Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 2:16 AMSubject: URGENT - PTS LISTS BEING PUBLISHED: CARROLLTON ANIMAL SERVICES, LITTLE ELM ANIMAL SERVICES; UPDATES ON HICKORY CREEK ANIMAL SERVICES - 09/11/06

PLS. CROSS POST & HELP IF YOU CAN.
CARROLLTON ANIMAL SERVICES
(Please scroll down for Little Elm Animal Services & Hickory Creek Animal Services)

PTS List now posted for Carrollton Animal Services. Must be tagged or pulled prior to COB Tuesday, 9/12 at 6pm.
972-466-3420 x3 to tag.

PLEASE HELP IF YOU HAVE ANY AVAILABILITY FOR EVEN ONE - THIS IS A GREAT GROUP OF CATS & DOGS. SHELTER IS VERY FULL RIGHT NOW.
2 baby kittens (Divot/Ginsu)
7 older kittens/young cats
Lil' Girl - Very young, petite Torti
Butter - Torti, big round Birman type eyes
Isabella - Scottish Fold (special breed with ears that fold forward- these can be expensive cats to purchase from a breeder)
Tammy - White with Tabby Marking (Beautiful)
Cinnamon - Grey Tiger Tabby (Spayed, Likes Dogs)
Priscilla - Grey & White Tabby (Declawed, Spayed)
Sylvester - Very young Tabby & White (Neutered, Front Declawed, Bushy Tail)
7 dogs
Sally / Alvin - Akitas (easy-going, mild-mannered, sweet dogs)
Chili - 8 yr old female German Shepherd (owner release, beautiful dog, requires daily thyroid medication)
Collie - Rough Collie (darling sweet older girl)
Emmitt - MinPin (owner release with buddy Llasa that has already been adopted, 11 yrs old, housetrained, likes cats & dogs)
Hotshot - Pointer Mix, friendly & very engaging personality
Coco - Terrier Mix, friendly & very sweet & affectionate Note that the shelter will take emails to Joe.Skenesky@cityofcarrollton.com right up until 7am Wednesday 9/13. KITTENS/CATS BUTTER, F, TORTI, ID 13733 Butter is a beautiful young Torti and she has the prettiest sweet round eyes, much like a Birman. She is a VERY SWEET girl!!!!!!!! Per the shelter she is quiet & affectionate. ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. DIVOT, F, BABY BLACK, ID 13743 GINSU, F, BABY BLACK, ID 13742 These sweet kittens were dumped in front of the local Lowe's. They are about 6-8 weeks old and very sweet & very friendly & well-socialized. ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 3 PICS. ISABELLA, F, SCOTTISH FOLD, ID 13745 Isabella was found wandering the streets. This breed is actually an expensive breed and the shelter has listed this kitty with the rescue network for Scottish folds but no takers and this kitty only has two more days. This is a friendly & loving girl! ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 2 PICS. CINNAMON, F, GREY TIGER TABBY, ID 13750 Cinnamon was released by her owner after having her for only four months, because her other cat that she had had much longer did not like her. Per the previous owner's input, Cinnamon is a wonderful sweet girl that loves kids, other cats, and gets along well WITH DOGS!! She's ALREADY SPAYED. ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. PRISCILLA, F, GREY & WHITE TABBY, ID 13753 Priscilla's owners moved away and couldn't keep her so they gave her to a neighbor. After a couple of months and trips to the hospital for severe allergic reaction to cat hair, the new owners decided to turn her over to our shelter. Priscilla is ALREADY SPAYED and HAS ALL 4 PAWS DECLAWED. ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. TAMMY, F, WHITE WITH TABBY MARKINGS, ID 13757 Tammy is an absolutely gorgeous kitty found out and about as a stray. She's a big sweetie per the shelter and loves attention & affection & is very easygoing. ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. LIL' GIRL, F, BABY TORTI, ID 13763 This is the most darling little kitty! Cute, sweet, and very petite! ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. SYLVESTER, M, GREY TIGER TABBY, ID 13776 Sylvester was released by his owner who was getting married to someone who was allergic to him. He is 2 years old, likes other cats and is great with kids! ALREADY NEUTERED & FRONT DECLAWED! ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 2 PICS. IF THE SHELTER BECOMES TOO CROWDED, JUST AS IT DID LAST WEEK WHEN THE SHELTER ADDED SEVERAL CATS & DOGS WHOSE FIRST & LAST DAY FOR AVAILABILITY WAS TUESDAY 9/5, THE CATS/KITTENS BELOW ARE ALSO AT RISK. THEY INCLUDE: JINX, M, GREY TIGER TABBY, ID 13777 Jinx surprised the shelter employees by walking in the back door of the shelter like he owned the place. He is a very friendly lovable guy! AVAILABLE NOW. NORTH, M, BABY BLACK, ID 13779 North was found as a little stray and is as cute as he can be! (Note: his age appears to possibly be incorrect on petfinder - he appears to just be a big kitten. AVAILABLE TUESDAY 9/12! KETZEL, M, GREY TIGER TABBY, ID 13780 Ketzel was dropped off at a local vet with no id. REALLY a cute kitty with a big pretty bushy tail!!. ALREADY NEUTERED. HE'S AVAILABLE TUESDAY 9/12. 2 PICS. PUPPIES/DOGS COLLIE, F, ROUGH COLLIE, ID 13774 Very sad situation - this is a wonderful quite & sweet girl, appears to be older and found as a stray. If this isn't bad enough luck, it appears the shelter missed getting her picture published on petfinder, so no one has even known she was available for adoption. Sweet girl ...ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. CHILI, F, GERMAN SHEPHERD, ID 13754 Another very sad situation - Chili is a beautiful large German Shepherd, released by her owner. She is CURRENT on rabies vaccination and has had obedience training! FYI, she need to take daily thyroid medication or be taken to a vet to discuss whether there are alternatives (surgery?). Can you help save this sweet girl? Such a beautiful dog ...ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 2 PICS. HOTSHOT, M, Pointer Mix, ID 13738Hotshot is a very playful 1 year old dog. He gets along well with other dogs and people and is very friendly & sweet. He is ALREADY NEUTERED. This is a cute, sweet, funny & lovable dog!!! ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 3 PICS. SALLY, F, AKITA, ID 13758 Sally is a beautiful and sweet full Akita. She was found with Alvin (Akita pictured below) running around but with no ID. Per the shelter, she is a mild mannered dog, that seems to get along well with other animals and is very easy going. GREAT LOOKING DOG!! ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 3 PICS. ALVIN, M, AKITA, ID 13759 Alvin is a really beautiful and sweet full Akita. He was found with Sally (Akita pictured above) running around but with no ID. Like Sally, he is mild-mannered and gets along well with other dogs. GREAT LOOKING DOG!! ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 3 PICS. COCO, F, BORDER TERRIER, ID 13760
Coco was brought in as a stray and if you could see her in person you would see what a beautiful shade of brown she is. Per the shelter, Coco is a very friendly, happy, social dog, that gets along well with other animals. She's a medium size dog AND MUCH prettier than the picturea show. ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 2 PICS. EMMITT, M, MINIATURE PINSCHER (FULL), ID 13782 Really a sad situation here - Emmit is an 11 yr old very lovable little chubby MinPin that was released to the shelter with his buddy Dusty (Llasa - already adopted) when his previous owner could not afford the pet deposit. He's very friendly, GREAT WITH CATS, kids, and ALREADY HOUSETRAINED. He's also ALREADY NEUTERED. Do you have room in your heart for this great little older dog? ON PTS LIST - ONLY available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 2 PICS. PETUNIA, F, BASSET HOUND, ID 13740 Petunia was found as a stray by a family. They worked for a week to try and find her owners. In the end they could not find her owners or keep her themselves so they turned her over to the shelter. Petunia is just under a year old and very well mannered. Per the shelter she deals very well with new situations. She's a very sweet dog! NOTE: THIS DOG WAS NOT ON PTS LIST SENT FRIDAY BY THE SHELTER, BUT HER AVAILABILITY DATE PUTS HER AT EXTREME RISK - SO IN CASE THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT SO SHE"S BEING INCLUDED SINCE HER PICTURE IS STILL ON PETFINDER - PLEASE CHECK FOR AVAILABILITY - MAY ONLY be available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 2 PICS. BOGART, M, ROTTWEILER, ID 13604 Bogart was found standing in the front yard of a vacant house that was up for sale. This beautiful dog greeted the shelter AC officers that found him with a wagging tail and good manners. He is 80+ lbs and just beautiful. He appears to be a young dog. He will sit and stay on command and it appears HE IS HOUSETRAINED. Bogart even has a micro chip but when his previous owners moved they didn't change the information on his chip. This microchip can be converted to where he's under your name. NOTE: THIS DOG WAS NOT ON PTS LIST SENT FRIDAY BY THE SHELTER, BUT HIS AVAILABILITY DATE PUTS HIM AT EXTREME RISK - SO IN CASE THIS IS AN OVERSIGHT SO HE"S BEING INCLUDED SINCE HIS PICTURE IS STILL ON PETFINDER - PLEASE CHECK FOR AVAILABILITY - MAY ONLY be available until COB 6pm Tuesday 9/12. 2 PICS. IF THE SHELTER BECOMES TOO CROWDED, JUST AS IT DID LAST WEEK WHEN THE SHELTER ADDED SEVERAL CATS & DOGS WHOSE FIRST & LAST DAY FOR AVAILABILITY WAS TUESDAY 9/5, THE PUPS/DOGS BELOW ARE ALSO AT RISK. THEY INCLUDE: SHELBY, F, BLACK LABRADOR PUP (FULL), ID 13761 Shelby is a wiggly big pup that appears to be a full black lab. She was found as a stray and brought in and appears to not be more than 6 months old. Sweet lovable pup!!! PIC isn't the best, since her eyes are slightly close (smiling) but you can still see how very pretty she is! AVAILABLE NOW! ZAP, M, SHEPHERD MIX, ID 13775 This is absolutely the cutest guy!!! Zap was found wearing the wrong tag on his collar! The tag did not belong to him and had been tied with string. This young guy appears to be about 10 months to a year old. REALLY GREAT YOUNG DOG!! AVAILABLE NOW! TWO PICS! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------LITTLE ELM ANIMAL SERVICES LITTLE ELM's PTS List & date not yet confirmed at this emailing, so listing pics of all that may be at risk. Please note that when I spoke to the shelter last Friday, they told me there were pictures not yet published, so it's possible this may not be entire listing at this time. CALL CYNTHIA MEDRANO AT 214-975-0460 TO TAG. IF YOU REQUIRE TRANSPORT, REPLY TO THIS EMAILING AND WE"LL FIND YOU SOMEONE.
4 older kittens
Skyler (F, black, very sweet & friendly, very talkative)
Abbey, Katie, Gracie (F siblings, Tabby & Torti, very loving)
5 pups/dogs
Dottie (F, Gorgeous full English Setter)
Royal (M, Young Springer Spaniel or Border Collie Mix?)
Auto (M, Small sweet Chow dog)
Nyla (F, Spayed Pit Bull, Housetrained, loving)
Roxie (F, Boxer/Pit Bull mix, Housetrained, loving) KITTENS/CATS SKYLER, F, BLACK, ID 13733 Skyler is a very sweet cat that likes to be held. When you open the cage door she will practically jump in your arms to be held! Visited the shelter today and she's as cute as can be. MAY ONLY be available until 4pm Wenesday 9/13. KATIE, F, BIG KITTEN - GREY TIGER TABBY ABBEY, F, BIG KITTEN - GREY TIGER TABBY GRACIE, F, BIG KITTEN - TORTOISE SHELL Katie, Abbey, and Gracie came in together. They were siblings left at the shelter. They are all very well sweet, loving, friendly & well-socialized! MAY ONLY be available until 4pm Wenesday 9/13. PUPPIES/DOGS DOTTIE, F, ENGLISH SETTER Sweet girl found as a stray. Absolutely gorgeous dog! MAY ONLY be available until 4pm Wenesday 9/13. ROYAL, M, SPRINGER SPANIEL OR BORDER COLLIE MIX? Friendly cute young boy. MAY ONLY be available until 4pm Wenesday 9/13. AUTO, M, CHOW This is a really pretty dog! He's a sweet boy, but scared about being in the shelter environment. MAY ONLY be available until 4pm Wenesday 9/13. NYLA, F, PIT BULL ROXIE, F, BOXER/PIT BULL MIX These two were owner surrenders due to the owners not being able to keep the dogs in their apartment. They are big babies, housetrained and Nyla is already spayed (Roxie may be as well - please doublecheck). Nyla has beautiful blue eyes and both dogs seem very sweet.MAY ONLY be available until 4pm Wenesday 9/13. ADDRESS: 1104 W. Eldorado Pkwy, Little Elm, TX 75068 HOURS: SHELTER IS OPEN TUESDAY FRIDAY (8am-5pm). Monday (8am-5pm) and Saturday (8am-12pm) BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Must call prior to pick-up. RESCUE GROUPS: No fees, no requirements. Just need a 501c3 to pull and pull email or letter. GENERAL PUBLIC ADOPTION FEES: Only a $10 adoption fee, with requirements to spay/neuter within an appropriate time period. DIRECTIONS: North on Dallas North Tollway/Dallas Parkway, turn left heading west/northwest on Eldorado Pkwy all the way to Little Elm OR go up the Tollway, west on Parker till you reach Josey, turn right heading North on Josey right through The Colony (Josey is renamed Main St. in The Colony). Continue North to Eldorado Pkwy in Little Elm, turn left heading west to the Fina Station. Shelter is at end of Fina Gas Station bldg (last door on left). You need to call to gain access - 214-975-0460. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------HICKORY CREEK ANIMAL SERVICES UPDATE ON ANGEL, Senior Collie, AT HICKORY CREEK ANIMAL SERVICES: A rescue home had been arranged for Angel the Senior Collie at Hickory Creek Animal Services & she was to have been transported on Sunday to her new home in Glen Rose, TX but she now has a home in her own home town of Hickory Creek, TX! You'll remember hearing that Angel had lost her home, her dog friend Bunny, and her owner to cancer, and did not do well in the shelter environment so Hickory Creek AC had allowed her to stay with a local city council person at his home so she would not grieve or pine away in a caged situation. We had the opportunity to speak to this gentleman last Thursday & Friday and attempt to explain how rescue groups operate, transport, etc. since we understood he had previously turned away another rescue group that had recently stepped forward to help and had come by his home to meet the dog. (Our apologies to whomever this was) It became clear in our conversation with this gentleman that he had grown very attached to the dog himself, although he was very firm about her needing a new home since he owned other dogs. When it came down to the wire, this resident made a decision this Saturday he would adopt Angel himself, which is great news for this sweet old girl. Hickory Creek AC wished to express their gratitude and appreciation from those of you that stepped forward in rescue to help, and they also wished to apologize that not everyone was well-informed about how rescue groups operate in their small town and wanted to thank everyone that helped by stepping up and also be taking the time to explain. They expressed repeatedly how very much they NEED the help & support of rescue and this situation was highly unusual when it became clear the resident didn't think anyone was quite right for the dog, due to becoming attached to the dog himself and only when he realized he was truly losing her, did he realize how much he loved her. Special thanks to Jodie for wanting to rescue this girl & to Maria for offering transport to Glen Rose. Can't begin to thank you both enough. Also much thanks to whomever the other rescue group was that was turned away. So sorry I do not have your name - only that it was an SPCA group. MUCH THANKS!! This is a happy ending to a long story over the last few months for Angel Collie that had even resulted in her picture being sent to a national judge of Collies to provide confirmation she was full Collie (she is!). TO TAG CARLOS OR PARKER PICTURED BELOW, PLEASE CALL KEN with HICKORY CREEK ANIMAL SERVICES AT 940-465-7444. IF YOU REQUIRE TRANSPORT, REPLY TO THIS EMAILING OR CALL 214-906-7680. HICKORY CREEK ANIMAL SERVICES IS A SHORT DRIVE NORTH - JUST NORTH OF LAKE LEWISVILLE ON THE SOUTHBOUND I-35 ACCESS ROAD. KITTENS/CATS CARLOS, M, WHITE WITH TABBY MARKINGS Carlos is confident and sweet and cuter than cute. His picture should definitely be under the word "playful". Please help rescue this kitten out of the shelter cage situation. He deserves to find a wonderful new home. PUPPIES/DOGSPARKER, M, AUSSIE OR BORDER COLLIE/BLUE HEELER MIX?This is the absolute sweetest dog you will meet - we guarantee it! He is wonderful, friendly, energetic, and just looking for someone to love. Not to mention as cute as he can be. He needs someone to rescue him. Please help if you have any availability and can find this boy a great home.

