Getting prepared for surgery is more than showing up and signing in. There's the blood work, EKGs and other tests to make certain the body will withstand the surgery. I'll do my final "check in" on Monday for the Thursday knee replacement.

It has been nearly two months since I went on what should have been a pleasant vacation to Zion and Bryce Canyon. A day and a half into it, my foot gave way, resulting in my leg going one way and my knee in the opposite direction. The result was a loud  crack which I still hear. My good friend Pat bore the brunt of my pain. Hopefully, I get to make it up to her and myself once the rehab is over and my life, I HOPE, begins anew.

I've made lists for my lists but I fear I will forget something. I'm now at day 5 before surgery, so I've stopped takipng anything containing aspirin and stopped the intake of spirits. After the accident, we went thorough the house and removed temptations that could get me in trouble, like throw rugs and anything I could snag the walker on. That, and the cute toilet riser will remain in effect until need is over.

My friend Clare (bless her) is returning to take care of Sandy and Frisbee when I'm in the hospital. She's going to stay with me when I get home from the hospital when I face...... we'll see.

I've paid my bills, cleared both desks and made an appointment for a final manicure and pedicure. This is anything but frivolous! It serves as psychological lift and gets my toe nails cut because I have no idea when I would be able to reach them again.

I've also let select family and friends know where my stuff is. I fully intend to go in and come out of the hospital but one never knows. It goes back to my Girl Scout training of being prepared.

My doctor already has my advanced medical directives, including my desire to be cremated at the end-end. Lean as my estate is, there's enough to take care of my end proceedings with a bit left for distribution, as indicated in my will. Those in charge know what to do.

Within reason and without climbing ladders (I'm already having a knee replaced), I intend to clean up some of the stuff around my house that even I don't know what to do with. There's an endless number of pictures of people whom I don't even remember. I am going to try to scan and archive and keep with the rest of my photos that reside on my external hard drive. During rehab, I will upload to an online service for all who are interested to see.

Over the years, if someone has admired something I possess, I have indicated "it's yours once I'm dead." I mean it. If you see me in the next couple of days, reenforce your wishes by putting your name on the back of a painting, piece of furniture, electronics or whatever.

Other than four more days of unending pain, I am ready for this. I thank those friends who have made this very long two months bearable; particularly Barb and Donna of the shower watchers and I will remain eternally grateful to Larry & Carol for being the "poop" brigade....

Still nervous, as anyone should be before surgery, I am a bit comforted that my house is in order and my final wishes known.

Now for a totally scientific request.............. please keep your fingers crossed!

While it has always been my intention to blog from this site, once again, life has provided a detour.

I am happy to be presenting my column, "...in the real world..." on the following site:

http://banning-beaumont.patch.com/columns/in-the-real-world.

AOL has seen the wisdom to create patch.com. Please log in to see if your hometown, or current city is listed. Community journalism is how I see us reaching the people we are directly connected with. As my favorite editor said, what is really important is being "fiercely local."

Please participate and thanks,

Gail Paparian

Turning a failed business center into a center of learning
Published: Friday, November 19, 2010 12:14 AM CST
Jim Smith and Gail Paparian
For the Record Gazette

The mid-term elections are over and when the dust settles Measure U will not have the necessary 55 percent votes to bring a new Mt. San Jacinto campus to Banning.

The Measure U bond proposal couldn’t have been floated at a more economically starved period in recent history. Many of us who supported and voted for Measure U realized that the timing and people incurring any more debt would be an uphill battle; and so it was. The silver lining is that the charge could be mounted again in two years, or so, with another bond, with a more positive result.

I had dinner the other evening with a friend (who, sadly meets two of the criteria as outlined in this title). He's a wonderful man, bright, intelligent, focused and dedicated to making a difference in the world.  As I said, "too old, too young, gay" - and I forgot about "taken."

I was momentarily stunned (oh, get over it) when he queried how my 'social life' was. I don't believe that I've had one in the past 6 1/2 years; save for a few actual "dates." My friend nearly spit into his ice tea when I described the "casserole brigade."

If you don't know what that is, it's basically a processional of women who cook up their best dish and bring to to a male who has either been recently: widowed, divorced or resuscitated! I've never partaken of this because I: hate parades, prefer to be the recipient and only like to prefer one meal every few days.

I guess I'm spoiled because I have and have also cultivated a great number of friends before dear Bill left because he was just worn out. Still, I hate the bar scene (did that in my 20s when I was a size 5) and when I have, I've come home with a terrible headache and a huge bar billl

I "vaguely" participate in a really great group (Social Singles, for those reading this and live in Sun Lakes) and once my pain level becomes humanized, I plan to be a better joiner.... something I don't do well.

Still, I would love to meet people.... yes, a man, to engage in intellectual stimulation, go to theater, movies, lecture, play golf, et al. without having to make or think about a long term commitment. Holidays can and do get lonely. Again, my friends include me in many of their activities as the small family I have lives far away.

