Truths

When some people ask for help or advice, they really only want you to agree with them.

You can only do so much for another person. Some things they have to do themselves.

You can only change yourself.

For you

For you, a photo by chrissanna68 on Flickr.

When I was little I used to go junking and driving around with my Papa in his old pickup that we affectionately called bloop bloop. I often wanted to pick these purple "flowers." Papa would stop the truck and pick me a bouquet. Several sprung up in our yard before the recent cold spell. Ken picked this one for me.

Soundtrack

My taste in music is to say the least eclectic. I may listen to classical one minute and punk the next. Sometimes it depends on my mood, other times I just let iPod shuffle me so tunes. Here's a few of my favorites:

Drive-by Truckers: Any of their songs are OK by me.



Etta James: Wish I could wail like she does.



Social Distortion: Mike Ness's voice makes me want to sing along at the top of my lungs.



Johnny Cash: A true classic and when he sings this one with June it makes me smile.



The Dead Milkmen: Punk with a sweet touch.

In review

One of the highlights of the week when I was a kid was "The Muppet Show." I loved the skits, loved the music and loved the guest stars (even though some of them I had never heard of before.)

So today we skipped the Black Friday shopping insanity I hate and went to see the new movie with Kermie, Piggy and the gang. My personal favorite is Gonzo. If you liked the show as kid and just want some sweet entertainment this is a safe bet. I loved it. The plot didn't ignore that the Muppets had been away for a while and was crafted true to the original shows and early movies. Watch for some famous faces at random intervals. The songs were fun, light frothy fare. The Muppets still dance, and the opening theme will still make you smile.

We made the right choice. Two hours with The Muppets beats two hours of fighting the crowds for cheap stuff we don't need.

P.S. Filmmakers, not every villain needs to be an oil man. Luckily, this wasn't over done as much as I have seen in other shows. But as the daughter of a father who works in the oilfield and a mother who works at a coal-fired power plant, I don't see the energy industry as the great Satan that some think it is.

Happy Thanksgiving

Here's hoping you didn't get bombed by live turkeys.

Tradition

Tonight I am making cornbread. It's better for the dressing that way -- not stuffing, dressing. It needs time to sit and dry up a little so it can so soak up the chicken broth. There used to be a whole houseful of people in this very house on Thanksgiving. My grandmother would cook for days. Pies, cakes, huge turkeys, vegetables and all that stuff. Tomorrow I will be working, and there will only be two of us for the feast, but there will be granny's cornbread dressing.

Word of the day

Today's word is frustration. Everything I have tried to do has taken longer, required more effort and annoyed me more than it should have.

In review

It's day four with the Nook Tablet, and I'm absolutely thrilled with it. In fact, I'm writing this review with it. I was pleasantly surprised to find plenty of free and inexpensive books available. My first download was Jules Vernes' "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" for free. It is an excellent e-reader, but its web and video capabilites beat my high expectations. I watched a free Smithsonian documentary and have done plenty of web surfing. I've had trouble with previous touch screen keyboards (I'm looking at you, iPhone), but have had none with the Nook.

Sunday night coming down

It's going to be a short but busy week. One of the flaws of working for a seven day operation is holidays aren't really holidays. Someone will need to cover, much work will need to be done before days off and you don't always get the actual holiday off. This year I am working Thanksgiving, which isn't a big deal really since there will only be two of us here. I'll try to get some turkey and dressing done Wednesday with plenty of leftovers for the big day. My grandma's cornbread dressing is always better the second (or third) day anyway.

Minutia

Some random thoughts:

• I become easily obsessed with things, especially in miniature.
  
• I deconstruct swiss cake rolls and eat gummy bears in order from least favorite to most favorite.
• I prefer odd numbers to even ones.
• I don't like to make eye contact unless I know someone really well.
• I like kung fu movies with Bruce Lee.
• I have a hard time letting go of paper.
• Talk shows make me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed for the guests.
• While I do some of my best work on deadlines, I hate them.
• I am quicker to cry when angry rather than sad.
  

