Juliepatchouli

Heaven on earth

2011-11-05T22:50:00.004-04:00

I'm beginning my second year of living here on the farm. It's just a wonderful part of Heaven here on earth. I had some health problems this past year, from doctor error, and they dang near killed me. I was unable to work for over four months. God has continued to bless me. My near 'sainthood' husband was with me every moment. We recently celebrated our one year anniversary.

Wonder who is doing this Cyber stalking?

2011-04-23T09:49:00.004-04:00

These are from my blog tracker, I have many more entries from this IP all through October...and I printed them out for safe keeping. I bet the next ones will be from Morristown somewhere...

Sunrise Community (216.51.48.18) [Label IP Address]
Brentwood, Tennessee, United States, 2 returning visits
Date Time Type WebPage
28th March 2011 03:40:04 PM Page View No referring link
www.juliepoolie.blogspot.com/
28th March 2011 03:43:25 PM Page View No referring link
www.juliepoolie.blogspot.com/
20th April 2011 02:16:16 PM Page View No referring link
www.juliepoolie.blogspot.com/

The farm

2011-03-18T18:49:00.003-04:00

Here's a beautiful picture during one of the beautiful snows we had this season. The next picture is of one the fields. It's hard to see, but B is on a tractor working the field. That's one of the greenhouses of tomatoes. They are already staked and several feet high. These are much better than the 'grainger' county tomatoes, in my opinion anyway. B taught me how to drive one of the tractors this summer, the large Kobota. It was much easier than I thought it would be. If I could work full time on the farm, that would be ideal. We have some plans to work towards this eventually.

B's family has been farming for four generations now and is very well known in this area. I took agriculture and horticulture classes with him all through high school. We were in 'FFA" together. The last two years, we were officers - he was President and I was Secretary. We competed in parlimentary procedure contests together. We never placed higher than second, but hey, that stuff is no fun, especially for a teen, so I was pleased.

I'm so very happy these days. Things are so different than they have been in many years, really ever. You could not ever find one person to ever say one thing of ill will against my husband, he is so well thought of in this community; well in east tn, since they sell produce to such a large area. If you buy a pumpkin 'round here, it most likely has been grown and picked by him, even if you bought it in Asheville, Banner elk, or little ole Chucky Tn. That goes for watermelon also. He's a man who works very hard and a person of integrity, a man of his word. To be married to him, is what I consider an accomplishment.

Spring

2011-03-14T19:38:00.007-04:00

This week B has been working on the corn planter and the sprayer. He has the most brillant mechanical mind.

I'm going to help him Saturday feed the cows and plant potatoes. There are many new calves.

I'm looking forward to when we can the cover off the pool and clean it and let it start to warm up. Some of the flowers are blooming in the yard. Looks like the begining of spring.

Morning with blue moutain coffee

2011-03-13T08:38:00.004-04:00

This blessed morning, I have the unexpected luxury of sitting on my front wrap around (well partial) porch enjoying my Jamican blue moutain coffee, as It's finally warm enough. The mountain view is spectacular as the clouds hug the tips of the mountains the sun peaks from behind. Pooh Bear, the Shih Zu, we found on the side of 11 E in peril of being run over; quite oblivious to it himself (his name very appropriate), brings me his toy and squishes it against my leg to throw it into the yard. He's not quite sure he wants to give it up at first, but then he's happy for the chase when it happens and returns shortly to push it upon me again.

The neighbors Boxer has come over to find play mates, so chaos has ensued.
I put two new bird feeders in the front yard yesterday. They should find it in less than a week or so. My husband, B has been working hard setting out the tomatoes in the greenhouse and preping the fields for crops. Soon enough he won't have to feed the cattle in the morning, but that time will be filled with planting, planting, planting; something like over 600 + acres.
I used to tell my mother I always wanted to live on a farm, have a beautiful mountain view, and have a wonderful husband. God has truly blessed me with many dreams that have come to fruition. My husband B is the sweetest most genuine man; who loves me so much; and would do anything for me; and I for him. I've known him from high school, and I adored him then. He has weathered some tremendously difficult times. They did not make him bitter or jaded or mistrusting; but instead gave him more compassion. He has such an ability to be so emotionally forthcoming that it's shocking at times - in a most wonderful manner; how honest he can be with his heart.

At his family farm, he works harder than any one person I have ever met. I wrote in his senior annual that I knew he would be a good farmer and I was right.

B and I laugh at the confabulations my former ex used to tell about his 'farm days'. I recall when he said he had bought calves at an auction in n. carolina at 'so much per penny on the hoof''. I didn't know at the time that was a ridiculous stupid thing to say; dare he say that to any farmer, they would have laughed and known right away about his fraud . B is often telling me he's going to buy me a 'miniture white donkey'; for the one my ex said he had bought that I never actually did see and the supposed receipient said he never did either. For the life of me, can't figure out why someone would lie about buying a miniture white donkey; or about having Emu's; which he made elaborate stories about having two of those - on his 'farm'. But at last, I'm in love with a real farmer, who has a real farm, they even have a large produce market. By the sweat of his own brow; nothing he had to make up. It's good to have things that are real, tangible, that you work for and earn and deserve. And be who you really are, not saying you have them by lying and deceiving, a false persona to whomever in whichever situation.

I suppose I should feel pity for someone who lies about almost every aspect of who they are; so that who they present is just a polished pretty shell of who they want you to see. I feel sorry for those around anyone like that; because they use those lies against someone's vulnerabilities and become close to someone so they can take advantage of you, gain your trust, impress you, and then deceive you. A person like that doesn't really have much of anything inside to feel pity for; nothing going on but plots, the next deception, how to keep up with the lies, the scams. Beneath that, nothing but emptiness, a spiritual bankruptcy. I think the only thing I can do, is I can pray that God heals that into something more; and in the meantime; hope their damage is minimal.

Dogs

2010-07-26T15:15:00.000-04:00

I took my new boy Russell down to mom's lake house to swim this weekend. I thought he might want to go b/c he tries to swim in his water bowl and makes the biggest mess. He is part jack russell and part short haired german pointer. He is truly a 'real' dog. And I was so 'spot on' that he would love to swim. He is very attached to me and I thought if we got in the water, he would surely follow, which he did. Then he seemed a little panicky, so we took him to the bank to get out, but he was trying to go underwater to get the rocks! We did get him out, but he jumped right back in and swam for at least 20 minutes, he had the best time.
He has an interesting history. His first human had several physical disabilities, including hearing, vision impairment and serious heart problems and she was such a young girl, in her 20's. She was going through another heart surgery and just did not make it. My dear friend Libby was her vocational counselor and her job plan was to be a dog trainer. Russell was her dear companion and her learning curve for training and he must have excelled, he knows some 20 odd tricks, but we only know of about 10 of them. No doubt she would have been a wonderful dog trainer. My friend took him in so he wouldn't go to the shelter, then I decided I should give him a try. Chewy needs a good buddy b/c he is so social and lonely. If you knew about my other pup Oliver, I ended up just fostering him for about 6 months and finding him the perfect placement with a stay home mom and they are both so much happier for the match. He wasn't interested in Chewy and tormented my poor cat and I knew he needed more attention than I could give him.
Anyway, Russell is a real gem and already part of the family. He is fiercely protective of me and his 'pack'. He and chewy just have the best time. I have to thank his first mom for being so loving and giving him such a tender heart.

Five Year Anniversary of 'Half Nekkid Thursdays'

2010-06-03T07:29:00.001-04:00

Here is my contribution to the five year anniversary of the HKT's blog phenomenon, Osbasso is the host of this weekly blogger event. Here's a picture of my Tattoo. Well, it turned out beautifully! I'm so pleased with it, It's much bigger, much BIGGER than I had initially wanted, but to have all I wanted, I had to go big or go home and you can see my choice! It has all my beloved dog babies on there and you can even see Chewy looking over my shoulder by his portrait. Ma calls it a mural. I call it dogrushmore . Reckon I could qualify for a jesse james mistress, ha! I'm going to have some touch ups and add some flowers and greenery in it to finish it (this won't make it larger). I will explain all of it sometime too; basically it has some of my great loves -God, my babies, the lake, and the mountains. It took over six hours and honestly the last two were pretty excruciating, but the first four were just uncomfortable.I'm going to add more color and some flowers to it (not make it bigger, just fill in) and have it touched up soon. .
Ma said I can explain it away as my midlife crisis.. but I've thought about it for years. I honestly still can't believe I did it, but I did and I think it's lovely.

Love love...

Passing time

2010-05-10T20:13:00.002-04:00

I've been spending a lot of time reading. And my grandmother has been teaching me how to sew and I"m ready to move onto the next lesson. I've also been trying to change how I prepare food, and I"m enjoying the challenge. I made a vegan lasagna this weekend using vegan cheese and tofu. It was very surprisingly delicious, with a capital S! I was sure it would taste odd and unpleasant and I would miss the cheese, but it in all honesty it was just like any other I have made. I've started running and that has has also been a challenge, but like the lasagna, I am enjoying it more than I expected.
And I'm still melting my brain on bad reality tv,, ha.... that's about all for now..

Humanity...a rant

2010-05-03T19:01:00.002-04:00

If anyone drives much on 11E you will see the trucks that transport the chickens to be slaughtered in Morristown. Often you will see one on the road that has fallen out and died. I was beside one today. It absolutely horrified me . I cried. I have read about factory farming and slaughtering. Chickens are not included in the 'humane slaughter act', yet compromise 95% of all animal slaughter for food in this country. All I could think of was they were living in those tiny cages unable to move and finally moved to something on a truck, where they got the most of 'outside' they have ever experienced on their way to their death. When they arrive, they will most likely still be living when they are dunked in boiling water and even still alive when they come out to have their feathers taken from their body and torn apart. They are filled with rage, fear and stress from the event. That makes their body produce all the things our body would produce at that moment, lots of adrenaline and hormones to cope with that level of stress. So, after they are slaughtered, you are eating that fear, stress and rage, along with the antibiotics and growth hormones they fed them. All b/c someone wants it for their 'pleasure'. We could use all that energy on sustainable fairly traded crops for farming! We could feed the entire world if we gave up the extent of our factory farming here.

I would like to have 200k, but I won't take a life from a being b/c of it! Why are we OK with taking lives, that are lived horribly and inhumanely just to be slaughtered painfully, Murdered actually, b/c of our 'want'? If people had to pick out a chicken, send it to the slaughterhouse and witness what it went though, I doubt many would want it after that, they would feel guilt, remorse, and shame, appropriately.
We live in a different world where killing others doesn't have to happen. No one wants their dog killed to eat, but what makes that being different than a cow, a chicken or a pig. They are all just as intelligent and able to feel pain and emotion as a canine.

We are so removed from our food source that we don't consider what suffered for our 'pleasure'. Including farmed crops - if wages or living conditions were fair, or if we are buying locally to avoid the huge carbon imprint that shipping blueberries from Chile causes.

Being a responsible consumer, trying not the harm others - us or other animals, should be paramount. Are we not evolved enough to not want other people to be harmed or animals to die for our own selfish needs? I'm embarrassed for all the consuming and hurt this country causes to have "pleasure" in their diet....

Love love, Julie

Newfound Gap

2010-04-20T23:21:00.002-04:00

I recently went through Newfound Gap to Cherokee N.C. to go camping. The weather could not have been more beautiful or perfectly ordered for camping. The campground had electric and water hook ups and sites right on the river. Our group had five sites reserved and had a most wonderful time. I'm thrilled that camping season has begun again...

Happy!

2010-04-04T18:48:00.003-04:00

It's hard not to be with such great weather. Somehow beautiful spring weather just bathes your soul in feel good.
Had a wonderful time with the immediate family today. Now I'm enjoying just relaxing by sittin on the deck with a glass of wine and listening to my mix funk cd. Hope you all have had such a great weekend too...

Relaxation, transition and pity party...

2010-03-30T20:16:00.002-04:00

I worked this past week in tricities and stayed with a long time friend and it was so great to visit with her and her sweet daughter, who is 8 and 1 inch shorter than me, ha. Then for the weekend I checked into a cabin at Roan Mountain State park with my 1/2 off state discount (what a great benefit!). It was so relaxing and it's so beautiful there. I would love to camp there sometime, but it is first come first serve and I would hate to drive 3 hrs to not get a riverside site. I am self admitting waterside camping snob! I would rather be on the river than coveting my neighbor with the spot I wish I had. I would definitely recommend going to this park for a weekend stay or a hike.

Then yesterday in a very careless and clumsy manner put my ipod in my pocket and it dropped onto Henley street (downtown knox) when I was walking in the crosswalk for work. It is demolished. I have loved my ipod, and gifted it to myself with my income tax refund. But I clearly don't deserve such a nice toy if I'm going to act like such an idiot with it. I shouldn't be attached to material things anyway, so this a good lesson about responsibility and things that aren't important. A nice aspect of it, was that I was reading/listening to books on it and one was the bible and that was helping my goal of reading it from front to back this year. But I have several 'real' copies... :)

Hope this finds you all well, love, love,

Blogging and owning my own Power and Mistakes

2010-03-10T21:51:00.005-05:00

Because of all the unwanted traffic on my blog, in a few days I'm going to make it private for only those people I approve to read it. I had started to make another blog, but why go to all that trouble just to keep a few nosey boogers out of it? I know it will be an extra step to log in and get the initial approval, but no doubt my friends and family won't mind the extra step for my peace of mind. If you send a request, just make sure I know who you are, or that you may be a regular reader I don't know, but with enough details I know you aren't a cyber stalker trying to peer into my private life.

