A Beautiful Mind

I just started reading A Beautiful Mind by Silvia Nasar. Most of you are probably familiar with the movie starring Russell Crowe as John Nash. If you haven't seen it...I highly recommend it.

Here is a link to his autobiography:
http://nobelprize.org/economics/laureates/1994/nash-autobio.html

This movie, and now the book, have both been a huge eye-opener to me. It is so much easier to understand the reality of a schizophrenic's delusions after seeing scenes with people in them that didn't really exist. The first time I saw the movie, I was dumfounded when I realized that John's best friend and roommate through college was all a delusion. This helped me to understand the fact that you can't reason with someone when the things they see are just as real to them as anything a healthy-minded person sees.

I've often mentioned to people that I think I'm going crazy...the answer I've gotten from several people is the same.....crazy people don't know they're going crazy. That makes me feel a little better, but John Nash was eventually able to differentiate between his delusions and reality. Of course, he was a genius, and well....I'm not!!!


Within the first three pages, I came across these words that remind me so much of my mom, who is a paranoid schizophrenic.

Some creative people...of predominantely schizoid or depressive temperaments...use their creative capacities in a defensive way. If creative work protects a man from mental illness, it is small wonder that he pursues it with avidity. The schizoid state...is characterized by a sense of meaninglessness and futility. For most people, interaction with others provides most of what they require to find meaning and significance in life. For the schizoid person, however, this is not the case. Creative activity is a particularly apt way to express himself...the activity is solitary...but the ability to create, and the productions which result from such ability, are generally regarded as possessing value by our society.

Before the actual diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, my mother divulged herself in many artistic activites. Sometimes, she wouldn't speak for days, but she would practice her belly dancing for hours on end, and then go paint two or three paintings each day. Her art was so expressive that somehow it seemed OK that she didn't have anything to say. Her art spoke for her. She is a terrific artist. She married Will a couple years ago (also a paranoid schizophrenic) and because of his interest in art, she has become more involved in painting again.

When either one of them go through a couple of their "bad days" as I call them, they tend to bury themselves in artwork. Sometimes they will get on a kick where they have no room left on their walls due to the huge amounts of artwork they have displayed. I'm not sure what has happened to all the work they have both done. It seems to disappear from time to time.

This book has brought a lot of awareness to me about how to deal with Mom and her delusions. One of her delusions consists of talking with a Belgian soldier. Luckily, she hasn't heard from him for awhile. When she does, however, I know now that reasoning with her is not really an option. There's no possible way for her to realize he's not there. It's a hard thing to deal with sometimes, but I have learned over the years that it's best just to listen and let her live out the delusions. She has not been violent in any way for a long time, and that is the only time I think I will ever find it necessary to step in and try to control a situation with her again. Unforunately, violence comes along with the territory sometimes, but I feel better prepared for anything like that after having seen things from a little different perspective.

Houston....We Have a Problem.........

I recieved this as an e-mail.....kind of a joke type thing, but if these statements are true, I'd like to know how these idiots have made it through everyday life. Have a look for yourself. What do you think???

Why our country is in trouble
Perhaps this will explain it all........

A Washington, DC airport ticket agent offers some examples of why our country is in trouble!

1. I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window. --------------------------------------------------------------------

2. I got a call from a candidate's staffer, who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information, then she interrupted me with, "I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts,"
Without trying to make her look stupid, I calmly explained, "Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa,"
Her response - click. --------------------------------------------------------------------

3. A senior Vermont Congressman called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room.
I tried to explain that's not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state.

He replied, "Don't lie to me, I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state!" --------------------------------------------------------------------

4. I got a call from a lawmaker's wife who asked, "Is it possible to see England from Canada?" I said, "No." She said, "But they look so close on the map." -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. An aide for a cabinet member once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he had only a 1-hour layover in Dallas.
When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, "I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between gates to save time."
---------------------------------------------------

6. An Illinois Congresswoman called last week. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:30 am and got to Chicago at 8:33 am.
I explained that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she couldn't understand the concept of time zones.
Finally, I told her the plane went fast, and she bought that. --------------------------------------------------------------------

7. A New York lawmaker called and asked, "Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?"
I said, "No, why do you ask?"
She replied, "Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said (FAT), and I'm overweight. I think that's very rude!"After putting her on hold for a minute while I looked into it (I was laughing) I came back and explained the city code for Fresno, CA is (FAT), and the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage. --------------------------------------------------------------------

