Car in the Ditch

It's 7:15 p.m. on Monday evening. A car flew in the ditch in front of our property in Alsea over an hour ago. The man standing next to the car in the third photo is the driver of the car. Three trucks from the Alsea Fire Department are out on the road and a Benton County Sheriff's car. The air bags went off causing brusing to the driver. He's receiving medical attention now. The Corvallis Fire Department ambulance arrived to take the driver into Corvallis.

This is a dangerous corner. I don't know how many people have to end up in the ditch before Benton County reroutes traffic to eliminate this corner. This road is unsafe for drivers who frequently end up in the ditch and there is no shoulder for anyone to safely walk this road. Logging trucks and dump trucks go by on this road plus traffic to and from Eugene. People who aren't familiar with this road often end up in the ditch.

It's 8:21 p.m. and the tow truck just pulled the car out of the ditch. They sure make a lot of money on our corner.

Al Gore

ABC Good Morning America just interviewed Al Gore, asked about his new book about President Bush, and whether he will run for President. I would love to see Al Gore run for President. I hope he runs and I would vote for him.

Thank you, Al Gore for having the courage to write your new book, stand up for truth, stand up for environment and important issues that effect all of us.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Gays

When I lived in Salem, Oregon, I knew a family in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who experienced the repercussions of having a gay son in this church. The grandfather, a Boy Scout leader, molested young boy scouts under his care and his grandson. This young man is an outstanding young man who is creative and good. Is it genetics that makes this young man gay or the unfortunate experience in his youth?

With the wide variation possible in human genetics, it is most likely the genetic component. You can't help how you are inside and what genetics you possess. I can't see anyone making a choice to put themselves out there and choosing to be gay unless they are. Gays receive cruel harrassment in society and often worse. What is the alternative? To hide their identity is sometimes worse than death. This young man has the courage to be himself.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints counsels gays in the church to become heterosexual. How is that possible, if they are born gay? They are being asked to deny who they are. My husband found out when we were serving as missionaries that there are stake presidents who struggle with being gay. This was shocking to me. We sure found out more things about the church serving as missionaries than we ever did since we joined in 1995. It was nice to be part of the church in the beginning but the longer we served in leadership positions, more of the secrets hidden to the majority of the church members were revealed.

I remember reading in Time or Newsweek years ago about a missionary young man in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who committed suicide. He had developed calouses on his knees from hours of torturous praying asking God to please help him. How sad!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes on the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ commanded all of us to love thy neighbor as thyself. This means everyone. This means even those people who make us feel uncomfortable. This means those people on the other side of the world who are very different from us. This means those people who are difficult and hard to love. This means those people who we would rather not see or want to have anything to do with. This means everyone, including those who are born much different from us. This is the great challenge of Christianity.

Brothers and Sisters

The Sunday night television season finale of Brothers and Sisters still lingers on my tivo. I'm trying to savor my enjoyment of this captivating show, one of my favorites. Why does it have to be over for the season? Why can't it go on ad infinitum? I love Calista Flockhart and Sally Field the best. I love the interaction of family. I love it all and wish I were part of it. I'll wait for the next time.

I also love Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Grey's Anatomy. Why can't they all go on week after week?

LDS Hymn

There is a hymn called IF YOU COULD HIE TO KOLOB on page 284 of the hymnal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'll share the words with you because it is eye-opening to some of the doctrine of this church. I will first preface by saying that Kolob is the planet where God lives.

"If you could hie to Kolob in the twinkling of an eye,
And then continue onward with that same speed to fly,
Do you think that you could ever, through all eternity,
Find out the generation where Gods began to be?

Or see the grand beginning, where space did not extend?
Or view the last creation, where Gods and matter end?
Me thinks the Spirit whispers, No man has found pure space,
Not seen the outside curtains, where nothing has a place to be?

The works of God continue, and worlds and lives abound;
Improvement and progression have one eternal round
There is no end to matter; There is no end to space;
There is no end to spirit; There is no end to race.

There is no end to virtue; There is no end to might;
There is no end to wisdom; There is no end to light;
There is no end to union; There is no end to youth;
There is no end to priesthood; There is no end to truth.

There is no end to glory; There is no end to love;
There is no end to being; There is no death above;
There is no end to glory; There is no end to love;
There is no end to being; There is no death above."

