csfb's Blog

Caregiving  is a topic very fresh  in my mind.  Right now, I need 24-hour care.  Since my health insurance doesn't cover caregivers, I take care of hiring my own - two caregivers at 12-hour shift at $288.00 per day.  I'lll probably go bankrupt in a very short time.

Yesterday, caregiver, neglected to lock my wheelchair and when she tried to transfer me from bed to wheelchair, the chair moved away, and I fell to the floor.  She hastily tried to pick me up and put me on the wheelchair, but again the wheelchair moved away.  Not only that, my Bi-pap (ventilator) attached to my nose got dislodged, and the bi-pap and humidifier fell to the floor.  Luckily, I had a visitor at that time to help out.  He was right there at the right time.

My point in talking about this is  that we do not pay much attention to caregiving, until we need it.  I know I did not.  There ought to be a way, but I don't know what.

Well, was just venting my frustration and helplessness, that's all.

Hope you all have a good day. 

Was watching the olympics, so far way to to - USA!

I give heartfelt acknowledgement to the following for taking the time to send me their own special messages:

LottoVantage - Thank you for those very kind words.  I felt the sincerity of your words,  knowing what you went through with your beloved wife.

Konane -  As always, you're there.

Gentlespirit - Thank you for wishing me  a happy birthday!  And yes, I have so much love to give, even as I still grieve for Myu-myu.

Justxploring - I find comfort in your words.

Lottomike - Thank you for your concern.  If I recall, you have a pet dog yourself.

Bye now.  Hope to see you again.

In a couple of days, I celebrate 33 summers on this good earth.  I am thankful for my blessings;  I praise my Creator for my life; and I ask Him for a MIRACLE - restore my good health please.  I do not need a diamond-studded wheelchair.

My little kitten is gone.  I shed tears for Myu-myu the last couple of weeks.  I usually leave my garage door slightly open so she can get in or out.  She came in the front door about 10:30 that night.  I forgot to close the garage door for the night.  Next day, I didn't see her.  Kept looking for her everywhere but no kitty.  I wonder... I live on the hills with the coyotes and rattlesnakes.  Did they get her?  Oh, the pain of not knowing whether she's really gone.  I still have her things, hoping she'll just appear on my driveway one cold morning, and meow for milk.

Just saw Todd's picture.  Gee, and all along I pictured him with dark wavy hair.  He's handsome anyways.

Bye folks.  Win some, okay?

I am having difficulty typing, but I feel, I must post  something on my blog - if only to bid it farewell.  My blog has been a good part of me, that I can not just abandon it  without saying anything.  I come here to seek solace when the world overwhelms me, and tonite is no different.

The title  of this entry is meaningful.  To dance again is my wish.  But it would take a miracle for this to happen.  Early this year , I was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Schlerosis, a.k.a Lou Gehrig's Disease).  The progression of this disease upon my once beautiful healthy body is so rapid, that I am still shocked. 

I'll try to keep a journal here, succinct, but informative for those interested about this disease.  Until then, goodbye.  Let's look forward to tomorrow.

'Tis the season to be giving.  We all have our List of favorites to give to, but may I invite you to add one more to your list.  My favorite this year - www.operationsmile.org.  This is a group of dedicated men and women focused on giving a new smile, thus a new world to afflicted children all over the world. 

We all were young once.  We all remember that it was always the weaker child - the child with a limp, or a lisp, for example -  that was bullied or ridiculed.  We couldn't do much then.  But we're adults now, and together we can make a difference in that weaker child's life.  Let's give him a new smile, a new confidence to face the world.  Please visit their website and give with a smile.

Many happy returns to you always.   

It is my secret joy to come to Lottery Post, browse thru the forums, post a comment or two - anonymously.

Then I go to the Blog section, go thru the titles, read some entries, may post my thoughts - anonymously.

And finally, I come to my blog, put my hair down, throw caution to the wind, and away I go, revealing the recesses of my mind - anonymously.

Isn't that fun.  Feeling invincible while wearing the armor of anonymity.

