Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Good Customer Service & Bad Customers

Today we are going to view customer service from both sides. The complaints we have as consumers and then we will share stories of bad customer behavior. Sometimes customer service comes down to a company giving the customer what they want. In the following article is Pixar Cars doing just that?

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/28/yes-this-is-real-carlashes/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl4%7Csec4_lnk1%7C167189

I am sure you will be happy to know that I will not be buying that car, nor will I be driving it if a friend asks me to, and I will choose to walk if someone asks me if I need a ride and are drive this car. How about you? Is this car going to be in your garage soon?

Next up are our top ten customer service complaints. The main ones I have are down on the list at number nine and ten. Uninvited people that I don't know (if I know the person knocking on my door and am dressed I am fine with it) knocking on my door and trying to sell me something I absolutely hate. I was once told by one of those idiots that I was the rudest person he have ever ran into. I thought he was rude not only to knock on my door but to say that. Dealing with health insurance and health providers also rank high on my list.

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/07/27/financial-woes-overshadow-list-of-top-10-consumer-complaints/

Do you agree with the list? What are some of the things that bother you but are not on the list? For me one would be the response "no problem", it bugs me when a clerk or food server says that in response to a request that I make. I want to say "I'm glad I'm not making your life miserable and causing you a problem." I'm also not real fond of having to wait for a bill for what seems like an ordinate amount of time after completing a meal or standing at the cash register waiting forever to pay that bill while the workers at the restaurants are standing there talking about dates, schedules, etc.

I always try to be fair here on the blog. So in fairness here is the other side:

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/08/24/customers-from-hell/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl3%7Csec1_lnk3%7C166953

I thought the two with the women complaining about not enough oxygen in the water and the mother complaining that it was the server's fault because she should have noticed the little boy was in trouble were the best. Which ones did you like? When you worked on the other side of the fence and served customers what were some of the complaints that you had with them?

When I had my own practice I really tried hard to provide good customer service. If the client got an IRS notice and received a penalty I always paid the penalty even though in ninety-eight percent of the cases it was the taxpayers fault for not providing me the correct information. I followed the mantra, when in doubt make the customer feel like they are right. Fortunately it didn't happen that often. My biggest complaints with clients were: 1: Calling at all hours of the night and on weekends when each year I sent them a letter stating what my hours were. I received calls on Saturday night in the middle of a date, in emergency rooms when I was taking care of something that happened to Mom or dad, and when I was asleep. 2: Blaming me when they owed taxes.

Hope you go through the day getting good customer service and that your clients and customers treat you with the respect you deserve.

WHO AM I?

Yesterday's answer was Nancy Spero

My name may have been mentioned on the blog in the last few days but you have to look close to find it. If you were watching TV recently you could have seen me several times. I was born in 1947 and am a Doctor of Animal Science, a professor at Colorado State, a best selling author and a consultant to the livestock industry in animal behavior. I am also widely noted for my work in autism advocacy. At three years old I was diagnosed with autism after being labeled and diagnosed with brain damage. After some time with my nanny I began talking at age four. I kept improving but middle school and high school were the worst parts of my life. I was the "nerdy kid" that everyone teased. I would be walking down the street and people would say "tape recorder", because I would repeat things over and over again. After graduating from a boarding school for gifted children I went on to earn my bachelor's degree in psychology, my master's degree in animal science, and my doctoral degree in animal science. I first spoke in public about autism when I was thirty-three at the request of Ruth C. Sullivan, one of the founders of the Autism Society of America. I've been featured on major television programs, such as ABC's Primetime Live, the Today Show, and Larry King Live. Based on personal experience I advocate early intervention to address autism, and supportive teachers who can direct fixations of the child with autism in fruitful directions. I have described myself hypersensitivity to noise and other sensory stimuli. I am a primarily visual thinker and language is my second language. I compare my memory to full-length movies in my head that can be replayed at will, allowing me to notice small details. I am also able to view my memories using slightly different contexts by changing the positions of the lighting and shadows. My insight into the minds of cattle has taught me to value the changes in details to which animals are particularly sensitive, and to use my visualization skills to design thoughtful and humane animal-handling equipment. If you don't know who I am by now just know I am THE WOMAN WHO THINKS LIKE A COW and the inventor of the hug machine designed to calm hypersensitive persons. I have been quoted as saying, "If I could snap my fingers and become non-autistic I would not do so. Autism is part of who I am." Who Am I?

Monday, August 30, 2010

An Award Winning Monday

The Emmy Awards were last night and of course I watched. However, before we talk Emmys, Fashion, Surprises, and Right Choices here is an award winning video featuring our own DR. I know some of us have already seen the video but it is definitely worth watching. DR is second from the left in the front row.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7BYUE54b5M

Now on to The Emmys. I was extremely disappointed that Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton from Friday Night Lights didn't win best actor and actress award. I will say this over and over again. Friday Night Lights is the best drama on TV. Nor is there a better acted show on TV. Chandler and Britton portray marriage in a very realistic light. FNL just has never found an audience because to many people think it is just about football. It isn't. Life in a small town. High school dilemmas. Life's choices. They have dealt with loss, gain, abortion, the war, and done it tactfully and realistically. It deserved more nominations and more awards.

George Clooney was a class act as always. He is who I would want to be like if I ever became famous. The fashion? Actually the stars in generally dressed appropriately. Men were mostly in basic tuxes and the women were mostly glamorous. January Jones missed the mark. Jennifer Carpenter's dress was good enough but I hated her hair style. I didn't like Jane Lynch's outfit as much as the experts did. The most awful dress of the night award goes to Stephanie Pratt. It looks like Kelly Osbourne and Kim Kardashian may have finally figured it out because they looked great, as did Tina Fey, Sofia Vergara and of course Connie Britton. Claire Danes was my favorite, she was absolutely stunning. Maybe it was because she looked a lot like an ex girl friend of mine. I probably should have noticed the girl friend was that beautiful when I dated her. You can check out all the outfits here:

http://awards.tv.yahoo.com/photos/140-2010-emmys-red-carpet-report-card#OmgPhoid=2

The following is a list of winners for the night. I list the category first, the winner second, and the one I wanted to win last. If there is no comment after the winner that means I was pleased with the choice. I was glad to see Top Chef win but found it ironic that they won while their worst season is going on. Tom looked lost and Padma acted drunk which is pretty much a definition of how this season is going. Here is the list:

Best Drama Series - 'Mad Men' - The Good Wife.

Best Series, Comedy - 'Modern Family' - Didn't Care.

Best Actor, Drama - Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad - Kyle Chandler, FNL.

Best Actress, Drama - Kyra Sedgwick, The Closter - Connie Britton, FNL.

Best Actor, Comedy - Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory.

Best Actress, Comedy - Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie - Didn't Care.

Best Supporting Actor, Drama Series - Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad - Terry O'Quinn, Lost.

Best Supporting Actress, Drama Series - Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife.

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy Series - Eric Stonestreet , Modern Family - Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother.

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy Series Jane Lynch 'Glee' - Didn't Care.

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program - 'Top Chef' - 'The Amazing Race'.

Guest Actress in a Drama Series - Ann Margret 'Law and Order: SVU'.

Guest Actor in a Drama Series Ann Margret John Lithgow, Dexter - Beau Bridges, The Closer.

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Betty White, SNL.

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - Neil Patrick Harris 'Glee'.

Outstanding Made For Television Movie - 'Temple Grandin.

Outstanding Miniseries - 'The Pacific'.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or A Movie - Claire Danes 'Temple Grandin'.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or A Movie - Al Pacino 'You Don't Know Jack'.

Hope this is an award winning day for all of you! As always your comments are appreciated.

WHO AM I?

I am an American artist that was born in 1926 and died in 2009. I was also married to an artist and often collaborated with him. My career as an artist and an activist spanned fifty years. My engagement with contemporary political, social, and cultural concerns is renowned. I chronicled wars and apocalyptic violence as well as articulating visions of ecstatic rebirth and the celebratory cycles of life. My network of collective and individual voices was a catalyst for the creation of my figurative lexicon representing women from pre-history to the present in epic-scale paintings and collage on paper. After graduating from high school I graduated from the Art Institute Of Chicago. Among my peers at the art school was a young GI who had just returned from duty during WWII. I went off to study art in Paris but when I returned I married him. We lived and painted in Italy raising our two sons there. My third son was born in Paris. When we returned to New York the Vietnam War was raging and the Civil Rights Movement were exploding. Inspired by the images I saw on television I started painting a series on war. Being an activist and an early feminist I was a member of the Women Artists In Revolution and was a founding member of the women's cooperative gallery, A.I.R. My paintings often re-presented obsured women's histories, cultural mythology, and literary references. My wall paintings in Chicago, Vienna, Dresden, Toronto, and Derry form poetic reconstructions of the diversity of representations of women from the ancient to the contemporary world, validating a subjectivity of female experience. I am a member of the American Academy Of Arts And Letters. If you are not sure who I am think of "THE TORTURE OF WOMEN" during history and look at "THE NOTES IN TIME OF WOMEN" and that should help you answer the question, Who Am I?

Sunday, August 29, 2010

I'll Drink To That!

