Where is my lollipop?

Don't you love new technology ... especially in the medical field. Tests today can detect so much more than when I was young. I'm appreciative of that and want you to know this is not a jab at my friends who work in the medical profession. However, I do have concerns about one particular machine.

Today I had an MRI because I've been having horrible headaches. As the tech prepared me for the test I as thinking claustrophobia would get to me, and I wouldn't be able to finish the test. I really did okay with that but what did bother me was the awful noise from the machine. Who makes these things? I had earplugs but the noise penetrated. Between the noise and the vibration from the machine, I just about went bonkers.

I kept trying to go to a happy place in my mind but couldn't find one. (This is a topic for another blog) It just seemed to get louder and louder. After the first part of the test they slid me out to put an IV in. I had this helmet thing on, earplugs in and had to lie still while they put the IV in. I started bleeding heavy from the stick, and when I finally realized they were asking me if I was on blood thinners, I answered, "No, but I drink a lot of water." My answer had to be very loud because I couldn't hear my voice because of the earplugs. I'm sure I was yelling, and I can tell you that they were laughing their asses off.

We finished the test and after everything is unhooked and the helmet is off my head was really throbbing. I looked at one of the techs and asked, "Don't I get a lollipop?"

He laughed and said when I started bleeding they got nervous and ate them all. In the end I have two questions: (a) Why can't these machines be quieter? and, (b) I was a good girl so where is my damn lollipop?"

The prisoner who knew himself too well...

I've always wanted to serve on ajury but was often not chosen because I was a reporter. For some reason, the attornies found it amusing that I was actually there and one judge asked me to leave. I argued with the judge that it was my constitutional right to serve on a jury but it was my beat and I wasn't chosen.

A few years ago, I received a jury summons and was so excited. I'm in a different profession and no one could ask me to leave. They told us there were several cases, including a murder case. I was pumped. And I was chosen.

Then the bad news came. I wasn't on the murder case. I was serving on a jury for a trial that was much more desturbing. I refer to this as The Trial of the Masturbating Inmate." Yes, I was serving on this jury. And in case you don't know it's against an Alabama prison code for inmates to know themselves this well.

We viewed tapes, heard other inmates testify that they witnessed him doing this quite often, and to top it off, the inmate represented himself. It was his right to do so. I listened to him butcher the English language and try to convince us the reason he was arrested for this offense was because the guards didn't like him.

What actually came out was that he had a thing for one of the guards and was caught making himself happy in the storage room. He was supposed to be helping stock supplies in there when he caught sight of this guard and was caught "in the act." I promise this is public knowledge, and if you wish, you can read the court records. My name will be listed as a juror. I'm so proud.

After sitting through the testimony and the evidence all day I was ready to stand up and scream, "They all do it. He was just stupid enough to get caught!" In the end, he was guilty, and I was released from the agony of hearing about his personal activity.

When I hear of other trials in the news, this often pops in my head and I start laughing. I'm one who will always be in favor of the justice system regardless of the outcome and definitely believe in constitutional rights. This is not the trial I would have chosen to serve on but as time has passed I'm okay with that. After all, I learned all about a prison code I knew nothing about, and life is all about learning. Right?

I'm just an old dinosaur!

There is one thing I know for sure: I'm a former journalist that would be referred to in this day and time as a dinosaur. I'm old school. I believe in the First Amendment to the Consitution, also known as the Bill of Rights, but don't think it should be used to excuse bad behavior.

Everyone has their right to their opinion of the First Amendment. Mine (in a nutshell) is that as long as I'm not defaming, using obscenity or hurting anyone then I'm entitled to express my feelings.

A few days ago, I was asked to delete a post I'd made to a friend's post on FB. That post wasn't ugly in anyway; just my sarcastic wit. This request was passed through two other people, and when I found out he put friends in the middle of his high school and immature ways, it really pissed me off. If he felt that strongly about have it he should have asked me himself, but that would be the adult way.

I did take the post off and unfriended that person. In the future, I'm going to only post to people who don't take life, or themselves, so seriously.

I am who I am and have the "right" to express myself. Now, my page will remain a place where a person can say what they feel as long as no one is defamed or hurt. No one has to agree with how I feel, but my page will be respected for what it is ... a place to be yourself and listen to the opinions of an old dinosaur.

Sometimes it only takes a smile ...

This evening I did what I do every Friday. I went to the grocery store. My heel was throbbing and I was hot and tired. As I walked through the store, I was inwardly grumbling about the price of groceries.

When I finished, I placed all my groceries on the conveyor belt and there was Reggie. He stood there smiling that big goofy smile like he does every week and said, "Hi, Miss Donna, how are you?" I found myself smiling back and saying, "I'm fine, Reggie, how are you?" Reggie's speach is always stilted, and he always asks if I have everything I need. You don't have to talk to Reggie for long to figure out he's mentally challenged. However, Reggie has one of the best attitude's I've ever been around. He takes great pride in his job as he carefully places each piece in the bags and places the bags in the shopping cart. He will never take a tip and always says, "This is my job.

Reggie is a gem and I wonder what it's like in his mind. I'm sure it's far less complicated than mine. What I do know is that he blesses me, just by being himself. I need to have more of Reggie's attitude in everyday life and is something I need to work on.

In the meantime, I pray God blesses Reggie's life abundantly, as Reggie does mine. I look forward to seeing that big smile again next week ... and the week after ...

What happened to common sense?

I asked myself that question yesterday when I heard the verdict of "Not Guilty" repeated time after time. Casey Anthony was going to be free to walk this earth, continue with her life and probably gain from her child's death in a monetary way. But then money is the root of all evil. Right?

In the beginning, I didn't want to believe that Casey would kill her child. How could a mother do that? But as time went on I knew in my gut she did. I could tell by her behavior and body language. Is that proof? No. It's listening to your inner self and using common sense ... this is something those 12 jurors lacked. I understand they didn't have all the media information we did, but Linda Drane Burdick tied it all up for them. Didn't they see her sitting there showing no emotion for her child? Didn't they hear the 911 tape of Cindy Anthony and read George's suicide note? Didn't they see the pictures depicting her behavior in the 31 days she was missing ... Casey's beautiful life.

And how could a mother kill her child, whether accidentally or on purpose, and then dump her body in a swamp for animals to feed off? That's one of the most inhumane acts I've ever heard.

In the end, it doesn't matter what I think. They didn't ask my opinion ... but you all know I've got a huge mouth and just have to put this out there. I don't get it, but I'm also not the one who has to face God one day and answer for this. I'm not quoting this directly but there is a Bible verse when Jesus said don't hurt one of my children for they are children of God. If you harm them you may as well have a millstone wrapped around your neck and thrown in the river.

One thing I do know is that Caylee is with the angles and is happy. And while I feel like her death was in vain ... maybe it'll help us all realize how precious life is. One day Casey will be judged ... millstones are awfully heavy.