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If a Health-Care Bill Passes, Nurse Practitioners Could Be Key

If a Health-Care Bill Passes, Nurse Practitioners Could Be Key

Another photo album

Israel 5-15-09

Photos from Israel

Tel Hazor and more

Photos from Israel

Today we visited Caeseara Maritima, the site where King Herod's Palace stood and the first archaeological finding that proved Pontius Pilot really existed. This was the location of where both the Apostle Paul and Peter frequented--http://www.padfield.com/1996/caesmari.html. This website give more Biblical history on Caeseara Maritima with references in Acts and other books of the Bible. In the first picture, I photographed my foot on the Mediterranean Sea beach in front of the Herodian Hippodome. Next, is a photo of yours truly in front of the 14 mile long Roman double aquiduct that carried a steady water supply into Caeseara. It is tilted only about an inch or so throughout the entire 14 miles...just enough to keep a steady stream of water flowing. The beautiful waters of the Mediterranean provide the backdrop. The third photograph is our incredible 78 year old waiter and owner of the Aldo's gelitinea...the best food I have eaten since I've been in Israel--salad, omelet, scrumptious bread, one pancake that was the best I've EVER eaten...freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and Italian coffee. Our waiter friend was from Reno, NV originally and stated that he became a Zionist after he started drawing his Social Security! Ha Ha. He was a great guy and such a treat to have for our lunch service. The final picture is my roommate, Pam, our dear friend Harold, and me in front of the Aquiduct. Today was one of the most exciting experiences of my trip. To see the city of Caeseara and imagine all of its splendor was just incredible.

Bethsaida & Tabgha...May 19, 2009

Jesus road at Bethsaida...the rocks that Jesus walked! Mosaic floor at Tabgha--church commemorating the Miracle of Multiplication or Feeding of the Five Thousand. Mosaic floor at Tabgha--Byzintine churches typically have designs of wildlife and nature on the floors. The rock at Tabgha where Jesus is "thought" to have broken the bread and fed the five thousand...mosaic floor has a basket with four loaves and two fish; the fifth loaf is considered to be the one being broken on the table.

Israel...Saturday, May 16, 2009

The highlight of my day today was visiting Capernaum (Jesus' home during his ministry); the second highlight was being baptized in the Jordan River. Both of these were very powerful experiences spritually speaking. First, being able to walk in the same places that Jesus is thought to have slept, walked, and ministered and seeing how short the distances between places were was just amazing. Jesus is thought to have spent a great deal of time at St. Peter's House in Capernaum and in the Synagogue there. This is where the healing of the woman with the issue of blood took place as well as several other miracles. Neil Armstrong was once asked since going to the moon was the highlight of his life, what was the second best thing. He stated, "Going to the moon was the second best thing I did in my life; visiting Capernaum was the greatest thing I've ever done." I concur. While being baptized in the chilly Jordan was great, walking in Capernaum was awesome. As my friend who is here with me (whose husband, Andy, you see baptizing me above), "How cool is that?"

Muslem presence felt in Nazareth!

Note the sign over the group. When we took this photo, there was a Muslem priest who was just spewing poison in a shouting tone over the public address system in downtown Nazareth. We had no idea what he was saying--he was speaking in Arabic, but he was definitely angry. We were amazed at the signs that hung in the city. The Muslem world is very upset about the Pope's visit. He is scheduled to speak at a large ampitheatre in the city in the morning. People will start going into the line with their tickets at 0200 and will file in until 0800 when the gates will be closed. BBC news is supposed to film from the courtyard in our Hotel--St. Gabriel's Hotel. It is at the highest point in the city. Forth-fifty thousand people are expected in the ampitheatre.

Photos from First Day in Israel.

Rami Arav--lead archaeologist for Bethsaida

excavation, his partner, Orna. The hole to the

right of the guy in the orange shirt is where the hinge for

the gate at first century Bethsaida into inner city.

View by the tree is from a 3000 year old road that

overlooks terraces. The road is on the third terrace.

