Scribblings

Memorial Day

There is a new memorial in town. There was a sign up for the longest time announcing a memorial was being built on the site. I believe it’s to honor the soldiers from Browns Mills who served in the Korean War … maybe it was WWII. TB and I began to see workers putting the memorial up.

As we drove to the Browns Mills Diner, we saw people along the way. Some had already staked out a place to wait and we realized that there was going to be a parade. Luckily, we got to the diner before it started. There are three elementary schools behind the diner and there is a long driveway from their parking lots, past the diner, and to the street.

The parade began at the school parking lots and then passed right by the diner. It wasn’t a very big parade at all. There was a small group of veterans marching in the front, carrying the colors. Behind them were other vets driving vans, SUVs and cars. There was a small group of kids from a school but there weren’t any band instruments. There were quite a few drums, though. I saw one Boy Scout troup and two from the Girl Scouts. Bringing up the rear was every single rescue vehicle from Browns Mills and surrounding communities. That was it.

I am sure they all ended up at the new memorial and probably dedicated it. We missed that part.

I remembered parades being much more fun and impressive when I was a kid. I’d wait along the street with my parents or grandma, staying close to them because there were so many people waiting there as well. We all flew our flags, especially once the parade got under way. All the soldiers marched down the street looking serious but proud. The American flag would go by and we’d all stand at attention and put our hands over our hearts.

I was always awed by the marching bands. There was more than one of them from different high schools. The uniforms glittered in the sunlight and the young people just looked so grown up. The music was so loud I could feel it all through my body, right to my bones.

When the parade was over, we’d have a picnic at the park. When we lived on Long Island, we’d get together with my aunt, uncle and cousins. In Baltimore, we’d go to a bay beach and meet up with a lot of deaf people and their families. The grown ups would sit and talk with their hands and play cards while the kids went swimming.

TB has similar memories and we talked about that over breakfast at the diner.

It’s not like that any more. We’ve become too mobile and worldly. Families rarely live in the same state anymore, never mind the same towns. Families come and go, especially if they are in the military. It’s not like we know our neighbors anymore and they know us. I don’t know that most towns would have a Memorial Day parade. I imagine that they’d go to a nearby city, like Baltimore or Philadelphia. Instead of having big picnics, we just have a barbecue in the backyard. If it’s raining, we go to the movies.

There was a dedication for the new memorial in Washington DC honoring veterans of WWII. I heard a snippet of a news report about the veterans – there don’t seem to be so many still alive. That surprised me and then I realized, of course! Most of the vets probably were born in the 1920s and that would put them in their 80s now. When I was little, the vets from WWI were a big deal and they seemed ancient. Now the gray-headed vets marching in the parade are from the Viet Nam war era which positively sets my head spinning. They are my age. The younger vets are from the first Gulf War almost 15 years ago.

I would thank all the vets for what they’ve done for this country. I don’t agree with the mess we are involved in over in Iraq but I respect the men and women in our military forces. They are dedicated and even if they don’t agree with this war either, they still defend our country. God bless them.

QOTW:

This week has seen a lot of obituary notices on my page. I'd be willing to bet that all of you have lost someone, either to death or to just the ebb and flow of life and moving and losing touch. Who is someone whom you haven't seen in years, but who was important to you (maybe still is), that you'd like to be able to spend an afternoon with? What would you do? Where would you go, and what would you say to them? What would you hope they'd say to you?

I would like to be able to spend the afternoon with my best friend from junior and senior high, Daina. I think I’d like to go out to lunch first and then maybe to a park. A movie wouldn’t be a good idea because I’d want to “catch up”. In a park, we can walk and talk. I would say to her that I was sorry we lost touch with each other. I’d hope she’d feel the same way too. Then we could tell each other all about what we’ve been doing in the last 30 years. After that, we’d stay in touch – even if just by email.

Name Acronymn

I saw this at Otto's and I wanted to see what my name would look like. Full name:

C	Comical
A	Amorous
S	Sensual
S	Sophisticated
A	Astounding
N	Nutty
D	Dramatic
R	Refreshing
A	Adventurous

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

Nick name:

C	Creative
A	Amazing
S	Silent
S	Special
I	Insane
E	Entertaining

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

Hmmmm... wonder which one is the better fit?

The Principal & some other stuff

My friend Elfie called from Austria. She's not doing so well. She is facing more cancer surgery and has had 4 or 5 surgeries already since last June. Sometimes I am uncomfortable talking to her because it's hard to know what to say to someone suffering as she is. She is more emotionally invested in our friendship than I am because of this cautious barrier I put up against pain. I feel guilty about that. The year after Rich died, she was calling me every week. I think I've called her once -- maybe twice -- since she's become ill. I decided I am going to sit down and write her a letter -- a typed one.

Blogger Seeds:

Would you consider yourself an aggressive person? Why or why not?

I think I am assertive but I would not consider myself to be an aggressive person. There’s a big difference between being assertive and being aggressive. Anger is associated with aggression. When I am assertive, I am just sticking up for my rights and my feelings. I notice that when I hesitate to be assertive, I will end up feeling aggressive. I think that’s where the anger comes from – the resentment that burns inside when we end up doing something we don’t want to out of some obligation. When that happens, it’s easier to blow things way out of proportion. Speaking up earlier releases some of that pressure and anger. I mean, even if we end up doing something out of obligation it’s less annoying if we’ve spoken up about it first.

The first four:

What are the first four things you think of when I say:

High School

cliques, friends, Mrs. Cooper, Mr. Fortunato

Mrs. Cooper was my drama teacher. I had her in my senior year. Hers was supposed to be a half year class but I had so much fun I began cutting a class to go to her class the second half. Well, eventually I got caught and changed my schedule so that I could continue to attend that class. She was a very creative teacher. I'd been bottling up a lot of my feelings and expressing them only in my journal writing. Mrs. Cooper helped me learn to tap into those feelings and use them on stage. I had a lot of fun!

Thinking about Mrs. Cooper always leads eventually to thinking about my high school principal. There have been a couple of movies about memorable principals. I had one in high school. I can’t remember any of the other principals or administrators in schools I gone to or worked in, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget Angelo Fortunato.

I went to Western High School in Baltimore. When I entered 10th grade, we went to the Annex downtown because the high school building couldn’t hold us. That’s how I learned my way around Baltimore. We were all 10th graders in that building and so we were sort of like a close knit little family. All during the year, though, we heard about the wonderful Mr. Fortunato, the principal of all the school.

