Claudia Broome's blog

Randy Pausch gave his last lecture

2009-09-26T09:24:34-05:00

October 23, 1960-July 25, 2008 (aged 47) Pancreatic Cancer Victim offered to help people change their own lives by his example of living life to the fullest as he faced his own death.

I just saw a video that pales the message that my friend Rugby Jones and I are attempting to share. The video is one of the late Dr. Randy Pausch. There are songs that give similar messages but not with the profound effect that this video has. For those of you who have not heard it, the title is “The Last Lecture.” The premise came from Carnegie Mellon. The idea was to invite a professor to speak to students and faculty as if it were the last lecture that he or she would give. Each year, the invited professor spoke about his or her reflections on life, kind of like the country song by Tim McGraw Live Life Like You Are Dying.

The message that Dr. Randy Pausch gave was infinitely more poignant because he had only been given a few months to live and it was indeed, his last lecture. The part of the lecture and his book that really hit me hard was the part about apologies. He states that “A bad apology is worse than no apology.” How many times have we heard… “I’m sorry but you…” or “I’m sorry that you misunderstood…” or “I’m sorry that you don’t like…” And even worse, flip… “Sorry.” Too often, people offer an insincere apology just to calm the waters in a storm of an argument. I am acutely aware of how often some people just say they are sorry just to get back on the proverbial good side of the offended party.

Randy Pausch had a theory that was not a totally new one but he said it in a very simple context. He said that there are three parts to a sincere apology.

What I did was wrong.
I feel badly that I hurt you.
How do I make this better?

Eight hundred years prior to Randy Pausch’s book, Moses Maimonides presented the idea that the barometer of a person who is truly apologetic is one who, when faced with a similar situation does not repeat his or her previous behavior that had caused hurt.

The YouTube link for his lecture is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ya9BXClRw Please take time to watch it. It will, in my opinion, put your life in perspective. It sure did mine.

After watching this video, I would ask you to think about these questions:

What is the most important thing in life? Could things in my life be worse or better? How can I live with more purpose? How can I live more in the moment appreciating all that I have without placing focus on what I don’t have? How can I make a difference in this world? How would I live if today were my last day?

The "Tail" Of Rugby Jones: A Rascal's Journey From Disability To Ability

2009-09-09T10:16:57-05:00

New Book Introduces A Hero to Handicapped and Special Needs Kids

BOYERTOWN, Pennsylvania (September 8, 2009) - Author Claudia Broome has created a literary hero. He is a Pembroke Welsh corgi named Rugby Jones who is paraplegic and not about to let that stop him. The “Tail” of Rugby Jones captures Claudia’s dynamic personal story about how Rugby is captivating thousands of people with his humorous, lovably cocky and to-the-point message that disability is really ability in disguise.

“Handicapped kids have law, teachers, and parents to protect them,” says author Broome, “but they don’t have any heroes. Rugby Jones is here to fill that gap.”

Written in Rugby’s voice, the story recounts his life on a Pennsylvania horse farm, the injury that paralyzed him and his unique approach to conquering adversity with a heavy dose of confidence in his own differentness and a canine wheelchair named Zoomie.

“His appeal for children – especially children like him who are handicapped in some way – is instant!” Author Broome reports that, without guidance, kids understand that anyone can enjoy life fully by embracing their circumstances and taking pride in their differences. Rugby Jones is the hero they can look up to. He has thousands of followers on Twitter to prove it @rugbyjones.

Initially caregiver to her courageous and resourceful dog, Claudia Broome became his student, learning firsthand how to overcome adversity, gain strength and nurture self-esteem. Her personal focus now is reaching handicapped children and all those who are involved in their lives through her Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania company Rugby’s World LLC.

If you would like more information about this topic, see www.rugbyjones.com or www.claudiabroome.com. To schedule an interview with Claudia Broome, please call Connie Ashton 610.473.1335 or email connie@ claudiabroome.com

Contact:

Claudia Broome

claudia@claudiabroome.com

610-473-1335

###

Teaching Sameness Is Just Wrong!

2009-08-29T12:51:07-05:00

What are we teaching our children when we approve of sameness? Teaching this fallacy gives a foundation that is difficult to overcome. The reality is that people are different and that is what “makes the world go round.”