Relaxing Sunday here. Update Day will return next Sunday. Of Course you are free to post whatever is going on in your life any day of the week and anywhere on the blog. Who Am I returns tomorrow. Yesterday's answer was June Claire Wayne. You can see some of Wayne's art work here:

http://www.junewayne.com/malibu-art-review.htm

Click on the links on the left of the page titled; "The Dorothy Series", "Selected Works" and "My Palomar Series." What do you think of her art work? She is very versatile in the opinion of my untrained eye.

Now let's talk about drinking. Here is a quote from an article I just read about healthy drinking options

"You already know that drinking water is key to your health. Downing at least six cups of water daily can minimize bloating, prevent headaches, help prevent you from getting sick and smooth the appearance of wrinkles. It may even temporarily rev your metabolism, if you drink it on the cool side (72 degrees)"

What if you couldn't drink water? Maybe there was an earthquake that put dirt into your water delivery system and you had to go without water for a while. Here is the link to the above article with some other options:

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/healthieryou/tired-water-read

If you couldn't drink faucet water would you want to drink bottled water? If you choose bottled water don't leave it in your car. Here is some information that my cousin Belva sent me:

Bottled water in your car is very dangerous. On the Ellen show, Sheryl Crow said that this is what caused her breast cancer. It has been identified as the most common cause of the high levels of dioxin in breast cancer tissue.

Besides water here are some other tips:

Don't put plastic containers, plastic water bottles in freezers or plastic wrap in microwaves. When you microwave a doctor recommends using glass, such as Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. TV dinners, instant soups, etc., should be removed from their containers and heated in something else.

There was some other information in Belva's email that I may share at a later date but this is enough information for you to mull over for now.

Hope this is a great Sunday for you with healthy food and tasty drinks!

Your Comments are always appreciated.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Dining In The Dark, T-Shirts Bringing Light.

Not much going on today but I loved the following article in Today's Oregonian:

http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2010/08/portland_blind_cafes_dinner_in.html

I would have loved to be at that dinner. Being there most likely would have made be a better person and if not a better person certainly a more aware one. If you remember our minister is an amazing woman that is blind. The couple of times that I took her to Mom's I wasn't sure what to do and how to help her so I just let her tell me what to do. Maybe if I was in her shoes for a night I would be able to help her without asking. What do you think of the article? Would you want to attend a dinner like the one mentioned in the article?

Do you have the T-shirt? This man made his own T-shirt to avoid misunderstandings in his new city:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100826/od_nm/us_philly_tshirt_odd

If you were to design a T-shirt to wear what would be the saying that you would put on it?

Mine would be, " Every man dies. Not every man lives."

Hope this is a great day for you. As always your comments are appreciated.

WHO AM I? Yesterday's answer was Matilda Joslyn Gage.

I dropped out of school at age fifteen to pursue a career as a visual artist. I was born in 1918 and raised by my divorced mother, a traveling saleswoman, selling corsets. Avoiding the last names of both my parents, I used my first and middle names for my first solo exhibition. By age twenty I was on the WPA Easel Project in Chicago – and had become a ‘regular’ in a cutting-edge culture of writers, actors, artists, and scientists. At twenty-one I moved to New York to work as a designer of costume jewelry in the garment industry. I painted at night and on weekends. I married an Air Force Flight Surgeon and substituted his last name for my middle name. When Pearl Harbor was attacked I left New York for Los Angeles, intending to work in the aircraft industry. I became certified in Production Illustration at Caltech/Art Center School. Before I took ajob there WGN in Chicago hired me to script several programs a day for music continuity and to schedule interviews with war heroes and movie stars on War Bond shows. The WGN experience honed my literary talent and I wrote influential essays on artist’s rights, art criticism, and feminism. When World War II ended I returned to Los Angeles to stay and became an integral part of the Californian art scene. I eventually turned to designing tapestries in France. In them as in the rest of my art I expressed my avant-garde connection of art and science to issues of the times. In many media, optics, the genetic code, stellar winds, magnetic fields, tsunamis and temblors appeared in my work, often linked to metaphors for the human condition such as the lemmings series, fables, justice and love. On a feminist level my “The Dorothy Series” includes my much praised video which together with the suite, was shown in Tokyo in 2006. My art is represented in many museum collections in the USA and abroad. I received dozens of awards as well as honorary doctorates. I was also a Visiting Professor of Research at the Rutgers Center for Innovative Print and Paper. If you haven't figured out who I am think of the famous male actor named the Duke who shares my last name. Who Am I?

Friday, August 27, 2010

Bears & Ice Cream

Bear with me certainly not bare with me as I keep getting older. I found the following article interesting:

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/08/bear_warning_follow_tips_to_av.html

According to the article the cold wet spring here created a shortage of berries that bears live on and have driven them to find food closer to home. While that may or may not be true I think that with not only bear encounters but cougar, mountain lion, and deer sightings as well that urban growth may be part of the problem. We expand and take over the homes and restaurants of these wild animals and they have no where to go but into cities. I knew a lot of what to do and not to do if you encounter these creatures but I was surprised about ammonia. I will now put that on my garbage can. One thing the article didn't mention that I do, is when I go walking in the morning I take both a flashlight and a walking stick. Two questions. Are wild animal sightings in your city becoming more frequent? Have you changed your behavior because of it?

This being Friday and all I just thought we should relax a bit. What is more relaxing than sitting down and eating your favorite ice cream? Mine is double fudge. Yours? Maybe your should read the following article Today's USA Today where they select each State's best ice cream parlors. Read the article here:

http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/greatamericanbites/ice-cream/39857952/1

California's best ice cream parlor is Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous in San Francisco which might be a bit of a drive for Pat and more doable for Bev. Maybe Dona should try Traders Point Creamery in Indianapolis. If you visit me or Red Whistle we might take you to Prince Puckler's Gourmet Ice Cream in Eugene. It might be a drive for DR to try the Berry Island Ice Cream Cafe in Beaufort or for Mary Z to try 1890's Ice Cream Parlor & Fudge Shoppe in Jackson. I think it is doable for Connie to go to Hank's Ice Cream in Houston or Mary to go to Mallard Ice Cream in Bellingham. I'm not sure how far it would be for Ellen to go Kelley Country Creamery, a 200-acre farmstead business a few miles south of Fond du Lac.

Are you suitably hungry now? What is your favorite ice cream? Your favorite ice cream parlor?

Have a cool day.

WHO AM I? Yesterday's answer was Virginia Foster Durr .

Because I died long before Bill was born it doesn't hurt that he hasn't heard of me. Being Friday and all he decided to make it easy on you so if you search the social situation where woman scientists inaccurately receive less credit for their scientific work than an objective examination of their actual effort would reveal, it is named after me. Take that Mr. Merton and thank you Margaret. I was born in 1826with a hatred of oppression and went on to be a suffragist, a Native American activist, an abolitionist, a freethinker, and a prolific author. I spent my childhood in a house which was a station of the underground railroad and faced prison for my actions. Even though I was beset by both financial and heart problems throughout my life my work for women's rights was extensive, practical, and often brilliantly executed. During the 1876 convention of the the National Woman Suffrage Association I successfully argued against a group of police who claimed the association was holding an illegal assembly. They left without pressing charges.
Many said I was more radical than either Susan B. Anthony or Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Rather than arguing that women deserved the vote because their feminine morality would then properly influence legislation I argued that we deserved suffrage as a 'natural right'. Frank, my son-in-law, said I the most well-educated and a prolific writer--the most gifted and educated woman of my age. He was proud when I bought The Ballot Box which I renamed The National Citizen and Ballot Box. I was its primary editor for the three years, producing and publishing essays on a wide range of issues. Each edition bore the words 'The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword', and included regular columns about prominent women in history and female inventors. I wrote clearly, logically, and often with a dry wit and a well-honed sense of irony. I once observed "It is sometimes better to be a dead man than a live woman." When women had the right to vote in my city I ensured that every woman there had the opportunity to vote by writing letters making them aware of their rights, and sitting at the polls making sure nobody was turned away. Due to some differences with other women's rights activist I established the Women's National Liberal Union. I strongly supported the separation of church and state. In addition to fight for women's rights I decried the brutal treatment of Native Americans. In one of my works I cited the Iroquois society, among others, as a 'Matriarchate' in which women had true power, noting that a system of descent through the female line and female property rights led to a more equal relationship between men and women. I spent time among the Iroquois and received the named that meant "she who holds the sky." I was admitted into the Iroquois Council of Matrons. In addition to my activities to bring equality to the world I was married to Henry and we had five children, one dying in infancy. On my grave is the quote "There is a word sweeter than Mother, Home or Heaven. That word is Liberty." If you haven't figured out my name by now you should know I fought for "ALL THE RIGHTS I WANT" until I died in 1898. Who Am I?

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Caring People

Let's all wish DanaRae a happy birthday!!! I would classify her like I would classify all of you that read or post on the blog as very caring. I might even put myself into the category as one of those caring folks. In honor of DR's birthday today's post is about caring people:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf/2010/08/and_they_say_roosevelt_is_a_fa.html

I found this article to be very touching. What struck me is how many people came out to help one young man when most didn't even know who he was. Kudos to everyone involved. What did you think of the article?

I would also classify the researchers in the following article as caring. I'm very excited about their work and their discovery.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100825/ap_on_he_me/us_med_new_cornea

Are you excited by this study and other studies going on in the medical field right now?

