Color Quiz

Interesting results...

Charmaine took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Needs to feel identified with someone or something..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

Summer Rain

Thunderstorm about 1/2 hour ago while we eat dinner.

Girls getting ready for bed, a light summer evening rain begins.

The air smells so fresh, the sound so sweet

of raindrops splashing on the cala lillies and street.

Now, not such a light rain, it sounds louder as the rain pelts

it pelts the street, the grass, the trees, my home

silencing the rest of the night

bringing to mind summer rains in my past

and sweet summer love.

I'd better go close the windows!

My sweet soul, it smells so good.

Adventurous Day

A friend of mine, a very dear friend of mine has truthfully told me that while I have a lot to write, I tend to be a little wordy. So, here is the condensed (as much as I can be condensed) version of my day today.

I awoke with an odd pain in my chest. Sat up hoping it would feel better, as in maybe it was a gas pain that would either go away or at least move out of my chest.

It was 5:45, and the pain didn't go away when I sat up. Besides that, I felt such a pounding in my chest; it was happening again. My heart was racing, and straight out of a sound sleep. I walked into the front room, sat in my favorite chair, and wondered what I would do.

Scott is in Reno, getting on a plane to come back into town and go directly to work from the airport. No one to watch the girls if I had to go to the hospital. My neighbors' houses were all dark, and I didn't want to wake anyone. Decided to phone my doctor. Maybe the doc on call would just have me come in later today when I could find a sitter. The doc said to call 911.

6:45 and I phone 911, then phone my friend Robin who I knew was up. My neighbor the police officer arrives within about 30 seconds, siren piercing the quiet morning and lights flashing. Paramedics immediately followed him, with Robin close behind them. I love it when a plan comes together.

They connected me to all the equipment, injected me with stuff and soon my heart was slowing and I could actually breathe without pain. My chest didn't hurt much anymore either. Heart rate recorded at 257, and the ER crew could not get a reading on blood pressure. They said they couldn't tell the difference between the systolic and diastoli pressures. Hmm.

Saturday, I had joked about climbing some rocky areas of a beach taking pictures, and that I was glad I didn't break my leg, as I'd probably end up in the hospital right next to my dad. This morning, I wondered if this incident would land me there. Yikes.

Paramedics Dave, Jose, & Heather took me away in the ambulance to the ER, while my children slept happily. Dave and Jose said they would have to connect me to other gadgets in the ambulance and would have to partially expose me. I said, "go ahead--you'll each get one pointed at you." That got a good laugh. I need to buy those guys coffee sometime as they hadn't even had their morning cuppa when they got the call to come get me.

Gracious good friend Robin got them both to school, made Sarah's lunch, and took care of them as she would her own children. I am so thankful for my good friend.

Heart rate satisfactorily reduced, blood pressure found, I took a nice nap in the ER while docs there observed me. I awoke to some nasty tech lady screaming that she was too "pissed off" to talk to anyone. Annoyed me that she was so loud in the ER where there were some seriously ill people who didn't need to hear her anger. Oh well. Some people just aren't raised well I guess.

At 9:40, doc brings me a phone and says I'm ready to go home. It was blessed Robin on the phone, who then came to take me home, bringing her daughter's slippers and a sweatshirt so that I wouldn't have to go home barefoot and nearly uncovered (I was in my summer pj's--spaghetti straps and of course, no visible means of support anywhere).

Discharge nurse gave me some instructions, including no more alcohol, no more coffee. I balked, but I said I'd try. NO MORE COFFEE??? Who is she kidding?!?! I don't drink that much alcohol anyway, so it wasn't a terrible thing to get told to back off.

I'm home now, tried to rest, but did get some things done around the house so that Scott would come home to a nice place; I even took a nap this afternoon. However, now I have a raging headache from no caffeine, and I wonder how I'll survive tomorrow without it.

Scott did get home; now he's cooking some dinner, and I think I might go back to bed after I eat.

I hope this wasn't too wordy (hee hee).

Taking an extended break

Hello,

Have you missed me? I've missed me. I have taken a break from writing for awhile, and it may continue after this post, since school started for my oldest, and will start tomorrow for my youngest.

In addition to that, the next week will provide unlimited things to do now that, da- da da daaaa....

THE PAINTING IS DONE!!!

yes, folks, the girls' bedroom is painted, the ceilings are scraped, retextured, painted; the family room is painted and re-lit, though we are having to think about how to get enough light in the room...we may have to buy our own electric company soon...the living room and entryway are both painted and have the nicest crown moulding installed as well as painted.

Now, we can start embezzling money from the groceries for the front door and the garage door. Will we be done then?? Oh, no, we will not be done. We have to figure out how to either save our destroyed flooring (by Emily, Hamlet and the construction workers), and then decide how to update the fireplace.

