Dezdmona's Rocketship

You've Got a Friend in Me

2011-09-19T15:48:00.001-05:00

This weekendI found out about the passing of a colleague from my past. And though I didn't know about it when hedied; I have found myself reminiscing about conversations we had and being sadthat such a good man died too young.

Coupled withthis loss is the closing of the Casa runaway and homeless youth shelter where Ispent the majority of my working career. I initially worked the overnight shift there when I was working on myBachelor's Degree then later after I had my Master's Degree I returned as CaseManager and Shelter Director. It was the first program of its kind in Dallasand marking its closure is also a kind of death. Many of those who worked there over the yearsfrom the first Program Director to the last came to the "closing ceremony". And, as I walked through that empty building,the memories came flooding back. Somemay say, it's only brick and mortar, but those walls were talking to me. Thelaughter and the tears all came flooding out. Good works were done inside those walls. Friendships were made and liveswere changed. When I left that building I embarked on a new career - to raisemy son. For many years I didn't lookback. I built a new life and let toomuch time and space come between myself and the people at the Shelter. I regretthis now. For those of you that readthis, I am sorry.

While I amhappy for my friend who has found his eternal reward and trust that all my colleagueshave found satisfaction in their lives; my experience this weekend causes me tomiss the days when we were in each other's lives every day. And though I know that is no longer possible,I would like to have the opportunity to reconnect with you wheneverpossible. You've got a friend inme. Let's get together.

To Roger Staubach, still Captain America

2010-06-09T18:54:00.007-05:00

This editorial appeared in the Dallas Morning News SportsDay Forum on Sunday, May 30, 2010
The online version of this article (linked to above) was shortened so much as to loose it's effect. The article, in it's entirety, as it appeared in the paper appears below:

I've always admired Roger, but as a military (Navy) veteran himself, I am not at all surprised to read of his respect to other heroes.

Staubach's kindness benefits soldiers:

The week before last, my brother was sitting in first class on a flight from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Colorado Springs when a couple sat in front of him. He immediately recognized the man as Roger Staubach and said he looked great, very fit. They exchanged greetings, and Staubach said he was headed to Colorado Springs for the inaugural Wounded Warrior games, a competition for injured members of the military.

After 60 or 70 percent of the plane was boarded, a female Army soldier who had lost her leg boarded. Staubach insisted she sit in his seat; she said "no thanks," but he insisted. He took her place in the middle seat way in the back. After a few minutes, the young girl got tears in her eyes and said she wanted to go to her seat and have Staubach return to his.

The flight attendant overheard, and as the female soldier headed to retrieve Staubach, the attendant said she had a no-show and both could sit in first class.

The flight attendant returned with the female soldier, but Staubach sent a double amputee Army soldier to sit in his seat. Staubach remained in coach the entire flight and disembarked last. My brother asked for an autograph for my birthday; Staubauch said certainly. It's a great gift, but the greater gift is knowing Roger Staubach is still Captain America.

— Drew Werner, Addison, TX

I Said A Mother's Prayer For You

2010-05-07T10:22:00.003-05:00

I said a Mother's Day prayer for you
to thank the Lord above
for blessing me with a lifetime
of your tenderhearted love.
I thanked God for the caring
you've shown me through the years,
for the closeness we've enjoyed
in time of laughter and of tears.
And so, I thank you from the heart
for all you've done for me
and I bless the Lord for giving me
the best mother there could be!
- Author - Unknown

Behind Blue Eyes

2009-10-16T13:01:00.006-05:00

The above photograph of my Mother and me was taken by my son when she was in the hospital after a fall last month. We were having a particularly good visit when this photo was taken. It is remarkable for several reasons, most notably the empty look in Mom's eyes. It is the look of Alzheimer's. It was difficult for her to find her smile that day. Though she was happy during our visit.

When I showed the photograph to Mom, her only comment was how old she looked.

My son submitted this photograph in the 2009 PTA Reflections Arts in Education Program at his school where it won an "Award of Excellence" Blue Ribbon, and will be submitted for district judging.

CONGRATULATIONS are in order to MJM for capturing such a striking, yet loving photograph.

Reboot

2009-09-30T08:44:00.006-05:00

I am thrilled to report that Mom will NOT have to have the VP Shunt replaced at this time.

The Neurosurgeon successfully reprogrammed the shunt yesterday using a different machine and said that he doesn't need to see her again for another month. He set the program so that it would not drain a lot of fluid, and will slowly (over a period of months) increase the amount of fluid being drained again. Although, not to the level it had reset itself to...the reason which still remains a mystery; as does the reason his machine was unable to reprogram the shunt the first three times he tried. He said he would contact the manufacturer of the machine to ensure it was working properly. Obviously, if his machine checks out, this could still mean there is a problem with Mom's shunt. If his machine needs recalibration, then Mom's shunt is probably ok. Only time will tell.

Ok...that's a lot of medical babble, but it's good news.

During the visit, Mom was insistent that there is nothing medically wrong with her. She did acknowledge having a fall...on her Patio at home, about "a week ago". (The fall she remembers occurred last "Fall"). Initially, I told her that isn't where she fell, but when she called me a liar and got upset, I let it go. She thinks that it's "Spring" and time to get her tomato's planted.
I asked if she'd visited the vegetable garden at AC, and she said yes, but it isn't "her" garden. After I gave her the medication the staff sent with me, we went for the CT Scan, and I noticed a chip on her glasses. When I told her about it, and said I should make an eye appointment for her, she said, "You are so good to me." I was worried about how she would act when I returned her to AC, but she got out of the car without problem and said, "I hoped you were taking me home. "
My Mother-in-Law visited her a short time later and said that she had a nice visit with her. She reported that Mom said the Doctor gave her a "clean bill of health".

The staff at AC reports that she is becoming agitated more frequently the longer she has been there (approximately 2 weeks if you subtract the days she spent in the hospital because of her fall). I feel confident that this will pass in time, though it may take awhile. Hopefully, her medications can be adjusted give her some relief from her obsessive thoughts. I pray for their patience.

Overall, I'm pleased with the day, and that's all I can ask for.

Déjà Vu All Over Again

2009-09-21T09:17:00.010-05:00

It seems that the VP Shunt that is draining the fluid from Mom's brain has malfunctioned and she will have to have it replaced. It is draining twice as much fluid as it is supposed to, and it is not responding to reprogramming. The Doc's have attempted to reprogram it three times, and each time it has reset itself.

The last time we know that everything was in good working order was on 8/24 when Mom had a routine CT Scan. She had the anxiety attack on 8/27 and remained agitated for weeks. So it seems likely that she hit her head while home alone, damaged the shunt and caused the subdural hematoma's that were evident on the emergency CT scans last week sometime between 8/24 and the end of August when she was hospitalized.

The bottom line is that the VP Shunt will have to be replaced. Surgery is pending for later this week, probably Thursday or Friday. I am waiting for the Surgeon to call back after making the arrangements.

So here we go again.

EDIT 9/22: The surgeon called and wants to do ONE more test to try to get the Shunt working again before going into surgery. Says they've never seen a Shunt do this before and they just want to be certain.

The good news is that my son & I had a wonderful visit with Mom on Saturday morning. She was calm and relaxed. The Nurse told me that she was even laughing earlier in the morning. We were able to talk about the sunshine outside, college football games, my son's activities, we took pictures and just relaxed together for awhile. While she did ask about the cats and going home, she was not agitated, repetitive and insistent about the topic as in previous encounters. Although a small victory, it sure felt good after so many hard battles in the previous three weeks.

Free Fallin'

2009-09-17T14:41:00.007-05:00

Mom fell and suffered an acute subdural hematoma. There is also swelling at the front of her brain and a couple of other subdural hematoma's that appear to be a couple of weeks old. This seems to coincide with the onset of her increased agitated state. All very scary.

While in the Emergency room Mom experienced aphasia and was unable to communicate with or understand what was being said to her. I'm sure this was very scary and confusing for her, it certainly was for me. On the other hand, she didn't seem to have much awareness of being in the hospital and only seemed interested in going home. She kept taking the heart monitors, blood pressure cuff and even her hospital gown off and trying to get out of the bed to leave. Eventually, she had to be medicated to calm her down, but would try to fight through it after an hour or so. She definitely has a strong will.

I am not aware of any falls prior to her anxiety attack on 8/27, but she obviously hit her head twice - hard enough to cause significant injury. I do know that she hit her forehead on a shelf in the bathroom at the Psych Hospital on 8/31 because the staff called me and told me. It left a nickle size bruise that I saw when I visited her on 9/1.

The Neurosurgeon ordered another CT scan the morning after her fall. He adjusted the VP shunt back to where it was immediately after it was placed at surgery, then he will slowly readjust it again.

The day after her the fall she was calm in the morning and seemed to understand she was in the hospital, but became highly agitated in the afternoon and had to be restrained. She no longer understood she was in the hospital. Two days later, she was calm again, but doesn't have awareness of being in a medical hospital. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to try to determine any progress from this type of head injury when the patient is suffers from Alzheimer's and is often unable to tell you how old she is, what year it is and the like.

She is unable to look at me without begging me to take her home, and doesn't seem to be able to have any other conversation with me. :(

This turn of events does help to piece together all the changes in Mom's behavior over the past weeks. But what does it mean for the future? Will she heal, will her agitation abate over time? Will she need a wheelchair or walker - will she accept one?
The things I'm reading about this condition are very frightening.

In My Room

2009-09-11T16:28:00.007-05:00

Today Mom was released from the Hospital and transferred to an Alzheimer's Care Facility. She met with the Director and Nurse from the facility at the Hospital this morning but was unable to recall the incident that had resulted in her placement in the Hospital...other than "her daughter put her there". As I've previously noted, that behavior is so far out of character for her, she probably can't even conceive it. Also of note is that she was so highly emotional at the time that it was probably never processed...even temporarily. She cannot fathom that she would or could commit such an action. And she couldn't, if it weren't for the illness that has invaded her mind.

But I digress. Today Mom has a new home, with a private room that has a nice view of a large courtyard in which she can walk or sit, and pictures of her family nearby. She will soon have a TV in her room, and personal items that she can enjoy which will hopefully help her feel comfortable and eventually at peace. I know it will take some time for her to become accustomed to her new surroundings, but I am satisfied that she is safe, she will take her medications, and she will eat properly.

Her Sister from Arkansas came to see her through the transition and my Son was also able to visit as she was checked in. However, after this initial transfer, we will not see her for a couple of weeks so that she can learn and become familiar with her new surroundings and the people who will be assisting her on a daily basis. From my initial impressions, they are wonderful people, who are committed to ensuring that the individuals they care for are treated with respect. Slowly we will visit and eventually it is our goal to be able to take her away from the facility for dinner, medical appointments or other special activities.

While this has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, I know it is the right thing. Mom told me that I would have to answer to God for what I have done, and I quietly answered her that "yes...I will." I only wish she could understand that He already knows I'm acting with love in my heart.

Caught in a Trap

2009-09-09T08:06:00.006-05:00

My Aunt & Uncle from Illinois visited Mom at the Hospital yesterday. It was another difficult visit. They reported that they barely recognized her, having changed so much since the last time they had seen her in Mexico in January. She's lost 25 pounds since then. They also reported symptoms of extreme anxiety, such as persistent hand rubbing during their conversation. Something I've also noted.

She was happy to see them, and repeatedly told them how much she loved me and my son. She pleaded with them to ask me to take her home and be with her cats, insisting that I have the "power" to come and get her; but W&S told her that it is the Doctor that will determine when she is released. She asked to speak with her Grandson on the telephone (which can be arranged). Sadly, she didn't remember that I had been to visit her in the hospital.

W&S reported that she was wearing the fleece pants that I brought her, but is still wearing one of the hospital shirts. One of the Aides came to take her for a shower when they left.

I know it was hard for W&S to see Mom, not only in a Psychiatric hospital, but in her current emotional and physical condition. It's been heartbreaking and startling to watch her decline these past months and weeks.

I am still concerned that she is experiencing so much anxiety and feel that this needs to be addressed further before she is released from the hospital. My prayers are that she is able to find some peace of mind, relax and find some enjoyment in her days. I know that she's currently still in great distress.

I took W&S to visit the Alzheimer's Facility that I have arranged for Mom to live in after she leaves the hospital. They seemed pleased with the choice. We visited with the Director for a bit. Hopefully, we will be able to move her there very soon.

Pacing the Cage

2009-09-07T11:04:00.023-05:00

I visited Mom in the Hospital last evening for the first time since she was placed on medication to help her with her anxiety/agitation (2 evenings prior). My previous visit (before medication) had not gone well at all, so with professional advice, I decided to wait until she had been placed on medication before visiting again. (Easier said than done, since her "anger/acting out" is directed specifically toward me as her primary caretaker and isn't really displayed on the Unit, but that's another story.)

At the beginning she hugged me, was weepy and held my hand. We told each other we loved one another. She was definitely happy to see me. (Yay!)

But ultimately the conversation turned to why had I locked her up, that I had the power to get her out (pleading with me to take her home), and that there isn't anything wrong with her. She denied any responsibility for the behavior that caused her to be there...and I've decided not to remind her of it since I don't really see how it can be beneficial. It only serves to upset her further. (In the moment) :(

I got the Nurse to supervise because I wanted her to listen in.

I explained to Mom that the Doctor would determine when she would be released and I only want to ensure her safety but she wouldn't listen. She stated that she hasn't seen any Doctor(s), and that the only Doctor she has is the Doctor she's been seeing for many years and the last time she saw him was "a couple of weeks ago" (which is fairly close - especially since we've been seeing him once a month for a long time).

She denied any problem with her memory and said I was making that up. It got very circular & repetitive very fast, and she became angry/frustrated and laughed at me stating that I enjoy keeping her locked up.

The Nurse supported what I was saying but Mom didn't (or couldn't?) listen and persisted with her point of view. I knew the visit wasn't going to go anywhere positive from there so I ended it and left. The Nurse walked me out and was very supportive stating that Mom didn't recognize her from day to day either.

It's just so hard that she doesn't understand and refuses (or is unable) to accept that she has memory problems.

She has a very strong will that has always served her well in achieving things in life...except for now. Alzheimer's is one challenge she can't overcome simply by sheer force of will.

Changing Channels

2009-08-28T21:32:00.005-05:00

The report from Mom's recent visit with the Neurosurgeon was as expected. He stated that the shunt has done all it can do, and he is ruling out hydrocephalus as the cause of her memory problems. He advised us to see the Neurologist for further evaluation of her dementia and he will continue to monitor the hydrocephalus and her walking since the shunt does seem to have improved her fall risk.

After visiting with the Surgeon, we went to her Internist. She had a Anxiety/Panic attack in his office and became very distressed that she would not live to see her grandson grow up. It was very intense. The Doctor adjusted her medications significantly upon witnessing this. I explained to him that while I had not seen her behave with the sadness she was exhibiting in his office, I had witnessed her exhibit extreme levels of anxiety and agitation; so he increased her medications for anxiety/agitation. This occurred on Thursday.

On Friday, she was still highly agitated, even after taking the new medication dosage, although she now was mad rather than sad. And proceeded to inform me that there was nothing wrong with her and she wanted her car returned to her.

On Saturday, the extreme agitation continued, and my husband, and son went with me to her house to try to get her to eat and take her medication. She continued with the above arguments (there's nothing wrong with her, I'm keeping her "locked" in her house, and I have no reason to keep her car from her, because no doctor has told her that she is unable to drive) She also blames my husband for "brainwashing" me into believing that there is something wrong with her.
I did get her to eat and take her medication, but later in the day, she called the Police and reported that we had stolen her car. The Officer we spoke to understood that she had a memory impairment and we offered to show him the diagnosis and Power of Attorney, but he had assessed there was something wrong during his conversation with her, and declined. He gave us a report number and offered some resources and stated he would include our information in his report in case she made another call.
She continued making angry calls to me into the evening until I had to unplug the phone at bedtime.

On Sunday morning I went to her house and had a very pleasant conversation with her.
She seemed to have no memory of the events of the previous three days and took her medication without any problems.

On Monday I arrived at her home and she initially appeared calm. However, I noticed that her bed had not been slept in and she had not taken her medications from the evening before. I brought groceries into the house, and took her medications to her (she refused). She began telling me that I needed to bring her car home, which I explained that I couldn't do that because she no longer had driving privileges, she started yelling and cursing about how I was imprisoning her, had abandoned her, turned against her, and she didn't understand how I could do that after all she had done for me. I told her I loved her and was trying to protect her. She laughed and said I was lying and that I was just trying to get rid of her.
I told her I was going to go put the groceries away and went to the kitchen.
Within a few minutes, she had followed me, and continued her rant. By this time she was screaming and yelled "There's going to be a murder here".
I told her that was inappropriate and asked her to calm down or I would have to call 911. She continued screaming and told me I was trespassing and she never wanted to see me again, that I had betrayed her. I dialed 911 and told them that Mom was highly agitated and requested assistance, she began screaming that she was the victim, why was I calling 911 on her? I had barely given the address when she went and grabbed an knife from the butcher block; I ran out the back door telling the 911 operator that she had a knife. She followed me out the door onto the patio, but didn't pursue me very far. I stayed on the phone with 911 and she went back inside with the knife and came back outside without it and continued to tell me to get off her property, that I was trespassing.
The Police arrived within minutes. I explained that she has Alzheimer's and has no history of violence or mental illness, but that in recent days has been highly agitated. They spent about 30 minutes talking with her and she eventually agreed to see a "Doctor". They transported her to a local Psychiatric Emergency Hospital for stabilization. There was no arrest.

