Earl, the hurricane is moving in the Atlantic Basin in his "cone of uncertainty".
Earl is a big boy that currently is a Cat 4. All this is on the heels of the 5th Anniversary of hurricane Katrina. What I find fascinating is the news reports that, "People aren't boarding up their houses or moving to higher ground. Of course it has been a long time since a major hurricane has passed over the BVI's."
May-be the problem is me. I may not remember the last time a hurricane passed over the BVI's, but I think based on what I have seen I would have; prepared my home, secured food and supplies, and if possible gotten my butt out of the "cone of uncertainty". Human beings are incredible. We have short-term memory issues and some of us think that we are invincible.
As I was watching the reports commemorating Hurricane Katrina and listening to reporters I was struck again at our ability to think..."it won't happen to me". People standing on the roofs of their homes with signs that read, Help Us, Save Us. Didn't we ask them to evacuate? Didn't they stay?
Remember, hurricanes like wibbles wobble. One wobble and now it is heading right for you. If you are in the "cone of uncertainty" get ready, have a plan, be able to execute your plan. I don't want to see any of my friends on the East Coast standing on their roofs with signs that read: Help Me, Save Me.
Sex and lust are for young people. Love is forever. Love is NOT trains crashing in midair. Love is NOT birds singing.
Love IS when you get up for the umpteenth time and wipe up the bathroom floor after your husband’s catheter has leaked blood and urine more times that you can remember or count.
Love is wiping said husband’s back and giving him a back rub because he has been in bed for too long.
Love is walking together, be it hand-in-hand or with you beside a walker, quad cane, or wheelchair.
Love is when you sit in the OR waiting room and wait for someone, anyone to tell you that, yes it is taking longer than expected, but the doctor will be out soon to talk to you.
Love is accepting the reality that an erection is NOT the most important thing in a marriage. Companionship will last a lot longer. A sunset or sunrise will last a lot longer. Sharing a good book will last longer. Almost anything that you can thing of will last longer than an erection!
Love is lying in bed with your Mother and trying not to cry about your Dad, who may not make it through the night. Love is telling your siblings that it will be okay, even when you aren’t sure, but they need you to be strong.
Family is talking about nothing and everything at the same time. Family is quiet when you want to scream, “I can’t handle this!” And then a hug that lets you know you are not alone and yes, you can handle this and so much more.
Family is, “Call me as soon as you hear something. Once we know something we can make a plan.”
Family is looking at black and white photos with your parents and asking, “Who is that? How are we related? Tell me a story about them.”
Family is knowing that even though you haven’t talked in weeks or months, that they are in your corner.
Family remembers; the first Christmas, the first camping trip, the first time you got up on water skis, the time you were told that Santa lives in your heart, when you came out of the closet, when you cried because you disappointed them, and they forgave you before you asked. Family remembers all the firsts and celebrates them.
Family is learning that you have the coolest brother-in-law. That he would do anything for you. And that could include a day at the Spa.
Family is a free massage from a professional and no charge.
Family is rotating to the blow-up bed at the lake when all you desperately want a good night sleep, but it is your turn… so suck it up.
Friendship is sacred and rare. It is the call that says I need you, but please ask no questions. It is acceptance of your warts and the flashes of brilliance that others may miss.
Friendship is taking an hour out of their day to speak Spanish or just listen to you vent when speaking Spanish is the last thing on your mind.
Friendship is an invitation to a lunch of homemade burgers, salad, cold beer or wine and a view of the river that leaves you wanting more.
Friendship is the people that will take your cat for an indeterminate time and make sure that it is loved and cared for while you are doing other things.
Friendship is the quiet touch and, “We’ll be thinking of you.”
A good book can and will take you away from whatever is tearing at your heart. It is a friend that asks nothing of you and yet gives you more than you wished for…
Love is holding a baby for the first time and counting fingers and toes and thanking God that they are all there.
Love is your husband holding you while you identify the body of your child and together you stand and give witness to the life that could have been.
Hope comes in many forms. The unconditional love of your parents. The knowledge that your siblings will stand next to you and never doubt you. Hope is the baby or grandbaby that you hold in your arms and dream about the future. The quiet knowledge that no matter how bad you mess things up it can still turn out all right.
Love is learning to trust a child again after they have broken your trust. It takes small steps. It is a dance, it breaks your heart, and yet it can restore your faith in humankind.
Life is not what you think it will be, but it is more than you could ever imagine. It is full of things that take your breath away and things that make you take an extra breath.
And this I know…I am what I am because of all of you. To all of you who have believed in me, all of you that have questioned me and made me look deeper into myself. To all of you that have held me up when I thought I couldn’t take another step, to all of you that gave me hope when I felt my most hopeless. To all of you who loved me, even when I was my most unlovable. To all of you that told me I could do, whatever, it was that I was sure I couldn’t. Thank you.
I was watching FOX News, Hannity in particular, because that is what Michael watches. I consider myself an independent. I try, sometimes without success to look at both sides.
