What ZephyrBird thinks

Posted 7:19 PM by Bonnie

What Christmas means to me….

During this Christmas holiday there will be a lot of gift giving and receiving, so I am taking this time to write about the greatest gifts in my life.

My husband, Keith, whom I should have married back in the ‘70’s but due to hap and circumstance we parted ways and thought we had lost each other forever. We found each other again, thanks to the internet, in our fifties and have been together for over two years now and married one year last May. I enjoy our serious discussions about life and death, religion, politics, and love the fact that even though we often differ in our ideas, our discussions remain lively and fun and never get nasty. I am grateful he is able to enjoy my silliness and even get silly himself at times. I love the fact he makes up songs about me and has one for each of our six cats that he sings while he showers in the morning. What could be better than the gift of love.

My parents who tried hard to raise me in spite of myself. My fathers gift to me was an appreciation of art and of my mind. He taught us to exercise our minds by adding columns of numbers in our head. No calculator for us! My mother gave me the gift of words and the love of reading. When my father wanted me to remain safe and keep my feet planted firmly on the ground, my mother gave me wings to fly.

My sisters, who love me unconditionally. My older sister, Linda, has given so much of herself and time to me. When I wanted to get back north this summer to attend Victoria’s 50th birthday party, Linda and her husband Paul drove all the way to SC to get me and then to CT so we could all be there. Who could ask for a more selfless love.

My sister Victoria who has encouraged my writing and praises while giving hints of how to make my poetry and stories just a little better. She never says she is right, but gives me the idea and the freedom to use the ideas or not. Victoria has helped me with this blog on numerous occasion never making me feel I was stupid for not knowing how do it myself. She just did it. She has a gift of poetry and art she shares willingly. What better gift could one need than to have someone, who in sharing their own gift, makes your attempts better.

My brothers, who I rarely see, but love me. Vinny, who gets mad at me for leaving Erie, but at the same time is happy I have found love and tells me how good I look when he sees me and encourages me to keep working on losing weight. Joe, who always has a place for me if I need it and when we are together, it is as if no time has past. We are comfortable as brother and sister and know even though we are miles apart, we will always be there for each other. What a wonderful gift to be so close even when we are so far apart physically.

I am happy my brother Michael has found work, here in Sumter, and he and his wife have moved close by. Michael, or Mickey, to us is a half brother, but we are so much alike it is as if we were raised together. We have the same strange sense of humor and the ability to not just tease but to take teasing ourselves. We have fun and make each other laugh. What a great gift there is in laughter.

Among my greatest gifts I count my friends. I have few real friends, and one is my dearest friend of forty years. Rick Foster gave me the gift of music. He put my first guitar in my hands and taught me to play. He put my first microphone in front of my face and encouraged me to sing. He gave me much more than he will ever realize and while we have been together and miles apart, we will always share a special love.

I am grateful for the gift of his wife, Naomi, who takes care of my friend and loves him in a very special way. For this she has my undying gratitude and friendship.

I am grateful for my friend, Kimberlee, in VT who writes me every Halloween because that is my special holiday and she always thinks most about me then. What a wonderful gift to have someone, who not having seen me in years, still remembers how I love that day and still thinks about me and all the fun her children had with me in VT.

I am grateful for the new friends I have made here, in my TOPS group, and while I can’t name them due to the privacy pledge we have, they know who they are. They have encouraged me week after week and even when I had a gain would tell me not to worry I would do better next week. They call me to make sure I’m staying on track and get me out walking even when I don’t feel like it J. One in particular, who once told me when I used watching a video as an excuse… Bonnie that vcr has a pause and start button, now put on your shoes and meet me at the park. I did J.

These are my special gifts. My family and friends. To borrow a line from an Amy Grant song, Heirlooms, my friends and my family are more than heirlooms to me. Happy Holidays and to each of you – thank you for being you.

Posted 4:21 PM by Bonnie

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Posted 2:41 PM by Bonnie

This is funny with a very serious message.... A different take on a Christmas song.

Posted 2:12 PM by Bonnie

Well, I've finished most of my Christmas shopping. Just have a couple more, but those are for people here, but since most of my packages have to be shipped off elsewhere I have to shop early to mail on time. I sent off two packages yesterday and three more today and still have a trunk full to get moving. When I found a sale on twin blankets ($3.88) it seemed like such a good deal and a great idea for all the great nieces and nephews... and it was... until it came time to pack them and mail them off and find a relative willing to accept the packages :-). My sister's ex-husband, grandfather of all the little darlings said I could send them to his place, since all the kids gather there on Christmas. So, today I sent the boxes off via UPS. Now, I once worked in customer service for UPS and I can tell some great stories :-). Monday I will mail off my parents packages and then my siblings in Erie. The one going to CT was mailed already. It is hard to get in the Christmas spirit here. Even though it gets cold there is no snow. There is no feeling of Christmas. It's just any other month around here except for the displays in the stores and malls. I put up a little Christmas village complete with train and firestation for my husband, I have a wreath with santa on a swing sitting in it on my door and other decorations on my walls... I have been wrapping like a mad person and still I don't feel like it's getting on to Christmas. Someone please send me some snow!!!!!!

Well, this is calling for a Joni Mithell song so here it is...

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I made my baby say goodbye

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on

Posted 2:02 PM by Bonnie

Anyone who has read my blog knows I have been working on getting healthy and taking off the extra pounds that sneakily piled up on me over the years. Well, as of today, with a 2.5 pound loss over the thanksgiving holiday! I have lost my first 20 lbs. To be exact it is 20.5 pounds. I still have 70 more to go to goal, but this is a big mile stone for me, so I wanted to share the good news. Now if I can just keep it up over the Christmas holidays :-). I know I can do it!!!

Posted 8:37 AM by Bonnie

Happy Day after Turkey Day! Hope everyone had a fun thanksgiving. I know we did. With all Keith's health issues I was concerned he wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy the dinner at my brother and sister-in-laws, but things went quite well. For those who don't know my older brother Michael (Mickey to us) had been laid off and ended up finding a job here in Sumter. I found them a cute little duplex in the complex right across the street from us, and since they had the bigger kitchen thanksgiving was held there. We invited the biology teacher, as she usually has thanksgiving with us. So there were five of us for dinner. We all contributed so it was quite a spread. Cindy, the biology teacher brought the wine :-). I was very proud that I did not over indulge, except for a small piece of pumpkin pie. After dinner we all cleaned up and Keith and Mickey played chess, while me, Kathy and Cindy played scrabble. I had been telling Kathy so much about Cindy's beautiful yard that she has built into an ecological center for wildlife, that the three of us got in my car and drove to Cindy's so Kathy could see this place. When we got back we had pie and coffee and my niece Shelly (Mickey and kathy's oldest daughter) arrived with her boyfriend Todd. We were there much longer than we had planned and had quite an enjoyable day. I took a few pics of course, but don't have the capability to posts pics here, so once they are developed will post them elsewhere with a link. Now, onto Christmas!!

Posted 3:20 PM by Bonnie

Just got the latest inspirational email from NaNoWriMo and they have said we need to have 33,000 words by the end of this week... let's see.. I am at almost 18,000, so let's be generous and just make it and even 18,000. That means I only have about 15,000 words to write between now and Friday evening, or about 5,000 a day. Sure, no problem!! I am off and running!!!! maybe I should be off and writing! Hope everyone else is making better progress than I am, but even though I am behind I am proud of what I have done and will continue. My husband even won some old Koehler Beer labels off E-bay for me to make a collage cover for my book!

Posted 7:25 PM by Bonnie

Another interesting news article passed on to me by a friend...

