Saturday, April 28, 2007

Cadence

You can't tell by looking at this precious little one that she is very, very sick.
She is the child and Grandchild of friends of mine...
In-utero she was diagnosed with "Short bowel syndrome".

Cadence is 9 months old and needs a liver, pancreas, and intestine transplant.

She's had several surgeries already- and we've nearly lost her twice...she qualified for the transplant last week at the Children's hospital in Ohio. We are thrilled she qualified for the transplant, but acutely aware of how serious the upcoming months will be. The strain on the family is enormous- mentally, financially, and emotionally.

Her family has asked me to consider being the Public Relations Coordinator for her fundraising, and I happily said I would.

In the coming weeks this will be my focus...raising awareness about her illness and letting people know about events being held in her honor to benefit her family.

If you are a praying person, I'd ask you add this little one, and her mom, to your list~ A web site is being created for her and I'll add the link when I have it.

I know this won't take all of my time, but it does seem to consume a lot of my thoughts. Knowing this child and her family is a blessing...and being mindful of what they are going through makes all of my problems seem incredibly small.


"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these."

-George Washington Carver:

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Unity-

I saw a bumper sticker on a car this morning~

It got me to thinking about my country, the United States of America.

About our freedom, our way of life, and the things that have made our country great...in it's very, very short life time.
As a nation some of what we have "in common" are resources we have simply come to expect...clean water, good roads, abundant access to food, shelter, and transportation. The right to an education, to medical care, and fair treatment regardless of sex, religion, or color. But we have so much more in common~

Then the bumper sticker I was staring at began to bother me.



I sense a problem. We are so focused on what makes us different that we forget to take a hard look at all the ways we are the SAME.

I can identify with a mother, a sibling, or a child.
I know what it is to be hungry, or cold, or to be a lover, a friend, alone, to want to be held, to be afraid, to weep, to lose, to win, to be poor, to have money, to ache, to grow, to stretch, to breathe, to live, to almost die.

To want to know God, or wish there wasn't one, for my heart to race when I get excited, to cry over songs that make me miss someone I loved, to inhale deeply when the grass has been mowed, to look up at the Moon and wonder...

These things are universal. These things connect us without tethers to skin color, or genitalia, or worhip preferences. The basic ebb and flow of human existence...we must remember how we are all connected.

The principal that holds families together is the idea that what makes us "ONE" is of greater value than what makes us different, though our differences are important.

It's the feeling we get at a ball park when our team scores a home run, or even loses. Our elation, or sadness, is a result of our feeling connected to the team- made up of pitchers, and batters, in fielders and out fielder.
We are rooting for the family, the team... our country~

I wish I had a bumper sticker that said,

Appreciate Diversity-
Honor and Respect our Unity

I just might have to make one for myself...

Saturday, April 21, 2007

/t and a new spin on the Prom...(click here)

To be completely honest- I've had more fun with /t and this photo than I did at the Prom. Hope you enjoy it :)

Thursday, April 19, 2007

THINKING BLOGGER AWARDS

(I've been working on this for over a week or more, ever since Sean tagged me. I couldn't stop writing about all of you...and you know I'm nuts about everyone- even if you didn't see your name below. I simply ran out of adjectives, verbs, and nouns! :)
-
* * * * * * * * *
First let me say THANK YOU to both Sean and Kate for this honor-
and since they both nominated me- I'm going to post 10 bloggers who make me
think! :)
Besides- there was no way I could have kept the list under 10 anyway!

You ALL make think- usually make me smile...and often make me laugh :D


Simply Lux -
Lux was one of the first bloggers I read. She is enchanting~ I loved the way she wrote...with "Yahhh" and "Snooks" and all the funny ways she expressed herself. In time, and it didn't take long- I felt like she was a sister I had never met... Lux has been a treasure to me, a faithful listener, and a wonderful friend. She is very far from me- physically, but she never feels more than a heart beat away. You could spend hours reading her blog...but be careful- or you will be enchanted too~ ;)

Sean-
When I first read Sean he was in Iraq, and I found him by accident.
He was thoughtful, expressive, and gave me an insight like no other into the world of a soldier at war. He became my hero.
I felt limited in what I could actually do for him- and I felt uncomfortable asking for his address (to mail him stuff)...but I started spreading the word about his blog. I also began to take a personal interest in the soldiers (and their families) I did have personal contact with because I had become "friends" with a brother-in-arms-- and in harms way.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Sean this past February- for just a few hours at a local mall- and it just felt as if we had come full circle.
I hope for many years to come we will be friends. He is a good soldier, a smart man, and a friend on my prayer list as he prepares to return to Iraq later this year.
His blog not only makes me think, but motivates me to be a better human.
I almost never go on a long walk without thinking of him in his army boots, with 50 pounds on his back, marching in the heat of the Middle East. My 2 mile walk through the neighborhood always seems easier after that~ :)


