Somebody Has To Say It

Thought I would update you on my son John's progress.  He is still in congestive heart failure, but they can't operate until the lesions in his brain heal and his body is cleared of the infection.  AHCCCS insisted he be sent home while waiting for this.  It's dangerous, his heart could stop anytime since only one third of his heart is working.

Each day means he is that much closer to having the problem fixed.  He enjoys being home with his kids and wife.  He says he rests better, but he does have bad days and good days.  Days when it seems to take more energy then he has to breathe.  The pain of the fluid in his lungs will sometimes keep him awake and the pain medication only works for so long.

A nurse comes in daily to check on him and he makes visits to the doctor's offices, labs and etc.

John is shocked to how weak he is and how just a few steps leaves him breathless.  Wendy, his wife pushes him around in a wheel chair.  The heart doctor doesn't want John putting more exertion on the heart then he has too.

Please continue praying for John to have a full recovery.

Now to what I have learned in the last few months.

As a baby boomer, I had always thought the systems we had put into place to take care of people who have wound up in financial difficulties would be there if I ever needed them.

WRONG!  It has been a shock to find out all these systems have been cut back due to the recession.  For people without children at home, no longer is there any help for them.

You can't really blame the states for the cut backs.  I mean if the money isn't there, it isn't there.

But that leaves a sour taste in our mouth when we think of all the taxes we have paid through the years and expecting there would be help when we need it.

I had been wondering why when the news covered the people in the hospital after the shooting in Colorado, they always made it a point to mention the patient didn't have insurance.  In my blind Pollyanna mode, I thought they could go on state assistance and their bill would be covered.  That no longer happens. 


AHCCCS and welfare are no longer available for people without children at home.  If the family of three bring in over $400 a month, they are not eligible for well fare.  Now think about how much it would cost to feed and house.  I mean there is all the essentials that are needed and in this day and age, that money will not go far.

I wonder sometimes if this is what the Mayans were talking about.  Their calender ends this December and they spoke of major upheaval.  Well isn't this a major upheaval, that all the systems we had in place to help are gone?

I apply at least to two jobs a day and yet I haven't received any calls.  It is like being here all alone.  Remember the old movies where after the atomic bomb, a couple come out of their shelters and find out they are the only ones left for miles around?  Yeah, it feels like that.

No longer is job hunting a one on one bases.  It is all on the computer and very impersonal.  Half the time you only know the city where the job is located and in this part of Arizona, it could be a long drive.

Did that, have the tee shirt and I don't want to do it again.  My last job I had to drive an hour both ways.  Ugh!!  But I would once again take a job like that.  It is desperate times and we always do what we say we want do when we are desperate.


The future doesn't look that great for us or our kids.  The world has really become a harsh, hard place to live.

Families living in cars and us baby boomers trying to hold on with tooth and nails only to have a foot on a banana peel.

So maybe as neighbor's, friends and family we need to realize it is up to us to take care of each other.  We have gone back into time when this was a necessity and norm and believe it or not we are there again.   This could be the beginning of more then once generation living under the same roof as they did years ago.


I know we parents do not want to be a burden to our children and we are prepared to walk away and live on the streets if we have too. 

But hopefully we all have a few more cards we can play before we fold our hands.

Sorry this is such a sad tale, but I am depressed and I needed to get this off my chest.  I am trying not to stress, Lord have mercy I don't need a heart attach right now.  I definitely couldn't afford it.   LOL, as you can see the Pollyanna streak goes deep.


See you around the block.

The Story Continues

I am a dreamer and what this means I see the world in a different light then it really is.  In my world every thing is rosy and everyone looks out for each other.  A helping hand is always near and a friend is always close by.  You have a job you enjoy and money to pay your bills with enough left over to buy food and maybe a movie once in a while.

To my shock that world really doesn't exist and each time real life slaps me in the face I am shocked. 

Being a dreamer all my life has brought problems.  I seem to make the wrong choices sometimes and as such wind up in the refuse pile, to put it nicely.

I always think things will work out, but they don't and I should have learned that by now, but I never seem to learn the lesson. 

The Pollyanna, Mary Poppins side of me keeps getting control and WHAM I am knocked down.  But being the stubborn dreamer I am, I pick myself up and continue on, thinking magic is just around the corner.

Life at the moment sucks big time!!  Bills are coming due and I am trying to pull money out of thin air.  Has that ever worked?


The story continues and my son John is still in the hospital.  The doctors are trying to get him stabilized and then they can do open heart surgery to fix the valve that has stopped working.


The doctors are worried that John's heart will give out, because the part of the heart that isn't use to having to work so hard is now having to do all the work.


They are having a hard time getting John stable.  His lungs are still full of fluid, his kidney's aren't working as good as they should and his oxygen level keeps falling.

There are about eight doctors connected to John's care.  Each one specializing in a different area of the body.

The doctors read the lab results and look at all the scans and when they enter John's room they expect to find this man lying there near death.

To their surprise they find a man sitting up fighting with all he has to stay on God's green earth.  John is skin and bones now, but he refuses to give up.

Wendy says John is very stubborn and I tell her he got a double dose from his dad and I. 


Wendy is very confident, John will improve and he will beat the odds and she is also hopeful money will appear to pay the house payment and etc.

Hmm, makes me wonder if Wendy is also a dreamer. 

But I must admit, John looks good even though he is skin and bones.  He is still alert and shows an interest in what is happening with his family outside the hospital room.  So I am also expecting the best and John will outlive his mother the way it should be.

Please continue to pray.

See you around the block.







 

Prayers are Needed

The past three months I have been worried about my oldest son.  He has been sick and the doctors could not find out what was wrong.  They ran every test they could think of, but nothing showed up.

My oldest son John looked and acted like a man whose batteries have run down and no one remembered to plug him back in to charge him up.

He has been so sick, he hasn't been able to work and he is self employed.

Lord, his brothers and his sister worried about him also.

Just by luck as the infectious disease doctor said, last Friday they took his blood at the right time and the doctor in the ER decided to have a blood culture done.

Low and behold, John had a very bad blood infection that involved his whole body and his heart.

For the last ten years John has suffered with TCM, which is a heart disease where one muscle is bigger (thicker) then the other muscles in his heart.  It causes the valve that sends blood to his lungs not to work right.  He has been able to control the problem with medication.

Unfortunately that is the valve the infection attached. 

Now, John has congested heart failure and they are putting off surgery of replacing the damaged value, hoping to be able to get the infection out of his body.  They see spots of infection in his lungs, spleen, kidneys and etc.

