"Hint, Hint"

Good Morning All;
We are home. Have been since late Tuesday. And it was an awful drive through "Snowstorm Doug"...

Our 'trip', (and what a road trip it was!), began nice enough-
And I was quite happy to see this sign.
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Oh yeah, Baby!
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I-94 was not bad at all; especially given the fact that Minneapolis had been under a storm warning for 2 days already- We were quite effectively snowed in, in that hotel.

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Smooth sailing on I-94 eastbound
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Almost as soon as I'd thought "well this isn't so bad" the road became downright crappy.
Worse than anything were the underpasses.
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Each and every one of them on our way home had this splotch of ice underneath. 
I slid the 1st few times thinking wth? I have put many, many, miles on driving in winter weather, and have never, ever, seen this phenomenon before.

Every time we went under the overpass, the car/truck slid a bit. Just enough to throw Casey's and my blood pressure up a few notches, and live on adrenalin.
I remain unimpressed.
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Of a sudden, our 4 lane highway turned to 2 lanes...
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Kinda...
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The 2 lane road came and went. When worst comes to worst, you can always drive on the graveled shoulder of the road. (If you can find it without going in the ditch). hehehe

For some reason, with God as our witness, ALL of the darn snowplows were heading west.
Had they been eastbound, then sooner or later one would catch up to them. It didn't happen.
Oh and yes, our road would have been plowed! duh.
Casey and I remarked on their absence more than once.

In some counties there was salt on the shoulders. In others, there was sand spread around between the lanes.
I hadn't wanted to stop.  Drives like this leave me with a very bad case of tunnel vision. I know I want to be home. I know the roads are very bad, and deteriorating with each mile, and no matter how much pain I am in.
I go slow, like the turtle, and thus far it has always paid off. Reasonable speed being the only practical way to drive, adding many silent prayers.
Casey's insides, and Punks bladder (and my own), would not allow for me to drive straight through.

We stopped to feed the girl, and to get gas twice- (That gasoline, just to keep as much weight in the car as was possible). It makes no never mind to me if I have 4~wheel drive. 
* I see LOTS of 4~wheel drives in the ditch and in the snowbanks in Winter. They simply cannot function on ice either.

Put snow over that ice, and you have problems.

Then add more snow...

And finally, a county snowplow in front of us!

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Add lots of wind, and a snowplow in the left lane...
Whenever he hit those drifts it was a complete whiteout in front of me for about 10 precious seconds. We were completely blinded, even staying back the requisite 200 feet.
Since there was NO passing him safely, he remained in front of me until he used an exit lane...
So much for asking for a snowplow.

Highway 29 became this 2 tracking road. I knew the 2nd lane was there, somewhere, I had some room for error..
Some cars passed me. Many 18 wheelers too, yet most remained happily behind me.
Why is it that the smaller the vehicle the faster they go? I will never understand that one.
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The closer we got to home, the more disappearing acts the road did...
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Finally going through Pulaski, and we were on County B.
Say Yay!
Only two nasty hills to deal with. These hills do not bother me overmuch- Maybe because I am close to home; and maybe because as long as the other cars know how to drive then all is well.
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Joy! The snowplow on this county road had gone our way! hehehe
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But that same snowplow, and the snow, had also obscured my driveways.
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Oops, but never mind- (Please refer to the fact that I have 4 wheel drive).
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A little extra push on the gas pedal, and little swing at the end of that driveway, and we were HOME!
And SAFE!
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The tire tracks were from Miss Kelli stopping by earlier to make sure the house was warm for our arrival.
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We weren't home for an hour and a half and Jim pulled in with his snowplow. Thank God for Jim!
I hadn't planned on calling him until Wednesday, but his wife Sarah had driven by on her way home from work and had seen the lights on.
And it was a godsend that he did come because then at least we could get in/out if we needed to.
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I swear my hands are STILL deep red and bruised from holding that steering wheel.

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Casey stayed here until Wednesday evening- Too risky for Greg to have driven out that night.

