For the past few months, I've found myself wearing my "wondering" cap.......no, not literally.  But I seem to be thinking and wondering about a variety of things.  For instance.......

• Why is Hillary so hell-bent on continuing a campaign that died a few months ago and has no chance of being resurrected?  Sure....it's her "right" to do so, but why would she blatantly (by her actions) tell this country, "it's all about ME.  Certainly not about our Democratic party or you, the people."

• And even worse.......why would she make a statement in reference to Robert Kennedy and an assassination?  A statement that clearly transcribed to "Robert Kennedy was killed in June.  I'm hanging in this race.  Maybe Obama will disappear in June as well."

• Why is there so much horror and tragedy in the world with earthquakes and tornadoes?  Is it just nature or is there a deeper reason?

• Why has the Kennedy family been hit with yet another sad event in their lives?  Sure, all families have tragic events, but I have to say this family seems to have had more than their share.  And having grown up with the Kennedy Compound a few hours drive from my home town, I came to love them, admire them and be inspired by them.  And each tragedy that they endure.....I feel a profound sadness.

• Why has our country suddenly reverted back to the "haves" and the "have-nots?"  I guess I'm not so much asking the question, as I am putting out my anger about it.  Because I know in my soul it's our current Administration that has caused all of it......a needless war that rages on, insane gas prices, rising costs of food and on and on.  And as always, the ones who had precious little to begin with.....they're the ones that's feeling this the hardest.  And I say.....it's just not right.

• Why did Scott McClellan suddenly decide to release all the info that so many of us in this country knew to be true five years ago?  Why all of a sudden did he feel the compelling need to write the book, What Happened?  Ahhhh.....yoooohoo!  Many of us have been asking "what happened" for 8 years now!  Gee, ya think it could be a matter of now wanting to wash his hands clean?

• Oh, and while I'm wondering......hey, my book is being released next spring.   Hmm, you think I could get a segment on the Today Show, Keith Olbermann AND with my buddy, Tim Russett on Meet the Press?  Those are all the venues that Scotty hit last week publicizing his book.  Anybody know Scott's phone number?  Maybe he'll share his marketing secret with me.

Okay......enough wondering for one day.  All this wondering makes me weary, because there never seems to be any answers. 

See you here next time........

This is a portrait of our beloved Holly that hangs in our family room.  She went to the Rainbow Bridge in May and in June, I asked one of our local artists on Cedar Key if she could do a painting for me.  She did and I gave it to Ray for Father's Day this year. 

This artist had never met Holly in person.  So she asked me to give her some photos and to tell her about Holly.....what she liked, what her personality was, etc.  I did.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but I have to tell you, when I saw this painting it blew me away!  Any of you that has met Holly in person will see what she captured on canvas is beyond incredible.  It borders on eerie.  It looks identically like our Holly.  Not only did she capture her physically......she captured her soul.  Every time I glance at that painting, I feel Holly is right there with me.

And so....I had to say to myself.....how can such an artist with such tremendous talent be hidden away here in Central Florida?  How can somebody with such potential not be known throughout the country?  I have no answers for that. 

But it does get me wondering, how it is we have so many creative people in our midst and yet....most of us aren't even aware of the gifts they have.  Why is that?

Have any of you ever heard of the singers Armand and Angelina?  No....probably not.  I had the wonderful opportunity to meet them in person and attend one of their incredibly powerful concerts about 6 years ago.  They were going to perform at a small New Age shop in New Port Richey that I liked to frequent.  I purchased crystals, gemstones, books, etc. there and was told I really wouldn't want to miss this couple.  So I bought a ticket....it was held in the back room of the shop with only about 15 people in attendance.

The moment Angelina began singing Amazing Grace, I felt like I was being transported out into the Universe.  Her pure, vibrant voice brought shivers to my body and tears to my eyes.  I could not believe this young woman with such profound talent was somebody I'd never heard of before.  And when both her and Armand (they're married) sang together.....it bordered on mystical.  I bought two of their CD's that evening.  And since then I've bought two others and just recently purchased their latest....Singing The Secret, based on the book.

I paid them a visit last week on their website and was thrilled to see that they're now touring not just in Florida, but up the east coast, out west and even into Mexico.  But as I said.....have you ever heard of them?  Like you've heard of so many others?  They're brilliant singers and when you attend their concert or listen to their CD.....their gifted voices and positive energy flows over you, just plain making you feel better.  And yet....I'm wondering, why doesn't everyone in the country know who they are?  Why isn't Armand and Angelina a well known singing duo?  I have no answers for that.  But do yourself a favor......go visit their website at this link.  You'll get treated to a bit of Angelina singing Amazing Grace when the site loads.

And now....you tell me.....why is it that we have so much creative talent in the arts and yet....most of it is unknown to you and me.  This still leaves me wondering.

See you here next time......

Did any of you hear about the horrific car accident on June 28 in Canandaigua, New York?

I heard about it in a news segment last week and couldn't believe my ears.  A 17-year-old girl was driving her four friends to her parent's vacation home when her SUV, which had just passed a car, swerved back into oncoming traffic, hit a tractor-trailer and burst into flames.

What astounded me (I know....call me naive) was the fact that a succession of calls and text messages on her phone were cited as possible factors in the crash.  Text-Messaging WHILE driving?  Good Lord.....I see enough people....both adults and teens TALKING on a phone while driving.  But typing? 

The records indicated her phone was in use at the time of the accident, but of course they'll never be able to clearly state that she was the one doing the text messaging. But two minutes before the crash was reported, her phone was used to send a text greeting to a friend.  He sent a reply less than a minute before the first 911 call.

So five girls....newly graduated from high school....all gone!  Their lives snuffed out in a matter of seconds!  And very possibly because she was sending a text message while driving. 