It's like playing Russian Roulette at the moment.

I sit in the hospital room with his family worrying and watching every short breath John takes.  Praying that the infection will soon be gone and they can do the surgery and John will have the strength to make it through.

His own children and wife are holding back the tears, trying to be brave and strong for John.  Wendy his wife hasn't left his side since he was admitted to the hospital.

Wendy gives him such tender care and love, trying to make sure he is as comfortable as he can be.  She never leaves the room and it is up to her children to make sure she eats by bringing her food.

The children try to take care of their mom, while she cares for their dad.



Wendy and John have been together since she was sixteen and he was eighteen.  They have been together twenty three years and never has the love between them wavered.



Only God knows what will happen.

John is so tired of being sick and worn out and also he is bothered by the bills he can not pay, because there isn't any money coming into the home.  He apologized yesterday to me, because he uses two of my credit cards for his company and there are large balances on them. 

I told him it was okay, life was a game of dice and this time the roll wasn't in our favor.  We would survive this and begin the long climb back to the top of the dog pile.

But Lord, I hate seeing him suffer.  I think this is the hardest part of being a parent, watching your child suffer and unable to help them.  Unable to take the pain away.

I don't think there is a parent alive who wouldn't give their own life for their child, much less an arm or a leg.  Because no matter how old your child gets, he is still your baby boy and you love him with all your heart.

We need this very important man in our lives and we are hanging onto him as tightly as we can.


I am asking, no I am begging for your Prayers for John.  Please pray for a full recovery.


Thank you!


See you around the block.

Another Day

Haven't been around for a while, but I have a good excuse (I think it is a good excuse)  I have been looking for a job.

So far I have received one email telling me they will keep my resume on file and the rest of the time dodging every salesman and their dog on the phone.  Seems once your resume is out there, it is no hold bars.


I mean really people, let's take a minute to think here.  Why would I buy something?  For God sakes I am looking for a job!  Which means I do not have the money to buy what ever you are offering.  Let's get real, OKAY!!!

Geez,  the world seems to be filled with fools and I have a bad feeling I may be the leader.  LOL!

I miss the old days, looking in the newspaper for a job and driving to the office to hand your resume in personally.  It seems so impersonal now and every salesman in the world has your phone number.


I want a job in the business world.  I am so burnt out from teaching and all the hours I had to put in on my own time.  Teaching is not a forty hour work week, let me tell you.  More like eighty.

Yes, I see the teaching positions being advertised, but guess what?   They are all a distance from me.  I do not want to be driving for an hour to get to my work place.

Thirty minutes top would be fantastic!  Okay, maybe forty five with traffic.


Then I have been looking at medical coder jobs and wondering if I shouldn't go back to school to become certified in it.  Questions, questions, questions!

I am good on a computer and learn quickly on it, so the job would fit me well.  I'll have to think about it some more.  I wish I could find on job training in some field, besides fast food.


My writing is in a slump, since I'm spending all my time looking for a job and I can't write when I am depressed, which I am at this moment.  Damn!

Oh yeah, to change subject, I read an article recently about high fructose corn syrup and how it is making us all fat.  I agreed with that, but should we lump regular sugar in with this?  Before HFCS was added to our food, people used regular sugar and didn't have a weight problem unless they over indulged.  I don't care if they break down the same way in the body.  What I care about is HFCS damages the liver and makes you feel hungrier.  The signals don't reach your brain that you are full. 



The article said people really weren't eating more in general, but they were gaining weight.  Go figure.  I try not to buy anything with HFCS in it and use regular sugar sparingly.  For a gallon of ice tea, I only use a quarter cup of sugar.  Put the sugar in while the tea is hot and it tastes like you used more.


My walking is starting to pay off.  I can climb stairs now without huffing and puffing.  I sprint half and then walk the rest.  I would have done a victory dance the first time I did this, but I didn't want the people at the mall thinking I was crazy.  But inside I was dancing. 


Isn't it amazing how the little things can bring such pleasure?


I seem to have reached a plateau in my weight loss, but I will keep plugging away.  It is bound to start going down again.  The last two weeks, I've stayed at the same weight, but I must admit I fell off the wagon a few times.  Depression you know?  Chocolate!!!

This is all I can complain about right now.  OH, except Madonna showing her tits.  Really, you would think she was old enough to know better.  One tit looks like another tit and I'm sure they don't buy CDs because you bared your boobs.  The music should be more important.


See you around the block.

Science Fiction

I signed up to do Camp Nanowrimo and as usual I forgot to consider what else I needed to do besides that.

You are suppose to be working on you WIP, writing as many words as you can and at the end of your writing session you put in the words you added to your WIP that day.

Sounds easy, doesn't it?  Nah!  It is turning out harder than I thought.  Holy Moly you would think I could write thousands of words a day.  It is not happening!

Plus you are suppose to do this everyday no matter what.  I am finding life is getting in the way.

I mean, I am also trying to find a day job to support my habit of eating, paying bills and etc.

I haven't had to hunt for a job in a long time and let me tell you things have changed out there.

It is all so techo, science fi now.

Everything is done on the computer.  Looking for the job, applying for the job.  I don't know about the interviewing yet, since I haven't had one.

Looking for a job is taking up more of my time then I remember it taking years ago.

Which means, instead of writing I am checking out job sites that have emailed me about new jobs being posted.

I have to say this job search seems so impersonal than it use too.

I can hardly wait for my first interview and see if it happens on the computer.  LOL

My resume is posted all over the place let me tell you. 

The question is, is anyone seeing it?   I think hunting for a job is like fishing and you go home empty handed.

I keep telling myself something will come alone.  I hope it is sooner than later.

But, I keep hoping my books will start selling like hot cakes and I want have to worry about a day job.

I can dream can't I?

Buy my books, please!

See you around the block.

A Painting Good Time

As a kid, I took art lesson and painted pictures in oils.  I really enjoyed these lessons, but as times passed and I became busy with life, I put my art aside.

Every few years I get the itch to paint once again and some years ago I changed to acrylics because the clean up was so much easier.

The itch has been itching the last few weeks and it has been YEARS since I have picked up a brush.

I have been saving pictures on pinterest to paint one day and I thought today would be the day I would do one.

WRONG, in so many ways.

I am out of practice.  I haven't even done sketches or coloring in a color book.  I really need to think these things through.

So I dig out my easel, my bucket of paints and paint brushes.  Sit up a table and realize somewhere along the way I have lost my painters tray (you know the thing painters hold in their hand with their paint on it).

Had to think for a few minutes and decided to use one of my white plates.  Acrylic paint should wash off easily with soap and water.  I will not be ruining a plate.


