HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!
....and many happy returns!!
November 6, 2009
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Mark Twain
Carol, Hope you have the most wonderful Birthday you've ever had.
210 comments:
1 – 200 of 210 Newer› Newest»Carol,
I am soooooo happy, knowing that it is your Happy Birthday!!!!
Welcome to the best decade of all.
There are no limits now Carol!!
And Mary! Happy Birthday to you too!!
..oops, I just went back and checked Facebook. You won't be hitting that decade until next year. But still, you're close!
A sweet pome...for Carol and Mary (no peeking until tomorrow) lol
Dreaming big and reaching far,
Wishing on your own bright star,
Celebrating who you are...
that's what a birthday is.
Doing all you favorite things
Touching all the joy life brings,
Hearing how each moment sings...
that's what a birthday is.
Setting this one day apart,
Looking deep withing your heart,
Believing in a brand-new start...
that's what a birthday is.
--- Emily Matthews
Oh yeah, it is my birthday tomorrow. How did you know? It's not listed on this site. I might have even forgotten myself.
Thanks for the birthday greeting and advice Chloe. Working at the jail does not allow for too much of that adventure stuff unless I can do it in the swamp, after hours, between calls and on weekends.
Nice to know that you think I have 20 years left. The only way I want them is if I'm still moving good and have the Magster at my side.
I also get confused about my age because as soon as I pass one birthday I am thinking to the next age and when I finally get to it, I think I'm a year older. Then I get excited when I realize I'm not. Did you follow that?
I guess I'm not old enough yet to get Social Security and Medicare. That's what I looking forward to, getting back a little of what I put in. I'm hoping there is a little something left when I get there since those bankers we've rescued and immunized have taken pretty much most of what I struggled for a life time to save up.
Thanks for the sweet poem Ivy. I've been begging for one but I had to turn a year older just to get one.
Carol,
Have you seen the Birthday Calculator? Could be interesting, mine was...
Birthday Calculator website
I've been on the phone all evening and have telephone ear. Everyone and their dogs called tonight. Nothing special, just one of those nights. I enjoyed talking to the dogs the most.
I just did the Topo Test on my friend. I had to talk her into it. She did think it was neat after she got her results.
She's an ESFJ. No wonder we struggle to get along.
"Did you follow that?"
You'd better believe I followed that Carol. I do the same thing. I always think I'm a year older than I am by the time my next birthday gets here.
If you take your Social Security at 62, then you don't have long to wait. You're should be pretty darn high, too.
You can do all those things that Twain said right from where you are, as far as I'm concerned. I did hear you talk about traveling some day though, didn't I? Most of the good stuff all happens in our mind anyway. There's no holding you back.
I'm tired, so am going to go, but please say happy birthday to Mary too, if she doesn't drop by.
See you tomorrow!
Ivy, You come up with the most interesting sites. I'll take a look at the one you just linked tomorrow.
Nite Chloe and thanks again.
" Explore. Dream. Discover"
We're doing all these things right here at the Swamp. We don't have travel anywhere to do them, unless we want to.
You're welcome Carol, and Happy Birthday again, since I know you'll be long gone when I get here in the morning (unless you have the day off).
Chloe,
Bear Woman said that very same thing to me! Thanks for the compliment. I don't do anything special except scan the environment using the google machine. Other people sometimes do the scanning for me. The birthday site came from my aunt. She and her sisters (including my mother) trade e-mails and links every day. Keeps their 70+ brains active. I hope mine will still be when I am their age. lol
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Carol and Mary, Happy Birthday to you.
Carol, I remembered your birthday was in November and was going to see if I could find out from your profile tonight which day it was - Chloe saved me the time in doing it. I do remember you are a Scorpio. Do you have any plans for tomorrow?
Carol, Isn't your middle name "Irene"? For some reason I connect your middle name with a song from before you or I was born.
Yes it is Jan. It was one of my grandmother's names. I just offered to take Mary to the casino to have a little fun tomorrow evening. She likes to do that but her funds don't allow it. I haven't been in ages. I used to go when I was depressed but came home more depressed. I have saved a lot of money since I haven't been depressed.
Carol, I remember we used to discuss our horrorscopes. I remember yours said you were very passionate. I just looked up the link to the birthday calculator website that Ivy posted. I looked up yours and some of it fit. What do you think?
There is something very addicting to playing slot machines. First of all, you can't worry about anything while you are watching those little things spin around. There is a little surge of adrenalin each time they get close to being something that will win.
Then you leave the place broke and and worn out from the adrenalin surges. Now if you happen to have that once in a lifetime where you leave with even what you brought in, it is good.
I went on my BD about 4 years ago. It was my first time at this new casino in town. I was by myself, feeling a little sorry for myself because my SF just had surgery and I spent days taking care of him. I had just dropped him off at his house when I decided to drop by the casino. All alone on my BD. I won $1600. Wow. I said Happy Birthday to me.
Then last year I got a notice from the IRS, I had forgotten to include that little winning on my income tax. I lost so much more that year than what I won that day, that it slipped my mind. They didn't send one of those 1099s. After they figured my taxes I owed more in taxes than what I had won that day. Not so happy a birthday.
Fortunately I had left off some big deductions for that year due to the hurricane. Some shelter thingy. After my accountant added that, they owed me money.
Then this year I got this letter from the State saying I could take advantage of this tax amnesty program. I thought why would I want to do that??? I called and they said I owed $800 to the State from the same year. Yikes, they never told me. I had to order my Fed taxes to prove they accepted my amendment to prove I didn't owe them anything. They recently sent me a $20+ check refund.
The moral of this story is...gambling is not good!
I remember one horroscope for you we read one day that said Aries liked to cut the legs off of other people's chairs so they would look up to them. Do you remember that one? We laughed hard at that one.
I love your story about gambling. With taxes you just can't win. I have never had the gambling bug, but my sister does. There was one year when we lived about 30 miles apart in 2 very small rural towns. I would jump in my car to go visit her. If I could not find her at home or in her beauty shop, I could find her at the casino. I would sit with her about 2 hours while she played the slots - we would order hamburgers and chat and then I would leave her there in the casino and go home. She can win and lose thousands of dollars in one sitting. It just doesn't interest me. I would rather stick pins in my eyeballs.
