Look close and you will see a little alligator sunning on the water weed. It's a true sign of Spring when the gators come out. This was the second one we saw today. The first one was a little bigger.
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"The Swamp" A Place To Ponder
191 comments:
It was nice out on the water today but as usual everything didn't go as I would have liked. I tried to plug in my new trolling motor and one of the prongs broke off. Without a trolling motor, fishing was way too much work.
I caught only one Crappie and that's pretty crappy fishing but at least I wasn't totally skunked.
Jan, have you talked with anyone about how long it would take to finish the NP program? It took me three years but I was working full time at the Diabetes Center and half time at the university and only doing classes at night. Those were wonderful times....not!
Listen to your intuition, it will tell you what to do. Every semester I wanted to drop out of the program because it was so much work on top of what all I was already doing, but something always came up to stop me from doing it. It must have been the inmate God because she only knows that no other sucker would take care of my peeps like I do.
And I'm sorry about the death of your old friend Jan.
Carol, great picture. When I blow up the picture, I can really see the little alligator. Yesterday, we saw our first roadrunner. A sure sign of spring here.
I just read my friend Bill's obituary. He had his 70th birthday Jan 4. He was a really sweet guy. He had 5 kids and 18 grandkids. He really followed the admonition in the bible - be fruitful and multiply. He married his HS sweetheart. She must have been younger than us (now in our class) cause I don't remember her name. He had a college degree and worked as an electrician all his adult life.
That is one thing about Facebook. I would not have known of his death w/o facebook. One of my former classmates posted it on her page.
It would take 2 years to do the Pedi NP program. I talked to the director a couple of weeks ago. She told me it would be intense. I knew that. They will only take 8 students. They may not take me b/c of my age - of course they would not tell me that. I would not want to take a slot if there is a younger person who would work for 20 more years.
I made a chicken salad yesterday for lunch. It was so good. I have such a sweet tooth. I chopped up some chicken (of course) from a cooked chick we bought at Costco. chopped up an apple and halved some grapes and threw in some dried cranberries and chopped pecans. I made the dressing out of plain, low-fat yoghurt with a Tbls of honey and a little bit of mayo and mixed it into the salad stuff. I had the rest of it for lunch today. It really satisfied my sweet tooth too.
That chicken salad sounds wonderful Jan. Give me a bite.
Today, while fishing, I listened to some of
Saturday night's C2C program. Less stressful than the one I heard last night. I can't listen to the current night program at night because it doesn't start until midnight, my time.
The C2C weekend guy was interviewing neuroscientist Andrew Newberg for a discussion on how meditation and prayer help memory and improve the aging brain. I'll finish it tonight when I go to bed. Pretty cool stuff.
Here's a website for the dude:
http://andrewnewberg.com/
Jan, last night I cooked a little pork roast, very tasty. I'm having left overs of that tonight and some Pasta Roni and a salad. I like the angel hair Pasta Roni in a herb sauce but tonight I'm trying one that's called garlic and olive oil vermicelli. I tasted it and it's not as good as the other one.
That's also something you could chop up and add your chicken to, for a meal. Try the angel hair in the herb sauce, it better. I'm, not sure how healthy that pasta dish is so chase it with a cup of coffee.
Tonight my deltoid muscles are yelling at me. Pulling that weedwacker yesterday worked those muscles harder than they're used to and today I had to use the paddle to manuver the boat so I didn't have to keep starting the big motor. I may have trouble lifting my pen tomorrow.
Pondering all the horrible tragedies that have occurred in the last several years, a thought keeps going thru my head. It's that we are stressing this planet with the number of people it's trying to support.
A good many of the problems in the world relate to population overgrowth. These natural disasters are wiping out both people and all the stuff that's needed to support those people. I was wondering if Mother Nature is trying to give us a hint??
Maybe instead of fighting those things that help control population growth, ie birth control and gay marriage, they ought to be embraced.
I love pasta too, esp angel hair pasta. I will have to try the pasta roni. A pork roast sounds yummy.
I too think all the natural disasters might be a response to overpopulation - or simply an indirect response to the use of all the CO2 we are putting into the air. Of course, there have always been natural disasters. Its just that now with the huge populations in some cities, more people are harmed.
My eyes are really itchy the last few mornings. I have been putting natural tears in them and it helps. I take a lot of antihistamines and they probably dry my eyes out. I am going to walgreens today and get a new bottle of natural tears. My eye doc told me when I had my cataract surgery 2 years ago that my eyes were dry and to use the natural tears. My eyes are red along the bottom of the white area.
Carol, does that sound like allergies to you? I do rub them a lot.
There was a great program on hummingbirds on the public TV channel yesterday. I thought of both of you Carol and Chloe and of Ivy too. Carol, it showed a woman in Baton Rouge who does banding of the little fellows. The show also said they are changing their migration patterns and more are staying in NA during the winter.
Love the picture Carol. Didn't know that the alligators sunning was another sign that Spring had sprung. Learn something new every day.
I couldn't get on the computer yesterday, and now it's spring break at Emma's school, so she'll be keeping me extra busy this week (and I won't have a lot of help).
Glad to see you and Jan are doing well, and enjoyed read the comments you had back and forth. Your menu's made me hungry. I really haven't felt like cooking much lately, and this week will be a good chance for me to change that.
Jan, I'm sorry about the death of your friend too. I must have missed it when catching up on the comments.
I did see that you're considering going into an NP program though. Hope you keep us posted on how that goes for you. You sure have a lot more energy than I do. Ha... I'm happiest when I have nothing to do. I like to ponder on things (like Carol does). When I'm overly busy, I tend to feel like I'm losing myself.
We woke up Sunday morning, and neither of us had realized the time had changed, until shortly there after. We've done the same thing before and I have no idea how we could miss such an important fact. I think half the time, we aren't in the 'real world' out her. We didn't even know it was spring break until we tried to take her to school this morning. It's surprising how unaware we are becoming. LOL.
In the old days, the private schools didn't follow the same schedule as the public schools, but this one does. So there's a lot of days off. The school really isn't set up for two working parents, because their hours are closer to the hours of the public schools. They close down shortly after 3PM. I wish they had a little more flexibility, but they're all so wonderful there, that it's worth the inconvenience. Most of the others we checked out are no more than day care, and looked like a disorganized mess.
