Well, fall is definately here now...

Yep..humidity gone.
Chill in the air.
Halloween candy invading the stores.
Dead leaves falling off the trees.

Hopefully, the snakes are hibernating now....
The Squirrels are busy with the pinecones.
You have to let the car warm up a bit in the morning...
Put that extra blanket on the bed.

Dogs dont want to go outside.
Time to get a few things done around the house
before the holidays set in.

Baby comes this Winter...better hurry!

Mexico

                                 
                                    MEXICO

Old clashes with the new, unfortunately, the new doesn't stay new for long,
for in Mexico, the old overcomes and fixates all into a part of the landscape.

This happens with everything in Mexico.  The new cars soon are dented and patched, or thrown to the wayside to rust.  Houses made of cement and stone grow the green gilded algae and think nothing of that....

Once beautiful Senoritas, with long flowing manes of iridescent black hair, walk the paths of so many of the Senoras before them.  Worn and tired of bearing children and tortilla making... wondering if Jose will come home this time with the pesos, or will they be spent in some cantina on some willing dance girl.

Even the trees and brush and flowers seem old.  They grow long ranging roots, scalping against the mountainside, hanging onto life where they can.
Year after year, becoming old and fixated.

Convoluted visions of cellphones and internet cafes almost convinces you that there is some progress in Mexico, until you notice no one is using their cell phones.  Why?  No minutes.....

Mexico will always be, just, Mexico.

What we create today, is tomorrows memory.

'Just sitting out on the back porch, after having done some late spring organizing, and having come upon an old envelope filled with ageing photos from back when everyone took their 'rolls of film to Kodak to get them printed..... I sipped my coffee, and took them out one by one and was transported to another time in my life.
I viewed scene after scene of events that had taken place, and at the time I had thought were important enough to snap a picture of......

The kids were little then....
Funny hairdo's, and goofy adolescent grins....

I must have spent quite a while reminiscing over those old photos...as my coffee became cold, and I flipped through one after another of my memories.

It dawned on me, that those moments I caught on film were forever gone, except for their fading images on these pieces of paper.
That time in my life was now only a memory, that thankfully could be recounted as I gazed at the photos...
But what struck me was the thought that those moments, that block of 'time, spent in the 'yesterdays of my life, were now today's memories.

That prompted me to consider, once again, how important it is to select how you chose to spend your today's, as they will become tomorrows memories.
Chose well, and enjoy each day, and love all those around you and tomorrow you will look back on your memory of today with a smile.

Change is in the air

 
Mindful of the fact that everything changes all the time, and has changed since time began and will change till time ends.... I tip my hat to that fact.
Each new day a thousand changes take place all over the world, and even in my own backyard.
A new flower has bloomed, the dog didn't bark at the postman this time, and my newly tiled floor doesn't look as new as it did yesterday...(probably because the dogs walked on it)....
All that 'type of change is normal everyday life.  And, its actually refreshing to have these changes, even in little things.  Prevents boredom.

Life is full of changes.  We want to change our wieght, our hairstyle, our haircolor, change our clothes, our cars our homes.  Change our lifestyles, our religions, our views. We seem to thrive on constant change.

Change the tv channel, change the food we eat, change our careers....
Life Is Change, and that can be a good thing, until we convince ourselves that everything, all the time, MUST change, in order to be good.

I think its time to ponder what changes might not be needed, more so when very powerful people REFUSE to define EXACTLY what they intend to change... and WHY!

Do we really need to be in a state of constant change?  Does our lives have to really revolve around change, in order for us to be content?
Can some things just stay the same...and we all be happy with that?

Change is a very powerful word and concept, and I think we have convinced ourselves of its need in our lives in order to be happy, progressive and accomplishing our future.

With so much change in the air, lets all just take a step back for a moment and think about it.  Lets not be of the crowd mentality that flows with the moment, trying to change our world....... just because.
Maybe we should practice little change.... or change as needed.... or just let things be sometimes.

The Change in the air that bothers me of late, is the very word CHANGE.
I am beginning to see it everywhere, hear it everywhere, and its becoming a mandate from on high. And, the mandate I refer to is not from the "ON HIGH" that I take my orders from......

