Spin City. (Can of Worms).

.

.
.
Good Morning Everyone;
At least it was for me until someone questioned my veracity...

Earlier this morning, I read an email from a group I once belonged to. The writer was not vague about WHO she spoke of; (actually she named me specifically).
Not only was this sentence there, " I can understand that, as it takes a certain strength of character to remain... [positive, compassionate, warmhearted when dealing with sick people every day]..."  etc etc etc... blah blah blah.

Be that as it may, she not only questioned my inner strength, she twisted many of my words- Some (using my words as her own)- to pat herself on the back with- Others being blatant lies.
Perhaps too, being more than a little sleep deprived, I have made a mountain out of a molehill.
But when someone basically calls me a liar, it hurts my heart.

• Do I embellish a bit on describing a photo or two? Yes. I do. But otherwise my content is true.
• Did this happen on my blogs? No. It did not.

I have worn MANY hats, in my adult life, (and probably an equal number of "labels"); but at no point has anyone rightfully called me a liar. There have been those who have tried. None of them were ever right.

I have basically come to terms with all the lies told about me during childhood and teenage years-

All that growing up BS that should have been outgrown long ago by my sister, but sadly was not. (In the end this is Mary's problem, not mine).
Oh we all have stories to tell about being on the wrong side of the accusation...

My apologies, I have digressed. Mary is NOT what my feelings are of today. (But I do believe that is where my sensitivity to lies came from).
Nor have I forgotten what it feels like to have someone be untruthful.

Having been made to "prove" myself, time and time, (and time again), I learned very early on to save, file, and document things that got said and/or written about/to me.
(I still have all of my ex-husbands letters to me, as he wrote each and every time to apologize for beating the crap out of me. And we were divorced in 1980)!

Again I have digressed.

And so it goes in this wonderful computer age as well?

I still have the first real email letter I have ever received from anyone. All the way up to the present.
Lots of files there too that could blow a few fish out of the water!
Mostly though, they really are "happy" files. (No I do not save jokes and fwd's).

Save for the "little white lies" I believe it IS the principle of the matter; and that there is never an excuse for lying.

Am I wrong?
Is it too much to ask for black and white?
Or are there truly shades of gray?

What is the worst lie anyone told about/to you?
You know, the one you won't forget it ever because of how much it hurt. Please know that this is certainly NOT the worst anyone has done. In fact, ignorance can be even laughable most days.
Still, it sent me way back...

My apologies for the rant. Please let me know.

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

free hit counters

Originally posted to my Y! 360 Saturday January 31, 2009

More "BS" for Casey. (Pancreatic Enzymes, Pain Pills, ETC recalled).

(The "ETC" above might be of interest to many of you).

.

.

Does this ever end for Casey???
Dare I ask "what next"?

.

.

.

CaseyAnne with The Punk!

.
.

.

.
Good Morning Everyone;
As you ALL know by now, Casey has had her TP/AIT Transplant.
Her pancreas is gone completely, and she must now check her blood sugars every day, 4 times a day.
Also, she must take her digestive enzymes before, during and after each meal. To not do this would leave her with intense pain from the food being completely undigested.

She has been on enzymes for years before her surgery already, so this was no big deal for her after her transplant.

Fast forward to yesterday.

She needed her enzymes prescription refilled. So off to the pharmacy. At Oneida, she does not pay for these prescriptions, so it it obvious where she needs to pick them up. (Saving us about $200.00 month).

They did not have the correct ones.

• She uses the ones that dissolve in her stomach and NOT her intestines.
• They only carry the intestinal ones.

After arguing with the pharmacist who told her they couldn't (wouldn't) get them in, she had no choice but to take what was given to her.

We broke one open. It was not powder that could have been taken with meals. Instead, it was filled with hard little balls that obviously could not be crushed.

Then came lunch.
Casey needs to take this new prescription 1/2 hour before she can put anything in her mouth. (The other script from Dr. Sutherland dissolves immediately in her stomach, allows her to take them right before she eats, and while she is eating also).
She takes at least 4 (of either), with each meal or snack.

Lunchtime then called for a contact to the doctor- Would the new enzymes still work in her stomach even though they did not open until they reached the intestines?
A good question that needed answering.
Casey called, the nurse thought 'yes'.
And so we ate. With no complications during or after her meal.

A good thing. And another hurdle was cleared.

Well, until I came online last night...

Casey had left hours before, expecting company at her home. I had these two links in my inbox CLICK HERE or HERE if you are taking painkillers or digestive enzymes from either Ther-Rx Corporation OR ETHEX Corporation. (Or click on the names of the companies).
I forwarded the links to Casey immediately, and called to tell her to check them.

The digestive enzymes she hadn't wanted to take in the first place are a part of a nationwide recall.

Since she still had the prescription bottle with refills from Minnesota, I told her to call a few pharmacies in Green Bay and to bring her empty prescription bottle from Dr. Sutherland to get a refill.

No easy task. Those pills were not to be found anywhere in Green Bay, but if she wanted to drive to Appleton, (40 miles south), one pharmacy did have them.
Taking the recalled variety was not an option, (nor is NOT eating anything for three days while the pharmacies order them for her). She opted to drive down there at 8:30 at night.

I got the phone number of the pharmacy from her while she was in transit, and called to give them my credit card information.
No. They would not take it over the phone.
WHAT?!? (I do this at CVS here in town all the time)!

I asked for the manager.
"Ed" came on the line, and I explained the situation, (her surgeries and the importance of these pills) to him. He said he could not do that either.
Long story short(er)... If Casey brought the credit card info in they would run it that way.

Thank God.
She now has the proper enzymes to take.
Not sure what to do about the recalls and all. Probably return the prescription to Oneida. And I will probably have to demand that they order the correct prescription in.
This is something she absolutely needs to take for her entire life. Why would they not accommodate her?
I shall just have to find out.

Time for me to fly!
Wishing you all a safe, (and an ice-free) Thursday.