Well, get ready because I am on my Soapbox. Ms. Leeann Tweeden was on as a member of the "All American Panel." First off her outfit pissed me off. There she is in some sort of Army Green Fatigues that sport a number one in red, white, and blue. There is an emblem that states, "Support The Troops" Under her name is..."Television Personality". Right. As a disabled Vet I am appalled at her outfit. If she supports the troops I can give the address for the nearest Recruiting Center. She then can support the troops standing toe-to-toe with them on the front line.
I have never liked anyone wearing a version of the uniform that I wore with pride.
Yes, according to her MySpace page she has done several USO shows in Iraq. I am sure our young men and women appreciate that she took time out to go and give them some relief from the war.
So I googled Ms. Tweeden. Very interesting. Here is her Wikipedia page. (I copied it)
Leeann Velez Tweeden (born June 13, 1973) is an American model. Tweeden was born in Manassas, Virginia. She graduated from Osbourn Park High School in 1991. Tweeden skipped college altogether and instead pursued a career in modeling. Just two years after leaving her Virginia High school, while working as a hostess at a Hooters restaurant (she was in their 1994 calendar) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she won first place in the Venus International Model Search in 1992. This break led to national exposure. Tweeden modeled for promotional work for Hooters and Venus International along with Frederick's of Hollywood and Playboy.
The March 2007 Issue of FHM (which was the final printed US issue) features Leeann as the cover girl.[1]
Tweeden was a correspondent for Fox Sports Net's Best Damn Sports Show Period from 2000 to 2007. In 2008, Tweeden became the third hostess of the NBC late night television series Poker After Dark.[2] She was a guest on the Sean Hannity Show on 1/20/2010, 02/24/2010, 04/30/2010, 06/21/2010, 07/20/2010 and 8/23/2010 on the Great American Panel.[3]
As part of Hooters' 25th anniversary in 2008, Tweeden was named among "The Top Hooters Girls of all time".[4]
In 2009 she became the public face of the website Rethinking Autism which uses a series of videos to educate the public about autism.[5]
I applaud your support of Autism.
But really, this is who we are listening to for political insight. I have trouble with this when the first thing you see on Google are the photos of Ms. Tweeden in various half dressed poses. And in case you are wondering. FHM...For Him Magazine.
Are we all thinking with our small heads???
Her Quote:
“If it weren’t for those men and women, there’s no way I’d be on TV or be able to do FHM,” Leeann says. “I’d probably be covered in a burka—and what a waste that would be.”[6]
Mr. Hannity...if you want me to take you seriously then please do me the courtesy of having people I can listen to that may actually know what they are talking about.
It has been in the triple digit temps since I arrived in Arizona. There must be some humidity because the locals are complaining. I will try never to say, “It’s a dry heat” again. The a/c runs constantly in the afternoon.
By five pm it is usually down to 100 in the shade and that’s where I have my Happy Hour. I must get outside sometime.
As I sit outside the door and gaze at the Santa Catalina Mountains I watch the dove come out of their cacti homes and fly around the campground. During the week it is a constant flow of cars, trucks, SUV’s, crossovers, and motorcycles leaving the Base headed home.
You can go grocery shopping anytime of the day or any day of the week. It wears me out. There are so many choices for everything. The cereal isle can bring me to tears. So I have simplified that isle…Cheerios. Yes, basic old fashioned Cheerios. And based on the study I read on Yahoo (that font of knowledge) Cheerios are actually good for you and will help you lose weight.
The meat counter leaves me speechless. First off I go into shock at the prices. Then I look at the cuts of meat. I miss the launcha from Casa Guatemala that comes to the marina twice a week and has pork, chicken, yogurt, cheese, butter and occasionally crab or lobster. They even do special orders!
The other problem is that I just plain buy too much stuff when I am shopping in the US. The fridge in the RV isn’t that big and if you want a 6 pack of beer, a ½ gallon of milk and a bottle of chilled white wine then you are asking a lot of it. Of course it doesn’t help that everything is SUPER-SIZED!
I find that I can’t get enough green salad and real tomatoes and lunchmeat. Chicken, turkey, smoked, roasted, deli sliced, shaved and pastrami, roast beef…you name it you can have it. You can have it in over abundance. I haven’t even talked about ice cream. Cynthia and I try and walk by without making eye contact with the Blue Bell, Blue Bunny, Ben & Jerry’s or the other brands that are like sirens at sea calling sailors to their deaths. Vanilla, Rocky Road, Mint Chocolate Chip, Moose Tracks, Bunny Tracks, Banana Split, etc. Don’t’ forget the frozen yogurt and sherbet!
Sushi at every grocery store made daily. They are right next to the bakery. Who knew there were so many kinds of bread, long, short, round, loaf, white, whole wheat, whole grain, sliced, unsliced, rustic, peasant, French, and double fiber.
I am still figuring out where to put stuff. The fall back position usually ends up being the driver and passenger seats up front. We can’t use them while we are parked so they might as well store stuff.
I do like the Dish TV. Please don’t tell Michael. I like that I can tape a show and watch it when I want. I especially like fast forwarding through the commercials and the political ads.
