Current Journal - July 5,6,7,8, 2006
Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - It is a very nice morning - the sky is blue,
the birdies are chirping outside. Just heard that Kenneth Lay died of
a possible heart attack - I guess that's one way to avoid jail. But,
you've got that other JUDGMENT situation. Well, good luck to him.
When I go back and read the words and the sayings of the founding
fathers, I can't help but be amazed at their intelligence and foresight.
When I was in college, I had to read some books on our
government. I think I still have some of them!! (sure, not too OCD).
Anyway, I remember they all said that the people governing our
country should NOT be career politicians. They should go and serve
our country for a short time, and then let someone else do it so that
no one gains too much power. All were cautionary and prescient
about that aspect because they knew what could happen.
"The essence of government is power; and power, lodged
as it must be in human hands, will be ever liable to abuse."
~James Madison
"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
~Lord Acton
Must go buy gas for the mower. Time to mow the lawn. djb
the birdies are chirping outside. Just heard that Kenneth Lay died of
a possible heart attack - I guess that's one way to avoid jail. But,
you've got that other JUDGMENT situation. Well, good luck to him.
When I go back and read the words and the sayings of the founding
fathers, I can't help but be amazed at their intelligence and foresight.
When I was in college, I had to read some books on our
government. I think I still have some of them!! (sure, not too OCD).
Anyway, I remember they all said that the people governing our
country should NOT be career politicians. They should go and serve
our country for a short time, and then let someone else do it so that
no one gains too much power. All were cautionary and prescient
about that aspect because they knew what could happen.
"The essence of government is power; and power, lodged
as it must be in human hands, will be ever liable to abuse."
~James Madison
"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
~Lord Acton
Must go buy gas for the mower. Time to mow the lawn. djb
I love seeing Jarrett catching some AIR on his quarter
pipe. He totally loved doing this!
pipe. He totally loved doing this!
Thursday, July 6, 2006 - We thought we saw the space shuttle
last night but I think it was Venus. It was exciting for a while.
As we were looking at that, there was the sound of fast footsteps
going down the street and then a couple of cars took off. So, we
had to go out and see what it was. Our neighbors were getting
tp'ed. One of the kids doing the tp-ing lost his keys in the grass. I
had a flashlight, so I helped him look but I never did find them.
He's been back this morning two times. I'm sure his folks said,
"you lost 'em, go back and find 'em." It was a revenge tp situation.
Ah, the youngsters having fun in the good old summertime!
News Item: There's an interesting twist to tp-ing someone's
house - small drinking straws are also dumped in the yard.
When I went out to walk this morning, I noticed them all over the
grass. That's got to be a tedious clean-up situation!!!
It's a gorgeous day. Ginny invited me to meet her at her sister's
house but once I got up and started taking out the garbage and
watering the flowers, I realized that I need more lead time. It's not
like the good old days when I could just take off. In the summer, I
always have so many things going on that it's hard to be very
spontaneous. It would be so great to see her and meet her
nieces. I'm sure we'll be able to plan for another time!!! yes!!
I'd better go. I've been trying to get this updated for hours! I keep
being interrupted by myself. That reminds me, I need to go into
Smith and Hawken sometime and buy a new shovel. My second
shovel also broke. It's very sad. haha Me, without a shovel --
that's practically unheard of.
Medical Update: Diane's situation is so weird, that the doctor is
using her MRI pictures in a class he's teaching. As we are fond
of saying about members of our family, "an interesting case." If
you want to know more about it (and you have a "need to know")
send her an email and she'll tell you all about it. If you don't have
her email, then you DON'T have a need to know. I'd have to say,
you're just nosey! haha just kidding! bye for now, djb
last night but I think it was Venus. It was exciting for a while.
As we were looking at that, there was the sound of fast footsteps
going down the street and then a couple of cars took off. So, we
had to go out and see what it was. Our neighbors were getting
tp'ed. One of the kids doing the tp-ing lost his keys in the grass. I
had a flashlight, so I helped him look but I never did find them.
He's been back this morning two times. I'm sure his folks said,
"you lost 'em, go back and find 'em." It was a revenge tp situation.
Ah, the youngsters having fun in the good old summertime!
News Item: There's an interesting twist to tp-ing someone's
house - small drinking straws are also dumped in the yard.
When I went out to walk this morning, I noticed them all over the
grass. That's got to be a tedious clean-up situation!!!
