Love to our Hostess, Her Hubby & Baby Hayden

Thank you for the gift of love and family~ Mummy & Daddy
Colorado 2010

"...the surest way to make ourselves ctazy is to
get involved in other people's business,
and the quickest way to become sane
is to tend to our own affairs."
Melodie Beattie

"Everything is free when you pay for nothing."
~from my wise little sis~

Comfort Foods~

SOMETHING TO WARM YOUR TUMMY
Barefoot Contessa-It must be tasty!

Ingredients

nocoupons

• Kosher salt
• Vegetable oil
• 1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
• 1 quart milk
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 12 ounces Gruyere, grated (4 cups)
• 8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 pound fresh tomatoes (4 small)
• 1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.

Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

I know it's time~ for me to travel along this path. There is every sign. I don't believe that it can get any heavier for me, everything feels heavy. I am concerned with things that don't belong to me, things I have never paid mention to, it's time. I will go and do the work I need to do to care for myself, to honor those I loved and to be present to those I have. It's good that it's come to this ~ feelings like these bring on change~ I'll see myself in a new light, the old light, soon~ or as soon as it comes to me~ peace.

"Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak whispers the o'er fraught heart and bids it break. "

-- William Shakespeare, MACBETH ACT IV, SCN 3

Just Seems Fitting~

Woke up at 2am with this song in my head~

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

The Bucklin Boys~

I like the sound of that, "The Bucklin Boys".

I never knew them but as I sat amongst their family today I was intensely aware of just how special each of them were, are, will always be. I do know their Grandma Karen. She is brave and strong, and in shock.

Luke Bucklin, his 14 years old twin boys, Nate & Nick, and 12 year old son Noah died in a plane crash on Oct 25 in Wyoming as they were returning from a family vacation. They were found one week later, and were returned home ~ to those that loved them. They are survived by Mom, Michelle, Sisters, Sarah & Sami, and little brother, Oliver, 5 years old.

They came amidst a heavy snowfall, our first this year, to say good-bye. Arm in arm, holding hands, tears, many tears, children, grandparents, moms and dads, throngs of children. Friends of Nick, Nate & Noah. Their innocent faces bespoke of a tragedy incomprehensible to them. The loss of 3 friends, and a dad, unparallelled to our big, grown-up understanding of grief.

"Little toy trucks, little toy trains"....their mother sang them to heaven. "Now I lay me down to sleep", mouthed by young, fresh faces, untouched by this kind of loss, as it was sung repeatedly within a song.

Thousands of blue and white balloons guided the "Bucklin Boys" on their way, with a backdrop of fresh, pure white snow. I watched my own balloon travel free and high ~ as I said good-bye.

Deep love and prayers~

Hope Ongoing

While watching the "Biggest Loser" tonight one of the contestants thanked Bob and said, "I get it, I feel like I have one hand on the wheel, and the other reaching toward it." It brought to mind a person I worked with recently who said, I almost had it, I know I did, I felt different, I let you down. Isn't it the feeling a little bit different, a shift of some kind that gives us hope, the courage to change, to shift, to become. I passed this person as he sat down to eat lunch, he put his hands together in prayer for the food he was about to receive. I paused and watched him. I think he's got it, one hand on the wheel, the other hand reaching. Thank you for the lesson, a shift, as I now too, put my hands together. God bless you D~

MedPage Today Article-Chilean Miners

I responded to the question of "Will the Chilean Miners Have Long Term Effects from their experience." I saw Yes, as did about 75% of voters. I then wrote the below article and it was accepted to be published. I was thoughtful in my writing and amongst others far more credentialed and knowledgable but all thoughtful and caring~

CLJ, Alcohol & Drug Counselor- Oct 19, 2010
Our 33 miners will face struggles that are not insurmountable. The psychological help they get ongoing, will only be as good as their therapist and her relationship to him. These men have had an extraordinary experience, under extraordinary conditions. They may feel isolated due to their experience. It was a group of 33 so that can be powerful. The physical ramifications may not exceed what the miners were exposed to on a daily basis while working, only time will tell. Let's not forget the rescuers and the intense pressure they must have felt to be successful in their attempt to save 33 lives. They encompass many milieu and may have significant after effects as well. What an exceptional outcome, one the world shared with fear, trepidation, and finally JOY~ Thank you to all who participated for the benefit of the whole~ Cynthia

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY
TO MY BABY GIRL
~
I LOVE YOU MISS KATE
MUMMY
xoxo

Grand Baby!

