My husband, Leslie and I have been married almost 37 years. It will be 37 years on April 17th.
Les has been seriously ill and was recently in the hospital at Good Samaritan in Corvallis. He was in ICU for five days and on 2nd South for 5 days. He had to have hemodialysis for over a month and is now recovering. He no longer has to have dialysis. His body is healing and he feels much better. Why did this medical emergency occur? No one knows. No one has figured it out yet. No one has any definitive answers.
Les was seriously ill and was in the hospital at Good Samaritan in Corvallis in 2007. No one knew why he landed in the hospital and almost died that time either. Could it have something to do with what happened this time?
Was it residual effects from Valley Fever or coccidioidomycosis that he contracted in 1978 when we lived in Arroyo Grande, California?
Is it auto-immune?
Is it a medication allergy or other allergy?
Infection?
Tests during the hospital ruled out most of these questions. So what is it?
Dr. Broskie in Salem sent his records and slides to Dr. J. Charles Jennette at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Jennette is the number one kidney pathologist in the world and Dr. Broskie studied under him in medical school. Dr. Jennette said it's an allergy but tests haven't been taken to identify the allergy.
Answers are needed so he doesn't land in the hospital again with life-threatening symptoms. Doctors are consulting with one another. Zillions of tests have been taken but no answers so far have been found.
When Les came home from the hospital with renal failure and having to have hemodialysis, I started to measure urine, even though I wasn't asked to do so, and write down everything he ate and drank to give to his doctors. I figured that his diet was important and knowing what went in and out was important for the doctors to know. Maybe it helped. At least I gave doctors data they wouldn't have had so they could make decisions about diet change. I freqently played the positive affirmations CD, I AM HEALED NOW put out by Think Right Now. http://www.thinkrightnow.com/. I think that helped too.
Bills are piling up and may come to a 1/2 a million buckeroos. We will never finish paying off these kind of bills. I need to win the lottery or have Publishers Clearinghouse drive up to my door. If people were valued in this country and if there were universal health care, worry about money for doctor bills wouldn't be an issue. In the United States, greed rules.
There is so much in life that we can't do anything about and are powerless to change. All you can do is do your best every day to keep one foot in front of the other to move forward.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Fred Decker
On the front page of the Corvallis Gazette Times this morning on the center fold is the story about Fred Decker. I was sad to see that he died last Friday. I knew Fred Decker from Toastmasters in Corvallis. He was a distinguished toastmaster or DTM, an honor earned from being a great speaker. He had a brilliant mind and loved to debate issues. I liked him and respected him, even though I didn't agree with him on every issue.
He had been selected by President Reagan for a position in the Department of Education and was very proud of this honor. I learned from the article in the GT that he was the founding father of atmospheric sciences at Oregon State University and was professor emeritus in the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences. He believed in protecting the environment. He was a philatelist, a collector of postage stamps.
He was 91. He encouraged people and was a good person. He encouraged me. I valued him. It would have been nice to have had frequent conversations where I could have learned more from him--how he thought, why he believed in what he did, and what was important to him. People don't talk much anymore. Fred Decker liked to talk and believed in having an opinion. He will be missed.
He had been selected by President Reagan for a position in the Department of Education and was very proud of this honor. I learned from the article in the GT that he was the founding father of atmospheric sciences at Oregon State University and was professor emeritus in the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences. He believed in protecting the environment. He was a philatelist, a collector of postage stamps.
He was 91. He encouraged people and was a good person. He encouraged me. I valued him. It would have been nice to have had frequent conversations where I could have learned more from him--how he thought, why he believed in what he did, and what was important to him. People don't talk much anymore. Fred Decker liked to talk and believed in having an opinion. He will be missed.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Margaret Anderson
I learned at the feet of a master teacher and writer yesterday when I attended FOOLING AROUND WITH WORDS from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at LBCC Benton Center in Corvallis. I came to hear Margaret Anderson who has written 29 books for children and probably hundreds of articles. She writes about science and has a way of getting anyone within hearing range excited about science. I admire her. She is the greatest writer that I know personally. She should be honored at the White House for her accomplishments. She should also appear on the Craig Ferguson show on late night television since she was born in Scotland. He would love her too.
She earned her degree in genetics from Edinburgh University in Scotland.
When she walked her little sister, Ann, to school a mile from their home, she told her stories to get her to hurry so she arrived on time. She's been telling stories her whole life and she is great at engaging the attention of everyone.
She was an amazing mother who stayed at home with her children and taught them all to love learning. She said that she told ironing stories. As she stood ironing, her children would sit around her listening to her stories.
When she was asked by Enslow Publishers to pick either Darwin or Mendel for the Great Minds of Science Series that goes into schools and libraries, you would think she would choose Mendel since she has a degree in genetics and learned all about his fruit fly experiements at university but instead she chose Darwin who already had 27 books about Darwin on the library shelf. I think that is so cool that she wasn't at all intimidated by all the books already written as most writers would be. I know I could read all of the books written about Darwin and I know that Margaret Anderson's book about Darwin is the best. She says it better. She picks the words that will spark the interest and find common ground with the reader so they will want to learn. She's a master writer and a master teacher. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to learn from her yesterday. I admire and respect Margaret for her writing, her great accomplishments, her teaching, and as a person.
Order all of Margaret Anderson's books to give to your children and all the children you know. Read them outloud to the children in your life and see the magic of great writing that encourages learning. Go to Grass Roots Bookstore in Corvallis at 227 SW 2nd Street to buy them or go to http://www.amazon.com/ If you go to Grass Roots Bookstore, you have a chance of having the books autographed. Call Grass Roots at 1-541-754-7668 to order several copies of Margaret Anderson's books. Since she lives in Corvallis, it is highly likely that Grass Roots can arrange to have your books autographed.
Writers should study the books and articles of Margaret Anderson to learn how to write well. There should be a university class in every university that has a writing program that reads, discusses, and studies only the books of Margaret Anderson. She is that great. Just read her and see for yourself.
Also subscribe to ASK Magazine which is part of the Cricket Magazine Group put out by the Smithsonian. It's an amazing science magazine for children. Coming up in the newest issue about dirt is Margaret's article about the burying beetle. Learn all about it. You will love ASK magazine and you will treasure each time you see an article by Margaret.
Thank you, Margaret for one of the best days I've spent in a long time.
She earned her degree in genetics from Edinburgh University in Scotland.
When she walked her little sister, Ann, to school a mile from their home, she told her stories to get her to hurry so she arrived on time. She's been telling stories her whole life and she is great at engaging the attention of everyone.
She was an amazing mother who stayed at home with her children and taught them all to love learning. She said that she told ironing stories. As she stood ironing, her children would sit around her listening to her stories.
When she was asked by Enslow Publishers to pick either Darwin or Mendel for the Great Minds of Science Series that goes into schools and libraries, you would think she would choose Mendel since she has a degree in genetics and learned all about his fruit fly experiements at university but instead she chose Darwin who already had 27 books about Darwin on the library shelf. I think that is so cool that she wasn't at all intimidated by all the books already written as most writers would be. I know I could read all of the books written about Darwin and I know that Margaret Anderson's book about Darwin is the best. She says it better. She picks the words that will spark the interest and find common ground with the reader so they will want to learn. She's a master writer and a master teacher. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to learn from her yesterday. I admire and respect Margaret for her writing, her great accomplishments, her teaching, and as a person.
Order all of Margaret Anderson's books to give to your children and all the children you know. Read them outloud to the children in your life and see the magic of great writing that encourages learning. Go to Grass Roots Bookstore in Corvallis at 227 SW 2nd Street to buy them or go to http://www.amazon.com/ If you go to Grass Roots Bookstore, you have a chance of having the books autographed. Call Grass Roots at 1-541-754-7668 to order several copies of Margaret Anderson's books. Since she lives in Corvallis, it is highly likely that Grass Roots can arrange to have your books autographed.
Writers should study the books and articles of Margaret Anderson to learn how to write well. There should be a university class in every university that has a writing program that reads, discusses, and studies only the books of Margaret Anderson. She is that great. Just read her and see for yourself.
Also subscribe to ASK Magazine which is part of the Cricket Magazine Group put out by the Smithsonian. It's an amazing science magazine for children. Coming up in the newest issue about dirt is Margaret's article about the burying beetle. Learn all about it. You will love ASK magazine and you will treasure each time you see an article by Margaret.
Thank you, Margaret for one of the best days I've spent in a long time.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Casey Eye Institute
I visited the Casey Eye Institute yesterday near the waterfront in downtown Portland on the 11th floor. I love looking out the windows to see the full panorama of Portland with the beautiful KOIN tower, the Willamette River snaking through the landscape, the boats, the highways with tiny cars, the bridges, the apartment buildings, homes, and businesses nestled in all the spots to fill up the landscape. Portland is a beautiful city.
I enjoyed the elevator rides. The female voice on the elevator is very pleasant announcing each floor and I enjoyed her company. On my final ride out the building, I commented to the woman next to me about her pleasant voice. She said, “Yes, but it gets old when you hear it several times a day.” So I said, “Well, then they need to add a jazzy hologram.” She thought that was a great idea. So do I. People would come to the OHSU Health and Wellness Center just to ride the elevators.
I parked far away from the elevator in the parking structure on the purple level 1. I was thinking as I walked towards the elevator that the air quality was horrible and filled with exhaust. My mind then went to one of my ideas that there needs to be air purifiers in all cars, especially when you are stuck in a traffic jam in a large city on a freeway. Then I wondered why there isn’t an air purifying system on airplanes to prevent the notorious air circulation that often circulates unwanted air-born illnesses. So I thought that’s another thing that is needed at this location—an air purifying system in the parking structure.
When I was taking the visual field test, I remembered what I thought when I was first told I was going to take the test. I had imagined it much differently. I thought my head would be face down on a table held comfortably cradled in some kind of soft material overlooking a tank of water. I thought I would have to tell or signal exactly where the moving object occurred, which is different than just pressing a button when I saw a tiny light in different points of my field of vision. I guess it would be hard though to keep your eyes focused in the center with my field of vision test because there would be so many exciting things happening in the tank of water with all kinds of fish movement and other points of interest. Or it could be animated and interactive with all interaction directly fed into the computer to be evaluated. There could be Disney animation for children. Oh the possibilities.............
I enjoyed the elevator rides. The female voice on the elevator is very pleasant announcing each floor and I enjoyed her company. On my final ride out the building, I commented to the woman next to me about her pleasant voice. She said, “Yes, but it gets old when you hear it several times a day.” So I said, “Well, then they need to add a jazzy hologram.” She thought that was a great idea. So do I. People would come to the OHSU Health and Wellness Center just to ride the elevators.
I parked far away from the elevator in the parking structure on the purple level 1. I was thinking as I walked towards the elevator that the air quality was horrible and filled with exhaust. My mind then went to one of my ideas that there needs to be air purifiers in all cars, especially when you are stuck in a traffic jam in a large city on a freeway. Then I wondered why there isn’t an air purifying system on airplanes to prevent the notorious air circulation that often circulates unwanted air-born illnesses. So I thought that’s another thing that is needed at this location—an air purifying system in the parking structure.
When I was taking the visual field test, I remembered what I thought when I was first told I was going to take the test. I had imagined it much differently. I thought my head would be face down on a table held comfortably cradled in some kind of soft material overlooking a tank of water. I thought I would have to tell or signal exactly where the moving object occurred, which is different than just pressing a button when I saw a tiny light in different points of my field of vision. I guess it would be hard though to keep your eyes focused in the center with my field of vision test because there would be so many exciting things happening in the tank of water with all kinds of fish movement and other points of interest. Or it could be animated and interactive with all interaction directly fed into the computer to be evaluated. There could be Disney animation for children. Oh the possibilities.............
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Early to Rise
I subscribe to a daily success e-mail called Early to Rise. Yesterday it taught me something I wish I had learned years ago. Most people have learned this a long time ago. I think this is the one reason why I haven't accomplished what I could have accomplished in life. The writer of the article said that he has never missed a single writing deadline in 30 years.
The lesson is simply this--finish what you start. If you have a deadline, don't let anything stop you from finishing and meeting the deadline. That's it. Simple.
Throughout the years, I have let life and anything that comes up to take priority over my dreams and goals. My husband has been so sick so I stop everything to tend to him. If my kids are coming, I'll drop everything to get ready for them to make things nice for them. I have to do this but I also have to finish my writing goals and deadlines even if it means staying up all night.
I am interested in so many things that it is easy to get distracted by this great project or that great project. I have to keep centered on what I need to do to move my writing goals forward and keep focused on them.
I am printing out this great lesson. I will work hard from now on to outline what I now need to get done. Create timelines for when everything should be finished. Record deadlines. Make sure that I finish everything on time.
I want to win too. I need to work harder and work smarter. I need to not let anything stop me from being who I am and who I have the potential to be.
The lesson is simply this--finish what you start. If you have a deadline, don't let anything stop you from finishing and meeting the deadline. That's it. Simple.
Throughout the years, I have let life and anything that comes up to take priority over my dreams and goals. My husband has been so sick so I stop everything to tend to him. If my kids are coming, I'll drop everything to get ready for them to make things nice for them. I have to do this but I also have to finish my writing goals and deadlines even if it means staying up all night.
I am interested in so many things that it is easy to get distracted by this great project or that great project. I have to keep centered on what I need to do to move my writing goals forward and keep focused on them.
I am printing out this great lesson. I will work hard from now on to outline what I now need to get done. Create timelines for when everything should be finished. Record deadlines. Make sure that I finish everything on time.
I want to win too. I need to work harder and work smarter. I need to not let anything stop me from being who I am and who I have the potential to be.
Vietnam
Daniel, my youngest son is in Vietnam. He's there with one of his classes for the MBA program at Ohio State University.
I just received an e-mail from him this morning. His group made a presentation before the CEO of IBM Vietnam. Here's what he said, "We really nailed the presentation and the CEO was very complimentary as well as our classmates. It was an incredible experience and it has really opened my eyes to a whole other world of possibilities. I really love what I'm doing and I feel very fortunate to have had such wonderful opportunities."
I'm so proud of Daniel and all he continues to do. He keeps reaching out for opportunities to grow and learn. He's my hero.
I just received an e-mail from him this morning. His group made a presentation before the CEO of IBM Vietnam. Here's what he said, "We really nailed the presentation and the CEO was very complimentary as well as our classmates. It was an incredible experience and it has really opened my eyes to a whole other world of possibilities. I really love what I'm doing and I feel very fortunate to have had such wonderful opportunities."
I'm so proud of Daniel and all he continues to do. He keeps reaching out for opportunities to grow and learn. He's my hero.
Wild Birds
Yesterday when I was stopped before driving into the parking lot of the complex at Good Samaritan Hospital where my husband has dialysis, I looked up and saw thousands of birds flying overhead in multiple V-shape formations. I've never seen so many in the sky at one time in my life. It was glorious. One left a package on my car window.
We feed the wild birds at our house. We see lots of wild birds. The other day we put up the hummingbird feeder because the hummingbirds are back. We put up suet for the Stellers Jays. I love them. We put out black thistle seed for the goldfinches. We put up dried corn in a feeder. We put out sunflower seeds and song bird seed. We see sparrows, robins, Oregon juncos, mourning doves, red-winged blackbirds, black-headed grosbeaks, rufous-sided towhees, swallows, ravens, turkey vultures, wrens, purple finches, evening grosbeaks, indigo buntings, lazuli buntings, scrub jays, blue jays, chickadees, nuthatches, and crows. I hear but I never have yet seen a Western meadowlark.
I love birds. I love to see them. They need to be protected, fed with plants in your yard and seed in feeders. My yard welcomes them.
We feed the wild birds at our house. We see lots of wild birds. The other day we put up the hummingbird feeder because the hummingbirds are back. We put up suet for the Stellers Jays. I love them. We put out black thistle seed for the goldfinches. We put up dried corn in a feeder. We put out sunflower seeds and song bird seed. We see sparrows, robins, Oregon juncos, mourning doves, red-winged blackbirds, black-headed grosbeaks, rufous-sided towhees, swallows, ravens, turkey vultures, wrens, purple finches, evening grosbeaks, indigo buntings, lazuli buntings, scrub jays, blue jays, chickadees, nuthatches, and crows. I hear but I never have yet seen a Western meadowlark.
