tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63788115427424506902024-03-05T02:53:46.436-06:00Coward's Corner with LuckieA voice in the wilderness crying, "Without vision, the people perish.."NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.comBlogger383125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-76454572570475540172013-05-16T09:14:00.002-05:002013-05-16T09:29:15.341-05:00UPDATE: HEALTH, OTHER ISSUES AND TOPICSSince my A-Fib ablation, I still seem to have a social life of medical appointments. It has been 8 months and I still am in sinus rhythm. However, the heart, a living, breathing, self-regulated pump, is an intricate organ.<br />
<br />
In fact, I have been even more awed by my Creator's Mind, in my experience with my now aging pump. The human pump has similar functions to a man-created pump. It has valves, mechanism for operating power, etc. I don't profess to understand all the mechanical operations of either pump.<br />
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But I digress; I am still in a healing process. Recently I wore an heart event monitor, which is a portable EKG, for a month, to see if the ablation was a success and what else may need attention, as I had a high heart rate (pulse).<br />
<br />
The result was the ablation for A-Fib was still successful (perfect sinus rhythm) but I was left with another anomaly known as paroxysmal supra ventricular tachycardia [PSVT].<br />
This anomaly is portrayed in old comedies where upset elderly characters have 'palpitations.'<br />
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PSVT not considered dangerous, but will wear the heart out if persistent. Treatment is using a drug class usually contraindicated for asthma patients (me) known as beta blockers. However, since my retirement, newer drugs in this class have been developed which selectively target only heart, not lung beta receptors, at least somewhat better than the older drugs.<br />
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Later if drug therapy is not successful, an electrophysiology study (EPS) may be done, where areas may be ablated. I think another name is heart catherization study. All the 'electrical' intricacies which are so finely coordinated in a well-functioning heart are examined.<br />
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One welcome result of the month-long annoyance of the heart event monitor--no more blood thinners.<br />
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Please excuse the technical stuff.<br />
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This week we are trying out the smallest dose of a selective beta blocker drug--brand name, Toprol-XL.<br />
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All of this medical social life has really inhibited how I had orginally imagine life would be if I could get the A-Fib fixed. Further I expected to be able to return to my old routines and not tire. Hmmm....I forgot that was at least 3 years ago--I am 3 years older.<br />
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I had envisioned being able to enjoy fishing without worry and frustration of all the chores I left undone-NOT! My community and church volunteerism have become more chore than enjoyable, something I really regret and simply must resolve.<br />
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My camera has largely been abandoned although I have photos of recent hens and chicks. My plants have lots of peeps. I find it humorous the plants name has no rooster--guess you can say it is built-in.<br />
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Somewhere I personally have to find a balance within which I am comfortable.<br />
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The last chapter in the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes is an allegorical description of aging. I think I remember the chapter location....no golden years there.<br />
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What happened to the GOLDEN YEARS? I supposed the phase depicts our conception of not having to work for income daily. Unfortunately even this may not be the case for the generations following me.<br />
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I wish to give a shout to a post by Arkansas Patti entitled <a href="http://thenewsixty.blogspot.com/2013/05/rerun.html">RERUN</a>. I hope she archives her many posts for her family. This post so relates to many of my generation in the South even as far as Texas where I grew up in multi-racial culture, including what AP describes in this blog.<br />
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We had more Latinos that African Americans. We called them Mexicans which I always interpreted as a person from Mexico, but that has become political incorrect, too. One Latino was in my circle of friends.<br />
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In first grade --time frame WWII-- my best friend was a little girl--white--but GERMAN. I was appalled the names my classmates called her, to the point I remember in tears telling my Mother, who urged me to continue my friendship.<br />
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Texas has its own ugly racial and cultural history.<br />
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Oh yes, there is many types of discrimination and hatred. Some is popping up on the political landscape. That is why I refuse to participate in any discussions along these lines. In fact I do not declare a party to get my absentee ballots mailed to me automatically. I just don't vote in primaries.<br />
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My aged near 77 year old memory may fail me, but I believe I declared a party only once in my life and regretted that. My voting is private and may favor one flavor, but I have voted for candidates in both major parties, and once in awhile a lessor party.<br />
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By the way how many of you are having problems composing or posting with Internet Explorer 10? Or your posts look crazy in anything but Google Chrome? Even in Google Chrome, if I use large photos, the text overlaps the photos. These problems are only one excuse for my lapse in posting. I cannot solve them and dislike a post that appears to have layout problems. I make enough typing errors.<br />
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Well back to the medical/social routines.<br />
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<br />NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-39119278624368033252013-04-07T05:30:00.000-05:002013-04-07T05:30:01.070-05:00...AND GREAT WAS THE FALL THEREOF [Matthew 7:21]<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITX15G9kX_HNRb8rFYS5Txx9dBb8VJjuVxGh0M_yX31eMQJh2VDzEkYeFsG-QBXk0nJUk_IdmucrcVkLB0XNHHCuUJWUaB7eYDMpH8OALCcddFT-O5uqpK0S91Skzc8YngeFcfx1Qn-ZS/s1600/Shenadoah+Park+Drive+Overlook+-Appalacian+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITX15G9kX_HNRb8rFYS5Txx9dBb8VJjuVxGh0M_yX31eMQJh2VDzEkYeFsG-QBXk0nJUk_IdmucrcVkLB0XNHHCuUJWUaB7eYDMpH8OALCcddFT-O5uqpK0S91Skzc8YngeFcfx1Qn-ZS/s640/Shenadoah+Park+Drive+Overlook+-Appalacian+trail.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Shenandoah Park Overlook at Point on Appalachian Trail;<br />Post to Left is a Trail marker, crude steps and trail seen<br />near it. The Overlook is toward the Shenandoah Valley.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[This photo is SOOC, straight out of camera.]</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>or is it 'pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall'? [Proverbs 16:18] which we often misquote 'pride goes before a fall'? I certainly hope not the second application; certainly this post'</b></span><b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">s title is part of a parable where unwise and careless choice of a building site resulted in sad great collapse.</b><br />
<b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, at least one of these Biblical quotes might apply to the above photo, taken on the Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park, a drive we took after attending the U.S.S. Henley reunion in Plattsburgh, NY en route to husband's sister in Aberdeen, NC.</b><br />
<b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After the reunion of the USS Henley in Plattsburgh NY, one of a number of ships to which Husband (H) was assigned, I chose the Skyline Drive as alternative to Niagara Falls debacle, which allowed us to briefly visit H's family, more or less en route home.</b><br />
<b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is a beautiful 100-mile photogenic drive connecting to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The leaves were not turning, but there were stunning overlooks of the Shenandoah Valley, as above photo and the Virginia Piedmont on the opposite side of the road.</b><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Sometimes I become too involved in my photographic endeavors, to get just the right shot. Here I wanted to be sure I had a part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Trail">Appalachian Trail</a> as well as the vista. The many overlooks have paved sidewalk and curbing as well as railing. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>When I am involved in composing, I am completely unaware of my well-being. Having 10 year old artificial knees, backing up while looking forward is a no-no. I know it, but as I said I become too absorbed in the process. H was just about to yell, 'watch where you are,' when one step backward sent me tumbling to the pavement. backward.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Momentarily stunned, I surmised nothing broken, but getting upright with artificial knees requires assistance. We carry a sturdy folding chair with us. H had to dig it out from our heavily packed pickup and hold it just right for me. Usually, a garden pad beneath one knee is helpful but we forgot that item. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>With his steady hold on the chair, I painfully regained an upright vertical position.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>During this period, a very nice biker and sister stopped to assist us. We talked a long time as he, too, was a veteran. It was a delightful interlude, despite its beginning. A veteran will help a veteran, no matter what branch of service; it so happened both biker and H were Navy guys.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>We each continued on our separate ways. On arrival at H's sister, she quickly found a out-patient free-standing clinic in a shopping clinic with X-ray facilities to determine if painful shoulder bones were intact. They were just severely bruised as was one boob upon which my Nikon camera plopped undamaged. A mild pain medication made the remainder of trip manageable. Bruising was excessive due to my taking blood thinners.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I commend the excellent day clinic which accepted a stranger's insurances without question and provided very rapid care just before closing for the day.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And the interlude with the biker was a pleasant addition to the otherwise unpleasant fall. Since they saw our dilemma and turned around to return and check on us--just shows how there are still good Samaritans among us, but we never read about them. You never know when you will meet angels unaware, and hopefully I have an opportunity somewhere, sometime to return the favor.</b></span>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-61580424160192649372013-04-05T05:30:00.000-05:002013-04-05T05:38:27.126-05:00A RAMBLING SMILING POST, CREDIT TO MOOD LIFTERSAnytime I have an appointment with my nurse practitioner who serves as my primary care provider, I leave uplifted.<br />
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She explains things that are bothering me like my balance has lost its way. With no whit of notice one leg may cross the other while walking or if I step backward, there is a scary redundancy of backward steps...or a sway from wall to wall. These are usually momentary instances with no feeling of lightheadedness....just happens.<br />
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It seems the method in which heart medications work with the heart, leaves other body organs and functions with less functionality. I know from reading many drug interactions, functions and purposes, this is a complicated, intertwined near inexplicable process.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbrOJ2qpg43bqDllyDsy1oyiRHEs37oFm-s-A5p0QJZdKSAS0WEpxExEOESi3TwtjPrPje_3ndntcXBXlu4j-hUWWbcDoLIXwXt61xe-lB4OdxCScr5rYpZ5JCJ1U-LdjQhmnM1Nbw8Fo/s1600/Bagpiper-MemorialCeremonySOOC-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbrOJ2qpg43bqDllyDsy1oyiRHEs37oFm-s-A5p0QJZdKSAS0WEpxExEOESi3TwtjPrPje_3ndntcXBXlu4j-hUWWbcDoLIXwXt61xe-lB4OdxCScr5rYpZ5JCJ1U-LdjQhmnM1Nbw8Fo/s640/Bagpiper-MemorialCeremonySOOC-1.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Bagpiper-Plattsburg NY, USS Henley<br />
Memorial Service - Played Amazing</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"> Grace [I have posted before; it is<br />
SOOC-straight of camera]</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But the bottom line is I have to deal with the bad side of every drug or procedure that is making my heart and life <u>improved</u>....more or less deal with it, but she says it in a smiling manner. That includes the %$!@^&* heart event monitor--I have 1.5 weeks to go.<br />
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After I heard what my half-sister in Texas pays for a housekeeper for 1/2 day's work, (nearly 60% more than I do), I smiled with great appreciation for mine.<br />
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We changed vacation to Texas to late October on advice of family as heat is much less. The bluebonnets are not spectacular this year due to 2 years of drought; so October is just as good for me.<br />
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Grand Canyon is postponed until a later date; 1700 mi one way is too much driving for H to see only 2 points of interest, although I know they both are breathtaking.<br />
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Husband has prerogative of any other trips. He is the driver. I think he may be thinking of Canada, but it is entirely his choice. I don't want him to miss the fishing season here and his summer church buddy has just arrived in our area.<br />
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He finally made appointments for Passports next Tuesday. You may remember posts before we traveled to Plattsburgh NY described tortuous events in which we found H had no legal birth certificate, hence no Passport. He does now.<br />
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This give me more time to iron out health quirks, if possible, and adapt to the aging process. (SMILE)<br />
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I know of two area events I may get to attend, one of which H is not interested. Blanchard Springs Caverns between my residence and Mountain View (I think) has 'Caroling in the Caverns' two weekends in December. A church friend's employer gets tickets for his employees; she plans to get me included, if she does not forget. Supposedly one part of the caverns has perfect acoustics, similar to the Mormon Tabernacle where their choir performs.<br />
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Then my church has a weekend of worship for all similar churches in October at Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO, which happens to be on my birthday this year. I surely would like to go once in my lifetime. I understand sometimes 3000 members attend. It is mostly music and communion on Sunday. Some of the music is similar to that which I wrote about earlier.<br />
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The two day event includes gospel music choirs, trios, quartet, etc. performances as well as mass <i>a capella</i> singing. Persons who have attended earlier events says it sounds like 10,000 angels singing--quite hyperbole....<br />
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Speaking of writing about music, I removed the music posts, because I could not clearly define if I was violating copyrights. I did not reason clearly concerning material I was using; most of my postings include my photos or ClickART which includes some permissions of use with attribution. Sorry, if you missed the posts, but, my conscience is the only honor code I have.<br />
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I have found a player which is a widget and you upload a play list to a place called playlist.com, but it is more than I want contend with at this point in time.<br />
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I considered forming a blog 'circle' of A-Fib sufferers as I know at least 3 bloggers or their spouses on my blog list with the same affliction. However, I thought it not equally fair as some of us have or are contending with other health issues, some of which are just as devastating. There are just as many cancer survivors, including me on my blog list.<br />
<br />
Praying for each other is much more productive. We all have blessings, and then there is the rest of life....<br />
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Carpe diem..<br />