Seven-
Oh wow...this guy makes me do 2 things at once- he definitely makes me think-
and then he makes me want to day dream. (Have you seen him??? He is adorable)
"Sigh" ;)
Anyway...on more than one occasion I've had to print his posts and carry them around with me for a few days- making notes in the margin. He is deep- and still funny. His reflections show a depth of character and experience that can not be contrived.
He has seen the vast ugliness of humanity in his former line of work (police officer)- and then notices the tiniest of lovely things in everyday life~ from the graceful smile in the eyes of his wife, to the bittersweet moment of watching his son come of age and leave the family home.
I have left Seven's blog on more than on occasion with tears in my eyes...both from the ache in my heart- and from the laughter I found there.
Yes- he's easy on the eyes...but his words are even better for the soul~
:)

X-Spot- X-Dell is one of the most intelligent bloggers I know. He never ceases to amaze me with facts, figures, ideas, stories, and history. I think he had to grow to over 6'2" (or 6-3?) in order to make room for all the stuff he knows! :) Oh- yes...this blogger makes me think! When spending time with him, either on line, or in person, be prepared to learn something.
I had the most wonderful opportunity to meet X this past fall in NYC. It was an honor and a thrill to see him. He and my son hit it off immediately. I'd only known X on line for about 6-8 months- but it felt like we had known him for years and years.
He is the ultimate teacher- patient, consistent, and gives good feed-back. He is also a good friend who can read between the lines of what you say. He is keenly observant and you had better do your homework if you want to argue with him! But do argue...he always seems up to the challenge :)
If you want a good mystery, a fun game to play, or want to hear a different version of story from the past that you've heard 1,000 times- go read the X-Spot.
X is definitely a blogger that will make you think :)

Don't read this Blog, JL4 Formerly called "This and That", JL4 was the first blogger I read and responded to. His wit is sharp- almost piercing. He is serious, blunt, opinionated, and often right- but that's just the tough outside. On the inside he's thoughtful, insightful, devoted to his family, and loves this country. Some days he is funny, other days he is quite critical, but above all else- he is a great person and a good writer who always makes me think.
When I read his blog - his words stay with me for most of the day.

/t, Ted Warnell -
Oh my goodness! Want to see word poetry at it's finest? Don't have a clue what "Word Poetry" is? Do you want to scroll through the mind of artist who sees the world of words and computer text/programs like no one else does?
GO TO HIS WEB PAGE!
I swear, the first 10 times I went to his blog I felt clueless, but I had to keep coming back. I wanted to make sense of what I was seeing...I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND!
I sitll don't understand all of it- but I enjoy /t's web pages so very much.
I also really like the artist.
Ted is easy to talk to and appreciative of the time we bloggers spend over at his place. If you have a question, just ask! If his art reminds you of something, tell him! If you want to mail him fudge, or cookies, or home-made curtains for his lap-top- go ahead! :) Just be prepared that the mail to Canada is VERY slow!

Everything /t does seems to have more than one meaning. Overall- his blog makes me put on my thinking cap...but there are also times when it's just fun to see what he's created next. I always enjoy spending time at /t's place :)


Kate
Kate, for me at first, was like going to a therapist. This woman knows what she is talking about and has been through alot. I would read her blog- and cry- and then write and write and write...and then cry some more! She is wise, she understands, she never makes me feel silly or insignificant, and she is very real. She asks good questions- but of herself first- and sometimes I know it's hard for her to answer some of those questions- because she has to be brutally truthful. She has become a dear friend to me- we talk on the phone, and have met in person...and hopefully we will have some time together, if only for a few days- this summer with all of our kids. And Kate is as lovely as you think she is...really. She is a great blogger- and a sweet friend- and she does indeed make me think!


Enemy of the Republic-
"Whew"! I don't know how many of you get to spend time with someone you admire professionally...like a Coach who leads your favorite team, or a Conductor who leads a local Orchestra, or perhaps the Pastor or Rabbi at your place of worship.
Susan is one of those people to me. She is a Professor, a teacher, a brilliant writer, and has a heart of gold. I admire her to no end. She is tiny, but brave.
She is wise, but not old. She is a mentor, and she is a friend...and I have never been over to her blog and read anything that didn't get my mental juices flowing.
Susan is simply stunning. She writes with passion and fury- and makes it look so easy. I wish- I wish- I wish I had her talent. I wish I knew all the things she knows about literature. I wish I could take one of her classes. She is deep, and well spoken, and a treasure to get to know. I look forward to meeting her one day in the near future- and I would go over the moon if she moved South and worked in one of the universties near my city! It has been nothing short of an honor to get to know her.

