GoodBye Kevin and Dick

       How does a person say good-bye to a fantastic guy like Kevin? We don't, we can't.
      Kevin pased away this morning and his father passed away two days ago. Kevin was fighting AML with the fight of a warrior. He loved life,his daughter, his mom and grandmothers so much. Kevin had so many friends, possibly beyond what you could count.
   He was tall, good looking, smart and funny, and he was also loyal. Kevin fought and fought, as hard as he loved. At one point he was able to return to work which gave us all hope that he would beat this horrible cancer.
    I remember a time when Kevin joined his mom, my daughter Jenny and another friend from Brooklyn at the Salty Dog. He introduced me to his daughter saying this is my moms friend Nancy, also known as crazy woman. We all laughed as he was so right. He took time to stop in, say hello and grab abite to eat. I loved seeing Kevin when ever I got to visit Sandy. He was like my other son.
     Some time ago my son Mike stood with Kevin in Sandy's Kitchen in Brooklyn side by side. Sandy and I looked at each other as one of the boys said, well, looks like we take after our moms, and Kev, you said, Amazons? Mike said well I can't say about your mom, but mine is a viking? But we all laughed. I am going to miss you a lot Kevin as will everyone. Your spirit reaches further than the horizon.
    I can see you in heaven riding a Pinto horse with all of your Native American spirits. You are welcomed and loved... but left a trail of sorrow here.
    God has now enveloped you in his arms. Silent Night Kev. I love you big guy.
               ************************************
       Dick, I guess it was too hard to know your son was leaving you and so God took you home. I remember some great and funny times with you Dick. We had a ball and you taught me things.  I was jealous at times of your energy. You would run out Sunday morning when I stayed over, bought the paper, rolls and cheese. You always asked if I wanted something while you were at the store. But boy were you fast, and that's retired?
    Dick I know you're probably wearing an old mailman's uniform up there once you get settled in, and delivering to the angels. When the mail slows down you'll proudly wear your Navy uniform. I have a picture of you from one on your stand in the living room on 83rd st.  But for now you're probably driving on up in an eighteen wheeler. You were the guy to get directions from. You loved movies and John Wayne, and most of all your family, Hand in hand, arm in arm, you will help carry Kevin into the waiting arms of Jesus. Good Night Dick. I love you too.

Eggs, A Teen saves Family! What a kid !

       Now this is what's right about some kids. You know what I mean. We find fault with society concerning all of the rights of kids, parental priorities concerning how to need a certain amount of money because of things, or wanting those things. Yes I know too, many times it is necessary for two parents to work, and in this family it wasn't any different.

    The father worked for a utility company and the mother worked as a pharmacist while the teen aged daughter went to school. This story was on the Sunday Morning show.

    One day mom found herself sick, struggling to walk, not able to feed herself, dress herself and more. She had Multiple Sclerosis and spent all of her time laying down on the sofa and ended up in a nursing home. The parents decided not to tell their young teen what was wrong, yet she knew and she also knew things were getting tough. This kid decided to do something about it. What a kid!

    She went to her grandmother who gave her a loan. This young girl worked out all of the numbers, costs to do what she wanted to do, and so she bought chickens. Yes, she started an EGG BUSINESS ! Last year she made 15,000. which saved the home and family. Mom is back home and much better. Dad gives his daughter all the credit for, as he stated, "keeping the wolves away from the door."
   This teen is now saving for college as the help isn't any longer needed. Yet she says, it's there for mom and dad if they do need it. Now this is a kid with values. What would your child do in the same situation?

an Open Letter-Illegal to Grow Your Own Food?

Cary Ellis shared Grow Food, Not Lawns's photo.

grow it!

Dear Sir/Madam:

In the past year or so, I have seen a growing assault on a specific type of individual freedom. A seemingly innocuous activity has drawn the ir...e of local officials, and when I tell you what it is, you will think it is so silly you just might laugh. You might even think that paying attention to this issue is a waste of your limited time, but I can assure you from my own personal experience that it absolutely is not.

