Nasty Receptionist!

Today I had a doctor apt. Have you ever had a doctor who had a nasty/snotty witch for a receptionist? Well, I got a very cold reception at the doctor's today from Ms. Important herself. Anyway, she didn't look up or say hello or anything. That witch screwed up my scan apt. and then said I missed my apt. (The hospital told me the doctor should be told!) but I didn't say anything to the Dr.because if the doctor did say something to her, Ms.Receptionist would make my life a living hell. It's never good to be on the bad side of the receptionists! She has a Westie terrier dog she brings to work, and he's a doll. I was petting him and talked just a little to him. But I sure did tense up waiting an hour to be called while Ms. Important greeted other people so friendly it was almost sickening.But then I should have known she would be like this to me, since when I called to find out my scan results, because of the way she's fouled up with test dates for me since Sept. But, I also know that anything I do with her, would just get me upset and not bother her a bit. Then I wait another hour in the exam room. Not good for the blood pressure. I got so upset I threw up in the sink in the little examining room, Then I thought, "Settle down, she is not worth it!" You'd have been proud of me.. She's is off on a POWER trip. . But the nurse is really wonderful and that's nice. And the doctor is very nice too. Just had to tell you this. I just told myself, "Rise above that petty stuff." (And that's just what I did!)
From your pal,
Merry

Christmas Dinner ( An inspirational Story!)

My work calls for me to venture to the farthest reaches of the world, but one of my most memorable encounters occurred while traveling close to home.A few years ago, a group of my far-flung friends decided to gather in Connecticut to celebrate Christmas. I was to buy all the soft drinks, champagne and wine, and a doctor friend would get the turkey and trimmings.On our way from New York City to Connecticut, my friend and I stopped in for a Christmas Eve party in upstate New York. As we left, I ran into the doctor and casually asked him what size bird he had bought. His eyes widened with surprise—he had bought all the drinks.So here we were on a snowy Christmas Eve, with sufficient drinks to serve a cruise ship but not one piece of food for twelve hungry people! We searched around, but every supermarket was closed. Finally, just before midnight, we found ourselves at a gas station quick-food shop. The manager was willing to sell us cold sandwiches. Other than potato chips, cheese and crackers, he didn’t have much else. I was very agitated and disappointed. It was going to be a rather miserable Christmas dinner. The only bright spot was that he did have two cans of cranberry jelly!In the midst of my panic, an elderly lady stepped from behind one of the aisles.“I couldn’t help overhearing your dilemma,” she said, “If you follow me home, I would happily give you our dinner. We have plenty of turkey, potatoes, yams, pumpkins and vegetables.”“Oh no, we couldn’t do that!” I replied.“But you see, we no longer need it,” she explained, “Earlier today we managed to get a flight to Jamaica—to see our family down there, for the holidays.”We couldn’t say no to such kindness. We thanked her and followed her car. The journey seemed endless as we meandered through back roads and dimly lit streets. Eventually, we reached this kind woman’s house.We followed her in and, sure enough, she removed a turkey and all the trimmings from the fridge. Despite our attempt to reimburse her for her generosity, she refused our money.“This is just meant to be,” she said. “I don’t need it anymore—and you do.”So we accepted her gift, asked her for her name and address, and went on our way.The next day we impressed and surprised our friends by presenting them with a complete feast and telling them our amazing story about the old lady’s help. Despite the last-minute scramble, Christmas dinner turned out to be a great success.Before we left Connecticut, we went to a department store, picked out a gift and drove to the lady’s home to leave our small token of appreciation.We searched and searched but we couldn’t find her place. We couldn’t find the street address on any maps. The name she had given us wasn’t listed anywhere. Baffled, we questioned several local store owners, yet no one knew of the elderly lady. Even the gas station manager told us that he had never seen her before. Every effort we made to locate our Christmas angel failed.As I returned home, I pondered our bizarre encounter with this beneficent woman. Who was this lady who had appeared just in time to help out two desperate strangers, only to disappear with the night?Years later, when I look back upon that particular holiday season, I recall the joy of gathering with friends from across the world and an amazing little old lady whose generosity embodied the very meaning of the Christmas spirit.
The End
I hope this brings joy to your soul, it did to mine.
Merry

Christmas Night

Well, we had a better Christmas than I thought we would. But it still didn't seem like Christmas, but more like a big birthday party. Hmmmm, shame on me IT is someone's birthday. I am ashamed of myself for making that statement!!

It was good driving to get there. And Jack was worth the ride, even though I about go nuts in a car. He is soooooo handsome, soooooooooo cute!! Part of it is it gets my back and neck really hurting, and part of it is I am a little claustrophobic when I am the passenger in a car (or an airplane, etc.) I can't control the stops (or lack of, lol). (You don't want to know how am I when they do an MRI on me). Jack is such a boy now, not very much baby left in him. He doesn't talk a lot, but what he says, he says plainly. He IS very smart. (Of course, I am not prejudiced.) He really got tired of opening presents. They did it with Patti's family last night and this AM they had done their own, EARLY before we arrived. He drew me a picture (??well if looks like an angel or it could be a snowman) but ya gotta remember he is not quite 19 mo. old. I was so excited I put it up on our refrigerator when we got home.

Patti is a wonderful cook and we had a good day. I know she is tired, she's 9 mo. pregnant but she insists on doing things herself and pushes herself. So, I felt bad, but what can I do? I offer help, she never says okay (pregnant or not).
I got just what I wanted and then some for gifts. I personally didn't spend 1/4 of what I normally do (because of the money worries for me in Jan. But Dave spent more, so I guess it all came out the same, except poor Dave got less (& he is such a nice guy he should get the most)!

The social security/Medicare & Insurance problem hangs heavy over me, but we will try to check state & federal sources where you can purchase one month of insurance. (I can't get the government to pay for it, this is the USA. And we are not on Medicaid (nor am I going to be on Medicare in Jan. The sources say. This insurance, is horribly expensive, but I would rather pay that than have nothing, especially after having been injured for 3 months, and then having to have all those tests and scans at the hospital to rule out what I didn't have & show what I do have. That said, we don't know that I can find it, but we are looking. So, YES, I am worried and scared and so is Dave. We KNOW we could never pay what the Dave's company insurance spent on me in Oct. & Nov!!

Coming home we hit bad weather, about a half an hour from Tim & Patti's. We drove on roads with 0 visibility (blowing snow) for about 5 hours slowly to get home. That was a very tense time. WE almost stopped half way and stayed at a motel, but I am glad to be home again, even if it took a very long time to get here. People were flying by us on the Interstate. Makes me wonder if people are drunk or just think they are invincible, or they are STUPID, LOL. I was very good and a quiet passenger coming home (I am usually horrible), but Dave didn't need that! We even made it over to Auntie Jilts (Our friend & Kaycee's groomer) to get our little girl, Kaycee.

I hope you ALL had a very Merry Christmas! I thought of so many of you! Tell me about your Christmases! I just wanted to tell you about today.
Merry Christmas one more time,

Love,
Merry

Merry Christmas (& Insurance woes)

First of all, I want to wish everyone a very very Merry Christmas. May the spirit of Christmas fill your heart with love as you all have filled mine all this past year. I love you for it, too!

Dave took Kaycee to our friend Jill (the groomer) to stay for Christmas. When he got back we went out for a little supper. It's snowing AGAIN. We are tired of it. It's the -20 below temps that & blizzards that we can't deal with. Tomorrow (very early AM) we go to Tim & Patti's. This is the worst Christmas I have ever had. I still don't feel that well, and don't want to be away from home. I do want to see Jack, though.

Then Jan. 2-4 we are expected to go back for Joey's birth. Stay in a motel. I want to be there to see Patti and Tim & Jack & the new baby, but do not want to stay there for 4 days in a motel as they are expecting us to do. If you continue reading this you will see why I say that. It's not that I am heartless!

As you know Dave is retiring Jan. 22. I have been getting SS since my Bday in November. I will get half of Dave's instead when he retires instead of mine. Mine is pitiful small. So that's good.

I just learned that I HAVE NO INSURANCE COVERAGE after Dave's company's ins. stops on us & I will have nothing & can't get ANY Medicare Benefits or Supplemental Insurance until Feb.2. I am just sick. Dave is very upset as well. We filed all the right papers and did everything right. But because I have a Nov. Birthday my Medicare doesn't pick up until 3 mo. after my birthday. BUT NO ONE at social security ever told us this. What would we do if I had a stroke? I have to go to the doctors every month. And take several medications! That will have to come out of OUR own pockets. We do not have that kind of $$. I feel horrible about this. I am not in that great of health. I know I shouldn't say this, but I could care less about Christmas. I am so worried and scared about all of this mess.