The medium

I'm a fan of print. I love paper and ink. I will search for the most untouched copy in the stack, but this has created a clutter issue. So to keep getting the books I love and avoiding the hoarding I hate, I bought a Nook tablet today. Review to follow.

People are strange

With everything going on in the world, can someone explain to me why "Twilight" and the demi-ashton divorce are in today's top stories?

No queue

Two things I won't be standing in line at midnight for:

1. The latest episode of the "Twilight" saga
2. Black Friday shopping
   

20 years

Photo bomber, a photo by chrissanna68 on Flickr.

Happy anniversary, honey! After two decades, you still make me laugh. Love you past, present and future.

It's Monday

in addition to various other proof i have received that it's monday, my blackberry won't type capital letters. i wish i could have stayed in bed with a good book. it's been one of those days.

Get walking

Last year we lost someone very dear to my family. My cousin was a teacher, a friend, a column writer a chili cookoff competitor and a world class scrapbooker. She had a smile that lit up a room and I miss laughing with her until my sides hurt. But one of her most important roles was as a fierce advocate for her two boys with autism. I walked in two Autism Speaks walks last year in her memory, and I am so glad I did. The hug from her oldest was such a special moment, and watching her youngest play made me smile. I will be walking again this year: one for the Permian Basin and one for San Angelo. You can click on either link to donate. Thanks!

Good times

Being sweet, a photo by chrissanna68 on Flickr.

I sure miss these moments. I never imagined 14 would be so different than 9. He's growing up, and I'm sure we will all eventually adjust. But in the in-between time is surely difficult. I have a greater appreciation for what my mom went through when I hit that age.

Those who serve

"Better to fight for something than live for nothing."
Gen. George S. Patton

If you enjoy any of the freedoms of this country, thank a veteran. As the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and the granddaughter of a World War II veteran, I am amazed and inspired by the courage of military men and women.

What I'm reading

Right now I'm just getting started on Michio Kaku's Physics of the Impossible. I'm already in love with its concept of what is impossible today may not be tomorrow.

Kaku is rapidly becoming my favorite physicist. Although I'm not sure I had one before him, maybe Einstein. I must confess that I have a little crush on Kaku for watching him talk sexy about physics on all those science shows. Science can be fun.

Be careful for what you wish for

I typically avoid writing about politics because I believe in that old adage. You know the one that says you shouldn't talk politics or religion if you want to keep friends and avoid arguments. So this isn't going to be too political, but you can't talk about health care in this country without a small dose.

It's that time of the year when most companies are offering re-enrollment in their health insurance plans. Most change from year to year and not all companies have them, but if you are working you typically have some sort of coverage. With the president's health care reform, you are supposed to be able to get insurance if your work doesn't provide it or you are still in college. If you are living in poverty, retired or disabled, you likely have Medicaid or Medicare. So we should all have access to health care in some sort of form, right? Well not exactly.

The insurance companies or the government get to decide what is best for you -- not you, not your doctor. Oh there is choice involved, but only if you have the funds to pay out of pocket. If you don't, you don't get much choice.

A few examples:

• If you get injured through no fault of your own, the insurance can make you pay out of pocket for an MRI. Or they can say you have to do x, y, z before we will cover an MRI. Hope you don't do any more damage while we are saving money.
  
• A maintenance drug that works great to control diabetes is determined too costly. The insurance company makes you pay more for it. Want to get it at your local pharmacy instead of our mail-order pharmacy, no problem just pay five times as much.
• Your doctor thinks you need to be screened yearly for cancer. We will pay this year, but not the next. The government says you only need to get checked for certain diseases every other year, and surely, they have your best interests at heart.

I sometimes think it was easier to get care when I didn't have any insurance. So everyone having access to health insurance might be a good thing, but it doesn't equal better care. Let's not kid ourselves. It just means following doctor's orders may cost you more. The other alternative is allowing the government or the insurance company to make health decisions for you. It's not about providing care, it's about the money.