In June of 2011 I faced a 93 day jail sentence for growing vegetables in my front yard. Yes, you read that correctly. There was no other issue, no hidden criminal mischief, no homeowner’s association, no history of any other violations. There was nothing in the municipal code that prohibited growing vegetables in the front yard, nor was there anything, unsightly or even vaguely menacing. Yet I was charged with a misdemeanor. If my case was an isolated incident, we could just attribute it to an overzealous city planner and that would be the end of the story.

But in September of 2011, Memphis high school teacher Adam Guerrero was ordered to dismantle a similar garden. In his case, he used the garden to educate students from the local high school about growing food, making soap and biodiesel, harvesting honey, and giving youth productive and constructive ways to use their time. For this he was dragged into court and labelled a troublemaker.

In June of 2012 Karl Tricamo of Ferguson, Missouri was ordered to tear up his front yard garden in spite of the fact that it clearly violated no zoning ordinance. He chose to stand his ground rather than capitulate to bullying by his city, but it was a difficult fight, and one that a law-abiding citizen should not have to wage. Karl won his fight too, but the city is planning to retaliate by drafting new and stricter gardening ordinances that will prevent him from continuing to plant in the future.

In October, 2012 the Helvenston Family in Orlando, Florida were ordered to remove their front yard vegetable garden, with a citation stating that, ”Front yard must be restored to its original configuration and ground covers restored.” In spite of the fact that the original complaint was made by a landlord who lived over 1,000 miles away, and in spite of the fact that neighbors in the area were in support of the garden, the City claimed ground cover violations, then ruled that the vegetable garden was agriculture and only allowed it in the rear yard where there is no sun. The Code still has not changed and the case against them is still pending. Up until this point, they have not been allowed to speak in front of the city council, nor been given a fair hearing, despite the city repeatedly telling media that they are working with the couple to find a fair solution to the situation.

Perhaps most egregious, though, is the case of Denise Morrison in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Denise grew a varied garden of herbs, flowers, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. She was cited by her city for violating their zoning ordinances. And while her case was pending, before she had her hearing, city workers came and razed her garden. That’s right. No due process. no fair trial. All because some local bureaucrats wouldn’t tolerate one woman growing some of her own food.

So what can you do? I am asking you to be courageous enough to sponsor a bill that will protect a citizen’s right to grow food. I am asking you to pass into law something that should already be obvious to thinking people: that a free citizen should have the right (barring legitimate concerns over safety and welfare of others, of course) to grow food on their own property. Protect individuals from the petty tyranny of local governments.

Yes, I know we can vote in local elections, and we do. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if you took a stand on this issue? I’ll tell you who would support you, because they supported me during my fight with the city (which I won, by the way): people who care about: food safety, food rights, water conservation, energy conservation, organics, local politics, human rights, keeping government in check, farming, slow food, eating local, land use issues, environmentalists, water quality, peak oil concerns, saving money, healthy diets, teaching and learning, improvising in a tough economy, self-sufficiency, therapeutic benefits of gardening, creating strong neighborhoods and regaining a sense of community, taking pride in what you work for (a most American value), as well as many other things.

It used to be that Americans were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens. Average people felt they were helping their country and their families by putting their hands in their soil and growing some of what they ate. They took pride in the fact that they were able to see the results of their effort on their very own dinner table. Today many people struggle from paycheck to paycheck. Slogans are thrown around about how best to help people who are just trying to “make it”. Here you have case after case of people who are willing to do what it takes to plant what some have termed the new “Survival Gardens”. How wonderful it would be for them to be able to flourish in peace!

At the heyday of our battle, we had several hundred thousand visitors following my story on my blog. I’m sure there were at least that many following our story on other websites and through other media. Undoubtedly you would have more than that supporting you in this issue.

I will eagerly await a response from you.

