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August 31, 2005
Distraction Action
A brief bit of distraction from our worries and fears - my Cathouse season finale post is up at BlogCritics.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:43 PM | Comments (0)
All That Remains
I was reading a post over on BlogCritics in which the author wondered if there was blame to be laid for what has become one of the most devastating natural disasters the U.S. has ever seen. My response, tempered somewhat - now is not the time to start political bickering, was this:
People WERE warned early, and often. Our ability to track and monitor hurricanes, tornadoes, and other weather is better than ever. The problem is - we can't unbuild centuries old cities and move them; we can't hand someone a bag of common sense; we can't tell people via radio and television what they need to know if they don't have power, radios, or televsions; we can't hold back swelling rivers or waves larger than many buildings.We can sit around and play armchair quarterback, blaming everyone and everything until the bloated cows come floating by and we still haven't done anything constructive.
From where we are now, armed with what we know and the resources we have, we can help our neighbors to the south with donations of food, clothing, and shelter. If you believe in God, you can pray.
Until anyone figures out how we can control nature, well...that's all we can do. So I urge you to give what you can and hope that anyone you haven't heard from is safe.
A report from someone living in the area has been posted here.
If you aren't able to donate to the Red Cross via credit card, BlogCritics has set up a fund to which you can contribute with PayPal. Give what you can, even if it's only a few dollars.
Glenn Reynolds is collecting links to posts about Katrina relief efforts. He has a growing list of alternate charities accepting donations.
aka Monty of The Daily Bitch is donating 10% of all sales from her Ebay store to the Red Cross.
There are many ways to help. Make use of all the resources we have available and let's take care those who are in need.
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:23 PM | Comments (8)
Sadness, Anger and an A-HA moment
Hi, I'm Gracie. Our beloved Goddess has graciously allowed me to borrow her microphone for a bit to share some of my thoughts and observations with you.
I have a dear friend who lives some 40 miles north of New Orleans. She and her husband, along with 2 teenagers and her Mom decided to ride out Katrina at their house. I tried my best to convince them to leave but they were determined. Being Christians, I strongly encouraged her to go into every room in her house and pray. I followed that up with suggesting that they walk up and down their street prayer walking. She told me that they would be ok despite the fact that they had very little extra water, no bread or cereal and only a handful of batteries and a questionable flashlight. We hung up the phone with tears, I love you's and a promise from her to contact me as soon as humanly possible.
I spent 8 years in Alabama, having just moved home to the City of my heart, San Diego in May of this year. I learned a lot about myself in those 8 years and a small part of my heart was left in Dixie. I've traveled those roads, experienced the small towns and friendly folk. I've seen such dire poverty that words cannot encapsulate it. The southern poor are unlike those anywhere else. These people "live" on $3,600 A YEAR or less. Seriously. Thousands upon thousands. Entire families living on less than $4,000 a year. I say this because it served as a reminder to me as my anger grew yesterday watching family after family get plucked from the roof of their flooded homes.
All I could think of was how arrogant those people were to expect that they could ride it out and then expect our public agencies to come and rescue them. Having lived in the south for an extended period of time, I feel comfortable in my "right" to say how things are there. The south is unlike anywhere else. The entitlement mindset is dominant. It's everywhere. The whole "you owe me" lifestyle is alive and well down there and it's as disgusting as you'd think. I saw it first hand everywhere I went. Sure, there are hard working, honest and decent folks, but there are an awful lot of people who go around with a tremendous chip on their shoulder for things that happened long before our grandparents were born and that we cannot undo today. The attitude extends to all people, not just those of a particular race or color. It is one of the biggest reasons I left the south. So with that in mind, as I said, I got angrier and angrier watching those helpless people be plucked one by one from their rooftops. I thought of how much danger the rescuers were in and how if these people had just done what they were ordered to do (LEAVE), they wouldn't be where they are.
I mentioned this last night at dinner to my Mom. She stopped me cold with these words. "Don't you remember what poverty looks like? Don't you remember all those stories you told me about people who were so downtrodden and unable to care for themselves because there are no jobs and no way to get to the cities where there are jobs? Don't you remember how you told me of their lack of what we consider basic essentials such as running water (yes, seriously...there are many without it in the rural areas), transportation and even a sound roof over their heads? Those people did not ignore orders...they could not obey them. They had NO WAY to get out. No money to get out. No car, no gas, nothing. Some may not have known what was coming. They stayed because they had no choice." Ouch. She's right. Not for everyone, but for many...I'd say a majority of those who stayed...they had no choice.
Coming full circle back to my friends who DID have a choice and chose to stay. I didn't sleep Monday night and was unable to eat for most of yesterday until the phone rang and finally, it was them. My relief at hearing her sweet voice was almost trumped by my anger with them for the foolishness that they showed. She assured me that while things are bad..really really bad, they're ok. Their house is untouched...and in fact, every inch of where she prayerwalked is also almost entirely damage free. A stray branch here and there but no catastrophic damage. Less than 10 feet from where she stopped...devastation. They have no water, no food and no power, but they're ok. She told me that from what she could see, Katrina was simply overhyped...so I had to tell her the truth. The stunned silence and sound of weeping confirmed what I already knew of my beautiful friend...she had no idea.
She told me that she and her husband had planned to drive down to N'awlins to help out this weekend. I told her that the I-10 bridge is GONE. She said gone as in what? I said gone as in not there anymore. I told her that Biloxi and Gulf Port and Mobile...are all under water. I had to tell her of the horrors that we are all seeing on the TV and then I had to tell her of the rescues. She truly had no idea because the only news they're getting on the AM radio are instructions on where to evacuate to, not to drink the water etc.
