Preview My Book?

Hey everybody, man have I been busy. Tuesday is my surgery day, so I figured I would get on here and at least offer an update on what's been cooking lately.

As I mentioned in earlier post I am currently final editing one of my books and half of the book is now uploaded and available for welcome review and input:)
It is a really cool site, run by Harper Row, A very major publishing house. You would need to go to
http://www.authonomy.com/books/27150/your-cancer-diagnosis-today-life-before-during-and-beyond-cancer/

From here you will be able to view my book, as well as a whole bunch of others if you want to register. It's free. What the hey feel like you have a book inside you waiting to come out? Have time to read and really like reading? It's a great site:)

I would of course very much appreciate it if my friends would all BACK my book on the Authonomy site... please> Top 5 each month are reviewed by editors of 6 different publishing imprints.

Sarah Palin's Alaska: Changing Opinions?

I must say I am very skeptical of government and mega corporations (They go hand in hand you know), and at the time that Sarah Palin was "sprung" on the American public, as John McCain's running mate it felt like this woman was just one more thing being crammed down our throats. Ya Know what I mean?

The way the whole thing went, the hype, the drama,  just really immediately turned me off to the idea of her in the capacity of Vice-President of the United States, and quite frankly as an individual.

Now, I do realize Sarah Palin's Alaska, being a reality show, is of course somewhat contrived as well, but I have actually watched a couple of episodes now and a strange thing is happening.

As I watch and see her in the elements and nature it is clear that she really is an outdoorsy woman, and her love and ability to be comfortable in the natural elements cannot be faked. She really has fished and hunted, she really does love family and nature. That goes a long way in my book. Too many people have become disconnected with mother nature today, living within sheltered cities.  I know I would not, could not, live within a city, even a small one, not for all the conveniences in the world.

Sarah Palin, I may not be ready to consider you as a serious Presidential possibility, yet...but, I do think that if you and I met in a different life, a different world, one without so much division, mistrust and hate, that I would consider you high quality friend material, as we have a bit more in common than I thought at first.

I want my President to be someone I can look up to and trust that they are doing right for the people, who are the heartbeat of America, someone who knows what the right thing to do is and is not afraid to do it. Someone who refuses to be another puppet with strings attached to corporations and secret societies and secret agreements. That person will be free spirited, compassionate, wise and brave.

I will be watching Sarah Palin a little more, with a little less pre-conceived sarcasm.

Where Does The Time Go?

Goodness gracious I am sure by now many of you thought I had dropped off the face of the planet , lol, it has been so long.

Well I have not disappeared, nor have I met with any worrisome fate, I have simply been Very busy. The days of preparation and anticipation awaiting Thanksgiving culminated in a grand feast yesterday. Well to be honest the meal was not the culmination of the days feasting.
I could gross you out haha ,and since it is not a feast day for another few weeks, I think I will, because I am after all just writing what comes to mind here....
We all enjoyed a cup of my BBB   after our meal, and this morning when I stood up after taking my morning dump, for lack of a more pleasant way to say it, I had one of the best laughs I have had since I saw this girl here.  I am talking I laughed so hard I cried, and I am still suffering from random outbursts. I did a poop (Laughing again) that was , without exaggeration, over a foot and a half long! OMG!
Yes, it was a good meal.

Anyway.... Yes I have been Very busy lately. I have been working on a number of papers, as well as organizing and editing one of my books for review, as well as preparing for company that arrives next week, and doctors appointments here and there, as the day of my shoulder surgery draws nearer, and of course filling orders for Mother Nature Herbal Green Teas. But all of this busy-ness has been in a positive manner, so it's all good:)

I hope to soon make time to get a few opinion pieces up here, as well as continue work developing my little mom and pop webstore, but in the meantime....
Peace Out to All>
And I will try to get back here on a regular schedule soon.LOL Most likely this will be while I am recuperating from my surgery, scheduled for December 7th.

Many Religions But Only One God

Ever think  how many wars and divisions have flourished because of our religious differences? Too Many.
One of the strangest divides I do not understand at all is the wall between Christianity and Islam. Between The Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths there is the clearest evidence that all 3 of these religions (A Triune so to speak) Clearly refer to the same God, and  aside from the western Christians rejection of the Quran, all three faiths share scriptures, Prophets, Angels, etc... Abraham, Noah, Moses, Gabriel, Jesus, John the Baptist, Mary, ALL are named in these 3 faiths, so clearly all 3 speak to the same God. How have we formed such intense differences then? If God is the same, and his word is always true, then the fault must lie with us. The words, the message  doesn't not change, it's how humans interpret the word of God.

Even among just the Christian faith we see division. Catholic, Baptist, Protestants, and Methodists, etc... Were you baptized? Were you sprinkled? Or were you totally submersed ? OOH if you were not submersed you are going to burn in hell. When was your last confession? How much do you tythe? Do you attend  church regularly? If you do not go to church and worship on Sunday your bad. I don't know about anyone else but I can talk to my Lord whenever I want, and I worship him and am grateful everyday.  I enjoy a good church service when I make it:)

In many ways we are selfish to think there is no way anyone else could have had a communication , a relationship with GOD, except the way we are told in The Bible. To say that there are other paths that lead to the same God, does not detract in any way from the accuracy or authenticity of the Holy Bible. Quite the contrary often the more we examine differences between faiths the more we find similarities. In a scientific sense this means they would be corroborating evidence, actually supporting each other.
For example there are many parallels to be found between the  teachings of Buddha and Christ. Here are a few excerpts from the book Jesus and Buddha, the Parallel Teachings by Marcus Borg, Jesus scholar and Buddhist writer, Jack Kornfield. The Buddha sayings are taken from the Dhammapada and the sutras of the Buddha. The Jesus sayings are taken from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Buddha: One is the way to gain, the other is the way to Nirvana, knowing this fact, students of the Buddha should not take pleasure in being honored, but, should practice detachment.
Jesus: No slave can serve two masters For a slave will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Buddha: Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings. Let your thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world.
Jesus: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.

Buddha: If you do not tend to one another then who is there to tend to you? Whoever who would tend me, he should tend the sick.
Jesus: Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, so you have done it unto me.

Buddha: Consider others as yourself.
Jesus: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Buddha: One who acts on truth is happy, in this world and beyond.
Jesus: You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.

Buddha: Hatred do not ever cease in this world by hating, but by love; this is an eternal truth... Overcome anger by love, Overcome evil by good. overcome the miser by giving, overcome the liar by truth.
Jesus: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. From anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.

Buddha: With the relinquishing of all thought and egotism, the enlightened one is liberated through not clinging.
Jesus: Those who want to save their life will loose it. Those who loose their live for my sake will save it.

This is only one example, but truly  we must stop being selfish and condemning , judgmental, of each other because we know God in different ways. I personally have always been interested in this finding similarities. You would be amazed at how far back in time we can see these obvious clues. Who were the others in Genesis that after he slew his brother, and was sent out from Eden that Cain had to receive a mark on his forehead so they would not kill him? Western culture sees Noah and his immediate family as the only survivors of the flood, yet there are Flood stories in a number of cultures on different continents. This ongoing phenomenon of forced diversity is confounding to an open mind willing to look at the facts and follow their heart. When I say My God is the creator of EVERYTHING and EVERYONE.... I mean it.
How do people continue to  create boxes that one must fit into? Why do humans argue amongst themselves and continue to insist my God is Better than your God, or berate someone else's beliefs when He is ONE God?  
For example who is anyone to judge the  relationship between the Native American Indian Tribes and God? You think they were not speaking with the Father our Creator before the white man arrived? Of course they were. Just not in the same way as a Christian. In ancient Chinese texts, thousands of years old, Sumerian tablets also thousands of years old, we find similarities.

This is actually a very deep topic, that I am actually working on coherently explaining in much greater detail in a book that I have tentatively named My God Does Not Fit In That Box, I must close here for now it is getting late.
Seek and ye shall find:)

Flu Has Caught Up With Me

Damn all these nasty nasal aerosol mist flu clinics !! ! In the grocery stores, in the pharmacies, no one can avoid them... Now I have the flu. Who in the world thunk up the brilliant idea of willy nilly spraying flu germs into the air all over public places? I mean seriously. I think this is just the lead up to creating the scenario needed to enact "Mandatory vaccinations" . Under the guise of admitting and apologizing that the government made a mistake, that the nasal flu vaccines were a bad idea, we will most likely soon be hearing more about the controversial mandatory vaccination program.