It's the end ... or not

Have you heard about the aircraft-carrier-size asteroid that is passing between the moon and the Earth tonight? I'll be at work, but I think it might be worth stepping outside for a look.

Hard work

I've hit the seven-day slump. It happened last year, too. I have all these great ideas that I just can't formulate. Tomorrow will be better. It's been a long time since I've written a column so I think I'll start Wordy Wednesday. I'll pretend I still have a print column. This week I'm thinking health care and insurance. Blogging is hard work.

Eye of the beholder

Leaning, a photo by chrissanna68 on Flickr.

I see beauty in decay -- the texture, the colors, the new shapes created by thing falling apart. In this house were a human family once lived, new life thrives. Baby birds were safely in a nest in the closet, a pack rat or some other small animal had built a nest in the kitchen cabinets. Nothing is wasted; everything has a purpose even when we don't see it at first glance.

R.I.P., Andy Rooney

Journalism lost a beloved curmudgeon today. I remember watching "60 Minutes" as a kid after the late Sunday football game. Andy Rooney's matter-of-fact manner was kind of comforting after a the harder news stories. I was a news geek even then. I also liked watching a young Geraldo Rivera do undercover investigations on "20/20." I think any journalism endeavor can use a dose of both. You want the brash young guns who are willing to take risks, but you also need the wise, sometimes grizzled veterans to balance with a healthy serving of common sense. After reading Rooney's news obituary, I realize he got a chance to be both in a career that spanned seven decades.

Somebody needs a head butt

March 3, 2007, a photo by chrissanna68 on Flickr.

He looks like he could be useful as head butter. That doesn't look right, but you know what I mean.

Via Flickr:
Hook 'em

It's not real

I find it interesting how some people get drunk with power - even when they don't have very much. It's a little like Cartman from "South Park" running around saying "Respect my authority." It's hard to respect someone who doesn't earn it or have any meaningful authority.

Life Unchained list update

I still need to finish my Life Unchained (aka bucket) list. But while I was looking it over for ideas, I discovered I had crossed something off. No. 7 was get a freelance job, and this week I finished my first one! It was a real sense of accomplishment with the promise of more work. Now I need to finish the list up, and get to work on making more things happen.

Comparisons

We went to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" on Saturday night and had such a great time. I threw toast. But the best part was I picked up some new catchphrases. The two kids seating next to us had plenty of gems. They were obviously were Rocky virgins, but didn't go up for the ritual hazing.

Some of the highlights:

"This isn't exactly a movie. It's a sing-a-long."

"Is that John Belushi?" (It was Meatloaf)

"I liked it better than that Patrick Swayze movie."

Update

I'm still getting updates on a child I don't have from a place I've never been -- now they come in Spanish.

Different strokes

I let the dogs in early this morning because it was bitter cold. West Texas temperatures should never reach negative numbers. The basset laid down and took a nap with me. The junkyard dog? She ate a book.

One of those days

It's been on of those days where inspiration has been fleeting. I think my creative battery needs a recharge. I struggled during work to come up with two pages that I didn't hate. Finished products just made me think, "meh."

It made me smile

Last night, my husband was watching a show about Diane Sawyer while I was at work. He sent me a text message that said I was like her and should have been a reporter. It was sweet and made me smile that he could see me in that light. I don't really see many similarities, but when I graduated all I wanted to be was writer. I envisioned a career as a political reporter or a nature journalist, traveling to wherever the story took me. Sometimes life doesn't work out the way you plan. Sometimes I regret not following that path, but then I remember all the things I wouldn't have in my life if I had spent it jet-setting around the globe. Everything happens for a reason.

2011

I've mentioned my affinity for odd numbers before, so it's probably no surprise that I am hopeful about 2011. During 2010, I spent a lot of time reacting and worry to situations that I have little to no control over. This year is going to be the year of focusing on what I can control. I can do better things for my health. I can make changes to my job skills and my work status. I can put effort into getting my finances in order. I can clean up and clear out clutter to give us some breathing room. I can avoid toxic situations with grace and love. I've deliberately avoided "resolutions" because I am great at making lists and not so great at crossing them off. I am just going to make this year one that is dedicated to making things better and find a little peace and happiness. Small steps are the way to make it in the long run.

