How I Saved My Screen From Alien Birds

What took me so long to think of my gargoyle? Sat him in the window and the birds landed far away, on railing, then took OFF. A sunny day and no birds attacked the screen. What bird in its right mind would?

Sums it Up

Royal Wedding a Blast!

Shall we kiss? "Perchance, when the last star has left the sky, will we still be together?" Shall we kiss? Shall we kiss? Shall we kiss?

Yes, Diane stayed up all night, er morning, ok, I DIDN'T MISS A MOMENT. For those of you sorry people who couldn't stay awake, taped it, couldn't care less, etc etc etc---JUST FOR YOU! A recap:

The bride arrived in a 1950 Rolls Royce. Harry peeked back at the bride when she entered and whispered to his heir brother (I'm pretty sure) "She's hot."

It took a 6-footer British military dude all his strength to force the ring on the brides finger. (Scary and LOOOOONG moment. I think a sweat bead dropping from William's widow's peak eased it just enough.)

The Queen was there and he brought his husband. Really thought Elton might play something, but no.

Queen E. wore bright yellow. The bride's gown was sexy, yet dignified. The train was only in need of one person to hold it. (2 meters long--YOU figure it out. I'm an American, we dropped that system when none of us could figure it out.) I am sure it will remove easily for get-down dancin', ala "Tonight, the DJ's got us fallin' in love again." (Probably why Obama wasn't invited. He just can't get down anything but old school.)

QE's carriage almost toppled on its side when her ever-exciting husband of 90-yrs. age tried to climb aboard.

Barbara Walters was cut off by an English woman who jumped in with details of a comment...and I never heard from that English woman again. Barbara can be such a itch on your back.

The sun came out JUST on cue, when the bride first stepped out of her Rolls.

A camera in Hyde Park zipped away when the woman, whose back of head was on screen, faced the camera with a look on her face that screamed, "I am here to protest _____!" Only protest I saw.

The kiss. Ahhhh. Nothing like Charles and Diana. Real deal.

Both William and that spare wore their uniforms, Harry's was Army, William's some bright red special Royal deal, I didn't catch the back story--suffice to say they were HANDsome!

The horses, lots of horses, seemed to really get into it. One started to kick off, but he chickened out.

If you are into Jesus, lots of Jesus talk. Nice church.

Seriously, Ahhhhh.

Curse of the Incurable Romantic

Yes, the curse is upon us as the wedding of a lifetime is about to take place. This is bigger than the superbowl for us, bigger than Obama winning the presidency, bigger than all the billions and billions and trillions of stars in the universe: The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

While a million salivating spectators will line the streets near the Westminster Abbey (Is that where they hold the dog shows? cool), millions more will watch via the telly. (Telly? Who am I MADONNA??)

My calendar is marked, my TV is already programmed to tape (in case I fall asleep during the live transmission---I AM a Yank after all...HEY, bets are on Prince Phillip dozing off within an hour!), a party is brewing in my retirement residence, along with tea and perhaps some beer. (see above reason)

Just thinking about the wedding makes my heart skip a beat! (reminder to self: have Dr, check for miral valve prolapse) I don't care about her dress or his tie, her shoes or hair, oh no, for we of the uncurable R, it is all about....hold it...hold it...the kiss.

Prince Charles and Diana's wedding was a wonder (no, seriously, it was oddly stiff way past the upper lip, not so much below, uh-hem) that just went downhill from that awkward day; Prince William will do better. The kiss felt 'round the world. I will cry and "ahhh" letting out my pent-up frustration ever since Charles and Diana pecked. So profound that Gadaffi will weep and his heart may grow like the Grinch, right before James Bond blows his head off. I digress into fairy tale, sorry.

But isn't this the ultimate fairy tale come true? Isn't this the next King of England, son of the Queen of British Hearts, marrying his true love of common roots ( distant relative of GW Bush, poor thing...actually I think she may be my 6th cousin 6x removed...) to make, oh yes, BABIES! Not just any babies either, babies with GOOD TEETH!

My curse sets in. We of the incurable R are ridiculed, made fun of (I hear your thoughts, ye of little R, as you read this post.), spat (spat?) on like first base, and laughed at to no end. Go on with ye. Yea, I am one of those who raise the prices of red roses on Valentine's Day. I buy diamonds and fall on my knees. I write poetry and sing love songs, Captain and Tennille is not off limits, as love will indeed keep us together. Stone me, I care not. Good stuff what? We of the incurable R understand.

It is NOT the chase or the conquest, nay, tis the kiss. 3AM in Seattle, WA, USA, this Yank, this hater of dictators, fighter for freedoms, will be cursed beyond all reason and imagine how one day I too will lavish my beloved with just such a wedding. OUR kiss will make the world stop revolving to stare.

