Tuesday, March 31, 2009

G-20 Summit, what is it and who will be there?

G-20 is a forum for cooperation and consultation on matters pertaining to the international financial system. I have listed the 19 countries involved in the summit:
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States, these include the finance ministers and central bank governors of 19 countries, the 20th member is the European Union.

So from what I get is that they are all coming together to try and solve our economic problems as a united front, marvelous!
I really hope it works.

“It’s the Brits who are abuzz about the Obama “500 strong” entourage arriving today in the UK, for the upcoming G20 Summit in London, complete with a staff of 200 U.S. Secret Service, armored limos, decoy helicopters, a six doctor medical team and a special armored plated limo nicknamed “The Beast”.” Thanks to the Blogger news network.

I had no idea that was all necessary, but it sort of makes sense from a security standpoint, I guess. I wonder how our new pres feels about all that.
He is so unpretentious, a regular guy.

Today I had some interesting emails that I had not asked for, and it baffles me to get these when I did not request them.
First was from an organization that I gave a small donation earlier this year 2009, asking for another, and I wrote back telling them I can only donate once a year not monthly.

The other was from an insurance company offering me health insurance at a bargain price, yep, and it covered nothing to for that rock bottom price, one fifth of a doctors office visit, more co-pay than what I now pay for my generic medications, dental was a quarter of the cost, and no surgical coverage at all, which I need, and all for a small monthly payment, what?
No thank you!
Why throw good money after bad, I ask you?
To be honest it is reputable company, and it was offered knowing full well that I have pre-existing medical issues, so this was a bone to try and show that they could be nice I suspect.
I suggested they talk to the doctors, hospitals and pharmaceuticals to try and bring the costs down so then their offer might be worth something to us so-called un- insurables.
I had to make up another word my dictionary did not recognize, apparently it didn't understand the word un-insurable, and to be honest neither do I.
But according to the “Insurance World”, only healthy young people should have insurance that is affordable and caters to the lack of actual need for their services.

This reminds me of the hurricanes when for years all those companies just kept collecting their premiums one after another for years and years, no problems with that, and then oops we get two horrible years of hurricanes and they questioned why they should give us the money we paid out to them? Irony or something more malicious, I still wonder to this day why some of us took months to receive our rightful payments and others only days and some never, and a few, I understand are still waiting. I suppose we will never know.
The mysteries of life can be confusing.

Well, on that note I will bid you all good night and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Monday, March 30, 2009

The unusual, usual and surprising...

Good evening, tonight I really had it in my mind to discuss my pet peeves, but I just want to take a weird side step.
About a month ago an elderly couple warded off a home invasion but the thieves got away with the female octogenarian’s wedding band. They both were interviewed on the evening news and were quite incredible with their explanation of what had transpired, amazing for two such older eyewitnesses.
Tonight on the same news channel, the husband in that previous piece was arrested, apparently while trying to get the best investigation information they took the couples, with their permission, computer to examine, and what they found was many folders of Child Pornography!
Yuck! Just too awful for words, and shame on them!

That is one of my pet peeves how we all take old age as criteria for doing no wrong.
I realized that early on when I was still in my thirties when my Father took me to task when I told him that I had helped out an elderly hitch hiker who said he just needed a lift to the gas station, he had run out of gas on the bridge into town, it was less than a two mile ride.
But when I told my Dad who at the time was himself in his 70’s he asked me pointedly you don’t think an old man could hurt you? And my answer was simple and now I realize stupid, no I said. Well, my dad said, they can! But he never ever did so I guess my only experience was with him, see how naïve I was, and by then I was a married woman with two children. I have not given any hitch hikers a ride since.

I know I may anger some religious folks with this next pet peeve, but I still feel I must say something. Having faith in something anything even if it is just oneself or no one at all is a very personal thing and I am still constantly bombarded by emails that specify certain beliefs that I may or may not agree with. Cuteness is not an excuse even when you are spewing one faith or one type of belief that may not be mine, I am personally insulted when anyone assumes that because they believe that it is adorable or so sweet that a child has faith in so and so that I should also think it is just peachy keen too.
Well, I don’t, and you don’t know my religious beliefs since I keep that personal as you should too. I also don’t like it when people get angry when you don’t believe what they do and try to convert you because their way is the only way!
Give me a break!
There are hundreds, maybe thousands of religions on this planet and I am sure everyone believes theirs is the only way, but don’t expect me to. Being an American has given me the right to believe what I want and so I do.
People died for me to have that privilege, and I would never disrespect that.

Next I would like to attack the topic of people who never ever have volunteered in their entire lives for anything, because, get this it doesn’t pay you anything!
I have been a volunteer since I was 20 years old on, (my husband was eighteen when he became a volunteer fireman) and off through working fulltime jobs, going to college, and raising my sons, where there is a will there is a way!
Anyone who thinks that I have been independently wealthy would be sorely mistaken I have done this for the joy of helping others. Some people are lazy I think. For me though, up until two years ago I was actively involved even with my unstable health issues. Come on people if you have nothing to do and your health is not preventing you from driving a car or walking, do something!
Whenever things got rough I learned from others how much worse that they could be.
It kills me to see people just wasting time, and using other things as excuses.
And I also miss it a little, but life now is a difficult chore for me these days.
Sometimes I wonder without direction or production why I am still here.
Recently, I was reminded that MS can be fatal and I won’t take that lying down, excuse the sicko pun. (Had to add the ‘O’ so you would realize that I didn’t mean what the kids use sick for, good and awesome.)
I suppose some of this self questioning could be attributed to me dropping and breaking another salad plate today that I really thought I had, and it hadn’t happened in a while.
You see dropping things are a symptom of my MS, and I had been trying to be so careful.
Thankfully the Superglue my husband used seemed to work, but I am barred from handling the ironstone ware, indefinitely, another chore taken from me.
I sadden daily thinking about that so many things of which I am no longer capable of doing like gardening, feeding the birds since the feeder is up too high for my shoulders to reach, walking in the yard since my scooter needs a solid path and the canes hurt my shoulders too much… oh well.

Sorry for all that! But where else if not here?
Good night to all and to all count your blessings and I will try too!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

The rain finally came and our barrel is full once again

Consequentially it was a perfect day for a good movie, and some laundry with a prediction of a 70% chance of rain that turned out this time to be right on target!
Our rain barrel is over full.
Calming and relaxing was the order of the day.
Who can complain?
We watched a film that we had been looking forward to, High School Musical 3.
I must admit that is was lively and musical and had a plot and everything, but for some reason I suppose this format was getting a little too cutesy for my liking, but I endured it to the ending, which was predictable.
No challenge here, but fairly entertaining in a usual Disney way.
Sorry, it could be me.
Sometimes the hype outdoes the actual film.
We all know that.
Any-who, I rationally wouldn’t have been able to compare it to its previous sequels, 1 and 2, so perhaps I was none too harsh when my opinions might be thrown into a mix with the actual teeny boppers who might find it, ‘sick’.

Moving on… tonight will be a usual TV night with the show that my husband calls tear ‘em down and replace them, extreme makeover house show. He and I both are happy that they now salvage some of the homes not so bad parts to recycle or to pass on to Habit for Humanity and that they try to build green these days. Too bad they couldn’t be repaired; some to us didn’t look that bad.
But for a while there it appeared that no home had any value what-so-ever and it was destroyed and a new one would be put in its place.
Usually one so enormous that even without a mortgage I would wonder how these folks would be able to pay the taxes or utility bills?
According to recent info many couldn’t and some are even in foreclosure that I suppose has some kind of mortgage or refinanced to meet the other bills, sad.
Any way they are not unlike many Americans today.
It does do a heart good to see when handicapped people are given easy access, medical bills paid off and children are given scholarships, who could really complain about that, they are all worthy recipients.
Sears and ABC should be given wonderful kudos on such a worthwhile program, which has greater significance in these hard times, and let me not forget all those volunteers who help too, even those builders who do this all out of the goodness of their hearts and some free advertising, oops sorry!

Sadly, our rain came too late to help those several acre forest fires that we had yesterday, the local one was 188 acres and took two homes, and the other south of here was over 300 acres with fortunately no damage to structures, neither harmed any people or pets.

We are eating after I write tonight the opposite of our usual so I will be closing now since the main course is nearly done and I must finish the asparagus to go with the chicken and sweet potatoes of our grill, and yes it has stopped raining, although our grill is protected under our patio cover on our patio so rain never stops us if we care to grill.

So good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Howdy world! And uh oh!

This just in: our phone pole from all the wind that we have been having is in a precarious situation, approximately a three foot split wood piece has flown from it and it is wiggling and leaning, aimed directly for our house, but thankfully too short to actually hit our home! The transformer is on that pole.
My husband is on the phone with the power company to let them in on this problem, wish us luck! The phone person just said that they will send the problem to the specialist in the area to evaluate the problem. I guess that is power speak for when we get to it we get to it.
Meanwhile if any news comes in while I’m still writing I will let you all know.

Other than wind here the weather has been warm and dry; it is still 80 as I write this.
My hubby has managed to finish the fence up to the location where it will stay for the next little while by our shed, while he paints, although tomorrow they are promising us some rain, which we dearly need, due to our dire drought conditions.
We have wind chimes in front of all the sunroom windows for a very good reason to prevent birds from flying into them. Before we put them up weekly we would have birds smashing into those windows. At times they would just be stunned and slowly would revive themselves and fly away, but other times they died. I searched the net feverously then to find a way to prevent this awful calamity from happening and the consensus was that we had just two choices either to leave the windows dirty or to hang the chimes to scare them away, and as I just told you we chose the latter. The reason I mentioned this is because with all this wind we have been having with our joyous occasional sounds of melodic music that used to be it has now turned into a deafening constant of a somewhat annoying noise!
And our windows are closed today and I can still hear it and so I only wonder what our neighbors are thinking of us. If they only suspected where the noise is coming from it would be so much more awkward and embarrassing, but it is just temporary, really! How temporary is up to the current weather trend.

