Nancy's Bits and Bytes

End of an Era...

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:25:00 +0000

Years ago, sometime around 2000, a group of fans of the tv show "Remington Steele" got together online to chat about the show. We called ourselves "SteeleWatchers", and over time had several designated chatrooms set up to use.

Over time, the number of fans dwindled until it was just myself and one other. We were unlikely friends, me from and living in E. Texas, her from the midwest, living in Wisconsin/Illinois. We agreed not to discuss politics, since we tended to be at opposite ends of that spectrum, and it's worked perfectly.

Even without the others, we still met on Wednesday evenings at 9 pm, usually to just catch on what was going on in our lives. Last year, I asked us to move the chat to Tuesdays, since it was a better night for me. She agreed, but slowly seemed to not show up, sometimes with an explanation, sometimes without. A few months ago, so had a bad fall, and I'm convinced that it affected her more than she wanted to admit, because even though I was sending her a reminder on Tuesday afternoon, she either didn't see the email or saw it and then forgot that it was chat night, which left me waiting all alone in the chatroom.

I wish I knew what the problem is. Is it her health? She said it wasn't. So that leaves me to think that it's a political thing - that she simply can't handle my politics even though we never discussed them.

So I've sent her a email that she needs to let me know when/if she wants to chat and I'll try to be there to meet her.

Pray for my friend. And for me.

Goodbyes

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:33:00 +0000

It's been a little over a week since we had to say goodbye to Kiki.

We found her (or rather, Frank found her) when we were at my cousin's house for Thanksgiving back in 2010. We'd been without a cat for awhile, and our landlord at the time wasn't big on inside pets.

Frank came into the house with a grin on his face, and I knew he was up to something, then I noticed a suspicious bulge in his jacket. It was moving. So I asked what he had in there. He opened the jacket and showed me a little yellow and white kitten, probably around 8 to 10 weeks old, and said that we were taking her with us.

I said no, that we didn't need another cat, that we didn't have food or a litter box at the house. I kept saying no until it was time to leave.

Guess what I did that evening? I went to Walmart and bought cat food and a litter box.

She was Frank's cat, always loving on him, sleeping on his side of the bed. As she grew, her fur got longer, and she had little tufts on her feet. I think she was part Maine Coon, and she was so cute, because when she ate wet food or drank water, she would use her paw like a raccoon, dipping it into the food or water, licking it off, then flinging the residue everywhere.

Fun.

After Frank passed, she adopted me, but I always felt like she was just tolerating me. We had routines that she learned early. She liked Temptations treats, and every night just before I went to bed, I'd give her a few. No matter where she was in the house, when she heard me getting them out, she would join me to get her treats.

I began taking a few extra treats into my bedroom, and after reading my Bible lesson, I would brush her, then give her the extra treats. It got to where she would stand there, meowing at me, wanting me to hurry up with my prayers so she could get those treats.

After Frank passed, I rescued another kitten, this one from under our porch. Jaggy had been abandoned by his mother, and I wasn't going to bring him inside - Kiki was clearly not happy with him being on the porch, much less inside. But I brought him in, and she hissed and snarled and growled. She wasn't happy, and refused to snuggle with the interloper.

After awhile, they would wrestle, with Kiki always being the one to end it. She learned to tolerate him, but Jaggy would sit there, staring and watching her, ready to start again.

Frank had taken her to the vet to be spayed years ago, and because of that experience, she hated enclosed spaces. Getting her into a carrier was traumatic for her, and for me. I managed to do it twice, and I have the scars to prove it.

So when she started going downhill a couple of weeks ago, I was frantic. I didn't want to maybe hurt her worse by forcing her into the carrier. She was eating, but spending 99% of the day on my bed. She was incontinent, urinating a lot. So I put pads on the bed for her to sleep on, covering them with some old towels that I kept for the cats to lay on.

Finally, she stopped eating, and was barely drinking water. I knew it was time, but I couldn't afford the huge bill that mobile vets wanted to put her to sleep here. My son came down to help. I was really worried about getting her into the carrier, but I wrapped the towel she was laying on around her, and got her in with no problem.

I was with her while the sedation was working, and I hope, even with her cataracts, the last thing she saw and heard was my telling her that I loved her and would miss her. My son went with her for the final shot - I simply couldn't do it.

Ever since Frank's death, watching someone or something die is just beyond me.

I know it was for the best - Kiki was suffering. But I've never been a fan of euthanasia. There's a slippery slope there that somehow terrifies me. I kept praying that God would take her in her sleep so that I wouldn't have to take her someplace and basically feel like I killed her or just stood there while someone else did it.