I agree with what you say: that it seems like we may be causing some of these problems by putting so much stress on the earth. Not only over-population, but all the stuff we dig out of the ground (coal, oil, etc.), all the things we cut down or burn, what we've done to air - and water... on and on.
I don't see it so much as a sign - just being what should have been a predictable outcome to the way we've continued to abuse this planet.
All the answers are right in front of our eyes, Mother Nature keeps few secrets, but we continue to break the laws of physics. Everyone always seems to be running from reality, even though it's all we've got.
I won't even get into the fact that we're bombing people every chance we get. It makes no sense to me.
... correction.
There is no breaking the laws of physics, but we continue to TRY anyway.
We had a gully washer here this morning, but now the sun is out. We needed that downpour, so no complaints coming from me.
Hope you are having a good day. Lots of warm weather is on it's way. That's a 'good' thing.
And Chloe, what we're doing to the earth is to support the fuel needs of our over population. It all goes back to too many people, too little planet.
I would like to recommend that all those rich, greedy people use their money to get a space flight to another planet. Hey, they are the only ones would could afford the flight.
Chloe, I would assume that gators coming out is one of the many signs of Spring. I don't remember seeing them this early but I usually don't put it on my calendar when I do. I learned more about gators watching that Swamp People show.
Documenting things on the blog may help me keep up now. I wonder if they watched the weather and know that it's suppose to get down into the 40s tonight? I don't plan on running back to that little cut in the river to find out.
Jan, I wasn't that crazy about the Olive oil and garlic pasta so tonight I threw that one out and made the angel hair pasta in herb sauce again. I really like that one and there is a little recipe about adding chicken on the box.
Chloe, I used to love to cook but now I try to find something fast and easy but still balanced and somewhat healthy. But I still add a little chocolate after.
Carol, I didn't know that it was going to be that cold tonight. Maybe that's why those gators were soaking up the sun while they had a chance. It was actually very cool to see. I don't remember ever seeing one in person (unless it was maybe at a zoo - I can't remember). Anyway, it's always fun to see the pictures you take of them, looking so harmless (if I didn't know better).
Yeah, I know that it's about over population, but it's also about a lot of the things we do that we should be working on to do differently. You know, cars that run more efficiently, solar heating, more responsibility for keeping things as close as possible to their natural state as possible, more stringent pollution laws. I know population control isn't a popular idea, but it might have to eventually be considered, beyond nature doing it all for us.
It's all about balance (and harmony) and I don't think our government is very interested in either one of those concepts. Democracy is great, but it's inherent in our monetary system to breed greed. Everyone is looking out for themselves, and that's normal. We just don't have the right rules and regulations in place to protect the people who need protection -- to make the rule of the game and the playing field fair and equal for everyone.
I never 'loved' to cook, but I never used to mind it either. Now I'm always looking for an easy way out.
Maybe it's a sign of the times. Or maybe our priorities have changed.
I still love to eat though. And I make a sincere effort to be set a good example for Emma. She's helped me in many ways.
Thank God for microwaves!
I finally saw Wall Street (order it on DVD from Netflix) and I liked it even better than the first one. I thought it was a very good movie.
Oliver Stone is better than ever in my opinion. He's matured, not as preachy.
You know Carol, seeing a move on a computer screen isn't the same as it is on a big TV. Do you watch the DVDs on your TV. To me, the bigger, the better. I'm saving my pennies for a 65 inch in the distant future.
"I don't see it so much as a sign..." Chloe, I do think all of this does have some significance but just don't have a clue what it is but I'm watching, listening and pondering.
I agree that watching a movie on a big screen is so much better. For the watch instantly movies, I don't have a way to watch them on my TV, just my computer when I'm streaming them.
My TV is only 40 something inches and it's across the room. I kinda compared my computer, right in front of my face to the TV across the room and I think the computer comes out bigger.
One thing I've concluded from my pondering is that I'm not going to feel guilty when I eat my small bowl of ice cream. Maybe it is time to grab for some of that gusto ie. the BB Moo. I'm eating some right now.
And I had some bite sized Snickers also. No guilt. So there.
I know that the earthquake only shorten the day by a couple of millionths of a second but since the time change, the days seem to be flying by. Nite all.
I seem to always miss out on you guys little gab fest, but I enjoy reading the conversation now. All your talk of food made me hungry, so I searched in the freezer for something good. I found some slices of a blueberry bread I got at a little bread place about a mile away. I freeze everything. Like you Chloe, I love the microwave. I zapped a slice and it tasted great. Good for you Carol, you don't feel any guilt. Neither do I. Ahhh - it was delicious.
I will say good night too.
Oh my gosh, I just looked at the map to see who else might be on. I saw a star in Rosario, Argentina. That is the city we lived in sooo many years ago. It is where Steve was born. Some day, I want to go back and see the place. We were there for 3 years.
OK, good night again.
Well, short nap and I'm wide awake again. I just hate it when that happens. It probably doesn't help that I fell asleep listening to the news about Japan and it was still going on while I slept. Can't help it, when there are people suffering, I feel I must share their pain. But then again, when I'm suffering I also share it with you guys. Sorry.
I noticed the star map. The Swamp has gone global. Do you think it's accurate? It doesn't even show me when I'm on unless I'm on with Iphone. Then it does.
Don't know why anyone would be interested in what we have to say but then I can't explain why people watch Jersey Shore either.
I just wish that if those stars do represent people who check in, that they would also give us a shout out. Hello!
And Jan, I once read that it's not a bad idea to go into old age with a little extra fat on your bones. These days ya just never know when you might need those extra fat stores.
The Japanese people are such a gentle, civil and dignified people. No going nuts like I would be. I'm sure that they are in a deep state of shock right now.
Tonight I saw a guy from the US who teaches over there. His parents were looking for him and CNN found him. He had a look of shock on his face.
I was up at 3 am this morning. The allergy stuff is really high and I woke up congested. Went ahead and fixed my tea and took my allergy pill. It is almost 5 am and I am still awake. I have to be at work at 8:30 - so might as well stay up. Its too dark out to take a walk. So here I am!
