Emerald Princess Online

Pneumococcal pneumonia

2010-03-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

Despite the seemingly early advent of spring in the northwest and having dodged the H1N1 bullet all winter, along came Pneumococcal pneumonia and sidelined me for a week.

When I awoke a week ago today at 6:30 a.m., I felt as if I was drowning and I was -- in my own blood. My lungs were bleeding. Consulting nurse, Urgent Care, M.D. appointment, and further follow-up appointment with my PCP have gotten everything under control, but it has been a scary week and I have been so frustrated to have missed a week of work.

Many treatments with an SVN (small volume nebulizer), three antibiotics, a course of prednisone, and a series of inhalers several times a day and I am almost ready to go back to work tomorrow.

The American Lung Association has long used the advertising tagline: "When you can't breathe, nothing else matters." Hats off to Apria Healthcare for delivering a nebulizer to me at home late at night. What a wonderful service! They embrace that concept, too: "When you can't breathe, nothing else matters." apria.com

Jaynie Jones' network

2009-11-30T10:17:00.000-08:00

Numerous ways to contact me via the various networks I am passionately a part of:

LinkedIn: Jaynie Jones

Twitter: @jayniejo

Xocai Chocolate: http://mxi.myvoffice.com/jayniejones

Facebook: http://facebook.com/jaynie.jones

Voice123: http://jayniejones.voice123.com

Living Well Daily: http://shaklee.net/jaynie

Mass murder of Lakewood police

2009-11-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

First hearing the news yesterday (Sunday) morning, that four Lakewood, Washington police officers had been killed, I thought I must have mis-heard what was being reported. It couldn't be correct. If it was true, it must have been some horrific accident, perhaps a crash in a high-speed pursuit. But no. It wasn't a crash. It wasn't a pursuit. It was just four cops at a Forza coffee shop going over reports and planning the strategy for their day apparently having no inkling that they had all already lived their last day on Earth. Years ago when I took the training in the Tacoma Police Department's Citizens' Academy, we learned with a video simulator that from the time a life-and-death threat is perceived, there is on average only 1.5 seconds to respond definitively. In the execution and slaughter that occurred at Forza, the officers did not even have that precious window of time.

So help me God, don't anyone tell me "it was their time."

As we watched the continuing coverage from the crime scene and the manhunt for the killer it amazed and impressed me that Det. Ed Troyer, serving as public information officer, was able to keep his own emotions in check and handle all of the nagging reporters' often inane questions with equanimity, somehow keeping his cool, and remaining the ultimate professional in the most trying of circumstances.

The procession with the four bodies in the vehicles from the Pierce County Medical Examiner's Office stretched for miles with police cars from every agency throughout the region; no sirens, just lights flashing, miles of lights flashing in honor of the murdered officers. That procession was infinitely longer than any I have ever seen in my life. It was as solemn as one for a president and easily stretched for miles and miles longer than any I've ever seen for a president. People lined the route in silence and solemnity sharing in the loss that this entire community is feeling now and that will surely leave a scar that may never heal.

The individual who murdered the four police officers surely had no long-range plan, but assuming he acted out of rage and resentment for his own periods of incarceration when he had an opportunity to strike back, what he inadvertently did will likely result in more people being killed. Police everywhere will be on high alert now that this has happened, lest it happen to them. They will be less inclined to 'wait and see' and if a threat is perceived who could blame them for acting on it and firing first to protect themselves.

Others often use the term "fallen" officers. To me, they were not "fallen"...they were murdered.

Each one of those officers was known to me, someone I had met and interacted with in a variety of settings. They were all good people. The Lakewood Police Department as a whole is exemplary. Just a week ago a survey was circulated seeking the public's input about how the Lakewood Police Department is doing its job. I was just one respondent to the survey and I offered praise for how professionally they handled two call-outs just about this time last year involving a family member. Thanks to their skill, even-handedness, and professionalism each of those situations was resolved peacefully with no one hurt. After I submitted my response to the survey, one of the police officers, Officer Adam Leonard, even took time and made a special effort to call and thank me for thanking them.

There is a veil of grief and sorrow that is shrouding all of Tacoma and Pierce County today; everyone here has been touched and affected in one way or another by what took place early yesterday morning at Forza. Lives and families changed forever. Nine children now with a dad or a mom. The effect will ripple through society endlessly. Nothing but sorrow.

Bridgeport Place Community Events October-November 2009

2009-11-30T09:24:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009

Pain Management with Acupuncture

Kenneth Noble, MSA, LAc, acupuncturist, presented an interesting and entertaining lecture at Bridgeport Place Retirement & Assisted Living on Saturday afternoon.

Mr. Noble's assistant, Barbara Williams, handed-out health survey forms to each person in attendance. The residents enjoyed hearing what he had to say about how acupuncture can be useful for most types of pain by increasing circulation to areas where blood flow may be restricted and how stress can play a role. (Video clip provided below) There were lots of good questions and answers. Mr. Noble's clinical practice is in University Place.http://www.noblewellness.com

Bridgeport Place Dining Services Director, Cindy Fugate, provided refreshments for the group with a fabulous fruit tray of artistically arranged wedges of succulent cantaloupe, honeydew melon, red grapes, and fresh apple slices, plus bottles of water.

POSTED BY JAYNIE JONES AT 10:55 AM 0 COMMENTS

LABELS: PAIN MANAGEMENT WITH ACUPUNCTURE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009

More fun at Bridgeport Place

Bridgeport Place is a senior living community nestled right alongside Bridgeport Way West, in University Place. It is my honor and pleasure, a pure joy, to work with the staff daily to make this a warm, welcoming, inviting home for seniors, where residents enjoy a daily calendar of activities that can include trips out and about, special programs, and a variety of musical performances. For example...

Today the Memorie Singers performed a lovely program that sent their harmonious voices and lilting melodies all the way from the dining room throughout the hallways. What a treat it was to hear them again. Enjoy a little clip of their performance this afternoon in the attached video.

This weekend on Saturday afternoon, November 7, at 1:30 a special presentation by notedacupuncturist Kenneth Noble, MSA, LAc, of University Place is scheduled. His lecture topic will focus on Pain Management with Acupuncture. He specializes in treating pain that can occur from a variety of causes including arthritis and other types of chronic pain. The program is free and open to the public; a courtesy RSVP to reserve a seat is appreciated. Mr. Noble's busy office practice is also located in University Place.

The Harvest Brunch is Sunday, November 15. There will also be live music. Tickets are $10 for adults; children under 12 eat free. Reservations are required. It is a multi-generational event and families are welcome, but call to reserve a place at the table as seating is limited. 253.565.1960 http://bridgeportplaceassisted.com

POSTED BY JAYNIE JONES AT 10:42 PM 1 COMMENTS

LABELS: MORE FUN AT BRIDGEPORT PLACE

Halloween Safe Treats in University Place

More than 300 school children and their parents participated in the annual "Safe Treats" tradition at Bridgeport Place Retirement and Assisted Living on Halloween afternoon. The residents enjoyed seeing the children in their colorful costumes.

Prizes were awarded to the children dressed-up in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize-winning costumes as a ninja, police officer, and a monkey. The youngest child in costume was a 3-week-old baby in a tiger suit onesie. All the children were precious to see and the residents enjoyed giving them their candy treats.

The staff had done an extraordinarily creative job of decorating.

Honor students from Curtis High School were treated to pizza and snacks in appreciation of them volunteering their time to help with the event.

It was tremendous fun for everyone involved. Having the weather cooperate with a day of sunshine was a bonus.

POSTED BY JAYNIE JONES AT 10:15 PM 1 COMMENTS

LABELS: HALLOWEEN SAFE TREATS IN UNIVERSITY PLACE

Hoppin' John

2009-06-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

This weekend I received an e-mail from a friend I have not heard from in quite some time. Daniel Rogers sent a recipe for Hoppin' John. I'd heard of it before, but had never tried it. Admittedly, I did not have all of the traditional ingredients on hand to prepare this southern delight, but I substituted with what I did have on hand and it yielded a fabulous, spicy, home-cooked dinner for us. It will continue to serve us for several more dinners, too.

Farrah's Story

2009-05-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

We watched the painful odyssey of Farrah Fawcett as she has waged a battle against the insidious anal cancer that has spread to her liver. The two-hour program on NBC, which aired Friday evening (May 15), was a profile in courage and determination but despite all of that the outcome looks bleak.

It was painful to watch not only what Farrah has gone through with her cancer treatment and the ravages of the treatments on her body, but equally heartbreaking to see Ryan O'Neil loving her so and grieving that is so raw. Even more painful to see her son 'Red' at her bedside...in shackles. He is serving some time in jail for a drug conviction, but was allowed three hours for a final visit with his mother. The jailers who escorted him to her home would not allow him out of the shackles on his legs, but did release him from the handcuffs so he could cuddle with his mother one last time.

Heartbreaking...

And it is heartbreaking and sad not only because it is Farrah with whom we have grown up watching and knowing from television and the movies over so many years, but because it is a template of what ordinary people go through every day around the world. Farrah is simply a high profile personality who has been able to bring more light to the disease process in a public way.

It is all tragic...for Farrah, for Ryan, for 'Red', and for anyone and everyone who receives a cancer diagnosis.

As I watched Farrah's Story and wept, her constant unwavering statement was, "I want to live." That reminded me so much of my own mother's remark to me years and years ago. Mama said, "I don't mind getting old. I just don't want to die."

Washington state mass murder and suicide

2009-04-06T16:23:00.000-07:00

In the shadow of this dormant volcano in Washinton State, there was an eruption of rage that eclipsed anything the mountain could dish out: five children and their father are dead.