8. A Senator's aide called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California, and then take the train to Hawaii?" --------------------------------------------------------------------

9. I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman who asked, "How do I know which plane to get on?" I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, "I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them." --------------------------------------------------------------------

10. A lady Senator called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola, Florida. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?" I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola, Fl. on a commuter plane.
She said, "Yeah, whatever, smarty!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------

11. A senior Senator called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him that he needed a visa. "Oh, no I don't. I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those."
I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!" --------------------------------------------------------------------

12. A New Mexico Congresswoman called to make reservations, "I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York." I was at a loss for words.
Finally, I said, "Are you sure that's the name of the town?"
"Yes, what flights do you have?" replied the lady.

After some searching, I came back with, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Rhino anywhere."
The lady retorted, "Oh, don't be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!"
So I scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "You don't mean Buffalo, do you?"
The reply? "Whatever! I knew it was a big animal". --------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Andrea!!!

Well, thanks to Andrea, I found out about the Leon Russell show this past weekend just in time!!!

Ryan actually had a three day weekend, so whenI found out he didn't have to work Friday, I decided it was destiny for us to go see Leon. Ryan NEVER gets a Friday off work. I was supposed to be on call, but got someone to cover for me until Saturday morning.

So, Ryan and I had the pleasure of seeing Leon Russell live this past weekend. It was an awesome show. Leon is looking a little older than his age, but after a life on the road, I guess a little premature aging may be expected. We were laughing with some of the other fans about how Leon already looked old in the seventies when he was touring with Willie Nelson.

We picked up a DVD called "Out of the Deep Freeze" which is made up of footage from Leon's shows that was thought to be lost. However, someone found it just a few years ago in a deep freezer of one of the guys who had helped with the tour years ago. It is crazy to see Leon in 1972 when he was only my age (30) and he looked 60 then. I can't believe he's still touring....and doing a great job at it!!!

Energy is not exactly on his side these days. In fact, after the main part of the show, Leon said, "OK, now this is the part of the show when I would normally leave the stage and you would yell for an encore. If you could all just pretend I left and came back, that would be great, because my feet hurt, I'm old, and if I leave this stage, I leave for good."

I only came to tears once throughout the show. it was exactly when I expected it to happen....when Leon was singing "A Song For You" which is the song he and Ray Charles sang to Willie on his birthday. I still cry when I see it.....I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that there's a line that says something like "when I'm gone, remember when we were alone and I sang this song for you." Oh man, it's hard to see Ray say those words knowing he wasn't around long after that was recorded.

Overall, it was a fantastic evening. I'm very happy to say that I've had the chance to see Leon Russell live. I would love to see him again sometime. We'll just have to see how he does on this tour. there may be another tour in the works if his health holds up for a few more years. He'll definitely be on my must-see list as long as he's around!!!

Thanks again Andrea!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISSY!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISSY!!!!!!
WE ALL LOVE YOU!!!!

my space site

Myspace Animations
-

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have a myspace site now. Feel free to stop in an leave me a message or comment. I'll have some blogs posted there too. There's a link directly to my site to your right. Come say HI!!!!!!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67027969

Dog Philosophy

This was originally sent to me from a fellow dog-lover......I'm sure you'll agree with the "Dog Philosophy."

Dog Philosophy

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous

Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -Ann Landers

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die want to go where they went.-Will Rogers

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.-Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. -Andy Rooney

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.-M. Acklam


Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. -Sigmund Freud

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. -Rita Rudner

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. -Robert Benchley

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.-Franklin P. Jones

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons. -James Thurber

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -UnknownMy dog is worried about the economy because Pal is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. -Joe Weinstein

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! -Anne Tyler

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. -Mark Twain

You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would'vethought of that!' - Dave Barry

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.

What are true friends for???

Most of you who know me also know Jerry, my weenie on wheels!!!

Luckily, Jerry has had an amazing recovery with his wheelchair. When he was first injured, he had no control over his bowels or his bladder. I had to express his bladder for him at least three times a day to help him urinate, and well, when he had to poop, it just fell out when it was ready. I know this is gross....but that is where the "true friend" part of the story comes in.

He now has total control over his bladder. His bowel control has gotten better, but when he feels it coming, you don't have much time to get him out the door. Every once in awhile, when I don't move quick enough, we'll end up with a little mess on our hands.

