The Wreath

ONE CHRISTMAS LISA DROPPED BY WITH MY NIECE AND NEPHEW TO GIVE ME MY CHRISTMAS GIFT. BECCA WAS MAKING A WREATH FOR ME OUT OF BAGGIES AND A COAT HANGER, BUT SHE WASN'T QUITE FINISHED WITH IT YET.

AS WE SAT THERE TALKING , SHE WAS TYING THE BAGGIES AROUND THE HANGER AND HER MOM KEPT TELLING HER TO HURRY BECAUSE THEY HAD TO GET HOME. I LEANED OVER AND WHISPERED IN BECCA'S EAR, "THE SLOWER YOU GO , THE LONGER WE GET TO VISIT."

THIS BROUGHT A BIG SMILE TO HER FACE AND SHE VISIBLY SLOWED DOWN TO A SNAILS PACE AND WE HAD A NICE LONG VISIT.

IT WAS A SIMPLE WREATH, BUT IT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME AND I KEPT IT FOR YEARS. I EVEN BOUGHT MORE EXPENSIVE WREATHS AFTER THAT BUT I ALWAYS TOOK THEM DOWN AND HUNG THAT SIMPLE WREATH THAT MY NIECEY WIECEY MADE FOR ME.

IT FELT LIKE HOME.

My Favorite Christmas Carol

go ahead sing it - it will make you feel better

WE WISH ME A MERRY CHRISTMAS

WE WISH ME A MERRY CHRISTMAS

WE WISH ME A MERRY CHRISTMAAAASS

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Year I Ruined Christmas

When I was eleven years old I was a master at sneaking downstairs and opening presents and putting them back so no one would ever know they had been touched. I caught my mom away from home shopping one day and opened every present that I had under the tree. I knew there would be more on Christmas day so it was no big deal.

Christmas day came and we went downstairs and I looked around the room and the only presents were the ones that I had already opened under the tree. They weren't scattered all over the room like they usually were on Christmas morning. I did not have even one surprise. Even worse I had to open my gifts in front of my parents and feign surprise with each one.

Don't get me wrong. I had plenty of presents that day. I had a very good Christmas, it was just that I already knew everything that I had already. It was a lesson that I never forgot and I have never tried to find out early what a present was even to this day!

It's not an insult....

...TO WISH SOMEONE

1. Merry Christmas

2. Happy Chanukkah

3. Season's Greetings

4. Happy Kwanzaa

5. Happy Holidays

6. kuwa na krismasi njema

7. any other seasonal greeting that I can't think of right now

If someone cares enough to wish you a "happy holiday", please don't give them a lecture about how it is a crime to say "merry christmas" nowadays. Nothing turns my stomach more than to wish someone well and get a lecture because of it...and that includes my comment section!

If someone wishes you a "merry christmas", please thank them and take these lovely seasonal greetings in the spirit in which they are intended.

None of them was EVER meant to be an insult.

Last night I had a lovely conversation with a woman who enjoys Christmas as much as I do - It was refreshing.

My Christmas Festivities with the Governor Tonight

Eddie and I went to the lighting of the West Virginia State Christmas Tree tonight. We went early to accommodate my need for frequent rests when I have to walk anywhere. Luckily he wanted to show me the inside of the capitol because he used to work there, otherwise I would have just stayed in the truck and missed most of the festivities.

We went inside and there was a group playing bells and a lovely bench for me to rest. Then we made our way upstairs because he said he knew where I could get a good view of everything. That is when we discovered that there was a band and a tree in the back of the capitol as well as the front.

I was trying to rest on the railing when we saw the governor's wife and a security team go outside. I didn't want to miss anything so we followed them out. I thought they would be going down the steps to the tree. They didn't. So, there stood I and Eddie with the Governor of the great state of West Virginia and his wife and their team of people. I made my way to the side of the podium and I sat down because I could go no further. I thought for sure that one of the state policemen would come and tell us we had to move but they didn't. Two of them came and stood by us for a few moments while the band played Christmas carols but that was the extent of it.

Then they introduced the governor and Santa Claus and lit the tree. Eddie and I made our way inside. We went to see if the tree had been lit on the other side of the capitol. As we made our way out the door at my super speed of mosey the Governor and his wife and security team followed us out onto the majestic front steps of the capitol. Once again we stepped off to the side as the announcer introduced the governor and we giggled to ourselves that we were in the presence of true dignataries.

By this time I was worn out and we went in and I found a bench and we listened to the bell ringers some more and then the governor came in and made another presentation for the winner of the state Christmas ornament. At least time we were just ordinary West Virginia Citizenery and not part of the heads of state.

It was quite fun.

Yah, stress test canceled!!!!

visit rescheduled for the 14th. with no stress test....now that's progress

No progress on the medical front

Back from the gyno visit. Saw a nurse practioner. She is referring me to a resident....