HEAVY HANDED HEADMASTER: Residents of Richfield, Wisc., have learned why
a local school district administrator abruptly resigned this summer: at
an eighth-grade graduation ceremony, Kenneth Laudolff, 50, walked up to
School Board Clerk Mari Krueger and told her she was showing "too much
cleavage." He then allegedly shoved his hand down her shirt to
demonstrate the fact, and used a sticker to cover her decolletage.
Laudolff said the incident "has been blown completely out of
proportion" and that he acted "with humor," but resigned after he was
suspended by the School Board. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) ...And no,
we don't want to hear about the "stacked jury".

Posted 2:37 PM by Bonnie

Since I haven't much time lately to post, but do want to keep this spot interesting, I have decided to copy and paste items that capture my interest. I have often felt the same as the young woman in this article.

UNEQUAL EQUALITY: After joining the Gay Straight Alliance at her Oakley,
Calif., school, high school freshman Lisa McClelland, 15, noted the
school had a Black Student Union, a chapter of Latinos Unidos, and an
ALOHA Club for Asian Americans. Why not a Caucasian Club, wondered the
girl, who is of Scottish, German, American Indian, Latino and Irish
descent, so she got more than 300 student signatures on a petition to
start one. But "Some people would say words like 'racist' when they see
me," she said later, and the NAACP called the club's name "culturally
insensitive". She says the proposed club would be open to anyone who
wanted to talk about race, or express pride in their European heritage.
But she says she was harassed so much for her idea that she transferred
to another school. The school she left? Freedom High School. (San
Francisco Chronicle) ..."We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must
make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back."
--Martin Luther King Jr (1929-1968), American minister and civil rights
leader.

Posted 1:24 PM by Bonnie

You will probably notice that I and a lot of other bloggers seem to be ignoring our blogs this month. Not true! A lot of us have become involved with NaNoWriMo and are working on our novels. To see how mine is developing daily please check out The Last Koehler Beer.

Posted 12:33 PM by Bonnie

Moses to God :-)

"Excuse me, Sir."

"Is that you again, Moses?"

"I'm afraid it is, Sir."

"What is it this time, Moses; more computer problems?"

"How did you guess?"

"I don't have to guess, Moses. Remember ?"

"Oh, yes; I forgot."

"Tell me what you want, Moses."

"But you already know, Sir. Remember?"

"Moses!"

"Sorry, Sir."

"Well, go ahead, Moses; spit it out."

"Well, I have a question, Sir.
You know those ten 'things' you sent me via e-mail?"

"You mean the Ten Commandments, Moses?"

"That's it. I was wondering if they are important."

"What do you mean 'if they are important,' Moses?
Of course, they are important.
Otherwise, I would not have sent them to you."

"Well, sorry, Sir, but I lost them. I could say the dog ate them; but, of course, you would see right through that."

"What do you mean you 'lost them'?
Are you trying to tell me you didn't save them, Moses?"

"No, Sir; I forgot."

"You should always save, Moses."

"Yes, I know. You told me that before. I was going to save them, but I forgot.
I did forward them to some people before I lost them though."

"And did you hear back from any of them?"

"You already know I did. There was the one guy who said he never uses 'shalt not.' May he change the words a little bit?"

"Yes, Moses, as long as he does not change the meaning."

"And what about the guy who thought your stance was a little harsh, and recommended calling them the 'Ten Suggestions,' or letting people pick one or two to try for a while?"

"Moses, I will act as if I did not hear that."

"I think that means 'no.'
Well, what about the guy who said I was scamming him?"

"I think the term is 'spamming,' Moses."

"Oh, yes. I. E-mailed him back and told him I don't even eat that stuff, and I have no idea how you can send it to someone through a computer."

"And what did he say?"

"You know what he said. He used Your name in vain.
You don't think he might have sent me one of those -- err -- plagues, and that's the reason I lost those ten 'things', do you?"

"They are not plagues; they are called 'viruses,' Moses."

"Whatever! This computer stuff is just too much for me.
Can we go back to those stone tablets?
It was hard on my back taking them out and reading them each day, but at least I never lost them."

"We will do it the new way, Moses; using computers!!"

"I was afraid you would say that, Sir."

"Moses, what did I tell you to do if you messed up?"

"You told me to hold up this rat and point it toward the computer."

"It's a mouse, Moses, not a rat. Mouse! Mouse!
And did you do that?"

"No, I decided to try calling technical support first. After all, who knows more about this stuff than you? And I really like your hours.
By the way, Sir, did Noah have two of these mice on the ark?"

"No, Moses."

"One other thing.
Why did you not name them 'frogs' instead of 'mice,' because did you not tell me the thing they sit on is a pad?"

"I did not name them, Moses. Man did,
and you can call yours a frog if you want to."

"Oh, that explains it.
I bet some woman told Adam to call it a mouse.
After all, was it not a woman who named one of the computers 'Apple?'"

"Say good night, Moses."

"Wait a minute, Sir.
I am pointing the mouse, and it seems to be working.
Yes, a couple of the ten 'things' have come back."

"Which ones are they, Moses?"

"Let me see.
'Thou shalt not steal from any grave an image' and
'Thou shalt not uncover Thy neighbor's wife.'"

"Turn the computer off, Moses.
I'm sending you another set of stone tablets."

Posted 12:18 PM by Bonnie

OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK! I am sure you have all heard this before, but maybe we need to keep it in the forefront and ask the hard questions at election time.

SOCIAL SECURITY:

(This is worth reading. It is short and to the point.)

Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years.

Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.

You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan.

In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan.

For all practical purposes their plan works like this:

When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die.

Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments.

For example, former Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives.

This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two Dignitaries.

Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives.

Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA....ZILCH....

This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds;

"OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK"!

From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into, -every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer)- we can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after retirement.

Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits!

Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.

That change would be to jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us ... then sit back and watch how fast they would fix it.

Posted 1:15 PM by Bonnie

My ex-husband, Ralph, sent this to me and I thought it was important enough to post here. Hopefully this will give some women hope when it comes to breast cancer research.

From URL: http://www.comcast.net/News/HEALTHWELLNESS//XML/1500_Health__medical/22284ad2-8200-4087-8e21-2094245d7ebd.html

Study: Drug Cuts Breast Cancer Recurrence 09 October 2003
By TOM COHEN, Associated Press Writer

TORONTO - Researchers were so encouraged by early results from a study on preventing breast cancer recurrence that they halted their work so more women can benefit from the findings.

The study, published online Thursday by the New England Journal of Medicine, showed breast cancer patients who follow up five years of tamoxifen treatment with letrozole, an estrogen suppressor, cut the risk of recurrence by nearly half.

Doctors involved in the study said the findings could benefit hundreds of thousands of women uncertain about what to do after taking tamoxifen, which loses much of its effectiveness after five years. The drug is the top hormonal treatment for estrogen-fueled tumors.

"The result has provided women with hope," said Kathy Anderson, a breast cancer survivor who took part in the study.

The study involved more than 5,000 women in North America and Europe with the most common form of breast cancer who had completed the recommended five years of tamoxifen treatment. They were given either letrozole or a dummy pill, and results showed that within an average of 2.4 years, 207 had a cancer recurrence _ 75 of those on letrozole and 132 of those taking the placebo.

Because of those results, the research was halted so those participants getting the placebo could begin taking letrozole. Publication of the results, which will appear in the journal's Nov. 6 issue, was moved up because of the importance of the findings.

Letrozole is made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. It paid more than half the cost of the $15 million study and supplied all the letrozole and placebo pills used, officials said.

Doctors who ran the study told a news conference Thursday that the opportunity to help so many women prevailed over the desire for more substantive long-term findings.