Carol, I cannot believe how many stars there are on the map. I too wonder if all those people are checking in here. I do check into some blogs sometimes but only for a few minutes. I check the Great Scots blog every Sunday. Reminds me I have not read his last Sunday blog.
Jan, I'm not sure if your red eyes are from allergies or from dry eyes. I was told by my eye doc several years back that I had dry eyes. I think they saw some scratches on my cornea that resulted from it. I don't use any kind of tears though.
What causes dry eyes:
Aging, over 50, menopause
antihistamines, just what you are taking for allergies, decongestants, diuretics, NSAIDs
Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and collagen vascular diseases.
If the eyelids don't close right.
Dry air, high altitude
Dry eyes could be the problem.
Allergic conjunctivitis symptoms:
•Red eyes
•Dilated vessels in the clear tissue covering the white of the eye
•Intense itching or burning eyes
•Puffy eyelids, especially in the morning
•Tearing (watery eyes)
•Stringy eye discharge
Usually the inside of the eyelid is rough with little raised bumps.
Thanks Carol. It looks like mine are allergic conjunc - when I get up in the morning, they itch and tear and in the lower white ara the blood vessels are dilated. Just putting some artificial tears in my eyes helps a lot. I have almost all the risks for dry eyes too. Probably a combination. I don't think I have the last 3 things.
I read a CEU once on allergic conjunctivitis and about the only thing that comforts is a cool damp cloth over the eyes. They didn't mention much else that was really useful. That would be a little problematic with makeup on, especially mascara.
I do use a cool damp cloth in mornings and it does help but the artif tears has a more lasting effect. I have stopped wearing makeup -other than a moisturizer as make up makes it worse. Make up does not make that much difference any longer any way.
John was just sharing a video on youtube that has the church in it where he was vicar before we moved here. The minister who is vicar now quotes John about halfway through the video. I have watched the video several times as they show a bunch of our good friends in it brings tears to my eyes. It is just a small church but has one of the best choirs I have ever heard in any church. To get to it I wrote in youtube grace episcopal church siloam springs ar.
I am sitting here giggling. John and I are sitting on our bed side by side each on our computers - not doing any work necessarily, just checking all our sites. It reminds me so much of 2 year olds who sit side-by-side each one playing with her own toys but not doing interactive play. We have regressed to the "parallel play" of 2 year olds.
Boy the news if full of info and misinfo on the nuclear power problems. No consistancy in info even within the same news program. Everybody's an expert.
One thing that does seem to be consistant is that the Mark 1 nuclear reactor containment seems to be the most fragile. We have 23 of that design here in the US. For a list of locations, you can read here:
http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/03/14/23-u-s-nuclear-reactors-share-flawed-design-with-japan/77797/
None in my neck of the woods. Whew! Can't get too smug because our earth around here is crowded with underground gas pipelines. If anyone stomps too hard, Louisiana could be relocated just about anywhere you want it. If we land near you, order up the Carol-gator fritters. Might be a little tough but spicy.
Yep, that's what they mean by second childhood Jan. I've seen it with SF. Right now he's in the terrible twos,eighty twos.
Something I've learned that I found interesting is that the strongest potential earthquakes in the US are more likely off the Oregon and Washington coast and in the New Madrid fault which covers parts of five states. And we usually worry about California.
"New Madrid Fault Zone saw some of the largest earthquakes in North America’s history. During a four-month period, five earthquakes with magnitude estimates of 8.0 or greater were recorded in the zone. These quakes were responsible for causing the Mississippi River to briefly flow backward."
http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/itasca/statenews/x698048335/New-Madrid-quakes-among-most-intense-in-U-S-history
Jan, MSU is playing Boston College in the NIT on ESPNU. They're playing in our homey. Boston is #1 seed, we're #8 seed.
Probably get stomped but I'm proud we're in it.
Yep, we're getting our butts stomped.
dammit, did it again. I just wrote a long comment and it disappeared. Sounds like good old MSU is playing in the big leagues.
There is a big nuclear power plant on I-40 on the way to Little Rock from here. It is in a town called Russelville, ARk. It is about 75 miles from LR. You can see it from the highway. I would not be comfortable living there- even before this crisis.
We are supposed to have nuclear waste buried in some of hills in the east of Alb. That is the rumor.
"I never 'loved' to cook, but I never used to mind it either. Now I'm always looking for an easy way out. "
Me too Chloe. Lately, it has been so much trouble to eat out and I always eat more than I need to when I eat out and don't know exactly what is in the food out either - so I am trying to do more at home. But I too don't like to cook but do love to eat.
"Most of the others we checked out are no more than day care, and looked like a disorganized mess."
Chloe, I agree. Our child care centers at Early Head Start are based on education of the children. They get structure but in a positive and creative way. I don't know if most parents realize the importance of a really good child care center. I didn't when I was a young parent.
Carol, I have about decided against the PNP program. My son Bill keeps telling me I need to set some new goals for myself - and I think he is right. I just don't know what to do. I might need to read that book, What Color is my Parachute.
Time for bed. Night all.
You two have me giggling talking about 2 year old parallel play, and terrible twos 82s.
I didn't get on today because I've felt miserable. Caught one of the things my terrible 2s grand baby brought home (I had originally hoped it was just an allergy). Cold, cough, laryngitis, tired and all around miserable - I got it worse than her.\
I haven't been really sick in years, nor has she until she started being around other kids regularly. This was supposed to make things easier, and it has had a good affect on Emma in all other ways, but I'm already tired of the infectious illnesses coming home to us every week.
There's a reason that younger people are meant to be raising kids. I love her dearly, but it sure is hard keeping up with her energy.
I couldn't sleep (my own coughs kept me awake) and so have been reading about this horrible mess in Japan. How depressing it is, thinking about what they're going through, and wondering just how much more devastating the outcome of all of this can get. It's all seems so surreal.
Good to see you two joking and that things are going well in our little Swamp world. And thanks for mention Great Scot Jan. I read it after your reminder, and as always, he is so inspirational - finding meaning and beauty in almost everything he talks about.
Link didn't work, going to try again:
Map of U.S. Nuclear Reactors
Not sure where I picked it up in my meanderings tonight, or am I even sure it's completely up to date.
... none in New Mexico, Jan. You guys are smart.
Jan, anytime you write a long comment or even a long paragraph, copy it before posting. I've been doing that for a long time. I learned after a few times of losing stuff.
