6 + 8 = 14

Giving birth to octuplets is rare. 10 years ago a Houston couple had 8 babies. One died shortly after birth. This family had one older child. Now we hear of a young woman in California who has given birth to octuplets after having fertility treatment. She already had six children ages 7,6,5,3 and 2 year old twins. This does not sound like an infertility problem to me.

I had to take Clomid years ago. It took me a long time to have my first child and to help with my second pregnancy I chose Clomid which is a mild fertility drug which rarely results in more than two babies at once. Lucky me, I got the two. At that time the choices for help were Clomid, ovarian resection or trreatment which was only available at major medical centers. I chose the easiest, safest way first which worked for me, so I was lucky.

The young woman from California apparently chose the fertility treatments which are used more these days and are very expensive. Embryos were implanted hoping that a couple of them would survive. But why did she need fertility treatment in the first place? She obviously had no trouble getting pregnant the first 5 times. Add to this the fact that she is a young, single woman who lives with her parents and her six children. Six kids are expensive but fourteen kids could cost a couple of million dollars . Add to this the fact that no-one knows yet how the octuplets will fare. It is not uncommon for premature babies like these to have life long problems. I don't even want to think about the hospital bill or the doctor bills. And that is just while they are still in the hospital. The cost will go on for a long time. There have already been people donating to help defray the costs.

To me there are a lot of questions about all of this. Many medical ethicists are struggling with the decison made by this young woman and her doctors. Most fertility specialists say they would not implant any more than two to four embryos at any one time.When a woman has a multiple pregnancy it is both difficult for the mother and the growing babies. Should the doctors have implanted that many embryos? Will she be able to provide for all her children without help from others? Will the state end up paying for their care? Will she get a cable channel show about them? That would probably help. I understand her father is planning to go back to Iraq to do contract work to help with expenses.He also told the media that they have a really large house which, according to him, the media will never find.

There are a lot of couples who are desperate to have children, even one. They spend thousands of dollars on the chance of have a child. Some succeed but others don't. I have a great deal of empathy for these people. At first I was astounded that this woman was able to deliver so many babies. It is a marvel that they are all apparently healthy. But, now I have to wonder if this woman really needed fertility treaments. So many questions, so few answers.

What Do You Mean You Don't Have Time?

Busy? No time? Yeah right...get off the poker table! I don't really know what this says about the situation, but it seems funny to me. Jimmy spends almost all his non-working time playing poker on line with his friends. They chat, tell jokes and talk about all sorts of things while they play.Is he addicted to this? Maybe. Maybe it is a stress relief. Then again...?

One of the guys that Jimmy works with has been getting movies on his computer. Last week he streamed one over to Jimmy's laptop. It took forever. As far as I am concerned, not my problem. Jimmy was a little astonished that it took so many hours. Yeah, and how long does he play poker each day? Talk about a long time. He comes home from work, grabs his laptop and starts playing poker. He stops just long enough to eat when I tell him that supper is ready. Then back to the game he goes. He continues to play after I go to bed. Sometimes on the week-ends he plays way into the early morning. Then he sleeps longer. Hum...When he gets up, back to the poker table. We lead such and exciting life...

I nearly fell over the other day when his friend asked him if he had watched the movie yet. "I've got some more..." Jimmy actually said "When do I have time?" What? I thought to myself he could just not play poker for a couple of hours, right? What do you mean, you don't have time? Jeez! Pry your fingers off the game and push play on the movie!

Personally I don't know how anyone can sit in a chair (recliner no less) with a laptop sitting on a tray table playing poker, or any game, for hours on end. If I tried that, something would hurt after a while. Either my eyes would start to swim, my shoulders, neck, elbows, or hand would soon be screaming objections. Just how does he do it? Beats me. But he says he hasn't had time to watch a movie, yeah right. Humph.

Good Grief, Not Again!

Ok, so, the feds have poured my money into companies who have made bad decisions. And some have done stupid things before, during and after getting my money. Remember the auto execs flying on corporate jets to Washington? Many of us are still wondering why there seems to be no end to bone head moves. And just why won't the banks fess up to what they have done with the money?

Remember a few years ago a top dog guy got in trouble for buying a very expensive shower curtain? A couple of thousand dollars it cost, I think. Guess some people have short memories. Yeah, let's re-decorate the office and keep the cost to about $1 million. Cough, say what? Yeah, some body better back pedal fast on that one.

