Life is Full of Lessons ...Just Open Your Eyes!

My daughter Claire

2009-06-05T09:51:00.002-04:00

My daughter Claire will be 16 in July and I have to admit this time of her life scares the hell out of me. I have less and less control which means that I can not protect her from bad decisions she might make or others make. I can not protect her from bad people and the evil they can do. All I do is affirm to her that I love her everyday and tell her she can come to me with any problem. I might be upset but I will never stop loving her and we can deal with anything. I also have told her the following over and over:
1. Do not drink and drive or swim,
2. You can call me any time of the day from any location and I will come for you if you need my help.
3. Make your stand in the parking lot- NEVER get in a car against your will!
4. Don’t go out alone and always tell someone where you are going.
5. Your friends are not you, you can say no to them.
6. Enjoy life while you can!

I found the following in "Here If You Need Me", which sums up my prayers for Claire:
“As a mother I pray for miracles of the most ordinary kind on their behalf: I want their hearts to keep beating. I want them to live. If I could speak one prayer for you, my children, it would be that your hearts would not only beat but grow ever greater in gratitude, that your lives, however long they prove to be and no matter how they end, continue to bring you miracles in abundance.”

I love you Claire

CCHS Graduation

2009-05-21T15:14:00.003-04:00

Last evening my exchange student graduated from Central Catholic High School. While at the ceremony I was unfortunate enough to be witness to one of the most ridicules displays of power I have ever witnessed. Honestly, I thought I was going to be in the middle of a riot. So here was the situation. At the graduation an announcement was made that the audience should withhold their cheering and celebrating until all students names were read, well if you have been to more than one gradation you should know that NEVER happens, someone always shouts out. So the names are being read and someone lets out a "Way to go...!!!" The reader stops and waits for the celebrating to stop and then continues. Then another family starts celebrating, this time the reader (I will call her Ezmeralda) stops and give the family the "stink eye", I swear she was cursing them and she said "We have kindly asked you to refrain from celebrating until ALL names have been read ... and I think under her breath "may all of your first born have a third eye and a tail." So the audience gets quite, the names continue to be read and obviously Ezmeralda did not put the Fear of God into someone because oops there it goes, another shout out "That my Boy!! At this point I though Rev. Hartigan was going to blow a clot! First, he is as big at a VW and was turning red. He waddled up to the podium, grabs the mike and bellows "We have kindly asked you to refrain from celebrating until ALL names have been read!! The crowd calms down, the names are being read and damn if someone did not shout out! This time Rev. Hartigan yells "security, man your positions and escort anyone out who does not remain quiet." Oh Central Catholic was asking for problems!! First issue is that 98% of the cheering families were black, 85% of the audience that is complying with the schools request to be silent are white. One white old man yells "stop showing your ignorance," to the celebrators. Second name read after Rev. Hartigan pronouncement and someone had to go and push the envelope "We love you Lakisha"!!! Re. Hartigan waddles up to the mike and yells "security remove them!" Now the audience starts chanting "throw them out, throw them out," I am seriously thinking we are going to have a riot. Security runs up to the top of the Sullivan Center and escorts a family out. I can now sense the tension in the air, I am sitting in disbelief and checking out the nearest exit. Crowd quiets down, name are being read and here we go.. This time the families know they are going to be escorted out so they stand up, give their shout out and proceed to walk out. This happens three or four more time before the reader FINALLY reads the last name. I sat in disbelief, would it taken any longer if CCHS had just allowed the families their few moments of celebrating?

Funny!!

2009-05-04T13:04:00.001-04:00

WE have a sick piggie!

2009-04-30T13:52:00.008-04:00

My 15 ½ year old daughter has a Guinea Pig named Lucilla LaCoco or “Lucy” for short who is 5 years old (Guinea Pigs live 5-8 years). On Sunday my daughter came in my room and said we need to make an appointment and take Lucy to the vet there is something wrong with her feet. I looked at her feet and instantly I knew the problem; and I knew this was going to be a major deal. I recognized that Lucy has “bumblefoot,” which is a bacterial infection that Guinea Pigs are susceptible to. Usually, piggies contract this from poor living condition, illness or injuries. All I will say on this is Lucy has not been taken care of, as best as she should have been.

On Monday I called the Vet and was able to get Lucy an appointment. I called my daughter’s father and told him to bring Claire and meet me at the Vet. I wanted Claire to be involved in the decision making process on Lucy’s care. The Vet looked at Lucy and confirmed my diagnoses of bumblefoot and then proceeded to tell us the care that would be involved in treating Lucy. This would be long term care, feet wrappings, medications, x-rays, multiple appointments ….etc, etc, etc …. I asked her how much and she said “I will let you talk this over with your daughter and you need to decide if you can commit to the time you will need to care for Lucy, if you can not I think you should think about euthanizing her, and I will work on a quote.” I started crying which was a BIG MISTAKE because the Vet probably though, we have an animal nut on our hands and she will pay out her butt!!!

So the vet leaves the room and my daughter starts crying and says, “What do you think we should do?” I said “Claire, she is not my Guinea Pig and I am not making the decision (is she crazy, if I decided to “put Lucy to sleep” I would be branded the rest of my life.” I can see it now; Claire would be on Oprah or Dr. Phil telling the world how her mom killed her only friend in life!!)

I told Claire if we decided to treat Lucy, she would be the primary care giver and I would be the backup. Claire said she would like to try and see how it goes and if Lucy does not get better we can talk about it again. Okay, decision made, mom is not a bad guy, Claire is taking responsibility.

The Vet Tech comes back in to the room and hands me the quote, I almost started crying again! The quote was for $436-610.00 What the #@! !!!! Lucy only cost me $16.00. OMG!!! The Tech explained the cost would be over 6 months and they wanted to go higher than lower on the quote. Now what do I do? I let Claire make the decision and now I am panicked. I thought about the quote and calculated the cost over 6 months and though I can handle the bill. So, I did what any guilt ridden mom would do; I wrote out the first check to the Vet for $177.00 dollars. On the way home I went to Petco and bought $50.00 worth of supplies. On Tuesday I ordered medical supplies to care for Lucy in the amount of $66 and Lucy will have her first follow-up today at the vet for another $80.00. So…if I add this up correctly in four days I have spent $373.00 on Lucy. How in the hell did the vet tech come up with $436-610 for six months!!! Breath in, Breath out, Breath in, Breath out!! Okay enough about that!

Lucy came home Monday with hot pink bandages on her feet. She looks quite stylish with her black and white fur and pink go-go boots. Lucy is now living the life! Her cage is now in the dining room instead of my daughter’s room, so that I can keep an eye on my new investment! Her diet was modified so she is now eating her pellets along with kale, greens, green peppers and liquid vitamin C (by the way that is more money I spent, we do not eat these foods!) She is given medication twice a day, her cage is now cleaned everyday and she gets a clean towel for her bed everyday! What have I done!!!

I will keep you all posted on Lucy’s recovery!

Update: Lucy has new go-go boots they are now pink with purple hearts. We will continue with her meds and she now gets foot treatments every two-three days. She will return to the Vet in eleven days. I wonder when we will start giving her facials!!

12 Things to Remember By Sonia Ricotti

2009-04-29T10:25:00.001-04:00

1. Life is short. If you are stressed, worry, eat unhealthy, or focus on the negative "stuff" - your life will end up being even shorter.

2. Your troubles of today are only temporary. Look for the silver lining. If you look hard enough, you will find the silver lining and it will make all the difference in how you perceive your situation and how you feel.

