National-Brand vs Generic (medications)

The argument has gone on for years about the cost benefits of generic or store-brand medications versus national-brand medications. The two main arguments are: "Why pay more money for a name when the generic has the same ingredients?" and "National-brand medications have higher-quality ingredients whereas generic brands don't have to live up to the same standard."

I'm one of those people that will buy generic unless I find that a national brand is better. I recently discovered that Afrin versus Equate (Wal-Mart's store brand) nasal sprays are now another example of that exception. Afrin costs three times as much Equate, but Equate's version has more side effects (burning, sneezing, bleeding, nasal soreness). The last bottle of Equate nasal spray wrecked havoc on my already-sensitive nose. Yes, I know; I shouldn't be using them long-term to begin with. However, it is one of those necessary evils those of us with sleep apnea have to deal with.

I've had similar experiences with generic aspirin when I was a teenager. I couldn't understand why I got no relief from my menstrual cramps, even when I took four aspirin (this was before ibuprofen was available). I kept suffering until I read that many generic aspirin tablets weren't dissolving like they should. Needless to say, I was angry. Generic or not, I expected the medication to work.

Sometimes, the protective coating on most tablets and caplets prevent it from dissolving or working as quickly. One thing I have discovered in the last few years that helps pills dissolve better is for them to be cut in half or in quarters. Pill cutters are great for this, and it is worth having a couple on hand. For example, my dad has arthritis in his back really bad. He stopped taking his Propoxy (generic for Darvocet) because it wasn't working; even two pills weren't giving him any relief. I suggested to him to break the pill into two pieces. Dad thought I was crazy, but he was desperate and was willing to give my suggestion a try. He cut two Propoxy tablets into 4 pieces. Forty-five minutes later, he came into the room where I was working on the computer and thanked me for the advice. I could tell by the look on his face his back was feeling MUCH better.

My HMO requires a higher copayment for national-brand prescriptions. No problem; I can understand that. However, there may be times that the generic version just doesn't do as well. For example, because of my generalized anxiety disorder, I take Paxil Cr 25mg once a day. It works great! A few months ago, the manufacturer had to temporarily halt the production of Paxil Cr, so my doctor switched me to regular Paxil 20mg once a day. I was given Paroxatene, the generic version of Paxil at the pharmacy. No, it didn't work as well. As soon as Paxil Cr was back on the shelves, I called my doctor and begged him to me put back on it. Yes, there was that much of a difference.

Each person is different and metabolizes medications differently. If you think or suspect your medication is not working like it should, talk to your doctor about cutting the pills in half or switching to another brand. You can also go to Drugstore.com's drug checker and see if any of your medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, or food may be adversely interacting with each other. For example, did you know that if you take birth control pills, you should avoid St. John's Wort? Did you know those who are on a daily aspirin regimen might need to avoid Evening Primrose Oil? Did you know that Darvocet may not be as effective for people who smoke? I found out that I cannot take cough syrup with dextromethoraphan because it has a major adverse interaction with Paxil Cr. Be sure to print out the results and take it to your next doctor's visit. You can never have too much information when it comes to your health.

Bandwidth Theft

You would think people would quit being so stupid as to post a picture on their site, but hotlink it from someone else's site.

As I was surfing the net tonight, I was a witness to a site blatantly doing that. I was also made aware that the webmistress of the offending site also stole content (nearly word-for-word) from a similar web site. What bothers me is that the offending site was recently nominated for an award. You know, that is pathetic.

Now, I would LOVE to post the web address and expose the webmistress for the contemptible thief she is. However, I am a firm believer that what goes around comes around. It also helps to send an e-mail to the webmistress of the site her bandwidth is being stolen from, giving her all the web addresses for her to go check for herself. It will be her decision as to whether to pursue further action or not. After all, I'm just following what the Good Book says, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In other words, I would want someone to tell me if my bandwidth was being stolen by another webmaster. It's theft, and it's wrong. You can't hide it because your HTML codes will give you away, so why do it?

Am I being a tattletale? You call it what you want. I'm reporting a crime and letting the victim decide whether to take action.

Damn Lucky

Once again, my hometown has been spared from the ravages of a tropical storm/hurricane. This time, her name was Tammy. At this point, I don't know whether to consider it an act of kindness from God or worry that the worst is yet to come.

Our society has become so modernized, the absence of electrical power can paralyze a community. Just the absence of running water can render useless the simple things we take for granted. Take one or both of these things away, and the impact felt is immediate. You could have all the money in the world, and it will not help you one iota while you're in an area devoid of these two things unless you can leave to get what you don't have. Hope you have enough fuel in your vehicle; without electricity, you can't fill your gas tank at a gas station. Am I getting your attention now?

I've seen enough damage from past storms and hurricanes to have respect for them when they threaten our area. It perturbs me to hear people refer to these tropical sytems as "a little hurricane," or "a little storm." Tell that to someone who lost his home or loved-one to a flood from the excess rain brought by the storm. Tell that to someone who lost his home or loved-one to a tornado spun off from one of these tropical systems. Hey, I love watching a good thunderstorm, but even I know to do it from the safety of shelter.

I remember when then New York City mayor Ed Koch made the remark, "We scared the hell out of that hurricane!" back in October 1985. I don't remember the name of that hurricane. At 20 years of age, I was familiar with seeing the results of past storms because of where I lived and what I've seen on television. Instead of making smarta$$ remarks like that, he'd should have counted his blessings and thanked God that it didn't hit the New York/New Jersey area.

As foolish as Ed Koch's remark was, I'll still take him over New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. If the people of New Orleans reelect him as their mayor, then they deserve him. He needs to quit grandstanding and get stuff done. Is he doing anything at all?

Some questions have remained unanswered in my mind:

1) Incarcerated inmates were released rather than transferred to other jails/prisons. Why weren't they put to work preparing the city for evacuation, then later help with the clean up?

2) Why were all those school buses still sitting in the parking lots before Katrina hit? I can't seem to get a straight answer from the press.

3) Why has the media been focusing on New Orleans and not report more on the devastation east and north of that city?

I hope all the elected officials everywhere take notes on what NOT to do the next time any-sized tropical system threatens our coastlines. In my observation of the incompetence shown by the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Louisiana, it takes the feeling of helplessness to a new level and makes the arrival of future tropical systems even more frightening.

In the meantime, I'm counting my blessings and thanking God for sparing us from yet another storm.

OK Cupid Politics Test

These were my results:

You are a Social Moderate (55% permissive) and an... Economic Moderate (55% permissive) You are best described as a: Centrist Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

OUCH! Gas prices!

I spent $60.00 this morning filling up my gas tank. I've never had to spend that much on gasoline before. It's a good thing my truck will be completely paid for next month. At the rate things are going, what went for truck payments will soon go for filling the gas tank.

One of those situations in which I wish I worked closer home. At least my bosses were nice enough to let me go to a four-day ten-hour work schedule. I had been asking about changing my work schedule for almost six months but really pressed for it when gas prices shot up after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi. Of course, now since Hurricane Rita hit Texas and Louisiana, the new schedule is temporarily mandatory to help save the department money. I feel for those who didn't want to go to a 10-hour work day for four days a week. It could be a rough adjustment, depending upon your job and after-work schedule.

I still strongly believe price gouging is going on in Georgia. I only hope that it will be investigated and those responsible get fined and sanctioned.

Intellivision Lives!!

Anyone will tell you I'm a lady of the 80's.

When I received my very first paycheck from working at Pic N Save back in 1983, the first thing I bought was an Intellivision console. By the time my console gave up the ghost in 1998, I had acquired: Poker and Blackjack, Horse Racing, BurgerTime, Triple Action, Checkers, Chess, and Night Stalker. Of course, some of the cartridges stopped working (this is what I get for allowing friends to borrow them) before my console's demise. I figured I would never be able to play the Intellivision versions of those games again.

Guess what?

I was surfing the net one evening and found an official web site for Intellivision games, including its history, information about the programmers, and other trivia. Imagine my delight when I found out that I can buy the CD that included all the games I used to own (with the exception of BurgerTime). The CD arrived last night.



The first game I played was Horse Racing. Up to six people can play this game. Each player gets to choose from eight colored horses (pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, white, and violet) in ten races with three different tracks (dry, turf, and muddy).


Of course, I had to play Poker and Blackjack, too. I still chuckle every time the dealer frowns.

Ahhh ... trips down memory lane.

Patience Has Its Rewards

Four years after Xena-Warrior Princess, one of my favorite shows of all time, went off the air ...

Four years of kicking myself for not recording the episodes to keep and watch later ...



... I finally managed to aquire the entire series on DVD ...

... for less than $200.00

Now, if they'll put Alien Nation the series and the movies made after the series into a boxed set ...

Tiffany and the Skunk

Okay, I finally am getting around to telling this true story of what happened to my sister's dog a few years ago. My sister could tell this story better; it was an unpleasant experience, but she tells it in such a way as to make you want to howl with laughter.

