Ouch! Again

Yes, my neck hurts! Really hurts. Of course, four stainless steel needles inserted into the facet joints of you spine could hurt. . . a little. . . or a lot.

Yep, a lot. I've been miserable all day. Tonight, I just ache all across my shoulders and up my neck. The usual pain is there, not as great but this new pain is really terrible. And no meds for it.

I should have stayed home from work. Moving my head up and down is not fun either. So, I'm typing with my eyes closed so I won't do that. It isn't helping.

I'm also sitting her starved for a cheeseburger but I, in my agonized wisdom, decided to let Jerry keep the car for work tonight and I have no way to go, even if I had any money! Well, I have money but my debit card is lost so I can't get it out in the middle of the night.

So, off I go. I have to lie down. I'm just miserable.

Pain in the Neck

It would appear that the treatment has worked very well. Oddly enough, I don't, at the moment, have pain anywhere except in my shoulder. I've slept most of the day and was fine until I got up and started doing some things. So, I've sat back down to dash off this note and then, I think will find something to do that doesn't require using the shoulder and neck.

What he did?

He stuck four needles in the left side of my neck and injected two medicines in it. One a pain medicine and the other a steroid. They gave me a medicine in my iv to relax me too. That helped. My bp went up to 170 over something I didn't catch and that's when they got me the shot. I had taken my bp medicine so obviously I was stressed.

Let me say this is not something you do for recreational purposes. It hurts but the med in the iv helped a lot. But it was quick. I was out by 10 a.m.. Came home and went to bed and slept until 2 p.m. Probably needed the sleep most of all. I just hope I sleep tonight. I am going to take one of my happy pills to see if that will help me. But I bet I am up at the crack of dawn. I am NOT a morning person so it won't be nice.

Not sure yet if I will be able to go to work. The neck is a bit stiff and sore and only the morning will tell. I am going now to take a nap... boy did I get old.

Vermillion Rules!: Monday Giveaway-Earth Expressions

Well, mayby a free pendant. I found a website that has a giveaway going on for necklace pendants. They are so pretty! You ought to visit just to browse, even if you don't enter to win. But enter anyway just to see if you do. LOL!
Link

No Free Lunches?

Well, mayby a free pendant. I found a website that has a giveaway going on for necklace pendants. They are so pretty! You ought to visit just to browse, even if you don't enter to win. But enter anyway just to see if you do. LOL!

Here's the link

http://vermillionrules.blogspot.com/2008/10/monday-giveaway-earth-expressions_20.html

What Makes a Day Good?

When you have the answer, let me know. Most of the week, I felt pretty good but by yesterday, I was running down and today, I'm just plain tired and I have been in my chair all day. It's the thought processes that are the most noticeable. I can't think very well. I have this huge cotton ball in my head and nothing helps.

Lots of neck pain too but probably the computer causing that. I have to get some computer glasses. I am calling my eye doctor to pick up the prescription this week. I am going to a one hour place and get glasses for computer use only. I think that will help a bit as I am just straining. I try and enlarge the fonts but it is just annoying because most pages aren't designed for large fonts.

Anyway, I'm going to church tonight. Didn't go this morning. I'm fresh out of ideas at the moment for a good post and as I hate doing these dreadful whine posts, I'm off.

I hope everyone is doing all right and you have had a great weekend. Tomorrow is Monday and I really hate Mondays.

Cause of Death

I don't think I have told you all this and I should have mentioned it sooner. My friend got the autopsy results back on her son this past week. They think he had pneumonia. Yes. Fluid in the lungs. No indication that he'd been sick or anything. No other problems found other than an enlarged heart.

I know it doesn't make it easier but I am glad that it was something they had no way of knowing.I think in the end, it will make them deal with it better. She told me her husband still was feeling as if it was his fault because of the heart. I guess that is inevitable.

Just thought I'd let you know.

A Tentative Start

Everyone is getting banners for their novels on NaNo and I am envious. Not because I can't get one, but because I haven't a clue what I am going to write about. Well, I just found a picture I liked on my computer and decided to play with it just to figure out how to make myself a banner. In doing so, I may have come up with an idea for my novel. Amazing even me.

Writer's Block?

Sad but oh, so true.


more animals

Bad Eyesight

Arthur is 90 years old. He's played golf every day since his retirement 25 years ago.