XOXO
Anne

Free Site Counter

Please click the links above for ALL recalled drugs.
But here are the email notifications I received.

"Ther-Rx Corporation Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Products"

Contact:
Tammy Butler, Customer Service Manager
1-877-567-7676

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- St. Louis, Jan. 28, 2009 – Ther-Rx Corporation, a subsidiary of KV Pharmaceutical (NYSE: KVa/KVb), is issuing, as previously disclosed by KV Pharmaceutical Company on January 26, 2009, a voluntary nationwide recall of the products identified below (all lots within expiration) as a precautionary measure because they may have been manufactured under conditions that did not sufficiently comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).

One of the products, Gynazole-1, was also distributed internationally to Eastern Europe, South America, Asia, and Canada.

Products Recalled to WHOLESALE Level:

Gynazole-1®, NDC 64011-0001-08
Clindesse®, NDC 64011-0124-08
microK® Extencaps® 8mEq 100, NDC 64011-0010-04  
microK® Extencaps® 8mEq UD, NDC 64011-0010-11
microK® Extencaps® 8mEq 500, NDC 64011-0010-08
microK® Extencaps® 10mEq 100, NDC 64011-0009-04
microK® Extencaps® 10mEq UD, NDC 64011-0009-11
microK® Extencaps® 10mEq 500, NDC 64011-0009-08

Any customer inquiries related to this action should be addressed to Ther-Rx Customer Service at (877) 567-7676, or faxed to Ther-Rx Customer Service at (314) 646-3701, or e-mailed to info@ther-rx.com. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm CST.