My sister Pamela had a border collie named Tiffany that she had let out the front yard one night to "take care of business." It was 30 degrees below zero, but that didn't phase Tiffany.

Pamela was waiting at the doorway when she heard a muffled yet abrupt sound, like a cross between a whine and a low howl. She took a few steps out to investigate when she noticed "the smell." All that ran through her mind was, "Oh no ... no! no! no! ..." By then, Tiffany had trotted back to her, looking for comfort and relief from her obvious attack. Pamela's dread was a reality: Tiffany got skunked.

The smell was so bad that she briefly considered hosing Tiffany off outside, even though it was 30 below. Pamela's compassion overrode her desperation to minimize the overpowering skunk odor. However, she had to run her heater at full blast for the next few days as all the windows in the house were open to keep the odor to a minimum. Tiffany received numerous tomato-juice baths over the next few days.

Pamela never told me how much higher her fuel bill was that month.

To learn more about Tiffany, click here.

What's All The Fuss?

I had received an e-mail entitled "What's All The Fuss?" that I had agreed with 100 percent and posted it here on my site back on August 11, 2005, thinking it had been written by Pamela Foster of Atlanta, Georgia. I have since then found out the real author of the essay was Doug Patten and where it was originally published.

I have removed the article in order to avoid infringing on any copyrights. However, you can click on the link below to read the article in its entirety:

http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/dpatton/2005/dp_0606p.shtml

I appreciate the people at Snopes.com for their continuing hard work debunking urban legends and doing the research to clarify the origins of various e-mail submissions. Click on the link below to read their findings about the above-listed article.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/foster.asp

Crab Shred Salad

This is the perfect salad for someone who doesn't like lettuce or salads in general. I added equal parts of shredded lettuce and broccoli slaw (consisting of shredded broccoli, carrots, and red cabbage), shredded monterrey jack cheese, and imitation crab meat cut into small strips. I eat about a two cups of this mixture with zesty Italian salad dressing (with extra vinegar) and a diet soda like Diet Dr. Pepper or Fresca. Not only is it a satisfying lunch, my blood sugar comes down considerably afterward.



I don't know how to shred lettuce, so I buy a bag of Fresh Express "Shreds!" shredded iceberg lettuce. The broccoli slaw is also in a similarly-sized bag. You can find them both in the bagged lettuce section of the produce aisle. I prefer to use either Monterrey Jack or a very mild cheddar cheese for these salads. I've used canned tuna, pepperoni sliced and cut into strips, or leftover chicken at different times.

Strakalogue 7/19/2005

When you have a chance, read this week's Strakalogue by Mike Straka of FoxNews.com. Reading his Grrr! column is delightfully satisfying. He hit the nail especially hard this week describing Britney Spear's husband Kevin Federline. I had to look up the word he used, but when I read the description, I was rolling on the floor laughing. Read his column, and you'll see what I mean. Watch his videos "The Real Deal" while you're at it. Straka is not only intelligent, but a damn good-looking guy ... trust me! (insert evil grin here)

Blogger's Start Page

I like the changes that Blogger has made to their start page, like a continually scrolling list of "blogs updated" and the "blogs of note" being easier to see. However, I have yet to see "The Mundling Zone" show up on the list of "blogs updated" yet. Hmmmm ... no big deal really; I'm just curious.

Volunteeers Create Website for Local Humane Society

by Amy Roundtree
Waycross, Georgia

Everyone knows where the Okefenokee Humane Society is, but people don’t usually go there unless they’re getting rid of an unwanted litter of kittens or puppies.

Now, locals don’t even have to make the trip out Blackwell Street to see the animals that are available for adoption.

A new web site, www.okefenokeehumanesociety.org, was created by a group of local volunteers who, coincidentally, got together on another website, an Internet message board named “The Green Screen.”

The Humane Society web site is only one of many community service projects the “Greenies” have completed, which doesn’t surprise the man behind the local news and opinion site at www.wareopednews.com.

“The traffic at Ware Op-Ed & News has steadily grown each year since we launched on Aug. 20, 2001. The Green Screen is probably the most popular page. A lot of heated discussion breaks out there sometimes; a lot of trivial stuff, too. But there’s a surprising degree of camaraderie among posters also even though, in many cases, they have no idea of who each other is. Consequently, it’s not uncommon now for every body to come together to support a charitable cause. You never know what’s going to set it off,” said David B. Shields, owner and administrator of Ware Op-Ed & News. “We’ve pitched in to pay vet bills for a stray dog, found homes for animals, helped a few individuals down on their luck and the like. Now we’ve come together to help out the local Humane Society. This is the kind of thing I like best about our web site.”

Greenies have also given money to support the Okefenokee Humane Society, having chosen the shelter as the recipient of funds raised for a fish fry dinner.

While several board participants helped with the project and raised money, two “Greenie Gals” in particular, Lori Sands and Michelle Mundling, worked on the website.

Sands took photos of animals available for adoption and also organized the fish fry dinner, and Mundling designed the website. They both spearheaded the project out of love.

“My dad instilled a love for animals in me at a very early age,” said Sands. “It didn’t matter what kind of animal it was or how sick it was, my daddy would take it and make it better. We would set wild animals free back into the woods when they were healthy and we would find homes for abandoned dogs or cats.”

She said that her love for “pound puppies” also developed after she and her husband picked out their first dog at the animal shelter.

“I can’t hardly stand looking at all those perfectly healthy friendly animals whose only crime is not having a home that wants them,” said Sands. “I’m getting involved for the purpose of helping them find homes that are perfect for them and for their new owners. There is a perfect dog or cat out there for anyone who is willing to open their heart to a pet. I hope a few hours and clicks from a camera will change the lives of these pets and their owners.”
Photos taken by Sands are featured on the website, and also are displayed in the Wal-Mart pet department.

Mundling also said love was her inspiration for designing the website.

“Being an animal lover, the Humane Society is an organization near and dear to my heart,” said Mundling, who is an employee of the Department of Corrections and who owns and operates a web site named “The Mundling Zone” in her spare time. “It takes more than money to find homes for the abandoned and unwanted animals that are brought to them on a daily basis. I like working in web design, and they needed a web site, so I volunteered. It’s deeply satisfying to know that I’m helping those who can’t speak for themselves.”

Humane Society Director Kaye Thompson said she’s already seen a good response from the new website, and she was exceptionally thankful for the additional publicity.

“Sometimes people don’t want to come out here to volunteer or see what they can do to help because they think they’ll want to take an animal home, or they think it’s too sad,” Thompson, who has been in charge at the shelter since its inception nearly 20 years ago. “For so long I felt that nobody was helping and I wondered if anybody cared. Turns out there were a lot of people who care, they just didn’t know what to do. Really any help we get is appreciated.”

Thompson said that four animals have been adopted since the website went up in mid-June, and she’s gotten several phone inquiries as well.

“We have to euthanize so many animals because there are so many that come in here every day of the week,” she said. “If it keeps one animal from getting euthanized, I believe it’s a success. I just want to have a better life for these sweet little animals.”

Reprinted from the Thursday, June 30, 2005 edition of the Waycross Journal-Herald. The Journal-Herald edited out the text in red above before printing it.

Note from Michelle: Amy Roundtree is a fellow greenie and is married to Eric Roundtree, president of Prinux LLC and Prinux Design. Mr. Roundtree is the same one who repaired my computer and has generously donated the domain name and web space for the Humane Society web site. One thing Mr. Shields left out of his statement is that we greenies have collected money to buy gifts for nursing home residents for Christmas.

Proof of Forgiveness

Remember the entry about Munchkin biting my sister's finger last December. I have proof that all was forgiven.




... until Munchkin nipped at my sister's toes last week for standing too close to her dog food :-P

Communicating with Critters

My sister Pamela is back in town! I'm so excited! She says she's going to be here for a couple of weeks. It's going to be the quickest two weeks of my life.

She brought Maizy again, but I don't know how she'll interact with Munchkin. Munchkin is so jealous that she runs Maizy off. We always know when Maizy enters the room because Munchkin starts wimpering. That's right, I said wimpering. She'll wimper before she does the 100-yard dash chasing Maizy back into the red room. For someone with an arthritic hip, Munchkin can still take off from a dead stop.

Maizy has learned the fine art of hiding under the bed in the red room, especially when it comes to avoiding Munchkin or the kitty carrier. Last time, it required removing the mattress and box springs to get to the cat. Yes, we tried food; it didn't work. Somehow, most animals know when they're being tricked and won't go for the food bait.

This was proven again when I tried to get Munchkin in the bathroom for a bath one morning by tempting her with a slice of bolonga; She didn't fall for it. That meant only one thing: chasing and picking up a 60 lb dog who doesn't want to be picked up. The only thing worse than that is trying to trim her toenails. We have to muzzle her; she's feral to the point of foaming at the mouth when Dad and I try to trim her nails. We've just about decided to let the vet deal with her ... they sedate her before doing her nails!

It's going to be fun, although I'm not sure how the critters will cope.

