I don't think I need to apologize and therefore, I won't. I admit, I am a Wal-Mart kind of person. My favorite uniform is jeans and sweats. No one has to shop there and for those who think boycotts will help, go for it. Do I like all their business practices? No, I don't. But they are legal actions. Clothes from China or Bangladesh? Check labels at Bergner's or Macy's - you will find them there too.
Reclaiming insurance money? Not nice, but very legal. Would other corporations sue to return the funds? Of course they would, and they have.
Sorry, but an orange is an orange. When my choice for oranges is $.50 or $.88 each, guess which one I am choosing? But then there are other items. I have never bought meat from Wal-Mart - seems like it is more expensive and seldom on sale. Mostly the meat comes from Kroger's. Dog and cat food from Wal-Mart.
I drive a KIA - Enough said.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Oh, How True
Funny e-mails land in the "You've Got Mail" box all the time. Sometimes I share them with a person or two, but this one takes the cake. It deserves to be seen. It helps to explain "Mars vs. Venus. And it made me laugh. That is the best part, being able to step back and take a look in the mirror. Enjoy! (cut and paste the link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1TVOXdNkFo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1TVOXdNkFo
Sunday, March 2, 2008
It's Coming!
March 2nd, a high temperature of 69 degrees. At 7 PM it is still 61 degrees. I know it is just a tease since temperatures fall back into the 30's for the week ahead and some snow is still in the forecast. It was still great to turn the furnace all the way off today, to open a window and let the fresh air come through. The plastic came off four windows - a show of real optimism. Eighteen days until the Vernal Equinox. Yes, today is just a tease, but spring is coming! I think people are ready! I know I am! Welcome Spring!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Milestone Anniversary
I have "celebrated" my 10th anniversary. My life changed, strangely for the better, in September 1997. That is when I heard three very scary words, "you have cancer". Thoughts raced through my mind. The one that stuck was, "How do I tell my kids, especially my daughter?" She was only 17 and had already lost her father to lung cancer. The Radiologist met with me and help me find the right words.
It had been my daughter who insisted I go to the Doctor in the first place. I had not been for twelve years! Everything was fine until I was called back for a second set of mammograms. Then off for sonograms and eventually the dreaded needle biopsy.
Appointments with the radiation doctor, the oncologist and ultimately the final meeting with the surgeon. The Radiologist and the Oncologist had both been quite optimistic. It was with the Surgeon I had a problem. Despite the course of treatment recommended by the first two, the surgeon made the mistake of saying the word "mastectomy". At that time, I uttered words that I couldn't believe I said. I have always had a great deal of respect for Doctors and I guess I felt they were doing me a favor by seeing me.
No more! I said and I quote, "If you want to continue to talk to a rational, reasonable human being, you will not say that word again." I had been told that through radiation, chemotherapy and tamoxifin afterwards that the prognosis was good. I told the surgeon that there would be a lumpectomy and I would follow the recommended course of treatment. If cancer returned, we would talk about more extreme treatment then.
Surgery was October 7, 1997. Three tiny lumps were malignant, but the lymph nodes were clear! Chemo was an experience. Horrible mouth sores, no matter how many ice chips I ate. Lived on tomato soup for a long time. I actually liked the bald look and have pretty much kept the hair short since. Radiation went smoothly, no severe burns. Other than five days in the hospital when the hemoglobin went "south" (thank goodness for blood transfusions and Procrit). Things were good. Don't know if it happens to other women of a "certain age", but the treatment threw me right through the "change of life" with no symptoms.
Afterwards, I have taken much better care of myself. I visit the Doctors when I should, I keep active and the weight under control. I have learned that unless I put myself first, I have no room for others and without others, there is nothing.
Lessons learned:
1. Kids are smart, listen to them.
2. A Doctor is your employee, not a god.
3. Attitude is everything.
4. Refuse to be intimidated, speak up.
Happy belated anniversary to me!
It had been my daughter who insisted I go to the Doctor in the first place. I had not been for twelve years! Everything was fine until I was called back for a second set of mammograms. Then off for sonograms and eventually the dreaded needle biopsy.
