Thanks Coreen. I thought we were getting down to the wire and I didn't see anything new in the list of posts so I posted some quick pics of the farm. When I posted them I saw that you had just posted your pics so I took them down fast.
In one pic it looks like you were digging a moat around your place. I was wondering if you were fearing that some of the 99% were moving into the hood.
Sis and I were talking about how much fun it would be for you, Jan and I to get together if the two of us could get away from our fur babies.
I've never seen much of your neck of the woods and I would like to. Jan mentioned it already at least once. Better do it before she finds a new fur baby and makes it even more complicated. She does have family to babysit though.
The only problem is that 3 is not a good number. With three..there is always a pair and a spare. It happened when Jan, my sis and I went on a trip together. It circulated who got to be the pair. Not fun..except occasionally..to be the spare. I told sis that maybe she could come to make it an even number.
I really did like the movie Jan. Only problem is that sis wanted me to sit still and watch it all in one wack. I can't do that. I like to watch a little while and then get up and run around. I'm just too antsy.
Since I'm yielding to the Alpha Dawg here..I tried.. but lost focus. I will rent it again later.. when I can watch it my way.
I can focus better when I'm in a theater because of the big screen and nothing else to distract me.
Carol, I read your posts about how you came to be a nurse. Is that the ones you are talking about. I never thought that I had any influence on you as a student or going into teaching. That is news to me. I do remember our study sessions. That was a very important time in my life. Until then I did not think I would ever accomplish anything that was academic. It was as much a surprise to me as anything else in my life. Bob was a big influence on me. He tutored me through math and chemistry and was my biggest supporter. I remember my dad was always bragging on my brother's wife and how smart she was. When he would do that Bob would tell him what a great student I was. Those were good days for me.
Carol, something you said on a previous post was about women as caregivers of family members. That is so very true. Most of the time it is is a mother, sister, daughter or daughter in law who takes care of the family member.
Another interesting fact I read the other day is that when a father is doing a lot of care providing of his children, his testosterone level is lower.
Tonight is the first night people can vote for their favorites on AI. It is the guys night and there are 12. They will eliminate 6 guys and 6 girls this week.
I was just standing outside listening to night sounds..and the owls and I heard the weirdest sound.
It was very quiet..just a few distant owl sounds and then came this sound..right across the river..on an island. It's hard to explain the sound and to visualize what could have made the sound. It involved wood but didn't sound like a tree falling. It was almost like something crashing into some trees from above.
I hope I can remember tomorrow to look over that way to see if I can see anything that might have made that sound. It may be too far away to see.
I occasionally hear weird sounds outside at night but that one tops most of the others.
It is time to go to NC again. We leave early in the morning (flying). I am taking my computer so will be in touch. I will take some pictures for another post sometime.
Carol, I think it would be a great idea for your big sis to come. However, don't you think with age we are a little more mature and can handle a threesome (I mean that in a good way)! You have mentioned tension before when there were only 3 of us but I honestly do not remember that. Maybe you felt pulled in between the 2 of us. I know that I had a blast. One of the best memories I have. I might be getting some dementia but I thought we all got along great.
I think it would be fun to all meet somewhere fun - where none of us lives - like the beach or Chicago or New Orleans or where-ever. I have always wanted to visit Maine. I have been to Vermont and it is beautiful.
Jan..A pair and a spare is a term I coined to describe the phenomena I observed over the years when three people spend more than a short time together. I don't know if that phenomena only occurs when I'm involved because when I'm not involved..I donno what happens.
And most people do have a tendency to forget small traumas over the years..that's a phenomena in life also. My sisters have pretty much forgotten sad/traumatic things that happened when we were kids..I didn't. I guess that was one defense mechanism that I never developed. Maybe because I studied things too much. It's a curse.
I kinda remember our trip and the pair and spare phenomena. No..there were no permanent scars and it was a fun trip.
Maybe it depends on the relationship of the three involved?? I've seen it with different relationships..again..when I'm involved. I saw it with the two of my best friends on the faculty after you left the U...Lynn and Ruth. We used to laugh about that phenomena.
To describe our little threesome..each pair in the group shared something special in common that the temporary spare didn't. As to you and me..we had our recent past..we were best friends..we actually were sisters without that shared family psychopathology..we had the same career interest..we worked together..heck..we almost lived together because I spent so much time at your house. I had adopted your family as my own.
With sis and me..what we shared in common is pretty much self explanatory.
With you and sis..you guys had a lot in common. You both were closer to the same age..you both had husbands and children.
It rotated which two were having shared time. The spare had to just sit there a twiddle their thumbs or bring a good book. I wasn't much of a reader.
I do remember my spare time while y'all were discussing all the stuff I couldn't relate to.
I do remember you having a particularly traumatic time on the way home. Can't remember the details but I remember that we were at someone's house who I didn't know..you didn't either so it must have been someone sis knew. We stopped there before leaving Denver?? You were upset and got up early thinking it was several hours later. I didn't like it when you were upset especially when I might have been the one who caused it.
Now you have a good and safe trip frister. That's a term my neighbor..who was my best friend for years.. before she and her husband moved away and I killed her off.
She coined that term frister. It's a friend who is like a sister...one of the best kind of sisters..one without the burden of shared family psychopathology.
What do I mean by killed her off. That's a me phenomena. When someone leaves me..I kinda kill them off in my heart.. to save myself from the grief of the loss. I did that to you also. Remember?
Am I strange or what? I think I'm a phenomena. I probably do meet the criteria for something in the field of nutology but I haven't come across it yet. And I'm not looking.
Jan hope you get lots of insight at the retreat...maybe you have time to find some more places to show us from NC too...
Thanks for the compliments...never leave home without sunglasses, doesn't everyone have at least one pair with them...
Oh Jan, the car pics are from back in October, the day before we had the snowstorm that took out power over a week throughout CT...Right now nothing is really growing, but soon...
Today we are waiting for the latest 'storm'...& guess what the weather people have no idea whether it's going to be accumulating snow/sleet/freezing rain/rain...their guesses anywhere from a trace to 4" snow, then rain...
So far this am, sun was out, now its gone, sky is gray, temp is 40no precip yet, eta is noon...but they already called for early dismissal from all the schools in the surrounding towns...
We are here! Made it to NC. We are staying in Hendersonville, NC tonight. We are only about 5 miles from Kanuga here. We decided to come a day before our intensive begins. The last time we came we did not give ourselves an extra day and we discovered we need that extra time the day before. We also rented a car instead of getting a taxi from the airport. It does cost extra but it is nice to have "wheels." The last time, I needed some cold medicine and no way to go into town to get it.
The trip was good. It was a 3 hr trip from alb to Atlanta, about 1 hr in the airport and a 40 minute trip to Asheville airport. Hendersonville is about 25 miles from Asheville.
We check into the retreat center at 2 tomorrow afternoon. We are both looking forward to seeing our intensive group. There are 10 of us in our group and this is the 3rd intensive and so we all know each other pretty well now. I will take pics of our group this time and post on here later on.
Carol, I think Coreen is absolutely right - you have an amazing memory. The main things I remember about our ski trip many moons ago - was that we drove to CO in a station wagon your sister had bought recently. We all took turns driving. We stopped in Colorado Springs to visit Katy - I think we spent one night there. We all went to someplace close to Denver that night and I remember having a wine drink. Then we started out for the Steamboat springs the day after. That was the last time I saw Katy. We stayed in touch at Christmas for many years then we lost touch. I remember to lodge we stayed in was up a mountainous road. We stayed in a dorm-type room. The meals were amazing. I remember I started my period the day after we arrived and I didn't feel too good for a couple of days. I took ski lessons on a bunny hill. I remember you were a good skiier by that time and I was struggling. I do remember when we started down an unmarked area and almost went over an area that went straight down. We all started back up to the marked areas side stepping. I do remember that if you didn't side step, you could start sliding down the mountain. I think we all could have died there. I remember you laughed at me and I scared and annoyed with you - but not for long.
I do not remember the trip home. I definitely do not remember getting mad at anyone. Wait - I do remember going home by way of Amarillo and it was snowing and the roads were slick. That is it for my memory.
Jan..you remembered things that I didn't remember until you brought them up.
Gloria remembers nothing. I guess all the gazillions of vitamins she's taken didn't help her memory.
I now remember that you and sis took cross country skiing the first day and I did downhill. Cross country would have kicked my ass. At least with downhill I had gravity working with me.
I guess you just selectively deleted the parts you didn't want to remember. That's not a bad thing. We all want to do that...but I have that darn curse.
I definitely remember the wrong turn we took and I do remember laughing..a very nervous laugh..a laugh before you die..laugh. But the position you got yourself in didn't help. I think that position might be similar to some Yoga position..downward dog. I bet you can laugh now??? I am. LOL
We stayed at Scandinavian Lodge at Steamboat Springs. We ate at a table with other people..interesting people. The food was also Scandinavian and it was good.
Our room was also used by the Olympic team in the summer. That's why it had bunk beds. It also might have been cheaper.
We both did remember the little mouse in our room. It was trying to get a whole cookie thru the little hole it came in thru. We broke up the cookie so the little mouse could get that cookie thru the crack. Not like we wanted that cookie back. None of us were scared of the mouse.
Oh one other thing I remember - There was some old guy I talked to or skiied with for a while. Anyway, I remember he propositioned me. He wanted to take me on a skiing trip. I think I was about 33-35 on that trip. I think he was about 70. I was just being friendly. He was an interesting guy - but duh!
Yes, the meals were served family style. Lots of interesting people there. We watched skiing movies at night. I guess you had stayed there before.
I think we started bring food back to the room for the mouse. I can see how people in prison make friends with critters in their cells.
80 degrees, wow! It was close to 70 degrees here. We are in a tornado watch. It is pretty windy. No bad weather yet. How terrible about the tornado in Branson and surrounding area in Missouri and some in Illinois. This reminds me of last summer where it seemed tornados were following us.
I think the Ledet kid was one of the best singers last night. The girls are singing tonight and so far there is not one that is memorable (as Simon used to say). BTW - I knew how his last name should be pronounced. I have not been away from that part of the country that I would forget that.
Simon, where are you? These judges are really messing up. Finally, Randy said " a song was a nightmare." I think the problem was they sent the wrong girls home. There was one girl who was amazing and they said she did not have enough confidence, so she did not make the top 24.
One of the things I like about the other singing reality shows is they audition in front of a live audience. I think there is some value in that. Sometimes they had contestants go through because only the audience liked them.
Jan..if you help me remember and if you think he's deserving..I'll vote for the guy from my hood down here next week even if I'm not watching. Need to support the hometown kid.
Hope you have an enlightening retreat..with no lightning.
Jan..I was looking back at a few posts this morning and saw that you wrote that you didn't remember that you were the one who talked me into trying teaching..one of my favorite nursing career choices. Do you think I woulda thought about THAT on my own?
You certainly liked teaching and thought that probably I needed to find something else to do before I went off the deep end stressing in ICU/CCU. I'm pretty sure I did some whining. It's in my nature to whine and it's in most people's nature NOT to want to listen to it.
I've tried to tell you guys that I didn't provide any of the direction in my life. The Universe sent me people..and you were one of the significant people.
And I guess when you and your fly left my ass down here in the swamp..and I killed you off for leaving..Facebook found you again.
