Big Brother

I watch Big Brother every year and get all involved. It would be fun to be on the show. It's the ultimate test, in my opinion, of being in a group and around other people. It's a show for young people and it's fun to watch. They should have a Boomer Big Brother.

My favorites are Jeff and Jordan. Number one is Jeff. Number two is Jordan. My third favorite is Kevin. I hope that Jeff or Jordan win.

Senator Ted Kennedy

I have always admired the Kennedy family. Senator Ted Kennedy has been an inspiration to me for years with his tireless leadership, public service, and working on great causes to help people.

My son, Aaron wrote to Senator Kennedy when he was around 5 or 6 and sent him a valentine. Senator Ted Kennedy wrote back and sent him a letter and autographed picture. I will always treasure the photo. The fact that he would take the time to answer a little boy says it all.

When I started homeschooling my children in Arroyo Grande, California in 1978 and created the curriculum, I asked myself, "What would go into the curriculum of a school that would be good enough for the Kennedy children?" Without a lot of money or resources, I tried to create a curriculum that I thought would do it. It was a Kennedy-inspired curriculum.

The greatest way to honor Senator Ted Kennedy now would be for the Senate to work together to put single-payer health care into law NOW, for all people to have care, to put emphasis on prevention, and to end GREED.

Senator Orin Hatch

I called the office of Senator Orin Hatch this morning in Washington, D.C. and left a message with staff for the Senator. I called to urge the Senator to use his leadership and years in the Senate to work for single-payer health care to honor Senator Ted Kennedy.

Two nights ago around 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., I was up working on a writing project. Fox News was on in the other room. I walked by and stopped as Senator Hatch was speaking about everyone in the Senate working together to honor Senator Ted Kennedy and work on single-payer health care. I was surprised because I had the impression that Senator Hatch, up until now, was uncompromising unless it was his way, his answers, his solution. I'm pleasantly pleased.

I urge Senator Hatch to do the right thing and work hard to bring concensus in the Senate for single-payer health care.

We have the opportunity today, a moment in time that may never return, to work for real health care reform that puts people first, care first, prevention first.

Senator Ted Kennedy

There is no greater way to honor Senator Ted Kennedy than for everyone in the House and Senate to work together to pass health care reform—real health care reform—single-payer health care so that all people who live in the United States are protected and have health care. Senator Kennedy’s whole life was an inspiration working for others in public service. Honor Senator Kennedy. Put differences aside. Put others first, instead of greed.

You can make it happen. In the last election, many said it was impossible to elect President Obama. It happened. Health care reform can happen too. Nothing is impossible. All you need to do is unite, work together, and put others first. Senator Kennedy’s life would be honored if health care reform is passed that puts care first, prevention first, and cuts self-interest and greed.

Please honor Senator Ted Kennedy by passing single payer health care!

Senator Jeff Merkeley

Outside the Salem Public Library on Wednesday late afternoon, a volunteer was collecting signatures for single-payer health care. I signed. I was there with my daughter, Gretchen and grandchildren, Jack and Lizzy. As I was signing, I spoke to the man collecting signatures and found out that he went to dinner with Senator Jeff Merkeley. He said that Jeff Merkeley is supporting single-payer health care. I felt so proud of my new senator from Oregon. It takes great courage as a new Senator to work hard for something so controversial, even if it is so right. I was so proud of him and proud that I had volunteered to elect Senator Merkeley.

There is no greater way to honor Senator Ted Kennedy than for everyone in the House and Senator to work for single-payer health care and pass it NOW. This is not impossible. Nothing is impossible if everyone unites and works together to do what is right.

I called Senator Merkeley today and asked him to work to pass single-payer health care to honor the great tradition and memory of Senator Ted Kennedy.

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama is the greatest President we have ever had in the history of the United States. He became President at a time when a hero and leader was needed that would change the world and bring justice to our land. He has moved flawlessly and yet everyone taunts him. I shake my head when I hear that he “throws like a girl,” and that he wears “mommy jeans.” Ridiculous! He’s perfect as he is. The greatest leaders in the history of the world who have corrected great wrongs and injustice were NEVER appreciated or liked at the time.

President Obama lives a scandal-free life. He’s calm under pressure. He is brilliant. He can speak to all people. He has a family that can only be admired. He inspires. Yet those who live in the realm of superstition and who point fingers, instead of correcting their own faults, taunt, harass, yell, and criticize. These same people who speak the loudest are many who brought our country down and everyone’s dreams with it. President Obama has corrected and is responsible for bringing a healing in our country. Still Democrats in both the U.S. Representatives and Senate refuse to support him. Shame on them! Rep. from Oregon, Peter DeFazio voted against the stimulus package. Where is support for all that President Obama is trying to accomplish?

Our country needs a single payer system of health care. Greed in all parts of our society must end. It is destroying our way of life and the future of all. There must be a cap on profits. The richest must pay their fair share. Businesses and individuals must have tax loop holes plugged so they must pay for the opportunity to live in the United States and for doing business. In Oregon the legislature, this last session, put a tax of 1/10th of 1% and businesses squealed as if in pain. Churches expect their members to pay tithing of 10% of their earnings, even if they don’t have any extra money to pay their own bills. “Pay tithing and your blessings will come,” is a common refrain. The richest individuals and the businesses with the most profit must pay for the health care of all and for a basic standard of living for all.

Accountability is needed. I think there are a few too many nonprofits with too many hands in the pot.

There should be no homeless. All children have a right to a quality education and have the right to go on to a university. Universities should be free because all people have the right to develop their gifts and talents. It will make our country greater and stronger. Emphasis on prevention and building the resources of the best and the brightest should be a priority. The elderly and children should be protected.

Too many things have been wrong for a long time. These wrongs need to be righted and President Obama is the one to do it. I believe in him.

President Bush went on vacation all the time. President Obama has a right to take a vacation.

Michael Jackson

It has been determined that Michael Jackson was murdered by his doctor, says television newscasters. Doctors need to be held accountable for irresponsibly using medications and drugs causing harm and death. So little about medicine is evidence based. Ohio State University Medical School says only 15% of medicine is evidence based. Therefore, the rest is guess work.

So few doctors are held accountable for their harm. It’s funny that doctors want a cap on being sued for malpractice and yet they don’t want to see a cap on greed, on profits. More doctors need to be sued, lose their license to EVER practice medicine, and some need to be put in prison for deliberate, negligent malice. It should never be tolerated or condoned and yet it is every day.

The doctor who murdered Michael Jackson should be put in prison, if this is so.

Michael Jackson was such a cute little boy with such a great gift to sing and dance. It was sad that he didn’t appreciate that he was perfect as he was. The cloud of suspicion of child molestation hung over his reputation taking away from the greatness of his gifts and hard work.

Single Payer Health Care

We need single payer health care. Everyone needs to be assured that they have basic care. Emphasis should be on the patient, not on making sure enough money is made for the doctors and hospital. What irony that most hospitals are non-profits! At the very least we need the public option so that we can move towards universal health care and so that everyone is protected in this country with a safety net.

Spiritual Crisis

I’ve been going through a spiritual crisis the last few years. I was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 to 2001. I had lots of people in my home for parties and dinners. I enjoyed visiting with people. I served in leadership positions and sang in the stake choir. I felt part of something wonderful. I felt like I had friends. The only people I associated with were members of this church so when I saw cracks in this perfect system and questioned, I was left without friends. When I sent letters to Salt Lake, Bishop Haslam of the Philomath Ward told my husband to shut me up and control me. My letters were about ethics and things that shouldn’t be happening in any church. I wanted answers. I learned that women aren’t respected and don’t have a voice. I learned a lot about this church that I didn’t know when I joined. I was sincere. At the last I was even serving a mission at the employment center in Salem helping people find employment and teaching workshops. It was odd that when we moved to Alsea during this, we weren’t asked to speak in church even though we wore missionary badges. I guess they don’t want anyone to hear what would come out of our mouths because we dared to question and speak the truth. All leaders are gods in this church. You can’t question their motives or ethics because whatever they do is the will of God, even if it is wrong. Yes, there are some nice people in this church but all Mormons are Mormons first before anything else.

I can't deal with religions that disrespect women. I believe answers are in empowering everyone so everyone feels uplifted and encouraged.

So after all this, I have kept myself at a distance from everyone. I have felt betrayed. I grew up going to the Lutheran Church every Sunday with my parents. I really don’t know where I belong. I guess I should just read books to try to figure it out.

To speed up the process I would like to go to one of the large conference rooms at OSU and invite religious leaders from the area plus people representing opposing points of view for debate to answer my questions. People might be interested in coming to have their own questions answered at a time when religions and churches fail to meet the needs of people to counter the increasing social isolation in this society. The LaSalle Stewart Center would be perfect.

Maybe the real answer is that I belong staying at home, writing, and reading to find answers.

I went into the 4-H office yesterday to meet with Tammy, the Director at the Extension Office for 4-H. She’s nice. I like her. I made an appointment to come in and meet with her about being a 4-H leader after talking to her on the phone a couple of days ago. After I got off the phone, I wrote up a curriculum of what I wanted to teach since they didn’t have any materials for a writing group.

This is what I thought should be included:
Elements that make up a meeting: 4-H meeting format, teaching writing craft, teaching graphic design and how to use Microsoft Publisher, writing exercises, grammar and vocabulary building, presentation by a student, learning to edit or critique, interview techniques, photography. Longer workshops could teach how to write creative non-fiction, essays, news writing, articles, interviews, and create Power Point presentations. Some of the writing projects that could be produced as a club: create a newsletter using Microsoft Publisher 2 to 4 times a year, submit articles to the Extension Newsletter, submit articles to the Alsea Valley Voice, encourage submission to magazines and ezines, visit the Corvallis Gazette Times to talk with reporters and editors, self-publish a book each year composed of essays, interviews, articles and creative non-fiction on sale at amazon.com, create videos of mock interviews, start magazine for other 4-H clubs in Oregon to submit articles, visit magazines. Ways to mix other 4-H club elements with Writing Club—during long meetings bake something together, visit Neo Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis to interview experts and write articles, prepare questions to ask experts, like an entomologist.

