Green Dust

Ah, yes. Spring. The time when pollen silently and stealthily oozes into existence, covering all surfaces in Eastern North Carolina with a fine powdery yellow-green dust. Insidious, pollen coats every surface--overnight black cars morph into chartreuse; sidewalks, fences, shrubs all become the color of lemon citrine, but without the lovely luster. My entry tile is coated, the downstairs carpet has a green cast, and my black T-shirt has turned a dingy yellow. Yes, I have been outside working all day long, tirelessly fighting a war against pollen and losing. It wasn't even a fair fight. An hour after I hosed down the patio, the pollen was so thick you couldn't even see the cement underneath. If this is what the pollen has done to the patio, I shudder to think what it is doing to my lungs.

Religion and Politics

Today I received the following email from my minister:

Dear Church,

Again I am forwarding a letter to you from Faithful America. This letter asks a serious question: What is the war (and I would add other social issues) doing to America's soul?

After reading the letter, follow your heart.

Peace,

David

Ending the war is a moral issue Dear David: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 This week the U.S. House is taking up a bill that, if passed, will call for a pullout of troops from Iraq by the fall of 2008. A lot of political wrangling and deal making have gone into this measure in an effort to get passage of a bill that already the President has promised to veto. All of this is unfortunate because every day the war is allowed to continue, more and more lives of soldiers and innocent civilians are lost. Lamenting this fact, last Friday at the Christian Witness for Peace at the Washington National Cathedral the Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, described our political logjam: “Congress...by its action or its lack of action, has proven to be totally morally inept to in intervene and too politically compromised to act with real conviction... More than ever America needs our moral witness." We people of faith and conscience must once again remind our elected leaders in Washington that as they seek political solutions, this war is simply immoral and that any action that delays its end for political reasons is simply not acceptable. Simply put, neither the White House nor Congress has begun to lead our nation in the way of peace to which the prophets and sages of the world have called us. Anything less than a total commitment to ending this war as quickly as possible amounts to complicity, and we seek your help in leading our leaders back to the high purpose of pursuing peace. We urge you to write to your representative today and remind him or her of the moral imperative to end this horrendous war. While we cannot argue one way or another as to the merits of this bill or that amendment, we can and do acknowledge that peace is too precious and life too dear to waste one more hour seeking anything less than a swift and complete end to this nightmare. Dr. Warnock last Friday warned that the wrong question is being asked. It is not about whether America will lose the war but rather whether "America may well lose its soul." It is up to us, people whose faith informs our values, to speak up and demand the best of our elected officials in this most trying of times. With blessings to you for all you do for peace, Vince Isner FaithfulAmerica.org Send a letter to the following decision maker(s): Your Congressperson Below is the sample letter: Subject: What you need to know as you decide about the war Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here], The war in Iraq must end. No matter what measures are before you, and no matter what the President threatens to do, I call upon you first to recognize and then to respond to the simple fact that we are engaged in an immoral war and that it must end swiftly. We are in danger of losing our national soul in the continued prosecution of this unjust war. Thus far neither Congress nor the White House has committed to lead our nation in the way of peace to which the prophets and sages of the world have called us. As you debate the options before you, I ask that above all you recognize your moral obligation to place peace above politics. Anything less than a total commitment to ending this war as quickly as possible amounts to complicity in war. I ask you to set aside political compromise and embrace the high purpose of pursuing peace. The moral imperative to end this horrendous war should far outweigh any political compromise. While I cannot argue one way or another as to the merits of this bill or that amendment, I can and do acknowledge that peace is too precious and life too dear to waste one more hour seeking anything less than a swift and complete end to this nightmare. Sincerely, David Griffin Take Action! Instructions: Click here to take action on this issue or choose the "Reply to Sender" option on your email program. Tell-A-Friend: Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. Tell-a-Friend! What's At Stake: Campaign Expiration Date: April 19, 2007 If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for FaithfulAmerica. This message was sent to griffjdav@earthlink.net. Visit your subscription management page to modify your email communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop ALL email from FaithfulAmerica, click to remove yourself from our lists (or reply via email with "remove or unsubscribe" in the subject line).

I thought a lot about this for quite a while. Then, a second email from my minister arrived indicating that the previous email must have struck a nerve with some members of the congregation:

The emails I am receiving are interesting. Some agree and others disagree.

Is this a moral or political view? Should we separate church and state? The Bible does not separate the political and religious. The crucifixion of Jesus was because Jesus confronted the political, domination system of Rome. Political has to do with the way the government carries out it's decisions. Moral has to do with right and wrong. I do not feel we can separate how we do something from the way it is right or wrong. A part of this is whether the ends justify the means. Yes, I know some of us differ on this also. The cost of war is more than money; it is about lives lost on both sides of the war. It is also about money in that money is diverted from social justice issues (poverty, health care, social security, etc) and placed in budget items for war. There are moral decisions here, at least in my mind. Marcus Borg writes of our perception of God and uses the term panentheism. (No, not pantheism.) Panentheism is that God is in everything, a part of everything, and cannot be separate from anything. God is!

If I knew how I would set up a blog for us to communicate. That is what healthy churches do. I would be interested if you think I should not send out anything that speaks of moral issues - economy, AIDS, Darfur, health care, war, homelessness, as well as how people are using religion for their material benefit. Or shall church news/information be only for what happens here in Winterville Christian Church?

Peace,

David

I began to mull this over in earnest. I came to the conclusion that we are a Christian church in a democracy. Whether or not I agree with someone else's thoughts and words, it is my responsibility to be informed; I need to look at all sides of an issue. When doing so, I always come back to considering how Jesus would view the situation, what Jesus would say in response. Why? Because my faith is firmly rooted in the teachings of Jesus. How could my faith be rooted in one thing and my moral code be rooted in something else?

During the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, every time I heard the issue of weapons of mass destruction discussed, I wanted to scream, "WHO HAS THE MOST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION? WHO IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT HAS USED NUCLEAR WEAPONS?" Why can WE have WMDs, but "THEY" can't? (In this case "they" can be any other country.)

Why is it so easy to see the sins of others while ignoring our own transgressions? Why shouldn't our moral code be tied to our religion? How can the USA always be right no matter what our sins? The number of American lives that have been lost in Iraq is a tragedy as are the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis who have died. Think if we Americans and our government were innocent, falsely accused and then invaded by a foreign power. Then our babies and grandmothers began to die in hordes as the bombs fell and the bullets flew. How would WE feel?

