Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Happy Birthday John




Happy Birthday John, It is hard to believe that 20 years have passed since we met in the hospital cafeteria. I was there with students and you were a student in the Pastoral Care education program. We had both been through some difficult relationships so it was surprising that we were both willing to try again. I, for one, am happy we did. Here are some pictures of you that bring memories of this past year together. Each one has lots of meaning for both of us. We sure spend a lot of time in the car and you do most of the driving. Your life as an Episcopal priest has been an important part of your life - and now of mine, and of course Lobie is in that picture. We had no idea we would lose her this year. We had lots of fun in Pagosa springs and on our cruise in the Mexican Riviera. I had lots of other pictures I could have posted of you, but these most remind me of this past year.

178 comments:

jan said...

John is not a member of the blog. I have told him about all of you and I have told you all about him many times. So I hope it is ok with you if I wish him a happy birthday here too. Chloe, thanks for birthday wishes for him. I passed them onto him.

jan said...

"Today is John's birthday. I will take him to our favorite New Mexican restaurant tonight for dinner. Like me, he is easy to please. He was born in Fort Smith Ar. in 1936. It was 113 degrees that day - the hottest day on record and it has never been broken. His poor mother."

I brought this comment forward.

jan said...

"And no one John doesn't mind the heat - born in 113, with no air conditioning. Yikes! I'm sure they had fans in '36, didn't they. That's probably a really dumb question, and I think I have seen them in old movies from the 30's, but I'm not sure when fans started becoming wide spread. "

Chloe, I brought your comment forward too. John likes heat. He was very comfortable in Ark a week ago when temps were in 100's. They sure had fans back then. I remember there were these paper fans that adults fanned themselves with. In church, you could hear people fanning themselves with those fans. Businesses advertised on those paper fans.

Carol said...

Happy Birthday John, John the traveler, John the minister, and John the relaxer. Hope all the Johns have a wonderful birthday.

Coreen said...

John, please let me add my best wishes for a most happy birthday...

And Jan, am happy for you, just reading your thoughts about your life with John conveys
the happiness & peace you have found together...something that eludes many all through life...

And to both of you...enjoy this birthday...my
toast to you both is for a wonderful year ahead...Salute!

P.S. looks like John is a true 'road warrior'...here's to lots of new adventures along those highways & byways...

Carol said...

Well, what did you think of the Airline Attendant who had enough, pulled the chute and exited stage left??

Don't you sometimes wish you had that option available? As popular as that story has become, I guess many others wish they had that option.

Coreen said...

OK Carol, here's a little tease....guess your
Saints were at the WH today & came bearing
gulf shrimp dishes...

One of the players has a cookbook as well

Didn't watch the video (still haven't had the
sound fixed)...so hope it at least makes
you smile in anticipation...just a couple more
weeks til 'are you ready for some football'
New Orleans Saints serve
gulf seafood in White House briefing room

Carol said...

I think they were at the WH yesterday Coreen. I saw them on the News and saw that they came with food. Can't leave home without it.

I'll check out your link before it disappears.

Carol said...

Oh, and Dylan Ratigan is going to be on Colbert tonight. Two of my favorite people.

Carol said...

I've been watching Molly. I even found a Iphone app that has that streaming video on it. I can now watch Molly anywhere I go.

Anonymous said...

... I must say it again: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!!

Jan - Wonderful post in honor of John! I'm so glad you did it - and allowed us, in some way, to celebrate with you both. Thanks!

Hope you are both enjoying the Mexican food - and wish you both many, many happy birthdays together!

Love you both (feel like I know you too John).

Anonymous said...

... I'll check in tomorrow morning to see how the dinner went.

jan said...

Carol, I will pass on those good wishes to all the Johns LOL. (when I read that it sounds kinky).

Coreen, Thank you for the good wishes and the salute. I will certainly pass this onto John as well. Yes, he is a road warrior. He once told me he had a fantasy of driving a truck. I think that fantasy is fading, however. We still have fun together. We have had our share of arguments like anyone else. I love a statement made by the 15 year old son in the movie - The Kids are All Right- His 2 mothers were experiencing some relationship trauma - and he said to them "I think you all should stay together. You are too old to break up." I am going to remember that the next time we have an argument - LOL.

jan said...

Chloe, thanks again. I will copy these and send to John's e-mail. He will love these. Thanks for the Love Message. I love you too and I am sure John will say "I love you" as well.

I will check in later.

Carol said...

I assume all of you guys have seen the McNuts lady who couldn't get her McNuggets. I think she was already McNuts to even want them in the first place. She should have tried Popeyes and got some chicken strips.

I've actually had a fantasy that comes close to that when I drive all the way home from some fast food place and find out they screwed up my order. Maybe I'll record that video and play it next time that happens. I might find it very satisfying.

Mary said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN.
And Best Wishes for many more happy, fun-filled years.

Hope yall's Mexican meal was great. I,too, love Mexican food. I could probably eat it every day.

Jan, you and John seem like such a neat, fun, & loving couple. I am so happy for you. The one thing I remember about you is that you were always smiling or laughing when I saw you.
You deserve the best.

Solar said...

Getting in late, and took a peek, glad that I did...Happy Birthday John.! see you in the am...really hot and tired.!

Carol said...

Hi Solar. Sound busy. Hope you are busy doing something you want to be doing.

Carol said...

I fell asleep watching Colbert and I woke up this morning to some paid programming on Comedy Central. It's talking about how many of the psychiatric illnesses are just a case of good marketing and an excuse to sell lots of expensive pharmaceuticals. It is really interesting and, spot on, but I can't figure out who financed this program or what this paid program is selling.

I think that most of us would qualify for at least one psychiatric disorder, most likely, more than one. I won't share mine here but I know what they are.

It's both sad, and amusing at times, how many of our incarcerated try to get a diagnosis because they want to be able to sleep through the misery of incarceration. I certainly can't blame them even though I won't participate in their fraud.

When they tell me how sad they are because they're stuck in a miserable place and left their love ones at home without a mom or dad, I agree. I tell them if they weren't unhappy about it, they would certainly be nuts.