Her royal lowness

The basset hound came into our lives seven years ago - a cute puppy that captured my heart with an online picture. I had recently lost my rottie that was the great dog in so many ways. Let's just say the hound was different. The rottweiler was house trained in less than a week. The hound not so much. It's something we are still working on. The rottie could spend the day in the house and not touch a thing she wasn't supposed to; the hound leaves a path of destruction in her wake. The rottie loved to ride in the car while the hound is confused by the whole process. They couldn't have been more different. I spent a lot of time comparing them. The hound had a recent health scare and it reminded me of something. I would miss her funny ways. I need to love her for who she is and not hold it against her for who she's not. I think I should apply that to people, as well.

30 days

Thirty days ago I committed to blogging every day for the month of November. There were days I didn't think I would make it -- squeaking by with a post shortly before midnight, just writing a few words or sharing a link. I've struggled with how much to reveal and setting a tone, but all and all I'm glad I did it. I haven't decided if I will continue the trend in December, but I do plan to post more often. Maybe I will share some of my struggles. I've been working on a post about my favorite Christmas that I just recently found out a family member considers his worst. I definitely want to continue working on my Life Unchained list. So I'm sure there will blogging. How much? That's any one's guess.

Definitions

I just noticed my receipt from the doctor's office says I had an extensive visit. I waited for an hour, saw her for less than 10 minutes and had blood drawn. Her definition of "extensive" must be different than mine.

Time continuum

It's amazing how quickly the time passes on the way to take B back and how slow it moves on the way back.

Food for thought

I stumbled across a link on a blog to this article on introverts. I wish I had bookmarked the blog because a lot of it resonated with me and I haven't been able to find it again. I sometimes wish I was an extrovert. It seems like an easier life if you enjoy interaction and self-promotion. I think introverts can be shafted at work and life in general because we don't put a happy face on things. Style triumphs over substance so many times.

Black Friday

I refrained from any shopping on Thanksgiving, but we did make a short mall run today. It was way too crowded for the family of introverts. The guys did a little tool shopping and we walked maybe a quarter of the mall. It's been a peaceful couple of days and I am hoping the trend continues for the next couple. Big changes at work are starting next week, and that always makes me a little nervous. In an effort not to get dooced, I don't know how much I'll say about it.

As God is my witness

The last few years I have started a new tradition. While I'm cooking I watch one of my favorite episodes of one of my childhood favorite sitcoms.



"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

Enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving. Have a safe and blessed holiday!

Tradition

I'm making the cornbread tonight for the dressing tomorrow. Many of my family traditions have fell by the wayside, but this is a must for Thanksgiving. No other dressing can compare to the way my grandmother made it.

Oops

I can't believe I nearly missed a day this far into NaBloPoMo. It's been a busy week trying to get ready for the holidays at home and at work. Why does work have to double so you can get days off? It's never made much sense to me. I've been thinking a lot about traditions and family, in part because of recent events and in part because this house used to be so full at the holidays. I may work it into a post for a day when I have more time. Just got to keep moving forward. That's all I can do.

I can dream

If I every get independently wealthy, I am going to pay to have my groceries delivered. Today's shopping did not put me in the holiday spirit.

Short week

I'm looking forward to two four-day workweeks in a row, but first there is a lot to do. Crossed two things off my list this weekend. It felt good, so I'm going to push for another few before B arrives Tuesday and the Thanksgiving feast on Thursday. With big changes in the works at the office, I'd like to have my home life a little more orderly.

Getting ready

Cleaning out the refrigerator in preparation for the Thanksgiving feast has unveiled some self-truths.
1- We eat out way too much. I basically just threw money in the trash because we didn't eat what I bought.
2- I am desperately out of shape. Cleaning the refrigerator should not make one sweat.
3- I takes me longer to think about doing housework than it does to just do it. I need to get with the program.

