Riots in Max's, and his friend Tru's, home province of Gansu. A dark time for all in China and Tibet.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
China cracks down on Tibetan Buddists In Lhasa. Protests erupt throughout China
Not too much to report on the homefront but much going on in the world, especially in Sonja and Max's country of birth.
There is new and disturbing news from China...
It's all so very sad....
I understand if China cracks down on Islamic terrorists that threaten the people of China and the world, but I cannot understand why China demands the Tibetan's forsake their culture, religion and way of life.
Tibetan's only want self determination, which is not a crime.
By TINI TRAN BEIJING (AP) — Protests led by Buddhist monks against Chinese rule in Tibet turned violent Friday, bathing Lhasa in smoke from tear gas, bonfires and burned shops, and posing a challenge to China on whether its image can withstand a harsh crackdown ahead of the Beijing Olympics.At least 10 people died in the rioting, state media reported.From exile in India, the Dalai Lama appealed to China not to use force to end the largest, most sustained demonstrations in nearly two decades against Beijing's 57-year rule in Tibet. China's government in Tibet accused the Dalai Lama's supporters of inciting the unrest and imposed a curfew, ordering people to stay indoors.Eyewitness accounts and photos posted on the Internet portrayed a chaotic scene in Lhasa, the provincial capital, with crowds hurling rocks at security forces, hotels and restaurants. The U.S. Embassy said Americans had reported gunfire.Reports of deaths varied and could not be independently confirmed.China's official Xinhua News Agency said 10 people — including two hotel employees and two shop owners — were burned to death, but no foreigners were hurt.But at a demonstration outside the United Nations in New York, Psurbu Tsering of the Tibetan Association of New York and New Jersey said its members received phone calls from Tibet claiming 70 people had been killed and 1,000 arrested.In some of the strongest words yet from officials, regional Tibet government head Champa Phunstok warned Saturday that the authorities will respond forcefully."We did not open fire, however we will deal harshly with these criminals who are carrying out activities to split the nation," he told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the National People's Congress in Beijing, China's annual legislative session.Shops were set on fire Friday along two main streets surrounding the Jokhang temple, Tibet's most sacred shrine and the heart of Lhasa's old city, sending out thick clouds of smoke. Young men set fire to a Chinese flag and a huge bonfire burned in a street. Armed police in riot gear backed by armored vehicles blocked intersections, said a Tibetan guide.The violence, which came on the fifth day of sporadic and largely peaceful protests, poses difficulties for a communist leadership that has looked to the Aug. 8-24 Olympics as a way to recast China as a friendly, modern power. Too rough a crackdown could put that at risk while balking could embolden protesters, costing Beijing authority in often restive Tibet."China is afraid of letting this protest mount. On the other hand, the world's eyes are upon China in advance of the Olympics. If they're too heavy-handed, it could cause them a lot of problems," said Jamie Metzl of the New York-based Asia Society. "It's an open question as to how much China thinks it can afford a major crisis in advance of the Summer Olympics."On Saturday, Xinhua said Lhasa had "reverted to calm at the wee hours" and electricity and phone service, which had been cut for parts of Friday, was being restored.Witnesses said police were patrolling the streets but things appeared peaceful. Shops were closed but government staff were required to work, said a woman who answered the telephone at the Lhasa Hotel."There's no conflict today. The streets look pretty quiet," said the woman who refused to give her name for fear of retribution.On Friday, in an ominous turn for Beijing, the street protests broadened. Photographs taken by camera phone and provided by the Indian branch of Students for a Free Tibet showed hundreds of Tibetans marching through Xiahe, a Tibetan town in the western province of Gansu. Robed monks displayed the banned Tibetan national flag.In Lhasa, the protests that had largely been confined to monks spilled over to ordinary Tibetans, who vented pent-up anger at Chinese and their businesses. Guests and employees at the Lhasa Dong Cuo International Youth Hostel huddled in the lobby, away from windows being smashed by protesters."Monks and very young men down to the age of 15-16 are smashing the Chinese shops, kicking in doors and windows, setting the shops on fire and beating the Chinese in the vicinity," the Danish daily Politiken quoted an unidentified witness as saying.The exiled Dalai Lama, whom most Tibetans consider their spiritual leader, said China should stop using force in Tibet, saying he is "deeply concerned.""I therefore appeal to the Chinese leadership to stop using force and address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue with the Tibetan people. I also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence," he said in a statement released in Dharmsala, India, seat of the government-in-exile.Actor Richard Gere, a Buddhist who has spoken out for Tibetan independence since 1978, said he was not surprised by the uprising."You can't repress the people to the extent that Tibetans have been repressed for the last six decades now and not expect that at some point that it will explode," he told The Associated Press.As in Myanmar, where Buddhist monks led pro-democracy protests in September, Buddhism permeates every aspect of Tibetan life.Over the centuries, Tibet was at times part of China's dynastic empires. Communist forces invaded the region in 1950, to reclaim the Himalayan region and seize the commanding heights overlooking rival India. Pressured to cede more power to the communists, the Dalai Lama fled into exile in 1959 after a failed uprising.The latest unrest began Monday, the anniversary of the 1959 rebellion, when 300 monks from one monastery demanded the release of other monks detained last fall. But political demands soon came to the fore. Other monks and ordinary Tibetans demanded independence and unfurled the Tibetan flag. Arrests ensued, leading to more protests.Friday's violence apparently was triggered after police moved in to stop a group of protesting monks. Crowds then grew, and when police showed up in larger numbers, protesters attacked police cars and