At the end of the school year in 1971, all us sophomores were bussed to Western to see the seniors honored on their last day of school. I remember almost every speaker had a special message for Mr. Fortunato. I looked at him and wondered what the big deal was. He was a heavy rumpled looking man with an easy smile and a mouthful of very white teeth. One of the seniors came on stage and sang “To Sir With Love”. All the seniors, Mr. Fortunato, and many others were in tears.

I sort of felt, I don’t know, left out and envious. What he had with that class he’d never have with any other. The reason is that he transferred into a newly built Western High with the class of 1971 two or three years before. They were his “first” graduating class.

When I started going to the main building the following fall, I’d listen to the seniors cheering over Mr. Fortunato and I’d think, oh, come on, not this again! He’s just a man! What was the big deal about this guy anyway? What did he do that was so damn wonderful? I noticed other juniors (my class, 1973) cheering too and I figured they were doing it just to be like everyone else. I liked the man but I also kept my distance warily. Everyone loved him … something must be wrong.

Isn’t that a kick? That’s how my thinking and reasoning worked back then. If something seemed too good to be true, something was wrong or about to go wrong. Mr. Fortunato seemed to be a very nice man. Something would happen to make him turn evil. But he didn’t.

I got to know him better the following year, when I was a senior. I was having such a tough time in that English class. It was sometime in the morning and many of my friends were in the class. That didn’t help alleviate the stifling boredom of it all. The teacher was new to high school. She’d spent the last 20 years of her life teaching third graders. No wonder she treated us like babies!

I lost patience and I’d mouth off in class. There was a black girl named Janice in the class that happened to like the teacher and so the two of us would begin verbal sparring. The teacher, meanwhile, had totally lost control of her class and after a couple of weeks she begged Mr. Fortunato for help.

He brought a small group of us troublemakers in his office to talk about what was wrong in the class. After we went a couple of rounds, he figured out that the source of the conflict was the teacher’s method. If not for that, I’d keep my mouth shut and Janice would have no reason to get into it with me. Next he brought in the teacher and we “worked it out”.
Things got better but I was still bored. I confided to Daina that I wanted to go ask Mr. Fortunato if I could transfer to another class. Daina thought I was crazy. We were sitting next to each other, passing notes to amuse us. This class would be an ‘easy A’. What did I want to move for? I was going back and forth and then Mr. Fortunato called me to his office. I wondered what I did.

I was very surprised when he asked how I was doing and if the class was better. I was totally taken aback. He was interested in how I was doing? He cared how I felt? And he’s a principal? Unheard of! He was really sincere, though, and I found myself warming up to him. I told him that I was still very bored because the class was too slow for me. He asked if I wanted to go into a new self-paced class taught by my old 11th grade English teacher. Sure!

The nice thing about this English teacher is that we basically chose what we wanted to do. She’d have a list of works and we’d pick one and do a self-paced project. It was so cool! I could be creative and use my mind. And I didn’t have to follow an in-stone schedule of due dates. I was so grateful to Mr. Fortunato for recognizing that he had a bored bright kid, not a bratty troublemaker.

What was even better, he said that his office door was open and anytime I wanted to come in to talk I could. If he was busy, we could just schedule an appointment. Ah, I thought, that old excuse. I tested it out. Once or twice a week I would stop in during lunch or my free period. Sure enough, if he wasn’t busy in a meeting or something he would invite me in and we’d chat a few minutes. He was a totally cool guy and now I could understand why he was so loved by faculty, staff and students.

I noticed some flirty stuff between him and my drama teacher that year. He’d poke his head in the door from time to time or stroll in. My teacher always had some teasing remark and sometimes he had a come-back for her. They seemed to like each other, much more than professional colleagues … so I wasn’t too surprised to hear they married just after I graduated.

Then, sad news: I was talking to my friend Daina a few years after we graduated and she told me that Mr. Fortunato died suddenly of a heart attack. I felt so sad for his widow and for myself. I didn’t think I’d ever met anyone like him again. Luckily I was wrong, but I’d learned “the signs” of what a good man was like. Thanks, Mr. Fortunato.

The weekend is ...

...just packed! There's not been some exciting dinner party or momentous occasion to brag about but it's been busy this holiday weekend. If I could escape, I would go to Ocean City (MD) and stay in an efficiency/room. Then I'd go to the beach with a book and a CD player or a radio and just chill. I would think about nothing except for how pleasant the breeze is and how beautiful the waves are. If I take a nap I can dream about OC and be there.

In Other Words:

The physicist Leo Szilard once announced to his friend Hans Bethe that he was thinking of keeping a diary: "I don;t intend to publish. I am merely going to record the facts for the information of God." "Don't you think God knows the facts?" Bethe asked. "Yes," said Szilard. "He knows the facts, but He does not know _this version of the facts."
- Hans Christian von Baeyer, "Taming the Atom"

What a fun quote! I would assume that God knows all of our versions of the facts. Still, this was a unique way to say we all have our own perceptions about “the facts” and no two will be exactly the same. What we think or feel about something depends on how we perceive it and then interpret it. That’s why witnesses to car accidents might tell conflicting stories about what happened.

Unconscious Mutterings:

I say … and you think …

ol>

Lover:: TB

Ridiculous:: silly

Oscar:: Felix

Tennis:: sport

Account Balance:: overdrawn

Hickey:: passionate kiss

License:: driver’s

Breathmints:: fresh

TexMex:: taco

Stepmother:: Me

Blogger Seeds:

How do you feel about rummage sales? Do you shop at them, do you ever have one?

To me, a rummage sale is like a yard sale except it’s for charity. I think they’re okay. I’ve browsed at them as well as at yard sales. I rarely ever buy anything. I’m figuring the seller at a yard sale is having it for the same reason I’ve had them – to get rid of too much accumulated ‘stuff’! I’ve had 2 or 3 yard sales, which is why I hardly ever buy from the ones I visit.

Wednesday Whatevers

1. Should somebody be your enemy if they are your parents' enemy? Why?

Am I living with my parents at the time? If yes, then I would just be distant with this person just for peace of mind. My parents can be pretty unbearable. If I was living on my own and if I was friends with this person to begin with I would probably continue the friendship.

2. Why do you answer memes?

I like memes. The questions are fun or they are of the type that make me think.

3. Do you use net slang or type correctly?

Oh I talk right as much as I can.

What’s On … Right Now?

What's On your 'favorite summertime snacks' list Right Now?

Ice cream, sherbet or frozen yogurt

Posted by Cassie at 01:01 PM | Comments (1)

It's been ...

... a pleasant day so far! I have been pretty busy over the last few days and didn't really have the opportunity to update. And now that I am sitting down am I posting something significant?

Nope. Hopefully later.