www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/therrx01_09.html

~~~~~~~~~~~

"ETHEX Corporation Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Products"

Contact:
Ann McBride
1-800-748-1472

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - St. Louis, Jan. 28, 2009 – ETHEX Corporation, a subsidiary of KV Pharmaceutical (NYSE: KVa/KVb), is issuing, as previously disclosed by KV Pharmaceutical Company on January 26, 2009, a nationwide voluntary recall of the products identified below (all lots within their expiration dates) at a wholesale or a retail level as a precautionary measure because they may have been manufactured under conditions that did not sufficiently comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).

Products Recalled to WHOLESALE Level:

Amlodipine Besylate Tablets, 10mg (58177-538-26 & 538-11)
Amlodipine Besylate Tablets, 2.5mg (58177-536-26)
Amlodipine Besylate Tablets, 5mg (58177-537-26, 537-07 & 537-11)
Benazepril HCl Tablets, 10mg (58177-342-04 & 342-08)
Benazepril HCl Tablets, 20mg (58177-343-04 & 343-08)
Benazepril HCl Tablets, 40mg, (58177-344-04 & 344-08)
Benazepril HCl Tablets, 5mg (58177-341-04)
Benzonatate Capsules, 100mg (58177-091-04 & 091-08)
Benzonatate Capsules, 200mg (58177-092-04 & 092-08)
Bromfenex ER Capsules (58177-019-04)
Bromfenex PD ER Capsules (58177-020-04)
Buspirone HCl Tablets, 10mg (58177-265-04 & 265-08)
Buspirone HCl Tablets, 15mg (58177-309-04 & 309-08)
Buspirone HCl Tablets, 5mg (58177-264-04 & 264-08)

Codeine Phosphate/Guaifenesin Tablets, 10mg (58177-223-04)
Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablets, 10mg (58177-312-04)
Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablets, 5mg (58177-311-04)
Dextroamphetamine Tablets, 10mg (58177-312-04)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 120mg (58177-061-11)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 120mg (58177-061-19 & 061-26)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 180mg (58177-062-09 & 062-11)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 180mg (58177-062-19 & 062-26)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 240mg (58177-063-09 & 063-11)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 240mg (58177-063-19 & 063-26)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 300mg (58177-064-19 & 064-26)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 360mg (58177-065-09 & 065-11)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 360mg (58177-065-19 & 065-26)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 420mg (58177-066-09 & 066-11)
Diltiazem HC1 Capsules, 420mg (58177-066-19 & 066-26)
Disopyramide Phosphate ER Capsules, 150mg (58177-002-04)
Doxazosin Mesylate Tablets, 1mg (58177-266-04 & 266-08)
Doxazosin Mesylate Tablets, 2mg (58177-267-04 & 267-08)
Doxazosin Mesylate Tablets, 4mg (58177-268-04 & 268-08)
Doxazosin Mesylate Tablets, 8mg (58177-269-04 & 269-08)
Ethedent Chewable Tablets, .25mg (58177-432-40)
Ethedent Chewable Tablets, .5mg (58177-433-40 & 433-09)
Ethedent Chewable Tablets, 1mg (58177-434-40 & 434-09)
EthexDerm BPW-10, 10% (58177-929-65)
EthexDerm BPW-5, 5%    (58177-928-65)
Ethezyme 650 (58177-868-02)
Ethezyme 830 Papain-Urea (58177-816-02)
Ethezyme Papain-Urea (58177-804-02)
ETH-Oxydose Concentrated Solution (58177-914-04 & 914-56)
Guaifenex DM ER Tablets (58177-213-04)
Guaifenex GP ER Tablets (58177-373-04)
Guaifenex PSE 120 ER Tablets (58177-208-04)
Guaifenex PSE 60 ER Tablets (58177-214-04)
Guaifenex PSE 80 Tablets (58177-413-04)
Guaifenex PSE 85 Tablets (58177-478-04)
Hista-Vent DA Tablets (58177-227-04)
Hista-Vent PSE tablets (58177-426-04)
Histinex HC Liquid (58177-877-07 & 877-12)
Histinex PV Liquid (58177-883-07)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate & Acetaminophen Liquid     (58177-909-07)
Hydrocodone Bitartrate/Guaifenesin Liquid (58177-881-07)
Hydrocortisone and Iodoquinol Cream, 1%   (58177-803-02)
Hydroquinone 4% Cream w/SS, 1oz. (58177-802-02)
Hydroquinone 4% Cream, 1oz. (58177-801-02)
Hydro-Tussin CBX Liquid (58177-924-07)
Hydro-Tussin DHC Syrup (58177-926-07)
Hydro-Tussin DM Liquid (58177-906-07)
Hydro-Tussin EXP Liquid (58177-927-07)
HydroTussin HC Syrup (58177-915-07)
Hydro-Tussin Liquid (58177-890-07)
Hydro-Tussin XP Liquid (58177-916-07)
Hyoscyamine Orally Disintegrating Tablets, .125mg (58177-423-04)
Hyoscyamine Sublingual Tablets, .125mg (58177-255-04)
Hyoscyamine Sulfate ER   Tablets, .375mg (58177-237-04)
Hyoscyamine Sulfate ER Capsules, .375mg (58177-017-04)
Hyoscyamine Sulfate Oral Tablets, .125mg (58177-274-04)
Isosorbide Mononitrate ER Tablets, 120mg (58177-201-04)

Isosorbide Mononitrate ER Tablets, 30mg (58177-222-04, 222-08 & 222-11)
Isosorbide Mononitrate ER Tablets, 60mg (58177-238-04, 238-08 & 238-11)
Meperidine/Promethazidne Capsules (58177-027-04)
Morphine InveAmp, 20mg x 1mL (58177-886-56)
Morphine InveAmp, 5mg/.25mL (58177-888-80)
Morphine Sulfate Concentrated Oral Solution 20mg/1ml   (58177-886-01, 886-03 &886-05)
Morphine Sulfate Concentrated Oral Solution, 20mg/1ml   (58177-886-57)
Morphine Sulfate ER Tablets, 100mg (58177-340-04)
Morphine Sulfate ER Tablets, 15mg (58177-310-04)
Morphine Sulfate ER Tablets, 200mg (58177-380-04)
Morphine Sulfate ER Tablets, 30mg (58177-320-04)
Morphine Sulfate ER Tablets, 60mg (58177-330-04)
Morphine Sulfate IR Tablets, 15mg (58177-313-04)
Morphine Sulfate IR Tablets, 30mg (58177-314-04)
NitroQuick Sublingual Tablets, .3mg (58177-323-04)
NitroQuick Sublingual Tablets, .4mg (58177-324-18 & 324-04)
NitroQuick Sublingual Tablets, .6mg (58177-325-04)
Nystatin Topical Powder,  USP 15 grams (58177-839-45)
Nystatin Topical Powder, USP 30 grams (58177-839-46)
Nystatin Topical Powder, USP 60 grams (58177-839-61)
Ondansetron Orally Disintegrating Tablets, 4mg (58177-363-22)
Ondansetron Orally Disintegrating Tablets, 8mg (58177-364-22 & 364-56)
Oxycodone HCl Capsules, 5mg   (58177-041-04 & 041-11)
Oxycodone HCl IR Tablets,  10mg (58177-461-04)
Oxycodone HCl IR Tablets,  15mg, (58177-445-04)
Oxycodone HCl IR Tablets,  20mg (58177-462-04)
Oxycodone HCl IR Tablets, 30mg (58177-446-04)
Oxycodone HCl IR Tablets, 5mg (58177-625-04 & 625-11)
Pangestyme CN 20 (58177-030-04)
Pangestyme CN10   (58177-029-04)
Pangestyme EC 100 (58177-031-04)
Pangestyme EC 250   (58177-031-06)
Pangestyme MT16  (58177-028-04)
Pangestyme UL12  (58177-048-04)
Pangestyme UL18  (58177-049-04)
Pangestyme UL20   (58177-050-04)
PhenaVent Capsules (58177-078-19)
PhenaVent D Tablets (58177-444-04)
PhenaVent LA Capsules (58177-095-19)
PhenaVent PED Capsules (58177-079-04)
Plaretase 800  (58177-416-04 & 416-08)
Potassium Chloride ER Capsules, 10mEq (58177-001-04, 001-08, 001-09, & 001-11)
Potassium Chloride ER Capsules, 8mEq (58177-677-04 & 677-08)
Potassium Chloride ER Tablets, 20mEq (58177-202-04, 202-08, 202-09 & 202-11)
Prednisolone Sodium Oral Solution (58177-932-05)
Prednisolone Syrup 15mg/5mL  (58177-910-05 & 910-07)
Prednisolone Syrup 5mg/5mL (58177-912-03)
Propafenone HCl Tablets, 150mg (58177-331-04 & 331-11)
Propafenone HCl Tablets, 225mg (58177-332-04)
Propafenone HCl Tablets, 300mg (58177-333-04)
Pseudovent 400 Capsules (58177-096-04)
Pseudovent Capsules (58177-045-04)
Pseudovent PED Capsules (58177-046-04)
Tri-Vent DM Syrup (58177-925-07)
Tri-Vent DPC Liquid (58177-923-07)
Tri-Vent HC Liquid (58177-920-07)

Products Recalled to RETAIL PHARMACY Level:

Hydromorphone HCl Tablets, 2mg (58177-620-04 & 620-11)
Hydromorphone HCl Tablets, 4mg (58177-621-04 & 621-11)