I enjoyed my visit with Tammy. I thought it would be fun to be a 4-H leader again. The problem is that I don’t have any references. I need three. I don’t have any close friends or chums or buddies. I haven’t done anything against the law or caused harm so that’s not a problem but I have kept people at a distance the last few years. I’ve been going through a spiritual crisis. From 1995 through 2001, I was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had students involved with a newsletter and taught workshops for them. I was a Primary President and wrote a nativity play that we performed. All my friends were in this church but when I started to question the ethics and practices, I was shunned. I had no friends left. I was hurt, betrayed, and vulnerable so I have kept myself at a distance from everyone.

So I guess I’m back to square one. It was a nice idea. I wanted to feel needed and contribute to empowering children. I love to teach and I miss opportunities to teach. I guess I have enough to do to keep me busy. I’m having fun with the Alsea Valley Voice. I have a lot to do in my garden and take care of my home and watch out for my husband. I guess I’m backing into my cocoon again to nurse my wounds. When I whine like this, I’m not good for anyone anyway. I have a lot to do. I need to concentrate on losing weight, eating healthy, exercising a lot more, writing more, reading more, decluttering, and make my house spotless. That should be enough to keep me busy but my heart keeps yearning to be involved, contribute, make a difference, teach, and do more than I am doing now. It would help so much to have a good friend to talk things over with who would encourage me and want me to win. I think friends are rare and I’m not sure I have ever had a real friend for very long in my life, if ever. The only friend I have in the world is Leslie, my husband. That’s it. So I’ll concentrate on trying to make him happy. I love being around my kids but they are active and busy. They do what they can. Daniel calls often and listens to me. Benjamin sent me three train tickets this year to come visit. Gretchen calls. Sometimes I get to talk to Joe. I love them all. They are the best people I know.

Cell Phone Tower

Alsea needs a cell phone tower on top of South Mountain Road. There are no cell phone towers in the area. In some places in Alsea, there are dead zones where no communication is possible by any means. Even the Sheriff Department is unable to communicate in some areas. This is dangerous. Emergency responders need to be able to communicate through as many ways as possible. A cell phone tower is needed for everyone.

I once asked a worker from Pioneer Telephone, our telephone company in the area and he said that they don’t want a cell phone tower in the area. I guess they want the monopoly on the business. Is this really kosher when it is a matter of public safety? This is not okay.

I brought up this issue in the Emergency Preparedness meeting in Alsea that met in the library on Tuesday evening. One leader in the community said it was impossible and that it can’t be done. I have a hard time understanding people who respond with this kind of rhetoric. I think if there is a problem, everyone should work towards figuring out answers and a way to make it happen.

Medicine

I think medicine is in the dark ages. I recently heard that 15% of medicine is evidence based which means that it is something that can be proven. This means to me that most of medicine is guessing. We pay the big bucks for no one finding answers, making guesses, or causing harm! Add to this the fact that many doctors see how many patients they can see in an hour giving only 10 minutes per patient and you've got disaster with no one reading the files, researching solutions or answers. We've got a major problem in this country and we're paying for it through bankruptcy and worse.

We need single payer health care in this country. All human beings deserve care and there shouldn't be concern about the bottom line and profit. Care, no matter how deficient, needs to be at the top of the list.

500 pages a day

There is a 9 year old girl named Mia who was featured in the Corvallis Gazette Times on August 18. She goes to Ashbrook Independent School, the best school in the area, in my opinion for gifted and talented children. Mia is clearly a gifted child who is soaring even at 9 years old. She inspires me and makes my heart happy.

As a challenge to students at Ashbrook School, the kids are supposed to read 50 pages a day during the summer. Mia has no problem with that because she's reading an average of 500 pages a day and her Dad thinks that's a conservative estimate. Cool! She's so cute. When I think it is too daunting to read 100 pages a week for a writing critique group plus all I am doing, all I have to do is think about Mia. She inspires me.

During the school year, Mia reads 200 pages a day in addition to keeping up with the intensive academic curriculum at Ashbrook School, playing the piano, and gymnastics.

Health Care Reform

I’ve been shocked and amazed at the conflict with passing health care reform. Money from groups who have a vested interest in keeping the current system has poured into advertising and given to people who will rally for and support their cause.

What shocks me is that the people who often show up in town hall meetings vehemently support the current system probably could benefit from real change. Many of these individuals are fearful of socialism. If socialism means a basic level of care for all Americans, then I’m for it. I don’t think that in this great country, there should be homeless or children going hungry or people going bankrupt over needed health care. This shouldn’t be tolerated.

There needs to be a cap on greed in this country. It’s not okay for the wealthiest Americans to not give back and pay taxes on their millions of dollars in profit. Hiding assets is common and unfair when so many Americans are in great need. Medical costs are out of control and must be brought into line. All Americans deserve care. Priority should be placed on patient care.

The richest Americans feel they should get to keep all their pennies. I don’t agree. The wealth in this country is in the hands of 1% of the population. I agree with President Obama that those who make over $250,000 a year should pay their fair share of taxes. Tax loop holes need to be closed. It shouldn’t be okay to be able to take profits out of the country and hide money in Swiss banks or in a bank in the Caribbean. If you do business in the United States, you should pay to bring the standard of living up for all Americans.

I don’t have health care. My only choice is to eat healthy and exercise. I don’t have a doctor. If something happens to me, I’m done for. This shouldn’t be tolerated. Every human being is valuable and has the potential of being productive. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs shows how when one is hungry or isn’t given basic care, they aren’t able to be the best they can be and reach their highest potential. A basic level of care should be given to all Americans so everyone can reach their dreams.

I have my bachelor’s degree and I’d love to work on my master’s degree or go on to earn a Ph.D. There’s no way I can afford this. A university education should be free, in my opinion. I love to learn and I would love to go back to school but it’s impossible the way things are now.

I support single payer health care because I think that a basic level of care should be given to all Americans. So you might have to wait a little bit. I don't have care now. Waiting would be better than no care.

What's this about the death panels that they bring up in the news? Comfort care has been alive and strong in Oregon the last few years under President Bush and Republicans in power. My mother-in-law, Sadelle Haber was coded comfort care when there was nothing medically wrong. Family was not notified. Food and water was withdrawn and morphine given for the pain of dying. This is called comfort care in Oregon. We rescued her in time to save her but this can happen and has happened to many elderly in the last few years when their money runs out! This has nothing to do with health care reform and President Obama. This has been going on for years!

Anna

My son, Benjamin and his wife, Amanda sent train tickets as a gift to Les and I so we could come and visit Anna. She’s our newest grandchild and she just turned six months old. This is the third time I’ve gone to visit Anna on the train since she was born. I love spending time with her. She’s so good, so cute, and so smart. I wish I lived closer but I am so grateful to Ben that I get to see her so often.

Ben’s an amazing father. He’s always been there for Anna since she was born. He took time off work so he could care for her and spend time with Amanda. Anna waits for Ben to come home from work and I know it’s hard for him to not take her with him to Zymo Genetics. I'm glad that Amanda can stay home with Anna.

I love Green Lake, Ballard, and Seattle. I love the walking trail around Green Lake. I love the energy and intelligence of the people of Seattle. I love the great restaurants. While we were there, Ben and Amanda took us out to eat at Kidd Valley and Spuds in Green Lake, and Portage Bay in Ballard—some of my favorite places to eat.

The train makes it so much easier to travel. You can relax and not worry about the traffic between Alsea and Seattle driving on the freeway. Many business people travel on the train every day to meetings or to work. The dining car has a great menu. It’s fun to watch out the window. I love sitting on the western side of the train so I can see all the water from Olympia up to Seattle. Many students on the train bring their laptops and work. I enjoy reading on the train.

Northwest Nut Growers

Les and I attended the Northwest Nut Growers Summer Tour on August 5th in Corvallis. I learned a lot about Hazelnuts and want to plant a few trees on our acreage.

Hazelnut Hill was my favorite stop on the tour. Sally and Rob Hilles’ farm is located at 27939 Highway 99W, south of Corvallis. Their phone number is 541-754-565. It’s worth a trip to visit Hazelnut Hill with your family and friends to stop for a hazelnut ice cream sundae or chocolate covered hazelnuts at their shop. I was sooooo impressed with Sally and Rob Hilles as they spoke to the large group of members of Northwest Nut Growers. Their intelligence, inventive solutions, and commitment to running a sustainable farm are impressive. Rob Hilles has invented equipment and found ways to increase the yield of his hazelnut tree orchard. They are both dynamic speakers.

I learned that it is possible to grow an observation research plot for Oregon State University and receive free hazelnut trees. Such a deal! If you have room for a few nut trees, call Dave Smith in the Horticulture Department at OSU at 541-737-2702.
Join the Northwest Nut Growers for only $15 a year so you can attend these great tours with expert speakers and receive important information about growing nut trees. Write to the Nut Growers Society of Oregon, 21595 A Dolores Way NE, Aurora, Oregon 97002 or e-mail hazelnut@oregonhazelnuts.org or look at the great website at www.oregonhazelnuts.org. I’m impressed and you will be too.

Poison Ivy

I’ve had a bad rash from the poison ivy I touched in my garden. I read in a book by Readers Digest called THE HEALING POWER OF FOOD about the use of honey for wounds, rashes, and skin problems. It was used in ancient Egypt for wounds and skin problems. I decided to use it and found that it takes away the itch and heals the skin. I think it’s much better than taking Benedryl or using Benedryl cream. It’s messy though so I need to wrap up my arm in a towel and it isn’t going away as fast as I want.

