Give Me Strength!

Did you ever have one of those days where you throw up your arms, turn your face to the sky/ceiling/heavens and cry Give Me Strength!? If not, I want your life! Otherwise, you know what I'm talking about.

You are faced with or being bombarded by situations that are just too much. It's not that they - individually - are that difficult. Not at all. The problem is, they've all been waiting in the wings, chatting amongst themselves, and biding their time until your guard was down. Then all of the insanity jumps out at you - at the same time.

Or maybe you've had a situation here and a situation there that has weakened your immunity to craziness. You aren't really poised over the sanity precipice, waiting to fall into the dementia abyss; you're just a little stressed. Suddenly, several crazy happenings appear out of nowhere, waving their arms, screaming wildly, and charging directly at you and you realize the only direction you can go is . . . over the edge.

Welcome to My Life! Not just today or this week, month, or year - but for nearly 5 years! I actually counted - in 61 days, my grip on sanity will have been attacked, sometimes from several directions at the same time, for 1,825 days.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Possible Identity Theft

I got an interesting letter in the mail this week. It seems that the company I worked for, back in 2003, got hacked recently. Still investigating the extent of the incursion, they wrote to warn me that my personal information may have been stolen.

If that were the extent of the letter, it probably would have been sufficient to alert me and I could have taken steps to monitor my credit records. But my former employer went far beyond a simple notification. They set up a free, one-year credit monitoring account for me - on their dime - that includes $25,000 identity theft insurance and a team of fraud resolution representatives, should there be a problem.

One of the reasons I really liked this company was the way they treated employees. It's nice to know that hasn't changed.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Obama For President - NOT!

At the risk of repeating myself, I have to reiterate what I said when I was alerted that Obama was going to be in Arizona.

I'm sorry, but I believe that Obama is a really bad choice for the Democratic nomination. He has too little experience and relies on his glib delivery to hide his lack of actual knowledge.

The worst thing that could happen for the party would be promoting this young man as the Democratic candidate.

And I'm not even a registered Democrat!

Please don't support this candidate. To paraphrase Lloyd Bentsen: "You are no Ronald Reagan." And I question why a Democratic candidate would even want to model himself after a Republican.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Lingerie

I've never been a huge fan of sites like Victoria's Secret, because it seemed that they focussed on the more well-endowed portion of the female population. It's not easy for those of us who aren't a C or D or larger, to find attractive lingerie. Not to mention, if we aren't 'curvy' there is very little out there that works for us.

So often, items come in small, medium, or large. Well, that doesn't work for a lot of women. My top is smaller than my bottom, and my waist is not slender enough to match the one-size-fits-all range. That doesn't make me unattractive or mean that I wouldn't like to be able to buy something that looks sexy - on me, not on someone's ideal of me.

Hopefully, someday, I'll find a place that understands me.





Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Comfort

I had this really strange dream the other night. In it I was making stuffed animals for 'my kids'. But for the fact that I have never made these particular critters and, as things generally work in dreams, the kids weren't mine - it made perfect sense.

When I was very, very young, my grandmother made me this stuffed turtle. It was soft; it was cuddly; it smelled like . . . love. On one side of the turtle was - for lack of a better term - a tag. It was like the tags that you find on one end of a pillow, but softer and slightly frayed.

When I was stressed, which was most nights, I cuddled that turtle and found myself stroking the frayed edge of the tag. It calmed and relaxed me. Oddly enough, when I have a lot of stress, I have an urge to cuddle that turtle. And I still have the memory of that comfort.

Interestingly, my grandmother also made these adorable turtles for some of my cousins. None of those turtles had a tag on the side. I wonder what behavior my grandmother was trying to help me overcome.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

The Dumbing Down of America

I received a call tonight - actually several calls - from a very young woman looking for "Christopher Robin". It wasn't just that she didn't recognize the name - the real kicker was that the number she was trying to dial wasn't even in the same state as my number. After I explained that she wasn't even close on the number - just to add to the insanity - she called back three times!

So, when someone gives you a name that is the same as a character in a children's story, do you actually try to call? And how is it you didn't recognize the name? When you know that you've called the wrong number - a totally different area code - do you continue to use the autodial on your phone, or do you actually redial the number manually?

Sadly, this generation - who can't figure out what number to dial - is the one that will be taking over the country in a few short years. Be afraid - be very afraid!






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Happy New Year

It's hard to believe another year has come and gone already. To be perfectly honest, I am not going to miss 2007 - it was a tough year.