Guilty pleasures

Slowing my roll with a new Kid Rock CD and facebook games while waiting for our steaks to be delivered. I've been thinking of something profound to say all day and it just isn't happening, so I'm just going to enjoy a few guilty pleasures.

On the lighter side: the feast

I have looked at literally a hundred or more Thanksgiving recipes in the last few weeks while building Food and Life & Times pages and here are my conclusions.

1- Stuffing or dressing: Dressing, cornbread. Any other kind is pointless.
2- I like vanilla and I love pepper, but I am never going to try that recipe for vanilla pepper turkey. That sounds vile.
3- Keep it simple. Green beans do not require 10 other ingredients.
4- Marshmallows do not belong on vegetables. Sweet potatoes are sweet enough, hence the name.
5- Nobody makes pecan pie like my great grandmother. Her recipe is the best. It is unnecessary to try to change it by adding chocolate or turning it upside down.

Small pieces

One of these days I'm going to figure out how to make everyone happy, but for now I'm going to worry about making me and a select few a little more happy.

It's an amazing universe

NASA's Chandra Finds Youngest Nearby Black Hole I love that NASA offers so many gorgeous pictures of wonderful things. Sometimes I look through its gallery just to feel small and insignificant. It puts things in perspective.
Photo credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/D.Patnaude et al, Optical: ESO/VLT, Infrared: NASA/JPL/Caltech

I know how it feels

The pushmi-pullyu (pronounced "push-me-pull-you") is an "gazelle-unicorn cross" which has two heads (one of each) at opposite ends of its body. When it tries to move, both heads try to go in opposite directions. Dr. Dolittle meets it on his voyage to Africa to save monkeys. (See: The Story of Doctor Dolittle) Source: Wikipedia

Passenger

I'm not the conductor or the engineer, I'm just along for the ride.
Inspiration via Mom

Less is more

Some days I would just like to trade all this drama in on some comedy or maybe even a good mystery.

Off kilter

Being sick is one of my least favorite things. Being sick on my days off is even worse. So only a few things for my Life Unchained list. Then another aspirin and back to bed.
20- Spin yarn.
21- Conquer a fear.
22- Learn to roller skate.
23- Take a trip by train.

War and the written word

War made me. No, I'm not a veteran. But if it weren't for World War II and a handwritten letter I wouldn't be who I am. How does a young man from the dusty desert of West Texas met a young woman from Michigan's Great Lakes Bay region? Written on the camp's gold embossed stationery and dated in August of 1943:

Dear Miss Shirley,
Louis Sylvester told me about you so I thought I might write to you. I hope you don't mind.

She didn't.
They began to write back and forth. Beautiful letters that go from Miss Shirley to Shirley Darling. After he returned home from Europe, they got married and moved to Texas to start a family. They had three sons, the eldest would become a war veteran himself. That son would elope to Mexico with young redheaded woman before he shipped out to Vietnam. His daughter was born while he was in Southeast Asia. He came home when she was nine months old and they have been trying to make up for lost time ever since.

So I guess you could say two wars made me. I not only owe my freedom to veterans, I owe my life to two of them. My grandparents' love started with a letter. That love grounded me and gave me a touchstone in my life. I miss them everyday.

So this Veterans Day, thank a veteran and don't forget their loved ones either. It isn't easy being the loved one of someone serving their country. It takes great strength to serve and great strength to share the sacrifices of one who serves.

A passage

I've been trying to read more. I love to books, but I seem to put them on the back-burner a lot lately. So today I was getting in a few minutes of reading while waiting and this passage from Anne Rice's "Angel Time" really spoke to me for some reason.

"But in every family there are bad people, and weak people, and some people who can't or won't withstand the trials of life, and who fail spectacularly."

I don't think I'm a bad person, but perhaps I am a weak one. I'm definitely one who tries to avoid trials. It's something I need to work because I don't want to fail spectacularly.