Life is simpler on the boat in Guatemala, but I don’t miss the five-hour bus ride to the city. I love getting into my car and driving 15 minutes to get…beer, wine, lunchmeat, cereal, and potatoes. Oh, you get the idea. It is the land of plenty.
A simple blood test could save the life of man that you love. I know. It saved the life of my father, my husband and several friends.
One of my favorite musicians, Dan Fogelberg died at the age of 56 from prostate cancer. That is too young.
So If there is a man you love please encourage him to have the PSA test done and the Digital Rectal Exam.
What are the key statistics about prostate cancer?
Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The latest American Cancer Society estimates for prostate cancer in the United States are for 2010:
About 217, 730 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed
About 32,050 men will die of prostate cancer
About 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. More than 2 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 36 will die of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer accounts for about 11% of cancer-related deaths in men. The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. These rates are used to create a standard way of discussing prognosis (outlook). Of course, many of these patients live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis. Five-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed and first treated more than 5 years ago. Improvements in treatment since then may result in a better outlook for recently diagnosed patients. Five-year relative survival rates compare the observed survival with that expected for people without the cancer. That means that relative survival only talks about deaths from the cancer in question. This is a more accurate way to describe the outlook for patients with a certain cancer. According to the most recent data, for all men with prostate cancer, the relative 5-year survival rate is nearly100% and the relative 10-year survival rate is 91%. The 15-year relative survival rate is 76%. Keep in mind that 5-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed and first treated more than 5 years ago, and 10-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed more than 10 years ago. Modern methods of detection and treatment mean that many prostate cancers are now found earlier and can be treated more effectively. If you are diagnosed this year, your outlook is likely to be better than the numbers reported above.
The above is from the American Cancer Society
Here is a link to the Prostate Cancer Foundation on wikipedia
On our latest flight to the United States there were several occasions when we needed, "Social Police".
I am willing to take on the job. You may be wondering in what occasions would you need Social Police. Let me enlighten you.
Carry on Bags: All the signs tell you the dimensions of the approved size. If you look around there are several people that have bags for carry on that exceed the size limits. That's right...time for the SP. "Excuse me sir/madam you are correct the rules do NOT apply to you. Go right ahead and break the rules."
Sitting in the waiting area. Our carry on bags have been inspected and we have been wanded twice. But we are flying out of Guatemala so 30 minutes prior to boarding you have to get out of your seat and let them go back through your bags and wand you one more time. Oh, and you can't have any drinks in the seating area after that last inspection. Now is when you need a SP. Someone always goes under the radar, gets a drink and sneaks it back in. How can this be? Because the employees are so busy chatting that they are not doing their jobs. I got so upset when I watched two women sneak two drinks in that I went up to the employees and asked why they could have a drink and we could not. It is amazing how fluent my Spanish is when I am pissed off.
Now we are getting ready for take off. The announcement is made that we ALL must turn off our electronic devices. That's right...time for the SP. "Excuse me sir/madam you are correct the rules do NOT apply to you. Go right ahead and break the rules." If we crash because you couldn't wait a couple of minutes to start your movie/music/etc that's okay.
If you must use the forward toilet the Flight Attendants make several announcements that you must line up behind row THREE. It is against the LAW to line up in front of row THREE. Someone call the Social Police! It seems that everyone believes that that rule/law does not apply to them. Even when they are reminded.
I must tell you the final event that really put my panties in a twist, it is as follows:
We land and there is applause. (I am not sure when that started...applauding the landing. In all my working years no one stopped and applauded me when I did a good job. But that is a different Blog.) So we are taxiing down the runway and people are standing up and taking down their luggage. The flight attendants start making the announcements. "You must stay seated we are on an active taxi way. All luggage must be returned to the overhead bins." Someone please call the Social Police. Some people sat down. Not one of them returned their luggage to the overheads. The flight attendants had to do that little job.
Enter the drunk. In the seats behind us was a young family with two small children. One of the children was in the mother's lap so the aisle seat was vacant. The drunk sat down and began to be extremely profane at the top of his voice. The mother asked him to move as she had paid for that seat and now her two year old son was now parroting the "F" word. Half of the plane laughed at this. Now the drunk takes up repeating, "Get back to your seat, you made my little boy say the "F" word. Oh, how horrible." At this point I pushed my attendant light since it appears that they did not want to be involved. Finally he was asked to get back to his seat. In the mean time his buddy came and sat next to me. He is hitting on the girls across the aisle from me and now he is talking loudly about how up tight the young mother was...and he starts up with the chant. At this point I ask him to go back to his seat. I even said please. His response, "You sweet, sweet woman" As he was leaving, my response, "And you young man are a jack ass!"
The first young man again became loud and belligerent for a second time. He was escorted to the front of the plane and I can only hope that he was met by the police. And I am not talking about the Social Police.
I could go on and on, but it is time to get off my soapbox. Cynthia and I are working on our uniforms.
P.S. Before the young mother left the plane I told her that she was the one that deserved the applause. She stood up for her child.