Between Frankie moving out, Mark having cancer surgery, and me breaking my kneecap, it was challenging - physically and emotionally. Then throw in the fact that our illustrious government has nearly destroyed our economy, and it was a pretty miserable year. But, as always, we managed to survive.

Despite our best efforts, we - like most Americans - will be starting 2008 financially worse off. Even though we don't incur debt for the holidays, we are facing hardships. The cost-of-living increases are the lowest I've seen in almost 4 years. They never approach the actual increase in the price of everything, but now the gap has widened even further.

On the plus side, it makes New Year's resolutions really easy!

• With less money for dining out, I can hone my cooking skills;
• With less money for groceries, I can start that diet I've been avoiding;
• With less money for gasoline, I can start getting more exercise;
• With less money for phones and Internet, I can get back into writing cards and letters;
• With less money for cards and stationery, I can develop my design skills.

So, you see, there's always a bright side. Sometimes you just have to look really hard to find it.

May 2008 bring you and yours health, happiness, peace, and love!







Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Quitting Smoking

Okay, I'm really going to quit smoking in 2008. I even asked my NP (don't ask - that's a whole 'nother post) for a prescription for Chantix. Then, she explained that you have to take it for 3 months, it's $120.00 a month, and insurance doesn't cover quit-smoking meds. (Or at least, the state coverage doesn't.) They want to be sure patients are really serious about quitting, so those of us who can't afford health insurance to begin with have to pay for it ourselves.

Huh? Isn't that why Arizona is taxing cigarettes to death? Isn't it in the best interest of the state, which claims that smokers have higher than average medical claims, to do everything in their power to help residents quit and lower the overall payouts for treatment? Oh, wait! Those are mutually exclusive ideas, aren't they?

It's actually a real catch-22 for state health coverage and stop-smoking groups in Arizona. They get a large portion of their funding from the exorbitant per-pack cigarette tax - about $2.00/pack, I believe. As more people decide to quit, more and more tax money is spent on the people who actually paid the taxes. Then, as more people actually stop smoking, less and less tax money goes into the system. Already, between July and October 2007, cigarette sales, and therefore tax revenues, have dropped dramatically.

Forgive me, but who thought it was a great idea to tax smokers to pay for health programs, while exhorting these revenue-generators to quit? Once you cure the smokers, those very same health programs will be bankrupted. Just like gasoline taxes designed to pay for road construction and repairs - once the price of gasoline rises to the consumers' breaking point, they drive less, buy less fuel, and the tax revenue becomes a moot point.

Hmmmm. Perhaps it's my civic duty to continue smoking - never considered that?! Nah! Cigarette taxes were just a stupid idea to begin with.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

High-Risk Life Insurance

One of the things that Mark and I are facing, given his health, is the ability to find high risk life insurance that we can afford. There are companies which offer life insurance policies to people with previous or long-term health issues. Unfortunately, these policies are rarely what you would call affordable.

In our case, the VA would provide some level of coverage should - heaven forbid - Mark die. But if you've been listening to the myriad of TV commercials about the cost of a funeral, you know that most plans just don't pay much. In addition to that, there are the issues of debt collection and how survivors are supposed to - well - survive, in the weeks and months after the death of a loved one.

It's all really very scary.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Christmas Dinner

I am looking for help with Christmas dinner. We have tried ham for a couple of years, with mixed results. Even though the boys didn't complain, Mark and I weren't impressed with the hams. This year, we're thinking - standing rib roast.

Now don't get me wrong, I love prime rib. The one small problem I do have is that I have never actually cooked one. Add to that, Mark likes his beef fairly well-done, standing rib roasts are extremely expensive, and - best of all - our little gas oven just doesn't understand maintaining a consistent temperature. I would swear, when our backs are turned, it changes 5 to 20 degrees up and down from the setting we use.

So, if anyone has a fool-proof way to cook a standing rib roast, please let me know.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Wedding Flowers

As many of you know, Mark and I are planning to get married - one of these days, when we have time to actually put together a wedding. We have a lot of ideas about what we want. A lot of general ideas.

Beyond where, when, and what we'll be wearing, wedding flowers - truly - are one of my biggest priorities. You see, we've both been married before. Surprised, aren't you?! But I never really got to plan my perfect wedding and Mark never really wanted to.

This time we're going to do it our way and I just can't wait to put together my wedding bouquet. I am leaning, heavily, toward tulips; preferably in the lavender-to-purple color range. The more I think about it, I want dark purple tulips - with baby's breath in the bouquet and in my hair. Mark's birthstone is amethyst, as is the ring he gave me, so dark purple is almost required.

Wow! Who would have thought that the thought of wedding flowers could inspire so much?