Well, its bedtime for me. I hope you have a lovely birthday tomorrow. I will be thinking good thoughts of you.
I should have just called Timmy to get some advice about those taxes. You know Timmy G.
Thanks Jan and goodnight all.
Carol and Mary,
Happy birthday....
It's your day, so you get to do whatever you
want....enjoy it.
Count your life by smiles, not tears and
Count your age by friends, not years
Gambling...not my thing, we have 2 indian casinos about 1-1/2 hrs north, I have been
maybe twice & within an hour I was bored.
Jan, maybethe song you are remembering was
Goodnite Irene...
Thanks Coreen, and I was thinking of the very same song. My daddy used to sing it to me.
We have a couple of nice casinos in this area. The only thing that I think they do good for our community is to provide jobs. Even in the down economy, people still like to gamble.
It is a place where you can go to study sad sociology. I like to people watch. Watching those people running back and forth to the cash machine with this desparate look in their eyes is scary. There are a significant number of people in our jail with gambling related crimes.
I have analyzed the experience, you know I have. What I liked was that little surge. Sometimes I needed that little surge. I don't anymore. And after I took out those three thoracic vertebrae, I can't sit in a chair for any length of time with my arms out in front. I kind of think that maybe that was one of the reasons I took that tumble, it was to keep me away from casinos.
I also thought that the fall had another purpose. It was a chance to take a week off from work. Whichever angel came up with that plan must have been fired for incompetence.
It was a seriously painful week off, in the hospital. Also found out then that there was absolutely no one to take my place at work. I had to cover the job from my hospital bed, drugged and on the cellphone. Thought that my life was over. I have never been the same since. But having no one to take my place got me crawling back to work the next week.
I also have no sick leave and my time off came out of my limited vacation time. Giving people sick leave just encourages being sick. If I did have a lot of time off, I might have become an invalid.
And I didn't realize that investing in mutual funds was a big gamble also. I don't like to think about money so I trusted that banker guy. That probably stopped my gambling also. I figured I lost my gambling quota for this lifetime and my next couple of lifetimes too.
And TGIF folkes.
Again, good morning & have a happy, Carol & Mary (forgot who is older & by how much)
I have an aunt 'irene', & yes my mom taught me
to sing goodnite irene, way back then.
Gambling, Carol, you get to see them in jail,
I see them as they file bankruptcy.
The lure of the cash machine has created many
hopeless dreamers & financial disasters. Here it is not unusual for someone to have used that little plastic card to charge up 25, 30,000+ in cash advances to chase that dream.
Though I don't know the psychology of gambling
addiction, for me it is so obviously a loser's
proposition from the start, that it is hard to understand the obsession. The casinos are not
in business to 'give their $ away", it is such
an illusion that you ever win.
And since the casinos attract lots of seniors, they wind up in serious economic trouble.
What I recall about the casinos, is the look
of the people, blank, hunched over the
slots, many smoking, & oblivious of what is going around about them.
Anyway, again enjoy your day.
And Chloe when you return, I think add "Sherlock" to your aka's, since it was your
excellent detective work that allowed us to
extend happy birthday wishes to our friends.
Not sure where you found the date, guessing
Carol has a facebook with info on it, but good
job however you did it.
Happy Birthday for real this time, Carol and Mary. Growing up, did it ever bother either of you that you had to share your cake?
I'm with Coreen on the gambling thing. To me, it's just not very interesting. I must be what called "risk averse," whatever that means. I have no issues with people who do enjoy it. There's continuing political controversy whether or not Alabama should have a lottery to fund schools. We can't even get that approved, let alone casinos. They've shot down bingo!
Every surrounding state has a lottery, and people who live close enough will drive out of their way to buy out-of-state lottery tickets, thus funding education in every nearby state but their own. Ignorant stays ignorant.
Ivy,
I found where the Ida Tarbell house is, about
3 miles away. Honestly never heard of her
til you mentioned it. I am going to check it
out, & Helen Keller's home is still here, but you can't see it.
In the novel I just completed, "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks (author of my fave "Year of Wonders"), one of the characters is a 16th century rabbi in Venice, Italy who has a secret gambling addiction. During Carnivale, when identities are masked, the rabbi sneaks out of the ghetto to a gambling house where he wagers and loses his congregation's "poor box" money...and more. Brooks' description of the emotional roller-coaster ride of the gambler's adrenaline-charged "high" and mind-numbing "low" is a masterful a piece of narrative.
Coreen,
Ida Tarbell busted up the Rockefeller monopoly on Standard Oil.
"Tarbell's look into the oil industry is known to have reinvented investigative reporting." (wiki)
Coreen,
Why can't you see Helen Keller's home?
Ivy,
It is a corner property, tree lined & high fence surrounding. The house is lived in by
a private family, apparently it has changed hands several times over the years.
I am going to ride over again once the leaves are gone & see if I can see some of it from across the intersection.
The address I found is 163 Redding Road, which
is very close to the Westport border, that may
be why everyone thought she lived in Westport,
(about a mile from my house, across one of the
reservoirs).
If you come across any other address, let me know, since that is the one I found for where
Arcan Ridge was.
Ivy, might you have any more b'day poems to share.
P.S. It is a really windy, chilly sunny day
here & luckily I am home & will be able to
watch the NY ticker tape parade through the
Canyon of Heros, since I'm waiting for a friend
to come up & help me with a few things that
need to be done around the house, that I can not do by myself.
Thank god for good friends, maybe there's a poem about good friends, since you are our resident poet laureate, I leave that to you.
Carol and Mary, I hope you both have a beautiful day.
Carol, you and I both have had some painful experiences with our dads - but it seems there were some good ones - at least in our very early years.
Carol, this song's for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGd4jkaoHRg&feature=related
Carol, I don't remember Timmy G.
Thank You everyone for the birthday wishes. I loved the pome, Ivy. To answer some of the questions--Carol is 5 min. older than I am. You wouldn't think 5 min. would make such a big difference. She's always bossed me around. Mom said when we were very young, she would talk me into getting out of the crib to get something and when we got caught, I would get in trouble.