My thoughts follow in the blog linked below...

http://inyourneighborhood.blogspot.com/2009/04/harrison-family-murders-and-suicide.html

Satellite radio whoremongers

2009-02-17T23:59:00.000-08:00

Minutes ago it was announced that Sirius/XM Satellite Radio worked out a deal to avoid bankruptcy, but obviously they’re hanging on by the skin of their teeth…

What do you think of Sirius/XM being on the brink of folding? Howard Stern’s deal and the other overpaid talents and not-so-talented have gored the cash cow…

Yeah, satellite radio made a big splash...whoopee! Look how long that lasted! It will be flippin’ hilarious if the whole dang satellite radio industry goes belly up and the world goes back to AM radio! Ha-ha-ha!!! Don’t count AM out just yet!

For that matter, we could bring back AM Stereo! Now there's a technology that never had a chance to get off the ground; let's bring it back for another go-round.

I know you’ve got satellite radio in your Lexus, Avalanche, and Escalade and enjoy it on the open raod (who wouldn’t?) but I just think it is time for all these ludicrously, obscenely, shamefully overpaid people – whether in radio, television, movies or the sports world – to come get their feet back down on the ground. Welcome back to tera firma. Come back to the REAL WORLD here on Planet Earth where the rest of us live…

The whoremongers of satellite radio have bankrupted their own industry.

"Now we come to the end of another broadcast day...er, uh, era..."

Remembering "Aunt Vicki" Victoria Sorrells

2008-07-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

Aunt Vicki was the most beloved person, so full of life and fun. She was a giving, loving, character who gave so much of herself despite her personal and physical hardships and trials. She had a zest for life and a sense of humor like no one else. No one could tell a story, really weave a tale, like Aunt Vicki could. I miss her terribly.

Larissa Kelly lost last night on Jeopardy

2008-05-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

It was a crushing defeat for Larissa Kelly last night on Jeopardy. She set a record and I had high hopes that she'd be the long-running female equivalent of Ken Jennings.

Alas! It was not to be.

Larissa's momentum shifted after her error on the last question in the first round. She made a big wager, but came up with the wrong question. Psychologically, I think it did her in, sealed her fate even before the second round had begun. She never got off the blocks from that point onward. I think she was tired.

The only good news in any of it is that she will be back for the Tournament of Champions and I hope she smokes 'em all then and shows 'em whose boss.

Larissa Kelly on Jeopardy

2008-05-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Larissa Kelly, 28-year-old from Newton, Mass., has already broken a record for the highest amount of cash winning of any woman who has ever appeared on Jeopardy. She is on a roll!

She is absolutely delightful with a mild-mannered, gentle, quiet, sweetness, and adorable innocence that cloaks her incredible facility to nailing the answers in every conceivable category on Jeopardy.

She is unassuming and conservative, but can clearly kick it up in crunch-time when she has to and she is blazing a trail. I adore her. I hope she will not only be on Jeopardy as long as Ken Jennings was, but that she will even exceed his run.

Go, Larissa! Go!!!

Photography by Jaynie Jones

2008-05-23T02:33:00.000-07:00

See my photography at ... double-click on any of the tiny images to see the complete image in a larger version.

St. Lucia suicide

2008-05-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

With the approach of Mother's Day (the most painful day of the year) the agony and heartbreak that have enveloped my life for the past nearly fourteen years reaches a crescendo. Each year I wonder how I can bear it, how I can endure it another time since my daughter's suicide mission to St. Lucia in 1994, and my beloved son having disappeared from my life ten years ago.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA volunteers) needed for children now

2008-05-07T17:20:00.001-07:00

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers are needed in Seattle and King County and elsewhere around the State of Washington.

One of my dearest and most treasured friends, Kimberley McKaig, is a CASA volunteer. She gives her heart to help the neediest children and finds such joy in doing so. She passed along via e-mail a request for her friends to give some thought to not only consideration of becoming a CASA volunteer, but to also think of new avenues of ways to get the word out that there are much needed and highly rewarding opportunities for volunteerism with the children in these most difficult situations.

Kimberley writes so well (that's part of being a CASA volunteer is writing reports for the courts) so I am taking the liberty of posting here what she wrote. Please share it and think about it; consider the needs of the children and think of how you might be able to help.

Contact Information for CASA and more information on volunteering can be found at:

http://www.washingtonstatecasa.org/CASA/whatis.htm

Now here is what Kimberley passed along and I hope it will start you thinking...

I'm sending this to you who know about the work I do as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, representing abused and neglected children in the court system. These little ones (under age 13) have been removed from their homes and are in the care of the state...

Our program, which currently has over 1,000 volunteers in King County, is experiencing a shortfall of new volunteers to meet the needs of these kids...all very needy of personal representation.

I quote below from the newsletter our CASA office sent out, in case you might have an idea of a way you could (comfortably for YOU) expose the program to someone(s) you know...at work, church, to family, friends, whatever....

Of course response is great, if you have an idea for me to send to the CASA office to be followed up on. As you can see below, you are not the one who has to do the work, (other than to perhaps put out materials you receive, if you have access to a venue).

CASA is mainly looking for referrals our office can pursue as an opportunity to publicize the program. I suppose it goes without saying, but if not, I will say that this is a powerful opportunity to carry the grace and love of Jesus just as he did while he was here, to “the least of these.” It’s the best...indeed the only reason to do it.Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this!!!

Kimberley McKaig

QUOTE from the CASA newsletter:

**If you or a family member works for an organization that permits posters, flyers, brochures, bookmarks, etc. We have a good assortment of attractive CASA materials that we will send or bring to you at no charge.

**If you or a family member works for an organization that occasionally uses speakers for community information events, let us know. We have many CASAs who are experienced at public speaking, enjoy telling the CASA story, and will come to your site.

**Similarly, if you have access to an Intranet Bulletin Board in which volunteer opportunities are posted for employees to see, let us know. We can easily supply a CASA announcement.

**If you live in an apartment building or condo which could make use of any of the above, let us know. If you frequent a Community Center or recreational facility, look around to see if other groups publicize their programs there, and let us know.

**Let us know about websites you’re aware of that feature volunteer opportunities. If we’re not already using them, we’d like to give them a try.

**Pay attention to news stories by reporters who might be good prospects for a CASA feature, and let us know. Often you will see public interest stories about local citizens doing interesting and important work. Those reporters like to interview “good examples” in the community, such as CASAs. We will do the outreach if you give us a good tip.

http://www.washingtonstatecasa.org/CASA/canyou.htm

Concise "Twitter" text message leads to release from Egyptian jail

2008-04-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

If you've ever wondered about how potentially valuable the blog can be and/or text messaging, the following story will make the answer abundantly clear as it did for James Carl Buck.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/04/25/twitter.buck/index.html

Best Mexican dinner ever: Carne Asada Platillo

2008-04-25T18:51:00.001-07:00

Tacos Guaymas, family-owned, with several Northwest locations, has a restaurant between Pine and Steele Streets in Tacoma right on 38th Street, not far from Tacoma Mall which yields a spectacular view of every evening's sunset.

For the best, most authentic Mexican food it is not only the most flavorful, but the presentation is spectacular and portions are grande.

I've never had anything at Tacos Guaymas that I didn't just love and want to rave about and would definitely order again.

However, my favorite meal of all time is superior at Tacos Guaymas (located in a former Taco Time location) and when/if you have the opportunity order the Carne Asada Platillo for the best dinner ever.

This picture from last evening's dinner says it better than I can describe it.

Mmm-mmm-mmm- good...

To-die-for good.

Delicioso!

Tony Hazapis dies, but will forever be remembered

2008-03-27T00:59:00.000-07:00

Tony Hazapis, former executive director of the Seattle AFTRA office (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), died March 22, 2008, in Seattle. He had been hospitalized since December.

Tony was such an incredible, phenomenal human being and accomplished so much in his lifetime of service to mankind and to our AFTRA union members in particular. He was a great guy, a bright guy, had a wonderful laugh and a winning way with people.

He used to listen to my radio show, The Overnight Club on KOMO AM 1000, from Seattle. His favorite song of all time was Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto. The song was originally a hit in the 1960s, but it remained Tony's favorite song throughout his entire life. He'd call me on-the-air occasionally to request that I play it for him.

We became friends through work-related issues surrounding my employment and lack thereof, and kept in touch off and on over the years.

Ironically, it was only a few months ago that I heard Sukiyaki being played on the radio in the middle of the night on 570 AM KVI, Seattle, as bumper music during Coast to Coast AM with George Noory (Art Bell's former haunt).

Instantaneously, when I heard Sukiyaki wafting out of my radio speaker here at home, I thought of Tony and all the times he had called me to play that song for him. I dashed off an e-mail to him and told him that if per chance he was still awake and could turn the radio on to KVI and do it quickly, he could still hear the rest of Sukiyaki.

Tony was awake. He was astonished that I was awake...and that I was still remembering after all these years that he loved that song so much. He picked up the phone and called me since he knew by then that I was awake also -- even though it was after midnight.

We talked for a couple of hours. We laughed a lot. I don't even remember now what all we talked about, but we covered a lot of ground.

The irony of that conversation was that over the years Tony has been building a collection of recordings of Sukiyaki by various artists not just the original one in Japanese, but he even had acquired a more recent version in Spanish. I think there were nine of them altogether. As we talked, Tony played each of those renditions of Sukiyaki into the telephone for me. It was hilarious. Nutty as hell, but hilarious, simple, heartwarming, innocent fun and sharing. Tony's wife, Dale, was somewhat bemused by our wackiness and affinity for Sukiyaki, but she was tolerant of it and was good natured about all the laughter in the middle of the night...and the endless playing of Sukiyaki.

Little did I realize that that would be the last time I'd ever hear Tony's voice. I'm so glad that we had that time together to share our thoughts and his joy in particular, his pride and joy in having amassed a collection of recordings of Sukiyaki.

