How Much Is To Much ?

Every February I begin to think about what to get or do for my husband's birthday,which,by the way, falls on March first and like Christmas,the date always seems to creep up on me like some great surprise.
Last night I went on line to see what was going on for concerts and plays.
As you can imagine not much is happening during this time of year,oh man same problem,different year.
While checking out the upcoming concerts I came across Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks.
I thought this was not a bad idea,I'm a Rod Stewart fan and Vic likes Fleet
Wood Mac,so this might work.
As I checked out the dates and locations,I also noticed the prices.
$135 to $175 dollars per seat.What! Alright now much as I like Rod I refuse to assist with his multiple wives child support and alimony.
How much is to much?
We are at present in a bad economy and even if we were not,I still would not consider paying this amount of money to any musician,who has been famous for over thirty years.
I think,just like sporting events,there comes a time when we the hard working consumers have to just say "no".
I know a great concert or wonderful professional sporting event is hard to turn down but sometimes we just need to draw the line and say "I think this is to big of a burden to ask of your fans".
I do understand all that goes into these events and how everyone is very talented and deserves to make good money,but at what expense?
To say these people do not work hard for their money is an under statement,but then again so do the rest of us and besides whose to say they are anymore talented at their jobs then I am at mine.
I just can't justify $135 for one ticket to a concert and that does not include the gas to get there,stopping to eat something and possibly buying a beverage and/or snack,once there.
Nothing at these events are a deal tee shirts and Cd's are over priced along with concession food and drinks.
I think if more people refused to attend these events,related to the cost of the tickets alone,maybe they would be forced to understand we are not made of money and since we need to be frugal maybe they do too.
I have a hard time justifying any one,except maybe a talented surgeon or physician making a million or more dollars a year.
So with another few more weeks up my sleeve,my search continues for a fun birthday present that wont break the bank or set my retirement back til I'm seventy.

Positive Or Negative

There are two ways to look at things positive or negative.
If you believe things will turn out well then no issue you are having,no matter how bad,can not be overcome.
It always seems that being sad and disillusioned is easier then being happy.
Could it be that thinking negative thoughts make us feel nothing worse can happen? Or maybe we need to have imagination in order to see the positive and when were sad that simply seems like to much work?
To bad because when we see the positive we understand that the sky can be the limit.
No darkness,no matter how black can not be brightened by a single candle flame.
I really see no point in dwelling on all the bleakness when there is always a possibility for brightness.
Today after so much cold whiteness it became my vision to see spring.
I took my two small stuffed snowmen off the table,near the parlor window and replaced them with a wooden bird house and two ceramic birds,then covered all the table tops with flower and leave printed fabrics.
It is time to absorb the beauty of the outdoor sunshine and see past what is left of the less then white colored snow.
Yes there may still be ice in the driveway but there is flowers and green grass in my heart.
Spring will be here with the excitement of new life,showing its head soon.
Tulips,wrens,grass,sunshine and all things warm and wonderful,will be here soon.
How can you not feel it in the air,see it in the sky or know it in your heart of hearts.
I know what I know,what I know and that is we are at the top of the winter peak and its down hill from here into the warm sunshine.
Count the winter days down and soon we will feel the grass between our toes.
Think negative and be depressed and dreary or think positive and see the potential in front of your eyes every day.
Soon to be reality,soon to be spring.

HIPAA--Who Has Privacy Anyways?