Thank you and best wishes,

Julie Bass
http://oakparkhatesveggies.wordpress.com/

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Whole Foods, Patience & Television?

      I was going to start my evening by cleaning up this blog and deleting a few things meant to be on here only for a short time, but in a short time this afternoon, I went into what I now realize is  the loss of a well known friend, Television.
     It was a way of compromising. Well more than that; I caved and let my TV go to another room, not mine. The reasons and for whom are not important now, but it's gone, really gone. An old and out-dated model I know now how food and television messed me up.
     During the evening as I sat at the computer my thoughts raced back and forth to TV and food. Here's how it went:

    Eyes darting to one side in the direction of the kitchen, then thoughts of my friendly TV, back and forth actually  mentally listing what's in the fridge. Now saying to myself, I was making changes anyway to whole foods, getting back to Forks over Knives and again my eyes dart to the kitchen thinking and almost smelling. Smelling what I don't know or care, just smelling and hoping I remembered what it was like. Food? TV?
   No, they had to be together. It was like a marriage and now I'm divorced. This time though I didn't need  a lawyer. Finally I told myself to just shut-up!
   But no, I couldn't turn my thoughts off, so not only did I g back to memorizing what was in the fridge, but how good those foods went with certain TV shows. Again, shut up will you! Just shush! So finally I did, but I started checking on line new televisions so I would have one Friday night and watch Blue Blood, with ice cream and even better, scrambled eggs. Oh I need patience and maybe an intervention-or maybe, just maybe a TV, a small one. Anyone.. Anyone?

Old Times

            Kenny Rogers had a song, "Life Was So Much Easier Twenty Years Ago".  To me it seems like thirty or even forty years ago.  When we think about how neighbors not only knew one another but they cared about one another. Now life is such a rush that so many homes have two working parents and not enough time for much of anything else. So kids get TVs, Video games, IPhones and anything electronic they want. It keeps them from bothering mom and dad, lets them stay in there room nice and safe. But are they?

 

            If anyone knows anything about the dangers in these handheld games please tell your sons and daughters who have kids and tell anyone you know. The worst as I know it, is a PS VITA.

             It seems innocent at first. Commercials make it cute showing a small female child playing games, ad maybe that is a certain PS Vita-there are a couple. One is just for games. But many adults don't know which is which and don't ask enough questions. PS Vita is like putting your child's life at stake as I see I, my opinion. They can reach kids -or adults-in other states, countries. No one knows who is lurking and I do mean lurking on the other side of a PS VITA. They might also come in contact with another kid who seems so very sweet, yet...

         

             In the legal system when a youth commits a crime, many times the record is expunged so how do you really know the kind of people your kids hang out with, go to the movie with, a dance with or "just talk in the privacy of their rooms."

              Yes, life was so much easier many years ago and in may ways it is now. Progress in many ways harms our children, twists their minds, entitles them because as you may have already heard, but my friend has one. Society and entitlement go hand in hand for those who won't accept personal responsibility and play the blame game. As I read somewhere, if you're not content with who you are and what you have, no matter what you have, it won't even be enough. Remember that the next time you think about kids, shopping, values and how you want them to grow.

        By the way, say hello to your next door neighbor.

Stoverstown Pa. Community Meeting Tonight

        Tonight I attended a home meeting with a young teen and had an opportunity to meet other people, women. There were about seven women and one male teen. I couldn't believe my ears as I met and re-met, as in getting acquainted with these new faces, how accepting they were. I have lived where I live now for almost twenty-seven years and in all this time, I haven't met neighbors who are any where as friendly and accepting, sharing and kind as these people were.
 
         I have to go a step backwards. My neighbors and friends/family( one family ) who live in back of me are truly very special people and they are top of any list I'd have as far as good people. It would take me too long to tell you all about "The People Across the Field."

