Going Dark January 18, 2012 to protest SOPA

I am setting my blog to go dark to show my support in the anti-SOPA and anti-PIPA movement.

I will also be contacting my legislative representatives to have my opinion heard regarding these issues.

My blog will be back up Thursday, January 19,2012.

I'm sure both my readers (Hi Mommy! Hi Sissy!) will live without my un-updated blog until then.

Should anyone happen to stumble upon my blog and wonder how I did this easily, see this site ---> http://torbit.com/blog/2012/01/15/stop-sopa-js/.

They have a javascript plugin that you just copy and paste. They even provide simple instructions for its use. It is set to automatically activate and deactivate, so it will only appear on your blog for one day.

Some websites to refer to:
Sites Going Dark to Protest SOPA/PIPA
SOPAStrike.com
Why SOPA is Dangerous (Opinion Piece)
A Different List of Companies and Sites Going Black
Another Site Explaining Why So Many Are Going Dark
Just Because Obama Says He Won't Support SOPA Does NOT Mean it Won't Go Forward in Legislature - and PIPA Will, Too.
Yet Another List of Those Going Dark

I have included so many different lists of companies and sites who have said they are going dark simply because each one is a little different, in terms of the sites listed. It is important to remember Google, Facebook, Twitter, and several others have said they will not go completely dark, or will only run some type of banner or graphic on their pages displaying their support of the anti-SOPA/PIPA movement (referred to by some as Occupy SOPA).


One more thing. I am doing a simple copy-and-paste of this post to put on my other blog, which has the same readers as this one (Hi, again, Mommy and Sissy!).

It's not much, but if every blogger opposed to these bills would do this, the impact would be heard across the nation. If you DO NOT want SOPA and PIPA to pass through legislature, please consider tweeting with the hashtag #SOPA, making all your sites (blogs, webpages, etc) dark for 24 hours, and letting your Congressmen and Senators know you will not support this bill, and they will lose your vote if they support it.

If we don't all take a stand together on this, we will only gain more government censorship. That is never a good thing.

Comment Moderation has been activated

I hate to do it, but I don't really blog anymore, and it's really annoying to visit my blogs to delete spam comments. All comments are now moderated. Hopefully in the future I can change it back to unmoderated. Probably when I start blogging again. One day, right??? :)

Update on Granddaddy's status

This isn't really much of an update. I just wanted to say that we went to visit him last night. It was a rush to get there. I got home at 7pm, fed Mikey his cereal, and strapped him in his carseat. We were at the hospital at 7:40. Mikey was  VERY upset with us when we got there. He cried all the way to the hospital. He knew it was almost bed time, and he couldn't fathom any reason for us to be going anywhere right before bed time. He was fine once we got there.

It was a surprise to Granddaddy. He didn't know we were coming. I think seeing his great-grandson really made his day. He talked to him a little while. I was disappointed because I had meant to take my camera to get pics of him with Mikey, just in case..... I thought my camera was in the car, but Michael couldn't find it. :( 

I didn't get much information out of him regarding hid diagnosis or test results. He has three kidney stones, two in one kidney and one in the other. He has an enlarged prostate, which has a "spot" on it, but not sure if it's cancer or not. He has a "spot" on his spine, again, not sure if it's cancer. He has an ulcer on his foot from the last time he fell. The bruise got so bad it's now ulcered. He hurts from his lower abdomen down through his legs. He can barely walk across his hospital room and back (with help).

He has had x-rays, scans, a bone scan, I don't know what all.... They want him to go to the nursing home for in-patient physical therapy for a few weeks. Last night he told me he was going to the one on West Hobbs Street, but today Michael told me he was going to the one across from the hospital. I hope not. I guess we'll see.

Then he told me that they had made new wills a few years ago. Not sure what they say. I told him I didn't care what they said. My exact words were,

"I've had 26 really good years with the two of you. I'd love 26 more, but if either of you are going to have to suffer for me to get them, then I'd rather just keep the memories I have and let that be enough. I'd rather you not suffer any more than you have to. I don't care about the house or money or car or any of that. Just the memories I have. That's what's really going to last, anyway."

Then he almost made me cry. He said what I had been hoping I wouldn't hear from him.

He said, "I'm just ready to go home to the Lord. I'm ready to be with my Momma and Daddy and son."

And Michael and I realized that he was crying. And it ripped our hearts out. That's the first time Michael has seen him cry. It's only the third time I've seen it. Once when Granny Kyle died, once when Daddy died, and once last night. I think he's dying. I think last night he was telling us goodbye, just in case......