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Miss Punk, and a very noisy (and indignant) Mr. Sputnik were reunited.
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I have just checked the weather forecast:

"A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING.
THE SNOW WILL QUICKLY SPREAD EASTWARD FRIDAY MORNING...
AND IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST LATE FRIDAY
AFTERNOON. AT THIS TIME...IT APPEARS THAT SNOW ACCUMULATION OF
THREE TO FIVE INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE WARNED AREA."

Oh wait! ~That's the forecast for Prattville, Alabama! hehehe

I sure hope William sends me more pictures, (like this one from last year).
Hint, Hint, William...
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That's my Lawrence! (March/2009).
He will be 10 on the 17th. Time flies.
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Texas already received their snow.
I have zero pictures of Isaiah or Wyatt in the snow.
Hint, Hint, Jenne.

"Hint, Hint" for Chuck, (and Katie, and Kristen, as well) !  hehehe

Uncle Chum called two days ago- He said he is doing well! (Sault Ste Marie, MI) and was going to be calling my Aunt Marlene that night.
She lives in Philadelphia, PA. They have gotten so much snow in the past ten days that it seems to be never ending. Breaking all records...

I'd better close for now, and get on with my day.

Hope you all have heat, electricity and are safe. (And once those things are taken care of then please get out and play in it)! I would love to see you take a picture of your own snow angel.

My love to all

XOXO
Me

Good Tuesday- Good Grief.

Good Morning Everyone-
As we watched the TV on Sunday night, clicking between Titanic and the game, I suddenly felt this awful shooting pain in my back. Not sure what it was- (I hadn't even moved at that point). But it sure took my breath away. I for one can surely think of more pleasant ways to have my breath taken away.

When I awoke yesterday it was obvious that although she was suffering, Casey was in better shape than I was.
I could barely even walk.
A quick phone call to the front desk ensured that Punk would be brought out to relive herself anyway. (Thank the powers that be that they all love this dog of mine)!
As the day progressed, slowly but surely I was able to get around a bit better.
We have been watching the snow fall...




 um, What IS this ?!?!
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Seeing the poor little pup, curled up...
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-and so obviously bored;
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Casey decided to do something about that boredom.
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It was time for a little fun for Casey... and a "pawdicure" for Punk
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Just to help with the chapping, and with those rough edges under the claws.
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A little Vaseline, a little moisturizer with aloe and cucumber too.
And a whole lot of foot massage action!

Afterward, Punk was still bored...
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She is hard to please every now and then,
(but most especially in a little hotel room when she is used to running in the fields).
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Then, a siren, which seemed very close.
And not one of those phony ones on the TV.

Casey and Punk to the window to investigate...
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Yes, it was still snowing! hehehe.
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But the siren WAS very close...
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At the front door of the hotel as a matter of fact.
I do not know what happened, but about 10 minutes later they left with a lady.
No sirens or lights, which is a good thing. (Yes, we did see her move).
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The Moos Tower at night, in the snowfall.
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Anyone wanna hold hands and sit for a while? hehehe
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And this, my friends, is how fast my baby girl heals!
(They even gave her an extra dimple)! hehehe
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Rumor has it that in addition to the snowfall we have gotten here, we will be getting home to another foot of snow as well, whenever that will be.
I suppose there are not two ways around that in February.
(Or maybe Canada is just covering all of her bases)?! hehehe
Yes, I love picking on my Canadian friends!

For now, I must get moving around a bit.
My back did improve yesterday, and up until I went to bed it was quite manageable. I wish to keep it that way.  I am also very happy that I didn't have to drive home yesterday with my back like that.
The forecast today for Green Bay reads as follows:
" 'Dynamic' snow system could bring 10 inches to Green Bay.
Snowfall expected to begin Monday and continue until Wednesday could dump six to 10 inches in and around Green Bay, the National Weather Service said."


Hope all is well, (and cozy), in your little corner of the world!

Love to all

XOXO
Me



Oh and again I ask, what IS this?
Take your best shot. hehehe

The Happy Business of Living...

