Who could be so Cruel?

     I had a fake argument with a loved one today.  The question on our minds was this........who would be cruel enough to invent dentistry?  I stated it must be the Nazi's during world war II,  as some form of torture.  They stated that it must have been the french cause look at Frances past history.  You know me, once a question is presented I am forced to find an answer and had to do a bit of research on the subject.  So.....who was cruel enough to invent dentistry??????

A HISTORY OF MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS

Germany : Though research on this subject will lead you to a dozens of horrible stories. During WWII Medical experimentation was common practice, mainly on prisoners. Because most medical experiments resulted in death, dismemberment or permanent disability it is considered a prime example of medical torture, not to mention permission was never given by the patient. (look up doctors such as Eduard wirths, who exposed prisons to hazardous material in order to gain more education on military warfare or Carl Vaernet who experimented on homosexual prisoners in the hopes of "curing" homosexuality, Joseph Mengele who experimented on twin children)

After the war these doctors were tried in what would become known as The Doctors Trial (imaginative)and the populations revulsion at what took place lead to the development of Neremberg Code of medical ethics.

As awful as these experiments were Dentistry was around long before WWII and the Natzi's are not to blame

France: 1859 syphilis experiments in which they injected unknowing people with the disease in the hopes of studying it. In a concentration camp in France they took prisoners who survived the gas chamber in order to study the wounds left on them from the new gas being used.  According to the Doctor Trials these prisoners were German criminals who were sent to the concentration camp after being convicted of a crime. Experiments in sterilization.

United States : I know I know I can already see the eye rolls, don't worry i'm not picking on anyone, just talking about history, i'll talk about experiments from other countries too just keep reading........

The Monster Study, 1939, Professor Wendall Johnson and Mary Tudor,an undergrad student at University of Iowa.  They decide to study 22 orphan children.  They took half of them and gave them positive speech therapy and negative speech therapy to the other half, belittling this half for every speech imperfection and telling them they were stutters.  The result?  Most of the children in the second group suffered long term physiological effects and actually became stutters which stayed with them for their life.

Project Multra - CIA conducting research on mind control and giving out LSD to employees,mentally ill patients, and random citizens just to name a few! Took place in the 60's and was given without consent or knowledge that LSD and other drugs were being given.

Ok yup......these are pretty bad.....but not bad enough for dentistry

Canada:  Even got to put my home country in there, and this subject is a little close to my heart since my grandfather suffered greatly because of this testing.
With the permission of the Canadian government the US military tested Agent Orange in the forest near Georgetown, New Brunswick. Military personal on the base at that time were told there would be no harmful effects.  Long term effects included cancer, nerve, digestive,skin and respiratory disorders, miscarriages, still births.  Sorry that's all I'm talking about that.  Despicable! but still not even close to a dentist.

Africa - Army forced Homosexual soldiers to under go sex change operations in the 1970's and 1980's as well as chemical castration,  electrical shock and numerous other medical experiments.  No exact number is known but an African medical surgeon estimated that over 900 sexual reassignment operations were forced between 1971 and 1989 at military hospitals as a secret operation to "force out homosexuality" from the military

Ready for the shocker...................

Dr Levin who ran this study is now clinical Professor in the department of psychiatry at the university of Calgary's Medical School, and runs a private practice in Alberta!

Horrid Africa and Canada, but dentists you are not!

Soviets:  The chamber.  A poison research facility of secret police agencies.  They tested a number of poisons on prisoners, with their goal being to find an orderless, tasteless, poison that would not be detected post mortem. 

scary.....cruel for certain and twisted as hell....but not as evil as dentistry

Japan: 1937-1945 (really people what is it about this time in history that inspired so much cruelty?)

Unit 731 was a biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Second Sino-Japanese war and WWII, and holds the title of being responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes carried out by Japanese personal.