Certainly the doctors in following article would be classified as caring. You can't wonder how many headaches could have been avoided by this man had other doctors looked into his head a little earlier,

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100824/od_nm/us_germany_bullet_odd

I hope none of you are having headaches right now. The article did take me back a bit. Thank goodness I don't go to fireworks parties. What do you think about the article?

Your comments are always appreciated. May your day be filled with caring people.

WHO AM I? Yesterday's answer was Martha Griffiths.

I kow you will all be in a state of shock that Bill has never heard of me. Despite his slight I was born in 1903 and was a constant presence in both Alabama politics and the civil rights movement. I had a front-row seat for the New Deal, McCarthyism, and the civil rights movement. I spent years working to abolish the poll tax and to end segregation. My husband, an attorney, was involved with a number of civil rights cases. My dad was a respected Presbyterian minister and Mom was a homemaker. Although my family was not wealthy I was sent to finishing school in New York, where I followed a rigorous academic program and was trained in the social graces. As a sophomore I came to question segregation after my experience in the college's dining hall with rotating tables requiring students to eat meals with random groups of students, including African-Americans. I initially protested this policy but I was told that I could either accept it or leave the college; I chose to accept it. I left college my junior year due to financial reasons. I had rejected many suitors when I met my husband at church. We married and moved to D.C. where my husband accepted a position with the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. It was during our time in Washington where my activism began. I joined the Woman's National Democratic Club and began a long involvement in the campaign to abolish the poll tax, which effectively denied most southern African Americans and poor whites the right to vote. I became one of the founding members of the Southern Conference for Human Welfare. Eleanor Roosevelt was present for its inaugural meeting and caused a minor controversy by refusing to sit in segregated seating. Because of some of the benefactors of organizations that I lead I was plagued by rumors that she I was a Communist. Since I never publicly denounced Communism or joined in the fierce red-baiting of the postwar years I was called to New Orleans to testify before Senator James Eastland's Internal Security Committee, an agency similar to the House Un-American Activities Committee in its objective of investigating alleged Communists. The hearings in New Orleans came on the eve of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruling. Scholars have suggested that I was targeted because Eastland wanted to strike back at my brother-in-law, Supreme Court justice Hugo Black, who had joined in the unanimous decision in favor of Brown. I gave my name, stated that I was not a Communist, and then refused to answer further questions, standing in silent defiance of the committee as I was questioned, occasionally taking out a compact and powdering my nose. The stress of the hearings caused my husband to collapse. The famous bus lady worked for occasionally worked for us as a seamstress when we moved back to Alabama. I secured a scholarship for Rosa to attend a school for two weeks. My husband and E.D. bailed Rosa out when she refused to move from her seat. Because they were frequently harassed and threatened, eventually the two youngest of our five children were sent to boarding schools outside the South after being ostracized by teachers and classmates. After my husband died I continued to write and speak on behalf of progressive political causes. I was active in state and local politics well into my nineties, protesting nuclear weapons and working to achieve economic equality. I died at 95. You may have to go OUTSIDE THE MAGICAL CIRCLE to answer the question, Who Am I?

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Parenting & Moving Buildings.

Time for a good story:

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/24/boy-9-saves-little-brothers-life-with-cpr/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl8%7Csec1_lnk3%7C165819

How many ways am I impressed by the boy? A take charge kind of guy at a very young age and despite health problems himself. A little cheer for the Mom for trusting that the boy knew better than her and getting out of the way. What do you think of the boy's actions? What do you think of the Mother's actions, good parenting?

Speaking of good parenting, here is another story of parenting:

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/24/curfew-breaking-teen-sentenced-to-hard-time-babysitting-for-fr/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl8%7Csec3_lnk1%7C165819

There are a lot of parts to this story, some good, some bad. I admire the parents for making their daughter accountable for her actions. I do have two questions. Did the punishment fit the crime or was it to harsh? Was it dangerous to put a picture of a beautiful teen in the ad? There are so many predators out there, was that good judgment? What is your take on the article?

Now that we were swallowed up my parenting issues let's talk about being swallowed up while we are eating fast food:

http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2010/08/23/sonic-drive-in-swallowed-by-a-sinkhole/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-sb-n%7Cdl6%7Csec1_lnk3%7C165962

What would you do if you were sitting in a restaurant, eating a leisurely dinner, reading the newspaper or a book and the building started to move. Personally, I think I would get the hell out of there. You?

WHO AM I? Yesterday's answer was Constance Baker Motley

I am another one Bill hasn't heard of. I was born in 1912 and died in 2003. During my life I was an American lawyer and judge before being elected to the United States House of Representatives. I attended public schools and went on to graduate with a B.A. and then graduated from law school. I married a lawyer who was also chairman of our state's Democratic Party. I worked as a lawyer in private practice then in the legal department of the American Automobile Insurance Co. I served in the Michigan House of Representatives, serving from 1949 to 1953, after which I was elected to the U.S. House of Representative where I was re-elected nine times. During my time in Congress I sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment. After my congressional service I returned to the practice of law and then served as Lieutenant Governor of my home state for eight years. I am in both my state's Women Hall Of Fame and the National Women's Hall of Fame. I was the first woman to serve on the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. I am also the person most responsible for including the prohibition of sex discrimination under Title VII in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Who Am I?

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Eggs & Pet Insurance

I'm back from Mom's for a few days. I kept it light the last two days and Mom had a really nice time. When I left her, she seemed to be in less pain and less tired after two days with the kid here. The latest on the caregiver is they think she got salmonella from milk that she drank. In Oregon we have been under two recalls. The first was a local dairy, Umpqua Dairy, who put out a batch of bad milk. They shut down their facility in Rosburg to completely clean it out. While that process is going on they have moved operations to a different location and their product is now safely back on the shelf of grocery stores. The caregiver drank some of the bad milk and a local doctor pegged her dizziness as related to the milk. The other recall we have been under is that national egg recall. Wow has that created havoc. Here is a question and answer article about the egg recall. Hope it helps all of you here to determine what to eat and what not to eat. As for me, I'm not eating eggs for a long time.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100823/ap_on_he_me/us_tainted_eggs_q_a


Next up is a stinging argument for pet insurance for you dog.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100824/od_nm/us_dog_beehive_odd

The questions for the day. Are you concerned about the egg recall? Are you going to avoid eggs for a while? What about pet insurance? If you have or had a pet are you or would you get pet insurance now that you know whatpets sometimes eat?

Hope this is a great day for all of you!!

WHO AM I? Yesterday's answer Mary Brown "Brownie" Williams Ledbetter.

Born in 1921 and dying in 2005 I was a civil rights activist, lawyer, judge, state senator, and President of Manhattan, New York City. I was the nineth of twelve children born to parents who had immigrated from Nevis, in the Caribbean. Mom was the founder of a chapter of the NAACP. I received my undergraduate degree from NYU and my law degree from an Ivy League school. My legal career began as a law clerk in the fledgling NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund where I worked with Thurgood Marshall, Jack Greenberg, and others. I was LDF"S first female attorney and became their lead trial attorney. I wrote the original complaint in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. I was the first African-American woman ever to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Thank you James. I was successful in nine of the ten cases I argued before the Supreme Court. The tenth decision was eventually overturned in my favor. I had a life of many firsts including first woman of my ethnicity to became a state senator from my state, the president of a local borough and the first of my federal judge of my race. I am in the National Women's Hall of Fame, received the Presidential Citizens Medal and was awarded the Spingarn Medal.
I died of congestive heart failure. I am sure it won't surprise anyone that Bill hasn't heard of me but I hope the rest of you will be able to answer the question, Who Am I?

Monday, August 23, 2010

Doctors & Laptops.

Today's links all come from usatoday.com. USA Today is one of the two papers I read every day. It is one of my favorites.

First up is a very helpful article. I think it will help elderly patients more than younger ones because as we age we do go to the doctor more.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-08-20-doctor-advice_N.htm

What do you think of the above article? Is there anything not mentioned in the article that you think you should ask your doctor? Not specifics of course but just general advise for the readers here.

The heartbreak of psoriasis. Could women avoid it?

http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/2010-08-21-beer-psoriasis_N.htm

Are you going to drink less beer now? I'm not because I am neither a woman nor do I drink beer.

The following article is really meant for teenagers but I think it also applies to us adults. We might be a little taller then the teens but we still should pay attention to posture too.

http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/2010-08-22-laptop-pain_N.htm

What is your take on the article? Going to pay more attention to where and how you are sitting when using your laptop? Me maybe but probably not.

Your comments are always appreciated

Who Am I?