It is painfully obvious that Mom is no longer able to live independently.
She is suffering terribly and it's causing everyone who loves her enormous pain, too.

At the time of this post (Thursday), she is still in the hospital, and not yet properly stabilized.

We have secured a long term care facility that specializes in Alzheimer's/Dementia affected individuals, that I feel good about. Though it breaks my heart that she won't be able to live at home anymore. I kept hoping to put it off longer...

Reality Bites

2009-08-11T09:24:00.006-05:00

It's looking more and more like the shunt surgery is not going to help restore Mom's memory. I discussed this directly with both the Neurosurgeon and his associate at our last appointment. His associate was more blunt with me (which I appreciated), but the bottom line, is that at six weeks after surgery they would have expected to see more improvement than we've seen (which is very little). The Neurosurgeon adjusted the amount of fluid that the shunt is draining, and stated he would be willing to make one more adjustment before making a final conclusion, but if the next adjustment does not result in memory improvement, he will agree that Mom is likely suffering from an underlying dementia/Alzheimer's disease.

I contacted Mom's long term care insurance about getting benefits approved, and they sent a Nurse out to interview Mom. The interview was very difficult as Mom became suspicious and angry, assuming that I was trying to have her "committed" and she refused to cooperate with the questions that the Nurse was asking her. Objectively, it was sad, because Mom's frustration began when she was unable to answer basic memory sequencing questions. She then told the Nurse that she continues to drive herself to all her Doctor appointments, picks up her prescriptions, counts out and takes her medications by herself, cleans her house, does her laundry, grocery shops, etc.... without any help whatsoever. (which of course isn't true), but was an obvious defensive attempt to appear competent because she felt threatened. There was lots of yelling and threatening directed at me for trying to control her and "put her away, and get rid of her". Both the Nurse, me and my son tried to tell her we were simply trying to arrange for someone to come into her home to assist her (and me) in remaining in her home so she would NOT have to go into a care facility, but she wouldn't believe us, and further stated she didn't want anyone coming into her home and didn't need any help. She also stated she wanted to get rid of all her Doctors and find one that would tell her she was "fine", because there isn't anything wrong with her.

The Nurse was concerned that Mom actually needs a full time care facility as she isn't convinced that Mom will allow someone to come in to assist, so I told her to write her report as she sees the situation, but I would like to TRY to have someone come into the home before I move her into full time care.

The very next morning after this traumatic incident, Mom seemed to have no memory of what had happened, and we proceeded with the above mentioned appointment with the Neurosurgeon.

She has since conceded that she is sick and needs help. I have asked her if she feels like she needs to be in full time care, but she says she needs to be at home for her cats. I have assured her that I will take care of her cats, but this is a delicate matter for the moment, as she obsesses over it - much more so than she has over the car/driving issue. The insurance company matter is still pending, but I should have some options within the next week, so I should be able to start comparing care agencies soon.

It will be nice to get a bit of help.

Trying To Strike A Balance

2009-07-17T11:49:00.006-05:00

The Surgeon increased the amount of fluid that is being drained from the ventricles in Mom’s brain at her appointment last week. He hopes that this will, over time, improve the results we are seeing in her memory. It’s a delicate process as draining too much fluid could result in the collapse of the ventricles (obviously a bad thing), and not enough fluid continues the memory and other problems she experiences.

In response to Mom’s increasing agitation over her car (including cursing & threats, and one day in which she called me over 15 times as well as calling various other local people in addition to calling me), Mom was put on a new medication to ease her anxiety and agitation, which seems to be working. The medication she takes to improve her memory was also increased, but she seems to be having a hard time adjusting to this so I am carefully monitoring her to ensure she is eating while her body adjusts.

She seems to be coming to terms with the reality that she is, indeed sick and needs assistance. I filmed the appointment with the Surgeon and him explaining the Hydrocephalus to her as well as the reasons that she is unable to drive. I haven’t needed to review it with her, yet.

So far her memory shows little to no improvement and she is very frail, but every day I look for any little sign that might indicate improvement, however; it could be months before we see any significant results, so I try to be patient, while continuing my prayers that she will eventually return to us.

What Next?

2009-07-04T20:31:00.005-05:00

I’ve been putting off writing this post because it is so painful. As a follow up to my previous entry, Mom has been calling me every day, sometimes twice a day wondering “where her car is”, or “how we’re going to get her car home”. And I explain to her that her driving privileges have been restricted by both her Neurologist and her Neurosurgeon, to which she responds “Why? I’m perfectly healthy.“ Sometimes she remembers that she’s had brain surgery, sometimes she doesn’t. She accuses me of making up her medical condition and insists that her memory is fine and that no Doctor has told her that there is anything wrong with her.

I explain that I am happy to assist her with any of her needs and will take her where she needs to go; but she says that she wants to be able to do for herself. I sympathize with her, but explain that it isn’t possible for her to drive herself at the present time, and she needs to let me help her. She says I am imprisoning her because I don’t “trust” her not to drive the car if I were to leave it at her house. There is a physician’s note on her refrigerator stating that she cannot drive, but as she doesn’t remember the Doctor writing it, or discussing it with her, she doesn’t believe it. I’ve explained she is welcome to discuss the situation at our next appointment, and encouraged her to take notes about what he says while we are there…in her own handwriting so that she’ll have something to refer to after we return home.

Apparently she tells other people who call to check on her that I am very helpful and take her everything she needs. When I am at her house in person she is pleasant and seems to understand. However when she is alone and decides she wants something and her car isn’t there, she calls and the cycle starts over again. She has threatened to call the Police and report the car stolen several times. I’m at a loss on how to handle the situation and would welcome suggestions. I really don’t believe that she needs to be placed outside her home. She CAN take care of some of her basic personal needs, (although I assist with financial and housekeeping tasks) her memory and decision making abilities are impaired. I can’t bear the thought of her getting lost or hurting someone while driving when I’m available to assist her. I’ve tried to explain her medical condition but she says she doesn’t believe it applies to her. :sigh:

A Conflicted Ray of Hope?

2009-06-23T14:07:00.006-05:00

Is arguing a positive sign?

Mom has been so passive and confused these past months, but within the past few days she has become argumentative and accusatory. As uncomfortable as it is, I'm wondering if this change in her behavior could be related to increased awareness of her surroundings.

She is very upset that she is unable to drive and that I have her car at my house. I've tried to explain that the Doctor's have restricted her driving because of her medical condition, and that I'm willing to do her grocery shopping and bring her whatever she needs.

I'm not sure if she understands her medical condition or that she's even had surgery to correct it. I'm frustrated that she is resistent to taking the medication she needs to manage her diabetes, high blood pressure and slow her memory deterioration. She repeats that there is nothing wrong with her and thinks that it is "us" that are creating the problems.

Today, she was accusing my husband of being "behind" taking her car away from her. Which is the furthest thing from the truth. In all honesty, I have been the one consulting with Doctors. My husband hasn't consulted with any physicians regarding her care, nor does he have the authority. But it has been the physicians themselves that listen to my reports of her abilities and behaviors and make the determination as to whether she is safe to drive. And honestly, the last time I asked her to come to my house by 2:30pm and she arrived at 4:30pm...not aware of where the time had gone (I spoke with her at 2:00pm and she was "walking out the door"), is just an example of how skewed things had become.

Irregardless, I have to consider that this recent fixation on driving is a sign that her memory is improving slightly, which could lead to further improvement. Which is what we were praying for. Let's hope this is indeed the case, and the improvement continues...and that eventually she WILL be able to drive again.

The Day After...

2009-06-11T20:00:00.005-05:00

Thanks everyone. Just got home. What a day.
We had big storms this morning with lots of flooding all around Dallas.
It took me 2 hours just to get into Mom's neighborhood so I could feed her cats.
All the roads surrounding her house were flooded.
I bet I turned around at least a half a dozen times before I found a way in that was safe.

Then I took my laptop to the FedEx store when I was supposed to take it to the UPS store...
After I got that worked out, we got something to eat and sailed on to the hospital.

Mom is pretty confused, and thinks she's ready to go home.
She figures if she can sit in a hospital bed, she can sit on the sofa at home.
She has little concept of the passage of time or even the reason that she is in the hospital.
Some things she can remember ok, others not so much.
She's also dizzy, which makes her a fall risk, and not suitable for release.
She's singularly focused on her cats and doesn't seem satisfied when I assure her that I'm taking good care of them.
They're her "children", and she wants to be with them.
I've tried to tell her she has to take care of herself before she can take care of them, but she doesn't seem to "get it".

The nurses in ICU have been just wonderful.
I applaud everyone who chooses to put up with these difficult people who make such unrealistic (and repetitive) demands of them.
I can assure you, at least in my Mom's case, she doesn't understand what she's doing.

Surgery

2009-06-11T07:57:00.002-05:00

Mom's surgery went well.
After it was over, she didn't even realize they'd done it yet!
She's in the ICU right now, but should be moved to a regular room today.

She's still very confused about time, but I did notice slight improvements in simple things.
She has a nice new haircut, and does have some pain.
She worries about taking pain medication...she's afraid of get addicted. LOL

My Sister in Law works in the hospital and checked on her before leaving last night and said she was alert and reading some magazines I left her.

They will be doing a CAT scan this morning to see how much fluid has been drained off in the first 24 hours.
I'll be anxious to hear the Doc's report on this test.

Thanks for all your prayers. I know they are helping.

One day to surgery...

2009-06-08T17:50:00.004-05:00

The countdown is on, and I'm anxious and hopeful.
Mom is deteriorating rapidly and she is blissfuly unaware of it.

This past weekend we had a family wedding for her Sister's grandson (her Great-Nephew), and because of her faulty sense of time, she had great difficulty being able to understand what day and time the wedding was. She tried to get ready for the wedding on Friday, but I explained that the wedding was on Sunday, and tried to re-direct her to another task. Then on Sunday, she decided she HAD to do the task I had tried to get her to do on Friday before she could get ready for the wedding...leaving her little time to get ready. It was pretty hectic, and she didn't understand where the time went, but somehow we got there on time. The wedding was beautiful and we had a lovely visit with relatives we don't get to visit with often.

Everything is in place for the surgery. The pending cardiac clearance was received, and now we are now waiting for a call from the anesthesiologist on Tuesday evening before we head to the hospital early Wednesday morning. The surgery itself shouldn't take very long, nor should her hospital stay.

All prayers are welcome and encouraged, both for a safe & successful surgery; and for a positive outcome.

Unfortunatly my laptop got fried this past weekend, so I will be unable to blog, tweet or facebook updates from the hospital, but will post updates as soon as I can.

Surgery is a go...

2009-05-12T18:24:00.006-05:00

Today Mom & I revisited the Neurosurgeon to review the results of the spinal tap procedure described in my last post. The Doc recommended that Mom have the shunt surgery and after reassuring her that as far as brain surgery goes, this surgery is minor. Then he proceeded to tell us of all the possible risks, no matter how remote.

We do have to get “cardiac clearance” before we can proceed with surgery; so I have contacted a cardiologist and will be moving forward with this testing next week. If all goes well, the shunt surgery should take place the first week in June.

Mom continues to be surprised that there is anything wrong with her, and that it could be serious enough to require "brain surgery". She is terrified of someone "messing around with her brain". She asked what would happen if she refused the surgery, and I explained that she would slip into an "Alzheimer's fog" and be in a nursing home sooner rather than later. And that if someone had an Alzheimer's diagnosis, they would be thrilled to have this type of treatment option available to them that might offer some hope of independent living again. She claims that she doesn't "feel sick"; but the days just slip by without her awareness, and while I try to provide examples of the symptoms of the condition, she is unable to comprehend that she is actually exhibiting the behaviors I describe.

I am hopeful that the surgery actually does relieve her symptoms and she is able to continue to live independently. My greatest fear is that the NPH symptoms will be relieved only for Alzheimer’s symptoms to arise in their place.

For now, I will focus on the positive that the surgery is proceeding and there is a glimmer of hope that she will have some memory restoration, not to mention greater balance control; which for a nearly 80 year old woman is also very important.

This is Spinal Tap

2009-04-14T16:05:00.003-05:00

I took Mom to consult with the Neuro Surgeon and, not surprisingly, he recommended that she have another Spinal Tap called a "large volume lumbar puncture" before proceeding with shunt surgery.

This test will remove approx. 40mL of spinal fluid (a bunch), which will hopefully result in near immediate symptom relief. The Doctor stated that she should show the most improvement during the first day or two following the procedure; therefore, we will spend a lot of time together over that period so I can observe her actions. We will then meet with the Surgeon again to review the results of this test and determine if he will proceed with the shunt surgery.

Mom expressed extreme fear and concern about the surgery and the Doctor spoke with her to attempt to alleviate her fears, describing the surgery in fair detail. She seemed moderately pacified, but I suspect she will forget his explanation and her fears will increase again. Upon leaving the appointment, she said "That's the most I've ever had explained about what's going on with me"; which is not true, her Neurologist and myself have explained on numerous occasions what is happening, what to expect and viewed her MRI pictures vs those of someone without NPH. Sadly, she forgets these conversations.

She does seem appreciative that I am taking care of her, and ensuring that she is getting the treatment she needs. But, she doesn't like the treatment that is being recommended. While no one looks forward to brain surgery, the potential to regain increased quality of life is worth the risks, because without the surgery her prognosis is grim.

I am looking forward to scheduling this test as soon as possible since she becomes more fragile by the day. Here's hoping the next update will hold good news about the outcome of the "large volume lumbar puncture" test.

A Gift from Strangers

2009-03-28T08:00:00.002-05:00

Reposted from the Science & Society section of ABCNews.com
March 27, 2009 6:03 PM

They began to show up after the Challenger disaster. In 1988, during NASA's first shuttle flight after the accident, a bouquet of roses was delivered to Mission Control in Houston. Seven red ones, plus one white.

There was a note attached -- best wishes and a safe flight from Mark and Terry Shelton and their daughter MacKenzie -- but it didn't say who they were or where they lived. After a bit of hesitation, controllers put the roses in a vase on top of the flight director's control console, a bit of color amid readout screens and flight plan booklets.

Milt Heflin, a veteran flight director, was touched and intrigued. "Frankly, people didn't send things like that to mission control," says NASA's James Hartsfield. Heflin called the florists who had delivered them. They were at first reluctant to give out personal information.

It turned out the Sheltons were just an American family, like yours or mine, from the Dallas suburbs. Mark Shelton, a computer engineer, had been a space buff since childhood. His wife Terry is in the clothing business. MacKenzie, a toddler in 1988, is now 23 and studying to be a special-education teacher.

"I thought it would be nice to remind them the public is out there, and they care," said Mark Shelton in a phone interview. "It's a dangerous job the astronauts have, and so many people are responsible for their lives, and they take it very seriously."

The flowers have kept coming, one bouquet during every shuttle flight. There will always be as many colored roses as there are astronauts on the mission (most shuttles carry seven), plus one white one. Heflin asked why. In memory of the astronauts who gave their lives, said the Sheltons.

This month's mission, STS-119, flown by the shuttle Discovery, was the hundredth since the Sheltons began their quiet tradition, and NASA invited them down to Houston for a ceremony of appreciation.

"I think it means so much because we never asked for it," said Heflin. "We never expected it. We believe it truly represents the sentiment of a large part of the public, as well as a very personal gesture."

(Photo: the bouquet for STS-114 in 2005, the first flight after the Columbia accident. Courtesy NASA.)

Diagnosis Confirmed - it's NPH

2009-03-20T16:21:00.004-05:00

I took Mom to the Neurologist today to review the results of the cisternogram testing last week.

The testing, along with the results of the earlier MRI and neuropsychological testing confirmed a diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

We will now interview for a competent Neurosurgeon with experience treating this condition and move forward with planning for surgery.

An interesting developement was that Mom's primary care physican discovered that Mom had a Brain MRI in 2003, so we will be getting copies of that test to compare with the more recent MRI testing to see if there was any spinal fluid accumulating in her ventricles at that time. This test would have been closer to the time of her fall in Mexico that I remember being the onset of these problems. The films should be ready for me to pick up next week.

I will also be giving Mom B12 injections for the next 6-7 months. You can say that she is less than thrilled with this news. But I've done this before and feel confident we will have no trouble with the administration. Now ensuring that she takes her other prescription medications as prescribed is another matter.