Cool Aprons

I bought a couple of aprons for about $9.95 each. One had a pre-printed graphic and the other was a custom job.





They've been the least-expensive aprons I've found on the web so far. If you want to check out the web site, go to http://www.coolaprons.com.

Poetry Moved/Love of Writing

I decided to take advantage of Blogger's template for ease of publishing my poetry.

Someone asked me if I was going to stop creating web graphics since I seem to be using Blogger for more things. The answer is no. It's just that Blogger has made it easy for me to write my thoughts then upload it to my site with just a click of the mouse. Using the older method, that meant finding the right photo/picture graphics, deciding what color to use, which PSP mask to use, creating the textured background, yada yada yada ... you get the point. I love creating web graphics, but I've gotten to the point that the more I've learned, the pickier I became. Besides, who's to say it how antiquated it may look in a few years? I mean, after all, look how far web design overall has come in just five years? I don't even know how to do shockwave flash yet.

My first loves have always been writing and photography. My interest in computers (both programming and operation) grabbed me in high school, although reality bit me in the butt a couple of years later about what was involved with computer programming. Now at age 40, I'm able to combine my love for writing, photography, and computer operation. The icing on the cake is that computers can be used for so much more than just photos and writing essays: entertainment, communication, problem-solving, reasearch, artistic expression, etc. To say I love my computer would be an understatement.

My poetry is not earth-shaking by any means, but they all mean something to me. If they can comfort, inspire, or otherwise help another person in a positive way, the high I get from that is just indescribable. Of couse, I know I can't please everyone and not everyone is going to like my work, and that's fine. But my poems are uniquely mine and are a true expression of me and my feelings.

Have I thought about writing stories. Yes, all the time. I get story ideas, but they'd be short stories. Usually they hit me after a weird dream or while I'm in my truck on the way to or from work. In either case, by the time I get to a keyboard, my inspiration fades back into obscurity. I did try to write a novel back in 1991 -1993 and got about 3 chapters written. However, I wrote myself into a corner and never could resolve the sub-plot to make it fit the story and be believeable. I finally decided it was a lousy story after the word processor tore up and the specialized data disks wouldn't work in another machine.

Do I have dreams of becoming a "published" author? Not really. To me, blogging is not really so much "publishing" as a means to express thoughtful opinions. I've had people approach me and tell me I should have my poetry published to make money. Maybe later, but not now. I'm not ready for the obligations that come with that. Maybe when I retire from my job and can devote more time.

Spamcop Account Closed

I know it's been over a month since my last entry, but I've been having to deal with issues at work and at home. I will have more to add by this weekend, but for now, this will have to suffice.

I do want to make an official announcement that I have closed my Spamcop e-mail address. GoDaddy allows me up to 500 e-mail addresses, and it has a spam filter and anti-virus scanner. It doesn't make sense to pay $30 a year for an e-mail account. I do believe in what Spamcop is doing, and I wish the company continued success.

Terri's Thirst by Dr. John Shea

TORONTO, April 5, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The following poem on the death of Terri Schiavo was submitted to LifeSiteNews.com by Dr. John Shea

Terri's Thirst

For those who were not by her side
For those who were not there
How was it then that Terri died?
She died of 'comfort care'
She found no aid
No remedy
In her resort
To any court
A world which kills
Within the womb
Will waft the weakest
To the tomb
A court that contradicts God's word
Becomes at once the tyrant's sword
And all who live
But for the hour
Have put themselves
In Satan's power
The first who would not serve
Terri was among the throng
Whose death is masked
And hurried on
Of those who cannot
Earn their keep
From loved ones torn
And from true caring shorn
Abandoned to their final sleep
Can no one hear that distant bell
Now warning us
That all's not well
That just as in Augustine's day
When Rome was falling in decay
We too
Consumed with self and pride
Have come to terms
With homicide?

Fake Friends

I loathe people like this.

These are the kind of people who treat you one way when they're alone with you, but treat you differently when other people are around. They make fun of you behind your back, make fun of you when others are present, then act like a very good friend when you're the only one around. If they're in a position superior to you, whether as a family member, boss, landlord, God forbid if you openly disagree with an opinion of theirs, or if you say or do anything to make them believe you are making them look bad!!!

People like that are not trustworthy.

I've known several people like that in my lifetime. I've just realized this weekend that I'm having to deal with yet another one. I'm going to call this person Danielle. What's bad is that I trusted Danielle to be honest with me. I trusted her to be fair, open-minded, and respectful of my feelings and opinions like I have of her opinions and feelings, even if I disagreed with them. You know, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Danielle professes to be a Christian -- regularly attending church, paying her tithes, studying the bible -- but is a little too quick to lecture people. I'd like to tell Danielle to shut her mouth until she removes the splinters in her eyes and apologize to those who she has hurt, starting with me. I'm not holding my breath, though. She isn't the kind of person to apologize. I have been loyal to Danielle for years and have not betrayed her. Can she say the same about herself? After her behavior toward me for the last five months, the answer to that question is a blatant "no."

I kept giving her the benefit of the doubt, despite what some other people have told me about her: people that went to school with her, people who have befriended her in the past, people who used to work with her at one time or another. The thing that really gets me is when she thinks no one can give her any attitude, but she's quick to give attitude to anyone else who disturbs her version of right and wrong. I keep asking myself what in the world have I done to end up on her sh!t list.

Despite everything, I need to pray for myself to remain above the pettiness of her behavior. I need to pray for Danielle to see the error of her ways and change them before she angers the wrong person and has to deal with the ugly backlash of retaliation.

Meanwhile, I'm keeping my distance from Danielle.

Poem: Visible Christian

This poem has been moved to http://www.mundlingzone.org/2005/03/visible-christian.html

Hands Off My Lock!

I know this is petty, but I've got to share this.

I go to the YMCA three to four times a week to use the weights and for water aerobics. I put my belongings into a locker and use a combination lock to keep my stuff from getting stolen and/or plundered through.

I set it to a particular number when I leave the locker room. When I come back, it is never, I mean NEVER, where I set it when I get back. It's not just a couple of digits ... I mean it's overtly obvious someone has been messing with it. What is it about the lock that someone just has to play with it or try to figure out the combination? Geez!!

I learn more about human nature every day. :-(

Soup using Zatarain's Black Beans and Rice

I finally got a picture of a bowl of soup using Zatarain's Black Beans and Rice mix.



This is what I do to create the soup that my family thoroughly enjoys:

1 box Zatarain's Black Beans and Rice
1 family-sized can Campbell's Tomato Soup
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1 1/2 cups to 2 cups meat of choice*
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp minced onion

Add all ingredients to 3 quart pot. Take empty tomato soup can and add two more cans of water to pot. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Turn burner to medium and allow mixture to bubble, stirring occasionally. Turn burner to low and let simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Makes 6-8 servings.

*I've used ground beef, ground pork sausage, diced smoked sausage and stew meat. They all have worked well with this recipe.

Killed Another CD Burner

Another CD-RW drive bit the dust. It's only been my third burner since I bought my computer back in November 2001. I didn't like being without my computer, so I was hesitant to take my computer to a shop. I probably could have replaced it myself, but I honestly don't have the time nor the energy to do it right now at this point in my life.

Luckily, many posters of the Green Screen have used the services and knowledge of Eric Roundtree to work on their computers, and they have had nothing but glowing remarks about his work. He offered to help, so I decided to take him up on it. Not only did he do the job in less than two hours, he also increased my computer's memory from 384 MB to 512 MB. The icing on the cake is that he charged less for the burner, memory, and labor than Radio Shack charged to replace the burner on the same computer back in April 2003.

Eric runs Prinux LLC. Anyone who lives in the Waycross area should look him up as he did great work on my computer and charged less than other places I've patronized.

Thank you, Eric.

Oriental Noodles with Swedish Meatballs

Not a bad combination if I do say so myself. I used Lipton Asian Sides Teriyaki Noodles, frozen Swedish meatballs, garlic powder, and minced onions (all can be bought at Wal-Mart).



Now, the Lipton Asian Sides were not originally created to be soup noodles, so the extra seasoning and a little corn starch was needed to make the "soup" have more flavor. It wasn't a bad dish made "on the fly." I did neglect to add enough salt, so that's something I'll have to remember to use next time. As a side dish, I do like these Asian Sides Teriyaki noodles as they go well with beef, chicken, and pork.

My Zatarains black bean and rice soup still kicks butt and has become a family favorite. It always hits the spot, I'll post the recipe as soon as I can get a picture of the finished result.

Perhaps I need to explain why I'm using side dish mixes as soup mixes. When you live with elderly people, soups are much easier to digest. I'm not really a soup person, so I've been playing in the kitchen trying to create meals that are soupy enough for them but still chunky and flavorful enough for me. Tonight's soup was definitely on the bland side, but at least they enjoyed their meal. Thank God for tabasco :-P

Oh no! 4-0 !!!!

Yep. Yesterday was my birthday. I hit the big 4-0. Feel like it, too. But at least I got this awesome cake, combining two of my favorite things: pink roses and chocolate.