Isn't life interesting. And can you believe that Facebook was invented just for us? It was all part of the grand plan. I wonder how many other people are thinking that.
And it's too bad that we can't get a cut of their profit.
With all the pondering that I do and have done..I see how that big SIMS master in the sky has guided and directed my life. Sent me who I needed..when I needed them. Sometimes it's almost spooky seeing how obvious it has been. It was when I started doing my journaling..when mamma was dying.. that I really started recognizing it.
This blogging just took over for my journaling. Gosh..you guys know all my secrets. But who cares..as you see..nothing is really my fault..I'm just a pawn here and I'm sure that SO ARE YOU.
Even Oprah Winfrey was part of the plan. It was on one of her shows that I learned about journaling. It was even kinda weird that I was watching her show at the time. Didn't usually have time to do that.
Oprah had some people on talking about how journaling saved their lives. I was pretty desperate at the time. I decided to try it and I do think that it did accomplish just that.
Journaling helped me remember that I had so many good times in my life. I relived many of them and was able to laugh when there was absolutely nothing funny going on at the time. I could look back at what I wrote and see that horrible experiences did have a silver lining. They were all part of the plan.
And it made me realize that there is a big SIMS master in the sky. Now one thing I haven't figured out yet is...who gave the SIMS master the plan?? Did our souls do that before we arrived on the planet? Don't know yet but I know there is a plan and you can go along with it or you can fight it. It's not a good idea to fight it. When you fight it..life gets pretty poopy.
Coreen..don't keep rolling your eyes at me and telling me to relax..it ain't going to happen frister..at least not yet.
Coreen offers a level of my consciousness that I have some difficulty listening to. One that is logical..more realistic..maybe a little harsh..but very necessary.
Carol, I have heard this saying several times and it is one of my favorites "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." I think it fits with what you are saying. I don't think it is what I said or did, I think you followed your own heart in many of these cases.
Carol, I believe strongly that you and Katy and I had an influence on each other. Maybe even the rest of our group too - even Linda, Gil, Leslie, etc. We were a pretty tight group. You and I continued on after the others all fell away or moved away. You were as much an influence on me as the reverse. I think our relationship helped us both in school.
When I (my family) left Lake Charles, I went through a grief period. Bob was pretty happy in Montana - he had been there before, but I left much of my support system behind in LA. I did a lit of crying in MT - I think I about wore Bob out with it. I did not like my job there. I did not know anyone and I was teaching out of my comfort zone. And it was so damn cold. We went from there to NM and Bob began to travel a lot. He began to pull away from family there. I did not teach for a year - Steve was not doing well in school, and I was trying to get him settled in - finally we put him into a private school - which worked well for him. He got more indiv. attn and did well. I finally started teaching and loved my job. I began to get involved with another faculty and we did some research and publishing. But Bob and I began to drift further and further apart. Maybe that was inevitable. That was where my marriage failed. Then Bob had a daughter from the past show up on our doorstep and I found out he had been keeping her secret all of our marriage.
Must get ready for no TV. One of the reasons I decided to bring my computer is at least in the evening I can check up on what is happening in the world.
You are starting to fill in the missing years of Jan...the years you were dead to my heart. Sorry to say. I don't think I tried to stay in touch with you guys.
I just had a little problem dealing with loss. I even remember the song that came on the radio when you guys drove off into the sunset. It was "When will I see you again..when will our hearts be together..." I cried.
I kinda like to have musical accompaniment to my grief and loss. Helps me to cry better. I'm not even that big on music anymore. I guess it is because I've used it too off to document grief and loss.
Later..when technology was available I downloaded and put together an entire CD that documented one of my relationships from start to finish.
Hey..the reason I'm alone is because.. if I was in a relationship and I detected one little sign that things weren't going well..I had a tendency to end it all..get it over with..get the crying done.
That movie..the Beginners..kinda hit home for me.
I've pondered why I'm that way. I did come up with one possibility. My mom was so miserable in her marriages. She wanted to leave my dad but felt obligated to stay.. for us..the kids..but she made us pay for it.
I remember as a very little kid..mom would go out for the evening and tell us she wasn't coming back. She did want to run away. We were too young to know better..probably at that age when kids fear abandonment the most and when parents should reassure them that would come back when they left.
I don't think my sisters remember this. If they do.. they never mentioned it. I remembered..I remember everything. I remember being terrified until I saw mom return.
Mom did the best she could..she didn't know any better. She never read Dr. Spock.
Sad..that twin remembers mom and dad as perfect. She only remembers the good stuff and there was lots of good stuff..but she was more the victim of some of their bad stuff..and it shows.
And I can't blame my mama. Her mother abandoned her when she was about 11. She ran off with her last husband and left mom with her two younger step brothers and step father. Her step father tried to molest her because she reminded him of her mother..his wife. She had to go live with her grandmother. I really didn't like my grandmother for doing that. I resented her but mom didn't seem to..at least not at a conscious level.
I know that you have mama issues also Jan..I think lots of people do. I was at the card counter one Mother's Day trying to pick out a card for mom. None of those cards with all the gushy stuff worked for me and I wasn't going to lie.
I finally found a card that worked..it said something like..I love you in spite of it all. I was standing with a friend who also had mother issues and we were discussing it. There were other women around also looking for a card. When I found the right card..I said..I FOUND ONE that works. When I said that..all those other women almost knocked me over grabbing for the same card. I guess it's a common problem.
Carol, I think we have talked about this before, but my mother's mother also abandoned her - shd left her with aunt when my mother was 12. Also, my mother's dad died when she was 2 and my gr mo remarried and then he molested my mother. Mother was depressed much of her life. She looked to me to be her therapist even when I was about 12-13. I think when I was in my 20's and 30's I had a hard time separating my mother's experiences from my ow.
"Over the past 20 years, the divorce rate among baby boomers has surged by more than 50 percent, even as divorce rates over all have stabilized nationally.
At the same time, more adults are remaining single. The shift is changing the traditional portrait of older Americans:
About a third of adults ages 46 through 64 were divorced, separated or had never been married in 2010, compared with 13 percent in 1970" Growing Old Single
Interesting Coreen. I perused the article you linked but I'll go back later for the details.
And thanks for not mentioning the Saints scandal. I know you had to be aware of it. You probably didn't want to put anything else stressful on my plate.
If it is true what they are saying..I'll be so disappointed in my boys. And the fact that someone must have kept records. Idiots.
I think all football players are somewhat out to get each other..it's the nature of the game. This last year seemed to be particularly brutal across the board but I didn't recognize that the Saints games were all that bad. In fact one of our guys got hit in the helmet during the last game and put out for the game. They didn't even call the fowl.
Today was a super saturated day with activity. Went to work this morning. Did one clinic. Left at lunch to see the attorney..then a quick lunch and back to work for second clinic. After work to Sam's and then to the CPA. There for almost 2 hours. After..to Walmart for groceries. Then home and grilled a filet mignon and made a salad. Phew!
Guys..I haven't watched the news since sis got here. It's like I've been on an island. And this time it's not really an island anymore.
The only news I catch is online and not much of that. I've been pondering too hard.
Tonight I saw..online..what Rush L has been up to with his comments about that Sandra lady. Wow..what an AH...him..I'm talking about. I know that he's always been an AH but he's outdone himself with his comments about that lady.
It pleases me to see that several of his big sponser have dumped his A. I'm going to make a point to go to their Facebook pages and thank them for doing that. All women should do that.
I've really enjoyed having my new campmate here. It's nice to have someone to do things with..to share the burden of some of these new responsibilities I have with..someone to cook with.. to eat with..to watch movies with..and tonight..to bathe Maggie with. It's certainly been the happiest I've been in a long time.
I record Rachel M every day. Don't always get around to watching it. She covered the Rush L controversy yesterday.
It's a shocker..even for Rush. That man has some serious Karma coming..from many things he has done over the years.. and he just opened the door and invited it to come in. It will be interesting to watch what happens.
When I listened to Rachel go over what Rush has been saying and what many of the candidates have been saying..I think that I must still be sleeping and having a bad dream. This couldn't be happening in this country..in this century. And they say they are afraid of Sharia law???
I've complained about how the young women of today have taken what they have for granted. They just don't realize or recognize what many of us old bitches have done to make things better for them but they are enjoying the fruits of our labor.
What's going on now is the result of much of their apathy. Now is the time for them to wake up and smell the coffee. It's not our problem any more..it's theirs. It will be interesting to watch how THEY deal with it.
The revelation about the Saints D bounty hunting...not really shocking or surprising that it was coordinated, but the surprise is that they did it not imagining that ultimately it would be found out...so the consequences will be whatever the league wants...I suspect that the penalties will not in any way prevent the attitude that you need to 'take out' the other guy no matter what, that is the game of football after all....
Hey, Joe Namath (one of my heros) is the posterchild for the vicious nature of football he was a target many times way back when football mattered to me...then the most hated team was the Oakland Raiders...we thought they were the dirtiest players going...
Football was always a violent sport...more interesting is it's fandom that does not really show much concern over that aspect (as long as their team's players are not on the receiving end of the hits) & actually don't fans cheer wildly when their guys 'stop' the other guys, no matter how!!!don't they love it when the QB is slammed to the ground...cheeriing wildly!!!....I lost most of my intense interest in football ages ago when I started thinking about what it really was,...you can't get around the violent nature of football & you either ignore the negative aspects of it or not watch it...
The Saints will be penalized, but in the end do you really think the mindset will go away...not a chance...bounty hunting in whatever form will always be a part of the sport...
If you really want to think about a digusting event (I don't even like to refer to it as sport, not sure what it should be called) but think boxing...I despise every aspect...even though Ali was most everyone I grew up with 'hero'...(well you either loved or hated him, no in between back then) & that was when boxing drew tremendous interest... never understood it...give it some thought of what boxing is & I defy anyone to give any positive reasons for it to even exist...just thinking about it makes me cringe...
Now to Rush...I did hear him, & his rantings were over the top, outrageous & provocative...he just kept pushing the envelope each day...& pretty sure his audience loved it...remember he thrives on the libs hating him...& he is expert at getting them to react...
Gee, reminds of someone on the other side of the political spectrum...Bill Maher...he does a pretty good job of feeding his fandom the same 'red meat' from the left side....
Will be interesting to see if the left's full court press of media outrage has any lasting effect...they have been hell bent on trying to get him removed from the airwaves...but I wouldn't bet the ranch that this is the event that does it...
Yes I know the claim is that already 4 advertisers have dropped him (or suspended it ads) whatever that all means...nuanced statements at best...
Have no idea what Rachel Maddow said...but not sure in the end it matters to rush followers...you know they have zero use for her, her views of the views of msnbc... just like the left feels about all things fox & talk radio...
It is really fascinating when you think about it...it has become so easy to have any set of facts spun into whatever view you support, believe, adhere too...
Sis and I had a fun day today and productive. My carpenter guy came to finish the first leg of the work I had for him. I have a bathroom cabinet that finally has a door on it now. I was getting kinda tired of looking in it when I used the bathroom. It's only been almost 7 years.
I have lots more for him to do at both places. I'm glad I found someone who can do odd jobs here and there. He's gonna work out.
While he was finishing up..I took the Magster in to the Vet for a toenail trimming. It just so happened to be the time for her annual shots and stuff so she got that too.