Forgive me to dump on you at Christmas. I wish you a Merry one!! Please take care of yourself and pray that we can figure out a way to pay medical expenses in January. I hope & pray things are going okay for you and that you are surviving the snow! We have to stick together.

Love you, Email me if & when you get a chance. (I am so scared it's not funny. And Dave gets upset if I even talk about it).
Merry

I Can Hardly Wait 2

My husband Dave will love that one. I printed it out. I am not much into cars, but he is. Boy, bailing out the auto industry isn't something Dave is happy about. He was telling me that the average worker on the assembly lines of GM, and the others is about $75,000 a year!! (I forget what the hourly wage is, but it's out of sight. This is the good old Union boys, which Dave (& I) hate, hate, hate. And don't think they don't have the best medical, eye, and dental health care, too. Plus fat 401K plans and retirement plans. And we are supposed to feel sorry for these guys and bail out the 3 big US auto makers so those "po folks" don't get laid off? Come on, get real. Who looks out for the Bearing Salesmen, and the Journalists & Restaurant workers, (Me), or even Social Workers, (Me) they make peanuts compared to the auto co. employees. Well, I guess that Bush figures if they don't help the big 3 out it will hurt the entire country which is already in a recession (yes, he really said that this AM on TV at his press conference) (Rick Warren is a Fundamentalist Minister). Congress broke last week without settling things. Boy, why am I not surprised that the Democratic majority (Republican minority) all congress went home & left old George to figure out what to do. Heck, people already don't like him.

Well, I may be crazy, but I do. I see a President that hasn't been afraid to take a stand even against the whims of people. A guy who STOOD firm after 9/11, and I don't care, what anyone else thinks, I hope history is kinder to George than what the American public has been. I bet he is champing at the bit to go home to Crawford, Texas. Oh, I guess Laura Bush said on TV that they will be in Dallas half the time for business purposes and the other half of the time in Crawford, Texas. So, if no one else will say it, I will~! Thank you, President Bush, for serving our country. I am proud of the way you have served our country. I only wish more people were. I hope history will be kinder than what American people are to you. And what really gets me is this Rick Warren who Pres. elect Obama picked to do the Invocation at the Inauguration. Wow, here Obama's big promises about supporting same sex marriages and gay rights, are already being broken! If I was one of those people who worked my ass off to campaign for Obama because of all his "promises" for equal rights to the gays, I'd be pretty mad right now.

Promises, oh, why am I not surprised? All he did was make lots of promises and called for change, change, change, and I bet half the time, he didn't even know what he was saying he needed a change for! Yeah, that's what I really think! This is just a taste of what the next 4 years are going to be like. I pray for our country and I should be praying for Obama, but so far I can't. Because, in the end he is lots of hot air. (But I hope he proves me wrong and does a smashing job.)

Oh, and how nice, now out of no where comes Caroline Kennedy and she is wanting to take Hillary Clinton's senate seat. I bet she gets it, too. I have nothing against the woman, but she's spent her entire life staying OUT OF POLITICS, like her Mother tried to do. And now she wants to serve?? I am sure she's smart enough, but I don't think she should get the position just because she is a Kennedy. But wait, poor Teddy isn't doing well, and we must have Kennedy's in office, here comes Camelot all over again.

Boy, didn't I take my meanie pill for today or what? But then I am one of those people who voted for John McCain, and I am not over that yet. President Obama will have to prove himself to me! This is my cents worth. I ranted on so long I am going to copy this and put in my blog!

Renee, you are pretty fair minded, extremely so-- for a person who claims to be a Liberal. xx
Love to ya'all,
Merry

Fare Thee Well

Sadly enough, this isn’t all that far from the truth. We’re about to be regulated to a fare-thee-well.Congressional Motors AnnouncesThe First Car for 2012 - The Pelosi!It's in the way you dress. The way you boogie down. The way you sign your unemployment check. You're a man who likes to do things your own way. And on those special odd-numbered Saturdays when driving is permitted, you want it in your car. It's that special feeling of a zero-emissions wind at your back and a road ahead meandering with possibilities. The kind of feeling you get behind the wheel of the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition from Congressional Motors.All new for 2012, the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition is the mandatory American car so advanced it took $100 billion and an entire Congress to design it. We started with same reliable 7-way hybrid ethanol-biodiesel-electric-clean coal-wind-solar-pedal power plant behind the base model Pelosi, but packed it with extra oomph and the sassy styling pizzazz that tells the world that 1974 Detroit is back again -- with a vengeance.We've subsidized the features you want and taxed away the rest. With its advanced Al Gore-designed V-3 under the hood pumping out 22.5 thumping, carbon-neutral ponies of Detroit muscle, you'll never be late for the Disco or the Day Labor Shelter. Engage the pedal drive or strap on the optional jumbo mizzenmast, and the GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition easily exceeds 2016 CAFE mileage standards. At an estimated 268 MPG, that's a savings of nearly $1800 per week in fuel cost over the 2011 Pelosi.Even with increased performance we didn't skimp on safety. With 11-point passenger racing harnesses, 15-way airbags, and mandatory hockey helmet, you'll have the security knowing that you could survive a 45 MPH collision even if the GTxi SS/Rt were capable of that kind of illegal speed.But the changes don't stop there. Sporty mag-style hubcaps and an all-new aggressive wedge shape designed by CM's Chief Stylist Ted Kennedy slices through the wind like an omnibus spending bill. It even features an airtight undercarriage to keep you and a passenger afloat up to 15 minutes -- even in the choppy waters of a Cape Cod inlet. Available a rainbow of color choices to match any wardrobe, from Harvest Avocado to French Mustard.Inside, a luxurious all-velour interior designed by Barney Frank features thoughtful appointments like an in-dash condom dispenser. A special high capacity hatchback holds up to 300 aluminum cans, meaning fewer trips to the redemption center. And the standard 3 speaker Fairness ActoPhonic FM low-band sound system means you'll never miss a segment of NPR again.Best of all, the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt is made right here in the U.S.A. by fully card-checked unionized workers and Detroit 's famous visionary jet-set managers. Even if you don't own one, you can enjoy the patriotic satisfaction that you're supporting the high wages, good benefits, and generous political donations that are once again making the American car industry the envy of the world.But why not buy one anyway? With an MSRP starting at only $629,999.99, it's affordable too. Don't forget to ask about dealer incentives, rebates, tax credits, and wealth redistribution plans for customers from dozens of qualifying special interest groups. Plus easy-pay financing programs from Fannie Mae.So take the bus to your local CM dealer today and find out why the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition is the only car endorsed by President Barack Obama. One test drive will convince you that you'd choose it over the import brands. Even if they were still legal.

Does anyone have extra Christmas spirt for me?

Hi Everyone!
Okay, hi to anyone who stops by. Bear with me while I get the hang of this!

I need some Christmas spirit and I don't mean the kind you drink, although maybe that wouldn't be so bad. (just kidding) With my illnesses, injuries and 3 months gone by, I have nothing and I do mean nothing done for Christmas. Please don't try to tell me I have a bad attitude because I am aware of that fact. I just don't have the energy to do the things I usually do. Luckily my husband Dave decorates better than me and is a perfectionist about that like I am, too.

Today I had a CAT (LOL)scan and more x-rays at the hospital. I won't get results until next week. But ya know, I said from the very beginning that this was no shoulder injury, but not even the specialists listened to me. Well, it turns out that my family doctor finally got a new report from a different radiologist and he wanted a nodule checked out. I freaked. I do not smoke and don't even allow anyone to smoke in my house ('cuz I can't breathe if they do) but I did smoke for 20 years, we have been off the smokes for 25 years now. But that's always the first thing that comes into your mind with this. I have also had pneumonia about 6 times as a kid and at least that often as an adult and in the hospital always (People I don't do anything without drama, lol). I didn't need to go to PT, I knew it, I knew it. There is nothing wrong with my shoulder. But this nodule could be from the old pneumonia's OR it could be something more serious.