Sign me, cursed, but seeking no cure. The time is upon us. Doubt that the stars are fire. Doubt that the sun doth shine. Doubt that truth be a liar. Doubt that I know Shakespeare. But never doubt that I love deeper than any waters, truer than any dog, and forever is never long enough for me to love you.

Off to bake my crumpets!

Secrets Call Centers Don't Want You To Know

After working in a call center ( remember when it used to be called "Customer Service?") for 18 years, I am very sensitive to dealing with call center representatives. During my first ovarian cancer surgery in 1995, I was off work for 2 months. BORED TO DEATH. Unfortunately, I began doing something during the day that I never thought I would. Can you guess what?



If you guessed watching soap operas, you are wrong. I started watching info commercials and ordering stuff. Every week I probably spent at least $100, not the best idea while one is out of work, but I was mesmerized and it made me feel empowered.



The knife set was the most expensive junk I never used. The ab cruncher was used a few months after a year. Coffee from the fancy coffee maker was no better than Folgers and hot water. Most of my clothes didn't fit after I gained surgery-lost weight back. Gadgets and j u n k filled our apt. until The Salvation Army saved me.



All this ordering led to many conversations with customer service representatives. And was that ever an eye-opener! I had thought my own call center with the city utilities was the worst ever--NOT! The level of service "out there" was awful. I began asking how long they had held their job. The average was about 6 months, but they used ever old trick in the book to "do away with" difficult callers, and by difficult I mean customers whose questions could not be answered due to poor training.



These call center tricks are still used today. Here are a few:

"Let me get your phone number in case I lose you." Translation: If you confuse me I am hanging up on you and good luck. (Don't bother asking for the name they give you, 75% of the time those names are phony. The other 25% you will be told that person is busy.) (And that is NO lie, because after they hang up on you they leave their desk area, IF you even reach a call center in the same state or country as "Mary" was in.)



You call, it rings, you think someone picks up, but you hear dead air---you are on mute and will be disconnected if you don't hang up in a few minutes. The mute button is used in Psychic Hot Lines too. Not only does it add minutes to your bill, but while you are listening to music, you start chatting with your sister (for example) about Mom passing away or your boyfriend who might be two-timing you. Don't believe me? Try it sometime you have money to waste, mention a name and wait for the psychic to mention same name. Mute buttons should be removed from all call center phones--PERIOD.

If you are calling to make payment arrangements on a delinquent bill, watch what you say while listening to the "hold-music," reps can HEAR you, so when you brag about how much money you have and how you will fake poverty---busted, baby.

"I'll let you speak to my supervisor." Translation: I am going to transfer you to another rep. who has been here less than me, I'm just sick of you.

"This call may be recorded for quality assurance." Translation: There is a 99.9% probability that this call is NOT being recorded.

"I'll call you back when I check on this." Translation: I am not calling you back. (75% of the time)
" I'll note that you called on the computer." Translation: I am going to lunch, there will be no notes about this call.
"Bob speaking." Translation: "Manuel speaking." (Or pick any name.) 90%
"We are not allowed to give out our last names." Translation: I don't want you to be able to hold me accountable, so I don't want to give you my last name. OR I'm scared to give you my last name, even though I have YOUR name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number....

"I'm in Texas." Translation: I'm in India. 50%

"Your wait time should be 10 minutes." Translation: Grab a book to read or meditate, you may be disconnected shortly.

"Hello? Hello? I can't hear you." Translation: I am lazy and want to go get a Coke. Call back and try for somebody who cares.

"I'll have to ask the supervisor if I can remove the late fee." Translation: I'm going to take a whiz while this dope is on hold.

"It is the only way it can be done." Translation: This is the only way I 1.)Want to do it OR 2.) Know how to do it.

This list goes on. Keep in mind that you are speaking with the least paid person in customer service and they probably have not held their job two years. They have a script in front of them and don't know how to deviate or think for themselves. They have a mountain of info on YOU, but you have NONE on them. They have all the power.

Take back the power. They should move heaven and hell to satisfy you and they should do it with a smile. 9x out of 10---YOU are RIGHT and THEY are wrong. Pressing zero to skip a phone tree recording no longer works. Shockingly, everyone wanted to speak to a real person! IMAGINE! A comapany that denies you a chance to speak to a real person, is not a company you want to deal with.

Ask immediately how long they have worked there, if it is under 2 years, ask to speak to a supervisor. If the supervisor treats you poorly, ask to speak to THEIR supervisor---EVERYONE has a supervisor. A mayor answers to city council and city council answers to citizens. The owner of a corporation answers to his board of directors who all answer to their stock holders and CUSTOMERS. (And often the laws of government or arms of some Federal agency.)