Just a thought folks.
Lets think about things a bit...and possibly not be so quick to Change.

A Diamond in the foot~ A Childlike approach to prayer and faith

I was a young girl and excited because our family was going to visit some relatives, and I was comfortably seated in the backseat of the car.... holding tightly onto my little brown paper bag of coveted candy.
I remember we drove out of the driveway that morning, and were headed to the highway.... when a panic stricken shriek pierced the calm.
"BOB!"  Stop!..The diamond is missing out of my ring!"  I cannot remember the reaction of my dad at that moment, but, I could sense the absolute panic in the words of my mother.

I think we continued on to the family the visit that day..... but, in returning home,  the search began. 
I have vague memories of my mom frantically scouring the driveway outside, thinking that perhaps her large center diamond from her wedding ring had fallen there... and when that search was exhausted, she moved to the house....
Anywhere, and everywhere that the diamond could have fallen was thoroughly searched.  Mom in hysterics, crying and lamenting that her diamond was gone...

As a child, I felt bad.  It seemed like a problem of enormous improbabilities..
How does one even begin to find a lost diamond?  I think the task is something akin to the old saying..."Its like trying to find a needle in a haystack".

About the same time, I missplaced my treasured little brown paper bag of candy.
I felt the same amount of loss... I wanted that candy so bad.  Where could I have put it?  I looked all over my bedroom and all the places that I, in my young life would have left it.  But, just the same as my mom trying to find her lost diamond, my candy was no where to be found.
I was disappointed, and felt a little guilty that my missing candy was just as important (to me) as the lost diamond was to my mom.

I can remember hearing drawers being opened, and emptied, and objects being shuffled around, and all the while the exasperated sighing, mingled with some crying coming from my now depressed mom.
I did feel bad for her.  My measly attempts looking for the diamond, during the intial stages of the family hunt had also produced no results.

So, here we were.  My mother missing the large center diamond of her wedding ring, and I left without the little precious bag of candy.

What were we to do?

When all else fails...pray.  Well, I know now, that prayer should be the very first thing to do in a crisis, but at the time, with so many lessons yet to be learned in life, I have to admit, it was the last thing I did, after we had all but given up any hope of every seeing that diamond again..and I, well, I figured that my little bag of candy was long gone as well.

So, being a little girl, and young to the ways of God, but, yet having a childlike faith decided to pray.  I decided to make a sacrifice...and thus bargained with God.
The prayer went something like this...

"Dear God... If you will just let me find my moms diamond, or let her find it, I wont ask you to help me find my candy."

In my childish thinking, I decided to 'sacrifice the candy, in hopes that God would take me up on that, and let the diamond be found instead!"

Now, I cannot remember if I went to sleep, with that bargain hanging in the air between God and I, or not.....
but, I do remember going into the bathroom, probably to brush my teeth or wash my face.  Probably in pajamas, and certainly barefoot.
Standing there, in that bathroom, looking up into the big mirror above the counter, I felt a really sharp stab in my heel.  It was the kind of pain that makes you instantly react. I lifted up my foot, to remove whatever it was that poked into my heel.
As I reacted to the pain, and lifting my foot up, and swiping it off with my hand, I felt something fall into my hand.  I took a look at what had jabbed so painfully into my heel, and there sat a brilliant sparkling diamond.  I took one long look...and gasped and closed my hand tightly around the object...and ran running to my mom, screeching that I found her diamond.

At first, it was just too much for mom to believe that I had her diamond clenched tightly in my fist.  She thought I was joking, and admonished me that it wasnt the right time to play jokes....  and all I remember thinking was that I wasnt joking! And, how to convince her?   I told her to look!  As I unclenched my fist, there sat the brilliant diamond in the palm of my hand.
I cant say how speechless we all were, and the look of  complete relief on my moms face made me feel so good.  I knew in my heart that something really great had happened.
God had heard my prayer!  My mom had her diamond back!

I dont know when, but, shortly thereafter, my little brown paper bag of candy reappeared too!  It had fallen under my bed...the one place I hadnt thought to look.
Not only did God answer a little girls prayer, he even gave me my candy back as a bonus I suppose.  I realized then, that God doesnt need our bargainings, or sacrifices to act on our behalf...... His Son already accomplished all that by giving his life for us....
All I had to do was pray and ask in faith, and God heard and answered.