First, the only tube I have of brown feels soft, but I can't squeeze the paint out of the tube.  I guess it must have turned into rubber. DARN, DARN!

I hook up my lap top near where I will be painting and bring up one of the pictures I wanted to paint.  I had the dickens of a time deciding which one to do.

Finally I settled on one and squirted the colors of paint I would need and left room to mix the paint to make other colors on the glass plate.

Pulled a blank canvas out of my closet and I am ready, but remembered I needed a container to hold water to put the brushes into when I finished with them.

Dug through the trash, because I remembered there was a can in there.  Washed it up and filled it half full of water. 

I AM READY TO BEGIN!

Did I tell you usually on an easel there is a chain that keeps the three legs from spreading too far apart from each other and the ledge that holds the canvas?  Mine is missing, but I figure I can still use it.  I mean really, why should the legs spread apart on my laminate floor?

Painting away, having a merry old time when suddenly the legs spread and the picture falls against my breasts.

Thank God I am still wearing my pajamas, which no one ever sees.  Because now I have a painted pajama top.  UGH!

Removing the canvas from my lap, I hold it with one hand and with the other I pull the legs back to the correct position.

Sit canvas back on easel and realize now I not only have the impressions of my breasts on the painting, I also have my thumb print.

Grabbing a dry brush I try to smooth out the damage.  Problem is acrylic paints dry quickly.  I knew there was a reason in the back of my mind I was wishing I had oils.  They are so much easier to blend and do a number of little things you can do with acrylics.  The problem is oil brushes are more work to clean and you have to use smelly things to clean them.


Needless to say Van Gogh does not have to worry.  My picture looks like a kindergarten painted it.

Grabbing more white I paint out the whole canvas and decide to start over.  I mean why stop now, I have paint all over me.

Second painting looks horrible and I don't like it.  I started dipping the brush in the different colors on my plate and paint out the scene I just painted.

Now the canvas looks like a crazy colored sunset.  I grab my painter's knife, the paint is thick and I figure I will sketch in some trees.  I love trees with their twisted branches.

I stare at my sketch and decide it needs something.  When I step back you can't see the sketches.

I grab my fan brush and dip it in the remaining colors, adding leaves to my skeletal trees.  It's interesting, but my what I really wanted and I continue to dab more paint until I have a MESS.

I grab my blending brush and blend all the paint, obscuring the trees I had sketched in.  Looking at my canvas I now have a muddled mess of colors

I think it is time to call it a day.  My foot is itching to be put through the canvas.

I clean up and put everything away.  Hopefully next time I try this, I will have a more concrete idea of what I really want to do and I am capable of doing it.

Yeah, I know, I live in la la land.


I really need to practice!

What is happening in your world?

See you around the block.

Diets Galore

As you know I have been following weight watchers old point plan and WALKING my buns off.

You would think with all that WALKING I would lose more than a half a pound a week.  I mean REALLY!

I tried just eating at the lower range of the points, only lost a half a pound.

I ate at the mid range point, only lost a half a pound.

And I've tried the high end of the points, only lost a half a pound.

I am not a happy camper, especially when family, friends tell me they lost four pounds or etc on their diets.  UGH!!

BUT, a half a pound a week adds up to two pounds a month which in turn adds up to twenty four pounds a year.

I need to remind myself of this a lot.  Other wise I will become very discouraged.

My son loaned me his book on the Paleo Diet and I read through it.  Now this diet cuts out all grains, dairies and legumes.

I went on line to see if I could find more information about this diet and found there are several interpretations of the Paleo Diet.

And of course they contradict each other in some areas.


It seems each diet around goes from one extreme to the other.

There is the vegan diet, the raw food diet, and etc.

AND I know I need a diet I can live on the rest of my life.  So really it has to fit in my life and pattern of eating.

 So I have researched and read everything I could find on nutrition on the web and I have come to a conclusion, NO ONE, not scientists, nutritionist or lay person knows what is really good for us.  It is all a guessing game.


Each of us is different and our bodies seem to use the food we take in, in different ways.  What seems to be good for one person is not great for another person.


The only thing agreed upon is processed foods aren't really that great for us.  Okay, but in our fast paced world, sometimes processed foods are all we have time for.


My conclusion is moderation in all things is the key.  So I will stay on the points system, try to eat less processed foods and more fresh.  I will dance with glee for each half a pound I lose, knowing I can live on this plan, because of course I can cheat once in a while and still lose my half a pound.  I mean really there are times I would kill for a chocolate chip cookie from Paradise Bakery.


Still working on my WIP because the characters are not behaving and doing a lot of WALKING.


Drop a line and let me know what you are doing.


See you around the block.

The Exercise Voice

"I'm tired," I whine to myself while sitting in front of the computer.

"Get over it,"  demands the voice in my head.

"I'm really, really tired."  Whining has never really gotten me anywhere with the voice  or anyone else, but I keep trying.

"Get off your lazy butt and let's get to work.  It's time for our walk" 

"I don't want to walk anymore today.  My ankle and leg hurts, I don't think I should be walking on it."

"Tell that to someone who cares.  We are going to walk." The demanding voice continues in my head.  "Remember we need a routine in our lives and responsibility.

"Has anyone ever told you, you are not a nice voice?  I mean really, I am tired and my leg really does hurt.  I think my ankle is a little swollen." 

"This is so you!  We work out really good for a few weeks, never missing a walk and then wham, suddenly your ankle and leg hurt, your tired.  I am not letting you derail us this time."  The voice drones through my mind.

Hmm, the voice does have a point there.  I have put more road blocks in front of myself in this life then anyone else.  Damn, I hate it when the voice is right.  "You are the meanest, uncaring, unsympathetic voice I know."

"Let's get real here, I am the only voice you know,"  laughs the voice.  "Get your lard-o butt off the chair and let's walk.  Remember the goals,  to get in better shape and find a paying job."

"Geez," I whisper looking out the window and trying to ignore the voice.

"Stop looking out the window!  We have things we need to get done today and not much time to do them in since you slept late this morning,"  cries the voice ranting and flapping around all over the place.

"I really wouldn't call eight thirty late.  I'm worried," I murmur still looking out the window, "The neighbor next door left her car door open on the passenger side and if the other neighbor comes home, he want be able to part in his spot."

"Really girl!  Let the neighbor take care of themselves, while we take care of you.  You haven't worked on your WIP today and we need to do our walking,"  sighs the bossy, dictatorial voice.