3. When things are good in your life, they will seldom become great. We rarely make changes when things are good. Only when we hit rock-bottom, are we forced to make changes -and that will lead you to greatness. So, if you have hit rock-bottom, hold on to your socks and start celebrating because... your greatest life is just around the corner!

4. Stop staring at the closed door (the negative stuff). Search for all the open doors (opportunities) all around you. There are many.

5. You are perfect. Regardless of what you have been told, what people think, or how people treat you - you are perfect exactly the way you are.

6. The only opinion that counts is your own opinion of yourself.

7. You already have all the answers - they are just lost in the mental fog. Clear your mind of all clutter and negative chatter. Meditate, exercise, journal, and take time to yourself to reflect.

8. Don't follow the crowd. It will only take you places where others want to go.

9. Today is tomorrow, so stop procrastinating. Get out there and start living your greatest life.

10. Be different, be bold, be loving, and always follow your heart.

11. Be conscious of what you are feeding your mind.

12. When the going gets tough - give! No matter how bad things are, there is always someone, somewhere, in a worse situation. Give your time, money, or even just a compliment.Make a difference.

I think I am becoming a Germ-O-Phobe

2009-03-18T14:33:00.003-04:00

More and more I notice things that really bother me and others seem oblivious to the dangers lurking. The following give me the willies!!
1. Community pretzel or chip bowls.
2. Coffee lids that are all in a stack that you have to put on yourself.
3. Doctor office magazines (don't even get me started!)
4. Comforters on hotel beds, I was recently told by a maid that they change them once a month!!!
5. Public water fountains.
6. Shaking hands at church or meetings; I am fine with hugging.
7. Bathroom door knobs and the worst is the bathroom faucet handles!

God Help us!

2009-03-17T14:39:00.004-04:00

This afternoon I stopped in the coffee shop/deli located in the building I work in to get a little afternoon caffeine. I asked the 19/20 year old counter girl for a "Caffe Latte." She stared at me, looked up at their menu board and then back down at me and said "we do not have Caffe Lattes". I said, "well that is strange I get one here almost every other day." She looked back up to the menu board and back at me and said with a vocal inflection that indicated I was really wasting her time "Do you mean a Latte"! I should have looked at her and said "no, I want double strength coffee with steamed milk in it!"

Mother Daughter Bonding, by Gunfire

2009-03-01T20:54:00.008-05:00

Today my 15 1/2 year old daughter and I went to Clelands Indoor Pistol Range to target shoot. I told her I was going with a friend and she asked if she could come along. I was her age when I first learned how to shoot a gun so I had no problem. She had never shot a gun, held a gun or even seen one shot so it was quite the experience but a good one. I do not own a gun so we rented a Ruger .22 semi-automatic and I borrowed my father's Smith & Wesson 9mm. I believe she is now hooked and I think we will be going back once a month for Ladies Night! It had been 28 years since I had shot a gun but as you can see from my target I still have it!!

I am sure he was wondering what the heck

2009-02-28T18:27:00.005-05:00

I consider myself fairly intelligent but I have moments when the synapse are not all firing! Yesterday, I had one of these moments. I had a 5 hour drive home and bought a blue tooth headset so that I could talk hands free while driving. I tried to call my daughter but I was not having much luck getting in touch with her, so I called her father, my ex-husband. John and I have a decent relationship but there are some issues. I would say they are more annoyances than anything. Anyway, I called John up and left the following message:
ME: Hi John, This is Janis. I am trying to find Claire, I want to know if she fed Grissom. Can you have her call me?
Call was over and I THOUGHT I hung up my headset, well I didn't. It was at this point a Semi-truck driver appeared as he was going to come into my lane and I have a tendency to voice my opinion, even though the driver can not hear me. So ... this is the rest of the message John heard:
ME: WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING! KEEP YOUR BUTT OVER THERE!! I AM NOT PLAYING THAT GAME!! I then heard the headset click.
Oh well, it will keep John on his feet!

Bathroom Extortion

2009-02-28T00:09:00.002-05:00

I should have peed on her floor! I was driving home tonight from Buffalo and I made the mistake of having way too much coffee and pop (soda for all of you non-Ohio people)before I got on the road. I was on I-90 and my bladder and my gas tank dictated that I should stop at Chautauqua, NY. When I had visited Chautauqua in the past it had this very cool vibe, there are great old houses and it is the home of the Chautauqua Institute which holds open forums on public issues, international relations, literature and science. Chautauqua Institute was founded on the belief that everyone “has a right to be all that he can be -- to know all that he can know.” Well, back to my story. So I exit the toll road and headed towards the lake and I stopped at this little carry out/ gas station. The first thing I noticed, was that the gas was over $2.17 a gallon which was ridicules because every other gas station was around $1.76 a gallon. The second thing I noticed was a sign on the door that said "no public restroom"! I went in anyway because I wanted to ask where was the closest public bathroom. The only people in this place were the owner, a tattered old man buying bread and myself. When the old man left, I asked the owner where is the closet public bathroom and she said "I would guess closer towards town". She must had seen the look of exasperation in my face because she next said "I do have a bathroom for MY customers and if you buy something you can use it." Then she broke into this litany on how the beach was across the street and if she let everyone use the bathroom she would have people in all day long and she would not be able to pay for the toilet paper. I wanted to shake her and say "For God's sake lady it is February, there is not a soul within 100 yards of this place and I am in business attire not my frigging bikini ... but I didn't. I just grabbed the closet thing to me a can of pop and put it on the counter, threw down my money and said where is the bathroom PLEASE. When I came out my pop was on the counter with my change and the owner was no where to be seen! So much for the cool vibe in Chautauqua!

Message, lost in Translation

2008-12-04T11:04:00.005-05:00

I was showing my daughter who is 15 1/2 years old the "World" Video by Five for Fighting which is on my blog. I was telling her how the lyrics and the video really moved me and I was pointing out people in the video, like Robert Kennedy and Gandhi. When I was done, she said let me show you one of my favorites songs. Well here it is, I am kinda at a lost for words. How did we go from Five for Fighting to Tenacious D?
Watch the "World" video first to get a good understanding of my ...huh moment.

What type of world do you want?

2008-12-03T21:03:00.015-05:00

The song "World" by Five for Fighting touches my heart.
You probably have heard it on TV, it is used on a Sears Commercial

Here are the Lyrics:

Got a package full of wishes
A time machine, a magic wand
A globe made out of gold
No instructions or commandments,
Laws of gravity or indecisions to uphold
Printed on the box I see: ACME's Build a World to Be.
Take a chance, grab a piece
Help me to believe it

What kind of world do you want
Think anything
Let’s start at the start
Build a masterpiece
Be careful what you wish for
History starts now

Should there be people or peoples
Money, funny pedestals
For fools who never pay
Raise your army, choose your steeple
Don’t be shy, the satellites can look the other way
Lose the earthquakes, keep the faults
Fill the oceans without the salt
Let every man own his own hand.
Can you dig it baby?

What kind of world do you want
Think anything
Let’s start at the start
Build a masterpiece
Be careful what you wish for
History starts now

Sunlight’s on the bridge
Sunlight’s on the way
Tomorrow’s calling
There’s more to this than love

What kind of world do you want
Think anything
Let's start at the start
Build a masterpiece
History starts now
Starts now
Be careful what you wish for

Start now
Now...”
Here is my question: What type of world do you want?
What are you willing to do to get it?