What a life lesson I learned over that one missing diamond.

Now, I am not a young little girl anymore.  My life difficulties are not about loosing little paper bags of candy.  I wouldnt even 'bother God over such a trivial matter now....  yet, even if I did, I know he would hear me.  And, if I believe with faith, he will answer me, and give me more than I could imagine....

He is a good God, and cares about our little things in life.  He just waits for us to come to him, and share them with him, and ask him to be a part.  And, when we make him a part of even the little things of our life, we wont be disappointed!

Memory of you... twenty years gone...

                                       Average Man
If most men live lives of quiet desperation, I could single him out in a crowd:
his desperation screams out loud, his desperation screams out loud.

The only emotion he feels is frustration, he thinks he is lucky to feel.
At least this emotion is real, when he’s caught like a rat on a wheel.

        He’s living a life he never wanted
        with a thread of his dream that remains just to haunt him.
        He seems like the average man,
        but being average wasn’t part of the plan.

You see him as clever; you think that he’s smart,
hardworking, responsible - so wise.
When I ask if he’s happy, he lies.

He won’t regain what he’s lost, he never tries.

                So how do dreams slip away?
                Just a little bit day by day...
So many people with so much ambition,
that lies broken and bleeding it’s so sad.

I remember what this man once had,
and vow never to end up ...like my dad.
        He’s living a life, he never wanted,
        with a thread of his dream that remains just to haunt him.
        Seems like the average man,
        but being average wasn’t part of his plan.


Quoted from 'Sacred Fire' Adrianna Larkin 2009

Becoming Chivas...

A while back, we bought a sweet cute little Jack Russell puppy.  Almost too cute to be a real animal, and at times I thought of her as a stuffed animal that came to life somehow. 
Her name had already been thought out by my daughter, and as we walked through the front door with puppy in hand, my daughter said; " I know the name!"
"Oh yeah, what?" I asked...
"Her name will be; CHIVAS!"

Sounds good I thought, and we proceeded to carefully and patiently say to the new puppy her name.  Over and over, we pronounced; Chiiiivassss...chivassss, chiiiivvaassssss......drawing the name out, and slowly saying it over and over.  Surely this puppy will soon learn her name, and wont mistake any of our other human words to be connected with her! we thought.

We had illusions of granduer for this puppy, and poured hours and hours into her, making her responses to us almost human.  And, at first she was always referred to as: C H I V A S!  
She learned to come to us by that name, rollover by that name, sit and laydown by that name... she learned what 'NO NO meant, after we called her by name. 
It was very apparent that her name was; Chivas.

I dont know when it happened, but slowly it all started to slide downhill.

No one thought much about it, but, it dawned on me, we hardly called our dog Chivas anymore!
She was now being saluted by such terms as:  Chivie weevie, neeners, Chickie Wee Wee, Chickie su mamma, Girrrrrrrrrrrllll...... and guess what?
She responds with happy leaps in the air, tail a waggin, and sometimes a bark or two!
We still call her Chivas from time to time, mostly when others ask us; 'What is her name>?  We make sure to answer, very distinctly and clearly; 'Chivas... (lest anyone call her anything different than her real name...)

I wonder why the digress?  Why cant we just be satisfied with the name Chivas?
Maybe its just human nature to do the baby talk thing...
as a matter of fact, I can think of a few 'pet names my kids have adopted over the years as well, but that would be for another post!

Ok...sorry for the Tests....

But, hey, check this out.
I have learned a few things the past month, and this is kinda cool.
With all the talk of Google this, and Google that, I found a way to actually make money with Google!  Check this out!  Just click on the following lightened words...
Click Here!  But, remember, this is a test!

OH, and I am suppose to add this URL also...don't know why, but this is a test!
http://4db72uuetnyqer3awdq-dj2obt.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=2Y3YDGJ6Thanks for your patience..
Valerie

Bye Bye John Chow, (as far as the experiment goes!)

