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We salute the Grammy nomination of the late great Dave Van Ronk's final concert album:
". . . and the tin pan bended and the story ended . . ."

CONGRATULATIONS! Watch the 47th Grammy's and look for DVR's Wife and Producer, Andrea Vuocolo Vanronk, and our beloved Christine Lavin [who helped edit it]
February 13, 2005 8PM on CBS.

click here
William Valdez is our Son-in-Law Extrodinaire.
You can support our troops via this site, and support William, personally, if you wish. His TFT ID is 1862195
Thank you!

Listen to Hober

US Faces of the Fallen:

•US Fatalities in Iraq

•US Fatalities; "Operation Enduring Freedom"

 

Pardon the last minute PSA announcement, but I have only just received and read it:

TODAY:

Today.
4 p.m.
CNN.
YouTube.
What really matters?
You choose.
You don't want to miss it!

John will also make history tonight by going online live right after the debate to answer your questions.

You can submit your questions now, and then join the live conversation with John Edwards a few minutes after the debate, all online at:

www.johnedwards.com/debate

Send in your question in writing—or in your own web video. You can even submit your question by texting "DEBATE" to 30644 from your mobile phone. However you reach out, John wants to hear from you—because this campaign is not about one voice, it's about all of us joining together to change this country.

People will be talking about what they see tonight for a long time. If you watch the debate, you'll understand why.

Get ready.

-- David Bonior
Campaign Manager
John Edwards for President
Monday, July 23, 2007

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 12:11 PM - link -    

Today the kids came over to carry on a special tradition: "Gordy Bread"!

Gordy and I had spent a day taking snaps of the process, and he was going to post the photos I took with directions for his very coveted loaves.

Well, that's still in the offing, but Jenny, Robyn and Evan [aka "e.e."] came over for the passing of the torch and Jenny took notes and "PaPa" showed her the ropes.

They are a fabulous family, and the kids are such joy, Jenny is doing a great job, and during their stay, I had some solo time with Robyn, and she told me just how much she loves her Dad, William. I won't go into details of our conversation, suffice Robyn was most adamant and joyful to have William as her Dad. We, too, are thrilled and love him dearly.

I had another session with Julie, and there is improvement! Score! There is a process where they use "cups" as a diagnostic tool, as well as treatment. The good news is that the dark purple ones which indicate deeper energy stagnation, have turned pale, which is closer to the surface, but still represents Chi stagnating. But it is improvement! And, instead of every 3 days like the past 3 sessions, it will be in a week! Another sign of improvement.

I came home to find the family eating warm, fresh, home made, "GordyBread" and joined in.

What a lovely family -- here's a snap for your enjoyment. Hey, it's a start, right?

Evan [the mohawk is Katie's work last night] Robyn and Jenny chez moi, waiting for bread to cool off

Of course, we also added more marks to the height measuring pole, and in just a short time [accidental pun]Robyn grew a good inch! Wow. Evan, of course, well, it's been a couple years, so the change was major!

I love that pole--it's priceless. I sure hope it isn't a load bearing fixture, I don't think it is, because it will be handed down to the family long after I'm gone.

Tomorrow we are seeing my Mom. I love her and miss her and hope she's doing well. I fired off initial contact to Careage in hopes they can put her on their waiting list - dare to dream her living ~20 minutes away?

Peace!
##

 12:11 AM - link -    

I've been quiet on personal things that are most dear to me of late. I had actually started 2 quite long posts at different times, but my 'puter is messed up yet again, same stuff, so I lost the posts...argh!

Jenny, Robyn and Evan have been visiting, and are staying at the apartment below the clubhouse where I officiated over Jenny and William's wedding. It's been nice to have the family around -- alluvem, but of course Mom being the deep dark hole with her absent.

A very wonderful thing happened this Saturday. We had a BBQ here, well actually the clubhouse, and there were some major gaps in who managed to attend, but the excitement changed when "Grammy", aka Doris, Gordy's Mom said she wanted to join us, and Katie drove her up, and Rog drove her home. It was so wonderful!!! Yes! An outing.