Ivy, we never had to share a cake when we were growing up. Mom would always make 2 cakes. I liked flowery things so my cake would be a double layer with flowers on it. Carol's was a single layer cake with a pretzel fence and some western theme (cowboys & indians,etc.). She did that for years.
Even tho Carol was bossy, I have always looked up to her.She deserves everything she has gotten plus more. She was there for me many times when nobody else was. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, CAROL.
Those are sweet twin memories, Mary. Thanks for sharing. How much did you each weigh?
Oddly, between my twin brothers, the one who is older by two minutes is the more assertive one. They are mirror-image identical, and the older one is extrovert, but the younger one is introvert. I wonder if the bossing around started in the womb ("Out of my way, bro, I'm going out first!) And also, they were two-pound preemies in the days before modern neo-natal intensive care.
The older one would start trouble, but the younger one would get caught. Our parents couldn't tell them apart and would grab the the wrong one. These days, it's their grandchildren who mix them up. The kids can't see the faces clearly from the floor up to six-foot-one in height.
Carol,
Happy birthday, and feliz cuemple anos.!! to you and to Mary. Birthday's are one of the very few day's that I think are legitimate day's for celebration.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this last year of knowing you. Im sure that we would have been great freinds if we knew each other when growing up...U too Mary.
I used to tease twins that I know at one time...Lauren is a girl, and Willie is her twin brother...Willie used to call me, and (when was about 5-thru- 7 years old) and ask me if I knew what next Friday was.
I used to hesitate, and tell him that it was his sisters birthday, and that I would have to get her a birthday present..then I would tell him that I was busy and hang up on him.....My friend Larry said that Willie would go around being sad for a cpl of day' cos I did not remember his birthday...he considered me as an Uncle..still does at 37yrs old. His Mother Camile used to get mad at me..I used to love to get her mad...
She had this dog that I didn't like one bit...his name was frisky...he was a little shit, that would try to bite everyone around him...she has had a few dogs since Frisky....when ever see them..I always call her dogs Frisky..she get mad...and that makes me and Larry laugh out loud...one of those you have to be there things..
I started writing this at 7 this am. it is now 10 am...will be on the phones and e-mail most of the time..so will be in and out for a while...L & L Solar
Chloe,
How did you get the multiple fonts and colors?
Here is a birthday verse from June Cotter's book. Either ironic or especially appropriate for a twin birthday...you decide. lol
"Today is yours -
to reflect on your dreams.
to reach for the future.
to savour your individuality
and dance to your own rhythm.
A day to celebrate yourself,
Happy Birthday."
~ Andrea L. Mack
Hi Ivy,
I went to the compose tab, and it gave me tabs to choose from on font (I think about 8 different ones) and color, as well as several other choices of ways to do things. For bold and italic, I highlight what I wanted done, and it gave me a formula to fit the words into (kinda like we do for our links). It was just hit and miss, and I didn't have much time to mess with it, but what I did mess around with was fun.
I'd like to go back another time, and try some different things. For one thing, I didn't take the time to see what the different fonts looked like, But I really do like italics a lot, and I was able to make some things bold, and to re-size some of the lines. Under the compose tab, you see all the options on the top tool bar. Great fun!
I've got a feeling that we will find more things we can do as we experiment around and get used to the program over time.
.. and Ivy, that's a very nice poem.
Carol and Mary, I hope you two do go to the casino tonight and have a great celebration.
Just make sure you leave, when you start losing. Also leave when you won a good amount. Ha! Win or lose, be strategic about getting out of there.
Happy Birthday to both of you. I must be an unusual feeling to have a twin. A feeling of 'never' being completely alone. Especially when you were kids. What a great way to come through things - together.
Mary, I loved that story. You two had quite a mother, and it's so admirable that she encouraged you both to be your separate, individual selves.
I think it's funny that Carol was already a leader while you were both still in the crib.
"Birthday's are one of the very few day's that I think are legitimate day's for celebration. "
I agree with you (as usual) Solar.
Well, I've got to get some things done. I had to take Emma for her Doctors appointment before 8 this morning and I have a lot of catch up to do. Thought we'd never get out of that place, and Emma wasn't enjoying it at all. She doesn't trust anyone there. She doesn't mind the waiting room, but that's where all the sick kids are, so heaven only knows what she was exposed to.
See you all later.
"to reach for the future.
to savour your individuality"
Your poem even said something about what Carol and Mary's mom did Ivy. Savored their individuality. Smart lady.
Chloe,
I actually think that all day's are to be celebrated in one way or another. The thing that I don't like is that we are pushed by corps to celebrate day's that they want us to:
I have a real hard time of getting into the Christmas Spirit, b/c of the way that it was stolen by the Church, and how it is so commercialized..I know that some people say this a lot..but this is one time that I go along with the crowd....I really don't like Christmas at all...that is until I get involved with the little ones that love it.
I think that they do b/c there are presents involved..but they also love it cos they see their parents in a better way during this time????they get along better during this time, than others..just an observation that I have made.
"The thing that I don't like is that we are pushed by corps to celebrate day's that they want us to:"
I've felt the same way about that for a long time too Solar. As a matter of fact, I agree with your whole post. I've never heard anyone else put so close to the same way that I've felt for so long. You'd be surprised how much you and I think alike, about so many things. Not 'everything', but our general philosophy is close.
Chloe,
I forgot to tell you that you did a very nice job on Carols B-day post..makes me want to sing: A little later Im going to put on my party hat and do a little moonlight dance for her>
What Im I thinking now??
IM thinking that you're late.! Call me back and I will tell you why.
No! You don't want to call me back, huh Lucy....I have been waiting all afternoon so you could pick me up for Lunch...today is Friday..and Natasha is waiting to..mmmmmm are you two already having lunch without me..Doesn't matter Im going to sit and wait until you feed me...pinks, sheesh.!
Ok, no more waiting, gonna eat that left over toast. and put whatever is crawling by on it..little mustard, and I can eat anything...at least I didn't get the pick-up trk treatment.
