Happy Sunday and Happy Mom's Day to All

Mother's Day Glitter GraphicsGood very early morning!!!




Sunday Glitter Graphics


LOL, try 4 am. For me that is very extremely early. We leave at 7 am Central Time for Bossier City Louisiana. Just an overnight trip and we will be home sometimes on Monday kind of late afternoon or early evening. It is about a 3 hour drive, so we will get to the Casino around 10 - 10:30 am or so. We usually play a little on Monday also, and then try and get on the road by about 2. The drive always seems much longer going since you are go thrilled about getting there, but then coming home, you are just ready to get the drive over with and be safe and sound at home. :)


Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel. We are supposedly going to have a clear window, with no thunderstorms, but you never know about this weather.


Plus, for all I did not tell about my daughter Amanda, we had a big scare yesterday. I think most everyone knows she is expecting her 2nd son, on June 1, via C-section. Well, she has been having issues with her gallbladder off and on for years. But, just has kind of put up with it, avoiding surgery mainly due to her two other kids, James her 3 year old and her step-daughter Heather who is 11.


But, she began having horrible problems with it early last week, and even went in to see her OB/GYN. They were going to do a sonogram on her gallbladder on this Monday (tomorrow). But, she was in such pain all night on Friday, she went to the hospital yesterday. She was having some contractions also, which they certainly do not want, so they kept her, gave her meds to stop the contractions, and the pain from the gallbladder and she was supposed to stay overnight, for observation.

Well, she cannot sit still... so the doctor felt if she felt okay, she could go home... and she did late yesterday evening.


She wanted to be home for Mother's day and not stuck in the hospital if possible.


So keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she tries to finish out the pregnancy with everything okay at least another 7 to 10 days to ensure the baby's lungs are completely developed. Hopefully, she will go until June 1, which is the ideal situation. She said the doctor told her they will probably go ahead and take the gallbladder out while she is in the hospital having her new son. If all is well, I hope they do. She has been putting up with boughts of this now for several years, but they never found stones, and felt the gallbladder was just "bad" and sometimes getting infected causing the nausea and severe pain.


OKay I close now.... with a Happy Sunday to all, and for all the Mom's adn Mom's to be a very Happy, Blessed, and Safe Mother's Day!


With all of my respect, honor, gratitude, and to let you know just how much you bless my heart with all of the wonderful posts, emails, cards, comments and so much more.


Pam p.s. Wish us a little luck at the Casino! :) We decided IF we won...(Not likely but you never know) we would put the money into getting a new kitchen floor, and a venta-hood for over the stove.

Do Away with Tax Havens for Large Corporations!

Our Largest Corporations hiding throughout the world to NOT pay taxes!

May 6, 2009

fetching data...

We all have heard the stories about banks, financial institutions, the auto industry, and their failings to the point of going under. It is all over the news and media. Should the government help bail these corporations out in order to help the nations financial situation? Well that question is certainly debatable by each of us. What really burns me up, and I saw it first hand last night on "Rachel Maddow's" hour long daily news hour. I have to say I really like this woman. Rather than be "one sided", she tries to give the facts, she has others on both sides come in and give information, and even though she may add a tiny bit of her own "two cents" in, I feel she is one of the most non-biased reporters we have. I always knew about American companies "hiding" money throughout certai places of the world. The Cayman Islands is just one that stays in the news. Also Luxemborg is another, along with several more. But, when I heard the facts that include THOSE THAT TOOK BAILOUT MONEY! I was totally ENRAGED! When an average wage earner makes around 50,000.00 a year and pays 25% in taxes, as high as that is, those are the people that PAY THEIR TAXES! But, you take companies like BANK OF AMERICA, MORGAN STANLEY, and many, many more that hide their money in these places such as the Cayman Islands... and guess what??? They DO NOT PAY ONE DIME IN TAXES! Even though most huge companies should pay around 35%, due to them hiding their earnings in off short accounts, they literally for the most part pay nothing! No wonder our nation is BROKE! In the Cayman Islands, there is one 5 story building, (note a small parking lot with NO cars there), and that building has 18,000!!! businesses claiming they have an office there! Yes, I said 18,000! It is no wonder we are in the financial dilemna as far as our government goes. When you add up these companies that do not pay what they owe in taxes due to the "loopholes" that Bush and Cheney condoned... mmmm. wonder why... can you say Big Oil, Kickbacks and Lobbyists?? ... our government loses about 21 BILLION DOLLARS in tax money a year!!! This should really enrage each and every hard working American! Then, the REPUBLICANS have the audacity to say that President Obama is trying to INCREASE the taxes businesses pay! That is a bunch of bull... no HE IS GETTING RID of the Loopholes that allow these huge companies to NOT PAY taxes, so they will finally contribute to their own country! We should be mad as heck, to put it mildly, and back getting rid of these loopholes once and for all. Note this first one is BANK OF AMERICA ASKING FOR MORE BAILOUT MONEY!!! Here are some URL's with information: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/business/06stress.html?partner=rss&emc=rss http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/business/05tax.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/04/republicans-defend-tax-ha_n_195617.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsc-npUcuC8 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aaXFFJBizJtc&refer=home

