The death of the 6 people found dead in their home seems to have been a tragic accident. A neighbor was curious that he hadn’t seem them out and about throughout the day, so he went inside a little after five o’clock. Customary as it is among close neighbors, they seem to have swapped keys, and with such he entered the home. When he saw the bodies he immediately backed out and called the authorities.

It is said their death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning. When the authorities went into the house, they found everyone settled in, as if they have all gone to sleep, everyone in the comfort of their own beds. Mr. Gonzalez lay in his bed; in another room lay the two teenage boys. In the additional room, the stepfather had taken a sheet, and was laying on the floor; his wife and the youngest son lay on the bed, as they had when they’d gone to sleep. He had worked an extra shift, had arrived home late, and went to sleep. They found the stepfather’s car was in the closed garage, with the key in the ignition, turned to the on position. The gas tank was empty. They believe he arrived home, and perhaps out of exhaustion, he left the car on, and went to sleep. Near where the car was is a vent, which authorities believe is was circle the lethal doses of carbon monoxide inside the home. I’m not sure how they measure the level of the gas, but in the news they mentioned that 10 is a lethal level –the level inside the house upon entering was 60.

They were a family of five, 3 boys, mother and stepfather, that moved recently from Puerto Rico, and were temporarily living with their Uncle and Aunt (the Gonzalez). They youngest boy went to school at Camelot, same school my son goes to. He didn’t know the child, but he mentioned that the school faculty had a meeting early in the morning, and that he saw the teachers were crying when the meeting was over.

She was to be flown in from Puerto Rico (last night) with the help of that neighbor and his family. I understand he has been taking care of everything until she arrived, and even then all throughout funeral arrangements and all.

I remember speaking with Nayda, the mother of the three boys, one day after school when I was sharing with her and a few other moms an Avon brochure. I remember saying to her I wouldn’t forget her name, because mine is Zaida (they are pronounced the same, “nigh-dah / sigh-dah”, save for the ‘N’, or the more common pronunciation when in English “nay-dah / zay-dah”), and we have one of the same last names in common, Colón. No, I certainly won’t forget her name.

Yesterday evening, I sat outside as the sun settled, with so many thoughts going through my head. What would it be like for Luz to return home, a home which once was filled with all that youthful energy and laughter… now to a home somber, silent, empty? The mornings in which I sat outside, walked around the lake, sat to talk with the horses, I’d see her, watering her plants, those she keeps in planters right outside her sliding doors. I’d wave hi… now I think it would’ve been nice if I’d stopped and taken some time to sit with her in those mornings, on her cream plastic chairs… it would mean so much more to her now when I go visit her, and offer my condolences. I sat out until Mrs. Gonzalez arrived last night to her home, a home now forever changed. At her doorstep lay lit candles, flowers, cards and a balloon -a neighborhood reaching out as only one can in such time of grief.

OK... News just now, 6 people were found dead inside a house to the south of us here in East Orlando --right behind my house, across the lake.

I'm still watching as police and other authorities, plus news teams are covering this...

:::

[edited to include pictures]

I hadn't known Solonor to take a quiz online, but would you look at that... suprise, surprise.

That graphic is SO ME!
Ok, ok... I'm out to lunch. Blog ya later!

via Solonor

Tonight is Full Harvest Moon, aka Blood Moon.
Don’t miss the Total Lunar Eclipse tonight; read more about it here: Science at NASA

Image credit: Loyd Overcash, Houston, Texas, USA

Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts, here and via email. I'm having a hard time with this because I'm SO against medications. They don’t take to me. I remember once they had to keep me in the emergency room, gave me 3 shots of Demerol, before I finally started feeling better from the pain. Same with anesthesia (for when they operated me for breaking my nose), twice before it finally took to me. I'll take medications when necessary, but that usually happens when I've exhausted all other natural or alternative methods. Hence, where I stand now.

I can give a medication a fair try, however, if it has no effect on my illness, but in turn I suffer the side effects, why on earth would I continue poisoning my body? I’m very sensitive, very attune to my body. I can feel the effects of some herbal teas within minutes, so needless to say, I trust my body and my feelings.

