What's a Conservative to Do?

I have started a new blog called What's a Conservative to Do?
The purpose of this blog is to help us all stop complaining about the state of the country and to actually find something we can DO to make it better!

I think the topic of it is pretty self explanatory. Sooo...if you want to keep getting a regular stream of political info go here.

This blog will return to my private and family stuff!

The Ant and the Grasshopper

This is a modern retelling of the famous Aesop's Fable. This was given in a speech by Lt. Governor Gary Herbert to the Utah County Republican Women. I hope you enjoy it!

Original Intent:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he’s a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper, though, has no food or shelter so he has to beg for his survival or die out in the cold.

The Liberal Perversion:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he’s a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can it be that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Keith Olbermann of MSNBC names the ant the “Worst Insect in the World” and Senator Harry Reid calls for a senate investigation into “why wealth should be more equitably distributed.”

Then a representative of the NAG (National Association of Grasshoppers) shows up on Nightline and charges the ant with “grasshopper” bias, and makes the case that the grasshopper is the victim of 30 million years of anti-tobacco juice prejudice.

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when he sings “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” Bill and Hillary Clinton make a special guest appearance on the CBS Evening News to tell a concerned Katie Couric that they will do everything they can for the grasshopper that has been denied the prosperity he deserves by those who benefitted unfairly during the Reagan Summers and because of the “Bush Tax Cuts.”

Nancy Pelosi Exclaims in an interview with George Stephanopoulos that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and calls for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his “fair share.” Congress calls for an immediate tax hike on the ant to “re-distribute the wealth” as the President’s economic team begins to work on a “federal bail-out” package for all grasshoppers.

Finally the EEOC drafts the “Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Discrimination and Excess Profits Tax Act.” This is retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire proportionate number of grasshoppers, and then having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.

“Sixty Minutes” Later shows the now fat grasshopper finishing up the last of the ant’s food even though spring is still months away, while the government house that he is in, which just happens to be the ant’s old house, crumbles down around him because he hasn’t maintained it. Inadequate government funding is blamed.

The ant has now disappeared in the snow and the story ends as we see more grasshoppers and fewer ants, more Joe-bums and fewer Joe-the-plumbers as we depart from capitalism and the risk/rewards of a free market and the realities recognized by Adam Smith when he said: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, or the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but—rather from their regard to their own interest.”

Or as George Bernard Shaw said, “A Government which robs Peter to pay Paul, can always depend on the support of Paul.”

How Stupid Are We?

Something happened this week that is extremely disturbing. But it seems to have slipped past most people's radar as if it were a joke. Trust me this is NO JOKE!

Our own Homeland Security has just released a study to identify those people who are a threat to America because they:

Are unimpressed by America's first "African-American" president.

Objecting to tax hikes.

Disliking big government.

Talking concernedly about the state of the economy and job loss, especially in the manufacturing and construction sectors.

Opposition to abortion, gay marriage and gun control.

NO I am NOT making this up!!! Read it for yourself -

In a report sent to sheriff and law enforcement offices across the country called "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" the report is nine pages long and recounts all the ways conservatives might be drawn into committing terrorist attacks against the United States. If you can't stomach the full report maybe a news article about it will do? How ever you prefer to get your information I don't care, just please read about this! We need to wake up collectively and become aware of what is going on around us.

A quote I found from George Q. Cannon seems appropriate:

"We cannot as a people close our eyes or our ears to that which is going on around us. No people on this continent are more interested in public movement than the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So many predictions have been made concerning the future of our nation that we would be a very stupid people if we were not deeply interested in the fulfillment of those predictions and in watching the signs which will precede or accompany them."

George Q. Cannon, Sept. 1, 1896

What is he referring to? What predictions?

This prophecy was first credited to Joseph Smith and then repeated multiple times in every generation by almost every prophet since that it surely is embedded in the heart every Latter-day Saint?

"Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction."

The Prophet Joseph Smith (M8d 155Bx4, Joseph Smith, Church Historian's Library)

I fear that maybe we are too familiar with this prophecy that it no longer has any effect on us anymore. Or heaven forbid, we haven't ever heard of it at all? Maybe we have become too complacent? Maybe we just assume that this will happen with no effort or preparation on our part? Are we so smug and so stupid that we think the Lord will bless us with so great a task when we have taken no effort to prepare? How bad does it have to get for us to wake up and do something now?