It's a gorgeous day. Ginny invited me to meet her at her sister's
house but once I got up and started taking out the garbage and
watering the flowers, I realized that I need more lead time. It's not
like the good old days when I could just take off. In the summer, I
always have so many things going on that it's hard to be very
spontaneous. It would be so great to see her and meet her
nieces. I'm sure we'll be able to plan for another time!!! yes!!
I'd better go. I've been trying to get this updated for hours! I keep
being interrupted by myself. That reminds me, I need to go into
Smith and Hawken sometime and buy a new shovel. My second
shovel also broke. It's very sad. haha Me, without a shovel --
that's practically unheard of.
Medical Update: Diane's situation is so weird, that the doctor is
using her MRI pictures in a class he's teaching. As we are fond
of saying about members of our family, "an interesting case." If
you want to know more about it (and you have a "need to know")
send her an email and she'll tell you all about it. If you don't have
her email, then you DON'T have a need to know. I'd have to say,
you're just nosey! haha just kidding! bye for now, djb
Here's a picture of me with my new hairdo after Jorge
finished his magic in Orlando (get it?) - April 21, 2004
finished his magic in Orlando (get it?) - April 21, 2004
Andrew and Jarrett - I like these pictures a lot
Friday, July 7, 2006 - Hey, it's 7/7/06. Next year, today will be 777. Think about that for a year!! I went out to get the Chicago Tribune
from its resting spot in the driveway and took some pictures of my flowers (they're so gorgeous)! There's this unbelievable article in
there about the potential extinction of all amphibians - an entire class of organisms. Think about "canary in the coal mine." If you don't
know what that means, look it up (I ALWAYS told Andrew and Jarrett to "look in the dictionary, go on-line or do a GOOGLE," etc).
What's happening is our nasty environment is killing the critters. We've noticed over the years that there are NO FROGS in our
pond/lake/huge mud puddle here in our little subdivision - then imagine the entire earth in distress! When we moved here 16 years
ago, the boys turned their turtle sandbox into a frog swimming pool. They would scoop them up and bring them here to swim for a bit
and then tote them back to the lake. Every once in a while, we'd find a frog hopping around the yard. No more. Haven't heard their
"croaks" for a long time because they've all croaked! It's very, very quiet outside at night without their wonderful singing.
The youngsters apparently haven't been taught that we are all connected. Yes, we are connected with the frogs because we all
breathe the same air, drink the same water, live on the same big rock hurtling through the cosmos. Here's the story:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0607070342jul07,1,2440888.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
Doesn't it kind of boggle your mind when you think about people cheating to get "good" grades. Why can't we just learn? I don't
understand that. Why can't we teach children to learn for learning's sake? You say, "we need a measure of what they've learned?" I'll
tell you the way things are now. People lie, cheat, steal, sneak around, etc., to get a good grade. They put more energy into getting a
fake good grade than had they put that same energy into actually LEARNING something, they'd be like my hero, Thomas Edison. What
good is a good grade if you end up not knowing anything (rhetorical question). Not knowing that all of the crap that we're doing in the
name of progress is ruining our earth. We're pooping in our own nest. Just ask the frogs! hasta, djb
P.S. Remember the pebble in a pond theory: everything we do affects everything else. When a butterfly flutters its wings in Japan, it
affects us here. Isn't that the chaos theory? Or am I just crazy? This is all related to our the people in power trying to amass more
power and control so they can make large sums of money at the expense of others less powerful - damn the environment and the tree
huggers. You can be brainwashed all you want, but if you ever stop to think for yourself, you'll be frightened at what's happening. And I
don't think these people are taking any of that money with them. Jarrett didn't take a dime with him. Even Warren Buffet figured that out.
from its resting spot in the driveway and took some pictures of my flowers (they're so gorgeous)! There's this unbelievable article in
there about the potential extinction of all amphibians - an entire class of organisms. Think about "canary in the coal mine." If you don't
know what that means, look it up (I ALWAYS told Andrew and Jarrett to "look in the dictionary, go on-line or do a GOOGLE," etc).
What's happening is our nasty environment is killing the critters. We've noticed over the years that there are NO FROGS in our
pond/lake/huge mud puddle here in our little subdivision - then imagine the entire earth in distress! When we moved here 16 years
ago, the boys turned their turtle sandbox into a frog swimming pool. They would scoop them up and bring them here to swim for a bit
and then tote them back to the lake. Every once in a while, we'd find a frog hopping around the yard. No more. Haven't heard their
"croaks" for a long time because they've all croaked! It's very, very quiet outside at night without their wonderful singing.