I also got some pretty flowers. I'm not normally a daisy person, but even these caught my eye. I guess they got colored the same way carnations are colored.







I'm always thrilled at receiving flowers on my birthday.

Thank You, Hollywood

This is one of two billboards bought by citizensunited.org, who plan to have one prominantly displayed at the Kodak Theater on the night of the Oscars.

Gonna be interesting to see how this is handled by the Hollywood celebrities on Oscar night. Of course, denial is a powerful drug, so they probably won't even acknowledge it.

Now, whether you're a liberal or a conservative, you have to admit the message on the billboards make you think. I will not elaborate further.

Ward Churchill is Wrong

By now, everyone has heard about the controversy concerning the remarks made by Colorado professor Ward Churchill. Many people are calling for the man to be terminated from his job. Churchill's credentials are now in question. Churchill, for the most part, seems recalitrant about his remarks and opinions. According to Bill O'Reilly's Talking Points Memo tonight, over 1,000 people attended Churchill's speech Tuesday night, many of them supported him. I don't know whether they were in support of his remarks or his defiance to "the establishment."

My opinion on the matter is that he is dead wrong about the victims of 9/11. No one, and I mean NO ONE deserved be attacked, much less killed, by the Al-Queda terrorists. NO ONE in our country was responsible for initiating those attacks. To refer to any person alive or dead who was affected by the attacks as "Nazis," "little Eichmanns," or other World War II terminology that refers to the evilness of that time is irresponsible, reprehensible, dishonest, and disrespectful. In my opinion, his remarks continue to be a slap in the face of those who lost loved ones in the attacks. As I listened to Bill O'Reilly tonight, I got the distinct impression that Churchill seems to be one of those aging Baby Boomers with radical views left over from the Vietnam conflict. Being as the case may be, I denounce Ward Churchill's comments about the victims of 9/11 and the comments about Americans deserving to be attacked and killed.

So what happens now?

I have mixed feelings about having Churchill terminated. This isn't a question of revenge, but a question of what's right. Yes, it would make a lot of us (including me) feel good to see this guy lose his job for his offensive opinions. However, has he broken any rules or laws? Just because this guy has an unpopular opinion, should he be penalized for it by terminating him from a job that he seems to otherwise be performing satisfactorily? Of course, the situation changes if he's using his opinion to penalize his students who don't agree with him; then he'd be crossing the line. By the way, Churchill is also incorrect to state that he doesn't work for the state of Colorado. If he is employed by the University of Colorado, that means taxpayer funds are used to pay his salary. That means Ward Churchill works for the state government of Colorado. That is not an opinion; that is a fact.

I also have reservations about the scrutiny Churchill is being put through to "find something on him" that could give justification to his potential job termination. Does having an unpopular opinion or making unpopular remarks justify a witch hunt? Even though some say it would be justified, my concern is that it would set a precedent for future incidents that were not nearly as controversial. Clear boundaries should not be blurred by those who push the limits or are swayed by mob rule.

In this country, we have the right to freedom of speech without fear of retribution from the government. However, with this freedom comes responsibility and the understanding that we have to take the bad with the good. That means allowing Churchill to express his opinions, even it if means angering and/or offending a large majority of people. It was stated by some in the media that Colorado tax money should not fund his controversial views, but that is a decision only the citizens and government of Colorado can make. In any case, Churchill's opinions are protected by the first amendment.

However, we also have the freedom and right to express our opinions about his opinions; have they ever! Many in the media have denounced Churchill's remarks about the victims of 9/11. It is a topic hotly debated on every news program, Internet web log, and print media. There are other ways to express views on the matter. Parents and students could express this dissatisfaction by transferring to or choosing another college in light of Ward Churchill remaining at University of Colorado. Alumni and sponsors of the University of Colorado could refuse to donate any more money so long as Churchill remained on the payroll.

What do I think should be done to Ward Churchill? Well, I keep thinking what my dad said about similar situations. He said, "If you openly say anything that aids or abets the enemy against this country, then you are guilty of treason." This is coming from a man who served 32 years honorably in the United States Navy. Sometimes, it's hard to see that fine line between making an honest criticism about the perceived faults of this country and making remarks that do nothing but demoralize the citizens and/or those in the military. However, the line is still there and should never be crossed. If Churchill's remarks are how he feels about the United States, then he should leave and establish a citizenship elsewhere. That is what I think Ward Churchill should do.

Only time will tell just how strongly they feel on the matter as actions speak louder than words. Right now, talk is cheap and plentiful. The proof will be in what actions are taken by anyone affected by Churchill's opinions.

Special Feature on FBOFW.com

Soul Sister's daughter is featured on the Official Web Site of Lynn Johnston's comic strip For Better or For Worse. Check it out!!!

Ingrown Toe Nails (Ouch!)

You know it's time to see a professional when an ingrown toe nail interferes with water aerobics.

I had been managing to remove the ingrown part for years, but it got to the point that it was coming back faster and faster. It became too sensitive to the touch, and being in the pool for longer than 20 minutes made it even more sensitive. This was truly a time when the phrase "no pain, no gain" would be painfully proved wrong.

Yesterday morning, I overslept and arrived late to the podiatrist's office. The staff was really understanding and kept me at ease. As scared as I was of taking a needle in my toe (I hate needles), much less having it cut on, I was determined to have it done.

The nurse was sly all right. She sneaked the syringe by hiding it in her pocket. I needed to call my friend I work with at my job to check and see if some paperwork had been submitted to our office. She asked me where I was at, and I told her I was in the doctor's office getting ready to have my toe stuck with the anesthetic. By then, the nurse had sprayed something called "skin freeze" to deaden the sensation where she would be injecting the needle. After I got off the phone, she told me she was trying to keep from laughing because when I made my remark, she had already stuck me with the needle. All I can say is, "Damn, she's good."

The procedure was much quicker than I anticipated ... and painless, too. Oh, I do love painless! They wrapped my toe in gauze and then used this stretchy sticky outer wrap. I saw they were using red, so I jokingly asked her if the color was to hide the blood. She chuckled then responded that they had several colors and didn't think to ask because I was wearing a red outfit that morning.

By the time it was okay for me to get down from the reclining chair, my big toe, second toe, some of the middle toe, and an inch of flesh below the toe bases were numb. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I didn't anticipate the difficulty I had driving home. You see, it was my driving foot that was operated on. Although there was no pain operating the pedals in my truck, I had absolutely no sensation when I touched the accelerator and brake pedals. I had no idea how hard or how little I was pressing on the pedals. The podiatrist's office was less than five miles from my house, and it was an adventurous trip to say the least. I ran a stop sign, nearly rear-ended two different vehicles, and scraped the chain link fence that separates the front yard from the back yard. I had planned to go to work after the procedure but changed my mind when I got home. My job is 32 miles away; you think I'm going to attempt the trip after my near-mishaps? Uh-uh!

I don't know what kind of anesthetic they used on my toe, but it sure lasted a good few hours. Even when it wore off, my toe still didn't hurt.

This morning, I took off the bandage and got a good look at my toe. The area in which the nail was ingrown was still sensitive, but not like it was earlier. I need to soak the foot twice a day in warm water with epsom salt. He told me that if the toe felt okay, I could resume water aerobics Monday. I'm ready!

Below are three different views of my foot: with the protective bootie, the bootie removed and the red bandage showing, and then the toe after the bandage was removed. Trust me; it doesn't feel as bad as it looks.



Folks, there's no need to suffer with an ingrown toenail. There are effective and nearly painless treatments out there.

Lady Fingers: The Other White Meat

Let it be known to all who read this: if you're petting a dog and the dog starts growling, don't growl back. My sister lost half a fingernail when my dog turned unexpectedly to bite her.

Him Name is Hopkin Green Frog

Terry of 2012 15th Ave S lost his frog. He wants to know where his frog is.

Click here to go to the site, then click on each picture (starting with the handwritten lost frog notice) to go to the next page.

Seeing the pictures reminds me of All Your Base Are Belong to Us.

I don't know if the creators of the lost frog pictures are talented people with a sense of humor or just people with too much time on their hands.

Domain Registry of America

These people must think I believe everything I read.

The letter starts off, "As a courtesy to domain name holders, we are sending you this notification of the domain name registration that is due to expire in the next few months. When you switch todya to the Domain REgistry of America, you can take advantage of our best savings. Your registration for mundlingzone.org will expire on April 17, 2005. Act today!" They're offering to let me transfer my domain to them and renew through them for the low, LOW price of $25.00 a year!

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

Uh, hello! My domain name is registered with GoDaddy.com for the to-die-for price of $8.95 a year! My site is proudly hosted by GoDaddy.com, and I've had nothing but excellent service with the company. Do the people at Domain Registry of America think I'm going to leave a good thing just because they say they're offering me "their best savings?" NOT!!!

At the upper right corner of their letter, it shows in bold letters, "Domain Name Expiration Notice." Can they ethically offer an expiration notice for a domain registration that is not registered through them? Do I smell the potential for possible fraud?