Telephone Survey Insult in Seattle

Telephone rings.
Automatic voice wants to take a survey "...for transportation issues in Seattle area."
I press "1" for OK. (I rarely do this, must have been VERY bored.)
"Are you a citizen of Seattle?" I press "1" for yes.

"Are you over 18? Press 1."
"Are you 19-25? Press 2"
This continued many times until we reached MY age range and with each growing number, I grew more irritated!

Finally I pressed 7,000 (seemed like) for MY age range, and it says:
"Thank you. Good-Bye."

Humphft!

Will We Conquer Alzheimer's in Time for Baby Boomers?

FROM ALZ.ORG 4/2011

New criteria and guidelines for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease have been published — for the first time in 27 years — by three expert workgroups spearheaded by the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The workgroups published four articles including ready-to-use clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s disease dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s. A research agenda was proposed for preclinical Alzheimer’s. The use of biomarkers in Alzheimer’s dementia and MCI due to Alzheimer’s was also proposed as a research agenda only, and is not intended for application in clinical settings at this time.

The articles — collectively, the National Institute on Aging/Alzheimer’s Association Diagnostic Guidelines for Alzheimer’s Disease — expand the definition of Alzheimer’s to include two new phases of the disease: (1) presymptomatic and (2) mildly symptomatic but pre-dementia, along with (3) dementia caused by Alzheimer’s. This reflects current thinking that Alzheimer’s begins creating distinct and measurable changes in the brains of affected people years, perhaps decades, before memory and thinking symptoms are noticeable.

“It is our hope that incorporating scientific knowledge gained and technological advances made over the past quarter century will improve current diagnosis, bring the field closer to earlier detection and treatment and, ultimately, lead to effective disease-modifying therapies,” said William Thies, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association chief medical and scientific officer. “Development and publication of these articles is a major landmark in the field. That said, publication of these articles is not yet the end of the process of developing new diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer’s, but is another major step in the process.”

“The new guidelines reflect today’s understanding of how key changes in the brain lead to Alzheimer’s disease pathology and how they relate to the clinical signs of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease dementia,” said Creighton Phelps, Ph.D., program director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Centers Program at the National Institutes of Health. “We are also beginning to be able to detect these changes at a preclinical stage, long before symptoms appear in many people. With further research on biomarkers, as set forth in the new guidelines, we may ultimately be able to predict who is at risk for development of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dementia, and who would benefit most as interventions are developed.”

The proposed new Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic guidelines were published online today by Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Hard copy publication is scheduled for the May 2011 issue.

To learn more, visit www.alz.org/research/diagnostic_criteria.

National Institute on Aging (NIA)
NIA, part of the National Institutes of Health, a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leads the federal government effort conducting and supporting research on aging and the health and well being of older people. For information on age-related cognitive change and neurodegenerative disease, go to the NIA’s Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center at www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers. For more on health and on aging generally, go to www.nih.nia.gov. Media contact is Peggy Vaughn, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, at 301.496.1752 or mnianews3@mail.nih.gov.

Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org.
Contact: Alzheimer's Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
E-mail: mailto:media@alz.org

Stupid Remarks About Disabilities. My Park Adventure Ends

There is one of the residents of my retirement community. She might weigh all of 100 lbs and she loves to be involved in activities. Our Activities Director drove her the block to the park entrance, but where you see her, right there inside the entrance, was as far as she could go.





You see, there are no paved paths in the new park, nor railings on the steep stairs leading up the steeper hills. Bravo to Jean, for making it as far as she did.





In the previous post, you can read of my adventure attempting to enjoy this new park. In my power chair, its power not enough to take me around the expanse of the park, in fact I basically could enjoy it as far as Jean could. woo-hoo





So, after I listened to the speeches from Mayor and friends/family of Thomas Wales, I went back down to the paved sidewalk and planted myself next to the entrance sign to the park. There I sat alone, holding my sign on my lap.





After people realised I was not leaving any time soon, they began exiting past me. In the crowded park, they could easily ignore me. Would they ignore me taking up most of the sidewalk?





Neighbors who walked by all nodded approval, stopped to say "way to go" "right on"s etc. The son of Thomas Wales stopped to tell me his father would be proud of me. (Cool) The emcee, a State Representative, stopped to THANK me and spoke of how my protest would have been something "Tommy" would have backed. (Awesome) I also got several handshakes, back pats, shoulder pats and many smiles.





The sun finally made a stellar appearance, right on cue. I was having a great time, but I had to hold a bit of displeasure on my face with the ADA ignorance of the parks builder. AARP should take a van there. After a couple small kids fall into that nasty pond, THEN better safety measures will be adhered to. Yes, it was all good, until the city council members started passing by.