President J. Reuben Clark said:
"I say unto you with all the soberness I can, that we stand in danger of losing our liberties, and once lost, only blood will bring them back; and once lost, we of the church will, in order to keep the church going forward, have more sacrifices to make and more persecutions to endure than we have yet known, heavy as our sacrifices and grievous as our sacrifices of the past have been."

Yikes! This was said in 1944. And if we were in danger then we are under direct attack today. If you don't believe it then just look at what happened this week. Every American should be outraged, but outrage should have been arrived at long before this. Again I ask, "How stupid are we?"

The prophet Nephi had this to say about our day in 2 Nephi 28:20-25
20 For behold, at that day shall he ^arage in the ^bhearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

21 And others will he ^apacify, and lull them away into carnal ^bsecurity, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the ^cdevil ^dcheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

22 And behold, others he ^aflattereth away, and telleth them there is no ^bhell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful ^cchains, from whence there is no deliverance.

23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be ^ajudged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a ^blake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.

24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ^aease in Zion!

25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!

Where is the Outrage???

This letter was sent to the Wall Street Journal on August 8, 2008 by Alisa Wilson, Ph.D. of Beverly Hills , CA . in response to the Wall Street Journal article titled "Where's The Outrage?" that appeared July 31,2008.

Really. I can tell you where the outrage is. The outrage is here, in this middle-aged, well-educated, upper-middle class woman. The outrage is here, but I have no representation, no voice. The outrage is here, but no one is listening for who am I?

I am not a billionaire like George Soros that can fund an entire political movement. I am not a celebrity like Barbra Streisand that can garner the attention of the press to promote political candidates. I am not a film maker like Michael Moore or Al Gore that can deliver misleading movies to the public.

The outrage is here, but unlike those with money or power, I don't know how to reach those who feel similarly in order to effect change. Why am I outraged? I am outraged that my country, the United States of America , is in a state of moral and ethical decline. There is no right or wrong anymore, just what's fair.

Is it fair that millions of Americans who overreached and borrowed more than they could afford are now being bailed out by the government and lending institutions to stave off foreclosure? Why shouldn't these people be made to pay the consequences for their poor judgment?

When my husband and I purchased our home, we were careful to purchase only what we could afford. Believe me, there are much larger, much nicer homes that I would have loved to have purchased. But, taking responsibility for my behavior and my life, I went with the house that we could afford, not the house that we could not afford. The notion of personal responsibility has all but died in our country.

I am outraged, that the country that welcomed my mother as an immigrant from Hitler's Nazi Germany and required that she and her family learn English now allows itself to be overrun with illegal immigrants and worse, caters to those illegal immigrants.

I am outraged that my hard-earned taxes help support those here illegally. That the Los Angeles Public School District is in such disarray that I felt it incumbent to send my child to private school, that every time I go to the ATM, I see "do you want to continue in English or Spanish?", that every time I call the bank, the phone company, or similar business, I hear "press 1 for English or press 2 for Spanish". WHY? This is America, our common language is English and attempts to promote a bi- or multi-lingual society are sure to fail and to marginalize those who cannot communicate in English.

I am outraged at our country's weakness in the face of new threats on American traditions from Muslims. Just this week, Tyson's Food negotiated with its union to permit Muslims to have Eid-al-Fitr as a holiday instead of Labor Day. What am I missing? Yes, there is a large Somali Muslim population working at the Tyson's plant in Tennessee. Tennessee , last I checked, is still part of the United States . If Muslims want to live and work here they should be required to live and work by our American Laws and not impose their will on our long history.

In the same week, Random House announced that they had indefinitely delayed the publication of The Jewel of Medina, by Sherry Jones, a book about the life of Mohammed's wife, Aisha due to fear of retribution and violence by Muslims. When did we become a nation ruled by fear of what other immigrant groups want? It makes me so sad to see large corporations cave rather than stand proudly on the principles that built this country.

I am outraged because appeasement has never worked as a political policy, yet appeasing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is exactly what we are trying to do. An excellent article, also published recently in the Wall Street Journal, went through over 20 years of history and why talking with Iran has been and will continue to be ineffective. Yet talk, with a madman no less, we continue to do. Have we so lost our moral compass and its ability to detect evil that we will not go in and destroy Iran's nuclear program? Would we rather wait for another Holocaust for the Jews - one which they would be unlikely to survive? When does it end?