Doris was so strong and brave to have made such a long trip. It was brilliant to overhear her say, "So soon?" when Roger said it was time to go home! That was a real high having her here!!! Jenny and Evan hadn't seen her since Evan was just really new , at Terry and Georgia's, and my Mom was there too! That means it was about 3 years.

Of course Robyn visited Doris with Gordy and me for lunch when Robyn came to visit here.

Evan is a hoot! I can't describe him adequately, but he's uniquely himself, and adorable. It was soooo wonderful to see Mike and Evan playing, and watching Mike's sensitivity to size and ego, as he would chase him down, but he'd run slow so Evan could feel like he's fast, but not being condescended to, because he would catch up and then you'd hear the giggling and laughing. A merry sound that can't be matched.

Robyn decided one day to hang with Gordy and I, despite our telling her it was a long, boring, errand type of day. It was great being with her again. I love her dearly as you all know. These kids are all fabulous and loving.

Another highlight was when [I heard but didn't see..] Hannah [Chantal's daughter and Madelaine's grand-daughter] saw Robyn, and they ran into each-other's arms!!! I just love that too. These are super people! And Hannah, such a love, she gave me a wonderfully magical hug, and then again, and again...there is nothing to top unchecked hugs and love from someone I love so much. I am honored that they enjoy me enough to love me back.

More good news is that Candi did wonderfully with her back surgery, and she and Gary also were at the BBQ! It was good to see the strain, the pain, leave her face! I know she still has surgery pain, and a long recovery ahead of her, but her healing is amazingly fast, especially for someone who has been forced, from pain, to be sedentary. Gary was so loving and funny. I "get it" now. Seeing them together Saturday made sense in a new way. I'm not sure that I had truly seen his walls down this way before. He's so warm and funny and caring. He was stayed with Candi, at the hospital, and was her advocate, and made sure she was in as little pain as possible.

And Candi and Doris seeing eachother was goodness. There is a long history, and to sever that feels so wrong.

Now, that day isn't over yet. Robby invited me, Gordy and Jenny, to Mukilteo Coffee, to hear Danny O'keefe who was performing there. It's an interesting venue, and should be drawing more good people. It was so sweet of him to think of us and get us tickets. It was too bad that the BBQ started at 4:00, and the show at 7:30, time was crunched, and it gets away from a person. We got there during the break, and finally met Hannah's [Robby's girlfriend for lack of a more loving term] parents!!! We did get to hear the 2nd set, and he was really really good. The only downside is that seating isn't easily available. Finally Gordy scoped out a vacant freezer. Not being tall, nor being the spring chicken I used to be, it wasn't cake to get up, but I did it! Yay me.

Now if that's not enough for one day, Cameron brought his girlfriend to the BBQ. I'm not sure of the spelling, but her name is Z, and she's a lovely, smart, kind lady. Cam did good! I hope to see more of her.

I'm sure I'm missing very good moments from the day, but it's not for lack of good times, au contraire, too much love, and too little brain makes this post full of holes.

Now, first thing that AM, I headed down to my 2nd appointment for acupunture with Julie at Oriental Healing Arts in Langley. I really like her a lot. She has style, class, talent and a sense of humor! I hope this works for me, I need an end to pain, and to go to Fla again, after spending so much money and time so far away from Mom, well, it doesn't feel right. I had thought that Clear Passage in CA would work for me, but, so far, without really discussing it much with the CPfolk, it appears as if they feel FL is more appropriate still. My CTS is still killer despite the injection I received from Dr Fuhs. Not a good sign. I can't put it off too long, so I'm going to give my all to Julie's work, and hope to see improvement, and if I don't, I'll have to put her on hold and go back to CP, FL or anywhere to improve my health, it was so much fun and great joy to feel hopeful and be able to work out, and think of a future and...well, you know, I wrote when I felt good. ALIVE even.