More news: Fargo got good news that the water has appeared to crest! So I suppose this means that the flood waters should recede?
Tonight is Earth Hour at 8:30 P.M. EST, which means that lights will dim from Antarctica to the pyramids; someone know what happened to Earth Day?
In Alaska today Mount Redoubt is spewing ash 50K feet that does not sound good; wonder what Governor Palin will do?
And the shuttle has landed back in Florida today after 13 days away, better here than that costly trip back from California. I am just happy that the toilet water situation is now fixed up on the space station, fresh stinky water for everyone?

So far no news from our mighty power men…
Boy, I hope that they have a good excuse like an emergency or something.
I suppose ours really isn’t.
Really thought that I could give you an update, but it appears that will have to wait.

Today, I enjoyed my usual fair of PBS choices; the History Detective had one segment that I would like to share with you about the Atocha and Santa Margarita Mel Fisher’s sunken treasure ships that were found off the coast of Florida. The detective had been given the job of finding out about a silver ingot that weighed more than the manifest claimed it should have, it turned out it was 73 pounds instead of the 68 pounds that the manifest claimed because it turned out that its owner was smuggling in the additional five pounds melted onto it to avoid taxes (sound familiar?), but the ship wrecked before that could happen, and yes it was the genuine article. For more information about Mel Fisher his museum, and his treasures go to: http://www.melfisher.org/.
It was big news when we still lived in NJ and bigger news here.
The museum is in Key West and we have been there many times.

On that note I wish you all a good night and to all of you count those blessings and I will too!

Friday, March 27, 2009

How are you all?

Hopefully in spite of the wrath of this unpredictable national weather we will all eventually have some calm which will ensue without effort.
Actually, just tonight on our local news, we have been informed that we have several forest fires going on nearby, less than five miles from our home, but also in two counties south of here.
We are in our dry season which interprets into fire season.
Living literally on the water we have not had too many that near to us, or any that I can remember.
Some good does come from coastal living!

It is ridiculous to me that we had to justify to the company that made our stainless steel barbecue grill just recently about it that Florida is in a drought when they insisted that our year old grill burner cracked because we live in such a wet climate! They at first were not going to honor the five year warrantee on the burner, but once explained to them they have now have promised to send us five new ones by ground UPS in a week to ten days, we can only hope so! They have already charged us the delivery charge, a little over twenty bucks. Our local dealer said he would help if we needed him to if they reneged.

I have also noticed that although we see quite a bit of wildlife, from raccoons, opossums, river otters and too many water foul to mention them all, but we have not had any coyotes, which others in our state and even in county have had.
They have been vicious and notorious for attacking and killing small dogs and cats.
This is a national problem they say due to over building in their territory, well, our home was built in 1958, and at that time the area was basically vastly empty.

Our home was built when they put wall heaters in and one small wall air-conditioner, which we found the remnants of when we purchased our home; it was considered a vacation bungalow for that era.
Fortunately, central heat and air had been added two years prior to our purchase back in 1998.
But there was a cute cubby in the wall of the foyer for the air-conditioner, which they made into a shelf for an artificial ivy plant, and in the dinette where the wall heater was that was turned into a four tier book shelf.
Although, when Hurricane Charley hit the exterior unit had been knocked off its platform we had it checked out thoroughly and for six hundred bucks it was reconditioned to a new status, inside and out. I thought that we needed to replace it but the professional who examined it insisted it did not, and it has worked like a champ ever since. He was an honest man he could have made a bundle from installing a new unit, which at the time we were willing and able to pay for.

A lovely thing just happened just this minute while writing this, an old friend that was from my healthier days just sent me a note to let me know that she has been reading my Blog and left me a comment stating that she is here for moral support, well, I feel like I just won the lottery!
That’s all I really want is to know someone is out there…listening… giving credence to me, or my existence and knowing that anyone can be understanding and supportive to any of our plights, which during this horrible time in our history, we are many for sure, with as many different stories of different woes.
Each and every one of us needs to know that somebody cares enough to say just that; I hear you!
Tears of joy are now running down my cheeks with just that human acknowledgement of being.
I thank you dear friend, and now I am happier in spite of my tears, than I have been in a long time, and all because of you!

On that note I wish you all good night and to all count those blessings and I will too!
And this has just given me another one to count.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Dow rose over 174 points the highest in long time!

This just in: We have killer whales that we just noticed here in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico!

Tornadoes and floods in the mid-west and southeast, north of here, oh my, what horrors!
Our country is back in the weather game that is of that the natural occurrences are very bad that have been coming at us; it appears to happen every year at this time.

I sincerely wish none of this would happen to anyone, but folks please remember all this when you can’t understand why we in Florida love living on our coastlines when we get that occasional hurricane. (Most coastal cities all over this country also have many homes on their shorelines, with the same threats as us.)
Yes, I said occasional, we have been living here now for nearly 23 years and only had one hurricane that directly hit us.
How many can say that in their part of the world about their devastating natural weather devastations from floods, fires, mudslides, or tornadoes, must I go on, or you get the idea.

I think that snow storms look pretty but can also be tragic causing avalanches and horrible driving conditions and snowing you in so you cannot get out.

And so again I wish us all a safe season whatever they may bring by nature’s wrath.
Be prepared for anything is how it should be for all of us.

This is the first state that has taken the initiative to have hurricane conferences all the years that I have been living here that I am aware of, they usually start next month for our hurricane season that begins on June 1 and runs through the 30th of November each and every year for our entire state and I am sure other Gulf States as well.

The funny thing about these dates is I haven’t a clue how long they have actually existed, but one thing I do know is that they were determined long before we became permanent residents here.
And to think before that when we still lived in good old NJ we would wait until our sons finished school for the year to trek our way down here at the end of June and at the very beginning of it all supposedly going on here, and never once did we get caught in any of it, and that was since 1976, ten years before we moved here!

Since those two horrendous summers, 2004-05, of that ungodly amount of storms many people are still afraid. Well, odds are in your favor for nothing at all to happen, how about that? Think about it, prior to those, 1992 was the last hurricane of impact of that type devastation; I think you might remember it, Andrew, which was a category 5?

Any-who, we here in Florida want you to come to our fair state that’s nicknamed, the Sunshine State for a very good reason, we are mostly sunny!
Hah! What did you think I was going to say?

And yes we all have sunshiny personalities.
We love you guys from every corner of the earth!
So always remember to come on down!

On that happy note, let me wish you all a good night and to all count those blessings and I will too!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

I was wrong again and probably will be wrong some time in the future..

My spasms were not caused by any TIA’s; according to the carotid artery check from the medical professional that did it, a nurse practitioner.
She feels that it must be the MS, and gave me a new prescription for Baclofen an antispasmodic that I had been on before, but I had stopped taking due to me being on the highest oral dose and in the next I would need an injectable, and I couldn't afford that anymore. And so I weaned myself off of it, like I did several other medicines I had been on due to any reason from weight gain by constipation to the expense. And you know something…I was OK!

The president seemed already quite exhausted last night when he spoke, but he was forthcoming with answers to questions that were asked over and over again.
I believe he gave clear concise answers, but some did not like them.
When asked again and again about why he didn’t say anything sooner about the AIG bonuses dispersals he said he needed to be better informed and does not speak about a problem until he knows fully well all aspects about it.

Florida is doing some interesting money concepts, as of April 1.2009, a week from now they will be upping the tax on a pack of cigarettes to one dollar.
Sorry folks!
I believe that money is supposed to help with health care over runs, if only! And I say that honestly being an ex-smoker for nearly three years now.
The reason I am such a pensive, oh all right non believer our Lottery will speak for itself … it is and was supposed to be for helping the schools but now Lee County has 80 teachers on possible chopping blocks due to you got it, cost overruns!
I ask all of you here and in the rest of the country; where’s the money?
I believe it is not only big business, Wall Street, banks, and the big three screwing up with monies I truly believe local and state governments owe us a lot of important answers to: Where’s the money?
My husband brings up a good point that our President Obama hit on last night ridiculous costly, government contracts, where the price of normal items have for years been overly amplified to ludicrous exorbitant ticket prices that we as an incompetent government continued in our real time to pay for, but this is an absolute must and it will all stop if he has anything to say about it that is our new guy.
The craziest we could all remember was the $500 hammer in days of yore?
Well, it has continued over these many decades by what reasoning only the special interests groups would seem to know for sure.
Well, our new main man in charge is going to get to the bottom of this and hopefully stop it! Hooray! It’s about time.
We are in no mood to not get these cost overruns under some type of control.
Wouldn’t it be great if all these loquacious talkers, of do nothings of all these many years finally heard the last true ending words to where finally finding all that money and spending it on exactly where it would really do the most good! And in the end saving a bundle for us Americans; since we are all now in the dig out the bumblers and foul-ups from their messy business with our billions of our taxpayer money business.
In many ways we own them; at least they keep saying its mine and yours the billions we keep giving away.
I want to know where is theirs? Shouldn’t they add to the pot party?
Never ever having experienced that stuff I was being a little facetious, and trying on a little bit clever too. Although, many states have made it legal for medicinal purposes like for MS, mmm, just kidding, but it is used for the pain of many chronic neurological diseases, cancer and such, so I have been told. Where’s my halo?

