Names II

For those interested in that conversation thread--there has been a good comment added recently by Proud Mum for teachers in particular, but true for any and everyone when faced with a family member or friend choosing a name you absolutely hate. Thank you, Proud Mum!

Immigration Redux

We've all talked quite a bit about the current immigration issues and problems. My husband [Erica--note I did NOT say hubby] gave me a lengthy article to read yesterday. It was 9 pages, but very worth reading. It was a speech given by Sen. Jeff Sessions to the Senate explaing a bit about what is actually in the Immigration Bill before the Senate. It can be found at:
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=15165

I urge everyone to read this--the entire Senate Bill is over 600 pages long. How many Senators actually read and digested this bill before voting? At least after this speech, they had a pretty good idea what was in that bill. We should, too. Thank goodness the way the voting numbers went, the reconciliation will go more towards the House of Representatives Bill. But how much will it do to help the average American citizen? We are the ones who will be left holding the bag as we are overrun with hordes of "new" immigrants taking advantage of their previous illegal actions.

I remember not so many years ago when as a general rule, police officers were very well respected. Now, it seems more like a joke of a job. Who pays much heed to speeding laws? Who pays heed to immigration laws? Which laws will be thrown away next? While I think on the one hand we have too many laws, I am more unhappy about the lack of respect our society has for the law. Me included. Sigh. Excess laws + lack of enforcement of needed laws = disrespect for law, and leads to disrespect for those who symbolize the law. The breakdown continues in every aspect of society until we reach complete chaos.

If you think I am being alarmist...compare to inner city schools. The teacher etc. = the police of the larger world. Once the respect was gone, everything else went very quickly.

Is our culture and society to become an inner city schools type of land? Will chaos reign, or will liberty? They are opposites, not allies.

When the French rid themselves of the old guard[1700's] they quickly desended into utter chaos, and everyone was hurt but those who grabbed power and became the new rulers which became a dictatorship. That has been repeated all the world over in recent history. Wherever the respect for law goes, soon the rest of the country's organization follows until in very short time there is no order, and no liberty. Look at any of the modern dictators and you will see that pattern.

In order to keep liberty, we must keep order or laws--just laws, and the Immigration Bill [Senate version] does just te opposite. Spread the word!

Namecalling

It is an art. Giving a baby a name...attaching a nickname to somebody...but name calling when we do NOT like someone--well it is harder. To do it right is an art. I definitely do NOT recommend foul language, but sometimes, well...we just have to sputter something out!

My Mom was of the school, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all." And she was very strict about it. Yet, my feelings [too tender] would be hurt, and I just wanted to lash out at the person who hurt me. All too often this was my younger sister. In retrospect, she was not usually the cause of my frustration, but it sure seemed like it at the time. I couldn't not talk to her [OK, I couldn't not talk!] So how was I to let her know how mad I was...and get a little of my own back? It never occured to me to try to hit her as I'd end up in far more trouble than I wanted. I tried various things...nothing worked. It would have to really upset her, but not really be anything bad so that I would stay out of trouble. Hmmm.

I started high school, and began German. Shortly thereafter I learned the word, "Plattenspieler." [record player] It was not part of our home vocabulary, so I tried it out. My sister got me mad [she did so quite easily and frequently] so I spouted something out, ending with calling her a Plattenspieler. Mom, who understood the word, let it go, after all, it really was quite silly! My sister, however reacted just as hoped...she came unglued! A sailors term couldn't have been worse by her reaction.

For the next two years, whenever I was really mad at her, my sister would hear, "You Plattenspieler!" from me. Every single time, it had its hoped for effect. As an added bonus, she would usually get madder and say something for which she might get into trouble. I had a great scam going.

Then she started high school and took--yep, German. About two weeks into the school year, she came home, and laughing at me, called me a Plattenspieler. The scam had ended. And somehow, although she could still make me really mad [in fact to this day, no one else knows how to push my buttons as does my sister] I've never again tried to get her goat by calling her a name. Nor anyone else. And oddly enough, despite our many differences, I think my sister is one of my very best friends today. Even though she is a Plattenspieler!