This was written by William W. Phelps who lived from 1792 to 1872. You can read about him in Doctrine and Covenants section 55. It says he was called and chosen to be baptized, ordained an elder, and to preach the gospel. He worked with Oliver Cowdery, another early church leader. I wonder if Phelps or Cowdery was related to Romney who is running for President?

Doctrine and Covenants 76 is a long section and it talks about how people who live up to the highest standards of the church become celestial beings or gods.

It's interesting that the Reverend Al Sharpton is going to Salt Lake to meet with Mormon leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to say he's sorry for offending Mormons. I wonder if Sharpton wants to learn how to become a god too? Jesus commanded all of us to love thy neighbor as thyself and yet the early Mormon church or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not recognize or want Blacks in the church.

American Idol

Jordin Sparks, Melinda Doolittle, and Blake Lewis are all Super Stars and will go on to a spectacular career on stage. My favorite is Blake Lewis and once again he wowed me and the audience. I only voted for Blake.

I hate to see American Idol end. It has been so much fun watching all the great talent each week. Now I have SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE to look forward to.

Yachats

Yachats is one of my favorite places to visit. My husband, Leslie and I went there at the first of the month to eat fish and chips at the Blue Whale and to walk a little bit along Ocean View Drive next to the ocean. I've eaten a lot of fish and chips in my life but I have never found better fish and chips than at the Blue Whale in Yachats.

Before we drove to the beach, we stopped at Shirley's where I wanted to buy a sea shell. I ended up buying a large star fish and a pair of purple NothinZ, which are like Crocs. I also have a pair of red Crocs. Both are comfortable and I enjoy wearing them around the house, instead of slippers. These are the squishy shoes with the holes that are so popular now. We also sell some at Joann Fabrics that are now on sale.

Timberhill Athletic Club

After Weight Watchers, I went to Timberhill Athletic Club and swam in the pool slowly for one hour and then I went upstairs to exercise. I was able to finish 30 minutes on the elliptical runner, 5 minutes on the Nu Step, 15 minutes on the exercise bike, and 15 minutes on the weight machines for arms. Then I headed down stairs when I saw someone from the Tai Chi class who escorted me back upstairs for 45 minutes of Tai Chi.

Tai Chi is relaxing, calming, and continuous movement. Although it is hard for me to consider this serious exercise, it is relaxing and for balance. I remember when my husband and I went on vacation to China with Ocean Pacific Tours in September of 1993, I watched people coming from every corner to a large open square in the early morning light for tai chi. It was extraordinary to watch from our hotel room way up high. Les, my husband had always wanted to walk on the Great Wall in China, which we did. I've always wanted to visit Sweden. Someday I will.

Weight Watchers

I went to the Weight Watchers meeting at 9:15 hopeful that I had lost weight and I did. I lost 7.6 pounds! Pretty good! What I did to lose the weight was to meticulously count points in my journal, eat core foods on the flex program, exercise, and say to myself that I weigh 150 pounds. It worked so I will do this again this next week. Last week I've discovered the shrimp is an essential food. One cup of shrimp is only two points. Stir fried in olive oil or teriyaki sauce, it makes a great compliment to large chunks of onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms stir fried in olive oil. I also gave up diet pop this week.

The topic this week was about cravings. Nancy, the leader wore a name tag that said she had lost 83 pounds. My leader last year was named Nancy too. She said to acknowledge the craving, avoid self judgments, remain calm, consider the consequences, step into action by considering portion size and thinking about alternative choices. I think that cinnamon rolls were mentioned too many times during this meeting. Urges are all about feelings and situations. You are supposed to remain calm, manage the situation, remove the temptation, eat something else or do something else. I learned that 4 points are cut off of a whopper at Burger King by saying no mayonnaise, throwing away the bottom bun, and asking for extra lettuce and tomato. This I will have to do because I love whoppers.

The woman sitting in front of me during the meeting was wearing a beautiful Scandinavian ski sweater. After the meeting we walked out to the parking lot together and I asked her about her sweater. I thought she had made it. It's a cotton, light-weight Eddie Bauer sweater, perfect for the summer. It's beautiful. Eddie Bauer's catalog is full of practical, beautiful, excellent quality garments that will last and that you'll be proud to wear. www.eddiebauer.com

Script Frenzy

Chris Baty, the originator of National Novel Writing Month in November has created a new writing challenge beginning in June called Script Frenzy. The goal is to write 20,000 words of a screenplay or play during the month of June. This translates to 120 pages or 4 pages a day. Chris Baty has done an amazing job of inspiring writers around the world with National Novel Writing Month and now he's added this challenge. Chris Baty is a writing hero!