Mary, that was such a sweet message about you and Carol. Thanks for sharing that with all of us. You are both very special. I can see you being the "flowery" one and Carol liking the cowboy and indian motif. Your mother was very special also. It sounds like she encouraged you each to develop your own individuality.
Mary, What is your middle name?
Chloe, I hope you and Emma have recovered from the trip to her doctor's. Did she have to have immunizations? It is not a fun place for a little one - Most of the time they get those dreadful shots when they go.
One, more thing. All of U lurkers..when you finally decide to come here...come with a full stomach..maybe I can get some B.D. cake a little later...
For the birthday girls...
Carol's Cake
Mary's Cake
Carol Needed a Bigger Cake
Thanks for all the BD greetings and wishes. You guys made my day! Ivy, those first two BD cakes look almost exactly like the cakes we used to have. Our parents did make our BDs and Christmas special even though they didn't have a lot of money to spend. We never felt deprived of material things.
Whew! What a day. I was over an hour late getting out of the joint. They must have unloaded the crim bus yesterday evening and all of them had their suitcases full of meds. They had 20 patients for me to see this afternoon, most newbies with all those drugs.
When I saw my list for this afternoon, I said to my office manager, happy effing BD to me! She laughed.
They celebrated my BD at lunch, then the assembly line got started. We looked like a hive of hornets someone disturbed.
I saw on that BD site you linked Ivy that today was not my lucky day. They could have left that off. It started good and I hope I got most of that bad luck out of the way at work. Now the rest of the day should be up hill all the way.
Yes mom did treat us differently. Can't say it was always good because she expected a lot from me and tried to program Mary for failure. I guess that was because Mary was born weaker, couldn't suck a bottle. She was physically more premature than I was. I must have hogged all the good stuff even though she did end up with the better set of boobs of the two of us. I always thought that wasn't fair. Now I'm happy that I don't have as much to sag with age.
While I was struggling to meet mom's high expectations, Mary was struggling to prove she wasn't the loser mom expected her to be. My job was much easier. Mary far exceeded mom's expectations. It's not easy to fight that negative programing.
I loved my mom very much and forgave her because she didn't have a clue. She was raised by a horrible mother herself who deserted her as a young adolescent along with her two younger brothers, one who died of pneumonia at a very young age. Mom was left with her stepfather who tried to molest her and she had to take refuge with her grandmother. Not a happy story.
Oh, this wasn't the group therapy meeting? Sorry.
Ivy, Carol weighed 5#3oz. and I weighed 4#14oz. Not too much dfference.
Jan, my middle name is Elise. I'm not sure where that came from but my first name was my great grandmothers first name. She is the one that raised my mom when her mother left her.
Mary, I think its lovely you both had old family names. Elise is a beautiful name. Did your mom intend for your names Mary and Carol to be related to Christmas?
Your weights were not too different. I think the first twin born is more often the heavier of the two - I wonder if it has to do with gravity?
Solar,
I agree with you that every day is a day to celebrate. I will have to admit that I love the Christmas season. I do believe in the "reason for the season" but I also love Christmas music and all the beautiful lights and decorations. It just has to put you in a festive mood.
Just like Coreen, I have alot of Christmas CD's. Every year I buy at least 1 or 2 and I've been doing this for yrs.
Jan, We were due in Dec. so Mom once said that ours names came from "Merry Christmas" and "Christmas Carols"
I'm five minutes older than Mary. Mom wasn't expected to have twins. They told her we were going to be one big boy. One of her best friends was also pregnant at the time and was expected to have twins. She had all the attention lavished on her for her entire pregnant while mom was treated like chopped liver. No wonder she had an attitude.
Carol,
I didn't get a chance to censor the results of your birthday calendar because I don't know what your birth year is. lol. What do you think is going on this week that there's an unusual influx of inmates? More crime or more people getting caught? Glad your day isn't totally ruined.
Don't know Ivy. I wonder if the ecomony has anything to do with it. No one around here gets away with much of anything. I think they arrest ya if your fingernails are too long. At least it seems that way.
Well off to seek our fortune. Our river rat friend, who does have a little gambling problem, is treating us to some free dinners on his award's card. He'll be getting off work in just a little while. I need to go hit up a bank.
I will forgive you Ivy for not censoring. Tomorrow afternoon we shake hands and come out cheering. OK?
That's a depressing story about you girls' grandmother. It's possible your mom was saved from a bad fate by the nurturing of her grandmother. It is said if there is at least one loving person in the life of a child, they have a chance to pull through. I have heard these stories so many times, and also have seen the same pain play itself out repeatedly in my own family. Happy endings? I don't know. Forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance? Carol, it sounds like you have found those.
Have a nice time..I just had a post for you Mary that was eaten up by the blog monster..I did not copy first and refreshed..luck, and Happy Birthday again.!
Hi Carol,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Carol,
I never carry any "feud" forward, and especially not the results of any sporting event. I can't think of anything less worth ruining a relationship or friendship. Whatever happens tomorrow on the playing field will not matter to me in the end.
However, the Cajun Tiger invasion of Alabama has begun...they are crawling all over us tonight. lol
Carol & Mary,
Enjoy your night at the casino, & if wishes help, hope you hit it big with those slots...
Ivy, the cakes were great.
And I am another who enjoys the Christmas Season.
Chloe & Ivy, You are both amazing - Chloe for posting the birthday pics and message and Ivy for the cakes and birthday "pome" and the link to the birthday calculator website.
We have all enjoyed your birthdays Carol and Mary. I too hope you both win big tonight. We are all winners here for sharing in your lives today.
Coreen, I too enjoy the holiday season. It will be fun here on the blog as we all share holiday cheer with each other.
Good nite all
This morning there was a "thwump" against my kitchen window. I knew instinctively it was a bird strike. I went out in time to see this fellow, shakin' it off. Turned out, he was fine.
Myrtle Warbler
aka, Yellow Rumped Warbler
Took me a little while to look him up in my field guide. Haven't seen him since 1983, and that was on a field trip to the Everglades with Bear Woman and her now-ex.
Couple more good looks...
Myrtle
Warbler
A little extra late night birding before bedtime...