Things have certainly changed. When I was young, I learned about competition and that was a good thing. I played on teams and sometimes we won the games and sometimes we lost. We felt happy when things went our way and sad when things didn’t. We worked harder at whatever sport we were playing and then learned the lesson that success doesn’t always come easily. I tried out for plays and sometimes I got the part and sometimes I didn’t. I would feel disappointed or excited at the outcome. Then I worked harder so that I would do better the next time.

I will never forget the day that I experienced T-Ball for the first time with my oldest son. Those adorable little tykes didn’t quite get the concept of going to first base, then second base, then third base and then finally home. As a matter of fact, they didn’t exactly understand that they needed to hit the ball off of the “T” before they should start to run.

When that first game was over and the kids and I were in the car heading home, I complimented my son on how well he had done. He looked up at me with sad eyes. He said, “It doesn’t matter.” I didn’t understand his words. I went on to mention that his team did really well and then I made the most terrible blunder, I mentioned the score. My son looked at me indignantly. He said, “That wasn’t the score. It doesn’t matter anyway because the game ended in a tie.”

At that moment, I didn’t have a clue why he said that. I called one of my neighbors who had kids a bit older than mine and asked her how T-ball worked. I couldn’t believe her explanation but it became abundantly clear as my younger three children began to play T-ball. The bottom line is that there are no winners in T-Ball. All the games end in a tie.

What lessons were taught to these youngsters? I think the lessons were pretty clear. Don’t try, practice or work hard so that you and your team will get better. No matter how hard you work or how much you practice, you and your team will be the same as every other team even if they don’t try and work hard to improve.

At what point and at what age is the switch made? When are children taught that hard work and perseverance does count in life? If children don’t experience success and failure early in life, how can they learn to be appreciative for what they can accomplish? How can they learn to be compassionate for others who are experiencing failures for some reason? Why start of their life lessons with such an untruth that is based on sameness?

Teaching children that “sameness” is something to strive for is a disservice to them and to their futures. I believe that the lessons I was taught when I was of T-ball age were the foundation of how I have attempted to live my life.

* Don’t follow the crowd.

* Be a leader.

* Do what you believe is right and stand up for your beliefs.

* Do the best that you can in everything you do.

* Understand that there will always be people who are smarter, more talented and more successful. Don’t judge yourself by them.

* Above all, don’t measure your success by comparing yourself to the people who can’t do what you have done for whatever reason.

* Evaluate your own success with the confidence and knowledge that you had done the best that you could do.

* Be honest with yourself and make sure your actions are for the right reasons.

* Be compassionate and help those who don’t have what you have, can’t do what you can do or are less fortunate than you are for any reason.

Sorry, for the diatribe but I just can’t advocate sameness in any of the lessons that are taught to our children at any age.

Palin vs. Obama

2009-03-21T21:32:37-05:00

Those who know me, know that I am on a mission to help handicapped people of all ages. My friend Rugby Jones is testament to that fact. Having said that, I must preface this blog by saying that I am a registered Republican but more importantly, I am a registered American! I will go to my grave defending and speaking out for what I believe is morally right, ethical and honest. I will vote for the person that has earned my respect, whether that person is a Republican, Democrat, or Independent. In the past year, I have been proud of some of the things that Governor Palin has done and said because I respected her courage. She spoke out on things that had previously been swept under the proverbial carpet. If I'm honest, it's also been because she is a woman and I believe that we as women are and should be proud of any and all women who strive to make a difference in a man's world. I draw the line here and feel the need to speak out. I am sick of politics. Why do people and in this case, Governor Palin feel the need to get on the bandwagon to demean and attempt to annihilate people from the opposing party who make honest mistakes? Why can't politicians let the dead dogs lie and move away from the mistakes of the past and forge on to a better tomorrow? When I heard that President Obama had demeaned the Special Olympics, it upset me. I then listened to the broadcast of the Jay Leno Show and guess what? I think that the politicians and certain media need to give the man a break! Our president has the guts to appear live! He makes use of no teleprompter and quite the contrary, offers us an unprecedented opportunity to see and hear what and who the leader of our country really is. Watching and listening to the broadcast in question, I believe without question, that he meant no disrespect or dishonor to the incredible athletes who take part in the Special Olympics. President Obama called the powers that be in the Special Olympics immediately after the broadcast because he realized that he had misspoken and wanted to make his mistake right. He did this prior to the word being spread by numerous newscasts. He owned up to the fact that he misspoke and apologized. Whatever political persuasion we are, we should have an honorable, fair and American persuasion! Politics has given me such a headache in the last year that there is no pill that can take away the pain or the nausea. Governor Palin has in my opinion, taken an unfair and inappropriate stand. My guess is that this enthusiastic and caring president will take further steps to prove to the world that he respects and supports the athletes in the Special Olympics. After all, who could not take pride in the courage and fervor of these amazing athletes? I believe that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said it well and I quote, "I know where his heart is. He loves Special Olympics and he will do everything he can to help the Special Olympics. And every one of us sometimes makes a mistake by, something comes out of your mouth and you say oops, I wish I wouldn't have said that." So in closing, I say, let those who are beyond making mistakes cast the first stone!!!