Any-who, on that mysterious note, and no, no one has suggested I try it for my ungodly pain every single night, sadly no one has written to me with any suggestions.
Please people I implore you to take my request to heart and soul or whatever I could use any logical well thought out pain remedies that are legal in Florida, that is.

Keep reading friends and I will try not to disappoint any of you.
As you can see by tonight’s journal I am diverse in information.

PS I am very aware that our First Lady, Michelle Obama has begun a veggie garden too, but hers is slightly larger than ours at 1100 square feet and I wish her much good luck and good eats too!

And so I will wish you all a good night and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Tonight our pres will keep us updated at 8 P.M.

Last night after I wrote this Blog I was almost an emergency patient, but the problem fortunately subsided with some help from an additional dose of aspirin, I think.
It was like this, I had muscle spasms in my head and neck, and this is the first for the head, and it was dreadful and unexpected, just out of no where.
But it did make me think of my Mom’s two years of TIA’s, Tran ischemic Attacks, prior to her major stroke; they too subsided by the time the ambulance arrived. I too was informed of having TIA’s when I had all those MRI’s back in 2006. I decided not to go to the hospital and to wait and see my doctor.
The earliest I could get a doctor’s appointment to see what is going on is for tomorrow morning at 9:30 A.M., they will probably just check my carotid artery to see if it’s clear or not.
With all the medications that I am on for cholesterol and blood pressure plus aspirin, even that Ace Inhibiter that I have now been on for a month, I am surprised that this could happen.
Anyway, I did feel a little better this morning.

And so this morning we left on our errands and it was my first day trip in over a week, yippee!
Talk about cabin fever, and yes even the disabled get it!
We went over to the home warehouse store to pick up some 4X4’s to continue the fence project, as well as the exterior white paint it will be painted, and even some seeds for our new veggie garden!
Then lunch at that not specifically healthy restaurant, but pushing the four meals for under four bucks hamburger fifties themed place, and then onto the other warehouse store for this and that coffee, cat litter, olive oil, bath soaps, three pack of the liquid, etc. and all completed before two P.M.!

Around a quarter to four, my phone rang, and yes I took out those silly rings on my cell and put the normal old fashioned one, and I heard from an angel named Gabriel who said she was the director of land acquisition for our local Habitat For Humanity and my initial email had been forwarded to her!
Wow! I was extremely impressed she was incharge of the changes that I was so interested in, and wanted me to know that they were purchasing some homes to recondition, and buying empty lots where they could to fill those needs of people with government grants that they receive. I assured her that I was very well aware of all the good that they do, and thanked her for getting back to me.
Caveat: those nine homes that they were building were just a few blocks from my own home, and it was all a part of what they do, nine homes in nine days, which I knew about from my neighbor that I have mentioned before. The one that is the young man who helped my husband many times before and most recently with our tub surround, any-who they are friends, he, Gabriel and his wife too, and he helped them on that recent project that he told us about in the interim. You see he is in construction as well as an artist.
Sorry, that I forgot to mention that.

Tomorrow check back with me and I will try and give you additional updates on whatever.
Please people I do hope that I have not lost you all with my medical issues! Keep reading… I must get onto that next level.
I really hope it has a classier name.
Take care and be aware!

Good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Wow! The Stock Market makes a record bull..et! Going up to 497.48

The stock market really is looking good for that remarkable positive happening to have occurred.
And I also suppose that Cheney is eating his words that continue to spray venomous anti-Obama trash, such as, “that he believed the new president had damaged national security by overturning some of the Bush administration's anti-terrorism policies.”
Our new man in office is doing just fine, and he has his work cut out for him undoing the damage that Bush did internationally.
And ninety percent of America agrees with our new president’s way of handling our new foreign policy.
Sir, just keep up the good work.
You are a naturally good person so just trust that and it will continue to take you on the right path.

Now I will get back on my usual topic, me.
Last night was horrendous pain wise.
I got no sleep to speak of what-so-ever, and tried several times during the day to lie down and catch up, but that was only the daylight version of last night’s misery.
Nothing is working.
I have tried medicine for pain and not so strong Tylenol P.M. and nothing is helping, wine will now, I am told cause me cancer? I don’t need more problems, who does?
Since these newest groupings of painful times is more than likely attributed to my arthritis but I am sure my MS shouts out that its pain is in the mix too.
I do know that my hips and shoulders are in dire need of repair or replacement, and even my right thumb, the match to my left that had joint replacement back in 2001 is acting up severely, it’s called Basilar Joint Arthritis.
I let them do my left that August before 9/11, but I thought my right hand wasn’t as bad, although the surgeon felt it should have been done soon too.
The left had been in a brace for a year and a half and was deformed to a forty percent degree, and touching my bath towel sent me into excruciating pain. The whole process took a total of four months to heal. You see the surgery is the short part, anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours; mine was the latter for some reason. Then they put your whole hand and arm in a piano splint, fiberglass open one with ace bandage, and when the incisions heal they put you in a cast about ten days later for a period of six weeks, lastly they have you go through two months of occupational therapy, and all this for a thumb. That was my twelfth surgery. In 2002, I had bi-lateral surgical breast biopsies, which made my total a baker’s dozen, which fortunately was benign, benign, but frightening just the same since I had hyperplasia ten years before, and my Mom had, had breast cancer.
Since then it has been pretty quiet, but I am very sorry now that my thumb on the right hand was not done then, but I am right handed was my reasoning.
And so this new realm of miseries is not something I wanted or looked forward to.
Let’s be honest here who does?
I suppose having seven types of arthritis and MS too it was going to be an eventual possibility.
You know the expression what goes around comes around?
I have never been an angel by any means but I do believe I have paid my dues in multiples over these many years.
You know that thing about difficulties causing character, well; I could stake my claim there too.
Anyone who knows me personally can tell you that I am a definite character.

I really thought that this would be an interactive Blog, but it has not turned out that way…help world…I’m taking any ideas on pain management, and let me assure you I have tried everything including, even acupressure, PT, physical therapy, OT, occupational therapy and NMT, Massage therapy, which I was in all of those 14 times, Aquacize, which I am a certified instructor of, and will begin again when our pool warms up. Anything else that is not too off the wall would be an intelligent asset to learn about.

On that heartfelt plea I bid you all good night and to all count those blessings and I will too!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Movies for the imagination and for the soul

Contrary to the amazing weather that we have been getting down here in the Sunshine State, us, my husband and I saw two of our home delivered Blockbuster movies this weekend, Twilight and Changeling; both from the opposite ends of the spectrum, and from totally different genres.
But I must admit both extremely well made and unique.

Twilight as most must know by now is a vampire teen flick, but not your usual fair, it was honestly very well done with amazing special affects as well as the young actors appearing in it were very good strong believable characters. Although, I must admit at times more facial expressions were used than dialogue and it did work. We saw this movie last night.

Changeling with Angelina Joli as the mother, and directed and produced by Clint Eastwood would have been a terrible shock if it too was not exceptional. It was a true story taking place during March of 1928 through to the mid 1930’s about a kidnapped child, a nine year old son, and the single mother’s anguish in dealing with a corrupt police department in LA, when in that summer of 1928 they return a boy to her and it is not her son, but they insist it is, and all havoc ensues there after.
For a film longer than two hours I must admit the time went swiftly, and the suspense held you on the edge of your seat. I can see why again Ms. Joli had been nominated for an academy award for this role. It is only a shame that Clint Eastwood had not been; terrific work by both. This movie was played this afternoon.

You see when you live in a resort area, as we do; you learn that the worst time to go places is on the weekends. Most tourists are venturing out and get lost and cause accidents or traffic tie-ups etc. But of course we do go out on weekends for special events, but just not all of them. And besides my hubby’s back was causing him grief since he awoke this morning and so a slower pace was on tap for today. Go with the flow I say!
And we can accomplish most things during the week, anyway.

Today we did save some bucks though with our windows open all day.
As I write this the temperatures are still very mild in the mid seventies with our humidity very low, and it is after six P.M. all windows are still open!

I should be shot! I am so sorry that I never addressed the change of season for three quarters of these United States of America! Yes, I am well aware that spring officially sprung at 7:44 A.M. on Friday the 20th of this month, March.
But unofficially nothing really changed here,but I did notice that on the Today Show from NYC they had snow showers, not very spring like, and so I do hope I am forgiven for this very important seasonal transitional day for most of you. The information below is thanks to Wikipedia:

“According to the astronomical definition, spring begins on the Vernal Equinox (usually March 20 in the Northern Hemisphere, and September 22 in the Southern Hemisphere), and lasts until the summer solstice (usually June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and December 21 in the Southern Hemisphere). In 2009, spring fell on March 20 in the Northern Hemisphere. According to this definition, therefore, the day called Midsummer's Day in some traditions is the first day of summer.”

And on that informative note I will bid you good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

How are we doing?

That's something we all should ask ourselves on a daily basis, how are we doing.
My reasoning is simple if your eyes opened, you were able to get out of bed and find the kitchen and there was food for you to eat in it; then you are doing great!

Think of it this way if you have a roof over your head, and if you have eye sight, and if you walked on your own accord and there was sustenance for you to allocate to yourself and your house mates that, in some circles, is heaven on earth!

