What a Day...

I worked much later than I should have today.

It couldn't be avoided.

A lot of sick patients...

Which means a lot of imaging for me.


Ultrasound and radiographs.


I don't watch much television.

Don't really care to either.


And it does take a bit of energy to do it anyway.

Energy that I don't have to spare.


Even if I wanted to.


And right now...

I don't even have enough energy to watch the paint peel.


later...

Oklahoma Senate Bill 1800...

I have been thinking for several days about Peggikaye's
comment and her question about my thoughts on this issue.

Did you hear about the new law on offenders going to a vote today?

I have mixed feelings on it. Interested in your views. My mixed views are personally scewed with an uncle in prison.



Peggikaye refers to the Oklahoma bill that was passed recently by the Oklahoma Legislature that concerns sex offenders who have perpetrated, and have been convicted of, a second sex crime against a child. The law is now in the governor's office for his signature which would finalize SB 1800 and make it an official law. The new law provides for a jury to either give a penalty of life in prison or the death penalty to these repeat offenders.

More info on the bill here, here,and here.


The question is whether or not we should have a death penalty for sex offenders who commit crimes against children.


As most of you know, I have definite and strong feelings about this issue. I haven't taken a week to write this out and edit and re-edit. I just felt that tonight I was able to give my answer. This is off the cuff, typos and all, straightforward and simply spoken.

I was a foster parent for nine years. In those nine years I raised, and homeschooled, over 40 children. I had drug addicted infants and pregnant teenagers and all ages of children in between. All of these children suffered from abuse, be it neglect or physical, in some form or another. They were all injured by those who were supposed to love them. However, I believe that the most injured children that were in my care were those who had been the victims of sexual abuse.

Psychiatrists, psychologists, and other health professionals understand the damage that has been done to the child. They know the symptoms. They work with the child to control and modify the behaviors, the acting out, the symptoms of the abuse.

Of all the hours that I have spent with a child, whether it was in an office or in a clinical setting at a treatment facility, not one person has been able to put their finger on what part of the human body that has been so terribly damaged by sexual abuse.

In not understanding where the body has been injured then treatment and cure are, for the most part, purely guesswork by the mental health professional.

What most professionals miss is the spiritual aspect of the damage to the child.

What makes sexual abuse worse than starvation, worse than abandonment, worse than neglect, worse than beating?

Sexual abuse destroys the innermost being of the individual. The part that many people aren't aware of, or perhaps refuse to acknowledge, the spirit of man.

The soul.

God made sex to be the unification of one man and one woman and that unification binds the two spirits together. They become one.

God made our spirits to bind to each other in this way.

Marriage is not just an institution. Marriage is the intertwining and the spiritual combining of two physical beings. And sex is where this event takes place.

When sex is perverted and taken out of the context in which God intended it to be then damage begins. Damage that you can't see from the outside.

Sex is sacred and when the sacred is blasphemed then things begin to fall apart in the spiritual realms of the individual's life.

Our spirit is the foundation of our well-being.

Probably the best scripture that I know of that illustrates this is I Corintians 6:17 - 19 in the Message Bible translation:

There's more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one." Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never "become one." There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another. Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.

In light of this, I also believe that the individual who commits such a crime against another individual is indeed controlled by a spiritual perversion in and of itself. This individual is separated from God and suffers tremendously from this separation. I believe that they live a life of torment here on this earth.


It is my belief, that if a person commits a second act of sexual molestation against a child it is because he is unable to overcome and control that part of his life. Much like an addiction to a narcotic, the sex offender is driven to feed and fuel his desires.

I believe that the death penalty is a just sentence, but I do not believe that it will deter the sex offender who cannot truly change. The offender that is addicted to sex.

Life imprisonment is a fair sentence also, but I always have this nagging fear that a person will be given an early release. For whatever reason.

I support SB 1800 in that it may help to turn away those who might otherwise choose to go down that destructive path.

Or maybe it will discourage offenders who live in other states from moving into Oklahoma.

Sometimes we need to see the truth in an individual, accept that truth, and deal with it honestly.

II Kings 8:7-15 (New International Version)

7 Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram was ill. When the king was told, "The man of God has come all the way up here," 8 he said to Hazael, "Take a gift with you and go to meet the man of God. Consult the LORD through him; ask him, 'Will I recover from this illness?' "
9 Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the finest wares of Damascus. He went in and stood before him, and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, 'Will I recover from this illness?' "

10 Elisha answered, "Go and say to him, 'You will certainly recover'; but the LORD has revealed to me that he will in fact die." 11 He stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael felt ashamed. Then the man of God began to weep.