I won't be doing business with them. I was born on a Monday, but it wasn't last Monday.

Sunday Morning Shopping

Woke up before the alarm clock this morning. Figures. I wake up bright-eyed early on weekend mornings, but I'll be bleary-eyed on the weekday mornings when my alarm clock beckons my arousal out of bed. At this point, my mind is on auto pilot, and don't mess with the controls by asking questions as to what I'm doing or why I'm doing it!

Once I make my return from slumberland to reality, I've found I have more energy in the morning to do things. When making the choice of whether to shop in the morning or the afternoon, I factor in my aversion to crowds and crowded parking lots. Therefore, I am willing to set my alarm and wake up earlier than normal in order to get my shopping done. Parking is easier since I acquired my handicap card, but I still keep in mind what I learned while living in Atlanta: all's fair in love, war, and parking spaces.

I'm at that age now where shopping is more of a necessary evil than an enjoyable excursion. The typical shopaholic's battle cry of "shop til you drop" prompts my response of, "That's the first fifteen minutes. Then what?" Of course, all bets are off when you walk into a Wal-Mart Supercenter. I always seem to walk out of a Wal-Mart with more items than I originally intended to buy. How do we know those Wal-Mart greeters aren't secretly hypnotising us to buy more stuff? Think about it! How many stores do you know that have greeters? Before anyone thinks I've lost my mind, I'm joking, of course.

I knew I needed quite a few grocery items and a few personal items, so I opted for the motorized buggy (another reason to get out of bed early to go shopping). With my back, there would have been no way I could have done all that shopping and stayed on my feet. In our store in Waycross, they moved all of the benches out of the shopping areas and placed them near the exit doors. It's a big store! People need to stop and rest! All I can say is the store would get a lot less of my business if they didn't have the motorized carts.

Headed over to the shampoo aisle. I'm besieged by an array of assorted shampoos, and none of them make sense to me. Even my favorite brand changed on me! They've got shampoo with jasmine, aloe vera, vanilla, apple, extract of coconut, or some other "natural" ingredient. They've got shampoo for just about every type of hair EXCEPT normal hair or oily hair. Apparently, the makers of these hair products don't believe there is such a thing as normal hair anymore. With my oily scalp, I can't afford to use a shampoo for dry hair, damaged hair, or color-treated hair; it would never look clean and freshly washed. I pick up a bottle of the least expensive brand that closely resembles plain shampoo and move on.

We just barely got through Halloween, and the Christmas decorations are already up. Once again, I will be sick of Christmas and the Holiday season before it gets over with. I dread going to the stores after Thanksgiving! In fact, you won't find me anywhere near a store the morning after Thanksgiving! My dad and Aunt Mavis made that mistake a few years ago. Four o'clock in the morning, and the parking lots were overflowing. Dad commented about how rude and territorial many of the shoppers were. Nope, we're staying home.

In the electronics section, they had the combination VCR and DVD player machines on sale. I couldn't help but notice the bold white letters on the box that read, "This device will not copy copyrighted material." Hmmm ... you gotta wonder how that's going to affect sales of that product. Ooh, check out the cordless phones with Caller ID! They've got translucent royal blue, translucent navy blue, and translucent purple. Darn, no translucent pink. Purple will have to do. What other features does this phone have? Who cares? It's purple! In the latest trend of electronic gadgets and appliances in which the choices are black, white, or gray, purple is a welcome change.

Ah! The seasonal aisle! All sorts of cutesy tins, bottles, knick knacks, and other trinkets we normally wouldn't purchase any other time of year. Let's not forget the oversized gift boxes of food or bath products deceptively packaged to make you think you're getting more than what's really in there. Admittedly, I have a weakness for the summer sausage and cheese packages, but the prices usually are enough to deter me. Sorry, but I can't see paying $14.99 for 4 oz of meat and 4 oz of cheese with a child-size box of crackers. Heck, I can get some sliced pepperoni, monterrey jack cheese, and triscuit crackers and be just as happy.

Oh, I can't forget my four-legged friend, the ditch dog. She loves her treats. She's not picky; she'll eat just about anything you hand feed her, including the hand that feeds her! I gotta be careful not to accidentally serve up "lady fingers" with her treat.

Now my shopping trip is starting to wind down as I get to the grocery section. We have a wider selection of food products than ever before. Sometimes I think they need to separate the grocery section into two sub-sections: pre-packaged food and real food. The prepackaged food looks tasty and promises convenience and quality. However, many of these foods are too salty or too bland or too mealy or too processed or too ... something. Occasional convenience is fine, but my taste buds long for home cooking on most days. If I have the recipe and the necessary utensils, I'll try to do it from scratch. Thank God for the crock pot.

The old adage of "don't shop for groceries when you're hungry" is so true. You may be standing there with a small list originally, but you'll be walking out with a cart full of stuff that looked good at the time you put them in your cart. You get home, you put the stuff away, then later you'll end up experiencing buyer's remorse as you stand there, looking in your pantry, refrigerator, and/or freezer, and realize you don't want ANYTHING you've got. Reminds me of an indecisive single person getting ready for a date, looking in his/her closet full of clothes, and moaning, "I don't have anything to wear."

By now, I've noticed how crowded the store has become, and I head to the checkout. I guess they had the same idea I had but decided to sleep in first. I try to be a good little customer and have my check written out before the cashier completes scanning my purchases. I think the only thing that annoys me about waiting at the cash register is when someone ahead of me is holding up the line for stupid stuff or feels the compulsion to argue with the cashier about something that is not the cashier's fault. I'd like to tell someone of these argumentive blowhards with a superiority complex to save their rant for Oprah and finish their purchases before the rest of us take root for waiting so long. For example, it's not the cashier's fault that customer's credit card/check/atm card got rejected. Don't stand there and argue like your reputation in town is on the line. Use another method of payment or get out of the way! Take it up with the bank or credit card company, not the cashier.

About 90 minutes after I entered the store, I emerged significantly poorer but happy with my purchases. I can never walk into a Wal-Mart Supercenter and get "just a few things. By then, it was a little after ten o'clock in the morning. It never occurred to me that there were this many people shopping at this time of the morning, especially on a Sunday. The parking lot was nearly full with shoppers in casual attire. Heck, the owners of Wal-Mart don't care; they'll be happy to take money from us non-church-going sinners.

I headed home and unloaded the truck. After everything was put away, I sat down in my computer chair and actually considered ... taking a nap.

A personal note on Veteran's Day 2004

As a final note to this entry, Veteran's Day is almost over. I made an entry on our local messageboard to the veterans who read the board:

To all the veterans who have served our country in any capacity, your efforts and sacrifices are appreciated. May God bless you and may other people learn from your experiences.

Special note to my favorite Master Chief Petty Officer:

Thank you for instilling in me the immense love I have for this country.
Thank you for teaching me respect and gratitude for our armed forces.
Thank you for sharing with me your many trips down memory lane about the vast years you spent in the navy.
Most of all, although you're a humble man and rather have your dead comrades remembered and honored, I thank you for your years of service to our country.

The person I'm referring to is my dad. He served 32 years honorably in the U S Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer on September 1, 1974. After the September 11 attacks, people who found out he was in the navy would thank him for his services and sacrifices. All during that time, he'd rather have the honor, gratitude, and appreciation extended toward his friends and comrades who served with him and gave up their lives to protect our country and our way of life. That only makes him that much more honorable. To my dad, thank you, and I love you so very much.

Misunderstood and Evil People

It has been a while since my last entry, though. A lot has been going on the last couple of weeks. As much as I would like to write about it, the potential for legal entanglements prevents me from doing so. All I'm going to say is this: I honestly pray that someone will seek professional help and break free from the bonds that isolate this person from people who care and want to be friends. I truly am concerned about this person, and I pray for this person. I am worried that current behavior by this person will provoke others to backlash their anger at their provoker. That would only perpetuate that person's feelings of isolation, suspicion, anger, and fear of betrayal ... a vicious cycle. And that's all I got to say about that.

There are some people who are misunderstood, and then there are some people who are outright evil. This other person who is making things hard for others is, in my opinion, truly evil. As much as I'd like to mention her name, I'm going to refrain from doing so. I'll just call her Jezebel. Jezebel is a manipulative, vindictive, self-centered, deceitful, loathsome, vicious bitch who has done so many people wrong, I don't see how she can honestly believe she's going to keep doing what she's doing without consequences. Jezebel has done a lot of bad things, but when she tried to have my prison shut down, she really started to make people angry at her. Supposedly, she had several people call our Commissioner's office and send e-mails about how terrible our prison was to the community and that it was an eyesore, blah blah blah. Several of us employees wrote letters to the editor of the local newspaper rebutting her claims and bringing attention to her lack of service to the community and a brief remark about her residency discrepancy. Our commissioner finally came down to visit our prison where he had a chance to talk with staff. Jezebel's name came up, and the commissioner heard first hand about what kind of person Jezebel really was. I looked at the commissioner and told him point blank that he was hearing from a very vocal minority, that 99 percent of the residents of the town and county supported our prison and our efforts. He was impressed with our unique program and property upkeep, telling us point blank that our prison would not be closed down. Many of us were relieved to hear him say that. Speaking for myself, I love where I work, I believe in our prison's mission, and I don't want to lose my job or be transferred elsewhere because some selfish low-life wants to use the property for her own purposes.

