QUESTION OF THE WEEK 5-9-11

"The straw that broke the camel's back"

Have you had "last straw" experiences in your life?

One of my first bosses, a horrible man, yanked a document out of my typewriter that I was working on for another bank officer. I tried to complete the typing in the order it was received. My boss cursed me loudly and told me I had to do his work first. I got up, said "I quit" and walked out. Later that day the bank president called me at home and asked me to return and talk about the issue because "something wasn't handled properly" he said, and "you are a valuable employee." I ended up working for them several years launching a 32 year successful banking career.

ELIZABETH'S DAY

Beth is 15

Enjoying my Mother's Day as an Elizabeth and Remembering my precious mother Elizabeth, while celebrating my granddaughter Elizabeth on this her 15th Birthday:)

OUT OF ORDER

Some of you know and some of you don't know that we are living with the Big "C" in our lives. It requires treatments of chemo and radiation five days a week and our commute is 170 miles round trip.

Ron and I both have experienced multiple illnesses from arthritis to broken bones, back problems, heart and lung disease. Yet this has to be the most frightening of all. You never know from one day to the next how you are going to feel. You go from bad to worse. The crazy thing about this is that the week before his cancer was discovered, Ron was feeling better than he had felt in a long time. The treatments are debilitating.

What is equally as bad as having cancer is looking at the multitudes around us that have cancer. There is no age discrimination. It strikes infant to elderly. I wait while Ron is in treatment and hear the stories of every form of cancer... brain, breast, bladder, testicular, skin, esophageal, ovarian, lung, lymph node, liver, stomach, kidney, etc. Pick a body part and someone will have experienced a cancer invasion there. The saddest story is when they add, "My cancer is not curable" and you are looking at a young mother with four year old twins.

Some are looking at 25 treatments, some at 55 treatments, some will finish a group of treatments then wait a couple of weeks and start another round of treatments.

I thought I had empathy for cancer patients, but until you have lived it as the patient or their advocate, you really don't get a sense of the toll it takes. Walking into the cancer treatment areas is mind blowing as you search for a seat in areas already packed with people waiting.

I have found that my magic wand is out of order and this stick I'm waving around just doesn't cut it.

ARE YOU A FAN?

Are you a Harlan Coben fan and have you read his series with Myron Bolitar? If so, have you read LIVE WIRE? I am reading it now and am shocked to learn of his brother Brad. I have inquired of my children and my sister who are also fans, and agree that they do not remember Myron ever having a brother mentioned in any of the other books. We would have sworn in a court of law that the character of Myron Bolitar was an only child. I am betting Ileana can answer this. If anyone else knows better, please advise.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 5-2-11

Does this insignia and the quote beneath it have new meaning for you and how do you feel about all our men and women in uniform today?

Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks has finally been brought to justice.

READY FOR THE OKLAHOMA LAND RUN

Here is Hope, our youngest grandchild, ready for 89ers Day at school. Her mama made her dress and bonnet. Thank goodness my mother taught my daughter to sew, because I sure didn't.

FREE KITTENS

Another surprise in the hen house. It looks like the nest boxes are continuing as a nursery for the cats. Aren't these three little kittens the cutest!!!

Here they are with their mama Boomer.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 4-25-11

How well does your pet know you?

(For instance, if I just slip on my jeans and a t-shirt, Slim heads for the barn. If I put on my bra first, she heads for the van, knowing I'm on my way to town.)

This post is dedicated to the wonderful memories of kenju's cat Storm.

HE SAID SHE SAID

Here are a few comments that jumped out at me from my recent posts:

From:

SYMBOLS OF OUR FAITH

LL Cool Joe said...

I wear my bling cross nearly every day. The other day I was wearing a Jesus pendant and my younger daughter asked me why I was wearing a pendant with Bob Marley on it. :D

From

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 4-18-11

Changes in the wind said...

It think you all are wierd:)

7:59 AM

From
GOOD MORNING RUSTY

Tabor said...

I think you should call your little farm Peyton Place with all the drama going on.

2:09 PM

From

ROOSTER WARS (Again)

Nancy said...

Organ music up! Soap commercial primed and ready to go...It's

ALL MY CHICKENS

The story that has everything. Intrigue...Mystery...Murder...

Tune in to see if Chicklet can topple the empire of the newly revived Jack Bauer who recently returned from oblivion.

Actually, Jack just stepped out of the shower like a newly reborn Bobby Ewing to challenge the dirty fighting and always triumphant
Chicklet..

The sub plot starring Elenor Hen and the gay, cross dressing Mr. Gibson will be intertwined with the rest of the cast and they prepare the dreaded burn pile for the LOSER!