One day he arrives home looking downcast.

"That's it," he tells his wife. "I'm giving up golf. My eyesight has gotten so bad that once I've hit the ball, I can't see where it went."

His wife sympathizes and makes him a cup of tea. As they sit down, she says, "Why don't you take my brother with you and give it one more try."

"That's no good," sighs Arthur. "Your brother's a hundred
and three. He can't help."

"He may be a hundred and three," says the wife, "but his eyesight is perfect."

So the next day, Arthur heads off to the golf course with
his brother-in-law. He tees up, takes an almighty swing, and squints down the fairway.

He turns to the brother-in-law. "Did you see the ball?"

"Of course I did!" replies the brother-in-law. "I have
perfect eyesight."

"Where did it go?" asks Arthur.

"I don't remember."

The Gift of Women

This was a thought for the day that one of my co-workers forwarded to us. Most of us are women in my office, except for the director and two inspectors but I know they will appreciate this, too.

'Whatever you give a woman, she's going to multiply it. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.'

So - if you give her crap, you will receive more shit than any one human being can handle.....

I almost fell off my chair laughing. Please know that I don't use that word in the last sentence but I fully agree with the sentiment.

Stimulating Commentary

I was going to respond to a comment on the previous blog by my friend Maeve. She always shares a good point of view and usually results in me rethinking about my point of view. I've clarified and maybe repeated myself but here are the results.

Maeve wrote:

If I remember correctly, the vaccine is encouraged for young women to protect them against 3 forms of the human papillomavirus virus or HPV that has been linked to cause cervical cancer. Now if this is causing problems then yes it needs to be stopped, but I don't see anywhere in their advertisements where it is "MANDATORY".

There are certain vaccines that need to be given. Chicken pox happens to be one if a person has gone through their life somehow without getting chicken pox. For an adult that disease can be deadly. There are many diseases that are there that if we can prevent a body from getting it then it means the person has a better quality of life.

Majority of vaccines though are not mandatory. Heck I got a Hepatitis B vaccine while a lifeguard to ensure that a preventive measure against any possibility as I was doing my work as a lifeguard to not risk getting it. This though was my choice and due to my job at the time it was felt to be a good precaution. It was not mandatory for my profession but I was told it might be a good idea. This though happens to be basically on the subject of vaccines and immunization a topic that you and I are going to differ on strongly.

My response to this is as follows:

I understand what you are saying. And I'm o.k. that we differ. I'm all about knowledge. This is about informing people of the risk, which I don't think has been done aggressively enough.

You are right about vaccines for highly contagious disease that are easily passed from person to person. We need to have those, and we do. And they ARE mandatory for children to go to school. In many states, you can't enroll a child until they have all their shots. That's mandatory vaccination. Even most day care facilities will no longer allow a child to attend until you provide a shot list. Sarah had to actually get shots before she could go to a day care. So, mandatory vaccines are here. But these are childhood diseases that are highly contagious and can cause serious epidemics.

As a side note, there are some who say there is a connection between child vaccinations and the increase in autism in this country. This disorder begins around 3-4 years of age. The increase in cases has been rapid, and began after the increase in vaccinations began in the late 50's and early 60's. So, the connections appears obvious and you can find articles and people who believe there is a direct correlation. This is unproven but still questionable. The latest reports are that they can't find a reason for the increase in autism. Hmmm.

However, HPV vaccine is for a virus that is spread by unsafe sexual practices. It is a sexually transmitted disease. It can be avoided the same way we avoid typhoid, ecoli, and staph -- cleanliness. If a woman wants to have unprotected sex with 35 people, she can expect to pick up the germs of more than 500 people. That is assuming each of her partners had 10 other partners. That is the number was released when the aids epidemic began and people were told to consider when having sex with someone. I always felt it excessive but they are the experts. So disease is highly probable. BUT -- HPV is a very avoidable disease and is only contagious from a specific source.

The cancer this virus causes is not contagious. Merck touts this cancer as as a result of the HPV that results from unsafe sexual practices. Some women, a vast number, will never, ever get this disease, no matter how many partners they have. In fact, the research I read said the body usually fights off HPV disease.

My research also indicated that the federal government is being pressured by Merck to make this vaccine mandatory. http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/457/31/ We have several vaccines that are already mandatory for children to go to school. They are for diseases that are easily passed from one person to the other.