"This is available and can provide potentially meaningful reduction in risk of recurrence," said Dr. James Ingle, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

A journal editorial published alongside the study supported the decision.

"At a minimum, suitable patients must be apprised of these important observations and must be given the opportunity to receive letrozole, with an understanding of the limitations of the data," said the editorial by Dr. Norman Wolmark of Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Estrogen fuels the growth of about half of all breast cancers, especially those in older women. Tamoxifen is given to almost all such U.S. patients after surgery to help prevent breast tumors from returning.

Tamoxifen, the top treatment to stall tumor growth, prevents estrogen from linking up to a receptor on the surface of cancer cells.

However, tamoxifen's effectiveness ends after five years, apparently because the body develops a resistance to it, said Dr. Paul Goss of Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. He headed the study by 18 doctors from Canadian, U.S. and European hospitals, universities and cancer centers.

Estrogen pushes dormant tumors to grow, he said, so the study looked at what happened if patients took an estrogen inhibitor such as letrozole. Goss and Ingle said further study was required on the effects of prolonged letrozole use. Side effects include increased risk of osteoporosis, hot flashes, night sweats, and pain in the bones, joints or back. Letrozole costs about $6 per pill and is taken daily, Ingle said.

Goss said the findings help him go to work "with a lighter step" because he can tell patients that "yes, something is happening."

Anderson, a 50-year-old elementary school administrator diagnosed with breast cancer more than eight years ago, said she had no idea during the study if she was taking letrozole or the placebo. She said she was relieved to hear earlier this week it was letrozole.

"There is anxiety about recurrence. It fluctuates day-to-day," she said. "My recurrence rate has just been cut in half."

Posted 7:03 PM by Bonnie

I'm a little late responding to this meme but hopefully better late than never still applies :-).

1. What are 3 songs from your "growing up" years that you hear on the radio now and have to crank it. Songs that really get you rockin'

Master Jack – Four Jacks and a Jill
Me and You and a Dog Named Boo – Lobo
So Far Away – Carol King

2. What are 3 songs that bring back really great memories.

Prison Trilogy – Joan Baez (a protest song written from letters her husband wrote her from prison. I was pregnant at the time and she was performing at Gannon Auditorium in Erie PA!!!

Two out Three Aint Bad – Meatloaf

Illegal Smile – John Prine J

3. What are 3 of your favorite bands/singers from your growing up years?

Big Brother and the Holding Company (Janis Joplin)
Joan Baez and still is
Joni Mitchell

4. What are 3 of your favorite bands/singers now?

Have to admit I am not real up on the current singers, but I do like
Alanis Morrisett

A bit older but ones I enjoy today… or still enjoy today I should say are:
Carol King and
Bette Midler

Bonus: What was the best concert you ever went to? Tell us about it.

I would have to say it was the Joan Baez concert at Gannon. It was just her and her guitar and it was so personal. I was seated on the chairs on the floor in front of the makeshift stage. She talked, she sang, she told stories about the songs. She had one fun request and that was no pictures were to be taken during the concert, but since she knew people would take pictures she did one silly song during which she made very face possible and let people click away. At the end she sang Amazing Grace acupela and had the audience sing along. I have been to a lot more extravagant concerts since that one, but to me Joan Baez and her guitar and that very personal performance will always rank at the top.

Posted 8:56 PM by Bonnie

Another interesting week... Monday, or was it Tuesday? The week has been so stressful I forget when it all started. My husband came home with a headache. Later in the evening as it got worse he went to lay down. Around 10:30 with his head and back of his neck really hurting and a 102.8 temp we headed for the emergency room. He has had meningitis in the past so he knew all the symptons. It is a viral type so not contagious. When his immune system gets compromised he will get a form of it, but this was a lot more.

So, they have to do a spinal tap. Why we ask when they already know what it is... because it is vital!!! this was pushed at us until we said okay. Why did we hesitate? Because it meant taking him off the coumadin he NEEDS to prevent blood clots, such as the pulmonary embolisms he had two years ago. So, for two days they had him off the coumadin and were pumping him with vitamin K to get his blood to clot faster... finally they had him where they wanted him and the nurse came in all giggly and smiley and said we have good news and bad news... they aren't going to do the procedure. WHY???? we ask, since the doctor made a point that is was so vital it was risk the of taking him off the coumadin.

Well, it turns out they finally checked with radiology and the table would not support my husbands weight. It only holds up to 300 pounds. I asked if they had thought he would lose 100 pounds laying the hospital bed for two days. We were not pleased. Also, I asked wouldn't it have been more prudent to find all this out BEFORE they took him off the coumadin? And can you believe a hospital that only has equipment that supports weight up to 300 pounds?

The end result... they didn't do it... put him back on the coumadin and have to keep him in to monitor his blood until it is back to where it should be...

In the meantime... his heart started beating irregularly, skipping every fourth beat, so he is back on the portable heart monitor for 24 hours.... aaaarrgghhhh!! gee, I wonder if they caused enough stress or if they do a little more damage along the way?

Posted 6:31 PM by Bonnie

From Weigh-in-Wednesday. Good things can happen when a scale isn't involved. What has been your most memorable (or important) non-scale victory to date?

Putting on my 3X raincoat and having it feel like a tent. Being able to take the same raincoat to my TOPS group and pass it onto another member who was starting out as a 3X. Also, having someone hand me a 1X shirt and said, just try it on when I objected it would never fit me. I tried it on and it did fit! Small victories, but victories non the less :-).

Posted 7:48 PM by Bonnie

From Seventh Heaven, a daily meme:

01. Would you ever date someone outside of your race or religion?
I have dated outside my race. I even had a daughter who is bi-racial. Somehow when living up north this did no seem unusual. It is different in the south as the bigotry and prejudism work both ways in in a lot of ways the blacks are more prejudiced here than the whites. It is hard to imagine dating outside my race here in SC.

02. Which of the 7 deadly sins in the worst (gluttony, greed, pride, lust, envy, wrath, sloth)?

I had a hard time with this between greed and gluttony as both are what feed the big businesses and politicians and keep their pockets lined while others starve around them.

03. Which one are you most guilty of?

I hate to admit this publicly, but it would have to be gluttony. I am a foodaholic and have been fighting this for years. I have recently joined a support group that is helping immensely and I have actually lost 19 pounds since joining, but still find myself "pigging out" every once in awhile.

04. What would you want a free season pass to?
Yeah, It has to be Broadway. Ever since I saw Bob Fosse and Dancin' while on a business trip to NYC I fell in love with Broadway and would love to back again and again and again and.... :-)

05. Would you tell someone you loved him or her if they didn't say it first?

Yes, I do it all the time. I say what I feel and mean what I say and it doesn't have to be reciprocated. Sometimes the words go unsaid and I wish I had said them. I have a friend in Florida with whom I have been friends with for over 40 years and sometimes he surprises me by ending our calls with and I love you... it is a friendship, brother/sister love but often it goes left unsaid, so it is a nice surprise to hear it as well as surprise someone by saying it to them first.

06. What are you the most sensitive about?

I used to be extremely sensitive and let people hurt me all the time. But something changed after my last divorce. I am not quite sure what it was but something changed in me and I realized people were not hurting me, I was but allowing them to hurt me with their words, looks, etc. I know I should be sensitive about my weight and maybe I would lose more and faster if I was, but somewhere along the line I started to like me just the way I am. Now, I am losing weight for health reasons and that makes a difference. I want to be around for those I love and those who love me.

07. What can you talk about for hours?
Music!! Books!! Movies... anything... somedays I don't want to talk at all, but get me on a day when I am feeling at my best and ... oh, and my husband and I talk for hours about politics, human nature, etc. We don't always agree but the discussions are stimulating and fun.