The research I’ve done on Effexor XR has yielded grim results. I’ve already felt some side effects from Effexor XR (at the lowest dose): stomach cramps, dizziness, blurred vision, taste perversion. At the same time, my husband noted a subtle difference –and I can tell because he stared. That, and I even caught myself dancing in the kitchen. Don’t ask. All I remember is it was something on TV I heard coming from the family room, a commercial, I think. I’ll keep writing down everything. Advair, on the other hand, so far, so good. I’m breathing better, and better yet, I’m able to take deep breaths. It’s preventive medicine, and it’s working... BUT, it contains a steroid, and we all know prolongued use of a steroid is not a good thing. It also weakens the immune system. I’m to keep this medication throughout the season, and that, being able to take a deep breath, is a great feeling… makes me smile. Prevacid… I didn’t bother taking that one. My logic? It’s like when you begin to feed your child baby food: you give them carrots for the first three days, see how the child reacts to it. Then you add, lets say peas. See how your child body reacts to that. This is how you screen a child for allergies to certain foods. So, same with meds. I take this one for a few days, keep a keen eye for its effect and side effects. Then add another. That way you are less likely to confuse or mix up on which drug is affecting one way or the other. So I'll probably add Prevacid by Friday; still, I have no idea as to how the doctor makes a connection between acid reflux (which I don't feel I have) to asthma, or depression for that matter.

*sigh*

This is what I know: my asthma has not been triggered by depression, more like the other way around. Last year, on Dec 23, '03, I fell sick with the flu, which turned to bronchitis, which later turned to a walking pneumonia. I had to take leave of work all thru to the second week of Feb '04. That's when I developed asthma. Now, whenever I get a cold or the weather changes abruptly (for example here in FL -hot one day, really cool and breezy on the next), I get asthma. I get asthma throughout the entire Fall and Winter seasons. The doctor called it reactive asthma, and my daughter was diagnosed the same by her pediatrician. In her case, if she gets drizzled in the rain say, at school, walking from recess back to the classroom, by nighttime she goes into a full asthma attack, and continues to wheeze for at least 3 or 4 days. We have a Nebulizer, so it is easy to give her therapy. If she gets a common cold, it escalates into asthma right away, even when treated, in a matter of hours.

Asthma runs in my family, my mom and two of my brothers have it, so I know what it’s like, and even thought I didn’t suffer it while growing up, it’s not unheard of to develop it later on.

I also have a lactose intolerance, which came about a year after I had my daughter, in which I fell ill with the flu for about a month. See the pattern here? Prolonged sickness, something new develops. Why? Because my immune system is low, and my body fights to cope. All my life, till now, it’s always been very rare that I get sick, but these past two years have been very different.

Onto the depression… I know I’m depressed, I’ve suffered it since I was 16. For me, it’s a deep sad feeling, out of nowhere (at least, not in a conscious way), just there, and I feel like I want to just sleep the day away (not that I can or do, but I’d like to), and rather not see anyone, save for a handful of people. Yes, I isolate myself. I, lil-miss-love-to-be-around-people-person, would rather stay at home, listening to soothing background music, with all the windows and drapes shut. Usually, I know why I get depressed when I do, and I’ve been able to step out of it without drugs… until now. Right now, I rather believe my depression is caused due to prolonged sickness, that “I’m so sick of being sick” feeling, because I’m not talking about a few days sick, I’m talking weeks, months even.

Still, I’m creatively active, I’m writing, painting, made a full redesign here, even added another blog. I go out if/when needed, or if I have the desire to. Like right now. I’m heading out, getting something to eat, and taking my camera with. If anything, I’ll come back home, and sit out in the back, next to my Willow, and continue with my art. Later tonight, I’ll wrap myself up real good, and sit out in commune with nature.

But I'll let my son tell you about it. ;o)

Go look. BBB!

... one of my works in progress. Since I've been sick for a while, I made my downtime somewhat productive. So, it's up. At least I can smile about that! :o)

My online book haven... a niche for me to keep all my bookish stuff, what's on my reading list, BookCrossing fun, quotes pertaining to books and reading, maybe some articles and interviews, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I've already posted a few book reviews that have been previously published; I will get to posting more soon.

note: I'm hoping to make CaféBook a reading group as well, so any of you that would like to participate, chime in. :o)

Go see CaféBook.