Mom continues to be confused by the entire process, and I have to continually remind her of the simplest tasks. I pray that we can schedule the surgery in the next few months so the healing can begin.

Radioactive Isotopes

2009-03-11T20:29:00.004-05:00

Today Mom had a radionuclide cisternogram which is a fancy way of saying that she had a spinal tap where they injected radioactive isotopes into her spinal fluid then took some pictures to monitor how those isotopes travel through her spinal fluid and brain.

The wonderful radiologist in nuclear medicine, Roy, explained to me that the isotopes will travel through the spinal fluid and the the pictures they are taking will document where those isotopes end up; if the spinal fluid is circulating as it should or if it's leaking or pooling in placing in places it shouldn't.

Roy took two series of pictures today and we go back three more times over the next three days to see how those isotopes disperse over time.

I'll be calling the Neurologist to schedule an appointment to get the results of this testing for next week.

Until then...Mom still doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.
Says she feels fine.

Testing 1, 2, 3, and 4

2009-03-09T13:06:00.008-05:00

Testing has been scheduled to determine if Mom actually has NPH (Normal Pressure Hydrocephelus), and if she is a good candidate to have a shunt surgically inserted into her brain to have the excess spinal fluid drained.

On Wednesday, Mom will undergo a Lumbar puncture (spinal tap):

This involves removing a large amount of spinal fluid. The CSF will be tested for abnormalities, but a significant "side effect" of this test is that the "symptoms" of the NPH may be temporarily lifted after the procedure. If this occurs, it is assumed that Mom would likely be a good candidate for having a shunt surgically implanted in her brain to drain excess CSF on a long term basis.

Then on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, she will have a Radionuclide cisternogram.

Essentially, radioactive dye is injected into the CSF in the spine and several hours later pictures are taken to determine how the dye has traveled through the nervous system. This test is repeated over a three day period. As with the above mentioned spinal tap, there should be some symptom relief upon completion of these tests in addition to the actual results of the dye distribution. As I learn more about the differences in what they look for each day, I will update this post.

Continued prayers are appreciated as Mom embarks on this week of difficult and likely painful testing. She is still surprised that she needs all this "medical stuff", as she claims to feel fine. I have emphasized to her the seriousness of the condition, but I fear that since she doesn't "feel sick", she fails to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

2009-03-06T17:04:00.006-06:00

Some of you are aware of the memory problems my Mom has been having.

We've been having a variety of tests done over the last few months and are finally getting some answers....hopefully.

I spent (most) of today at the Neurologist with Mom. The good news is....Mom MAY not have Alzheimer's. (YEA)

But it appears she does have Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. In short that means she has a build up of spinal fluid in her brain that shouldn't be there and may be causing her memory problems (along with dizziness, unsteadiness & general poor motor coordination).

We need to do some more testing, but there's a possibility that surgery could be done to drain the fluid which MIGHT relieve the symptoms...or at least keep them from getting worse. However, as with all surgery of the brain, there are definitely risks of complications, and it might not help. I'm just hoping she qualifies and is one of the patients that it DOES help.

Please keep us in your prayers.

The Way To A Happy New Year

2008-12-31T12:00:00.003-06:00

To leave the old with a burst of song;
To recall the right and forgive the wrong;
To forget the things that bind you fast;
To the vain regrets of the year that’s past;
To have the strength to let go your hold
Of the not worthwhile of the days grown old;
To dare go forth with a purpose true,
To the unknown task of the year that’s new;
To help your brother along the road,
To assist with his work and lift his load;
To add your gift to the world’s good cheer,
Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.

~Robert Brewster Beattie

Merry CHRISTmas!

2008-12-25T16:41:00.007-06:00

One of our family traditions during the Christmas Season has been to visit Santa Claus.
MJM writes his letter to Santa when we visit "Santa's Village", then we visit Santa and have a photograph taken. With the 10th photograph taken this year, we decided to take a look back. MJM has come a long way in his understanding of Santa and the Christmas Story. He's proud that there really was "another" Luke before that Skywalker character...and he told a pretty inspiring story too. ;)

The story of Christmas comes from the Bible. Here is the way it is told by Saint Luke:

And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them,

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

Great Grandma V

2008-12-18T22:01:00.006-06:00

Her soul left us this evening, but we really lost her several years ago to the insidious mind stealing disease known as Alzheimers.

Grandma V was one of the most special people I have ever known. She & Grandpa V welcomed me into the family with open arms & loving hearts 18 years ago. I always felt as welcome in their home as if I had grown up there.

I could give a recounting of her life, but I'd rather state simply that not only was she the foundation of a family, she was a beloved member of her community. I'm told that even the Hospice staff at the Nursing Home cried when she passed. I can only hope to pass on the lessons she quietly inspired to my son. Certainly that would be a legacy she would be proud to see endure.

While I am saddened we have lost such a fine woman, I am grateful that Grandma V has been freed from the body that failed her to be reunited with her Savior and husband of 60+ years. I know she is joyful to have reached her eternal home, and will have a large meal waiting for us when we arrive there.

"I'm Spending Christmas With Jesus This Year"

I see the countless trees around the world below With tiny lights like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear, For I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear But they can't compare with the Christmas choir up here I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring For it's beyond description to hear the angels sing I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart But I'm not so far away, we really aren't apart.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do For I can't count the blessings of love He has for you I can't tell you of the splendor, nor the peace in this place Can you imagine Christmas with our Savior face to face?

I'll ask Him to light your spirit as I tell him of your love Then pray for one another as you lift your eyes above. So, please let your hearts be joyful, and let your spirit sing For I'm spending Christmas in Heaven, and I'm walking with the King.

The Pathway Home...

2008-11-27T20:43:00.011-06:00

This Texas Thanksgiving Day was beautiful; clear skies and warm breezes teased us with memories of the summer past and colder days to come.

....except that my Aunt fell and broke her hip this morning. With ~30 people gathering from all corners of the country to reconnect, one of the cornerstones of the family spent the first day of what will likely be a long journey in the hospital. But lest we forget our priorites, Aunt Ruth, in her pain an agony, brought us all back to reality when she asked from her hospital bed, "what time is the Cowboy game? ...and be sure the TV is turned to that station before you leave!!!"

That said, the rest of us proceeded to feast on food, football and semi-true stories that had gone untold over the years. As with many families, we have allowed time and miles to separate us; but sharing stories, looking at old pictures and watching the youngest of the family embrace life anew reminded me of days long past when we were the youngest...listening to tales told around the Thanksgiving table by our forefathers. I can only pray that the next generation can look back as fondly as I do with love and compassion in their heart for the family they are a part of.

Nothing in life is permanent, and we remember on this day of Thanksgiving as we transition from one generation to another. Every door is open for new opportunity, yet we should hold our past close in our hearts...for it is in the traditions passed down through the generations that the heart and soul of a family lives on.

I saw hope on this day that the stories that I heard around those Thanksgiving tables as a child will be passed on to future generations...and that warms my heart and gives me hope for the future.

Gratitude …

goes beyond the “mine” and “thine” and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.

~Henri J. M. Nouwen

This Year Gone By Ain't Been A Piece Of Cake...

2008-11-25T14:56:00.006-06:00

"Here I’m singin’ happy birthday
Better think about the about the wish I make...
...Just one more candle and a trip around the sun"

My attitude about birthdays has always been, the more the better.

But this has been a difficult year.

Not that I'm unappreciative of the daily gifts, but the trials that we have had to walk this year have tested us like we never imagined.

While I am not one to share our private struggles publicly, I would like to thank those of you who have supported us through these dark days.

Today on my birthday, I am hopeful of renewal, a reaffirmation of life itself.

I have seen this power in action before...when we were told there was little or no chance of conceiving a child; yet nearly 10 years ago we were blessed with the birth of a son.

In this spirit of rebirth and renewal, I propose a new beginning on this day.

In every loss, there is the opportunity for new growth.

And on this day of birth, we shall begin again.

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your outpouring of support, generous gifts and well wishes.

And, while I pray that you never experience a year as difficult as this one has been for us; if you do, I can only hope that you are as blessed as I am to have friends & family in your life as I do.

Tin Cup Chalice

2008-11-20T12:11:00.011-06:00

I've been watching in bemusement at the recent news reports of Corporate Executives defending the necessity of luxury retreats and private jets while asking for what is, in essence, Government Welfare.

Now, I'm not questioning the value of these corporations to the American economy. What I am concerned about is their gluttony, greed and poor decision making which may have more than a little to do with the reason they have the Tin Cup out on Washington's doorstep.

I think a little, er a lot of belt tightening is in order here.

The excuses these bloated elite have given ring hollow to me, i.e., it's corporate policy to fly private jets, or it's written into their contract. Soooo...that's easy. Change the policy. Duh. While saying that they're going to be trimming down and streamlining their businesses, they obviously aren't referring to their own salaries and perks. Apparently, these "movers and shakers" aren't paid the big bucks for commmon sense. ...Or maybe they're working from the "Let Them Eat Cake" manual of Public Relations. ;)

I've been shaking my head at just how deluded these individuals are about the "real world". They have no real comprehension of how unrealistic and out of touch their requests appear to the average American.

A good first step in "trimming down and streamling" would be to sell the jets (ala Sara Palin) and deduct what they make from the sales from the cost of the taxpayer-funded bailout they are seeking.

Ultimately, I predict these corporate gluttons will (hopefully) lose their jobs when their corporations file for bankruptcy. Sadly, the ripple effects of their greed will be felt by all the people of this country while they (literally) sail off into the sunset.

The only bright spot is that when these corporations emerge from the restructuring they will undoubtedly and painfully have to accomplish, one can only pray that they will be leaner and forward thinking.

We can't afford to stay stuck in the past any longer.

Human Beings Are Flawed Individuals

2008-11-15T10:28:00.016-06:00

I am reposting this article in it's entirety from the Chicago Tribune because it speaks for itself...and how we have come to place judgements upon each other.
(And because on-line newspaper articles have a way of vanishing over time.)

I am saddened, but not shocked to read the results of Brave Catherine's experiment. Over time, my own email box has been inundated with intolerant and hate mongering messages from people trying to influence my opinions one way or the other.

I believe that fear & hate are pathways to the darkside, so these attempts have fallen on deaf ears.

Regardless of how you voted, (I'm confident the results of this experiment would have been the same had it been conducted in a conservative community), perhaps Brave Catherine's experiment will encourage a few people out there to look within before they judge others...

What do you think?

Tolerance fails T-shirt test
John Kass
November 13, 2008

As the media keeps gushing on about how America has finally adopted tolerance as the great virtue, and that we're all united now, let's consider the Brave Catherine Vogt Experiment.

Catherine Vogt, 14, is an Illinois 8th grader, the daughter of a liberal mom and a conservative dad. She wanted to conduct an experiment in political tolerance and diversity of opinion at her school in the liberal suburb of Oak Park.

She noticed that fellow students at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama for president. His campaign kept preaching "inclusion," and she decided to see how included she could be.

So just before the election, Catherine consulted with her history teacher, then bravely wore a unique T-shirt to school and recorded the comments of teachers and students in her journal. The T-shirt bore the simple yet quite subversive words drawn with a red marker:

"McCain Girl."

"I was just really curious how they'd react to something that different, because a lot of people at my school wore Obama shirts and they are big Obama supporters," Catherine told us. "I just really wanted to see what their reaction would be."

Immediately, Catherine learned she was stupid for wearing a shirt with Republican John McCain's name. Not merely stupid. Very stupid.

"People were upset. But they started saying things, calling me very stupid, telling me my shirt was stupid and I shouldn't be wearing it," Catherine said.

Then it got worse.

"One person told me to go die. It was a lot of dying. A lot of comments about how I should be killed," Catherine said, of the tolerance in Oak Park.

But students weren't the only ones surprised that she wore a shirt supporting McCain.

"In one class, I had one teacher say she will not judge me for my choice, but that she was surprised that I supported McCain," Catherine said.

If Catherine was shocked by such passive-aggressive threats from instructors, just wait until she goes to college.

"Later, that teacher found out about the experiment and said she was embarrassed because she knew I was writing down what she said," Catherine said.

One student suggested that she be put up on a cross for her political beliefs.

"He said, 'You should be crucifixed.' It was kind of funny because, I was like, don't you mean 'crucified?' " Catherine said.

Other entries in her notebook involved suggestions by classmates that she be "burned with her shirt on" for "being a filthy-rich Republican.

"Some said that because she supported McCain, by extension she supported a plan by deranged skinheads to kill Obama before the election. And I thought such politicized logic was confined to American newsrooms. Yet Catherine refused to argue with her peers. She didn't want to jeopardize her experiment.

"I couldn't show people really what it was for. I really kind of wanted to laugh because they had no idea what I was doing," she said.

Only a few times did anyone say anything remotely positive about her McCain shirt. One girl pulled her aside in a corner, out of earshot of other students, and whispered, "I really like your shirt."

That's when you know America is truly supportive of diversity of opinion, when children must whisper for fear of being ostracized, heckled and crucifixed.

The next day, in part 2 of The Brave Catherine Vogt Experiment, she wore another T-shirt, this one with "Obama Girl" written in blue. And an amazing thing happened.

Catherine wasn't very stupid anymore. She grew brains.

"People liked my shirt. They said things like my brain had come back, and I had put the right shirt on today," Catherine said.

Some students accused her of playing both sides.

"A lot of people liked it. But some people told me I was a flip-flopper," she said. "They said, 'You can't make up your mind. You can't wear a McCain shirt one day and an Obama shirt the next day.'

"But she sure did, and she turned her journal into a report for her history teacher, earning Catherine extra credit. We asked the teacher, Norma Cassin-Pountney, whether it was ironic that Catherine would be subject to such intolerance from pro-Obama supporters in a community that prides itself on its liberal outlook.

"That's what we discussed," Cassin-Pountney said about the debate in the classroom when the experiment was revealed. "I said, here you are, promoting this person [Obama] that believes we are all equal and included, and look what you've done? The students were kind of like, 'Oh, yeah.' I think they got it.

"Catherine never told us which candidate she would have voted for if she weren't an 8th grader. But she said she learned what it was like to be in the minority.

"Just being on the outside, how it felt, it was not fun at all," she said.

Don't ever feel as if you must conform, Catherine. Being on the outside isn't so bad. Trust me.

Read the follow-up to this John Kass column

Honoring ALL Who Serve

2008-11-11T08:18:00.010-06:00

Including my father, who was a World War II Veteran.

Thank you for your service. It mattered then, it matters now.

(Click for full size cartoon)

Confused? Don't be. Visit BNCRITTERS.COM and CRITTERVILLECOVE.COM to learn more and find even more bonus "BN Critters" material.

Thanks to SurfPirate for the amazing work he does on BNCritters, and for his permission to re-publish todays strip on this blog.

Changed Children...

2008-11-05T08:42:00.005-06:00

If Malia & Sasha Obama were concerned about their father, Barack's 30 minute infomercial interfering with their cartoon watching before the election, they are in for a huge shock as they transition from private citizens to "first daughters" with secret service agents monitoring their every move.

I expect that puppy is going to be their new best friend. Especially since sleep-overs are likely to be severely curtailed.

These young ladies have been thrust into a life changing opportunity as they stand by their father as he assumes the mantle of the leader of the largest nation in the free world. My prayers are that they continue to experience the joys of childhood, and can remain grounded in reality. Not an easy task for their parents to pull off. I wonder how much time they will get to spend with their father...or their mother? Will their Secret Service agents be the first to respond to the immediacy of emotion of their successes and failures because of their parents commitments?

On this day of change in America, it is the changes to come for these young girls lives that consumes my thoughts. I pray that their parents decisions for all of us are based on how it will affect the future of the young lives in their own midst.

Just Vote!

2008-11-04T06:40:00.015-06:00

Yes Folks, Election Day is finally here! If you didn't take advantage of early voting, or just couldn't make up your mind, after 2+ years of campaigning, today is the day your voice will be heard.

A little over 64% of U.S. citizens age 18 and over voted in the 2004 presidential election, and I would like to think that more Americans have become interested in having a voice in the leadership of this great nation this time around. I would bet that we've certainly heard more than 64% of the population complaining about what they don't like about the way things currently are, yet an amazingly large number of those same people don't even bother to register and cast a ballot on election day.

Don't be one of those people! The right to vote is a privilege not to be taken lightly. Let your opinion be heard or hold your tongue if your unhappy with the way things turn out.

"합기도" The Way of Harmony

2008-11-02T08:50:00.009-06:00

Yesterday my son participated in a Hapkido competition. It was a challenging day. His opponent in sparring made a low kick that the judges scored as hitting above the belt, but was in fact below the belt (and in tender territory) and MJM was injured early in his round, but played to a second place finish. I commended him for the determination and courage he showed in playing through his pain. And as a true competitor, he understood that complaining to the Judges about the missed call wouldn't change the outcome, so he moved on.

He scored a 2nd place finish in Forms competition after making a slight mental error, but didn't allow it to compromise his whole routine.

