Easter, 2008

FROM THE BACK OF EDDY CREEK ON LAKE BARKLEY --- Today, Christians around the world believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from his tomb and walked once again among his followers. It is all about belief and faith. The following story shared with me by Lynn Beckman, a dear friend and former student of mine who lives in St. Louis with her husband Bob, a surgeon is another prime example of the power of belief. I hope you enjoy the "Eagle" story.

Freedom and Jeff

Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998,with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't open all the way, even after surgery.... it was broken in 4 places. She's my baby.

When Freedom came in, she could not stand. Both wings were broken, her left wing in 4 places. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet's office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there, looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in, everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her dowl cage, and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington. We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ, plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving. I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests, and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone.

So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me, to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that, for I don't know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled, and he swore he could feel her power course through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom's.

Hope you enjoy this.

Jeff

Jeff Guidry and Freedom are at Sarvey Wildlife Center

Until next time.
Dr. Darryl
L. Darryl Armstrong
www.armstrongandassociates.org

Take a look and then decide

From my friend Sean ...

From a CPA! Pass it on!

www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html

Taxes under Clinton 1999 Taxes under Bush 2008

Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single making 30K - tax $4,500

Single making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 50K - tax $12,500

Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Single making 75K - tax $18,750

Married making 60K - tax $16,800 Married making 60K- tax $9,000

Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 75K - tax $18,750

Married making 125K - tax $38,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250

If you want to know just how effective the mainstream media is, it is amazing how many people that fall into the categories above think Bush is screwing them and Bill Clinton was the greatest President ever. Hillary and Obama say they will repeal the Bush tax cuts and a good portion of the people that fall into the categories above can't wait for it to happen. This is like the movie The Sting with Paul Newman; you scam somebody out of some money and they don't even know what happened. The web site above, has the detailed numbers.

Until next time.
Dr. Darryl
L. Darryl Armstrong
www.armstrongandassociates.org

Buy a ...

SPRING DAY ON EDDY CREEK --- Today you would think that spring is about to spring here on the Lake, however, rain is headed our way again. From my friend Lynn in St. Louis all the reasons why I love dogs ... thanks Lynn.


If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him,
and never say its not quite as good as his mother's........... buy a dog.


If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want.... ... buy a dog.


If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't care
about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies....... buy a dog.


If you want someone who is content to get on your bed just to warm your feet, and whom you can push off if he snores....... buy a dog.

If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care
if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if
every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves
you unconditionally, perpetually........ buy a dog.

BUT, on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come
when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair
all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night, only
comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence
is solely to ensure his happiness......

Then buy a ............ c.a.t.

Until next time.
Dr. Darryl
L. Darryl Armstrong
www.armstrongandassociates.org

Living in Kentucky

FROM THE BACK OF A FLOODED EDDY CREEK ON LAKE BARKLEY --- Folks the drought is over in Kentucky and I expect elsewhere yet the "scientists" out there supporting global warming, the coming ice age, and anything you eat will kill you theories will most likely tell you differently.

For the first time since we have lived here we have Lake Barkley above flood stage. Now don't get me wrong, we live high enough on the hill away from the water that if it gets to us then the Second Flood has come, however, those in low lying areas are most assuredly moving out.

So, today I share with you beyond the rants a little ditty from my friend Lynn in St. Louis about "Living in Kentucky" as seen through the eyes of the great comedian Jeff Foxworthy.

"Girls from New York, they are tough. And girls from Georgia, they
are sweet. But those born and bred feisty Kentucky girls... they are the ones you have to look out for. They have sugar and fire in their blood. They can ride a horse, be a debutante, throw a left hook, and tell you the entire UK lineup, all while making sweet tea. And if they have an opinion, you get to know it. They are both the pride and the downfall of the bluegrass." - Ashley Judd

Jeff Foxworthy on Kentucky:

If someone in a store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you might live in Kentucky.

If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead, you might live in Kentucky.

If your town has an equal number of bars and churches, you might live in Kentucky.

If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who
dialed a wrong number, you might live in Kentucky.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A TRUE KENTUCKIAN WHEN:

Vacation means going north or south on I-75 for the weekend.

You measure distance in hours.

You know several people who have hit deer... more than once.

You often switch from heat to AC--and back again--in the same day.

You see people wearing camouflage at social events - including weddings.

You install security lights on your house and garage, and leave both unlocked.

You carry jumper cables in your car, and your girlfriend or wife knows how to use them.

'Down South' means Tennessee to you.

Your neighbor throws a party to celebrate his new pole shed.

You go out to a tailgate party every Friday.

Until next time.
Dr. Darryl
L. Darryl Armstrong
www.armstrongandassociates.org

Saturday, March 15th Alabama

BEST WESTERN --- I like driving because it gives me ample time to think and reflect. The older I get the more I tend to do that. Life flies by as you mature. My Mother was right again.

So, in the mood of reflecting I would suggest a few things for you to consider:

1. People are not appalled at Eliot Spitzer because he got caught spending $80,000 on a hooker(s) they are appalled because he is a hypocritical politician and that has now been confirmed. Republican or Democrat the vast majority are as worthless as "teats on a boar hog" and yes, Jack Kemp that goes for you too! I was amused at the dance and weave job Kemp did on "Sean The Vanity" program yesterday.

