WiFi

I wrote the following words this morning.

WiFi Devastation

The powers that be in Alsea
sucked out the content
of my laptop and e-mail
to search for
something,
something,
SOMETHING
that will give them a clue.

I enjoyed for brief moments
the Maui Writer's Conference
but the cost was deadly.
The result was trauma.

No one came up to say,
"How do you do?"
"Can I help you?"
"I'm here to listen."
"I care."
"I'd like to be a friend."

They swarm in the background
to look, poke, and prod
to try to figure out who I am.
They don't ask.
They don't communicate.
Instead they use intrusive
ways to get information.

Will I return to the Alsea Library?
Unlikely.
No friends there.
No safe haven.

Why does this have to happen in the United States of America? Why are e-mail records and computer records pulled when it is a direct violation of the U.S. Constitution? I haven't done anything wrong and yet this behavior has been ongoing. It isn't right.

It isn't fair that my private conversations are recorded in my car, in my home, at work, and on the phone. Stuff has been taken out of my car. Ideas have been taken. Things have been taken out of my home. There is new barbed wire around our fence surrounding our garden area. I didn't put it up. My husband didn't put it up. Someone put it up when we were gone. Who? We didn't give permission to anyone to put it up so we put up no trespassing signs. Why would someone put up barbed wire on someone else's property without getting permission? Why would someone do that anyway?

I was just watching a commercial today on the Young and the Restless for Ensure. I remember telling my son in our car a few years ago that the marketing should change to a younger demographic, instead of just marketing to the elderly since Ensure is packed with nutrition. A few months later, a marketing campaign came out that did just that and the actor in the commercial looks like he is a relative of the Mormon attorney that has an office in Salem and Albany who violated our legal rights. It's such a betrayal to have someone who has been in your home and go to church with you at the Four Corners Ward in Salem to hurt you.

I was told by a Mormon woman before we left Gates that I should live as if I am being watched and every word is recorded at all times. I guess she knew what was going to happen. I didn't think anything of it at the time but it can explain why people know what I think before I tell anyone. My patriarchial blessing that I was given when I was in this church said that my tongue would be loosed and that some would call my name blessed. Well, I don't think that this church is calling my name blessed now.

The exact words in my patriarchal blessing in the 2 page single spaced document written by Richard Sellers on December 3, 1995, a few months after I joined this blankety, blank church are "Many will call your name blessed for that which you will give unto them." Okay...if this were true, how can I accomplish my purpose to help anyone if I am elbowed into the corner, forced into isolation because every time I try to accomplish anything I am stopped like a rat in a maze? This is called conditioned response. If you apply negative reinforcement every time someone tries to do something or go in a direction, eventually they will stop. So are you happy now? Does this make you feel proud of yourself? So I pour my heart and soul into my writing.

Why are these kinds of things allowed to happen in Oregon and in the United States of America? Why does the Democratic Party of Oregon and the Democratic Governor of Oregon allow this to happen to citizens who haven't done anything wrong? It is a violation of the U.S. Constitution. This isn't right. It's extremely stressful and I'm tired of it.

It isn't right that people film you without your consent or knowledge and yet this has been the case more than once. After I started working, cameras were set up at Joann Fabrics and conversations around the cutting area and cash registers were recorded. When I was working at Beaver Creek Software, conversations were recorded. I didn't give permission to be filmed in the classroom at the high school at Philomath. This kind of intrusive behavior has been encouraged by professors at Oregon State University. I haven't given permission for any filming or recording to anyone. Now we have U-tube privacy violations and other Internet privacy violations. Hidden cameras are an intrusion and a violation of the US Constitution. This needs to be stopped. A cease and desist order should be given.

I enjoy people. I like to trust people. I forgive over and over but no one says they are sorry. No one fesses up. No one talks to me here. No close friends, just people who ask me lots of questions. I try hard every day to make it a great day but when things like this happen, it isn't much fun. I need great memories to replace all the bad ones. I work hard each day to create my own good memories and to be productive. We're staying in Alsea because this is where we can afford to live. I'm staying at home and making my world in my garden, my home, my reading, and my writing.

These things shouldn't be allowed to happen in this country, not without due process, not without proof of wrong doing. President Bush allowed all this to come about. Members of Congress allowed it to happen and voted for it without reading the bills. I'd like to see other people live under these conditions. If I stay home all the time, maybe this stuff won't happen any more so I'm not moving and I'm not going anywhere and I'm not leaving Alsea.

What really makes me mad is I like attention and being in front of an audience. I have the right to make money just like everyone else. What's been happening to me is stealing, cutting me off at the knees, destroying my confidence, and designed to make me question myself. Nothing less than psychological rape. Shame on all you hooligans!

Donny Deutsch

My new favorite show is The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. It's on CNBC. Tonight Donny had on several guests to talk about the alpha male and how women need to behave and look in order to succeed in business. It's interesting. It went through everything from body language to lists of things not to do and lists of things that you need to do. If you want to learn how to succeed in business, I would definately recommend watching The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch.
www.bigidea.cnbc.com

Tour de France

I was talking to my son, Benjamin, on the phone yesterday. It sounds like he has his eyes glued to the television watching the Tour de France which he does every year. A Tivo is making it easier this year. I decided to start watching and ride my exercise bike.

I was thinking that we need to have Tour USA or maybe we could call it The Ultimate Tour USA and have bicycles ride across the United States. Every town could welcome the racers. It could be bigger than the Tour de France. It could be almost better, which would be hard. It would be great if the bicycles ride past my house. I'd sit outside in a lawn chair and cheer.

Tour USA needs to start in Boston or New York City and end in Eugene, Oregon at the University of Oregon with a big Nike finish.

Barbara Jurchen

I was going through my purse today and found the business card for Barbara Jurchen who is an Optician at the Optical Shop at the Casey Eye Institute on the Oregon Health & Science University campus. I took the card because I was impressed by her. She's the kind of person who takes her work seriously. She's a profectionist who wants to get it right and will keep at it until she's satisfied. I liked her. She's personable and goes the distance to do a good job for those she helps.

The address is 3375 SW Terwilliger Blvd in Portland 97239
The phone number is 503-418-9230.
Her e-mail is cel2020@gmail.com

If you live in the Portland area and want or need eye glasses, go to see Barbara Jurchen.

Katzinger's Delicatessen

When Les was in Columbus, Ohio to visit Daniel, they went to a great Jewish Deli named Katzinger's Delicatessen. He brought home the menu and it looks like a wonderful deli. Les ordered Big Bob's Belly Balancer which is hot corned beef, hot pastrami on hand-sliced Jewish rye with spicy brown mustard, and creamy cole slaw. It's sounds delicious and Les said it was.

If you are ever in the Columbus area go to 475 South 3rd Street. Their website is www.katzingers.com. The phone number is 614-228-Deli.

The Friday Night Knitting Club

You know you are reading a great book when you laugh, cry, and you love the characters as friends at the end. This has been my experience reading Kate Jacobs' book, THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB. I loved reading this book. I didn't want to finish it right away so I stretched it out to think about it and savor the wisdom sprinkled throughout about friendship. Now I want to read anything Kate Jacobs writes. www.katejacobs.com

Runners in Seattle

The best runners in Seattle train at Green Lake. With all the talent and prowess of these gifted runners located in this area, I don't understand why someone hasn't built a runner's gym in Green Lake. There needs to be a deep water pool for running for athletes who are injured. There should be a special gym tailored just for the runner with trainers and equipment. I'm really shocked that there isn't one. Someone needs to think about building one........

Rafael Nadal

Tennis is shifting, twisting, pivoting, and sometimes skidding and turning. It's THE civilized sport.

I've never seen better tennis than the men's final at Wimbledon 2008. The longest championship match in Wimbledon history for a total of 4 hours and 48 minutes lasting until 9:18 p.m. in London today. Rafael Nadal is the 2008 Wimbledon Champion at 22 years old. Both Nadal and Roger Federer, the 5-time Wimbledon Champion hit impossible shots going into a fifth set. The drama and excitement just didn't stop until the end. This will probably be labeled the greatest tennis match in Wimbledon history. Rafael Nadal from Spain is everything that a champion should be and everyone can take pride that such a great champion won Wimbledon 2008. Spain can celebrate and the world will enjoy watching Rafael Nadal play tennis for scores of years to come.

I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to watch it live in Oregon on DirecTV. I love tennis!

Columbus, Ohio

My husband, Leslie, flew to Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, July 3rd as a gift from our son, Daniel. Les hasn't flown anywhere in about 8 years and hasn't been to Columbus yet to visit Daniel so he'll have a wonderful time. Les will return on Monday, July 7th. He's flying Delta and had a perfect flight to Columbus via Cinncinnati.

I love Columbus. It's a beautiful city. It's so well planned compared to the cities that I know. It has everything a big city has but you can get to everything quickly. Everything seems to be a distance of 15 minutes at the most. Not only this but the streets are wide and spacious. It's a clean city. I love seeing the Olentangy River with the gorgeous manicured parks and trails next to the river. Such great care was taken by the planning commission. There are several streets that get you anywhere fast that aren't crowded and without a lot of street lights. I just talked to Les and they are off to the new CSI exhibit at the Science Museum. Columbus has broadway plays, an art museum, great restaurants, and everything else you could want in a city.

My Garden

My garden is starting to take off. So far I have planted corn, peas, squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, asparagus, and basil. It's fun to see everything grow and take care of it.

I'm also trying to attack all the weeds. Our riding lawn mower is broken so I can't mow the lawn. I've decided to concentrate on the weeds right now until my husband is well enough to fix the lawn mower.

I had a gift of barnyard manure from the goat farm next door today. I'm grateful. Alsea Acre Farm has goats and goat cheese that is made at the farm and is sent throughout Oregon. Go to the website at http://home.earthlink.net/~luvsgoats/Alsea%20Acre/. E-mail: luvsgoats@earthlink.net. Call to order goat cheese at 1-888-316-4628.