Goodbye, Kiki girl. I do miss you. It was a good 15 years.

Murder and Apathy/Charlie Kirk

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 01:27:00 +0000

I'm back! Today's events forced me back to my keyboard - and to my blog. I know, I know, no one reads these, but it helps me to keep from screaming into my pillow at night.

This really started back when a confused young man decided to shoot into a Catholic Church during mass - a mass at which children were the majority of the congregation. Right after the event, most (sane) people were asking for prayers for the victims' families - and for the shooter and his family. Almost immediately, a group of people began objecting to that - saying that 'obviously' prayers didn't help, since these children had been in church and praying when they were murdered.

Then, not very long after, a young Ukrainian female refugee was riding on public transit in Charlotte - and was stabbed to death by a man who had been arrested 14 previous times - and had spent time in jail. And while she was being stabbed and dying - none of the others on that train car moved to help her or attempted to subdue her killer. They just sat there, not looking, staring into their phones, until the train started coming into the next stop, when they went to the door where the killer wasn't. The killer was quickly caught, but I find it incredible that those people were so apathetic or possibly immune to seeing someone stabbed to death - or just plain scared to try to capture the man because maybe they might end up under arrest the way Daniel Penny had been arrested for trying to keep others safe.

Then there's today.

Christian American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was shot and killed - murdered by person or persons unknown during an appearance on a college campus in Utah. Charlie was popular with young people, made them proud to be Americans, and brought many to Christ. Only 31, he left behind a wife and children. From what I've been seeing, the shooter was likely on a rooftop with a clear view of the stage (stop me if this sounds familiar). The shooter, as of the time of my writing this, is still on the loose.

Immediately, the liberal left began to blame Charlie's rhetoric as the reason for his demise.

Next, they'll blame it on the gun. Well, I've had a gun for most of my life, and it's never shot anyone. It takes a person's finger on the trigger to make that happen.

As we learned in Charlotte, a gun isn't always necessary to kill. Knives are a more personal way, you have to get closer than with a rifle, but both are deadly, and both need a human hand to do the work.

We must stop this insanity. Treat mental illness instead of celebrating it. Keep criminals locked up - and reform our justice system so that criminals are punished for their crimes. And do it quickly. People who speak to the press must stop suggesting that maybe things would be better if so and so weren't around to cause a problem, inciting violence against that person- and if that violence does happen, charge the person who instigated it.

I pray that God will raise up more young men who will pick up Charlie Kirk's Bible and continue what he began.

"if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." ---2 Chronicles 7:14

Tomorrow is the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9-11. The government calls it "Patriot Day", but to me, that's on April 19. I call it "9-11 Remembrance Day".

Later. I need to go find a pillow...

I keep forgetting --

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 02:15:00 +0000

that I'm supposed to be coming here to write blogs.

But since no one's reading them - just like my fiction - I tend to forget about it.

I did create a post earlier, but I deleted it because it was a 'pity me' post, and I try not to post those.

But I'm going to go back to writing fanfiction for awhile - at least there's a built-in audience there.

Anyway, I guess that means I really *do* want people to read my stuff, therefore I'm not just writing for 'me'.

Later -

I'm Ba-ack! (Again)

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 01:12:00 +0000

I'm terrible at this blogging thing. Too busy writing to - well -- write, I guess.

If I hadn't posted a new Episode of Beginnings, I probably wouldn't have remembered today. Oh, well.

I was originally going to use this blog to talk about politics, but I don't want to offend anyone. I *will* talk about my God here, though, so be warned.

Back to my writing. I've gotten the Donagers to what will become the New Mexico Territory eventually, but the story doesn't stop there. Establishing a ranch, building a town - building a dream, takes awhile. And lots of things happened between their arrival in the valley and the birth of the twins. That's a lot of story fodder, I think.

I just hope others do, as well.

Link to Episode 4: His Shadow on the Land:

http://nancyeddy.com/donagerbeginnings.html

Enjoy!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Sat, 03 May 2025 01:28:00 +0000

Well, that didn't last long, did it?

I said I was going to start blogging again. So let's get this show on the road.

I have been writing fiction. Part 3 of The Donager Saga: Beginnings is going swimmingly. Or maybe that should be slowly. Not sure. I need to find a way to start writing without distractions. Right now, the TV is on and Stacy's in here. Once she goes to bed, I turn the TV down, but I've usually stopped writing by then.

