Living in Minnesota

Welcome Winter

2012-01-22T21:55:00.002-06:00

Winter has arrived, finally, with a vengeance. It was bitterly cold last week and now we are having freezing drizzle. The morning commute is set to be dicey.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:32:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving is here again, seems that the years fly by way too fast. I am thankful for friends and family and the memories of Thanksgivings past. This time of year I really miss my mom and dad; my mom made a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. We would always dress in our best and either spend the day at our house with one set of grandparents, or we would travel to Detroit to be with everyone. My aunt would host Thanksgiving in Detroit. Later after I moved out of the house my parents would come to my house and Mom and I would make the meal in my apartment. The last Thanksgiving with my dad was bittersweet because it was the last time that we were all together as a family. And we all knew that it would be the last time that we would all be together.Later we would repeat the scene with my mom. Her last Thanksgiving with family was 3 years ago. I miss her so much. This year I am grateful to be spending Thanksgiving with good friends.Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends. I hope that you find yourselves blessed and that you have much to be thankful for.

Vel' d'Hiv Roundup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2011-08-05T19:39:00.001-05:00

Vel' d'Hiv Roundup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I am reading a book called "Sarah's Key" which is about the roundup of Jews who were living in Vichy France during the Nazi occupation. On July 16, 1942, 13,000+ Jewish families where taken from their homes in Paris by French police and sent first Vel d'Hiv, a velodrome in Paris where they remained for several days with no food or water, forced to live like animals in unsanitary conditions. I had never known about this terrible piece of French history. The mothers, fathers and children were forced from their homes. Later they were taken to a camp outside of Paris where the families were separated from the fathers, the mothers and children were allowed to remain together briefly before being separated so that the parents could be shipped off to Auschwitz for extermination. The children were left, starving and without their parents in the camp until they too were relocated and sent to gas chambers. I am appalled by this awful, horrendous piece of French history. I cannot believe that the police would round up innocents at the behest of the Nazis and willingly starve them and sentence them to death like they were no better than animals. This is a part of history that we must never forget so as never to repeat it.

Deja Vu All Over Again

2011-07-07T00:20:00.001-05:00

July 1, 2005; Minnesota state government partially shuts down. I am out of work for 10 days. Fast forward to July 1, 2011. Another government shutdown. This time government shuts down fully with only critical services remaining open. I was laid off as of July 1. Budget talks are at a stalemate, the Democrats want taxes along with budget cuts. The Republicans want to cut everything including the number of employees in the state work force. I'm tired of being a political hostage, yet I agree with the governor who would rather not throw the most vulnerable citizens of the state under the bus. He prefers a budget that mixes cuts with a tax in the wealthiest Minnesotans. I cannot reconcile my values with a party that only wants to hurt the most vulnerable citizens by making cuts to badly needed services while letting millionaires continue to pay less than the rest of us.

Living Within Our Means

2011-04-23T14:54:00.001-05:00

"Living within our means". That phrase has become a mantra for politicians in this day and age. They say that government must learn to live within it's means, like families have learned to live within their means. When families need to live within in a budget, they learn to make cuts, like shopping for groceries more efficiently and cheaply, cutting down on expenses and saving money where ever and when ever possible. Politicians think that this same scenario should work for government, and to some extent that is true. However, they way politicians are going about making cuts and lowering the budget is draconian. Families would never sacrifice a family member, such as an elderly parent, disabled child or ill family member in order to 'balance their budget'. Politicians seem to think this is OK; they choose to balance the budget on the backs of society's most vulnerable, the poor, the elderly, children and the disabled, by making cuts to government programs that are lifelines for these families. A family would find a way to raise their revenue, either by taking on additional work or increasing their revenue some other way. Politicians have been cutting and cutting to the point where there is no more to cut. It's time to look at a new source of revenue, and that is to raise taxes on those Americans who can well afford to shoulder the burden. Over the last decade Americans have paid the lowest taxes in generations. A report out recently indicates that wealthy Americans paid the least amount in taxes than they have in generations and some Americans paid no taxes. Meanwhile the US government has been engaged in two wars. Money that could have gone to health care, education and entitlements such as Medicare was instead spent in Iraq, where our brave soldiers put their lives on the line, but did their efforts and bravery do anything for Americans? I'm not saying that their efforts were in vain, but I do question the decision to send them into war. Meanwhile, back home in the US, we are preparing to fight a different kind of war, the war against Alzheimer's. The silver tsunami that is about to engulf the US health care system as baby boomers age, could quite possibly bankrupt this country's healthcare system. Paul Ryan has proposes changes to Medicare that would drastically cut benefits just as we are embarking on this war. Patients, medical professionals and caregivers are already stressed beyond limit. Can you imagine what it will be like in a decade or less? Alzheimer's is predicted to increase many-fold. We are being short-sighted if we think that cutting Medicare to balance the budget is a good thing. It's time to bite the bullet and understand that we need our priorities straight if we are to remain free.

What your cat is doing while you sleep

2011-04-22T14:56:00.003-05:00

Remembering Sam

2011-04-20T21:37:00.001-05:00

When I moved into my first house, the first thing that I did literally after getting somewhat settled, was head to the Humane Society to adopt a kitten. I'd had a cat as a very young child; I was so young in fact that I barely remember my kitten Muffy. Anyway, I adopted Sam, an 8 week old kitten who was quite possibly the cutest kitten ever. He was a brown and white tabby with the cutest markings and the sweetest face. The first thing that I did when I got home with him was call Mom and Dad. My dad was a huge cat lover so he of course needed to meet Sam as soon as possible. He and Mom drove down to visit three days later and promptly fell in love with Sam. That night Sam pestered Dad, wanting to play instead of sleep. Sam was a rowdy little kitten who would leap onto people's shoulders and attack them. Later, when Dad was in his last few months of life, Sam would sit on the back of his chair as a way to try to comfort Dad. Two years after I lost my dad I lost my Sammy to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or an enlarged heart. It was a sudden death; I came home from work one day to find my darling kitty dead at the top of the stairs. We assume that he had been running to meet me at the door, as usual, and that his heart just stopped beating. I was beyond devastated to lose my dear kitty so soon after losing my beloved father. I remember calling my mom in hysterics. She dropped everything and came to my house to comfort me. She was an unbelievable mom who would do anything for her children. Two months later I visited a friend whose cat had had kittens. I adopted my beautiful Lily exactly five years after adopting my Sam and she has been my best friend ever since. Olivia joined us five years later as Mom's cat. She too is a wonderful friend.

Cat and Dolphin Play

2011-04-12T14:14:00.002-05:00

I can't stop watching this, it's so cute!

Foreclosed

2011-03-26T14:35:00.001-05:00

Thursday when I came home from work there were auction signs at the entrance to my neighborhood. A home had been foreclosed on and was now up for auction. I followed the signs to a home kitty corner from my own. My heart breaks for this family. It is an older couple who had moved out nearly a year ago, their house, a beautiful two story condo end unit, had been for sale for almost a year. The housing market is just not getting any better.