I do find out if they feel the desire to harm themselves or others and get them help right away. If they insist that they are depressed, there are a number of antidepressants available, that don't knock them out. After a few days of taking those drugs, they come in complaining that they don't work. They need something to help them sleep thru it. We don't give sleeping meds.

Now, jails and prisons are full of people with some serious psychiatric illnesses but those people don't come in asking for help, most of the times. The really sick people, most often, don't recognize it. Getting them on the proper combinations of meds is really important and I'm so glad we have a Psychiatrist available to do it

Carol said...

Oh, there are a considerable number of the cable news anchors who would qualify for full blown psychosis.

Carol said...

And most of us, if we watch them too often.

Carol said...

Tiger told some reporters, after his horrible finish at the golf tournament, that as bad as he was playing, he probably could still beat them.

Carol said...

Coreen, did I mention that the Saints play the Patriots in preseason tomorrow night. I can't find that it is anywhere on TV but the NFL channel is carrying a replay at 10p. I got the NFL channel.

Carol said...

Molly, the owl, still have two owlets and two eggs. No new hatches yet. I'm watching.

Solar said...

Carol,

No I havn't been very busy...Im on call to help a freind that ownes a cpl of trks...sometimes he will call during the day, or night.....

I do have some work coming this week so my normal schedule will return next wk...It has been very hot in the trk, cos it does not have air...

Im going out now to buy a cpl of fans that I will install on the trucks....this will help with the heat....I don't usually complain...but it gets pretty hot with a large engine going all of the time.....

I read most of the comments and like them..I don't have a lot to say..but glad to see u all.!

Solar said...

Well, I timing is off, no-one around so im going to do some grass cutting while it's not so hot...

Solar said...

The things that I told Tony when he asked me:


Tony,

Things are the same...cept I have been driving a trk for a friend...not a lot of work going on.....the Bush/Obama tag team had made me think things over...Im going to sell my house, and move into an apartment...this $ I will keep in a bank that I know will be guarded against theft...by me...it will not be lost like my 401K...

.Im going to retire next year...at 62, and do nothing but small one, or two man jobs under my new corp...."Cash Only"...lots of people my age will do the same, the younger ones will try not to get caught cheating, at whatever they can.

Solar said...

Just had a phone call from an X-employee. He lost his union Job, and can't find work.! Wanted to know if he could work with me again...said that he would work a little under what union pay is...and would pay his own benefits.........

I told him that I would have work for him...if he was to sub-contract from me...I would help him get his corp papers filed, insurance papers and licenses...this is another way that im going to do business...sub it out......

Solar said...

Tony,

By Subbing all of my work out (unless some nice project comes along, still going to get some Solarcrete homes built, working on 4 lots still, we finally got a copy of Quit deeds to see if their are any liens, taxes, etc ) I can avoid all, or most of the overhead...including unemployment comp..

.but will treat myself as an employee, and hire my wife to do my office work..she won't make much, I won't make much...but after I pay a small amount of money to works mans-comp, we will qualify for unemployment $, even after im retired...so playing the system will be a new kinda of work for me.....and for a lot of others.!

Like the school system, and other laws, these have been negotiated, all I will be doing is using it.! using whats out there.....later

ps, Tony,

Just a little pissed off lately; probably won't do the above, Im not sure.

In my belief system, of we are all "it"...I don't need to fear god,b/c he will never punish me. Nor do I work hard at getting rewards from him, b/c none is coming.!!

The only thing that I fear is my own behavior (we all should), when we fail to less than kind to all of the others..regardless if they are Palestinians, Israelis, Iranians, or just us Americanos, when we fail to less than kind to others:

The only ones that we punish is ourselves, right there and then, and deny the opportunity for inner peace , right there and then...inner peace and happiness is right there and then...but it's getting to be a bitch sometime to be nice to people...so going out to cut my neighbors grass, ( Mary is 90 and can't do it, she is alone, cept for the day care people) and then mine.......


Solar

jan said...

Hi Mary, I passed your good will wishes on to John. He said "thank you."

He had a very nice birthday. We had a great New Mexican meal. We came home. He fell asleep in his chair and I watched a TCM on TV from 1961, Splendor in the Grass with Natalie Wood & Warren Beatty. I had never seen the entire movie. It was so interesting. I was 20 in 1961 and though the movie's plot was based on times in the 1920's, it could have been the 1950's when I was growing up. It was a movie worth watching.

I made John a birthday card with a picture of him on the front from about 20 years ago. While looking for that picture, I came across several more of us both. Boy have we changed in 20 years.

jan said...

Hi Solar, thank you too for the good wishes for John. Good to see you back. I didn't know you were married. this is first time I remember you talking about your wife. Sounds like you all are making good plans for your future.

jan said...

I think it was a year ago this month that I joined your blog Carol. It feels like I have been talking with you all for much longer than one year.

Mary said...

OK, OK,
Here's what's been going on in my world. I've been unemployed since June 18th and uninsured since the end of June. As far as my health goes, I am in much better shape now but I'm getting a little frightened about not having an income. I'm applying for ss disability. My doctor wanted me to stop working about 3 yrs. ago but I still felt like I had a few good yrs. left. Well, those good yrs. came and went.
Solar, Why wouldn't you qualify for disability? I know you have some major problems with your back.
Next, I have really been missing my grandchild. She is such a cutie. My son asks me every night if I registered for skype yet. I've got to hurry up and do that so I can see her and talk to her. I'm afraid she'll forget her gramma.

Solar said...

Maria,


Thanks for that. I will look into it, if not enough of the kind of work that i want comes in. I can always find work, but I left some good paying jobs like advertising to find what I wanted to do....building homes gave me a rush...what a pleasure it is to go by one of them.....

This took me a while to do on my own..since I did not know how to read blue prints, or anything else..I locked myself in my basement and learned little by little...I had 4 projects going on at one time....28 workers...not going to get to do these things again, but im a little older now...so will be looking into what i can, or can't do...did not think of that..thanks..

Carol said...