I don't know. I've been thinking about taking my laptop into the bedroom and writing before bed. I don't get email on it (I don't have it set to download email), so that wouldn't be a distraction. But it would mean that I would get to bed later than I do now, and then I'd sleep too late the next morning.

Sigh.

I'll figure it out, I'm sure.

Eventually.

Until next time,

God Bless you all.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:48:00 +0000

It's been awhile. Six years, I believe. My last post was that I was going to start writing again. I didn't. Not then, at least. I have been writing for the last year or so - even re-published my novel, "Blairview" at Amazon, in both Kindle e-book and paperback formats.

But I've discovered that - while I sold a handful of copies - people aren't reading what I write. Not even when I post it for free to my website. I publish there, and the counter doesn't record anyone rushing over to read it.

Sigh. But, as I've stated before, I don't really write for other people. I write because if I don't, I go a little crazy. Okay, maybe more than a little.

I recently retired from my job after almost 30 years, and once I get a routine going, I hope to be able to write more than just the hour I've had slotted for that activity for the last year.

No one reads these blog posts, either, but here I am, writing one.

God Bless,

Nancy

#Retired #writing #publishing

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 03:23:00 +0000

Well, I've decided that it's time to start writing again --- this time, not with a view to being published. Too many people 'publish' things these days, and the market is so crowded that no one gets attention- or makes real money from the effort.

So - I'll write, but I'll post the work on my website, with links to them from my author FaceBook page.

I started writing when I was in high school. Mostly fanfiction (before I knew that that's what it was called), based on many shows. Dark Shadows, Star Trek, Here Come the Brides, The Big Valley, The High Chapparal, Bonanza. I wrote original stories, too. Mostly gothic romances, which were what I read vociferously.

Those first stories have never been read by anyone else. It wasn't until later, when I had a DS novel and short stories privately published that others told me that I was a good writer, and that I should keep going. My creative writing teacher in high school agreed, and urged me to keep writing.

So I did. When I got online, and set up my first websites, I posted some of my older fanfiction there, and finally wrote a novel that I was lucky enough to have published by Double Dragon Publishing, "Blairview". They published a second novella, "The Dark Sorcerer", and I've yet to make more than thirty dollars in the years since they hit the market from them.

Writing for money isn't why I do what I do. I write first for myself. If someone else reads it and likes it, that's just icing on the cake.

Check out my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/NancyEddyAuthor/

And my website: http://nancyeddy.com/

See you later!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 03:41:00 +0000

Life with new dentures-

Day 8

Seems to be getting a little better. I haven't taken any pain meds today, so that's a major plus.

We'll see how it goes. But it does seem that it's going in the right direction.

...

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 01:42:00 +0000

Life with new Dentures-

Day 6

Well, it's a little better today, so far. I was able to eat something that wasn't liquid. Yeah, it was soft, but I think that's a step in the right direction. Praise God.

I'm a little disappointed that the dentist's office hasn't called to see how I'm doing. Guess they're waiting for me to call them and ask for any adjustments. I don't think that will happen until the gums are healed. If I still have painful spots then, I'll call.

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 01:17:00 +0000

Life with new dentures-

Day 5

Five days ago, I had the last 5 top teeth pulled --- and a denture put into place. Even after 5 days, I still can't bite down with the denture, the pain from my gums is too severe. And the place where they did the injections to deaden my gums/mouth is very painful. But those always are when I get teeth pulled.

Taking the plate out is very painful, putting it back in, well, I end up crying for a moment. I mean, it hurts. I'm hoping that's just the tender gums/injection points.

Right now, I'm tempted to take them out and write off the cost as a loss, and just move on. I'll have to convince the dentist to pull the rest of my teeth (11 on the bottom. We were going for a partial, but after this experience, I'm not so sure.) I still have a slight gag reflex problem occasionally. And when I do try to eat (a single slice of bread), I have to eat VERY small bites, or I tend to choke.

I feel like there's something HUGE in my mouth all the time, and I"m not sure I can actually TASTE anything I'm eating.

Liquid diets are terrible. They wreck havoc on your digestive system. I want solid food.

I was so looking forward to eating a hamburger or hot dog (not sure about either of those if I can't eat something without almost choking). Or a pizza. Right now, I'd just settle for being able to bit down without pain.

My dad said that I need to be patient. I've never been a patient person. Maybe that's what this about... Maybe it's God's way of trying to get me to be patient.

Sigh....

More later.

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 01:57:00 +0000

Dental journey...