Chloe, good to see Texas and Lousiana aren't full of any more dangerous stuff. I know my state already has it's plate full. Not talk bout the gators either.
With day after day of watching such horrible stuff going on, I'm starting to feel a little disaster mental stress immunity. I'm still digging for meaning and my arms are still a little sore from the weekend.
I do think one of the big lessons is that we all have to start pulling together as a global community. Put our heads and hearts together to help save this planet and it's people before it's too late.
Of course, there are some who are not getting any of this lesson. They are head and heart challenged. I look back at a little politics and what do I see....those Ridiculicans are trying to scrap the EPA and defund the tsunami warning system, get rid of any kind of regulations, screw the people, etc. There are such a thing as demons, yes there are.
Chloe, you're just starting to get your kid germ immunity built up. Think of it that way. I remember when I first went back to working in the hospital. I got sick as a dog in the beginning. Hospital germs are really tough germs and I was working ICU/CCU, where they have some of the worst germs. After that, I became tough as nails.
Yep, kids do handle stuff better than we older folkes do. They bounce right back while we just splat.
Jan, I also think you made the right decision. You are going thru retirement grief right now, not a good time to make any major decisions.
You do have so much more in your bag of interests and talents than just being a nurse and you do have so much talent and education in nursing that I think there are things out there where you can use all that without having to take on any more education. Keep your eyes and ears open for those opportunities.
Thanks Carol, for this last. I think my main hangup with the NP programs is I don't want to work so hard even if I finish one. I do want to take some courses in something interesting - I need to scout the offerings in the Univ. I can take up to 6 hours free each semester. I enjoyed the new learnings at the conferences I attended in past 2 weeks.
My sister bought an i-pad yesterday - Her daughter took her to the apple store and taught her to use it. I got an e-mail message yesterday from her. I am so glad. I think this will help her a lot.
Chloe, I am so sorry you are ill and feeling bad. I empathize. Last year I was where you are. I just kept on catching one bug after another. It is bad enough to be sick and then to have a 2 year old that needs lots of attention. When she is not there you need to rest, rest, rest - and let other stuff go until you are well. Remember lots of warm liquids. I find that alternating tylenol and ibuprofen helps me when I have a cold. I also found the nasal sprays with corticosteroids helped too. I am sending good vibes your way.
In my part of the country and the windy parts of texas and OK - the wind energy is good. Here we need to use the sun as energy more. I don't know what would work for places like Seattle. Maybe harnassing the energy of the sea.
Carol, did you just coin a new word "retirement grief" I have not heard of that before.
Chloe, thanks for map of nuclear reactors. I wonder why there are so few in the west. May be b/c we here in west are more thinly populated.
We have quite a bit of natural gas too. That could be it.
well, this is one morning I can walk over and swim. I have to have 2 hours to do that.
Jan, I don't think I have coined any new concepts, I have just observed many situations of retirement grief. The first was my neighbor. The industry where she worked blew up so she lost her job. She couldn't another job as nice as the one she had so she retired.
I watched her struggle with that retirement grief for over a year. I'm not sure she recognized what was going on. At one point she was even ironing her husband's underwear so she could feel like she was contributing. Now that's pushing it, IMO. She really didn't need to work but she seemed to have a lot of guilt over not working. Maybe it was worse that she hung with other people who were working all the time and whining about it, ie. me.
Another was my older sister. She may not have defined it as retirement grief either but she kept feeling the need to do something. She kept going back part time but never seemed happy about it and once even worked at a bookstore. She just didn't seem comfortable being retired. They both did finally get over it.
Grief occurs any time someone experiences a loss and retirement does present many losses, real or precieved. Some of those losses include change in finacial status, change in self image, change in daily schedule, and possibly a change in the dynamics of certain relationships, ie. co-worker socialization and too much spouse face time.
Now, in contrast, another neighbor, older and the dad of the other neighbor, loved his retirement from day one. He bragged every day that it was Saturday for him 7 days a week. He just loved rubbing that in.
Just caught some of the political news. It was pukifying. I did coin that word Jan. It means to cause one to puke!
What about a photography class Jan?
One of those pukifying news stories is about how the Repubs and some dude named Obama want to push for more new nuclear power construction in the US, and have the government, us, to guarantee funding of it. Even China has suspended any new construction of nuclear power plants.
I hope they all choke on their potassium iodide pills.
Well, some of us have a nice respite tonight from the evils of the world and that is the 11 lovely singing voices to listen to. Now we just have to wait for one of them to trip over a crack on stage or burp because they all seem to sing well enough.
First one is pitchy, their term, not mine. She was definitely off key. I think she might be the next to go. Her stage performance carried her over last week but won't do it this week. That's Naima.
I think Paul has some laryngitis.
Paul has that Rod Stewart quality voice. I don't think it will carry him far.
I do like Thia.
James was good but didn't blow me away. Maybe just not crazy about the song. Good stage performance.
Did I mention I'm live Idol blogging?
And I was wrong about the number. There are 12 tonight.
How are you feeling today Chloe.
Wasn't crazy about Haley's arrangement. Still like her voice.
I really like Stephano.
Pia's gonna be the one to try to beat.
I still like Alfred E Newman, AKA Scotty.
I like Karen better than others do and I like her best when she is singing in español.
A friend told me she put out a hummingbird feeder and today saw a few hummingbirds. This afternoon I also put one out. Haven't seen any yet.
I liked Casey better than the judges did. Hope his health holds out.
Ms. Lauren did much better this week. The flu she had must have taken some of the pressure off of her.
Like that Jacob also.
Carol, we are in sync about our Idol choices. I am a little behind you in time. My fav's are Pia and Stephano tonight. I dearly love Scottie. He is so cute and expressive and a good voice. I too think Pia is the one to beat.
Have not seen Casey and Lauren yet or Jacob yet.
Karen was good. I think the first girl singing tonight will be the one going home tomorrow - Naima. All 3 judges said she was pitchy.
Jacob's such a Diva. He was good tonight but I love the Heart song he did.
I kept trying to think of who Paul reminded me of. Of course, it is Rod Stewart
LOL, Carol, I just saw your comment about Naima after I put mine up. Interesting!
