12 Words for the New Year - PINK

I recently posted a tweet asking what would be the most significant word that could define 2014 for you.

Instead of making New Year's Resolutions that most of the time do not last a week, think of a word that is inspirational for you in your personal or business life. Say that word each morning (preferably in your prayers). Write it down, create a sign, Let people know who you are. This will be much more effective than a whole resolution. You may think of the word one way when you start, and another, when you end on December 31. Each year select a word that encourages you to be your best.

This is the results of my twitter poll:

1. Barbara Duke @BarbaraDuke Encourage
2. Nancy Mancini @nancymanci   Savor
3. єяℓιηα_ωι∂уαωαтι @me_thequeen –Hard (work)
4.  Christina MacPherson @bagseybumble - Believe
5.  Michele Butcher @Michele_Butcher -Accomplish
6.   Dee Toohey @DEE2E -  Exciting
7.   ElsaElsa @ElsaElsa - Hope

Amazing isn't it, six ladies answered me (I sent it out to over 92K).

I sent the call out again this afternoon. Thought I would take another shot at it.

1. David Castro G @DickrockG –Health
2. Robert Askew @toosierollaskew  Achieve
3. Jeff Jasper @JeffJasper - Purpose
4. Tim @Hotspurwriting ..- Healthylethargichopefuldisappointism! 
5. Bill Boychuck @William37796179 - Persistence

Thanks Bill for the graphic. I find it strange that no two people picked the same word.
Pick a Word for 2014 that really means something to you. Stick with it and if you send it to me, I will add you to my list. Some interesting words that some of my friends in NC came up with are:

Present (as in NOW)

Focus

Faith

Integrity

Charity

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME

ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD

The Pink Thing

I went down to North Carolina on the 21st of December. I had planned to go down a week earlier and drive myself. Unfortunately, I had a RA attack that felt like pleurisy in my right lung and I was down for the count. Ray took me to the ER at Riverside and they confirmed it, gave me a prescription for pain medicine and sent me on my way. If you have ever taken Vicodin, you know that they do not recommend driving while you are taking them, so I had to wait and ride down with Ray the Sunday before Christmas. That left me only a couple of days to decorate, which I was in no mood to do, so I did not decorate much.

My daughter has a new administrative position at a health clinic and doesn't have the time off with the children that she had as a teacher's assistant. She was out of work for a couple of months. She was also driving a school bus. One day when she stopped to let off children, a little girl had cut herself and Rhonda was tending to her. Two boys who lived two houses away sneaked off the bus and went home. When Rhonda got back to the school, she was given a choice of resigning or being fired. The grand parents of the boys called the school board instead of the school to let them know that my daughter did not see them get off at the wrong stop. Personally, I felt like it was extremely unfair. But, I hear that NC is severely cutting teaching assistants. My daughter even volunteered the last few weeks of school. Went to the school after it was out and helped the teacher clean up the room.

My daughter is one of the nicest people that you would ever want to have as a friend. She loves children and would never do anything to hurt one intentionally. I think it was a put up job to clear out another position. The upshot of this is that since she resigned, she could not draw unemployment and they were in need until she found another job. They had to do without until we and other family members found out about it and stepped in to help. Our resources are not so great that we can support two families for long. This was extremely unfair to her and to her whole family. She paid into unemployment for over 20 years and was not allowed to draw it because of some vindictive people on the school board. Anyway, if you are thinking of moving to NC, don't.

So, guess who cooked Christmas dinner? I cooked a Ham, Macaroni and Cheese, and Green Beans from Guatemala (new to me, and delicious). Rhonda's husband, Jesse, cooked the turkey, the dressing, and the rolls. He did a good job on the turkey and the rolls, but the dressing was about half of an inch thick and the children thought they were brownies.

The Mac and Cheese was delicious, but missing something. I did the kind where you make a creamy cheese sauce and pour it over the macaroni and blend it well. I checked everyone's recipes, from Rachael Ray to Paula Dean, and finally came up with one of my own that I thought my family would like. We did have some left over the next day. I poured milk into it and cut some more sharp cheddar cheese and mixed little chunks in the warmed up dish. Awesome, it became even better. The best macaroni and cheese we have ever eaten (don't tell mother).

Now I am back at home in Virginia. I have been sick since I got home. It is so cold here. Rhonda gave me a twin bed electric blanket for Christmas to use when I get cold in my recliner. Those electric throws that they sell just do not do the trick when it is really cold. I have been in the bed all day. I have a UTI and found some antibiotics in the cabinet around 3 in the morning. I have enough to get me by until Monday. Hopefully, I can get in to see the doctor.

Happy  New Year!