But now, this is one of those slammails I get from friends sometimes. When I was in junior high, slam books were a big hairy deal. The questions were sort of like these which is why I call it a slammail. Real slam books got more personal though. On one hand, they were fun. On the other, they could be hurtful if someone wrote something nasty about you ... or didn't ask you to sign the book!

Welcome to the next edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do.....and try not to be LAME and spoil the fun! Just give in. Copy (not forward) this entire e-mail and paste it into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all of the answers so that they apply to you. Then, send this to a whole bunch of people you know *INCLUDING* the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about your friends. It is fun and easy.

1. What is your full name: Cassandra May

2. What color pants are you wearing right now? Blue jeans

3. What are you listening to right now: Creedance Clearwater Revival

4. What are the last 2 digits of your phone number: XX

5. What was the last thing you ate: a handful of Bing cherries

6. If you were a crayon what color would you be: Kelly green

7. How is the weather right now: Sunny, pleasant and dry

8. Last person you talked to on the phone : Michele

9. First thing you notice about the opposite sex: his eyes

10. Do you like the person who sent this to you: yes, I do!

11. How are you today: I am feeling pretty good

12. Favorite Drink: diet cherry Pepsi

13. Favorite alcoholic drink: I don’t drink anymore. I don’t think I ever had a favorite. All it needed to have was alcohol.

14. Favorite Sport: bowling

15. Hair Color: dark brown!

16. Eye Color : Brown

17. Do you wear contacts: nope

18. Siblings: one younger brother

19. Do you have a tattoo? No

20. Favorite month: December

21. Favorite movie of all time: Just one? Contemporary: Lord of the Rings Classic: The Quiet Man

22. Favorite Food: this is like the movies! I have more than 1 favorite! Steak, carrots, baked potato, and chocolate cake!

23. Last Movie you watched: Fellowship of the Ring, on DVD

24. Favorite Day of the Year: 4th of July

25. Are you too shy to ask people out? No

26. Summer or Winter: Neither. Fall

27. Hugs or Kisses? Both

28. Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

29. Do you want your friends to write back: yes

30. Who is most likely to respond: beats me

31. Who is least likely to respond: not sure

33. What books are you reading: I am reading the first of the Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead, called Taliesin

34. What's on your mouse pad: Quentin Collins!

35. Favorite Board Game: Trivial Pursuit

36. What did you do last night: Watched Fellowship of the Ring

37. Favorite smells: coffee & roses

38. Can you touch your nose with your tongue? Nope!

39. What inspires you? My family

40. Favorite flower: Roses

41. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

ARGH! Shut the stupid alarm off!

42. What day is it, & what time is it?

It’s Saturday, May 29, 2004 and it’s 12:02 p.m.

Stupid Phone II

Now we’ve been without a phone almost a week. It feels like it’s been longer. A rep came out from the home security alarm place and did nothing to help us. In fact, he was pretty snotty to Linda. TB and I weren’t home but that was no reason for the rep to act like a jerk.
TB called them back and someone is coming out again first thing in the morning.

So where were we? TB had an appointment with Dr. Farrell, the orthopedic surgeon who’s operated on his shoulder two times now. Dr. Farrell is a very good doctor and doesn’t want TB to be in so much pain. Now that he knows laparoscopic surgery isn’t an open, he wants to open TB’s shoulder and stitch the whole rotator cuff. He didn’t care that the Third Party Carrier (TPC) from Hell is taking the position that the doctors can’t do anything more for TB. So when all the letters have been sent and the surgery approved, TB will be back in the outpatient surgical center for the third time. We’re thinking this will be at the end of June.

This was good and bad news rolled up together. On the one hand, TB wants to be free of all that pain and so do I. It’s hard to see the one you love in pain. On the down side, though, it means a long recuperation and there’s going to be a lot of pain right after the surgery.

TB’s got an attorney working on his case. We’re hoping the TPC will reconsider their outrageous decision and pay workman’s comp again.

Well, it should be an ‘interesting’ summer.

Anything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Agree or disagree?

There is no disagreeing with this. I’ve lived with variations of this quote for the last 20-odd years. The original quote by Friedrich Nietzsche – the philosopher – goes like this: What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

Sometimes I appreciate the hard times I’ve been through because it helps me survive the next crisis. There is always going to be a crisis. There’s always going to be good times followed by really bad times. Rich and I had several variations on Nietzsche’s quote. We’d say that which doesn’t kill us makes us wish it had. Or we’d say that which doesn’t kill us builds our characters and boy, are we a couple of characters!

But getting back to whether or not I agree with Nietzsche … of course I do. If it’s bad enough to kill me and I survive, I’ve got to be stronger, right? It just goes to show ya! ;)

Blogger Seeds:

What's your favorite board game and why?

My favorite board game is Parcheesi or Sorry. I enjoy them because they’re fun, competitive and relatively mindless! I mean, what is there to the game? Roll the dice and move your man around the board. There’s no heavy strategizing like you’d have to do with Risk or Chess. The only game as fun and as mindless might be Candy Land. The game won’t ever end, you just go round and round and round. Sometimes it’s just a lot of fun not to have to think real hard.

1400

Billy's SAT results came in the mail today and I really really wanted to open that envelope! I waited, though, because I knew he'd worked hard and it would only be right that he should open the envelope.

His score was 1400, 700 on the verbal and 700 on the math. He did 93-95% better than other kids taking the test, juniors and seniors.

I am so proud.

He's delighted but still wants to take the SAT again to try and do better. I think he can do it.

When he took the test, I guess the first 4 colleges Billy expressed an interest in was MIT in Cambridge, RPI in Troy NY, RIT in Rochester NY and NYIT in Westbury. There was information about each of the schools, everything from type of campus, to how many students, to how much might be spent in a year, on average.

Billy could get into all the schools now except for MIT. MIT is looking for an SAT score of 740-800 on the math part. MIT is much harder to get into -- I think they accept only 15% of applicants.

This (Billy's graduation and continuation into college) is getting closer and closer to reality!

Blogger Seeds:

How do you feel about organ donations?

It’s creeping to think about this because no one wants to think about their own deaths. Still, there are lots of sick people out there who will die unless they can have a transplanted organ. I saw this commercial one time. There was a little kid on it who said, “Organ donations isn’t about death. It’s about life.”

It’s true.

When Rich had his first surgery in 1987, we talked about it. Rich thought that he would be able to help further research in Marfan if he donated his organs after he died. We weren’t so sure that his organs would save any people but we thought the researchers might be able to learn something. Anyway, I decided that I would be an organ donor too.

Afterwards, we came home from the hospital and had ‘organ donor’ added to our drivers’ licenses. When we moved to NY from MD and changed our licenses, we did the same thing.