What made this a hassle was the doctor's receptionist scheduled me for Wednesday AM, then didn't tell me. I called her on Wed. AM and she said "Oh, I called you and you were suppose to go today." Don't give me that. I was home ALL day and besides that I have an answering machine. SO, she supposedly rescheduled it and called me back and said it was for 7 AM today. Well, I got up at 4:30 to shower and fix my hair and makeup and all that good stuff and went out in this freezing Iowa weather and guess what? I was NOT on the Radiology schedule for TODAY. She did NOT change it. I don't know if she forgot or what but I am very tired of her attitude. I should mention we use to be sorta friends, went to the same church. Then she switched. When she started working for my doctor she weighed about twice what she does now. She looks great but her personality left when her extra weight did. I don't know what it is but she is hateful to me. It's a power thing. If only I had the nerve or didn't want to take a chance on losing my doctor I would tell Miss Receptionist exactly where to go!

Thank Goodness the Hospital took mercy on me and worked me in anyway. They are just so accommodating in every department I have been sent to. They truly must love their work, because you cannot fake that kind of caring. Now, I do think some doctors do it for the money, but not most hospital employees.

I am so tired. I am thankful that I AM feeling better, but still do have pain in my rib and right armpit which is where this nodule is. And then I looked around and I saw so many people that have so many more problems than me, and it humbled me. When you sit around in hospital gowns and robes, you know you are all the same, no one is judged by the clothes they wear, we are all just people. And it's definitely a neat thing. We talk and laugh, and have a brief camaraderie. I've noticed this where ever I go for tests these last three months. And it's easier to talk to a person somewhere near my age (that means over 50 but not 100), but I've met some nice younger folks, too.

Well, I hope this finds you all doing well and that you are getting ready for Christmas without the last minute stuff I will have to do. You know I'd love to hear from any and all of you new or old to blog spot. I love making new friends!

Many people moved my blog out of kindness from a mass Email I sent out. I was so touched by the thoughtfulness and the kindness of all of you who moved my AOL Journals. So far, this is themain one I've been writing in. I will delete some others or rename them and write about different things. I never know when to shut up so that might be a good way to use all my blogs.

Take care now and if you do post to your blog, please email me at merry1621@aol.com as I don't think I get alerts anymore. Do any of you?
Oh, I have missed you all! And I want to thank those of you who have hung with me through Emailing. You are special folks and I truly feel a kinship with each of you.

Good night! Love you!
Merry
PS You're emails have helped me so much through all this sickness. I have been incredibly lucky in all my life, never had things like this. Getting old stinks. I hate 65 & I hate Medicare but what can I do about it? Well, I loved my life before so hopefully I will again soon. If I had to pick my 10 favorite years they would be from 37-47, though. How about all of you? What are your favorite years?

The Friday Chrismas Tree

“Mommy,” six-year-old Brian cried, as he pulled on his pajamas, “the other kids said we’re going to have a Christmas tree for the house! What’s a Christmas tree?”Snug in their small bedroom at this Christian shelter for women and children, Jenny Henderson held him and four-year-old Daniel close. “It’s a beautiful tree that helps people be glad for Jesus,” she said. “People decorate them at Christmas time. They buy each other presents and put them under the trees.”Daniel wrinkled his nose. “What’s ‘decorate’ mean? What’s Christmas?”Their mother sighed. All the years she had lived with the boys’ father, he refused to let them celebrate anything, no matter how much she pleaded. No birthdays. No holidays. And certainly no Christmas.So the boys had never blown out birthday candles, watched TV, decorated a Christmas tree, hung up stockings, eaten a big Christmas dinner or opened any gifts.When the Henderson home became so sad with all the arguing, controlling and bossing, Jenny and the boys moved to the shelter home. Now they were free to celebrate everything, including Christmas, with the other mothers and children there.Jenny gave Daniel a hug. “I’ll tuck you both under the covers and tell you a wonderful story about Jesus and Christmas.”She recounted the detailed story of the first Christmas night, then told them about decorating a Christmas tree, giving Christmas presents to each other, and telling God thank you for baby Jesus.“Wow!” Brian cried. “I want to love baby Jesus, too. And I want to decorate a Christmas tree, too!”“Me, too!” Daniel echoed. “Please, Mommy, please!”Jenny laughed. “Mrs. Naples, the house manager, says we’re going to have a big Christmas tree decorating party this Saturday. All the kids who live here will be able to help, including you two.”Brian and Daniel were so excited, they could hardly get to sleep. And the very first thing Daniel asked when he woke up the next morning was, “Is it Saturday yet? Can we decorate the tree yet?”Finally, that Friday, they heard a great shout. “The tree’s here!” All the children scrambled down the stairs. There at the front door were three men carrying the biggest, most beautiful, fragrant evergreen, so big it almost stuck in the doorway. The men set it up on a stand, and everyone gathered around. It almost reached the ceiling!“Can we decorate it right now?” Daniel asked.Mrs. Naples laughed. “No, remember it’s still Friday, Daniel. We’ll have our decorating party tomorrow.”Just then she got a phone call in the office. It was the boys’ father. Since Mr. Henderson had never hurt the boys, he was allowed to come to the shelter and take them out on visits. He was coming the next day to take them out for a while—right at decorating time.The boys loved their father, of course. But they did so want to decorate their very first Christmas tree. “Please, Mrs. Naples,” Brian begged, “could we put just one pretty thing on the tree tonight? Just one small decoration?”The house manager looked at the beautiful tree. She looked at the two boys and she looked at the other children. “Well, what do you think, children?” she asked. “Would that be fair? Let’s take a vote.”“Yes!” they all shouted.A short time later, all the children helped carry not just one little decoration, but whole boxes of them into the living room. They set them around the waiting tree.“All right, boys,” Mrs. Naples said to Brian and Daniel. “You have an hour. During that time you may decorate to your hearts’ content. We won’t plug anything in, but you take out anything in any of the boxes. Tomorrow while you’re gone we’ll take the decorations off so the other children can have their chance putting them on. But tonight is your night.”Then she shooed the other children away and left the two boys alone.Brian and Daniel had never been so happy in their entire lives. They picked up each shiny ball, each shimmering garland, each handful of icicles, as carefully as if they had been made of diamonds, then placed them lovingly on the tree.A little later, Mrs. Naples stopped by to see how they were doing. All around the bottom branches—as high as little boys’ arms could reach—glittered joyful ornaments of blue, red, green, gold and silver, plus loop upon loop of garlands, and handfuls upon handfuls of icicles.But instead of standing there admiring their work, the two boys were on their knees with their eyes closed tightly, praying.“Thank you, dear Jesus,” Brian began, “for getting bornded at Christmas time. And thank you for letting us decorate your Christmas tree. That’s the bestest Christmas present I could ever get.”“Oh, and, Jesus,” his little brother added, “when Daddy comes here tomorrow and sees our beautiful tree, please let him like it and not be mad. And help him want to love you, too.”Brian thought a moment. “You’re right,” he agreed. “That would be the bestest Christmas present of all.”

Hi, hi hi! Will this really work? I am trying to finally post in one of my blogs that got transferred. This is a test. But comments and advice are welcome. I have missed my Jland friends a lot!
Love,
Merry

Complaint To The Military (How dare they??)

Complaint to the Military (Read this)
  
Noise Complaint at Luke AFB, AZ
 

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were.
 
A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed their day at the mall. 

When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit.
 The complaint:
 
'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base:
 Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet.
 
Imagine our good fortune! Do the 'Tom Cruise-wannabes' feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyn's early bird special? Any response would be appreciated.'
 
 The response:
  Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets'
  
On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship fly-by of
 F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in  Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.
 
At 9 a.m.on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly-by, and because of the jet noise,  I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.
 
A four-ship fly-by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those 
who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators 
and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.
 
The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show?
 
The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it  was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
  
Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you... Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul and liberty; the other for your natural freedom.
 
(signed) 
Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF

 'Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.

~John Wayne~

Harry & Ike, Ronnie, Georges,& Espeically John McCain!

Harry S. Truman <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /> "The Buck Stops  Here."         "It doesn't matter how big  a ranch ya' own, or how many cows ya' brand, the size of your funeral is  still gonna  depend on the weather." -Harry Truman.

I have never heard that before!  I loved iT!  Dave has heard it, where was I when he heard it, I wonder.  I remember when Harry Truman was president.  I think I was in kindergarten or first grade. I remember it because no one thought he'd win. My Dad's family were stanch Republicans, but even they liked Harry Truman and his unique way of saying things like they are!  Yep, I remember.