So, I'm in the kitchen today, fixing a sandwich before I have to go to work, and as I come into the living room, I see my neighbor, Cindy, bent over a pile of MY dog's poop picking it up for me. I said "What are you doing?!?!? You don't have to get that...he's my dog, and it's my mess." Her response was, "Well, what are friends for?" Bless her heart, we both had bad timing as far as watching him and not getting him outside quick enough, but she knew I was getting ready to eat and didn't want me to have to deal with it.

How many friends do you have or know that would pick up poop for you? I feel pretty special today :-)

--------------------------------------------------------

This has nothing to do with my dog or my friend, but I found it amazing. Take the time to watch this video if you can......I thought Jerry was a "Wonder Dog" but that was before I found out about "Faith."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKyhOJccIuA&search=faith%20dog

Music pick for today...or tonight :-)

You may know him best for the song "Lean on Me" but Bill Withers has a lot more than just that to be famous for!!!

I picked up his greatest hits CD just for the son"Ain't No Sunshine" and was pleasantly surprised when I found many other familiar tunes that I didn't even know he sang.

All I can tell you is this is one of the best CDs you could put in if you're ready for a nice romantic evening. It's one of those albums you can put in, light a few candles, and let the night take you wherever it wants. We'll just leave the rest to your imaginations...................


"Ain't no Sunshine" is one of those songs that brings me to chills every single time I hear it. If you haven't heard it for awhile, use all your computer capabilities and see if you can find it somewhere...that song alone is a must have!!!!!!!!

Songs of a Psychotic

In all my ebay hunting, I came across a very interesting book of poetry that I couldn't pass up. It's called "The Cliff's Edge-Songs of a Psychotic." It was written by a young lady in the 1950's during her stay at a mental institution. The introduction states that she was in one of the "nation's largest mental hospitals." I would love to know where she was exactly, but haven't had much luck finding her info online.

Most of the poetry was written when she was eighteen years old. Even in an altered mental state, it's hard to believe these thoughts and words came from someone so young.

Having seen my mother go through so much in mental institutions all my life, it has been very heart-rending to read her words. She speaks of very specific situations such as shock therapy (which my mom has been through several times) group therapy, and suicidal thoughts.

Here are a couple examples of her work that touched me.



Pendulum - Pulse
This is the rhythm of my life-
The slow
Unhurried swinging of a pendulum,
Marking with fatal pulse the season's round.
The spring outside means nothing;
For, to me,
Fear like the winter snow has frozen my heart.

And can it be that once again the hours,
Passing in cycle slow, will bring the flowers?
Or will Time's muffled drums beat out for me
A long death-march...into Eternity?



Alter Christus
Lord, for the pain I cursed You for last night
I do most gladly offer thanks today...
For, not with pride but deep humility
In me, and by me, and through me, I find-You!
In my stripped loneliness, Your own imprisonment-
My bruises mark Your scourging; and the same
Rude jests ring in my ears that rand in Yours-
And round my aching head I seem to feel
Even today, the racking crown of thorns...
I too was bound-and, though I never died,
I was like You-my spirit crucified.

Willie & Ray bringin' me to tears

All I can say is WOW!!!

If you are a Willie fan and you haven't seen this...you are missing a real treasure.

This was one of the best impulse buys I've ever picked up.

It was actually a broadcast for Willie's 70th birthday party.

There were several people that joined the festivites. The best of them all, though, has brought me to tears every time I've watched it. Now, normally, I'm not an easy person to bring to tears(Thanks to my Lexapro) but the trio of Leon Russell, Willie, and Ray Charles makes me cry every time. I thought it would get easier the more I watched it, but that hasn't been the case so far. They sang a song written by Leon called "A Song For You." It is even more poignant knowing that Ray would only be around a short time after this was filmed.

What really gets me is when Ray is singing his part....just as if he's singing right to Willie. There are a couple shots of Willie tearing up. And even one time I think he literally heaved to get his breath from the deep crying inside that he tried so gallantly to hide. That's when I lose it every time.

