't come in decorative bottles, but I could a different brand to get a color to match my kitchen. But spending $4.95 to cover the bottle? I'm don't do much sewing or crafting myself these days. But if I thought my soap bottles would feel better about themselves, I could take a scrap of material and make a mini-apron for them myself. The other things that sell at flea markets haven't changed much. Every aisle had at least one booth selling knives, another selling sports stuff, one selling purses and one selling comic books. We did find a booth with some good DVD's for only $2. Derek got the very first Benji movie. I got both the The World Trade Center movie and the one about United Flight 93. Oh yes. The whole reason we went to the flea market was to see about a refurbished computer. There were a few guys selling them. One has an office not far from our house. His fixed up computers were impressive. He had one with 60gig hard drive for $355. His cheapest laptop computer was $155. Derek and I were at the flea market for a big chunk of the day. But I was smart. I walked a while, then sat a while, then walked a while. I probably didn't see half of what my young'un did. Neither one of us braved the heat to check out the outside vendors...and there were a gazillion of them too. Perhaps another time. The kid didn't rush into buying a computer. He's been checking prices of new computers too. Perhaps he'll just buy a Dell online. But I'm pretty interested in talking with that guy with the fixed up computers. Heck, he had towers - bigger and faster and better than what I have and with Windows XP - for as little as $119. That's doable. About those soap bottle covers... How many of you are dressing your soap bottles? Inquiring minds want to know... |
| I think I mentioned that my son has been sharing my computer with me. His is in the shop. It looks like it cannot be fixed. Our favorite computer repair geek is working to save what Derek wants saved on an external hard drive that Derek gave him. Today, I took Derek to the computer repair guy to drop off that external hard drive. Then I took him to look at some new computers. Next, Derek and I decided to stop at Gabriel Brothers. It's a really cool store with name brand clothes and accessories for cheap, cheap prices. Don't you know they were having a sidewalk sale! Yippee. I bought two pairs of jeans and a bottle of cologne for....are you ready? $4 total. Well, plus tax, of course. Can you believe? The jeans were on the $3 rack, but they were 50% off that. What a find. Derek found some pretty cool t-shirts for $1.50 each. One is from a restaurant and bar in Austin, Tx. When he was a kid, he hated that he was born in Texas. Now he kinda likes it. He also found one that says, "Southerners do it better." Hmmm.We called hubby and told him to get over to the sale pronto. Hubby has been needing some clothes for work. Let's see... He didn't get anything from the super cheap sidewalk sale. But he did get...two pairs of pants, a pair of shorts, two pairs of shoes and about four shirts (I think) for less than $100. Besides those cheap t-shirts, Derek was able to find a pair of shoes, three pairs of jeans, a pair of shorts and two (I think) shirts. His total came to about $60. Not bad. I tried finding more than I did, but none of the clothes really excited me. I saw a pair of shoes I would have loved having, but they had them in sizes way too big or way too small. Figures. I think I forgot that I'm not a shop til you drop person anymore. Never really was, actually. But now? I'm hurting big time from doing too much. Meanwhile, I need to be up bright and early tomorrow. Son and I are heading to the flea market. Supposedly there are some guys there who buy old computers and refurbish them. We'll see, I guess. Poor hubby has to work in the morning. Know what? The first time I was married it was on this date 34 years ago. I could have a kid ten years older than my son. Now that makes me feel really old.  Well, I better think about doing some snoring. Tomorrow is going to be another busy day. |
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