You'd think with all of the really, really big deals in his life (union contracts and other labor matters, dispute resolutions, etc) that those would have been the really big deals.

But I think one of the simple pleasures that he took such pride in was having built a collection of music -- variations on a theme, you might say -- various artists' interpretations of his all-time favorite song Sukiyaki.

The circle of life is complete. In this context, it began with Tony Hazapis calling me and asking me to play Sukiyaki for him. It ended with our last conversation, when Tony played Sukiyaki for me.

When I hear Sukiyaki, I'll think of Tony. I hope you will, too. As a tribute to Tony and his love of that song, I'm including the lyrics here...

Sukiyaki Lyrics (English)
It's all because of you,

I'm feeling sad and blue

You went away,

Now my life is just a rainy day and I love you so,

How much you'll never know

You've gone away and left me lonely.
Untouchable memories

Seem to keep haunting me

Another love so true,

That once turned all my gray skies blue

But you disappeared,

Now my eyes are filled with tears

And I'm wishing you were here

With me soaked with love

all my thoughts of you

Now that you're gone

I just don't know what to do

If only you were here,

You'd wash away my tears

The sun would shine,

Once again you'll be mine all mine

But in reality,

you and I will never be 'cause

You took your love away from me.
ChorusGirl,

I don't know what I did to make you leave me

But what I do know is

That since you've been gone

there's such an emptiness inside,

I'm wishing you to come back to me.
If only you were here,

You'd wash away my tears

The sun would shine,

Once again you'll be mine all mine

But in reality,

You and I will never be 'cause

You took your love away from me.

Oh -- Baby you took your love away from me.

Sukiyaki Lyrics (Japanese)

Ue o muite arukou

Namida ga kobore naiyouni

Omoidasu harunohi

Hitoribotchi no yoru

Ue o muite arukou

Nijinda hosi o kazoete

Omoidasu natsunohi

Hitoribotchi no yoru

Shiawase wa kumo no ueni

Shiawase wa sora no ueni

Ue o muite arukou

Namida ga kobore naiyouni

Nakinagara aruku

Hitoribotchi no yoru

WhistlingOmoidasu akinohi

Hitoribotchi no yoru

Kanashimi wa hosino kageni

Kanashimi wa tsukino kageni

Ue o muite arukou

Namida ga kobore naiyouni

Nakinagara aruku

Hitoribotchi no yoru

Visit Legacy.com to record your own online greeting for Dale and the family.

Tony Hazapis' life on Earth ends, but legacy lives on

2008-03-27T00:25:00.000-07:00

Tony Hazapis lived in Oregon and listened to my late-night radio show on 50,000-watt KOMO from Seattle. Tony joined The Overnight Club and would call in a request from time to time, always for the same song -- his all-time favorite -- Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto from the 1960s. I always enjoyed our telephone conversations during the radio program. See additional tribute to Tony at and more details about Sukiyaki. http://emeraldprincessa.blogger.com/

As time went on, Tony, who was an attorney, eventually moved from Oregon to Washington where he became the executive director of the Seattle local unit of AFTRA while I was still employed at KOMO, because I stayed nearly ten years at AM 1000.

AFTRA is the labor union for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Tony was well-known, well-liked, highly regarded by all who turned to him for assistance with various labor-related issues both in the workplace and upon termination. He helped so many people. He was a rock. He had a deep, inner, abiding strength and calmness, a confidence that he exuded. He really knew his stuff. He knew the law. He knew the union contracts. He knew the regulations. And best of all he knew how to ensure that he would prevail on behalf of the AFTRA members.

Tony died last Saturday, March 22, 2008, in Seattle, after having been hospitalized since December 2007. I was profoundly sadded on learning of his death. What a loss!

I invite you to read Tony's obituary notice in the Seattle Times newspaper:
http://www.legacy.com/NWclassifieds/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=106411224

To post and share your own memories of Tony or to write a note or condolence to his wife and family, or even just to read the anecdotes I've shared about Tony in the online Guest Book, visit
http://www.legacy.com/NWclassifieds/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=106411224

Noose news: will Duke be lynched?

2008-03-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

Duke's Chowder House has three Seattle locations, plus one each in Kent, and in Tacoma, Washington.

dukeschowderhouse.com

For the past couple of years I have subscribed to receive e-mail announcements and coupon specials from Duke's.

Today I received the offer shown here featuring Duke's deer-in-the-headlights photo with a noose hanging prominently in the picture with the caption "Managers blame Duke for recession." The ad conveys that Duke faces lynching by his restaurant managers.

Funny? Comical? Knee-slapping hilarity?

I wrote to Rich Carr of Duke's marketing department and expressed revulsion at seeing a noose in their advertising. I did not find it appetizing nor would it entice me to patronize the restaurant. I added that the noose as a symbol would also be especially offensive to African-Americans.

Rich Carr replied with the following statement (italics supplied):

The imagery, the verbiage, the impact of the message were all developed to cut through the clutter of your average email and/or marketing campaign. And, while we acknowledge your viewpoint, we also meant this to be ‘tongue in cheek’ as ALL Duke’s emails are. I don’t see the reference to African-Americans as you state, as the history of the hangman’s noose go back to Colonial America as well as England during the 16th and 18th centuries as a form of capital punishment. Period. Will it be used all the time, certainly not. Is it a powerful image that relates to Duke’s missive, yes. Does it spur people to read more? Certainly.

Most Duke’s Email Club members appreciate his sense of humor, use of imagery, and the text he writes himself. It’s Duke…his approach has never altered in his 30 years in business as the last thing we ever want to be is ‘another’ email, but something people talk about, buzz about, tell their friends about, and realize that humor in all its forms sometimes offends albeit that is certainly not our intention.

Again, I appreciate the feedback and will forward directly to Duke should he want to weigh in. However, I feel he’ll echo my comments as these collaborations are just that.

When he wrote, "I don't see the reference to African-Americans..." and continued the defense of the noose (referring to its use in "Colonial America and England in the 16th and 18th Centuries...") underscored how out of touch and insensitive he/they were in the use of the noose as a symbol for their advertising. 400 years of the unspeakable, shameful horrors of slavery and he does not "see the reference to African-Americans?"

I would bet any amount of money that he ran a Google search for the "history of the noose" before he wrote that little bit of trivia, that factoid that he threw back at me about "Colonial America and England"...yeah, right, like he had that on the tip of his tongue!

Hello?!?

I wrote again and set forth a couple of outrageous, hypothetical scenarios, which I was confident as a matter of good taste Duke's would never even consider using in an ad, simply as a means to make the point that African-American people have a profoundly different visceral reaction to the image of a noose anytime or anywhere and that reaction is different from how white people perceive it.

Duke's would be hard-pressed to find a Brit or other white person whose reaction would be the same as an African-American's painful reaction on seeing a noose utilized in an advertising campaign flippantly as if it is or can be an object of amusement.

I challenged Duke's to show the ad to black employees and ask for their gut reaction to it.

Does it make them proud to work for Duke’s?

Or does it make them fear for their jobs or fear a hostile work environment? They may be afraid to answer truthfully

I encouraged him to give employees an opportunity to weigh in on it.

I suggested that Duke's distribute a simple, anonymous survey card that would only require a check mark as a reply:

“Seeing a noose in an ad for Duke’s: a) bothers me, b) doesn’t bother me.”

Rhetorically, I asked if they'd consider putting a "Whites Only" sign at the entrance or if the next ad campaign would feature Duke being "tarred and feathered." Of course not! It would be outrageous. I pointed out those scenarios in an effort to help Duke and Rich 'connect the dots' hoping they might come to realize that a noose is every bit as offensive.

Rich Carr replied that (italics supplied):

This is not a racial email, nor will we entertain attempts to take it that direction. Your ideas of ... have obvious racial undertones and in no way reflect anything we’d ever produce or distribute.

That's great news! I appreciate the affirmation.

It's unfortunate that Duke's didn't think through the implications of using lynching and a noose in their current ad prior to distribution of it. By blogging about this topic, creating dialogue about it, it is my hope that a broader understanding and insight will come about as a result. Readers and writers in the blogosphere can let their voices be heard. Lift every voice...

Growing a gaggle of geese

2008-01-02T05:20:00.000-08:00

The exquisite beauty of birds of all kinds thrills my heart (as noted in my earlier blog post), and for as much as I love photographing seagulls and other seabirds, I grew up on a farm and among our menagerie, we also raised chickens. I had a pet chicken named "Chick." Wow! The creativity was really flowing when I was kid. We also had a dog named "Pup"...because she had so many...14 in one litter alone. And she was the dog we kept trying to get rid of. We'd put an ad in the newspaper to sell her (back in the days before Craigslist and such)...people would come and "buy" her from us, but always within a few days, no matter how far away the new owners would take her, "Pup" would always find her way back to our farm.

Well, I've gotten off track now with my rambling about "Pup"...that goes back decades in terms of memories...

But in more modern times (in the 1980s) when we lived on the little five-acre farm on the East Side of Tacoma, we had geese: Embden geese, the huge, gorgeous, whiter-than-white geese.

Linus and Lucy shepherding part of their gaggle of geese/goslings along in our pasture

We started out with just two that were given to us by Dr. Ted Rothstein, who lived in Bellevue, at that time, but has since relocated to Washington, D.C., and George Washington University. The pair of geese he gave us were named Linus and Lucy.

It wasn't long before Linus and Lucy were blessed as parents. Lucy laid a clutch of 17 eggs and every single one of them hatched. The goslings were precious. A couple of them didn't survive long, but the other 15 grew to maturity.

There is no end to the love story about these magnificent birds...

The geese were fond of chasing our horses out of the barn. Sometimes they'd clamp on to the horse's or pony's tail and take a wild ride almost like water skiing being towed behind a boat, one of the geese would hang on and not let go as the horse or pony would run wildly in circles around the pasture.

