Eat your oatmeal granny & don't shoot up the bank

Cal Thomas...one of my favorite voices of sanity has weighed in on healthcare reform...or shall we call it "attack the billfold that pays the medical bills" and ignore the elephant in the middle of the room; that is, the medical care costs that DRIVE insurance premiums.

It is hard to weigh in on this one since I help people buy health insurance...even the companies I work with have been reluctant. How do you FORCE your way into a debate when the powers that be have decided that the billfold (insurance companies) are the problem vs the actual cost of the health care ? No matter what you say, you are going to be considered bias.

Imagine going to the store and finding out bread is now $10 a loaf so you go over to the bank and shoot all the tellers because they told you that you didn't have enough money in your account to buy bread unless you made a deposit.

Too bad we missed the chance to do REAL health care reform....something I think insurance companies have wanted for a long time!

Instead we got hoodwinked into paying for another huge, inefficient and costly government health program. That is what we should remember Pres. Obama and Sen. Peloski for.

So eat your oatmeal if you are over 40, looks like old people are not going to be on the top of the list to spend money on when they start figuring out how to pay for this....and in the meantime, don't make too much money and create jobs, evidently that is something we punish now?

Cal says it well, check out what else he points out below
http://http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/03/20/cal-thomas-obama-health-care-reform-democrats-pelosi-republicans/

Giving birth again..the last wedding

We had our last family wedding last Friday night, Here is husband Rod dancing with our "baby"

Daughter Bethany and Will tied the knot in the historical First Baptist church downtown Portland.

It turned out about a perfect as a wedding could..thanks to all the helping hands that went into the planning and the work that friends and family poured into this one evening.

Light hor d'eurves served and cleaned up after by Catering by Bo in SW Portland, flowers arranged and delivered by Wild Strawberry in Oregon City, and the most delicious cake I have ever eaten by Cheryl's cup of tea in Oregon City made this an elegant yet affordable event this time. You want to enjoy your own child's wedding and there are folks out there who can do these things for you affordably. I learned the hard way trying to do these things myself at the last wedding. Enjoy this day!

The process does seem to get easier by the third child..not just in knowing what to expect and having more "hands" involved but also in seeing the outcome after the wedding.

When my son, our first child, married I was broadsided sitting there on the pew by myself while husband Rod prepared to play his trumpet up front. Tears began flowing from nowhere as my son stood there in his tux....a strangely tall, handsome two year old in a mother's eyes.

Just as you do not leave a pregnant mother's side while she is giving birth, neither should she sit alone on a church pew and experience the painful but healthy "separation" of her child as they transfer that emotional intimacy permanently and legally to another person. Once again I watched the birth to adulthood slide show but this time that son sat by me and put my hand in his as I once again "gave birth" for the third and last time, now to his youngest sister.

You can love your in laws to death and still feel the ripping and tearing of heart strings as your child leaves the "womb" of your heart.

I have the advantage now of seeing the outcome of sharing a child and getting in laws and grandchildren back in the trade, just as a mother looks forward to holding her second newborn with the knowledge that better things are ahead.... but you still need that hand on yours and that lace hankie handy to dab those brimming eyes.

On a more practical side, here is a list for your Mother of the Bride bag put together over several weeks before the wedding: (good idea for wedding coordinators too!)

Also: leave your money and credit cards home...you don't want to be worrying about your purse, let hubby pay for incidentals. Also, put phone no's in your cell phone of key people you may need to call the day of the wedding, florists, cake person, wedding coordinator etc.

