Today I embark on a mission that could literally take months due to the sheer volume of the task....I've decided to finally catalogue and alphabetize my book collection. I've been collecting since I was a teenager and have THOUSANDS of books. I'm not sure what the purpose of this is other than to have a list as a personal reference. I'm like an addict when it comes to books; they are my one vice, I suppose. I don't smoke or do drugs, I don't gamble, I don't bite my fingernails. I only consume alcohol on the rare occasion and then usually only in social situations....just enough to get a nice buzz. So, books are what floats my boat, so to speak. I don't have the time to read that I used to. Before having children and all the adult responsibilities that go along with them, it was nothing for me to knock out a 1000+ page book in a couple of afternoons. Now I rarely have time to enjoy a few pages here and there....but that hasn't stopped me from buying more. I have a few rare books that I should have appraised....an 1883 first edition of Charles Dickens' "Little Dorritt", e.g.
The journey of a thousand books begins with one small list....that I'll add to each day. If anyone is interested in seeing the list as it grows, feel free to ask.

Today I went to see the Employee Health nurse for my yearly TB skin test. That got me to thinking....why not test me for all the other nasty diseases I come in contact with every day while dealing with the general public. Why not test me for 'Redneckopathy' or 'Bibliophobia'? I live in a very beautiful rural part of Oklahoma. But it is as stifling and backward as it is lovely. You can't throw a stick without hitting some inbred yokel from hell who has no idea what the word 'Renaissance' means, much less a faire. If I were to say, "I'd love to hear some music by Wagner" (yes, I'd pronounce it correctly with the beginning 'v' sound) people around here would say, "Don't you mean Wagoner, as in Porter?" Hell no, that's not what I mean. I want to hear "Ride of the Valkyries" or "Entrance of Gods into Valhalla" not "Skid Row Joe" or some other bluegrass/country & western atrocity. I feel so out of place here....an atheist living in the Bible Belt. That's like Paris Hilton at a Mensa convention....it just ain't right!!!

I must finally write about this because it has plagued me. A couple of months ago I was on my way back into town after a home visit out in the country. I was driving along on this two-lane road covered with pot-holes when I got behind this little pickup truck and couldn't get around them. There were two people in the vehicle; a man driving and a woman passenger. I started to observe what the driver was doing and it frightened me enough to back off and stay behind them. This road is quite hilly, not big hills, but big enough that you can't see if there's another vehicle coming up the other side. Each time the driver came to a hill he moved over into the oncoming lane and he'd look over at his passenger. I was behind them for a mile or so before I was able to turn off onto another little road and get to my destination via a different route. Why would the driver of that little pickup do that? You know, that could be considered a form of torture. I know if I'd been that man's passenger I'd have been scared out of my wits. I keep seeing this in my head and I keep asking myself what could have been going through the driver's mind to do such a thing. Anyone have any ideas??....

OMG, I just googled myself (which sounds terribly naughty, by the way) and found some disturbing things. Type in "Dana McKinney" & look at the 3rd entry about the couple who kept their child in the basement.....HORRIBLE!!!!

Yesterday as I was leaving the hospital to go to lunch I spotted a funeral procession passing by on the highway. There were a police car, the hearse, a couple of limos and lots and lots of cars behind that with their lights on. All of the on-coming traffic had pulled off on the shoulder of the road, people showing respect for the dead. Then it occurred to me....why do we wait until folks are dead to show respect? Why don't we treat the living with such respect? Isn't that the best time to show care and concern for our fellow man? Once we're dead, it's a bit too late. Posthumous displays of respect are lost on the one riding in the back of that hearse......

I was in Wal-Mart yesterday evening, just browsing around. I heard these little voices (no, not those little voices) saying, "Ms. Dana, Ms. Dana". I turned around and was mauled by two little girls. Their family is enrolled in the program I work for and I've been visiting this family for 4½ years. Their mother was right behind them with her youngest daughter in a shopping buggy. These girls are 2, 4 and 6 years old, beautiful children with shiny black hair and big brown eyes. They are Mexican/Native American so they have that lovely tan skin tone. I talked with the mother for quite some time and the girls kept giving me hugs and showing me the toys Mom was buying for them. It made me feel wonderful to be so appreciated and loved by those kids. But it gets better.....about 15 minutes later, still in Wal-Mart, another little girl ran up to me and hugged me. She is also in our program. Her mother was nearby and came to talk to me. Sometimes I get discouraged with my job because I see children who aren't cared for, parents who just don't give a damn about their children, etc. But then something like this happens and it makes my heart full and I can go on with my work and feel good about what I do. These families love and need me.....and that's something we ALL need to feel.

I met my son for lunch today. We had Chinese food. Delicious. I had 5 slips of paper in my fortune cookie, each of them with a different fortune. Does this mean I shouldn't put any faith in these little cookies anymore?? hehe

Anyway, here's what they said...
1. Now is the time to call loved ones at a distance. Share your news. (what news?)
2. You discover treasures where others see nothing unusual. (*hears the song "Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places" in the background*)
3. Use your charm and personality to obtain your wishes. (isn't that what's called "feminine wiles"?)
4. Your charm has inspired a secret admirer. (dammit, where??)
5. You should enhance your feminine side at this time. (wait, I like being butch!!)

I just learned from [Kyrinn] that I'm supposed to put "...in bed" at the end of each of the fortunes. Now it all makes sense. Bwahahahaha

On my way back to town from a home visit yesterday, an odd thing happened. The home I was visiting is about 1.5 miles from the Texas border and a bit out of the way of the radio station I usually listen to. There's one spot in the road where I always lose reception and two stations come in at one time. When I left the home visit yesterday, Bob Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door" was playing, but when I got to that spot in the road, a song by Hootie and the Blowfish started coming in, too (can't remember which song). So I got tickled...I was either listening to Hootie Dylan or Bob and the Blowfish. HAHAHAHA I know, I know. I'm goofy as hell, but I keep myself entertained.

OK, my very first diary entry. I know, I know, what took so long? Now just seems to be the time to do this. When I logged in to ET yesterday, I had 23 messages, most of them Happy Birthday wishes. Then I got several more throughout the day. I had people from all over the globe and from all walks of life wishing me a special day....and it touched my heart. I have some of the sweetest, dearest friends here. I love them all. [nathie] sent me a virtual chocolate cake with my name on it. [kiradraco] accidentally wrapped herself in bows and tape trying to wrap my virtual gift (thanks again, lil sis. hope the hair grows back), some wrote poems, some sent hugs and kisses. [The Sadist] and [Witchyra] sang the birthday song to me. [Rye] sang as well, but added a few choice words that made me giggle (Nathie, you were involved in that little tune. [Hey! Tomorrow is your birthday :) Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, you are a sexy bitch, and Nathie's one too! Have a good one] Mwahahahaha). Most notably, Arwen got sweet birthday greetings from [Sauron]....J.R.R. Tolkein is rolling over in his grave. hehehe They all made it a very memorable day. Princess TUNG is grinning from ear to ear.