Some don't like Lauren but I do. I also like the Melissa song she did. She is only 16 years old and looks like she's in her 20s.
Went back and read some comments.
Carol, I may take a ocurse in photography
ocurse=course my typing is dyslexic
Chloe, I too hope you are on the road to recovery.
Jan, I wish we didn't have that hour difference in our time zones and we could live blog together.
Oh Jan, don't take a ocurse! Don't you think there's enough of that going around.
But then again, it may be the right time to study that.
Mary and I both liked the song Thia did. Gave us goose bumps. Judges didn't like it. Said it was too safe. Safe is good.
I just heard Jacob. He has a tremendous voice and he puts so much of himself into it.
I too think Thia did well. She has a lovely, sweet voice.
I too wish we were in same time zone.
My favs tonight are Pia and Stephano
So Carol and Mary, who do you think will go home tomorrow?
We both think it will be Naima
I was going to vote but they are making me sign into Facebook and I don't want to.
I've been catching up on all the depressing news in Japan. I just saw these two dogs in the tsunami destruction area. One wasn't moving and the other was standing over it, keeping watch. That hit me harder than anything else I've seen so far. Anderson did say that they were being taken care of. Hope so.
God, please watch over all the people, and animals, in Japan, especially those who are risking their lives trying to deal with those troubled nuclear plants.
I hope God blogs.
Ya know one of the things that most distresses me is that our politicians are bought and paid for. We might like what they say to get elected but then find out it was all a bunch of BS because what they ended up doing went to the highest bidder. And the highest bidder doesn't have we the people's interest on their minds.
It almost seems like our politicians have no choice but to take special interest money because they have to have lots of money to run those long, long campaigns.
I mentioned that I heard Buddy Roemer on the Dylan Show the other day. He talked about campaign finance reform. I was so impressed by what he said and Dylan seemed to be also. He is a Republican and I don't know how he feels about other issues but this issue doesn't sound very Republican so his other beliefs may not be either.
I do know that years ago Roemer was a Democrat. I even voted for him for governor years ago. Can't say I remember much about him though. Too much water under the bridge since then. I don't remember anything negative either.
What he has to say here, I don't think any of us could argue with. It's short and easy to read.
Buddy Roemer 2012 Exploratory Committee
At both work and in the larger world, the universe has been sending us some powerful messages. I can't say I can interpret the meaning of the messages but I'm sure they are important messages.
I think this Japan crises does scream out that we should all give some serious pondering to the use of nuclear power, maybe not scrapping the idea but rethinking how it can be used safely.
And BTW.....Happy St Patrick's Day! May you all find it to be a lucky day!
Carol, I too think Naima will go home. We voted last night for Pia, Paul & the curly red haired guy with beard. I liked Stephano too but I don't think he will be the one to go home.
This day always reminds me of my oldest son's birth. I went into the hospital 51 years ago today to give birth to him and then my labor stopped and he was born on the 19th.
I am off to gt my teeth cleaned.
I have to go to an NP meeting so I'll miss the Idol voting results show but I'm not that crazy about waiting around and watching those young people sweat. I feel their pain. I'm cool with finding out after it's all over. Jan if you're bored tonight you can live blog. I might end up being home by the time the final vote comes in.
Yuk, teeth cleaning ain't fun. It's not like going to the hairdresser and getting your scalp massaged or in for a foot manicure and getting your feet rubbed. I don't like anyone in my mouth.
I hear u about the teeth. I don't mind the cleaning cause my teeth feel so good afterward. I definitely prefer the head and foot massage.
I will watch Idol finals for all of us. Hope there are no surprises tonight. I just did a home visit to do a hearing screen on a little 10 month old. He let me do his left ear and would not have the thing in his right ear. I will have to go back when he is asleep.
Hi guys, Hope you're doing well. I scanned the comments, but I'm not going to be able to completely catch up yet. This illness threw me for a loop for a couple of days, but I think I'm on the upside now. As a matter of fact, my daughter is going to babysit tomorrow so we can catch a movie at our favorite theater late morning. We love going to the first showing of the day - it's rarely crowded, and it leaves the rest of the day to do whatever.
Yum, candy, popcorn and coke. We actually want to see 'The Adjustment Bureau', but it starts later in the afternoon, so we'll see 'The Lincoln Lawyer' - it looks good. Regardless, it'll be good to escape the real world (which is what happens when I enter a movie theater - something I've love as long as I can remember).
I'm looking forward to catching up more this weekend.
Solar, if you're around, I sure would like to hear what you think of this whole thing going on in Japan, and how you think it will affect the rest of us.
I miss hearing your opinion on what's going on in the world. Say hi to us once in a while, buddy.
... this world seems to be getting crazier every day.
I read that one of Hillary's friends says they can tell by talking to her, that she has 'crisis fatigue'. I'm happy she's getting out of politics in '12 (happy for her), I would have never said that before, because I so wanted her at the top, but I think she's making the right choice.
Crisis fatigue -- I think we should latch onto that term. It covers a lot of territory, at least in my life.
Chloe, I'm glad you are feeling better and getting to have a part of a day off tomorrow will help to revive you.
I also love those early features. It's almost like you have your own private viewing theater. I sit in the first row of seats between the front group of seats and the back group of seats. It's in the area where they can park people in wheel chairs. I can put my feet up on the rail and get comfy.
Jan, I missed the show but I did get some hints of what happened on Idol and I'm not happy about it. I really think that the voters are made of lots of teeny bobber girls and not only are they not good judges of talent but they like the young boys. That's why the boys always fare so well and the girls don't. Neither Mary nor I voted so we can't complain. I will try to watch the show online tomorrow because it won't be available until then.
Now, I'm not saying that Karen was in the top of the group but she wasn't on the bottom and didn't deserve to get bumped this soon, IMO. I'm sad for her little mama. I bet her heart is broken.
I am surprised. I really thought it would be Naima. I think Karen has a beautiful voice. This week and last, the bottom 3 have been girls. I too think most of the voters are young girls. I have to say that there are several guys this time that are my favorites. The only girl that stands out for me is Pia and I will vote every week for her.
Solar, I too miss you and wish you would check in here and let us know what you are doing.