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Happy Birthday to Me! (A Little Early)

Yes, it's obvious and probably in very poor taste. But my birthday is November 20th and I will be . . . older. (You didn't really think I was going to tell you my age, did you?!)


For those of you who have an overwhelming need to shop at the drop of a hat, I don't much like jewelry - with the exception of bangle watches and thumb rings. Chocolates are a bad idea, because then Mark will be tempted. I don't even buy myself clothes, so that's no good. Hmmmm . . . I am difficult, aren't I?!


Well, I guess you'll just have to send a card! Only Kidding!







Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Isn't a Fractured Knee Enough?

You would think that limping around with a fractured left kneecap would be enough pain, but noooo! I had to sprain / break my little toe on my left foot to add to the joy. It is a really pretty shade of purple, for what it's worth.

Apparently, when I'm tired, I swing my left leg to the side, instead of lifting it and stepping straight forward. Not a good thing in this little apartment full of lots of big stuff. A couple of nights ago, I was walking from the living room to the bathroom, past the portable washing machine. Well, the theory was to move past the washing machine. I didn't quite make it and it felt like I tried to rip the little toe off my foot.

That purple I mentioned? It goes up both sides, and across the top of my foot from the little toe to the toe beside it. Did I mention that the toe is the size of a Vienna sausage? Oh, yes! It's just lovely!






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Happy Anniversary!

I can't believe that it's been six years since I stepped off that bus from Michigan. If you're planning to move here from a cooler climate, I would strongly recommend you do it in November. The weather is just perfect - highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. It's a refreshing change from the cold, but it gives you at least 6 months before the 100s and higher start melting your socks.

So many things have happened and so many things have changed in 6 years. From Mark's transplant, to the boys moving here, to the cancer surgery - it's been a wild ride. I just hope we have lots more time together - without life-threatening diseases. Please?!






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Which Cabana Do You Want?

We have an area, right outside our front window, with barbecues, picnic tables, and - on occasion - cabanas. I was looking out the window today, remembering the different looks we've had since Mark and I moved into this apartment. It's been a little schizophrenic, to say the least.

Right now, we're back to green cabanas, which went really well with the previous paint colors. But, the buildings have been repainted in shades of brown, so the green doesn't really work for me. It is, however, better than the temporary blue covers that had some Arizona college logo on them.

I know it wasn't the Sun Devils; I like those colors.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Chorus of Remembrance

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Design Your Blog

Do you have a blog, but you're just not happy with the look? I know how you feel. When I started this blog, I used a template that was sorta, kinda similar to the colors on my website. It wasn't a bad looking template; it just wasn't what I wanted.

So, I started making changes. First I added some of the background patterns that I use on my website. Then, I incorporated fonts and colors. Finally, after adding more goodies, I got the links, banners, and style that you see today.

Because I like the look, I designed my MySpace Page to be very similar. Some of the link colors are different, but I think they work. Now, I just have to come up with a design for my new blog. It's still at the template state, but I plan to change that very soon. I don't think it will look anything like my website, when I'm done. But you just never know.

Would you like to update the look of your blog? Want to change things around to better represent your personality? Need a place for your favorite quotes or a list of your most-visited websites?

Let me know. I'd be happy to help.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Game Addiction

Uh oh! I got a new game on Big Fish Games yesterday - "Heroes of Hellas" - and I think I'm hooked. It's really a fun game, with a bunch of different tasks.

Basically, it's a match-3 game with a twist. The spaces are hexagon-shaped, so you can link any matching shapes that are touching on any of the six sides. Unlike other games, when you make the matches, the surrounding spaces drop straight down, not in the direction that you moved the matching spaces. (If you play match-3 games, that makes sense; if you don't, my apologies for confusing the issue.)

Each 'episode' introduces a new Greek hero, who has special powers to help you clear spaces. (He doesn't actually help until you beat the particular episode. As the game progresses you get to add parts to your palace, collect trophies for different achievements, and unscramble mosaics to get free wallpapers. Seriously! The game gives you free wallpapers!

You start out with 4 lives. Along the way, you can earn extra lives. I've only earned one so far, in episode 2. Unfortunately, I'm desperately stuck in episode 4, where the game adds 'Hades stones' that can only be broken with lightening or with the help of Achilles. And I am losing lives fast! Mark, however, has already passed episode 4 and is beating his head against the wall of episode 5.

I have a feeling that episode 4 and I are going to learn to hate each other pretty quick. This is my 3rd attempt to beat it and, so far, I'm not doing so well. At least I know I won't be bored with it any time soon!