Jan, you're right, we're almost one year old. It looks like August 16 is our birthday. I guess I can buy one of those chocolate cakes with that whipped cream frosting that tastes like ice cream. I'm not much of a cake person but I love that cake and that frosting. It's nice to have an excuse to buy a little one.

How time flies. It's amazing that we made it a year but we are some die hards. We are some tough cookies.

And Jan, it's been wonderful having you back in my life again. We were destined to remain in each others lives and I think we were destined to meet these other great, interesting, evolved people here on this blog. Somehow, I don't think it is the first time we've met them before either.

Mary said...

I was just looking for the anniversary date of this blog. I wrote it down somewhere. Thanks Carol.

Solar, I feel like we worked our _ _ses off all this time and paid into the system plenty so if we have to retire a little early on disability, Que sera, sera.

Ivy Green said...

Anyone else besides me and my family watching America's Got Talent? The ten-year old girl with the thirty-year-old opera pipes is amazing...our American Susan Boyle moment...she'll have no problem sweeping into the semi-finals. Results tonight.

Ivy Green said...

Mary,
Sorry to hear about your unemployment status. If you mentioned about that previously, I must have missed it. Not long ago, I read a headline that new nursing school graduates are encountering a tough job market...I guess that applies to "old" nursing school graduates too. :) It just seems baffling that with our aging, ailing population, there could be a job shortage in any health care market. Makes no sense to me.

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
Thank you for the birthday post for John. I hope he had a good one, and not one to fret about. It's a myth that women have a more difficult time with their advancing birthdays, but men don't (at least in my experience). Certain "milestones" have seemingly sent Hubs "near the edge." One year, he blamed it on a parasite from Guatemala, but I say it was anxiety. lol

Carol said...

Ivy, had Hubs been in Guatamala that year or did the parsite ride in on the trade winds?

Ivy Green said...

Solar,
My brothers are trying to persuade me to buy a Vita-Mix machine to make healthier smoothies, soups, etc. One of them even mentioned about tossing in the watermelon rinds (lol). What do you think about the Vita-Mix, or there's another machine called Blend-Tec (?). Any thoughts or suggestions from you? I trust your opinion; my brother might "pull my leg" to trick me into spending money...I wouldn't put it past him...you? Never! lol

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
He had just returned from Guatemala the day before his birthday.

Carol said...

OK, then that was a pretty good excuse!

Carol said...

especially if it was accompanied by severe diarrhea.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
As I recall, it was a toss up about which end to hang over the bowl. lol

Solar said...

Ivy,

I like your bros..reminds me of......well me....but don't trust them...get a Jake Lalane Juicer, or get information on what they said...

And yes U would put the watermelon-rind in the juicer...and not chew it like Carol said that she would not do...once again...the vitamins are in the rind..you don't get the taste of the rind...just the watermelon taste..

Carol said...

Solar, I didn't click on the ad but the other day I saw an ad on some website that said...if you make less that 44K a year in your current job, you can qualify for a grant for education. Wish I would have looked at it, for your son, to see if it was some gimmick or the real deal.

Did any of you see on the news about all the people standing in line in Atlanta trying to sign up to be on the list for section 8 housing? It just breaks my heart. I guess soon people will start having to leave the country to try to find one of those jobs we're outsourcing.

Ivy, there aren't as many health care jobs as there used to be but it's still better than other areas of employment. There is also a big turnover in nursing.

Ivy Green said...

Solar,
They are ready to disown me if I don't get an actual Vita-Mix. What to do...what to do??

Solar said...

Ivy lets gogle it,you google, and I will bing it,er wing it.as you say lol, lol

Carol said...

Ivy, I had that happen to me when I went to Cosumel many years ago. We didn't stay in one of those fancy tourist hotels and they turned the water off after dark. Fortunately I had bought a gallon of distilled water.

Couldn't even flush the toilet either. My friend had had too much cerveza so she didn't regain consciousness until morning. When she came to, I crawled over to her and gave her a garbage can to go get water out of the pool to flush the toilet with.

I finally called the front desk, when they opened it that morning, and they sent a médico. He gave me a shot and some medicine and invited us to go on an island tour the next day.

He picked us up the next day, had this mercenary friend with him. We took the tour but got really worried we might have been kidnapped. They took us to the uninhabited other side of the island and offered to bring us to some big drug party. He was supposed to be a Doctor, for gosh sake. We just wanted to go back to our room. Thank God they brought us back. I still shutter thinking about it, especially after what you hear about these days.

Solar said...

Ivy,

I just saw that blender...and it is a good one...but you would get more out of a juicer...tell the evil twins :-) that you want to juice a lot of veggies...

4-5 carrots, an large apple, and a slice of beet, in a cpl of months...you will be doing cartwheels...Whose the boss any way huh? all of my sisters rule.!

Ivy Green said...

Hubs sauteed some cantaloupe with the veggies for tonight's fish and rice dinner. It was very tasty. I wouldn't have thought of doing that. That's why he's the cooker, and I'm the cleaner-upper.

Carol said...

Sauteed cantaloupe?? Hmmmmm.

Carol said...

Did he read something about that or was it just a whim?

Ivy Green said...

I just asked Hubs why he put the cantaloupe in there..."inquiring minds want to know," I said.

(WHAT??, exclaimed, Miss Grad Student incredulously...you BLOGGED during DINNER...and I didn't even see you doing it???)

Hubs says he thought of it on a whim...he wanted a contrasting color and flavor with the peppers...plus the cantaloupe "needed to go."

Ivy Green said...

We are getting ready to go watch America's Got Talent results for the You Tube Submissions show. Last night, they had a supposed accordion-playing dog named Pup. Pup's props failed and Pup was a dud. The question for the night is if the voting audience will go with Sharon's suggestion that Pup get a do-over. Poor Pup...he did his best...it was the humans that failed.

Carol said...

Did Hubs ever have a secret desire to be a chef? He would have made a good one.

I sense that MGS doesn't approve of your blogging?? Sounds like a little role reversal.

Carol said...

Dang, now I gotta go watch that show. I'll have to turn off owl cam.

Ivy Green said...