I want to purge some thoughts about marriage. I want to say, for the record, that I would not interfere in someone's marriage. I interfered unknowingly in one marriage - my ex husbands - only b/c he was dishonest and said he had been divorced for nearly 2 years and even had developed elaborate lies about dating other women while were friends in a pathetic attempt make me jealous - and other schemes to make it seem like he wasn't married. I had no idea til I got the call from his wife after they were separating. I should have then never believed the other lies he told to win back my trust - that they had been living separate for a long time, he had been working on a divorce for years, that she was insane and treated him horribly, and that I couldn't believe a word she or her family said when they tried to warn me about him. I was a stupid fool in love who wanted to believe him - to believe what I wanted instead of what I knew deep inside about his character. I have apologized to her several times that I had no idea they were married for all the hurt I helped cause her. I have never quit having deep remorse for not walking away that day for the pain it caused his family and myself in the long run. What I did was wrong, no matter the reasons or his lies.
I will however, always be a good friend to my friends who need someone to listen. Especially people I've known for over 25 years.

A good friend put this song on mix cd for me. It probably has multiple layers of meaning for me with past relationships. I love the ending 'It took a while to figure out she could run, and when she did she was long long gone'...I don't regret loving with my full heart. I regret trusting my love and heart and dedication to the wrong person who was so undeserving. Even our marriage counselor said "After all you have done, you still don't recognize how fortunate you are to have her loyalty to try and work this out with you" I don't have any hatred for my ex I honestly don't care about him - still a little anger and bitterness because he did all the trauma he could do to me possible and it hurt and that was exactly why he did it. Anyone would feel like this if you were in my shoes. No one should have to live in fear physically, emotionally or financially about someone else that they loved and called their husband - like I have had to do. But I don't fear any longer. I stood up and I've slayed the dragon and to me, he's completely gone. And if he's smart, he will finally make some better decisions. Because I have no toleration for any bullying, or lack of responsibility. My pastor said wouldn't I hope that he would have a transformation one day, didn't I pray for that? Of course I hope he does change into a kind hearted and honest person, for himself and those around him. I can't imagine, even if there is a thrill in the deceit, that it still doesn't lead to a very empty meaningless life full of stress, disappointment and lack of having any integrity. Obtaining desires from deceit can't be near as satisfying as earning them from hard work, honesty, and having people care about you for the real you and not someone you pretend to be.

Sweetness

2010-03-08T07:37:00.000-05:00

I spent some wonderful time with my 6 1/2 year old niece this weekend. We went to a friends house to visit briefly and she told my friend the most adorable thing. She said 'Well, really I love everyone I know. I even love God and Jesus'.. then there was a slight pause of reflection and she said 'I bet they are looking down from heaven now and going 'AWWWW'! ".... No doubt she was right, we certainly were thinking the same thing.

Lent

2010-02-27T19:51:00.005-05:00

I gave up meat - well all animal flesh - for Lent. I used to be a vegetarian for many years. I really feel good physically and ethically to do this again. Like before, the only thing I have missed, disgustingly so, is Krystals! Ha...
I had wanted to loose another 5 lbs to make my navel piercing look even better, and eating this way always helps. Having a navel piercing that is not an oval 'ring' but a different shape, really makes a different.. it doesn't bother me at all; and I am so pleased with it. It's like I have a sexy pretty secret all to myself. I think it's beautiful. I'm ready for my tat next month!

take care .... love love....

Beautiful weather

2010-02-21T17:04:00.004-05:00

Yesterday and today it was 65 degrees and sunny - so warming and inviting. I really wanted to hook up my camper and just take off for the evening. But those days will be soon enough. I miss those and the lake days...
And by the way.. as you can see, I did follow through on my piercing, yeah!! I love it!

Yeah, celebration....

2010-02-19T20:48:00.000-05:00

This video says it all!

Tattoos

2010-02-16T20:33:00.002-05:00

This past weekend my girlfriend and I went to 'go see 'bout getting our tats'. I'm more than delighted with the design the artist came up within 30 seconds of hearing the vision floating around in my mind. I have to get some pictures to her to finalize her drawing. Next month three of us will go 'under the needles'.
It made me want to get a piercing - a navel piercing. I've had one twice before. That was done years before they made pants that sit below your waist, so it was very uncomfortable and each time I took it out. I just don't know if I'm too old for such a thing. Although I'm pounds lighter than I used to be, I'm still not sure I have the body for such a thing, I may be just too short for it to not look goofy on a 40 something year old. I can always take it out though,, so it's definitely in my thought mill of things to do. Anyways...love,love...

Tamale Fest (plural!)

2010-02-08T18:29:00.004-05:00

Every year I get together with my family/friends and we make tamales to put up in the freezer to last the year. This year I made tamales three times! Once with my friend Elaine and we made 90 of them! Then I made them by myself just for something to do one Saturday. Well I had a plan for them - I gave them as gifts to neighbors and coworkers for Christmas. I made over 60 that day. Then recently, us 'hens' got together at moms and made over 200, with the help of our apprentice, my niece, and some Sangria. I'd like to find a good recipe and try some vegetable tamales. If you know of a good recipe, please share. If you want some beef ones,, I've got some in the freezer waitin... love love....

Kosher wine from Galilee

2010-02-07T15:48:00.002-05:00

One of my dear friends at work Mark took a trip to the Holy Land this year. He gifted me a beautiful necklace. The pendant has written in Hebrew from Deuteronomy 6:4 a very important Jewish Prayer, the Shema: "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One". I love the necklace and I wear it often and find strength in it, as well as the the Quartz one my dear friend Chuck gave me.

My friend Mark took my scribbles on a small piece of paper all the way from Tennessee and put them in the wailing wall for me also.
And recently he shared with me that since his return he's been drinking Kosher wine from Galilee. He said the valley by the river there is so beautiful and since his visit has such special meaning to him, drinking the wine brings back memories of his spiritual sojourn to the holy place. I thought I would treat myself to a bottle. I waited for a special occasion and shared it with a friend I had not seen in quite some time. I have to agree with Mark. It is quite lovely, and nearly magical in your mind knowing where it came from. I would love to make my own trip to the Holy Land and then around the Mediterranean. A good six month tour, oh how nice!! For now, I'm working on my economical camping trip reservations for the spring, summer and fall. I'd be happy for some days of warmth and sunshine right now....Love love...

New Years Resolutions

2010-02-06T14:14:00.003-05:00

I have began my new Tai Chi class and I'm picking it up as easily as I had hoped. I'm really looking forward to doing it while camping - freaking people out around me - ha - or on the sunny beaches.
I've been reading the bible as well. I'm a little behind schedule to finish it in a year. That's only because I've been putting much effort into it's understanding. So I've had to get some other books and aids and am taking my time with it. I've written down many questions I've ended up having because of something being inconsistent or my lack of knowledge of the hebrew or greek language. When I have time I will apply myself to find those answers. There is much that happened in Abraham's lineage that they didn't teach in sunday school - and no disrespect meant- but it's a little jerry springer-ish! Definitely some type of lesson about every drama aspect of life. I'm finding it very fascinating. It's pulling together a lot of base knowledge for me.
I'm behind in my other 'for pleasure' reading because of the above undertaking. I may need to take a break and just read some good fiction.
I have treated myself to an Ipod Touch and I've gotten some books downloaded. I can listen to these in the car when I'm on the road working, so that should help. I must say the Ipod is so much fun! I love the internet access and all the apps!
Although, surprisingly, and I say this while knocking on wood - I have been eating anything I want - and not as healthy as I should - I have not gained back my weight and for that I am thankful, it feels so much better to be 'lighter'. But I need to continue to work on a healthier diet.

Well, more later..love love....

Whew!!

2010-01-27T18:59:00.002-05:00

Thanks Doug and whomever offered me the comment... I finally figured out how to work my template html language to replace the picture that had expired with one from a trip to Blue Ridge ga... Kind of a interesting thing since I know nothing about html.. ha..

I am ready for spring already and we have months to go.... I am ready to camp more than you can imagine and already have reservations lined up.

more later, love love...

Julie Powell's Non Divorce

2010-01-17T18:00:00.006-05:00

Hello!
I'm guessing that because part of my blog name is Julie and I've detailed my divorce, people searching about Julie Powell and her rumored 'divorce'-- people have landed here. I thought I had no idea who she was - until I googled it out of shear curiosity from the volume of hits.... Wouldn't you know it, I had just rented the movie "Julie and Julia" just a few weeks ago, so, in some way I had recently learned who she is....
She is the 'blogger' and writer of the book, named Julie Powell of "Julie and Julia". And just fyi, I enjoyed the movie. It was recommended from my friend Anne, who is in culinary school. I'm only a shade tree Vegan cook myself.
But she is NOT getting divorced, according to her current blog entries and interviews. She does have a new book out, so if you want to know more, buy it and read it and follow her blog.

Myself, I am gratefully and happily remarried!

Take care, love love...

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T09:52:00.000-05:00

As Newscoma (Trace) said on Facebook, get on outta here 2009. I've never quite been so ready for a year to end. And excited for a year to begin -in a good way.
I've never been more certain of anything that this year is going to be a much better year bearing resolution and new beginnings.
I think most people generally make a few goals they would like to do in the next year. But I don't beat myself up if I don't end up attaining them.

I will camp, as usual. And as much as possible.
I'm going to be more socially active with my friends and family - spend as much time with my niece as I can. Before I know it, she will be a teenager and I won't be cool anymore to her. I'm going to treasure all this time with her that I can.
I'm going to be more active in social justice and helping others.
I would like to read the entire bible (I've never read it cover to cover!) and 15 other books. I read maybe 9-10 books last year, that was rather disappointing. I did read the Twilight series, could that count for 8 books instead of 4 since they are 550-750 pgs each?
I'm going to work very hard on 'wearing this world as if it's a loose garment'. In having to deal with the stress of this divorce, I've learned that everyday stress is not that overwhelming. What is the analogy? "I complained about having no shoes until I met the person with no feet on which to wear them."
I'm going to take good care of my health. I begin this year wearing size 4's mostly - a few 6's depending on brand. I want to end the year doing the same - in good physical shape and health- exercising including yoga, cardio and strength training; taking nutritional supplements; being strong and healthy. And I'd really like to start doing Tai Chi again. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it and learned the entire set many years ago, but so much is forgotten to me, but would be easily learned a second time.

I hope everyone has a great year, filled with blessings... love love..

Chewy, my pup

2009-12-21T21:32:00.002-05:00

Chewy, my pal, went for his annual visit to the vet. He's lived with me for one year now. He's in perfect health the vet said. She said she was thinking about him a few weeks ago when she saw a 'parti' poodle (multi colored) like him. She said she had thought how thankful she was that he came along in my life at just the right time - after Lucy went into the light and right before my personal life changed- just when I needed his companionship, and he needed mine. It was hard for her to not adore Chewy when he was giving her kisses while she was listening to his heart, palpitating his stomach and checking his legs for abnormalities. She's a wonderful vet, and she remembered my life situation and had lots of kind words of compassion for my recent journey, but especially for Chewy and I finding each other at the right time. He's such a good boy and dear friend. Santa will fill his stocking with goodies. Merry Christmas! Love, love...

Baking

2009-12-08T21:45:00.002-05:00

This weekend will find me baking lots of delicious goodies I will give out to everyone to celebrate the holidays. I have mentioned how my neighbors and I have grown much closer in our relationships over the last 8 months. They call or stop by and visit, or I stop by when I'm walking the boys. Recently, one of my neighbors came by and said 'I just love stopping by, your house always smells so good, you are always baking some goodness and I know there's going to be a treat for me'. That is true, I do love to bake; well cook in general. I believe I had made Pumpkin cupcakes some with chocolate chip and some with raisins the day before for a church event. I don't mind for anyone to 'pop in'.. and to share some coffee and a pastry and fellowship!! Since the house is for sale, I keep it ready to show at a moments notice, so it's always very neat - which I always did anyway, but now is even easier to do since it's just me and my wee little boys and my girl Maisy. This is a nice house, but it doesn't feel any longer like my home. Although I'm thankful for my new relationships, which I plan to always nurture, I will feel tremendously blessed when the house sells and I can move into someplace I can call my own 'home'. I hope you have some delicious goodies this holiday season too, love love...

Snow!

2009-12-05T14:11:00.003-05:00

We got our first snow today! It was so beautiful. We are supposed to get more tonight and it will be much colder, so this might stay on the roads. The 'boys' and I will just cuddle up and watch movies and that's just fine with me. I had to take my wee one Ollie to the vet, he has a 'cold', but I think he will be just fine. More later, love love....

Merry Christmas & the difference a Year Makes!