First guy began a conversation with me, I think, but the minute I began to speak, "Hi George," and he was gone. The next council woman took the cake for ignorance. "I am having a problem understanding your issue. I pushed my father all around the park the other day and he LOVED it," she said with such strained sincerity, looking at my eyes with a quizzical-like "what is YOUR problem?"





I nodded my head and matching her head tilt and strained sincerity said, "I think you just answered your question. You see, you pushed your father. Not everyone in a wheel chair has someone to push them. And I bet you didn't push your father up those stairs; so, he could only enjoy half of the park. Am I right?"





Her eyes suddenly began searching for someone to get her out of there. "No, I didn't go up the stairs..." I continued, "See, I can only enjoy THIS much of the park," I raised my hand to the point where Jean had stopped, as a young woman who looked to be an assistant to this council woman joined us, "and that's just not fair. I'm not even sure it's legal. There are senior citizens in this neighborhood and they have a right to use..." The woman who had joined interrupted me with, "That's right, there IS an old folk's home over there." ON NO SHE DID DONDT





"Excuse me, it is a retirement community and *I* live over there..." the council woman was easing away and then, "Oh, Bill, just a minute!" And with a wave to someone behind me (I am making up the names, don't remember them.) she was off, her assistant following. Yeah, she won't be getting any votes from the "old folks" if I can help it.





The next councilman was nicer, in fact I know of him and have voted for him. He introduced himself (something the woman didn't bother with, *I* had to ask her who she was, and she swiftly, before I had a chance to speak, asked, as if how dare I, who are YOU? In my rush, I forgot to take my 'business' cards "ADA Advocate, Diane J Standiford, Visit my blog A Stellarlife," had them made years ago.) and shook my hand and asked, "What is the one most important thing you would have changed?" (Drat--must represent what my retirement community brings up the most--just one!) "Railings for those stairs."





He handed me his card. "That seems easy enough." " Well, I have emailed and called about it before, always told it was impossible, budget cuts, designer done..." "Let me see what I can do. Keep in touch with me. We'll work on this." Then we had a nice farewell. Hmmm, wonder how long he will hold his job...





Then a man with a TV camera asked if he could shoot me. (Jackpot) "Look away from me." (Huh? I did.) "Oh, never mind, I thought you were looking at me." (Huh huh?) Then, "Thanks " and off he went (Fools Gold) leaving his tall tripod behind. (WT...?) He returned 5 minutes later without saying a word, but taking his tripod. (DOH!)





Several people asked if they could take my picture, no idea who they were, the cameras were small or cell phones. A final council-type person said, after I explained 'my issue,' "But, I saw you got inside?"





Sigh. "Yes, but only safely that far. My chair, as a matter of fact got stuck on the second level and I had to call for help. I should be able to enjoy this park to its fullest like everyone else. I was afraid to get too close to the pond and..." Off he went seeing someone he had to talk with JUST THEN. I THINK that was the one I said loudly, "asshole," there was another who cut me off the fastest and I said loudly "oh, yeah, you really care. Jerk."

A real funny guy (in HIS mind) said, "You should just zoop (?) up your, uh, thing there and go up the hill!" He made himself laugh. "You mean like an all terrain vehicle?" I replied in earnest.
He became serious, "Yes! That would work. They can go fast, like 40 miles per hour."
"Yeah, that would work great for some of the 90 year-olds who would like to visit the park. Yeah, no, I don't think so." When he saw I was disgusted with his idea, he quickly saw a friend (politicians and their wannabees have lots of friends) behind me and off he went without so much as a good-bye. Right.

One of the best exchanges I had was from a guy with a bike. He started by saying, "I'm not disabled, but I have a similar issue..." We began talking like two neighbors, citizens of Seattle, about how many "new" structures for us do not have user input and end up a waste of tax money. It was great. He was no politician.

A couple of seniors also stopped to add their frustration and disappointment with the park. I just LOVED meeting my Queen Anne neighbors. They are terrific people, and I have lived in many Seattle neighborhoods. I'm telling you I fell in love with Queen Anne that day.

Soon no one was left in the park but some Audubon Society members, the Mayor, and extras. I headed home feeling good about how long I had lasted. I looked at my watch, over 2 hours had passed since I'd started out. YEA for me! I made some points, heard some beautiful music from a guy playing his, what? violin/fiddle (Katy Perry's "Fireworks," Train's "Soul Sister," awesome stuff---he just appeared out of the blue on one of the higher levels and began rockin' it!!), met some wonderful neighbors, got some sun, all in all a great 2 hours. Then I noticed my cell phone battery was very low, drat.

