Two women alleged that they were pressured to show their breasts to Koko the gorilla as part of a bonding ritual.

They were told to show Koko their nipples, an act that trainer Patterson herself indulged in with the five-foot-tall, 280-pound female lowland gorilla.

Ewwwww. Creepy.

Link

Just a bit about Robin today. Did I mention that she went into the hospital Nov 13th? I wasn't alarmed. She went into the hospital a few times each year these past 3 or 4 years. After the official diagnosis and treatment plan discussion on Oct 7, I left thinking she had "6 months, maybe". I had to pull it out of the physician and after 3 queries, that's what she said. So going by that and the way she appeared and seemed to feel, I thought we had until the first of the year, anyway. I was going to come spend a week in December with her and put up her tree, celebrate her birthday, Dec 13th, etc. Gawd, how she loves to put up her Christmas tree, and has the most ornate selection of ornaments you ever saw. Every item that goes onto the tree is a collectible. Barbie, Mickie Mouse, Coca-Cola, etc. Anyway, after she was in the hospital this time for 3 days, Mother called me and I came the next day. One week later she was gone.

Thankfully, many loved ones did get to see her and speak to her. #1 cousin Ray, in Atlanta, and #1 Aunt BonBon came and they were the last people she spoke to. A day and a half later she left us.

Mother walked into my room on Thanksgiving morning and woke me early about 6:30am and simply said, "She's gone". The hospital had called. We numbly dressed and drove down to the hospital to sign some papers. Then we came back home and the phone calls began.

So, here I sit in Robin's room on Robin's computer. My 83 year old Mother is doing alright, but she's never been alone and I'm not going to leave her alone. It's part her, and it's part me. But, there's also my husband and daughter 80 miles away. Sigh...

Husband met me halfway this morning to bring me my dog, Buddy. He said that he was afraid that Buddy was going to die of a broken heart if he didn't see me soon. He hadn't been eating. He doesn't do well when I'm not around. I've been wanting to see him, too. I remember as a kid and I'd be crying about something and all I wanted to do was hug my dog and let the tears run down his fur. It's no different when you're grown up. I wanted Buddy when I was hurting about Robin. So he's under my feet. His favorite spot to be. And things are as well as can be expected. I'm still finding things to be grateful for.

Monday Madness

1. I've always been afraid of ________.
Fire

2. People should not talk on cell phones while ________.
in the movies

3. The one thing I look forward to every day is ________.
going online and reading email and blogging

4. My first meal of the day usually consists of ________.
coffee--always; then it varies. Some juice and a buttered wheat bagel is typical.

5. It seems like ________ is a never-ending job.
housework

6. The last time I painted a room in my house/apartment was ________.
painted a bedroom a deep orange-red, or did you want to know WHEN I painted it-oh well.

7. The next time I paint, I'd like to paint my ________(room) ________ (color).

living room navy blue. Eek!

My beautiful sister, Robin, lost her long, brave fight with cancer on Thanksgiving morning @ 6:00am. Her funeral is tomorrow. There are so many loving memories I'll always hold dear, but my heart is beyond broken.

I'm still in Tennessee. Haven't been blog visiting. Robin is still in the hospital. Each day she fades a little more. She talked just a smidge on Saturday. Sunday, she only smiled and took a few sips of ice water from me from a straw. Had a few bites of jello. Morphine round the clock. Monday she didn't talk; only opened her eyes a few times. Didn't eat or drink. Yesterday, Tuesday, she wasn't responsive, but opened her eyes when they changed her sheets and gave her a bed bath. Breathing is more labored. Mother spent the night Monday night because she thought Rob might not make it through the night. It's becoming increasingly harder for me to see her like this.

I like to think about this quote that Robin signs her emails with:

Life's journey is not about arriving at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "whee....what a ride!"

Now THAT puts a smile on my face. Much love and blessings to you all.

