Happy Easter, to all those who celebrate!

Just wanted to write a quick note to wish all my friends who celebrate Easter a very happy one! I hope the Easter Bunny brought you just what you wanted in the basket. OK, I realize that is probably not what the true believers think of when it is brought up, but that is what Easter has become. Rather than the time when Jesus was raised from the dead after three days in the tomb, the holiday has turned into a time for children to find hidden eggs, get baskets of candy and other goodies from the "Easter Bunny" as well as a time for family to gather and eat a huge ham dinner together.

The eggs are from the pagan Sabbath of Ostara. They symbolize renewing life. Christians took over the pagans' sabbats to make it easier to force the population to convert to their new religion. Same with Samhain (Halloween), Yule (Christmas ~ it isn't possible that Christ was a Capricorn, he had to have born in the spring) and so many more. I won't make this into a paper on the true holidays, just a quick look at where it came from.

Until later! We'll catch you!

Finally finished our taxes

Randy and I finally got around to finishing up our taxes last night when he got home from work. Since I had to stop working last July, my income was pathetic. Our daughter earned more working part time at McDonalds than I did working as a newspaper reporter! SIGH! It was a pretty easy process. When I finally get approved for disability, it will take much longer. Our tax preparer said it was much more than an hour of answering a few questions. They have to literally sit down with paper and pen and work out numbers. Why does a person who is too ill to work forced to go through so much? He said they could tax up to a huge percentage of what I receive! Why?? Looking around my house and at my clothes, we obviously are far from the upper elite. Going on disability will allow us to continue to live in a house and feed, clothe and send our son to college. Why in the world are they going to bother to give me money and then just take it all back in taxes?

We have been going to H&R Block for several years and always have Rich Deflbaugh do our taxes. We've known him forever and we have never had a problem with him. Coming from a small town, my parents also have Rich do their taxes. Mom laughingly told him, "I Know where you live," if she ever gets audited. :)

I have a ton of things to get put up before we leave for my surgery, from my daughter's amazing win at the Brockway Volunteer Fire Department's latest gun bash to more on my surgery and how my life will never be the same. I will have my Surface 2 tablet with at the hospital, but in the collar and not able to move my neck, I'm not sure what kind of shape I'll be in and if I'll even be able to update while we're there. I think most people who read this also are on Twitter, G+ and Facebook, so I know I can put up a quick note that I'm still alive once I get out of recovery and can think.

Even more surgery

The days are flying by and soon I'll be in Pittsburgh for yet another surgery. How many can one body survive? I have to have a herniated disc removed and replaced with a donor bone, then a titanium disc will be fused on that spot. I'll never be the same again. I don't know if I'm making the right decision, but the disc is pressing on the nerve and causing my arm and hand are going numb and it hurts all the time. :(

I'm probably out of my ever-loving mind to have this done so soon after the knee surgery, but sadly I can't heal the way I wish I did. I woke up this morning and could barely move. It hurt so bad! I sat and cried after everyone left for the day. The pain was unbearable. I can't believe it's so bad at this age. I should be traveling around the world, not being pushed around WalMart in a wheelchair because I can't walk.

I go on Monday for the pre-op check up and to make sure I'm healthy enough to have the surgery. I can't miss this chance. I could lose the use of my arm and I can't stand that, so I have to go and let the doctor know I'm doing great and am all ready for the surgery!

Yearning for more and the Great Reveal

I'm sure everyone has noticed that the world seems to have become enamored with the supernatural these days. All the TV shows, movies, books, clothing etc... are covered with vampires, werewolves, witches, zombies and more supernatural creatures. It's something that says this generation is looking for something more, something they can't find in the normal, so they have turned to the paranormal. If you don't know this, you have to be living under a rock somewhere. BR>
What does that say about us? Why is there that longing for more than what we can see every day? There has to be more out there. Why are we searching for something to dream of. Bella got her everlasting love with Edward and their miracle daughter Renesamee on the Twilightt series. Buffy had her perfect moment with Angel, sadly he turned to the evil Angelus then, but it was the moment we all were waiting for. Ghost Hunters seems to have brought it to the main stream, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the first true powerful female figure that let women know they could take on anything and survive ~ even death itself and return. She let us know that vampires didn't have to be evil and killed; they could be heroes and loved.

We all seem to be looking for our own Edward, Bill, Klaus, Jacob (if you aren't looking for eternal life) or Angel. Now we have the Originalvampires and werewolf/vampire hybrids; The Vampire Diaries; True Blood; Being Human; even Zombies are finding love. We have Dean and Sam Winchester out hunting all manner of beasties from demons to ghosts and everything in between. We were told by our parents and there parents that Ouija Boards, Tarot Cards, witches, demons, etc are evil and are to be avoided at all costs, but we don't believe it anymore. We have been brought up on stories that show that is what we want to be.