2009-12-01T17:43:00.005-05:00

Look at MY BOYS, aren't they just adorable? They are helping me decorate in that photo and napping together in the other. Ollie is fitting in nicely now. Since last year, I've lost 215 lbs - 30 of my own and 185 of really useless weight, ha, and and traded out males- I gained a little wee six lb dog who is a much kinder for the house. Look at the first picture. That is me last year, then look at the picture of me with Ollie - can't you see a HUGE difference? I look pale and unhealthy in the first one. I was very depressed and miserably unhappy and keeping things to myself about how awful my marriage was and all the terrible things I had found out he had done. Secrets will eat a person up inside! But now look at me! I'm literally glowing! I'm so excited about Christmas this year. I'm having a great time already. Hope you are as well, love, love...

Family and friends...

2009-11-27T18:12:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago I took a trip with my Grandmother (I can only pray to age as well!) and niece Summer to visit my father and beautiful stepmother at their beautiful cabin on the Toccoa river in the blue ridge mtns of northern Ga. I had such a wonderful time. We took a train ride by the river to Macaysville; but most special part was spending time w/ my family. My father did treat us to a very decadent fresh lobster dinner - for my Grandmother's bday. He was so very sweet to her all weekend. She's going to teach me to sew and quilt and I'm very enthusiastic about that. It's been so nice to be able to bond with my family and friends these last 7 months. There are still more family and friends I want to spend time with and when I move closer to town and have more free time (and $ since I am the only one paying the mortgage payment til the house sells which I hope is soon!!)- I plan on doing just that. I long to see my cousins and aunt and uncle in Ga badly, especially my new little cousin Oliver.
Well, time to go decorate the house for Christmas, love love...

Thanksgiving week

2009-11-23T18:53:00.003-05:00

Here is a recent picture of my dear friend Rob and my beautiful niece Summer prior to attending my friend Lisa's 'vintage' wedding a few weeks ago. We couldn't have had better weather. And what a beautiful bride! We had a great time dancing, especially Summer, she was the Belle of the Ball.

This Thanksgiving week, I have much to be thankful for; as I am truly blessed. A year ago my world was rocked very hard and was for many months. The changes were difficult for me, but they have been very positive for me. I think for a while, it was difficult for me to see how much better my life would be without being married to my ex husband. I took my commitment to him very seriously, as a lifetime commitment. It was difficult for me to shake that my future life would change so significantly, that we were never the couple I thought we were because it was all based on lies, and afraid of the unknown. Not to mention my self esteem was very fragile from the bashing I had received for sometime. We hold onto ideas, thoughts, feelings, because they are what we know, familiar and we don't have the confidence to face the unknown future. Sometimes being in a relationship with someone can be like a drug addiction, even though it's so very unhealthy for you, it's so hard to want to end it because you think you can't make it, can't possibly be happy without it. We must be terribly myopic and shortsighted people during times of pain and can make such poor decisions. I knew months before I filed for divorce that my ex was not deserving of my partnership, but I would not give up. I'm so thankful for friends and family who persisted that I end the madness b/c that was what was truly destroying me, not being without him. He would not change, I had to change the situation. I am thankful for my life being so different than it was last year. I am so much happier, so much more fulfilled. And it has nothing to do with any relationship - in every way it has much to do with the LACK of that relationship. I have healthy fulfilling relationships with my friends and family now and ones that make me proud. I have so much to be thankful for - I probably did not think so many months ago; but I am very certain of that now.

I may not be much, and I have many faults, but for the most part I live an honest caring life that I can be proud of, helping others as often as I can; I don't live a duplicitous, scheming, unkind life to my brothers and sisters and for that I am also thankful. I am also thankful that somehow God has seen to heal my heart from the sadness, grief, hurt and anger. I just feel happiness and joy most days. I'm working my way back to my old self and that feels entirely wonderful especially because I've been so encouraged and affirmed by others who LOVE me for who I am. I like feeling comfortable in my own skin again. Feeling joy and lots of laughter and happiness. Being helpful and kind and having energy. I am no longer bitter or angry. I was afraid all the ugliness with the lies, stealing, unfairness, they tried to perpetrate on me might actually take effect, but it was only mildly irritating. I'm sure they will try harder, as that is their nature, but I have my wits about me, my spirituality in tact and a support system beyond measure. In the end, as we know, it's their Karma, not mine they effect by treating me so badly. It's inescapable- even driving a nail in a piece of wood - you take it out, but the hole still remains - forever. I'm thankful for my perspective and the people who helped me get there as well.
Happy Thanksgiving, Love, Love...

Laurel Falls Hike

2009-10-14T07:20:00.006-04:00

I love East Tn in the fall! Here's pictures from a hike we took while camping at Elkmont - this is my friend Rob and niece Summer.

Introducing Ollie

2009-09-21T17:28:00.002-04:00

I've been looking for a new little friend for Chewy. As I've mentioned, Chewy is so friendly. Never met a human nor animal soul he's not longed to befriend. My neighbors and I have become so close over the last many months and we talk often. They call me to see how I'm doing and I really appreciate that. My neighbor Bruce phoned me to say hello and said 'Did I know anyone who might be looking for a little Pomeranian'...He had a cousin who needed to find a home for hers little seven yr old guy. Well... as some of you might know, I've had two of the little fellas. I told him, have his cousin call me. We had a great talk and planned a few play dates. It didn't go so well initially, but she left him with me and after two weeks now, he and little Chewy are like Frick and Frack. He makes Chewy look like a Giant. He's found his position on the bed - at the top of my pillow! He's been shaved for the summer and my friend Rob says he's 'translucent'.. ha.. that we can draw his organs on him w/ a marker. He definitely is an odd little guy, but so are we, and he certainly fills a niche here at the house that was missing; he needed us and we needed him, so it just makes it that much sweeter. Chewy enjoys having his friend to pal around with, but he is very jealous of sharing his Mom with anyone and that is an adjustment for us. The wee one has become at home here and is fiercely protective of the house and his human. You can hear him bark from the road when a car pulls up. Chewy would probably (and probably has) licked any intruders. So, it's a good match. This wee one is only friendly to those we know, he's quite the little protective dog, like those little ones can be. And the big girl Maisy, well, she was already put out over Chewy, so she's really not too much different. I'm thankful to have the house filled with unconditional love from my baby boys - as we go through this adjustment phase despite- and then some regard from a cat.. :).... love love... julie

Chewy the pup

2009-08-25T07:36:00.003-04:00

Chewy the new poodle pound pup is the sweetest boy ever. He has really been such a wonderful companion through this difficult time. I believe he thinks he is my husband now. He is next to me constantly. He is the most friendly of dogs. He's friendly with every person and every other dog and cat I've ever seen cross his path. But he is no camp dog, that I can say! I have just had the most difficult of times taking him camping. It is because of his sweetness that makes him so difficult. He wants to meet and greet every person and every hound that walks by the campsite. It makes relaxation difficult for me and all those around us. It appears until he gets a little older, and maybe less enthusiastic, and 'relaxed', but hopefully never less friendly, he may have to stay home from the camping adventures. Camping always makes me miss my sweet Lucy girl. But I know had I not had my sweet Chewy, these past 10 months would have been terribly dismal and lonely. He has been a terrifically loyal best friend.

Fun...

2009-08-21T06:53:00.002-04:00

Last night my sweet friend Lisy asked me to help volunteer with the YWCA Tribute to Women's Award Banquet. I had a wonderful time. Although it seemed I did very little to help out, it was wonderfully organized, I enjoyed being around so many wonderful women and community supporters and especially my friends.

This weekend I am going up to the mountains with some friends and am going to spend some time relaxing. It's good to untangle your mind whenever you can.

I hope you have some fun things planned this weekend for yourself.. take care, love love...

Slowly but surely..

2009-08-20T08:53:00.002-04:00

I'm slowly and surely climbing back into the flesh vehicle once known as lil Julie as I shed the last two years and the trauma of them. I've had to make amends to several relationships that I neglected. I completely committed myself to the marriage, but in an unhealthy way that cut me off - physically and emotionally- from most of my friends and family. They have been very understanding in allowing me to re-enter their lives and have been very supportive. My mother said she felt like she has her daughter back now after having lost her for several years.

It seems like my personality has changed, it will never be the same - hopefully it will be better, and smarter, taking from it what I have learned and letting go of what I don't need. I have been so sad for so long, I wondered if the silly laughing light hearted Julie might ever return, as I see her emerging more and more each day. The anger is lessening too as I see that he can choose to make these decisions to dishonor himself and our agreement with his own choices and it has nothing to do with me. It's not personal, it's just, in my opinion, who he is. Why let it bring me down and cloud my days and moods any longer. There is too much joy for me to feel and to give to others. I do have a huge heart and a great ability to love and for it to be weighed down by anger or sadness limits me and I refuse to allow him or this situation to do any more damage to me. Enough is enough.

I'm volunteering today at a special event for the YWCA, and doing some fun things this weekend. I'm going to have a test 'run' with a dog friend for my little boy Chewy next weekend to take in a little Pomeranian. I've made new friends. I'm getting more involved in church. I'm going to start hiking all the time. And looking into taking Tai Chi again.

Well, more later, love love...

The Roller Coaster

2008-11-06T23:11:00.006-05:00

Nose to Nose picture of us at camping (click on it and look at it larger).....

I'm so happy and excited that Obama Won. I feel like the tide will finally change in this country. I have real hope now. Like tangible hope I can feel in my hand!

Personally, I have struggled though, with the dark curtain of sadness. I have good days and bad days. One day I asked Tony if there was magic to bring Lucy back, was she really gone. I didn't believe she was really gone for good. I still don't think it has sunk in yet. You know they talk about the 'stages of grief', and I guess I am dealing with them I was rather ugly to him for no reason the other morning when I was really just hurting and also anxious about about our dr's appt to see about us having a baby together since I'm so old and he's been 'fixed'. But he was sweet and very forgiving and we worked it out quickly.

I guess what I'm saying, I'm so happy about Obama, but still so sad about Lucy,, this will take time, probably lots of time. One of my best friends has left my side physically and it's finally hitting me and it's devastating. I go between denial and being upset, and angry that she had the cancer and how I took her to the vet for the last year and how they missed it and blame myself. I just miss her. I honestly just miss her. I always will. For my lifetime left on this earth, I will miss her forever...and that is why difficult times make you more compassionate. I know these times are teaching me tremendous lessons.

Love, love...

How Wonderful!

2008-11-05T21:49:00.002-05:00

I'm So excited, i feel like it's the beginning of a whole new ERA for our country! A new day has dawned today... !!! yeah yeah yeah....

Love love....

My Annoying Rant On Politics

2008-11-03T17:53:00.003-05:00

I find it rather disappointing and baffling the reasons I've heard most people will or will not be voting for the candidates they have picked.
Of course this isn't about everyone, but from interviews and then things I hear around town and here and there.
I've gotten some chain emails forwarded to me that are just full of myths and urban legions as well.
I think people, perhaps it's human nature, would rather believe something bad than think better of people.
I've heard that people think Obama is a Muslim, an Arab, a Terrorist and anti-American and a socialist. Or that McCain is just too dang old. Or they want to vote for Obama just b/c he's not from the same Bush administration.
Of course we know that Obama is American. And so what if he were a Muslim, or even an Arab, that wouldn't make him a bad person, nor a terrorist. One of the most kind hearted and most spiritual and most nonjudgmental people I've ever met is a Syrian lady. Everyone now connects anyone Muslim or Arab with terrorists, which is horrible. I suppose since my husband is a white male he might bomb a government building like Timothy McVeigh, doing the same unfair association. We don't do that with all white males.
McCain is older, but many people reach their pinnacle of success and just finally shine in life in the later sunshine of their years. And just b/c Obama isn't with Bush, doesn't qualify him to be 'better'.

What about research into what their policies, their beliefs, their views for the future of this country will be? I don't hear that for reasons why people want to vote for them. It's always things of a personal nature or of a past nature from the prior government - not even their voting record. I don't see how that really is a of a qualifying nature.
And on a personal note, that many will disagree on, to add heat to this, I don't see why abortion or gay marriage has anything to do with the presidential election. I don't think government should be running our households that closely. What we do at home and in our personal life, should be left up to us.
Abortions will always happen, legal or illegal and if they are ever outlawed, women will die, and back alley profiteers will crop up everywhere and it will be a horrible mess. And gay people deserve the right to live as unhappily or happily married as anyone else. What they do in their home has nothing to do with what I do in my home, or in the home of the government elected officials. These have always been issues used to inflame politics and side tract from the real issues at hand.

What I'm concerned about is the economy, domestic affairs, health care, foreign policy, the social welfare of our own citizens. These are the questions to be concerned about with our politicians, not age or the background of their name or the color of their skin.

I find it embarrassing that people will use any convenient excuse, urban myth or downright prejudice to look past a good candidate instead of educating themselves on what would be best for our society as a whole. As I've posted before, I am a supporter, an enthusiastic supporter for Obama. I'm not against McCain. I think he's a good man and has served this country in a number of honorable ways. But I strongly believe that Obama is the best candidate for the job. I'm very hopeful that he will win and I believe in his policies on domestic matters, health care, economics, taxes, and foreign polices. And he picked a grand running mate as well. I'm excited. I hope you feel good about your choice , and mostly about the reaons why and will go out with excitement to vote tomorrow, and most importantly, do vote. If you don't, you have no voice in which to complain the next four years, but also b/c so many suffered and died for our right to be able to vote. I'm sure many of you won't agree w/ me. That's the beauty of this country,, we can agree to disagree... but I'll be stepping down of soap box now..
love love....