I was born in 1932 and died this year after leading a life as a political activist who worked in many controversial and crucial campaigns in Arkansas, as well as nationally and internationally. I was dedicated to fair education and equality across racial, religious, and cultural lines. I was the first of four children born to a dairy farmer and a homemaker. My Mom died when I was fifteen and my dad died when I was eighteen. I had my nickname long before President Bush gave it to someone else after Katrina. After both my parents deaths us children were raised by relatives. After graduating from high school I went on to attend Agnes Scott College but felt I didn't fit the image of Southern womanhood the school projected and didn't finish my degree. I married an attorney when I was twenty-one. He later became a political science professor. We relocated to Germany where he was stationed with the U.S. Army for two years. While in Germany we learned about the growing crisis surrounding the high schools in Arkansas and were concerned about the ramifications for race relations and education in Arkansas. My aunt signed my sisters and I up for the Women’s Emergency Committee to Save Our Schools (WEC), founded by Adolphine Fletcher Terry, Sara Murphy, and Vivion Brewer in support of the reopening of public schools in Little Rock. When I returned home I began volunteering with the group. After their dissolution I worked with the Panel of American Women. I moderated the first twenty-five sessions of the panel in an effort to bridge the gap between people of different races and cultures. The panel expanded its mission, becoming the Arkansas Public Policy Panel to organize and assist grassroots groups. I served as volunteer executive director, training sixty citizen lobbyists before retiring. I founded the Arkansas Fairness Council, a coalition of grassroots organizations, and served as president and lobbyist for fifteen years. Among the many organizations I worked on was the Arkansas State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the State Federation of Business and Professional Women (legislative director), and the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (co-founder with Bella Abzug). I also worked with over fifteen political campaigns and served as organizer and consultant in many of them. During one campaign I worked for my husband as he run for the state legislature. I served as the first Political Action Chair of the National Women’s Political Caucus. I received many awards and recognitions, including the American Civil Liberties Union Civil Libertarian of the Year and the Mary Hatwood Futrell Award from the National Education Association. Who Am I?

Sunday, August 22, 2010

From Food To Family

After today Update Day will be every other Sunday. There will not be a Who Am I on Sundays. A more happens over two weeks so this will give us more to share. As to the Who Am I there just isn't enough time to do one on Sundays. That Sunday newspaper and leisurely breakfast takes a lot of time. The answer to yesterday's Who Am I is one of the founders of the National Women's History Project, Mary Ruthsdotter. Here is a link to their web site.

http://www.nwhp.org/

It is the leading source for women in history. This year's theme is "Writing Women Back Into History." The theme for 2011 is "Our History Is Our Strength."

Before moving on to my update for the week just a little note about yesterday's blog entry for Dona. This article is for her:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/08/baconfest_2010_sizzles_dedicat.html

See Dona I told you that you could get crispy bacon in Portland. How about the rest of you, would you have guessed that Portland would have an event combining fitness and bacon?

In some ways this has been a busy week, a trying week, and a relaxing week all rolled into one. The biggest event was Tuesday at Mom's when my sister had to call 911 for the caregiver. She was very dizzy, couldn't lift her head, fell, and was nauseated. The EMTs thought it might be an infection. According to caregiver when they got to the hospital in Newberg, they released her as soon as they found out she didn't have insurance. The didn't give her any medication and didn't tell her what to do. I'd really like to know the hospital's side of it but short of a court order I won't be able to do that. The caregiver is still sick which means that sister spent last night at Mom's and I will spend the next two nights at Mom's. If I disappear you will know why. One of the hard parts of dealing with this incident is that Mom gets scared and upset and doesn't really know what to do. I've tried to tell her to take a deep breath, call 911, and call me. She usually reverses the last two and calls me or my sister first. This bothers me because Mom has had four heart attack and four strokes and if she gets sick and calls me or sister first instead of 911 the delay in time could be fatal. I am going to still work on this. Another thing that bothers about these kinds of incidents is they bring down Mom for the rest of the day and sometimes for a couple of days. That I understand, the older you get the longer it takes to get over things. I would appreciate prayers and positive vibes the caregiver's way and Mom's way. Thank you.

Tuesday we had dinner at Mom's house just to give her some support after the day she had. Wednesday I went to the movie Eat, Pray, Love which I may review later this week. I do think the woman in the movie could have saved a couple of years and a lot of money if she would have just asked me what her problem was. I could have solved her problem with seven words, get out of yourself and into life. Thursday was five loads of laundry. Yes, I know it would be easier if I did it more often but I'm not going to. Thursday night was dinner out with family. Friday was lunch with Mom. Saturday was working on some work projects.

For next week? All I know right now is the next two days at Mom's and a meeting with the caterer for the football party.

The entertainment update. Alex was eliminated from Top Chef. Finally. I didn't watch the show I just got the information from the Bravo web site. Two bits of other entertainment news. The first article is about Betty White and the second article is about Dancing With The Stars.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100822/ap_en_tv/us_tv_creative_arts_emmys

http://realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com/blog/2010/08/18/dancing-with-the-stars-season-11-cast-press-conference-on-august-30th/

I'm happy with the Betty White win but think maybe a full blown press conference is a little to much for Dancing With The stars.

The blog is now yours. Tell me what was on the agenda and what is on the agenda. Share your lives with us. You and your stories are what makes this blog. Don't hold back.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Food

Since I've been boycotting Top Chef my inner Foodie has been left wanting. I did go to Eat, Pray, Love, the other day which had so many food scenes in it that I gained ten pounds watching. A quick review, it is one of the better movies about a self-indulgent woman I've seen for a while. Today to fill the void of Top Chef we are talking food. Food and nothing but food.

First up is really good news for us bacon fans.

http://www.slashfood.com/2010/08/19/bacon-thats-good-for-you/?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl5|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.slashfood.com%2F2010%2F08%2F19%2Fbacon-thats-good-for-you%2F

Healthy bacon? Even with soybean I am there. How about you? Do you agree with the following sentence from the article: "the new patent applications have touched a raw nerve among those who see them as an attempt by the company to exert control over the food chain."

Guess what we are going to talk about next? Food. More food. Zagat is up to its old tricks. They have just completed their annual survey of fast food and chain restaurants. Read why they think Five Guys Burgers is the new In-N-Out Burger
here:

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/five-guys-new-burger-masters/19595634/?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl5|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyfinance.com%2Fstory%2Fcompany-news%2Ffive-guys-new-burger-masters%2F19595634%2F

Frankly, I don't think either one measures up to our local burger joint, Burgerville. They are only in Oregon and Washington. I would chose them even if they had either a Five Guys or In And Out Here.

Here are some of the survey results. Fast Food Chain winner is listed first, Big Chain winner is listed second. My choices are listed in parenthesis:

Best burger - Five Guys Red Robin. (Burgerville, Claim Jumpers.)

Best Coffee - Starbucks, IHOP. (Peet's, Denny's)

Best Salad = Panera Bread, The Cheesecake Factory (McDonalds Asian, Sweet Tomatoes)

Best Value - McDonalds, Olive Garden (Wendy's, Claim Jumper's Junior and Senior Jumpers.)

Here are the rest of the results, with my notes at the end of each category:

Fast Food – Large Chains:

Panera Bread
Chipotle
Five Guys
Chick-fil-A
In-N-Out Burger

The only one I've been too is In-N-out once when I was in California.

Fast Food – Mega Chains:

Subway
McDonald's
Wendy's
Burger King
Taco Bell

Been to all of them. I really like Wendy's best

Quick-Refreshment Chains:

Starbucks Coffee
Dunkin' Donuts
Culver's
Ben & Jerry's
Dairy Queen

We no longer have a Dunkin' Donuts close to us and I've never been to Culver's or Ben & Jerry's but for a good hot dog my pick would Dairy Queen.

Full-Service Chains:

P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Bonefish Grill
Cheesecake Factory
California Pizza Kitchen
Maggiano's

We don't have a Bonefish Grill or a Maggiano's here but I think any of the above would have a hard time beating out Claim Jumpers and Stamfords.

You can read about the entire survey here:

http://blog.zagat.com/fast-food-survey-results-are-here

Are you hungry now? What are you favorites? You can even include local chains and hang outs if you want.

As always your comments are appreciated:

WHO AM I? Yesterday's answer was Cindy Marano.

I was born in 1944 and am another one that died to early at age sixty-five. I was a feminist activist who co-founded the History Project where the owner of The Dahn Report gets many of the women that he uses for his Who Am Is. For the project I produced curriculum guides, teacher training programs and videos on women’s history. I played an influential role in obtaining Congressional resolutions and Presidential proclamations designating Women's History Week and, later, Women's History Month. I lived many places growing up because Dad was a pilot in the Marines. While in Los Angeles I married David. I earned a BA in Urban Geography at a university there. While I started out my marriage using my husband's name, to honor my mother I later changed my last name. We moved from LA to Sonoma County to join with Molly, Bette, Morgan, Paula, and Maria to co-found the aforementioned project. During my reign as their director I raised money for materials for students, teachers and librarians. I wrote press releases promoting women’s history through radio, television, magazines and newspapers. I gathered an extensive collection of the leading books and materials pertaining to women’s history and biography, making the History Project the leading national resource on women’s history. I traveled extensively, making presentations, training teachers, and lobbying for the cause of women’s history. Due to mine and others hard work the National Women’s History Week was designated by the U.S. Senate and twenty-four governors and state legislatures. The Women's History Week became Women’s History Month under President Ronald Reagan.I also served as the chair of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, and worked three years as an aide to state assemblywoman Pat Wiggins. I supported progressive causes and politicians and the creation of a National Women's History Museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC. After living in Windsor and Santa Rosa, my husband and I were among the founders of the Two Acre Wood co-housing community in Sebastopol, California, where we lived until my death of congestive heart failure this year. Although I am another woman that Bill hasn't heard of he celebrates the National Women In History project and if you do also you will be able to answer the question Who Am I?