How much energy are you using?======================================================================Find out how much energy you're using 03:04 PM CDT on Sunday, September 10, 2006 Find out how much energy you're using 03:04 PM CDT on Sunday, September 10, 2006 Atmos Energy Corp. launched a Web site this week to help customers understand exactly how much energy they use and what it costs. The site goes way beyond the usual conservation tips. It includes a calculator that shows how much it costs to use various appliances. We did some calculations to give you an idea what you can learn there. Find the calculator at www.at mosenergy.com/home/energy _tips.html. Elizabeth Souder Activity Annual cost Using a coffeemaker every day $10 Cooking oatmeal every day on a gas range $5 Cooking oatmeal in a microwave $7 Grilling on a gas grill once a week all summer long $5 Using a computer and monitor 40 hours a week $70 Leaving the computer in sleep mode every night $50 Washing two loads of laundry a week $4 Drying two loads of laundry a week in an electric dryer $32 Drying two loads of laundry a week in a gas dryer $12 Heating a 2,000-square-foot, well-insulated home with a new gas furnace or boiler $403 Heating a 2,000-square-foot, poorly insulated home with a gas furnace or boiler that's more than 15 years old $613 Heating the same home with a new electric furnace $1,234 Cooling a 2,000-square-foot, well-insulated home with a new air conditioner $1,048 Cooling a poorly insulated home with an old A/C unit $1,900 Leaving an incandescent lamp on all the time $82 Leaving a compact fluorescent lamp on all the time $22 Watching a large color TV 10 hours a week $13 Using a curling iron every morning $1 Using a hair dryer every morning $30 SOURCE: Atmos Energy Calculator

Story: Grand Prairie boasts first Good Housekeeping Seal home
Good Housekeeping home
Grand Prairie boasts first Good Housekeeping Seal home
06:51 AM CDT on Friday, September 8, 2006
It's a landmark partnership, and now you can see the results.
The first home in America with the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval is now open for viewing on Waterford Drive in Grand Prairie's Grand Peninsula community.
As a collaboration with K. Hovnanian Homes, the two-story, 4,625-square-foot model home boasts four bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a wine cellar and a stacked stone double staircase.
It's stocked with Good Housekeeping Seal products, including Flavia coffee makers, Comfort Solutions mattresses, Acme Bricks, Shaw carpets and Wolmanized Outdoor Wood. The price tag is $395,000.
The home was designed and merchandised by Dallas designer Jill Esteb of JE Design Group residential interiors consulting service.
Most of the furniture in the Charleston III model home came from Wrangler Home by Flexsteel.
Visit the house for free from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
The Grand Peninsula community is near Joe Pool Lake off Great Southwest Parkway and I-20.
For more information on and detailed directions to the Good Housekeeping/K. Hovnanian House, visit www.sealbuilt.com or www.khov.com. Or call 817-255-2828.

The Blonde & The Coke Machine It was a really hot day and this blonde decided she would go buy a coke. She went to the coke machine and when she put her money in, a coke came out - so she kept putting money in.
And since it was such a hot day, a line had formed behind her. Finally, a guy on line said, "Will you hurry up? We're all hot and thirsty!"
And the blonde said, "No way. I'm still winning!"




Comedy Central Daily Joke, 1775 Broadway, NY, NY 10019Copyright © 1995 - 2006 Comedy Central. All rights reserved.