Good Morning All;
(It will be by the time you read this anyway)! hehehe

Does everyone have plans for The Super Bowl?
And who are ya rootin' for?
Since I will root for the underdog, I will be cheering for The Saints.


Speaking of dogs... (Was too). hehehe


On Friday, Punk caught me nibbling on a potato chip...

She 'sneaks' up to watch, (and to beg for just a little one).
She thinks I don't see her?!?
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She watches as I nibble... Using my two front teeth, because I swear all the rest are hurtin' big time. I understand now how people can grab a pliers and pull their own teeth out. (Just that I didn't pack any pliers)...
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Then Punk has this doggie~stare~down with the TGI~Fridays bag.
Bacon and cheddar 'flavored'- (Tastes like neither by the way).
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I give her one.
I say "wait".
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So she waits. 
*Such a good dog!
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After there are no more chips, she sits by the door...
One eye staring at her leash.
The other eye watching me very closely so I do not leave her behind when I go up to the hospital.
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"Please take me with you?"

She was SO good at the hospital on Thursday that she can definitely go back...
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As I got to the hospital, I made her wait in the car.
(I told her to 'be very good'- She was)!

For being so good she receives an extra~special treat!
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Scroll down please...
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keep scrolling...
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a little more...
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Yes, alright. This is a HUGE treat for all of us! 
hehehe 
...And WOOT~WOOT too!
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Just know that whatever you do, do NOT ask Punk if we should bring Casey back to the hospital...
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She loses her puppy sense of humor, and will NOT even listen to such a thing!  
hehehe
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Yes! Casey is out of the hospital! Being released earlier than the 11~14 days we had been told!
(Go Casey)!!!

As always Dr. Sutherland wants us to stick around in case anything goes awry in this first week or so. Understandable.

Today was good for Casey. (For me too, not having to go up there)!
And oh, I hope it stays that way!

She has an appointment back to see Dr. S. next week.

A little prayer maybe that we can get home after that, and get on with this happy business of living?!

Have a SUPER Sunday!!!  And may the best team win!
Time for me to hit the hay... G'Night All.

XOXO
Me

Hypocrisy Defined.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/feb/05/barack-obama/obama-criticizes-republicans-who-opposed-stimulus-/
Alaska. Kentucky. Pennsylvania. Georgia. No. Carolina. (So far).

PolitiFact | http://www.politifact.com

Obama criticizes Republicans who opposed stimulus, then claim credit for projects it funded

*****

Some Republicans who voted against the stimulus "have been all too happy to claim credit for Recovery Act projects and the jobs those projects have produced. They come to the ribbon cuttings."

Barack Obama on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 in a town meeting in New Hampshire

Obama criticizes Republicans who opposed stimulus, then claim credit for projects it funded

Twice recently, President Barack Obama has slammed congressional Republicans for voting against his economic stimulus bill in February 2009 but later touting provisions of the bill that benefited their own constituents.

During his Jan. 29, 2010, question-and-answer session with House Republican lawmakers in Baltimore, Obama brought up the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as the stimulus is officially known:

"There was an interesting headline in CNN today: 'Americans disapprove of stimulus, but like every policy in it.' And there was a poll that showed that if you broke it down into its component parts, 80 percent approved of the tax cuts, 80 percent approved of the infrastructure, 80 percent approved of the assistance to the unemployed. Well, that's what the Recovery Act was. And let's face it, some of you have been at the ribbon-cuttings for some of these important projects in your communities."

Then, on Feb. 2, 2010, Obama riffed on the same theme during a town hall event in New Hampshire:

"I have to point out, though, that some of the very same folks in Congress who opposed the Recovery Act -- and claim that it hasn’t worked -- have been all too happy to claim credit for Recovery Act projects and the jobs those projects have produced. (Applause.) They come to the ribbon-cuttings and ... (laughter). They found a way to have their cake and vote against it, too. (Laughter.)"

We decided that a claim that bold, repeated in two high-profile events within a week's time, was worth a fact-check.
 
As it turns out, we found several cases in which lawmakers voted against the measure but later claimed credit for provisions or projects stemming from the stimulus bill.

