Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Art in the park


I see a need for a new post so thought I would post a picture from our trip to Mexico last December. This picture is from Puerta Vallarta of some artwork displayed in the park. There is something about art that touches us spiritually. While driving back from Pagosa Springs this past Wednesday, we stopped at Ghost Ranch in NM. Georgia O'Keefe bought 7 acres of the Ghost Ranch property and lived there the last 25 or years of her life. There is one mountain there called the Pedernales that she painted several times and she once said that God told her that "...if she would paint it often enough it would be hers." I would not swear to the accuracy of those words but you get the "picture." I love Ms. OKeefe's paintings and always visit her art museum when I am in Santa Fe. She was a woman ahead of her time.

136 comments:

jan said...

If you want to read more about Ghost Ranch, here is the link. Ghost Ranch offers courses in the summer where one can stay there enjoy the beauty of the surroundings and learn something new.

http://www.ghostranch.org/

Ivy Green said...

I survived the "boob job." They actually are good at getting people in and out quickly, and keeping the discomfort to a minimum. The techs are very proficient, but I have to wonder how much they must school themselves against the idea they are "peddlers of pain." For a good cause, for certain; but still, there has to be women who are not as stalwart as me about being wedged into a torture device.

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
It is perfectly understandable for you to "not be yourself." You are in the process of a big lifestyle change; you are saying goodbye your career and its associated people, places and things; plus you have just suffered the unexpected loss of a beloved pet. Those are all "big ticket items" each one by itself. To have them all at once has to be overwhelming. Go easy on yourself. You have "permission" to not be perfect today. Besides, I think you're doing fabulous.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post Jan.

I agree with you, Georgia O'Keeffe was ahead of her time. You inspired me to learn a little bit more about her, and even though she was born in the 1800's, it was a tradition in her family for everyone to go on to a higher education - even her mother had, and she would have been born much earlier in the century.

I guess what I'm getting at, is that she was independent and smart - of course, extremely artistic - I think once of the conditions that led to her great success, is that she was encouraged by many to become an individual that didn't compromise, to become the most she could become. (ha!, or something like that). Even her teachers treated her as an individual, which was probably more unusual back then (especially toward women).

She certainly did have a love for and found great beauty in your New Mexico Jan. I'm going to link a video taken in N.M. when she was 92 years old, in which she talked about where much of her inspiration had come from.

In that video, she looks at a part of the desert that looks so hot and barren to me, and see's and shares so much beauty. I think New Mexico was her 'canvas'.
92 year old Georgia O'Keeffe in New Mexico

Anonymous said...

I agree with all the things that Ivy said to you in her comment Jan.

I think when we leave something behind, in order to move forward into some new and different - that there's actually a mourning process that we have to go through. If you can balance that out with the excitement of the future, and concentrate on the things you can do (things that haven't even entered your mind yet), then you'll accept the change as a natural progression of everything you've ever done. You'll still be on the same road, you'll just have new and different choices (and more freedom to make them) now. Don't let doubt muddle the way.

Anonymous said...

Ivy, glad everything went well this morning. Hope you'll let us know how it's going once your mom get's there. Did Hubs pick up the wheel chair?

When I read your comment to Jan, I thought how lucky we are here to have people share such deep felt thoughts and ideas with us. Well.... what I was thinking is that I'm grateful to be a part of this place where we can come figure out things together, and almost always find support from each other. Makes Carol's creation here a very valuable asset - a nice break from reality.

Anonymous said...

... maybe not so much a 'break from reality' as a place to figure ways to 'deal' with reality.

Anonymous said...

Jan! It sounds like your drive to and from the spa was just as much part of your vacation as being there.

Ivy Green said...

Chloe,
Hubs got the wheelchair. Mom doesn't know we got it. We're going to tell her it's "just in case." She really does not like admitting when she can no longer do as much or as well as she used to. Plus she's stubborn. My brothers think I can "manage" her, but the truth is no one can. lol

Ivy Green said...

Chloe,
I like those comments you made to Jan, and all of us. This is a good support network.

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
Did you figure out if you are located anywhere near the Scottie-man's ranch in Tome, NM?

Ivy Green said...

Back to the mammo techs - they are processing patients one after another, all day long. It is a virtual assembly line. That has to get tedious. How could you not run out of patience with "whiney hineys" who act like you are killing them? I did not hear any screaming coming from any rooms I was near, but I can imagine it happens.

I am off to the airport now...

Solar said...

Jan,

I think that pictures, drawings, etc, are spiritual b/c it was the way of conveying our first ideas to one another...cave men drawings are the most spiritual imo.....

Nice post.....the top right one is ......that a self........?? glad that U are able to do things...keeping busy is a good thing.!!

jan said...

"Is....that a self...??

Solar, not even close. that was the painting that was 1st on our tour of the park and I like paintings/drawings of people. I wish now I had taken a pic on the other end of the display.

I used to draw a lot and took a drawing class one time and we drew nudes. I loved the class. Funny story. A friend took the class with me and the 1st time one of the models dropped his robe - she caught her breath and then giggled all the way through the class. I wanted to laugh (at her) so badly but did not dare. Being a nurse, I have seen much of the human body so nothing surprises me. She had married at 18 and she told me she had never before seen a male body(other than pictures) except for her husband (this was back in 1979). How times have changed.

jan said...