Today, my chest aches, seems my spasm isn't so tight anymore, but I woke to find myself wheezing. Yup, happens every time nice cool weather rolls in. My kids pediatrician could tell how miserable I've been feeling just by looking at me; it was so that he made a call and got a lung specialist to squeeze me into her schedule today.

Instead of dropping my current meds, today I got three more instead.

So now it is not only Flexeril, Amoxicillin, Pseudovent… why it is also Advair, Effexor XR, and Prevacid (the last two being capsules -because more capsules to swallow is so much fun!).

No, don’t even try to diagnose. If there’s anything out there, I’ve got it, and then some.

Effexor… she believes I’m suffering anxiety and depression, that perhaps that might triggering my asthma. Really? You think? How about having bronchitis for three weeks straight? What about a walking pneumonia, like last December, would that do the trick? Or maybe it’s acid reflux? WTF? In any case, I now have all 3 medications and I get to see her in two weeks. Then for sure she will know (by way of elimination?) what I have and do not have.

Anybody else has a prescription you want me to try for you, you know, see if it works?

Biketoberfest is rolling, and I'm here, not doing much, with a horse in my throat. I want my mommy!

ehem... so anyway, I watched the Sox and Cardinals last night -whew! What a tight game that was, and what a wonderful team. I'm impressed, and now I wanna see the Birdies go buh-bye.

My son (BlogBoy) believes boys will become extinct. I have no f-ing clue as to where he got this, or how he arrived to this conclusion, but I'm not about to tell him just yet... I like how he's telling his friends upstairs (same age as he is) of this theory he's presenting. Too funny!

Ok, ok... I promise I'll tell him, I just think its fun and funny, maybe because I have nothing better to do --since I feel I've been sick forever-- or because I'm bored, oh so bored.

I hate what they do to me, and as much as it is against every fiber of my being, I'm having to take them. From antibiotics to muscle relaxant, I'm having to down them all.

Yes, I'm suffering a most horrible bout of musculoskeletal spasm... no wonder it hurt so much when trying to take a deep breath. Bronchitis has gotten better, though. I can hardly sit up with my back straight, let alone walk. The doctor said he didn't know how I managed to get to the hospital on my own. Did you know you can bruise your ribs due to coughing?

This is how it feels to me -like I'm downing poison. Every 6, 8 and 12 hours, there's always something I should be taking -doctor's orders. What's worse is that even the Flexeril I'm taking for relaxing my muscles, only slows me down, in the head, and makes me sleepy. My muscles don't feel relaxed any.

What I want is a massage therapist, acupuncturist, the scent of candles and nice soft music.

Shit. It's taken me a full 37 minutes to write just these few little lines. :o(

Wow... it's been a few years since I've watched a great game, such as the one I just watched tonight. I haven't played the game for even longer. But I'm witness to this amazing win: Sox beat Yankees 10 - 3.

Born and raised in NY, I've always loved that Yankees, yet I haven't followed them for some years, or baseball at all for that matter. But this... this was a wonderful and amazing game. Well played. I'm glad I came to watch the games only today... I would have hated betting against my friends out there to this outcome!

I'm taking my dreams online. New category at Museful.

If nothing else, it'll give you a good idea of what kind of freak I am goes on in my head when I'm sleeping.

Have you ever been so sick, that you get so bored, that you start forgetting stuff, like your head goes floating away?

I think I was going to say something important here.

Then again, maybe not.

I am Indie Girl
Click on the picture below to read more:


Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz
at CookingToHookup.com

via Monique

I'd like to see the guys take the quiz for their girl... :o)
What kind of girl is she?

Spoiler! If you didn't watch it yet -- GO AWAY!

[banner via SciFi.com]

Wanna see trailers? Images on this one look great. Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars

So they killed Ka D'Argo dead. Fun, no. Weeping, of course. New babe's name? Three guesses.

Definitely a mini-series that lived up to the name. Rygel with his post melo-depressive-drama... way too funny!

I think it was excellent. Hope you got a chance to see it.

Nothing better than watching Farscape with some tea and tissue... yeah, I'm sick and all sniffly, remember?