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<span style="color: #bf9000;">PHOTOS: by NitWit1 unless otherwise attributed.</span>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-33648090050809689112013-04-03T09:06:00.000-05:002013-04-03T09:13:44.786-05:00NOT POST MORTEM YET<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>After my heart ablation, I was elated my heart no longer wanted to 'drum' its way out my chest; however, there are complications and other problems with which to deal. Just one more thing to worry about; except heart rate is very high--blood pressure is low normal; not a good combination.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>My case is no exception to heart and a myriad of other diseases. In case of open heart procedure, a much more dangerous surgery with possible complications, I have seen more than one patient survive and feel wonderful for a short period of time, then develop A-Fib.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The drudgery of test after test, social calendar of nothing but physician appointments, monotony of driving 32 mi round trip for cardiac rehab occur day after day. Then add a small burp of a cold, it adds more monotony to the routine.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Even though I am thought to be able to do daily routines like cook, wash clothes, housework, etc., I find myself limited in energy and desire to do so, but push myself to do what I can. When I fail my expectations, I am depressed, frustrated, even angry. I used to be able to do this.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>We have a housekeeper every other week, so vacuuming, floors, dusting etc is pretty well under control. Thank God we can afford it.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Here is what I need to do today, none or which do I possess the 'want to do.' Remember some of these involve a 32 mi round trip to a larger town.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[Take shower and re-connect an event monitor I am wearing for a month before I start the day.]</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1.</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Pick up order at Staples involving travel .</b><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2. Change cell phone carrier--a rigamole that really requires a separate post as it involves a long historical record.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3. Exercise at hospital.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>[above three are all in the nearby town-32 mi round trip]</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4. Deliver a payment for my Telecare group to local bank.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5. Wash clothes, dry and fold. [some are sheets the folding of which wear me out as I am so short.]</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>6. Cook at least one meal for two, major problem finding one common ingredient two very different people need and LIKE.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>7 .Empty dishwasher.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>....And if any time is left I have outdoor pots to plant for spring.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Plus the TeleCare group I helped organize, I am in charge of daily operations, which involves a lot of headaches.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Plus I need to schedule yearly carpet cleaning sometime soon.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I am tired just thinking about this. If and when I sit down to enjoy a few minutes on computer, watch television, read my Kindle,etc. I fall asleep and have to watch for a re-run. I routinely watch Dance Moms--thank goodness next week, the previous week' program is rerun before the new program. This happened last night. Unfortunately football games are not usually rerun, which is no fun anyway, as I already know the outcome.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>And the frustration I verbally take out on whoever will listen. I don't cry much, but the aggravation, burden and frustration is bringing me close to despair and have had severaa lumps in the throat.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The things I love do like photography are on the back-burner, and a trip to Texas to see family and bluebonnets has been postponed, but I hope gets done. My bucket list doesn't look like it will have any mark-offs.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What does husband do? I really don't know as I am too busy with what I perceive are my duties.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Today I wondered what the terms 'old as you feel,' 'old-timer,' 'old age,' 'ancient,' 'too old to cut the mustard anymore,' and similar but sometimes even less complimentary or demeaning terms mean--where am I on the scale of aging? </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Needless to say whatever is golden about age, I do not see today. Nor do I appear to be growing old 'gracefully'--whatever that term means.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I need counseling on growing old, but that would add to my social doctor calendar!!!</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>If you have some solutions..............</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>When I find time to post again, perhaps I will try to find one photo from our last vacation to show you. That may be it, too, as something will be calling me to do.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-74466055471600846822013-04-01T07:42:00.001-05:002013-04-01T07:42:22.252-05:00EXPLANATIONIn case you think I am crazy, I wrote the Easter post and scheduled it a week earlier before I decided to suspend my litany of music favorites. I completely forgot about it.<br />
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I have done a lot of reading on copyrights, plagiarism, etc. and it is a murky subject. One blogger has actually been sued and had to pay for publishing a photo. In fact photos seemed to be the most common lawsuit.<br />
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Blogger has unwittingly made using You Tube easy as it is on the menu to add directly from their menu. In fact I suspect it is the most abused site on the Internet. Uploading copyrighted material is only the beginning even with attribution. A few posts are removed, but nothing like what is published.<br />
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Most all the music I have posted I already bought on Amazon.com, but not necessarily the artist I published in any given post. I created my own CD, which I have a right to do. And I assume my post would be included. Yesterday, I think all but one were the actual ones I bought.<br />
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But the others I bought were not on You Tube, as I really had an amazing choice of artists on Amazon.com, when I decided to make my own CD. You don't have to buy an album, just the songs you want.<br />
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Later I will post the remaining list by title only, and if you are interested in listening to them, you can search by title on YOU TUBE to listen to them.<br />
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When I first started blogging, I and several of you, followed a very talented writer, artist, and humorist, whose work was so plagiarized, the blog was closed; going private did not work.<br />
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So on to other subjects when I get over this nasty, cold/allergy/bronchitis. We don't know which we are treating, so I am enduring a "cover all bases" regimen. It wa difficult chosing medications that agreed with each other and less likely to affect my mended heart.<br />
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In the meantime, I have lots of photos I have not even looked at from our vacation, as I immediately returned to have the ablation. Since that event I have spent a great deal of time trying to comply with a myriad of physician's instructions. Not easy..... <br />
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<br />NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-87219620674678557032013-03-25T05:30:00.000-05:002013-03-25T05:39:25.861-05:00A BREAK FROM SONGS TO BOOKS<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>In previous posts over the years I have been blogging, I have mentioned my childhood life. As an adopted child I grew up in a conservative religious setting, but my religious upbringing as much as my public education balanced my upbringing into a reasonably stable citizen in the world, balancing public, private and religious work, making many friends, and even local politics.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>My dearest friend from the second grade was in the same church setting as I. We have keep in touch without seeing each other often for all these years. I visited her in a Texas nursing home two years ago, and we took up talking as if we had never parted.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Today, however, I am mentioning an entire church family that was intertwined with mine in several avenues. Our fathers were both church elders and respected leaders in their businesses. Each family had 3 children in similar age groups.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Currently the eldest daughter is a personal friend to this day. She was a nurse but suffered rheumatic fever at a young age and now suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis. She took care of her parents when the other girls married and moved away. She married, also, but the marriage did not endure; she also suffered one of the worst losses I can imagine: the death of a daughter to cancer. She has her two sisters and several grandchildren and great grandchildren to comfort and help her. I try to stop by and visit her when I am Texas, which is infrequently.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The youngest daughter, last I heard, worked at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Their mother was a public school teacher, but also had a broad music background and was in a sisters trio (I think) before marriage. She taught<i> a cappella</i> singing in Vacation Bible School to many tykes like me that could not sit still or shut up. Many (not me) went on to be in adult choruses in many Texas cities. She, her eldest daughter and best friend (see above paragraphs) sung as a trio at my wedding IF I remember correctly.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I did participate in <i>a cappella</i> choruses in elementary and middle school, but transferred to band in high school--we got to take trips to FOOTBALL games; hence my knowledge and love of football. Oh yeah, I was in a community chorus in Arkansas, before it folded, and COPD with a plethora of inhalers, nebulizers, oxygen, etc. ruined what singing voice I had. However, as you can tell from my blogs, my love of music, particularly gospel, has remained to this day.</b></span><br />
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The second daughter has breast cancer, but it is not deterring her from writing two books I have purchased. She was professor of mathematics at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. </b><b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She has written more math books than I can count....math was not my best subject. </b><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">The two books I would like to mention are not math books. One is entitled </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kabumba-Friend-Sancie/dp/1478363304/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364173653&sr=8-1&keywords=kabumba+and+friend"><span style="color: #741b47;">KABUMBA AND FRIEND</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> by Sancie (which was the name by which the oldest sister's deceased daughter called her (aunt). It is a charming children's book about true friendship between two very different animals a hippo and a tortoise. It is an interactive book between reader and children. I highly recommend it, and am placing it in our church's library.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">The second book is entitled </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/BIBLE-WARM-UPS-Questions-Answers-Adults/dp/1475182163/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364175150&sr=8-1&keywords=Bible+Warm-Ups"><span style="color: #660000;">BIBLE WARM-UPS:Questions and Answers for Adults and Teens</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> by</span><a href="http://www.acu.edu/events/news/archives2005/050408_morlan_award.html"> <span style="color: #660000;">Frances M. Thompson</span></a><span style="color: blue;">. It is a collection of Biblical facts. It may be used in a number of teaching and learning situations.</span></b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">I bought the book to rejuvenate my declining memory and because I am hooked on a local Trivia Pursuit group along with my best friend here. We have found out just how dumb we are.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Who knows? They just might have a group of Biblical questions. This book is just the kind of material used. I also bought </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_31?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+big+book+of+american+trivia&sprefix=the+big+book+of+american+trivia%2Caps%2C192"><span style="color: #660000;">THE BIG BOOK OF AMERICAN TRIVIA by Stephen Lang</span></a><span style="color: blue;">. I read a chapter of two in each three times. Some of it sticks.............</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">And if you want a math book Frances may have written just the book you may be seeking. Search on Amazon.com for her name as author and her works will all be listed--at least most of them.</span></b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Yep! I am nutz, nutz nutz!</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">ADDENDUM: (Request for help) If any reader knows how to place an audio player probably a gadget/widget on my sidebar or in a post and add a musical piece or speech to it, I would love some help. I know it can be done. All of the musical pieces about which I have written previously, I <u>bought</u> from Amazon.com and have on a DVD, and thus have right to use for my personal pleasure. In most cases the musical performance is not on YOU TUBE, although some are. You may reply as a comment to this post or address for this blog. </span></b><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">As you can see I am still struggling with the copyright issue and it is a tangled web of what is ethical and right. Just because 'everybody does it' does not make it right in my eyes. </span></b>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-79697008847207671982013-03-24T11:19:00.000-05:002013-03-24T11:21:52.815-05:00DISTRESS! MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>If you are reading this post on Internet Explorer 9 or 10, the sidebar may have moved to below the post. This occurred when I upgraded to IE10. I then downgraded to IE 9, but the changes did not go away.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I have spent 3 days trying to find the solution; others seemingly have encountered the same problem. No suggestions, all of which required altering HTML which frightens me as I do not know the language, did not work. So I set it back to original language. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I am fairly sure the template is a Blogger template, which may be the only other explanation. I found the lines suggested to change in the HTML, but the suggested changes did not work.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Actually, HTML is a bit like working in the Windows Registry which I have done sufficient times to be comfortable, if I have WRITTEN directions Only. So far I have not destroyed any one's operating system.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>So I have downloaded Google Chrome where it displays the blog as I originally laid it out, until either Blogger or IE get their acts coordinated. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Now I will be composing in Google Chrome, so hope it behaves itself.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>That is as soon as I recover from the sinus, ear, nose and throat infection I have along with headache, and touch of Montezuma's revenge. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>This means I will have another addition to my social medical condition calendar tomorrow.</b></span></div>
NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-2564936505304719152013-02-01T21:32:00.002-06:002013-02-01T21:50:41.694-06:00DITTO...THIS TIME NEXT YEAR by LIZ HINDS<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On Jan. 24th Betty's <a href="http://bettysnewtrick.blogspot.com/">A Piece of My Mind</a> blog featured an e-book, <a href="http://bettysnewtrick.blogspot.com/2013/01/this-time-next-year-by-liz-hinds-i.html">THIS TIME NEXT YEAR by Liz Hinds</a> . The e-book is available on Amazon.com for Kindle or compatible readers, and may be available elsewhere, too--I am not sure. Amazon is big in UK, too.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">Liz Hinds was one of my very first followers when I started blogging. We are mutual dog lovers, almost to a fault, so we naturally blogged about her George and my Luckie. She and husband live in Wales and also she became a grandmother, I think for the first time, during my 3+ years of blogging.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">She has more than one blog, but the one I follow is <a href="http://liz-and-harvey.blogspot.com/">Finding Life Hard?</a></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">I won't review the book here, as Betty did a good job. Yes, I giggled and laughed often while reading it and when I thought of some of the situations. Persons in Cardiac Rehab had to know what I thought was so funny. Sometimes I shared and sometimes I did not, like the choice and content of certain books the central character bought for self-improvement---didn't think it was appropriate in mixed company of cardiac debilitated men and women.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">The setting and situations could just as well been American, as Wales. Some life situations are similar regardless of location. The e-book is a great read and not an epic sized book. I am likely to re-read it just for giggles....and I rarely re-read a book.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">My next read is Des Miserables, definitely not a light hearted book, but the movie peaked my interest, even though I know it will be a downer.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-20643707464597244602013-01-18T08:53:00.004-06:002013-01-18T08:53:35.265-06:00QUALIFYING AS GOOD NEWS! or A SOUL SET FREE<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today I introduce you to a soul set free of mental fear and torment by a persistent heart condition, MYSELF!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For 4+ years many of you have followed and sympathized with my battle with a common heart condition,<a href="http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/atrial_fibrillation/afib.aspx"> A-Fib</a>, short hand for atrial fibrillation, a condition 1 in 4 persons may have at some point in their lives. By the way you don't have to be a senior citizen, either. A church friend in his 40s had it, too.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Without revisiting my daily struggle and frustration of trying to live a nearly normal life at my advanced age with a chronic condition, and the very dangerous drug with narrow boundaries of safety, I am happy to report I am now nearly, if not entirely free, of the condition.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">September 27 you may remember I had a heart procedure in Little Rock, called <a href="http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/atrial_fibrillation/pulmonaryvein_ablation.aspx">pulmonary vein ablation</a>. In brief the 4 pulmonary veins which enter the heart in the left atrium were ablated (scarred or cauterized), even though only one was causing A-Fib. The reason is if one vein does, the other three veins eventually will develop the same symptom.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">After three months of healing and NO recurrence of A-Fib, my electrophysiology cardiologist removed the drug,<a href="http://www.tikosyn.com/"> Tikosyn</a>, from my regimen. After one week I have had no A-Fib attacks. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">If still symptom-free in 3 more months I will be able to discontinue <a href="http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/atrial_fibrillation/pulmonaryvein_ablation.aspx">Pradaxa</a>, a blood thinner with dangerous side effects.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">I am under no delusion. This condition can return. Drugs and ablations may, and do fade in 30% of users. I hope I am in the 70%, but, if not, I still have the same options, unless <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act">ObamaCare</a> denies payment because of age. The procedure is costly.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">But today and all the days I remain A-Fib free, I shall be thankful and enjoy freedom from drugs, fear, etc....in short a life set free from fear. I still have work to do, but I will endeavor to step into it with joy, not grudgingly...like cardiac rehab [translate exercise] and lose more weight -- oh how I need support in this!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Thank you, blogging buddies for listening and I know some of you, or your dear ones have the same malady.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Thanks to my dear husband for being there for me every step of the way, as he has his own health problems too!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Yes! Luckie, too, who often lay by my chair in sympathy as I struggled through A-Fib attacks which were more frequent in late evenings and night.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">I am commenting on FACEBOOK more and more, using it much like blogging but nearly requiring the intensity. Many of you have a FACEBOOK account. I will 'friend' you, if you request.</span></strong>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-32491659454350704152013-01-10T01:09:00.000-06:002013-01-10T01:09:27.901-06:00EPILOGUE - RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS<span style="color: #38761d;">Today I feel compelled to write an addendum to my previous post, </span><a href="http://cowardscorner-nitwit1.blogspot.com/2013/01/random-acts-of-kindness.html"><span style="color: #990000;">RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS</span></a><span style="color: #38761d;">. Sometimes the words I choose convey an attitude or feeling which I did not intend.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Briefly I had helped a gentleman, with more extreme shortenss of breath than I, access our hospital when the parking lot shuttle was not available. I carried him in my car to the entrance and then I had to walk from a remote parking area with uphill grade, which caused extreme shortness of breath myself. This scenario was complicated by bitterly cold wind, a nemesis to persons with lung/breathing deficiencies.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Two days later my deteriorating breathing had become more severe, so I made the decision I needed emergency help and went to the area emergency facility at 10 p.m. that evening.. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">My post upon reflection sounded a tad whiney that the result of my helping another soul perhaps caused me to incur the E.R. trip even though I would certainly do it again in a minute.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">The E.R. trip was a blessing as I learned I needed to have my COPD/chronic bronchitis/asthma conditions re-evaluated, and that the source of my continued shortness of breath after a heart procedure, is my lungs, not my heart.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">A few phone calls, and I am being setup for a better treatment regimen involving nebulization which reaches deeper into the lungs, which I discovered while in E.R.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Then, when my dearest friend finishes her breast cancer radiation treatments and makes an appointment with our asthma/allergy physician around March, I will also will set up an appointment for re-evaluation and assessment. It has been quite awhile since my condition has be more closely assessed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Changing medications or changing the mode of delivery into the body often is a simple solution. Also, after a long period of time, the body may ignore a routine medicine, the intended effect fades, and a sugar pill is just as effective. I've been on 5 different hypertensive drugs since 1991 when I was first diagnosed with hypertension.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Therefore I view my emergency room visit a definite plus, a blessing in disguise. Even though I travel to specialists in Arkansas and Missouri, I am thankful that we have a regional hospital in our somewhat remote rural Ozarks, which offers services not often available in similar settings. We also subscribe to an Emergency Heliocopter service which can airlift us to various metroplexes with specialized facilities -- a PLUS in our area, too!</span>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-72784114846157407942013-01-08T14:37:00.000-06:002013-01-08T14:37:00.224-06:00RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS...<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As those who follow me know, I have spent about 2 years battling common, but serious deteriorating conditions of elderly persons: lung and heart disease. Having them both, is doubly difficult for medical management, as the two systems are dependent and interdependent on each other to function perfectly synched with each other.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Although I worked in pharmacy, a profession dedicated to service to others, in retirement I have spent much time in various volunteer, charitable works, and church related welfare centered activities. I have found these activities take my mind off my own personal struggles, which staves off depression.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">However, the last two years have reduced my physical abilities in some of these activities to often spending money supporting the same services, but not nearly as gratifying.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">However, one kind of activity often pops up which I simply react; I call them 'random acts of kindness.' These pop up spontaneously and you simply do whatever is needed. Rarely you suffer from the consequences of your good intentions, but recently such a case arose.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">I am in cardiac and respiratory rehab at an area hospital 16 miles from my home. Over the years this hospital has become a regional hospital with many services offered, not ordinarily seen in a somewhat rural remote region. Although I still have to travel to larger cities for specialized care, I am most grateful we have this highly rated facility this near to me.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Like many larger facilities the parking lots are very large; handicap marked parking at a premium, and the lots involve uphill grades-- very difficult for heart and lung patients, as well as persons with physically limited mobility. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">To alleviate the torture of just getting to the front door, the hugely efficient hospital volunteer auxiliary provides small enclosed golf carts, like shuttles, run by their volunteers. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Usually there are two shuttles running, but, of course, there are the unforeseen events, such as flat tires, blown engines, volunteers not showing up, etc. Last week on Monday was one of those days; I have rehab M-W-F.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">That day was also a day there was extremely strong, bitterly sub-freezing temperature wind--not a recipe to which heart and respiratory patients should be exposed. I was dressed for the weather but not long exposure.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">When I arrived a man in my session was standing outside his vehicle waiting for the shuttle. He appears to be in more serious condition than myself -- my observation only because he was 24 hour oxygen and I'm only during night.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">He said he had been waiting several minutes without seeing either shuttle. After a few more minutes, he said, 'I guess we will have to walk and stop often to get our breath.' It was an uphill grade. I lost track how many times we stopped--about 6. We both became seriously short of breath.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">At last inside the lobby, he tossed his oxygen unit on the nearest chair and sank into an adjacent chair, breathing so heavily, I forgot about my own, and hurried inside the rehab unit to get the nurses to check on him. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">We both recovered enough to do our rehab. The shuttle magically appeared when we went by the volunteer desk. Seems the little carts are not well heated and the volunteers find a sunny spot to sit when not busy.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">But the crux of the story was the same thing happened on Wednesday. This time I put him in my car and took him to the front door, but, of course, I had to repark, and walk up the hill a second time that week. My SOB had worsened from Monday and Wednesday added to the problem. By my Friday session I really should not have exercised, but I did. (The shuttle ran that day.)</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">By the time I got home I knew I was in deep trouble breathing and could feel my heart struggling to function, even though it was in rhythm. I kept believing some rest would improve with oxygen. But NO, at 10 p.m. I was nearly shut down with very shallow breathing. I told Husband we needed to go to ER, but no ambulance.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Fortunately, we did not have a long wait: one breathing treatment, a loading dose of prednisone and antibiotics I was on my way home. And a stern warning not to expose myself to bitterly cold air. My ER visit was the consequences of ignoring, or not being prepared for the sub freezing temperatures, not the act of kindness.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">It all started commiserating with a fellow sufferer and then helping him one day with a simple car ride, so he did not have to walk two days in a row. Would I do it again. You bet, but I will have something, even a Kleenex, to cover my nose from sub-freezing temperatures. Cool air is good. Extremely hot air or cold air is a shock to respiratory compromised individuals.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">In the process I gained a gentle compatriot in our mutual aging diseases and the rehab program. I don't even know his name, except he lives in a rural community near me. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: blue;">Having also been the recipient of a few 'random acts of kindness,' I think these deeds are remembered more dearly--not that should be the purpose. We are all in this world together, and unfortunely most, if not all of us, will get of this world alive, so we should be grateful, gentle and kind to each other, especially those weaker in any respect to ourselves.</span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">No, I am not perfect; have more warts, defects, faults and failings than anybody, but as long as I breathe, I keep being a work in progress--a life long project.!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">And I have small packages of Kleenex tucked in my outerwear pockets as well as both cars, purses, Kindle case, computer cases, etc. This event also reminded me of my Mother who insisted I never leave the house without a handkerchief or Kleenex which came into use in my era. I thought it a nuisance--something else I would lose; but, as I grow older I have had several flashbacks--Mother was right after all.....</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Girl Scout motto-Be Prepared</span></strong>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-12394627483314448522012-12-25T22:17:00.001-06:002012-12-25T22:17:42.625-06:00MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR --EVERYONE<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/">National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation</a>, <a href="http://store.gaither.com/christmas-a-time-for-joy.html">Gaither's Christmas - A Time for Joy DVD</a>, Holy Scripture (St. Luke's recanting of the event) and a lovely invite to Christmas with a huge and dear friends in our church family have enriched this Christmas day for us.</span></strong><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0zgrVEcDknLydyX8nIhWs47tBowibBWgyANvaNw28vAs3YiqvsXrBkZK9QAuWoQCuQWmJ49G1pOvRaXBrt0bIIPGWCBgkCL0xTxknzHyo1l9R-o_Li8wcx8F7kX6XUSNSyycMmwCWpwV/s1600/dog1ClickART.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ0zgrVEcDknLydyX8nIhWs47tBowibBWgyANvaNw28vAs3YiqvsXrBkZK9QAuWoQCuQWmJ49G1pOvRaXBrt0bIIPGWCBgkCL0xTxknzHyo1l9R-o_Li8wcx8F7kX6XUSNSyycMmwCWpwV/s320/dog1ClickART.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Broderbund ClickArt</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">And now at 8:45 p.m. it is snowing ... how perfect a day for us, both now past 75. Plus we have talked to many of our family members in Texas and North and South Carolina.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">Prior to today we assisted our church effort in assuring 75 persons in area nursing home received at least one present at their Christmas party, assisted our small group worship in assuring one school family with 5 boys with food and gifts as well as ll children in a nearby school who would have had no Christmas otherwise. </span></strong><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9VTattUzgKjqpqGMAwj5VhJFQ2N5HcdI5pRjKADaRMp2NkXV2w-K5NB8f_DY8zMZcXGbulq4TW9gnq774iDXxd2VPzFsjEjx29TtuaMpARSapMiERw2MJX2UOtNVg-0o14XYnY-6vQhx/s1600/Cat1ClickArt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9VTattUzgKjqpqGMAwj5VhJFQ2N5HcdI5pRjKADaRMp2NkXV2w-K5NB8f_DY8zMZcXGbulq4TW9gnq774iDXxd2VPzFsjEjx29TtuaMpARSapMiERw2MJX2UOtNVg-0o14XYnY-6vQhx/s320/Cat1ClickArt.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Broderbund ClickArt</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">So we are happy Christmas campers tonight and I played around with JibJab.com composing this movie for your amusement. Pictures used of myself and Luckie are somewhat current; husband's photo is quite a number of years ago. Anyway I think the movie is a hoot, but then I have always had a warped sense of humor!!!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">I am embedding it in HTML, but if it does not show, go to my Facebook Page and you can view it there.</span></strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="-moz-border-radius: 10px; background-color: #e9e9e9; border-radius: 10px; width: 567px;">
<object data="http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=Z7vvQv3XRVevW-AudX8Hcg&service=www.jibjab.com&partnerID=holidays" height="319" id="A64060" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="567" wmode="transparent"><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param>
<param name='movie' value='http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=Z7vvQv3XRVevW-AudX8Hcg&service=www.jibjab.com&partnerID=holidays'></param>
<param name='scaleMode' value='showAll'></param>
<param name='quality' value='high'></param>
<param name='allowNetworking' value='all'></param>
<param name='allowFullScreen' value='true' /><param name='FlashVars' value='cornerRadius=10&external_make_id=Z7vvQv3XRVevW-AudX8Hcg&service=www.jibjab.com&partnerID=holidays'></param>
<param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'></param>
</object><br />
<div style="margin-top: 6px; text-align: center;">
Personalize funny videos and birthday <a href="http://www.jibjab.com/ecards?utm_campaign=Link+from+Embed&utm_medium=Share&utm_source=JibJab" title="eCards">eCards</a> at JibJab!<br />
<a href="http://www.jibjab.com/view/Z7vvQv3XRVevW-AudX8Hcg?utm_campaign=URL+Copy&utm_medium=Share&utm_source=JibJab&cmpid=jj_url">Xmas Movie e-Card</a></div>
</div>
NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-52007041683476316462012-12-12T08:55:00.000-06:002012-12-12T08:55:48.288-06:00BREAKFAST RITUAL<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After reading Arkansas Patti's <a href="http://thenewsixty.blogspot.com/2012/11/dont-you-dare-sleep.html">Don't You Dare Sleep</a>, I was reminded of our slave driving rescue dog, Luckie, and her demanding, punishing, breakfast routine.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Since I have had a surgical heart procedure and entered cardiac rehabilitation at an area hospital, I am a little fatigued at the end of a day. In fact, I have been sleeping like a baby (with night oxygen) and arising about an hour later than my previous routine.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">At 76 I am not a hit-the-floor-running creature, as in my much younger years; I sort of wander around making two different pots of coffee, sometimes forgetting the coffee grinds and having to start over, etc. Nothing like a pot of hot water for husband when he awakens!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtwixvF5A4hiUXYpQaWB-gLwC87SaAsoRecRWtW56yNlWZQWQhJZHA1DOPBhgsQn0IWRkli83PmP7bsp0BXWKEVWNkfNWVB0jQ9Qt_Pqeo39Dn8yroamOrWhSuQRpddDYHuc4t_t-Dgc4/s1600/LuckiePorcupineToy2011-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtwixvF5A4hiUXYpQaWB-gLwC87SaAsoRecRWtW56yNlWZQWQhJZHA1DOPBhgsQn0IWRkli83PmP7bsp0BXWKEVWNkfNWVB0jQ9Qt_Pqeo39Dn8yroamOrWhSuQRpddDYHuc4t_t-Dgc4/s400/LuckiePorcupineToy2011-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Abominable Toy-no nose,arms, legs tail, ears.</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">However, when all goes according to Hoyle, I usually arise, possibly use the bathroom, weigh in my bunny suit, sometimes dress or wear a robe, make two different pots of coffee (one decaf, one regular), take my morning meds, and then feed Luckie while the coffee pots finish brewing. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Luckie has this routine timed to the second. She arises when I turn on the overhead light in the kitchen/den. She patiently plays with a toy which used to be a porcupine-her favorite toy, while I go through my routine. However, if I vary one iota she starts squeaking that horrid toy constantly until I get to her breakfast which consists of two meds wrapped in cheese, followed by kibbles and fresh water. She has no patience or sympathy for an old woman. Well, she is 12 years old (more or less) which is 69 in human years for a medium size dog.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">That squeaker is the most nerve grating sound on a soul half-asleep. She squeaks it so fast, I don't think she takes a breath. She only stops when I have the cheese-wrapped meds ready for her. She brings the horrid toy and drops it at my feet; I swear she is sabotaging me, as I frequently trip over the toy and nearly fall--my punishment for being such a slothful servant to her needs. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">She then eats her kibbles faster than I can fill her water pan. Then she goes back to bed with husband.....leaving me her toy to stumble over as I carry my coffee to my lift chair. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">She has lots of toys but only plays with the squeaky ones. Maybe it reminds her of her younger chipmunk hunting days. The cute little chipmunks have moved out of our yard, because of the black monster that resides there.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">It is amazing to me that this toy (she has two of same toy in deplorable condition) the squeaker even works. I have to do surgery on all her toys as she chews any extremities or decorations off--no tails, no feet, no noses, no eyes, no ears. BUT IT SQUEAKS. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....... But we love her...</span></strong><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB87gnd1r7j0YR1FRTnngr9gyn9s_5ajPxsuUuH5o7qJxMWf6TTTdxtOIsYysXeKWbtFNkOQ-QIWA5sY4RIkjvvDuKeclLeRxCqiXpgo3YDVGiGYpb9NuGFEnuyucbdI3ZZ2Gya8AK3Bly/s1600/LuckieDozing11022009-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB87gnd1r7j0YR1FRTnngr9gyn9s_5ajPxsuUuH5o7qJxMWf6TTTdxtOIsYysXeKWbtFNkOQ-QIWA5sY4RIkjvvDuKeclLeRxCqiXpgo3YDVGiGYpb9NuGFEnuyucbdI3ZZ2Gya8AK3Bly/s400/LuckieDozing11022009-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Luckie in Her Lift Recliner</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>(Believe me, she does not use the chair's features!</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>It was a used chair that is not very useful for its</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>original intent.; plus Luckies hastily exits the chair if</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>we turn on the mechanisms. She is equal, more or</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>less, to 69 in human years.)</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-33682416750864819142012-11-30T06:20:00.002-06:002012-12-01T13:37:36.713-06:00DECEMBER - MONTH OF MEMORIES AND MIRACLES<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just a short note to honor the beginning of a special month where two "M" words mark this month to me: MEMORIES, MIRACLES</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;">It is the month that those of the Christian faith have designated the birth of Jesus Christ occurred. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;">It is the month to others that demostrating good will toward others is more evident and many memories are made--most are wonderful, lasting and warm, but sometimes otherwise. I have many wonderful Christmas memories, but in recent years at least one personal bitter memory that jaded my holiday spirit, but not my faith in my concept of the true spirit of Christmas. It is all about others, not me.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;">December is the birthday of my deceased Mother (24th) and my sister (31st).</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;">For your enjoyment I have embedded an exceptional video. I would like to see this at WalMart. No doubt it was staged to look spontaneous, but never the less, it really changed the mood of the frenzied shoppers. I found this video posted by my great niece on her Facebook account.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;">If the embedded video does not work, here is the<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152261051100043"> link</a> . ENJOY!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<object height="480" width="640"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="movie" value="https://www.facebook.com/v/10152261051100043"></param>
<embed src="https://www.facebook.com/v/10152261051100043" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="1" width="640" height="480"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Christmas shopper reminder of the <em>reason for the season</em>.</span><br />
<br />NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-23690258579495586092012-11-20T09:20:00.001-06:002012-11-20T09:20:23.757-06:00REHABILITATION<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Life takes many turns; as we age we are faced with many more it seems. We may welcome them, resent them or accept them. Some are challenges; some are not.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Right now the word in my life is 'rehabilitation.' It is time consuming in some ways, small life changes in others. Since my A-Fib heart procedure, [NOT nearly as life changing as more serious heart problems such as open heart surgery] Rehab, short for rehabilitation,includes a 3 months supervised exercise program a the local hospital 16 mi. away, more careful dietary decisions, and patience while the healing process continues (3 months). The last mentioned, healing process appears to be ahead of estimate by a lot, which is good.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I had made some dietary changes and now others, but my main problem is sticking to them so the desired effect is evident such as weight loss and better blood pressure readings.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Not being a lover of exercise, (I'd rather read a book), the exercise regimen takes grit and determination. After 3 mo. I am allowed to continue at hospital, or enroll in a local gym. It will be difficult for me to decide as price of service is about the same, but gas cost to the hospital make it a more expensive choice.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The turn-key gym near my home is not supervised, although often there are other gymnasts, maybe an instructor now and then, etc. Right now my housekeeper and mother attend and I can go with them. But they might quit at some point. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">However, this time in my life is filled with decisions and efforts to rejuvenate a physical body, mainly ignored most of its 76 yr. old life. As the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote, "for everything there is a season." This season has ended, but like the seasons change, it may return again, maybe as a photo blog only, who knows.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So I am suspended this blog until such time as I feel the need to resurrect it. Most who follow me have also slowed in their blogging and reading. Life changes for all of us--a journey with many turns, curves, hills and valleys.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It has been a wonderful time; I have made many blogland friends, met one, and would have liked to have met many more. My gmail address is associated with this blog should any of you care to contact me. It will be open as it is also associated with my facebook account which I am not closing, nor am I very active. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In conclusion I ask you pray for our nation; I have avoided politics (and specific religions) purposely, but recent current events leave me fearful of our Union's future, especially for those who will be left, after I have departed this earth.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Luckie and I will be watching many more sunrises and sunsets. We hope the same for all of you.</span></strong>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-59761721819903062772012-11-01T16:33:00.000-05:002012-11-01T19:27:19.499-05:00GOLDEN AGER TOURING GUIDE FOR DUMMIES<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gwBQdI-ARGSoJTk5TjIOrm6cIT1fjhkDVhQARI7XKioDk0WuLaSDqPpAGdVD71S2iASXzpX183NngKpB5IssWzsR68ulltxvwjV491wTJZVtUIXjRWr1us61WpXkkBrCbdQ9Iw8Esoo9/s1600/PlattsburghNYviaMO-US60towardPoplarBluffMO20120209-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gwBQdI-ARGSoJTk5TjIOrm6cIT1fjhkDVhQARI7XKioDk0WuLaSDqPpAGdVD71S2iASXzpX183NngKpB5IssWzsR68ulltxvwjV491wTJZVtUIXjRWr1us61WpXkkBrCbdQ9Iw8Esoo9/s320/PlattsburghNYviaMO-US60towardPoplarBluffMO20120209-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>US Hwy 60 Missouri toward Poplar</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Bluff MO</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is a self-help personal guide, written primarily based on trial and errors of previous vacations including some humorous, and some not at all humorous.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">We have traveled for pleasure or daily need, primarily by our own wits in personal vehicles our 43+ years of marriage, and even as adult singles. We were neither married until the ages of 32 and 33.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg43oFsF_5Yj0-6j1Yvq0jxxntC4IJQhAvDeWp8CqEaLSFcHG3LgYRJc_TKCdHHO6y_CSjElTWFTLstjwc3KSDjik45ARKq8CbjGJdP5y2EnC9CvmXPTq47H597tfTjHdLaXNTO5OGBOMI/s1600/PlattsburghNYviaMO-US60towardSikestonMO-I57-20120209-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg43oFsF_5Yj0-6j1Yvq0jxxntC4IJQhAvDeWp8CqEaLSFcHG3LgYRJc_TKCdHHO6y_CSjElTWFTLstjwc3KSDjik45ARKq8CbjGJdP5y2EnC9CvmXPTq47H597tfTjHdLaXNTO5OGBOMI/s320/PlattsburghNYviaMO-US60towardSikestonMO-I57-20120209-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>US Hwy 60 in Missouri toward</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Sikeston MO</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Over those years we were relatively safe drivers with a few warning speed tickets and one ticket (Me) which we paid. My husband had one wreck which was not his fault, nearly totalling a little Subaru truck, after we moved to Arkansas. He was not at fault. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLX6FbDeZhJuMGVvZJ7_MSHnJDgkCbviAx6uWL4hFycCldhWlz7RQAtKb4dnQn9tzOWxMjt7yKEXkAjK2xlsbaofwbe9l_3HuY1c8tN7U8hcRlI45VpYomSReoOuMpill6z2bcE6YZ62P/s1600/PlattsburghNYviaI57towardEffinghamIL-I70-20120209-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLX6FbDeZhJuMGVvZJ7_MSHnJDgkCbviAx6uWL4hFycCldhWlz7RQAtKb4dnQn9tzOWxMjt7yKEXkAjK2xlsbaofwbe9l_3HuY1c8tN7U8hcRlI45VpYomSReoOuMpill6z2bcE6YZ62P/s320/PlattsburghNYviaI57towardEffinghamIL-I70-20120209-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Roadside Rest Stop I-57 in Illinois</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Two Trees and Two Cabs</span></strong><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>heading toward Effingham IL</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Actually there were 3 cabs linked</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">together, but the 3rd one was </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">not visible from my stance.</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">I had a couple of fender benders mainly from backing up. Damages were slight.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">To sum it up we agree he is the safer and better driver, but I am a fairly good navigator and enjoy the responsibility of routing, especially after the GPS became a viable vehicle accessory. I'm techie of the two of us.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6O9n_XrwaT_bHBOfJCHY-_URc_vV8swlkV8lfrNITg1UVqhmouViAQhG2NeRt7yUZTUYkzyGukpJbKCc0gPwFp3BJP3gMPM7v4nwE93TP2Rq9mssC_tAWxFJJsgWT2Ky8YQA8m-25k1C/s1600/PlattsburghNYviaI57towardEffinghamIL-I70-20120209-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6O9n_XrwaT_bHBOfJCHY-_URc_vV8swlkV8lfrNITg1UVqhmouViAQhG2NeRt7yUZTUYkzyGukpJbKCc0gPwFp3BJP3gMPM7v4nwE93TP2Rq9mssC_tAWxFJJsgWT2Ky8YQA8m-25k1C/s320/PlattsburghNYviaI57towardEffinghamIL-I70-20120209-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>From Arkansas to middle Ohio we drove</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>in </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>rainy weather, off and on. Not stormy,</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>but</strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> often heavy, all the area we </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>traveled</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>needed </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>rain; </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>evidence of drought</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>was everywhere.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">AS we approached retirement, we mutually made our decisions to safely prolong our driving privileges without unduly endangering lives. This process primarily began at age 65, more or less. Some evolved or morphed into different decisions as we become even older. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">If I had my druthers, I would fly. My husband dislikes flying, and even more so because of safety rules after 9/11. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">My husband does most of the driving when we are together, unless he is ill. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Early on he and I discovered (1) I am too easily distracted by things I see along the road, (2) too much conversation with passengers and my reaction time as well as sight began a slow decline earlier than his.</span></strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Related to the above paragraph, we have kept our eyes in the best condition possible. We both have had the usual cataract surgeries. However, I also have glaucoma. In our late 60s we both made the decision that driving after dark was only in extreme emergency, or only in our little town. This curtailed some of our social events--but better than endangering lives of others. </span></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk899AUoh0M8vjG_v70_jFUkBDECCKZvOUoqtsulojk46toavr1z9VB3uIzQjMXlPppYseU5Bh2UaGWWXkfia7-_psgbe_6Gh70PN49BtyXFIDS1e7bioUlHwKLjIVuXZ47-dEXwPZrJU/s1600/PlattsburghNYviaI57enterintEffinghamIL-I70-20120209-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEk899AUoh0M8vjG_v70_jFUkBDECCKZvOUoqtsulojk46toavr1z9VB3uIzQjMXlPppYseU5Bh2UaGWWXkfia7-_psgbe_6Gh70PN49BtyXFIDS1e7bioUlHwKLjIVuXZ47-dEXwPZrJU/s400/PlattsburghNYviaI57enterintEffinghamIL-I70-20120209-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Cross entering Effingham, IL claims to the be t</strong></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/4116"> largest</a> </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/4116">cross </a></strong></span><strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/4116">in the world at the Crossroads of U.S</a>,</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">intersection </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">of </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">I57 and I70. </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">[Terra Haute IN east of</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Effingham, inside </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Indiana state line</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">, on I70 also</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">claims to be the Crossroads </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">of U.S.]</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">I do drive in daytime when I shop alone or have other commitments.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">(1) </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">No driving after dark, except emergencies; even then if a medical emergency the ambulance is called for the one with the medical problem. The other carefully drives to the medical facility.