Pileated Woodpecker
American Bald Eagle
Well it was a good evening, an end to a wonderful day. Didn't win any money but that's not important. I wouldn't trade all the wonderful cheer from all of you wonderful people for million bucks. Let me rethink that. I wouldn't trade it for just a measley $100,000 but Mary would kill me if I let that million go.
I stuffed myself with Dungeness crab. Threw in a touch of salad, didn't have much room left after the crab. It was, all you can eat, and I have been practicing eating for a while now. Now that the river is safe I'll have to pass up those cookies and candy at the WM tomorrow, I think. Let me sleep on it.
Ivy, I'm glad your little bird was OK. I remember when I had to bury a little bird who did the same thing this summer. There's one particular window that my birds seem to fly into a lot. I now keep that shade down just a little. My little bird was a Warbler also. A Prothonotary Warbler. Had a more yellow on him or her.
And we have lots of Pileated Woodpeckers out here or one that is real busy running back and forth. I even thought I saw a Bald Eagle one day. It was a distance off so I couldn't get a good look. I looked in the bird book and they can be just about anywhere in the US. Now it could have been an old buzzard with gray hair. It takes one to know one.
Chloe thanks for putting up the birthday post. You're our chairwoman of niceness and thoughfulness. On TM you were always the one who made everyone feel welcome. I probably wouldn't have ever written much on TM if it weren't for you. If no one else was paying attention to me, you always were.
Thank you all for making Mary's and my birthday special. Thanks Jan for sending me the Youtube with Goodnight Irene. I'll listen to it again in a minute, just before I go to sleep.
Nice to see you here again Tony. Thanks for the BD greeting.
Ivy, it will be fun to watch the football game tomorrow but, don't tell anyone, I wouldn't be crushed if we lost, just hope we aren't stomped.
Nite, or actually good morning everyone. everyone.
Carol,
Emma woke up with a runny nose yesterday, but the doctor didn't test for flu because she didn't have a fever yet. She developed one later last evening, and throughout the night, but I was able to bring it back down with ibuprofen. It may be no more than a common cold, but I'm taking her to the doc again this morning, so won't be around until later in the day.
She's had here 'first' flu shot (there's a follow up that she doesn't get for two more weeks), but of course the one I'm concerned about is the H1N1, and there are no vaccines available for it here. So I'm playing it extra safe and following up on this.
I'll check in later today.
I just got up a little while ago. I'm going to have a sleep hangover even though I did go to bed late.
Chloe, I hope everything is OK with little Emma. It's making me nervous. Your kinda between a rock and a hard place. Wanting to make sure she doesn't have anything bad but then having to expose her to bad stuff going to check.
If I had a kid, I would have had to marry a pediatric practitioner. What am I talking about, I'm a family NP. Well the kid part of that got lost after not having any to take care of for a while.
I did take care of peds when I worked for that old Doc. I did several afternoons a week at his office. I was a little scared about doing peds but it really was fun. I did pretty well with those little tots. I could make some really funny faces. Wouldn't feel comfortable now. If you don't use it, you lose it.
Biggest scare is knowing when to prescribe an antibiotic. Most of the little things they have are viral and an antibiotic is not needed but you have to do a lot of teaching. And I used to keep one on call at the pharmacy in case it was needed. You don't want an antibiotic resistant kid.
Overuse of antibiotics is one of the biggest problems we have in medicine. And ignorant people, not dumb people, think that if you don't order one everytime they have a sniffle, you are an incompetent idiot. All the teaching you can do won't help with some people.
One reason I like working with my population at the jail is, since they are a captive audience, I can do that watchful waiting thing. Another is that I don't care if they think I'm an idiot, I don't have to worry about keeping my paying customers like someone in private practice does.
Mornin' Carol, glad you had a wonderful birthday. What is Dungeness crab? Are they as good as Chesapeake blue crabs? Hubs has perfected a crab cake recipe that is in high demand among our friends and family. No one asks me to "bring a dish" anymore; they ask him! lol
Beautiful day for a football game!
Craig Crawford put up a note that his computer lost the batch of requests for signed bookplates. He's asking anyone who still wants one to email him again. See TrailMix for more details.
Tying in with our previous discussion about regional accents, there's a study that claims babies cry with an accent!
National Geographic - Babies Learn Language in the Womb
If Emma just got that flu shot yesterday, I wonder if her fever could be from that.
"Flu shot reactions or side effects are usually mild, and may include soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, fever, and/or aches, and usually only last for 1-2 days."
Flu Shots for Children
I'd like to hear those little babies crying with an accent.
Dungeness Crab
I like Dungeness Crab the most of all crab meat. Easy to get to the meat and sweet. Somewhere I read that they have the least toxins for crab meat. Their harvest is also controlled.
Carol,
Where do you get your Dungeness crabs? The secret of crab cakes is all in the crab.
Carol,
The nice thing about having a birthday on a Friday: Is that you can keep celebrating all Saturday, and Sat. night..rest up on Sunday, and get ready for the next one. Glad that U and Maria had a good time..Mary that is...I like the way that they both sound...I think that babies also swear when crying...wanna hear?
Chloe, Emma is a strong little farmer.
I forgot where I saw, for the first time; that when people are exposed to ( at young ages also) the germs that are in Mother Nature, that they will build a resistance to most things...this as apposed to people that keep themselves squeaky clean; and never get dirty enough to build up......im sure that you keep her very clean..and the exposure to her little farm helps her imo.
Solar, You are so right, she is a strong little farmer. Her fever broke this morning (I noticed a little before 6 she had broken into a sweat), and sure enough it's come down, and she seems to be coming out of it, except for the congestion. The Dr. gave us medicine for that yesterday. This is her first time to have a runny nose, and with all the talk about children dying from H1N1, needless to say I was probably overreacting.
So the little farmer apparently has a healthy immune system. Therefore, I feel 'much' better, even though I didn't get a lot of sleep last night.
I'm going to catch up of everyone's comments now, and see if Carol went gambling for her Birthday.
Ivy, last night I got the crab at the casino buffet. They have them at one of our WMs here. They actually were pretty cheap when they first started carrying them. Cheaper than if you got them up the the Pacific NW and you had to buy them up there with the big shell. WM sells them without the big outside shell. They have gone up a couple of dollars a pound.