Does the USA have the right to bully other countries or to kill innocent victims? Do we have the right to say who can and cannot have nuclear power? No wonder most of Europe is disgusted with us.

Before this war began, I marched in a peace demonstration in Blacksburg. My humble sign said, "You reap what you sow." Think of what our harvest will be...then weep.

Keeping Busy

A Two-Day Job

Each year I am part of a team that is responsible for organizing a summer camp for gifted students. The camp is the culmination of our graduate students' four-course sequence in gifted education and provides them with a practicum experience. There are hundreds of details and it takes an entire year to get everything ready. In fact, the week after camp ends we begin planning for the next year. One of the biggest jobs is evaluating the units that our graduate students will teach during camp. The focus is on providing rigorous experiences for the gifted children, ones they will not have in the classroom. As part of the third course, our graduate students create the units. My colleagues and I spend two days going through each unit with a fine toothed comb. Each unit must be reviewed by two of us, but independently.

I know that our students put forth much effort in creating the units, so I believe I owe it to them to put forth much effort in the evaluation process. This is how I have spent my last two days. It is a monumental task and part of my job, so I am not complaining. However, I am glad this task is finished for this year!

Seder Meal

I am now heading up a committee at church and it is my duty to ensure that the Seder Meal comes off without a hitch. This is a learning process for me as I never have been responsible for purchasing, preparing, serving, and cleaning up for a large room full of people. There is a good reason why I am not a caterer! However, I do have a fine group of hard working people on my committee so I believe we can pull this off without a hitch. Here's the email I received from the minister:

Attached is an almost complete bulletin for the Seder Meal.

What is needed on each table: on Seder plate put roasted or boiled egg, parsley, charoset, horseradish, spring of parsley and small dish with salt water. In addition on each table:, dish for washing hands and hand towel, three pieces of Matzoh ( 6 x6) or whatever size is in the box, wrapped in white napkin, wine, grape juice, and ice water, white candle in candle holder and Spring flowers. The tables are to be covered in white tablet cloths.

Before the dinner several pieces of regular bread need to be hidden for the House Cleaning.

A possible charoset recipe:

1 cup of chopped apples (2-3 apples)

1 cup chopped almonds or pecans

1 tsp of cinnamon

1/4 tsp of ginger

1 tsp honey or to taste

grape juice to form a mortar texture

serves 8-10

We will need to get together to talk about menu. Something that could be a nice dessert touch would be a lamb cake with coconut. Anybody have a lamb cake pan?

Peace,

David

PS There may be a few additional small touches that I have forgotten to include.

So, that's what a Seder Meal is all about!

Justifying My Existence

I am not a procrastinator ... 99.9% of the time. However, I could not bring myself to tackle my Consolidated Annual Report--which is due tomorrow--until I returned from Spring Break. It took me about seven hours to complete it (basically all day), and I hated every moment of it. So, you may ask, why am I not proud to see in writing all that I accomplished in my job at ECU over the last year? For one thing, I am not ego driven, so having to "brag" about my accomplishments grates on my nerves. Then, the form is a bit confusing. Where do I put my work on the Editorial Board for Five Ponds Press? Does it go in Service or in Pedagogical Materials? I can make a case for either or both. The entire process is detailed and nitpicky. BUT! It is done! Hooray!! I do not have to do this for another year. That said, I have learned a good lesson. I need to work on this sucker almost every day so that next year it will be mostly done when it is time to work on it. This means I have to keep an electronic log of every collaborative session, every student I meet with, every word I write, every advisee I help to register, and so on. This will save me having to go back through my calendar day by day for the past year. Now, can I make myself do it? I hope so. So what would keep me from taking the painless route? Probably the same thing that kept me from fulfilling my promise to dispose of at least one thing I own every single time I bring in something new.

If it Can Happen in Bucolic Riner, Virginia, it Can Happen Anywhere

Riner, Virginia

The following is a lead story on cnn.com. Read it and weep.

RINER, Virginia (AP) -- Two teens were charged with conspiracy to commit murder after one of them allegedly took a gun to school and at least one discussed shooting the principal and others, authorities said.

The boys, ages 14 and 15, were taken into custody Friday, said Lt. Brian Wright of the Montgomery County sheriff's office.

He said another student told sheriff's Deputy Kirk Hendricks, Auburn Middle School's resource officer, that the boys had a gun. "He probably saved some lives," Wright said.

Officers found a .22-caliber revolver and an undisclosed amount of ammunition, but it was not clear who the gun belonged to or how the boy obtained it, Wright said. He would not say where the gun was found. No shots were fired.

"We take this seriously, and the fact that we found a gun and ammo means this wasn't just talk," Wright said.

According to a preliminary investigation, at least one of the boys talked about plans to shoot Hendricks, Principal Guylene Wood-Setzer and at least one student, Wright said. Authorities would not say why the three were allegedly targeted.

The boys' names were withheld because they are minors. The 15-year-old was also charged with taking a gun onto school property and possession of a firearm by someone under 18.

Wood-Setzer declined to comment.

The school has 291 students in grades six through eight.

Riner is in southwestern Virginia, about 30 miles southwest of Roanoke.

Renewal

I believe that coming to the mountains for these very few days have been better than any medicine that a doctor could have ordered. Ahhhhhhhhh.

Last night I went with Judy B. to Martha Ann Stallings' house to meet with my old book group, "Reading Between the Wines". It was so good to see all my old friends and to catch up with all the goings on. Barbara Erdyle was there as was Carol Kahler; both are school principals and good people. Rochelle was there, too. I can't put a last name for dear Rochelle as she does not have one. She went to court and had her name legally changed to Rochelle--no middle or last name--a la Cher or Madonna. I love these dear women. What a good time I had.