My new principle

2008-12-02T01:22:00.002-05:00

Principle #1
"You must not want* for others what they do not want for themselves." -Dan Rogers
*want=behavior, value or emotion.
Just chew on that for awhile and think of how liberating and emotionally releasing principle #1 could be if you lived with that as your guiding principle.

Check out my Facebook profile

2008-11-26T10:36:00.001-05:00

Reminder: Be my friend on Facebook.

I invited you to join Facebook a while back
and wanted to remind you that once you join,
we'll be able to connect online,
share photos, organize groups and events, and more.

Thanks,
Janis

To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1277923881&k=X3F5X5W3WXYM51LIUF3TT3&r

The month before Christmas

2008-11-26T08:54:00.002-05:00

T'was the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a "Holiday ".
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X-BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
At the top of the agenda, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

I love this song!!

2008-11-21T01:41:00.001-05:00

Enough Said!!

2008-11-06T08:04:00.001-05:00

2008-10-29T08:54:00.005-04:00

Light looked down and beheld darkness.
There will I go, said Light.
Peace looked down and beheld war.
There will I go, said Peace.
Love looked down and beheld hate.
There will I go, said Love.
So Light came, and shone.
So Peace came, and gave rest.
So Love came, and gave light.
And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us.

-Laurence Housman

Let's Run Through The Rain

2008-10-09T12:22:00.001-04:00

Received this by e-mail this morning:
A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in "Mom let's run through the rain," she said.

"What?" Mom asked.

"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: " Mom , let's run through the rain."
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories ... So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to also send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them.

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry.

Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!!!

Get your mammys, save the Ta-tas!

2008-10-07T16:06:00.003-04:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-09-27T01:04:00.006-04:00

I have come to realize that I spend way to much time worrying about what could be versus what is.
Minute by minute life ticks away as I dwell on what ifs and I forget to enjoy what is.
What is, is now.

2008-09-25T10:08:00.005-04:00

Today is International Disturbed People's Day

I don't care if you lick windows,

take the special bus
or occasionally pee on yourself..

You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin' special

Today's Message of the Day is:
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.

Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back.

9 WORDS and PHRASES WOMEN USE

2008-09-22T13:45:00.001-04:00

A friend e-mailed this to me today and I though it was so true that I need to share!!

(1) 'Fine': This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) 'Five Minutes': If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) 'Nothing': This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4) 'Go Ahead': This is a dare, not permission. DON'T DO IT !!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) 'That's Okay': This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) 'Thanks': A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' ... that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) 'Whatever': Is a women's way of saying 'F___ YOU!'

(9) 'Don't worry about it, I got it': Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?'' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

It is official my neighbor is a nut-job!

2008-09-18T11:31:00.000-04:00

Our next door neighbor has always been a bit odd and unfriendly. He and his wife rarely leave their home. Years ago, they decided to naturalize their yard which is another word for "we are too damn lazy to pull weeds and mow the grass!" They have more trees in their backyard than the city has planted on the street. Some of these trees have become quite large and because of over planting they are weak and are a danger to our property. There is one tree in particular that is planted on the property line and hangs over onto our house. Every time there is a storm, huge branches fall in our yard and it is our feeling that one day their tree will be coming down on our house. So Craig trims what he can and we just cross our fingers and say a prayer. About two months ago I was walking past the crazy neighbor's house and he was out in the front yard cutting down a pine tree and he said "tell Craig if he wants to cut down his half of the tree he can". I about had a heart attack, I thought God was speaking to me! Where was this voice coming from? In the eight years that I have known Craig, this man has NEVER said one word to me let alone tell me Craig can cut down part of a tree in his yard! Craig decided to move on this offer ASAP! We want this tree down! Craig decided because of the location of the tree and size he was not going to cut the tree down himself, we would hire someone. The first estimate was a bit steep and the neighbor balked at splitting the cost and told us he knew someone who would do it cheaper. We waited all summer and nothing was happening with the tree project. We decided to get a second estimate. The second tree trimmer comes out and he was concerned about how he was going to remove the tree after he cut it down because our yard only has small people size gates. He asked to go into the neighbors yard. As Craig and Tree Trimmer are talking, Crazy Man arrives home. Craig introduces the two to each other and explains that we are getting a second estimate and ask if they can go into his backyard. Tree Trimmer decides the best course of action is to drop the tree in the neighbor's yard and carry it out through a wide gate on their property. Crazy Man appears ok with this. Craig and Tree Trimmer return back to our yard so Tree Trimmer can finish writing up the quote. I arrive home and Craig introduces me to Tree Trimmer and we discuss the price and we decide we are going to at cut down our half of the tree (which irritates me, we have to pay to cut down his tree!)and if he wants to wait on his half so be it. As we are talking Crazy Man comes out of his house and asked Tree Trimmer if he has a business card because he need to do a background check on him and run this past my C.O.. I am thinking isn't that funny he calls his wife his "Commanding Office," but I was wrong. The next thing he said was "I work for the Federal Government and my house is watched and if you are climbing in my trees without approval you will be shot! Tree Trimmer said "wait, wait what did you say? who is going to shoot me?" Crazy Man responds "The agents watching my house. I have documents that will need to be secured or moved before you can come into my backyard, so give me at least a three day notice." I am doing all that I can not to laugh, I had to bit the inside of my mouth and look away. Crazy Man takes the business card and leaves and we are left with one of those "what the hell just happened moments!" Well, I learned somethings that day:
1. If I need to make some money I could break into Crazy Man's house and steal the documents 2. My dog has not been barking at cats and rabbits in the field he has been barking at Ninjas and Secret Agents! 3.If Crazy Man is working for our Government we are all doomed and we need to move to Lithuania! 4. We probably will not get the tree cut down anytime soon if he keeps telling the tree trimmers they will be shot! By the way, Crazy Man has now installed a huge chain and lock on his gate.

Today I am grateful:

2008-09-11T14:47:00.005-04:00

for being alive
for being sober
for my house
for my children
that my children do not hate me
for being a host mom
for the best dog in the world
for the having an ex-husband I can deal with
for a crisp fall day
for coffee
for the sound of cicadas and katydids on a summer night
that i have a sponsor
that i earned an A+ in my online course
that I have a great home
for gerber daisies
for homegrown tomatoes
for brighter days (feelings always pass)
for being married - although times can sometimes get hard
for being a bit different and strange
that I can say I am sorry
for being open minded
for my sense of smell
for my intelligence
for my curious nature
for my ability to laugh and smile
for books
fro great friends
for God
for health

This is for my friend Iris Took of Great Smials !

2008-09-10T14:41:00.002-04:00

Biggest Group of Geeks!

2008-09-10T08:18:00.002-04:00

I saw this picture on CNN.com and it made me smile, could there be a bigger group of geeks! The picture is a of a group of scientists who are applauding because the largest particle accelerator (atom smasher)was turned on at 7:32 GMT! WOOHOO, Smash those Atoms!!

Julia Child was a Spy!!

2008-08-14T09:31:00.005-04:00

Can you believe it!! Julia Child was a spy for an international spy ring managed by the Office of Strategic Services, an early version of the CIA created in World War II by President Franklin Roosevelt. I loved seeing her and Jacques Pepin working together, the banter and disagreements about the exact correct way to make a hamburger. I love how she said she didn't worry about undercooked ground beef or too much butter or wine. She would ramble on in her quirky accent, I will always remember save the liver!
Now, first, remove the giblets - and you really should save the giblets. They make a fine stock for soup. Or you can save the liver and fry it up with some onions for a little snack; or if you have a number of livers, you can make a lovely liver pate, or a delicious liverwurst which you can spread on a cracker - a Ritz cracker, a Saltine ... or rye bread, or pumpernickel bread ... or if you're celebrating the Jewish holidays, you can make a chopped liver and shape it into the bust of a friend ... if someone's getting married or bar-mitzvahed. Or, if you have a little cat or a dog, they love liver. Save the liver! Don't throw it away! I hope I've made my point. Don't throw the liver away. Now, where was I? [looks around the kitchen] Oh, yes. Anyway, it's time to bone the chicken...