Then she tried to run for re-election as the county commissioner for her district ... and lost. You think she'd take the hint and leave it alone, right? Wrong! She tried to challenge the results of the election claiming the winner was not a legal resident of the district she was elected to represent, but it backfired. They investigated Jezebel and determined that she was never a legal resident of the district (she wasn't even legally residing in the county!) she was elected to represent, so she was immediately booted off the commission and stripped of her voting privileges for that county. You'd think she'd get the message and go on. Oh no! She filed an appeal to a higher court, but that court ruled against her. Now she's filing yet another appeal! Not only that, rumor has it that Jezebel has been allegedly harassing the newly-elected county commissioner who beat her. My faith in God and past experience tells me that what goes around comes around. If every finger you point in judgment comes back to you threefold, I can only imagine the "fingering" Jezebel is going to get one day. I just have to have faith in God that He will allow us to see Jezebel face justice for her actions.

Kobe Bryant's Accuser

Wendy McElroy of Ifeminist.com wrote an article concerning the justification of identifying Kobe Bryant's accuser Katelyn Faber. Her article accentuates what I wrote back on September 7, 2004.

I honestly don't know if Kobe Bryant is innocent or guilty. I do know both lied to police during the initial investigation.

I do agree with Ms. McElroy, though. Either shield the identities of both the accuser and defendant, or don't shield their identities at all. That is where I stand on this issue.

Archives and Folders and Files -- Oh My!

I'm still trying to get the hang of some of the HTML coding I'm using to slightly alter the template used for this journal. I didn't realize until after the September 27 post rolled off the index page and archived itself to a subfolder on my server that the javascript for the pictures were no longer working. I tried to insert a directory for each file in the Anfy code, but that didn't work. I ended up moving the pictures and copying the .class files to the same directory the post was now archived. It's not that bad, but I'm having to duplicate some files because a script won't read specific directory values. Oh well ... anyway, that page has been fixed and the pictures are displaying again.

To The Rescue

My friend Coolwanda (bless her heart), was at wit's end when she called me for help. Her computer, a Gateway EV700 with Windows 98 SE, was giving her error code attitude.

It seemed her computer was going mashuga because she couldn't install software on her computer, she couldn't copy any files to a CD unless she went from her ear to her nose via her toes, and she couldn't access the Windows Update web site. I assumed the worst-case scenario ... hard drive restoration. The only problem was, she had no restore disk with the specific drivers needed to enhance her computer's performance.

At the time I did this, I didn't know what kind of desktop computer she had other than a Gateway. I ended up downloading 238 drivers for the following specifications: Gateway desktop computer, Windows 98, all drivers. I printed each page as I downloaded each file. Well, yes, I could have made her do it, but she had dial-up Internet service, whereas I had broadband Internet service. I'm not that heartless :-P

When I got to her house yesterday, we sat down in front of her computer so she could show me the error messages she was getting. I decided to use the Internet search engines to find a web site that explained what the error code was and (hopefully) offer a solution. She left to pick up the pizza and chicken wings when I found what I needed.

It seems a .dll in the system file somehow got corrupted. As soon as the file was replaced, all the programs she received error messages from started working again. I, for one, was relieved because that meant we didn't have to reformat and restore her hard drive, then reload her software. Several years ago, we had to do that four times on one of her Packard Bell computers within a two-month period before I found out her computer was one of many Packard Bell computers with defective motherboards. I informed her of this just as it went meshuga again. I restored it one more time, but when I found out she got it from a rental center; I strongly urged her to return it and get another computer. But, getting back to the situation at hand ...

While I was there, she reconnected her DVD burner and double-checked her master and slave settings for both burner drives. At this writing, both drives seem to work. Coolwanda is not someone intimidated by electronic equipment. I've seen her knowledge and experience evolve over the years concerning computer operations and some maintenance. I checked her computer system to see if it was bloated with programs that load on start up or if her hard drive was too full (it should remain at least 50% free for optimal performance). Her system, for he most part, was lean and clean. She regularly scans and defrags her drive. She needs more disk space and more memory, but her system was otherwise in good shape.

Through the years, she and I have learned (through trial and error) how to troubleshoot, diagnose, and make minor repairs to our computers. When it comes to web design and creation of graphics, we've learned different techniques and taught each other what we've learned. We have our strengths, weaknesses, and preferences when it comes to our computer literacy.

After she and I checked several programs, downloaded the lastest updates from Microsoft, and played with the CD burner, we felt like we could exhale. Her computer was healed.

I have to admit, I was feeling pretty good when I left her place to go home at 3 o'clock this morning.

The Aftermath of Hurricane Jeanne

Here are some pictures I took today in Waycross and Homerville:


























































Please download Java(tm).


We are much more fortunate than those residing in Florida. However, many people I've spoken with admitted they were awake most of the night due to the various sounds they kept hearing: wind, heavy rain, flying objects hitting the house.

A lucky few were able to have little or no interruption of their electrical services. I was not one of those lucky people. It's inconvenient at best, life-threatening at worst, when you have to do without electrical power. We don't realize just how dependent we are on things like that until we're forced to do without them.

The first thing I missed was the air conditioner. It may have been cool outside, but the humidity made it unpleasant. What's worse, our windows are temporarily boarded up, so it got warmer as well as humid inside. As grateful as I was to be someplace safe, I was miserable. Even in the winter, I sleep with a fan blowing on me every night.

The second thing I missed was being able to use my CPAP machine to sleep. No air conditioner, no fan, no CPAP. Needless to say, I didn't sleep very well last night, even though I was in a recliner so my head would be elevated (still not as comfortable as my waterbed). I think I finally conked out after the Benedryl took effect. It didn't keep me from waking up when I stopped breathing in my sleep. Dad woke me up at 6 AM. By then, my clothes were soaked in sweat, and still no electricity. Oh yeah, you bet your sweet bippy I got a cold shower ... and enjoyed it immensely!

During the weekend, I watched the weather channel and viewed several weather web sites, keeping an eye on Jeanne. I repeatedly debated on whether or not to go to work that weekend to get some required paperwork done, then stay home during the hurricane. By Sunday morning, it looked like the storm was moving west, so I decided to not worry about it anymore. Guess what? It started getting rainy and gusty around 8 PM last night. I was trying to stay up for the 11 PM update on the storm system on intellicast.com. Just before 11 PM rolled around, our power went out.

Work was a little chaotic today, but it wasn't too bad. I drove 32 miles in the wind and rain to get to work, and many of the more local employees called in, saying they wouldn't be coming in "due to the weather" or "I have no electricity." I guess my presence blew those excuses. It wasn't that bad outside; the worst of it was over with and moved north. As for electricity; they knew it was going to get bad and power outages were likely, so why not get ready for it? Now, if these people lived on dirt roads, and the road was the only way to their house and that same road was flooded or undriveable, I could understand their not coming in. However, that's not the excuse they used.

I'm surprised I'm still awake and functioning enough to write this entry. Maybe it's my nerves -- that would explain the extended trips to the bathroom I've made all day -- giving me that adrenaline to stay awake and function somewhat. I know living in a house with no windows right now is making me a little neurotic. I feel like it's stuffy in here, and I need air. I'm trying hard to keep my hands off the thermostat because I'm afraid Dad will get mad and turn OFF the air conditioner if I make it too cool in here. To compromise, I sit in front of a fan at my computer.

I was told the electricity did not come back on until after 4:00 PM today. That's the longest I've ever had to do without electricity -- seventeen hours. I'm glad I went to work today. Heck, getting into my truck this morning to go to work was a thrill -- I got to run my air conditioner :-P

Hurricane Jeanne is Coming!

And we're getting ready for it.



As of this writing, the path of the hurricane is supposed to go directly over Valdosta, Georgia. However, it was originally going to hit Brunswick, then Waycross, then Homerville. Hurricanes are unpredictable, so we're not taking chances. Monday is going to be the day of reckoning for us. We're planning to ride this storm out. I'll try to get pictures and post them here.

It's really weird with the plywood up because no light can get into the house now. In fact, it kinda feels claustrophobic to me as I walk around in the house. It's broad daylight outside, and the interior is lit with artificial light only. I'm used to being able to open windows for fresh air. I won't have any idea as to what time of day it is unless I look at a clock. I'll have to remind myself of that when I wake up and think I might have "a few more minutes of sleep."

Curiosity Seekers

Millions of people have been adversely affected by the last three Atlantic hurricanes this year: Charley, Frances, and Ivan. The devastation ranges from power loss to property damage to loss of life.