I'm also worried. I work for the state of Minnesota as a computer IT professional. Our legislature has decided to take aim at state employees by placing the burden of balancing the state's budget, which is in deficit by billions, on the shoulders of its employees. I have not had a raise in four years and unless I receive a cost of living raise or a promotion to a new grade level, I will not see a raise in the near future. I know that many workers are dealing with this exact scenario. I'm a union member, something I never thought I would be, and something that would make my father and grandfather roll over in their graves. I love my job; I feel like I'm making a difference in the lives of Minnesotans. I rarely felt that way in private companies. I see my coworkers and the difference we all make. Nearly everyone I work with has, at the the very least, a bachelor's degree, many have master's degrees and doctorates. I'm nervous about myself and my coworkers who also have families and mortgages and health conditions. We are all living on the edge; one push and who knows where we will land. I know that's no different than most families have dealt with, but if we continue to do this to families, we are just going to dig us deeper into a recession. The services that are provided by government workers don't go away, so cutting workers will mean less workers screening newborn babies, less workers making out checks for unemployment and less workers plowing roads, fixing potholes, inspecting bridges, researching food-borne outbreaks, testing samples for tuberculosis, testing water samples from flooded wells, staffing state parks, inspecting nursing homes and restaurants. These are just some of the jobs that public workers do. There are many, many more.

eBay Addict

2011-03-05T15:53:00.001-06:00

I'm addicted to eBay. I know, where have I been. I can't resist bidding on collectibles like Department 56 snow village pieces, Longaberger baskets and Waterford Crystal. The deals on these things are phenomenal. I fell in love with a Waterford crystal pattern called "Ashling" when I was working at a jewelry and gift store during college. I was the weekend gift wrapper so I was able to handle all of the beautiful things like china and crystal. I figure that if I ever were to get married, I would register for the "Ashling" pattern. Well, I've never gotten married so I figured, what the heck, I'm going to get some pieces. I found 3 cordials on eBay and I won them. After that I was off and running. It's the ultimate way to recycle! The first few auctions were so easy and I won them hands down. Then I bid on a basket that I liked. Someone was bidding against me and they seemed to have pretty fast fingers. No sooner would I up my bid then they were putting in a higher bid. I couldn't believe how fast the were able to type. I thought, what the heck? Then I learned about something called AuctionSniper, a website that submits bids automatically for you. Aha! that's how they were beating me. Here is how AuctionSniper works; you connect your eBay account to Sniper. It imports your auctions from eBay and you set your limit. When you are outbid, Sniper submits bids until you either win the auction or the bid is over your limit. Fascinating! You only pay AuctionSniper when you win in a bidding war. And they give you 3 free Snipes.

If Gov. Scott Walker prevails, will Wisconsin look more like the South?

2011-03-01T20:17:00.000-06:00

If Gov. Scott Walker prevails, will Wisconsin look more like the South?

Stanley Kutler: What Gov. Walker Won't Tell You

2011-02-23T19:19:00.000-06:00

Stanley Kutler: What Gov. Walker Won't Tell You

Winter Roars Back

2011-02-20T12:07:00.000-06:00

It's snowing again. We are having a storm that promises to dump 12-18 inches of snow on us, making this a record breaking winter for snowfall. Which also means a record breaking spring for flooding.

But I have spring fever. I'm ready to start planting my containers and I'm especially excited to see the tiny pink blooms on my flowering almond bush. That is, if the rabbits that snacked on it all winter long haven't eaten it into oblivion. I'm beginning to think that I am cursed never to see those beautiful blooms; my first flowering almond was weed-whacked, came back to life in time to be sprayed with weed killer. So I bought a new one, a taller one. This one has been munched on all winter. The rabbits also munched on my Double Pink Knockout Rose, but I'm told that they need to be pruned in the spring so I'm hoping it will survive and thrive. I've ordered miniature roses that I plan to place in containers on my patio. And new solar lights for my walkway. I put seed out for the birds yesterday. Thanks to the recent 50 degree temps I was able to finally get out and do so without sinking into snow that was thigh deep.

Even though Mother Nature has other plans, I choose to dream of spring today.

February 13, 2011 - Playful Kicks

2011-02-13T20:07:00.000-06:00

February 1, 2011 - Glimpse of the cubs.

2011-02-02T08:04:00.000-06:00

More cubs for Lily the black bear

2011-01-05T20:14:00.002-06:00

Rudolph - The Island of Misfit Toys

2010-12-21T20:21:00.000-06:00

2010-12-18T17:47:00.000-06:00

It has been a wild winter so far, and it isn't even officially winter yet. Last Saturday we were snowed in; we received 20 inches of snow and then it turned cold. Commuting has been nightmarish for me; one night it took 2 hours to finally make it home. But the snow is beautiful and it definitely adds to the spirit of the holiday season.

For the first time in two years I have decorated my home for Christmas by putting up my tree and displaying my snow village. I suppose it is all part of the healing process. I will be spending the holiday with family and am looking forward to it.

I hope you are snug and warm where ever you are and that you are blessed with the spirit of the Christmas season.

Update on the WAO Rescued Cats

2010-12-14T15:55:00.000-06:00

They are such gorgeous cats.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T11:39:00.000-06:00

It's Thanksgiving again. It seems to come around more often now that I am older. I can't help but think about previous Thanksgivings. The one where my mom dropped the turkey on the floor when she was taking it out of the oven. She always made the best Thanksgiving meals, with homemade gravy (wish I had that recipe, it was delicious), mashed potatoes from scratch, stuffing (the best! no turkey guts) and pie that was to die for. We used to put on our best outfits, use the good china and tablecloth and the crystal stemware. Family would join us from Detroit. Or we would go there. It was good times.

I hope this Thanksgiving finds you surrounded by people you care about.

2010-11-21T14:57:00.002-06:00

If government run health care is so awful, why are Republicans refusing to give up their own Cadillac plan RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT! Some of the freshman Republicans are demanding to have their insurance before the 28 day waiting period is over. Isn't it nice to know that they place their own needs before the needs of their constituents? They want you to do without and have in fact sold you on the fact that the Affordable Care Act of 2010 is 'socialist' and a government takeover of health care.

Check this out.

Then check this out, this is the Federal Employees Health Plan

2010-11-15T18:26:00.002-06:00

Midterm Election

2010-11-14T17:13:00.001-06:00

The midterm election is over and the incoming Congress thinks that the message American voters sent is to cut spending. Now the battle begins. Where to cut? Shall we cut Medicare? How about Social Security? Remember when members of Congress wanted to privatize it? Wouldn't that have been disastrous considering the stock market crash of 2008? Wall Street is licking is chops to get at that money. But is that what is best for Social Security? Maybe we should make deep cuts to education. Or how about infrastructure, like roads and bridges (we had a bridge fall down here in Minneapolis a few years ago while Ted Stevens of Alaska used earmarks to construct a 'bridge to nowhere'). Cuts are not the only thing that needs to be done in order to slash the deficit. Maybe we should explore the issue of earmarks in Congress, both sides use them to get their 'pet' projects funded so they have something to show the constituents so they will continue to vote for them election after election. How about cutting taxes? That won't get us out of the mess we are in. Painful decisions are about to be made, are you ready for it? And why is it that those most vulnerable and with the least in this society have to bear the brunt of the cuts? Something to think about. It's time to put your money where your mouth is.

