A Day in the Life of President Bush (photos): 12.29.04

yahoo.com, whitehouse.gov, thislondon.com, foxnews.com ^ | Wednesday December 29, 2004 | GretchenM

[snugs]

I think this is correct I believe it was discussed on FOX and also if you look at list of previous Secretary Generals not one of them comes from a country that is a permanent member of the security council I cannot think that this is just coincidence.

[snugs]

Thank you for your kind words. I know what you mean about different routine and my dad likes his own personal routine which would send many people bonkers.

He loves watching TV mainly sport or politics the choice of stations at the hospital is poor the main 5 terrestrial channels plus a few satellite ones but no premier satellite channels and not even the BBC Parliamentary Channel, the best for current events is BBC 24 hour and CNN what a wonderful choice both are left wing propaganda channels so one has sift everything one hears.

They will not let you ignore visiting hours in fact they are petty about even five minutes I arrived at five minutes to 2 and was not allowed in until 2.00pm. The actual visiting hours are 2.00pm - 8.00pm each day which I have done the last 3 days. I thought it would be very boring but I soon found that it is one big soap opera and one big lesson in inefficiency, in a second means up to 30 minutes in a minute up to an hour and I will do that shortly you can still be waiting in 2 hours. There seems to be no real hiaracy with someone prioritizing you would not mind so much if they said I am very busy it will be 10 minutes but to be told a minute or second and over 15 minutes goes by and nothing happens and so you enquire in case they have forgotten and you get snapped at "we have not forgotten be there in a minute" which normally means another 15 minute wait.

The biggest thing also is the cost of the TV and telephone for one day TV 3.50 pounds or if over 65 as dad is you get 2 days which is 48 hours but over 12 hours of this you cannot use because they do not like you watching TV before about 8.00am and then you are not allowed to watch it after 10.00pm. I bought dad a 3 day card which he will get 6 days from which cost 10.00 pounds after he has seen the doctor on the 4th if it looks as though he will be in there for a long time I will buy a 7 day card for 20.00 pounds which will last 14 days. The telephone I think is something like 40 pence a minute with a minimum call of 20 pence or 2 units as you buy cards that have units on them.

Thank you for praying for his peace of mind IMHO that is as important if not more important I think that most of his problems will go away with the infection but he is convinced that they will not because he has been having problems really without appreciating it for a few months with his waterworks he has now realised. I pointed out to him that probably he has been fighting the infection for months and the biopsy finally took him over the edge where he could no longer fight it and therefore collapsed.

At least we do not have your worry of hospital bills but we still have to pay to get to the hospital and as mentioned TV and telephone which is a worry as we already have a very tight budget in view of the care bill for mum each month.

God Bless and thank you for your kind thoughts.
Love
Eleanor

PS next review for dad will be on the 4th January when the consultants return from Christmas and New year holiday.

[anniegetyourgun]

I wish you all a wondrous 2005!

I've been keeping a secret these past few days, but I can't keep it much longer. Especially on THIS thread!

Earlier this week, I received an envelope in the mail that looked like so many others from the "R" party or senatorial campaign, etc. I almost threw it away. But something seemed a bit different about it - very nice cream colored stationery - a bit too nice for another solicitation for funds. I opened it and found a handwritten letter from our dear President! It was dated 12/21, Dear AGYG (first name), and proceeds to thank me for my support in the campaign, wishes for happy new year to me and my family, etc. It takes up the whole single page, written in a black felt-tip type pen.

I just wanted to share my joy with all of you who frequent this thread. I am humbled to have been selected to receive such a treasure. I admit, it makes me wish I had done more and given more. In fact, I think we gave more and did more for his campaign in 2000 than we did this time! In any case, it is a keepsake I will frame and hand down to those who come after me!

Given that I am a nobody, not worthy of such recognition, and so many others have done so much more - it reminds again of how this president is not a respector of station, title, or rank. He just cares about people....great and small....period.

God bless you all in 2005!

[Miss Marple]

Oh, annie, I am so happy for you! Be sure you get it professionally framed with archival papers (and save the envelope as well...they can slit the backing and put it in there so that your heirs will have documentation).

What a wonderful thing! I didn't do as much this year because of family commitments, but I still got the Christmas cards. I would give my eye teeth to have a handwritten note. Good for you!

[anniegetyourgun]

Thanks for the advice on keeping it - I don't know much about that kind of stuff. In fact, I'm not one to hang on to lots of momentos and such....but I will be hanging on to this one! After all, how many people through our 225+ years as a nation can say they got a letter from the POTUS?!!?

[GretchenM]

annie, I rejoice with you at Bush's letter; I received one also and even though it's mass produced, it still means a lot to me to get something from the White House, from this president.