On one of those occasions, one of the geese sustained an injury to its webbed foot when the horse stepped on it. We kept that goose in the house (yes, our house, not the hen house) inside a shower enclosure for nearly a month where I administered hydrotherapy to the mangled foot with the shower spray, and fed the goose antibiotics and food via a funnel. If you've never had the privilege of administering medications and food to a squirming goose with a funnel in its throat, you really have missed out on something. After the first few times, the goose seemed to understand that what I was doing was intended as being helpful and it became cooperative and would even open his/her mouth to allow me to place the funnel without pulling away.

As time went on, the once gangrenous-looking traumatized foot returned to a healthy color indicating life in the tissue, and he/she was able to return to the rest of the family at that point in time. It was quite a thrill to have succeeded in restoring the bird to health.

Ordinarily, Linus, Lucy, and their offspring resided in the barn, but they were free to roam about the pasture or the creek that formed part of the perimeter of the property.

One year the kids and I went on a three-week vacation through Oregon, California, and Mexico driving South on 101 most of the way (part way on I-5), and then up through Death Valley and Mammoth Lakes, and on to Crater Lake on the return trip to Washington.

Neighbors looked after all of our pets while we were on the long road trip.

When we returned home, to our complete surprise, our gaggle of geese had moved out of the barn...and onto our front yard. There they all were: waiting for us to come home! What a welcoming party it was to be greeted by all of the geese. Interestingly, once we were home, the geese readily moved back to the barn on their own volition. It truly was as if they just wanted to be there to greet us on our return, as if to say, "We've missed you."

Seagulls, Sandpipers: seabirds make my heart sing

2008-01-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

Bird pictures thrill my heart!

The biggest thrill of all (for me) is to feed the seagulls at the beach, at Ocean Shores, Washington, on the Pacific Ocean coastline.

Prior to digital photography, taking 35-mm color pictures of the seabirds was my biggest vice: I used to spend thousands of dollars each year on film and processing. The savings by now (since having a digital camera) are tremendous...although I cannot say that I have literally saved a dime, because I have no savings whatsoever, but at least I haven't been having to spend it on shots that didn't quite turn out right, always striving for the ultimate seagull picture.

Diagnosis to death in 28 days: KOMO's Larry Nelson silenced by cancer

2007-11-30T03:13:00.000-08:00

A broadcasting career that is one for the record books is the legacy left for us by Larry Nelson who, for 30 years served up the friendliest, guy-next-door, morning show from the KOMO Breakfast Table on AM 1000. Larry died overnight, 3:28 a.m., Thursday, November 29, after being diagnosed only 28 days earlier with end-stage, inoperable lung cancer that had metastasized to his spine and elsewhere. The diagnosis was a shocker, but the elapsed time from diagnosis to death was absolutely stunning.

Larry was the consistent, familiar, reliable friend who got the morning started through every season of the year not only in Seattle, but throughout the vast expanse of the geographic coverage area of the 50,000 watt KOMO Radio signal.

Additionally, I had the privilege of being the warm-up act for Larry’s show with my own program for nearly a decade, The Overnight Club with Jaynie Dillon, from 1981 through 1990. Having been the one to prepare the way for Larry and the morning news team, headed by Stan Orchard, each and every weekday, I’d like you to know that Larry was the same person in-person as he was on-the-air. He arrived in the studio eager to start the day, always with a kind word, a smile, a focus, and pure joy at the simplest things in life: a place to go, something to do each day, a heart filled with gratitude, an appreciation for motivational and inspirational books, and always sharing with the audience the day-to-day things in his own life that others could relate to and learn from; it was a winning combination. Stan has created a Web site in memory of Larry, http://LarryBNelson.com

Stan Orchard and I both went to KOMO from Tacoma radio stations. We had worked together at KTNT and KNBQ-FM starting in 1976. I was at KTAC & KBRD-FM when I was called to come to KOMO for an interview. Stan and I both were brought on board at KOMO by the (then) new Program Director Ken Kohl. It was a magnificent, magical time in radio with Ken Kohl's visionary, innovations in programming such as the hiring of the very first female announcer in the nearly 60-year history of the radio station (Yes, that was me).

The KOMO tailgate parties prior to the Huskies’ games were memorable for the hilarity, spontaneity, and the over-the-top production done by Production Director Eric McKaig week after week. The creative output was beyond comprehension. Eric is with CBS Radio, in Seattle, now as Creative Director and that he is.

Larry Nelson and the KOMO Morning Show were often on the road -- and beyond -- including remote broadcasts from international locations. Notably, we had recorded quite literally thousands of Northwest listeners’ greetings and wishes for peace. Then Larry and KOMO’s Michael Hamilton hand-delivered the Geneva Peace Tapes to the Russian and U.S. delegations in Geneva at the Peace Talks between Reagan and Gorbachev.

Formerly with KOMO Radio News, Patti Payne, now a columnist with the Puget Sound Business Journal could tell you endless stories about traveling with Lar. Patti and I shared an office at KOMO. She was a terrific office-mate and treasured friend. We shared many a laugh over the years and many a tear in recent days.

It was a grand time, that era of Larry Nelson’s radio career at KOMO. Those of us who worked with and around Larry were all blessed for having been in his presence. He was the heart and soul of KOMO Radio at its finest.

Share your memories of Larry Nelson and The KOMO Breakfast Table. Lar has left the world a better place for having been here, and the Northwest a better place than anywhere else.

An October sunset on Mount Rainier

2007-10-27T02:55:00.000-07:00

What else needs to be said? It was fabulous!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2007-10-25T01:31:00.001-07:00

Over in the blogosphere among my postings on The News Tribune's site under the "In The Neighborhood" section, I've been enjoying some lively exchanges with other locals about coffee, why people drink it, why they are willing to pay so much for their espresso and latte concoctions, and then somehow the topic turned to chocolate.

I wrote about the great recipe I tried recently. It was found on the bag of Snoqualmie Falls Lodge Oatmeal. Those are the best oats you'll find. Great for oatmeal and maybe even better for baking.

I want to share the recipe for Peanut Butter and Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies and the one modification I made to it. I had no chocolate chips on hand, so I finely chopped some rich, pure, dark chocolate into the mix in place of chocolate chips and achieved an excellent result. It's an interesting cookie recipe also, because it contains no flour whatsoever, just the oats. No added salt either, just baking soda.

I wanted so much to show the cookies and share the recipe, but was confounded by just how to go about uploading images. Previously, on The News Tribune's blogs it was a snap, but there was a system crash awhile back and I think that perhaps it is no longer possible to upload images there. If it is possible, it was beyond my ability to figure it out. Then it dawned on me that I can post the image here on one of my other blogs and then simply include the link to Emerald Princess Online over on The News Tribune's "In The Neighborhood" blog so anyone who wants it can find it and bake a batch. Mmm-mmm good! Yummy, crun-chewy, satisfying mouth-feel... Munch, munch, munch...

P.S. If the print is a wee bit too small for you to read and write down the ingredients, let me know and I'll reprint the recipe in another posting.

USPS Evergreen Station, Tacoma: Closes 24-Hour Self-Service Unit

2007-10-21T23:30:00.000-07:00

(Depicted are two paintings that were found inside the 24-Hour Self-Service Unit at Tacoma's Evergreen Station, July 2007) But now this...

A vital, essential, useful, absolutely necessary (how many ways can I say it???) time-saving, customer convenience of immense value, an important facility-within-a-facility is a thing of the past.

Postal officials in their infinite wisdom (no, let's make that finite wisdom) have SHUT DOWN the 24-Hour Self-Service Unit at the Evergreen Station.

Way to go, postmaster! NOT!!!

All that is left now is the electronic machine inside the main building by the post office boxes that requires a credit or debit card to make a purchase.

• Real money is out; plastic is the only kind accepted.

• No longer are you able to purchase stamps from a coin-operated vending machine.

• No longer are you able to purchase a book of stamps from a vending machine that accepts paper money.

• No longer are you able to purchase as few as one or two individual postage stamps at a time during any hour of the day or night at the 24-hour Self-Service Unit, because it is no more!

It has ceased to exist.

In its place now is a sheet of paper that lists retailers around town that you can drive to and purchase books of stamps from instead.

Congestion at Evergreen Station, the Regional Mail-Handling Facility on Pine Street between Tacoma Mall and 38th Street (RMF, for short) and what many think of as simply "the big post office" in Tacoma is bad at almost all hours that the facility is open.

• Traffic is heavy.

• Parking is inadequate.

• Count on an almost unbearably long line waiting in the serpentine queue to get to the counter and conduct any business with a postal employee.

• The dread pushes one's endurance and frustration level to the max -- not only the annoyance of the long wait for service, but the aggravation of NOT being able to do all the other things you need to be doing, but instead stymied, trapped like stockyard cattle in the chute or stanchion waiting in the merciless line to reach the counter.

• Top that off with the apparent lack of adequate staffing to handle the volume of traffic inside the Evergreen Station and it only makes it worse.

If you have been there, you know the drill: there might be two or three people working, and then even with the ridiculously long line, maybe a 45-minute wait for your turn to get up to the counter for service, you can almost be assured that one of those two or three workers will announce that he/she is going on break just about the time you get to the counter.

Okay, so that's the day-in, day-out scenario at Evergreen Station during business hours.

The FABULOUS thing about Evergreen Station has for years been the 24-hour Self-Service Unit on the north end of the building where you could buy stamps in any quantity from one to a bookful or multiple books of stamps, receive change, weigh a package, calculate its necessary postage, and a large, bin to deposit packages into once you've taken care of all the necessary details. The clanging of that big metal bin was as reassuring as it is when you place a bank deposit into the night depository and you hear the clanging of the bin after you have dropped your deposit envelope down into it, and then pull the flap open again to make sure your deposit has dropped. There's a bit of reassurance and security in that clang and in the second clang when you recheck it.