Solar,
I was googling the Vita-Mix. I can get a factory reconditioned machine for a significant discount. I have bought factory reconditioned products before...they are always like new and carry full warranties. I wouldn't hesitate to do that. I can't expect to get as good a deal as my brother. He won his Vita-Mix for $35 in a fisticuffs at a yard sale. lol

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
Not professionally. lol

Carol said...

Ivy, I just read that with that Vitamix you can make your own flour. Sounds like that's right up your alley!?

Carol said...

Some may not understand it but, cooking can be another form of performance art. And one that you can eat.

Ivy Green said...

Awww...the pooper scooper for Pup.

Ivy Green said...

I won't post anymore results in case of viewers in the earlier time zones...

Carol said...

Coreen, tomato woman just called to tell me that the Yankees were on Fox Sports Southwest. George and Laura are at the game tonight. The Rangers used to be George's team??

Carol said...

Didn't that dog you liked just lose out Ivy? Oh, that's what you meant by pooper scooper. I thought you just saw a good commercial for a new gadget.

Ivy Green said...

Yes, Carol, Pup got sent to the dog house.

Carol said...

Aww shucks.

Coreen said...

Yes, Carol, he was a part owner....but my team is losing again tonite 3-1 top of the 5th, so I'm not happy... did not see the bushes, but the yankee radio announcer said they were sitting behind the texas dugout & got a standing o from the fans....

the rangers team has been sold as part of a
bankruptcy filed by the owner who I beleive gave w the part ownerhsip...Nolan Ryan is one
of the 'new owners' from the sale...

Cliff Lee is the pitcher the Yanks thought they
had from seattle just a week or so ago, then somehow texas snagged him out from under them....

You can mention to your tomato woman friend...that Cliff Lee will in all likelihood
be a yankee next year....that will probably annoy her, since you said she hates my guys...
but that seems to be the consensus....

Carol said...

Ivy, I cooked tonight but the cleaner upper doesn't want to do her job. Oh, that's me also.

Carol said...

This must be the last of the series with the Rangers. Who won the other two Coreen?

Carol said...

Tomato woman said the money will be good for him to pass it up.

Carol said...

This might be a good game Coreen. There's still time.

Carol said...

That was suppose to be...too good for him to pass up.

Carol said...

Y'all need that pitcher!

Coreen said...

Its only a short series & the Yankees lost last night in the 10th with Mariano getting the loss!!!....tomorrow the Yankees are going
to kansas city for a 4-game series....

With all due respect to your friend...fat chance!!!...there are very few players who would pass up not just the mega-paycheck but the opportunity to play for the New York
Yankees....

I have to say that walking into Yankee Stadium
the old which I have done on more than 1 occasion & the new (where I have not yet ventured) is like walking into a cathedral....a
feeling that just about every player will say they have experienced & what every true baseball fan knows...it is an impressive place...

Coreen said...

Do we need that pitcher....Well, YES!!!

Carol said...

Game's getting better!

Coreen said...

Now that was just awful...not getting that run
in with less than 2 outs(& Derek is my absolutely favorite yankee)...& that has happened too many times this year so far...

Carol said...

I had to pause my ironing for that inning.

Carol said...

Nicely done!

Carol said...

I guess Ivy's off pondering all the tricks she can do with her refurbished Vitamix. Make flour, potting soil, get stains outta clothes....

Ivy Green said...

Just a quick check-in before heading off to read some more of Eat, Pray, Love. The movie comes out Friday, but I may not have the book done by then.

Carol said...

Nite Ivy. I should be asleep but I got caught up in this game. Yanks just went ahead 7-6.

Ivy Green said...

If I can count a birthday weekend when I consecutively ate pasta at the Olive Garden, sat at the feet of a Swami/Guru in a yoga class in Cahaba Heights, and then flew to Palm Springs where I ate figs and dates, then I see no reason why I couldn't write a best-selling book. Who needs to go all the way to Italy, India and Indonesia?

The Swami's wisdom is contained in one kernel: "They don't know."

It has gotten me through a lot since I heard him utter it."

Carol said...

LOL Ivy.

Ivy Green said...

Plus tomorrow I have to get up early to go see "the shoulder man" to hear the results of an ultrasound I had done on Monday. Which I think I already know from listening to the two doctors taking the ultrasound that they don't see any cause for the plateau I reached in PT, or the pain that still limits my activities. Nothing, that is, except good on fashioned Arthur Itis. Which to me translates as get used to him, he's not going away.

Carol said...

Whew, Coreen.

Carol said...

Yeap, old age ain't for sissies.

Ivy Green said...

Oops, Arthur is neither "on" nor "in" fashion, he's just an old fart around the neighborhood who shows up too early to a party, and stays too late.

Coreen said...

That was worth waiting for!!....its witching time...catch you in the a.m.

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone. Glad to see that everyone is doing well.

I'm going to be working on a project for a few days (so not to worry, if you don't see me much for a while), but I will check in every so often to see how everyone is doing.

Carol said...

Chloe, I hope your project includes a nice vacation. Do any of you have a favorite months for taking a vacation. This would be a great month to take a vacation to the PNW. It seems to be the only place that has been immune to the horrible heat.

Carol said...

Did any of you guys see Dan Quayle's son on the news yesterday? He's running for some office in Arizona and I think he went to the Rush L school of politics. He's totally delusional and one of those people I was talking about yesterday when I said that some people really need their antipsychotics. Scary.

Problem is people...I don't think any of the politicians are taking any of these pharmaceuticals, they just make sure plenty of them are available to us so we can put up with them or not notice how nuts they are.

Carol said...

Coreen, quite a game last night. I'm sure that is what you watch baseball for. Can't wait until tomato woman wakes up so I can rub it in. Actually I have her to thank for letting me know the game was on TV. The channel it was on is way up on the list of channels and I would never have run across it with my channel surfing. I almost couldn't find it when I was looking for it.

Carol said...