I bathed her last night and gave her a bad hair cut. Good thing she doesn't have any highfalutin friends. She thinks she looks good.
After we got those duties out of the way we went to an outlet mall about 10 miles down the road. It has a kitchen store and I just love those kind of stores.
Sis and I have our Chamomile tea every night and sis..aka AD..doesn't like to heat the water in the microwave. She wanted an electric hot pot thingy.
A girl can never have too many kitchen doodads or thing a ma-jigs. I think I have just about everything that cooks except a regular stove and oven. I do have something that will do the same thing..many different ways. That's the adventure in cooking out here. There's nothing traditional.
Hey..I can and have catered a party for over 30 out here and I bet better than most caterers do.
I didn't just get outta that kitchen store with only an electric water heater..I picked up a few other things.. that I could have done without but still wanted.
I haven't been shopping in soooo long. I can't even remember the last time...that is..except for my shopping at Wally World for groceries..or an occasional turtle neck..in a color I don't have..or on the Internet for my favorite khakis and shoes.
When we left the kitchen store we had to pass this clothes store...another outlet store. I hit the jackpot there. I got a pair of Lee bluejeans and 5 shirts for work..and all for less than $100. My kind of shopping.
After that..we went to eat at my favorite burger place..not a fast food place.
Of course we hit two more grocery stores before we got home. Sis and I musta both had past lives during the great depression and were hard up for food. I think we've hit at least one grocery store every day since AD got here.
Tomorrow we've invited my best friend to come over for lunch. I'll make my traditional salad with all the right stuff in it. I'm also making this shrimp dish I invented.
I saute shrimp in a lemon/garlic/butter/Tony's sauce. I cook up some organic fresh spinach. The shrimp and sauce goes over a bed of the cooked spinach on top of angel hair pasta and is topped with some crumpled feta. It's really good.
I'm also going to make up a batch of my spinach artichoke dip. It's my own recipe and I only make it when the right opportunity comes up.
It's definitely not a diet dish. It has cream cheese..mayo..sour cream..5 pizza cheese..garlic..spinach..artichokes..and I'm sure the kitchen sink.
Well..I think my Chamomile tea is starting to kick in..along with shopping fatigue. Nite.
If you'll notice the time when I go to sleep..and the time when I wake up..you'll see that sleep isn't much in MY agenda here. Sis gets a lot more. She gets to do it when I go to work. That's OK..I've kinda always thought that I can catch up when I'm dead. Maybe that's just an excuse that people with a life long history of hyperthyroidism use.
And I hate it when I read about how bad not getting enough sleep is for ya..but then..a year later..they'll say it's good for ya again. I think it is important that we BELIEVE the things we do are good for us...after all..it is what we BELIEVE that is important.
I jumped for joy when I learned how good coffee is for us and it needed to be 4-5 cups. Sis likes the fact that a glass of wine is good. And chocolate...it is difficult to make myself get that chocolate supplement in every day but I force myself.
I'm still waiting for research to support the value of some of my other bad habits. I may have to wait until hell freezes over for some of them.
And Jan..when I brought the Mags in for her shots..I asked the Vet about your alpha dog theory. I know you are right about that theory. It makes perfect sense to me.
He was clipping Mags toenails when I told him. He turned and looked at me kinda strange..then looked at her..and called Maggie a little traitor. I told him that I always knew my sis was the alpha dog..it was kind of a issue with us and I'm glad the Magster validated it.
It does bother me at times..to have to take the back seat.. but in life..we just have to stick to our pecking order. That's the way it is.
Y'all know I've been stressing over all the CEUs I was behind on...because of my dang job..and not having time to go get them.
I didn't want to do them..but have to if I want to continue with my certification...which I need to keep working.
I have done a lot of catching up but still have a little over 30 hours left to do. I'd rather take a beating.
There is that conference that I've gone to in Houston the last two years. You've gone with me. It's something else I hate to do even though I learn some good stuff when I go..like that coffee is good for ya. One of the things I remembered the best from last time.
The annual conference is in March. I knew it and had been procrastinating signing up for it. I think part of me..95%..wants to retire. That part kinda sabotages the 5% that wants to keep working. The 5% that wants to keep working likes money and worries that that 95% that doesn't.. is just lazy..not disciplined and may take up more bad habits if she didn't have to go to work every day. I'm kinda afeared that the 5% is right.
Well AD..has been helping me with some organizing here. She found this stack of conference notifications that I had. She asked about it. I told her that I had been procrastinating. She knows me. With all that's gone on recently..I do have a pretty good excuse this time.
The conference is this coming week. I was down to the wire. Sis told me that she would go with me. That's a great idea..I thought. I hate driving over there all alone.
But it was last minute and getting everything coordinated is almost impossible at this late date. I have to see if the Magster can sign up for doggy camp. See if the registration is still open..find a hotel.. with room in the inn...
Yesterday..with sis's prodding..I started. I called doggy camp and there was a space for Maggie. Last night I got on the computer to try to arrange the rest. It was almost easier to sit down and do those CEUs online than register for that conference.
It's a two day conference with the option of a third day. Coulda got 20 CEUs. Well..I was able to register for the first two days but the 3rd was all sold out. Well...two days is better than nothing..but only 13 hours compared to 20.
Then it was finding a room at the inn. The Hilton..where the conference is being held..was all sold out. There was another Hilton down the road 2 1/2 miles so I opted for that. Hell..it was really expensive. I was only paying 50 bucks for the conference and over 500 for the room for two days. Is it worth it for 13 measly CEUs?? And it was going to be a pain in more ways than one.
I started looking for something else.. closer and cheaper. I found this little Bed and Breakfast in the historic district..only .9 miles away. It's closer and pretty neat looking..and what's even better..it's half the price.
We checked out the reviews and it sounds really nice..much better than a hotel..which just has clean beds and a TV.
The hotel may be at the site of the conference but there is a 20 mile hike from the rooms to the meetings. I'll just get a cab to the front door. I'm still crippled and long walking is killer. I didn't see that I could rent a Hoverround.
It looks as if the Universe is dropping things down to help me out. We'll see.
Well Rush apologizes (I guess thats what it was) likely because you must always 'follow the $$$'...
So do you think any of the left's big hitters (that would be women bashers) will get the same level of self-righteous outrage....(this is a rhetorical query, since I already know the answer...a big fat no)...
Kirsten Powers lays it out so very well...(& yes I know she would be considered a (faux)liberal since she appears on the hated Fox & writes for the equally despised NYPost)....
Coreen..never have truer words been spoken. I love this woman. She is spot on.
The real sad truth is that many women are also misoginist. As long as those comments are directed at a woman they dislike..they will over look the comments.
Remember when they were going after Palin. Some of us on TM were taking up for her when they attacked her as a woman or a mother. Patsi was one who took up for her.
Too often women are their own worst enemies and I've seen THAT so very often in nursing. Nurses will suck up to the docs/usually men..and go after their fellow nurses even when what their fellow nurses are fighting for is in their best interest. I've cried about that so very often.
And there has been a trend for awhile now for women to go backwards. They were enjoying what we fought for without acknowleging, or even realizing what we did for them. I've been saying that it was going to come home to roost and guess what...it has.
Am really enjoying the intensive. It is really cold here today. I am sitting in the lodge with 2 long sleeved shirts and a hoodie on. I just had a massage. I never do that at home. We had one speaker who is the poet laureate of North Carolina. She told us that our dreams can be turned into poems. She did talk about all the forms in poetry - but we can do "free- form" which is just like it says. I have already written one short poem.
We have to leave here at 5 am in the morning to catch our plane. 5 am here is 3 am at home. It feels colder this time than it did in Dec. probably b/c the wind is blowing.
Well..lunch was a success. My friend..who came over today..is the one who I can't get to leave her home. Her mom lives with her and it's pretty much torture..most of the time.
When she does break away..she has fun. It's just that misery seems to be her destiny and she's the one doing it to herself.
She was relaxed and funny today. She cracked me up all afternoon.
I was pondering how sad it was that Patsi Bale Cox isn't here to see the meltdown of Rush L. Patsi was one of my hero feminazis. Then I thought..she may be the one who is directing this show from her perch up in the sky. I can see that.
If you look over to our followers..there is only one real face up there..it's Patsi. She was one of the first to become a follower and she left a little comment on one of the early posts saying she liked the blog. I was so proud. She might not have ever come back but she endorsed us. That was special.
I'm not sure you if you are familiar with her Jan but Patsi was a writer. She wrote many books about some of the country music superstars. She was also a feminist. We met her on Trailmix.
Her daughter wrote on her Facebook page that when Patsi was slipping into a coma just before she died..her daughter was asking her questions to determine her mental status. She asked..who is the president. Her mom responded.."it should have been Hillary". A sense of humor until the very end.
Coreen..I do believe that Rush has finally pushed it too far this time. He thought he was totally invincible. I think he did himself some irreversible damage.
And I think that women are starting to wake up and smell the coffee. These public figures wouldn't have dared make comments about other groups of people like they have about women..and get by with it. And we aren't a minority..some may forget that. We have power over the other half of our species. Holding that little aspirin between our knees gives us power.
Yesterday I thought that I needed something else from Walmart.. for my cooking. I really didn't but I do have a tendency to over prepare and over present when I'm cooking for someone. Cooking is one area where I am totally OCD.
When I went to go to Walmart..my truck wouldn't start. The battery was dead. I'm not sure why it ran down..I found nothing left on. Maybe the Universe wanted to warn me.
When I had that $2600+ maintenance work done last year they told me my battery was weak. I blew that off thinking they were just trying to get more money outta me. Turns out that it might have been the only thing that did need changing..except the brakes..they did need changing also.
I have several chargers and put the battery on one. Then the neighbor came over and jumped me. I let my truck run for about 30 minutes. Sis and I did make a Wally World run later to return a movie.
I was going to also get a new battery yesterday but was having too much fun to waste a couple of hours in the Walmart auto service dept waiting room. Sis will do it for me today.
Well..my truck started up when I went to leave for work this morning but it was sluggish..kinda like me in the morning.
I stop by my favorite truck stop every morning to get my country fried potatoes that I take to work. They give me enough for several people for only $1.49. They're good to me.
I've been coming home every work day at noon and sis takes me back and keeps my truck. She picks me up after work.
I was going to let my sis go to Walmart while I was at work this afternoon to get me a new battery.
I was worrying on my way to work about the logistics of it all..thinking that maybe I should get the battery changed after work..when I could be there.
When I got to my breakfast pickup spot I purposely parked where someone could jump me if it didn't start again when I got out. I just had this feeling.
Sure enough..when I got out and tried to start my truck up..it just clicked. Battery gone again.
Just about every morning when I'm getting my potatoes I pass this guy. He's friendly and we exchange a few words in passing. He was there at the time so I went back into the store and asked him if he could give me a jump.
He pulled up his jeep where I left room for someone to do that..just in case. He jumped me off and told me he knew of a good place to get batteries..not far away.
I've had good luck at Wally World so I told him I was going there. I got to Wally World and the auto service dept was closed tighter than a tick. I couldn't even see when they opened since those times had worn off their sign.
I remembered the place that the guy mentioned so I headed there. I had called work to tell them I would be late.
I found the place..I drove right up to the garage..it took them 10 minutes to pop in a new battery. That's all they do there is batteries. It was pretty cheap with a 1 year free replacement and 5 year pro rated warranty.