While I felt very bad to hear this, my next thought was....WHAT if this girl was texting while driving and hit one of my family members?  It could easily happen, if this is what kids are doing while they're supposed to be concentrating on DRIVING.

So I'm wondering.......should this be banned?  Should cell phones be banned while driving?  While the talking on the phone may be easy to see, thereby leading to an arrest, how would we be able to catch the teens that are texting? 

I don't know about you....but this truly scares the heck out of me!  To think, I could be driving along, focusing on my driving, doing the right thing and because some teen feels it's vitally important to reply to a text message while driving, "I" could be wiped off the face of the earth. 

Just wondering.....how do you feel about this?  See you next time..........

Based on my blog posts of the past few days.....I'm curious about something.  Something was said in a comment that got me to thinking.  So folks......guys and gals, alike......I need your help on this one.  And I hope you'll put parties aside when you answer my question.  Try not to base it on your political preference.  Based on all that has happened with our country and our government these past 7 years......

FOR THE GALS:  If you were a military wife, would you feel compelled to support your husband's service to our President?  I do not mean his "service to our COUNTRY".....that's a whole different topic. I mean supporting, for lack of another word, your husband's BOSS. Now I certainly don't mean "would you be out there protesting with banners and signs in public."  What I mean is......just because your husband was in the military, would it be more important to you to support that "service to our President" or would you allow your own thoughts and feelings to surface in the privacy of your home IF they differed from our government? 

I'm not a military wife.  Never have been.  But I guess where I'm confused is.....why is it any different if your husband's boss is the President of this country OR some top CEO of a company he works for.  If you felt said CEO was corrupt, a liar, had caused thousands of people to die, why would it be okay to allow negative feelings against this person to surface but not against a President? 

I guess what I'm asking is.....are military wives not allowed to feel their own emotions and have their own view points?  And I will reiterate again.....I am NOT talking about supporting our troops.  NOT at all.  I'm talking about not being able to voice or even allow your opinion to be formed.  So......Isn't this allowed?  And......what's your thoughts on this?

FOR THE GUYS:  Pretty much the same question.  Is there a "code" that prohibits you from having your own view points and opinions just because you're serving in the military?

Again....I do not mean voicing these opinions publicly.  I'm truly wondering how our military deals with all the latest events in our government.  And I guess I'm thinking, it must be a terrible thing to be committed to serving our country and yet feeling what is going on is wrong.  So must they compromise their own values due to "service to our President"?  Is it my country.......right or wrong?

I would think that must be a dilemma of huge proportions.  What do you think?

See you next time..........

Hey, Folks.....Coming soon.....to a CVS or Walgreens near you!

No....not another bank, Starbucks or church.  The Minute Clinic.  Did you happen to catch the national news last week about this?  Personally, I think it's the best thing since sliced bread.  I'm an RN and believe me, I know the deplorable conditions of health care in this country. 

Oh, sure, if you're fortunate to have health insurance and coverage you might not think too much about this.  (For the record, I happen to have excellent health insurance)  But there's way too many "working poor" and families that simply do not have coverage.

What's the Minute Clinic about?

• Quick (about 15 minute visits and no appointment needed)

• Affordable (treatments between $28 and $110, and reimbursed by most insurance plans)

• Convenient (open seven days a week, located near pharmacies)

Their slogan is, "You're sick.  We're quick!"  Boston Globe, Liz Kowalczyk reported that CVS filed a "template" clinic license application, with an eye to opening its first Minute Clinic in Weymouth, Mass.  If all goes according to plan, CVS will open another 20-30 sites.

So I'm wondering.....When you have that pressure in your head and know it's a sinus infection, or the beginning of a cold, sore throats, ear infections, or you feel you need your blood pressure checked, would you visit one of these clinics?  Obviously, we're not talking life-threatening emergencies here, where dialing 911 is the intelligent option.  We're talking those minor ailments that right now you need to call your doctor for, make an appointment, hand over between $75 and God-knows-how-much.  Oh....and then......sit in the waiting room for close to an hour before being seen.  Then with prescription in hand, you head TO CVS or Walgreens anyway.

A Minneapolis-based Minute Clinic has opened about a dozen clinics staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants in Minnesota Cub Foods and Target stores over the past four years.  They decide whether a patient needs to see a physician elsewhere and there is a Minute-Clinic affiliated doctor on call.

For those of you that think this is a pretty good idea and certainly a way for consumers to cut medical costs, be seen in a timely fashion and like the convenience.....you're probably saying, "so what's the problem?"

The problem is....plain and simple....doctors.  Many do not like the idea of this clinic at all.  Gee, anyone wonder why?  Of course they're using excuses like lack of competent care, could be dangerous, everyone wants instant service.  Just Google this and you'll see many of the cons.

As I said above, I think it's a great idea.  You'd be seen by a trained and registered health care professional and as such, he/she would know to refer you to the ER should the assessment warrant that.  That's what ER's have turned into.  I worked the Emergency Room as an RN and just about the time I was leaving that area of nursing, we were getting more sore throats and ear aches than motor vehicle accidents, cardiac arrests, etc.  Real emergencies. 

So why sit in an ER waiting room, when you could be in and out of one of these clinics in 15 minutes for much less money?  And.....walk a few steps and get your prescription filled. 

It sure sounds great to me.  What about you?

I have a new link on my sidebar, which I should have put there ages ago....The Animal Rescue Site.  When you visit here, it'll just take you a second to click that link and be taken to their page.  Just click the purple button there.  These daily clicks provides food for all the animals still in Rescue's.  I know they'll appreciate it and I sure do, so thanks for doing this.  I plan to click every day as it only takes a second.

See you tomorrow........