My Christmas Miracle

In 2001 my dad was in the hospital dying on Christmas Day.

He was in so much pain that they had him in a medically induced coma and he was still lying in the bed stiff as a board and there was blood on his lips because he was clenching his teeth so hard. He was a diabetic and he needed to have his leg amputated because of sepsis but he was too weak for them to do the surgery and they did not know if he would make it through the day.

Needless to say I was miserable, not only was my dad dying but it was Christmas Day and Christmas would be ruined for the rest of my life! I promised God that I would do whatever I could to help him if he would let him live.

They decided to do dialysis on Christmas Day saying that it was the absolute last thing they could try for him. Fortunately the dialysis worked and he became strong enough a couple of days later to do the surgery. Also he never had to have dialysis again which is one of the complications of having it once - being on it for the rest of your life!

Daddy became strong enough to come home with me on February 4, 2002. They told me that he had around 10 days to live. I was blessed with taking care of him for another 2 3/4 years. He had lost around 100 lbs. during the course of his illness. When I took him home and he still didn't want to eat, I would make him delicious,appetizing foods. When he would turn them down I would sit there in front of him and eat and smack my lips and just enjoy the hell out of the meal in front of him. Usually he would lean over and peep at the plate and say "I think I'll have a little of that." I managed to put 50 lbs. back on him but I also put 50 lbs. on myself! I definitely didn't need it, but it was worth every pound.

Taking care of daddy by myself was hard. I had a little help from my uncles but for the most part I took care of everything for him. I do appreciate the help that they did give me though.

There were lots of ups and downs but he eventually became well enough that he was quite happy. I told him that if he could bear with me that I might make mistakes and do a lot of things wrong but I would always do my best and never intentially hurt him.

That is exactly what happened.

Santa

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerindex?id=9387472

What's not to love about Santa Claus? He's jolly, kind, patient and, with a workshop full of scurrying little elves, he makes children's dreams come true. Santa depicts the soul of goodness and the spirit of Christmas itself -- at least in America.

Elsewhere, Santa has a much darker side.

The Netherlands' Sinterklaas does have a white beard and a big book with children's names in it, much like the gentle Santa who keep a list of who's naughty and nice, but he also goes about with a posse of soot-covered sidekicks called "Black Peters." If Sinterklaas' records show a child to have been particularly bad, legend has it he or she could be carried off by a Black Peter to be turned into a cookie.

Dutch journalist and filmmaker Arnold-Jan Scheer has studied St. Nicholas' scary side. He says some parents feel it's good for their children to be taunted and intimidated by St. Nick's helpers.

"I think the mother thinks, well, this is tradition, this is part of life, this is how it has to be," Scheer said. "Children need to be confronted with their fears."

In parts of France, St. Nicholas is accompanied by a cannibalistic child killer named P�re Fouettard (or the "Whipping Father"). He flogs children who have been naughty and dispenses lumps of coal, leaving St. Nick to bestow gifts to the good. In village parades this time of year, sinister P�re Fouettards grab children and whisk them along, while some cry in fear and others taunt him back.

In parts of Austria, it's worse still. When St. Nicholas makes a house call, he is accompanied by a demon named Krampus. While St. Nick rewards good children, Krampus beats the bad ones. Wearing fierce-looking masks, horns and animals skins, he overturns tables, sets fires, and grabs adults and children to spank them while St. Nicholas watches from the sidelines.

the next couple of days are going to be sucky

Funny Story from the other day....When I was at the ER the doctor had to do a pelvic exam. He told me to spread my legs like a frog! hahahahahahahahhaha Never heard that one before.

I have a gynecologist appointment this afternoon after which I have to go to work for the evening. Usually when I work I have to rest all day before hand but the doctor's visit shouldn't be too eventful. Hopefully I will be able to work the whole night. If I can't they will let me go home early (they'll even let me not work at all if I want) but I need the money.

Then I have to fast after midnight which I usually munch most of the night after I work because I am tired and I can't sleep. I always keep apples in the fridge for a quick midnight snack but usually after I work I need more substantial fare.

I have a stress test in the morning. Last time I finished it and the doctor was pleased, he didn't realize it would put me in bed for 2 days though and a few more restful days after that to recuperate. At least he lets me do it the normal way now (treadmill). The first 2 years he made me do a chemical stress test (they speed up your heart with drugs and you just sit there). The 3rd. year I tried to do a treadmill test and I couldn't finish it. At least I'm making progress.

Hopefully I'll have enough energy to play on the computer. I still have to do this month's edition of the newsletter. Oh well, if it has to wait a week then it just has to wait.

My Life in a Nutshell

I graduated from Logan High at Logan, WV in 1980. I quit Ohio State after 2 quarters. I intended to go to another college but life interfered with that although I have taken countless classes over the years that don't amount to a hill of beans - just whatever interested me at the time.