Perception now is something we all have to deal with on a regular basis.
What seems like the worst of times could be the best of times if you put a positive slant or spin on it. The current climate of the economy is making us all discuss money woes more than ever before; in turn this taboo topic in actuality is teaching each and every one of us how to make a difference with how we manage things. The door is now open for so many so-called topics that were at one time considered rude to bring up, but now come out into the forefront of conversations at dinner tables and break-rooms all over America.
We find ourselves networking with our fellow Americans to learn how each and every one of us is coping and solving these commonalities of problems that never before would have been discussed.

It is not uncommon, why after the hurricanes that is exactly what we all did we shared our experiences, and after those horrors we did something else positive we shared the people’s names or agencies, and companies that we could contact to help us with the recovery; simple logic to the nth degree, and it all worked out.

I guarantee that in our future years from now all that we will remember of this time in history is that it was difficult and that we did survive and learned many new and interesting components of our nature as human beings that will continue to endure.

As a child I recall being told that hardships build character, and at that expense we should all realize what characters we will become!
Having all things going your way all the time does not teach you a damn thing in life.
We must use this time in our lives to learn as much as we can to be flexible souls for our next test in life could be just around the corner.

Updates: Our electric bill went down over $65 dollars this month, and I do believe it was due to having nice enough weather to open our windows, and drying a few loads of laundry on the clothes line!
The fence project is moving right along at a cautious pace, due to the installer’s slower abilities, but as I said before no clock punching is involved in the production of this installation.*
*Reasoning: why would anyone give some one an entire cedar fence for a backyard for free? This is just a theory: but I think perhaps since my husband treated this young man as a son and helped him in getting his Captain’s license which is now his source of income, and also helped him for no charge with his first job removing a 65 footer Shrimp boat from a sandbar, but this is just my theory. And in closing he is now in another home that he is renting and could not take the fence with him, and did not want to leave it for the bank since he had paid for it separately himself.
Any-who… that is my way of seeing the possibilities! I analyze everything!
On that note I will bid you all good night and to all count those blessings and I will too!

Friday, March 20, 2009

OOPS Mr. President!

Our brand new, for two months, Commander-in-chief made his first faux pas last night on national TV, Leno.
Welcome to an unfortunate political horrible reality sir, but I am more than sure you know that once it’s on film its forever.
The misguided non earth shattering verbiage occurred when asked about the future of him being able to play basketball at the Whitehouse.
Jay Leno assumed that the president did not use the bowling alley (that will teach you to assume anything, Jay), and Mr. President said that he had and even had gotten a score of 129. Jay I suppose being polite, said not bad and the president responded by saying, not bad for Special Olympics.

Our incredible human president on his way back home to the Whitehouse on Air Force 1 contacted the Chairman of the Special Olympics and apologized stating that he has the utmost respect for the Special Olympics people and the programs, they are a triumph to the American spirit or something to that effect, and this was done before the show aired last night.

But apparently, even though he caught the mistake in the nick of time, the media still took the liberty of having a field day with it. I truly believe it is because he is our first unflappable cool guy president and this was finally something they had on him; must have been a slow news day… oh well.

I still appreciate you and your analogy being probably right on target with your evaluation of your treatment in D.C. that it’s a lot like American Idol with most of the people being like Simon Cowell with their criticism.
Only wish it was different for you sir.

Non partisan is how I am registered and it may be an idealistic way of thinking about government. It is because of me not committing to one party due to me not wanting to be pigeon- holed into one party and being able, this way to vote for whomever I thought was the best person for the job, and yes, you did get my vote. I voted for you because you were so smart, cool and calm, and wanted what I wanted priority wise.
I have been hoping that that idealism might just catch on and apparently it did somewhat with your landslide win!

Since I was a kid I knew that doing things just for monetary gain would come to no good if no good was behind the reasoning to accomplish something.
At the tender age of fifteen as an unfortunately fresh teen I had a heated debate with a friend’s Dad on that very topic, and that was nearly 44 years ago.
He as a junk dealer who seemed to think that money was everything and could solve all problems.

Today being ill with chronic diseases and knowing that no money will change what I have.
I think of so many who believe money is the answer to all their problems, but now the world even knows that it has caused more trouble than its worth.
I must admit that it has been a wonderful resource for research, but I often wonder why the price of such things continues to escalate at such an ungodly rate.

Having studied business in high school and college of course I do understand the ideas of supply and demand, but so much of what has happened in the recent few years has no rhyme or reason; just greed as the bottom line in my opinion.

On that note I will bid you all a good night and to all count your blessings and I will too!

PS Blessings are free!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Progress on the homefront...

That is our fence is moving right along. Well, that sounds like it is installing itself, nothing of the sort; my hubby is working his tush off to do the job.
And I must admit it is looking great! When it is painted white it will even look better, which is in the plan to create a cottage like atmosphere for a vegetable garden.

The world order is starting to make me want to wiggle my lips with the side of my pointer finger and make that motor boat sound as a loony would do from all this confusion. So tonight I will take a break from all that.

I suppose with the whole world in such a mess creating my own havoc was not a great idea. Let me explain, I am feeling guilty about writing so much personal info on my Mother-in-law.
She doesn’t have a computer or know how to use one, but it is in the family that she would have possible access or could be shown what I wrote; I sincerely hope that is not the case. Having this problem of regretting what I have done is nothing new for me, but I verified with her very own son that what I wrote did not sound at all malicious, and I know I had no malicious intent when I wrote it, it was said out of frustration and true concern for her well being. If you have seen it Mom, please forgive if I have hurt you in any way; for that I am sorry.

Natasha Richardson has passed away from a disastrous skiing accident which caused a epidermal hematoma, she was 45; and she was the wife of Liam Neeson and the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and Tony Richardson. She leaves behind their two adolescent sons. I just Googled her and found out her birthday would have been this May 11th, she was born in 1963. The lights on Broadway will be dimmed tonight in remembrance of this award winning actress.
That date of her birthday hit a nerve with me since it was on that date of May 11. 1986 that my Dad passed away, and that year it also fell on Mother’s Day.

Our president is making the rounds trying to do what he promised after he was elected he had a Town Hall Meeting in California to hear directly from the people and from there he taped the Tonight Show with Jay Leno that was quite a coo for the nighttime host. It will be on tonight on NBC at 11:30 P.M.
Our Pres also made an effort to address the concerns of those YouTube teens in Pomona Cal telling their personal problems asking who is listening and he told them that he is listening and he did that in person.
WOW! Gotta love the guy.

Good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Uh oh and oops...

Well, try and do something helpful for some one and it can come back and bite you in your butt. My dear Mother-in-law, who for most of the Oprah Show could not find her controller in her home to get the right channel until I told her to call her daughter and she did get her granddaughter who told her how to get the correct channel for the show.
But when she finally saw it she turned it off, because now get this… it was nothing like her situation! Now as I have said before I have known this woman for over forty years, and it was true it was about college dorm rooms and a very messy car.
What she said is I can’t find my papers that is all I have wrong. And so I asked as cautiously as one who knew all those years she would go berserk if the kids opened the wrong door in the house and told them that friends were never to go here or there in their shared home, I was frustrated that she could not see herself.
Its true that she now lives in a condo with a garage and full basement half the size of the home she raised her children in, but the basement is full of junk, and she admitted she never goes down there. I asked her what about her tax papers that she said that she couldn’t find anything, and had to postpone her March 9th appointment to the 29th, well; she admitted it is in those papers that are all over her dining room and kitchen tables that she cannot use. I guess I rest my case; she is in denial, oh well I tried. The only good that came of any of this was the fact that she found the controller for the TV! This just seems so totally bizarre to me I guess I was lucky my parents were so organized and lived clutter free.
She also said that her paper clutter was mostly from people wanting money from her. And so I asked carefully, are they bills? Thinking she may have financial difficulties that she would not want to discuss with me. No, she said, they are different organizations. I said that’s easy if you want to give them money, do, if not, don’t and throw it away.
We live over a thousand miles from her and it makes it so difficult to help her, which in reality is all I wanted to do.
Anybody out there have any ideas how to; please tell me.

AIG Update: It seems that as much as our fellow Americans were in an uproar, our cries were heard sort of, the CEO, Edward Liddy of AIG is asking for the bonuses to be returned.

The fence project update: that my husband has been working on besides doing all the things I used to be able to do like grocery shopping and gardening is moving right along considering that he has to take the whole fence apart piece by piece to create a matching one to the one we already have on one side of our home. The slats are different widths and sizes making it more difficult to do. The gate was created in our garage today, and will be ready for installation tomorrow. You see he is removing all the nails that were in the fence since he is using screws to make it more secure in its new configuration in butting up against slats instead of the board over board uniformity that allows for gaps and can be seen through. And please everyone do remember that my husband has a very serious back injury too, which slows him down compared to his old perpetual motion non-stop rate of days gone by. Fortunately, he is not on anyone’s time clock to finish so he can get it done with pacing himself accordingly.

On that TMI, too much information, I will bid you good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Erin Go Bragh

Erin Go Bragh means in Gaelic, Ireland Forever, which expresses allegiance to the Irish countrymen, and I imagine women and children too.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade was held in NYC in 1762 on March the 17th.

The History of the Holiday: thanks to: history.com
"St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years.

On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage."