In 2003,when I was in nursing school,the Hipaa laws were enacted.
Hipaa was set up for medical privacy so no one but whom you choose is allowed to be privy to any of your medical information.
I can remember my pediatric rotation,one of my jobs was to assist parents with signing these new forms explaining exactly how Hipaa works.
Well like all good things the government enacts,the fact that it all melts down and turns into a troubling pain in the butt is just inevitable.
My son spent 9 years in the military,ending up in Iraq for one of those years and now that he is a civilian,takes advantage of his military medical availability and testing when ever the government allows.
This morning the VA called to remind him of an up coming medical test and the preparation needed before said test.
My husband answered the phone and said "no he's at school right now but if you want to leave a message or number you can."
Before I knew it my husband,in frustration handed me the phone and walked away.
With hands full of suds,from my dishes,I grudgingly answered the phone and heard the lady on the other end say,"But I need to know your name and who you are before I leave a message or number."
I spoke with this woman who wanted to know who I was and how I was related before she would leave me any information.
Once she knew who I was she began to tell me about his test and prep needed for this medical test.
I stopped her and said "look just tell me your number,the time your office is opened and when he can call you back and he will."
I don't know about you but it amazes me how we can not be told basic information to leave a simple message but the government knows more about our information,which they gladly share with other agencies,then they will share with family.
True Hipaa in principle is a good thing but I'm tired of having to be put through the mill on basic family information while the rest of the world,total strangers are privy to more information about my husband or child then I am.
With this whole new government health care coming down the pike I fore see lots more interference in my life then ever before.
When you allow the government to be you provider you play by their rules and all privacy is off bounds.
Today I heard how the First Lady wants restaurants to cut back on the amount of food they serve us in restaurants,well there you go a mother state enacted by a government who feels they own you dietary issues.
Where does Hipaa fit in here? Am I also not entitled to the right of what I eat in my restaurant as a private act
I'm personally tired of having doctors push test on me,hospitals repeatedly calling me about doing said test,so I don't forget to show up and the pharmacy calling me to find out why my medication is not running has quickly as they deem necessary.
Where I work I deal with doctors giving me orders for medications that the pharmacy says they can not fill because the government says "no we don't pay for that we pay for this."
Funny I thought my doctor went to school to be wise enough to decide what he feels is in my best interest not the government.
I don't know about you but I spent the first 18 years of my life waiting until I was old enough to run my own life,now it seems like I have new parents telling me what to do.
Oh freedom where are you?

A Questionable Car Bomb In L.A.

Seems this morning L.A. is now getting a taste of what we in New England have faced since the day after Sept.11Th and that is the fear and threat of a questionable car bomb.
I think the reason why these south western states have not felt the true depth of our discomfort is because they are miles removed from us,on the north eastern coast, feeling we are over reacting in our fears and trepidations.
You know many states,who do not edge our northern boarders,have forgotten exactly what happened on Sept.11Th and that we are still at war.
We have forgotten our home fronts and are becoming complacent in that we are not involved in places like New York and their ever daily vigilance for safety.
We need to understand that we are a "United States" and as such we are our brothers keepers.
What effects one state effects all states be it terror threats,criminal activity,disasters,illegal immigration and much more.
This does not mean that we as states are not individuals but it does mean what happens in one state ripple down to the rest of us.
I don't feel that places like California can truly appreciate the fear that was and still is in the hearts of people who live in Mass,Conn,Rhode Island,New York and especially New Jersey.
To the western states it did not effect them the way it effected the rest of us.
To this day I can still remember the utter silence in the sky on the eve of Sept.11 and the fear that struck me personally when I heard a jet fly over our house.
Those fears of being bombed still hide in our hearts when ever New York deals with car bomb issues,even to this day.
Complacency is a cancer and we must ever be vigilant to not allow it to spread.
We can not live in fear but we also can not live in a never never land of unpreparedness.
All I can say to the rest of our country is don't get to comfortable because what touches us here in the north will eventually touch you in the west and south,if not sooner well maybe later..