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New Years Celebrations Or Desperations?

2009-01-01T10:16:29-06:00

New
Years Eve 2009! How exciting! What are our options? We can bring out
the champagne, party hats, streamers, noise makers and fancy clothes in
order to bring in the New Year in a grand and celebratory way or there
is another option, we can make a difference in the life of someone who
will be bringing in the New Year anxiously because she has been told
that she may not live through the month of January, let alone the New
Year of 2009. This is a true story about a woman named Jo who has
cancer.

Jo Mosely has become known to many of us through Twitter which for
those of you who are unfamiliar, Twitter is a social networking and
micro-blogging system. Jo’s dear friend Susan Austin took the following
pictures of Jo over the Christmas holiday and their friend Sarah Larson
shared them on her site with the following words, “Doctors have told Jo
that her cancer is untreatable. Most days she is pretty upbeat but
there are sad moments too. As she fights to prove the doctors wrong,
she has one simple wish: Send her a Christmas Card. How hard can that
be? Last year, she only got three cards but this year she told me that
she was starting to receive more cards. (From people just like you)
They are giving her hope and a desire to fight even harder to live.

Karen Jo Moseley
802 Troy Rd. APT #105
Albert Lea, MN 56007

None
of us wants to think this might be her last Christmas, and holidays
have been difficult for more than just this in her long fight against
this disease. If you can spare the time, the cards are a human
connection for which she is deeply grateful. She says she realizes no
one knows if she’ll be here tomorrow but due to her illness there may
very well be fewer days than she’d like. Her health problems tend to
make her more isolated than she would like to be, and she can’t get out
very much, which leads to loneliness. Who knows how YOU could be touched by sending her a card?

There is also a FaceBook group for sending cards to Jo, but you don’t need to join, you can just send a card to the address above.”

“I’d LOVE to hear from you! One can always HOPE!” -Love, Jo

This is a picture of Jo with her
kitty Boo, looking out at the white world outside of Susan’s house on
Thanksgiving. Jo was probably wondering about what 2009 holds for her.

So now, back to New Years and our New Year’s Resolutions! Let’s all
make a difference for Jo today. As we celebrate this special time of
the year, let’s celebrate by reaching into our hearts and pockets for
Jo. This woman needs each and every one of us now. This cannot be put
off until later because Jo’s “later” may not be on the same timetable
as ours! Illness is frightening for any patient and frightening for the
family and friends of the patient. When you add a major financial
burden to the sadness and fear, it can be unbearable. Jo is behind on
bills and short on food. PLEASE, let’s help Jo have less stress about
her finances and that will help her ability to have faith that there
are people who care about her and that will help to give her the
strength necessary to work on getting well.

Here are your choices for this New
Year’s. You decide which is really more important to you. We already
know what is important to Jo. Which will ultimately make you happier
and feel better about yourself? The decision is yours!

This is the day. This is the year. This is the time that YOU can make a difference. No donation is too big or too small to help this courageous woman fight for her life!

May 2009 find each one of you happy and healthy!Your resolution might offer Jo a solution! http://snurl.com/9bcx6

Divorce, parents and children and the holidays

2008-11-29T20:21:57-06:00

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It's strange how special the holiday season is and yet it can also be so bittersweet and even painful for those families involved in any stage of divorce. The adult children are drawn into the problem in selecting with which parent they should celebrate each special day. Some parents make it easy by not forcing any issues and by being flexible. Other parents continue the divorce battle even after it is all supposedly over. They attempt to control by threats or carrots or even worse by placing guilt in the minds of their children. Today, I'd like to remind parents and adult children of several things. The holiday season can be very painful to all involved in divorce and this means both parents and all children. Parents please don't make your children have to choose between you. Offer a way to celebrate that is a compromise for all. Remember that the children love both of you. Adult children, please remember that your parents' lives have changed drastically. Just because they may not wear their emotions on their sleeves doesn't mean that they are not still hurting. One or both of your parents may be feeling afraid, lonely and or abandoned. Please try to make the effort to show both of your parents that you care in every way possible.