Casey Eye Institute

Yesterday, my husband, Leslie had cataract surgery at the Casey Eye Institute in Portland at Oregon Health Sciences University. The surgeon was Dr. Michael Lloyd. Les didn't have any problems or pain. He's doing fine and it's due to the skill of Dr. Lloyd and everyone else who took care of him.

I couldn't help thinking when Dr. Lloyd checked Les at 5 p.m. that his mother must be very proud of him. He's very young, smart, and he takes pride in his work. It was nice to see. Dr. Lloyd is a medical hero and I'm grateful for his great skill as a surgeon. It's amazing what's possible with all the new advances in microsurgery. What Les appreciated most was that Dr. Lloyd told him the truth about the potential risks of the surgery and spent time talking to him about it. Dr. Lloyd is a keeper!

I learned that the James and George Casey Eye Institute is connected with United Parcel Service and the Elks Club. The Elks Club is a charitable organization that funds surgery for children at the Casey Eye Institute. James Casey, founder of UPS, has an inspirational quote posted at the Institute--"Our horizon is as distant as our mind's eye wishes it to be."

If I had the money to do what I wanted while we were in Portland, I would have wanted to visit the Portland Art Museum, Powells Book Store, and walk on the beautiful walking path next to the Willamette River downtown. Maybe another time. Portland is a beautiful city.

OHSU

I got up early this morning to drive my husband to Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland to have eye surgery. He has a cataract in his right eye. I'm happy that he is getting help since we have no health insurance or savings and I'm grateful to OHSU that they are going to do the surgery required.

Critical Thinking

I believe you can teach critical thinking at all age levels as soon as there is understanding, which is very young. I believe it is always important to teach your children why you make choices, discuss consequences, and possible alternative choices. I believe it is important to talk to your children and discuss the whys of making this discision or that decision. I believe it is important to teach critical thinking in schools.

However, it is threatening to teach critical thinking for those individuals who only want to control the thought process and desired outcome. If you are willing to teach critical thinking, you must also allow the individual to make a mistake or choose a different path than you would. This is why it is best to start teach critical thinking within the safety net of a family where you can guide the process and where the child is loved. Teaching critical thinking at home is essential for a child to learn how to grow up as an independent, contributing adult.

To teach critical thinking requires respect for the individuals with whom you teach. For people who are very controlling and threatened by change or a difference of opinion, this can be very difficult. However, if the goal is to have the student or your child soar, find their own path, and discover their genius, it is important and essential to teach critical thinking within every subject in school from kindergarten through college and within the home in the family.

Weather in Alsea

The weather is all over the place in Alsea, Oregon today. So much so that I thought I would talk about it. My husband went to the Post Office here in Alsea and our car declared a temperature of 97 degrees hot as you know what. After he told me about the temperature, I asked him to check the temperature in the shade outside our front room window. It said 88 degrees. The temperature on our clock in the house said 76 degrees. Then I turned on Direct TV and looked at the temperature for zipcode 97324, which is Alsea, Oregon and it said that it was now 62 degrees, for a high of 65 degrees!!! What's going on here?

Math and Children

I was reading the Summer, 2008 issue of Northwestern Magazine, the Alumni Magazine for Northwestern University. Researcher Greg Duncan studied 35,000 preschoolers in the U.S., Canada, and England. He came up with some important results. Here is what was printed in the article:

"Researchers found that children who enter kindergarten with basic math and reading skills are the most likely to achieve later academic success. The study discovered the paramount importance of early math skills--of beginning school with a knowledge of numbers, number order, and other rudimentary math concepts--as the very strongest predictor of future academic success."

It goes on to say.... "Mastery of early math skills not only predicts future math achievement, it also predicts future reading achievement," Duncan said. "And it does so just as reliably as early mastery of vocabulary, letters, and phoenetics skills predicts later reading success."

However.... "The opposite--reading skills predicting math success--does not hold up."

And..... "Attention-related skills also consistently, though more modestly, predict academic success."

So what's important? Study math. Teach your children at home from birth on in a fun, no pressure atmosphere where learning is valued and thought of as exciting. There is no greater thing a parent can do than to teach your child so they have success in school and life. Children who start school reading and who can do basic math problems are going to be ahead and stay ahead.

Military Contract

On the front page of the Corvallis Gazette Times this morning was the headline, "Government awards man on 'watch list' arms contract." It goes on to say that "Lawmakers question how 21-year-old won $298 million military deal." I want to know too. How does this happen that a 21- year-old listed on a State Department watch list is given $298 million dollars? This sure doesn't show good thinking or decision making. What is going on in our government? How could something like this happen? Here we have so many problems in this country and $298 million buckeroos is given out for guns to a youngster that our own government questions. This doesn't make any sense to me. I think we need a line by line audit of government spending and military spending. I think someone needs to start making sure that money is spent on high priority items when our country is having a difficult time.

I think we need to pay attention to the high priority needs of the citizens of the United States of America. We need to take care of our country first. We need to make our country strong again. The dollar needs to be strengthened. Our citizens need health care for all. Jobs need to be protected.

It is a good thing that Congressional Democrats and Republicans caught this and they need to be vigilant to make sure that that these kinds of money expenditures don't happen again. We need to see real leadership to put our country back on course and make it strong.

Daniel

I talked to Daniel on Sunday for a few minutes. It sounds like he's has a wonderful professor who inspires everyone in class. Daniel is working on his MBA at Ohio State University in Columbus. His professor is discussing, dissecting, and analyzing large corporations to understand why decisions are made in marketing and planning. They analyze what works and what doesn't work. It sounds exciting and makes me want to go back to school. I wish I could. It sounds like what they do in law school when they discuss U.S. Supreme Court law cases. I'm sure happy for Daniel. This professor is what every teacher should be to every student in every school who inspires, excites, and teaches students to think.

Craig Ferguson

Craig Ferguson, the STAR of The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson is my favorite. I love watching Craig Ferguson and if I were to pick one show out of all shows on television, I would pick The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

I watch Craig Ferguson during the day. I tivo it so I can watch it when I want. Last night Henry Winkler was on Craig's show. Henry Winkler is another one of my favorite stars. I used to love to watch the Fonz. Now Henry Winkler is an important producer and director living the good life with creative people all around him.

Jeffrey Tambor was also on Craig's show recently. I love watching Jeffrey Tambor in Welcome to the Captain. Is this show going to be on in the fall again? I sure hope so because it is one of my favorites.

Craig has lots of great music groups that play on his show at the end. I really enjoyed Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters. I believe he labeled his music as rockabilly which is a mix of country and rock. They buy their authentic Beattle suits from Liverpool, England. They're a great band. Go out and buy one of their CD's.

And what did I learn on the show tonight, Craig? I learned you like stamps!

Nanotechnology and the Constitution

Woe to the man with a chip in his neck,
pulled this way and that without choice or decision.
Merely an experiment, a rat in a maze.
No respect or dignity. Sadness replaces joy.

Woe to the man whose every word is on tape,
and every action is videoed.
Freedom gone. Mankind loses.
Is this the end of thinking?
Is this the end of creativity?

(I wrote this on 6-18-08.)

Senator Gordon Smith

Am I going to vote for Senator Gordon Smith? NO!
Why? First of all, he hasn't worked hard to protect
Oregon. Our environment needs to be protected.
Off the coast in Newport, there is a dead zone. This
is after I listened to him at a town meeting in Newport
say he would protect the fishing industry. Now there
is no commercial salmon fishing in Oregon. Chemicals
are allowed to be poured into the Willamette River.
Senator Gordon Smith stands for oil drilling in the Arctic.
This is outrageous. Senator Gordon Smith will say
anything to get elected, just like Romney. What do they
have in common? They are both Mormon and members
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Would I ever vote for a Mormon? NEVER!

Weather

Most of the state of Iowa is under water. Many levees along the Mississippi River might break causing more damage and destruction. I can't help but wonder about scientists around the world who seed the clouds with chemicals to get rain and the impact this has on other areas. I've read in the newspaper about Oregon State University having the ability to manipulate the weather. We've had a lot of rain this spring which is needed. We should conserve our water since we need it, instead of selling it to California. If we have manipulated the weather to cause rain in Oregon, has this been a direct cause of problems for Iowa and the midwest?

Corporate Greed

The very rich and large corporations need to be taxed and pay their fair share. It isn't right that billions of dollars go untaxed that could solve problems for everyone in the United States. We are all linked. We are all connected. When a corporation fails to clean up a mess that they caused or refuses to be responsible for detrimental consequences they caused, it isn't okay.

It isn't okay that chemical companies pollute precious sources of water. The bi-product of companies that manufacture plastic is dioxin, a dangerous pollutant. Industry that pours pollutants into the air should be shut down. All corporations that pollute the environment should be given a cease and desist order. To allow these same corporations to get away with not paying taxes and not holding them responsible is nothing less than sanctioned rape and run.

Michele Obama

Michele Obama made a comment that was in the news that some "people are mean." I agree and it's refreshing to hear someone tell the truth. I like her. She's genuine and nice.

I think that people in positions of power are so used to spinning the truth and saying what people want to hear that few people really tell the truth anymore. Religious people spin the truth even though one of the ten commandments is to not bear false witness. Leaders of large corporations spin the truth to make everything appear better than it is. Many self help books are filled with words that say to concentrate on the positive and ignore anything negative. The problem with all this is that when people count on the truth when they make a decision, the outcome is faulty.

I think it's important to tell the truth and be honest. I'd rather know the truth about everything.

Oil

I understand there is discussion about offshore drilling in the United States. Why is this even being considered when we know the environmental impact is a disaster when we drill for oil? We need to start using alternative sources of energy and halt the use of oil.

Zonolite

I was born in Libby, Montana and lived in Libby until the end of my third grade year when we moved to Salem, Oregon. I've heard that the Native Americans a hundred years ago used to call Libby, the Valley of Death. You may have heard on the news about the cancer deaths in Libby caused from Zonolite.

My cousin sent me a letter written by my mother in 1946. I was born in 1948. One paragraph of my mother's letter talks about zonolite. "Did the girls fix candles up with the zonolite? It's pretty on vases, flower pots, picture frames, etc. If you want more of it, Alma, let me know. We have lots of it upstairs."

