So Many Voices....Education!!

So many voices....So many raise their voices to complain about the state of education. But how many are really interested in the whole picture? Many complain as long as their students are involved but move on to other concerns when their children are no longer involved and move into the next phase of life. Certainly one does not fault them for this natural progression. However, there is need for an analysis and action group to consider the needs of education in TODAY'S society. And for this group to take action and prepare the way. Times have changed. Society has changed. Educational needs have changed. These changes may be drastic enough to involve additional money and a re-vamping of the use of current funding. I say this at the risk of offending politicians...some at least.

Far too many parents want education to remain as it was when they were children or young adults. Technology continues to map new roads and avenues, new needs. Technology itself is on a never-ending march. This isn't likely to change. How do we prepare students for this new world, this new society. Great outcry has been heard from the public about Common Core. Some who knew why they were complaining and other who just jumped on the bandwagon and later tried to figure out and justify why. Some of the accusations could be justified in part, some are just ludicrous.

For some years public education seemed bent on educating every student in preparation for college in spite of the fact that many never went. Many students were just looking for a trade and perhaps an apprenticeship leading to a forever job and career. In my day and in the state in which I lived there were vocational schools students could attend for at least half of their school day providing them with training in a skill area. For some years and upon my entry into the field of education these seemed to no longer exist. Much has been said about the college prep programs that schools provide and the tracks in which students are placed who may only need the Math and communication skills (just an example) but not the entire curriculum.

Go figure, folks. During this downturn in the economy even college graduates could have used or sought training in a skill with which they could earn a living when they lost their jobs. Thus, an overload of students at community colleges.

I am old and no one pays attention to anything old folks say BUT I am going to say it any way. Education is in need of help--help with its vision and goals. Who can step up to the plate and provide the needed insight, vision, practicality, and program design and structure without malice or ill intent? (My previous statement is tempered by observations of the last legislative session in our state.) As with an old home, education needs a renovation and we need workers with real knowledge and pure intent.
Politicians should be barred from such efforts as their vision is obviously warped.

Just my opinions.....I really don't care is you disagree...'cuz...yep, you guessed it,...this is my blog!

Thoughts Meandering Hither and Yon

Doesn't it seem that the year 2013 has just begun? In September I found myself astonished that the prior months had been whisked away and I needed to focus on the fact that we were in the last quarter of the year. Now that November has arrived I wonder where the year has gone. It has been an unusual year if you look outside your small sphere. Calamities and catastrophes continue throughout the world and in our country. It is sometimes difficult to look at the mayhem wrought by these happenings. But onward we march in our daily lives trying to make the best of each day and accomplish all that is possible to met our needs. Such is this earthly sojourn.

Now we find ourselves in the final and long holiday season of 2013. I have such difficulty with this time of the year since the loss of Ken. I try to do my best as I do not want to be the "stick in the mud" for my family or those around me but rest assured I am so relieved when it is all over. A new year dawns and the holidays we have are ones that are easier for me the handle because there is less hoop-la involved.

I have taken my Piper Kensleigh (schnauzer) to the animal opthalmologist this week for consultation on removing her cataracts that developed as a result of her diabetes. We have a surgery date of January 6th to get these monsters removed. Piper is blind at this point and quite depressed. The vet told me lots as we discussed removal.. and a lot of it had to do with the surgery itself and care afterward. However, a goodly share had to do with the downside and success or lack of success of the surgery. I want her to be able to see because I understand what it is like to not see well and to be threatened with the total loss of sight. For now, we are taking it all one day at a time.

What's up with you??

My Blind Canine Child

I am learning some tough lessons in my old age. My Piper schnauzer has lost her eyesight to cataracts caused by the diabetes she has. It is very difficult to watch her try to make her way around the house and yard bumping into things that are right in front of her. I can only imagine how frustrating that is for her and how depressing. It upsets me beyond anything words can express. In fact, it tears my heart out to watch what is happening. I seemed to notice the cataracts early last week and they seemed to grow over night and then balloon into full-grown. Last week she had difficulty seeing and by this week she is bumping into everything right in front of her face. She is not to be deterred though as she just backs up and feels her way around the object and moves on. I hope her little spirit continues to prevail over this evil blindness.

I don't know what the future holds in this situation. I will continue to do my best with her. It has been so difficult to get the diabetes regulated -- we still are having trouble because she does not like to eat many things. I never know whether she will eat a food or not. I just keep trying different things. I would hate the think how much I waste trying to get her to eat. With doggies they must eat prior to getting insulin injections so that you can be certain they will eat. Some days it is a vicious circle.

How will we deal with the blindness?? I just don't know. I do not know whether my depleted budget can afford the luxury of eye surgery. I have spent so much of my savings already with this disease. Actually if only one cataract is removed she would be able to see. That would be wonderful. Perhaps I could take up offerings on a street corner to help defray the cost. (Of course, I am kidding.) OR perhaps I need to get a part-time job!! However, that is something I will need to work out.

At this point I am just incredibly sad and upset with all of this. I never fathomed these experiences would be mine when I became a dog owner.

Thanksgiving or Thanks Giving

Admittedly I am OLD, not quite as old as Methuslah but old, nevertheless! When I was younger sort of like very young, I remember a day when Thanksgiving (at least where we lived) didn't seem to be the BIG holiday it is made out to be now. Do you suppose as the years have gone along it has somehow become a truly embellished family holiday as in, 'Over the River and through the woods'!! I am thinking so.

And now I am seeing on a social network, ads, I guess that is what you call those thingies, of folks pledging not to shop on Thanksgiving Day -- alleging that they plan to spend time with family. Now I think that is all good and wunnerful ceptin' one part -- you and I both know that those guys will eat their bellies full and then park in front of the TV the rest of the day monopolizing the big screen with a football game of some sort. Don't know about you but I can see how that would drive the ladies out of the house to shop draggin' their full tummies along with them! Now, there is that! I said it!

While I do believe that we definitely need a full day of giving thanks, I think it should be more often than once a year. I agree that Thanksgiving Day is a good thing. But living in a country that permits acting on one's God-given free agency I believe the ladies can go shopping if they want --- and just maybe those folks working in the stores on Thanksgiving Day are grateful to get the work (to pay for their turkey) being as they live in a country where politicians can shut down the gov-mint when ever they take a notion!! Sorry folks, if you don't like my bloggin' -- it is what it is -- worthless!

Anger at Canine Diabetes

Have you ever been really angry over something for which you have absolutely no control? I feel sorta that way today. I know I can't control canine diabetes nor the fact that my mini schnauzer, Piper, has been afflicted with this horrible disease. However, that does not keep from being really angry and wanting to punch something in retaliation. Last evening I was working with Piper only to realize that the cataract forming in her eye has filled the front At first I was just upset, really, really upset. Then I became just plain angry that these things happen -- so I did some research on exactly why diabetes causes this to happen. While it did not change my angry feelings the deeper understanding of what about the disease actually causes this to happen did help to allay the actual bitterness.

I know that I am not the first schnauzer owner to have these feelings. It is as difficult as it would be if she were my child. Diabetes is difficult. It causes side effects making it difficult to cope at times. Often Piper does not want to eat. Prior to diabetes Piper had no problems eating. Some days I search and search trying to find something to feed her that she can eat ---low in fat and low in carbs. She tires quickly of most things or seems to. If we could really communicate she would probably tell me she just doesn't have much appetite. So...I try not to be offended and continue rattling around trying to find the things she can and will eat. I worry about her and I know that I can not give her the insulin she needs until she has eaten food. Doggies have TYPE 1 Diabetes which means the pancreas isn't producing insulin, thus it must be supplied by shot and syringe.
Schnauzers have a predisposition to diabetes. Some would say - I should not complain that I knew this before falling in love with Piper and bringing her into my family. But that isn't necessarily true any more than I knew that my Sassy Jane schnauzer before her was predisposed to having those horrible bladder stones that she had. And I certainly didn't expect her to have a brachial plexis tumor (cancer) which would take her life.

So today, in all of confessed "human-ness" I am feeling angry about the "situation" over which I have no control. Just wasting my energy, huh? But what would you do?

Just Stuff - An Old One's Views

Have you about had it up to the ying-yang with politics ---the so-called closing down of the federal government and the inability of politicians to settle their differences?? Not only have I had enough of that part but I am worn out with reading anti-president posts by Tea Party supporters on social networks. In my opinion,(as if it matters) it is one thing to be opposed but it is another to keep throwing your attitude into the faces of others. We get it with the first posting. No need to put at least twenty-five up there each day.

My other issue today is another one of those things over which I have no control; thus I should not lament so often. The weather this week has been really dark, wet, chilly and depressing. We have had those kind of days that make me want to hide. It gets dark really early -- tonight by 6:45 pm and makes me think it is time to go to bed or curl up some where or just go to bed. I do hope tomorrow brings better weather and as the girls and I head to the coast the weather might return to some degree of what is more normal for our area at this time of the year. The State Fair begins next week and hopefully there will be sunny days for all to enjoy as they attend the fair. How-some-ever, it is not unusual for us to have wet weather or even chilly temperatures near the time of the State Fair.

