My Girl, The Track Star

Hayley is pretty humble. She will just say that she just enjoys the running and being able to do it with her friends.

She's for the most part, quiet, unless around her peers. She has her own ideals about the world and about life in general.

When she was a bit younger, my husband and I had our reservations about Hayley in regards to being a "dirt digger" or a "sporty" kid. She loves to wear girly outfits. She's discovering makeup (mascara and LIGHT color lip gloss or lipstick only). And she is becoming a woman before my very eyes.

But this morning, after twelve tedious weeks of training and hard work, with already visible physical results, my eleven-year-old young lady ran her first ever (and most likely NOT last) 5K race with Girls On The Run Greater; Lynchburg Chapter.

A First and a Second Grade school teacher coached the all-girls team of (I think) fifteen runners for three months, and all the while teaching them life skills, how to have good self-esteem and quell the fears of those going in to Middle School next Fall (including Hayley).

The coaches also taught them breathing and timing techniques as to benefit mostly in running rather than walking during their 3.1 mile journey to the finish line.

Hayley and her BFF are really wanting to do this again next year. It all depends on the school and if they have a couple of teachers willing to coach, and if they can get at least the minimum number of teammates to join. And after witnessing it this year, I honestly can't see why ANY school wouldn't WANT to have such a positive program in their school.

My child has greatly benefited from Girls On The Run, as you can see from the pictures below.

             Yes, that IS pink and purple in her hair. And I actually like it!

              We are about to hear the horn to start the race.

                Almost there!! Only had about a quarter of a mile to go.

                 Hayley's school Principal came to watch HER girls be the best team ever! She said she was so proud of Hayley finishing the entire course without stopping. Or walking.

             Until next year!! They earned a good rest at the bridge.

                 Hayley and her BFF, who came in mere seconds after Hayley did to the finish line. They BOTH finished right under the 46 minute mark (by a few seconds!).

Who knows! Next year if Hayley can get on a team for Girls On The Run in her Middle School, this old gal may train with her and run next year's race. Family is allowed to run with a registered teammate.  It's been a LONG time since I ran a race. Last one was when I was fifteen and I ran in the San Francisco's Bay To Breakers (7 mi. course).

Death Panels...Since when is one's life "not budgetable"?

Arizona has a Governor without a heart or a soul. Her state's budget cuts are not only "saving" money, but are also COSTING lives.

Now, two people are dead. Thanks to the budget cuts and the insurance's refusal (due to said cuts) to pay for much-needed transplants.

There's now a list of people in the state of Arizona whom will surely die, being that their assurance of insurance has been cut off because the insurer will not "be able" to pay for the transplants.

Including the one this past week who was needing a kidney transplant.

Yes, the insurance I am speaking of is Government-funded Medicaid. The state's funds for the insurance that helps those that are low-income, too disabled to work or meet other criteria for the (supplemental) insurance will be cut by $1.2 million.

Luckily though, the citizens of Arizona have Senate Minority Leader-Elect David Schapira (Democrat) in their corner. And he is asking to have *emergency* restoration of the Medicaid funds to be put in to place. But only for certain types of transplants.

Thus far, 98 patients are on that list.

Patient Mark Price died in November, as he was desperately awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

Read the full story at... CNN.com

As a transplant recipient myself, to see these kinds of cuts made at the expense of human life, is utterly deplorable. Shame on the state of Arizona, and it's idiot Governor, Janet Brewer.

Rest assured though, that in the event that herself or one of family members or close friends (who were on Medicaid, thanks to job loss or lower income status) suddenly required a transplant of some type, she would be fighting tooth and nail to get their insurance to pay for it.

But hey, it's no one special or important (to the dumb hag called 'Governor') so she feels that she can go to lay her head down at night without the guilt of knowing that she (literally) signed almost one hundred of her citizen's death warrants by her actions of slashing the access to their medical insurance, and to much-needed medical care to stay alive.

Sure, it was "just an eye" to most people. But saving my sight, as well as my entire eye was of utmost importance to me as a mother of three children who are all still under the age of twelve.

If my insurance wasn't there to help cover the cost of my (**$23,000.00**) surgery to have my cornea replaced with a cadaver's cornea, then I would not have my sight, let alone the eye its self. And being a mother, it would have hindered (somewhat) my being the mother I am to my children.

What kind of person wishes to slash funding as to let others be there with their children and grandchildren? A thoughtless Government Official such as Governor Janet Brewer, is who! And the scary part in all of this? If one state does something like this to "save the state money", then most often times, even more states follow and institute these cuts as well.

And that's a scary thought in its self! It will go from just under a hundred, to hundreds, then to thousands. Then, quite possibly the "movement" could cost MILLIONS of lives here in America.

Is this really what our country's Government was built to be all about? Money over it's people.

The more I look, the more I view it in this manner. And it frightens me more and more a bit each and every day, that our children and grandchildren's lives will be placed on the front lines as a means to save a few extra bucks for the Government Officials to pocket.