"I think New Mexico was her 'canvas'"

Chloe, so true. Thank you for posting the link to her video. I have never looked for these on line. I bought a biography of her at her museum in Santa Fe. I find her absolutely enchanting. In the video of the link you posted, I got so tickled at her response to the interviewer who asked her about her husband (Steiglitz) and if he was agreeable to her coming to NM in the summers. Georgia said "well, I just came" The biography pointed out that she did what she wanted and asked no one's permission.

jan said...

Chloe, I am glad you read about Georgia O'K and are interested in her too. I read everything I can get my hands on about her. I found a wonderful large book in an antique store in Pagosa Springs with photographs of many of her paintings and some more bio about her. I grabbed it up. Before she died, she had sold very few of her paintings. She developed macular degeneration in her later years and was completely blind before she died. That must have been difficult for her.

jan said...

Ivy, glad your mammo is over. Stay in touch and let us know how your visit is going with your mother.

Solar said...

Jan,

Back now, and that was my lame way of getting u to feel better. Thanks for the story...liked it very much......maybe she was laughing co size does matter....hahahaaaaaa and Carol....don't even go there.!!

jan said...

Ivy, thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, I am realizing that this is not an easy transition from having a job to go to every day where there are people to interact with - to being at home every day. And then with Lobie dying so suddenly too, I feel like a big rug has been pulled out from under me. I am trying to just take it one step or day at a time. John had a T-shirt one time that said, "I am trying to take things one day at a time, but some days keep attacking me all at once." That is how I am feeling now. Wish I could find that T-shirt.

jan said...

But I am still happy about retiring. I will have the time to exercise every day in the morning when I enjoy doing that. I will also be able to take some fun courses.

jan said...

Solar, your comment did make me feel better. I am glad you liked my story. The model was well endowed and my friend asked me days later if my husb looked like that - she said her husband did not look like that. That was one of my all time funniest experiences. She kept me in stitches most of the time.

jan said...

Ivy, Tome NM is in the Albuq metropolital area. I seems to be about 30 miles from here.

Carol said...

What you talking bout Solar?

Nice post Jan. I watched and enjoyed that video also.

Yes this is a very supportive place.

Ivy, I was curious where that Scotty guy lived also and how close is it to Jan.

I'm still jealous of you Jan, the retirement part. It will be a big change but you do have so many things you like to do that you will wonder where you found the time to work. I don't know how you already work all those things in.

jan said...

I have come to think of all of you as my "best" friends. That may sound pretty lame and you may wonder about me after saying that, but I do. I can share just about anything here and know I will be accepted. Many times I sit here at my computer and am laughing like a loon at something one of you has said - or I might be tearing up just as easily.

jan said...

It is TV time for me. I am tired. I spent about 4 hours toting books to the students' freebie area and cleaning out files. I filled 2 wastebaskets full. I am making a dent in it now. I need to buy another bookshelf for home. There are some books I just cannot part with right now - especially some of my maternity (OB) books and research books that are classics. Who knows - I could teach a class again. All of my files can be downloaded on discs so don't have to save paperwork from courses. That is so great! I may wind up getting rid of those books later, but for now I am taking some of them home.

jan said...

Chloe & Carol, I was fascinated by Georgia O'K in the video where she talked about how she would go out into the NM country side and spend all day in the hot sun either painting or collecting bones (can you believe)to paint later. I thought that was so interesting. I enjoyed the part where she said some indians were sitting in the shade in a grove of trees so she had to find some shade under her car. She said it was not very pleasant under there but it was better than nothing.

Carol said...

Jan, I liked the what she said about thinking about the bones as being alive. She found something beautiful in something we may see as dead.

It was an interesting video. Leave it to Chloe to always find the most interesting things about something we are talking about. I can look forever and in seconds she has something just perfect. She is an interesting info blood hound. It would nice to be able to carry her around with me. Well having her here is almost as good.

Carol said...

Coreen, you know I'm sad, don't you?

Carol said...

Even Vegas didn't have that pick to go.

Solar said...

jan said...

"I have come to think of all of you as my "best" friends. That may sound pretty lame and you may wonder about me after saying that, but I do. I can share just about anything here and know I will be accepted. Many times I sit here at my computer and am laughing like a loon at something one of you has said - or I might be tearing up just as easily."

Thats a great post..and a true one....i say things that probably gets everyone a little pissed...but know that ( after I beg) that it will not be held against me.......for long anyway HA.!

Coreen said...

Oh no, Carol...I forgot to check at the end...
but I know what happened....really thought it
would have been Chad....

Carol said...

I feel the same way Jan.

Carol said...

We never get pissed at you Solar.

Carol said...

So did Vegas Coreen.

Solar said...

Ok, that was just in case...:-)))

jan said...

Oh my gosh, Crystal and Lee just sang a duet that was amazing - I still have goosebumps. They are so good individually and great together.

Carol said...

Hey Coreen, I just heard on Daily Show that Kagan is a short, beer drinking, chain smoking poker player. Gosh, I'm now sure that I like her!

Coreen said...

Hey Carol, I can get on board with that...& she's a NY Mets fan, which is ok for most of us Yankee fans, just so it's not the red sox....