• Rep. Don Young of Alaska.

Young, who has served in Congress since 1973, sent out two press releases on Feb. 13, 2009, the day the House passed the final version of the stimulus bill.
 
One was headlined, "Rep. Young Votes NO On Democrats’ Massive Spending Bill." It quotes Young saying, "This bill was not a stimulus bill, it was a vehicle for pet projects, and that’s wrong."
 
Young's second release of the day was headlined, "Rep. Young Wins Victory For Alaska Small Business." It explains how Young, after lobbying by the Alaska Federation of Natives, targeted a provision from the stimulus bill that would have required competitive bidding for stimulus grants and contracts. The Alaska Natives group said the provision could have hurt its members' ability to benefit from Small Business Administration programs. Young, the release said, "worked with Members on the other side of the aisle to make the case for these programs, and was able to get the provision pulled from the bill."
 
In the release, Young said that “no matter if I supported this bill or not, I would make sure [Alaska Natives] were not hurt by it."
 

• Rep. Geoff Davis of Kentucky.

Davis, a three-term congressman, issued a news release on Jan. 28, 2009, the day of the first House vote on the stimulus, in which he was quoted saying that "this so-called ‘stimulus’ legislation is full of pet spending projects that will do very little to restore confidence in our economy or create jobs."
 
But 11 months later, on Dec. 16, 2009, Davis sent out a release announcing the awarding of a $1 million-plus grant for the Carroll County School District. "Congressman Geoff Davis is pleased to announce that the Carroll County School District has been awarded $1,044,140 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) Early Head Start Expansion Program," the release stated. It goes on to say, "In these difficult economic times, it is critical to ensure that vulnerable populations in Kentucky have access to important support services like those provided by the Early Head Start program. This important grant will allow Carroll County School District to expand their ability to provide needed assistance to local low-income families and children. I am very proud of the work that the Carroll County School District is doing to strengthen their community, and I am pleased that our office was able to assist them in obtaining these funds.”
 
As it happened, on the very same day, Davis sent out a separate release in which he referred to the "failed trillion-dollar 'stimulus' bill."
 

• Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania.

Shuster, elected in 2001, is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. During the stimulus debate, he advocated for targeting the measure more directly toward infrastructure spending. A Jan. 28, 2009, news release from his office said that "President Obama told the American people that he would stimulate our economy by rejuvenating our infrastructure. As a long time advocate of improving our nation’s infrastructure, Shuster was encouraged by this announcement. Unfortunately, the Democrats in Congress, led by Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi, squandered this historic opportunity to create jobs and strengthen the backbone of our economy in order to fund 40 years of pent-up liberal pet projects."
 
In November, the Blairsville (Pa.) Dispatch reported that Shuster attended a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new facility at a sewage treatment plant in Blairsville. According to the newspaper, the $12.1 million project was funded in part by federal stimulus money.
 

• Rep. Phil Gingrey of Georgia.

In a Feb. 13, 2009, news release, Gingrey, a four-term congressman, explained his vote by saying that "this ‘stimulus’ bill only perpetuates the dangerous myth that government spending will fix this economy. ... The truth is government spending will only bury future generations in more debt."
 
In October, a photograph in the Cedartown (Ga.) Standard showed Gingrey handing over a giant, ceremonial check for $625,000 in stimulus money to municipal leaders. The money was to pay for "new sidewalks, landscaping and other improvements to the downtown area," according to the newspaper. A Gingrey spokeswoman told the Standard that because the project qualified for federal stimulus funds as "shovel-ready," Gingrey "presented the proposal at the federal level."
 
City commissioner Scott Tillery described Gingrey to the newspaper as "our point man when we need action from the federal government. His staff is always interested and involved in local concerns, and the congressman will use his influence to make a case for his constituents."
 

• Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina.

Burr voted against the stimulus yet appeared in person to present a $2 million-plus stimulus grant to help build a fire station to house the Bethlehem Community Volunteer Fire Department.
 