So here I sit...humbled, sad, angry and extremely thankful. I have all the running water I could ever need and thensome. I have a solid roof over my head, more than enough to eat, air conditioning in case the mild discomfort of a dry San Diego "heat wave" gets to be too much. I have enough gas for my SUV, I know where all of my family members are and that they're entirely safe. I have clothing, my dog is snoring at my feet and my phone works just fine.
I've learned a lot from Katrina and I'm so thankful for the lessons.
Please, if you can give...do. Hold a yard sale and get rid of some that "extra" that you have. Take a hard look around and see that just maybe you don't need all of that "stuff" (when was the last time you dug it out of the garage or closet???). Sell it...and send the money to our fellow Americans who have literally lost everything to the wrath of Mother Nature. Call the Red Cross or the Salvation Army today and give what you can...then if you're so inclined, say a few prayers for those who already had so little and who now have nothing.
Thanks for listening.
Posted by Gracie at 10:23 AM | Comments (12)
August 30, 2005
The Tales Are Told
Clark Baker has a story to share. It's a must read.
Varifrank is quoting lyrics from one of my favorite songs - a song Acidman sings in the most heartwrenching manner you can imagine, and one I hope he records. While I'm praying that my friends and extended family are well, I am also praying that anyone who hasn't heeded evacuation warnings and still has a chance to get out, does. I'll say no more on this right now.
Smash reports in on yesterday's Operation Thank You and a special little surprise. If I hadn't already committed to cover the screening last night, I'd have been there. As it was, I called almost as many times as Smash did the day he couldn't be at another event.
Gerard is quoting Orwell, comparing pacifists to fascists, and showing Bill Lockyer to be the two-faced weenie Lockyer denied being. You gotta love this man (Gerard, not the other guy.)
And then there's Michael Yon, who has already received a million links from around the blogosphere but deserves to receive millions more. I'm not linking to one story in particular because all his stories need to be read.
Go forth and read.
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:38 PM | Comments (0)
The Blues Brothers - 25 Years Later and Still Going Strong
The Blues Brothers, while wonderful on TV, is so much better on the super-sized screen of a movie theater. That won't stop me from picking up the 25th Anniversary edition (out today) of the movie on DVD. The extras alone should be well worth the money.
The special one-evening-only screening of The Blues Brothers included a pre-movie panel with John Landis (director, co-writer, and fan of the Blues Brothers Band), James Brown ("have you seen the light?"), Steve Cropper (one of my schoolgirl crushes for oh-so-many years), Henry Gibson (his performance as Head Nazi was perfect), and Thom Mount (who was President of Universal Studios when Blues Brothers was made and oversaw production on the film). Dan Aykroyd (Elwood Blues) beamed in via satellite.
The panel, hosted by Gordon Meyer of "Hollywood's Master Storytellers", shared many memories of John Belushi (Joliet Jake Blues), the making of the movie, the music, as well as updating the audience on some of their current projects. At one point, James Brown asked Dan Aykroyd about filming a movie together, with Jim Belushi, down in Louisiana. The Blues Brothers III, perhaps? Ah, speculation abounds. Regardless of whether or not there's another sequel on the way, it's safe to say that any project that brings the talents of Aykroyd and Brown to the screen would be a real treat for fans.
Watching the movie on the big screen again (yes, I'm very much old enough to have seen it in a theater when it first came out - several times, in fact) took me right back to those teen years. I clearly recall my fascination with Cropper and John Lee Hooker back then. Okay, it hasn't diminished a bit on either count, but we're talking about the movie, right? Right. The performances by the Blues Brothers Band, Hooker, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, and James Brown served to solidify my love for blues, classic R&B, and soul. I mean, I grew up on the music of the 60's and 70's. I know I'm not alone in saying that The Blues Brothers stoked the blues fire within me. And maybe that's the best thing about the movie - that the actors and musicians cultivated an interest in the blues, sort of an extension of the blues revival that occurred several years earlier.
One of the things I'm most looking forward to seeing on the DVD will be the deleted scenes. To be included is a scene that explains the magic of the Bluesmobile. I could tell you about it now, but that would ruin the surprise.
Enjoy The Blues Brothers - 25th Anniversary Edition now available on DVD. While you're at it, go grab some blues CDs, too. Trust me, it's good for the soul.
My CD picks are included on my BlogCritics post
All photos courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and FilmMagic.com
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:13 AM | Comments (2)
August 29, 2005
Guess What I'm Doing Tonight
This is the perfect event for me to cover for BlogCritics. I don't have to drive more than a couple miles, I don't have to stand for long. And I've discovered that I actually like the available seating.
I'll let you know how it goes. Hopefully I won't fall asleep while I'm there.
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:08 PM | Comments (2)
August 28, 2005
Sunday Blues
A mother dying from complications of childbirth, a father lynched by the KKK when the child was just 5, his early life being cared for by various relatives. Sounds like something straight out of a blues song, doesn't it?
In reality, this was how life began for Louisian Red, aka Iverson Minter. That's a part of his life, not who he is. A lifetime of experiences and fine blues shaped him into the man I met a week and a half ago.
Red's lyrics are often poignant and heartbreakingly real. His vocals are strong, deep, and reflective. Red is also soft-spoken, gentle, and generous. He listened to all of three notes my friend played on a harmonica and then invited the young man on stage for a duet.
Technical issues (during the first part of the show) aside, Louisiana Red put on a hell of a show. One song almost caused me to lose it - a song about September 11th. I can't find the lyrics, but I know that Technogypsy can attest to how moving the song was.
Sunday Blues is a regular feature over at Dust My Broom.
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:48 PM | Comments (1)
August 27, 2005
Our Aussie Friends
A crew from National Nine News in Australia recently spent the night aboard the USS Tarawa. They spent the day interviewing everyone on board the ship to find out what Americans think of Australia and, more importantly, disspelling the myths that our troops 1) feel "forced" into service and 2) don't support the war.
