The media have a tendency, almost a commandment, to work to the bitter end, any story with an emotional component that can be milked dry. I am referring, of course, to the tragedy in Connecticut. This morning they showed photos of the children – all incredibly touching and endearing and I cried and Ed also was deeply affected. We can honor those who died and we can fight to change the laws to help prevent such tragedies. We can’t do more, so that is where our efforts must go. Wallowing in this will not help.

Meanwhile, anyone who dares suggest in my presence that the devastated families are finding solace in God, should get out of my way, lest they would like a night in the emergency room.

The shooter’s mother, according to reports, bought the automatic weapons that aided in this deed. I don’t know if the son, using her name, bought them, or if she, indeed, was personally responsible. I do know that no one needs automatic weapons to defend themselves in their home. And I learned today that the son shot her in her sleep before going on to the school.

I think that all automatic weapons ought to be banned for civilian purchase. My b.i.l. yesterday pontificated on the fact that the evil doers can always obtain guns and the good people would be defenseless if they could not. I don’t believe him. In New York City, Mayor Bloomberg said on TV yesterday, very strict gun laws are in effect and the murder rate has dropped every year for the last 8. I let b.i.l. run on because he can be exceedingly unpleasant when disagreed with. He has been benign with me during the last year or so, and is easier to deal with now. I didn’t want to start up another set-to with him, so I just nodded sagely and found a way to leave because his lectures are incredibly tedious in addition to being faulty and misguided.

On other matters, my sister fell in her house – she may have had a fainting spell. She has a heart condition. Don was in the kitchen and heard a thud. She was bleeding a lot from a broken nose and a gash in her forehead. He was about to start CPR when she came to. He had called 911 and they took her to the hospital. Once awake, she was alert – a good thing. I saw her there later that day, and she came home the next day. Her face is black and blue but she will be okay.

Personally I am having periods of energy and used one such to revive the kitty pans and it took two hours to do the pans and clean the area they sit in. Then my energy level drops off a cliff and I am out of things. I went on line and bought a new mat that will, presumably, contain the kitty litter from spreading to the rest of the house. Hey, I can dream.

I have a cleaning lady, highly recommended coming tomorrow, Tuesday. I must use her only for things I find very tiring, like the floors and I will ask her to help me change the bed. It’s a king and takes effort.

Ed missed ordering his antidepressant medication – and after about a week without it, morphed into Genghis Khan. We jumped through hoops to get some pills from the local pharmacy. The insurance wouldn’t pay for it because he had already ordered some from the mail order. Finally they said okay, 15 pills for $8 – yeah we can handle that. Then they didn’t have them but said a shipment was due later that day. Then it took them a half hour to put together while I shopped and Ed waited in the car in the lot, reading another book about a war of some kind. Compounding the frustration of the pills, the mail order package was waiting for us in the entryway when we got back from Publix.

Ed is returning to a recognizable human being. I am still fighting back spasms. I finally saw my massage therapist and am thinking of asking her to move in with us. I don’t’ think she’ll do it.

xx, Teal.