By the way, tomorrow would have been her birthday, Happy Birthday Secret Agent Julia wherever you are!

God please do not make me like everyone else!

2008-08-12T14:32:00.004-04:00

For those of you who do not know me I should let you know I am very spontaneous and a bit of a rebel and free spirit. Some days I have a hard time staying grounded I daydream about what I wish I could do if I had more cash or no cash and no responsibilities. If I had my choice I would be traveling the world eating bizarre foods like Andrew Zimmern ( I ate an earthworm a couple of years ago to prove I could eat gross things) or living in a commune in Sedona leading a sweat lodge. When I start to feel common and suburban I panic, for me there is nothing worse. As I get older I can feel myself slipping into a melancholy because I realize that there is so much I have not done in my life and less time to do it. I see my body change and I feel aches and pains and I realize age is creeping up on me. To bad I have allergies, I could aspire to be an eccentric cat lady!

All I can say is this is so sweet

2008-08-10T11:48:00.003-04:00

We are become a bunch of Wimps!

2008-07-30T08:51:00.006-04:00

While at the Zoo I noticed hand sanitizer everywhere. Parents were chasing around their little ones yelling wash your hands, wash your hands. The zoo even has a portable sink outside the Children's Zoo in case you are contaminated by alpaca spit and can not make it 50 feet to the restrooms. WHAT!! I am surprised they do not have portable hand sanitizer wipes next to the statues of the tortoises and elephant that kids climbed on to wipe them down. When I was a child they did not have all of this at the zoo. We fed the elephants, picked our noses, touched goats than ate our lunch. I never heard of any of my friends dying from "creeping crud or jungle fever." We also did not have viruses resilient to antibiotics or the epidemic proportion of people with OCD. Now I have to admit I am a bit of a hypocrite because I am a slight germaphobe, do not even get me started about magazine in doctor's office or eating out of communal chip bowsl or bags! YUCK!!
In case you do not know how to wash your hand I have provided instructions:
* First wet your hands (make sure to use warm water) and apply liquid or clean bar soap—it does not have to be antibacterial soap.
* Next rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces (under finger nails, wrists, palms, back of hands, fingers)
* Continue for at least 10–15 seconds (time equals about two rounds of singing "Happy Birthday" in your head. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.
* Rinse well and dry your hands. If possible, dry with a clean disposable paper towels.
* To prevent chapping and cracking, you can apply some lotion after drying hands (optional)

Hand washing information above comes from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the American Society for Microbiology

By the way, in case you are one of those over protective parents you can protect your children from irresponsible hand washers and buy a sign to attach to your baby carrier before you resort to enclosing your child in a bubble.

What is the world coming to?

2008-07-29T10:47:00.003-04:00

My daughter is a Zooteen, on Saturday I had to drop her off at the zoo for her to work one and half hours in the Children's Zoo. I decided to stay and hang out at the zoo. All and all I can say is, if the people who visit the zoo are any indication of our future, all hope for humanity is lost!! Claire was assigned to the guinea pig getting area so I though I would just hang out and watch her interact with the children. So here comes "daddy" with two small kids holding their hands walking with mom and what looks like her sister. "Daddy" was covered in "tats," but the one that caught my eye was the tattoo that covered his rather large forearm. In Old English letters it said F***!!! He had sleeves on so I do not know if his tattoo was just plain F*** or perhaps was more elaborate like "F*** You", "F*** Off and Die"or " F*** your mother"! I wonder what thought process borough him to the conclusion it would be a good idea to have F*** tattooed on his arm. Was he having a bad day? I have a suggestion, if the tattoo just says F*** he should modify it to say F***en Idiot!

2008-07-15T09:52:00.007-04:00

That time of year! This recipe is to help reduce itching when you get bitten by insects. It would also works with poison ivy and sunburn. Let me know what you think!

1 cup of cold water
¼ cup of cider vinegar
9 drops of Lavender (not Lavadin) essential oil
3 drops of Peppermint essential oil
2 drops of Roman Chamomile oil

Blend well. Place in plastic bowl with tight sealing lid. This blend is great to keep cool in your refrigerator. Soak a washcloth in this solution to gently apply to area of skin

Grissom Masters the Treadmill

2008-07-09T20:24:00.003-04:00

After watching the movie "I am Legend" and the Dog Whisper in which they use a treadmill for dog exercise, I decided Grissom needs to master the treadmill for the days in which I do not want to walk. Here he is TA DA!!

How Mouth Odor Affects the Pleasure of Kissing

2008-07-02T10:35:00.005-04:00

Can you believe that a doctor is actually doing research on how mouth odor affects the pleasure of kissing! This is a blurb from Dr. Hirsch's Website: The inner essence of a person is often judged by the way they smell. If they smell good, they are seen as good; bad = bad. One representation of our essence is the odor of our breath. Mouth breath is particularly obvious during the act of kissing. But what does the ideal kiss taste like? In this study, Dr. Hirsch is exploring different kiss tastes and the perception of kiss quality based on taste. So here is my question, what is your favorite kiss taste? Personally, since I am dieting I want a chocolate cake flavored kiss!

A Rant: I hate getting old

2008-07-01T23:34:00.000-04:00

On May 27th I turned 46 and this has been very traumatic for me. In my mind I do not see myself as being old, hell I act more immature than most 6th graders. Physically, I am aging. My body aches in places that I did not even know could ache. I am overweight and out of shape. The sad thing is even if I lose weight and was in great shape I would still be OLD!! I do not even realize how old I must look but I did figure out I could be a grandmother. When I went to Turkey it is a custom for young people to give up their seats to OLDER women. Do you know how depressing it was to step on a bus and immediately have someone offer me their seat! The Turks must have thought I was crazy, I would hold on to the wrist straps on the bus and hang on for dear life for miles before I would accept their seats. When I look at my husband and I see his hair turning gray I am thankful that I am a blond and do not have a problem dying my hair!! Thank God I have not found a gray hair yet, I think that would send me over the deep end! I know I will more than likely be a crazy old lady but not tomorrow!!!

Thank God for Al Gore!

2008-07-01T23:17:00.008-04:00

My life is a whole lot easier since Al Gore "invented the Internet! My name is Janis and I'm an information addict. I am not a know-it-all but I sure wish I was! I cannot imagine a day in which I have not learned some piece of useless knowledge. Today, I learned how sword swallowing works. My obsession with knowledge is beyond normal. If I hear someone talking about something I do not know about, I will add it to my "need to research list." Sometimes I am so driven by the need to research I will stop whatever I am doing and jump on the Internet. Since I am aware of all the garbage on the Internet I will start my search at the Google Scholar .

I am that person that you do not want to play Trivia Pursuit with unless it is that horrid Star Wars Version. Oh and by the way, Genus V almost made my brain bleed! When I watch the show the Cash Cab with my family I am not allowed to answer the questions until they admit they do not know the answer because they say I ruin the fun for them! I do know for a fact that my name is on several friend's cellphones in case they hail the Cash Cab while in New York. This insatiable drive I have for knowledge can sometimes backfire on me. Some people expect me to know everything so I am asked question about stuff all the time. Which I do not like for two main reasons: 1. I hate not knowing an answer to their question (which means now I have to add their question to my own need to research list!) and
2. I am the Keeper of the Knowledge not the giver!
(By the way, The Al Gore comment was a joke!)