I remember sitting in a circle with two of my cousins in Libby. There was a big pile of zonolite in the middle. We threw it up in the air and watched how the sun made it sparkle and shimmer.

Betty White

It's been fun to see Betty White on The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. She's so much fun, lively, witty, funny, and nice. I like her. She's genuine. She would make a great talk show host during the day. I really admire her. She's positive. She keeps up and gets along with everyone.

I've always loved watching Betty White on the series Golden Girls. I need to watch more reruns of this show. It's delightful.

Stress and Weight Loss

Our whole family has lived with a tremendous amount of stress through the years. We've started over more than once and we've lost so much. We moved to different homes because my husband was transferred with his job. Our oldest son died in 1995. One of the biggest causes of stress is that my husband hasn't slept in 58 years.

I remember reading in the Alumni Magazine of Northwestern University that Northwestern did a study that showed that stress causes one not to lose weight. It's interesting that I've had a weight problem since 1978 when my husband got sick and stopped working. I didn't have a problem before. Now that he's able to sleep and is much calmer, maybe I'll be able to lose weight.

Table Tennis

Did you know that the BEST sport for the brain is table tennis? I know! I didn't either. I'm reading a book called MAKING A GOOD BRAIN GREAT by Daniel Amen, M.D. You need to read it. He says that the best sports and exercise for the brain are table tennis, golf, tennis, walking, running, swimming. He said that the sports that you should not play and that are bad for the brain are football, soccer, and boxing. I used to love to play tennis and golf but that was years ago. I wish I had a tennis court near me or a golf course.

The brain has the consistency of butter and is extremely vunerable to brusing and damage. A concussion can bring complicated symptoms that haunt you for the rest of your life with a string of debilitating problems.

Football, soccer, boxing..........BAD!
Table tennis, golf, tennis, walking, running, swimming............GOOD!

To be honest, I've never understood why people push kids into playing football. Isn't sitting down and reading a book more important? Isn't learning math and science more important? Isn't it more important to learn how to think? Why spend the time playing football? Football creates generations of beer drinking men who sit on the couch watching a chosen few bash their heads during a game. After these chosen few who make the big bucks playing football on television are finished, they suffer severe disabilities with head injuries and other parts of their body battered, living in pain for the rest of their lives. Is this worth it? Is this worth the millions of dollars spent to glorify the sport of football? I don't think so.

A Clean House

After your kids are grown, it's time to worry about having a clean house. That's my opinion. My mother felt that having a clean house was very important. I would have rather had her spend time playing games with me, talking to me, and spending time with me. When I had my own children, I was determined not to place the priority of having a clean house over spending time with my children. I figured that the most important thing that I could do with my children was to teach them. Time is precious and is the most important gift you can give. I read them stacks of books, played games with them, and found ways to teach them. I homeschooled them for four years in Arroyo Grande, California. It was the happiest time of my life.

Now that my kids are grown and since I am not going to be working, I guess I need to start organizing my home and start making sure I have a clean house at all times. Somehow, spending my time cleaning, just doesn't sound as exciting as spending time with my kids.

Alsea Graduates

The graduating class of Alsea School in 2008 was eleven students plus two foreign exchange students. It's cute here in Alsea. Each graduating class is very small, like a family.

I don't have a lot of money. If I did, I would want to give each of them a book or something for graduation. One thing I do is to make each of them every year a bookmark. I make the bookmarks on my computer and then go to Office Max to have them laminated. I didn't mail them this year, I drove over to the school on my way home from work and gave them to a nice young girl who said she would hand them out for me.

Here is what I write on the bookmarks that I hand out:

"Commit to a lifetime of learning, set goals and plan for your future. Work hard and never give up on projects important to you. Believe in your goodness and your ability to make a difference to those around you." Then I write "wishing you success in all you do" and sign it and my husband signs it.

I graduated from McNary High School in 1966 in Keizer, Oregon. I don't remember how many graduated with me but it was a lot. Our class was split in two. For my sophomore and junior years of high school, all of us went to North Salem High School. The class was sooooo big that half of the students went to school in the early morning hours and the other half of the students came home in the evening from school. Then McNary High School opened in 1965 so half of the students went to McNary and the other half stayed at North Salem. It sure was different than Alsea High School where you don't get lost in the crowd.

Work

My last day at work is on Thursday. It's too expensive to drive into Corvallis for a part-time job. I haven't been successful at landing a full time job as I had hoped, so I'm going to stay home to garden, write, read, and work on organizing all my stuff.

With gas prices over $4.11 at the last time I looked and planning to scale $5 a gallon, it's hard to live far from your job. We paid out over $350 in gas in May. That's too much. Our 2006 Toyota already has 44,000 miles on it.

City planners need to consider planning communities with everything that a person needs within walking distance of their home--shopping, schools, recreation, a gym, restaurants, work, and whatever else brings balance to your life that you feel is important. You shouldn't have to drive everywhere. At $4.11 a gallon, people are going to have to start looking around them to find ways to make do with what they already have within walking distance. It's a little easier for some than most but it's necessary.

I'm going to spend my time growing food. Yeah, that's the ticket! That's the answer.

12 Kids

I wanted 12 kids. I had five. Each is precious to me. If I would have had 12 kids, maybe I'd still have someone left at home. When my kids grew up, my fun left. I can't help it but I had the BEST kids in the world. I've never known any other mother to have great kids like mine. They are the ones I enjoy talking to, kidding around with, laughing with, and spending time with. There just isn't anyone else in the world as great as my kids. They are all independent, successful and busy with their own lives.

I especially love Daniel. He's the only one not married but he's so busy. After your kids get married, that's it. Daniel's so precious and takes the time to talk to his mom even when he doesn't have time. I always try hard not to bother him. I love discussing world issues, solving global problems, and inventing new solutions with him. Daniel's the youngest. He was born on June 15, 1980 in San Luis Obispo, California. He was the first Father's Day baby of the year in 1980 in San Luis Obispo County, and our family was in the newspaper celebrating Daniel's birth.

I think being a mother is the greatest job in the world. It's much better than anything else and much more important since you are molding and sculpting lives that can potentially change the world to make a difference. I'm very proud of how all my children turned out. I think that's the only thing that I accomplished in life was to have great kids. They work hard and never give up. They work hard to be the best they can be and each is amazing.

Being a mother is much more fun than being a grandmother. As a grandmother, you don't get to be around your grandchildren all the time. The parents are the ones who get to have all the fun. The grandparents who are lucky get to live close to their grandchildren and be part of their lives.

You know the reason why I wanted to have 12 kids?.....The reason is because I grew up alone as an only child and I thought it would be glorious to have the house alive with laughter and fun. It was grand.

Trust

I trust that all will work out and that life will get better.
I have no idea how this is going to happen but I feel this
way deep down.

I'm grateful that I can play in my garden.
I'm grateful that I can ride my riding lawnmower.
I'm grateful that I live in such a beautiful area.
I'm grateful that I have birds that sing for me everyday.
I'm grateful that I am strong and feel good.
I'm grateful that I have lots of books to read.
I'm grateful that I have Craig Ferguson on TV to make me laugh.
I'm grateful that Leslie got a sleep apnia machine.
I'm grateful that I have food to eat.
I'm grateful that Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination.
I'm grateful that I have a roof over my head.
I'm grateful that I have great children.
I'm grateful that I can write everyday.
I'm grateful that I have a husband who loves me.
I'm grateful that I know how to sew.
I'm grateful for my cats, Thomas and Angel.
I'm grateful for my wonderful grandchildren.
I'm grateful that I have this Blog. Thank you, Google the Great!

Sleep Apnia

I'm grateful my husband, Leslie received a phone call from OHSU that they have a machine for him for his sleep apnia. Imagine...sleeping for the first time at the age of 58.

Thank you OHSU!

Gardening

I spent several hours over the weekend in my yard and garden. I had so much fun. I caught myself telling my husband when I was going out the door, "I'm going out to play." I don't think I have said those words since I was a little kid. I meant it too.

Obama WINS!

Barack Obama wins the Democratic Presidential nomination.
Hurray!
Band playing in background.
Balloons floating from the sky.
All is right with the world.

Barack Obama is a great man. A brilliant man.
A man of character. A man that unites and
gives people hope that the United States of
America can become a great nation again.

I'm grateful and hopeful.

My Mom's Birthday

Today is my Mother's birthday. She's no longer living. She's buried with my father at Willamette National Cemetary in Portland. I couldn't afford to drive up and take flowers this year. Her name is Irene Marie Ponikver Appelgren. She kept a clean house and was great on the piano. She was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana and went to a conservatory of music in Great Falls. She taught piano lessons in our home and could play almost anything. Her favorite music to play were the American standards from the 30's, 40's, and 50's. I love this music too.

I grew up as an only child. In the great effort to keep a clean house, my mother liked it best when I just stayed in my room and didn't mess everything up so I read or sewed or knitted. My parents and I went to church every Sunday to the Lutheran Church until the time when I was in college and my father stopped attending because he couldn't hear. After I visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and saw the hatred that Martin Luther had for Jews, I haven't felt like I could be a Lutheran again.

My Mom used to tell me "love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe." She also told me that God was always watching me and could hear my every thought so I never worried about other people watching me in life. I always figured that since God saw everything and if I was very good that I would be protected. I figured God had it covered. I figured that God would intervene and help me. Now I'm beginning to question all this. I can't say I've never made mistakes in life. No one can say that but I've always tried very hard to be good. I've tried to be nice and kind to people no matter how I've been treated. I've tried to do what I felt was right and stand up for things that I believe in. My experience with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints soured me a bit on a lot of things. That ended in 2001 for me. I saw that people who go to church don't always live up to their beliefs, can be mean to others, and can betray without flinching. I've already talked about this in my blog so I won't go into it now. Remember my 3 minute screenplay that I included in my blog? Well, most of them were Mormons who represented Nemesis.