Rich died. It was a shock to me although we knew it could happen at any time. I thought it might be too late for Rich to be able to help anyone. One of the nurses told me no, it wasn’t too late. I asked them to contact the Marfan Foundation. I don’t know what happened there, but I do know that Rich’s corneas and outer layers of skin went to help people. I didn’t realize that skin could be donated to help burn victims. It’s a sort of protective layer that will help protect them against infection.

I felt good knowing that Rich had helped some people. I think Rich feels good about it, too.

QOTW:

What is one event that many people consider entertaining that you personally would have a very difficult time sitting through from beginning to end?

Super Bowl Sunday! I think that the game is hyped beyond belief. What might have been a reasonably exciting game is turned into a big long ordeal (for me) with these spectacular half time events. Zzzzzzzz….

New Home, Stupid Phone

I actually got quite a bit of writing done this evening, more than I have in days. Why? Well, TB tells it best here. I love my new 'home'! I can concentrate and just go with the flow. Of course, I don't mean to abandon the kids and Linda and Tomas and TB. I'll show my face once in a while! ;)

Stupid phone! Stupid phone company! It hasn't worked right in over a week. A tech came out and supposedly fixed it. He then had a machine call to tell us the problem had been fixed ... and five minutes later, we were having the same problem again.

What was happening was that sometimes we get a dial tone and sometimes we don't. When we don't we can't call anyone and no one can call us. Well, they can, but they won't reach us. They have to leave a message and hope for the best.

What a drag.

The phone still doesn't work. It was a hassle yesterday because I wanted Billy to call on his break and let me know if he needed a ride home from work. Luckily, I thought to call the cinema and found out that yes, he did need a ride. This evening, Billy called TB's cell phone.

Someone from the home security alarm place is supposed to come out on Tuesday to check and see if there is a short circuit on their line.

If not, we have to go through more rigamarole to get our phone fixed! :P

I feel really bad for people who are trying to call us, like Michele. Oh well.

The End of the school year ...

is rapidly approaching! Once Memorial Day arrives, the end of the school year is right around the corner. I got word that Billy needs to have his senior portrait taken this summer. Senior portrait? Yikes!

TB heard from Michele. She'd been hoping to come for a visit in June but sadly that's not going to work out.

On Sunday, we are going up to LI for my niece's first holy communion. Nicole is 8, the youngest of my nieces and nephews. She has a sweet little face. I don't know much about her. TB and I went looking in a Christian bookstore for something nice. I didn't want to buy a crucifix or a Bible because I'm sure lots of other people will give her those. We found a nice book with a Christian theme and we threw in a little teddy bear for good measure.

TB had the car tuned up and serviced yesterday so we are ready to go up to LI.

I am a little anxious about seeing Nicole and her family but not in a positive way. I've gotten so much bigger than I was when I last saw them. TB says that they love me and so it doesn't matter, but it does.

And then Memorial Day is not this weekend, but the one after next!

Blogger Seeds:

What's the most memorable gift you ever received? Why?

There are too many to choose just one. The most recent: Kristin gave me a Precious Ornaments figurine for Mother’s Day. Sometime in April, we’d gone window shopping at the mall and stopped in at a Hallmark store. I’ve always loved the Precious Moments figurines and was admiring the ones for Mother’s Day. Kristin moved beside me and I pointed them out to her, hinting one of them would make a great joint Mother’s Day present. They are usually over $20 and I was half kidding because at that time, only Billy had income coming in.

It turns out that Billy had to hire Kristin to take care of the dog on the days he worked. He agreed to give her $10 a week. Well, Kristin waited impatiently for the check to come and be cashed. It was after Mother’s Day. TB told me that Kristin wanted him to take her to the mall and buy a gift for me. I thought it was really sweet.

I was so moved when I opened the box. It was one of the figurines I’d admired! I’d forgotten about it but Kristin hadn’t.

Do you daydream? If so, what about?

Most of the time I “veg” meaning I just relax and stare off into space. I don’t have any organized thinking going on, I’m just enjoying the birds or the view or a breeze. When I daydream, it’s usually about vacations. Heh.

Wednesday Whatevers

1. Would you want an arranged marriage or choose your own? Why?

Let me choose my own! This way if it’s a mistake I have no one to blame but myself

2. What would you sacrifice for someone else?

It depends on who it is. If if’s not TB or one of the kids or Little T, forget it.

3. Do you think God has a gender? If so, what is it?

Well … I would like to believe that God is both but then the Bible says that man was made in God's image. It's interpreted to mean man the male and not man the human species. So. But one day I'll find out!

Why I Detest 3rd Party Carriers II

The vampire in charge of TB’s case at that 3rd party carrier returned his call. TB called her yesterday before he spoke to his attorney. TB was just completely stunned that they’d come up with that crazy “15% permanent disability” decision. He also couldn’t believe that the insurance company was going to just cut him loose with no warning.

Well, no surprise, he didn’t get anywhere with Vampira, I mean, Carolyn White. She is just singing the company lines. Dr. Roboto took a look at the arthrogram and based on seeing TB that one time, he is such an unqualified expert he was able to say without a doubt that there’s nothing else that can be done medically. I am sort of appalled that the company can just dump an injured employee like that. Not only that but TB can’t sue his company for what happened to him! No, he’s got to depend on the company’s third party carrier to take care of him – they did about as good a job as the company did. :P

TB has so many limitations now. He can’t reach overhead to get something down from a high cabinet. He can’t lift his 14 lb. grandson over his head. He can’t lay on his right side for more than a few minutes. His shoulder starts throbbing after he’s been driving a short while. He can’t swing a hammer. He can’t put his right arm behind his back. That’s just a few of the things TB can’t do anymore. Fifteen percent my ass!

TB saw one of the other doctors in the orthopedic practice just a few days ago. That doctor didn’t feel that TB was a good candidate for laproscopic surgery but he didn’t say the situation was hopeless. TB was scheduled to see the surgeon on May 25th. But … now the workman’s comp insurance company won’t pay for it. We can go in under his health insurance, using the letter that denies him any further coverage under workman’s compensation.

It sucks.

On the brighter side (and there is one), Michele called today and had a nice talk with her sister and her dad. It's always good to hear from her and she caught us up on some of the cute things the kids have been doing. Taylor is proud of the idea of being a big sister now. The new baby's name is still going to be Nikolas Aidan (I'm not sure if that's spelled right).

Linda got some of her pictures developed today and she has a lot of cute pictures of Tomas. But then, I can't think of any picture that is not cute.

Blogger Seeds:

How mobile are you? If the perfect job opportunity came up but it was in a different state, or country, would you be able to accept the job?