However, first things first, and the main reason I may not be posting too much is that I'll be weeding "things" that won't be returning to the living areas of our home. I hope that only about 50% of the things we took out will come back in.

So far the only progress we've made (and believe me, it's pretty good progress) is that Scott has built the new beds for the girls' bedroom and is now stacking them into bunks so there will be room for their dressers and a few choice items.

When we decide exactly what goes into the bedroom, we will then sort the play room (that damn playroom just won't leave me alone!!) again, with much less "stuff" in it, and Mommy will be happy, plus Daddy will be very nearly happy, too!

So while Daddy makes the beds, I'll put my dining room together and go make a fruit salad for a bbq/swim party we are going to in a few hours.

Maybe I'll be back next weekend...if the house is mostly back together, then I'll have time to play.

Any comments on flooring replacement material would be genuinely appreciated. I'm interested in wood, cork, tile, the ads and disses of any of them in the kitchen, hallway, living areas, whatever suggestions I can get I'll use to make the best informed and economical decision I can make.

Great to be back, even if it's only for a few minutes.
So

Response to Kim about Katrina

Thank you Kim, for the information. I have only heard bits and bits of news about assistance, and have heard nothing about assistance except from Kuwait and Indonesia, and England.

I'm very glad that other countries have stepped forward to reciprocate.

As far as the bashing goes, there is enough evidence from the little that I've seen and read to bash and blame several levels and deparmtents of government right from Washington, DC to the local government,state security agencies and the like. It was a FUBAR on so many different levels, and the response to Katrina was so very wrong.

The bashers are helping. The bashers are the ones down in the dirty mud and disease-ridden waters trying to rescue people. They have every right to speak out to what they feel is a terrible display of government action and a prime example of bureaucracy--when FEMA has to give firefighters and rescue personnel sexual harassment training before these people get sent out to help, when the first duty for firefighters rushed to New Orleans was not rescue work but a photo op for Bush and his entourage, when rescue and relief efforts stopped immediately after Bush did his little walk through, and reporters are finally asking tough questions that get really very weak answers, these people ought to not simplly speak out; they ought to scream, yell, whatever they have to do to make sure that response and assistance to a natural disaster or any kind of horrific event gets changed and improved significantly. Links evidencing the above claims are below.

I can only hope we have learned something positive out of all this and will maybe be able to react better, prepare better for the next time. You can bet your sweet bippy there will be a next time, too.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9157757/#050907
http://moolies.zoonies.com/archives/002587.html
http://www.livejournal.com/users/jmhm/1408726.html?style=mine#cutid1
http://www.livejournal.com/users/riba_rambles/548863.html
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/nagin.transcript/index.html
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/4/171811/1974
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4210646.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4215404.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4216370.stm
http://www.newschannel5.tv/2005/9/1/4255/Taking-refuge-in-the-Astrodome
http://slate.msn.com/id/2125494/

Hurricane Katrina

A member of a mailing list to which I belong asked, " How come we had more talk on what happened in England with the bombings then we have had of Katrina which happend in our own country?"

I can only speak for myself: (and of course, that I'll do)

I'm still in shock over what has happened. It is terrible what happened to your truck driver's family. I'm glad your family is safe.

It is just so huge in so many ways, I can't even get my head around the fallout from Katrina, let alone comment on it. The devastating effects on property, people, families, the US economy, US health...it has been said that due to the neglect New Orleans and the gulf coast have suffered over the past few years (no levee improvements, no flood control, no yada yada), and due to the importance of the Mississippi River to our transportation of goods in the country, our economy may not recover for a very, very long time (meaning many years, not just a few months).

The president dragged his feet on several issues on the gulf coast, both before and after Katrina--but that's not even the main issue. I'm not a blamer, I just wonder how "Fat City" will rebuild--contractors being shot at, people without homes, food, clothing, basic necessities for this long after the hurricane hit, angry, confused, neglected people---it's scary to think how Los Angeles or San Francisco would be affected after a 9.0 earthquake or similar when the National Guard refuses to come in because they're being gunned down.

Our country is in a shameful state. Not just the government. Our people have become sloths--feeling sorry for themselves, not just getting to work and rebuilding for themselves, but yelling in anger that no one is there to take care of them--to rebuild for them--give them a handout.

Do you think our people now could ever survive a major economic depression like they did in the 1930's? Not with the attitude I'm seeing.

Do not read me wrong. I am NOT blaming anyone. I just wonder how we'll get to the real issues and rebuild--get back to the business of life again in the beautiful cities of the gulf coast.

Yes, it's definitely closer to home--and the devastation of the hurricane affected a much bigger demographic and geographic area than the bombings in England or anywhere else. I don't know what to say about that because I'm so angry that any of the destruction of lives could be allowed to happen.