With September behind me, a deadline has been reached.  I researched and experimented with my 'On line idea for about 1 month.  I learned a lot, and learned that I have a lot more to learn.
As for the goal I set...I did reach it!  I did earn at least $1.oo on line...through Google Ad sense.  That brought about a weird sense of excitement that anything is possible.. (and I had not thought it really possible!)
Also, I did what John Chow recommends.   Take ACTION!  I did that also!
I have a domain name..( a few actually) and I learned a bit about having to host your domain name, and create a website or Blog for the name to be attached to.
Creating a professional website, (not just a freebie one) is a bit of a challenge for me, cause I simply don't read or write computer code.  That is a bit out of my learning curve at the moment.

So to re-cap my little on line adventure...
1) I set a goal.  (30 days of learning from John Chows  e book.)
2) I took action.  Obtained a host and domain name, and a blog....
3) I made more than $1.00 on line. (But, have to accumulate $100.00 before I get paid from Google.)
4) I made peace with the statement that John Chow made, that losers hate failing..so they don't even try!

Thanks to John Chow for encouraging and challenging me with that ONE statement.  It certainly impacted me to think about what was holding me back from my ultimate goal... to someday make a decent living 'on line, by possibly Internet marketing (of some sort) all from my laptop, whilst swinging from my hammock, on the beaches of my husbands home town; Acapulco!

Next goal...learn Spanish, before I go to retire on those beaches.!
Thanks for bearing with me....
~Bandita~
!

The Heart

 


   The
> Heart
>
> 'Tomorrow morning,' the surgeon began,
> 'I'll open up your heart...'
> 'You'll find Jesus there,' the boy
> Interrupted.
>
> The surgeon looked up, annoyed 'I'll
> Cut your heart open,' he continued,
> To see how much damage has been
> Done...'
>
> 'but when you open up my heart, you'll
> Find Jesus in there,' said the boy.
>
> The surgeon looked to the parents, who
> Sat quietly. 'When I see how much
> Damage has been done, I'll sew your
> Heart and chest back up, and I'll plan
> What to do next.'
>
> 'But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The
> Bible says He lives there. The
> Hymns all say He lives there. You'll
> Find Him in my heart.'
>
> The surgeon had had enough. ' I'll tell
> You what I'll find in your heart.
> I'll find damaged muscle, low
>  blood
> Supply, and weakened vessels.
> And I'll find out if I can make you well.'
>
> 'You'll find Jesus there too.. He lives
> There.'
>
> The surgeon left.
>
> The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the
> surgery,'...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein,
> widespread muscle degeneration.
> No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy:
> Painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:
> Here he paused, 'death within one year.'
>
> He stopped the recorder, but there was
> More to be said. 'Why?' he asked aloud
> 'Why did You do this? You've put
> Him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've
> cursed him to an early death. Why?'
>
> The Lord answered and said, 'The boy,
> My lamb, was not meant for your
> Flock for long, for he is a part of My
> Flock, and will forever be.
> Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be
> comforted as you cannot imagine.
>
> His parents will one day join him
>  here,
> And they will know peace, and
> My flock will continue to grow.'
>
> The surgeon's tears were hot, but his
> Anger was hotter. 'You created that
> Boy, and You created that heart. He'll
> Be dead in months. Why?'
>
> The Lord answered, 'The boy, My lamb,
> Shall return to My flock, for He has
> Done his duty: I did not put My lamb
> With your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost
> lamb.'
>
> The
> surgeon wept...
>
> The surgeon
> sat beside the boy's bed; the
> boy's parents sat across from him. The boy
> awoke and whispered, 'Did you cut
> Open my
> heart?'
> 'Yes,' said the
> surgeon.
> 'What did you
> find?' asked the boy.
> 'I found Jesus
> there,' said the surgeon.

> Author Unknown 

Handicapped College Student carries on~

Sometimes in life, when things get tough and you just want to quit, and stay in bed pulling the covers up over your head, you need to just put your head down, put your back to the wind, and carry on.  So it is when a very busy college student/military cadet hurts themselves to the point where it is almost impossible to walk, let alone continue to go to class...

Julie found  herself hobbling on crutches, and facing a huge campus full of obstacles, like stairs, heavy glass doors, and a 50 lb backpack and thousands of students mulling around getting in ones way at the most inconvienant times.
There in comes the need for an assistant, and therein comes my new found job, albeit, it probably wont be a forever job.  A week at the most?  Two?