There are several other people who sit in with Willie that pull off some mind blowing performances. Norah Jones was absolutely fabulous. She's got such a gentle voice.....it blends very nicely with Willie. Another nice addition to the show was Steven Tyler with "One Time Too Many." Definitely the most shocking part was when Wyclef Jean came out and pulled off a reggae rendition of "All the Girls I've Loved Before." Last but not least, another one of my favorites, Paul Simon, came out to sing "Homeward Bound." Another tear-jerker.

This is by far one of the most touching music performances that I have in my collection.

I'm just so overwhelmed with the Willie, Ray, and Leon performance......I've rarely been pushed to tears by something I've seen on my TV. Live performances are different, on the other hand.....I've cried like a baby more than once at live shows.

Anyway, I felt the need to share my tears of joy with all of you. If anyone ever wants to borrow this, let me know. Or better yet, we could have a party at my house after I get it fixed up and we can all cry together......Love you all!!!!!

A little useless info for everyone!!!

On Wednesday of this week (or Tuesday night for us night owls,) at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.
That won't ever happen again. At least in our lifetimes!

The question is: Do we really care?

You may now return to your abnormal life.

total solar eclipse

People gathered in the River Ganges in allabad, India to read Hindu tesxt to ward off evil spirits during the total solar eclipse.


These Lebanese students enjoyed the solar eclipse in Beruit!!



The solar eclipse that happened yesterday March 29th will be the last total eclipse until 2008.

















These are just a few pictures I thought were cool from the eclipse that happened yesterday. Unfortunately, we couldn't see it on this side of the world.......what would we do without the internet?????





Graphic showing the path of a total eclipse of the sun which crossed four continents on March 29. The faithful said prayers, astronomers and thrill-seekers gazed skyward and watchers clapped in wonder as the moon turned day into night.


My dad was always intereseted in this type of thing, and I wish I would have taken the time to learn more myself.......I guess it's never too late to learn.

Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay............

On this day in 1968 Otis Redding's "(Sittin'on) The Dock of the Bay" was number one on the billboard charts.

What a great song....Really....I don't know anyone who doesn't love that song. It's one of those that takes you away with it....helping you "watch the clouds roll away."

Otis had sadly passed away in a plane crash nearly three months before his song hit No. 1.

What I found interesting about this song as I researched it, was the fact that Otis' inspiration for the song was none other than The Beatles. He spent a week on a houseboat back in 1967 listening to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" over and over as he looked out across the water watching the clouds and mist and all the beauty rolling around him. With that, this world was given a beautiful gift of song.

Otis was involved in music all his life. He sang with the choir for his church in Geogria as a child. He was involved in his high school band, but dropped out to work for Little Richard in order to help his family financially.

Unfortunately, we lost this legend when his plane crashed into a lake near Madison , Wisconsin on December 10th, 1967.

It wasn't until 1989 that Otis was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It seems so sad that so many people have to leave this earth before they are really given credit for their accoplishments.

What a great artist and inspiration we lost on that sad day.........

Need a good laugh???

Just some random stuff that made me laugh....

Good Night......

When it's almost four in the morning and I get called in to work.....this is where my head is.................................................


Good Night
Lennon/McCartney

Now it's time to say good night
Good night
Sleep tight

Now the sun
turns out his light
Good night
Sleep tight

Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night
Sleep tight

Now the moon begins to shine
Good night
Sleep tight

Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

Close your eyes and I'll close mine
Good night Sleep tight

Now the sun turns out his light
Good night
Sleep tight

Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

Good night
Good night Everybody
Everybody everywhereGood night.

Violent Femmes

It's been a few days since I've had time to sit down on the computer........For those of you who didn't know, I got the chance to see the Violent Femmes at the Vogue last weekend.

What a great show!!! Needless to say, there were lots of thirty-somethings running around reliving their high school and college years...and yes, I was one of them!!!!

For a three piece band, they sure can put out a huge sound!! Their percussionist was very annimated, and a lot of fun to watch. They also had a horn section join them for a few songs. They were called "The Horns of Dilemma." The sax player was great, and they had a guy with a slide whistle which gave everything a very unique sound.

They've only got a couple more shows before the end of this tour, but if anyone has a chance to catch them....I highly recommend it!!!