I signed up and look forward to the frenzy! www.scriptfrenzy.org

There is another wonderful writing opportunity coming up on May 19th, this Saturday. I just found it in the writing events that I get in an e-mail. Michael Hauge is coming to Portland. He's one of my writing heroes and he's teaching a one day workshop in Portland on "the essential steps to creating and selling your novel or screenplay." I wish I could go. I have to work plus I don't have the money. I'm determined to be able to have the savings ready the next time he comes. (I started a 401K and savings account last month.) I have listened to one of his tapes, THE HEROES TWO JOURNEYS that I checked out from the library, and bought his book, WRITING SCREENPLAYS THAT SELL. I wrote to him and he was kind enough to send me an encouraging letter. I'm going to read Hauge's book again to get ready for Script Frenzy.

Daniel Haber

I'm so proud of my son, Daniel. He's my inspiration and one of my heroes. He works hard every day for long hours and keeps focused on goals important to him. I don't know anyone else who has so carefully planned his life and has worked hard to accomplish his goals. He has integrity and feels the responsibility to do his best. Right now he's working at Battell in Mountain View, California as a Research Scientist working on projects with NASA and the transportation industry.

Daniel just ran his first marathon--the Eugene Marathon with a time of 4 hours and 3 minutes.

I often wear the Scandinavian ski sweater he bought for me when he was visiting our family in Sweden. He worked in Berlin, Germany at a pharmaceutical company to gain international business experience for nine months and attended the Copenhagen School of Business for a summer.

Daniel was President of Sigma Pi when he was going to school at Oregon State University. He also worked for Office Max in Corvallis, did community service, and earned a degree in accounting.

I'm proud of the person that Daniel is inside and will always be proud of him.

This Is NOT the Life I Ordered

I just finished reading the book, THIS IS NOT THE LIFE I ORDERED--50 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER WHEN LIFE KEEPS DRAGGING YOU DOWN by Deborah Collins Stephens, Jackie Speier, Michealene Cristini Risley, and Jan Yanehiro. On the front cover is a quote by Amy Tan, one of my favorite authors, "...Inspiration to survive the worst luck and ...climb into a new life with unexpected happiness." I just got it for Mother's Day from my youngest son, Daniel. He also gave me fresh flowers and a wonderful Hallmark card that I will always keep.

This inspirational and motivational book that was just published this year has a clear message for women in my situation who have woke up one day and discovered that their life hasn't turned out as they expected. It's full of great quotes and inspiring stories of strong women. The clear message is that women, especially my age, have grown up believing that their husband will solve all the problems or a white knight on a silver horse will come and rescue them. This isn't the case. The clear message is to grow up and realize that we have to solve our own problems because there isn't anyone out there who is going to solve them for us. Unless we learn to reach out and learn, ask questions, and solve our own problems, we will continue to sit in our own muck.

I can't say that my life totally sucks. I just thought I would be rich, able to travel, and have accomplished great things in life by now. I do have many things to be thankful for so I will build on them, work on my writing, and do those things within my power to make my life better.

This is a book that I will read over and over through the coming years. It's worth buying a copy. Go to www.amazon.com to order yourself a copy or to give one as a gift.

Polygamy

Massachusetts Governor Romney said on the news recently that he's disgusted and ashamed of his ancestors practicing polygamy in the desert. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Romney says he doesn't believe in Doctrine and Covenants 132 and will not practice it. Interesting..............

One of my letters to Salt Lake was asking about Doctrine and Covenants 132. I wanted to know why scriptures are being printed with Doctrine and Covenants 132. This is the polygamy chapter. Mormons or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints study four texts composed of the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine of Covenants. Then there is also the Pearl of Great Price. These books are put together in a quad and are complete with translation approved by the church. If you have a Mormon neighbor, ask him to bring over his quad and read this chapter out loud or ask to borrow it. See what you think about it.

My interpretation is that Doctrine and Covenants 132 says that polygamy is a practice ordained by God or Heavenly Father, (which means the God of this world as there are Gods of other worlds who were exalted beings. I have always believed in ONE God, the Father, and the Holy Ghost. I learned a lot about this church that I didn't know when I first joined.)

I've overheard conversations of women in Relief Society talking about polygamy and when it will be practiced again. Some don't want to have anything to do with it and others want to do the Lord's will and follow what is asked of them. The perks are having help with housework. I've overheard conversations in the hallway of men and in Gospel Doctrines class who say that they look forward to it. It will be hard on them but they will follow God's will and do what is asked of them. Yeah, sure! Others, like Romney, are disgusted.

