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