The people on board the Tarawa know all about danger. These are the men and women who are on the frontline.What was remarkable was the number of soldiers who said they had enlisted as a direct result of September 11. One marine, Brad Simmons, was preparing for his third visit to the Middle East after being awarded a Purple Heart (one of America's highest awards for bravery) on his last trip. Then he was shot in the back of the head from an AK-47, but returned to the frontline in 10 days. He described his injury as a "glorified flesh wound".
He said that after the World Trade Centre "fell down" it was his duty, particularly as an unmarried man, to go and fight. "I couldn't just stand around and do nothing". It was a common sentiment. Another man said that, in his opinion, World War III had been declared on that infamous day. Another explained that, for him, he felt 9/11 was a direct personal attack and it was his main motivation for going to war.
However, there were others who had enlisted purely to secure a good job. Most of the ship is young, usually in their early 20s, and many had joined the armed forces to save enough money to go to college. When asked what they thought of the war in Iraq, they either said it was simply "their job to go" and they "didn't mind," or, they "agreed with their country's leaders and they should be going".
Take that, all you protesting anti-American moonbats. Oh, that's right...none of you are reading me anymore. You're too busy preparing for your big march on Washington to demand we get out of Iraq on September 24th.
Apologies to my regular readers for the amount of bile I'm finding increasingly difficult to hold back. I'm sick and tired of whiny cry-babies who continue to twist facts, create myths, and dishonor our military. Protesters do have the right to speak out, but some of the folks they're aligning themselves with have a much bigger agenda (and it doesn't have a thing to do with ending a war overseas.)
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:56 AM | Comments (17)
Facing Down Cowards
Gunn Nutt went to counter the protesters outside Walter Reed Hospital. Cam Edwards was there, too.
I'm glad they and the folks from FreeRepublic went - one of my favorite O.I.F. vets is there at the moment and she doesn't deserve this sort of treatment from ungrateful jackasses. None of our honorable troops deserve this.
Can you believe that people would essentially spit on those who were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan? On their families? Protesting those who served their country? I can't think of a more cowardly act, can you?
Update: Azygos attended a STFU Cindy rally and reports back with details. Read carefully.
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:07 AM | Comments (5)
August 26, 2005
Project Valor-IT Update
Many thanks to Chris Muir for helping out today.
Soldiers' Angels and Project Valour-IT continues to gain support.Updates are always available on their blog. You can donate to this awesome cause and help our wounded troops.
Perhaps the most effective way to sum up the impact of Project Valour-IT comes from one of our Australian bloggers:
This project will make a massive difference to the lives of wounded soldiers. Giving them access to the outside world, as well as the independence that voice-activated computers will bring, is such an honourable way to thank them for the sacrifices they have made for our well-being.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Make a difference, donate - become a hero.
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:08 PM | Comments (4)
August 25, 2005
Hot Oil For Frye
If I were heading someone's campaign in a big race for mayor, I'd probably advise my candidate not to do something like this (especially in a military town):
Congresswoman Maxine Waters introduced by Donna Frye Will speak on the Rush to War, the "Out of Iraq Caucus," and the Revelations of the Secret Downing St. Memo Friday, August 26, 2:30 - 4:00 p. m.cost: $5-$10 donation requested - no one will be turned away
I particularly like that there's a donation requested...and that Frye is aligning herself with those who are as anti-military as can be. In San Diego. A Military town. To union workers who make parts for military aircraft.
Can I get some help? I need help getting the irony faucet to run at something less than a deluge here.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:23 PM | Comments (4)
One Woman, No Cry
Yesterday was fraught with danger.
[Cue Steve Irwin voice]
Danjah, danjah, danjah!
[/SI voice]
The itchy stitch was removed.
I didn't cry, not even a little.
I almost kneed my favorite surgeon in the family jewels while he was attempting to wrest the naughty knot from my neck, but I warned him and he moved.
I was stunned at the size of the glob of flesh that was extracted. It had grown all around the stitch. If I'd had the camera with me, I'd have taken a picture, but that was the last thing on my mind as I took my cranky and slightly seeping suture down to his office.
A little blood and lots of "eeeeessssshhhh", with a few "you're doing great, sweetie" (yes, my doctor called me sweetie) later, and the son of a bitch stitch was gone.
Don't you just love my post-op updates?
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:04 AM | Comments (9)
August 22, 2005
How Do You Get a Roomful of Bloggers to Shut Up?
Doc in the Box used my title, but I don't mind. A good title deserves to be shared.
So, how do you get a roomful of bloggers to shut up? You pop in a copy of "Team America" and hilarity ensues. Missed the shot of Mrs. Smash doing the puppet dance. And that was something to see!Honestly, though...we weren't all that quiet what with the laughter and the singing, but we were quiet when compared to all the talking over, around, and through each other earlier in the evening.
Thanks to Sean and Tragic for hosting the BBQ. The rest of the gathering included the Smashes, blogger groupie and dear friend Gracie, Kevin and his beautiful lady, Ted, Neptunus Lex, John and Beth Donovan, and friends of the Doc and bride's.
Good food, good friends, good times. Yeah, good times.
Sean has photos already posted, Beth's working on hers, and mine will appear sometime this century.
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:59 AM | Comments (6)
Pressing Job
CPT Ziegenfuss and Soldiers' Angels received some very nice press from the Washington Post this weekend.
It was refreshing to read about Chuck's experience with the reporter. How very different from what Mrs. Smash and I encountered back in March.
I didn't write about what happened at that time and there's a post about rattling around in my brain. Some other time, though. Right now, I'm more interested in the good that's come from a brave man's talk with a reporter who knows the story is about the people he writes about and not himself.
Color me impressed.