I was reading an article on FoxNews.com about how those affected are dealing with their situation. I came upon a sentence that struck a chord with me: "At one subdivision, a spray-painted sign warned strangers to stay out: 'If you don't live here, you have no business here.'" Most people would say the spray painter meant that toward potential looters. However, looters are not the only problem these people have to contend with.

As trivial as it may seem, curiosity seekers are also a thorn in the side of affected residents and law enforcement in areas of devastation. For these people, it's not enough to see it on television, hear about it on the radio, or read about it in the newspaper. Viewing pictures and/or videos about it on the Internet doesn't do it for these people. They have to physically get in their vehicles and drive to these areas, just to "have a look."

I can give you a couple of examples I have personally witnessed.

Example one:

A friend of mine in Covington, Georgia lived in a mobile home close to the Yellow River. The week of Thanksgiving 1992, we had a lot of rain, and the banks of that river were swelling up.

By Thanksgiving morning, the sun was shining, but the runoff from the rain continued to swell the river banks. She had already taken some of her belongings and was staying at a hotel the Red Cross set her up in, but she realized she needed more clothes. I offered to help her get her things, not knowing what we were in for.

Her boyfriend had warned her that the river was rising quickly, and she might not be able to get to her home. That didn't deter her, and I was wanting to help. We got in my car and drove to the mobile home community where her home was located. We only got part way inside the property; the river had already risen into the back area where her home was located.

There were numerous people standing around, looking at the partially-submerged homes, vehicles, swingsets, etc. Some of these people were sitting in lawn chairs. My friend and I got out of the car to talk to the people and get information about the flooded road leading to her home. We found out most of these people didn't even live in this mobile home community. They were there to "watch the flood and view the damage for themselves."

My friend and I got back into the car. She was angry. "I can't get to my house. I may have lost everything. Yet all these people are doing is standing around looking. I'll bet none of them have offered to help. This is their entertainment."

I looked at my friend, her face like stone, her eyes steely, and her brows furrowed. I could see the disgust and resentment on her face. And I didn't blame her.

We did manage to get to her home. She swam across a very cold, flooded road with a strong current to get her clothes and a couple of other things. I'll go into more detail another time. I will say this about her: you have to admire her determination. BTW, there were two middle-aged men watching us wade chest-high into the icy water. They didn't offer to help, either.

Example Two:

While still residing in Conyers, Georgia, I woke up one morning in March 1995 to flashing blue lights reflecting off the mini-blinds inside my studio apartment. Thinking a crime had been committed in our otherwise peaceful apartment community, I wanted to find out what happened.

As I walked outside, I saw three of my neighbors standing on the frosty grass. I asked them what was going on, and one of them said the apartment building across the street was on fire. Half asleep and in disbelief, I walked onto the grass and witnessed, to my horror, the fire that had engulfed the apartment building across the parking lot. The building was less than fifty feet from MY apartment building. My eyes were fixated on the inferno, yet I became distracted by flying embers. My distraction became a concern because the embers were flying in the direction of my building. That's when I realized I needed to make some calls, just in case I had to evacuate as well.

The building had nearly burned to the ground, with the exception of a couple of partial walls remaining. It was about three months before the building was rebuilt. During that time, there was an increase in the vehicle traffic caused by curiosity seekers, driving by -- even parking in front of -- the burned building. Speaking with a few of my neighbors, the feeling on the matter was unanimous ... the presence of these curiosity seekers was vehemently resented.

Many people think they're not hurting anyone or anything by hanging around "looking." However, think about this: Curiosity seekers are loiterers. Victims of natural disasters are fatigued, distraught, anxious, and overwhelmed as they try to salvage what's left of their belongings, and these loiterers only add to the victims' distress by standing around staring and watching. Even in a less stressful situation, most people don't like to be watched.

Another thing to think about: There are people who are evil enough to take advantage of those who have been hit hard by natural disasters. They come in droves to these areas like vultures. They'll loiter around, waiting for the right time to loot compromised properties. If someone questions their presence, they can easily respond with, "Oh, I heard about what happened, and I came to look around."

There's a popular phrase I'm reminded of that says, "If you're not a part of the solution, you're part of the problem." I think it applies to curiosity seekers. I think it's safe to say the presence of curiosity seekers is universally resented. Unless curiosity seekers are going to be a part of the solution by offering assistance to the people they're staring at while they're there, they need to avoid being part of the problem by staying home.

Another Silly Quiz Site

... but I like them.


You are Franklin!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
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Shred Salads

Well, I've gone from being a salad hater to a salad maniac. Dad and Soul Sister still look at me with disbelief whenever I make and consume a salad.

Soul Sister's surprise took place Tuesday night at Ryan's restaurant. I met her and her friend there, and let them get their plates first. Then I went to get mine. I had no idea what I was going to put together, but I was going to try to be a good girl and eat some greens. I got some shredded iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots (thank goodness it wasn't "carrot salad" with that icky sweet dressing), some raw broccoli, a cherry tomato, pepperoni, diced ham, diced turkey, and some fine-shredded cheese. I topped it with Italian dressing and vinegar.

LOL! I'll never forget the look on her face when she said, "I should have brought a camera. In the 20 years I've known you, I've never seen you willingly eat rabbit food."

My response was, "It's amazing what three little words will do to your perception of the matter. Her friend looked at me with a puzzled look on his face, so I explained to him what the three words were: you ... have ... diabetes.

Why did those words have such an impact on me? Well, my former co-worker, who has diabetes, is having dialysis three times a week because of acute kidney failure; she's having a rough time and complications dealing with the dialysis. My family member Drusilla is diabetic, and she's dealing with total acute failure in one kidney, poor circulation in her legs, and possible diabetic neuropathy. After seeing what these two women are going through, you bet your a$$ I'm going to sit up and take notice.

Last night, I was still fondly remembering the salad I had the night before. I wanted to use spicier meat than the tuna I had been using. Then I had what I thought would be a brilliant idea: shred a can of Hormel Spam. Whoops! Not such a great idea. For one thing, it doesn't shred too well in my food processor. Second, the texture is too mushy for the mouth feel of a salad in which nearly all the contents are shredded and/or diced into small pieces. Foods like tuna, salmon, chicken, lean pork, imitation crab meat, etc. would be better suited. I may take the remaining Spam and brown it in a skillet before I add it to another salad, but at least I know what NOT to do again.

Before I went to my water aerobics class this evening, I experimented some more with my salad mixture. This time, I diced up some pepperoni and imitation crab meat and added it to the lettuce, carrots, broccoli, and cheese mixture. In addition, I took an empty salad dressing bottle, a brand new bottle of Italian salad dressing, and poured 1/2 the contents into the other bottle. Then I took apple cider vinegar and poured some in each bottle. This would dilute the oil contained in the dressing without compromising the flavor too much. Then I shook up one of the bottles and poured some of the dressing onto the salad. Oh man, did I hit the flavor jackpot!! I made enough for three meals plus enough left over to eat for supper.

I check my blood sugar two hours after I eat these salads, and my blood sugar does go down. However, I can't seem to get it lower than 130, but I have done better about trying to keep it from going over 200, so I am making progress. I'm not cutting out carbs, but I have cut them down considerably. There are a few exceptions, like when I have my old-fashioned popcorn with a regular Coca-cola or when I eat out.

Speaking of eating out, it's getting to where I'm avoiding fast food restaurants. I think about the french fries and other fried food, and how I feel after I eat the food. You learn to tune into what you're body is telling you when you start eating better. Then you realize why you've been feeling tired and listless. I love fried potatoes, but it does make my blood sugar go up. All-you-can-eat buffets are bad, too, not necessarily because people (especially me) tend to overeat, but their food is so full of sodium. I get so bloated afterward I can hardly move. I've been doing better in my food choices. I need to work on the amount, but like the nurse who advised me on handling my diabetes said ... I need to make these changes gradually or I won't be able to stick with them.

So far, so good ...

Hurricane Frances: Impact in SE Georgia

Last weekend when Frances came roaring through Georgia, we were spared the destructive forces of being directly hit by the hurricane. However, we still got wind and copious amounts of rainfall.

I was indoors all weekend. As a matter of fact, I slept through the times it stormed the worst. I got a chance to talk to various people from the area on the Internet. They kept talking about how worried they were about the safety of their homes and the reliability of their electrical service. I thought, "Well, yes, they live in mobile homes; I can see why they're upset and anxious."

Monday evening, I finally heard some of the wind and the thunderstorms that appeared off and on intermittantly. It wasn't until I heard those sounds for myself that I understood why my friends were spooked. It still didn't prepare me for what I saw on my way to work Tuesday morning.

I couldn't believe my eyes. I didn't see any damaged buildings, but I wasn't expecting to see so many broken tree branches and debris strewn everywhere. Some of these branches were as thick as small trees! I'm talking about branches three inches in diameter. There were so many of them ... just strewn everywhere. I realized then: that hurricane didn't hit us, but it still tore up the landscape some. We were lucky. I'd hate to see a hurricane come directly through Waycross.

Now we're keeping a nervous eye on Hurricane Ivan. Unless its projected path moves further west, we're due for another round of wind and rain.