Let's go down to the River

2008-10-30T20:14:00.005-04:00

As I went down to the river to pray Studyin about that good ol' way

and who shall wear the starry crown? Good Lord show me the way!

O sisters let's go down Lets go down, Come on down O sisters lets go down

Down in the river to pray As I went down in the river to pray Studyin about that good ol way ..

That's the Allison Krauss song that I love. I was singing it as I walked Lucy down by the river. It seemed appropriate as it was our last walk by the river together this past weekend.. Lucy went into the Light Monday October 27th. I didn't realize how after after almost 13 years just her being with me was just pure comfort to me in the house each day. I guess that is selfish. I have so enjoyed the pleasure of her company. Just knowing she was here when I came home, when I woke up, when I went to bed. Each of those moments, when I would have expected her, I have cried, actually sobbed. Then there are those times during the day that I just break down when I realize she has left me physically and isn't coming back ever- I have cried so much; though I know we are always together in mind/body/soul if you know what I mean when you have a connection like you do with a sentient being like that. I know she won't suffer any longer and what happened had to happen. But we miss her tremendously and we are devastated. I also remember all the joy and blessings she gave us and me for all the many years she blessed us with her sweet devoted life. We celebrate her passing onto her next journey leaving her tired sick body, but we miss being able to feel her sweet self and be in her presence so much.

It will take me a long while to get used to this, she was my sweet special flower and my strong rock. Thanks for listening, love love...

Another Deer Video

2008-08-28T20:48:00.003-04:00

Here's another short video I took of a deer in the backyard eating a delicious block we put out for them that my brother gifted us. The deer enjoyed it so much, she didn't mind me sitting in the back yard with her.

Deer in the backyard

2008-08-19T20:11:00.004-04:00

I took a video of a doe and the little fawn in our backyard. You can see she notices me on the deck and is cautious. She slowly continues to walk through the yard and her fawn is so cute hopping to catch up w/ her (he is in the corner).. she never leaves the yard, but walks to the garden! That part you don't see. But see how dry our yard is.. how we need rain. We haven't gotten much from our garden, but we almost did. The other critters did,, we would see almost ripe tomatoes, then go the next day and see the place where they had been freshly plucked and the bean leaves have been eaten, the squash eaten. I guess with how we infringe on the natural world and w/ the draught and how we can meet our needs, it's good to share back the garden w/ the other animals since we have taken from them their natural habitat. I so enjoy watching the deer. They are here almost daily. They are the 'neighborhood deer' and used to people, as you can tell. I hope that doesn't make them easy prey during hunting season. I remember when that fawn was my smaller than my cat..

love, love....

Back in the Saddle Again, briefly

2008-08-15T19:22:00.005-04:00

Wednesday I went for a ride on my new horse Butternut. It was my first real ride for any distance with him. Well, it started out really well. The guy who has him said, 'You are doing better with him than anyone has' and I was confident. Tony was riding an old stubborn horse who ran back to the barn and I decided to be bold and go on out to the field and test things myself w/ the young guy. See I haven't really ridden for over 20 years. I used to be quite good, but I don't have the confidence and don't know Butternut as my beloved, except in my mind. He started to get fidgety, but I knew I had to keep my resolve and stay the 'boss' as he was testing me, I was calm and stern and kept him on the course I wanted to go, as he wanted to go back to the barn. He calmed down and we went on up the field up to the ridge. My handsome husband then appeared on a beautiful walking horse who was willing to let him lead. I let them pass me and as soon as they did, Butternut decided he wanted to take control and the battle ensued. One, I'm afraid he won. He bucked, reared and I nearly fell off. I don't have to tell you, I was shook up. I decided then to make a very bad decision and get off the horse to gather my thoughts. He had already calmed down. It was me that was freaking out. See I'm older now. I should have stayed on and kept the course. But once I got off, he knew he had gotten the best of me. I started to get back on him and he made circle, circle and circle and then wrestled the rein's from me and ran straight to the barn at top speed. Which scared the rancher to death and here comes the truck racing up the field to find the girl probably dead on the ground. Nope, just humiliated from being outsmarted and outwitted and scared by the five year old gelding! But he won't do it next time! I had a long talk w/ my dear one in the barn. Next time, even if I fall, I will get back on again! I just had to muster back my fears and get my riding behind and boots wet again. Butternut is my beloved, and we will learn to be sweet riding partners, it may just take a wee bit of time! love, love....

Raccoons

2008-08-10T18:10:00.004-04:00

I thought all the noise I heard in the back yard was a neighbors dog, but it was these five raccoons enjoying some spilled bird seed. I don't really want them to hang around the house too much, as they can be a real nuisance, but they were pretty enjoyable to watch.

Other news, we did close last week on the house I had for 12 years .

Closing....

2008-07-30T07:07:00.008-04:00

Well, we have a closing date next week finally for my house (see picture, isn't it adorable?) I miss my neighbors tremendously who live next door. It was a good house or me all those years.

I spoke briefly with my former neighbor yesterday and was glad to see they were ok since they attend the church where the gunman went to on Sunday. He described how surreal it was and how everyone took care of each other. He also spoke to how the church would have took care of him had he come there looking for work, food or any other need. I know that would have been true, that church helps anyone who calls, comes by or brings a concern to a member, as I used to go there several years ago. They outreach to anyone and everyone in the community and people even in other countries. With his level of hatred, he wasn't wanting help at that point, he just wanted to hurt someone badly. It reminds me of a line from the book Conversations with God, 'What is it that hurts in you so badly, that in order to heal it, you feel you must hurt me'...which I know must be true. I think we all hurt others out of our own pain, in a distorted sense that it will some how make us whole again or heal us, but instead it brings more pain, and more injury to all parties. But where did it go so terribly wrong from saying a hurtful word, or doing a small deed to that level of violence against so many people? ...

Love, love ...

Lucy Camping

2008-07-05T10:24:00.002-04:00

Here is a quick video of me making over Lucy while camping last weekend,, hope you are having a very fun, relaxing and safe holiday weekend, love, love...

The Whisper of Spirit so loved

2008-07-01T19:19:00.003-04:00

Last night I made homemade Chicken and Dumplins. I make them from my Nannie's recipe. She used the broth you cook the chicken in (with onion and celery) as the liquid for the dough, then roll them out, then let them rise a wee bit. So, I made the dough, then rolled it out, cut them, then placed a towel over them for them to rise. After they rose a bit, I turned up the pot w/ the goodies in it and was putting them in one by one. As I did this, a soft voice said "You did just fine, now why don't you let that man relax a bit'. I turned to the living room and saw my husband was asleep in the recliner.
I'm sure I long to hear the voice of my Nannie and I knew Tony was sleepy, but I still felt her prescense nonetheless, even if it was just from her recipe being used through my hands. Love, love....

My Lucy Girl

2008-06-25T19:30:00.004-04:00

Here is my Lucy girl at our most recent camping trip. My Lucy gal is so sweet, so beautiful and such a loyal companion. She loves me, truly loves me. She was found wandering around wild w/ her liter mate, Layla, in 1996. She and Layla were adopted and brought to my home til I could find suitable homes for them. I found them both homes, and Lucy was brought back. I was so pleased! I've taken in many dogs and found homes for them, and felt good about it, but when Lucy left, both Audrey (my peekapoo who went into the light in 2001) and I missed her immensely. She was the only dog I ever took in that Audrey liked. And Lucy loved her and grieved her so much. Lucy was very shy when I met her. She hid from me in the back yard and wouldn't let me near her for four days. I let her have her space and her time, and when she finally came to me, she and I both bonded. Since then, she has been very loyal to me, and fiercely protective. She is a sweet gal, but she has nipped people she thought might be a danger to me, but she's never hurt anyone.

Well, she is aging, she is over 13 and she has been in good health for many years. She has been on thyroid and arthritis medication for about 3 years. Then she started to pant at night and other times. The dr thought it was just arthritis pain. Then came the night pacing and the occasional disorientation and the accidents. We get up w/ her at night, several times, try to comfort her, coax her to lay down on her bed and lay by her and stroke her til she calms and sleeps again. They ruled out any medical causes and have said she has Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. It's basically doggy Alzheimer's. My pups have been my children. I've spent just about everyday with them. This is so very painful to watch her age and seem to suffer in the sunshine years of her life. I know at some point there will have to be a very hard decision made on her behalf so she can be whole again in Heaven. I pray often she goes gently in her sleep by God's sweet hand. But for now, we are trying some medication we hope helps, so she rests and is not anxious or confused. I am putting a lot of weight on that medication to make her days easy and comfortable and enjoyable. The vet said "Julie she is just getting old, she has lived a long time for a big dog".

We are taking her camping this weekend, she loves to camp. We pamper her and attend to her needs best we can. We love her so. She deserves all the goodness and love she that can be showered upon her. She has done that for me for years and deserves the very same. She has been such a gift and blessing in my life.

Please pray for her, keep her in your thoughts.

Love, love...

Excessive Materialism

2008-05-13T18:41:00.004-04:00

In our struggle to rid ourselves of this skunk odor, we've realized we are much more materialistic than we knew. We came to the realization that we needed to wash all of our clothing. It took over an hour just to bag it in large garbage bags. Then we took it to a laundry mat and used nearly one whole side of washers and $40+ dollars in quarters. Who in the world needs all that clothing? You can only wear one outfit at a time, and how many does one person really need? I know half of mine don't fit, but I swear one day they will! And we were worried about our home, and our belongings being ruined by the spray of a skunk! I mean seriously, that is attachment at a really poor level of thinking. We ALMOST threw all our clothing away and thought to live more simply. But can we just live more simply because of this lesson? Will we learn to not value 'things'? There is something tremendous to be said about the eastern philosophy of non-attachment to 'things', and even emotions. There is impermanence to everything in life, even to non-material things. Our feelings come and pass, our health comes and goes and comes and goes, our relationships can come and go. The only real thing that seems to leave a mark, is love, and sustaining that for all living beings. I think Love transcends all things.

Through suffering, it's said, we learn great things, we learn compassion, understanding, forgiveness. That suffering is our greatest lesson.

I know getting 'skunked' is not a huge problem, but we have learned a great deal through the process. It's amazing how God brings things into your life to teach you lessons, just when you need them most. I hope we are able to retain these lessons. To live more simply and care about the 'right things'. We have all that we need, and so much more that we don't really need. We live well, most people do in the western nations, comparably. We have huge developments, huge homes, huge cars, and stores to sell to the all consuming consumer. We consume and we waste, we consume and we waste, like an egotistical creature who's hunger knows no limits, without care to where it came from or the resources it took or those that suffered in the process or those who lack so many of the basic needs.

Who would have thought that a skunk could bring such lessons, ha!

Love, love.....

The cost of the Bush presidency...

2008-03-31T19:13:00.002-04:00

I always enjoy a good honest diatribe about the Bush Administration that exhibits such candor and intelligence. What follows is an email my dad, Jerry T.,sent to out last week.... enjoy!! Thanks Dad for the info!

I'm far too lazy to have my own blog, but here are a few ruminations for the day......

The latest issue of Fortune notes that the price of a barrel of West Texas intermediate crude oil has risen by over 325% since George W. Bush was inaugurated. And talk about unintended consequences, oil was trading in the low $30's per barrel at the time Bush invaded Iraq and closed today at $107.58. Brace yourself for $4.00 to $5.00/gal gas this summer. Despite his war on Islamic terrorism, Bush has presided over a wholesale shift of wealth from the developed countries to the Islamic Middle East. Our petro-dollars are now being used by Sovereign Wealth Funds to buy up big stakes in leading American corporations.

Also up sharply during Bush's watch are inflation, the federal budget deficit, and the trade deficit. And thanks to his misguided support of ethanol, the price of corn and most other grains have increased by over 250% during the last two years. Look for further price rises in the entire food complex.

But lest you think everything has gone up on Bush's watch, consider our poor dollar. Since Bush assumed office, the dollar has declined by 33.7% against the DXY Index (a weighted basket of foreign currencies). Don't even think about going to Europe. And the stock market--as measured by the S&P 500 Index--is down a little over 2% since Bush assumed office. This means that investors who entered the market when Bush become president over 7 years ago are still waiting patiently to earn their first dollar (not including the whopping dividend yield of about 2% on the S&P). A risk-free CD or Treasury Bond would have run circles around the Bush stock market.

It remains to be seen how much more damage Bush can inflict upon the economy and the nation between now and next January.

China, Tibet and the olympics

2008-03-25T19:52:00.002-04:00

Hello All,
How goes it?

Well as most of you might know, I have a very soft spot in my heart for Tibet, a self sufficient country, the only true working (and wonderfully for a very very very long time) theocracy that was overtaken very hostilely by Communist China in 1959. But the west and other powers have done nothing to ever help them, while a genocide of over 1 million Tibetans and the desecration of their society has happened. Fortunately the Dali Lama escaped certain death and fled before the invasion and continues to be their leader in Exile in India.
That is, of course, not the only horrible atrocity that China has done as far as human rights goes, they are right up there with any horribly cruel dictatorship and the lives of most of their population live in fear, with no freedoms and in great poverty while their labor is exploited by many western corporations so we can get cheap clothing and other items. Don't forget Tianamen Square and the masacre of 2000-3000 college students protesting peacefully for rights. We cry, rightfully so, this weekend for 4000 now dead in Iraq during the war. Just a comparison.