Leadership and Self-Deception

I finished reading the book LEADERSHIP AND SELF-DECEPTION: GETTING OUT OF THE BOX by the Arbinger Institute. I have some concerns about the basic premise that asks everyone to focus on getting results and staying out of the box. I have no problem with working hard to get results and working hard to support/help those around me to achieve these objectives. However, it is important for me to work with people that I can respect, admire, learn from, and who are ethical.

The problem I have with this book is that I can see that a corrupt business could drive forward their objectives using people who focus on results. In the last several months, we have seen a myriad of examples of people who focus on driving results and someone in the organization is a crook, manipulator, and a thief. Our economy has collapsed as a result, thanks to President Bush and Republicans who stand for GREED.

Crown of Thorns Starfish

The crown of thorns starfish is eating away the coral reef next to Australia. Its numbers are out of control despite round the clock diving teams who are trying to kill them. The question is why are their numbers out of control? Several scientific opinions say that the nutrient rich runoff from farmlands play a role. Another theory is the temperature of the ocean. Still another theory is about the natural predators of the crown of thorns starfish being wiped out by overfishing. Pollution is another theory. It’s sad that scientists fight about the cause and not realize that each play a part in the result. Focus on solving the problem should be result of actions and thought since the coral reefs around the world are essential for our planet’s survival.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from Nevada

Senator Harry Reid from Nevada is the Senate Majority Leader. I’m shocked and outraged that Senator Reid makes the choice to go home and feels he needs a vacation when the President of the United States makes the urgent plea to work hard and put in the time to find a health care solution for the American public. A health care solution is urgently needed in the United States. The cost of health care is exorbitant. Health care in the United States is broken and needs to be fixed.

Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat, isn’t working to support a health care solution or working hard to put in the time when asked by President Obama. As the Senate Majority Leader, he should be showing leadership in the Senate and working harder than everyone else. Instead Senator Reid is trying to delay the vote and put off doing the work to get things done in Washington. This is outrageous!

I made a phone call to Senator Reid and left a phone message asking him to show leadership in the Senate by working hard to push forward the needed health care reform and vote for single payer health care or free health care for all Americans. I guess Democrat Harry Reid doesn’t care about health care for all Americans or the people in Nevada. Maybe Senator Reid is too old to be engaged in the political battle to work for a solution for health care. Doesn’t he care? This is inexcusable!

Insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and health care organizations are spending over 1 1/2 million dollars a day to defeat health care reform that would benefit all Americans and lower the deficit. Did they put money in the pockets of key Democratic leaders to slow the process?

Peter DeFazio

Oregon U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio is a hero at our house. My husband called him to help him with a problem with Social Security and Medicare. His office got results. Peter DeFazio cares and works hard to help people in Oregon.

My husband was on hemodialysis for over two months so he signed up for Medicare Part B. Since he didn’t have it for many years, he was penalized. He had to pay four times the regular cost. My husband discovered that now with Medicare Part B, he could no longer afford the copayments for care so he can’t use it anyway. It’s too expensive. Because my husband was not on dialysis for over three months, Social Security Medicare won’t pay for his medical care for dialysis. Two months of dialysis, no help. Three months of dialysis and medicare would pay for it all.
Peter DeFazio finally got the Social Security office to communicate. DeFazio’s office hasn’t seen anything like this before.

The Albany Social Security office refused to return calls. Social Security is going to allow my husband to cancel Medicare Part B, which he can’t afford and doesn’t do him any good but it won’t take effect until September. Outrageous! Not fair!

We need health care reform in the United States. There should be free health care for all Americans. The emphasis should be on patient care and prevention, not on greed and bringing in the bucks for hospitals and doctors who only see patients for 10 minutes.

Leadership and Self-Desception

My son, Daniel gave me a book through amazon.com called Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box by the Arbinger Institute. I’m on page 126. I’m also reading it to my husband out loud and we’re on page 80. It’s an important book. Stephen Covey says, “Profound…engaging…packed with insight. I couldn’t recommend it more highly.” I agree.

As I am reading this book through, it reminds me of what is happening in Congress regarding the important fight for all Americans to improve the quality of health care. President Obama is showing unparalleled leadership asking for hard work by the House of Representatives and the Senate to improve health care for all Americans and, at the same time, it would lower the national deficit. It’s important to do NOW. It’s urgent because the need is so great. So what is happening? Many leaders in the House of Representatives and Senate don’t want to put in the work. They say they need a vacation. They want to go home. Forget that they were elected to work hard for the people in the United States. They are too tired and don’t want to do the hard stuff. They want everyone to like them. They chose to play politics, rather than do the right thing.

Maybe everyone in the House of Representatives and the Senate needs to read this book as required reading. Then maybe they would see that they are elected to work hard on issues that will serve the American public and quit playing politics. It’s inexcusable for a member of the House of Representatives and Senate to ignore the urgent pleas of the American public and the President of the United States to work hard and get something done.

Core Rhythms

I sure could use a part-time job. I saw an infomercial on television about Core Rhythms, exercise CDs to lose weight. It looks like so much fun because it’s dancing and having a good time as you lose the pounds. The beautiful and dynamic Mary Murphy from So You Think You Can Dance—that great show on television is the host for Core Rhythms. I know it would be fun and I want to order it. You can dance to the Latin beat to sculpt your abs and lose inches. No boring floor crunches. Only fun. Dance your heart out and lose weight! Such a deal. All exercise should be this fun.
www.corerhythms.com
1-800-357-8550

Benton County Democrats

I attended the meeting for the Benton County Democratic Central Committee on July 16th at Grace Lutheran Church. Everyone seemed nice, committed to the Democratic Party and I felt I could find friends among the group.

Dr. Paul Hochfeld spoke about single payer health care and the urgent need for health care reform. He's an emergency room physician. He was dynamic and a great speaker.

I was shocked that there wasn't an urgent feeling among the group that everyone needed to work hard for health care reform NOW! I came to get inspired and to get support regarding this important issue. I was disappointed. There seemed to be more enthusiasm and energy for the bus bingo that was going to be played on the upcoming picnic for the Democrats than in working for health care reform. Yes, it sounded like fun and I'd like to go. But what about health care reform? There is a window of opportunity to get something done. Insurance companies and health care organizations are spending over 1 1/2 million dollars a day to defeat health care and it seems like Democrats are cooperating.

I asked Oregon State University Democrat students who attended the meeting, if they were working on health care reform now, holding meetings, and if they planned on working for health care reform in Washington, D.C. They said no. Why is there such apathy? I don't get it.

Harvard Professor Gates

It’s inexcusable what happened to Harvard Professor Gates. After proving his identity to police officers in his own home, Professor Gates was arrested and taken to police headquarters. Would this have happened if his skin color was white? No! Black Americans have to endure this kind of racial prejudice every day, even Harvard professors and upstanding members of every city who don’t break the law. It’s not right and it’s inexcusable!

Wind and Solar Power

Wind and solar power needs to be affordable for the individual home owner. Right now it is not. It’s too expensive. I would love to put up solar panels on our roof and put up several windmills on our acreage. We have lots of wind here in Alsea. It would be great to be able to use natural resources for electricity and then sell back the extra to Consumer Power. The only way that wind and solar power can be affordable is if Consumer Power offers this opportunity through subsidy. Electric prices are going up. We need this opportunity here in Oregon. I’m waiting…………

Jewelry Television

I can’t believe the fabulous bargains on Jewelry Television. For very low prices, you can get something beautiful to make yourself feel beautiful or give a great gift that will be loved.

They were just selling a lab created 3.5 ct trillion purple sapphire that was gorgeous for only $6.99. Unbelievable! Item number S36T100.

A lab created gem stone is a natural gem stone. It’s like a tomato from a greenhouse as compared to a tomato grown on a farm. Both tomatoes taste great and have the nutrition of a tomato and are sold as a tomato.

To go with that beautiful purple sapphire, you can order a 10 kt. semimount with .25 ctw diamonds for only $149.00. Item number SMT719Y. So for only $155.99, you can have a gorgeous ring for yourself or as a gift.

Right now they are selling an 18.40 ct Brazilian lemon quartz round for only $39.99. Item number WT148.

Go to www.jtv.com to look for more bargains or watch Jewelry Television. Call 1-800-619-3000 to order.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon

I tried to call Senator Ron Wyden this morning to talk to his staff or leave a phone message but his message box is FULL. I've tried before. I've sent an e-mail. This is a great way to ignore and not listen to what people want to say.

Democrats have a window of opportunity to push for real health care reform and pass single payer health care into law. There are enough votes to push this forward into law, IF all democrats in the House and Senate vote to pass it. Some Democrats are dragging their feet. Senator Ron Wyden is trying to delay this important vote to create change according to the news. Why? Does he have too much money invested in the health care industry? I know he was great friends with Mormon Republican Senator Gordon Smith. Why is he dragging his feet? Why isn't he working hard to support President Obama and help everyone in Oregon without insurance?

Health care reform is desparately needed. I'm one of the millions without health care. Maybe most Democrat leaders have health care and money in the bank but I don't. Maybe they don't feel the urgency. Democrats have the opportunity to make real change in the United States and put people first by giving health care to everyone free.

Senator Ron Wyden, I urgently implore you to vote for single payer health care and that you show leadership in the Senate and push for this needed change.

