FYI On Wednesday, 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 in your lifetime.
Thanks to Sunny for passing that on.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Monday, April 03, 2006
A day like today
I have been really excited for the last week because my brother was going to come and stay with us for a while. I have been telling everyone and even went so far as to send him the money ( which he was going to pay back) for a bus ticket. We have an acre and a half to clear - and I just can't get it done on weekends - so I was looking forward to the help of someone with chainsaw experience.
Then other people got involved. He was told that we might be more of a burden to him and that there might be friction here he doesn't want any part of. Isn't it amazing that someone who doesn't live in your house can make assumptions about what it would be like to live with you - and then make more assumptions about your financial status. Always astounds me how some people are just blessed with the gift.
So today, I was very sad - both at the way people have chosen to talk about me behind my back - and at his decision not to come. Sad and disappointed.
Then Jake walked in - coated in dirt from the creek, and without knowing the kind of day it was, he brought me a chocolate popsicle out of the freezer and gave me a big bear hug.
It is moment like that which make life lovely and juicy sweet.
Then other people got involved. He was told that we might be more of a burden to him and that there might be friction here he doesn't want any part of. Isn't it amazing that someone who doesn't live in your house can make assumptions about what it would be like to live with you - and then make more assumptions about your financial status. Always astounds me how some people are just blessed with the gift.
So today, I was very sad - both at the way people have chosen to talk about me behind my back - and at his decision not to come. Sad and disappointed.
Then Jake walked in - coated in dirt from the creek, and without knowing the kind of day it was, he brought me a chocolate popsicle out of the freezer and gave me a big bear hug.
It is moment like that which make life lovely and juicy sweet.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Poor little thing...
Today has been crammed with that word - over and over again. Weird
First, Justin was sick Last night, so this morning I got up early for animal duty, and then went off to work. Before I went, I stopped in to talk to Jerra, where I mentioned that he had been up most of the night, poor little thing.
Then coming back from my fish-for lunch trip, I got in the left hand lane to turn into work, only to be clipped by a 17 year old girl driving her dad's BMW and making an illegal left hand turn. She looked like she might lose it any minute, and it just broke my heart. Poor little thing. She reminded me a lot of Bear, and I just felt so bad for her. Scared her to death.
The saddest part, when her dad showed up and apologized to me, he said she had "issues" Stunned, I replied that I had babies the same age - and that all kids these days have some issues. I told him I was fine and that it was an innocent mistake. Thinking to myself "this man just told a total stranger that his daughter had problems - odds are her issues are that her dad is focused on money and lets a 17 year old drive a BMW".
I arrived back at the office, tried to salvage some fish that wasn't soaked by ice water when the wreck happened and relaxed for a minute.
Then my patient showed up. A pretty lady who has had gestational diabetes twice now, and would have to start using insulin. The longer she talked, the more I could tell there was something else. It seems that in an effort to encourage her compliance, someone told her that the high sugars would kill her unborn child..... yea, I'll give that a minute to sink in.
Suffice it to say that what should have taken an hour took about 90 minutes and she was terrified - poor little thing. In the end it all worked out.
Now, I tend to be blunt - honest, but blunt when I talk to people about diabetes (got diabetes, send me a note and I'll tell you) but why in the world do people assume that just because someone speaks Spanish they are stupid? Why would you scare a woman like that - into not sleeping, not eating, feeling like she is keeping a terrible truth from her husband - it was just plain wrong and will warrant a conversation from me when I have cooled off a bit. Scare tactics are barbaric and they don't' do anything but carve years off a person life. No excuse to behave that way - not when there is good clinical evidence to back up recommendations instead.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Faithfulness
We - actually I can't speak for anyone else, I am struggling a bit - pressures at work, pressure at home, always another person in need of my time, Justin's struggle to find work, Bear at work, finding a college and trying to be a grown up, Josh trying to find his place in the world and Jake, blessed by just enough ADHD distraction that he doesn't notice the struggle. O blessed peace.
With the money we got from our wedding, we intended to get a bed. I had picked out a really great one with teh curtains that go around it. But each time I went to teh store to pick it up somethign was wrong. Until the last trip where I was informed they no longer were making that bed and I couldn't buy one. It would have run us about $400 - but it was a nice investment.
Well, months have passed, and other needs presented themselves - the money has been spent on a new gas stove - and the mattress and box springs remained on the floor.
