This will be my last foray into the whole gun debate issue and so I would like to address a common objection to “ordinary” citizens owning “military” grade weaponry. I received this question from a friend recently: “How do sovereign people adequately defend themselves from their government that has vastly superior weapons?” The assumed “gotcha” response is that it such defense is obviously futile and thus demonstrating such futility ipso facto there can be no legitimate reason for a citizen to posses such weapons. This was not my friend’s intent in asking this question though; he raised a legitimate question and was seeking a thoughtful answer.
To answer this we must first ask: What is the objective of such people defending themselves? Is it to achieve an outright resounding victory or is it to merely resist? Although the former objective may be the desire clearly the difference in weaponry would make that an unlikely immediate outcome. However, resistance is a different matter. Resistance does not require equivalent weaponry, merely minimally repulsive weaponry. The truth of this is found throughout a history replete with stories of rebelling forces that were vastly outgunned and outmanned resisting against superior forces for years on end. For example, the American Indian (various tribes) resisted the growing incursions of the United States into their various territories for decades. They did ultimately lose that battle, however there was resistance. Had they been completely disarmed the resistance of the Indians would have lasted days rather than decades.

The inaugural week is not about fashion, but this is a lifestyle column, and like Joan Rivers, Tim Gunn and Women’s Wear Daily I can’t pass up the opportunity to address what the First Lady wore to the inauguration ceremony. Let me just say, the blue silk coat, designed by menswear designer Thom Browne, was a spot-on choice; it fit Mrs. Obama like the grape colored J.Crew gloves she paired with it. The coat has it all: style, fabric, color, proportion and fit. As a seamstress, I appreciate the elements of a well-made garment. I want that coat.
The fashion world reports regularly on the First Lady wearing Target, and J. Crew apparel; I admire that. But I’d be willing to bet a most treasured possession, my grandmother’s 1936 portable Singer sewing machine, that her off-the-rack choices are altered to fit her. The First Lady and her stylist understand that she can wear anything, as long as it fits her well. Her clothing reflects the proper proportions for her body type, that is, the precise hemline, jacket length, sleeve length, skirt fullness, and pant leg width, etc. She proves the point that anyone can look great, without breaking the bank, if clothes are well proportioned and fit you properly, regardless if you’re a size 6 or size 16. Men, this goes for you too; the law of fit and proportion applies to everyone.
I can hear you, “at 5’11” the First Lady would look good in a Muumuu.” Contrary to popular belief, tall people and fashion models don’t look good in everything they put on. Designers design clothing specifically for runway models, women of all body types, and the First Lady. Mrs. Obama’s designer clothing is designed and made for her, not a runway model. The key to her fashion success, whether couture or off-the-rack, is the same as yours or mine– a good tailor.

Best of the Best
Chris Hudson Couture: For couture clothing

The pansies, violas, kales and mustards are strutting their stuff in the city containers and you all need to check them out. To be fair to the “supporting staff,” there are a fair number of euphorbias, ferns, and foxgloves also looking good. But this time we are going to talk about the big, bright and colorful cast of characters – pansies and violas. Although it may well be too late to find any of these special plants in garden centers, you decide which ones you like best now and ask for them to be available next season.

Hands-down winner – and my personal favorite – is Sorbet Lemon Chiffon. This dainty, soft yellow viola has outperformed every other pansy/viola I have ever used. It “weighs in” at 6 inches by 6 inches – not very big by most standards. But what it does is bloom, bloom, bloom – and is not bothered by extreme cold or the increasing warmth of early summer days. Then there is its buttery yellow color which coordinates so well with red, orange, blue, purple, white – well, maybe not the orange – but you get the idea.
A new viola for me this year is Penny Marlies. I fell in love with the subtle purple and gold colors. While other pansies have an “in your face” attitude, Marlies seems to say “I’m classy and don’t need to shout.” Just add some plants with texture, like Red Russian Kale, and it will be the star of the show.

As a therapist, I am often asked the question, “Why therapy?” As I was creating my website, www.jenniferpsmithlmft.co I attempted to answer this question in a succinct manner. The following is my belief about one’s need for therapy.
•  As human beings, in our imperfect state, we all have challenges of one type or another that may overwhelm us and affect our personal functioning and relationships.  
• We all "get off track" at one time or another.

No matter how difficult our challenges, we all have the ability to change for the better.  The healing or resolution of our issues will require shifts in our thinking  about ourselves and about the circumstances we face, as well as new behavior on our part, and possibly on the part of the family system in which we operate.

We may not be able to meet these challenges alone, and will need the help of an objective, trained ear that can lead us to better ways of functioning and health, and therefore help "get us back on track."
Therapy is a joining of client and therapist insight that can lead to practical solutions and healthier functioning.  The result can be a more peaceful and fulfilling life and enhanced relationships.

There was no sense of mystery or confusion when hospital surgeons found 16 foreign items inside Dick Schroeder, a 74-year-old German man, during a recent surgery. In fact, they weren’t surprised at all
...because they had left them there.
Sixteen pieces of medical equipment were left in one man, including “a needle, a 6-inch roll of bandage, a 6-inch long compress, several swabs and a fragment of surgical mask,” according to England’s Daily Mail.
A fragment of a surgical mask?
Did a nurse eat part of the mask during the surgery, only to stuff the rest into Herr Schroeder for a snack later in the procedure?
OK, wait; take a step back before you judge. How many times have you accidentally put the remote control in the fridge (or something similar) when you had other things on your mind?
That makes it alright... right?
Anyway, Schroeder began to think that something was wrong when he experienced discomfort while attempting to sit up.
After discovering the nature of the “stabbing” pain, it took two further surgeries to remove the items from the man, who only wanted the docs to work on his prostate in the first place.
I’d bet dollars to doughnuts that the hospital charged Schroeder, not only for the last two operations, but also for the tools that they “lost” in their patient.
Unfortunately, Schroeder lost his battle against prostate cancer last year, but his family is still seeking reparations from the Hannover hospital that stuffed their pappy like a piñata.
Allegedly the family is asking for approximately $127,000 from the hospital, who was ready with a counteroffer: $660.
Not acceptable.

Printed in the January 24, 2013 edition.

The 2013 legislative session started smoothly on Jan. 14th with the House re-electing Speaker David Ralston and Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones. Our 47 freshmen members (out of 180, a fairly large class) started introducing bills with the usual excitement– the excitement that comes from the first opportunity to act on ideas they could never do anything but talk about before. There will be some interesting committee hearings in weeks ahead!