Welcome to the World Little Hayden Scott~

I spent two very special weeks with your Mommy & Daddy waiting for you to come to meet us. I was asked to be the "co-coach" at your birth AND what an honor for me! We all found it hard for me to remain at home in Minnesota until the call came that you were ready...so, I came two weeks early, just to be sure :) Your Mommy and I had many happy days together, waiting. That was very special too. And come you did, as Poppie was driving across the country to meet you. It was the most special of all moments. I will always remember the exact second of your birth, your Mommy, Daddy, and I welcoming you with tears and yelps of joy!! What a precious little boy you are. I knew I was about to have an incredible life changing moment and I surely did. I will tell you more as time goes on but for now this note is just about you joining us, entering the world, and the joy you have brought to me and your Poppie. We love you precious little one~

Star light, Star Bright, Grammie

ANNOUNCING THE BIRTH

OF

OUR PRECIOUS LITTLE GRANDSON

Hayden Scott Duncan

September 21, 2010 ~ 7:48 am

5lbs ~ 6 oz

18.5 inches

solid gold

PROUD GRAMMIE & POPPIE

Proud parents, Katie & Ryan

And he came with a burst of starlight and swirls,

ribbons and bows and sweet baby toes,
such sweet baby fingers, and a tiny button nose~

~No greater gift than love~
oh how we love him, and his

mommy and daddy too!

Creative Juices

A little ditty of a pin for a special lady retiring after 31 years of caring for people who are at the "bottom" in their lives. She truly is a STAR! Who knows who will get the others~only time will tell~ Judy's is front left...

Creative Juices

There is no better feeling than creativity. It's luscious. I have a few Christmas gifts yet to give, so for my friend Diane, I put scissors to paper and whipped up a little ditty, a take-off on our "Annual Christmas Craft Day". I will make many more~what fun!

Health Matters!

We Don't Last Very Long
By: Melissa Velez-Avrach January 04, 2010
About 3 weeks ago, I was in Florida visiting my folks. My father just lost a second brother to colorectal cancer and is in mourning. I kept thinking that I needed to say something to him now that I was there in person. However, during our previous phone conversations, he had already told me that he didn't want me to mention it, that it made him sad. My first uncle, Mario, lived here in the US. Although he lived in a country with an imperfect healthcare system, in his case, he had the financial means and access to use all of the available care and treatment options. Although Uncle Mario died, there was some comfort in knowing that the tough man fought with dignity and medicine at his side. I wish all Americans could have this comfort.My second uncle, Alcibiades, lived in Cuba. Of the 8 siblings, Uncle Mario and my dad were the only ones who emigrated to the US. Uncle Alcibiades was not as lucky as Uncle Mario in his cancer treatment. When our family in Cuba is ill, my parents send medical supplies. In this case, they sent a few things including colostomy bags so that Uncle Alcibiades wouldn't have to reuse the one and only bag provided by the Cuban hospital. But doing this was a very small comfort.Being of Cuban descent allows me to know the real Cuba, not the Cuba presented to tourists of non-Cuban descent and the incendiary Michael Moore. With all of the recent U.S. healthcare debates, a few have mentioned Sicko to me and this was getting a little tiring, to say the least. I really should have directed them to this 20/20 interview and this article, but this topic is an emotional minefield for me. So like my dad, I shut down and don't want to talk. "The personal is political and the political is personal" -- indeed.Dealing with all of this, it was easy to sink into hopelessness. Then, I started thinking about my family history and for the first time, it occurred to me to ask how abuelo, my paternal grandfather, had died. He died in Cuba before I was born, but I always felt connected to him and the one and only picture I have seen of my Grandpa Jose Isaac came to my mind. I was horrified to hear that he died of GI cancer.That's why dad had said, "We don't last very long." He included himself because within a few years he will have reached the range, the death ages, and believed he was next.Turns out that dad's doctor did not know about this cancer history. I was shocked -- my dad and his doctor have a great relationship. Dad's PCP is an awesome physician and he's a Cubanso! How could he not know? Is there "CME" for patients like my dad who need help in talking to their physicians? I wonder if many patients, especially older and/or ESL patients, have an issue with giving doctors details? While my dad is somewhat taciturn by nature, I know from previous conversations that my parents think talking to the doctor is an annoyance to the professional. Consciously or unconsciously, they view an overly engaged patient as a challenging patient. Perhaps it's cultural or generational or both, but whatever it is, it's a big barrier.Now, my dad's PCP is informed about the family history and because of this, dad will be seeing a gastroenterologist on a regular basis. An endoscopy and colonoscopy are scheduled for this month. While my dad's instinct was to be silent, opening up, if only to divulge the corresponding medical details to his doctor, may be the thing that gives him a chance at celebrating more birthdays -- more new years of his life.

COMMENTS:

January 05, 2010
Your father will now have a chance that he may not have had prior to your action. And how many of us think that our doctor's time is more important than our lives by talking quickly, thinking they must get on to the next patient? We need to remember they are providing our healthcare, and protecting our lives, so that we do last a very long time. Communication is the only way -- in all cases! Well done.-- Posted by cynthia j

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ 2010

No gentler way to ring in the New Year than to be surrounded by the beauty of new fallen snow, a "blue" moon, and the love of my life at my side. May peace be your friend in the coming year. God Bless~