I love birds. I love to see them. They need to be protected, fed with plants in your yard and seed in feeders. My yard welcomes them.
Garden Seeds
I purchased some garden seeds yesterday at Fred Meyer on Kings Blvd yesterday when I was waiting for my husband to finish dialysis. They were 40% off. I got Ed Hume seeds because I like them. I got two packs of corn, beets, zucchini, and swiss chard. I'm excited to plant them and I'm excited to have a garden.
Everyone should have a garden these days to put food on the table.
Everyone should have a garden these days to put food on the table.
Health Care
Our health care system has failed. Health care should be provided to all who need it. Emphasis should be put on prevention, not in plugging holes and damage control.
If you are not yet a believer just watch SICKO, the documentary by Michael Moore.
With my husband having another catastrophic event that landed him in intensive care, we are again in jeopardy of lossing our home and having more mile high bills to pay. We haven't even finished paying off the bills from 2007 when he was in the hospital the last time.
Someone needs to do something fast about the health care crisis. One of the resulting negative effects may be severe damage to families. At a time when our economic system is in the dumper, families close ranks and concentrate on their own immediate needs. It's a protective mechanism and natural. Who can afford to help anyone these days with extra expenses when there is no economic safety net, no more retirement benefits.
My husband has Medicare Part A and D. He recently signed up for Part B, which is going to be tough to afford since it is going to cost him almost $400 a month considering all our other expenses.
What about me? I have high blood pressure. Am I going to end up having to have dialysis because of the stress of all this? High blood pressure is the leading cause for the need for dialysis. It has already been determined that I have pressure on my right eye for some odd reason. I have an appointment at the end of the month at OHSU. What about a complete check up? I can't afford it. I can't afford the $150 to give to OHSU for another six months to be seen by them.
Yesterday I walked around the Good Samaritan Hospital complex two times, which took me about 55 minutes. It felt great and I felt much better afterwards. This is the only answer I have for me. Exercise and eating healthy. Am I going to be able to eat healthy as the bills keep coming in and there are fewer and fewer pennies?
If you are not yet a believer just watch SICKO, the documentary by Michael Moore.
With my husband having another catastrophic event that landed him in intensive care, we are again in jeopardy of lossing our home and having more mile high bills to pay. We haven't even finished paying off the bills from 2007 when he was in the hospital the last time.
Someone needs to do something fast about the health care crisis. One of the resulting negative effects may be severe damage to families. At a time when our economic system is in the dumper, families close ranks and concentrate on their own immediate needs. It's a protective mechanism and natural. Who can afford to help anyone these days with extra expenses when there is no economic safety net, no more retirement benefits.
My husband has Medicare Part A and D. He recently signed up for Part B, which is going to be tough to afford since it is going to cost him almost $400 a month considering all our other expenses.
What about me? I have high blood pressure. Am I going to end up having to have dialysis because of the stress of all this? High blood pressure is the leading cause for the need for dialysis. It has already been determined that I have pressure on my right eye for some odd reason. I have an appointment at the end of the month at OHSU. What about a complete check up? I can't afford it. I can't afford the $150 to give to OHSU for another six months to be seen by them.
Yesterday I walked around the Good Samaritan Hospital complex two times, which took me about 55 minutes. It felt great and I felt much better afterwards. This is the only answer I have for me. Exercise and eating healthy. Am I going to be able to eat healthy as the bills keep coming in and there are fewer and fewer pennies?
Kidney Transplants
I recently attended a 3 1/2 hour kidney class--everything you ever want to know about kidneys and more. It was interesting and I learned a lot. One of the topics was kidney transplants.
I don't believe it is right to ask people to give you a kidney if you need one. I would never do it myself and I wouldn't want to be part of the process. Everyone needs their kidneys and it isn't right to ask someone to give up one. If someone wants to be a donor after they are dead, that's a different story.
I'm grateful that we have President Obama in the White House. He's a great guy, brilliant, and he believes in stem cell research which is the answer for patients who need a kidney transplant. Stem cells can be used to create kidneys. It's been done and they can start turning out kidneys by the thousands once the green light is given.
I don't believe it is right to ask people to give you a kidney if you need one. I would never do it myself and I wouldn't want to be part of the process. Everyone needs their kidneys and it isn't right to ask someone to give up one. If someone wants to be a donor after they are dead, that's a different story.
I'm grateful that we have President Obama in the White House. He's a great guy, brilliant, and he believes in stem cell research which is the answer for patients who need a kidney transplant. Stem cells can be used to create kidneys. It's been done and they can start turning out kidneys by the thousands once the green light is given.
Weight Loss Surgery
I don't believe in weight loss surgery. People have mentioned it to me that I should have it but I roll my eyes and ignore them.
Weight loss surgery is an oxymoron. I can't understand the logic of trying to get someone who has a problem with food and eating to have weight loss surgery when their life may depend on eating miniscule portions of food during the day. The trick is to eat miniscule portions of food, like a bird or a model, NOW without the major surgery.
I figure if weight loss surgery were a great idea, Oprah would have it.
Many people who go through this major surgery end up plumping up in a couple of years so why go through it in the first place. The expense. The miniscule portions of food. The potential life threatening surgery. I don't get it.
Okay so I'm fat. Most of the time I see myself as slim. At the moment I weigh 281, which is a lot. I'm not sloppy fat. I'm firm and packed tight.
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois did research about weight loss and stress. They determined that stress causes weight to stay and linger. I think this is it in my case.
Just put me on a beach with a cool ocean breeze with no hurricanes where I can write and eat healthy food and you will see me slim in a few months.
Weight loss surgery is an oxymoron. I can't understand the logic of trying to get someone who has a problem with food and eating to have weight loss surgery when their life may depend on eating miniscule portions of food during the day. The trick is to eat miniscule portions of food, like a bird or a model, NOW without the major surgery.
I figure if weight loss surgery were a great idea, Oprah would have it.
Many people who go through this major surgery end up plumping up in a couple of years so why go through it in the first place. The expense. The miniscule portions of food. The potential life threatening surgery. I don't get it.
Okay so I'm fat. Most of the time I see myself as slim. At the moment I weigh 281, which is a lot. I'm not sloppy fat. I'm firm and packed tight.
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois did research about weight loss and stress. They determined that stress causes weight to stay and linger. I think this is it in my case.
Just put me on a beach with a cool ocean breeze with no hurricanes where I can write and eat healthy food and you will see me slim in a few months.
Monday, March 23, 2009
First Lady Michelle Obama
I admire First Lady Michelle Obama so much. She is such a good person. She's brilliant and she has her priorities in all the right places. She is a wonderful mother and perfect in every way. I believe that she inspires all women to be better.
I was so pleased that she is working on a garden with children on the front lawn of the White House. She is a great example to everyone. I sure like her.
I was so pleased that she is working on a garden with children on the front lawn of the White House. She is a great example to everyone. I sure like her.
President Barack Obama
I feel confident, safe, and secure that President Barack Obama is President of the United States in these difficult times. I believe that President Obama is the greatest President that we have ever had in the history of the United States. No President up until this time has had to deal with more challenging circumstances.
I'm amazed at the nerve and gall of Republicans who say that they don't feel safe under President Obama. Republicans caused all this mess in the first place. President Bush was in the White House for the last eight years. When President Bush came into the White House there was no deficit. Now we have a deficit of over 10 trillion dollars. I don't know what the current tally is but I know it keeps rising.
I wouldn't feel safe under a Republican President after what has taken place. Republicans feel entitled to take money that doesn't belong to them, take bonuses that they didn't earn, and don't want to be held accountable. They feel entitled to all the money and don't care about the rest of the people who live in the United States. They believe in socialism for the rich.
The world rejoiced when President Obama was elected. I think everyone feels safer. I sure do.
President Obama is doing everything he can to correct all the problems and mess of the last Republican administration. I trust him. I believe in him.
I'm amazed at the nerve and gall of Republicans who say that they don't feel safe under President Obama. Republicans caused all this mess in the first place. President Bush was in the White House for the last eight years. When President Bush came into the White House there was no deficit. Now we have a deficit of over 10 trillion dollars. I don't know what the current tally is but I know it keeps rising.
I wouldn't feel safe under a Republican President after what has taken place. Republicans feel entitled to take money that doesn't belong to them, take bonuses that they didn't earn, and don't want to be held accountable. They feel entitled to all the money and don't care about the rest of the people who live in the United States. They believe in socialism for the rich.
The world rejoiced when President Obama was elected. I think everyone feels safer. I sure do.
President Obama is doing everything he can to correct all the problems and mess of the last Republican administration. I trust him. I believe in him.
Jack and Lizzy
Jack and Lizzy, my grandchildren, invited me to a party to help the Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center. www.turtleridgewildlifecenter.org.
Guests are asked to bring donations to help the center, like Iams Kitten Chow, bleach, paper towels, washing machine soap, hand washing soap. walnuts, almonds, peanuts, fleece material for squirrel sacks, and Cherrios. At the party, the guests will enjoy face painting, pin the tail on the donkey, mazes, animal games, dancing, snacks and cake. It's going to be a great party and I'm proud of my grandchildren for caring about the animals at Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center.
If you can help, please look at the website and donate.
Guests are asked to bring donations to help the center, like Iams Kitten Chow, bleach, paper towels, washing machine soap, hand washing soap. walnuts, almonds, peanuts, fleece material for squirrel sacks, and Cherrios. At the party, the guests will enjoy face painting, pin the tail on the donkey, mazes, animal games, dancing, snacks and cake. It's going to be a great party and I'm proud of my grandchildren for caring about the animals at Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center.
If you can help, please look at the website and donate.
National Kidney Month
March is National Kidney Month. Over 260 million people have acute kidney disease. Over 350,000 Americans are on dialysis and the number is growing rapidly. The two major causes of kidney failure are high blood pressure and diabetes. I wonder if exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment and lack of exercise can also be contributing causes.
My husband went into Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis on March 2nd with acute kidney failure. His creatinine level was 22.9. The normal level is 0.7 to 1.2. He was in ICU for 5 days and then spent another five days on 2nd South until he was sent home. No one knows what caused his kidneys to fail. No one knows any answers so far. It happened very rapidly. He had talked to his doctor four days before he went into the hospital and no one thought it was urgent or an emergency. A few weeks prior to admission, he took a bunch of blood tests at OHSU and the creatinine level was not elevated. In the weeks prior to admission to the hospital, he had a recurring rash over his body and respiratory symptoms. The rash was gone and his respiratory symptoms had gone away prior to his kidney failure. About two weeks prior to admission to the hospital, Les took Nabumetone for inflammation, which is medication prescribed by a doctor in Corvallis. After he took the medication for a couple of days, he had black urine. Dr. Wahba thinks that this might be the cause of his kidney failure but is not sure.
He's now on dialysis three times a week. He's getting better and his doctor says he may be able to get off dialysis in another week. A kidney biopsy revealed that his kidneys are inflamed but any cause isn't known.
We need answers so this doesn't happen again. Everyone at Good Samaritan were amazing and worked together to help my husband. I'm very grateful.
After this experience, I believe that it is so important to eat healthy, drink water, exercise, and avoid medication unless absolutely necessary. One thing that I have been doing for my husband is to play in the background positive affirmations from a ThinkRightNow CD called "I am healed now." I feel it makes a difference. www.thinkrightnow.com
My husband went into Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis on March 2nd with acute kidney failure. His creatinine level was 22.9. The normal level is 0.7 to 1.2. He was in ICU for 5 days and then spent another five days on 2nd South until he was sent home. No one knows what caused his kidneys to fail. No one knows any answers so far. It happened very rapidly. He had talked to his doctor four days before he went into the hospital and no one thought it was urgent or an emergency. A few weeks prior to admission, he took a bunch of blood tests at OHSU and the creatinine level was not elevated. In the weeks prior to admission to the hospital, he had a recurring rash over his body and respiratory symptoms. The rash was gone and his respiratory symptoms had gone away prior to his kidney failure. About two weeks prior to admission to the hospital, Les took Nabumetone for inflammation, which is medication prescribed by a doctor in Corvallis. After he took the medication for a couple of days, he had black urine. Dr. Wahba thinks that this might be the cause of his kidney failure but is not sure.
He's now on dialysis three times a week. He's getting better and his doctor says he may be able to get off dialysis in another week. A kidney biopsy revealed that his kidneys are inflamed but any cause isn't known.
We need answers so this doesn't happen again. Everyone at Good Samaritan were amazing and worked together to help my husband. I'm very grateful.
After this experience, I believe that it is so important to eat healthy, drink water, exercise, and avoid medication unless absolutely necessary. One thing that I have been doing for my husband is to play in the background positive affirmations from a ThinkRightNow CD called "I am healed now." I feel it makes a difference. www.thinkrightnow.com
Monday, March 16, 2009
Exercising
This morning I got up around 6:30 a.m. I started by doing Wii Fit, which I love. I weighed and found that I had lost over 6 pounds since yesterday. My Wii Fit age today is 35, even though I just turned 61. I did 15 minutes yoga, 15 minutes strength training, 15 minutes balance, and 15 minutes aerobics.
Then I turned onto my stash of saved programming from FitTV and turned on to Gilad's Total Body Sculpt, which was recorded earlier today. I did 18 minutes of it. I love exercising with Gilad. I love seeing the ocean in the background. I admire Gilad's expert training and I feel strongly that his shows are the best fitness training on television.
I plan on doing at least another half hour of aerobics with Wii Fit today. I'm grateful for my Wii Fit because it is interactive, encouraging, keeps track of my progress, and I don't feel alone.
Then I turned onto my stash of saved programming from FitTV and turned on to Gilad's Total Body Sculpt, which was recorded earlier today. I did 18 minutes of it. I love exercising with Gilad. I love seeing the ocean in the background. I admire Gilad's expert training and I feel strongly that his shows are the best fitness training on television.
I plan on doing at least another half hour of aerobics with Wii Fit today. I'm grateful for my Wii Fit because it is interactive, encouraging, keeps track of my progress, and I don't feel alone.
Alsea Garden Club
I moved to Alsea 7 1/2 years ago. Since I went through the Oregon State Master Gardening Program in Salem in 1999, I joined the garden club when I moved here. Not too long after, I was elected President. I was excited and had big plans. I outlined at least two years of gardening workshops I wanted to teach since I love teaching. I was pleased that I was elected President. I had plans for meetings that included seed and plant sharing, members teaching the group with what they were learning, hands on gardening projects, and much more. I welcomed this opportunity.
Not too long after, I started receiving letters from the Oregon Department of Justice that alerted me that the Alsea Garden Club was in violation of the law and that the Club had to cease. The garden club was also in violation of Oregon State Garden Club rules. I felt it important to let the membership know the status of the Alsea Garden Club. I was told that no one cared and that no one wanted to follow the rules. I didn't understand this at all. If you take on the group umbrella of another organization, then I feel you should follow the guidelines and basic rules or the group had the option of just being an independent garden club. The group wanted to be a garden club connected to the Oregon Garden Club structure without following all these goofy rules and regulations.
My club officers were Kay Podmore and Katrina Carver.
During this time I applied for a grant for the public garden on Highway 34 in Alsea that the garden club was responsible for with upkeep. The club was awarded $500 in grant money, which I was responsible for securing.
I was happy about the grant money for the public garden and the garden club has made this area beautiful after I left the club.
I didn't find support among the membership in the Alsea Garden Club so after I brought the club back into legal status with the Oregon Department of Justice and the Oregon State Garden Clubs, I quit. Can't do much without support, no matter how much you want to help or serve since I don't believe in forcing things. I did stay long enough to bring the club into legal compliance for my own protection. It's funny but people acted like it was no big deal to get letters from the Oregon Department of Justice. Well, I did and I took it seriously. I guess I don't understand people sometimes.