Crimes included..and these make me too sickened to go into detail so look it up yourself...vivisection , including woman who were impregnated by the doctors themselves (give you a hint vivi means "alive" in Latin and sectio means "cutting"......yup just threw up in my mouth a little).Amputations that were resewn to other parts of the body.  Living test subjects for grenades and flame throwers, Prisoners were injected with diseases to watch the effect over time, female and male prisoners where infected with STDS purposely through rape and left untreated to see the effect.

ok so this one takes the cake and I am pretty certain I would bet the bank that the Japanese were cruel enough to invent dentistry......but I would be guessing wrong

AND THE ANSWER IS.............

No one really knows.  There has been evidence of "dentistry" dating as far back as 7000 BC, and that dental surgery was the first specialization from  medicine. (gotta admit that's kind of cool). They even speak of bow drills back then, and the earliest dental filling was beeswax!  Some of the earliest documentation dates back to Slovania but there is also Sumerian text that speaks of a tooth worm causing decay of the teeth.
 Now please note this everyone that is afraid of the dentist as I am or just plain doesn't like them....18th century writing, The Code of Hammurabi.  referenced tooth extraction as a form of punishment...told you they were evil.
    Ancient Egyptians and greko-Roman remains even show evidence of dental work! Aristotle even wrote about dentistry and the decay of teeth, gum disease, and extracting teeth with forceps.  Over all extraction of teeth was used to treat many ailments through out history, the ancient Egyptians even had a god called Hesi-Ra, The Dentist. So.......as awful as the sound of the drill is, the pounding that comes afterwards as your teeth throb, and those God awful little knife they use to "clean" your teeth, it seems the dentist isn't as awful as I thought!  Trust me when I tell you for me, that's saying something.

The stuff of horror movies if you ask me!

Day in the Life

     Last night was the perfect night!  My husband was away on an all boys weekend,and my son decided, since I allowed him to sleep in "the big bed" that he would go to bed early and watch a movie.  By 9 pm the house was spotless, laundry done, bathroom cleaned, toys picked up, and dead quiet..............I felt like I was in heaven.

     I settled down on the sofa, crochet in hand, and cartoons still playing on the t.v, when it occurred to me.........I HAD THE REMOTE!!!!!   I could watch whatever I wanted!!!!!!  No little man screaming for one more episode of Sponge Bob, no husband making me watch some show about building structures, the t.v was MINE.  I instantly switched to the movie channel, found a list of heart gripping dramas and settled down to spend my evening  (I even had the popcorn bag to myself.......talk about heaven!!))

     After the second drama I locked up the house, took one last look of pride and the shinning floors and headed to bed..................................i should have realized it was the calm before the storm!

     I woke at 7:30 am to little feet sporadically slamming into the bed and occasionally hitting into my chest followed by a fit of giggles "smell my feet mom" my son called.  I chose to ignore his request and keep my eyes close, hoping he would take the hint and doze back into sleep himself..............about 5 mins later my eyes shot open as a little finger rammed its way up my left nostril.  Really what rational human being wakes someone but sticking a finger up their nose.  After explaining how this isn't proper behavior to do to ones mother......or ANYONE for that fact, we headed off to make breakfast.

      8:30 am I have heard the word "MoooooMMMMMMMMMMMM"  about 80 times.  Anyone who has kids knows this sound.  It's high pitched, long, whinny sound.  Its a sound that if heard to often makes you contemplate changing your name and moving to China.  I still haven't gotten my first cup of coffee into me and I'm on my second round of breakfast making , the dog decided to steal the first which led to much screaming from the little man that left  my head and ears ringing.