New Shoes!!

2008-07-01T08:18:00.007-04:00

I started walking 2 miles every night to help with my weight loss. By the time I returned I could hardly walk, my feet were dying! I would wake up the next morning and have to hobble around for a few hours. The years of wearing "Impractical Shoes" (do you here me DM!) has killed my feet. I use to love pointy toe thin heels. Now, I have been left with no padding on my feet and I think I have a neuroma. I will be seeing a podiatrist next week. Yesterday, I decided to go to Dave's Performance Footgear to be fitted for a pair of shes and I learned several new things! I was told that your athletic shoes should be 1/2 to 1 size larger to keep your toes from hitting the end. Really! This would explain why my toes always hurt. Also, since I have such a high arch I should be wearing an insert in ALL of my shoes. Finally, even though I am walking, running shoes are sometimes better because of all of the features. So here are my buys a pair of Adidas Supernova. I am happy to report I wore my new shoes with the insert on my walk and my feet felt fine, I woke up this morning and my feet do not hurt!! Oh and one more thing, Americas totally mispronounce Adidas (uh-DEE-duhs) it is a German word and should be pronounced like this. (this is for Iris). I had to pass that bit of knowledge onto the sales person at Dave's and I think she though I was nuts.

I love whimsey

2008-06-30T11:02:00.005-04:00

Yesterday, I bought the coolest doll at the Crosby Gardens Art Festival. Here is a picture of a similar doll in the series. My doll is called ... are you ready for this ..."Not a Puppet." She is holding scissors in her hand and has the marionettes strings on her lap. When I saw her and read her name I started to cry. I realized how much I strive to be my own person, almost to a fault. I am a control freak and I am so afraid of being someone's puppet. I think she will be very healing for me. Checkout some of the other dolls at "The Doll Makers," they are great!

Movie Review: Wanted

2008-06-30T10:27:00.006-04:00

I loved this movie! This film is based on a comic book series and there are some very “supernatural” or “superhero” type elements in this story. If you go in with an open mind, expecting some very strange and wonderful things to happen you’ll probably get exactly what you’re expecting. The action sequences were intense and well executed. The special effects were excellent. The movie has one of the best chase scenes I have seen in a long time! You will be in awe, yelling YES!! Now, about the story line. The more you think about the storyline the more you’ll realize how many problems there actually were with it. Don't dwell on that, just think about the great action and how much fun it was! This is the type of movie that will have a sequel but how that will happen will be interesting You’ll know what I mean when you see it.

It is official I am on a Weight Loss Regimen!

2008-06-26T09:31:00.005-04:00

Just a warning you might want to stay away from me for several days because I am on day four of my weight loss program and I am just a tad bit CRANKY!! Actually, I am not physically hungry but I am mentally hungry. I want to eat chocolate donuts, my husband's buttery popcorn and ice cream but I can not because I am an addict with no willpower and will not stop eating once I start. I am addressing that issue and feel I am now motivated I am tired of: aching knees, being out of breath, wearing baggy clothes, hiding my body from my husband and being disgusted with my image in a mirror. I have joined a Gym and I will lose at least 50 Ilbs. I did it once, I can do it again and this time it is for good!!

What the Hell ...

2008-06-24T14:11:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, was a "Hell" day. I do not know what got into me but every other sentence was "what the hell ..." or "who the hell ..." I did it so often that one of my co-workers said " Janis, are you feeling rowdy today"? I have been trying to curb my use of four letter words but I think I might have some type of disorder. I do not even notice I am using curse words half the time till someone says something or my husband gives me a dirty look. Most of the time I am pretty sure I am just thinking all those thoughts to myself. Sometimes they just slip out?

On Sunday, I was bored out of my skull so I turned on the Denise Richards reality show and I though I was bad, she is like a sailor! Every other word was getting bleeped. She was so bad her dad told her every time she cursed she would have to give up a pair of shoes to Goodwill. By the end of the show she was dropping off 13 pairs of shoes. These were not ordinary shoes mind you these were shoes I would drool on! Jimmy Choo's, D&G and Prada to name just a few. Maybe I should try that approach every time I curse I need to give something up. I sure as HELL know if I had Jimmy Choo's that would be the last damn thing going to the friggin Goodwill!

A very strange dream ...

2008-06-24T00:21:00.003-04:00

I do not normally remember my dreams but... last night I had an interesting dream. I dreamt (by the way, did you know dreamt is also the only word in the English language that ends with mt.) that I was being guided to an understanding on why I do not sleep through the night and wake up always around 2:30 - 3:30 am. In my dream I was taken into an area and I saw that I had been a very young monk left by my parents at a monastery. The monks would get up very early around 12:00 am to pray after that I was suppose to get up around 3:00 am and I did not like to get up so I was beaten regularly by a cruel Abbott. I loved God but started to turn my back and lost my belief because I did not understand how he would allow me to be beaten and treated the way I was when my life was devoted to loving him. At the end of this dream I saw a large ancient book and I reached out to touch it and I heard "do not touch it, it is unclean and is covered in blood" but it was too late I already had it in my hands. I dropped the book and looked down and my hands were covered in the blood. I knew then that I had the Plague. This dream was very intriguing because for one it fits into my life; I studied Philosophy of Religion at UT, I love chanting, reading Thomas Merton, and solitude. At one time, I wanted to be a Buddhist Nun and have always been drawn to contemplation. For many years I have searched for God and yet I always turn my back on my beliefs and any church I get involved with. Right before I woke up I heard " It is alright to believe now.

Finally, Sonic comes to Toledo!

2008-06-03T12:30:00.002-04:00

It was announced in todays local newspaper, there will finally be a Sonic in Toledo with the first one opening in August. For years, I have been driven mad by the Sonic commercials that would play on the television. Why was this commercial on the TV when as far as I could find there was not a Sonic to be found within 100 miles! Your mouth would water as they described their Burgers and Slushies. So, when I drove to Florida with my family I added " Eat at a Sonic" to my life list. I would once and for all find this elusive restaurant!
Well, as luck would have it there was a Sonic a few miles away from the Condo we were staying at in Florida. The night we decided to experience Sonic's it was pretty funny. We pulled up into the restaurant parking lot in our "We are so white-bread mini-van" and the lot was filled with Hispanic street racers. Almost every spot was taken up by a "crotch rocket" or modified Honda Civic. We stood out like a sore thumb but not to be deterred we were on a mission. Even my kids were excited to actually see a Sonic. Well, I must report that they have one of the best burgers I have ever ate at a fast food restaurant and great Slushies with flavors like watermelon, blue coconut and my favorite Pineapple. If you like burgers look for the Sonic in August and let me know what you think!

The Love of My Life: My Daughter Claire

2008-06-01T20:52:00.000-04:00

As our kids get older we become invisible to them, their friends and activities are more important. Gone are the days when it was alright to hold hands or hug in public. We become cooks, taxi drivers, time keepers and on some days only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

There is a legendary story about man who came to visit a cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

As parents, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of an invisible parent.

I love Claire and would not have it any other way; she is my masterpiece.