I AM YOUR DOG
Author UnknownI am your dog, and I have a little something I would like to whisper in yourear.I know that you humans lead busy lives. Some have to work. Some havechildren to raise. It always seems like you are running here and there,often much too fast, often never noticing the truly grand things in life.Look down at me now, while you sit there at your computer. See, the way mydark brown eyes look at yours. They are slightly cloudy now. That comes withage. The gray hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle.You smile at me; I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine? Do yousee a spirit? A soul inside, who loves you as no other could in the world? Aspirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrongdoing for just asimple moment of your time?That is all I ask. To slow down, if even for a few minutes to be with me.So many times, you have been saddened by the words you read on that screen,of other of my kind, passing. Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly,sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat. Sometimes,we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know untilthe very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract cloudedeyes. Still the love is always there, even when we must take that longsleep, to run free in a distant land.I may not be here next week. Someday you will shed the water from youreyes, that humans have when deep grief fills their souls, and you will beangry at yourself that you did not have just "One more day" with me. BecauseI love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me. We have NOW,together. So come, sit down here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes.What do you see? If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I,heart to heart. Come to me not as "alpha" or as "trainer" or even "Mom orDad," come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deepinto another's eyes, and talk.I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I maytell you something profound about myself or even life in general. Youdecided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share suchthings with.Someone very different from you, and here I am.I am a dog, but I am alive. I feel emotion, I feel physical senses, and Ican revel in the differences of our spirits and souls. I do not think of youas a "Dog on two feet"- I know what you are. You are human, in all of yourquirkiness, and I love you still.Now, come sit with me on the floor. Enter my world, and let time slow downif only for 15 minutes. Look deep into my eyes, and whisper to my ears.Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self.We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short.--Love, (on behalf of canines everywhere)
Author Unknown
~Until there are none, Rescue one~

Kerry: Bush needs new policy to fix 'dysfunctional' intel system, 'not a new stump speech'
RAW STORYPublished: Wednesday September 6, 2006
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After President Bush delivered his third speech on the global war on terror for the week, Democratic Senator John Kerry, in a statement received by RAW STORY, said that the Administration needs a "new policy, not a new stump speech."
"No matter how many times the President redelivers the same political speech, we need action and not words," Kerry said. "The Administration needs to focus less on a strategy to win a mid term election and more on a strategy that will win the war on terror."
Kerry slammed the Bush Administration for doing "absolutely nothing" to fix the country's "dysfunctional intelligence system" in the five years since the 9/11 attacks.
"September 11th brought home the costs of a dysfunctional intelligence system marred by bureaucratic infighting, inadequate resources, and faulty analysis," said Kerry. "But we’ve done absolutely nothing to correct it."
"The 9/11 commission just recently gave our government a failing grade on implementing intelligence reforms and our ability to intercept terrorist communications remains in legal limbo," Kerry continued. "The Administration needs a new policy, not a new stump speech."

Convicted Arlington psychiatrist has license revoked
By JAN JARVIS
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
The state medical board has revoked the license of Arlington psychiatrist Donald Hughes who in 2004 was accused of inappropriate sexual contact with three juvenile patients. Hughes also has been sentenced to three five-year prison terms after he pleaded guilty to three charges of indecency with a child.
Hughes, 55, practiced in Arlington and Fort Worth. The Texas Medical Board also ordered him to pay a $55,000 penalty and nearly $2,400 in transcript costs. The decision comes two years after Hughes' license was suspended by the board after the panel deemed that allowing him to continue practicing medicine would pose a public threat.
Hughes was among seven Tarrant County doctors of the 99 disciplined since June by the board.
In his case, the board’s decision followed a hearing by an administrative law judge and was based on findings that “Hughes committed unprofessional or dishonorable conduct that injured the public, that he became personally and financially involved with a patient and that he engaged in sexual contact with patients,” according to board records.
Hughes may file a motion for rehearing within 20 days of entering of the order by the board. If the motion for rehearing is filed and the board denies it, the order is final.

Man arrested in death of McKinney real estate agent
By MATT JOYCE
The Associated Press
NBC5i.com
Kosoul Chanthakoummane, 25, was arrested on a charge of capital murder late Tuesday in connection with the death of Sarah Anne Walker, said Capt. Randy Roland of the McKinney Police Department.
More photosMcKINNEY - Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of a suspect in the July slaying of a real estate agent who was found stabbed to death in a model home.
Kosoul Chanthakoummane, 25, was arrested on a charge of capital murder late Tuesday in connection with the death of Sarah Anne Walker, said Capt. Randy Roland of the McKinney Police Department.
Chanthakoummane was arrested at his Dallas apartment and was being held Wednesday morning on $1 million bond, Roland said.
A house-hunting couple found Walker's body July 8 in the kitchen of a model home in the fast-growing suburb of McKinney, about 30 miles north of Dallas. The 40-year-old agent had been stabbed 27 times in what detective described as an unusually ferocious attack.
The slaying rattled real estate agents who work open houses alone and worried nearby residents living in the kind of new, extravagant homes Walker sold.
Roland said a combination of detective work, witness statements and forensic evidence led investigators to Chanthakoummane.
The McKinney police released a composite sketch a couple of weeks ago based on witness statements, Roland said. The sketch prompted a tip that led police to Chanthakoummane, he said.
Roland said Chanthakoummane is the only suspect in the case.
Further details of the case, including a motive for the slaying or any possible relationship between Chanthakoummane and Walker, were not available early Wednesday. Roland said a press conference was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to discuss the arrest.
Detectives began interviewing Chanthakoummane after he was arrested, but the interview was stopped when he requested a lawyer, Roland said.
Walker, a twice-divorced mother of two children, was a top-seller for home builder D.R. Horton. She earned free vacations for the high volume of brick-and-slab homes she closed.
Early in the investigation, police said Walker's slaying did not appear to be random and that the her wide network of acquaintances made the investigation more challenging.
The case was featured on the television show "America's Most Wanted" in July.

Stingray kills famed 'Crocodile Hunter'
BRIAN CASSEY
Associated Press
AP
Steve Irwin, shown arriving at a January 2006 event in Hollywood, was killed Monday by a stingray barb during a diving expedition.
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CAIRNS, Australia - Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.
Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous barb on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said.
"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.
Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said.
Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter." First broadcast in Australia in 1992, the program was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting Irwin to international celebrity.
He rode his image into a feature film, 2002's "The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course" and developed the wildlife park that his parents opened, Australia Zoo, into a major tourist attraction.
"The world has lost a great wildlife icon, a passionate conservationist and one of the proudest dads on the planet," Stainton told reporters in Cairns. "He died doing what he loved best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, 'Crocs Rule!'"
Prime Minister John Howard, who hand-picked Irwin to attend a gala barbecue to honor President Bush when he visited in 2003, said he was "shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden, untimely and freakish death."
"It's a huge loss to Australia," Howard told reporters. "He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people."
Irwin, who made a trademark of hovering dangerously close to untethered crocodiles and leaping on their backs, spoke in rapid-fire bursts with a thick Australian accent and was almost never seen without his uniform of khaki shorts and shirt and heavy boots.
Wild animal expert Jack Hanna, who frequently appears on TV with his subjects, offered praise for Irwin.
"Steve was one of these guys, we thought of him as invincible," Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium, told ABC's "Good Morning America" Monday.
"The guy was incredible. His knowledge was incredible," Hanna said. "Some people that are doing this stuff are actors and that type of thing, but Steve was truly a zoologist, so to speak, a person who knew what he was doing. Yes, he did things a lot of people wouldn't do. I think he knew what he was doing."
Irwin's ebullience was infectious and Australian officials sought him out for photo opportunities and to promote Australia internationally.
His public image was dented, however, in 2004 when he caused an uproar by holding his infant son in one arm while feeding large crocodiles inside a zoo pen. Irwin claimed at the time there was no danger to the child, and authorities declined to charge Irwin with violating safety regulations.
Later that year, he was accused of getting too close to penguins, a seal and humpback whales in Antarctica while making a documentary. Irwin denied any wrongdoing, and an Australian Environment Department investigation recommended no action be taken against him.
Stingrays have a serrated, toxin-loaded barb, or spine, on the top of their tail. The barb, which can be up to 10 inches long, flexes if a ray is frightened. Stings usually occur to people when they step on or swim too close to a ray and can be excruciatingly painful but are rarely fatal, said University of Queensland marine neuroscientist Shaun Collin.
Collin said he suspected Irwin died because the barb pierced under his ribcage and directly into his heart.
"It was extraordinarily bad luck. It's not easy to get spined by a stingray and to be killed by one is very rare," Collin said.
News of Irwin's death spread quickly, and tributes flowed from all quarters of society.
At Australia Zoo at Beerwah, south Queensland, floral tributes were dropped at the entrance, where a huge fake crocodile gapes. Drivers honked their horns as they passed.
"Steve, from all God's creatures, thank you. Rest in peace," was written on a card with a bouquet of native flowers.
"We're all very shocked. I don't know what the zoo will do without him. He's done so much for us, the environment and it's a big loss," said Paula Kelly, a local resident and volunteer at the zoo, after dropping off a wreath at the gate.
Stainton said Irwin's American-born wife Terri, from Eugene, Ore., had been informed of his death, and had told their daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December.
The couple met when she went on vacation in Australia in 1991 and visited Irwin's Australia Zoo; they were married six months later. Sometimes referred to as the "Crocodile Huntress," she costarred on her husband's television show and in his 2002 movie.
ON THE NET
http://www.crocodilehunter.com

Story: Extra, extra! 7 tips for reusing your newspaper
Uses for newspaper
Extra, extra! 7 tips for reusing your newspaper
06:39 AM CDT on Monday, August 28, 2006Orange County Register
Heloise would be proud. People value newspaper for more than the stories, photos, graphics and puzzles. Here are some great ideas from Orange County Register readers for making use of the paper once it's been read:
1. Ripening agent: "Use newspapers to ripen tomatoes and especially avocados." Wrap the fruit or vegetable loosely in newspaper.
2. Wrap it up: "Sometimes when I'm in a hurry and forgot to buy wrapping paper, I use the comics as wrapping paper for gifts. It looks really cute."
3. Clean mirrors and windows: Nearly half of respondents lauded newspaper's ability to put that professional shine on glass. "After spraying the windows and mirrors with my favorite glass cleaners, I wipe them off with old newspapers. Be sure to wear gloves; the ink rubs off."
4. Dry out those shoes: "If I get stuck out in the rain while riding my bike, I come home and wad up sheets of newspaper and stick them into my wet cycling shoes. The shoes are made of carbon fiber and nylon materials. The moisture gets wicked into the more-porous newspaper. Sometimes I'll need to repeat the process a couple of times. The shoes are usually dry and ready to use by the next morning."
5. Seal a leak: "If you are riding your bike and have a flat tire, you can remove the inner tube and stuff the tire with torn-up newspaper. This will 'fill' the tire enough [to allow] you to ride, instead of walk, home."
6. Storage tips: "When storing, place crumpled-up newspapers in closed suitcases and coolers to keep them odor-free."
7. Pleasing place mats: "For many years, I have used sections of [the paper] as place mats for our meals. I've found this encourages reading of the paper, and I don't have to wash place mats."