Numerous articles have been written on the topic, especially over the past three years. In his article  Coming Soon: Dangerous Mandatory Vaccination Scam, Prepared by STEPHEN LENDMAN a GLOBAL RESEARCHER (June 10, 2009) Lendman states that "At least three US federal laws should concern all Americans and suggest what may be coming - mandatory vaccinations for hyped, non-existant threats, like H1N1 (Swine Flu). Vaccines and drugs like Tamiflu endanger human health but are hugely profitable to drug company manufacturers"(Lendman.2010).  One of his largest concerns noted regards The Project BioShield Act of 2004 (S. 15). This act was passed into law on July 21, 2004 "to provide protections and countermeasures against chemical, radiological, or nuclear agents that may be used in a terrorist attack against the United States by giving the National Institutes of Health contracting flexibility, infrastructure improvements, and expediting the scientific peer review process, and streamlining the Food and Drug Administration approval process of countermeasures." (Lendman.2010). In effect what they are saying is they have streamlined the process and at any time now if they say  you "MUST" be vaccinated it will be you must or else. What is the or else? Forced inoculation? Quarantine camps to hold you in? Who Knows.

Think about it a minute.... It does not make you just a wee bit uncomfortable that the DoD, the Department of Defense Federal Docket Management system 1160 Defense Pentagon Wash. DC 20301-1160, is running the show as far as your local pharmacy and telling you what vaccines you must get?

RE: DoD 2009-HA-0151;32 CFR Part 199 Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS)/ TRICARE: Inclusion of retail Network Pharmacies as Authorized TRICARE providers for the administration of TRICARE covered vaccines; Interim Final Rule.

CHAMPUS might want to look it up dears:)
Oh what an interesting, twisted world we inhabit today. Corruption and greed and the need for power and control at every turn.

Your local pharmacists all have until January 21 to comply and get certified or cease operations.

Goodness Gracious I Need To Update Here

Yes I have been quite busy of late, working on a number of projects at once. As if my days are not busy enough with 2x a day feeding of the horses and chickens and the rest of my animal menagerie, I am also filling herbal green tea orders for Mother Nature To You Herbal Green Teas (business has picked up with the onset of cool weather and repeat satisfied customers placing 2nd and 3rd Orders. Not only that, but I am concentrating on prepping one of my books for proofreading. Getting it completely clean and flowing you know?  Which in my case is often a major rewrite, because I am so fussy. I need to hurry up, gosh I must be related to William Wordsworth somewhere along the way. His now infamous Prelude was written and rewritten for years and years. He never considered it "right". One of his most famous works, and it ended up not being published until after his death. I don't want to do that lol:)

So as if this is not enough to keep anyone busy, on top of recovering my life post cancer, I am now faced with another decision that is consuming brain power.  I must consider whether or not to proceed with treatment for my shoulder problem. Right now at this point I am scheduled for the MRI Wednesday, and the orthopedic surgeon the following Wednesday. It is kind of a forgone conclusion between the docs that surgery will be required to fix it, how extensive we will know after the MRI. This is outside the realm of my cancer issues, and as far as we know so far, not related to radiation treatment damage. I was having trouble with the left shoulder well before cancer diagnosis, but it has worsened to the point range of motion has become very painful and limited, and it is now affecting my quality of life. I would be happy to hear comments from anyone else that has had rotator cuff surgery:) Was it easy? Was recovery quick? Did it feel better and improve your range of motion after? lol, not looking forward to ANY surgery. Boo.

But anyway, yes that's where I'm at, I'm still here truckin' along :)

Low Quality Fast Track Education Will Soon Become More Evident in Performance

Okay now I'm all for people getting an education, don't get me wrong, but.... Nowadays we are seeing all these offers for fast track degrees that leave one scratching their head thinking wait a minute I have that same degree and it took me four years of hard work and effort to get mine. I learned about the field completely. Within it's context of operation. Yet we began seeing advertisements about these "fast track" degree programs that began at guaranteeing that you could get that 4 year degree in just over two years. Then the ads started saying within two years. Today we can see claims of 18 months to a degree! How do they do it?

It's like the production line theory. You don't need to know how to build the whole car, you do not need to understand the combustion processes that make the motor produce power to turn the gears that make the wheels move, or how the braking system stops the vehicle. All you need to know is one small part of the  complete process of putting the car together.

This production line mentality has also taken hold within the agricultural industry. A chicken farmer may now know how to raise chickens that will grow to have a specific breast fillet size in a certain allotted time period, using specified food and medicine and limiting sunlight etc... but that same chicken farmer will have no clue on how to raise egg laying chickens for example, or how to hatch out baby chicks for that matter, because they all arrive hatched and ready to grow for this farmer. 

TPTB, for lack of a more accurate description, have now approached education in the same manner. That's why if anyone noticed these classes often offer very specific certifications. Kind of a degree, for a pert of a field within a field, within a field. This is especially prevalent in the medical, business and criminal justice careers. You know the same ones we continue to hear are booming? Insert sarcasm here> Yes they're booming, as far as hiring, because record numbers have been layed off or offered retirement packages in lieu of being laid off .

Now the companies and industries have regrouped, in some cases renamed themselves or in other manners reorganized, and sure they are looking to hire many new people. They will hire cheaper skilled employees, and it is my understanding that they will get a handsome government bonus as well. I believe there is currently a $3,000.00 credit for each new employee hired that last a year.

Okay so what makes this topic important enough to take the time and make the effort to write about this and try to increase awareness? Was there something in particular that set off my rant today?  Yes and Yes.

Number one we need to be aware of how we are being used and how it will effect us in the long term. If we willingly go along with the flow when we see things that just are not right they profit, and even worse they have no incentive to stop using us to make these huge windfall profits. If quality of service within the medical or legal profession at point of service decreases who suffers? Us.

You want to talk about the dumbing down of America? I'm not saying you need to be able to build that whole car, but, if you are going to be responsible for prepping an operating room for surgery, assisting a doctor, or be responsible for the care of invalid patients... If you are going be responsible for representing or advocating individuals in the due process of law... If you are going to be balancing the books of major corporations (may want to get a chef degree too), etc... You need to know the processes and procedures, the ins and outs, the legalities of, and the safety measures in place to be efficient. If the person before you has not performed their job correctly how will you know if it is not part of what you learned? If you receive and education that is so limited, so streamlined, that does not challenge or keep you on your toes, if it does not take into account variables that can make you say okay that works that way, but what if? Are you really prepared for your field? Who is it going to effect? You? Or the people you are taking care of?

It is not like today was the first time I was amazed at a lack of performance, competence,  or intelligence levels evident in the course of my daily interactions in various industries, whether it be medical, legal, or business related, but today was just such a dumb example I had to write how incredulous I was.  It's really not even a good example, because this involved only a bank teller, and it was more of a customer service type of issue, but when the bank manager failed to see and solve the VERY Obvious problem, I had to wonder at where this world is heading.

My husband had a check that had been sent for my birthday. It was from a Paulsen, to a Paulsen, and of course he's a Paulsen. He went on his lunch break to the bank branch near his job, which is the same one he has used for over a decade now. The poor man Never runs out on his lunch break, he packs lunch from home, so that he can relax and eat at lunch, and save money. But, he had had this check in his wallet a few weeks now, and decided to go cash it. It was made out to me, and I had already signed it, and put his account number on it. He gets to the bank drive up, sends the check in the tube. After waiting and waiting they finally send the check back to him in the tube, and tell the man sorry they can't cash it, there's no account for that name.

Now mind you Kev had a headache, he gets migraines occassionally, and I realize sometimes it does affect how quick he thinks, but what I do not understand is what affected the teller and the manager? This is the account his payroll  deposits into. We do have a few accounts, this particular one is in his name.and they said there is no account to  match the name? His account number was right there on the check? So now he parks and goes in mind you, thinking his account is messed up with the very recent Wachovia to Wells Fargo merge. He tells the inside teller, hands her the check, then the manager is called over, and there is discussion between the manager, the teller and Kevin. Result is they tell him again There's no account to match the name, they can't cash the check. In frustration, I mean for crying out loud it was only fifty dollars, Kev was like, the heck with this, I'll let my wife cash it, and takes the check back, puts it in his wallet again and leaves. He called me when he got back to work.

Now upon listening at first I am thinking like him oh crap, must be something wrong with the account! Oh no what about bills paid out, you know? We talked a little more, and I mean I was pretty incredulous. What do you mean they said no account? The account number is on the check. He says again repeating what he remembered them telling him " There is no account to match the name" . Now mind you I did not think I would be right, but I asked him " Honey did you sign the check?". He rustles a minute, gets back on and as he looks at the back, he says "no". Well you know what I was relieved on the one hand, okay account is probably fine, but seriously, how dumb are these people running the bank?