Tithing

Many faithful church goers tithe monthly, giving 10% to their church. My husband and I used to do this for years. Many business leaders on FOX news, FOX business channel, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and MSNBC say that businesses shouldn’t have to pay taxes and that they should be able to keep all their profits. These same business leaders say that single payer health care or free health care for all is wrong. These same people who want to keep all their pennies and never share feel no moral or ethical responsibility for those less fortunate. I’ve had it. This kind of sinful greed is unpardonable.

In Oregon, businesses are complaining about having to pay a tax that is 1/10th of 1% of their profits. Profit means all the loot that they get after all expenses and salaries are paid. This is the gravy. They don’t want to even let loose of 1/10th of 1%. Shameful! They should be paying 10% of their profits and paying another 10% to charity in Oregon.

Mike Huckabee who has a show on FOX on Saturday nights is a Baptist minister and doesn’t believe that there should be free health care. He’s working hard to defeat single-payer health care. He doesn’t believe that business should have to pay taxes. If I were a member of his congregation, I would put zero bucks in the collection plate.

Those in Oregon who say they shouldn’t have to pay 1/10th of 1% and who believe that there shouldn’t be free health care for all, I’d tithe 1/10th of 1% of my extra and if I didn’t have extra, I would give zero buckeroos.

Neil Cavuto who is Catholic, believes that there shouldn’t be single-payer health care and that businesses shouldn’t pay any taxes. If I were a Catholic, I’d put in the collection plate a note that says zero bucks for the church because of the moral example of Neil Cavuto.

If I were President Obama, the moral compass of this nation, I would take a look at all nonprofits that accept money and who find ways to deny they make a profit on paper. I would revoke tax exempt status of most churches and organizations.

It’s so interesting to me how so many church leaders in most churches and synagogues expect the congregations to give, give, give, even though they are having a difficult time. 10% is expected. Yet these same church leaders are not a moral example by crying out for social justice in the United States saying that single-payer health care or free health care should be law and businesses should pay 10% of their profits.

I’ve heard several people in the village where I live talk about times getting hard, like the great depression. Why don’t these business and religious leaders get off their duff and show courage, values, and moral strength by calling for what is needed. We need free health care for all and all businesses should have to pay 10% of their profits in the United States for doing business here.

I’m disillusioned. I don’t see anyone caring about anybody or feeling accountable. I’m disillusioned with churches and synagogues, and businesses who stand for GREED!

Mike Huckabee

My husband, Leslie, watches Mike Huckabee sometimes on FOX. I walked by the TV last night when he was on. I don’t understand Mike Huckabee. I honestly can’t connect with a minister in the Baptist Church who believes that it is important to grab every penny in business at the expense of millions of people. I know that Baptists believe in Jesus. Would Jesus believe it is okay to take every penny and not care about or feel responsible for those who are less fortunate? Wouldn’t Jesus want everyone to have medical coverage? I think so.

People in business today, even ministers and those who supposedly stand for ethics and values and who go to church, think they have the right to make as much money as possible and it doesn’t matter who they walk over. Isn’t it the ethical thing to do to care about all people in the United States to give them a basic standard of care?

I couldn’t think of attending a church that didn’t care about all God’s children.

The legislature in Oregon has convened and they are proud of the accomplishment that they put taxes on business profits at 1/10th of 1% and they are getting criticized for this low tax. I don’t get it. I think businesses should have to be taxed 10% on all their profits and then have to donate another 10% to charities in Oregon. This is what I would do and recommend, if I were making the decision. Isn’t 80% profit enough? Good grief! Everyone is money grubbing and businesses don’t feel any ethical concern for people who live in Oregon. It’s hard for me to respect anyone who stands for GREED!

Single Payer Health Care

Single payer health care has a small window of opportunity of passing into law, if acted on quickly. Complacent Democrats are not going to get the job done.

It's important to contact all Democrats in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate so they will vote for this important health care change for all Americans.

Letters need to be written. Phone calls need to be made. Groups need to create action agendas immediately to make sure that single pay health care is a reality. What groups have the most to gain from making sure we have universal health care? Those who desperately need it, like me. I am calling to action members of the NAACP, the millions without health care, the poor, the homeless, families who use social services, people in prison, people who can't afford their co-payments, all people of color, and people who care about social justice.

Everyone needs to write to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to make sure they vote for single payer health care.

There is enough votes to pass this just with all elected Democrats in both the Senate and House and we don’t even need to have one Republican to vote for it. However, it would be so nice for Republicans to step up and care enough about all the people in the United States to make sure we have health care for all.

Please write and call your Representatives and Senators. Please gather peacefully to make this happen. Our country desperately needs this change. Greed must not continue to harm health care. We must act now to make a difference.

Insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, the American Medical Association, and other companies that profit from illness do not want change or universal health care. They are spending 1.6 million dollars a day to scare people and defeat health care reform.

Please help me. Single payer health care is the health care reform that is needed. It is urgent to act.

Men in Sheets

When I watch the Senate and House of Representatives on C-Span, sometimes I wonder just how many of these Republican gentlemen wear sheets on weekends. Shouldn’t belonging to a hate group, like the Klan, be grounds for automatic dismissal? Why doesn’t anyone bring this up?

I watched Godfather 3 recently and I was shocked to see ritual in the Catholic Church with men in sheets carrying the crucifix. Just what is this all about?

Corvallis Manor

My mother in law, Sadelle was brought to Corvallis Manor after being rescued from Marion Estates. Little did we know that the administrator at Corvallis Manor was a former administrator from Marion Estates. Sadelle fell under questionable circumstances 9 times in 6 months. We complained and nobody did anything. We visited often, several times a week for hours at a time in order to make sure she was okay. When you have someone who is elderly in a place like this, you can’t leave them without visiting them often. We finally put her in Heart of the Valley, which was better but not perfect.

Marion Estates

My mother in law, Sadelle stayed at Marion Estates when we lived in Gates. This beautiful resort complex is owned by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When her birthday came up, her blood pressure elevated so she was sent to the hospital and then placed in the nursing home at Marion Estates. I thought it was odd that the staff said we should clear out her room. Why didn’t they expect her to recover and come back? Her money had recently run out and she went on Medicare. She was put on comfort care in the nursing home without knowledge or notification of family. There was nothing seriously wrong with her. Comfort care means withdrawal of food and water and morphine given to kill the pain of dying. When we called her at the nursing home, we wondered why she always said she was thirsty and wanted water. After 4 days, my husband sent me to investigate what was going on. I was told by staff that I was not to feed her. I thought that was odd. I called Jeanine, her daughter in Illinois and my husband. I told my husband that I wasn’t going to leave her. I told him that I would stay with her and that he needed to arrange for me to sleep in a chair by her bed and bring what I needed. I slowly gave her water and sips of juice. Her lips hurt and it was painful for her to even use a straw. She wasn’t in good shape. After 3 days, I asked for her to be lifted in a wheel chair so I could take her outside in the sun for a few minutes. When I was going through the halls, one nurse said, “it’s a miracle.” It’s amazing what a little water and juice will do!

Comfort care is real and family needs to be aware that this can happen to your loved one. Comfort care could be genocide of the elderly in this country. Other dangers lurk in assisted living complexes, like Marion Estates. Money was taken from Sadelle by staff. I suspected that there was sexual abuse during the night shift because of a comment of one of the male aids. Later when she was in Heart of the Valley in Corvallis, an aid was arrested for sexually abusing elderly women on the night shift. Even the best places, the most beautiful resort-like settings have problems and you need to visit every day.

We complained about Marion Estates to the State of Oregon. Did anything happen? No. The complaint was put in the bottom drawer and never saw the light of day. Let’s not do anything to impede the progress of Comfort Care.

My husband called and had Sadelle taken from Marion Estates to Corvallis Manor where she fell 9 times in 6 months. We found out later that the administrator of Corvallis Manor used to work at Marion Estates.

Sadelle wasn’t an easy individual to get along with at times. She was in assisted living complexes in Illinois, and often caused trouble by calling the authorities on staff. One was a Baptist nursing home where she had to listen every day during lunch that Jews killed Jesus. Sadelle was a brilliant Jewish woman who was very independent. I admired her spunk and I thought that at her age, she had the right to be her self and say what she wanted.

I did everything I could to please her when she lived with us but she didn’t want to stay. I put individual servings of things she loved on her own shelf in the refrigerator. She had her own room and her own bathroom. She didn't like my cooking, even my homemade bread. I offered to get a small refrigerator for her room for snacks. I put lots of snacks on the table. I was determined to have her like me. She didn’t. She said that I should leave so I did. I stayed with my daughter and then at a hotel until my husband found her space somewhere. While I was gone, Sadelle called 911 to say she was locked on a mountaintop without food. My husband was there when the investigator from social services came who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. He saw she had plenty of food, a clean home, and everything she needed. He suggested Marion Estates for Sadelle and you know how that turned out…

During the last part of her stay at Marion Estates, my husband and I lived in Alsea. Just as we moved into town, the nursing home closed up. Interesting…since the one making the decision was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interesting………..

Julie & Julia

The movie Julie & Julia comes out August 7th. This is going to be a money maker and a great film. Written and directed by Nora Ephron—that just about says it all and gives the reason why it’s going to be an amazing film. I love anything by Nora Ephron. She’s right up there with Neil Simon in my book. Meryl Streep is in the movie so you know it’s going to be good. What a combination!

Les Schwab Tires

Yesterday I went into Les Schwab Tires in Corvallis on 3rd Street to have my tires rotated on my Toyota. What great service! The best part is that this service is free. I'm impressed. They have free popcorn and coffee while you wait. I didn't even have a chance to read a chapter in my book and my car was done. They added air to my tires and took great care of my car. I would never go any where else.