I see today people who go to church who have no problems with the idea of war and killing people. What's up with that? How can you go to church and then have such hatred in your heart for another group of people and want to kill them? How can people who go to church belong to hate groups like the KKK? How can people who go to church look down on anyone when they come out on church on Sunday and act as if they are better? How can people who go to church break the law during the week and commit crimes against others and not feel anything?

The last church I was attending was an Episcopal Church. I never really fit in though. The choir director didn't want me in choir. I asked one lady leader to visit me and call. She said, "I'll take that under advisement" with a mocking look.

I'm not sure there is a God out there anymore. There are homeless without shelter, children who are hungry, and millions without health care. Crimes go unpunished. Life isn't fair. Sometimes there is no justice. It is rare to find someone who is kind and nice, rather than the rule. I'm not sure what I think anymore. Church membership doesn't represent an example of the highest standard of behavior. I'm not interested in organized religion anymore.

I will do what I feel is right, act in a manner I feel represents my values, and be the best person I can be. I will try to act as a good example for my children and grandchildren. I will show respect to others, listen, be nice, and work hard at what is important to me. I will do the best I can every day. That's all I can do and when it's over, it's over.

Rock Bottom Remainders

The first book on writing I ever remember reading was ON WRITING by Stephen King. It was a Christmas gift from my daughter, Gretchen and her husband Chris Bennett in 2000. The written inscription in the book went like this...."Your creativity endures through the years. It's no surprise you continue to enjoy writing. I'm looking forward to having you autograph your first book for me! Love, Gretchen and Chris." Well, my first published book hasn't happened yet.

This is the first time I learned about the Rock Bottom Remainders. In the first forward, Stephen King wrote that..."the group was intended to be a one-shot deal--we would play two shows at the American Booksellers Convention, get a few laughs, recapture our misspent youth for three or four hours, then go our separate ways. It didn't happen that way because the group never quite broke up. We found that we liked playing together too much to quit, and with a couple of 'ringer' musicians on sax and drums..., we sounded pretty good." So you can get the idea that the Rock Bottom Remainders is a band and it's composed of my favorites--Stephen King, Amy Tan, Dave Barry, Mitch Album, and Barbara Kingsolver plus others.

I just checked out three Barbara Kingsolver novels from the library. When I scanned a couple of her books, I realized that I need to study her books and linger over her words. I just found an article in MOTHER EARTH NEWS by Barbara Kingsolver on cheese making. It made me want to learn how to make cheese. It was such a well-written article that talked about making cheese on so many different levels, especially a human level and how it helps to bond family together.

The Rock Bottom Remainders have been on my mind this month. First I read DUMA KEY by Stephen King. Then I found the article by Amy Tan in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. Then I found the article by Barbara Kingsolver in MOTHER EARTH NEWS. So I also thought of Dave Barry in Florida and Mitch Album. I woke up thinking the other night that heaven must be playing with the Rock Bottom Remainders and sitting around with all these great writers as one of them who has earned the right to be there sipping tea and talking about writing in a beautiful lush garden or on the beach.

Sometimes I get sick of doing everything by myself and being alone. The only friend I have is Les, my husband and he doesn't like to do things. He loves to shop and then stay home to cut brush or watch FOX News. We play Canasta every day so that's our fun but I dream of the glorious time it must be to sit down to talk about ideas and writing with real friends. The people that I love spending time with are my children, especially Daniel and Benjamin, but they're grown and busy with their own lives. I can't expect my children to always be my best friend. It's not fair to them.

A real friend to me knows how to communicate, loves to discuss ideas, watches your back, and tells you the truth. They don't try to manipulate or play games. They don't expect you to read their mind. A real friend likes you the way you are unconditionally. They laugh and are fun. They want to see you at your best and encourage you to be your best. I don't have any friends like that in my life. Maybe only in heaven...................

Duma Key

A few days ago I finished reading DUMA KEY by Stephen King. I didn't want it to end so I dragged it out. I lingered. It was a great book. Stephen King is a master storyteller and is able to twist your emotions this way and that, and open up characters to be seen from the inside out. He's been named as one of the best writers of this century. If I remember correctly, Writer's Digest named him the most important writer of this century. He's won all kinds of awards and with good reason. He's a great writer. He can do anything with words.

I wish I could live in a beach house and just write and create when I want. Get up when I want to create, sip ice tea, and then walk along the beach. Only I don't need the shells under the house screeching or Perse waiting in the water or the march of the dead people you have to fight off with silver pointed harpoons.

Job Search

I'm searching for a full time job. Right now I work part time in the afternoon as an office manager for Beaver Creek Software in Corvallis. I've worked there for about 6 months and I've enjoyed talking to customers all over the United States who use our software. However, with the recent escalation in gas prices, half my paycheck goes into the gas tank so I need to find something that is full time, that pays more or find a way to make money staying at home. My husband says I have to work. I don't have a choice right now plus I want to earn enough money so I can pay for the sleep apnia machine he needs.

Sleep Apnia

My husband has severe sleep apnia. He was tested in May by OHSU. They found out that he wakes up an average of 80 times an hour, which means that he never reaches REM or has restful sleep. They believe this condition has existed for years, possibly since birth. His body has found a way to adapt to very little sleep.

I've been studying YOU STAYING YOUNG: THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR EXTENDING YOUR WARRANTY by Michael F. Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D. This is a great book for everyone, especially babyboomers. On page 187, they say, "Sleep problems and sleep deprivation are self-imposed torture. And the stakes are high: a weakened immune system, increased risk of heart disease, and a brain that works about as fast as a Commodore 64 computer."

The doctor from OHSU showed my husband a range of risk factors of sleep apnia. My husband's case was off the charts. He had never seen anyone like him with such a severe case of sleep apnia. He is shocked that my husband can function at all and has lasted this long.

We don't have medical insurance. The people at OHSU have been trying to locate a machine for my husband with no success so far.

I've become so increasingly aware of how little medical science still doesn't know about the brain or human body. My husband was told in the late 70's that he had alzheimers based on an MRI and in the mid-80's he passed the MENSA test with a score in the 99th percentile, which means he has a genius IQ. He's still the smartest man I know. The body adapts. The brain adapts.

Willamette Writers

I enjoyed reading the June, 2008 issue of the Willamette Writer. Cynthia Whitcomb is the President of Willamette Writers and I loved her article on page two of this issue, "The Elasticity of Fame." Her piece was the best in the newsletter, in my opinion. It was funny. I had the opportunity to listen to Cynthia Whitcomb speak at a monthly meeting in Eugene for Willamette Writers about three years ago. She frequently holds workshops all over the country when she's not busy working on a screenplay. She was electric, animated, and resonated with energy as she shared pearls of wisdom about being a writer.

I hope someday that I can scrap together the bucks to go to one of her screenwriting workshops and that I can go to the yearly Willamette Conference. Every year, I want to go and there are always higher priority needs for our money. Now with gas prices at an all time high, Portland is too far away. Maybe someday................my ship will come in.

If you want to hear about the great conference coming up go to http://www.willamettewriters.com/. Every year it sounds like it gets better and better from the conference brochure. You can e-mail wilwrite@willamettewriters.com about joining and receiving the newsletter.

National Geographic

National Geographic is one of my favorite magazines to read. I love to read it from cover to cover. The May, 2008 isssue is all about China. My favorite article is "Village on the Edge of Time," by Amy Tan, one of my favorite writers. She made the culture and environment of the Dong people come alive in a way that few freelance writers can do. It was a treat reading her article.

One of my favorite books that I have ever read is the Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. If you haven't ever read it, check it out from your library or buy a copy. You'll enjoy reading it over and over.

American Gold Finch

We have quite a show outside our dining room window. We have a black thistle feeder hanging in the window. We fill it one day and the next day, it's empty. We have so many beautiful yellow American Gold Finches right in our window. It's fun to see them up close and it's worth the price of the black thistle seed. In previous years, we've had as many as three black thistle feeders up at once. We need to buy more feeders so we can do this again.

If you want entertainment at your dining room table, put up several black thistle feeders and several hummingbird feeders under the eaves right in front of your window. It's worth it and it's fun for the whole family.

Stark Brothers Nursery

At the first of May, we ordered four trees from Stark Bro's catalog. We called up and ordered 2 Flamin' Fury Jumbo Peach trees and 2 cherry trees. They came in great condition. We have bought from them before and we are always happy with the plants we receive. We planted them right after we received them and they are already growing leaves and are healthy. Order one of their great catalogs at www.starkbros.com or call 1-800-325-4180.

Garland Nursery

My husband, Leslie purchased several beautiful trees from Garland Nursery in Albany, Oregon. They are growing great. He bought cherry, plum, and pear trees. He also bought table grapes, blue berry bushes, raspberries, Marion berries, and loganberries. We planted them right after we bought them and we look forward to next year. If you want a great selection of flowers, perennials, shrubs, trees, and any other need for your garden or yard, stop by Garland Nursery at 5470 NE Highway 20 or call 541-753-6601. Check out their website at www.garlandnursery.com.

Thyme Garden

Yesterday, my husband, Leslie, went out to buy some sweet basil plants for me at the Thyme Garden here in Alsea. He brought back gorgeous healthy plants. He took my wish list of Purple Majesty Ornamental Millet, Sweet Basil and Lemon Basil and brought back all three for me. They are all planted and I'm excited to see the results. I needed the Sweet Basil for the roasted tomato sauce that I freeze and I needed the Purple Majesty Ornamental Millet because I've never had it, I'm curious, and I want it for the birds.

If you want a great garden catalog for $2.00 that is worth every penny, write or visit The Tyme Garden, 20546 Alsea Highway, Alsea, Oregon 97324 or call 541-487-8671 or e-mail herbs@thymegarden.com.

Take a look at their website at www.thymegarden.com.

Straw Bale Gardening

Yesterday, I spent time outside planting tomato plants in straw bales. I have 5 straw bales so far and I hope to get more next month. I've never tried this before. I still haven't read Rose Marie Nichols McGee's book on straw bale gardening so I decided to experiment. I read an article in the Corvallis Gazette Times about it. If this works out, I think this is going to be a permanent part of my gardening. I have the room and it's perfect to have the extra straw at the end of the season to put on my garden beds for extra mulch.