Not too long after, I started receiving letters from the Oregon Department of Justice that alerted me that the Alsea Garden Club was in violation of the law and that the Club had to cease. The garden club was also in violation of Oregon State Garden Club rules. I felt it important to let the membership know the status of the Alsea Garden Club. I was told that no one cared and that no one wanted to follow the rules. I didn't understand this at all. If you take on the group umbrella of another organization, then I feel you should follow the guidelines and basic rules or the group had the option of just being an independent garden club. The group wanted to be a garden club connected to the Oregon Garden Club structure without following all these goofy rules and regulations.
My club officers were Kay Podmore and Katrina Carver.
During this time I applied for a grant for the public garden on Highway 34 in Alsea that the garden club was responsible for with upkeep. The club was awarded $500 in grant money, which I was responsible for securing.
I was happy about the grant money for the public garden and the garden club has made this area beautiful after I left the club.
I didn't find support among the membership in the Alsea Garden Club so after I brought the club back into legal status with the Oregon Department of Justice and the Oregon State Garden Clubs, I quit. Can't do much without support, no matter how much you want to help or serve since I don't believe in forcing things. I did stay long enough to bring the club into legal compliance for my own protection. It's funny but people acted like it was no big deal to get letters from the Oregon Department of Justice. Well, I did and I took it seriously. I guess I don't understand people sometimes.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Alsea School Board
There is a position open for the Alsea School Board and I'd like to serve in this way to help the children at the school. I believe strongly that all children have unlimited potential, except for those who are brain damaged. I believe that all have the potential to go on to college and make their dreams come true. I'm surprised that this isn't the case since not all students enter college who live here. There have been several examples of almost every student going on to college even those who live in severely economically disadvantaged areas because of the program and teachers. I've been critical about the lack of a federal school lunch program which I feel would help many children to have a free hot breakfast and lunch.
The deadline is the 19th of March. What is holding me back? Several reasons.....
1. No one has encouraged me to run. No one around here seems to want anyone disrupting what they are doing now. I've volunteered to help set up enrichment programs in the past but it was always discouraged or not wanted.
2. My husband has been seriously ill and needs care.
3. I had an experience as a Gates City Council member which makes me hesitate. I'll tell you the story. We were in a meeting. I questioned whether the issue discussed should be in an open meeting. The person in charge walked to the front door and opened the door saying, "It's now an open meeting." I then said that no one was alerted to the fact in the paper that it was an open meeting. I asked to see on paper where what we were doing was legal since I am big on following the rules. It turned out that I was right and that the meeting was in violation of the law. I was asked to sign saying that I had done something illegal. I refused to sign because I was the only one that even questioned it. I stood up for doing the right thing. Since everyone else signed, no one else had a problem. No one would help me take this blemish off my record even though I tried to do the right thing so how could I protect myself under similiar circumstances as a member of the school board?
The deadline is the 19th of March. What is holding me back? Several reasons.....
1. No one has encouraged me to run. No one around here seems to want anyone disrupting what they are doing now. I've volunteered to help set up enrichment programs in the past but it was always discouraged or not wanted.
2. My husband has been seriously ill and needs care.
3. I had an experience as a Gates City Council member which makes me hesitate. I'll tell you the story. We were in a meeting. I questioned whether the issue discussed should be in an open meeting. The person in charge walked to the front door and opened the door saying, "It's now an open meeting." I then said that no one was alerted to the fact in the paper that it was an open meeting. I asked to see on paper where what we were doing was legal since I am big on following the rules. It turned out that I was right and that the meeting was in violation of the law. I was asked to sign saying that I had done something illegal. I refused to sign because I was the only one that even questioned it. I stood up for doing the right thing. Since everyone else signed, no one else had a problem. No one would help me take this blemish off my record even though I tried to do the right thing so how could I protect myself under similiar circumstances as a member of the school board?
Good Samaritan Hospital
I'd enjoy working at Good Samaritan Hospital. The people are all there to serve and help others. They are intelligent, active, busy, and doing what they believe in. I'd love to be part of it. I've applied in the past for probably over 35 jobs that I am qualified for but I've never received a phone call to even come in for an interview. I have a bachelors degree in social science. I'd love to eat in the great cafeteria with all the great food choices.
Alsea School
The Alsea School is one of three school districts in the state of Oregon without a federal school lunch program. The Corvallis Gazette Times ran a story on the front page last Sunday about this issue.
I believe there should be a federal program that is free for any child who needs it to make sure that children have the nutrition they need in order to learn. Many school districts all over the United States have federal school lunch programs. I believe that it is the easiest way to solve the problem of getting food to the students.
The meals that have been provided over the years have had a charge of $2.00 to $2.50, which those who would qualify for the free program cannot afford. Volunteers through the years have worked hard to cook meals for the kids but it takes more volunteer manpower to cook these meals than if they would just hire a cook, which would give someone a job who needs it. The meals that have been provided at a price haven't been offered every day.
Some say that the people are coming up with money to pay for the meals for those who can't afford it but I have talked to students who say that some children go hungry. Pride is the reason I think.
I've been told that as much as over 50% would qualify years ago. Then I heard that the figure was 25%. In the article in the Gazette Times, it lowered the figure even more to 10 to 15%. Even if the lower figure is true, it is too many children not receiving help.
I've lived in Alsea for 7 1/2 years and have talked to many people about this. I've written letters for grants to the Gates Foundation and to Myers Trust. I'm not a professional grant writer but I alerted them to the need. Nothing happened. I spent time talking to a gentleman at the Clemens Foundation in Philomath who was also concerned and said that they would be happy to pay for the cost of setting up the needed lunch room but the Alsea School has to want it. I've talked to state politicians about this issue. I've talked to people who live here. I've talked to the school board.
In my opinion, the list of excuses don't outweigh the strong need for nutrition for children who are in school who may not receive it at home.I've been told that the Corvallis School District offered to truck meals to the school but it was refused. I've been told that a local sherrif deputy offered to transport milk from Corvallis but it was refused.The former school board president, Brian Leavitt seems to be the strongest voice against the federal school lunch program since he goes to Salem to lobby before the legislature. He's also the minister of the Church of Christ in Lobster Valley close to Alsea. He's the Fire Chief. He's a federal marshall. I don't understand this. He volunteers a lot to help people in the community. It doesn't make any sense to me.
I sincerely hope that someone provides the funds needed to set up the program so that the Alsea School can qualify. It said in the article in the Corvallis Gazette Times that it would take $250,000 to make it happen plus the salaries of two employees. Anyone out there with deep pockets and a heart who cares?
I believe there should be a federal program that is free for any child who needs it to make sure that children have the nutrition they need in order to learn. Many school districts all over the United States have federal school lunch programs. I believe that it is the easiest way to solve the problem of getting food to the students.
The meals that have been provided over the years have had a charge of $2.00 to $2.50, which those who would qualify for the free program cannot afford. Volunteers through the years have worked hard to cook meals for the kids but it takes more volunteer manpower to cook these meals than if they would just hire a cook, which would give someone a job who needs it. The meals that have been provided at a price haven't been offered every day.
Some say that the people are coming up with money to pay for the meals for those who can't afford it but I have talked to students who say that some children go hungry. Pride is the reason I think.
I've been told that as much as over 50% would qualify years ago. Then I heard that the figure was 25%. In the article in the Gazette Times, it lowered the figure even more to 10 to 15%. Even if the lower figure is true, it is too many children not receiving help.
I've lived in Alsea for 7 1/2 years and have talked to many people about this. I've written letters for grants to the Gates Foundation and to Myers Trust. I'm not a professional grant writer but I alerted them to the need. Nothing happened. I spent time talking to a gentleman at the Clemens Foundation in Philomath who was also concerned and said that they would be happy to pay for the cost of setting up the needed lunch room but the Alsea School has to want it. I've talked to state politicians about this issue. I've talked to people who live here. I've talked to the school board.
In my opinion, the list of excuses don't outweigh the strong need for nutrition for children who are in school who may not receive it at home.I've been told that the Corvallis School District offered to truck meals to the school but it was refused. I've been told that a local sherrif deputy offered to transport milk from Corvallis but it was refused.The former school board president, Brian Leavitt seems to be the strongest voice against the federal school lunch program since he goes to Salem to lobby before the legislature. He's also the minister of the Church of Christ in Lobster Valley close to Alsea. He's the Fire Chief. He's a federal marshall. I don't understand this. He volunteers a lot to help people in the community. It doesn't make any sense to me.
I sincerely hope that someone provides the funds needed to set up the program so that the Alsea School can qualify. It said in the article in the Corvallis Gazette Times that it would take $250,000 to make it happen plus the salaries of two employees. Anyone out there with deep pockets and a heart who cares?
Strength
How am I? I am just fine. I am a very strong person and amazingly resilient no matter what comes at me. I adjust. I survive. I find activities to keep busy that work into my schedule.
Writing is a constant and necessary to finding meaning in my life. I'm working on four novel length manuscripts at this time, all in different stages of revision. Getting lost in my writing helps and heals life that is going on around me that may be difficult.
I'm excited about my garden this summer and I'm looking forward to seeing vegetables, fruit, and flowers grow. I'm excited to taste my first tomato and eating my first handful of peas in the pod as I stand in my gardening watering.
I am concentrateing on helping Les to make sure he has what he needs, to drive him where he needs to go, and be supportive. I want him to get better and to heal so he can have fun doing what he enjoys.
Life is good even though sometimes it poses challenges that are difficult and not easy. I look forward to the good that this year brings.
Writing is a constant and necessary to finding meaning in my life. I'm working on four novel length manuscripts at this time, all in different stages of revision. Getting lost in my writing helps and heals life that is going on around me that may be difficult.
I'm excited about my garden this summer and I'm looking forward to seeing vegetables, fruit, and flowers grow. I'm excited to taste my first tomato and eating my first handful of peas in the pod as I stand in my gardening watering.
I am concentrateing on helping Les to make sure he has what he needs, to drive him where he needs to go, and be supportive. I want him to get better and to heal so he can have fun doing what he enjoys.
Life is good even though sometimes it poses challenges that are difficult and not easy. I look forward to the good that this year brings.
Family
During a crisis, family gather together to support. When Les was in the hospital, Daniel flew out from Ohio to spend a couple of days to be supportive. Gretchen visited three times and called often to talk to Les. Ben called and kept in touch often. Jeanine, Les' sister near Chicago called and kept in touch.
I wish all our family could live on the same street so I could invite everyone to dinner often. No chance of that. Everyone has a busy life and work in other states so it just isn't possible. In my dreams................
I wish all our family could live on the same street so I could invite everyone to dinner often. No chance of that. Everyone has a busy life and work in other states so it just isn't possible. In my dreams................
Les
Les is doing much better and adjusting to dialysis. He had acute renal failure and we don't know why. The doctors don't have answers yet. They have taken every test but no clear answers yet. He got out of the hospital on Tuesday. He spent over a week in the hospital. I'm learning lots of new vocabulary words and I'm learning about new medical issues that will probably find its way into novels in the future.
Daniel
While Les was in the hospital at Good Samaritan, our son, Daniel flew out from Ohio for a couple of days to help us. He arranged for records to be sent from OHSU to the doctors and set up Google Health for Les plus a similiar medical account with Microsoft. It was great to see him. It was comforting to see him. I know that Daniel didn't have the time since he's always so busy but he makes time for what is most important to him. He's always been my hero. I've always admired everything that he stands for and everything that he is. He's such a good person. I miss him. I wish I could live near Daniel. He's thoughtful and kind and good and brilliant and has great ideas.
Friday, March 06, 2009
If I built a hospital...
If I built a hospital I would do things differently.
1. It would have a large fitness center that all staff at the hospital, patients, and visitors can use. It would have a huge lap pool and plenty of aerobic and weight machines.
2. It would have a wing just dedicated to families of patients to check them out to see how they are doing and monitor their health to give them needed care.
3. It would have a free healthy snack cart 24/7 for anyone coming onto each hospital floor.
4. It would have consultations that include family with printouts of what's wrong with the patient with daily updates for the family. All doctors and anyone dealing with the patient would meet in a circle conference exchanging what is needed for care and families can sit in. The families would be notified of these daily meetings so they can listen and receive daily printouts about their family member.
5. It would have hospital beds that are much different than the normal hospital beds. My beds would have biomedical devises to passively exercise the body to prevent problems that come from not moving for prolonged periods of time. You would be cradled in the bed in comfort but the bed would have the ability to move limbs and massage body.
6. And of course, my hospital would have free health care for anyone walking in the door because that is the RIGHT thing to do. Care and prevention is first priority. No one would have to worry about losing their house and everything they have because of large hospital bills.
1. It would have a large fitness center that all staff at the hospital, patients, and visitors can use. It would have a huge lap pool and plenty of aerobic and weight machines.
2. It would have a wing just dedicated to families of patients to check them out to see how they are doing and monitor their health to give them needed care.
3. It would have a free healthy snack cart 24/7 for anyone coming onto each hospital floor.
4. It would have consultations that include family with printouts of what's wrong with the patient with daily updates for the family. All doctors and anyone dealing with the patient would meet in a circle conference exchanging what is needed for care and families can sit in. The families would be notified of these daily meetings so they can listen and receive daily printouts about their family member.
5. It would have hospital beds that are much different than the normal hospital beds. My beds would have biomedical devises to passively exercise the body to prevent problems that come from not moving for prolonged periods of time. You would be cradled in the bed in comfort but the bed would have the ability to move limbs and massage body.
6. And of course, my hospital would have free health care for anyone walking in the door because that is the RIGHT thing to do. Care and prevention is first priority. No one would have to worry about losing their house and everything they have because of large hospital bills.
Les
Les is at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis. He's been there since Monday. He's been growing gradually weaker over the last three months. He had a bunch of blood tests last month at OHSU that didn't reveal anything significant. He talked to his doctor in Salem last Thursday or Friday and she didn't say it was urgent. Les wanted to wait to come in to the Benton County Health Department on Monday. I called at 8 a.m. and they made an appointment for him at 3 p.m. When we got there, there wasn't an appointment available but someone talked to us and told us we should go to the emergency room at Good Samaritan so we did. I'm sure glad we did.
Everyone at Good Samaritan Hospital has been so nice and are doing everything they can to figure out what's wrong. He's had every test in the book with specialists to monitor and consult. He's now on dialysis, which was a shock. He had acute kidney failure but they don't know the cause yet. He's had an EKG, eco cardiogram, CT scan, ultra sound, and yesterday he went for an MRI because they wonder if he had a stroke. He's been through a difficult time. I've been there every day for hours to see him. Yesterday, we played a short game of canasta but he wasn't able to continue. He's ordering his own meals and having fun with that. He feels like he's on a cruise ship without the rudder.
He's getting much better and stronger. When he comes home, he'll concentrate on getting well, follow dietary restrictions, and do what he wants. We haven't found out yet what caused the problems in the first place. It's a medical mystery so far but everyone is doing everything they can to figure it out. We're waiting to get medical records faxed to Good Samaritan from OHSU and Benton Health Department to help the doctors. Everyone is working hard to find answers.
I'm worried about what the cost of all this care and if we will lose our home and be booted out on the street. At 61, I don't want to live under a bridge or on the street. I sure hope President Obama gets the health care system fixed so there is free health care for everyone just like there is in Canada and England and the rest of Europe. Emphasis should be on prevention and no one should have to go without medical care.
Everyone at Good Samaritan Hospital has been so nice and are doing everything they can to figure out what's wrong. He's had every test in the book with specialists to monitor and consult. He's now on dialysis, which was a shock. He had acute kidney failure but they don't know the cause yet. He's had an EKG, eco cardiogram, CT scan, ultra sound, and yesterday he went for an MRI because they wonder if he had a stroke. He's been through a difficult time. I've been there every day for hours to see him. Yesterday, we played a short game of canasta but he wasn't able to continue. He's ordering his own meals and having fun with that. He feels like he's on a cruise ship without the rudder.
He's getting much better and stronger. When he comes home, he'll concentrate on getting well, follow dietary restrictions, and do what he wants. We haven't found out yet what caused the problems in the first place. It's a medical mystery so far but everyone is doing everything they can to figure it out. We're waiting to get medical records faxed to Good Samaritan from OHSU and Benton Health Department to help the doctors. Everyone is working hard to find answers.