12 "Why is my lord weeping?" asked Hazael.
"Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites," he answered. "You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women."

13 Hazael said, "How could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?"
"The LORD has shown me that you will become king of Aram," answered Elisha.

14 Then Hazael left Elisha and returned to his master. When Ben-Hadad asked, "What did Elisha say to you?" Hazael replied, "He told me that you would certainly recover." 15 But the next day he took a thick cloth, soaked it in water and spread it over the king's face, so that he died. Then Hazael succeeded him as king.

I know Peggikaye that you feel that your uncle needs time. Time to repent, time to get right with God. But I have to tell you that human nature is to procrastinate.

And sometimes, if we aren't given a timeline, a deadline if you will, we will never get our lives straight.


I am not saying that I have seen it all, because I haven't.

And I don't want to either.


But I have personally experienced many things. And I have seen more than my fair share.


I have been by the side of a pregnant 14 year old child. A child who laid in a hospital bed only to give birth to a still born baby.

This same child was prostituted for drugs by her own mother.

A child wanting desperately to love and be loved, and yet wasn't able to truly understand love...

much less receive it.


Look into the eyes of a sexually abused child, the window to their soul, and you will see that the light has been extinguished.


Yes, I support the death penalty for sex offenders.


Some people view me as cold and hard. Some see me as tough and harsh.


Once I had a co-worker ask me if I ever cried.

To which I responded: "I cried all my tears a long time ago."

later...

Flags For Memorial Day...

I had a busy day at work today. I did several ultrasounds and other stuff.

Today was my Dad's birthday. He turned 70 years old.

Happy Birthday Dad!


When I got home this evening there was a surprise by my back step.

Someone has left me some irises.

The 'old-timers' call them flags.


There wasn't a note attached...

And nobody came by this evening to lay claim to the deed.

No phone calls were received...

And no messages were left.

The blooms are gone so I have no idea what color they are. I don't know what variety they are either.

But the tubers are really, really big.

I don't know how long they were there, out of the ground, on the hot cement in over 90 degree weather. So I gathered them up and put them in a bucket of water and contemplated about where I would/could put them.

I got to thinking about the how's and why's of this unexpected gift on my doorstep.

hmmm...

It's possible that one of my neighbors was thinning out their patch of irises and couldn't bear to throw them away.

Or maybe they were wanting to rearrange their flower beds and these few were kind of like car parts...

You know, extras.


But then I got to thinking...

Maybe this is a hint about my own landscaping.

Do they think that my flowerbeds need some help?

What if they don't like the flowers that I already have?


I've got to stop thinking now and go to bed.


I'm starting to feel a little self-conscious.


later...

Memorial Day...

The mystic cords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave and every living heart...should swell into a mighty chorus of remembrance, gratitude and rededication on this solemn occasion.

Abraham Lincoln

I truly hope that everyone has a safe and wonderful Memorial Day week-end.

But I also hope that you understand, recognize, and remember why we have a Memorial Day.


A Gallup Poll says that only 28% of Americans know what Memorial Day represents.


Memorial Day is not the beginning of the summer solstice.

It is not the official day that starts the summer vacation season.

It isn't the national opening day for the local swimming pool...



I hope that everyone knows and understands that this is a day of remembrance for the soldiers that have fallen and died while serving our country.


On Monday at three o'clock, please take a moment to remember this solemn day.

This is a day to remember those who have given us our country and our freedoms.


A day of remembrance for those who have given of themselves something that neither you nor I can replace.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

Moina Michael

On This Day as sung by Sara Evans.

later...

The 2006 Shawnee Dog Show...

I slept in this morning and it was good.

Since I will be working on Monday, I decided that I would take the afternoon off and do something that I haven't done in a long time.

I went to the dog show that is being held in Shawnee.

It is free to the public and, if you get the chance, you should go too!

Linda in Norman has entered two of her puppies. They are Bouvier des Flandres. So I thought that I would go and watch them all compete.

Dog shows are a lot of fun to me. There are so many different breeds of dogs. Some of which you will never see anywhere else.

Here is a spectator that was sitting next to me while we were watching one of the competitions.

She was from out of town and didn't have too much to say, but she was very nice and friendly all the same.


The exhibitors spend hours upon hours getting their dogs groomed for the show. Once they are ready to be shown, some of the dogs cannot sit down and relax for fear of messing up their hairdos.



There are others that look like they still might need a haircut.