While I am in the mood to complain and gripe I might as well take a swipe at Miley. I am rather tired of hearing her bellowing that song that sounds like "I come in like a rolling stone...." -- she is almost measuring up there with my other least favorite Miss TS !! Her heavily coated tongue is always hanging out and that hair-do style from outer space along with her defending her choices and behavior. Deliver us all, please from being a captive audience to such nonsense.

If I think of anything more to gripe about I will be back!!

What IF

Have you ever found yourself wondering how your life might have been IF? Occasionally I find myself in that boat. Over the last few years I have spent considerable time working on the genealogy of both sides of my family. We do not have a very big family because folks in our families have not had very many children. But, I digress, back to my earlier point. My Mom was not a very healthy youngster. As a child she had rheumatic fever and became quite ill in first grade. She related to me that one cold winter day as she and the other children around walked home from school quite suddenly she could go no farther. The kids ran to fetch her father from the point he awaited their arrival as they walked home. They brought him and he carried her home. She never returned to school that school year and lost the ability to walk having to relearn. Perhaps this bout of illness left her with some physical weaknesses, who knows?? But, when she married and she and my Dad started trying to have a family she lost her first two babies. I am the oldest living child, however, I am not the oldest. I actually have an older brother.

So, as I mentioned I sometimes find myself wondering what life might have been like or how life might have been different had my older brother grown up with me. Or what it might be like to have two brothers, one older and one younger than I living at the same time as I.

Doggie Musings

Experts will tell you that animals have no reasoning power...that their brain is not capable. I am OK with that because I know that they will run in front of an automobile.....and if they realized they were going to get smashed flat they would not. But...how about my Kami Kamelot!! Sometimes in the mornings when I am busy around the house trying to get Piper to eat and then attempting to coax Kami to eat things get interesting. Kami isn't much of a morning eater so she just conveniently disappears. No matter how much I call her or how many sweet things I call out to her she just doesn't appear. When I look for her she has disappeared. I check every known place that she hides and still no Kami. After Piper has finished eating her food and I am preparing her insulin shot I am talking to her. I tell her I need to give her a shot in her "scrunchy" which is that area of her shoulders that I was instructed to give her the injection. Kami is some where within hearing of this conversation....somehow!! As soon as Piper gets her shot in her "acrunchy" and is rewarded with her treat guess who magically appears for her treat! Yep, it is Princess Kami who could not be found when I was looking for her.

Just another morning in the life of an old, old woman and two schnauzers!!

MOS ( or More of the Same)

One certain legislator will not let it go when it comes to harassing liberals on social networking sites. He can be rather irritating. There comes a time when we need to shut our mouths and I plan to do that soon, I promise. It would be nice if he did the same. He just hasn't gotten his fill of giving it to teachers and the NCAE. He is so proud of himself and his other legislative "overhaulers" for getting rid of teacher tenure. It seems as though they think that is why educators are upset about the budget doings. So while they are wallowing in all of their glee most of the educators I have talked do could care less about tenure except that it seemed an effort to disrespect the profession.

There is an effort to push merit pay. While it may seem like the answer to making certain that good teachers are rewarded,it is a system resplendent with holes and gaps. Some years ago Wake County instituted such a plan. Teachers could opt in or not. Certain evaluators were trained from a core of educators and visited unannounced (supposedly) to the classroom of participating teachers and did evaluations. Based on what they saw and recorded after a certain number of visits teachers received an amount of extra pay. Watching this fiasco occur was an experience. Most teachers who participated prepared by learning the format being used for evaluation and designing their lessons to match. By and large teachers do plan and do follow the curriculum! They understand their subject(s) and how to teach it/them to meet the needs of their students. If lessons do not work or accomplish their purpose good teachers back up and come in at a different angle to try to nail the instruction. In the ways mentioned all instruction in Wake Schools was improved as all teachers received training in better methods of organizing and presenting materials. As will happen soon some folks being assessed tucked a lesson plan away in a convenient place with all of the bells and whistles an evaluator would love to see. When the evaluator arrived unannounced and the lesson in the natural rotation for that day didn't have the exciting factors evaluators loved to see, the teacher could pull out the special plan and put it to use, thus receiving a higher score. (This did happen!) Then there are some folks who have
personality conflicts. It happens and folks are not able to see beyond those factors when evaluating. Sometimes there are favorites and they are evaluated in that context receiving consistently high scores. These things actually happen in such a merit type situation. For those reasons those who work in the field do not receive news of the use of a merit system with open arms. However, I do believe that the lack of enthusiasm is falsely interpreted as being due to other factors.

Just my view....not yours!! Again, my blog....my opinion!

Lamentations on Education

Most folk here in the Ole North State are somewhat sick of hearing about the behavior and actions of a certain group who met here in this city over the last six or so months. If that is the case with you then you just want to close this blog at this point.

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am pretty much a "middle or the road" type with a conservative bend. I am just supposin' that we are what we are at heart and it is very hard to change our minds especially when you are old....I mean ancient, like me.

Lots is being printed and said now regarding the actions of this legislature just past due to legislation being put into place and a new school year looming not too many days away. As an educator my antenna is always tuned to "talk about education." One irritating issue is always the amount of money educational institutions receive as appropriated by the legislators. It would seem common sense to assume that as the cost of living rises each year so does the need to increase the amount of the appropriation to educational institutions. These folks must pay some of the same type of expenses we as individuals must pay to maintain daily life. It seems we would understand. There is so much opposition to increasing the budget each year.

This legislative year saw funding cuts for teaching assistants with the exception of kindergarten, funds withdrawn for extra pay for graduate degrees, funding cut and a program killed that funded education for academically gifted youngsters in exchange for a number of years of service to the state of NC, no raise or pay raise step for educators, and a number of other cuts.

The behaviors that just inflame one looking at these cuts is the knowledge that the governor and others (in his cabinet) have given their appointed cabinet members and some appointed state employees raises that sometimes totaled twenty thousand dollars or more claiming that this is needed to get the appointee to stay on the job or bring the pay up to a desired level all the while telling teachers you have no worth or need for more money thus not even a cost of living increase. Teachers start at a level and for some years their rate of pay qualifies them for food stamps and their children for subsidized lunches. Check it out. It is especially irritating knowing that in Wake County for instance a high number of teachers are not only certified by the state of NC but also have National Board Certification. This is evidently not important when you look at the fact that the legislature also passed a bill allowing charter schools to employee teachers without certification. One point used to rationalize this action indicated that there were people with skills from a trade or other vocation or field whose skills in math or some other subject could be used so --- why not---without certification as a teacher.???????? Go figure.....if it works for you...I would assume you are as they.

Another bothersome point to me has been the conversation from the governor and those in his cabinet and the legislature used to defend their actions. The words go along the lines of trying to introduce merit pay into the conversation rather than discuss why the cut to the various programs. The issues they are being asked about are as mentioned above ( i.e. cuts of assistant positions, lack of funding for graduate degrees, cut to pre-K programs, etc., etc.)
and these law makers want to defend with a conversation about merit pay.
Again, it is all lame. Their argument doesn't answer the concerns or questions.

I am an educator, it is in my blood. I love teaching and the teaching process, thus I care!

Again, my thoughts, not yours -- probably my opinion, not yours. And more importantly, my blog!
But I do wonder how other folks have filtered all of this.

*An after-thought.....I am beginning to note that the governor is sending his "boy-servant" out to run interference because he and his advisors know they have p_ _ _ the teachers and the entire education core off royally. He sat on his hands without challenging the legislature as they put all of those cuts in place. Not once was he known to have called them in or visited them to champion for students, schools, or educators. It has become evident with a display of educators that trouble is brewing for the next election. Will the teachers remember and keep their word on election day or will they be swayed by promises and "sweet talk?" Only time will tell about that.

**The BIGGER issue is whether something will be done do remedy cuts made to programs that impact students. That is the saddest part of cuts to programs. Some students really do need textbooks for learning. Those funds have been cut. Some students need the extra help teacher assistants can provide. Smaller class sizes really do make a difference.

My View: The Obama Factor and the Legislature

What a political mess, nationwide and in this state! With all of the happenings as the legislative session ended here, one could not help but reflect on how we arrived at this point. When trying to unravel the events you find that state politics and national politics are intertwined as one impacts the other so drastically. But at this point in this long entry let me get one point straight initially, I am not a Jesse Helms type right winger but neither am I a Clinton type left winger. I suppose most people would call me the person on the fence and since I don't give a flip what people say that is OK with me!! I can do my own thinking, thank you.

North Carolina has always been somewhat conservative due to its agricultural holdings. However, with that being a fact in the time I have lived in this state the majority of governors have been Democratic. The Republican governors elected in the years with which I am familiar have been more middle of the road Republican. In addition to that the legislative body has never had a Republican majority until now.( In my day, anyway.) Therefore, I found myself pondering how this came about and how a Republican governor was elected, as well.
My conclusions were and remember this is only my opinion: North Carolina still remains anti-minority / integration -- whether Black or Hispanic, or Asian. North Carolina always favors and votes for the Republican candidate for president -- even Mitt Romney. In spite of the northern population influx here, there is really intense dislike for Obama so much so that the state swung right in most cases. For the first time in more years than anyone alive remembers NC wound up with a Republican governor and a Republican legislative majority. My thinking is that it all happened due to that one factor -- Obama.