Tune in....Organ music up and out!

4:54 PM

I treasure and love the comments from each and every one of my blog buddies. Thank you for stopping by FOOLS RUSH IN on your cyberspace blog travels.

MEN ARE JUST HAPPIER PEOPLE

Men Are Just Happier People --
What do you expect from such simple creatures?
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you,
He or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough..
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes..
Everything on your face stays its original color..
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look..
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives
On December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.


(Thanks Rhonda for forwarding this to me in an email!)

SYMBOLS OF OUR FAITH

It is Holy Week and I should be wearing my favorite cross necklace (one of the crosses Jamie Dawn made). We are out in public all week for medical treatments.and live in the Bible Belt so I am reluctant to wear it. Why? Because wearing noticeable symbols these days brings the kooks out of the woodwork. The most outspoken are other Christians (?) who want to talk to you and determine if your level of Christianity meets their high standard of excellence. (You know, those people who tell you that you won't be with them in heaven and you are glad because you don't want to spend eternity with them anyway.)

But it is Holy Week and I started this week out by accidentally driving a nail through my foot. A perfect reminder that our faith carries us through all suffering.

Today I will wear my cross.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK 4-18-11

What, if any, strange food combinations do you enjoy? (Besides spaghetti sandwiches, I love peanut butter and kosher dill pickle sandwiches or peanut butter and mustard sandwiches.)

GOOD MORNING RUSTY

I am rushing to get NOL-NOC ESTATES in order before we start our weekly travel again tomorrow.

1.) It appears that Dixie is pregnant. She is our white Spanish/Pygmy mix goat. She is acting strangely and does not want to go inside the pen with the others at night but I dare not leave her out. I hope she does not have her kid while we are gone.

2.) I saw buzzards landing at the back of our field and reluctantly drove the van back there to see what chicken or animal of the family had fallen. They were feasting on an unrecognizable cat. This morning all my felines reported for breakfast and I was so relieved but still sorry for the victim. I'm hoping it wasn't a cat belonging to one of the children nearby.

3.) Jack Bauer is not in charge of the hen-house yet, but he has moved back inside and Chicklet is not happy about it. It may just be a matter of time before we have another rooster ruling the roost.

4.) Slim is doing a good job being in charge while we are gone but she sure sticks close to me from the minute we get home. I have a feeling the cookies aren't going to keep her happy the entire five weeks.

5.) This morning while feeding sweet feed to the goats, I stepped on a board with a rusty nail. It went through my thick soled shoe and into my foot. Thankfully our doctor had insisted we update our tetanus shots last spring. Also, thankfully I was wearing a thick soled shoe! I've got a lot of Arkansan in my ancestral veins and tend to run around barefoot much of the time.


I have tried my best to catch up on reading blogs while we've had this break. One that really hit home with me yesterday was this one by sixtyfivewhatnow If you are retired, you will really enjoy this one. She had a huge response and the comments are as interesting as the post.

BUSY WORK

ABOVE IS MY NEW PURSE (?) THAT I CARRY DURING THE WEEK FOR RON'S APPOINTMENTS. IT CONTAINS HIS RECORDS AND INFORMATION AND MY PROJECTS FOR KILLING TIME ON OUR 3 HOUR DAILY DRIVE AND IN THE VARIOUS WAITING ROOMS.


HERE ARE THREE OF MY "BUSY WORK" PROJECTS. I CROCHET NYLON NET SCRUBBIES, OR DOODLE OR LISTEN TO AUDIO BOOK TAPES. SEE WHY MY PURSE HAS TO BE SO LARGE? I ALSO CARRY A COOLER WITH SNACKS AND LOTS OF DRINKS FOR OUR THREE HOUR TRIP EACH DAY. (NO, I DONT CROCHET OR DRAW WHEN I'M DRIVING!)


Here is a link to a delightful post. My daughter's best friend wrote this and I just love her writing. She is like one of my own kids and it is obvious how much she loves her kids. Here is the link to Little Miss "Not-So-Perfect".

NOT FOR EVERYONE

I have had many questions about my successful use of the FDA approved weight loss OTC medication Alli (Orlistat). It is certainly not a pill you can just purchase and start taking without being aware of all the guidelines. Here is a brief summary of some strong recommendations to consider.

1.) Alli Orlistat is not for persons wanting to lose only a few pounds.

2.) Directions for using Alli are spelled out completely.

3.) Warnings for persons who should not take Alli are very clear.

4.) Many OTC medications have far greater proven harmful effects than Alli.

5.) Persons must be careful ordering Alli online because there is a problem with fake products being offered. (Learn how to identify authentic product)

6.) Join the free online Alli website and join discussion groups before you start using Alli.