</span></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">(2) We have set slower top speed driving limits, but not so slow others are cursing us. We stay in slower lanes where available. I personally know my reflexes and reaction time are slower, and I have glaucoma which means peripheral vision also is becoming more narrow.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcpYYu1joKlf1ob458aIfWYPyrx4EDpmNAXusRBSbWLKnVAJsaPbR3maS8DzjPPkQnuvv0YfXvjmazzw6WRP2AWUK5phR94SR2gxhMqf-fquyDHJKNpxOH4HbW6v4mZcycWW-x3g55vOA/s1600/PlattsburghNY-IndianapolistowardColumbusOH-I70-20120309-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcpYYu1joKlf1ob458aIfWYPyrx4EDpmNAXusRBSbWLKnVAJsaPbR3maS8DzjPPkQnuvv0YfXvjmazzw6WRP2AWUK5phR94SR2gxhMqf-fquyDHJKNpxOH4HbW6v4mZcycWW-x3g55vOA/s320/PlattsburghNY-IndianapolistowardColumbusOH-I70-20120309-7.jpg" width="320" /></strong></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>In the rain again, leaving Indianapolis IN</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>headed </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>toward Columbus OH on I70</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">(3) After a near disastrous event in 2011, we have coordinated our duties as driver and navigator. His hearing is a determent to perfect communication, so if he misses a turn because he did not hear me OR the GPS 'voice,' which is feminine on both our GPS devices, he is NOT to have a panic attack, slam on the brakes on the Interstate or any other road, byway, etc., but to calmly proceed to the next legal place to exit, turn around, etc. I am to calmly, not screchingly, say 'you missed the turn but go to the next exit, or light, or block where we can safely correct our miscue.'</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTO6vX9FfZrxb6HHy5VNSycoFxvjQDtAvsq_LSQkCep-emVHbh8L_n4Tu2tkgvwMrIQVIMRWjR2KyJiYKk3kX9_dRGa3OeMlkHWtdhH9NePNKgvKL9BKdPthwVUooZRRxnPmzJsjXK5Jfw/s1600/PlattsburghNYviaColumbusOH-I71+toward+ClevelandOH-20120309-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTO6vX9FfZrxb6HHy5VNSycoFxvjQDtAvsq_LSQkCep-emVHbh8L_n4Tu2tkgvwMrIQVIMRWjR2KyJiYKk3kX9_dRGa3OeMlkHWtdhH9NePNKgvKL9BKdPthwVUooZRRxnPmzJsjXK5Jfw/s320/PlattsburghNYviaColumbusOH-I71+toward+ClevelandOH-20120309-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>In Ohio and also New York</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>there we</strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>re s</strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>tretches </strong></span><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">of Interstate</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">with walls of </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">stone, </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">brick </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">or </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">blocks</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">partitioning the </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">divided </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Interstate</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">(this was a </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">tad scary </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">not knowing</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">what </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">may crash </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">through into your</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">lane). </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Other "walls" blocked views</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">of theimmediate </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">landscape,</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">either blocking </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">blight or perhaps</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">blunting traffic noise/fumes from a</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">residential </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">neighborhood. I have</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">seen </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">one </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">such wall </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">near Conway AR</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">where an </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">effluent </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">residential closed</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">community is </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">being developed.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Reminds me of the </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">old </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">pop song</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">of my teen </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">year</span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">s (1956):</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvNz4DXs5Hk">Behind the Green Door</a>.</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">The above procedure worked nicely on our 4000 mi. trip through 11 states. And I am sure we have eliminated most other drivers' cursing those 'old people should not even be driving' or other profanities and/or gestures. We also try to limit mileage to 500 mi. per day, only daylight hours. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Yes, this means more motel stays, which I either make in advance, or along the way as my navigator job. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">We pack one suitcase with what we need for a one night stay. The other luggage contains the clothing and necessities for the destinations that are longer. No computers, just a cell phone and my Kindle are unloaded for one night stands along with an oxygenator (me) and a nebulizer device (husband). We both have respiratory problems.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqY_9bYli8x1xRtbURPHEwKvHwp48JK3_Trkpu9rb89MiUVloUdZu9SjsB1-5uV5Et8qK07G4kcFwYSPvHaWO45jTptsboXOVSS0e_fZk32VRXKqXkXXHiawgPEiCbd1woUNs3_ZuP6KqA/s320/PlattsburghNYviaClevelandOH-I90towardEriePA-20120309-9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Long Elegant Brick wall near</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cleveland OH </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">[See comment on</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">White </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">wall photo above.]</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">So having boarded Luckie at her favorite spa for three weeks, where she also would receive her annual shots and teeth cleaning, we set forth on our journey to Plattsburgh NY. Luckie would also ultimately need three teeth pulled as a result of her dental exam while she was boarding.</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">We traversed Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York enroute; after the reunion we also traveled through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee before arriving home. We spent nights in Indianopolis IN, Erie PA, and Latham NY before arriving in Platsburgh, NY, Comfort Inn for U.S.S. Henley Reunion. Later we also spent nights in Harrisburg PA, Waynesboro VA, Shelly's sister's home, and near Nashville, TN.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNE3NmQi7VEx0UcM7sxpSy0S9n8CwlhyphenhyphenNcLTA0o54plmkWiAt54BYQrcRGnylDd8RlAG15yQRJgEzUvOE959wbpp_7akzx9CkvEKpJ49qD6wUVskXIIQO34vfLEsOIAgd5q9pphPxFGwy/s1600/PlattsburghNYvia-I90EriePA-20120309-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNE3NmQi7VEx0UcM7sxpSy0S9n8CwlhyphenhyphenNcLTA0o54plmkWiAt54BYQrcRGnylDd8RlAG15yQRJgEzUvOE959wbpp_7akzx9CkvEKpJ49qD6wUVskXIIQO34vfLEsOIAgd5q9pphPxFGwy/s320/PlattsburghNYvia-I90EriePA-20120309-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">PVC pipe load as we entered Erie PA.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I love</span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> the circular pattern repetition</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">of </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">pipe and rear reflectors.</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">From Erie PA we took the I90 Toll road to Albany exiting at a suburb, Latham, to spend the night. Here we encountered a personal highway design nemesis I detest: a roundabout. These golden agers went round about in the roundabout three times until we were dizzy, before getting in the right lane to exit to our motel destination.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">The toll road segment is void of photos as I was not feeling well. Also we got our first taste of NY sticker shock when we bought two vender-wrapped chicken salad sandwiches, (not fresh made) for $15!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Photos in this post were enroute. Some were snapped in moving pickup truck and little out of focus; some were at various rest stops. None outstanding, just things that caught our eyes. I have enlarged only one so I could get more in post. All can be enlarged by clicking on them [I hope].</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;">PHOTOS: NitWit1 unless otherwise attributed.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR-Lowe</span></strong></div>
NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-51284172195169874752012-10-26T09:26:00.000-05:002012-10-27T05:47:29.541-05:00UPDATES<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Since my last post, life has been a series of medical appointments which I facetiously call my 'social life.' </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not best shot, nor do I remem-</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ber</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> where,</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">but taken between</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">Har</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">rison </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">and Little Rock</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">Two appointments have required trips to Little Rock and included the heart pulmonary vein procedure. Then three weeks later a return post-surgical checkup in Little Rock. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">I also have seen my local cardiac physician and my ANP at least three times.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">The procedure was successful far beyond my expectations, resulting in perfect heart rhythm and no breakthroughs so far of A-Fib. This in only one month in to the projected 3- month healing process. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">The next positive event is I have been approved for supervised cardiac rehabilitation through our local hospital. Even though I am not a gym body-building, muscle bulging, aficionado, I periodically have been in reasonable exercise routines, but without medical supervision. My main concerns now are cardiac strengthening (the heart is a specialized muscle) and faster weight loss.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrc4UL5BSgWyhvkIfmFMlz5aUznXL_HO9pYEbr83W9sAffvrL4TmgkEI27AtjMf-_ftPCS_ZNEnZyDZNkdziQ2PeB9pYUhF8_7vP1bFOVFElOhxZFqyN7i1f6eXzD_GGCPr6fOVkyFFEN/s1600/US65nearMarshallAR20121810-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrc4UL5BSgWyhvkIfmFMlz5aUznXL_HO9pYEbr83W9sAffvrL4TmgkEI27AtjMf-_ftPCS_ZNEnZyDZNkdziQ2PeB9pYUhF8_7vP1bFOVFElOhxZFqyN7i1f6eXzD_GGCPr6fOVkyFFEN/s400/US65nearMarshallAR20121810-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Along US 65 from Harrison to Little Rock</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>near Marshall AR</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">So my next few months are going to be busy as the cardiac rehab. unit is 15 mi. from our home, entailing a short drive 3 days a week for about 2.5 months, and of course more physician appointments.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">The only downer is my shortness of breath (SOB)has not improved. However, I cannot unreasonably expect this a I have asthma, COPD, and an increasing curvature of the spine from hereditary osteoporosis which crowds the upper chest cavity space.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">My somewhat upper is a recent visit to my ANP which serves as my primary care physician. She had an ANP intern Wednesday. I was complaining of the SOB. Finding no new explanations, verified by a blood panel workup, she explained in the elderly SOB may have no explanations as well as fatigue which I added to my complaint, and added at 76, my mental acuity, appearance, interests and activities did NOT fit he usual 76 year old profile.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6FkN8VWB01BDuP2rr8Wiw6fxa9u4tevyKes6TYtrT_ZkawtOkoLcFHjx8GHT9n_gizkZ_O66aJas9MrkI3bcnUsAMgluarCtDk57dXdp2bJPTYSHX_G4UzW2SHNKERethgzwzttJZ1XY/s1600/US65nearMarshallAR20121810-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6FkN8VWB01BDuP2rr8Wiw6fxa9u4tevyKes6TYtrT_ZkawtOkoLcFHjx8GHT9n_gizkZ_O66aJas9MrkI3bcnUsAMgluarCtDk57dXdp2bJPTYSHX_G4UzW2SHNKERethgzwzttJZ1XY/s400/US65nearMarshallAR20121810-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Along US HWY 65 Harrison to Little Rock</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>near Marshall, AR</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">I accepted the compliment, but chuckled to myself about the appearance. I never have been the normal female box full of cosmetics to keep me younger looking, not even as a teenager. My cosmetics consist of several shades of lipstick, a blemish cover, and pressed face powder which I only use when leaving the house. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">Yes, I am engaged in as many activities as I can physically handle, participated in local politics, read, and maintain a reasonable level of digital acuity. I have fascinations in computers and photography. But the aging needle on the clock of life continues to roll ever higher on its scale.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">Since my recent activities have curtailed my photography, I have only some photos taken from vehicle, which are a tad blurred. I was trying to capture the autumn color which was muted this year in Arkansas. The extremely dry and hot spring and summer took its toll on the sometimes flaming color we have in mid-to late October.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia;">PHOTOS: NitWit1 unless otherwise attributed</span></strong>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-17872765213014543622012-10-08T17:07:00.000-05:002012-10-08T17:07:01.967-05:00LONG RECESS & SABBATICAL<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbrOJ2qpg43bqDllyDsy1oyiRHEs37oFm-s-A5p0QJZdKSAS0WEpxExEOESi3TwtjPrPje_3ndntcXBXlu4j-hUWWbcDoLIXwXt61xe-lB4OdxCScr5rYpZ5JCJ1U-LdjQhmnM1Nbw8Fo/s1600/Bagpiper-MemorialCeremonySOOC-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbrOJ2qpg43bqDllyDsy1oyiRHEs37oFm-s-A5p0QJZdKSAS0WEpxExEOESi3TwtjPrPje_3ndntcXBXlu4j-hUWWbcDoLIXwXt61xe-lB4OdxCScr5rYpZ5JCJ1U-LdjQhmnM1Nbw8Fo/s400/Bagpiper-MemorialCeremonySOOC-1.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Bagpiper, U.S.S. Henley Reunion</strong></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> Memorial </strong></span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Ceremony</strong></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Plattsburgh NY 09/2012</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">SOOC (Straight Out of Camera)</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Since I last posted, August 22, most of you may have either quit passing by or may have quit blogging....I shall soon find out. Thus is the life of blogging as Facebook/Twitter/Google+/etc. have gained in popularity; the consensus the digital age seem to prefer "microwave' zap-sizzle-pop media to longer, thoughtful sharing.</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcA37R80zcVIzEQ_p_OllXffQSA8-20OXqXGq4NyoWRQZ3eLO3QHwp_qZ-gdu_IfElyz36x1Nji8LqTX5mWD3wlNrZqcvg1KpYrJI-53tVb7ZTlDO_LrFRH2IvzbMR4QHnHTGSnP3YTZw/s1600/Bagpiper-PlattburghWar1812LandReenactment2012-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcA37R80zcVIzEQ_p_OllXffQSA8-20OXqXGq4NyoWRQZ3eLO3QHwp_qZ-gdu_IfElyz36x1Nji8LqTX5mWD3wlNrZqcvg1KpYrJI-53tVb7ZTlDO_LrFRH2IvzbMR4QHnHTGSnP3YTZw/s640/Bagpiper-PlattburghWar1812LandReenactment2012-3.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Bagpiper in 'Pipes & Drum band</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>1812 Land War Enactment</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Plattsburgh, NY 09/2012</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">Thanks to Lorna of <a href="http://lornaslandofwonder.blogspot.com/">Lorna's Land of Wonder</a>, for inquiring by e-mail of my whereabouts and health. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">To refresh memories like mine, I last blogged about my husband's lack of a legal birth certificate for passport purposes as we wanted to view Niagara Falls at the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z-UGZfK-qqkD-6BVX_PTLS4Z5hUtIACPPNngYuSLy_VqHgT7oCMY2xKPauSCnLk3BC0LVrWvcO1-FTwou7Zs_-kUTnSTXrwl6ms2g0if2koaUp_OIPYD06kJLZeW4DhFfXt2dd9fuyqE/s1600/Bagpiper-PlattburghWar1812LandReenactment2012-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z-UGZfK-qqkD-6BVX_PTLS4Z5hUtIACPPNngYuSLy_VqHgT7oCMY2xKPauSCnLk3BC0LVrWvcO1-FTwou7Zs_-kUTnSTXrwl6ms2g0if2koaUp_OIPYD06kJLZeW4DhFfXt2dd9fuyqE/s400/Bagpiper-PlattburghWar1812LandReenactment2012-2.