Maybe it's time that the Great Reveal happens? There will never be a time that is more perfect for those who are a little bit more than human to walk out of the shadows and announce, "We are here!" The older generation won't trust you, but my generation was brought up on your stories and have taught our children that you are what we want. We want you to be real, to find those of us who need more.

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm ready to step up and shout, "I'm here and I'm ready! Come find me. I'll be waiting for the Great Reveal!"

Ridgway Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous

The annual Ridgway Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous has started and will be in full swing as the week goes on. Since I can't walk yet, I sent my hubby and daughter to get a cheesesteaks from one of the food booths and take a few photos, so I can see the incredible work. My surgeon doesn't want me putting any weight on the left leg until tomorrow and even then it will be baby steps only.

I do hope to at least get down there one day. Probably Friday because everyone will be working, but the massive crowds that will attend the annual carving auction won't be here until Saturday. There are literally thousands of people who attend, hoping to pick up a piece of original extreme art. Chainsaw carving has increased in popularity since the Boni brothers started this event over a decade ago. The first year it was open to the public, less than a handful of carvers attended. Now there are hundreds that attend and create such beauty out of a log. If you have never seen this unique artistry, you are truly missing out on a treat of a lifetime. It kills me not to be there every day. I've asked hundreds of the carvers how they create the image out of a log. They explain that they look at the log and see the finished piece just waiting to come out. We have several small pieces. My daughter bought the cutest mouse a few years ago and I bought an incredible walking stick that was hand carved by a master artist from down near Gettysburg. I take it on all our walking trips. I tend to stumble when walking, so the staff works wonders.

I've met and interviewed carvers from around the USA and the world. My favorite are the Germans because I speak broken German, so interviews with them are half German and half English. It somehow works! They are always surprised to be greeted in their own language in this tiny town. They should have learned by now, if you want to learn from the masters in painting, go to Paris, if you want to learn from the masters in the extreme art of chainsaw carving, you go to Ridgway. A champion carver from England told me that several years ago and I can never forget it. Everyone in that world has heard of our town thanks to the Boni family. With less than 5,000 people living here in the middle of the Allegheny Forest, that is staying something. We've had international journalists cover the event. It was one of my favorite events to cover every year.

The carvers are all friendly. Even if they can't speak more than a few words of broken English, a smile is universal and there isn't a carver out there that doesn't smile while working for when they catch the eye of a visitor watching them. Their time has come. They finally have respect and their art is finally commanding the respect (and price tag) they so richly deserve.



The art and chance to talk to people from so many States and countries isn't the only draw. There are food booths! My family's personal favorite is the cheesesteak/hot sausage stand. I think I need to stop there tomorrow after my doctor's appointment. There are also the most sinfully delicious dessert ever created ~~ deep fried Oreo cookies! I just give up on my diet this week. It's impossible to go there, smell that delicious food cooking and not stop and buy it.

Black Moon Inn

I'm stuck in bed thanks to knee surgery (I tore my meniscus somehow), so I picked up a new book. It's Laurell K. Hamilton's Black Moon Inn. Her books are incredible. I sit down, intending to only read a page or two and before I know it, I've finished three chapters! She has a way of making things come alive with her use of words. I'm instantly transported to the world where Anita Blake is actually a legal vampire executioner, zombie raiser, dating the city's master vampire and just broke up with the city's alpha werewolf and is the lupa (highest ranking female) in the werewolf pack! There are other shifters in her world. In this book, we're introduced to a young wereleopard named Nathaniel. He's lowest on the pack's rank and had been almost killed when Anita is called in to protect him.

I have almost all of her books, thanks to a find in a second hand store. I think some girl went to college and her mother took the chance to get rid of all that paranormal "romance" her daughter was keeping in her room. I know I'd be upset if my entire collection went missing. I feel like I'm saving her teenage years, even though we've never met.

If you've never sampled one of her novels, be warned they are not rated PG. They are for adults only. Think of them as a paranormal fan's Fifty Shades of Grey! :). With all things vampire and zombie being so popular, we might just see Anita's story come to life on the big screen?

My knee should be fine. The stitches come out in two weeks and I can start trying to put weight on it Monday. It's hurting today and I'm using a walker, so my arms are killing me. I'll be ok though. After all I've survived, a little forced bed rest is nothing.

Hope your Valentines' Day was a good one!

Randy came home from work yesterday with a smile on his face and told me to close my eyes for a minute. Hmmm .... OK, I did this and when I looked up, here was the surprise waiting for me.

We have been together my entire adult life and have known each other even longer. We studied chemistry together in high school and eventually, that chemistry united and here we are -- married almost 26 years and together nearly 30 and the parents of two wonderful adult children. No, I won't lie and say it's always been a bowl of cherries. We've had our UPS and downs like any other couple, but I don't believe in throwing away something just because it isn't perfect. I believe just working harder will help. I took those vows to "love, honor and cherish til death do us part" seriously and intend to do just that.

Even without the flowers and teddy bear, he shows me he loves me and that he's in this for the long run and we're together forever. Randy, I do love you!