Ivy. That little Myrtle Warbler has got to be the cutest thing ever.
Carol, I saw the post asking about Emma's flu shot, but she got that at least a couple of weeks ago, maybe longer. They said she gets her shot 2 in two more weeks though. She had no reaction at all from the first one.
Did you and Mary go gambling?
Doesn't sound like you got any breaks at work yesterday. This has got to be your busy season for sick people, in and out of the joint.
Good, You did go to the casino. If those buffets there are anything like the ones in Vegas, it must have been great.
I liked reading the story about your mom, your birth and your upbringing. I bet you both made your mom one proud lady. And what a surprise that 'birth' day must have been, when she found out there were two instead of one. Your mom must have been quite a lady, judging by you and Mary.
Chloe,
I saw that on the Science channel; I even have a tape of it...the study was done on a farm...and it showed the farmers little ones herding cows..and showing the natural way' that they lived, and built up resistance....so go ahead and herd up some cows...Knowing you will try to herd cats, instead.! Haha
I laughed every time that they showed that commercial, ( think that it was a phone commercial...singular?) that someone yelled "stampede" then they showed a bunch of cats in a corral, and some gal (looked a lot like you) trying to rope some of them...funny no? go and get em Sally.!
I don't know what it is about this time of the year, but I seem to be so much more bothered by the hurdles I have to cross, than I am in the Spring and Summer.
I lost one of my cats to old age this morning. It always hits me hard when I lose an animal, and when you've had this many for this long, it's enevitable. I've learned to cope with it better throughout the years (or at least don't let it keep me down as long), but still, it's never easy. I just tend to be more affected by negative feelings in the winter.
Thank goodness Emma's better, or I'd really be freaking out.
I feel pretty much the same about Christmas as Solar does. But with Emma here now, I know I'll be getting into the holidays more again. It's important I do for her.
Thanks for the laugh Solar. You always seem to know when I can use one.
But what's this with me ropin' a cat? No way!!
I've never met a cat yet that I could catch, let alone rope. And they're the only beings on earth that are more stubborn and obstinate than me. Single minded beyond belief.
Solar, I've read the same thing about kids being healthier when brought up around animals. I think it said they build up more immunity.
Chloe,
Glad to hear that Emma is feeling better today.
Sorry to hear about you losing one of your cats.
Carol,
Glad you & Mary had a good time at the Casino.
As far as Dungeness Crab, only had it in San Francisco, & it was delicious, but can't say that I have ever seen it here, not restaurant or where we buy fish.
Is the Dungeness sold at Walmart sold like Alaskan King Crab, that is frozen legs?
Ivy,
My local weekly paper had some photos of the annual Halloween bonfire....
Easton Halloween
bonfire
Coreen, we have three WMs around here and only one, that has the little seafood counter, has the Dungeness crab. It is frozen or was frozen before placed out. When I first found it I was eating it pretty often. Now I haven't had it in a while until last night.
Ivy, I started my stretches, Wouldn't want to pull something if the action gets really hot and I think the action will get really hot.
I just got back from the WM and I managed to skip the cookies but did get the candy. It's a start. Baby steps.
I think I need to get a couple of friends and suit up because LSU is in big trouble! I think someone forgot the rules of the game.
I dunno know, Carol, the first quarter looked like a struggle for everybody.
Hubs is struggling too. He burned the first batch of popcorn. I like burned popcorn, but he doesn't. So I'm munching burned popcorn, he made another batch. lol
Carol,
I know you like Wally World. I have just rediscovered it. They just remodeled our store and it's a nice place to shop. I've been three times since Thursday.
Their marketing psychologists must have discovered about $4. A bunch of stuff is priced at $4 and there's big $4-signs in all the visible spots. I heard some ladies exclaiming "FOUR DOLLARS!?!" over a costume jewelry display. I bought storage bins with lids for $4 and fleece blankets for the dog beds at $4. $4 is not quite free, but it seems like such a bargain, you have to get more than one, and you don't feel guilty. In fact, it creates that coveted "sense of urgency" to buy now because four dollars won't last forever.
Touchdown, LSU. Poo poo.
Ivy, I like Wally World because it is close, only about 4 miles away and cheap. They do have just about everything. Would never buy meat there though. They inject and gas their meat. No butcher. I get meat at Market Basket or Krogers.
All our stores have done a makeover also. I have had to circle the store a lot to find what I needed. It almost seemed like they moved stuff to a different place every week.
How's Emma's temp this afternoon Chloe? Temps always are higher in the afternoon. If I have someone with a little temp in the morning, it's usually a big temp in the afternoon.
Uh oh, Carol, I bought meat. I don't usually, I shop for groceries at Publix. Today, I was rushing to get back for the game and wanted to get everything in one stop. I bought Angus steakburger. It looked like the best they had. Is it safe to eat?
Interception. Not a good thing for the Tide.
The Elephant
When people call this beast to mind,
They marvel more and more
At such a little tail behind
So LARGE a trunk before.
~ Hillaire Belloc
Ivy, if it is that blown up beef packaging, it is usually injected with a saline solution and gased. The problem is that it will look fresh when it really isn't and it is higher in sodium. I read where it will look fresh way after it is likely spoiled. Read the fine print on the meat label. It will probably say whether they use that process.
It is not a problem with that roll ground beef products or things that are commercially packaged. Just the stuff that looks like a butcher prepared it. Packages usually look puffed up.
As a Alabama fan, do you collect elephants Ivy?
Chloe, I am so sorry to hear about your cat.
I am happy that Emma is better. Is she eating and drinking fluids ok?
I have stopped eating beef almost entirely. Now when I eat beef, It doesn't digest well. I think I have lost the enzymes in my stomach that break it down. I wonder if that happens?
Ivy, I love elephants. I love the pome - really simple and sweet. Elephants are one of my favorite zoo animals. We have a new baby elephant at our zoo here in Albuq. I will see if I can find an online picture.
Carol,
I don't have an elephant collection, but a couple friends of mine do and I admire theirs from afar. If I start another collection of "dust-ables," Hubs is going to kill me.