I didn't even get to work much later than I usually do.
Wasn't pleasant to have a dead battery this morning but I had so much synchronicity that it turned out to be a very pleasant experience. I felt blessed.
It's been happening a lot lately..things just falling into place when they need to. Maybe it's that karma credit I was talking about.
Rats, I wrote a comment and my battery went dead before could post it. I am plugged in now. I will try again.
Carol, your Karma is working. Good thing you ran into that guy and got the name of a place to get a battery. From personal experience they do not take long to put in.
I did write a short poem. I plan to try my hand at some more. right now too tired to get any of my writings out.
We loved our time at Kanuga with our group, but we neither one slept well this time. I did sleep 2 nights and 3 nights I hardly slept at all. We were in uncomfortable beds this time. We both have some osteo arthritis.
The cabin was cold too. We are talking about getting a motel room when we go next time. There is a lot to be said for being in the retreat center. Two of the four times we were there, we had rooms in the lodge where the beds are better and it is warmer. The other time we were in a cabin it was August and the warmer weather made for more comfortable sleeping. The funny thing is this cabin "leaned" and it affected the beds. I felt like I was climbing a hill all night.
Coreen, good song. I have always wondered about that sentence by Nietzsche - whether it true that "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." (btw) I had to look to look up how to spell this guy's name. I have my doubts about the saying.
Morning folkes...I'm now officially in charge of another three ring circus. Phew. And I think my hyperthyroidism is back..not complaining because I need the speed.
I'm going to my conference this afternoon and Maggie to doggy camp. I have her tent all packed up..I think.
I went to buy these new tennis shoes at Academy yesterday. I'm still crippled. Both feet kill me to walk. The pain in on the inside of both ankles..right where the first metatarsal hits the ankle. I'm sure it's the result of my crippled walking that has caused the pain. My good foot hurts worse than my bad one.
I have been wearing these cute little Keds..light weight..for years. They make my feet look dainty. I've gone thru about 30 pairs since I found them. They were comfortable but provided very little support.
Yesterday I got some hardy tennis shoes and put arch supports in them to try to throw my foot more toward the lateral side. I made an appointment with a podiatrist for next week to help me with some orthotics. If I don't do something..I'm close to needing a Hoveround.
Being able to walk for miles and miles was something I could always do..but now..I can barely get to my office. Pitiful.
If you could throw a prayer my way..I think that might have the most powerful affect. I believe in the power of prayer.
That was one reason I did procrastinate going to this conference..just getting to the bathroom in that convention center is a pretty good hike. Getting from the hotel connected to the center..to where the meeting is held..was a marathon.
Now that we are staying in the B&B I think that it might be feasible. We'll see.
I'll keep in touch..you know I always carry you guys with me to those conferences. I have more down time when I'm there. I might even get a nap in.
Oh..and to have sis..my personal assistant with me..will make it soooo much better. I hate going to these things alone. It will almost be like a vacation.
I've told my peeps at work that they can text message me when they need me and I'll get to them on the breaks. I'll still be on duty.
I've added to my clientele at work.. a heart transplant. He was just on his way back to Arizona for a major tune up.. that he desperately needed.. when he was unfortunately incarcerated. Dang it.. that's always the way it is. I got a call late last night with some of his problems.
I have another seriously loony tunes lady in there. She's pretty pitiful. She thinks she is an undercover agent with the code name..Red Ninja Turtle. Just to mention a few of my special people.
Carol, so nice that sis is there to go with you to H town and drive you around too. Strangely, I am going to a breastfeeding conf tomorrow and Fri here in Turkey Town. I am having pain in my back. It started the last night we were in NC. Those beds were the worst. Am taking Ibuprofen for it. I had to get down on the floor with a couple of little kids today. Not a pretty sight. Getting up was the worst. I am going in to take a hot bath.
Have a good trip to H. A good idea to go to a podiatrist. I have worn only really good shoes for past 20 years. The tallest heel I use is 1 1/2 inches - and only in a wedge. Most of my shoes are very practical. I have not worn hi heels for at least 25 years.
Oh guys...I couldn't have dreamed up a neater place to stay.. and for less than half the price of the Hilton. It's a huge old house...antique furniture and our space is bigger than my house. Big screened in porch also. This place could hold a minimum of 4 people..very comfortably.
We are in the upstairs and those stairs were a little intimidating for a cripple but I took them carefully.
We found this wonderful Italian restaurant not far away. We both had this spinach..mushroom..spicy marinara sauce..chicken..pasta dish..topped with feta. And an Italian salad. Delicious.
The only thing is..it is not just .9 miles from the Convention Center..more like 5-7 miles. I guess the Universe had to fudge a little to get me into this fantasy space here.
Carol, your inn sounds delightful. Love the thought of antique furniture and a screened porch. careful with those stairs. Italian food sounds delicious. You and your sis sleep well. 5-7 miles is not bad - hope there is no traffic in the morn. Write and tell me what your presentations are.
I just got off the phone with Steve - he was driving home from class in Little Rock. He lives in a small town about 65 miles from LR. We talked for about 35 minutes.
Your home town boy, Joshua Ledet sounded great tonight. I confess I did not vote. All the kids were so good.
Jan..you're going to this conference too. I'm not far...from wherever you are.
I just love the way the Internet keeps us all close together.
And Coreen..did you ever watch that Colbert show from the other night? See the part about the the Saints and that bounty stuff? I could see you saying that. He was channeling you sister.
This place reminds me of part of my house..old doors..that creak..high ceilings.
The original portion of my house was built in 1927. It had one bedroom..one bath..a large kitchen and living room. When I bought it.. the couple who owned it had added on. They added additional living room and a bedroom. Then I added on..a very large bedroom..a very large bathroom with a vaulted ceiling..shower that can fit 7..large whirlpool bath and water closet. In between there's a huge walk in closet.
I drew up the plans for the addition. I call the design country bumpkin meets architectural digest. It's still not much bigger than 1500 square feet.
Now are you going to listen to me!!!...how many times do I have to say 'chill out', 'relax'!!...
Spoke with a good friend who lives in FL, (she's in the pic with the 2pups..the jack russell terrier & the black lab at christmas) she decided to work on losing weight (she is not really fat) & she has cut out all white foods...bread, pasta, sugar, salt cooking veggies, fish, not much meat & returned to the gym with a trainer & has lost 20#..she said she was tired of her clothes feeling tight...that's my problem I could be happy losing 5-10# so my clothes didn't feel tight...
Now if I could only cut out some of those white based products...& get up & exercise a little...I'm not a gym person, so that won't happen....but I really need to try to move around & cut out some of those white foods...
By the way, it is close to 60 already today, sunny...the only down side is the wind...its a warm wind coming from the south!!!
Jan, I'm guilty of eating lots of white foodstuff...from sugar, bread,milk, salt & pasta...I wish I could say I had the willpower to change all that, but being honest, not likely...
I have been trying to reduce the sugar I put in tea daily...& eating fewer sweets... unfortunately I will not stop drinking milk...which I do every day...& pasta, well not a chance I stop eating that anytime soon...
Well girls..if you want to feel better about yourselves..I just finished a dark chocolate Gold Brick Easter egg followed by a hand full of gummy worms. Feel better?
Gosh was it a long day. It was very interesting but loooong. And miles of walking on my poor painful tootsies. I'd get to one room miles away and find out I was in the wrong room. The right room was miles back the other way. Or I'd have to pee and that was miles away. I had visions of a Hoveround dancing in my brain.
All the lunch meetings were full because I registered late so I had sis pick me up for lunch. We found a neat place to eat called Chatters. I had a very tasty Italian panni.
I was sooo sleepy after lunch that I fell asleep for a couple of moments in the next lecture. I woke up just before I fell over on the guy next to me. I hope I wasn't snoring. No one was looking at me when I woke myself up.
I taped a Dr Oz from a couple of days ago and he had on a personal trainer who works with morbidly obese folks to help them get to a more normal size in a safe and healthy way. They were talking about diet. It was pretty interesting. I know what I have to do - I just have to DO it. Damnation. First thing I need to do is throw out all junk food or anything that has little or no nutritional value. I am starting this weekend.
I went to a conference today too. I am actually not as interested in breastfeeding as I once was, but I too need the CEU's and I do work with women who are breastfeeding. The morning sessions were fine. I had a medical appt right after lunch so had to miss one session. Got back for last session. I go all day tomorrow too.
I looked up that SWAN research. I would have liked that session more than the ones I saw today.
Carol, I don't feel much better. At my conference they had a choc. break with brownies, cookies, ...and some choc covered strawberries. I definitely OD'd. So No, I don't feel better. And I had cheesecake at lunch (they provided lunch). To try and make up for this, I made some oatmeal (from old fashioned oats) for supper and put in some sliced apples, a few pecans for protein with some low fat soy milk. I usually have this for breakfast but didn't have time for b'fast this morn.
Can you guys believe that Joe..the Plumber actually won a Repub primary in Ohio?? Boy that's saying something scary about the Ohio population. And it says something scary about Repubs..that that's the best they can find???
But then..sis and I were thinking that it's not too surprising considering what the Repubs found to run for president. I guess the nut cases in the country do need representation but I think that they really need better representation.
The first speaker yesterday was very impressive. His name is Vikas P. Sukhatme, MD, Ph.D. He's a Harvard prof. He's involved in..."..cancer research foundation Global Cures to look at “orphan drugs” and other options for the treatment of cancer and organize clinical trials. Unlike the pharmaceutical companies that choose to do clinical trials based on drug profitability expectation, Global Cures has a non-profit business model based on the health of the patient."
http://www.global-cures.org/
I was impressed that the use of expensive pharmaceuticals was not the focus of treatment. Medicine might be getting more conservative..and by that..I mean the real definition of conservative.
Carol, your remarks about discussion of orphan drugs, etc reminds me of a book I read recently on my nook. I don't know why I bought that e-reader because I don't like the name "nook" It sounds too much like the word "nookie" which I despise.
Anyway the novel I read recently is about a doc who works for a pharm co. and she has been sent by her boss to find another doc (woman) who is doing research in Brazil - on the Amazon river. The company is paying the woman to do research on why the women in this native group are able to have babies into their 70's and older. It is a very interesting novel. I will get out my nook and post the name of the novel and author. I could hardly put the book down.
Today in my conference I won a door prize - a baby doll that breastfeeds. It is for a little girl - preferably one whose mother is breastfeeding a new baby. When you put the bib on the doll it begins making sounds that a baby makes when feeding - sort of slurping and cooing noises. I really wanted that doll and so when the woman was drawing the names out of the big jar - I began to chant my own name to myself over and over - and damn if she didn't draw my name. I never with anything. Now I am not sure what I will do with the doll - my grandson's wife who just had a baby has a 2 year old son so I doubt if his parents will want him to have a breastfeeding doll because the idea is that the child (little girl) pretends to breastfeed her doll just like her mom. My granddaughter is expecting a baby in August and she does have a little 2 year old girl - but my granddaughter will not even discuss breastfeeding her baby. She made it real clear to me she is not interested in breastfeeding.
consumer reports buys $100,000+ Fisker Karma (one of the so-called electric cars that is going to save the planet) well maybe I'm exagerating but...goes to test drive it & surprise, surprise it shuts down...needs to be flat-bedded to dealer.... Karma electric car breaks down during test drive
Home again...I was way too tired to write a thing last night. You know that has to be tired because I can write when I'm in a coma. It's usually how I relax and revive myself. I know..I'm weird.