Names

It seems many of us have suggestions for the mothers to be. So that Sariah [or anyone else] can safely read our suggestions. Or anti-suggestions. Here is the place...Mothers-to-be are welcome to comment, but lack thereof will not be so noticed, therefore anything is open game.

My suggestions: don't use FF's contributions...or the kid will likely get dumped into wastebaskets! Sorry FF...but the truth must be stated!

My anti-suggestion of the day: Jamie or Jimmy. They are always rotten kids in the early years in my experience! Just avoid J names altogether--it's safer that way. [Sorry, Lura. but Jago is OK for the reason you explained on Sariah's blog. And Jesse is long past that stage.]

Fun and Games

I come from a game family. My grandparents mostly played cribbage and other card games. My parents expanded with Monopoly and Careers and a couple others. I have NO card sense, so I stick to the board games--especially word games. My husband came from the war games genre [Gettysburg, Midway etc.] We tried to combine over Risk.

As time went by, in our family a couple of "pre-rules" were added: first came 'Never play with Vinnie' because he always cheated. [to be fair--he was a jr hi aged kid back then] Then 'Never play with Erica' was added because she won the game in one turn a couple times. NOT written, but strickly followed is not to play with Mom [due to melt-downs] So we have a very hard time for a game loving family on just what to play. Occasionally we can get Dad [my hubby--just for Erica!]to play Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit...but that's about it.

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! Dad played Phase Ten with us tonight!!! Richard was constant [irritating] noise. I couldn't begin to count the number of times Erica hit Richard, and he retaliated more times than I could count, yet Dad suffered through it all! [He enjoys when the kids are all home and we play games and he's upstairs hearing us--he just doesn't usually join in.]

It was fun and weird. And he said no to so many other choices...too long, too boisterous etc.
But we persevered, and I think he had a little fun despite himself. :D

Da Vinci Code

Today the movie came out. Today Erica and I saw it. It was quite well done and I enjoyed it enormously. It has been just long enough since I read the book that I couldn't remember too much detail, and of course, a movie has to have less detail by the nature of the beast. In any case, the characters were nicely fleshed out and it was the extraneous stuff that was eliminated--I felt that every bit of the movie except one brief shot was totally neccessary to the story, and that the story was fully encapsuled in the movie.

When the book first came out, I refused to read it because of its anti-Catholic reputation. There's enough anti-any religion out there, and I was not interested in anything like that. Erica asked my permission to read it. We discussed why I chose not to read it, but I encouraged her to go ahead if she was interested in the book. She read it, and told me [repeatedly] that it was NOT anti-Catholic if you read it all the way through. So I read and emmensily enjoyed the book. I agree, book or movie, that it really is not anti-Catholic, nor is it anti-Christianity. It is a cleverly drawn tale using enough facts to make it plausible to a "willing suspension of disbelief."

According to Catholic theology, IF this were presented as a TRUE story, it could be very disturbing--as to all Christiandom. I would like to point out that at one point the "bad guys" admit that IF caught, they would be excommunicated, and it is these characters and their actions, I think, that draw the anti-Catholic label.

So...if you are interested--go see a good cloak and dagger movie. Be entertained. Enjoy the bits of "clues" that are manufatored and twisted to make this tale. But do not take it as Gospel, and do not confuse it with fact. A fun story should not be a danger to anyone's testimony of God!

Running Too Fast

In the scriptures we are warned not to run faster than we have strength. This has often been on my mind of late...I've been so busy with so many good and important things. And I was doing it all! But the scripture entered my mind again and again. Yesterday I woke up at 6:00 am because my hubby had left his alarm on when he went downstairs. After turning off the alarm, I wa about to get up when that scripture went thru my mind yet again. And then I began seizing. That is, I began a day long series of epileptic seizures. So I stayed in bed, dozed, read, and basically just seized all day.

Today I woke up [with my alarm much later!] and hopped out of bed. Nary a seizure all day. I went to my class [but had Erica drive me rather than cycling] came home and relaxed a bit while I read the article in the paper about the traffic light [and saw myself quoted]. Erica and I did go out for a little while this afternoon, but I am taking it easy for a couple of days...my body confirmed what my spirit already knew.

The only question remaining is...why does it take me so long to listen?

