The dizziness was due to a very low blood pressure. So, he took me off of all of my blood pressure medicine. For at least two days until it goes back up. I feel much better today. It was a beautiful day. God's in his Heaven and all is right with my world. Yes, even all of my problems seem so minute. A dear friend buried her father today. Another friend buried her cousin. But I saw a strength and a love for Jesus in both of them. I did not see any panic or fear. So for tonight, All is well.

Good Morning!
Health is dizzy, but I can't go to a doctor, because my insurance won't pay for it. I am still fighting the state health benefits plan and MEDICARE. I written all of the parties. I just have to believe that there are some human beings behind those rules that we don't know about until it's too late.
Now, Mr. Obama has finished his first 100 days. They act like he was supposed to solve all of America's woes in 100days. The good news is we have three years and eight months to complete his agenda. No matter what the polls say, he is the President. Keep him in prayer.
I am so proud of Mrs. Obama. She is showing America who we are and what we have been doing for centuries. We have been taking care of our homes, our husbands, our children. We have been stretching soup, ham bones, chicken, etc. to feed our families. Our homes have been immaculate (remember the plastic covers). Our children have been disciplined. And we have always looked good (our hair and our clothes.).Thank God that America has not melted our culture into a bland pot with no identity.

Well, I am in the midst of a Lupus flare. I haven't had one in a long time. That means that the muscles hurt in strange places, and I get extemely tired. Well I have learned to raise my prednisone medication for a while, then gradually lower it to normal levels. I still have pain in the left shoulder. The x-ray showed no abnormality. I probably could benefit from a cortisone shot in the joint, but because my insurance situation is still ridiculous, I can't get one. Don't panic. I did that Tuesday. Now, I have some more places to turn. And, remember, if I am a true believer, I have to rely on my faith. But what do we do? We panic first instead of praying first. Forgive me, Lord. Today, I am smiling. I still say that I am going to die because of the IRS and Social Security. Because of their rules that they don't tell anyone, I will be taken to the hospital and someone will say that I can't be treated, because I don't have the proper credentials. The IRS says that more taxes should be taken out of my pension. Well, if more taxes are taken, I won't have enough money on which to live.

I find out today that I have no insurance with NJ DirEct 15.They refused to pay for my mammogram, because they say that I should have Medicare A and B. I have A( hospital), but because I had such good insurance when I retired, I didn't get B. Now they say that after 24 months, I should have picked up the B. I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL JANUARY 2, 2010. NOW, I AM SCREWED. NO ONE WROTE TO ME, E-MAILED ME OR PHONED ME. I DID NOT KNOW. NOW, I HAVE PRESCRITPIONS THAT NEED TO BE REFILLED. I MAY HAVE TO HAVE A TEST DONE ON MY SHOULDER. I am angry. Imagine in this time, when I could get sick any minute, I have no lab fees, doctor's visits, etc. and I have no money of my own. Do you wonder why people want to kill themselves or go on a rampage. I AM NOT GOING TO HURT ME OR ANYONE ELSE. I HAVE TO STICK AROUND TO SEE THE ENDINGS OF SOME OF THIS DRAMA. BUT IF THIS DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEN WHAT?

The blood pressure dropped considerably prompting me to have to stop some medication for a while. Then there is still the arm that radiates pain from the shoulder to the elbow. The doctor gave me some exercises to do until he can read the x-ray. I haven't really been into the News. We have been getting the lawn ready for the summer. While I like all of this work, I really can't do it anymore. I really have got to find a smaller place with less expenses. God gave me this opportunity, and I wish that I could keep it up. Physically and financially, Ican't.

Good Morning. It is sad in the area because the voice of the Phillies died yesterday in the broadcast booth at the Nationals Stadium in DC. Harry Kalas just collapsed and died. Think of it. No pain( that we know ).God just said " It's time. No good byes, just come on." We are all sad, but since I have been in this area, his distinctive voice was passionate when it came to the Phillies. They got on our nerves with their play sometimes, but he was always honest about them. The good thing is that he loved to go to work. Some of us went to work to make the money. He made the money while he was enjoying his job. Think about that. I love teaching and I loved the students and some of my colleagues. I really did love the work. And, I got paid for doing what I loved.
You are already blessed, so enjoy "Jesus' joy."

This arm has been a bit much, so I got the cortisone shot and now I need to stop using it so much. In the mean time, Bill O'Reilly has gotten me mad. Collin Powell said the our educatuional system is a moral failure. He is right. When children come to school and curse the teacher out, and the parent comes and curses teacher out, what does that say? When the child has no manners or is undisciplined, whose fault is that ? When the child is hungry or not dressed properly, whose fault is that? SEND ME A CHILD THAT IS TEACHABLE, AND I WILL WORK FROM THERE. I have a fellow teacher who keeps food, tee shirts and toiletries in her desk drawers. We always keep paper, pens, pencils, and notebooks and folders in the classroom. I need to stop. About this, I am passionate. It takes a village to raise a child. It tkaes parents

I was in such pain with my left arm, so I did not try to write anything, yesterday. However, today, I wish that I was running the government. We are so nice or naive that we stop to help anyone. Thus a suicide bomb. A ship is taken. We have got to stop being so nice. Ask questions and be more cautious with strangers. Everyone does not have America's morals. Yes, we do have morals. Yes, we do care about poverty in other places. Yes, we can still help, but we must have some parameters.