To everyone: I saw The Phantom of the Opera and it moved me to tears more than once for the sheer beauty of the singing, the score, and the story. It's an intense, haunting presentation with a very satisfying conclusion.

As I walked out, an elderly lady started talking to my friend and me -- said she's seen it three times on stage in three different places (Chicago, Wisconsin and Seattle), and now at the theater. She said each version was different in its beauty, but the movie production allowed the creators to do more with the story. She loved it and said she cried several times.

I have never cried at a musical before and I love music. I don't particularly like musicals because you usually have to put up with a lot of mediocre stuff to get to the beautiful music. Not so with this, and even though some of the singers didn't have recording artist quality, it didn't matter. And the heroine (played by Emmy Rossum), as one reviewer put it, has the voice of an angel.

The beautiful heroine

This shows some of the gorgeous set work.

The Count and Christine

Christine and the Count (singing "Think of Me"?); the most moving love scene I've ever seen.

The phantom, in his vile attempt to subvert Christine's life and talent

More photos: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0293508/photogallery

Ciaran Hinds and Simon Callow were a fun addition to the cast.

If this doesn't get nominated for best score, set decoration, costumes, and adaption, there is no justice. Even the lighting was fantastic -- a major enhancement to the story.

[anniegetyourgun]

Uh oh....do you really think it is mass produced? It looks so real. I guess it wouldn't hold the same meaning if it is printed. Boy, it looks so real, even to the overwrite (thicker pen mark) on two letters in the name of my state in one sentence. Hhhmmm, perhaps I'll have to rethink this framing thing.....

[snugs]

Good evening Gretchen sounds as though you had a good time. There is something very special about live theatre that somehow a film can never compete with.

Happy New Year to you and to all.

[snugs]

Happy New Year

[GretchenM]

It looked to me as if W's staff have access to a really neat software that uses his actual handwriting to combine letters to make up our first names and then they plugged in our states where appropriate. If the two million "friends and supporters" who received Christmas cards are the same people who received this letter, I do not believe he had the time to handwrite them. Nevertheless, I am glad to have the letter and will keep it.

[GretchenM]

There is something very special about live theatre that somehow a film can never compete with.

I agree but you know, I asked the elderly lady about that and she said this movie version was very moving and in some ways, better. In one stage production she'd seen, the story ended with the giant chandelier swinging out over the audience and crashing down on the stage. If you know the story, that is a terrible place to end it!

[snugs]

I suppose as with all productions whether live or film a lot does depend upon the producer and the script writer(s) in how they adapt interpret each production. We all know times where we have read the book and then seen either the stage play or film and feel rather disappointed as it is not the same ending or our favourite part has been missed out.

[homemom]

Hello--

Hope your dad is improving. I've been an at-home mom for years but I'm a nurse too, and worked in several hospitals. I have to say the hosp. your dad is in is NOT doing much for his emotional well-being, is it??? I can't tell from your post how long a stay he is facing but hope it's not more than another few days.

I'm just trying to think of a few things that might make his stay easier. Visiting hours first. Would your dr. write a note so you could come earlier/stay later? Is he in a room by himself or with just one other person? Or a ward with a bunch of people? If it's just him in the room, unless you're causing trouble (LOL!) or tiring your dad out or upsetting him, it's just not right for them to be so strict about them. Same with restricting TV viewing.

As for having to wait when you ask for things, if it's something your dad really needs, like help to get up and go to the bathroom, or pain medicine or something vital like that, raise he** till they get in there in a timely manner and help him. Or, ask them to show you where supplies are kept so you can help him (if you're comfortable with this) for example, if he needs ice water, ask them where it is so you can get it.

I feel so bad for you and for your dad. I don't know if they're terribly overworked or just unorganized, but IMHO there's just no excuse for that kind of care.

These are just some suggestions--whether or not you choose to make a fuss is up to you. But if you're even a little worried about your dad's well-being, raise all the heck you need to! Perhaps after he goes home you can also write a letter to the hosp. president outlining your complaints.

Meanwhile, prayers for your dad's FAST recovery!

[homemom]

Hello--

I got the same letter . . . it sure does look like the real thing, doesn't it? I do think it's mass produced . . . my state name looks like it was added in in a 'mail merge' thing. But . . . it was exciting to get--I almost felt like the PRes. was getting a view of my house -- and it was a mess--LOL!

[homemom]

Hi Gretchen--

Sounds like you had a wonderful day!

Happy New Year!

[rintense]

Sometimes all we can do is hold on to faith for those who are to weak to carry it. Snugs, please accept my prayers for your father, and that he gets well soon.

[rintense]

I got the letter too. And he even spelled my first name right. :)

[rintense]

How are you, Truthy? God bless you in this new year.

[rintense]

Happy New Year!

[rintense]

Happy New Year!!! Who'd a thunk? 4 more years of the Dose!