Plan for today:

• Take kids to doctor's appointment for a follow-up check-up
  
• Take kids to school; go home
  
• Do some laundry
  
• Clean dishes and kitchen
  
• Lunch
  
• Make a couple of phone calls (work related)
  
• Called a friend I've been worried about
  
• Mow the lawn
  
• Shower
  
• Pick up kids from school
  

How it played out:

• Took the kids to the doctor's appointment
  (+ they got their flu shot!) mind you, you didnt' miss anything with the hair-raising show they put on... after that, of course, they wanted daddy, not me. :o(
  
• It was two late by the time we were out it was 2pm - so no school, straight home
  
• Prepared lunch
  
• Made my phone calls - not the news I was hoping for, but definitely the news I knew I would receive :o/
  
• Called my friend; wasn't there -left a message
  
• Pleased my kids by playing Monopoly for two hours
  

...And now I'm here, wanting that shower, kids asking for dinner, headachy, craving coffee, and feeling blue. Yeah, I really wanted that job, but they have the temp, and in fairness to her, two weeks aren't enough to prove yourself. And if she is doing a good job, there is no need to make any changes. So I'm glad to know that's the reason for me not being hired. I've never not landed a job I interviewed for, but being as bittersweet as this is, it's not so bad.

Guess it wasn't for me... not yet, not this time. Maybe later. ;o)

Most excellent! So... watched it twice.

Yeah, call me couch potato. Nothing better to do when sick but eat soup, drink lots of water and tea, and watch TV.

Edited - (3am): I lied. I watched it for a third time. Left my studio, went downstairs for a drink, and who would have thunk it -they were giving it yet again. Encore, encore!
*grin*

I was looking forward to so many things today, it being the weekend and all, but most of all our Orlando MetroBloggers / Webloggers MeetUp (although only MetroBloggers had confirmed) first meeting. Not to mention the yummy food; we were going to meet at Kobe. It's been postponed, mostly cause a few of us are sick.

Now I'm just sick of being sick, and so are my kids. And bored. Very, very bored. Which leads to trouble with kids sometimes. They played, they drew, they watched movies, ate drank, napped, and fought. All in a day...

So I did some of all that, too. I read a little, drew a little, watched "Something's Gotta Give", which was awesome, very funny. I laughed. Didn't think I'd do that today. Wait, yesterday -it's Sunday already.

Plus, I wrote two little Haiku up at Museful, describing best and worst moments in my life. I also fit laundry in between everything I did. No rest for mom, can't call in a sick day.

You are glucose. People feed off of you. You are
sweet, caring, and a source of energy for
everyone around you. You can inspire others
with your creativity and depth, and you can
keep people alive when in times of famine.
People love you...or at least the way you
taste.


Which Biological Molecule Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

via Clayton.

All three of us are sick... both my kids and I. :o(

Went to bed at 5:30am with my daughter, woke a couple of hours later, and am awake still. Ran a fever most of the day, and my throat is killing me.

Sad, really, but I wasn't going to miss the cool breezes outside, so I grabbed a throw and sat out for a nice long while, me and my willow tree. Autumn, beautiful wonderful Autumn, I welcome your crisp embrace.

And now, to follow these three ladies: ASB, Jen, and Monique...

Name THREE of your...

Pet Peeves: drawers left open, my stuff out of place, people who try to impose themselves or their beliefs on others
Favorite Sounds: my children's laughter, cat's purr, wind
Favorite Flavors of Candy: chocolate, coffee, cinnamon
Biggest Fears: failure, loss, clowns
Biggest Challenges: accepting there are some things I can't change, letting go, falling asleep
Favorite Department Stores: I don't shop them
Most Used Words: hey, lady, geez
Favorite Pizza Toppings: mushrooms, black olives, jalapeños
Favorite Cartoon Characters: Snoopy, Bugs Bunny, SpongeBob
Movies Recently Watched: Frequency, Brother Bear, The Secret Garden
Favorite Fruits: cherries, plums, grapes
Favorite Vegetables: broccolli, asparagus, carrots

BookCrossing was awesome Tuesday night. My son BlogBoy came along, and we got to see Masked, AnnMarie, and Jenn! About time too, eh, lady? Woohoo! Terri was also there, along with both daughter and grandchild (which are both beautiful and look a lot like her), as well as Ed, and a few others. Afterwards we went to the comic book store, as Masked had invited my son, treating him to a comic of his choice –which wasn’t easy task, as my child is now addicted to comics, and he was in blissful comic book heaven. Klutzy managed to leave with a Wonder Woman stash, much to her delight. I’ll have to revisit, since there were quite a few things that caught my eye.