Even so, I promise you that dogs like this Puli take a whole lot of grooming care.

One thing to always remember when visiting a dog show is to always ask permission to pet a dog. And please don't get offended if the exhibitor tells you 'no'.

Show dog fanciers travel from city to city from all parts of the country. It is always amazing to me how a miniature little community springs up overnight and then suddenly disappears on the last day of the event.



Each exhibitor makes a space to work in and a place for their dogs to rest. Most people call it a "set-up". Some of the exhibitors are professional dog handlers who are on the road most of the year. Some of these setups have the appearance of a small and cluttered living room with chairs, tv's, children, and of course, the dogs.



Sometimes things are so crowded, especially at ringside, that some competitors have to bunk together.

There are some show dogs that can "let their hair down" and relax after they have competed.

This is Paris, one of Linda's pups, relaxing in her crate.

But for others, there is a price to pay for beauty.



I hadn't planned on staying at the show for very long and I did get to watch Linda in Norman's puppies compete.

But today they were also entered in an extra event called a sweepstakes.

Linda asked me if I would like to show one of the pups in the sweepstakes. Of course, I wasn't dressed properly as I was in a t-shirt, shorts, and sandles.

Plus, I don't think that I have shown a dog in almost 10 years!

When you show dogs, you wear nice dress clothes. The men wear suits and ties.

But the sweepstakes was for puppy entries only and is a much more casual competition that is held after that day's Best in Show competition.

So I agreed.

The competition started at 6pm.

Well, the dog that I showed won the breed competition. That meant that my dog advanced to the herding group competition.

In group competition, a representative from each breed then competes with other breed winners within their own groups.

Of course, the herding group was the last group to be judged. We had to sit and wait for the other six groups to compete.

Then it was the herding groups turn.

I won a Group I with Linda's puppy!

This means that her puppy and I got to advance to the "Best in Sweeps" competition!

I didn't win the next competition with Linda's pup, but it was still exciting nonetheless.

Nattie won ribbons and stuff at each level of competition. Including envelopes with money in them! (You don't win money in the regular dog show competitions.)



And me...



Well, I got a t-shirt.

later...

It's Late... I'm Tired...

Good night.

later...

Leishmaniasis Confirmed in Oklahoma and Texas...

There have been four confirmed human cases of leishmaniasis. Two cases are in McCurtain county in southern Oklahoma. The other two cases are in northeastern Texas. These cases are cutaneous infections of leishmaniasis and not visceral.

L. mexicana has been commonly identified in Texas but its occurrence of human infection has been rare.

A physician alert has been issued. If a case of leishmaniasis is identified, healthcare providers are being asked to report these cases to the State Health Departments immediately.

Additionally, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture are asking veterinarians to notify them of any cases of leishmaniasis they may diagnose. Care should be taken when handling animals with leishmaniasis as it is zoonotic.

The disease begins as an erythematous papule at the site of the sand fly bite on exposed parts of the body. The papule increases in size and becomes a nodule. It eventually ulcerates and crusts over. The border is usually raised and distinct. There may be multiple lesions, especially when the patient has encountered a nest of sandflies. The ulcer is typically painless, unless there is secondary bacterial or fungal infection. Lesions may heal spontaneously after many months; however the recommended treatment, pentavalent antimony, is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


Read more about it:

The US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine(USACHPPM) has several informational links as well as a photo of a lesion on the hand.


Leishmaniasis, mexicana - lesion on cheek


Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine article


Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Fact Sheet


Wikipedia article

later...

Going to Bed...

I have been working on my "40% of my grade" project.

I have over half of it completed.

Now I have to type up a few pages about it and then I am finished with it.

But I might *rest* a day or two on this one and work on my other class' assignment.

Plus... I have a few chapters that must be read.


I'm sorry that I didn't get over to visit everyone's blog today. I promise I will catch up!


I forgot to tell you guys about my Sunday afternoon visitors.

I had stepped outside to take a break from my schoolwork and was quite surprised by what I saw in my front yard.


I had a pair of ducks stop by to rest for a while.

That's what they were doing. Resting.


I like to rest in my yard too.


Anyway, the hen was very wary and she didn't take too kindly to having her photo taken. They wouldn't let me get very close at all.


I kept creeping up as best I could but I took one step too many and off they flew.


Yes... they flew away.


I presume that's how they got to my yard. They just flew in I suppose.


There aren't any bodies of water that close to my house.

I would like to rest in my yard more often.


later...

Resourcefulness...