The landscape is of the Galilee District.

Zogby Poll

Well, I just completed a Zogby International Survey...it concerned the stimulus package. I'm sure they will look at my answers and scratch their heads. 

I also just studied my Sunday School lesson..."Pray Persistently". This was a most interesting and encouraging lesson. The neat thing about Sunday School lessons that I've found is that one can make one of these lessons as in-depth or as "scratch the surface" as one would like. I enjoy digging around in Scripture and going from reference to reference and reading all the footnotes. I find as I get older, I'm enjoying just basking in the Scripture more than I ever have before. 

I wish everyone a wonderful Sunday, and show up in the church of your choice! As Dolly Parton once said, "God don't care where you go [to church], just as long as you show up!"

On Writing

I'm sorry I have been away from writing for so long. Blogging is  sporadic at best for me at this point. I know everyone else has as tight of a schedule as I do. Writing is something that demands practice if one expects to be good at it. I, like Clint Eastwood, know my limitations...writing does not come easy to me. One who has influenced my writing (at least my scientific writing) as much as anyone, Elizabeth Tornquist, once said, "Writing is easy, just stare at a blank piece of paper until blood drops form on your forehead!" How true in the technical realm...sometimes it is true in the creative realm. 

The more works of art and works of science I have read, the more I realize how inadequate of a writer I am. Therefore, I must practice even more to improve. Good writing takes exceptional discipline. I feel that I lack discipline very often. I struggle daily with focusing on the task at hand, then getting it accomplished. The two things that I have  committed to be disciplined enough to complete this year include reading the Bible through, and running more. I am thrilled to be working toward these goals. The third thing I am committed to is completing my dissertation. I value my faith, I value my health, and I value my education. I also value those around me. Take a moment and look around at the things you value most in life. If one takes an honest inventory, he will see that improving discipline and putting priorities in place will help life to move forward in a more organized and smoother fashion.

Hillary's back on SNL!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Report on the Girls' Night Out!

To the left you will see a photo from the 2008 December "Girls Night Out"! Pictured from left are Amy Roberson, Melody Monts, yours truly, Kem Wells, and Coy Farley. We are pictured at Pepper's Deli (no girls night out would be complete without great food). We followed up an alcohol free evening with a viewing of "Four Christmases" starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Whitherspoon. For all the laughing we did, it might as well have starred the five of us. I think the funniest thing for me was the realization that "I ain't as young as I used to be". This is not an altogether bad thing, mind you. Let me explain; I lost my group before the movie began. I went to get popcorn and a diet coke (knowing that the diet drink cancels out any calories from the popcorn). The other ladies went to the little girls' room. I turned around and they were gone. So, knowing that the movie previews were surely beginning, I dashed on into the theater to find a seat or to join my group (like the theater was going to be full on a Tuesday night). I scrambled to the next row from the top just in the dark; not seeing any of my group. I moved to the middle leaving enough room for my peeps to sit to my right and settled in...gazing attentively at toward the bottom of the stairs for any one of them to enter the theater. I saw one group of teeny boppers come in and waved a little thinking it was my friends...but alas, NO. THEN, my peeps entered so, in all of my 30 something glory, I stood up and waved my drink with one hand, my popcorn with the other and all the while having my purse strapped across my chest like someone was going to attempt to rip it from me at any moment...then I loudly spoke, "UP HERE! UP HERE!" while waving my arms like I was standing on an aircraft carrier signaling a fighter plane to land. After they headed up, signaled they saw me, began laughing (you know thirty somethings no longer giggle if they are comfortable in their skin) they settled in beside me. Of course a few minutes later, just before the previews ended and the movie began, Coy Jean busted in. She came up the left side of the theater and sat to my left. We all lamented about how age somehow cancels out any embarrassment we somehow might have felt at an earlier age. I stated that when I was in college or high school, I would NEVER have stood up and yelled and waved to get someone's attention--I would have been far too self-conscious. What a difference a decade or so makes?! 