Now at this point you're no doubt thinking what's the big deal here? OK, Well now I get it, he needed to sign the check. I mean hello, any one walks in with a check in hand, the person cashing has to sign, even if it was or was not made out to me, or even if my name was on that account, he would have had to sign. If man comes in with a check with a woman's name on it I would think should raise questions of identity right? I asked him "did they ask who you were?" And he says " yeah they asked if I was your husband, and I said yes". So then I was like, " well hun why didn't you just sign the check when they asked you?"  They never asked him to sign it. Just said they couldn't cash it. Not a single person in the combined group thought uh... wait a minute, account number matches Kevin Paulsen,  oh okay Mr. Kevin Paulsen could you sign the check? I mean I just don't get it, wouldn't you have asked him to sign the check anyway? Didn't he NEED to sign the check anyway?

I did call the bank after I spoke with Kevin. I spoke with a manager, and I explained the whole thing. I was very nice, told her the situation and how I didn't understand why someone did not just tell Kevin to sign the check... he was Kevin Paulsen. I even said to the lady, it was so dumb it was actually funny, and definitely not lawsuit material. I was told a higher manager will be calling me back. Well I had to come back and edit this in because I did not get the call back until later in the afternoon after publishing. The lady introduced herself very professionally by title and said she wanted to discuss the "situation" with me, and how she had been "working" on it all day (i'm laughing again as I am writing  this in). I tried to stop her because she sounded like this was a big deal, when really I had just been wondering why someone didn't just tell the man to sign the check. She was telling me about all these legal battles Wachovia had about cashing checks when they weren't joint accounts and telling me that it was an  evolutionary process for Wachovia and Wells Fargo to reach the standard procedures in place today, and how she "finally" has on her desk in black and white the ruling in place now, and she starts reading off about the last signer of the check was the one that had to have the account, and finally I stopped her. I said yes, he would have been the last signer if someone had told him he still needed to endorse the check. It sounded like she had gone through quite a bit of effort researching and trying to figure out the bank's protocols for check cashing policies. All in all I still say it was so dumb it was funny, but sad that in the process of moving through three levels of customer service no one got it. He just needed to sign the check.

I know it's a dumb example. But that's my whole point. It was such a dumb example of business management, as well as customer service.


Oh and a PS aside to anyone that is thinking to correct me on the fact that you need to have sufficient funds in your account to cash a check from another bank, trust me, there are multiples of the sum of $50.00 in the account in question. It was a simple matter of no one asking him to sign the check. His name is the one that matches the account number for the account at that bank.

A better example could be found in the story of the paralyzed man who suffered severe brain damage because of an undertrained nursing care specialist. Not only did she accidentally turn off the poor man's respirator, but in the video admits to training limitations. She tried to ventilate through his nose and mouth because she did not know she needed to hook the ventilation bag to the port hole in the side of his neck. This patient went a total of 21 minutes w/out being able to draw in oxygen because of this "mistake". A mistake that was simple lack of proper teaching. She did not know what to do in the event of emergency.

Why was video running at the time? As you read in the story, the man had been concerned about the quality of his care and lack of medical skills and knowledge for quite some time. He had the video surveillance installed so that if he died, people would know why.

We are going to be hearing more and more stories in the future about improper training causing major problems in the future, no doubt. The really sad part are the people making these mistakes guilty, in some cases should they be charged? Is it their fault that the education they invested in to better their future was not up to par or incomplete? Is it their fault the degree given to them allows them to enter job positions of responsibility that they are not really capable of handling? This will be an interesting topic to follow in the near future. It reminds me of a movie that was so dumb, can't recall the name, but this scenario is what it was based on. Everyone was dumbed down.

Updates on Me and My Herbal 3 in 1 PetTea

Yes I know it has been a few days and I do apologize for that. For new comers to briefly update I am a cancer survivor who is in the process of getting back to living after successfully completing all of my chemo and radiation treatments for a stage IVB throat cancer diagnosis in 2009. I mentioned a few days ago that I was having a reality check because I was kind of under the weather. While I do have some issues to contend with they are related to damage from the extensive round of radiation treatments, and Not recurrent cancer.

My last PET scan was clean, so that was wonderful news:) My thyroid, which was directly in the line of fire has developed some problems though, that while not life threatening, on some days are life altering:) Best news of all this though is that I can do without my thyroid. Kind of in a wait and see holding position right now, as the docs are waiting to see if my thyroid is going to continue to degenerate, or if it will regenerate. Apparently it can go either way. I just wish it would hurry up and make up it's mind lol.

Anyone with thyroid problems can tell you whether it's hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism the condition can make you pretty miserable until the right balance is achieved. For me it has been hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism because my thyroid is sick right now. Some days when the Pituitary gland asks it to produce T3 and T4 cells, it does, and other days it doesn't. I am either freezing, sleepy, and having muscle spasms and cramps among other things, and some days I am sweating profusely, and have gone 48 hours straight without sleeping. Hyper days have even sometimes caused heart fluttering and chest pains. I have been tempted to double up on my synthroid on the low days, butthat will mess up blood test results that are trying to pinpoint exactly what my thyroid is doing and what it wants, so I am not doing that. Besides with my luck I would double up and it would be a hyper period that really gets me in trouble. So very much a one day at a time thingy here:)

As far as Deb's Herbal 3 in 1 PetTea, yes it will be available at Mother Nature To You   starting tomorrow afternoon:) The results from our testing in all 3 capacities as a natural herbal pet deodorant, insect repellent and to heal wounds have been impressive, and I look forward to receiving glowing emails about this product in the near future:)
Peace and Love I am off to the barn:)

Just Tinkering Around

Word of the Day
AN ANACROSTIC Piece of Poetry
Read More


What is in a word you say
Oration, inspiration, leading the way
Right, or wrong and Good and bad
Disillusionment, collusion, rotten, sad

Or
Free, and fun, happy and glad

The choice is ours
Here and now
Every one joins in, that is how

Desire for change in
America grows with
You and me in the know

American
Revival
Movement for
Awareness of
Good and
Evil and
Dangerous
Deceptions in
Our
Nation

Bank of America's Response to President's Pocket VETO

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTZ!
OKAY, First off I want to say I have NO intention of getting behind on our mortgage. As I have noted before we always make it in on time. I am even hopeful that if and when the economy recovers, and when OT picks up for Kev, and when I recuperate myself, we will even be able to get back to sending in extra each month like we used to, BUT, at the moment...

We live in Ga., which is not one of the 23 states that media has reported many banks have halted foreclosures in. Our state and a few others, actually allow foreclosure proceedings to begin after missing only one month. 15 days grace means 15 day grace. The past year, between battling cancer and dealing with rising costs of living, and falling overtime opportunities for my hard working blue color husband, I admit it has been rough. There have been plenty of times we have worried that this would be the month we were short for one of the mortgages (yes we have 2). But... Cast your cares upon the Lord:)

So, anyway The announcement about the 23 states was good news, but no help to us though.

I posted yesterday I was pleased with the President's decision to use his Veto powers. Well, today I can feel the change it brought about:)

Bank of America has announced ALL Foreclosure Proceedings Halted in ALL 50 States. Hurray. The bill President Obama pocket vetoed, also known as the “Interstate Recognition of Notarizations (IRON) Act  was written by Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Al. This is A bill which by the way passed the Senate with unanimous consent and zero commentary by major media.

A bill that now that it has been stopped, we may see a number of things coming into the light, if Bank of America's move is any indication.

I have always said things are kept hidden until they cannot be hidden any longer.

I believe what will unfold in the near future is we will find out that the IRON act was for all intents and purposes "put in to effect" at some point between its introduction in 2005 and the mortgage crisis hitting the news. In other words Before it was a Law. Now, since the act did not pass there is going to be an awful lot of paperwork that is going to need clarification.

 All I know is it is an immense weight off our shoulders, to know that we have time for things to get better, time that we will not have to be stressing AS much about losing our home. I am sure sighs went out across many homes in America today:)

President Obama Did Something Today That I Agree With:)

I was raised in the era of the School House Rock cartoons and those little truly educational jingles still readily come to mind.  Conjunction Junction, The Preamble to our Constitution, and among others my favorite How A Bill Becomes A Law.