Story: Display cabinets are windows to our souls
Display cabinets
Display cabinets are windows to our souls
11:38 AM CDT on Friday, September 1, 2006By CARLA JORDAN / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Fussy bric-a-brac keepers of yesteryear have morphed into designer display cabinets, must-haves for today's well-organized home. Originally created to keep fragile collectibles dust-free and out of curious but slippery hands, display cabinets are in demand because we keep accumulating things. In case you're wondering, the term "curio" has been replaced by "display" because they're meant to house anything people want to display, not just small collectibles.
Multiples
Sectional cabinets that stand alone or in bunches are ideal for expansive areas and hallways, creating the illusion of built-ins.
Size
Narrow depth still distinguishes a display cabinet from a bookcase, but today's heights and widths vary. Small wall-mount cabinets are good choices as well.
Design
Handsome display cabinets are found across the design spectrum, all in silhouettes to complement furnishings around them.
Finishes
Oak and dark wood finishes are now joined by painted finishes in all colors, plus unique and higher-end woods, inlays, faux finishes and gilding.
Functionality
Look for built-in storage drawers, space-saving side and sliding front doors, and high-tech lighting such as movable puck-shaped spotlights.
Carla Jordan is an Irving freelance writer.

Police going back black and white
By ALEX BRANCH
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
STAR-TELEGRAM/RON T. ENNIS
Officer Nestor Martinez says the new patrol car paint scheme is "pretty sharp."
FORT WORTH -- Fort Worth police are looking old-school.
A few black and white police cars are showing up around the city and the department will begin phasing in 117 more of the classic-style cruisers next week.
"I think they're pretty sharp," officer Nestor Martinez said.
The City Council voted to redesign the cars last year, saying black and white would make officers more visible. The new cars will replace the plain white cars, which were scheduled for retirement.
Some commanders are already driving the cars, said Lt. Dean Sullivan, police spokesman. Most of the upcoming shipment of Ford Crown Victorias will go to patrol officers.
It will take about six weeks to outfit them all, he said. By April, about half of the department's 550 marked units could be black and whites.
A growing number of police departments nationally have switched to black and white cars, after decades of using colors conveying a friendlier image. Hurst and Azle are among the local departments that have made the change.
Alex Branch, 817-390-7689 abranch@star-telegram.com

Anger Tough on the Lungs
Over time, it can speed respiratory decline, researchers say
By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter
Find More
Steer Clear of Antibiotics for Colds
Dogs Plus Smog Bad for Asthmatic Kids
Today's Health News
THURSDAY, Aug. 31 (HealthDay News) -- If anger is a problem, a new study advises that you calm down and literally save your breath.
That's because long-term hostility could damage lung function and speed up the natural decline in lung power that comes with age, investigators say.
"The findings are not unexpected," said Dr. Norman Edelman, chief medical officer at the American Lung Association. "There's lots of biological plausibility, lots of mechanisms by which this could take place."
The study was published in the Aug. 31 online edition of Thorax.
Hostility and anger have been strongly linked with many other health problems in older adults, including heart disease and asthma. These emotions also appear to have an impact on chronic airway obstruction, suggesting that they could also affect the lungs.
But there's been little specific research into how these types of psychological factors affect lung function decline.
"Our psychological colleagues have worked out quite well in the lab that psychological stress and distress and negative emotional states like hostility can disrupt immune function and trigger inflammatory processes, much like allergens in the environment," noted senior study author Dr. Rosalind Wright, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
"Psychological stress seems to trigger similar types of biological disruptions," she said. "When you have something throwing the system out of balance, that might put you in a state of chronic inflammation."
To see if there was any link between anger and hostility and the way the lungs work, Wright and her colleagues examined at 670 men aged 45 to 86.
Levels of hostility, measured at the beginning of the study in 1986, averaged 18.5 points on a standard scale, with values ranging from seven to 37 points. Lung function appeared to decline as anger numbers rose, and vice-versa.
Over the next eight years, the researchers re-calculated the men's lung function three different times. Men who scored poorly in lung function at the beginning of the study were worse at each subsequent measurement, they said.
The association held steady even after adjusting for smoking, educational attainment and other factors.
How might anger be linked to lung function? That's not clear, but smoking's role was quickly discounted, Wright said.
"A person who tends to be more hostile might be more likely to adopt negative coping strategies, such as smoking," she said. "But that didn't seem to be the case. We controlled for smoking."
Men with higher levels of hostility also had a faster rate of natural decline in lung function, the researchers said.
Because all of the participants were older, white men, the results cannot be extrapolated to other groups. The results also can't be taken to mean that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between hostility and anger and declining lung function, simply an association, the researchers said.
The effect on the lungs was less than that attributable to smoking but was strong enough to approach that level of damage, Wright said. The exact magnitude of the effect needs to be studied further, she said.
The paper has a practical implication, Wright added. By spotting factors that predict a rapid decline in lung function, doctors and patients might be able to intervene to change things.
"If you raise someone's awareness about their emotional state or personality disposition or level of stress, they can modify their lifestyle or use interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy," Wright said.
More information
For more on your lungs, visit the American Lung Association.

Story: Donating organs: myths and reality
Donating organs
Donating organs: myths and reality
08:49 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 29, 2006Cox News Service
As of April, 92,000 names were on the national organ transplant list. Because of the lack of available organs for transplant, 17 of those people die each day, on average.
Why don't people donate organs?
Also Online
Related story: Doctor's own transplant becomes a blessing for others
Southwest Transplant Alliance
LifeGift Organ Donation Center
Because they harbor myths about the process, according to Dr. Syvil S. Burke, associate operating officer for transplant services at Duke University Hospital in Durham, N.C.
Myth: Doctors will not work as hard to save the life of an organ donor.
"That is simply not true," says Dr. Burke. "The medical staff working to save a patient's life is completely separate from the organ procurement agency." In the great majority of cases, the emergency personnel have no idea whether the patient they are treating is a potential donor.
Myth: There is an age limit on organ donation.
People of all ages and medical histories may be organ and tissue donors. Physical condition, not age, will determine what organs and tissues can be donated.
Myth: Organs are sold, sometimes on the black market.
"Neither organ donors nor their families receive any financial compensation for becoming an organ donor," says Dr. Burke.
Federal law prohibits buying and selling organs ! in the U nited States.

Flowers find home in old thermoses======================================================================Flowers find a festive home in old Thermos jugs04:09 PM CDT on Sunday, August 27, 2006By CLARE MIERS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News Flowers find a festive home in old Thermos jugs04:09 PM CDT on Sunday, August 27, 2006By CLARE MIERS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News I can't pass up an old Thermos picnic jug at an estate sale, especially when the insulated drink container has a vintage color. If it is in pristine shape, that's even better because I like to use the jugs on road trips. My favorite thing to do is to swing by the drive-through window at Bubba's Cooks Country on west Northwest Highway near Stemmons Freeway and buy a few super-large iced teas to pour into the jug. Flowers cool their heels in colorful Thermos picnic jugs. " width="175" src="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/v3/08-27-2006.nsl_27vases.GEV1V4DN6.1.jpg" onclick="return clickedImage(this);" height="208" onmouseover=" this.style.cursor='hand'"> NATALIE CAUDILL/DMN Flowers cool their heels in colorful Thermos picnic jugs. Sometimes, old picnic jugs look good on the outside but are in bad shape on the inside or they leak. If so, they can't be used for drinks, but don't put them out to pasture just yet: Fill them with flowers. Several colorful Thermos containers overflowing with blooms make a terrific summer centerpiece for casual dining. If the jugs leak, arrange the flowers in a jar filled with water and sit that inside the jug. Cut the flower stems to create a low-profile arrangement that facilitates conversation across the table. One of these flower arrangements also is ideal for a guest room, especially at a lake cabin. Or take one to a loved one in an assisted-living center. And imagine a co-worker's delight if you place one of these cheerful bouquets on his or her desk. Finding a vintage picnic jug can be as easy as looking in your garage. Or try estate sales and garage sales, where they sometimes are sold for a few dollars. Clare Miers is a Dallas freelance writer and photo stylist. E-mail home@dallasnews.com FRIDAY IN HOME OASIS: A Richardson garden delights the eye and the soul

Story: 5 tips for proper reading light
Proper reading light
5 tips for proper reading light
06:43 AM CDT on Monday, August 21, 2006
It's hard to concentrate on homework when you can't see it clearly. David Feldman, chief executive officer of lighting maker YLighting, has these tips for properly lighting a study space:
1. Position the lamp to the left of a right-handed person or to the right of a left-handed person.
2. Make sure the light beam falls on the working area and doesn't reflect onto a computer screen.
3. Buy an adjustable lamp. A cantilevered model that can be angled and lowered is ideal.
4. Clip-on spotlights are useful. They can be moved to wherever they're needed.
5. Adjust the level of lighting directed on the work in response to changing conditions. That will reduce eyestrain and fatigue.
Akron Beacon Journal