This morning I arose fairly early, got dressed and went out to attend to business. My first stop was ODB where I had a lovely cup of coffee and a cranberry muffin. As I sat sipping my coffee I perused a copy of today's Roanoke Times. I bought Brenda Wojo a loaf of Portuguese Sweet Bread and another of Lemon Poppyseed. When I still worked for MCPS, Brenda was our administrative assistant. At times I would bring her a loaf of bread and she always loved it--so much, in fact, that she'd immediately open the bread and treat herself to a slice. I also bought a jar of apple butter "handmade in a copper kettle in Troutville" for me and one for Terry and Stephen. After all, when my girls come to visit I have to make fried apple pies. Grocery store apple butter just doesn't do it. I also bought T & S a pound of Mountain Mud coffee, a dozen scones, and two loaves of bread, the same kind I bought for Brenda. When Terry and Stephen lived in Blacksburg, they loved ODB scones, so whenever I can I take them a dozen.

My next stop was the NBB where I had a bit of business to attend to. Then I traversed the "Michael Vick Highway" over to Christiansburg where I met with Sharon Zuckerwar (Sharon now has the position I had when I left MCPS) to discuss a project I am doing for Five Ponds Press. We had a good time talking about "old times" and chuckling about the Teaching American History grant that she submitted last evening. The TAA grant that I received is coming to an end and the group heading it up decided to go for another one. God bless Melissa Lisanti.

I arrived home and met Dottie for a trip to Roanoke. It was just like old times. Dottie drove into Roanoke via Rt. 11, her preferred route. First we went to Crystal Spring to Martinique where Dottie purchased a gift for her ailing brother-in-law. We then headed over to The Forum where we wandered around the shops. The snotty woman in E. I. Randall got on my last nerve and that is the last time I will go into that shop. Things change quickly in strip malls where there are local businesses. The gift shop was gone and a shoe store was in its place. Other shops had closed, too. Next we zipped downtown to The Market and walked around our old haunts. First, of course, we parked in our usual spot. Things were pretty much the same, but a new shoe store has sprung up next to La Di Dah. About 4:30 we wandered over to Frankie's where Dottie treated me to French martinis. Yum. At 5:00 we left Frankie's and went directly across the street to my favorite restaurant in the entire world. Alexander's, as always, was tres magnifique. We even got to sit in at our favorite table in the window. The food was divine as always. Oh, I do love to see my teeth prints in the Plugra butter on the dinner bread (made in the bakery on The Market) after I've taken my first bite. Dinner with Dottie at Alexander's made this entire trip worth every mile I drove to get here.

So, I have truly had A GRAND DAY OUT, just like Wallace & Gromit did ... no BETTER than their day out. After I catch up on email I will go to bed so that I can arise early, close up the house, and make my way back to the Green City. I am renewed in a way that is ultimately refreshing. Southwest Virginia is where I belong. Thank you, God, for this little slice of Heaven called Blacksburg. There is no place like it in the world.

Spring Break Part II (Part I is below.)

When I went to bed last night I realized that there is no alarm clock in this house--at least not one that works properly. In fact, the house looks like Paul still lives here. It's as if he has gone out for an afternoon stroll and will be back at any moment. I found the Wallace and Gromit clock in Paul's bedroom but the batteries were "flat" as Paul would say. This was quickly posing a problem as I had to be up at 7:30 to go to breakfast at Gillie's with Dottie. When I went to bed I told myself to wake up at 7:30 and I did just that. Amazing, eh? Again we had incredible luck parking downtown. We found a spot on the corner of College Avenue and Draper Road, walked the few steps across the street, and entered Gillie's. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. I could smell the potatoes frying as soon as I walked in. Rich aromas of strong coffee, eggs simmering in the pan, and freshly squeezed orange juice tickled my nose and my appetite. We found a spot and as we sat down a young woman came to take our drink orders. "Coffee, water with lemon, and a large glass of orange juice," I requested. Dottie ordered and when the young woman brought our drinks I asked about Noah, Jan Gillie's older son, a delightful boy I taught in fifth grade. She said that Noah wasn't there but that Nick was in the kitchen. Jan Gillie once described Nick to me as a cross between Satan and Beelzebub--that was when Nick was in kindergarten. Now Nick is 19 and he looks normal to me. I saw no cloven hoofs or horns. I next asked about Renee, Jan's wife. The young woman said that Renee would be in soon, and sure enough, when Renee came in, she immediately came over to talk to me. "Jan wants to retire now that he's 58," she explained, but I don't see how he can. I'm training the boys to run the restaurant with me in case Jan does stop working. We have a bunch of old Volvos he wants to restore ... I made the boys start out as dishwashers and Noah now cooks. He's 23 and after a year and a half in San Francisco, he's ready to help with the restaurant. He works all three shifts now--breakfast, lunch and dinner and is a cook. He's learning how to do the books. He's not here now because he had something else to take care of." As Renee continued to talk about one of my favorite students, I realized I was more relaxed that I have been in years. So, I savored every mouthful of Chappie's Choice, the same breakfast I have eaten at Gillie's for 25 years. When Jan opened the restaurant in 1973, all he served was ice cream. When he expanded to a full restaurant, he developed a menu that to this day is largely unchanged. THANK GOODNESS!!

I arrived back home and Skyped Paul. Harry was there puttering about the house and he told Paul to ask me if he and Steven Winter could come over for a visit. I immediately thought of Ann Roberts and how she and Harry adore each other. I know she'll be excited when I tell her. I'm not sure if Harry wants to come visit me in North Carolina, but if he wants to see me I guess that's where he will come. I've been trying to think of places to take him and so far all I've come up with are New Bern, Beaufort, and Atlantic Beach. I'll have to cogitate on this.

My next appointment was at 12:10 at Shaker's with the Sisterhood. Yes, we were all back together again--Brenda Wojo, Brenda Brand, Judy Barylske, Bette Kreye and ME! Wow! What a wonderful time we had. Brenda Brand told me that Virginia Tech will soon be hiring someone to teach elementary social studies and that I should consider the job. I explained that I can't work for Tech and also that I need to finish two more years in North Carolina. Brenda wanted to know why I can't work for Tech. When I explained about my retirement, she said that Tech has the TIAA Cref option. This could be good news. I'll have to check with VSRS to make sure that my Virginia retirement income would not be affected. After all, I'd hate to have to pay back five years of retirement! Brenda said she felt certain I would be hired. This is certainly something to think about.

I must end this for now because Connie Joyce and Barbara Stepp are coming over to see me before I leave with Judy to go to Marth Ann Stalling's house for the book group meeting. Yes, I've been invited back to "Reading Between the Wines".

Stay tuned ... more later.

Happy Days are Here Again!