The Republican politicians in this state had an agenda --I called it their Grudge-Bucket List. They had been threatening and complaining all while putting their list together and collecting grudges from their contributors and their supporters. All of those went on the G-B List and they just laid in wait for their day to come. Let me make it clear that I see nothing wrong with some of the items passed that were included on their G-B List!! I am just writing what I believe happened and trying to keep abreast of this argument I am trying to make.

I don't believe that John Q Public believed that those elected legislators would come to town and achieve what they have. Perhaps the citizenry believed all was idle threats or they were just not as attuned as they should have been. Some became convinced as the session moved along, but it really didn't matter. The legislators had an agenda and they were hell-bent on making it live!! And they did! Now comes the whining and the crying. The next several elections will tell the story in terms of results of what the majority believes, thinks and commits to in this state.

I still say, what a mess, folks!!

Playing Political Football

Throughout this legislative session I have commented on the crazy seemingly outlandish 'doings" and behaviors of the representatives participating. Their job has been a difficult one in determining what to do in attending to the needs of the state while balancing a budget in difficult economic times. However, it has been obvious that the majority of this group had an agenda or a bucket list they had been saving for decades to reform and undo the laws of the Ole North State. It makes one wonder why people have flocked to this state to live and work since the 1950's if it had so much that needed correcting!!

Some of the laws that have been undone and some that have been passed seem to be part of a political agenda that is vindictive. It makes me think of a "Gotcha Plan." One is left to wonder how long it will take the other party to undo what this group has spent so much doing in this session.

I do not pretend to be an authority on politics or economics but I am not exactly stupid either. Considering myself more of an Independent politically, I often can see both sides of an issue while trying to weigh which side has more to gain and which more to lose when a bill is passed or changed. It would seem to me that this would be the job of those elected. However, as constituents, we all feel our area or district will profit more if legislation goes our way rather than looking at the big picture of what is best or better for the state.

Perhaps I have a one-sided or lopsided view of Education and how it has been dealt with by this legislative session but I prefer to think otherwise. I spent many years in a career in the field. Personal experiences carve their meaning on your soul. I have had experience(s) teaching school in three states. I started so many years ago that I can remember difficult days that teachers today can only fathom. Pay was little, materials were few, support was meager at best if at all, yet we loved what we were doing. Some of us were born with the desire to teach hidden deep, deep, inside of us. Thus, we persevered throughout difficult days and years. Today due to advances of society in regard to women, teachers are not sticking with a difficult career but are ready to move to another field when their expectations flounder. The handwriting is on the wall yet politicians refuse to see. In this legislative session tenure has been pulled from teachers. Why?? My view is that teachers having tenure presents evaluators with the task of not just appearing in a classroom and flipping out an evaluation or perhaps not appearing and flipping out an eval but documenting a number of times a weakness or problem, of or, with an individual after having met with him or her individually initially and providing an avenue for training and or correction and then re-evaluating. The preferred way is to fire an individual on the spot without due process. The latter leaves open avenues to be discussed in another post.

Another issue is the removal of increased pay for advanced education. I can visualize teachers fleeing with this their plight. Who wants to further their education and skills at considerable cost plus an investment of time and energy when it doesn't seem to matter? What happened to the talk about improving teaching techniques for the benefit of students or the ever popular Quality Education??? Apparently it doesn't matter to these legislators. Another "bragging point" has been the number of teachers in North Carolina with National Board Certification proving their abilities. Not important, now!!


Another sore spot is the encouraging of parents to find other means of educating youngsters with the implication that public schools are not desirable. The insinuation is that better education can be found by accepting vouchers to charter and private schools and that the state should fund these by taking these funds out of the public education funds. While legislators have lots of jargon and rhetoric to support this, it is difficult to understand. It would seem that they might have considered taking funds from another source rather than the public school allotment to support privatization.

What a convoluted mess!!! Who has an answer for this??

How Do You Think

How often do you allow someone else to take over your free agency? How often do you allow someone to exercise dominion over you? Do you ever allow anyone to use persuasion on you to the extent that you change your way of thinking about something? Do you ever consciously allow anyone to do your thinking for you? Do you ever give someone permission to control you?

I am assuming as you read this you are thinking, "No, woman, are you crazy? What would make you think that?"

This is what would make me think about that! I sometimes see people (I know) being blindly led along by people they know basing their reasoning or thinking on someone else's brain power! People don't do their own thinking! It is alarming and at times can be totally disgusting. Some folks hear about a heated issue, political issue, or just an everyday issue with which we all deal, and rather than doing their own study of the issue, its pros and cons, they listen to all of the other voices in their circle(s) and at times the community to make decisions. It makes for much misinformation and at times undesirable consequences.

I find it really disturbing. I see folks I know and consider fairly grounded in basic principles coming across as very narrow minded and taking the path of those without a full knowledge. I sometimes want to shake them really hard and say. "THINK!" "You have not thought this through and have hastily made judgments without looking at the big picture. You are not basing your judgment on all of the truth available to you."

Just the thoughts of an old lady on a rainy day!

Jes Rambling!!

This is just rambling --- if you don't like rambling -- don't bother to read a word of it!!

So....this is my entry on a July day from the glorious steamy south. I think I shall write about whatever comes to mind on this day ---because this is my blog and I can! How is that for an attitude! The attitude is so "bad" that it closely resembles that of the legislators of this state now in session for the umpteenth week. I have lived in this state more years than I have lived in any other and having lived in the capital city have witnessed a lot of legislative sessions. Of all, this is the wildest ever!! These folks are just undisciplined and crazy. There is really not another adequate way to describe them. At the moment they are reforming abortion laws in the state. The governor (and this is significant because the governor and legislative majority are of like parties) keeps telling the legislators that he will veto their bill the way it is written should they pass it and send it to him. Last night they re-wrote the bill and tagged it onto another piece of legislation while most of their constituents were getting their sleeping hours in. Today the governor again reminded them of his intentions. He keeps saying there is a fine line between safety and denial of access.????? Go figure! While I personally feel abortion is morally wrong there are a few instances in which it might have to happen -- and I don't know for a surety exactly when life begins so I will not debate that here.

On to other issues -- the Brunswick County beaches are under attack for safety because folks keep swimming out and getting caught in rip tides, Last week was especially deadly. It seems many, many swimmers don't understand what to do or how to swim parallel to the coast to get out of the current, panic, and perhaps do all of the wrong things. Several have died trying to save others. Then last night another deck fell from a condo second floor onto a concrete patio injuring a majority of the twenty-five people located on it. According to hospital reports lots suffered broken bones, lacerations, trauma and shock. They were fortunate the injuries weren't worse. It would be wonderful to have a nice quiet rest of the summer but knowing the nature of the human spirit .....well, I rather not say more.

My own troubles as of today consist of two areas but first let me comment on one area for which I am eternally grateful. It is summer time and the time of year when I usually make those annual appointments for a physical and all of the other components required therein. So thus far, I have had the physical part from my family doctor, seen the dermatologist for needed attention and treatment and had that annual mammogram. The next visit scheduled is the dreaded colonoscopy since the tenth year has rolled up since the last one!! Let's just get it over this month and get on with whatever. I have been blessed with very good health and often have feelings of guilt wondering whether I have used my days on this earth as I should. I retired several years ago after dislocating and breaking my shoulder and tearing the muscles off the rotator cuff. That part of me is put together with a little titanium and I am on go again! So...I would love to get a job and just go back to work and work for the rest of my life -- if I productively could. I love being busy and "anxiously engaged" in something I enjoy doing. I enjoy doing service for others as well. I taught school beginning at age nineteen until a few years ago. Seems I need to do something related but what???????? I worked with gifted students, regular classroom students, remedial Math deficient students and teachers. I am thinking....what to do....!

My other area of concern is the health of my older schnauzer girl and learning how to manage diabetes in a canine It is a daily puzzle. I am learning - - but perhaps slowly. I lost my first schnauzer to cancer -- a mean one that entangled itself into the blood vessels and muscles of my little girl. It was hard to watch her and then have to make that dreadful decision for her. Life is full of tough decisions.

I am finished ramblin' for now! No more -- gone!

Just Another Episode

Doggie diabetes and pancreatitis have to be some of the worst although I thought bladder stones and a brachial plexis tumor were the worst when my Sassy was plagued with those two, one of which took her life. In our house we just go from one crisis with these problems to another. We think we are getting them managed only to find out it was just a wish not a true happening. Diabetes in a canine is sort of like the most frustrating guessing game. And the pancreatitis part is like a big black horror or black cloud hanging back some where just waiting to descend.

At this moment my mind is so blown from all of this --- that I have no more to say. Lucky for the reader!!