Gifts

While at a restaurant with friends,yesterday afternoon,we got on the subject of gifts,not presents but God given gifts.
My friend is very into reading and understanding end times,she feels gifted because she is allowed to see what she feels is end time signals and is very comfortable with these upcoming events.
I,on the other hand,feel God did not ask my opinion when he made the world and in the same respect,he is not really interested in my feelings about when,or how, the world will come to an end.
Don't get me wrong we are just gifted in different areas of our lives.
What gives her understanding,enlightenment and comfort does not,in my case,give me the same effect.
I feel my job on this planet is to help others and if the end is near then I need to work harder to accomplish my mission before God turns out the lights and calls it a day.
In the Bible St.Paul talks about the importance of understanding our gifts and using them.
We are all blessed differently and what we are good at is what God expects us to use.
That's why when we are doing the things we are blessed to do,we are successful.
Every talent we have is really an extension of God's hand and we are not owners of these gifts but rather, borrowers.
So our real purpose on this earth is to figure out what we are spiritually asked to do and join up with others,who are given blessings in different areas,allowing us to unite with each other.
Some of us are starters,some planners,other followers and still more enders.
Everything that begins will in time also end.
To every season there is a purpose under heaven.
So with all the strange and scary things going on in the world around us,we need to remember we do not stand alone.
United as a Christian family,the time has come to bring forth our talents to support and up hold each other,even if the times of tribulation may be near at hand.
We are promised by Jesus himself to "fear not for I am with you til the end of times".
So although the daily work sits in our hands,the future sits in his.

Works And Actions

The one thing I have learned about being a Christian is that if you do it properly you are required to be an action person.
According to the Bible words alone do not make you a follower of Jesus Christ,actions do.
These actions are not just helping those in need they are also taking the steps God ask even when they don't seem to make a whole lot of sense at the time.
Sometimes we are asked to do things just to prove to the Almighty himself,that we will do what ever we are being asked,just because we are asked.
This is called obedience and if you want God to give you a bigger chunk of his trust you must first prove you are trust worthy,even to the smallest details.
When Abraham was told to sacrifice his son,he did not know why,but followed through and gained not only his son but the entire trust of God and all that accompanied it,both earthly and spiritually.
What exactly is action?
Being able to stand up and say what you need to say to others out of faith,to do what you need to do even when you go against what every one feels is right and going it alone when every one walks away from you shaking their heads,because they no longer understand your destination.
Being a Christian means the closer you get to God the father away you go from the world.
A desire to step away from materialism,to help those who are cast away by society and feeling so deeply for another's pain that you not only understand it,you experience it both emotionally and physically.
We have a saying where I work,when we meet a staff member we have not see for awhile,we say "hey my brother from another mother,how are you?"
Today those words came true,when one of our residents lost her loving devoted child.
As we talked about how tragic this was,I said we are now her family and need to treat her like she is one of us.
Although we are here from different earthly parents,we spiritually all have the same father,so now we are required to carry her burden and lighten her load.
And in my mind that is what being a child of God is all about,putting our faith into action.
According to the Bible even the demons tremble at the name of God but faith with out action is incomplete.
You can not be religious through words alone,but by your actions will you be whole and complete.
That is what is required by you,if you choose to be a Christian.

Oh Breathing Space Where Are You?

This afternoon as I walked out of work I was struck by the height of the newly plowed snow piles,over 7 feet tall with paths and trails like some sort of white maze.
All I could think of was the movie "Dune" except instead of piles of sand we have snow.
I wonder if heaven is like this? All white and fluffy every where.
Sounds peaceful,doesn't it? Well not to me,at least not right now.
Maybe I'm getting snow blindness,but what ever it is I'm learning to hate the color white,not good when your a nurse.
As I drove down the street the snow on the roofs seemed to over power the height of the houses them selves.
Snow up to the front steps and porches could be seen every where.
Today I wore a bright yellow smock to work just to remind my self,and my patients,that there are more colors to our daily pallet then just white.
And so it goes another storm tomorrow,I'm beginning to feel that I may soon step out of my front door and be swallowed up,never to be seen again.
Alas whats a claustrophobic,like myself to do,but wait for a melting to take place,ever hoping to remove this feeling of being enclosed and weighted down.
Oh Phil,the ground hog from Pennsylvania,please no more winter,please not another six more week.
Me thinks that I shall never see,the green of grass beneath my feet.