Friday, August 20, 2010

Directions And Typos

I often think men get a bad rap for not asking for directions. I mean we know the world is round and we will eventually get where we are going. You do have to wonder if a man was involved in the following train trip. Read the article about the trip here:

http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/08/19/overnight-train-takes-passengers-to-wrong-city/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl5|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.travel.aol.com%2F2010%2F08%2F19%2Fovernight-train-takes-passengers-to-wrong-city%2F

Do you think the train operator was a man? I also wonder if the guys in the following article weren't on the train and reading all the billboards along the way to find grammatical errors:

http://www.asylum.com/2010/08/10/great-typo-hunt-jeff-deck-benjamin-herson-correct-grammar/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl4|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.asylum.com%2F2010%2F08%2F10%2Fgreat-typo-hunt-jeff-deck-benjamin-herson-correct-grammar%2F

OK, these guys weren't on the train in the first article because the train was in Europe and the guys were in the United States. But considering the navigational skills of the train operator they could have ended up in the United States. Maybe a little wet when they got here, but it could happen. Speaking of all wet, are the guys driving across our county correcting grammatical errors all wet or did they create a worthwhile project? As I am one that is often annoyed at the wrong use of the apostrophe I'm on the side of The Great Typo Hunt being a very worthwhile project. Are you with me or against me?

Your comments are always appreciated.

WHO AM I? Yesterday's answer was Mary Aloysius Molloy

I was born in 1948 and died much to young at age fifty-seven of adenoid cystic carcinoma, a form of cancer. I was a workplace activist who fought for equal pay, economic self-sufficiency and access to nontraditional jobs for women. I am the former director of the National Workforce Network and a former president of Wider Opportunities for Women, a national organization that works to promote nontraditional employment opportunities and economic independence for women and girls. I developed legislative proposals and testified before congressional committees regarding job training, welfare-to-work and vocational education. I also helped to create women's literacy programs and guided Wider Opportunities for Women in its outreach for women to enter into the construction trade and other jobs not usually filled by women. My efforts contributed to at least four federal laws. I was one of the first to cry outrage at the lack of affordable child care for working mothers. I fought for more television roles for women. With women's groups I helped develop the Self-Sufficiency Standard, which is being used by some states to decide living wages for families based on the number and age of children and geographical location. After starting a my own business that worked on strategies for helping low-income people move out of poverty I took a position with one of my clients and became its national director for one of their projects. Before all of the aforementioned stuff in my background I attended Northwestern for two years and then joined the Peace Corps for two years and served in Ecuador. There I found direction for my life work. Quoting my partner: "She just had such a deep desire for economic justice, and she began to see that in Ecuador," Patrick said. "And when she returned, she . . . began to see some of that in the workforce." When I returned from the Ecuador I graduated from George Mason University. I served on advisory commissions for three U.S. secretaries of labor and the Private Industry Council in Washington. I was the founder of several organizations including the Older Women's League, the National Coalition on Women and The National Women's Vote Project. Among the honors I received for my work are the Ms. Foundation for Women's Gloria Award for Women of Vision and National Award for Women's Economic Justice. While the owner of The Dahn report is asking himself why he hasn't heard of me, maybe you can answer the question, Who Am I?

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Express Lane, Men From The Wrong Century, & Stupid Looking

Life in the express lane gets physical:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100819/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_express_lane_harassment;_ylt=AqhbfMxc6k5UM7ZIIUrW8AntiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ2bWs2ZjdrBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwODE5L3VzX29kZF9leHByZXNzX2xhbmVfaGFyYXNzbWVudARjcG9zAzIEcG9zAzQEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDd2lzbWFuY2l0ZWRm

I don't know where I stand. I've been on both sides of the issue. It irritates me when someone gets in the express lane with way to many items. I want them to go to grocery store jail. I've also on more than one occasion been patiently waiting in the slow lane only to have the clerk in the express lane come over and get my basket and pull me through her lane. Almost immediately someone hammers me for being there with to many items. I didn't even ask to be in the express lane like the woman in the above story. I do think the man's behavior was boorish because like the people that hammered me for being in the express line he jumped to conclusions and assumed the woman shouldn't be there. I also think his fine was a little excessive. What I am going to do from now on when I am asked to be in the express lane is politely turn the checker down. What is your reaction to the story?

Next is an article about men living wrong century. Egypt men. Makes you appreciate American men more.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20100818/cm_csm/320365

Does the article surprise you? Disappoint you? Make you want to kick some Egyptian men's butt?

Come of guys if you withdrawing money from an ATM payattention to the resaon you are there and don't be distracted by anything. There is so much about the following article that just makes me shake my head. First head shaking part is the ages of the girls involved. Then there is the disappointment that men would want to even look at fourteen year-old girls. And you can't help but wonder where these girls parents were. Read the article and comment:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100818/od_nm/us_france_breasts

What is your take on the article?

WHO AM I? Yesterday's answe was Maxine Hong Kingston

I was born in 1880 and died in 1954. I grew up as the only child of Irish Catholic immigrant parents in Ohio. In an age when few women attended college I earned my way through college and graduated with more honors at OSU than anyone else up to that time. I went on to earn a master's degree and election to Phi Beta Kappa. I also earned my doctorate at an Ivy League University after which I began my career as a Catholic college educator when I accepted a job with the Franciscan Sisters who were creating the liberal arts College. Myself and another woman persevered and successfully established and administered the new collegiate institution for Catholic lay and religious women. I was unique as the lay dean of a Catholic college but in 1922 I became a nun, and later became the college president. As an educator I worked hard to improve the quality of women's education, wrestled with the unique problems of Catholic colleges, and carefully oversaw the development of my own school. When I retired, the college was a firmly established institution producing outstanding graduate women. I was one of the last among the heroic generation of founders of Minnesota women's colleges. As an educator and innovator I developed a rigorous four-year undergraduate curriculum for a women’s college, comparable to those used by colleges that educated men. I set high standards for both scholarship and public service. The College of Saint Teresa rapidly grew into one of the premier Catholic colleges in the United States but unfortunately is now closed. Who AM I?

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Judging Siblings & Wearing Clean Underwear

I have never been a fan of TV's Judge Judy. I think she is extremely rude and discriminates against Hispanics. It is popular TV, however, as her show often outranks Oprah. What happens if in the real world a Judge Judy acts like the TV Judge Judy? She gets suspended.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599201149400;_ylt=AoHsKyIlDu7f5aSGV2Z4Y_is0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNrdm5naTk4BGFzc2V0A3RpbWUvMjAxMDA4MTgvMDg1OTkyMDExNDk0MDAEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM4BHBvcwM1BHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5faGVhZGxpbmVfbGlzdARzbGsDc2VhdHRsZXNqdWRn

What do you think? Should have Seattle's Judge Judy lost her job forever? Is five days suspension enough? Or should she have received no punishment?

Now the next article in my mind is completely off base and wrong on several levels. I know darn well I'm as smart as my older siblings. Maybe not smarter but just as smart. I also dispute that younger siblings are more outgoing. My sister and brother are both more outgoing than I am, I just do a better job of acting like I am more outgoing. Read the complete article here:

http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/08/16/first-borns-smartest-birth-order-intelligence/?icid=main|htmlws-sb-n|dl3|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lemondrop.com%2F2010%2F08%2F16%2Ffirst-borns-smartest-birth-order-intelligence%2F

What do you think? Are you smarter than your older or younger siblings? Are you more outgoing than your older or younger siblings?

I've stated before that one of my favorite columnist is Craig Wilson who writes "The Final Word" for USA Today. Today answers the question, should you wear underwear when traveling? Read his column here:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/finalword/2010-08-18-final18_ST_N.htm

If you are wondering traveling or not I always follow my Mom's advise and wear clean underwear (maybe backwards, but always clean). Boxers too. And you?

WHO AM I?

Yesterday's answer was Jill Kerr Conway. (By the way I love that DR doesn't stop when she figures out the answer. She keeps reading the bios on other web sites. I love that kind of curiosity.)

I was born in 1940 in California to first Chinese immigrants. Dad was a laundry worker and gambling house owner. Mom was a practitioner of medicine. I was the third of eight children and the eldest of the six of them born in the United States. Dad left China in 1924 and brought Mom over fifteen years later. I started writing early and won five bucks for an essay I wrote when I was a mere six. I proclaimed, I Am an American! I majored in engineering at Hippie U before switching to English. At age twenty-two I married an actor and shortly after began teaching high school. We had our first child a year after marrying. We moved to Hawaii where I completed my first novel about women and ghosts. My works often reflect my cultural upbringing, combining fiction with non-fiction. One of my books won the National Book Critics Circle Award for nonfiction and another about China Men won the National Book Award. My most recent books concerned poets and peace. I fought for peace and was arrested in Washington D.C. for crossing a police line during a protest against the Iraq war. My anti-war stance has significantly trickled into my work and some of my writings were initiated and inspired by growing up during World War II. Though my work is highly acclaimed, it has also received criticism, especially from some members of the Chinese American community. A playwright and novelist has severely criticized one of my books claiming that I had tainted the purity of Chinese tradition in reinterpreting stories and myths. Some of my writings contributed to the feminist movement as they dicussed gender and ethnicity and how those concepts effect women. I am currently Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, where I graduated with a BA in English several years ago. I have received several awards for my contributions to Chinese American Literature. I was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President of the United States Bill Clinton. If you haven't figured out who I am you might look "Through The Black Curtain" to be able to answer the question, Who Am I?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Clothes & Chains

Late again today. I need a day without excitement right now. Caregiver for Mom had an attack at Mom's house. Instead of calling 911 Mom called my sister who went to Mom's house and called 911. I've tried to convince Mom that whenever she or anyone has a problem in her house call 911 first and then call sister or me. You can see how successful I've been at getting her to do that. When Mom told me the signs of what the caregiver was experiencing I immediately thought stroke and if it had been a stroke that few minutes between calling sister and then calling 911 could have been critical. This is one time I am proud to announce that I was wrong. The emergency room doctor diagnosed the caregiver's problem as an ear infection and a reaction to a bee sting. Good wishes sent the caregiver's direction are definitely appreciated.