Piper's Schnauzer IQ

Well, folks I am here to declare that my doggie's IQ is either on the rise or mine is declining superfast!! My Piper schnauzer has been back in the vet hospital for several days this week due to problems with the diabetes and pancreatitis. I checked her out and brought her home about mid-day yesterday. Since then I feel like I have been walking on eggs trying to trip my way through this disease and its compiications. I brought home three types of canned dog food recommended by the veteranians. She doesn't want any of them thus I have a problem. They are all low calorie / low fat. She thinks they are yuck (and so do I)!!I can't get her to eat more than a taste or two ---unless it is a treat!! She will be glad to eat all of those you will allow in addition to one kind of kibble that I have with a fat content too high for her with pancreatitis.

I was talking to her this morning and trying to bribe her along while she was playing really sick. I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk. She listened. I asked if she wanted to go outside. She listened and we did. We went into the yard and tinkled and came back inside. She drank a lap or two of water and I then insulted her again by trying to get her to eat some of the yucky food. All the while I am talking to her. I came through the house and was doing several things and here she comes.....trot..trot..trot..and takes a stance near me. I moved around working and she follows me, takes a stance and looks up at me again. So, I start questioning her trying to figure out what she needs. When I exhausted the list several times I remembered I had mentioned the magic word -- walk -- again. That was it!! So, we put on the leash and out we go for a walk -- in the heat and humidity. She loved it --walked, smelled, tinkled, pooed, walked some more, smelled, and tinkled. We walked a pretty good distance and then came back.

When we got home she got some water and was resting. I insulted her again by offering some more of the yucky stuff which she promptly refused! So.....I am left with the dilemma. What am I going to feed this girl? Oh, and I forgot to mention that exercise decreases the need for insulin. Thus, I have another problem! Balance the insulin with the food and exercise!
What do you think??? I am thinking I am not toooo smart!!

Mystery Lady

I am recording this post for my own benefit and not for any one else to read or critique.

Today as I finished the organ postlude after the church sacrament service a little lady that I did not know came quickly up to the organ to speak to me. It usually take a few minutes for me to cancel my stops, clear the area of all music, disengage the organ and lights, and secure it for the next organist and meeting.

This lady did not introduce herself necessarily but told me she was visiting the church service from another area. She indicated she was astounded at the organ accompaniment, prelude and postlude today. She said she wanted to compliment me on my organ skills and abilities. She went on to inquire as to how long I had been playing organ and how long it had taken me to become so good!! Say what????? Since I don't consider myself accomplished or polished I was somewhat floored. She went on to say that in so many church services you hear organists play who are really pianists and it shows in how they try to play an organ. And that it is obvious when an organist understands the instrument (organ) they are playing!!
She kept asking me how long I had been playing organ and I told her finally that it had been many years and further that it had taken a lot of work and time.

I thanked her but still have no idea who she was nor why she was in our meeting. Something for me to reflect on for a while.

Frustration(s) WIth My Furry Children

I write out of frustration today. This learning to be a veterinarian nurse is a complicated educational path!! I am constantly confused and am totally in sympathy with veterinarians now. Their patients can't speak and their owners attempt but not always understanding what their furry children feel may not be able to convey the correct message. The point to all of this is that I don't understand my furry children and their needs. I try -- oh, so hard, I do try but without much success.

My older furry child has diabetes as I have written before. I understand diabetes somewhat from a human standpoint and I understand the difference between Type I and Type II. My furry child has Type I. I find myself "in a strut," so to speak, trying to get her to eat her food so that I can give her the insulin I am told she needs. Furry child has a mind of her own and doesn't always want to comply with her humanoid's time frames. Thus, my continual frustration with all of this.

In a perfect doggie world my Piper should eat the food offered to her and within a thirty minute time frame I should administer her insulin. Twelve hours later the same procedure should happen again. Well, whoop-dee-doo!! Piper thinks this is poppycock!!! She will just do it her way, thank you!! Most mornings of late I have to bribe her to eat so I can give her the needed insulin. About mid-day she is truly hungry and will eat everything in sight that she likes OR she will stand in front of me and wag her little tail over and over while I question her about what she wants!! I don't like for her to eat bunches of carbs so I try to limit any kibble she might be attracted to consume. This keeps me running to be sure my other schnauzer, Kami, has nothing anywhere that Piper might pick up and consume. It is almost like a house of horrors!!

Today, I am up at 6 AM with these two "hounds!" I eat my own breakfast and then I prepared theirs. Piper smells of hers after I bribe her to come out of her "condo" and walks away. What is in her bowl? To entice her to eat I have given her the WD canned food for diabetic doggies, some chopped chicken breast that I cooked and prepared and I even add a little Oscar Meyer bacon bits. She walked away, folks!! My younger one, Kami, had a little kibble, some chopped chicken breast, and a little of the Oscar Meyer bacon bits. Kami is a little more compliant. She ate all except for part of the kibble. Sometimes she will eat all of her kibble, sometimes not.

I continue to learn....I hope...I can solve this puzzle!!

Views of the Newz

What an interesting week we have had in the old North State! Early in the week it was announced that a former governor had passed away. He was one of the GOP's finest if measured by the fact that he seemed to be a gentleman and he loved his home state. When compared to politicians of today -- at least the ones who occupy the offices and dominate the legislature today, he ranked at the top and most of these clowns are scrambling to see who can blow the others out of the bottom. Of course, it was dutifully noted that he was governor at a time when both houses were of the opposite party and he had to learn to work with them -- quite the contrast with today. But learn to work with them, he did. In so doing he made life long friends with people of both parties and won respect from all. So he was eulogized and laid to rest -- er, I mean cremated and his ashes interred.

As the week wore on a certain cooking diva was charged with using the forbidden word that starts with....well, you know. So she is in real trouble with P R issues and thus has fallen out of favor. She has been dumped off of all her cooking shows, I guess she could be deemed "undesirable" by all at this point. It seems she was answering questions honestly as to whether she had ever uttered certain words and she dared to admit she has/had! I am not certain when her crucifixion will be held but the sooner the better. She has apologized publicly and put it out there that "she has sinned" and is begging for forgiveness but there "ain't none fer her!" RIP Cooking Diva! Oh, and this is not the first time she has sinned. She had earlier gotten in trouble because she has always cooked these yummy, sinful, fattening, forbidden, delicious foods and then it was exposed that she is a Type II diabetic. Right away she had to stop indulging so the news media got her for that one, too. That helped with her de-throning!

The last exciting newz I will discuss is the Omaha baseball fiasco! Two of our major locals qualified. First, when they got there they beat up on each other. Then UCLA beat up on one of them and sent that group home. A few days passed and UCLA beat up on the other group and sent them packing! Now they both are back here in the southeast having their wounds tended to. We just all hope the fierce fearsome athletic director at the school in our town doesn't decide to cut away the baseball coach because his group got whooped in the process at the great Omaha happening! That is about it for the newz for this week!

MY DAD, Talkin' Bout MY DAD

My Dad, Talkin' bout My Dad, that I must do with this post. No politics today, but about the man I admire who was my father. This Sunday is Father's Day, the day set aside to honor our Dads. My Dad was Harry Edward Lemon. A true southern gentleman with blondish hair and blue eyes. A man whose eyes would water and tears would form even at the age of eighty when he talked about his father. He was an honorable man in word and deed.

From my Dad, I learned many lessons of life that have formed the fiber of who I am. My Dad was an honest man to a fault!! I remember a time when as he aged worried that he might have cheated Social Security in some way. Nothing could have been further from the truth and I can't recall what issue caused him to worry with this but is was not true. When I think of folks who dishonestly draw Social Security in great numbers and feel entitled, I always reflect on my Dad. My Dad modeled a faultless work ethic for his family. He worked hard and worked long hours. He was a perfectionist at his work, doing a wonderful job and always being so neat. I recall him saying he would like to work until he could "no longer carry his weight" meaning couldn't do the job according to acceptable standards and then he would retire. I believe he was perhaps seventy-eight when he last worked. He was weeks short of his eighty-second birthday when he passed away.

My Dad taught me to drive -- on a straight shift car. It was quite an experience. He had been driving since he was a youngster and had only brothers. He probably thought I should think like a guy, I'm not sure. But he would take me up to the ball field not too far away and have me drive up a hill over and over so that I could properly learn to use the clutch. Getting all of that synched was not the easiest task for me but he had me prepared well enough to pass when we went for the test. Just another of those life skills he taught in helping me to be prepared with the skills to be able to live alone should I ever need.

It was hard to imagine how our Mom would manage without our Father. He was about ten and one-half years older than she therefore it seemed inevitable that someday she would have to face that. It was so painful for her when he passed away that it was difficult to encourage her to keep pushing forward. She was not in the best of health and passed away three years later. They made quite a wonderful pair that we are privileged to call Mom and Dad. We miss them and can always say that we were born "of goodly parents!"

Common Core vs Right Wing

I think I have finally made some conclusions, of my very own, about the issues surrounding the opposition I keep hearing in NC concerning Common Core. Last week the lieutenant governor weighed in with opposition which sounded more political than grounded in substantial reasoning. I concluded that he had been listening to a certain radio personality and right-wing, Tea Party folks before launching his complaint.