I'm worried about what the cost of all this care and if we will lose our home and be booted out on the street. At 61, I don't want to live under a bridge or on the street. I sure hope President Obama gets the health care system fixed so there is free health care for everyone just like there is in Canada and England and the rest of Europe. Emphasis should be on prevention and no one should have to go without medical care.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Medical Safety Net
There isn't a medical safety net for millions of people here in the United States without insurance. I have hope that President Obama will change this.
Right now my husband is having a medical crisis. The Benton County Health Department told him not to come back. A letter to one of the doctors at the Lincoln Clinic by my husband was ignored asking for help. Good Samaritan Hospital told him not to come back. He challenged many items on his bill that showed double billing, a charge from a doctor who didn't even treat him, and other disparities. What do you do?
In Canada and European countries, the care of the patient comes first and doctors don't even think about the money. They think about helping, curing, and finding ways to solve the medical problem but not in this country. Greed rules in the United States.
He called his doctor on Friday in Salem and she told him to get a test done if the problems persist in two weeks. He needs to be seen now. As soon as it is 8 a.m., I'll call around to find SOMEONE to help him. Is compassion tossed in the garbage these days?
All people need to have the medical care they need without thought of money or having to lose their home to pay medical bills. Instead people have to ignore symptoms which makes things rise to an emergency. There is considerable stress in not having the opportunity to receive care. Focus should be on prevention and care of the patient.
Right now my husband is having a medical crisis. The Benton County Health Department told him not to come back. A letter to one of the doctors at the Lincoln Clinic by my husband was ignored asking for help. Good Samaritan Hospital told him not to come back. He challenged many items on his bill that showed double billing, a charge from a doctor who didn't even treat him, and other disparities. What do you do?
In Canada and European countries, the care of the patient comes first and doctors don't even think about the money. They think about helping, curing, and finding ways to solve the medical problem but not in this country. Greed rules in the United States.
He called his doctor on Friday in Salem and she told him to get a test done if the problems persist in two weeks. He needs to be seen now. As soon as it is 8 a.m., I'll call around to find SOMEONE to help him. Is compassion tossed in the garbage these days?
All people need to have the medical care they need without thought of money or having to lose their home to pay medical bills. Instead people have to ignore symptoms which makes things rise to an emergency. There is considerable stress in not having the opportunity to receive care. Focus should be on prevention and care of the patient.
Seattle
I visited Seattle by Amtrak on February 25th and came back on the 27th. I had a great time visiting my son, Ben for my birthday and to meet my newest grandchild, Anna Rose. Anna is such a good little baby and such a beautiful little girl. I can't get over how smart and alert she is at only two weeks old. I got some beautiful pictures that are precious to me.
Joan Stradling
Congratulations to Joan Stradling for winning the Simon and Schuster Children's Book Contest for her book, WHO INVITES A PIG TO DINNER? She wins $1000 from Cheerios. I'm very happy for you, Joan. Your win is richly deserved.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Albany and Lebanon
I recently learned in a financial fitness class that Albany and Lebanon Oregon share something in common. They top the list as number one for identity theft and fraud in the nation. It make me want to not even stop to shop or do anything in that area. That's pretty scarey. Be weary when shopping in Albany or Lebanon. Keep your ID close and be careful.
I've always loved going to shop in Albany whenever I've had enough money, and I never encountered any problems but after learning this, it makes me realize I need to be more careful when I do. I also like Lebanon because it has Wal-Mart and it's a cute town but I learned it has a lot of drugs and crime.
I guess there are dangers that lerk almost anywhere. All you have to do is read mystery novels to realize what can happen. I think that the trick is to be careful, watch, be alert, and don't deliberately put yourself at risk.
I've always loved going to shop in Albany whenever I've had enough money, and I never encountered any problems but after learning this, it makes me realize I need to be more careful when I do. I also like Lebanon because it has Wal-Mart and it's a cute town but I learned it has a lot of drugs and crime.
I guess there are dangers that lerk almost anywhere. All you have to do is read mystery novels to realize what can happen. I think that the trick is to be careful, watch, be alert, and don't deliberately put yourself at risk.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Book Fair
The Friends of the Corvallis Library had their annual book fair this weekend and I couldn't go because I don't have two nickels to rub together. Sad but true. I love books. It's painful and hard on me that I couldn't go. I'm tired of not having any money to spend on things. I don't want a lot. I just want to buy books once in awhile and fabric. I want to be able to buy everything I want to eat healthy--like all the fresh fruit and vegetables that I want, and fish, like halibut.
Books are what I really enjoy buying. Books are a necessity, especially if the book is a keeper. Some books I don't care about and don't want to read again or to use as a reference. I enjoy scanning the paperbacks on sale for 25 cents at the Alsea Library to see if there are good ones. At the first of the month when I have a couple of bucks, I buy a few. I usually buy mysteries.
Books are what I really enjoy buying. Books are a necessity, especially if the book is a keeper. Some books I don't care about and don't want to read again or to use as a reference. I enjoy scanning the paperbacks on sale for 25 cents at the Alsea Library to see if there are good ones. At the first of the month when I have a couple of bucks, I buy a few. I usually buy mysteries.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Evaluating My Life
About three to four times a year or more often, I take a look at my life. I look at what works and what doesn't work. I realize that there are many things about my life that I can't change so I try to concentrate on what I can do something about. As I look at my life this morning, I will recommit to the following four areas to drive my goals forward--writing, reading, gardening, and exercising. I see that I need to make specific goals for each with deadlines. I will need to spend more time in planning at the end of the day and each week.
I usually write down all the areas of my life for evaluation. Here's the current status:
Friends--None
Family--I'm a pain in the butt and an annoyance to everyone.
Work--Not employed.
Writing--Not making any money.
Spiritual--I don't have a church home.
Husband--We play canasta daily. I do whatever I can to help him and he does whatever he can for me.
Financial--No savings or insurance. I have $500 in a 401K that I earned from Joann Fabrics that goes down daily.
I believe that things are going to get better and that I can turn things around. I can't do anything about some areas except to try. I'm nice to people when I see others. I work hard but I'm not getting any where. I have a lot to work on and a lot to learn. If I need to talk, I don't have friends to call who would listen or want to talk. My family are busy with lives of their own. It's isn't right to be a burden on anyone.
I get up each day and try to appreciate what I have. I have many blessings. I have many opportunities to learn and grow. I can have a large garden. I can work on making quilts. I can read great words in books. When I see people, I can smile and be as nice as possible, which I always try hard to do. I can start practicing the piano again. I can sew my clothes. I can finish writing projects and work on revisions. I have so much beauty surrounding me and birds that visit our property. I can exercise using my Wii Fit every day.
I will keep trying and keep working to make the quality of my life better. I have faith that my life will get better, if I keep trying, work hard and never give up.
I usually write down all the areas of my life for evaluation. Here's the current status:
Friends--None
Family--I'm a pain in the butt and an annoyance to everyone.
Work--Not employed.
Writing--Not making any money.
Spiritual--I don't have a church home.
Husband--We play canasta daily. I do whatever I can to help him and he does whatever he can for me.
Financial--No savings or insurance. I have $500 in a 401K that I earned from Joann Fabrics that goes down daily.
I believe that things are going to get better and that I can turn things around. I can't do anything about some areas except to try. I'm nice to people when I see others. I work hard but I'm not getting any where. I have a lot to work on and a lot to learn. If I need to talk, I don't have friends to call who would listen or want to talk. My family are busy with lives of their own. It's isn't right to be a burden on anyone.
I get up each day and try to appreciate what I have. I have many blessings. I have many opportunities to learn and grow. I can have a large garden. I can work on making quilts. I can read great words in books. When I see people, I can smile and be as nice as possible, which I always try hard to do. I can start practicing the piano again. I can sew my clothes. I can finish writing projects and work on revisions. I have so much beauty surrounding me and birds that visit our property. I can exercise using my Wii Fit every day.
I will keep trying and keep working to make the quality of my life better. I have faith that my life will get better, if I keep trying, work hard and never give up.
House Hunters
It's fun to watch House Hunters and House Hunters International on HGTV. You get to see the world and other parts of the U.S. plus tour homes. It does wet my appetitite for more. I've always wanted a 4,000 to 5,000 square foot home overlooking water or the ocean within walking distance to a gym, shopping, a library, and restaurants. I would need a room just for floor to ceiling books cases for a library with comfortable chairs and a large table to spread out papers, a large kitchen with granite counter tops, a lap pool, a great room, large size rooms, and many other features that would be important to me. However, I can't afford all this but I can write about things like this in my novels. I always dream big and my husband says I always want more than I have.
Putting all this into perspective, dreams like this don't work unless everyone can have it. It doesn't work out when a few can have and the majority can't. It would be nice if everyone can have the perfect home of their dreams. That is what I wish for everyone.
When I was very young, probably in the 5 to 8 age range, I used to listen to a recording of a book about a statue of a prince who had jewels and gold leaves all over. A bird--a swallow sat on his shoulder. As the prince heard or saw great need around him, he would tell the swallow, pretty swallow, to take the gold leaf and other valuable ornaments off him to give to the poor. Even the jewels for his eyes were given to the poor so the swallow became his eyes. Slowly, the statue of the prince was reduced to barren stone. After that the swallow died from the cold, the heart inside the statue of the prince cracked.
Putting all this into perspective, dreams like this don't work unless everyone can have it. It doesn't work out when a few can have and the majority can't. It would be nice if everyone can have the perfect home of their dreams. That is what I wish for everyone.
When I was very young, probably in the 5 to 8 age range, I used to listen to a recording of a book about a statue of a prince who had jewels and gold leaves all over. A bird--a swallow sat on his shoulder. As the prince heard or saw great need around him, he would tell the swallow, pretty swallow, to take the gold leaf and other valuable ornaments off him to give to the poor. Even the jewels for his eyes were given to the poor so the swallow became his eyes. Slowly, the statue of the prince was reduced to barren stone. After that the swallow died from the cold, the heart inside the statue of the prince cracked.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Alsea Library
I volunteered at the Alsea Library on Wednesday morning. I had been asked to come to the library to help people with word processing or work on their resumes. I was surprised and pleased to see a nice poster on the front door saying that I would come on Wednesday mornings and that I would also help anyone interested in writing a novel. That was nice of the librarian to write.
Mary Rounds, the librarian for the Alsea Library is the one who asked me and put up the poster.
She made me feel welcome by doing so. Although no one was interested in my help on Wednesday, I asked to help around the library since I was there. I shredded papers and straightened the juvenile section. I had a great time dressing the books.
While I was on the floor, I found Junie B. Jones on the bottom shelf. She isn't happy one bit for she wants to be noticed and read. She is clammering for attention. [At the risk of disappointing those who always want to think the worst of me...No, I don't hear or see things that aren't there. I just have a rich imagination, as do all writers.]
I was also happy to find a book by Judy Cox, a children's author who lives in eastern Oregon and who taught a class I attended about writing for children. She's such a nice person and talented writer.
One thing that is wonderful about a library is that unlike most groups in a community, all these books sit side by side with many differing points of view and they get along. They don't throw each other off the shelf, try to hurt one another, or say mean things. They coexist. What a wonderful example of respect for all. I have always loved the library and being around books. Books are comforting to me and in them are words of wisdom, great thoughts, and adventures to experience. I believe it is important to read many different points of view, think about it, and then come to your own conclusion.
Mary Rounds, the librarian for the Alsea Library is the one who asked me and put up the poster.
She made me feel welcome by doing so. Although no one was interested in my help on Wednesday, I asked to help around the library since I was there. I shredded papers and straightened the juvenile section. I had a great time dressing the books.
While I was on the floor, I found Junie B. Jones on the bottom shelf. She isn't happy one bit for she wants to be noticed and read. She is clammering for attention. [At the risk of disappointing those who always want to think the worst of me...No, I don't hear or see things that aren't there. I just have a rich imagination, as do all writers.]
I was also happy to find a book by Judy Cox, a children's author who lives in eastern Oregon and who taught a class I attended about writing for children. She's such a nice person and talented writer.
One thing that is wonderful about a library is that unlike most groups in a community, all these books sit side by side with many differing points of view and they get along. They don't throw each other off the shelf, try to hurt one another, or say mean things. They coexist. What a wonderful example of respect for all. I have always loved the library and being around books. Books are comforting to me and in them are words of wisdom, great thoughts, and adventures to experience. I believe it is important to read many different points of view, think about it, and then come to your own conclusion.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Amazon Breakthrough Novelist Award Contest
I'm so disappointed! I am more than disappointed, I am devastated. I missed the deadline for the Amazon Breakthrough Novelist Award Contest open to participants of National Novel Writing Month last November who completed the challenge of writing the first draft of a novel in a month. Guess who is one of the judges? Sue Grafton--my favorite mystery writer. She won't be the judge next year.
I kept putting it on my list to check the date. I shouldn't think about anything else in life other than writing. I need a large writing calendar from Office Max. I put it on the grocery list but it never found its way home. I need to close myself off to the world and not surface until I get my writing done for the day. I need to cocoon myself. Maybe I shouldn't do anything else but work on my writing assignments and read.
When I told my husband, he smiled. What kind of husband smiles at his wife's disappointment? We've been married for almost 37 years. I'm tired of his daily medical drama.
Damn it! I can't let this happen again. It has been happening too much to me through the years. I've been waiting for this opportunity. Maybe I wouldn't have made it but I wanted to try. I keep slipping through the cracks. I don't have money to go to all the wonderful writing workshops offered through Willamette Writers. Every year I want to go to the screenwriting workshop offered by the President of Willamette Writers, the amazing and talented Cynthia Whitcomb but every year it goes by without my having the money to attend. I'm tired of it.
The answer is that the only one I can control is myself. I have to recommit to my daily writing schedule and let nothing come in conflict with it. I can't worry about the kids in Alsea not having a school lunch program. I can't worry about loading manure on my garden. I can't worry about my health. I can't worry about anything until I get my writing done for the day. I love getting up early and going to bed early. I got up at 5 this morning. I am scheduled to help people at the library in Alsea today learn how to use the word processor and write their resumes. I shouldn't be volunteering until I have my own life going smoothly and until I have enough money for some breathing room. I need to reassess and reevaluate.
Yesterday my neighbor, Nancy was kind enough to have manure brought over into my garden. It was a wonderful gift and I'm grateful. I hid away in the office to work on finishing the third revision of my nano novel and I fell asleep. I'm a human being who tries hard every day to do her best and I seem to fail miserably. All I can do is recommit to my daily schedule and try harder tomorrow. That's all I can do. All I can do is to keep trying and never give up.
What I need is interactive writing software that is plugged into Writers Market that not only encourages, inspires, gives writing prompts, keeps track of writing and reading, but tells me which when writing deadlines are coming and alerts to possible writing markets that might want my writing. This is what I need but I would also need the money to pay for it.
I kept putting it on my list to check the date. I shouldn't think about anything else in life other than writing. I need a large writing calendar from Office Max. I put it on the grocery list but it never found its way home. I need to close myself off to the world and not surface until I get my writing done for the day. I need to cocoon myself. Maybe I shouldn't do anything else but work on my writing assignments and read.
When I told my husband, he smiled. What kind of husband smiles at his wife's disappointment? We've been married for almost 37 years. I'm tired of his daily medical drama.
Damn it! I can't let this happen again. It has been happening too much to me through the years. I've been waiting for this opportunity. Maybe I wouldn't have made it but I wanted to try. I keep slipping through the cracks. I don't have money to go to all the wonderful writing workshops offered through Willamette Writers. Every year I want to go to the screenwriting workshop offered by the President of Willamette Writers, the amazing and talented Cynthia Whitcomb but every year it goes by without my having the money to attend. I'm tired of it.
The answer is that the only one I can control is myself. I have to recommit to my daily writing schedule and let nothing come in conflict with it. I can't worry about the kids in Alsea not having a school lunch program. I can't worry about loading manure on my garden. I can't worry about my health. I can't worry about anything until I get my writing done for the day. I love getting up early and going to bed early. I got up at 5 this morning. I am scheduled to help people at the library in Alsea today learn how to use the word processor and write their resumes. I shouldn't be volunteering until I have my own life going smoothly and until I have enough money for some breathing room. I need to reassess and reevaluate.