I’m not as mobile as I once was. I’ve moved from Long Island to NJ and I’m here to stay unless the whole family wants to move. I’m not interpreting anymore; I’m not certified with the Registry of Interpreters anymore and so there wouldn’t be any perfect job opportunity at this point.

In Other Words:

When I quote others I do so in order to express my own ideas more clearly.
 Michel de Montaigne, French essayist

Sometimes I can’t express the ideas I want to convey and so I use a quote that reflects how I feel. Many times the person I’m quoting or the quote itself is so well known there’s no issue in trying to explain what I am saying..

Tuesday Iffers:

If you could spend a day with any celebrity, who would it be and what questions would you ask that person?

I would spend a day with Billy Joel! I’d ask him where he got his ideas for songs. I’d ask if he was still composing classical music. I’d ask him if he’d consider going into a rehab program and if that’s what broke up his marriage to Christie Brinkley. I’d ask him about his growing up years on Long Island. I’d ask how Alexa is doing. I’d ask how HE is doing. I’d ask if he is going to do another concert with Elton John in NJ … please, please, please!

Why I Detest 3rd Party Carriers

AKA insurance companies, especially the ones that write workman's compensation policies.

TB got some bad news today and is very upset. I am too and am deliberately detaching myself so I don’t go into a frenzy of worry. The workman’s comp insurer had TB go to see a specialist – I called him Dr. Roboto. He sent his findings to the insurance company. The doctor feels that TB is 15% permanently partially disabled and that further treatment isn’t going to help him. Therefore, the insurance company has decided they are not sending any more workman’s comp checks … as of now. They said they would give TB $15,000 for his permanent partial disability, payable over 90 weeks. It comes to ¼ of his paycheck.

Isn’t that just a kick in the head?

TB called the attorney he’d engaged about 6 months ago. I am so glad he took my advice and hired this guy! Now this attorney can take over. Once the lawyer has seen the letter and the report from the arthrogram, he will get in touch with that insurance company. What will happen after that? I don’t know.

It’s scary.

Blogger Seeds:

This is International Pickle Week! What is your favorite kind of pickle? Have you ever been "in a pickle?"

My favorite is the dill pickle in the barrel in a deli. It’s different from dills in jar glasses. I just love the taste of them and could eat a barrel dill pickle as a meal!

I have been “in a pickle” more than once. I’ve often wondered where that phrase originated and if it has anything to do with the pickle barrel?

TB Ward

I feel like we're living in a TB ward of allergy related illnesses. All of us have suffered to some degree from all that gross yellow pollen coating everything. I don't think any of us have felt really well in at least a month. Now TB, Kristin and Billy are all suffering from sore throats. Sounds like we're talking sinus infections here. :P

My voice is still hoarse.

Linda's eyes itch and not just from the pollen. It's all the dog hair too!

Heidi feels miserable too but no more than usual. She's always got clogged sinuses. Sometimes I wonder if those allergy shots are really helping?

We went to WalMart today and picked up some things we needed. Buddy needed a larger collar desperately. The girls and I got clothes we need for the reception for my niece's first holy communion next weekend.

Little T sings! When one of us sings to him, especially his mommy, he begins vocalizing. It doesn't exactly sound like singing but it's really clear that he's trying to imitate the pleasant sounds he hears. This is so cool!

Unconscious Mutterings:

I say … and you think …

1. Playoffs:: baseball

2. Morris:: the cat

3. Break up:: is hard to do

4. Eggs:: over easy

5. Parker:: Nosy Parker

6. Hardy Boys:: mystery

7. Deluxe:: luxurious

8. Protection:: German shepherd

9. Girl Scout:: cookie sales

10. Salsa:: taco salad
    

Just Stuff

It feels like someone is driving a spike into the back of my head, base of my skull. The pain is much different than the one I feel with a sinus headache. I've mentioned it to my doctor before and it's related to the muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders. I take ibuprofen and use the heating pad. Those help a little.

Little T is such a sweet baby! He is easy to care for temperamentally. He doesn't fuss very much, unless he is hungry or uncomfortable. The rest of the time, he watches me like a little Buddha. When he likes a face I've made, he smiles. I love to hear his laugh.

I used to be able to hold him in my arms in a reclining position. When he got sleepy all I had to do was hold him with his head on my shoulder and he'd fall asleep easily.

But things are a little different now.

When he is awake, Tomas wants to sit as upright as possible. Usually that means sitting up and forward in my chair and balancing T on my knee. It gets uncomfortable. He also wants to sit up on his mommy's lap and it's painful after awhile for her too. That's going to chance once he can support his head.

His little legs are going all the time. One of these days he is going to begin scooting himself around by pushing off with his legs.

It's been a long time since I've been around a baby every day. It is so much fun to watch him develop and grow!

At what gas price will you change you driving to save money?

The price really is ridiculous but I can't see how I can change driving at the moment. We're about 10 minutes away from the grocery store and library but those are about the only places we need to go that are close by. The doctors are all 20-30 minutes away. Billy works at the movie theater about 30 minutes away. The closest mall is across the street from the movie theater. The Walmart is about 15 minutes away. We haven't even begun to talk about other fun places to go. I can't walk to any of those places and there is no bus. So I'm sorta stuck with paying for the gas.

Blogger Seeds

Blogger Seeds:

Here are some interesting facts I found about ice-cream. They came from the book called "Dates with the Greats" by Susan Ohanian. May 13, 1777 was the first public advertisement of ice cream. Confectioner Philip Lenzi announces in the New York Gazette that his ice cream "may be had almost every day." During the summer of 1790 George Washington runs up an ice cream bill of about $200 - very roughly the equivalent of about $6000 in today's money. Thomas Jefferson also likes ice cream a lot. He creates his own 18-step recipe for making it. Dolley Madison is the first First Lady to serve ice cream at White House state dinners. That leads us to today's questions: What is your favorite kind of ice cream?

I have gone through flavor stages but consistently prefer chocolate flavors or ice creams with chocolate in them like: Neapolitan, fudge ripple, Oreo cookies & cream, Snickers, and my current favorite, chocolate peanut butter

What's the best amusement park ride you've ever been on?

When I was a kid, we went to an amusement park somewhere in Baltimore. Maybe it was near Gwyns Falls but I’m not sure. Anyway, there was a roller coaster called The Wild Mouse and I have never forgotten it. I was so darn scared I avoided roller coasters for years. Now, that might seem an odd ride to choose but I remember being thrilled as well as being scared. As an adult, the best ride was Spiderman at Universal Studios. It was a simulated roller coaster with images popping out at me. It was great fun and I felt safe, not scared.