If you want to buy Rose Marie's book or get one of her garden catalogs go to Nichols Garden Nursery, 1190 NE Old Salem Road, Albany, Oregon or call 541-928-9280. I remember meeting Rose Marie at a garden club convention in the Portland area. She's also a master gardener. She's really nice and a great speaker.

To order the herbs and rare seeds catalog, go to http://www.nicholsgardennursery.com/.

To read an article about straw bale culture, go to www.nicholsgardennursery.com/strawbales.htm. I can see after printing out this article and before I even read it that I planted in the wrong side of the straw bale.

Car Auction

I turned on Direct TV to find an upscale car auction for the very rich. Channel 76 HDTH. I've never seen a car auction before but this looks like the ultimate car auction for anyone with a lot of money looking for the perfect car. This is a whole different world from the one I live in. As a writer, it's perfect to be able to peek into a world that I would normally not have contact. With additional research and the pictures in my mind of the shiny cars rolling out on the red carpet, a scene like this could find its way into one of my books.

Here are some examples of what is being sold: 1964 Ford Mustang Indy Pace Car Lot #S134 labled as the ultimate collectible Mustang with the bid at $300,000 and it continues. 1964 Shelby Cobra Roadster Lot #S137 with a bid at $560,000 and it continues. 1934 Chevrolet Cabriolet 2 door Lot #S138 sold for $46,000.

If you have plenty of money and love cars, take a look at www.mecum.com.

Oregon Primary

The Oregon primary election is over and Obama won by a strong margin. Hurray!

I voted for Steve Novick for the U.S. Senate. As an environmental attorney from Harvard, I believed he was the best candidate to fight for Oregon. Jeff Merkley won the democratic nomination to run against Senator Gordon Smith in the general election. Jeff Merkley was the candidate chosen by Oregon voters so he needs to win. We need change to start protecting Oregon.

A couple of years ago, I was invited to sit in the auditorium at Newport to hear Senator Gordon Smith. I heard him tell this fishing community on the Oregon coast that he would protect fishing and the commercial fishing industry. Now there are no fish and the fishing industry is drowning. There is a dead zone off the coast of Newport. All commercial salmon fishing has been shut down.

It's interesting that Senator Smith's commercials run on television as if he is not the incumbent and says that he is the candidate for change. I have to laugh. How easy it is to spin the facts. Oregon is known as having a smart voting electorate so I certainly hope that Oregon votes to change the person for U.S. Senator.

Subway

Subway has made a value menu of several footlong subs for only $5. Such a deal! Right after this change, I overheard some grumbling that some customers are complaining that THEIR sub isn't $5. To that I say, Subway didn't have to keep several popular footlong subs at a $5 price. All the subs could have gone back to regular price. This is great for consumers and everyone who loves Subway. Be grateful and once in awhile say thank you to the great person behind the counter who is building your sub.

Subway is healthy eating. You can count on fresh ingredients and a sub made the way you want it.

Protecting Children

On the front page of the Corvallis Gazette Times this morning are the headlines, "Texas seizure of polygamist-sect kids thrown out." It's sad that children and women continue to find no legal protection against abuse. This is in the great state of Texas, the home of President George Bush. It's also interesting that under President George Bush that women continue to lack protection under the law. In 2008, there is still no constitutional amendment saying that women have equal rights.

Obama has the inner strength and character to go the distance. A brilliant man who has ignited the spirits of so many young people and voters all across this country, Obama will protect this country and all its people.

American Dream Pizza

Yesterday I went chasing after a dream at American Dream Pizza on 214 SW 2nd St in Corvallis and chickened out. When I was in the drive-through at Citizen's Bank in downtown Corvallis, I looked in my rearview mirror to see this shiny black new stretch limousine drive past. It was a mini-hummer, brand new. It was the kind of stretch limousine that the richest people ride in. Somebody really important was in Corvallis. I thought it had to be Obama or one of the Clintons so I made the decision to see where it would go.

I'll tell you about my adventure or mis-adventure as it turned out. In my quest to be a pretend investigative reporter, first I had to go to the post office for work. Then I parked my car near Subway and started walking to Old World Deli. I went in and I didn't see any evidence of a Clinton or Obama there so I asked questions. I asked about other choices to eat in the neighborhood--maybe pizza. He mentioned New Morning Bakery and then American Dream Pizza. I told him what I saw. He said, "All the political types go to American Dream Pizza." I thought it must be great pizza. I asked where American Dream Pizza was and I walked briskly towards it. It's right next door to the Citizen's Bank parking lot. I went in the door and scanned the room. I didn't see anyone who looked like the Clinton's or Obama. I didn't see secret service standing guard at attention.

I started to feel awkward so I decided to leave. Maybe I was wrong. I didn't have extra money to buy a small pizza. I started to feel foolish. The "who do I think I am" script started to play in my head so I started out the door to see a man and woman. The man said, "You're right." Now what does that mean? I don't like it when people talk in code. How would he know what I was thinking or that I was trying to follow a dream? Do I have neon words flashing on my forehead? Could he read my mind? I dismissed all of this as absurd and continued out the door.

I was close. Maybe someone really was there. I walked to my car in 99 degree heat, turned on the air conditioner and went home. Later I tivoed two Eugene news broadcasts. It could have been Hillary on her way to Portland or Obama on his way down to Roseberg. Who knows? I may never know, but it was fun to try.

Keizer

Since I visited Waldo Middle School on Saturday, I've been thinking a lot about Salem. In my 7th grade year, I went to Leslie Junior High in South Salem. In the middle of the year, my parents bought a new house in Keizer, Lot 1, Block 1 Palma Cea Villa on Delight Street. After we moved in, I rode the bus every day to Waldo Junior High.

When I went to high school, North Salem High School was soooooo big and crowded that half of the kids went early in the morning and the other half stayed for a second session until evening. In my senior year, McNary High School opened and I was part of the first graduating class in 1966.

During my last two years of high school, I worked half time at W.T. Grant Company on Liberty Street. I was department manager of three departments. My favorite was ordering for the candy department. Candy was kept in stainless steel bins. I measured out the candy, weighed it, and put it in white sacks for customers. What fun! This was my first job at $1.19 an hour.

Gas Prices

The last time I filled up my gas tank in my Toyota, it was $36. No one is talking about an end to the march of the higher and higher prices.

One of the things that really troubled me about what President Bill Clinton said when I heard him in Corvallis on Monday at Lincoln Elementary School was his comment about gas prices. He said that Hillary would make sure that a new hybrid car that gets 100 miles to the gallon manufactured in Massachusetts would be manufactured on mass scale. He said that with a car that gets 100 miles to the gallon, it doesn't matter how high the price goes.

There are people right now who are having problems dealing with high gas prices. These people aren't going to be able to buy a new car that gets 100 miles to the gallon, if they are already having trouble paying for gas.

The cities in this country haven't been set up to be self-sufficient and not rely on transportation to get you from home to work and to shopping. Neighborhoods need to be created that are walking distance to a grocery store, restaurants, shopping, work, a library, a gym, schools, and recreation. Each neighborhood hub needs to have all the components necessary for survival without the need of a car.

Is the office of the President of the United States, both Houses of Congress, powerful attorneys, and great leaders in the country really going to allow gas prices to continue to rise without doing something about it? If this is going to continue, maybe we need a Wal-Mart in every neighborhood and in every small town.

President Clinton

President Bill Clinton came to Corvallis yesterday to speak to a crowd at Lincoln Elementary School. I decided to go. I was in a large line wrapped around the school and didn't get to go into the auditorium. I was in a crowd of people closely packed together in the parking lot. I actually got a pretty good view and wasn't too far away. President Clinton stood on the bed of a pickup truck and at the end, I got to shake his hand as I reached over a couple of people. He spoke for close to an hour and a half.

It was nice of him to shake hands with everyone and speak to people afterwards. It meant so much to everyone. I think there were a lot of Obama supporters in the crowd. Everyone was pretty quiet for a political crowd and didn't react much one way or the other.

I proudly voted for Obama and I believe he is the best person to be President of the United States who is running.

I went to hear President Clinton because he was the President. How many chances in your life do you get to hear a President or see a President up close. I got to shake the hand of a President whose hand has shaken the hands of the leaders of the world, members of the U.S. Supreme Court, Senators, members of Congress, and people who have accomplished great goals to help our nation.

I'm struck by how superficial the election process is and how easy it is to spin the facts. It would sure help people who don't keep up with politics to have handouts of voting records, and statements with charts on voting positions and comparison guides. People get caught up in emotion and this isn't how we should be electing someone for the highest office in our nation.

Mother's Day

My son, Daniel Haber, who lives in Columbus, Ohio sent me a Mother's Day card that I received in the mail yesterday. Daniel works for Battelle in Columbus and is working on his MBA at Ohio State University. I love Daniel very much and am so proud of him. His card was a Hallmark. It said, "Everyone knows that 'mother' is another word for love, but to me, 'mother' means even more--it means support and encouragement, patience and wisdom, holding close until just the right time to let go. The older I grow, the more I've come to understand how lucky I've been to have you as a mother and how grateful I'll always be for all the ways you shared your love with me." Happy Mother's Day.

Then Daniel wrote, "Mom, these statements are very true, but don't even begin to describe how important you've been as I've grown the different stages in life. I love you and miss you. As your Mother's Day gift, I want to give you what you've always asked for...time. I'm going to book you a flight to visit, preferrably as finals wrap up at the beginning of June. Call me and I'll schedule it. Happy Mother's Day. Love, Daniel"

How does it get better than this? I'm very blessed. I'll be excited to see Daniel and visit him in Columbus. I'm so proud of him and all he has accomplished. Daniel is the perfect son and I'm lucky to be his mother. I only wish that there were more people in the world like Daniel because the world and my world would be a much better place to live.