Boy:
Woof! You sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Washington. But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is?
Bill:
I'm just a bill.
Yes, I'm only a bill.
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city.
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee,
But I know I'll be a law someday
At least I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Boy: Gee, Bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage.
Bill: Well I got this far. When I started, I wasn't even a bill, I was just an idea. Some folks back home decided they wanted a law passed, so they called their local Congressman and he said, "You're right, there oughta be a law." Then he sat down and wrote me out and introduced me to Congress. And I became a bill, and I'll remain a bill until they decide to make me a law.
I'm just a bill
Yes I'm only a bill,
And I got as far as Capitol Hill.
Well, now I'm stuck in committee
And I'll sit here and wait
While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate
Whether they should let me be a law.
How I hope and pray that they will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Boy: Listen to those congressmen arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you?
Bill: Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they decide to report on me favourably, otherwise I may die.
Boy: Die?
Bill: Yeah, die in committee. Oooh, but it looks like I'm gonna live! Now I go to the House of Representatives, and they vote on me.
Boy: If they vote yes, what happens?
Bill: Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again.
Boy: Oh no!
Bill: Oh yes!
I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill
Well, then I'm off to the White House
Where I'll wait in a line
With a lot of other bills
For the president to sign
And if he signs me, then I'll be a law.
How I hope and pray that he will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Boy: You mean even if the whole Congress says you should be a law, the president can still say no?
Bill: Yes, that's called a veto. If the President vetoes me, I have to go back to Congress and they vote on me again, and by that time you're so old...
Boy: By that time it's very unlikely that you'll become a law. It's not easy to become a law, is it?
Bill: No!
But how I hope and I pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Congressman: He signed you, Bill! Now you're a law!
Bill: Oh yes!!! (http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Bill.html)

According to the complete article by FOX network  President Obama has made use of a little known loophole called A "pocket veto" to stop passage of the latest in a long line of outrageous and damaging legislative acts that Congress has forced upon the American people. While I have not been overly impressed of late with our President's performance, IF he sticks by this move he will have re-gained  a modicum of my support.  

We are all well aware of the current mortgage meltdown. Whichever side of the fence you sit on, whether you feel people bought in to more house than they could afford and it is their own fault, or you feel that the economy is truly that bad, one thing is very clear, Corruption plays a role. There is more than enough corruption happening within the Mortgage industry without GIVING them even easier ways to hide the money and their crooked business practices . Currently 23 states have suspended foreclosures because of inaccurate, incomplete and at times non existent paperwork and documentation.

HOW, I mean SERIOUSLY, how could our Senators, our Congress possibly try to pass a bill that would allow mortgage companies among other little perks to be able to mass produce documents and affix a digital version of a notary's seal rather than the true seal of proof? You know with REAL hand signed signatures on one contractual paper. This would have been just another mistake, another move fueled by personal greed, that instead of helping homeowners would hurt them.

Supporters of the bill are claiming that President Obama can't use the pocket veto tactic because the Senate would need to be adjourned, and technically they are not yet. I say The Pres can VETO ANYTIME, and I hope he sticks with this one. While he's at it I would love to have him take a good look at few other new laws and regulations on the books.

Bayberries in Abundance; Another of Nature's Gifts

I truly never cease to be amazed at the variety and versatility of the ever surprising ever changing plant life, gifts from nature, that are all around me. From year to year I keep my eyes and my nose open to new additions. You never know what might sprout.

New plant species can germinate in a number of ways. For example many seeds are contributed via traveling bird species. Our feathered friends are well known for their talents to defecate freely as they soar the friendly skies. Branches and seed heads can also be blown from place to place, carried along by the wind on strong storm fronts.  If you have livestock or poultry nowadays like we do here you never know what may crop up. Passed through the intestinal tracts of horses, cattle and chickens, seeds from feed grains or hay may take hold and can prove difficult to identify until leaf, stem and fruit stages have been witnessed. These plants may also be difficult to eradicate if deemed useless and/or invasive. Since I feed my animals only whole grain feeds that have not been crushed and processed into pellet form the possibilities of germination occurring are greatly increased.

One pleasant addition that popped up a few years back were some shrubs that I recognized by the leaves as belonging to the myrtle family. The aromatic leaves tantalized my memory banks but more specific identification eluded me until this year when they began to bear fruit. They are Bayberry Bushes, also known as wax myrtles.  Lol I kept telling my husband I know this scent, what is it? I was probably thinking of candles at Christmas time, but kept failing to make the connection.

I love the smell when I pick a few of the leaves and crush them in my fingertips. Their little purple hued BB sized berries are quite plentiful this year and I am considering trying my hand at candle making. On a very small scale of course. It has been estimated that four pounds of berries will yield 1 pound of wax. You boil the berries in water, and the wax which coats the outer skin of the berries will float to the top. After cooling it can be easily skimmed off for use. 

Like many other of Nature's gifts from above the bayberry does have a number of known historical uses as an herbal remedy.  At this time I am not considering producing any consumable beverages for Mother Nature To You.  What I am considering though is preparing packets of bayberry leaves, berries and bark to prepare for use as a pet insect repellent. Doggy

I have read quite a bit about using bayberry as an insect repellent for dogs. It is said to repel mosquitoes, fleas and ticks, much like the close relative callicarpa or beautyberry. I have boiled up a concoction of berries, leaves and bark to test these claims for myself.

My boxer Shug has terrible skin problems that send us to the vet at least 2x every year. The vet said he is basically allergic to fleas. Shug has a terrible reaction when fleas bite him.  We take the usual steps, baths and (generally toxic) flea guard products, but he still is in an almost constant state of itching. Prednisone is what the vet usually prescribes for him when it gets really bad. There have been times it has gotten so bad the poor guy looks like he has mange on his butt. The vet says that happens because of his constant licking and itching. You have no idea how irritating it is to hear the thump thump thump when he gets scratching, and at night he is up and down up and down pacing from room to room. Some nights he is so bad that I have resorted to closing my bedroom door and shutting him out, which I've never done to him before. 

Last Night I sprayed Shug down quite heavily with my bayberry concoction, and used a small towel to just work the excess in down to his skin. I really soaked him pretty good. Let me tell you the results were VERY impressive. This poor dog slept like a rock last night for the first time in months. From about 10:30 p.m until just about 4:30 this morning. Today he is still not itching. We are talking about a dog that could not sleep more than a few minutes at a time, couldn't walk from one room to the next, or be petted, without the pedalling foot thumping motion starting, now at complete peace and ease after only one treatment. I was so amazed I got on the phone and have been off to visit friends with pets that they claim itch excessively.

I have so far used the herbal pet insect repellent on both of my dogs (our female KO, short for Knock Out, does not itch as much as Shug but we didn't want her to feel left out:), as well 1 cat and 2 dogs which belong to 3 different friends. Both dog owners have now reported that so far, 4 hours post treatment, much like Shug's results, itching problems have ceased.

This success seems to be more than a result of just flea repellent properties of the bayberry concoction. It seems to also have some kind of ability to soothe the skin as well. I will continue to test and investigate this product before proceeding with possible future marketing ideas though. I would love to hear back from anyone that has bayberry trees and tries this.

If you have a dog that can't stop itching Drop me a private note at looseleafherbals@aol.com and I will be happy to send a free sample packet during this investigative phase in exchange for your input regarding results after use:)


                    *************************OCTOBER 14TH ***************************
Thank You for all of your input and just letting everyone know thank you so much for your interest. I now have my limit for free samples from the e mails received at this point. If you have received a confirmation you can expect your sample to be shipped on October 22nd. Thank You for participating:)

On October 22nd our product
Deb's 3 in 1 herbal Remedies Pet Protection :
Relief for pets from biting pests, offensive body odors and raw itchy hot spots all in one product that you prepare fresh at home
Relief for pet owners from insects, smelly pets and thump thump thump.

Ode To the Wonder and Beauty of Nature; Inspired by A Walking Stick Bug

Yes anyone that knows me will tell you I am a weirdo that can find pleasure, enjoyment or wonder in any number of the simplest to the most complex occurrences and  inhabitants found in nature. Every day there is something beautiful, interesting, uplifting or amazing, awe inspiring, and occasionally even fear evoking, in one way or another to be found, discovered or observed within nature. Today my interest was captured by one of the biggest grand daddy of them all walking stick bugs I have ever seen. But oh there are so many other wonders of nature intrigue and attract me....