Until yesterday. On the hospital bulletin board there was an ad for a mission style bedframe for $75. I called the gentleman, and he told me he had already arranged to sell it to someone else.
About 30 minutes later, while pushing my Home D*pot cart, he called me back and gave me directions. As an aside, he may be a great nurse, but he sucked at directions. I turned around at least four times on the long and deserted road to his house. Just thankful he wasn't an axe murder.
The frame is beautiful - solid pine which is lighter than the rest of our furniture - but it'll do in a pinch.
So last night at 9:45 we put our bed together. It was sturdy and clean and fit just perfectly in between our nightstands.
And I slept better than I have in months on a new bed...our new bed...and life is good.
With the money we got from our wedding, we intended to get a bed. I had picked out a really great one with teh curtains that go around it. But each time I went to teh store to pick it up somethign was wrong. Until the last trip where I was informed they no longer were making that bed and I couldn't buy one. It would have run us about $400 - but it was a nice investment.
Well, months have passed, and other needs presented themselves - the money has been spent on a new gas stove - and the mattress and box springs remained on the floor.
Until yesterday. On the hospital bulletin board there was an ad for a mission style bedframe for $75. I called the gentleman, and he told me he had already arranged to sell it to someone else.
About 30 minutes later, while pushing my Home D*pot cart, he called me back and gave me directions. As an aside, he may be a great nurse, but he sucked at directions. I turned around at least four times on the long and deserted road to his house. Just thankful he wasn't an axe murder.
The frame is beautiful - solid pine which is lighter than the rest of our furniture - but it'll do in a pinch.
So last night at 9:45 we put our bed together. It was sturdy and clean and fit just perfectly in between our nightstands.
And I slept better than I have in months on a new bed...our new bed...and life is good.
Garden frustrations
Can I bend your ear for a moment and express my utter frustration with my inability to get outside and work to clear the land for my garden? I ahve it picked out. I have cut five bruch piles which are nearly 5 feet highWeeks and weeks have gone my and still there is brush covering the area I intended to use for my garden. Afternoons are in the 70s here, the sun in shining - I need to get my plants in. But the soil continues to rest and I am frustrated by this.
There are days that I miss being mom to one bitty kid and setting my own schedule. Now it seems there are too many things to do - adn no one else has time to help get the garden ready.
So for today I am whining - but by Easter the area will be cleared and planted - don't come through my kitchen though, I am giving up dishwashing in lieu of cutting more brush!
There are days that I miss being mom to one bitty kid and setting my own schedule. Now it seems there are too many things to do - adn no one else has time to help get the garden ready.
So for today I am whining - but by Easter the area will be cleared and planted - don't come through my kitchen though, I am giving up dishwashing in lieu of cutting more brush!
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
The human family
We are all brothers in Christ" How many times have I heard that in church. There are people of all faiths who like to be exclusive - thinking they are the only ones with "The Answer" but I was always taught that God loved us and made us brothers in Christ whether one is a believer or not. There is a lot of debate about immigration these days. These folks are dear to my heart because every day at work I see people from other countries who have given up a lot to be here. They value America, they want to become American, they want to live the dream.
The following is the proposal on the table for new immigration laws.
"The panels bill would allow the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in this country to apply for a work visa after paying back taxes and a penalty. (Let us note that the prospect of paying back taxes and a penalty doesn't hold much appeal, accept for those people who want to be here legally or who want to do the right thing without the risk of being shipped back) The first three-year visa could be renewed for three more years. After four years, visa holders could apply for green cards and begin moving toward citizenship. ( This says apply, not that the cards will automatically be granted. These folks will at least be registered and in the incredibly flawed system already. This gives them a shot at becoming a citizen.) An additional 400,000 such visas would be offered each year to workers seeking to enter the country. (All I can say here is that it is about damned time. If we invade your country - or someone else commits genocide, you become a "refugee" enabling you to enter the states more easily - not with ease mind you, just more easily. It still might take us five years to get to you if you are still alive. In the mean time, we will send billions in supplies which some rebel faction will use for army rations. We take refuges from Kosvo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Cuba and a couple of other countries. However, if you just want a better life for you and your family, you'll have to wait it out with all those other people, regardless of your country situation.)