And even more important, since both the left & the right are not happy with her, that's a big plus in my book....

By the way, still no C2C for me...it does not
go on here until 1 a.m. & the signal is bad most nights....

jan said...

Neicy was voted off.

jan said...

Carol is right Solar, who could get mad at sweet little ole you.

jan said...

I liked Casey's version of Mrs. Robinson tonight. Everyone thought Kara was Mrs. Robinson. The judges did not like it much but I thought it was one of his best.

For Christmas one of my sons gave us a Garmen (GPS) and we named it Mrs. Robinson. We both love the movie, The Graduate. We used to go to a place to eat in Ark. where they would post your name on a sign when your table was ready. John used to give our name as "Gladstone" the name that Dustin Hoffman gave the desk clerk in the hotel when he and Mrs. Robinson were going for some fun.

Ivy Green said...

Mom's all tucked in for the night. She'll sleep like a baby. Her flight was smooth and uneventful (the kind you want.) A very efficient and friendly skycap was there to greet her at the gate and wheel her to the baggage claim where I was waiting. I checked with him to make sure she hadn't been mean to him. She didn't hear me say that because it was out of range of her hearing aid. lol.
He stayed with her all the while when I went to get the car from the garage. Customer service is usually good in this town. Even when it's not good, it's at least friendly.
It took a few extra minutes to find the car. I forgot what floor I was parked on because I had run into one of my good friends and chatted her up before dashing off. That was just enough to get me confused and off track. B'ham has gone from being a place where "nobody knew my name" to a place where I can't go anywhere without seeing someone I know. I like that. I heard someone yell, "Ivy!" in a store last week, and I turned around. Turned out it was a little girl's name and her grandmother was calling her. Here I thought it was one of those old-fashioned names, but I maybe it's in fashion again? It seems nowadays kids' names also conform to trends...Birthing with the Stars??

Ivy Green said...

I can see from those meanderings it's been a long day for me too. lol

Carol said...

Coreen, here's an article on huff Post about underwater homeowner's walking away even when they can pay:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/11/jpmorgan-chase-warns-inve_n_571103.html

One of them was asked, on 60 minutes, whether it bothered his conscience. Hah, how can anyone have any conscience left after all that has been done to us? Do any of them have a conscience about what they did to us???? Do the bankers, the Wallstreet guys, our government? They are the role models.

Carol said...

How long is mom staying Ivy? Ya'll have some fun stuff on your agenda?

Carol said...

Ivy, when mom couldn't walk fast enough and we went places, we used a WC. She didn't mind. She had a hip replacement when she was 51 and another about 10 years later. Both left her with one leg shorter and she walked like ET. Often she could do some pretty good limp racing but she did start to slow down so by using a WC we could move her a lot faster. She was cool with that.

Carol said...

Coreen, if you really like C2C, you might give in and get a subscription. I didn't want to either because it was on the radio and I should get it for free but......it is on very late and even when I could listen to a very scratchy program, I slept thru most or all of it. Nothing is really free anymore anyway.

If you have a laptop that you can put next to the bed, you could listen to a very clear version, of any program, at bedtime, with the subscription.

Carol said...

Oh, and Kagan used to play softball. That's it. How horrible, disgusting. She's out.

Carol said...

Jan, if you are like any of the retired nursing faculty around here, there are so many things you can continue to do after retirement. They are involved with so many things. Be careful that you don't get involved with so many that you don't have time to just have some fun.

jan said...

Ivy, so glad your mother arrived safely and had a good flight. I LOL when I read about finding your car. I have done that several times. Once when I was in the Galeria parking lot in Houston(an unfamiliar one for me)I was sure my car had been stolen. A kind security person took pity on me and helped me find it.

jan said...

"It seems nowadays kids' names also conform to trends...Birthing with the Stars??"

Ivy, I hear the new most popular name this year for girls is Isabella and for boys Jacob. Both are from the Twilight series books and movies. I think the reason there are so many Debbies around now in their 30's-50's is because of Debbie Reynolds who began her career in the movies in the 1950's.

jan said...

Carol, I hear you about involvement after retirement. That is one of my problems. I tend to want to DO IT all and before I know it I am overwhelmed. I have learned in recent years however to pace myself a little better. More on this in about 6-9 months.

Mary said...

Hellooooo Everyone,

I guess I'll finally comment so yall won't forget about me. I read this blog all the time but I sometimes have a hard time wanting to type. I agree with what everyone has said about this blog site. I really love everyone here. You all have taaught me so much and gotten me interested in things I never before knew I would be interested in.

Chloe, I hope Emma is still doing good after her fall and she hasn't had anymore serious accidents.

Jan, I still tear up when I think about your loss. I've already told my vet that if something happens to Petey, get 2 injections ready.
I also loved the duet with Crystal and Lee last nite. The duet with Casey and Mike was very good too. I don't want any of them to leave but I'm thinking it might be Casey tonight.

Anonymous said...

Mary, I have been thinking about you the last few days, hoping you'd stop by and say hi - glad to hear you're doing well.

Also, I've forgotten the due date of your grand baby - I figure it's getting pretty close by now (was it July?). Any way, glad to hear you're doing well.

Anonymous said...

".. you could listen to a very clear version, of any program, at bedtime, with the subscription."