Eating Disorders As One of the Seven Deadly Sins (revised)

When I was young, my generation was shocked by a new disease: anorexia. The popular singer, Karen Carpenter put a face on this eating disorder for many of us when she died. Then real people we knew began exhibiting signs. Girls anxious to emulate Twiggy [the British model who looked like her name] began to starve themselves--quite literally. Today most know about the progression of the disease:
1] see yourself as outrageously FAT no matter the truth;
2] eat progressively less and less--by doing it progressively, the body adjusts so that one does not feel hunger in the normal way;
3] the body begins robbing itself to get the nutrients needed to the most vital parts so that at the same time the less vital organs begin to fail, then progresses to more and more vital parts failing until finally: death;

At the same time the person thusly afflicted is:
1] still seeing herself as FAT even though any possible needed weight loss is long past;
2] happy to be "in control" over what she is putting into her mouth--proud of the increasing "control" which is literally killing her;
3] often beginning to wear increasing layers of clothing so when the inevitable concerns are raised, the weight loss is somewhat disguised; [plus she is cold from having lost so much of her body fat!]
4] becoming a liar--lying about what she is eating to satisfy those who question;
5] becoming angry at anyone who tries to intervene in anyway--seeing those people as a threat to her own control;

Please note, that although I say "she" males are also afflicted with this disease/disorder--just not so often.


Then we learned about bulimia. The progression is similar, except that the bulimic person does not starve herself by not eating--no she binge eats, then causes herself to regurgitate everything--thus starving herself. Some will use laxatives and/or diruretics even going so far as to weigh everything that comes out to be sure that everything has!


I think anorexia and bulimia are just two of three faces of the same disorder: control through food. The third face, in my opinion, is gluttonyrecognized as one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Some see the glutton as a person with no control. I believe that may be an early stage, but I see the glutton progression as:
1] eating as enjoyment
2] eating as a reward and/or eating as a consolment
3] excess eating becomes a norm--apetite grows larger and larger--killing off the good sense to stop eating when full or to take "normal" sized portions;
4] as others begin to say something, the glutton becomes defensive, whether orally or just in her own mind--making choices or controlling what goes into her mouth.

I almost switched to a masculine pronoun for the glutton, as that hits males harder than females, and it more acceptable to societyfor males to be overweight, so tends not to be checked as quickly as females. But as with the other two aspects, it goes for both sexes.

*****
My recent trip to Boston was filled with good food. Whenever my family gets together, we tend to go a bit overboard with food, we love it--too much!. Then Erica came home, and what do we do to welcome her back? We eat. Lots.

Then came Mother's Day, and a special dinner made in my honor by Erica. I ate too much of the delicious items that I should eat much more sparingly--including fruit! [filled with carb = sugars--not too good for a diabetic to overindulge!

Finally, yesterday, we got around to celebrating Erica's 18th birthday--with more food, including a devil's food cake with triple chocolate frosting and mint chocolate chip ice cream.

By last night, I was stuffed! And I didn't really gorge myself--I've just gotten accustomed to much smaller (and healthier) meals.

******
I've a friend at the hockey rink who stand at least 5'7" and weighs about 100lbs. She strugggles with anorexia. She is going thru a particularly nasty divorce which doesn't help, but she says she looks in the mirror and sees herself as fat. She went thru a hospitalization and treatment--and is doing much better now, but she still sees herself as fat. She also feels much of the time that the only control she has in her life, is over what she puts into her mouth. And therein lies the danger, for when everything else seems out of control--she feels like she can regain some control by starving herself.

*****

It seems like we are out of control when we practice gluttoney. But upon reflection, I see it as another form of control. I made myself sicker in many areas thru gluttoney. My back could not support the extra weight, so as long as I kept the weight on, I got more attention...I controlled how others saw me... and got all sorts of attention--which I now recognize and regret.

After being diagnosed with diabetes, I was able to pretty much get a handle on the gluttony. I still watch carefully for low-sugar signs--usually because I've caused myself to not eat for too long. After all the recent indulgences with food, I sat in my living room TRYING to belch, burp or anything, it hit me , that overeating was another face of the improper eating styles. While I may never be a sveldt size 8 again, it is highly possible to be a nice size ten--I simply have to remember to eat : breakfast, lunch and dinnier at the proscribed times and the proscribed amounts...and remember that gluttoney is a deadly sin. But we can repent.