My friends would say the funniest thing about the evening was me tripping over the ashtray by the ticket booth and scraping my hand against the wall; or me laughing so hard as the credits rolled that I couldn't leave the theater for a few minutes. Upon leaving, of course, we all stood outside freezing our tushes off yapping about the youth of our time, how little they wear these days, and how we must do this again, soon. 

I have proposed either a trip to the Aluvian in Greenwood for a spa visit or to the Viking Cooking school...the cooking school was not as exciting to others as it was to me OR I would also postulate a trip to Memphis to the Orpheum to see Menopause the Musical and/or Wicked. I believe we need to gather for an overnight trip sometime very soon even if it is just to go to Nashville to the Opryland Hotel to see the Christmas Lights or the Radio City Music Hall Rocketts Christmas Extravaganza. Heck, I believe we could even make a party out of going to the mailbox. Regardless of what we do, we have to make this a much more frequent event! Toodles to you and Merry Christmas!

Another Debate Night...

I believe Obama should do as Elizabeth Edwards says, tie the health care issue to the current economic crisis. Read more of coverage from her appearance with New Yorker Magazine.

Enjoy tonight's debate.

Elizabeth Says...

Hotty Toddy!!!

Shep LOVES Ole Miss!!!

Homecoming is tomorrow and we'll be celebrating...IN THE GROVE! Maybe we'll stumble over Ole' Shep! 

Go Rebels! Beat the Gamecocks!!!

Few worries as a cat???!

Good morning! I am watching the rain fall and watching my two beautiful cats sleep...wishing that I could have so few worries as they. If only humanity were more like felines...the best line! They are much like babies, they eat-sleep-poop and want to be petted, but only on their terms! My cats wake me every morning sometime between 0300 and 0430. My alpha cat, Olympia, is not into charming wake up calls. She climbs up on the counter top and with one fell swoop of the paw or a nudge of her nose, pushes soap, toothbrush, lotion, cups, etc. into the sink or onto the floor. Now she has started reaching underneath the pillow I place on top of the night stand and she swipes the telephone off of the night stand. Anything to make a fall and crash sound so to startle me. Then a nice "MEOW"...for her that means "I'm hungry; feed me NOW, not later or this will go on until you do feed me!"

So, since both cats have been up since about 0430 (I got to sleep in this morning), they are fast asleep and I am having a cup of coffee. I will attempt to post a great comic strip that depicts "the lived experience of the doctoral student trying to figure out when she will complete her doctoral thesis". Hopefully I will figure that out sometime today. I also plan to get some writing done on the thesis and have birthday lunch with one of my best buddies, Mary Margaret. Her b'day was yesterday, so we have to feast and catch up over lunch like good southern girls.

I hope the rest of you have as few worries as my cats seem to in the midst of all the banking crises and the political Capistrano...the swallows are comin' home!

Election and economy thoughs

It has been some time since I've written. I am currently in dissertation purgatory. I am pushing to get a revised proposal out for the second part of my dissertation so I can get it approved and then out to my committee. Hopefully, I can get that approved quickly and start collecting data SOON! 

I have to say that I am very fascinated with the climate of the economy in the US and worldwide and by the effect this is having on the election. As a prior supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton, I believed she was the best candidate in the race. I believe she understood the nuances of the economy, social issues the majority of the nation faces, as well as how to handle diplomacy and military action in the rest of the world. With that said, when Senator Obama clinched the Democratic nomination for President, I had thought it would be hard for me to support him. I quickly decided I had no choice but to support him and to support him wholeheartedly! As a nurse, I see people every day who cannot afford healthcare and it is not because they aren't working or they aren't trying. Most people do not realize that the average American family, self-employed and having to purchase health insurance for a family of four would have to pay approximately $12,000 per year for health care coverage. Add that cost to a $500 per person or $1000 or $1500 per family deductable, the cost of prescription drugs...regardless if your insurance provides a copay for generics or a higher copay for non-generics and maybe no help for "non-formulary" medications...now tell me how a $4000 tax credit is going to help the average family earning $30,000-$45,000 per year in Mississippi or North Carolina? McCain is really working hard for the lower and middle class, aye?! I can go on and on, but that's just one thing that bugs me, not to mention that I believe Senator McCain chose Sarah Palin just to have breasts and a vagina on the ballot with him! I think it was a total ploy, there are many more women who are better qualified than she for a Vice Presidential running mate. She is a conservative extremist who is very narrow-minded. America and any woman or person who supported Hillary Clinton and is even remotely thinking of supporting Sarah Palin and John McCain needs to perform a serious gut check! This woman supports nothing that Hillary Clinton supported. 