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Drummer in 'Pipes & Drum band</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>1812 Land War Enactment</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Plattsburgh, NY 09/2012</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKNxVcVLNFwbrssTI6CjkY8BLaod4_Lphs_tOiq9LFugiFrmF8hTuo8qDIMTFM3fOvhyz5JjCGvQJ6gUi6uj1evn8SBEhMxwQhUvNv_boxVXhw2eCv_Tex2L1gWHeKOFnT3CUdhdByI5O/s1600/BagpiperDRUMMER-PlattburghWar1812Parade2012-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKNxVcVLNFwbrssTI6CjkY8BLaod4_Lphs_tOiq9LFugiFrmF8hTuo8qDIMTFM3fOvhyz5JjCGvQJ6gUi6uj1evn8SBEhMxwQhUvNv_boxVXhw2eCv_Tex2L1gWHeKOFnT3CUdhdByI5O/s400/BagpiperDRUMMER-PlattburghWar1812Parade2012-5.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Drummer in 'Pipes & Drum</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> band </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>1812 Land War Enact-</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>ment </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Plattsburgh, NY</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>09/2012</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">Due to state government red tape time ran out so Niagara Falls was chopped from the itinerary and 100+ mile Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park was substituted, followed by a brief visit in North and South Carolina with Husband's family, before returning home. A reunion of the U.S.S. Henley in Plattsburgh, NY was the beginning, and main attraction of the trip. The leaves were barely beginning to turn. I'd love the same drive this month. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">This tour covered 11 states and over 4000 miles and was followed by a my long awaited heart procedure. Luckie is miffed at her long sabbatical at the local vet boarding spa, despite the entire staff spoiling her.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPSVheUeNf_3nfak86V8bWlEqEjkokkaG3_C3CmaeKhk68rDESYF823HExDMigsOa2rdgel-A0lhtsyWWrEHT8Cnm_bbyAPdn5oC4J2Byd8VYm3dOQroR2jzs9xgl-MbqXUD5S_hJLKnC/s1600/Bagpiper-PlattburghWar1812LandReenactment2012-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPSVheUeNf_3nfak86V8bWlEqEjkokkaG3_C3CmaeKhk68rDESYF823HExDMigsOa2rdgel-A0lhtsyWWrEHT8Cnm_bbyAPdn5oC4J2Byd8VYm3dOQroR2jzs9xgl-MbqXUD5S_hJLKnC/s400/Bagpiper-PlattburghWar1812LandReenactment2012-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Bagpipe & Drum Ensemble - </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>18</strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>12 Land War Enact-</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>ment </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Plattsburgh, NY 09/2012</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr15ISZOaU8SDYSk8Uircg2qG_Dw2JMyDWlPsZ2SOivEK9kyHoNFsnfZq5-N-LZnECjTOPQ1xOQUEXwSu6aDtaxMTEf1BoFyExW3PTbs_uT6e0c4rJzPugR4wYLDo4kZjYUh_HUPG9XcKv/s1600/Bagpiper-PlattburghWar1812Parade2012-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr15ISZOaU8SDYSk8Uircg2qG_Dw2JMyDWlPsZ2SOivEK9kyHoNFsnfZq5-N-LZnECjTOPQ1xOQUEXwSu6aDtaxMTEf1BoFyExW3PTbs_uT6e0c4rJzPugR4wYLDo4kZjYUh_HUPG9XcKv/s320/Bagpiper-PlattburghWar1812Parade2012-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Bagpipe and Fife Corp in Plattsburgh, NY</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>1812 War Parade. Sorry I Missed the</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Fife row somehow.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">Since the procedure has left this soon-to-be-next week 76-year-old lady in recovery at a slower rate than a much younger person. Some days I simply don't want to even dress; others I dress, to simply do a few chores, then I sleep. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">Whether the procedure is successful will not be known for about 3 months. I have had some minor A-Fib episodes, not nearly like I was having. Supposedly this is normal until the scarification has healed that is at the heart of the ablation. Rather than bore you with my impatient grumping, I chose to endure silently. The procedure has a 70/30 percent success rate. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">We arrived home Sept. 19, my procedure at Baptist Health in Little Rock was Sept. 27. and YES, WE FINALLY RECEIVED HIS AMENDED LEGAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE, OCT. 4!</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ICn7KqlJ2Mn5ej0fsGFsF8X_qSI-qZb2ZhawuHzxro1gokSyt1IFCZYf6EblZNHDowkhBhUET7Txga58Xml9KUjLPkJ4q2Edo6z4HYGO74FHyE7VhF_DWiLEiCoyrmIJZuNh40ia5i_l/s1600/PlattburghWar1812GirlDog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ICn7KqlJ2Mn5ej0fsGFsF8X_qSI-qZb2ZhawuHzxro1gokSyt1IFCZYf6EblZNHDowkhBhUET7Txga58Xml9KUjLPkJ4q2Edo6z4HYGO74FHyE7VhF_DWiLEiCoyrmIJZuNh40ia5i_l/s640/PlattburghWar1812GirlDog1.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Yes, this severely cropped photo is my favorite. This unpretentious lovely little lady so wanted </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>the friendly dog of another person attending the Plattsburgh NY War of 1812 Parade. Why</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>wouldn't a dog lover like me love this shot, even though the best photograph so far is the</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>first one in the post. --NitWit1</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">However, from time to time I have 100s of shots--none spectacular--from our trip. I may post a few with less comment than usual. Obviouslyy I am enchanted with the bagpipes, because unlike those I've encountered in the South, I actually could NAME THAT TUNE!!!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia;">I will begin visiting some on my bloglist as I regain my strength. I will also try to remember to post on my wall in Facebook.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia;">PHOTOS: All photos by NitWit1 unless otherwise attributed.</span></strong>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-29779567885718162072012-08-22T10:01:00.003-05:002012-08-27T07:26:29.047-05:00OVER A BARREL AT NIAGARA FALLS<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">SB-Title: The On-Going Saga of a Birth Certificate</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Since mid-July we looked forward to a trip to my husband's (H) ship reunion at Plattsburgh, NY where the Navy ship USS Henley has a museum of its artifacts and will participate in the last week of a two-week festival, celebrating victory in the War of 1812. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Becoming a lover of history post-educational endeavors, I spent time learning more about a war I considered minor since it lasted months, not years, but some historians labeled 'the most successful land war' the USA ever fought.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">After the convention we planned a trip to Niagara Falls. I had seen both sides many years ago, but being an avid camera bug, I wanted some digital photos; plus H had never seen it.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">We planned a Maid of the Mist tour, plus I know how to protect my camera from water. It is cumbersome but requires using a plastic bag. I would be sure it was hanging around my neck, so I would not drop it. We even planned staying on the Canadian side.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">A few days after making somewhat expensive reservations for tours and motels, I was perusing Niagara tours which mentioned the need for passports, pass cards or something called a Nexus card. All required evidence of being a permanent citizen of US--something not required of me some 25 years ago.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">So we confidently made an appointment at an area post office for the pass card which is good for Canada and Mexico and certain cruises. We grabbed our driver's licenses, birth certificates and other ID and headed for our appointment.--which became about the shortest appointment I have ever had.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">The nice man quickly took our birth certificates somewhere in the back of post office to verify their authenticity, coming back to inform us H's was not valid. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Imagine our shocked state: H had obtained his birth certificate in 1955 by carrying a witness to a courthouse. The witness attested to his testimony of his birth date and place; the county clerk affixed a seal of certification and signed his official signature. H enlisted in the Air Force once, Navy twice, and retired with self-same birth certificate, which was also used for obtaining our marriage license, a military passport (also called defense passport) and I suppose his driving license. Now it is invalid.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Hmm, guess he isn't even born yet.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">We were told 9/11 changed everything, included birth certificates which must be obtained from the state's Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS). We would have to expedite the process which we were willing to do.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">However, when I called, SC's BVS more problems arose. The date of his birth shows his father's name where it should be, but also as his birth name. H does not have his father's name in his name at all. The more I talked, his immediate family's birth records have major errors, including unnamed deceased children by H's parents, and his older brother's family.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">I was amazed at such a maze of problems in one family. However, when we cooled down, we considered the era of his birth. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">His family and many families nationwide, living in remote or rural areas, used midwives for birthing, or simply had them at home in the 1930s. Further it was the Great Depression when few had money. I've read of swapping of chickens and produce as payments for all kinds of services. And many a person was glad to take such in exchange for services.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Reporting by good midwives was to the physician under which they worked, or by the family's first trip to town, which might be several months after birth. The physician probably accumulated quite a number of births and made a report sporadically when he had time between HOUSE CALLS--what's that?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">The sum total of this on-going saga is we still do not have a legitimate birth certificate. Further if we got it today it is too late to process a passport/pass card. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">I researched other options and there is a short-term card to Canada called a NEXUS, but it also requires proof of permanent citizenship, i.e., birth certificate.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">So any other alternative is risky, if not illegal, like a plunge over the Falls in a barrel, or walking a tight-wire (HA! I can't walk a straight line flat on the floor). Neither of us are risk takers, past getting out of bed in the morning, and getting into a car. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Reluctantly we have canceled that portion of our trip; guess we saved several hundred bucks on a barrel, gas, room and board.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Instead, and SUBJECT TO CHANGE, we are going to return via <a href="http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/driving-skyline-drive.htm">Skyline Drive</a>, a scenic 100 mi. drive through the upper Appalachian range of the Blue Ridge mountains in Shenandoah Park. We will probably get off at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockfish_Gap">Rockfish Gap</a> and catch the nearest Interstate or good US highway route to H's sister's home in Aberdeen, NC. Then we will try to connect with H's family in short time. Some are in SC.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">We realize Skyline Drive may be closed if there is fog, etc. or other driving hazards. Thus we may not see that either.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">Since I am scheduled for a heart procedure Sept. 27, we will just get home earlier for me to rest and prepare myself for this procedure, which is not open-heart surgery, but does have risks involved, as does anything surgical. When I had my knee surgery, I was informed I could have a stroke or heart attack; same with this one. Only difference is they will be working on my heart.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">And poor Luckie has a lot of time scheduled at her favorite spa, the<a href="http://www.allcreaturesmh.com/home.html"> All Creatures Veterinary Hospital</a>, where they all love her, for her charming want of attention, but she does not seem to like it when I drop her off. I guess she adjusts to her surroundings. After all she is a rescue, and at 14 is lucky to be alive since she was abused, had heartworms, and is epileptic.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia;">I am sure when I get some photos, I'll have something to write about. Actually, I have a lot on my mind, but decided not to bore you with all my medical problems. That gets to be depressing. At my age, I am lucky to be typing this blog with more sanity, than senility.</span></strong><br />
<br />NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-28792789333652333862012-08-05T21:05:00.000-05:002012-08-05T21:05:27.522-05:00The Brown, Brown Grass of Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>The Green, Green Grass of Home</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Tom Jones - YouTube</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Obviously I have renamed a classic favorite of yore, </strong></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green,_Green_Grass_of_Home"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The Green, Green Grass of Home</strong></span></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong> , a country song, popularized by Tom Jones, into an easy listening song, and my favorite version.</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Brown fields on HWY 235 between Yellville - Marshall, AR</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I had an appointment with a cardiac electrophysiologist this week. The rural scenery starkly showed the effect of the severe drought Arkansas is enduring, and almost transformed me into thinking I was in Texas instead. Photos are from a moving car, and not very good, but look for the brown patches. These spots are as far as you can see as you travel to Little Rock are cleared land, usually pastures or hay fields. It seemed more severe north of Clinton AR which includes where we live.</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Man at Top of Verizon Cell</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Tower on an 104 degree Day</strong></span>.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The tower picture I think has heat waves coming off it. It is a Verizon cell tower just built on land leased by our church. The man was putting the final touches before it was activated. The temperature that day was 104 degrees amd this was about noon. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>After consultation with all my physicians I will be taking our trip. The A-Fib attacks will take place whether I am sitting home feeling sorry for myself, or if I am having a good time traveling. As long as I am on blood thinners, I have been assured I am fairly safe from the dangers of the arrhythmias. I do have emergency drugs which lower blood pressure and other means to break up the fibrillation.</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">A Scene North of Marshall, AR. This Barn Is Nearly Empty of Hay Bales and No Sign of a Second</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;">Crop which Farmers in this Area Usually Are Able to Reap. Note Brown Hill in Distance, too.</span></strong></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>We are trying to get Pass Cards so we can drive into Canada and see Niagara Falls on the Canadian side where the spectacular Horseshoe Falls is located. We will of course see both sides, and I hope to ride the Maid of the Mist!</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I will try to later regale the trials of getting a Pass Port or Pass Card. It is unbelievable, and time is not on our side. So our trip may be shorter and my heart procedure scheduled earlier. The next two weeks will probably tell the tale1</strong></span><br />