The money NEEDS to be put back in place. At least some it it, anyways. And for the most needful of transplants (heart, lung, kidney). And Arizona's guidelines on insuring transplants needs to be overhauled as well. No one's life is above another's. Or at least it shouldn't be.

I can understand (at this time) that they cannot cover ALL types of transplants. But give those with the biggest fights ahead, the biggest chance at living.

Is this really too much to ask, Gov. Janet Brewer?

GLBT and Kroger...BOYCOTT? (getting on my soapbox!)

Over at Facebook, I belong to the "Fan Page" for the retail grocery chain, Kroger(KROGER FACEBOOK FAN PAGE). You can ask questions, find out what weekly deals and sales that they are having (or will be having the following week) and converse with fellow customers of the establishment.

The store has re-done their FB page and so I had to search a bit for the DISCUSSIONS tab (which happened to be under BOXES). I like to "talk" with others on the boards in that manner.

Yesterday, I came across one titled "I will not shop at Kroger because you denied sponsorship to the LGBT community.". Of course, it did pique my interest. So, I opened it up and read the initial post that opened the proverbial can of worms. It went like this..

"Removing your use of your logo for the Cincinnati LGBT pride festival is a poor decision.

I live in Columbus, have a Kroger across the street from my house, but your regressive ways have made me rethink going to any Kroger location. I will spend my families money where I am appreciated.

I have already switched to Giant Eagle and will actively spread the word for others to do the same. "

Now, if you know me, I am ALL for the rights and equality for the GLBT Community. Yes, even marriage. But I am also not one to go off on a tangent such as this over the fact that CORPORATE OFFICE made the decision to remove their logo from the Pride Festival.

Was it wrong for Kroger to do such a thing? YES! In *my* mind it was. Kroger spreads talk of community and unity, and wanting to help others. But talk is cheap these days. But to pull out of the Pride Festival, in fear of what their customers *might* think (and HELLO!! Kroger, you DO have customers that are gay, you idiot Heads!) of them.

But to punish a LOCAL store in your area over what the Corporate Office (in Cincinnati, Ohio, mind you!) did (I feel) makes YOU just as bad as the Head Office. When you refuse to shop there (or at any retailer) and take a bunch of friends with you, then yes, you ARE denying a basic, everyday, hard-working employee a paycheck.

Same with gas stations. I do NOT buy the BP gas (for obvious reasons!), but I will not *refuse* to shop inside the convenience store. That store has nothing to gain from BP, except a small percentage of earnings from BP for "featuring" their BP product. Most of their income is through the selling of IN-STORE products, being that the store it's self is of it's own entity. A franchise.

My husband, for the last ten years of his life, has worked at Kroger Food & Drug. And for eight of those ten years (started as, then promoted, then had to go back to it due to certain circumstances and is presently there) Scott has been Head Frozen Food Clerk. Do you HONESTLY think he ENJOYS freezing his ass off daily to provide YOU, the consumer with "quick and easy" meals? I can tell you a resounding NO! At least not ALL of the time.

He gets crap for pay, as he (sometimes) works up to a ten-hour shift, busting his ass to place products on his shelves, make sure orders that come in are stocked with what he needs to supply YOU with to grab off of those shelves and has to hear customers bitch and yell at him for what the WAREHOUSE scratched (did not send) on the order (which is NOT up to him).

When you refuse to shop, you are taking away pay from him, and his fellow employees. And in turn, you are taking it from my kids, and their (fellow employees) families. We rely on those paychecks (just like anyone else in any other employment position) to clothe, feed and house our children. And when you "boycott" a store for what is OUT OF THE *LOCAL STORE'S* control, you not only hurt that store and their employees, you hurt US, THE FAMILIES of those employees.

Everyone wants equal rights. Is it really and honestly fair to "boycott" a single store for what their Corporate Office did? What (Corporate Office) did was INDEED blatantly WRONG. Call THEM. Write to THEM. Email THEM. Don't make the "little guy" suffer. They get the shitty end of the stick. It's Corporate that needs to have a hole burned in their pockets. Not my husband (or my children).

I'm uber special. I can PROVE it!

Well, sort of. Seeing as only my friends can mainly see my profile.

But I have a certain celebrity now as a friend. And HE even wrote me back! I like the "stars" that actually take time to talk to their fans.

Let's see. He resides in New York. Has brown hair, brown eyes and has that look of pure "come hither" look, along with a smooth, deep voice.

Oh, and he does commercials! And sings, too.

What kinds of commercials, you ask? Take a look....





Now do you recognize him?? That is Michael McGlone in the first part of the Geico Commercial asking if the drill sergeant would make a good therapist.

He also sings! See for yourself...





Of course he is no Nicolas Cage, or a Brad Pitt. But I certainly won't complain.

Although, I must share this spotlight with one of my FaceBook BFF's, Lydia. If it came down to it, I bet we would mud wrestle over the guy. (=

Seriously though, Mr. McGlone seems to be a very nice, suave, down-to-earth gentleman. I'm happy to have him as a friend.

Oh and thanks Lydia! HE was the one to send ME the friends request. You must have really sucked up to the guy, huh? lol... Love ya, GF!