Catching the virus is a gamble the participants take of their own free will. The cancer is the payoff some will get from the gamble. So, I oppose drug companies forcing citizens who make better choices to take a drug that will result in even worse disease that can't be cured with a vaccine. I oppose the taxpayer having to pay for the results of someone's promiscuity. I oppose drug companies manipulating legislation that takes the right to choose away. How is enforced vaccination different from an enforced ban on abortion? Or China's enforced abortion laws? It isn't.

I oppose abortion and I oppose legislation to force me to take a medicine that I don't want or that may make me sicker. The person who takes the risk had a choice. Why can't I?

If a woman wants the vaccine, go for it. But Merck should publish, loudly, the effects this vaccine can have. Not some fast talk shoved in over smiling faces and stuff I have to read while you are warning me. Publish loudly, that it is a choice. People cry about a woman's right to choose but from where I sit, it only applies to those who want other people to pay for their bad choices. I resent that. Publish, loudly, how this disease is spread and prevented. And don't use taxpayer dollars to pay for the shots for those who say they can't pay.

So, guess who the maker of Vioxx was? Yes, Merck. "FDA analysts estimated that Vioxx caused between 88,000 and 139,000 heart attacks, 30 to 40 percent of which were probably fatal, in the five years the drug was on the market." That little fiasco has cost them billions and they are still setting aside money to pay for the litigation.

"Merck has reserved $970 million to pay for its Vioxx-related legal expenses through 2007, and have set aside $4.85bn for legal claims from US citizens. Patients who claim to have suffered as a result of taking Vioxx in countries outside the US are campaigning for this to be extended." Wikipedia article.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vioxx

Could Gardasil be their saviour? Could the high cost of this medicine be their way to pay for Vioxx? Do they often rush drugs out and tout them as 100% effective without revealing evidence to the contrary? If the Fed makes this vaccine mandatory, will taxpayers have to share the cost of any litigation? Why yes, you will.... Uncle Sam can be sued as a result of any deaths or other serious injury that results from a mandatory vaccine. Find and read what Vioxx has cost Merck and tell me they are purely interested in protecting innocent young girls. I don't buy it.

Sorry. My drug company soap box! You should read Michael Crichton novel "Next". The novel itself is not as good as most of his books but the information he shares in his Bibliography on how much control these companies have over our genetic codes is frightening. Their power with our government is the second most frightening. Third most frightening is how much stuff Critchton knows!

Thanks, Maeve for a stimulating comment! I always like it when someone does that!

American Association for Health Freedom - Update On Merck

Some time ago, I posted a blog about the vaccine, Gardasil, that is supposed to prevent cervical cancer. Obviously, I do not agree with enforced vaccines and particularly one that is unneeded. This is one more example of big drug companies getting help from the Federal Government to increase their profits by forcing citizens to take a medicine that is unproven and unnecessary.

The side effects from this drug are devastating and the public is not being given enough information. We are simply bombarded with smiling women ion essence saying "get the shot" and you can have safe sex. This is deceptive. Over 9,000 reports of severe side effects reported since 2006. Maybe that sounds like a minimum number to you. Is it YOUR daughter? YOUR wife? An excerpt has this to say about the side effects.

"As of July, the federal government's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System has received over 9,700 reports of problems since the vaccine's introduction in 2006. These include paralysis, seizures, and miscarriage. Twenty deaths have been reported although the government has not acknowledged a link yet."

You can read complete article here. Link

50,000 Word in 30 Days

It is that time of year again. I am gearing up for the NaNoWriMo. I am totally bummed. I have NO CLUE! Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to be going into this thing with no clue? I've done it once and it was terrible. 50,000 words folks and not a single idea. 2006 I did it that way and got behind from the beginning. Last year, in June I had a clue and I planned.

O.k. deep breath.

You know, the pain doesn't help. I can't focus a lot of the time so I know that is the problem. I sort of drift around. And I need to cut my time in other places to devote to the project.

50,000 words in 30 days! Every year it strikes terror in to the staunches heart and sends shivers of excitement up ever participating spine. It is daunting and overwhelming but the most fun you've ever had. Unless you'd rather be on a beach in Tahiti. You could carry a laptop.