"I had to check on my  face book and read the blogs I follow.  I haven't had time to think about my WIP," I murmur turning back to look at the blog I was trying to read.

"Girl, what am I going to do with you?  Haven't you learned when you don't listen to me things can go wrong?  The voice is softer sounding worried.  "What is really going on?  Come on talk to me and maybe we can work it out."

"I need a nap," I whimper laying my head down on the desk.  "I didn't sleep that great last night."

"A nap!  You have got to be kidding," cries the voice in my head.  "If you take a nap, you want be able to sleep tonight!  Time for our walk!"

"Ha, if someone would stop talking when I go to bed," I sneer with my head down on the desk.  "I would have gotten a better nights sleep last night.  But oh no!  You had to blab about this and about that.  Where is the button to turn you off?"

"I don't have a turn off button," laughs the voice.  "I only shut up when you do what you are suppose to do.  But do you listen all the time?  No, you go your merry way and things go to hell in a hand basket."

I turn and look out the window whispering, "Your right, when I don't listen things go wrong.  I forget you can't really live without money, lost in a world of make believe.  I need to work on finding a paying job and getting in shape."

"You tried to side track me," laughs the voice, "but it didn't work.  It's time for our walk and you know it is over a hundred degrees out there so stop daydreaming how nice it would be," grumbles the voice loudly to make sure I am listening.  "We will do our walking in the house today.  Then we can get to work on our WIP."

"You know I am beginning to think walk is a four letter word."  I grin as I picture me yelling "Mom, it said a four letter word that begins with W.  Oh darn wait a minute, there is a five letter bad word that begins with W.  Hmm, the younger generation may not think of it since they have shorten it to Ho."

"What in the world are you doing?  You have been at that computer for over an hour and now you are suppose to walk for fifteen to twenty minutes.  Remember you asked me to keep you on track?"

Sighing, I think what a slave driver the voice has become.   Standing up and grabbing my IPOD, I set it to count the steps and then plug in the ear plugs and start the music.  I begin walking and let the music drown out the voice and all other thoughts.  Sometimes I wish I didn't have such a vivid imagination.

See you around the block.

Oh yeah, please buy my books!

A Visit to the Doctor

I hate going to the doctor or dentist.  They both give me the willies.  But there are times you can't get out of it. Need a prescription renewed or you have a sinus infection or something else.

This is a tale of how the visit goes with the doctor.

You call and make an appointment and you begin to get the jitters.  You know you have gained weight since the last time and you wonder what the doctor will say.

You have to go, because your head is killing you and when you bend over it feels as if your face will fall off any minute.  Yeah, all the symptoms of a sinus infection.


First off, on appointment day, you dress in your best panties and bra.  Of course your thinking there is no way you will be undressing for the doctor today.  It is only a sinus infection!  You slip into your nice clothes, because you want to make a good impression.  Do you want to be known as the slob?  Really people, everyone dresses up nicely to see their doctor, don't they?

You arrive early, heaven forbid if you are late for anything.  I worry about being late, so I arrive early by ten to fifteen minutes.  You fill out new paper work because it has been a year since you were last in.  All the time your hands are shaking so much you can hardly hold the pen and your penmanship looks like a first grader.

Then your called to the back and this thin, young nurse tells you to step up on the scale.  You step upon the scale, murmuring in a nervous voice, "I've gained some weight since the last time I was here."

"Really, I am trying to lose a few pounds before my sister's wedding,"

"Oh!  I wish you luck,"  You look at the young woman wondering, Where in the hell does she need to lose weight?  From her head?  The woman is thin by anyone standards.

You try to read the scale, but without your reading glasses it is a lost cause.  "How much have I gained?" you whisper as she leads you down the hall to the exam room.  She doesn't answer and you remember most Doctor offices have gone computerized and she may not have last time's weight.


You sit down on the exam table wishing you were any where but here.  You hate sitting up so high and sitting on top of crinkly paper.

"Hmm, your blood pressure seems a little high.  Is that normal, or you taking blood pressure medication?"

"My blood pressure is on the higher side because I am in the Doctor's office.  It is always higher in here, my nerves seem to do that.  My blood pressure medicine works fine, unless I'm at the Doctor's office."

"What is the name of your blood pressure medication?"

I look at her for a few minutes like a deer staring into headlights.  Finally my brain kicks in, "It's . . .ah, . . . penxaprile  or something like benoprile.  I know it starts with either a b or a p."

"Do you know what milligram you are taking?"

"Ah, . . . it's a little pink pill.  Hmm, ten milligrams I think."

She gives that look, you know the look, like am I for real.  "I'll look it up on the computer. Why are you here today?"

I look at the young woman for a few seconds, wondering why the hell I am here today.  "Oh, yeah, I have a sinus infection."

She writes that down on the paper and looks at me for a few seconds murmuring, "The doctor will be in, in a few minutes."


The minute the woman is out the door, I slide off the exam table and stand in the middle of the room looking around.  I glance at some magazines in a rack.  They look like they have been in there forever and I wonder what kind of germs cover them.  Rocking back and forth on my feet, I look at the walls and wonder why doctor's exam rooms are always so ugly.  Are they trying to scare the germs out of you?  A poster on the wall advertises some heart medication with a picture of what a real heart looks like.  I wonder if our hearts are really blue and red.


Okay . . . I am running out of ways to entertain myself and I begin to wonder if I really need to see the doctor.  Maybe the sinus infection will go away on it's own.  Just about the time I am thinking of bolting, in comes the doctor.

"How are you doing?"  The doctor smiles and glances down at the clip board in his hand.

"I'm doing fine," I answer wondering why they always ask this question.  I mean really would I be here if I was doing great? But then again, why do I always answer with fine, when I'm not fine?


"Then why are you here?"  The doctor smiles looking at me with laughing eyes.


"I have a sinus infection," I mumble looking down at the floor.  Lord help me from smart alec doctors.

"Hop back up on the table and let's take a look.  Your blood pressure medication is Benazepril ten milligrams."

"Wow, I was close."  Does he expect me to remember that?  Lord, I will be lucky if I remember it by the time this visit is over.   The druggist never asks me what I am taking, he just reads the prescription and fills it.

He looks in my ears, throat, nose and listens to my heart.  "Have you been coughing?"

"A little," I mumble, "not a lot."

"What color is the phlegm you are coughing up," he asks?  I shake my head.

Once again the deer staring into the headlights.  Lord have mercy, I don't go around looking at what I cough up into a tissue.  That's so gross!

"Have you been blowing your nose a lot and what color is the mucus?"  I shake my head.

