I have been a Trekkie ever since I was five years old. I have seen every episode of the original series at least 10 times. Of course I have watched all the other series as well. Last year I became a 24 fan and tonight’s episode made me realize that people who write this show must also be Trekkies. McGill, head of CTU, was going loony in tonight’s episode and accusing everyone of trying to sabotage him, and he was ignoring the need to get vital information to the Secret Service. Audrey and Curtis do an end run around McGill and call him unfit for duty and take over CTU. Now flashback to any number of Star Trek episodes and replace McGill with Captain Kirk under the influence of some strange evil alien, and replace Audrey and Curtis with Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock. Dr. McCoy was always trying to find a way to relieve Captain Kirk of duty when he felt things were getting out of hand. Some things never change I guess or good plots and story lines are just hard to find. Nevertheless, I like 24 because there’s a lot of great sci-fi type technology in use and the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad. Except for tonight’s episode I usually can’t figure out what’s going to happen next. What a great show!
February, 2006
-
24 and Star Trek
February 27, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 4 Comments
-
Things That Happen During the Night
February 25, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale
Our church sent us a lovely bouquet of flowers this week to offer their condolences for our loss. Each morning it was fun to see this beautiful orange lily slowly open day by day. On the day I expected to find it fully opened it was horrifying to see that someone had chewed off one of the flower petals. Norm insisted it was not him so we figured it must’ve been one of the cats. It wasn’t that way before we went to bed the night before, so during the night something happened. My oldest cat, Miss Ellie, would never do such a thing because she knows not to get on the table and she would rather catch birds than eat flowers. Now my other cat GG is totally interested in whatever is on the dining table and has been known to drink out of my water glass. I’ve prevented that from happening anymore by covering my glass with a piece of tinfoil. However, it seems that she could not resist the beautiful flowers. It’s been two days since it happened and she’s not shown any signs of being sick. I guess lilies are not poisonous. Silly cat! Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 1 Comment
-
Things You Will See at the Drugstore
February 24, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale
My doctor’s office called today to inform me I tested positive for H. pylori bacteria which can cause stomach ulcers or stomach cancer, so they ordered more medication for me. Yikes! So off we go to Walgreens where Norm likes to use their drive-through pharmacy pickup window. We get to the store and I tell him I want to go inside because I need to discuss this medication with a pharmacist and I don’t like doing it from inside the car. While we are waiting in line to speak with a pharmacist there’s a man in front of us leaning into the window discussing his child’s medication. He must’ve been a construction worker because his butt crack was showing. Norm and I gave each other knowing looks.
After my conversation with the pharmacist, we’re walking down the aisle and not 5 feet away from the pharmacy window I hear Norm groaning behind me. “Yeah, I see that one too,” I said, because right in front of us was a woman crouching down to look at something on the bottom shelf and low and behold we saw her thong underwear sticking out of her pants. On the way out to the car I tell Norm we would have never seen those lovely sites had we used the drive through pickup window! Norm assured me he would have rather not seen them and I must admit I feel the same way. Please, all you people who don’t pull your pants up all the way or wear low risers — at least have the courtesy of wearing long shirts that go below your waist by at least 6 inches! Thank You.
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 2 Comments
-
The Visitation
February 19, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale
Despite yesterday’s events I am feeling so much better today. Because of that I decided to go with Norm to the visitation for Madeleine at the mortuary. I didn’t really know what to expect because I’ve never been to one before. Norm and I arrived early so we were able to see her alone. She looked absolutely beautiful and for a brief moment I half expected her to open her eyes and look at us. For me it was definitely a “moment of closure” experience. The room we were in at the mortuary was beautifully furnished and there were fragrant bouquets of flowers all around the room that were sent by family and friends for the occasion. Old photographs of Madeleine were displayed around the room. She was quite a beautiful lady during all of her years.
One by one family members and friends of Madeleine showed up to pay their respects. Norm’s brother Fred was there. This was the first time that I met Norm’s niece Beth and his nephew Will and Will’s wife Carrie, all of whom live in Tucson. Norm’s other niece Karen and her husband Gavin, from San Diego, were also there and it was good to see them again. Several of Madeleine’s friends from her church came, all but one of whom we had met before. Most of her friends were as old as she was and many of them have passed on before her. It was a precious time viewing Madeleine in a very peaceful setting.
Tuesday Madeleine will be flown to Denver for burial on Thursday morning. Her husband is buried there and she has a plot next to him. Norm’s brother Fred and his children will be going for the graveside service. Norm’s sister Sandra and her two children, Amy and Eric, will be there as well since they live in Denver. We are not going because of our health and the cold climate of Denver this time of year. There will be a memorial service here in Scottsdale on March 2 at St. Barnabas On the Desert Episcopal Church which she attended for probably 30 years or more. Norm and I will definitely be at that celebration of the life of his mother.