God is Good, All the time
 All the time, God is good

Three Gifts

I was listening to the Today Show the other morning and Kathy Lee and Hoda were talking about Christmas and gift giving. Kathy Lee said that when her children were born, she and her husband decided that they should only get three gifts at Christmas. It symbolizes the three gifts given to Jesus by the Wise Men that came from the East. One gift would be something needed, one would be one wanted, and the third gift would represent something wished for.

Three gifts! Wow, I wonder at all the cash we could have saved over the years if we had followed the Wise Men's example: When Kathy Lee's daughter turned 21, Kathy Lee asked what she would like for Christmas. Her daughter said, "I think we should stop gift-giving for Christmas and concentrate on the meaning and the family during the holidays." Wow, I think this is something I could get into. Actually, my mother only gave me gifts at Christmas if I came home. Otherwise, I got a nice card.

This comes from Matthew 2:1-12.

The gifts of the Magi are identified as gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The meaning of the gifts is open to interpretation. Myrrh was commonly used as an anointing oil, Frankincense as a perfume, and gold as a valuable. Sometimes the gold is said to symbolize virtue, Frankincense-prayer, and myrrh-suffering. Others have said the gold symbolizes kingship on earth, Frankincense (an incense) meaning priest-ship, and myrrh (an embalming oil) death. Some say that they represent Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection. 

The gold represented His sovereign dominion, symbol of Royalty (King Jesus. The frankincense represented His sinless deity, symbol of Worship (Savior. The myrrh represented His sacrificial death, symbol of His purpose (to die for our sin).

 Excerpt taken from a sermon written by Dr.Adrian Rogers: 

The Gifts of the Wise Men and Our Gifts to Jesus

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME

ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD

The Girls are Back in Town!

Reconstruction #2 brought the "Girls" back in line. Thank you, Lord. The only thing left now is the tattoo. Funny, I always said that I would never get a tattoo. First, they gave me 2 blue dots when I had radiation, and now I am going to get a nipple. They say that the results are amazing.  Do I have to be awake for this? Will they make it look like a butterfly if I want? I found this picture on a breast reconstruction website, so don't get all excited thinking it is me. Mine should look a little better since I don't have a big scar. Something I had not expected, but the plastic surgeon moved the nipple on the left and I still have feeling in it. When he did a tummy tuck in 2002, I lost all feeling in my stomach below my waist. I can give myself shots without even flinching.

The amazing thing is that they are C-cup. I could have had larger, but I prefer for people to look at me in the eyes instead of my chest. I have had to wear a bra since the surgery, but soon I will be able to go without one if I want. They are back where they were when I was twenty and it is amazing. I can get a normal swimsuit again. Now I cannot imagine why I waited 4 years to have this done. I was under the impression that it really did not matter. I am married to the last husband I will ever have and the only other people who will actually see my chest are doctors and nurses.

I cannot even explain how this has made me feel. I feel whole again. I had no idea that it would give me this feeling of validation. Somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind, I must have concluded that I was no longer a real woman. If you think about it, we are in a society that makes us feel less than whole if we have imperfections.

I do not remember, but I think I explained that the cancer in my breast was not hereditary, but environmental. Be careful about what chemicals are in your home, your workplace, places where you visit, for any length of time. I worked in a sick building at Langley Air Force Base. There was a bay door in the warehouse that the communications squadron left open on a regular basis. Pigeons would  fly into the rafters and poop on top of our building. Our air condition was on our roof and the drain pan would get stopped up, overflow into the wall by my desk. It was always damp, The water was filtered through the pigeon poop, which can lead to all kinds of problems. There was one desk in the big room that had a hole in the wall where they had removed a plug or something. Everyone who sat in that position, contracted cancer, and passed away (3 people). I guess I am the one who is lucky to still be here.

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME

ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD!

Our Social Media Friend Wayne Hurlbert Passes.

I went on #smmanners tonight and found out that @WayneHurlbert had passed away. It seems so strange to me. He was there every Friday night playing the music for the Social Media Girlfriends #Slumberparty. He played most every Social Media Girlfriends venue. He will be missed. He always knew how to keep up with what was going on. We will surely miss him and keep his family in our thoughts and prayers.

John Danes, CSI, CDT@johndanes

RT @DabneyPorte Tonight we dedicate #SmManners To our Music Man @WayneHurlbert Who died suddenly.... #RIPMusicMan

10:55pm · 15 Oct 13 · Twubs

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Search for Meaning in Dementia

In between surgeries,  my daughter Rhonda,  and her children, Garrett and Taylor decided to go to Kentucky to visit my brother. The children were so excited because my brother has a in-ground pool, Media Room, and a Pool Table. There are all kinds of video games. You would think we were going to Disney.