Posted 9:19 PM by Bonnie

Back again... I have decided there is no way I can do this everyday, so I am not going to stress myself over my haphazard postings. The 24 hour heart monitor showed no current problems with Keith's heart. He is feeling much better and is back to taking walks with me. Of course, he has his handy dandy PDR which he says he scares himself with, but then he would rather be informed than follow the doctors blindly. Of course, it didn't help that John Ritter suddenly died the way he did, and they keep saying for people not to worry it could happen to them, as it could only happen to people with hypertension, high blood pressure... etc.. all the things Keith has... as he says he does get panicky and he knows he does this to himself... men!! who can understand them :-). And now, a friend in Florida, someone Vic and I have known for over 40 years!! ended up in the ER with a blood pressure of 210/176 and that is not a typo. He is home now but on new blood pressure medicine, and also, they noticed his breathing was very shallow. Did a test like the ones they give us for our asthma and found he had 60% carbonmonoxide and 40% oxygen which isn't good, so he is now on 24 hour oxygen. Should be fun since he is in a wheelchair. He said they gave him little portable ones that he can carry in a backpack on his chair that last 4 hours. What fun. Well, hopefully next time I post it will be a cheery one :-).

Posted 7:40 AM by Bonnie

Good morning! It's been awhile since I have posted. Life has just gotten a little to hectic and strange for the moment. My husband is home, went back to work, but is still having problems. Monday we go to the heart doctor and they are going to put a 24 hour portable heart monitor on him. They call it a holster. This will give them an idea of what is going on during the day. He has burning sensations around his heart and it isn't heartburn. They are also going to have him see a gastrogenolgist, but that hasn't been set up yet. We are waiting to hear on that. In the meantime, he is able to go to work and teach but not without discomfort. So, we sit and wait. The doctors are just guessing at this point and are putting him and taking him off medications at such a rapid rate it becomes scary at times. We read up on atrial flutters which is what put him in the hospital and possible side affects of the medications and being taken off the medications but it doesn't always make a lot of sense to us. I will just have to keep you all posted as things progress.

Posted 8:11 PM by Bonnie

August 29, 1967 - The Day The Running Stopped

Posted 1:23 PM by Bonnie

Did you ever wonder?

Can you cry under water?

How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?

If money doesn't grow on trees then why do banks have branches?

Since bread is square, then why is sandwich meat round?

Why do you have to "put your two cents in"...but it's only a "penny" for your thoughts"? Where's that extra penny going to?

Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?

Why does a round pizza come in a square box?

What did cured ham actually have?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up like every two hours?

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

If you drink Pepsi at work in the Coke factory, will they fire you?

Why are you not IN a movie, but your ON TV?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in
binoculars to look at things on the ground?

How come we choose from just two people for President and fifty for Miss America?

Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.

If a 911 operator has a heart attack, whom does he/she call?

and finally...

Why is "bra" singular and "panties" plural?
Do you ever wonder?

Hell no!! Never thought about it.

Posted 10:58 AM by Bonnie

WINNING IS LOSING - LIFE ACCORDING TO BUSH

I don't usually post a lot about the war because I feel inadequate in expressing my thoughts and feelings. I feel lost in it all. But every once in awhile someone sends me an article that says exactly what I am feeling. Such as the following.

Memo
TO: TruthWatch Subscribers
FROM: Jim Babka, President
American Liberty Foundation

Today's op-ed from a West Point grad and conscientious objector is a bit edgy. David Wiggins delves into areas other than the war. But a consistent theme comes out. When the government goes to war, we all lose - and that includes the War on Terrorism and the War on Drugs. Even if you find yourself disagreeing, I hope you find Mr. Wiggins thought-provoking or just plain provocative.

-----

Losing the War on Terror
by David Wiggins

There you have it. There is no longer any doubt whether the Bush administration's actions are having an impact on terrorist activity. They are having a definite impact. They are increasing terror. Bottom line: No one truck bombed the UN compound in Iraq when Saddam Hussein was in charge. We have Jordanian Embassy bombings, oil and water pipeline explosions, SAM missile potshots at airliners in Kenya and SAM missile salesmen in the USA, attacks on peacekeepers in Afghanistan, suicide bombings in Israel, Bali, and Saudi Arabia, a rejuvenated Taliban, a nuclear North Korea, a nuclear Iran, Osama bin Laden on the loose, Saddam Hussein on the loose, and the USA in 4th place on the world terror hit list.

What is Bush's response to all of this? Losing is winning. You see, the more it looks like we are losing - bombs and explosions, incinerated Humvees, dead soldiers and civilians, debt, deficit, drugs, etc., the more we are actually winning. It's all very simple to Dubya. Getting our asses kicked is a sign of progress. It is a sign of "desperation" on the part of the "dead-enders". On August 19th, referring to the attack on the UN complex in Baghdad, Bush said: "Every sign of progress in Iraq adds to the desperation of the terrorists and the remnants of Saddam's brutal regime."

You know the dead-enders. They are the "give me liberty or give me death" crowd. They have this silly idea that if they keep using irregular tactics against their occupiers, they might actually defeat King George... uh, I mean... President George Bush.

Bush and Blair lies to the contrary, it is now clear that US and British intelligence services as well as any other intelligence services they
cared to ask knew that Al-Qaeda had little or no presence in Iraq before the US invasion. Saddam Hussein made sure of that. He didn't want any competition. The only Islamist group in Iraq at all, Ansar-al-Islam, was confined to a small remote corner of northern Iraq. Saddam Hussein could not get at them there because the area was under the protection of the United States via its unsanctioned "Northern No Fly Zone."

Now we see that the US invasion of Iraq is the best thing that ever happened to Ansar-al-Islam. Paul Bremer, the US civilian administrator in Iraq, said there was, "clear evidence of an Al-Qaeda-related terrorist group, the Ansar al-Islam, reconstituting its capabilities inside of Iraq since the war". The group is now operating all over Iraq. It is suspected in the bombing of the Jordanian Embassy in Baghdad on august 7th. The Al-Qaeda recruiters haven't had it so good since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. A recently released message to the Al-Qaeda troops exhorts them to go to Iraq to kill Americans. But this is all good news to the Bush Administration. It just shows how desperate all those terrorists are. "Bring them on!" says George. I'll bet the UN personnel really appreciate that.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban seem very desperate. In case no one noticed, those dead-enders are making more comebacks than Freddy Krueger. Last week witnessed the bloodiest week in Afghanistan since the US invasion of that country, with over 100 dead due to bus bombings, rocket attacks, clashes with Taliban militants, and between rival militias in southern and southeastern Afghanistan.

Remember George Bush telling us that the drug trade was a major source of financing for terrorism? It is a sign of how desperate things are in Afghanistan that the production of opium for heroin is up to its highest levels ever. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called the production of opium in Afghanistan a "whale of a problem." The country now is the largest opium producer in the world - and to think that the Taliban had essentially eliminated opium production in Afghanistan. Now that is desperation! Given President Bush's losing is winning philosophy; Afghanistan is a two-bagger because there, we seem to be losing both the "War on Terror" and the "War on Drugs." Opium production is up in Colombia too.

Representative Henry Hyde states that opium production in Colombia has revived. It supplies, he stated, ''more than 60 percent of U.S. heroin.'' George Bush, of course, would say that all this just shows how desperate the terrorists and opium producers are for money.