Historically, veterinary medicine has had to be very resourceful in order to accomplish the things that we need to in our daily work.

Of course, things are a lot different these days than they were 20 years ago, but we still find ourselves having to improvise for common every day needs. Part of the reason is because items that we need aren't made for veterinary medicine, or these things are just too expensive for many veterinary practices to purchase.

Most practices aren't huge hospitals and the prices that veterinarians charge don't even come close to what is charged for the same service in human practice. This makes for a very large discrepancy in many areas (including wages) between human and veterinary medicine.

So here is one of the things that we make out of recycled materials that we have in our hospital.

An endotracheal tube tie.

While you may not think that you need to know how to do this I must advise you that this little device can be quite useful around the house.

*smile*

It can be used to secure and bundle multiple electrical cords (like what is behind your computer desk), or as a tie for any other similar items that you want to be secured around the house.

How To Make an Endotracheal Tube Tie

An endotracheal tube is inserted into the patient’s trachea to establish a patent airway and to administer oxygen and gas anesthetics to patients undergoing general anesthetic procedures. At the end of the endotracheal tube is an inflatable cuff which is inflated to seal the trachea.

The trachea is sealed via an inflatable cuff to prevent any fluids from draining into the lungs and to control the amount of oxygen and gas anesthesia that is being delivered to the anesthetized patient. Since the inflated cuff is applying pressure against the delicate wall of the trachea it is paramount that the endotracheal tube is stabilized. If the tube is twisted or removed while the cuff is inflated it is possible that the wall of the trachea could be torn. Stabilization of the endotracheal tube is critical in all patients, but it is especially important in the feline patient. Death frequently occurs in the patient that suffers from a torn tracheal wall.

Over the years many devices have been used to stabilize the endotracheal tube for dogs and cats. There are innumerable sizes and shapes from a variety of dog and cat heads and muzzles. With the exception of a rubber type of string that is used as a tie; a standardized piece of equipment for this specific purpose has yet to be developed and manufactured.

As a general rule, many veterinary practices still use a piece of string or roll gauze to tie the endotracheal tube into place while others use a piece of IV tubing as a tie. Some have used rubber bands that are held in place by hemostats. None of these devices or methods has been 100% satisfactory in ease of use or performance.

By using common materials that are found within the veterinary practice, you can create an efficient, waterproof, and easily adjustable endotracheal tube tie that will fit any anesthetized patient that is in your care.



Source: Indexed Visuals



Source: Henry Feldman,MD and Lori Feldman, DVM



Source: Trinity Trach-Tube Ties


Tools and Materials Needed

• Scissors (serrated if possible)
• Hemostats (small)
• Used IV line
• Two tuberculin syringes

Procedure

1. Gather the materials that you will need.

2. Cut the IV tubing to the length that you want. As a general rule, 18 to 20” will be of sufficient length for most animals, but you can cut it to any length that you want. You may choose to have varying lengths for small, medium, and large animals.

3. Cut the finger rests off of the end of the tuberculin syringes. Cut as close as possible to the rests. Caution: the plastics that are used in syringe manufacturing are quite durable and may be difficult to cut. Use care in cutting the finger rests off so that you do not cut your fingers or hands.

4. Insert the nose of a very small pair of hemostats into the hollow portion of the finger rests. Firmly grasp the two loose ends of the IV tubing and pull them through the hollow portion of the syringe’s finger rests.

5. Slide the rests towards the opposite end forming a loop.

6. Repeat step 4 with the second set of finger rests and slide it towards the first set of rests stopping in the middle of the IV tubing so that a second loop is formed.

7. Your endotracheal tube tie is now complete.

8. Using the first loop that you formed, place it around your endotracheal tube and slide the first finger rest down until it is snug against the endotracheal tube. The rest should be placed on the side of the endotracheal tube that will be next to the patient’s hard palate.

9. After intubating your patient, place the second loop over the muzzle with the lower portion placed behind the upper canine teeth; slide the second set of finger rests down until it is snug against the muzzle.

10. For cats you will place the second loop behind the ears and tighten it against the base of the skull.

1. cut section of IV line

2. finger rests that have been cut from the syringes

1. first loop

2. second loop

The tie is now attached to the endotracheal tube.