Yesterday my neighbor, Nancy was kind enough to have manure brought over into my garden. It was a wonderful gift and I'm grateful. I hid away in the office to work on finishing the third revision of my nano novel and I fell asleep. I'm a human being who tries hard every day to do her best and I seem to fail miserably. All I can do is recommit to my daily schedule and try harder tomorrow. That's all I can do. All I can do is to keep trying and never give up.
What I need is interactive writing software that is plugged into Writers Market that not only encourages, inspires, gives writing prompts, keeps track of writing and reading, but tells me which when writing deadlines are coming and alerts to possible writing markets that might want my writing. This is what I need but I would also need the money to pay for it.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Joel Osteen
I've been watching Joel Osteen on ABC Family Television for several months every week on Sunday night or when I get around to watching it during the week. I like him because he's positive and he smiles. He inspires, and uplifts. He should be on daily, in my opinion. He always says at the end that those who watch should join a good Bible based church but it is hard to duplicate the enthusiasm of Joel and his positive messages. He's rare. I'll continue watching him. I'd love to live in Houston and have the opportunity to go to his church every Sunday but I don't have the money to do that.
Here's his website: http://www.joelosteen.com/
I do think he needs to have someone work on his website. It doesn't fit him. It should be filled with streaming videos of his positive message clips that changes at least weekly. There should be a way to find all the archive of messages he has given in the past. It should have colors other than a somber brown.
Most ministers in church look as though it is the last place they want to be with their serious and ominous faces. I remember thinking just this when I went to the Episcopal Church in Corvallis and wondered why no one was smiling. I thought if it were me, I would be smiling with a huge grin because I was in God's House and doing his work. I was thinking that it's like the spiritual Disneyland for ministers to be in church. Most of the ministers I have seen through the years act as if it is the last place on earth they want to be. I've also been disappointed to see in the examples of many who seem to care more about the money coming in than making sure that the people who walk through the door are treated with kindness and friendship. I remember discussing this issue with my Aunt in Montana who has passed away. She said that many ministers are "mama made preachers." I had never heard that before and asked her about it. She said that not all ministers are there on Sunday because they chose to be but were pressured by their mothers to go into the ministry.
Maybe that is what happened to a minister who recently committed suicide. Maybe he was pressured into a life that he didn't want. If you make this kind of choice, obviously the religion didn't have the meaning for him that it should have had. It also says that the community in which he lived and all who knew him ignored his unhappiness and sadness. I guess it is rare these days for people to reach out in kindness to others. Sometimes it is the simple acts of kindness that help get others through the day. A smile here and there can heal hearts and make a day easier for others.
My husband, Leslie says that religion takes advantage of people's fear and enslaves the mind and spirit. He says that religion encourages people to follow in lock step and obey. Les is anti-religion after our experience with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I don't blame him. In many ways I agree after seeing the poor example of many leaders in churches. Maybe he's right that religion is just a big lie to control people.
Here's his website: http://www.joelosteen.com/
I do think he needs to have someone work on his website. It doesn't fit him. It should be filled with streaming videos of his positive message clips that changes at least weekly. There should be a way to find all the archive of messages he has given in the past. It should have colors other than a somber brown.
Most ministers in church look as though it is the last place they want to be with their serious and ominous faces. I remember thinking just this when I went to the Episcopal Church in Corvallis and wondered why no one was smiling. I thought if it were me, I would be smiling with a huge grin because I was in God's House and doing his work. I was thinking that it's like the spiritual Disneyland for ministers to be in church. Most of the ministers I have seen through the years act as if it is the last place on earth they want to be. I've also been disappointed to see in the examples of many who seem to care more about the money coming in than making sure that the people who walk through the door are treated with kindness and friendship. I remember discussing this issue with my Aunt in Montana who has passed away. She said that many ministers are "mama made preachers." I had never heard that before and asked her about it. She said that not all ministers are there on Sunday because they chose to be but were pressured by their mothers to go into the ministry.
Maybe that is what happened to a minister who recently committed suicide. Maybe he was pressured into a life that he didn't want. If you make this kind of choice, obviously the religion didn't have the meaning for him that it should have had. It also says that the community in which he lived and all who knew him ignored his unhappiness and sadness. I guess it is rare these days for people to reach out in kindness to others. Sometimes it is the simple acts of kindness that help get others through the day. A smile here and there can heal hearts and make a day easier for others.
My husband, Leslie says that religion takes advantage of people's fear and enslaves the mind and spirit. He says that religion encourages people to follow in lock step and obey. Les is anti-religion after our experience with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I don't blame him. In many ways I agree after seeing the poor example of many leaders in churches. Maybe he's right that religion is just a big lie to control people.
Michael Phelps
After becoming an Olympic Hero in Beijing, I was so disappointed to hear in the news that Michael Phelps decided he needed to experiment with drugs. Leaders, sports heroes, and all in the public eye need to hold themselves to a higher standard and to be the example for others. I'll bet his mother gave it to him for his antics. I bet that's how his ears grew straight out--from his mother pulling on them. I want to pull them myself. Shame on him.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Signe Danler
Signe Danler is a realtor for ReMax in Corvallis. She's amazing, brilliant, nice, and goes out of her way to help people. I met her in Master Gardening in Corvallis.
She does a lot of volunteer work for Master Gardening. Once when I drove up to the library in Corvallis, she was busy working on the flowers in the park across the street. She helped to organize the last Master Gardening event in Corvallis. Once a few years ago, I was invited to tour gardens with her and others near Eugene, which was fun. She gave me a forsythia which is ready to bloom in my yard soon. I respect her and have high regard for her.
I called her on the phone recently to ask her about our property. She went out of her way to help me, spend time, and give me information even though it didn't mean a sale for her. That's what she is like. She goes out of her way to help people. She's smart, responsible, and is one of the best people I know.
I highly recommend her. If you are thinking of selling your home or have questions about your property, call Signe Danler. As far as I am concerned she's the best in the business.
Signe Danler, ABR, Ecobroker
Buyer Specialist with Samantha Alley's Home Team at ReMax Integrity
541-918-5047
signe@hometeamoregon.com
She's a proud member of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and her motto is "I listen. I care. I follow through...for YOU!"
It's true. She does care. Give her a call. She's terrific.
She does a lot of volunteer work for Master Gardening. Once when I drove up to the library in Corvallis, she was busy working on the flowers in the park across the street. She helped to organize the last Master Gardening event in Corvallis. Once a few years ago, I was invited to tour gardens with her and others near Eugene, which was fun. She gave me a forsythia which is ready to bloom in my yard soon. I respect her and have high regard for her.
I called her on the phone recently to ask her about our property. She went out of her way to help me, spend time, and give me information even though it didn't mean a sale for her. That's what she is like. She goes out of her way to help people. She's smart, responsible, and is one of the best people I know.
I highly recommend her. If you are thinking of selling your home or have questions about your property, call Signe Danler. As far as I am concerned she's the best in the business.
Signe Danler, ABR, Ecobroker
Buyer Specialist with Samantha Alley's Home Team at ReMax Integrity
541-918-5047
signe@hometeamoregon.com
She's a proud member of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and her motto is "I listen. I care. I follow through...for YOU!"
It's true. She does care. Give her a call. She's terrific.
Sicko
I watched Sicko the other day on television. It's a film by Michael Moore. It's a courageous film that tells the shocking truth about our health care system in the United States, or lack of it. He even goes to other countries to show what health care in other countries is like. It makes me want to move to Canada or England or Sweden or France.
I don't have health insurance and haven't for years. When you don't have health insurance, you feel as if no one cares and that you don't matter. You ignore symptoms. I've been trying to eat healthy, exercise, and take vitamins. I sure eat a lot healthier than my husband and exercise much more but I'm the one with the weight problem. Sometimes I worry whether I am ready to have a stroke. Sometimes I worry about my heart. I have had high blood pressure for years. A couple of months ago my blood pressure was 169. Thanks to my son, Benjamin, I've been checked at OHSU. Now I'm worried about my eyes. I have high pressure in my right eye. They don't know what it is. It could lead to blindness. OHSU will help me for some things but they aren't going to help me with anything major.
In other countries like Canada, everything is free. They don't have to wait. Doctors care about their patients and don't worry about the business end of trying to squeeze dollars out of every patient and double bill insurance companies. When I watched Sicko, I was sick. We don't treat people well in this country. I saw on the news how a big hospital in LA just drops patients off in the street who can't pay their bill even though they need urgent care. Is this really how people should be treated?
President Obama is coming to the rescue and is the only hope the United States of America has of turning things around so there is free health care for everyone. Those who have should pay and those who need should receive without question or guilt.
I don't have health insurance and haven't for years. When you don't have health insurance, you feel as if no one cares and that you don't matter. You ignore symptoms. I've been trying to eat healthy, exercise, and take vitamins. I sure eat a lot healthier than my husband and exercise much more but I'm the one with the weight problem. Sometimes I worry whether I am ready to have a stroke. Sometimes I worry about my heart. I have had high blood pressure for years. A couple of months ago my blood pressure was 169. Thanks to my son, Benjamin, I've been checked at OHSU. Now I'm worried about my eyes. I have high pressure in my right eye. They don't know what it is. It could lead to blindness. OHSU will help me for some things but they aren't going to help me with anything major.
In other countries like Canada, everything is free. They don't have to wait. Doctors care about their patients and don't worry about the business end of trying to squeeze dollars out of every patient and double bill insurance companies. When I watched Sicko, I was sick. We don't treat people well in this country. I saw on the news how a big hospital in LA just drops patients off in the street who can't pay their bill even though they need urgent care. Is this really how people should be treated?
President Obama is coming to the rescue and is the only hope the United States of America has of turning things around so there is free health care for everyone. Those who have should pay and those who need should receive without question or guilt.
President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama is as perfect a President as they come. I have never felt about a President the way I feel about President Obama. He's doing everything he can to get this nation working again and back on track. The economic devastation that we just went through will not be easy to fix.
Republicans aren't doing anything to help from what I'm hearing on the news. They're concerned about being Republicans first and don't care about this country. I think the Republican party stands for greed and selfish interest. It makes me feel sad that Republicans don't care about this country and justify what has been done for the last eight years.
President Obama is the President for all Americans, no matter what color, economic background, or opinion. He cares about everyone and he works to help make this a better United States for all of us. I believe in him and I know he will make a difference.
Republicans aren't doing anything to help from what I'm hearing on the news. They're concerned about being Republicans first and don't care about this country. I think the Republican party stands for greed and selfish interest. It makes me feel sad that Republicans don't care about this country and justify what has been done for the last eight years.
President Obama is the President for all Americans, no matter what color, economic background, or opinion. He cares about everyone and he works to help make this a better United States for all of us. I believe in him and I know he will make a difference.
Kath and Kim
Kath and Kim is a new sitcom on NBC that I started watching last fall. I love it. It's cute, fun, and addictive.
Anna Rose
Anna Rose Haber is my newest granddaughter who was born on February 11th at 8:49 p.m in Seattle. She was 7 pounds and 2 ounces and 18 inches long. She has cute dimples like her beautiful mother, Amanda and long skinny legs and long skinny feet like her father, Benjamin, who is a runner. She sounds perfect to me. She's healthy and on her first night she slept 7 1/2 hours.
I'm excited to see her, hold her, and tell Anna that her Grandma loves her.
I'm excited to see her, hold her, and tell Anna that her Grandma loves her.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Oregon Legislature
Yesterday on the front page of the Corvallis Gazette Times is an article with a headline that reads "Salem seeks input on state cuts." I was thinking that I wanted to testify since I was planning on staying with my daughter, Gretchen and her family on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. I thought it would be fun since I have always wanted to testify before the Oregon Legislature and I have something to say.
I even wrote a speech in large type to take with me. A short one since I figure they only allow a couple of minutes of testimony per individual.
Here's what I wrote:
I am very happy to be here. [I would smile very big and wave.]
All of you in this room care about Oregon and the people who live in Oregon. I came here today to ask you to think about your financial choices in a different way and ask that you show with your choices that you value the people of Oregon.
The last few months has shown what greed can do to business, our economy, and our country. President Obama is working hard to lead this nation to give hope to all Americans and to heal our country.
The most important resource we have in Oregon is our people. If you make the choice to invest in people, to show you care about the people in Oregon with services that provide support, there is no limit to the greatness Oregon can achieve.
Taking away services, takes away hope. All Oregonians should have the opportunity to have a quality education. All Oregonians should have the opportunity to receive health care and services that help them. All Oregonians who are unable to protect themselves, like children and the elderly, must be taken care of and protected. Public safety is also an essential service.
I came here to ask that you get to the root cause of the problem by putting a cap on greed. I ask that you encourage new businesses in Oregon who agree to pay their fair share in tax dollars. I ask that you find ways and incentives to encourage old business in Oregon to start paying their fair share and shoulder the burden. I implore you to put a cap on salaries and freeze salaries until Oregon is in a healthier place. I implore you to follow and support President Obama by taxing the people of Oregon who earn more than $250,000 a year.
These are the places where you should be digging for money for the budget of Oregon, not by cutting services.
I implore you to show that you value the people of Oregon and set a precedent that leads the nation to a better tomorrow for all Americans.
This morning when I got up, I was thinking of a better idea to add but since I am not going to be able to go and speak to the legislature, I'll add it here. [My daughter is very sick. She called last night. She got a really bad cold after traveling to a conference in Texas. She needs to see a doctor. I'm worried about her. Gretchen is amazing, brilliant, and works hard to help people in her position as Executive Director of Liberty House so she needs to be healthy so she can continue to be a great mother and make a difference in Salem.]
I was thinking that all businesses who want to commit to a better Oregon and a better United States by paying their fair share of taxes instead of avoiding them could have a special sign that is posted that says Oregon Fair Share Business 2009. This sign is put up each year after the business has paid their fair share of taxes to help Oregon and help out President Obama. I think this is a great idea since right now businesses are into greed and avoiding taxes and don't want to be responsible for services or help out our nation. I know I would shop first at a Oregon Fair Share Business who is paying taxes to support the people of Oregon.
I learned after talking to Gretchen that her husband, Chris Bennett just got straight A's and is on the Dean's List for his online bachelor's degree that he's working on. I was very proud to hear that and even prouder when he said that he was planning on going to law school to become an attorney and wants to work in the DA's office in Salem. I'm very proud of him.
I even wrote a speech in large type to take with me. A short one since I figure they only allow a couple of minutes of testimony per individual.
Here's what I wrote:
I am very happy to be here. [I would smile very big and wave.]
All of you in this room care about Oregon and the people who live in Oregon. I came here today to ask you to think about your financial choices in a different way and ask that you show with your choices that you value the people of Oregon.
The last few months has shown what greed can do to business, our economy, and our country. President Obama is working hard to lead this nation to give hope to all Americans and to heal our country.
The most important resource we have in Oregon is our people. If you make the choice to invest in people, to show you care about the people in Oregon with services that provide support, there is no limit to the greatness Oregon can achieve.
Taking away services, takes away hope. All Oregonians should have the opportunity to have a quality education. All Oregonians should have the opportunity to receive health care and services that help them. All Oregonians who are unable to protect themselves, like children and the elderly, must be taken care of and protected. Public safety is also an essential service.
I came here to ask that you get to the root cause of the problem by putting a cap on greed. I ask that you encourage new businesses in Oregon who agree to pay their fair share in tax dollars. I ask that you find ways and incentives to encourage old business in Oregon to start paying their fair share and shoulder the burden. I implore you to put a cap on salaries and freeze salaries until Oregon is in a healthier place. I implore you to follow and support President Obama by taxing the people of Oregon who earn more than $250,000 a year.
These are the places where you should be digging for money for the budget of Oregon, not by cutting services.
I implore you to show that you value the people of Oregon and set a precedent that leads the nation to a better tomorrow for all Americans.
This morning when I got up, I was thinking of a better idea to add but since I am not going to be able to go and speak to the legislature, I'll add it here. [My daughter is very sick. She called last night. She got a really bad cold after traveling to a conference in Texas. She needs to see a doctor. I'm worried about her. Gretchen is amazing, brilliant, and works hard to help people in her position as Executive Director of Liberty House so she needs to be healthy so she can continue to be a great mother and make a difference in Salem.]