Having been an educator in the schools of NC for more years than some of you can count and having worked with curriculum for many years I am more than familiar with core curriculum standards and the flow of skills developmentally. With that said, my understanding of the point of Common Core was to unify nationwide verbage (common language) used in teaching skills, the flow of curriculum, and to more fully develop the depth of understanding of concepts to enable our students to become better problem solvers and thinkers. and not merely students who quote back facts. By developing students in this manner we better prepare them for the twenty-first century and to be productive citizens. What I have said here is true for the curriculum part of Common Core as I understand it. I can not see how this could be bad for any student. Helping a student to explain his or her learning(s) is not evil!! It actually solidifies learning.

I believe the opposition I am hearing comes from testing, accountability, and data collection (use) that has been attached in some manner to Common Core. One person (who is not my FB friend) fired back at me that I did not understand CC. This person more or less accused me of not understanding or of agreeing with the mining of student data (data mining is the term right wingers have attached). The individual told me I needed to go back and do more study of Common Core. I knew to "let it go" with the individual at that point. There also seems to be some opposition to the following/tracking of student data throughout school years. I was confused as to why this would seem new to anyone as it is a well known fact that students' cum folders in NC Schools follow this type data throughout their school journey. Tracking students' data isn't a part of the actual curriculum....I am about curriculum.

Therefore....after the sifting of the yelling and complaints through my aged brain I have concluded that there remains nothing wrong with the Common Core Curriculum per se. What is questionable is the use of the data being collected. I don't know how the federal government might be involved with CC. I can't imagine why the government would be interested in or want to design curriculum. In spite of what some would have you believe we do not live in a dictatorship.

Let me add one more thought to this. One political official asked this week, "Why do schools do all of this testing?" The answer is so obvious that I was astounded that a head of state would ask. Schools / States do all of this testing (evaluation) because it has been mandated by politicians throughout the years. It is a part of that accountability politicians demand of schools and teachers. They dangle $$$ over high test scores and don't want to pay educators equitable compensation for the extremely taxing hard work they do. Not only do they not want to compensate educators (teachers primarily) adequately they deprive them of the rightful respect due the profession.

My say, not yours, and frankly I do not care if you disagree. I truly believe every word I have written here..

Everything Old is New Again????

So....we are getting a new NEW tax plan in North Carolina!! You know those states who have no income tax??? Well, in NC we are emulating...no, that is not quite right..we are remodeling our income tax plan!! Wow weeeeeee!! What a fight we are having each and every day in the legislature as these reps attempt to do the dirty deed! It makes your head spin!

I would love to see someone lay this new proposed tax plan out (sort of spread sheet fashion) for a common citizen just to see the impact on their taxes in a hypothetical year. ( I would like to see whether it actually has ANY impact at all.) What is being argued is like going to a zoo for a day! When the zookeepers in the legislature get finished it would seem that we have just moved taxes all around. "Things" that were never taxed before are going to be taxed ( as in services); the tax on income is being changed to a flat tax rate which obviously will favor some folks ( I think), then there are these other little hitches being added to this crazy changing by the day proposal.

It is being said that part of this plan is to levy a state tax on Social Security benefits. This proposal makes so much sense that it makes no sense at all!! The number of elderly folks who need every penny of the Social Security they draw to live on in the state of North Carolina, is probably phenomenal. When or IF they are required to pay out part of it in state taxes, they will no doubt need some other kind of benefits to make up the difference. Just an example (of what seems to me) of just moving needs and taxes from one area to another for the sake of saying we have changed something!!

There are many other things happening with this income tax proposal. As I gain knowledge about this craziness I will update my blog.

My Warped View of Politics and Education

SO ....where do I rank myself politically? I wish I really knew, probably somewhere over the rainbow! I am rather conservative about most things but when it comes to education expenditures, nay not so!! Thus, I am rather disgusted with what SEEMS to be coming out of this legislature. It does not sit very well with me to read in the newspaper that some appointed state employee has been given a $30,000 raise but the cuts to education are alarming with not relief in the future but more of the same.

My View goes like this:: Politicians need to get themselves out of education. They know little about what they are doing except controlling the purse strings. What needs to be realized is that educators are not crazy in their requests... usually.
Teacher assistants are needful in kindergarten and first grade. I would like to see a legislator try to run a kindergarten classroom for a week without an assistant. Often first grade is just as difficult. You need to be an octopus to handle the needs of these youngsters on most days. Try taking them to lunch or onto the playground. Just transitioning from one place to another can be a trial. Can you imagine what it will be like with increased class size? Just imagine for a moment what it is like heading out to lunch with 28 or 30 little bodies trailing along, some crying, some needing their noses wiped, some who forgot to go potty, one who can't get his zipper up, some who forgot their lunch money, or left it on their desk, one who shoved another, another who tripped his friend and got pinched in the process, one who made the wrong turn, two whose shoes are untied, and one who just wants to tattle?? Any volunteers??
In North Carolina legislators don't think teacher assistants are needed. I worked in a middle school last year as a volunteer and I constantly was aware of their need of an extra body on staff to do lots of tasks to help teachers sometimes just to chase down that student who didn't come back from the bathroom or one who escaped the building. My teaching experience was largely in elementary school and I saw the need for every teacher to have some type of clerical help such that they could get on with the teaching, record keeping, and planning needed.

Every university needs to add another requirement to be allowed to major in education. One needs to have a bladder enlargement such that you do not need to empty except early in the morning and after 5PM!!

What is it that makes charters or private schools so appealing? One factor not to be denied or overlooked is small class size. SO with the "legislature guys and gals" at the same time we are offering tuition to "privates" they increase class size in public schools. Does something smell?? Indeed it does!

The next really intelligent thing the NC Legislature does is pull funding for Masters pay!! Super smart folks! Then the Lt. Govie decides to take on Common Core ... in the legislature yet!! I am no authority on Common Core but neither do I think this bunch of politicians are!
The big answer to it all might be to get the federal government out of education by funding the needs of North Carolina schools in North Carolina. Then you can throw out Common Core and go back to using the NC Standard Curriculum.

Just my view folks....you don't have to like it!!

Doggie Diabetes

So .. it is Memorial Day...and I feel like I am losing my "lease on life!" Guess that means I feel like I am losing control.
I am so confused about the best food to feed my canine with diabetes that I seem to be going in circles. From the very beginning of owning a dog I have been schooled in the learning of Science Diet being the absolutely worst dog food on the market, almost. The info I have always been given is that veterinarians really do not get the best nutrition instruction on food selection and the company owning SD takes advantage of that by giving them some kind of kick-backs on the sale of SD food, thus vets push the sale of that food to customers. ???? Fact, I don't know. Nevertheless, I have always heard it is terrible food -- don't use it! So, what has my Piper (who now has Type I diabetes) placed on during her sickness and stay at the vet hospital??? Why canned SD, of course. Piper was sick and would not eat but finally they got her interested by warming the SD canned food and offering it to her. I feel I need to feed her a more nutritious food but can't find information about prepared food for doggies with the big D. I know she should be getting limited carbs and those she does get need to be slow digesting, that her food needs to be high protein, low fat, high fiber, low carb but ?????

This has been such a frustrating diagnosis! First, the initial and continuing costs are unbelievable. My Piper was sick when I took her to the vet and showing the typical signs a human shows with diabetes. Thus, I was not surprised at the diagnosis. But Piper was in crisis and had to go to the veterinary specialty hospital for a few days to be hydrated and to get the insulin regulated. We started out on a Wednesday afternoon --at her regular vet. We paid a bill there of $235 and I was sent with her to the VSH where I was given a proposed bill of $4000.00 to keep her until Saturday and I needed to pay up front!
Each day I was updated on the amount of the money that had been consumed. Friday arrives and I am told they need to keep her through the weekend and we have used up $3600.00 of the money.

At this point my Irish temper kicks in and I said, "Oh, no, you told me I could bring her home on Saturday and I expect to check her out by Saturday evening." The story they were giving me was that she had no energy, was lethargic, and needed more time there. However, I visited with her daily and the night before I played with her and knew better. Before I could bring her home on Saturday I had to go to the drugstore and pick up a bottle of insulin and a box of needles -- 100. This was another $100.
When I checked her out of the hospital the total charge was $4672.00. Do the math ---at this point I have spent five thousand dollars. Still her insulin is not at the correct level. So, in ten days I needed to take her in for an "insulin curve." A study to determine how much her insulin needed to be increased. This was another $300.00. Her insulin was increased one unit -- up to four. After ten days I received a call from the vet that it was time to bring her back in for another curve. So...last week she went in for another insulin curve -- meaning they check her glucose levels every two hours. After checking the patterns the vet determines how much to increase or decrease the insulin. This time I was directed to increase the insulin one unit again -- now we are at five units. I am to return on this Wednesday for another curve. Last week's charge was $197.00. I bought a glucometer of my own hoping to be able to do the glucose check myself but haven't succeeded to any extent. I have a hard time getting enough blood to activate the strip, as least as of this writing. And...the glucometer was $117.00. Now I think I understand why folks online are complaining about the increased costs of having a diabetic dog. It is not just about the insulin and syringes. My vet keeps telling me it will not be this way once we get the insulin regulated. Go figure, who am I to believe?