 

Then came Dwight Eisenhower who looked exactly like my grandfather Hills had looked. Since I didn't have many pictures of Grandfather before he got sick, I put pic's of Dwight Eisenhower all over our house.  I also remember 1976,  It was a bicentennial year. Not that I got carried away or anything, but I bought everything I could with the date 1976 on it. Glasses, coffee cups, pictures, you name it.  I still have some of that stuff.

 

I loved Ronald Reagan. I will always love Ronald Reagan.  He was one of those people that changed the world so much in so many ways for the better. I still miss Ronald Reagan.  I am going on & on here, I am going to copy this for my journal.  That's what journals are for is blabbing on, right? 

 

I liked Bill Clinton. Throw bricks at me, I don't care. I liked the person especially when he was done being our President. We visited DC in 1999, when he was in Office, it changed the way I felt about him and history and my country. Can Bill be that bad if he did all that?

 

I liked both George Bush's. Lotza people don't much like that. But I don't care.  They were both good men and the son a better President than his Dad, I think.  I think George Bush held our country together after 9-11.  I don't see how people can't see that.  I think he will be thrilled to go back to Crawford, Texas.

 

Okay, this is the end part.  I liked all of these presidents. But not a one of them did I like as much as I do John McCain.  John is my man.  I am passionate in my support of him.  So, there you have it.  I am a proud McCain Volunteer and I will be helping his campaign as election day comes closer. And on the day election is.  I will poll watch. And I will pray.  And that's all I can do. Go John Go!

xoxo

Merry

Me! No, YOU!

Please answer this in an email to me, or put your URL for your journal in here and so I can read what you had to say. Come on Play, it'll be fun!

you

Lets see the funny shit you people come up with! YOU fill in the blanks about ME even if you don't have any idea what they are and send it back to ME. But first post a blank one out to all your friends so they can return the favor to you.



My name:

Who is the love of my life:

Where did we meet:

Take a stab at my middle name:

How long have you known me:

When is the last time that we saw each other:

Do I smoke:

Do I drink:

When is my birthday:

What was your first impression of upon meeting me:

Do I have any siblings:

What's one of my favorite things to do:

Am I funny:

What's my favorite type of music:

What is the best feature about me:

Am I shy or outgoing:

Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules:

Do I have any special talents:

Would you consider me a friend/good friend:

Would you call me preppy, average, sporty, punk, hippie, glam, nerdy, snobby, or something else (what):

What is a memory we have once had:

Have you ever hugged me:

Do you miss me...do you think i miss you:

What is my favorite food:

Have you ever had a crush on me:

If there was one good nickname for me, what would it be:

What's your favorite memory of me:

Who do I like right now:

What is my worst habit:

If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what one thing would I bring?

Are we friends:

 

Checking In! Back to Normal (?) Life

Hi dear friends, my buddies, pals, confidants, (new & old alike!)

It has been a week since I made an entry. I have had mega AOL problems,  Now everything seems to be working okay. I still don't know WHY I got this version, but now that I can get into my Journals again, I am NOT changing back to 9.(whatever it was) Optimized. I have had so many people (all nice & well meaning) tell me that 9 whatever Optimized was the latest AOL version.  (I am talking of the "paid" kind not the free version.)  I just had this thought, what if this is the free version??  I don't want it then.  What this version says it is is AOL Desktop.  I am a lot of things, but never claimed to be computer savvy!  Okay, enough of the what if's, I am DOING an entry!

I feel as if I am a different person than the Merry before the flood.  I realize now (my family) was lucky compared to so many people that lost everything!  I truly thank Our Heavenly Father, for every day.  I know you may read this and think. "My friend Merry really "flipped out," but I think I just had a wake up call.  I honestly feel that sometimes we are sent tragedies to make us grow stronger, and hopefully become better people!  And in turn,  this makes us become better friends to those people who touch our lives. 

I will be 64 in November.  Usually, I don't talk about age much, because I don't like to.  The truth is I am too vain.  (I have never been one to take it as it comes, I have fought it every step of the way!) But, still fight it or not, IF we are LUCKY, & LIVE, age happens!  Perhaps, getting older isn't so bad, if it finally has allowed me (after all this time) to feel comfortable in my own skin! So, I truly am going to TRY to make the most of my days.  Each day is a gift & we can choose to fill it with fear, *I do have Generalized Anxiety Disorder + all the stuff on my "All About Me.  column. I think I will be changing that, too.  After all, those disabilities are not who I am, they are things I have, but they aren't all that I am as a person! They are misfortunes that I have to deal with it. But the bottom line is this....EACH DAY IS A GIFT.  We are allowed 24 hours each day. How we spend it is really up to us!  Sometimes, we cannot find much to feel grateful about, but most days, if we REALLY look and see how much we have, I think most of us can (if we make the effort) really realize how blessed we are.  I have so much, and I am grateful for every bit of it. I am not talking about financial positions, or lack of them. I am talking about "REAL" life, real friends, real family.  I live in a "real" town, a nice small town, should I spend my time looking for what is wrong with it, or should I spend my time realizing I am part of it and try to make it a better place? 

The same is true of our lives.  We only get one.  I don't think anyone goes through life without adversities along the way.  Sometimes we are able to sail through hard times, but sometimes, we get stalled "in the flood water."  However if we just STOP & THINK, we just fall down. We must get up, shake ourselves off and the be thankful!  We we are bigger and better people for everything we are forced to deal with in the space of our life.

Today, I am happy to report we are about 85% done with the flood drama, and what is left are things I have to go through to see what  effect the dampness had on them. That will take time. But as far as I know, I have that, so that is "no problem!"  We had our basement decontaminated. We have a roof over our heads, and many things that make our lives easier.  So many people in our town, in our state, and actually, in the Midwest, lost everything!  We just been inconvienced.  We are lucky!  Others are not. That really isn't fair. But to be honest, I am very thankful that we came out of this as well as we did. We lost things, not people; & we didn't actually lose much $$ wise.  Really, the costs that we had were for the trash guys to come and haul junk that needed to go anyway, away & for the basement to be professionally sanitized. What we lost can be replaced if we want to do that.  I don't understand why some people have huge losses and we don't. That isn't fair, yet I can't lie....I am grateful for everything we have!  Mostly, I am grateful for the people I love & I am so lucky to have a wonderful immediate family, and good, true, cherished friends that dear to me.  I also want to let my readers know I do see that I am lucky and that I KNOW that!.  I do see that God has blessed me with family love and the love of good, dear friends. You friends who matter MOST, know who you are, and you know you are truly dear to me.

I also feel comfortable in my own skin.  I know this is fleeting, everyday will not be a happy day for me.  I did not go through any born again experience, but I do think my "wake-up call" has made me think. The things that matter are not things you can buy.  No amount of money determines how many friends you have, or how strong your faith is.  As my Mom use to tell me "Happiness comes from within."  And so, for today, I have to tell you all, I know I am blessed and luckier than so many people. For the gift of life, I thank God.  For my friends that I have I thank God.  For those of you who came "out of nowhere" but gave me strength, you sustained me through a hardship; and I THANK YOU!   I love those of you who did that for me.  Even if I have never met you, I do know you and I love you.  I don't need to be financially well off, (although that's always nice) :).  I know people who have much more than I who are miserable; I know people who have so many less than I do, and yet they are very happy people. They reached out and touched my life with caring and kindness.  I don't need to list names, those of you that I am talking about know you are important individuals in my life. I actually think If I could fill my life with more people like you, and in turn be here to help you in your lives; Then, in fact, no greater legacy or wish could I have.

NORMAL:  This is what life is becoming again now for me.  I thank God for each and every blessing He has bestowed upon me & you, my Journal friends are precious beyond words, to me.

For all of you, I hope you have a "NORMAL" life. That is what I wish for you. If you don't, work at it.  I tell you, "normal" is wonderful, and it's what I wish for each of you. Work at becoming and staying "normal!"  Pray for it.  If I can help any of you who helped me, just call out my name as the song goes, "You know wherever I am, I'll come running to see you again, etc." (James Taylor). Bye for now!

With Love Always,
Merry

Sunday, Father's Day!

Part 2

Just like a bad penny, I am "back again!" You won't get rid of me easily, LOL.  Ah come on, I know you ya'all like me or are starting to, & I absolutely love ya'all!