Virginia Foxx IS NOT FIT to be a dog catcher!

http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/virginia-foxx-apologize-or-resign/

This "woman" does not belong in Congress, nor any place in our government. F0r her to stand in front of Congress and Mathew's Mom and say what she said, and lie boldly about this horrid hate crime is despicable! She needs to resign now, or be made to step down. She is not fit to be a local dog catcher, much less a member of our governmental body. How can anyone be so incredibly cruel, when the Mother of this young man was sitting right there?

Hate crimes of any kind, against anyone should be completely banned from this country and the world. She needs to be made an example of, that we will NOT allow this kind of behavior in our nation, and especially within our government.

I watched this movie about what happened to Mathew Shepard. It broke my heart.

Commending President Obama - A++ for a job well done

http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/president-obamas-first-100-days/

I am elated to have President Obama in office! He has gone over and above to do all he has promised, even in spite of all of the horrid situations he faced from day one as President! He has my vote and total backing. I am fully hopeful he will be re-elected during our next elections!

New Strain of Swine Flu concern here in TX/Around the globe

It sounds like we are really in a spot of the unknown when it comes to this new strain of swine flu. It looks like it began in Mexico, but now has spread in TX, CA, NY, and around the globe to other foreign nations. I realize the CDC does not want panic, but they have raised the level to "4", which 6 is the highest alert as far as a pandemic.

I know I am certainly concerned. I live not far from Dallas, and there are many people living here that commute and work in Dallas. So, between people that have relatives in Mexico and have visited... even our neighbors were there not too long ago, to those who could carry it here from their work place or from shopping in the Dallas area... it does worry me. Due to the fact that it is actually killing "healthy" people, and those in the age range of about from 25 to 45... what does that mean for the elderly, the small children, and those like myself with compromised immune systems? Since I have several autoimmune illnesses, including Lupus, Sjogren's and Mixed Connective Tissue disorder... anyone with a less than healthy immune situation certainly I would think could be at higher risk of contracting this new strain, as well as having a more difficult time trying to get over it.

Lots of links and updated information coming in... take care... try and stay out of public places, away from those that are coughing and sneezing... wash hands frequently, try and not put your hands around your eyes, mouth and nose, especially when out and about in town... if symptoms arise that you feel could be flu in nature, contact your doctor or ER immediately, let them know they symptoms, so they can be more prepared to be extra cautious when someone who is possibly infected comes into the office or hospital.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/28/swine.flu/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_on_he_me/us_med_swine_flu_us_cases

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/dallas/stories/042809dnmetflulocal.3fde1ea.html


Take care and be extra cautious....

Wondering Why Texas has a Nut case for Govenor

Here is the URL:

http://www.alternet.org/story/138306/why_is_texas_so_psycho/

This guy is refusing help from the stimulus package to aid those have lost jobs. Then he makes ridiculous remarks at the "tea party" in Austin! Like Texas "seceding" from the other states! What a joke!!!!

Judge for yourself----

Urgent! Need Your Help with the National Pain Care Act!