Well, after years of bad teeth, I finally bit the bullet and decided to get dentures. Tops, anyway, for now. I went to a local dentist, and got a treatment plan with prices I could expect on each 'phase' of the project.

Luckily, I have funds available so I can pay without insurance (which doesn't pay much anyway, from what I hear). I had all but 5 of my top teeth pulled a month ago. I had the front teeth pulled a few months before that, since they were on the verge of falling totally apart.

(Trust me, don't neglect your teeth. I wasn't able to afford a dentist for many years, and I'm paying for that now.)

So I have no molars, no front teeth, only two on one side and three on the other side. On the bottom, I have just one molar left: middle left side. I have the rest of my bottom teeth. The dentist seems to think we can do a partial there. We'll see.

I went today for my denture impressions, the next 'phase' on my plan. No problems. Except that I had to pay $116 more than my plan called for. Now, I know the plan says that that estimate is good for 30 days, but since I had started the work before that 30 days ended, I figure the price should be what I was told it would be when we began.

And I found out today that there's another 'phase' that wasn't mentioned on my plan: something about wax bite something. Not sure how much I'll be charged for that.

I called them when I got home and checked my plan, and discovered the discrepancy in price. I called them back, and was told that they raised their prices (for the first time in a long time, supposedly), and that someone would call me back about it.

I got no call. I'll call back tomorrow, but I hope they'll do the right thing. While I have the money to pay, I don't need 'surprises' like this. I'm basically on a fixed income these days. A set amount I get every month that I need to pay my household bills out of, along with making sure I can pay the dentist for his services.

I've discovered that I need to stop 'researching' on FB about dentures. I keep finding horror stories, and keep hearing people complain about their dentures. I want to be able to eat real food again, not mushy stuff that's easy to chew. I've been eating soups and mashed potatoes and oatmeal. I need something else. I did manage to eat a small order of french fries today. So that's a win in my book.

I told Stacy that even if I hate the dentures, I'll use them to eat.

I'll keep you informed as to what happens next.

COLD!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 22:25:00 +0000

It’s cold here. A week before Christmas, and the temp today barely got above freezing… and then only for an hour or so…

About head out to church tonight…

Later!

Testing a new program

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 03:35:00 +0000

Just testing a new program for posting to my blog. I’m thinking that I need to start blogging again…

"Press 1 if you want to continue this call in English..."

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 05:18:00 +0000

Warning: This is NOT a 'Politically Correct" article!

How many times have you called a 1-800 number and heard the words "Press 1 if you want to continue this call in English"?

If I were going to move to another country to work, even if I wasn't planning on staying forever, just long enough to make money to send home before returning myself, I would learn the language of that country.

In some countries, if you don't learn the language, you're not going to be allowed to stay in that country and work for very long.

Used to be that in order to become a US citizen, immigrants (legal immigrants) had to learn English. To get a license for most jobs, you have to be able to speak and read English. I know that back in the early 80s, when my husband and I got our licenses to drive taxis in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, we were told that the test was in English. JUST English. Even back then, there was some kind of loophole that allowed people who could barely speak English to get their 'hack' license.

Of course, the illegal immigrants aren't required to learn the language. They don't want to be US Citizens - except when it comes to getting the freebies from the government. They don't plan to stay here forever, only until they make enough money to retire comfortably back in Mexico or wherever they are from. And they are catered to by many companies, mostly because if the company doesn't, they fear being branded as bigots or racists.

Most everything is printed in at least English and Spanish (and occasionally other languages as well, usually French for the French Canadians in the north). Even our voting ballots are in both languages so that people who don't speak English can vote. Excuse me --- if you become a US citizen, then you should be able to speak and read English. If you can't, then you're likely not eligible to vote in our elections.

It's very frustrating when you're trying to deal with someone who speaks another language. And it's more frustrating when you know that they're not even trying to learn the language.

Years ago, when I worked for a family owned chain of restaurants in Dallas, there were a lot of Mexicans working as busboys and a few of them also did other jobs. But the majority of them barely spoke English. I'm pretty sure that few of them were legally in this country. One of them was sending money back to Mexico to his family who was running his ranch there. He planned to eventually return to that ranch and live on the money he made here.

While most of the men didn't speak English, their wives were sometimes an exception. Back in the 80s, there were few options on TV other than English language programming. So the wives, who usually stayed at home to cook and clean and take care of the children, would watch US soap operas, and would learn the language from the TV.