Appointments with the radiation doctor, the oncologist and ultimately the final meeting with the surgeon. The Radiologist and the Oncologist had both been quite optimistic. It was with the Surgeon I had a problem. Despite the course of treatment recommended by the first two, the surgeon made the mistake of saying the word "mastectomy". At that time, I uttered words that I couldn't believe I said. I have always had a great deal of respect for Doctors and I guess I felt they were doing me a favor by seeing me.
No more! I said and I quote, "If you want to continue to talk to a rational, reasonable human being, you will not say that word again." I had been told that through radiation, chemotherapy and tamoxifin afterwards that the prognosis was good. I told the surgeon that there would be a lumpectomy and I would follow the recommended course of treatment. If cancer returned, we would talk about more extreme treatment then.
Surgery was October 7, 1997. Three tiny lumps were malignant, but the lymph nodes were clear! Chemo was an experience. Horrible mouth sores, no matter how many ice chips I ate. Lived on tomato soup for a long time. I actually liked the bald look and have pretty much kept the hair short since. Radiation went smoothly, no severe burns. Other than five days in the hospital when the hemoglobin went "south" (thank goodness for blood transfusions and Procrit). Things were good. Don't know if it happens to other women of a "certain age", but the treatment threw me right through the "change of life" with no symptoms.
Afterwards, I have taken much better care of myself. I visit the Doctors when I should, I keep active and the weight under control. I have learned that unless I put myself first, I have no room for others and without others, there is nothing.
Lessons learned:
1. Kids are smart, listen to them.
2. A Doctor is your employee, not a god.
3. Attitude is everything.
4. Refuse to be intimidated, speak up.
Happy belated anniversary to me!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Live and Let Live!
It is all around us, the center of many discussions. Whether it is the political pundits, news broadcasters and common citizens. Can a Mormon be elected President? Creation vs. evolution. Pro-life vs. Pro-choice. A Baptist minister (and Arkansas Governor) making sure the "Religious Right" has their voice heard. Separation of Church and State (or is it church from state). No prayer in schools - but a required "moment of silence" instead. Moslems are feared, even when an individual has done nothing wrong. Hell's Fire and damnation befalls all who do not believe that The Bible is the unaltered word of God.
I choose my behavior, thoughts and deeds. Not because I am looking for the "salvation of my immortal soul" but because I believe in doing what I think is right. I make mistakes and make bad decisions, but the "devil" did not make me do it. Seems to me that the athiests and agnostics are far more willing to listen to alternative views.
Tolerance? Acceptance? Where are they?
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Milestone Day!
Most of the groundhogs live outside the perimeter fence at work, but last summer, one decided to move. He dug his burrow under a sidewalk at the office. We had a great deal of fun watching him, especially on warm days when he would sun himself on the sidewalk. The guys at work named him Roger.
By the end of summer, Roger grew tired of humans and moved back to the berm outside the fence with the rest of his family.
The great thing about "Groundhog's Day" is the fact that whether or not the groundhog sees its' shadow, spring is on the way! Right now, the ground is covered with snow, but it will not be long before early daffodils and tulips will be peeking through the earth and trees will be budding.
Mid-western winters make Groundhog's Day is certainly a day to celebrate!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Collected Notes
I grew up in a home where Mother had a saying for almost everything. Some were true words of wisdom, some cliches and some just plain mush. Many of them have worked their way into my mind and heart. Over the years, additional ones have been added. It used to shock me when I would hear myself saying the same phrases to my kids. Now that they are adults, I hope some of the sayings give the same direction to their lives as they have given to mine.
Back in my teen years, I had a trigger-temper. At one point, I lashed out at my oldest sister to the point that she was packing to cut short her visit home and go back to the college campus in Indiana. Fortunately, we were able to reconcile before she actually left. Not long after that, I saw a small post-card like joke card that said, "Keep your temper, no one else wants it!" One of those "Ah-ha" moments. I carried that card for a long time and have not lost my temper like that again. Doesn't mean that I do not get angry, I just deal with it differently than I did then.
Also in the teen years, I found a copy of a poem that has been the guiding light for my life ever since. It is familiar to most people .