Carol, I wonder if Coreen got the sound fixed on her computer yet (so she'd be able to download it, if she wants to)?

Ha! I should just ask you Coreen. That would be a good way for you to catch Coast to Coast at your leisure.

Anonymous said...

Solar, I agree with Jan and Carol: How could we ever be pissed at you about anything Solar. I was surprised when you said that. You know we love you.

Anonymous said...

"I was fascinated by Georgia O'K in the video where she talked about how she would go out into the NM country side and spend all day in the hot sun either painting or collecting bones (can you believe)to paint later."

Jan, I was thinking, when I viewed that video, how uncomfortable (and unlikely) it would be that I'd ever be walking around in the hot, dry sun picking up bones - or even painting. I think we're talking about temperatures around 115 (?)
... oh and yes, when she said that about getting under the car for shade, I wondered how anyway could 'voluntarily' endure that. I kept thinking they had no air conditioning in NM back then - and here she was sitting in the back of a car painting.

It couldn't have been an easy life, and I imagine she was somewhat 'driven'. She did say she never knew ahead of time when she'd be heading toward NM, and then would just show up there, ready to go. (Of course, eventually she lived there)

In the video, she was 92. Did you see how well she was walking across those mountains? She was amazing, even at that age.

ps That is so funny that you call your GPS Mrs. Robinson Jan. We always joke about the lady on our GPS too - saying things about how bossy she is, etc (comparing her to me being bossy :) We're actually very fond of her. You get used to one, then if you change GPS's, you have to get used to a new one. They all have their own personality too.

Does anyone remember that commercial on TV where the guy had a 'relationship' with his GPS? I can't remember what they were selling, but the commercial was so funny.

Anonymous said...

"I checked with him to make sure she hadn't been mean to him. "

LOL Ivy!
I'm so glad that the whole airport experience was a good one for you and your mother. Birmingham sounds like a great, friendly place to live.

I hope you and your mom have a wonderful visit.

Mary said...

Chloe,
Lauren is due to arrive on the 4th of July. She better be here by July 13th because that's when I'm flying up. Jeremy's BD is July 18th so I will be there for that, also.

Solar,
Don't forget I'll be in Chicago 7/13-7/20. Espero que podamos para tomar un café o té o pastel de chocolate triple o algo así.

jan said...

Mary, You speka de Spanish mucho goodo. This is how John speaks Spanglish. So good to see you back with us. There are times that I will just read comments and not say much, especially when the discussion is about politics or sporths - but it is hard for me not to put my 2 cents worth in every once in a while - even if I don't know what I am talking about.

Chloe, yes - Miss Georgia was amazing. She did not look 92 in that video. She was a very handsome woman. There is a movie about her life that pretty closely follows the biography I have of her. I bet it is on DVD.

I am like a hot house plant. I don't go outside between 9-5 in the summer unless I have too. It is very hot here in NM. If you can find shade it is not so unpleasant, but out in the area where she was walking there is no shade. Our trees here are short and scrubby and don't provide shade.

Mary said...

Jan,
Google speaks Spanish. I'm trying to learn some little by little.

Carol said...

Jan, that's how I do Spanish also and at work I use charades with my Spanish speaking inmates, when I can't find an interpreter. Unless Mary has a secret life, me thinks she is cheating. She found Google translate.

I did get several Spanish computer programs but when I was trying to learn, I didn't have anyone around to practice with. I learned important words so I could find food, bathroom, and other important things in Mexico if I needed to. I would love to learn Spanish.

Chloe, 115 is way out of my temp tolerance range. Actually my tolerance range is very narrow, 74-80 outside, inside a little lower on the high end. Add a nice, dry breeze and I can go a few degrees higher.

jan said...

A young woman just rung our doorbell and had a little white dog in her arms. She was out running in the neighborhood and saw this dog by itself. It did have a collar but no tag. She wanted to know if we recognized it. We see a lot of dogs in our journeys around the 'hood but this dog did not look familiar. She took the dog home with her and was going to try to find the owner. We have a new law here (past year or so) that all dogs have to have a chip inserted under the skin with the name of the owner and vet on the chip. Lobie got one last year. So if this dog has the chip it should not be hard to find where it lives. I gave the young woman our name if a chip is not there or if the owner can't be found. Yet, I don't know if I am ready for another dog right now.

Carol said...

I understand how you feel Jan but when Maggie found me, Beau was very old, blind, deaf, crying often because he had so many skin problems. He was ready but I wasn't ready to let him go. Mom had recently died and I couldn't handle any more losses.

I think Maggie finding me was my first hint and I still wasn't listening. Shortly after that is when I went sailing down the two carpeted stairs. I just got up to pat Beau on the butt to tell him he could go down those two steps. I bent down to pat him and something picked me up and threw me up in the air, back against the wall, on the other side of those stairs, and slammed me down on the floor. That's when I cracked my pelvis in 4 places. That was my second hint. I could no longer carry Beau in and out and use a walker at the same time. If it is the right thing to do, you will get a sign, I think. Hope it is not as drastic as the sign I got.

Anonymous said...

I think maybe Jan already got a sign, when that little girl knocked on her door with that cute little dog. Time will tell, I guess.