I still haven't stopped washing clothes!  I am telliing you, I don't think there is a bottom to the baskets!  I actually love to wash, but I don't like to have an ironing build up & I will. I iron down in the basement & I can't stay down there and iron now, until it get decontimaninated. I run down to use the washer & dryer & race back up here. That place gives me the creeps since the flood.  I can't WAIT until the cleaning service that does decontamination work gets to our name on the list.   I had no idea; but we have heard it gets up into more than one thousand dollars!   When they get here, I will let you know if what it actually cost.  Don't know about you, but we don't have extra thousand dollars laying around. But, what can we do?

I would attach a picture of Gorgeous Jack , the grandson I have been braggng about, but we haven't downloaded the recent pictures of him  The old ones I have he looks like a baby yet in.  I only see him about every 2 1/2-3 months & he has changed dramatically every time.  He went from looking like a baby & crawling aroung to become a very tall slim toddler, who runs (never walks, LOL) around. Always with a smile on his face and like my own Dad, a twinkle in his eye.  He is precious beyond what words can say. When I hold him, I hug & hug him, and sometimes he squirms.  We waited 45 years to become Grandparents, most of our friends have Grandchlidren that are teens, some even in college. But Gorgeous Jack was worth waiting for! 

Today is Father's Day!  I have to pay a little tribute to my own Dad.  I can't believe it, but today I figured it out & my Daddy has been gone for 23 years.  Sometimes, it seems like only last week, but sometimes finally after many hard years, it seems like a LONG time ago.

My Dad was my Knight in Shinning Armour!  He was MyPrince Charming!  I was the baby in our family, I have one older sister.  I was born more  than 2 months early in a blizzard in Hinckley, MN.  I was born at the doctor's nurses home; because my Dad could not get Mom to the closest town that had a hospital.  I weighed 3 lb. They put me in a dresser drawer with warm jars all around me--that was my "incubator."  The doctor came shortly after the nurse phoned him and said he missed the big event.  He gave me 2 drops of whiskey, slapped me on the bottom & told my parents I would be fine.  I was & I am!  The only hard part was after I was born, for months my Mom had to feed me every 2 hours.  My sister  went everywhere with Daddy, until she went to school (she is 5+ years older than me).  But make no mistake I knew I was the baby, and I loved it!  My Dad always called me, Jo Baby.  (My middle name is Joann after his Mother). I could do almost no wrong in my Dad's  eyes, and he was my very best friend for the first 37 years of my life. At this point my parents moved to Florida, and we left Davenport, the Quad Cities and moved to Mason City, IA.  Dave's office transferred him here. But he could have chosen to go elsewhere; I had to talk sweet, to get him to Mason City--it was as close to MN as I could get him!!  (Mason City is about 20 min. tops to the Minnesota border!)   My Daddy was a  a caring, kind, compassionate, & gentle father to both my sister & I.  But for me, there was no one single person I would rather be with throughout  all my life than my Dad.  I had more fun with him than even my closest friends; and I have always made friends easily.  So, today, on Father's Day,  I am remembering all that my Dad did for me.  It makes we cry, but it would even make a stranger cry if they knew the dynamics of our special relationship. My Dad's only flaw was that he could never say no, and also, he could not discipline me or my sister.  Poor Mom had to do all that (in later years she told me she hated that, but "Someone had to inforce some rules on you two girls"). Daddy, I know you are looking down on me from Heaven above, and since Mom died 7 years ago, I know you aren't lonely anymore.  I miss you still, not every day like I did the first few years, but when I do, it is a deep loss.  Life without you, Daddy has never been quite the same.  But in his own way, Dave has become my Prince Charming and even my Knight in Shinning Armour. My parents always loved Dave, so, Daddy, I know would understand my feelings of transferance, and approve of it. When I picked Dave, I picked the guy that was the most like my Dad in every way that mattered to me!  Of all that I have done, I know you loved having Tim for a grandson more than any other single thing, I did.  But I also know you would be very proud of me. You taught me the love of reading and books, you instilled in me a deep quest for knowledge and while you were still alive (you were 71) at the age of 39, I presented you with my first College degree. I'll never forget the smile on your face.  Ten years later I was back in school on that quest for knowledge in a different field.  I know you weren't here anymore, but I also know you saw me graduate from Heaven.  Daddy, I love you just as much today as ever & I hope I have made you proud.  I know that you gave me another great gift.  You always had a way with people and you had many, many friends. Everyone who knew you, liked you.  I don't think I can match you there, but I do know I love meeting people, and I love my friends.  You, Dad taught me that a friend was one of life's other biggest gifts.  Here's to you, Daddy.  Hug Mom for me & hold hands, I hope it'll be a while before I join you! I am having too much fun, to leave this earth, so I hope God gives me a few more years here. I love you, Daddy!  Jo Baby

I have to go cry a little now, (but only a little, because I know you wouldn't want me to be sad!  So, I will leave you (finally, LOL). Then I'm going to watch TV with my dear husband, Dave!

See you all later,

Merry

PS Remember hold hands, look both ways and cross streets carefully. (This is something my sister use to say to me.) I guess Father's Day reminds us of all family.  Sooooooooo, I must add, I love you, Bev.  No matter what you will always be my big sister!

I THINK THE Worst Is Over for Us & CR, too! Yay!

Hi Friends!

I think the worst is over, finally! What a week this has been!!  It seemed like a whole year, but it was only a week.  We were okay, our son, wife and grandson in Cedar Rapids, IA were okay; but they, as our had losses and they had to stay at a motel for 4 days because they lost power.  Jack was staying with Patt's Aunt. If you saw 13 month old Jack in action, you'd know why he would not be a happy camper in a one bed small motel room!  He is 13 months and once he learned to walk, he immediately learned to run, and boy does he go!    I talked to Tim early this afternoon and they had been back home in daylight so Jack could play with his own toys, they had picked him up. Then went back to the motel & Jack was napping

(I didn't think he even did that, because the night we watched him we couldn't slow him down even by midnight, lol). That was one week ago Saturday, boy it seems like a month ago, tho with all that has happened!

They live 3 hours from Mason City.  He'd get a 2nd and then a 3rd wind. Patti & Tim came here to go to a wedding of one of Tim's friends daughters. This was our first babysitting gig!  We did A-okay, too!  He never cries, he has the best dispostion.  But, he is a mover and a go-er guy!   Tim said they had to throw out all their freezer stuff, and the refrig. freezer, and most of the refrig. as well. 

About 5 Tim called again when Dave was home to wish him a Happy Father's Day & they are HOME AGAIN with POWER restored!  Tim said 2 blocks away one way or another in that town, can be bad. Then the next block can be like "normal."  All you see on TV (& they have been showing Cedar Rapids, IA a lot) is the bad stuff. But Tim said they hardly have any more water in their basement than they get after a good hard rain.  They had NOTHING like we had, and no sewage backup at all!

Anyway, back to the point.  (Yes, I know I tend to ramble like I am a dumb female, but I assure you I am not dumb, I am a 2 time college graduate and belong to the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.)  We are still wating to get our basement decontaminated by a professional. We don't know when that will be.  We've only had water safe to clean with since Thurs. or Fri. So, this may be a while.  Our bathroom, and luandry room especially got the sewage backup, (don't mean to gross you out people, but floods are not for those who get queasy easily.)

Just to be able to run the dishwasher, wash clothes, drink the water is Heaven.  I promised God, I will never take water for granted again!  I leave it up to you, friends, to remind me of this.  Or if I complain about petty things & I probably will, you can tell me to "remember when."  We had water restored to flush the stool & take showers like on Thursday, but we could not wash clothes in it until mid day Friday. I think....I am not senile, it's just that in the midst of a catastrophe, you lose track of what happened when.  I think our brains are still in the stress mode. 

Iowa City is near where Tim works for a Business Newspaper there, he is a Journalist. He's a news reporter & a page designer.  It's only a 20 min. commute. Patti works for a big company as a Computer Engineer in Cedar Rapids.  Iowa City has not seen the wost of the flood yet. What is worrysome is the U of Iowa Hospitals have had to partially evacuated.  Same for a lot of the U of Iowa Campus, in Iowa City.  Down the road another hour, is Davenport, IA & the "Quad cities"). *Illinois towns are part of that grouping also.  We lived in Davenport for 21 yr as a family; Dave acutally lived their all his life until we moved here; as most of you know I was born and raised in Minnesota. Davenport will have damage, when these smaller rivers empty into the big Mississippi.

I think I am writing way too much, so am going to stop.  I'll do "Part two" in the next entry. I promise not to yak on so long there. 