The endotracheal tube tie that I have described has been put to practical use on a daily basis at the veterinary practice where I work. It has been used in hundreds of procedures without a single failure in its performance. I personally recommend this method of securing an endotracheal tube for several reasons:

1. It is not easily broken.

2. It does not slip or loosen during use.

3. It is waterproof, which makes it invaluable during dental prophylactic procedures.

4. It can be easily loosened and the endotracheal tube can be removed quickly and efficiently if necessary.

5. It does not restrict blood circulation to the tissues that it comes into contact with.

6. It can be used on any size of patient and on multiple species including dogs, cats, and ferrets.

7. If it becomes worn or broken it can be easily replaced.

8. It is very economical and recycles used materials.

Many general anesthetic procedures are performed on a daily basis in a veterinary practice. Whether or not the procedure is a success is partially dependent upon the care of the anesthetized patient while the procedure is being performed. Stabilization of the endotracheal tube is the first step towards that ultimate goal.


later...

News Channel 9 Investigative Report... Tonight.

As I told you last Friday, Oklahoma City’s News Channel 9 will be airing an investigative report at 10p.m. (tonight).

The Danger That Could Be Living Near Your Child’s School is the name of the report. If they post the story on their website, I will provide a link to it.

There are many ways that you can learn the whereabouts of registered sex offenders. I have provided links in my sidebar for your convenience and assistance.

Please use these online tools for you and your children’s safety.

Here are the individuals from the latest sexual predator alerts that I have received in my inbox:

Jeffery Ellis Barnett aka Tim Reid and John Stark

William David Barrett

Deshawn Michael Henderson

Bruce Shannon Michels

Turquwan Donnell Nichols

Paul Holmes Oleary

David Michael White

This is my article that I wrote in April about a sex offender that lives just yards away from the Bethany Public Schools:

Sex Offenders: Your Neighbors and School Volunteers


later...

Sunday is Over...

I got one paper turned in.

Started another project for another class.


The pressure is *on* since it will be worth 40% of my entire grade.

That's a lot, don't you think?


I did a lot of research on it.

Pulled together a lot of materials for it too.


I mowed the yard.

hmmm...


I guess that's about it.

later...

It's Tomorrow...

I was at school all day today.

I came home and started working on a paper that I have to get completed by tomorrow.

I was called in to work this evening.

Got home after 10:30.

I've been working on my paper some more and I now find that I must go to bed.


Part of the reason why I'm still up is that I got all caught up in some extra-curricular research.

Just before I was called in to work I had discovered a factual error in my textbook.


Very interesting.


I have never found a mistake in a textbook before. Well, other than a typo here or there.

I was wanting to make sure that I was right.

And I am.

So... now what?


Well, I decided to incorporate my finding into my paper.


Now I wonder what is going to happen.

What will my professor do?

What will he say?

Will this affect my grade?


It is making me a little anxious, but I have committed myself to revealing this error in my work, and not as a passing comment.


We'll see what happens.


Gee... I hope I don't get kicked out of the honor society now.


later...

This Will Be Good...

I went to class this evening.

And I have class all day tomorrow, so I had best get to bed.

But first, I wanted to tell you about this:

Channel 9 News announced this evening that they will be airing a story on Monday during the 10 o'clock news broadcast about sex offenders that live close to schools.

I have written several times about this.

The local television station most definitely has a larger audience than I do.

Maybe the News 9 story will help make people more aware and hopefully help to change a few things.

later...


Close to Home

Sex Offenders: Your Neighbors and School Volunteers

I also posted this article on Newsok.com.

You can do a search here on my blog to find helpful links and other information. I also have links on my sidebar.

Eh?

I received today, via the United States Postal Service, a package of four (4) brand new rechargeable AA nickel metal hydride Rayovac batteries.

Brand new batteries just as the customer service representative had promised.

I see that these are nicer batteries than what I had previously purchased being that they have 2500 mAh as opposed to my 2000 mAh purchase.


*gasp*


They don't fit in my battery charger!


hmmm...


Maybe you didn't hear what I said.


I S-A-I-D...

THEY DON'T FIT.

later...

The Answer...

Linda in Norman called to chat a bit this evening.

It seems that there is more than one person in this world that is like me.



During our conversation, I figured out what must have gone awry in my social development.


I have never watched Oprah.


If only I would have watched Oprah all these years.


I guess it's too late now.

The *damage* has already been done.


Bad thing is...

I don't feel any remorse.

later...

A "Battery Operated" Update...

You may remember my recent product concerns about a battery charger that I had purchased from the Rayovac company.


I had written a letter to the company and sent it via e-mail.

I have since received a response.

With the sharing of a model number of the product in question I have received this final reply:

Some replacement batteries have been ordered for you and will be shipped at no charge. Please let us know if you still have problems with the new batteries and your charger.