"This is a great thing for this county," Burr said, according to the Hickory (N.C.) Daily Record. "We're not accustomed to federal dollars in that magnitude finding their way to North Carolina."
 
A spokesman for Burr told the Associated Press in October that he wasn't taking credit for the money. "Sen. Burr was invited to the grant presentation by the Alexander County commissioners and was happy to be there to recognize the community and the fire department for their work in securing this highly competitive grant,'' the spokesman said.
 
In an interview with Politico, Burr added, “Just because I voted against the stimulus doesn’t mean I shouldn’t recognize the merit achievement of an entity.”
 
None of the four House members cited above responded to a query from PolitiFact. But the spokesman for one senior Republican lawmaker -- House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia -- did return our call. He argued that the Democratic criticism is overblown.
 
Cantor, a leading stimulus opponent, has taken heat from Democrats for organizing a job fair whose participating employers benefited from stimulus funding, as well as for helping local officials lobby for stimulus money to support a high-speed rail link between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va.
 
Brad Dayspring, Cantor's spokesman, defended both efforts, saying that, in the first case, the congressman was simply trying to help his unemployed constituents get back to work, and, in the second case, he was continuing his longstanding efforts to boost high-speed rail. Cantor's advocacy on the rail issue dates back a decade, to his tenure in the Virginia legislature.
 
On the broader question of why Cantor opted not to support the bill, Dayspring said that the congressman made his decision based on his opposition to the vast majority of the bill's provisions. "The bill was so flawed, he voted against it despite his overwhelming support" for the rail provision, Dayspring said. "If you support 1 percent of a bill and oppose 99 percent, are you expected to vote for it?"
 

Let's return to Obama's claim.

The president said that Republicans who voted against the stimulus "have been all too happy to claim credit for Recovery Act projects and the jobs those projects have produced."

We found at least two lawmakers -- Young and Davis -- who aggressively criticized the stimulus bill yet sent out a news release touting their own role in helping constituents benefit from the bill.

In the meantime, Obama also said that some opponents of the stimulus have "come to the ribbon cuttings" for projects funded by the bill. Shuster, Gingrey and Burr clearly attended such ceremonies.

To us, five clear cases are enough to validate the president's assertion that some stimulus opponents have "found a way to have their cake and vote against it, too."

We rate Obama's statement True.

Imagine that! Hypocrisy among the chosen GOP.
Fascinating, isn't it?

Hopefully these states' voters will be able to see these cheaters and charmers for what they are, and vote them out.
Are YOUR Reps next on this list???

XOXO
Me

Chocolate?

So cute!

Good Morning All;
It has been a busy few days- Sorry for not posting more, but hard to manage my time these days.

I have a few pictures of course. And just a few words to describe our days...

Before Casey can eat, they have to make sure she has bowel sounds- (even though she is left with only a puny little bowel).
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Nurse Kim listens...
To hear only faint little noises.

(But even with the faintest of sound, they increased her diet anyway).

I went up to the hospital late Tuesday evening- She was coloring-
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Almost impossible for her to read given the fact that the IV dilauded messes Coloring is much easier.

We opted to go for a walk...
She stopped at the 6th floor sign...
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Unit 6D. (They say "Delta", we say "DeGrave"). hehehe
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Wednesday was her rough day.

But yesterday was not bad at all.

Just as I got up there yesterday morning, she had gotten her central line out. They now give her the dilauded by mouth since she has been managing well enough with putting a bit of food in her face.
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Line OUT!  (Say YAY)!
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Casey has been running a low grade fever on and off for 2+ days now.
Unsure of what might be causing this, the nurse decided to cut the end of the line and send it down to be checked out. Maybe there is an infection coming from that?
We have not yet gotten those results...

The nurse asked Casey if she wanted her central line for a souvenir?
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 But of course she did!  (No one but Casey)!  hehehe
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We took another walk...
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Please CLICK HERE. (Unit 6D Transplant Team).
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With her central line out, she is now able to go up to a full diet!