Back at the door my caregiver had let me out at (it is too heavy for me to open and requires both doors unlocked for my chair's passage), I phoned her, but the call just kept ending. OK, I would have to find the front of the building. There was a sign that read, "The Viewpointe on Queen Anne! Enter on Birch Street." Birch St., okayee---off I went. Not far and the sidewalk kind of turned into a road with no curb, which lead into our side parking lot. I went to the side door. One glass door, no one in sight. I tried the phone again (being more out in the open, I thought it might work) and got my caregiver. English is not her first language and Swahili is not mine, I knew explaining where I was would not be a walk in the (oops, ha-ha) park. I gave up and called our main desk, was told someone would be there "in a few minutes." Of course, I grew impatient, realized I had a key that fit that door and tried shoving it open while zipping through.

The weight of the door, clearly not ADA approved, kept slamming back on my controller before I could get my hand back to push forward, so I was moving in inches, measuring the marigolds, until I had a BRILLIANT idea! I would use the sign, which you may recall was the top of a TV tray, to act as a jar between the door and me. Yeah, that didn't work and now I was stuck between the moon and Viewpointe city.

SWOOSH! The door flung open and my caregiver found me, thanks to running into the main desk receptionist who directed her to me. Home safe. My duty done. All that remains is what many who protest forget---the follow up. I have been buoyed by my kind neighbors, and those residing in my retirement community will want to use the park for years to come. Yes, it was a marvelous day.

Park in Seattle Not User Friendly for Canes, Wheelchairs. Walkers

A park next door to the retirement community I have lived in for 2 years was dedicated on Saturday to a prominent member of this Seattle neighborhood, Queen Anne Hill. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney--Thomas C. Wales and his unsolved murder happened 10 years ago just blocks away. Great tribute to, by all accounts, a wonderful man, but this park is far from mobility-device user friendly. It is, in fact, a nightmare.

While my neighbors/family from our retirement community complained over the past 12 months about the building of the park (we saw many stairs, but never any railings--to name ONE thing), I began sending letters and emails to the Parks Dept., along with several phone calls. The resounding response was pretty much the same: Can't help, out of money, too late, feel for ya but sorry Charlie.

When I moved into this complex due to needing assisted living care with my progressing multiple sclerosis, the manager at the time used the new park as part of his sales pitch. "It will be completely wheel chair usable and easy to get to. You will be able to get to it right out this door!" he said as he opened a hallway door not far from my unit. Yeah, that never happened, and that manager is now gone.

Since I am the President of the Resident Council here, and since the state of the park (while not outside our doors, it IS just a half block away) comes up at many meetings, I thought it was my duty to check it out. I balked. Our maintenance man goaded me, "Come on, Diane, it will be fun! There will be popcorn." When I said 10AM was not my best time (medicine or caregiver schedule-wise), our current manager said enthusiastically, "I'll pick you up! I'll help you. I'll DRIVE you there!" Right.

That night I told my partner that I had to go, but where could we get a post or cardboard for a protest sign at 7PM? Laughing, we remembered our various protests from our youth, and the last time I carried a sign was in the late'80s for gay rights. Who did I think I was? Still...I could get there on my own and not be far from a usable toilet--how could I NOT?

We began hatching a plan to make a sign. My artist partner whipped up the sign and taped it on a TV tray top. 5AM and it was the dreariest Seattle day I've ever seen. By 9AM the sun started to join the party and by 10AM I was in the park feeling very happy I had come prepared with a sign. This park was a wheelchair user's disaster waiting to happen, not to mention senior citizens and users of walkers or canes.

The steep paths are some mixture of small stones and, uh, mud? The stairs leading up/down from the various levels were wood framed, uh, small stones and mud? No railings whatsoever. Along the 'normal' path were occasional strips of unshaven wood...their purpose, I'm not sure, but my power chair wheels were not happy with them.

My power chair wheels were also not happy with the, er, gunk of a path and the photo above shows where we got stuck! I wasn't there 10 minutes before I was spinning my wheels in what felt like quick sand, as the tire began sinking. Swell. By now I had already placed my sign next to ONE set (there are several) of steep stairs and it promptly fell over. A neighborhood man was walking by and I asked him if he would pick up my sign for me. He picked it up, held it up, looked at the message and adjusted it as he placed it, "How's this?" Ah...my peeps, my 'hood.

Now I am on my cell phone, calling the maintenance man who urged me to attend this park event where I had become parked--voice mail. I called the main desk, "He is driving a van over with residents. He should be there in seconds." OK, fine. My cell rings, I see it is him. "Why are you calling me?!" he snorts. "I was sleeping."

"You were SLEEPING? The main desk just told me you were driving a van of seniors over and I'm sitting here stuck in the mud trail!" "Stuck? Well call a tow truck!" Grrr I hung up. See, kids, you don't know the joy of slamming down a phone, I pity you, I digress.