Story: Structured environment
Structured environments
Structured environmentA little construction does wonders for outdoor settings
09:51 AM CDT on Friday, August 18, 2006By CARLA JORDAN / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Imagine a ground-level treehouse for grown-ups. Outdoor structures provide the same sanctuary and more, granting a lovely transition from indoors to outside. Visually, they lend architectural shape to the yard and establish design focal points. Practically, they deliver much-needed shade on sunny days. Here are ideas for augmenting your outdoor looks in a variety of styles and budgets.
Carla Jordan is an Irving freelance writer.
Arches, arbors and pergolas
On a budget? Give arches, arbors and pergolas a try. Available in many sizes, these structures, when covered with climbing roses and vines, lend colorful architectural shape to a garden or yard. Arches are illusionary tricks of the trade used to create a doorway entrance. Pergolas and arbors are simple shade structures that filter the sun while letting cool breezes through; they're ideal for lounging areas. Mostly sold as kits, these structures are a DIYer's dream.
Gazebos
Gazebos are free-standing roofed structures, open on all sides. More substantial, longer-lasting and pricier than pergolas and arbors, they provide shade and protection from rain, making them favorites for picnics and other activities.
The newest trend is to house outdoor spas in them. Low-maintenance vinyl gazebos are very popular.
Garden houses
These free-standing little houses mimic their full-size counterparts with solid roofs, walls, floor and custom features like copper roofs and operable divided-light windows. Garden houses are trendy for use as artist studios, garden dining rooms and waterside retreats.
Conservatories
From 19th-century Victorian England came the conservatory, th! e ultima te room with a view. Originally a grand greenhouse, this is a free-standing or attached glass structure supported by a sturdy, elaborate frame. Conservatories are back in vogue, having shaken their stuffy wicker-and-fern image and now often designed as a dining room, family room, home gym or spa with swimming pool.
Traditionally pegged for cooler regions, conservatories are finding their way South, customized for warm climates. Other trends include installing decorative draperies and shades that can be drawn during the heat of the day and extending whole-home heating and air-conditioning systems for year-round climate control.
SHOPPING TIPS
Investment strategy: Whether you start with a simple arch or plunk down the bucks for a magnificent conservatory, experts offer the same tip: Buy for the long term.
Quality counts. "The best materials are durable ones," says Christopher Peeples, president and founder of Vixen Hill, a maker of garden houses, gazebos and other structures. "They include cedar or redwood with brass and/or stainless steel fasteners. Skimping in material quality will eventually come back to haunt you."
Online: Want to shop and compare without burning time or gas? A growing number of these structures are sold online and via catalogs to save manufacturers brick-and-mortar store space. Many are shipped flat for assembly by homeowners or general contractors. Custom conservatories are delivered to the front door by skilled installers who travel nationwide.
Resources: The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association's Web site (www.wrcla.org) has info about outdoor structures, including design ideas for arbors, trellises, pergolas, fences, gates and gazebos. DECO DETAILS: 'Oak Park' steel arch ($329), gate ($99) and trellises ($89-$139) add a bit of art deco to a landscape. Smith & Hawken, Dallas; www.smithandhawken.com. ">DECO DETAILS: 'Oak Park' steel arch ($329), gate ($99) and trellises ($89-$139) add a bit of art deco to a landscape. Smith & Hawken, Dallas; www.smithandhawken.com. // Image1 end --> FOR SWINGERS: 'Plantation' cedar arbor with 6-foot swing ($2,289); Walpole Woodworkers catalog, 1-800-343-6948; www.walpolewoodworkers.com. ">FOR SWINGERS: 'Plantation' cedar arbor with 6-foot swing ($2,289); Walpole Woodworkers catalog, 1-800-343-6948; www.walpolewoodworkers.com. // Image2 end --> MADE FOR THE SHADE: Danove 4-foot traditional cedar arbor ($579) provides fragrant seating; special-order at Water Gardens Galore, Dallas; 214-956-7382. ">MADE FOR THE SHADE: Danove 4-foot traditional cedar arbor ($579) provides fragrant seating; special-order at Water Gardens Galore, Dallas; 214-956-7382. // Image3 end --> SIMPLY DIVINE: This custom-designed conservatory provides a colorful focal point and added living space to a smaller-scale home. Renaissance Conservatories, 1-800-882-4657. ">SIMPLY DIVINE: This custom-designed conservatory provides a colorful focal point and added living space to a smaller-scale home. Renaissance Conservatories, 1-800-882-4657. // Image4 end --> BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: 'Superior' double-roof vinyl gazebo kit ($3,990-$16,225) combines vinyl and wood. Cedar, asphalt or rubber slate roof. www.backyardamerica.com.">BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: 'Superior' double-roof vinyl gazebo kit ($3,990-$16,225) combines vinyl and wood. Cedar, asphalt or rubber slate roof. www.backyardamerica.com. // Image5 end -->

Sensory disorders can affect children's behavior
By BILL RADFORD
The (Colorado Springs) Gazette
Margo Wells and her husband had always regarded their son, Jacob, as an intense child.
"As a baby, he squirmed a lot when you held him," Wells says. "You could tell he didn't like to be held."
He also didn't sleep much and resisted when it was time to change clothes or take a bath. "He was pretty happy; he just seemed to always be alert," his mother says.
His behavior became more of an issue when he started preschool.
"He would scream at the other kids and hit them, and you could tell he was overwhelmed," his mother says.
At age 3, Jacob was diagnosed with sensory-processing disorder, which affects a person's ability to interpret and respond to the information he or she receives through the senses.
The disorder, first called sensory integration dysfunction, covers a broad range of problems. Some children are hypersensitive, unable to cope with the noise of a crowded room or driven to a tantrum by the feel of a tag in a shirt. Others are underresponsive and seek out stimuli, such as the noise from a washing machine, or have motor-skill delays because of problems processing sensory information.
A controversial diagnosis
A link between sensory issues and behavior was pioneered by Jean Ayres, a psychologist and occupational therapist who brought the disorder to light in Sensory Integration and Learning Disorders in 1972. A quarter-century later, sensory-processing disorder is not recognized by the DSM, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is commonly used to diagnose mental disorders. And some insurance companies don't cover sensory-integration therapy, calling it experimental.
"Sensory-processing problems are very real, and they can be extremely debilitating," says Michael Kisley, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs who researches sensory issues. But sensory-processing disorder remains a controversial diagnosis, he says. More research is needed to show whether it is separate from other disorders with sensory-processing components, such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
Rebecca Hendricks, an occupational therapist in pediatric rehabilitation, says she sees more referrals from doctors citing sensory-processing disorder or sensory issues as the problem.
"It's probably one of the most frustrating diagnoses you can have, because it's not static," she says. Problems may overlap, or children may swing from one type of sensory-processing disorder to another, she says.
"I think the hypersensitive kids get recognized more often because it gets in the way of their daily life more," she says.
How it looks in adults
Adults can have sensory-processing issues, too, but they're less likely to be recognized because adults learn to cope, partly by avoiding certain situations, Kisley says.
That's one thing her son, now 5, is learning, Margo Wells says. They recently went to a local family fun center. She could tell Jacob was having difficulty coping at the center, but he avoided a meltdown.
"When we were walking to the car, he said, 'I don't think it's a good idea for me to come back here.'"
Adults have greater control over their environment. Kids with sensory-processing disorder who seek to control their environment may be criticized as manipulative, says Tami Lamphere, an occupational therapist at the Child Development Center of Colorado Springs, Colo. But those kids -- from the infant who can't stand anyone's touch except Mom's to the child who can't seem to handle a change in routine -- are simply trying to control a sensory bombardment that may be unbearable to them.
The KID Foundation, http://www.kidfoundation.org/,
303-794-1182
Red flags
There are several forms of sensory-processing disorder. Here are the signs of some:
Sensory overresponsiveness: Child bothered by noise in a restaurant, mall or gymnasium; any loud, unexpected sounds; feeling crumbs on his mouth; food textures; fuzzy or furry textures; playing on swings and slides. Typically irritable, fussy and moody. Aggressive or impulsive when overwhelmed by sensory stimulation.
Sensory underresponsiveness: Child doesn't seem to notice when someone touches him or her, doesn't cry when seriously hurt, prefers sedentary activities. Typically passive and withdrawn.
Sensory seeking: On the move constantly, loves to play music and television at extremely high volumes, seeks opportunities to feel vibrations such as leaning against stereo speakers or the washer and dryer. May be angry or even explosive when required to sit still. Typically intense and demanding.
Sensory-discrimination disorder: Child has difficulty judging how much force is required for a task or telling what is in his hands without looking. Trouble identifying sounds or following directions. Aversion to playing with puzzles or other visual games.
SOURCE: "Sensational Kids, Hope and Help for Children With Sensory Processing Disorder," by Lucy Jane Miller
-- The Gazette

Lesson 1: Make your own luck
Successful people create their own opportunities.