shops."It was chaos everywhere. I could see fires, smoke, cars and motorcycles burning," said the Tibetan guide, who asked not to be identified for fear of government retaliation.Xinhua issued terse reports in English only, saying people had been hospitalized with injuries and vehicles and shops burned. Hospitals contacted in Lhasa said they were ordered not to release any information.The Tibet government called the riot an act of sabotage that was "organized, premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai clique," according to Xinhua.The unrest came as Tibet, long China's poorest province, has wracked up stunning growth, in part fueled by hefty investment and subsidies from Beijing meant to alleviate resentment among Tibetans. Still, Tibetans have complained that the economic benefits have mainly enriched Chinese, many of them newcomers, leaving Tibetans feeling more marginalized.China, which has invested billions of dollars in Olympics preparations, has staked its national prestige on the games. Five months before the games begin, it had expected to bask in international praise. Instead, the protests are attracting the kind of international attention China doesn't want.The White House urged China to "respect Tibetan culture," while the U.S. ambassador to China urged senior Chinese officials to use restraint in dealing with the protesters, according to State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack."Beijing needs to respect Tibetan culture. ... We regret the tensions between the ethnic groups and Beijing," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe. President Bush "has said consistently that Beijing needs to have a dialogue with the Dalai Lama."European Union leaders also appealed to China to show calm in Tibet, but released a statement condemning China's handling of the protests so far.Other Tibet watchers are less certain that international scrutiny will hold back China's hand if it feels threatened."Chinese leaders are not afraid of using force when they feel it's necessary. I don't think they'll be shy because there's now been violence on the demonstrators' side. I feel they think this gives them the green light to use a strong response," said Robbie Barnett, a Tibetan studies expert at Columbia University.U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour issued a statement expressing concern "about escalating tensions."International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge declined to comment on the protests. But speaking generally about China, Rogge said the human rights issues were not the focus of his group. "We are not an activist organization."Tibet has been a focal point for protests by activists and international supporters ahead of the start of the Olympic torch relay, scheduled to come through China in May. Beijing plans for the torch to be carried to the top of Mount Everest, and closed its side of the mountain to climbers in a bid to prevent activists from disrupting the relay.The timing of the Olympics has been a key factor for pro-independence advocates, said Kate Saunders, with the International Campaign for Tibet."There's an awareness in Tibet of the international spotlight on China and of the way that groups outside and individuals from different organizations are actively using the global spotlight to press for change in China," she said.Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Ashwini Bhatia in Dharmsala, India contributed to this story.
One can only hope that someday soon the Tibetan's will have peace.
There is new and disturbing news from China...
It's all so very sad....
I understand if China cracks down on Islamic terrorists that threaten the people of China and the world, but I cannot understand why China demands the Tibetan's forsake their culture, religion and way of life.
Tibetan's only want self determination, which is not a crime.
By TINI TRAN BEIJING (AP) — Protests led by Buddhist monks against Chinese rule in Tibet turned violent Friday, bathing Lhasa in smoke from tear gas, bonfires and burned shops, and posing a challenge to China on whether its image can withstand a harsh crackdown ahead of the Beijing Olympics.At least 10 people died in the rioting, state media reported.From exile in India, the Dalai Lama appealed to China not to use force to end the largest, most sustained demonstrations in nearly two decades against Beijing's 57-year rule in Tibet. China's government in Tibet accused the Dalai Lama's supporters of inciting the unrest and imposed a curfew, ordering people to stay indoors.Eyewitness accounts and photos posted on the Internet portrayed a chaotic scene in Lhasa, the provincial capital, with crowds hurling rocks at security forces, hotels and restaurants. The U.S. Embassy said Americans had reported gunfire.Reports of deaths varied and could not be independently confirmed.China's official Xinhua News Agency said 10 people — including two hotel employees and two shop owners — were burned to death, but no foreigners were hurt.But at a demonstration outside the United Nations in New York, Psurbu Tsering of the Tibetan Association of New York and New Jersey said its members received phone calls from Tibet claiming 70 people had been killed and 1,000 arrested.In some of the strongest words yet from officials, regional Tibet government head Champa Phunstok warned Saturday that the authorities will respond forcefully."We did not open fire, however we will deal harshly with these criminals who are carrying out activities to split the nation," he told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the National People's Congress in Beijing, China's annual legislative session.Shops were set on fire Friday along two main streets surrounding the Jokhang temple, Tibet's most sacred shrine and the heart of Lhasa's old city, sending out thick clouds of smoke. Young men set fire to a Chinese flag and a huge bonfire burned in a street. Armed police in riot gear backed by armored vehicles blocked intersections, said a Tibetan guide.The violence, which came on the fifth day of sporadic and largely peaceful protests, poses difficulties for a communist leadership that has looked to the Aug. 8-24 Olympics as a way to recast China as a friendly, modern power. Too rough a crackdown could put that at risk while balking could embolden protesters, costing Beijing authority in often restive Tibet."China is afraid of letting this protest mount. On the other hand, the world's eyes are upon China in advance of the Olympics. If they're too heavy-handed, it could cause them a lot of problems," said Jamie Metzl of the New York-based Asia Society. "It's an open question as to