Hydromorphone HCl Tablets, 8mg (58177-449-04)
Metoprolol Succinate ER Tablets, 50mg (58177-369-04, 369-09 & 369-11)
Metoprolol Succinate ER Tablets, 100mg (58177-368-04, 368-09 & 368-11)
Metoprolol Succinate ER Tablets, 25mg (58177-293-04, 293-09 & 293-11)
Metoprolol Succinate ER Tablets, 200mg (58177-358-04, 358-09 & 358-11)

Any wholesale or retail customer inquiries related to this action should be addressed to ETHEX Customer Service at 1-800-748-1472, faxed to ETHEX Customer Service at 314-646-3788, or e-mailed to customer-service@ethex.com. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm CST.

www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/ethex01_09.html

Peanut Corporation of America Expands Nationwide Recall of Peanut Products

http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/peanutcorp401_09.html
BRACE YOURSELVES... The Plot Sickens...

Sorry, but I really thought the worst was over.
It has only just begun...






Peanut Butter All Styles All Sizes All Lots beginning with 7, 8, or 9
Peanut Paste All Styles All Sizes All Lots beginning with 7,8, or 9
Peanut Meal All Styles All Sizes All lots beginning with 7, 8, or 9
Peanut Granules All Styles All Sizes All lots beginning with 7, 8 or 9
Peanuts All Styles All Sizes All lots beginning with 7, 8 or 9


The recalled peanuts and peanut products were distributed nationwide to institutions, food service industries, and private label food companies as well as and in Canada, Haiti, Korea and Trinidad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In reply to the first comment...
It does state "peanut butter"
My guess is that the peanut butter companies will be following suit shortly...

PCA is voluntarily taking this larger recall action following almost two weeks of inspection and review at the Georgia facility.

The expanded recall includes all peanuts (dry and oil roasted), granulated peanuts, peanut meal, peanut butter and peanut paste. All of the recalled peanuts and peanut products were made only at the company’s Blakely, Georgia facility; the lot numbers and a description of the products being recalled are listed at the end of this release. The Blakely, Georgia facility has stopped producing all peanut products.

Because some of our peanut products have been used by manufacturers of pet food, we are also alerting the public that Salmonella is an organism that can potentially be transferred to people handling pet treats exposed to Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.


~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is how my email read...

"Peanut Corporation of America Expands Nationwide Recall of Peanut Products (January 28)
Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:30:00 -0600

The expanded recall includes all peanuts (dry and oil roasted), granulated peanuts, peanut meal, peanut butter and peanut paste. All of the recalled peanuts and peanut products were made only at the company's Blakely, Georgia facility. The Blakely, Georgia facility has stopped producing all peanut products."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be safe.

XOXO
Anne

Stinky.

.
.
.
Good Morning All;
Mad at my camera- (Probably mad at myself too). I have a huge scratch in my camera lens that I have no idea where it came from. STINK!
At this point I am thinking to buy a new camera instead of replacing the lens. The digital cameras have sure come down in price since I bought my first one; and I will at some point go "in search of"...
I am also thinking that little trip could be lots of fun!

I have been awake since before 3AM- One of those nights where sleep came early, and wouldn't come again... Too easy this way to get my days and nights mixed up.

That is alright for right now though... I prefer to be awake and to turn a faucet on every now and then- 7 below zero right now- Not as bad as yesterday when it was 13 below.

For everyone dealing with the awful ice storms countrywide, my heart goes out to you. If you still have power, run some water now so you have it for when the power goes out.
Truthfully, I would rather deal with the obscene temperatures we have had than all your ice.
STINKY.

I have tried to keep up with the peanut butter barage of recalls.
It is not possible for me to do so.
Please just don't eat anything "peanut".
.
.
?

Pic stolen from FDA Website.
.
.

A bit of info, and a few links for you to check out if you still feel the need to eat peanut butter; or if you would want your own rss info.

RSS Feeds: http://www.fda.gov/oc/rss/

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm
Search for Peanut Butter Product Recalls

"It typically takes 2-3 weeks for Salmonella infections. That means that someone who got sick last week is very unlikely to have been reported yet, and someone who got sick three weeks ago may just be reported now."
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/epi_curve.html


A-Z Index Click for info on diseases from ADHD, Birth defects, vector reform diseases, zoonotic diseases and everything inbetween

****This statement was WAY TOO VAGUE for me.

"It ...is not known to be distributed for retail sale in grocery stores."
Wait... HUH???
STINKY!
.
I had to go into town two days ago- On my way out of the 2nd driveway, something caught my attention, reflecting the sunlight...
.
.
?

This was not at the end of the driveway,
nor was it within tossing distance from the road.
Kinda freaky~ Definitely stinky.
It serves to remind me that I like Milly outside.
Just too cold yet to leave her out overnight.

.
And unless I have become a sleep walker/drinker, it sure isn't mine.
Of course maybe if I had drank one or two I wouldn't have any problems sleeping!

Worse now.
The good news first.
Mr Sputty-Cat is doing his job! (Say "yay").
The bad news? I CAN'T FIND THE DEAD VARMINT!!!
It is in the back entrance. Somewhere. But I am glad it is back there I suppose.
Talk about stinky~poo.

Have a "wunnaful" Wednesday! Love to all.

XOXO
Me

Free Web Site Counters

Originally posted to my Y! 360, Wednesday January 28, 2009 - 09:09am (CST

Hello! - Birthday Celebration!!!

http://edbdkcn.multiply.com/journal/item/98
hehehe

Too lazy to blog today! You shall have to click the link above and read Casey's own blog about her birthday party!

Love to all.

XOXO
Anne

One of Them... Happily!

hehehe
My front porch!

.
.
Good Morning Everyone!
A mite chilly here today- My own thermometer reading at 7 below zero. I think we are to get to about 5 above.
But it should be warm by 11:00 at The Olive Garden!?
Sheesh, I sure hope so.

Those of you in the area, please come celebrate with us all.

I do not have much news- (Same old, same old on the homefront here).

But it does occur to me that for all practical intents and purposes, today SHOULD HAVE BEEN Casey's birthday.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, she was an eager little one. It was myself that was quite stubborn.
I awoke that Saturday, barely getting to the upstairs toidy... Not unheard of for a full term girl on her 4th child.
No big deal then, or so I thought.
Downstairs to turn on the coffee and to prepare breakfast for our 5 little kids. Zoe. Jenne. Reianna. Roberta. And Daniel.
They would all wake soon, with hungry tummies...
But oops, getting my ingredients out, I had to use the little girls room once more. (WTH)?
And so it went all morning long...
I called my friend Rhonda and asked her for a pad. She said "WHAT?".