But, let's see if Julie can get me where I need to be; baby steps. Did I mention that I heard of Julie through the most reliable source? Beverly told me, and she "knows" and "gets it". She's the Mom of my Somali, Zach. I had written her to see if she knew where I could contact his breeder, and to my chagrin, they are not doing it any more. Instead, she has two most adorable kittens; their breed is Desert Lynx. More on them and Bev in a different post. Very important stuff.

Let's see. One more piece o' the picture before I put Saturday to bed.

Don, Gordy's customer, lent us a video camera. I managed to suss out how to do menial stuff during the BBQ [I don't do manuals ], and got some great video to burn for William, and the care package we're planning to send him. There was no software with the camera, so I searched Sony, and then the web for a LONG time, to find the driver. I finally found way too many posts that said Sony is being a jerk, hoping to get "us" macfolk to get a [horrors] PC based on the incompatibility. Insanity fer sure.

There are 2 work-arounds, both cost money, and since this is not my camera, and it can go home at any moment, I just can't justify investing. But, the Yankee-Taurus I am will absolutely prevail, but just not today.

I think that covers a lot. It's a pretty upbeat post, quite the polar opposite of what today brought, but that, too, is for another entry.

I hope to get photos up -- I so meant to start doing a Photo du jour, but I still have to be more consistently well to be able to do it. I'm far from that with the onset of the Trapezeii and Rhomboid Spasm that is relentless [months - I'm talking months!] as well as my CTS acting up. Baby steps. Breathe in, breath out...sloooooowly.

Wednesday we visit Mom!!! I love and miss her so much xoxo+.

Peace!
##

 08:53 PM - link -    

There are probably a lot of y'all who stop by who get this email, but just in case...:
Dear MoveOn member,

It's pretty outrageous: Senate Republicans are planning to block key votes to stop the war this week because they know they'll lose.

You read that right: with the Democratic majority plus three key Republicans ready to vote for an exit strategy for Iraq, the Senate has enough votes to pass legislation that would force President Bush to bring most troops home by April. But the Republicans are trying to stop that vote.

We have a plan to fight back. Tomorrow night, as Republicans try to block the vote, we're holding citizens' counter-filibusters to remind Republicans and the media that this isn't about partisan games—it's about peoples' lives.

At the events, we'll gather in towns and cities across the country with candles and signs to read first-hand accounts from Iraq vets and their families about the true cost of the war. This is a key moment—can you host a counter-filibuster on Tuesday evening in [enter your town here ]? To sign up link here

The timing couldn't be better. We're at a cross-roads in Congress—the Republican stonewall is starting to cave (see below for some examples).

And hosting a counter-filibuster is really easy. All you have to do is pick out a location, print out a few signs, bring some candles and follow a few simple steps outlined in the organizing guide we'll give you. We'll help you with everything you need and we'll invite other MoveOn members in your area to ensure your event is a success.

This fight comes at a critical time.



• Republicans are abandoning President Bush on Iraq. For the last two weeks Republican support for the war has crumbled in Congress.1 Prominent Senate Republicans like Senators Lugar (IN), Voinovich (OH) and Domenici (NM) have called for a change in course while others, like Senators Snowe (ME), Hagel (NE) and Smith (OR) have co-sponsored Democratic legislation to bring our troops home.
  
• The White House is panicked. Last week, ABC News ran a report with the headline "'Crack in the Dike': White House in 'Panic Mode' Over GOP Revolt on Iraq."2 The report indicates that the White House is looking for ways to "appease Democrats and keep wobbly Republicans onboard."
  
• Editorial boards across the country are pushing for exit from Iraq. Just last week the New York Times—a bellwether newspaper with an influential editorial board—officially endorsed withdrawal from Iraq. The New York Times now joins papers like the Portland Press Herald—which helped swing key Maine Senator, Olympia Snowe to support exit plans, the Los Angeles Times and others in saying it is now time to leave Iraq.3
  
• The Iraqi Prime Minister says U.S. troops can leave. Polls of Iraqi public opinion have shown that Iraqis want American troops to go home.4 And on Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the press that his government is capable of taking care of Iraq and American troops can leave "any time they want."5
  

It's a nice letter but to what impact or effect it will have, I have no clue:

Dear Zoe :

Thank you for contacting me regarding President Bush's recent decision to commute the prison sentence of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue.