I'm with you guys, Jan and Carol - could never be out walking around in 115. I mean maybe from the house to the car, and the car to the store. But that's about it.

Anonymous said...

Mary, I don't know how I could have forgotten her due date, being it was the 4th of July. I'm sure she'll have that baby long before you arrive. They don't let them go far past their due date any more, from what I've seen.

I'm sure you'll be taking a camera to get lots of pics of that little grand baby of yours. While you're at it, make sure you take it to your meet-up with Solar, and get someone to take a pic of the two of you.

Carol said...

Second sign would be if little girl comes back and says little dog has no home. May not want to wait for third sign, a fracture.

Anonymous said...

I think that fall happened because of all the stress you were under at the time Carol. When I'm stressed out like that, I am so accident prone. Plus you were mourning the loss of your mom too. What an awful time for you.

Anonymous said...

No fractures!

Anonymous said...

I didn't see your post before Carol. Don't even say that.

Carol said...

Chloe is was weird. Both steps were no more than a little over a foot down. It was definitely the sensation of being lifted and thrown. No one else was there. When I came to the screeching halt, I had lots of pain to distract me from what I had just experienced.

Hey, even my mom hit me over the head with an igloo ice cooler when I was ignoring her. Hey, maybe it was mom.

Carol said...

Some just can't stick to their species:

Forbidden Love

It's OK Solar, you can look!

Carol said...

Does someone get the axe tonight on Idol? Who do you think it will be? I did go to the Website and listen to the duets. They were both good except but, for some reason, the sound is very low.

Carol said...

Jan, don't forget to record Modern Family tonight since you will probably be watching Idol. It's a new one and I think it will be good. It's always good.

Solar said...

Chloe, I know that sometimes that I say things that are a little testy......thanks.!!

Maria, si podemos comer algo, o tomar algo. Tu decides.

Carol, I looked....I haven't looked at H. P for quite some ti me......don't make me do it again.....cute tho.!!

Carol said...

I recognize the important word in Solar's post in Espanol. And that is.....eat. Gotta know some of the important words. Last two words are easy too.

Carol said...

Sorry I made you look Solar but wasn't it worth it?

jan said...

Oh gosh! what an American Idol this was! I hated to see any of them go. It was one of the best send-offs I have seen on the show. Big Mike is big in so many ways. He is going home.

jan said...

Carol, now I can watch Modern Family. I have to see Idol first. I almost get an anxiety attack to see who is going home.

Carol said...

Testy Solar? Don't you have a couple of them?

jan said...

Modern family was a hit again.

Carol said...

Well I woke up with an egg on the side of my jaw this morning. I'm a horrible patient. I had a tooth that they told me two years ago had a little silent abcess under it. No cavity, the tooth looks perfect. I had an occasional tender spot on my jaw but that came and went and I didn't even notice it unless I happened to touch it. I did have a back tooth on the other side, that was cracked, pulled about 3 years ago and I have never had a day of comfort on that area since. No one can explain why. My tongue tries to go there all the time. I think they must have damaged some nerve. That was a different Dentist.

When my new Dentist saw that little problem he sent me to the really expensive root canal guy to see if the tooth could be saved and that guy said I'll set you up for the root canal. I have had several of those. I told him that my Dentist thought that probably the root was cracked and the tooth couldn't be saved. He then said let me look again at that xray. He said, yep, it will have to go. Well that didn't make me feel real comfortable about any of it and I didn't want to lose another tooth. I went back to my Dentist and told him if it started to bother me I'd be back.

Last week I noticed the sore spot again and went back to the Dentist. He said the abcess was still there, a tiny little dark area around the root. I saw it and it didn't impress me. I asked if an antibiotic would help and he didn't act like it would but gave me one anyway. It felt better the next day so I got it filled but didn't take it. I thought I'd wait until I thought I needed it. I did plan to schedule having the tooth pulled. I wanted to wait until I had to time to take off.

Yesterday evening I felt a little lump in the area and jumped on that antibiotic. I guess I waited too long because this morning I have an egg on the side of my jaw. He told me that was likely to happen. Yep, nurses are horrible patients.

Carol said...

Jan, I did see the end of Idol when big Mike was voted off. He went with dignity. He is good and I'm sure he has a singing career waiting. I don't know the cast as well as some of you guys do but I think big Mike has a more interesting personality than at least of couple of the others who are left, especially Casey. But those young girls love Casey.

Carol said...

I listened to one of the recent C2C programs last night, one from this week. They start by talking about some of the important issues in the news. George now has on a couple of experts to discuss the highlights. They mentioned and I have also noticed that I hear things on that program before the MSM will admit to the same. Sometimes it's even years before what they reveal on C2C is covered by the MSM. Some may not take them too serious because of the type of issues they have on the program, ie UFOs, ghosts, demons, etc.

It almost makes me feel like the MSM is trying to keep some of the truth from us. They might be involved in a cover up.

Have you noticed how many people move from big business to government, and back and forth. Some of the people presenting and analyzing the news also move from big business and government to the news and back and forth. Maybe they are conspiring against us?? And maybe my abscess has gone to my brain.

Carol said...

And something I have mentioned before but got no response is... that I have often wondered if there are plants on some of the major political blogs, like TM, who would be there with the purpose of influencing the opinions of others.

Carol said...