Check both entries out!  I love all your comments & I can't tell you how much it has meant to me to have you all leave me positive comments and several of you have also Emailed me.  You are the best.  I think I am really a part of Jland now, and that makes me  a very happy girl.

Love, Merry

DAY 5 (Flooding, etc.)

Hi; I am just going to make this a short entry. I am beat tonight. I may write more tomorrow!  I do want to thank you who commented in my comments and those of you who Emailed me, and even those of you who thought of me even briefly today because...I need you all in my life!

Things are quiet for today. It rainded last night but today has been beautiful and sunny.  The forecast is bleak for the next few days, all over the state of Iowa.  Please keep all of Iowa in your prayers.  The tragic tornado with the Boy Scouts happened in one of my husband's overnight sales territories; he goes there every other week.  The surviving boys were so brave.  This was just a devastating tragedy!!  

I got out of the house & went shopping today!  I told my husband, "You know, the saying, 'When the going gets tough; the tough ones go shopping."  Well, he knows that too well. I bought a couple Father's Day gifts for him, some fancy, dancy cosmetics to make all my wrinkles go away (LOL, I am kidding). Well, at least I will feel better, wrinkled or not.  I also got more towels for us. We still can't wash clothes or dishes or drink our water.  Then I could not help myself I found two really cute short jackets that I had to have. One is bright line green, with white flowers in and will go with lots of my summer clothes & the other one is beige, I have a lot of beige things, (I usually wear pink things or pink prints with them. I have a pink thing!)  It started because of my concern for all women regarding breast cancer, but now I just plain love pink! 

They say we MIGHT have water that we can wash clothes in and dishes and even drink by Sat. or Sun.  I will believe that when I see it.

They sent water to be tested somewhere and are waiting to hear back.  However if it rains more, our water treatment plant will have problems, and we will get it shut off again.

Tonight, besides being very tired, I am doing pretty good.  It was a pretty good day although this AM I didn't think it was going to be. 

A good reminder that we should all just keep "trucking" because even a lousy day can turn into a very good day.  Life is like that, full of ups and downs.  Valleys, hills, & mountains.  But the streams at the bottom of the mountains refresh us and give us the strength to go on and make ourselves and our familes, happy. 

I wish you all a wonderful mountain stream tonight and that you will be refreshed and ready to go at the world again tomorrow and remember you never know what surprises might be just around the corner waiting for you. I hope yours are good surprises!

Love Always,

Merry

 

Day 4 flooding

Hi everyone!

I have gotten quite a few comments. I don't have a fancy journal like ya'll (LOL) do.  I don't have pictures in here, and I think folks like journals with pictures more.  I like pictures in other people's journals, but I care more about what they write.  Maybe that's just me, I want to be known and remembered by the things I do or have done, and also by the lives I touch.  That is what I try to do when things are fairly normal for me, which they usually really are.  Anyway, I want to thank all of you that took the time out of your day to send me a comment.  When you go through a crisis like this you really need support.  It was hard for me to share my feelings about all this flood devastation, I was afraid people would be too philosophical.  But a friend told me Jland would not let me down, so I wrote.  Gosh, what a great friend that was/is!  Jland is supportive and all that folks told me it would be.  You guys are awesome supporters and I love you for caring about me, my family, & my state!

Gee, we thought we were getting water this AM FINALLY.  All AM I had faucets on, but only got a trinkle. I called some neighobors that are home in the daytime, and they didn't have any more. That was real disouraging.

I finally got MAD & thought I don't care that they said the water we saved on Sunday should not be used. I am taking a bath and washing my hair. I boiled water  over & over & over until I finally got enough & I took a bath!  & I did it and I am not sorry. But I  had half cold water, I mean like ice.  I tried to pretend I was a kid again at our cabin in Northern Minnesota, the cold water never phased me.  But every time I tried to lay all the way down in the bathtub I could NOT do it! Finally I got on my knees and dunked my head upside down & washed my hair, then boiled more water,  and rinsed it and eventually got as clean as I could under the circumstances. 

Guess what?  About a half hour after I did all this water started coming out of the faucets. What a wonderful sight!  I thought like this, "And on the ___________day God created water", or something like that--I can't remember what day. (I am a good Lutheran and I know the Bible fairly well, but right now I am stressed.....that's my excuse for today & I am sticking to it.   Tonight my husband is taking a REAL shower.  I am too!  I promised God I won't take water for granted, EVER AGAIN I hope I don't forget that one. 

We still can't wash dishes or clothes with it; or drink it though. They say MAYBE next week. This is maddening and hard to take!

Several parts of Iowa also have been hit and Cedar Falls and Waterloo, IA really got it. Des Moines will tomorrow.  Cedar Rapids got some & some people got evacuated.  Our son, wife and grandson (Gorgeous Jack age 13 months) live there.  But they are fine and are not near any flooded areas!

I always thought I was still a Minnesota girl.  This moring when I saw those pictures on TV; I cried.  Iowa is my home, (gee, it only took about 45 yr. for me to say that, LOL0. This devastation broke my  heart and I cried and cried.  I guess I truly am an Iowan now.

Unfortunately we are supposed to get rain for the next 3 days, so who knows what will happen. This ordeal is far from over. If we get more rain, our foundation might not take it.  So, I am scared but I am going to put this in God's hands tonight. 

So for today, I am thankful for the water we had  & for my friends, and Jland.

I am going to go now and end this on an up note.  I hope it reads that way, anyway.

God bless you all, real good as the saying goes!

Love,

Merry

 

Flood update Day 3

 Hi!

Upon the advice of a rather new Jland friend of mine, I am continuing to post entries in at least one journal.  I don't usually communicate this way (about my personal life) (preferring to normally email people privately). But, it's easier to update a journal.  And because this friend of mine urged me to post, saying that Jland will be supportive to me and people really want to know what is going on with Merry. 

 

Hope people don't get too philosophical with me. Right now, I need to feel as I have some care and concern generating my way, BUT I must admit, I can't take too many ultra "Cheer up" from some people who have everything normal right now.  I guess I will just have to hope some folks can be concerned but also a little empathetic, cuz you never know what a disaster is going to do to you until you are in the middle of it. Yesterday I was so upbeat and cheerful and content to rough it out. This AM it's not as easy to be that way. 

 

My major hobbies are this computer,visiting with people, shopping, cleaning, washing (myself, then clothes 2 and or 3X a day) kinda in that order.  What?  If you are thinking that your friend Merry sounds a little bit obsessive compulsive, you are right, but it's not like I have to take medication for it or that bad, I have gotten this way more since I am not able to work outside the home anymore, due to my physical limitations.

 

I believe it's the way I handle stress by keeping myself, my house in perfect order. When unable to do that, I have to dig down and find the great core genes I inherited from my awesome parents!! Then, I rise again and can not only cope but maybe go down the block and at least talk to people.HELP SOMEONE ELSE!

 

I'm gonna make it through this, I just sometimes need to vent, but I am stronger than it may sound.  To those of you who have Emailed or called me, thanks again for your concern & Emails. It means the MORE than I can express!
Love your friend,

Merry

Day 2 of Flooding

 

Hi!

You think you will just have to deal with doing what regulations say, (No bathing, no water for coffee, that is if you can even find any right now in this town!)  I think I mentioned we have no water.  The dishwasher is full, and I don't have enough water to use to wash them anyway.  Sat. night we were busy watching Jack, and had no clue all this was going to happen, so I didn't run it or wash dishes in the sink.  OMG

 

One of the guys in Dave's office who lives in a small town here said we are welcome to come there and shower.  Dave may need to. I took a bath in the little bit of water (I had filled the tub yesterday AM to save to wash up with, to flush the stool with, etc.) in a kitchen Rubbermaid plastic container (actually our recycling bin. --I washed it first.)  We did have coffee this AM and not in boiled water, as I thought it was safe as we got it before they shut the water & sewage treatment plant down due to their flood damage. Now my neighbor told me they are saying that water, even boiled is not safe to brush your teeth in even. Well, this neighbor told me that if that's true Damn Mason City had a major water problem before this happened! She is right! 

Did I tell you I waded through the water yesterday (before the sewage really got bad in the laundry room) (now it's literally full of broken feces). I know, I know I am grossing you out but I want you to know the severity of our situation. I went down and brought up my iron.  Those of you who REALLY know me, I know can believe that one.