Getting home was scary. Sis drove. I told sis to pick me up at 5:45p when the meeting was over. I knew we were going to be in for some bad weather but at around 3:30 I looked at the weather radar and saw the red blob from hell just about to overtake Houston.
I called sis back to tell her... get your a-- over here in a hurry. I was hoping we could outrun it but it was going to follow us home. It was moving west to east.
I'm standing at the door waiting and waiting and sis calls..I'm lost and Garmy has gone down. Rain and wind are circling the street outside. We'd already had a previous mini crisis earlier yesterday..tell ya bout that later.
We are very appreciative of Garmy's help but she gets vertigo when she's surrounded by lots of tall buildings. She starts recalculating and recalculating. Her little screen spins.
Well..sis finally shows up. I let her drive because I'm better at resuscitating Garmy. I have Iphony in one hand and Garmy in the other. I said a prayer to St Christopher.
That dang convention center is in a crappy place. When you finally get to the interstate..it's noodle city. It takes two people to deal with the navigation...veer right here then left then right.. Ya don't even have time to look in your rear view mirror..ya just pray that nothing runs over ya.
I don't know how I did it alone..in the dark..those last times. God musta been my copilot. But ya see why I tend to procrastinate going to these things???
If you ever doubted that there's a God..drive those interstates in Houston...and I'm sure she's even hitting the wine by the end of the day. Sis was too exhausted to when we got home.
I let sis do most of the driving because she is a seasoned traveler...knows driving Interstates better. She stays home like most people take vacations...every once in a while.
But...sis is not used to the monsoons around here. She's used to rain..lives in Seattle..but it's a misty rain..not a frog strangler.
But sis is also very proud. Doesn't take advice from her dumb little sister. I actually think that if I give her any advice..she will do the opposite even if she thinks what I said was a good idea.
I gave her an extra key to the truck and I had my regular keys..with all my keys on it. My little button that opens my truck doors is broken.
I noticed that she was pushing the button on the doors to lock the truck when we got out. I told her that wasn't a good idea because she could lock the key in the truck. Oh no..not her.
She was supposed to pick me up at lunch yesterday. I was waiting and waiting and she finally calls and tells me she can't find the key. She packed the truck..locked it and now doesn't know where that truck key is.
Well..you must know that..I told ya so.. was begging to come outta my mouth. I did try to keep it to a minimum even though..at that time..it wanted to whip her up side the head.
I'm lucky I did have my extra keys with me. I called a cab to bring me back to the room. It wasn't far and the cab driver got me there faster than it woulda taken for sis to drive over to get me. It was only 15 bucks and I gave him a 5 buck tip. I was so glad that I had that extra key.
We found some good places to eat in Houston. Used that little app called Urbanspoon. You can download that to Iphony. It will tell you what's close to wherever you are. Gives ya all the info on the place also and a menu..sometimes.
We ate lunch at a pretty good place yesterday and had more time so we headed over to mom's favorite bakery. It's 3 Brother's bakery..located in the Braeswood area. The owners of the bakery are Jewish and have the most wonderful breads and pastries.
Mom loved seeded rye bread and when she visited Houston..she stopped at that bakery and bought 7 loaves to take hom. She froze the extra.
We wanted some cream cheese pastries but they were all out so we got this huge cream cheese and cherry coffee cake. It would feed the neighborhood. Sis got a few small things. The way we've been eating...sis will need a gastric bypass before she leaves.
You must realize that I've added another 3 ring circus to my life. I'm now the executrix/trustee of an estate/farm corporation. Hey...nothin to it..yeah.
While at the conference..I'm dealing with "the joint" and "the ranch". I do have good help with "the ranch". I have a great lawyer..Bob Dow. Jan..you know him. He's Pat Dow's husband.
Getting back with bob was like old home week. He helped me with my house many moons ago..when they sold that to me with the sinks draining under the house..a septic system that ran thru clay and a roof that leaked.
He also helped me when I was in that wreck..while we were in grad school. Remember when that old lady took out my perfectly good Plymouth Duster?? I had it paid for when we started school. Wasn't going to get any salary..I was on LOA from teaching. We did have a small stipend.
I was on my way to your house when it happened. She was an old lady and she ran a stop sign. She slammed into the side of my car. You came to pick me up.
My car was smoking and I was sure it would explode. I dove out of my window thinking my car was on fire. I thought the door was jammed when actually the impact was on the opposite side. I guess I was in shock.
When you drove up to get me..you just reached in the window and pushed the lock to open the door. I went thru all that drama of diving out the window for nada. I was in better shape in those days. And drama..was my middle name. Coulda been a stunt girl.
I also have a great CPA.. and a great bookeeper/cowgirl/Princeton law grad..who decided that law wasn't her bag. God sent me only the best..to help me.
Bob helped me get enough money..not much..for me to buy a another used vehicle to drive after the wreck.
The replacement was a Rambler..piece of s--- car. We left parts of that vehicle all over Houston. We were even rear ended once in that car..remember that? We were stopped at a red light and yakking. I saw whoever it was that hit us..in my rear view mirror. I could tell they weren't going to stop. I told you to brace for impact. May not have been that many words..probably more like..yikes!
My Duster was only 3 years old and was like new when it was totaled. Don't think I even got that Rambler fixed after it was rear ended. Wasn't worth the effort.
And Jan..were you with me when I got stopped in that little town..on my way home? There was a Smokey in the sky monitoring for speeding. I got stopped in a little town. There wasn't even a town in sight. It was a ways off the Interstate. I think it was close to Winnie.
They had a line of us pulled over on the road. When they had enough gathered up..they herded us all down this little country road to this country store/post office/Justice of the Peace office.
We were all standing in line.. outside the place. There was this young guy in front of me. He ran back to his vehicle to get a little Bible..one of those New Testament Bibles. He put it in his front pocket. That was his..get out of paying a ticket..strategy. I don't think he had any money.
When it was my turn to go in..I saw that guy sitting on a chair in the room. I guessed his strategy didn't work. He musta been in the... go to jail.. line...or the scare any money that he did have but was hiding..line.
The Justice of the Peace was fat..had a cigar in his mouth and was sitting behind a door placed over two saw horses. No shit..that was what he was sitting behind. The room was in the back of that little country store.
The judge asked me if I was speeding. I said.. I guess so. He asked me how fast I was going. I said I didn't know. That dang Rambler probably didn't even have a speedometer on it. It was probably laying somewhere in Houston.
He asked me what I did for a living. I told him I was a nurse. He said his girlfriend was a nurse..good sign..that is..if they got along. Really couldn't see how any woman would want that slob.
He asked me how much money I had. I pulled out everything I had in my purse. It wasn't much...a few bills and some change. I dragged out all my change. He took it all and said..fine paid..and let me go.
Shortly after I got out..I saw the little guy with his little Bible in his pocket come out. I guess the judge did finally let him go. The Bible worked but it took a little time.
I wonder if that judge had a party later that night..with all of our change. There was a nicely dressed businessman behind me. The judge probably got more money outta him.
If you're driving in Texas..between Houston and Beaumont..don't let that 4 lane..looks like a race car speedway fool ya. Well..maybe it wasn't that big back then but it was still an area that made it very tempting to speed.
Jan..I remember that you definitely weren't with me when I got stopped at that speed trap. You would have had more money.
I was living on a $300/month stipend. They gave it to us for going to nursing grad school in Texas. It don't think it was available for La. It was a Federal program.
It supported me at that time. I didn't have many living expenses. I put everything I owned in storage and lived in the dorm. I think they also paid for the dorm and our tuition. I guess it was an entitlement program back then.
I also had about 5 thousand in savings that I got when we sold my grampy's property. I bought some stock with that. I went thru that also.
Every weekend..that I could..I went home to stay with Pa and mom. It was on one of those weekends when I got stopped.
I didn't have a CB radio at the time. Probably hadn't invented them yet. When they became available I did get one. I was an early adopter back then.
When I bought my first CB..I was driving a little white Ford Mustang fastback. I was back to working then. My handle was "Snowbird' because of the white car. I knew all the CB lingo. Had a lot of fun talking to the truckers back then. I don't think I ever got stopped for speeding again.
There's a chance of rain everyday for as far as the weather report goes. And the river will rise again. It's low now.
So far..only predicted to go to 4.3 ft..flood stage is 4.. but it ain't over yet. Good thing the house is ready. No need fretting. Gotta roll with the punches. That must be one of my lessons.
I didn't get any pics of the place where we stayed. Didn't have time. They have a website but not sure I want just anyone knowing about the place. I want it available next time I go to Houston. I can email you guys the name. They have pics on their website.
And Jan..you're right about those conferences wiping you out. Phew! I'd rather work my A off at work than sit for all that time.
I'll have to admit that I got some really great material. Much I already knew but it was reinforced. A good bit was new. I'll look thru my notes to see what you guys might find useful.
One talk was about the endocrine distruptors. Everyone needs to know about them. “Endocrine disruptors are exogenous substances-natural or synthetic- that can mimic or modify the action of endogenous hormones.”
It's things in our environment that screw with our endocrine.. hormone system. For example..the hormones used in our meat...the things in plastics that we eat or drink out of...
Most other countries ban our beef that is treated with hormones that we use here. Go figure.
Never heat up stuff to eat or drink in plastic. You probably already know that. Always use glass.
Also..look at the little triangle on those plastic containers..it's OK if it's a number..1..2..4..5. Not good if it's number 3..6..7. But still don't use any to heat food or fluid that you will consume. Also..don't store fruits and veggies in them. Just use glass. OK.
One thing that was so neat is that these..highly educated Docs.. from Harvard were more holistic. Not the usual for the medical profession but becoming more common. Maybe our economy is helping in a way.
The doc doing the environmental lecture quoted Albert Schweitzer..who said..“Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end by destroying the earth.”
And...
“Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation"
And he cited..Rachel Carson who wrote "Silent Spring". She was.."Pioneer in Environmental Health: Herbicides, Pesticides, Insecticides as Poisons"
Interesting thing is...that this conference is partally financed by big Pharma. Kinda ironic..huh? I only paid 50 bucks to go. Most of these conferences usually cost hundreds of dollars.
I was getting some pretty good sleep this morning when work woke me up. It was 5A...the time when they do blood sugar checks.
We got a new guy in yesterday who had a BS that wouldn't even register..it was over 600. They sent him out to the hospital. The ER got his sugar down a little then sent him back to me.
This morning..his BS was over 500 and I started him on an insulin dose. I laughed at what they recommended from the hospital. I told my nurse that giving that little dose would have been like pissing on a bonfire.
One of these days I'm gonna have to retire from this job. But then..God will have to work more overtime.
I often think that maybe you just can't kill my breed of peeps. Maybe all my working and fretting and taking no time off doesn't even make a difference. Don't know..but I'm not going to take a chance.
I ran into one of my peeps last night when we stopped at Popeyes chicken on our way home. He was at the counter. He said..hi Ms Carol. He said he has been out for over a year and doesn't have long left on his probation. He was the manager there and he was proud of himself. So was I.
I told him I liked running into my peeps out in the "free world". When sis walked up..she was in the bathroom..I introduced him to her as one of my x-students. He smiled. I think that just maybe I do make a difference.
