Weds., Jan. 21, 2009, Nashville, TN., 10:39 a.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Well, we have a new president.  The Inauguration went without incident, other than two senators (Byrd and Kennedy) getting sick; thankfully, they're going to be fine. 

Barack Obama is our 44th president; he has a mighty big job to do.

I don't envy him one bit.  I wouldn't want to be in his shoes, that's for certain!  He is going to need all the prayers he can possibly get!

Now, I didn't vote for the man, but he IS our president; therefore, he deserves our utmost respect. 

I am going to miss George Bush in the White House, though; he did mess up, and now our country is in a world of hurt.  It is going to take more than a miracle to solve all of America's woes!

Obama may end up doing a great job for our country; however, I don't agree with the abortion issue (woman having a choice to have an abortion up to their seventh month of pregnancy), or the gay-rights issue.  That's the main reason why I didn't vote for him back in November; however, a lot of people are tired of how our government's acted these past eight years, and so they were more than ready for a change.

I don't blame them one bit.

I didn't like it any better than they do/did.

Well, I am at home today.  Worked last night, got off at seven.  Just woke up a little bit ago; slept for a little over three and a half hours.  Feel somewhat human.  LOL  Work again tonight, then am off Thursday and Friday, work Saturday and Sunday. 

Had a fairly quiet night at work, but I had to take care of a veteran who is in our hospital for a bone infection.  She's doing a little better, but she's in a lot of pain, and she's more than ready to get out of the hospital!  (She's been in the hospital since last November, after being injured in a bomb blast that took one of her legs.)

She felt a lot better when Gracie and I gave her a bath; I swear she could have melted into the bed, she was so relaxed by the time we were finished with her!  LOL

We had no problems with her until  she banged her stump against the bed rail, then decided to christen us with vomit.  Yup.  She got sick on us.  It was disgusting, but we willingly cleaned her up.  Her stump is still pretty tender from the surgery she had this past Thursday; it's going to remain so for a while.  She wasn't in a lot of pain until she bumped it; ever since, it's all we can do to keep her comfortable!

Johnny is on cloud nine:  his girlfriend, Rebekkah Rachel Cohen, and he are back together; they're an item again.  Rebekkah wrote to him the other day, and ever since, he can't stop smiling! 

I am so happy for them; I pray they can work out their pastt differences and be there for each other when they need it the most!

Ronee' has two black eyes:  on Monday she had an encounter with a basketball that got away from a kid; it smacked her in the puss.  She fell back, hit her head, and knocked herself out cold.  She had to spend the night in the hospital; she got out yesterday afternoon.  Her face is all swollen, bruised, and both eyes are nearly swollen shut.  It really looks charming.  (NOT!) 

When Bill called Monday afternoon from the hospital to tell me the news, I about cried!  I'm just thankful it wasn't any worse than it was!  Ronee' is a very fortunate young lady!

Jodie got her casts off last Friday; her feet are now nice and straight, the way they should be.  It seems the surgery was a success.  I'm just glad that she came through it without any complications!

Camey came home from work in tears:  seems that one of her favorite customers died over the weekend.  He was only 46; he had AIDS.  She'd tell me about Tim, about how his family abandoned him upon finding out that he was gay, had AIDS.  It was a really tragic situation; Tim spent his last months, alone, in a hospice center.  Camey would be the only one who'd visit him when she could.

I will have to send Tim's partner a sympathy card, to let him know that we are thinking of him during his time of grief.

I know too real the cruelty of AIDS.  I've taken care of patients who had it, and I had a foster daughter who had it; they really suffered!   Nobody should ever have to go through that agony!

Well, in a few weeks is the Super Bowl.  Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers are the ones playing for the ultimate football championship.  Our church will have a Super Bowl party/chili cookoff; hopefully Arizona will prevail on top.

 Don't like the Steelers; never have, never will.  They've won too many Super Bowls.  LOL

Emir, Arjun, Ian, and Isaiah are down for their naps; I just checked on them.  They are asleep; they look like little angels.  I don't expect  them to wake up before noon.  (They've been sleeping since nine.) An hour's peace.  Ahhh, I can use it!  It gets crazy at times, especially when the little ones are up!  They wear me out!  LOL

Well, the phone's ringing again, so I will let y'all go.  I will write in here another time.  Until later, this is Louisiana signing off; take care and may God bless you mightily!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May.  :)