Truth was, our Activity Director was driving over ONE resident who uses a walker. I relied on old snow backing skills from my Indiana car days and rocked the power chair free by the time the maintenance man arrived. I had made my way back down to the activity director who wanted to take my picture. (YEA! Another problem I wasn't sure how I would handle: documenting this fast sinking protest on film. My plan was to use my cell phone camera, didn't plan on sun making an appearance and hiding the menu...uh-hem.) So, I said sure, "But you might not like what you see," I warned her as I held my sign in my lap.

"I like protests," she replied. SCORE! The maintenance man offered to take a pic, but just then the cutest little girl, 2 or 3, walked between us and he says, "Take her picture!" I'm looking at the dark pond with a "fence" wide enough for three of her to scramble right under and then a fast tumble straight down into what I can only describe as 'murky" water.

"I can't take pictures of strange kids!" (Yeah, that didn't come out right.) The maintenance man and I are friends. He is a great guy. I seriously love him. We laugh and joke around in between discussing our mutual political opinions. "Sure you can!" he shouts. (Not sure why we both were shouting---open space? Bad acoustics?) "BITE ME!" I yell, just as the darling girl I had forgotten about darts in front of me and I see her mom passing by. "Uh, that means, like when you bite a hot dog," (BACK OUT, DIANE NOW) "or, I mean like..." the girl has scurried on to her moseying mom, WHO, doesn't give the two crazy shouting old people a second glance. I am falling in love.

In fact, almost every neighborhood resident had something nice and supportive to say to me. I fell in love with my Queen Anne neighbors. The politicians were another story.

So, I carried my sign into the crowd, right up front, HOPING someone would dare to be so rude as to stand in front of me, one TV cameraman did for a second, then backed away. Amazing. THAT has never happened before.

A children's choir began singing, songs about peace, love one another, etc., and one girl read my sign, I caught her eye, she stared at me through most of the songs and I was absolutely touched. (Now I'm guessing she was probably looking at her mom behind me or a squirrel, but I'll stick with my memory.) Next, a State Representative spoke, a friend of the man for whom the park was named. He spoke of the goals and passions of Thomas C Wales, as quoted on his foundation's site, " The founders of this nation declared their independence to create a more perfect nation, not a perfect nation. They knew it would always be a work in progress, depending on each following generation to continue the work. And as they were right in so many things, they were right in that. There is work to be done. And it doesn't have to be sweeping change that you accomplish. What are we, most of us who are active? We're the little rudders that, eventually get the big ship to turn. It doesn't take a lot to make a difference." -Wales

The representative ended with, "We have a citizen here today who is peacefully protesting and Tommy would have loved that." (I can't remember his exact words, but he singled me out in a good way--to applause, whew, I was 'walking a thin line' by being at what was a bit more memorial than I'd expected, with his daughter and brother (who later talked to me and thanked me for speaking out) basically there to honor their lost loved one.

Then the politicians took over. They started taking about the park being "...for everyone in the neighborhood," on and on, to which I had to shake me head, NO NO NO. After the speeches ended and people hung out, I sat in front of the park's sign on the paved sidewalk. That was where the real action was.

To be continued...

Litmus Test for Friends and Lovers

I don't feel I can really know a person until I meet their parents and look at their book collection. When I go to a new friend's house/apartment, I head straight for their bookcase. Do you have any simialr litmus test for new friends?

Brain Connectivity & Mapping Trillions of Synapses

A computerized brain model to map all the synapses and functions of nerve cells is being developed at the University College London. This will allow researchers to see why connections go haywire in our MS brains. (Of course this will help us understand many diseases and functions of all that stuff between our ears and under our skull.) With an estimated 150 trillion synapses in our brains and about 100 billion nerve cells, figuring out all the relationships will be a huge leap in figuring out how our brains operate. Of course as with mapping our genes, the estimated date of final mapping is "...years away." Brain connectivity: another piece of our MS puzzle. Let's hope it goes as fast as the gene mapping went!

Japan Hammered , NASA Money Belongs on Earth

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Japan this morning---AGAIN. In our history has any country been hit by so many earthquakes this large in such a short period of time? Here in Seattle, it is not "If," but, "When..." and the few I've been in lasted just seconds, with few and small aftershocks. I can't imagine living under a constant threat of another "big one" around ever corner. I'm sure the wealthy have flown away from Japan in their private jets, but what of the rest? Where are the experts telling us what is going on? Instead of spending more billions on NASA, I suggest we keep our research limited to our earth and our people.