So, dear dinner friend, thanks to people like you,  my "social life" is ... wonderful.

By Gail Paparian

It was the only item on the September 14, 2010 Banning City Council meeting agenda … what to charge for the new water/wastewater rates. The rate study had been completed (and billed for); Interim Finance Director Kirby Warner made “staff’s” opinion known.

For a moment, forgetting the facts and the history of why water rates haven’t kept up with capitol needs is not the issue: “Urgency” ordinance was and it was ignored. The Banning city council . . . all of them “continued” the “urgency” issue for another month; albeit some reluctantly! What would they do if something was really urgent!

Countless people got up and . . . said the same thing; after the first original points were made. “It’s against Prop 218,” “it’s illegal,” “blah, blah, blah.” The frustration was real, the information brought forth (as presented as “fact”) wasn’t.

Back in 2005, I was one of the lone “published” voices of what was happening with the $35 million bond issue. Paul Toor was an employee, and so was (then city manager) Randy Anstine (and assistant city manager/finance director) Bonnie Johnson.

Banning had “mortgable” assets: the water and wastewater department of the city. (The city runs its own water/wastewater department). Because the “assets” were real, bonds “could” have been issued on these assets but as it stood ALL OF THE BORROWED MONEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN USED FOR WATER/WASTEWATER PROJECTS.

This is when the “Banning Utility Authority” was created. By its formation, bonds could be sold and used for ANY projects within the city of Banning CIP (Capital Improvement) or otherwise. By lease agreements, money could (and was) transferred to the general fund allowing $17 million to be spent on the erection of the new police station.

Here’s where I’ll say, “check my facts” and if I’m wrong, I’ll buy you a dollar cup of coffee and the recently purchased Haven; the property on the corner of San G and Ramsey that the redevelopment agency paid at least $750,000 to rehab while it was being run by a church by volunteers!

Where’s the Return on Investment? Where are the jobs? Where’s the sales tax being produced from one of Banning’s critical commercial corners. I wish the new owners ongoing and continued success soon.

The Prop. 218 mandated numbers (50 % of registered voters plus 1) fell about 800 votes short of mandating that an increase couldn’t be passed along to the (already) beleaguered residents and (few) businesses in Banning.

Enter the formerly silent giant…. The Sun Lakes Country Club Master Board who voted (unanimously…. Not the residents, the board) to open a petition to recall the Banning city council…. Well, not all of them, just John Machisic, Barbara Hanna and Don Robinson. Since Bob Botts and Debbie Franklin are running for re-election, the powers that be decided to leave their fate to the voters (7 are in the race for Franklin’s and Botts’ seat).

While Machisic and Hanna were on the city council that created the Banning Utility Authority, thereby selling the bonds without a vote of the people, why is Don Robinson involved in the “recall” – save that he sits on the same council. Bob Botts and Debbie Franklin were NOT elected in 2005 (the year or the dastardly bonds) so don’t shoot them, besides, if they are six months from re-election, by law a recall is not an option.

What we have is a dilemma. The city of Banning CANNOT AFFORD THE LUXURY of defaulting on the bond payments and covenants…. It’s that simply. If the city of Banning acts with reckless abandon (as the state of California continues to do), the consequences could be dire. The worst case scenario: the bond holders call in the entire $35 million! While a long shot, it IS possible.

Rather than allowing our local legislative body to put their collective head in the ground, important and unpleasant decisions must be made…. Yesterday.

The beleaguered city of Bell, CA has become a bell-weather of what NOT to do in a city. We as resident-tax payers have no choice but to suck it up and make sure our bond indebtedness is paid.

As I see it, our salvation is not to continue to find ways to cut more services; it is to create a tax base and an economy in Banning to make all of us want to stay. I shudder to think what many residents will do when the housing prices make selling one’s home realistic!

While I haven't hated my name (Gail), I have known people throughout my life who have despised theirs.

In my mind, there's a simple solution. Because one's parents were: intoxicated, stoned, ignorant, not caring, they didn't know any better, they foisted "their" choice on us. Good/bad for them!

I want to know how YOU feel. Do you think that when one reaches 18 years of age (in most places) and reaches their majority, they should be able to check a box that says, "I Want To Change My Name."

Like when you are shut out of a website, you would be able to enter your (existing) name. Then a box would offer," what is your desired name? Wow, a choice! I would either say: 1) Leave it alone, mine's fine, or 2) Make me "Samantha."

My husband's name was "Bill", yet many people referred to him as "William." We/I call my son "Michael" while many folks refer to mike as "Mike." Dave/David, Jim/James, Judy/Judith, Doug/Douglas . . . and the beat goes on.

Me,,,, I've always wanted to be named Samantha. When I was a tomboy, "Sam" would have allowed me to compete in the all boys Little League. Upon growing: (breasts, intelleigence, whatever), I would have opted to "Samantha" - the mysterious.

Please allow me to continue what I am starting out as a discussion group: current called a blog. Click the "comment" -- then do.