And, we have got to learn to mind our own business. I have experienced lonliness for some few years. So, when love finds two people, who am I to tell those two that they cannot love each other? We need to mind our own business. Marriage is not going to die. Divorce may be trying to kill it, but it is not going to die. Love needs to be defined . Parents need to show their children what marriage means and what true love is. Children need to see more affection in the home and much less fighting, cursing, mental and physical abuse. The children who don't see love and affection in the home will not want to marry. They emulate what they see. If the you see Dad hitting Mom, they will think that that is normal. The Media needs to stop re defining love as "lust and avarice and materialism." Let me stop, because I can go on. All of my siblings are divorced. And, I have never been married.

AARP

Remember when we were 48 and the AARP sent us applications? We were appalled. However, when I turned 50 and began to travel a lot, I found this organization very useful. Now, I am here to have my income taxes done free. And, I am sitting in the library in Haddon Neights where I taught for 32 years. And, I am still in pain. Well, let me diagnose my self. Rotator cuff problems. I have all of the symptoms. And, I was lifting those giant loose leaf notebooks at church last week. So, I used heat last night and pain killers yesterday. I can only take four in a 24 hour period. It hurts really. So, I know that I must go to the doctor's office. I need to rake the leaves in my yard to get ready for the first cutting. But, I simply can't do it. It will get done. I have learned not to get anxious abut anything. I still have joy. As soon as I waled out the door, it started to thunder, but I still have joy.

I am in such pain in my left shoulder. Both of my shoulders have come out of sockets on some occasions( right one three times and left one twice. I was reaching for my bedside lamp, at the bulletin board at school, closing the back door to my balcony, etc.) Anyway, I went to church, but I did not sing. I have it in a sling, but I had to take it out when I drove. I have no strong pain killers. I know that I will have to go to the rheumatologist this week, and trust me, I will go. I want a cortisone shot

However, it's such a beautiful day. I haven't looked at or listened to the news. I am getting ready for some baseball.

First, I go to CNN to see and get the World News. Then I wake up and turn to Fox and get the antistuff. Then I get frustrated. They are doing it again. When Jeremiah Wright preached, he did an entire sermon. They picked out sound bites that seemed incendiary and focussed on them. Now, they picked up the word "arrogance" and are now focussing on that. Well, we do act like we know everything and that we are the police of the world. We do want things our way. I guess we weren't supposed to say it out loud. Well, we have an honest president now. Things are shaping up to be an interesting Spring.

Murdock must have told those reporters that in order to have a job, they must see only the negative side of life. However, you can't dispute thecoolnes of

Lupus Woes

Anyone with an arthritic cousin know that early Spring is painful. For the last few days, my joints have been very achy. I am using my cane more than usual. However, I have been enduring this for over 30 years, so this too, shall pass. On the "Michelle" watch, she matches up and even surpasses France's first lady who is a model. But it was her speech to the young ladies at a British school that let me know that she is the "real thing." When you look at where you are and look back at where you were, Thank you Jesus, that all that our parents and we went through succeeded. Careers, marriages, children, families, travels, even illnesses constitute our successes. And, we, like the Obamas, had/have Christ on our side. They can't speak too much about their religious beliefs publicly(People will equate him with Dr.Wright again), but we know that they know who the third person was/ is during the campaign and now during this time. That confidence isn't arrogance. It's the feeling that "He can do all things through Christ whostrengthens him."Be Blessed!!

Oh Yes!! I am having a ball watching the Obamas show the world that America is so diverse and still so cultured and mannerable. I am sick of them saying that Mrs. Obama reached beyond the limits of protocal. She and the Queen touched. An act of friendliness. An act of kindness. An act of gentleness. And, the Queen responded in kind. Maybe she needed a touch of kindness that day. Some of us were brought up with touching. GET OVER IT. She looks good and she acts better than good.
Tom Joyner said that Mr. Obama has that subtle coolness of Marvin Gaye. Take a second look as he walks. It's there. That unmistakeable walk is there. Have you noticed that he does not talk from script? Lawdly, this is going to be an interesting four years.
Okay, now why are we getting so many things from China when their products are proving defective?!! Lead in the toys and the dry wall materials are defective. But yet Americans who could have made a better product are out of work. Cheaper to manufacture does not mean better.
I do my best writing early in the morning. This blog gives me a chance to vent. Remember the so-called diaries of our youth. I still have one of mine. Maybe we all should write things down. Venting helps the blood pressure. Next, I read the BIBLE and the Daily Word and then I will pray. My day has begun.

Is anyone watching Mrs. Obama? She is "representing." She exercises. She eats well. She is a working mother. She is a "helpmate" to her husband. This is going to be an interesting four years. I remember telling my nieces to walk with their heads up. They did not like being at the back of the line because of their last names and their height. They also did not like being taller than the boys. Just look at Mrs. Obama. walking tall and looking good.

4/10/09-Greetings

This is no joke. Hopefully, I will be able to write something everday. I thought that I would put my thoughts in writng. I have years of essays, editorials, and eulogies in loose leaf notebooks that will never be published. But, as I watched our president and first lady this morning (6:00 a.m.), I had to write it down. It is just a wonderful, awesome, and magnificent blessing to see 'someone like us' is the position of power. Let's face it, we have four years to be proud and to pray for his success. We have four years to wonder where these people were when we were raising our children to have manners, to do their chores as well as their homework, and to respect their elders. Didn't some of us grow up with gardens, Target, K-Mart, Kohl's and other normal clothing stores? However, since Michelle let the world know that she shops almost anywhere there is a bargain for her and her girls, those stores are in vogue.

That' all right.

However, let's not forget that racism now wears a suit and sits in corporate America and rides in some police cars.