      9:30 we are enjoying the outside, sitting on the patio playing Lego as I drink a cup of coffee.  The sun is shinning, the birds are singing, my day seems to be acquiring more of the peace it had last night.  I reach for my coffee to take a sip and hear screaming.  My elbow has knocked over Lord Business  (to know who this is see the Lego movie 20 times as I have........every thing is NOT assume Emmett)  sending him into a pile of scattered pieces with a few slipping between the small cracks in the deck.  10 min later I'm piling the pieces together and crawling my butt under the deck (anyone ever do a belly crawl over crushed gravel in their p.j's?  Take my word for it ......not fun) to grab the 2 tiny pieces that have fallen below.  While under there I see a HUGE beetle (not the cute singing kind but great big. crunchy wings and beady eye kind) and scream like I'm being attacked.  I do a mad scramble out from the deck, smacking my head on one of the beams and the belly crawl backwards has lifted my shirt and resulted in a million tiny scratches along my stomach. I scramble to get  Lord Business  in one piece and because my Son's  God brother has decided to come out hes sitting unplayed with on the patio table.................I hate Lego this morning.

     10am i'm considering going into the house to complete the list of "extras" I wanted to get done.  My husband picks this time to call me............the conversation went something like this.

Me:  "hows the trip?"
Him: "i got a sunburn"
Me: "how do you get a sunburn with SPF 60?"
Him: "I didn't take it"

Note to self:  husband will be complaining about sunburn tonight because hes too stubborn to put on sunblock, needless to say hes electing no sympathy from me

     Now by this time my son has played in the sun and hes beginning to feel a little worn.  Perfect time for an indoor quiet activity and for me to get my second cup of coffee.........NOT!!
My Dad and Brother show up!  Now these are two of the most important men in my life, they are loving, kind, protective.........and for some reason they turn into complete idiots around my son.  After a rousing game of who can tease whom more.........D is more hyper then ever and Dad and my brother have chosen now to leave.  I'm secretly cursing them under my breath.

     12pm.........LUNCH!  I'm drinking my second cup of coffee half listening to my son explain to me why gummies and Oreos is a suitable lunch option.  When I again inform him of the healthy options available to him,  he informs me that i'm the meanest mother on the whole entire planet.  Man this second cup of coffee is good.

     1pm......Finally I have D in his bed room and we're going through his toys.  I informed him that if we got rid of some old toys that he doesn't play with at the yard sale next weekend then he can keep the money, save half , and use the other half to buy some legos.  Hes pumped and starts off this adventure by acting maturely and sorting the toys into piles of keepers and sellers..........by God this just might work!

     2pm.....EVERYTHING IS STAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Nothing can be parted with except the cars with eyes, cause they freak him out.  Really child?????  You have these alien things from star wars spread across your room but its the Disney Car toys that freak you out????  I so don't understand little boys I guess.

     3pm....All I've managed to do is get Darrell to help spread toys from one end of his room to the other.......but hes playing.......hes happy........that's something right?  I give up on my goals and sit down to play........I get the stupid cars with the eyes!

     3:30...Husband is home and guess what, hes complaining about the sunburn!  Its a doozey too!  After applying Aloe-Vera he heads outside with our son to wash the car......did i mention the husband is  not wearing a shirt or sunblock? I'll leave my thoughts on this to myself.......it includes some words not appropriate for public reading!

    4pm........Its quiet in the house, im picking up the chaos created by my husband arriving home when i'm suddenly surprised by the panic alarm going off on the truck.  I jump and bang the same darn spot I hit this morning under the patio on the cupboard door that was left open.  Thank God D isn't in the house cause I said some words i don't want him repeating.

     5pm.....the familiar call of supper time begins

 "moooooooooommmmmmmmmm, I'm starving"
"5 mins Darrell honey"
"but mmoooooooommmmmmmmm i'm really hungery"
"5 mins my love"
"I'm gonna starve to death give it to me now mom"
"but Darrell its hot"
"but mmmmmmmmmoooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmm"
"ok Darrell but its hot"

give him his super, he takes one bite and spits it out  "This is too hot mom".  Why doesn't anyone in this house listen to me?


     6pm......... Does it make me a bad mother if i'm secretively counting down the mins to bed time?

     7pm......Bath, i get completely soaked, why doesn't splashing in the water ever stop being fun for the kid in the tub?  I politely ask him to stop to which he responds that I needed it.  "need it?" I ask.  He points out that i'm still in my p.j's and there for haven't showered this morning........shit hes right.......how the hell did that happen?