how much China thinks it can afford a major crisis in advance of the Summer Olympics."On Saturday, Xinhua said Lhasa had "reverted to calm at the wee hours" and electricity and phone service, which had been cut for parts of Friday, was being restored.Witnesses said police were patrolling the streets but things appeared peaceful. Shops were closed but government staff were required to work, said a woman who answered the telephone at the Lhasa Hotel."There's no conflict today. The streets look pretty quiet," said the woman who refused to give her name for fear of retribution.On Friday, in an ominous turn for Beijing, the street protests broadened. Photographs taken by camera phone and provided by the Indian branch of Students for a Free Tibet showed hundreds of Tibetans marching through Xiahe, a Tibetan town in the western province of Gansu. Robed monks displayed the banned Tibetan national flag.In Lhasa, the protests that had largely been confined to monks spilled over to ordinary Tibetans, who vented pent-up anger at Chinese and their businesses. Guests and employees at the Lhasa Dong Cuo International Youth Hostel huddled in the lobby, away from windows being smashed by protesters."Monks and very young men down to the age of 15-16 are smashing the Chinese shops, kicking in doors and windows, setting the shops on fire and beating the Chinese in the vicinity," the Danish daily Politiken quoted an unidentified witness as saying.The exiled Dalai Lama, whom most Tibetans consider their spiritual leader, said China should stop using force in Tibet, saying he is "deeply concerned.""I therefore appeal to the Chinese leadership to stop using force and address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue with the Tibetan people. I also urge my fellow Tibetans not to resort to violence," he said in a statement released in Dharmsala, India, seat of the government-in-exile.Actor Richard Gere, a Buddhist who has spoken out for Tibetan independence since 1978, said he was not surprised by the uprising."You can't repress the people to the extent that Tibetans have been repressed for the last six decades now and not expect that at some point that it will explode," he told The Associated Press.As in Myanmar, where Buddhist monks led pro-democracy protests in September, Buddhism permeates every aspect of Tibetan life.Over the centuries, Tibet was at times part of China's dynastic empires. Communist forces invaded the region in 1950, to reclaim the Himalayan region and seize the commanding heights overlooking rival India. Pressured to cede more power to the communists, the Dalai Lama fled into exile in 1959 after a failed uprising.The latest unrest began Monday, the anniversary of the 1959 rebellion, when 300 monks from one monastery demanded the release of other monks detained last fall. But political demands soon came to the fore. Other monks and ordinary Tibetans demanded independence and unfurled the Tibetan flag. Arrests ensued, leading to more protests.Friday's violence apparently was triggered after police moved in to stop a group of protesting monks. Crowds then grew, and when police showed up in larger numbers, protesters attacked police cars and shops."It was chaos everywhere. I could see fires, smoke, cars and motorcycles burning," said the Tibetan guide, who asked not to be identified for fear of government retaliation.Xinhua issued terse reports in English only, saying people had been hospitalized with injuries and vehicles and shops burned. Hospitals contacted in Lhasa said they were ordered not to release any information.The Tibet government called the riot an act of sabotage that was "organized, premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai clique," according to Xinhua.The unrest came as Tibet, long China's poorest province, has wracked up stunning growth, in part fueled by hefty investment and subsidies from Beijing meant to alleviate resentment among Tibetans. Still, Tibetans have complained that the economic benefits have mainly enriched Chinese, many of them newcomers, leaving Tibetans feeling more marginalized.China, which has invested billions of dollars in Olympics preparations, has staked its national prestige on the games. Five months before the games begin, it had expected to bask in international praise. Instead, the protests are attracting the kind of international attention China doesn't want.The White House urged China to "respect Tibetan culture," while the U.S. ambassador to China urged senior Chinese officials to use restraint in dealing with the protesters, according to State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack."Beijing needs to respect Tibetan culture. ... We regret the tensions between the ethnic groups and Beijing," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe. President Bush "has said consistently that Beijing needs to have a dialogue with the Dalai Lama."European Union leaders also appealed to China to show calm in Tibet, but released a statement condemning China's handling of the protests so far.Other Tibet watchers are less certain that international scrutiny will hold back China's hand if it feels threatened."Chinese leaders are not afraid of using force when they feel it's necessary. I don't think they'll be shy because there's now been violence on the demonstrators' side. I feel they think this gives them the green light to use a strong response," said Robbie Barnett, a Tibetan studies expert at Columbia University.U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour issued a statement expressing concern "about escalating tensions."International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge declined to comment on the protests. But speaking generally about China, Rogge said the human rights issues were not the focus of his group. "We are not an activist organization."Tibet has been a focal point for protests by activists and international supporters ahead of the start of the Olympic torch relay, scheduled to come through China in May. Beijing plans for the torch to be carried to the top of Mount Everest, and closed its side of the mountain to climbers in a bid to prevent activists from disrupting the relay.The timing of the Olympics has been a key factor for pro-independence advocates, said Kate Saunders, with the International Campaign for Tibet."There's an awareness in Tibet of the international spotlight on China and of the way that groups outside and individuals from different organizations are actively using the global spotlight to press for change in China," she said.Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Ashwini Bhatia in Dharmsala, India contributed to this story.