Why didn't people leave like they were told? Why didn't the government react in a more swift fashion to keep the levees strong, keep the gulf cities safe, why were precautions not taken that could have saved hundreds of lives before Katrina hit ground? Why did New Orleans' own mayor say that "God was not pleased?"

It's shameful that the destroyed areas did not have the resources in this country to protect themselves. It's shameful that after the storm hit, the government (meaning our "dear" Mr. Bush) didn't get on the phone, the radio, whatever, and say, "get whatever armed forces, resources we have down there to help right now and help those people get food shelter and basic sanitation needs." The response would have been in hours. Was someone afraid to wake him? Was he golfing?

On the bright side, I believe it is the first time that other countries have come to our aid---Kuwait has given us $500 million in oil and cash. Other countries have opened their banks to us, also. I am amazed that we are finally getting some payback for all the help we have given to other countries. Where is France? Where is Japan-- Italy? -- England? --Germany? We are going to need some major help to get through this, let alone regain economic success.

There. That's what I have been thinking. Is all that really something you wanted to know?

BBBLLLLLTTTTT! (Whistle sound?)

Well, it's official: I'm an AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) Game Official, otherwise known as a referee. I finished the final class this morning and passed the certification exam, so now I get to blow my whistle at little kids.

What I won: an official referee whistle, a screaming bright yellow/gold t-shirt, a patch that says "Referee", a fake coin to toss, a pin to wear, and a game "book," which holds the red and yellow cards, plus has room for a small tablet for me to use to write notes about the game. These notes will help me remember what to write in my reports after the games I ref.

There are more rules in soccer than I can believe. I just hope I can remember them when I need them for a game!

I wonder when my first game will be.

for the Family: Poppy!

Well, I see I have not fulfilled my duty to my family and given the latest update on Poppy! Apologies extended to those who might have been holding their breath...

Good News: Poppy is home again in his nice little apartment with his familiar helpers and friends.

More good news: He's managed to stay there for two whole weeks now! Yippee!

Not so good news: He has had bouts of melancholy; not exactly unexpected after spending seven weeks in hospital or nursing home with few visitors.

Other not so good news: He has fallen five times so far, either trying to get into bed himself or get out of bed himself. He never has been great at asking for help.

Bad news: in case you haven't read my profile, he has been officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's, though I'm not sure that it's much different than his already diagnosed dimentia. He also is ver weak. He spends a lot of time in bed and sleeping. He's still anemic, too.

Good news: He receives home-health care visits from a very nice nurse, who gives him his once-weekly injection of some substance to help his body build up it's iron levels.

Better news: He's speaking rather clearly, albeit slowly. He does finally get his sentence out now, instead of falling asleep mid sentence as he did when we took him to hospital.

He still has the same phone number if you have it, and would love a phone call from you.

Thanks for reading!

Oh, My goodness

Just saw on Ms. East Coast Editor's page a link to Music Outfitters and her list of songs from when she graduated high school. I entered mine (can you tell when I graduated from the list of songs? and here's what I got. It surprised me that I knew so many of these songs. I didn't realize I even listened that much! And of course, big copier that I am, I also boldfaced my favorites like my favorite editor did.