Overall, it was a good day...positive lessons were learned, good sportsmanship was displayed and new hardware was added to the trophy case.

Namasté

Son, Come Have A Seat...

2008-11-01T18:33:00.021-05:00

It happened this afternoon. Captain Tony Tarracino (92) passed away.

For those of you who have somehow missed coming to know this cultural icon, I would bet that if you have ever been to Key West, Florida you may have downed a drink in the legendary bar, Capt'n Tony's Saloon, (which he owned from 1958-1989)...or maybe even passed him on the street. He enjoyed telling stories to patrons (especially women) until his health failed him during the past year.

Although hospitalized, it seems fitting that the last week of his life was spent celebrating the publication of his book with Brad Manard, "Life Lessons of a Legend" during the annual Meeting of the Minds celebration in Key West. I would encourage you to put this book on your "wish" list...seriously. His story has been recounted in a film titled "The Cuba Crossing," starring Stewart Whitman as Tarracino. Longtime friend, Jimmy Buffett, sang about Tarracino's exploits in the song "Last Mango in Paris," from the 1985 album of the same name.

After running from the Mob in New Jersey this real life buccaneer, and gunrunner during the Cuban revolution, turned Mayor of Key West always felt that there was "still so much to be done".

There is no way I can do justice in this post to the most colorful and interesting life of Capt'n Tony; but what I can say is that in his passing the world has lost one of the last true Pirates in this era of "partisanism", it is unlikely we will see his kind pass this way again.

Sail on Captain Tony, may you have fair skies and following seas on your eternal journey, but as for me...your legend will never die.

From the song "Last Mango in Paris"

I went down to Captain Tony's to get out of the heat
When I heard a voice call out to me, "Son, come have a seat"
I had to search my memory as I looked into those eyes
Our lives change like the weather but a legend never dies

He said, "I ate the last mango in Paris
Took the last plane out of Saigon
Took the first fast boat to China
And "Jimmy, there's still so much to be done."

Top 10 Most Famous Ghosts

2008-10-31T09:53:00.007-05:00

Since it's Halloween, I thought it would be appropriate to review some famous ghosts as compiled by Live Science.

Ghosts are both everywhere and nowhere. They are famously elusive when it comes to proving they exist, yet ghosts feature prominently in our culture. They are in television and film, from "Medium" to "The Sixth Sense." Ghost stories are found around campfires and on bookstore shelves, in both fiction and nonfiction sections. Around Halloween, pop culture images of ghosts haunt nearly every store, and hang as decoration in homes across the country. Ghosts even influence some of our everyday customs, in ways we may not recognize (for example, the "bless you" heard after someone sneezes comes from an ancient belief that ghosts can enter the body during a sneeze). In the spirit of the season, here are some of the most famous ghosts of all time. - Benjamin Radford

10. Slimer
Slimer is the grotesque green ghost featured in the "Ghostbuster" films and cartoons. He's green, he's obnoxious, and he can spew slime... what's not to love? In fact, Slimer proved to be so popular with kids that he got a starring role in the spin-off series "The Real Ghostbusters." A reformed evil ghost that joined the Ghostbusters team, Slimer's voracious appetite and guttural burps make him among the most memorable cartoon ghosts.

9. The Murdered Peddler
One day, in the early 1840s in Hydesville, New York, a young peddler arrived at the home of a Mr. and Mrs. Bell to sell his housewares. He was invited into the home by the Bells' housekeeper and in fact stayed for some days. The maid was shortly dismissed from service but abruptly rehired a week later. The peddler was gone, but many of his items were now in use in the Bells' kitchen. The maid thought little of it until she began experiencing strange, ghostly phenomenon, only to find out from the peddler's ghost that he had in fact been murdered in her absence. At least that was the story told by two sisters named Maggie and Katie Fox, who claimed to communicate with the ghost. Years later, the sisters admitted it had all been a hoax; there was no murdered peddler, and the spirit communications had been faked. Still, the sisters had inadvertently founded a religion called Spiritualism, which is still practiced today. The Murdered Peddler is the only fake ghost whose presence started a real religion.

8. The Ghost of Christmas Past
In Charles Dickens's famous novel "A Christmas Carol," cold-hearted miser Ebenezer Scrooge has a change of heart after being visited by several ghosts representing different eras of his life's Christmases (Past, Present, and Yet to Come). Ghosts are often associated with life lessons and morality tales, and these spooks are no exception. The ghosts aren't wasting time rattling chains or scaring kids; instead the Ghost of Christmas Past rehabilitates Scrooge by showing him visions of his past Christmases. Scrooge comes to appreciate the true meaning of Christmas-no, not holiday commercialism but friendship and goodwill.

7. The Vanishing Hitchhiker
"This didn't happen to me, but my friend, she heard it from her hairdresser, it happened to her parents. It seems that they were driving along a lonely country road one night'¦ it was really cold, maybe up in Minnesota, or Montana. Anyway, it was snowing and as they turned a corner they saw a barefoot young girl wearing a dress and a green shawl. Of course they stopped to help her, and she got in the back seat. She didn't say much, and when they asked her where she lived, she pointed to a farmhouse in the distance. A few minutes later, when they pulled into the driveway, she was gone! The couple were puzzled but got out of the car and knocked on the farmhouse door. A somber, grey-haired woman answered, and the couple explained that their mysterious passenger had said this was her house. 'That's impossible,' the woman replied. 'My daughter died near here twenty years ago, on this very night.' Just inside the door, on an old wooden peg, hung her daughter's green shawl!"

6. The Drury Lane Ghost
There are many theaters in the Covent Gardens district in London's West End. Plays have been produced in that area for over 300 years, and some of the world's greatest actors have appeared there. Yet one theater is better known more for its ghost than its productions. There is actually more than one ghost said to haunt Drury Lane's halls and wings, including those of several actors. The most famous, however, is a "Man in Grey" seen as a nobleman carrying a sword. Any theater worth its salt (and many that aren't) reputedly have a resident ghost treading the boards, and the Drury Lane ghosts carry on their part of theater tradition.

5. Bloody Mary
"Bloody Mary...Bloody Mary...Bloody Mary..." With those words, many schoolchildren had their first experience with a ghost. According to folklore, Bloody Mary is a ghost of a woman who murdered her children long ago. If you want to see her, go into a bathroom (usually at school), turn the lights off, stand in front of a mirror, and repeat her name three times. While countless children (and surely more than a few adults) have tried to summon Bloody Mary using the prescribed method, to date few if any have actually succeeded. Most either stare at their scared reflection in the dark mirror or lose their nerve after saying the second "Bloody Mary" and run screaming from the bathroom in girlish giggles. An updated version of the Bloody Mary legend was made into a horror film series "Candyman."

4. Casper
While Bloody Mary spends her time in the ghostly realms waiting to be summoned to dark bathrooms so she can scare kids, Casper (whose legal last name is "The Friendly Ghost") is the white-outlined, smiling ghost who tries not to scare people. In the Harvey comic book series, Casper was often joined by friends such as Wendy the Good Little Witch and Hot Stuff the Little Devil. While some found the idea of a dead child's ghost hanging around with a witch and a devil a bit creepy, the characters were made benign and kid-friendly with the addition of "good," "friendly," and "little" to their names. Casper had a revival of sorts with a self-titled 1995 film, a modest success that managed to avoid the direct-to-video graveyard.

3. The Bell Witch
The events that allegedly happened at John Bell's Tennessee farm between 1817 and 1821 are said to be one of the classic American ghost tales. Bell shot at a strange animal on his farm, but the creature disappeared before it could be harmed. Several weeks later, the Bell family was tormented by a ghost that made terrifying sounds, shook the house, and physically attacked Bell's daughter Betsy. The spectral assaults continued for several years, and at one point Andrew Jackson is said to have dabbled in ghost hunting and did his own investigation. Though some authors recount the Bell Witch tale as a true account, there is little evidence that it is anything other than a ghost story. Jackson, for example, never mentioned the Bell Witch case at all; it seems that the future president's role was created from thin air, possibly to lend verisimilitude (the appearance of reality) to the fictional tale.

2. The Flying Dutchman
The Flying Dutchman, the world's best-known non-human ghost, is a seventeenth-century merchant ship said to haunt the high seas. According to sea lore, the ship, which often appears as a hazy image or a strange light, is said to be a portent of bad luck and doom. The ship and its crew became eternally cursed when its Dutch captain refused to take safe harbor during a storm despite pleas from the crew and passengers. Instead the impudent Dutchman challenged God to take them down. The "ghost ship" has been reported on the ocean from time to time, including appearing off the coast of South Africa in 1923. Though never seen on land, The Flying Dutchman most recently appeared in movie theaters across the country in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films.

1. King Hamlet
Though ghosts appear in several of Shakespeare's plays (such as "MacBeth" and "Julius Caesar"), King Hamlet is among the better known of the Bard's ghosts and plays an integral part in "Hamlet." Hamlet may be the central character in the play named after him, but without his father's ghost, there would be no story. King Hamlet appears three times in the play, each time during the night (apparently ghosts, like vampires, prefer darkness). The ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his treacherous brother Claudius, and asks Hamlet to avenge his death.

Tis the Season of Orange

2008-10-18T19:43:00.027-05:00

There's a lot of Orange in my life right now, and at our house that's a really cool thing.

The Texas Longhorns beat Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in the annual Red River Shootout propelling them to #1 in the National Rankings. So look out rivals, The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You.

There air is filled with sincerity in the hopes that the Great Pumpkin will visit the Pumpkin Patch on Halloween night. (MJM's favorite holiday).

In another advancement in his Hapkido training, MJM tested for and was awarded his Orange belt. He has worked very hard for this achievement after taking a couple of months off his training due to a broken foot over the summer. But he's back at it now and is looking forward to his next competition in a couple of weeks.

And while not orange (red actually), MJM won 2nd place at the PTA Reflections Art Competition in the Photography category at his school.

So as we contemplate the season of "Orange", perhaps the Binary Sunset is a fitting fade out. A scene at which to ponder the galaxy, both near and far, far away; and think about heeding that "call to adventure".

Mental Floss

2008-10-14T12:58:00.011-05:00

I read an article today while searching the Internet that says that for middle-aged and older adults, searching the Internet could be a boost to the brain. Woo Hoo!

I've always enjoyed puzzles and card games, but the internet has become my passion in the last few years. It started when I was pregnant with my son, then when I realized he would grow up in a wired world I decided I better familiarize myself with the plethora of pleasures and pitfalls that lurk in the netherworld of cyberspace. Needless to say, my travels through this interstellar galaxy have been enlightning. But I'm getting a bit off topic...

In summary, the referenced article states that:

Compared with reading, the wealth of choices on the Internet requires that people make decisions about what to click on, which engages important cognitive circuits in the brain.

"A simple, everyday task like searching the Web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults, demonstrating that our brains are sensitive and can continue to learn as we grow older," Small said. The work was funded by the Parvin Foundation.

With more time and experience, the group that was new to the Web could eventually show the same brain activation patterns as their more Internet-savvy peers."

So don't loose hope techno-savants and techno-idiots alike, reading this blog is exercising your mind.
Now that's something to think about.

Defying Gravity?

2008-10-14T10:39:00.010-05:00

Saw this little tidbit on Space.com and thought it was worth reposting for all Junior Rocket Scientists out there...

Blame the term "zero-gravity" for the common misconception that there is no gravity in space. Gravity is everywhere, even in space. Astronauts look weightless because they are in continuous freefall towards the Earth, staying aloft because of their horizontal motion. The effect of gravity diminishes with distance, but it never truly goes away. Oh, and while we're at it, it's also untrue that space is a vacuum. There are all kinds of atoms out there, albeit sometimes far apart (and this thin gas adds to the collective gravity budget, too!)

So for those of us who dream of defying gravity, it seems we have our work cut out for us.

I Used To Have Money One Time

2008-10-10T19:50:00.011-05:00

I had Cadillacs in my future

Debutantes in my past

I made a deal with the devil for a whole lot of money

Thinkin’ it would last and last

But a fool and his money are bound to part

And what goes up must come down

So take my advice, don’t trust the roll of the dice

Keep your feet on solid ground

I used to have money one time

Now I ain’t got a dime

~Jimmy Buffett

I don't even want to try to deconstruct the specifics of the Economic "Crash of 2008", but because of it, I've calculated that we won't be able to retire until we are 120. So, like a lot of people, we're re-thinking our retirement plans. Rather than live in a beach villa, we're downsizing our expectations, and buying Lotto tickets.

For those of you who invested short, a small donation to my PayPal account would be most appreciated. With any luck it would forstall our move into the "fixer-upper" lean-to we've been eyeing. Of course, we've also considered bunking with friends. I hear it's the "retro" thing to do these days. Flashback to college, living on a wing and a prayer, retreating into your your own space in a community house. I have fond memories of those times, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to revisit? Hmmm....

I don't know about bears or bulls, but I do know a bit about sharks, and trust me...they're circling, honey.

Fireflies - The Time is NOW

2008-10-06T16:08:00.009-05:00

I was at a gathering at my Son’s school recently when the kids started chasing fireflies. This annual late summer ritual is something that my son & I have enjoyed together since he was old enough to catch these glowing creatures; (and I remember from my own childhood). Yet I heard several parents comment that they had not seen fireflies in years. How sad.

The way I see it, watching and catching fireflies is a right of childhood…a simple pleasure as the evenings start to cool and we can finally escape our air-conditioned prisons to enjoy those precious moments between day and night with our family. To imagine this time empty of the firefly is simply heartbreaking. Fortunately, my neighborhood is filled with them.

But as I pondered the observations of those other adults, I wonder if this is one of those times where technology and “modern” society has interfered with the time we take to notice these fanciful creatures. Maybe they are flying away from light pollution, but, as noted, in my (Urban) neighborhood, the fireflies are plentiful. Perhaps the real problem is people are running away from the fireflies. We stay inside at dusk and watch TV, or work on the computer rather than going outside. Maybe because I live in an older, well established neighborhood, with lawns & large trees, the firefly population is well established and happy. Regardless of the reasons, I'm glad we've stopped long enough to notice these luminous "faries" of the evening.

How long has it been since you’ve chased fireflies? How long has it been since you’ve even taken the time to notice them? Well, don’t delay, the time is NOW.

A Permanent Reminder of a Temporary Feeling?

2008-09-29T18:33:00.009-05:00

UPDATE to There Is No Dumbass Vaccine:

In a press conference today, Josh Howard finally spoke up about comments he made over the summer disrespecting the US National Anthem.

To wit: "I'd like to say that I'm truly and really am sorry for everything that's happened in the last five months. This is not the way I carry myself, not how I want to be portrayed. I'm sorry to everybody I've offended. I'm upset with myself and the way I've acted. It was me joking around," he said.

"Guys were out there making fun and I decided to get along in it. I wasn't using my head. I guess the valuable lesson I did learn is that words really do hurt. You're held accountable for what you say."

"That's not me. ... I went to military school. I have friends that served in the military. I know how it is to wake up and salute the flag. The national anthem every game, I have my hand over my heart."

While it'd be nice to believe Mr. Howard, I'm skeptical. Saying "this is not the way I carry myself" seems a tad disingenuous to me given his history, but time will tell. He had to say something eventually; we know that Mark Cuban defended him after his remarks were made public, and Maverick's Coach, Rick Carlisle, flew all the way to Howard's home in North Carolina to have a "come to Jesus" chat with him, so apparently that was enough of a shot in the, er...well, you know...to motivate him to have his agent write up an apology for him. :P

For the most part, Mr. Howard's statements sound remarkably similar to apology lines I've heard trotted out by other celebrities for various infractions over the years. Seems people get real sorry when they're caught.

And while it doesn't affect my personal life what Mr. Howard believes, his thoughtless comments were hurtful, inflamatory and representative of a damaging mind set in this country. Now that he has made a public show of contrition, I can only hope that he walks the talk....that would be a "valuable lesson" indeed.

I know I'm not the only one that will be watching, a lot of impressionable young minds will be, too.

Chess King

2008-09-21T09:04:00.012-05:00

My son likes to play chess.

Yesterday he spent the day competing in a chess tournament and experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. During down time between games he relaxed playing ping pong, foosball and bumper pool. What a great day.

After getting beat in the final round by the highest ranked player in the tournament, he was hugely disappointed. It didn’t matter to him that the other player was older and had more years of experience – he really wanted to win that match. He knew that if he won the round, it would mean a trophy. He assumed that if he lost, he was out of the hardware. What he didn’t figure into his calculations was the outcome of the other matches and the computer rankings based on difficulty of competition.

He ended up in a 5 way tie for the final trophy…and won. Defeat turned into victory in an instant. In addition to lessons in chess and statistics, success and failure; I think he now has a driving the desire to try harder for a bigger trophy in the future. Regardless, his pride was blinding.

There Is No Dumbass Vaccine

2008-09-21T09:03:00.024-05:00

Color me stupid, but since when does being Black mean you shouldn’t respect the National Anthem?