One can only hope that someday soon the Tibetan's will have peace.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
China News
While we were in China adopting Sonja, there was an incident that made Dan and I uneasy. We were getting into the elevator from our hotel room floor and another "gentleman" got into the elevator and was videorecording doing so, pointed his videocam at us and onto Sonja, who was in her stroller, only a couple of feet away from us! He particularly focused on Dan and myself. The man spoke a foreign language (not Chinese, or English and appeared to be from the middle east) and did so while recording us (which BTW we were just standing there, exciting stuff huh?). He was dressed in a nice but casual suit and was well groomed. I felt VERY uneasy and couldn't wait to get out of the elevator. When the elevator finally arrived at the ground floor, the man got out and proceeded to record us along with the exits, escalators, staff of the hotel, not your typical things to video record as a tourist. He was just, plain and simple, acting all weirdo and it just creeped us out! Well, after watching him briefly we continued on our way to the diningroom to eat, a little freaked out, but still hungry. I went up to get Sonja and myself some food while Dan sat at the table minding her. On my return to the table, Dan quietly told me to "look, there's that guy again". He said that he (the video man) had been watching him (Dan ) and Sonja. I don't remember if Dan said he (the weirdo dude) was recording him. I looked to see that the man was now sitting with two other men, one of which appeared to be Chinese. Dan went to get some food for himself and we quickly ate and left. We never saw the man after that but we still talk about that day and still think that man was up to no good.
Fast forward.....
Today I was watching the news (no surprise, the news junkie that I am ;-) and saw this on the news;
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336250,00.html
I know that no one is immune from the terrorists but they better watch themselves if China gets their dander up. Looks like they will be doing some "kickin' butt and takin' names" according to the report. Wouldn't want to be them (the terrorists)!
I would love to see an American/Chinese alliance as far as hunting down terrorists. There wouldn't be a single terrorist left.
Rewind back.....
On our arrival home with Sonja, I was troubled by this incident and was concerned because our brother and sister-in-law were supposed to be traveling soon ( in little more than a month) to adopt their second beautiful little girl. I was afraid for their safety. I was also concerned for our friends....no....more like family members who are Chinese and we are bonded to for life. After consulting with family and friends I decided maybe I should say something to someone. I would never be able to live with myself if something were to happen to our family members, or anyone for that matter, and I could have prevented it. So I did. Two days after I reported it to officials there was a travel advisory for Americans traveling to China, in particular Guangzhou and Beijing. The travel advisory said that Americans should keep a low profile etc etc. Coincidence? Who knows......
We returned in 2007 to adopt our son and felt very safe there. On arrival in Guangzhou, on the second leg of our son's adoption journey, we stayed at a hotel across the street from the hotel where the above incident during Sonja's adoption took place. We casually asked about the hotel, and in a round about way "was wondering why we didn't stay there". We were told the hotel was not accepting adoptive families due to construction at the hotel for the babies health and safety.
We always felt we were in excellent hands while in China BOTH times. Our facilitator, along with his assistant were military trained (Jack being a one time member of the Chinese special forces) and are THE BEST! They are our "Chinese family" and we love them dearly.
I hope whoever did this gets punished fully but not until after they find out who their associates are, and are interrogated for every shred of information. This, I believe the Chinese will do.
Unfortunely, when our government tries to protect it's citizens and to do so, have to resort to interrigation tactics that some do not approve of, the bleeding hearts cry "Oh they are torturing the poor terrorists!" Oh Please....why don't they feel for the people these terrorists victimized, tortured and killed?!? The terrorists don't care if they kill babies, elderly, infirm or other defenseless and innocent beings. They will stop at nothing.
I think it's about time we wake up and smell the coffee.
Fast forward.....
Today I was watching the news (no surprise, the news junkie that I am ;-) and saw this on the news;
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336250,00.html
I know that no one is immune from the terrorists but they better watch themselves if China gets their dander up. Looks like they will be doing some "kickin' butt and takin' names" according to the report. Wouldn't want to be them (the terrorists)!
I would love to see an American/Chinese alliance as far as hunting down terrorists. There wouldn't be a single terrorist left.
Rewind back.....
On our arrival home with Sonja, I was troubled by this incident and was concerned because our brother and sister-in-law were supposed to be traveling soon ( in little more than a month) to adopt their second beautiful little girl. I was afraid for their safety. I was also concerned for our friends....no....more like family members who are Chinese and we are bonded to for life. After consulting with family and friends I decided maybe I should say something to someone. I would never be able to live with myself if something were to happen to our family members, or anyone for that matter, and I could have prevented it. So I did. Two days after I reported it to officials there was a travel advisory for Americans traveling to China, in particular Guangzhou and Beijing. The travel advisory said that Americans should keep a low profile etc etc. Coincidence? Who knows......