The youngsters apparently haven't been taught that we are all connected. Yes, we are connected with the frogs because we all
breathe the same air, drink the same water, live on the same big rock hurtling through the cosmos. Here's the story:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0607070342jul07,1,2440888.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
Doesn't it kind of boggle your mind when you think about people cheating to get "good" grades. Why can't we just learn? I don't
understand that. Why can't we teach children to learn for learning's sake? You say, "we need a measure of what they've learned?" I'll
tell you the way things are now. People lie, cheat, steal, sneak around, etc., to get a good grade. They put more energy into getting a
fake good grade than had they put that same energy into actually LEARNING something, they'd be like my hero, Thomas Edison. What
good is a good grade if you end up not knowing anything (rhetorical question). Not knowing that all of the crap that we're doing in the
name of progress is ruining our earth. We're pooping in our own nest. Just ask the frogs! hasta, djb
P.S. Remember the pebble in a pond theory: everything we do affects everything else. When a butterfly flutters its wings in Japan, it
affects us here. Isn't that the chaos theory? Or am I just crazy? This is all related to our the people in power trying to amass more
power and control so they can make large sums of money at the expense of others less powerful - damn the environment and the tree
huggers. You can be brainwashed all you want, but if you ever stop to think for yourself, you'll be frightened at what's happening. And I
don't think these people are taking any of that money with them. Jarrett didn't take a dime with him. Even Warren Buffet figured that out.
Jarrett is holding a precious little frog. Andrew's watching
but he's ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
but he's ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.
Jarrett is eye-balling his frog. Notice the tire marks on the
driveway. They never stopped moving from morning til night.
driveway. They never stopped moving from morning til night.
later Friday (7/7) - So, Granny went in for a test this morning and before
the test, her blood pressure skyrocketed and she couldn't breathe, so they
called in the paramedics!!!! She's now in the hospital (Have a nice day,
thank you!) Apparently, the doctor didn't know WHAT TO DO - idiot.
I talked to her. She was eating real food for the first time in 24 hours. She
had to FAST for this stupid test. Excuse me, but I can't do ANYTHING that
involves fasting. The last time I did that, my pressure dipped to 70 over
40. yeah, nice & low. At least, it was low. Of course, if went any lower, I'd
be dead. Although, then I'd get to see Andrew and Jarrett, so that'd be ok.
They're keeping Granny in overnight for TESTS. The ubiquitous TESTS!
They won't find anything wrong. If you don't eat for a day, you might have
some sort of reaction! ya think!? What they should do while they have
her in captivity is an MRI on her neck. That's where her main problems
probably are. Leg pain, etc. She's definitely an "interesting case."
If you have the BERG's email address, send her a card. I'm not kidding.
Thank you. see ya later or sooner, djb PS If you need the address, send
me an email and I'll send it to you. She'd like that. Seriously, she would!
the test, her blood pressure skyrocketed and she couldn't breathe, so they
called in the paramedics!!!! She's now in the hospital (Have a nice day,
thank you!) Apparently, the doctor didn't know WHAT TO DO - idiot.
I talked to her. She was eating real food for the first time in 24 hours. She
had to FAST for this stupid test. Excuse me, but I can't do ANYTHING that
involves fasting. The last time I did that, my pressure dipped to 70 over
40. yeah, nice & low. At least, it was low. Of course, if went any lower, I'd
be dead. Although, then I'd get to see Andrew and Jarrett, so that'd be ok.
They're keeping Granny in overnight for TESTS. The ubiquitous TESTS!
They won't find anything wrong. If you don't eat for a day, you might have
some sort of reaction! ya think!? What they should do while they have
her in captivity is an MRI on her neck. That's where her main problems
probably are. Leg pain, etc. She's definitely an "interesting case."
If you have the BERG's email address, send her a card. I'm not kidding.
Thank you. see ya later or sooner, djb PS If you need the address, send
me an email and I'll send it to you. She'd like that. Seriously, she would!
Granny in Woodstock, Illinois for her sister's
funeral in June.
funeral in June.
Saturday, July 8, 2006 - Granny's still in the hospital. Hopefully,
she'll get out there before they do more damage! Stupid people.
Don't get me started. Plus, Granny doesn't really like hospitals -
especially as a patient!