Replaced the Nasaline with a Jala Neti Pot

2008-06-01T19:43:00.011-04:00

My friend A.H. recommended the Jala Neti pot as a replacement for the Nasaline. I ended up with an ear infection after I pushed the syringe a little to hard and ended up with fluid in my Eustachian tube. The Jala Neti is as you can see stainless steel and is very sturdy. The stainless steel will be good to use with essential oils because it will not absorb the aroma of the oils and will not break down because of the oils. I ordered the Jala Neti pot from a company in India called Health and Yoga. They have a great site and customer support for Neti (Nasal Irrigation) help. Actually, their FAQS are pretty amusing here are two questions and responses from their site:

Q. I want to know if Neti is helpful in straightening of the bone in our nose.
A. Aaaah, no. Salty water is not known for its abilities to bend bones back into place.

Q. There are other more expensive nasal irrigators that are marketed. What advantages does the Neti Pot have over the other systems?
A.Whilst we yogis are not all luddites who think that anything modern is stupid (I am typing this on a computer), it is beyond my comprehension why, when there is a perfectly good gravity irrigation system available and that body saline is the most neutral solution one could use, anyone could think up a need to force water thought the nasal cavities with a mains (or battery) powered machine carrying a concoction of pharmaceutically manufactured chemicals. All the time and effort and cost and complexities of such a device all seems so unnecessary.

Oh and one more thing, I can not believe how fast my Neti Pot arrived from India, I think they have a Magic UPS Carpet!

Getting to Know You 2008

2008-05-31T08:33:00.000-04:00

I keep getting this e-mailed to me so I thought I would just post it on my blog!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:07 am
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What is the last Movie you saw? Ps. I Love you -DVD, Indiana Jones-Theater
4. What is your favorite TV show? Cash Cab, Bizarre Foods, No Reservations,
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? MC Donald’s Parfait!!
6. What is your middle name? Lee
7. What food do you dislike? Parsnips
8.What is your favorite CD at the moment? Esperanza Spalding
9. What kind of car do you drive? 2008 Town & Country
10. Favorite Sandwich ? BLT with an Egg
11. What characteristic do you despise most? Perpetually crabby people
12. Favorite item of clothing? boots & shoes!!!
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Italy or Bali
14. Favorite brand of clothing? Chico's
15. Where would you retire to? Sedona, AZ
17. Favorite sport to watch? Extreme Fighting and Boxing oh and Bull Riding!! (thats for Iris)
18. Farthest place you are sending this? To the Internet Netherlands
19. Person you expect to send it back first? Mom
20. When is your birthday? May 27th
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night!
22. What is your shoe size? 9
23. Pets? Grissom
24.Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I am a secret agent!
25. What did you want to be when you were little? Entomologist
26. How are you today? Great
27. What is your favorite candy? Good n Plenty
28. What was the last thing you ate? Hard Boiled Egg
29. Do you wish on stars? No
30. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? One of those multi-colored crayons
31. How is the weather right now? Cloudy it is Toledo
32. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Mom
33. Favorite soft drink? Coke Zero or as they say in Turkey Cola Zero
34. Favorite restaurant? Depends on my mood
35. Hair color? Natural Blond but the rest of the time it depends on what day it it!
36. What was your favorite toy as a child? My bike I loved riding it nude around the house
37. Summer or winter? Winter during global warming I hate to sweat
38. Hugs or kisses? Both, depends on who it is from!
39. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
40. Coffee or tea? Both
41. When was the last time you cried? Last Night after watching PS I love You
42. What is under your bed? Stacks of books
43. What did you do last night? Watched a Movie
44. What are you afraid of? My daughter hating me
45. Salty or sweet? Both, preferable one right after the other!
46. How many years at your current job? 7 Years
47. How many keys on your key ring? 1
48. Favorite day of the week? FRIDAY
49. How many towns have you lived in? 3
50. Do you make friends easily? Sometimes, I am an introverted extrovert

Baltimore Oriole Visit

2008-05-23T11:12:00.004-04:00

What a Blessing! This morning I was sitting in my family room with the sliding door open listening to the birds singing. As I listened, I noticed a bird call that was not part of the normal everyday repertoire I am used to hearing. I went out on my deck and started to listen for the call. It was coming from a tree in my backyard, I scanned the tree and then I spotted my visitor a male Baltimore Oriole! In the spring there is a huge songbird migration that occurs through Northwestern Ohio but at this point we are towards the end and it is not very often you get to see such a beautiful bird. What a great way to start my day off!

The Nasaline and my Continuing Saga of My Nose!

2008-05-22T09:47:00.007-04:00

I am so sick of dealing with nasal sprays, saline mists, pills, and my doctor shoving lights and instruments up my nose!! I decided enough is enough, if traditional medicine was not working I would try alternative medicine. I am a Massage Therapist for gosh sake! I know massage works better for most people than "here take this pill for pain and this pill for inflammation and I want you to come back in a month!" Anyway, I went out and bought a Nasaline, nasal irrigator which is a giant syringe with a rubber tip on the end. Here is the blurb from the manufacturer's website:
Nasaline is a unique, patented, drug-free nasal irrigation system designed by a team of Swedish ear, nose, and throat specialists. With the simple use of saline solution, Nasaline effectively washes away unwanted mucous, crusty secretions or allergens and provides relief from symptoms associated with allergies, colds, or the flu. I decided I would add essential oils to the saline solution to try and get a grip on my allergies and stuffy nose and it worked great! I can breath and I am not blowing my nose and sniffing every five minutes. There is a downside, because of the way our sinuses are situated in our head the saline solution can get trapped in the sinuses. You are told to blow your nose lightly after using the Nasaline but still some saline solution can be left. Sooooo... imagine this; I use my Nasaline in the morning, blow my nose, get ready for work, drop my kids off, arrive at work, drink some coffee and I get a call one of the women in the office has a computer problem. So I head down to the office and work on her computer as I am finishing someone else has a problem so I stop at her cubicle. She explains her issue and I said no problem easy fix and as I bend over to restart her computer, SALINE SOLUTION POURS OUT OF MY NOSE! OMG, how gross!! What do you say when you have just dumped nasal juices all over someones chair mat? Lucky for me she has three boys so she just laughed, thank you Jesus!

Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria

2008-05-22T09:11:00.004-04:00

I just read a book titled "Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria," that made me realize we are doomed! The world will not end in a Big Bang we will all get some type of creeping crud caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms. All because doctors and patients insist on using antibiotics for everything under the sun! We are not happy to pay for a doctor's visit and not get some type of drug! This book caused flashback to my childhood. I was sickly and the trauma inflicted on me all started to make sense. Now I know when I was seven I was having premonitions of things to come! Every time I sneezed the Doctor had his wonder drug Penicillin ready and loaded. My Doctor, his Nurse and my mom would have to chase me around the office with that HUGE syringe of cold viscous Penicillin. I would scream, bite and crawl under the furniture. One time I actually broke the need off in my butt cheek! Now I have confirmation of what I thought then is true, they were trying to kill me!!

2008-05-06T14:53:00.003-04:00

Bush says to Myanmar: 'Let us help'

I can't help but think that the Myanmar Government is afraid of the help Bush can provide, considering how the US Government responded to our own people during Hurricane Katrina. By the Way Mr. President, there are still people without homes and jobs in the areas devastated by Katrina!!

Speaking about Saturday TV I want to know when HR Pufnstuff will return!

2008-05-06T09:53:00.005-04:00

In case you have never seen H.R. Pufnstuf, it was on Saturday mornings from 1969-1972. This show had more drug references in it than a Cheech and Chong movie! What were parents thinking when they let us watch this show? Come on mom pass the "puffin stuff"!