Tennessee
Knoxville (Left over from the 1982 World's Fair)

Frankly, Spring Break should come more often. What a treat it has been to get away. My first stop was Knoxville, Tennessee where I stayed with my sister, Susan. Sister Robin arrived that evening and we had family time which included good ole Mom & Dad. On Saturday my sisters and I fulfilled one of my mother's greatest desires--we accompanied her to a DAR meeting and agreed to join. All I have to do is to remember to find my birth certificate when I get home, scan it and send it along to Dad. The key word is remember. I also spent a few days in Harriman visiting with Mother and Dad and sealing and freezing the food that I had brought. This is the best picture of Harriman that I could find and it is too tiny to see much. Besides, Harriman is not quite as bucolic as this photo would have you believe.


Dad is so conflicted about Mother's condition. First he told me that it is a good thing I came to visit Mother because her heart will give out soon. A few minutes later he said that Mother is doing so well that she is getting better. It is a sad sight to see one's mother as a deaf and partially blind invalid who does little more than sleep each day. My dear mother has always been meticulous in her appearance and seeing her with long fingernails that need attention is hard to bear. A home health worker comes in once or twice a week to help Mother with her personal needs, but Mother's fingernails are so thick and tough that they probably need tending to with professional instruments doctors have for dealing with this type of problem. Losing Mother will be extremely difficult, but seeing her as she is now is also heart wrenching. She will enter her 90th year this April and has lived a long and productive life. I am so glad that she and Dad traveled the world before she became too ill to do so.

Virginia

I left Tennessee with a heavy heart and arrived in Blacksburg late Tuesday afternoon.

Aerial Shot of Virginia Tech

Dottie and I had already made plans to go out for the evening and it was a tonic to see her. Our first stop was the Cellar where I had a bowl of excellent soup and an order of garlic bread. M-m-m-m--m-m-m. Parking in Blacksburg is always a problem, but we found a spot directly in front of the restaurant. After we ate we crossed Main Street and walked down College Avenue to the Lyric Theater. Words cannot adequately express how it felt to once again sit in the Lyric Theater anticipating the start of a movie. All of the same old ads played over and over again--Dr. Jacobs, Big Al's, etc.--and though I've been gone almost three years, the ads have not been updated. Frankly, this was comforting. Dottie and I watched "The Last King of Scotland", a gut wrenching movie. We left the theater feeling drained. As we were walking back to the car I asked Dottie if we could drive around the drill field for old time's sake. She was amenable and enthusiastically took me on a little tour of my home town. We headed down Main Street and passed the two big eyesores that have, for me, ruined the downtown area. Blacksburg is a small town and does not need big city ways like parking garages and "luxury" apartments atop retail establishments. Dottie said the apartments were trucked in from North Carolina and sat on property near Colony Park until the structures were hoisted into place above the shops. I did notice one shop called "Alligator Alley" so the monstrosity has at least one redeeming feature. Next we went to see the Bennett House and the little ecologically designed park that surrounds it. Years ago I had been to a Halloween party in this lovely old domicile. Dottie told me that Blacksburg has joined 200 other cities in the USA that are combating global warming. Dear Dottie even got to drive her little Prius in a Prius parade downtown in celebration of the town's commitment. We then drove around the drill field and I got tears in my eyes. We went around the duck pond and then around the drill field for a second time. Yeah, that's a bit dorky, but you cannot imagine how it feels to be back in a place of sanity. Here are a few photos of my little corner of Heaven.

Burress Hall on the VT Drill Field

Duck Pond 1

Duck Pond 2

Students Walking Across the Drill Field

For good reason I am superstitious that Blogger will crash before I post this, so I am going to go ahead and hit the "Publish" button before that happens. I'll continue this later...

Preparation

I spent today preparing for my trip. This morning I finally was able to get my hair cut. Yay! I look normal again. On my way home I stopped at the drug store to pick up a couple of things and ended up buying an Easter basket and goodies to take to Mother and Dad. Then the marathon cooking began. First I made a lemon pound cake with fresh blueberries. Next was Scottish shortbread with a hint of lemon thanks to lemon zest. Then I made a double batch of maple-almond scones. I'm off now to make a double batch of chocolate chip cookies. Dad is now the chief cook and bottle washer and he knows how to prepare very plain and simple food. Goodies will thrill him as he always has loved homemade sweets. I bought a few loaves of good, chewy bread because Mother likes that. When I get to their house, I will make casseroles and other main dishes that freeze well. I'll also teach Dad how to use his crock-pot. I bought him a little crock-pot cookbook, but I imagine one came with the one we gave him for Christmas. Once he gets the hang of using it, it could become his favorite kitchen tool.

Packing will be the next chore after the cookies. I'll be gone for a week, so have a lot to pack including my laptops and assignments to grade. The weather in Tennessee will be spring-like but Blacksburg will be nippier. Today I found out that a movie I have been waiting and waiting for will be playing at the Lyric!! On Tuesday night I'll go with Dottie to see "The Last King of Scotland". I hope it's as good as "Amazing Grace" which I saw last weekend and is the best movie I have seen in a long time. I guess I'm a typical American because I always pack too much junk that I end up not needing. I always convince myself that some emergency could arise and I might need this or that. The truth is I lug a bunch of junk that I do not need. So what if I get a run in a pair of hose? I can always buy a pair which is far more sensible than packing half a dozen. Now, I'm off to find the directions Paul sent me about how to make my house livable while I am there. When he left he did a lot of shutting down which I much appreciate. I had the two-page lists of things to do on Tuesday but now I can't find it. ARGH!

Words of Wisdom from the Ole Raggedy Boy Himself

To say that I am excited about my upcoming travels is an understatement. Ole Neil's words sum it up:



Are you Ready for the Country?

Slipping and sliding and playing domino.
Lefting and then righting; it's not a crime you know.
You gotta' tell your story, boy, before it's time to go.

Are you ready for the country because it's time to go?

Are you ready for the country because it's time to go?
 

Everybody Knows this is Nowhere

I think I'd like to go back home
And take it easy
There's a woman that I'd like to get to know living there. Everybody seems to wonder What it's like down here
I gotta get away from this day-to-day running around, Everybody knows this is nowhere.

Everybody, everybody knows.
Everybody knows.

Every time I think about back home
It's cool and breezy
I wish that I could be there right now
Just passing time.

