Social Responsibility

When I was in CA last weekend, Aimee and I witnessed a horrendous car accident. We were stopped at a red light when a car traveling at a high rate of speed went around us and the car next to us, went into the left turn lane, and entered the intersection going straight ahead on the red light. He hit a young man approximately 20 years old broadside causing the kid's car to do a 360 before sliding into a fence. The kid was knocked unconscious and had to be cut from his car.

What is amazing to me is that Aimee and I were the ONLY car that remained at the scene of the accident and gave statements to the police. No one else who witnessed the accident seemed to care enough to stick around. I know that being a witness to an accident can be a hassle, but what if it were me or one of my loved ones in that car? Wouldn't I want someone to take the time to make sure I was okay? Someone to stand up and tell the truth about what had happened? The driver of the other car was trying to spin the story to make it look like the kid was in the wrong. Hopefully because we stayed around to tell the police what we witnessed, we will have saved the kid, who did nothing wrong, from further injury.

Historic Faribault

Last Sunday we went to Faribault to watch the Vikings games with Erik. After the game, Erik, Aimee and I wandered the grounds of the old school where Erik's apartment is located. We think the main building of the school was built around 1874 and I'm sure the beautiful chapel was built about the same time. The building where Erik lives was built in 1962 and is very typical of buildings built during that era. There is also gorgeous separate home which we assume was built for the headmaster, but not sure. We discovered a rabbit cage next to the home. There was also a small building which, of course, Aimee and Erik had to open and found that it contained hay. I found a smaller door entering this builing and determined that this was an old chicken coop. We also figured out that cows and possibly horses had been maintained there, which would make sense for a school built in the late 1800s. They probably would have raised much of their own food. I have done a bit of research to find out who built this school, but so far haven't found anything. It was owned by Shattuck-St. Mary's in the past but was sold. It was Covenant Academy of Minnesota for many years, but they ceased to exist 2 years ago. It was also used as a school for troubled teens at one point (hence all the cameras located around the campus) but was closed when the headmaster was discovered to be a pediophile.

The Life of a Princes

Ellie absolutely loves to play dress up and this weekend she has Auntie Aimee to play with. Ellie disappeared and we knew that when she disappears, she is in her room getting dressed up. Within a few minutes we heard her clapping which was her way of summoning her subject. When I asked if I could take her photo, she graciously posed in her best Princess Pose. Ahhh...to be a little girl again!

Christmas Crafting

Ellie thinks it's so much fun to make things together. We made a Halloween box to surprise her parents while I was babysitting. Saturday night we were celebrating Tony's birthday late and I brought the "fixin's" for a Christmas box. Ellie really got into the stamp pads. She was just supposed to ink the edges of the box, but she wanted to make sure there was lots of color everywhere. She got so excited over using a glitter pen, and there was sparkly writing and scribbling everywhere. And stickers...what is it about kids and stickers?? In the end she was pretty proud of her box. She thought maybe she could put notes to Santa in the box.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

Now that it's colder outside, I have started walking at the Mall of America in the morning before the shops open. There is usually music playing softly and low lightening. It's a great place to walk and think ~ or not think, whatever the case may be. The Christmas decorations are starting to pop up and the MOA is looking quite festive. My only question is..... WHAT HAPPENED TO THANKSGIVING! We seem to have gone directly from Halloween to Christmas.

What is our society coming to?

Today I saw a listing of the top 11 drugs prescribed in the U.S. The top 5 were antidepressants. No. 6 was an appetite suppressant, 7 was for pain associated with herpes, 8 was for pain, 9 was for depression, 10 was for pain and 11 was viagra. If that isn't an indication of our societal woes, I don't know what is.

FACT OR FICTION

I recently finished reading "The Secret Supper" and have been lurking in the Barnes and Noble bookclub. I find it amazing that people can get so upset over the fact that DaVinci's painting of the Last Supper doesn't contain a chalice or loaf of bread, in the same way many got upset over The DaVinci Code. It astounds me how some people are unable to differentiate between fact and fiction when it comes to religion. Obviously, the painting is only DaVinci's interpretation and as an artist he was entitled to artistic license. Yet the people who get indignat that DaVinci didn't include a loaf of bread, overlook the inaccuracy of the scenery through the windows in the background which is obviously European. It constantly surprises me how touchy people can get when their religion is portrayed in a way other than the way they believe. But, I guess that is why the world is in the state it is, isn't it?