My Girls

Everyone who knows me knows that I am "stoopid" about these two schnauzers who share my existence. It all started when my sister and her husband gave me the first schnauzer six months after Ken died. My Sassy is the doggie you see at the top of this blog. I had her for almost twelve years and loved her every day of that time. At age six she had developed bladder stones and needed surgery. In fact, we had scheduled her surgery shortly after diagnosis. It was Christmas / New Year's season. The night before surgery one of those mean 'ole stones lodged and she wound up spending the night in the emergency vet hospital. The next morning I picked her up and transported her to her vet for surgery. They were really "bad guys" and it took a while to rid her of them that day. After that, we made lots of trips back and forth to the NC State Vet school and spent far too many dollars doing ultrasound after ultrasound always being concerned as to whether she was developing any others. Then at the age of almost twelve she started to limp on a fore paw. Her vet thought perhaps she might be developing arthritis and gave her a specific medication that should make a difference. When it did not, off we went again to the NC State Vet School. This time for an MRI. It revealed that she had cancer where the paw connected to her body -- a brachial plexis tumor which was totally wrapped up in the nerves and blood vessels. I was told I could choose to have the paw amputated. We talked about life expectancy. The conversation went something like this. Will amputation cure the problem? Answer: No How long will she have with amputation? Answer: Six months How long will she have without amputation? Answer: Six months.

You know which I chose, I am sure. Sassy rests now on the mantle in a chest. I love her today as always.

In the meantime, I had gone back to the breeder when Sassy had the bladder surgery and adopted/bought a new puppy. So now, I have two...enter Miss Piper Kensleigh! She was a new experience! Where Sassy had been sweet and oh so easy to love Piper was my Wild Child!! At one point I almost gave up on her. My brother-in-law (who loved all schnauzers, no matter) kept her for about two months. At that point I felt guilty and brought her home. Since then we have made peace and she is my older girl.
Piper had been a truly healthy schnauzer until a few weeks ago when she started to drink an unusual amount of water. I knew what that meant in human talk ---unfortunately, it means the same in doggie talk -- diabetes. After a four day stay in the veterinary specialty hospital and some more really nice sized $$$ bills, I am learning to be a doggie nursemaid to a diabetic schnauzer. As of this particular moment I am certain we do not have the insulin regulated correctly but we are working on that task. I am learning to use glucometers and insulin and needles. I get frustrated when she will not eat. With a doggie insulin is given after a meal depending on whether and how much they eat. Oh, and the most frightening aspect during this diabetes scare, Piper lost five pounds in what seemed like a few days. That truly scared me!!

In the intervening times(s) I had gone back to the breeder in Tennessee and acquired another schnauzer before Sassy went away. Enter Kamelot Kamryn!! Kamelot because her mother is Guinevere!! We call her Kami and she is my wild child now. Cute as a button and unlike either of the other two. All three of these schnauzer girls have different personalities and have turned out to be wonderful pets. They are beautiful schnauzers. (Someday I will get current pictures of them up for viewing.)
Interestingly, they were all bred in Tennessee and come from the same bloodlines. But, the breeder has sold the schnauzer stock and this is the last of the girls from Tennessee.

Me Thinks...

I believe that bunch of "circus clowns" meeting downtown in the so-called legislative building need to just pack up their goodie bags and go home. The longer they stay the more evident it becomes that they really are up to no good and are wasting the tax payers' money. In spite of all they might claim with words like restructuring the tax code, doing away with teacher tenure, revising state employment job termination options, messing with voting districts, marriage laws, photo ID's to vote, only to mention a few, I think they have done plenty of damage and just need to go home and not return period! Period, I mean, like stay home forever!

These people have generated some of the most ridiculous pieces of legislation ever! It sometimes seems they got their ideas from a brainstorming session when they were all stoned. Words like vengeance, pay back, gotcha, are some that go through the mind.

One can only hope that the voters of North Carolina wake up by the next time they vote---and, oh yes, be certain to take your photograph and proof of address if you want your vote to count!

I Called Her Mom

Tomorrow is another day....something I heard my mother say often. So...tomorrow is another day in 2013, but it is an especially designated day...Mother's Day. For some it is a happy day filled with visits from children and family. For others who do not receive that special attention, it may not be considered so special. And then for still others it could be a sad day missing, while still remembering, those they have loved but who are missing from their lives at this time.

For me, I shall remember fondly, my Mom. She is a very short Mom physically standing barely five feet tall, yet being seven feet tall to those whose lives she shaped. She is of Irish descent and lots of others, no doubt. However, our Grandfather Daugherty was around as she was being reared, thus she remembers Irish!

My Mom was a good cook as was her mother. She taught me how to cook and clean, do the laundry and to sew. Thus, I have no excuse for being a sorry example of all of those at this point in my existence. (I don't like to cook, clean, and I do not sew. I do the laundry because I must!) My Mom would not be very happy with my excuses.

When I was small I can remember a time when all of the window treatments in our home were made by my Mom. They weren't any shabby looking homemade looking jobs either. They were "So Fine!" Our home burned on December 18th one year and all of those things went up in flames. Those events seemed to have sucked a lot of "the life" from my Mom for a little while. Our experiences in life seem to color our thinking and our being and such it was with my Mom. Our spirit gets battered around a great deal in this life. Mom had rheumatic fever at age six, her father was killed when she was eight, she lived through what was known as The Great Depression and who knows how many more dreadful things. But her zest for life, determination, love of learning soon surfaced and off she went in pursuit of life and its new experiences, whatever! I loved that she never lost her interest in what was new and "keeping up-to-date!"

My Mother had five children altogether. Her first was stillborn, the second, a son, George William, lived but a few hours after birth. Then there was me! I was the only one for six years, then another son, my brother. Another five years passed and my sister was born. That completed our family. Three children had survived and as far apart as we were born we were afforded the attention usually given to an only child while being fortunate enough to have siblings. Three makes a nice sized family of children but then so would five!!

We loved our times together!! Gathering at their home as adult children with children we often bored our parents out of their skulls with our steady conversation and chatter about politics and education. At some point in our lives we have all been involved in the field of education. Sometimes our folks (Mom and Dad) would just leave us in the middle of deep discussion and migrate to their favorite places in their home as we continued those discussions.
Our Mom has been gone twenty-one years now. (1992)

We miss Mom....and we know she is happy now with Daddy! Happy Mother's Day ALL!

Boston Havoc

Does anyone else find it strange that the Boston Marathon was being run with special honors paid to the Newtown Tragedy only to be hit by its own mad terror. Obviously perpetrated by supreme cowardice this act took the lives of three and injured roughly one hundred fifty people who were observing and waiting at the race's finish line. One of the victims, an eight year-old boy was waiting for his father to finish the race. The mother of this youngster has serious brain injuries, his sister lost a leg. How sad this story is! The details being released of the contents of the bombs indicate plain unadulterated meanness of intent! Bombs were hidden in duffel bags containing nails, metal shards, and shrapnel meant to maim and damage. Clearly the individual who designed these bombs did so in such a manner that these nails, shards, and shrapnel would do the maximum damage to those they struck. Evil, evil!!

It is difficult to understand the mind of a criminal wanting to do such harm to his/her fellow man. On the other hand, we all felt the same gratitude for those who scurried to help from every corner of the area. Watching it roll out on the screen, these people put aside personal concerns and scampered to help without thought other than people were hurt and needed their assistance. Some were doctors and nurses at the finish line, some were observers, some were runners themselves. The hospitals were filled with runners who just kept running to give blood. Many doctors who were in the race as runners and observers went on to the hospitals to offer their medical services. Whether fortunate or however you want to describe it, the Boston area is filled with hospitals, some of the best known in our country. Adequate medical resources were mobilized to help these individuals. We are all grateful.

Going forward not only those injured and maimed but those who witnessed and those who assisted and treated these individuals will need counseling to get beyond or to be able to cope with and handle the emotional damage done to their psyche.

More details will be discovered and known as the days go on and the investigation progresses. This event will not curtail the American spirit, neither will it keep us from running recreationally. It will, however, teach us a little more about precautions that need to be taken to keep our citizens safe when they gather for events. It is difficult to comprehend that right among us dwell those who do not wish us well but represent evil.

Again, I express my own condemnation of this act! I will continue to remember these fellow Americans and Boston in prayers.
4/16/2013

CJD

There are days when I wonder and wonder....almost frozen in thought and time. I ponder, look, and research. The hurt never really goes away although it takes a different form with time. I will go to my grave living with the frustrations this rare disease inflicted on an otherwise healthy body. It was like this.....

What Causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?

Some researchers believe an unusual "slow virus" or another organism causes CJD. However, they have never been able to isolate a virus or other organism in people with the disease. Furthermore, the agent that causes CJD has several characteristics that are unusual for known organisms such as viruses and bacteria. It is difficult to kill, it does not appear to contain any genetic information in the form of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), and it usually has a long incubation period before symptoms appear. In some cases, the incubation period may be as long as 50 years. The leading scientific theory at this time maintains that CJD and the other TSEs are caused by a type of protein called a prion.