     7:30pm......cuddled in bed reading from Captain Underpants.   He leans in and places his head against my chest and I can smell the shampoo smell in his beautiful blonde hair. He  says sleepily "I love you momma" I can't quiet remember what had me so frustrated today.

     8:15pm.....little man is sleeping and i'm completely exhausted "I'm heading to bed" I tell my husband sitting on the sofa with remote in hand.  "what are you so tired out from?" he asks teasingly "you got to spend the whole day at home"  I'd strangle him if I had the energy..........but I don't.........thank God for small blessings


I have been called a lot of things in my life. Daughter, sister, friend, lover, girlfriend, wife, but the greatest of any title I've ever had is Mother....................lol, even on days like this.
   

What were you Wearing?

     I had a man make an advance at me today.  As foolish as it sounds to actually write it, this gentlemen thought it within his rights to offer to have an affair with me.  I have never encouraged nor stated I desired an "affair" with this person, and politely refused the offer.  Its nice to know the opposite sex still finds me attractive, and it can be flattering to be flirted with, but something even more interesting came of all this.

     I told someone of this persons advances and instead of saying "did you tell them where to go" or "did you inform them you are married" what I got was "well what were you wearing?"

     Here is what I told them.

a.  I told need to dress seductively to have someone find my personality or my physical appearance attractive.  I don't need to show skin or as some say "flaunt what I was given" to turn an eye.  I by no means think i am the most beautiful woman in the world but I do think my physical appeal isn't just based on low cut tops.

b.  A woman should be able to wear what every she wants when ever she wants without fear of unwanted or un-respectful advances.

c.  When you ask a woman what she was wearing it takes the blame and puts it on the victim instead of the person doing the victimizing..........how fucked up is that???????

d.  Any woman who feels victimized should be able to talk to her friends, family, spouse about it without fearing the blame is going to be placed on them by being asked "well what were you wearing"


Now for the record..............

a.  I was wearing a t-shirt and jeans
b.  I did tell him a firm NO
c.  I did inform him i was married
d. and he left it at that without making me feel guilty for what I was wearing!


   

I'm not laughing

     You ever have someone make a joke and have it hit a little to close to home?  Or make a comment on a day you are feeling vulnerable?  In our society we find it "amusing" to make sarcastic replies back and forth to each other, insult each other, brow beat each other for the sake of amusement. 

 If we are brave enough to voice how we feel or the fact that we find the comment un-amusing, we are often thought of as having no sense of humor, too sensitive, or just being bitchy.

Humor is defined as the quality of being amusing or comic.  In other words if the person you are insulting isn't laughing....your not being funny!  The definition of a joke is defined as something someone said to cause amusement or laughter.

Lets look up some more definitions shall we?.................

Rude: Offensively impolite, ill-mannered, roughly made or done, lacking subtlety or sophistication.

Insult: to speak or treat another with disrespect or scorn, abuse, a disrespectful or verbally abusive remark or action. 

Sarcasm: The use of irony to mock or convey contempt 

Irony: The expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

1. Verbal abuse is the most common way to attempt to control the behavior, thoughts, and feelings of another human being.

Whats that you say?  More definitions, why certainly..........................

Sensitive: having or displaying a quick and delicate appreciation of others feelings


Bitchy: malicious or unpleasant

Self esteem: Confidence in ones own worth or abilities


Ok folks so lets sum this up, by their proper definitions there really isn't such thing as a playful 

insult, The use of Sarcasm and rudeness really speak volumes for your own bitchiness then it 

does for my own.  Maybe instead of wasting your time looking at how to insult the person 

beside you for your own malice amusement you should purchase a dictonary and begin looking 

 up the meanings of some of the words your using before saying them.  Maybe.....just maybe 

the listener isn't sensitive.....maybe they are insulted because there self esteem is too high to 

listen to the remarks coming from your mouth.......or maybe you are just verbally abusive and 

take pleasure in hurting the self esteem of others.