Senators also accepted a proposal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would offer 1.5 million illegal farmworkers a "blue card" visa that would legalize their status. (Again, if you do not offer a compromise, why would these folks identify themselves. There are plenty of false documents and places to hide - odds are they would never be found and actually deported. Look at all the folks we found with expired visas after 9-11. The committee also accepted a provision by Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) that would shield humanitarian organizations from prosecution for providing more than simple emergency aid to illegal immigrants, rejecting an amendment by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) to require humanitarian groups providing food, medical aid and advice to illegal immigrants to register with the Department of Homeland Security." as reported by the Washington Post ( red commentary mine)
I have seen first hand what migrant farm workers deal with, when they work their butts off for minimum wages - no health care, no way to make things right, sending money back to their families in Mexico until they can move them here. I refuse to believe that selling everything you have to try to get into America makes someone a criminal. The African American, Anglo American, Hispanic, and Oriental idiots who form gangs and terrorize people - they are criminals. I am not naive enough to think that everyone who crosses our borders does it with the American dream in hand. Look at the Italian Mafia, look at Chinatown, look at the ghettos and Columbian drug lords and former Russian Mafioso - you don't have to look far to see the dregs of humanity in search of a quick buck in America.
But to deport 11 million immigrants, roughly a small state, is throwing out the wheat with the chaff. We cannot begin to see how many people we have "undocumented" if there is no way for those people to come forward in amnesty. And good luck catching up with the undocumented workers. NPR had an interview with a set of Texas farmers who rely on immigrant labor. They have devised a system to hide workers as the border patrol comes from place to place in search of them. These guys are otherwise law abiding citizens - and they would like to see an amnesty program to eliminate the need to operate clandestinely.
The Catholic church has long been the church of immigrants in the States - Italians, Swedes, Irish, Papist Scots - all those folks who were sent here as punishment for their crimes in Europe - and now those from Central and South America. Catholics make up fully half of all the Christians in the world - so we take our responsibility to care for immigrants pretty seriously. The Bishops have put together a letter informing people of the current congressional discussion and urging action. The letter can be found here. Most importantly, we are reminded that these immigrants are people - with families and futures and hearts and souls. In my system of belief, they are to be treated with dignity - to be treated as I would want to be treated - to be offered hope and forgiveness should that be necessary.
It seems to me that in a country that pays zillions of dollars to research the effects of cheese and make up a better tasting beef stew for Army rations, we could divert cash to taking care of our own people - but we bitch about spending anything on people. A lot of folks believe that if a person needs something he or she should have to earn it, but don't even flinch when a public building goes up that costs millions of dollars. Personal opinion here - if you think there should never be a handout, you have been blessed enough to never need one. You should thank God and stop whining about people who need - lest you become one of them someday and have to spend a day in their shoes. It sucks.
I love my country, don't get me wrong. But I have worked at enough places providing indigent care which have shown me that we marginalize people - make assumptions about their mental health, or motivation, or laziness, without knowing what the real story is. Our government systems are flawed and people get lost - and lose hope. There are people who abuse the system, but this bill isn't about those folks. They aren't going to go for amnesty - they are going to keep behaving badly in the shadows. It is about the other people who really want to be here - who want to contribute to the society legitimately.
So in honor of my great great grandfather Jacob from Ireland, who came by way of Ellis Islandwithout preapproval of the American government and lost three children here, worked as a boilermaker and raised two children who in turn raised seven more - I will continue to support the right of immigrants - because five generations ago we were the Irish - who had to go to the "other" Catholic church.
The following is the proposal on the table for new immigration laws.
"The panels bill would allow the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in this country to apply for a work visa after paying back taxes and a penalty. (Let us note that the prospect of paying back taxes and a penalty doesn't hold much appeal, accept for those people who want to be here legally or who want to do the right thing without the risk of being shipped back) The first three-year visa could be renewed for three more years. After four years, visa holders could apply for green cards and begin moving toward citizenship. ( This says apply, not that the cards will automatically be granted. These folks will at least be registered and in the incredibly flawed system already. This gives them a shot at becoming a citizen.) An additional 400,000 such visas would be offered each year to workers seeking to enter the country. (All I can say here is that it is about damned time. If we invade your country - or someone else commits genocide, you become a "refugee" enabling you to enter the states more easily - not with ease mind you, just more easily. It still might take us five years to get to you if you are still alive. In the mean time, we will send billions in supplies which some rebel faction will use for army rations. We take refuges from Kosvo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Cuba and a couple of other countries. However, if you just want a better life for you and your family, you'll have to wait it out with all those other people, regardless of your country situation.)
