Blog address keeps going off list

I'm not quite sure what is happening with my brief list of web sites and blog sites, but mine keeps going off and I have to type it in again. Jessica's stays on.

Jessica pretty well has me convinced to use some birthday money on a digital camera. Will have to ask how that would work out with the Globe Gazette.

Did an interview today at La' James College for an article that will come out Dec. 2. They teach cosmetology, massage therapy, esthetics, and nails. Took some pictures, and on the way home realized I had not put down the last name of the instructor in the pictures. So called and got her and got the info.

Mother took a tumble yesterday while she was hanging onto my right arm. Fortunately, a kid came along and helped her finish getting to her feet, as I couldn't have lifted her. She wasn't hurt, just shook up.

Furnace acted up and had to call Mike of Brass Heating and Plumbing in Rudd. Practically called him out of bed, as it was really cold in here. He got here around 8:30 and fixed it and then ordered the part to have in his truck.

See my therapist at 2:00. Not exactly an award-winning day.

Writing Exercises

Just got off a long article for the November Home of the Month. Worked on the notes yesterday, did draft today, edited it, then sent it off by email. Called the home's owner a couple of times over details. Think I covered the house pretty well.

Have two assignments due Thursday for writing class. Have an idea for one. Not sure how I'll tackle the other.

Counsin Jim-- and the email he forwards--can get downright obnoxious. Haven't figured out what to do with him again. Fortunately, we never get off on those subjects when we talk on the phone.

Cousin Jim's wife, Joyce, may look up Great Aunt Audrey at the Taylor County Museum and the Bedford library. Hope she finds some stuff. Then there's the possibility of checking at the court house for transcripts of the trial.

That's mainly the news for today.

Katie

My granddaughter will be 17 November 24. When Jessica and Ed divorced, Ed used my diagnosis against Jessica. Tammy, his second and third wife, was a pathological liar and psychotic to boot and did a masterful job of fooling the counselor. Ed got custody and later on Jessica had to run up a large legal bill to get the visitation straightened out.

Now Katie is ready to move in with Jessica and Ed is destroying his relationship with Katie, which leaves Katie heartbroken and Jessica heartbroken for her. He and Dayna, his fourth wife, refuse to acknowledge how intelligent and responsible Katie is and even think they should dictate what she does when she's with Jessica.

There's nothing I can do except be there for Jessica. I will get a letter off to Katie soon, but I don't know what to say to her.

Getting back to my blog

I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted. That blog was about a friend with breast cancer. She's had more complications than I had, but is doing well now. She sees the surgeon tomorrow and will find out about lymph nodes on left side.

As for me, I have several articles to do for the Globe Gazette. So I will be busy with that. Have one drafted - the October Home of the Month - three to do for 30 under 40 about people who are contributing greatly to their communities - and one that a business man called me about this morning.

Found out that my editor was originally from Oskaloosa and knows Curt and Shirley. Curt was the first teacher to tell her she writes well. Have to get that off to Shirley.

Have a lot of research to do about a Medicare supplement. Social Security. SHIIP. DHS. It has me worried, but Harry said it's 99% sure that Blue Cross will have an open enrollment period. AARP has plans with United Health Care that don't require medical history, but do require info on health plans used in the last 60 days.

A Friend Has Breast Cancer

A friend who helped me through surgery and recovery has recently been diagnosed with cancer in both breasts. At first, it sounded as if her situation with cancer was better than mine, but they kept finding more, so it is about the same. Lymph node affected on left side. Mine was discovered on right after surgery, hers was discovered before surgery. She will meet with surgeon today.

I am rereading information I was given in order to help her and her family. Plan to go to hospital for her surgery, if only for a little while, to be there for her family. Then will visit her when she gets home. I have two camisoles and will give them to her for her use so she can wash them and not be stuck with wearing the same one all the time for weeks.

She is a nurse, so is more familiar with the medical system at Mercy. Of course, by now, I'm pretty familiar with it as well.

Yesterday, I knew the news wasn't good when her sister left me messages twice without leaving information about this series of biopsies. So I was pretty anxious about getting the information.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Have just reread The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and it is as timely as it was in the 1960's. The life as a child with the murder of his father and the institutionalizing of his mother, leaving him and his siblings at the mercy of the state. One insurance company - his father had two policies, one small - saying his father had committed suicide. The larger policy would have kept the family off welfare.

The life hustling on the streets, the burglary that put him in prison -- longer sentence because he was involved with a white woman. And then the conversion to The Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammed. The work in the fields gathering converts to The Nation of Islam, the eventual betrayal by Elijah Muhammed, the trip to Mecca, another trip to the Mideast, and then the assassination. Leaving his wife, Betty Shabazz, four daughters, and a fifth daughter on the way. I'm not sure how his widow supported the family, other than from proceeds from the book. Decades later, Betty died from burns in a fire set in her apartment by a grandson.

He met Maya Angelou in Ghana. She then planned to come back to the U.S. and work with Malcolm X, but he was assassinated before she could work for him. The same with Dr. Martin Luther King a few years later.

I always preferred Malcolm X to Dr. King, even though both were needed in the Civil Rights movement, because Malcolm X was so blunt and direct.

Writing more

Have lots of articles to do this month for the Globe Gazette. But think the advertorial won't go far, as the deadline for ads is tomorrow, and I've only had four articles referred to me so far. One with a chiropractor who has a new baby boy, and is a bit scattered these days. Also have to have advertiser proof the article before submitting it. Three in. Waiting until Tuesday to contact the chiropractor again. At any rate, if the advertorial doesn't go, I assume the articles will go in one way or another, like they did the last time there was an advertising section that didn't sell enough ads.

Boots has turned into a real pain when I'm on the phone or have company. With company here, he won't leave me alone and is on my lap crabbing at me when I'm not petting him. With the phone, in the living room, he's on my lap. In the bedroom, he's beside me meowing. You'd think the poor creature never gets any attention or goodies in his food bowl.

Paul called and then later I got ahold of Annie, who insists I should get an older dog that is well trained and take it on walks. No dog, thank you. Even though I do indeed need to walk a lot more. Talked to Pat and Matt.

Have to take the car in for a check on the water coming from the vents on the passenger side. Right now, I don't have time to have it in the shop for two or three days, if that's what it would take. Just want to have Brad take a look at it and come up with what will be involved fixing it. That's the side that blows in dust, too, so maybe it's just the vents fouling up.