I, for one, am tired of the arrogance of some individuals in this great nation that throw their race around as an excuse; seemingly wallowing in a victim mentality in perpetuity. Josh Howard exemplified this mentality (in spite of the fame & fortune he has achieved) in comments he proudly announced into a camera during Allen Iverson’s charity flag football game last July. Specifically, " 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is going on. I don't celebrate this sh*t. I'm black. G*d damn Obama and all that sh*t.”

In the words of Don Henley & Glen Frey:
You drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown
Got your mind in the gutter, bringin' everybody down
Complain about the present and blame it on the past
I'd like to find your inner child and kick its little ass
All this bitchin' and moanin' and pitchin' a fit
It's gotta stop sometime, so why don't you quit
Get over it.

Mark Cuban says that "Josh really is a good guy with a great heart. He just doesn't do a good job of showing that side of himself publicly. We will work on that."

Ohhh, I see. It’s not WHAT he said, it’s HOW he said it? Riiight.

I don’t want this to be about why Mark Cuban feels the need to make comments on Josh Howard’s behalf, but if it’s a communication problem rather than a character problem, I’d like to hear Josh’s explanation…no excuses.

Mr. Howard, I will be pleased to make my judgement on [sic] the content of your character, and not the color of your skin.

UPDATE 9/29/08, Josh Howard speaks.

See: A Permanent Reminder to a Temporary Situation?

Ahoy! It's Talk Like A Pirate Day!

2008-09-19T08:40:00.019-05:00

Today is the 13th annual International Talk Like A Pirate Day. As any Parrothead worth her salt knows, pirating is in the blood. So in the spirit of the day, lets pillage and plunder and hoist some fine ale. Arrrgh.

If you'd like to impress your friends and co-workers with your knowledge of pirate stuff, you can find a bucket o' links here that'll keep yo knickers on for hours! You'll find everything from translators, to Pirate Performers, Sea Shanties, and "Real" Pirate History (& more) linked.

Here are some fun facts about this peculiar yet wonderful holiday:

It was invented in 1995 by John Baur ("Ol' Chumbucket") and Mark Summers ("Cap'n Slappy"), who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate.--It was first an inside joke between the founders but it gained exposure when Baur and Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to syndicated columnist Dave Barry in 2002.--September 19 was chosen because it was the birthday of Summers' ex-wife and consequently would be easy for him to remember. There is a list of the top ten pirate pick-up lines on the Official National Talk Like A Pirate Day website. You can read them here.

Oh, and no "Talk Like A Pirate Day" would be complete without an offering by the Head Pirate (Jimmy Buffett, of course) himself...

Here's "A Pirate Looks At Forty", recorded live at the Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve, Rendezvous Bay in Anguilla, British West Indies in March 2007.

An Attitude of Gratitude after Hurricane Ike

2008-09-18T09:09:00.035-05:00

A week ago, Hurricane Ike was bearing down on the Texas Coast. Satellite images showed a tempest larger than the State of Texas...in fact, Ike was as large as the entire Gulf of Mexico (approx. 615,000 square miles). It was the size (about 70% larger than "average") of Ike rather than it's strength that created a situation ripe for dangerous waves and flooding in low lying areas.

Friends living in the area were evacuating and protecting their property to weather the storm. And I'm grateful to report that all of them survived with repairable damage, although most are still without electricity. Sadly, a relative of one friend lost her home due to a large tree falling into it, but she survived because she was riding out the storm with a neighbor.

I'm grateful for the "cool" front that blew into Texas alleviating the humidity and heat for those surviving without electricity.

I'm grateful for all of the first responders who have worked tirelessly to rescue and assist others, cleaning debris, repairing power lines and infrastructure while their own homes and families struggled to overcome without them.

I'm grateful that lives were saved because so many people evacuated.

I'm grateful for the Houston area media that kept live feeds going 24 hours a day so folks in the area and around the world could see what was happening, as it happened. And they continue to chronicle the aftermath, reporting on what is being done and where help is still needed.

I'm also grateful for all the memories I have of visits to Galveston Island over the years. The first time my son dipped his toes into the Sea was in the waters off Galveston Beach.

And just last October we went shelling underneath the pilings of Murdoch's Bath House and the Balinese Room....so much history now washed away by the maelstrom.

Deep in the South of Texas

not so long ago,
there on a crowded island
in the Gulf of Mexico.
It didn't take too much money,
man, but it sure was nice.
You could dance all night if you felt all right,

drinking whiskey and throwing dice.
And everybody knows
it was hard to leave.
And everybody knows
it was down at the Balinese.

~ZZ Top, "Balinese" from Fandango

And lest we not forget, the Memorial to those lost in the Great Storm of 1900 withstood the crashing waves of Hurricane Ike; again representing strength in survival.

Big Storm Coming Soon...

2008-09-11T10:10:00.016-05:00

One hundred & eight years ago this week (Saturday, September 8, 1900), A Great Storm destroyed much of Galveston, Texas killing between 6,000 and 12,000 people and is the largest natural disaster ever to hit the United States. (By comparison, Hurrican Katrina claimed approximately 1,800 souls.)

So it is that this week another Big Storm is headed for the Texas Gulf Coast, following a remarkably similar path to that of the Great 1900 Storm.

Unlike the residents of Galveston in 1900; Gulf Coast residents today have the benefit of modern weather forecasting, satellite images and fast, reliable transportation out of the Hurricane zone.

Much like the Thursday before the Great Saturday storm 108 years ago, I'm hearing from several of my friends in the area that it is a beautiful day on the Gulf Coast. The calm before the storm as the saying goes.

But as we pray in rememberance of the approximately 3,000 victims of the terrorist attacks on the United States 7 years ago today, let us also pray for those lost long ago to a terror from the Sea they didn't see coming, and those in the path of Hurricane Ike that aims for the Texas coast this Saturday.

Yes, It's Been Quite A Summer....

2008-08-05T22:47:00.022-05:00

From Baseball, swimming, concerts, 4th of July in Kansas, playing in the hose, and broken bones it was a great summer.

I'll keep it brief, but MJM started the summer playing machine-pitch baseball on a team that ultimately won their Little League Championship. After a heartbreaking loss in the Championship game last season, the guys worked hard all season and prevailed against talented competition in a double header playoff elimination on a very hot Texas day.

In a daring attempt to defy gravity, MJM "did not know he could not fly...and so he did!" He jumped off the platform of a friends' backyard Fort - breaking his foot upon landing. He was most pleased with this "accomplishment", and enjoyed showing off his walking cast.

He’s one of those who knows that life Is just a leap of faith

Spread your arms and hold you breath

And always trust your cape

~Guy Clark

Other summer adventures involved the simple pleasures of playing in the yard. Keeping the plants alive became an adventure in water...er mud management as MJM enjoyed devising his own methods of keeping cool with limited resources.

Water prevailed as a theme, even when attending the Richardson Wildflower Arts & Music Festival where we listened to Jerry Jeff and Django Walker, Ray Wiley Hubbard and Roger Creager, though MJM would probably have preferred to play in the fountain all afternoon.

And last but not least, let's flash back to where it all began...
The summer began with a marathon party at the Frisco Feeding Frenzy 2, with friends from around the country coming together to celebrate and raise money (~$16,500) for charity due to the inspiration of a man who has made seeing the positive side of life a way of life. Fins up for Jimmy Buffett and all our Parrothead friends...every year.

Texas Heat

2008-07-31T14:52:00.020-05:00

It's that time of year again...hot and dry in Texas, so I thought I'd post these words of wisdom. Both for those of you who endure Texas summers year after year, and the rest of you who have never had the pleasure of walking into a blast furnace.

Aside: Today was the 21st day this summer of over 100° temps, and August starts tomorow! Yee Haw!

May 30th - Now this is a state that knows how to live!! Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. Mountains and deserts blended together. What a place! Watched the sunset from a park lying on a blanket. It was beautiful. I've finally found my home I love it here.

June 14th - Really heating up. Got to 100° today. Not a problem. Live in an air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun every day like this. I'm turning into a real sun worshiper.

June 30th - Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of cactus and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here.

July 10th - The temperature hasn't been below 100° all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least it's a dry heat. Getting used to it is taking longer than I expected.

July 15th - Fell asleep by the pool. (Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body.) Missed two days of work, what a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson though: got to respect the old' sun in a climate like this.

July 20th - I missed Tabby (our cat) sneaking into the car when I left this morning. By the time I got out to the hot car for lunch, Tabby had swollen up to the size of a shopping bag and exploded all over $2,000 worth of leather upholstery. I told the kids she ran away. The car now smells like Kibbles and shit. No more pets in this heat!

July 25th - Dry heat, my ass. Hot is hot!! The home air-conditioner is on the fritz and AC repairman charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts.

July 30th - Been sleeping outside by the pool for three nights now. $1,100 in damn house payments and we can't even go inside. Why did I ever come here?

Aug 4th - 115 degrees! Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It cost $500 and gets the temperature down to about 90°. Stupid repairman pissed in my pool. I hate this state.

Aug 8th - If another wise ass asks, "Hot enough for you today?” I'm going to tear his throat out. Damn heat. By the time I get to work the radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like roasted Garfield!!

Aug 10th - The weather report might as well be a damn recording: Hot and Sunny. It's been too hot for two damn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Doesn't it ever rain in this barren damn desert?? Water rationing has been in effect all summer, so $1,700 worth of cactus just dried up and blew into the pool. Even a cactus can't live in this heat.

Aug 14th - Welcome to Hell!!! Temperature got to 123° today. Forgot to crack the window and blew the windshield out of the car. The installer came to fix it and said, "Hot enough for you today?", wife had to spend the $1,100 house payment to bail me out of jail.

Aug 30th - Worst day of the damn summer. I'm not leaving the house. The monsoon rains finally came and all they did is to make it muggier than hell. The car is now floating somewhere in Mexico with its new $500 windshield. That does it, we're moving to a cooler climate for some peace and quiet.

UPDATE: North Texas hit its 22nd day of triple-digit temperatures on August 1. Now, it’s going to get hot.

Tips Dealing With 100 Degree Temperatures

Heights Rocketship Blasts Off

2008-07-28T22:00:00.014-05:00

Richardson’s Heights Park playground flies into history (article)

It's been two weeks since the Rocketship came down. I've been meaning to post about it, but it's been too painful.

Intellectually, I understand the dangers the equipment presented; but for both my Son and me the Rocketship, the Planet, the Submarine, the Giraffe, the Radar and even the old Jungle Gym capture the memories of childhood. Now the Rocketship Park is part of a childhood that is no longer Earthbound, but can only be touched in our minds.

I suppose the analogy is appropriate, and probably why the Rocketship Park was so special to me. Rocketships, and the hope they inspire for all of mankind have been an important symbol to me since Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon 39 years ago this month.

There's a fine line between staying grounded in the here and now and looking into the stars for a better tomorrow. But keeping the hopes and dreams of young people alive is one way that I believe that we will reach the stars one day, and by climbing on Rocketships when we are children is just one way to nurture an imagination that doesn't know the boundaries of time and space....yet.

How To Lead Your Life...

2008-07-25T16:41:00.008-05:00

You cannot change the cards you are dealt. Just how you play the hand.

Dr. Randy Pausch, a Computer-Science Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, died this morning at age 47 of pancreatic cancer.

Why is this important?

I'm not a computer science major, nor did I ever meet Dr. Pausch personally; but he made a huge impact on me when I watched the following lecture:
(The book is also available)

Dr. Pausch exemplifies & validates the positive attitude that I've aspired to for the last decade. While it is a constant struggle for me to avoid sinking in the morass of negativity, Dr. Pausch inspired me to the core, that the benefits of the struggle are worth the effort.

Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.

Dr. Paush also taught me to have fun while I'm getting experience.

The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough.

My son's recent experience (see previous entry), encourages me that I am achieving some measure of success at inspiring persistence in the face of adversity.

Thank you Dr. Paush for sharing your thoughts on living life and showing us, by example, that attitude is everything.

We Are The Champions...

2008-07-21T11:34:00.008-05:00

My Son’s Baseball team won their Little League Championship on Saturday. These boys played the Semi-Final and Championship Games back to back in 100 degree Texas heat and never wavered in their commitment and enthusiasm to achieve their goal (and redeem their loss in the Championship game last year).

While my son was unable to bat and field on Saturday because of his broken foot, he was determined to support the team from the dugout. He proved both to himself and his teammates that you don’t quit in the face of adversity; an important lesson for us all.

Netiquette

2008-02-25T08:53:00.006-06:00

After a recent experience on a beloved internet community where the banstick was inappropriately and spitefully administered in an appalling abuse of power to many productive and non-controversal members of that community, I think it might be useful to review some basic Netiquette tips:

Remember, on the other side of that screen are real humans with real feelings.
Everything you write is stored on the internet for anyone to see. Even Private Messages could come back to haunt you. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.
Follow the same standards of behavior on-line that you follow & expect in real life.
Lurk before you leap. In other words, get to know what's acceptable at the community your at. Don't make assumptions.
Respect other people's time by NOT posting/sending superflurous messages or expecting immediate replies to your pet project.
Spelling and grammar matter, but don't point out other people's spelling/grammar errors.
Make sure what you post is clear and accurate.
Be pleasant and polite. Don't use offensive language, and don't be confrontational for the sake of confrontation.
(I realize many forums allow swearing, but I don't swear at home, I don't like to hear people swearing in real life, so I don't swear on the net.)
Share what you know - that's why were here! I'm looking for answers to questions that bother me so!
Don't feed a flame war.
Respect other people's privacy. I have been at two sites where the Admin's publically shared information that they only could have gained by reading Private Messages. Lot's of people got their feelings hurt, including the Admin's.
Don't abuse your power. Admin's and Moderators have to separate any personal feelings from their job. If they are unable to stay objective, they need to turn control over to someone who can.
Be forgiving of other people's mistakes.

Here's a fun little video about "How To Behave On An Internet Forum".

I've made many friends on the internet, quite a few who I've met IRL and have become more than virtual friends. I've seen the power of people pulling together in times of illness, death, birth and marriage...not to mention some amazing JB tailgates. All these in addition to the common interests that may have brought us together in the first place (in my case Jimmy Buffett, LOST and Star Wars).
There are many wonderful experiences to be shared in cyberspace; and, as in real life...remember to PLAY NICE!

17 Years Ago on the Winter Solstice...

2007-12-20T17:49:00.000-06:00

...I married my best friend.

As I recently told a friend who just got married, it's been a long and winding road,
And, as in any relationship there's been good days & bad days & going half mad days.
But through the years, and miles and tears and smiles
I'm proud to have found a lover who is also my friend to share the road with me.

May each of you find such Peace.

Life is a Vapor...

2007-08-11T16:00:00.002-05:00

Surfer Girl....Thinking of you and your cross country move.

As always, I know you'll do fine. :)

John Mayer - Lost in the Music

2007-06-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

Saw John Mayer Friday night...

Great show, even the Dallas Morning News agrees (which is unusual)

Do yourself a favor.

Life Lessons Learned From Star Wars

2007-05-26T00:06:00.003-05:00

On this 30th Anniversary of the release of Star Wars, it seems appropriate to acknowledge that Star Wars changed my life...

Everything I Need To Know In Life I Learned From Watching 'Star Wars'

By Shawn Adler

30. Wretched hives of scum and villainy always have the best music.
It's no coincidence that the bar at Mos Eisley has the most kick-ass band this side of Naboo. Dives always have the best live music — directly proportional to how many felons they're serving at any given time.

29. Before making out with someone, make absolutely sure they aren't your sister.
This one goes without saying, but it's especially important for those who suspect they may have been adopted.

28. "Don't tell me the odds!"
According to C-3PO, the odds against successfully navigating an asteroid field are approximately 3,720 to 1. Buckle up and take some chances.

27. "These are not the droids we are looking for."
Searching is futile when you don't know what you're looking for.

26. Fear and anger always lead to the dark side.
Even if you're facing certain death at the hands of a playful sadist (who just happens to be threatening your sister), releasing your anger will only please him more. Relax — victory can only be achieved through calmness.

25. "Do or do not. There is no try."

Any task worth doing is worth doing right.

24. "At this moment, the Internet is completely empty."
Not strictly from "Star Wars," but said by the guy behind me in the movie theater as the opening title for "The Phantom Menace" crawled across the screen. It remains the truest statement I have ever heard.

23. All things are true ... from a particular point of view.
This is what Obi-Wan tells Luke when asked why he didn't reveal the truth about Darth Vader. But truth is a delicate and malleable thing: Is Luke Skywalker a freedom fighter or a terrorist? I guess it depends on what side of the Death Star you happen to be on when he blows it up.

22. If your girlfriend tells you she loves you, it's totally badass to reply, "I know."
She will love you more.

21. Always let the Wookiee win.
Why? Because Wookiees pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Knowing your opponent is integral to defeating him, and conceding a small battle doesn't mean you forfeit the war.