Everybody seems to wonder What it's like down here
I gotta get away from this day-to-day running around, Everybody knows this is nowhere.
Everybody, everybody knows
Everybody knows.

Blacksburg, here I come!

Ah, yes...breakfast at Gillile's--Chappie's Choice, of course...

Barbecue at Mike's--real barbecue, not the vinegary mess they serve here and have the nerve to call barbecue...

Whatever movie is playing at the Lyric...

Dinner at Alexander's--Plugra butter, natch...

Garlic bread and soup at the Cellar...

AND

A nighttime drive around the drill field. Heck, I may circle it six or more times...

Random Thoughts

In a little over a week I'll be back where my heart is--Blacksburg!

Today I went to a presentation by one of the five finalists for the position of dean of our college. She opened by using the "word", ecstatical. She went on to talk about "welding a big stick". HIDE ME!

Is anyone else but me perplexed and offended by the term "friendly fire"? How the hell can a bullet coming directly at me be friendly?

When Paul moved to England, he had all his mail forwarded to me in North Carolina. Today I found a postcard for Paul in my mailbox. The label said this:

EXPIRED
Paul Mather
207 Gates Drive
Winterville, NC 24060

That's a pretty odd way to learn that someone has died, eh? Well, Paul didn't die, but his membership in the Lyric Council did. P.S. The zip code on the card is for Blacksburg. Go figure.

I paid a bill to Physicians East last month. The check came back. The envelope said that the address to which I sent the bill was wrong. So, when a new invoice arrived today telling me that my account is past due, I checked the address to see where to send the bill. Of course it's the same address that I used when I sent the last bill. ARGH! As Tony Matusevich (bless his soul) used to say, "I don't mind paying for my own mistakes, but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for yours." In the last month I have lost count of how many of OTHER PEOPLE'S mistakes I have had to pay for. And the price I have had to pay is in a commodity I can least afford--MY TIME!

Taxes. INCOME taxes. I owe a pile to NC, but I'm getting a pile back from Virginia and a pittance back from the feds. All in all, I can't complain because I am coming out a wee bit ahead this year. I guess paying all that quarterly tax paid off.

Well, my get up and go has got up and went as they say in the majestic mountains of SW Virginia so Th-th-th-that's all folks!

Language

Since I was a wee bairn, I have been fascinated by language. I was one of those nerdy kids who actually enjoyed learning about grammar. I became an unashamed grammar cop, a skill I learned from my mother who learned it from her father. Now, my dear daughters are both grammar cops--fourth generation ones at that. I love the subtle nuances of interesting words and the poetic phrases that tickle the ear. I also am a collector of words and nothing is quite like finding a new one to love.

I fell in love with language early in life. My first grade teacher pulled a small group of us together to teach us Spanish. I can still picture the books we used, and I can still speak every word my teacher taught us. (Juan, soy Juan. Maria, soy Maria.) My memory of this is so vivid I can even remember a little yellow dress I was wearing when we once had our lesson. I have long regretted not learning Latin as it is the basis for so many languages. The Spanish I took in high school did not stick with me as well as I would have liked but whenever I hear someone speaking Spanish I can understand a little of what is being said. When I began to travel to Europe, I quickly learned that it is far easier to read a language than to speak it. In most countries I can understand enough on signs to find wine, food, bathrooms, and mass transportation. I had one hilarious experience in Italy because my traveling companion and I could not speak Italian, but I'll save that story for another time. After I returned from Italy the last time, I decided once and for all to learn to speak Italian because it is so mellifluous. I bought tapes, but the instructor on the tapes went so fast, I quickly gave up.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, last Saturday at my first water aerobics class I met Camilla (Cameela is how she pronounces it), not be confused with the British rottweiler of the same name. For many, many years Camilla taught foreign languages in private schools. Today I asked her a few basic questions about Italian and she was happy to help me. First, I wanted to know, how does one correctly pronounce bruschetta? I was happy to learn that I have been pronouncing it right all along--"brusketta". I then asked about a local restaurant that most people pronounce at A ta vo' la stressing the third syllable. I have always said A ta' vola, which, I am pleased to report is correct. Camilla explained some basic things about Italian which made sense to me. As an example, when I asked about Il Divo she was happy to help me figure out a bit about plurals. My specific question was this: "Is Il Divo the masculine form of la diva?" She said that it is, so I next asked if Il Divo is singular or plural. (I had assumed that it would be singular.) She said that it is indeed singular, but that in the case of the quartet it refers to one group rather than one man. Our conversation drifted to the bad English grammar one hears routinely--"I'm doing good" or "the food is healthy". There is a fundamental lack of understanding in this country about the differences between adjectives and adverbs. While one might argue that language evolves, I would have to point out that it also can devolve. Call me a curmudgeon! I would consider it an honor. After all, curmudgeon is a lovely word.

Tomorrow Camilla and I are meeting for lunch. I look forward to the furthering of a budding friendship. She is so knowledgeable about so many things and is one of the loveliest people I have met in a long time. Camilla is interesting, something too many people are not.

A Grand Day Out

Today Terry and I left the Green City to travel to Greensboro to attend the North Carolina Council for Social Studies Conference where we are presenting about mixed-text Reader's Theater. I love Greensboro so I was glad to be back in a city where there is real "slow" food available in restaurants. We stopped for lunch at the Green Valley Grill--http://www.greenvalleygrill.com/--where we dined on an exquisite lunch. We split an appetizer of pork kebabs with Moroccan citrus marinade and also a white bean salad with citrus vinaigrette dressing. Both were divine. Our next stop was Elm Street (downtown) the site of the Greensboro sit-ins at the old Woolworth's store. For several blocks in this revitalized downtown area are interesting shops and galleries. We went to a few of our favorite places and then stopped by to make dinner reservations at 223 Elm. Our last stop was Simple Kneads, a lovely little bakery located on a narrow alley. I bought a loaf of Jewish rye bread and a multigrain loaf which I will freeze and take to Mother and Dad's when I go to Tennessee over spring break. We then made it over to the Koury Center, checked in, and immediately went to the Health Club where we walked on the treadmill. Next, we checked out where we will be presenting so that we'd be familiar with the space. We returned to our room and relaxed for a while and caught up on email. About 6:00 we readied ourselves to go for a leisurely repast of exquisite food and live jazz music. I've eaten at 223 Elm twice before and have always been well satisfied. The ambiance of the old building is divine. Not only is the food outstanding, the presentation of the food is worthy of a feature in any high brow gourmet magazine. A nice quiet meal with good wine, good music and a dear friend is about as good as life gets. One little touch that makes 223 Elm special is that a calligrapher creates a name plate for the reserved table. I am back in Room 471 in my pjs and nice and sleepy for bed. Good food and wine will do that to you.