Osama Bin Laden must be very desperate. He keeps sending out inspirational messages to his mujahadeen. On August 18th he exhorted the mujahadeen to go to Iraq to fight US forces. On the 19th he claimed responsibility for the largest blackout in US history. President Bush says we'll "smoke him out". Osama must have an incredible tolerance for smoke. We have been "smoking" for almost two years now. Producing all that smoke, no wonder the Bush administration is opposed to the Global Warming Treaty. But not only are we "smoking him out," we are "tightening the noose" around Osama's neck. I wonder if there is a Guinness Book of World Records entry for "world's largest noose" or perhaps, "worlds slowest tightening noose." George must be ecstatic about the desperation shown by the terrorists on the home front.

According to the London-based World Markets Research Center, the US is the 4th most likely nation to experience a terrorist attack. Of 186 nations, we come in behind only Colombia, Israel, and Pakistan. Remember the terror alert system? You know the Crayola crayon color-coded system any child could understand? Perhaps Dubya could explain to my eight year old son why the code has never dropped below yellow if we are safer from terrorism than we were a year ago. Little David keeps asking me that, but I can't give him a convincing explanation. Perhaps you could do it, Dubya, I mean you being the "education President" and all that? Why I even recall that no national crisis would stop you from finishing your lesson with elementary students.

Actually, this losing is winning philosophy President Bush describes explains a lot to me. Not only does it explain the "War on Terror" and the "War on Drugs, " but it helps me understand how the massive budget deficit is good for our economy, how the massive trade deficit is good for the future of our nation, how the "Patriot Act" is good for my freedom, how refusal to sign the "Global Warming Treaty" is good for the environment, how developing new nuclear weapons helps stop nuclear proliferation, how government secrecy regarding energy, 911, Iraq (mis)intelligence, etc., is good for democracy, how....well, you get the point. In fact, according to this philosophy, George Bush must be the best president ever. But, Helen Thomas already said that.

David Wiggins is a West Point (United States Military Academy) distinguished graduate and an honors graduate of New York Medical College. He left the Army as a Conscientious Objector resigning his commission as an Army Captain on the Iraqi front lines during Operation Desert Storm. He is currently an Emergency Physician.Copyright 2003 LewRockwell.com
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Posted 4:08 PM by Bonnie

One of our cats has a yeast infection in his ears. Okay, now as a woman I have had my share of yeast infections, but NEVER in my ear!! I don't even want to know what he was doing to get a yeast infection there! Dogs get them a lot because they swim and get water in their ears, but this cat lives inside and believe me, we don't have a pool for them. So, now I get the fun of squirting a solution in each ear twice a day, swabbing it out with a cotton ball and then squishing cream in each ear. Now, as you can imagine the cat simply sits there as I do all this and thanks me nicely after.... NOT!!! Have you ever tried to do anything to a cats ear? Believe me this is not an easy process. First I put all the necessary stuff on the table, then go get the cat. Now this cat usually comes right to me, but he senses something is up so goes and hides under the bed. Once he is out I grab him and sit him on the table. Squirt the first ear. He shakes his head violently and all the solution is sprayed all over me and the table. I swab the ear out. He thanks me by scratching my hand and trying to get away. I then insert the cream tube and squeeze. He fights and moves away and starts scratching with hind claws now. One ear down! repeat process. Let cat run. Wash wounds. 12 hours later I repeat the process. And I only have to do this for two weeks!!! If I survive that long. :-)

Posted 4:02 PM by Bonnie

Husband update: Keith was able to come home last Saturday, with instructions not to return to work (he is a college professor) until he saw his doctor on Thursday. He got the okay to return this Monday. They are still trying to figure out what set off the heart flutter, so his doctor is consulting various other doctors and specialists. Keith will see his heart doctor in another 6 weeks.They wanted to give him time to adjust to the new medication, so they can determine if he should remain on it or if they should change the medication or adjust dosages, etc. His doctor did say the results of the 24 hour urinalysis showed some unusual high readings in the enephrins which could mean a tumor on his adrenal gland. A tumor there causes the enephrin to go up which alone could cause the heart flutters. He is having and endicronoligist look over the results before getting anyone too excited over this. If the endicronologist determines this could be the cause Keith will have to go to the bigger hospital in Columbia for testing. That won't be for awhile yet, though. So at this point life is going to get back to normal for awhile.

Posted 10:16 AM by Bonnie

Tuesday started off like any other day. My husband and I were having a relaxing day at home. An hour or so after dinner he commented he felt a bit weird and his heart felt funny. I said let's go to the hospital, but typical man style he said let's wait and see. Later that evening his heart started racing (and it had nothing to do with me :-)) so off to the ER. When they put him on the heart monitor his heart rate was over 200!!! They quickly began administering thru IV drugs that were supposed to slow his heart rate. Didn't work. They then put a Cardivan? drip in his IV and were able to bring it to around 130/135 but couldn't bring it lower or stabilize him. the normal is a heart rate of 60. We spent the night in ER and the next morning they transferred him to ICU where he has been since. They did get his resting heart rate down and today put him on a portable unit and had him walk. They are doing another walking stress test and he may be able to come home today. But what a wake up call!! He has been saying over and over he needed to get serious about losing weight... maybe now he will?

Posted 5:22 PM by Bonnie

Stress Management - this REALLY works!

Just in case you've had a rough day, here is a stress management
technique recommended in all the latest psychological texts. The funny
thing is that it really works.

1. Picture yourself near a stream.

2. Birds are softly chirping in the cool mountain air.

3. No one but you knows your secret place.

4. You are in total seclusion from the hectic place called "the world."

5. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a
cascade of serenity.

6. The water is crystal clear.

7. You can easily make out the face of the person you're holding
underwater

Posted 11:51 AM by Bonnie

Gregory Hines died yesterday. That is such a cold line. My husband and I were talking about how when a performer you really like stops making movies and such we just sort of figure they retired. Gregory Hines died of cancer. There was never anything in the new telling us this, just the final report of his death. The first time I saw him was in The Cotton Club. I knew I was seeing greatness and started watching for his films and television performances. He blew me away in White Knights and Bojangles. There were so many other great performances by this man there isn't room to list them, but the link from his name will take you to one of the many web pages dedicated to him. I feel sad knowing he is no longer with us.

Posted 9:50 AM by Bonnie

Okay, it's Sunday... August 10... I haven't written anything for awhile so decided today would be the day... so far all I have is the resident bush story... I've been busy is all I can say. My TOPS group is preparing for the State Recognition Day and I am on the committee... why? because I can write :-) and have a good imagination for coming up with something original. I am banned from putting any details on the internet because this is a stiff competition between TOPS groups around the state and last year, without me there, they had nothing to compete with so now they want to win and I am the catalyst to this feat. I guess it's nice to have your talents recognized :-). At any rate... it is fun and we are going to kick butt this year :-). I am also still doing the monthly newsletter and updating the scrapbook. Again, they needed someone who could organize, be original, and make it fun. guess who?. It seems me and the two women with whom I have become very good friends are the three who carry the ball for the most part. I guess that's why we banded together. We walk together and make our plans while walking.

Posted 9:44 AM by Bonnie

The other night, on late night talk radio, one of the hosts said resident bush should be tried for murder. No, not because of the Iraqui people killed in this illega war, but because of the american service people he has killed with the anthrax vaccine. It seems many of our soldiers are coming down with pneumonia type symtons and dying. Now they have shown what is causing the deaths is the anthrax shots resident bush forced on our military personnel before going to iraq. so now they are dying from the affects of the shots. apparently much of the military personnel did not want to take those shots. they were afraid that what is now happening would happen, but bush insisted he was right... hey! didn't he say he took one himself... hmmmm.... i am betting he didn't but said that to make the others have to take it. anyway... i thought that an interesting concept.