Minnesota Senator Al Franken

It was a pleasure to watch Minnesota Senator Al Franken in action today during the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Senator Franken is a strong, brilliant senator who has great courage and who asks the difficult ethical questions. I would expect nothing less. I'm so happy that Senator Franken is in the U.S. Senate and I know he will make a difference to fight for justice for all Americans, even me in Oregon and all Oregonians, for women, for minorities, and for first amendment rights.

My father was born in Minnesota--Winthrop, Minnesota. Both of his parents were born in Sweden. So many of the people in Minnesota have a Swedish heritage.

What do I have in common with Senator Al Franken and Sonia Sotomayor? We all watched Perry Mason every week. We all believe in justice and the law.

MRI

My husband has had a couple of MRI's. I've never had one. After I heard what it is like to experience having an MRI, I don't want one. My husband says it's like putting a tin bucket on your head and someone banging on it with a metal spoon for a prolonged time. That sounds wonderful.

A neighbor told me that MRI's aren't accurate. She said that an MRI wasn't able to show how badly damaged her shoulder was and that it wasn't until the surgeon opened up her shoulder that the extensive damage was revealed.

It sounds like the biomedical engineering students in this country need to come up with a more accurate and a much better MRI. Why isn't there a hand-held scanning devise that can instantly give a printed readout with whatever is wrong with recommendations for treatment and vitamins?

Confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor

I love watching the confirmation hearings of Sonia Sotomayor. She believes in justice. She believes in prevention and excellence in education because by the time someone enters the court system, it is often too late. I agree. She has the Obama calm. She's disciplined and brilliant. She loves the law. I respect her. What a great lady. It makes me regret not going to law school and makes me want to go to law school now. [I can't afford it.] She's inspiring.

When I homeschooled my children for four years, my son, Aaron said he wanted to be an attorney. He was 5 years old at the time. I found some law books at a garage sale and we began to debate Supreme Court law cases. I also bought a text book about debating Supreme Court law cases. My daughter, Gretchen who was around 8 at the time went on later to debate in high school and all across the country at Lewis and Clark College for their debate team. Why don't schools debate Supreme Court law cases? I see in the newspaper praise for debate about foolish topics but debating Supreme Court law cases does so much more to help the students and puts it on a whole different level of education.

Quality of Health Care

I've been watching CNN this morning and heard Senator John McCain say that the problem with health care is cost and that there is no problem with the quality of health care. I respectfully disagree, Senator. This is not my experience at all.
One doctor recently told my husband that most of the health care in the United States is 50 years behind the times and that the drastic difference at John Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic is amazing because they can do in one or two days what it takes 6to 9 months to accomplish elsewhere, if at all. Too many doctors "don't know" answers. One resident recently told me at OHSU that he "doesn't read medical journals." That's great! That makes me feel comfident about his care. A resident who isn't committed to continuing his education and medical knowledge--I'm shocked and appalled. Too many doctors are incompetent and not able to help a patient but still charge an outrageous price. I was shocked that at Casey Eye Institute that the equipment to test the eyes doesn't automatically feed the results into the computers. This is backward. Technicians and doctors must hand enter the information which could cause error. I have had experience with the health care in Oregon at various clinics and hospitals and I KNOW that the care I have received shouldn't have happened to anyone in some instances. I could write a book about my experience with health care over the years and another book about my husband, which would be worse.

Sotomayor Confirmation

I've been watching this morning on CNN the confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor. She's a wise, brilliant Hispanic woman who will protect women and give a voice to minorities. She will give balance to the U.S. Supreme Court which has historically worked to protect all the interests of rich, old white men who want to dominate all that goes on in the U.S. She's committed to following the law but she will not be blind to justice for women and minorities as judges before her have been. Too many bullies have ruled in the U.S. Senate and hold key power positions in this country. I wonder how many of them wear sheets on weekends? I think that the senators who are grilling Sotomayor are really saying that they don't want her on the court unless she agrees with all they hold dear. Is that really representing all the people in the U.S. by only protecting the rich white men in this country?

Games Democrats Play

I received an e-mail to have a house party in Alsea to support President Obama’s push for change for health care. I agreed. I wanted a political celebrity for the party to make sure it would be a success. I asked one but this person was busy that night. A leader in the Democratic Party in Portland tried to get a leader to come from Corvallis but Corvallis Democrats are all in meetings that night. Interesting bit of information.

I changed my mind about having a house party and decided to let someone with more resources do it. I don’t have a big house. I don’t have close friends in Alsea. I have acquaintances.

Now let’s get back to Corvallis Democrats who are too busy having meetings to support President Obama for real change in health care….It seems like there are Hillary Democrats and Obama Democrats. Hillary still seems to be running the show. Why? Do Hillary Democrats want to wait for Hillary to get into the White House before they will push for health care reform? Hillary is a little too friendly with Arab nations for my comfort zone, which means not that much change from Bush. I remember when I volunteered to help President Obama get elected. In Corvallis they had the Democratic Party Headquarters where I went to work to elect Senator Jeff Merkley. When I went to volunteer for President Obama, I went to a different location. Why? Why weren’t the mainstream Corvallis Democrats working hard for Obama? Was it because they are Hillary Democrats? Obama's name was on the script that you read over the phone,sometimes, but the main push was to elect Merkeley at Democratic Party Headquarters. Sometimes, President Obama's name wasn't on the script. I didn’t see the mainstream Democratic party volunteers at Obama headquarters any time that I volunteered. Most of the phones weren’t hooked up at Obama headquarters. Students from Oregon State University was heading the big push for Obama but not mainstream, older Corvallis Democratics who I was familiar seeing in the Benton County Democratic Party. Why? When I was volunteering for President Obama and saw a Merkley volunteer, the Merkley volunteer referred to Democratic Party Headquarters as Merkley headquarters and said I should come over and volunteer. Yes, I did because I didn't want to see Senator Smith reelected. I volunteered in both buildings.

What we have is NOW! Games have to stop. We need real change now to help those suffering and who need change. We have President Obama who is superior to other candidates who ran for President and is pushing for change. Democrats have to quit playing games, get off their duffs, and start supporting his policies. Democrats need to support President Obama--ALL Democrats and quit playing games. We have a chance for real change in health care. We can't take more greed. Either people matter or they don't and you want to protect the failed policies of the past. I think that the rich Democrats who have a hint of Republican color just don't want to see that much change. They want to see the way of life continue where you can skim off the top, inflate prices, and keep the poor from ever achieving their dreams. We have enough votes to get change in the health care system, IF Democrats start working together. THE TIME IS NOW.

Sarah Palin

I’m shocked that Sarah Palin quit. This decision is political suicide to some, but politicians have recovered from worse. It isn’t good that she doesn’t have the backbone and strength to stand up to criticism and the heat that comes with a political office so it isn’t likely that she will run for a bid for the Presidency when she can’t take being Governor of Alaska.

I wonder what she will do. Go on a book tour no doubt. I wrote a several page letter to encourage Sarah Palin, even though I would never vote for her. I like to encourage people. She’s a strong woman and she’s smart. Since I believe there should always be a check and balance system and plenty of healthy debate, I wanted to encourage her. I asked her for a signed photo but I never heard back from her. That wasn’t nice.

Alsea Valley Voice

I finished the Alsea Valley Voice on Sunday despite computer problems. I gave it to Mimi Stout, President of Alsea Community Effort to print on Monday morning and she started the process so it should be out today. I hope everyone likes it. I will do my best every issue. It is my intention to cover all groups and give a voice to all who live in the Alsea Valley area. I want to encourage more writers to write. All opinions and voices should have a home in the Alsea Valley Voice. It is everyone's newspaper.

I'm having fun working on the Alsea Valley Voice as the Editor.

The Alsea Valley Voice is given out free to everyone who lives in the Alsea Valley area. If you live out of the area and want to subscribe for $7 a year, write to Alsea Community Effort, 19192 Alsea Valley Highway, Alsea, Oregon 97324. If you want to encourage our efforts, please advertise.

I want to make the paper bigger. If you do subscribe or advertise, please drop me a note at Wendy Haber, PO Box 288, Alsea, Oregon 97324-0288. I'll be happy for your support of the Alsea Valley Voice.

Women

I am reading ANGELS AND DEMONS by Dan Brown and I find the lines about women very troubling in Chapter 18, “In his country women were possessions. Weak. Tools of pleasure. Chattel to be traded like livestock. And they understood their place….he could end her life in an instant. What would it matter? She was subhuman, a vehicle only of pleasure and service.” These are words taken literally in some cultures, in some countries. Sad but true.

Women are not treated with respect or as equals, but as possessions to control. Even in this country, by some religions, women are treated this way by men. It may be more subtle, not as overt but it is still there. Evidence is that in 2009 in the United States of America, there is still not an equal rights amendment for women in the U.S. Constitution. We live at a time when men can pick women out of a catalog and because these women come from difficult circumstances, they are grateful. How sad.

No one can truly be free and rise up to their full potential until this ends. All people must be free, respected, and have the opportunity to bloom.

C-Span

I want to know why when I turn onto C-Span to watch the House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate that almost all the seats are empty. We elect politicians from each state to work hard to represent the interests of our state and they are almost never there. Why? It seems like the most consistent state showing up in the chamber is Ohio. I almost always see a senator or representative from Ohio. It looks like Ohio is active and trying to do their job. Where are the other guys and gals who have been elected to work hard to represent their state? There sure is a lot of work to do that needs to be done. Why aren't they there to debate issues?

Albuterol

Albuterol is an inhaler that people use that have respiratory problems. It is inexpensive and has been used successfully for years by those who depend on it and need it. Now the use of albuterol has been banned. No one can buy it anymore because all of a sudden it destroys the ozone layer. Give me a break! Let's not go after big business and polluting industry but let's go after the guy who has trouble breathing and get rid of a group of people at the same time. This is genocide legislation!