Scary Moment

This morning while I was getting ready for work, I took two large Glucosamine Chondroitin pills just as I do every other day. This time one pill got stuck in my throat blocking my intake of air. Of course I freaked! Then I became very calm realizing that I'd better dislodge it before I passed out. So, how does one perform the Heimlich maneuver on oneself? I body slammed my gut against the sink cabinet as hard as I could. On the second try the pill flew out across the room and hit the wall with a loud ping--just like in the movies. Did I breathe a big sigh of relief? You bet I did. I guess the moral of the story is to plan how YOU will perform the Heimlich maneuver on yourself if the need ever arises. In thinking about it later, I realized that the height of the person would make a big difference. For tall people, maybe the back of a kitchen chair would work. Food for thought, eh?

Progress

Another day, another 600 calories burned in my water aerobics class.

600 Calories

I arrived at my ECU office at 7:00 this morning and did last minute preparations for my eight o'clock class. When class ended, I worked in my office until 11:00. Then, I left for my Fit Linxx appointment. A kind young man spent an hour and a half with me setting up my weight training program and entering all of the data into the computer. I was so impressed to learn that my ViQuest membership number is a figure as important as my weight. When I go into the weight and exercise machine room, I punch my number into one of the computer stations. Up comes my record of exactly what I have done, and how many reps I did on each machine, etc. Because we were just setting everything up today--how much weight to use at each station, etc.--there was nothing much in my log. However, tonight when I went to my water aerobics class, I went to one of the computer stations to enter my data after the class was over. That's when I discovered that I had burned 550 calories in my aquatic exercise class and another fifty when I swam a few laps. Another interesting feature of the ViQuest program is that the more I exercise, the more ViQuest "dollars" I earn. You can spend the dollars on massages, personal trainers, or exercise clothes/equipment, healthful food, etc. This incentive program will help me stay with it as I LOVE full body massages. So, I'm burning calories, baby. Too bad all this enjoyable exercise isn't helping with my writer's block. Oh well. One can't have everything.

600 Calories

I arrived at my ECU office at 7:00 this morning and did last minute preparations for my eight o'clock class. When class ended, I worked in my office until 11:00. Then, I left for my Fit Linxx appointment. A kind young man spent an hour and a half with me setting up my weight training program and entering all of the data into the computer. I was so impressed to learn that my ViQuest membership number is a figure as important as my weight. When I go into the weight and exercise machine room, I punch my number into one of the computer stations. Up comes my record of exactly what I have done, and how many reps I did on each machine, etc. Because we were just setting everything up today--how much weight to use at each station, etc.--there was nothing much in my log. However, tonight when I went to my water aerobics class, I went to one of the computer stations to enter my data after the class was over. That's when I discovered that I had burned 550 calories in my aquatic exercise class and another fifty when I swam a few laps. Another interesting feature of the ViQuest program is that the more I exercise, the more ViQuest "dollars" I earn. You can spend the dollars on massages, personal trainers, or exercise clothes/equipment, healthful food, etc. This incentive program will help me stay with it as I LOVE full body massages. So, I'm burning calories, baby. Too bad all this enjoyable exercise isn't helping with my writer's block. Oh well. One can't have everything.

Goodbye, Rita. May you rest in peace.

Rita Mather, Paul's mother, died last night. In October she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The level of medical care she received IN HER HOME nurses and doctors made home visits) was outstanding and FREE. About ten days ago Rita was admitted to the hospital. The family had thought she would continue to live once chemotherapy began,  but her cancer had progressed to stage four. They were shocked to learn that she had only a few more weeks to live. I was talking to Paul via Skype last night when he got the call that his mum had passed away. The entire family had been with her most of the day and they had thought the end would come while they
were there. A couple of hours after they all returned home the call came.

In thinking about Rita, I have some warm memories. When I visited with her and Harry (Paul's father) Rita brought out lots of old photographs. She showed me pictures of her children when they were "bairns" and then older children and finally teenagers. She told me about each one and shared interesting tidbits about when they were children. Rita showed me her wedding photos and told me all about when she and Harry got married. As she flipped through the album, Rita came to a photo of a wedding she and Harry had attended several years ago. "Look at me. I was so fat!" Rita exclaimed,and then she laughed and laughed. I will never forget her laugh. Rita was a dear soul and it is comforting to know that she is suffering no more.

ViQuest Update

At long last the paperwork has all been approved by my doctor and I am able to use the Viquest Center. This morning I went to my first water aerobics class. I loved every minute of it. On my way in, I wasn't sure where to go and I couldn't find a staff member to ask. I saw a woman walking purposefully toward the locker room, so I asked her if she was on her way to the water aerobics class. She was and she showed me the ropes. We introduced ourselves and my new acquaintance is Camilla. She saw my UF sweatshirt and asked if I were from Florida. When I said that I did, she said, "My husband and I still have our place out on St. Pete Beach." I told her I was from Gulfport and she said her daughter had attended Stetson Law School located a few blocks from my childhood home. By the end of our conversation we could not believe the number of odd things we have in common. The more we chatted the eerier it became. I almost fell over when she told me she grew up in Stresa, Italy. Anyone who has visited the travel page on my website knows that Stresa is my favorite place in the entire world partly because it is breathtakingly beautiful. So, we got into the pool and continued to talk. Then we exercised hard for an hour. It was divine. For the first time in ages, the knot in my shoulder is gone. After the class ended, I spent ten minutes in the spa pool with water so hot it was Heaven. I go again Monday-Thursday 5:30-6:30. Maybe I'll try the steam bath or sauna on one of those visits.

Too Much Sadness

I just finished talking via Skype to my friend who lives in England. His mother is in the very end stages of pancreatic cancer. After we "hung up", I checked my email only to find a missive from a former student who is about my age. She is concerned about her mother who is not well and sits in her chair all day only getting up to use the bathroom. I next read a letter from my father--I used to get letters from both of my parents every single week--and he reports that my mother sits in her chair and sleeps most of the day. She, too, only gets up to use the bathroom. Life has its sad times, but this is too much sadness all at once.