A lot of people like Paul and I think you did also but IMO he was pitchy yesterday along with extra raspy. He did have a cold which made him even more raspy. I do like that Rod Stewart like sound but I remember having some problems, back when Stewart first came on the scene, getting used to his sound.
Paul is cute and has a lot of charisma.
I ditto both Chloe and Jan, Solar.
My sticking comma key is giving me a lot of trouble. If I hit the backspace key, the comma come flying out. My computer guy cleaned the keyboard but it still has the problem and it's getting worse. Even hitting the delete key sets off the commas. It's the curse of the commas.
Do you know who I just absolutely adore?? It's Anthony Weiner D-NY. Every time I hear him talk I want to reach thru my TV and hug him. You peeps in NY have a great guy there. There are some of our politicians earning their paychecks and he's one of them.
I just saw a video on Huff Post where he was congratulating the Repubs for finally solving our serious financial problems by getting Click and Clack off the radio by defunding NPR.
I don't know if you have ever heard those guys. They do Car Talk on NPR. I've even downloaded that show on my computer so I could hear it and it's not to listen to car stuff. I just couldn't catch them on the radio and they are hysterically funny.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/17/anthony-weiner-on-defunding-npr-car-talk_n_837380.html
I just sent Mr. Weiner a thank you note. That's one thing I like about the Internet, I can zip off an email to just about anyone.
Ya know the Repubs are going after our hero Elizabeth Warren and the CFPB. They want to get rid of anything that protects our health, environment and pocketbooks.
Morning Joe asked some government idiot, specifically, the Deputy Secretary of Energy, a couple of simple questions about the nuclear plants on the fault line in California and the idiot couldn't or wouldn't answer the questions. I'll have to give it to Joe, he did keep trying. One of the answers we already know because of the links we listed here. One question was if those plants were the Mark 1 type. The answer was no, according to the link!
We are in trouble folkes!
TGIF. I was supposed to have 2 health screenings today. One of them did not show up. A bummer as I had a student come to take part. I hate that. Then when I called my 2nd screening, they cancelled. I got the afternoon off so I came home and took a nap. It was great. I have napped several times this week. Must be the time change
I woke up before 4a this morning and had a pretty intense day. Every time I thought I was through, another patient showed up. I was even late getting out of there. But it's now over for a couple of days. Whew.
I have to go to a conference in Houston at the end of next week and Maggie girl is going to have her first experience going to a dog sitter. The sitter is an RN, graduated from my U. I think she switched from people to dogs. I can understand that.
I called her today to make a reservation for Maggie and we're going Monday after work to meet her. I told Maggie she is going to doggy camp.
My biggest concern for Maggie has always been her having to use that darn harness. This lady has a fenced in yard so she told me Maggie wouldn't need the harness. Maggie will probably have so much fun she won't want to come home.
I haven't had a vacation since I've had Maggie and this job, over 6 years. One of the reasons that I didn't totally protest my never being able to get away from the job was because I was so uncomfortable leaving Maggie. If this works out, they better find someone to relieve me cuz I'm going somewhere and I still have lots of CEU hours to make up.
I just saw two hummers at the window looking in. I guess they wanted to see if I still lived here. I do, I do. And I have my feeder out.
Carol, so glad you found a good place for Maggie. Hope that works out well. That way you can get away more often - maybe come to NM.
So neat to see a hummer. I told John the other day I want to put up several feeders.
turned on the news for a minute. Everything is going to hell in a handbasket. Looks like we could get in another war. John turned the channel to Sanford and Son (a favorite of his).
BYW, I am reading that series by the Swedish author who died. The first book is The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. After about the first 20 pages it was easier to read and now I love it. It is quite long and there are 2 sequels. Now I can hardly put it down. It is a great mystery. I saw the movie and it is pretty violent in a couple of places but a good story.
I haven't seen the hummers at the feeder yet. They may just have their scouts out to see if their peeps are home. I just put one feeder out but I have at least 4-5 more but will wait to see if they are needed. I need to put sugar on my grocery list.
Chloe, did you enjoy your semi-vacation day?
Moon alert:
"High tide alert this weekend due to perigee full moon. The full moon of March 19 is the closest full moon of 2011. Astronomers call this a perigee full moon, because the moon is full while also at perigee (from “peri” or “near” and “geo” or “earth”). However, in 2011, people have begun calling this sort of close full moon a supermoon. Thanks to this close full moon, you should look for especially high tides throughout the world this weekend. At every full moon – when the Earth, sun, and moon are lined up in space – the gravity of the sun and moon reinforce each other, and the tides are particularly high. At the perigee full moon, or supermoon, of March 19, 2011, the moon will be both full and nearby, so high tides should be at their highest (and low tides at their lowest). Storms have a large potential to accentuate the tides, so if you live on a coast, and a storm is coming this weekend, be prepared for possible flooding"
Forgot to post the link:
http://earthsky.org/tonight
Jan, I did like that tattoo girl movie even though I had to read subtitles and endure all the violence.
I had a Netflix movie, Crazy Heart, since before last weekend and I only managed to watch only 10 minutes of it so far.
I don't think this Netflix is going to work out well for me. I just can't get around to being able to sit still long enough.
I am a movie freak. I love a good movie. Don't have trouble sittin still if Ilike it. John goes to sleep. I rented one tonight and sure enough he fell asleep.
John sure likes his Kindle. He likes to read books about the universe then he wants to tell me all about it. I like to hear about it but he likes to talk about it early in the morning when I am having my tea and I like the quiet. I try to listen and be a good partner but I just want him to shut up early in the morning and tell me later. Is that so terrible.
Carol, we tried Netflix for a while, but didn't work for us then. Maybe later on I will try again.
Hey Chloe, hope you are feeling better.
Jan both you and my older sister read a lot and both of you, when I was around you guys shared the things you read with me. I still remember things you both read to me, several times even things ya'll didn't remember reading or sharing. I loved it.
My ADD always made reading difficult and it didn't get better as I aged. That is also what makes sitting and watching a movie difficult.
Carol, My dad was like you. He could not sit still either. He would stand and eat. I don't remember him ever reading a book. He read the newspaper and readers digest, but for about 15 - 20 minutes at a time. He got antsy watching movies too. He never walked at a leaisurely pace instead he did a running walk.
Today is my oldest son's birthday. Happy 51st Birthday Bill.