Anyway, you shall be hearing more of this for the next two months. I know I have other writing projects going that are withering on the vine. Alice is my conscience in that area. Actually, I am working there but right now it has reached another knotty place and I'm checking the map.

Anyone willing to participate in the madness join me. Here is the link to sign up.

Link

Coward.

Dream or Nightmare

This morning I was dreaming I was in the most excruciating pain. My shoulder was as hard as a rock and I was writhing. My son was going to try and rub it to make it stop but when he touched it I screamed. Then, I woke up.

You guessed it. In the worst pain. My shoulder, from neck to rotor cuff is just so painful. It feels as if someone hit me with a hammer. For a little bit my back hurt but that has eased off.

Actually, the week has not been too painful except for a migraine I've had for four days. The meds for that have kept it manageable but not eliminated it. I had that as well but I suspect the shoulder is the culprit. Usually when one hurts the other is aggravated.

I have been very depressed this week. My friend's son died on Monday and it was just so terribly sad. I think my week reflected this. I was depressed a lot. I went to the viewing on Thursday and then the funeral on Friday. The wife was just a wreck as expected. I felt so very sorry for her. She cried and cried. She'd go stand beside the coffin and weep, then, she'd sit in a chair nearby for a few minutes and then get up again and lean over the coffin and weep. It was terrible.

Twenty-nine year-olds should not die in their sleep. I will be glad when they all know what happened. People feel there should have been a sign to tell them something was wrong. The coroner make the comment to his father that it could have been his heart. The father has a very serious heart condition and he is feeling guilty because his son may have inherited the condition and they didn't know. Then, my friend is worried that this could take a fatal toll on her husband. It is just such a terrible burden on top of his death. I think when the results is in, they will find some peace. I truly feel it was the fall he had a few weeks before. I think something was missed in the ER and it slowly killed him.

Well, my bills are calling me so I must go. I hope you all have a good weekend. If I get a chance and my pain levels off I will drop back in.

Friend and Co-Worker's Son Passes

I would appreciate it if you could all pray for a friend of mine. Carolyn is a woman I work with who is also my good friend. She called me this morning at 7:30 a.m. to tell me they had just found her son dead. Her husband has a very serious heart problem and this was their youngest child and only son. Obviously, she is upset over her son but I know she is terrified of her husband going into cardiac arrest.

Jeremy was 28 or 29, just my oldest son's age. They do not know what happened. His wife tried to wake him for work and he was cold and blue. They have one child and she has two from before the marriage. He'd been taking Loritabs for a back problem and was to have back surgery but the coroner said it could have been his heart. They won't know until they do an autopsy.

This is so said. This boy had Attention Deficit Disorder and learning problems in school and had worked at a restaurant for years. This last year he landed a really good job where they really liked him and were giving him extensive training for the job. He was doing really well. His mother was so proud of him. Please keep them in your prayers this week.

Sunday Social

I'm about to go to church but decided to check out some of your blogs and leave a note. My aunt and uncle came up for a visit late yesterday afternoon. They were visiting Branson, Missouri with friends and since I am kind of on the way home to Atlanta, Georgia for them, they came in for the weekend.

They only get to come up about once a year but I don't know how much longer. They are in their 70's and in really good health but my uncle's back is really bothering him this morning. He has a back case of sciatica this morning and can't go with us. I hardly ever have a way or the money to go there. It also gives them time to see Sarah, their great niece.

The weather is lovely here. The nights are in the 50's and the days in the 80's but we've actually had a breeze so it hasn't been too hot.

They always stay in a hotel because I don't have any extra beds. I hate it but it means I spend less time cleaning and more visiting with them. This is my mother's sister and she lived at home with us until I was 9 years old. She was like a big sister and after I grew up, she was more like a mother to me. They are really wonderful people and I am always so happy when I get to see them.

Well, I an off for the morning. I will check in as time permits. They will be here through Monday and I took Monday off to spend with them. Everyone have a great weekend remaining and a wonder start to you week.

I know, Alice, it is time for more Mist. I'm working on it but I've been stalled for a few days.

Welcome Wagon

I've added a new contact this past week. Please run over and welcome my youngest sister, Roselynn.