Stem Cell Research

I was talking to my son, Benjamin on the phone today for Mother's Day. We started to talk about stem cell research. He works for Zymo Genetics in Seattle. He told me about the new stem cell patch made from the stem cells from pigs that was able to regenerate a brand new finger with a nail that matched the other fingers on a hand of a man who had a finger cut off. I was amazed that it actually matched the other fingers on the hand. The potential for this research is that anyone who loses an arm or leg can regrow the limb with this kind of stem cell covering.

There could be help for anyone needing a heart transplant or any organ transplant with stem cell research and development.

Why is stem research banned when it could help so many people?

Jack Bennett

Jack is my five year old grandson. I got to watch him play T-ball yesterday in West Salem. I got lots of great pictures and had a great time. Jack was concerned about his game and didn't feel good because of allergies. I told him to go out there and just have fun with his friends. He did and he was great. He was alert, listened, was a team-player, knew the rules, and played several positions on the team plus hit the ball. Jack can be whatever he wants to be in life, if he works hard and wants it bad enough. I'm proud to be his Grandma.

Lizzy Bennett

I had fun with Lizzy yesterday. She's my beautiful 3 1/2 year old granddaughter. I brought her a 25 piece puzzle and she quickly put it together. She's smart, full of fun, and loves puzzles. I don't think there is anything that Lizzy Parker Bennett can't accomplish in life, if she works hard and never gives up. She sure has a great smile and makes her Grandma very happy.

The Day before Mother's Day

I drove to West Salem to spend time with my daughter, Gretchen and my grandchildren, Jack and Lizzy.

Since Gretchen and I both went to Waldo Middle School, we attended the open house for the 50th anniversary. Then we went on to Olive Garden to eat lunch.

Olive Garden is one of my favorite places to eat. I don't live near an Olive Garden so I enjoyed eating at Olive Garden with my daughter, Gretchen, and granddaughter, Lizzy. It was a girl's day out.

I spent a lovely day yesterday with my wonderful daughter, Gretchen, my son-in-law, Chris, and my two grandchildren, Lizzy and Jack. Gretchen is the Executive Director of Liberty House in Salem.

After a Little League game in West Salem and my first T-ball game to see my grandson, Jack hit the ball, play the position of pitcher, and run the bases, we went back to their beautiful house for pizza and a nice evening visiting with family. Thank you for a lovely Mother's Day. It couldn't have been nicer. A gardening basket for Mother's Day and a nice card with hugs and love from Gretchen, Jack, and Lizzy.

Chris is a Senior Mortgage Planner at Today's Mortgage Group at 471 Lancaster Drive NE, in Salem. He has a website at http://www.bennettloans.com/ for all your mortgage loan needs so e-mail Chris at chris@bennettloans.com or call 503-585-1152 at the office.

Waldo Middle School

Waldo Middle School in Salem, Oregon celebrated its 50 year anniversary on Saturday, May 10. Both my daughter, Gretchen and I went to Waldo so we visited the open house. It was fun to visit my old school. I was there for my 8th grade year from 1961 to 1962 and my 9th grade year from 1962 to 1963. I finally found the annual with my picture and they made a copy for me. It was fun to walk the halls with Gretchen, peek in the classrooms, and remember what it was like when we were students at Waldo.

I listened to a talented string quartet and girls choir. Gretchen bought me a Waldo Middle School T-shirt which I will be proud to wear.

It concerns me that there was a window broken that was boarded up and that the courtyard needs tending. It's obvious that Waldo Middle School doesn't receive the same money from Salem Keizer Public Schools District that the more affluent neighborhood schools do. The neighborhood that feeds into Waldo Middle School is multi-cultural and doesn't have the resources or money that is needed. Probably many families need to work two jobs. This school, in my opinion, should be open from early in the morning until at least 9 p.m. with afterschool activities and classes. After school they could work on a newspaper, drama, music, art, gardening, and all sorts of fun projects. This school needs these types of preventative programs in place so all these kids have a chance to develop their potential.

Please send donations to Waldo Middle School, 2805 Lansing Avenue NE, Salem, Oregon 97303.

I ate some delicious cake that was being served to all who attended. I asked who made the cake. The girl said it was donated by Costco. Thank you, Costco for helping Waldo Middle School.

Sharis Berries

Last night when I came home from work, there was a box on the table that was delivered by FedEx. FedEx is the great deliverer of gifts. www.fedex.com

What did I find in the box?........STRAWBERRIES, yes, strawberries. Not just any ordinary strawberries, one of my favorite foods and in the essential food group, but gourmet chocolate dipped strawberries! Big, huge and perfect berries decorated and draped in chocolate.

The box came packed with an ice bag on top to keep it cool and the berries perfect. What a nice gift! I opened the card and it said, "Happy Mother's Day!!! You are the best Mom in the world. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for you. Have a wonderful day. Love Ben and Amanda"

Wow! Is this great or what! Ben is my Golden Boy who lives in Seattle, the one who runs, the genius boy who is perfect at everything, and who works at Zymo Genetics on cancer research. He's also the one who graduated from Northwestern University in biomedical engineering. He married the beautiful Amanda Label who makes him happy. Thank you, Ben and Amanda. I love you.

If you want to send perfect chocolate dipped strawberries to make someone happy, call Sharis Berries in Rocklin, CA at 1-877-berries or go to www.berries.com.

So...you wonder, do I have any left. I have three left. I am savoring each one. I shared one with my husband, Leslie.

ProFlowers

On Wednesday, when I got home from work, I found a box of flowers that was delivered by FedEx. It was a gift for Mother's Day from my son, Benjamin and his wife, Amanda who live in Greenlake in Seattle. They are gorgeous tulips of several colors with a beautiful light green vase. They sure make me happy. I love fresh flowers.

The card enclosed said, "Happy Mother's Day!!! You are the best Mom in the world. I wouldn't be the person I am today, if it weren't for you. Have a wonderful day. Love, Ben and Amanda.

What a great son and what a nice daughter-in-law!

If you want to send beautiful flowers to make someone happy, call ProFlowers 1-800-ProFlowers who are located at 5005 Waterridge Vista Drive in San Diego, CA 92121. www.ProFlowers.com

Timberhill Athletic Club

So...I've decided that I have to get serious again about exercise. I have to bit the bullet and start behaving. Don't get me wrong...I love to exercise. I have fun going to Timberhill Athletic Club in Corvallis, but when you are trying to be invisible when you're so fat, it's hard to hide the extra poundage in a swim suit unless you wear black, baggy diving gear.

I was actually thinking of giving up my membership but then I thought...here I don't have any health insurance, I don't have savings, and my membership to Timberhill is the only thing I have to prevent medical problems so I can be healthy. I can't afford to give it up! It sure is cheaper than health insurance. Even if you do have health insurance, sometimes doctors lop off the wrong part or give medication that is worse than the original symptoms so I think I'll stick to preventative measures of eating healthy and exercise.

I had so much fun yesterday. After work, I decided to try hydrofit again. I love hydrofit in the deep end of the pool. I wasn't sure I was ready for it since I've been sluffing off for the last year and a half, but it worked out great. We went outside in the outdoor pool. I've never been out there in the new pool outside. The water is 87 degrees warm. There are two slides. I've been looking out the window at all this but never ventured outside before to try it. It was so much fun to be outside in the water.

This is what I've done since April 28................
April 28....walked 1/2 hour
April 29...walked for 27 minutes
April 30...1 hour on the elliptical runner at Timberhill
May 1...30 minutes on exercise bike at home
May 2...20 minute swim
May 3, May 4...zero, nada, nothing
May 5...45 minutes elliptical runner at Timberhill
May 6...zero, nada, nothing
May 7...30 minutes exercise bike at home
May 8...50 minutes hydrofit at Timberhill

Not much but it's headed in the right direction. I eat healthy but I eat more than I should. Now if I can just keep the portion size down and exercise more, I just might start losing weight.

Craig Ferguson

Craig Ferguson on the CBS The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is essential TV. Craig needs to be on EVERY night for two hours. If I were to watch one show a day, I've decided it needs to be The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He makes me happy, smile, and laugh. How does it get better than this?

So...when are you going to have Robert Downey Jr. on your show, Craig? He's another genius boy who is magic on the screen, like you.

And what about Jerry Lewis. I've always loved Jerry Lewis.

I was talking to my son, Benjamin on the phone who lives in Seattle and who works for Zymo Genetics. We laugh and joke around. We talk about American Idol and Survivor and other essential things. I told him how much I love Craig Ferguson and I found out that Ben and Daniel, my son who lives in Columbus, Ohio who works at Battelle and is working on his MBA at Ohio State University, saw Craig Ferguson in San Francisco as the main attraction at a comedy club. Wow! How exciting!

I think Craig needs to be cloned to spread his joy around. People need more laughter and joy today to balance out the sadness and heartache. I wish Craig was my brother or best friend. I'd love it, if I got to go to parties where he was at, stand around, talk, and laugh. He's so cute.

OHSU Hero

Chad C. Hagen, MD, assistant professor of the Sleep Disorders Program at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland is a true medical hero in my eyes. My husband, Leslie Haber, who is 58 years old has suffered from sleep deprivation since a toddler in the crib. Over the years, he has rarely slept. If he sleeps a couple of hours in a row, that's a bonus. Doctors have given him sleeping pills over the years which don't work. He snores so loud that you can hear it in the next county when he does sleep. Once when family came to visit, they left the house in the middle of the night to sleep in the car because of the snoring. The next time they came, they brought earplugs. He's up almost the whole night watching FOX News, doing crossword puzzles, and searching for snacks.

What's amazing to me is that Dr. Hagen says that some people may be born with a facial structure that prediposes them to sleep apnea in some form throughout their lives and are treated with sleeping pills unsuccessfully for years before the condition is diagnosed. What's up with this? It's logical that if someone has breathing passages that are narrow, it's more difficult to breathe. A pill doesn't answer everything and pills most often cause more problems than they solve.

Dr. Hagen says the best solution for my husband is to be attached to a CPAP breathing tube which forces air into his nose, which will allow him to sleep. Thank you, Dr. Hagen.

And who is the medical hero who made the arrangements for Leslie, my husband to be seen by Dr. Hagen? None other than the great medical hero who has an office in West Salem, Elaine Broske.

