The day before New Years Eve

I'm back again with another post. I know it's been a bit since I last posted but again I say, not too much has been going on.
I'm taking the time today to post only to give a quick update on just a few little things.

First to say, that I can't wait for 2010. Why? I don't know. Maybe because I'm holding out hope that a cure will be found and things will start to happen. I say that because Dr. Doug Kerr, the leading TM researcher in the world that was at Johns Hopkins and the person that established the TM research center there, has left there and headed to a research center in Boston. He has done that because research dollars at Johns Hopkins were drying up and it was getting hard for him to do what he wanted to do.

I blame part of this on our commander in chief, I'll explain briefly. Back in March 2009, you may remember that he lifted the ban that President Bush had in place on stem cell research funding. That was great, many people had hope finally, stem cell research is the key, the possible answer to a cure to many diseases and disorders. There was some sunlight on our horizon.
8.2 Billion....(yes...Billion) dollars was to be going to researchers to advance stem cell studies to find cures for disorders such as mine. I know, you say, the Federal Government could spend that money in better places, possibly so but when you see a little three year old girl that has to breathe through a tube because she has TM, I want to see her cured so she can have a normal life. Honestly, I could care less about myself, I want to see her walk again and lead a normal active life, Not have to breathe through a plastic tube for the rest of her life.

Anyway, this was back in March. As of today the researchers haven't seen a dime of that money. Why? Our president say we can't afford to do it because of the war and the economy.
What was different back in March than it is now? The war was going on then and the economy was in sad shape then too. So he lifted the ban on funding and spoon fed all of us this false hope and then pulled the rug out from under our feet by not telling anyone that he had no plans on releasing any money anyway. A real pisser I'll tell ya...!!!

So, Dr. Kerr is changing positions to where he has access to better funding for his research. Good for him, he is devoted to our cause.

Second thing, I'm been kind of busy puttering with my carvings. I'm delving into a couple of other things besides the canes and the wood spirits too. I'm really getting enjoyment out of working with the wood. It has such a beautiful quality as you work it to a finish. I just love to see the grains of wood take shape as I carve the different shapes in the wood.
I found a local networking group online and they meet here locally once a month. I went to the meeting last night. I want to try and use this to possibly expand my carving business. I don't know if it will work but it's worth a try. There were 9 other people there and they seemed genuinely interested in the pictures I took of the carvings I've done.

Well, not much else I guess....other than old man winter is finally starting to settle in. About 4 or 5 inches of snow and colder than the dickens outside. My legs are reminding me of this every single day. I am getting now to where I really don't like winter at all. I love watching the snow fall, it is pretty to watch but I'm even getting to dread taking Sophie out for her nightly walk. In the summer it's not that hard for me to do because my legs don't ache and aren't painful but now within just a minute or two of being outside and it is a chore to even go a few steps. I can't penalize the dog either, she loves going outside for her walk and it's always been something just her and I have done. I like taking her out and watching her take in all the scents of the wildlife and everything.
Frustrating...............................

A little music to end with.....
Something by The Hollies


Till Next Time......