I explained. She giggled. And brought a few over for me.

And so went my weekend. I learned that a 4th child does not like dancing to "Walking On Sunshine" all that much. Nor did I come to think of it.
I had always heard stories about pregnant women who might leak a bit of urine towards the end of their pregnancies, but surely I was never one of them! (Not 'til THAT weekend anyway)...
Oh well, there are worse things.

On Monday morning, I brought Dennis to work so I could have the car; and finally called my doctor- He wanted to see me almost immediately.

The kids were all at school, and off I went.

A cursory exam revealed that it was probably urine...
(Sheesh, I was now "one of those women").

I had a regular scheduled appointment the next day- So a more thorough exam was given so I could cancel that one.
Long story short, and right after my water broke all over the good doctors office, he says, "Scratch that, it WAS your water."
hehehe (I was NOT one of the leakers after all)! But I would have been. And very happily so!

So you see, this little girl was trouble from the onset.
If I hadn't been so busy, Casey's birthday WOULD have been today!
.
.

Stolen marshmallows and hiding too.
.
.

Later, trouble came in two's...

.
.
?

.
.
?

Jenny Mella will be celebrating with us today also.
She has also just had her 22nd birthday!

.
.
.


.
.
.
.

Time for a nice warm shower!
And I hope you all have a "fantabulous" Saturday! I intend to!

Love to all.

XOXO
Me

Web Counter

Originally posted to my Y! 360, Saturday January 24, 2009 - 08:24am (CST)

Correction: "Saturday" Birthday Celebration

Start:

Jan 24, '09 11:00a

At "The Olive Garden"
Caseys 22nd Birthday!

Be there!

XOXO
Anne

PS
My apologies to those of you who saw that I did not specify "SATURDAY" in my previous posting!
Oops.

Peanut Butter Recall~ (The Keebler Elves are Sick).

Rating:	★
Category:	Other

Although current as of the date of post, THIS IS ONLY A PARTIAL LISTING!
PLEASE GO TO WWW.FDA.GOV FOR CURRENT LISTINGS

For the latest information on the outbreak and the epidemiological investigation, including number of illnesses and a list of states reporting illnesses, go to the CDC web page at www.cdc.gov.

For consumers

* Do not eat products that have been recalled and throw them away in a manner that prevents others from eating them. These products include Austin and Keebler brand peanut butter crackers and King Nut brand peanut butter produced since July 1, 2008. (FDA's web site has recalled lot numbers).
* Postpone eating other peanut butter containing products (such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream) until more information becomes available about which brands may be affected.
* Use FDA's online database to check if foods you're concerned about are on the recall list.
* Call the consumer hotline phone number that may be on any product packaging you have to get information directly from the product manufacturer.
* Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to consult their health care providers.
* For consumers with pets, please visit Questions and Answers Related to the Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak and Pets.

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/

Recall of Products Containing Peanut Butter: Salmonella Typhimurium
Updated: January 22, 2009 (Current as of 12 noon).

Identification of products subject to recall is continuing and this list is updated frequently.

Questions and Answers Related to the Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak and Pets: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/salmonella_pets.html

***The recall has now been expanded to include some pet food products that contain peanut paste that was made by PCA. While the risk of animals contracting salmonellosis is minimal, there is risk to humans from handling these products. It is especially important for people to wash their hands and make sure children wash their hands after feeding treats to pets. Further information for consumers is located in the Frequently Asked Questions section located on this web site. The pet food products are also included in the searchable data base of recalled products.

This list from here
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm#All


Blanton's Peanut Butter Sticks Blanton's Candies
Hy-Vee People Chow Party Mix and Assorted Truffle Fudge Hy-Vee
Landies Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Landies Candies Co. Inc
South Bend Chocolate Company Assorted chocolates South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Assorted chocolates South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Assorted chocolates South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Assorted chocolates South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Hoosiers South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Hoosiers South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Valentine Heart South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Peanut Butter Fudge South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Hoosiers South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Peanut Butter Meltaway, Milk Chocolate South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Peanut Butter Meltaways-Dark Chocolate South Bend Chocolate Company
South Bend Chocolate Company Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge South Bend Chocolate Company
Wegmans Swiss Recipe Ultimate Peanut Butter Cups Landies Candies Co. Inc
Wegmans Swiss Recipe Medium Chocolate Holiday Platter (Sold between 10-31-08 and 1-21-09) Landies Candies Co. Inc
Wegmans Swiss Recipe Large Chocolate Holiday Platter (Sold between 10-31-08 and 1-21-09) Landies Candies Co. Inc
Wegmans Swiss Recipe Large Chocolate Holiday Platter with Sponge Candy (Sold between 10-31-08 and 1-21-09) Landies Candies Co. Inc
Wegmans Swiss Recipe Ultimate Peanut Butter Cups (sold between 10-31-08 and 1-21-09) Landies Candies Co. Inc
Best Brands Corp. 1.25 oz Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz Custom Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Best Brands Corp. 1.25 oz Custom Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Best Brands Corp. 2 oz Custom Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz Custom Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Precut Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz Custom Reese's® Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Best Brands Corp. 3 oz Original Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz ZT Custom Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Best Brands Corp. 1.5 oz ZT Custom Reese's® Peanut Butter Precut Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Best Brands Corp. Peanut Butter Frozen Cookie Dough Best Brands Corp.
Classic Breaks Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Country Maid Inc.
Cub Foods Peanut Butter Cookies Cub Foods
Cub Foods Peanut Butter Cookies Cub Foods
Cub Foods Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies Cub Foods
Cub Foods Peanut Butter Blossom Tray Cub Foods
Cub Foods Iced Peanut Butter Cookies w/ Chocolate Icing Cub Foods
Evening Rise Peanut Butter Cookies Evening Rise Bread Co.
Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies Kellogg
Food Lion Bake Shop Peanut butter Cookies Ralcorp