Headlights!!!  Do these people go around looking at all the crap their body expels from different places?   If I wanted to look at that stuff, I would have become a doctor.  Just write a prescription and let me get out of here before I come down with a horrible disease.

You do realize Doctor Offices and Hospitals are a bed of breeding germs?  Have you ever notice you get sick after visiting a hospital to see a friend?



"When I bend over, it feels like my face is going to fall off."  I am hoping this news will speed things up.

They not only make an exam room ugly, but I'm just saying I would hate to pay for the cooling bill for this place.  It is like that large refrigerated area you walk into, to get eggs, milk and etc at CostCo.   Chill bumps are playing chase up and down my body.


"That sounds like a sinus infection.  I'll write you a prescription for an antibiotic.  Are you allergic to any medication?  If you don't feel better after taking all the medication, come back in."

I shake my head, and a slight smile curves my lips as I inch myself toward the edge of the exam table.  If I have to come back in, I'll be madder than a wet hen.  He really doesn't want to see me in here again.

He hands the prescription over and I slide off the table, pick up my purse and cram the prescription inside.  Slowly moving toward the door.


"Your blood pressure is a little high.  Do you keep a check on it?"

"I explained that to the nurse.  My blood pressure raises when I see the doctor.  Yes, I own a cuff and check my blood pressure."

 It's not all a lie, I do own a blood pressure kit.  It's only . . . the only time I take my blood pressure is if I happen to be by one of those machines in the mall or store.  Then if there is no one around, I slip onto the seat and have my blood pressure taken.  It is usually in the normal range.  Well . . . that is if I haven't gained a lot of weight.

He nods his head and writes something down and I open the door, look back at him giving him a big smile, "Bye!"


I walk quickly down the hall and out the door to freedom and clean air.  Lord I hope this medication works, I don't know if I could go through that again.

How do you feel about doctor offices?

Oh Yeah, while I have you here let me remind you to buy my books.  I mean really, do you want a grandmother to run a round in holey clothes?


See you around the block.





  

Living The Diet

I have a link to U tube showing an eagle trying to get something out of a river.  It is very entertaining and shows you how he solves his problem.  Eagle of Baton Rouge


I am still working on walking for exercise.  I love going to the malls or other big businesses to walk.  This way I can window shop and watch other people.  I enjoy watching people and forget I am really exercising.

WIP is still giving me fits.  I can't seem to get from B to C.  Simmering a lot of different ideas on how to do it.

I have also been trying to read and do reviews on the books I've read.  Then reading all the blogs I follow, face book and Pinterest, I have been a busy girl.

I have also enjoyed spending time with my son Jesse and his wife Tina.  We ate some fantastic BQ last Saturday.

Those who are near and dear to me know I have been fighting the weight monster all my life.  Give it an inch and it will add a mile to my ass body.

If I had put all the money I have spent on all the new diet crap  fads, I would be loaded in money.  You name it, I bought it and tried it.


As you remember I am back on Weight Watchers and I listened to what I was thinking the other day and realized why I have never stayed on it for very long.  It was because as you lose weight your points became a smaller number and I was worried about going hungry.  Yeah, that right I do think, once in a while.

With this in mind, I begin looking through my library of diet books and ran across "Eat What You Love Love What You Eat" by Michelle May, M. D. 


I began to thumb through it and she told me the same as all the other diets to be mindful of what I eat.  I never really understood that.  I thought I was paying attention to what I ate, but I'm not sure I really was doing what they wanted me to do. 


I read all of the book this time and I realized what she was telling me, was to know the signals my body sends when it is hungry and when it is full.  Maybe this is what they meant about being mindful of what you eat.


I don't know about you guys but I had forgotten how it felt to be really hungry and when to stop eating before I was in pain.  I ate by the clock and I ate until my plate was clean.


Sooo, I have decided to listen to my body and found out, It doesn't take that much food to make me comfortably full.  I was amazed and thrilled to realize the difference in how I felt after eating the right amount.


Now I wait to eat until my body says it is hungry.  Sometimes though I'm not sure, so I drink some water or have a cup of coffee, tea and walk around for a bit to figure out if I am hungry or if I am just bored.


I have found I eat more often, but I eat vegetables or have soup for the extras. 


Unfortunately, or it could be fortunately I don't need all the points to fill me up.  I figure I will listen to my body and let the points worry about themselves.  I mean do we eat the same amount of food every day?  I know I don't, what about you?


Maybe this time, I have found the key to successful weight loss and keeping it off.  Time will tell.

Of course don't get me wrong.  It is not easy to understand what your body is telling.  So there will be flubs along the way, but I will keep trying to get it right.


What have you found helps you to stay on your diet?


What helps you to stay on your diet?


As for the walking it is going great.  I find myself walking around the house without thinking about it.  I get up from in front of the TV and just start walking.  It's like my body has a mind of it's own and it wants to move.  Go figure!


See you around the block.

Read Directions

Last week was rough, abused body exercised faithfully everyday.  Believe me every other day my body was sore and I had to force myself to do the walking.

I wondered why walking ten thousands steps a day could be so rough, so I hunted up the booklet that came with my old pedometer.  I never looked at it before and really I need to start reading directions.

But if you know me, I close my eyes and jump into things with both feet.  I do everything flat out, without a look back.

Sooo, anyway I'm am reading the little book and it says, Step one, "Wear your pedometer for three days and write down the totals and then calculate the average number of steps you have taken each day.  This is your start point."  Didn't do that!  It also tells you to pay more attention to your weekly total, rather than daily total, because on some days you will walk more than other days.  Hmm, this would keep you from killing yourself and almost having to crawl around the next day.


Yes, I should have read this book first, then I wouldn't have days of my ankles and knees killing me.  This happens after walking almost twenty thousand steps a day.

Sooo, I have lost another one and a half pounds last week.  A total of three pounds in two weeks.  Not the greatest but I figure it is better than adding that many pounds.  I remind myself think of butter.  You know the image to show how much I did lose.

I've lost almost an inch in some places and almost two inches in others.  I figured this measurement is probably the one I should concentrate on because the numbers make me happy.

Added this clip art because I like it.

Have you guys been on Pinterest?  Lord have mercy, it is interesting.  I have been enjoying myself, really way too much on this, but it is a great way to save some things you know you will use later.  Like recipes and etc. 

Also this week, on one of the pins I pinned, it said to use car wax on faucets, sinks and etc to make them shine.  I tried it, it worked fantastic on my newer faucets, but not so great on old, old stainless steel sink.  That thing has seen a lot of abuse over the years.  It does look a little better, but it doesn't shine like the newer faucets.