          When I moved here years ago I was told by a young man that it would take years for people to welcome and accept me as I was an outsider. He also stated that his family who lives on Stoverstown road weren't talked to by most neighbors. I thought, what the heck kind of an area did I move into? That young man was a youth minister. He said he learned to accept, that people here just want to keep to themselves. I didn't accept that, yet little by little I found that to be true, at least as far as I was concerned. The young man, the youth minister? He moved away.

       As I sat and listened to people introduce themselves and talk a little about Stoverstown history and how things changed, it reminded me of where I grew up Brooklyn, New York. Brooklyn has changed too. Progress? I don't think so. To me progress is being happy where you are and not moving because someone who looks different than you changes the neighborhood. If we remain, we progress in making our town better and how do we do that?

      This is what this meeting was all about, how we do that. People came up with all kinds of ideas, making a community newsletter or getting involved in the one already put out by the township. Then there could be a Stoverstown book club, or a Stoverstown walking group, and even a Help Thy Neighbor group, which is concerned with as it appears to explain, helping someone who needs you. This can be anyone for anything, like a drive to a grocery store, helping to clean up a garden or start a garden, carry groceries in, clean someones refrigerator or garage and even their car.
       We also thought about having an old fashioned block party, and a sing a long/musical group. Oh , back to gardening. A positive suggestion is to have community gardens. There are people who live in apartments in Spring Grove and York New Salem who might like to help out and share with a neighbor or teens who might wants to help out at home by starting a family garden.

     Anything is possible when people come together for a community purpose. Remember good equals good. Next time you see a neighbor ask them this simple question...Can you tell me if there is------around here? When you say, "around here" usually they know you're new and it's a good way to hopefully start a, Community Connection .
   P.S. If you're interested in it, chances are, someone else is too. Check in, don't check out.

   

Children's Values, THINGS or PEOPLE

        If you are about to become  a new parent, please teach your children about the value in people not things. I don't want to preach here, yet I guess I am. When it comes to gifts children get, and clothes they wear, their values are all inside out and upside down.
        It's never too late. It really isn't and may be hard to take away that gaming hand held device you bought "because all the kids have them" which doesn't make sense and you want a child who is a carbon copy or do you? Start now. A day a week, then two then three and finally it's one day a week they get to use them.
       Yes, it's rough if you work or are a single parent who comes home dog-tired and you don't want to do anything with your child as far as entertainment, so here are a few helps:
     Have cards or game night. Start early, make sandwiches for supper, egg salad, tune, or pb&j on that night. You can even invite another neighbor child over and you can rest.
     Have a library night or day, mid-week and Saturday. Saturdays the library usually has something going on, like reading dogs and I know age makes a difference.
    Look into knitting for all ages and if you can't afford it, look into meet-up groups in your neighborhood. Just go to yahoo or google, search  meet-up groups.
    Church: many have mid week bible studies and teen groups that don't seem and aren't bible thumping as many might think.
     Start walking the high school track, or biking on a trail. Biking doesn't have to be expensive. Check out TOMY brands. An ad should be listed and shown. All positive suggestions. Outdoors and exercise go hand in hand with fun and freedom.
    Buy a camera-let him or her learn early on appreciating what's around them and let them enter contests.

    Teach your kids to help neighbors and at recycling places, food banks
become a hospital junior volunteer.
     Get in touch with a close friend and ask for help and suggestions.
Most of all get them a hobby, painting, carpentry, knitting, guitar, writing (which is free) and let them read a good book. Good luck, I know it isn't easy.
     Food, easy tip ideas: Make a crock pot of stew, two night meals and later a crick of chicken breasts. You can make on tottilla wraps shredded chicken with lettuce and tomato, or rice, chicken and beans with leftovers.
    Buy a kids health cook book and use it in a way to arrange short cuts in your own way.
    

