Busy Week

Can it possibly be only Tuesday? This week seems rushing by. I think I'll have to stay up all night tonight just to get things done by Thanksgiving.

So, what am I doing online then? Good question. I've found it helps me relax a lot when I write out my thoughts. I don't necessarily have to write about the things that are weighing heavily on me - simply writing something helps. It's as if I can feel the tension slip out through my fingertips as I sit here. So, I indulge myself for a few moments :)

I didn't get to stargaze on Saturday night - it was just too cloudy. We did get out and go to the book store for awhile. We have a BooksAMillion here that has a nice little coffee shop area. Somehow it has become a hot spot for those who like to discuss current events and/or books. No matter when you pop in there, there's almost always someone sitting around ready for a rigorous discussion. Often it's people I've met before but not always. Saturday night it was a whole new (to me) crew. For some reason the discussion had turned to Nancy Grace.

If you watch TV at all, odds are you're familiar with the Headline News Channel's controversial host. Personally, I want to throw something at the TV every time I hear her voice not just because it grates on me but because I think she's irresponsible in the way she discusses cases. She's on a NEWS network yet she her presentations are (IMO) totally biased. Sure, people should know her work is slanted - that she's offering her own opinion - but I'm not convinced that there aren't a number of people out there who take her opinions as gospel. Some of those we chatted with agreed while others cited the First Amendment as a blanket that covers anything anyone wants to say. Now, I'm a fan of the Constitution as much as the next person, but I think that someone on a NEWS channel should be very careful about how they deliver information. (It goes back to that old Spidey adage - "with great power comes great responsibility".) At any rate, it was quite fun to talk about her and tell someone besides Bill just how much she grates on me. (I see in the news today where she's being sued for wrongful death. It will be interesting to see the media coverage about HER trial.)

While I was at the book store, I picked up Night Kill by my favorite author, F Paul Wilson. Currently I'm reading The Haunted Air, the sixth in Wilson's Repairman Jack series. It's difficult to describe Wilson's style of writing. The principle character in many of his books, Repairman Jack, is a bit of an urban vigilante, but he's the sort many would like to have around. He "fixes" things when the legal system fails to help good folks out. Even though he operates outside the law, he has a code of ethics that runs deep. Wilson's work often also contains a bit of the supernatural leaving Jack not only to fight the standard bad guy but also some interesting supernatural forces. It sounds cheesy I know but it doesn't feel cheesy when you're reading. Perhaps Wilson has a gift for writing something that is just believable enough to help the reader to suspend disbelief just for the time of the reading? I can't explain it - I just know I enjoy them.

Hmm - so much more but I think I'll stop there. I have tons of email to get to and a Terrific Tush Tuesday post to make on my other blog :)

I'll be away from Thursday morning til sometime Sunday so Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who will be celebrating.

Annie

When I was growing up I thought my next door neighbor Annie was the coolest woman - funny, independent, gregarious, and very much in control of her life. I didn't consider her to be sexy (unlike many boys, twelve year old girls do not look at adult women in that way), but in looking back now, I realize that she was. Even though her husband passed away and left her alone with a two-year old daughter when she was thirty-two, she was able to not only survive but find happiness. I remember watching her interactions with the people around her, especially the men she dated, and marveling at how easily she was able to persuade everyone to do what she wanted them to do. As far as I can remember, she was never bitchy, never raised her voice, and almost always had a pleasant demeanor. The men in her life (I remember three different ones) were attentive, intelligent, and successful. I so wanted to be like her when I grew up. Well, a combination of of Annie and my mom.

My mom possesses this quiet inner strength. In many ways she reminds me of a lioness - strong and fiercely protective of those she loves. She was a warm, gentle heart and is probably the best listener I've ever known. Somehow, she instinctively knows just what to say when I'm upset.

I still have my mom with me and I'm so thankful for that. Sadly I found out today that Annie passed away quite unexpectedly late Saturday evening. She was so young - only 64. I'm not sure if she realized how much she effected my life but I'll always be grateful to her.

I love you Annie. Rest in peace.

Ovarian Cancer

Catwoman sent the below information. I wanted to share it with all my female readers or for those who love the women in their lives.

Earlier this year I spent almost three months thinking I may have ovarian cancer. Fortunately everything turned out ok. As stupid as it sounds, for several months I knew I had symptoms but was afraid to go to the Dr. I know now that I could have waited til it was too late, so I've resolved never to do something like that again. Be informed and be brave. Know the symptoms and see a Dr if you have concerns.

"Ovarian cancer whispers - so listen. Watch for pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort; vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea, and indigestion; frequency and/or urgency of urination in the absence of an infection; unexplained weight gain or weight loss; pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating and/or feeling of fullness; ongoing unusual fatigue; or unexplained changes in bowel habits.

"If symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks, ask your doctor for a combination pelvic/rectal exam, CA-125 blood test, and transvaginal ultrasound. A Pap Test WILL NOT detect ovarian cancer."

Thanks for the reminder, Catwoman.

Always Behind

Ha. No, that isn't my behind. My hair does look pretty much like hers, though. Perhaps a bit darker and about three inches longer.

