Watch out-I'm Ranting...

I'm getting frustrated with the Facebook updates that say something like,

"am saddened by what happened in Haiti, but shame on you America: In our country we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations. 99% of people won't have the guts to copy and repost this."

I would like to ask these people and those that click the "like" button a few questions.

1. Name one person you have known to die and not have a funeral or burial.

2. Name one person you have known to wait for over 2 days with a broken bone.

3. Name one person you have known to have flies lay eggs in their open wound.

4. Name one person you have known that went without food or water for more than a day.

Or perhaps, I should ask: Are you just mad you are missing your favorite show tonight??

Sorry, but our problems here DO NOT compare with those of the Haitian People. If you are without food, it is because you are either able to work and choosing not to, or you are not going through the process of receiving food stamps, or you are selling your food stamps for cash for drugs. (In which case, sadly some children suffer because of their parents in this country.)

I have been "poor" I've spent 30 dollars a week on groceries for weeks during our medical school years. I've also had to ask for government assistance. Imagine my surprise when our budget went from 30-50 a week for groceries to 120 a week-for our small family!! No, our country takes great care of its poor. (plus I got free milk, eggs, and cheese and formula!)

Certainly things are not perfect here. More should be done to help the mentally ill. But isn't that a big part of the challenge-they are ill to the point that they don't always make good decisions for their health. Having help and people using it and accepting it are two different things. Non-compliance to medication and doctor's orders will continue to be a challenge with this group.

I happen to love hard working Americans. Who deliver pizzas with degrees and wait tables at night to go to school.

Heaven help us if we become so self-centered that we cannot give to a country that just lost 60% of its already poor economy.

and courtesy of CNN

THE TOLL

150,000: Latest estimate of the death toll, from the Haitian Health Ministry. The European Union and the Pan American Health Organization, which are coordinating the health-sector response, have estimated the quake killed 200,000 people.
194,000: Number of injured
134: Estimated number of people rescued by international search teams since the quake

THE EFFECT

9 million: Population of Haiti
3 million: Estimated number of people affected by the quake
1 million: Estimated number of displaced people
800,000 to 1 million: People who need temporary shelter
235,000: People who have left Port-au-Prince using free transportation provided by the government. The number who left by private means is undetermined.
At least 50: Aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or higher that have hit Haiti since the January 12 quake

Oh, and by the way-they can all NAME-by NAME someone in my above questions.

Sweet Sweet Puffy Lips, the Zoo, and Peppermints

There is one sure way to know if I am upset.  Even when I try to hide it--I puff my lips out.  I remember my sister, dad, mom, anyone saying, "go look in the mirror, you are upset, your lips are giving it away!"  I guess it is true, though I still try to deny it.  Still, looking at this picture of Ammon--made me laugh!  He was upset over getting his hair trimmed.  

Of course, I haven't cut it much, just trimmed it.  Afterall, my lips might puff if I were to see it all gone.

This is my husband.  He is either 

a. an animal lover 

b.  a surfer 

c. a doctor

Which seems most believable? 

I had to include this one of Katie and Ivan.  We were glad to have some company over Thanksgiving and we enjoyed seeing the Christmas lights at the Columbus Zoo.  They are absolutley fantastic.  But, our pictures of those don't look so great.  This one was endearing. 

These last two pictures are more from preparing for Candy-Land Christmas.  See the sash Josh is modelling.  We made 11 of those for the "king candies".  Then with scraps I made the peppermints.  These were original ideas.  Unlike most of my ideas which are stolen from friends and the internet world, these just came from my little mind.  So while they are not the coolest thing you've ever seen, I'm quite happy to see an idea bare fruit.  I mean bare peppermints.