If this church keeps printing Doctrine and Covenants 132 and the official verdict is that polygamy is no longer practiced, then why should anyone who belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follow anything written in the Old Testament and New Testament either? They pick and choose depending on what is popular and what can be tolerated in the current political climate. They care less about what is right, what God wants them to do, than finding justification for carrying out what they want to do and to keep tax free status. They have answers for everything. Did you know that Heavenly Father lives on the planet Kolob? (See Hymn #284.) I think the early married leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lusted after young women and found a way to make polygamy okay within the church by delaring that God asked them to take on extra wives. I think this is the real truth.

I do not believe in polygamy. I have never believed in polygamy. I find it interesting that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so self-righteously denounces and denies that it has any thing to do with polygamy when some of the members discuss with anticipation the time when it will once again be practiced.

Survivor Fiji

Yauman is the one who I want to win. He calmly thinks, plans, and plays the game with integrity. He constantly amazes me winning challenges. Last night when he gave Dreamz the truck, it was interesting how quickly Dreamz was ready to betray the kindness. I'm glad Yauman used the immunity idol since everyone was positioned and ready to vote him out.
I love Survivor--the show that allows the child in the adult to play, to test limits, to challenge, and to have fun.

How nice that Survivor gave to equipment to the school on the island. What a great thrill to watch.

Next we have Pirate Master to watch coming up at the end of May. This should prove to be a lot of fun. Every show connected to survivor is excellent and the best in television programming.

Alec Baldwin

I watched the View when Alec Baldwin told his story. It's unfortunate but public figures can't be human beings and make mistakes without someone taking advantage and putting it all in front of everyone to pick apart and judge.

Alec Baldwin is a gifted and brilliant actor. Kim Basinger is a gifted actress. They both found success on the screen and joined in marriage. Ireland is a beautiful young girl who, I suspect, must also be brilliant, talented, and gifted. Ireland is learning that she can hurt her father deeply by withdrawing her attention. She's learned what hurts her father most. Her father, in a human moment, got mad. What parent doesn't get mad at times? Alec Baldwin obviously loves his daughter very much. Calling Ireland a pig isn't cool but it is appropriate as a parent to call her on her actions without name calling and expect her to be responsible and accountable for her actions. This is part of parenting and part of growing up.

I sincerely hope all of them can heal in their hearts and they can learn to come together without conflict, without games, without being hurtful. Ireland needs both of her parents to get along.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton is in the news again and I seem to have a different opinion than most. A few years ago, I watched Paris and her friend on a reality show in the mid-west on a farm as she was learning to connect with people much different than her. I thought it showed that Paris was compassionate and had a kind heart. She wanted to please. It showed courage to put herself out there to learn to connect with people very different from her. It was obvious that she hadn't learned some lessons that most her age take for granted because she's rich. Things are done for the rich. They don't have to do most of the things which develop lessons in character and discipline but why should she have to work hard and never give up when she already had everything she could ever want?

I haven't paid attention to much of the news about Paris. I don't find pleasure in seeing someone mess up.

I see Paris as a gifted young woman who didn't get the proper direction for her talents. Her energies should have been channeled into projects that she would find exciting. Until this happens in her life and she finds a mentor who wants her to win, she is going to continue acting out. Paris is capable of accomplishing anything she wants to accomplish in life once she decides on getting serious and focuses on what she wants to do. She's strong willed. She's smart. She's beautiful. She has it all except direction and focus on a goal. I'm sure her parents would support her in anything she wants to accomplish. Her Dad couldn't be Mr. Hilton, if he weren't a brilliant business man. Hilton Hotels represent excellence in hotels and service. Mr. Hilton wouldn't enjoy being around Mrs. Hilton, if she weren't smart and able to hold his interest so it stands to reason that Paris has inherited the genes of intelligence. More likely than not.

Not all parents know what to do to help a gifted kid and trust educators, who often fail miserably to help them. Parents often love their children so much that they only want to say yes, when saying no is what is needed. Parents need to learn the long term consequences when they are saying yes to their little children for everything the child wants. It isn't conducive to go out into the world to become an independent, contributing, well-adjusted adult. How is a young person going to do well in school if his parents give in to his every whim of not wanting to do this or that?