I love smart, brilliant people who think, search for solutions to help people, and then act.

Barack Obama

Ok.....so what's the big deal about Rev. Wright?

Good grief!

Hillary isn't worried about distancing herself from Bill even though he was impeached as President and had a big sex scandal in the White House. No one seems the least bit concerned about this. No one blinks an eye. No one is saying, "Hillary, you didn't stand up and divorce your man so I can't vote for you."

So why is everyone ready to char-broil Obama who doesnt agree with everything his minister says?

Is America saying that you have to agree with everything that everyone says who you associate with in a group? I think not! This would mean no one should join any group for fear that someone would utter an opinion different from their own. This is America--the land of the free and the home of the brave where you can have an opinion and not be shot or locked up for it. Difference of opinion and debate is important.

I'm voting for Obama. My husband is voting for Obama, if he makes it to the general election.

Barack Obama has ignited the hearts of young people and has given the American people hope for real change. There hasn't been this kind of leader on the horizon who has inspired the voting electorate since Kennedy. We need real change and we need someone willing to make it happen. We need Barack Obama.

Medical Heroes

Medical Heroes who have the courage to stand up against the status quo and say that we need health care for all should be applauded and given recognition. It's so easy to go along with the medical power brokers and the money machine that drives the bucks into the supposed non-profit hospitals. It is easy to keep silent and keep out of the arena of public opinion so you don't risk your own job or suffer the rath of those holding the reins.

One such medical hero is in Benton County, Oregon. His name is Dr. Cosimo Storniolo who is an Internist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. On Sunday, April 27, 2008, his letter appeared in the Corvallis Gazette Times which said that there's enough money in Benton County to care for every county resident and he called for action to make Benton County the first in the nation "with a fully insured population."

Another medical hero is Elaine Broske, M.D. who has an office in West Salem. She's my husband's doctor who watches out for him. She also has great courage and is brilliant.

Dr. Storniolo is the doctor who put my husband in the hospital immediately to save his life after checking him at the Benton County Health Department. Nurses and doctors at the Lincoln Clinic said, "Go to Storniolo." "He's brilliant." "He'll know what to do." [Les went to the Lincoln Clinic in Corvallis for months and just before he saw Dr. Storniolo, he was going every week for a checkup.] I agree with the assessment. He is brilliant and beyond that he has courage and strength of character. He's a REAL doctor with heart who cares about people. Hats off to you, Dr. Cosimo Storniolo. I sincerely hope you can make the dream of health care for everyone come true and I'll be happy to volunteer to help you.

Craig Ferguson

I watched Craig Ferguson the first time live on television doing standup at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner. This guy's funny! He's refreshing plus he's charming and cute. He goes right to the edge and then has this boyish grin that makes you want to reach into the TV to hug him.

Now I've started to tivo The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson so I laugh at least once every day.

Snow in Alsea

It's been snowing in Alsea today. There's snow in the hills surrounding our house and we drove through snow coming home from Yachats around noon. There's a hummingbird sitting on his perch looking bewildered outside our dining room window and a Steller's Jay screeching from the maple tree in front yelling, "Where's the suet?" The birds emptied the feeders in the front window in a day and a half.

When we walked in the door, the temperature in the house was 51 degrees and this is April 20th. The pellet stove is going now. It's good that we bought 3 tons of pellets this winter and that Les fixed the stove.

I think that the plants are confused. "Is it time to bloom yet or not?" With snow on the ground, I think that some of the plants have decided to wait or haven't figured what to do. After all, peas should be coming up right now ready to harvest since I should have planted them in early March.

Overleaf Lodge

On Saturday night, April 19th, Leslie and I stayed at the Overleaf Lodge in room 106 that opens onto the historic 804 trail next to the ocean in Yachats. On the 17th, Les and I celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary. We eloped to Reno on April 17th in 1972 so long ago.

The 804 trail is perfect for walking or running. It sure made me want to run, run, run......... I did take off for a few brief moments in my New Balance running shoes that I bought from http://www.roadrunnersports.com/. 1-800-551-5558. My shoes wanted to fly.

Before we checked into the Overleaf Lodge, we had fish and chips at the Blue Whale in Yachats and then for dinner went over to Waldport to eat at the new Subway.

I had such a nice time. Anyone who loves the beauty of the ocean, great trails, and a resort hotel where they spoil you rotten, needs to stay at the Overleaf Lodge in Yachats. The free continental breakfast is amazing. I loaded up on fresh fruit and fruit juice. Then I decided to partake of the blackberry scone that was loaded with berries. I didn't try it until we checked out and then I wished I had grabbed another. Delicious!

I took some great photos of a spectacular sunset and this morning I took five pictures of a bird posing on the end of a stick with the ocean waves as the back drop. I wanted to get a spectacular ocean photo with a seagull swooping by at the right moment but it didn't work out. Maybe next time.

On Saturday night Les and I went into the lobby and played canasta to 5,000 points and he won. Then I found this exquite chess set next to the fireplace that was calling my name. The pieces were carved into the shapes of birds. Les and I played chess the night before at home so on Saturday night with this great chess set, I won.

We also enjoyed the spa and sat in the warm bubbling water next to the windows overlooking the ocean. Perfect!

Anyone who wants to get away for a perfect weekend, call the Overleaf Lodge in Yachats and make a reservation. 1-800-338-0507 You'll come back every chance you can and you'll have a wonderful time.
http://www.overleaflodge.com/

This was a Christmas gift from our son, Benjamin and his wife, Amanda who live in Green Lake, Washington. Thank you! Green Lake is part of Seattle and has that amazing walking trail around Green Lake that everyone loves.

Olga Ellen Victoria Appelgren Peterson

My Aunt Ellen, my Dad's youngest sister, died on Thursday, April 10, 2008. Her name was Olga Ellen Victoria Appelgren Peterson, and she lived most of her life in Wolf Point, Montana. She died at the age of 98. She was born on 12-16-08 in Winthrop, Minnesota. Both her parents, my grandparents, were born in Sweden.

Up until a couple of years ago, most people would have a difficult time keeping up with her. She scrubbed her kitchen and bathroom floor on her hands and knees because it wasn't clean enough unless she did. For years before Christmas, she made 50 DOZEN krumkaka (Swedish cookies) to give away to people at church, family, and friends. She didn't just read a book once in awhile. She believed it was important to be well informed. She felt it was your duty and your obligation to keep up. She read Time Magazine, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report at the same time. She read countless other magazines, journals, and several national newspapers. She read the classics and any book she felt was important to read.

My Aunt Ellen was a country school teacher. She held high leadership positions within the structure of the Lutheran Church in Montana. She taught at the university. During the summers, she took a small trailer up into the mountains to teach the Hutterite children. She was a writer who earned extra money writing articles for GRIT Magazine.

She was a doer. She had tremendous strength. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. I was always proud of her, her strength, her courage, and all she accomplished. She was the one who took care of people and nursed them back to health when others needed help.

I love you, Aunt Ellen. I will miss you. My Aunt Ellen could do anything. She was one of the greatest influences on my life. One of my biggest regrets is that I haven't had the money in the last few years to spend time with her by taking a month, staying at a motel, and just listening to her. My Aunt Ellen believed it was important to be kind to everyone, work hard, and help others.

Christopher Vogler

On Saturday, April 12, I had the opportunity to learn from Christopher Vogler in Newport, Oregon from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. He wrote the WRITER'S JOURNEY, an important book for any writer who wants to understand the mythic structure common to all great stories and screenplays. He was brought to Oregon by Oregon Writer's Colony. http://www.oregonwriterscolony.org/

I'm so glad I went. I've already read his book through twice and now I'm going to read his book a third time. One of the most important lessons from his book for me in life and in writing is about the threshold guardian, what it represents in life and how to deal with them when you meet up with them.

Christopher Vogler is rich with stories. I loved listening to him and learning about story structure. He just came back from Ireland. He has read thousands of scripts and he knows what are the ingredients of a winning screenplay. He's worked for Disney and all the major movie studios. He's worked with some of the greatest stars and on some of the best movies, like Anna and the King. I love Jodie Foster. He must know her. How does it get better than this? He lives a magical life filled with meaning, creativity, and he works to help writers.

His website is http://www.thewritersjourney.com/

Bike Race

On Friday, 4-4-08, a sea of bicycles flowed past my house. It made my heart soar. I loved and admired everyone in the race. It was glorious to watch.

Everyone on a bike in this race are living their life, a healthy life, and are winning. They are not sitting on the sidelines watching. Individual sports need to be encouraged and supported.

Green Velvet

My parrot died on 4-1-08. He was beautiful and my heart is filled with memories. Here's a poem I wrote for him.

Green Velvet
By Wendy Haber 4-2-08

Green Velvet to wrap your bones
To give homage and honor
To your words, the joy you gave us,
Your companionship, and your life.

For 29 years we called you Pablo.
You made us laugh. You made us smile.
You called our names.

“Oh, you’re so cute!”
“Hello, Sweetheart!”
“I love you soooo much!”
Filled the silence in our house.

As you sang the words of the
First two lines of
“I left my heart in San Francisco,
It never failed to bring a smile.

I was proud to know you and
Proud you were a member of our family.

How could you be gone so quickly
When I expected you to outlive me!
Now, you’re with Aaron sitting on his shoulder—
His buddy, his solace.

I’ve kept every green feather
from the bottom of your cage.
A precious gift, Now a reminder.

On 4-1-08 at 11 p.m. you died.
One minute you were drinking water,
The next minute you were gasping for breath
At the bottom of the cage.
I opened the door to pet your sweet head and
Talk to you softly and you were gone a moment later.

I held you for hours close to my heart
Rocking you like my baby sad to see you go.
Tears well up easily in memory of your love
I’ll miss you, my friend cradled in green velvet.

Green velvet to wrap your feathers
As you lay on a piece of Howard’s blanket.
A final resting place under a tree with a bench
For you to sit on my shoulder and sing in my heart.
Good night, my sweet friend.