Mike Huckabee.  Yes, that's the name that entered my mind right now, so that's what I'll talk about.  Haven't heard the name till he joined the list of presidential hopefuls.  Heard him during the first GOP debate, and was impressed.  He was articulate, eloquent, and knows his audience. 

I heard him again before the National Rifle Assoc.(NRA).  Again, he was very good.  No doubt he is a good speaker and looks presidential.  I wanted to know more about him so I googled him.  Now I'm considering him to be the one I'll support, maybe.

So far, I am not excited by any of the GOP candidates.  I'm sure however, that Rudy Gulliani will not be getting my vote.  No sir, I think he is short- tempered and intolerant and married many times.  I don't know why, but he repels me.

Well, that's all for tonite.  Myu-myu, my kitty is curled up on my lap as usual.  She'll wake up when she hears the computer logging off.  This little animal is my joy, too.  But it's no secret.

 

 

It's one of those nights.  It's nearly 3:00 a.m. and I'm wide awake.  Myu-myu, my kitty (the former Miss Yow Ling) is keeping me company.  Funny this little kitty - she sleeps when I sleep; eats when I eat; goes to her litterbox when I go to the bathroom;  follows me around the house...

I was reading an article, "Shoot to the Stars" by Donald Trump.  Reminds me of what my Dad used to say, while looking at me in all seriousness and pointing a hand to the heavens, "My child, shoot your arrow to the brightest star..."  My dad, he loved to speak in quotations.

Back to this article by Mr. Trump. He says, "Explore how to make everything you tackle, bigger, better, bolder and more exciting.

"Don't limit yourself.  If you're going to be thinking, you might as well think big.  Start with your own mind-set."

Well, Mr. Trump  I'll keep your advice in mind.  I believe you.  You have proven it over and over again in your own life. 

Which reminds me of these self-proclaimed late-nite gurus of wealth-building.  They brag about their fame and wealth and their millionaire lifestyles, but how come I've never heard of them away from their own infomercials?  I don't read about them in Forbes.  I am reminded of my dad again.  He would tell me, "My child, if you see someone proclaiming himself, thumping his chest, and tooting his own horn - FLEE.  He's up to no good."

Oh well. 

 

 

A 16-year old black male, high school student in the small town (population, less than 3,000) of Jena, Louisiana was charged and convicted of aggravated second-degree battery.

Tried and convicted by an ALL-WHITE jury.  Why?  Where is the jury of his peers?

This young teen was tried as an adult.  Why?

This young teen did not present any case.  Why?

Where was his defense counsel in all of these?

I'm glad his conviction was overturned.  This young man may have committed a crime, but he must be given an equal playing field to defend himself.  Otherwise,  there is no justice. 

 

Couple of weeks ago, I got this e-mail: 

"... On July 6, President Bush will turn 61 years old.  In our family, birthdays are special occasions that always include family and close friends..." 

Laura Bush

 And so to the President, I greet him "Happy Birthday!" 

I have just finished blogging, but everything I've written just disappeared on me when I hit the wrong button.  I titled it "New Year, New Beginning".  Now, I have to start all over.  This time, I've decided on "Random Thoughts".

Someone gave me a cat last Thanksgiving.  Right now she is fast asleep on my lap as I blog.  She has her right front paw covering her eyes.  She follows me around the house even to the bathroom.  I named her Miss Yow Ling 'cause she yowls.

The other day, I had guests.  I warned them not to let my cat out.  Later that evening, one of my guests said he saw the cat run out the front door.  We started looking for her- in the garden, on the street, asking neighbors.  No cat!  I became alarmed as I walked back to the house.  As I opened the closet to put back my coat, my cat jumped out.  She must have gone inside the closet and no one noticed.  Anyway, I was so happy to see her.

Well, now.  Enough of Miss Yow Ling.  I'll tell you more about her later.  She's a great addition to my household.  She's awake now and  starting to groom herself.  After grooming herself, she usually grooms me too.  She jumps on my desk and grooms my eyes, eyebrows, and nose.  And then she goes back to my lap and sleep.

Have a happy new year everyone!  Remember, a new year is a new beginning.  Love you all.