All that being said, I want to say, I am completely against supporting anything that has to do to further China's position in the world, while they continue to harm and suffer the people they should be stewards for. I think all countries and athletes w/ a conscious should boycott the Olympics to help force change for the better. Why support the most populous country with such an esteemed event while they behave in such barbaric manners? I say this is a great opportunity to push for change, especially for Tibet. One of the brave Tibetans, peacefully demonstrating because the world is now an audience for their cause, now has a five year prison sentence and already he has been heinously tortured, such as being laid on a table and all limbs tied and stretched apart from his body for hours at time. Most of us would find that horrendous! I would hope so, especially for being a peaceful demonstrator asking for their rights and country back that was TAKEN from them.

I encourage you all to write letters to athletes, sponsoring companies, government officials and even China to ask them to take this opportunity to change their policies on humane treatment of peoples and for freedom, or at least change for Tibet.
That's my two cents,, love love...

Helping Other Animals

2008-01-10T21:34:00.001-05:00

This weekend I had the pleasure of being part of a little furry friend's way to a permanent home. You can help too, here is the website. It's Shitzu and Furbabies.
It's a national volunteer organization that helps relocate and find homes for rescue dogs, most of them small and most of them from puppy mills or kill shelters or dogs that have been surrendered. Because they are nationwide you can adopt a dog that is fostered not in your area, which makes the availability of finding homes much greater. And then they have volunteers that screen in each area the homes, and volunteers that help transport. Most people can't foster or donate much money, but helping transport every now and then, is a huge help! And it's usually a small distance, less than 100 miles. I live in east tn and would have only had less than an hour transport this weekend, but one 'leg' of the trip was never claimed, so I volunteered to split the distance between the last volunteer 'leg' and tn and went up into Ky, then took the pup to Newport Tn. It was a great drive and I just love to have that time together. He actually went from Ohio to to the S.Carolina coast thanks to the people who helped drive him to get him to a new permanent home. He was a 17 week old westie rescued from a puppy mill. He was so sweet and yet so timid, you could tell his short life had been traumatized.

To be able to help, in a small way, find a permanent home for him, was so blissful and rewarding for me. I would highly recommend volunteering w/ this organization, they are very organized and very conscientious. And if you are looking for a pup to adopt, they have lots of adorable ones waiting!
There's my plug....
love, love....

oh deer

2007-11-04T21:06:00.000-05:00

Here's a picture taken out of our bedroom window of two deer that frequent our back yard. We have a groundhog family as well.

What you don't see is our little pup. He's been missing since Friday, he took off, in defiance, as he often does, and he hasn't returned. You can see his picture in the corner up there by my feet on the sidebar. I hope he's alright. Maybe someone took him in.

Happy Birthday Nannie

2007-09-14T18:13:00.001-04:00

Autobiographical pause as Newscoma would say

Today is the birthday of my Nannie, born in 1914. Here is a picture from before that I have posted, she was such a 'Betty'...

Had she continued w/ us physically in her Nanny form, she would have been 93 today. She left many many memories and she still visits us plenty, so she is not at all 'absent' from our lives.
I heard a story this year I hadn't heard before about her. She got upset w/ someone close to her that she felt had been drinking too much, and in the midst of a conversation with someone else, she went over to them and poured a bucket of ice water over their head. It was that someone else (my cousin) who was having a conversation w/them that told me the story this year. He said he couldn't believe she did that to her husband. He said, now he wasn't doing anything wrong, he just had a bit to drink and she had told him to quit and he didn't. We were having a nice conversation and here she walked over (she was barely over 4'8") and dumped that bucket of ice water over his head. My cousin said he just kept talking, after a brief pause, didn't get angry at her, nor did he challenge her, most people knew better!
I just love crazy family stories.

I know it must have been hard on my mother at the tender age of 24 to be pregnant with me and have a 2 yr old and have to move back in with her mother after she and my father decided to split up. But I admire her strength for doing that so much. She did what was best for her children and for her. And she did something that was incredible for me. I was raised there with my mom and my nannie and living there with my nannie until she went into the Light when I was 15 was extradordinary. I'm so fortunate I got those years living w/ her everyday. Thanks Mom and Happy Bday Nannie!...
Love, love

Quiz

2007-09-04T06:49:00.000-04:00

My Liberal Identity:

You are a Reality-Based Intellectualist, also known as the liberal elite. You are a proud member of what’s known as the reality-based community, where science, reason, and non-Jesus-based thought reign supreme.

Take the quiz at http://www.fightconservatives.com/Inside-the-Book/What-Breed-of-Liberal-Are-You.html

This was an enjoyable little quiz I took, really very funny, there is a link at the bottom to take it yourself. I found the outcome very interesting about myself. I do consider myself quite spiritual, and not always very reality based, ha. But about political views, I do believe strongly in the seperation of church and state, so that makes sense.

I hope everyone had a great weekend! love, love...

Angel Heart Tree

2007-08-24T06:22:00.000-04:00

During our trip, we visited this remarkable work of natures art and resiliency. Reportedly the oldest thing -- living or man-made -- east of the Rockies, Angel Oak is a live oak tree aged approximately 1,500 years. Here is a website with some more information. Can you imagine the history of life and humanity and the flow of nature this tree has witnessed?

Willie and friends and family

2007-08-22T06:44:00.001-04:00

Last night mother and Jaydaddy and I went to see Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price at the Smokies Stadium (it's a minor league ball field).
We had seats on the field in fold out chairs that were on the 29th row on the right side of the stage, so they weren't too bad at all.
I had just the best time. One of the most wonderful things we saw when we arrived, was a man with a red bandanna with two braids hanging down and it didn't seem to quite fit with the rest of his look, then we saw another, then another and realized it was something someone could buy - the bandanna with the braids attached. We looked for one later in the T-shirt stand to buy, but they didn't have any - must be something you have to get at a Willie shop or something. Not long after arriving, Jay said 'well, I thought we would see more Mullets than this." We were so surprised that we hardly saw any! But before the night was over, we were rewarded with a glorious one! It was a silver fox one as well. All gray/white and as Jay said 'Looks like it's well taken care of, nice and silky at that.'... and the gentleman it belonged to had the nice western shirt unbuttoned to almost where he tucked it into his pants, so he fit all of our expectations! But enough of the people watching.

The music was outstanding. I don't know much about Ray Price like I should, but singing like that at age 81, I can imagine what he's done the last 60 years in his music career. Merle was enjoyable of course and got a senior lady in front of us up dancing and playing the air piano in tune with him (we think she had something in her Gatorade bottle). Willie came on during the middle of his 'Oakie' song and then he and Ray and Merle did a song together, and later they did several others, 'Night Life' and 'How time Slips away'. When Willie started alone, he of course started with 'Whiskey River.'. That marks my fourth time with the read headed stranger, he sang twice alone, once with Waylon, and this time I got to hear one of my favorites "Pancho and Lefty' of course with the original boys. This was thrilling beyond belief. I wanted to sing out, but I thought I can do that at home and I wanted to hear them, as they sing it much better of course.
On the way home, Mom and I shared a few stories and there was much giggling.
It was a wonderful night, filled with great music a terrifically fun time with my family. I hope your week is going well and filled with joy.... love, love

Nature this weekend in tellico plains.

2007-07-08T16:43:00.001-04:00

Here's a turtle that I found laying eggs... and here is the pretty view from their front porch after a nice afternoon storm.

Happy July

2007-07-07T11:03:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone!

I'm at Sande's Place taking care of their groovy cabin while they are in Vegas watching the nuptials of son #2 and enjoying the cool temps of 114 degrees..
I know they are having a great time.

We enjoyed a great evening viewing the mountains after a summer storm, surrounded with clouds around the tops and the glow of the sunset peaking behind and an evening cocktail.. then followed by grilled yellowfin tuna and shrimp with salad and grilled crimson red corn.

We had an interesting early morning when the 'neighbors' coon dogs found something of interest and kept it at bay around the front porch and bayed and bayed. They were very resistant to moving away from the house, but finally after much 'encouragement', they went on their way, only to return several times later, but they didn't stay very long, I suppose only to pick up the 'scent' again.
I would probably be rather aggravated if my neighbors let loose their coon dogs at 4 in the morning every saturday, but I guess sometimes you get used to things.

I hope everyone has enjoyed their holiday weekend... love love...

I say this all the time... :)

2007-06-20T21:03:00.000-04:00

But we Americans are so wealthy.. despite our grumbles.... I am in the top four percent... wow and I live in a 900 sq foot house in little ole Tn....

Check out how wealthy you are here.... I don't need to rant after you see this.

What I feel one of our biggest issues is,, is,health care. Our nation would have much more money in our homes if we had a Unverisal Health Care Plan. I will take a stand and say the fact that we don't, in the richest, nation, with access to great technology where over 50 million people don't have access to health insurance is just an embarrassment. We are the only industrialized nation like that. I can't wait til Sicko comes to town - the movie.. I can't wait to see it! It wasn't in town two weeks ago when I was movie hungry. We ended up seeing Shrek the Third and Spiderman 3, it was a triequal weekend,, is that even the word for that?? They were both 'ok'...

Camping was so wonderful this weekend. I can't express how beautiful the dance of the fireflies was, as well being with loved ones for my birthday and fathers day w/ my Jaydaddy and meeting new friends as well.

I hope you all had a great weekend and are having a great week.
We plan to go camping at Roan state park this weekend... love love...

Happy Fathers Day

2007-06-15T10:18:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day Everyone.

Can you believe that I still have two of those containers of ice cream left?
Today I'm leaving for three nights of camping at Elkmont.
If you aren't from 'round here, you don't know about the wonderful spectacle of nature that is happening up there right now. It's the dance of the fireflies and it happens only once a year and only in two or three places they know of in the world. They all flash in unison. That doesn't mean all at once, like turning on a flashlight, but more like one starts and it becomes like a rhapsody, or like a wave in a football stadium. It's really quite beautiful, as if they are blinking to the sound of Mozart or some other beautiful melody.
My family and their friends and some of my friends are also going to be camping, so it will be a great time for all of us.
I'm also going to celebrate my last bday in the 30's this year on Sunday w/ the Dad's. I guess I can share the limelight a bit w/ them and fireflies.

I hope you all have a great weekend and I'll bring back lots of pictures.
I'll get better about making visits on the blogosphere soon, I promise, thanks to everyone for continuing to stop by and visit w/ me.
Take care, love love

Chocolate Therapy

2007-06-02T10:19:00.001-04:00

Nothing says everything will be just fine like Ben and Jerry's Chocolate therapy ice cream. That is the actual flavor. It's chocolate ice cream with chocolate pudding and chocolate cookies.

This came from the scoop shop. They were out of the pint and quart containers so they had to use these smaller size holders and I think I ended up on the winning side.

Mothers Day

2007-05-13T18:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

Today I got to spend it with those that I love and that was such a great gift.
Of course we went to Mother's and she said she wouldn't go to any trouble, but would make a small brunch.
You must know what that means w/ my mother. It means only four or five things made from scratch instead of 12. So of course she had a wonderful spread of food including cinnamon pull aparts from her sour dough starter, a bfast casserole, five kinds of fresh cut fruit with a strawberry yogurt sauce, creamy cheesy grits, mimosa's or poinsettia's, etc... YUMMY to it all.
My mother is the best host. She is one of those that always asks if anyone needs anything and doesn't like to sit down or eat until the very last person has anything imaginable they might possibly desire.
Jokingly it has been said 'could you spare an arm', b/c we know she would give it for anyone.
Recently she a surgical procedure and we weren't sure if she might have had a malignancy. She didn't show a bit of fear and was the tower of strength for us all, at her four foot ten inches as the matriarch of our family, as usual.
We are so thankful for this blessing of the good news w/ this health concern.
I've been accused many times of being way too attached to my mother, and it's absolutely true and I don't mind that label one bit. I'm blessed w/ one helluva mother and she has loved me unconditionally through many trials and tribulations that this little girl has put her through.

She told me today, "Julie you have got to do something about your blog, Write On it',, so here it is Mom! sorry for being a slacker.
Happy Mothers Day to you and to every mother, Love Love....

Earth Day 2007

2007-04-23T20:40:00.000-04:00

We had an ecstatic day.

Yes, Mom and Dad, she had ice cream for lunch, but also some peanut butter crackers. But that is what Aunts do.

After learning about Mother Earth, and much playing in the water fountains, we had cheese sticks, fruit and milk at Arby's. I didn't realize til today that they didn't give her the toy for her meal. I will go back and get it. No one denies my Summy. Anyway, then we came back to the crib, she had a bath, and then 'Played as Summy Dog' for a while, then the 'Rents came and took her from me.

I'm so happy that I have been able to do this w/ her, now three years in a row. She is such a blessing in my life and I can have such fun w/ her and also teach her to be responsible about the world around her in a fun way, that makes my little hippie heart even more happy.