A rainbow back lit by the strengthening rays of a golden sun shining through the scattered remains of the tumultuous roiling cloud bank that the freshening breeze is gathering together and rushing along to the next thirsty and waiting patch of earth.
I have always loved rainbows. When I pulled into my driveway in 2005 upon returning from my trip to Biloxi Mississippi after Katrina, a large Rainbow was arched over our home. The Katrina trip and the rainbow are a true story for another time and telling, here, words can not convey the depth of emotion I experienced as I stood beside my once blue, now almost black, bug encrusted old Ford pick up... and wept.  It was the most peaceful, cleansing crying session :)

Inhaling the heady aroma of a flower at the height of its full and glorious bloom. Walter Hagen is known for saying "Don 't hurry. Don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So don't forget to stop and smell the roses."  I would like to think that his implication was intended more towards flowers in general, Because I love to stop and smell the flowers:) Taking the time to stop along the way and the smell the flowers can set a memory in your mind, associate a connection between the scent of a certain flower at a special time of the year. Like roses in chilly February for Valentines Day, symbolic of love, or lilies and crocuses representing rebirth and new life after winters passing. Flowers are associated with any number of events and seasons. From joyous gala weddings to somber dark funerals.  I have certain rosebushes here, for example the purple one my daughter Meg picked out at WalMart years ago, that I just can't walk past sometime. They call me "Hey stop and smell me, I smell real good right now." Lol and they are always right, they always do.
Whether it's a couple seconds, thirty seconds... doesn't matter, it is a few seconds of bliss. Release from every worry. Aroma therapy at it's finest. My all time favorite are lilacs. I love Lilacs in springtime. As a child on the farm we had such an impressive grove of Lilacs. We had a fort in among them. I can't recall the name right now, we called it something. Mom loved those purple and white lilacs. The house for those brief few weeks of the year, instead of smelling like baking bread and apple pies with a hint of lysol would be permeated with the sweetness of huge bunches of lilacs that we happily gathered and loved presenting to her. When we were younger I remember we also chose out whooping sticks from the lilac grove. And you better not come back with one that was not slim and supple.lol. Hey, it was the 60's and it was a rare event , and reserved for only the most serious of offenses that I and my 4 brothers were able to get in to.  I must say when we got punished, lol trust me we did something to deserve it:) .

Gazing at the ever changing sky over head. Whether it be watching the sun on its ascension, the first softly glowing rays emanating upward in cool subdued hues signaling another day in the cycle of life, or the brilliant reds and vibrant contrasts as the day ends  and twilight welcomes the Moon with its familiar phases.

Or savoring the fierce destructive power of a summer thunderstorm with its driving rains and whipping wind, the crack and snap of a lightening strike, accompanied by the ear splitting tempestuous rolling reports of thunder.

A welcome warm spring breeze after a long chilly winter, soft and  caressing like the touch of secret lover  and 
There is a connection and closeness to my Creator as I gaze upon the sky above me. The sky with its many faces is the one constant in all of our lives. 

Haha Okay, I have to leave off for a while but I will upload the walking stick pics lol . I'll get back on here later after I d some house cleaning to continue:)

 

He's a Biggun! Bigger than my hand:)

Health Care Disparities Today

I was recently asked for my opinion regarding racial disparities affecting the treatment outcomes for cancer patients.  I will say first off in response that one of the leading causes of delayed diagnosis stems from a problem that permeates America... Industries continued attempts to make statistic conform/fit to prove a case .

While over all statistics may indicate minorities are not receiving equal care I think further review of statistics would clarify that this distinction in a broader sense is related more to income, education and cultural disparities than purely race.

I have not been overly impressed with medical services at the primary care level myself, kick backs from pharmaceutical companies have skewed results and make care at this level impossible to determine any racial basis to claims of inferior care.

All too often patients present with long standing problems and are sent home with one form of anti depressant or another as a first level treatment. For a person like myself with insurance we may be willing to pay for these office visits enough times until we reach a point where we INSIST(IE what some may call Flipping out on our doctor in outrage) on further testing to determine what is wrong.

But, If I have limited income and children, who need dental and doctor care I am not going to be able to play the expensive visit the doctor to hear MMhhmm, yes, uh-uh, try this pill game so the Dr.'s office can gather statistics on the new pill more than one time, so care often ends up delayed for serious conditions. This may also be why ER visits are so high for some, especially in cases of conditions that have a tendency to flare up or go into remission.

Depending on ethnicity, there are also remedies and beliefs that may play a role, confounding determining quality of treatment issues.

Another distinction perhaps is the flipping out that I mentioned, or more precisely the ability to stand up for yourself and demand better. I think many economically disadvantaged people, those with linguistic challenges, or lower levels of education, etc. may not communicate as well to explain the health problem, they may hesitate to question or when needed yell at their doctor... the man is educated, socially superior, he is supposed to know best, if he says i'm fine I must be, etc.. Many have an ingrained personal class distinction issue, they feel there is no hope of fair treatment and so do not insist.

In this respect from the primary level of early diagnosis, I feel doctors are somewhat at fault, BUT, I still do not think it is racial based, the root lying more in disparities between education, culture, and finances. Whether you're rich, poor, white, black, insured or not, at the primary level the dr's do not discriminate who gets a pill. Time and again at the primary care level they will try a pill first for everyone they can if the patient presents in anything but a severe, obvious and/or debilitating condition.

I feel that Once diagnosed with cancer it is a different story. Upon diagnosis every oncology team member I have met 100% wants to save his patient, regardless of color, income or cultural beliefs.

Again communication plays a key role in a successful treatment regimen, and again education levels, culture and income are factors.

Patients need to make every treatment appt, they need to take meds as directed and on time, they need to be able to communicate changes and symptoms.

If you meant Within the scope of strictly cancer treatment : Here I see poverty, education and lifestyle choices as more of a barrier than race as the cause of the disparity between successful treatments and survival rates.

One of the greatest disappointments I have heard expressed the most by oncology team members is the fact that treatments are missed. One patient disappeared for over a month without contacting his doctors. It was later found out his car had broken down and he had no back up support system to deal with transportation. Another lady, during summertime did not have babysitters, under 11 years old children can not come in for chemo treatments, so she was missing treatments.

Time and again it seems to come down to they could not get there because of financial difficulties, and treatment was affected not by race but by poverty.

Lastly there is a population that lifestyle choices like continued alcohol and drug use for example, confound treatment success rates.

 I  agree that Yes prejudice does exist, it is not gone, it should be, but I just don't think it is the main issue here, it is broader than racial prejudice.

Many of our problems in health care, and our economy in general stem from overuse/ abuse of statistical analysis to attempt to solve problems or to promote an ideal or sell a product.

There are Too many people trying to make statistics fit what they are trying to prove, instead of looking at the statistics and seeing what they prove.

Well that's all I got, hope I have not offended anyone:)

Hey Everybody PET Scan results are in

Hey everybody been catching friends and family up on the good news, and I gotta get on here too... No Cancer Evident in latest PET Scan hurray!!!! Still a bit more waiting to go as we give the thyroid meds some time, and retest TSH levels over next 2 months. Doc said if the TSH levels come down, while i'm on the meds we will not have to worry about pituitary involvement as much as he is right now. 4 out of 5 of the areas that were in question he feels are tissue damage, most of them not only did not light up with the tracer, but showed little circulation at all, either way.  Doc said this is good because that means they are definitely not cancer. The thyroid gland itself did show faint tracer activity, but he said it was expected.  That's because right now I have what he said for lack of a better term we will call a form of thyroiditis. Some areas, such as sites of infection can show activity, and he said the thyroiditis accounts for the levels of activity seen there.

I will also say that as far as the thyroid meds I started last week, I have only been on the levothyroxine (I want to go name brand with the synthroid but 30$ a month with ins!) and I ALSO HAVE GOTTEN MY VOICE BACK! For the first time since the end of May, hurray! After only 5 days on the medicine, AND while I am still dealing with neck pain and headaches THE DARN EARACHES HAVE STOPPED, their still ringing away like crazy lol, but earaches suck! and I have had them pretty much constantly since May. Such a blessing to have them gone:) And the bad charlie horse leg cramps have not happened in 5 whole days now another hurray. Apparently I experienced what was known as a thyroid storm, which brought on many of the health problems I have been experiencing since end of May. He must be right, because the medicine has really made such a bi difference in how I am feeling.

I am still going through phases of hyper and hypothyroidisms, but the doctor feels this will resolve in the future. I can do without a thyroid if need be, my husband has not had one for years. It is even a slight possibility that my thyroid may regenerate, depending on how badly the radiation treatments have damaged it.  It just gets better and better :)
Peace out ALL

My African Gray Parrot Opens Locks

OK, now yesterday I didn't get time but I was going to post here about my crazy bird managing to undue hooks and locks. He is always letting himself out, and I worry that it's going to happen one day when I'm not home or in the house and the cats are going to get him. We have tried all kinds of locks, and yesterday I was going to post that that's it, I put a combination padlock on there.

OK, now lets see the little buggar get out , right? Well guess what, don't ask me how he figured out a four digit combination mind you, his patience must be infinite lol, but he is out again right now. Seriously what are the combination possibilities of 4 digits?