Senators also accepted a proposal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would offer 1.5 million illegal farmworkers a "blue card" visa that would legalize their status. (Again, if you do not offer a compromise, why would these folks identify themselves. There are plenty of false documents and places to hide - odds are they would never be found and actually deported. Look at all the folks we found with expired visas after 9-11. The committee also accepted a provision by Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) that would shield humanitarian organizations from prosecution for providing more than simple emergency aid to illegal immigrants, rejecting an amendment by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) to require humanitarian groups providing food, medical aid and advice to illegal immigrants to register with the Department of Homeland Security." as reported by the Washington Post ( red commentary mine)
I have seen first hand what migrant farm workers deal with, when they work their butts off for minimum wages - no health care, no way to make things right, sending money back to their families in Mexico until they can move them here. I refuse to believe that selling everything you have to try to get into America makes someone a criminal. The African American, Anglo American, Hispanic, and Oriental idiots who form gangs and terrorize people - they are criminals. I am not naive enough to think that everyone who crosses our borders does it with the American dream in hand. Look at the Italian Mafia, look at Chinatown, look at the ghettos and Columbian drug lords and former Russian Mafioso - you don't have to look far to see the dregs of humanity in search of a quick buck in America.
But to deport 11 million immigrants, roughly a small state, is throwing out the wheat with the chaff. We cannot begin to see how many people we have "undocumented" if there is no way for those people to come forward in amnesty. And good luck catching up with the undocumented workers. NPR had an interview with a set of Texas farmers who rely on immigrant labor. They have devised a system to hide workers as the border patrol comes from place to place in search of them. These guys are otherwise law abiding citizens - and they would like to see an amnesty program to eliminate the need to operate clandestinely.
The Catholic church has long been the church of immigrants in the States - Italians, Swedes, Irish, Papist Scots - all those folks who were sent here as punishment for their crimes in Europe - and now those from Central and South America. Catholics make up fully half of all the Christians in the world - so we take our responsibility to care for immigrants pretty seriously. The Bishops have put together a letter informing people of the current congressional discussion and urging action. The letter can be found here. Most importantly, we are reminded that these immigrants are people - with families and futures and hearts and souls. In my system of belief, they are to be treated with dignity - to be treated as I would want to be treated - to be offered hope and forgiveness should that be necessary.
It seems to me that in a country that pays zillions of dollars to research the effects of cheese and make up a better tasting beef stew for Army rations, we could divert cash to taking care of our own people - but we bitch about spending anything on people. A lot of folks believe that if a person needs something he or she should have to earn it, but don't even flinch when a public building goes up that costs millions of dollars. Personal opinion here - if you think there should never be a handout, you have been blessed enough to never need one. You should thank God and stop whining about people who need - lest you become one of them someday and have to spend a day in their shoes. It sucks.
I love my country, don't get me wrong. But I have worked at enough places providing indigent care which have shown me that we marginalize people - make assumptions about their mental health, or motivation, or laziness, without knowing what the real story is. Our government systems are flawed and people get lost - and lose hope. There are people who abuse the system, but this bill isn't about those folks. They aren't going to go for amnesty - they are going to keep behaving badly in the shadows. It is about the other people who really want to be here - who want to contribute to the society legitimately.
So in honor of my great great grandfather Jacob from Ireland, who came by way of Ellis Islandwithout preapproval of the American government and lost three children here, worked as a boilermaker and raised two children who in turn raised seven more - I will continue to support the right of immigrants - because five generations ago we were the Irish - who had to go to the "other" Catholic church.
Monday, March 27, 2006
What are we doing here?
This weekend was full of that question.
I went to an arena football game, a day early, and got caught up in Sweet Sixteen traffic downtown. Yep - that question arises.
Then I struggled with losing two more baby goats - what are we doing wrong - what am I missing.
We rushed back from the actual game to get to Mass, and there are times when I feel like I am dragging the other members of the family - but it is the right thing.
And it came to me - what we are doing here, that is. Love. That is our job, it is the first commandment and for good reason Love one another as I have loved you. I don't think that was an accident.
The new pope wrote an Encyclical, which is like a HUGE term paper, about the love of God. Father talked about it last night in his sermon. He also urged us to be the nation we profess to be on the Statue of Liberty - bring me your tired and weary and downtrodden.