Nausea or not, if this was yourself, and if you hadn't eaten anything of substance for a week, what would YOU want?
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How does Chocolate Layered Cake sound?!?  hehehe
No, she didn't finish it, but she did LOVE what she nibbled on!

I went back up last night again.
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Punk hates her harness, but it is a necessity if she is to visit Casey!
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There was love all around!
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Casey had gotten dressed and we took Punk for a walk outside.
Kind of slick out there... It has been snowing on and off for over 2 days now.
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As long as these 2 were together, they were both quite happy.

And so was I
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I'd better close and get moving already.
Later start, even though I have been awake since 3. (All of 3 and a half hours of sleep).
My back is godawful.

Hope all is well with all of you!
Have a "wunnaful" weekend!

Love to all

XOXO
Me

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AIG. (Again). Seriously?

http://pol.moveon.org/pac/aigagain/letter.html
http://pol.moveon.org/pac/aigagain/letter.html

Here's a brief letter you can {forward, share, repost, or} send to your email circle. Please send it along right away, but please only contact people who know you personally. Spam hurts our campaign.

cut and paste

the text below into an email message:

Subject: Help stop AIG's outrageous bonuses Hi, The people at AIG who are most responsible for the severity of the financial crisis should be in jail. But instead, they're slated to get another $100 million in bonuses--on top of the $450 million they got last year. Unbelievable, right? I signed a petition telling Congress that it's long past time to take real action to stop companies from giving out taxpayer dollars in bonuses. Can you join me at the link below? http://pol.moveon.org/aigagain/?r_by=&rc=paste Thanks! XOXO Anne

The final step:

Donate: Can you make a financial contribution to support this campaign?

Volunteer: We need your help. If you have some time to give, press here.

Privacy policy

Escaping To England For Affordable Health

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123210644&ps=cprs
From National Public Radio.

This story was produced through collaboration between NPR and Kaiser Health News (KHN), an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health-care policy research organization.

(iStockphoto from link) Caption reads: 'The high cost of health care in the United States drove Erica Rex to move to England following her breast cancer diagnosis.'

STORY...

I moved to England in September at the age of 53, three days after my student health coverage at Columbia University ran out. Diagnosed with breast cancer last April, I knew I would not be able to buy a plan on the open market, even if I could have afforded it.

I had been struggling to find a full-time job in New York since 2003, following the breakup of my first marriage. It had been grim. Between the economy and the state of my profession – I'd been working as a journalist for many years – I hadn't been able to land full-time work. After yet another promising job melted into "we've had our requisition pulled so now we can't hire you," it occurred to me that a journalism degree might help. So in the fall of 2008, I returned to school for a mid-career masters degree at Columbia Journalism School.

Six weeks from finishing school, already deeply in debt from years of underemployment and student loans, I learned I had breast cancer—a rather large tumor of 1.6 centimeters that had luckily, not spread. A lumpectomy followed, then two months of radiation therapy.

At the time I was diagnosed, I had been seeing my English partner for less than a year. We had decided we would marry at some point; yet I had hesitated to set a date. I was career-obsessed. The cancer forced my hand. Our only choice – if I intended to continue treatment without going into even more debt – was for me to move to England, and for us to marry as quickly as possible so I could get on the National Health Service.

Lindenhall Surgery ("surgery" is the English term for a general practice, every NHS patient's first port of call) occupies a rambling house on a quiet, leafy street in Newport, Shropshire, where my husband works, a town about 90 miles northwest of London. I met Dr. Christopher Lisk, the principal general practitioner, after arriving in September and then returned later for his first examination of me. That exam was needed to get a in referral to a breast cancer center for a follow-up appointment with a specialist.

His waiting room windows overlooked a garden. Pamphlets lay on every available surface, offering guidance on topics from child safety to confidential chlamydia testing.

Then there were poetry pamphlets. I picked one up.

"To wake the soul by tender strokes of art,

To raise the genius and to mend the heart..."