I hope never to again experience anorexia--which I did when I was in the process of divorce. I was fortunate in that it was caught quite early on...I was already seeing a psychologist weekly--and he "checked me out" to my nurse step-mother with whom my kids and I lived for the following few months. Between Jan and my Dad, one of the most healthy eating nuts ever [after having done a bout with gluttony] I learned how to control what I ate without going overboard--something I still must guard against. So when medications began causing a weight gain, my pendulum swung the other way--and I've had my bout with gluttony.

It really isn't all that hard to eat right--once we learn how. I confess to my children...I really truly tried, but did not properly teach you how--I was still struggling with my own issues.

So: here is my advice. Eat whatever you want--just in small portions. Be careful not to overindulge as a regular thing, but don't worry about the occasional indulgences. Be careful to balance your nutrition throughout your day.

I still think a piece of birthday cake with a glass of milk is fine for breakfast[for a healthy person]--but then have vegtables for lunch, not another piece of cake!

So here's hoping that with the advent of warmer weather, we all can go out and stretch our legs getting what exercise is best for each of us as individuals. At the same time we can be healthy eaters...and see ourselves for what we are, and not try to be unhealthy "twigs"!

ODOT explanation and update

I thought it was time to explain what I'm up to--I've never been a politically active rabble-rouser before.

Hwy 33 cuts through the edge of our town. ODOT [Ohio Dept Of Transportation] has decided to turn as much of 33 into a freeway-like road as possible. The town has a traffic light in the very center, picture a sorta cross. High Street heads out of town to the north. It is the main downtown street. Heading south, it dead ends in a couple blocks, but north it continues across the train tracks, past the post office and across 33, where it changes name to Bowen. There is a business on 3 of the 4 corners there, and more businesses on the Bowen side. ODOT apparantly plans to turn off the light on 1 Sept, and turn both High [heading north] and Bowen [heading south] into cul-de-sacs. This effectively cuts off direct access to our downtown. It is a business killer. To get into town, one will have to go around past all the "big box" stores [Wal-Mart/Kroger/Home Depot etc.] and to quote The Music Man..."Who's gonna patronize an itty bitty 2 x 4 kinda store anymore?" Not to mention our twice weekly Farmer's Market.

I am very personally affected in that the light is neccessary to get into town. We bought our house here because the light was there. I am not allowed to drive. However I can ride a bike or walk. Without the light I would be forced to go approximately 5 miles around onto busy and dangerous roads. The reality is that I would not be able to get anywhere. I will be either house-bound or have to beg rides to go to the doc, church stuff, shopping of any sort, etc. I have now contacted the ACLU. Here's hoping for a quick response!

The traffic is already "messed up" and too heavy for the road configurations we have. One road is basically a wide one-lane. Oh it is no big deal for the occasional vehicles to pass each other, but to handle the real traffic that would of neccessity naturally reroute through there is another story. Due to all the new constrction, a light onto the main road is already a need, (and was promoised several years ago) but the whole road would also require widening. The road is partly in Franklin County, and partly in the outer edges of Columbus. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time convincing anyone in the engineer's office in Columbus that they are responsible for any part of this road as it seems that their maps are not quite caught up with the aquisition of territory--there's been a lot of annexation going on around here in the last couple years. Tomorrow I am going with camera in hand to photograph the "Entering Corp" signs that tell when you enter into the Corporation of Columbus.

The petition drive is picking up momentum, and a major article for our local paper went to press this afternoon. I should see it on Thurs. (Possibly Fri--but our carrier is pretty fast.) It is a weekly paper and has 2 sections, so don't laugh too much at it! Hmm...it just occurred to me--I'd best contact the monthly newsletter that goes out as well--they're probably getting June ready now! May's front page articles were both about our farmer's market--hours extended 'til 2:00 on Sat this year, and third Sats will have special events. I love our town.

Mothers and Other Mothers

After the night drive to Cleveland to pick up Erica from the train, I decided that I would not get up today until I woke up naturally, and my body wanted to get up. I dozed back to sleep a couple times...the weather has been most co-operative--overcast with showers and a nice wind keeping a cool breeze flowing into my room. The new neighbors have hung a huge windchime. Its voice complements those from next door, so I've laid abed enjoying the serenade, and thinking.