Already Blogger is Driving me Crazy

I have been exceptionally busy, night and day, for over a week. Monday night I spent 45 minutes creating a lengthy post only to have Blogger go "POOF" with the many paragraphs I wrote. One time I tried writing in Word and then cutting and pasting it into Blogger, but Blogger is too finicky and doesn't like that. ARGH! Let's hope I get this one up before Blogger eats all of my words.


Today's Favorite Quote

I believe this quote is apropos in these troubled times in which we live: "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." George Orwell.

Friendship

Over my long life I have known and treasured many friends. Today I was thinking about how one defines a friend. One concrete example will suffice: My dear friend, Terry, surprised me with a special Valentine treat. She baked me a loaf of her special bread, the one that is encrusted with various types of seeds. It is the perfect companion to a good bowl of hearty soup. Along with the bread was a pound of Plugra butter. Only a dear friend would pay attention to a minor detail like the kind of butter one likes. I found Plugra years ago in the company of my dear Blacksburg friends. We had been going to my all-time favorite restaurant in the entire world--Alexander's in Roanoke--regularly for a year or so. One night I said to the waiter (the same one who waited on us for years, a kindly man who still waits tables at Alexander's), "This is the best butter I've ever had in the United States. I haven't had butter this good since the last time I was in Europe." He smiled and said, "This *is* European butter." Of course I had to know where the restaurant acquired it. "The butter is called Plugra and you can it at the health food store near the Grandin Theater. You can't miss it; it's in an old Kroger building." The next time we made the trek to Roanoke, we all bought Plugra butter. I must admit I hoarded it a bit because I wanted my pound of butter to last. I mostly saved it for slathering on good bread and toast. When I moved to Greenville, I lamented the fact that I couldn't find Plugra in any of the grocery stores. Dear Terry asked me what makes Plugra so special. I described it to her with lots of gestures and "mmmmmmmmmmmmm" noises. On my next birthday, Terry really spoiled me. She gave me gift after gift. Of course each one was perfect. Then she pulled an insulated bag from her purse and said, "This is your last gift." Puzzled, I opened it and there it was...a pound of Plugra butter! "Where in the world did you find it?" I queried. "Did you drive all the way to Raleigh?" Terry responded, "No, you nut. I asked the local Lowe's Foods to get it for me." Lucky for me, Lowe's still carries it. Now, that's a true friend.

Campaigning for President

I'm already sick of the presidential campaign and the circus hasn't really started. It reminds me of stores putting out Christmas items before Halloween. Some things are better if you have to wait for them.

Thank God for PBS

Today I arrived home after an extremely long day. I left the house at 6:30 a.m. to go to drive to a neighboring school division where a colleague and I are heading up the rewriting of the Local Plan for Gifted Education. This is a monumental task particularly where we are the proverbial messengers to be shot as we explain new state requirements. Ah, well, I have a tough hide. Actually, the work is going well, but it is brain draining. My colleague and I left at 3:00 just in time to race back to the university where we were scheduled to meet with the architect who is designing the new building that will house the College of Education and the College of Business. My grandmother always told me to ask because while I might get a "No" in response, I might, at times, get a "Yes" at times. I dream big and so if my opinion is asked I'm ready to give it. Here is what I proposed. [Note: This is in conjunction with my two colleagues who are part of the ECU Gifted Education Team.]

Goal: To become the National Southeast Regional Center for Gifted Education

The East Carolina Gifted Education Program is growing at an exceptionally fast pace. At present there are 90 teachers and graduate students on a waiting list to take the four-course gifted sequence. We anticipate this growth to continue and to increase dramatically over the next five years.

Specific Building Needs:

1. 10 Classrooms with flexible dividers so that they can become five double-sized classrooms; each of the ten rooms needs videoconferencing capability.

Rationale:

-Gifted middle and high school students will be attending programs on campus throughout the academic year.

-Summer AIG Camp serves gifted fourth and fifth graders. Program expansion will result in our serving approximately 100 gifted students in grades 4-5 and later 60+ in grades 6-12.

-Annual gifted conference will need a minimum of ten breakout session rooms.

-Face-to-face graduate classes held during the Summer AIG Camp, which is a graduate student practicum requirement.

2. Bathrooms located near the ten classrooms to meet the needs of the public school students who participate in our programs.

3. Graduate student workroom large enough for six graduate student workstations, storage, and equipment such as photocopiers.

4. Auditorium that seats up to 150 persons.

5. Large workroom for professors with ample storage for AIG program materials and equipment.

6. 6 offices for ECU professors to use during the AIG Camp and during the academic year when hosting middle and high school gifted students. Visiting professors and other professionals in the field also will use these offices.

7. Computer lab and secure storage for technology. AIG students, K-12 and ECU AIG Program faculty will use this lab.

8. Kitchen with cabinets and large amount of counter space, ice machine, and sink.

9. Exterior tables and benches for outside lab work, K-12 gifted students.

10. Designated parking for high school students and parents.

11. Easy access for drop-off and pick-up of children that is large enough for school buses.

12. Secure library.

Okay. I was ready to meet with the architect knowing that he would probably faint or laugh out loud at our requests. My colleague and I arrived with a few minutes to spare and we met in the appointed room a bit early. No architect was there which was puzzling because there were to be back-to-back 30-minute meetings between 3:00 and 5:00. We raced around trying to find out if the room had been rescheduled, but never did find out. Finally, in frustration, we left. ARGH!