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Whish Body Products

I don't care what they say, the shaving products for women that you can find in the local stores don't do the job. No matter the brand or the price, they don't moisturize or protect against those annoying bumps that pop up on my legs as the hair starts growing back. And don't tell me that if I shaved every day, I wouldn't have to worry about regrowth. My skin can't take it.

Now, women have some great options from Whish Body Products. It doesn't matter if you need oily skin care products, rejuvenating toners, or something that will soothe those sore muscles. If you want to get rid of scaly, flaky skin, Whish Body Products has the perfect lotions and potions.

Between the Body Brush that helps exfoliate; the Shave Crave shaving cream that tones and rejuvenates, and the Flawless Bump Fighter (my personal favorite) that inhibits hair growth - my legs are actually looking forward to the next shave.

The best part? Whish Body Products are hypoallergenic, never tested on animals, and made in the USA. I'm sold! How about you?




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Bragging Time!

Forgive me, but I've just gotta do it! I found out this week that one of the articles I wrote for Helium.com was selected by the publisher! Woo-hoo! (as my daughter would say)

I chose the article opportunity because it was about skiing vacations in one of my favorite states - Colorado, where I was born and raised. It was really fun researching all of the great places to stay and fun things to do. Now, to actually know that it will be published is even better.

If you love to write, why not join Helium.com? It's free and it's a wonderful way to do something you love.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Blogger Breakdown

November 6, 2007 2:12PM Just to let everyone know - if you suddenly see 50 new posts on here, Blogger finally loves me/us again. Starting Sunday, all of the blogs that are hosted on their own site - like mine on www.jmarkafghans.com - stopped posting. Apparently, according to the staff at Blogger, there is a server problem.

Personally, I'm going nuts! I can't take any posts at PPP until this mess is fixed. I can't publish anything to this - or any other blog - right now. It's a bit like having laryngitis - the vocal cords are there, you just can't make any sounds. Those of you who know me well know that shutting me up is a virtual impossibility - so you can imagine my stress level right now! ARGHHHH!!

Oh, well. There's a Blogger outage planned for tonight, so hopefully it'll be a short-lived silence.







Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Damaged Nail

I know this is going to sound a bit silly, but it wouldn't be the first time I sounded a bit silly - so here goes: Does anyone know how to repair a seriously damaged fingernail? Currently, I have a big problem with the nail on my right index finger.

For as long as I can remember, I've been a nail biter. To cover the ragged edges, I started wearing artificial nails - both from a salon and the kind you get at the drugstore - years ago. I don't wear them all the time, but I do wear them frequently; especially now, since I can't grow all 10 nails. The problem is that the nail splits from tip to cuticle, just to the right of center, once it grows out even the slightest bit. Obviously, I've seriously damaged the nail bed, since it's been splitting for about 3 years.

I have tried gluing the split tip, to allow it to grow and strengthen - didn't work. The glue drove me nuts and I just ended up picking at it until it came off and the nail split again. Artificial nails aren't a really good choice, either. They're tough on all of my nails.

Any ideas would be immensely appreciated.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Blood Sugar and the Hypoglycemic

It's interesting. Mark has hyperglycemia, abnormally high blood sugar levels, meaning his pancreas either doesn't make enough insulin or his system has forgotten how to use it. I, on the other hand, have hypoglycemia, abnormally low blood sugar levels, meaning my system over-produces insulin or has forgotten how to process sugars. Both conditions are greatly improved by eating several small meals and managing dietary carbohydrates.

I've been re-reading information about hypoglycemia, because I've been feeling funky recently. Check out this information I pulled from The Hypoglycemia Support Foundation. It's a bit scary.

Some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia are:

fatigue insomnia mental confusion nervousness mood swings faintness headaches depression phobias heart palpitations

a craving for sweets cold hands and feet forgetfulness dizziness blurred vision inner trembling outbursts of temper sudden hunger allergies crying spells

I hate to admit that at my age, I still have the horrible eating habits of the average teenager. Bad food choices, too many sweets, skipped meals - all of it. It's no wonder I have experienced virtually every symptom on that list at different times in the last few years.

Guess it's time to get back to that hypo diet again. It's not really difficult to follow. I am just so out of the habit of eating 3 times a day that I can't imagine eating several small meals or 3 meals plus snacks. Although - now that I'm thinking about it - I'm actually hungry.

Maybe if I stop stifling hunger with tobacco and soda - and actually eat - I'll start feeling better. What a concept!







Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Dansko Women's Shoes and Clogs

I was cleaning out my dresser drawers recently and found, much to my surprise, two pairs of shoes in the bottom drawer. One pair, unfortunately, is a white sandal that will have to wait until spring for its reappearance. The other is a reptile-skin patterned, black patent-leather with a 3" heel. It will be waiting until I have surgery on my knee and/or get out of this brace.

Finding shoes that I'd forgotten about but can't wear right now, just made me want to find some that I can wear - right now. So, you know I went online shopping. All of the women's Dansko shoes are adorable.Between the terrific prices and free shipping on all orders over $100.00, I know that I can find just what I want and more than I need. Fun, huh?!

I immediately fell in love with the Dansko 'Midori'. Just look at the detailing around the edge; absolutely adorable. And the styling is great, with the cut-out and band across the arch, I can wear them with just about anything. Of course, there are several other styles.


The 'Myla' would also look very good with just about everything in my closet, under my jeans, or with my favorite mid-calf skirt. With the criss-cross straps across the top and the cute little buckles on the outside, I think the styling is perfect for so many occasions.

Either way, no matter which Dansko style I choose, I don't have to worry about falling off high heels or my feet being uncomfortable. For a woman who loves wearing no shoes as much as she loves new shoes, that says a lot.




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

No Good Deed . . .

There's a saying, quite popular around our house, that No good deed goes unpunished. We are rapidly becoming living proof that the saying is quite, quite true. Today, we got hit with one great big example.

After 6 weeks in a group home, Michael has come back to live here. Given all of the possible options, everyone involved decided that it was best for him to live with us. With the issues that we've had for the past 3 years, I'm not sure that it's best for Mark or me, but right now we're not the primary concern. Working within the system, we are getting Michael the attention that we couldn't get for him on our own, so that is a good thing.

Unfortunately, the system that we're hoping will help, is the same one that has brought Michael's mom back into the mix. For years, we have heard nothing but horror stories about the boys' life with this woman. Three years ago she put Michael, at the tender age of 13, on a bus with a total stranger and told him that she didn't want him back.

Since the court tracked her down and is working to terminate her custody and/or parental rights, she immediately moved back to Arizona with her father and is worming her way back into Michael's life. Right now, that means every Saturday morning and every Saturday evening, we'll be invaded as they pick him up and drop him off. It is good for Michael, because he'll get to spend some time with his only grandfather every week.

For Mark and me? I'm not so sure.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Calendar Software

I was looking through my organizer yesterday and realized that I desperately need a new calendar. The one I have is for 2004! Tells you how often I use my organizer, doesn't it? But I've got so many things going these days, I've got to get a system in place.

So, I decided - since I never get to the store - I'd see what I could find in the way of software that would let me design and print my own calendar. That way, I'd get what I want, when I need it. Good idea, huh? I thought so too, until I started really looking.

There just wasn't much out there that jumped out and said, "Hey! This is what you were looking for!" Oh, did I mention that I was looking for free software? Yup, that cuts the options down to really, really few.

I'll let you know if I ever find anything I like. Please don't hold your breath - it's really bad for your health!






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Finite Organs of the Infinite Mind

I started a new blog several months ago. It's intended to be a platform for creative writing; my own fiction and, perhaps, some essays. So far, I haven't put a lot of time into it, but it is growing slowly.

Here is an excerpt from a work-in-progress. I haven't posted it on the blog, yet; so you are the first and only people to have seen it - besides me, of course.

Untitled

"Geneva! I'm bored!" Long, dark lashes fluttered over deep brown eyes, as a single tear escaped. "I don't want to play this game anymore!"

"Now, Merry," Geneva began, her voice soft and gentle. "You gave your word. Whatever card you drew. Remember? Even though Selina and I tried to warn you?" Putting aside the case file, she bent toward the earnest little face. "Fredo and Stefan aren't complaining, now are they, little one?"

An energetic snort from over Geneva's shoulder warned her that Fredo was about to do just that and, if he got started, she knew that Stefan wouldn't be far behind. Luckily, when Geneva turned and pointed a newly-polished nail at him, Merry's brother had the good sense to swallow whatever he'd been about to say and stare innocently up at the ceiling. One upset 'assistant' was definitely all she could handle today.

"But Mordecai said it would be fun, Neva!" Another tear snuck out to roll down Merry's silky cheek. "He promised! And it's not!" she insisted, fisting her hands on her hips and stomping her tiny foot. "It's not fun to be human - at all!"

With that pronouncement, Merry threw herself into Geneva's arms, sobbing as though her heart had broken.

Please visit Finite Organs of the Infinite Mind and share your opinions. Some of the posts are rather rough; I'm still getting into a rhythm. But, I look forward to reading your comments.






Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and