Yesterday, one of my nurses told me that the night before she slipped in her bathtub, and slammed her chest into the side of the tub. She thought she broke a rib. I went and looked up her biorhythms for the day that she did it and guess what? Both her intellectual and physical biorhythm were at the lowest ebb in her cycle. Interesting!

jan said...

am having difficult time writing. While doing some machine quilting last night, I got my index finger to close to needle and the needle ran thru my finger. it hurt like and bled like the dickens.

Carol i guess I should look up my biorhythms.

Ivy, sorry to hear you are still having pain in your shoulder.

after reading about america's.....talent on here last night, I watched a little of it. interesting.

Chloe, I hope your project is an enjoyable one. Glad you will be checkin in.

I have working on the GD's quilt so have been just checkin in myself.

jan said...

Mary, so good to hear from you again. I know how it feels to get so attached to a grand child and then be away from it.

jan said...

Carol & Mary, Just a little bit of nursing trivia. JOhn just told me that in the Episcopal calendar, today is the feast of Florence Nightingale. The Epis church made her a saint in the last 20 years - don'r know about the Cath church.

jan said...

Coreen sounds like your yankees won - congrats.

jan said...

Mary, should not call a child "it" I mean "her"

jan said...

Please someone, do a new post.

Coreen how about your Yankees for a posr?

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
I saw the news-play of the ad. Was it on Keith? The only good thing I noted about Ben Q. is how much he looks like his Mom. MGS watched it too...she doesn't even remember his mom - or his dad...but she did roll her 22-year-old eyes. But then again, she has chosen to move to Oregon, so what can you expect.

Ivy Green said...

Thanks, Jan. I got another shot in the arm today, along with a return ticket to the Physical Therapist. That's about all they can do for me...unless, I guess, it gets worse. That, I hope, it what doesn't happen.

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
Why do we need a new post? There's plenty of room on this one.

I read your suggestion (I think it was you) for a tribute post to Meg. I am not ready to do that yet. I am trying to keep my mood elevated during these last days before Miss Grad Student fledges from the nest. Grieving for Meg now might be a tipping point. There is something that rings true about the old adage or song, Whistle a Happy Tune.

Maybe someone can ponder a post: is it possible to just "Snap Out Of It?" Or keep yourself from "going there" in the first place?

Ivy Green said...

I think when Meg's "box" comes, it might be time for the tribute.

There was a funny happening yesterday along these lines. UPS made an unusual early evening delivery to our door. We were not expecting a package. It was a rectangular box, 12"x10"x3". We looked quizzically at each other, and I said, you open it, it's got your name on it. Hubs drew a deep breath...could this be Meg? he asked. I said, no way, they would never send her by UPS! But I wondered...we heaved a sigh of relief when it turned out to be a gift delivery of barbecue sauce from our recent conference in Denver. Still, they had us for a minute...

Carol said...

Is it possible to just snap out of it? If you're referring to grief Ivy, I don't think so. Can you keep yourself from going there? Maybe, but sooner or later you have to deal with the grief. The longer you try to avoid it, the longer it may take to resolve or get to acceptance. Then it may come out as some somatic symptom.

jan said...

Ivy,
I have found grief to be a process. Yesterday there was something on TV about a camp for kids who have lost a parent or sibling to death. In this camp each kid is assigned his/her own support (buddy) person. They schedule certain times for the kids to do one-to-one's with their buddy person - for about an hour or so. then they schedule fun activities. They said that kids can only handle the one to one talking and all that goes with that for just so long and then they needed a fun and distracting activity. I don't think it is so different for us grown ups.

I found that after Lobie died, something would remind me of her and I would just crumble in my grief. So when that happened I would just go with it and cry or think about her.

John and I found that evenings were the worst for us - so we ate out a lot for some time - because it was so painful being home.

I don't think grief has any time boundaries. the grief process is so individual.

Ivy Green said...

Jan,
I am not offended by saying "it" as a non-gender specific reference to a baby. Sometimes short-cuts are okay...we know you were not being offensive.

I mentioned the book I'm reading, Eat Pray Love. The Julia Roberts version comes out tomorrow. In an early chapter, the author Gilbert explains why her name for God is God, and not something new-agey such as The Light, or The Force, or Shiva, or Brahma, and in spite of the fact that "He" (or "She") is referred to in Sanskrit scripture as "That" - "the all-inclusive and unspeakable entity." Gilbert goes on to say she has nothing against any of these terms in that "they are all equally adequate and inadequate descriptions of the indescribable."

It is a personal choice. Personally, I could go with "That." Or maybe "That One" to borrow a presidential campaign anti-slogan that ended up on a tee-shirt. Also, personally opining, the term "God" is not a name, Proper or improper; it's a title, a substitute for the Immutable Unknown Name that "we" are not permitted to know lest we profane it. Basically, God does not trust us with His Name.

Carol said...

Coreen, I don't think we'll find another really exciting game like last night for a while.

Saints are playing the Patriots. They are televised on one of the cable channels here but I can't watch them until 10p on NFL Network. I don't think I'll be doing that tonight. I can catch them on the radio but that's too much multimedia tasking for me so tomato woman will call every now and again and catch me up on the highlights.

Carol said...

Oh, Saints don't look too impressive right now. Hope they are saving it up for later. Maybe they want to run up the odds against them before the real season then surprise us.

Coreen said...

Glad you enjoyed it...I know you don't like the
pace of bb...

Are you listening to the game now?...

ESPN here is showing a pre-season football
game caroling panthers/baltimore ravens...

Right now Yankees are ahead 2-0 bottom of 3rd...but KC has 2 on, 1 out...

hopefully it will be a fast & easy game but you
never know...

jan said...

Ivy, was it really that little girl singing on America's ....Talent. was she lip sincing?

Coreen said...

Ivy is reading eat pray love...which opens as
a julia roberts movie tomorrow(already talk of her oscar type performance)....but here's the flip side of that search for the meaning of
life....I guess I missed out on this too, but then I don't watch Oprah & it seems she was all over it (the power of persuasion is just so marvelous)....naturally made me shake my head...but then again I am a cynic...the woman
in the article failed to get the same experience as the EPL & has her own books & blog talking about it....

Eat Pray Zilch

Carol said...