ELLIE'S FIRST PL.AY

Last night we went to Ellie's first play. She is taking drama/vocal/dancing classes at Stagecoach and last night was her debut. She wasn't happy that she had to be a bunny. She wanted to be a princess (believe it or not) but when Tony and Darcy told her she could be a PINK PRINCESS BUNNY it was okay. The play was a musical version of The Little Engine That Could. We weren't sure if she'd actually say her lines but she did....very softly. Now, if you know Ellie, SOFTLY is NOT the way she normally speaks!! She can be VERY LOUD. When they came out she was really searching the audience to see who was there. Darcy said she was probably taking inventory because she wanted to know who would be there. When she saw me she got this little grin on her face and then tried to be very serious (but couldn't quite make it.) My heart just melted and I got all teary. I do have to give Darcy credit...she ALMOST held it together! After the play we took I wanted to take some photos of the budding actress and, of course, she gave me her "best smile"! I did make the mistake of giving Erik my camera to take photos during the play (since I had HUGE people sitting in front of me) and with his shaky hands I got shaky photos. Oh well... After the play we went to Tony and Darcy's for lasagna, caesar salad and yummy raspberry dessert. I think Ellie changed clothes at least 4 times while playing "cushions" with her friend Mya.

Slave Labor

If our economy can't survive without the illegals doing the jobs Americans don't want, who is going to do those jobs when those very same illegals are given amnesty and become Americans? Are we going to have to import people to fill those jobs? I'm so confused.....

BANK WOES

Last week Chuck got a check from his former employer and I deposited it in the bank. Yesterday I got a letter from the bank returning the check with the explanation that the payee to whom the check was made payable was not on the account! Yeah, right. It's a joint checking account that we've had for 30+ years! So this morning I headed to the bank ready to do battle. The guy at the bank was totally stumped because the account was showing it was a joint account and Chuck's name was there. I guess the bank uses 2 different systems and Chuck was on one but not the other, and they couldn't figure out why. In the meantime I discovered that there were several overdraft charges because of the snafu as well as a service charge, all totaling $211! At the end of the day, all was straightened out: Chuck's name is now back on the account, all the charges have been reversed and we're back in the black.

While at the bank an elderly man came in insisting that he wasn't able to access his account on the bank's website. He was very angry and was yelling so loud that the entire bank could hear him. He finally wandered back to talk to a banker in the cube next to where I was. I have to give the banker credit. He kept his calm and tried to help the old man figure out how to use the computer. The old man kept insisting that his computer in Arizona let him access his account but he couldn't do it in MN. He "doesn't make mistakes" and he knew it wasn't not his computer. He insisted it was the bank's fault. All he could get was "ads telling me how to spend my money." I sat there giggling to myself. After he left, the receptionist came back and was talking to the 2 bankers. I interrupted them and said I knew exactly what he was doing....he was entering the bank's web address in the search engine! Of course he was getting a whole list of things! The bankers started to laugh and said they'd be ready "WHEN" he comes back. Moral of the story.....don't let old men play with computers!!

Then this afternoon I tried to sign onto the bank's website to see if everything was kosher in my account and I couldn't get in! It seems I had been locked out for some reason so I was back on the phone to the bank to get that straightened out. I ended up having to change my password, but at least I finally got access.

A word of warning: If you are taking money in to a bank to deposit it, make sure the teller counts the money above the counter and in your view!! At work, my boss took down a deposit which had $1220 in cash ~ 12 - $100 dollar bills and 1 - $20. The teller counted it below the counter and told my boss that there was an error on our deposit ticket....there was only $1140, not $1220. He said there were 11 - $100 bills and 2 - $20s. My boss came back to the office and told me that there was an error. I said, "No there wasn't." I had counted that money right before he went down, I knew what the individual clients had given us, and I knew exactly what was there. He went back to the bank and told them that the deposit was right. They had the teller count his drawer and, of course, it came out "right". We know what happened ... the teller had switched a $100 for a $20 out of my boss's sight. So of course his drawer would come out right. Right it's a case of his word against ours and we can't prove what happened, other than I KNOW how much cash there was. Unfortunately my boss won't do anything about it. He'll just let it go.

It's not been a good day for banking issues.

There Goes The Neighborhood

I woke up at 3:00 this morning and saw what I first thought was far away lightening. When I looked at it more I decided it was too rhythmic to be lightening, too continual. So I got up to see what it was. There was a police car sitting in the middle of the intersection of 81st Street and 5th Avenue. It was facing north blocking 81st Street. It was just sitting there with its red & blue lights flashing. After about 5 minutes another police car with its lights flashing came from the west on 81st Street. The first squad car moved to let the other one through and it went on to Portland Avenue. The first squad then turned around and went west on 81st Street with flashing lights. Shortly thereafter I heard a helicopter so I got up again to see what was happening. The helicopter was very low and just above our house when I got up. It circled and circled our neighborhood before finally flying away. I again went back to bed but then heard what seemed to be strange whistling outside. I have no idea what that was, but I was not going to get up and find out!

As the riff-raff of the inner city starts to move outward, the problems are coming closer and closer to home. At times I don't know if I want to put any money into improving our house or just sell and get out now while we can still get some money out of it. Dilemmas.....