The idiot is as usual in there calling the cats. I really don't know what the cats might do, quite frankly they are so fat and well fed, but  you know that group mentality animals can get. Lord of the Flies just sprung to mind. But really what if Bird actually goes down off his cage?

I'll tell ya, a freaking combination didn't hold him! lol.
Well I have put him back in, and I will be giving the numbers a good spin, lets see how long it takes him this time :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezUB1uPgiI4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUEFVd-DVhA

This is him on a couple you tube videos

About the PET latest scans

Well as I posted earlier the latest PET scans were completed last Wednesday, and they said four days for report to be completed, so I didn't expect to hear anything until today anyway. I figured no news is good news. A few minutes ago my radiation oncologists office called, and they want me to come in Thursday. I didn't ask any questions, I think I will wait till I see the doc, what's a couple more days ?

Biggest Laugh Ever hay baling fun

They say laughter is the best medicine, oh my gosh I do not know when the last time was that I have laughed so hard :) My face hurts, my rib hurts. LOL I gotta watch one more time. I know naysayers, someone will say it's fake, but I found it hysterical. Guess you may need to have grown up on a farm to appreciate this sort of amusement :)

Pure Slimming Persimmon Leaf Tea now Available in Lemon Splash

Hey guys,
Just wanted to add here on the blog, because I don't think I did yet, but for all you ladies, and gentlemen trying to lose weight out there, the results from studies implementing Persimmon Leaf herbal green teas into your program have really been very positive. I have always listed the regular pure slimming persimmon leaf herbal tea, which has a dash of stevia, but I have  now added a lemon splash flavor persimmon leaf tea. This blend has persimmon leaf, lemon balm and stevia.
Tha's all for now folks, off to feed the horsies and the chickens:)

PET Scans Completed

Okay well just dropping in here very briefly to let everyone know that the latest PET scan was done on Tuesday. The tech said the report should be finished in 4 days, so Wed., Thurs. Fri only makes 3, Monday will be 4. The way I am looking at it now is the old adage no news is good news is best. I figure if there was something obvious I would most likely hear sooner, so like I said no news is good news on the latest PET scan. It is 100% possible and plausible that my problems are related to damage from radiation treatments, as opposed to the return of cancer in the same place, or another.

At my last appt with my Chemo doc it was also noted that my TSH levels were way too high, 25 plus, but my t3 and t4's were on the high side of normal. Could be the thyroid pooping the bed, as it was in the line of fire for the radiation treatments, main concerns are over pituitary gland involvement. I have been started on a low dose of levothyroxine in an attempt to stabilize or lower TSH being pumped out by the pituitary, and the intent is to monitor next few months and see where these levels settle. I have only been on the medication for a few days now, and as of yet can't say I feel better, but I will give it a try. Problem is I am having hyper and hypo thyroid symptoms, but doc says this can happen when the thyroid is in the process of burning out, or dying. Some days it puts out enough and other days it doesn't I guess:)

As far as Mother Nature's Herbal Teas things are going well, and orders continue to sporadically come in from various locations. I would like to welcome the state of Florida to our list of customers:) It will be time to put the garden to bed for the season before you know it, and I look forward to focusing on writing and art as I do most winters.

Well that's it for now, must be off to the post office to ship latest order, everyone have a great day:)

PET / CT scans Approved

Well small victory won anyway. My chemotherapy  oncologists Dr. S was amazed that scans were denied, lol never saw the small man so animated as he was at the last appointment. He told them that now my TSH levels were highly elevated and that my T4 should have been low, but was high, and now there are questions of pituitary gland involvement as well as thyroid (because last CT noted a spot on thyroid at that time) and he wanted the PET scan ASAP. Last scans had pointed out a total of 5 areas in question, that there was no way to tell if this was tissue damage from radiation treatments, or recurrent cancer. I am now scheduled for Tuesday, so in a few short days, unless there is another unforeseen fiasco at the time of procedure like last week, I should get some peace of mind that can only come with further information. Here's Hoping for Clean PET / CT Scans on Tuesday:) Latest problems really could possibly be combination of radiation necrosis and thyroid problems, both of which are very treatable and correctable, and it would be really nice to find out if the damn radio tracers light up or not at these areas under debate.

Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Coping in Tough Times

We all have our own personal crosses to bear the important thing is the grace with which we carry the load:) Yesterday mine was getting almost too heavy to hold on to, and my feet were faltering threatening to trip me, (translation: I was getting snippy and irritated, frustrated with everything, basically feeling completely negative thoughts) and when I thought I had reached a point where I knew I would not be able to take even one more step without dropping and breaking my cross (translation: dealing with health concerns, and finances, doctors and insurance companies) I paused for a moment (Translation: crying my eyes out begging the Lord to lighten my load, to give me the strength I needed to make it through these difficult times). Today I feel like I ate my wheaties lol and I know I can continue on steadily and with grace yet again for at least a while more:)

Latest Updates

It is pretty late, the tail end of a sad and somber day, actually just a little after midnight of 9/11, beginning 9/12.
As quick as I can will update on how those scans went that I was supposed to do last week. You may remember I was supposed to have a full body PET and neck and chest CT on the 9th. Well that day was an absolute scheduling and insurance company fiasco. So after waiting since June with recommendations and request for a new PET from 3 different doctors because last CT was inconclusive they said could not determine if the 5 spots they noted were recurrent disease or radiation damage w/o PET. Mind you this was all the way back to April and now here we are September, and still have not accomplished getting the PET accomplished because when I got there for the appts the only one that went smoothly was the lab work/bloodtest. There was supposed to be a CT neck and chest and a full body PET, somehow they had these scheduled as all separate. Ct neck at 10, PET at 11 over in another building, then back to first building for neck and chest. Which was crazy, the PET/CT can be done at the same time same machine, you guys know what I mean. When we arrived I tried to tell them that hey, why aren't these all together, why 2 different places to go, why run contrast 3 times? Oh well we're ready for you now, lets get you in for the neck scan, and while that's being done they were going to call over the other building, set up the chest ct to be done with the PET. Well while I got the Neck CT done, they made their calls, and the insurance company, most likely because of this crazy 3 procedures in 1 day that could have been combined into one, denied my PET scan, and the chest CT. Very disappointing. Having been on edge waiting for the answer cancer or damage, this just stunk. Now I am supposed to go up again next week see my chemo and rad docs, and their going to try to figure out why the PET was denied, and get it scheduled next week. Now here's the dumb part, I already got a call and the chest CT is scheduled for the 16th, same day I see the docs, now if the docs are trying to push for a PET, here we go again insurance company is going to be looking at basically another double request so to speak. I just hope we can resolve this next week and just get the PET done. One Dr. was telling us we should just sign a waiver and get the PET done, like no problem $6,000 dollars, yes lets do that today. Sigh. Well, gee I guess I vented here pretty good lol. 

Looking For A Zitan Wood Expert

Hey everybody, just a quick post here, because quite frankly really stressing over the scans I have waited so long for and coming up with the next mortgage and car payment, ggrrrr I hate money, I dislike being sick, I dislike the economic downturn whew!!! Okay, I feel better saying it.
Anyway so I am trying to raise money, who isn't I know?  I have always had an eye out for "special" stuff and I do have a number of very nice items from travels and auctions over the years.

Most are one of a kind antique items that I would need Antique Roadshow ticket to ever figure out value. I have tried repeatedly to get picked in the random roadshow tickets drawing, but, sigh, have not been chosen yet. I still dream about it though, I know exactly what two pieces I would bring:)

All along I have known God will provide, he always meets our needs. It is entirely possible that one of these old paintings, sculptures or works of art could be valuable enough to pay off my mortgage. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Oh just thinking about it eases my headache momentarily.

What I am going to try to do here on my blog occasionally is post a piece and try to find an expert honest antique and/or fine arts appraiser to help assess fair value, like the road show guys do. LOL only I am hoping to find someone willing to do so out of the pure goodness of his/her heart or even an honest interest to purchase at a fair price would be great. I read somewhere that Jackie Chan has like one of the largest privately owned, not in a museum, Zitan wood carving and furniture collections.
Todays item which I would definitely consider as an antique based on some of the aging apparent on the wood is a carving  of  elephants crossing a bridge. The Bridge of hope you say?  There are many cheap 5 elephant imitations out there as I have found, but trust me nothing like this one.
The wood is very smooth, dark, almost purplish to black in some areas. I believe the wood to be Zitan which from the little I have learned is quite rare. The piece is VERY heavy, weighing 11 lbs, and while I have not put it in water I am quite sure it will sink like a rock.
The eyes, toenails and tusks are all inlaid with what I believe and hope to be bone or ivory. A heated needle point did not sink into a test spot.
While the Bridge of Hope in my research seems to be more related to Africa, this piece is clearly from Sri Lanka. How do I know that? Because in crude lettering in more inlay it says Sri Lanka.