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 1 Comment
-
Happy Birthday to Jack
February 19, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale
Though we are only 16 months apart in age and he has been taller than me ever since I can remember, he’s still my little brother. (This photo was taken last October when I was in San Diego.) Jack turns 40 today and I wish I could be with him. He’s giving the sermon this morning at my dad’s church in San Diego. Our dad has always expressed his love and appreciation for both my brother and me, which is what a father should do to nurture his children. This morning I think my dad has outdone himself with what he wrote in this Sunday’s bulletin for his church. I have copied it below:FROM THE PASTOR
I am sure all of you know by now, Jack Jr. turned 40 today so we want to wish him a happy birthday! While he is my son and therefore I could be accused of being a little prejudiced, yet I want everyone to know how proud Dixie and I are of him. Not because we are his parents or because we think he does everything right, but because we are seeing the development in him of traits that come, not from his earthly parents but, from his Heavenly Father. To be honest about it I am also proud of everyone of you when I see that development taking place in your life. It is an awesome thing to watch God change people — to see his hand in their lives. This is a process and each of us need to allow room in people’s lives for that development to take place. As a part of my philosophy of ministry you have heard me say that I believe God can clean His own fish. He does not need me to do His work for Him. He may use us in that work as an instrument of His grace but we must be certain it is Him, and not us, trying to tell others how to run their lives. It is delightful to see God changing lives. His change takes place as we come to know Him better. When we understand how much He loves us, how much He cares for us, it changes us. I can remember as a young man the respect I had for my own father. I know that I kept out of a lot of trouble because I did not want to hurt him. When I was in junior high I asked him if I could go some place I knew he would not want me to go — thinking that, when he said no, I would go anyway — I know you would never believe I was ever that way. Instead of saying no, he left the decision up to me. That blew me away but the decision was mine and I knew he was going to love me either way, even if I disappointed him. I have discovered the same in my relationship to my Heavenly Father. Today I try to make decisions that will not disappoint Him, but He loves me even when I make poor choices. He may be disappointed but He does not toss me out. He restores me. Thank you Jesus!
Blessings, Pastor Jack
BTW: I love you son!Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 2 Comments
-
It’s Official
February 18, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale
What I thought was just a simple cold has turned out to be bronchitis. I started feeling congested yesterday and rather achy, but this morning was far worse and my chest felt very tight. Been there done that — so I knew I needed to go seek medical help. My wonderful husband Norm took me to the ER since they wouldn’t even look at me at the urgent care place we normally go since they couldn’t do a chest x-ray. We got right into the ER which rather surprised me, but the fact that I was having difficulty breathing normally was probably the reason they put us right in.
After listening to my lungs and hearing no breath sounds on the left side, they gave me a nebulizer breathing treatment which had a good effect. They suspected the flu so they stuck something up my nose, which was extremely disconcerting and rather painful, so they could collect a swab to test for influenza virus. I’m really not a cry baby and I usually handle things pretty well, but after that procedure all I could do was cry. Norm is really good at comforting me when I’m not feeling myself. This is a good trait in a husband. Then three different people tried to extract blood from my arms to no avail. After a chest x-ray confirmed it was not pneumonia, the doctors decided I need not endure any other torture that would be necessary in order to draw blood. I was sent home with a prescription for Levaquin, which is an antibiotic, and albuterol for my nebulizer unit. Both Norm and I are so relieved that I did not have to be hospitalized!
So now I’m home and I’ve had a breathing treatment again. I’ve had this before and it’s not fun but with breathing treatments and medication I can usually fight this at home. I don’t like getting sick and the timing is never good, but tomorrow there is a visitation at the mortuary for Norm’s mother. Unless I feel a whole lot better I don’t think I’ll be there which is really a bummer because I want to be there for my husband. Thank you to everyone who has left sympathetic comments or sent e-mails of encouraging words regarding the passing of Norm’s mother.
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 2 Comments
-
She Will Be Missed
February 16, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale
Madeleine, Norm’s mother, passed away early this morning. She was 92 years old and had lived a good life. She will be missed by us and all who knew her because she was a dear sweet lady. Norm and I are comforted with knowing that she is now with God and will be reunited with her husband who passed away over 40 years ago.She was a good mother-in-law to me and a wonderful mother to Norm and his brother and sister. I have many fond memories of Madeleine and even now I can hear her laughter over one of Norm’s jokes. She had a good sense of humor and between her and Norm we were always finding something to laugh about. That’s a wonderful memory to have about someone.
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 6 Comments
-
Valentine’s Day 2006
February 14, 2006 by Karen of Scottsdale
My wonderful husband Norm surprised me with a cute card today. I didn’t get him one but I did find this:
Category Uncategorized | Tags: | 2 Comments
