I really want to get fired up for the November general election in our country.  I want to become passionate about the issues that are important to me.  I want to be able to volunteer for the candidate that I feel will be the best leader for our nation.  But right now, my emotional level is less than zero for any of the candidates or even any of the issues.

First, I want Hillary Clinton to bow out with grace and class from the democratic primary season.  I watch NBC Nightly News.  I saw Tim Russert get out his white board and show us the MATHEMATICAL IMPOSSIBILITY that it is for Senator Clinton to win the Democratic nomination.  I’ve accepted that there will not be a woman in the white house at this time, but it’s been 40 years since Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated for us to get where we are today (which actually isn’t saying much), so I’m hopeful that it won’t take another 40 years to get another strong female candidate to run for president.  Senator Clinton, it’s over.  Please show the young women of this nation, what it means to be a leader who can put what’s best for the nation above what might be best for ones self.  Senator Clinton, I want to be inspired by how you end this process.  I don’t want the process to end in bickering or delegate swapping, I would love you to hold your head high and say to the American people that you ran a good race, but that in the end Senator Obama had the votes and therefore he deserves the party’s UNITED support.  (Ok, that’s just what I think!  Phew!!)

OKay another shameless plug for some product that I really enjoy.  I found this web web site where you can play basic card, word, table and puzzle games.  What’s great about it is that the site is totally free, if you’re willing to watch 40 seconds of ads.  The site is pogo.com and since I’m still recuperating from the pneumonia, you can pretty much find me there all day!

(Oh I should say that the site requires you to be over 18, due to the fact that there are open chat forums.  There really aren’t ways to close the chats going on,  So kids should do the games with their parents!)

Lately, I’ve been thinking about getting a cat.  The rules in my condo won’t let me get a dog, so a cat is next in line.  My brother Dave has had several cats, as do several of my friends, and all of the cats have become “children.”  I know that cats can live for about 15 years, so this is a BIG decision for me.  Something that I’m going to really have to think about!

Ben came home to Massachusetts last Friday night.  There was a huge crowd at Providence’s (RI) T.F. Green Airport to welcome our hero home!  (My mom Ellen is holding the yellow sign and I am in the center with my head cut off.  Ben’s mom Mary is kneeling in front of me, Ben’s girlfriend Lindsey is on the floor holding the red “Ben”sign and Ben’s daughter Hailey at age 6 1/2 is also on the floor next to Lindsey and Mary. )

 It was such an emotional homecoming.  We all got to hug and kiss Ben individually and then take pictures with him.  As soon as I saw him, I couldn’t stop crying.  Therefore, I am only showing happy pictures.   My sign read that Ben had been away for 221 days, 12 hours, 56 minutes and too many seconds to count.  It was great to see my parents be able to greet Ben too.  So here’s Ben and his “other” parents and his sister Karen Marie.

Ben, you are our hero, and we are all so proud of you and your fellow soldiers!  It’s so good to have you home!

Well ladies and gentlemen, as of right now, about a quarter after midnight on Saturday, November 24, My word count is 46,736.  That means that I’m 3985 words from winning the contest AND I still have a whole week to do it in.  SO I’m planning on reaching the winning number sometime today (Saturday) and then continuing until midnight on Friday the 30th at midnight to get my final word-count.  I am finally making progress with the novel, and finally yesterday, I brought all the characters to the week of the wedding, which for all purposes is “The Wedding Party,” the title of my novel.  So people are starting to sneak off and mix it up.  It has been totally awesome to write and I have enjoyed the whole process thoroughly.

Here is excerpt 2 from “The Wedding Party” by Karen Marie Hedlund

So the two girls ran to catch up with the group that included Lord James, Lord Wills and that busybody Lady Darlington.  When Lady Hannah caught up to her mother, she asked Lady Elizabeth if she and Lady Freya could be the ones to show their guests to their rooms, instead of her mother.  This way Lady Elizabeth would be able to rest and not have to miss any of the night’s entertainment.  Lady Elizabeth had made one and only one map of the floor plans of the inside of Morley Manor and she labeled reach room specifically for the guest that was going to reside in that specific room during their stay at the Morley estate.  With shaking hands, Lady Elizabeth gave her daughter Hannah the map, but she then strictly told Hannah that she had to immediately return the map to her mother’s hands after she was done showing the guests to their rooms.  Lady Hannah chuckled aloud, not only about at Lady Elizabth’s prudeness, but also her precise focus on detail, while the others managed to stifle their laughter.  Lady Elizabeth explained that there were not going to be any children other than her grandchildren that were going to be born exactly nine months from today and if she was the only one to keep the master map, Everyone’s safety and security could be insured.  Lady Elizabeth said this last sentence looking directly at her daughter.  That still was not doing to deter Lady Hannah from talking with Lord Wills, if that was what she wanted to do.  Lady Hannah was not married to Lord Henry Heathgrove, yet. 

Enjoy and remember we can’t edit it yet!

one_day_novelist.pdf

The leaves are finally turning from green to the brilliant colors of reds and oranges this week here in New England.  All of a sudden it’s no longer summer, fall has definitely arrived.  The temps last week were in the 80’s and now it’s a breezy 59. 

As of today my brother Ben has been deployed for 24 days.