Deficits: Taxing The Rich - 60 Minutes - CBS News

2010-11-01T18:33:00.000-05:00

Deficits: Taxing The Rich - 60 Minutes - CBS News

Outsourced

2010-10-14T10:31:00.000-05:00

Tea & Crackers | Rolling Stone Politics

2010-10-03T19:41:00.000-05:00

Tea & Crackers | Rolling Stone Politics

Jenny LeDoux Twins Game National Anthem.m2ts

2010-09-23T08:19:00.000-05:00

I Want My Country Back

2010-09-22T18:09:00.001-05:00

I want my country back. You know, the one where all men (and women) are created equal, the one that's a democracy, not a theocracy or oligarchy. I want my country, the one that is tolerant of everyone regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation or financial status, back. I want my country, which refuses to invade another sovereign country, back. I want back the country where individuals care about each other, that puts people before profits. I want back my country where cooperation with civilized disagreement is the norm. I want legislators who care more about doing the right thing for their constituents and less about getting reelected. I want a country where everyone is a first class citizen, not just the chosen few. I want a country where the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. I want a country that cares for its most vulnerable citizens. I want a country where public education is the best in the world. I want a country with where health care is affordable and available for all citizens. I want my country back.

Hummingbirds

2010-09-16T18:49:00.001-05:00

This summer it has been such a joy to watch the ruby throated hummingbirds feed at my feeder located just outside my living room window. They are so amazing! They would zip around from my feeder to other feeders in the neighborhood in the evenings as I sat on my patio, and sometimes I would hear their wings beating furiously in my ear as they hovered near me. They are such endearing little birds. As the cooler temperatures settle in, they are stocking up on nectar for energy as they begin their migration south. This tiny little birds fly across the Gulf of Mexico to their winter home in Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands.

Bad Behavior Abounds

2010-09-14T20:40:00.000-05:00

My sister went the the Philadelphia Eagles game on Sunday with her husband. They stayed until halftime. It seems they were surrounded by bad behavior; people were drinking and cursing and yelling at the field.

I happened across a show on MTV called "Jersey Shore". I could only stand to watch a few minutes of this train wreck of 20 somethings engaging in more bad behavior. I could barely understand the dialog; there were continuous bleeps throughout every conversation which means, I guess, that words were being said that are unsuitable for television.

During the President of the United States' state of the union address a member of Congress stood up and yelled 'You lie'.

Have decades of political correctness caused people to go haywire? Is this a grass roots movement of backlash or just bad behavior? It troubles me that people can no longer be civil with each other, they can't agree to disagree without name calling. This is especially evident on the internet where bad manners runs rampant. If you dare to disagree with someone you are verbally attacked, called a 'hater'.

The great thing about this country is our freedom of speech, guaranteed to us by the first amendment to the Constitution of the US. That freedom extends to pretty much anything an individual might want to say. However there is one caveat; you cannot use your freedom of speech to incite or inflame others. In other words, you can't yell 'Fire' in a crowded room if there is no fire. Politicians, celebu-wants and others have done this and it astounds me. People scream about wanting 'their country back'. Who took it away? I want civility back.

2010-05-20T20:27:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday my nephew Matt graduated from Syracuse University with a BA in Political Science. It was a very nice ceremony with over 4,000 graduates. That's a long time to sit! I'm so proud of him.

2010-04-07T07:53:00.009-05:00

Remember the black bear I posted about? Here she is with her cub. It is so cute. The cub is named Hope.

2010-04-04T20:29:00.003-05:00

Happy Easter! Enjoy this video of the cats from The Wildcat Sanctuary.

2010-04-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

Wow it's been a long time since I've posted. Life is good; work has gotten dramatically better thanks to the departure of some key people. Spring is here; temps last week reached into the '80s. Today is much more seasonal at 56 though. I'm spending Easter with my good friends which is always a good thing. In May my beloved nephew graduates from college (where did the years go? He was just an adorable baby last month it seems) and I will be traveling there to see the big moment. I hope this season of rebirth finds you and yours' well also.

2010-02-27T21:08:00.000-06:00

Finally I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel for the winter of 2009-2010. Today was sunny and mild with temps in the 30s. We still have lots of snow, but the days are getting longer and the sun is climbing in the sky. I'm looking forward to spring and rebirth.

Cadillac Plans and Unions: Who Benefits?

2010-02-24T13:26:00.000-06:00

Cadillac Plans and Unions: Who Benefits?

The Beatles: From Me To You

2010-02-14T18:25:00.001-06:00

Happy Valentines Day!

Super What?

2010-01-25T08:37:00.000-06:00

It's a sad day in Vikings Land. Thank you for a fun season!

Lily the black bear has a cub!

2010-01-22T13:13:00.003-06:00

Today at 11:38 CST Lily, a wild black bear in Ely, Minnesota, had a cub! It's amazing. You can hear the cub cry.

2010-01-16T12:58:00.001-06:00

Beginning on 1/13/10 I could no longer look back and think "a year ago today Mom was still with us". I miss you more today than I did yesterday Mom. Love you.

Happy 2010

2010-01-02T19:45:00.001-06:00

I had a wonderful Christmas and New Years with my family in PA. I missed all of the terrible snow and most of the cold (though it's still cold here today). We did something every day. One day we went to the National Constitution Center to see the Princess Diana Exhibit. We saw her amazing wedding dress as well as other memorabilia. It was so much fun. We visited Winterthur which was decorated so beautifully for the Yuletide, and spent New Years Eve at Longwood Gardens, where we had a scrumptious buffet, toured the conservatory and watched a skating show. It rained during the skating show but that didn't dim the fun. I met most of my brother-in-law's family which was fun too. We shopped and spent time looking at photo albums and talking. It was a fun holiday.

I hope that all of my friends enjoyed time with family and loved ones too this holiday season.

2009-12-20T12:43:00.000-06:00

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...actually I don't have to dream, a white Christmas is a reality! Minnesota is blanketed in snow, again. This morning we had a fresh coating of snow. I shoveled the walks and driveway. In PA where I am spending Christmas, they now have snow thanks to the storm that blew in on Saturday. Hopefully it won't melt before I get there!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to my blogger friends. I know this can be a hard time of year for all of us. My hope for all is a blessed season with the ones we love.

Recession hits Rust Belt towns hard - Washington Post- msnbc.com

2009-12-17T11:32:00.001-06:00

My heart aches for the people in this article who have lost their jobs and are barely surviving in this recession. And some people are complaining about a smaller bonus. Go figure.