I've told people that my job is pretty much like working for the Peace Corp or as a missionary but getting paid well for it.
And Coreen..I know you say..why do you worry about what you eat if there are other bad habits that I have that will cause me harm.
My answer is...I will chose which bad things I like..and can't give up right now..but I'll try to reduce other environmental insults so that my total insults are reduced. Why throw total caution to the wind??
If we give up everything that we love..it will make life less pleasant..then it's not much worth sticking around for. I still want what I consider to be quality rather than quantity.
With no kids..there is no one to take care of my old ass later.
Carol, enjoyed reading all your ramblings. I do remember you telling the story of getting pulled over in that little town. I do remember those frog stranglers in Houston. If that were happening to me now, I would probably pull over at the nearest motel and stay until it stopped. We hardly ever see those here but a few months ago when I was driving home from a friend's house in Santa Fe - at night- I did run into one of those for just a short time. My heart was beating out of my chest I was so scared. I did have another woman friend in the car with me - and I was so thankful she was there with me. Somehow it is not so scary when you are not alone. I pulled over twice under an overpass to get a breath. In a short while we came upon an area where it had not even rained there - then dry as a bone the rest of the way home. That is how it rains here. It can be raining on just a little stretch of highway and then dry as a bone from then on. Very strange!
Yes, Carol, I paid $350. to go to my conference. Drug people do not pay for ours. The conf. planners fed us well "on our money." Years ago, the formula companies paid for meals and snacks during our conferences, but our mat-child & breastfeeding people no longer accept their money. So, we pay for all that with our conf fees.
The last talk in our conf yesterday was a 65 y/o woman pediatrician. She did present 2 content-based talks but this last one was more of an inspirational presentation. She was so funny and yet down to earth. She told a lot of stories on herself. I really identified with her stories. Her theme was some of us who try to have it all -career, children, successful marriage, etc are kidding ourselves. We really are losing a lot of what is important in life. She was a sophomore in college at 18 - married then and was pregnant with 1st baby when she was accepted into med. school She had all her kids before she finished her residency. She missed many of her kids soccer, basketball etc things when they were growing up because of her career.
Now she is retired, volunteers in a women's jail (teaching the women life skills) and is spending time with her grandchildren. But she says she didn't have it all. She missed a lot in life trying to have it all. I identify!
Jan..that's what keeps this conference cheap. No meals. Nothing to eat at all unless you sign up for one of the drug co lunches. It was too late for me. They were all full. Then..all you get is a box lunch and no CEUs for them. The box lunch is OK but I ate better by leaving and finding lunch on my own.
Yes..they won't let the drug cos buy lunch if you are getting CEUs. I guess they consider it bribery.
I did find several lattes..small smoothies..and little shakes at some of the booths. Sis got breakfast at the B&B..I got nada.
I remember back to the very best conference food of all the conferences I've ever attended. The food was decadent. It was at the conference for diabetes educators. Ironic huh? They had reps from all the cos that provide meds and supplies for diabetes.
They even had this late night decadent desserts and booze. Every high sugar/high cal sweet you can imagine. All these liquors.
Some of the attendees had diabetes. I bet they went home with massive hyperglycemia. If you didn't already have diabetes..you might when you left that conference. Maybe that was their strategy.
They even had a really fine concerts with some famous group.
Jan..we couldn't pull over for that horrible rain/storm unless we wanted to pull over for the night. It was following us and was wide across. We were trying to get ahead of it but we didn't outrun it until we got to the Louisiana border.
We are fixing to head out for some shopping. Not sure where or what kind. Sis is taking a walk..trying to work off a few of the calories she consumed. I don't think she realizes that she'd have to walk back to Seattle to do that. I'm not going to tell her. Maybe what she believes..she will achieve. Worth a try.
This is a link I found on FB this morning. worth a read. It is in the NYTimes. Thin Places, Where We Are Jolted Out of Old Ways of Seeing the World travel.nytimes.com
Again, don't know how to provide the blueness that lets you link into it directly. Takes a little work - but worth it.
You’ve got a very nice ride! It’s simply stunning especially the color white. It’s one of my favorite colors in cars because it is very attractive to look at. Your Cadillac CTS Coupe has very gorgeous exterior. The good thing I like the most about this car is its very good driving performance.
193 comments:
Here's the pics of my CTS Coupe, when it was being cleaned at the dealer & then at home...
And some pics of the generator installation...hopefully won't need it anytime soon...
For some reason my comments posted twice, so I think I deleted the second....
Even the fortune cookie is looking out for you...maybe you will start
doing the same for yourself...just a thought!!!...
My friend Pete is the guy who first
saw the CTS at the NY car show a couple of years ago & he brought me pics of it & said wait til you see it...
Thanks Coreen. I thought we were getting down to the wire and I didn't see anything new in the list of posts so I posted some quick pics of the farm. When I posted them I saw that you had just posted your pics so I took them down fast.
Your pics are great!
In one pic it looks like you were digging a moat around your place. I was wondering if you were fearing that some of the 99% were moving into the hood.
Not much chance of that happening...
And I want to see those pics of the farm...
After all with all those acres, it would be easy to keep out the 99%...
Sis and I were talking about how much fun it would be for you, Jan and I to get together if the two of us could get away from our fur babies.
I've never seen much of your neck of the woods and I would like to. Jan mentioned it already at least once. Better do it before she finds a new fur baby and makes it even more complicated. She does have family to babysit though.
The only problem is that 3 is not a good number. With three..there is always a pair and a spare. It happened when Jan, my sis and I went on a trip together. It circulated who got to be the pair. Not fun..except occasionally..to be the spare. I told sis that maybe she could come to make it an even number.
Haven't seen Jan flashing for a while. Helloooo Jan. Anyone home?
That's a pretty spiffy car you have there Coreen. I bet you'd get along well with Mitt's wife. I think she has two.
And Coreen..I cleaned off that duplicate post for ya.
Good looking car - and gal.
I know you are happy to get that generator installed.
Carol, did you and your sis like the movie - The Beginners?
Jan..did you catch up on the previous blog post? I had a couple of long comments I wanted you to read.
I really did like the movie Jan. Only problem is that sis wanted me to sit still and watch it all in one wack. I can't do that. I like to watch a little while and then get up and run around. I'm just too antsy.
Since I'm yielding to the Alpha Dawg here..I tried.. but lost focus. I will rent it again later.. when I can watch it my way.
I can focus better when I'm in a theater because of the big screen and nothing else to distract me.
Carol, I read your posts about how you came to be a nurse. Is that the ones you are talking about. I never thought that I had any influence on you as a student or going into teaching. That is news to me. I do remember our study sessions. That was a very important time in my life. Until then I did not think I would ever accomplish anything that was academic. It was as much a surprise to me as anything else in my life. Bob was a big influence on me. He tutored me through math and chemistry and was my biggest supporter. I remember my dad was always bragging on my brother's wife and how smart she was. When he would do that Bob would tell him what a great student I was. Those were good days for me.
Carol, one of the guys singing on AI is from Westlake, LA. Isn't that close to LC?
Carol, something you said on a previous post was about women as caregivers of family members. That is so very true. Most of the time it is is a mother, sister, daughter or daughter in law who takes care of the family member.
Another interesting fact I read the other day is that when a father is doing a lot of care providing of his children, his testosterone level is lower.
Tonight is the first night people can vote for their favorites on AI. It is the guys night and there are 12. They will eliminate 6 guys and 6 girls this week.
The guy from Westlake, LA is Joshua Ledet -He is African American and he is gooood! the judges are giving him a standing ovation.
Yep Jan..it's right over the bridge.
I just found a youtube of the guy. They are pronouncing his name wrong. It's pronounced..LeDay..even though spelled Ledet.
He's good.
I was just standing outside listening to night sounds..and the owls and I heard the weirdest sound.
It was very quiet..just a few distant owl sounds and then came this sound..right across the river..on an island. It's hard to explain the sound and to visualize what could have made the sound. It involved wood but didn't sound like a tree falling. It was almost like something crashing into some trees from above.
I hope I can remember tomorrow to look over that way to see if I can see anything that might have made that sound. It may be too far away to see.
I occasionally hear weird sounds outside at night but that one tops most of the others.
I think Westlake is where the Conoco refinery is or was - and where Bob worked.
It is time to go to NC again. We leave early in the morning (flying). I am taking my computer so will be in touch. I will take some pictures for another post sometime.
Coreen, there is definitely some early spring green growing where you live and then in other pics things are more brownish.
Good pics. You look really happy sitting in your new car. I like the shades too. A nice touch!
Yes it is where Bob worked. Small town..very industrial.
Have a nice trip. I'm glad you are taking your computer.
I think getting together would be a great idea.
Carol, I think it would be a great idea for your big sis to come. However, don't you think with age we are a little more mature and can handle a threesome (I mean that in a good way)! You have mentioned tension before when there were only 3 of us but I honestly do not remember that. Maybe you felt pulled in between the 2 of us. I know that I had a blast. One of the best memories I have. I might be getting some dementia but I thought we all got along great.
I think it would be fun to all meet somewhere fun - where none of us lives - like the beach or Chicago or New Orleans or where-ever. I have always wanted to visit Maine. I have been to Vermont and it is beautiful.
Jan..A pair and a spare is a term I coined to describe the phenomena I observed over the years when three people spend more than a short time together. I don't know if that phenomena only occurs when I'm involved because when I'm not involved..I donno what happens.
And most people do have a tendency to forget small traumas over the years..that's a phenomena in life also. My sisters have pretty much forgotten sad/traumatic things that happened when we were kids..I didn't. I guess that was one defense mechanism that I never developed. Maybe because I studied things too much. It's a curse.
I kinda remember our trip and the pair and spare phenomena. No..there were no permanent scars and it was a fun trip.
Maybe it depends on the relationship of the three involved?? I've seen it with different relationships..again..when I'm involved. I saw it with the two of my best friends on the faculty after you left the U...Lynn and Ruth. We used to laugh about that phenomena.
To describe our little threesome..each pair in the group shared something special in common that the temporary spare didn't. As to you and me..we had our recent past..we were best friends..we actually were sisters without that shared family psychopathology..we had the same career interest..we worked together..heck..we almost lived together because I spent so much time at your house. I had adopted your family as my own.
With sis and me..what we shared in common is pretty much self explanatory.
With you and sis..you guys had a lot in common. You both were closer to the same age..you both had husbands and children.
It rotated which two were having shared time. The spare had to just sit there a twiddle their thumbs or bring a good book. I wasn't much of a reader.
I do remember my spare time while y'all were discussing all the stuff I couldn't relate to.
I do remember you having a particularly traumatic time on the way home. Can't remember the details but I remember that we were at someone's house who I didn't know..you didn't either so it must have been someone sis knew. We stopped there before leaving Denver?? You were upset and got up early thinking it was several hours later. I didn't like it when you were upset especially when I might have been the one who caused it.
Yep..I do study shit way too much.
Now you have a good and safe trip frister. That's a term my neighbor..who was my best friend for years.. before she and her husband moved away and I killed her off.
She coined that term frister. It's a friend who is like a sister...one of the best kind of sisters..one without the burden of shared family psychopathology.
What do I mean by killed her off. That's a me phenomena. When someone leaves me..I kinda kill them off in my heart.. to save myself from the grief of the loss. I did that to you also. Remember?