Well, I was now facing the middle part of the week of my new assignment.  The assignment being to drive my daughter to and from her college every day, and just be generally at her beckon call, as it was almost impossible for her to get around.
I found my new job to be very exciting, as I got to pretend I was a college student again~!
One of the most memorable parts of the week was when I got to sit in on her TV production class.  It was a blast watching Julie 'host their college show, "Reel Watchers"  ( a spoof exercise in producing a TV show). 
Everyone was so nice to me, and let me take photos and watch the entire event.
Here is some of the pictures I took...

                    Julie on set, being instructed by her professor.
 

                     Getting ready to 'shoot footage of Julie on set.... ready 1,2,3...quiet on the set!

                        Julie as seen on the TV......( I cant say I recommend wearing WHITE on TV!)

                                Students receiving instruction after class was over.

                               Julie getting things under control on the 'floor of the set....

Celebrating ONE year in Fayetteville September '08 to '09

Wow... where did the year go?

It seems just yesterday that my husband and I finalized our moving plans from Yuma Arizona and headed out. Well, headed up North that is! We routed our cross country trip via Washington state to see my 'long lost family...and of course, over to North Idaho to visit my sister, and then we finally headed 'out, across the entire USA to 'land in Fayetteville NC.

                                                                               

Not sure what to expect... the future was looming mysteriously ahead of us!
My husband gave up a great job... ( a rare thing for a new immigrant to the country) to come to Fayetteville. We did this move 'blind so to speak, however we were greatly blessed by it. I have come to believe that God rewards those that do good things for others. Chuy was blessed after moving to Fayetteville with a position in a company by being hand picked by one of the top General Sup's.... (that just doesn't happen).

I have been blessed to actually be around my daughter, who had been in Europe for the past many years, while serving in the Air Force. It has been fun to help her fix up her new house, raise a Jack Russell from scratch (meaning from puppyhood) and achieve a scholarship via the military. Keep the house quiet while she studied for Mid terms...watched her make the Chancellors List for a near 4. GPA, and be invited to join several sorietys, which she has politely declined, for lack of interest, well, more like too busy being a soldier girl with the ROTC unit.

I got to visit on campus, take a photo shoot, and just enjoy time with Julie.
And, if that isn't good enough, we will have the pure enjoyment of watching her graduate from UNC Pembroke in a few short years, and become an commissioned  Officer somewhere in this world....

Julie studying furiously for Mid-term exams.

 We enjoyed putting in our elbow grease, for a few fall home improvement projects, like painting that deck....(thought it would never end...) de-mossing the house, or whatever that is called, when you get that green stuff off the bricks..?
(Thank You Chuy!)

We have seen the four seasons of North Carolina pass by. The magnificent fall bringing the Lumbee Pow Wow and watched the maples turn a magnificent golden and red color, only then to drop them as an unwanted gift all over the yard.  Again, a Thank's to Chuy for the elbow grease...and then some.

I watched from frosted window panes as the  bare branches of winter stood still and dead looking. We experienced  the occasional snow flurries of Winter and the unexpected frostings of early spring.  My husband experienced the first snowfall of his entire life, and had to drive in it!  That was something else....

 

We have seen soldier friends of Julie be deployed to Iraq, and other places around the world, and have stood by when some needed help moving or a temporary place to stay.

My son joined us this summer, and he too is being greatly blessed. He also landed a very profitable job on Fort Bragg, and is getting to know his way around this area. And, with my son, came Mom and Dad in their RV.... and finding their way up to Washington DC .... and just spending some time at Fort 711...(our house).

The summer was a long hot and very humid one. I certainly identify with people now when they speak of the humidity of 'down south. I cant say that I care much for it, coming from a dry desert climate like Yuma Az, but, it still beats out the grey skies and constant unexpected rain of Washington state. Here, it seems you have a torrential down pour, served with superflous thunder and lightening, but unlike Washington state, it gets over with, and eventually a nice blue sky shines forth.
Our cars stay cleaner here. There is an absense of the neverending film of fine sand as was in Yuma, and most of the city is paved and lacks the perpetual mudpuddles of Washington.