Posted 1:28 PM by Bonnie

The Friday Five were so simple this week I figured I could even answer these :-)

1. What time do you wake up on weekday mornings?

7 a.m. (the cats have a schedule they keep better than me. If I am not up they wake me!)

2. Do you sleep in on the weekends? How late?

Nope, for the same reason. I may go back for a nap at some point, but I am up at 7.

3. Aside from waking up, what is the first thing you do in the morning?

Put something on then go feed the cats.

4. How long does it take to get ready for your day?

About half an hour.

5. When possible, what is your favorite place to go for breakfast?

IHOP

Posted 9:54 PM by Bonnie

Men & Women complement each other by the unique traits we were each
given:

WOMEN

Women have strengths that amaze men. They carry children, they carry
hardships, they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.

Women wait by the phone for a "safe at home call" from a friend after
a snowy drive home. They are childcare workers, executives,
attorneys, stay-at-home moms, bikers, babes, & your neighbors. They
wear suits, jeans, and they wear uniforms. They fight for what they
believe in and they stand up against injustice. They walk and talk
the extra mile to get their children in the right schools and to get
their family the right health care. They go to the doctor with a
frightened friend.

Women are honest, loyal and forgiving. They are smart, knowing that
knowledge is power. But they still know how to use their softer side
to make a point.

Women want to be the best for their family & their friends and
themselves. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They have sorrow
at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think
there is no strength left. They drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what
makes the world spin!

Women do more than just give birth. They bring joy and hope. They
give compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family
and friends and all they want back is a hug, a smile and for you to do
the same to people you come in contact with.

MEN

Men are good at lifting heavy stuff and killing bugs.

Posted 11:22 PM by Bonnie

I'm guilty of ignoring my blog since my return. Things got a bit hectic...had a presentation to do at TOPS a day after I got back...then had to start on the August newsletter... today I HAD to spend the day at Lake Santee :-). We took a pontoon around the lake, had a cookout with lots of healthy foods, walked around and then just sat and talked. It was great fun! But alas it ended and I had to come back to my apartment. Which gets totally destroyed if left uncleaned for one day. So tomorrow it is cleaning day, laundry day, and get the oil changed in the car day. Thursday is TOPS day and Friday is Doctor day for my PAP smear and then meet up with another woman from TOPS who is now doing the scrapbook and needs some advice and help to get her started. One of the women today said with all my talents and abilities I should be doing something besides giving all my time to TOPS so she is going to find me a job where I can use them and earn money :-). Okay, no comments from the peanut gallery on where my best talents lie :-)... but wouldn't that be nice if she really could find me a job!!! I will try to be more faithful to my blog.

Posted 6:55 PM by Bonnie

I'm back!!! Had a fun but exhausting trip. First to Erie, PA where I checked on the house my husband and his brother share. More on that later. Walked around Erie doing some walks down memory lane and visited family.

My sister Linda and her husband Paul drove us to CT for Victoria's 50th bday party. What a blast. That has to be the best party I have ever attended. Got to meet Bernie, with whom I play online scrabble, when I went with her to pick up Billie and Sarah from karate. Also, met Kerri, (we prepared the meat and cheese platters) another person with whom I have been debating issues online. It was great meeting and chatting with both in person.

The next morning I went to breakfast with Vic and Billie. When we returned I realized my cleaning compulsion had ruined some pics for Victoria. She took pictures of the mess from the night before, but unfortunately I had already cleaned up quite a bit the night before. I'm sorry!!! I'll never clean again :-). Still there was enough to make the pics memorable.

The open mic was a lot of fun and I even got up enough nerve to recite a short poem about Victoria in honor of her 50th. There were a lot of laughs and even some serious performers. All in all it was a really great time.

Arrived back home last night and am trying to get back into a normal routine again. Well, as normal as anything ever gets for me :-).

Posted 5:22 PM by Bonnie

I'm leaving for a weeks vacation tomorrow. First to Erie, PA for a few days to get pics of my husands house there and see what repairs need done, and to visit family and some old haunts. My hubbie will not be making this trip and it will seem strange. This will be the first time we will have been away from each other since we were married a little over a year ago. From Erie it is on to CT for my "baby" sister's 50th birthday!!! Now if she wld start looking more like 50 instead of 30 that would be nice of her :-). See you all in a week!!

Posted 9:55 AM by Bonnie

Hey, I'm actually doing a Friday Five on Friday!

1. What were your favorite childhood stories?

The Little Match Girl
Heidi
Black Beauty
Nancy Drew books
Lou Gehrig (about his life and death)
and any Louisa Mae Alcott books

2. What books from your childhood would you like to share with [your] children?

Little Women, Little Men... the Louisa Mae Alcott books, but I know these are too innocent and simple for today's generation. Even though Wynonna Ryder played Jo the latest movie version the children today are more sophisticated than we were and need more to stimulate their imaginations.

3. Have you re-read any of those childhood stories and been surprised by anything?

Yes, I have. I call them my warm fuzzy books. When I was very ill I reread Rose In Bloom as well as other of her books and found they took me back to that simpler time in life. I still enjoyed them.

4. How old were you when you first learned to read?

I know I could read before kindergarten, but am not sure if I was 3 or 4 when I learned.

5. Do you remember the first 'grown-up' book you read? How old were you?

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. My mother had some hard cover books hidden on the top shelf of her closet. She told us we couldn't read them because they were for adults. I read them all, but A Tree Grows In Brooklyn still stays in my mind. The part she didn't want us to read was when the youngest daughter of the Irish Immigrants is accosted on a stairway in their Brooklyn apt. and sees a mans penis. It was also about an alcoholic father. Gee, something we knew nothing about :-). I guess she thought that was too risque for us. I was in junior high so probably around 12 or 13 when I read it.

Posted 3:07 PM by Bonnie

Well, it's Thursday and time to update my T.O.P.S. news. No loss this week, but also no gain. I am still 93 pounds from my goal. Considering my husband has been on break starting this week, I consider it good to not have gained. Didn't get in my usual walking and I admit I did eat more stuff I shouldn't have.

On the good side I did win the 50/50 and bought Subway subs with it on the way home. And I also won a basket of fruit and veggies. Not a bad day all in all.

I am also now editor of the monthly newsletter.

More later...have a safe and happy 4th!

Posted 12:02 PM by Bonnie

And I'm even later on the Friday Five... figured I better get the last one done and try to get this coming Friday's done on... well, maybe Friday!

Jun 27, 2003

Answer the following five questions in your weblog or journal. Make sure you leave a comment here with a link to your post (or just leave your answers in the comments section).

1. How are you planning to spend the summer [winter]?

This summer I will be taking a short trip to PA and then CT... someone is having a birthday there and I want to help celebrate.

2. What was your first summer job?

Working in the accounting office for Sanitary Farms Dairy... Sanida... I was the youngest one there, but the only one who could run a comptometer so got the job. Yes, this was long before computers :-).

3. If you could go anywhere this summer [winter], where would you go?

Vermont.

4. What was your worst vacation ever?

My honeymoon with my second husband. We had called and reserved a cabin in a resort somewhere in TX...can't remember where... when we got there it was late and when we got to our cabin, we found the people before had left rotting food in the refrigerator and we spent the night spraying cockroaches. We had paid for a week, but the next morning got all our money back and just travelled around TX for the rest of the week. That turned out to be a lot of fun even though it started off so badly.

5. What was your best vacation ever?

Going to CA with my Aunt Wilhelmina when I was 30. Met some cousins I had never known and saw a lot of CA. Even Disneyland wasn't too bad. Of course, that was also where I had was in a truck that hit a lamp post, but that's another story.

So it seems like my worst vacation ended up being a good one, and my best ended up bad. Maybe I should switch them around.