My husband is using albuterol. He has one left when this is gone, he will have to pay almost 400 bucks that we can't afford to buy an inferior product that doesn't work as well. Let's make sure that the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture less effective choices have a chance to make money. Let's not be fair and decent and honorable. Let's not show compassion.

My Garden

I love my yard and my garden. I'm grateful for the space to grow my own food. Yesterday I picked Swiss chard and spinach that I cooked with a fillet of halibut and corn on the cob for my husband and I for dinner. I cooked the Swiss chard and spinach in olive oil with broken walnut pieces and dried cranberries. It was so good and it was a perfect meal, in my opinion. I'll be glad when I have ripe, fresh tomatoes.

Joel Osteen

I love watching Joel Osteen. I have subscribed to his show on TiVo and I keep most of them to watch over and over. I have been watching every week for over nine months. Right now I am watching for the second time in a row this morning the show broadcasted from Houston. His messages are positive and inspirational. He smiles, when most ministers look so serious and grim that it looks like what they are doing is the last thing on earth that they want to be doing, as if it is a millstone around their neck. I think Joel Osteen should be training ministers all over the world because his messages reach people and draw people in. He should start the Joel Osteen Franchise Ministery. He either has to do this or he needs to clone himself so he can go into every community around the world. I like him and I feel better after listening to him.

You're great Joel! The world needs you. I know I do.

Merlin

Merlin is a new series on NBC. It comes on Sunday nights. I've enjoyed watching it and look forward to more and more. It's well done and worth watching.

$5 Jeans

On June 12th, Leslie had a doctor’s appointment in Salem so I drove. We were early so we walked around the Salem downtown mall for fun. I saw a going-out-of-business sale at Lane Bryant. I was sorry to see Lane Bryant close the downtown Salem store but I was interested in looking at bargains. I love bargain shopping. I found $5 jeans. I bought three because three $5 jeans were cheaper than buying one pair of jeans at regular price. I haven’t bought jeans in years except for Chic Jeans and now Chic Jeans don’t come in my size. These jeans were in a size big enough for me. Such a deal! I love them. The only problem is that I’m starting to lose weight, just at a time when I have three pairs of great jeans that fit me.

The Evening Star

Yesterday I watched a great movie with Shirley MacLaine. I love Shirley MacLaine. I’ve never seen this film. It has such great lines with great characters and layers of emotions in the network of relationships. Aurora Greenway lived, loved, and when she died, she was surrounded by people who loved her.

Cause No Harm

Sometimes bullies rule and courage is needed to stand up to them. Cause no harm is a philosophy of many but it is not the philosophy of Wade Haslam and Lars Olsen, both members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have caused harm to me. Are they sorry? Why? Is it because I question and because I want to know the truth?
Maybe the truth lies in a comment made to my husband by an x-Navy man who lived in Gates, Oregon. It was the first time I had heard the word mafia linked to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and used in the same sentence.
I know Wade Haslam believes in control. He told my husband to shut me up and control me. Leslie told him, “Why? She’s right.”
Do I have a right to stand up for myself? Yes, I believe I do.

My Teeth

My teeth are in bad shape. Periodically, I have to gargle with a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide because of inflamed gums.
My last trip to the dentist was to see Dr. Mark Henke in Corvallis who is in the same building with Wade Haslam, an orthodontist. I asked Dr. Henke about fixing my front tooth and he said he wouldn’t. His assistant was shocked that he wouldn’t help me. Why wouldn’t he help me? We paid him hundreds of dollars in payments. I asked him to pull a tooth that gave me constant pain and headaches. I told him about the pain at each visit and finally I threatened to have my husband pull it with pliers at home so he pulled it. As he looked at the extracted tooth, he commented to the nurse, “See how it calcified.” I asked to take the tooth home. Attached to the tooth was what looked like a computer chip covered in a white substance. Dr. Henke said my tooth had a deep crack all the way through so it was no wonder that it gave me constant pain. Couldn’t he see this with the repeated x-rays of this tooth at every visit?
What was going on that I wasn’t told? I know that Oregon State University and Hewlett Packard in Corvallis are centers of nanotechnology. Was I an experiment?

Crime

I got up this morning to watch the latest episode of Harper’s Island. John Wakefield is killing everyone on the island. It turned my attention to crime. In almost every large city in the United States there is violent crime. I recently read in Portland Monthly that in downtown Portland, the violent crimes are around 246 per year. I love downtown Portland and it should be protected. It has the Zoo, OMSI, the Portland Art Museum, and Broadway plays. Law abiding citizens are at the mercy of criminals at the time that law enforcement budgets are cut. I’ve learned from television that you can’t walk in Central Park in NYC at night because of criminals.
In September, 1993, Leslie and I visited China on a 17 day tour with Ocean Pacific. We walked on the Great Wall. In June, 1993, I had a bout with breast cancer and Leslie made the decision to start traveling. Life is short and he figured that it is far better to travel while you can, instead of waiting until you are stuck in a wheel chair. Money from a law suit made it possible.
In one of the large cities, our tour bus stopped at a large intersection. All traffic stopped. Several large flatbed trucks went by. On the back were prisoners dressed in white who were blindfolded and their hands tied behind their back. Three gunmen were surrounding each criminal. We asked on the tour bus what was happening. We were told that the criminals were taken to the edge of the city to be shot and their family would be charged for the bullet. No trial with a jury.
In the center of a different city, we were able to stop at a street market at night in safety. We were told that you walk without fear in China because law abiding citizens are safe. Now China is a major power. The intelligent, hard-working Chinese are protected and flourish.
I believe that it is important to protect the legal rights of the individual but it isn’t okay to allow those who commit violent crime to harass law abiding citizens and repeat these crimes.

Timberhill Athletic Club

I went to Timberhill Athletic Club yesterday. I don't have medical insurance. Instead of paying for medical insurance, I pay for prevention. I think that the money is much better spent on prevention and healthy choices than on insurance that you may not use, especially when I can't afford the several hundred dollars a month or more that it would cost for insurance.

I was in the deep end of the pool for an hour putzing around and on the elliptical runner for an hour. Then I went into the room with the weight machines and went around three times on seven machines. Pretty good for a fat girl.

When you go to Timberhill Athletic Club you are spoiled rotten with all the great athletic equipment, variety of choices, great classes almost every hour in several classrooms, all the pools, the sauna, the steamroom, and hot tubs. It's the best money spent in a month for me, as far as I am concerned. It's almost like heaven being there. It's kind of strange that I should really enjoy exercising but I do. I don't go to socialize. I go to exercise and take care of myself. I'm being selfish when I walk through the door. I love it there. I wish I lived within walking distance so that I could go there every day. It's essential in my life and if people really valued their health, everyone in the Corvallis area would be members and go often. It's the best place for the money in the area. It's huge and spacious.

Consumer Beware!

Boy, did I get a consumer lesson yesterday when I went to the Safeway on Philomath Boulevard in Corvallis. My husband wanted me to get some Oscar Mayer hot dogs that were on sale in the Safeway ad listed for 2 for $3.00. The ad said assorted varieties. My husband, Leslie, also cut out a coupon that would give me $1.00 off, if I bought two packages of Oscar Mayer hot dogs. I also had a 50 cent double coupon so I was expecting to pay $1.50 for both packages of hot dogs. So I went to try to find the hot dogs in the massive store. I found the signs that said 2 for $3.00 for Oscar Mayer hot dogs. One said bun length and beef hot dogs so that is what I selected. That is all I purchased in the store. I decided to go to the check stand with the store manager since I figured with all the coupons, I didn't want any problems. I figured he would know what he was doing. I know him on sight since I have applied to work at Safeway without success when the store was remodeled and I gave him my resume personally and talked to him. When I got to the checkstand and the manager waited on me, I was shocked at the interaction. He's a tall man, a big guy who probably played football years ago. He has dark wavy, curly hair and I think his name is Jeff or Jeffrey. He scanned the hotdogs and said it was 2 for $6.00. I gave him my Safeway club card, my coupons, and said that it was 2 for $3.00. He left the cash register and said he was going to check on the price. I figured that was fine and I waited. He came back sticking to his story that the hotdogs were 2 for $6 so I said that we need to go back and look at the signage. I commented that maybe I needed to take a digital photo of the price on the shelf next time. I was treated like I had lied. He didn't treat me with respect. He's treated me like this in the past so I decided to stand up for myself. We got to the hotdog section and he pointed to the 2 for $6.00 sign for Oscar Mayer hot dogs and I pointed to the two signs that said 2 for $3.00 for Oscar Mayer hot dogs. He said it wasn't bun length so I pointed to the sign that said bun length and repeated bun length twice so he would get it into his thick skull. He took the sign off the shelf and said he would give it to me for the price but it wasn't going to happen again. He raced back to the cash register and it was hard for me to keep up. I said that I wasn't a liar and that I'm meticulous and careful. When we got back to the cash register, he said that for my trouble, he would give it to me free since I had already given him a coupon for $1.50 off. I thought that was great and I appreciated it. I was thinking of blogging it yesterday but decided not to. Today I found the cash register receipt in my purse where it said that the cash register rang it up in the first place as 2 for $3.00 so now I know he knew the price was 2 for $3.00. You have to watch all the time. He's probably a Mormon. Am I going into this Safeway again? Not if I can help it and I will be on guard every minute, if I do. If the price is posted and listed in an ad, you should be able to get it for the price without problems.

My Garden

I have big plans for my garden and yard. It will take time, money, an endless supply of manure hay and compost. I've been having fun sculpting the blank canvas that is my yard and garden putting an azalea here and a dianthus there to add color and texture. My main concern is putting in raised beds to grow our own food and to add fruit and nut trees. I want to add lots of blueberry bushes.