Scary Monster-
Scary Monster is one of my newest bloggers. He is simply wonderful. He is honest, and funny, and insightful. He is not afraid to take a jab at someone or something that seems wrong. He takes risks (like the time he struck out on his own on New Years Eve!)- and then tells us how things went, even the bad things! :) I like Scary Monster because he is somewhat disarming with his kid-like 1st person English, and that draws one in...but what holds my attention is the depth of character and personality behind the persona. He lives in a very different culture from my own- out there on ODO Island- I think he might even know Godzilla- who was a childhood favorite of mine :)
Scary Monster wants to appear invincible with his tough green exterior and and big yellow eyes- but what lies beneath, I think, is a very wise creature who understands a tad more about humans and their nature...a nature which is on occasion both scary, and monsterous.
But Scary Monster is ALL good :)

K9, or Chickory -
Oh, my beloved dog! Need I say more? Are you unaware of the Duel last summer? K9 won- and was a true friend long before I really knew the human behind the fur...and is presently an even dearer friend.
K9's blog is now silent, and Chickory has taken the dog's place, even though both blogs are written by the same person. Chickory knew early on that she wouldn't be taken seriously by some bloggers if they knew she was a woman. She created the persona of a big beefy Rotty- and then let nature take it's course. She fought like the big dog she projected- and held her own in every debate. She was fierce, powerful, and frankly- she was right! I loved her as a "dog" and I love her even more as "herself".
She is one of the strongest women I know. Loyal to a fault- "Fidelity Personified"!
I Love that dog- uhh- human!!!

My Travels, Travails, and Thoughts (SJ) - SJ is a man with a "World View". He lives in India. He rarely fails to impress me with his candid thoughts and common sense approach to most things in life. He is open to new ideas, but seems very grounded. His travel blog allows me to see parts of the world I've never seen before, and from his point of view. I appreciate that.
I sent my first Valentine to India this year- I hope it won't be my last. :)

Leelee - She is the Ultimate Mom- sensitive, a good listener, inutitive. Her posts range from sweet and thought provoking, to light hearted cartoon clips, to just down right funny jokes.
She seems like the kind of person I could spend a few hours with in her kitchen- drinking tea or coffee and sharing a cookie or 2. After Scary Monster came to visit me- I knew he would have to visit her next...I wanted him to have lovely memories of spending time with us ladies in the South! :) Leelee's blog is a joy to read.


The Grunt
The Grunt is a stunning writer and a gifted story teller. I've never seen so much material in one place-
He is also talented musically. I have his CD to prove it!
This guy makes me laugh- and cry- and want to move to his part of the country so I can see the beautiful area he lives in. The Grunt's blog is never boring...actually, it's more like a roller coaster ride!

Roxanne
Roxanne has a spirit that senses both the natural, and the super-natural. Sometimes when I read her- I think she's in my head. Other times she opens doors and windows for me to peer through that I wouldn't have thought to open. She is a gifted writer and an up-and-coming Web Designer who I think has tremendous potential.
Actually, she has tremendous potential to be successful at whatever she does.
Roxanne is a survivor. Yeahhhh!

Honorable Mentions:
Gawpo
This blogger is fairly new to me, but when I began reading his posts I found that I couldn't stop.
I went back to his beginning and started reading forward. I haven't uncovered all there is to know about this blogger- but he is so good...spoke to my heart in quiet places. I sense a gentleness in him that I don't find often enough. I look forward to reading him more often.


Bone
This guy reminds me so much of a younger brother- that I feel kind of protective of him. He loves 24- and I can not stand to miss one of his Tuesday posts where he re-caps the show. My husband and I actually TALK about Bone during the program...like he was a friend of the family or something. Funny. I know he would fit right in around here...and I just like the thought of that. Bone is the perfect example of how bloggers become friends- he is just someone that I'm glad I know and enjoy reading. He is also a fantastic writer who knows how to draw you in when he tells a story.
Great guy, great Blog :)


Iamnot - Whether he's writing about his kids, or his marriage, or his photography- he is serious about all 3. No shortcuts and no quick fixes...he is "Steady On". He's a great dad and I admire him for all he does for his family. Actually, if you want to know the truth, I'm jealous of his wife!
Seriously...he is an awesome father- and I love to read his blog.