I also did some reading and remembered to give a review of each book I read.  I think this is important to do and it helps the author find more readers.  So remember if you read an e book or even a regular book go to Amazon and other sites and write a review.

I downloaded the Kindle app onto my lap top and my pc, because I thought my Kindle had stopped working.  The Kindle finally charged and I can use it again.  I find myself using my lap top to read books I down load to it more often.  It seems handier some how.  I think one reason is, when I change it to larger print, so I don't have to wear my reading glasses, I see more of the page, then I would on the Kindle.


Oh well, each to his own.


For those that don't realize it, on Amazon before you choose to buy a book, you have to chose which system you want it to down load too. 

I am writing, but it is not good stuff.  I'm having trouble getting the story to pull together and flow.  I can't hear the music yet in the words.

I notice Kale is all the rage now for eating.  Which is fine with me since I love Kale.  My grandma fixed all these types of greens all the time, collard, mustard and etc.  So I have always eaten them off and on.  I did fix some Kale Chips the other day.  I had never had them before and they were great.  The only problem was the recipe did not tell you to remove the big stem from the center of the leaf and that part is chewy.  Next time I am removing it.

Here is what Rosemary Harris  thinks about certain foods becoming the rage. 

Like her, I wonder who decides which food will become popular.  I mean really, why all of a sudden something is sooo good for you?   Go figure.

See you around the block.

The Weigh she Goes

As my near and dearest know, since I have been spending most of my time at the computer writing, I have gained a lot of weight.  (I really mean a lot)

Some clothes I can't get into and other are a little tight.  Hmm, this is a problem let me tell you.  I hate shopping for clothes.  It is my least favorite thing to do.  Ugh!

The weather is heating up in Arizona and I know I need to come up with a plan for exercise, that does not involve being outdoors for a long time.

Sooo, here is my game plan and I started it on Monday.  I only allow myself to sit at the computer for an hour at a time and then I have to walk for fifteen minutes.

The first day my steps were slow and in the back of my mind I was remembering what I had read about if you want to lose weight, you need to walk ten thousand steps a day. 

Next day, my pace was a little faster and then I hooked up my Ipod and walked to the music.  My pace really picked up then.  Remember I had down loaded fast songs.

The Ipod counts my steps also and also I am wearing my pedometer.  I know you want to know why I am wearing both. 

The reason is, because I have dropped, knocked Ipod off getting groceries out of the food cart and etc.  You see how this is going.

 I'm not sure how many falls it can take before it decides not to work.  Sooo, I only wear it for the fifteen minute brisk walk with music playing. 

The rest of the time the other pedometer keeps track of the extra steps I am taking.

 I found I can stop the step counter on the Ipod and start new each time and it keeps tracks of all the steps I have taken with it.  In the evening I plug it into my computer and log into Nike+ and I can see all my steps on the Ipod for the day.  Neat, huh?

Okay now on with what else I am trying to do.


I heard on the news if you walk during the commercials you will have walked thirty minutes in an hour show.


Sounds good to me.


I am also following my old old weight watchers point diet.  It was the first one they came out with where you counted points.  Yah, I know, I never throw anything away. 

But, really I do throw stuff away and then wonder why I didn't keep it because now I have to go buy a new one. 

Well, today is the fifth day of walking and I am sore and tired.

I am thinking about that program "The Biggest Loser" and remember how those people have to push their selves to keep going no matter what.

With this in mind, I am forcing my body to keep going.   I have to keep my goal in mind of getting back into some of my clothes and maybe going down a size or two.  Plus losing one of my chins wouldn't be so bad either.


I have found I fall asleep faster at night now and maybe this will help to keep the insomnia away.  I can only hope. 


I am working on a new story.  So far the title is "Earning His Wings", but that could change.  I'll let you stew over the title for a while before I tell you what the story is about.  It's like a game and you can see if you win or not with your guesses.


I forgot to mention during the walking sessions, I am also doing arm exercises.  The back of my arms are sore.  Go figure!


What have you found that keeps you working out and sticking to your diet?


I could use all the help I can get.

See you around the block.

Choose a Mommy

Ann Kimball another funny mommy is over at Scary Mommy writing her blog.  talks about channeling different personalities of moms on television.   It is a funny blog and you will enjoy it.

I've come up with a few more moms for her to channel: 

Leave It To Beaver's mom June Cleaver.  She was always classy looking without a hair out of place.  She was soft spoken and her house was spotless.  Hmm, the magic of TV.

Does anyone remember The Donna Reed Show?  Donna had two teenage children and ran her house smoothly while looking as if she walked off a magazine.  Once again, her house was spotless.

How about Harriet Nelson on The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet?  Harriet wore her pearls and her tiny pretty apron.  Yes, her house was spotless even though she had two sons.

Then can we forget Bewitched?  We all wanted to be a witch like Samantha and twitch our noses.  I mean who needs a maid (Alice) if the work can be done with the twitch of your nose?

What about Joan Crawford?  Remember the movie about her parenting skills, Mommy Dearest?

Lord if I could channel it would be Samantha.  With a twitch of my nose I could do everything and have life go very smoothly.  Yes, ...... Sorry I was picturing me younger, slimmer and a shiny clean house.

 Now onto something else.

Liana Brooks blog needs to be read by the people who do not buy the author's book, even though they are a Family member or a best Friend or a neighbor.  She has some ideas for what they could do to help the writer.   I hope some people will read this and follow her advice.

Please give an author a break!

K. B. Owens blog is really about racoons.  Some of the stories she tells are funny.  Living in the Arizona desert, I don't  have a problem with racoons, so I think of them as cute.  Aren't they part of the rodent family?  Ugh!  I don't like rats, they are as persistent as raccoons.


Bill Kirton  has a very interesting blog about Neanderthals.  I had watched a show recently about them and it turns out they were a little more complex than we thought.    I know it isn't about writing, but it is interesting.

And if you need a really big laugh......The bloggess   I was laughing so hard I cried.  This woman is completely crazy like the rest of us and doesn't mind showing it.

I think I will end this blog on a laugh.

See you around the block.

A Bit of Sugar

Today I spent time reading the blogs of other writers and found some really interesting ones and found some that made me smile with remembrance.

Jenny Hansen  blog brought back my youth with mention of American Band Stand and Dick Clark.  Lord I grew up watching that show and I also learned some of my moves on the dance floor.    Then Jenny had a clip from U Tube of  The Monkees.  I remember curling up in front of the TV to watch this show with my family.  I was lucky that my parents also enjoyed the music and shows. 