Recession hits Rust Belt towns hard - Washington Post- msnbc.com

Publish Post

A Night of Remembrance

2009-12-15T21:15:00.000-06:00

It's a clear, cold night tonight, similar to the night almost a year ago that Mom passed away. Tonight I attended an event at Mom's assisted living facility. It was a gathering to remember those who had passed away in 2009. The staff and families of other residents remembered us even though Mom was there only 4 months. We reminisced about each loved one who had passed away which brought both laughs and tears to the group. I was sad to see those who followed Mom to Heaven, and I was surprised to find many of the staff still there. I think that says a lot about the type of care they gave to our loved ones. All of them hugged me and asked how I was doing, how my sister is doing and they told me how much they missed having Mom under their care. Many of the residents live on, cared for by staff and family who love and cherish them. After each name was read and memories were shared, an ornament engraved with the name of the loved one was hung on a tree. After all of the names were read the tree was lit. It was a very special way to remember Mom during this holiday season.

Always on the Edge of Grief

2009-12-09T16:06:00.000-06:00

Today I picked up my mail and opened a card from Mom's assisted living facility. They are having a Night of Remembrance later this month. Instantly I burst into fresh tears thinking of Mom. They are remembering former residents who have passed in 2009 by placing a personally engraved tree ornament on their Tree of Remembrance. Grief is strange, the littlest things can cause it to surface in a big way.

On the weather front, we've had our first snowstorm. We've got about 4-5 inches of snow and it is blowing around causing problems with visibility. It is also bitterly cold, 8 degrees with a windchill of -15. Isn't that exciting? The cold air is pouring in from Canada (can't they keep their cold to themselves?). We aren't supposed to see temps in the 30s for several more days. Winter is here with a vengeance. I thought this was an El Nino year?

Holidays

2009-12-01T19:32:00.000-06:00

I am being haunted. Haunted by memories of Mom. When I go for my massage, I think of the many times that Mom and I went there for her haircuts and perms. Pier 1 was one of her favorite stores; thus whenever I cross the threshold into that store I think of her and I smile. Places and things cause memories to come flooding back. In my dreams, Mom and/or Dad are usually there and I fight to stay asleep so that I can spend time with them. I lie in bed at night and see the walls that Mom saw every night, and I listen to the stillness of our house knowing that Mom felt that stillness for hours day after day while I was at work and she was stuck at home. I remember her anger about this, but I know that it was best that she not be out driving on her own in the early stages. My greatest fear was that she would become confused and get lost. Or worse. This time is especially hard.

My Mom loved the holiday season. She would bake cut out sugar cookies and we would decorate them. She would make rock candy and we kids would cut the hot candy into pieces that we first rolled in powdered sugar. I remember the burned finger tips we all had from this, year after year. Mom would put the brightly colored candy into glass jars that she decorated and give them as presents to teachers, relatives and friends. She also would make candle holders using broken green and clear glass. Our house was decorated inside and out. Christmas mini lights were strung on our fir tree (which the neighbor kids ripped down every year) and my grandfather's ten dollars would be used to purchase a lovely Douglas fir tree at the local tree lot. Many times I went with Mom to pick out the tree. Later, when we moved to Minnesota, we would go as a family to a tree farm and cut our own tree, hauling it back to the car and bringing it home where it inevitably had to be cut smaller because we had overestimated the size of our living room. Each year we vowed that 'next year we'll pick a smaller tree' but of course we never did. Christmas Eve meant a candlelight service at church around midnight preceded by a party with friends. On Christmas morning we would be surprised by the gifts that Mom and Dad had purchased for us. My brother would search the house for weeks beforehand trying to find the unwrapped presents. At first he succeeded, but Mom was wise to his ways; she would hide his presents at the neighbor's.

May the memories of the holiday season fill you heart with peace and joy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-24T20:11:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! This will be my first Thanksgiving ever without my mom. I've had several grief-stricken moments about this. I miss her so much. It doesn't seem possible that it was only last year that she was with me and we were enjoying our meal together at CB. This year, I'm blessed to be invited to join friends for Thanksgiving dinner. That will help me to remember Mom yet not be alone.

I've started to move ahead with life, including sorting through some of Mom's things. I haven't been able to part with her clothes yet, but I'm getting there.

Meanwhile, Alzheimer's claimed the father of my co-worker on Sunday. And two more friends have loved ones who have been diagnosed with this heinous disease.

I've become addicted to Etsy.com. I've purchased a wonderful knitted aviator hat from a woman in Tasmania, an adorable charm necklace from a woman right near me and some stitch markers. I love to browse and see the amazing things that others have made. Check it out sometime.

Minnesota 2020 -- Health Care Abroad: A Look at Germany

2009-11-18T13:11:00.001-06:00

Minnesota 2020 -- Health Care Abroad: A Look at Germany

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H1N1 Flu Information

2009-10-26T13:21:00.000-05:00

In Minnesota we have been seeing widespread cases of H1N1 flu. For more information check out Flu.gov

MinnPost - How did Obama get the crowd chanting "Get a Mop!"

2009-10-21T15:21:00.000-05:00

MinnPost - How did Obama get the crowd chanting "Get a Mop!"

Nobel winner tells of dementia heartbreak - The Standard

2009-10-15T07:55:00.001-05:00

Here is a dichotomy. Alzheimer's is an equal opportunity destroyer.

Nobel winner tells of dementia heartbreak - The Standard

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The PricewaterhouseCoopers Premium Problem

2009-10-14T09:15:00.001-05:00

Factcheck has found some problems with a study on the health insurance bill that was paid for by the health insurance lobby.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers Premium Problem

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Movies

2009-10-10T15:19:00.000-05:00

I am watching "Apollo 13" and thinking back to the first time I saw it. Back when Mom and Dad had first moved into their new house, before Dad was diagnosed with end stage lung cancer and Mom still was sharp as a pin, we rented the movie. But the only VCR in the house was in their bedroom so we all three piled onto their bed and watched this amazing movie. Dad was not a movie watcher, really. His favorite movie of all time (and probably the last one he ever saw in a movie theatre) was "Patton". Once the VCR was invented he became much more interested in movies and would actually watch a few with us. This was one of those memorable moments. We watched "Pretty Woman" together. He liked Julia Roberts (who doesn't?). Mom loved movies. Watching them was a pleasant pastime that we shared. I miss them both so much. But I have such wonderful memories.

Brett Favre, Minnesota Viking

2009-10-06T09:53:00.000-05:00

How surreal was it to watch Brett Favre take on his former team last night and beat them? I'm not usually a football fan but since Dancing with the Stars was pre-empted here by the game, I watched it and found it to be quite interesting, and a good game! Way to go Brett, I'm becoming a believer.