As if the battle for good and evil isn't enough, now come the Environmentalists who are so afraid of global warming that they want to put a Bag tax on grocery bags in California; to eliminate Mylar balloons; to establish something as insidious as the recycle police in San Francisco. I do my share for the environment: I recycle, I use water wisely, I installed an energy efficient air conditioning unit. But when and where does the lunacy stop?Ahmadinejad wants to wipe Israel off the map, the California economy is being overrun by illegal immigrants, and the United States of America no longer knows right from wrong, good from evil.. So what does California do? Tax grocery bags.

So, America , although I can tell you where the outrage is, this one middle-aged, well-educated, upper middle class woman is powerless to do anything about it. I don't even feel like my vote counts because I am so outnumbered by those who disagree with me.

Alisa Wilson, Ph.D. Beverly Hills , California

The Proper Role of Government

This is perhaps the best short summary of the proper role of government – and the development of our own nation – that I have ever seen. It is a YouTube video that takes less than 10 minutes to watch. Please take the time to view it. As we've often been told, "Those who know nothing of history are doomed to repeat it." We should be thoroughly informed and clearly understand where our freedoms come from, and how they are best preserved. Please take the time to watch this short piece, and share it with others.

The Time is Now...

To Raise the Standard of Liberty...

• For Our God
• For Our Liberty
• For Our Peace
  
• Four Our Families

What is the Standard of Liberty?

It is the Constitution!

We must return our government to the standard our Founding Fathers intended it to be! There is a ground swell of change happening. People are finally beginning to "awaken to their awful state." And what we are waking up to is a nightmare. But YOU can do something about it. But you must get involved!!! You cannot afford to sit idly by and do nothing anymore, the stakes are too high, the consequences of apathy are too great.

What if I told you that there is a movement going on right now to return government back to the people, restore power to the states and lift the Standard of Liberty back to it's rightful place?

If I told you there is a way to hold politicians completely accountable would you be interested?

If I told you that we can revolutionize the way politics are done in this county would it be enough to get you off your couch to join in the fight to take back our great country? Would you do it?

Well we can! And it is happening!!! You have the chance to be part of something huge if you are willing! At this very moment the pieces are falling into place and the time is coming that this plan can and will be revealed. BUT you can still act now, today if you trust me and trust that I am telling you the absolute truth. I would stake my life and reputation on it!

The Time is Now for you to become involved! What can you do? How do you get started?

• Send a link to this post to everyone in your email list
• Join the Utah County Republican Women even if you are NOT a Republican or a Woman or even live in Utah, if you hold the constitution dear, join anyway! The cost is $20 a year. It will be the best $20 dollars you EVER spent!
  
• Start talking to your friends and neighbors to find others who are like minded in their love for the Constitution.
• Stay tuned for more information! It will be come fast and furious!!!

"Grassroots" means: "People or society at a local level rather than at the center of major political activity." ONE person can make a difference, but many people united in just one cause makes up true grassroots cause for positive change. And that effort can spread like wildfire if properly done. Join the UCRW today! Begin to unite your voice with ours! You have the opportunity to be a part of something amazing! Come and join me!

Feel free to contact me for more information on how you can make a difference! Call me at (801) 492-4080 or email me at debbie.hunnybee@gmail.com

How Did I Get So Old???

Ashley just had her senior prom this past week. It was a truly bittersweet time. My baby, my last born has past this right of passage. As it turns out she didn't have a date (stupid, stupid boys!). But as it turns out at her school it is no big deal to go without a date. So she pressed forward and went anyway...I am sooo proud of her for taking the higher road and choosing not to pass up this once-of-a-lifetime opportunity. I means a lot that she was there and didn't stay home and hide. Way to go Ashley! As you will see it is some young mans loss...not hers that he didn't ask her to be his date. So with great swells of love I give you my beautiful Ashley -



One of the things I love about Liahona Academy is the tradition they have to make everyone in the senior class the kings and queens of prom. So here is Queen Ashley -

I am especially amazed as we face this new phase of Ashley's life. In her life she have overcome much to get to this place. Ashley was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 5 years old and then if that was not enough she was diagnosed with OCD 3 years later. I can remember sitting in the doctor's office crying as she told me the prognosis for this combined diagnosis. ADHD alone is enough to scare parents to death. The expectation for them is that 75% will end up in some sort of serious trouble - drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy, school drop outs, just to name a few. I listened intently and with horror as Dr. Echert explained to me that out of all children diagnosed with OCD only 5% of them will ever graduate from high school. Out of that group only 1% will go on to college. This dim view of my daughters future left me feeling helpless and all alone in my grief. I was so overwhelmed by the task ahead that I had to take medication myself just to be able to face it.