We are here to comfort, like the lady in Oregon who sent me an email when I posted to the listserv for goats - offering the consolation that we had done everything right.
Like the chance I had to tell a friend that forgiveness is always out there, and no one has done "too" much. God's love for us is a reckless raging furious illogical love - so why should our love for each other be any less. Who has the right to say someone is no longer worth the trouble - luckily no one said that to me when I was in that dark place, so not me, and not today.
So today - take a minute and tell people how important they are to you - share your love.
I went to an arena football game, a day early, and got caught up in Sweet Sixteen traffic downtown. Yep - that question arises.
Then I struggled with losing two more baby goats - what are we doing wrong - what am I missing.
We rushed back from the actual game to get to Mass, and there are times when I feel like I am dragging the other members of the family - but it is the right thing.
And it came to me - what we are doing here, that is. Love. That is our job, it is the first commandment and for good reason Love one another as I have loved you. I don't think that was an accident.
The new pope wrote an Encyclical, which is like a HUGE term paper, about the love of God. Father talked about it last night in his sermon. He also urged us to be the nation we profess to be on the Statue of Liberty - bring me your tired and weary and downtrodden.
We are here to comfort, like the lady in Oregon who sent me an email when I posted to the listserv for goats - offering the consolation that we had done everything right.
Like the chance I had to tell a friend that forgiveness is always out there, and no one has done "too" much. God's love for us is a reckless raging furious illogical love - so why should our love for each other be any less. Who has the right to say someone is no longer worth the trouble - luckily no one said that to me when I was in that dark place, so not me, and not today.
So today - take a minute and tell people how important they are to you - share your love.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Lora's Life
My friend has a blog which was snooped - so we have moved her to an undisclosed location.
If you follow Lora's Life - send me an e-mail and I'll tell you where she went!
If you follow Lora's Life - send me an e-mail and I'll tell you where she went!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
On being a goat herder
Here are a few pictures of Luke and Leia. Luke, who is blonde, and Leia who is dark, are now a whole day old.
NOthing is more charming than watching them nibble at my pant leg, looking for more food - or wiggling that tail furiously while they eat.
And as a bonus to all of it, here is a picture of Josh, who is way too cool to like all the animal that we have at our house - snuggled up with Luke in the hallway last night.
Days go by
Who knew that yesterday would be such an earthshaker.
First, I got a call from my mom. Seems the oncologist informed them yesterday that the average lifespan for someone who has done the Rituxin and Zevulin is only about two years.
Which means my dad may only have two years left. Two years. It isn't enough time.
I am trying not to think about it - but a part of me just keeps repeating it over and over in my head and there is nothing I dislike more than a problem that I can't fix.
More about that later - though it definitely cements the need to spend more time seeing my folks.
In other news, our friend Amber called yesterday, she has a Nigerian Dwarf goat who had twins at 2pm, and no milk.
So at 6pm yesterday, in the Kroger parking lot, we became the proud parents of Luke and Leia. They are 2 and 1.5 pounds respectively and we fed them every two hours. Correction, Justin fed them every two hours like clockwork all night long. Hopefully today he can catch a nap - you know, sleep when the baby sleeps.
Pictures to be posted after work - or if he can't sleep - but nothing better than holding a new baby in your arms - nothing short of miraculous.
Update: He couldn't sleep so here are a couple of shots of Luke and Leia.
First, I got a call from my mom. Seems the oncologist informed them yesterday that the average lifespan for someone who has done the Rituxin and Zevulin is only about two years.
Which means my dad may only have two years left. Two years. It isn't enough time.
I am trying not to think about it - but a part of me just keeps repeating it over and over in my head and there is nothing I dislike more than a problem that I can't fix.
More about that later - though it definitely cements the need to spend more time seeing my folks.
In other news, our friend Amber called yesterday, she has a Nigerian Dwarf goat who had twins at 2pm, and no milk.
So at 6pm yesterday, in the Kroger parking lot, we became the proud parents of Luke and Leia. They are 2 and 1.5 pounds respectively and we fed them every two hours. Correction, Justin fed them every two hours like clockwork all night long. Hopefully today he can catch a nap - you know, sleep when the baby sleeps.
Pictures to be posted after work - or if he can't sleep - but nothing better than holding a new baby in your arms - nothing short of miraculous.
Update: He couldn't sleep so here are a couple of shots of Luke and Leia.
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