I am extremely disappointed that the President chose to commute Scooter Libby's prison sentence. While the President has the constitutional authority to pardon and commute the sentences of convicted felons, this authority should only be used in clear cases of judicial wrongdoing. A federal jury convicted Mr. Libby of one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. These are serious federal crimes, and there should be serious consequences for Mr. Libby's actions.

The President's decision to commute Mr. Libby's sentence is yet another example of the complete lack of accountability within the Bush Administration. Please know that I am working hard with my colleagues in Congress to demand accountability from the executive branch. The new Democratic majorities in Congress have already held hundreds of oversight hearings on Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and the Justice Department, among many other topics. We will continue to work to hold this administration accountable for its actions.

Please know that as your Representative, I am working hard to address the challenges facing our nation, such as developing a 21 st century energy policy, keeping our promises to our veterans, and improving access to affordable healthcare. As the 110 th Congress continues, please do not hesitate to contact me again about issues that are important to you.

Sincerely,

Rick Larsen
United States Representative
Washington State, 2nd District

 04:07 PM - link -    

I just heard about the quake, a 6.8 magnitude. I signed up for a quake report from KIRO, and this is what they reported:

2nd Quake Rattles Japan's West Coast
Radioactive Water Leaking After Japanese Quake

Japanese officials said the initial quake registered at 6.8.

The Tsunami warning was removed [thank god /dess] but apparently it was on the heal of a pretty huge Typhoon, Man Yi, the largest one on record in July to hit Japan.

Mother Earth is surely trying to shake is us humans either up or off after we have abused her so...it's past time to listen, but not too late ever!!!

Former Home in Kashiwaaki City, Japan

Peace
##

 12:55 PM - link -    

Well, at least they are trying yet again...keep pushing y'all, make it so!

POSTED: 3:18 pm PDT July 12, 2007
UPDATED: 6:04 pm PDT July 12, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives has voted to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by next spring.

The measure passed 223-to-201 in the Democratic-controlled House despite a veto threat from President George W. Bush, who has ruled out any change in war policy before September.

The legislation would require the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops to begin within 120 days, and to be completed by April 1, 2008. The measure envisions a limited residual force to train Iraqis, protect U.S. assets and fight al-Qaida and other terrorists.

The vote generally followed party lines: 219 Democrats and four Republicans in favor, and 191 Republicans and 10 Democrats opposed.

The Senate is not expected to follow the House's lead.

The vote came hours after the Bush administration conceded in an interim assessment that Iraq has achieved only spotty progress toward a democratic society.

The Iraqi government has supplied three combat brigades for Baghdad security and $7.3 billion in security funds, as it promised, Bush said. On the other hand, "political progress is lagging behind."

The political results are not surprising because not all of the security benchmarks are in place, he said.

Bush said he wants a more limited role for the U.S. in Iraq, but his theater commanders have told him that conditions on the ground are not secure and to pull troops out in the near future would result in more bloodshed and chaos, Bush said.

"We can succeed in Iraq, and we must," Bush said, adding that he placed more faith in his commanders in Iraq than in Congress to run the war. And those commanders have told him it's too soon to judge the success of the troop surge started in January.

For that reason, he said he continued to respect the right of Congress to debate and fund the war, but he said allowing Congress to run the war on the ground was a "recipe for disaster."

The American people are also tired of the war, Bush said, but he insisted repeatedly that he would wait for a final report in September from the Pentagon, as ordered by Congress, before changing his strategy.

"I understand that this is an ugly war. It's a war in which an enemy will kill innocent men, women and children in order to achieve a political objective. It doesn't surprise me that there is deep concern amongst our people," Bush said.