 

Also, after I sponge bathed (& I managed to wash my entire body in a plastic dishpan (there's not too much left of my body so that helps.  --See, being skinny IS advantageous, :)  I put on all my moisturizers and full makeup.  I didn't get to wash & fix my hair. Hey, I did this because I had to do SOMETHING, Dave will NOT let me back down in the basement.  He is home just for today.  My work will come when I sort out the multiple storage containers I have winter clothes in, extra sheets and blankets, etc.)  (In other words after the clean up.)

 

When I send my next update I may repeat some of this, (because I am  nervous right now) but I will be adding things to, so just read what's new and ignore what I already told you.

 

One neighbor who works for public health says we may not get water or be able to use even bottled water for a week.  It's sunny now, and not supposed to rain today, but more RAIN is coming again Wed, Thurs., and maybe Friday.

Love,

Merry

PS Worst case about getting evacuated like if we get more rain is that Kaycee couldn't stay with us at a shelter.  All the motels in nearby towns that are NOT effected by all this are full. I was on the phone this AM. If we are forced to leave, I will have my cell with me.  So,  if you can just pray we get to stay here and that the worst is over (we don't get MORE rain) that would mean the world to me.

Flood update (DAY 1)

How I First Discovered We Were Flooding

 

Dave was sleeping in the basement. (Our son from out of town and wife and grandson were in other upstairs bedrooms.  I was in our bedroom upstairs.)

 

  I had kicked Nice Dave out for snoring. He couldn't go to the spare bedrooms upstairs since Patti, Tim and Jack were in there. 

 

I went down to get Dave up to have coffee with me. I started to go in the bathroom downstairs, and one foot in there I step in water ankle deep!  What a rude situation to awaken to!  I don't think I will ever forget that moment!

I love you all.
Merry

I Am Charlie Brown

Everyone has a personality of a cartoon character. Have you ever asked yourself what cartoon character do you most resemble?

A group of investigators got together and analyzed the personalities of well known and modern cartoon characters. The information that was gathered was made into this test.

Answer all the questions (only 10) with what describes you best, add up all your Points (which are next to the answer that you choose) at the end and look for your results.

Do not cheat by looking at the end of the e-mail before you are done.

Then forward this to all your friends ( including the person who sent it to you ) OR leave me your journal address, then put this in your journal OR what the heck, EMAIL it to me personally if ya wnat, just answer!  Come on, it's cute!    And change the subject of this message to what character is you. 

1. Which one of the following describes the perfect date?
a) Candle light dinner (4 pts.)
b) Fun/Theme Park (2 pts.)
c) Painting in the park (5 pts)
d) Rock concert (1 pt.)
e) Going to the movies (3 pts.)

2. What is your favorite type of music?
a) Rock and Roll (2 pts.)
b) Alternative (1 pt.)
c) Soft Rock (4 pts.)
d) Country (5 pts )
e) Pop (3 pts.)

3. What type of movies do you prefer?
a) Comedy (2 pts.)
b) Horror (1 pt.)
c) Musical (3 pts.)
d) Romance (4 pts.)
e) Documentary (5 pts.)

4. Which one of these occupations would you choose if you only could choose one of these?
a) Waiter (4 pts.)
b) Professional Sports Player (5 pts.)
c) Teacher (3 pts.)
d) Police (2 pts.)
e) Cashier (1 pt)

5 What do you do with your spare time?
a) Exercise (5 pts.)
b) Read (4 pts.)
c) Watch television (2 pts.)
d) Listen to music (1 pt.)
e) Sleep (3 pts.)

6. Which one of the following colors do you like best?
a) Yellow (1 pt.)
b) White (5 pts.)
c) Sky Blue (3 pts)
d) Dark Blue(2 pts.)
e) Red (4 pts.)

7. What do you prefer to eat?
a) Snow (3 pts.)
b) Pizza (2 pts.)
c) Sushi (1 pt.)
d) Pasta (4 p ts.)
e) Salad (5 pts.)

8. What is your favorite holiday ?
a) Halloween(1 pt.)
b) Christmas(3 pts.)
c) New Year (2 pts.)
d) Valentine's Day(4 pts.)
e) Thanksgiving(5 pts.)

9. If you could go to one of these places which one would it be?
a) Paris (4 pts)
b) Spain (5 pts)
c) Las Vegas (1 pt)
d) Hawaii (4 pts)
e) Hollywood (3 pts)

10. With which of the following would you prefer to spend time with?
a) Someone Smart (5 pts.)
b) Someone attractive (2 pts.)
c) Someone who likes to Party (1 pt.)
d) Someone who always has fun (3 pts.)
e) Someone very sentimental (4 pts.)

Now add up your points and find out the answer you have been waiting for! Put your character in the subject line and forward to your friends and back to the person that sent this to you.

Very interesting to see 'who' your friends are!

(10-16 points) You are Garfield :
You are very comfortable, easy going, and you d efinitely know how to have fun but sometimes you take it to an extreme. You always know what you are doing and you are always in control of your life. Others may not see things as you do, but that doesn't mean that you always have to do what is right. Try to remember, your happy spirit may hurt y ou or others.

(17-23 points) You are Snoopy:
You are fun; you are very cool and popular. You always know what's in and you ' re never out of style , you are good at knowing how to satisfy everyone else. You have probably disappeared for a few days more than once but you always come home with the family values that you learned. Being married and having children are important to you, but only after you have had your share of fun times

(24-28 points) You are Elmo:
You have lots of friends and you are also popular, always willing to give advice and help out a person in need. You are very optimistic and you always see the bright side of things. Some good advice: try no t to be too much of a dreamer. Dreaming too big could cause many conflicts in your life.

(29-35 points) You are Sponge Bob Square Pants:
You are the classic person that everyone loves. You are the best friend that anyone could ever have and never wants to los e. You never cause harm to anyone and they would never not understand your feelings. Life is a journey, it' s funny and calm for the most part. Stay away from traitors and jealous people and you will be stress free.

(36-43 points) You are Charlie Brown:
You are tender, you fall in love quickly but you are also very serious about all relationships. You are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday. You have many friends and may occasionally forget a few Birthdays. Don't let your passion confuse you with reality.

(44-50 points ) You are Dexter:
You are smart and definitely a thinker... Every situation is fronted with a plan. You have a brilliant mind. You demonstrate very strong family p ri nciples. You maintain a stable routine but never ignore a bad situation when it comes. Try to do less over thinking every once in a while to spice things up a bit with spontaneity!
Now don't spoil it! Have some Fun!! Change the subject of the email to what you are and send it on.

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.  (Personally, not that I like mice, so I'm not sticking up for them--BUT, I like cheese better anyway!)

Hugs!

Merry

Come & Play!

Two names you go by: Merry, Toots (by my husband)

       Two things you are wearing right now:  A very "neat & nifty" pink T-shirt which has flowers on it & says "Iowa State" & NEW smaller sized (!!!) jeans!.  I don't normally wear theme or college attire, but even though my husband is a University of Iowa fan, I have to support Iowa State, because our son went there.        

Two Favorite things to do: Play on my computer, and go see our grandson (Gorgeous Jack)  AKA Jonathan David Kenyon, who will be 1 on May 18!

       Two things you want very badly at the moment: To continue to enjoy life with my wonderful husband (they don't make them like him anymore!) And, to continue to keep God and the Lutheran Church a top priority in my life.

       Two favorite pets you have had/have:  Glad this said two, because I have a long list of favorite pets who have made our lives very enriched!  I have to say my two favorite pets would be Jessi (my first Bichon) & Kaycee our current only dog ("The Wonder Maltese.")  I feel bad not mentioning TeddyBear, I Loved him too!  But he was more Dave's dog than mine. We just lost him in Dec, 2007.  Dave would probably say Teddy, & then either Kaycee, Jessi, Rocky (another Bichon) or Mike (our first pet, a Collie).

       Two people who will fill this out:   I have no idea, but it sure would be nice if TWO DID THAT!

       Two things you did last night:   Laundry & ironing, played on the computer.

       Two things you ate today:  I haven't eaten.  I don't eat breakfast.  I DO EAT, THO!!  SInce I am on a diet, I eat healthy, only 700 calories a day 2 meals and a bedtime yogurt, BUT I do make SURE I eat, vegetables, fruit, protein, and fiber EVERYDAY.  When I am NOT on a diet, I eat the same way, but I eat about 1400 calories, & eat out 2 or 3 times a week!

       Two people you last talked to:   My friend Renee in Vancouver, British Columbia; my husband David who was out of town, but as usual he called me last night to say he loved me...........................AWWWWWWW

 

     Two things you're doing tomorrow: Cleaning the bedrooms, and the living room.