I'm behind again on everything. I love receiving email but hate it that my friends might think I'm ignoring them if they see me posting here or in my group and yet they don't get a response to private email. Sometimes, posting things that larger numbers can read is the most efficient use of my time and I can only hope my friends understand that. It's funny, I know a lot of Dommes wouldn't admit to worrying about things like that and I really don't see why. Dommes can care about people's feelings. Sure some don't but that's not because they're Dommes :)

Right now I'm sitting and watching the DaVinci Code on DVD. We saw it in the theater but Bill wanted to watch it again. It certainly doesn't do the book justice but can any movie ever do a book justice? I was really surprised when Bill told me that the video store shelves still held about thirty of it's 120 copies of the movie. Then I remembered where I live. So many people who judged the movie as horrible without ever even seeing it. If they said "Oh this is blasphemous" after watching it, I could respect that - I wouldn't agree, but I could respect their opinion a lot more.

There's a lot going on in the news right now, isn't there? I see where OJ has written a book "If I Did It" and an interview regarding this will be aired on FOX on the 27th. What a tasteless thing to do all the way around - OJ, his publisher, and FOX regardless if he did do it or he didn't. Hopefully some court will make him give all the profits he receives to the Goldmans and the Browns. (I just saw where OJ's publisher said she was told the money would go to OJ's children... hmm... well, this will keep his name in the news for weeks to come so he'll find a way to profit one way or another. If you want to read her statement now, it's on Drudge's website. He doesn't leave permalinks so it probably won't be there long.)

Earlier I saw where an Ohio man accused of murdering a woman and her three children was attacked in open court by the woman's family (watch the video). It's a wonder that things like that don't happen more often. I can't imagine the horror of having a family member murdered let along several of them. I'm not violent at all but I wonder if perhaps I wouldn't want to do the same thing. (Presuming of course I knew for sure the accused actually did kill my family member. )

For those of you who are interested in stargazing, this weekend is the Leonid Meteor shower. This article suggests optimal viewing times. Supposedly we'll be able to see as many as two shooting stars a minute during peak times. If I feel up to it, I plan on heading out to the country and enjoying the show.

Blogger Beta

Well... it would appear that switching to Blogger Beta was a mistake. The RSS feed for my Entranced Realm blog isn't updating at all. I made three entries yesterday that still do not show up. Also, I see that I can't leave comments on non-beta Blogger blogs with this ID. If you haven't made the transition, think twice.

We Remember

Thank you. I know that those two words aren't spoken nearly often enough to those who have served or are serving in our Armed Forces. Your sacrifice is deeply appreciated.

Sunday

I'm very behind with my email (that's been my constant refrain for months now, hasn't it?). If you're awaiting a response from me, I'm not ignoring you. When I can, I'll write.

Tomorrow is chemo day for Bill so we'll be a bit tied up for the next few days. The Doctor told him they wanted to discuss some new meds so maybe these will not be as difficult for him to handle. His attitude is really good right now so that should be a big help in his dealing with any new therapy they decide to try.

Since most days leave very little time for anything leisure related I have become very good at multi-tasking. Because my handbag lately always holds a paperback book, I'm finding I'm reading more - especially during those long doctors' office waits. I just finished Hosts by F Paul Wilson. This wasn't my favorite of F Paul Wilson's "Repairman Jack" series but it was decent. Good enough that I've already ordered the remaining four paperbacks of the series. Repairman Jack, a "good guy" urban mercenary (I know, sounds like an oxymoron), "fixes" problems and injustices that can't be fixed within the justice system. Don't let the sort of thriller/SciFi (not space SciFi) flavor scare you off. There's just enough of it to be interesting and to make it relatively easy to suspend disbelief while you're reading. The best in the series so far has been The Tomb, the first Repairman Jack novel. These aren't the Great American Novel, but they make very good reading if you enjoy fiction.

We're off now to visit my parents - I'll write more later.

Ramblings - New Blog

I'm having a difficult time keeping up with my email right now and I wanted a way to communicate with my friends without posting things on my main blog that hold no interest to the majority of the 400-500+/day readers. So, this is my place for non-kinky, non-hypnotic things. If you're looking for that, head elsewhere.

To bring you up to date - for the moment everyone seems to be holding their own. My almost 11 year old niece doesn't have leukemia. For a week or so we thought she did, but the biopsy came back normal - yay. The relief we feel is indescribable. My father and Bill are both obviously still ill, but things have settled down into a busy but not as stressful routine.

Other than that, it's turned out to be a beautiful time of year here. The countryside is ablaze with color and the days are crisp. Yesterday the gardener finished raking the leaves into big piles out in front of the house for the City to pick up. I've been tempted to run and jump in them just like we did when we were young; thus far, I've resisted temptation.

We saw An American Haunting the other day. It's a fairly good horror flick based on the Bell Witch. I remember hearing stories about the Bell Witch whenever I was 11 or 12. As the stories went, should you look in a mirror and repeat three times "I'm not afraid of the Bell Witch" - she'll appear behind you. In those days, I never could make myself say it more than twice... maybe I'll try it now ;) I didn't realize that everyone hadn't heard of the Bell Witch until I saw the movie. Apparently, the story is based on "actual events" that occurred during the early 1800s in Red River, Tennessee (not too terribly far from where I live). I guess the story is a Southern thing.

What else... oh... have you been paying attention to the political shenanigans from this week? Sure what John Kerry said wasn't exactly the most tactful thing, but I can't believe that people would actually change their vote because of something uttered by a man who isn't even running in their area. Sigh. Why not vote on ISSUES.

Ok... enough ranting for now. Time to work. I'll post as I can.