I think it’s great that everyone feels Irish on this day!
We have made it our tradition to have corn beef and cabbage for our dinner on this day, although it’s pretty terrific any day I say!
Due to health issues I soaked the corn beef in cold water that I change every hour and put it back in the frig to get rid of the way too much salt that is used in the curing process, and it is just fine when it is lessened.
I pressure cooked it with a quartered half of a cabbage with onions, garlic,(2) bay leaves, carrots and celery, and water to nearly cover it all, for only one hour and it comes out in a melt in your mouth consistency, perfection.

New topic: Oprah had celebrities on her show today with a discussion on how they have been coping with the major illnesses they were handed, Montel Williams discussed his ten year battle with his MS, and how different each persons struggle is with it. Magic Johnson discussed his 18 years being diagnosed with HIV and living with it, Fran Drescher discussed her being an 8 and half year survivor of cervical cancer and now an advocate for the cause, and Scott Hamilton told of his cancer as well, and how since his five years of not skating he is now going back to it, cancer free.
I must admit they were all quite open and candid with their personal ways of making lemonade out of the lemons they were handed, an inspiration to all of us dealing on a daily basis with any devastating medical problem or any problem to be honest. Another great show for Oprah, but tomorrow’s show I called my mother-in-law about and she promised she will watch it; it’s on hoarders who clutter up there homes, and even their cars, yep tomorrow they will fix a cluttered dirty discusting car too.
You see, my 88 year old Mother-in-law has been a saver forever, and I have known her for over forty years and consequently, you got it, it has created havoc with her elderly memory of where she has puts this or that.
And this problem has driven everyone in the family crazy since she has no room for company to come over, even for just a visit; she’s too embarrassed to invite even a neighbor in.
So I told her about it being a getting organized show and she promised she would tune in I even checked for her the listings in her area and said to write it down.
Hope she doesn’t misplace it; she might never find it!
I think I better give her a call just before it airs to remind her.

On that note I will wish you all a good night and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Here's the deal...

You screw up a job and then you are not entitled to a bonus, right?
Wrong, if you work at AIG who just received 170B in bailout money from all of us taxpayers, they seem to feel you get it no matter what, what?
Now the execs are claiming it is in their contracts.
The nation along with our commander-in-chief all cry foul!
Anyone knows salaried employees are the management and you are rewarded only, and I mean only when you produce to the companies satisfaction and that my friends is the simple common sense of good business practices, rewards for a job well done!
How on earth could anyone in good faith write a contract that pays mega bonuses to people no matter what the outcome?
Those legal eagles should have been fired for even the suggestion of no matter what!
165M in bonuses that are the equivalent to spoiled children getting allowances for doing nothing around the house to earn it, but on a much grander scale.
Is it just me or does anyone else see this?
I don’t recall saying here’s this 170B that you needed to get your business back on its feet and prevent it from going all the way under, and oh by the way don’t forget to give the 165M in bonuses you contractually promised those guys that helped to put you in this situation, huh?

The fact that the people incharge are stating they have no options to negotiate the contract under these unforeseen circumstances is ridiculous too, and is a definite cop out of ignorance. Everything in life is negotiable. Am I the only one who knows this?
But is this a sampling of why perhaps they got themselves in this predicament in the first place not being able to look at the bigger picture?

Getting fired up is what us Americans do be it the economy or foreclosures of friends, people losing their jobs whatever the problem we as Americans feel the need to be heard with realistic ideas and opinions.
It is our legacy as a nation to be able to tell each other how we feel and try and help to make it better, because we know that if it hasn’t touched us yet it very well could.
We are compassionate and non apathetic in our concerns.
And so it does my heart good to hear and see over all the Medias written and airways discussions on how to make it better or complaining about what’s just not right.
We care; it’s as simple as that.
Brainstorming is something that they do in think tanks and advertising firms so I truly believe that somehow someway we will all figure this stuff out to make it work.
We are spinning our wheels but those are thoughtful caring ones that will change this within time, but as so many have realized no one knows when we are not soothsayers.

This may sound silly but every time I see that commercial for Old El Paso tacos with the children who come up with the simple logical ideas, the boy for the flat taco so it will stand on it’s own and the girl for them supplying us with both soft and hard in the same box so we can all be happy. I think of the expression, out of the mouths of babes… maybe Malia and Sasha should be in on the conferences on the economy, just kidding but simplicity could be what it all boils down to.

On that note let me bid you peace, love and caring for your fellow human beings no matter how stupid they act. RE: Above mentioned company, AIG.

Good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Do something anything

This is an open letter to the proper authorities please pass it on… maybe it would help in your community? (Excluding the last couple of paragraphs, please)

March 15.2009

To whom it may concern:

Thank you so much for all you have done over the many years that you have been building homes for low income families!
As someone who has been fortunate to own a home and not have it taken away by foreclosure or circumstances beyond my control I count my blessings daily.

I always thought that in my retirement that I would love to help you build those homes since over the years my husband and I have built, added onto and rebuilt after Charley, modernized many a room in our thirty eight years of marriage that we owned five homes.

But unfortunately I am now disabled and unable to do that dream of assisting you.
Much respect has gone into my feelings for you over these nearly thirty-three years of your existence.

So I hope you will understand where I am coming from with my question, "With all the empty homes in this county, Charlotte, why are you building nine new ones?

I personally know many people who are in the process of losing their homes due to foreclosure, hard working people who have lost their jobs or with circumstances that has caused them to be in this awful predicament, isn't there anything that you can do for them?

Right now I have one friend who is promised a job in writing and her thirty year home will be in a hearing this coming month and she may very well lose it. It would be so great if these foreclosures would be bought up by you at rock bottom price and then turned around and with sweat equity from these poor individuals, perhaps help them repurchase their homes by helping you?

In closing I would just like to say legally I do not know if my concept is possible, but if it is wouldn’t that be great?

Personally I live on a block in Port Charlotte where more than half of my neighbors are gone due to financial difficulties and we have many bank owned or about to be bank owned homes or going on the auction block homes; it is such a depressed neighborhood emotionally and physically. Too bad you couldn’t come in and turn it all around?

Thanking you advance for allowing me to vent my frustration on this national major issue, but here it is personal.

Truly I hope you will hear this with much thought and concern for what is going on in our own backyard!

• I emailed this letter today to our local Habitat for Humanity, and I truly hope some good comes of it.

Some good did come from my interference in my mother-in-law and sister-in-law’s dispute after not speaking since December 7. 2008 they are now once again on speaking terms, actually more they spent the afternoon together.
I annoyed my mother-in-law to make her realize her daughter is her life line, since both her sons are way too far away in Washington State and here in Florida to come running if she needs help in Pennsylvania; her daughter lives five miles from her.
I know it is simple logic, but she thanked me and it did the job, TA DA!
What an amazing feeling; I only hope this fix lasts!

With that I wish you a very good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

This weekend has been real quiet so far...

I could have gone to a Women's Health Expo today, but it was on topics that I have beaten to death with personal knowledge or at least family touched with me having the desire to be well informed over the many years.
You know the usual culprits ovarian and breast cancer, osteoporosis and heart disease that appears to be the one most common for women today as the “ills de jour.”
I don’t mean to be so cavalier, but I suppose some women are not that interested like many men who seem to think ignorance is bliss with medical issues, and now they should go, but probably won’t.
I’ve always taken the opposite tack trying to get as much information as possible whenever I or anyone I care about is mentioned at risk of any disease.
And periodically I look for updated information from lots of legitimate sources.
Any-who I didn’t go, it was four hours long, at our events center and you had to have special reservation, which was sent to me without me asking, and I was going to pass it on.
I even sent an email with the post card to a couple of female people with all the info on it so they could go, but I have no idea if they did.

Oh well, I have come to the strange conclusion that perhaps ignorance is bliss.
Harping on disease or ills is no fun for anyone.
I have the added luxury of my body constantly reminding me, but I have strayed…

Today was so quiet for me that I haven’t much to report.
Except that I happened to check up on Tiger Woods tournament just before the news, and what’s up Tiger?
He wasn’t even on the leader board…and to think I would pretend he was my adopted son.
I suppose parenthood with two little ones in the home could be causing sleep deprivation, which in turn could make his game not quite up to par, excuse the pun, Nah.

I did watch a few of my favorites on PBS, This Old House, they are on show 8 of the Brooklyn NY three floor brownstone conversion. They showed a different way to grout tile completely unique, dry grout, with a wet mulch then swept away, instead of sponging off.
The New Yankee Workshop was showing an older show/repeat that is kind of silly here since it was on how to build a greenhouse, here we need shade houses.
The History Detectives were great again and investigated a few relics from the Civil War, the bombing of NJ during WWI, July 30.1916 would you believe by the Germans of ammunition manufacturer, Black Tom. They finally paid restitution in 1979. New to me information, see I am learning new things daily.
The last one that I enjoyed was about “Block House”, built around 1727 in Schenectady New York at number 9 Front Street that appears to have been part of the reconstruction of protection for that city after they had been destroyed in the Spanish American War by a Montreal soldier and an Indian that burned it down in 1690; very interesting and new to me information.

I think I might have found something to get excited about, history.
It’s not that controversial… anymore, since it is proven facts and old news.
Doesn’t seem to get people that fired up since it is history and you really can’t change it.
Oh well, and everyone who studied it knows it all already or most of it.
Too bad I actually thought it could be a new and better topic of conversation instead of the economy, foreclosures, job losses and physical ills.

We all know there was a time that religion money and sex were a no, no to discuss for polite conversation, but now “Anything Goes”…but that song was written in 1934 for the Broadway Musical of the same name by Cole Porter, during the first depression.
Perhaps, during these times it is best to let our minds go wild with conversation and talk about anything we personally care about! And so it might help to get it off our chests so to speak.