UN index rates life best in Norway, worst in Niger - World news- msnbc.com

2009-10-05T15:59:00.001-05:00

UN index rates life best in Norway, worst in Niger - World news- msnbc.com

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Forbes 400: Poor, poor billionaires - MSN Money

2009-10-01T09:58:00.002-05:00

Forbes 400: Poor, poor billionaires - MSN Money

The 10 richest Americans lost a combined $39.2 billion in the past 12 months, a 14% decline. $39.2 billion. That could help a lot of people.

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2009-09-30T13:39:00.001-05:00

Today I learned from a coworker that her mother is struggling with cognitive issues and it makes me sad. I try to move on from Alzheimer's but it's not letting me. Everywhere I turn there is someone suffering from this disease. It has been a little over 7 months since I lost Mom. I miss her so much and I still grieve for her, but I feel like she is still right here with me. The strange thing is that I've felt this way since her passing. I talk to her and I tell her things like I used to do. I think about her and remember things we laughed about together. I've re-read my blog from those days one short year ago and I've cried, remembering how difficult it was to see Mom decline. I've beat myself up over how things evolved, and then I've turned around and forgiven myself for those same things. I know in my heart that Mom would not want me to feel guilty. I still have her things; I can't quite bring myself to open the boxes and sort through her clothes. They will keep for now. I've moved into the master bedroom of our house, a huge step for me. Some days are harder than others, but I plug away looking for a new purpose. And I count off the days, one by one, remembering events and occurrences as time passes. I miss you Mom.

High Costs Yield High Benefits?

2009-09-29T15:16:00.002-05:00

High Costs Yield High Benefits?

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"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not." (Isaiah 53:3)

2009-09-28T13:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to my dad. Were he still alive, he would be 79 today. I miss you Dad.

Doctors, lawyers say malpractice laws work in Minnesota | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ

2009-09-24T09:15:00.001-05:00

Doctors, lawyers say malpractice laws work in Minnesota | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ

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Business Roundtable Report Shows Health Care Costs Will Skyrocket to Nearly $29,000 per Employee in the Next Decade Without Effective Reform

2009-09-22T13:50:00.001-05:00

Business Roundtable Report Shows Health Care Costs Will Skyrocket to Nearly $29,000 per Employee in the Next Decade Without Effective Reform

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2009-09-12T22:44:00.002-05:00

Today was a busy day for me capping off a busy week. I went to the salon and had my hair cut then I spent the afternoon working on my old laptop, trying to get it working again and I succeeded. Now I'm play to wipe it off and sell it. Or donate it.

My friend had a yard sale this weekend. He cleaned out his basement treasure trove and sold $1800 worth of treasures. Pretty amazing. He must have had some nice stuff.

I've made my reservations for the holidays. I plan to spend some time with my sister and her family in PA for Christmas. I just need to find a reliable sitter for my cats.

Autumn is in the air here. It was warm today, but the leaves on some trees are starting to change and there is a scent of fall in the air. I hope we have a long, beautiful season.

The Beatles!

2009-09-09T18:48:00.003-05:00

I am too young to remember the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. In fact I am too young to remember much about the Beatles prior to their breakup in 1972. Yet they have been a part of my life; their music is so familiar yet their song catalog is huge and every so often I hear a song of theirs that I had never heard before. Today their remastered song catalog was released and I'm hoping that soon their songs will be available on iTunes.

This weekend I scanned some grade school class pictures and posted them on my Facebook page. My friends and I have had a fun discussion about our times together, sharing memories and thinking back to those wonder years. It's hard to believe that so much time has passed. We are having a lot of fun catching up.

The days are really short now. I wake up to darkness and it's not too long before twilight descends in the evening. Summer is fleeting.

A Norwegian Perspective on Health Care in a Norwegian-American State

2009-09-08T15:56:00.001-05:00

A Norwegian Perspective on Health Care in a Norwegian-American State

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Jaycee

2009-09-03T18:38:00.002-05:00

The most amazing story of the year is the discovery of Jaycee Dugard alive and mostly well. It amazes me that in 18 years no one discovered her existence. I am so happy for her and her family and I hope that she can heal and get on with her life. It gives me hope that Jacob Wetterling is somewhere out there alive.

The Dog Days of Summer

2009-08-27T20:11:00.003-05:00

What has happened to summer? It seems like just a few days ago I was awaiting its advent, I was looking forward to the long, warm summer days and hoping to savor each and every one of them. Well, the days are getting shorter, and the unofficial end of summer is just around the corner (Labor Day). It's 8:14 PM and twilight has fallen. At the summer solstice the sun sets here after 9:00 PM. It has been a pleasant but cool summer this year. My patio plants are thriving.

At work I am busy helping to plan for influenza season. We are planning for the worst and hoping for the best. The spring blip of H1N1 Novel Influenza (swine flu) caught us in the laboratory off guard but we were able to learn some valuable lessons from it.

This summer I have been occupied with reading the Twilight saga. For some reason I find these books to be page turners for me. It's been so long since I've been able to enjoy reading for it's sheer pleasure.

TRAILER: Michael Moore's 'Capitalism: A Love Story'

2009-08-22T17:15:00.001-05:00

Something tells me this is going to be good. I want my bailout money back!

Who Are the Uninsured?

2009-08-20T22:32:00.000-05:00

Where I work, if you get sick and need to take an extended leave, first you use up your vacation and sick leave. Once you have exhausted both of these then you must go begging to your co-workers for 'vacation donation'. Your co-workers can each donate up to 12 hours of their accrued vacation time to you. Once this runs out, you lose your health insurance. Just when you need it the most, it's gone. How fair is that?

Here is an interesting link that explains who the uninsured are. You might be surprised to learn that most of them hold down a job.

And here is another interesting concept; insurance for in case you lose your health insurance.

NPR: What Health Care Overhaul means for You

2009-08-17T07:52:00.002-05:00

This is a nifty little interactive chart from NPR.

From Factcheck.org: Palin vs Obama "Death Panels"

2009-08-16T13:53:00.002-05:00

http://factcheck.org/2009/08/palin-vs-obama-death-panels/

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End of life counseling is a hairy subject for anyone. This bill is not endorsing "killing Grandma". How many of us are prepared for end of life, especially if we become ill and cannot make our wishes known? If my mom had not filled out a Living Will, and I hadn't already known her wishes, then her end of life care would not have consisted of the excellent care given to her by hospice (and paid for in it's entirety by Medicare). My mom choose not to prolong her life via artificial means such as feeding tubes. I respected her wishes. My mom stated that if needed, she wanted hospice care. Again I conceded to her wishes. But what if I didn't know her wishes? Based on how much I loved my mom I can tell you that I would have done ANYTHING to prolong her life. But would any of this have changed the final outcome? We'll never know that, only God knows for sure.

A Different Kind of Tiger

2009-08-14T18:04:00.002-05:00

The PGA is in town playing their tournament at Hazeltine Golf Course. Tonight when I was driving home, I could see blimps in the distance, hovering over the course. Down the street from my house I see the buses that ferry spectators to the course throughout the day. The small airport near my home has been busier, with small jets taking off and landing. I haven't seen Tiger Woods yet, but that would be fun. It has been hot and windy here today, probably not ideal golf weather.