We appreciate your use of Rayovac products. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

M. I. Agosto
Consumer Services
Spectrum Brands Inc.
1-800-237-7000

So, I am waiting to see if these batteries will fit/work in my battery charger.

If they do, I will be compelled to write another e-mail.

It will consist mainly of me wanting to know the following:

Why aren't these batteries sold in stores?

AND

Will I have to special order these batteries from now on?

AND

Are these batteries in danger of being discontinued?


I wonder how old these batteries are and if they are having to ship them in from overseas...

or something like that.

later...

Plain Spoken...

I wasn't born with the gift of gab.

What I mean by that is...

I seem to say what's on my mind, what I'm thinking.

I have never been able to 'flower' things up, or make my words 'soft'.

Even now, I'm not sure if that is the right terminology, 'soft'.

You know what I'm talking about don't you? There are people who always seem to know what to say in any given situation.

But whenever I'm talking to folks, or when someone asks me a question, especially if it is a *direct* question...

Well...

What I think just 'pops' out of my mouth. Almost exactly the way I am thinking it.

Some call it being 'blunt'.

I guess that would be a near antonym of 'soft'.


I have had one person tell me, "I never have to wonder what you really think about something."


And another said that I was "a little rough around the edges".


How many times have I been in a position where I wish that I wasn't so ~clear~ about my thoughts or feelings about something.

There are many times that I really struggle over this.


And I try not to have a sharp tongue, but sometimes I do, more so than not.


Since my surgery, I appear to have gotten worse in this area of communication. Something that I consider as a fault, has many times been made even more painfully obvious.


A diplomat I am not.

And I couldn't be one even if I tried!


I admire those who have the grace of social communication. It is just amazing to me to listen to someone who is really good at it.


Since I am, the way that I am...

This also makes me have a low tolerance for mind games.

I guess that you could say that I don't have any tolerance in this area at all.


There's an owl hooting my neighborhood right now.


He seems to be pretty plain spoken himself...

for a city owl that is.


I can appreciate that.

later...

Today's Blessings...

My birthday is so close to Mother's Day that my gifts often coincide.

I am my parent's first born child who entered this world on Mother's Day.


Dad tells a story about my Mom's first Mother's Day. Dad told Mom that he wasn't going to buy her a gift for the special day because she wasn't a mother yet.

Voila

I was born and at the last minute (so he says) he had to buy her a gift.


I had one of my pine trees die recently. It was a rather large and tall tree.

Roy and Sherry gave me a surprise birthday present and cut the tree down for me.
They even hauled it off and raked up the mess. They did all of this in a matter of hours while I was gone on Saturday!

Sherry put the bow on the stump as an added feminine touch.


THANK YOU SO MUCH!


Roy and Sherry also took Carrie and Parker shopping.

For my birthday, Carrie and Parker gave me a BRAND NEW battery charger with batteries!

What a wonderful surprise!


And for Mother's Day, they gave me a beautiful miniature rose bush.

I have already planted it in my flowerbed.


We had dinner at Sherry's parent's house in Goldsby. Roy cooked and served us all. AND... he cleaned the kitchen.


Then Sherry's dad sent me home with fresh onions out of the garden.

*yum*




Today was a very blessed day.

later...

Happy Mother's Day...

I was thinking about my blessings and thanking the Lord while I was drinking my morning coffee.

Talking to God.

I was reminded of some mothers who weren't as fortunate as I am.

I had received a newsletter in the mail from Teresa at Shepherd's of Love Ministry on Friday.

In it was a list of mothers who have specific and immediate needs.

The great thing about Shepherd's of Love Ministry is that you can choose the family that you want to help. You just write the case # on the memo line of your check.

Teresa then takes that money and pays the institutions directly. For example: if someone is needing help with their city water bill, Teresa will send the money to the city and pay directly on that person's account. She also does this with the electric and gas companies too.

So I thought that if some of you were looking for a way to honor a mother that was in need, that I would just post the list that was sent to me.

What better way to honor a mother than by being a blessing to her?