Are you and artist? What is your medium of choice?

Are writers artists? If so, then I am and my media of choice would by my computer. I always find it easier to write on the computer than on paper. I think that’s because my fingers can keep up with my racing brain.

What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?

I love most types of music, from classical to classic rock. My favorite composers are Bach, Handel, Mozart and Beethoven. I enjoy listening to folk music when I’m feeling mellow. I especially enjoy listening to Peter, Paul & Mary or Arlo Guthrie. Sometimes nothing will do but some pagan Celtic music. As for classic rock, there are so many artists I enjoy it would take up too much room to list them all!

Do you belong to any clubs or organizations? On the web? In person?

I belong to a lot of online “clubs”. Actually, they are email lists but they are called “clubs”. I am on a variety of lists: cat lovers, Dark Shadows, journaling, other types of writing, Survivor and That 70s Show.

You Are a Plain Ole Cup of Joe But don't think plain - instead think, uncomplicated You're a low maintenance kind of girl... who can hang with the guys Down to earth, easy going, and fun! Yup, that's you: the friend everyone invites. And your dependable too. Both for a laugh and a sympathetic ear. What Kind Of Coffee Are You? Take This Quiz Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance.

Thursday Already!

My how time flies when you're having ... life, fun or not. TB told me that there is a Hebrew curse that goes, "May you be blessed with interesting times." Well, we have interesting times all right!

Today TB had an appointment with an arthroscopic specialist in the orthopedic practice he's been going to. The doctor was going to look at TB's Xrays to see if arthroscopic surgery might benefit ... and he decided it didn't. So if TB has a third surgery, the doctor he's been seeing says he will stitch the entire rotator cuff. When TB told Dr. Gray, he said, "Well, you should know that there's a chance that the third surgery will fail too."

Well, that was disheartening. TB goes back to see Dr. Farrell (who did surgeries 1 & 2) in two weeks.

On the up side, we've gotten an update from Michele. She is having a boy! And the little boy in this household continues to grow and thrive. What a cutie! I wanted to write more about our 2004 babies but it's pushing midnight and I'm getting sleepy. :P Hopefully, I'll sit down and write longer tomorrow!

In Other Words:

Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.
 W. Somerset Maugham

Every once in a while you just have to take a break from the regular routine or boredom sets in. I do feel exhilarated when I eat a pint of ice cream or go down a balloon slide. It’s fun, it breaks the routine, and usually I don’t want to do that again for a while.

What Color is Your Brain?
brought to you by Quizilla

Nick Berg & the horrors in Iraq

It’s nearly impossible not to write about what’s going on in the world. One week, CBS’s news series 60 Minutes shows a story about Iraqi POWs abused by American captors. What? How can that be? We’re supposed to be protectors for people, not tyrants or torturers. I took a look at the photos released and I got sick to my stomach. How could our soldiers do this?

Everyone from the top down wants to blame the jailers, like they were a rogue band or something. I don’t believe it for a minute. Several of them say they were “just following orders” which is horrifying in that Nazis used that very excuse for the brutality they inflicted on their victims. I don’t know if I believe they were exactly following orders. I do believe that officers can make certain attitudes very clear without coming out and saying them specifically. I think superiors made it known that they wouldn’t punish the jailers for what they did. They were probably rewarded. :P

Now that the secret is out, everyone at the top is scrambling to save themselves. They are mostly saying they didn’t know what was happening and they certainly would not condone that kind of thing.

The abusers have been jailed or pulled from the service or sent home or whatever. They are scheduled to be court-martialed. One general was relieved of command. So far, that is it.

The International Red Cross and Amnesty International both knew the abuses were going on and they tried over and over to report it and have it stopped. Why did it take a year to do anything about it?

People around the world saw those pictures and were horrified. Part of what made me sick was that American soldiers did this! It didn’t help much to learn that British soldiers abused Iraqi POWs too. Aren’t we supposed to be above that sort of thing?

I’ve seen some people react defensively. The Iraqis have done much worse to their own people. Not only that, it wasn’t too long ago that Iraqis attacked a carload of contractors, killed them, dragged their bodies through town and then hung them for everyone to see. I was disgusted by that too but I don’t see how that justifies us behaving like animals. Just because they do it, it’s okay for us to do it? I don’t think so!

How much of this did Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld know? How much did President Bush know? I think both of them should lose their jobs. Rumsfeld should have been fired right from the get go. The Iraqis and other Middle Eastern countries felt he should have been fired. It’s the right move to make politically. Rumsfeld should be fired to show the world we have ‘zero tolerance’ for that behavior. And if he really didn’t know? What kind of fool is he then? How can he be an effective Secretary of Defense if he doesn’t know what the military is doing?

I know that President Bush can’t be fired technically. There is always Election Day.

Bush is behind Rumsfeld and thanked him publically. I found that nauseating, especially because of the news that there’s even more pictures and videos of POW abuse.

A 26 year old man named Nick Berg was beheaded yesterday (or maybe the day before?). He was a telecommunications expert and was in Iraq to help put the country back together again. He had an adventurous nature and had been warned to leave Iraq. He was also a really nice guy. He was detained by Iraqi police and then was released and then kidnapped by other Iraqis. Unfortunately, he was in captivity when the abuse story broke a week ago.

The ‘brave’ group of comrades who kidnapped him released a video tape that shows the whole horrible thing. Poor Berg was sitting on the ground with his arms tied behind his back. He said a few things and then one of the captors pushed him over on his side and cut his head off. They announced they killed Berg to avenge the POWs who were abused.

It’s sickening.

Some people say it’s Berg’s fault he was killed. What was he still doing there after being warned to go home? Some people say it’s our fault because of what happened to the Iraqi POWs.

I think it’s evil feeding evil. One brutal act triggers a retaliatory brutal act. It just gets worse and worse.

I know that we aren’t going to pull out of Iraq but I wish we would. Take all of our troops and leave Iraq. We never should have gone there without UN approval and we have suffered and suffered as a result of it. We are in the middle of a big mess, just like we were in Viet Nam.

I grieve for the loss of Nick Berg and everyone else who died. I feel sorrow for his parents and brother and sister, just like I feel for the other families.

It’s just going to get worse.

Tradition

I wrote this yesterday but didn't get a chance to upload it.

Blogger Seeds:

Happy Cinco de Mayo! What kind of family traditions unique to your heritage do you celebrate?

There is one very big family tradition unique to my heritage that comes to my mind: celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. My grandparents came from County Sligo to the US just before WWI. We still have relatives in Ireland. I remember my dad’s side of the family as all being boisterous and friendly. They spoke loudly, sang songs loudly and fought loudly.