20. Everybody means something to somebody. Remember that scene at the beginning of "Return of the Jedi" when the Rancor dies and a guard comes in bawling after him? Even the most twisted, deformed and evil beings can be loved for who they are. Everybody is somebody's child.

19. Don't ever apologize to your boss.
Especially if you did something really dumb, like jump out of hyperspace close enough to be detected from the ice planet Hoth. It will only get the goofball next to you promoted while you are Force-choked to death.

18. People who smoke need to "rethink" their life.
Obi-Wan's moralizing encounter with an alien shilling death sticks in "Attack of the Clones" is a bit schoolmarmish but nevertheless true. It shouldn't take a Jedi to tell those things are bad for you.

17. Crime doesn't pay.
Jabba the Hutt, Boba Fett, Sebulba, Greedo — the bad guys in "Star Wars" always get what's coming to them, even if it takes a while. The reverse of this, however, is not true. While crime doesn't pay, not paying for your past crimes does pay. Just ask Han Solo.

16. Don't trust a liar to save your girlfriend from prophesied doom.
They're lying.

15. Never desert your friends.
The best we can hope for in our journeys across the galaxy are good, honest companions. They stick by you through thick and thin and won't judge you based on your crazy family. So next time you're debating leaving Jedi training to rescue your friends from Cloud City, remember who it was that shot down Darth Vader during the Death Star attack. You owe them.

14. Girls are really good shots.
If you must fight a tyrannical empire capable of sending endless waves of Storm Troopers, bring along a few girls. They never miss.

13. "Size matters not."
This is a cooler, more complicated way of saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover."

12. "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine."
People can become heroes in life, but only in death can they become legends.

11. Dictatorships run much more smoothly than democracies.
At the beginning of "Phantom Menace," the Republic is a shabbily run confederacy that can't even protect a sovereign planet from being gobbled up by warring trade unions. That's why Queen Padmé calls for a vote of no confidence. By "Revenge of the Sith," it takes Darth Vader roughly 10 minutes to end the threat. If you can stand a little repression, nothing beats an empire when it comes to efficiency.

10. Everything smells better from the outside.
Some mysteries are better left unsolved. Slicing through a Tauntaun is like breaking a trash compactor to see how it works: The only thing you're going to discover are some really bad smells.

9. No matter where you are or what you're doing, someone is going to have a bad feeling about it.
Go ahead, say it aloud: Admitting your fears is the first step toward overcoming them.

8. If you want the job done, it's sometimes necessary to call in bounty hunters.
Even the most powerful Sith lord can't be everywhere at once, which is why to get what you want you sometimes have to associate with less-than-reputable fellows. There's little shame in finding the most capable aides. And none at all in admitting you need help.

7. Sand people always walk in single file to hide their numbers.
If something's bothering you, chances are it goes deeper than what appears to be the immediate cause. Look closer. Troubles come not as single spies but as battalions.

6. Life is better the first time around.
Often imitated, never duplicated. The original is always the best.

5. Even if you're the galaxy's most powerful army, never underestimate guerrillas defending their home turf.
Not even laser canons and AT-ATs can defeat stone throwers like the Ewoks at home. Regardless of your ideological persuasion, feel free to make your own contemporary political joke here.

4. "It's a trap!"
Rest assured, the battle station you're attacking is fully operational. Don't assume your enemies are idiots, no matter how many Bothans died to bring you the information.

3. No matter how many people you kill or how many galaxies you destroy, one good deed can make up for everything.
Anakin Skywalker gets to go to Force heaven, or whatever the heck it's called when he's palling around with Obi-Wan and Yoda at the end of "Jedi." And this is after killing roughly 8 billion people (give or take the population of Alderan). Can we be forgiven for our crimes? Can we forgive ourselves? A lot depends on whether or not you believe the next statement.

2. The worst enemies you'll face are those you bring with you.
When Luke enters the forbidden tree cave on Dagobah, Yoda tells him that all he will face is what he fears inside. Evil doesn't come from some external trickster — it is a reflection of our own foul natures ...

1. Use the Force.
... but the tools to our salvation lie within us as well. Discovering how to channel these forces is what makes our journey. Let it go. The greatest lesson "Star Wars" teaches us is that the hero is within.

Rosie – Bait & Switch

2007-05-25T11:30:00.001-05:00

Come on Rosie…are you really that dense?

The question is not whether you called US Troops terrorists.

It never was.

Once again, you have twisted words and intent to suit your personal agenda. I've listened to you do it time and time again. You're a master at it.

It really doesn't matter what position one holds on the matter, it's the tactics that you use on a social interaction level that cause me to lose respect for you. You're abusive and manipulative.

I watch The View almost every morning and while I'm not OCD enough to acquire transcripts, I listened to Elisabeth ask you to define a terrorist, which you have repeatedly failed to answer. In fact, it is not uncommon for you to answer a question with, not only a question, but an attack. Sometimes in the form of statistics, other times in the form of "how could you continue to…" Other times you and Joy combine to "gang up" on her. It's amazing to watch the smiles of satisfaction on your face as you interrupt and refuse to allow Elisabeth to answer your questions, and then ask why she doesn't answer.

I found it incredibly entertaining that you apparently encouraged Elisabeth to respond emotionally rather than with information, while you and Joy bring lists and numbers to the Panel.

It's really sad to see you repeatedly go for the sympathy vote by diversionary tactics. If you weren't so hostile, you'd make an excellent politician.

In this case your hatred for the President and his policies have blinded you (IMHO) to a very serious global threat to you, my and our children's safety and future. Unfortunately, and sadly, as you correctly point out, many people have been killed and injured in the current attempts to cope with the threat of global terrorism which is highly focused on killing you, regardless of your persistent efforts to defend their rights, simply because they are not centralized in some organized form of Government.

While most of us would prefer to end the conflict without lives being lost (sans the "terrorists"), you and I both know that is an unrealistic proposition.

That being so, I suggest you answer the original question…proposed before political analysts chimed in, who are the terrorists?

And I'll, go further, how do you suggest the non-radical peoples (i.e., Infidels) of the world who are being targeted by these folks respond to the terrorist's attacks and stated goals?

Now, now…don't skirt the questions with statistics, political rhetoric, numbers of innocents dead in the current campaign or other diversionary tactics. I'm looking for a solution. (Maybe you should respond emotionally LOL) We both know that the religious/political extremists who are engaging in these tactics intend to exterminate anyone who holds beliefs that are different than theirs and could care less about the loss of innocents. Sadly, war is cruel, and the instigators have no intention of backing down. But, hey, if you can propose viable solutions rather than grandstanding then perhaps something productive can come out of all this after all.

Remember Me

2007-05-10T03:24:00.001-05:00

I'm proud of you.
I'm lucky and grateful to have you in my life.
I love you.
I miss you.
Come home safe.

Even though the DOD won't let you see this.

Karate Kid

2007-05-05T20:04:00.001-05:00

What an AWEsome day!

Master Junior Mint participated in his first Martial Arts competiton in Hapkido and won First Place in "Sparring". This is where you punch and kick each other. Points are earned for contact made.

MJM had to compete in a elimination bracket to earn his trophy. He defeated two Orange belts (a higher level belt than his Yellow belt) and a White belt (a lower level belt) during the elimination. He also won a Third Place trophy in "Forms", which is akin to a display of style.

He observed his Instructor display some impressive moves, and wants to enter the weapons competion next time.

Well done son.

Welcome to the World Jaina!

2007-04-30T22:49:00.001-05:00

Jaina Rose made her big entrance to the world today at 12:50 pm in California.

Surfer Girl called just one hour after an extended labor to share the blessed news. Both Mother and Daughter are healthy and doing well. The Father said the experience was "interesting", but SG said she was glad he was there to support her.

I informed Junior Mint that he was now an Uncle (at 8 years old) and he seemed very proud.
The word spread quickly, as I spent the afternoon calling friends and relatives around the country to share the happy news.

Happy Birthday little girl...I know you'll bring many years of smiles and tears to your parents. And as they look into your eyes today, I know they're amazed at the perfection that you are and the potential that you have. I can't wait to see where your mind will take you.

O The Stories We Can Tell...

2007-04-30T14:35:00.000-05:00

So the Jimmy Buffett traveling circus pulled in to Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas last Saturday and over 600 of my closest friends showed up for a hellova tailgate party.
The pictures don’t do it justice…

A Parrothead “Phlocking” is something that must be experienced in person…the sounds, smells and weather; yes, Jimmy brought the weather with him.

You gotta understand, that some people dabble into Buffett music for the “fun” songs then find that it goes a lot deeper…there’s some good stuff in the man’s treasure chest. I’ve found pearls of wisdom in those lyrics that have inspired me through good times and bad; and on the road have found some amazing friends and genuinely good people.

Jimmy, you’ve while you may not sit with us in person, you’ve brought a lot of kindred spirits together and forged what some of us old hippie types would call a “movement”.

It’s a good thing.

This weekend I watched Parrotheads unite to raise $2,300 for breast cancer research…that’s what’s called partying with a purpose folks.

Jimmy's setlist was fabulous for long-time Jimmy fans ... he covered Texas songwriters/friends Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett and Willis Allen Ramsey. He ended the show with North East Texas Women giving a shout out to the NETWomen he met a long time ago ...

I can't say enough about how Jimmy's final encore of Tonight I Just Need My Guitar with him sitting alone in the spotlight is a perfect tribute for long time fans who can remember him before the big shows.

As Jimmy said before the lights went out, thank you for tonight and every night for the past 40 years, it's been an amazing run.

Is there something (else) we'd be doin' if we could?

Not a chance.

And if you ever wonder why we ride this carrousel,

We do it for the stories we can tell.

(Love those Texas Women)

On The Road Again...

2007-04-25T09:57:00.000-05:00

Ok..I’ve been negligent. But I’ve been whooping off with friends in Houston where we celebrated the inaugural concert of Jimmy Buffett’s 2007 Bama Breeze summer tour last Saturday night.

Before the actual concert, my husband son & I met about 150 friends for a weekend of eating, drinking, dancing, a live band, and cooler racing? Yes, cooler racing. There was a rooftop pool party, and jello shots in the parking lot (warning…jello shots go down waaay too easy and pack a big punch).

By the time the Head Parrot hit the stage in Minute Maid Park the Parrothead faithful were in a tumultuous uproar. Jimmy didn’t disappoint. He revved the crowd up early with favorites like Fins, Son of A Son of A Sailor, and One Particular Harbor, I was thrilled that he dug into the old treasure chest and played two songs by Texas singer songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey, The Ballad of Spider John and Northeast Texas Women. There were also new favorites, Cinco de Mayo in Memphis, Bama Breeze and Regabilly Hill. The show ended with a lovely harmony of the Beach Boys cover In My Room and finally a Jimmy acoustic solo to a near silent stadium while he sang Tonight I Just Need My Guitar. The man knows how to work a room…no matter the size.

So, like a band of gypsies we'll go down that highway makin' music with our parrothead friends.
We'll be doing it all again Saturday when this travelin' carnival stops in Frisco, TX. Until then...I'll be hanging out at the Bama Breeze.

Peeps

2007-04-07T21:31:00.001-05:00

What is your favorite Easter Candy?
Cadbury Eggs, Chocolate Bunnies ...or Peeps?
Well, at our house it’s Peeps.

Yup…those marshmallow confections garnished with colored sugar. Eat enough of them and you will find yourself bouncing around the house like a bunny rabbit. That’s exactly why my son loooves them

(I think). Perhaps it’s a childhood rite of passage, but even as an adult, I always eat at least one and watch Peep Jousting on YouTube. This year we found a Star Wars oriented one that made us laugh. I fear that many Peeps meet this sad fate of torture through microwaves at a time when we should be celebrating new life. Heartbreaking….

There are a lot of adults that won’t admit to eating the tasty treats, but I suspect that they secretly snag at least one from their kids every year. Maybe just to share a special moment with their offspring or to have a flashback to their own youth…it really doesn’t matter. Millions of the marshmallow confections are sold every year but in the infamous words of my 8 y/o son it’s that sugary sweet aroma that makes me feel soooo good. The only thing better than a Peep itself is a Peep inside a chocolate egg…because it has chocolate, too!
So buy yourself a pack of Peeps…whether to torture them in your microwave or to enjoy their sugary decadence all Spring long…it’s tradition.

The Real Pirate

2007-04-05T01:15:00.000-05:00

This answers sooo many questions.

Earlier this week, Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards, (who normally appears dead himself), said he snorted his father’s cremains…mixed with cocaine.

“He was cremated, and I couldn’t resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow. My dad wouldn’t have cared,” he said, adding that
“it went down pretty well, and I’m still alive.”

Hmmmm…let’s pause for a moment to reflect.
Keef has dropped off of the “who’s most likely to die” list, which he admits “has really disappointed him”. So, he pulls out 'ol Bert’s ashes and commiserates his mortality by becoming one with the old man. (I keep wondering how much was pure un-cut Dad?)

Maybe he did bong hits with dear old Mum, just to take the edge off, before ripping into the Urn?

Parting advice to the kiddo’s…don’t do any liquid Grandma…it only leads to the hard stuff.

*On Wednesday, Richards stated his recent comments were made in "jest", and can't believe people took him seriously. He published a comment on the Rolling Stones website stating that: "The complete story is lost in the usual slanting! The truth of the matter is that I planted a sturdy English Oak . I took the lid off the box of ashes and he is now growing oak trees and would love me for it!!! I was trying to say how tight Bert and I were. That tight!!! I wouldn't take cocaine at this point in my life unless I wished to commit suicide."

WTF? Personally, I find this retraction amusing. I think that his Manager probably got a call from Disney because the Pirate's of the Caribbean movie is coming out soon and, they didn't want 'negative' publicity.

Note to Disney...Historically, Pirates have been (arguably) defined as a rebellious, clever lot who operated outside the bureaucracy of modern life. i.e., outlaws, that miiight receive 'negative' attention from mainstream society. This is not necessarily a BAD thing for your movie. The younger folks probably aren't paying attention and the older one's that might not have come to the show otherwise, might decide to check it out seeing that the 'ol boy isn't just playing a "rum-soaked wobbly legged pirate" on the silver screen.

Keith has lived the life of a Pirate, which is the reason that Johnny Depp fashioned his characterization of Jack Sparrow after him…this latest walk off the edge of the map just reinforces that he’s the real deal.
Aaargh!

Two hundred years too late...

2007-03-24T14:20:00.001-05:00

I've always been drawn to the Sea, but lived most of my life landlocked with frequent escapes to the water.
Having already been to the Caribbean this year, and with Buffett concert season starting soon, I'm ready to dive full force into the fun and fantasy of the life of a Pirate.
Yes, I've got a Texas heart and a Caribbean soul I can barely control.

So, with 61 days till the next Pirates of the Caribbean film is released, I found this fun quiz so you, too can see how much Pirate you have in your soul...

Jack Sparrow: [to Elizabeth] One word love; curiosity. You long for freedom. You long to do what you want to do because you want it. To act on selfish impulse. You want to see what it's like. One day you won't be able to resist.

What Pirates of the Caribbean character are you? Your Result: Jack Sparrow You are the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow! You disapeared under agents of the East India Trading Company, sacked Nassau port without firing a shot, and you managed to get so drunk that you are now considered a crazy person!
Will Turner
Elizabeth Swann
James Norrington
Tia Dalma
Cutler Beckett
Hector Barbossa
Davy Jones
What Pirates of the Caribbean character are you?

Elizabeth Swann: [to Jack] Curiosity. You're going to want it. A chance to be admired, and gain the rewards that follow. You won't be able to resist. You're going to want to know what it tastes like.

We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About…

2007-03-22T17:12:00.000-05:00

Last night there was a phlocking of a few phriends from high school. We reminisced about old times and caught up about our current lives.

The occasion was because the daughter of one of us is getting married this weekend. Both she, her intended and her sister were there. That didn’t stop any of us “older” folks from cutting loose about who was “hot” or not, who was a gold digger or black widow, who was (un)ethical in business and what we thought about it.

One of us even had the foresight to bring our old school “yearbook” so we could gossip about the indiscretions of those who were unfortunate enough not to be in our good graces or intelligent enough to have hung out with us in our younger days… or stood the test of time with us.

Sigh…time.

Somewhere I took a right instead of a left, and I’m thankful of the phriends that persist in keeping up with me in spite of my windward ways. You are special to me…life is a hellova ride, let’s do it together.

And for AED and AI, I have only one word of advice for your marriage. Patience.

Pirates - At World's End

2007-03-20T14:28:00.000-05:00

I can't tell you how excited I am to see the third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean. Who's going to betray who? Can Will emerge in his own right? Where does Lizzy's heart truly lie? Will there be a wedding? Is Tia Dalma Calypso? What is the story between Captain Teague and Jack? Who will die?

The trailer has just been released and has some tantalizing clips, especially if you know about the mythology of the films.

Watch an HD version (720p) here
(please allow time for it to download).