Well, Carol, I think that's what I got. That's what get for being in a rush and not making a second trip to the grocery. I was going to try to get Hubs to make Italian meatballs.
Jan,
I would love to see the baby elephant pictures.
http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/elephantcalf.html
Here is a link to some pictures and news about our new baby elephant at the Albuquerque zoo. Her name is Daizy.
I'm sorry about your kitty also, Chloe.
The meat isn't going to kill you Ivy or there would be a lot of people dying because I'm sure WM sells a lot of meat. I just wouldn't make a habit of it.
I read about it in a Organic Gardening mag.
Chloe,
I'm sorry about your cat. It's so hard to say goodbye to our furry friends, but I do believe in the Rainbow Bridge.
I'm not going to tell Hubs about it, Carol. But I won't make a habit of it, as you suggest. Words to the wise.
It was Mother Earth News, not Organic Gardening.
Shocking News About Meat
Game is looking better now Ivy.
Our players are dropping like flies.
Looking better maybe to you...
Hubs is making up those meatballs now.
"Hey, Hubs, how's that meat look?"
"Looks good."
"That's good. I'm starved (gulp)."
LOL Ivy.
Just call it aged beef.
Smell Hub's fingers Ivy. See if they smell a little sour.
LSU needs some miracles now. It's starting to look like I expected from the beginning. We did get a few bad calls IMO. Charged with a time out when both teams asked for it and I'm pretty sure that was an interception a few minutes ago, but got to go with what the refs say.
Well that just cinched it for good. I sure hope my Saints do well tomorrow. I'm actually more partial to them than LSU.
Sam's is not the same Ivy. Ours here has butchers so the meat isn't injected and gassed. I get my beef fillets there and individually vacuum pack them.
Only one way to win. Disciplined performance. "WE control what we do."
The Coach
I'm having one of those Morey's marinated seasoned Alaskan wild caught salmon fillets tonight. They come in a box of 6 individually wrapped fillets. I love them and I'm really not that crazy about salmon. I could do a commercial for them.
Maggie even goes nuts when she smells it cooking. She knows she gets to share. I dropped a piece I was feeding her the other day and went to pick it up for her and she growled at me.
I: "Hey, Hubs. I don't know about this meat. Kinda chewy, don't you think?"
H: "Yea, it's okay, not great."
I: "Good thing you made lotsa sauce."
later...
H: "Probably shouldn't save these meatballs."
I: (laughing) "Why?"
H: "They weren't any good."
I: "Oh." rotfl
H: "I don't see what's so funny."
" I am happy that Emma is better. Is she eating and drinking fluids ok?"
Jan, Yes Emma is eating and drinking plenty of fluids. That's one of the reasons that I decided to stop jumping to conclusions and expecting the worst, once her temperature broke. Her immune system is apparently up and running, because she had that temperature for less than 24 hrs. Now I've got whatever it is, and I'm sure I'll complain a lot more than she did. Just hoping it's short lived. I think that Carol said her guys she was treating in the prison, were over the worst of the symptoms pretty quickly too.
What bothers me most, is that she got it from her mom (she's out of town until Monday), and never even told me she was sick, until I mentioned that Emma was. She only visits with her for a short time after work, sometimes just minutes, and even that isn't every day. So it annoys me all the more that she'd come in with symptoms and not even mention them to me. So now it spreads to all of us.
My cat, Tigger, was 17 yrs old, and has been going slowly for a while now. But no matter how prepared you think you are, it always hurts.
Saban's players did a few stupid things, like ours did, tonight. He didn't look too controlled then.
Ivy, I just love it when you share pieces of your conversations between hubs and you. Good stuff.
(did you tell him why you were laughing?)
Carol,
I didn't tell him yet...
Carol, I've always thought that WMs meat was pretty good, but now that you've explained about the packaging, I won't buy it there any more. I've been going to Krogers more and more anyway.
Carol,
St. Nick didn't look too controlled when he threw his head phones on the ground either. lol
They do have that great big 'Date' on the packaging, and I've never had any bad meat from there though.
Sorry, Chloe, I meant. It's an "I" thing...lol
Do you have trouble remembering people's names the minute after you were introduced? I do. Have to repeat the name five times before it sticks. I hate that.
Chloe,
17 years is a pretty good life for a cat. Do you think the fact that you are focused on Emma blunted the grief about Tigger? She really needed you today, you didn't have time to be distracted. Just wondering.
Did you read the article I linked Chloe? The meat will look good when it actually can already be spoiled.
http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/elephantcalf.html
http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/elephantcalf.html</a
Jan, I'm still not caught up, but just saws the link you posted of Daizy. She is so cute; and 318 pounds, now that's amazing. Also it's unbelievable the way the get up and walk around so soon after birth.
I just saw what you wrote Chloe. Do you think what you guys have is the flu or a cold? With that flu, most complain of hurting all over, bad sore throat, little cough and high fever. Symptoms have been pretty consistant.
I didn't read it yet Carol. But I'm not going to buy their meat anymore anyway. I'm glad you told us.
Chloe,
You haven't said much in detail about your daughter, and you don't have to. I wouldn't presume your feelings, but it must pose a challenge for you. The trade-off is Emma gets to be a big part of your life.
For me, this one started out aching all over, tired, then next day (today) runny nose, but no fever, cough or sore throat yet.
Emma's temperature came the day after she started with a runny nose. She's still got all the symptoms of a bad cold, but fever down and eating and drinking well, and playful at the appropriate times. Never listless.
Carol,
I have a tummy ache. Do you think it's the meat bombs?
The baby elephant is so cute.
"The trade-off is Emma gets to be a big part of your life."
Exactly Ivy. That, and we will have a very strong influence on her. We love her so much, and are grateful everyday that she's with us. She's doing so well, she's such a happy baby and we couldn't ask for more.
That post I did to Jan regarding the elephant looks like it turned into one big link. Everything I wrote is in blue. I have 'no' idea how that happened.
Ivy, I don't think the meat would hurt you. It's the power of suggestion bothering you unless Hubs just didn't cook it long enough.
"Do you have trouble remembering people's names the minute after you were introduced? I do."