I remember on St. Patrick’s Day, I always wore green. My father would have been mortified if my brother or I went out with no greenery. That everyone was supposed to wear green was okay with us. We figured everyone was honorarily Irish on March 17th.

We always ate corned beef and cabbage for dinner. We’d pour apple cider vinegar over the boiled cabbage. I’m not sure if the vinegar is a heritage thing or a family thing.
Later, I was sort of embarrassed to find out that corned beef is not a traditional dish of the mainstream Irish population. I’m not going to give it up though!

Wednesday Whatevers

1. What is the biggest problem in today's society?

this is joint: homelessness and under-or-non insured (health)

2. How does algebra relate to daily life?

Well, I’d probably use it to figure out how much carpet I need or how to increase a recipe or something

1. What do you use the computer for most?

Socializing, followed by writing

What’s On … Right Now?

What's On your 'favorite games' list Right Now?

Parcheesi
Sorry
UNO
Life
Monopoly

I had a sinking feeling this might happen but I really and truly hoped & prayed TB did not have another rotator cuff tear. Well, it happened. TB has to have a third surgery in just a little over a year. The doctor wants him to have surgery again because the tear seems to be getting bigger. He might be able to have arthroscopic surgery which would be a lot better than a repeat of the same big operation. If he can't, then the doctor plans to suture TB's entire rotator cuff.

Sometimes it just feels like Murphy has come to live in our attic -- the same Murphy who says, "If anything can go wrong it will at the worst possible moment."

In Other Words:

I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me, and wait till the first dawning opens gradually, by little and little, into a full and clear light.
 Isaac Newton

I have a question about something. I think and wonder about it until I begin to get the gist or begin to understand the answer. If I think about it long enough, I’ll learn or understand what there is to know about it.

Blogger Seeds:

This is "Be Kind to Animals Week." How many pets do you have?

We have 2 cats and ADD (a dumb dog). The cats are great! They are totally independent but they still like hanging out with us sometimes. Mouse is a full tuxedo and I think Amber is part Maine coon cat. Our dog is on the older side of puppyhood. He is about 18 months old and answers to Buddy or Stupid. Heh. Just kidding.

Child Labor Laws

It’s a cold and damp, drizzling and gloomy sort of morning. My mood matches the weather.

Billy had a ride home last night with his friend and co-worker, Kyle, but they were about an hour late and I was just about beside myself. I saw car wrecks and blood in my mind and I couldn’t get the images to stop. I called the police to see if there’d been any wrecks and the lady who answered was very soothing. If there was a wreck, I would have heard something by now (not if the car went off the road and no one could see it, I thought) and to give it a little more time.

It all turned out to be very innocent and would have been prevented if only Billy called to tell me that Kyle needed to go to an Acme to get something for his mother.

Billy isn’t on the work schedule next weekend. What he said didn’t make a lot of sense. He has to bring his other two letters of reference and he has to bring in some other paperwork before he can work on the schedule again. This is the part that didn’t make sense – he said that Regal could only have him work a certain number of hours before they needed this other paperwork.

Huh?

TB thinks Regal might be getting ready to let him go. That thought crossed my mind, too. I feel awful. TB said he doesn’t feel guilty about it because we warned Billy right from the beginning that the theater was really too far away and that he’d need to arrange transportation. When we found out there’s no bus service on weekends, I thought, okay so we’ll drive him then and during the week when he works, he’ll take the bus.

The biggest hitch is, of course, working the closing shift. If he was right down the street it wouldn’t be a big deal. The thing is, we can’t be sure what time between 12:30 and 2 he will get out and so we have to sit in the parking lot a long time. One night we were there for over an hour.

Later …

I called the Department of Labor to try and clarify areas in which I was confused. The woman who talked to me was very helpful. I didn’t file a complaint, just asked questions. I learned that 16 year old kids could work after midnight on non-school nights IF the parents signed a permission form. It turns out that is the form the movie theater wants Billy to bring. Ah! But I don’t know if I want to sign it.

TB and I don’t want to have to drive around at 1 or 2 in the morning. I guess it’s okay IF Billy and his friend Kyle work the same shifts. I don’t know if the schedulers would be willing to do that. I also don’t know if Kyle really wants to drive Billy home, gas money or not.

Another reason I don’t want to sign is that 16 year old kids are not supposed to work more than 8 hours in a day. I have a feeling the theater can get around that one because they provide a 45 minute break. That way, if Billy works from 4:30 to 1:30, they can still say it was less than 8 hours. I don't know, it seems shady to me.

The DOL lady asked if Billy likes his job and I said yes. I'd really like for him to keep the job if it's possible. The lady said if things don't work out, I can call to file a claim because there's grounds for it.

More later …

A Theater Too Far

Why do we have such a lousy transit system? I’m not only talking about NJ because the problem occurs in any rural or outward lying suburb of any county in just about any state. You have to have a car to get around. Buses run too infrequently, the routes go way out of your way or there just is no service. A kid looking for a job in a rural area is pretty much SOL if he doesn’t have a car.

Billy doesn’t have a car or a driver’s license. In NJ, he won’t get his driver’s permit until he is 17. After that, he’s allowed to drive only with another licensed driver for 6 months. Billy also doesn’t have car insurance yet.

He has this really cool job at a movie theater and enjoys it very much but if we don’t solve this transportation problem soon he may have to give it up.

The theater is just too far from our house. It takes about a half hour to get there which wouldn’t be so bad except it makes for a very long trip for TB or me. Half hour there, half hour back twice a day on the weekends. We might be able to live with that but some nights he is supposed to stay until closing and that’s the real sore point for us.

When Billy was in training, we signed a letter saying we knew he might have to work after midnight on some shifts. The letter said he might work as late as 12:30. They underestimated badly. One night, TB and I waited outside in the parking lot from midnight to almost 2 in the morning. It sucked! We were tired and sleepy because we’re used to hitting the hay by 10 in the evening. The manager there told me that having Billy work that late is perfectly legal because the following day (Sunday) isn't a school day. :P

Billy was able to arrange a ride for himself the second weekend. He came in around 2 a.m. and I was up waiting but it was better than if I was sitting in the car fuming.

Last night, though, he didn’t have a ride. He called to warn us he’d probably not get out until “around 1” and so we left the house later than we would have. That was a long drive and then we sat waiting for another 45 minutes. Finally someone stuck a head out the door and asked if we were waiting for Billy. We answered in the affirmative and she said, “Well, he’s going to be another 20 minutes or so.”

TB and I looked at each other in aggravated dismay. So TB got out of the car and went to the theater door and said oh no, Billy was going to leave right NOW. There was a whole lot of scurrying around and then Billy came outside, apologizing for the “slow” cleanup. Some people just “don’t move very fast.”