Now, they don't have to do that. There are many Spanish channels that carry the novellas in Spanish so they don't have reason to learn English. They end up letting their children who are in the US school system and learn to speak it (at school, at least, not usually at home) translate for them when they go out.

We need to start requiring anyone who stays here for more than, say, two months, to learn English to a degree that they can communicate without any problem. If they aren't willing to do that, then they need to be returned to their home country.

I know this country was founded and built on immigrants, but it was legal immigration. And it's past time that we make English the official language of the United States of America, and require all paperwork to be only in that language. Think of the money we would save by not having to print things twice or three times in different languages! Not to mention the trees.

And a hint to those companies who answer their phones with a request to 'press 1 for English' --- Why not simply do business in English. If you must shuttle someone to Spanish, do by requiring the user to press a button, not those who have taken the time and cared enough to learn English.

And now for something different == and not political

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 23:36:00 +0000

I wish I understood the trend for networks to remake old TV shows that were wonderful back in their day?

Battlestar Galactica. Charlie's Angels. Wonder Woman. Knight Rider. Hawaii 5-0. And I just saw that NBC is premiering a 're-image' of "Ironside".

*Sigh*

Is there a total lack of ideas in Hollywood these days? All they can do it 're-image' old ideas. Ideas that don't need to be re-imaged.

Find a new story. Use your own imagination, don't steal someone else's hard work.

I haven't watched any of the new re-imaged shows. I prefer to remember the originals.

If you're going to use the originals, make them continuations of some kind. Like Dallas. Using the original characters is a short cut. One that's not necessary.

I know that there are people out there who will say the new shows are wonderful. And some of them have done well.

To me, the only Robert Ironside is Raymond Burr. Same with Steve McGarrett. He will always be Jack Lord. And Adama will always be Lorne Greene.

I could go on, but I think I've made my point. Yeah, I don't like change. But change for the SAKE of change is even worse!

Go find your own ideas. Unless you're a writer of fanfiction (and not making any money from your work), using others ideas is wrong.

Off my idea soapbox now.

Ft. Hood terror attack victims get a goose egg?

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 01:57:00 +0000

After reading this: post about how Nidal Hasan's money went to 'charity' and therefore there is nothing for his victims to claim in a lawsuit, my mouth literally fell open.

After all this time, the man has no cash? My Army son gets his pay direct deposited. I was under the impression that all military pay is done that way. But this man had no bank account, and therefore was given paper checks?

And his lawyer says that he doesn't have to prove that the money went to charity?

OOOOkay... I bet it went to Al Qaeda. Or Al Jazeera. Or the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). It had likely been going there even before he committed a cowardly terrorist act at Ft. Hood, since he had no furniture in his apartment at the time that the crime was committed. We had a US solider who gave his paychecks to enemies of this country and then attacked US soldiers on a US military base on US soil.

Yet what he did wasn't terror, not according to the current administration. It was "workplace violence", and therefore those he killed or wounded were no eligible for benefits they would have gotten had it been declared an act of terror.

This is a travesty. Even Hasan admitted that he had committed his crime to protect Islam, yet those people impacted by his actions can't get any help from a government that refuses to address acts of terror.

I won't even mention the insanity that US soldiers aren't allowed to carry weapons while ON a military base. Okay, maybe I will. Thanks to President Bill Clinton, soliders aren't to be trusted with loaded weapons, even on bases.

We all need to contact our representatives and demand that things change: that those injured by Hasan receive that which they are entitled to; to find out where Hasan sent that money and recoup it; and that our military be trusted again to do what they are trained to do: protect our country.

Don't agree? Start your own blog. All statements and ideas are mine.

September 18, 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 00:51:00 +0000

I just noticed that it's been a year and 5 months since my last post here...
That's too long.

Lots of changes in my life since then. My husband Frank was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in late November last year, and succumbed to the disease on April 13, 2013.

It's still one day at a time most of the time. Frank's death, even though we knew he was ill, was sudden, and a complete surprise.

That being said, I'm trying to make up my mind about what I'm going to post on this blog. I have other outlets for my fiction, so this one will probably be for publishing my thoughts about current events and the state of society in the US.

I'll start later. Just want to let those who might have followed this blog know that there might be some things that I post that you might not agree with. That's fine. You have the option of un-following the blog, and/or starting your own blog to post your own ideas. This one is mine. Any posts from those who don't agree will be ignored.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a conservative, who believes in the Holy Bible, the US Constitution, and that my country is in danger of total destruction. I believe that abortion is murder, and that politicians need to be outlawed and replaced by statesmen, who will put the country ahead of their own greed and selfish desires.