That's the way it WAS in the Self-Service Unit at Evergreen Station, too.

Clang!!! And you KNEW that your parcel had been securely deposited inside the facility and would soon be winging its way to its intended recipient.

• The vending machines in the Self-Service Unit accepted paper money and coins of every denomination.
• Interestingly, they also dispensed cash-back in the form of golden Sacagawea dollar coins, which you don't see anywhere else.

Perhaps you'd only have a $20-bill with you and may only have needed a small quantity of stamps, let's say $5 of stamps and you could count on hearing the cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching of 15 of the golden Sacagawea dollars dropping into the change slot.

The 24-hour Self-Service Unit allowed anyone to expeditiously handle many of the same things that would otherwise require waiting in that queue inside to do during regular business hours.

The Self-Service Unit was an oasis.

An oasis!!!

Countless times over the years I have been there at night perhaps to send a payment out in the nick of time before its due date, trying to beat the deadline of the last pickup time or processing business mailings and either been able to help someone else who a) needed a stamp or didn't have the right change, or b) been helped by another patron when I might have needed a stamp or a coin.

People who used the 24-hour Self-Service Unit during the evening or overnight hours always exhibited an attitude of gratitude. Call it pure joy that they could access the facility and still get their items into the mail in time before the last pickup for the day.

Now the Self-Service Unit is no more.

Closing the Self-Service Unit was an ill-thought-out concept and I hope others will join me in raising a hue and cry over the closure of it. This is a 24-hour world we live in today. Never has it been more important or more necessary than it is right now to have that 24-hour facility.

Jaynie Dillon Jones Voice-0ver Demo Sampler

2007-07-28T00:11:00.000-07:00

African-Americans have higher mortality and morbidity than Caucasian Americans: I know why that is. It is no secret.

2007-03-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

This is my husband, Charles Jones, at St. Joseph Hospital, in Tacoma, Washington, with severe congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and having a stroke.

I'm Jaynie Jones, http://emeraldprincessonline.blogspot.com/ and am happily married to an absolute gem of a gentleman, Charles Jones, who has complicated, disabling medical problems and was hospitalized at St. Joseph Hospital, in Tacoma, Washington, last week under his health insurance plan with Group Health Cooperative. He was treated for severe congestive heart failure, runaway high blood pressure, chest pain, kidney failure in "iminent" need of dialysis, and went on to suffer a stroke while hospitalized on Tuesday that was verified by CT Scan.

To the family's dismay, Charles was discharged from the hospital the day following his stroke even though he was still suffering symptoms. Jaynie was so distraught about the physicians' decision to send him home so soon after a stroke that she wrote the following letter to St. Joseph Hospital, Group Health Cooperative, all of the doctors, and the nursing staff to have this letter placed in his hospital record for future reference if any adverse events occurred subsequent to Charles' early release from the hospital.

When Charles called me at 3:30 in the afternoon and announced that he was being discharged and that I was to be there at 5:30 to bring him home, I was in a state of shocked disbelief. But in the time before I dashed over to the hospital, I wrote a letter of protest to have placed in his hospital record. With having had a stroke one, needing dialysis, and being sent home the following day with still some of the same symptoms unresolved, and having not been seen by a neurologist to even evaluate the sequelae of his stroke, this was deeply troubling to me. Charles was too weak and confused to put up a fight.

When I picked him up at the hospital to bring him home I handed the letter to the nurse and asked her to see to it that it was placed in his chart. Apparently someone read the letter late that evening, because a nurse called him at home to discuss it. Subsequently we have received several calls from Group Health. Hopefully this trend will continue and Charles will not suffer more ill effects from mismanged or marginally managed care.

________________________________________________________________________________

Let the record show that…Charles called to inform me this afternoon that he is being discharged to home from St. Joseph Hospital today. Discharged to home where we have one flight of 15 stairs and another flight of 8 stairs for him to climb up and down.

His discharge is premature and alarming to me as his wife and now caregiver that he is seemingly being discharged so soon when his runaway blood pressure (224/117 when first brought in on Saturday) has only been down in a more nearly normal range for less than a day.

Charles told me that Dr. Hwang had been in to see him today and informed him of the results of the CT scan of Charles’ head yesterday.

The CT scan was performed on an urgent basis due to the sudden onset of severe pain behind his right eye, coupled with diaphoresis, nausea and vomiting.The doctor reported the findings of the CT scan to Charles today stating that it revealed that he has had a CVA, but that it was his opinion that the radiologist had “over-read it.” How dismissive!

Charles has severe congestive heart failure, high-output failure, a fistula in his upper arm that measures 29.9-cm in greatest dimension, no surgical plan for revision of that to reduce the pressure or the heart failure that is now severe, end-stage renal disease despite having had a kidney transplant after four years of dialysis, but now the transplanted kidney is failing.Charles creatinine’ last week was 2.6, 3.8, 4.1, and now nearly 5. Dr. Hwang informed Charles that with the rapid elevation of his creatinine to nearly 5, he needs to go on dialysis “imminently.” This imminent need for dialysis has arisen out of the high-dose diuretics that have been used in recently days bringing his blood pressure down.

At Group Health Urgent Care, we cautioned Dr. John Vandegrift about how Charles’ transplant had gone into shock in 2000 when he had become dehydrated in Eastern Washington and on our return to Tacoma had presented to the ER at St. Joseph Hospital and had been loaded up with Lasix to pull the fluid off and that further compromised the kidney function, nearly destroying it. Dr. Vandegrift was in complete understanding of that and agreement and was judicious trying to get his blood pressure to a safe range.

After transfer from GHC Urgent Care by ambulance for admission to St. Joseph Hospital, Dr. Bonnie Sand met with both Charles and me in his room and we shared his history in detail with her. She was a thoughtful, completely engaged, intelligent physician who truly seemed to understand not only the history, but the complexity of what was happening at that point in time. She was well-informed and she inspired our confidence not only by how much time she spent with us, but by how carefully she listened to both of us and our concerns. She, too, recognized how precarious it could be, if Charles was diuresed too rapidly and the toll it could take on his renal allograft.Sadly since admission to St. Joseph Hospital, the rapid diuresis has once again brought the transplanted kidney to nearly complete failure with need for dialysis again being “imminent.”

We well recall what it is like to start back on dialysis. The cramping, weakness, light-headedness, the renal diet, all of these adjustments are ahead.When Charles first developed ESRD in the early ‘90s, he was admitted to the hospital and time was taken to get his dialysis going and get this smoothed out.

Now, here he has had a stroke one day and is being discharged from the hospital the next day with the same symptoms he had yesterday at the onset of the CVA, and he is still suffering from the head pain, nausea, et cetera, but he is being sent home in this condition and given Vicodin.

What kind of logic is involved in this?
And yet he needs to be on dialysis, but is being sent home?
In this condition?
Symptomatic?
Having just had a CVA by CT?
He feels devalued as a human being and as if he is being kicked to the curb.In our experience (his and mine as his wife) every doctor always says (in various office settings and in the hospital) that they just don't know why African-Americans have poorer outcomes, dramatically shortened life expectancy and so on, but that research statistics show that it is true that from the standpoint of morbidity and mortality, African-Americans with an array of chronic diseases such as CHF, heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, other cancers, kidney disease, et cetera, do not do as well as whites, they will suffer more complications and they will die sooner, at an earlier age than Caucasians.
There is an answer to the ‘mystery’ and I can tell them that the answer is no mystery at all: It is because of the way the care is managed for African-Americans, not just relative to access to health care, but how such care is managed. That's what shortens their lives. The decision to discharge Charles to home from the hospital today is one such example.
How can the hospital or physicians involved in this decision send a patient who has had a documented CVA one day sent home to the rigors of stair-climbing and the need for dialysis when that has not been implemented?I called Group Health and made an appeal to four different people there that Charles’ needs better care, closer monitoring, and consistent follow-up because of the nature, severity, and complexity of his various medical and health care issues.
Were it not for their failure to follow-up and maintain continuity of his care, monitoring his blood pressure, et cetera, this could have been managed and prevented. Instead, he has not seen in clinic by a Group Health physician since last year.
There has been no scheduled follow-up.
He had no idea about how dangerously high his blood pressure had become, because Group Health just keeps renewing his medications and standing orders for lab work once a month.
The failure by Group Health to consistently and aggressively manage Charles’ extremely complicated medical conditions has resulted in where we are today with Charles, a 41-year-old African-American man who has had:
one kidney transplant now in failure again,
facing dialysis,
having had a stroke,
rampant, runaway blood pressure, and now he has been left
feeling hopeless and depressed,
like his life is futile and
there just is no hope to get better.
He has been told to limit salt and
lose weight,
lose weight,
lose weight,
but no one offers any direction for that, no suggestions about how to accomplish that and no recognition for the fact that he has dropped 35 pounds on his own over this past year.
He has asked repeatedly about being considered for lap band bariatric surgery. His requests for lap band have been ignored or put down.

So why are African-Americans consistently the ones who come out on the short end of the stick relative to their health care and the outcomes they experience in contrast to the Caucasian-American population? It is decisions such as the one today at St. Joseph Hospital, to discharge someone to home the day after a stroke, when dialysis is “imminent” (but not started), and when astronomical blood pressure has been brought down for less than a day.

Let the record show that the mystery is solved about the research statistics and why blacks have those bad outcomes.

Charles and I hope that this will not be one of those times, but just as a patient would be required to sign a form stating that they were refusing recommended medical care and by their own volition going AMA (Against Medical Advice), this situation is essentially the flip side of that. Charles is coming home from the hospital against our better judgment.

