Thunder,

Thought of you all weekend.

Miss you.

Thank you, Kimmy. I thought a lot about myself this weekend, too, but more along the lines of "Why do I even bother to keep on trying?" It's not that I don't know how to "fix" things. I just don't have the energy--or a good starting point. I'm in constant pain when I walk, much more so than before the surgery, and if it never rained in CA again, I could still be walking in the shade...under my own dark little mental cloud! At some point, I have to quit feeling sorry for myself, get off my dime, and start hobbling forwards again, but that's SO dang much work. I think I need some mental Viagra to correct my intellectual dysfunction!

The aspiring psychiatrists were attending their first class on emotional extremes. “Just to establish some parameters,” said the professor to the student from Arkansas, “What is the opposite of joy?”

“Sadness,” said the student.

And the opposite of depression?” he asked of the young lady from Oklahoma.

“Elation,” said she.

“And you sir,” he said to the young man from Texas, “how about the opposite of woe?”

The Texan replied, “Sir, I believe that would be giddy-up.”

Honey,

Life sometimes sucks.

But the alternative is worse.

It all depends on the meaning of the word "is."

ok, make you a deal.....you pray for Ian and I'll pray for you.

Ian is the grandson of a co-worker at my office. He has had repeated ear infections and has had ear surgery several time. The last time, they removed the hearing bones in one of his ears but discovered a 'brain hernia' and closed him up till they could figure out what to do. He is to have neurosurgery Thursday. The first thing they want to do is the brain repairs. Then, they hope to replace the bones in his ear. His family is to the point where they don't care if he can ever hear with that ear. They just want his brain to be ok.

O.K. Cinderella...prayers being sent. Can I request one too?

My dear friend just called me and she said she was on her way home. (I helped her and her daughter last August when she moved away to a better winter climate and better medical facilities.)
She is about mid 70's, and not in good health. I had a wonderful time helping her pack. Anyway, she tells me tonight that she has pancreatic cancer and they are not giving her long to live. She stopped by here on her way to her house and got some boxes and it was so good to see her. But she is getting frail and looks pale. She doesn't feel good. She is one of my best friends. She is a saint in my eyes.

The day of the Sept 11 attacks I saw her in the grocery store parking lot. She told me how she hates it when there is trouble in the world. We just hugged and cried right there. She didn't know I had found out the day before of H's A. I never told her. I needed that hug right then.

When there is trouble/strife/pain in her life, and she can't sleep, she cooks and bakes. We have had countless meals and goodies delivered after she has had a sleepless night and baked instead. She pulls up in the driveway and honks, I run out and hug her, and she tells me to open the side door or back door of her van and pick one of the many things. She just goes around delivering to many. And I am one she has taken under her wing. I am blessed.

Thanks for letting me talk...I am sad.
I will pray for Ian, and for you, T & L.

I am going to bid a fond adieu for now, since I have reached the point in the packing where I need to put the computer in the car before I run out of room, lol.

If I can I'll post tomorrow from somewhere else, if not, I'll send word how I'm doing till I can get back online.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{MB Friends}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Count on my prayers, as well.

I just talked to your dad about the laptop and I'm too angry to post what I was going to say. Maybe later.

Sorry, I hadn't had a chance to tell you yet that I had already asked him, and that was why I was going ahead with the disassembly process.

He didn't tell me anything offensive, just no.

Happy travels!!
I'll be in touch with you...

That was the offensive part. He bought it "for" me and said it belonged "to" me. Theoretically, I should be able to do what I want to do with my own computer, don't you think? And if I can't do what I want to do with it, then it's not really mine, is it? I nearly gave it back to him...right upside the head, too. But I corked myself and came in and played Bookworm for awhile. I quit when he came in and tried to chat and now I'm going to bed. I think he's back in the other room trying to melt the icicles and cure the frostbite he acquired during his brief foray into an attempt at conversation.

Ladies, I have a book for all of you!



THE LAST LECTURE by Randy Pausch

It's a book about his final lecture he was invited to give at Carnegie Mellon University where he had been a professor. He has terminal pancreatic cancer, a wife, and three young children.

He talks about his childhood dreams and how they were fulfilled. And, he gives some good, simple advice on living well.

Cinderella-
funny you mentioned that book. A while back Randy was on Oprah. They showed his last lecture and it was awesome! I couldn't quit thinking about it for a long time.

Last night I went google-ing pancreatic cancer, curious about how long it takes. I read a few articles and then clicked on another...and it was a blog that was Randy Pausch's timeline, updated regularly about his treatments. I just browsed through it, as it is 2 years long. Apparently he was given about 6 months to live, but has aggressively persued treatments and obviously is still alive. Very inspirational man.

My friends is inoperable. No treatment being given, just pain management. I sure hope all her good favors come back to her in her time of need.

Add: I wonder if one could still find his lecture, maybe on you tube or something. It is incredible! A real tear jerker.

The book is fabulous.

Here is a photo of a dog. The part of the dog above the water looks exactly like my dog!!!!!!!


Zoe's Twin!

I haven't read a book in ages! I will keep this one in mind though in case I get a hankerin to read one.

The dog picture is soo cute!

I went to my friends today. I thought she was coming here to stay for her final days but instead is getting her house packed up here to take to her new place out of state. She was in so much pain today it was really sad. I helped her daughter, (who I have met before while we were loading stuff up in Aug for the first part of the move), to pack stuff and separate for yard sale/take with piles. It felt really good to be there. I took them a lasagne for dinner too. I'm going to go again tomorrow and see if I can help. I'm not sure my friend will be able to stay as long as she intended, due to her pain. Hard to imagine that when she leaves here it will be the last time I see her. I'm grateful to get to see her and spend some time with her.

(((mal)))

I am glad you have some time with your friend. Time to help her. I hope both you and she find peace in it.

Ok, we were on Vacation, then came home for a few days............ Went out of town for a wedding, but now we are home for at least a week. Maybe longer. Maybe a week and a half, then we got to Girls camp.

Cinderella asked "Does that help you out?"

Yes, it does. I went back and read all about it.
My mind being what it is, I'll forget it quickly, but right now, I remember. What kind of tool do you need to get that air filter off? Don't you hate it that they make special screws and bolts and things just to make it hard for us?

I read both the humor and implied difficulty in Neaks life now. Thanks for sharing both.

Same with all of you really. I love reading the things you write. You are so kind to share. I understand how life goes, and I get that it isn't all roses, and I am glad that others share their struggles so that we can take comfort from knowing we are all on this journey together.


I want to know what happened to T&L. Of course, one of my daughters wants a pony too, but she won't be getting one any time soon. I just thought I would put it out there, so you (YES YOU, T&L) would know.

M&L, we ended up going home through Colorado, and I don't think we got very close to your house. I looked for a green house, but never saw one.

AW, They say time flies when you are having fun. Is that why it seems to take so long for the men to get home?

Hi Neaksis !!
I hope things are well at your house. I tend to watch (observe) kids when I travel, and I see a lot of things. Sometimes it gets me to thinking.

Hi CC. I had a lot of driving time, and I did do some thinking. I really am wrong a lot of the time. I thought about what you said about you not being lonely. I suppose that is a good thing. It is different with most of the ladies that I talk to........... who are in your situation.

People can be so different. Isn't it interesting to see how that works out in real life? I am learning a lot. I thank you for your comments.

I see Neak has gone on a long voyage. Happy trails to Neak, and family. I hope AJ is well.

SS signs off.......... wondering what happened to T&L.