I began musing about my mother and other women in my life who have served upon occasion as "Other Mothers." I'm sure we all have them...

My mother was a Saint. I do not mean LDS--she was born and raised and always lived fully her Catholic faith. I mean saintly, holy, sanctified. Oh, she was not priggish, nor was she condemning of those whe did not share her faith. She really, truely lived her faith every day. She was a wonderful mother, and if I've been a decent mom. it is because I was taught by example by the best. She was not perfect, but she tried to be as perfect as she could be in her human realm. I broke her heart by leaving the Catholic Church, but when I converted, I did so in order to live as she taught me. I knew what I knew, and could not deny the personal revelation I received, so I've just tried to be the best "Mormon" I could in following my Mom's example. [Besides, her brother told me to handle it that way.]

I have a step-mother I did not want, and for many years blamed her [needlessly] for my parent's divorce. I must credit my ex-husband here, for he pushed me to re-establish a relationship wih my Dad and by association with my step-mother. She has been very good to me, and over the years we became close. I respect her in a different way than my own Mom, but she has definitely been a mother to me and especially when I was going through my divorce, [ironic, no?] she was most supportive in ways no one else could be as she had previously gone hrough circumstances very similar to mine.

Then there's my first mother-in-law, who was really my husband's step mother...and joined the family only a couple months before I did. She was great as a friend and as a mother as I adjusted to marriage and to being far away from my own family as a new wife. We remain friends today.

One very special "Other Mother" to me was while I was in high school. She was the president of the AFS--the exchange student club that sponsered my Argentine "sister" to come live wth us her Sr. year--when I was a Jr. Because Lilita spent a lot of time talking to Bette, I, by neccessity spent time there as well--I was chauffer! AFS students are not allowed to drive in the US.

After Lilita was back in Argentina, my Senior year, I continued to visit wih this woman on a regular basis. She was my confidant in so many cases when I was confused or going thru. some teenage angst. As she has only sons, no daughters, I guess she didn't mind awfully much...but it always meant so much to me. Because of this relationship, I was able to understand and even embrace that sort of relationship between my daughters and "Other Mothers" especially Erica and Susan . [Susan worried a bit at first, but I explained how I understood thier relationship, and said I'd be happy to be there for her daughter, too. So, bring it on, Lexi!]

Mrs. Mommy was what our "crowd" called my friend, Debbe's Mom, because she was always there for all of us--including packing her van with a bunch of teens to go into LA to the Music Center. It must have been a difficult journey wih our craziness, but she never made us feel like we were a burden. Then there was "Mama West" who put up with all of us at their house--commandeering the garage for our Little Garage Theatre and just gennerally being pests. My Mom was Mom to all the crowd--and she was never able to go to a closing night performance because she was busy making sandwiches to be ready for the decending hordes. She also put up with crowds of kids taking over the pool whenever--usually without notice!

My Aunt and Grandmothers also played a large mothering role in my life, but to do that topic justice, I'd really have to talk about my sister as aunt to my kids...she was a great aunt long before she was a great-aunt!

In my musings in bed this morning, I coud remember so many individual incidents, but even the highlights go on and on. So I will end in simply repeating my gratitude for my mother and all the "Other Mothers" in my life

Fighting ODOT

The fight against ODOT [OH Dept of Transportatuion] continues. Our mayor now knows me, and thanked me for spearheading this final battle. I've about 8 pages of signatures already and today went to visit the several housing development offices located on Lehman Rd. which runs parallel to our road, and although only one wide lane paved [two vehicles can squeeze by in most places] and will get the brunt of the traffic increase. As I talk to the corporate offices tomorrow, I hope to persuade them to contact ODOT as it will directly and adversly, affect their sales. The businesses are all up in arms--most had not known until this past week that the turning off of our traffic light was basically a done deal. ODOT says they're continuing to study it. Well, if the continuing studies are anything like what has been done already [counting traffic in the middle of the day, not during rush hour etc.] well, they need help. So I am trying tosee that they get it. Dad came up with another idea. As Lehman road will obviously require immediate attention--that will put a burden on Franklin county for part of it, but pockets of it are in Columbus technically, so I'm going to contact the Columbus city offices, too. They would have a lot more pull than the tiny village we live in has. If anyone has any other ideas...I'm open to suggestions.

