Dance It’s Monday!

         Whoo Hoo…it is Monday…dance, dance, dance…Dancing With the Stars returns to television tonight.  Can’t even begin to imagine who will do what.  The contestants are learning that they can do things on the dance floor that they never thought they could do.  So, i will be watching…will you?  I wonder who will be the next to go…we will have to tune in on Tuesday to see the results.

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Teen Dies After Breast Surgery

       I read a sad story this past week about a beautiful, 18 year old young woman who had CORRECTIVE BREAST SURGERY and died from complications of the surgery at a Florida hospital.  The young woman had physical problems with her breasts, which is why she was having the surgery in the first place.  The reason that she died is because she allegedy had a rare type of reaction from the anestheisia; from what news reports i read.

          Some of the comments that readers of the article submitted were not only negative; but, actually condemed the young woman for having the surgery in the first place.  Understand, the was a medically CORRECTIVE, procedure.   She was not correcting a previous plastic surgery…it was to correct physical/medical issues.

           Many of the comments made were putting the young woman down.  I wonder, if the young woman was having surgery to remove an appendix or some such other medical procedure; if she would be judged in the same way.  Or, is she criticized because the surgery was plastic surgery in nature; were they assuming she was trying to increase her cup size only?  There is a large segment of the population that is “gifting” their teenagers with plastic surgeries because they desire it and because it boosts their self esteem.  This is very controversial issue.

             I personally feel that those who were harsh about her surgery and subsequent death were making an assumption that this surgery was about vanity as opposed to what she felt was a necessary procedure.

            It seems, according to the articles that i read, that the rare reaction to the anestheisia runs in the young lady’s family.  When they have surgery with the anestheisia their bodies go into a very high temperature and reacts in a way that can cause death. 

            Unfortunately, there is no way to know ahead of time if a person’s body will react this way; until, there is a reaction.  Still, it does seem like there should have been at least a heads up notification to the medical personel doing the procedure; and maybe there was for all any of us know.  Still, it is a tragedy; this young lady wanted to grow up and be a part of the medical profession herself. 

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Luther Vandross

        I had a magical flashback moment today.  I was listening to a radio station online and boom…there was the voice of peace and love…Luther Vandross. 

         Luther always embodied the beauty of romance and love in his songs.  He was one singer who always touched hearts with his music and his message.  He died about a year and a half ago…i will always miss hearing the music that he would have served up, had he lived.  He was talented and he was gifted in his delivery.   Luther had heart; and, he sang with passion. 

        The song i heard today was, Here and Now; i remember seeing my cousin dance the first dance with her new husband, at her wedding, to that song.  She is gone now; passed away very young from cancer.  However, when i hear that song…i remember her happiness and the Promise of a forever love.

            So, i think i will get out my Luther CD’s and will have me a remembrance today.    There is no one out there like him today musically.  If they could bottle his talent and his skill…someone would be very blessed to own it.

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Oprah’s Big Give

      Tonight is another episode of Ophrah’s Big Give.  This show, if you have not seen it, is all about giving and making a positive change in someone’s life circumstances.  To those down on their luck, experiencing loss, lonely, sick or just plain in need; it is a miracle flowing their way.  To those doing the giving it is a gift of themselves to be able to tap into their ability to reach out to others and make a difference.

       Each week, each contestant is given a certain amount of money…they all have the same rules each week to make the most of giving the money away.  Then they are each judged by a panel of three who judge them on their creativity, effectiveness and follow through.  If a person is judged to have ill used the money or not followed through or in some way…didn’t exhibit the good intent of the helpfulness then they are let go.  Each week…at least one person leaves.

        As the responsibilities increase so do the expectations of the panel of judges.  In the beginning they worked in teams.  They use their talents and knowledge to find ways to raise additional funds in some cases.  If they didn’t work well together or tried to go their own way…they were let go.  Some were successful and some were not successful at teamwork.

           It was and is about using the money to achive the most positive help available and using their skills to tap into communities to support and inspire others to be looking for opportunities to be a blessing to others.. 

         I have to say that this show really challenges the viewer to “pay it forward”.  Last week, one of the gentleman failed to follow through.  He did some good work…but it was frustrating to see him promise to help pay for a person’s funeral..only to fail to show up because of his commitment to help others and he missed the time frame.  That is a heavy load of responsibility and disappointment.

        I like that Oprah is doing a show that is an extention of her Christian faith by the idea of “to those who much is given, much is expected in return”.   The contestants must find ways to help those in need; and so should we all.   

           It is a joyful show to watch.  It definately springs forward hope to those who have been helped and hopefully will allow them to be able to do the same when they are able for others.  The show is a beautiful  inspiration for finding the way to live our lives.  Keep up the good work!

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Ramen

          Ahhh…the Ramen.  It is the diet of the sick, the hungry, the poor.  It hits the spot when you are not up to par but need a little something for your tummy.  When you are hungry but dont want to unfreeze something to cook.  And when you are poor…you can cook alot of Ramen for very little money and you can fill up a family.  Comfort food that is what it is.

        The Ramen….it is where we have all been at one time or another.  :)!

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New Car Joy

        My parents just got a new car.  It is a Honda, Fit.  Gorgeous medium blue in color.  It is very pretty.  Kind of low to the ground; i think it may be a problem for them in the winter .  But they seem to really like it. 

        Myself…I am not a fan of really, really small cars.  But i do think it looks nice.  I just hope it is a reliable one since there is no local dealer and they will have to drive about an hour or so to the closest dealer.

         My parents have had a couple of really rough years health-wise…so, it is nice to see something positive going on for them.  With the price of gas it will be a good thing to have a car that is economical.