1. The Way We Were, Barbra Streisand (even though I never have liked her very much)
2. Seasons In The Sun, Terry Jacks
3. Love's Theme, Love Unlimited Orchestra
4. Come And Get Your Love, Redbone
5. Dancing Machine, Jackson 5
6. The Loco-Motion, Grand Funk Railroad
7. TSOP, MFSB
8. The Streak, Ray Stevens
9. Bennie And The Jets, Elton John
10. One Hell Of A Woman, Mac Davis
11. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do), Aretha Franklin
12. Jungle Boogie, Kool and The Gang
13. Midnight At The Oasis, Maria Muldaur
14. You Make Me Feel Brand New, Stylistics
15. Show And Tell, Al Wilson
16. Spiders And Snakes, Jim Stafford
17. Rock On, David Essex
18. Sunshine On My Shoulder, John Denver
19. Sideshow, Blue Magic
20. Hooked On A Feeling, Blue Swede
21. Billy Don't Be A Hero, Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods
22. Band On The Run, Paul McCartney and Wings
23. The Most Beautiful Girl, Charlie Rich
24. Time In A Bottle, Jim Croce
25. Annie's Song, John Denver
26. Let Me Be There, Olivia Newton-John
27. Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot
28. (You're) Having My Baby, Paul Anka (YUCK!!)
29. Rock Me Gently, Andy Kim
30. Boogie Down, Eddie Kendricks
31. You're Sixteen, Ringo Starr (this was my age when I graduated, so yes, I liked this!)
32. If You Love Me (Let Me Know), Olivia Newton-John
33. Dark Lady, Cher
34. Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me, Gladys Knight and The Pips
35. Feel Like Makin' Love, Roberta Flack
36. Just Dont Want To Be Lonely, Main Ingredient
37. Nothing From Nothing, Billy Preston
38. Rock Your Baby, George McCrae
39. Top Of The World, Carpenters
40. The Joker, Steve Miller Band
41. I've Got To Use My Imagination, Gladys Knight and The Pips
42. The Show Must Go On, Three Dog Night
43. Rock The Boat, Hues Corporation
44. Smokin' In The Boys Room, Brownsville Station
45. Living For The City, Stevie Wonder
46. The Night Chicago Died, Paper Lace
47. Then Came You, Dionne Warwick and The Spinners
48. The Entertainer, Marvin Hamlisch (aw, c'mon--can't we acknowledge Scott Joplin??)
49. Waterloo, Abba
50. The Air That I Breathe, Hollies
51. Rikki Don't Lose That Number, Steely Dan
52. Mockingbird, Carly Simon (anything that came out of this woman's mouth I loved)
53. Help Me, Joni Mitchell
54. You Won't See Me, Anne Murray
55. Never, Never Gonna Give You Up, Barry White
56. Tell Me Something Good, Rufus (ooh, such a sexy song!)
57. You And Me Against The World, Helen Reddy
58. Rock And Roll Heaven, Righteous Brothers
59. Hollywood Swinging, Kool and The Gang
60. Be Thankful For What You Got, William Devaughn
61. Hang On In There Baby, Johnny Bristol
62. Eres Tu (Touch The Wind), Mocedades
63. Taking Care Of Business, Bachman-Turner Overdrive
64. Radar Love, Golden Earring
65. Please Come To Boston, Dave Loggins
66. Keep On Smilin', Wet Willie
67. Lookin' For Love, Bobby Womack
68. Put Your Hands Together, O'Jays
69. On And On, Gladys Knight and The Pips
70. Oh Very Young, Cat Stevens
71. Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress), Helen Reddy
72. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
73. I've Been Searchin' So Long, Chicago
74. Oh My My, Ringo Starr
75. For The Love Of Money, O'Jays
76. I Shot The Sherrif, Eric Clapton
77. Jet, Paul McCartney and Wings
78. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Elton John
79. Tubular Bells, Mike Oldfield
80. Love Song, Anne Murray
81. I'm Leaving It All Up To You, Donny and Marie Osmond (AAAUUUGGGRRHHR!!!)
82. Hello, It's Me, Todd Rundgren
83. I Love, Tom T. Hall
84. Clap For The Wolfman, The Guess Who
85. I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song, Jim Croce
85. The Lord's Prayer, Sister Janet Mead
87. Trying To Hold On To My Woman, Lamont Dozier
88. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing, Stevie Wonder
89. A Very Special Love Song, Charlie Rich
90. My Girl Bill, Jim Stafford
91. My Mistake Was To Love You, Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye
91. Helen Wheels, Paul McCartney and Wings
93. Wildwood Weed, Jim Stafford
94. Beach Baby, First Class
95. Me And Baby Brother, War
96. Rockin' Roll Baby, Stylistics
97. I Honestly Love You, Olivia Newton-John
98. Call On Me, Chicago
99. Wild Thing, Fancy
100. Mighty Love, Pt. 1, Spinners

(So there. When did I graduate from High School?)

Driving without Air Conditioning

Driving without the air conditioning on the other day got me to thinking. Not just having the a/c off did it—I was kind of in a thoughtful mood anyway.

With the windows down and the wind coming into the car, I smelled scents I hadn’t smelled in quite a long time. I smelled grass, freshly cut; then I caught a whiff of wood burning. There was the slightly salty scent of the sea, along with the lake’s own sweet fresh fragrance.

Then I paid attention to the sounds. I heard construction and cars, of course, but at stoplights, I heard other things. Birds sang their individual melodies. Voices from somewhat of a distance filtered through the car windows; I couldn’t determine whether the sounds came from radios, telephone conversations or the people in the car next to mine. It didn’t matter. The voices and other sounds represented the life of summer to me.

Even though people traveled through their day busily, hastily, and probably full of stress, I felt a great amount of joy at having the experience of the sounds of summer.

Some of the sounds brought me back to my childhood; others kept me in my “today.” But either way, I found a certain pleasure at experiencing the sounds and scents while driving in my car with the air conditioning off.

It felt good to appreciate the summer day in just the way it came. Listening and smelling the dry, hot, beautiful, with clear skies, plus the scents and sounds that accompany it I realized that I hadn’t listened to summer yet this year. Not really. I seemed to only dart around in one direction or another, with the windows up tightly and the air conditioner on high, plus the radio on my daughters’ favorite radio station (whether or not the girls were with me). It surely refreshed me to hear and smell something different.

Try it—drive with the windows down. It will save fuel, but it will make you aware of an environment that maybe you never knew existed.