As always, there's lots more information about Project Valour-IT at the PV-I blog and rotating authors throughout the week (see bottom of John's post for the blogroll and check the blogs to see who's up next.)
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:08 AM | Comments (0)
August 19, 2005
Blog Kids
One of my blog kids is celebrating an anniversary today. Now, I feel bad that I don't keep up with everyone on a regular basis anymore - I'm lucky to get 4 blogs a day in - and know I have missed anniversaries left and right. I apologize to those I've missed, just believe me when I say that I celebrate your achievements just as much as I do Frank's.
There's this thing with Frank, though. Because I can never comment on his site, no matter where I sign in, how I sign in...whatever, I have to tell him here how much I have enjoyed his writing, his humor, and his friendship.
To Frank and all my blog children, thank you for making my life richer and for just being you. Congrats to all of you!
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:16 PM | Comments (1)
Gmail Hell
I don't know if anyone else has been experiencing problems with gmail, but on two of my accounts, I've routinely experienced "delayed delivery" problems lately.
The weirdest of all delays involved photos that Mrs. Smash sent me. They arrived two or three days later.
Cue Twilight Zone music, please.
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:30 AM | Comments (4)
Friday Cleavage Blogging
I'm happy, I think, to report that I was the #1 search result for "Good Cleavage Pictures" on Google according to my referral log. I was #2 for something else that, oddly, goes with this other category.
In other news, my rash from the bone growth stimulator electrodes is clearing up.
I know, I know, it's all too glamorous around here.
Move along.
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:24 AM | Comments (2)
August 18, 2005
In Stitches
I have a lone stitch from my surgery that sticks out of my incision site. All my stitches were internal. It's not dissolving and it's bugging the hell out of me.
Any suggestions on how to get it to go away?
And, no...I can't just pull it out. It's firmly attached.
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:12 PM | Comments (6)
Out of Town Visitors!
Technogypsy is in town!
We went to a concert and then had a late dinner. It was a lot of fun.
He's a very nice man - super smart, funny, and very patient. He didn't even get mad at me when I got him lost on the way to Denny's.
Sadly, he will be leaving before the Donovans come to town tomorrow and he'll miss getting to meet She Who Will Be Obeyed, the enchanting creator of Carnival of the Recipes.
Have I mentioned how much I like meeting other bloggers?
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:21 PM | Comments (5)
August 17, 2005
Yesterday's Outing
Posted by Da Goddess at 04:54 PM | Comments (7)
August 16, 2005
A Date With Little Dude
I had a date with Little Dude today. I've only seen him one other time since my surgery because I'm still not doing a lot of driving and there are days when I'm beat up with pain. So, it's been four weeks of missing my best guy, four weeks of heartache.
Strange to think that a child can get to you that way, huh?
Anyhow, other than the USS Halsey commissioning, I haven't seen my son. It was getting to him as much as it was getting to me. When I called him one day last week, he burst into tears and told me how much he missed me and how he wanted to come home. I cried, too. I explained why mommy couldn't have him home just yet and he said he understood, even though I know he was struggling with the knowing and the missing mightily. I've had the same problem and I know it's tough at times.
So, the plan was...today was the day. Damn the pain and full speed ahead. I was going to have a special date with my kid. I woke up very sore and tired (normal occurence) but I didn't care. I drove carefully over to his dad's house and off we went. We had lunch with my dad and then took a little walk in the park. Little Dude saw the sign at the park saying that the "Train Song Festival" was going to be held on October 1 this year and declared that to be the day we'd celebrate his birthday.
"We'll have a cowboy theme this year, Mom. Is that okay with you?"
I said yes. He'd had so much fun with it two years ago that I wasn't all that surprised.
"But I'm still going to be Luke Skywalker for Halloween."
Of course, dear child. Of course. He has Star Wars on the brain.
We continued our walk and marvelled at the abundance of dragonflies about. There were two large red ones that entertained us with swirling aerobatic flight, often racing past us so closely that I'm certain we could have caught them if we'd tried. But we didn't want to try, we wanted to watch. So we did.
When we'd had our fill of the park, Little Dude asked if we could go see March of the Penguins. Off to the movie theater we went. The movie didn't start for another hour but Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had just started previews and we could make it to our seats before the movie began. We didn't actually get to our seats to see the very beginning, but we didn't miss much from what I could tell.
Little Dude loved the movie! I thought it was pretty good, but missed the original Oompa Loompas. And the songs. Anyhow, we watched and laughed and just barely shared some popcorn.
By the end of the movie, I was toast. That was more activity than I'd had in a while. Now it's time for a nap.
There's the big update from my world, what's going on in yours?
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:18 PM | Comments (6)
August 15, 2005
Why? Because It's the Right Thing To Do
When you look at the people in this photo, what do you see? Do you see a loving couple who are happy to be together? You should. They're able to be together because they have family available to take care of their children. CPT Ziegenfuss, Chuck, is very fortunate to have Carren by his side to type an email for him if he's too exhausted to use the voice-to-text program himself. Don't recognize him? He's the inspiration for this project. Greyhawk has the details of the CPT's story.
Not every soldier is lucky enough to have someone by his/her side to assist with emails, though.
With your help, voice-to-text computers and software can be made available to those wounded warriors in need of some assistance.
Can you imagine how you were get by without the use of your hands? Picking up a phone would be impossible. Typing out an email would be impossible. Blowing your nose, wiping away tears of pain or joy, and even something as simple as being able to go to the bathroom by yourself would require assistance. We may not be able to wipe away the tears or anything else for our wounded, but we can give them some independence with these computers.
If you have only a dollar or two to spare, please share it. If you know a company willing to make a contribution, please pass along the press release or direct family and friends to Soldiers' Angels so they can get involved. Do whatever you can.
She Who Will Be Obeyed braved the harassment of readers at the Daily Kos in order to round up support. She got her fair share of jerks responding, but guess what? She also found people willing to help.