Most educators think that gifted kids don't need any help. That isn't true. The gifted often become bored and disruptive when they are allowed to sit without being taught and challenged. The gifted often do not reach their potential, if they don't receive a proper education. What a waste!

Paris needs to take a serious look to evaluate what she wants to do but she needs someone who genuinely cares about her and wants her to win to help focus her life into a positive direction. Paris is acting out, as many gifted kids because she wants attention. Negative attention will do when you don't get positive attention but this is becoming self distructive and has to stop.

Paris needs to make a decision about what direction her life should take and then set about moving each goal forward daily or weekly. She has the resources to win at anything she wants to do. Paris loves to be in front of the camera and in front of a crowd so she needs to find something that would respect her, keep within appropriate boundaries that would be constructive and that she finds exciting.

It doesn't help to put gifted women in prison, like Martha Stewart or Paris Hilton. There needs to be a different solution. I haven't seen Martha Stewart much since she was in prison. I sent a letter to her while she was in prison. Why do people seem to feel the need to be so cruel to smart women who make unfortunate choices. Martha didn't do anything that hundreds of men haven't done for years without ever having a problem. Men who make greater mistakes aren't punished as severely. I didn't ever see ENRON GUY in prison. Loop holes are found for smart, rich men, not women. Martha Stewart seems to have the wind taken out of her sail. I wonder if she will ever be the same again. I find this tragic and I don't want to see this happen to Paris Hilton.

Weight Watchers

I was happy to rejoin Weight Watchers yesterday morning. I need it. It's good for me. Weight Watchers holds me accountable for my portions of food on the plate. I learn and am inspired at every meeting.

My last meeting was in June of 2006 and I had weighed 262. Yesterday morning I weighed 265. I weighed 135 in high school, college and the first several years of my marriage. Now it's time to finally get the weight off and keep it off for good.

I took notes at the meeting and here's what I learned:

Stay focused with your LENS.
L ook for habits that need change.
E at using the food plan of choice.
N udge your body into action.
S eek support to reach your goals.

There are four ways to approach weight loss:
1. Attend weekly meetings.
2. Eat wisely.
3. Think first.
4. Move more.

There were some great tips shared during the meeting that brought laughter. One woman put yellow caution tape across her cupboards with tempting foods. Another woman puts chocolate chips on the highest shelf out of reach and out of sight.

I learned that delay tactics are good for emotional eaters and to drink water and plan before acting on your urge to eat something you want. Constant snackers need to move more. It's important to preplan all meals.

Well, I'm happy to be back at Weight Watchers. I did great my first day back with Weight Watchers with my eating plan. I realized yesterday that I have been drizzling a little too much olive oil on my stir fry. Oh, well.................

Choices

I started Weight Watchers yesterday morning again. I was surprised to see that it had been almost a year since I last went to a meeting. I didn't do too bad in a year. I held my own. I had only gained 4 pounds. It could have been a lot worse. It's important that I come to the meetings. Weight Watchers holds my portions of food accountable. It's hard for me to do it on my own. I eat pretty healthy but I can easily overeat and put heaping portions on a plate or eat an entire watermelon in a day.

After Weight Watchers, I put myself back on active status at Timberhill Athletic Club. I decided that this was another essential choice for my need to be healthy. Health must come first and since I have no health insurance or savings, my membership in this club is my insurance policy. I hadn't really exercised in nine months so I was a little surprised that I was able to swim slowly for 30 minutes, do 15 minutes on the exercise bike, 15 minutes on the elliptical runner, and 15 minutes of lifting weights for the arms. That's not a lot and that's not as much as I was able to do before I left but it's a start. It felt like heaven to be in deep water in the pool. I think I broke my foot in a fall at work at the first of the month. My husband said there is nothing you can do for it. He had a broken foot once. He walked our daughter down the isle with a broken foot. All they do is put on a padded foot brace and it heals on its own. The padded foot brace costs several hundred dollars so it will just have to heal on its own. It doesn't hurt as much but it does prevent me from yearning to go out there in the garden and walking on the uneven ground. My feet and legs felt better after exercising yesterday so I will be fine.