Since Cranky couldn’t make it (prolly cause she was working the desk inat Memphis, LOL), I gave her a call. It was very refreshing to talk with her. :o) I also owe her and her hubby the gleeful time my son and I spend pouring over his new comics.

However, I did come home to my daughter suffering a acute asthma attack. I haven’t slept since, only an hour earlier today (or yesterday by the time I post this), when I was supposed to be watching Angel reruns on TNT and fixing dinner. The only reason why I was able to squeeze in an hour nap was because my kids fell asleep. Now both my kids are sick, running fevers, and I’m not feeling too hot myself, either. My studio is now crowded with sleeping bags and books to spend the time with my kids, and also to get some drawing done, as well as finish my site redesign. So, if I break something, just know I’m fiddling with the layout. I know I’ll probably change it again soon, but I’m hoping that when that happens it will be with my own art. And that’s a good thing… a very good thing.

*Yawn*
I want sleep.

It's been like one thing after another lately, going on two months now.

Today was not an exception. Just a bunch a little things. Watched Brother Bear tonight, I can't believe I've missed it all this time! Yeah, weeping started there.

Then my son broke my new candle. This is just material, yes, but it held deep significance and is not replaceable right now.

I was on my way to my studio and heard my kids talking among themselves. They were supposed to be sleeping over an hour ago. Anyhow, I listened in, and it was deep, deep conversation. My ten year old was teaching my five year old some facts of life as he knows it. Mostly, the conversation was about the events of Sept 11, 2001. He was explaining how that day was so important and changed our lives –kid’s point of view. He began saying: "it happened on 9.11.2001, just 3 days before my birthday". The knot on my throat was almost instant. I didn't know he had so vivid details of it. He did a great job of explaining what had happened. My daughter didn’t ask why. Guess that question is for another day.

It’s hard enough to try to make sense of the world we live in as an adult.

Never thought my children would come to experience events like this in their lifetime. They are beautiful, and simple, not really complicated human beings, brimming with love and tenderness, caring, sharing, and innocent.

Sure, I say this today, when I'm involved in so many creative things.

What's in my head right now?

must.get.coffee
did i save that?
i'm hot
hungry too
½ 2 p

Because she felt moved to walk on up here, and say "Mom, can I put some of my lipstick on you?"

Of course, I said yes, and here's proof. Pucker up!

Geez, no rest for the wicked, and hardly any blogging time either. *sigh*
What have I been doing for this last little while? Job hunting. Couple of interviews which have gone well, but only one place I really have my heart set on. What's the catch? They have a temp in the position, and if she does a good job, why let her go, you know?

I'm still tryin' to catch up with my fave blog reads, which, if you are over there on the side, you're sure to see me landing around there sometime today.

I did get to visit Hunny Hive, and I like her new layout! Plus the Queen Bee's son has his own blog, and better yet, he's quite poetic. Go see at Game Domain.

Working on some art and some site redesign. Think it's time to dress this up a bit. Also doing some preliminary work, logo and site design for a business my friend and I are developing. That will take a while to launch, because we are also working on the products; lots of paperwork, too. All I can share on that matter, but I will tell ya, I'm having fun!

Sad news which I'll make short: my aunt underwent Mastectomy (the surgical removal of a breast due to breast cancer), so I didn't make the Breast Cancer walk last weekend. Anyhow, to those who knew, thanks for your support and for keeping in touch. :o) Now I'll be sending my pic and donation to the Third Annual Blogger Boobie-thon. You should join in, too.

Things are somewhat back to normal at home, and so I've been doing a little painting. Oh, how I've missed it. I hate when weeks go by without as much as a bit of charcoal or pencil caressing some paper. You see, artists like need to do it everyday. ;o)

So... that about gives you an idea of why I've been so scarce.

will try catching up with everyone, as well as your blogs.

Lot of work to do this week. Tempus Fugit -but not to my advantage.