Funny Friday

Yesterday's musing was "so low" that I decided to post something totally silly. An "old friend" emailed this to me yesterday:



Three Ladies in a Sauna


Three ladies, two younger, and one a senior citizen, were sitting naked in a sauna. Suddenly there was a beeping sound. One of the younger ladies pressed her forearm and...


...the beeping stopped. The other two looked at her questioningly. "That was my pager", she said. " I have a microchip in my arm."


A few minutes later, a phone rang. The second young lady lifted her palm to her ear...


...and when she was finished with her conversation she explained, "that was my mobile phone. I have a microchip in my hand."


The older of the three ladies felt very low-tech. Not one who liked to be out done, she decided that she had to do something just as impressive. She excused herself, stepped out of the sauna, and went to the bathroom. When she returned, she had a piece of toilet paper hanging from her rear end. The others raised their eyebrows and stared at her. The older lady looked down and said...


...."Well, will you look at that...I'm getting a fax."


Admit it - you laughed!

I MOURN

Today's post, I'm afraid, "is a downer". I kept yesterday's writing "light and bright" - BUT - I just can't do it today. I feel as if I'm in mourning, and, as my friend Becky stated on her blog yesterday....

..."This has got to get better, as I am at the end of my very thin rope, and I weigh a lot."

I mourn for a time when my children were little and I could kiss their boo-boos and make everything all better. A time when I could hold them tight and make them feel safe. A time when I could chase away the monsters that crept in under the cover of night.

But now, they are grown, and some of them have monsters that are so horrific - so dark - so deep into the night....

...I cannot chase them away.

How do you help a child that is so lost, so troubled and filled with doubt and inner pain and turmoil?

Mental illness is a wicked monster of a disease. It's a cancer of the mind and of the heart, that eats away at it's victims identity, and robs them of any sense of "normalcy", of happiness, of feeling safe. It haunts and taunts. At times it rears it's ugly head in broad daylight, you can see it and fight it. You think you've won the battle - BUT - the monster has just crawled away to lick it's wounds. It skulks on the edges of consciousness, tricking you into thinking that it's been slayed.

Mental Illness causes physical pain, confusion, overwhelming sadness fear and panic. In some cases - it becomes so unbearable - it's victims choose death over the suffering.

Mental illness carries with it a stigma, like no other. Even though it's a disease, like diabetes or Parkinson's, many people still hold the beliefs that dealing with it is just a matter of "will power". Oh if this were only true. There are physical causes for chronic and severe mental illness. IT IS NOT JUST IN THEIR HEADS!!! Psychialtrists are MEDICAL DOCTORS. They treat medical problems. With new tecnology, doctors are actually able to see the differences in the brains of it's sufferers

Mental Illness can be treated!!!

There are so many medications available today. But in many cases, long term psycological treatment is needed in conjunction with medication. Unless you are one of the super rich, even if you have good health insurance, the level of care needed is beyond your reach. Most facilities that are "covered" are no more than revolving doors. One, two - or three day stays at the maximum. Long term, "in patient" care can easily start at $1,000 a day and is often much, much more expensive. If you have, let's say... cancer - weeks and months of hospital care are covered. Since "mental illness" is a disease caused by physical conditions and/or severe emotional trauma (the definition of trauma is: 1. a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident. 2. an experience that produces psychological injury or pain), so why oh why - is treatment not covered?

I can hardly bear the pain that some of my children have gone through, and now, during a crisis period for one of them, I would give anything to be able to kiss the boo-boo and make it all better. But all I can do, is love this child, and pray for this child. Love and Pray - Day and Night / Night and Day - Love and Pray.

Have I lost all hope? No - No - No!


If you, my child, are reading this - know that I love you, and that all is not lost. Things can get better!
To my readers...Have you had to deal with severe mental illness with someone you love. A child, a spouse, a parent, a friend? Talk to me. Share with me. After all....Blogging is a type of therapy - no appointment or insurance needed.

George and Beauty?

Yesterday was George's birthday - he is now 9 years old! He didn't like wearing the hat, but I'm the momma so the hat went on, and the picture was taken as quickly as possible.

This little dog means a lot to me. He has been:

A constant companion.
A foot warmer.
A source of entertainment.
A good listener.
My "baby". (Who doesn't require diaper changes, or middle of the night feedings!)

He might drive the rest of the family nuts, but I love him! He's not the sharpest crayon in the box, but who cares. Who can resist that silly little tongue hanging out of his mouth? (Okay, DH can resist. The man just tolerates THE DOG because he loves me, and he knows that George is important to me!) He looks at me with those deep brown eyes (the dog, not the husband - DH has hazel eyes) and I melt. NOTE - DH can make me melt, but this isn't the place or time to talk about "that"!

Pugs often cock their heads to one side when they are being spoken too. It makes you feel as if they are really listening to what you have to say. They are loyal little dogs, who don't have a clue that they are "little". Pugs are often described as A Lot of Dog in a Small Space. They snore (so I can always "blame it on him"), and snort, and shed - but who cares? (Okay, I've established that DH is not enamored with George - or any dogs - but other that this one small fault - the man in pretty wonderful.) Pugs are playful creatures, and as far as George is concerned - everyone he meets is an instant friend.


