A Very Rough Week

*Man kills 32 then himself at Virginia Tech

*Man kills hostage then himself at NASA

*Tainted beef recalled in five States

*Sanjaya is booted from American Idol

It just keeps getting crazier and crazier!

I woke to a perfectly beautiful morning today. It's raining and cloudy, very rare in this desert oasis. The birds are chirping, out there eating the bread we left last night that the neighbourhood cats must deem completely unworthy of their tastes.

I hate to go into work on days like this because this type of weather soothes me, brings out my creativity. Today I would have felt that same creativity but I made the mistake of making my first stop on the Cyberspace Express MSNBC.com with all its reports of everything dismal, depressing and horrible. And of course I had to read it, I'm an info-junkie. My not reading the news is as difficult as my declining an offer of fried chicken and red Kool-aid. As a matter of fact-and my hips can attest to this-I don't ever remember ever declining an offer for chicken.

Well, maybe when I was three or four, but that's the only time.

My 32-year old brother had a rough week. Earlier this year he and his wife divorced and she received custody of the children. They put their house on the market but is still waiting for it to be sold. They were the proud recipients of one of those sub-prime loans that amass great interest and cause rising mortgage payments so even though they're not living in the home, they are still under its burgeoning debt.

Then, my brother lost his construction job.

Three weeks after that he was admitted to hospital for chest pains. They had to give his heart shock treatments and catherize a bleeding vessel. We have a family history of heart problems but are still surprised that it's hit him so quickly. This week he went to a follow-up and the doctors didn't give him good news. They don't want him to work construction due to the heavy lifting and stuff, he hasn't found a job in two months, he has no benefits to pay for this newly-required healthcare, make car payments, feed his children or pay rent.

He's moved in w/us. On our couch.

This means my morning routine of heating the tea kettle and reading my papers while sipping said tea is temporarily interrupted because he's a late riser and is always asleep when I get up. So I'll have to figure something else out. Besides, it's getting warmer now anyways so I won't need the tea as much.

Well, I have a few more sites to visit this morning. We're at the end of a rough week, let's hope next Monday morning brings brighter days.