I still am not accustomed to the 'accents here. I try to avoid the outskirts of Fayetteville, because if you get too far 'out there, you will never understand what the locals are saying...and I do mean that. Most of the conversation is " Ya all...(you all); I be dere (I will be there);starestick...(stir stick for your coffee)... axe (ask)... gd mrnun (good morning)... and on it goes. What I do not enjoy, is the embarrassement of asking a local .."What did you say?" I have to do this over and over... cause their answers are as heavily accented as the first time they said whatever they said.

.....(Ok, the photo was taken in 1939, but not that much has changed here since then it seems).....


I am surprised that over the years, I havent noticed this accent thing more...like in TV shows?
OH, maybe in Jerry Springer~

Someday, I am pretty sure I will look back at these years in fond remembrance, and have a great chuckle or two. These adventures are surely a growing experience, and sometimes a test of ones patience, but all in all they are worth it.
If nothing else, it might make good fodder for a book someday.

I thank the Good Lord for getting us safe and sound from Yuma to Fayetteville, hooking us up with jobs, and helping my daughter achieve her dreams, despite a terrible nightmarish heartbreak...


One good thing, about bad things;  there really is light at the end of the tunnel.
The sun does come out after the rain, and it is the darkest right before the  light. So the sayings go. But, ya know what, they are true!
We are here, we are alive, we are progressing. Who would of thought?

We were blessed with a trip through South Mexico at Christmas. A trip of a lifetime.! Julie, Chuy and I had the time of our lives roaming around ancient temples, swimming in the ocean waves, visiting family in the hills overlooking Pie de la Cuesta.....and basking in the sun, in hammocks.... ahhh just the thought....

Ahhh, what a year!

 One event that I will always cherish, was being able to put to rest some of the terrible grief I felt over my Grandparents death.  I lost my Gramma and Grampa in a short period of time, and I just was not up to the loss.  Getting to visit Washington, seeing family, and bringing my memories of Gramma and Grandpa back to Fayetteville was the closure I needed.
We set up a little remembrance area in the Shrunk that Julie brought back from Europe.... I have a permanent place now that I can go to remember them.

I can think of a thousand more things that each day this year has brought to us, but, that might become pretty long for this post... so on that note, I will say;


"Thank God for family, praying friends...(Jane and Judy from Yuma) and good company! With that, nothing can go too far wrong!
See ya around the blog, and hopefully, we will have another interesting and wonderful year. I know I will certainly enjoy blogging this new cycle!
(I have always considered September to September my year cycle.)


~Best Regards~
~ Bandita~

Digital Cameras...

I am convinced now, that I need a new camera.  The quality is poor on this one, and its just about time to retire it I think.  It has sure served its purpose.  All through out Mexico, and all around here in North Carolina.
I can see that the photos look faded....
Any ideas anyone?

Email me...  firetrail7@yahoo.com

Going to classes with Julie! ~ Wheeeeeee fun!~

Well, it was the day for Julies big 'Power Point presentation.  We were running late, and she was slotted to be the first to give the presentation to the class.

Nothing seemed to be going right that day, as the presentation was to be based on her previous ROTC commander John Torre. 

He was proving difficult to reach, with his new position and all.... so Julie had attempted to change the personality to be interviewed to her new commander.

So, Julie had planned to interview her current commander at ROTC.  The problem was that he was only a temporary replacement for Torre, and he was under duress.  He had been sent to Fayetteville, due to his wife dying.  He was now a widower, and Julie just didnt have it in her to bother him.  He seemed so withdrawn and sad.  So, Julie had to improvise, and ignore the ankle.  She came through like a true professional.  The teacher was amazed!

So, with hurt ankle and puny 'Power Presentation in hand, Julie braved forward to instruct the class on the basic's of giving a PP presentation.  Her teacher sat in the class with rapt attention, and I was safely off to the side, trying not to be noticed... and, couldnt help but notice how Julie kept moving her hurt ankle around.  I knew what pain she was in..... and sympathized with her... but, I was enjoying the time spent being a 'Mom!  Oh, I mean an 'assistant!