Hy-Vee Peanut Butter Cookies Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee Monster Cookies Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee Peanut Butter Reese’s Pieces Cookies Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee Lunchbox Reese’s Pieces Cookies Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee Lunchbox Peanut Butter Cookies Hy-Vee
Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies Kellogg
Lofthouse Peanut Butter Cookies Ralcorp
Lofthouse Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies Ralcorp
Lofthouse Peanut Butter Fudge No-Bake Cookies Ralcorp
Parco Foods Chuck’s Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies Ralcorp
Pastries Plus Gourmet Cookies Ralcorp
WalMart Bakery Peanut Butter Cookie Ralcorp
WalMart Bakery Harvest Peanut Butter Fudge No-Bake Cookies Ralcorp
WalMart Bakery Peanut Butter Fudge No-Bake Cookies Ralcorp
WalMart Bakery Peanut Butter Fudge No-Bake Cookies Ralcorp
Austin Quality Foods Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods Mega Stuffed Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods PB & J Cracker Sandwiches Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods Super Snack Pack Sandwich Crackers Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods Cookie/Cracker Pack Kellogg
Austin Quality Foods Variety Pack Kellogg
Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Kellogg
Keebler Toast & PB'n J Flavored Sandwich Crackers Kellogg
Keebler Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Kellogg
Little Debbie Peanut Butter Toasty sandwich crackers McKee Foods Corporation
Little Debbie Peanut Butter Cheese sandwich crackers McKee Foods Corporation
Meijer Cheese and Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Meijer
Meijer Toasty Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Meijer
Weis Quality Cheese Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Weis Markets
Weis Quality Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers Weis Markets
Eating Right Apples with Peanut Butter ("Sell by" dates of 12/27/08 to 2/2/09) Ready Pac Foods, Inc.
Eating Right Celery with Peanut Butter ("Sell by" dates of 12/27/08 to 2/2/10) Ready Pac Foods, Inc.
H-E-Buddy Celery with Peanut Butter with expiration dates: Jan. 16-18 & Jan. 20-22 H-E-B
H-E-Buddy Apples with Peanut Butter: with expiration dates: Jan. 16, Jan. 18-23 & Jan. 25-26 H-E-B
H-E-Buddy Snack Tray with two dips: with expiration dates: Jan. 16-17, Jan. 29, & Jan. 21-22 H-E-B
Ready Pac Cool Cuts Celery with Peanut Butter ("Sell by" dates of 12/27/08 to 2/2/09) Ready Pac Foods, Inc.
Trader Joe's Celery with Peanut Butter ("Sell by" Dates of 12/27/08 to 2/2/09) Ready Pac Foods, Inc.
Trader Joe's Celery with Peanut Butter ("Sell by" dates of 12/27/08 to 2/2/10) Ready Pac Foods, Inc.
Meijer Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice Cream Meijer
Meijer Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Meijer
Perry's Premium Peanut Butter Cup Craze Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Perry's Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Perry's Peanut Butter Chip Frozen Yogurt Perry's Ice Cream Company
Perry's Peanut Butter Sundae Crunch Ice Cream Bar Perry's Ice Cream Company
Perry's Premium Peanut Butter Fudge Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Perry's Perfectly Churned Light Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Perry's Light Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Light Ice Cream (“Sell by” date of 8-13-09 followed by 49-70) Kroger Co.
Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold ("Sell by" date of 9-13-2009) Kroger Co.
Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream "Sell by" date of 8-11-2009 Kroger Co.
Shurfine Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Wegman's Chocolate Nutty Cone Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Wegman's Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Wegman's Peanut Butter Swirl Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Wegman's Peanut Butter Sundae Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Wegman's Peanut Butter Pretzel Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Wegman's Peanut Butter Crunch Ice Cream Bar Perry's Ice Cream Company
Wegman's Peanut Butter Candy Sundae Cup Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
Wegman's Peanut Butter Sundae Cup Ice Cream Perry's Ice Cream Company
GRANDE GOURMET Peanut butter and peanut butter and jelly combination products Boca Grande
King Nut Peanut butter King Nut Companies
Parnell's Pride Peanut butter King Nut Companies
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter with Sugar Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Crunchy Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Old Fashion Creamy Peanut Butter with 1% Salt Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Old Fashioned Crunchy Peanut Butter w/ 1% Salt Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Crunchy Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Crunchy Natural Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Natural Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Sugar Free Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter with Palm Oil Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Dark Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Extra Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Stabilized Peanut Butter w/monodiglyceride Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Crunchy Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Extra Crunchy Stabilized Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Natural Peanut Butter with Stabilizer Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Organic Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Organic Old Fashioned Crunchy Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Organic Crunchy Natural Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Organic Old Fashioned Creamy Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Organic Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Peanut Butter Variegate Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Natural Redskin Peanut Butter with Salt Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Natural Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Dark Roasted Creamy Natural Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Feed Grade Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Creamy Natural Peanut Butter Peanut Corporation of America
POCO PAC Peanut butter and peanut butter and jelly combination products Boca Grande
Unbranded for further distribution Peanut butter and peanut butter and jelly combination products Boca Grande
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Natural Course Peanut Paste Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Peanut Paste Peanut Corporation of America
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Coarse Natural Paste Peanut Corporation of America
Grreat Choice Small Assorted Petsmart
Grreat Choice Small/Medium Assorted Petsmart
Grreat Choice Small/Medium Assorted Petsmart
Grreat Choice Small/Medium Assorted Petsmart
Grreat Choice Large Assorted Petsmart
Grreat Choice Extra Large Assorted Petsmart
Grreat Choice Peanut Butter Petsmart
Peanut Corporation of America or Parnell's Pride Pet Food Paste Peanut Corporation of America
Dinners Ready Asian Marinated Flank Steak with Sesame Vegetable Stir Fry (November & December menus) Dinners Ready Meridian
Dinners Ready Indonesian Chicken with Coconut Rice (November & December menus) Dinners Ready Meridian