I was thinking that all businesses who want to commit to a better Oregon and a better United States by paying their fair share of taxes instead of avoiding them could have a special sign that is posted that says Oregon Fair Share Business 2009. This sign is put up each year after the business has paid their fair share of taxes to help Oregon and help out President Obama. I think this is a great idea since right now businesses are into greed and avoiding taxes and don't want to be responsible for services or help out our nation. I know I would shop first at a Oregon Fair Share Business who is paying taxes to support the people of Oregon.
I learned after talking to Gretchen that her husband, Chris Bennett just got straight A's and is on the Dean's List for his online bachelor's degree that he's working on. I was very proud to hear that and even prouder when he said that he was planning on going to law school to become an attorney and wants to work in the DA's office in Salem. I'm very proud of him.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
OHSU
On Monday I drove to Oregon Health Sciences University to see Dr. Lombardi at the Casey Eye Institute to check my cataracts that I was told I had years ago. I found out that I have high pressure in my right eye that they are concerned about that may require surgery. My left eye shows scarring of the retina. I remember when that happened. I was under severe stress and had high blood pressure at the time. I had a sea of floaters in my field of vision and was checked by a great doctor at Peace Health in Eugene who was very concerned about my vision. I learned that it is possible I have glaucoma. It seems like cataracts are the least of my problem at the moment. I could end up blind, which would cause a drastic change in my life so I couldn't see the beauty that surrounds me, or the birds, or the trees, or the words on the page of great books, or the words on my computer screen that I write.
Jeanine checked me before seeing Dr. Lombardi and she was the one who alerted Dr. Lombardi to the high pressure in my right eye. She is meticulous and careful and a nice person.
Karl took digital photos of my eyes afterwards and was great about explaining what was in the photos. He's a great guy who is professional and cares about doing an excellent job.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to be seen at OHSU where there is cutting edge research in all areas of medicine and the doctors care about helping their patients.
Jeanine checked me before seeing Dr. Lombardi and she was the one who alerted Dr. Lombardi to the high pressure in my right eye. She is meticulous and careful and a nice person.
Karl took digital photos of my eyes afterwards and was great about explaining what was in the photos. He's a great guy who is professional and cares about doing an excellent job.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to be seen at OHSU where there is cutting edge research in all areas of medicine and the doctors care about helping their patients.
Dr. Chad Hagen
Dr. Chad Hagen of Oregon Health Sciences University has been a real medical hero for my husband in helping him with his severe case of sleep apnea. My husband, Leslie has suffered his entire life without sleep. He was tested and they found that during a one hour period, he woke up an average of 80 times. It is believed that my husband has never slept. Les has always slept a lot less than normal--only 2 to 4 hours a night and even this time wasn't in restorative sleep.
Dr. Hagen has been instrumental in helping my husband with a machine that now helps him sleep an average of 6 hours on his best days. He sleeps 3 to 4 hours most nights but this sleep is the best quality of sleep his body has ever experienced. My husband had to get a higher pressure level machine so that the air pressure reaches 21 to 25 during sleep.
I am grateful to Dr. Hagen and OHSU for their help at a time when many doctors and hospitals care more about the bottom line than the people they are supposed to help.
Brenda Kaye, Dr. Hagen's assistant who calls my husband on the phone to ask about his sleep has been so nice to Les. She's always positive and upbeat.
Dr. Hagen has been instrumental in helping my husband with a machine that now helps him sleep an average of 6 hours on his best days. He sleeps 3 to 4 hours most nights but this sleep is the best quality of sleep his body has ever experienced. My husband had to get a higher pressure level machine so that the air pressure reaches 21 to 25 during sleep.
I am grateful to Dr. Hagen and OHSU for their help at a time when many doctors and hospitals care more about the bottom line than the people they are supposed to help.
Brenda Kaye, Dr. Hagen's assistant who calls my husband on the phone to ask about his sleep has been so nice to Les. She's always positive and upbeat.
Stimulus Package
I just made two phone calls to Washington D.C. to urge Senators Merkley and Wyden to please pass President Obama's stimulus package.
I am outraged that Republicans would be more concerned about being loyal to the Republican Party, to greed, and to all that caused the economic devastation in the last few months than to support what is best for the United States of America and for all people. It makes me feel like the Republicans only care about the rich, themselves, and they don't care about ethics and responsible behavior. I am livid. I would never vote for a Republican again. I think that the Republican Party should be held accountable for the havoc they have caused and individuals should be held responsible for the great rape and theft of our economic system.
I am outraged that Republicans would be more concerned about being loyal to the Republican Party, to greed, and to all that caused the economic devastation in the last few months than to support what is best for the United States of America and for all people. It makes me feel like the Republicans only care about the rich, themselves, and they don't care about ethics and responsible behavior. I am livid. I would never vote for a Republican again. I think that the Republican Party should be held accountable for the havoc they have caused and individuals should be held responsible for the great rape and theft of our economic system.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wii Fit
I'm back in business with Wii Fit. My replacement cord was delivered yesterday by UPS. Hurray! Now my life is better. It's amazing how important in such a short period of time Wii Fit has become in my life.
I used Wii Fit after I got it set up for a straight 57 minutes. The cool thing was that after I took the beginning tests, my Wii Fit age yesterday was 30. Here I am almost 61 years old and I was 30. That sure boosts your confidence and makes you feel good. I feel very young inside. I created seven new records yesterday. I'm doing best in Yoga, which is odd since I've never taken a yoga class since you bend all up like a pretzel.
I always do several exercises in all four areas during the day--yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance. My favorite thing to do is ski slalom. I'm half Swedish so I feel like I was born to ski even though I have never skiied in my life. It sure feels like it is close to what it must be like as I zoom through the flags and speed up in the areas where I know what's coming up. I love it.
I'm back in business. Life is good. After I get off the computer and check my e-mail, I will Wii Fit. I will have coffee with my husband, Leslie and play a game of Canasta to 5,000 points. Then I will work on revising my novel for several hours and then read in the evening. A perfect day.
I used Wii Fit after I got it set up for a straight 57 minutes. The cool thing was that after I took the beginning tests, my Wii Fit age yesterday was 30. Here I am almost 61 years old and I was 30. That sure boosts your confidence and makes you feel good. I feel very young inside. I created seven new records yesterday. I'm doing best in Yoga, which is odd since I've never taken a yoga class since you bend all up like a pretzel.
I always do several exercises in all four areas during the day--yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance. My favorite thing to do is ski slalom. I'm half Swedish so I feel like I was born to ski even though I have never skiied in my life. It sure feels like it is close to what it must be like as I zoom through the flags and speed up in the areas where I know what's coming up. I love it.
I'm back in business. Life is good. After I get off the computer and check my e-mail, I will Wii Fit. I will have coffee with my husband, Leslie and play a game of Canasta to 5,000 points. Then I will work on revising my novel for several hours and then read in the evening. A perfect day.
Super Bowl
As I turned on my computer and my home page downloaded, I saw mention that an ad for the Super Bowl was rejected. I sent in an idea for a Super Bowl ad that I thought was great a few years ago. I should have run it by Donny Deutsch, the marketing genius first, if I had the opportunity. My idea for the Super Bowl is for both opposing teams to run onto the field from opposite ends. Just as they get onto the field, they tear off their uniforms to reveal Super Hero garb underneath. As they fly around and show their Super Hero powers, the commercial ends. Isn't that what men who sit and watch the Super Bowl think about their team? I think so.
I'm really not a football fan, unless it is the Chicago Bears and Mike Ditka. I've discouraged my sons from playing football even though Daniel was great at football. He went to football camp. His coach wanted him to play varsity as a sophomore because he was fearless and strong. I sat him down to read the article in Muscle and Fitness by Emmett Smith that said that being a professional football player was like getting hit by a freight train each time you go on the field. Daniel is brilliant so I wanted him to see that he was so much more than football. After his coach at North Salem High School wanted him to live and breathe football 24 hours a day with nothing else in his life, Daniel made the decision to quit on his own. Football causes brain injury. Just ask Mike Ditka and listen to the disabled voices of past football giants who played professional ball.
I'm really not a football fan, unless it is the Chicago Bears and Mike Ditka. I've discouraged my sons from playing football even though Daniel was great at football. He went to football camp. His coach wanted him to play varsity as a sophomore because he was fearless and strong. I sat him down to read the article in Muscle and Fitness by Emmett Smith that said that being a professional football player was like getting hit by a freight train each time you go on the field. Daniel is brilliant so I wanted him to see that he was so much more than football. After his coach at North Salem High School wanted him to live and breathe football 24 hours a day with nothing else in his life, Daniel made the decision to quit on his own. Football causes brain injury. Just ask Mike Ditka and listen to the disabled voices of past football giants who played professional ball.
Madison
Yesterday I went to the post office in Alsea and there was Madison. The last time I went to the post office, Madison was there too where I met her for the first time. She's five years old and ready to start kindergarten. She's ready to learn, ready to soar. She's not afraid. She's confident and wants to be helpful. For the last two times at the post office, Madison has helped me get my mail out of my box so I gave her a quarter each time. She smiles. She's nice. How come five year olds are some of the best people on earth? I told her after she said thank you that she should read lots of books. I sure hope that she is given the best teachers who believe in her and see her ability and potential. I can see her being a successful CEO or a teacher or a doctor or an attorney or a national inspirational public speaker or anything she wants to be.
After leaving the post office, I went on to get a Diet Pepsi at John Boy's Mercantile. John walked by and said hi. He's always courteous and nice. He has a great son named Matt who just took over running the store. John is from the great state of Montana where I'm from. I was born in Libby. My neighbor George Foster who lives on land above me says that John is the unofficial Mayor of Alsea. I agree that John deserves the title because he's nice to everyone and he's smart. George Foster is nice too although he doesn't even wave hello. Maybe George's best friend Brian Leavitt has told him beware. Brian is a Mormon lover. He has family in Salt Lake. He fights to keep the federal lunch program out of the school even though I was told that over 50% of the kids would qualify. He even goes to Salem to lobby before the legislature to tell them Alsea doesn't want it or need it. He's the minister of the Church of Christ in Lobster Valley. He's the Fire Chief. He was the School Board President. He's actually a nice guy. I thought his church was the best one in the area and the one I wanted to attend but he said I wasn't welcome to come to his barbeque at his house after church. He didn't want me in church so I stopped going.
Then there is football man who lives down the street and teaches at the high school. This family also goes to the Church of Christ so he's friends with Leavitt. This family didn't like me after I ordered star of David candles from his daughter. So what does this mean? Does this mean that he's a Jew hater? I don't understand how anyone can go to church and hate anyone. When I went to Sunday School at the Lutheran Church growing up, I learned that Jews are God's Chosen People. God loves Jews best. So why do people in churches dislike and even hate Jews? Is it because they are smarter? Because they are superior? Because God loves Jews best of all over everyone else?
People are funny around here. We donated stuff to the school and didn't even receive a thank you. We gave a scanner to football man at the school. His name is Cowdery.
The best time I ever had at the school was playing my clarinet with their band. It was fun to be part of the band. I felt like a little kid again. I felt like I was one of them. They were all better than me but it was fun. I had plans to write a juvenile novel about the band. Maybe I still will. I used to come in just for band and then leave. One girl refused to play her clarinet as long as I played in the band so I quit. I was told by another woman that the band is for the kids and that I shouldn't come. I think that the school is a better place if you have lots of community members participating in classes. If someone wants to learn geometry at an older age, they should be allowed to come to class and learn, even if they are 55 years old. I submitted a grant request for the band and the school received $500 from the Clemens Foundation and now they don't have a band at the school which is sad.
After going to John Boys, I went into the library and picked up an audio book by Robin Cook, one of my favorite authors. I love listening to audio books as I follow along with the book. I do this when I want to escape into a book. It gives you the total experience so you can get lost in it and close out the world around you. Mary the librarian was unusually chatty for some reason. Then out in the parking lot was Ann the snot busy putting together flowers for someone. She never thinks I am worth talking to. She's the expert about everything having to do with children. She's probably best friends with Molly Mormon, Carol De Young.
When I walked into the library I saw one of the teachers at the Alsea School, Anna Moseur, if I remember her name correctly. I know she is a good person and is nice but she didn't wave or speak. Whatever.
I have a horrible habit of staring at people. I'm relentless. I look people up and down as if to memorize each article of clothing and so I can document each distinct detail. I call it TV eyes. It's really writer eyes or novel eyes. Sometimes I don't bother to look at all. Most of the time I just stay home and never leave. Most of the time my husband goes to the post office and picks up my books or gets my Diet Pepsi.
So out of all the people I saw as I make a quick sweep through the town of Alsea, do I have a friend who calls once in awhile, who wants to come to dinner, who wants to share dreams, who wants to go for coffee? No. I have zero friends. Just superficial relationships. That's it. No one thinks I am worth talking to or spending time with. No one wants to know how I think or why. No one wants to tell me what they think or share troubles. No one cares. So that's why I blog. Even if no one reads it. My blog listens to me.
If I put up a sign that said that I wanted to start some kind of program, no one would sign up or call to inquiry. That's what it's like around here. I was told when I first moved in at a Bible study group for the Alsea Christian Fellowship that if you don't fall into line in Alsea, you will be driven out. I've been alone my entire life so it doesn't matter if people talk or want to be my friend. My mother prepared me for all this. Bless her little heart. My mother wanted a clean house above all else so I had to stay in my room all the time so I wouldn't mess up her house. I grew up in my room alone so I am trained to be alone, to make up my own fun, to not need anyone. So be it. I have books. I have my perfect cat, Thomas. I have the opportunity to create stories and write. I have a garden. I have Wii Fit. I have birds that visit outside my window. When the weather warms up, I'll have my garden. What more can I ask for? I have it all.
After leaving the post office, I went on to get a Diet Pepsi at John Boy's Mercantile. John walked by and said hi. He's always courteous and nice. He has a great son named Matt who just took over running the store. John is from the great state of Montana where I'm from. I was born in Libby. My neighbor George Foster who lives on land above me says that John is the unofficial Mayor of Alsea. I agree that John deserves the title because he's nice to everyone and he's smart. George Foster is nice too although he doesn't even wave hello. Maybe George's best friend Brian Leavitt has told him beware. Brian is a Mormon lover. He has family in Salt Lake. He fights to keep the federal lunch program out of the school even though I was told that over 50% of the kids would qualify. He even goes to Salem to lobby before the legislature to tell them Alsea doesn't want it or need it. He's the minister of the Church of Christ in Lobster Valley. He's the Fire Chief. He was the School Board President. He's actually a nice guy. I thought his church was the best one in the area and the one I wanted to attend but he said I wasn't welcome to come to his barbeque at his house after church. He didn't want me in church so I stopped going.
Then there is football man who lives down the street and teaches at the high school. This family also goes to the Church of Christ so he's friends with Leavitt. This family didn't like me after I ordered star of David candles from his daughter. So what does this mean? Does this mean that he's a Jew hater? I don't understand how anyone can go to church and hate anyone. When I went to Sunday School at the Lutheran Church growing up, I learned that Jews are God's Chosen People. God loves Jews best. So why do people in churches dislike and even hate Jews? Is it because they are smarter? Because they are superior? Because God loves Jews best of all over everyone else?
People are funny around here. We donated stuff to the school and didn't even receive a thank you. We gave a scanner to football man at the school. His name is Cowdery.
The best time I ever had at the school was playing my clarinet with their band. It was fun to be part of the band. I felt like a little kid again. I felt like I was one of them. They were all better than me but it was fun. I had plans to write a juvenile novel about the band. Maybe I still will. I used to come in just for band and then leave. One girl refused to play her clarinet as long as I played in the band so I quit. I was told by another woman that the band is for the kids and that I shouldn't come. I think that the school is a better place if you have lots of community members participating in classes. If someone wants to learn geometry at an older age, they should be allowed to come to class and learn, even if they are 55 years old. I submitted a grant request for the band and the school received $500 from the Clemens Foundation and now they don't have a band at the school which is sad.