Comments

ERICA!!! I have tried at least 4 days to comment on your blogs--and none have worked! I just don't want you to think you are being ignored! See you in little over 24 hrs now:D

Nick names

Fourth Fret...this is because you started this topic!

A HS friend of mine had a very good masculine, yet uncommon name: Clint. He was a basketball player--star quality--and the whole school picked up on his nickname and all the schools around knew who HHS meant as we cheered for..."Clancy"
What? You say... Well, he had a piano teacher with an accent. She occasionally called to cancel or change a lesson, and when she did, Clint's older brother thought she was asking for Clancy when she was really trying to say Clint Smith. I always felt guilty to use the nickname because I kinda felt like it was making fun of this older lady...but that was the name we all screamed at the games anyway.

Later I gave someone a nickname rather accidently on purpose. I did NOT expect that the poor boy would be known by that name by a whole segment of his life--sorry, Purple, but here it is.

His given name is David, but he moved to town his Jr year, and there already was a David in theatre--and in our household for the most part. This new David had a color for his last name--to this day I cannot remember which one, so I would call him "David Green, Brown, Black. Oh, heck, PURPLE." So guess what stuck? In fact I received an e-mail just yesterday mentioning..."I talked to Purple, and..."

My son, V is especially good at giving other people nick names...just not himself! His HS drama teacher, Mr Hand immediately became Mr Foot. And it spread and stuck. [I think he may have kinda liked it...]

The above mentioned David, [not Purple] had a nephew born who was named Dallas. MY son called him FW for Fort Worth. Even his Mom found that cute--so it stuck [Poor kid!]

V himself, however... was Vinnie growing up. When we moved his Sr year, he decided to be Vincent, but there was already another Vincent in the ward. and MY son found the other Vincent to be a "jerk" so he went back to Vinnie. Foir awhile he was Vin then settled on Vince. But in the family, he'll always be Vinnie.

My grandfather's story is the best, I think...his name was Dorsey and his family nick name was "Dorse." He hated it. When he reached adulthood and moved to Chicago to take a job, he was met at the train station. The other man introduced himself, and asked Granpa's name...he glanced down at his monogrammed suitcase and stuck out his hand saying, "Dave. My name is Dave" It was the first name starting with a D that he could think of. And so it was for the rest of his life. Except to his natal family--it sure sounded weird to me to hear him called "Uncle Dorse" by his nephew!

So, Cara, Fourth Fret, Punk, Zoo, and everybody else, let's share some more of these nickname stories...aren't they fun? :D

Mrs. Mike and a bike ride

The bookclub I am in reads a great variety of books. This last month we read Mrs. Mike. My copy did not come from the libray nor did I have to purchase it. My copy says "ex libris Marjorie Alma Sipe" on its bookplate. That was my mother's name. She bought the book in 1947 when it first came out--I have an original printing. I always thought it was fiction, but secretly hoped it wasn't as the dedication says "To Nana". I hoped it was the children or grandchilren of the main character who wrote it. (Freedman) The newer printings with their "about the authors" etc. make it clear. The book is actually the story of the remarkable woman and the settling of the Canadian nothwest...well, really Alberta. A young girl from Boston marries a Mounty and is thereafter known as "Mrs. Mike." It is a wonderful book, everyone in our group loved it! (Rarely is that the case on any chosen work.) Come to find out, there is now a sequel, written much more recently, about the next generation. I recommend this book to anyone. If you like to read--if you want to learn more of he history of the time (first quarter of he 1900's) or places, or if you want to read something that is both uplifting and will make you take a new look at what is important in life--this is for you.

Next week I'm going to the library down in Lithopolis and find the sequel. [that is about a 16 mi bike ride round trip, so I have to prepare ahead] :D I've been wanting to do it, so now I have a real reason! Plus I can see the museum at my own rate of speed. None of my kids will have to drive me down, then wait for me, for which I know you will all (E & R) be eternally grateful :D Besides, I need to stretch my wings before ODOT clips them in Sept!