Here is the list for your bag: Mine was a BIG strudy woven bag ...think laundry size

Wet wipes....make up on black dress does not wipe off well with paper towels

antipersirant ...people are nervous...its a long day

PINS straight pins, safety pins, bobby pins, corsage pins

thread and needle (black and white)

hair bands

rubber bands

tape reg and double sided for clothes etc...don't plan on using it on pews etc (hard on church)

*Also be sure your photographer knows if there is a NO FLASH policy as many older churches now require

florists putty (wobbly candles, etc)

I also took the candles, and the wedding rings just to keep track of them for bride/groom

butane lighter

band aides

pain relievers

lip balm (dehydration is a real problem)

plastic zip lock bags...(put all the little stuff in one Ziploc for quick retrieval)

toothbrush/paste/mints (you will want to freshen your breath before all those pictures/hugs

black marker and lunch sacks (make separate snacks for bride/groom/wedding party) and write their names on the sacks

(trays of open snacks get eaten by the wrong people sometimes)

water in bottles (write names of wedding party on bottles....keep everyone hydrated!

food for wedding party: Costco roll up turkey rolls, green grapes, crackers (no stain finger foods)(this NO time for low blood sugar!) (the food won't fit in your bag but bring something to eat...white cheddar popcorn was popular.)

hair spray/gel, brush comb, curling iron

make up bag and larger folding mirror for touch ups

water proof mascara (yep)

nice hankie in a plastic bag until the ceremony (friend mailed me one...with a beautiful card)

iron or steamer

finger nail polish ( clear/white to touch up those french tips)

finger nail file and clippers, small scissors

dryer sheets (gets rid of static under dresses and clingy problems)

tupperwear or other disposable dishes for food storage

ice chest for food and flowers (don't count on frig space)

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You may not use all these items but they can save the day in some instances and you know Mom is always the "go to person"....and you will always be....even AFTER they are married.

Knock out a cold with this nourishing tea ?

Fresh Ginger and Green Onion Tea

This is the recipe from my friend Carol B. Her doctor gave it to her and it is amazing. Try to use a couple of small (1x1 inch) chunks of FRESH ginger if you can. I keep some in the crisper drawer all winter. In a pinch you could try dry ginger in a spice can but I don't think it would work near as well.

It tastes GOOD when you have a cold. Buy some fresh ginger and be ready to make it next time someone is getting that scratchy throat or already has congestion

In a medium pot

2 pieces of fresh ginger, crushed

3 large or five small GREEN onions. white part and roots only( I look for some with long roots).

3 cups water.Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.

Add 2 to 3 tablesoons of brown sugar.

Drink warm before bedtime ( or anytime you need a boost) Lin

San Franciso brand jeans, vintage 70's

"If you go to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair..." the song went.

San Francisco always seemed to be a part of my 20's.

My college friend and I did a road trip there one spring break. Rod and I honeymooned there, eating at the original Spaghetti Factory, a hole in the wall in a not so nice neighborhood then. We ran out into the street to hop onto open air streetcars that clinked up steep hills cresting the top for panoramic views. We watched the gulls at Fishermen's Wharf, ate crepes at the Magic Pan and fresh chocolate at Ghiridelli .

Even my favorite pair of jeans were San Francisco brand. They had a special fit and feel of their own, seems like every college girl needed a pair then; the perfect color of soft, blue, denim, and long flowing legs slightly flared over a thick soled shoe or boot.

I had a pair of brown leather shoes then that looked like a boot but really were a backless, high heeled shoe. Pretty classy look with those jeans although it made my 5'7"frame even taller. (Seems funny now to see all the young single women running around in flats.) It was a flowing look with my long, straight, red-blond hair parted down the middle.

I have very few items from those days but I kept that pair of jeans. They were in good shape and I guess I thought the look might come back someday. Was my waist ever that tiny?

I found them buried in storage the other day and decided there might be someone looking for them by now. They would be in perfect shape for being over 35 yrs old.

I didn't find any evidence of anyone looking for them, perhaps they are so rare now few know about them? Maybe I will put them on EBay and see what happens. Someone in Japan may be "up" on 70's West Coast culture and want to experience slipping on those magic jeans!

From Blue to Blue, Surviving Loss

This hydrangea was from a potted plant that was given to the family when my mom, Zona died two years ago.

It had large vivid pink blossoms then, in fact so many people in town sent pink flowers that the local florist in Prineville ran out of pink and had to special order more. My mom was serious about pink, she would have loved Barbie!