Do whatever you can. Contact anyone and everyone. Let's give a little independence back to those who need it. In fact, let's make every day "Inependence Day" for our brave troops. We can do that by giving them the tools they need to stay in contact with those who are important to them.
Want more info on how this works? Try the Project Valour-IT How It Works page.
Would you like to ask a question to Soldiers' Angels directly? You can do so here.
Here's the Press Release to pass along to media and corporations.
For the IRS registered charities directory certifying Soldiers' Angels as legit - click here. Be sure to enter soldiers angels (no apostrophe and choose "select all of the words") in the search box.
Thanks to John for keeping us on our toes.
And, lest we forget, the Project Valour-IT blog is available for those of you interested in updates.
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:01 AM | Comments (1)
August 14, 2005
Funny Little Moments
Have you ever met someone and sensed what was going to happen next?
It started with a glance as he was walking past me. Our eyes met briefly and we both looked away. I went back to talking with my friend, he headed over to where the food was being set up and hovered over the food like a vulture...waiting and waiting. But, every so often, I'd look up and he'd be looking at me.
He walked away from the food table and came toward me. He said hello, just as I knew he would.
He was hesitant and stammered as he spoke. It didn't matter. It was comfortably uncomfortable, if you know what I mean.
After a half hour of conversation and discovering that we had much in common, I nodded toward the table and said, "looks like they're ready to feed you."
He smiled. It was a sweet grin, gentle and warm, and it lit his entire face. I smiled back and started fiddling with my camera. He looked at the food for a moment and then back at me. He asked about the things I had out on my table, calendars and photos. My friend, who had been watching the exchange spoke up and told him about some of the items. While he was distracted, I took a photo. His shyness captured for my pleasure.
"Did you just, uh, take a picture of me?"
"Yep."
"Can I see?"
"No. I want another."
"Awww, I don't do photos well. I'm more of the background kind of guy."
My friend piped up, "don't you want people to know who you are?"
"Nah...that's for the rest of the band. I like hanging back and watching them."
I needled him a bit and he gave a quick, funny pose. I snapped again.
"C'mon, you have to let me see that one," he said.
"Okay, here you go."
I handed him the camera and he looked, laughing. "Okay, that's not so bad." He held on to the camera and played with it a bit. He acted like he was going to take my picture.
I protested, "I'm more of a background kind of gal. I take the photos, I'm not in them."
It was a funny little moment as he tried to figure out how to get the camera ready to take my picture.
"Uh, you better get in line for food. You go on shortly, don't you?" I asked.
"Oh yeah. Okay. I'll see if there's a little something to nibble on...um...over there."
He walked back to the food table and my friend and I went back to talking to other people who'd come over to see what we were doing. I glanced up, knowing full well that he'd be looking at me. And he was. He was smiling, too.
A little later, he was back. I knew he would be. Less hesitant this time, he asked me a bunch of questions. Questions about what I liked doing when I wasn't off listening to music and taking photos of strangers.
"I like listening to more music and taking pictures of friends," was all I could think to say. "Do you want to see the other photo I took? The first one?"
"Yes, please!"
I showed him and his face lit up again. "I love this one! That's so me. Wow. I mean, WOW!"
We heard the first couple notes from a guitar within the auditorium behind us. "Sounds like your cue. Mind if I follow you in? I'm going to get a few shots of the band."
He waved his hand with a flourish and said, "after you."
We walked into the auditorium. I stood at the back and watched as the guitarist tuned and strummed for a moment. I felt my new friend looking at me and I glanced at him.
More questions. More answers. And I knew....I knew he was going to step closer to me. I knew he was going to reach out and touch my arm. I knew the exact place he was going to touch me, too. I was right. A half second after I saw that happening in my mind, he did it.
Small talk that wasn't all that small continued. We compared surgery stories and scars. Well, as much as we could since mine was obvious and his was hidden. We shared memories of different experiences, marvelling at how similar our reactions were to world events. Comfortable conversation. It had a cadence that was easy and gentle, like his smile.
"I'm glad you were here today. It's really nice to talk to you, you know?" he asked.
As I was telling him it was great to talk with him, too, and in that instant I knew he was going to hug me. I was right, again.
It was a sweet hug. I hugged him back. No awkwardness or weirdness. Just very sweet.
We walked toward the stage and I smiled at him. He watched as I took some photos and adjusted my camera. Then he nodded and stepped up to take his place after reaching out to touch my arm again. He smiled back at me and began to play.
We talked later, during the intermission and again after the show was over. He walked with me as I made my way back to my friend's car.
I said goodbye and he said we'd catch up again soon. I said something brilliant, like, "yeah, other shows...coming up." He smiled his shy smile. The one that lit up his face. He started to say something else and then just nodded.
For a brief time, I felt normal again. I felt attractive and special. No, I knew. I knew that's how he saw me. And it felt really, really good.
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:02 PM | Comments (7)
Project Valour IT Blog
A blog has been setup so you can keep track of what's going on with Project Valour-IT.
Check it out, and don't forget to donate.
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:40 AM | Comments (0)
August 13, 2005
That Head of Yours Couldn't Hold Straw!
Yeah, well, who wants a head of straw anyway?
For some reason I got to thinking about a particular movie and some of the lines I remembered. Lines like these:
Does the Hash Knife Outfit throw in its hand? Or do we go out in a blaze of glory?
and
You couldn't sell a hacksaw in a jail!
I would have included more quotes, but it seems like Googling the best lines bring up the movie right away.
An even stranger movie I was thinking about contained this quote:
The clue obviously lies in the word "cheddar." Let's see now. Seven letters. Rearranged, they come to, let me see: "Rachedd." "Dechdar." "Drechad." "Chaderd" - hello, chaderd! Unless I'm very much mistaken, chaderd is the Egyptian word meaning "to eat fat." Now we're getting somewhere!