At least one company got caught and had to change it's plans. Citigroup apparently could not hide the new jet order from the press. They insist that the new jet would be bought after selling it's other two jets. The money did not come from taxpayers. More like "oops, caught again..." I understand the White House pressured the head boys at Citigroup to re-think the purchase of the new, sleek french jet. Aha.

Does anyone in Washington care that there are people losing their jobs all over this country? Just how do the banks that took the TARP money get away without transparency it how the money is used? Banks are buying banks, but not loaning money to the public. Ceos and other executives are still getting big bonuses. Way to go guys. Why don't you give a cup of coffee to the guy in the unemployment line? How about a spa vacation? Good grief!

It Will Get Better, Right?

Ah, it's Friday. Maybe this weekend will be at least quiet. These days I almost never know which annoyance will raise it's ugly head first. I keep thinking that I should just let things go and be cool. But sometimes that is not all that easy. Ever find yourself feeling like every one and every thing irritates you? Yeah, we all know the drill; step back, relax, forgive. uh huh.

Every time I walk around the back of our building, I feel a tweak of irritation as I walk the dogs to their duty calls. The neighbor next to us put a sign in her living room window telling "me" not to let my dog poop around her area, and that it is against the law not to pick up poop. First, mine don't poop under her windows and second there is no law in the county about poop pick up. Third, the lady who keeps half a dozen kids during the week has a dog, Lucy, which she turns loose, sans leash, to run free to do poop any where she wants. But, unofficially, I think I am being blamed. Just cross me on it woman.

Since the weather has been semi-warm all week I have had to listen to the dulcet tones (not) of children screeching as they play on the postage stamp patio of the babysitting lady. Couple this with the times she leaves her dog alone on the patio to yelp and complain, I wonder where peace and quiet went. I feel a little like repeating Greta Garbo's line of "I want to be left alone."

To top it all off Jimmy has been in a "mood" and won't say much more than "I want to be left alone." Maybe it is just a phase, a mid-life crisis? Of course the natural tendency to this would be to ask "What did I do to you" and of course the answer is "It's not you, it's me". Ah, at least we have two tv's. We can each be alone...

So, I will close with this...

One day the zookeeper noticed that the monkey was reading two books--the Bible and Darwin's "The Origin of Species."

In surprise, he asked the monkey, "Why are you reading both those books?"

"Well," said the monkey, "I just wanted to know if I was my brother's keeper or my keeper's brother."

DMX - Not The Place I Want To Be

Poor rapper DMX is in jail in Arizona. Poor Baby. He did the crime and has to do the time in pink. Sheriff Joe Arpaio runs a tough jail in Maricopa County. He makes the inmates wear pink jail uniforms. He is known for his tough, no nonsense approach. But poor DMX is not happy because he thinks the pink jail clothes are disrespectful!

DMX is complaining that being in jail and wearing pink is "not where I want to be". So what does he want? He's in jail for numerous felonies but he is complaining about the pink uniforms! Maybe he'd like some designer duds? Poor fella just does not understand the concept of jail. Just how does a pink jailhouse frock disrespect him? My answer, if you get caught committing crimes in Maricopa County,Arizona, be prepared to be "pretty in pink" while serving your time in jail. Jail is not a country club, at least in that county.

Personally I have no problems with the jail clothes. Jail is tough and it is supposed to be. Felony crimes are not funny. I guess DMX thinks he is special. My answer? Hey, DMX, if you want to do the crime, don't do it in Maricopa County Arizona.

Just Another Day in Paradise

I guess it is going to be another one of those blah days. I ate my cereal this morning- blah. I can't seem to think of anything to do today that is not blah.

I hope the little sparrows who are trying to build a home inside the open space above one of the living room windows are having a good time. My computer desk is right in front of this window, so I keep hearing noises and seeing birds bumping around the window. Alfred Hitchcock, are you watching?

Since it is chilly outside, I have no desire to take the dogs outside although Daisy might disagree with me. I also, thankfully, don't have to go anywhere so I won't have to fight with the gear shift. We still can't figure out what is wrong, but it seems to work better when it is warmer outside. Good thing we don't live up north. The car shop across the street wanted $60 to $120 just to "diagnose" the problem. Humph.

I guess I just feel lazy today. What? As opposed to any other day? Maybe I should water the poinsettias which are still blooming and putting on new leaves.

I did find this funny...