Despite Julies lack of the interview she had planned, the professor was amazed at Julies composure and resources, and ability to 'present' despite it all.  Needless to say, Julie fared well............. and having her 'assistant in class for a photo shoot may have set the stage a little!  The professor was happy to smile for the camera, and when class was over, we both sighed a little sigh of relief and moved on to her favorite. class;'TVproduction and Broadcasting. 

Crutches in hand, backpack secured, laptop put away, off we went, hobbling across the vast campus, dodging students here and there, arriving at the studio tired and out of breath!

That will be for another post.... stay tuned to see Julie on 'TV!

First week on the job as 'Carsens assistant'~

The first week of my new 'job was becoming more and more interesting!  On the day of Julies ROTC training/schooling, I was priviledged to meet some of her peers and future 'Officers that are enlisted in ROTC as they attend the UNC PEMBROKE for their degree's.  Julie on left, and 'Harris in center...interesting thing about Harris is that she is one of the only, or one of the first decorated women of the Iraq war to be given the medal of honor or purple heart (can't remember which one?). She is a medic, and she heroically saved someones life in combat.  I dont know the exact details, however, I will be finding out more later.  That may even make for an interesting post in the future.

I was immediatly impressed greatly by this girls presence.  She was one of the most respectful, helpful, courteous young women I have ever and I mean ever met.  As soon as we drove up, and she noticed that Julie was injured, she opened up the truck door, and helped Julie with everything.  She unloaded Julies 75lb back pack, got out her crutches, took everything to the ROTC house, and just kept coming back to the truck helping out. She didnt need to be asked, she just saw a need to help, and did it!  What a refreshing person, and in watching Harris, my faith in our future leaders was restored.  If our young Officers have this caliber of integrity, then, more power to them.  

Harris's husband is stationed in Iraq right now, and she is here in Fayetteville on the Green to Gold scholarship, the same as Julie.  Rather than Journalism and Broadcasting, and Public Relations major (Julies major), however, she is pursuing medical training, and will probably end up a doctor.  A great young lady, and I wish her and her husband well....

So, Julie hobbles up the ramp for roll call at ROTC, then has her gear inspected.  This is a mandatory thing they do before any outing.  The group was going to be doing Land Navigations that weekend, and out all night etc.  So, it is important that they have learned what gear to pack, etc.
Julie stays for a written test, after the gear is inspected, and then as the rain begins to really pour, we get to go home! 
So, I was glad to be able to meet some of the finest young people in the world today.  More power to them.... and may they be safe in whatever part of the world they end up defending in honor of the United States of America.
They just dont come any better than this....

~Stay Safe Harris~  Godspeed!

Veterans Hospital Experience with my Daughter~

This week has been an odd one.  I was suddenly called upon to assist my daughter in driving her back and forth from her University, which is about an hour and a half from our home.
Over the weekend, Julie twisted her ankle while trying to manage 'high heels.
By Sunday evening it was so swollen and throbbing in pain that she had all of us worried.  I convinced her to go to the doctor.  Being Sunday, and her receiving her medical attention from the Veterans Administration, we headed to the Veterans Hospital ER.
We spent a few hours in neglect, waiting patiently in the waiting room, and when Julie saw the Doctor, it was confirmed that she had indeed twisted it pretty bad... X-rays taken, and appointments made to come back in the morning for crutches...
Medications in hand, we wearily headed back home.

Since she had pulled some ligaments in her ankle, and was completely unable to put weight on it, or drive her clutch truck, I could see some thing was going to have to be planned for her transportation to school and ROTC for the week.
I supposed it would be me doing the driving and helping her to get around, everyone else had a full time job, and who would help Julie?

I was thankful, once again for making the decision last year to be out here in Fayetteville, to be helpful (as needed) to see my daughter through to Graduation from the University and earn her rank as Officer of the United States Military.

I hadn't imagined all the little day by day, often mundane things that go into making such a commitment as I have made....  but, I can see now, that often just being available is a great gift in itself.