Yep Coreen, there are a lot of vulnerable people out there but fortunately their credit cards are already maxed out.

Carol said...

Just checked with the game and while I wasn't listening, the Saints went from 24-7 Patriots a few minutes ago to 24-21 Patriots.

Carol said...

Oh and Coreen, I'm am keeping up with stick figure Yanks BB also.

Carol said...

And watching Parks and Recreation and playing Spider Solitaire. I had to quit watching Molly because when I had her owl webcam on a tab, twice I left my computer and came back and my computer had shut down. I think it had something to do with that webcam.

Carol said...

My menagerie out here has gotten a little more diverse than I care for. The squirrels have been climbing my bird feeder to eat the food because my squirrel barrier broken and I was too lazy to fix it. This evening I went to scare off what I thought was a squirrel eating on the feeder and it was not a squirrel, it was a rat. A big fat ugly rat! I finally fixed my barrier.

Tonight I went to take the Magster out and there were two racoons our by the feeder. Where are my owls?? Not for the racoons but for that big fat rat!

Ivy Green said...

Stars Will Fall On Alabama Tonight...supposed to, anyway. Meteor shower...I'm going outside to check it out...

Neglected to say earlier that Hubs 'n Me was checking out for the evening...you can google up Black Jacket Symphony if you feel like it...or not. That's were we was...Hubs' guitar teacher is in the band...we got a special invitation to the dress rehearsal tonight before tomorrow evening's performance...lol

Carol said...

No Perseid meteor viewing here. I didn't think there would be. August is always so unpredictable. Summer skies are so hazy even if there isn't any rain around.

Carol said...

It was supposed to be a good meteor shower also, up to 100/hr., rats. Oh yeah, I have one of those outside. Yuk. I've not seen a rat out here before. I heard an owl real close last night. I hope he had a bead on that fellow and was hungry. That rat was as big as a squirrel. An owl might be intimidated.

Carol said...

TGIF.

Something I woke up pondering this morning. Not surprised? Well, we've had three politicians, at least, in the news lately, who were accused of inappropriately using their office for some personal gain. It's gottin so usual that I don't think we even mind it much anymore. They know it.

Charlie R is one of them. I find myself feeling sorry for him. He's so cute and old and he's been there for a good while. Should we give him a pass? He thinks so. I bet most of the others do what he did and get by with it. What about Blago? What about Maxine?

You know that down here we seem to like our crooked politicians. We even used it as a campaign slogan for one....."vote for the crook, it's important". That was because he was running against this KKK guy and we certainly didn't want him. The crook won. But he's now in the Federal Pen.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
We didn't see any Stars Falling On Alabama last night. Primarily 'cuz we were the ones who fell...asleep, that is. I was hoping it would be a quick-look, and back inside. It wasn't. In my experience, it usually takes an all-nighter outside on a blanket with plenty of Off.

Carol said...

Another ponder this morning. I heard on the news that BP got one of the largest fines from OSHA ever dealt out for that explosion of one of their plants in Texas. They had so many safety violations and they didn't even care. Then they were out drilling in the Gulf, at uncharted depths, with no real oversite. They have been given a license to kill. They can afford to pay off those families. Doesn't put much of a dent in their profits. Cheaper than following any safety rules.

Anyone wanting to do away with an unwanted family member can just try to get them on with BP. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Get rid of whoever and get a big settlement. And all perfectly legal.

I know it's not healthy to think about these things in the morning but I did go get my blood pressure med. And it is still before 5p, Coreen. And if we don't think about these things how can we ever hope to fix them? If our thoughts have power....then think real hard.....THIS HAS GOT TO STOP! Or grab two beers and pull the chute.....

Carol said...

Morning Ivy. You're up early. If it's still dark where you are, it's not too late to go look.

Well, my ponder time is up. I am going to work today. Why not. Last Friday I took a vacation day and I had 22 calls. Might as well go to work. I think I'm gonna take Monday off instead.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
These days with all the mud-slinging that goes on, it's hard to tell what is a crime or malfeasance in office, or what is just hype pounced on and overblown by the media or hungry-for-office-opponents. I used to trust the media for accuracy and analysis, but sadly, no more. They are in it for the ratings, translated money. Double, triple and quadruple standards all around.

Ivy Green said...

Carol,
It light out already. We may be in Central Time Zone but our sky doesn't know it.

Carol said...

Ivy, it looks like you may have an overcast sky also. Probably couldn't see anything anyway. Stay in bed sister.

Carol said...

Ivy, Rangel has pretty much admitted to everything on TV. So what?? He was elected by his constituents...according to Rev Sharpton. They may not care. He's done a lot for his peeps. What's wrong with breakin a few hundred rules??

Ivy Green said...

The Colorado Senate campaign was especially ugly and heated. We got a week's worth of exposure to the overblown ads due to the fact that a lot of our time with my mom was in her house with the local TV on. I have to say to her credit for an 80-year old, Mom does not tune into any of the cable crap on either side. No Keith or Rachel, she got sick of O'Reilly, and thinks Glenn Heckle is a load of bull.

On the local news channel, they assigned one reporter to go through all the ads in a kind of "myth-buster" method and deconstruct them point-for-point. That was very informative and helped me understand what was going on in Colorado better than my own state. I do not see our local TV having either the cash or the courage to do that kind of effort. It's easier for them to ride the rumor mill, and let the confused electorate sort it out. Not much doubt of the outcomes here because we know who really controls the state.

Carol said...

We are living the results of our collective...grabbing two beers and pulling the chute or our just not thinking or worrying about it....Can things get any worse than they already are? I think so!

Carol said...

Even when I try to ignore what's going on in "the world", like my inmates refer to anything outside their immediate invironment, there's always some....rat in the bird seed.

jan said...

Someone on my facebook page posted this info about the meteor shower and a picture. Thought I would share it. Sorry it is not a hyperlink. It is worth looking at.
http://www.eitb.com/news/technology/detail/482815/thursday-best-night-seeing-the-perseids-shower/

jan said...

forger the link above. It does not work. My apologies.

jan said...

