... on election day?

There are those of you out there who still think the idea of bringing our troops home from Iraq now would be a sign of surrender. Think for a moment about that stance and what John McCain has told us. He has said that he would "Freeze spending" except for our defense budget. This paves the way for a justifiable excuse to leave Education, Healthcare, and the revitalization of our Government grossly underfunded. The way it is now.

If we remain an America behind other countries in these areas, then really... what kind of Country are we supposedly fighting to protect from the terrorists?

I don't claim Obama to be the next coming of Christ. He won't bring immediate opening of the clouds or make the White House lawn green from dead. Anyone who thinks the damage done by W. isn't going to take time with rolled up sleeves, think again. The question simply is, who is the one best to do it?

Obama's plans for America are bold, from Iraq to Healthcare to the economy and down to energy dependance. It's being scoffed at due to the financial hole the Government's coffers are in. But people have forgotten that he has explained to us, during his acceptance speech at the DNC, how he would do it. Closing "Corporate loopholes and Tax havens..." and going through programs to eliminate the ones that don't work.

During that speech, he also said something that startled me.

"Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility, that's the essence of America's promise."

Never, in my lifetime have I heard a Presidential candidate tell me that we all need to work WITH him to get the job done. They all tell us, essentially, that simply electing them would make it all better and that's that.

It's also not lost on me that the election of Obama would also be monumental in an advancement of African Americans. I heard a story on NPR recently that moved me more than I can explain. A young, black man who had never voted and had no intention of doing so, decided to vote early this week when he got a text message from his grandmother. The message was this...

"Rosa sat.... so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama runs, so our children can FLY."

The poise and composure of the Senator from Ilinois is what the Country needs now. The idea of bullying and rattling sabers to get other Countries to back down and recognize us as the AMERICAN SUPERPOWER hasn't worked for quite some time. It's time to move us out of neutral and back into drive, but it can't be done based on the confidence in others.

Vote early. Vote now. The truth about voter fraud is that it's mainly based on disenfranchising voters at the polls. Don't let the long lines sway you. Don't let the mythical threat of being arrested for unpaid parking tickets at the polls keep you away. Grab your friends, neighbors, show up in droves and leave knowing you were a part of History.

Need help finding your local polling location? Need help getting to the polls? Just ask.. I'll help you!

Love,

Melizza

Quick update, as I'm getting ready for my first day back at work, but didn't wanna leave you all wondering. Testing revealed that I do not have Chron's disease. Doc took several biopsies and will notify me if there is anything significant there. In the meantime, I'm to follow a low residue diet (no nuts, corn or raw veggies) and return for a follow up in 6 weeks.

As for Garrett, he is utterly in love with Melissa, and I know he's gonna be so sad when she goes back home. I did withdraw him from public school and have begun home schooling. I also have an appointment tomorrow to meet with a nice lady that watches some younger kids during the day. I think it will be perfect for Garrett because he loves little ones, especially if he gets to read to them.

Okay, gotta get goin.. More later!

Okay.. Let me tell you what's going on. First, nobody panic because I am absolutely fine, okay? Okay.

This past Monday morning I woke with severe abdominal pain and spent the entire day involuntarily purging Sunday's dinner via oral defecation. Some of you already know that this is not an unusual occurrence in my life as it happens once every few months.

Seven years ago, doctors in Smalltown, Nowhere, USA, after a year of testing and by process of elimination, diagnosed it as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). I've lived with it since, with most attacks resulting in dehydration and, eventually, hospitalization.

So.. The attack continued throughout the night and all of Tuesday. Tuesday night I asked Mike to take me to the ER. I was admitted and blood drawn, CAT scan blah blah yadi yadi. The doctor says that the white blood cell count elevation is never a symptom of IBS and believes I have Chron's Disease. The gastroenterologist needs to perform a colonoscopy to confirm, but cannot do so as long as I'm in pain, each day hoping the attack has ended by morning so that the test can be scheduled. The attack continued until Friday morning at which point the doctor decided to schedule the test for Monday and would allow me to come home for the weekend.

Now, Thursday morning, while I'm lying in the hospital bed in uncompromising pain, I get a phone call from Garrett's school. I can't go into great detail here because there are certain people who should not have related information. The school is already aware that I'm in the hospital because I called to authorize Mike in case of emergency. The school has previously insisted that Garrett be medicated and I have perpetually refused to comply and his doctor has agreed with me. Since I'm in the hospital and the school foolishly believes that I won't be able to do anything to stop it, they call a local mobile crisis unit to transport him to a psychiatric hospital for emergency inpatient diagnosis and treatment. Long story short, that did NOT fly and I made the hospital release Garrett to Mike.

Obviously, there's no way in hell I'm sending my baby back to that school, so I've decided to home school him for the time being. I have noone in New York to keep him while I work and the doctor has said I should be able to return to work on Wednesday. Here starts the nationwide networking. I called my mom, who called my stepdad who started searching flights. I called Melissa, who you know as Wiccy, and asked her to be my right hand for the following week, helping me set up daycare and home schooling. She agreed without hesitation. I love her, don't you? So, my mom and stepdad in Texas paid for the roundtrip flight from Kansas City to Albany and back a week later for Melissa. Don't ya love my mom and stepdad, too? Yeah, I know you do.

So, it's now Saturday night. I will go Monday morning for the testing. Melissa will be here Tuesday. I still have to make arrangements for someone to keep Garrett while I go for the test on Monday, but that's manageable. I am so richly blessed with a country scattered with people who love us. I know there are people I can call on at any time who will drop everything to rush to my side because they know I'd do it for them, if I haven't already.

Now, understand that Melissa will be away from home and family (well, I'm family, too, but it's not the same) on Easter to help me. She is so amazing. Thank you Melissa, for stepping up at the drop of a hat, and thanks Mom and Jeff for making it possible.

I'll let you all know the outcome after the testing. Again, I'm fine, and I will stay that way.