I love my new raised beds. I have seven so far and I appreciate all that my husband has done to help me make it happen even though he hasn't felt great this year. I want to add a lot more. One or two a month, if possible. I have found that I can add supports on the sides to cover with plastic so I can create mini greenhouses during the winter. Oh the possibilities.........the color, all the food, all the fun.

Protect Women and Children

Women and children all over the world need protection and legal rights. Here it is 2009 and women still don't have equal rights in the U.S. Constitution.

Children aren't protected. Creepy men who abuse children have more rights and nothing is done to stop it. Most cases aren't brought to court and a slap on the hand is what most abusers get.

Many women around the world are not allowed to dream and have a better life. Many women throughout the world are expected to shut up, obey without question, and do as they are told. They are expected to succumb to whatever is expected. This has been going on for centuries. When is this going to stop?

Women and children need full legal protection.

Al Franken

I received a phone call yesterday by an arm of the National Democratic Party concerned with control of Congress in the next 10 years and gerrymandering by the Republican Party. To that I say....not only don't I have any extra money but what about Al Franken in Minnesota. Why aren't Democrats working to get Al Franken seated?

Why are Republicans allowed to keep this going in the courts without resolution? For heavens sakes, it's June! Is it because he has a strong voice and would make a difference? Is it because he is competent and smart? Is it because he just might change things?

We need the strong voice of Al Franken in Congress.

I was watching a Republican being interviewed on television who made the statement that you don't need an IQ test to become a member of Congress. I think there are a lot of people who shouldn't be in Congress, who take money for votes, and who don't have the brains to solve problems to make our country better.

Maybe there needs to be criteria for a seat in Congress--education, problem-solving skills, negotiation experience, proof that they can't be bought, etc.

Alsea Valley Voice

I volunteered to be the Editor of the Alsea Valley Voice since Rolfe Hagen is busy with other projects. I've written several newsletters in the past and I figured that this would be a way to contribute to the community and be more involved. I've been receiving mixed signals. I was told to go the ACE Board meeting and show them my writing resume and newsletters I've written so I did. When I got to the meeting, they wanted to know why I was there. I asked for five minutes to present. I showed them a notebook of two years of newsletters that I have written for the Mid-Valley Quilt Guild in Salem using Microsoft Publisher and a church newsletter along with issues of the East Salem News. I handed out my writing resume. I was told I couldn't change the integrity of the design of the newsletter. I was told that I was not allowed to have youth on staff to report. I was told that I am not allowed to report on the news in Alsea. I was told that I am not allowed to interview people for the AVV. Nothing like squeezing all the fun out of a project. Nothing can change for now. We can't go to a monthly issue. Now I wish I hadn't volunteered. I'll need to photocopy the last issue in order to cut it apart to scan in the masthead and advertising bites. Yes, I can do it but it is not with the same level of enthusiasm. I haven't received one article yet from anyone and the deadline is July 1. My husband said maybe I will have to leave space saying, "this is the space for the article that _____ didn't turn in." We'll see what happens. I did receive an e-mail from one regular writer who said she didn't have anything to write about for this issue even though July is going to be a busy month in Alsea and there might be a Blackberry Festival in September. I think some people around here in Alsea wishes I would move or fade into the woodwork never to be heard from again. One neighbor told me yesterday that maybe I would like it in New Zealand. I like to help out. I like to be involved. I enjoy being around people. I don't really enjoy lots of walls put up to prevent growth. The last newsletter I wrote was for the Corvallis Cruisers in Corvallis, the Volkswalk group. That was fun. I enjoy putting together newsletters but it is fun to have some kind of room to breathe and grow. Maybe I'm not the right person to be the Editor of the Alsea Valley Voice. There needs to be someone who will make sure nothing changes and that everyone will enjoy having as Editor.

Highway 20 Writing Group

I now belong to a new writing critique group with three other women. They are all serious writers and the emphasis is on publication. I feel lucky to be part of the group. One is a retired university professor who is writing a science suspense novel, another is writing humorous memoir, and the third is a former school psychologist who has published two beautiful children's science books in the past and is working on a middle-grade novel. These women are all smart and I can learn from all of them.

Rite Aid

I have Rite Aid to thank for some of the great plants in my yard and garden that I bought at great prices. My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when I saw that healthy rhododendrons and azaleas were only $5.99 regular price at the 9th Street location in Corvallis a few weeks ago. I bought several and put them around my yard. I will enjoy the beauty for years to come. On Tuesdays with your Rite Aid card, you can even get a discount on some items. I love their plant nursery.

East Salem News

I recently printed out pages of the East Salem News, a publication I started in Salem, Oregon years ago. It was fun to look with pride over the work that was done showcasing people doing amazing things, smart kids, and events in East Salem. It was a cut and paste tabloid that was given out free. We lived on Crown Court in East Salem at the time and kids in the neighborhood were on staff working with my own kids. We literally typed columns of print and pasted it in place to be printed at Eagle Web Press. I read one letter that I had long forgotten. It was by a professor from the University of Oregon who congratulated our efforts. I am proud of what was accomplished and the work that went into the paper. It was a no frills way to get out the news in the cheapest possible way before self publishing newsletter programs on computers.

Oprah

I recently watched the heartbreaking special on tent cities with Lisa Ling on Oprah. I've always liked Lisa Ling and admire her work. She showed the sadness and heartbreak of people who had a home and a job last year who now live in tent cities across the country and are homeless. It's outrageous that we send money to care for people in other countries and not care about our people first.

It's not okay for children to be homeless. It's not okay for anyone to be without adequate shelter and food. It's not okay for anyone to be without health care. We need to invest in the potential of people. We need to make a university education free to anyone willing to do the work and who wants to learn. I'd love to go back to school. I have my bachelors degree but I want to get my MFA in writing. Sometimes I regret not going to law school. It would be fun to go to law school and become an advocate for the people without a voice and who feel powerless.

I switch to another channel and I hear Republicans that want to go back to the way things were so they can steal more money and dig an even deeper economic hole. I shake my head and sigh. Has everyone forgotten the last nine months of devastation? Just because President Obama has started to turn things around doesn't mean we can go back to the way things were. Change is needed. Permanent change to prevent further problems. Social security needs to be protected. The elderly and children need to be protected. The standards of education must be lifted up to compete with the best education you can receive anywhere in the world. People must be held accountable. Businesses must be held accountable and not allowed to charge a zillion times the price of a product just to take advantage and pad their bank account. Just because they have gotten away with it in the past, doesn't mean it's okay. It's not okay. The quality of life in our country must be raised and protected. We need to invest in people. We need to make sure that preventions are in place and secure so that everyone has a chance to dream and have a better life. No one should worry about being homeless or going hungry. No one should worry about health care or illness.

Oprah is a shining star on television who has the courage to make a difference and speak out on issues important to all of us and to help people. She has sacrificed so much to be a great leader. I admire her and love her.

Jane Yolen

I recently purchased at the Alsea Library a copy of Wizard's Hall by Jane Yolen for 25 cents. I've always respected and admired the great writing of Jane Yolen who has written over 100 children's books. She's won numerous writing awards. I've never seen Wizard's Hall or read it. I was shocked at the cover and was astounded after reading the first few pages to see a similiarity between J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and the Wizard's Hall. So I quickly look up the publishing date to see which book date came first. Wizard's Hall was published in 1991. The first Harry Potter book was published in 1997.

Pick up a copy of Wizard's Hall and see what you think. I think it's the pre-Harry Potter book.

Libby, Montana

Libby, Montana has been in the news. I was born in Libby on February 25, 1948. I lived there until the end of my third grade year and then we moved to Salem, Oregon where I have lived for most of my life.

Libby has been declared a federal emergency asbestos disaster area. I remember playing in the sparkling stuff that glittered in the sun as I threw it up in the air. My mother used it for crafts because it sparkled.

I've heard since moving to Alsea that Libby was called the Valley of Death by Native Americans.

People are dying in Libby after being exposed over the years. It's not the best place to locate a resort or spa. However, it is beautiful with spectacular scenery.

The Politics of Health Care

Is health care the same for everyone? NO! The rich receive the best care. If you question, have a mouth, or offend people in power, then health care becomes difficult. I need to find a doctor who cares about me, who wants to help me, who communicates clearly, and who is my health advocate. Oprah's health advocate is Dr. Michael Roizen at the Cleveland Clinic. I need someone too.

I've been going to OHSU the last few months. There are some great people who care and there are some who succumb to political pressure and others who care more about making sure the money keeps rolling in. Not all doctors communicate clearly. Not all doctors know the answers. Not all doctors and medical professionals are created equal. It's sad that today you have to be your own expert and can't trust. For $150, if you don't have health insurance, you can receive 6 months of care at OHSU so that's what I have been doing. I was told by one doctor at OHSU that "they have done enough." I still don't have some health issues addressed and I don't feel comfortable going back. One doctor asked me if my stomach hurt and seemed to think there was something major wrong but it was never checked out. Not all doctors communicate or make things clear. There are a lot nice people at OHSU and there are many smart, competent people at OHSU but it's a long drive to not receive the help I need and to receive conflicting opinions, and to receive some care that is questionable. I'm not going back. In my honest opinion, I feel I could receive better care in the European Union, Canada, or New Zealand where people are valued and the emphasis is on helping the patient and not concern about cost of care or what was said in a blog or in an article.

Health Care

47 million people in the United States of America are without health care and health insurance. This is outrageous. The strong Republican voices that oppose free health care are those wanting to protect their bank account. They sure don't care about people and what is happening in this country. This needs to change. We need to start to value human life again and the potential of all human beings in the United States. We need to move forward and work hard to build a bright future of hope and strength.