Here is a description of the show from Wikipedia:

H.R. Pufnstuf , revolving around a boy named Jimmy (played by Jack Wild) who had accidentally found Living Island, a magical place where everything was alive. The Mayor of Living Island was a friendly dragon named H.R. Pufnstuf (voiced by the show's writer Lennie Weinrib). Jimmy had been lured to the island with his friend, a talking flute named Freddie, by a magic boat which promised adventures across the sea. The boat was actually owned and controlled by their nemesis, a wicked witch named Wilhelmina W. Witchiepoo (played by Billie Hayes) who rode on a broomstick-like vehicle called the Vroom Broom. Jimmy was taken in by Pufnstuf, who was able to protect him from Witchiepoo as the cave where he lived was the only place her magic had no effect. Apart from Witchiepoo, all of the characters on Living Island were realized via large, cumbersome costumes or puppetry. Since everything on Living Island was alive (namely houses, castles, boats, grandfather clocks, candles, books, trees, mushrooms), virtually any part of the Living Island sets could become a character, usually voiced in a parody of a famous film star, such as Mae West, Edward G. Robinson or most notably John Wayne as "The West Wind".

The Sleestaks are Coming!!

2008-05-06T09:17:00.003-04:00

Universal Pictures is remaking "Land of the Lost" and just released a still of the Sleestaks. When I was young I loved "Land of the Lost" it was the cheesiest! Yet, I did not get the Sleestaks. I never liked their costume. I always thought the Sleestaks look like they should be wearing leather coats with mirrored sunglasses. Sleestaks were interesting because they could not move fast, they were afraid of sunlight and their language consisted of loud hissing yet they terrorized the Marshalls. They ALWAYS caught the three humans whenever they came close to them which I could never understand because they couldn’t sneak up on you, and most certainly couldn’t catch you in a foot race. My grandma could out run them! I believe they moved so slow because clearly they had asthma. How else can you explain the unbelievably loud breathing noise they made as they approached anything.

This is the Truth - Make sure you watch it to the end!

2008-05-04T13:38:00.001-04:00

The Today Show Goes to Istanbul

2008-05-02T07:54:00.006-04:00

Check out their videos:
Day 4 of "Where in the World is Matt Lauer":

Facts about Turkey:

Istanbul: What you need to Know:

The Whirling Dervishes:

Turkish Dishes:

Quickie Tour of Istanbul:

The Blue Mosque:

Traveling to Istanbul:

Pictures From Turkey

2008-04-29T10:57:00.004-04:00

Check out my Pictures from Turkey

How Not To Blow Bubbles

2008-04-11T12:51:00.003-04:00

My daughter demonstrating

her bubble blowing skills!

Istanbul: I am so excited!

2008-04-10T10:24:00.010-04:00

On Friday I will leave for Turkey to visit friends.
We will be staying in Istanbul and then travel to Ephesus and back. Istanbul is the only city in the world that is situated in two continents; Europe and Asia! Over the centuries it has served as the capital of three empires!

Roman 330-395 AD
Byzantine 395-1453 AD
Ottoman 1453-1923

It will be surreal to walk on Roman streets and stand inside The Aya Sofia dedicated in 537AD by Emperor Justinian. I can not wait, I am so excited! I will keep you posted.

Sunshine "Peeps"

2008-04-05T09:07:00.005-04:00

Today is one of my favorite days, I am massaging my Sunshine "Peeps"! I have five clients coming in throughout the day and they are such a joy to work with. Each one of them lives in a residential facility for individuals with developmental disabilities. They love having massages and they will have me laughing and smiling all day. I have one women who sings praise songs and hymns while I am massaging her. Another women whips off her wig and throws it across the room and grabs my hands and kisses them. I have one man who loves Kleenex and I must limit him to only two maybe three per visit otherwise he would never get on the table and my box would be emptied! There is no bullshit with these individuals either they like you or they don't, either they are in a bad mood or they are not, they do not pretend. I love them for this!

Two years ago when I started working on my peeps I honestly did not know if I could do this work, I had never been around individuals with developmental disabilities and when I came in contact with them at restaurants or the mall they made me uncomfortable. Yet, I though I would give it a shot, so here I am two years later telling you how they will make my day. I have learned so much about myself and the healing of massage through them. Many of these individuals have been abused at some point in their lives or are covered in scars from surgeries yet they still want to trust and be touched. It is my honor and privilege to be the one that they trust.

Click on the picture below to view my photos from Cuba

2008-04-04T11:48:00.003-04:00

Confused

2008-04-03T15:23:00.007-04:00

There are some days I am just plain confused! Mostly I am confused by people and I want to say, "WHY?" Today I had one of those moments. I was walking in a public corridor, I will not disclose the location when I came across a person that I could not quite determine the sex of. "Pat" was an understatement. I thought perhaps it was an older women who has seen better days. Yet, she still wanted to feel youthful by putting her hair up in a side ponytail! You heard me a side ponytail! The closer I looked I thought, Noooo, I think that is a man wearing a side ponytail. Maybe it wasn't really a side ponytail just a bed head ponytail that migrated to the side of his head! So I took some of my co-workers along for a walk past this person to help me figure this one out. The consensus is ....drum roll, it is a man! WHY?

Is that a skunk I smell?

2008-04-03T11:28:00.005-04:00

One would think, with as much problem I have with my nose and sinuses that I would not be able to smell things. On the contrary, I have a great sense of smell. One time I was used to trace down a sewer gas leak! I was at a friend's office and she said "I do not know where this smell is coming from?" So, I got down on my hands and knees like a bloodhound and sniffed my way to her front door. I told her, "I think you have a sewer leak right outside your front door. She called the city and lo and behold I was right! I love smelling and sniffing things. My husband cannot smell many things and I could not imagine having his sense of smell, how depressing! Now if you know me you know there must be something weird in this story. Well here it is, I love driving down the road and getting a whiff of a skunk roadkill I like the smell of clean slightly sweaty arm pits. Mary Kathrine Gallagher, you go girl!! I also like the smell of diesel fuel, it was a sad day when buses could not spew out all of their exhaust into my waiting nostrils!! Hmm ...maybe this explains some of my issues!

Now, what do i do?

2008-04-03T08:34:00.009-04:00

I was driving into work this morning listening to NPR that would be "National Public Radio" for my readers that live under a rock. Anyway, they were doing a piece on how the Internet and e-mail is used more often by people seeking answers to their medical questions. You can now e-mail your doctor or visit certain websites and ask questions thus eliminating a visit to the doctor. As you might know I have spent quite a bit of time in doctor's office lately trying to address my sleep and nose issues. I am all for not spend the time sitting for eternity in an office full of sick people spewing and coughing germs all over. They should issue you gloves and a mask before you enter the office! Once you are in hell, you have to pick a seat; do you want to sit next to the woman who is shaking uncontrollably, or dear god the boy with the pus-like stuff oozing his eyes?? Just a reminder, never touch the magazines in a doctor's office EW! Who in their right mind would touch one of those snot covered, drool soaked, germ infested things, just so you can be bored and look like an idiot sitting there pretending to read "Tennis" magazine! Now you wait and wait and wait ... You have no idea when you will be called. I swear at least four people who came in well after I did got called in by the nurse before I did. And at least one of them came back out and left the office before I ever had my name called. When you finally get called you are moved to the examination room to wait some MORE!! By the way, does anyone else look in the drawers when you are left in the examine room? When the doctor DOES come in, it's a real event. It's like the sighting of a rare species thought to be extinct, or meeting royalty. They poke and prod and pretend to listen to what you have to say, write out a prescription and leave before you're even done rattling off your symptoms. Or they look at you and say the dreaded " well it just needs time to heal!" I walked through the fires of hell to hear that!! Damnations!! Okay, enough of my rant on doctor's offices, what I found amazing was the last part of the NPR piece. They actually said "e-mail medical advice should not be used for certain things like "uncontrollable bleeding!" Hello!! You mean if I accidental cut my arm off with a chain saw I should not go into the house and drop an e-mail to my doctor? Now what do I do!!!