Thanksgiving, hopefully

2008-11-25T11:47:06-06:00

Is this coming Thursday about Thanksgiving or about giving thanks or is it about just giving? I'm not sure that the terms are synonymous. Is the focus on being grateful for all of our blessings? Do we appreciate our families and the support systems that friends and family offer? Or, is it about eating too much and forgetting the people out there who are alone? Thanksgiving should be about love and appreciation. It should be about forgiveness and reaching out. It shouldn't be about who said what and when and using peoples' mistakes as an excuse to avoid repairing relationships before it's too late. My prayer this Thanksgiving is that more people will be able to focus on their blessings and not what they are lacking in their lives.
I have been unpacking boxes that were long overdue. I came across so many "things" that used to be of importance to me. I don't know if it is because of my 57th birthday or because of the realization that things are just that, things. As I opened one box, I found something that brought a big smile to my face. They were my Mom's ramekins! For those of you who don't know what ramekins are, I will share. First of all, the ones I found of my Mom's don't have any real value except sentimental value. In this case, the ramekins were flat shells in which she baked her famous Oysters Rockefeller. I remember when she got them. Her excitement was childlike because they were, "exactly" what she needed.
My memories of Thanksgiving were about giving thanks and giving. I hope I taught my children that lesson, just like I was taught. May God bless us and all of those that we love, whether sharing the same table or not. May He help us to feed the people who are hungry. I'm not just speaking about food for the body. I'm talking about food for the soul. May He reunite us with people who have been away for too long and may His blessings be noticed and appreciated!

Life In A Perfect World!

2008-11-14T20:12:15-06:00

LIFE IN A PERFECT WORLD!

Philadelphia is truly the city of brotherly love and I can attest to
that fact. I am a stay at home mom with four children, who lives on the
Main Line. I was attending a conference, for three very long days and
evenings in Philadelphia, last week. Each time I attempted to find a
parking garage or my car, I became frustrated and confused. I felt like
a child who was being spun around with a blindfold and then told to
locate the rear end of the donkey and pin on the tail. While this may
not make sense to those of you who have a sense of direction or a GPS,
it certainly makes sense to me because I possess neither. When the
conference ended one evening at about 9:00 PM, I headed for the lot
that I thought contained my car. My car wasn’t there. As I made square
circles around and around the city streets, my scary saga began. It was
dark and I was becoming acutely aware of my lacking navigational skills
and the growing number of Philadelphia’s after dark people and their
activities. Before I reached panic mode, I went for help.

I walked into one of Philadelphia’s many historical buildings and
met George, working behind a desk. I told him, “I can’t find my
garage.” George saw my bewilderment and sweet man that he is, offered
to walk with me and find it. Because I had been around the buildings so
many times in the past few days, my perception of what was familiar and
the north-south and east-west concepts had evaporated. George and I
walked and walked and the more questions that George asked, the more
puzzled I got! I looked at my watch. It was almost 10:30 PM.

When George suggested that we seek the help of someone named Juan, I
knew I was in big trouble. George introduced me to Juan. Juan asked me
questions that were similar to the ones that George had asked me
earlier. When I told him that I had left my parking ticket in my car
along with my pepper spray, he donned his stocking cap and coat. He
told me that he would help me find the elusive lot and my car. Juan and
I began another journey around the city, with stops that included each
and every garage in the area. We finally got to the entrance of a
garage that maybe, just maybe, looked familiar. I could not remember
from which day or which trip around the block, I had seen it. Hopeful
and guilty for having taken so much of his time, I thanked Juan and
headed up to the 3rd floor, where I was bowled over because my car
wasn’t to be seen. Since I knew that Juan had left, my anxiety level
sky rocketed for the umpteenth time. I looked at my watch. It was after
midnight. I went back to the street level and I was astounded to find
Juan leaning against a pole, waiting for me. “Not the right lot?” he
asked. ‘”Nope,” I said and off we went again. I was experiencing total
brain freeze by then and just walked along with Juan like a dog walks
on a leash with his master. As I walked, I realized that I had reached
the end of my rope, or leash as more appropriately stated.