I went to Beauty School and graduated. I hated it. I liked doing hair, what I didn't like was interacting with people for a 1/2 hour to an hour at a time. I worked enough to pay off my student loan and other than cutting my hair that's all I do with that now.

I was married in 1982. We divorced in 1998 and I was blissfully happy until the day I left.

I found my calling when I started to train greyhounds in 1987. I knew I would do it forever the first time I stepped into a turnout pen. Originally I got the job to expose the big, bad track for greyhound abuse but I found out that most of the dogs were treated like kings and I could effect more change by staying in the business. Plus, I just plain loved it. My ex and I found homes for over 2000 greyhounds. When I first started finding homes for them people would laugh at me. I reeducated a lot of people in the business about what could happen if you found homes for the dogs. I am proud of my ripple effect with those efforts.

Unfortunately when I left my ex I had to leave the dog business. When I left him we were at the beginnings of financial and professional success. I got the bills and he got the money. I farted around at silly jobs for years and supplemented my income by raising dogs and finding homes for 100's of strays.

I bowed out of my life for 2 3/4 years to take care of my dying father.

Just when I was on the verge of financial success again, I went into the hospital with heart failure. I am alive. I am unable to work (except parttime). I no longer have any animals except for my fatty catty.

Life sucks but it is what it is.

more medical problems - sigh

Well I had to go back to the ER the other day. It is a shame because I had waited a month for my doctor to give me a referral to a gynecologist and he did not do it. (insurance requires a referral from my primary care doctor). I got tired of hurting so I picked a time I knew they wouldn't be busy and I went. (early Wednesday morning)

It turns out I have a cyst on my ovary. I have had fibroids for at least 20 years and it is probably the same thing. They are no big deal unless they are causing you problems. It has been causing me problems since last summer.

Now I have my referral. Unfortunately to get it I saw my doctor at least 4 times (he never did do a pelvic exam) and I made 2 trips to the ER to get to the root of the problem - one in September and one last week.

The trips to the ER were probably entirely unnecessary except for the fact that my doctor was just writing me antibiotics and the infection would clear up for about a week to 2 weeks and then start all over again. I learned in the dog business that after 2 rounds of antibiotics if the problem is not cleared up then check again for something else that could be wrong. If that had been done it would have saved the taxpayers at least $6000 in medical bills.

Anyway I am calling the gynecologist this morning to see what needs to be done to fix the problem properly this time. Probably surgery but we shall see.

An Answer to that All Important Question - When do the 12 days of Christmas start?

Dec 8, '09 6:02 AM for everyone

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens,
Swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were Not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone During that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

"It is always interesting to see how these songs came to be" - damnpamn

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

My Thanksgiving Weekend

I had a great day. I cooked the turkey the night before and ate a little turkey. Then I made my dressing and ate a little of that. When I woke up Thanksgiving morning I made sweet potatoes and ate one. Then I made brussel sprouts and helped myself. I made deviled eggs and I couldn't keep myself out of them. Finally when I knew it was time for a friend to stop by (I knew she had already eaten) I made mashed potatoes and gravy. While she ate a whole plate of food I had the mashed potatoes.

Basically I ate one thing at a time all day. I did not stuff myself and it was a relaxing holiday. I called my mom and my uncle and wished them a happy day and then I sat down to watch my movies.

I saw the man that the old bitties had been picking on so I asked him if he had a good holiday. He told me "no". I asked if he had at least got some food and he told me "no". I am sure he was telling the truth. So I fixed him a big ole plate of turkey and dressing and another plate with brocolli salad and deviled eggs. I gave him 1/2 a pumpkin pie with cool whip and almost a whole gallon of tea that Fruth had given me for free as part of employee appreciation week.

He told me he had a chicken but no way to cook it so I gave him a cookie sheet. I had 3 of them. It is not the best way to cook a chicken but it is better than nothing and I told him to keep it.

Then I ran into one of the old ladies who ran me off with their smoking and making fun of me earlier in the week. When she asked me how I was doing I told her in no uncertain terms not to speak to me. Her lip started to quiver and she was offended. I did not care. I pointed out to her that I had been nothing but nice to her and she should know how she affected my breathing because she is on oxygen too. SHE APOLOGIZED AND I ACCEPTED.

Then she told me her O2 machine was messing up and I looked at it and I fixed it for her. Now I am waiting to see if she meant the apology or if she just wanted somebody to fix her oxygen machine.

I worked last night and I am resting today.

Movies 11/28/10

1. Expendables It was good to see the old coots in action. Other than that....

2. Hannah and Her Sisters Why anyone would think this is a good Thanksgiving movie is beyond me!

3. Night at the Museum II Better than the first one. I would watch another.

4. Percy Jackson: Lightning Thief I liked it alot.

5. August Rush Heartwarming