Dinners Ready Chicken Satay & Bangkok Peanut Sauce with Jasmine Rice (November & December menus) Dinners Ready Meridian
CLIF BAR Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch - Best by: 21JUN09 to 01OCT09 and 03NOV09 to 28NOV09 Clif Bar & Company
CLIF BAR Crunchy Peanut Butter - Best by: 21JUN09 to 01OCT09 and 03NOV09 to 28NOV09 Clif Bar & Company
CLIF BAR Peanut Toffee Buzz - Best by: 13SEP09 Clif Bar & Company
CLIF BAR Builder’s Peanut Butter - Best by: 19JUL09 to 30SEP09 and 05NOV09 to 18NOV09 Clif Bar & Company
CLIF BAR Kid Organic ZBaR Peanut Butter - Best by: 07JUL09 to 05SEP09 and 12NOV09 Clif Bar & Company
Evening Rise Peanut Butter Bars Evening Rise Bread Co.
Health Valley Organic Peanut Crunch Chewy Granola Bars Lovin Oven LLC
JamFrakas Peanut Butter Blisscrisp flavor snack bars General Mills
LÄRABAR Peanut butter cookie flavor snack bars General Mills
LUNA Nutz Over Chocolate - Best by: 29JUL09 to 03OCT09 and 11NOV09 to 14NOV09 Clif Bar & Company
LUNA Peanut Butter Cookie - Best by: 02OCT09 to 03OCT09 and 11NOV09 to 14NOV09 Clif Bar & Company
MOJO Honey Roasted Peanut - Best by: 30APR09 to 21JUN09 Clif Bar & Company
MOJO Mixed Nuts - Best by: 30APR09 to 21JUN09 Clif Bar & Company
MOJO Mountain Mix - Best by:30APR09 to 21JUN09 Clif Bar & Company
MOJO Peanut Butter Pretzel - Best by:30APR09 to 21JUN09 Clif Bar & Company
MOJO Dipped Chocolate Peanut- Best by: 30APR09 - 21JUN09 Clif Bar & Company
MOJO Dipped Peanut Butter and Jelly- Best by: 30APR09 - 21JUN09 Clif Bar & Company
MOJO Dipped Fruit and Nut- Best by: 30APR09 - 21JUN09 Clif Bar & Company
NutriPals Peanut Butter Chocolate nutrition bars Abbott Nutrition
NutriSystem Peanut Butter Granola Bar NutriSystem
Optimum Energy Bars Peanut Butter Flavored Optimum Energy Bars - Best Before 01OCT09A Nature's Path
TITAN Nutrition Bar, Chocolate Peanut Crunch, Best Buy:SEP 04 2009A through DEC 17 2009A Premier Nutrition
TITAN Nutrition Bar, Chocolate Peanut Crunch, Best Buy: SEP 04 2009A through DEC 17 2009A Premier Nutrition
TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Vanilla, Best Buy: AUG 01 2009A through JAN 09 2010A Premier Nutrition
TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Chocolate, Best Buy: AUG 01 2009A through JAN 09 2010A Premier Nutrition
TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Peanut Butter, Best Buy: AUG 01 2009A through JAN 09 2010A Premier Nutrition
TWISTED Nutrition Bar, Best Buy: 07/01/09 through 01/09/10 Premier Nutrition
ZonePerfect Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Abbott Nutrition
ZonePerfect Peanut Toffee Bars Abbott Nutrition

Caseys Party Thoughts

Good Wednesday Morning!
A bit wiped out today- Spent yesterday with a migraine from hell. I had run out of my pills and had a script to pick up at the RX store-
I finally went about 4:30 to get it. I hadn't wanted to go earlier- too bright and my eyes would have liquified in the sunshine.
Not too sure that waiting til dusk was a good idea either because then all the cars have their silly lights on. (Falls under "duh").
At any rate, after a restless night- and one of those pills much earlier this morning, I am alive. (Or at least more alive than I was)... hehehe

We are to be back in the deep freeze for the weekend. But until then have some better temps. Up to about 30 today; which is a huge improvement from last week at this time. I shall try to get outside and chip away at that ice and snow on the concrete that has been threatening to knock people on their backsides as of late.

Speaking of the weekend...

**CASEY'S BIRTHDAY at THE OLIVE GARDEN!**

She is telling me 11AM so that is when we will be celebrating!

Not too sure how many of you have had/have very ill, or seriously injured, children; but I know that in this past year I have prayed more for her relief than ever before. I know too that there are those of you who have lost your children-

The fear I knew- such an ugly thing that came from way deep within my gut, when faced with the possibility of losing her was more than I could even handle at times.

It seems as though I even prayed for this next birthday for her; almost as if it was a magical thing...

Yet even as I type, that sense of magic is not lost.


I know too that there are more than a few of you that live around Green Bay.

Please come and share this magical birthday with us.
I promise to take my anti~anxiety pills, (though I cannot promise they will work). Grr...


Yes, Casey still has pain-
It is most probably from her healing duodenum. Part of that was removed to be able to remove the pancreatic duct. The lower part that is left must now be subjected to the more vicious tummy juice. This too shall pass.

It is not the pancreatic pain that she has lived through for the past 3 years.

Slowly but surely I am getting my youngest daughter back.
But for the amazing grace of God.


Please come.  Put your party hats on, and let's make it her very best birthday ever!


XOXO
Anne

Free Counter

Originally posted to my Y! 360, Wednesday January 21, 2009 - 11:04am (CST)

Text of President Barack Obama's inaugural address -

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inauguration_obama_text
My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

The Cheer Heard 'Round the World...

Photo from http://www.whitehouse.gov/

.
.

President Barack Hussein Obama

.
.
.

Article borrowed from HERE

Obama takes office, saying choose 'hope over fear'

By TERENCE HUNT
Associated Press Writer
AP Photo
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
Jan 20, 3:26 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasped the reins of power as America's first black president on Tuesday, declaring the nation must choose "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord" to overcome the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

In frigid temperatures, an exuberant crowd of more than a million packed the National Mall and parade route to celebrate Obama's inauguration in a high-noon ceremony. Waving and cheering in jubilation, they stretched from the inaugural platform at the U.S. Capitol toward the Lincoln Memorial in the distance.

With 11 million Americans out of work and trillions of dollars lost in the stock market's tumble, Obama emphasized that his biggest challenge is to repair the tattered economy left behind by outgoing President George W. Bush.

"Our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed," Obama said. "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin the work of remaking America."

It was a day of high spirits - jarred by sudden concern about the health of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a legendary Democrat who is suffering from brain cancer. He was rushed from a Senate luncheon in honor of Obama. "This is a joyous time but it's also a sobering time," Obama said. "And my prayers are with him and his family and (Kennedy's wife) Vicki."

Obama wove a thread of personal responsibility and accountability through his inaugural address. He spoke of a "new era of responsibility" and alluded to the inability - or unwillingness - of Americans to adjust to the passing of an industrial-based economy. "Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age," he said.

Two years after beginning his improbable quest as a little-known, first-term Illinois senator with a foreign-sounding name, Obama moved into the Oval Office as the nation's fourth-youngest president, at 47, and the first African-American, a barrier-breaking achievement believed impossible by generations of minorities.

