Since I have been having some problems with my satellite radio, I have been listening to my iPod while I’m driving to work. I noticed today, that I played “Hold on Tight” (1981) by Electric Light Orchestra eight times in a row. I get that way when I like a song. I can listen to it over and over again.
I have always liked ELO. And I thought this song was cool because it had a verse sung in French:
Accroche-toi à ton rêve
Accroche-toi à ton rêve
Quand tu vois ton bateau partir
Quand tu sens ton coeur se briser
Accroche-toi à ton rêve.
This past year since I’ve been on Facebook, I have reconnected with a lot of friends that I graduated with from Ainsworth High School (Flint, Michigan) in 1985. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost been 25 years since we were saw each other. Some of my former classmates are married, re-married, have children, have grandchildren (that one still floors me when I hear that) and some difficult things to deal with.
One is Lori Zoll Pharr and her battle with colon cancer. She has created a blog — Lori’s Battle: http://www.helplorifight.blogspot.com of her journey.
I have known Lori since the 6th grade when we were at Carman Park (Flint, Michigan). We were friends all through school. Since we graduated, I have seen her a couple of times at our class reunions. But now since we are both on Facebook, we have been able to keep in touch with each other.
Here is her latest entry. When I read it, I got chills. I just want Lori to know that she and her family are in my prayers and that I wishing her a full recovery.
Well, hey, everyone! It’s been a few days since my blog has been updated, so I thought I’d fill everyone in. Since I’ve been home I’ve been resting pretty well, although the phone is ringing a lot. I don’t mind though, I know everyone is checking on me, and loves me. I’m feeling pretty good; no pain at all (Praise God). I went to the surgeon today and got the 20 staples removed from my incision. No pain with that either. I went and visited work for a few minutes, then headed home. Many thanks to my driver, Janie. On the way home, I “sprang a leak”! I guess the staples weren’t really ready to come out, so back to the surgeon we went for bigger steri-strips and a big dressing. Still, no pain, but it was gross, and it scared me.
I wanted to write down three miracles that have occurred thus far in my journey.
1-The pain that took me to the hospital on Monday, June 29th was completely gone by the time I got into my room that night. No pain meds, nothing. The pain was gone. The pain was God telling me that something was wrong and that we needed to get to the hospital.
2-I have been working at the local Tech college for 2.5 years as a grant paid person-no benefits, no insurance, paid leave, etc. Just work, get a check. I have prayed and prayed for a full-time position, but God just kept telling me, Not yet. Well, it turns out, that because I am a “part-time” employee, there’s a ton of flexibility with how much I can be away from work. If I were a full-time employee I would be very limited in the time that I could be out of work, and if my situation were to be really lengthy, I would have to be replaced. Not now, though. My boss said they would not re-hire anyone and that I could take as long as I needed to get well.
3-My friends and family. Total love and service through Jesus Christ. I am so blessed.
That’s about it for now. Things are good and as weird as it sounds, I’m excited to see what God & I will be doing in the future. I have friends coming to pray over me tonight and really welcome that. Please keep praying and I will keep everyone updated. The next step is a PT scan to make sure that there is no cancer anywhere else. Once that is done I’ll meet with the Oncologist, Dr. Cody and we’ll get moving.
Smile
tho’
your heart is aching,
Smile
Even though its breaking,
Wgen there are clouds in the sky- You’ll get by,
If you
Smile through your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through- For you.
Light up your face with gladness,
Hide ev’ry trace of sadness,
Altho’ a tear may be ever so near,
That’s the time you must keep on trying,
Smile- What’s the use of crying,
You’ll find that life is still worh while,
If you just smile.
Like many people out there, I was watching the Michael Jackson Memorial while I was at work. One song that stood out to me was “Smile” sung by Michael’s brother Jermaine Jackson.
I have always liked this song. Something that I didn’t know about this song was that Charlie Chaplin composed the music in 1936. I remember hearing that sone every year on the annual “Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon” as the telethon’s theme.
Regardless of what you thought of Michael Jackson, what he did as an entertainer will never be seen again.
Michael Jackson – Like many others, I was shocked to hear that Michael Jackson died. I can’t say I was a big fan, but I certainly used to be back in the 90s. Michael Jackson represents a great childhood memory for me; I grew up listening to his music and watching his videos (especially thriller which I watched repeatedly). I even had a poster and a calendar of Michael in my room. It’s funny how my personal memory of Michael Jackson is exactly what’s been played out in his official web site. It is all about memories from Michael Jackson, fed by his fans all over the world. If you had had to choose just one Michael Jackson song to take with you on a deserted island, which one would it be? Mine is below.
Bonnie BellLip Smackers — I had all kinds of flavors: strawberry, Tootsie Roll, 7-up. Dr. Pepper was my favorite flavor. Just recently I brought some Lip Smackers: Jolly Rancher, Pink Lemonade and Bubble Gum. They smelled the same, but when I put them on, let’s just say I preferred the smell of them.
Pet Rockswere a fad that didn’t last long, but hit hard! My mom wouldn’t spring for one of these things, so I went out to the creek behind the house and found my own pet and adopted it!
“The Streak” by Ray Stevens from 1974. I remember we had the 45 of this song. I was never a “streaker”, but I thought this song was hilarious!
“Don’t look, Ethel!”
And I remember I wanted a “Sculptura” telephone. I thought they were the coolest telephones. The Sculptura telephone was a quintessential 1970s phone. Produced by Western Electric in a choice of three color (yellow, brown or white).