We returned in 2007 to adopt our son and felt very safe there. On arrival in Guangzhou, on the second leg of our son's adoption journey, we stayed at a hotel across the street from the hotel where the above incident during Sonja's adoption took place. We casually asked about the hotel, and in a round about way "was wondering why we didn't stay there". We were told the hotel was not accepting adoptive families due to construction at the hotel for the babies health and safety.
We always felt we were in excellent hands while in China BOTH times. Our facilitator, along with his assistant were military trained (Jack being a one time member of the Chinese special forces) and are THE BEST! They are our "Chinese family" and we love them dearly.
I hope whoever did this gets punished fully but not until after they find out who their associates are, and are interrogated for every shred of information. This, I believe the Chinese will do.
Unfortunely, when our government tries to protect it's citizens and to do so, have to resort to interrigation tactics that some do not approve of, the bleeding hearts cry "Oh they are torturing the poor terrorists!" Oh Please....why don't they feel for the people these terrorists victimized, tortured and killed?!? The terrorists don't care if they kill babies, elderly, infirm or other defenseless and innocent beings. They will stop at nothing.
I think it's about time we wake up and smell the coffee.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The "Poop Rewards" and the "worry stone"
Sonja is fully potty trained.....Yahoo!!
Thank goodness for "Poop Rewards". Aside from Sonja, I give half the credit of potty training Sonja to the "Poop Rewards.
I know... I know... you're asking "What is the "Poop Rewards" Tina?" Well... let me tell you.... It's a tried and true way to basically bribe....er... I mean... reward for good behavior. We used stickers and the much loved M&M's. I'm sure her dentist isn't going to be too pleased about it but hey...you gotta do what you gotta do right?
As for Max, he's totally lost interest in it. He's taken on a new interest, which Dan has coined the phrase, "his very own "worry_stone"! I'm not sure how to say it in a delicate way, so let's just say he keeps it with him all the time, it's perminately attached to his body and he keeps it in his pants. Yup..... you guessed it!
I try to put him on the potty at the appropriate times and as soon as the pants come off, everything goes down hill from there. You'd think he was up against Bobby Fischer in a championship game of chess by the look on his face!
I sometimes worry that this "worry_stone" behavior will become permanent. I think all parents worry to some degree when a child does something that is socially unacceptable in the adult world (picking your nose and/or bum, bullying behavior etc...) that it will develop into some kind of habit or obsession.
Let's just hope that he grows tired of this fasination with the "worry_stone" and moves onto something else.... like potty training!
Until next time.....
Thank goodness for "Poop Rewards". Aside from Sonja, I give half the credit of potty training Sonja to the "Poop Rewards.
I know... I know... you're asking "What is the "Poop Rewards" Tina?" Well... let me tell you.... It's a tried and true way to basically bribe....er... I mean... reward for good behavior. We used stickers and the much loved M&M's. I'm sure her dentist isn't going to be too pleased about it but hey...you gotta do what you gotta do right?
As for Max, he's totally lost interest in it. He's taken on a new interest, which Dan has coined the phrase, "his very own "worry_stone"! I'm not sure how to say it in a delicate way, so let's just say he keeps it with him all the time, it's perminately attached to his body and he keeps it in his pants. Yup..... you guessed it!
I try to put him on the potty at the appropriate times and as soon as the pants come off, everything goes down hill from there. You'd think he was up against Bobby Fischer in a championship game of chess by the look on his face!
I sometimes worry that this "worry_stone" behavior will become permanent. I think all parents worry to some degree when a child does something that is socially unacceptable in the adult world (picking your nose and/or bum, bullying behavior etc...) that it will develop into some kind of habit or obsession.
Let's just hope that he grows tired of this fasination with the "worry_stone" and moves onto something else.... like potty training!
Until next time.....
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
YIPPEEEE!!!!!!
We received some happy news today!
The dealership where we purchased our fifth wheel camper called to inform us that our camper is "on the line" and we should expect it to arrive (at the dealership) the Friday after next!!! I'm sooooo excited!! You can see it at http://keystone-mountaineer.com/index.html
Our model is the 345 DBQ
I've already made reservations for Memorial Day weekend. We are going to keep it at the dealership until the weather improves to reduce the amount of salt and road grime on it's maiden trip home. We will do some "camping" in our driveway just for fun and to test the various systems to ensure everything is up and functioning.
It's also suggested that you do a "driveway camp out" session to make sure you have everything needed for a relaxing and enjoyable real camping trip. On a camping group Dan and I belong to, they say to stock your RV with everything you think you'll need, then have a driveway camp out. The object of the driveway camp out is to camp exclusively in your driveway without having to go into your house for anything. If you need to go into the house for something it's o.k., better off close to home instead of miles away! I know the kids will LOVE it (as will this kid too!).
Dan also received good news yesterday. His truck is also on it's way! We weren't really in the market for a new truck, as we just purchased the one we currently have last fall. Our present truck, although it's a super duty, would be at the top end of it's pulling capacity with our camper. Dan didn't want to take any chances having the family in it while pulling an 11,000+ lb camper behind us. The new truck will easily pull the camper and anything we may want to load in it.
We've always been, shall we say, frugal with our money. We are savers instead of spenders. Not really a bad thing, but since having the children in our lives, we decided this would be an exciting and fun learning experience for them and us too, and well worth the money spent.