Life unchained: this list continues

So I woke up today stumped for a post. I'm working on a really good one (I hope) for Veterans Day and I'll have more time to come up something tomorrow. So for today, just additions to my Life Unchained list, again special thanks to Mighty Girl for the inspiration.

10- Swim with dolphins.
11- Visit the Smithsonian.
12- See a bear in Alaska.
13- Get to visit a specific relative face-to-face.
14- Volunteer my time for a cause I believe in.
15- Have one room in my house just the way I want it.
16- Help someone anonymously.
17- Knit a pair of socks.
18- Paint a picture.
19- See a Broadway show in New York.

You didn't really think I was going to end with an even number, did you?

Time change and life unchained

Daylight savings time has never really made sense to me. The idea that we can trick ourselves into using daylight seems a waste of time, but on a positive note it did get me up an hour earlier. Two loads of laundry are done, the dogs are fed and water has been added to the fish tank. Oh, and I've had more time to kill on facebook and surfing the Net.

I figured today would be a good day to start my Life Unchained list inspired by Maggie Mason's Mighty Life List. In the spirit of her list, I will have some simple things and some major items. One slight difference is she has 100 items, I will have 99. It's one of my eccentricities that I prefer odd numbers, especially nines. So I will announce the first nine today and keep adding as the ideas occur. Also it's just random order not order of importance. Notice I said eccentricities, not quirks or crazy. That's the beauty of being from the South. Obsessive compulsive much, why yes, why do ask?

My Life Unchained List (aka the bucket list)
1- Take B fishing at the coast where my grandparents took me.
2- Get a passport.
3- Travel to Ireland and kiss the Blarney Stone.
4- Make blackberry jam.
5- Go sailing.
6- Write a novel.
7- Get a freelance job.
8- Learn to fry chicken like my grandmother.
9- Publish a poem.

And so it goes

As we were standing in line purchasing our shiny new BlackBerry phones, he says "I bet it will be cheaper tomorrow." The agent reassured us we were getting an extra discount and waived activation fees, so I was pretty pleased. Today I open the paper to see an ad that offers them $50 cheaper and in three new colors.

Ahhh

It's been the best kind of Saturday, relaxed and drama-free. I splurged a little on a new phone and new bedding. Bonuses are a good thing. I'm kicking around some post ideas for next week -- some serious and some fun. I've been inspired by Mighty Girl's Mighty Life List. It's similar to a bucket list and I plan to call mine the "Life Unchained List" to match my freelance company name. It might even make a good blog title, but I'm kind of attached to this old thing.

Five for Friday

Since the larger posts I am working on haven't come to fruition yet, here are five random thoughts for Friday and Day 5 of NaBloPoMo.

1- I'm not sure how I got here from there.

2- Why I have I formed more attachments to stuff than I have to people? Now the stuff smothers me and makes it hard to let people in. What do I do to fix that?

3- Why can't most people talk about politics or religion in a civil manner? Even though I enjoy exploring both, I have had to avoid conversations all week to stay out of the vicious fray.

4- I'm very organized at work, yet very disorganized at home. I need to find a balance.

5- Friday is my favorite day of the week. It's my day to recharge, but I need to find ways to make it more productive without adding more stress.

The nanny state or scapegoats r us

Have you seen this? Law curbs Happy Meal toys. Instead of blaming a lack or activity or too much food for childhood obesity, San Francisco is blaming the toy in the box. I'm all for healthier choices but this kind of mandate is just another example of people refusing to take responsibility. An occasional kid's meal with a toy is not going to make a kid fat. I've had a weight problem all my life and most of my childhood was spent in a town that didn't even have a McDonald's until I was in high school. If I had to relate my weight problem to anything it would be that I preferred books to sports. Should I blame authors and publishers for my health issues? If it's your problem, own it. I say playing the blame game is a waste of time and counterproductive to fixing any problem.