Bush referred to some Senators of his own party who have openly broken with him on his strategy as "friends of mine."

"I respect those Republicans that you're referring to. I presume you're referring to friends of mine," Bush said. "These are good, honorable people. I've spoken to them and I listen very carefully to what they have to say."

"They share my concern that a precipitous withdrawal would embolden al-Qaida. And they also understand that we can't let alQaida gain safe haven inside of Iraq," Bush said.

"What I tell them is this, just what I've told you, is that as the commander-in-chief of the greatest military ever, I have an obligation, a sincere and serious obligation, to hear out my commander on the ground. And I will take his recommendation," Bush said.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada wasted no time in responding to the president.

"It is time for the president to listen to the American people and do what is necessary to protect this nation. That means admitting his Iraq policy has failed, working with the Democrats and Republicans in Congress on crafting a new way forward in Iraq, and refocusing our collective efforts on defeating al-Qaida," he said in a statement.

 11:33 PM - link -    

If you are interested, click here to sign the petition, or to at least read it and see if it is of interest to you.

and while I'm posting some vids, here are some "classics" [<-- heavy sigh, what a shame...]

Actually, I figured it all out, the only reason that these horrible things are being allowed without extreme protest and outrage by the people, is because of the "pod people", it's the only explaination that makes sense. It was quite quite fortunate that the latter version of the film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" as on to enlighten moi.

 10:30 PM - link -    

Tres Kewl news....I spoke to Rhonda today, and she said that as long as Bev's lil' boys, Bubba II, and Bartholomew had a test for leukemia, and they are clear, it would be ok to not inject them, and let them in the house with my two cats...so I put a call in to her, and she may have already felt "left off the hook" and is back to keeping them both, and that's absolutely understandable, but if she wants to still let me have a guy, now I can see how the cats, Zach, mostly because of his IBS, react to our newest member of felinamily...so there's hope.

Wacka Wacka!
##

 05:57 PM - link -    

This has been a truly tough week or so and I sit here after a crying jag after glancing left to see my Dad's smiling face in the photo by my bed. He hangs onto the ladder in a bright blue pool, and his smile is genuine, and that is rare, to see an uninhibited grin. Dad loved everything that water touched; sports, boating, swimming, fishing off the beach, sailing a catamaran in the ocean or lake, diving, the "rocks" in his drink, teaching Jim and I to swim, and then teaching the grandkids, Gregg and Andrew.

One of his water teases, was catching us unawares, by cupping something in his hand, and having us come look into the opening... ooops! he'd spray water from his shell-shaped hands, and somehow, we fell for it over and over, no wonder it tickled him.

On his day off, simply driving along the shoreline, typically with the top down, was his joy, as was mine, was the smell of the ocean air, and the fog horn lowing in fog or storm ensuring boats making it to port safely, and the sound making me feel safe as well; I miss him so acutely and so deeply. I wonder if there is some freudian slippage that I am now living on an island, surrounded by water?

In water, ocean or lake or swimming pool, if only you could've see him do the "crawl", he was brilliant and beautiful to behold, a water dance, his strokes so strong, while sneaking a breath under his arm using a minimum of movement and each muscle moving deliberately. And that is how he was to his family, always strong and brilliant to behold. Looking through the murky or chlorine stinging waters to keep us safe, he loved us all so much, and I miss that kind of energy pervading my life.

And I am afraid that I'm letting him down with my Mom's choices and care.

Crying into his photo, I begged him to help Mom not be alone or afraid, and to please guide me and make sure that what happens, or what I choose is what is best for Mom's well being. I know to most folk it is a ridiculous thing to do, not even a "prayer" to a "god /dess", but asking my Dad to be powerful, still; it's a request borne of my desperation, fearing my decisions are not good and I'm hurting my Mom.