-
-
Ok friends-
I might have a big project around the corner- I'll let you know, but it might take me away for awhile. A very sick baby in need of a transplant is also in need of a fund raiser, and a communications coordinator to handle her program. I might be that person...I have been asked to consider it. I'm on my way to the meeting now...

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

My friend Amy...(click here)

Wrote a beautiful post about Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott- who was killed at Columbine...
It is a powerful post- I hope you'll take the time to read it.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Boobs on the loose...

"MARRERO, La. — Dozens of girls were turned away from a prom at Higgins High School because a teacher thought their dresses were too revealing. "

One student had this to say: (and this is a GUY student)
"Earlis Fayette, 18, said his girlfriend also was sent away by Gardner at the door.

"I find it's wrong, because you can't help what the girl has. You're born with that," he said. "I think it was discrimination toward a woman who has features."
(I do wonder IF his opinion will change in when it's his daughter going to the Prom-)

Oh Come on!!!
A DUDE is playing the "female discrimination" card at the age of 18???
Well, of course he is...he wants to get lucky later- right?



And that is, of course, what Prom night is all about-???

(I was cheeky even in high school....

hard to believe, I know :)

About dressing up like an adult, and going out with a nice young person to have a lovely dinner, and then dancing under Christmas lights strung up in a Gym to look like stars...and thinking, at some point during the evening-

"So this is what it's like to be a grown up."

With her boobs being the center of attention- and dinner, and dancing, and all the love notes prior to this eveing all being a warm up for...???

Oh, Hell- let the girls dress like sluts if they don't mind and Daddy bought the dress!

Honestly- if the girls and their parents don't have the good sense to encourage modesty, and moderation, and a sense of self-respect- why not let them fully reveal themselves to the rest of us who are trying to raise kids to a certain standard-

I mean really...

(Maybe the girls who were turned away could go to a bar or something?)

Let the dresses fall where they may (I meant dice)- and lets go ahead and get a glimpse of the future...

Jennifer will be pregnant by the time she's 17-

Juli will be taking pre-med or law classes.

Allison will be drunk on graduation day.

Michelle will be an intern in the White House. (she took a Lewinksy clutch purse)

The teaching staff in La just don't want to see the handwriting on the wall... Or maybe, just maybe...they are trying to change the handwriting?

I only wish CNN could have been there with their cameras running- I for one would like to know EXACTLY who to tell my son to steer clear of-

Know what I mean?

Monday, April 16, 2007

I can not understand...

31, presently, are dead at Virginia Tech...
This is just too awful~

An angry wind has swept through the Southeast, trees have fallen, limbs and debris are scattered all over the ground. There is a cold bite as each gust tears past. The relentless winds have been roaring since the sun came up.

It feels as if giant spirits are at battle, swinging swords and stomping the earth.
Stuff slams into my house and falls to the ground.
My windows shake.
My heart aches for parents- whose loss tonight can not be measured.

God help us...please.

Friday, April 13, 2007

The previous post...

Due to a lack of cards I was unable to SHOUT out to everyone I wanted to...
here are a list of friends who were missed-

K9
/t
Little Lamb
Enemy of the Republic
PUG
Sean
SJ
Roxanne
The Grunt
Bone
Phos
John B
Aunty Belle
Iamnot
Scary Monster
Leelee
Gary
Seven
Boneman
Chesca
and
Bird

Good heavens...I hope I didn't miss anyone! :D

Quiet Mayden Productions

LOL...Yet another try- before I write my "Thinking Blogger" post :)

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Rush Limbaugh and the Bull City~


Love him, or hate him...
I was on his show on Tuesday- I was his last caller-

"Cora, from Durham"-

So...any of you who were listening, or are 24/7 members- would have heard the Fair Mayden's voice just before 3pm on the 10th :)

Somehow I doubt that many of you heard it~
Of course, my call was about the Duke Lacross players being proclaimed "INNOCENT" by our Attorney General, Roy Cooper...at least 4 to 6 months later than they should have been.

Crystal Mangum, the accuser, has not been charged, and probably won't be, for the things she's said or done. No apology, no remorse, no words of regret have crossed her lips for the unjustice brought on 3 young men who will have a heck of a time trying to get their lives in order...but they will- trust me, they will. She's gotten a free ride from the Rainbow Push Coalition- Jessie Jackson has seen to it that her tuition will be paid in full- so that she doesn't need to "Strip" in order to put herself through school.

At least she has that going for her.

Mike Nifong should lose his job, and hopefully lose his license to practice law. However, this is Durham- hell, Mike will probably end up being the Mayor or something.

