"Beware the Ides of March..." - Shakespeare

Just saw a pointless, stupid movie... I don't know why we chose to see "The Ides of March," but it was much worse than my low expectations and left me angry that I paid money to see it...

Stupid Hollywood...

"For God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind."

Today was my annual mammagram... I put it off because just the thought of it was disconcerting. The last one I had was in July of 2010, and I am supposed to have one each year since I was diagnosed (and later healed) of breast cancer in 2006. But in July DD had camp, and then cheerleading and then school started and then work got busy and then and then and then... So I just finished my move and my house repairs are almost done, and I figured I was irresponsible if I didn't go in. Especially when I call yesterday and the radiology place that only screens for breast cancer, asks if I'm "symptomatic." Well, when they ask, I always am. Maybe it's psychological because I've already lost 3 close friends to breast cancer. And my sister has had a breast removed. And my boss is in remission, and my coworker was just diagnosed. It's all around me, and it's the "C" word. So the radiology group said yesterday to come in today - so I did...

I downloaded the Bible app to my iPhone, which I've been meaning to do anyway. But then I grabbed my physical Bible, so I could flip around while there. Plus, it's comforting to me to see all the verses underlined through the years. I kept telling myself that fear is the opposite of faith and that faith pleases God. And that God's words in His word are His promises to His children, those that walk with Him. And His word says, "By the stripes of Jesus, we WERE healed." And I love the one that says, "For the law of life in Christ Jesus, has set me FREE from the law of sin and death" (which includes sickness.) I also like the one, "I will REMOVE sickness from your midst." and "they shall lay hands on the sick and they SHALL recover." As I read Psalms, this one popped out at me, "No evil shall befall you, and no plague will come near your dwelling," (and cancer is certainly a plague to me.) These are the verses I kept claiming as I sat there waiting for an hour since they were super busy at this clinic in San Antonio.

They came for me while all of us sit in this room wearing the same blue tops like we're in prison. (See photo of my view from where I sat.) They take only 4 shots which is less than usual, and say they will come back for me for more if necessary, after a radiologist looks at them. Then they come back... They say they want to do a sonogram, which they've never done before. I say, "Why? Did you see something?" She acts weird and says it's because I said my breasts felt heavy. (I DID move last weekend though.) So, she does a sonogram on my breasts and seems very serious, taking a long time and then tells me to go into the waiting room again. All of the women are nervous and trying to distract themselves on their phones while "The View" plays on the television. I keep reading my Bible, claiming my verses. I make lots of promises to God, this blog post being one of them. And the girl comes back, and timidly says my name, and I wince. She says I'm good to go, and they will see me next year. (Big sigh) Set free from the prison. I say "Praise the Lord!" and tell the others in there, I've been praying for them too.

The world looked brighter all day...

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

"I want to put a ding in the universe." - Steve Jobs

I can't believe it. Steve Jobs is dead. He co-founded Apple Computer in 1976, and with his childhood friend, marketed the world's first personal computer. He was the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes. He was the biggest inventor of my lifetime, and is considered up there with Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, changing the worlds of computing, recorded music and communications. He created my favorite adult toy, my iPhone, which is such a blast. I mean, WHERE are the other inventors? Gosh, I'm going to miss his creativity. Will all forward-thinking come to a standstill now?? I hope not. I will miss you Steve Jobs.

Rest in peace...

Autistic Student's inspirational Graduation Speech

This is for my daughter, Alex, who works for an autism center and sees desperate parents with the worst cases of autism. Here is some hope for you and your fellow employees that, every day, try to help people who need help.

"In any other sport, if you miss the catch all you lose is the ball..."

After a long weekend of moving and cleaning, when I picked DD up from cheer practice tonight, on the last stunt of the evening, they were trying to do a very hard one that involved 3 flyers (the ones that are up in the air) which included DD. The middle girl fell and her foot slapped DD's base, and she completely dropped her. DD fell about 9 feet on her upper back and neck, which really scared her, knocked the wind out of her, and made her numb in the beginning. And she was in a lot of pain. So, we went to the ER to get x-rays just to make sure nothing was cracked.

Thank God all looked okay - whew...

"Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Troy Davis, 42, was executed last month in Georgia for the slaying of a police officer, insisting his innocence and asking forgiveness for his accusers and executioners. At the funeral his friend said, "Troy's last words that night were, he told us to keep fighting until his name is cleared in Georgia. But most important, keep fighting until the death penalty is abolished and this can never be done to anyone else.' Another friend said when he would visit Davis he would say, "Don't let me die in vain, don't let my name die in vain."

So you have to ask yourself, did an innocent man just get put to death for a crime he did not do? He was convicted without evidence, from all the reports I read. And everyone that knew him said he was a kind, gentle man.

I used to believe in the death penalty, but no more. My pastor agrees and said that it's always the poor who get put to death since they cannot afford to hire a good attorney. Troy Davis' death makes me very sad. My gut feeling is that an innocent man was put to death.

And my gut feelings are always right....