Although pink is one of my least favorite colors, I planted this where I’ve always wanted a hydrangea and thought of my mom in her favorite pink dress with the little petal cap sleeves each year when it bloomed.

Then this summer to my amazement it bloomed blue, the color I would have chosen, I guess due to moving it to an acidic soil vs alkaline.

I thought as I stood looking at it from the patio this evening that the color change seems to have coincided with the end of my deep mourning for my mom. I still miss her and think of her everyday but the deep sense of loss and pain have lifted and it is obvious that God has brought things into my life during that time that provided not only healing but joy once again.

When we lay in bed at night worrying about the future and the losses we may have to face, we never factor in that God not only knows about the losses but He has already planned the remedy.

Rod used to remind me that 95% of what we worry about never happen, but even that which does happen is firmly in God’s hands…a good place to leave it.

Now we have lost Rod's dad this last week...we are orphans now, but not without hope knowing God knew the appointed time of each departure....was it a coincidence that his large picture fell off the wall in his room at home just as he was dying in the hospital? An exit of exultation!

Fun in the sun - Mazatlan

Oh Mazatlan, I forgot your charms.
Two years ago we started saving for and planning a family trip to return to Mazatlan. The idea was that we would supply a couple of rooms and the kids would find their own way down there.
We were wondering if we had made a mistake when we began hearing about all the drug violence in other parts of Mexico but Mazatlan remains beautiful, warm, and culturally rich as usual. How can you go wrong with Mexican hospitality and culture, the beautiful Pacific ocean, and SUN.

Traveling with passports is still not for everyone but it does open doors to some of the best vacation spots in the world.
I almost feel at "home" when I am there...maybe it is just the loving people we have come to know there that makes it such a special place...and until their govt gets their act together, the tourist industry is a vital part of their livelihood. For that reason I like to be generous with my tips...these people work so hard and I know it is a way of sharing what we have. Join us with a peek at one of our favorite spots off the tourist beat for dinner in the old historical Mazatlan called the Machado. The little guy is grandson Micah...I took this video so he can have a record of his first visit to Mexico. (see video clip below)
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1111859032600&saved#/video/?id=1110622279

LAX...The meanest airport in America?

Is it me or is LA international the meanest place in America?

Rod and some extended family came through LAX last night to catch the last leg of our trip home on the late pm flight.

Leaving beautiful warm Mazatlan Mexico to land in LAX and go through customs is always a shock. First y0u are herded into "stalls" at customs staffed by foreign looking people whose job seems to be to assume YOU are a terrorist hell bent on doing the whole place in.

I prepared my son JR that you will feel like a slimeball trying to sneak in disease laden fruit that will destroy the entire agriculture industry of the US and the existance of many other countries. Then Alaska Airlines will herd you around via overweight female minority workers whose only people skills seem to be verbal yelling and gesturing until they get you and your "checked" bags out of the terminal and onto the sidewalk to try and figure out where to go with your "checked" luggage without a guide.

Every time it is the same, weary passengers, dragging heavy "checked" luggage down the sidewalk asking each other and total strangers "are we going the right way". Finally we all somehow find the right line in the next building only to be yelled out some more as we drop our "checked" baggage off for the airline and are told to DOUBLE BACK through the same crowded line of weary passengers trying to get their "checked" luggage to the next terminal for this ineffecient airport.

Daughter Bethany accidently had a third of a bottle of water in her carry on when she got to the last check point. The employee told her to go dump it out and go to the BACK OF THE LINE (now another whole flight of people had come in) and go through the whole security check again with her empty water bottle! (her favorite metal bottle was not going to be left behind)

I know people coming back from vacation and sun to the realities of life are not always that fun to deal with...maybe we have made these employees mean? But, seemed to me the passengers were the ones trying to get along and make things work?

I would like to write about Mexico....ahhhhh. Maybe I will once I get over the trauma of coming home!