We both want to go on record that we oppose this plan. I am a blog writer for The News Tribune and I intend to blog about how Charles’ care has been managed.

The nursing care at St. Joseph Hospital has been excellent. The nurses have been consistent and professional in every way. They are compassionate and good communicators.Should there be any adverse consequences of the physician’s decision to discharge Charles today, it is now documented that Charles and I both objected to it and informed you of our concerns this day for all of the foregoing reasons.

Signed by: Jaynie Jones, Dated: March 14, 2007

Machine-dispensed information 24-hours a day

2007-02-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

Totally blogalicious! The News Tribune has invited a select group of citizen journalists (including moi) to blog for the newspaper. What a hoot! I just posted my first blog there. Below you can read the text of it. What fun! EmeraldPrincessOnline

http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/neighborhood

During the years of my career in broadcasting I had occasion to become acquainted with countless interesting characters. Not just my coworkers, but the listeners who called in and/or wrote to me.

One listener used a customized rubber stamp on the back flap of every envelope. The rubber stamp said, “machine-dispensed information 24-hours a day.” There were two phone numbers on the next line.

I tried to imagine what sort of “machine-dispensed information” he was making available to those who would call either of those two numbers, but I never could have imagined just how bizarre it could actually be.

Eventually my curiosity got the best of me and I dialed the numbers to see what on Earth it was about.

One of the numbers played a 3-minute recording of him detailing not only his vital statistics, but even what his annual income, how much he budgeted for food, et cetera. He explained in the first recording that he had made these two numbers available for anyone to dial-in and listen to his thoughts, just in case anyone might want to know his thoughts.

Anyone.

He worked in a cannery where his only contacts were the people at work, but due to the noise of the machinery, there was no conversation that could be heard. He had no social life outside of work, but longed to be connected in some way. So he had devised the “machine dispensed information” concept. (The second recording was a full 30 minutes in length and he changed it out daily with rambling messages about various scenarios, all simply top of mind.)

I reflect back on his desperate effort to reach out, to find someone who would care to communicate somehow.

As bloggers we write what is in our hearts and on our minds as a means of potentially reaching out and connecting with the unseen and unknown reaches of the Internet. He had his “machine-dispensed information” and now we enjoy the modern equivalent of it that we call blogging.

James Kim, Kati Kim -- Legendary heroes

2006-12-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

Perhaps you have felt as badly as I have about the Kim Family and the death of James Kim. I started crying when his body was found and I’ve cried and cried off-and-on for the past 24+ hours. I haven’t cried about anything in years. For some reason this tragic story resonates so with me. Not only the tragedy of James' death, but the incredible resourcefulness of Kati to have had the presence of mind to breast-feed both of the girls, the idea to burn the tires, using the umbrella to signal to rescuers, so many things.

Their family’s story will become a legend for all time. The sweetness of their smiles, the brightness in their eyes – James’, Kati’s, and the children’s – so much life and love.

Part of what strikes me is James’ resemblance to Bruce Lee. I loved Bruce Lee and have been fascinated by his life for so long.

Something about James also reminded me of John Lennon (the shots with the sunglasses with him and Kati). And then there is the incredible irony too that their one store in San Francisco, called “Doe” has a forest theme, and then for them to become entrapped in the forest with both the most tragic outcome and the most joyous outcome concurrently. My heart just breaks and aches for all of them.

An opera must be written about the love story, the tragedy, the will to survive, the crushing loss, the miraculous survival…and now the even more searing pain on learning that the family's entrapment came about as a consequence of someone's vandalism, cutting a lock and opening a gate to the closed-off logging road they had the misadventure of traveling down.

Unconditional love of family and friends

2006-09-15T01:04:00.000-07:00

I've been away from the blogosphere for quite some time with the exception of helping a friend build his little cyberspace soapbox FivePoundTrout.blogspot.com.

There has been little that has passed across my personal radar screen since the death of Terri Schiavo that has piqued my interest in quite that way or to that degree, but I must tell you that a recent cascade of events in my life has drawn into sharp focus the network of friends and family that I have across the planet supporting me in the most basic level, i.e. that they want for me to be happy, to live a good life, to enjoy the life and time that I have, and to follow my dreams without hesitation.

The irony of 2006 that has perplexed me is how it is that in the early months of this year nearly all of my income streams dried up one right after the other. It was bewildering seeing that coming to pass, but as has been the case my entire life something emerged - a new opportunity for employment in the medical field in a newly created position, uncharted territory, something so brand new. The timing was right. The position had first been offered to one of my closest friends, but she immediately declined to accept it. However, she equally quickly lobbed my name across the net as the "perfect" candidate. I interviewed and was hired to start the very next day.

Subsequently in the months since mid-April there has been a roiling stream of additional career opportunities and job offers -- none of which I had sought out, but all of which came to me -- and it has been as bewildering to suddenly have so many options as it was bewildering to see the income streams drying up earlier this year.

Among the things that have come my way without any effort on my part, without any prior knowledge that such openings were finding their way to me:

an opportunity to work in a hospital pathology department
an opportunity to return to the classroom and teach floriculture at a high school
an opportunity to transcribe hours and hours of interviews with a Hollywood legend
an opportunity to do the morning show on one of the last live, local radio stations

What does it all mean? What is The Universe trying to tell me? What's it all about, Alfie?

I've pondered these questions and their possible answers in recent days, weeks and months. It has been so life-affirming to be "chosen" for each of these situations, but I must admit that one of the most tantalizing has been the broadcasting opportunity.

Such contrast!

Medicine and broadcasting have long been my two greatest passions, really since early childhood. The irony that both have now converged in the current time to present this conundrum rendered an easy decision somewhat more complex that you might imagine.

I sought the input of close friends, family, former, fellow coworkers and in polling their opinions about what I should do, I was and am fascinated that every last one of them encouraged me to take the leap. No, not a 'flying leap', but to follow my heart and my gut, to stop over-analyzing it and 'just do it!'

I appreciate everyone's input, support and encouragement. The conclusion I eventually came to after playing out all of the possible scenarios is that indeed I could go either way and that regardless of what decision I ultimately made all of those whom I consider my friends and family would support and love me no matter what I did. It was something of a revelation to really experience the unconditional love and support in this way, from so many different directions, such a recognition of what this decision would mean in my life. I can't get over the amount of comfort that was contained in all of those lengthy telephone conversations and e-mail discussions supporting me in my decision -- either way.

Ultimately I made a decision yesterday to continue in the medical career path that I undertook in April. Instead of looking at this particular radio opportunity as perhaps the very last one of its kind ever, I was eventually able to conclude that perhaps this is merely another door opening to still greater possibilities. It is my hope that this decision will prove to have been a wise one in the long-term. However, no matter what the future holds I know Who holds the future and that I will be fine either way surrounded and supported by the friends and family who spoke from their hearts to give me their endorsement of whatever career path or life decisions I make. Having that kind of a support system gives me incredible reassurance and sets my heart and mind at peace with the decision.

EmeraldPrincessOnline

2005-04-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

EmeraldPrincessOnline
I read the obituaries daily -- lots and lots of obituaries from several different sources. (Don't ask.)

I noticed one this week that brought something to my attention I had never heard of or seen before.

A funeral home in Port Orchard, Washington, Rill Chapel, http://rill.com, is now offering Webcasts of funeral services. This was astonishing to me.

I checked it out and here's what they reveal on their Web site:

"PERSONALIZED TRADITIONAL PACKAGE * - $4,295. - includes limited & complete packages plus-

1. Webcast- broadcast of ceremony on internet (placed on "on-line" memorial).
2. Video Tribute added to "on-line" memorial.
3. Upgrade to 150 Themed Trifold Tribute Folders (in place of 100 Bifolds).
4. 16"x20" Themed Memorial Portrait or Personal Panel for casket.
5. 100 Themed Thank-You cards."

Truly, they are on the cusp of the industry. (If I decide to have a funeral for myself, I will choose the utilize the full services of Rill Chapel. However, at this time, it is my intention to donate my body to the University of Washington.)

As I surveyed other features and services on the same funeral home's Web site, I noticed something even more startling than the Webcasts.

They also advertise a service (by a company in another state) that will create a diamond from the "carbon of your loved one" as a lasting memorial. Can it get more bizarre than this? I thought the Webcasts were extraordinary, but now being able to wear "Grandma" on a chain around your neck, or in a ring with a "laser inscription" of her name on the stone is beyond extraordinary. (see below)

"A LifeGem is a certified, high quality diamond created from the carbon
of your loved one as a memorial to their unique and wonderful life. The
LifeGem diamond is more than a memorial to visit on the weekends. It is a
way to embrace your loved one's memory day by day. The LifeGem is the most
unique and timeless memorial available for creating a testimony to their
unique life."

...and all for a small fee of just $2,000.00-14,000.00 depending on the cut (ouch! Sorry, Grandma) and carat size. If the price is more than you afford, they'll even store Grandma's remains (for a cool $1,500.00 fee) until you can save up enough dough to requisition the pressing of the diamond "from the carbon of your loved one."

Happy Mother's Day to Mom (and Grandma) -- almost. Just think how those rosy-cheeked little grandkids will smile and have that extra-bright twinkle in their eyes when they're wearing you around their necks.

Reactions to Terri Schaivo's Nurse's Affidavit

2005-03-30T14:47:00.000-08:00

EmeraldPrincessOnline

Today I sent a group e-mail message to virtually everyone in my personal e-mail Address Book. The subject matter included an affidavit filed in a Florida court by a registered nurse who had been a caregiver of Terri Schaivo at a previous nursing facility. A close personal friend who is also an R.N. sent the affidavit to me along with the phone and numbers for Governor Jeb Bush -- Phone: 850-488-4441 Fax: 850-487-0801. (At the end of this posting I will include the full text of the affidavit.)