Also this zitan wood hand carved statue has nine elephants crossing the bridge, and for some reason all the others I have been able to find only have only five.
Here are a few pictures:

it is approximately 26 inches long and 11 inches high

it weighs approx. 11 lbs.

If there are any antique, or Zitan wood expert out there who would be able to offer any assistance at all in determining value or appraisal of this piece your help would be sooooooooooooo  greatly appreciated.

Orders for Herbal Tea Beginning to Pick Up

Hurray, while I cannot say there has been a veritable landslide in orders for my herbal tea remedies / dietary supplements from Mother Nature to You Herbal Green Teas I am Very happy to  say that orders none the less are coming in. Thank You Lord.
We have recieved orders from Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, as well as many points in Georgia.
To my new customers I say "Thank You all for your patronage and enjoy your herbal tea selections in Confidence and good health"
I am off to bring in more prime lemon balm and stevia for drying.
oh and p.s.
For those interested in the persimmon leaf teas to boost weight loss programs? Check out Mother Nature's newest edition Lemon Splash Pure Slimming Persimmon leaf herbal green tea:)
All right I am off, peace out all.

Ooops I did it again

I know I am always letting the days slip away from me without getting any updates here, bad me bad me:)
Anyone else watch Housewives of New Jersey? It became a dirty little pleasure while I was going through my cancer treatments, and the seemingly never ending process of recouperation, I was watching more Television then. I still like the New Jersey Housewives though, haven't been able to find the New York Housewives, and I do not care for the D.C., not a big tv watcher really, but I just happened to get hooked on the New Jersey Housewives women. Teresa is my freagin' favorite, lol did you see her shove the host out of the way like he was a fly, lol. Her and Danielle make the whole show. Wish I could tell them to try my teas, I bet they go to all kinds of fancy restaurants. I tell my husband when they're on that my "friends" are coming over lol.
OK
What else have I been up to? Well bringing in a lot of stevia over the past week, and mint the week before that, and soon will be gathering a second nice cut off the lemon balm:) Always doing something around here. That's ok, I would rather stay busy anyway, less time for thought. Come on September 9th lol, can't wait till it gets here and gone.
Well, I am bouncing quickly, trying to update in a few places in a few minutes, but I promise not to stay away so long next time:)

Late Sunday Night Update

So it was a pretty good weekend, the really high temps that have been so bad have really eased off a lot, making it much more pleasurable to be outside now.
Speaking of outside I have been bringing in a very nice season of Stevia. Many of the plants are just now beginning to open thier delicate little white blooms. I am going to let a large portion go all the way to seed stage and collect. At the end of this season I will add a layer of soil and compost around the clipped low existing plants, and in this plant my new seeds. I will  put the plants to bed for winter with a covering of sterile straw probably end of October early November. The mint and Lemon Balm have been exceptional this year as well, and the bonus honeysuckle blossoms which were such a pleasure to smell this late in the season were a welcome bonus. Aromas and scents can make you feel good, especially if associated with a good memory. For me lilacs will always remind me of childhood:) We had a huge copse of them on the Farm in NewMilford. lol when you got in trouble that's where you had to go pick your switch. Mom loved lilacs, and so do I. Shame their season is so short. All I know is this season the Herbal Tea Ingredients are Primo.

More Good News, I would say the Armyworm battle has been quite succesfull, I have seen -0- of the buggars, moth, or catepillars for 2 days now, and no new progress showing through the Bermuda grass, so that's great. Key is now to just keep an eye out for the moths, as from what I understand blowing around on storm fronts they can travel quite long distances. So from now to first frost another wave could theoretically come through and start eatring where the last wave left off. At least now I know what the moths look like and will be aggressively watching for them. We'll see as hurricanes start to get active and high winds become a high possibility.
OKAY Night all
Till Tomorrow
Peace Out:)

My Current Favorite Song:)

I Love music and singing, not being able to sing has been one of the suckiest parts of this whole throat cancer mess, but this song MAKES me Smile and sing....
It hurts like hell, but it feels so good, wouldn't want to stop it even if I could
just the thought of you can make me Smile:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arLwtHj3Ta0

You´re better then the best

I´m lucky just to linger in your life

Cooler then the flip side of my pillow that´s right

Completely unaware

Nothing can compare to where you send me

Lets me know that it´s ok yeah it´s ok

And the moments when my good times start to fade

You make me smile like the sun

Fall out of bed

Sing like a bird

Dizzy in my head

Spin like a record

Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool

Forget how to breathe

Shine like gold

Buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

Ohh you make me smile

Even when you´re gone

Somehow you come along

Just like a flower poking through the sidewalk crack and just like that

You steal away the rain and just like that

You make me smile like the sun

Fall out of

bed sing like bird

Dizzy in my head spin like a record

Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool

Forget how to breathe

Shine like gold

buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

Ohh you make me smile

Don´t know how I lived without you

Cuz everytime that I get around you

I see the best of me inside your eyes

You make me smile

You make me dance like a fool

Forget how to breathe

Shine like gold

buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

You make me smile like the sun

Fall out of bed

sing like bird

Dizzy in my head

spin like a record

Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool

Forget how to breathe

Shine like gold

buzz like a bee

Just the thought of you can drive me wild

Ohh you make me smile

Ohh you make me smile

Ohh you make me smile

9/03/10
Just got done listening again, still smiling, I listen and I see my kids, my kids kids, it makes me sad too, because they're so far away, but I feel so much love, so much joy just listening... sigh miss having them all close by:(
Empty nester confessor

Bad News Number Three? And the Continuing Saga of the Armyworm Battle

Well as far as bad news number three, I guess not so bad, although I really will not know for sure until after September 9th. I did go my appointments Friday, but I have so many things going at once that I am trying to keep up with, I never got back on here to update on the cancer stuff.

Yes, I have been approved for and the PET/ CT scan, it is scheduled, they called me yesterday, and it will be done on the 9th, as well as having labs drawn for the chemo doc that day, then I will see Dr. B and Dr. W again and we'll talk. Here is the post cancer treatment information that I have from them as far as opinions on what's up so far.

The persistent edema (swelling) has continued longer than "normal", and was attributed to "slow healing" up to this point. Now though, since my taste buds have been returning in leaps and bounds, indicating healing is progressing, this makes them feel possibly not related to slow healing. Persistent swelling could indicate recurrent disease. Also the loss of voice they are very concerned over. This is because when scoped the throat actually looks GREAT, except for swelling. My vocal chords are free and clear of any obvious problems, which means it is most likely the voice box itself having problems now. On a good note, kind of, the voice box problem may be related to damage from radiation treatments, and not recurrent cancer. On a bad note if it is necrosis of voice box as he suspects if adequate blood flow cannot be restored tissue death will continue, and could lose voice box which all the cancer treatments I have endured were to preserve. That would be a major bummer too.

So, putting these concerns on the back burner for now, till the 9th, and staying busy with other things. Like harvesting and preserving my herbs for my tea blends, taking care of my animal menagerie and FIGHTING ARMYWORMS lol.

The armyworms have a cycle that goes from the moth which is nocturnal laying eggs, small catepillar like worms hatch, eat and eat and eat, and then bury themselves in leaf and loose earth and grass debris in a chrysalis or pupea stage thingy, and then hatch out a moth to go do it all over again. One moth can lay like 200 eggs.

I do not use any pesticides of any kind around my plants or gardens, never have never will. First line of defense is diligence, catch the eggs stage on leaves. 2nd line, with the garden hose set to highest pressure I have been patroling the garden perimeter. With a stick I Have been squishing every catepillar and chrysilis I stir up from where they lurk, right at the root level. The 3rd line of defense? Attack the moth population directly, before they lay eggs.

For this application, yes I am using house and garden flying insect, instant death spray, BUT NO Where Near My Plants or Gardens. I am using  lights to draw the suckers in at three separate areas. The Back Deck, Out front near the main flood light in the driveway, and the light right above the barn door. You would not believe how many come into the light. I have been going out twice a night now, 10 p.m and midnight and sparingly sprayed onto a very limited surface area. Bazinga, that's a lot of moths that are not going to lay 200 eggs apiece.

We'll see how it goes. For a farmer trying to protect hundreds of acres I imagine my efforts may be futile, but I am going to give it all I got, without going against my beliefs.

As I mentioned in the earlier post, we would not be having the armyworm problem if there were no BT genetically modified Crops.