I told Ashley what the doctor had said. Then I said, "This is what they say will happen to you, but I want to know what do you think will happen to you?" There is great power in what we think and believe about ourselves! Ashley sensed this power and replied, "I am going to graduate from high school and I am going to college!"

Since that day I have been dedicated to helping her achieve her goals. Sometimes it has taken creativity and ingenuity. I have home schooled her, taken online classes, worked with her for hours on homework and sent her to a private school. All of these things have brought us to this place, a crossroads if you will in Ashley's life. She is going to graduate. She has been accepted to attend UVU and is going to college!!! Wow! Anyone who does not believe in miracle should spend time with Ashley!

It hasn't been easy. In fact, it has been harder than it needed to be. Ashley has needed lots of love, support and understanding to make it. She has had that support from the adults in her life but the reactions of her peers has been anything but loving and supportive. Ashley has spent much of her life lonely and alone. It has been so heartbreaking for me as a parent to see her shunned and left out of school and even church circles of friends. They say that "that which does not kill you, makes you stronger." Ashley is indeed stronger for her experiences but there were times I was sure it would kill her. NO WONDER that kids with disabilities end up on drugs, in prison or pregnant as they search for acceptance and love in their relationships.

it will be interesting to see what she does now. Where she goes. What she does. She is quite remarkable!!! One of the good things about OCD is she has the ability to hyperfocus on a goal and achieve it will gusto! This is what she did when she set her mind to earn her Young Woman's Medallion as quickly as possible. Without my knowledge she set out to chip away at a goal that takes most young women 6 years to acheive. Ashley earned her medallion in 13 months! No one can tell me, or her, that she cannot do anything she sets her mind to doing! Way to go Ashley!

Ashley's Senior Pictures -

Come Listen to A Prophet's Voice...

I watched these videos on a friend's blog (thank you Aprilyn for finding these) and I wanted to pass them along to you. Please pass them along to your friends. The time has come and is long past for you and me no longer be complacent about these matters. Listen to the words of the prophets and see for yourselves that they saw our day....



And then Glen Beck played a clip of Ezra Taft Benson from the 1960's and had this to say about our coming socialist country...



Socialism by Degrees

Is Khrushchev right? Are we Americans all mindless dolts? It is not too late, we can do something about it!!! But we can no longer afford to be complacent. Our prophets have warned us and forewarned us sufficiently, but are we listening? Even the Book of Mormon, which was written for our day has something to say about being poisoned by degrees:

In this story, Amalickiah uses treachery, murder, and intrigue to become King of the Lamanites. Lehonti at first refuses to even meet with Amalickiah. But by degrees Amalickiah gains the trust of Lehonti so that he not only comes down from his stronghold or place of power, but he eventually surrenders his power and is poisoned by degrees.

Alma 47:4-18

8 Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom.
9 And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas.
10 And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him.
11 And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.
12 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him.
13 And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army.
14 And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti.
15 And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they plead with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired.
16 And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.
17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.
18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.

My friends I am afraid that we have left our stronghold and our position of power and if we are not careful we will be poisoned by degrees. Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice and learn the word of God...Follow the Prophet, he knows the way!

Orange Soda: More Flat than Fizz

I am not one to really go off on a company that annoys me. I tend to think more like this: "You're a dork, we all know you are a dork so I won't waste my awesome, superior brain power on dorks like you." But in this case I'll make an exception...

Last year I signed on with Orange Soda Online Advertising to help me promote my online business. We started out small with a plan to work our way up. I signed on to have them post my company in as many directories as possible for $35 a month. In a few months they were supposed to contact me (according to the sales person) to see how else they could help me. A few months went by and nothing. Not the best impression, but oh well. After about 6 months I began to be intrigued with the idea of how long would it take them to actually call me for the next step.

As I suspected it took them to the end of my contract...exactly one year later I got a call, which I ignored. The next week I called them on my renewal date to cancel my revolving contract. (This call took place yesterday, on Thursday)The conversation was pleasant enough until they asked me why I was canceling. So I told him. Apparently he didn't like my answer so much.

Oh, the he I am talking about is Dan, my personal account manager. The last time I heard my Account Manager was Jason. Who's Dan?