This may have been on the MSM but they mentioned on the C2C program, from a couple of days ago, that a mechanism that cost about half a million dollars would have prevented this oil disaster but the company didn't want to waste that money. I think the cost of this disaster will be considerably higher than that.

And Ratigan has been screaming that we have to get rid of the regulators who have conflicts of interest. He is, at least, one who seems to want to tell us the truth.

Carol said...

But to be totally fair to the MSM, if the news was too full of just the harsh reality, they would lose much of their audience. I guess they have to pad it with trivia to keep people watching. Disregard my previous rant.

Carol said...

But, then again, when you avoid that harsh reality, you wake up one morning with an egg on the side of your jaw.

Carol said...

Time, on their cover, has pics of the three new Sheriffs of Wallstreet. All three women. Elizabeth Warren, we know her, Sheila Bair, the chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Mary Schapiro, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair. Hmmmmm, all women. Maybe a woman president would have been nice also.

Coreen said...

Hope the antibiotic works for you Carol. How
soon will you have the tooth work done.

Elizabeth Warren was on cnbc this a.m. here's
the Time Sheriffs of Wall Street article
New Sheriffs of Wall Street

Anonymous said...

Carol, Now that you have that swelling, he probably won't want to pull the tooth until you inflammation goes down. So look at the bright side - you have the antibiotic and you're right on top of it. I'm just surprised that you haven't had more pain.

Anonymous said...

"... maybe my abscess has gone to my brain."

No it hasn't. I think you're right. Big business (including the government): all one big, happy family.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I don't know how I missed that dog and cat hug you linked last night. How unbelievably cute!

I betcha that kitten won't be quite so gentle when she's grown - she's going to be bigger than the pup, in not too long. I hope they keep that close relationship going - personalities (and trust) sometimes change when they reach adulthood . (Dang! Leave it to me to ruin a beautiful picture with worries about the future)

Anonymous said...

"I know that sometimes that I say things that are a little testy"

Nope... never. I told you a long time ago that you only say good stuff.

Besides, even if we do make a mistake here at the Swamp (I've made more than my fair share) we'd never be crucified. If that were the case, I'd be kicked out long ago.

Have a good day everyone.

Anonymous said...

... one last thing. No ones mentioned the little Dutch boy surviving that plane crash, but it is pretty amazing. His grandmother is coming to get him.

Boy who survived plane crash doing well http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20100513/NEWS06/100513005/1002/rss

jan said...

Carol, I hope you are not in too much pain. I am thinking of you. No one enjoys going to the dentist - maybe that is why dentists have such a high suicide rate.

I have had more work done in my mouth than anyone else I know. Except for my front teeth (about 12 of them) all of my back teeth are either crowned or are bridges. I too have had several root canals. None of it is pleasant. Growing up my dad did not take us to the dentist until it was too late. I had several teeth pulled as a child. and we did not have flouride in the water. Once I was on my own I started with a dentist on an annual basis and managed to save the teeth I had left. Luck would have it my front teeth were always in great shape.

I am thinking of you. Take care of yourself.

Carol said...

I went to work, looking worse than most of my patients did, but came home after doing just what absolutely had to be done. I called the Dentist and will go in tomorrow to get the tooth pulled. Yuk. He knew this was coming but figured when the time came, I would come.

I never had any dental abscesses before but have had some dandy toothaches that needed root canals. I think those actually hurt more, when nothing at all really looked bad but the pain went to my brain. This is not quite as bad, don't want to kill someone, at least not yet. I look like I've got a huge wad of chewing tobacco in my lower jaw.

Mary was the one cursed with problem teeth but mine didn't start giving me problems until about 10 years ago, then it seemed it was a root canal every year or two.

Carol said...

And Jan, it's the same with me, my front teeth don't give me any problems. I got braces when I was in my early 30s because I have crooked bottom teeth. That was misery when you are older and less tolerant. When I got them off I just wouldn't wear the retainers so they eventually went back to where they were comfortable. It is the teeth around where those braces were anchored that have given me problems. They ended up with more space than they had before.

Solar said...

Carol,

I have the same problem with my teeth..have had very good luck up until now...but will wait a little more....wanna know how the cave men did their dentistry? guy named Ugh was the dentist......

Carol said...

Did I ever tell you guys that I'm a big weinie? And that I have a terrible aversion to Dentists?

Carol said...

Is it a good time to tell me Solar?

Solar said...

Ugh.

jan said...

Carol, I hope you will be comfortable after your tooth extraction tomorrow. I had braces for 2 1/2 years in my early 60's. When I went to the orthodontist I asked if they did geriatric orthodontics. I have permanent retainers on my front top 4 and front bottom 4 teeth to keep them from moving back into place. I had to get braces to get a bridge for my bottom back teeth, right side. My bottom teeth were so misaligned that they could not fit a bridge.

jan said...

Carol, as soon as you are finished, let us know you are ok.

Carol said...

Jan, I have a volcano in my mouth that needs to blow. Interesting how something can go from I barely notice it, yesterday morning, to a 10 on the pain scale. I'm glad they told me I needed to come in tomorrow morning. I'd go now. With all the pressure I feel, I think that baby might just blow out before tomorrow.

jan said...

Carol, I just got this on my health science center e-mail. Thank God it was not nursing. They have a physician assistant program here run by the College of Medicine.