I arrived home about 5:40 with a lengthy to-do list (what's new, eh?), poured myself a class of herbal iced tea and sat down in front of my computer. I decided to have a little background noise, so I flipped on CNN and turned the volume down low. As I did this I glanced at the screen and it said, "Anna Nicole Smith 1967-2007". Puzzled, I turned up the sound and learned that Anna Nicole had died today. What happened next highlights what I believe is probably the biggest problem the USA faces today. Every single news channel had gone into "all-Anna-Nicole-all-the-time" mode. As a celebrity, Anna Nicole's death probably did need to be reported, and any death is sad. Think of the 650,00 Iraquis we have helped kill. However, there are far bigger issues facing the USA today--war in Iraq, children in poverty, affordable health care/health insurance, just to name a few. Here is what puzzles me: Why are Americans more interested in the death of a celebrity than they are in issues that are of much greater importance to their lives and well being? When 6:00 arrived, I was convinced that the channels would immediately switch to national and international news. Not a chance!! It remained Anna Nicole, Anna Nicole, Anna Nicole. I did what I usually do at 6:00 and switched over to the Lehrer report on PBS. It is now 6:29 and NOT ONE WORD has been mentioned about Anna Nicole Smith. What would we do without PBS? It is the most in-depth and reliable news source that we have. Fair and balanced--unlike Fox that claims to be--PBS consistently looks at all sides of an issue and provides more than a quick sound bite about important topics.

I am glad that my taxes pay for PBS. 'Nuff said.

Body, Don't Fail Me Now!

Aging Gracefully?

Those who know me have heard me "complain" about God's ultimate practical joke--just about the time you gain some sense and a modicum of wisdom, your body falls apart. 'Tis sad but true. I am 58 years old, and I am loving every minutes of it. Well, most every minute anyway. The first time I climbed a set of stairs and began to hear my knees click, it was jarring. In fact, I was stunned! What new trick is this, I wondered. Then a year or so later the pain set it. All of my joints rebelled at most anything I did. So I began to take Glucosamine Condroitan. After about six weeks, the pain lessened but it is still there, my daily reminder that while my brain still functions like a 25 year old, my body does not. This is just one small example of how my own body, the one I have loved for so many years, has become a traitor. Every day it seems to be something else. The image that comes to mind is a bright marquee filled with hundreds of individual light bulbs. Each night as I pass the marquee, I notice that a few more bulbs have burned out but it isn't always the same bulbs. Here I am in the prime of my life and my body acts like a car that is ready to be sent to the junkyard. I guess this 1948 model needs a little maintenance. So, once again I am making the commitment to do something about it. My role models are those vibrant 100 year old women on the television commercials--the ones you see strolling about with great posture and vitality, strong of both mind and spirit. That's who *I* want to be when I grow up to be 100. So, here's my plan...

VIQUEST!! I will join Viquest and begin simply with a water aerobics class. Take a virtual tour of the Viquest facilities: http://www.uhseast.com/viquest_body.cfm?id=842&oTopID=343.] They offer assistance in just about any area you need; there are dieticians, rehabilitation services, personal trainers, nurses, doctors, etc. I believe Viquest is an offshoot of the East Carolina University Medical School.

When I moved to Greenville in 2004, I hired a personal trainer. It was a disaster. This young guy worked me so hard that I'd throw up and get migraines. When I suggested he go easier on me he responded that I wasn't trying hard enough. He then went on on to say that he had an 80 year old woman client who could work rings around me. That was certainly encouraging. One day, when I left the gym and threw up, I also threw in the towel. Since then, I have made sporadic attempts to become fitter. I guess it won't do me much good if my brain lasts to 100 but my body does not.

Water aerobics, here I come!

It Makes Me Crazy

This just in from the Guardian

Bush slashes aid to poor to boost Iraq war chest

· Bill for Iraq conflict will soon overtake Vietnam
· $78,000,000,000 squeeze on medical care for elderly and poor

Ewen MacAskill in Washington
Tuesday February 6, 2007

President George Bush is proposing to slash medical care for the poor and elderly to meet the soaring cost of the Iraq war.

Mr. Bush's $2.9 trillion (£1.5 trillion) budget, sent to Congress yesterday, includes $100 billion extra for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for this year, on top of $70bn already allocated by Congress and $141.7 billion next year. He is planning an 11.3% increase for the Pentagon. Spending on the Iraq war is destined to top the total cost of the 13-year war in Vietnam.

The huge rise in military spending is paid for by a squeeze on domestic programs, including $66bn in cuts over five years to Medicare, the health care scheme for the elderly, and $12 billion from the Medicaid health care scheme for the poor.

Mr. Bush said: "Today we submit a budget to the United States Congress that shows we can balance the budget in five years without raising taxes ... Our priority is to protect the American people. And our priority is to make sure our troops have what it takes to do their jobs."

Although Democrats control Congress and have promised careful scrutiny of the budget over the next few months, Mr. Bush has left in them in a bind, unwilling to withhold funds for US troops on the front line. Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, said the days when Mr. Bush could expect a blank check for the wars were over but she also insisted the Democrats would not deny troops the money they needed. Democrats could block Mr. Bush's proposed cuts to 141 domestic programs.

John Spratt, the Democratic chairman of the House budget committee, said: "I doubt that Democrats will support this budget and, frankly, I will be surprised if Republicans rally around it either."

Kent Conrad, the Democratic chairman of the Senate budget committee, said: "The president's budget is filled with debt and deception, disconnected from reality, and continues to move America in the wrong direction. This administration has the worst fiscal record in history and this budget does nothing to change that."

The Vietnam war cost about $614 billion at today's prices. According to the Congressional Research Service, the Iraq war has so far cost $500bn. About 90% of the spending on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars goes to Iraq. In addition to the spending on Iraq and Afghanistan this year and next, Mr. Bush is seeking $50 billion for 2009.

Mr. Bush said the fact there was no projected figure for 2010 did not mean he expected US troops to be out of Iraq by then. He said he did not want to set a timetable "because we don't want to send mixed signals to an enemy or to a struggling democracy or to our troops".

Included in the budget is $5.6 billion for the extra 21,500 US troops that Mr. Bush ordered to Iraq last month. Some Democrats have threatened to withhold this part of the budget but more than half of the troops are in place with the others on the way. A plan to build the Joint Strike Aircraft has been withheld. Its absence, at the request of the Pentagon, could have a knock-on effect for jobs in the UK.

In the run-up to the invasion in 2003, the Pentagon's projected estimate of the total cost of the war was $50 billion. A White House economic adviser, Lawrence Lindsey, was fired by President Bush when he suggested that the total cost would be $200 billion.

The New York Times noted that the cost of the war would have paid for universal health care in the US, nursery education for all three and four-year-olds in the country, immunization for children round the world against a host of diseases, and still leave about half of the money left over.

The Pentagon has long complained that it is overstretched. Mr. Bush wants to raise its budget from $600.3bn to $624.6bn for 2008 - about 20% of the total budget.