How do you feel about dress codes? Do they make you more professional? Does it show the stage you are on or in respect? Or is it elitist crap? Courts in many areas are now requiring you leave certain dress styles home. Read the article here:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-08-16-court-dress-code_N.htm

I'm actually for getting rid of flip flops on dates, in churches, in court, and I'm certainly not against leaving shorts at home. I'm also in favor of pulling your damn pants up. What do you think?

Could you live in a town without chain restaurants? No McDonalds. No In and Out. No KFC, IHOP, or Denny's. Here is an article about a town that wants no chains.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-08-17-chain-restaurants_N.htm

Whose side are you on? The towns or the eight people suing them?


WHO AM I?

Yesterday's answer was Gerda Lerner

I was born in Australia in 1934 and became an educator and author. I grew up in isolation on our family's eighteen thousand acres and grew up with no playmates. I was schooled entirely by Mom and a country governess. I spent my youth working the sheep station and by age seven was an important member of the workforce. The farm was successful until a seven year drought. The drought and dad's health put a burden on me. Dad died when I was eleven and Mom moved us to Sydney where we could live a normal life. Being bullied and made fun of at public school I was sent to a private school where I excelled. I graduated with honors from college after which I was denied jobs because I was too good looking and too intellectually aggressive. After traveling Europe with my not so easy to get along with Mom I struck out on my own and went to the United States. I received my PHD from Harvard. While at Harvard I married a Canadian Professor and the marriage ended years later when he died. I was the first woman president of Smith College and was president there for ten years. One of my most notable accomplishments was instigating a program to help students on welfare. I also started a program that allows older women, often with extensive work and family obligations, to study part-time. Currently I am Visiting Professor at MIT. I have received thirty-eight honorary degrees and awards from 'North American and Australian colleges, universities and women's organizations. I started writing my memoirs when my presidential term ended. If you haven't figured out who I am then read about "Earth, Air, Fire, Water: Humanistic Studies of the Environment." Who Am I?

Monday, August 16, 2010

Health Notes

A little late today because I just got back from taking Mom to her doctor for an evaluation of the medicine she is taking. That task had me thinking about drugs and health issues today, therefore, today's blog subject.

I am guessing Pat has already read then following article or another article with the same information. Even though the article is about California because people do move and whooping cough is extremely contagious I really hope that other states are paying attention to what is happening in California and promoting everyone in the danger group to get vaccinated.

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/16/california-faces-worst-whooping-cough-epidemic-in-50-years/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl3|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.parentdish.com%2F2010%2F08%2F16%2Fcalifornia-faces-worst-whooping-cough-epidemic-in-50-years%2F

Another health note is it looks like due to pressure the FDA is recalling a drug that treats low blood pressure. Read the article here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100816/ap_on_bi_ge/us_fda_unproven_drug

Two things I learned from the article, that the FDA has an accelerated program for approval of drugs and that if a drug reduces tumors in cancer patients it bodes well for the success of that drug.

As always your comments are appreciated.

WHO AM I?

I taught history at a college not to far from where Ellen lives. I'm also was a visiting scholar at Duke. I was born in 1920 in Austria the first child of an affluent Jewish couple. Dad was a pharmacist and Mom was an artist. My dad resisted the Nazi's and spent my eighteenth birthday in Jail. My family was able to escape from Austria with the help of my young socialist lover and we ended up in the United States right before the invasion of Poland. I married the young lover and after working a series of jobs I divorced him. When I met a young theatre director I entered into my second marriage with a man that was active with the Communist party. I didn't start my college education until my kids were in college and I was in my forties. I received a B.S., M.A., and PHD after which we moved to Los Angeles where my husband successfully made movies. After my husband died I became increasingly involved in progressive causes founding of the fields of both Women's History and African-American History.At one time was president of the Organization of American Historians. I played a key role in the development of women’s history curricula and taught what is considered to be the first woman’s history course at the New School for Social Research in 1963. I would later go on the establish the nation's first Women History Graduate Program. I am considered to be one of the fifty Jewish women that changed the world. I was once quoted as saying "In our competitive society people are trained to be self-made and independent. But they also have to learn how to help others and how to accept help without feeling demeaned and diminished. Because modern society excludes or marginalizes old people and avoids dealing with death, the healthy and the living are full of fears and have no preparation for the process of aging. The steady courage of older people, their patience, their optimism, and their childlike willingness to experience spontaneous joy could serve as models for the aging generation of their children." I am credited for writing a screenplay of a true story about a man that went out of himself to become a member of a different ethnic group so he could understand discrimination against that group. Who Am I?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Boycotting Top Chef + Update Day

The answer to yesterday's Who Am I was an author, a filmmaker, a women's rights activist, a disabilities rights activist, an artist, and not to mention she did it all while having cerebral palsy. Let's celebrate a true hero, HARILYN ROUSSO. Since this is Update Day there isn't a Who Am I.

My life update: One really nice lunch with mom yesterday celebrating my dad's birthday. As many know it is those days that are so hard for the spouse left behind. It is better to meet it head on. Mom took me to Claim Jumpers for lunch. Several of my chores were already mentioned in an earlier post. A day with a cousin going over pictures. Then the normal chores. Filling the car with gas, grocery shopping for two households, watering the lawn to keep it alive during the current heat wave, picking up royalty checks, meeting with a client at the firm that bought my business (he trusts me and requests that I sit in on all meetings), sending out several emails for the guy thing we do every year - football party. The football party has two new members this year since two members decided to move on. The league is now all men, the two new members are a pharmacist and a CPA bringing drugs and taxes to the league. I also spent one night at Mom's, dropped off and picked up dry cleaning, took in one movie - Dinner For The Schmucks (an annoying movie, and did a few other things I don't remember.

On the agenda this week. Today is paying bills, doing a little reading, a little resting, a little shopping. Tomorrow is taking Mom to the doctor, Ordering the food for football night, sending out more emails related to football night. Tuesday is working on a work project, picking up two work projects from the firm that bought my business, and dinner with the family. Wednesday and Thursday are working on all work projects. Friday is lunch with Mom and maybe a little writing and maybe a movie. The two movies on the agenda are Eat, Pray, Love and Charlie St. Cloud. Saturday is practicing my occupation of future lottery winner.

WARNING ONE HELL OF A RANT COMING:

First, I was upset over all the hoopla and the turning into a hero of a Flight Attendant that went off of his rocker. Celebrating bad behavior only encourages bad behavior. He put fellow crew members and passengers in potential danger. How in the world can anyone celebrate his actions? I wonder how many of those celebrating his behavior and making him a hero have complained about the lack of manners, kindness, and courtesy in the world? By celebrating his stupidity are they not being hypocrites? While I don't think he should end up in jail and I would completely support Jet Blue hiring him back after an anger management class I am sure in the hell not going to celebrate his actions or make him a hero. I would be a hypocrite and my integrity would be brought into question.

Speaking of integrity or should we say the lack of integrity, that brings me to Top Chef, a reality show that now, in my opinion, has absolutely no integrity. They have judges that celebrate cheating and judges that don't have enough guts to do the right thing. In the accounting profession one of the standards that we must follow is, "the appearance of impropriety." Which basically means if it appears you got yourself in a tight spot, then whether or not in fact you have done what it appears you have done you are to remove yourself from the situation. It protects the honesty of the profession. I wish Top Chef would conduct itself under that standard. Twice now a chef that is still on the show has appeared to cheat, he has appeared to not cook his own food and has still stayed on the show. The judges, in my mind, have encouraged his cheating and put their own integrity into question by leaving the chef in question on the show. Head judge Tom Colicchio will tell you is that they couldn't eliminate Alex this week because he was on the winning team. Which, frankly, is complete bull shit. What he is really saying, is he and the other judges didn't have the guts to do the right thing. Rules are really guidelines. There is no way rules on any show or in any organization or in any sport can be written to allow for every situation that comes up on the show, in the organization, or in a sport. That is why it takes strong judges, leaders, and referees. When the judges were confronted with an issue of a member of The Red Team cheating the judges did nothing. Well they did award the win to the cheating team. The judges should have shown some leadership and guts and went outside the box. They should have said "it has come to our attention that it has appeared that a chef has cheated. And this is the same chef that was accused of cheating on a prior episode. In order to protect the integrity of the show and our own integrity we in good conscience cannot eliminate a member of the blue team. We have no choice but to eliminate Alex." I have decided to boycott the show. I just can't invest my time in a show with no integrity and with judges to weak to do the right thing.