So, in this new mode as chauffeur, travel assistant, and general all around 'Joe, I threw myself into the 'college mode.  That meant waking at 4:00 am on the days she has ROTC,(a big deal for a non-morning person!), driving the long back country roads and praying under my breath that a deer would not jump out at us.  Enduring the early fog until the daylight lightens the sky... and then keeping a cautious eye on all the other crazy drivers, that have no problem passing you on a curve, or paying no mind to those double yellow lines painted on the road, that mean 'no passing!  This new 'job jolted me out of the stupor the long humid Carolina days had lulled me into.  I was now really doing something to be of help...
So, off to school we went.  The first day was the absolute hardest.  I could hardly keep my eyes open driving in the morning, and in carrying her school books in the back pack, my shoulder felt like it would drop off my body any moment.  I didn't realize until then, that I wasnt as young as I used to be.... what an eye opener.
I waited patiently in the background while she was in class, and read my book.
That first day drug on, but, I reminded myself, I was being very helpful.
As the day neared its end, and we headed out for the long drive home, Julie couldnt stop talking about the pain in her ankle.  Sure enough, it had swelled to twice its size from the night before.  We both agreed we needed to go to the hospital, as something didnt seem right.  Julie directed me to the Veterans Hospital, as that is where the military treats her while she is in ROTC.

I have been to the ER many times in my life.  I dont prefer ER's, but sometimes one has no other choice.  However, nothing had prepared me for this ER.
It was for the Veterans, and let me say, I guess the goverment doesnt care much about them, at least by what I saw and experienced there.

We showed up at 3:30 in the afternoon.  Julie was triaged, and sent back to the waiting room...........to wait and wait and wait, as her ankle continued to swell and she was turning a little blue.  Being the good patient, she didnt complain, but after 6 hours had passed, we were begining to wonder how long our patience would hold out.
Around 10:00 pm, I found myself dozing off in my chair, whilst sitting up.  That is a pretty embarrassing thing, as you catch yourself just before you fall off the chair.  When your chin hits your chest, and you are suddenly jolted awake, you realized you had just dozed off.  Quickly you look around to see who else noticed this.  Usually no one is looking, cause they are dozing too.
Well, Julie and I both were fighting this sleeping syndrome.  And, when I finally could not take it any longer, I went up to the counter and waited for a receptionist to show up. I asked as nicely as I could: "What in the world is taking sooooooooooo long?"   I suppose I wont forget the smirk on that guys face for awhile.  He just shrugged his shoulders, and kinda rolled his eyes, and mumbled something or other.  I wasnt sure what to make of this, so I pressed in further.
I asked him who is in charge here? Of the Veterans Affairs?  He then told me to walk down the hall a bit, look at the large picture hanging on the wall, and said to complain to that guy....  I didnt bother to walk down the hall, as I was pretty sure who he was referring to.  Yep, you guessed it, The President of the United States. 
I now rolled my eyes, and shrugged my shoulders.  "Great", I thought.  No sense complaining to him.......... geeze.  So, back to the waiting room I went, to sit out the hours and hours like all the rest.  Apparently they had been here before, and knew what to expect.  They had long ago resigned themselves to this type of ill treatment.  I was too new to it all, and still had some expectations that any normal citizen would have.

Finally, by 11:00pm, we were called to the back.  Julie got to speak to some Doctor from Cameroon, Africa that didnt listen to her very well.  He just took one look at the ankle, and decided to give her a steroid shot, and well, that was about it.
So much for going to the ER at the Veterans Hospital.
Julie wasnt back there long, when she was wheelchaired back to the waiting room, a very concerned nurse in tow.  The nurse explained to me that Julie was reacting to the medications and was now swelling up in both legs...  The attention was now almost too much from this nurse.  Julie and I were both totallly exhausted from the day at school, all the long driving, and the horrendously long wait at the ER, and now they were concerned?  Its enough to make a person become jaded and cynical.

We thanked her, and let her wheel chair Julie out the door, (the most attention we got the entire night).  She was loaded in the truck, and we made for home.
We had to get up early the next day, and be back on the road in just a few hours.
So, my new 'job has left me entirely sleep deprived and exhausted, but feeling good that I am doing something so important for another person.
Its kinda wierd, just being an 'available person... wierdest job title I have ever had in this lifetime, but one of the most rewarding!
I now think everyone needs an 'available person' in their lives. It makes life so much easier that way~