Muddled thoughts

Here I am at Day 3 with hundreds of topics in my head that I can't get to the page. Wandering is what I seem to spend a lot of time doing. My mind wanders to frivolous things, my body wanders through life. I can focus on the minute details, but the big picture eludes me. I thought I'd have my shit together by this age.

Commitment

In an effort to get back to writing, I have committed to posting every day this month through National Blog Posting Month. I expect to write a lot of crap just because of the volume, but may be in the process also come up with something clever, funny or insightful. The goal is to find my voice again. I know it's in here somewhere.

From the inbox

Apparently I have a previously unknown child who likes to skip classes a few times a week at Flowery Branch High School in Georgia. Matthew, please go to school. You might need that knowledge later in life. And while you are there, please give the attendance secretary your mother's real e-mail address. Thanks so much.

I'd say that's about right.

Be happy -- or merry

It's that time of year again, and I've been thinking about this whole "Happy Holidays" versus "Merry Christmas" issue.

Apparently many people I know feel strongly about it. I, however, don't. I really don't see the harm in wishing someone glad tidings in whatever form.

You can tell me "Happy Holidays," "Merry Christmas," "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Hanukkah" (although that one would be slightly strange since I'm not Jewish). As long as it said with good intentions and you mean it, we're good. If you choose to say nothing at all, I'm also OK with that. My policy is you shouldn't be forced to say anything you don't want to say, and you should only say what you mean.

If someone wants to wish me good will, I'll take it. It really doesn't matter how he or she says it.

A Thanksgiving request

Sunday I was building 1A at the newspaper when we got word of breaking news. I began reworking the page as more details came in.

There will be four empty chairs at somebody's Thanksgiving table today. A father, a mother and their two tiny children, 4 and 2, were found dead from apparent carbon monoxide poisoning. They didn't have electricity and were using a borrowed generator to stay warm. As the story progressed into Monday, we learned the lone survivor of this young family was a 6-year-old who had been staying with her grandmother during the weekend.

On Wednesday, our reporters covered two fatal accidents -- two more empty chairs in the blink of an eye.

In my job we see some good, but we also see a lot of sad and bad. I don't want to be a downer on this holiday, but I want to make a request because you are all important to me. Please be careful, please seek help if you need it, please take care of each other and please hug the ones you love.

I wish you all a blessed and safe Thanksgiving.

Food for thought

A conversation via text message:
Me: The CEO of Freedom is resigning to become the CEO of Playboy. Thought you'd appreciate that.
Him: That's f***ing cool!!!!!!!
Me: Porn is probably more stable work than papers right now.
Him: And pays a hell of a lot more as well ...

What this country needs is

a little more common sense, a little less panic and a whole lot more personal responsibility.

Mom's good advice

At a very rough time in my life, my mom sent me a card with these words: "Don't forget, you are stronger than you think you are." And she was right.

Plink, plunk

I'm playing with answering prompts at www.plinky.com to get over some writer's block.

When I started using the Internet

I learned a few computer basics in high school and college, but didn't get online until I met my future husband. He had a smoking hot Tandy TRS-100 (an example of this modern technology: http://oldcomputers.net/index.html) Seems like we spent days on the local BBS chat. We really thought we were computer geeks when we got a Tandy desktop with external 300 baud modem. And when we bumped up to 1200 baud, we were hauling butt! Now I whine that the cable modem is soooo slow.

What is wrong with people?

This story about an elderly man freezing to death in his own home infuriated me. Locally, a cancer patient on disability had her water cut off over $26. Yet they take a $1 "donation" on my water bill for parks. Where is the compassion and common decency?

Not enough in American newspapers

Newspaper claims suspect transformed into a goat. Maybe this explains why newspapers are struggling in the U.S. We need more magic -- or maybe more goats.

Rational thinking

Psychology giant Albert Ellis died this week. I attended one of his speeches in the early 1990s. At the time I was thinking of adding a degree in psychology to my mass communication degree. He was under the weather with a cold, but he gave a wonderful talk and even lead us in a song about "stinking thinking." I bought one of his books and he patiently autographed dozens that day. I still haven't mastered his rational approach, but I did agree with much of what he said. I highly recommend the book below.