The final beef I have today regards where Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove will be placed on the ballot in Mississippi. This story has made national news...at least in the newspapers if you've been keeping up. If not, I'll gladly catch you up. The election commission in Mississippi, made up of Governor "Mississippi is Bah-Lessed" Hailey Barbour, Secretary of State Dilbert...excuse me, Delbert Hoseman, and Attorney General Jim Hood. Gov. Barbour and Secy of State Hoseman had the intent of placing Wicker and Musgrove's race for US Senate seat at the bottom of the ballot in the special election section; they were opposed by Attny. Gen. Hood and are now in a battle with Attny Gen. Hood and the Mississippi Courts to decide the names should go at the top of the ballot just under the Presidential race where by law Federal races are supposed to be placed, but since this is a "special election" to fill Sen. Trent Lott's seat, Barbour and Hoseman's argument is that it should go in the special election section.  See Clarion Ledger Article.

Tim Russert's untimely death

I'm thinking about how much my family and I enjoyed watching "Meet the Press" and how my dad and I liked to watch Mr. Russert interview those in the political realm. He was a credit to TV journalism and will certainly be missed. My dad doesn't like to read very many things, but I remember talking Tim Russert's book about fathers. Daddy said, "I bet that'd be a good book." I bet it would, too. I think I'll pick up a copy for Daddy for Father's Day. I think I may buy a copy for myself, too. I'd imagine a lot of people may do that this Father's Day.

Rest well, Mr. Russert...you fought the good fight and kept the faith! Your race on earth is run.

Long time, no post!

Jenna Bush Got Married...

I guess the big news of the weekend was President Bush's daughter, party animal Jenna, got married. The NYTimes photos make the wedding look incredibly beautiful; and what beautiful weather they had for the occasion! Everything just looked charming. 

On more humble notes, I have been busy working on my dissertation; the likes of which I hope are coming to an end. Hopefully, I will soon be done with my oral defense and on with my life. Maybe then I can keep my blog up, even if only for my satisfaction! I should close for now as my cats, Olympia and Athena (mostly Olympia) are throwing things off the counter because it is time for them to eat dinner. 

Have a marvelous day!

Continuing to move right along...

In this life we lead, many times we cross paths that are difficult. Tasks are hard for us to accomplish. These things make for a constant struggle until the task is completed...then, of course, there is another task waiting to undertake. This has never proven more true than since I began working on a doctoral degree in nursing in August of 2003. Encouraged by my wonderful boyfriend and my beautiful parents, I never would have embarked on this journey without their spurring. As I completed my qualifying exams, that was one more hurdle down and then passing my proposal defense--both of these great milestones. Now I feel marred down in a pit...collecting data, unable to satisfy committee in writing...revisions, revisions, revisions...an article hanging over my head that I cannot seem to get written. Many times I wonder if it is worth it. However, this is a gratitude journal and I am incredibly thankful that I have the privilege to write freely. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to pursue doctoral education. I am delighted that I have the support of family and friends in this endeavour! I have nothing to complain about. I am incredibly blessed and grateful to have a job I enjoy, family who loves me, and friends who lift me up when I am down. As Jimmy Durante sang..."What a Wonderful World"! Carpe Diem!