Mother called me to say that Robin isn't doing very well. She's been in the hospital since Saturday and after an X-Ray today, the doctor told Mother that the cancer is all over her and that there wasn't any reason to begin the chemotherapy. She wouldn't be strong enough to take it. He's just going to keep her comfortable on morphine for now.

I'm going over tomorrow to see Robin and stay with Mother for a few days. My heart is really breaking. Love you guys....

Handholder

You go out of your way to build bridges with people of different views and beliefs and have quite a few religious friends. You believe in the essential goodness of people , which means you�re always looking for common ground even if that entails compromises. You would defend Salman Rushdie�s right to criticise Islam but you�re sorry he attacked it so viciously, just as you feel uncomfortable with some of the more outspoken and unkind views of religion in the pages of this magazine.


You prefer the inclusive approach of writers like Zadie Smith or the radical Christian values of Edward Said. Don�t fall into the same trap as super�na�ve Lib Dem MP Jenny Tonge who declared it was okay for clerics like Yusuf al�Qaradawi to justify their monstrous prejudices as a legitimate interpretation of the Koran: a perfect example of how the will to understand can mean the sacrifice of fundamental principles. Sometimes, you just have to hold out for what you know is right even if it hurts someone�s feelings.

What kind of humanist are you? Click here to find out.

My husband and I were discussing things our parents used to eat that we thought was weird. We found that both our parents enjoyed crumbling up a piece of cornbread into a tall glass of buttermilk and eating it with a spoon. My grandmother liked it, too, so I'm guessing it wasn't only indigenous to our families. Everyone used to keep buttermilk in their refrigerator, but I never did like the taste of it.

This led to a discussion on potliquor, which is the juice from a long slow cooked pot of greens. A veritable spring tonic, they say.

9:00am already? Time for coffee #2.

Duke Blue Devils Basketball (NCAA) begins tonight. GO BLUE!! Link That always perks me up.

Robin had to be admitted to the hospital again late Saturday night. Mother called me yesterday to say that Rob was having trouble with her edema. Edema is fluid build-up in your body. The pills aren't doing it anymore, so they're going to do something else to get it out of her body. So I've been in somewhat of a funk about that. Mother said she'd call if there was bad news. That sounded odd. Anyway, I pray I don't hear from her.

Just wanted to blindly type out something now and see if the Inspiration Goddess would come forth and spew out an intelligent and witty post.

......yawn....still waiting.......

Sure glad I don't have any deadlines due. Well, actually, I wish I did. That would actually indicate that someone is paying me for my drivel. I've been in such a stupor of late. People I know who're sick call it brain fog. Robin calls is Foghat. She's a rock music lover from WAY back.

Ok, outta here, Foghat, and let me do my thing. I wish my husband would keep an online journal/blog. He's SO smart and funny and has had so many adventures. Everyone says he should write. Something. He just went to the grocery store. He's hardly able to work at all anymore, so he's the main grocery shopper now. But I still keep the list organized and posted on the frig. Strange how he interprets it sometimes. You can ask for Milk and he may bring back a fricking cow.

Worst 10 States For Auto-Deer Collisions.

Pennsylvania ranks first among the top ten worst states for vehicle-deer collisions, according to a State Farm insurance survey published Thursday. The article goes on to say to avoid collision with a deer, keep your headlights on bright as often as possible to see deer close to the road. One other report I read once said NOT to use your highbeams because the deer are attracted to the bright lights. I'm surprised North Carolina's not on the list. I see deer by the highway and interstates often, especially near the Biltmore Estate. I had the misfortune of colliding with a deer one evening after midnight coming home from work. My car was demolished, but I was miracuously able to drive the rest of the way home. But the weird thing is I never did see the deer until after the accident.

1. Pennsylvania
2. Michigan
3. Illinois
4. Ohio
5. Georgia
6. Minnesota
7. Virginia
8. Indiana
9. Texas
10. Wisconsin

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