7.) Use the Alli daily food journal and the online journal and weekly check-in to be encouraged to continue your progress or to keep from being discouraged if you do not progress as you would like.

(8.) As with any weight loss program, it takes a lot of commitment and a strong desire to work hard at being successful. What Alli does is increase by 1/2 the weight you would lose normally with following the meal plans and the exercise regime. It is not a magic bullet.

9.) I have lost 30 pounds of my targeted 84 pounds in 14 weeks on Alli and following their plan, with no side effects, no treatment effects and I have never felt better in my life. Nor have I ever been as successful with any other weight loss program.

10.) And, of course, check with your doctor before you begin using Alli. (

INTRODUCING RYAN AND ZACK

This is our grandson Ryan with our "computerized" great-grandson Zack. This weekend they both visited and we got to watch this interesting class project unfold. Zack cries loudly when he needs anything and Ryan has to quickly respond. First Ryan identifies himself to the infant by swiping an ID bracelet across the chest (called chiming in). This is to prevent someone else from taking over care of the baby. Next Ryan goes about determining why the baby is crying. It will either need feeding, burping, rocking, or changing. If the baby is tampered with or shaken, etc. Ryan will fail the test. I can tell you that the temptation to throw the fake baby across the room was great, not only for Ryan, but for this pretend great-grandmother:) My son had this same type test when he was in high school only his fake baby was an egg. It was his responsibility to take the egg with him everywhere and keep from breaking it. I'm pretty sure he put the egg away in a safe place and returned it the following Monday, safe and sound. These days of computerized infants will not allow "putting baby in the corner"

Ryan's grade for the project was 98. He forgot the "chime in" the very first time and that was all he missed. Way to go Ryan!

f.y.i. 30 lbs! Thirty pounds! thirty lbs! 3-0 pounds. I have now lost 30 pounds on the Alli Plan. WhooHoo!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Do you crave justice for a past unkindness you or someone you know has experienced but for various reasons you know it is best if you simply let it go...or do you hold a grudge?

ROOSTER WARS (Again)

Daryl is gone. It appears that he was murdered by his son, Chicklet. Now Chicklet is spending every minute squaring off with Jack Bauer and it is only a matter of time. It broke my heart to pick up the lifeless body of Daryl yesterday and carry him to the burn pile. He arrived here several years ago with his Other Brother Daryl. OB Daryl died early of the disease known as "stray-dog-itis". This left Daryl in charge and he ruled until Jack Bauer arrived a little over a year ago.

You may remember that Jack Bauer challenged Daryl in a bloody but non-lethal fight and won. (That is actually how he got his name.) He became the leader of the pack at that time.

However a short while back Daryl and his son Chicklet (also son of Elenore Hen and brother to Mr. Gibson who is also a hen) planned a secret coo and toppled Jack Bauer's reign. Jack Bauer was banned from the chicken house and has been living with the goats since that time.

I had been watching Daryl and his son Chicklet battling around the yard for several days but I never dreamed their sport would end in Daryl's demise. Now the final challenge is soon to be underway. I fear that Jack Bauer might meet his end because Chicklet appears to fight dirty and Chicklet also appears to be the stronger of the two. However Jack Bauer comes to the fight better equipped as you can see from the posted picture. (Adam of Jack Sack designed this costume for our rooster Jack Bauer.)

There are some things in nature we can control and others we cannot. Survival of the fittest continues to be the rule. I am truly hoping for a mutual understanding to come out in a win-win situation because I do not want to carry another rooster to the burn pile.

Step up and place your bets folks...

CHICKLET ON THE MOVE

LOTS OF THREE COOKIE DAYS

A round trip from our home to Tulsa, OK is 170 miles. We make that journey for most of our medical care. Lately we have really been keeping the road hot and Monday we will raise that level to RED HOT. We will drive to Tulsa for medical treatments five days a week for five weeks.

Yesterday it dawned on me that we will usually spend four hours for the trip with the exception of one day that will probably be an eight hour day. For 32 years I worked outside the home and easily put in 8 hour days. Ron certainly is not immune from having worked long hours. All we have to do is think of this as a new job and how nice it will be to only go for 4 hours most days instead of eight every day. Plus we will truly appreciate our weekends a lot more.

The code for telling Slim how long we will be away is by the number of dog biscuits (cookies) we give her. Two cookies is a trip to town and back. Three cookies is an all day trip. Four cookies is an overnight stay. When we give her those cookies, she knows she is in charge and takes her job very seriously. Meaning she gets up from her nap and runs around chasing imaginary predators when she sees us returning:)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What is the best bargain you ever found?

This is mine:) $75 in 2006 (forgive the awful photos.)