The following is a sampling of responses I have received since sending the affidavit around:

From a retired ob/gyn physician, in southern California:

"What a bunch of junk!!

This gal was there 10 years ago!

This has nothing to do with her present condition>

Maybe I am a bit radical--I give my doctor 23 hours to have me awake,
or they turn off all machines."

From a public information officer and freelance writer:

"This whole situation with Terry has gotten to be so embarrassing; how selfish of her parents to want to keep her alive (for media attention, no doubt); makes me sick; when I think of how many more important problems there are requiring attention: people needing food, shelter, clothing, education. And these people are fighting over a vegetable. How foolish. I won't be a part of it; I don't think Americans have the right to get involved in this "tabloid" story. Sorry, it seems pointless when we have so many other things to take care of---why should this woman be singled out. I believe we have to get over the belief that we have a "right" to have life sustained beyond what is our normal checkout date."

From a police and fire dispatcher:

"Awful. Letting this poor woman starve to death.

We CAN afford to keep this woman alive.

Less money for bombs and warfare. More for health care.

Stupid politicians."

From a broadcaster:

"Boy, I hope someone steps in and stops this insanity before she's
DEAD!! It took Christ a few hours to die on the cross and this woman
is in the 12th day of her "euthanasia"! What a loving gift! 12 days of
starvation my true love gave to me, and a partridge in a pear tree!"

As promised, here is the full text of the affidavit by a registered nurse that was filed with one of the Florida courts on behalf of Terri Schaivo:

AFFIDAVIT

STATE OF FLORIDA

COUNTY OF PINELLAS

BEFORE ME the undersigned authority personally appeared CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who being first duly sworn, deposes and says:

1. My name is Carla Sauer Iyer. I am over the age of eighteen and make this statement of my own personal knowledge.

2. I am a registered nurse in the State of Florida, having been licensed continuously in Florida from 1997 to the present. Prior to that I was a Licensed Practical Nurse for about four years.

3. I was employed at Palm Garden of Largo Convalescent Center in Largo, Florida from April of 1995 to July 1996, while Terri Schiavo was a patient there.

4. It was clear to me at Palm Gardens that all decisions regarding Terri Schiavo were made by Michael Schiavo, with no allowance made for any discussion, debate or normal professional judgment. My initial training there consisted solely of the instruction "Do what Michael Schiavo tells you or you will be terminated." This struck me as extremely odd.

5. I was very disturbed by the decision making protocol, as no allowance whatsoever was made for professional responsibility. The atmosphere throughout the facility was dominated by Mr. Schiavo's intimidation. Everyone there, with the exception of several people who seemed to be close to Michael, was intimidated by him. Michael Schiavo always had an overbearing attitude, yelling numerous times such things as "This is my order and you're going to follow it." He is very large and uses menacing body language, such as standing too close to you, getting right in your face and practically shouting.

6. To the best of my recollection, rehabilitation had been ordered for Terri, but I never saw any being done or had any reason at all to believe that there was ever any rehab of Terri done at Palm Gardens while I was there. I became concerned because nothing was being done for Terri at all, no antibiotics, no tests, no range of motion therapy, no stimulation, no nothing. Michael said again and again that Terri should NOT get any rehab, that there should be no range of motion whatsoever, or anything else. I and a CNA named Roxy would give Terri range of motion anyway. One time I put a wash cloth in Terri's hand to keep her fingers from curling together, and Michael saw it and made me take it out, saying that was therapy.

7. Terri's medical condition was systematically distorted and misrepresented. When I worked with her, she was alert and oriented. Terri spoke on a regular basis while in my presence, saying such things as "mommy," and "help me." "Help me" was, in fact, one of her most frequent utterances. I heard her say it hundreds of times. Terri would try to say the word "pain" when she was in discomfort, but it came out more like "pay." She didn't say the "n" sound very well. During her menses she would indicate her discomfort by saying "pay" and moving her arms toward her lower abdominal area. Other ways that she would indicate that she was in pain included pursing her lips, grimacing, thrashing in bed, curling her toes or moving her legs around. She would let you know when she had a bowel movement by flipping up the covers and pulling on her diaper.

8. When I came into her room and said "Hi, Terri", she would always recognize my voice and her name, and would turn her head all the way toward me, saying "Haaaiiiii" sort of, as she did. I recognized this as a "hi", which is very close to what it sounded like, the whole sound being only a second or two long. When I told her humorous stories about my life or something I read in the paper, Terri would chuckle, sometimes more a giggle or laugh. She would move her whole body, upper and lower. Her legs would sometimes be off the bed, and need to be repositioned. I made numerous entries into the nursing notes in her chart, stating verbatim what she said and her various behaviors, but by my next on-duty shift, the notes would be deleted from her chart. Every time I made a positive entry about any responsiveness of Terri's, someone would remove it after my shift ended. Michael always demanded to see her chart as soon as he arrived, and would take it in her room with him. I documented Terri's rehab potential well, writing whole pages about Terri's responsiveness, but they would always be deleted by the next time I saw her chart. The reason I wrote so much was that everybody else seemed to be afraid to make positive entries for fear of their jobs, but I felt very strongly that a nurses job was to accurately record everything we see and hear that bears on a patients condition and their family. I upheld the Nurses Practice Act, and if it cost me my job, I was willing to accept that.

9. Throughout my time at Palm Gardens, Michael Schiavo was focused on Terri's death. Michael would say "When is she going to die?," "Has she died yet?" and "When is that bitch gonna die?" These statements were common knowledge at Palm Gardens, as he would make them casually in passing, without regard even for who he was talking to, as long as it was a staff member. Other statements which I recall him making include "Can't you do anything to accelerate her death - won't she ever die?" When she wouldn't die, Michael would be furious. Michael was also adamant that the family should not be given information. He made numerous statements such as "Make sure the parents aren't contacted." I recorded Michael's statements word for word in Terri's chart, but these entries were also deleted after the end of my shift. Standing orders were that the family wasn't to be contacted, in fact, there was a large sign in the front of her chart that said under no circumstances was her family to be called, call Michael immediately, but I would call them, anyway, because I thought they should know about their daughter.

10. Any time Terri would be sick, like with a UTI or fluid buildup in her lungs, colds, pneumonia, Michael would be visibly excited, thrilled even, hoping that she would die. He would call me, as I was the nurse supervisor on the floor, and ask for every little detail about her temperature, blood pressure, etc., and would call back frequently asking if she was dead yet. He would blurt out "I'm going to be rich!," and would talk about all the things he would buy when Terri died, which included a new car, a new boat, and going to Europe, among other things.

11. When Michael visited Terri, he always came alone and always had the door closed and locked while he was with Terri. He would typically be there about twenty minutes or so. When he left Terri would would be trembling, crying hysterically, and would be very pale and have cold sweats. It looked to me like Terri was having a hypoglycemic reaction, so I'd check her blood

sugar. The glucometer reading would be so low it was below the range where it would register an actual number reading. I would put dextrose in Terri's mouth to counteract it. This happened about five times on my shift as I recall. Normally Terri's blood sugar levels were very stable due to the uniformity of her diet through tube feeding. It is my belief that Michael injected Terri with Regular insulin, which is very fast acting.

12. The longer I was employed at Palm Gardens the more concerned I became about patient care, both relating to Terri Schiavo, for the reasons I've said, and other patients, too. There was an LPN named Carolyn Adams, known as "Andy" Adams who was a particular concern. An unusual number of patients seemed to die on her shift, but she was completely unconcerned, making statements such as "They are old - let them die." I couldn't believe her attitude or the fact that it didn't seem to attract any attention. She made many comments about Terri being a waste of money, that she should die. She

said it was costing Michael a lot of money to keep her alive, and that he complained about it constantly (I heard him complain about it all the time, too.) Both Michael and Adams said that she would be worth more to him if she were dead. I ultimately called the police relative to this situation, and was terminated the next day. Other reasons were cited, but I was convinced it was because of my "rocking the boat."

13. Ms. Adams was one of the people who did not seem to be intimidated by Michael. In fact, they seemed to be very close, and Adams would do whatever Michael told her. Michael sometimes called Adams at night and spoke at length. I was not able to hear the content of these phone calls, but I knew it was him talking to her because she would tell me afterward and relay orders from him.

14. While at Palm Gardens, I became fearful for my personal safety. This was due to Michael's constant intimidation, including his menacing body language, vocal tone and mannerisms.

15. I have contacted the Schindler family because I just couldn't stand by and let Terri die without the truth being known.

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NAUGHT.

CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N.

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of September, 2003, by CARLA SAUER IYER, R.N., who produced her Florida driver's license as identification, and who did / did not take an oath.

(Non-text portions of this message have been removed)

Reactions to Terri Schaivo's Nurse's Affidavit

2005-03-30T14:46:00.000-08:00

Judge Judy: Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining

2005-03-27T01:33:00.000-08:00

EmeraldPrincessOnline
Easter is here and it will be most memorable for a tragic scar on our nation's psyche that is unfolding in Pinellas Park, Florida. Even the Pope in his own frail health has rung in on the side of life for Terri Schindler-Schaivo. I am praying for an Easter miracle, but to say "Happy Easter" has a hollowness to it much as those hollow milk chocolate eggs. They look deceptively good on the outside, but a keen disappointment awaits on the inside.

As the grievous hours of the Auschwitz-like torture of Terri drag on, I continue to think of one of the books written by Judge Judy Sheindlin. Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining: America's Toughest Family Court Judge Speaks Out In the cases heard in Judge Judy's court, she instantly reprimands litigants whenever they attempt to enter a hearsay comment into the record.