We used to go stay with my mother, but she has recently entered Assisted Living. This is so difficult for me to write about because she now has dementia. I think she has had it for a long time, but it just was not quite as evident as it is now. She used to say to me, "I don't remember that; how do you remember so much that happened so long ago?" I never really thought of it as a problem until she almost lost most of her estate to crooks who were selling her websites and charging her each month for upkeep, with no return on investment. There were companies and private people who did these things.

Most of the people were clairvoyants, seers, fortune tellers, etc. They took her money to the tune of over $3 a minute for phone calls. Trust me, if someone tells you they can talk to your dead relatives, see ghosts, read your palm, etc., they are charlatans and provided for your entertainment by dark forces that can destroy you and your family.

Evidently, she could get herself into these messes, but could not figure out how to get out of them. My brother spent months recovering most of her money. Thank God, she used her credit cards to do all this. He was able to reclaim all but about $5K of her money. This is a woman who was considered to be a very smart business woman. She had her interior designing business for about 40 years and always had a wonderful standing in the community.

This tells me that everyone should pay attention to their aging parents. After all, if they worked hard all their life to provide for their retirement, we should not let crooks bilk them out of their future. We could end up paying the price for our indifference. I would say that at the first sign of a problem, you should step in and even get counselling with an estate planner or someone who knows the law. If we had been paying closer attention, we would have noticed things that were unusual, before they got out of hand.

Take care of your parents, as they once took care of you. Even if you thought they didn't take care of you very well, step up to the plate to make sure that crooks are not stalking them like they did my mother. There are people out there who are making hundreds of phone calls each day, just looking for that person who may not be "quite right." They know about your parents mental capacity before you do.

Mother is a very independent person and still wants my brother to bring her computer to her apartment. He doesn't dare. It is bad enough that she orders junk on the TV. That could be one of your first indications that something is going on. You go to your parents home and see "Things Seen on TV" all over the place, some still in the boxes and not even opened. Check with their neighbors and see if UPS or FEDEX trucks are constantly delivering to their house. She only has one credit card now, with limited charging capability. She is not happy about giving up control, but is learning to live with it.

If you find a lot of things are not going well, ask to be put on the list so you can talk to their doctor. If the doctor says it is necessary, consult a lawyer about taking over to keep them out of trouble.

It is not only their future, but yours too. Poor choices on their part because of dementia can also hurt your finances in the future as you struggle to take care of them. Be observant, loving, and concerned. They are your parents, don't let them be hurt by others. Stand up and take a stand!

Pink(er) - 2 - Getting ready for Reconstruction

I am sitting here typing and looking at some of the most beautiful roses I have ever seen. My Social Media Girlfriend, Dabney Porte, sent a dozen Pink Roses. She is just the most wonderful "sister." It is so nice to receive something when someone wants to show their appreciation. Dabney is always so positive and I love her energy and spirit so much. She is an inspiration to so many women. Watch out world, Dabney is watching you!

I apologize for not keeping my promise to blog every day until surgery. It is Friday and I am sitting here trying to think of something to say. It has been a harrowing week. Express Scripts merged with MEDCO and I must have gotten lost in the mix. I have spent hours on the phone waiting for someone to finally talk to, but not much luck. I thought I had it all straightened out the week before when I spent an hour and 15 minutes on hold and then over 30 minutes with the customer service representative, who assured me that everything was taken care of. Here it is Friday, and I still do not have my Enbrel or Methotrexate.

I received four bags of medications yesterday, but not the ones that I need the most. The Rheumatoid Arthritis is really kicking up. My joints are swelling, I am not sure I am going to make it until the surgery. It is painful to type. Thank God my Rheumatologist gave me a Cortisone shot in my right wrist. It is still swelling, but does not hurt quite as bad. 

I would like to thank the people who retweeted and shared my last post. I think it got more hits than any post I have ever done.


Tonight is the #Slumberparty on #SMGirlfriends. We have a Sponsor. Pretzel Crisps.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means it's a disease of the immune system. Your immune system works to protect your body against attacks by bacteria or viruses. But when it's not working correctly—such as with rheumatoid arthritis—your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body, specifically at the joints. This can cause the pain, swelling, and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis. 

While the exact causes of RA are unknown, researchers believe genetics, environmental factors and a protein in the body called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) may play a role. Some people with RA have too much of the protein TNF in the affected area of the body. TNF causes inflammation in the joints, and the inflammation is what leads to the pain and stiffness of RA.

Only a doctor can diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. If you're not sure you have rheumatoid arthritis, please talk to your doctor. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease. So it's important to slow the progression of joint damage as well as reduce the signs and symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Do not make the mistake most people make. RA is not the same as Osteoarthritis, not by a long shot. I have both and I can tell you the RA part much worse.