The UNM Health Sciences Center conducted a news conference today at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. As a result, you will see media coverage on today's radio and television news, internet news sources and tomorrow's newspapers. Here is what we released:

On Saturday, April 24, a group of students from the University of New Mexico Physician Assistant program conducted free blood sugar tests at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque during the Center’s American Indian Week “Pueblo Days.” The device used to prick the finger to get the blood sample required for testing was meant for single patient use and not for multiple patients. Those who volunteered for testing that day may have been put at risk of contracting infections due to potential exposure to diseases spread by blood contact.



Despite direct faculty supervision, three mistakes were made:

- The students used the wrong device.

- They were not all properly trained on the device.

- No records were kept.



“This has never happened before,” said Dr. Bob Bailey, associate dean for Clinical Affairs for the UNM School of Medicine. “Since the incident, we have taken steps to assure this does not happen again.”



“Following our own internal investigation, we estimated that 51 to 55 individuals were tested, which resulted in these patients being potentially exposed to other's blood,” he added. “The diseases we are most concerned about are Hepatitis B and C, although theoretically, HIV is also possible. Our best current assessment of the risk of infection is less than a 0.5% risk. Even though the risk is small it is something we are very concerned about and are taking seriously.”



Once School of Medicine officials determined that the tests could have exposed individuals, UNM collected all of the devices used, and all of the strips used to test the blood sugar levels, and secured them for working with forensic specialists.



A special team was named to work jointly with the Indian Health Service, New Mexico Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.



University of New Mexico School of Medicine officials contacted and consulted with experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who stated that the design of the device used to obtain blood for testing blood glucose levels may pose a small risk of transfer of diseases such as hepatitis and HIV between those tested.



“The UNM School of Medicine deeply regrets this error and sincerely apologizes to all those who may have been exposed, and to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center,” said Dr. Bailey, who is the incident commander for this event. “We are asking that those who were tested come forward so we can better assess any risk from this episode and assure that exposed persons receive appropriate follow-up testing and care. If you know someone who was tested please contact us.”



The University of New Mexico School of Medicine, New Mexico Department of Health, Indian Health Services, and CDC are working to identify those individuals who underwent blood glucose testing at the event. Those who may have been exposed will be offered follow-up testing for Hepatitis B, C, and HIV. The costs of testing will be covered by UNM.



Public health authorities are requesting that those who participated in the diabetes screening event call Toll-Free 1-888-899-6092 or visit the UNM web site at http://contact.health.unm.edu for more information and referral for screening.

jan said...

Carol, hang in there. Do you have anything you can take for pain?

jan said...

At the College of Nursing, we do not do any immunizations or anything else for that matter without appropriate training of students and onsite faculty supervision.

Carol said...

Jan, do you remember when I went on that rant about that very subject. I did it here on this blog. I've seen that done so many times over the years and have told the medical people, who were doing it, what they were doing and they look at me like I am nuts. I warn people all the time to avoid places that do that.

Coreen said...

Carol,

Join you in the detest the dentist visit...but
so far I have been very lucky, only some fillings, & then replace the old fillings with
the new white tooth looking fillings....

Hope tonite is not too difficult for you...

Carol said...

I can almost watch that abscess balloon it's way from my jaw up thru my gums. It's torture. I started Clindamycin yesterday afternoon but even though that will help to decrease tissue spread it does nothing for relieving pressure from the abscess itself. Relief will only come with draining. I'm close to taking a knife to it.

I am taking some strong pain med but it helps for about an hour and then it seems worse.

Carol said...

Thanks Coreen. I hope I can make it thru the night. I would have thought that this abscess would have found an opening somewhere because the Dentist told me that it was probably draining around the tooth all this time. Nooo!

Jan, when I first started my diabetes ed at the hospital years back, the nurses were using those blood sugar testing kits and the lancet device, for single use only, and just changing the little lancet inside when they went from one patient to the next. The tip of that device will get some blood contamination. When you stick the next patient, there's a perfect entry way for spreading disease.

I'm the one who had them stop the practice at the hospital. I made them purchase a device where the entire tip of the device was changed between patients. I will just bet that many doctor's offices still do that wrong. That's why I like to warn the public. Consumer beware!

jan said...

Carol, I am so sorry you are in such pain. I wish I knew what to do for you or what to tell you to do. Are you going to drive yourself to the dentist's office or will someone drive you?

jan said...

Carol, I do remember when you talked about this topic of the blood contamination with the glucose monitoring devices. I did not realize that this could happen. I used to think that if you used a different little lancet that was all that was necessary.

jan said...

Carol, when is your appt tomorrow?

jan said...

I went back and read about the little boy who survived the plane crash. Usually it is kids who survive these things. They are so much more resilient than adults and heal much faster too. Poor little kid though, he lost his parents and siblings in the crash.

jan said...

We picked up Lobie's ashes today. When we are in a little better shape emotionally, we will spread some here around our yard, some on the highest hill at the little golf course we have walked her around, and then take the remainder to Arkansas where we first found her. John is taking this part harder than me. My worst day was last Sunday when I was fixing dinner for the family. I kept waiting for her to come in and scavange on the kitchen floor for tidbits I dropped.

Carol said...