So I told Dan that I am pretty much done with Orange Soda and to stop my account and not charge me for the month. He tells me that my account has already been charged, yesterday(Wednesday) and cannot be refunded. I am indignant about it but, ok, that just proves that my decisions to fire these doughheads was the correct one...but just to be sure I get off the phone with Dan and go check my Bank Statement (you gotta love the internet) no charge from Orange Soda which would have been there had he charge me yesterday. Could it possibly be true I was lied to? Ummm....

Fast forward to today (Friday)...I check my online bank statement again today and there it is... oh but wait! There are not one but, count 'em folks, TWO of the exact same charges to my bank account from Orange Soda...WOW! I guess Dan showed me who's boss! He charged my account probably the second he got off the phone with me...NICE! Thank goodness for being able to dispute charges, which I promptly did for BOTH of them. We'll see how it turns out! In the meantime I intend to tell anyone who will listen to me how nice and customer friendly Orange Soda and my account manager Dan are. I want everyone who is capable of clear reason to know that Orange Soda cares about small businesses and dealing fairly with everyone. And then I have some beachfront property in Mesa to sell ya!

Did I mention the name of this awesome company is Orange Soda?

Chocolate Club Anyone?

If you have a LOVE for chocolate this is the place for you!

The Chocolate Club has been officially announced! We will have our first meeting on March 11^th at 7:00 p.m. at Debbie Besselievre’s home, 10742 Shinnecock. The first meeting will be to pick an awesome name, vote on VP, Treasure and Secretary, an overview of the purpose of the club and to eat chocolate of course! There are dues associated with this club because we have to fund the purchase of chocolate, field trips and other expenses. The dues are $5 a month. If anyone has any questions call or email Debbie Besselievre - 492-4080 or debbie.hunnybee@gmail.com

Why a Chocolate Club?

Do we even need to ask this question???Because all chocolate enthusiasts know that Chocolate is for sharing! Coming together in a group of like-minded people is always a rich experience. When you join a club like this one you will learn more about chocolate than you ever thought possible, who is making what, why it is deemed special, where you can find it and most of all taste it! You will get the opportunity to share your view with others on each chocolate and expand your own personal database of chocolate. Imagine finding a diverse group of people discussing chocolate in a way usually reserved for European art, wine, films or literature and you will begin to understand what a chocolate club is – it can be a life changing experience!

One of the first priorities of this Chocolate Club is to draw attention to the difference between the complex delicacy the world greatest cooks and gourmets recognize as chocolate, and the confection which Americans consume by the ton every week. The principle ingredient of commercial chocolate bars and bon bons is not cocoa but sugar, saturated vegetable fat and powdered milk. These dietary villains are responsible for chocolate’s undeserved reputation as a fattening, tooth rotting, addictive indulgence.

If this is how you have always looked at chocolate or if you always knew there was more to it...this is the place for you!

Twilight Party

I was told by Ashley that I am not "allowed" to post pictures of "her" party on facebook, but she can't stop me from blogging about it. :-) I worked pretty hard on this party! I deserve to brag about it... It was an awesome party!

When we started planning it we didn't want to duplicate anything that had been done before or have it be cliche'. What we wanted was to have this be the kind of party that Alice would have thrown if she were here and I think we can safely say mission accomplished! So here is my Alice -



For the party decoration we had hundreds of twinkle lights, candles, balloons and flowers - here is the final result...



Even Edward showed up!



And last but not least the birthday cake -



It was a cherry vanilla cake with chocolate ganache filling with cherry vanilla frosting covered with Cherry Vanilla Fondant. Yummy! For the food buffet we had an assortment of Italian food in honor of where Edward took Bella out to eat. We had homemade bread sticks with marinara and alfredo dipping sauces, artichoke spinach dip and chips, mozzarella sticks and pizza.

Wordless Wednesday - Ashley's Turns 18!

My Own Worst Enemy

Ok, so I have been reading the suggested reading from the Fibromyalgia Clinic I am going to Wednesday night. (See list below*) And it looks to me like I am my own worst enemy. I don't want to give out the wrong impression here. I didn't CAUSE this illness, per se, but I didn't help it either. It seems we don't pass on FS (fibromyalgia syndrome) genetically but certain gene pools are more prone to it with the right environmental factors.

According to Dr. Elrod, I am typical of a personality type that develops FS: perfectionist, organized, type A, obsessive etc. You get the idea. I always thought those were GOOD things but I guess in heavy doses, not so much...So if you are like me at all now might be a good time to learn to relax....just a little...trust me...it would be a good idea to AVOID this if at all possible.