<br />NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-65871011484179447842012-07-22T14:07:00.001-05:002012-07-22T15:24:32.810-05:00ON THE STREET WHERE YOU (I) LIVE<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>Being an aficionado of Broadway Musicals I thought I'd treat you to the song that inspired this post, only substitute 'I' for 'you.' Some of the words are ironically applicable, like "I have often walked this street before....", however, the main perception of which I write is less inspiring. [If video does not play or show, here a link to one version on You Tube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I57BVLgtUvk"><em>On the Street Where You Live</em></a> .</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>On the Street Where You Live</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>[From My Fair Lady] - Vic Damone -YouTube</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>I served as alderman for 6 years (3 terms less 2 months) in our local government. From the beginning an abandoned house across from my property was in deplorable condition, both house and yard. I knew the owner personally. This is area zoned for manufactured housing on residential lots, not so-called 'mobile home parks." </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>After his wife died the owner moved out-of-state in my first term. Already in deplorable condition, which was forgivable during his wife's long battle with cancer, the neglect accelerated with high weed/grass growth, and 1000-year ice storm wherein a tree fell thorough the roof, wildlife living under and in the house, and druggies apparently entering and having late niight parties at some intervals. All the rest of my term I tried to get the house condemned; but failed.</strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Condemned Manufactured Home</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Across Street From My House</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>You have no idea what it takes to legally condemn someone's property and destroy it if the warning to the owner is unheeded. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>First,the condemnation notice was finally issued during the first year I was out of office. The owner ignored it until I spent my own funds hunting him down, because, miraculously a man wanted to buy the land, move off or demolish the structure, and place a new structure on the property.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>Unfortunately, the owner seemed delusional, as he perceived the worth a gold mine. After leaving, he never returned to retrieve personal items nor to witness the increasing delapidation of his property and rapidly declining worth. He seemingly walked away, food in the fridge and dirty dishes in the sink.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>Negotiations fell through, but there was a glimmer of hope, as he owed property taxes. The prospective buyer hinted the owner owed back real estate and personal property taxes. He mistakenly thought since he had an homestead exemption on it, even though he no longer lived there as his principal residence. He quickly found money (probably his son) to pay back taxes minutes before the auction on the court house steps.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>So the city issued the condemnation notice which allegedly give the owner 30 days to rectify the situation. He ignored it. The City found out the federal and state governments had liens on the property for different reasons, so the City was going to be a loser if we placed a lien via his tax records, which is done in Arkansas. A water bill in his name had already been writen off by the City.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>Finally a couple offered to tear it down to sell whatever materials had any value as junk or recyclable. The owner and the couple created this deal, so the City was not involved. The City would have been out considerable more money because of state regulations in condemnation, like fire inspections, hazardous materials, etc. Unfortunately, I knew the couple were not going to follow these rules, but the City was out of the loop, thus not responsible.. </strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Condemned House Across Street </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">From My House</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>[Normal Garbage Pick-up does not include building materials;</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>besides no monthly fee is being paid for this location]</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>Anyway, the two photos (straight out of the camera) are in this post. Why should I try to make them look better---it is horrible. Plus wild life has moved over to tearing up our expensive landscaping. We have live traps set. So far only a kitty has been captured. The digging is not a kitty, maybe a skunk, but I doubt both. We turned the kitty loose.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #783f04;">The saga of the couple who orginally started the demolition is too complicated to write. Let's say he is in jail and has charges in two counties. The girl friend has now taken up with another guy, both of which have continued the demolition. All of them have conections with the many druggies in our neighborhood.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #783f04;">One my one block there are only three of us that are not in drug trafficking or use, that I know for sure. One family and one bachelor, I am not sure, and two houses are vacant. On the block behind us is at least one other engaged in drug trafficking and one old woman alcoholic.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #783f04;">When we moved here it was a nice quite suburban area. However, we are too old to just pull up stakes and move. Further, we do not fear bodily harm, maybe some theft, but Luckie is a good alarm barker and is only friendly with one neighbor, who is NOT among the druggies. </span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>The heat and time are causing my A-Fib episodes to be more frequent, but short. I have an appointment for scheduling a heart procedure Aug. 3. As advised when I was first diagnosed, the medications 'fade' over time and I have been fortunate the time for me is longer than the one year expectation given.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><strong>I may be absent a lot for the next 3 months. I have been OK'd to take in September vacation, even though it may not be so pleasant for me or Husband, as the episodes will still occur. But so-far we are going. Walking upgrades are debilitating as I rapidly become short of breath which may create an episode, as can the heat and some bodily functions. At least New York in September should be cooler than Arkansas!!!</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #783f04;">As I have already mentioned we are going to Plattsburgh NY for the reunion of the U.S.S. Henley, one of my husband's ships. The Plattsburgh area is the site of several War of 1812 battles. The reunion is same time asthe last weekend of a 2-week remembrance celebration of the War of 1812.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #783f04;">The Navy guys will be participating in a parade, and all of us will see two re-enactments, one on land, and one on Lake Champlain. The history freak in me will be soaking up facts as I always regarded this British skimish a mundane short event. However historians have described it as the USA's most successful ground war! I surely have missed something from the history books!!!</span></strong><br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: #990000;">PHOTOS: NitWit1 unless otherwise attributed.</span></strong></em>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-36073927127755673962012-07-13T19:31:00.001-05:002012-07-14T06:12:06.010-05:00WHAT IS THAT I HEAR, AND WHAT I READ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Two days earlier this week, we heard a strangely familiar sound, like pitter-patter on the roof, on the porch, on the windows, everywhere. After a slight lapse in cognizance, we suddenly exclaimed, 'it's raining' and hurried to the front door to view the recently rare event; we have been in a severe drought both spring and summer with accompanying heat wave of several days strung together over 100 degrees.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Which brings to mind a song made famous by Mahalia Jackson, <em>Didn't It Rain, per</em>formed here on You Tube by Vestal Goodman.</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yn5lRpR8FN8G0T0iNLjBonIqHoqdIr7QDo2G9wqYl6eZ3-QuqxjCFXxB48cO92EUIZ0wauMOk_kXzSLQddEDnZJ4eEv-fhFqLIU9qHXrm1QDTITgNhs2zZHqCPHV0ZkQjhKzIgb78tSE/s1600/RainInsideWindowBox20120907-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yn5lRpR8FN8G0T0iNLjBonIqHoqdIr7QDo2G9wqYl6eZ3-QuqxjCFXxB48cO92EUIZ0wauMOk_kXzSLQddEDnZJ4eEv-fhFqLIU9qHXrm1QDTITgNhs2zZHqCPHV0ZkQjhKzIgb78tSE/s400/RainInsideWindowBox20120907-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Raindrops on Window as Seen Through Solar Curtain</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>from inside Kitchen Window Box</strong></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Some personal non-descript photos scattered in this post. The first day we got 0.03 inches and the second day 0.36 inches-a real downpour.</strong></span> <span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"><strong>So that is WHAT I heard......</strong></span> <span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"><strong>WHAT did I READ?</strong></span>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;"><strong>Like a multitude of US senior citizens, I am a member of AARP and receive several publications as a part of my membership--actually am on my husband's membership but have my own card. One of these publications is a monthly magazine, with interesting, diverse subjects. </strong></span><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">This month one article really caught my eye on page 20, MIND YOUR MEDS, pointing out medication errors are rising, and gives patients/customers simple steps to help keep oneself safe.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Since I am a retired pharmacist, I have a little to add to that article. First of all, any dispenser of medication, be it pharmacist, doctor, nurse or aides that claim they never made a mistake is dillusional and flat-out liar. I made mistakes but was fortunate to never have injured anyone. [And I still make mistakes with my own medication!--Like taking at wrong time, or forgetting if I took it, etc.]</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Raindrops Outside Window Box; Trees from across Street</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Reflected Off the Solar Shade from Outside the House.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">To err is human and to forgive is divine, but all of us are in this together by confluence of several circumstances; some as mundane as too many white capsules and tablets [colors are disappearing as persons are allergic to some dyes, resulting in lawsuits]. Yes, there is some near unreadable numbers on these pills, be they tablet or capsule, but what about liquids, injectables? The elderly are most susceptible as their medication usage increases with aging, and hospitalization is more frequent.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Raindrops on Water Hydrant</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>and Deck Rail</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">The article suggests you shop with the least busy pharmacy in your area. I disagree with this statement. The intent of this statement, and I agree, the pressure of business is oppressive and conducive to errors. However, why do they have the least business--prices too high, made too many mistakes, terrible personality, no credit or insurance accepted, no delivery, sparse service? I would avoid a sole proprietor who has NO help---no clerks, no techs--a one man store. Oh yes, delivery service is an added expense and getting scarce, or coverage is restricted, and, increasingly, a fee is additional.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Filling a prescriptions is a complex procedure of checking that minimum amount of information is supplied--personal information correct name of drug, and directions for use including any ancillary instructions the physician did not include. Saying 'take 1 tablet daily' may or may not be sufficient. Sometimes we find ourselves trying to read a physician's mind, but NO--we should pick up the phone and personally verify what we do not know with certainty. Cholesterol lowering drugs are more effective taken in the evening. A growing number of drugs cannot be taken together or with some foods like grapefruit including juice. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Physicians rely on pharmacists to add these details. Both physician and pharmacist are pushed to output volume--for different reasons, but both involve professional liability insurance, profit, payroll, inventory.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">A large pharmacy inventory may exceed one million dollars.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">While all this being processed by the professional brain, the phone is ringing, patients/customers are impatiently drumming fingers and tapping toes while waiting in line, or a person is waiting for professional counseling in a new prescription (required by law). Do not wave off professional counseling; according to the AARP article 89% of mistakes are caught in the give-and-take between counselor and customer; thus no harm comes of the mistake. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK WHAT YOU MAY THINK IS A STUPID QUESTION! YOU JUST MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Before completing this post I had appointment at gynecologist office; a told mine (a woman) this appointment ranked on the bottom rung of my favorite physician tied with the dentist or 'least favorite.' I proved my point when I went into a small A-Fib attack, although the heat probably did not help.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Outside her office was a tree, the trunk of which had obviously been pruned multiple times, also may have been an original graft. It was an umbrella or weeping like tree-maybe a weeping elm or several japonica weeping trees that are grafted to a weeping Katsura. The trunk appeared to be grafted as well as pruned numerous times.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">I took several photos. When I parked in front of it I thought some one had hung a carved wooden unpainted trout fish jumping out of the White River into the tree. Maybe the gynecologist causes me t0 hallicinate. What shape do you think the 'deformity' looks like?</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Do you see a fish in this tree??? </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">[SOOC-Straight Out of Camera]</span></strong></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>And Now I Am Cooling My Dudes for the Night</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia;">PHOTOS: NitWit1 unless otherwise attributed.</span></strong></div>
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</div>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-12657637251506328902012-07-07T05:15:00.000-05:002012-07-14T06:19:48.409-05:00THE TIME HAS COME TO SPEAK OF BABIES, BIRDS, BIKES &....<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Parroting one of my favorite poems, <a href="http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/walrus.html">The Walrus and the Carpenter</a> by Lewis Carroll, this post is a medley of subjects, primarily photos, I have grouped together to share without much comment.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt9Th7z5_fXshw6wOJE_IfW7JXJXQC3GLOMozz38izjoF1inBwv8EBzHKdFGvZ_SItxmGtGxrrFCRxkOvhOh9rwD2zuw3gzpM-haU7x2KhsqrS7FaoH-0l-yURyjRhllDtsYoZy0GStEM/s1600/BabyGirlShower20120507-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt9Th7z5_fXshw6wOJE_IfW7JXJXQC3GLOMozz38izjoF1inBwv8EBzHKdFGvZ_SItxmGtGxrrFCRxkOvhOh9rwD2zuw3gzpM-haU7x2KhsqrS7FaoH-0l-yURyjRhllDtsYoZy0GStEM/s400/BabyGirlShower20120507-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Baby Girl Shower Setup-1</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">I volunteer to 'man' our church office for 4 hours one day a week; we have no paid personnel, a church membership policy. However, phone calls to an unattended phone often lose opportunities to serve. Recently volunteers were solicited primarily for this purpose. Some days there are NO calls, and other days I am busy with various calls and needs.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">However, July 5 was a very slow day. So I wandered with portable phone in tow, around our church complex. In the fellowship hall, a stunning baby shower party was set up for this coming Sunday afternoon. I immediately went to my vehicle for my Point & Shoot Canon which is always in my car for unexpected photo ops...and a nice little camera it is, as I have said before. Ironically, I had just recharged its batteries earlier this week.</span></strong><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtMzG4H4McdRGxJmG5Xlj-BwwdEHT0V_X0VxUVg10SR4GZzy4nDijT6Qsu2OzeF_RLqGEok-UiWx3F6PVE3fox7U_EJ1DRH95YgoTKsN2J1PxmU4JgzU3C32JASm889ddpEW4cFRcudqs/s1600/BabyGirlShower20120507-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtMzG4H4McdRGxJmG5Xlj-BwwdEHT0V_X0VxUVg10SR4GZzy4nDijT6Qsu2OzeF_RLqGEok-UiWx3F6PVE3fox7U_EJ1DRH95YgoTKsN2J1PxmU4JgzU3C32JASm889ddpEW4cFRcudqs/s400/BabyGirlShower20120507-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Baby Girl Shower Setup</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="background-color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">Wall Decorations </span></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="background-color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chairs for Mom & Dad</span></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta;">& Table</span> </span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">Several photos of the baby girl shower setup are scattered throughout this post.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">Then, on the way home I stopped to take a shot of a blue motor bike and white fence I had been eyeing for a week or more. I pulled very much off the road with no tire on the pavement, parked with emergency lights flashing. In Arkansas state highway easements are scarce to very narrow. My vehicle was partly in dead weeds, but not the drainage ditch--maybe slightly on the slope. </span></strong><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhBv03BQXVQC6uD8Kbu5mEe07u9O5uNfoRVTVR7QE7OHI7c-esdLft5q_vL9tUd9NA3ckn09p4yp7sPzw8QFgpqkOTbxQjfkRnQjt28gSZgUCHhr3wtZHcpv88WmyVLnmVBNBaKL_bd1e/s1600/BabyGirlShower20120507SOOC-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhBv03BQXVQC6uD8Kbu5mEe07u9O5uNfoRVTVR7QE7OHI7c-esdLft5q_vL9tUd9NA3ckn09p4yp7sPzw8QFgpqkOTbxQjfkRnQjt28gSZgUCHhr3wtZHcpv88WmyVLnmVBNBaKL_bd1e/s400/BabyGirlShower20120507SOOC-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Baby Girl Shower Setup</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Table Setups</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia;">[Straight Out of Camera}</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">I disembarked to see a SUV sheriff's vehicle with blue lights flashing, pulling in behind me. With panic running through my mind, I quickly replayed my driving and parking: did I not signal? Was I speeding? ETC! ETC! ETC!