It’s nice to look back at the good old days. And with the Internet, you are able to find those things that use remember when you were growing up.
This past Friday, I received a e-mail from my director saying that someone in the building that I work in had been diagnosed with Swine Flu. After I read that e-mail, I was thinking of all the places in the building that I went and things that I had contact with — bathroom door, bathroom stall handle, bathroom sink, railing along the staircase…
Right away I went for my hand sanitizer gel that I have on my desk. People tease me about always using my gel, but now after reading this e-mail we got, every time I touch something or share something from someone, I will be using my gel and Handi-wipes.
Hopefully that person will be alright and that will be the only case of Swine Flu in the building. But now more then ever, I will make sure that I will “emphasizing proper hygiene (disinfecting hands and surfaces) and practicing social distancing (avoid close contact such as a separation of least 6 feet with coworkers and customers).”
In that e-mail, they also sent this information from the CDC.
The CDC’s General Business and Workplace Guidance for the Prevention of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Flu in workers was updated on June 25th, 2009. This guidance states that a worker who has been exposed to a person with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) may continue to go to work unless he/she becomes ill.
What to do for co-workers of an employee who is a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) flu
Inform the employees of their exposure to a co-worker with confirmed, probable, or suspected pandemic H1N1 flu during the ill person’s infectious period.
Employees should monitor themselves for symptoms.
Employees should check with their health care provider about any special care they might need if they are pregnant or have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema.
Recommendations for protecting all employees include emphasizing proper hygiene (disinfecting hands and surfaces) and practicing social distancing (avoid close contact such as a separation of least 6 feet with coworkers and customers). See below for the link to the CDC website where this information on lower risk zone protection can be found. Please contact me if you have additional questions or concerns.
Hmmm… Seven Layer Salad is one of my favorite dishes. I have to confuse, I have only made it once. I enjoy it more when other people make it! So with the 4th of July weekend coming up, maybe I should take another swing at making it again?
Enjoy!!
Instructions
Things You’ll Need:
One head iceberg lettuce, chopped
6-8 fresh, sliced mushrooms
4 stalks celery, chopped
1 (10 oz) bag frozen peas
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 chopped green pepper
2 cups mayonnaise
4 tsp sugar
Grated cheddar cheese
8 strips cooked and crumbled bacon
Step 1
In a tall, clear trifle bowl ($6.00 at Wal-Mart!) put in 1/2 head of chopped iceberg lettuce. Then pour in bag of frozen peas. Pat firm to even out the layers.
Step 2
Add in chopped celery, then chopped green pepper and chopped green onion. Gently pat firm again.
Step 3
Add sliced mushrooms arranging them neatly to cover surface of last layer. Then add the other 1/2 head of chopped iceberg lettuce. Gently pat firm.
Step 4
In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise and sugar. Spread dressing on top of layered salad like frosting. On top of dressing, sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese until completely covered. Then cover the cheese with layer of crumbled bacon.
Step 5
Cover with saran wrap to keep fresh and let sit in refrigerator overnight or at least 4 to 5 hours. Use tongs to serve with scooping out salad straight down to make sure you get a yummy bite of all the layers! Enjoy!
One of the playlist on my iPod is Top Songs from 1966, the year I was born. Here are some of my favorite songs from that playlist:
Reach Out I’ll Be There » Four Tops
96 Tears » ? & The Mysterians
Last Train To Clarksville » Monkees
You Can’t Hurry Love » Supremes
California Dreamin’ » Mama’s & The Papa’s
These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ » Nancy Sinatra
Winchester Cathedral » New Vaudeville Band
Hanky Panky » Tommy James & The Shondells
Paint It Black » Rolling Stones
Lightin’ Strikes » Lou Christie
Wild Thing » Troggs
Sunshine Superman » Donovan
Devil With A Blue Dress On & Good Golly Miss Molly (Medley) » Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
Good Vibrations » Beach Boys
A Groovy Kind Of Love » Mindbenders
You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me » Dusty Springfield
Cool Jerk » The Capitols
I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry » B.J. Thomas & The Triumphs
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg » Temptations
Secret Agent Man » Johnny Rivers
Uptight (Everything’s Alright) » Stevie Wonder
Sloop John B » Beach Boys
Gloria » Shadows Of Knight
Land Of 1,000 Dances » Wilson Pickett
Oh How Happy » Shades Of Blue
You should check out the songs that came out when you were born. Another playlist that I have is one with song from when I graduated from High School — 1985.
I have always been a fan of The Beatles. But lately I have enjoyed their songs they did in their solo careers. Here is one of my favorite solo songs from George Harrison — “All those Years Ago“. I don’t remember the song when it first came out, I was more of a Paul McCartney fan. But the older I got, the more I liked this song.
I know that celebrities passing away has happened before, but it seems now I am paying more attention to it
Fred Travalena… Known as the man of 1,000 voices and faces, and as one of the top impressionists in the world has passed away after a seven year battle with cancer.
Fred passed away Sunday due to a recurrence of an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 66.
Then there was…
Gale Storm… Gale’s chirpy, upbeat charm made her a leading TV star on two 1950s sitcoms, “My Little Margie” and “The Gale Storm Show,” died June 27 at a convalescent hospital in Danville, CA. No cause of death was reported. She was 87.
I found this quote by one of my favorite authors, Leo Buscaglia…
Death is a challenge. It tells us not to waste time… It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other.
With all that has happened this past couple of weeks, I want to tell my family and friends that I love them and I am glad they are in my life.