As a child, my family camped all season long from before Memorial day until they kicked us out of the campgrounds in early fall. They are some of my best memories as a child. My sister and I, along with some other friends that also camped all season, knew the campgrounds like the back of our hands. We knew the grounds better than the campground employees! We had trails all throughout the woods. At one place there was this little creek that we would go and get crayfish and then use them for bass bait. Man... the bass LOVE them! At that same campground, there was an old abandoned Victorian home which it seemed like the occupants left in a hurry. There was furniture, dishes, clothing and many other things including hand carved duck decoys. We would go in and pretend we lived there, played "house" and sat by the unlit fireplace. It was a beautiful home and thinking back now, it's a shame it was just left to sit alone, uninhabited. My parents told us it was probably bought out by the state for the land.
I learned many things during those years like, how to make a fire with tiny twigs and dried grass, you can't fish through a little hole in the dock and expect to pull in a large fish and how quickly hours pass when lying on the ground looking for shapes in the clouds. My hope is that Max and Sonja will have wonderful memories to look back on someday too. We made many friends and went to many locations. My parents would camp at campgrounds close enough to travel to work everyday but far enough away for it it be an extended vacation for them. We always made our yearly trip to Lake George for two weeks too. I also want to do the same thing with our family if possible. Those memories really were some of the best memories of my childhood.
We are planning a trip to maybe Cape Cod, Maine or another place on the east coast. I would love to go to Cape Cod again and bring the kids to Provincetown to go whale watching. It's so beautiful and seeing the enormous whales pass by and watch them breech is breathtaking. I know they would love it. I can hear them now, making whale sounds they learned from watching Dora the Explorer! We'll see where the road takes us! If anyone has a favorite spot on the east coast that the kids would enjoy, drop us a line and tell us about it!
Ta Ta for now ;-)
P.S. I just want to say thank you to those of you who sent words of encouragement, wonderful thoughts and prayers our way! We love you!!!
The dealership where we purchased our fifth wheel camper called to inform us that our camper is "on the line" and we should expect it to arrive (at the dealership) the Friday after next!!! I'm sooooo excited!! You can see it at http://keystone-mountaineer.com/index.html
Our model is the 345 DBQ
I've already made reservations for Memorial Day weekend. We are going to keep it at the dealership until the weather improves to reduce the amount of salt and road grime on it's maiden trip home. We will do some "camping" in our driveway just for fun and to test the various systems to ensure everything is up and functioning.
It's also suggested that you do a "driveway camp out" session to make sure you have everything needed for a relaxing and enjoyable real camping trip. On a camping group Dan and I belong to, they say to stock your RV with everything you think you'll need, then have a driveway camp out. The object of the driveway camp out is to camp exclusively in your driveway without having to go into your house for anything. If you need to go into the house for something it's o.k., better off close to home instead of miles away! I know the kids will LOVE it (as will this kid too!).
Dan also received good news yesterday. His truck is also on it's way! We weren't really in the market for a new truck, as we just purchased the one we currently have last fall. Our present truck, although it's a super duty, would be at the top end of it's pulling capacity with our camper. Dan didn't want to take any chances having the family in it while pulling an 11,000+ lb camper behind us. The new truck will easily pull the camper and anything we may want to load in it.
We've always been, shall we say, frugal with our money. We are savers instead of spenders. Not really a bad thing, but since having the children in our lives, we decided this would be an exciting and fun learning experience for them and us too, and well worth the money spent.
As a child, my family camped all season long from before Memorial day until they kicked us out of the campgrounds in early fall. They are some of my best memories as a child. My sister and I, along with some other friends that also camped all season, knew the campgrounds like the back of our hands. We knew the grounds better than the campground employees! We had trails all throughout the woods. At one place there was this little creek that we would go and get crayfish and then use them for bass bait. Man... the bass LOVE them! At that same campground, there was an old abandoned Victorian home which it seemed like the occupants left in a hurry. There was furniture, dishes, clothing and many other things including hand carved duck decoys. We would go in and pretend we lived there, played "house" and sat by the unlit fireplace. It was a beautiful home and thinking back now, it's a shame it was just left to sit alone, uninhabited. My parents told us it was probably bought out by the state for the land.
I learned many things during those years like, how to make a fire with tiny twigs and dried grass, you can't fish through a little hole in the dock and expect to pull in a large fish and how quickly hours pass when lying on the ground looking for shapes in the clouds. My hope is that Max and Sonja will have wonderful memories to look back on someday too. We made many friends and went to many locations. My parents would camp at campgrounds close enough to travel to work everyday but far enough away for it it be an extended vacation for them. We always made our yearly trip to Lake George for two weeks too. I also want to do the same thing with our family if possible. Those memories really were some of the best memories of my childhood.
We are planning a trip to maybe Cape Cod, Maine or another place on the east coast. I would love to go to Cape Cod again and bring the kids to Provincetown to go whale watching. It's so beautiful and seeing the enormous whales pass by and watch them breech is breathtaking. I know they would love it. I can hear them now, making whale sounds they learned from watching Dora the Explorer! We'll see where the road takes us! If anyone has a favorite spot on the east coast that the kids would enjoy, drop us a line and tell us about it!