Captain America, RIP

2007-03-12T10:14:00.000-05:00

It's a slap in the face of American Patriotism, pure and simple.

Captain America was assassinated on the Courthouse steps by a sniper’s bullet.

The recent storyline is a foreign writer's attempt to force his personal opinion on the current climate in American Politics (i.e., the death of [personal] Liberty) on us.
(Mark Millar is Scottish born & raised, and currently lives in Glasgow.)

Wha??? Captain America has saved the world from those who would destroy freedom of expression countless times since he arrived on the scene in 1941 (just before the USA officially entered World War II).

Steve Rogers didn’t start out as a hero; he was a wimpy guy that didn’t make the cut, until he participated in a secret experiment to create an elite group of super soldiers. Every kid has insecurities, and the Captain America story let’s kids imagine that even the “square” kids can do something important…all you need is an indestructible shield and can do spirit.

While I haven’t kept up with the current “Civil War” being played out in the Marvel Universe, from what I understand, I don’t like it. Superheroes don’t fight superheroes. They are symbolic metaphors, not the personal platform for individual social commentary…seeing a superhero playing the role of social dissident doesn’t feel right to me. Captain America fights for the ideal of a free and democratic society…the greater good; not the selfish concerns of the one. We must “live together or die alone” and “justice for all”.

Captain America saves the world by riding a Nazi rocket to (his apparent doom) in the Atlantic Ocean, ultimately to be rescued by “The Avengers”. Captain America once considered whether being a superhero is worth it (what superhero hasn’t), but ultimately he chooses to keep fighting. Above all Captain America is a Patriot. For him to be gunned down by a mysterious sniper (ala Jack Ruby) symbolizes the loss of the American Dream. I get it, the symbol of freedom lies dying with handcuffs on; but I don’t believe that the American Dream is dying.

If the Captain (aka “America”) is going to bite it, he deserves to go out in a blaze of glory, not some act of street violence. I don’t know about you, but I still believe in America and the fight for Justice, and feel certain that a lot of other folks do, too.

Can Captain America be resurrected? You bet, it is the comics after all..and Marvel is tops in the soap opera department.

Can you tell me where I might find my friend and companion?

Captain will help anyone a friend or a stranger
Now number one without a gun he's bypassed the Lone Ranger
He's a do good who loves apple pie and kisses little babies
He'll guard you against everything from atom bombs to rabies.

Captain America we love you, Captain America you're grand.
~Jimmy Buffett, Captain America,
originally from the album Down to Earth, 1970.

Blue Sun

2007-03-03T15:07:00.001-06:00

And you thought you found me because of Firefly...

"Excuse me, while I kiss the sky."

That's ok. I'm a huge Firefly/Serenity fan.

I can do you one better.

Last weekend (2/24) over North Texas there was a REAL
Blue Sun.

No kidding.

Truly, dust can turn the sun blue. But it takes a special kind of dust. All the grains in the cloud must be about the same size and, for maximum blue, should measure about 1 millionth of a meter across. This makes the air behave like a blue filter.

And guess what, there was this weird dust storm that blew threw North Texas last Saturday that wreaked havoc, downing power lines with 60 mph winds, leaving homes without electricity and causing the cancellation of about 300 flights at DFW airport...and turned the sun blue.

The winds caused praire fires and even forced the evacuation of the Fort Hood Army base!

This was an eerie storm, but I am truly one of the priviledged few to experience a Blue Sun.

Take my love. Take my land.
Take me where I cannot stand.
I don't care, I'm still free.
You can't take the sky from me.

Harken: Seems odd you'd name your ship after a battle you were on the wrong side of.
Mal: May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.*

*Remember the Alamo, March 6

Independent Texans

2007-03-02T09:30:00.001-06:00

Today is Texas Independence Day.

171 years ago today, Texas declared it's independence from Mexico as the Alamo was under it's final siege.
You remember the Alamo, right?

The Alamo fell 4 days later (March 6, 1836), and the decisive battle of the Revolution occurred on April 21 at San Jacinto.

Both Texicans and Tejanos should be proud of the Republic of Texas that existed for for nearly 10 years before joining America as the 28th State. And what a State it has become! There's nothing like Tex-Mex food or music that Tejano's have created here anywhere in Mexico...even the Spanglish is different in Texas. Texans are distinctive in our food music and culture, a blending of the American west and South of the Border. Texans aren't better than other folks...just different.

A few famous Texans I thought of while trying to think of an interesting quote for this page...

George Bush, George W. Bush, Lyndon B. Johnson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Adm. Chester Nimitz, Sissy Spacek, Lance Armstrong, Molly Ivans, Anna Nichole Smith, Beyoncé, Townes Van Zandt, Janis Joplin, Tommy Lee Jones, Barbara Jordan, Kris Kristofferson, Farrah Fawcett, Jayne Mansfied, Joan Crawford, Don Henley, Pat Green, Henry Cisneros, Nellie Connally, Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Matthew McConaughey, Gene Roddenberry, Bonnie & Clyde, Lee Harvey Oswald, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, George Strait, The Dixie Chicks, Bob Wills, Buddy Holly, J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, Waylon Jennings, "Blind" Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker, Howard Hughes, Roger Staubauch, Nolan Ryan, Selena, Los Loney Boys, Jimmie Vaughn, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steve Miller, ZZ Top...

...in the infamous words of (another) famous Texan

That's right your not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway.

So on this day of rememberance, hoist your Shiner (or Dr Pepper)and face toward Washington-on-the-Brazos, then give a toast. (something like "To Texas Independence" or "Long Live the Republic of Texas")

Be sure to remember next Tuesday, March 6th, commemorates the Battle of Alamo, and say a special prayer for all the brave souls that fought and died in the heroic stand of that great Mission in San Antonio.

Honor the Texas Flag.
I pledge allegiance to thee: Texas, one and indivisible.
~Pledge to the Texas Flag

Who's Your Daddy?

2007-02-27T10:29:00.000-06:00

How hard can it be to get a blood test?

In the continuing saga of Dannielynn Smith (the 5 month old daughter of Anna Nichole Smith for those of you who have been living under a rock), the various "interested" parties are flying from one port of call to another without anyone going to a medical clinic except for Anna Nichole who is, from my accounts laying in a Morgue in Florida 18 days after her death.

This child was born September 7 and almost immediately one of the people claiming to be the child's father requested paternity testing; but Anna Nichole and her Attorney/Companion/Common-Law Husband (?) skirted the issue, by placing his name on the birth certificate and started the P/R ball rolling to make this child's paternity a nasty public issue when it is, in fact a medical certainty.

The sad thing is that this woman chose to air a private conflict in a public forum.
Was she unaware that she had been used by others for their own personal gain for many years? Her self-image was so damaged that she escaped facing reality by sleeping around (e.g., being a "free spirit"), having multiple plastic surgeries and the consumption of untold amounts prescription medications. The woman was on a downward spiral that, through neglect and lack of self-awareness (IMHO) resulted in both her and her son's death. A sad state of affairs indeed.

Now the "Adults" left behind are continuing the public battle of a matter that should have been quickly and simply resolved shortly after Dannielynn's birth.

This child deserves a better life and I hope that the Judge and Guardian Ad-litum in the custody case have the courage to ensure that custody and visitation are arranged in HER best interests and she is able to grow up out of the spotlight and finds a way to cope with the spite and whirlwind that surrounded her Mother's short sad life.

Somebody order the DamB blood test and let this child get to the business of growing up.

The Astronaut Farmer

2007-02-24T08:53:00.000-06:00

"If we don't have our dreams, we have nothing."

It appears that Desdemona isn't the only one building Rocketships.... *big grin*
While Charles Farmer's desire to reach the stars has a different genesis, the goal is the same.

It's what's in the heart that other's often cannot comprehend. Desdemona found that Joe Merchant was the missing link she needed to connect her with the stars.
What/Who is yours?

I think I'll go put on the blue jumpsuit that the Boomtown Boys gave me, and get back to work.

Go "Build Rocketships Now" *wink*

Film Review - The Dream is Alive: 'The Astronaut Farmer'
at Space.com

Said Mark Polish in Warner Brothers’ production notes, “The story was sparked by our interest in space exploration, but beyond that, it’s about a need to dream of adventures, whether it’s Neil Armstrong or Lewis and Clark. I think that, as a society, we’ve stopped dreaming about exploration.”

Farmer’s family, who dreams with and for him, is not unlike NASA’s workforce and its supporters. They understand the dream, even if those around them -- Farmer’s neighbors and the media who flock to his ranch -- do not.

"Somewhere along the line, we stopped believing that we can do anything," says Farmer. So, could be argued, has the nation, if not the world. We went to the Moon in 1969 because we didn’t know we couldn’t do so. Today, politicians and the public are too quick to assume that if a dream seems impossible, then it likely is.

"That kid can fly."

2007-02-22T01:55:00.001-06:00

Surfer Girl and her husband have agreed on a name for their daughter. She picked the middle name and he the first.

After explaining the meaning of the name to our son, he commented that:
"The Prophecy is proceeding as I had forseen."

If you know ANYTHING about Star Wars, then you know that it is a story about family.
The interesting thing is that none of this was planned, sometimes the fates align and everything just falls into place.

The naming of this child appears to be one of those times...

And the name of Luke's Niece is Jaina Rose.

The name "Jaina" could originate from the Hindi word jaina.
This itself comes from the Sanskrit jina, which means "saint", and more literally, "overcomer" (triumph).
The root words for this are ji ("to conquer") and jayati ("he conquers").

Additionally, Jaina could also be derived from "Joan," which is Hebrew for "God's gracious gift."

"I name you the Sword of the Jedi. […] you shall be blessed for the peace you bring to others."
―Luke Skywalker

Little Miss Magic

2007-02-20T19:20:00.001-06:00

Surfer Girl had a sonogram today and the Grandkeet is a healthy Girl!

So in less than three months this precious gift will come into the world and turn Surfer Girl and her husband’s lives upside down in the most wonderful way.

I told Junior Mint the news and could tell immediately that he was disappointed that the baby wasn’t a boy, but he took a breath and said…”Well, ok.”

How exciting to be an Uncle at eight!
I don’t mind being a crazy Grandma, as long as Kokomo is my AWEsome Grandpa.

Now, Little Miss Magic what are you gonna be?

The Super Bowl

2007-02-17T11:33:00.000-06:00

The New Year has officially begun.

The Daytona 500 is Sunday and this is Mardi Gras week.

You just thought that the game that was played on February 4 was the "Super Bowl".
The first Daytona 500 was in 1959 and the first "Super Bowl" was in 1967. Hmmmm...
43 drivers in stock cars racing at near 200 mph around a 2.5 mile super speedway is serious thrill seeking...and dangerous.

Now I know there have been accusations of "cheating" by several teams this week, but hey, I figure for the most part they are just testing the boundaries of the rulebook.
NASCAR is notorious for writing rules that are not specific, so the Crew Chiefs simply wiggle through the loopholes. It's a cat and mouse game to see who can squeeze extra aerodynamics out of their hot rod that might give them an edge on the track.
If it hasn't been specifically defined, then it isn't against the rules; even if it violates the "spirit" of the rules ~ that's the way most of the Crew Chief's look at it.

Now, there are those that say this gives a "black eye" to racing, but I'm not so sure.
These guys are being creative. Isn't that what Stock Car Racing is all about? The experiments learned from these cars, the aerodynamics, the accidents, etc...are taken back to the auto makers and adapted to vehicles that you and I purchase.

So, as far as I'm concerned, while NASCAR wants the teams to compete "equally", I encourage creativity.

Roll on, brother, in the wheel inside the wheel.

I'm hopping on board with the Krewe of the Crossbones.
Cheers.

Jimmy Buffett - Here We Are

2007-02-16T14:00:00.001-06:00

Since the Jimmy Buffett BAMA BREEZE Summer Tour has just been announced and some dates are starting to leak out, I thought I'd post this Video that was a "hidden video" on Jimmy's latest CD, Take The Weather With You.

Besides it's freezing outside and watching makes me laugh and think of all the fun we have at JB shows when it's WARMER!

Don't Chu-Know you wanna be there.

WWJBD or What is a Parrothead?

2007-02-12T11:33:00.001-06:00

Inspired by CruiserMel’s comments on my Barometer Scoop post.

According to Jimmy Buffett: "Timothy B. Schmidt (Eagles bass player) was in the band, and we were playing the Timberwolf Ampitheatre outside of Cincinnati. People had already started wearing Hawaiian shirts to our shows, but we looked out at this Cincinnati crowd, and they were glaringly brilliant to the point where it got our attention immediately. I said "Look at that!" Then Schmidt says to me, "They look like Deadheads in tropical suits. They're like Parrot Heads!" He yelled to me in the middle of a song. So I immediately took the term and threw it over the microphone - the people identified themselves with the term from the get-go."

In that moment (6/22/1984), a cultural phenomenon was born.

The Head Parrot/Pirate, celebrated his 60th birthday on Christmas Day, 2006, and as of this writing finished the Party at the End of the World Summer tour in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday. Rumors are that he will re-visit the South Pacific this year (where he wrote One Particular Harbor). We are looking forward to a Texas date to reunite with phriends, but we're thinking of going to see him in Raleigh, too. There’s nothing like a phlocking before a JB show if you’ve never seen it (come early, but pace yourself *wink*)

A Parrothead, IMHO, is anyone who enjoys Jimmy Buffett music.
No Passport required, no concert experience necessary. If you enjoy life in the laid back lane, had the urge to run off to St. Somewhere, maybe had too much tequila (or not quite enough) or had your exploits told on the Coconut Internet (not that I’m one to deal in gossip) then you might be a Parrothead. I could go on and on, but I’m overdrawn at the Bank of Bad Habits

Winners!

2007-02-12T08:14:00.001-06:00

Master Junior Mint in partnership with his buddy won the 2nd Grade Science Fair at their school for a project on Static Electricity!

How awesome is that!

The guys rubbed a balloon on a wool blanket then tested to see whether the balloon would stick to various objects. Sometime it did, and sometimes it didn’t. They had fun with the testing, but typing the results got a little tedious (but hey, they learned something about typing on the computer, too! *grin*).
I think that they both learned that with hard work can come a great sense of pride.

Maybe JM will be able to make the grades I wish I could have made in school....ok, now I wasn't that bad, I think I graduated High School with a "B" average, but this kid is looking like school might be easy for him....except writing, his writing looks like hyroglyphics.
Hmmmm....might that bode for a career in Medicine?
(I doubt it...he's too involved in video games *rolls eyes* LOL)

Oh well, I'm getting ahead of myself, for today I am one proud Mommy!

Barometer Scoop

2007-02-09T13:36:00.001-06:00

Here we are, back from our week in the Caribbean sunshine. We started the week by saying “Hello” to the water and finding loads of Sand Dollars and even a large Conch Shell. There’s nothing like looking into the turquoise blue of the Caribbean while your son is racing up and down the beach thrilled with every shell he finds…we even noticed tiny shells that had extraordinary colors. The Frigates (or Pirate birds) and the Pelicans were flying overhead, and all seemed right with the world.

Sigh…then it was off to the Welcome Party, excessive drinking, loud music, dancing, meeting up with relatives and friends and all out revelry – yee ha! JM blew soap bubbles to keep things interesting. Later we took a drive down the Mayan Rivera and saw some very nice Hacienda’s and scenery. We took a day trip to Isla Mujeres where JM & I went snorkeling & saw some awesome coral, colorful fish, and sea turtles. JM also swam with a (Nurse) Shark, because Sharks are cooler than Dolphins!
We rented a golf cart and cruised around the island to the lighthouse, which sits on the Eastern most tip of the Island (which is also the Eastern most point of Mexico) where there is also a small Mayan ruin. JM and I climbed around the cliff for a while and watched the waves crash into and up on the huge rocks. It was an impressive site. Then we cruised down to the other end of the Island were we ran into some large fishing boats from Texas and North Carolina (the Migration and the 5 o’clock Somewhere were there) that were searching for Sailfish and Marlin. JM hung out on the beach for a while while Kokomo and I had a few drinks and checked out another lighthouse.

JM attended a Piñata Party so now we have a boatload of Mexican Piñata candy to go with our Halloween and Christmas candy. We went to Margaritaville a couple of times, watched ParrotVision, had Cheeseburgers in Parrotise, and various frozen concoctions. They even hosted a kids party that kept JM entertained while Kokomo & I had Margaritas & shopped.

The rest of the week was spent hanging out at the pool or the beach where we were swept away in a mini tsunami on our last day (really)…. the surf was high anyway, then a wave about 4-5 feet high came up and swept me out of my chair and JM all the way up into the Cabana Boy Cart at the Sea Wall (he was wearing his life jacket, and thought it was pretty cool). The kid enjoys the thrill of the Sea…and after being “swept away”; he stood up a raised his arms over his head in triumph!

