We own 27 acres on the side of a hill. It is steep, rugged terrain but we love it. When we purchased it, young Douglas fir were growing where it had been clear cut a few years early. along with maple, alder and cherry and a plethora of small herbaceous plants and shrubs.

I am recovering from a urinary tract infection. While I was reading articles deciding how I wanted to treat the infection, I found several referring to the emotional state of being "pissed off" and how it may be related to the infection. At first I thought I really wasn't angry about anything and moved on to other articles.

But, this morning, all of the anger has surfaced and I wonder which piece or pieces may have contributed to the infection...

This post is really a warning to others to NOT purchase an American Water Heater. You have to look close because the one we purchased a year ago has a Whirlpool label on it. And, if you look in the owners manual everything says Whirlpool. But when you start working on a warranty issue, you will quickly discover you are speaking to "American Water Heater" and their India-based telephone call center.

In June of last year, my boss let me know they would be downsizing my job. It meant fewer hours at less pay. With that conversation, I joined the millions looking for employment. In the beginning, I was positive I would get a job quickly. I have a solid background and a good resume. Ten months later, it's not always so easy to maintain a positive attitude.

We watched the movie,Talk to Me, last evening about radio and television personality, Petey Greene. I was taken back watching the scenes of what occurred when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot. I would have been almost ten years old at the time and I don't remember anything about the shooting. I have very clear memories of President Kennedy's funeral five years earlier, so I know it wasn't a matter of not remembering something at that age. It made me wonder what the worst form of bigotry is - looking down on someone or simply pretending they don't exist.