Case # B1 Valerie works full time. She is a young mother and widow caring for her 6 year old son. Both are grieving their loss as they try to start a new life together. Needs: $200.00 OG&E Assistance

Case # B2 Sharon. Single mom, 4 kids, attends UCO full time, abandoned by husband. Needs: $200.00 OG&E Assistance

Case # B3 Shelly a single mother has a crippling disease which required surgery. She caught spinal meningitis during her surgery causing her more illness. Her husband works two jobs and they have two daughters. They are desperate. Needs: $200.00 OG&E Assistance $210.00 Cox telephone service only (past due)

Case # B4 Lee Ann is a 54 year old Christian lady who is a special needs person. She works at EARC in Edmond and lives on a fixed income. Needs: $85.00 City of Edmond electric/water

Case # B5 Julie, a mother of 4 kids, made a break from an abusive husband who was supposed to be paying the utility bills but spent his money on other needs. She works full time at Mercy Hospital and does not make enough money to catch up the back gas and water bills. These utilities have been off for three weeks. Other agencies will not help until they see other pledges promised. Shepherds of Love gave $125.00 for food and would love to pledge some utility assistance too. Needs: $1000.00 ONG Water $600.00 (both utilities are off)

Have a wonderful and blessed Mother's Day.

later...


22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:22-28 (NIV)

Piddlin' News...

This is Timmy the Chihuahua.








I slept in this morning.
And I enjoyed sitting and listening to the birds while I drank my morning coffee.









The grass has grown so much since I had last mowed ten days ago. A healthy response from the wonderful rains that we have received.





It was so tall that I was afraid that we might lose something valuable in the grass.

Like maybe the dog.





This is a pile of pecan tree cattails. They are still falling out of the trees. I had thought that they would have finished by now, but they haven't. The oak trees have lost all of theirs though.

This pile is part of the 'biological waste' that was on the driveway. I had asked Parker to sweep it up when I had left for work yesterday evening.

Parker gets very frustrated with trees. He hates fall because of all the leaves.



This is where part of the 'biological waste' ended up. It wasn't put in a garbage bag and tied up to be picked up at the curb.

It was swept to the neighbor's curb across the street from our driveway.

I don't think Parker will grow up to be a forest ranger.



I went to work x's 2 today.

On my way home the first time I stopped to get my car washed.The car wash is called Wally Wash.



I am not kidding. I don't have that good of an imagination to think up a name like that.

I had noticed that they had added suds to "Wally's" little fountain, so I thought that I would snap a picture of it while I was waiting for my turn through the car wash.


That gave me the idea to take pictures while my car was going through the automated service.


So here you have it...

History in the making.

Exclusive inside pictures of an automated car wash.


Carrie walked by a few minutes ago to see what I was doing.

She saw my car wash pictures and called me a "nerd".

hmmmpppf...

I'm having fun.

later...

Friday... Well, Technically Saturday...

I didn't get home from work until after 10:30pm.

I caught up on the blogs.

It would be bad if I were to get in a situation such as the one Moof has gotten into.

;+)


It was really, really busy at work tonight and...

It seems that a lot of folks are wearing their feelings on their sleeves.

My son included.

It is a full moon out there and it is really bright. So bright that you can see the "moonshade" from the trees.


Perhaps folks are suffering from some sort of 'lunar' type of temporary emotional illness.

At least I hope that it's temporary.


Either way... it's late and I need to get to bed.

Folks, it'll all be better in the morning.

later...

Yes, it was Thursday, May 11, 2006...

I have some good news.

The van that has the wheelchair lift has found a new home and a new owner.

I have inside information that it was being delivered today.

The van is going to a lady who has had one of her legs amputated. She also has other debilitating medical conditions which really restricts her mobility. She really needed that van and I am so glad that she is getting it.



I received an e-mail from another source today concerning some funding that the Salvation Army has left over for gas bills. The money that is earmarked for this purpose must be used within the next couple of weeks.

If you need help with your heating bill, or know someone who does, please have them contact Tori at 405.254.1151.

Anyone who is requesting help must meet the Salvation Army's guidelines and it is for residents who live within the Oklahoma City area.


I hope that everyone is still having a good week.

I'm still working on mine.


later...


Deuteronomy 2:7 (NIV)

7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

It's Late... (I'm tired.)

I did a lot of running around town after the kids got out of school.

(About 60 miles worth.)


Carrie is trying to get donated items from local businesses to sell at a silent auction that the school is having.

It's a fund-raiser/benefit/school anniversary thingy.


Dean Blevins will be the guest speaker.

(All the locals here know him.)


I also dropped by the university and I picked up another textbook for one of my classes for this next semester.

(The bookstore is still missing a CD that I need for one of my classes.)


Anyway...

I barely got my blogging friend's blogs read this evening.

(Dang. That's a mouthful.)


I've had quite a few ultrasounds already this week.


And I have a full day tomorrow.


(later...)

What Should be Simpler than Battery Operated...