How was you week? Catch me up with all of your doings. Tell me everything! And answer the question how important is integrity to you?

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Running With Babies.

Wow would I ever love to have a had a teacher this supportive! The good article for the week. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things and doing them to benefit others.

http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=128163223640300100

I think the man is a hero but I'm wondering whether or not he could have found something less painful to do to promote cancer awareness. What do you think?

Need help solving problems? Find someone eighteen months old. This is a pretty fascinating article:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/what_babies_are_teaching_scien.html

The article, does it surprise you, fascinate you, or both? Do you believe babies have problem solving abilities at such a young age?

OK, I admit I have an ego. Maybe a small one but one just the same. Every so often I will search my name on Google to see if anyone is saying good or bad things about me. You can see how often I search my name by the date on the article. I am so popular that I had one hit. I was mentioned on The Oregonian's web site in February:

http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2010/02/yodeling_its_not_swiss_cheese_says_blogger_and_other_links.html

Thank goodness I was called clever.

Are you clever too? I think you are but come on now pat yourself on the back and fess up and call yourself clever.

Who Am I?

Yesterday's answer: BRIGADIER GENERAL WILMA L. VAUGHT

You will not find me in Wikipedia but I was born in 1946 and according to my Mom I was eager to be born because I wanted to arrive before the doctor got to the hospital. I had cerebral palsy but mom didn't know it until I was five. Doctors told Mom she was being a hypochondriac. I attended public schools in New York City. Throughout my school years, I never knew other students with disabilities. I only had friends without disabilities. I played all of the games, including punch ball. During my teenage years, my friends started dating, thinking about boys, getting periods and developing breasts. Although I went through all that but felt that I was not going to be part of the dating scene and that sex, marriage and children were not possible for me. I concentrated instead on my studies. I thought my role was to do very well in school and to get good grades and just to achieve. It wasn't until I was in my 20s that I began to consider the possibility of a social and sexual life. When I was 22, 1 had an important experience. I worked one summer for a prominent woman economist who had cerebral palsy. When I interviewed for the position, it was like looking in a mirror. Her effects on me are still with me. I was impressed that a woman with cerebral palsy could become so successful in her career, particularly in the "man's field" of anti-trust economics. She also gave me the ability to see that I could have both a career and a social life. My self-esteem really began to improve when I found a career I liked, being a psychotherapist. After attending a psychotherapy training institute for a year, I was asked to leave because some of the teachers didn't think that a person with my disability should become a psychotherapist. They claimed that my disability would be too stressful for patients to handle. They suggested I consider a different career. My life as a disability rights activist began after I successfully sued the institute. I achieved a certain level of self-confidence to be able to consider not just my brains, but my whole self. I wanted more than just to be smart. I became involved in the women's movement. Although I was the only woman with a disability involved with my women's groups, I had a real sense of commonality. I sponsored a mentoring program for girls with disabilities. Named the Networking Project for Disabled Women and Girls, the project allows women and girls with disabilities to meet and share experiences. I wanted to help girls with disabilities avoid certain things that I had experienced, especially the isolation and the acceptance of negative stereotypes. After I started the Networking Project, I wrote a book to help young women with disabilities learn about the experiences of women who had "been there." I'm helped a national youth organization on modifying their Operation SMART program that addresses the under-representation of girls and women in science and math so that it is accessible to girls and young women with disabilities. According to my book I am "Disabled, Female, And Proud" Who Am I?

Friday, August 13, 2010

The Science Of The Obvious

The science of the obvious:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/problemchildrentormentparentsevenaftertheygrowup;_ylt=An_6nJs.XE1W4urGh4JfB9es0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTRvdTRkNmdnBGFzc2V0A2xpdmVzY2llbmNlLzIwMTAwODEzL3Byb2JsZW1jaGlsZHJlbnRvcm1lbnRwYXJlbnRzZXZlbmFmdGVydGhleWdyb3d1cARjY29kZQNyYW5kb20EY3BvcwM5BHBvcwM2BHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5faGVhZGxpbmVfbGlzdARzbGsDcHJvYmxlbWNoaWxk

I've always kind of known that whatever I did was a reflection on my parents. My successes were their successes and my failures were their failure. Where I separate from the article is that during those times of failure my parents were extremely supportive and helped me to recover from the failures. They always also viewed me as a success and promoted the thinking that failures were a normal part of life and often a percuser to successes. What do you think of the article?

Since we are talking the obvious today. Seven thoughts that are bad for you:

http://www.livescience.com/health/090911-7-bad-thoughts-1.html

Cynicism, lack of meaning, fretting, lack of self-control, anxiety, gloom and doom, and stress are the seven thoughts that are bad for you. I'd add a sarcastic one like reading obvious articles but I am practicing self-control. What are your thoughts about the article? Is fretting over the lack of meaning causing you gloom and doom thoughts making you a cynic and leading you to anxiety and stress ending with you losing self-control?

Your comments are appreciated.

Who Am I?

Yesterday's answer: The late great Dorothy Height. Another great woman today.

I was born in 1930 the oldest of two daughters in a farming family. I grew up working hard, and dreamed of having a tough job that would allow me to be in charge. I attended the University of Illinois and graduated in 1952 with a bachelor of science degree. I quickly found a job in the corporate world but at the time there was no possibility of any real advancement for a woman. I joined the Air Force that at the time was advertising equal opportunity for all. Because of my college background I was commissioned as a second lieutenant and completed the Officer's Basic Military Training. I at one time commanded the Women in the Air Force Squadron Section. I became the first woman to deploy with a Strategic Air Command operational unit when I served a temporary tour of duty as executive officer and chief of the Management Analysis Division in Vietnam. When in Saigon I experienced rocket strikes that hit less than two blocks from my quarters. I did not feel fear because I'd gone over with the idea that I wouldn't come back alive and accepted it. I was outspoken about the controversial issue of women serving in the armed force once being quoted as saying, "Women are already in combat, so when people argue about whether they should be permitted to carry weapons, they're really asking whether the military should let women be fired at but not be able to fire back." After completing my year-long tour of duty in Vietnam I was assigned to Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command. I would eventually become the first female officer to attend the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Then I would proceed to become the first woman in the comptroller field to become a brigadier general with my father attending the ceremony and pinning the star on my shoulder. During my career I received numerous military honors, including the Defense and Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, the Air Force Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Vietnam Service Award with four stars. I was also the only woman in history ever to serve as president of the board of directors of the Pentagon Federal Credit Union. After retiring I worked to establish a memorial to honor women in U.S. military service. I helped to raise over $20 million for the memorial, which was designed and built largely by women. I also worked with the foundation that created the Margaret Chase Smith Leadership Award, which is given each year to women who open opportunities for women in the American military. I am one of the most-decorated military women in US history and am listed in Who's Who in America, in the National Women’s Hall of Fame, won the US Air Force Woman of Distinction Merit Award, and am in the US Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame. Listing only these few of my many awards doesn't do me justice but will help you answer the question of Who Am I?

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Don't Pay The Ransom

I've escaped. I'm like a bad penny, I keep coming back. Yesterday was a busy day. Up early to do Mom's grocery shopping at six in the morning. She forgot to tell me she was out of everything. Didn't want to bother me. I had to shop that early because my cousin was going to stop by at eight in the morning to go over family history and I didn't know how long that would be. Mom didn't even have enough stuff in the house for her normal breakfast. I keep telling her it isn't about bothering me, it is letting me know what you need so you don't go without. Not to mention it is easier for me if I can shop when I have the time to do it, instead of putting one more chore in into an already packed day.

Barbara got to our house at about eight-thirty. She got on the road to Montana about four in the afternoon. I learned later from TV news that she must have gotten caught into the traffic from hell because the freeway she was going to be on, I-84 East, was closed due to a fire. Traffic was being routed to surface roads. After Barbars left I had to go to the office of the firm that bought my business and pickup my royalty check. Then it was to the bank. After the bank there was my own grocery shopping. I got home just in time for Top Chef. No time for the blog.

We had a nice day going over pictures with Barbara. My sister brought us Subway sandwiches for lunch. After we determined what pictures Barbara wanted my Brother-in-law scanned and copied everything she needed. I got a stick drive to put everything one.

I did find a couple of interesting things. In one of the scrapbooks there was a picture of a third grade class in 1938. The teacher in the picture was Mom. Also the only grandfather I really new was my Mom's mom's second husband. Grandpa Goldy. Turns out his family founded Yale. Now if only he was a blood relative we would be in line for perks!

Today I wanted share a couple of incredible things. Incredible talent. Incredible medical information.

Tuesday night an opera singer wowed everyone on America's Got Talent. Normally opera singers don't win AGT but this one just might. A ten year old opera singer is pretty unique. There was a little bit of a dispute about whether or not the girl was faking the singing but on the results show last night judge Howie had her sing a few notes on the fly. The girl is real. Here is a video of her performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnR0fzhDD3I

Now the incredible medical information:

http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/08/11/quick-brain-scan-may-diagnose-autism/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl6|link6|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2F2010%2F08%2F11%2Fquick-brain-scan-may-diagnose-autism%2F

A quote from the article:

"Although this method is not ready for normal diagnostic situations, any step to easier diagnosis is welcome," Terry Brugha, professor of psychiatry at the University of Leicester who was not directly involved with the study, tells Reuters.