I just got a call from my mom and she talked to my cousin Kent.  His wife Gail just got out of surgery for her breast cancer.  She came out of the surgery well.  The surgeon said that she had “matted lymph nodes” which I think means that she has stage III breast cancer.  I did some research and there is a great article at the American Cancer Society’s web site. ( http://www.cancer.org/downloads/CRI/Breast_VIII.pdf )

I am praying for her speedy recovery and that the chemo and radiation will be easy for her.

Here is some great advice I found for family and friends of those with cancer:
“When you or a loved one is faced with the frightening diagnosis of cancer, it’s natural to experience feelings like hopelessness, fear, and despair. In those moments, we are most in need of simple words that can bring comfort, faith, and the hope of healing. Let th[ese]… prayers, mantras, and healing words bring some peace into the cancer journey.

Freedom From Suffering

May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses. May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free. May the powerless find power, and may people think of befriending one another.
–The Buddha

Blessing When Receiving Chemotherapy

Blessed are You,
Compassionate One,
For giving me
these droplets of
(name of chemotherapy drug),
Like refreshing dew
and healing rain,
may they save my life.
–Diann L. Neu

 Questions

Dear God,
I have developed a disease which I have often feared. I am afraid. I am lonely. Questions crowd my mind: Will I be cured? Will there be pain? How long will I live? How will my family handle this? I ask with all my heart that I be healed. But, if my healing is not in Your great plan, I trust You to be with me through it all. I trust You to give me peace, to let me live with hope, to relieve any pain, and to let me know Your presence. Amen.–Courtesy of

Baptist Memorial Hospital

http://www.beliefnet.com/gallery/cancerprayers.html?pgIndex=8

 Let us pray for all those afflicted with cancer.  Amen

Today my brother B. has been deployed for 9 days.

 Since I spent some wonderful years in Minnesota, I found this quiz both humorous and insightful.  P.S. Some of the words are in Minnesota speak!!

Minnesota Millionaire

Regis Philbin and the “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?” television show have been successful. Since there was at least one special show with theme questions (Super Bowl), it only seemed appropriate to have more special versions.  Today we find out who is a true Minnesotan.  No fair looking at the answers!  If you are ready, let’s play Who wants to be a Minnesota Millionaire?  **********************************************************$100 How many Super Bowls have the Vikings won?

a.   1

b.   2

c.   0

d.   4

**********************************************************

$200 The Mississippi River starts at which lake?

a.   Lake Superior

b.   Lake Itasca

c.   Mille Lacs

d.   The General Mills Pond

**********************************************************

$400 “Choppers” are worn on which body part?

a.   Hands

b.   Feet

c.   Head

d.   Over da lower end of yer backside der.

**********************************************************

$1,000 Which city is furder up nort der?

a.   Ely

b.   Dulute

c.   St. Cloud

d.  Waseca

**********************************************************

$2,000 The Minnesota State fish is?

a.   Bass

b.   Walleye

c.   Carp

d.  Eelpout

**********************************************************

$4,000 St. Paul is smaller than which other city?

a.   Rochester

b.   Dulute

c.   Minneapolis

d.   Osseo

**********************************************************

$8,000 Lutefisk can be found where?

a.   Mississippi River

b.   Lake Superior

c.   Mille Lacs Lake

d.   The basement of a Lutheran Church

**********************************************************

$16,000 Which is considered a Minnesota “State Holiday”?

a.   St. Patrick’s Day

b.   Fishing Opener

c.   Labor Day

d.   Hopkins Raspberry Days

***********************************************************

$32,000 Who are Ole and Sven?

a.   The Mayors of Bemidji and Elk River

b.   The Governor and Lt. Governor

c.   The perpetual stereotypes of “Dumb Scandinavian” jokes

d.   The former owners of the Vikings.

**********************************************************

$64,000 Which color becomes fashionable each Fall?

a.   Brown

b.   Teal

c.   Blaze Orange

d.   Gray

**********************************************************

$125,000 W-A-Y-Z-A-T-A is pronounced which way?

a.   WAY-zat-A

b.   why-ZET-a

c.   way-ZOT-a

d.   WHY-zate-a

************************************************************

$250,000 How thick should the ice be before driving onto the lake?

a.   ½ inch

b.   1 inch

c.   10 feet

d.   12 inches

**********************************************************

$500,000 Which star was not born in Minnesota?

a.   Judy Garland

b.   James Arness

c.   Jessica Lange

d.   Peewee Herman

**********************************************************

$1,000,000 Who was the first governor of Minnesota?

a.   Verne Gagne

b.   Alexander Ramsey

c.   Henry Sibley

d.   Nick Bockwinkle

********************************************************** 

Answers below: ......................... 

100     c. 0

200     b. Lake Itasca

400     a. Hands

1,000   a. Ely

2,000   b. Walleye

4,000   c. Minneapolis

8,000   d. The basement of a Lutheran Church

16,000  b. Fishing Opener

32,000  c. The perpetual stereotypes of “Dumb Scandinavian” jokes

64,000  c. Blaze Orange

125,000 b. why-ZET-a

250,000 d. 12 inches

500,000 d. Peewee Herman

1,000,000 c. Henry Sibley