Titan and Lilly: Together at Last

2009-08-12T13:16:00.001-05:00

I love this video of Lilly and Titan. Enjoy! These tigers were rescued from horrible conditions and now are in their forever home where they can play and live the rest of their lives.

2009-08-09T18:52:00.004-05:00

I have needed to fill the bird feeder nearly every day. Sometimes when I look out at the feeder I see half dozen birds hanging on the perches. My cats are entertained by the birds who they can see but not eat. I think a lot of the birds are juveniles because their coloring is off. I love to watch them, that's something I picked up from my parents.

Today is my cat Lily's 10th birthday. I still remember the day that I adopted her, she was such a little kitten. She has been through thick and thin with me, always by my side, always filled with unconditional love. We will always have a special bond.

My grief has been closer to the surface lately, I'm not sure why. But grief is like the ocean; it ebbs and flows. I've learned that there is no expiration date on grief, it just is. And it's different for each and every one of us. I've also found some solace here.

PolitiFact | Our latest guide to the health care distortions

2009-08-08T09:12:00.002-05:00

PolitiFact | Our latest guide to the health care distortions

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Also check out this web site from the Whitehouse. Do you really think that the party that has fought so hard for safety nets and social reform wants to euthanize the elderly and disabled? That's just crazy.

Mounting Evidence Of Fish Oil's Heart Health Benefits

2009-08-05T13:05:00.001-05:00

Mounting Evidence Of Fish Oil's Heart Health Benefits

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2009-08-02T18:35:00.003-05:00

QOTD: "Somebody needs to get up and start talking about unifying this country again."
— Susan Eisenhower, July 24, 2009

Today I saw a hummingbird zoom right up to my window and hover. They are such amazing creatures, I am always fascinated by them.

It has turned slightly humid here today, which feels weird; it's been unseasonably cool here for the past week. But I'm not complaining as long as summer sticks around.

More soundbites from Real Time with Bill Maher

[The Republicans] want to score a political win...But, they have no problem letting 50 million Americans suffer without health insurance. – Anthony Woods

We're going to have to find a solution to healthcare because the boomers are going to be retire soon and are going to create enormous distortions in an already distorted system. – Susan Eisenhower

I would love to have some journalist ask a Republican who talks about socialized medicine: If it's so awful, how come it's what we have for our veterans? – Bill Maher

The Republicans are a sideshow here, compared to the failure of the Democratic Party to get its shit together. – John Heilemann

The Democrats, whenever they're given a chance, controlling all three branches of the government, are tied in knots and can't get anywhere. – John Heilemann

They're not hospitals anymore. They're Jiffy Lube's with bedpans. – Bill Maher

FactCheck.org: Obama's Health Care News Conference

2009-07-24T10:27:00.001-05:00

FactCheck.org: Obama's Health Care News Conference

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The Jackson 5 - Rockin' Robin 1972 RARE

2009-07-07T19:00:00.001-05:00

I cannot tell you the number of times this song has been sung to me throughout my life.

Caffeine May Fight Alzheimer's Memory Loss

2009-07-06T12:54:00.001-05:00

Caffeine May Fight Alzheimer's Memory Loss

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2009-07-04T09:58:00.009-05:00

Well, I finally did it. A few weeks ago I moved my furniture into the master bedroom and moved Mom's furniture into my old bedroom, now the guest room. I also had the master bath, guest room and guest bathroom painted fresh, bright colors. I still have flashbacks of Mom; when she fell on the floor, but I try not to think about the bad times, and memories of the good times are breaking through those difficult memories. I still need to sort through Mom's clothes, but that will keep for now.

Today I am joining my neighbors for a 4th of July picnic. It should be fun, I only hope that the sun comes out and that the clouds move on.

I have many special 4th of July memories; during my childhood 4th of July was spent on our boat, the Water Wagon, which we docked at a yacht club on the Saginaw River in Michigan. We would usually watch the fireworks from our boat anchored somewhere on the river. Another special year was when we viewed the fireworks from the deck of the yacht Helene which was docked along the river. One year, after we had moved to Duluth, our friends Cpt. Bernie and Susie Cooper invited us to view the fireworks from the pilot house of the Edwin H. Gott which was docked in Duluth Harbor over the 4th. And then there was the year that all of the fireworks went off at once in Duluth. Luckily no one was hurt but it sure was a racket!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Video Version

2009-06-30T13:02:00.001-05:00

For all the music video lovers who could never figure out what the symbolism in videos meant. This is hilarious.

Old Friends and Dear Friends

2009-06-17T18:46:00.002-05:00

A most amazing thing has happened on Facebook. I have found my best friends from grade school! It never ceases to amaze me that one can reconnect with old and dear friends on that social networking web site. I moved away at 14 when my dad was transferred to Minnesota over 30 years ago. It was the summer before ninth grade and we really had no chance to say goodbye. Over the years I have thought of them often and wondered how they were doing. Now I know! I know about their families, marriages and children. One of my friends is living kitty corner from the house that I grew up in and she has promised to take pictures when she has time. I chuckle to see the friends in common between us. I feel blessed to have them back in my life.

2009-06-15T19:40:00.001-05:00

Today would have been Mom's 77th birthday. Happy Birthday Mommy. We love you and miss you.

Generosity Abounds

2009-06-10T19:08:00.003-05:00

On a day that is marked by tragedy I am reminded of the unbelievable compassion and generosity of my friends. Today when I arrived home there was a package on my porch. I hadn't remembered ordering anything so I was very curious. I tore open the box and found two books that I had put on a wish list. I use my wish list as a way to keep track of things I'd like to eventually order; I never expect someone to use it and send me something from it. But one of my friends (and you know who you are!) not only took the time to look up my list, but also ordered two items that I had on it and had them delivered to me. You, my friend, have reminded me of the generosity and care that exists in this world, and that it far outweighs the evil and hate that we are more likely to see on a daily basis. I can't thank you enough for adding a great deal of happiness and sunshine to my day. Thank you very much not only for my gift, but also for being such an amazing person. If it's OK with you I'm going to 'pay it forward'. I know of someone who needs a day brightener.

2009-06-06T15:37:00.002-05:00

My recommendations at amazon.com included several coloring books, books on Alzheimer's and chair pads. All of these things remind me of Mom. Not to mention that today is my birthday, my first without either of my parents. Birthdays are special in my family, always have been. I have been trying to avoid thinking about today mostly because thoughts of it make me really sad. But somehow, now that this day is here, I'm not really that sad. I still miss my mom and my dad, but others have taken on the task of remembering my day. My sister and brother-in-law sent a beautiful basket of flowers and a lovely card, as did my aunt and uncle. Good friends of my parents sent me a lovely e-card. It's nice to know that even though things have changed they are still sort of the same.