One more definition for the road shall we?



Ignorant:  lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular, 

discourteous or rude.

Hes choking!

     The sun has set and any moment now the fireworks are going to light the sky.  I know Darrell is excited and I feel myself filling with anticipation and child like wonder as we wait.  Darrell who is 6 is bouncing on his fathers knee eating cookies and I'm getting the camera ready hoping to snap a photo when the sky first lights of Darrell's little face.  Suddenly I see my husband jump up slightly and reach out to grab our son as he makes a mad dash into the crowd.  He turns our 6 year old around to ask whats wrong (Darrell has a nasty habbit of running off to hide when hes hurt himself).  That's when I saw his face, the brightness of it as he attempted to gasp for breath, one of his little hands reach up to grasp his throat as the other attempts to dislodge whatever is blocking him from breathing.

"hes not breathing" i screamed.  Those moments of silence from my son, no gasp, no cough, just silence will remain the scariest sound i've never heard.  I'd love to tell you I reacted, that I grabbed him and dislodged the piece of cookie stuck in his throat, but instead I sat there and watched as my whole world seemed to crumble.  I don't know how it is for other mothers but my life has only seemed to start the day my son was laid in my arms and now here it was showing me how fragile that world is.

Two men reacted quickly, one grabbing Darrell and quickly preforming the heimlich while the other assisted.  I grabbed my son and scooped him into my arms as he began to cough up cookie.  One man faded into the crowd like it wasn't a big deal at all, never even stopping for me to give him thanks and the other embarrassingly brushed off our gratitude and rejoined his family for the show.  Darrell, ever the trooper watched the fireworks with glee as I cried, held him, and watched him in awe.  A simple moment, 2 men acting on their training and instincts, and my world was forever changed.  If anyone reading knows these men my thanks is simply not enough, you saved my world.


Note to the reader:  Darrell is fine, no bruising from the heimlich, no tenderness in his throat and hes forgotten the whole thing, He has sworn off that brand of cookie tho, lol.   I on the other hand continue to have nightmares.

Dinner Table conversation

Dinner table conversation between me and my six year old

Me:  "Darrell how on earth did you get so cute?"

Darrell:  "You, Daddy and God made me this way"

Me: "oh?  and what part did I make?"

Darrell: "you made my heart Momma"

Me:  "how do you know I made your heart?"

Darrell:  "cause your loving and kind"  thinks for a moment and says to his father who hasn't said a word or done anything besides eat through all this "and you made my penis and my butt"

Wonder if he meant to imply his father is a dick and an ass....................

Country in the City

I live in a world of landscaped yards.  To anyone who knows me you'll find the thought laughable.  I've never been known as one to color within the lines, heck I was never the girl coloring the picture I was too busy drawing it out for myself!  Yet here I am, surrounded by Martha Stewart landscapes wondering If I should attempt to fit in with the Jones's or should I dare to color my yard in the millions of different colors that swim around in my head.

To me there are two ways to truly know summer is here, the beach and gardening season.  There is something......godlike, about taking a little seed and nurturing it till it grows. The smell of the rose, its color becomes somehow sweeter when its grown at the determined hand of a loving gardener.

The usual fills my patio all in bloom, wave petunias, geraniums in their stunning red....but my yard needed something.......more to it this year then what was being seen in every other yard on this block.  Now take my stubborn nature, add this recent health food kick and one country girl living in the city and what do you come up with??????


Take a look and see:

 Above: Getting the box garden set up

 Window boxes full of fresh herbs (sage, basil)

 growing in the little garden:  Tomatoes (my favorite), pumpkin plant (Darrell insisted), peas, cucumber, peppers, carrots, lettuce, celery, watermelon, honeydew melon

 Darrell picked out all the flowers for the planters this year, guess he was feeling overly Canadian since I ended up with half a dozen planters of red and white flowers.

 First blooms on my roses (been growing numerous roses throughout my yard for years, this one plant was bought the year before moving into the house)