A new pastor moved into town and went out one Saturday to visit his parishioners. All went well until he came to one house. It was obvious that someone was home, but no one came to the door even after he had knocked several times. Finally, he took out his card, wrote on the back "Revelation 3:20" and stuck it in the door. (Revelation 3:20 reads: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he will with me.")

The next day, as he was counting the offering he found his card in the collection plate. Below his message was a notation "Genesis 3:10" ("And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked.").

Can't Smell the Roses or Cigarettes?

Last night Jimmy was standing outside smoking when our neighbor across the walk also came out to smoke. They chatted for a few minutes. During their chat, our neighbor told Jimmy that he was able to sneak outside for a smoke because his wife was taking a shower. She has no sense of smell so she doesn't know that he smokes. He smokes outside and keeps the cigarettes and lighter in his car which she does not ever use. Since they have a little boy who is not yet two she always drives her suv. He usually works nights and she works days most of the time. So I guess it is possible she is not aware of his cigarette habit.

I know there are many reasons people have either a decreased sense of smell or none at all. I get that. But what I found funny was the fact that this woman must be really dumb or maybe he is . He thinks that she will never discover that he smokes since she can't smell anything. Yeah, my evil twin has been thinking of a plot to let her know her husband smokes. Oh sure, it is not my business. But I have to wonder is this woman is really clueless. She is a bit of a "I'm better than you" type person. I just find it hard to believe that she has never seen any evidence. He tosses the butts in the grass between our buildings where Jimmy throws his.

Maybe I am just a curious person by nature. I think I would know. Then again I have a good sense of smell. What if while he was sneaking a smoke she suddenly thought of something she needed to tell him? Or what if the phone rang and the call was for her husband? And how long will it be before the kid finds out and babbles the truth? I'm sure this husband thinks he will never be discovered. She'll never find out. Well, at least I find this amusing, for now...

Stuck in Park, No Movement Here

Ever have a day that starts off wrong? I'm having that kind of day. We've been having a problem with the Trans Am which is to say the least, irritating. In order to get the car out of park you have to step on the brake and push in the button on the shift lever to get the car into gear. It has become harder and harder to get it out of park. So of course today I have several errands to run, including paying bills and getting stamps to pay those bills as well as pick up a couple of grocery items. I get in the car, start it, press the brake and push the gear shift button. Nothing. The more I try the madder I get. What really maddens me is the thought of having to wait until Jimmy gets home to see if he can get it to work. That irritates me cause I would rather not have to do things later in the afternoon. Traffic around here after 2:00pm is horrible. I'm steamed!

I talked to a car care guy who said that the problem is that when you step on the brake, that sends electricity to a little motor on the gear shift assembly to unlock it. He thinks that is wearing out. I had to laugh cause when he said I could replace this thing or just remove the "stupid thing" as he called it. He said "it's a pretty stupid safety device anyway". Yeah, thanks. I talked to him in December and Jimmy was going to see about getting someone to remove it. Well of course that has not happened yet. Now I'm stuck!

So, since I can't apparently go anywhere I do need to download some forms so that I can send off for a rebate on a computer program we bought. So I have to download another program so that I can print the papers to send off to get the lousy $10.00 rebate. I wait and wait to get all this done. Finally I have everything ready to mail. Oh wait, I can't do that cause I don't have any stamps which I was going to get this morning but... This may become one of those days when people may need to stay out of my way. So where did I put the vodka? Grrr....Maybe tomorrow will be better? Yeah, right.

Brain Sex??

Until last night I had never heard of this. Go ahead and laugh. But after thinking about it, it could make some sense. I was watching "Brothers and Sisters" last night when Kitty and Robert were in his office talking. Well, as they said they were having a spirited discussion. They were really enjoying the sharing of ideas, viewpoints and information. In the scene, after the discussion, they called their conversation "brain sex". Huh? That is what I thought. They said they felt such joy and passion after their discussion that it was not unlike, well sex.

I thought this was an interesting concept. How many times do we have really good, fun discussions with our spouses/partners? Thinking about this, it really does make some kind of sense. I know people that I find interesting and enjoy talking to them. But I don't see them every day. So I don't get to have spirited discussions about things. And lets face it, after you have been married a while how often do you really talk about or discuss things. Many people joke about how well a couple knows each other that they can finish each other's sentences. They know what opinions each other has. But given the show's characters description of their vibrant discussions, how often do we have great "brain sex"? Hum...