It's raining today; we need rain desperately. Everything is becoming green again.

Now that June is here, summer is going to switch into hyper speed and fly by so I have to make the most of each day, even the cold rainy ones.

Memorial Day

2009-05-24T13:38:00.005-05:00

Last night I watched the perfect Memorial Day movie on HBO called "Taking Chance". It is the true story of a marine Lt. colonel escorting the remains of a fellow marine, Chance Phelps, on his final journey from Dover Airforce base to his final resting place in his hometown in Wyoming. PFC Chance Phelps was only 20 when he was killed in Iraq on Good Friday in 2004. Like many, he was motivated to join the marines by the events of September 11. Despite being wounded, he refused to be evacuated, and instead manned his M240 machine gun to cover the evacuation of the rest of his convoy. Upon withdrawal, he sustained his fatal wound to the head. Even though similar stories have played out across America since Operation Iraqi Freedom began, it was moving in so many ways to me. It was touching to see the respect that employees of Northwest Airlines gave their precious cargo as it traveled across the country. There was no fanfare, just quiet reverence for a brave young man who paid the highest price for his country. I will always remember PFC Chance Phelps and his story, not because it was unique, but because Lt. Colonel Strobl was so moved by his experience that he decided to share it with us. And that is what I will remember on this Memorial Day, those who have given their lives so that I might live free in a country I love.

I also remember my Mom and Dad and I miss them.

Service of Remembrance

2009-05-19T21:54:00.004-05:00

Tonight I attended the hospice service of remembrance. It was very well attended, several hundred people were there. The service was to remember loved ones who passed away under the care of the hospice. In the center of the photo, left, are candles in remembrance of each loved one. It was a beautiful, balmy evening with a temperature in the 80s. The location was quite lovely, on a pond in a beautiful setting. They had music and readings for this solemn occasion. They read the names of every person who was represented by loved ones at the service. I shed tears for both Mom and Dad.

Stages of Grief

2009-05-17T20:50:00.001-05:00

Here is an excellent article on the stages of grief from www.caring.com.

Heart Disorder Linked To Alzheimer's Disease

2009-05-15T10:19:00.001-05:00

ScienceDaily (May 15, 2009) — Researchers at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City believe that they have made a breakthrough connection between atrial fibrillation, a fairly common heart rhythm disorder, and Alzheimer's disease, the leading form of dementia among Americans.

In a study presented May 15, at "Heart Rhythm 2009," the annual scientific sessions of the Heart Rhythm Society in Boston, researchers unveiled findings from the study of more than 37,000 patients that showed a strong relationship between atrial fibrillation and the development of Alzheimer's disease.

The study, which drew upon information from the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study, a vast database from hundreds of thousands of patients treated at Intermountain Healthcare hospitals, found:

Patients with atrial fibrillation were 44 percent more likely to develop dementia than patients without the heart disorder.
Younger patients with atrial fibrillation were at higher risk of developing all types of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's. Atrial fibrillation patients under age 70 were 130 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer's.
Patients who have both atrial fibrillation and dementia were 61 percent more likely to die during the study period than dementia patients without the rhythm problem.
Younger atrial fibrillation patients with dementia may be at higher risk of death than older AF patients with dementia.

Intermountain Medical Center cardiologist T. Jared Bunch, M.D., the study's lead researcher, presented the findings at the scientific session.

"Previous studies have shown that patients with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk for some types of dementia, including vascular dementia. But to our knowledge, this is the first large-population study to clearly show that having atrial fibrillation puts patients at greater risk for developing Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Bunch.

Alzheimer's is a devastating brain disease affecting approximately 5.3 million Americans. It is the most common form of dementia (a general term for life-altering loss of memory and other cognitive abilities), and accounts for 60-80 percent of all dementia cases. Today, it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Currently, the known risk factors for Alzheimer's are age, family history and genetics, though injury may also be linked with the disease. Heart health has long been suspected to play a role, but has not been linked. The Intermountain Medical Center study bolsters that connection.

"The study shows a connection between atrial fibrillation and all types of dementia," said Bunch. "The Alzheimer's findings — particularly the risk of death for younger patients — break new ground."

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm problem, affecting about 2.2 million Americans. It occurs when the heart beats chaotically, leading blood to pool and possibly clot. If the clot leaves the heart, a stroke can result.

The Intermountain Medical Center study looked at five years of data for 37,025 patients. Of that group, 10,161 developed AF and 1,535 developed dementia during the study period.

The study authors say more research is needed to explore further the relationship between atrial fibrillation and the development of Alzheimer's disease.

"Now that we've established this link, our focus will be to see if early treatment of atrial fibrillation can prevent dementia or the development of Alzheimer's disease," says cardiologist John Day, M.D., director of heart rhythm services at Intermountain Medical Center and a co-author of the study.

What is the Economic Value of Caregiving?

2009-05-13T11:17:00.001-05:00

AARP recently released a comprehensive report on the economic value of caregiving. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, it's important to know how your informal caregiving affects our currently fragile economy. Consider these facts:

In 2007, approximately 34 million family members were providing informal caregiving at any given point.
Approximately 52 million family members provided informal caregiving at some time during 2007.
The estimated value of unpaid caregiving for 2007 was $375 billion.
This is an increase over the 2006 estimated value of unpaid caregiving, which was $350 billion.
$375 billion is comparable to the total sales of Wal-Mart stores in the same year.
The economic value of unpaid eldercare was more than long-term care Medicaid spending in all states.
In 36 states, the economic value of caregiving was more than three times as high as long-term Medicaid spending.
The economic value of unpaid eldercare, including caring for those with Alzheimer's, was more than three times as high as spending on home- and community-based Medicaid services.
In 19 states, the economic value of caregiving was more than ten times as high as home- and community-based Medicaid spending.
Unpaid caregiving includes personal care and help with daily tasks as well as assistance with complex medical procedures and administering medications.
The “typical” caregiver in the United States is a 46-year-old woman working outside the home who provides more than 20 hours a week of eldercare to her mother.
Those providing eldercare reported spending an average of $5,531 out-of-pocket for caregiving expenses in 2007.
Long-distance caregivers reported the highest out-of-pocket expenses ($8,728) while those caring for someone nearby reported average out-of-pocket caregiving expenses of $4,570.

The report points out that family caregivers are the “backbone” of the United States’ long-term care system. I couldn’t agree more.

_Source:

_{Valuing the invaluable: The economic value of family caregiving, 2008 update. AARP Public Policy Institute. 2008 http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/i13_caregiving.pdf}

Blue Zones

2009-05-09T19:58:00.003-05:00

I just watched an interesting piece on Dateline about 'blue zones', or places where people live long, healthy lives. If you look at the website for blue zones, you will see several things that these people do that researchers thing extend their lives and keep them disease-free. How many of these things do we do here in the US? Not very many. Our lives are too fast paced and stressful.

On another note, I hope the mothers who read this had a wonderful day today. I thought often and fondly of my own Mom today.