Secret Kennedy TV Show Kinnear & Holmes Shine

There is a TV mini-seris called The Kennedys that is being hidden from you. I hope you can find it and watch it. Let me start by saying I have seem almost every TV show and movie ever made about the Kennedys. Every book wriiten by a Kennedy is in my home and I read The Warren Commission Report (about JFK's assasination) several times. I stood in first in line to get JFK Jrs.' "George" magazine, which I still have. My Irish grandfather's roots contributed to making my mother and I great admirers of the Kennedys, not a small feat in Indiana.

The History channel bought this mini-series and it was suddenly dropped for reasons unknown. Greg Kinnear stars as JFK, Katie Holmes is Jackie, Tom Wilkinson plays Joe Sr., and their preformances are stellar. I have never seen a better JFK.

While I have always believed Kinnear is an underrated actor, his portrayal is so spot on that it took me back, and when I first heard, "Starring Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes" I thought, "UGH. I'll miss this one." But I was dead wrong. Katie Holmes gives a performance of a lifetime. The thought that their excellent work will be seen by few is just a shame. I had never heard of the actor who plays Bobby Kennedy, but does he ever hit the ball out of the park!

Bobby is often an afterthought in the Kennedy story and that has always aggravated me. My papers in school (you KNOW I had to write about them) were about Bobby, not Jack, and I think had fate allowed, Bobby would have been held as the better president. In this movie, Bobby's part is well lit.

My curiosity about WHY the movie was pulled from the History channel and thrown to the small pond of ReelzChannel (Took me days to find it--good luck.) was a great motivation to see it. The powerful K's could have pulled it all together, lawsuits could have been filed if it were lies, so what was in this movie that we were not meant to see?

The answer came 15 minutes into the movie. It does not sugar coat that which many might find distasteful about the ordinary non-hero like actions of the Kennedys. But, there is not one thing covered that has not been covered before. It is also an OVERVIEW, a broad brush stroke of many lives and situations. The editing is delicious though and gave me the feeling of putting together a puzzle with the lid in front of me, knowing how it would all come together, but the process can be enlightening. I had not pieced it all together this way before. In the first moments of the story we see Joe Sr. fighting his way to power, planning on becoming president one day and blowing it all with a speech in which he basically said Hitler was doing a natural thing in wanting to preserve his people's way of life. I had forgotten that, and that was why the Kennedys would not want you to watch this mini-series. While they can't deny historical facts, they know many of us have forgotten or never knew certain things.

Can anyone know what Mr. and Mrs. say behind closed doors? Of course not, but even I can piece together certain interviews by aides, nannies, friends of the family, relatives, and others who lived with them, enough to get the idea when the actions that followed are on tape for all to see.

There are a few scenes with Frank Sinatra in them, and at first I thought, "Boy, THAT actor looks nothing like young Frank," but then a flick of his wrist, a tilt of his head, and I saw Sinatra. Those moments are what actors live for. Can they capture the essence? And they did with hats off to the director, for whom this had to be a labour of love.

There are eight episodes, I have two left to go. If you at all interested in those years (the sets are filled with phones and cars that have WEIGHT to them---how I miss all that), if you enjoyed The West Wing, if you would like to remember and relive your or your parent's lives during the 1960s, if you like watching well executed acting/directing/editing---the search for this show will be worth it. I also enjoyed comparing that administration, all the difficulties JFK had to deal with, to our current president's many battles. Many of us feared it was the end of the world coming, in the early 1960s. WE behaved like a country at war on its own land. You didn't have to be Tea Party folk to know where your nearest bomb shelter was.

Yes, we are not meant to see this, critics have slammed it and right-wingers have endorsed it---that alone tells you it is something worth seeing for yourself.

Want to Forget a Memory?

This is an elephant in Seattle, Washington. While it has been said that it is a myth: Elephants never forget; is it not a truth that humans never forget? I mean, we may not be able to access what we want in our brain, but the brain holds it. Anyway, that is what I have always found to be true. My question is this: Is there a memory you wish you COULD forget? Share?

Adjusting the Family Gems is Sport of Ball Game

Baseball is a big deal in my assisted living/retirement community. I have never liked baseball. Right up there with watching golf or bowling to me. But, when in Rome...so, I bought a local team cap and shirt. That wasn't enough, I apparently must speak the lingo. Okay, fine. But I want to know something and nobody ever has an answer: why are the players constantly adjusting their gems? I mean, for garsh sakes! Are the uniforms poorly made? Here are a few answers I got yesterday: "They get hot," (Oh, and basketball players don't? Football players?) "They are in the sun," (And soccer players aren't?) "It's a nervous habit," (A professional making moogo bucks is nervous playing his game?) and this---"It's a tradition," WAAAT? Seriously? From caveman times? Some states want to ban chewing tobacco in baseball. That was me second question, What's with all the spitting? I don't see other sports spitting every 2 minutes. Again, the answers were same as crotch grabbing excuses. So, tell me, why do they do it?