Some heavy duty storms and hail are moving through the state right now.

I have heard of one tornado, but it seems that the hail that is being produced is causing the biggest problems.

There was also one report of softball sized hail.

I can see lightening in the west right now. We are in a severe weather watch until 6am.

My *new* car is in the garage.

I'm so thankful to have a garage.


I am going to have to shut this Win98 machine down, but I am wanting the "consumer bots" to hear something first.



It is irritating that the companies in this country don't believe in "durable goods". They don't make things to last for any length of time on purpose.

My latest complaint:

Rechargeable Batteries

I use NIMH rechargeable batteries for my digital camera. The kind that I have are Rayovac and they have worked well for about two years now.

I don't expect batteries to last forever, and when I realized that these batteries weren't holding the charge like they used to I went to the store to get some replacement batteries.

Well guess what?

The new NIMH batteries will not fit in this charger. Why is that?

The new batteries are imperceptably larger than the old ones.

They have increased their size just enough where they will not fit in the charger.

This irritates me to no end.

So, being the letter writer that I am, I have written
Rayovac a letter:

I bought four rechargeable NIMH batteries and a charger about two years ago.

These batteries are not holding their charge as well as they used to. So I went to the store to buy new Rayovac NIMH batteries.

The new batteries WILL NOT fit in the charger.

I do not want to buy a new charger, but it looks like I am going to be forced to?

The new batteries are only slightly larger, but there is enough increase in their size that prevents them from fitting in the charger.

This renders my current battery charger useless. Why would you make this battery charger essentially obsolete?

If I have to buy a new battery charger because of this, I will not be buying a Rayovac product.

Thank you.

Well... I need to go to bed.

The storms will be here soon enough.

I pray that our families and our homes will be safe and not damaged.

And that my beautiful flowers will benefit from the moisture and are not destroyed by hail...

later...

A Newer Vehicle for T.J. and the Kids...

It's late so this will be short.

I have 'given' the dealership my 1988 Ford Aerostar van that had almost 175,000 miles on it.

I now own a vehicle that is 10 years younger and with almost 100,000 miles less.


I have to give the old van a proper farewell as she served me and the kids very well for many many miles.

She took us down the long highway to Nana and Pa's in Texas without nary a hitch, many a time.

While she had developed a very noisy manifold exhaust leak , she was still getting between 17 and 18 mpg in town and 23 to 24 mpg on the highway.


She started every morning, whether it was near zero degrees or not.

And usually on the first turn of the key.


She never complained or whined.


I have to say though, that the van had started to require quite of bit of oil between oil changes these last 6 months.

And she was really starting to leave quite a spot on the driveway...

Something that she never used to do.

But I think that she was getting really tired.

And she was doing the best that she could considering that she was almost 20 years old.


I don't know why I get so attached to my vehicles, but I do.

They become like comfortable old shoes and when they have proven themselves to be dependable...

Well, it's just really sad for me to let them go.

I don't really know why.


Maybe it's because that it seems like you are abandoning them in their old age.


And the closer that I get to 50...

The closer that idea hits to home.

later...

Step Out of the Shadows...

Today was the first annual Ten Commandments Day.

Rabbis, pastors, reverends and many, many more leaders of faith have gotten together in agreement. They have declared the first Sunday in May to be recognized as Ten Commandments Day.

The Ten Commandments Commission was founded to counter the secular agenda and help restore the Ten Commandments and Judeo-Christian values to their rightful place in our society.

Recent court rulings against the Ten Commandments, along with a host of disturbing trends we witness daily throughout our culture, clearly demonstrates that our nation is moving away from that tradition. These actions have threatened the very fabric and foundation of our culture and faith. The Ten Commandments and all other references to God, which have served as the moral foundation and anchor of our great country, are systematically being removed from public places. Public displays of the Ten Commandments and other symbols of our faith have been a powerful visual testimony to the fact that the United States of America is "one nation under God." Their removal from public places shows that those with a secular humanist agenda are intent on destroying the moral heritage of our nation.

I agree.


The "secular humanist agenda" has infiltrated many aspects of our lives.


A boycott has begun against the movie, The Da Vinci Code.

I had already decided to not support this movie quite some time ago.

I was so happy to find an online petition and have already submitted my "signature".



Christians have a voice.

They need to learn how to use it.

later...

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1 - 17 (New International Version)

1 And God spoke all these words:

2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.

11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

13 "You shall not murder.

14 "You shall not commit adultery.

15 "You shall not steal.

16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."