By Ryan D'Agostino, Money Magazine senior editor
August 22 2006: 11:27 AM EDT
NEW YORK (Money Magazine) -- Ever drive through a really wealthy neighborhood and wonder how those people got there? Sure, some inherited their way to the top, but once you put aside your initial envy you know that's not true of most of them. These people made it.
Imagine if you could just park the car, walk up to a fabulous house, ring the bell and ask the owners for the secrets of financial success. That's where I found myself one day earlier this year: standing in the driveway of a towering waterfront home in Westport, Conn. (06880).
Harvey Jason's Hollywood bookshop has been, accidentally, a runaway success.
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The promised land. I rang. A pretty blond woman, around 50, cracked the storm door. I explained that I was searching for the secrets of success.
She stared, shrugged, asked if I was a psycho and bumped the door open with her knee. I walked into a living room filled with white light bouncing off the water.
As Carole Reichhelm clutched a coffee mug with both hands, she leaned against her kitchen counter and asked, "Okay, what do you want to know?"
This was the first day of a cross-country tour that had me ringing bells, slipping through gates and cajoling housekeepers over intercoms in five of America's most exclusive zip codes.
Most people, of course, didn't want to talk. And I'll never know whether the owners of the large guard dog that chased me down a private road near Reichhelm's place felt like sharing their secrets.
My guess is they keep to themselves. On the other hand, I did enjoy $20-a-glass Chardonnay while chatting with one of the richest women in Paradise Valley, Ariz. (85253) as the sun set over Camelback Mountain. A few weeks later, on St. Patrick's Day, I ate corned beef prepared by a Silicon Valley CEO's private chef (94027).
All in all, I walked some 20 miles, rang more than 200 doorbells, almost got run over by three dozen SUVs, and spoke with 23 people who showed me that while accumulating vast sums of money isn't easy, it's a lot more possible than you probably think.
Figuring out the lessons in their stories took a good bit of reflection after my tour was done, but here's an overarching observation that will become clear as you follow my travels: The fact that these millionaires were willing to open their doors at all explains a lot about how they got where they are.
As for what they had to say, well, these are good people to listen to. I know. I've seen their houses.
How Harvey Jason made his own luck
One of my most significant encounters, as it turned out, occurred not in a house but in a tiny shop called Mystery Pier Books, down a little alley off Sunset Boulevard. I stopped in to get out of the heat, and inside I found Harvey Jason, the affable British expatriate who owns the place.
I told him about my walking tour, and his eyes lit up.
Jason, 66, had a 40-year career as a character actor in television and movies, and he could easily play the part of a soothsayer who lives deep in some medieval forest: He's small and good-natured, with a soft voice that suggests both wisdom and curiosity. (Incidentally, we're cheating a bit here; Jason lives and works a few blocks outside 90210 proper. But we're not holding that against him.)
Jason knows everybody in the business (he's married to Pamela Franklin, who once died on-screen in Brando's arms), but a decade ago he decided that he was ready to ease into a retirement gig.
He was in Eureka, Calif., of all places, when he had the revelation, filming Steven Spielberg's The Lost World: Jurassic Park, in which he played a dinosaur tracker. Jason had visited a bookstore and was examining his loot when Spielberg looked over his shoulder.
"Steven, I'm going to open a bookstore," Jason told the director. "I'm doing it."
Jason was comfortable, but he didn't want to lose money on a new undertaking.
Soon after opening Mystery Pier, he dedicated a corner to books that had been made into films - marrying the two things he was passionate about. He spread the word among that vast network he had built up, and business took off as Hollywood A-listers stopped in for first editions of books that they or their friends had made into movies.
Robin Williams, Jude Law and Bono became regulars. When I went in, Jason had everything from a full set of the Harry Potter books signed by J.K. Rowling ($40,000) to Humphrey Cobb's Paths of Glory inscribed by the star of the film version, Kirk Douglas ($6,500).
"It was really an inadvertent thing," Jason said of the profitable market niche he had stumbled on. After a moment, he added, "If I made a list of all the things in life I thought were coincidences and then looked back at them, I would see that they weren't coincidences at all."
Exactly.
Jason exemplifies the traits that British researcher Richard Wiseman ascribed to lucky people in a 2003 article called The Luck Factor: "They are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition, create self-fulfilling prophecies via positive expectations, and adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good."
In one experiment, Wiseman asked two groups of people - one who described themselves as generally lucky and one who said they were usually unlucky - to count the photographs in a newspaper. The unluckies spent several minutes flipping through and counting the photos. The lucky people got it in a few seconds. How? On page 2, Wiseman had inserted a message in giant headline type: "Stop counting - There are 43 photographs in this newspaper."
The lucky people, always on the lookout for unexpected good fortune, spotted it right away. The unlucky people, whose minds are closed to such signs, missed it completely.
Jason would have gotten the message.
_________________________________
Lesson 1: Make your own luck...Beverly Hills, Calif. 90210
Lesson 1, Corollary 1: Make others lucky too...Paradise Valley, Ariz. 85253
Lesson 2: Have a growth mind-set...Westport, Conn. 06880
Lesson 2, Corollary 1: Never stop learning...Atherton, Calif. 94027
Lesson 2, Corollary 2: Calculate your risk...Lake Forest, Ill. 60045
Plus: Do you have what it takes to be rich?

Story: Books to stargaze by
Books to stargaze by
Books to stargaze by
06:48 AM CDT on Thursday, August 17, 2006
One of the simple pleasures of summer is stargazing. The notion of a boundless sky can ignite children's imaginations.
On a cloudy night, these books might spark a similar glimmer in their eyes:
Seeing Stars
By Dandi Mackall, illustrated by Claudine Gévry
(Little Simon, $9.99)
Seeing Stars connects the dots of the constellations. It shows Pegasus, Draco the Dragon and Big Dog, Little Dog both as they appear in the sky and in colorful cartoonish drawings. Recommended for ages 4-8.
Constellations: A Glow-in-the-Dark Guide to the Night Sky
By Chris Sasaki, illustrated by Alan Flinn
(Sterling, $12.95)
You might know the names of creatures such as Draco, Hercules and Gemini the Twins, but what about the backstory? Children and adults alike can read about the legends of the constellations and then flip off the lights and get a firsthand view of them. Recommended for ages 5-8.
Associated Press

Lawyers vs. Vampires What's the difference between a lawyer and a vampire?
A vampire only sucks blood at night.




Comedy Central Daily Joke, 1775 Broadway, NY, NY 10019Copyright © 1995 - 2006 Comedy Central. All rights reserved.

Terri

(Letter to editor I wrote to Star-Telegram)

Dear Editor:
As a birth mom who placed my newborn daughter for adoption through Gladney in August 2000, my heart broke for "Keila" in the Aug. 13th Star-Telegram article about the girl whose mom abandoned her as an infant. It baffles me why so many birth moms simply abandon their babies instead of going though the adoptive process. Before my birth daughter, who will be six tomorrow (the 15th) was born I made her a scrapbook and I send her letters, email cards, and gifts so that she will always know that I did what I did BECAUSE I love her. I even get to see her two to three times a year which is a great, unexpected, tremendous gift.
I wouldn't have given my daughter a new life any other way than how I did because I didn't want her to feel unwanted.
I hope if "Keila's" birth mom is out there she'll write her a letter or something so that this child will at least have some questions answered if nothing else.

Terri Rimmer

Zoos Help Animals Adapt To Weather

By Terri Rimmer

The sweltering temperatures of 100 and above here in Texas have forced local zoos to make sure big creatures are kept cool.

If you live in this state you know what I mean when people ask if you think this week has been hot.

But picture yourself as a chimp named Chloe, wearing a homemade fur coat, swinging on branches in her man-made habitat.

However, she and her friends are keeping cool thanks to on-going efforts by the Dallas Zoo.

“The animals we have are pretty adaptable and they’re used to hot weather,” said Todd Bowsher, the zoo’s mammal curator in a recent interview.

However, the doctor concedes that zoos have to take measure to keep the animals cool – and they do in the way of misters, extra water, and more shade.

Treats of frozen juice and fruit are made available to the chimps, also.

On July 14th when the temperature reached 100 degrees, these mammals were rewarded with these surprises.

There is a challenge to getting to the fruity center which is good for the chimp’s mind to keep it active and also cools them off.

Despite this, though sometimes even these animal popsicles are not enough so they are allowed to go inside.

Even the elephants, giraffes and other animals get cooled down with the misters.

Over in Fort Worth, the zoo there has in place ways to make sure their animals are kept cool, said Lindsay Nantz, a zoo spokesperson.

“Most of our animals come from similar climates so they’re able to tolerate the heat,” she said.

Now a treat helps Chloe stay cool in the heat.

Even zoo visitors think it’s great what the staff is doing to help the animals keep their cool.

One visitor, Cindy Avalos, who brought her kids to see the primates, was impressed by these cooling efforts.

“It really makes a lot of sense,” she said.

November 1, 2005

I was in a research study and had told a doctor there about your diagnosis.

Without any hesitation she blurted, “Oh, hunny! It’s over!”

I was shocked at her complete lack of bedside manner.

“He quit drinking,” I said.

“Too late,” she chimed in a sing-song way much to my surprise.

“How long have you been a doctor?” I finally managed to ask, trying to hide my hurt.

“Ten years,” she said.

I thought to myself, “You need to get a new profession.”

Another “normal” doctor I spoke to who I’ve known for a couple of years said that it sounded to him like you were in the late stages of liver cancer and it didn’t look good. But he was compassionate and gave me the names of some doctors.

I told him about my experience with the other doctor and he couldn’t believe it.

The kind doctor said, yes, it sounded like the cancer had probably started somewhere else.

Your doctor has now told you that chemo, radiation, nor will surgery help you because the cancer has spread throughout your body and none of those methods will help.

I can’t believe it.

Still in denial, though, I refuse to say that you might or are going to die.

You have lost so much weight except for in your stomach where the tumor is. Your legs, arms, and face are withering away, your skin is flaky and now your feet are swollen.

Once you showed me a picture of you from the 1970s when you were skinny. Ironically you always wanted to lose the weight again since you have gained weight through the years but now you have lost the weight you always wanted to lose – but how you have lost it.

Your eyes look haunting. When I look into your face I see the little boy that was once there, the one I never got to meet.
Everything is moving too fast.

Every day a different doctor tells you something different.

You don’t know who to believe.

At the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, several hundred miles away by car they have told you they might be able to help you.

I take you around one day to get copies of all your records from the doctors.

When we walk into one lobby the staff is snooty and insensitive.

Another waiting room at another office is full of cancer patients, some bald, all quiet and I look at them thinking to myself about what you’re going through and will go through.

We eat at one of our regular spots only this time the college students don’t bother you with their loudness like they did before you got sick.

You are just matter-of-fact about them now.

It amazes me.

As we’re leaving after one of our dinners there a guy wearing leg braces and walking with crutches, falls in front of you at the front door.

You don’t hesitate and you help him up with both hands, using all of your strength to do it as his friend holds the door open.

“Thank you,” the guy with the crutches tells you and you tell him “No problem.”

The next day we’re talking on the phone and you start crying.

“I could help that guy up,” you say, referring to the guy with crutches. “Even in my condition as sick as I am and sick as I felt I helped him up.”

It’s like you are getting closer with God.

You have always helped people but now it is more personal to you.

Even your deadbeat stepson helps you carry your things in one day at work because you don’t have the strength.

Now you make fun of your friend who is just a big druggie and you realize he’s not where it’s at.