What is in That Belly Button?

After one of my partner's surgeries, which was done using something new back then, laparoscopy, we were sent home with instructions to protect the incision area. It was small and had a small band aid over it. We both marveled at the new technology. As is usual, a bath is desired after any hospital stay. Carefully I cleaned her precious body, always aware to avoid the band aid. There was some crusted blood in her belly button and no matter how we both tried it seemed really stuck in there. I even tried using tweezers to dig it out. When we saw the Dr. to remove the band aid, yep, it had slipped and was supposed to be over the belly button! (Where the incision had been.) Thinking back, we are lucky we didn't open the stitch or infect the area. DUH.

Blogger Paragraphs Disappeared

Why am I suddenly unable to make paragraphs in Blogger? They are about to lose a user.

Black Swan, Black Mark on Natalie Portman

After all the hype and awards, I couldn't WAIT to see The Black Swan. Now I have seen it and I need some Maalox. ICK! Hearing the recent gossip about the star, Natalie Portman, not doing all her own dance moves, I was dying to see this movie. Flash Dance all over again, and the uproar over Jennifer Beals not doing all her own moves. BIG DEAL! That's why they call it ACTING. Good grief. Well, I expected to see some ballet. HA! Nothing was further from the truth. If there is one thing this movie is NOT in any way about, it is ballet. Rent "The Red Shoes". Portman's shots were mid chest up, any actor can make those moves. The plot was simplistic and a big yawner. I am sooo glad I didn't waste $10 on it, but WHAT were the critics thinking? As for Portman, I've seen better performances in high school plays. If you are a home film watcher like me, save your $$ for The Kings Speech. If it is too late, what did YOU think of The Black Swan?

Airline CEOs Should be Forced to Drive 15 Year Old Cars

Punishment should fit the crime: Every person in management of our airlines should not be allowed to drive a car under 10-15 years old. I thought we told them to stop using aged planes. I thought they had to make the year of the plane available to us before we boarded. My father-in-law stood for hours demanding to see this information, and when finally it was provided, he found out the plane was very old, but there he is with his family, plane now ready to depart, his frustration with the solemn knowledge that his family would fly in danger was overwhelming for him. That was over 30 years ago. Look how far we haven't come. There has to be a better way.

Helper Dog: Bulldog or Great Dane?

My better half wants a bulldog and insists such a dog would make an excellent Helper Dog. Hmmm, I'm thinking a Lab would be a better choice, but I really want a Great Dane. What do you think? (And, no, no Helper Cats or Monkeys.)

MS Brain VS Bridge

No, I am not addicted to Bridge...yet, but I am sure you all want an update as to my progress learning the game. To recap: I am a Euchre player, born and bred, started playing at 4 and played almost every night. (My last visit back home to Indiana I played about 8 hours straight with two 80-somethings and my poor mom, who tolerates the game, and I only stayed 2 days.) When I moved to Seattle in 1982, NOBODY had even heard of Euchre. I even put an ad in the newspaper--looking for players. Gave up. When I moved to the assisted-living/retirement home in 2009, hoping to play Poker (started playing that at 4 also), found out Poker had ended due to lack of players and Bridge was THE game to be in. Ugh. Let's just say I do not see myself in the same class of people who play Bridge. It is a quiet, well-mannered game; I like my games loud and raucous! After seeing some of the sociology involved around here, I decided to take the plunge. Let's just say I was not warmly welcomed. I didn't fit in. And clearly didn't know what the hazoo I was doing. So, I started reading up, playing on line (where I was cussed at and routinely booted off), and went to a "class" here-started because the Bridge players were not getting any younger and losing players. Now you are up to date. Weds. night was my second game with the pros here. The first time I didn't keep score, drawing fire from a player. Weds. I had studied up on scoring and was ready. I did a full-out morning weight circuit, pedaled that mini-bike, drank my super-drink (tap water), napped, studied, napped, ate my spinach (seriously) and stretched an hour until game time. Upon arriving, one player fell down, a fellow-resident (not one of the Bridge players) went into a hysterical scream which caused another resident to say, "Calm down," that caused an outbreak of screaming, "DON'T YOU SAY A WORD TO ME!" for several minutes, followed by the Bridge game. I came in second. Yes, I did. And had my partner let my "double" stand, I would have come in first. The best part was that my cards were not that great. I played the lousy cards I was dealt with great aplomb. A new acting role: Bridge Player Yes, I can see liking this game...a lot. The more I learn, the less I know. I like that. This should challenge my shrinking brain and rebuild some lost cells. PLUS, I get to act. MS Moral of story: Try something new, something you are totally incompetent at, something that makes your brain shout, "What the Wazoo is THIS?" Great things will happen.