How is that of all of the judges who have reviewed Terri's case over the years have continually given standing to Michael Schaivo when he says that Terri would not have wanted to be kept alive in her circumstances? She left no written record of such a wish. She cannot speak for herself at this time. And why, oh why, do the courts allow Michael Schaivo's self-serving hearsay to be not only be allowed, but be allowed to result in the taking of her life?

Terri's parents have spoken about the wasting and other physical changes they are seeing in Terri as her life is ebbing away.

Meanwhile, the attorney for Michael Schaivo spoke to reporters after seeing Terri on Saturday and reported in essence that she has never looked better.

The incongruity is astounding.

How can that same individual insist on forcing the death of Terri when she has never looked better?

Deliberately lock a dog in a room without food or water for a week and you'd be going to jail. Deny a death-row inmate food and water? That would simply not happen. But deny fluids and feedings to a disabled woman to force her death in a drawn-out, merciless, heartless, inhumane fashion? What crime has Terri Schindler-Schaivo committed? She has committed no crime other than being an inconvenience for her husband and his efforts to move on with his "new life" and a would-be "new wife". Why should Terri have to die just to allow him to the convenience of marrying the woman with whom he has been shacking up and has now made two babies with while Terri has been lying there all these years? And he pretends to care?!?

As Judge Judy says, "Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining."

Anger du Jour

2005-03-22T19:45:00.000-08:00

EmeraldPrincessOnline
The heartbreaking, gut-wrenching saga of Terri Schindler-Schaivo languishing in terminal thirst and starvation at the insistence of her so-called husband and her betrayal year after year, layer after layer of the court system, has stymied my appetite for food. The angst is almost unbearable.

Closer to home than Terri's plight, tonight I learned that a family we are close friends with who are keeping their aged, debilitated, agitated mother at home, "caring" for her in her final days are committing a similarly unspeakable act. The seeming ideal of being surrounded by family caregivers and living out one's final days in one's own home, is an illusion at best. What appears on the surface to be a lovely picture really is a mirage. The woman's doctor has proclaimed that since she is refusing food and drink (as of two weeks ago) because her pain is so great, that her death will come in the next three days. I was feeling so sad for all of them as they prepare to lose their mother. But wait, there's more!

The blockbuster tidbit of news that leaked out this evening is that the doctor had ordered morphine to help control her pain in her final days, but the "family" has decided that "she doesn't need it" so they're withholding it from her, meanwhile, she's writhing in anguish. And they (the seven siblings) are all bawling around in crisis about their mother dying -- yet won't even give her the medication to ease her pain through this end-of-life phase. Boo-hoo-hoo.

What in the hell is wrong with these people?

I had already lost my appetite before hearing this, but when I learned of her pain and that the family says "she doesn't need'' the morphine, I feel not only anorexic, I am angered. I feel such an absolute rage that helpless people such as this woman in her final days are surrounded by their devoted caregivers who really don't give a rat's ass.

All they're clucking and cooing about is the lament that they didn't get her to sign over her estate while she was still competent and did not give any one of them power of attorney.

They discovered $5,000.00 tucked away in a book at her house today. Now they're going through all of her books in search of any additional cash she may have stashed over the years. She probably hid it with good reason from those vultures.

They don't have a legal leg to stand on.

They just have wait a few more days now, (morphine might have stretched the time even longer) clamoring to be at her right hand when she exhales that last agonal breath.

I just want to puke.

Linda's Reminder: Joy truly is in the journey

2005-03-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

EmeraldPrincessOnline
Aunt Malena, in her 80s, frail, inhabiting a body wracked by the ravages of rheumatoid arthritis and metastatic cancer, continued to focus her time and remaining energy to work on preparations for the family reunion the following year. Sadly, she didn't live to see it come to fruition. I was awash in grief over the disappointment that she did not live long enough to see the reunion come together. When I wrote about that my friend, Linda, a wise and compassionate R.N., she wrote back a most insight-filled note of condolence. Linda expressed her belief that what is important is being involved in something, working toward a goal, whether or not it is reached in one's lifetime. That was a real lightbulb moment for me. It made so much sense and was so comforting. Recently, Linda sent me the following story about two brothers. The conclusion is similar. I'd like to share it. This story of the two brothers is certainly along that same line. Thanks for the reminder, Linda. The joy truly is in the journey.

Joy in the Journey:
Two brothers decided to dig a deep hole behind their house. As they were working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch.

"What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors. "We plan to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" one of the brothers volunteered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling the younger ones that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible.

After a long silence, one of the diggers picked up a jar full of spiders, worms and a wide assortment of insects. He removed the lid and showed the wonderful contents to the scoffing visitors. Then he said quietly and confidently, "Even if we don't dig all the way through the earth, look what we found along the way!"

Their goal was far too ambitious, but it did cause them to dig. And that is what a goal is for - to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen; in other words, to set us to digging!

But not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end successfully. Not every relationship will endure. Not every hope will come to pass. Not every love will last. Not every endeavor will be completed. Not every dream will be realized. But when you fall short of your aim, perhaps you can say, "Yes, but look at what I found along the way!"

Terri Schindler-Schiavo: Euthanize the weasel, but let Terri live

2005-03-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

EmeraldPrincessOnline
Why should Terri Schindler-Schiavo have to essentially be put to death for the convenience of her husband? How is it that in our modern day American culture a person's right-to-life is somehow secondary to someone right-to-death? I am passionate about Terri's situation. No doubt the strain of all of these years of her being disabled has taken a toll on the entire family, however, her husband has shown that he is a weasel.

Jeb Bush did a good thing when he stopped the efforts to remove her PEG tube.

Why the judges in Florida have sided with her husband and how they could want her blood on their hands, I do not understand.

Why, oh why, if her parents are willing to assume the financial responsibility for her ongoing care, why doesn't her husband just go to Nevada, get a quickie divorce, and get on with his life with the woman he has made multiple babies with, but leave Terry alone and allow her to live. Why couldn't her parents be granted guardianship of Terri? I don't see why she has to die for his convenience.

There are many photographs and day-to-day updates on the process through the courts of Terri's desperate case which can be found on the Web at http://www.terrisfight.org. One picture says it all for me: the look of love captured as Terri is smiling and straining to reach her mother.

Euthanize the weasel. Let Terri live.

Trial Outcomes: Scott Peterson and Robert Blake

2005-03-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

EmeraldPrincessOnline

What is the cosmic synergy that sealed the fate of Scott Peterson and Robert Blake on the same day? Or is it just that now that we have the new crime spree to ruminate over from Atlanta so it was time to make room for all of the TV coverage of Brian Nichols, and in order to make way, it was time to wrap-up the months and years of trial coverage for Peterson and Blake to clear the decks for an intense focus now on Brian Nichols. Hardly a blip on the radar about the eight dead in the church shootings near Milwaukee.

And by what irony is it that Scott Peterson (O! So guilty!!!) was convicted and is sentenced to death by lethal injection, yet Robert Blake (O! So guilty!!!) was acquitted by all 12 of 12 jurors on the murder counts, yet there was the one juror holdout who voted to find him guilty of "lying in wait". And how is it then that an innocent man, a man who (per their verdict) did not murder nor arrange for the murder of Bonnie Lee Bakely, just exactly how is it that there was one holdout on that count?

Once again the trial outcome in the case of Robert Blake screams to the whole rest of the world that people in America and the criminal justice system here is bipolar at best.

While watching the live coverage of the announcement of the verdicts in Robert Blake's trial, as he was overcome with emotion on hearing the "not guilty", he reached for some medication (perhaps nitroglycerin for a heart condition) then dropped to the floor. As he sat there reeling in the shock of the moment -- being guilty no one could have been more surprised by the verdict than Robert Blake himself -- as he gasped for air and drew in that big, deep-cleansing breath, I couldn't help but wonder what Bonnie Lee Bakely's last big, deep-cleansing breath was like -- in that moment of terror/horror as she was being murdered. Too bad the video cameras weren't rolling to record her final moments and her big deep breath as they were focused today on Robert Blake in the courtroom.

Just because someone is a one-time TV star, how is it in our culture that that gives them immunity from conviction for murdering their wives? But hey, if you're a manure a.k.a. fertilizer salesman, you're goin' down, pal. (Not that it is not deserved in Peterson's case. I just don't see that the two cases are all that dissimilar.)

For all the Scott Petersons and Robert Blakes of the world: good-bye, so long, it (hasn't) been good to know you.

Climate Change Insanity - Flooding and Drought

2005-03-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

The Emerald City, Seattle, and the surrounding area of western Washington, make up a substantial part of the Northwest and the dominant portion of the population. Growth has continued. Demand for electricity and water have increased.

Year after year there are tremendous floods on nearly every river in western Washington (more than a dozen rivers), and every year there is whining and hand-wringing of concern about water conservation and a drought and how there isn't going to be enough water to get us through the summer.

Only a few months ago there were simultaneous news stories on local television stations and in the newspapers covering the flooding and the drought. What's wrong with this picture?

The insanity of it is that even with global climate change, even with the lack of typical rainfall to fill the regions' reservoirs through the winter months to sustain us through the next summer, it never seems to occur to public officials to increase the storage capacity of the reservoirs.

We always get the rain. We always get adequate rain. But when it comes -- such as when there is flooding -- the water runs off into the rivers and out into Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. It's not that the water doesn't come. The water, i.e. rainfall, does come, but the municipalities simply are never prepared to receive it and store it when it does come.

This is not a new problem. It has been going on for as many years as I can remember.

The rain comes.
The floods come.
The cries of "drought" come.
The fear of "fire season".
The anxiety over "water restriction".

The cycle perpetuates year after year. What folly! What madness! Public utility districts need to construct more facilities to trap and store the rainwater when it comes, because it does and it will surely come. Why that precious natural resource is allowed to simply run-off into flood plains and out to sea is beyond my comprehension.

Does no one else recognize the insanity of same-day news coverage of floods AND drought?!?