CATCH THE WIND

At the end of "Cold Case" this week, they played the old song "Catch the Wind" by Donovan. I forgot how much I liked that song. But it really made me wonder if chasing my dreams are just an attempt to catch the wind.

"In the chilly hours and minutes of uncertainty
I long to be in the warm hold of your lovin' mind
To feel you all around me and to take your hand across the sand
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

When sundown pales the sky I want to hide a while
Behind your smile
And everywhere I'd look, your eyes I'd find
For me to love you now would be the sweetest thing
'twould make me sing
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

When rain has covered leaves with tears
I want you near to kill my fears
To help me leave all my blues behind
While standing in your heart is where I wanna be and long to be
Ah, but I may was well try and catch the wind."

I See the Decay Implated Last Time Has Taken Hold

I started my day out at the dentist which is NOT my favorite way to start any day. I had a really old filling removed a couple weeks ago and in the process my dentist discovered a big crack in the tooth. So I ended up with yet another crown. I must have more crowns that Queen Elizabeth by now! Since that was done I've had a continuing dull ache in the same region. I had my teeth cleaned this morning and told my dentist that I was still having pain. He took an x-ray and poked around and discovered that there is some decay on my wisdom tooth (yes, I have all 4 wisdom teeth). He gave me 3 options ~ pull the tooth, try to fill it again or crown it. I asked what he thought was the wisest route and he said he'd be most comfortable with a crown. He didn't want to pull it because then there would be nothing to support the tooth above and he felt filling it would only weaken the tooth, eventually leading to a crown or extraction. So on May 1 I go back for another crown. In the meantime, the tooth is really irritated and sore from all the poking. I have one more really old large silver filling to have replaced and then HOPEFULLY I will be done!

V for Vendetta

Last night Erik and I went to see "V for Vendetta" (at Aimee's constant urging), and even at midnight on a Monday it is an AWESOME movie! Aimee, you were right. I would like to see it again to really take it all in. The message that I got out of it was profound, both on a personal level and a societal level. There is one line something to the effect of when you are without fear you are truly free and that line said it all for me. In this country we are being governed by a secretive bunch of men whose tactic for control is their message of fear. Once the common ordinary working stiff can overcome that fear, we will be free. I loved when the people all took off their masks at the end. They had overcome the only source of power the government had ~ military force; they had walked all over them and in the end they took off their masks and you saw the faces of the masses who were free of the rule of power mongers.

It truly is a lesson to be learned ~ in order to be free we need to let go of the fear.

For what purpose was Paris Hilton created?

Have you ever wondered what Paris Hilton contributes to this world? Why is she considered a "celebrity" worthy of notice? What has she truly ever done? Does she contribute anything to the economy with all her partying? I doubt it, since clubs probably let her in and provide her with food and drink just to get publicity for themselves. Or she shows up at places like Sundance so she can get the celebrity gift bags. She is most likely helping out the medical field by infecting people with herpes thus sending her "victims" to doctors and pharmacies. And she's probably helping lots of people with cameras sell their photographs. I just don't understand. There are so many hardworking, contributing members of society who deserve to be noticed. So why is everyone fascinated with Paris Hilton? I think it's hilarious that someone is attempting to create a cartoon show about Paris and Nicki. They are nothing more than cartoon characters in my book.

SPRING IN MINNESOTA

Spring is supposedly only a week away and we get a major snow storm. Welcome to Minnesota! Schools were closed. It took me over an hour to get to work, but I got there...and then did NOTHING all day. I should have just stayed home. Oh, well, March is our snowest month and I think we'd be disappointed if we didn't get a lot of snow. The lilac bushes next door are actually bent over and touching the ground. Those bushes are probably 8 feet tall! That's how heavy that snow is. Anyone want to help me build a snowman?

Tote Bags Finished

I have finished all the tote bags to fulfill my first true order. I now have to finish the tarot bags and they will be shipped to the shop in CA. I'm feeling a wee bit anxious. What if the bags don't sell? What if the shop owner doesn't like them? I've put so much positive energy and love into each bag. I hope they find good homes....and that I get another order (and another...and another...and another)!

SURGEY IS DONE, HEALING BEGINS

Brandon's surgery to piece together his shattered pelvis is done after 10.5 hours. Now the healing begins, not only for Brandon but for all of us. One thing I hope everyone has learned, albeit the hard way, is that life is fleeting. We can't waste it holding onto grudges or hating. We have to be willing to say I love you to the people who mean the most to us. This very special young man is going to face a life that is forever changed. Will he ever be the same silly little boy I remember who almost knocked himself out by imitating Jim Carrey and hitting his head on the table. Will he be the same little boy whose favorite line was "All righty then"? How will he be different? His new life will most likely be so different than he imagined.