Almost all of the kids in my family have some degree of ADD. I have ADD to the extent that I have always been very impulsive and easily distracted. I also have a real problem with attention to detail. I am not so impulsive any longer. I think it is just because I am older. I think the impulsiveness had a lot to do with my changing jobs and moving often.
My middle son had ADHD as a kid and still does. He never took medication for it although he was diagnosed with ADHD and teachers wanted me to put him on meds. I just refused. He did OK despite this. He refused to go to college however. He said he just hated sitting in class.
My youngest son has ADD -not ADHD. He too had a problems with distractibility but got through HS ok. He is working on his PhD and takes meds for ADD. He says he cannot get through his classes without the meds.
Most of my nephews and grandsons have ADD or ADHD. I have one granddaughter and a neice who have taken meds for ADD.
Carol, does Mary have ADD?
Mary, I should have asked you - do you have ADD too?
Happy Birthday Bill!
Regarding ADD, I don't know. I think you were smart not to medicate your kids, Jan. I've heard that the medication makes it easier to concentrate on things, but I'm sure it would do that for all of us, hyper or not. I've seen something about college kids taking it before studying for exams.
Young kids are so unbelievably hyper, I don't know how anyone can ever figure out where to draw the line and call it ADD. Emma literally bounces off the walls at times. I know there is a point where some kids can become dysfunctional, but I read something a doctor specializing in it wrote a while back, and he says most cases referred to him were not ADD and that all two and three year olds are hyperactive. He did say that there are exceptions though, but they're dramatically worse than what most people think.
Carol, you're able to concentrate on the news and what's going on in the world a lot more than I can. I think maybe we're all able to put our attention on what really interests us, and that varies greatly from person to person.
I love to read and watch movies (certain ones). But I never watch TV anymore, news, sitcoms or any ot the rest - wouldn't be able to concentrate on it - wouldn't even 'want' to be able to. I prefer controlled reality -- I guess some would call it non reality, but I don't see it that way, What happens in a good book or movie is an example of what can happen in real life. There's that, and the fact that most everything I've ever learned in my life is from reading and watching movies. There's been plenty of experience to, but I got a lot of the guide lines along the way from reading.
I love the movie yesterday, 'The Lincoln Lawyer' -- it was absoloutely great. I'm not a big Mathew McConaughey fan, but when he plays a lawyer, he's perfect. Surprises at every turn.
Carol, I like to sit where you said you sit in the theater too, and put my feet on the bars. Those seats were taken yesterday though, so we had to go back a little to find an empty row. If I can't put my feet up on something, I'm not happy. I think one reason I like theaters so much is that I never seem to get to sit through an entire movie in one sitting, unless I'm at one.
I still am real tired from whatever I had (have) is, but have more energy each day. It was one of those things that last for a while. It lives in the respiratory system like a cold, but affects the ears and makes you feel like your a decompression chamber. Seems to have a life of about 2 weeks, although you're never completely down and out with it, but it sure makes you tired. It's good Emma had a week off school, because now she running on normal again. Monday she goes back.
I'm keeping up with you guys, but don't always have a lot to say for the time being.
You're on my mind though.
Happy Birthday Billy! How old is that little kid now?
I just got a new laptop. I'm not sure when the curse of the commas will do the other one in. Something is sticking and it's other keys that set off those commas. Now I know I'll have a back up if that one totally wigs out. I'll leave one in each of the rooms I use.
I'm setting it up myself instead of letting the geek squad do it. So far, so good. This is my first experience with Windows 7. I hope I like it. I never did care for Vista.
Chloe, you might disagree but I wonder if some of your problem might be due to allergies. This is prime time allergy season. You don't have to have a history of allergies to develop them. The longer the exposure, the more likely you are to develop them. Allergies also cause you to feel weak and tired, all the symptoms of a cold.
From what you are describing, I think you would benefit from one of those steriod nasal sprays. I can tell that your eustachian tubes are swelling up. That's what gives you those ear symptoms. That nasal spray would help reduce your nasal passages reaction to the allergans and help reduce swelling in the eustachian tubes. It's actually the only thing I will swear by to treat these upper respiratory symptoms.
Antihistamines have side effects and tend to just not work after a while. The literature supports that in studies on patient's satisfaction with antihistamines.
At the first sign of any nasal stuffiness I hit my steriod nasal spray and it usually nips it in the bud, so to speak. It is a prescription and I definitely don't recommend any OTC nasal sprays. Those are bad unless it is just a saline solution.
And I am classic ADD. The H did resolve some with the blasting of my thyroid. I have to work hard to overcome it but, like you said, if I'm extremely interested, it helps. When I had to study, I got up very early and overloaded on coffee. That seems to help. When I studied, I read, underlined, wrote what I underlined, and read again.
As an example of my loss of focus, I've even gone back on some of my charts and I didn't even finish signing my name. I had Car and that's where I stopped. I do get constantly interrupted at work and that doesn't help. I run a 10 ring circus.
Yes, the ADD drugs do help even people who aren't ADD. I just heard that at my meeting the other night. I wouldn't try those drugs because they are hazzardous to my heart and Bp.
We are off to Bill's house. His wife, Kathy, is fixing dinner. She is a great DIL. He is 51. Hard to believe. He was born when I was 10 - LOL - actually he was born 3 wks before my 19th B'day. I cannot believe how young I was. It is a wonder he or Terry survived. Terry is 15 months younger than Bill.
I am taking Bill a gift card for his fav golf shop. Golf is his passion.
Don't forget the Supermoon tonight!
The moon is so beautiful and bigger than ever.
Who on here said they watched the movie, "Wallstreet" and said it was good. It was at Redbox today. Will watch it tomorrow.
Well, guess I will head to bed. I am getting to last bit of my book and it is exciting.
Love to all, Good night.
I guess I'm not keeping up with the news, actually I'm not, cuz I missed this story:
Oil Spill Reported Near Deepwater Drilling Site in Gulf
"The Coast Guard is investigating reports of a potentially large oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico not far from the Deepwater Horizon site. According to a knowledgeable source, the slick was sighted by a helicopter pilot on Friday and is about 100 miles long. A fishing boat captain said he went through the slick yesterday and it was strong enough to make his eyes burn."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rocky-kistner/oil-spill-reported-near-d_b_838019.html
Guess with everything else going on, this wasn't all that important.