PS VITA's DANGERS & kids devices

    Parents, please learn all you can about any hand held device your children have. These electronics automatically update, then download those updates just like our computers do. If you  think you blocked & locked the browser?, think again.
      They can get access through WIFI which they can pick signals up in certain places in the home, in the car, a mall, a movie, the grocery store, any place that has wifi, even neighbors. They pick up the WIFI signal and can get into anything, and I mean anything and everything that most adults wouldn't get into. When you ask to check the device, it looks as if you can't check history and you can't see what they have seen because it's only accessible once WIFI is accessed. Also this VIta has a thing called PARTY where your children can talk to people anywhere in the UNITED STATES and you may think, aw that's cute, they're talking to Friends. No they are making connections to strangers and making new VITA friends. VITA means life, and that's what happens when you buy them a VITA-they create a brand new life !

     They can access all social media-all! PLEASE guard that Vita and protect your children.

Forks over Knives shopping list is on line...

    I just did my list for next week. The way the writer listed the food to help you change your life, mentally and physically, is so much easier that going through a book. After my list is complete I shop accordingly.
   Near then end of the article he talks about a book he read titled, Eating for Energy. I haven't read it but he states there is one secret that will change your life and is mind-blowing. Sound like Dr. Oz? Well I'm going to Barnes and Noble and check it out.

   Now about Dr. Oz. I know he's on a mission to help chubbos, but seriously people, every day he announces,  "a miracle way to lose weight" So what does he really stand for? Is he simply trying to charge things up to keep his program on the air making millions? Why does he rarely if ever introduce this to men? Sounds to me like he's saying only women are fat...something to not think about. I'll still watch Oz sometimes, but if it's a show again about another "miracle" way to lose weight, I'll turn it off and lift weights, or walk, put a walking tape in place in, and even better here, put Susan Boyle on and write, or I might just make a vegan burger.

Canon Power Shot Camera-wow!

    Now that the biggest gift buying time of the year is over, get ready to watch for sales, and if you live in an area where you have four seasons, make sure your Canon is ready to work. Get the best batteries for the best camera. I own a Canon power shot 590 and love it. Here are a few ways to make this camera work better in a different sense for you.

   Are you a parent with younger children, pre-teen mostly. Parents you need to start them as early as possible with great habits so they don't become so brain  mangled by video games and staying inside. Let their habits be of nature. Put a Canon Power Shot Camera in their little hands. This also teaches them to appreciate nature more, how to look at people and things, and more than ever appreciate that mom and or dad didn't stick them in front of TV to babysit.
     

Long Term Ins. Stress, Caretakers

   It cost about 7000.00 a year for long term insurance. I put that in the actual number so as to wake us up , possibly? So much information is on public education right now and I feel I should post what I can.
  Right now a single woman without children in her late fifties has put money aside for long term care and her employer adds to some kind of care help. But That is rare. What if any preparations have you made.
   Some time ago I helped an  elderly woman who not only had Parkinson's but dementia and she did pass away a year ago, however the stress her husband went through in keeping her home was awful to watch and listen to. I would hear him yelling on the phone to different people who didn't have anything to do with his wife illness. He was trying to save his home and not lose it all to health care. I agree. If that's possible great, if not, what does a family do?
    He was able to pay by the hour to get people from a personal care service to come in three hours a day. Yet some times he would forget to write a check
thinking he paid, all due to stress. I understand how that goes. I don't want to burden my children to take care of me, but I also want to leave them some financial resources before the end. So what do I do? I prepare now. I look around at nursing home if I need that, the cheap one-lol-and I make sure funeral and burial arrangements are made-but again cheap is the way to go-ashes to ashes. Yup, cremation.
         Rhode Island has a program to pay  "Right at Home" care givers 1300. a month to stay home and care for family. Most are family or close neighbors or friends who do the care taking. That's a great program, But how many can stomach all that personal stuff along with a feeling of being trapped by a parental illness. Give them permission before anything happens to find the least expensive care, stop in when they have time, but first and always live their own lives . Then theirs hospice. Home or a facility? For me a facility. Let the kids last memories at home be happier times. Well that's enough talk about death, sickness and caretakers-this is stressful :)