Terra Mater

2008-03-27T14:02:00.001-04:00

She was beautiful beyond belief wearing Azure Blue,
Carmine Red and Viridian Green providing and caring for all

Man came and claimed her for his own stripping her
of her majesty leaving her barren, scarred, and wearied

Yet, she stood silent against his assaults hoping
one day he would understand her importance and restore her to her
throne ...if it is not too late

Sleeping Rituals

2008-03-27T12:06:00.004-04:00

If you do not suffer from insomnia, OCD or some other mental illness you might not understand this post. Since as long as I can remember I have dealt with sleep issues, I have been to a sleep clinic, tried several medications and have even had sinus surgery all in my search for that illusive night of perfect sleep. So, here I am now 45 and I have amassed an amazing amount of rituals that I do every night.

Here is sampling of what I do every night just to ready myself to chase the dragon called sleep:

Make sure all exterior doors and windows are locked.
Make sure there are no knives laying out on the counters (why would anyone ever use a knife block!)
close the blinds in the living room
close the blinds in my room, close the drapes, and pin the drapes shut with a cloth pin.
Make sure the black underwear are still covering the LED clock numbers (Why black underwear you ask? They were handy and dark enough to drown out the light.)
fill my water bottle up and sit it on my dresser
turn on the humidifier or ceiling fan or both
close the two doors that lead into my room
Make sure there are NO wrinkles on my side of the bed or anything else that might drive me nuts (Did you ever read "Princess and the Pea"?)
make sure I have no razor stubble on my legs, if I do shave them
place two pillows on the edge of the bed and one at top for my head
spray my pillow with Lavender spray
put chamomile essential oil on pillow ( I think I will stop this it stinks!)
rub calming oil on my feet
put 5 drops of Bach Flower sleep remedy under my tongue
Rub Icy hot or Ben-Gay on my knees unless I just shaved them (learned from experience!)
lay down and read for awhile
turn off the lights
stick one leg out from under the covers but make sure the rest of my body is covered up to my ears
take several deep relaxation breaths
Say my prayers

Then I lay in my bed and hope I will fall asleep on my own with out taking meds. Last night I listened to my husband do this snore-poof thing. He would snore than blow out his mouth with a "poof" sound. I started laughing and woke him up. I wonder if he would like to use my calming oils?

Bologna Wonder Food

2008-03-27T09:51:00.000-04:00

My Mom wasn't very adventurous in her cooking (or very good at it either!) and had a repertoire of maybe ten dishes that we consumed ad nauseum. If I lost the calendar I could tell you the day of the week. On Fridays we had Pizza or McDonald's, On Sunday it was some type of roast, On Saturday it some type of Swanson's TV Dinner the latest and greatest culinary invention. During the rest of the week it was some type of casserole or my mom's idea of a nutritious meal: meat, canned vegetables and instant potatoes. One of my mom's favorite meats to serve was Bologna.

I swear my mother thought Bologna was food from the heavens. Somewhere in her kitchen must had been a book titled "1001 Ways to Serve Bologna". I guess Bologna was cheap and a fast meal. We ate it fried, cut up into chunks and sauted with tomato sauce and green peppers, served as hors D'oeuvres: bologna, cheese and crackers, ground into "ground bologna salad" and of course served on wonder bread with mayo and crushed potato chips, we even had a song to sing while eating it!

My bologna has a first name, its O S C A R. My bologna has a second name it s M A Y E R. Oh I love to eat it every day and if you ask me why I’ll say: cause Oscar Mayer has a way with B O L O G N A.

The weird thing is as much as I dislike bologna every once in awhile I have this nostalgic desire to eat it. Last week I was in the meat market and I saw 100 % Beef Bologna and I though about the times I helped my mom grind the Bologna for ground bologna salad and decided I had to have it! I asked them can you please grind it for me and the women said, "yes how much would you like," and I said, "I will take that chunk right there." What I did not realize was it was a three pound chunk! Do you know how much ground Bologna salad you can make with three pounds? Oh, about the size of a small mixing bowl! I ate this stuff all week long and I think I have now fulfilled my desire to ever want to eat this stuff again for the rest of my life!

What is with the Pajama Bottoms!

2008-02-27T12:00:00.001-05:00

So, last week I was in our neighborhood grocery store and I noticed that more and more adults seem to think it is acceptable to go out in public in pajama bottoms. What the heck is up with this?
They look like vagrants that have escaped from the local hospital. When young girls wore pajamas in the public, I though it was a bit strange but cute. Now it is a plain scary seeing a grown man walking around in his "jammies," in the produce section. Just who do they think they are? Hugh Hefner! Put some clothes on!

***UPDATE***I decided to try this out. I went to Kroger's in my pajamas and I noticed no one seem to pay attention except my exchange student. As I was walking from my car into the store she said, "oh you have your pajamas on, are you going in?" I said, "yes." She said "in Korea we think only crazy people walk around with their pajamas on." She then told me that when she went back over the summer she went out with her friends wearing pajama bottoms and they though she she had lost her mind." When she explained that teens do this in the United Sates they thought it was a bit cool! Just think next year our biggest export to the fashion world could be going out in public in your pajamas. The French give the world Haute Couture, the USA give back pj's.

The Nose knows

2007-12-03T22:46:00.000-05:00

Last week I had nasal surgery and I have to tell you my Doctor did not really tell me a lot about how much pain and discomfort I would experience. Basically, anything they could possibly do up your nose they did to me.

On the fourth day after surgery I was told to remove the drain tubes in my nostrils. I was so looking forward to this I looked like a pig and they were very uncomfortable. So I ran into the bathroom and started to pull what I though would be a two inch long tube. Holy %#@!, it was four and a half inches long. I started to feel light-headed. I yelled for my husband "Craig I don't feel good I think I am going to be sick!" After they were out I did feel better and I knew in three days I would feel even better because the packing would be out.

Today, I went to my Doctor to have the packing removed. I made a comment about how he did not really tell me much about the post ops experiences. He just said "you're right, sometimes it is best not to know everything," and handed me a vomit basin and said hold this. He said "open your eyes and mouth as wide as you can and breath through your mouth. He reached up with forceps into my nose and pulled out what I swear was two super plus tampons that were shoved up into my nostrils. OMG that hurt! Tears came to my eyes and it felt like Floyd Mayweather just showed me why he is a world class boxer! My Doctor looked at me and said " you did really well with that I want to see you Thursday to take out the splint. What, there is more stuff up there?

I can tell you I am sooooo looking forward to Thursday. In one way I really am because I want to see what more they could possible have up my nose. With what they have removed so far I am convinced I could pack a small overnight trip in the space in my nostrils!.

I just keep going back to what the Doctor said "sometimes it is best not to know everything." I think if I lived my life like this taking it like it comes, one day at a time life would be so less complicated. So many times I need to know the whole plan and if I don't have it I will go over every possible scenario. Usually nothing ever happens like I imagine. Life is lot less eventful than my mind makes it out to be. So here is to not knowing everything!