I decided to go ahead and get the laptop today because I heard that things made in Japan may soon get a little harder to find and a little more expensive.
Something's blooming that doesn't like me right now. I think most people think that if you have allergies, it's lots of things you are allergic to but sometimes it's one or a few things. And it takes some years of exposure for your body to develop that immune response. Some of those things even could be blooming from hundreds a miles away and the answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind.
I hate it that we are involved in this conflict with Libya but I can understand how we got stuck having to do it. I really don't think Obama wanted to(one smart thing for him) but when you have all those people yelling for help what can you do? And then you have France going in first?? (And to our French star on the map, désolé, I mean no disrespect)
The problem that I see is how do they figure out where to bomb without hitting some innocent people?? I know they recognized that problem also.
How did they come up with the name of this operation, Odyssey Dawn? Any guesses?
I worry about CNN's Arwa and Nick. If Daffy will kill his own people, how can they be safe?
And what's weird re. my ADD Chloe....give me medical literature, which is complex to others, and I have no problem reading and understanding it, but give me a phone bill, a credit card agreement, or something like that and my brain closes down. It's all Chinese to me.
I'm looking forward to today and getting out to start playing in the dirt. I'm gonna plant some stuff today. It's a spring time ritual. I have a few grape tomato plants and some new herbs to plant. I started cleaning my pots yesterday. I also want at least one bell pepper and some cucs.
Maggie's also needs a bath today before she goes to doggy camp. I got the scissors after her last night. I hope she's not embarrassed when the other doggies see her mamma cut. You know how kids are.
Oh, Happy first day of spring! No wonder I feel the calling.
"It is a wonder he or Terry survived. Terry is 15 months younger than Bill."
Jan, It's a wonder you survived!!
It's got to be the most difficult job in the world. I've often wondered how these young mothers do it, when I see them out and about with two, three or even four or five young children.
Carol, I've had allergies all my life, sometimes severe. I've taken antihistamines so long, that they no longer work. I'm glad you mentioned the nasal spray.
Last night I felt like I was running a temperature too, because I was getting the chills in a very warm room, plus I had that ache all over, weak feeling. So I was afraid I was catching what she had all over again.
What you said about the swollen 'whatever' tubes may be right. I've had laryngitis too (which I haven't had in so long I can't remember, before now). Could the swelling cause that also?
Anyway, I mentioned to hubby last night that what was wrong with me, even if it was a illness, was probably being aggravated by all the green pollen I've seen everywhere. I'm even allergic to common household dust, and that pollen is finer than dust is. It's just that I've felt so bad the last couple of weeks, I've been worried there was something seriously wrong with me. Then I woke up this morning better again (although tired). Allergies have got to be involved.
Chloe, those allergies may start as allergies but can lead to viral and bacterial infections ie colds, bronchitis, ear infections, pharyngitis, pneumonia. etc. That's why you need to hit them early with the steroid nasal spray, plenty of rest, extra vit C, maybe 2000 mg a day, and whatever mamma used to do for you cuz if you believe in it, it is powerful medicine.
Laryngitis is usually viral, don't think there are any bacteral causes and the aching is also consistant with same. Feeling better is a good sign.
I just came in for a rest. I've had it in high gear all morning but hitting resistance at every turn.
I told ya'll last week that I broke the thingy my trolling motor plugs into on the boat. I headed to Academy to get a new thingy. Went to that thingy isle and they had lots of stuff but not my particular thingy.
I did have help, who wasn't that helpful. The guy said I'd have to go to the boat place. Well, on my own, I decided I could just change the plug and the receptacle and they had both that would work. I did check with a shopper man would looked like he knew something about boats. He said I could that.
Next was to find a connector thingy to attach to the existing wires because Academy didn't have that. Another man I called for advice told me to go to an auto parts store. Went to two of them and nada. Went to tractor supply and found something that would work. Had to ask another shopper man for help. The employees are useless. I came home and I did it! Whoopee, I did it all by myself and it works.
I also went to Wally World to get some dirt. I need lots of dirt for my pots. I bought the dirt and asked for help loading. The lady at the gate told me to have them call someone. so I did. As I walked out the back she said "good luck". That didn't sound good.
I pulled my truck to the pile of Miracle Grow soil, 40 lb bags. I pulled the little handle on the back of my truck to lower the back gate and the handle broke off. It broke clean off. It's made of plastic. I guess that don't expect us to keep a vehicle for 8 years.
It's a Toyota people and the handle just broke off. Now how do I get the back gate down?? Again, two shopper men walk past and ask if I needed help. I told them the problem and they were able to push on the two sharp pieces left to open it. They also loaded my soil since no one from Wally World showed up. That's what the lady meant by "good luck".
Thank God for shopper men!
Carol and Chloe - am reading the last comments you made. I usually go back to my last comment and read from there.
Chloe, I think Carol gave you good advice about your allergies and possible infections. Allergies and low grade viral infections can make you feel terrible. My response is to drink lots of warm liquids - I like a favorite tea with 1 TBLS of honey in a great big cup and take a extra strength tylenol then about 4-5 hours later another big cup of tea (same as before) and some ibuprofen and keep alternating this. It works for me. I try to nap when the meds take effect and have lots of good veggie soup when I am hungry. The warm liquids and NSAIDs (tylenol and ibuprofen) do wonders for me. I hope you heal rapidly.
Carol, I have been LOL at your escapades with fixing your boat thingy. You are so good at stuff like that and your trips to get dirt. You are a whirlwind this morning.
I walked 3 miles this morning. and have been relaxing since then. I actually finished a writing task I had to do for a nursing journal. I got that done - which will make my day go so much better. John is back from church and feeling "down." One of his buddies at church is going to have to go into assisted living. It has been coming for awhile now. His memory has been failing and he has been falling frequently. The man is about 85. His wife is about 10 years younger and they don't have any family here and have a home. I guess she will stay in the home and visit him. I am not sure of that. Guess will find out later. Gosh, this is what is facing us now. Growing old is scary.
Jan, don't feel bad about assisted living. We'd all be lucky to be where SF is. Now, a nursing home is another issue.
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