Ta Ta for now ;-)
P.S. I just want to say thank you to those of you who sent words of encouragement, wonderful thoughts and prayers our way! We love you!!!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Costochondritis, the fine art of "cup peeing" and other "fun" things!
Well, lets just say that life has been interesting the last few weeks.
A little history for those who don't know....
For the past 9 years or so I've been living with chronic pain. Now before you go feeling sorry for me, don't. There are soooo many other people that have it much worse than I. Besides, I have a great family who supports me and loves me enormously!
Recently, my shortness of breath and chest pain hit me pretty good. I could only speak a few words before needing to take a break and catch my breath, eating was difficult as I had to take a break and rest after chewing a bite of food and became very short of breath just walking short distances. Pretty fun. As I usually do, I went to the clinic. I was seen quite quickly and the practitioner told me to get to the E.R. where my doctor practices (which is about a 20 minute drive).So, off we go! Dan, with Sonja and Max in the car seats and me in the passenger seat. We get to the E.R. and they hustle me into a room and hook me up to the monitor, draw blood, get an EKG and give me a shot of Toradol (as I can't tolerate Morphine makes me very sick). Later they come with the wheelchair and roll me down to get a chest x ray. I was a little worried before I got there as I'm a nurse, and know all of the conditions related to chest pain and shortness of breath. I also try to keep a cool head as I have been through this a few times before and have been dealing with a degree of this SOB and CP for some time now.
After all the hub bub, they give me the diagnosis I've had many times, costochondritis or Tietze_Syndrome and give me a script for Naproxen.
What is Costochondritis?
It's the inflammation of the cartilage that connects the bones to your ribs and sternum. The cartilage inflammation causes it to separate from the bone. It's VERY painful. Many people who have had it think they are having a heart attack! They really don't know what causes it but some believe it may be related to being exposed to a virus, auto-immune related, collagen disorder, or due to an injury. Most people who get costochondritis get it only once, while others, for some reason, have it multiple times. The healing time varies. For some, the recovery is several weeks, for others it is 6 months or longer per bout. NASIDs are the drug of choice for treatment but when a patient has it on more of a chronic basis, exploration of other causes is necessary, and treatment options may differ.
Well, after they give me my discharge instructions and patient information packet, I'm on my way!
The hospital staff was excellent and even though I was in there a while, I was seen quickly, and the staff was efficient, professional, friendly and knowledgeable. They really put me at ease.
I go out to find the truck and right there is Dan and the kids in the truck. I get into the truck and Dan tells me of all the "goings on" during my 3 hour E.R. visit.
Apparently, Sonja stated she had to use the potty, Max was sleeping and Dan didn't want to disturb him. Dan had an old paper McDonald's coffee cup and tried to get Sonja to pee in it (Oh brother)while in the truck! He said that while Sonja was trying, people were coming out and getting into their cars, etc, etc and he was just slightly embarrassed ;-)
After a little while, Max woke up and had the big "No.2" and because we left the house in a rush, we forgot the diaper bag! Well, Dan tried to call his friend Jim, who owns a business close by, to see if he could help Dan out and get a few diapers. Needless to say, Jim wasn't there. I thought I could smell a little something but thought maybe a "toot" was to blame.... not this time.
It was an interesting (and smelly) drive.
I was instructed to see my doctor in two days. I'm one of those nurses who makes a terrible patient. I finally got going and made an appointment with my doc.
I went to see my doctor on Monday and he has set me up with a pulmonary specialist and a cardiologist. He's ordered a cardiac stress test with echo because of my history and my family history. My Dad had his first heart attack at around the age of 35 and I've had weird EKG's since my early thirties. The cardio doc will order any other test if needed. I've had that test before (stress test with echo) and it's really no big deal. Normally, you run on a treadmill while hooked up to an EKG and echo cardiogram. Due to my limited mobility mine is done by injecting a medication that makes your heart accelerate as if running on a treadmill.
I'm scheduled to see my pain specialist the first week of next month. She wanted to send me to a rheumotologist on my last visit but I refused. After a while, you get sick of going to see doctors, going here, going there. I think I'll take her up on that now though. She ordered blood work to see if they can rule out Rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus and although some of the testing has come back negative, other indicators were positive. The biggies that were negative were the specific tests for RA and SLE, which I thought was great, but she soon informed me that that doesn't me I don't have the disorders, as I have many of the physical indicators of both and other positive findings. The PS said the rheumotologist can do other testing that can uncover what's going on. Sometimes you just have to wait it out and see what happens next. If you get worked up about everything you hear, or what people say, it makes you crazy! It's always a good thing to take it one day at a time. I never could do that before, but now, that's the way I see it.
At times I have flares that are really a bummer. Thank God I have the kids! They make life worth living and really make bad days good. Sonja is sooo sweet , kind and an excellent helper. Max is the happiest little guy and his antics are hysterical! And Dan.... What would I do without him! He's the BEST father and husband. He's my rock and like he said "Together we can get through it" With him and our little peanuts, we can get through ANYTHING!!!! :-)
I know there may be people who stumble upon this blog that may be dealing with chronic pain or knows someone who does. If that person is you, please visit http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/navigation/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf
I think it says it all!