It's going to be a beautiful day today. Not a cloud in the sky. High up
to 86 degrees. Supposed to get some thunderstorms tonight. At
least, when it rains at night, I don't have to spend hours watering the
flowers the next day. The flowers are so gorgeous but I can't get a
big picture of the entire garden because the photo doesn't begin to
capture the awesome nature of the gardens. At least, I can enjoy it.
I think it's about time to go and buy a new shovel that doesn't hurt my
hands. There are a few projects that I have in mind to finish and I
tried the other shovels but they're just not what I use for digging.
Some day I'll get myself de-cluttered - won't that be a great day!?
The answer to that is YES. bye for now, djb
she'll get out there before they do more damage! Stupid people.
Don't get me started. Plus, Granny doesn't really like hospitals -
especially as a patient!
It's going to be a beautiful day today. Not a cloud in the sky. High up
to 86 degrees. Supposed to get some thunderstorms tonight. At
least, when it rains at night, I don't have to spend hours watering the
flowers the next day. The flowers are so gorgeous but I can't get a
big picture of the entire garden because the photo doesn't begin to
capture the awesome nature of the gardens. At least, I can enjoy it.
I think it's about time to go and buy a new shovel that doesn't hurt my
hands. There are a few projects that I have in mind to finish and I
tried the other shovels but they're just not what I use for digging.
Some day I'll get myself de-cluttered - won't that be a great day!?
The answer to that is YES. bye for now, djb
Jarrett and Andrew hugging each other in the front yard
near my middle flower bed - in the good old summertime.
near my middle flower bed - in the good old summertime.
Saturday, July 4, 2009 - This past week was loud, louder,
loudest and the fireworks hadn't even begun yet. Yikes!!
Starting last Saturday, we had the chipper/chopper here all
day making the loudest and most annoying noise EVER.
Then, for three days during the week (Tues, Wed, Thurs),
we had the wonderful, hard-working, professional roofers
from Wheeler Roofing here doing a tear-off and re-roof on
our house and shed. It was QUITE something to see.
Katie (who was in Jarrett's class), worked when she wasn't
in school. See the picture on the right -- there's Jarrett
and Katie with their hands on the basketball, and Rich
Wheeler (Katie's dad) was one of the coaches of the team.
That was in 1996, so they were eight years old.
Yesterday, the chipper/chopper came back so Luis could
finish the job. Thankfully, our neighbor, Nick, came over to
help Luis because I could NOT do it. I think my blood
pressure is goofy because I'm kind of woozy. ay yi yi
Just before I typed this, I put a link to the 4th of July photos
from 2007 when Diane was here to celebrate with us. We
had SO MUCH FUN. I still feel bad about the mice though.
Now, I have enough mice poison to kill an elephant.
Seriously, I have a rodent phobia!!!!
The corn this year is not nearly as tall as this corn was. It's
very sad and pitiful. I've noticed a lot more soybeans have
been planted instead of corn. They don't have as long of a
growing season. Good luck to all the farmers!!! see ya, djb
loudest and the fireworks hadn't even begun yet. Yikes!!
Starting last Saturday, we had the chipper/chopper here all
day making the loudest and most annoying noise EVER.
Then, for three days during the week (Tues, Wed, Thurs),
we had the wonderful, hard-working, professional roofers
from Wheeler Roofing here doing a tear-off and re-roof on
our house and shed. It was QUITE something to see.
Katie (who was in Jarrett's class), worked when she wasn't
in school. See the picture on the right -- there's Jarrett
and Katie with their hands on the basketball, and Rich
Wheeler (Katie's dad) was one of the coaches of the team.
That was in 1996, so they were eight years old.
Yesterday, the chipper/chopper came back so Luis could
finish the job. Thankfully, our neighbor, Nick, came over to
help Luis because I could NOT do it. I think my blood
pressure is goofy because I'm kind of woozy. ay yi yi
Just before I typed this, I put a link to the 4th of July photos
from 2007 when Diane was here to celebrate with us. We
had SO MUCH FUN. I still feel bad about the mice though.
Now, I have enough mice poison to kill an elephant.
Seriously, I have a rodent phobia!!!!
The corn this year is not nearly as tall as this corn was. It's
very sad and pitiful. I've noticed a lot more soybeans have
been planted instead of corn. They don't have as long of a
growing season. Good luck to all the farmers!!! see ya, djb
July 4, 2009 Journal entry is on the
bottom of this page - 3 yrs later...
bottom of this page - 3 yrs later...
Diane, a child of the corn.