- Alexander Pope

Poetry in the Waiting Room (PitWR) was the brainchild of a poet who discovered many of his friends were spending lots of time in NHS waiting rooms. It's funded by the British Arts Council and the NHS and aims, according to a brochure, "to comfort those waiting to see the doctor through poetry." An informational footnote declared that the pamphlets were described "in a House of Lords debate as the most widely read national poetry publication."

I tried to picture Orrin Hatch, Richard Lugar and Robert Byrd debating poetry on the floor of the Senate. I drew a blank.

Dr. Lisk called me to his consulting room over an intercom. He's a tall, sixtyish man with thinning blond hair, clad in a smart three-piece navy pinstripe suit. Scores of millefiori paperweights decorated his desk. A folding wood partition separated the examining space from his consulting office. Dr. Lisk's practice has a full-time staff of six general practitioners, a clutch of nurse practitioners and a harried office staff who cater to the medical needs of a substantial catchment area in Shropshire.

What I really notice about the health care providers in England is that they seem to have more than half a second for me – and they actually listen.

Dr. Lisk asked me how I'm doing on Tamoxifen, a breast cancer drug he prescribed in September. I explained to him that I was worried about my six-month mammogram, which I had not yet undergone. The chances that I'll make it to 12 months or two years improve if I haven't suffered a recurrence by six months. Breast cancer is a numbers game.

"First things first," said Dr. Lisk. "Take off everything but your panties and have a seat on the bed." I undressed behind the partition. There were no gowns. I sat on the examining table in my underpants, hugging my arms over my chest. The room was freezing.

He came in, washed his hands, and reached for a sphygmomanometer, to take my blood pressure. It was like those I remember from childhood: a rubber bulb squeezed to inflate the cuff, a vertical column of mercury encased in glass. He held the cold disk against my skin, and listened as the air hisses out of the valve.

Then he palpated my breasts, then my armpits. "How many lymph nodes did they remove?"

"Six," I replied. He listened to my chest. Then, vertebra by vertebra, he examined my back.

As his fingers probed, he was looking into space, his head cocked to one side, as though he was listening for some furtive whispered message. He was like a talented pianist, meticulously pressing the piano keys, discovering nuances of the music even as he plays. He probed more – my neck, then my groin, searching for the elusive lymph node that would divulge a tale of metastasis.

"Aches? Pains? Other complaints?"

Besides weight gain, night sweats and attacks of gas which he apologetically attributed to the Tamoxifen, I couldn't think of any.

"Get dressed then," he said, "and come sit down."

Putting on my clothes, I concluded it's impossible to characterize the difference between health care in Britain and the United States in a few sentences.

Every feature of U.S. health care, from insurance company to doctor's office to drug company, exists as a separate for-profit enterprise. Here, health care is part of the social fabric. Prevention isn't just a matter of common sense, it's public policy. Cigarette packages have the words "Smoking Kills" emblazoned on them in huge black letters. Tobacco is taxed at a figure approaching 100 percent.

Erica Rex is a journalist currently living in the United Kingdom.

For me, though, what's critical is knowing that if I have to have more surgery, I won't find out, after the fact, that I owe hospital copayment charges of $4,000 — and this, after my surgeon forgives $6,000 of his $12,000 fee. (It turned out he wasn't in my insurer's preferred provider network.) My prescription drugs, now that I'm on the NHS, are free.

Shortly before I left New York, I had drinks with a South African friend. He asked me how I felt about the move.

"I wonder whether I'll ever get past the feeling that the bottom could fall out any minute, even once I'm on the National Health Service," I said.

We agreed survival anxiety probably accounts for a lot in the American character. Our edginess, perhaps. Unless, of course, you're Bill Gates. In the U.S., money really is everything.

Sometimes my husband Roger gripes about what he calls the British "nanny state." So much is done for the English, he maintains, they can't think for themselves anymore. Showers, for instance, are statutorily equipped with automatic shut-off valves on the thermostats. In case the water gets too hot. I remind him that the opposite of the nanny state is me in the U.S. with breast cancer and no steady job and insurance.

