Why? Would somebody lie

Be careful in judging others by who you are. People will lie to advance themselves or convince others of their agenda. We have experienced it and it is an especially tough lesson for a child.

Why? How do you handle some one bullying your child

A year ago, my grandson was punched in the jaw at school because he talked to the bully's girlfriend. I immediately went to the parents and informed them of what happened. Their son apologized and I thought it was isolated and now done with.

Now my grandson, age 12, has been through a lot in the past few years. The most difficult thing was finding his father dead on the bedroom floor 4 years ago. He and his little brother, age 3, and his mother found him after coming home from work, school and daycare. My son-in-law had been sick for a week, refused to go to the doctor and died from an enlarged heart and pneumonia. What a shock. As a result my wife and I have been helping to raise the boys. To keep them busy and help them get on with life, one or the other or both have been in flag football, football, basketball, baseball, t-ball, swimming.

A year ago my grandson broke his arm at basketball camp (he was also playing baseball). He continued playing baseball with a cast on his arm and within three weeks, started a game at 2nd base. He later rebroke the arm at the Wold Series. He went into football wearing a cast and did some drills and lots of running. His knee began to bother him, but he continued running. After his arm was being x-rayed to see healing progress, we asked to the doctor to examine his knee. An x-ray showed a suspicious spot and we were sent to a specialist at Children's Mercy in Kansas City. The end result was a fragmented area of the epiphysis (growth plate area). This is a serious injury.

My grandson had missed 4 weeks of baseball and now all of football. He was put in a full leg cast and was on crutches for 4 weeks and then put in a walking cast. After 3 weeks of physical therapy, he was cleared the day before Christmas to play sports. He played basketball for 4 weeks and then went down hill. He was first diagnosed with Mono and walking pneumonia. Later on in a further test they found it was not mono. He continued to go downhill. He lost 10 pounds (100 down to 90 lbs), nauseated every morning, not eating, and finally said he didn't want to go to schooL and FINALLY HE TOLD US WHY. HE WAS BEING BULLIED AT SCHOOL BY THE SAME BOY WHO HIT HIM LAST YEAR.

Now, what to do? It was apparent that going to the parent had done no good.

We contacted the school and they were great. They were all over it. Teachers were informed. The bully was stopped. Now I will say the bullying was mostly name calling, put downs, that kind of thing. A little shoving, but no hitting. The end result was, we thought, that the issue was settled.

My grandson came home 2 days ago and said the bully had punched him in the mouth (splitting his lip). Well, we informed the school and they took action.

Last night the bully’s father came to our door very angry and accusing my grandson of lying about the incident. And said “I’m going to the superintendent and prove your grandson is the problem.” I said “do what you have to do”.

.

Why? facing possible demise

I had blood in my urine 3 months ago. It was not bright red, but a dark brown. I went to emergency and was told to drink lots of water and see if it cleared up. I did and it did.

I have prostate cancer in my family, grandfather and uncle and after putting off seeing my urologist for three years(I had a rotor rooter job), I went in for an exam and they wanted a urine sample. It was as they put it "coffee colored" and was old clotted blood. This was a bit of a shock to me. My doctor did the usual rectal exam and said my prostate felt normal. That was a relief, but then he said I needed a ct scan as soon as possible. I went in a day later and was given a ct scan of my stomach and pelvis. This really multiple x-rays from different angles looking at my stomach, kidneys, urethra, bladder and prostate. I was to receive in the results from my doctor in 2 days.

Now to the point. Many people have faced this same or similar situation and I was experiencing it for the first time. I might have something very, very seriously wrong with me. It was high apprehension and having to wait. You realize that you might need to get your affairs in order. Well in truth I have been doing that for quite a while. I do have and recommend to all a "black box". A black box has all the information any one would need if you, to put it bluntly, die. It contains the following information:

NOTIFY

Doctor or hospice nurse

Coroner

Funeral Home

Clergy

Relatives and friends (list with phone numbers)

Social Security Office Social Security Number – xxx-xx-xxxx

Employee Retirement System

Life Insurance

long term care

auto insurance

monthly payments

memberships

Location Of Will

Executor of Will

Banking with password

checking accounts

savings accounts

CD”s

Credit Card Information

Investment information

Funeral Decisions

Cemetery

Gravestone inscription

Obituary

The nurse pulled up the ct scan on the computer and said, "I shouldn't tell but it's kidney stones" And I was happy. Ultrasound surgery is in a week, for a large stone that is threatening the urethra. When you get to be 70, you know life is short and you are grateful for life and know it can end at any moment.

why? A most serious and controversial topic

This going to be very heavy. I'm going to let it cook, "rest" and serve it with generous helpings.

OK. Let's begin with a brief review of the basics of an age old conflict, the Haves vs the Have Nots.

The Haves of course have money and thus power. Drive through the neighborhoods of any community and look for a house(really a mansion) that is deeply off set and is 2,3,4.5 times the size of an average house. A house with a gardener, probably a cook and housekeeping staff. These are all visuals indications of great wealth. And hidden from view are the millions and billions of dollars either rightfully earned or ill gotten by ethical or unethical means.

The Have Nots live on an annual average wage of maybe $30,000. Two incomes or two or three jobs are mandatory. It is living paycheck to paycheck and life is an on going struggle. The Have Nots are also the truly poor, welfare dominated, hardcore unemployed. The Have Nots are also a major portion of the so-called Middle Class. Their wages, salaries may get to six figures, but economic issues remain at the core of their existence.

Now another basic is Republicans versus Democrats Or the Haves vs the Have Nots. In truth not all Republicans are Haves(Many Tea Baggers have very little) and not all Democrats are Have Nots(witness the great Kennedy Family).

From a previous blog, Tea Baggers. They believe they have a precedent in the Boston Tea Party. You know, "no taxation without representation", no voting rights etc. Doesn't seem to fit, but the American "right to protest" does fit. I believe the basic problem for the "baggers" is the changing hue of America. If you have a racial bias and many people do no matter what their hue then somewhere deep inside and for some on the very surface is a fear of loss of place. White people are rapidly becoming a minority in this country. But make no mistake, an organized minority can rule in a democracy. The far right , ultra conservative wing of the Republican Party has done rather well in recent years, until the rise of Barak Obama. He of course represents a variety of hues and thus represents the future and the racial fears have been stirred as never before.

Check the the Tea Bagger rallies, they appear to be 100% white. And this is proof of their intent and believe it is intended. Racial fear can it be overcome? Yes, the great mixed hue hope is Barak Obama, but I must tell you I go on line every day with slight apprehension. Can he survive?

The Tea Baggers had great in influence in the last election, running on the issue of government spending and jobs. BUT underneath, not really hidden, but ignored by many in the electorate, was the issue of abortion. Now I will say up front as a liberal Republican(I am a retired teacher so really a Have Not), that government should not tell women that they cannot have a choice when it comes to abortion. I do believe that big government is a danger to us all. Freedom of choice is essential to a true democracy.

What the Haves have done is to really tap into the racial fears and antiabortion mentality to create political power. But Why? Who has the greatest gain by reducing government spending and government regulations? THE HAVES and who has the most to lose by reducing government spending and government regulations? THE HAVE NOTS.

Now, in truth, government power, spending and regulation should always be questioned and challenged. It is central to our democracy. With out such challenge, totalitarianism can lead to total control by the Haves.

"Once, I had a momentary vision of the future and it was totalitarian."