OK, I think this will work.
http://www.eitb.com/news/technology/detail/482815/thursday-best-night-seeing-the-perseids-shower/

jan said...

trying something else
http://www.eitb.com/news/technology/

Coreen said...

Was hoping someone actually got to see the Perseids...have tried in the past, but only wound up with a stiff neck...& more often than
not the sky is not clear....oh well...

As far as having a politician who is a thief...seems that as long as it is 'your' thief thats somehow ok...if it is someone else's then throw the book at him/her....guess
it's human nature...& if you think things will
change....think again...not going to happen...

Tick, tock, tick, tock...just a few hours left
before its TGIF Carol....

Solar said...

Carol,

I think that there is a big difference between C. Rangel, and C. Waters....in her case she actually saved many jobs. in her case the 28mil did trickle down as it was supposed to do...

Im of to Indiana....see you all later.

Carol said...

Maybe so Solar but her husband
was a big stockholder in that bank and might have profitted from that bailout. I could also say why should I pay taxes when I could pick better places to donate my money besides where our government chooses to waste it. I don't think I have that option, do I??

Carol said...

Just because they make the laws doesn't
mean they are above them. I have to
watch alot of little pitiful people being
held accountable for so much less!!

Carol said...

Using that same wisdom could
clear out the jails and save
the taxpayers a
fortune!!

Carol said...

At lunch with Iphony. Still ain't 5p yet Coreen. There's still time to bitch
but I have to work harder to
get it in, under the wire.

Carol said...

The Swamp has been, for the most
part, our "grab two beers and pull the chute" place. But occasionally I still need to do some hollering. Especially when
there's "rats in the birdseed", so to
speak.

Carol said...

Now I have potato chip juice all over Iphony.

jan said...

"The Swamp has been, for the most
part, our "grab two beers and pull the chute" place."

Carol, LOL - you certainly have a way with words. that is perfect.

jan said...

the airline attendant is certainly getting his "15 minutes of fame" or infamy

jan said...

"And Jan, it's been wonderful having you back in my life again. We were destined to remain in each others lives and I think we were destined to meet these other great, interesting, evolved people here on this blog. Somehow, I don't think it is the first time we've met them before either."

Carol, I must have missed this back there. I went back to catch up. It is a miracle to me that you are back in my life as well - and Mary and the other friends on here are Lagnaippe. Like I said earlier, you have said it so well. I will just say DITTO! I love all of you.

Carol said...

Jan, that airline guy probably did have to put up with some nasty people but he ought to try working in a jail/prison. I have to put up with so much s--- that sometimes my eyes are brown by the end of the day. They are normally blue. And it's coming at me from all different directions. Y'all will be the first to know when my "chute" moment comes. I've been close.

Carol said...

Ivy, I guess you and MGS will be seeing the EPL movie this weekend. Let us know if it was worth the price of the ticket or should we just wait to rent it. Keep in mind that some of us, ie me, are very cheap. I've seen a couple of previews and those haven't just grabbed me.

After reading the article that Coreen linked, I came up with a plan for Solar to make some fast money. He will have to change his name though to something more Guru-ish. We can open a Yoga retreat center down here at the Swamp. It's a very enlightened place, only if I can find some of that rid a rat.

Should we take credit cards or should we get cash up front, Solar. I think that cash is a lot more evolved financial medium these days.

Coreen said...

That's a winner, Carol... Swami Solar says it all....

And you know cash is ALWAYS good...

Solar said...

Carol,

Thanks.! Not the "Guru-ish type.

About politicians....they run to get elected in order to profit from it,. just the way it is....Since time began this has held true, and nothing in the future will change that.! The thing is how to hold them to a limit..not that its right...

but her husband did have stock in it...what I would like to know...is how much he made out of it? Chicken feed compared to others...not that this is right.....but within reason of what we all know transpires.....I don't think that perfection can ever be achieved...there are always going to be some crooks...80% of them....she is small time to me...just saying

I think that what im talking about is wieghing the amount of good, that the bad that is done by each of

Solar said...

"That's a winner, Carol... Swami Solar says it all....

And you know cash is ALWAYS good..."

Hey, there lawyer gal...I have something to say about that...Swami....HA.! That what I sound like when I try to give advise to you pinks?? man what a rough crowd......

Oh, the cash part......I like.!

Coreen said...

Swami...primarily a Hindu honorific title, for either males or females.

It is derived from Sanskrit and means

"He who knows and is the master of himself", "owner of oneself", or "free from the senses".

It is a title added to one's name to emphasize learning and mastery of yoga, devotion to god, and devotion to the swami's spiritual master (a guru or another swami)...

Coreen said...

Solar, glad you are in the area...

I think Swami says it all!...

Are you getting some weather relief yet...Today, actually wound up pretty nice...only hi 70s a little breeze & not much humidity...& tomorrow may be the same...

A local weather guy says the 'dog days' are
over so am hoping that the humid hot summer
is about to end...I am really looking forward to some Candian air swooping down & clearing
out the southern flow & summer to be over...never thought I'd be wishing for fall, but I am...

Solar said...

Swami huh?? Ok U's can call me Swami, but ya can't call me Sami, or Y me......


"He who knows and is the master of himself", "owner of oneself", or "free from the senses".

One can never achieve these goals...b/c we don't know yet how much evolution play a part in all we do.....I think that we are programed to do ( traits ) most of what we think are our own choices...we do have the ability to chose...but not on much.....

Solar said...

Coreen,

No, no relief...very hot and humid still...says that we will get a break this coming week....hi 70's sounds great......I wouldn't get mad if it stayed around 65-70 all year round...

Looks like everyone is doing fine, and coping with this heat....I have poured a lot of concrete in this type of weather....and also in 15 degrees......I don't know which is better, one extreme of the other, but it's all good to me...but do prefer the 60's....

Solar said...

As much as I like to work in any kind of weather...this heat is worse to deal with...in the winter, you can put on some warm clothes to deal with it ....but you can only strip down so far in this kind of heat....I always watched for my workers....made sure they had plenty of water and salt....

I would not let them eat a heavy meal during the day...nice lite meals, and we go by ok....