"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
I first saw it as written by Anonymous. I have since seen it credited to a couple of authors. Whoever wrote it, I cannot thank them enough. Those few words have lit my path, both personally and professionally.
Life has good days and bad days. I try not to wallow in the bad days! "No matter what is happening, this is not the worst it has ever been!" I made it through all those other days: divorce, death of loved ones, job loses, career changes, cancer diagnosis, etc. and I can make it through today if I just keep putting one foot in front of the other - sometimes just to keep from falling down!
Pollyanna? Maybe. If so, it is how I choose to be. "How much difference will it make six-months from now?" If it will not make much of a difference, I won't give it much thought and certainly no argument. If it will make a difference, I will do whatever is in my power to address the issue so there is minimal impact on a future reality. I worked in the substance abuse treatment field for a number of years and it is sort of a short version of the Serenity Prayer.
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
One of Mom's favorites was, "There but for the grace of God, go I." Those few words have kept me from thinking that I am better than anyone else for any reason. We never know what hardships and life experiences another has had that causes them to be or behave a certain way. I try very hard not to judge. Take people for who and what they are and if I cannot, leave them alone.
I shared the importance of "Don't let anyone live in your head rent free." in an earlier post. Sometimes it is very difficult not to focus on what someone else thinks. It is so easy to get caught up with what others say or do. It is then that I find myself saying or doing things that I later regret.
Like many people, I find it difficult to ask for help. It is easy to give advice but not so easy to ask for it when it is needed. "You alone can do it, but you cannot do it alone." It manifests itself in so many ways - delaying a trip to the doctor or needing to open a pickle jar and many other other situations, large and small.
The list goes on and on. There is one to fit almost any situation. It just requires that I slow down long enough to figure out which of the pearls of wisdom fits! Slowing down is the hard part.
The hurried I go, the behinder I get!
Back in my teen years, I had a trigger-temper. At one point, I lashed out at my oldest sister to the point that she was packing to cut short her visit home and go back to the college campus in Indiana. Fortunately, we were able to reconcile before she actually left. Not long after that, I saw a small post-card like joke card that said, "Keep your temper, no one else wants it!" One of those "Ah-ha" moments. I carried that card for a long time and have not lost my temper like that again. Doesn't mean that I do not get angry, I just deal with it differently than I did then.
Also in the teen years, I found a copy of a poem that has been the guiding light for my life ever since. It is familiar to most people .
"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
I first saw it as written by Anonymous. I have since seen it credited to a couple of authors. Whoever wrote it, I cannot thank them enough. Those few words have lit my path, both personally and professionally.
Life has good days and bad days. I try not to wallow in the bad days! "No matter what is happening, this is not the worst it has ever been!" I made it through all those other days: divorce, death of loved ones, job loses, career changes, cancer diagnosis, etc. and I can make it through today if I just keep putting one foot in front of the other - sometimes just to keep from falling down!
Pollyanna? Maybe. If so, it is how I choose to be. "How much difference will it make six-months from now?" If it will not make much of a difference, I won't give it much thought and certainly no argument. If it will make a difference, I will do whatever is in my power to address the issue so there is minimal impact on a future reality. I worked in the substance abuse treatment field for a number of years and it is sort of a short version of the Serenity Prayer.
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
One of Mom's favorites was, "There but for the grace of God, go I." Those few words have kept me from thinking that I am better than anyone else for any reason. We never know what hardships and life experiences another has had that causes them to be or behave a certain way. I try very hard not to judge. Take people for who and what they are and if I cannot, leave them alone.
I shared the importance of "Don't let anyone live in your head rent free." in an earlier post. Sometimes it is very difficult not to focus on what someone else thinks. It is so easy to get caught up with what others say or do. It is then that I find myself saying or doing things that I later regret.
Like many people, I find it difficult to ask for help. It is easy to give advice but not so easy to ask for it when it is needed. "You alone can do it, but you cannot do it alone." It manifests itself in so many ways - delaying a trip to the doctor or needing to open a pickle jar and many other other situations, large and small.
The list goes on and on. There is one to fit almost any situation. It just requires that I slow down long enough to figure out which of the pearls of wisdom fits! Slowing down is the hard part.
The hurried I go, the behinder I get!
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