       Longest trips taken:    In Distance or the time they took???  Mexico (3 times), Jamaica,.  Longest: WASHINGTON DC, (oris Florida further than Washington DC from Mason City, IA (no geographical wizard am I, LOL) ) & the ENTIRE WEST COAST

       Your favorite holidays:   Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sorry, I can't pick just 2!

       Two favorite beverages:  Diet Coke, caffeine free; Coffee (black only, please)

       Here's what you're supposed to do ... and please do not spoil the fun.  Either respond to me ONLINE by email OR  put your URL in my Journal comments section, in order that I may read YOUR answers! Thank You!  Then, you are welcome to pass it on to your friends if you choose to do so! (But you do not have to pass it on to anyone)

Love Always,

Merry

merry1621@aol.com

http://journals.aol.com/merry1621/Merrysthoughtshopesdreamsgoal/

Playing Val's game!

I found this over at my friend Valerie's journal (who found it at her sister Krissy's Journal.  I love these things so I will play along..  I thought the questions were a little different.  If you want to join in the meme fun please come back and leave your entry URL in my  (Merry's)comments section so I can read your answers!  Thanks! If not one person plays I am going to be very sad!!!

Your best friend tells you she is pregnant.  What do you do? 

(I can't answer this any better or differently, I agree completely with Val).I would definitely encourage her to keep the child and let her know that I was supporting her in any way I could.  I would help her find any resources she needed.

When is the last time you wanted to punch someone in their face?

Should I lie here or be honest?  I am going to honest. A friend of mine has done some hurtful things to me lately and I can't say that I didn't have this reaction. (Val talked me out of being angry, bless her heart.  (Thank you Val!)  But I'd never really do it, anyway because I don't fight physically.  Which is a good thing for many reasons, but it started because I was always the smallest kid.  I may have been small, but I never was DUMB. LOL

What is the last thing you spent money on?

Groceries (90% Lean Cuisine's, I swear.)
Do you think you gained or lost weight this past month?

Lost, and I almost have to as I count every calorie and stop eating before I hit 1000, usually before I hit 900, actually.

Crunchy or Puffy Cheetos?  

Neither.  I don't eat many carbs, and no snack foods like that even when I am not dieting.  (Except for maybe red licorice when I get a hankering and am NOT dieting.)

Congratulations! You just had a son. What's his name? 

Patrick Daniel  (We lost a baby boy with that name who was born too soon and didn't live. We also have one son, alive and healthy, Timothy Russel.) (And a gorgeous grandson "Jack" (Jonathan David)

And if it was a girl, she would be
My favorite girls name is not popular now, but then I am not of child bearing age anymore. But when I was a girl would have been:

Stephanie Jo (I am Merry Jo)

What are you craving right now?

Definitely Caffeine Free Diet Coke

What was the last thing you cried about?

Thinking about our dog TeddyBear who we had put down in December of '07.

When you buy something and your change is 2 cents, do you keep it or tell the cashier to keep it?
Seriously, I use to throw my pennies in the street.  But now I save them for a favorite friend.  (You know who you are! :)

What color is your tissue box?

In this room it is green Puffs Boutique.  I only have Puff's Boutique tissues in every room, the color depends on the decor of the room they are in.  I will go to another store if I can't find the right color. Same with paper towels. Paper plates.  I am fanatical about these silly things.  (Oh, I guess that's part of my old friend, obsessive compulsive disorder.)

Do you have a ceiling fan in your room, and if so, is there dust on that fan?

Yes. We have ceiling fans in every room in the house.  Dust? Are you kidding, not in my house.  Dave loves ceiling fans; I like them sometimes!  Except in my bedroom, in the summer the AC vent in that room blasts out too much, so I frequently turn that one off.  Actually, If I am running the AC & I am all summer long no matter what, I use all of the rest of them. Especially in the dining room. I get so hot sitting at my computer desk which is in this room.  (Even though the AC is Central).

Scariest thing you've experienced in the last year?

Going to the dentist.  I am very lucky that's all I worried about, oh and the dreaded mammogram every year I worry as my sister had breast cancer in her 30's & I have had a lumpectomy.  My mammogram last yearwas normal, thank God. I have to go again this month though.  I'll be scared silly again, too.

  Oh, one more thing, Dave's angiogram & subsequent knee surgery. That is one long surgery & I waited alone.  (Everything went fine, though!)

Have you ever had a garage sale?

Yes, I have.  Dave and I did one of the first of 20 some odd years we have lived here.  And like Val and Krissy said, "It was NOT worth it!".    We, too, did so much gathering, tagging, and sitting in the heat, to get very little money.  I spent the day in the house with the 4 dogs we had then (I can't believe we ever had that many, but we did long ago!) Dave sold worked the sale.  He sold everything too cheap.  He is a nice guy and people kept talking him down in prices.  He & I both said after that, NEVER AGAIN!  And we haven't ever done it again.
What color is your iPod?

I don't have one. But I DO want one.  If they come in pink that's what I'd pick.

What is the last alcoholic beverage you had?

It's been so long I don't remember either but I too, think that it was wine at a dinner out.  I don't drink usually & we never have liquor in our house.  We really don't WANT anyone drinking here.  (Sorry if that sounds rude.) . 
Are you happy right now?  

I have moments of happiness, but I am mostly content, thank you.

Who came over last? 

Our next door neighbor's granson Zeke (He lives with his Grandma.)  He is 19 & the nicest young man!

Do you drink beer?

NOOOOOOO, I can't even take the smell of that stuff! And as I said, I don't drink.

Have your brothers or sisters ever told you that you were adopted? 

Yeah, I think my sister told me that as a kid. She wasn't always very nice to me.  It wasn't true. But had it been true, I wouldn't have changed parents for anything, I had the best EVER!

What is your favorite key on your key chain?

My car key.  It allows me to drive my car.  Second fave would be my house key.  Cuz, once I get in here I can still lock the house with deadbolts with no key, which we usually do, but I ALWAYS do when Dave is out of town.  I feel very safe in my house.

What was the last movie you watched at home?

I can't recall the name of it. Some silly Lifetime movie this afternoon. It was supposed to be silly, but it was, because it wasn't very realistic.

What is in your pocket?

Absolutely nothing. My money and checkbook and etc. are in my purse. My purse is always on the right side (on the floor) next to my computer desk.  (Sometimes I pay my few bills here.  Dave pays all the household ones.  But I do have a couple charge cards which I pay out of that household & personal money Dave gives me for groceries, meds, clothes, and should I go on?)  I don't have a very tough life.  I am very lucky!  (Dave bails me out with my credit cards about every 18 months-pays them off.  No little matter, usually either, I am sorry to admit.

Where do you hurt?

 ~sigh~  My neck hurts most of the time.   As does my back, but my neck is the worst.  It's been really painful lately.

Has someone ever made you a Build-A-Bear? 

No, I don't know what they are! But I wish I did & that I had one!!

What's something fun you did today?

I have been on this computer.  We also went to the dairy queen. I wanted one. But after I got it, and took 3 bites, I threw it away.  I am on a diet. I couldn't eat those calories!  Dave ate his.  It's okay as it stopped my craving for it then.
What is your favorite aisle at Wal-Mart?

Like Val said, to tell you the truth, I don't like Wal-Mart.  I try not to go there anymore.  I have read a lot about them, and well, I try to support smaller, local businesses.  But to answer the question, I would the picture frame area, then the underpants area (I refuse to buy expensive underpants. Hanes is just fine for me), But I buy my outer clothes at the mal or at a private shop.
When is your birthday? 

November 8th

Is there anything hanging from your rear view mirror? 

Yes, a Hawaiin fake flower thing, shortened, I love the colors in it.  It's actually an air freshner.



What kind of milk do you drink? 

1% in cereal when I rarely have it. I'd have skim, but Dave likes 1%.   I am not a milk person even when I am not dieting.  I do eat a light 0 fat Yogurt everyday.  60-100 calories, depending on the brand I buy.  I need the calcium.  When I am not dieting I still have one, but then I have one that is like 190 calories. (YOPLAIT, then, always.)

What is something you need to go shopping for? 

Believe it or not, clothes. I have 3 closets full and many big plastic storage containers full of them in the basement.  None of them fit now.  I have some, that I am not back into yet down in the basement, and many down there that are too big, too.  And, up in my closets all my clothes are too big.  (She types with a big smile on her face.)