The only downside of the week was that the Air-traffic controllers in Cancún decided to take a morning siesta putting all flights out of Cancún 2 hours behind schedule. Which means that after arriving at the Aeropuerto two hours early, we were treated to the hospitality of gate switching and long lines during our extended visit at Mexico’s busiest Aeropuerto. Of course, they provide for our convenience, a variety of Mercado’s and Duty Free shops to separate us from any renegade Peso’s that might be lingering in our pockets, which; in my case they were successful at.

Ahh well, JM had his portable video game handy so he was entertained. We all tried to keep a positive attitude and we arrived home safely and that’s all that really matters.

Now, it’s time to start planning the next phlocking.

That Explains A Lot...

2007-01-26T10:01:00.000-06:00

Your Personality Is Like Acid

A bit wacky, you're very difficult to predict.
One moment you're in your own little happy universe...
And the next, you're on a bad trip to your own personal hell!

What Drug Is Your Personality Like?

....or maybe not.

Isn't that the definition of Parenthood?

Who do these people think they are trying to figure out who I am with five questions?

Oh well, sometime these quizzes are kinda fun.
I'm packing today so I can go to Mexico tomorrow & I'm in my own little happy tropical universe...listening to Radio Margaritaville, dancing around the house as I waste away...go figure.

Thanks CruiserMel, hope you get your Carribbean fix soon, too.

What's In A Name?

2007-01-26T08:56:00.001-06:00

Surfer Girl is trying to name their baby.

She doesn't know if they are having a boy or a girl yet. She says she's been having strong "boy vibes", but she wants a girl. Obviously, as long as the child is born healthy, everyone will be grateful.

But, back to names. Surfer Girl will have a sonogram in about two weeks that, hopefully, will reveal a healthy child and also will give her a peek between the legs. Either there will be an appendage or there won’t. This information will make SG and her DH’s decision considerably less confusing…maybe.

A name is something that you will live with all your life, most of it (God willing), as an adult. But you will probably hate it (and your parents for giving it to you) when you’re a teenager.

What does your name mean? Does it have a family history, religious, or ethnic reference; maybe you were named after a famous person or fictional character? Sometimes your name can have multiple meanings as Junior Mint’s name does. His name is, first and foremost a religious name, it means “bringer of light”, and is also the name of a famous heroic fictional character. There’s also little chance that other people will ask “what?” or “how do you spell that?” when he tells them his name. Teachers don’t pause and say, “I hope I don’t mangle the pronunciation of your name….”.

A name can build confidence. A person should be proud to put their name on a business card or a job application and feel confident they will not be discriminated against before they ever have the opportunity to meet you face to face.

Personally, I have seriously wondered about the monikers some celebrities (and no doubt their copycats) have inflicted upon their children. These people must think it's cute, funny, unique, individual or they are just mean, ala Johnny Cash: A Boy Named Sue. Regardless, these children must chart a different course in life. Those that are the children of celebrities have the advantage (among the associated disadvantages) of money to insulate them. Those of average folks have to fight it out and it’s often not pretty. I can’t tell you how many runaway kids I used to work with who had “unique” (or “trendy”) names. Bless their hearts.

I have enormous respect for the task ahead of SG and her DH in the next 3 ½ months as they make this very important decision. Kokomo and I had agreed on Junior Mint’s first name before he was born, but didn’t decide on his middle name until after he was born. Sometimes it takes seeing your child breathing in your arms to know the right thing to do.

Another Trip Around The Sun

2007-01-25T20:16:00.001-06:00

Junior Mint turned 8 this week.

Over the weekend he took his friends for bowling and laser tag. They had a blast…so did Kokomo and I. JM threw a “strike” on his first ball…ever! How cool is that! I can’t say how well they did at laser tag…except that they didn’t get “killed”, so I view that as a success.

He said he got everything he wanted. A little cash, a new PS2 to replace his old broken one, a couple of Pirates of the Caribbean toys, a Hot Wheels track, and a couple of games for his PS2 and his Nintendo DS.

He also got his name on the marquee sign in front of the school announcing his Birthday and shared cupcakes with his classmates.

Ya know…it’s pretty cool to be a kid and have everyone pay attention to you, and be soooo excited about your birthday that you can hardly stand it.

And to top it off celebrating with JM refreshes my enthusiasm for life, not just on his birthday, but every time I see him smile.

Reach for the Stars

2007-01-25T19:15:00.001-06:00

I met with Junior Mint’s "Quest" teacher this morning, (Quest is a program for bright students) and she thinks he’s awesome. *big grin* She told me that JM shows signs of being a “gifted” child, and went on to describe his art projects, storytelling and analytical abilities that he has shown in class during the year.

She was impressed with his ability to remove himself from distractions and work independently. We agreed that he has strong opinions and has a wealth of knowledge on a large variety of topics.

Do I need to tell you that I was one proud Mommy when I left that Conference?

You can never take too much time to read and talk to your child…it’s amazing the things that they are learning from you. Even seemingly insignificant questions can open huge doors in the mind of a child.

This meeting not only reinforced the work that JM has been doing, it reinforced that the time I and many others have invested in the details have been well spent.

8 Seconds

2007-01-14T16:31:00.000-06:00

We’re hanging out inside waiting out the ice storm, and Kokomo is flipping the television between the Football playoffs and the Dallas Mavericks game. After getting distracted by his laundry and the Football game he quickly flips back over to the Mavericks game…thinking that he probably missed the finish, but nope. In the ~30 minutes he has been otherwise distracted only 8 seconds have elapsed off the clock. Wha??? 8 seconds???

It is absolutely amazing how long it can take to play a second of this game, especially as the clock winds down. They actually break the seconds down into tenths of a second. There are coaches time outs of varying lengths and commercial breaks, (otherwise known as "official time outs") in the last minute of the game that can draw out that minute into twenty. While they play the last 10 seconds of the game, I’ve got time to go to the bathroom, move the laundry from the washer to the dryer, fold the clothes from the dryer and still have plenty of time left over.

I’m a Texas girl, raised on Football. Basketball was never on my radar. What’s with all these different time outs of different lengths in Basketball? I asked Kokomo how many each team gets, and what lengths they get and he just looked at me with his eyes glazing over and said “I don’t know”.
(I’m sure he does, he just didn’t want me to make fun of it in this post.)

Kokomo also rolled his eyes at me when I told him I was going to blog about this, but he wonder’s why it’s hard for me to watch 82 regular season basketball games even if the Mavericks do (currently) have the best record in the league. I dunno, if they get back into the playoffs I’ll watch, but they better not choke again like they did last year in Miami.

Ok..rant over, pour me some boat drinks and I'll kick back & oogle those finely tuned bodies till I pass out...

Ice Storm

2007-01-14T14:19:00.000-06:00

Why is it when we get “winter weather” in North Texas it can’t be snow? Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for more cold weather, in fact I absolutely abhor cold weather. But my attitude about it is that if it’s going to be cold, cloudy gray and spitting nasty stuff from the sky, it may as well be fluffy and white.

One of the reasons I live in Texas is so I don’t have to experience “winter” as many folks do. We usually get one or two hard freezes a year, and maybe one “winter weather” event. As far as I’m concerned, it only needs to get cold enough to kill the mosquito’s.

Watching the weather people standing along the highways scraping ice off of their eyelashes is just abusive…and funny as hell. Those folks should get hazardous duty pay. No self respecting Police Officer would stand on the side of a highway with people who have been living in drought conditions trying to drive on frozen precipitation!

It’s a good thing I don’t have to be anywhere, my son is plugged into his computer games, we’ve got plenty of DVD’s and sports to keep us entertained, so I’m just going to stay inside and turn up the Caribbean rhythms to create some virtual sunshine.

Feel free come back and visit me in August when I’m complaining about how many days we’ve had over 110°.

Already gone...

2007-01-10T11:53:00.000-06:00

There are still Christmas decorations hanging around the house, but my mind is already somewhere between the Port of Indecision and Southwest of Disorder.

We are heading to the Caribbean at the end of the month and I’m spending my time imagining my feet in the sand and sipping Piña Colada’s.

Unfortunately, I have spent all day fighting with iTunes converting my WMA files to MP3 files or whatever kind of iFrackinfiles an iPod uses. Do I need to confess how many music files are on my computer, and why I like the WMA format better?

After I get it all sorted out, I’m definitely going to be kicking back on the beach snapping my fingers at some cute Cabana Boy to fetch me cold boat drinks, & listening to my well thought out tunes and contemplating the devil who is Steve Jobs and his new iPhone.

I think I'll start on the boat drinks now.

Timeless...

2007-01-07T10:27:00.001-06:00

Just a quick entry to acknowledge that today is my sister's Birthday.

She went forward in the search into the Great Mystery nearly thirteen years ago.
I know she is scouting a trail ahead of me and I am rejoicing in her journey, though there have been days I would have liked to share with her.

Lighting a candle in your honor today dear sister. You are always in my heart.

Surfer Girl Fare You Well

2007-01-07T09:20:00.001-06:00

Ok, so Christmas and my daughter’s wedding are over. Everyone has returned to their respective ports o’ call, and with tomorrow night’s National Title game, I will consider the Season officially over.

The wedding was very nice. The only people who noticed what went wrong were those that did the planning. I’m sure it’s great fun to collect Wedding and Christmas gifts at the same time! I still have some things I got for wedding gifts. Ooooh, that was a loooong time ago. Anyway, she was still carrying her bridal boquet the day after the wedding - how cool is that!

Our (nearly) 8 y/o son was the ring bearer. He thought that was pretty cool, kinda like Frodo charged with carrying the Ring of Power. He was so proud to dress up in his suit and tie. He wanted to see everything that happened during the ceremony and had to crawl onto the platform with the Bride and Groom to get a clear view of them lighting the Unity Candle. But hey, he did dance with his sister, his mother and grandmother at the Reception.

Now, if I can just learn how to work all the new toys we got for Christmas I’ll be ready to head to the Caribbean at the end of the month.

What a Boob...

2006-12-18T10:58:00.001-06:00

Soooo...I lost my internet connection over the weekend

*poof*

One page I was surfin' & the next click I was out of fracking luck. I start racking my brain trying to figure out what I had done to offend the internet Gods. Or maybe it was the little men who live inside my computer...have I been neglecting them?

I'd just downloaded some so called "critical security updates", run a spyware scan to remove any offending bugs from my tempermental lifeline to the outside world. Certainly I'd been doing everything possible to keep the infernal machine happy!

But Noooo...the damB thing cuts me off midstream...AND, I've got a deadline for a on-line game I'm playing with some on-line friends looming in 3 hours. Hey, I'm a team player....I can't let my team down! Soooo, I call up my neighbor and ask if I can use her internet connection to send off the answers for this game...she's a good sport and plays along. So I intrude on her Saturday afternoon for 15 minutes, apologizing profusely for my internet addiction, and quickly bow out of her living room, quietly cursing to myself.

As my brain continues to review every random keystroke of the last hours before my life was so rudely interrupted, my "Dear" Husband asks incredulously, "what, no internet? This really interferes with my plans to make a last minute Christmas order and do some research 'blah, blah, blah'".

I think my head is going to explode.

Finally, I reach my ISP and some wonderful man on the other end of the phone spends an inordinate amount of time with me trying to discover what stupid thing I have done to my machine, which he finally does. It takes all of 10 seconds to fix and he doesn't make me feel stupid for having been such a BOOB.

But the important thing is I'm free again, the world is at my fingers! - Yipee!

My Teeth are Falling Out

2006-12-15T14:23:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I took my Mother to the Cosmetic Dentist as she had surgery for a "Dental Implant".

While sitting in the waiting room I was bombarded by messages from a 32" LCD television that continually played "The Smile Channel" and ran "Dental Health Quizzes".

*AARGHHH*

Seeing teeth that appeared to transform from those that hadn't been brushed for years into movie star smiles was nauseating enough, but the images I was left with of "liquid candy" (i.e., essentially everything I consume) waging war on my enamel on an endless basis left me feeling, well...dirty.

Now, I can tell you by the suppleness of the leather sofa I was sitting on that these folks make a hefty profit on their work.

Veneers, implants, invisalign...I didn't see any of those options on my Dental Plan.

I can imagine the dollars leeching out of my pockets....*sigh*

Breathe in Breath Out

2006-12-13T20:00:00.000-06:00

Ok, I've been AWOL, but it doesn't mean that I haven't been thinking about you or that I haven't been busy!

I've been putting up the Christmas decorations, organizing for my daughter's wedding (in two weeks), shopping for Christmas, wrapping packages, taking my son to his Karate and Spanish lessons and generally pulling my hair out.

As I type this I am listening to a performance by Peter Mayer that was recorded this afternoon and is being broadcast on Sirius 31/Radio Margaritaville. Listening to Peter's Stars & Promises is truly a Christmas gift.

Peter is a very gifted musician and special person. We were fortunate to see him as he and his ensemble passed through Ft. Worth recently.

Maybe I won't pull my hair out after all.

CIP

2006-12-05T08:08:00.000-06:00

Surfer Girl (my daughter) called all full of joy and laughter just to tell me that she and her husband were enjoying a beautiful day on the beach in Monterey, California. It was warm out and they were getting ready to go to this little beachside surf shack and order a Cheeseburger in Paradise.

She knows how much I love the beach and ocean and while I’m thrilled that she was enjoying a beautiful day experiencing this marvelous creation of nature, that we had encouraged her appreciate, I was left in my cold house moving furniture and dreaming of fun in the sun.

Time to start planning my escape to the Caribbean.

My back hurts...

2006-12-04T08:39:00.000-06:00

Why is it that no serious work gets done around the house unless company is coming?

We are having a wedding in the family in three weeks, and there will be visitors to the house, not to mention the usual Christmas trauma. We have been painting; moving furniture and cleaning out places that no one will ever see. Although it all needed to be done anyway, ouch…I am in serious pain as I type this entry. Moving the bed in my bedroom yesterday was the straw that broke this camel’s back (which is in poor shape anyway).

Well, now everything is all piled up in the guest bedroom….rut roh…guests?
I’ve got more work to do.

But the new paint is really nice.

The Cosmic Muffin

2006-12-02T10:54:00.001-06:00

Well here I am on the blogosphere, thanks primarily to CruiserMel and LezLee.

I'm a veteran of message boards and am accustomed to the faster pace of that format which is why I have resisted starting a Blog for sooo long. But in the infamous words of Kinky Friedman, "Why the Hell Not".

While I don't have the drama of some folks on the web, I do have a husband, a 8 year old son and a 20 year old daughter (who is expecting her first child in May) which consistently provide fodder for my, and hopefully your, entertainment.

So lets launch this Ship.

I'll begin by telling you a the history of my screen name or: The Continuing Saga of Desdemona's "Cosmic Muffin" -- or How To Convert Howard Hughes's Airplane Into A Floating Jimmy Buffet Namesake.

The Boeing 307 Stratoliner: Only ten such aircraft were produced in the late 1930's. In addition to being one of the first four-engine airliners, it was also the first airliner to feature a pressurized cabin.

The Eccentric Howard Hughes Jr.: Hughes acquired his own Boeing 307 Stratoliner in 1939. The interior was converted into an executive office layout. Actress Rita Hayworth added her own woman's touch to the aircraft's décor. In 1949, Howard Hughes sold his "office on wings" to Houston oil man Glenn McCarthy.

Through the years the aircraft was clobbered by Hurricane Cleo in 1964, neglected and corroded in the tropical air of south Florida. Attempts at restoration to flight were unsuccessful, but in 1974 it was converted into a motoring yacht. Further extensive restoration was completed in 1981 by David Drimmer.

Enter Florida Folk Hero Jimmy Buffett: In his many travels, Tropical Troubadour and Florida Folk Hero Jimmy Buffett had noticed Drimmer's 'plane-boat". He was so struck by the uniqueness of this vessel that he paid it homage in his 1992 novel, "Where Is Joe Merchant?".

In this novel, Florida Keys sea boat pilot Frank Bama and his former girl friend Trevor Kane begin to search for Kane's brother, rock musician Joe Merchant, who allegedly committed suicide by throwing himself off of a cruise ship in the Black Sea. Not so! One of Merchant's former band members, Desdemona, claimed otherwise.

Desdemona "lived" on Drimmer's plane-boat on the island of Boomtown on the windward coast of Hispanola. But this was more than just a "plane-boat". You see, Desdemona was being channeled by aliens from the Plaides (or "Seven Sisters") to construct a spaceship to take her to the Plaides, and the "plane-boat" which she named "Cosmic Muffin" was to be that rocket ship! In honor of Desdemona's rocket ship to be, the boys from the Boomtown boatyard presented her with a blue jump suit that said "Build Spaceships Now".

As a token of his appreciation for Buffett's description of his plane-boat in this novel, Drimmer renamed the craft to "Cosmic Muffin", a name it retains to this day.
(Thanks to William Moriaty and Planeboats.com for the history of the "Cosmic Muffin".)

So there it is...(actually, Desdemona is also in a little play that Shakespeare wrote, more about her another day. *wink*)