Update..

2007-04-20T21:39:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posting.
Things have been pretty busy 'round here.
My Ma had a procedure done this week and we are so blessed and thankful that everything came back w/ wonderfully good news. She is back at home and recuperating.
Thank you everyone for your support and prayers, as I know this has made a big difference.
I am going to Earthday tomorrow w/ my niece Summer and am so excited.
I hope to continue to instill her w/ liberal tree huggin values.
I'll take some pictures and post them tomorrow.

p.s. Paterphil.. went to your blog and couldn't sign on.... let me know how to read your blog again! :) Thanks for checking up on me!

Here is a funny you tube video from Mythbusters about fart humor.. I know, I am like Seven years old, maybe six or even five! :)

Take care, love love....

Kurt Vonnegut

2007-04-13T17:59:00.000-04:00

I was going to write a post about his recent transition, but Cuppa Joe did such a great job, I won't even make my own attempt. I will however add, there is a wonderful opportunity on the PBS website to see streamed an interview in October that is delightfully FULL ON Kurt, click here and enjoy a happy moment, as he described and I copy from cuppa's entry, that he said in this interview that I most enjoyed:

"One thing which Uncle Alex found objectionable about human beings was that they seldom took time out to notice when they were happy. He himself did his best to acknowledge it when times were sweet. We could be drinking lemonade in the shade of an apple tree in the summertime, and he would interrupt the conversation to say, "If this isn't nice, what is?"

People who tell you they don't want to be at work

2007-04-06T16:21:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was at the check out line at Krogers.
As usual there is the obligatory 'How are you doing?" And the clerk, who was a young male, approximately 17-19 (as I get older, it's so hard to gauge age, ha that rhymed), says to me, 'Oh, I will be fine in just about three minutes. See, I have figured out that I can clock in seven minutes after and seven minutes before my shift and I get complete credit for the hour!! Yeah man, that rocks!'

He was so excited! I said 'Wow, you really are excited, really siked aren't you?"
"yeah, it's totally awesome'

'So you do this everyday, you have figured out how to screw the company for 14 minutes every shift?"

"yeah man, totally awesome"

"So you are feeling really proud, really excited, man that is so cool that you have figured out a great way to rob the corporation"

"Oh Yeah, totally"..... and then he says 'Oh, hi, Mr. such and such, I didn't know your first name was David, that is just like mine' as he stumbles for something, anything at all to say... b/c the Asst manager is at the very end of the check out counter right by where you bag the groceries, only two feet from me, and the look on his face was not pleasant!!

I tell you what,, I have a real big pet peeve. And this is being told by someone at a place I am patronizing that they really hate to be there, while I'm helping to pay for their salary (as menial as it may be - that's another rant for another time). You know, given a choice, most of us would probably prefer to be doing something other than work, but I don't want to hear that.

Nine times out of ten, if you ask someone how they are doing, they will say, "Great in about an hour when I get off work." or " Well considering I had to come in on my day off, not too good."... it always has to do with not wanting to be there. I really don't want to hear that. And I never talked like that when I worked in public service, and in the job I do now, I don't say I can't wait to leave here, no matter how badly I'm treated. And I've had some jobs where I had to work really hard and couldn't wait to leave- fast food, at a nursing home, waiting tables, but I sure didn't make those people feel like it.

Ok, rant ended... next entry,, more about people who don't want to work and want money for free....

Brief Hello and some nice Pictures

2007-04-04T19:35:00.000-04:00

I was lucky enough to housesit for Sande a few weeks ago, and here are some pictures. The view from her porch is amazing. Her puppies are adoreble.

Painful thangs that weren't so bad....

2007-03-06T21:12:00.000-05:00

Today I dealt with 2 things I had been dreading for a year - Taxes and the Dentist.
I guess it just goes to show that things aren't as bad as you make them out to be.

I have been paying dental insurance for several years, but have still didn't go for my regular check ups. That's pathetic. I finally went today. I got the lecture for not having been for several years. I said I just dread it and am afraid of the dentist and what he might say. They explained of course that the more often you go, the less hard it is on you and the sooner they can catch problems, the less work they have to do.
Surprisingly, even though I asked the Hygienist if she was going to have to cancel all other other appts for the day, it didn't take all that long and the dentist said I was just fine! Look Ma, no Cavities! I was so happy. Of course I can't quit running my tongue over my smooth teeth that still have grit in them from that polishing.. wow, what luck.

Then I prepared my taxes. It wasn't as painful as I thought, or as time consuming. I didn't get as much money returned to me that I have paid into the federal govt, but at least I don't have to write them a check.

Things I just don't get that really piss me off

2007-03-02T07:01:00.000-05:00

In December, a woman drove to school with a dog attached to by a leash to her trailer hitch. The story says, "Director of LaFollette Animal Control Stan Foust says someone hooked Bobo's leash to the trailer hitch of Susan Baird's SUV. He says she drove nearly a mile, from her house to LaFollette Middle School to pick up her child."When I got there, you could see a trail of blood coming from the street all the way into the parking lot. Then there was big pools of blood in the parking lot," Foust says. " Read a synopsis of the case history here.
Here is another site that has some pictures of him and his remarkable recovery.

The grand jury did not indict her on any animal cruelty, as they felt there wasn't enough evidence. She wouldn't say she was guilty and apparently claims her nephew might have done it.
Now there is even question that the dog will be returned to her.
This is unbelievable. Ultimately, it was her dog to be responsible for, whether she did it not, and she has proven, at the least to be a very irresponsible caretaker who shouldn't be allowed the return of this very resilient loving creature.
It wasn't that long before this it had previously... here' s a synopsis of another story . Most people think I've got my values a little whacked b/c of how much value I place on the welfare of animals, but at some level you have to ask, what if this had happened to a child? These people would certainly be held responsible and never be allowed the return of their children had they done something that had their ears ripped off, and it would be considered a very heinous act - which it is. These furry companions are completely helpless and at our mercy to provide them w/ care. They don't' have the advocates, the systems, and the laws in place that the human children do to protect them. And this just proves once again that people just see only certain life as precious, although in my mind, all life comes from the same loving place; and we as humans have a great responsibility to be evolved enough to be caretakers and stewards that are deserving of this reward we have been given as 'leader'.

About Music!

2007-02-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Last Friday I got to have lunch w/ this wonderful friend from my former place of employment at this great thing they do in downtown Knoxville called the BluePlate and I got to listen to Greg Brown. It was outstanding. He had played the night before for lots of $ at the Bijou. He is also married to Iris Dement fyi. It was a real Treat! I had never seen him before. If you ever get the chance, I strongly recommend seeing him.

I did shut up and I did go water skiing!

2007-01-13T13:38:00.000-05:00

My brother and I Water skiied today to raise money for the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation center and the Dream Connection. Together, we raised almost $600 (thank you everyone!).
I'm the one pictured above and he is the better skier below. We were gifted with a sunny, warm day. The water was quite cold, but fortunately neither one of us fell and we didn't have to stay in it too long.

The weather man

2007-01-10T07:19:00.000-05:00

If the weather man is right...(IF!)
Then Saturday for waterskiing shouldn't be so traumatic - should get up to sixty that day, even w/ some showers (which shouldn't matter since I'll get wet anyway), that's much better than the 38 degrees when I did it several years ago.
Very exciting weather forecast!

Saturday..

2007-01-06T09:43:00.000-05:00

This Saturday finds me about to launch a cleaning out (of stuff of) my house.
Having moved essentially twice in the past two years you would think I would have sized down, but I think I ended up with more things.
It's good to gid rid of things you don't need and pass on to those who might.
Though I doubt some people need my notebooks from UT or an old word processor. Why is it so hard to part w/things we don't need like that?
I'm a terrible pack rat.

Next weekend, just about this time, I should be about to WATERSKI. That's right, waterski for Charity. Remember my friend Johnny, who was in that terrible motorcycle wreck? Well, in honor of his miraculous recovery and the people at the Patricia Neal Rehab center, I will water ski to raise money for their charity at the Eskimo Eskipades event. Thanks to cousin Bob, friends Rachel and David and Brenda who have already given me $. If you want to pass some along, let me know and I'll be glad to send it in. And if you live close by, come on out and watch!

I'm also still trying to clean out my head from this sinus infection.
A trip to my ENT surgeon this week left him very frustrated.
I had sinus surgery 2.5 years ago and up until about six months ago, could not be happier with the results. Now, I've had back to back sinus infections.
He was rather upset that my PCP is so cautious to use any antibiotics and he feels that he should have 'stayed on top' of my infections until it was wiped out for good - not just a few weeks or a month. I understand my PCP, not wanting to overuse antibiotics either , he seems to feel most URI begin with viral bugs. And he's probably right. This is where my ENT differs, he says, once you start getting these ongoing URI in your head, you really need to be aggressive, especially if you have a history like mine and don't want to mess up the artwork he did w/ his surgical skills. So, he gave me some antibiotics, more steroid nasal spray, and some decongestants. I will have a cat scan done on the 16th to see if I have a brain and also how my sinuses look. I'm hopeful that I just need a bit of medical intervention and not another procedure.
Although, yesterday, I spoke with a friend who had surgery done, then a year later started to get infections, had to go back for another surgery because the openings had closed up again because they had not been made big enough initially and since then has been ok. She also said her dr does insists that she be treated right away for any sign of infection and is very cautious with her about that.
I also found this interesting article that gives me very little hope for my future, ha. I'll just end up having sinus infections and there's nothing anyone or anything can do, it's all genetic (I don't blame you mom!), b/c you just don't have the right cells in the epithelia layer of your nose to fight off infections and nothing can change that. It's just a theory now though.
Have a great weekend and help me have the power to 'get rid of stuff'.... :)
love love...

Reality tv confession...

2007-01-04T05:50:00.000-05:00

I enjoy watching reality TV. I'll admit it. And some of it is absolutely awful.
I'll even admit that I watch really bad, terribly awful, reality tv - such as The Real Housewives of Orange County, to see how people are not living in the REAL world; The Girls Next Door - About Hugh Hef's three girlfriends because really, that's just amazing to me; and even sometimes the Real World on Mtv to see how the dsyfunction of today's youth continues into spiral into a drunken sexual haze (and how is that different from the first one? ha).

It's really just the ridiculous of it that makes it pure entertainment for me.

But I do like some that I think are not so awfully embarrassing, like Top Chef. I'm hoping that Sam or Elia wins.
And I've been watching this most interesting show on Sundance, 'One Punk Under God'. If you get Sundance check it out. They have some great gems there and this one is really intriguing. It's about Jay Baker, son of Tammy Faye and Jim Baker.
After with his family, (his dad's affair, his parent's divorce, his dad's prison time) he became disillusioned with church and God and became a drug addict - typical story line here. Now he is the leader of a new kind of church "Revolution- teaching against the church since 1994" that teaches acceptance to all, - ultimate grace, love from God- (embraces homosexuality for example), he smokes at the pulpit, is covered in tattoos and even his father says he is a better man than him about God's teachings of love. I find this one really interesting.
Of course 30 days on F/x, when you can find it, is always great. When they put someone of an opposite mindset in a situation for thirty days and see how everyone learns from the situation; created by Morgan Spurlock, the guy who nearly killed himself filming 'Supersize Me' about fast food.

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-24T11:53:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone! Happy Holidays!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful time and is surrounded by those that you love or family you can at least tolerate (ha).

If you haven't seen the SNL 'christmas present' video, you must, go HERE.
You won't get that tune out of your head for days.

I have heard from good interviews/articles on NPR as of late:

Here's on about famous writers and their beverages of choice, as written in a book by Hemingway's son and his friend Bailey... click here to listen to it.

If you didn't know who this guy was, (who was a son of a diplomat!) he founded atlantic records and brought us some of the best music we listen to today and have for decades - Aretha, Ray Charles, Led Zepplin. He went into the light this past month and without him, many artists wouldn't have had the opportunity they had to share their talents.

Did you know the history of the record and how it affected music? If not, here is a something really interesting.

I hope you all have a wonderful time.. love love

Tamale Fest

2006-11-30T21:46:00.000-05:00

The tamale fest was so much Fun!! You can see we made more than 250+ ....and we had a token kid who was such a help ....

We do this each year after thanksgiving.. This year it was friends Sherry, Joanne, sis in law Shea and niece Summer, Mama and neighbor Ruth (who refused picture). We are having sangrias! Lots of fun! For lots of well deserved hard work.

Thanksgiving

2006-11-26T19:15:00.000-05:00

We had a really wonderful Thanksgiving. Several family members came over and several friends. You can see my friend Lisa in all these pictures, isn't she so pretty and groovy? And isn't my niece Summer just the Cat's meow, she' so cute!
You can see a side shot of my hot and sexy sis in law Shea, too.

I hope you all had a great holiday. I am grateful for so many things that I won't bore you with them on my blog, but I'm sure you can guess several of them. Next I'll blog about how we got together to make Tamales today.