Am I strange or what? I think I'm a phenomena. I probably do meet the criteria for something in the field of nutology but I haven't come across it yet. And I'm not looking.
Oh..place a smiley face up on the last two comments.
That's why it's important that you take your computer with you Jan. Too much separation time can be dangerous.
Getting closer to the time you need to kick back & relax Carol...
And yes you are 'intense' & have a herd of elephants memory...
Are you back to work or still taking care of business...
Work
Can't afford to forget stuff because
I need much of the info to do my job. My hard drive is full cuz I haven't learned to selectively delete files
Jan hope you get lots of insight at the retreat...maybe you have time to find some more places to show us from NC too...
Thanks for the compliments...never
leave home without sunglasses, doesn't everyone have at least one pair with them...
Oh Jan, the car pics are from back in October, the day before we had the snowstorm that took out power over a week throughout CT...Right now nothing is really growing, but soon...
Today we are waiting for the latest 'storm'...& guess what the weather people have no idea whether it's going to be accumulating snow/sleet/freezing rain/rain...their guesses anywhere from a trace to 4" snow, then rain...
So far this am, sun was out, now its gone, sky is gray, temp is 40no precip yet, eta is noon...but they already called for early dismissal from all the schools in the surrounding towns...
We are here! Made it to NC. We are staying in Hendersonville, NC tonight. We are only about 5 miles from Kanuga here. We decided to come a day before our intensive begins. The last time we came we did not give ourselves an extra day and we discovered we need that extra time the day before. We also rented a car instead of getting a taxi from the airport. It does cost extra but it is nice to have "wheels." The last time, I needed some cold medicine and no way to go into town to get it.
The trip was good. It was a 3 hr trip from alb to Atlanta, about 1 hr in the airport and a 40 minute trip to Asheville airport. Hendersonville is about 25 miles from Asheville.
We check into the retreat center at 2 tomorrow afternoon. We are both looking forward to seeing our intensive group. There are 10 of us in our group and this is the 3rd intensive and so we all know each other pretty well now. I will take pics of our group this time and post on here later on.
Carol, I think Coreen is absolutely right - you have an amazing memory. The main things I remember about our ski trip many moons ago - was that we drove to CO in a station wagon your sister had bought recently. We all took turns driving. We stopped in Colorado Springs to visit Katy - I think we spent one night there. We all went to someplace close to Denver that night and I remember having a wine drink. Then we started out for the Steamboat springs the day after. That was the last time I saw Katy. We stayed in touch at Christmas for many years then we lost touch. I remember to lodge we stayed in was up a mountainous road. We stayed in a dorm-type room. The meals were amazing. I remember I started my period the day after we arrived and I didn't feel too good for a couple of days. I took ski lessons on a bunny hill. I remember you were a good skiier by that time and I was struggling. I do remember when we started down an unmarked area and almost went over an area that went straight down. We all started back up to the marked areas side stepping. I do remember that if you didn't side step, you could start sliding down the mountain. I think we all could have died there. I remember you laughed at me and I scared and annoyed with you - but not for long.
I do not remember the trip home. I definitely do not remember getting mad at anyone. Wait - I do remember going home by way of Amarillo and it was snowing and the roads were slick. That is it for my memory.
Jan..you remembered things that I didn't remember until you brought them up.
Gloria remembers nothing. I guess all the gazillions of vitamins she's taken didn't help her memory.
I now remember that you and sis took cross country skiing the first day and I did downhill. Cross country would have kicked my ass. At least with downhill I had gravity working with me.
I guess you just selectively deleted the parts you didn't want to remember. That's not a bad thing. We all want to do that...but I have that darn curse.
I definitely remember the wrong turn we took and I do remember laughing..a very nervous laugh..a laugh before you die..laugh. But the position you got yourself in didn't help. I think that position might be similar to some Yoga position..downward dog. I bet you can laugh now??? I am. LOL
We stayed at Scandinavian Lodge at Steamboat Springs. We ate at a table with other people..interesting people. The food was also Scandinavian and it was good.
Our room was also used by the Olympic team in the summer. That's why it had bunk beds. It also might have been cheaper.
We both did remember the little mouse in our room. It was trying to get a whole cookie thru the little hole it came in thru. We broke up the cookie so the little mouse could get that cookie thru the crack. Not like we wanted that cookie back. None of us were scared of the mouse.
I do remember it as a fun trip.
Oh one other thing I remember - There was some old guy I talked to or skiied with for a while. Anyway, I remember he propositioned me. He wanted to take me on a skiing trip. I think I was about 33-35 on that trip. I think he was about 70. I was just being friendly. He was an interesting guy - but duh!
Yes, the meals were served family style. Lots of interesting people there. We watched skiing movies at night. I guess you had stayed there before.
I think we started bring food back to the room for the mouse. I can see how people in prison make friends with critters in their cells.
Just took a 2 hr nap. Not a lot of sleep last night. Cracker Barrel is next door. Guess where we will eat tonight?
Jan..I talked with a lady at work who knew Joshua Ledet. She said he daddy is a preacher man.
I guess the mouse was there to even out the number. The spare had a friend.
Davy Jones died...one of the Monkeys. Had a heart attack.
It got warm here today..close to 80I had to turn on the AC when we got home this afternoon. It was over 80 in my bedroom.
Actually..it wasn't 801..it was only close to 80.
80 degrees, wow! It was close to 70 degrees here. We are in a tornado watch. It is pretty windy. No bad weather yet. How terrible about the tornado in Branson and surrounding area in Missouri and some in Illinois. This reminds me of last summer where it seemed tornados were following us.
I think the Ledet kid was one of the best singers last night. The girls are singing tonight and so far there is not one that is memorable (as Simon used to say). BTW - I knew how his last name should be pronounced. I have not been away from that part of the country that I would forget that.
Finally, there is one girl who can sing. Her name is Hollie. Cannot remember last name. I think she is from Ausin.
Simon, where are you? These judges are really messing up. Finally, Randy said " a song was a nightmare." I think the problem was they sent the wrong girls home. There was one girl who was amazing and they said she did not have enough confidence, so she did not make the top 24.
One of the things I like about the other singing reality shows is they audition in front of a live audience. I think there is some value in that. Sometimes they had contestants go through because only the audience liked them.
Jan..if you help me remember and if you think he's deserving..I'll vote for the guy from my hood down here next week even if I'm not watching. Need to support the hometown kid.
Hope you have an enlightening retreat..with no lightning.
Jan..I was looking back at a few posts this morning and saw that you wrote that you didn't remember that you were the one who talked me into trying teaching..one of my favorite nursing career choices. Do you think I woulda thought about THAT on my own?
You certainly liked teaching and thought that probably I needed to find something else to do before I went off the deep end stressing in ICU/CCU. I'm pretty sure I did some whining. It's in my nature to whine and it's in most people's nature NOT to want to listen to it.
I've tried to tell you guys that I didn't provide any of the direction in my life. The Universe sent me people..and you were one of the significant people.
And I guess when you and your fly left my ass down here in the swamp..and I killed you off for leaving..Facebook found you again.
Isn't life interesting. And can you believe that Facebook was invented just for us? It was all part of the grand plan. I wonder how many other people are thinking that.
And it's too bad that we can't get a cut of their profit.
With all the pondering that I do and have done..I see how that big SIMS master in the sky has guided and directed my life. Sent me who I needed..when I needed them. Sometimes it's almost spooky seeing how obvious it has been. It was when I started doing my journaling..when mamma was dying.. that I really started recognizing it.
This blogging just took over for my journaling. Gosh..you guys know all my secrets. But who cares..as you see..nothing is really my fault..I'm just a pawn here and I'm sure that SO ARE YOU.
Even Oprah Winfrey was part of the plan. It was on one of her shows that I learned about journaling. It was even kinda weird that I was watching her show at the time. Didn't usually have time to do that.
Oprah had some people on talking about how journaling saved their lives. I was pretty desperate at the time. I decided to try it and I do think that it did accomplish just that.
Journaling helped me remember that I had so many good times in my life. I relived many of them and was able to laugh when there was absolutely nothing funny going on at the time. I could look back at what I wrote and see that horrible experiences did have a silver lining. They were all part of the plan.
And it made me realize that there is a big SIMS master in the sky. Now one thing I haven't figured out yet is...who gave the SIMS master the plan?? Did our souls do that before we arrived on the planet? Don't know yet but I know there is a plan and you can go along with it or you can fight it. It's not a good idea to fight it. When you fight it..life gets pretty poopy.
Coreen..don't keep rolling your eyes at me and telling me to relax..it ain't going to happen frister..at least not yet.
Coreen offers a level of my consciousness that I have some difficulty listening to. One that is logical..more realistic..maybe a little harsh..but very necessary.
And Coreen..I do have to keep worrying about the world. It is one of my assignments. Hey..I don't like it either.
Carol, I have heard this saying several times and it is one of my favorites "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." I think it fits with what you are saying. I don't think it is what I said or did, I think you followed your own heart in many of these cases.
Carol, I believe strongly that you and Katy and I had an influence on each other. Maybe even the rest of our group too - even Linda, Gil, Leslie, etc. We were a pretty tight group. You and I continued on after the others all fell away or moved away. You were as much an influence on me as the reverse. I think our relationship helped us both in school.
When I (my family) left Lake Charles, I went through a grief period. Bob was pretty happy in Montana - he had been there before, but I left much of my support system behind in LA. I did a lit of crying in MT - I think I about wore Bob out with it. I did not like my job there. I did not know anyone and I was teaching out of my comfort zone. And it was so damn cold. We went from there to NM and Bob began to travel a lot. He began to pull away from family there. I did not teach for a year - Steve was not doing well in school, and I was trying to get him settled in - finally we put him into a private school - which worked well for him. He got more indiv. attn and did well. I finally started teaching and loved my job. I began to get involved with another faculty and we did some research and publishing. But Bob and I began to drift further and further apart. Maybe that was inevitable. That was where my marriage failed. Then Bob had a daughter from the past show up on our doorstep and I found out he had been keeping her secret all of our marriage.
Life has a way of interrupting all our plans.
Got up and took a walk outside. The humidity feels so good.
Must get ready for no TV. One of the reasons I decided to bring my computer is at least in the evening I can check up on what is happening in the world.
You are starting to fill in the missing years of Jan...the years you were dead to my heart. Sorry to say. I don't think I tried to stay in touch with you guys.
I just had a little problem dealing with loss. I even remember the song that came on the radio when you guys drove off into the sunset. It was "When will I see you again..when will our hearts be together..." I cried.
I kinda like to have musical accompaniment to my grief and loss. Helps me to cry better. I'm not even that big on music anymore. I guess it is because I've used it too off to document grief and loss.
Later..when technology was available I downloaded and put together an entire CD that documented one of my relationships from start to finish.
Hey..the reason I'm alone is because.. if I was in a relationship and I detected one little sign that things weren't going well..I had a tendency to end it all..get it over with..get the crying done.
That movie..the Beginners..kinda hit home for me.
I've pondered why I'm that way. I did come up with one possibility. My mom was so miserable in her marriages. She wanted to leave my dad but felt obligated to stay.. for us..the kids..but she made us pay for it.