HBO: Documentaries: The Alzheimer's Project: Watch the Films: The Memory Loss Tapes

2009-05-08T08:18:00.002-05:00

HBO: Documentaries: The Alzheimer's Project: Watch the Films: The Memory Loss Tapes

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Alzheimer’s Doc Will Screen Around the Web

2009-05-07T12:32:00.000-05:00

by R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 5/4/2009 12:00:00 AM MT

In a rare sharing of its original content, HBO will offer its four-part Alzheimer’s Project to various online video services in an effort to provide greater exposure for the series.

YouTube, iTunes, MySpace and Facebook will all offer portions of the four-part series, which runs on HBO over four consecutive nights beginning May 10, as well as 15 supplemental films surrounding the series, according to HBO documentary films president Sheila Nevins. The two-year project takes a close look at the effects of Alzheimer’s disease on those that suffer from it and their families, as well as scientific discoveries and ongoing efforts to fight the disease.

“We do certain public-service programs that are of value to those that are and are not HBO subscribers,” she said. “It’s a corporate outreach effort dealing with subjects that we feel have been underserved by the media, including cancer and addiction. We felt Alzheimer’s was perfect for a public service outreach campaign.”

As part of its outreach effort, HBO will make the full series and supplemental shorts available on HBO.com, beginning May 8. The videos will be made sharable and can be embedded for anyone who wants to post on their own Web sites.

HBO on Demand will also make the entire series and supplemental films available beginning May 8, the network said.

Outside of HBO, Apple’s iTunes Store on May 8 will offer an exclusive preview of the first feature film, The Memory Loss Tapes on May 8, with subsequent films available starting May 11. The same day, an exclusive preview of the second of the four films, Grandpa Do You Know Who I Am, will run on HBO’s YouTube site.

MySpace will run trailers and clips from the project on its MySpace Impact channel beginning May 8, part of its Alzheimer’s Awareness Week presentation. In addition, MySpace will run an exclusive preview of the third film in the series, Momentum in Science, on its Myspace page (www.myspace.com/HBO), according to the network.

Facebook will offer a dedicated page to the project featuring an exclusive preview of Caregivers, the last of the four films. The social networking site was slated to launch a Tribute Wall May 1 that would accept user-generated photos and memories of loved ones, as well as to serve as an interactive, personal account of the disease.

In addition, the network will work with local organizations to co-host over 20 community screenings and provide 5,000 screener kits to select organizations to host their own events.

Nevins said the special should appeal to a cross-section of viewers either experiencing the disease themselves or through a family member. Nevertheless, she said that overall HBO viewership of the project will not in itself determine the success or failure of the undertaking.

“I don’t know how you can measure the numbers in the traditional way that says X number of people watched it because it’s not a conventional show — you can access it when you want to watch it through the various platforms,” she said. “But I think it’s already a success just being out there because it’s needed information for many people.”

The Alzheimer's Project Personal Tribute

2009-05-01T18:49:00.004-05:00

H1N1 Novel Influenza

2009-04-29T18:33:00.008-05:00

My employer is the state department of health. We have been preparing for public health emergencies such as an influenza pandemic for many years. Some key points to remember include: You can't get this influenza by eating pork products. Washing your hands and using hand sanitizers can help you avoid getting sick. And if you are feeling ill, running a fever, coughing or achy, stay home away from others and call your doctor. We have been calling it H1N1 Novel Influenza rather than swine flu in order to take the heat off of pigs. This could be devastating for the pork industry.

I am very proud of my colleagues at the health department. In the past they have cracked many stubborn cases of foodborne illness, tracing the origins to peanuts and serrano peppers. They are a world class group of scientists and professionals who take their jobs very seriously and they work very hard to protect the health not only of this state but of this country.

This could turn into a serious situation. Around 36,000 people die from influenza every year in this country. With a flu pandemic that number could skyrocket. In 1918 hundreds of thousands of people perished from the Spanish flu. You can read more about it here in Wikipedia. The current strain is of the same subtype, H1N1, as the 1918 outbreak, but it is a strain that has never been seen before and that is why it has been given special attention.

It is important to be cautious yet remain vigilant about this outbreak. There is valuable information on the Centers for Disease Control's website.

Grey's Anatomy

2009-04-23T21:14:00.001-05:00

If you watched Grey's Anatomy tonight you might have noticed a lot of purple. It was to support the Alzheimer's Association.

Last week I ordered a Move shirt from them.

We had an absolutely gorgeous day today. It was 85 and sunny. And I thought of Mom, of course. The last time it was this warm was on Labor Day 2008. A weekend of struggling for me and Mom. She was immobile and I was exhausted from caring for her. So much can happen in a short period of time. Remember to stop and smell the roses in life. This moment is our only guarantee.

2009-04-21T20:14:00.006-05:00

Tonight I found a video clip that I had filmed of Mom with my Flip video camera back in 2007. It is so cute and it reminds me of her goofy side. I miss her so much. She and I used to have goofy, good times like this all the time and I miss them. Even so, it makes me smile and remember good times with her before the Alzheimer's ravaged her brain.
Tonight is the premiere of "The Alzheimer's Project". I hope Annie is having a good time and her Mom is doing fine at the spa. I can't wait to see the documentary even though I know it is going to be painful to watch. I'm sure I will go through many kleenexes.

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009 (With Lyrics)

2009-04-17T19:17:00.004-05:00

It seems that the embedding feature has been disabled, probably by the producers of 'Britain's Got Talent' So instead you need to click to see the video on Youtube. It's well worth it.

Fairy tales CAN come true! This is a heartwarming story and I love the look on Simon's face when he realizes that she is an amazing singer! Bloody fantastic, I hope she goes all the way and wins the contest.

2009-04-14T19:12:00.003-05:00

Today was the first day of the year where we could actually be outside without jackets. It was a beautiful day weather-wise. I kept wishing that Mom was here to enjoy this lovely day with me. She would have celebrated the warmth and unofficial end to winter with me. As I sat outside on our patio I thought of her and shed some tears.

I had a very nice Easter. My friend invited me to join her at 'the orphan's holiday' and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The orphans are all people who are from out of state or who are students. I felt comfortable right away with this group. And I even received an Easter basket for the first time in many, many years. It made my first Easter without Mom a little bit easier and I'm grateful to them for thinking of me and including me in their celebration.

I love animals in case you already haven't figured that out from my previous posts. They always greet you with such joy and happiness, they make you feel like at that moment you are the most important person in the world. The are never judgmental and they are always glad to see you. They give true, unconditional love. Tonight I saw my neighbors and their dogs. These dogs always greet me with such love and happiness. It makes me feel good. My cats are my blessings. I love them so much.

Wildcat Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-13T11:18:00.003-05:00

This sanctuary is in Minnesota and does an awesome job of caring for wildcats that have been abandoned or surrendered. Hopefully someday people will no longer be allowed to purchase or own these beautiful cats.