          Whenever i have gotten a new car…it is always a simple joy just to get into the vehicle and smell that new car smell; that is until a couple of years ago, i watched a news program that told me how unhealthy it was.  That smell is released by the chemicals in the vinyl and plastics as they heat up in the new vehicle. 

           Awckkkkk…all the really fun, tasty, enjoyable things in life aren’t supposed to be good for us…so we take pleasure in the things we can.   So, as soon as it warms up…they will be cruisin’ with the windows down, radio on and just enjoying the freedom.   Now that is joy; go Mom and Dad!

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Poor Petulant Petra

       Poor, Petulant Petra is a black swan who lives in Germany.  She made news headlines last year by forming a romantic interest in a large, wooden, swan- shaped paddleboat.  Side- by- side they stayed together; Petra and the large paddleboat.  She refused to leave the boat’s side.  So, a zoo accomodated Petra and the paddleboat for the winter.

          Petra developed a relationship with a real live white swan recently.    So the swan paddleboat was returned to its owner.  This past week, the real live (small) swan left Petra. 

          Now, whether the small, white swan had size related self- esteem issues; or, whether Petra is incapable of forming a healthy relationship within her species…she is once again reunited with her beloved large white wooden swan.   Hmmmm…maybe size really does matter…or …maybe Petra needs to enter into some sort of therapy.   She may be experiencing an attachment disorder :).   

      Then again, who knows…maybe the small white swan got tired of being compared to her larger than life “ex”; and therefore, decided to move on. 

      After all…there is nothing worse than being compared to an “ex” who is incapable of giving in a relationship; and, STILL COME OUT LACKING IN THE COMPARISON!  LOL 

        

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She’s Dead and She Needed Him

        She is dead and she needed her daddy.  He wasn’t available because he was in prison for half of her life.  Jayci Yaeger was 10 years old and she had brain cancer.   She had had cancer since she was 3 years old according to news reports.

         Her father is in prison on a 5 year sentence for a drug conviction and he has a year left to go.   Who knows why he committed this crime?  None of us know the whole story.  What we do know, is that his daughter has been dying.  She wanted to see her dad one last time.

           While he has been in a facility that is a minimum security prison…he wanted to be moved 3 1/2 hours closer; so that he could see her.  The request has been repeatedly denied; although, they did allow several supervised visits. 

           Just two days ago…Jayci got her wish.  She got to spend 20 minutes with her father.  She is gone now; but it has been said that when he lifted her upon the table for a CT scan, she wrapped her arm around him.  This was a child so weak she couldn’t lift her arms.  Love is a powerful thing.

            I can’t imagine how horrible it would feel being seperated from your child who was dying and needed you desperately; when all along, it was because you did something illegal and had to serve time.   Paying his debt to society for his crime caused him to miss what would turn out to be the last 5 years of his daughters life. 

            He will never get those years back with his child.  But, it really isn’t him that i feel the sorriest for.  I feel the sorriest for his family…for Jayci and her mother who had to go through this trauma without much of his help.    Jayci obviously loved her father very much, as she improved when he was granted three or four brief, supervised visits once she had been declared terminal back in October.

           Just days before she died she was able to spend a little time with her father…after all, it wasn’t her fault they were seperated.

          

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Robin Said…No More Radiation…Praise Jesus!

        At the close of today’s Good Morning America, Robin Roberts announced that later today was the LAST of her radiation treatments…then she said that she wanted to dance… she asked the audience to dance with her….and, she gave credit where credit is due…Praise Jesus!  I am so very happy for Robin.  I am sure angels are in heaven dancing for joy as well.  All praise and worship go to God above.

          May God continue to flow blessings her way and to all those battling cancer.  Robin thanked everyone for their support and prayers.  She encourages us all to continue to lift up and encourage those going through cancer treatments. 

          Encouragement, support, and a listening ear are all just as critical to survival as the chemo & radiation treatments.  Bless those in the medical profession giving it their all to fight cancer; it isn’t easy to be on the front lines.  There are victories and there are losses and it is difficult to give to others continuously and not be discouraged by the losses.  Encourage a caregiver today as well!

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Rude Attack on Chelsea Clinton

         I don’t know about you…but, i think it was rude of the person who asked Chelsea Clinton whether she felt that the whole issue of Monica Lewinski hurts her mother’s credibility. 

          How many of us are, or would like to be, responsible for publicly critiquing our family member’s choices in life?  We as children, adult or not, are NOT responsible for accounting for our parent’s successes or failures.   It wasn’t a question that was appropriately asked of the right person.  Why not ask it of Bill Clinton or Hillary herself?

          If the person asking the question truly believes that the scandal of years past hurts the credibility of Senator Clinton, then so be it; ask the question of Senator Clinton or her husband.  I believe it crosses the line of appropriate behavior.

           I am not taking sides in the issue of who should; or, who should not be the democratic candidate running for president.  What i am saying is that it wasn’t a valid question for Chelsea to be asked.

            First of all, no matter how Chelsea truly processes that whole painful part of her family history and the history of our country in regards to how she lives her day to day life …i think the fact that she is out there supporting her mother says what she thinks about whether her mother is credible. 

            Say what you will about whether Senator Clinton should or should not drop out of the race…but, i think that Chelsea handled herself gracefully in the way that she responded to the questioner. 

          She took a large uncomfortable pause and then said…”I don’t think that that is any of your business”…and then proceeded to say…”I also don’t think that should be the last question”.  That, is grace under pressure.  I am sure should would have much rather let that person have it verbally…but she rose above it.

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