Also "HAPPY HOMECOMING TRU!!!!" Watch this boy! He's going to move the world I just know it!!!!! Check the Herpin family link listed. GO TRU GO !!
A little history for those who don't know....
For the past 9 years or so I've been living with chronic pain. Now before you go feeling sorry for me, don't. There are soooo many other people that have it much worse than I. Besides, I have a great family who supports me and loves me enormously!
Recently, my shortness of breath and chest pain hit me pretty good. I could only speak a few words before needing to take a break and catch my breath, eating was difficult as I had to take a break and rest after chewing a bite of food and became very short of breath just walking short distances. Pretty fun. As I usually do, I went to the clinic. I was seen quite quickly and the practitioner told me to get to the E.R. where my doctor practices (which is about a 20 minute drive).So, off we go! Dan, with Sonja and Max in the car seats and me in the passenger seat. We get to the E.R. and they hustle me into a room and hook me up to the monitor, draw blood, get an EKG and give me a shot of Toradol (as I can't tolerate Morphine makes me very sick). Later they come with the wheelchair and roll me down to get a chest x ray. I was a little worried before I got there as I'm a nurse, and know all of the conditions related to chest pain and shortness of breath. I also try to keep a cool head as I have been through this a few times before and have been dealing with a degree of this SOB and CP for some time now.
After all the hub bub, they give me the diagnosis I've had many times, costochondritis or Tietze_Syndrome and give me a script for Naproxen.
What is Costochondritis?
It's the inflammation of the cartilage that connects the bones to your ribs and sternum. The cartilage inflammation causes it to separate from the bone. It's VERY painful. Many people who have had it think they are having a heart attack! They really don't know what causes it but some believe it may be related to being exposed to a virus, auto-immune related, collagen disorder, or due to an injury. Most people who get costochondritis get it only once, while others, for some reason, have it multiple times. The healing time varies. For some, the recovery is several weeks, for others it is 6 months or longer per bout. NASIDs are the drug of choice for treatment but when a patient has it on more of a chronic basis, exploration of other causes is necessary, and treatment options may differ.
Well, after they give me my discharge instructions and patient information packet, I'm on my way!
The hospital staff was excellent and even though I was in there a while, I was seen quickly, and the staff was efficient, professional, friendly and knowledgeable. They really put me at ease.
I go out to find the truck and right there is Dan and the kids in the truck. I get into the truck and Dan tells me of all the "goings on" during my 3 hour E.R. visit.
Apparently, Sonja stated she had to use the potty, Max was sleeping and Dan didn't want to disturb him. Dan had an old paper McDonald's coffee cup and tried to get Sonja to pee in it (Oh brother)while in the truck! He said that while Sonja was trying, people were coming out and getting into their cars, etc, etc and he was just slightly embarrassed ;-)
After a little while, Max woke up and had the big "No.2" and because we left the house in a rush, we forgot the diaper bag! Well, Dan tried to call his friend Jim, who owns a business close by, to see if he could help Dan out and get a few diapers. Needless to say, Jim wasn't there. I thought I could smell a little something but thought maybe a "toot" was to blame.... not this time.
It was an interesting (and smelly) drive.
I was instructed to see my doctor in two days. I'm one of those nurses who makes a terrible patient. I finally got going and made an appointment with my doc.
I went to see my doctor on Monday and he has set me up with a pulmonary specialist and a cardiologist. He's ordered a cardiac stress test with echo because of my history and my family history. My Dad had his first heart attack at around the age of 35 and I've had weird EKG's since my early thirties. The cardio doc will order any other test if needed. I've had that test before (stress test with echo) and it's really no big deal. Normally, you run on a treadmill while hooked up to an EKG and echo cardiogram. Due to my limited mobility mine is done by injecting a medication that makes your heart accelerate as if running on a treadmill.
I'm scheduled to see my pain specialist the first week of next month. She wanted to send me to a rheumotologist on my last visit but I refused. After a while, you get sick of going to see doctors, going here, going there. I think I'll take her up on that now though. She ordered blood work to see if they can rule out Rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus and although some of the testing has come back negative, other indicators were positive. The biggies that were negative were the specific tests for RA and SLE, which I thought was great, but she soon informed me that that doesn't me I don't have the disorders, as I have many of the physical indicators of both and other positive findings. The PS said the rheumotologist can do other testing that can uncover what's going on. Sometimes you just have to wait it out and see what happens next. If you get worked up about everything you hear, or what people say, it makes you crazy! It's always a good thing to take it one day at a time. I never could do that before, but now, that's the way I see it.
At times I have flares that are really a bummer. Thank God I have the kids! They make life worth living and really make bad days good. Sonja is sooo sweet , kind and an excellent helper. Max is the happiest little guy and his antics are hysterical! And Dan.... What would I do without him! He's the BEST father and husband. He's my rock and like he said "Together we can get through it" With him and our little peanuts, we can get through ANYTHING!!!! :-)
I know there may be people who stumble upon this blog that may be dealing with chronic pain or knows someone who does. If that person is you, please visit http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/navigation/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf
I think it says it all!
Also "HAPPY HOMECOMING TRU!!!!" Watch this boy! He's going to move the world I just know it!!!!! Check the Herpin family link listed. GO TRU GO !!
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