Good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Friday, March 13, 2009

The Stock Market ends the week up!

For four days this week the Dow Jones actually went up in the right direction. And that is hopeful news for the nation and perhaps the world, since international markets did too.
What does this all mean?

Well, it could mean a lot of things.
Mostly though I do believe this is a confidence issue that seems to be a positive vote for a good change.

We all hope and pray that each slight upturn is one step closer to the end of this miserable time in our lives.

Knowing more than any of us ever wanted to know about the ‘Economy’, is frightening to us commoners who had been kept out of that loop for so long.
This is not to say that we were unaware of our own finances, but to hear it you would definitely think that was the case for those who got caught up in this master mess.
In actuality only less than 30% of Americans are in truly serious financially difficulties, but when you say that out loud that is absolutely horrendous!

Then what has happened since our new president has taken office is a good thing.
He has been in high gear ever since he hit the road running to get the job done, and he is doing it!

We as Americans are not a patient folk by any means and all things do take time.
But even while all these adjustments are taking place people are still complaining.
Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country by being cool, patient, and sick like in awesome good. We should try it who knows we could like it.

Now to Bernie Madoff the head of all self possessed bailouts of 65B he duped so many out of, he is now thankfully in jail for 150 years for his pleading guilty to all accusations.
So where’s the money, Bernie?
And he might have been smart but not that smart, no criminal is and this was way too big a Ponzi scheme for one guy, so who else is involved and will the feds keep looking with him pleading out?
The tale is that the SEC was alerted years ago, but did nothing; shame on you guys!
Think of all those people whose fortunes would have been saved if you had intervened, charities too, and all those regular Joe’s, poorer folks with their retirement monies gone!
It disgusts me just to think about all he took without thinking of any of the ramifications at all, what an awful specimen of non-humanity.

Back to our reality: Happy Friday the 13th!
I’m not so superstitious since not having too many bad things happening to me on this day.
OK, Hurricane Charlie was on a Friday the 13th, and yes that was bad.
But to be fair it was on a Friday the 13th, that I found out my MS was stable from a MRI done on that day. Unfortunately, my niece did die on that same day, but at the time I was totally unaware of it.

OK, yes it is not a nice day to think about for me, but really those bad things could have happened on the 12th or the 14th too?

So we should look at each and every day with a positive perspective, since most will agree that the power of positive thinking is what truly works in this life, except for things we have no control over like weather and issues of life and death.

On that thoughtful explanation I will bid you a good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Feeling awkward is an interesting thing to be investigated

Awkward, is an interesting thing.
Today as more and more of us know people going into difficult situations like job loss and foreclosures we as humans, with a heart, seem to have something that can only be compared to as ,“survivors guilt” if you are not in that same situation.
Talking to anyone about being happy about anything that feels like it is a horrible awful secretive thing that should not be exposed for fear of hurting others feelings.
I know I keep asking you all to find the happy in life, but if you are homeless, foodless, moneyless and jobless that’s like saying to someone with a terminal illness to find the good in that.
Sensitivity to others personal difficulties makes me so sad and useless.
Do we not all need a vacation from our negative truths in life?

Escapism is what we need for short respites to perhaps take a more objective look at our own problems.
Those of you without problems are not real, and fooling yourself by being in denial, but whatever works for you I say! But honestly there is no one that has not one thing that they can claim to cause them grief on occasion or even more often than that.
Got that?
Life if we live it will be difficult that’s a given, but how we handle it is our own doing.

I, myself went through one six month period where my home was robbed, I miscarried a baby in my fourth month , my husband lost his job, and topped off those horrors with my Mom dying in eleven and a half hours from her first and only stroke.
So when I say I have been there, done that; I am not kidding!
Coping mechanisms are something that cannot be taught.
Parents can set an example on how they handle these hard times and our own histories of previous experiences are in themselves a learning time on handling these things.
It is truly a trial and error, whatever works project, but remember to never give up and keep trying. Even when everything fails, at least in your heart you will have the benefit of knowing that you tried everything you could.
I have been learning all these years and will continue to hopefully learn more.
They used to call this type of learning, “ the school of hard knocks”, and so as we all do know that nothing is new in all this, it has happened before, but what is different its happening to you, you and you.
And I am so sad for that, but powerless to change it.

Please do something nice for someone.
We were on line in the grocery not long ago and the woman in front of us with a young child was only a few cents short of her bill, and we noticed her struggling to find the pennies I told my husband to give it to her.
It was only a few cents and my husband said if I weren’t with him he might not have done it being an old man offering to pay for a younger woman’s bill. He felt it might have been taken the wrong way, and unfortunately he is right.
I only wish we could have done more…she thanked us profusely.
It actually made us feel better than perhaps she felt.
So try and do anything, step up to the plate and without fear or shame just, Nike it!
Do it!

Good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A question of names of rankings, expressions and other stuff

I don't know if it’s just me or the rest of the world, but have you noticed lately that we all seem to be speaking in code?
Take this Blog’s rankings system by name, 0-500 is called being in the Kidde Pool, 500-1000 is called Advanced Beginner, and then I, thanks to all of you I just moved up to over 1000, which goes to 3000, and now I have the distinction of being called, a Young Buck? Please keep reading so that I can get out of this ranking with its questionable name. But I truly wonder what could be next?
What’s that, Buck? I should be a Doe, since I am female, but I am still no deer or dear either.
Who comes up with these names or ideas for names anyway?
They are on occasion not spelled properly and did they even think that some of these expressions are actually oxymorons or just mistaken for racist or that they could be wrongly interpreted in other ways?

I’m shaking my head in disbelief that we Americans have earmarks in bills and pork and that we want to stimulus everything!
Earmarks sounds like an ear infection that went really bad and you shook your head during that painful event and goop came out and left its marks all over the place, disgusting!
Pork sounds like what it used to mean like in chops that you eat.
Stimulus is being thrown around way too often in money situations; didn’t that used to mean something sexual?
I am so confused, and I do know that I do still speak English, and I truly thought that I was fluent in it since I was born in the US.
Assumptions are another human failing for us all.
We all know that no one should assume anything, you know the expression assume makes an ass of u and me, ha!
Excuse my crassness.
But what’s up with us all we knew has changed, but I do know that change has always been considered generational.
Now the word, sick, means something good, did you know that? It appears to mean good cool or awesome, how about that? Thanks to the below site:
http://onlineslangdictionary.com/definition+of/sick

You do know that with our world growing smaller due to international access to information worldwide we are all better for it, don’t you think?
I appreciate the Internet and all its components for me to learn by whatever means I wish to try.
The feeling of not being left out of the loop is somewhat endearing, don’t you think?
And with total access to anything we need to know is really at ones fingertips, Yeah!
Did any of you know that with just a click of the envelope at the bottom of this Blog or I do suppose anyone’s you can really communicate with me and let me know personally what you think. And I do know that I don’t have to remind you how sensitive I am to criticism so be kind or at least diplomatic.
Thanking you in advance for your voice being heard and acknowledged by me on this Blog, how nice.
On that positive note I will bid you good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will count mine too.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

A short retraction of a previous statement...

I am immune to Tylenol P.M even the extra strength. Since I finally took it this morning at 6:A.M. and I awoke at 8:05 A.M.! Yes, that is only two hours later! I suspect that is good enough proof, did I mention that I was still in pain then too? This problem for me has even happened with prescription medications too.
Oh well, my last hope for a night’s sleep has been taken from me.
If this was truly interactive I would hear back from someone with and idea on how to handle this better than I have been.

You see when any person misses out on a good night’s sleep it enhances, in a negative way, all medical issues.
Not only emotionally you are exhausted and can become testy, logically but physically your problems like arthritis and MS are made more pronounced due to nerves, bones and muscles all needing that respite too.
Without the allowance for body parts to be rested it is similar to running a vehicle into the ground; that’s our bodies’ main use, our transportation for us to get around.
Misused they deteriorate at a ridiculous rate.
And so sleep deprivation is more than a health issue it’s a social one.
Activity to be helpful in any way is curtailed and starts a vicious cycle of being non productive.

Today I once again tried to get help by speaking with a nurse at the local hospital since they have a pain management support group I contacted them.
Support groups are free, but unfortunately this particular meeting is at night when the nurse who teaches the self help measures is off from her day job at the hospital.
And the evening is when I am not at my best exhaustion sets in and I am not very capable of listening or learning a thing.

Good news: The stock market actually had a power surge stimulus today and went up over 374+ points today due to City Group Bank having a slight growth announcement.

My husband is working as slow as necessary to finish the fence without hurting himself more; even so he was able to put in three 4x4’s. But while he was outside today our nice neighbor from across the canal noticed that there were two thin teenage boys in a small boat, oddly enough it was the same small boat that was missing from the side yard of our neighbor who gave us the fence. And my hubby had just gotten off the phone telling him it was missing. The Sheriff’s Office was called promptly, and the boat was returned. Although, the two young men insisted that it too was a gift, but it was not, since the neighbor who it belonged to was asked, by calling him, if he had given it to the boys for helping him move, which they actually did not do and he did not give it to them! He lives on a waterfront canal in his new location and wanted the boat for there.

Well, barring being abrupt I will bid you a good night to all and to all count those blessings. Keep reading friends sixty-eight hits until the next level; we can do it!
I wonder what that is called...the next level name.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Sleeping in is really great!