Now I'm not a doggy breed snob. I have a "Carolina Dog" (well actually, she belongs to George), too. Her name is Gracie. She is the Sweetest dog on the face of the earth. We rescued her through the SPCA, and I love her dearly, but this is George's day. Come April 1st Gracie will be 11. I'll see if I can get a hat on her, and post her picture for you.

Now - on to the beauty part of this post...I read in yesterdays paper, that if you live in Rio de Janeiro and earn less than $250 a month, The Brazilian Society of Esthetic Medicine will give you free Botox injections (and other beauty treatments - like chemical peels, varicose vein treatments, laser hair removal, and acne treatments - oh, I almost forgot -you can also get nutritional counseling;). These injections will be given by "student doctors", but hey - who cares - IT'S ALL FREE. This offer only lasts for 10 days, and started on Monday. I wonder...do you think I could get there in time?

Giveaways

Who likes Free Stuff? - I mean REALLY GOOD FREE STUFF?

Well who wouldn't want to win an Epson Artisan 800 printer?

This is a great printer, and I would LOVE to win it myself, but, because I am just such a great person (and because it gives me another entry) I'm sharing the news with you!!!

I want this printer soooooooooooooooo bad. Why? - because its new, has great easy to use features AND - the memory card for my new camera (oh thank you dear sweet husband for buying it for me and thank you PW http://thepioneerwoman.com/ for featuring ivoryhut on your site.), doesn't fint in my old printer Boo Hoo:(

I think that this is the last day to enter the Epson Artisan 800 printer giveaway from

http://www.simplemom.net/

You will have to scroll down to older posts.

And Check it out:

Here is another Epson Artisan 800 printer giveaway!
http://blissfullydomestic.com/blissful-delights/the-big-epson-artisan-800-giveaway-we-love-epson-and-we-love-you/

I think that you have until Sunday to enter on this one.

Good Luck! - AND Thanks Simple Mom and Blissfully Domestic!

Lot's of Things on My Mind Today

I've got lots of thoughts whirling through my mind today, and wasn't quite sure what to post about. After all, today is my dog George's, birthday - that's newsworthy. AND I'm taking a computer class online - that's amusing. AND there are so many more pictures from Hawaii that I'd like to share - they are beautiful. BUT here's what I finally decided to write about...

...if you have a few minutes today, please go to:

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081110hate.html

I ask that you read through this 2-part article, before coming to any "conclusions" concerning my thoughts in today's post.

This is an article written by Paul Bishop, a Los Angeles Police Department detective, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In his first full paragraph he writes, (and I quote...)

..."The controversy in California regarding Proposition 8 (the proposed amendment to the California constitution defining marriage to be strictly between a man and a woman) built to a frenzy in the days leading up to Tuesday's election and then exploded into anger and violence in the after math of Prop 8's slim passage into law."

As I read through the 2-part article, I went from being astonished, to being angry, to being frightened and horrified, and then finally... to being at peace, knowing that through my membership in the church, I am surrounded by wonderful people, who are filled with compassion and love for those around them - and more importantly have a deep love for and a commitment to, following the teachings of the Savior.

No matter if you are for, or against, Proposition 8 - No matter if you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim (or of any other faith) - No matter of your sexual orientation - I feel certain that "my readers" will agree, that violence and hatred, is not the way to express one's feelings.

I applaud the Catholic Church, in it's efforts to condemn the media for:

1. Highlighting Just the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints regarding Proposition 8.

2. Promoting hatred for "The Church" and it's members, through a malicious video.

Thank you for listening today -I leave you with my Love.

Lots of Blue - On Monday

Here is a picture of my DH jumping off of Macho Rock, on the Island of Oahu. Look at all the different colors of blue in the water - and the two shades of blue on his swimming trunks.

If I could make dreams come true with a snap of my fingers, I would snap them now and make it possible for us to live on the beach in Hawaii. My husband LOVES Hawaii. He loves the ocean, and the mountains. He loves the laid back "feeling". He loves "shave ice" from Matsumotos and "Dole Whip" from the Dole Plantation. He loves pancakes at the Hukilau Cafe. He loves relaxing in a hammock - gently swaying in the breeze. He loves that his allergies disappear when he steps off the plane onto Hawaiian soil!

Me - I would have to make my allergies disappear too - I think that I am allergic to the entire island. I must be the only person in the world, who goes to Hawaii and has a major allergy attack. My eyes swell up and itch like crazy. My nose clogs up, and I can't breath worth a hoot. BUT - if it meant making DH happy - I'll still snap those fingers (but I'll make sure to bring plenty of tissues and eye-drops)!

Sunset over the Rockies

Here is a photo I took last Sunday evening. Sonnie and I were heading back to Colorado from Wyoming, and I had to grab my camera! The sunset was breathtaking. Since we couldn't pull over - this picture was taken going 70 on the interstate - not bad if you ask me! I had a wonderful time visiting with "my girls" and 5 of the grandchildren. Hope to go back, with Steve, in February. Sariah-Lynn suggested a "weekend in a cabin in the mountains" get-away. Dave - start looking for a good deal!!! Scroll down for several of my favorite pictures from the last week!