Why should they? They are on the clock!

Well, it’s too much for TB and me to sit there late at night waiting for Billy to come out. We gave him a couple of choices: try to get shifts with the guy who gave him a ride or … quit. No more going to the theater at 1 a.m. anymore and then sitting there. So Billy is going to give it a try and talk to his supervisor.

I feel really bad about it. If the movie theater was in town it wouldn’t be a problem. It would take less than 10 minutes to get to town and it wouldn’t “hurt” so much. When I woke up this morning, I felt as if I hadn’t slept at all. That feeling dogged me all day and I don’t like it.

Luckily, he has a ride home tonight!

Unconscious Mutterings:

I say … and you think …

1. Sexy:: passionate

2. Clique:: snobs

3. Pledge::promise
   
   
4. Carbs:: breads

5. Dream Job:: writer

6. Sweeps:: broom

7. Soundtrack:: music

8. Hero:: brave

9. Shave:: beard

10. Christina:: my step niece
    

50 Things About Me

1. What year was the best year of your life?

I can’t choose one year over another. I had several “best” years

2. One animal or insect that Noah should have left off the ark?

Roach!

3. Do you make a wish before blowing out your birthday candles?

Yes

4. Do you generally open your bills on the day that you receive them?

Yes, file them and don’t think about them until it’s time to write a check

5. How many pillows are on your bed?

Eight, four each for TB and me. I use 2 between my knees because of back pain. The other two are special made to support my neck and I alternate between the two of them

6. Favorite ice cream flavor?

Argh! This is hard to choose as well but I think I’ll say anything with peanut butter swirl and nuts in it

7. What is the most dominate color in your wardrobe?

probably blue

8. Have you ever seen a ghost?

I don’t know if I’ve seen one but have had after death communications with loved ones that have passed

9. Would you rather go to a carnival or circus?

A circus is much more fun and besides, I haven’t been to one in years!

10. Favorite meal: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Breakfast!

11. Your favorite fictional animal?

Morris the cat

12. Have you ever flown first-class?

Nope

13. Would you go on a reality show?

It would depend on the show.

14. Are you more optimistic or pessimistic about the future?

Eh, a little of both depending on my mood

15. Pancakes or waffles?

Blueberry pancakes!

16. If you could own a home anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Someplace warm and near the ocean, like Hawaii!

17. Your favorite Soup of the Day?

French onion

18. What site is a must see for all visitors to your city?

Ummmm…we aren’t in a city. I don’t want to say the town hall but there’s not much else to see… In cities I have lived:

In NY: the Statue of Liberty
In DC: the Smithsonian Institute
In Baltimore: Inner Harbor

19. Can you recommend a good restaurant in your city?

We don’t live in a city! But about 30 minutes from here is a super place called Prospectors.

20. You go to the zoo; What is the one animal that you want to see?

If they have any, the pandas! There are pandas at the Washington National Zoo. If not, I’d want to see the lions and tigers.

21. Potatoes, rice, or pasta; Which is your favorite?

little red potatoes

22. What is the best movie that you've seen this year?

LOTR: Return of the King

23. One of your favorite books when you were a child?

All Aboard For Freedom. It was about Czechs who wanted to escape the Communist government and so they boarded this train … I can’t remember all the details. I’m surprised to remember the title! There are other books I enjoyed but I can’t remember the titles.

I am even more surprised to find the book available at Amazon.com!

24. What in your life are you most grateful for?

Here again, I can’t pick one thing over another to say I’m most grateful for it. There’s Jesus and Rich and TB and my kids and my family and my friends and my life.

25. You are home alone and use the bathroom; do you close the door?

Probably not

26. What is your favorite small appliance?

my coffee maker!

7. Salty snacks or sweet treats?

Sweet, sweet, and more sweet

28. Are you usually a little early, a little late, or right on time?

a little early but then I just sort of hang out outside until it’s right on time

29. What is the most daring thing that you have ever done?

Beats me!

30. Have you ever met someone famous?

David Selby … is he famous? He was on Dark Shadows and Falcon Crest

31. What was one of your favorite games as a child?

Red Light Green Light 1-2-3

32. At what age have you looked your best?

When I was in my 20s

33. One person that never fails to make you laugh?

TB -- even when he tells a lame joke I laugh on the inside ;)

34. What was the first music that you ever bought?

I bought several 45s. I don’t remember all the titles but they included “Red Rubber Ball” and “I Am A Rock”

35. If you could change one thing about your family life when you were a child, what would it be?

that my parents didn’t develop drinking problems

36. What is the one thing that you cook that always receives compliments?

Just about everything … especially corned beef & cabbage

37. From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news?

Internet

38. In the last calendar year, how many people have you told that you love them?

My husband, my kids, grandkids … at least a dozen!

39. Who received your first kiss?

a dopey guy named Joe

40. The single most important quality in a mate?

honesty - trust.

41. What do you value most in a relationship?

Laughing together.

42. Do you believe that you have a soulmate?

Yes

43. Do you consider yourself well organized?

Not especially!

44. On average, how many times a day do you look at yourself in the mirror?

Oh I try hard not to but at least once

45. Did you ever make a prank phone call?

Yes, when we visited another deaf couple w/kids, my parents and the other parents would play cards and all the hearing kids would get on the phone and cause all kinds of mischief

46. What one quality do you seek in a friend?

Honesty.

47. Have you ever killed an animal?

I don’t think so, I don’t think I hit an animal or ran over one

48. When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

a writer

49. Do you believe in a afterlife?

Absolutely positively no doubt about it yes

50. What would you like to accomplish with the remaining years of your life?

Have fun, be a loving and supportive wife and mom and nana. Oh … and write novels and get published.

I am so upset about the fact that U.S .soldiers were involved in the torture of Iraqi prisoners of war! War is ugly there is no question about it but I am shocked and disillusioned and disgusted that our soldiers would participate in such awful acts toward the prisoners … and then proudly take pictures of what they did! I’ve already seen the argument that “they” have done much worse things than we ever did … “they” being Saddam Hussein and whatever supporters he had. So this makes what we did all right? And I’m saying we because those soldiers represent us.

One man, a sergeant, said he tried voicing his concerns to his commanding office who just said forget about it, I approve of this. “This” is stuff so degrading and dehumanizing I can’t share it. It’s all there in the article. It makes me sick.

Just because the enemy behave in a barbaric manner doesn't mean that we should do the same thing. It's just flat out wrong!

I see now that the British are involved in this too.

Now I am Watership Down :)

You're Watership Down!
by Richard Adams
Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.