Public Safety

I'm concerned about Highway 34 at Mary's Peak between Corvallis and Alsea. The 2 1/2 miles of curves needs to be closed and straightened for the public safety. Yesterday when I drove home from work, I noticed cracks next to the mountain side at one place of the road and the road seems like it is slightly tilted. After mud slides last month, it looks like if a logging truck or semi came at the right time, the road could collapse under the weight. There is a place under the blacktop where the integrity of the road is giving way where the water and mud flows out from underneath that can be seen on the opposite side of the curve.

Someone once said to me that a fault line runs parallel to the hill going up to Mary's Peak on the way to Corvallis. I've recently noticed deepening cracks at the side of the road that keep getting wider.

Recently, a large piece of road equipment fell into a ravine between Alsea and Waldport as it was trying to fix the road. The workman was killed. We don't need another tragedy.

There is another big safety hazard. The bridge at Fish Hatchery Road needs to be widened. You can come around the blind curve approaching Fish Hatchery Road as you drive to Corvallis and more than one time, I have approached the bridge with a logging truck in the middle of the bridge with no room for me as I slam to a stop. The vegetation on the blind curve approaching the bridge needs to be cleared so you can see what is coming onto the bridge too.

My husband came around this curve two years ago to find a truck parked in the roadway ahead of the bridge as the driver sat inquiring about the fishing along the river. A line of about eight motorcyclists were crossing the bridge in the opposite lane so the choice was between rear ending the truck, hitting a motorcycle head on, or trying to get to the right of the truck near the guard rail. He chose the guard rail which caught his left bumper and kept him from going into the river.

This is not okay. We need to take care of these things before someone is seriously injured or killed.

Confucius

I've been collecting Confucius quotes, writing them on paper, and taping them near my computer.

Here are the ones I've collected so far.

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."

"Silence is a friend who never betrays."

"Speak the truth, do not yield to anger, give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods."

"Success depends upon previous preparation and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure."

"Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself."

"Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes."

"Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand."

"If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?"

Odwalla Super Food

Odwalla Super Food is one of my favorite beverages. Yes, it's green. I love it! It makes me feel good when I drink it and I know it's good for me.

When Leslie, my husband was in the hospital last year, I started drinking it in the cafeteria. I found that it helped me at a time when I was running myself ragged and my immune system was lowered. It made me feel better and it helped me. I would get a big salad and an Odwalla to take up to his hospital room when he stayed for 7 days.

If you are busy and don't have a lot of time to eat right, grab an Odwalla.

Subway

I love eating at Subway. I always order the same thing--a Veggie Delight on whole wheat with pepperjack cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, olives, green peppers, and nothing else. Perfect! I could eat at Subway every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. I'd probably switch off between the Veggie Delight sandwich and the Veggie Delight salad.

Right now they are having a special--any regular footlong sandwich for 5 bucks. It's an amazing buy so go to your nearest Subway and try one.

Extra

I pulled out a video tape from years ago when I was an extra in the movie, A Summer to Remember with Tess Harper, Louise Fletcher, and James Farentino. I was standing right next to James Farentino in a multi-colored bright striped Koret shirt and red skirt. We were standing in front of a stage with belly dancers and a juggler at Fargo's Famous Circus. This movie was made in the mid-80's. I forget what year but it was fun to be standing next to James Farentino.

Our whole family came to be part of the movie at the Polk County Fairgrounds but I was the only one who got to be part of it. We got a T-shirt and boxed lunch for the effort. I was fluffy at that time too. I've had a weight problem since 1978 when my husband got sick. So there I am standing next to James Farentino, fluffy cheeks and all.

We were also in a Brooks running shoe commercial. Our whole family showed up at Bush Park in Salem and our whole family got money--$20 bucks a head. This was in the mid-80's too.

TMTH

TMTH = Too Much To Handle

My Tivo has been clogged. I had 7 American Idol shows to watch so I was way behind. Last Tuesday, I watched live because I haven't been voting and I didn't know what was going on. My favorite to win is Michael Johns.

I was sad to see that Danny Noriega was voted off. I'm a fan, Danny. This was TMTH. I loved it when his reponse to Simon Cowell was a snap of his head saying, "Some people weren't likin' it!" Danny has pizzazz and I really like him. He should have been in the top 12 so he could tour the United States.

Simon Cowell is important. He helps everyone reach higher, dig down deeper to be the best they can be. It's not always easy to listen to his comments but anyone who critiques talent is giving a great gift.

JOHN ADAMS

Watch JOHN ADAMS, the powerful HBO mini-series this weekend. It is based on the the best seller written by David McCullough, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Anything written by David McCullough is worth reading, buying, and putting in your home library. The executive producer of JOHN ADAMS is Tom Hanks so you know it's going to be outstanding. Anything Tom Hanks touches is excellent. I sincerely hope this is one of many to come based on books by David McCullough. We are in for a treat, if this is true.

Overleaf Lodge

My husband and I were given a gift certificate to the Overleaf Lodge in Yachats, Oregon for Christmas from our son, Benjamin and his wife, Amanda. We stayed there last Saturday night and plan to stay on April 19th to celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary. What a wonderful gift to heal the heart and nourish the soul!

I love Yachats, my favorite area along the Oregon Coast. My favorite place to eat is the Blue Whale and my favorite choice on the menu is fish and chips.

The historic 804 Trail next to the ocean is a few steps from the Overleaf Lodge along with the pounding waves on the rocks, magnificent sunsets, and the variety of coastal birds. To walk the trail, breath in the fresh air, and feel part of the pristine coastline renews and nourishes. It doesn't get much better than this.

Everyone at the Overleaf Lodge works in concert to make your stay a special experience for each guest. All the special touches and care, as each does their best, succeeds to make your stay unforgetable. The complimentary breakfast couldn't have been nicer. I went right for the cut-up fresh fruit and juices. Leslie went for the calorie-laden foods and he's the one without a weight problem.

I finished the last page in WHAT ABOUT THE BIG STUFF? Finding Strength and Moving Forward When the Stakes are High by Richard Carlson, Ph.D. in our room at the Overleaf Lodge. It was appropriate to end on the last chapter entitled "Happiness," which talks about staying in the moment, take your focus off problems, allow your mind to clear, and make a choice to be happy now. There are always problems in one's life to deal with. No life is ever perfect or the way you want it to be but if you always postpone seizing moments of happiness or joy, you will never be happy.

Thank you, Benjamin and Amanda!

What I want..............

This morning I turned on Direct TV and looked at my horoscope to find that it said, "You deserve to have what you want--not approximately but exactly. Be as specific as possible, and stand back in amazement at how precisely the universe was listening to you."

I thought to myself, Why, that sounds great! So I started writing on 3 X 5 cards everything I want and taping them by the television. Here's my list so far:

Finish 2 plus novels a year. Write lots of screenplays that inspire and make millions. Travel the world in safety. Opportunities to help people, protect the environment, animals, and inspire people to be the best they can be. Health care for all, no homeless, healthy food and clean water for all, world peace, and protection of the planet. $5 million winner in Oregon lottery. Weigh 135 pounds through diet and exercise. Able to afford to buy condos near my children. Dance, sing, and laugh often. $700 million winner from national lottery. Able to attend writing conferences. Winner of $5,000 a week for life from Publishers Clearing House. A new bright yellow Toyota Corolla with temperature control. Time to read 4 hours a day. Time to write 8 hours a day. Time to exercise, swim, lift weights every day for 3 hours at a luxury gym. Surrounded by trust-worthy, smart people. Always have fresh, healthy food to eat. Live a long time with perfect health. Opportunities to make people happy and laugh. No war. No crime. People who are kind to each other in the world. No drugs. No mean people. Visit Sweden every year and own a home in Sweden. Opportunities to speak to large groups. A 10,000 sf house overlooking water that I own and can afford to live in the rest of my life. A 500 sf room filled with floor to ceiling bookcases on each wall. A 500 sf writing studio with windows on two walls and one entire wall a dry erase board for plotting novels. Endless patience. Unlimited wisdom and understanding. Able to buy all courses from the Teaching Company. Opportunity to go back to school and get an MBA, an MFA in creative writing, and a Ph.D. in psychology. Win 3 Oscars. Great music that I can turn on at an instant, like American Standards, cool jazz, and classical. Win a Pulitzer Prize. My books on education and parenting on the NY Times best seller list for over a year. Speak of my books on C-Span on Book TV. Happy, healthy children and grandchildren, and a happy, healthy Leslie.

And then my husband, Leslie says my horoscope in the Corvallis Gazette Times this morning says I'm going to cause everyone a headache! Whatever.... I have the right to dream.

The Teaching Company

I've recently discovered the great gift of learning from the amazing courses through The Teaching Company. At 75% off, I selected as my first choice, Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning taught by Professor David Zarefsky of Northwestern University. I believe that studying logic, rhetoric, and reasoning are basic to writing and will help me as a writer. I was right. I believe this course can help all writers to organize and uplift their writing to higher standards of argument. I learned so many things about the history of debate, how to organize an argument for effective reasoning, and now I want to read everything by Aristotle. I plan on listening to it again and again. This is a great gift to give to any young person in school for this course is basic to all learning and study.

The Teaching Company was founded in 1990 "to ignite people's passion for lifelong learning by offering great courses taught by great professors." The professors are selected "for intellectual distinction and teaching excellence." The courses range from art and music to history, economics, religion, and science.

I just finished listening to The Study of Effective Reasoning by listening to it in my car as I drive back and forth to Corvallis and now I'm on to the second course that I selected, Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists by Professor Richard Wolfson from Middlebury College. He's an amazing teacher. I could learn anything from him.

I'm interested in almost all of the courses offered and plan on purchasing them through the coming years. I'm excited to select courses on philosophy, history, and literature first. I can't afford to go back to school with the high cost of higher education. I've love to get my masters degree and go on for a Ph.D. but it's unrealistic. Even the best universities do not have all the best teachers that inspire at their universities but the Teaching Company does.

With a lifetime satisfaction guarantee take a look, order a catalog, and try a course by calling 1-800-TEACH-12.
http://www.teach12.com/