Prion proteins occur in both a normal form, which is a harmless protein found in the body’s cells, and in an infectious form, which causes disease. The harmless and infectious forms of the prion protein have the same sequence of amino acids (the "building blocks" of proteins) but the infectious form of the protein takes a different folded shape than the normal protein. Sporadic CJD may develop because some of a person’s normal prions spontaneously change into the infectious form of the protein and then alter the prions in other cells in a chain reaction.

Once they appear, abnormal prion proteins aggregate, or clump together. Investigators think these protein aggregates may lead to the neuron loss and other brain damage seen in CJD. However, they do not know exactly how this damage occurs.

About 5 to 10 percent of all CJD cases are inherited. These cases arise from a mutation, or change, in the gene that controls formation of the normal prion protein. While prions themselves do not contain genetic information and do not require genes to reproduce themselves, infectious prions can arise if a mutation occurs in the gene for the body’s normal prion protein. If the prion protein gene is altered in a person’s sperm or egg cells, the mutation can be transmitted to the person’s offspring. All mutations in the prion protein gene are inherited as dominant traits. Therefore, family history is helpful in considering the diagnosis. Several different mutations in the prion gene have been identified. The particular mutation found in each family affects how frequently the disease appears and what symptoms are most noticeable. However, not all people with mutations in the prion protein gene develop CJD.
More later....

Legislating Health

Admittedly, I am earth's oldest blogging person and as such I will write today about my amazement at what is legislated these days. How did we ever live before we had congressmen and leaders to tell us how to run our lives?? Even what we should and should not eat and drink!! Of late, it seems that the officials in New York have decided that citizens drink too many sugary drinks up north and they (the officials) must legislate to keep folks from killing themselves on good ole sugar!! Inasmuch as John Q Public has not enough self control to manage his appetite and thirst, the governor and the mayor must take over and not allow folks to have great big sweet drinks when thirsty. I am so, so glad they have not tried yet to manage a southerners thirst for sweet tea! Talk about a southern uprising, whoo wee, the Civil War could hold no light to the uprising that would come out of this place!! A North Carolina Tea Party in full measure! (I know this writing does not follow rules of writing but who cares!)

Back to our health, everyday there is something new that we are not doing or doing that contributes to our poor state of health and the need of ObamaCare. We eat too much processed food; we eat too much meat; we eat too many hot dogs; we don't drink enough milk; we do not sleep enough hours; we eat too many of the wrong kind of carbohydrates; we consume the incorrect kind of fats; we are all too fat; we take too much Tylenol; we aren't good about eating a balanced breakfast; we eat fast food; and today I learned we are putting Splenda in the waste water when we tinkle!! Splenda is sucarose or sucralose or some such!! And it is bad for you!
Would somebody hand me a baloney sandwich, please!

My Dad, My Heritage

Everyone has a father, but my Dad is special..to me! I was not his first born but am the first of his children that lived. I am actually the third. But that is not what made my Dad special. My Dad was bred to be a southern gentleman and he was every bit the part. Born of parents who were born in Bedford County, Virginia he was the oldest of four boys. He was a southerner in manners and culture. My Daddy had been brought up with all of the best character traits in tact and he lived by them. Daddy was not much of a "talker" but more of a listener. However, when he did speak, we, as his children, did listen. It was important. He said it ONCE!!

I think my Mom and I drove him crazy sometimes because we talked so much when we got together....and had fun. Soon my father would find his way to his favorite room to watch his favorite ball games. Sports were big in our house and we were schooled in the major ones for sure. His greatest love was baseball! Oh, and he had his favorite snacks he enjoyed while watching...probably some chocolate candy or nuts of some type, and a soft drink. My Mom used to tease him about his sense of humor saying that his lineage came from England, hers having come from Ireland!!

Speaking of lineage, I have spent some time since retiring tracing my parents' genealogy. As I have worked on my Dad's line I have raised as many questions as I have answered about our family.
One amazing fact about which I would love to know more is what happened to my Grandfather Lemon's siblings. My grandfather was one of eight children born to George H. Lemon and Nancy Catherine Peters Lemon. Of these eight children my Granddad was one of only four who survived to be adults (21); this is how it looked: Nellie (1879-1912 --23 years), Granddaddy (1881-1934 -- 53 years); Della - (1883-1898 - 15 years); Sallie ( 1885-1899 -- 14 years); Stephen ( 1887-1920 - 33 years); Henry ( 1890 - 1908 -- 18 years); Blanch (1894- 1960 -- 74 years); Mary ( 1897- 1898 - 1 year). I am certain that to other people that doesn't seem so unusual but to me it raises lots of questions. I have been looking for a family history that might explain these happenings. At this point I have no living family links (obviously) who might be able to explain this to me.

Happy Birthday, Daddy...somewhere beyond the veil. I miss you so much!

Blades or Not!!

What a confusing and convoluted story!! I am referring to the incident in the news this week which resulted in the death of a beautiful young blonde model who was also a law school graduate. The alleged shooter/killer is a handicapped Olympian who competed in the regular Olympics recently running on blades. The courts in that land far away operate differently from those with which we are familiar. In the hearing sessions held this week this young man has often cried openly in court as the press so frequently pointed out. One was left to wonder if he cried because of sorrow he felt knowing he had been caught in a devious plan or because it was truly an accident and he had killed the woman he loved. Meantime, this young lady has been mourned by her family with appropriate services held and her body cremated.

The hearing for this lad's indictment sounded like quite the fiasco as the defense battled to ensure his release to await trial for this heinous act. At times this part of the story seemed to overshadow the murder itself. In the end, he won release with bail to await trial. So much for that.

Much was circulated in the news about this young man's true nature in spite of his physical limitations. His temper, anger, and outbursts, etc. The looming questions in my mind were: Why would he be shooting in the bedroom and bathroom knowing that this young lady was with him and she was moving around in the area....further, that she was not present in the bed?? Obviously, there was no intruder. Later it was reported he lived in a gated area and home. Shooting into the bathroom multiple times needs to be explained.

According to reports, this young lady was pursuing a modeling career and obviously she had prepared herself with an education ample to provide a lifelong career. Why, then, was she involved with this person who by all reports wasn't the most desirable character and was prone to angry outbursts??? Of course, not many details were disclosed to the public which might clear up much confusion in this story and happening. Lots of unanswered and confusing questions!

What do I think based on what has been released??? I think he killed her intentionally in a hot, hot argument and now he is remorseful! That is my take at this point!!!!! What is yours??

Indiscretions in High Places

One must wonder if press folks have a difficult time finding sensational topics to write about in the dark winter months, thus they plunder into the lives of folks and come up with juicy dark secrets. The last few weeks seem to be resplendent with stories of "secret children" sired by various congressmen making the laws for our country. Seems they (our lawmakers) can't even obey the basic laws of family life. One week they seemed to revisit Senator Strom's indiscretions when he was a rather young man and the daughter that resulted. Only after his death did this lady confirm what had been suspected and written about for years. If one recalls the history there...Senator Strom and his first wife had no children. After she passed away he married a "Miss South Carolina" with whom there existed a considerable age difference. They then had a family of several children. According to the reports the illegitimate daughter was probably born prior to his being married the first time. Senator Strom has been gone for some years now but....!!

Recently during the State of the Union speech a senator was exposed after being observed tweeting a young lady during the president's address. No one has a secret these days. Soon the press was right on it and the story told. He was exchanging texts with his young daughter born to a lady with whom he had an affair some years earlier. She is now grown. Soon the whole world knows as he freely admits he was tweeting his own daughter. The extra marital part could have been left off but...it makes such a juicy story and the world just needs to know.

Today another older senator is admitting that he has an adult son in his thirties born as the result of an affair with a fellow Congressman's daughter. What?? Yep, that was it. The "result" is now a successful young man in his thirties. The guilty senator claims to have told his elderly wife only recently....one can assume when he knew the story was going to hit the press. The guilty senator has now retired from Congress but....it makes for a really juicy story.

These are but a few of the stories of senatorial indiscretions circulating these days. How prevalent are these happenings??
Perhaps the public doesn't care -- who knows??? And it is true that most often when these characters are elected we generally have no measure of their true character. However, these are indications of an immoral society. When people lack moral character society suffers. When our leaders lack moral character we should care. We elect these people. Their character should be above reproach. They make the laws of the land in which we live -- the laws we are expected to obey. Should these guys obey the same laws??

In a day replete with technology in every phase of life we have no secrets. The world knows or can know all they want to know about you. Privacy is a thing of the past. In some ways, it is such an invasion...much like people feel after being raped. Wake up politicians!!

Man/Husband and WHAT??