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">My panic was quickly put to rest; a very courteous female sheriff's deputy inquired if I had vehicle problems or was I feeling OK. I assured her I was after a photo across the highway. Temperatures here have been in triple digits for over a week; vehicles and people may have serious problems quickly with little notice. How reassuring it was when I calmed myself down, and thought about it. How unnecessary was it for me to work myself into a tizzy, which probably did not help, I took a deep breath, made 2 shots and hurried back to my vehicle. The distraction, however, seemed to deter my getting exactly the shot I wanted. But a lesson learned, anyway.</span></strong><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlj8zrkPXLYbzM6bv72FQAFnIvgDn_ki4woeFtNvUj6hPBhOwzEvF0spktcQ4UOHYS7wmmL7_7363hNAkabJlBJPQe8Xui-FtufLOdrWwyHWx2S9RZJvxzdiyhsRXRHsrljy2gLbKIAPJ/s1600/MotorcycleForSale2o120507-1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlj8zrkPXLYbzM6bv72FQAFnIvgDn_ki4woeFtNvUj6hPBhOwzEvF0spktcQ4UOHYS7wmmL7_7363hNAkabJlBJPQe8Xui-FtufLOdrWwyHWx2S9RZJvxzdiyhsRXRHsrljy2gLbKIAPJ/s400/MotorcycleForSale2o120507-1a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Motorcycle for Sale</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>[The White Fence Leading My Eye </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>IN and OUT of the Photo</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Is </strong></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>What First Caught my Eye] </strong></span><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Oh Yeah! The DRIED UP</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">Pasture & Roadside Remind Me of Texas</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">In January I had occasion to have Luckie at the her un-favorite veterinary clinic. I left her, ran some errands, and returned a bit early. While waiting in my car I spotted an empty back-lit large bird nest with strands of hair streaming in a slight breeze. I wondered what smart bird built their nest in the front landscape bed of a veterinary clinic, where there had to be plenty of hair to line the nest, but medical care just a doorway a few feet away! I quickly snapped this largely unedited photo.</span></strong><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFheZjfLCs5Yax27JowJvjZXcZsF573f3yLoxm91d-WUASJ_E2n4ZJFMcJnqdKoMzOocVWPmJCnkcc-OMS0vCroc_j2AdXAwrRzGex0mZY-kdjSxO94-6CCnAQOSoLJuI1_udV2aEnFbm/s1600/LuckieBackSeatCar20111712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFheZjfLCs5Yax27JowJvjZXcZsF573f3yLoxm91d-WUASJ_E2n4ZJFMcJnqdKoMzOocVWPmJCnkcc-OMS0vCroc_j2AdXAwrRzGex0mZY-kdjSxO94-6CCnAQOSoLJuI1_udV2aEnFbm/s400/LuckieBackSeatCar20111712.jpg" width="341" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Luckie Sightseeing</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">And speaking of Luckie, we carried her shopping (HA!), maybe Christmas shopping, Dec. 17 and I caught her watching the sights out the side window. Sometimes she sleeps the whole trip, but she occasionally watches the sights, too. She is the best car-riding dog we've ever owned...just don't ask her to get in our boat.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">I would love for her to travel with us, but our trips are extended, and she is nearing 13-14 years old (estimate as she is a rescue dog) with controlled health problems. We board her at the veterinary clinic which claims boarding under medical supervision. She is a favorite with all the kennel persons and vets.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia;">If my heart health holds status quo, we have a month's vacation planned, which means she gets a month with The gals and guys at the kennel. I know she is well treated, as she comes home several pounds heavier which mean ole me has to try to get her to shed.</span></strong><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WheOYhfgyy6N6HPPBCwF-iIXSAHQSQLu54p3r0amSHiaAjfj_OTQcwYhVB7vvcZQM0DGBZoovtLRQuPJKXrKDu0C-idTgO9lHeS_e6s7sJKb5At2EihtrNlQsz2meQ9xKpAWLjHkHhIz/s1600/BirdNestEmpty20121201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WheOYhfgyy6N6HPPBCwF-iIXSAHQSQLu54p3r0amSHiaAjfj_OTQcwYhVB7vvcZQM0DGBZoovtLRQuPJKXrKDu0C-idTgO9lHeS_e6s7sJKb5At2EihtrNlQsz2meQ9xKpAWLjHkHhIz/s640/BirdNestEmpty20121201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Abandoned Bird Nest in Bush at Veterinary Clinic</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">[The Amount of Hair Strands back lit Caught My Eye I Expect Dog, Cat and Horse Hairs</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Were Abundant Near a Veterinary Clinic Which Also Boards a Variety of Animals)</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia;">PHOTOS: NitWit1, unless otherwise attributed</span></strong>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-49791698576715727192012-07-04T11:40:00.003-05:002012-07-04T11:59:21.430-05:00INDEPENDENCE DAY, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKi4mDBRZCZOAOsH88WOeYQZAINw74Le8_6zzqJTA9Uscs74vHmA4-J31RzL2vxEAdFVCFZ1cewMZEQYVfYrUmT9igBXvOJjFXPBNjZHFbdb1Lt8c6XJ8PSbJ-9I5G3RgRD9jA3W69zwq/s1600/AmericanFlag-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKi4mDBRZCZOAOsH88WOeYQZAINw74Le8_6zzqJTA9Uscs74vHmA4-J31RzL2vxEAdFVCFZ1cewMZEQYVfYrUmT9igBXvOJjFXPBNjZHFbdb1Lt8c6XJ8PSbJ-9I5G3RgRD9jA3W69zwq/s640/AmericanFlag-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Broderbund ClickArt</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For 76 years I have had the incredible experience of having been blessed to be born in the land of freedom, which is not free but for those 76 years has continued to be paid voluntarily by blood of untold numbers of patriots, most of whom I have never known.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">I have walked among the many names of graves in Arlington cemetery and many private cemeteries. I know only a few with whom I may have actually had some knowledge of. Some graves bear marks of a preferred religion, but I have never seen a<u> military marker</u> with a political party designation. The military protect all of us, even those of us who are unappreciative, disobedient, or anarchist, all races, political and religious persuasions--everyone.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeaxTfdmXwnVlOj11M7lpBItTib3EmC9XL4kFQBrSDohj3NalgcN4qm-GSDPDO4wQxJVwtlApCnouAGdl081fVKriJzxBVIA2AGIfexJ1CvXhzH9ZGda-86DeKpROaifUiNn4XfMttrct/s1600/Snow-Night20100103-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeaxTfdmXwnVlOj11M7lpBItTib3EmC9XL4kFQBrSDohj3NalgcN4qm-GSDPDO4wQxJVwtlApCnouAGdl081fVKriJzxBVIA2AGIfexJ1CvXhzH9ZGda-86DeKpROaifUiNn4XfMttrct/s400/Snow-Night20100103-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Flag in Snow Storm- Our Front Yard</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">When I consider the writers of our Declaration of Independence, I don't see all these divisionary political and religious terms thrown about today. From history I know they were of different persuasions politically, socially, religiously. Yet they were able to reach a consensus of wording, not only for the Declaration of Independence, but also a Constitution that has been minimally amended for over 200 years.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">By the way, the four Presidents chosen for Mount Rushmore, were not of same political persuasion, from conservative to progressive, yet at the time of its inception those four Presidents were considered the outstanding presidents from the birth of a nation.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">What happened? I lament. I can only speculate.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">The direct purely democratic process evolved into largely a representative democracy for a rapidly growing nation. In fact the Constitution created this type of government. The town hall where citizens met to directly address issues among themselves became a relic with the ever enlarging nation of states and peoples.. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">With this evolution, and the right of petition, the democratic process became somewhat polluted by special interests with finances to influence, and even promise financial backing in re-election to our representatives from President, Senators, Representatives, even down to the larger city officials.</span></strong><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkphjYSZ9oel76R96J9baU9S4uG98DU8eCyXJsRgcRHosn8bmncxRb2jn3ucjZluiVXBi7VUNQX1k5XmkpR0kv-Lkh0DFxrcPHk1B4kL9adeSzPPjSRhWi2avxQ0QN7lYBqB2aR56HXHk/s1600/AmericasTeam+Cowboys+Flag3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkphjYSZ9oel76R96J9baU9S4uG98DU8eCyXJsRgcRHosn8bmncxRb2jn3ucjZluiVXBi7VUNQX1k5XmkpR0kv-Lkh0DFxrcPHk1B4kL9adeSzPPjSRhWi2avxQ0QN7lYBqB2aR56HXHk/s400/AmericasTeam+Cowboys+Flag3.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">US Flag & Dallas Cowboys Flag</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, I Can Fly Another Flag As</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Long As the US Flag Is Higher</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Than Any Other Flag. Oh! Yeah!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I Think The Cowboys Claimed</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the Name of America's Team,</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">a Disputable Fact, I Know!</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">But I still can choose to celebrate our Nation's birthday anyway, I choose. If I don't go for hot dogs and hamburgers, watermelon and ice cream, there is not a food police coming by with a baton to enforce a tradition. I can choose to fly a flag, or not. [At our house it flies 24 hours on a permanent pole, and yes, there is a yard light on it, too.]</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">I can travel within the nation across state lines without being stopped and asked to show some national ID card, because I am a naturally born citizen.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">No place on earth has ever been enticing enough for me to entertain the thought of permanently living somewhere else. Visit- yes, Live, no.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">Even though I personally feel some facets of the Bill Of Rights, the first amendments to the Constitution, are being eroded, I still believe at 76 the first unique experiment in government is still man's best achievement in this world!</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia;">PHOTOS: NitWit1, unless otherwise attributed.</span></strong><br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<br /><span style="color: #990000;">So Happy Birthday!</span> <span style="color: #073763;">United States of America!</span></h2>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378811542742450690.post-52763022039489788162012-06-28T05:15:00.000-05:002012-06-28T05:59:20.358-05:00MOUSE IN THE HOUSE!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKi5sQVIgKlIkA9wP1oOOWD2yGBRG5m_peYkUsnv6Cp707lp9ZAwl5WRhyphenhyphen1BG7XB9JZuO0Fjam3yDFjnIEPBbaKp301lWd2cCwT6aZHMncKgsymzpzw09ZG8oCxHNWaOPHxmlhno6mBJF/s1600/MouseInHouse20122506-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKi5sQVIgKlIkA9wP1oOOWD2yGBRG5m_peYkUsnv6Cp707lp9ZAwl5WRhyphenhyphen1BG7XB9JZuO0Fjam3yDFjnIEPBbaKp301lWd2cCwT6aZHMncKgsymzpzw09ZG8oCxHNWaOPHxmlhno6mBJF/s400/MouseInHouse20122506-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Mouse in the House -1</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>We Have Not Yet Baited Trap Today.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>[Available Light Photo (no flash)]</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Caution: Mouse in the house! Saturday I noticed the tell-tale dropings of mice in a food cupboard where dog food is also stored. Unfortunate for the mouse, storage in this pantry, one of two, is mostly canned goods or other containers usually impermeable to the razor sharp needle teeth of mice.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">I began to search the house for other tale-tale signs and found one under the sink. We set three traps but no luck. The critter stole the cheese and did not trip the two of three traps. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">Monday morning I found the tacky mouse and maybe companions had dined on tomatoes on the kitchen counter which I had separated from others I was ripening on the window sill. At least those were chosen for discarding as Husband is fighting blossom rot.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">So a trap will be set on the counter tonight. I may buy some more traps and several boxes of D-Con which I can only put in places Luckie cannot reach, because she will eat just about anything within her reach and that is remarkably extensive. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">I am afraid I have a case of nausea that the nasty critters are on my kitchen counter that I scour daily with Chlorox wipes. In fact I hate the critters so much I hauled in the Fence Defense Deer and Rabbit Spray and put in crevices; even Luckie can't stand the smell of that stuff. </span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgN6ZLBBzKzg1DsdKIUjD6-0b13b86lAMbZaXyBrIAgLS6z5uhHR_b4KGCJdHtTuf1azxUYbgpdPvdMpAQFFDWoc9oh4mSfZK5ZFx2xRaq8z1al3eq9uzIRY24CgOzQwb8PLd9AfCSdyo0/s1600/MouseInHouse20122506-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgN6ZLBBzKzg1DsdKIUjD6-0b13b86lAMbZaXyBrIAgLS6z5uhHR_b4KGCJdHtTuf1azxUYbgpdPvdMpAQFFDWoc9oh4mSfZK5ZFx2xRaq8z1al3eq9uzIRY24CgOzQwb8PLd9AfCSdyo0/s400/MouseInHouse20122506-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Mouse in the House -2</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>This is nearly same photo, except I used flash.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>I prefer #! as I hate the harsh shadows an</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>on camera flash produces. My point-and-shoot</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>camera has no choice. I can turn the flash</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>off on my Nikon.</strong></span></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">My best friend has found out the product works on raccoons and armadillos, too; just a little tidbit or information to tuck away for future use.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">I spend the day looking for likely places the mouse found entry. In a manufactured home there are many, most of which I have dutifully stuff steel wool which cuts up the little critter's mouth. But I have found a couple of pieces under the kitchen sink. I check the bar sink which we reinforced against an earlier mouse invasion which ruined a case of paper towels.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">I still have several more difficult places to look, and for all I know, they may march right in the dog door flap. Some time ago I watch one hop out of my husband's armoire drawer of outdoor shorts and run through our master bath under a darkroom door that had a seal flush with floor prevent light leakage.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">Since the digital age this room has become a linen storage area, but there is water pipes through the floor in there, too. However, ceiling lights are also a nice entry way.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvMarBN17R7Pz-5v4UHFy620S_x2L2U_ikWv-VBZhioXquttEs9acyJrResX2Q80lpucWNaTl_-CUSyzluVihJvQsGR7BketczOHQXfSqDeFS9lWhcGd0iZPpklOo4RQxyVIXLK2LztoT/s1600/RoseMiniBuds20121906-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvMarBN17R7Pz-5v4UHFy620S_x2L2U_ikWv-VBZhioXquttEs9acyJrResX2Q80lpucWNaTl_-CUSyzluVihJvQsGR7BketczOHQXfSqDeFS9lWhcGd0iZPpklOo4RQxyVIXLK2LztoT/s400/RoseMiniBuds20121906-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>An Mature Miniature Rose with Buds</strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia;">[Using Zoom Telephoto w/Macro Built-In]</span></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">Usually field mice, which I am assuming this is, don't enter buildings until fall and winter when outdoors pickin's are thin to none. However, this is not a normal summer, nor do I expect it to improve. Rain is not in our forecast for the next 10 days. It has been at least 7 days since we have received any significant moisture. My water meter is spinning so fast, it is meeting itself coming and going.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">Deer are already moving around because grazing is scarce. A whole herd of deer were standing in the middle a town on a state highway near us. Usually, this occurs when they change from grass to acorns here which is about October, or hunting season.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">To rid myself of the indignation of mice army invasions, I have posted a couple of mini rose photos, with which I am still experimenting with my close-up dioptors.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia;">Photos: NitWit1, unless otherwise attributed.</span></strong><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDloR0Poc5OKKV6gnTT3shQbZLVyKZ1gECUZt4aHBQ1d4Uu85lFhvzGZ5oBQnJyRkLwuOo1Ggl0Z_M1QhUO_7T1fx4iFrg5MwNJL_yBnrFrvMbQZj5v4njdqXge2N3Vp732kWxy8W-3tig/s1600/RoseMiniBud10x20121906-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDloR0Poc5OKKV6gnTT3shQbZLVyKZ1gECUZt4aHBQ1d4Uu85lFhvzGZ5oBQnJyRkLwuOo1Ggl0Z_M1QhUO_7T1fx4iFrg5MwNJL_yBnrFrvMbQZj5v4njdqXge2N3Vp732kWxy8W-3tig/s640/RoseMiniBud10x20121906-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Miniature Rose Bud, Lower Right of Above Photo</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>[added+10 diopter to Telephoto Maco Lens]</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Center of focus is center of bud; when using</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>a large magnification the focused area is</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>quite small. What I have not figured out</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>is the awkward white highlights tinged with</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>blue edges. I will figure it out eventually.</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>NitWit1http://www.blogger.com/profile/07035004840443397537noreply@blogger.com9