Info

I just came across this , and decided to post the link in case anyone might be interested. I did not even read the whole thing, so do not take this as an endorsement, only as an apparantly new option for meds which we have been discussing here. It is supposedly NOT actually a med. Check it out. The link: http://www.sensational.com/serenitypill.htm?b=5129

Meds

In recent months we, as a fammily, have seen two different family members go off their *happy pills* medications wih terrible reults. I am not depressed, but am [according to my Richmond dr.] "the Poster Child" for Prozac. It changed my life. before prozac, I was like a hypo-manic depressive, with my mood swings fluctuating many times each day. Prozac has slowed those swings to an almost decent range. I never miss my meds...except...a couple nights ago Irealized I was out when I went to take my meds, so ordered refills for the next dy. Hubby picked them up, but was fast asleep when I went to take them, and I figured I could miss anoher day because of the lengthy half life. I was wrong. I was disgruntled and moody all day. Yuk! It is NOT worth it. Henceforth and forthwith, I shall always have my new presciption before I run out! I have not been a very nice or happy person today. Goodting I was home alone most of te day so noone had to putup with me.

Found the meds in the car--Hubby and son--both of which did car unloading duties --left my meds out in the car--I could havre gotten them if only I'd known. Serves me right for waiting 'til they're asleep befor taking my meds.

Sigh, meds taken, so off to sleep now.

May Day

As we have had a most unusual May Day in our country, I think it worth addressing. Interestingly, this was a holiday by our colonial forebearers standards, a day to make merry, a day to wlcome the spring,new growth and the coming market season. A faire day to begin the Faire days to follow throughout the season. (our local "faires or market days begin next Sat)

In the Catholic schools across our nation, May Day is the kick off for the celebration of "The Month of our Mother" celebrating Mary in her role as the Mother of God. It was a big honor in my school to be chosen the one to "crown Mary". We would enter the church in a processional carrying tons of flowers, for a special mass in Mary's honor. As the procession reached the front of the church, one girl ( the honored 8th grader--our school went up to 8th grade) would go all the way up to the statue of Mary on the side and literally crown her with a wreath of flowers. Ironically, the girl chosen from my class was the only non-Catholic in the bunch. But she had earned it. I thought it a freak co-incidence, but when my kids were in Catholic school (one going up to 6th grade) Sariah received the same honor--again the only non-Catholic in her class--except her brother the grade below.

Then the Communists took over May Day, turning it into a "Workers Day" holiday of the Communist Party. It is still celebrated as such in former Communist natons, tho with less and less vigor.

Which brings us to today, 1 May 2006. We do not hear "Tra- la, 'tis May, the lusty month of May..." sung. Nor do we hear young girls voices raised in song, "May is the month of Our Mother, this blessed and beautiful day..." We don't even hear the march of jack boots enforcing merriment upon a tired citizenry. What do we hear on 1 May, 2006 in this great land of ours? Go to http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50001 and read the brief article explaing the site it directs you to, or go directly to www.wehategringos.com and hear the sounds of this day.

I wanted to cry. I am the grandaughter of immigrants. On the Italian side I am more closely related to many of the so called "hispanics" than they can immagine. My ancestors left Spain the same time as theirs, just went to Italy first rather than the New World first. Yet I've another line that goes back to the early 1600's in MA Bay Colony and the start up of the Plantaion of Rhode Island and Providence Colony.

I defy anyone to find a human being who does not have ancestors somewhere who were a]emigrants by force; b] immigrants by choice; or c] slaves of some sort. All that changes are time and place. Who are the really truly indigenous people anywhere? Archeologists and anthropolists try to figure it out, but are the first to admit that they do not yet know it all. Everytime they find a new piece of the puzzle, it changes the view once held.

Are these "riots" over immigration? No. They are over the "right" of illegal immigrants to come into our nation--breaking the law to do so--and changing our very society.

Example: In the meat packing industry, a decade ago, most of the work was done by citizens...at about $19.00/hr. Today, most of the work is done by illegals, and the wages have been depressed to an average of $9.00/hr. This is not doing jobs that no one else would do...this is driving down our economy. Would meat prices be higher without illegal labor? Possibly, but by the same token, so would wages for a great many people.

May Day has another meaning. It is a distress call on radio for help! Today as a nation, I think we must call out "May Day."