Well, it is Valentine's Day! Crazy things appear on TV and around on this day each year. Just saw Joan Rivers performing a ceremony for two gay guys some where or the other. The thought occurred to me when she finally got down to the rituals -- how can she pronounce one of these guys the wife (as in I now pronounce you husband and wife) when neither of them has the correct physical equipment to be the wife?? Does that seem strange to any one other than me?
So knowing me, I must check this out. Off to Mr. Webster's good book known as the Webster's Dictionary I go. What should I find other than this definition --- 1. woman 2. the female partner in a marriage
Now there were some other definitions like --- 1. woman who has a husband 2. a female who is united to a man in wedlock;

OK, Folks. Who is mixed up?? Me or the rest of the world?? It got even more complicated after I consulted Mr. Webster and his relatives, the Merrimans.
Now a wife is female which means she surely has the "you-know" correct equipment, and to be a wife she has a husband. That last point I have straight!! But, yeehaw, I am quite confused on the other part!!! Can you help???

Just Us Lemons

I love a good lemon cake. This looks like a good recipe. I copied it from WRAL in the Blog area.


Lemon Cake

1 package of lemon cake mix
1 package of instant lemon pudding
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup lemon or orange juice (I used lemon)
2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease and flour a 9x13 pan.

Mix together lemon cake mix, pudding mix, water and oil. Beat for five minutes. Add eggs and beat for another five minutes. Bake for 40 minutes.

When done, prick the top of the cake with a toothpick or fork all over so the glaze really soaks in. I let my younger daughter do this, carefully wrapping the hot pan in a towel and supervising her.

Mix the fruit juice and powdered sugar. Pour over cake while it's still warm. You can eat this cake warm or at room temperature. Either way, it's delicious!

Resilience

The following is The Spoken Word by Lloyd Newell from a recent Tabernacle Choir broadcast. I enjoyed it and wanted to preserve it by copying it to my blog.


“Resilience”

You don’t have to travel far down the path of life to realize that it’s full of stumbling blocks. Avoiding them is an important skill, but perhaps even more important is the ability to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep going after we’ve stumbled-and we all do from time to time. In the words of Confucius, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”1

He was describing resilience, the ability to rebound from disappointment, to work through adversity with courage and patience, refusing to give up or give in. It’s easy to keep moving forward along the path’s smooth patches, but if the whole path were that way, how would we ever learn to be resilient? How would we discover how much inner strength we have if we never had to bounce back after a difficulty, move forward through times of heartache and pressure, or stay strong in moments of gloom and discouragement? Resilience reveals something about our character-and it can empower us to become even better, wiser, and stronger.

There are examples everywhere, large and small, of people who keep going despite setbacks: the athlete who keeps competing despite a less-than-stellar season, the job seeker who keeps his head up in the face of rejection, the student who keeps studying hard even after receiving a bad grade, the soloist who struggles in a recital but keeps practicing and shows up at the next one, the couple who remain committed to strengthening their marriage notwithstanding the ups and downs of life. They all bounce back, keep going, and keep trying even when, at times, they think they can’t.

Perhaps the words of Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh are words we each need to hear from time to time: “Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”2 So no matter the setback, keep going. It may surprise you to discover how brave, strong, and smart you really are.
1. In Tryon Edwards, comp., A Dictionary of Thoughts (1891), 149.

2. Carter Crocker and Karl Geurs, Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (1997).

Reflections on Manti

I have been confused listening to the convoluted stories of the ND football player since fall. Throughout the seemingly ridiculous release of first one crazy related story and another I have wondered about the actual education of this young man. How was his actual work toward a college degree faring? I seemed to remember hearing something early pertaining to his classwork but that part of the story faded early in favor of the more seemingly "sensational"
parts that the press would rather hear and publish. I searched the internet and ran up on the following:

Classroom
Te’o has excelled in the classroom as his grade-point average has been well above 3.0 his entire career at Notre Dame. In 2011, he was named a second-team Academic All-American, becoming the 56th selection in Notre Dame football history. Following the 2011 season, Te’o was selected the football team’s recipient of the Rockne student-athlete of the year. He is on pace to graduate this December from Notre Dame, earning his degree in three and a half years.

Character
Te’o has been a leader since birth. He was the perfect example for his siblings to follow as he was a good student and good citizen. A member of the Boy Scouts as a child, Te’o earned Eagle Scout status after years of determination and effort. He and his family knew the value of a good education as Te’o traveled 90 minutes each way so he could attend one of the most prestigious high schools in Hawaii. Raised on the North Shore of Oahu, Te’o traveled each day to downtown Honolulu to attend Punahou High School. Te’o would pass his local high school on the way to Punahou but he and his family knew how the elite education offered at Punahou would benefit him for the rest of his life.
End of quote.

This article goes further in explanation about his family and early life.
Now Dr. You Know is airing his discussions with the perpetrator of this sham. Lots can be said about why this young many was duped and participated in this fiasco. I have no idea ....one can only guess. Perhaps he was lonely even though he was surrounded by students. It would appear that he is not a very 'worldly" young man and schooled in today's dating standards --- whatever that would be!! Further complicating that scene would be the knowledge that he has been raised in and LDS family and no doubt has little experience dating. Perhaps he studied, practiced and played football, went to church, and kept busy with those activities. At any rate I now am satisfied that young Manti has graduated from ND with a degree and a respectable GP average should he want to go to graduate school after everyone has finished laughing at him and calling him names!!

Perhaps now he should go on to serve a mission like he started to earlier in his life. Time will tell.

*****Post Script ---1 Feb 2013

This entry will make no sense to you unless you have read the one just prior. My thoughts are directly in relation to those I "scribed" pertaining to the bizarre hoax played on the ND football player. My thoughts have not been to condemn either young man although that could have been easy. It has been interesting to listen to snippets of Dr. You Know's interviews and questions as he has attempted to unravel these rather complex interactions between those two.

The perpetrator of this hoax now seems rather repentant --- and the harm has been done to both. One could only hope for both of them that they might drop this whole issue, talk about it no more and move on with their young lives to be productive citizens who can overcome and forget.

My VIew of The Inaug .....

So..today is inauguration day in Washington, DC. The town is filled with those who are delighted with the re-election of this president. While many across this great country haven't even bothered to tune in. They care but are disgruntled and totally defeated by this event. It is understandable. As is the case in most elections....this one was bitter. The country seems undeniably divided. There are those who are tired of supporting large numbers of people who have made poor choices and gotten themselves and many little children (who didn't ask for this) into dire straits and cannot provide for their well-being. There are many who have not contributed one penny (or very few) draining the tills of entitlements pushing states and the federal government further into debt trying to keep funds in these programs. We are told many on these rolls are not even citizens of the United States. However, one must acknowledge that this is not the only problem facing this nation.

We seem to lack the great voice that can unite the spirits of politicians to help them see the need of working together to solve problems this nation faces. It is very disturbing especially when we constantly hear that the real reason the parties do not want to work together stems from the knowledge that they will not be re-elected if they vote for more taxes which supply more dollars for that which I have just discussed above.

Our country was thrown into a truly serious recession by ruthless financial practices in many venues. As folks lost their jobs and were sent into a downward spiral financial institutions were failing right and left. Folks could not pay their sizable debts. As business and government fought hard to climb out of this hole disagreements on how to manage this situation have been fiery. The current president inherited the problem. Many have not agreed with his course of correction. Another candidate with considerable financial knowledge and experience was offered by the opposite party. He was, however, rejected by the electorate.

Why was this president re-elected? One can only speculate at this point. My personal beliefs at this point are as follows:

1. Democrats were successful in their efforts to make Romney un-appealing for his
personality, his religion, lack of being a political insider, his personal wealth,
his success with business, and many other issues.
2. Romney's own party was less than supportive for many of the same reasons listed in
# 1.
3. Democrats were terrified that they would lose the entitlements to which they have
become so comfortable and accustomed. Thus, they rallied and drug their supporters
to the polls.

So there you have it folks, my opinion or just some of it on today's big event. You can like it or not ~~~ I don't really care. I think I am correct or at least partially so.

The Cabinet

The Cabinet!! Just holding my breath for the next appointees to the new cabinet for the governor wannabe who got elected this time for the state of NC. One's greatest "fears" were realized with the first group of appointees for cabinet positions. Look out schools and teachers. The funds you were formerly given will soon be appropriated to more charter schools and school vouchers. The predicted consequence of this ( by me ) will be the loss of funding for pay for National Board Teacher certification and teachers more often pulling from their own purses for classroom supplies. The school year will probably be lengthened to all schools being year round without pay differential.

Next coming down the pike as appointees (shortly) will no doubt be the two wake board members who ran for election and did not win. Hang on to your hats citizens this is going to be "one more ride!" Surprises are just around the curve, er, I mean bend.

Now there are some as expressed by NC Spin (I'm a fan) who believe this about the new cabinet ..... in their so-called micro view: McCrory’s team is too white, too male, too old, too Republican and too Duke. Those who would have preferred a mosaic representation of our state would loved to have had more color, more gender, more geographic and more diverse experience among his selection. (Unquote)

*** I am left wondering why the November elected boss did not create a position as Czar of Education for the one appointed to head transportation. As you can see I have some pondering yet to do on this cabinet thing.

Keep your ear to the earth could be more rumbling about this in my future!!!!