The only bad thing about the show was that my friend left a little early. It's kind of ironic actually, kind of sad from her perspective, but I couldn't help but laugh when it was all said and done.....anyway, quick story....My friend Jill and her boyfriend just broke up. The tickets for the show were a Valentine's gift from Jill to Russ. He was nice enough to let her keep them when they broke up (which I'm really sad about) but she left right after they played "Breaking Up is Easy to do." How ironic........she was outta there!!!!!

concert for Bangla Desh

GEORGE HARRISON LYRICS

"Bangla Desh"

My friend came to me, with sadness in his eyes
He told me that he wanted help
Before his country dies

Although I couldn't feel the pain,
I knew I had to try
Now I'm asking all of you to help us save some lives

Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh
Where so many people are dying fast
And it sure looks like a mess
I've never seen such distress
Now won't you lend your hand and understand
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh

Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh
Such a great disaster - I don't understand
But it sure looks like a mess I've never known such distress
Now please don't turn away, I want to hear you say
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh
Relieve Bangla Desh

Bangla Desh, Bangla Desh
Now it may seem so far from where we all are
It's something we can't neglect
It's something I can't neglect
Now won't you give some bread to get the starving fed
We've got to relieve Bangla Desh
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh
We've got to relieve Bangla Desh
Relieve the people of Bangla Desh

RIP "Pigpen"....one day late......

RIP "PIGPEN"

9/8/1945-3/8/1973

33 years ago yesterday, the rock and roll world lost a huge part of its history.

Ron "Pigpen" Mckernan was one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead. Known to many as "The Bluesman," Pigpen was the life of the show for years. Besides his skills behind the drums, his vocals and lyrics were cherished by fans everywhere.

Pigpen toured with the Dead from 1965 until August on 1971 when he took a four month break due to health problems. He returned to the tour in December 1971, but performed his last song only a few months later. He officially left the band in June 1972.

After struggling with his drinking and the evils it brought his body, Pigpen lost his battle at the age of 27 due to a stomach hemorrage.

Appropriately, his tombstone was inscribed with the phrase "Pigpen Was And Is Now Forever One Of The Grateful Dead." His legacy lives on in the hearts and souls of deadheads everywhere.

"The Stranger (Two Souls in Communion)"Words and music by Ron McKernan

Copyright Ice Nine Publishing

What are they seeing, when they look in each other's eyes?

What are they feeling, when they see each other smile?

Is it love, I don't know - or an emotion that I've outgrown?

Did I take a wrong turn on life's winding road?

Won't somebody help me find the right way to go?

My life need some correction, alteration in direction.

Won't somebody comfort me - yes, I'm lost, yes, I'm lost,Yes, I'm lost.

What is the secret of this tie that binds?

Two souls in communion, both body and mind.

Is it special magic, or just the nature of things?

Conceived of great spirit, not for beggars but for kings.

You who have found it please help me along.

I'm a man, I'm a man, - I'm not made out of stone.

My needs they are simple, I don't want anything,

but I surely want to fly on those wings, on the run, one more time.

All I wanna do, fly up, fly home.

Fly on those wings of love, fly up, fly home,

I'm a stranger staying in your town, fly up, fly home.

Help me somebody please! Fly up, fly home.

I wake up early in the morning, fly up, fly home,

you know I never saw you babe, fly up, fly home.

I just can't seem to understand,

can't seem to understand what's wrong, fly up, fly home.

What I wanna do is take a little ride with you,

on the wings of love,woh-oh one more time, one more time.

New Links

I finally figured out how to add links to my blog site. I've added some links to a couple blogs that I enjoy such as Pete Townshend's blog, and a wine blog, a daily photography page that has cool photos posted every day, and of course, some links to my favorite musicians' websites.

There is also a link to the art gallery (La Luz De Jesus) that I visited when I was in Hollywood. On that webpage, you will find all sorts of links to artists....some pretty cool stuff. Also, Mark Ryden's website is here to view. He is an artist that caught my eye a few years ago in "Bizarre" magazine. I'll warn you, his art is a little morbid, but still beautiful to me. (If you look closely, you'll find Abraham Lincoln hiding out somewhere in most of his paintings) I love the eyes he paints....sounds kind of weird, I know, but you'll either love it like I do, or you'll hate it and think I'm totally crazy. I guess we'll see!!!

Check 'em all out, you might find something you like!!!

Watch out for the blue hairs

So, I'm on my way to work on Sunday, just sitting in my car at a stop light, minding my own business.....and.......BOOM....I get rear-ended.