A very basic and necessary ingredient in building a bright future of hope is to provide FREE health care to all Americans. The greed of old cannot happen again. We must move forward in this country and put measures in place so that all Americans can dream again. When you have medical problems and no one to help you, it's hard to work on more creative work. When no one is there for you to help you when you desperately need help, you lose hope. The potential of all human beings who are not given basic care is lost. We cannot afford this tragic loss because we have so many bright and talented people living in this country.

With 47 MILLION Americans without health care, we need to stop listening to the greedy voices of the rich and the Republican conservatives and do something about it by giving FREE HEALTH CARE to ALL.

President Barack Obama

I got the July, 2009 issue of Harper's in the mail. My husband subscribes to it and I love reading it. The cover story is an essay by Kevin Baker, "Barack Hoover Obama: The Best and the Brightest Blow It Again" on page 29. I haven't finished reading it yet. It's all about President Herbert Hoover. I have never fully appreciated President Hoover and all his accomplishments in office so I will enjoy reading it. My shock is at the willingness to give up so easily on President Obama, the hope of the United States. We are only a few months into his Presidency. Kevin Baker says, "At home or abroad, he invariably appears to be the only adult in the room, the first American president in at least forty years to convey any gravitas." And then Mr. Baker says, "It is impossible not to wish desperately for his success as he tries to grapple with all that confronts him: a worldwide depression, catastrophic climate change, an unjust and inadequate health-care system, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the ongoing disgrace of Guantanamo, a floundering education system." And then Kevin Baker in paragraph three predicts President Obama's failure. How can this be?

If President Obama is making any mistake at all, it is that he is too nice and trying to be everything to every American. He is brilliant and is capable of being the greatest President in the history of the United States, IF he does what needs to be done to turn this country around instead of looking for permission. The Republican Party has devastated the United States of America in every area of importance. President Obama was elected to bring change. Like Nike says, JUST DO IT!

We need free health care for all Americans because it's about time that we value and protect life and the potential of all Americans. We need free college and free university education for anyone wanting to put in the time and the work to learn so that we focus on the future and building our resources. We need to protect the elderly by protecting Social Security, the only proven retirement. If the Republicans get back into power and get their greedy little hands on Social Security, they will steal the money and the elderly will be out on the street without protection. We need to stop the loop holes for the rich so they can't take their money outside of the country without penalty and so they have to pay their fair share of taxes. If you do business in the United States of America, you should pay your fair share of taxes to protect our future and the potential of all Americans. We need to protect children and quit coddling criminals. What's this about that scum bag who raped a five year old little girl and gets a year in prison? Outrageous! That judge should be disbarred or at the very least put on probation and have his record under a microscope to see how many criminals he has allowed to walk. There needs to be medical and financial audits to uncover the crooks, criminals, and crimes that have distorted and destroyed our way of life. It's not okay to put outrageous prices on everything just so a few have a summer home in the Hamptons, 12 mansions, and can do whatever they want, whenever they want. It's not okay to operate this way, the Republican way, after destroying the future in the United States. We need to protect wildlife, the environment, clean water, and clean air. The Republicans have done everything they could to destroy wildlife, the environment and make sure that there is not one drop of clean water or one molecule of clean air so measures need to be put into place to protect our planet so that NEVER again can anyone do this kind of damage.

Kevin Baker, I disagree. President Obama isn't a failure. He will rise to fix all problems. He has done an absolutely remarkable job so far with everyone criticizing his every move, even though he moves flawlessly. President Obama isn't done. It's not over till it's over. Start by supporting President Obama. Change is needed. President Obama was elected to give hope to all Americans and to bring change. He will do it.

Creativity Coach

If you're a writer and you want a great creativity coach, contact Michael Michnya at mamichnya@comcast.net. For the last few weeks, Michael has been my creativity coach with insightful questions to zero in on my schedule, productivity, and writing. I appreciate his help and because of his encouragement and insight, I was able to finish my screenplay in April, and I've been sending out my work in June.

I signed up for a free creativity coach with Eric Maisel, who trains creativity coaches. www.ericmaisel.com As creativity coaches are in training, they offer free service to writers and artists. I was happy to be selected and I sure appreciate the help. It would be fun to go through the training and be a creativity coach but that has to stay on the back burner until I get a soft cushion in my bank account and all medical bills are paid off.

Leslie

My husband, Leslie went to see Dr. Wahba yesterday. Dr. Wahba has taken great care of him. I appreciate his phone calls to my husband to communicate. He has monitored Les with blood tests and doctor visits. Yesterday he said that if doctors at OHSU can't figure out what's wrong, Les will be referred to the Mayo Clinic or John Hopkins. I sure hope that someone can figure out what's wrong so Les doesn't have to go through another bout in the hospital.

Les seems fine now but when no one knows what landed him in the hospital before, it's hard to know how to prevent him having problems again.

my novel

I have submitted my novel that I wrote in November for National Novel Writing Month to the self publishing website, Create Space. I have been working on my novel for months revising it. It's not perfect but I was given the opportunity to get a copy of my book free at the Amazon.com website Create Space so I thought I'd do it. I finished it on time by the deadline on June 1. I have the opportunity to publish with Amazon.com, which is a great idea since they are great at marketing. It eliminates my frustrating attempt at standing on my tippy toes waving my hand trying to get noticed and wanted by a book publisher and agent. It allows me to just write and then write more.

I'm going to revise my novel before publishing though. It needs lots of work still. I also want to change my book cover again. I've also decided I need my characters to go to a Pink Martini Concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland. Ideas keep coming so it isn't over or finished until it is finished. My book will probably never be perfect because I'm not perfect. I always see ways to make it better and there are always better ideas and better ways to say things but I have decided to try and get myself out there to live my dreams. My first book is just the beginning. If I keep trying and writing books, my tenth book has to be an improvement. I'm going to publish with Amazon.com this year in 2009!

Arizona

Yesterday I talked to a woman who has lived in Arizona when I went to OHSU. She gave me new insight into the summers of Arizona, which I appreciate. She said that summers in Arizona are their winter as they stay inside with the air conditioning but I ask what happens when the power fails? I don't think it's too good. I don't think I'd enjoy 120 degrees without air conditioning.

When I flew over Arizona on my last trip to Ohio to see my son, Daniel, I saw nothing for miles. I didn't see desert sand. I saw endless miles of medium brown barren hills and mountains that looked as if they had been scraped clean of all vegetation. I also thought at the time that it looked like someone had taken brown construction paper crumpled it up and stuck it there for mountains.

I know a lot of people appreciate Arizona. I'm sure it's fine in winter.

My Garden

I am having so much fun out in my garden lately. I love seeing the daily changes, new flowers, finding weeds that need to be pulled, seeing the butterflies and dragonflies that dart about admidst the singing of all the birds in our yard that come to our feeders.

I now have six raised beds finished and plan on more. You don't have to reinvent your garden every year and start from scratch with raised beds. It's there. You just plant and add more compost.

I wish the weather would stay at 60 degrees though all year long, every day and never change. I don't like hot weather. I think rain should come only at night when you're sleeping. Severe weather can be a hardship and threatening to life. I'm glad we live in a mild climate.

Books

Yesterday I went to the Alsea Public Library and bought some of the books for 25 cents and 50 cents. I came home with $8. worth and then went back for $3. more. I got some great books.

Yesterday I read a little book by Garrison Keillor called Truckstop and Other Lake Wobegon Stories. I've always loved Garrison Keillor. At rare moments I catch his A Prairie Home Companion on public radio. (We don't get great radio at my house and I don't have a good radio so I listen to radio in my car.) The humor and the charm of his stories about the people of Minnesota have always made me laugh and smile. In this book that I read yesterday, I loved the last story especially called Homecoming, which tells about digging up a septic tank that turns out to be an old Chevy car.

Now I am halfway through reading So Many Books, So Little Time: A year of Passionate Reading by Sara Nelson. I love her too since she also loves Nora Ephron and Philip Roth. Sara Nelson makes me want to make my own reading challenge. Sara has reminded me that the BEST friends are books.

At first I was thinking of reading a book a day since I am pretty competitive and want to do more and better but I wonder if I can really live up to that realistically. My Dad used to read a book a day. He read a western book every night and then read the Bible. He read the Bible 8 to 10 times all the way through every year. I guess my personal reading challenge depends on whether or not I finish this book today. I figure I can always read children's books since I am also a writer for children and I need to read books for children. I think two books a week is more realistic but I'd like to try for a book a day. Will I make it?

Pink Martini

I LOVE Pink Martini and was sad that I couldn't afford to go up to Portland to see them at the recent concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. I asked my husband to go and buy a CD for our son, Joe, since his birthday is coming up on the 19th. I know he will love them, as I do. Joe writes music. In one six month period, he wrote over 24 songs. He's also a great performer on stage acting or singing so I knew he would appreciate the music excellence. When my husband called on his cell to ask which one to get out of those at Fred Meyer in Corvallis, I said the new one, Live in Concert. I decided that since I didn't get to go to the concert, I wanted one too. I didn't expect to find a DVD instead of a CD. Since we rarely buy CD's or DVD's, I first tried it out in CD players throughout the house thinking it was blank. When I found out it was a DVD and watched their incredible performance live at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, tears streamed down my face for I was there and now I can be there each time I watch.

It's wonderful to see the faces behind the music and see them perform. Their passionate music attracts people all over the world. Trained as classical musicians, their music reaches the highest excellence. I love them. I wish I could travel with the band. It would be fun to meet them.

It would be fun to live in Portland or another large city, IF I could afford it because then I could see Pink Martini, visit the zoo, the art museum and galleries, the science museums, see live theater and Broadway plays. This year Neal Simon plays are being performed in Portland and I have missed out seeing them too.

Buy a Pink Martini CD or DVD the next time you're at the music section at the store.
www.pinkmartini.com