I agree with him, any step forward is a step closer to a cure.

Questions for the day. Do you think there is anything in your family history that would surprise you? Does your own genealogy interest you? The young opera singer, real talent or is she faking it? Autism, does the research study indicate we are closer to a cure?

Who Am I?

Day before yesterday's answer: Ida B. Wells-Barnett a story that needs to be more well-known according to both Pat and I.

I was born in 1912 and died this year after leading a life where I was an American administrator, educator, and social activist. I was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. I was admitted to college at age seventeen but upon arrival I was denied entrance because the school had an unwritten policy of admitting only two black students per year. I pursued studies instead at New York University, graduating three years later and was awarded a master's degree in educational psychology one year after college graduation. I started working as a caseworker with a city welfare department and at the age of twenty-five, I began a career as a civil rights activist. I fought for equal rights for both African Americans and women. I later joined the national staff of the YWCA. I also served as National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority where I developed leadership training programs and interracial and ecumenical education programs. During the height of the civil rights movement of the 1960s I organized "Wednesdays in Mississippi", which brought together black and white women from the North and South to create a dialogue of understanding. American leaders regularly took my counsel, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and I encouraged President Dwight D. Eisenhower to desegregate schools and President Lyndon B. Johnson to appoint African American women to positions in government. I served on a number of committees, including as a consultant on African affairs to the Secretary of State, the President's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped, and the President's Committee on the Status of Women. A musical stage play is based my memoir. When I died this year my funeral service was attended by President and Mrs. Obama plus many dignitaries. Among my many awards is the Presidential Citizens Medal.I am in the National Women's Hall of Fame and I am listed as 100 Greatest African Americans. "Open Wide The Freedom Gates" and tell me Who Am I?

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Ice Cold Fraud

Busy day today. I have a business meeting at ten this morning. Then cousin Barbara is visiting for the day. Then a night at Mom's. Life never seems to be as dull as I want it to be.

Following is what I thought was an interesting article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100807/ap_on_sc/us_sci_ice_island

Is this a sign of global warming or just a natural geological happening? I certainly wouldn't want to run into a piece of ice that was a hundred square miles in size. I don't think this story is a fake but the woman in the following article is.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100809/od_nm/us_cancer_fraud_odd

Personally, I think ten years in prison is to good for this woman. Not only did she screw people out of money she harmed legitimate charities and no doubt now in the future people will be hesitant to donate to legitimate charities because of her antics. You would think a twenty-three year old woman would find a better way to raise money.

What is your take on the article and the woman involved? How would you punish her?

Off to my business meeting. Since I am at Mom's tonight, tomorrow's post will be later in the day.

Who Am I?

Yesterday's answer: Bessie Coleman

I was born in 1862 and died in 1931 and went on to become an American journalist, newspaper editor and, with my husband a newspaper owner. I was an early leader in the civil rights movement. I documented the extent of lynching in the United States, and was active in the women's rights movement and the women's suffrage movement. My father was a carpenter and my mother a cook, the were both slaves until freed at the end of the Civil War. When I attend College I was expelled for my rebellious behavior and temper after confronting the President of the college. My parents and older brother died when I was sixteen. To avoid the rest of the kids separating I dropped out of school to take care of them and got a teaching job. When on a train ride I was asked to move to make room for a white man. I refused to give up my seat seventy-one years before Rosa Parks. The conductor and two other men dragged me out of the car. I immediately hired an African American attorney to sue the railroad. When my lawyer was paid off by the railroad I hired a white attorney. I won my case but it was reversed on appeal. I slowly gained a reputation for writing about the race issue in the United States. I later became co-owner and editor of an anti-segregationist newspaper that published articles about racial injustice. After the lynching of my friends I wrote an article in the Free Speech urging blacks to leave the city. Over 6,000 blacks did leave; others organized boycotts of white-owned businesses. The murder of my friends sparked my interest in researching the real reason behind lynching. I became the head of the Anti-Lynching Crusade. I married at thirty-three to an attorney and we had four children. I kept my own name. I found it hard to balance work and family. But I kept on. Many people that heard me speak were repulsed by the information they were given. I eventually became the first black woman to be a paid correspondent for a mainstream white newspaper. I published a pamphlet that documented my research on a lynching. Having examined many accounts of lynching based on alleged "rape of white women," I concluded that Southerners concocted rape as an excuse to hide their real reason for lynching: black economic progress, which threatened not only white Southerners' pocketbooks, but also their ideas about black inferiority. It was written of me: "...A woman born in slavery, she would grow to become one of the great pioneer activists of the Civil Rights movement. A precursor of Rosa Parks, she was a suffragist, newspaper editor and publisher, investigative journalist, co-founder of the NAACP, political candidate, mother, wife, and the single most powerful leader in the anti-lynching campaign in America. A dynamic, controversial, temperamental, uncompromising race woman, she broke bread and crossed swords with some of the movers and shakers of her time. " Who Am I?

Monday, August 9, 2010

Family History In Pictures

Today's entry could be titled my life in pictures but I will stick with family history. As you all know by now that my cousin Barbara is coming tomorrow to go over Mom's pictures so that she can finish the family history on Mom's side. Going through the many scrapbooks with Mom we found some very neat and sometimes damning pictures. These are really old pictures so the quality may not be the best, take the fuzziness as a way to tell how much better today's cameras are!

I've mentioned on the blog before that my Mom's first cousin, Lt. Edward Grover Delong, was killed in World War II and is one of the few hundreds to win both the Silver Star and The Navy Cross. He also has a PT Boat named after him. This is the boat bearing his name:



This is the beginning of life in order of Mom, Dad, and yours truly:






This is why I hate having my picture taken. My Facebook friends have already seen the picker dude picture. The first picture is one of the few that exists of all five of us. One of us was always taking the picture.

In order from left to right, sister, brother, dad, Mom, and Weird Face Dude.



The one that has already been posted on Facebook. From Top to bottom, Mom, Sister, Brother, and Picker Dude:





The Mongrel Sisters practicing before going on stage to perform at a church bazaar. My dad is in the blue dress.



The following three pictures show my life's progression after the accident.

This was about two weeks after the accident. I was given partial credit for saving the life of the young woman in the picture. We were from the same home town, which was eighty miles from the hospital. The woman was in an accident and was undergoing severe depression and not really working hard to get well. Each day she would get worse. Then I arrived on the scene. We had the same doctor. He took her down to my room, she saw how much worse I was than her and how hard I was fighting despite all the odds against me. My doctor said I had the most positive attitude and the worst injuries of any of his patients during his career. The young woman changed her attitude and was out of the hospital in three weeks. While at the hospital she used to sneak down to my room at night and watch TV with me. I would put the sleeping pill under my tongue and then when the nurse left, take it out so I could stay up and watch TV with her. After I got home she was one of the few people that would come get me and take me out for rides etc. Sometimes she would push my wheelchair through stores. Wonder whatever happened to her.





This was about two years later when I was giving my nephew a ride in my wheelchair. The one bad thing about being thin, is I could fly with those ears. A little poundage makes those digits smaller.




This was about two years later after the last picture. It is the backyard of our home in Klamath Falls. I am with my Mom and Sister. I would love to be that thin today even despite my ears!





If any of you would like to share pictures of your lives, email them to me and I would be more than happy to post them on the blog and make it your family history day!

Comments are always appreciated.

Who Am I?

I may have been used as a Who Am I before but if so it has been a while. I was born in 1892 and died in 1926. I was the tenth of thirteen children born to sharecroppers. My father was part Cherokee. I began school at age six and had to walk four miles each day to an all-black, one-room school. Despite sometimes lacking such materials as chalk and pencils I was an excellent student. I loved to read and was an outstanding math student. I completed eight grades at the one-room school. Every year my routine of school, chores, and church was interrupted by the cotton harvest. At age nine my dad left us. He had become fed up with the racial barriers that existed. At the age of twelve I was accepted into the Missionary Baptist Church. When I turned eighteen I took all of my savings and enrolled in the Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University. I ran out of money after one term and returned home. At the age of twenty-three I moved to Chicagoe and worked at the White Sox Barber Shop as a manicurist. There I heard tales of the world from pilots who were returning home from World War I. I started to fantasize about being a pilot. At the barbershop I met many influential men. Because flight school wouldn't accept women or blacks I went to France to become a pilot. I learned to fly in a Nieuport Type 82 biplane. I became not only the first African-American woman to earn an international aviation license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, but the first African American woman in the world to earn an aviation pilot's license. I became a media sensation and was a highly popular draw for the next five years at air shows. But the thrill of stunt flying and the admiration of cheering crowds were only part of my ream. I never lost sight of my childhood vow to one day "amount to something." I did not live long enough to fulfill my greatest dream—establishing a school for young, black aviators. At the age of thirty-four my friends tried to talk me out of flying in an air show because they believed the aircraft to be unsafe. About ten minutes into the flight, the plane did not pull out of a planned nosedive; instead it accelerated into a tailspin. I was thrown from the plane at 500 feet and died instantly when I hit the ground. My funeral was attended by 5,000 mourners. A second-floor conference room at the Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC, is named after Me. Who Am I?