I'm already running late for work, so I really don't have time to deal with this crap. I get out of my car, saying a few choice words to myself as I approach the car behind me. Then what do I see, but a sweet little blue haired lady that looks as if she's about to cry. Suddenly, my fury was gone and my sweet speaking self came back saying "Oh, honey, are you OK? You didn't hit your head or anything did you?" After a couple deep breaths, she finally looks up with a pitiful look on her face. "Honey, I'm so sorry," she says. "I was already stopped behind you and I was looking through my purse and my foot slipped off the brake and hit the gas. I'm SO, SO sorry!"

After seeing how much more upset about the situation she was than I was, and knowing I was already late for work, I said "Let's just forget this happened. No one is hurt, and the cars are fine." I thought she was going to cry right then and there.

So , anyway, even though no one was hurt, it still made me mad. But what can you do?!?

a time of celebration

After nearly five years, I have finally come to a time of comfort knowing that my paranoid schizophrenic mother married a paranoid schizophrenic man. (It was real hard to accept at first)

Mom and Will have been together for about five years, and will be celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary this Sunday, March 5th. I am very happy that they have one another.

It has been a struggle (like my Mom hasn't endured enough struggle in her life) but they have come a long way in the last few years.

I'll never forget the day Mom called me and said "guess what I did today...I got married!!" I had to sit down before I fell down. Not only did this mean that they wouldn't get as much from social security to support themselves and I would be more accountable for helping them financially, but it also meant that I now had a schizophrenic step-dad who I wasn't sure could take care of himself let alone my mother. I thought for sure this would be the beginning of me having another child...for years, the roles have been reversed with Mom and me.

What a great surprise it has been to see the two of them grow in their relationship. After all the trips and long term stays in the hospital for both of them, after all the fights and changes in meds (which makes them harder to deal with than normal), they are still holding strong.

It's amazing to see someone like my mom functioning fairly normally in society. Who would've ever thought a woman who spent over 17 consecutive years in a mental institution could lead a normal life now. Of course, it's not exactly normal by most people's standards, but for two mental patients, it's beyond normal.

I thought when Dad died seven years ago that it would be the beginning of the end for my mom. I am so proud to say that she proved me wrong!! I love my mother with all my heart, and I feel so fortunate to have been able to rekindle a somewhat normal relationship with her. We have had a lot of oppourtunity to catch up on times that were lost while she was in the hospital during my childhood. I am so thankful for that.

So, this Sunday brings a day of celebration. A day for Mom and Will to be thankful for one another. And a day that I can also be thankful for the remarkable steps my mom has taken to better her life....

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM!!!!!!!

strange news

OK, How weird is this? This is an article from the "Daily Record UK."
I know people have some strange beliefs, but I think this poor little girl may have some issues after this incident.......

23 February 2006
GIRL WEDS STRAY DOG

A girl was forced to marry a dog because her superstitious family thought her teeth had brought them bad luck.

Seven-year-old Shivam Munda was told to wed the stray after her upper teeth arrived before her lower teeth.

Her father Kundan, a coal miner, said it was a bad omen and had brought an "evil eye" on her and her family.

He added that by marrying the dog, she would remove the eye's spell and be free to marry a man later.

The Santhal tribal marriage ceremony was part of three days of traditional festivities in Dhanbad, a town in Bihar, eastern India.

David Gilmour

If anyone is looking for some new music, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd has a new CD which will be released on March 6th, and available in stores on March 7th. It has been played on radio stations nation wide for a couple days now. From what I have heard, it's a great compliment to any music collection. I have only caught a couple tracks at this point, but I like what I've heard so far. Both songs had that eery/trippy Pink Floyd sound to them.

It's great to hear new material from artists that have already contributed so much. This is David Gilmour's first release since Pink Floyd's "The Division Bell" which I think was released in the mid 90's.

David Crosby and Graham Nash collaborated with Gilmour on the title track "On an Island," which I haven't heard yet, but who can go wrong with Gilmour, Crosy, and Nash together?

Looking forward to adding this little gem to my collection........

The First Robin

Could it be?

Is it really almost spring?

I saw a robin today. The first one I've seen this year. I was out driving with my Mom, just enjoying the nice weather, and there he was....the first robin of the year.

It seems like there may still be something treacherous waiting around the corner. We haven't been pummelled with snow since before Christmas, and where's the ice been?

Don't get me wrong. I long for warm weather. The kind of weather where I can drive home from work at 11:00 at night and have my windows down enjoying the air and moonlight together.