When you first got sick they put you on Darvocet and it made you mean so you got off of it.

One time you were rough with Ripley and you blew it off at the time but later felt bad and you told him and me it would never happen again.

You are going for a procedure at the hospital where they will drain the excessive fluid from your liver to give you some relief for now. I hope it goes okay. I’m worried as usual.

But you are so miserable you can’t go to the bathroom by yourself, put your shoes on, get dressed, or shower.

Your stomach is so huge it looks like you’re carrying triplets.

One of the times I come over and bring Ripley as usual and we watch movies at your house Ripley falls asleep in your arms.

“He needs a pacifier,” you joke as you look at him, lovingly.

I had put Ripley in your arms for you since you couldn’t bend over to pick him up.

Just a few weeks ago you were able to.

We watch some of our old favorite movies and some new.

A lot of comedies and nothing too serious.

You also like “Grey’s Anatomy” which you watched before you got sick and now “House.”

When there are death story lines we get quiet and I wonder what you’re thinking.

We especially like “Madagascar” and the cat in that movie reminds you of my feline.

A month ago you brought home pomegranates and started cutting them up, eagerly, telling me about how they’re supposed to be good for cancer.

I tried them for the first time and they were good.

It was the first time you’d ever bought them or eaten them.

I also researched foods that were supposed to be good for you and then you would get cravings like the time you wanted red candy apples, only I couldn’t find them anywhere.

One day you left a message on my machine, joking, saying, “Your mission if you choose to accept it is to find candy apples.”

I live on Mission Street so it was always an inside joke with us about different “missions” we’d be on.

Your ex-stepdaughter has her first child, a little girl named Katherine.

You love her as your own and are at the hospital the whole time.

Pictures are taken with her and you and you tell me from here on out that every time you hold her your pain goes away.

It’s amazing to you and you don’t know why that is.

You talk about being there for her and watching her grow up and you are hopeful.

She looks just like her mother.

She has huge eyes that follow you.

You hold her and she opens and closes her eyes, back and forth; looking up at you, then down, then up again.

You marvel at her every day and you can’t get enough of her.

One night you want me to come over but your ex-wife won’t let me and you’re pissed.

She is ranting and raving and you are too tired to fight her again.

You call me on my cell phone on the way there and tell me it’s off so I turn around and go back home.

You can no longer work.

I talk to another doctor who tells me it doesn’t look good and sounds like late-stage liver cancer.

Soon it is Thanksgiving and I go to your house for a late dinner after seeing some friends and feeling guilty for that.

You insist on making me a plate yourself and refuse to let me serve myself in any way.

I am guilt-ridden as I watch you do this and as I eat you watch TV close by, waiting for me to finish so we can talk.

I don’t let myself think that this might be your last Thanksgiving.

You have to live, I tell myself.

There is no other way.

You tell me that now you realize who your friends are and that you don’t have any friends.

I am sad for you.

Once again, your ex-wife is boycotting Christmas, only this year, because you’re sick.

I don’t know what to get you for Christmas because the one thing you need I cannot give you - survival.

Update: National Suicide Hotline to Operate Two Additional Weeks
As NAMI reported yesterday, the nation's largest suicide hotline, 1-800-SUICIDE, is scheduled to go out of service. But instead of this occurring on Saturday, August 12, as previously announced, the operator of this hotline has been given a two week extension. Negotiations are still in progress that may prevent the number from going out of service. However, NAMI is still urging the public to be aware that the alternative number for those in crisis is 1-800-273-TALK.
This number will put callers in touch with the federally-funded National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a service that has been in operation since January, 2005. It functions as a central switchboard to immediately connect callers to virtually the same network of certified, local crisis centers accessed by 1-800-SUICIDE. So callers can receive counseling or emergency services, if needed, close to home.
All calls to the 1-800-273-TALK Lifeline are private and confidential. Confidentiality of personal information and of personal disclosures during calls is a high priority for the parties involved in operating the Lifeline.
The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is working with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the entire suicide prevention community to ensure that every call for help during a suicide crisis is answered. Some of the measures being put in place include:
Ensuring that the entire suicide-prevention community is working the phones and Internet to make sure that all referring agencies know that 1-800-273-TALK is the number to call for suicide intervention.
Notifying service providers, including directory 411 and 211 operators, that 1-800-SUICIDE is scheduled to go out of service in two weeks, and to direct callers to 1-800-273-TALK for help.
Redirecting callers who call 1-800-SUICIDE to call 1-800-273-TALK through a recording.
NAMI will continue to stay involved with these efforts and will distribute additional information as it becomes available.
NAMI urges you to help distribute this alert in your community. Together, we can ensure that every call for help is answered.
Thank you,
Michael J. Fitzpatrick, MSWExecutive Director NAMI

Bush Visits a Nursing Home President George W. Bush decides it is time to do some public relations at a local Washington DC nursing home.
The President begins his "tour" down the main hallway and passes by a little old man who doesn't seem to notice him.
Sensing this, President Bush backtracks to the resident and asks, "Do you know who I am?"
The little old man looks up from his walker and says, "No, but if you go to the front desk, they will tell you your name."




Comedy Central Daily Joke, 1775 Broadway, NY, NY 10019Copyright © 1995 - 2006 Comedy Central. All rights reserved.

Oct. 24, 2005:

It was a day unlike any other when I got the news.

You told me you were going back to the doctor for another test to find out what was wrong with you since they had ruled out Hepatitis and Cirrhosis.

I’m sitting here at my computer writing an article when the phone rings and my world is changed forever.

“Okay, here’s the deal,” you say bravely. “I’ve got liver cancer.”

Inside I can’t breathe. It’s as if you are drowning suddenly and being pulled under by large waves and I cannot bring you up to the surface no matter how hard I try.

On the outside I say, “Okay” then barrage you with a million questions, something you wind up hating during the time you are alive.

You tell me what’s next and seem incredibly calm, determined to fight this thing, as you tell me, not afraid and optimistic.

You’re only 51 and we’ve been dating two years.

You’ve been at your company 19 years and promoted once, now serving as a supervisor on the night shift.

You always wanted kids and we were going to get married.

But now all that has been put on hold as you focus on what is most important – surviving.

I don’t know what to say or how to be. Only that you now have a free pass, a “Get out of Jail free” card to do whatever you want to do in your life, to me, to others, or yourself because you are now a cancer patient.

I’ve lost a lot of people in my life and some to cancer. I’ve lost some relatives and friends to cancer and even people I barely knew.

But I never had a boyfriend tell me he just found out he has cancer.

People ask me later if you knew somehow ahead of time since you talked about dying a lot, particularly the second year we dated.

I brushed those comments off at the time from you, telling myself you were just obsessed and pessimistic because of how your life was pre-cancer – full of depression, drinking, and in a bad marriage.

Now it’s been 24 hours since you gave me the news and you are heading back to the doctor for more follow-up. You don’t have great insurance but at least you have something.

Your family doctor seems pretty clueless.

Your uncle, a liver cancer survivor tells you enthusiastically that you are going to make it, that he made it and that you have nothing to worry about.

You tell your family but not your company, not yet.

All of your relatives are optimistic and rally around you via long distance phone calls.

You write your sister who lives out of town and tell her. You had just reunited with her and swapped letters and pictures and now you have to tell her that you are sick.

You haven’t seen each other in years.

I always said that I wouldn’t be a good caretaker in situations like these and I proved myself right although I surprised myself by making you laugh every chance I could to get your mind off things which you said you liked later.

You are afraid you’ll lose your job that you won’t be able to pay your bills but you aren’t afraid you’re going to die.

“I’m going to fight this thing,” you tell me. “Whatever happens, I want you to be happy. Nothing has changed. When I get better we’re going to………”

First the doctor tells you you have a huge tumor but they can’t find it, only that it is metastasis and it is shooting off lots of little baby tumors all through your body. They tell you you were probably sick two or three years before they found anything. They say alcohol is not a factor and there is a question of exactly where the cancer started. Maybe not in the liver. Maybe in the pancreas or colon but no clue.

They tell you about chemo and radiation and I cringe inside, my heart breaking as I imagine you bent over a toilet constantly after chemo, having heard horror stories about it.

I don’t want this for you. I so much don’t want you to suffer.

I just want them to find the tumor, zap it, and for things to go back to how they were.

It’s now been two days since your diagnosis and it feels like an eternity.

I have told my family and friends and prayers are being sent out.

You didn’t want people to know, didn’t want to be exploited, don’t want pity or for people to feel sorry for you.

You also don’t want to be asked constantly about your condition and you get sick of me asking how you’re feeling.

But it just seems like the only natural thing to ask and I thought to myself that if I don’t ask how uncaring does that make me seem?

Your laughter is something I miss. It resonated through the walls of my home, as you played with my dog, Ripley who you had bonded with, as you bathe him, as we crack jokes, watch movies, live in each other’s lives.

But all that has stopped now. Rarely do you laugh and when you do it doesn’t last long.

I’m still in a state of shock. I still cannot accept this though you seem to have, readily.

I can’t believe this is happening. To us. To me.

I take it personally and I’m pissed at God even though I know He has nothing to do with it, though my alcoholic recovery friends tell me it’s His will.

I refuse to accept that.

I will never submit to that.

Because if it’s God’s will that you get cancer then how do you explain how many people get it and don’t? It’s too random. What about kids and animals who get sick? How did they come to deserve it?

Your ex-wife tells you that because you cheated on her you got cancer.

She is one sick ticket.

She is directly from hell.

She tells you she’s going to make you suffer, that now it’s payback time.

I hurt for you inside. Every day I surf the Net and give you info on your condition, treatments, hope, something for you to hold on to. I never give you any of the bad stuff and sometimes it takes me a long time to find anything good to pass on to you. But I don’t want you to know the truth. That the prognosis is bad, that there’s not much good news for you.

On the fourth day since you told me you have cancer you have by now gone back to work and I come to visit you as usual only this time we sit in your car on your break and listen to some of your favorite songs, holding hands, and talking about your cancer.

You tell me that you started reading The Bible again, something you haven’t done since your Catholic childhood days. I listen, openly, not caring for the first time that I’m not religious and never have been.