More Later.

Been awhile

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:52:00 +0000

Sorry it’s taken so long for me to post again --- I spend most of my time on FaceBook lately, and don’t make time for blogging. Maybe I need to start again?

Wow. Been awhile

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:32:00 +0000

Need to start using this again. Let me think about how to best utilize it...

The death of a Legend, and a Change in Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:43:00 +0000

Walter Cronkite, the CBS news anchor for most of my early life, has died.

Growing up, I can remember watching him as he announced President Kennedy's death, and the death of Dr. King.

And I remember watching the landing of Apollo 11 along with him, watching his pure enjoyment and delight and amazement in that accomplishment - reflecting the emotions of the rest of the country.

For many years, he was the only news person that I really trusted to 'tell it like it was'. If Walter Cronkite said it, then it had to be true.

After he left the airwaves and I learned that his personal beliefs didn't mirror my own, his image in my mind was slightly tarnished - oh the memories were still there, but not as bright somehow.

But after listening to and watching those who call themselves 'news anchors' or whatever the term du jour might be - I'm seeing those memories again through a less shaded glass.

Yes, "Uncle Walter" might have been a liberal in his personal life, but unlike the news people of today, whose personal leanings are all too evident in their 'reporting', he kept his personal feelings out of the newsroom - except for his report about the war in Vietnam - and for that I salute him. I hope that other newscasters will take his example and with his death realize that they, too, must be able to put aside their personal beliefs and simply tell the people watching the truth, and let them decide for themselves how they feel about it.

Thank you, Mr. Cronkite, for all of the wonderful - and sad - memories from my youth.

Rest in Peace. You'll be missed.

Fall Semester report

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:18:00 +0000

Well, I ended up with four A's and one B for the semester. My cumulative GPA if 3.51. Not horrible, but not what I hoped for, either.

Oh, well. Maybe next semester.

Mission Accomplished!

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:28:00 +0000

Well, I accomplished something, I guess. All of my classes are internet
classes except for the stupid developmental math class and lab. But
those are early enough that they won't impact my job hours. Now, I'll
just have to spend most of my time at home on the computer or reading
for school. I'm taking (other than the aforementioned math) second
semester accounting, Business Principles, and Personal and Family
Finances.

Fourteen hours, but three of those are Dev. Math --- and therefore I am
*still* not at the magic twelve hours that will put me on the Honors
List if I manage to make a 4.0 again. Darn!

Classes start next Tuesday, so I have til then to get ready. My Math
class is at 8 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Lab follows that on
Mon and Wed.

I'll keep you updated.

Irrational fear of contact with mercury

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:31:00 +0000

The fear of even small amounts mercury is confusing to me. I can
remember playing with the mercury that was in a broken thermometer
several times when I was a child. And I'm not dead, or sick because of
it. Neither is my mother, who remembers playing with a good size ball
of the material back when she was in high school.

Now, the media and the EPA are terrifying people about a "trace" of mercury in
the new compact fluorescent lights that we're supposed to be using
instead of the incandescent bulbs that we've used for as long as most
people can remember - because the new CFLs are more energy efficient
(not to mention a lot more expensive).

And the EPA's 'disposal instructions' in the event of a CFL breaking are
just silly, imho. They say that when one breaks, you should clear the
area of all people, then turn off the air circulation systems. Then,
instead of using a broom or a vacuum, you're supposed to carefully,
while wearing heavy gloves, use two peices of cardboard to scoop the
broken material up and put it into a metal container to be taken to a
recycling center. Trouble is, those centers aren't everywhere - and
they won't always take it when you bring it in. So what then?

All of this for an admitted trace amount of mercury. That's insane.

I have to wonder if my mom and I are the only ones who remember playing
with mercury and don't have any ill effects from having done so. Anyone
else out there remember playing with it as a child? And if so, do you
have any health problems that you can trace directly back to mercury contact?

Testing results

noreply@blogger.com (Nancy) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:27:00 +0000

Well, I retook the test --- and still have to take the d*** developmental math course next semester. And from what I'm seeing, I might have to take the same one that I just took and made A's in! And if that happens, I'm liable to go ballistic with someone. The test was on basic algebra, which isn't what we covered last semester!

I am not a happy camper at the moment. I'm ticked off that I have to take courses that don't give me any credits or grade points. And I still have to pay full price for those d*** classes, not to mention using my grant money to buy the books for it and pay the lab fees.

It's a rip off, if you ask me. And not fair in the least!