Dear Fellow-Californians,

In the upcoming November 7 elections, we will be voting for Justices of the State Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals and Judges of the Superior Court.  As we all know, these judicial officials render decisions that affect our everyday lives.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association (www.lacba.org) does an independent and thorough evaluation of each candidate, and rates each candidate as either "well-qualified", "qualified", or "not-qualified".  For more accurate details, please visit their website.

See ya' at the polls.

 

 

 

... He will kiss the hand that had no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come encounter with the roughness of the world...  When all other friends desert, he remains.  The one absolute friend that man can have in this selfish world - the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous -  his dog.  (George G. Vest)

Printed at the bottom of my October desk-calendar.

 

I'll never change my destination if I never try,

So I will sail my vessel 'til the river runs dry.

Too many times we stand aside and let the water slip away.

To what we put off 'til tomorrow has now become today.

So don't you sit upon the shore and say you're satisfied -

Choose to chase the rapids and dare to change the tides.

(Garth Brooks w/ Victoria Shaw, "The River")

                                                                             

Dear Fellow-Californians,

I have just received my absentee ballot.  We are now in that time when we are given the chance to exercise our right to vote.  Please take the time to vote.  We all are in this together.  If you don't vote, then you should not complain how our government is doing. 

No matter whom you're voting for, please vote.  For me, my guiding requirement on whom to vote for is DD.  Who is DRIVEN, and who can DELIVER.  Someone who can GET THINGS DONE.  Someone who LISTENS.  Less talk, more action. 

I am re-electing Schwarzenegger for Governor.  He is DRIVEN.  He has delivered, he gets things done, and he listens.  For example, Governor Schwarzenegger has effectively worked to bring more of our federal tax dollars home to California.

- Governor Schwarzenegger brought home $28.22 Billion in transportation funding through 2010.

- Governor Schwarzenegger won $28.4 Billion for the safety net hospital system, providing care for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and the uninsured.

- Governor Schwarzenegger won $395 Million worth of continued federal support for the important CALFED water program.

- Even before Hurricane Katrina illustrated the devastation caused by failed levees, Governor Schwarzenegger secured $40.9 Million for levee and flood-control  work.

- Governor Schwarzenegger won additional money increasing the amount of federal money spent on the states's transportation projects by 30 %.

Friends, next time you drive through our towns and cities, take a moment to notice the miles and miles of roads and bridges being re-built and expanded.  Take a moment to notice that our environment is a little cleaner.  We are not yet there, but it is a good start.  Less talk, more action!

Before I close, I want to mention a few of what Governor Schwarzenegger has done to make California safer:

- The Governor established the State Terrorism Threat Assessment Center to streamline information-sharing between federal and state law enforcement.

- The Governor allocated Homeland Security funds to strengthen security at eleven key California ports.

- The Governor proposed the landmark Jessica's Law to toughen regulations regarding convicted sex offenders.

There are much, much more accomplishments already done, and more to come.  I invite you to join with us to VICTORY! 

            www.joinarnold.com

 

 

Dear Fellow-Californians,

Do you remember that time, some 3 years ago, when we went through that long and tedious process of recalling the previous governor, and reasons why we did that?

Do you remember the terrible economic conditions we had that led to this historic recall? 

Our state was more than $27 BILLION IN DEBT, workers' compensation rates were rising dramatically, businesses were leaving California, and our vehicle tax had just tripled - just to name a few.

As of today, let us look at what our present governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has accomplished in so short a time:

- Repealed the unfair tripling of the car tax that penalized you and I - hardworking Californians for the mistakes of politicians

- Repealed the law which gave driver licenses to illegal immigrants

- Reformed our workers' compensation system that will fight fraud, save businesses billions of dollars and protect injured workers

- Passed 2 state budgets with no tax increases (and he is on track to pass a third)

- Defeated a number of special interest ballot initiatives that would have raised taxes, hurt businesses, watered own the 3-Strikes Law, and undercut his ability to control growth of gambling throughout California

Yes, all these were done in just 3 short years.  And there is much more:

- 500,000 new jobs created

- $17.4 BILLION increase in state revenue, all without raising taxes.

To me, all of the above are good enough reasons to RE-ELECT SCHWARZENEGGER, but there is more, which I will share with you next time...

www.joinarnold.com