21 posts from 2007

Ode To 2007

Dec 31, 2007

It seems just like yesterday when I was happily greeting you....bittersweet now.

Goodbye 2007 and thank you for everything. I will never see you again.

Yesterday’s yesterday while today’s here,
Today is today till tomorrow appear,
Tomorrow’s tomorrow until today’s past,
And kisses are kisses as long as they last.
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May you live all the days of your life. -Swift
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Weep and you are called a baby,
Laugh and you are called a fool,
Yield and you’re called a coward,
Stand and your called a mule,
Smile and they’ll call you silly,
Frown and they’ll call you gruff,
Put on a front like a millionaire,
And somebody calls your bluff.
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May bad luck follow you all the days of your life,
And never overtake you.
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At ten, a child; at twenty, wild;
At thirty tame, if ever;
At forty wise; at fifty, rich;
At sixty, good or never!
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While we live, let’s live in clover,
For when we’re dead, we’re dead all over.

Cheers

cheers '2008'

Neuroplasticity

Dec 31, 2007

neuro-plasticity, the ability of the brain to change and adapt. Even rewire itself.

I watched a great program on KCET called The Brain Fitness Program and everything I heard reminded me of my mother-in-law, and what we discussed on Dr. Gupta's web site about dementia. Our conclusion was, you can (and should) teach an old dog new tricks. I think that saying we heard all our lives should be changed so our children don't get the wrong message. You can, you can, you can! Anyway, it was a great program, try and catch it.

Can we train the brain to compensate for injuries or impairments? Can we contribute to its rejuvenation? Our brain is pliable and changeable throughout our lives, it's not hardwired in childhood as once thought.

It's all about learning new things throughout our lives....and fish oil.

I'm trying to teach myself French through podcasts. hahahah! Good luck.

Au bientot

Pre New Year's Eve Post

Dec 30, 2007

The decorations are finally down. After a while they get a little stale on us. Everyone cleaned out their desk drawers and their closets so we're all feeling more organized and ready for the second semester of school. I just have to do that. Call me neurotic.

Later, I became a lady of leisure. Isn't that what vacation is for? I watched a few episodes of The Sopranos and read my book. Listened to T complain about coming in 7th in his fantasy league. Today was the end of the football season. Yay! I think hes' going to get out of this league. It makes him unhappy.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I'm so excited. I pray 2008 is happy and healthy for everyone.I look back over the year and I think the hardest part of it was losing the mother-in-law to dementia/Alzheimer's. Now she is finally settled in to her new way of life and living in a so-so facility. We try to take her out as much as possible but the diaper thing makes it kind of tough. I have no idea if she realizes what she's doing anymore. Sometimes I see glimpses of the person she used to be, only when I get right in her face. It was a tough year for her, and we all needed to adjust and accept it. It is what it is. The more we learn about what's wrong with her the easier it is to deal and help. I am thinking she needs to get her hair done because it looks God awful. I can have my daughter perform one of her miracles next Saturday. Maybe she'll be able to look in the mirror and feel good about herself.

Maybe tomorrow we'll see a movie. I would like to see Sweeney Todd. Hubby has to work, hopefully only half day. Our days can't ever seem to be coordinated. :: Yawn::

Books For The Long Holiday Weekend

Dec 30, 2007
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Pillars of Earth
Into The Wild

Old Movies For The Long Holiday Weekend

Dec 29, 2007

~~Woman In White 1948~~
~~A Tale of Two Cities 1935~~
Green For Danger 1946
~~Holiday 1938~~
The French Connection 1971
~~The Time Machine~~ 1960
~~Suddenly, Last Summer~~ 1959

Saturday, December 29th: Move Madness and Home Cooking

Dec 29, 2007

I'm laying low and enjoying the end of the year. I love bringing in the new year with some old movies. I have a roast cooking in the crock and the kids are playing and yelling each other. It can't get any better than this. I'm looking forward to the Patriots-Giants game later today. I know the Pats are going to kill the Giants but one can only hope. I'm happy it's finally the end of the football season. Shopping is done. Tuesday the Christmas decorations will come down. It's time to start over again. 361 days until Christmas. Second semester will be starting soon and Spring break is around the corner. I hope and pray 2008 is a good year for everyone around me.. 2007 wasn't bad. All is well, thank God.

CNN Tonight; Rescuing Youssif

Dec 24, 2007
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Dr. Sanjay Gupta playing soccer with Youssif.

Every now and then, we as journalists get to report a story that makes a difference. It's a story where people see and then act. Such was the case with a little boy named Youssif. By now, you may know his story. He was four years old, playing outside in a Baghdad neighborhood when men with masks came and poured gasoline on his face. Then, in an unbelievable act of cruelty, they set him on fire and ran away. Four years old.

Cruelty like that really does exist in the world. You will see it if you watch the CNN Impact Your World Special "Rescuing Youssif." But, you will see something else. Something that is wonderful. Something that offers hope and optimism. You will see goodness that fights that cruelty with a vengeance. And wins. You see, when correspondent Arwa Damon and her producer Mohammed first started reporting the story on CNN, people all over the world reacted. You reacted. You gave letters of support, and money to help. Hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was enough to bring Youssif and his family to the United States and to house them for the entire time of his treatment. It was enough to start Youssif on the path to care for those horribly disfiguring burns. It was enough to make Youssif safe. It was enough to impact the world.

Through Youssif's eyes, you will see what happened on that awful day. You will be taken on a journey from the bombs in Baghdad to the beaches of Los Angeles. You will watch state-of-the-art burn surgery at work and learn about Dr. Peter Grossman, who stepped up to take care of Youssif and donated all of his services. You will see a remarkable transformation. As you watch, though, look not just at the physical healing, but notice the emotional healing as well. If you are like me, it will give you chills and make you feel good inside.

Maybe it's because I am a doctor, or maybe because I have children of my own, but I could not stop thinking about Youssif. Maybe it's that I have spent time in Iraq seeing things that I wish I could erase from my mind. For all those reasons and many more, I am so proud to be able to report this story, along with Arwa Damon, a woman I admire. Watch, and you will see why it just may be the best story to come out of this war. It is goodness overcoming cruelty.

Programming note: CNN's Impact Your World Special "Rescuing Youssif" premieres Monday at 10 p ET. It airs again at 4p ET Tuesday and Friday at 8p ET.

source: Dr. Gupta

Christmas Eve; Countdown To Christmas

Dec 24, 2007
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Can you believe it? It's here already? I'm trying to get everything done so I can take it easy tonight. I can't wait until I'm able to crowd the Christmas tree with gifts and take some pictures. My son wants to make sure we leave Santa some chocolate chip cookies this year. I will comply. I hope everyone has a very happy Christmas.

Holiday07_4

I love posting Google's logo on holidays.

Cutie Pies

Dec 23, 2007

Chinstrap Penguin

Penguin2

061115-penguin-shoes_big

QotD: I Went To Great Measures

Dec 23, 2007

What was the one thing that you wanted badly that made you do something ridiculous?
Submitted by estell.

I've done so many ridiculous things in the name of love. They're too ridiculous to even mention, as I look back in embarrassment. Yet there was one guy in particular with whom I wasted too many years with. It wasn't just ONE ridiculous thing, it was many. : (