I do regret one choice yesterday. Bob Welch spoke in Newport last night at 7 p.m. I didn't check the time in my e-mail writers announcements until 5:30 p.m. Newport is at least 1 1/2 hours away from my house and that's if I know exactly where to go in Newport. Traffic would have to be just right for me to make it on time plus I wasn't ready. I'm ashamed that I wasn't more organized and ready to go because I missed out big time. Bob Welch is the author of nine books, a columnist at the Eugene Register-Guard, and a professor at the University of Oregon. He spoke on "persistence: the marathon of researching, writing, and selling non-fiction." This was exactly what I needed to hear. Why do I let myself miss out? I reach for the brass ring and fall short. I hope I have another chance. Opportunities like this don't happen every day. I wish Willamette Writers and Oregon Writers Colony would have speakers in Corvallis. There are so many writers in Corvallis. It's hard with gas prices going up so high.

After chiding myself inwardly for not being more organized and going to Newport, I turned my anxiety into my writing and finished my assignment seven for my novel writing course with Long Ridge Writers Group. I finished it and it's good but could still use some revision.

This morning I was reading the book Daniel gave me for Mother's Day entitled, THIS IS NOT THE LIFE I ORDERED--50 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER WHEN LIFE KEEPS DRAGGING YOU DOWN. It's a great book of inspirational stories. I got it in the mail on Monday and I'm on page 100. This morning I came across two parts I'll share with you that have great meaning for me.

"All of us have had to confront an individual or organization that 'wronged' us. It wasn't easy. Yet we are all glad we didn't suffer in silence and allow the inappropriate situation to continue." page 98

And then here's a quote by Ayn Rand, one of my favorite writers that I discovered in college in the late 60's at Oregon College of Education, now Western Oregon University.
"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have not been able to reach."
--Ayn Rand, Russian-born novelist and philosopher (1905-1982)

Insprired by Rand and a quote that came in my Writer's Digest Book Club booklet to remember that talking about writing is not writing, research is not writing, planning to write is not writing, reading about writing is not writing, and that only writing is writing, I'll go and write.

Bob Proctor

I subscribe to the daily INSIGHT OF THE DAY from www.insightoftheday.com. I love the inspirational daily e-mails.

Today's quote was by Earl Nightingale, one of my favorite inspirational writers. I've listened to many of his cassette tapes that I've checked out from the library.

"A great attitude does more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitious opportunities that were somehow absent before we changed."

Isn't that great!

Bob Proctor is advertising on his website a cruise down the Mexican Rivera sailing on October 6, 2007. This should be a cruise of a life time with each minute packed with positive thinking energy. It is a big stretch and dream but I wish I could go. I keep waiting to hear the words that I won $5,000 a week for life when Publishers Clearinghouse comes to my door. Maybe someday...............

Thank you Bob Proctor for the great inspirational e-mails, an outstanding website, and great contribution to everyone who subscribes.

American Idol

I love Blake Lewis from Seattle! Blake pulled out all the stops and pushed the cool factor off the charts.

It was great to see Jon Bon Jovi this week. Everyone loves Bon Jovi. I sure do. Jon Bon Jovi is the essence of cool. I loved watching him on Ally McBeal, one of my all time favorite shows. I can see Blake being as successful and popular as Bon Jovi. It would be fun to see them on stage together at a concert.

I only voted for Blake this time. Yes, I know that Melinda is great and the others are talented and amazing too but I love Blake Lewis.

Thank you American Idol for all the fun each week! Thank you Simon Fuller and Simon Cowell for bringing excellence in entertainment to America and for igniting the hopes and dreams in talented young people.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

I admire the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He's truly a political super hero. On Sunday night a tanker truck exploded on an Oakland freeway overpass, which caused it to collapse. Since this is an important transportation artery, Schwarzenegger was out there early the next morning solving problems to make sure the people of California win in spite of problems. He reacted quick and strong by telling people to leave their cars at home and ride public transportation free.

It sure makes me wonder how Arnold Schwarzenegger would have responded during the disaster in New Orleans. I can bet with almost certainty that he would have reacted quickly with great solutions to help the people of New Orleans, unlike President Bush.

I've always admired Arnold Schwarzenegger. I love it that he's married into the Kennedy family, the political family I admire most. I admire his wife, Maria. I admire his energy, great mind, and discipline. I guess I'm surprised he's a Republican. He cares less about reacting like a Republican than he does about bringing real solutions to problems to help the people of California. He's a great leader and a great man.

Marathon Space Blankets

Everyone coming through the finish line of the Eugene Marathon received a silver space blanket. I also saw this at the Portland Marathon. I'm sure this is common in most marathons.

It sure would be a nice thing to do, IF you don't want to keep your space blanket, to give it to your nearest homeless shelter so it could be recycled and help someone in great need.