I realized that my thoughts were filled with an appreciation for
having encountered these men. As I replayed the events of the evening,
I realized that I had met two angels. They weren’t very successful
angels at that point but they were still angels. Ultimately, Juan did
find my garage. This time he went with me to the third floor, “just in
case.” I think he was afraid that I would keel over, if my car and I
weren’t reunited soon. When we got off on the third floor, what to my
wondering eyes did appear, but my big black Suburban which,
extinguished, my fear. I thanked and hugged my new best friend for all
of his help. Just like George, Juan refused to accept a tip.

These two men exuded the exceptional qualities that define our
city’s “Brotherly Love.” They were truly angels to me that night and I
will never forget their kindness. As I got in my car and made a few
more wrong turns and went back around, one last time, a thought came to
me. “What goes around, comes around” and around and around and around!
I love hearing about “Philadelphia’s Brotherly Love” but it means so
much more to me now because I experienced it first hand. George and
Juan are testimony to the fact that Philadelphians are caring, kind and
generous people.

Equality And The American Dream

2008-11-05T21:41:02-06:00

Equality And The American Dream…

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This
is not about politics. This is about being an American and specifically
about being an African American. I am an American but I am not an
American of color, quite the contrary. I am blond haired and blue eyed
and my ancestors were from England, Scotland, Ireland and Holland.

As
a child, I was taught by my mother that a person’s color, nationality,
religion, political viewpoint, wealth or social standing should not
bear any weight in the friend selecting process or in their human
rights.

Today
has brought some very vivid memories back to me and they are ones that
I had all but forgotten. Those of you who know me personally or
professionally may remember some of these times and issues. I was
taught by my mom that it was my duty to try to help the “low man on the
totem pole.” (That probably isn’t politically correct but that’s how my
mom described it.) Well, I guess a leopard doesn’t change its’ spots.
Today, I feel the need to share a few stories from my youth.

Growing
up, my first memory of hearing that someone’s color mattered to some
people was when we were in the process of moving. We lived in
California. The real estate agent had come to visit and I, at the ripe
old age of four, had a friend over to play. The woman said to my mother
within my earshot, “Please don’t allow your daughter’s friend to visit
when the people come to see the house.” My mother and I
both said in the same breath, “Why?” I don’t remember her exact answer
but I remember that neither my mother nor I liked it.

My
next vivid memory was when I was in college in Georgia. I became
friends with a girl in my dorm. She was “black.” She and I would talk
about racism and I remember telling her that, I knew how she felt. She
gave me a strange look. She said, “Have you ever gotten on a bus as a
little girl with your mother and plopped on the first seat and then got
scolded by the bus driver and your mother because, “Your place was at
the back of the bus?” She said, “Have you ever needed to use a restroom
and seen the signs that said, “Ladies,” “Gentlemen” and “Negroes?” I
remember crying as she spoke and then we hugged. She said, “I know you
think you know but unless you live it, you don’t know.” One of us
gained weight that year and one of us lost weight. We traded our white
jeans because the other’s fit better. I remember another girl in the
dorm saw my friend’s jeans on me. (She had drawn a picture on the
pocket.) This girl said to me, “I hope you washed that ‘nigra’s’ jeans
before you wore them.” That was all I needed to hear. I had to do
something.

Shortly
thereafter, sometime in the early 70’s, there happened to be a civil
rights march to Atlanta. The march was broadcasted on TV and my very
bigoted father almost had heart failure as he watched the national news
as his little long blond haired daughter marched to Atlanta with
“colored people” singing, “We shall overcome.” I don’t
remember much of what was to follow but I do remember that it wasn’t
good. Also, I do remember that the president of my college called me in
afterward. He said to me, “Claudia, our girls do not maach!” “Oh yes they do,” I thought.