I had some wonderful doctors in New York, caring and helpful. But I also had to fight with my hospital there to get the tests I needed, and several of the specialists were so difficult to deal with I chose medical protocols to avoid them—no matter what the best option for treatment was. What I really notice about the health care providers in England is that they seem to have more than half a second for me – and they actually listen.

At his desk, Dr. Lisk scribbled notes on a pad. He said that he was referring me to a breast center at Rowley Hall Hospital in Stafford. The building, he told me with some amusement, used to house a reformatory for wayward girls, until the NHS bought it.

"They'll send you a letter with an appointment," he explained.

"When?" I asked.

"Within a fortnight, I should think. Ring me if you haven't heard from them by the end of next week."

I stood to go. I thanked him. He walked over from behind the desk and clasped my right hand in both of his.

"Try not to worry. They'll take good care of you at the breast center. It's a very good one." His face had the same slightly abstracted look it did while he examined me.

Then he changed tense; he changed pronouns. "I'll see to it myself you're taken care of. I personally will take responsibility for your care."

*****

It's still a damn shame that in this day and age, America the beautiful still ignores her sick and dying people.
Perhaps you mistakenly believe that everyone can just up and move to another country?
When will it matter to you?
Or will it take having to watch a loved one die a horrible, painful, and completely AVOIDABLE, death?

XOXO
Me

For more articles from NPR, do the CLICK here
"President Obama is asking Congress to find a way to extend coverage to every American."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106180134

You'd Look Hotter in a Helmet.

hehehe
What do you suppose those 2 turtles are doing in there?!?
MORE cute mutant animals... click

Good Evening Everyone;
Casey has had a pretty rough 24 hours, but is holding her own. She is hopefully sleeping right now as I haven't heard from her for a while.
She has posted a blog about her "Baaaaaad Day". Click
Perhaps a bit of overdoing it- That, and being cooped up (and unfed) for so long. Please leave her a comment.
While I was up there this afternoon she had told me that if she could have ordered a hug from room service she would have.

We did get outside for a bit...
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Even with the new snows.
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hehehe
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She was 'here' too!
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Rough day or not, she can still smile! ;-) ...attagirl!
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Looking around the campus, and all over town, one sees these...
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Literally, millions of bricks as far as the eye can see...
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One can even spy teeny tiny mop~heads growing out of the buildings.
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I have NO idea what they are (for).
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Back to the bricks...
... While Greg and I waited (endlessly) to be able to see Casey after her surgery, we wandered about the hospital. Poor guy was starving so we went up to the cafeteria (which was closed)...
I snapped this picture...
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And I posed the question:
How many bricks are there in Minneapolis?
Greg had NO idea!
wth?  
(Shhh.........  -me neither).
How does one go about finding the answer? I still need to know!!! (I'll give you a quarter if you answer that for me).
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The snow came the other day. Not enough to stop the mopeds, and motorcycles that are still running about down the roads.
And yes, these bike racks are used every day, every single shift too. I know, because I am there for every single shift, (just not for the duration of them).

This bicycle hadn't gone anywhere for 2 full shifts after the snow...
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Maybe the snow grips weren't working.

Maybe the brakes?
So we have all heard, ad-nauseum, about the Toyota recall. Then today came the warning NOT to drive the cars until they are repaired.
That makes no sense to me...
... I mean how the heck are you supposed to get your car to the dang dealer if you can't drive it?
I hear too they will be recalling the Prius' also. Hmmm...
My advice? Go buy a bike, a horse, or a Buick.

The next pictures bike owner clearly has his head on straight...
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I love this!
And this bike is in a different spot every day.

Wonder if he will take it to work tomorrow. Weather claims we are in for a storm. .
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I have pictures from today yet to get onto my little laptop... Will do that shortly, but wanted to keep you all up to date with Casey's "shtuff".
Please do go to her blog and leave her a note, (three notes would be even better)!
For those of you that get this by email, here is the link:
www.edbdkcn.multiply.com/journal/item/134
Should be clickable for you.

I'd better close for now
I hope all is well in your little corner of the world?
Have a "wunnaful" rest of the evening!
My love to all.

XOXO
Me