This morning, to my shock, when I awoke, I looked at the clock on my husband’s high boy dresser across the room and was surprised to see that it was a minute after nine!
For me, that’s like waking up at noon for others, virtually unheard of for my early risings for more than thirty years, 5 to 6 A.M. has been my mostly usual.
For many years my only pain medicine that I could take was Tylenol extra strength, but soon it didn’t seem to work anymore and I really thought that I had become immune to its affects, and so I suffered without.
And so with my stomach ulcer issues I poo- pooed the idea from all those recent doctors who were trying to come up with some ideas to handle my chronic pain problems, and I thought that Tylenol P.M. wouldn’t help me and it really was not that affective, but the Tylenol P.M. Gel tabs that are also extra strength seemed to be helpful at 3:43 A.M. that is what I finally took and that is why I got nearly 5 hours of sleep, that is allowing for how long it took to work.
It was so refreshing to have had that much sleep for so long; now I am hopeful it will work again.
But for most people I would think the affect would last for about 6-8 hours?

Any-who that extra sleep apparently, helped me to feel nearly useful which proved for me to be able to do two loads of wash and make two meals today!
Most people who are disabled will tell you small accomplishments make you so happy, because they are tangible evidence that you are still capable in some ways. And life goes on.
In another month our swimming pool should be warm enough for me to do some therapy in there or it could be sooner with the daily temps this week here being in the low to mid 80’s. Warm showers are extremely helpful and cheaper than any meds even with our high city water bills that average over 80 bucks a month, but that includes our city sewers too.

My husband had me make a shopping list and he picked up the groceries and then after our lunch he began his preparation for the fence on the side of our house.
Our neighbors from across the canal bicycled over to ask if they could help, but so far he hasn’t needed any. I’m sure he will soon though and I truly hope he lets that nice neighbor who offered help him, but you know men….who knows. (Actually, I do believe they were just on a bike ride and saw my hubby and decided to ask. They ride daily. We used to ride for miles; the longest trip I remember was 21 miles to a park not far from where we lived in NJ, which is another sad thing that I miss.)
My cousin meant well, but I guess this particular one doesn’t read my Blog or he would know that I am unable to dance anymore, since he sent an email wishing me dancing now that I am retired so to speak.
I took ballet, toe and tap as well as Jazz and modern for twelve years, from 4 to 16, as a youngster. My dance teacher even gave us a co-ed class of ballroom, I was twelve and it was great and I miss that oh so much too, dancing that is.

I complain and Shanty Towns are all popping up all over our country, I truly feel so ashamed of my daily complaining. People lose their jobs and house and that’s how it happens.
I keep saying in my heart, "There, but for the Grace of God, go I.” And I cry inside with every moment of the news casts that bring us these birds’ eye views of misery now worldwide.
And I do worry like everyone for the other shoe to drop.
One major illness emergency without insurance it could happen to us.
Although, the health department people keep saying that they wouldn’t take our home, but I still fear that possibility.
So I weep along side the rest of our humans who suffer.
And count those meager blessings each and every night like I ask you all to do too.
I say what I say to give you and myself a severe pep talk of positivity, and hope that it works.
Professionals in the medical field say that positive upbeat thinking and talk will keep you mentally healthier, and could also help physically too. Try it, its called self-speak!
Think it and it will be theory.

On that positive note I will bid you good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Life Goes On...

I enjoyed that show, "Life Goes On", about a family with a Downs Syndrome teen named Corky played by Chris Burke, who was being mainstreamed into the public school system after being in special ed. classes for years; and it ran back in 1989 to 1993 on ABC.
He became a fine actor in that show in spite of his actually being a young man with Downs; he made capability look so easy; what a great human being and someone for others to emulate.

Being a member of that disability labeled group* that at the time enjoyed that show, now it makes my true daily confessions of my miseries of pain and inability to do what I really want to do, and when I do I am almost embarrassed, but if not here, where?
It seems the more I try to do the worse I feel.
Yesterday was extremely fun, but last night and today I paid for it with pain so severe I did not do much of anything today, and of course feeling oh so guilty for that. No sleep is getting boring and more than that annoying. Pain is just darn awful redundant!

(* I am not saying that what I have is similar to Chris Burke’s Downs by any means; what I am saying is that anyone that is labeled disabled is clustered all in the same group under one too broad heading.)

The fact that I am sitting here is amazing to me for my commitment to this self imposed obsession.
It pains me just to raise my hands above my elbows and sitting this straight for any length of time makes me have pain and numbness in my lower extremities.
But obligated I am to my own sense of doing something to record this at whatever it takes and for whomever it might get to, or even perhaps help.
We are all in the family of man and woman and we should learn and help one another.
Kind words mean more today than ever before and they are free.
When we listen with understanding to keep a lonely or unhappy or unhealthy person feel necessary or relevant by validating what is in their heart to utter and that it is important to hear.

So I thank you all for listening and being there for me; it is truly refreshing to see those reader numbers continue to advance ahead.
And since I am having so much difficulty sitting here I will bid you all good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Beautiful weather, nice company and a pleasant day!

Today we went up to Venice, no, not in Italy, Venice Florida, you sillies; about a half an hour or so north from our home here in River City.

Yes, today was their yearly arts and crafts fair, or it might be their bi-yearly, I’m not that sure, but anyway the company and the weather were both co-operative, which made for a very pleasant day.
Although, when we got out of our parked handicapped plated vehicle with our walker clad, caned and mobility carted trio we were definitely quite a sight for any oldie but goody octogenarian group of buddies that might think that they are not doing too badly after all.
These aides for our maneuvering the concourse of any major festival’s great not-so-wide way are quite necessary and awfully helpful.
I do believe that out of our trio I did have the fastest mobility and most comfortable ability to attain a not too challenging choreography to gain full access to where I wanted to go. By the way we were a small group of four, but number four of the group manages to go a cappella and still get around.
But I must admit my exuberance had to be slowed and reeled in at times to not get ahead of the group, (although I did lose them many times in the crowd, but that might have been due to their wanting to get a break from me and my incessant talking, so I’ve been told not so politely. I do need a life, and that proves it.), or run other pedestrians over, but I am learning and I do have a horn on mine.

All displays of art were quite well done in many mediums, and spread out for two or three blocks.
We have a similar fair in our city to our south, Punta Gorda, which should be coming up soon.

It is so hard to keep up with all this excitement in our fairly lofty lives of one after another entertainment fairs, who would have thunk it at these ripe old ages we would be having this much fun and this often.
I must add that, that was said with my literal tongue in cheek, in other words just kidding.
My husband’s 88 year Mom has a better social life than we have, but we are working on it.
It is just horrible being married so long and then finding out that you don’t just love all the same things…Kidding again, we knew, who doesn’t at this point?
But it is those differences that initially brought us together and have brought out our desires to want and do something, anything, at this point in our lives that which is new and more interesting than mudane.

On that note I will bid you all good night and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Chinese Proverbs

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” Is a quote from Lao Tzu a Chinese philosopher; 600-531 B.C.
I guess he knew his stuff, smart man, in the sense that simplicity and starting from the beginning makes sense.
And so we should all take a look back at what makes for good wisdom for us.

Time and time again we as humans have had misery in our lives; this is not to say that we have not also had much joy to remember too.

Go with me here… it is my personal way of thinking or maybe just a coping mechanism, that is to remember the good happy times when things aren’t so good and to remember the bad times when things are going well to keep me humble and to appreciate when it’s good.

My theory is if we need to recall how we handled each and every situation since we have that power in our memory banks, we have been there before; we just have to reclaim it.
And we could playback the outcomes in our brains and not worry so much, huh? Is that an idea or what?

Florida is back onto its good warm weather trend all this weekend, 80 or above, sunny and dry, you couldn’t pay me to leave; maybe for a few mil I would do it, I’m not that proud, but it would still have to be only temporarily.

Our pleasant state is sort of like one of those family members who has too many ups and downs that at times we are embarrassed to admit that we know them, but they are still family and when they succeed at anything we love bragging about them.
Let’s just put it this way… it’s become my home, warts and all.

And I am very sure everyone feels that way with home sweet home in whatever state you live in.

I watched a little Oprah today and she had a lot of different topics, but the one I must admit I enjoyed the most was that the new first daughters have a lovely backyard play ground, but also still have their chores of helping with the dishes.
Normalcy exemplified by VIP’s who just so happen to be kids, good for you Malia and Sasha, and especially Mom and Dad and Grandma for creating such great people for our futures.

Being grounded in all situations makes for consistency in life.
Those two little girls have had a whirlwind lifestyle these last few years and it does my heart good as a parent myself to see that today parents still know how to make things safe with familiarity for children who could be easily due to circumstances be easily spoiled.

Bernie Madoff seems to be getting ready to claim that he is guilty if he gets a plea agreement to stealing that 50B. At 70 he would get a life sentence of incarceration. He’s trying to protect his wife Ruth, and they are trying to get him to tell where the money is. Time will tell the outcome on this one.

Today we had time for a small craft project for our guestroom wall.
This one was one of those positive themed plaques, Live, Love and Laugh.
A famous chain store that I won’t mention by name had a very nice one with two additional words for $90 bucks which I couldn't and would not pay even if I could, and so I asked my hubby if we could make one and we did for less than $20.
I bought one of those three metal hanging frame pieces for around $14, and the wooden letters from the craft department in the same store.
When I got home I thought of all ways to go on this idea.
One was to cut up an old lace tablecloth and paint card stock black and apply the lace over it and then paint the wooden letters with my acrylic antique gold paint and attach to the glass.
But my husband suggested something quite different and I did it his suggested way for a change.
I searched the net for the symbol for life, it turned out to the medical one, then the symbol for love, that of course was the hearts, and lastly the laugh one was the old throw back of the iconic smiley face from the 1970’s; each in the primary colors of blue, red and yellow.
And so the idea was fused and used blue was the color for life, red for love and yellow became laugh. It is now hanging on the bare wall where we really needed something and this I think definitely fit the bill, in more ways than one.