Years
later, after I graduated from college, I remember trying to understand
what it was like to have skin that wasn’t the same as mine. I was a
supervisor in an airline reservations office at the time. I had two
agents come to me a few days prior to, what is now, Martin Luther King
Day. They pled with me to help them get the day off. They were so
passionate about their request that I went in to the powers that be and
fought for their cause. At first, their wish was denied but I kept
fighting for them because they were not “just trying to get a day off,”
they were in pain because of the loss of such an unbelievable leader.
Finally, I was permitted to give them the day off but only if they made
the day up. I felt good about what I had accomplished because it was
unheard of at the time. Little did any of us know that that day would
become a national holiday. I take pride every year as that special day
approaches because I feel like I made a difference and contributed in
some way to the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The
riots in Miami began that summer and they were terrifying. Houses were
set on fire and people were being killed. My friend lived in one of the
areas that was burning. We were working the night shift. I told her
that she should come home with me after work because she would be
safer. I remember her putting her hands on my shoulders and shaking me.
She said, “You are so dumb. Who do you think has a better chance of
surviving, me in a black neighborhood or a white girl and a black girl
in the same car?” As I drove home that night, I had to
drive on a road where the people who lived there, were pushing grocery
carts into the road to block cars and then they were throwing “molatoff
cocktails” at the stopped cars. I was afraid but since I was young I
was sure that I was also invincible. Plus, I was preoccupied with
concern for my friend’s safety.

Sometime
after that, I got married. I invited the same friend to my wedding. My
reception was at a prestigious club in the area. My friend didn’t come
and I didn’t understand why and I was hurt. I still have the gravy boat
that she gave me as a wedding gift and I think of her often and wonder
where and how she is. I know she is happy today and I am happy too.

Blogher, Obama, McCain, Twitter, Social Networking!

2008-10-13T21:14:12-05:00

"Thank You" is all that I can say! Today was the result of the best money I ever spent! To learn so much from so many empowered women took my breath away. Blogher and this conference made an impact on my life that I can never repay. I am still trying to remember all of the women and all of the lessons that were shared with me today! YOU GO GIRLS! I am proud to be in your midst!

claudia@claudiabroome.com

www.tohaveandtoholdhostage.com

Teleseminars to offer information, strength, support and belief in one's self...

2008-09-18T20:39:52-05:00

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I have great news. I will be offering a series of
teleseminars to you my friends and to all of you who will soon be my friends.
Because I received so many helping hands from countless angels who came on the
scene during my hours of need, I want to “pay it forward.” I am offering you
the ability to obtain the same kind help that I received, when I most needed
it. The support and information that was shared with me, gave me the strength
and resolve that I needed to transcend to the level above grief, pain and fear.
I know that this series can give you a perspective and a foundation that will
strengthen your ability to deal and thrive, in spite of divorce.

The details will be presented soon. Thank you so much and
remember that you will be better than fine.

MRSA Can and Does Kill!

2008-09-13T13:32:10-05:00

MRSA! Do you know what this is and what can happen
to someone who gets it? Per the Encarta Dictionary, MRSA is defined as,
“a strain of a common infection-causing bacterium that has become
resistant to treatment by the antibiotic Methicillin and is therefore a
hazard in places like hospitals.” I am not a medical professional,
however, I witnessed MRSA in action when a dear friend of mine was
hospitalized for over six months. We have all heard about staph
infections and in prior times “Staphylococcus aureus” could be treated
with antibiotics.

Today, staph has strengthened in its’ ability to
become resistant to many antibiotics. The scary part of MRSA is that it
can colonize on the skin or body of a person without causing sickness
and therefore can easily be passed on to any person unknowingly. There
are three main reasons for the spread of his infection. The staff in a
hospital or nursing home, the patients in the hospital and the general
public can pass on this killer as well as any item that is touched by a
MRSA carrier. The main places that MRSA attacks are the nostrils,
wounds and skin. Because patients are not in the best of
health and often their immune systems are weakened, they are “ripe and
ready” for the MRSA attack.

I am writing this to advise you of what I saw
happening in one of the finest hospitals in the country. My friend was
in an isolation room which meant that anyone entering his room had to
wear gloves, gown and a mask and then remove them upon departure and
place them in a “contaminated” container. Hand washing and use of hand
sanitizer were required. He, like many patients, had MRSA along with
other problems.

I had no fewer than one hundred and fifty visits
with my friend during his illness. He has since passed on and it is for
his desire to inform people of the dangers of MRSA and for him, that I
am sharing my experiences with you. I offer you this information in his
honor and in honor of the man that he was. I know he would want
everyone to be concerned about MRSA. I will mention only a few of the
outrageous occurrences that I witnessed while visiting him. I can only
hope that you will take action if you or a loved one, are in a hospital.

I watched overworked nurses and aids just “run in
real quick” to check a monitor or reset it. They sometimes used hand
sanitizer when entering but not often when leaving. So how about the
next person or thing that they touched?