Yes I do Ivy. I think I file things in my brain quite differently than most other people. One weird example: If I can't recall the same of a person, a city... well anything, often I'll remember the first letter. Things in my brain must be filed alphabetically, and that seems rather bizarre to me.
Carol,
Sometimes Hubs goes a little too "tartare" with the steaks and burgers, but meatballs get thoroughly cooked. I would have considered these "chewy" even without the power of your suggestions.
Carol, I remember quite a few months ago, you said that 60 is supposed to be a good age to make any changes that you want to make. I guess like a little 'window of opportunity'. So you'd better give it a lot of thought this year, so you'll be prepared to take advantage of that window. I think you said you read that somewhere. Do you remember what I'm talking about?
I do better if I only get introduced to one new person, but if there are two or more, I'm in big trouble. The aide-de-camp does not have time to get the message to the General in the Tent before they both get deployed. lol
Chewy may mean that they were very lean. (?)
That's what I'd think anyway.
Good evening all
Chloe,sorry about your cat..It hurts been there.Nice to read about your joyful Emma..
Carol,
Hope your b-day was fun...
I don't know what we'd do without our little aide-de-camp Ivy. Sure is nice to have her around, looking out for us all the time.
I love Walmarts 96% ground beef,its the only meat I've gotten there and I've never had any troubles..
I'm horrible with names but faces I don't forget. I think I never even put the names in my memory from the get go. Afraid to take up too much RAM and it is limited.
I don't think that was me Chloe that you are talking about. I know nothing about 60 except that it is a round number.
Is it in one of those puffy packages Tony? Look at the article I linked then look at the Image gallery.
Thanks Tony,
I haven't talked to you in ages.
The way I used to be, I would have never been here talking on this blog after such a loss. But I've worked a long time now on my focus. And when you're in mourning, you're neglecting all those here now in the present. I have so much to be grateful for, and can't allow myself to lose site of that. I had my cry this morning, but pulled myself out, and said what I always say: 'Life goes on'.
"Afraid to take up too much RAM and it is limited."
LOL. Before computer terminology, I used to say basically the same thing. 'I don't want to clutter my brain'. So I intentionally didn't take everything in.
I have used WMs roll of ground chuck and have not had any problem with it. It isn't gassed but I assume it is frozen until placed out on display.
Hey Tony, Do you get real busy this time of the year. Are you working hard and making lots of money!
Its in one of those square plastic packages and it does sometimes look puffy..I'm going to look at the sodium content on the package I have some in the freezer..
Solar's going to be so disappointed if he misses Tony's visit. I hope he's not off sulking because I forgot to pick him up for lunch Friday.
Someone send out a signal to him, quick, before Tony leaves.
I think your meat is gassed Tony. Check out the article later. It tells you what the problems are with doing that.
Tony,
Hope business is good for you, but you know what they say about all work and no play. We'd love if you could hang out here with us more.
Carol,
If the meat is gassed, does that mean it gives you gas? I just want to know if this is my imagination...lol
See, I misfiled that 60 'window of opportunity' story under the wrong person. I must have all kinds of lost files, and false files in my head, if I didn't file them in the right place to begin with. What a hopeless mess.
Maybe it was Rita.
This site is not called "The Swamp" for nothing.
... or Patsi
Chloe,
I don't remember Rita. lol
"This site is not called "The Swamp" for nothing."
That's right. Carol always says 'anything goes', or something close to that.
What else was in what you were eating tonight Ivy? Were you gassed before you ate the meat that was?
Hey,
Stop you're shouting.! Actually I just sat down, and left a post for Tony at TM. and switched to the swamp...
Chloe, I had a feeling that there was something wrong with you in the last cpl of day's, just knew that's all. And you still managed to decorate for Carol's B. party...U something.!!
We got 181 comments here. Time to be thinking about a new thread. Anybody? I got nothing. Tomorrow's Sunday...what church are we showing up at? Any one is good for me.
LOL Ivy,
Names are usually all we have here in cyberspace. So I guess we don't have as much of a problem in the name department, when we're here.
Thanks everyone
I looked the freezer and the sodium content is 80mg..I look at Public tomorrow and look at their beef..I will also ck out the article..
Carol, You here?
Maybe she's working on one now. If I wouldn't talk so much, maybe we wouldn't be in this predicament.
Tony, Let us know what you find out. Thanks.
Ivy
I will try and visit more often,its very nice here..I have just been busy with work.The snow birds are coming back..I had a new client this week and 2 new ones next..I hate saying no to work..I'm thankful especially given that cleaning is not something people have to have...
Tony,
Hi pal.! Glad that you can make it once in a while. I kinda have a system going on now..I go over to T m to let out a little aggression, and I come here to be picked on...so it is working out ok so far..wouldn't change a thing...If you came here after dark...they like us to wear P.J.'s tho...
Nothing here guys. Remember, I've been celebrating.
Tony, the reason WM does it is because they don't have butchers there. If the other stores have a butcher, they don't do it. And Sam's doesn't do it either.
Solar, I didn't see you sneak in. Carols BD made me happy.
You know as well as I do Solar, that there's 'always' something going on, something happening. If you let them all get you down, well...you know, Murphy's law. We just have to keep going forward.
Hi Chloe,
I will..I was over at Taylor Marsh earlier and boy is she upset over the Dems selling women out on Reproductive coverage in the healthcare bill..I was also in Orlando most of the day visiting friends..Little Emma's keeping you busy I'm sure..
Solar, Sundays are my, barely get out of PJs, day.
Carol,
That's all we had. Hubs put onion in the meatballs. That coulda done it.
Publix does a good job with their meat, but the best we get is from "The Pig" at the meat cutter's counter. For fish and shellfish, Hubs goes to a fish market. I should have asked for crab cakes tonight. But then I wouldn't have learned all this about WM meat processing. Everything happens for a reason.
Shall I just make a continuation thread?
Ivy or anyone else have anything?
Carol
Nope this super center doesn't have a butcher,they used too but the last few years they went to the pre packing..
If you have a Cost-co near you: U can't go wrong. they are the best. I haven't been to a butcher in years. Unless its for soup bones...
Did ya'll send Craig a new request for his and Helen's autograph?
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