So on that pleasant note I will bid you good night to all and to all count those blessings and I will too.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Things are looking up for homeowners with financial difficulties

Yes, the new stimulus will be helping those homeowners in financial difficulties.
The criteria for being able to take advantage of refinancing, is having a home under 700+ K value, and you must have all your bills, paycheck stubs etc. to qualify to show that you can pay for the reduced rate.
The main concept of the assistance program’s objective is to make your mortgage loan be in the 31% of your income so that it makes it more manageable for you, creating some monetary relief, and to prevent foreclosure.

Amazingly my husband before noon today had completed the removal of the fence project. Now, comes, nail extraction, rebuilding, and reconfiguring stage with the painting to be last once installed in its new location; easier that way.
All these type projects used to be a family affair with me being an equal partner in the construction process, it does makes me somewhat sad to know that I am of no use what-so-ever anymore for any of this. But all I can do these days is to consistently remind my hubby to pace himself since he is physically challenged by injury.

This weekend we have been invited to go to my cousins for an Arts and Crafts Festival in their hometown of Venice. We will be going for an early afternoon around one P.M. and later on we will be eating out at very healthy chain restaurant called Sweet Tomatoes for an early dinner.
It consists of homemade soups and salads that you concoct yourself in a buffet style venue.
Usually with my weight issues I have been avoiding this buffet thing but with these healthy choices I will just have to take smaller plate amounts.
That is also what I am trying to do at home too; using salad plates for all meals including dinner; this is just to psychologically make me think that I am eating more, we shall see if it works.
Its so frustrating trying to loose weight when you cannot exercise by even just walking.
Here I go again explaining for those of you who may have just tuned in, I need both hips replaced and shoulders too and without insurance, we are too wealthy for Medicaid and I’m too young for Medicare, and too pre-existing for any manageable premiums, and so I am literally up a creek without a paddle. Due to stomach problems, history of bleeding ulcers, IBS and other stuff in that region, no pain medications can be taken to exercise with that pain like most do.
I do have a mobility cart for a life away from home, but my home is small enough to hold onto things inside, since I am trying to avoid using my canes since they are more than likely responsible for my shoulders being in the condition that they are.
You see, I started back in the spring of 2006 using the canes they were for my balance due to having Ataxia one of my continuing symptoms from my Multiple Sclerosis, and yes I do have more still with me even though I was declared stable on October 13. 2006. But MS is a gift that keeps giving with all its other symptoms that did not leave with me being declared, ‘stable’, which is not cured or in remission it just means no worse for now, then that is. It has been some time since that declaration, and my latest issues who knows if they are related to whatever my medical issues are.

The president has a new site for us to check in on called healthreform.com, which I just went to and it is basically a site to get prices for health insurance, again no help to me, unless I lie, which is not in my nature and I would be found out soon enough anyway.

Our prayers are with Barbara Bush, 83, during her recovery from Aortic Valve replacement, and oddly enough Robin Williams at the youthful age of just 57 will be having the same surgery and our heart and prayers are with him as well.

Good night to all and too all count those blessings and I will too.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Hope and blessings are all we got...

I know, right now, things are the worst that any one person has seen more than likely in their lifetime. The old timers still with us can remember the Great Depression, and they will comfort you with their stories of that momentous time; seek them out they can be so knowledgeable and helpful.
We are all trying our hardest to make the all mighty buck go as far as it can go.
Paying ones bills seems like a pie in the sky idea.
But the way one has to tackle the enormity of any one problem is to break it down into smaller manageable amounts.
One only can do what is possible so start there.
Take inventory of what you have money wise each month, and then get out those bills and break them down into what is an absolute necessary to pay and what can wait.
The ones that can wait are usually items that you can probably get rid of too once you can manage to pay them off, like those credit cards, cash is better and accepted worldwide.
Start with housing, rent or mortgage; look at it with the possibility of somehow changing it by either moving or renegotiating. To be honest most leasing agents and banks will work with you.
Utilities are next; think of ways of trying to use less trying to be greener and not wasteful. I do know that you in the north have had dreadfully cold weather, and must use heat do not freeze! But spring is right around the corner and perhaps think about opening those windows, and drying clothes and sheets on lines instead of in your dryers.

Do you really need cable?
No, use one TV with a converter, money saved there.
Cut up those credit cards, and then pay the one with the highest interest off first, doing it by paying twice the minimum asked for.
Make sure you go to work and enjoy it.
That job is your lifeline, and you need it.
See if anyone at work lives nearby and carpool to share expenses.
Brown bag it instead of buying lunch, this is usually more healthful anyway. And bring your own mug and coffee with you for the trip; fill it with office coffee for the trip home.
Any vices like smoking or drinking should either be discontinued by going to a free hospital run clinic for smoking or AA if drinking alcohol is a more serious problem.
Otherwise, just reduce your wine or beer consumption.
Smoking has no benefits so quit.
Walk for exercise and stress reduction after dinner or early before work, since it is free and extremely healthful.
Get books from your library as additional entertainment for free and you will be happier by sharpening your mind.
They also have music and movies too for free.
Try networking with family and friends to discuss what they are doing in this horrible economy, and remind each other that you are there for moral if not financial support.
We need our people more than ever to keeping up our chins if nothing else.
You can have a monthly pot luck dinner to meet with each other, so you can share food and ideas.
Start a vegetable garden according to whatever season it is possible in your area and then trade seeds and ideas for crops, soil and watering etc. with your network or the local college agricultural extension; most are free for advice, but do have some classes too.

Back to our blessings, we all know how important it is to never forget about those and think of what you are thankful for daily, no negativity, think happy positive thoughts and ideas for this practice, which should be incorporated into your daily discussions within your family group.
Even if you are alone never forgetting all those positives in your life, no one is truly alone if they believe in something even if it is just believing in yourself.
No one can tell anyone what to believe in but we all know that we need to have some things to hang onto when things get this bad.
So whatever it takes … rule of thumb is to start small and build… on just about any difficult job you want to tackle, literally physically or emotionally, and somehow it will get done.

Who am I to tell you?
Someone who’s been there before it was something for the masses, and I am nearly back from the brink, and I will try daily to never go there again.
We are managing but want to do better too.

So I bid you all good night and to all count those blessings and I will too!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Welcome to square root day, 3-3-09

Today is a unique day, which until this particular day I had no idea it had a specific name, "Square Root Day" and it is very slightly similar to, “Leap Year”, but does not come as frequently, and named for a totally different reason Math wizards are the main geeks involved in this idiosyncratic blip in time. The last one we had was on 2-2-04, and you got it, today is 3-3-09! I know you got it by now the third number of the day is also the square root of the first two identical ones, multiplies evenly!
Not that hard to figure out how it got its name and PS our next one won’t be until 4-4-16!
Actually, it does occur nine times each century.
Since this is my second century that I have had the pleasure of being a part of so I thought others might find this distinctive day interesting too.
That didn’t come out right I am not going on my second hundred years what I meant is that I was born in the middle of the last and have continued into this newest one; got it?
I’m sure you do and you did, but one cannot be too clear I have found out.

Our economy is down by half in car sales, but we all knew that; slowest pace since 1981.
Our president’s popularity stays at 60%, Michele’s popularity is 63%; how about that?
The recession’s fears came to a boil on capital hill today.
Chairmen Bernanke is also furious about having to bail out banks and big business, but we haven’t much choice, an example: such as AIG 180B in help as of Monday.

Has anyone besides me noticed how regal Hilary Clinton looks these days? I do believe she is enjoying her new job, anyway she seems to have been born to it.

Day two of my husband’s dismantling of the neighbor’s gifted fence; slow but steady and he is continuing to get more done each day, and yes that would be silly for otherwise!
Boy, I am explaining everything I say tonight, and I truly hope it is understandable that is my interpretations of what I mean.

Here I go again; language is often misunderstood even when we try to plain-speak it.

So these are the days of all our lives.
I have been told that I have a tendency to speak too fast, but that’s just the northeasterner still left in me.
My years there and my years here are still not equal.
I lived there slightly longer, by 13 years at this point.
Those years will even out eventually, and some day even pass my old roots if I am lucky and live long enough; one can only hope.

On that positive note I will bid you good night to all and to all count those blessings…look hard they are there.
Did you wake up alive this morning? That’s a blessing.
Did you breathe on your own? That’s a blessing.
Did you see the sunshine or clouds cover the sky? Well, either way that’s a blessing.
Have you eaten at least three meals today on your own? That’s a Blessing!
Were you warm enough today? If yes, that’s a blessing.
The above are just some examples of things so many of us take for granted, but you and I both know that there are so many more, and all I ask is for you to count as many of them or your own ones each and everyday and realize they are some people in some places who cannot count even one of them. And then you should realize what is truly important…yes, you got it…that you know how to count, there you go another blessing!
Gotcha!

Speaking My Mind: Which way will the war go?

Speaking My Mind: Which way will the war go? :   My eyesight is going again... in case you missed it... Netanyahu snaps back against growing...