Worse still, I remember this tagline from a film made around the same time: Introducing The Dog Who Launched a Thousand Stars
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:04 AM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2005
USS Halsey (DDG 97) Commissioning
All photos taken on July 30th, my first real outing after surgery. Little Dude, our friend Gracie, and I attended the commissioning ceremony of the USS Halsey.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:34 AM | Comments (3)
PT Begins
I started physical therapy today.
Oh joy.
I am now going to take a couple Vicodin and retire to the sofa for a nap.
It's a thrill a minute here, folks.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:27 AM | Comments (2)
Project Valour IT is Growing Legs
If you haven't already joined the effort to get voice-to-text computers and software to our wounded warriors, why the hell not?
Updates are here, here, and here from The Donovan.
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:25 AM | Comments (1)
August 11, 2005
Reporting As Ordered
The Donovan has issued the orders...and I'm passing them along. When JD talks, people listen:
OPERATION ORDER 1: Project "Valour IT" ....With the continued use of mines and IED as terrorist weapons-of-choice in Iraq and, to a lesser extent, Afghanistan, we will continue to see troops suffering blast/burn injuries arriving at the military hospitals of Landstuhl, Walter Reed (Army) and Bethesda (Naval). Many of these injuries are to the hands and arms.
.....In previous wars, letters from the troops remained private affairs. By their very nature, they were difficult to share beyond the family circle, unless a family member passed one to the local newspaper for reprinting. Usually, the information within did not pass beyond a few friends. In this war, e-mails routinely travel to multiple recipients, and chats and blogs are open to anyone with online access... And computer access – either PC or laptop – is limited in a military hospital because they don't have the luxury of unused space suitable for an internet café operation. And there's the matter of shattered hands. Of missing hands…
Voice-activated computers exist. Voice-to-text software exists. However, the people who need them don't have them – with the exception of the inspiration for Project Valour IT, Captain Chuck Ziegenfuss of TCOverride. His wife, Carren, describes its use a bit here.
Mission: To raise funds which will be used for the purchase of computers and software which will provide computer accessibility to veterans with injuries that temporarily or permanently prevent them from using a conventionally-equipped computer and
...To teach the recipients how to use both effectively.
.....
The initial push starts when you've finished reading this. Yesterday's WARNO described what our industry allies are providing. They've slashed their usual prices, but the items aren't free. Give what you can and talk the Project up with friends and family, because we are in this for the duration, troops.
c. When you visit Soldiers' Angels, tell them you're "Reporting As Ordered"…
In this ever-changing world, patient updates fly from bedside to family and friends with the click of a button instead of carrier pigeon, Pony Express, or the USPS. And, when you're worried about a loved one, each moment is an eternity.
Providing voice-to-text technology to our wounded warriors helps them and their families more than you can possibly know.
Once again, this is our chance to come to the rescue for our heroes.
It's time to give back to those who have given so much.
Big thanks to Cowboy Blob for the nudge.
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:41 AM | Comments (1)
August 10, 2005
Salute to America's Heroes and Their Spouses on Saturday
When: 10am - 10 p.m. Saturday, August 13, 2005
Where: 'C' Avenue in downtown Coronado just off the main avenue
What: Stars in Stripes Block Party - A salute to America's Heroes and their Surviving Spouses. Come help us honor their sacrifice!
From the website:
Day gives way to night on C Ave The live music takes a break for about an hour as two new bands prepare to take the stage. During the recess, the UWSF along with the mayor of Coronado pay a special tribute to the men in women serving in combat and the recognize the women whose husbands won't be coming home. This years tribute will begin with over 50 Harley Davidson cyclist rolling in from Northern California as they end their Campaign across the state. Then all engines are hushed, and the lone sound of a bag piper starts up from down the street and as he draws near the main stage he is followed up by the rest of the drum and fife corp. The pipers march in and the National Anthem is sung by soloist and surviving spouse Katrina Bryson whose husband died while serving as a Marine in Afghanistan.Don't just say you support the troops and their families, show them. If you live in San Diego, head to Coronado and be there for these amazing people.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:28 PM | Comments (1)
Taking it Day By Day
While Chris Muir is usually very funny and insightful (his strip on that Vodka guy and Vk had me laughing - not because their pain is funny, but because I recognized myself in it - we bloggers must keep blogging through ANYTHING), today's strip has a deeper meaning. Please click and help. Doesn't cost a thing, folks. Just....click.
Chris has been a wonderful friend of the blogosphere. It's our turn to help him and his sister.
Thanks to Cam for reminding me.
Posted by Da Goddess at 04:31 PM | Comments (5)
August 07, 2005
Smiling Islands
An unexpected outing this evening.
I was whisked away by friends to go hear a band play. Nothing big. It's a band we're quite familiar with in these parts. The real treat was after everyone was dropped off.
As my chauffeur drove me home, he popped in a CD. AM Gold - 1978, Various Artists. We took the super extra long way home, arriving back here about two minutes ago. Songs brought back memories that were a bit hazy.
"Who sang this one?"
"John Somebody."
"No, I think it was a Nick."
We were arguing over who sang "The Power Of Gold." Silly us. It was Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg.
We also heard cuts from Little River Band, George Benson, Kim Carnes, Ambrosia, Player, and Andy Gibb. One of my favorites off the whole thing was from Pablo Cruise. Sweet memories of one of my first concerts (Andy Gibb was the other) was Pablo Cruise. "Love Will Find A Way."
That led to a discussion of other songs that people mostly don't remember, unless we're in Rainman mode.
My Rainman song?
