I'M NOT GOING TO DISNEYLAND.



The check arrived in the mail today. It was inside a business class envelope with two cellophane windows. It came from the Walt Disney company. I had forgotten I was a stockholder.

It's pretty easy to forget.

I own one share of Disney stock. It was given to me by an outfit called OneShare.com that sells single shares of stock as gifts. They wanted me to see their product since I did a feature on their company. I didn't think much about it until now. Now that I've received my first dividend check.

I'm not sure how I'll spend it.

21 cents is not the type of money I want to throw around carelessly.

I'm sure it'll be just enough to bump me into another tax bracket.

Sing along if you like:

"It's a small check after all...It's a small check after all..."

SHAVE AND A HAIRCUT

Sometimes those pictures people send you in email are actually funny.

ANGER OVER

I should be sleeping, but I'm not so, I'll prattle on here for a moment.

It looks like Amy will be in the hospital for another day or two at least. She's been diagnosed with a staph infection which will, I'm assuming, prevent any surgeries. However her surgeon still wants to run more tests so we can't bust her out and let her be treated for the infection at home.

I found myself in this odd place this morning. I had written last night about our young friends and their frustration, and then today Amy endured some poor communication with the medical staff at the hospital. I got off work and went to join her and soon found myself being a bit more forceful than usual with the people caring for her.

In reality, I know it was justified. I don't think I was simply venting anger and frustration. I was being Amy's advocate, pointing out that she was not getting the information, much less the care she deserves. Nonetheless I did wonder if I would come home and read my post from last night and think some of those words might have been easier to write than to swallow.

In any case, I got her doctor's attention....as well as that of a radiologist, a few nurses, the nurse manager, and I think someone in the finance office.

We also got some answers. That's all we really wanted.

Okay...I need a nap. Don't want to be grumpy when I go back to the hospital...my reputation is already on thin ice.

HUH?

"Until the moment of birth, the government has no right to influence a mother's decision on whether to have an abortion. Life begins with the mother's decision" - Democratic Presidential hopeful Wesley Clark in an interview with the Manchester Union Leader newspaper.

WAITING IN WONDER

Amy is feeling better today than at any time in the past three weeks. I'm trying to avoid the obvious conclusion that all she really needs to be healthy is to get away from me for the night.

It was the usual story at the hospital today. Tests scheduled. Tests delayed. Tests postponed until tomorrow. An infectious disease doc wants more info, but we're now getting preliminary indications that Amy could come home for a couple of weeks of IV antibiotic treatment before any surgery is decided upon.

I've become so well acquainted with these conflicting medicinal scenarios now that it's almost frightening.

At the doctor's office yesterday, Amy and I ran into a young couple we know. The young woman had a similar surgery to Amy's original operation and has now developed a bizarre liver ailment which is most likely not related. However the doctors want to make sure of that, so she and her husband were playing the waiting game for the surgeon as were we.

Her husband was not tolerating it well.

He was fuming. His anger and tension festered to the point where his feelings permeated the room like a dense and frightening fog.

I wanted so much to try to console him, but I couldn't get past his wall of rage with my initial attempts at conversation.

Tonight at church, the mother of that young woman asked me to try to counsel her daughter's husband. She said he was so angry that he was hindering rather than helping her daughter's recovery. I could certainly see how that was likely, but I'm going to have sleep and pray on her request.

It's not that I don't know what to say to this young man. I don't know if he's ready to hear it.

I would assure him that his anger at this twist of fate is justified. I would let him know his frustration with the poor diagnostic and communication skills of the medical community is understandable. I would tell him I fathom his fear.

I'd let him know I've gone through much the same thing.

Then I would give him three words of advice:

Get over it.

You see, it's a trap.

Amid all that confusion and angst, in truth this young man is really upset about only one thing.

He's infuriated that he's not in control.

What he hasn't learned is that he never will be.

There is a beauty and a portion of peace in that truth, but perhaps each of us must discover that on our own.

Job 37:14

"Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders."

I'VE SEEN THE LIGHT...ISN'T THAT ENOUGH?



(Hudson, Florida) - Associated Press - Bill Martin figures the scriptures are enough to cover folks at a Christian nudist camp. He wants to transform about 240 acres in the Tampa Bay, Florida area into a modern-day Garden of Eden. Plans for the Natura Nudist Resort include an open church, a giant water park for the kids -- and -- of course, nude volleyball. Much of the property was once home to a nudist colony but is now in disrepair. Martin hopes to have the place cleaned up enough for a nude Baptism ceremony in April. He promises there will be no drinking or fooling around among the Christian nudists.


Suddenly those old polyester leisure suits are looking better.

HOW HOSPITABLE

Well, after a long afternoon and extensive consultations, Amy is back in the hospital. We're expecting a surgical recommendation will be forthcoming, and quite frankly at this point that might be a relief.

Blogging will be sporadic for a bit I suspect.