I'm not ready for any of them to leave me. I just had my son. I want him to remember them when he gets older. I want him to have more than pictures and stories from us. I want him to have his own memories of these four great people, these people I love so much. I remember Granny Kyle a little. I used to go visit her with Granny when I was little. When she lived on Hine Street, in that little-bitty house. Before she went to the nursing home. I wish I had known then what I know now. Back then I was just bored while we visited. Now I could sit and listen to her talk for hours, telling stories about her growing up and how it was back in the good old days of her youth. I want that for my children. It just doesn't look like I'll get my wish.

Truthfully, I wish they could stick around for another 26 years for my son. Without pain, and illness, and everything else they're going through.

It seems like every time something good happens to me the last few years, someone dies. We got married, Memaw died. We had mikey, and now I really do believe Granddaddy is going to die. Very soon. Why can't something good happen to me without someone dying? Just once?

Now I'll be satisfied if I get to have all four of them for my son's first Christmas. I hope they all make it until then.

Meanwhile, I still haven't talked to Belle, and she (as of last night) still hasn't been to see Granddaddy. Too wrapped up in herself, I guess.

And now, for my 90th post, I bring you bad news....

I called Michael from work today after lunch. Guess what he told me.... Come on, just guess....

Granddaddy is in the hospital and has been since an ambulance picked him up Saturday. Granny said they think he might have prostate cancer, along with whatever else they find when they get all the test results back. Great.

The best part? My sister DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO TELL ME!!! Mike told Michael today.

I could have visited him yesterday, while I was off work. Instead, I get to leave work at 7pm tonight, go home, get my husband and son, drive to the hospital, get there around bedtime, visit for 10 or 20 minutes, then drive home. Then we all get to go to bed late (mostly my child, who likes his 8pm bedtime and will protest VERY LOUDLY if he is late about getting to bed).

Thanks heaps, Sissy.

I love you, no matter what. I just wish you had told me.

O...M...G... (it's the flu!)

Cue lame '70s horror flick music.

Chris spent all weekend at our house, per the usual. Yesterday, as I'm getting ready to go to work, Cindy and Eric come over to cook dinner for Michael and take Chris home. She kissed him on the head and he felt like he was burning up with fever. We checked, and it was 100.2. The we checked the baby, who felt fine 30 minutes before but was by then feeling warm, and he had a fever. Then we checked Aaron, who mentioned he didn't feel well. Guess what? He had a fever.

So I called work and told them I wouldn't be coming last night. We ate and they took Chris home. He went to the doctor today. Type A influenza. Great. Oh, goody. So I called work and they told me to stay home and not risk getting all my co-workers sick. So I'm on family sick leave tonight, too.

We have to take our little man to the pedatrician tomorrow afternoon. If he gets a high fever, we'll go to the ER. Aaron has an appointment at 3:00. He's on his way there now.

I've already told Momma about the outbreak at my house. She was just here yesterday, but left bfore we discovered everyone was sick. Chris spent Friday afternoon at a friend's house, so we called them to let them know. The friend's mom is pregnant, so I felt she really needed to know to be on the lookout for symptoms.

Much joy here. Everyone stay away for the next week.

I don't feel so well, either. No fever so far. Just feel blah. Not sure if I'm projecting the kids being sick on myself, or maybe it's just me coming off night shift. Hopefully I'm not sick, too.

Now for a bit of sunshine peeking through the flu fog: my milk supply is a little better. I'm still seriously considering fenugreek, though. We'll see.

Update on BFF's dad

Barring any further complications or heart attacks, Ray is scheduled to have open heart surgery Friday. If something happens to him before then, they'll go in immediately. The heart attack he suffered seems to be a major one. It has damaged somewhat the front portion of his heart. The doctors in Huntsville told the family that if Athens hadn't stabilized him when they did, he wouldn't have made it to Huntsville.

Please continue with the thoughts and prayers. You can send your thoughts to her on Myspace. She's checking them, even if she can't update often.

Doing a Drive-By post-and-run.....

I'm at work, and have a job to do at 3:00, and have to go potty before then, so this will be quick.

I just got a call from Michael (at work, which he never does unless it's can't-wait-have-to-call-right-now emergency. Lori's dad had a heart attack sometime just a little while ago. Don't know exactly when, but they've sent him to Huntsville Hospital via MedFlight, so it doesn't sound really great to me. I haven't talked to her yet, so I don't know any real status.

Keep her in your thoughts. Let her know you're thinking about her. I'll call her in a bit, and check again tonight with her. Maybe we'll know more then.