Urgent! Need Your help with the National Pain Care Act!
Current mood: restless

Here is the latest on the National Pain Care Act! Please view the video, and then sign the petitions. One in 4 people in this country suffer needlessly with chronic daily pain. This video will make it clear that all of us as chronic pain victims need your help. Your help is desperately needed to get this bill passed through the Senate. Please take a few moments to watch the video below, and the other link will show you the bill, and where to sign the petition to your Senators.

I appreciate everyone, and hope you will be a part of this life changing, dire needed bill.

Rhia


Here are the Urls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0pUVsvqjeQ

http://www.petitiononline.com/npcpa09/petition.html

A Revelation to fix our Broken Health Care System

This is a impressive talk by Debra Ness in front of Congress gives all of us a new perspective how the government needs to handle this broken system. She talks about getting those who need help the most, those with chronic illnesses, multiple chronic problems, that are often left out of the system. These people are the ones that never get to a Primary Care Doctor, so their options usually boil down to when they are so ill, they have no choice but to go the the ER. This runs up bills, does not give them the care they need for chronic ailments, and are extremely costly.

Please take a few minutes to listen to what she had to say to Congress:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3NPkrchD4Y&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalpartnership.org%2Fsite%2FPageServer%3Fpagename%3Dmm_0422_Testimony%26autologin%3Dtrue%26AddInterest%3D1342&feature=player_embedded


Here is also an article about it, with further information:

http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/04/21/health-care-reform-must-focus-on-patients-needs/#more-13038


There is much that needs to be done to provide health care to everyone, drive down the high costs of prescriptions, office visits, hospital stays, and our other needs for our good health.

We need much more research for possible cures... for so many illnesses. We still need much more in regard to Cancer, Stroke, and Heart Disease. But there are many other Chronic Illnesses that are far from having anything to even control the symptoms in a good way, much less is anyone near any type of possible cure.

Things like migraine headaches, Lupus, Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder, Degenerative Joint Disease, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, plus hundreds of the diseases that leave patients with no quality of life, take them out of the work force due to being ill, they do not have access to maintance health care, they often are left with no answers, and truly no really promising news on the horizon of more medications to not only stop the symptoms, and surely no cure at all for any of them.

The figures are staggering of how much employee time is lost due to migraines alone. When you add in Chronic Pain, and many other illnesses that leave you basically unable to function, families, the patients, their incomes, the companies... all suffer.

I urge to also to take a look at this website. There is a great deal of information here about equal pay for women, time off for children's illnesses, plus many other subjects important to all.

http://www.nationalpartnership.org/site/PageServer

Please Join me for a worth cause
Current mood: distraught
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

This card is just to say I am thinking of you, wishing you the best, hope that life is well with you and your family, & hope that what is going on with this world, this economy, the war, and so many more things that are not so great at this, are not impacting your life at all, or if so, just a little. I realize there are so many people that are facing "dire straits" in their lives. Each and every day we are overwhelmed with issues that can dramatically put more stress on us, than we already have.

From the continuance of war, realizing the threats of terrorism we face, job losses, illnesses, the global warming situation, losing homes, many people that have worked a lifetime watching their retirement go down the drain, a not just broken, but a health care system that is totally failing many of us, strange weather that has brought droughts, floods, hurricanes, tornado's, loss of crops to farmers, and for some taken it's toll by wiping out their home and all of their belongings.
We face rising gas prices, rising grocery prices, prescription medications that are almost impossible to afford without insurance, that is if you can afford the insurance, companies going down the tubes, higher credit card rates, which is totally unfair, people so stressed over life that they are to the point of hopelessness, taking their families lives, and then their own.
Each morning I awake, I wonder if the nightmare for so many around our nation, and the world will be able to recover, regroup, and once again have "normal" back into their lives. I continue to try and keep hope and faith alive in my life, as well as pray my family and friends can make it through the nightmare of what all hits them with the economic, financial, job, bills and home situation they face.

I have found reaching out to touch others is a small way I can let them know, there is someone out here that really cares.

I am an active voice Against Domestic Violence, and Chronic Pain and Illnesses. Many of you already know that. I am also active in trying to clean up our world, make it greener, and do the things I can do to stop global warming, polluting our water, soil and air... as I try to educate myself online about what other things I can do for our Mother Earth, and the people here.