I hope Mr. Robin isn't deceiving me....I hope he's not too early.........

work poop survival guide

I received this valuable little piece of info from a friend. I hope you all find it useful :-)

Work Poop Survival Guide


We've all been there but don't like to admit it. We've all kicked back in our cubicles and suddenly felt something brewing down below. As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the WORK POOP is inevitable. For those who hate pooping at work, following is the Survival Guide for taking a dump at work.

CROP DUSTING When farting, you walk briskly around the office so the smell is not in your area and everyone else gets a whiff but doesn't know where it came from. Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full fart has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet to make sure the smell has left your pants.

FLY BY The act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping. Walk in and check for other poopers. If there are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again. Be careful not to become a FREQUENT FLYER. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.

ESCAPEE A fart that slips out while taking a leak at the urinal or forcing a poop in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.

JAILBREAK When forcing a poop, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do not panic. Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.

COUTESY FLUSH The act of flushing the toilet the instant the poop hits the water. This reduces the amount of air time the poop has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the WALK OF SHAME.

WALK OF SHAME Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just stunk up the bathroom. This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the smell does not exist. Can be avoided with the use of the COURTESY FLUSH.

OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER A colleague who poops at work and is damn proud of it. You will often see an Out Of The Closet Pooper enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine under his or her arm. Always look around the office for the Out Of The Closet Pooper before entering the bathroom.

THE POOPING FRIENDS NETWORK (P.F.N) A group of co-workers who band together to ensure emergency pooping goes off without incident. This group can help you to monitor the whereabouts of Out Of The Closet Poopers, and identify SAFE HAVENS.

SAFE HAVENS A seldom used bathroom somewhere in the building where you can least expect visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex. This will reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.

TURD BURGLAR Someone who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that can occur when taking a poop at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the Turd Burglar leaves. This way you will avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.

CAMO-COUGH A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are in a stall. This can be used to cover-up a WATERMELON, or to alert potential Turd Burglars. Very effective when used in conjunction with an ASTAIRE.

ASTAIRE A subtle toe-tap that is used to alert potential Turd Burglars that you are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear an astaire, leave the bathroom immediately so the pooper can poop in peace.

WATERMELON A poop that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. This is also an embarrassing incident. If you feel a Watermelon coming on, create a diversion. See CAMO-COUGH.

HAVANA OMELET A case of diarrhea that creates a series of loud splashes in the toilet water. Often accompanied by an Escapee. Try using a Camo-Cough with an Astaire.

UNCLE TED A bathroom user who seems to linger around forever. Could spend extended lengths of time in front of the mirror or sitting on the pot. An Uncle Ted makes it difficult to relax while on the crapper, as you should always wait to poop when the bathroom is empty. This benefits you as well as the other bathroom attendees.

to whom it may concern.........

I will be bringing the PINK jumpsuit picture to Grammy's tomorrow........

Music pick for the day

I've found a new CD that I was very surprised that I liked so well. It's the Curious George soundtrack. Jack Johnson has such a soft and tender voice that it's perfect for the type of music on this CD.

I've bought a few Jack Johnson CDs in the past, and I have always enjoyed them. He's got a real "feel-good" vibe to everything he does. I was a little skeptical when I heard he was doing this soundtrack, but I have been pleasantly surprised.

This is something that the whole family, from the kids all the way to grandma and grandpa, would appreciate. There are good messages in these songs, and the general happy go lucky feel that Jack adds to all his tunes is overly abundant. It's one of those CDs I can put in and it just makes me smile.

There are some soft, sweet lullabies. There are a couple of Jack's typical bouncy and happy songs. There is a cover of a White Stripes song that I was really impressed with. And he also does a duet with Ben Harper, who I LOVE!!!!!

His CD debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Magazine's top 200. This is his first No. 1 CD!!! Good job Jack!!!

I recommend it highly........

Valentine's Surprise

This bright red room seemed perfect for Valentine's Day!!
The room with the red couch is the library right outside our room.




Ryan and I had a great weekend in Logansport, of all places. Sounds kind of weird saying we had a little getaway in Logan, but it turned out to be really nice.

I surprised Ryan and took him to a Bed and Breakfast for a belated Valentine's gift. He had to work Saturday night, so we only stayed Sunday. I would have loved to stay longer....there was so much to see.