Lots of other factors contribute to the development of FS...it seems I have ALL of them - SURPRISE!

• lack of exercise
• not the healthiest of diets
• trauma, emotional and/or physical
• genetic predisposition
• consistent, long term stress
• hormone imbalance
• uptight personality
• negative outlook and attitude
• putting everyone else first
  
• can't say no
• depression

This is not an easy thing to admit but the above list describes most, if not all, of my life. Little did I know that all my life "stars" would align just so and result in this insidious illness. The good news is that it is NOT TOO LATE and it is possible to reverse this, if I work at it very diligently. All I can say is I have a lot of work to do. YIKES!! But at the same time, after 50 years, it is about time I started taking care of myself.

*Knowledge is power! Your body is your number one asset. There are lots of great books out there (and a lot of misleading ones too!). Here’s a few the clinic recommends:

Reversing Fibromyalgia (Natural Fibromyalgia Healing) - Joe Elrod,
The Sugar Control Bible (Nutrition) - Jacqueline Paltis,
The Schwarzbein Principle (Nutrition) - Diana Schwarzbein,
Your Body’s Many Cries for Water (Nutrition) - F. Batmanghelidj,
8 Minutes in the Morning (Exercise) - Jorge Cruise,
Feelings Buried Alive Never Die (Emotional Healing) - Karol Truman.

Fibro...what?

I have been putting this off for a while. I really hate talking about my trials especially ones that will make other people feel sorry for me. I am afraid that this post will illicit that kind of response. But before you all ring out in a chorus of poor Debbie I want you to know that I don't feel sorry for myself at all. In fact I wouldn't even be talking about this except for one reason and one reason only - I hope what I am going through will somehow help someone else. We cannot help others unless we are willing to talk about things that happen to us and this is just plain to important to keep to myself so I am going public...

I would not describe myself as physically active in an athletic way; however, I have always been very active in other ways and in very good health most of my life, if not all of it. I have been able to do pretty much whatever I set my mind to doing and pretty much took that for granted. Today my mind writes checks my body can't cash and I find myself unable to do many things I use to enjoy.

I have lots of talents and abilities that allow me to give service and work in unique ways. I have sewn draperies and shades professionally, worked as a personal chef, I have been a political activist for Charter Schools and now I own my own business making clothes for premature babies while they are in the hospital. Some of my other talents and interests include: heirloom sewing, tatting (lace making) sewing, scrapbooking, reading, tai chi, yoga, painting, taking long walks, holding and playing with my grandchildren, gourmet cooking, entertaining and interior decorating. Up until two years ago I could enjoy all of these things and more. Little did I know how drastically my life would change?

I need to point out that I am not a baby when it comes to pain. I have dealt with pain in my life before but nothing like this! About two years ago I started to lose range of motion in both my shoulders with pain so severe that I couldn't even lift my arms over my head. I got very concerned and went to the doctor. And this started a game called "toss the Debbie" from one doctor to another. I'll spare you to details - but basically they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me...exactly. We have now narrowed it down to two things and I could have either one or both. Fibromyalgia or non-degenerative Rheumatoid Arthritis. I sort of feel like I am on "Let's Make a Deal" and I have just seen what is behind door number 1 & 2 and I am thinking I'll take door number 3!

I love how the doctors put this; "the good news is that what you have will not kill you but the bad news is you will have to deal with this the rest of your life!" What?!?!? You're kidding me right?

Let it suffice to say that the pain is now widespread. It started in my right shoulder and within days spread to my left shoulder. From there it went to my hips (both) hips. It has traveled down my arms to include my wrists, hands and fingers. My knees hurt and so do my ankles and feet. Even my heels hurt! It is difficult to describe the type of pain this is: sometimes it is a dull ache, sometimes it is stabbing, and sometimes it feels like burning. My joints seem to be effected but the real problem feels more like it is in my muscles. My joints feel like they are on fire and my muscles ache and I get stabs of pain with specific movements. My whole body feels sluggish, weak and heavy. Simple movements used to happen automatically and now I cannot do anything without thinking about it either just to execute it or because doing so causes pain. And the pain is more intense in rainy,stormy or cold weather.