My sleepy southern town will return to normal, now that FOX News, CNN, NBC, and MSNBC have flown out of RDU and back to the Journalistic Pits of Hell from whence they came...only they don't realize how much dirt there is here, mixed in with the red clay and all.

They should have stayed- they might have found a 2nd home in the Bull City...

Ahhh- the "Bull City". People think it's called that because of the Durham Bulls baseball team...
but I'm here to tell you...the "Bull" in this city has nothing to do with the Ball team-
and everything to do with the load of crap the city leaders will dump on you- whenever and however they can- if it's in their best interest.

This time though- someone got caught.
Seems bittersweet though...

3 men will spend years cleaning up their names.
The DA, most likely, will lose his job.
Crystal Mangum, the accuser, will finish up college tuition free- and who knows, she might even get a job with the city one day.

But- at least I got to talk to Rush Limbaugh again...

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Rain

I had a nightmare last night- About a house my mom and dad lived in...and it was restored or something, but when it rained the roof would leak and water would gush down the stairs.

I could see the rain coming. Soaking through wood and damaging sheetrock.
I grabbed buckets...only to slosh through ankle deep water.

I kept trying to fix the mess-
I couldn't.

I kept asking someone to fix the roof-
They couldn't.

My dad wanted to put duct tape over the leak (which isn't like him at all)- and I got upset with him because he wouldn't listen.

And I just stood there- watching everything around me becoming ruined- all I could do was watch.
I was soaking wet- from the rain, and from my own tears.

I awoke kind of confused.
My parents don't live in the same house- this dream was not about them.


************************
This dream is about being feeling incapable of fixing something.

I woke up feeling defeated and vulnerable.
I had the saddest feeling that I couldn't make things right- no matter what. For a period of time- kind of like in the middle of a fire, or a hurricane, all I could do was stand in the middle of a very sad situation and ONLY watch.

I usually know my limits- but lately I've had a lot to process.
And sometimes in life there are simply times when we have to step back and let nature take it's course.
Let the fires burn.
Watch the storms run their destined course.
Let God choose who gets taken home.

Then~

We clean up.
We re-build.
We bury our dead and celebrate their life-
As we learn how to live without them.

What do I want?
To stop aching over my past mistakes and misunderstandings.
To Not be driven by ill-fated passion, or loss, or envy.
To love with all my heart.
To be a better listener.
To exceed my goals- both physical and work related.
To be a patient mom- and not be so critical.
To be an honest friend.

And I want someone to fix that leaky roof in my dream...

Shocked

What do you mean~
I'M NOT THE FATHER OF ANNA'S BABY???!!!

I mean good heavens- I just walked in from Fort Macon and
read the news on Google...

Larry is the dad?

Nooooooo!



Well-
What do I need with another $800 million- oops- I mean BABY anyway?
Poor kid-

(That "flat haired beach look" at the top is kind of sad- ;)

Friday, April 06, 2007

Happy Easter!

No sound! Aughhhhh!
Happy Easter everyone!
I'll be at the NC beach (freezing!)- Be safe wherever you go~ you can thank Dan and Scary Monster for giving me the courage to do this! Next time I'll try to figure out what happened to my voice! LOL :)

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

No Coincidence


The morning I learned of my friend's death- this was the "Quote of the day" in my email Inbox~

April 3rd:

Death is not a period but a comma in the story of life.


-- Amos J. Farver

I miss you friend-
The Lillies in my yard last summer- the Baron loved this picture :)


Tuesday, April 03, 2007

In Memory of the "Baron"


My blog friend, and a friend to so many, died last week of a Brain Aneurysm.

He was 44- and had 2 kids that he loved very much.

We never met, but he was dear to me and I will miss him...

I'll miss his posts, his email, his words-


Be in Peace friend~


Monday, April 02, 2007

The Customer is always right???


Before my trip- I went to Belks to do some shopping.
As I stood in line to check out, there was a woman in front of me with an obvious Bluetooth hands free device clamped around her ear.

She was apparently opening a store credit card account.
The cashier went through the list of questions...
1) Name
2) Address
3) SS#
4) Employer info
5) Next of kin not living with you
6) "May I have your phone number?"

The lady in front of me...without hesitation- said,

"I ain't got no phone!"

Hmmm....

The cashier looked at her- with a straight face, and said, "OK".

And the lying woman got her credit card account opened...

I wonder what her interest rate will be?

I wonder what mine will be when she defaults on her purchases???

Hey- WAIT! LOL :)
I don't have a credit card with that store!!! Yeahhh!!!!

And I never will~