Mom and Dad watched all the musical shows on TV with us kids and took us to the drive in theater and the regular theater to see all the musical movies, such as Elvis Presley, the beach movies with Annette Funicello and the Beatles.  You name it I saw it.  They loved all kinds of music and introduced us to their music also.  I love a wide range of different music from Classical to Hip Hop.

I raised my own children listening to old and new music and watching old black and white movies to new movies.  My daughter adores the old black and white musicals and drives her husband crazy watching them.  LOL! 



We have lost both Dick Clark and Davey Jones and I can only say "Rest in peace gentlemen, you will always be remembered.

Rachelle Gardner  asks "What's the most difficult thing about being a writer?"  I think the most difficult thing about being a writer is continuing to write even though your e books aren't selling.  I keep telling myself maybe some day my books will be read and enjoyed. 


Abby  is complaining about getting old at 30 years old!  Goodness, wait until she is in her sixties and then she will have reasons to complain.  I love reading Abby's blog, she is entertaining.


Mark Williams  has a blog and today was about where and how he lives.  He makes his living with writing and could live any where he wants and in what ever style he chooses.   I found it interesting and enjoyed seeing the pictures he shared.


Scary Mommy  this blog was interesting and important for all of us to read it.  It is about raising a transgender child.  She gives you a link to follow to find out more about the family she is writing about.  Luckily more and more of us are realizing we can not expect everyone to be like us.  We need to accept people as they are.  With knowledge comes acceptance of what was considered out of norm as normal for the person involved. 


Nicole Storey wrote about a reading group who didn't want to read her Grimsley Hollow book, because the main character has autism.  She is letting readers know autism is not mental illness.   I read Grimsley Hollow and found it to be an entertaining book.  I loved it and the characters.    Really People, grow up!  Read the damn book and you will enjoy it!

Lynn Viehl has a test for writers to take if they are thinking of writing a romantic paranormal fiction.  Never know you could learn something from it.  I'm just saying ...

See you around the block. 

Boo Hoo!!

My baby girl and her husband left today.  Sigh!   They are heading back to their home in Reno.

I am missing them and their two adorable dogs.  No one to cook for  or talk with and no one to take for a walk.  



I have enjoyed having them here for a week.  Sigh!  I am feeling blue!  


My house feels so empty and quiet.  I think I can hear the air. 



We had a fantastic time at the Phoenix Zoo.  We walked over twelve thousand steps.  Our feet and other parts of our bodies complained about all this activity.  Sigh, I am sooo out of shape. 



The weather was perfect for being out doors all day.  Slightly over cast with a cool, light breeze.


We visited the malls, IKEA and other places to shop.  Window shopped like old times and watched the people. 



We also visited with my boys and their wives.    We shared great food, conversation and laughed a lot.

Now I am feeling lonely.  Sigh! 

Tomorrow I will have to get back into the saddle and work on my writing.

I will have to get back into the routine of writing and blogging.

Just noticed I need to paint my finger nails.  I'll paint them a happy color and maybe I want feel so sad.

See you around the block.



 





  

My Books!!

Second Chance

Charlie

Fainting Damsel

Where Is The Sandman?

All week I have been having trouble sleeping.

I see this commercial and wonder where is my sandman?

I know you are saying, you have your night and day mixed up, your clock is upside down and etc.

Problem is, by the time I do fall asleep, I am exhausted and talk myself out of setting the alarm to wake me up at a normal time.  What would be the normal time?  I am sleeping during the day, not at night.  How would I set an alarm?   Very confusing, but it could be the lack of sleep.

I think my sandman may be having a problem too.  Maybe he sleeps at night instead of going around sharing his sleeping sand.

But then again, maybe the sandman is a little scary looking.  I know my eyes feel as if they have been filled with sand and not the good kind.

With my luck, this is probably my sandman.  Scary, Huh?  No wonder I can't sleep.  Who would want this sandman in their home?

I was amazed with how many scary pictures there are of the sandman on the internet.  I borrowed all these pictures from a free site and they had some even stranger pictures.  Hmm, note to self, maybe counting sheep would be better.

Knowing me I would lose count and have to start over and it would piss me off.  Who can sleep when they are mad?

You are probably thinking, I am not getting enough exercise.  But I promise you I am.  Remember, I am walking and my extra steps run between two thousand to over four thousand per day.  What more do you want?

Of course, since I am not sleeping, I am eating and the diet has gone out the window.  Bah Hum Bug!!!  I had just lost a few pounds and now they are back with friends.

So far this week in the early hours of the morning, I have done my laundry.

I did my taxes on line.  Yes, I am waiting till the last minute.  Geez!  Give me a break!  I use to be the one that had the taxes done as soon as I received my W2s, but it seems that person has disappeared.  Wonder if I should make out a lost person report?    But, I have to admit, that woman drove me crazy.

Camille tea is suppose to help you sleep.  It gave me a tummy ache. 

Hot chocolate tasted great and all, but it didn't help me sleep.

Drinking wine didn't help either. Sigh loud and long.

I may have to break down and take sleeping pills.  I hate the way they make me feel the next day.  Dragging, slight headache and in a bad mood.  Yeah, I would rather be grumpy from lack of sleep, thank you very much.

After giving up hope of sleeping.  I make a pot of coffee and enjoy every cup of it.  After the sun has come up and I am sitting in front of the TV watching early morning news.  You guessed it.  I fall asleep.  The caffeine should have kept me awake, but I am out.


Of course, (damn, the computer is fooling with me!  I tell it I want regular type and it decides I want this.  Damn!  Damn!)  You have noticed, my paragraphs are started with italic letters?

Let me assure you, it is not on purpose.  Machines like to fool around with me.  Ugh!!!!!!!!

I really need to dust this place.  I just noticed my keyboard and etc. are covered in dust.  Hmm, maybe if I cleaned the computer, it wouldn't be changing my type style on me as I typed.

Soooo, as I think about doing some cleaning............


See you around the block.  (no I did not want bold)

Having fun and walking

This week I have been playing with my Nano IPOD.  It is a gift from my daughter.  I can use it as a pedometer and to play music as I walk.

I am now a member of Nike+ and it tracks my steps for me when I connect to ITunes.  I am finding this to be a good motivator to walk every day.  I need all the help I can get. 

I have realized after a few days I need to put a slower beat of music.  I automatically try to walk to the beat of the music and I am huffing, puffing and worn out to quickly.

I meant to write my blog last night, but pinterest  had all my attention.  Bad mommy.