Link

She has begun to set up her page. I don't know how much I'll hear from her but looks like she's making a start. Might take her a bit. She is a foster mom, who this past year when I visited in May had five foster children, a son in Iraq and a daughter in high-school. So, I'd say busy is her name. She is married to the my most favorite person and most wonderful brother-in-law in the whole world. Everyone should have one like him.

I'm glad you joined me, Roselynn!

More Answered Prayers

I suppose since I share lots of bad news around here that I should share some good news once in awhile. Let me first thank all of you who have prayed for us. This has been a difficult week of ups and downs.

Mike's girl friend found today that she is not pregnant. I think they were as relieved as I am.

Mike got a job. Please, please, please keep Mike in your prayers about this job. He has such a hard time keeping one. Either they don't like him (he doesn't read social ques very well and unwittingly makes comments that come off as annoying) or he can't do the work because of one of the disabilities he has (poor comprehension, deaf in one ear, visual and auditory learner). This is a dispatch job with a transportation company and I think he can do it if the hearing doesn't interfere too much. He's deaf in his left ear only so I am praying that it won't present a problem. Just pray that God will help him learn and do what the job requires.

He is supposed to get an apartment in about a month so this income will help him getting set up. I am hoping it will be a turning point for him. He needs a job for many reason, not just survival. He needs some successes for a change. His whole life has been a series of failures and it has been so difficult to watch the bright, sunny, energetic little boy everyone adored develop into a frustrated young man who feels like it was a mistake to be born. I've run out of options and solutions with Mike. If this doesn't work, I don't know what will happen to him.

I do believe these are answered prayers. I don't think any of it is an accident. I have only one hope and that is in the Lord. Despite disappointments and heartache, amidst storms and sieges, buffeted by winds of confusion and fear there is only one who shelters me and holds me close until the storm is past and the clouds are gone. I tell you truthfully, this week I have turned my face into His chest and let Him shelter me.

I'm going to bed, folks. I'm exhausted and weary.

Wednesday Laugh Line - Las Vegas Churches

O.k., I think we all need a good laugh. I've decided to call it my Wednesday Laugh Line to get us through the end of the week.


This may come as a surprise to those not living in Las Vegas, but it is a very spiritual city, with more Catholic churches than casinos!

Not surprisingly, some worshipers at Sunday services will give casino chips rather than cash when the donation tray is passed.

Since they get chips from many different casinos, the churches have devised a method of turning the chips into cash.

They send all their collected chips to a nearby Franciscan monastery, where the patient and detail-oriented men sort and count the chips. The chips are then taken to the casinos
of origin and cashed in.

This is done by the chip monks.

You didn't even see it coming, did you?

Where Can I Buy an Umbrella?

I'm serious. I need one. Better yet, how about an ark?

I found out last night that my oldest son's girl friend is pregnant. Under normal conditions I might be happy, not thrilled, but happy with the news. I do not live under normal conditions.

This girl is 22 and has a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and an 18 month old. She is basically homeless, living in her brother's house, sharing a bed with her mother and two children. She has no place to go. She does have a job but how long do you think she will be able to work? I suspect the brother will boot her when he hears she is pregnant. My understand is the family is angry because she divorced her husband, who just happened to leave her with three children and is not paying child support. My son is stupid and unemployed. He is the one with learning disabilities and so perhaps bad judgment is a better choice of words. At any rate, I can't move these people into my house, even if I had room.

You know, I don't know what to say here. I'm just really frustrated and angry with Mike. We have taught both these boys how to behave and they have loved doing everything we said was wrong. If they were the ones who had to deal with the messes, it might not be so bad but they simply leave the mess for us to deal with, just like they did at children. No, as children, I'd have beat the crap out of them if they didn't clean up their messes. Perhaps spanking are the cause of all this?

Admittedly, they both had choices and chose badly. Unfortunately, even the innocent are punished by the bad choices of others. I've told Mike he has to take care of this girl if she can't work, and her kids. He is not dealing well with this whole thing. I don't think this girl realized that he has emotional and mental disabilities but I don't know how she could not. Some people want to be loved so badly, they'll take anything they can get and often this is the results.

Anyway, Mike has an interview this morning at a Speedy Lube. He can do this kind of work. I am asking you faithful friends to once again put this on your prayer list today. He had an apartment picked out and would have been moving next month to his own place. Now, I have no idea what will happen. But he needs this job badly. And he needs help to keep it.