Moving on

2006-11-10T08:28:00.000-05:00

Well I can't say that I'm not disappointed in the way our voters of Tennessee made their choices this week, but that is how democracy works and we are blessed to be able to make our own voices heard.
In the words of my mother, 'I hope I don't have to hear Corker speak too often b/c his voice grates on my nerves.'
I'm terribly disappointed that 81% of the state has such hard feelings against people who have same sex partners. I just don't see what it matters. I grew up in Blount County and never really was 'around any gay people' - that I KNEW of until I started working in Restaurants in Knoxville. I suppose until that time I had the same preconceived notions as others, I can't really remember to be honest. I had the big bleached hair and the Hank Wms Jr license plate on the front of my car, man was I RED. But it didn't take any time for me to make friends with people who were gay. People are just people, their lifestyle didn't affect mine and never has. In fact some of my close friends and family are gay. The specialness of marriage is certainly not honored by heterosexuals, with our over 50% divorce rate. Most gay people I know are much more committed in their relationships than non gays. And who are we to say who should be married and who shouldn't be? It's really something when one group has such a hold of power over another group. I believe there's a name for that,, especially when that power is abused and used to oppress that group from having the same freedoms as everyone else. I'll let you all figure that one out. Here is a touching editorial from the very good local paper LGBT paper. Cathy has a wonderful entry on her blog about it also.

And onward now. I'm headed for a weekend in Mars Hill North Carolina to shake off my disgust and relax for a bit.

Happy Veterans Day today everyone and especially much appreciation to all of our Veterans.

Get out and Vote Today!

2006-11-07T07:13:00.000-05:00

If you haven't already voted today, get out and do so!
Here in Tennessee, there is a vote on whether or not to change our state constitution about making a marriage only between a man and a woman.
I don't guess a constitution should really be changed for anything more important (I'm being sarcastic). Seriously, gov't needs to stay out of our personal lives and gay people have just as much right to be as miserably married as hetero's do.
Of course the amendment is worded in such confusing manner that voting on it is difficult. You want to vote "NO" to it, to NOT change the constitution, and YES if you want to start down a really nasty path of oppression and bigotry. But you might assume you should vote YES in support of an open minded free society where people can make choices (or at least not have them taken away by gov't at this time in all certainty), but really, you are supposed to vote NO, to NOT change the constitution. It's so very confusing,, you wonder if it's done deliberately.

Our gov't has so many other issues it needs to focus on instead of this one, such as our economy, foreign policy, the Iraq War, our huge HEALTH care CRISIS, poverty, political corruption, just to name a few, that you would think common sense would keep them from trying to dictate to people how to live one's personal Love life. It's a very nice distraction that seems to crop up every time elections do, interestingly enough.

Get out and vote today!

East Tennessee Scenery

2006-11-03T19:54:00.000-05:00

Here are some pretty pictures - a little nicer than the last entry - of the pretty fall foliage we have enjoyed the last few weeks here.
My family and I camped last weekend (yes in the rain and cold) but still had a great time.
My 3 year old niece had some entertaining things to say, such as 'I've got a whole bag full of One eye wink tricks for you," and I told her she was full of moxy and she said 'No I'm full of Poop'... Never met anyone that will admit that before.

Create your own Caption

2006-10-27T23:37:00.000-04:00

Saw this at the Beautiful Cherahola Skyway...(Sweet mother Mary of God they are bicycle shorts!!) So.. come up w/ your Caption for these pictures.. by the way.. we looked and looked,, there was no bike,, he got in a mini van!! He just wore this for No real reason.
If he is going to advertise,, he sould have something to market is all I'm thinkin...

Ok, so let the games begin... come up w/ your own caption for these picture(s)!!

Happiness, oh,, such happiness...bliss...

2006-10-17T21:50:00.000-04:00

My hair has magically turned back into a most beautiful color of brown,, it's own natural color, I'm so happy.
It's been on an accidental tour of rainbow colors since the spring, a span of auburn, cherry red, gold, blonde splotches, a tad pink at times, orange, back to red, and now it's returned magically to it's natural pretty brown color. I'm delighted beyond measure.

I had a most delicious time at the Brewers Jam Saturday. Though I have to agree w/ Justin at Knox Views that it did become way too crowded, ie.. like a MOSH pit he said. One of my friends emailed me this week and said :

"did you see the Big guy get in a fight? someone busted a glass over his head and then the cops wrestled him out - it was pretty damn funny b/c he was drunk, really mad and was wearing a shirt that he should have thrown away in high school."

I missed that.. oh well. I was w/ several friends and had a blast. And I got to see so many friends that I had not had the pleasure in seeing for a while - nothing like Alcohol to bring people together.
I had blueberry, apple, pumpkin and vanilla beer. I enjoyed the Carolina Blonde and the brew at the Tennessee Home brewers place too, but can't tell you the name of it,, it was one of the first beers and the name was way too long after several others and too complicated for my wee feeble brain.

This weekend I am off to Tellico Plains and the Cherohala Skyway, and I get to enjoy the MTN view from a beautiful house on top of a hill, visiting one night w/ friends Sande and Dan and then housesitting one night, taking care of their new pups.
Next weekend is camping at Elkmont w/ friends and family who have a new travel trailer.
Life is lovely and happy. And my hair is brown,
love love

Jimmy Carter on North Korea

2006-10-16T07:03:00.000-04:00

October 11, 2006
Solving the Korean Stalemate, One Step at a Time
By JIMMY CARTER
ATLANTA (as published in NY Times)
IN 1994 the North Koreans expelled inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency and were threatening to process spent nuclear fuel into plutonium, giving them the ability to produce nuclear weapons.

With the risk of war on the Korean Peninsula, there was a consensus that the forces of South Korea and the United States could overwhelmingly defeat North Korea. But it was also known that North Korea could quickly launch more than 20,000 shells and missiles into nearby Seoul. The American commander in South Korea, Gen. Gary Luck, estimated that total casualties would far exceed those of the Korean War.

Responding to an invitation from President Kim Il-sung of North Korea, and with the approval of President Bill Clinton, I went to Pyongyang and negotiated an agreement under which North Korea would cease its nuclear program at Yongbyon and permit inspectors from the atomic agency to return to the site to assure that the spent fuel was not reprocessed. It was also agreed that direct talks would be held between the two Koreas.

The spent fuel (estimated to be adequate for a half-dozen bombs) continued to be monitored, and extensive bilateral discussions were held. The United States assured the North Koreans that there would be no military threat to them, that it would supply fuel oil to replace the lost nuclear power and that it would help build two modern atomic power plants, with their fuel rods and operation to be monitored by international inspectors. The summit talks resulted in South Korean President Kim Dae-jung earning the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his successful efforts to ease tensions on the peninsula.

But beginning in 2002, the United States branded North Korea as part of an axis of evil, threatened military action, ended the shipments of fuel oil and the construction of nuclear power plants and refused to consider further bilateral talks. In their discussions with me at this time, North Korean spokesmen seemed convinced that the American positions posed a serious danger to their country and to its political regime.

Responding in its ill-advised but predictable way, Pyongyang withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, expelled atomic energy agency inspectors, resumed processing fuel rods and began developing nuclear explosive devices.

Six-nation talks finally concluded in an agreement last September that called for North Korea to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs and for the United States and North Korea to respect each other's sovereignty, exist peacefully together and take steps to normalize relations. Each side subsequently claimed that the other had violated the agreement. The United States imposed severe financial sanctions and Pyongyang adopted the deeply troubling nuclear option.

The current military situation is similar but worse than it was a decade ago: we can still destroy North Korea's army, but if we do it is likely to result in many more than a million South Korean and American casualties.

If and when it is confirmed that the recent explosion in North Korea was nuclear, the international community will once again be faced with difficult choices. One option, the most likely one, is to try to force Pyongyang's leaders to abandon their nuclear program with military threats and a further tightening of the embargoes, increasing the suffering of its already starving people. Two important facts must be faced: Kim Jong-il and his military leaders have proven themselves almost impervious to outside pressure, and both China and South Korea have shown that they are reluctant to destabilize the regime. This approach is also more likely to stimulate further nuclear weapons activity.

The other option is to make an effort to put into effect the September denuclearization agreement, which the North Koreans still maintain is feasible. The simple framework for a step-by-step agreement exists, with the United States giving a firm and direct statement of no hostile intent, and moving toward normal relations if North Korea forgoes any further nuclear weapons program and remains at peace with its neighbors. Each element would have to be confirmed by mutual actions combined with unimpeded international inspections.

Although a small nuclear test is a far cry from even a crude deliverable bomb, this second option has become even more difficult now, but it is unlikely that the North Koreans will back down unless the United States meets this basic demand. Washington's pledge of no direct talks could be finessed through secret discussions with a trusted emissary like former Secretary of State Jim Baker, who earlier this week said, "It's not appeasement to talk to your enemies." What must be avoided is to leave a beleaguered nuclear nation convinced that it is permanently excluded from the international community, its existence threatened, its people suffering horrible deprivation and its hard-liners in total control of military and political policy.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president, is the founder of the Carter Center and the winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.

Bloggers

2006-10-13T21:53:00.000-04:00

Last night I had the pleasure of meeting Newscoma, Rodent Queen, Cuppa, and the Editor out for a night on the town.
Joe gives a run down of the events for you. We were the most lively group at Sapphires, the swanky martini bar downtown - no one can call us computer geeks!
I had so much fun and these gals are just the best (and the guy too)! I really wish that our West Memphis gals lived here b/c I would want to see them all the time. And we would probably cause trouble, but that would be just fine.
I've had the pleasure in the last several weeks to meet several bloggers in person and I want to say how wonderful that has been.
Blogging certainly has affected my life and in a mostly -90%- positive manner. Last night the comment was made, that without the blog, how would we have all come together. It just wouldn't have happened.

And as we decided last night,, I think this whole blog thing might just catch on...

Odds 'n ends

2006-10-10T07:10:00.000-04:00

It's perfect camping weather. I can't wait to be in the mtns, which I will be soon.
I can't wait either for the arrival of blogger friends Newscoma and Rodent Queen. Cuppa and some others I understand will be joining everyone to make their reception a glorious event.
This weekend will be fun with Greekfest and the Brewers Jam.
In other gastric news, I planted my own spinach this weekend, in hopes of having some without fecal matter bacteria in it. And last night I made a beautiful lemon beurre blanc sauce with capers and dill served over vermicelli pasta with shrimp. Could life get any better? I said this week would be a good one. :)

The truth about Alcohol and Foley

2006-10-07T11:48:00.000-04:00

Wanda Sykes speaks the truth about Alcohol and Congressman Foley. And as a bonus, check out the George Allen insult generator and don't forget to click on 'his excuse'.... :

A pendulum week

2006-10-06T20:57:00.000-04:00

This week has certainly had it's share of ups and downs. It's been filled with some very stressful times matched with equal relief, disappointments and wonderful moments as well, and for the most part, I'm just glad it has come to an end; with several things having come to fruition, personally and professionally.
The week of events we plan every year is now over, with today's Walkathon. Yesterday, the event at Market Square was the biggest and best success it had ever been. We had hundreds of people there. And we had a most wonderful of time.
I was wiped out mentally, emotionally, and physically after the week and had no energy to go to Ky yesterday, as I'm sure it was a disappointment to my Mother and my friend in Ky (though she seemed overwhelmed by the prospect of company anyway, so I'm not sure she wasn't entirely relieved), but I just couldn't make the trip. I was able to rest last night for the first time in days and replenish myself in a way that voided the migraine and impending illness from my worn down soul. Oh how dramatic that sounds, Wo is me. But now I feel great and I'm so excited and happy and no longer feeling bloppy at all.
Next week I look forward to a fresh and lovely week. Seeing Newscoma and Rodent Queen. Visiting w/ the Three T's and little Meri. And being able to finally go on that long awaited Dinner Date w/ my special friend Johnny who says he would love to go out - the one who about seven weeks ago nearly died in a motorcycle crash. He said he'd like to go eat Italian food sometime. I said just let me know when and I'd love to be his dining companion. He still has pain in his 8 broken ribs, which is also the side they split open to do his lung surgery and I suspect that will take awhile to resolve. But he's walking w/ a walker and doing remarkably well. I asked him, 'do you ever get angry about what has happened?', and he said 'No, what good would that do me? I just want to get better.' Now that is some attitude. And he's right, getting angry at other people just hurts us, it's like drinking poison and hoping it hurts the other person.
Here's a picture of my groovy friend Lisa and I yesterday having fun at the event.

Lot's 'o things to do

2006-10-04T07:22:00.000-04:00

This week is 'Mental Illness Awareness week' and here in Knoxvegas we are doing activities all week long. Friday we will have a public awareness/consumer celebration day at Market square from 12-4. The usual fair - free food/entertainment/games/prizes. Last year it rained and I grilled and served hot dogs. I stayed in the rain. I mean I stood there in the rain and continued to serve food to everyone who wanted the free food in the rain. Rain, even pouring rain, won't stop people from attending our great events (or getting free food).
I think I have worked at this event for 14 years now. I used to plan it, in my former life, now I can just volunteer (Thank you God). I get to visit w/ many former friends and the people I worked with for many many years and it's a great deal of fun and I'm looking forward to it.
Tomorrow I'm not looking forward to one aspect of my day, dealing w/ a personal issue, but once it's resolved, I will be relieved. But I'll also spend the day helping gather all the things for the event above.