We stayed in a B&B called The Inntiquity Inn. It was beautiful. It and the home next to it were originally built in 1849. The building that is used for the B&B was once the dairy barn. They have filled it with antiques from all over the world...it was amazing. The outside of the buliding had a little to be desired, but in the summer, I'm sure it's nice when everything is in bloom.

The inside of the house had beautiful things around every corner. It seemed like I would notice something different every time I went into our room. We had a little study area with a desk and a couple chairs. There was a huge antique bookcase full of books and old knick knacks. There was a huge library with a game board, an enormous selection of movies to take back to the room, and a beautiful marble fireplace. (There were three different fireplaces for us to use) We had a jacuzzi tub, so we enjoyed that after sitting by the fire and playing a little chess and some cards.

We had the entire house to ourselves for the night. The innkeeper, George, was there through the night to get us anything we wanted. All non-alcohlic drinks were included with the room, as was our huge breakfast. There was a restaurant in the bar downstairs, but we decided to go out to eat. The bar on the first floor reminded us both of the bar in the movie "The Shining." It had a lot of character, but it was a little creepy at the same time.

Our breakfast was absolutely delicious!! We walked down to the dining room at about 9:00 to find our table set, and our first course waiting on us. There was fresh fruit cups and a couple different breads. Our cook came out and asked if we wanted the "normal country breakfast." We didn't have menus or know what our other options would be, so we said yes. it was a good choice!! We had some kind of egg, cheese and sausage casserole, sausage patties, more bread, more fruit...it was almost overwhelming!!

Overall, I had a fantastic time, and I hope to go back when we can spend a little more time there. Ii would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick little getaway. This place would be great for anyone who likes antiques and talking history....George likes to tell lots of stories if given the chance. The website doesn't do this place justice at all, but this is the website. www.inntiquity.com

Creepy or Cute?!?!?

I was sent an e-mail about this...now, I'm taking a poll.....
Creepy or cute????

They are made of frosting!

These are made with marzipan.

Definition of Marzipan A, Almond paste: a sweet paste made of ground almonds and sugar, often with egg whites or yolks, used as a layer in cakes or molded into ornamental shapes.

MY VOTE IS: CREEPY!!!!!!!!!

OH, that romantic man of mine!!!

Some of you got roses, some of you got romantic cards, was anyone as lucky as me? Did anyone else get the book called "I Love You More Than Beer" for Valentine's Day? (It's even shaped like a beer can...it reminds me of the old Hamm's beer that Dad used to buy) Coming from Ryan, that means A LOT!!!!!! :-)

So Ryan, being on the tight budget he's on, put together a V-Day basket for me with very little....but it meant a lot!!!

He even decorated the basket himself. He tied ribbons around the handles, and one around the whole basket. There was a little pink tissue paper in the bottom covered with some Hershey Kisses, a green leather journal, the book, and a framed picture of Ryan wearing a PINK....yes, PINK jump suit!!!! It was hysterical!!

At Christmas, I bought my neighbor a hot pink jump suit. When I sent Ryan in to look at the great bargain (like he cared,) he came out of the bedroom wearing it and strutted around the house unzipping the jacket, sticking his sexy little chest out with a look of either terror, or extremely overwhelming pleasure...and I got pictures!!! I had no idea he stole one to use for this occasion. And yes, once again, I did say PINK...how perfect for Valentine's Day!!!

So, along with the lasting memories I will have from the photo, I have this book.....which is filled with heart felt thoughts from a guy's perspective.

A couple good examples of the contents:
--"I love you more than beer. You taste better than beer (even those pricey microbrews). You're less filling. And when I've had more of you than the law should allow, I can still drive."
--"I love you more than hamburgers. You're juicy and meaty. Your buns are soft, never stale. And you don't need a lot of condiments to be tasty."
--"I love you more than Mcdonald's. You're more delicious than a Big Mac, saltier than a box of fries. And you know that a happy meal doesn't necessarily end with a toy prize."
--"I love you more than old westerns. You're always one of the good guys (even when you're bad!) I'd love to have a showdown with you at high noon. And if you ever showed up in chaps and a white hat, I'd slap my knee and holler "Yee Haw!"

Yeah, and there's 96 more to go with those!!! He's so crazy!!!

There's never a dull moment with this guy!!!! I love my Valentine!!!!!!!