The staff often allows the regular visitors of a
long term hospitalized patient to use the kitchen and store items in
the fridge or to make coffee. I watched as a visitor from another
isolation room took off his gloves and gown and then proceed to the
kitchen. He sneezed and blew his nose, opened the fridge, took a drink
from the water fountain, greeted a friend with a hand shake and placed
his coffee on a counter in order to stand and visit. One of the aids
moved his cup out of her way and then entered my friend’s room. She put
on a gown and one glove. I watched as she used the same hand that had
moved the coffee cup to help my friend sit up in bed. She got buzzed
and used the same hand to answer the caller. She left to handle
“whatever” in the same gown and one glove. I watched the man with the
coffee cup go to his loved one’s room. He put the cup on the floor, put
on his gloves and gown, picked up the contaminated coffee cup and
entered the patient’s room and unknowingly and potentially spread MRSA.
From that moment on I began to take notes of the visitor, patient and
staff infractions which could have led to the spread of MRSA. When I
reported the “broken rules” to the powers that be, I was treated as
though I had done something wrong. “Our staff follow the rules. You
must have been mistaken.”

Please everyone, be proactive when you visit or
become a patient in hospital. You may be saving a life without even
knowing it. For that saved life and in memory of my friend’s life, I
thank you. Pay it forward.

Do What Dara Did!

2008-08-17T15:14:11-05:00

Watching this mom compete with and surpass women,
up to twenty five years her juniors, should be motivation for all of
us! I get chills just thinking about her determination, tenacity and
“work out” ethic. Watching her on TV last night was probably the most
energizing TV watching that I have ever experienced. I kept thinking
that because she has been divorced twice, she understands the heartache
that comes with and after the process. She knows the physical pain of
giving birth. She knows the rapture of having a child and the torture
of having to be away from a child more than she would desire. Other
than the facts that; she is beautiful and has a perfect body and
phenomenal emotional and physical strength, she is just like all of us!
Hey, if I can admit it, you can too! Let’s focus on the “revelation”
that Dara Torres put her sights on a goal and achieved it
because she believed in herself and executed the necessary tasks at
hand. Dara did what she was determined to do! So can you!

San Mateo Policeman Holds Poodle's owners hostage. Thanks to him, dog dies!

2008-08-15T18:11:12-05:00

This policeman makes my blood curdle! I understand enforcing
the law but there must be a gray area at some times. Even if there isn’t a gray
area with the law, there must be respect and a caring attitude for the people
and or the animals involved in whatever breach of law occurs! The five o’clock
news WHDH Boston channel 7, just reported a piece which made me feel physically
ill. Apparently there was a couple in a car, which was speeding down the
highway because their beloved poodle was choking. They were exceeding the speed
limit in order to get help and save their pet’s life. The policeman, who pulled
them over, held them for twenty minutes and watched while the dog died in their arms. The
policeman stated that they weren’t in a condition to drive because they were so
upset! Hello? How about putting the
couple in the squad car and speed legally to get them to the vet??? I’m sure
they would have paid for any gas, any fine or anything else necessary! This man
got a “mini slap” on his hand because he should have been better in how he handled
the situation. His superior said in essence, that he did nothing wrong! What am
I missing here? What this policeman did, in my opinion, was break the law of how
people need to “do unto others!” “Just a dog,” he said. You, sir make me sick!

YIN AND YANG OR LIN NOT YANG?

2008-08-12T12:04:19-05:00

Yin and Yang or Lin not Yang?

I find the substitution of a more "flawless” child for
the authentic and magnificent voice of Yang Peiyi is deplorable! Are people today
so depraved that they require seeing perfection when they are already listening
to perfection as a talented and very special child pours her heart and soul
into song? I think not! Seeing little Yang Peiyi’s picture, I find her adorable
and quite frankly, I think she could have moved her audiences even more than
Lin Miaoke was able to do. I don’t fault this child. She is beautiful and
innocent but what message has been given to these two girls as well as children
all over the world? I don’t fault the children. I fault the people responsible
for the choice. My heart breaks for little Yang who, according to Chinese news
reports said that she didn’t regret the decision, saying she was satisfied to
have had her voice featured in the opening ceremony. What else could she say? I
pray this child isn’t scarred from the actions of Chen Qigang! I can deal with
the fake footprints, although that doesn’t sit well with me either. Most of us
have been taught that falsifying and offering anything as true when it is not,
is dishonorable. The same holds true here!