Solar said...

Not a lot of salt...but on hand in case someone felt a little weak...put them in the shade with a little salt, lots of water....and there back to work in no time....

Solar said...

Ok where did you go? U getting like..you know who?

Coreen said...

Trying to get some supper together...& get some
early chores done...

These hot, humid days make me not want to even
walk outside...just going in & out from the car is unpleasant...it seems to drain all energy...

I know you don't watch Baseball, last night
in the Yankee/KC game one of the royals left
the game because of dehydration/heat exhaustion....it was mid 90s at game time, humidity making it seem like it was in the 100s (8 p.m. eastern, not sure what it was in KC) & tonite pretty sure the same conditions are out there...

Solar said...

I remember a job, when I first got into contracting...had a person that we were going to be partners....

It was super hot like it is now...he did not want to hire a laborer...he was a very hard worker, and an honest person..but was a little on the cheap side....

Half way into the job (concrete) he passed out from the heat...I had to do the rest by myself...learned a lot of how concrete re-acted in extreme heat...
.how I did, my stamina.....I did not ever think about quitting...or getting paid...just about getting the job done ( this is what I think about ...the rest will follow imo)

My new-X-partner...as soon as he woke up...right after I finished..." he did we get paid"....did not acknowledge that I did all of his work...I figured that he thought that I would not have given him his share of $.....

I did, but would not do any more work with him.....he asked why a few times....said that he would hire a lo borer the next time....told him that it wasn't about the work...but was about the greed.......

Solar said...

Coreen,

Go, and get your dinner done, and......see you when U get back....

Carol said...

Yep, that definition fits Swami Solar to a T but he keeps his enlightenment under the bed with that dang Book of Winkle. To be the Swami, actually the Swampi, you must share your enlightenment with the rest of us!

Solar said...

I saw real government waste today.! Chicago, Illinois e...ye Il-noise....can't pay their bill but I think that it was former crook Rostenkowskies funeral by my house..not sure but there were at least a hundred cars, trucks etc.. parked on a street-4 blocks that they blocked off...traffic had to go around them...which for me, was a a mile out of my way not much but gas is a little high right now, for me to be wasting it...add this to all the cars that had to go around..and it might add up no?

Anyway...there were many fire trks that were there..in between them, the American flag was raised at each entrance...what is going to be the cost ( legal ) to the tax payer....this guy was sent to jail....how is he a hero??

This is all on the tax payers dime....they get a paid day to go to a wake, and another for the funeral....many cops, firemen, and other government employees feel that they deserve all of this..plus their health care...but the rest of the people don't...they are not one of them...they don't agree with anyone else getting government health care...its socialism............

Solar said...

Carol,

Last time...the Swami, can't share the wisdom that is in the book...it says so....he can impart what he thinks fits into what is being discussed...( just to keep thinks...and things on the up-and-up) but can't let the Pink-Winklets ever use it....ask Sally she knows.!

Carol said...

Coreen, I didn't see any of my stick figures, at the game last night, fall out and being that they are stick figures, it's hard to tell if they are dehydrated. They always look dehydrated.

Carol said...

And Solar, have you ever seen a group of pinks chasing a Swami?? Wanna??

Solar said...

depends what for.!

Solar said...

What am I talking about...all of you pinks couldn'g get past the first block...Coreen, the dancing machine...wouldn't chase anything in this heat.....Jan might but would cause an accident or something....Ivy

She would have wear her big ole sombrero and would not get far trying to keep it on....Mary, she wouldn't get past 50ft...she would be laughing her ass off..

You and Sally might pose a problem...but I know how to handle you both...wanna know??

Ivy Green said...

Swamp Swami...that's my vote. It's got the poetic alliteration thing going for it. lol

Carol said...

I second the motion Ivy.

And Solar, afraid to ask.

Carol said...

I just went out and sat on my wharf, in the dark, to watch the sky for a little while. I watched until the mosquitos found me. I saw one really impressive meteor. That shower should still be visible for a while longer even though not as many meteors will be visible.

Oh, I think I found where PS, porch spider, relocated. I helped her make that decision, y'all might remember. She's now WF, wharf spider. She had her web coming down from a tree and bigger than ever. It stretched over most of the wharf. She was a little miffed to see me. Again, I knocked out one of her anchor lines. Hey, it was dark out there and I wasn't expecting company.

Carol said...

If I can talk myself into getting up about 4am, I can take out this neat reclining portable chair that I bought a couple of years back. You can put it way back and put your legs up in the air. It's really comfortable and I've been waiting for just the right opportunity to use it. This would be it.

jan said...

Carol, did you get up at 4 am? There is very little that will keep me up past 10 am.

jan said...

Coreen, I envy your cooler weather. It sounds like you are going to have some great days ahead. We are supposed to cool off next week into the hi 80's. I will take it!

Carol, your spider web sounds beautiful.

Solar, are you saying I am a Klutz LOL?

jan said...

The t-shirt quilt for the GD in ARK is coming along. I am doing a lot of machine quilting. It is much faster than hand quilting but sort of "tedious" I am being very careful to keep my fingers away from the needle now. That was the worst acute pain when that needle went through my finger. I think I must have torn the skin and tissue underneath too when I jerked my finger out from under the needle as there is a quarter inch gash in my finger. I am keeping a bandaid on it until it heals.

Carol, I read the other day that with any injury with torn skin that you should keep it covered with a dressing/bandaid and moist until healed. That if kept uncovered, a scab delays healing and there is more scarring. What is your experience?

Carol said...

Morning, I just woke up from my early nap. I went out again after midnight and again at about 5a. I only saw one more meteor. I didn't have a view of the entire sky because of my trees. It was mostly just the north and east sky.

I read that the meteor shower was better for days before the peak and then it falls off significantly after the peak. Just my luck. Since thoses were work days, I couldn't be outside all night then.

Even though I didn't see except a couple of meteors, I found that being out alone in the dark, quiet, under all those beautiful stars was a pretty spiritual experience. I could even see the reflection of the stars in the river. It was pretty mesmerizing and I'm glad I did it.