I have a new group here on Care2. The main "subject" is about Chronic Pain and Illness. I thought about opening a 2nd group about Domestic Violence, but rather than do that and spread myself too thin, I decided my one group can be a voice for other things besides Chronic Pain. So, there are posts about other things, from Domestic Violence, being "greener", and other subjects that weigh upon not just my heart but yours.

I realize we get bombarded these days with blogs, groups, personal websites, twitter, messengers, MySpace, Facebook, and gosh, I have lost track of all of them. When chat and groups were first online, we have like one basic one, which was MSN. I believe Yahoo joined in, and from there, there is an epidemic of all kinds of places to find others like minded, discussions on everything from health to space, and they can take up a great deal of time for the "owners" of the groups etc... plus lots of time for members, if they want to participate.

I am inviting you to join my group. You can take from it as much as as little as you like. I am NOT making it manditory for any members to have to post, but I would love to read a little about you, when you decide to join.

I have just began this group here on Care2, which is not just a site about "blogging, friends, and chatting". It serves a greater purpose in bringing those that like a place to find out lots of information, from politics, health, greener living, and so much more. You can write your own petition on something that you feel is important, whether it be about animal cruelty, protecting our waters, you name it, you can start a petition here for it.

So, Care2 serves a greater purpose... you can do free clicks daily, that will help so many causes, from breast cancer, to animals that are becoming extinct.

Your voice can be heard here... to the ones such as politicians and other non-profit groups helping so many needy causes.

I would love to have you as a member, even if you join, and prefer not to do much participation, but just enjoy what I and others post. If you feel passionate about a subject, whatever it may be, feel free to post it.

Here is the URL: http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/power_over_chronic_pain_illness
That is where you can join.

Thanks for all you do, as a friend, as a member of society, as an activist if you are one...plus all of the other million things each of us do that gives us hope, faith, and a new outlook each day at life.

I look forward to having you as a member...

With a huge hug, and sunshine for this day and many to come...


Rhia

In Celebration of Our Planet

I wish everyone a beautiful day today, and many more to follow this one. As we "celebrate" Mother Earth, take a moment to look at all of the splendor and wonderment of just how amazing our planet truly is. It sustains our lives and has for so many millions of years. It provides us light, heat, cold, food.... each and everything we need as far as the basic things to survive is right here surrounding us each and every day. For far too long, I feel many of us (I included at times), have lost our touch with just how vital all this planet offers is to us. From the air we breath, to all we harvest for food, to the rivers and streams for water, then the oceans and lakes full of fish... lands and forests which provide more food, the sun that gives us what plants need in order to grow... at times when we walk out of our front door daily, we lose sight of all that Earth brings to us.

Think about a vacation to another place or state you may have been to. Possibly to one of the oceans or gulfs, where you can gaze for miles and miles over the vastness of those waters, the feel of the spray from the waves, the salty taste of the water, the sand beneath your feet. Or possibly you have witnessed the Grand Canyon, with all of its glory, a wonder so awesome through the powers of what nature can do. What about Nigara Falls, camping in one of our National Forests, fishing for trout in a stream far away from the city, or any place we go to "get away" from all the the "man made" things in life, and back to nature, our roots, and where we began.

"She" has given and continues to give us so much, to the point of sustainging our very lives... now it is times we give back to her, protect her from further damage, put back what we have taken, invest in making her bountiful, and still able to support and sustain us as humans. Life literally would NOT exist at all, without what this planet gives to us, along with our universe.

As you reflect today, whether you plant a tree, make a garden, begin recycling, take a moment to see the trees budding out, watch the birds all around, smell the newness of Spring in the air, turn off lights that you don't need, buy something "green" or an energy saver today, or NOT buy something that you really do not need... whatever you do today, tomorrow and the many to follow, try and remember to take a moment to realize all we have to be thankful for.

During difficult times such as these, it is hard to reflect upon the positive. We as Americans, and people are going through some very harsh events now. Yet, if you just take a walk around a local park, take your kids to play at a playground, make a sand pile and play with your kids in it, watch the butterflies, bees, and other forms of life all around... those are the precious moments of knowing we are blessed to the fullest.

I wish you all the wonderment of what Earth means to you... and hope all is well in your corner of this spectacular planet...

Pam "Rhia"