“People think that Heaven is where they’re going to be reunited with the people they love,” you say. “That’s not it at all. That’s not what it’s about.”

Even though I have never believed in Heaven and Hell I am dismayed to hear this. This means that if you die I won’t be reunited with you possibly one day.

Your mom has given you some wonder recipe passed down by her Hispanic heritage that is supposed to cure you along with a litany of prayers and, of course, whatever treatment the doctors prescribe.

You try to drink this concoction daily but can’t choke it down. She implores you to try while you talk to her on the phone and you do but you can only get down a little before you gag.

But soon you are able to drink it and you do the prayers religiously, faithfully, hopefully, hoping against hope that this is the answer.

Your ex-wife often makes fun of you when she hears you on your knees praying out loud.

I think to myself that she is one messed up, cruel individual to rob you of your hope.

Or try to.

As it stands now she is not successful in robbing you of that optimism.

That comes later.

I want to take you in my arms and hold you, this big bear of a man, my love, my heart and soul. I want to comfort you, cure you, bargain with God to take me instead.

After all, you are a good person. I’m the one God wants if this is some sick master plan.

“Take me,” I beg Him. “I deserve this illness. Not him.”

I would gladly switch places with you to end your suffering, anything for you to not have to go through this hell.

Three days before Halloween and you go with me to pick up my Geisha costume for this party I go to every year. I wish you could be going with me.

Instead you marvel at the costumes and masks in the store, gazing at them in admiration and we laugh together.

On the way home you stop at a tortilla factory and buy the tamales you’ve been wanting for months that you have now decided to no longer deny yourself. You haven’t eaten them in a long time and you can’t wait to savor the delicious flavor.

I wait in the car while you go in and soon you are back with the big white bags smoking hot with delicacies, a big smile on your face.

For a moment it’s as if you’re not sick.

Then I remember you are.

The second passes so quickly that I don’t realize how meaningful this trip is for you and later I would reflect on it over and over among other memories.

We eat your treats at your place in the dining room, brightly lit with the t.v. on in the living room, sunlight pouring through the windows on what should be just a regular ole day.

But as the bottles of pills laid out on the dining room table suggest, it is not an ordinary day at all.

Nor will it ever be again.

Going to the Halloween party I felt so guilty, like “How dare I have fun?” while you’re sick. Yet you insisted I go because that’s how unselfish you are. The whole time I was there I thought about you, wishing you were there with me, unable to have a good time because you weren’t with me.

The whole time I’m there I’m wondering how you are at home, how you’re feeling, if you’re able to rest.

At this point you haven’t started any treatment because the doctors keep giving you different answers and say more tests have to be run.

You go to one center that is supposed to be great but they basically told you that without better insurance you’re out of luck.

We get information from the local American Cancer Society office about financial assistance, support groups, and other services they offer.

You fill out packets of information from various organizations hoping to get some help soon before things get really bad.

Your company is being great, your employees have rallied around you, helping you pick up the slack while you’re working, doing extra stuff when needed, and assisting you in any way they can.

I’m so glad you have such support in this area.

One day your men take up a collection of $200 for your expenses and they give it to you.

I marvel at this.

You continue to work every day and I don’t know how.

At this point you’re on Darvocet and driving back and forth to work but can barely do it. I worry about you getting in a wreck and about how you can work in your condition but you soldier on.

You have to work, you tell me. You’ve got bills to pay and I understand but I still worry.

You tell your best friend who lives next door about your diagnosis. But he’s an alcoholic and all he can do is disappear from your life, barely calling and stopping visiting.

Your neighbor across the street, with his usual demands, asks even more of you, not knowing your diagnosis. Then when he finds out he feels bad and offers to help in any way he can.

A few months before your diagnosis one of your dogs that you had for several years died of a long illness.

You used to tell me about when he was a puppy and about all your times together, walking him, teaching him tricks, and how gorgeous he was.

My mom tells me that so many people survive cancer and that there was hope, that you would be okay.

My sister was sorry to get my news about you and was her usual compassionate self.

My best friend who had heard all about you but never got to meet you was stunned and sympathetic.


Now when I send you emails I make sure they’re all happy.

I don’t want you to have a moment of sadness on top of what you have to deal with.

Every day I want to shout to people “Don’t you know my boyfriend has cancer? Don’t you see my world’s been turned upside down?”

Selfish, I know.

On the outside I appear to just care about how this affects you but inside I’m terrified of how this is affecting me.

I can’t imagine what you’re going through.

I keep thinking it’s just a bad dream and I’m going to wake up. We both say over and over that we just want to go back to how things were, rewind back to 2003 and 2004 in our high times.

We had been dating for two years.

I keep thinking about how we met in July 2003 but didn’t start dating till December of that year. I had taken my car to you to get worked on. You were recommended by a friend.

The first day I met you remember how we hit it off? We were cracking jokes while you worked on my car. It felt like I’d known you for years. There hasn’t ever been anyone like that for me. We started exchanging emails, email jokes and this went on for months as just friends.

Then on Dec. 28, 2003 all that changed.

Humor was a huge part of our relationship.

I remember your 50th birthday was a great memory for both of us. And on Valentine’s Day 2004 it snowed and stuck as you left my house in the morning for yours.

You immediately took to Ripley and loved him. You taught him tricks, bathed him weekly, and would give him treats. You two bonded as if you were his dad.

You remembered dates like no one would believe and could spin a tale with so much detail. You were so considerate, sensitive, funny, generous, protective of me, fun, and would help anyone. You helped a lot of people through the years.

You made your employees’ shifts easier with your joking attitude, always cracking jokes yet you were a great supervisor. You were a teacher and taught people many things. You rarely missed a day of work and even when you got sick and I would beg you not to go to work because you were in pain you would try to work anyway. You were always bringing me things from the company that you’d find, little treasures that people would throw out that you knew I would like.

We made a lot of plans. Going to Hawaii, getting married, maybe having a child. We had a lot of plans. You always wanted a Harley and after you were diagnosed you were going to get one but never did. You loved to cook, loved animals, and kids.

There was so much to you and I know I’ll forget to tell people many things.

You would call me “Silly Bunny,” “Baby cakes,” and “Mamasita.” I would call you “My Gingerbread Man.” You were a romantic, always surprising me with something. You were a good listener.

One of the things you told me after you were diagnosed was that I had your heart. You wrote me tons of love notes and love letters.

When your stepdaughter had her first child in October it was your pride and joy. You told me often that when you held the baby your pain went away.

Now you tell me you have found your purpose in life – To spread the word about God who you had found to kids, teenagers, your best friend and that maybe I could help you do that. You told me that when you recovered from cancer that you would be a different person and you always say, “I’m going to beat this thing.”

You always gave me compliments. You taught me a lot of things.

You used to ask me, “Will you still love me when I’m old and gray?”

You enjoyed going to Possum Kingdom Lake and Benbrook Lake to fish, swim, and boat.

Your favorite songs were the Hawaiian version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What A Wonderful World” from the “Good Morning Vietnam” movie soundtrack.

After you were diagnosed you had a spiritual experience and spiritual awakenings along and along and you would share them with me. It was incredible to witness.

I feel so lucky to have known you.

So many didn’t know how great you were.

Aug. 6, 2006

Dear McKenna:

It’s time for your annual birthday letter again.

It’s hard to believe you’ll be six on the 15th.

I look at you and see what I really was – the childhood spirit in me.

One day when you read this, you’ll see.

Now I marvel at the child that you have become, seeing in you possibility and love, things previously unseen.

As I write this I know you have had a health problem and continue to but I am at peace knowing you are in good hands.

As you grow it’s exciting to see what you are becoming and what you will be.

Every time I show off a picture of you to my friends they always exclaim about your beauty and are in awe of our life together.

Inside of you are gifts which you will discover as you get older.

The possibilities are endless.

Through the years I have been gifted with getting to see you change, learn, and become the special spirit you are.

I love you more than I can explain.

When you become a mom one day you will see what I mean.

From the day you were born until now you have held a special place in my heart, one that is irreplaceable and a miracle.

At the age you are now you call full moons “whole moons” and every time I see one I think of you at that time, too.

After our visits I always reflect back on our time, seeing your smiling, animated, and playful face, wondering how you’re doing, praying for you always.

You are special and there is no one else like you and never will be.

I am blessed to know you, to have you in my heart and in my life.

Happy Birthday, my little miracle, my tiny joy.

I love you,

Terri

Terri [wordtrix@hotmail.com] has sent you an article from .
Story: Heart illness can go unnoticed
Cleaning pets teeth
Heart illness can go unnoticed
12:00 AM CDT on Monday, July 31, 2006Shawn Messonnier
Dear Dr. Shawn: My cat of 13 years recently passed away after a dental cleaning. She was fine until the third day following the procedure and then she collapsed.
She was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with high blood pressure and tachycardia with pulmonary edema. She passed away the next day and I was told she most likely had a prior heart condition that she probably lived with for a few years without any clinical signs. Why did the dental procedure make her heart condition worse?
Answer: I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Many pets do have undiagnosed heart disease, and sometimes it isn't apparent until a stress, such as boarding or an anesthetic procedure, takes place.
This is a major reason why I recommend annual checkups for pets under 5 years, and examinations for pets 5 years and older twice a year.
When heart disease is discovered during the exam, it is imperative that further testing takes place before the pet becomes ill. All pets with heart murmurs need further evaluation, which includes an EKG, chest X-rays and a heart ultrasound.
Waiting until the pet has severe heart failure makes no sense, as the heart (and the pet) is dying at this stage. In your cat's case, she probably had heart failure but was compensating for this. The stress of anesthesia was enough to bring on the edema (fluid in the lungs) and subsequent death.
I should point out though that pets with heart disease and controlled mild heart failure can and should still have their teeth cleaned, and usually suffer no harm from the procedure.
Send questions to Dr. Shawn Messonnier at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, 2145 W. Park, Plano, TX 75075 or naturalvet@ juno.com. Visit him at www.pet carenaturally.com, and listen to his on Sirius channel 112, Tuesday at 7 p.m.