"Smiling Islands" - Robbie Patton and Stevie Nicks
I don't want to live forever
But I don't want to die alone
A pair of eyes that love me
Is all I want
I don't want to say no goodbyes
But I don't want our love in pain
Life's too short to play
In those kinds of games
(Chorus)
Oh, I don't want to be the one leaving
But I see our winds have changed
We're sailing in different directions
Yet we both wanna stay close friends
Like smiling islnds
I don't need to see you're pretending
And I don't want those lies in bed
It's better to end it
Then cheat on what's left
And I don't want to make you unhappy
And I don't want to let us go
You're the one with the eyes
That give me the hope
(Repeat Chorus)
Then one day when we've sailed
Over every sea
We'll remember that we sailed away
Honestly
Smiling Islands
I swear, the person who gets me a copy of this song gets whatever they want (except money.)
I'm such a dork that I got all excited and had to blog this.
"Green lime jello for dessert."
Rainman out.
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:55 AM | Comments (9)
August 05, 2005
Post-Op Update
Wednesday was a nightmare.
My first appointment was at 9:30am. When I got there, I was told the doctor wasn't in. He was assisting with an emergency surgery.
I burst into tears and said I needed to see someone. I was in a great deal of pain. I had been since Friday. I'd been trying to hold out as long as possible because I knew I'd be seeing someone on Wednesday. I had my game face on for six days. Didn't that count for anything?
They took me back to a room and let me lay down. The PA (physician's assistant) came in and we reviewed all my symptoms. I went for xrays and then was escorted by the handsome xray tech back to the exam room.
The PA had put a call in for the surgeon who said she should try a trigger point injection on me. So, the PA came in and did just that. Mmm, more steroids and lidocaine. For those of you following closely, you'll remember how fond I am of steroids. This was a little different though. I actually experienced some relief. Imagine that! Still had plenty of pain in many areas, but I could tell that something was different.
I had to go back for more xrays (they have to verify that they didn't inject into lung tissue) and was told to return at 1:30.
Notes on the xray tech. As the same guy walked up to take me back for the latest round, I said he'd have to bring flowers the next time. When he told me I needed to take off everything from the waist up, I said that required dinner. Fortunately, he possessed a great sense of humor and laughed heartily. While we were waiting for the films to come up (no sense in me getting dressed if I had to do it all over again), we talked about music and such. He's in a band and they include blues in the repertoire. Guess what? I list bands who play blues. Since taking on the calendar duties, I seem to run into more musicians and singers than you can imagine. It's a win-win proposition for all. They get exposure, I get to beef up the listings. Anyhow....the films looked great and I was done.
I went on to my next appointment and saw the primary occupational med doc. She was surprised to see how good the incision looked and noted that I still looked tired. I told her I hadn't slept well for many days and she nodded. When I told her that I'd had adverse reactions to two sleeping meds, she nodded again and said she really understood why I appeared so fatigued. When I told her how bad the reactions had been, she got concerned and made many notes.
Let me tell you something - when you take a med that causes you to blow up like a balloon after one dose, you can't pee for a day and a half, and you're tired/sore/practically unable to move, you remember the med and you notify the doctor. The surgeon was well-aware of what Restoril and Ambien did to me. We shan't be taking those again. Ever. Since the primary didn't have my chart (it was still at the surgeon's office), she felt the need to document my experiences. That's fine by me. I'd rather have it all well-documented and avoid meds than to have someone attempt to give them to me again.
I finished up with her and went back to the surgeon's office. He was in. Finally. He looked at all the xrays and told me things looked okay. He noted that the plate in my neck looked a little off-center but wasn't concerned. The bulk of my pain, numbness and tingling were normal for someone who had experienced nerve compression and damage as I had. The nerves get irritated and it can take from 6-12 months to calm down. Six to twelve months? As long as it's manageable and I can work, fine. Otherwise I will become a complete basket case, have to resort to placing ads on my sidebars, and bleg for rent money on a regular basis.
I didn't get out of there until 3:30pm. Don't forget, I'd started at 9:30 that morning. For that amount of time anywhere, I like to get paid.
I don't go back to the surgeon for 4 weeks unless the pain gets severe again. If need be, I can have more trigger point injections. Despite my dislike for injected steroids, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
So there you have it. My incredibly fascinating life as a post-op spine patient. In full technicolor....er....guess not. No photos. Well, you know what I mean.
If you've emailed or called and I haven't responded, that's why. I'm tired. I'm cranky. And I pretty much shut down for 24 hours. Sometimes you have to do that.
Special note of thanks to everyone who donated to Emma's walk fund! By doing so, you've helped the American Diabetes Association develop research programs and educational materials, in addition to many other things. It's wonderful to know that you would be so kind to help a little girl who has a long life of needles and medications ahead of her. Maybe, in her lifetime, there'll be a cure.
P.S. If you want something beautiful to look at, Mrs. Smash's portrait seemed to draw many favorable comments. I happen to know where there are more such lovely images. I happen to know the photographer, too.
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:43 AM | Comments (14)
Blues Friday
I think it's only appropriate to include Welcome to Little Milton as we say goodbye to him.
Little Milton Campbell finally succumbed (August 4, 2005) to the ravages of a stroke he'd suffered about a week earlier. His death has stunned the blues community as he was scheduled throughout the summer to play blues festivals across the country. In January of 2006, he was slated to play on the Legendary Blues Cruise.
Almost a half century after his debut on Sun Records, Milton Campbell continued to bring soulful blues to new heights with his soaring guitar playing and down home, gutsy vocals. From Sun, Milton moved to Chess Records, then Stax, TK, and MCA, finally settling with Malaco Records.
It should be noted that Little Milton attributed most of his success to his faithful friend "Bessie" (his guitar). When asked why "Bessie" was such a good friend, he replied, "She never says no, she never gets sick, she makes me money, and she's always ready when I call on her." I think he may have sold himself short on his ability to sing timeless songs and play the hell out of Bessie.