Since we don't have the fancy caps that we can change at my work, we just use the little lancet without any spring loaded device. The newer lancets are thin but without the spring loaded device, it's a little more brutal. Better than spreading blood borne infections.

Even people with diabetes allow family and friends to use their device to check their sugar levels. This is also dangerous. Even though that incident at the school was bad Jan, it is good for public education to alert people of the danger that so many are not aware of.

Unfortunately the school may come up with people who already had some of these diseases but now they will be responsible for treating them and paying damages.

jan said...

you are so right Carol. My mom had DM II and had her own glucose monitor. We used to all use hers to check our blood sugars - yikes! Who knew? You are doing a favor for all of us by warning us of these things.

To all the rest of us on this blog. Don't get your blood sugar tested at a health fair! It could be bad for your health.

Carol said...

Jan, have you heard anything about the pup that was looking for it's family? What kind of dog was it?

My little duck threesome still comes over to visit and eat many times a day. I'm on the circuit and they have established a schedule for when they drop in. They seem very comfortable in their little group of three. BBD does still peck at Mr. when they are all feeding. I have to work at throwing food Mr.'s way. BBD sometimes spends so much effort trying to keep Mr. from eating that he doesn't have time to eat and Ms. gets all the food. Dummy.

Mr. is getting better at flying again but still can't keep up with the other two. They all flew off together yesterday but after a while Mr. had to drop down and just swim. He just can't hang. Later only BBD and Ms. came back. I was wondering where Mr. was but noticed the other two did look back up the river. I went out to the end of the wharf and sure enough, there was Mr., way up river, paddling his little heart out trying to catch up. The other two did wait for him before they came up to eat. Their so cute.

Carol said...

I guess Ivy's having fun entertaining mom. Wonder what fun stuff they have done.

Carol said...

You can attend the health fairs but make very sure they are doing it the right way. If they aren't, you may want to tell them or even report them.

Carol said...

On NPR this morning I heard the Mississippi governor was saying that this oil spill wasn't or would never be anything as bad as the Exxon spill. Huff Post reports that this spill is spilling as much as Exxon every 4 days. Who is right?

Last night on C2C someone said that with all the dispersant being used to break up the oil, much of it is underwater where it is hard to track and see where it is going.

Carol said...

Have any of you noticed that sometimes posts show up later in places where they weren't before. I look back up after I post a comment to see if anyone wrote something while I was writing. There might not be anything there but later several posts are there. It's weird.

Carol said...

Chloe, that was an interesting story about the child that survived that airplane crash. Would be interesting to know what mission he ends up with later in his life.

Carol said...

Jan, I have to go give some blood in the morning in prep for a bi-annual doctors visit I have next week. Then it is off to the Dentist. I don't usually like that gas but I kinda wish I could be put out for this adventure. He doesn't use gas. I may be loud but my mouth doesn't open very wide and the thought of the Dentist yanking that tooth out in that small space is distressing.

jan said...

I forgot to tell you that the young woman who found the dog took the dog to a local vet and they scanned the dog for a chip which I think I told you guys is required of all dogs in Alb now. She got the number on the chip, called the company that made the chip and they gave her the tele number of the dog's family. She called the family and they came and picked up the dog. And they all lived happily ever after.

jan said...

I have no idea what kind of dog she was. She was small (about 12 lbs) with long white straight hair. Her legs were kind of long. Her teeth were in good shape so pretty young. She was a sweet dog.I might look on the internet to see if I can find some pics and get an idea.

jan said...

Sounds like your little duck family is doing well. I like that the 2 ducks waited for the other one.

jan said...

I could not find a dog in pictures online that looked like this dog. She had a terrier kind of face. She was not a bischon. She was probably some kind of mixed breed.

jan said...

Iam off to bed. Hope you can sleep Carol.

Carol said...

Well, I'm up, can't eat or drink anything because of the lab work and have to face a nasty tooth extraction but the good news is that most of the swelling is gone and so is 70% of the pain. Now, I'm back to not wanting to lose that tooth again. I know that is why that Dentist wouldn't let me schedule that extraction for later, he knew. It's a conspiracy.

Anonymous said...

Carol, Glad you're feeling better and that the swelling has come down - that way the Novocaine will do it's job.

Yes, get it extracted while the memory is fresh. You don't want those toxins getting into your blood stream.

ps I hate dentists too. I do everything I can to put them off. Ha! Who am I kidding, I don't go until there's an emergency.

Anonymous said...

"Would be interesting to know what mission he ends up with later in his life. "

... yes Carol, it would.
A couple of things that stood out at me, were that he was still in the seat belt (and about a half mile from the crash - that's a long way) and that he hadn't been told his family had died in the crash yet. Now that his aunt and uncle are there, I'm assuming they may tell him - not an easy job.

Anonymous said...

"The other two did wait for him before they came up to eat. Their so cute."

Oh, that is 'so' cute. I'm glad their little threesome is working out.


"Have any of you noticed that sometimes posts show up later in places where they weren't before. "

BTW, I've noticed that thing about comments showing up later too (but though I was nuts). I'll make some comments, see that no one else is here and leave. When I come back, I'll see a comment right before the last one I made. It always shocks me and makes me worry that the person thought I was ignoring them.

Carol said...

New thread