After going to John Boys, I went into the library and picked up an audio book by Robin Cook, one of my favorite authors. I love listening to audio books as I follow along with the book. I do this when I want to escape into a book. It gives you the total experience so you can get lost in it and close out the world around you. Mary the librarian was unusually chatty for some reason. Then out in the parking lot was Ann the snot busy putting together flowers for someone. She never thinks I am worth talking to. She's the expert about everything having to do with children. She's probably best friends with Molly Mormon, Carol De Young.
When I walked into the library I saw one of the teachers at the Alsea School, Anna Moseur, if I remember her name correctly. I know she is a good person and is nice but she didn't wave or speak. Whatever.
I have a horrible habit of staring at people. I'm relentless. I look people up and down as if to memorize each article of clothing and so I can document each distinct detail. I call it TV eyes. It's really writer eyes or novel eyes. Sometimes I don't bother to look at all. Most of the time I just stay home and never leave. Most of the time my husband goes to the post office and picks up my books or gets my Diet Pepsi.
So out of all the people I saw as I make a quick sweep through the town of Alsea, do I have a friend who calls once in awhile, who wants to come to dinner, who wants to share dreams, who wants to go for coffee? No. I have zero friends. Just superficial relationships. That's it. No one thinks I am worth talking to or spending time with. No one wants to know how I think or why. No one wants to tell me what they think or share troubles. No one cares. So that's why I blog. Even if no one reads it. My blog listens to me.
If I put up a sign that said that I wanted to start some kind of program, no one would sign up or call to inquiry. That's what it's like around here. I was told when I first moved in at a Bible study group for the Alsea Christian Fellowship that if you don't fall into line in Alsea, you will be driven out. I've been alone my entire life so it doesn't matter if people talk or want to be my friend. My mother prepared me for all this. Bless her little heart. My mother wanted a clean house above all else so I had to stay in my room all the time so I wouldn't mess up her house. I grew up in my room alone so I am trained to be alone, to make up my own fun, to not need anyone. So be it. I have books. I have my perfect cat, Thomas. I have the opportunity to create stories and write. I have a garden. I have Wii Fit. I have birds that visit outside my window. When the weather warms up, I'll have my garden. What more can I ask for? I have it all.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Wii Fit
My Wii Fit doesn't work right now. The cord is having problems connecting to my television so I miss my Wii Fit. I didn't know it would be so important to me in such a short time. I am so impressed with this software. It is interactive. It updates. It keeps track of your progress. It inspires. It encourages. It gives you more games, the more time you spend exercising. What gets me and what amazes me is that the wee little voice that seems so disappointed in my weight, actually gets to me and halts my eating during the day. I've lost close to 9 pounds in a week. I haven't been able to exercise in the last three days so I desperately await the arrival of UPS on Wednesday to bring the new cord for my Wii Fit so I can start up again. Wii Fit means health. It means fitness. It means hope for so many people who are isolated, alone, and who don't exercise much. It works.
Eric Maisel
Eric Maisel has written over 20 books and is well respected in the writing community. I've seen articles by and about him in The Writer and Writers Digest Magazine over the years. I have one of his books in my writing craft bookcase.
Dr. Maisel is a psychotherapist and has a weekly e-mail that he sends out on creativity for writers and artists. www.ericmaisel.com I find it interesting, inspiring, and helpful.
His new book, The Atheist's Way is on sale now at www.amazon.com. Whether you are religious, questioning, or just want to learn how about different philosophies, you will find insight into the atheists way by reading his book.
People have a right to their own opinion and to express it. To stop dissent, debate, and a difference of opinion goes against everything this country stands for. Right now there is pressure to suppress the liberal media. It concerns me because only in a free society can debate flourish. I sincerely hope that President Obama will do something to safeguard freedom of the press and the right to free debate of issues and ideas.
Dr. Maisel is a psychotherapist and has a weekly e-mail that he sends out on creativity for writers and artists. www.ericmaisel.com I find it interesting, inspiring, and helpful.
His new book, The Atheist's Way is on sale now at www.amazon.com. Whether you are religious, questioning, or just want to learn how about different philosophies, you will find insight into the atheists way by reading his book.
People have a right to their own opinion and to express it. To stop dissent, debate, and a difference of opinion goes against everything this country stands for. Right now there is pressure to suppress the liberal media. It concerns me because only in a free society can debate flourish. I sincerely hope that President Obama will do something to safeguard freedom of the press and the right to free debate of issues and ideas.
Writing
I am busy with the revision on my novel I wrote during the month of November during National Novel Writing Month. www.nanowrimo.org
This is the writing project that I am deeply connected to right now. I'm having fun with it and have written for several hours today revising, thinking, changing, wondering, and figuring out answers to problems. I love the process of writing but writing is very lonely.
I was thinking today that I would like to work with a software gamer to work on a writing software program like Wii Fit that is interactive, that gives writing tips, that keeps track of your writing, that encourages, inspires, and claps for you. Wii Fit works for me and I know that if I had a writing program on my computer that was interactive just like Wii Fit, it would work for me.
This is the writing project that I am deeply connected to right now. I'm having fun with it and have written for several hours today revising, thinking, changing, wondering, and figuring out answers to problems. I love the process of writing but writing is very lonely.
I was thinking today that I would like to work with a software gamer to work on a writing software program like Wii Fit that is interactive, that gives writing tips, that keeps track of your writing, that encourages, inspires, and claps for you. Wii Fit works for me and I know that if I had a writing program on my computer that was interactive just like Wii Fit, it would work for me.
A Quote
"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
--Edmund Burke 1729-1797
British politician
--Edmund Burke 1729-1797
British politician
Dreams
I wonder what the future brings. Is hard work going to be rewarded or will all my efforts be stomped into the ground and not allowed fruition as in the past?
Should I just stay home and give up? Should I quietly live out my life out in the middle of no where reading the books that I want to read, write what may never be published, and enjoy my garden and the birds that visit?
Should I just stay home and give up? Should I quietly live out my life out in the middle of no where reading the books that I want to read, write what may never be published, and enjoy my garden and the birds that visit?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
OHSU
I drove to Portland this morning to the OHSU clinic at Gabriel Park to get my stitches out. I had a large mole removed requiring several stitches. Janice was the nurse who helped me. She's so nice. I really enjoyed talking to her even though I wasn't with her very long. She said that the area healed and she was able to remove the stitches. I think they need to clone her. I wish I had at least ten friends like her. Everyone is nice at OHSU.
Financial Fitness
I signed up for a free class on financial fitness with Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services in Corvallis before I take a course on starting your own business with Linn-Benton Micro Business in March learning how to create a business plan. I am excited to learn.
My husband, Leslie of over 36 years has always handled all the money so I am not financially fit. He does it all and loves to shop. These classes should help me and I look forward to learning and growing in this area. Yes, I listen to business network shows on MSNBC, I read business magazines like Money, Forbes, and Fortune, and I enjoy reading the Wall Street Journal but I still have a lot to learn. I have thought of getting a MBA with an online school to learn project management.
My husband, Leslie of over 36 years has always handled all the money so I am not financially fit. He does it all and loves to shop. These classes should help me and I look forward to learning and growing in this area. Yes, I listen to business network shows on MSNBC, I read business magazines like Money, Forbes, and Fortune, and I enjoy reading the Wall Street Journal but I still have a lot to learn. I have thought of getting a MBA with an online school to learn project management.
The Bucket List
I saw the Bucket List yesterday. I had it saved from the free HBO weekend. This Rob Reiner film is now one of my favorite films starring three of my favorite actors--Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, and Sean Hayes.
It makes me feel the need to create my own bucket list and to not waste time on anything that isn't important to me, of value, or worth learning about.
It makes me feel the need to create my own bucket list and to not waste time on anything that isn't important to me, of value, or worth learning about.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Inauguration
I watched the inauguration of President Obama this morning. President Obama is the hope of all people of the United States and the world for a better America. It isn't going to be easy. The economic state of our nation is at its worst and there are more challenging circumstances in the world than ever before. I heard one news commentator say that "today pigs can fly." Yes, indeed. President Obama is a President of the people, all people.
I believe in President Barack Obama. He has my complete confidence. There is hope for America now. We will heal and come together to work hard for a better country. Everyone must be given a chance for a bright future. All citizens must be valued.
Since many of the rich in power made the choice to steal, hard decisions will have to be made. Business must pay their fair share. The rich need to pay taxes. The elderly and children must be protected. Education must be a right for all, not just the few with money. There must be health care for everyone and not just those with insurance. People must be held accountable.
I believe that many opportunities will be possible as our nation heals and after President Obama has had the chance to make needed changes.
I believe in President Barack Obama. He has my complete confidence. There is hope for America now. We will heal and come together to work hard for a better country. Everyone must be given a chance for a bright future. All citizens must be valued.
Since many of the rich in power made the choice to steal, hard decisions will have to be made. Business must pay their fair share. The rich need to pay taxes. The elderly and children must be protected. Education must be a right for all, not just the few with money. There must be health care for everyone and not just those with insurance. People must be held accountable.
I believe that many opportunities will be possible as our nation heals and after President Obama has had the chance to make needed changes.
Flight 1549
U.S. Airways flight 1549 went down in the Hudson River in New York last Thursday. Two geese took out an airplane and caused it to go down. Statistics given in the Corvallis Gazette Times say that from 1990 to 2007, there have been nearly 80,000 reported incidents of bird strikes on non-military aircraft.
When I first heard about bird strikes a couple of years ago and how birds can take out an engine, I could not understand why something hasn't been done to prevent this from happening since the results can be so deadly. There should be a cover over the engine so that a bird cannot enter. Just because something hasn't been done in the past, doesn't mean that someone can't come up with a great solution to the problem made out of light weight material to protect the engines of aircraft.
When I first heard about bird strikes a couple of years ago and how birds can take out an engine, I could not understand why something hasn't been done to prevent this from happening since the results can be so deadly. There should be a cover over the engine so that a bird cannot enter. Just because something hasn't been done in the past, doesn't mean that someone can't come up with a great solution to the problem made out of light weight material to protect the engines of aircraft.
National Day of Service
Yesterday was National Day of Service and I helped out for a couple of hours to help get donations of food and money for the Food Bank in Alsea located at the Alsea Christian Fellowship Church. I had a few questions about the program so I visited the Food Bank personally before I volunteered and received the tour from Pastor Bill Smith. Most of the food comes from the government such as beans, rice, canned vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, flour, etc. U.S.D.A. is stamped on the boxes. I learned that when a family comes in need to the Food Bank, they will receive a box of food that will last them about three days. Usually these families also use food stamps to help them the rest of the month.
People were generous as I was sitting at a table in the front at John Boy's Mercantile with money and cans of food.
The most fun was talking to a student and his mother who were also volunteering with this effort. The high school student, Connor is obviously bright and creative. It was fun to learn from him about using water colors. It made me sad though when I thought of how much I have wanted my life to be filled with students so that I could help them reach for their dreams.
People were generous as I was sitting at a table in the front at John Boy's Mercantile with money and cans of food.
The most fun was talking to a student and his mother who were also volunteering with this effort. The high school student, Connor is obviously bright and creative. It was fun to learn from him about using water colors. It made me sad though when I thought of how much I have wanted my life to be filled with students so that I could help them reach for their dreams.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Brothers and Sisters
One of my favorite television shows is Brothers and Sisters on ABC starring Sally Field and Calista Flockhart who are my favorites on the show. In the last episode, these two characters who are mother and daughter are talking. The writing and dialogue is so outstanding and powerful.
Sally Field says, "You can't sit on your hands so other people feel better about themselves. God, Kitty, I did that my whole life. When I think of all the great ideas I gave your father and just pretended they weren't mine. He let me do it, of course. Sometimes I think, what if I hadn't done that. What if I had taken credit where credit was due? I was a more powerful woman than I let myself be.... I don't want you to do that. I don't want you to make that mistake. You won't do anyone any good by pretending to be less than what you are."
Isn't that great! Isn't that just powerful writing! I hope someday that I write the words that someone like Sally Fields says on screen.
If you want great drama and great writing, watch Brothers and Sisters on ABC on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. It's on tonight. I'll be watching. I hope you will be too.
Sally Field says, "You can't sit on your hands so other people feel better about themselves. God, Kitty, I did that my whole life. When I think of all the great ideas I gave your father and just pretended they weren't mine. He let me do it, of course. Sometimes I think, what if I hadn't done that. What if I had taken credit where credit was due? I was a more powerful woman than I let myself be.... I don't want you to do that. I don't want you to make that mistake. You won't do anyone any good by pretending to be less than what you are."
Isn't that great! Isn't that just powerful writing! I hope someday that I write the words that someone like Sally Fields says on screen.
If you want great drama and great writing, watch Brothers and Sisters on ABC on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. It's on tonight. I'll be watching. I hope you will be too.
Drugs
I've always been anti-drug. I've never used any illegal drugs and I've never even tried marijuana, even though I went through college in the 60's. I have also never smoked because my Dad died of lung cancer from smoking cigarettes.
I have, however, trusted in doctors who gave me prescription medication. Never again. It's hard for me to trust in doctors now. I've always believed in doctors because they are some of the most educated people and are supposedly trying to help people. Some misuse this trust. I know there are good doctors who are ethical and who work hard to help people. However, I no longer blindly trust anyone anymore.
My husband got sick in 1978 with Valley Fever. At the time he was working for Avco Financial Services in San Luis Obispo, California as a manager. He had been transferred into several stores to turn them around. He was good at this. The San Luis Obispo store was the last store. He got sick. Another complication was that his regional supervisor wasn't ready to get the results the old fashioned way. He wanted Les to cheat. Les refused. He knew he would be able to get the results a little longer honestly so the pressure to make things more difficult was applied. He was working during the summer without air conditioning when he was sick without a lot of help. The regional supervisor refused to order air conditioning and refused to let him hire the help he needed. Les told a regional VP what was going on. The sad thing is that this regional VP after telling what happened at headquarters was let go shortly thereafter. I guess this was the beginning of what was to come in business all these years later that cheating on the bottom line would be accepted. My husband refused to play along. He got very sick but took them to court and got an award of $100,000. Then the doctor that he was seeing put him on heavy medication that would continue over the years with other doctors when we moved back to Salem, Oregon.
Was it because he spoke out and dared to tell the truth?
Then I went to work in Salem years later so we could move into a better neighborhood and have a nicer house. I did this for my children and for their future. I wanted them to have the best because they were the best and are the best. I took the first job with the state of Oregon that I was offered. I was eager to do well. I was ambitious and smart and willing to work hard. I got hired by DMV. I first worked in accident records. Then I worked on the phones to answer questions. In two years, I earned three promotions. My last job was at the DMV in Portland on 6th Avenue downtown. It was hard because I was driving back and forth every day on I-5 and living in South Salem. The problem came when I discovered that the people I worked with were holding back money from car dealers and keeping it in the safe. I told one of the car dealers that he had money coming back to him. He was surprised. I should have told someone at DMV at a much higher level what I had discovered. After this, the people I worked with made my life miserable. I should have quit. It's hard for me to quit at things. I keep trying harder. I ended up with bleeding ulcers and almost died. The union didn't help me because one of the people I was working with was a union boss so they believed him. So I went to the doctor that my husband was seeing at the time at the suggestion of my husband. Since I had bleeding ulcers, the bad kind not caused by bacteria, that was caused by stress, I went to see my husband's doctor, Dr. Bennett Wight. I trusted that he was doing what was best for me. I trusted that he knew what he was doing so I did what he said. I took the medication that he prescribed. I kept questioning but I still trusted. Now looking back, I believe that he should have said to me that the best thing was to get another job and do something else. He didn't. He kept giving me medication that I didn't feel I needed for ten years. I've learned that when a doctor says something that people believe it. I also learned that if you take one medication and it has side effects that doctors often prescribe more medication for the side effects giving a whole new set of symptoms and causing new problems. I don't believe in taking any prescription medication now at all, unless absolutely necessary.