Despite what we went through, it is nothing compared to what the citizens of Florida are going through now. Please pray for them. Ivan may not hit mid-Florida directly like Charley and Frances did, but Ivan will make things even worse for the people in those regions.

Just some thoughts I've been pondering ...

I Got Educated Today

I spent 90 minutes with a nurse today who has a strong educational background in diabetic nutrition and treatment. I must say, I got an education today.

One of the first things she said was that there is no such thing as a diabetic diet. She also said to avoid "diabetic" food, candies, nutritional supplements, and the like; the companies who make these foods are ripping consumers off. Any benefits derived from consuming these products do not offset the additional cost levied on them as a "specialty" product. Not only is the flavor not as good, but it may contain ingredients that could be more harmful to the body than the absence of the other ingredient you're trying to avoid in the first place.

She also showed me the nutritional label that is printed on every food product packaged and sold in our supermarkets. I learned that when the label says "Total Carbohydrates 12 g, whatever it says the sugar grams are part of the total carbohydrates; it is not a separate ingredient to be counted by itself. In other words, the label is not showing 12 carbohydrates AND whatever sugar grams. What she said made sense once I took a good look at the label and realized that under "Total Carbohydrates" are other ingredients immediately underneath it, but they're indented a little to the right. That means that the label is listing the breakdown of the contents of the carbohydrates. I had no idea. That was an eye opener.

There is one food I need to avoid: imitation cheese. It's not considered a dairy or protein product ... it's considered a fat. There is no nutritional benefit to consuming processed imitation cheese.

I told the nurse the news article I read on the FoxNews.com site about people dropping the Atkins diet and adding breads back to their meals. The nurse explained why: our bodies need proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. When we go on a diet that extremely limits any one of these three things, we end up hurting ourselves. Many people on the Atkins diet consumed far more protein than they should; too much protein will damage the kidneys. Our kidneys process the proteins in our body. We need carbohydrates for energy. Many people on the Atkins diet are finding out that they don't have the energy they used to because they're cutting out or cutting down on the carbohydrates their body needs every day. Everything in moderation ... we should avoid all diets that tell us "you can't eat this, you can't eat that ..."

She gave me several charts comparing foods from different fast food restaurants. She showed me how a whopper with cheese (no fries) from Burger King had more calories, carbs, protein, and fat than a two-piece original recipe meal (chicken, mashed potatoes w/gravy, cole slaw) from Kentucky Fried Chicken. I didn't tell her I used to have the Monster Burger from Hardee's often until I found out it contained over 1100 calories. That cured my craving! I've noticed they're no longer selling the sandwich; I wonder why?

I've still got more to learn, but I feel I've taken a step in the right direction. The thing that's bothering me more than anything else right now is that I can't seem to keep my blood sugar down once I go to bed. If I take my blood sugar, then sleep for at least eight hours, my blood sugar will go up almost 100 points. The nurse said it sounded like my liver may be releasing glucose into my blood during the night, and I might need to take meds to have it stop that. I was instructed to keep a diary for a few days, then fax it to my doctor. Then he can determine whether or not to adjust my diabetic meds. Only time will tell.

A New Law Proposal

I'm sure by now everyone has heard the news that criminal charges against Kobe Bryant were dropped last week. From a criminal standpoint, Kobe Bryant is off the hook. However, the victim is still taking him to civil court to sue for damages. This is just my opinion, but I'm not sure Kobe Bryant is the one she should be suing.

I've had mixed feelings about this case ever since it became publicized in the media. On one hand, Bryant was caught in a lie when he originally denied having any relations with the victim; that did not help his credibility any. On the other hand, the victim used poor judgment in choosing already-worn clothing from a previous encounter before going to the hospital to be examined for evidence. Intentional or not, it was just plain stupid.

I see both Bryant his accuser as victims of the system and/or the media. An accuser of a sexual crime, by law, is to have his/her identity shielded from the public for "protection." However the accused's identity and pertaining sexual criminal charges are allowed to be broadcast to the public in any manner possible. I don't think that's fair. History will show that when it comes to sexual crimes, the person accused is treated and regarded unofficially as guilty until he/she is acquitted of the charges. That is a direct violation of the rights of the accused -- innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

At the same time, whenever an accuser's identity and other information is "leaked" by someone, the accuser's rights are violated as well. In the case of Kobe Bryant, his status as a famous athletic celebrity brought out die-hard fans angry that the celebrity they worshipped was being accused of a crime. Many of them were angry enough to seek out and punish/scare/threaten Bryant's accuser. Those kinds of zealots are the reason the accuser's identity was shielded in the first place. The other leaks by employees of the courthouse only added fuel to the fire. In my honest opinion, I do not believe strong enough action was taken by the judge to prevent these leaks. I feel stronger gag orders should have been declared. The ball was dropped -- not once, but twice -- by this same establishment. Completely, totally inexcusable.

After seeing all this happen in this court case and other court cases in the past, I have a proposition as to how to handle future sexual crimes investigations/trials. I propose that a law be enacted in which the identies of both the accused and accuser are shielded until the first day of the trial. This will bar the media from broadcasting the ongoing investigation if it would identify the parties involved. Make it a felony to reveal the identities of either the accuser or the accused (one to five years would be a good start). This would apply to EVERYONE and EVERY MEDIA -- print, broadcast, and Internet. Once the trial begins, then let the media report on the evidence introduced, who was involved, etc.

This is how I look at the situation: if you're going to shield the identity of the victim, shield the identity of the accused as well. It's only fair, especially if the possibility exists that the defendent may be falsely accused. If he or she is found guilty of the crime, then the public has a right to know. Otherwise, BECAUSE of what happens to the accused, let's stop shielding the identity of the accuser of a sexual crime.

Of course, Kobe Bryant could have easily avoided all this if he had simply remained faithful to his wife.

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The Struggle Begins

Okay, now it's officially out that I have diabetes. It was only a matter of time before I acquired it; it wasn't a question of if or maybe but a question of when. It runs on both sides of the family. I was hoping that I would get it later rather than sooner. However, now that I have it, I have to deal with it.

Oh sure! I could ignore it ... and face the consequences later: kidney failure, circulatory problems, heart disease, limb loss. Nope! If I want to have any quality of life when I get older, I must deal with it now. Apparently, I was already dealing with the more immediate consequences of high blood sugar when I went to see my doctor that Tuesday morning when I could barely stay awake, much less move.

I've done some reading on the Internet about diabetes, mainly located at WebMD.com. Apparently, my consumption of starchy food in combination with my weight has made my body more resistant to the insulin produced by my pancreas. My doctor prescribed Actos to make my body more sensitive to the insulin.

In the meantime, I've got to reprogram my diet to where starches and carbohydrates are not the main part of my diet. That's the hard part. Despite my mother's best intentions, I was a meat-and-potatoes girl. Even now, I've got lots of lean meat in the freezer that can be cooked to perfection on the George Foreman grill. Now, what do we have to go with it? Hmmm ... we have rice, instant mashed potatoes, pasta, frozen french fries ... are you starting to see a pattern here? I'm having to watch my sodium intake, so a can of green beans could do me more harm than good. Looks like I need to make a trip to the supermarket to stock up on fresh and frozen veggies.

I got my glucometer this week. I'd hate to think what the Actos, the glucometer, the test strips, and the lancets would cost if I didn't have my HMO. I forked out $85.00 for all that ... that was my copay. Looking back, it probably wasn't much, but it still took me by surprise.

Now, anyone who knows me will tell you that I HATE NEEDLES! I don't like getting shots, and I don't like having my blood drawn. If I ever say I want a shot, it's either because I'm sick or in pain. The last time I requested a shot was when I became violently ill at 3 AM one morning ... throwing up and diarrhea. I couldn't keep anything down, not even water. By 8 AM, I was calling my doctor's office, begging to be seen so I could get a Phenergan (an antihistamine with anti-emetic properties) shot. Yes, I was THAT sick. It worked, though. Within 30 minutes of that shot in my butt, I actually felt a little snacky. I was also high as a kite. I'm sure the pharmacy people at Eckerd Drugs wondered if I could legally write a check in my condition I was so loopy. However, Dad thought I was the only one who could get it filled, so he made me get out of the car and go in. I'm getting off the subject here, but I think you get my point.

I hate needles, and now I have to prick my finger four times a day to check my blood sugar level. Oh well, it could be worse. I could have to give myself insulin injections, so I guess I'd better count my blessings and work with the cards I've been dealt. Well, after five days, I'm used to it. I still don't like it, but my fingers are not as sensitive to it like they used to be.

Speaking of insulin injections, I hope I never get to the point that I need to do that. However, I've read that there are other options, like the insulin pump and the insulin pen. If I ever have to go there, I think I'll try the pen. I've had inoculations with an air gun, and I'd much rather use an insulin pen that functions similarly than insert a sharp foreign object into my body. I'm kinda funny about that.

That's about all I have for now. I will update on my progress periodically.