2. Ted Kennedy, D-MA the dishonorable Senator from the "Taxachusetts" state, who in one breath --- something he didn't try and give the woman he left to drown --- wants alternative energy developed but then objects to wind farms off the coast from his mansion has now been caught ordering his yacht jockey to dump diesel fuel into the water of Martha's vineyard. Go figure.

3. All legislators on both sides of the aisle need to be sent back to their homes and the laws changed so they have to meet once every four years to pick their noses and sleep at taxpayer expense. There also should be a law that requires them to rescind two laws for every law they pass and to pass a tax on their consumption of alcohol while in session. This would provide a great coffer of funds for the beleagured state budgets out there.

4. DNC and RNC should be taxed for each solicitation they make to us wanting our money to defeat the evils of the other side. Imagine the tax revenue from this excess.

5. Women wonder why men stray or vice versa? Easy enough answer - when people of either gender don't get what they want and need at home they ... fill in the blank for yourself. This doesn't require psychobabble like we saw spread like manure across all the networks last week. In this case Dr. Laura has it right.

6. Finally, if we are lucky we might have one true love in our life. Let's hope Alzhiemer's doesn't erase those memories.


Until next time.
Dr. Darryl
L. Darryl Armstrong
www.armstrongandassociates.org

I will not apologize

FROM THE BACK OF EDDY CREEK ON LAKE BARKLEY --- I will not apologize. For those of you that know me, you know I am a patriot. I believe that is one of the things missing from many of our citizens today. I would lay down my life for my wife, my family, my dogs most likely and my country. I am a good ole southern boy and I am proud of it. I love my country, apple pie, the American Flag, my Momma, and my family and friends. I could be called a redneck and that would be okay because many members of my family are and were. Rednecks got their names from the sunburn that they often experienced around their necks from working in the fields.

Which leads me to share this next little ditty with you.

This is a video of the Cactus Cuties, they are very talented young ladies ranging in age from 8 to 13 and in this video are singing The Star Spangled Banner.

The performance was at the Texas Tech vs Texas basketball game January 20, 2008 in front of over 11,000 people.

The Cuties are Andi, Baylee, Blaire, Madeline and Tatum. The group is named for the Cactus Theater in Lubbock, Texas and are coached by Cami Caldwell.

I suspect this will bring on the goose bumps (and maybe tears) if you also are a patriot but that's okay.

This is the way our National Anthem should be sung!

Cactus Cuties

P.S. I can't watch a video like this without getting teary-eyed. I've always wondered what my daughter (Sirah Ilyana was going to be her name) would have had as a talent. I would have been proud of her talented or not. Certainly, her Daddy couldn't sing or play anything for sure. She would have been 21 years old this year.

Until next time.
Dr. Darryl
L. Darryl Armstrong
www.armstrongandassociates.org

9 March 2008 - "I did this lecture really for only three people"

FROM THE BACK OF EDDY CREEK ON LAKE BARKLEY --- The snow that dumped about 6 inches here and there on us but never materialized into the massive winter storm predicted by our local weather forecasters is already beginning to melt away. In fact it is supposed to be in the 60s by Wednesday.

The three "boys" have enjoyed it especially Max, the Alaskan Malamute, who now thinks this is pretty good living. Stimpy is enjoying it at his own pace and does continue to take his daily walks with us when he chooses now. There are days when I can't get him to go at all. Little Bit is forever the be close kind of guy who has your back.

Today, I want to share with my readers two You Tube videos.

The first is from a friend of ours in southern Illinois whom we met doing some work for an engineering company down in Paducah. It seems that her son was brutally beaten by two young men all because they were jealous over the fact he was dating one of their former girl friends. These hoodlums left this young man to die in a park. The quick action of EMTs and medical personnel saved his life and the dedication of PTs in rehab has him on the road of struggle back to normalcy, whatever normalcy may be for him in the future continues on. The first video below is the current status of this brave young man Brady, his family, his caregivers and his belief and faith in God. I suspect you will find it as inspiring as I did.

Brady's Road to Recovery

This second video is truly important to me at this time in my life. On those days when I am really feeling about as depressed as I can get I need something like this to remind me of the delicate nature and real frailness of life. Yes, this is an Oprah video from a college professor whom we can all learn a great deal from about the true meaning of life and death. Peace be with you all.

The Last Lecture


Until next time.
Dr. Darryl
L. Darryl Armstrong
www.armstrongandassociates.org

Life goes on

FROM THE BACK OF EDDY CREEK --- I sincerely want to thank all of you who have so kindly inquired about me and Stimpy the past few weeks. I have been traveling extensively with my work and have finally settled in here at home for a few days before all this madness starts all over. I am fighting a pretty severe depression sadly because I know that the inevitable will come with my buddy Stimpy. However, at this time he is still hanging in here, eating pretty good now that I am fixing him some venison from last year's take, taking his daily walks most days although dislikes the bad weather especially cold and rain, and sleeps a great deal.

This evening we are all hunkered down with a huge storm system pelting us with massive amounts of rain.

I promise to update you better and more often in a few days when I conquer this overwhelming feeling.

Until next time.
Dr. Darryl
L. Darryl Armstrong
www.armstrongandassociates.org