My Mother truly knew only one great love, and that is my Dad. He was the man who could make her feel safe, seemingly put order in her universe. I am so far from that now despite the efforts, and the intent. I wish I could do more for my Mom. I am chasing my tail and I've not caught up with it, or barely caught sight of it....

So, maybe Dad will get a message to Mom in her dreams and give her comfort, so that next sleep, she won't be talking and arguing and working so hard, like what we witnessed the last visit, as we awaited Kim and Doug's incredible journey to rescue us from WSH. [the Jeep gave up and overheated driving down to visit with Mom, front brakes and calipers DOA, about 1 exit north of 129, our exit to WSH. There was a gent there, Tom, who had us follow him to Les Shwaub, and since I wasn't prepared with any meds etc., we had to get home v. "enjoy" the potential adventure. So, Tom dropped us off at WSH, so we could still have a visit with Mom, and we phoned Kim and Doug so late at night, yet they came down with bells on -- what friends I have, yes? Color me blessed....]

But we got to stay past the 8:00PM end of visiting hours, and poor Mom was not resting when she napped /slept? She spoke and argued and shook her head, and fingers twitched, and she had Restless Leg Syndrome, and she spoke, as she does when awake, in her very own language that is not understandable, unless if someone concentrated and spent lots and lots of time with her to decipher it. But she's currently fighting a lung infection with the rest of the floor, and she had a lot of pain, so much so that I reminded her to take the drink they made up because her pain medicine was in it.

Her hands were palsied, her walking very stopped over, her depth of field sort of ebbs and flowed, but she was shaking and crying and hurting and couldn't even hold her utensils. Poor Mom, she still has enough sense of self to be feeling awkward about how she looks, i.e. her actions, spillings, even stains on her clothes. Once she misses going to the bathroom in time, she sort of loses her spirit somewhat, no matter how I try to encourage her to go with the flow, that the clothing is made for it, etc etc, but I don't have the "tools" or sensitivity to make here feel better.

Driving home from Dr Waite's, there was a noisy bird overhead, and I look through the sunroof, and voila, a very excitable eagle flying with, talking to us, and my heart soard for a moment, my belief, or superstition, about Dad's messengers being Bald Eagles, So it was a delight to be escorted partially home and seeing the vigilant eagle gave me a soupcon of hope.

I had a very tough appointment with Marilyn on Monday, and physical pain is taking my life over yet again. There also is the emotional me that just can't get the handle on how to make life easier for Mom, easy for her to progress. While talking to Dr Waite, he indicated that our visits are probably as effective as any and everything else she gets from the MDs, RNs, care-givers and specialists.

I just needed a bit of love, our family's love, the way we do it...our quirky, creative, dysfunctionally way. That is missing in my life, and will always be gone. And crying "uncle" doesn't work - my life is what it is now, not the prettiest one, but Im so far from any ability to figure things out.

And, I recently "gestalted" realized that I am so wound up tight, that I need a lot and lot and LOT of work to unwind me so I can give the upcoming work on my body a chance, to stop the muscles from cramping everywhere...and the shot from Dr Fuhs, my hand surgeon, still isn't taking...dammit. I know that if I can't get it resolved quickly through the acupuncture, nor massage therapy, nor CPT, I have to allow the surgeon to perform surgery PDQ. It'd in-patient surgery in his office, 22 minutes, but the time to heal, not so quick.

Speaking of pain, Candi, the kids' Mom, is doing well after her back surgery in Swedish. She's even home already, and is getting "less pain every day" [knock wood] which is so exciting -- to be without pain in her (near) future. Yes, there's hard work ahead of her, but oh, the rewards she'll be blessed with. I hope our fleurs helped brighten up her surroundings and let her know our hearts and thoughts were with her, are with her still.

OTOH, I had a brush with greatness on Saturday past...I met some Desert Lynx at Beverly and Ken's.

They are good little kitties, good warm smart beautiful -- the breed, Desert Lynx, is considered an exotic in the feline world. Bev literally was midwife for these 2 bundle of joy. Momcat was way too small, so Bev worked hard to help Momcat by actually placing her healing hands in, and helping Bartholomew first, and Bubba II needed help with the afterbirth. Bev is truly part cat one life.