Here is a list of some of the ways this pain has changed my life:

• I can’t sleep. Any time I move or roll over the pain is excruciating. It wakes me up and I do not sleep soundly all night.
• I cannot hold my grandchildren without worrying that I will drop them, especially the 3 year old who wiggles.
• I cannot put my hands on my hips without severe pain and willpower. I used to stand like this naturally.
• I cannot even dress myself without sitting down to put on my pants; my legs won’t lift high enough. I can’t do my hair and make-up without considerable pain in my shoulders, arms and hands.
• Yoga is out of the question any more. luckily I can still do Tai Chi
• I cannot open jars by myself.
• If I sit on the floor to play with my grandson, I can’t get off the floor without help or kneeling on all fours and using a table to get off the floor.
• I cannot sit for very long without become extremely stiff. Sometimes I cannot stand up without help.
• For some reason I cannot concentrate as well as I used to; I become distracted easily, forget what I was doing. My mind feels cloudy, like I am in a fog.
• I am exhausted all the time. I have no energy. I wake up having no energy. It takes me several hours in the morning to get things moving. I can still do Tai chi and that helps but it is very difficult and painful.
• We have two sets of stairs in my home. I would often run up and down them multiple times a day. I considered this part of my exercise. Now I don’t run anywhere especially on the stairs. I have to use the rail to hang on to so I don’t fall.
• I start to feel better about 1 in the afternoon and then it is short lived and I am exhausted again by dinner time.
• My grip is weak. It makes it hard to drive a car, pick things up, hold the hand of a toddler etc.
• Cooking is hard and difficult because of lifting pots and pans, opening jars, cutting, stirring, kneading etc. I can’t carry in the groceries from the car.
• I can’t put my arms behind me to zip, tie or button anything.
• I can’t even read for any length of time. Holding a book hurts my hands and arms.
• Sewing is very hard from several standpoints; sitting, movement of hands, arms and shoulders. Standing at the ironing board.
• My children have to be careful how they touch me. Sometimes just grabbing my arm to get my attention sends a stab of pain down my arm. Poking me on the arm hurts so bad it makes me cry. And sometimes even hugs hurt.
• 
  

So I can just look forward to the above list for the rest of my life! NOT!!!

The most insidious part about this illness is that it is what you are diagnosed with once they can't find anything else. So it is diagnosis by default. And to add insult to injury only a few years ago most doctors thought it was an illness in the mind...oh please give me a break! I don't know about ALL the women out there but I have better things to do with my time than run to the doctor every week and willingly submit to all sorts of tests that involve needles just for the fun of it. Geez!

Now I need to stop before I go too far down the pitty road. I think you get the idea that this chronic illness stinks, is no fun and nobody in their right mind would make up such a thing...ever!

Now the question begs to be asked, What can you do about it? My answer is plenty!

Last year I had a blessing where the Lord promised me that I would be healed. I am going to go with that. It has been a year since then and the improvements have been minimal but I am not giving up. This illness is by all accounts incurable but I am unwilling to accept that especially in light of my blessing. Apparently, others are unwilling to accept it as well. Last week I think I found my solution. I am not sure but I think so. And this brings me to the point of this blog post - I thought it would be good if we find out all about it together.

As luck would have it there just so happens to be a Fibromyalgia Clinic in Salt Lake! What are the chances??? But it is true! And they have a holistic approach to treatment, which I like and they think that people can be cured or live without pain, which I also like and believe. So I have a reservation to attend a free seminar for more information on January 14th. I know...I know what you are saying...What if they are a bunch of quacks?? I have it covered. This is why I want to check it out and report it back to you. If I have to tell you then I will know in a few sentences of typing if I can tell it with a straight face. So wish me luck!

Ten Simple Rules for Dating my Daughter

When Brooke was born Scott used to say that she wouldn't be allowed to date until she was 35. I thought that was a little extreme, but whatever. Today she is 26 and married with two children so I guess that rule never stood the test of time. Ashley turns 18 in a few weeks. She hasn't dated all that much, but I am sure that will change as she heads toward college soon. So, in honor of her, a friend sent these to me and they reminded me of poor Scott. How hard it must be for Dads to let their little girls out the door with who knows what! I removed rule number 4 because it was a little too extreme. You can find it by following the link below from the author of these rule - he could of been but he wasn't. Hopefully these will make you laugh !

Rule One:If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.

Rule Two:You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.

Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

Rule Five:It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."

Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.

Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

"Copyright 1998 W. Bruce Cameron http://www.wbrucecameron.com/"