Surely a sign of the apocalypse

Spice Girls reunite. And now of got that stupid lover song stuck in my head.

No neighbors

When I hit the lottery, (no rich relatives and a pitiful savings, so it's going to have to be the lotto) I'm going to buy 1,000 acres (preferably in the Hill country or other green Southern area) and build a house in the middle of it and then build a moat around it (piranhas and alligators optional). We'll only lower the drawbridge for people we like. I'm just saying...

Thinning the herd No. 5

Man steals venomous snakes, gets bit. Brilliant

Thinning the herd No. 4

Man falls off balcony in spitting contest.

He'd be stylin'

and profilin'. Now I just need to find one of those belts.

From the "Complete Guide to Modern Knitting and Crocheting" by Alice Carroll, published 1942.

I'm just saying ...

You would think educators would be smarter than this: Teachers stage fake gun attack on kids

Thinning the herd No. 3

aka those bars are there for a reason
You know it's not going to end well when a story has lead like this: Climbing into a giraffe's cage at the local zoo seemed a good idea after a few drinks.

Hope springs eternal

The cukes may be toast, but the tomatoes, rosemary and at least one of the peppers have survived.

I'm just saying

I have no problem with a man in a kilt. Kilts can be sexy. But Target man in the black utilikilt just say no to the Hawaiian shirt and faux Birkenstocks next time. I'm just saying ...

Happy Happy Birthday, Baby

All my love --
past, present and future.

Dream deferred

Saturday we hit the grand opening of a new garden store. I had been toying with the idea of little vegetable container garden. Good potting soil, two different types of tomato plants, lemon cucumbers, mexibell peppers and rosemary followed me home. A little bit of time playing in the dirt and voila a tiny garden was born. They looked a little shell-shocked at first. But Day 2 the rains came and all the leaves perked up and I could see the salad of red, green and gold coming my way.

Only to wake up on Day 5 to hail bouncing off the windows, which resulted in bright green leaves and stalks metamorphosing into broken stalks with a few pathetic remnants of green. I hoping for a miracle.

Not lovin' it

As if kids didn't have enough pressure -- in today's "Happy" Meal, the judgmental mic.

Grumpy

Red eye
Originally uploaded by chrissanna68.

I know exactly how he feels.

Lucky 13

My great-grandma said something good always happened to her on Friday the 13th. It's always been good to me too. This time the luck came a day early, but I will take it all the same.

Easter egg in snow

Easter egg in snow
Originally uploaded by chrissanna68.

This is West Texas. It's April. It was high 70s all last week. This is not right.

Thinning the herd No. 2

Man burns genitals in 'Jackass' stunt. The title alone should be a clue not to try these things at home.

Butterflies are free

March 5, 2007
Originally uploaded by chrissanna68.

Two clicks and the camera's batteries went dead. First shot out of focus and this one. When I came back with fresh batteries, of course, it was gone. But that's OK.

March 3, 2007

March 3, 2007
Originally uploaded by chrissanna68.

Hook 'em

No punchline

This case gets more pathetic and sad by the day. Bury her already.

Thinning the herd

Doctors warn of poisoning from hand gels. What kind of idiot looks at a bottle of hand sanitizer and says "mmm, yummy and cheaper than vodka."

Popularity contest

I've been practicing with my new camera and spending a lot of time on Flickr.

I've experimented with different shapes.

I've tried artsy sepia.

I've taken shots of weird things to find in west Texas.

But what is getting the most action? The joke shot I took of my boot to send to Ken.

Bitter cold

Snow is highly overrated. Not a big fan of the cold. Asthmatic bronchitis not enjoying that either. I'm ready for a hot West Texas summer.

Is it wrong

that I kind of want one of these?

and then again

Ken holds my penguin hostage. Ransom note comes via e-mail.

He has his moments

Guess who spent all last night looking for a lost child after a full day of work and was awake for more than 24 hours? Yep, he's a pretty good guy.