Posted 11:40 AM by Bonnie

Okay, so I'm doing This or That Tuesday on Wednesday :-).

July 1: Summer Fun!
Summer Fun!

1. Lemonade or Ice Cold Beer?

Ice cold beer and pretzels!! or Lemonade and chocolate chip cookies... one of my favorite memories from my childhood is laying on the porch glider, on a hot summer day, drinking lemonade and eating home made chocolate chip cookies.

2. Swimming pool or beach?

Swimming pool for laps, but the beach for the enjoyment of the water.

3. Long weekends here & there, or a 2-week vacation?

Long weekends usually, but once in awhile I like the 2 week vacation to visit family and friends.

4. Destination: Acapulco or Hawaii?

Neither! Alaska for me!

5. Destination: Mountains or Beach?

Mountains! Even though I no longer ski the mountains are still exciting to me.

6. Hotel/motel/B&B or camping?

Camping! as long as the campground has a bathroom with showers :-).

7. Carefully planned vacation, or play it by ear?

Play it by ear. I love to go off the beaten path and see things I may have missed staying on a scheduled day.

8. Sneakers or sandals?

Sneakers.

9. Air-conditioning or fans?

Fans. A/C is hell on my arthritis.

10. Concerts in the park or baseball games?

Concerts in the park. Even though I have been told I am unarmerican for this... I hate baseball!!!!!!!!!

Posted 11:26 AM by Bonnie

4TH OF JULY

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the
Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured
before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons
serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the
Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their
sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine
were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated,
but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that
the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his
Ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and
properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move
his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay,
and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from
him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer,
Walton,Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British
General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his > headquarters.

He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was
destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed
his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their
13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were
laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves,
returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. Some
of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and
silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price
they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

Posted 11:10 PM by Bonnie

Today is TOPS ... and I am now 93 lbs from my goal weight. My house sitting job has ended and life gets back to normal again. For awhile. Saturday I will be attending a leadership meeting for TOPS. This should be interesting.

Posted 5:54 PM by Bonnie

Something a little different :-)

Multiple choice test Definition of the derivative
http://www.univie.ac.at/future.media/moe/tests/diff1/defabl.html

You have achieved 18 out of 19 possible points.

Posted 5:25 PM by Bonnie

For anyone interested here is my weekly workout program:

Monday: Beat around the bush, Jump to conclusions, Climb the walls, and Wade through paperwork
Tuesday: Drag my heels, Push my luck, Make mountains out of molehills, and Hit the nail on the head
Wednesday: Bend over backwards, Jump on the bandwagon, Balance the books, and Run around in circles
Thursday: Toot my own horn, Climb the ladder of success, Pull out all the stops, and Add fuel to the fire
Friday: Open a can of worms, Put my foot in my mouth, Start the ball rolling, and Go over the edge
Saturday: Pick up the pieces!

Whew! what a workout! You are invited to use my program without charge :-). (author unknown)

Posted 12:42 PM by Bonnie

I'm a little late on the Friday Five but here goes...

1. Is your hair naturally curly, wavy, or straight? Long or short?
Short... uh sort of curly, sort of wavy...some parts straight... a friend of mine in TX described my hair as having the J.F. look ...
she said my hair always looked as if I had Just Fucked :-)!!!

2. How has your hair changed over your lifetime?
Besides experimenting with colors, have decided to let the natural gray take over now... it is much thinner with age and I am actually
losing some... female pattern baldness, maybe?

3. How do your normally wear your hair?
On my head :-)... and however it wants to sit after I try to comb it into some semblence of order.

4. If you could change your hair this minute, what would it look like?
It would be long and thicker like when I was younger. I would love that hair in gray!

5. Ever had a hair disaster? What happened?
I went to get a perm and told them a friend had recommended them. I had really long hair and just wanted a slightly curly perm... tried to explain I didn't want big hair just some curl. well!! when they combed it out I had hair at least as wide as I am tall!! okay, a slight exaggeration, but it was big!!!! I complained and got very upset, but they insisted I had said I wanted my hair like the woman who had recommended me..no I said she had sent me, but I didn't want BIG hair! Well, they couldn't fix it, but when I went to visit my sister, Victoria, in TX she had a friend who did hair and she managed to turn me back into a person with a perm, rather than a PERM with a person.

Posted 12:26 PM by Bonnie

Life is great... I am loved :-)... I don't know how long ago I casually mentioned to my husband, a movie buff, I would like to have a copy of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, when it came out on DVD and went on sale. Last night my husband stopped off at Blockbuster and when he came home he handed me ... yep! My Big Fat Greek Wedding, saying, I thought I remembered you saying you wanted this one. Last night I house sat and stayed over night, so we watched it today when I got home and it was wonderful! Even Hubby liked it and gave it high ratings.

Posted 6:48 PM by Bonnie

In a response to a recent blog, I made the comment that recently the words "choice" and "abortion" are becoming synonomous. And not just from the so-called pro-life people. Of course, they prefer to use the terms 'anti-life' or 'pro-death' rather than choice, but to them when you say you are pro-choice, they translate that to 'I believe only in the choice of abortion and no other choice.' And I have talked with pro-choice people, who when I say, for myself I would not, could not, have an abortion (and my past has proven I could not make this choice), jump on me and start arguing the pro-abortion stance. It is as if everyone is caught up in that one part of the word choice. To me pro-choice means I can choose!!! If I want to have an abortion, I can and I will. If I want to keep and raise the child, I can and I will. If I want to give the child up for adoption (my choice 30 years ago) I could and I did! I had a choice!!! And I did not HAVE to choose abortion just because it is available. I say thank goodness it is for those who need it, and I used to have a bumper sticker that said... Don't want an abortion, Don't have one. And I believe that to this day.

The anti-choice people need to get off that pro-death kick and realize what the word choice actually means. And I think we also need to regroup the pro-choice people and remind them that abortion is only one of the choices, not the only choice.

Thank you for listening to my rant...

Posted 6:42 PM by Bonnie

Went to my weekly T.O.P.S. meeting this morning and have lost another pound. That is 14.5 pounds lost since I started. I have decided to post each Thursday how much I lost and how many more to my goal... so here goes... I am 93.5 lbs away from my goal weight.

Posted 10:16 PM by Bonnie

Stolen from Victoria who borrowed it from her husbands page, who picked it off a friends page, who….

1. Newspapers or magazines?
Magazines. The only day the newspaper is of any use is Sunday when I get my coupon supplements.

2. Books-on-tape or regular books?
Regular, but have to admit I am getting hooked on books on tape. I love to listen to them at night in bed. For awhile there I was having some issues with my eyes and reading was difficult, but now that my glasses have been corrected I am enjoying actually reading the books again.

3. Paperback or hardcover?
Paperback. As I said I read a lot in bed and even though I am now reading a hardcover, they are harder to hold onto in bed.

4. Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction. I have to agree on the trashy mysteries. But I also get into the Saga’s.

5. Sci-Fi/Fantasy or romance novels?
I was going to say none of the above, but then I did enjoy the Dune series and have read a few other Sci-fi books I enjoyed… and I do enjoy the Harry Potter books. It’s funny how those books appeal to every generation. From my older sisters grandchildren to my mother!

6. Borrow from library or buy books (either new or used)?
The library here is so convenient you would think I would borrow more, but I find I have a tendency to forget when I am supposed to return them. Plus I like to share books I really enjoy. Once I read them I send them onto my mother who then passes them on to other people. (Victoria) I will have to bring my latest batch to CT now to see if you would like any… bet I have a few you haven’t read.