The offer to let me have one of the two is so special and amazing beyond words, ever. She loves her cats, and to actually offer one of the two that she literally brought into this world, the idea of her offering me one of the cutie-pies, well it honors me so. Her love is one that is not "in your face" so our styles do mesh in that regard, but dang, she offered me one of the 2 cutest boy kitties, and I'm so excited, these guys are truly special.

My vet's office said that the kitty would need certain injections to ensure my 2 kitties will still stay healthy and strong. I had my suspicions, so I phoned them on Monday, but until tonite, I didn't have the guts to pop the kitten bubble until now, a little bit o' fantasy can help, yes? But, tonight, I took the plunge and phoned Bev about the Vet office suggesting the beasties get inoculated before moving in.

I phoned Bev and said that I had been dragging my heels about calling, because of the strong suggestion from Was because she's truly into a holistic care of all living things, minimizing "western medicine such as pills, etc] so I had to make sure that she is ok with this option. Gordy seemed pretty confident that she'd say, Kewl.

Bev, the good and bad news, said she'd let me know, and I don't blame her. I look forward to her reply.

I need someone to love me so completely, and with surprise and joy, and the closest to that treasure, is my furry feline friends. They always "get it" and are known to be pretty consistent to comfort me when I'm unwell, or unwell emotionally. I crave the feeling of being important and special to someone, and that my being with them is considered fun. I love my kitties.

"Please sir, could I have some more"?

BTW, Candi phoned Gordy, and she has moments of less pain!!! The surgery went very well, they didn't have to take it as far as the thought, and she was let home on Monday!!! Congrats Candi -- ah, a future without pain awaits her. Wow.

Well, I'm beat and my body is tensing so hard, it feels like it just may snap, and I end up doing a rumpled piece of paper impression.

I will know when Bev feels strongly about this east meets west medicine complication - a microcosm of the world medicine, eh? Pshaw!

Still more stuff to catch y'all up on, but this is it for now. I'm hurty and tired and fuzzy-brained and, well, hey, SNAFU, right?

Happy 4th of July - sign the petition if you feel ok with it, pax!
##

 12:12 AM - link -    

Go figure, I was so surprised at Gordy's x-rated shout when he read that Bush over-rode Libby's sentence. He actually must have a wee bit o' pollyanna in him for him to react like it was a surprise. Who knew .

It absolutely stinks, but why should Bush stop double-talking and double-crossing the people now?
In case you want more, this will bring you to NY Times article:

July 2, 2007
Bush Spares Libby From Prison
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 8:18 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush spared former White House aide I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby from a 2 1/2-year prison term in the CIA leak investigation Monday, delivering a political thunderbolt in the highly charged criminal case. Bush said the sentence was just too harsh.

Bush's move came just five hours after a federal appeals panel ruled that Libby could not delay his prison term. That meant Libby was likely to have to report soon, and it put new pressure on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby's allies to pardon Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.

''I respect the jury's verdict,'' Bush said in a statement. ''But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby's sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.''
[snip]
Bush said Cheney's former aide was not getting off free.

''The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged,'' Bush said. ''His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant and private citizen will be long-lasting.''

A spokeswoman for Cheney said simply, ''The vice president supports the president's decision.''

The White House said Bush came to his decision in the past week or two and made it final Monday because of the ruling of the appeals panel, which meant Libby would be going to prison soon.

The president's announcement came just as prison seemed likely for Libby. He recently lost an appeals court fight that was his best chance to put the sentence on hold, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons had already designated him inmate No. 28301-016.
[snip]

Libby ain't no "Jean Val Jean", he didn't steal a loaf of bread for the family, so he goes free sans inmate number ;p~~~~~~~.
He'll prolly win the lotto [fixed I'm sure, Bush's reach is far...]when he plays the above number, eh?
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 06:32 PM - link -