My belief in this doctor came to a crashing halt when my son, Aaron died. Dr. Wight didn't even talk to me about my son's death or try to help me. Around this time I ordered a book from the Book of the Month Club called Prozac Backlash, which told of the horrors of prescription medication. I made a decision to go off all the medication on my own, slowly. I reduced the dosage slowly over time. I felt very alone but I knew I needed to do this for my family. I felt betrayed by this doctor. Since I was on workman's comp at the time under this doctor's care, I went to other doctors and attorneys in Portland to have them look at my case. They said it was a clear case of malpractice. My husband went to court and we won a large settlement. Dr. Tran came next. He talked to me about nutrition and exercise. He was nice and tried to help but refused to have anything to do with me and disavowed any dealings with me after I showed him my article that I published in Birds and Blooms. I thought this was odd. Did this mean that he misinterpreted me? I haven't had a doctor in many, many years. I don't take any prescription medication, nor do I intend to do so. The last thing that Dr. Tran said to me was to start over, to walk away from my life and not look back. How do you do that when you don't have savings, friends, and a job so you can be self supporting?
I tried to leave my husband after my son died and after I stopped taking most of the medication. My husband lied about me to stop me from leaving. He said I was suicidal and had me put on a psychiatric wing at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis for a week. I wasn't suicidal. I was just trying to leave my husband. They couldn't believe that anyone would be taking the combination of medication that I was taking at the time by Dr. Wight. All the medication had been prescribed and ordered by Dr. Wight. It makes me wonder what other doctors are giving multiple medications that should be questioned.
I was talking to my son this weekend. I know that I wasn't completely there for him when he needed me at different times. I didn't always listen to him as he listens to me. I'm sorry. When you take any kind of medication, it prevents you from being fully present to help anyone around you. It dulls your senses. I am sorry. I am sorry I trusted. I don't blame any of my children from being angry with me. I blame myself for listening to doctors and for taking any medication. I should have just got a different job. Healthy choices never medicate or dull the senses. I have always tried to do the right thing but it didn't always turn out to be the right thing.
I was told by a doctor this last week at OHSU that I am "so good natured." I've always been easy-going. It's so nice to see good doctors who are supportive and encouraging and who care about you as a patient. Dr. Present was removing a mole at the time--a large mole that required several stitches.
I've tried hard over the years to heal myself by writing, eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and by exercise. Life is not always easy. You make the best choices you can in life and do the best you can. I am grateful when I come across nice people, good people who are ethical, inspiring, and have character. I hope I have a future with friends, with the opportunity to learn and grow continually. I hope I'm okay and that I don't have cancer again. I hope that I can lose the weight. I hope that I can publish books and that I have a chance to earn money to make possibilities happen. I hope that someday my kids will like me again.
I have, however, trusted in doctors who gave me prescription medication. Never again. It's hard for me to trust in doctors now. I've always believed in doctors because they are some of the most educated people and are supposedly trying to help people. Some misuse this trust. I know there are good doctors who are ethical and who work hard to help people. However, I no longer blindly trust anyone anymore.
My husband got sick in 1978 with Valley Fever. At the time he was working for Avco Financial Services in San Luis Obispo, California as a manager. He had been transferred into several stores to turn them around. He was good at this. The San Luis Obispo store was the last store. He got sick. Another complication was that his regional supervisor wasn't ready to get the results the old fashioned way. He wanted Les to cheat. Les refused. He knew he would be able to get the results a little longer honestly so the pressure to make things more difficult was applied. He was working during the summer without air conditioning when he was sick without a lot of help. The regional supervisor refused to order air conditioning and refused to let him hire the help he needed. Les told a regional VP what was going on. The sad thing is that this regional VP after telling what happened at headquarters was let go shortly thereafter. I guess this was the beginning of what was to come in business all these years later that cheating on the bottom line would be accepted. My husband refused to play along. He got very sick but took them to court and got an award of $100,000. Then the doctor that he was seeing put him on heavy medication that would continue over the years with other doctors when we moved back to Salem, Oregon.
Was it because he spoke out and dared to tell the truth?
Then I went to work in Salem years later so we could move into a better neighborhood and have a nicer house. I did this for my children and for their future. I wanted them to have the best because they were the best and are the best. I took the first job with the state of Oregon that I was offered. I was eager to do well. I was ambitious and smart and willing to work hard. I got hired by DMV. I first worked in accident records. Then I worked on the phones to answer questions. In two years, I earned three promotions. My last job was at the DMV in Portland on 6th Avenue downtown. It was hard because I was driving back and forth every day on I-5 and living in South Salem. The problem came when I discovered that the people I worked with were holding back money from car dealers and keeping it in the safe. I told one of the car dealers that he had money coming back to him. He was surprised. I should have told someone at DMV at a much higher level what I had discovered. After this, the people I worked with made my life miserable. I should have quit. It's hard for me to quit at things. I keep trying harder. I ended up with bleeding ulcers and almost died. The union didn't help me because one of the people I was working with was a union boss so they believed him. So I went to the doctor that my husband was seeing at the time at the suggestion of my husband. Since I had bleeding ulcers, the bad kind not caused by bacteria, that was caused by stress, I went to see my husband's doctor, Dr. Bennett Wight. I trusted that he was doing what was best for me. I trusted that he knew what he was doing so I did what he said. I took the medication that he prescribed. I kept questioning but I still trusted. Now looking back, I believe that he should have said to me that the best thing was to get another job and do something else. He didn't. He kept giving me medication that I didn't feel I needed for ten years. I've learned that when a doctor says something that people believe it. I also learned that if you take one medication and it has side effects that doctors often prescribe more medication for the side effects giving a whole new set of symptoms and causing new problems. I don't believe in taking any prescription medication now at all, unless absolutely necessary.
My belief in this doctor came to a crashing halt when my son, Aaron died. Dr. Wight didn't even talk to me about my son's death or try to help me. Around this time I ordered a book from the Book of the Month Club called Prozac Backlash, which told of the horrors of prescription medication. I made a decision to go off all the medication on my own, slowly. I reduced the dosage slowly over time. I felt very alone but I knew I needed to do this for my family. I felt betrayed by this doctor. Since I was on workman's comp at the time under this doctor's care, I went to other doctors and attorneys in Portland to have them look at my case. They said it was a clear case of malpractice. My husband went to court and we won a large settlement. Dr. Tran came next. He talked to me about nutrition and exercise. He was nice and tried to help but refused to have anything to do with me and disavowed any dealings with me after I showed him my article that I published in Birds and Blooms. I thought this was odd. Did this mean that he misinterpreted me? I haven't had a doctor in many, many years. I don't take any prescription medication, nor do I intend to do so. The last thing that Dr. Tran said to me was to start over, to walk away from my life and not look back. How do you do that when you don't have savings, friends, and a job so you can be self supporting?
I tried to leave my husband after my son died and after I stopped taking most of the medication. My husband lied about me to stop me from leaving. He said I was suicidal and had me put on a psychiatric wing at Good Samaritan Hospital in Corvallis for a week. I wasn't suicidal. I was just trying to leave my husband. They couldn't believe that anyone would be taking the combination of medication that I was taking at the time by Dr. Wight. All the medication had been prescribed and ordered by Dr. Wight. It makes me wonder what other doctors are giving multiple medications that should be questioned.
I was talking to my son this weekend. I know that I wasn't completely there for him when he needed me at different times. I didn't always listen to him as he listens to me. I'm sorry. When you take any kind of medication, it prevents you from being fully present to help anyone around you. It dulls your senses. I am sorry. I am sorry I trusted. I don't blame any of my children from being angry with me. I blame myself for listening to doctors and for taking any medication. I should have just got a different job. Healthy choices never medicate or dull the senses. I have always tried to do the right thing but it didn't always turn out to be the right thing.
I was told by a doctor this last week at OHSU that I am "so good natured." I've always been easy-going. It's so nice to see good doctors who are supportive and encouraging and who care about you as a patient. Dr. Present was removing a mole at the time--a large mole that required several stitches.
I've tried hard over the years to heal myself by writing, eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and by exercise. Life is not always easy. You make the best choices you can in life and do the best you can. I am grateful when I come across nice people, good people who are ethical, inspiring, and have character. I hope I have a future with friends, with the opportunity to learn and grow continually. I hope I'm okay and that I don't have cancer again. I hope that I can lose the weight. I hope that I can publish books and that I have a chance to earn money to make possibilities happen. I hope that someday my kids will like me again.
Wii Fit
I believe that Wii Fit is the most important video game system ever created because it is interactive and can keep you fit. Yesterday I used mine that I received as a Christmas gift for the second day in a row. The first day I logged in one minute. Yesterday I used it for one hour and 15 minutes. I'm hooked on it. I love it.
My favorite is beginning step so far. I made four new records yesterday on step. I know it is just the beginning and I know I am still at the easy stuff but it made me feel good about myself. It encourages and inspires. I am out there on stage with my family smiling at me stepping on the board right next to me. It makes me feel good. It was really fun and makes me want to do more and more. I miss going to the gym but this is the next best thing when you are at home and if the weather is nasty in the winter.
This game system can help so many people to get off the couch and to move again for their own health and well being.
My goal is to exercise an hour a day in all four catagories--yoga, aerobics, strength training, and balance. I did best in yoga, which is shocking. I earned three stars in two exercises.
The big surprise and shock of Wii Fit is that at almost 61 years old and a disgusting 291 pounds, I am a Wii Fit age of 41. My husband who is 58 years old and almost 59 is a Wii Fit age of 75.
I've been so worried about my health. I worried whether I would have a stroke or a heart attack. I am too overweight. I don't belong to a gym right now because I can't afford it.
This gift is the greatest gift. I will do my best to use it every day, eat healthy, and drink lots of water. Thank you so much Daniel, Jodee, Joe, Christina, Alex, and Chance. I love it and I will use it in health. Thank you so much. Daniel and Jodee brought this great gift, along with others, to me on their visit to the Northwest to see family. They set it up and showed us how to use it. This means fun every single day.
My favorite is beginning step so far. I made four new records yesterday on step. I know it is just the beginning and I know I am still at the easy stuff but it made me feel good about myself. It encourages and inspires. I am out there on stage with my family smiling at me stepping on the board right next to me. It makes me feel good. It was really fun and makes me want to do more and more. I miss going to the gym but this is the next best thing when you are at home and if the weather is nasty in the winter.
This game system can help so many people to get off the couch and to move again for their own health and well being.
My goal is to exercise an hour a day in all four catagories--yoga, aerobics, strength training, and balance. I did best in yoga, which is shocking. I earned three stars in two exercises.
The big surprise and shock of Wii Fit is that at almost 61 years old and a disgusting 291 pounds, I am a Wii Fit age of 41. My husband who is 58 years old and almost 59 is a Wii Fit age of 75.
I've been so worried about my health. I worried whether I would have a stroke or a heart attack. I am too overweight. I don't belong to a gym right now because I can't afford it.
This gift is the greatest gift. I will do my best to use it every day, eat healthy, and drink lots of water. Thank you so much Daniel, Jodee, Joe, Christina, Alex, and Chance. I love it and I will use it in health. Thank you so much. Daniel and Jodee brought this great gift, along with others, to me on their visit to the Northwest to see family. They set it up and showed us how to use it. This means fun every single day.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
President Barack Obama
The United States has been desvastated and financially gutted. Shame on all who participated in the ruin of the American dream.
It can't go back to the way it was because the resources don't exist. We must face the fact that the dream is over as we knew it.
In order for our nation to heal, we must value ALL citizens, not just the rich. Greed MUST have a cap. The environment MUST be protected. Health care for ALL is essential. Children and the elderly MUST be protected. The rich and businesses MUST pay their fair share. All who want an education MUST have this opportunity. The legal system MUST work again. Social Security MUST be protected, which is the only proven retirement system.
So many people have been drenched in positive thinking which has allowed the crooks to run away with the money. Micromanaging has been a bad word but it might have prevented this unpresidented havoc. People MUST be held accountable.
We MUST face the facts before we can start over or the same mistakes will be repeated. We can never go back. We must face the future with a new vision and the old rules don't apply.
President Barack Obama, in my opinion, will be remembered as the GREATEST President in the history of the United States. He is the calm during the storm and the answers amidst the turmoil. At no time in the history of the United States has a President of the United States faced greater challenges. President Barack Obama is ready and faces these challenges squarely with answers and insight.
I have never in my life felt such confidence and trust in any President or public figure. I do have complete trust and confidence in President Barack Obama. He is my President. He is the savior of the United States of America. God bless and protect President Barack Obama.
It can't go back to the way it was because the resources don't exist. We must face the fact that the dream is over as we knew it.
In order for our nation to heal, we must value ALL citizens, not just the rich. Greed MUST have a cap. The environment MUST be protected. Health care for ALL is essential. Children and the elderly MUST be protected. The rich and businesses MUST pay their fair share. All who want an education MUST have this opportunity. The legal system MUST work again. Social Security MUST be protected, which is the only proven retirement system.
So many people have been drenched in positive thinking which has allowed the crooks to run away with the money. Micromanaging has been a bad word but it might have prevented this unpresidented havoc. People MUST be held accountable.
We MUST face the facts before we can start over or the same mistakes will be repeated. We can never go back. We must face the future with a new vision and the old rules don't apply.
President Barack Obama, in my opinion, will be remembered as the GREATEST President in the history of the United States. He is the calm during the storm and the answers amidst the turmoil. At no time in the history of the United States has a President of the United States faced greater challenges. President Barack Obama is ready and faces these challenges squarely with answers and insight.
I have never in my life felt such confidence and trust in any President or public figure. I do have complete trust and confidence in President Barack Obama. He is my President. He is the savior of the United States of America. God bless and protect President Barack Obama.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
2009
Here are my 2009 resolutions:
Finish juvenile novel.
Finish copywriting course.
Write 8 hours daily.
Read 4 hours daily.
Read two plus books a week.
Revise NaNoWriMo Novel
Finish cruise mystery
Participate in Script Frenzy in April.
Exercise two hours daily.
Learn at least one new word a day.
Read one hour a day about health and fitness.
Shop a novel every six months.
Donate extra garden vegetables to food bank.
Clean house one hour daily.
Finish quilts for my grandchildren.
Eat small portions.
Garden two hours daily.
I could add to the list. I always do. So far I am not doing everything each day but I will get up each day and keep trying.
In January of 2009, I still have zero friends. I'm deliberately lowering all expectations and concentrating on what I can do and what I have the power to do within my immediate environment.
I found a quote that I printed out and put on the wall near me. I read it in a book. "So you have a void in your life. Welcome to the club. Fill it with work, with accomplishments. Just think about the woman you could be." I wish I had the money to go to writing workshops and conferences but I don't so I must be grateful for the opportunity to write. Maybe something, someday will happen, IF I just keep trying.
So that's what I will concentrate on in 2009...my writing, reading, exercising, gardening, and making things.
I would like to be part of things, to contribute, to be of use, but how is it possible when you lack a support structure and close friends?
I will write everyday. I will finish projects. I will read voraciously. I will learn new things. I will work hard to improve myself each day and to start each new day with gratitude for what I do have.
Finish juvenile novel.
Finish copywriting course.
Write 8 hours daily.
Read 4 hours daily.
Read two plus books a week.
Revise NaNoWriMo Novel
Finish cruise mystery
Participate in Script Frenzy in April.
Exercise two hours daily.
Learn at least one new word a day.
Read one hour a day about health and fitness.
Shop a novel every six months.
Donate extra garden vegetables to food bank.
Clean house one hour daily.
Finish quilts for my grandchildren.
Eat small portions.
Garden two hours daily.
I could add to the list. I always do. So far I am not doing everything each day but I will get up each day and keep trying.
In January of 2009, I still have zero friends. I'm deliberately lowering all expectations and concentrating on what I can do and what I have the power to do within my immediate environment.
I found a quote that I printed out and put on the wall near me. I read it in a book. "So you have a void in your life. Welcome to the club. Fill it with work, with accomplishments. Just think about the woman you could be." I wish I had the money to go to writing workshops and conferences but I don't so I must be grateful for the opportunity to write. Maybe something, someday will happen, IF I just keep trying.
So that's what I will concentrate on in 2009...my writing, reading, exercising, gardening, and making things.
I would like to be part of things, to contribute, to be of use, but how is it possible when you lack a support structure and close friends?
I will write everyday. I will finish projects. I will read voraciously. I will learn new things. I will work hard to improve myself each day and to start each new day with gratitude for what I do have.
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