7. Subscribe to magazines or buy on newsstand?
Subscribe. Cat Fancy, of course! Newsweek. Consumer Guide.

8. Current best-sellers or classic literature?
Whatever appeals to me. I don’t go by what is on the best seller list, or what is considered a classic.

9. Read books once, or re-read favorites every so often?
Read once and pass them on.

10. Here in the U.S., we have two hot best-sellers...former First Lady Hillary Clinton's memoirs, and the new Harry Potter book (coming out June 21). If you had to read one, which one...Hillary or Harry? Why?

Harry, of course!! He is definitely the more interesting of the two and I get to take flights of fantasy instead of… well, I haven’t read Hillary’s book, but I get the feeling it would also be a flight of fantasy, but not one that would intrigue me.

Posted 8:03 PM by Bonnie

This week from We Have Brains we have the following question:

So I ask you, is it fair to label someone a feminist if they don't claim it? Is it important to label others as feminists, even if they won't march with you at the Feminist Pride Parade? How do you feel when the woman next to you on the bus, in class, at work states, "Oh, I believe I should be paid as much as Dan, but I'm not a feminist!"

I question the labeling of people for the sake of labeling. When we label people what we are doing is grouping them and putting them in little boxes to keep everything neat and orderly. A control thing in a way. Why do we need labels? If someone wants to label themselves a feminist, a racist, a pro-lifer, or anything at all then that is fine. But, for someone else to group people together, including those who would be offended by the label, for the sake of convenience seems a bit lame to me. I for one, would have a hard time defining a label for myself. And truthfully I like it that way. I don't want to be put in a little box with a group of clones. Do I have the same beliefs as others... yes! Do I fight for the same causes? Of course! But there are also areas within the same beliefs, causes, etc where I differ with the others... so to label me or anyone else according to a group they happen to associate with is wrong in my book.

Posted 10:50 PM by Bonnie

The Dartmouth lecture page makes this statement and raises a good question. The most profound questions give rise to Creation Myths.
Who are we? Where do we come from?
Where does the world come from?
What is the purpose of life/death?
What is our place in the cosmos?

Myths organize the way we perceive reality, ourselves and the world.

Creation myths express our awe before reality.

The power of myth is not descriptive but existential:
Myths are "true" to the extent they are effective.

I have long believed man created their god out of a need to explain that which they did not understand. It was much simpler to believe an unseen god had created them and therefor this god held all the power. They created a god myth to control the masses and frighten them with an all powerful god who could see everything, knows everything, and would sentence them to everlasting hell if they did not obey the laws put forth by man. Man created their god and made their laws the gods laws. The myth grew to the point where over time it became "true" to the believers, because keeping this god figure gave them control over the masses. Do you believe god is a myth created by man to control other humans? Do you believe we allow myths to become reality? Opinions?

Posted 9:50 PM by Bonnie

ORIGIN OF SAYINGS...

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image
was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington
showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back
while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by
painters were not based on how many people were to be painted,
but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are "limbs"
therefore painting them would cost the buyer more.
Hence the expression "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."
**********************************************************************
As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths
only twice a year! (May and October).Women kept their hair covered,
while men shaved! their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs.
Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. The wigs couldn't be
washed so to clean them, they could carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the
shell and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and
fluffy, hence the term "big wig." Today we often use the term "here comes
the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.
**********************************************************************
In the late 1700s many houses consisted of a large room with only one
chair.Commonly, a long wide board was folded down from the wall and
used for dining. The "head of the household" always sat in the chair while
everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Once in a while an invited guest
would be offered to sit in this chair during a meal (who was almost always a
man). To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge.
Sitting in the chair, one was called the "chair man." Today in business we
use the expression/title "Chairman..or Chairman of the Board"
**********************************************************************
Needless to say, personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a
result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The
women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their
complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to
stare at another woman's face she was told "mind your
own bee's wax." Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence
the term "crack a smile." Also, when they sat too close to the
fire, the wax would melt and therefore the expression "losing face."
**********************************************************************
Ladies wore corsets which would lace up in the front. A tightly tied
lace was worn by a proper and dignified lady as in "straight laced."
************************************************************
Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax
levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the "ace of
spades." To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead.
Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid
or dumb because they weren't "playing with a full deck."
**********************************************************************
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what
was considered important to the people. Since there were no
telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns,
pubs and bars who were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to people's
conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched
at different times. "You go sip here" and "You go sip there.." The two words
"go sip" were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and
thus, we have the term "gossip."
********************************************************************
At local taverns, pubs and bars, people drank from pint and
quart sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the
customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention
and remember who was drinking in "pints" and who was drinking in
"quarts." Hence the term "minding your "'P's and Q's."

So now you know.....

Happiness comes through doors you didn't know you left open.

Posted 10:16 AM by Bonnie

How Fair is This? My husband is a college professor. He teaches the first summer semester each year, for students who can't make it during the regular school session. This is an intense four week course which includes Saturdays. One of the students, who makes a point of letting everyone know she is a Reverend and should therefor have more respect than the other students. has written a letter of complaint....believe it or not... regarding noise BEFORE class starts. She has constantly yelled, belittled and spoke condescendingly to the other students because they would not sit in their seats, hands folded, quietly awaiting the arrival of the professor. She felt they should not talk to each other, wear headsets and play music, etc. She said this upset her so much she is forced to wait in the hallway for the arrival of the teacher and the other students call her names. She stated over and over this made it difficult for her to learn the material.

Okay, now did she go to my husband during his office hours to discuss the issue or to get extra help in areas where she is behind? No. She wrote a letter to the dean to which my husband now has to respond, taking more time out of his busy schedule.

The point of my question is...is it fair for one student, who thinks she is above the others due to her Reverend status, to force the rest of the class to follow the rules she sets down for before class behaviour? And is it fair to write a letter to the dean regarding this, when as Victoria stated in a previous blog, this is like running to mommy saying Johnny called me a doo doo head. It seems to me this person is the one who is out of line. Any opinions?

Posted 10:24 AM by Bonnie

From the Friday Five

1. What's one thing you've always wanted to do, but never have?

Played in a band. I had my chance back in the 60’s, but was too shy at that time. A friend of mine had his own band and was teaching me guitar and got me singing, but I never had the nerve to actually play with the band or perform in public. Now that I’m older and realize you really only do go around once I wish I had taken the chance.

2. When someone asks your opinion about a new haircut/outfit/etc, are you always honest?

Oh boy… I used to until I realized people didn’t want an honest opinion. Now I just say don’t ask unless you really want my opinion. Otherwise, if I can’t say something nice, I say something neutral. Like, if you like it then that’s all that matters.

3. Have you ever found out something about a friend and then wished you hadn't? What happened?

Oh yeah! To make a long story short I found out the young woman a friend of mine was “with” was using him and setting him up, simply because she knew her mother was interested in him. She bragged to me of what she was doing and then set it up to turn him against me, so he wouldn’t believe me when if I told him. I did try to warn him. She was right that he would believe her over me. In the end, though, it all turned out for the good. They got married and are very happy now. The mother is with someone else so all turned out good and we're all friends.

4. If you could live in any fictional world (from a book/movie/game/etc.) which would it be and why?

V. I. Warshawski. Because she is such a cool character and leads an adventurous life, but is also quite human. I just like her!
She makes her own rules, is her own boss, she is not the typical woman we usually find in fiction, she doesn't worry about men, laundry, bills (she throws them out when she can't pay them), or what she's going to wear. If you don't like it, tough, she is happy with her self and her life.

5. What's one talent/skill you don't have but always wanted?
Hmmmm… if understanding math is a talent, then I would have to say being able to understand math and work equations in my head. After I saw A Beautiful Mind it just made me even more frustrated that math and equations have always eluded me.