Okay Bad News Number Two That I Promised To Post

ARMY FREAKIN WORMS!!! Yes Armyworms. We have never had them before, but we do this year.
We are all familiar with gypsy moth caterpillars? Well these are similar looking to those. These armyworms are actually the larva or caterpillar stage of the armyworm moth.
Army worms are very destructive, eating the plants from the root system up. Thier favorite or preferred diet is bermuda grass, but when that runs out they have been known to consume just about anything. sigh, if it isn't one thing it's another.
We have a mix here of bermuda and fescue, and I had noticed there were weird looking patches in a few spots of the bermuda down near the greenhouse. A few days later this splotchiness had moved about 25 feet along, moving into the pool area. It was when I noticed this definate spreading trend that the local news aired a story about these armyworms. When they reached the concrete pool border they split into three groups, to the left, to the right and into the pool.
They are edging closer to my main garden area, so important to my herbal tea business, and since I refuse to use chemicals the only thing between the path they are traveling and the main bed is the railroad ties set in the ground around it. Here's hoping they choose the easier path and go around to either side, as the majority at the pool obstacle did.
So why are the armyworms showing up even into states farther north than ours? Because of BT Crops. That's right another incident of genetically modified crops messing up the balance of mother nature. Turns out besides killing innocent monarch butterflies and bees, which of course has been denied, the BT crops are also wiping out a helpful little hitchhiking parasite that usually attaches to a cutworm larva in the very early stages, resulting in death.
Well it is late, and I am tired, I will elaborate here in greater detail, with links on the armyworms tomorrow, as well as post a seperate entry regarding yesterdays doctors appointments.

Stress Level Code Red: Low appraisals in Home refinance process

You know they always say bad news comes in threes, so I am hoping something else that has substantial "Bad News" qualifications comes along before my big doctors appointment tomorrow.

I still do not have the energy to fully address bad news number one, which was the under valued property appraisal that I mentioned a week or so ago, but here goes, and then later I will post number two bas news.

I am sure I am not alone in this, there are many hardworking homeowners that pay their mortgages on time that have recently tried to take advantage of the great rates supposedly available in today's home mortgage market. So I will say this much on the topic of home refinancing.

We thought we were getting a 4.5%, that would have combined our 1st & 2nd mtgs, as well as paid  off car note. Sounded great, worked out to a savings of over $600.00 a month. Everything was in order, credit score and income were considered good to go, and all we needed was the appraisal. At last appraisal home was valued at $197,500., we knew the market had taken a hit, but among numerous improvements we had purchased an adjoining 2 acre lot that gave us not only more land of course, and road frontage, but also made us a corner lot property. We figured, quite frankly, that it would end up a wash, and appraise out at about the same value as last appraisal from about 7 years ago. With the give and take of market loss vs. the improvements.

Well, don't ask me how, but number one the appraisal did not include the additional 2 acres, number two the 2 of the 3 comps used were foreclosure sales, number 4 distance from subject property given was not true, and number 5 none of the comps "comparable" amenities. No fenced/gated pastures, no barn, no outbuildings of any kind, never mind a green house, no pool, no fruit trees, no mention of the multiple herbal perennial beds, never mind my beautiful persimmon trees, or our recently launched herbal tea business, none what so ever. I could go on , it was just ridiculous... Appraisal came in $30,000 lower than last one. 

So even though exhausted, and not feeling well, and knowing that the way the system is... I mean lets face it you can't argue with a computer software program, which is how all these mortgage loans are written now. It is all up to how you fit in the boxes assigned now. The people actually do very little figuring out of anything anymore. If they can find a way to fit your concerns into a box, fine, if they can't, well then you are just SOL.

According to the appraisal mgt. team that my first appeal was presented to my property has NO VALUE WHAT SO EVER AS A HOME BASED BUSINESS THAT WOULD INDICATE THE PERRENIAL GARDENS/GREENHOUSE/ FRUIT TREES SHOULD BE ASSIGNED A VALUE.
Their exact words were :"As Also noted this property is on only four acres and logically far too small to have signifigant commercial potential. The highest and best use of this property is clearly residential" .

So again, no correction to note it as six acres instead of four, and I guess 2 acres do not matter anyway, obviously I and many other herbal tea businesses and home crafters of value added products have no clue, as the experts in the mortgage and appraisal industry have spoken. There is  "logically" no potential for this property as a business, therefore no added value.

In regards to my concerns about using foreclosed properties as comps I was told " the appraiser demonstrated on form 1004MC that values are indeed stable". In other words, pay no mind to foreclosures in your area, even though they are affecting my value when used as comps. There is no mortgage crisis, all is well. He met his requirements because they say so I guess.
Well enough for now, Peace Out all. I will try to get on later and finish up with bad news number two.

Cry With a Big Smile

Being a big Military Family this one really hits home here. This video is guaranteed to make you cry your eyeballs out while your face has the biggest smile you have ever felt on it, more like a permagrin. I know I did:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX2rLAMN-8k

Little Gifts From Above

Well Let me tell you, right now it is thundering so violently that my computer monitor is shaking and wobbling from the repercussion of the rumbles. It is almost one in the afternoon, but even with the shades drawn the flashes are like superimposing images on my eyeballs like a camera flash lol. Crazy, awesome, scary, powerful, wonderful, nature in motion, I Love It:)

Respect it would be a better way to describe what I feel. My biological Mom was actually struck and killed by lightening. It says in my baby book, which has no entries after that, June 15th (I was 8 months old) that she was "Killed hanging up my last diaper". We used clothe ones back then, giving away my age, but that's okay. I kinda like getting old.

Besides, I like the person I am growing up into, better than the person I was in my youth, even with all my aches and pains. lol.

Ruh Roh Reorge, satellite is out, the storm must be upon us at the moment. It is POURING. I bet the horsies are glad I brought them in now, lol, they looked at me like I was a little crazy when I went down around 11:00 and brought them in. They don't mind anyway as long as its not too hot, they like coming in, they know its always good for at least a couple goody bisquits before I head up to the house.

So anyway, I am rambling again, guess what happened yesterday?

I was just thinking the other day as I was mixing up a batch of floral bouquet herbal tea mix, thats dried rose petals, honeysuckle, and clover blossoms, how I wish I had more honeysuckle. That made me think of how heavenly it smells in the drying room from May to June, when I normally harvest them, and have multiple trays drying at a time. I was also thinking during this same time frame, and had even posted about it, how it is the smallest things that can bring the greatest joy.

These small gifts are treasures from above, and they really are truly a blessing. I mean sometimes we get in a slump, a funk or whatever you want to call it, and these little gifts can lift us up, or over, or give us strength to push through.

Its not that you're always clinically depressed, like doctors and pharmaceutical corporations that make money by making you think ... take a pill and fix everything... want you to think, it's just that sometimes stuff happens in our lives and we need to gather up our strength,  prepare to hunker down to get through these moments in time.

Sometimes we need a little help at the right moments to not let these issues in our lives, whether it be health, finances, love, or all of the above, drag us down. Down to a point where we forget to treasure the small pleasures of the moment .

In a post the other day I mentioned how it is sometimes the smallest things that can bring the greatest joys, make you laugh, feel warm and fuzzy inside, or perk your interest. Like newborn babies, a smile, seeing a good friend or family member after a long time apart, a dew covered spider web dazzling like diamonds in a ray of morning sunshine, watching animals and insects interact with each other in their natural environments, gazing at the sky day or night. These little things, and so many others.
These little treasures from above help us in some of the most amazing and unique ways, if only we do not stop taking the time to notice and appreciate them for what they are. Take the time to stop and smell those flowers. If you don't your the one who will miss out.
Laughter, love, joy and inquisitiveness create good feelings, don't you think?
It's like getting a hug when you needed one most, your first cup of coffee in the morning, a fresh clean downpour after a long hot spell, priceless.

haha I digress again, so what happened yesterday already! Lol.
I have a few honeysuckle that began to run along the horse fencing, that runs near one of my mint beds, near the greenhouse. I transplanted six of them just to the outside of the fence about 4 years ago, and they have taken off pretty nicely. Right now they cover about a ten foot stretch of the fence. So honeysuckle blooms early May through June down here, and I have never heard of a second bloom for honeysuckle, but guess what? This run of honeysuckle is going into full bloom again.
When I looked up from the greenhouse I saw this big blob of white in the bush, and then another, and started walking over, thinking what in the world was it? Then I realized oh wow, they're flowers.
Of course I got a tray and started gathering. Got a few more this morning before it rained too. It is sooooooooo nice. For two days now I have been walking in and out and in and out of the room, just to breathe in the aroma. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, it is just such a pleasant scent. lol aroma therapy at its best:)
Okay, gotta get off of here and try to accomplish a few things, peace out all.