He was bold, too. Who else would be brave enough to cover Nazareth's "Love Hurts" with Lucinda Williams?
From Welcome to Little Milton comes the lyrics for the cut "Mother Earth For Little Milton":
Mother Earth is waiting for you
Cuz that's the debt you got to pay
I don't care how great you are
I don't care what you're worth
When it all is up
You got to go back to Mother Earth
Warren Haynes, of Gov't Mule, commented on the loss of Little Milton (Mule recorded with Milton on several occasions):
At 71 he was playing and singing better than ever. As a person, I always found him to be sincere and a real gentleman, which is not always the case when you meet your heroes. His influence on the blues world and the rock and roll world runs so much deeper than most of us realize. He will be sorely missed.
When you hear that kind of feedback from someone who admired and respected the bluesman, it really drives home the fact that Little Milton was as he appeared, a kind spirit, a shining star.
While we here on "Mother Earth" may no longer be blessed by his presence, the heavens do, indeed, gain another shining star. Each song we play, each melody we hum shall serve to make him shine brighter.
Rest in peace, Little Milton. Thank you for your music, your wit, and your warmth. You will be missed.
See BlogCritics for discography
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:08 AM | Comments (2)
August 01, 2005
In Need Of Real Heroes
It's easy enough for me to blog about my woes following surgery and spiders, but those problems are temporary. And they're nothing compared to what many children face on a daily basis.
Just months after I first started blogging three years ago, I became friends with an amazing man. Devoted to his children and grandson, he quickly became one of my favorite people. We blogged and chatted away for many months. Over time, the focus of his blog became less political and more family-oriented. Soon, there was news of a new addition to his family.
Emma Grace entered the world at 4:05 AM, August 22, 2004. She was lovingly embraced by her big brother, mom and dad, her uncle, her grandmother, and her grandfather, my friend. Little Emma became the subject of my friend's posts. Her growth and development brought smiles and and much happiness to the entire clan.
Emma grew by leaps and bounds. Every milestone was greeted with cheers and excitement. No one could resist her bright smiles.
A couple of months ago, Emma's dad, Nick, received a phone call from his wife.
"You need to come back home," Amy, Emma's mom, said.
Nick then heard Amy utter the words "Emma's blood sugar is high."
Keep in mind that we're talking about a nine month old baby here. Nine months old. So delicate, so innocent, so very young. When Emma was admitted to the hospital, her blood glucose was at 700. The normal range for blood glucose is 80-120 mg/dl. A level as high as Emma's was that day is enough to cause ketoacidosis and coma if not treated immediately. Fortunately, Emma was admitted to the hospital and given the insulin she needed (a gradual process that requires very close monitoring) to help bring her down to a level that's more easily managed.
For the entire family, this was a great shock. Not only was the sweet child they loved in hospital, but it was almost as if they were reliving a nightmare. It had only been a few years before that Nick himself had been diagnosed with diabetes. He'd experienced the thirst and fatigue that plague the undiagnosed diabetic. With a baby, they can't tell you that they're feeling these symptoms. Not in so many words. The extra bottles, the prolonged naps - symptoms like these can easily be attributed to a growth spurt that children this age are prone to experience.
Emma's home now and doing well. As well as one could possibly expect for a baby to be as she's poked every couple of hours for yet another drop of blood to be placed on the glucometer strip. Adults don't have to do this so frequently but with infants, it's a necessity. Their little bodies metabolize nutrients differently than we do. Because they're still growing and developing, many of their systems are still immature and have needs that must be met more frequently than adults.
When I worked pediatrics, I dealt with new diabetics on a regular basis. Watching a child and their family adjust to the routine is difficult. Watching a baby and his or her family is heartbreaking. The challenges are many. Babies can't check their own blood sugar, they can't tell mom or dad they feel "low" or "high", they can only cry or sleep. A baby's blood sugar can drop quite rapidly. For this very reason, parents are checking glucose levels every couple of hours. Around the clock.
Parents of diabetic infants are easy to recognize. The dark circles under their eyes, the yawns, and the weary smiles give them away. Bottles of glucose water are carried along with formula or breastmilk in the diaper bag. The diaper bag now also starts to resemble a medical kit. Glucometer, test strips, lancets, cotton balls, bandaids, syringes, insulin, urine test strips - all the items necessary to monitor blood sugar. And, of course, in today's world, mom and dad will have a cell phone handy, with the doctor's number programmed in. For extra measure, there's the medic alert bracelet. You know, just in case.
As the baby gets older, bottles of glucose water are replaced with premeasured snacks and glucose tabs or gel.
Illness, while a concern for any parent, soon becomes an even more frightening experience for parents of diabetic children. More frequent blood sugar checks are necessary as illness places different demands on the body's resources. Depending on the doctor and the nature of the illness, insulin may need to be withheld. In some (rare) cases, more insulin may be required. Parents, already familiar with the entire staff at the endocrinologist's office, now come to rely on the staff's knowledge to help keep their child from the hospital.
There are worries that all parents face. Imagine how many more you would have if your child required 24/7 monitoring. This is where you get to be a hero. By helping to find a cure of diabetes, you can make a difference. You can make a tax-deductible donation to the American Diabetes Association in Emma's name by sponsoring her family's walk for a cure. You don't have to donate to Emma's team, but think of how much it would mean to her family.
As of right now, Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease in the U.S. Diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure.
Every day medical science is making progress in the search for a cure. Sometimes the discovery is a new drug or tool to help with the management of the disease. Sometimes it's the discovery in the areas of genetics, islet cell biology, immunology, or improvements in diabetes education.
Never underestimate the power of one. The smallest donation is appreciated. Just picture Emma's smile if you need inspiration.
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:31 AM | Comments (7)