Anne R. Allen   blog is about writing short stories.  It makes sense readers would like a story they could read and finish in an hour.  I know I like stories that are short.  We all have to squeeze out time to read.


Kristine Kathryn Rusch  blog has a fantastic example of short stories.  Every Monday she gives us a short story that can be read in about an hour and they are really good stories.  I am always amazed how good her stories are and how she captures our hearts and mind.


Marilyn Brant  gives advice to new authors on her blog.  You never know, even authors who have been writing for years might find some of the advice interesting.


 Mysterious Writings has a journal written by a cat and a dog.  The cat's one is so funny.  You must read it if you have ever had a cat.

See you around the block.

See the black and yellow butterfly!

Good news, I found out it was my shoes making my calves hurt.  Hallelujah!  Today I had to walk farther to get in my fifteen minutes.  Meaning I am slowly working back into shape.  LOL!

I received an email from a reader asking what books I would recommend to learn how to write.

I thought about it and realized, I couldn't think of any books to help a person become a writer.

Think of it this way, learning to write is a lot like learning to play a musical instrument.  You can read all the music books in the world, but that want help you to learn to play the instrument.

You need to pick up the instrument and practice over and over again until you have a beautiful melody.

As a second grade teacher I always told my students, that the written word was like music.  There was a rhythm to it.  When you read, you should feel and hear the melody.

Writing is the same way, there is a rhythm and melody to it.  The only way you can become a writer is to write over and over again, until you hear the melody of the piece.

The written word is music and if you do it right, a fantastic melody will be heard by all.

The old saying "practice makes perfect", but really it makes music.

Do your nerves get the better of you when you walk into a doctor's office?  Let me tell you, my BP jumps at least 10 digits.  I don't understand it, I mean really I use to work for doctors.  I know they are human like the rest of us, but lord the anxiety builds the minute my appointment time approaches.   All is fine and BP medication is still working. 


Joan Reeves  blog today is about creating a Gravatar.  You know, that thingy that shows up next to your name on the internet.  Mine is the yellow flowers.


Jonathan Antoine/Charlotte Jaconelli  every time I watch these two sing together it brings tears to my eyes.  For two such young people they are fantastic.  Check it out and see what I mean.


Lynn Viehl  on her blog she has two books she recommends reading if you need help with your writing.  I know I just got through saying, you just needed to write, but some people need books to guide them.  Give me a break!


C. Hope Clark has written about using dialect in your stories.  Give her a peek and you could be happier than a dead pig laying in the sunshine.  Her words not mine.  Ha!  Mine are more corny like thicker than molasses in the middle of winter.


Mary Curran Hackett gives the young girls of today a high five.  It is great to read about what is good about this younger generation.  Mary makes a lot of sense.

Mary Incontro  has an interesting blog over at Writer's Unboxed.  She talks about being self conscious of her age for the first time. 


Sinner's Sonnet another music video from u tube that is good.  I love the tune. 


The Bloggess has a fun blog today.  I wonder if any of our old relatives dug up a body before?  My son did have his grandma ashes on his piano.  Do you think this is strange?


Jungle Red Writer is asking for traveling tips and the other jungle writers give her some tips.  Give it a read and you might pick up hints for your next trip or not.


See you around the block.



Can I Visualize?

I think my back is well.  My plan is to start walking again.  I have started with walking fifteen minutes.

Lord have mercy!  My calves tied in knots.  I forced myself to finish.  Hmm, not only has my boobs gone south. it seems the rest of me is following.

Damn, I don't think visualizing my self looking like Sophia Loren will work.   The problem has grown bigger than I thought.  If you can pin point the problem, shouldn't you be able to correct it?   I need to  sweat, groan and moan myself in shape. 


No worry, I don't have to buy anything.  I probably have more diet and exercise books and exercise videos then Walmart.  I also have exercise equipment covered in dust.

Do you think dusting the exercise equipment could be counted toward the minutes of exercising?  Woot, Woot, I may only have to do ten minutes!

I had a great Sunday at  Sunday A'Fair .  My son Wayne and I listened to two great bands, watched people and most important shared time together.

Making a list of what I need to do before my daughter and her husband come for a visit.  Clean house and all that other fun stuff I don't do. Note to self:  buy more food.


I have also read a few great blogs and I want to share them with you.


Abby  has some great pictures of balloons crafted into some wonderful designs and her blog is funny.


Liana Brooks   has a funny blog on the power of boobs.  Yes you read that right, the power of boobs.

Girl friends book club   has a blog that will let you know, you are not alone, if you are a chunky monkey.  It seems that is part of being a writer.  Damn, I must be great!  I've put a lot of chunky on my monkey in the last nine months.

K. B Owens   site is great if you want a laugh.  Especially the one about a computer programer and a frog.


Hope you have a great week.


See you around the block.

This and That

There are some shows on television, I love to watch.  One of them is Chop on HGTV.  It is amazing watching these chefs come up with some great dishes with time limits and some strange ingredients.  I look up to these chefs, because I know I would fold under the pressure and cry like a baby.

Sweet Genius have the chefs cooking desserts with strange ingredients, time limits and an inspiration, such as a gold fish in a bowl.  These chefs are turning out candies, cakes and etc.  Some of the treats are very pretty and you have to wonder how they learned to be so creative.

Sometimes a title of a program will catch my interest and I will watch the show.  Duck Dynasty, the title caught my attention and it is about some people in Louisiana, that have become millionaires from making duck calls.  They make them by hand, so nothing is mass produced.  This show proves you can take the red neck out of the woods, but you can't take the red neck traits away.  I found this show funny and entertaining, especially since the oldest son is a college educated business major and CEO of the company.  He has a brother, an uncle and other relatives as part of the company who try his patience, but yet bring him a lot of joy into his life.

Have you watched these shows?  What do you think about them? 

I'll write some more later, about some of the other shows I watch, but for right now we are changing gears.

Joan Reeves  has an interesting blog about a company called MUSO.  This internet business helps authors to catch illegal down loads (or is it up loads?  I'm not sure) of their writing.  This is a growing problem in the internet and we need watch dogs out there keeping people honest.  MUSO charges a fee for their services.  This will probably interest author's who are well known and make money with their books.  So far that doesn't seem to be a problem.


Laura Bradford   has an interesting blog on The Stiletto Gang.  She writes about the fine print none of us bothered to read before we became an author.  All the different jobs we find ourselves doing to make it in the writing business.

Jackie King has an amusing piece on growing up in Oklahoma.  Her mom was a single parent before it became fashionable.

Hope you enjoy reading the blogs I have shared with you.  I really enjoyed reading them.

See you around the block.