Then this weekend, God willing and the crik don't rise, Ma and I will head to Ky to the St. James Art Fair and enjoy visiting w/ one of my best friends Anne and seeing over 1000 artisians with over 1/4 million other people there. She lives right in one of the courtyards in historic downtown Louisville where the fair is, so it's out the door and there you are in the festival. Here's a rather interesting story from our trip last year to the festival. And here are some interesting things we saw.

Next week, Newscoma and Rodent Queen will be gracing our fair town, never to leave it the same. So I am so excited to meet my kindred sisters and have some cockatils with them. They will be here when Greekfest is here - something I haven't missed in at least seven years. I'm glad it's back at the church. Didn't seem very greekfest like at the Worlds Fair site. Then next weekend is also the Brewers Jam. Not sure if I'll be at that, though I have a heart's desire to attend.
The three T's ( tracy, tracy and tammy) and Meri, will be here from Ga to stir up the most pleasant kind of mischief and fun so that is the major weekend agenda. It seems they have made October an annual trip for three years. One year my funeral (wedding I mean), the next year a divorce celebration and this year the second anniversary of my divorce (well, I say that, but they just want to get away).
If you live in knoxvegas come on out friday and see us!

Conservative Christian Right Wing Republican.....

2006-10-03T19:22:00.000-04:00

Here is a great song that I found last year by a Nashville singer Todd Snider.
My friend Johnny loaned me the Cd (who incidently is out of Pat N's rehab unit and home and doing really well!).
Enjoy this little ditty w/ the long title "Conservative Christian Right Wing Republican Straight White American Male"...

She had a baby in a bar?

2006-10-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

I'm just making fun of the title of Cathy's blog entry for out gathering at Barley's for blogfest. I wouldn't consider it a bar, as it's a restaurant as well and many people take their entire families there. I think she got the title from her 16 year old son who had mentioned that to her 'I can't believe you have the baby in a bar.'. I was really glad that Cathy came b/c I hadn't seen her in a long time. It was wonderful to visit w/ her. And it was great to meet other bloggers from 'round here. Thank you Rich for putting it together. Tn Girl has a list of some of those who went.
Katie had a suprise for me that I wasn't quite expecting. (more on that later...)

Arggghhh!!!

2006-09-27T06:41:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted in almost two weeks, oh my.
I've been a pirate the last two days (see title).
A few days ago I was applying mascara when the dogs barked and I jumped and stabbed myself in the eyeball. It bothered me all day and then I woke up in the night w/ it pouring tears and green gook in the corner so a trip to the dr and a dye test showed that I had cut my cornea so he patched me and told me to lay around w/ my eye closed and not do anything w/ my eyes until it healed up.
Amazingly, the cornea heals so quickly and it's already much better.
It's kind of embarassing when I think about it.

I got a phone call from my friend Johnny who is in rehab. He should be going on a pass today and he is so excited to see how that goes. He can't wait to get out of there and go home. He is doing so amazingly well. He sounds great. He had a few days last week when his sodium level was low that weren't so pleasant, but his rehab is going great. He said he can't wait to go camping and is ready for a trip in October. I told him I already had some plans made for the last weekend. It's been well over a month since his accident and a miracle that he is going to fully recover. I know it seems like forever to him.

I'm looking forward to possibly going to the St. James Art Fair in a few weeks in Louisville ky w/ my Mom, and then the Three T's will be visiting the next weekend, while knoxville has Greekfest and Brewfest.

Have a groovy rest of the week...

Happy Birthday Nannie

2006-09-14T15:37:00.000-04:00

Today would have been my grandmother's 92 bday.
Last year I posted a really groovy picture and wrote about her. Here is another picture that I posted that some people say 'you favor her in this picture Jules.'

I know I miss her and I think about her all the time. I heard a funny story about her this year that I had not heard before. She was upset w/ her husband b/c he had been on the sauce pretty hard that day and right in front of everyone and while he was in a conversation w/ my cousin, she poured a bucket of ice water on his head. I guess she was over it. After he went into the light, I don't think she ever saw another man - not that I know of anyway. I remember some man coming to the house wanting to see her and she ran him off. She told me she had one man, the love of her life and that was enough and all she could handle and she didn't want anymore men, she was done w/ it. She sure never did seem lonely. I admire that.

Happy Birthday Nannie!

I'm Bloppy Round Here

2006-09-13T21:00:00.000-04:00

My lovely and creative niece told me one day she was 'too bloppy' (pronounced like Floppy) to do something. I am just too bloppy to do that she said. And she really told me. And that was that. And from time to time she will still says she feels Bloppy. I've adopted that word b/c I think it's so expressive and can mean so much and yet be so vague at the same time. We even use it at work and I have a few friends who have picked it up, so she has started a trend. Feel free to use it yourselves.
Lately I have felt bloppy. I know sooner than Later I won't be so bloppy as all things pass, but between little bothersome creatures and my less than desirable camping trip and various asundry other things I just want to be bloppy right now. It's the ebb and flow of life. But I will be just fine very soon and no longer bloppy.

I have a lot to be thankful for, and I do appreciate my blessings, believe me I do. I am happy my friend Johnny is moving to our area's best rehab faclities, the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Facility for several weeks of rehab.

Some years ago, I water skiied in January to raise money for them. Man was I cold. It took me years to warm up. Maybe I"ll do it again this year in honor of Johnny and I'll challenge my water skiing champion brother to do it w/ me. And we'll do it 'Round Here

In Memory Of James Christopher Hanley, 34

2006-09-10T18:18:00.000-04:00

James Christopher Hanley, Business Manager,
was in the World Trade Center on Sept 11, 2001.
No doubt he is very deeply missed. In the on line memorials many people left messages speaking of what a kind and caring and loving individual he was. His gifts clearly blessed and touched those around him and his loss is felt by many. Many prayers of healing and comfort and peace for his family, friends and loved ones. Find out more about him here.

Da' Count

2006-09-08T17:54:00.000-04:00
Da' Count is about being gratful.
I'm kind of bummed about a few things this week, but I really should be grateful about so many things, so this is a good exercise to get me focused on all the blessings of my life.
I'm grateful, so very grateful that my friend Johnny continues to recover. They took out all his 'tubes' today. They are talking about sending him to a rehab next week. I am so grateful for such loving, dedicated, supportive and patient family and friends. I am grateful to be here, healthy and able bodied. I'm grateful that I have a really great job that I enjoy. I am grateful that my brother and sister in law moved back here so I can be close to them and watch my niece grow up and be a part of her life. I am grateful that I have shelter and food and clothing in abundance more than most in the world (comparably so). I am grateful for my furry roomates. And grateful for blogging.
I didn't do near as good a job as my cuz did at kfarmer, so check hers out.
Love love,,, have a great weekend.

Wednesday Wednesday

2006-09-06T20:10:00.000-04:00
Well I was so delighted to help my friend with some chicken soup tonight at the hospital. I visited w/ him for quite a while. He's doing so remarkably well.
When I saw him I said It's so wonderful to see you, we will have to go camping soon, when do you want to go and he said within minutes, "So, when are we going to get married?" He's too funny.
Then he said for dinner he wanted filet and shrimp, and maybe a cigar, so he's doing pretty good. They did some physical therapy on him while I was there and even got him up to stand for a bit. And the neurologist came by and gave him a very good report and said he would see him in about a month.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, as it has been a miraculous recovery.
He has lots of friends who have helped and they have even organized two fundraisers - one motorcycle ride and one golf tournament. Isn't that wonderful?

Monday Monday..

2006-09-06T07:21:00.000-04:00
Hey wait.. it's not Monday, but it is to me.
I'll be messed up on my days this week.
It's my first day back in the work week. A three day week will be nice.
My friend is doing really really extraordinarily well, writing notes b/c it's been hard for him to talk (having had that tube down his throat for so long and w/ the trach and all) and they are doing some physical therapy w/ him. They are so impressed w/ his progress.
My camping trip sucked. But life is like that some times.
There will be other ones that I'm sure will be better.
I hope everyone had a nice weekend and that your week is a blessed one.

Here are some cartoons from around the world, seems we aren't well thought of, I can't imagine why. Some of them are really funny, but some are very disturbing.
I found this in a Charleston paper.

Happy Labour Day Weekend!

2006-09-02T17:48:00.000-04:00
Hey Guys, thanks for all the great comments and wonderful support and prayers for my friend.
His surgery went as well as they could hope, although they had to 'open him up' instead of it being less invasive as they had hoped (going through the opening where his drainage tubes had been). They did a tracheotomy on him and they hope to decrease the sedation and wean him off the respirator this weekend, so things are looking up now!

In honor of Labour day, I'm going to relax myself and go camping at Elkmont campground and will return on Tuesday. I hope everyone else will enjoy themselves and relax as well.
I am glad I am not around Knoxville to deal w/ the Boomsday crowd and quagmire.
It has long since lost it's appeal for me - no offense to those who do enjoy it.

Also in honor of Labour day, I want to mention a great documentary that I watched this week titled 'The Corporation". I viewed it on the Sundance channel. I was of course not surprised at all of the horrible things that the big greedy corporate world does, but shocked at how ignorant I am and I try to stay educated on these matters. I did rather enjoy a scene (though the whole matter was disgusting) where Michael Moore approached the CEO of NIKE to ask him if he would like to tour the NIKE manufacturing plants in Indonesia b/c the CEO had never ever been there. Mr. Moore had two first class plane tickets to take him there. OF course he refused to go, but later did phone him up and said that he might could make it on a side trip when he went to Australia to view a big Tennis open, would Mr. Moore like to accompany him to the Tennis Open?
Also of note was that even after all that press and publicity about sweet Kathy Lee Gifford and her line of clothing that super giant Wal-mart Sells that five year old China kids make for 3 Cents a day (really that is accurate about the three cents a day, but I am not sure about the age), the same conditions exist and nothing has changed w/ her line of clothing whatsoever!!
I recommend viewing it, and it can be downloaded for free at the website!

Have a great weekend! Love love

Friendship

2006-08-31T22:02:00.000-04:00
I'm a very fortunate person to have lots of loving, caring people in my life.
Last year when I was having my bad patch, I had to run away a lot. I had to continue living in my ex husbands home for several months after our relationship had ended. Each weekend I would leave b/c it made it easier on us both. But, as some of you know, I had done some pretty stupid things last spring and so most of my friends and my family were keeping a pretty close eye on me. They meant well and it was in my own best interest. At times though I felt pretty boxed in.

But two friends, Joanne and Johnny, gave me places of respite and sanctuary to go to, where I wasn't judged, questioned or watched. I could do as I pleased and I wasn't asked about my mood and was totally supported.

Usually on Friday, I would go to Johnny's. He had a key outside where I could find it. And I would clean his house for him. He worked second shift, so I would have the whole place to myself. About the only time I ever had alone and I treasured it. Then I would fall asleep on the couch. He might wake me up when he got home around 1 or 2 in the morning and we would visit, maybe have a cocktail or two. Then the next day I would go to Joanne's where her family camped on the lake w/ a full size camper, w/ power and water and sewage hookup, a boat and everything.
Sometimes, I would stay all weekend w/ Joanne, or and sometimes with Johnny. Sometimes I would camp in the mtns and sometimes Johnny would meet me there. Once my parents decided to meet me at a place I was camping and he thought they might freak out, so he didn't meet me there. (It turned out better anyway b/c it was nice to have that time for just us anyway to spend together). I told him they wouldn't mind at all, they have always liked him since they met him - he took off his boots before he came in the door and they liked him ever since, that was in 1995. The ice storm of 1995 when we planned him to get ice stormed in at the cove.

I'm not sure my parents know all this about last summer, but it made things much more relaxing for me. I was in good hands, as they know that Joanne and Johnny always took good care of me. Johnny even offered several times to just let me move into his house, especially when my ex husband would freak out and be a real jackass to me.

Anyway, Johnny goes in for a very serious and complicated and somewhat risky surgery tomorrow. They have to do work on his lung b/c there is so much infection in it and so many blood clots. Keep him in your thoughts. I so appreciate all of you who have been doing so and continue to do so.

My friend Joanne, well, her husband doesn't honor her near as much as he should and she has the patience and tolerance and love as much as Mother Theresa. I wish I could do something to make her life better.

And anytime I ever get upset w/ Johnny in the last year, Mom would always say, 'Now Julie, remember how good he was to you when you were getting a divorce and remember he has always been a good friend to you...'.
And good friends are hard to find. And I have definately learned in the last year who is a true friend, who stays, who leaves, who forgives (because I know I have made mistakes), who loves, who judges, who doesn't.

Friends are precious gifts, I hope I get to tell that to Johnny again soon and I hope to try to show my appreciation to my friends and family more often.
I love you all!

Update

2006-08-27T21:57:00.000-04:00
Things aren't going so well for my friend (see post below).
X rays of his lungs are not clear. He's been put back on the ventilator and sedated and has a fever.
Keep him in your prayers please!

Update: They found out the tube in his lungs was not draining right - not working, why they didn't notice this for two days I don't know - it is trauma care! But he is doing better now they have a working tube that is taking the fluid off his lungs. But he is still not out of the woods yet. Secondary problems are now the issue, when the Brain Trauma is not. Thank you for the prayers!