He said it was a moment to recall "that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." In another racial reference, he paid tribute to workers in the past who "endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth."

Obama's election was cheered around the world as a sign that America will be more embracing, more open to change. "To the Muslim world," Obama said, "we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect."

Still, he bluntly warned, "To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy."

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist," Obama said in his address, which ran 18 1/2 minutes.

A mighty chorus of cheers erupted as he stepped to the inaugural platform, a midday sun warming the crowd that had waited for hours in the cold. There were some boos when Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney came onto the platform.

The dawn of the new Democratic era - with Obama allies in charge of both houses of Congress - ends eight years of Republican control of the White House by Bush, who leaves Washington as one of the nation's most unpopular and divisive presidents, the architect of two unfinished wars and the man in charge at a time of economic calamity that swept away many Americans' jobs, savings and homes.

Obama called for a political truce in Washington to end "the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

He said that all Americans have roles in rebuilding the nation by renewing the traditions of hard work, honesty and fair play, tolerance, loyalty and patriotism.

With the economy in a long and deepening recession, Obama said it was time for swift and bold action to create new jobs and lay a foundation for growth. Congressional Democrats have readied an $825 billion stimulus plan of tax cuts and spending for roads, bridges, schools, electric grids and other projects.

Contradicting the objections of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton to big government, Obama said, "The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works."

After the ceremony, Obama and his wife escorted Bush and his wife to a helicopter on the East Front of the Capitol for the trip to nearby Andrews Air Force Base and a flight back home to Texas.

In his remarks, Obama took stock of the nation's sobering problems.

"That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood," he said.

"Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened. ... Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."

Outlining goals abroad and putting foes on notice, he declared:

"We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

It was the first change of administrations since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Bush - following tradition - left a note for Obama in the top drawer of his desk in the Oval Office.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said the theme of the message - which Bush wrote on Monday - was similar to what Mr. Bush has said since election night: that Obama is about to begin a "fabulous new chapter" in the United States, and that he wishes him well.

The unfinished business of the Bush administration thrusts an enormous burden onto the new administration, though polls show Americans are confident Obama is on track to succeed. He has cautioned that improvements will take time and that things will get worse before they get better.

Culminating four days of celebration, the nation's 56th inauguration day began for Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden with a traditional morning worship service at St. John's Episcopal Church, across Lafayette Park from the White House. Bells pealed from the historic church's tower as Obama and his wife, Michelle, arrived five minutes behind schedule.

The festivities weren't ending until well after midnight, with dancing and partying at 10 inaugural balls.

By custom, Obama and his wife, and Biden and his wife, Jill, went directly from church to the White House for coffee with Bush and his wife, Laura. Michelle Obama brought a gift for the outgoing first lady in a white box decorated with a red ribbon.

Shortly before 11 a.m., Obama and Bush climbed into a heavily armored Cadillac limousine to share a ride to the Capitol for the transfer of power, an event flashed around the world in television and radio broadcasts, podcasts and Internet streaming.

Just after noon, Obama stepped forward on the West Front of the Capitol to lay his left hand on the same Bible that President Abraham Lincoln used at his first inauguration in 1861. The 35-word oath of office, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, has been uttered by every president since George Washington. Obama was one of 22 Democratic senators to vote against Roberts' confirmation to the Supreme Court in 2005.

The son of a white, Kansas-born mother and a black, Kenya-born father, Obama decided to use his full name in the swearing-in ceremony.

To the dismay of liberals, Obama invited conservative evangelical pastor Rick Warren - an opponent of gay rights - to give the inaugural invocation.

About a dozen members of Obama's Cabinet and top appointees were ready for Senate confirmation Tuesday, provided no objections were raised. But Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas indicated he would block a move to immediately confirm Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Still, she is expected to be approved in a roll call vote Wednesday.

More than 10,000 people from all 50 states - including bands and military units - were assembled to follow Obama and Biden from the Capitol on the 1.5-mile inaugural parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, concluding at a bulletproof reviewing stand in front of the White House. Security was unprecedented. Most bridges into Washington and about 3.5 square miles of downtown were closed.

Among the VIPs at the Capitol was pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the hero of last week's US Airways crash into the Hudson River.

In an appeal for bipartisanship, Obama honored defeated Republican presidential rival John McCain at a dinner Monday night. "There are few Americans who understand this need for common purpose and common effort better than John McCain," Obama said.

Young and untested, Obama is a man of enormous confidence and electrifying oratorical skills. Hopes for Obama are extremely high, suggesting that Americans are willing to give him a long honeymoon to strengthen the economy and lift the financial gloom.

On Wednesday, his first working day in office, Obama is expected to redeem his campaign promise to begin the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq under a 16-month timetable. Aides said he would summon the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Oval Office and order that the pullout commence.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INAUGURATION_RDP?SITE=WIFON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

For the COMPLETE TEXT of President Obama's Inaugural Address, please CLICK HERE.
.
.
I am so proud.
You may not agree with my own little politics, but that's the best part of being American. You don't have to. It's almost magical sometimes.
There is hope, and I have only one thing to add:
If you are not part of the solution, then you are already part of the problem.

XOXO,
Anne
.