I remember as a very little kid..mom would go out for the evening and tell us she wasn't coming back. She did want to run away. We were too young to know better..probably at that age when kids fear abandonment the most and when parents should reassure them that would come back when they left.
I don't think my sisters remember this. If they do.. they never mentioned it. I remembered..I remember everything. I remember being terrified until I saw mom return.
Mom did the best she could..she didn't know any better. She never read Dr. Spock.
Sad..that twin remembers mom and dad as perfect. She only remembers the good stuff and there was lots of good stuff..but she was more the victim of some of their bad stuff..and it shows.
Heard on the news last night that Google knows too much about us. Hey..Google knows way too much about me..they know my soul.
And I can't blame my mama. Her mother abandoned her when she was about 11. She ran off with her last husband and left mom with her two younger step brothers and step father. Her step father tried to molest her because she reminded him of her mother..his wife. She had to go live with her grandmother. I really didn't like my grandmother for doing that. I resented her but mom didn't seem to..at least not at a conscious level.
I know that you have mama issues also Jan..I think lots of people do. I was at the card counter one Mother's Day trying to pick out a card for mom. None of those cards with all the gushy stuff worked for me and I wasn't going to lie.
I finally found a card that worked..it said something like..I love you in spite of it all. I was standing with a friend who also had mother issues and we were discussing it. There were other women around also looking for a card. When I found the right card..I said..I FOUND ONE that works. When I said that..all those other women almost knocked me over grabbing for the same card. I guess it's a common problem.
Carol, I think we have talked about this before, but my mother's mother also abandoned her - shd left her with aunt when my mother was 12. Also, my mother's dad died when she was 2 and my gr mo remarried and then he molested my mother. Mother was depressed much of her life. She looked to me to be her therapist even when I was about 12-13. I think when I was in my 20's and 30's I had a hard time separating my mother's experiences from my ow.
...my own.
A little more humidity today. It is overcast and cold. We brought several hoodies - so glad we did.
Something else to consider....
"Over the past 20 years, the divorce rate among baby boomers has surged by more than 50 percent, even as divorce rates over all have stabilized nationally.
At the same time, more adults are remaining single. The shift is changing the traditional portrait of older Americans:
About a third of adults ages 46 through 64 were divorced, separated or had never been married in 2010, compared with 13 percent in 1970"
Growing Old Single
Interesting Coreen. I perused the article you linked but I'll go back later for the details.
And thanks for not mentioning the Saints scandal. I know you had to be aware of it. You probably didn't want to put anything else stressful on my plate.
If it is true what they are saying..I'll be so disappointed in my boys. And the fact that someone must have kept records. Idiots.
I think all football players are somewhat out to get each other..it's the nature of the game. This last year seemed to be particularly brutal across the board but I didn't recognize that the Saints games were all that bad. In fact one of our guys got hit in the helmet during the last game and put out for the game. They didn't even call the fowl.
What's your thoughts?
Today was a super saturated day with activity. Went to work this morning. Did one clinic. Left at lunch to see the attorney..then a quick lunch and back to work for second clinic. After work to Sam's and then to the CPA. There for almost 2 hours. After..to Walmart for groceries. Then home and grilled a filet mignon and made a salad. Phew!
Guys..I haven't watched the news since sis got here. It's like I've been on an island. And this time it's not really an island anymore.
The only news I catch is online and not much of that. I've been pondering too hard.
Tonight I saw..online..what Rush L has been up to with his comments about that Sandra lady. Wow..what an AH...him..I'm talking about. I know that he's always been an AH but he's outdone himself with his comments about that lady.
It pleases me to see that several of his big sponser have dumped his A. I'm going to make a point to go to their Facebook pages and thank them for doing that. All women should do that.
WOMEN POWER! Time for women to unite!
Advertisers who pulled their ads were Sleep Train..Sleep Number..Legal Zoom..Citrex..and Quicken Loans.
Good for them! Drop by one of their sites and thank them girls!
I've really enjoyed having my new campmate here. It's nice to have someone to do things with..to share the burden of some of these new responsibilities I have with..someone to cook with.. to eat with..to watch movies with..and tonight..to bathe Maggie with. It's certainly been the happiest I've been in a long time.
I feel both Pa and mom watching over us.
Oh...and to have Chamomile tea with at bedtime.
I record Rachel M every day. Don't always get around to watching it. She covered the Rush L controversy yesterday.
It's a shocker..even for Rush. That man has some serious Karma coming..from many things he has done over the years.. and he just opened the door and invited it to come in. It will be interesting to watch what happens.
When I listened to Rachel go over what Rush has been saying and what many of the candidates have been saying..I think that I must still be sleeping and having a bad dream. This couldn't be happening in this country..in this century. And they say they are afraid of Sharia law???
I've complained about how the young women of today have taken what they have for granted. They just don't realize or recognize what many of us old bitches have done to make things better for them but they are enjoying the fruits of our labor.
What's going on now is the result of much of their apathy. Now is the time for them to wake up and smell the coffee. It's not our problem any more..it's theirs. It will be interesting to watch how THEY deal with it.
The revelation about the Saints D
bounty hunting...not really shocking or surprising that it was
coordinated, but the surprise is that they did it not imagining that
ultimately it would be found out...so the consequences will be
whatever the league wants...I suspect that the penalties will not in any way prevent the attitude
that you need to 'take out' the other guy no matter what, that is the game of football after all....
Hey, Joe Namath (one of my heros) is the posterchild
for the vicious nature of football
he was a target many times way back when football mattered to me...then the most hated team was
the Oakland Raiders...we thought they were the dirtiest players
going...
Football was always a violent sport...more interesting is it's fandom that does not really show
much concern over that aspect (as long as their team's players are not on the receiving end of the
hits) & actually don't fans cheer
wildly when their guys 'stop' the other guys, no matter how!!!don't they love it when the QB is slammed to the ground...cheeriing wildly!!!....I lost most of my intense interest in football ages ago when I started thinking about what it really was,...you can't get around the violent nature of football & you either ignore the negative aspects of it or not watch it...
The Saints will be penalized, but
in the end do you really think the mindset will go away...not a chance...bounty hunting in whatever
form will always be a part of the sport...
If you really want to think about a digusting event (I don't even like to refer to it as sport, not sure what it should be called) but
think boxing...I despise every
aspect...even though Ali was most everyone I grew up with 'hero'...(well you either loved or hated him, no in between back then) & that was when
boxing drew tremendous interest...
never understood it...give it some
thought of what boxing is & I defy
anyone to give any positive reasons
for it to even exist...just thinking about it makes me cringe...
Now to Rush...I did hear him, & his rantings were over the top, outrageous & provocative...he just kept pushing the envelope each day...& pretty sure his audience loved it...remember he thrives on the libs hating him...& he is expert at getting them to react...
Gee, reminds of someone on the other side of the political spectrum...Bill Maher...he does a pretty good job of feeding
his fandom the same 'red meat' from the left side....
Will be interesting to see if the left's full court press of media
outrage has any lasting effect...they have been hell bent on trying to get him removed from the airwaves...but I wouldn't bet the ranch that this is the event
that does it...
Yes I know the claim is that already 4 advertisers have dropped him (or suspended it ads) whatever that all means...nuanced statements at best...
Have no idea what Rachel Maddow
said...but not sure in the end it matters to rush followers...you know they have zero use for her, her views of the views of msnbc...
just like the left feels about all things fox & talk radio...
It is really fascinating when you think about it...it has become
so easy to have any set of facts
spun into whatever view you support, believe, adhere too...
Sometimes Kathleen Parker makes sense...(though I do know she is mostly a conservative voice)
Rush Limbaugh
the uniter
Coreen, I liked the article by K. Parker.
Carol, Joshua Ledet made it through to the final 13. Yay. He is very good and I intend to vote for him.
Sis and I had a fun day today and productive. My carpenter guy came to finish the first leg of the work I had for him. I have a bathroom cabinet that finally has a door on it now. I was getting kinda tired of looking in it when I used the bathroom. It's only been almost 7 years.
I have lots more for him to do at both places. I'm glad I found someone who can do odd jobs here and there. He's gonna work out.
While he was finishing up..I took the Magster in to the Vet for a toenail trimming. It just so happened to be the time for her annual shots and stuff so she got that too.
I bathed her last night and gave her a bad hair cut. Good thing she doesn't have any highfalutin friends. She thinks she looks good.
After we got those duties out of the way we went to an outlet mall about 10 miles down the road. It has a kitchen store and I just love those kind of stores.
Sis and I have our Chamomile tea every night and sis..aka AD..doesn't like to heat the water in the microwave. She wanted an electric hot pot thingy.
A girl can never have too many kitchen doodads or thing a ma-jigs.
I think I have just about everything that cooks except a regular stove and oven. I do have something that will do the same thing..many different ways. That's the adventure in cooking out here. There's nothing traditional.
Hey..I can and have catered a party for over 30 out here and I bet better than most caterers do.
I didn't just get outta that kitchen store with only an electric water heater..I picked up a few other things.. that I could have done without but still wanted.
I haven't been shopping in soooo long. I can't even remember the last time...that is..except for my shopping at Wally World for groceries..or an occasional turtle neck..in a color I don't have..or on the Internet for my favorite khakis and shoes.
When we left the kitchen store we had to pass this clothes store...another outlet store. I hit the jackpot there. I got a pair of Lee bluejeans and 5 shirts for work..and all for less than $100. My kind of shopping.
After that..we went to eat at my favorite burger place..not a fast food place.
Of course we hit two more grocery stores before we got home. Sis and I musta both had past lives during the great depression and were hard up for food. I think we've hit at least one grocery store every day since AD got here.
Tomorrow we've invited my best friend to come over for lunch. I'll make my traditional salad with all the right stuff in it. I'm also making this shrimp dish I invented.
I saute shrimp in a lemon/garlic/butter/Tony's sauce. I cook up some organic fresh spinach. The shrimp and sauce goes over a bed of the cooked spinach on top of angel hair pasta and is topped with some crumpled feta. It's really good.
I'm also going to make up a batch of my spinach artichoke dip. It's my own recipe and I only make it when the right opportunity comes up.
It's definitely not a diet dish. It has cream cheese..mayo..sour cream..5 pizza cheese..garlic..spinach..artichokes..and I'm sure the kitchen sink.
Well..I think my Chamomile tea is starting to kick in..along with shopping fatigue. Nite.
Hope you're enjoying your workshop Jan.
If you'll notice the time when I go to sleep..and the time when I wake up..you'll see that sleep isn't much in MY agenda here. Sis gets a lot more. She gets to do it when I go to work. That's OK..I've kinda always thought that I can catch up when I'm dead. Maybe that's just an excuse that people with a life long history of hyperthyroidism use.
And I hate it when I read about how bad not getting enough sleep is for ya..but then..a year later..they'll say it's good for ya again. I think it is important that we BELIEVE the things we do are good for us...after all..it is what we BELIEVE that is important.
I jumped for joy when I learned how good coffee is for us and it needed to be 4-5 cups. Sis likes the fact that a glass of wine is good. And chocolate...it is difficult to make myself get that chocolate supplement in every day but I force myself.
I'm still waiting for research to support the value of some of my other bad habits. I may have to wait until hell freezes over for some of them.
And Jan..when I brought the Mags in for her shots..I asked the Vet about your alpha dog theory. I know you are right about that theory. It makes perfect sense to me.
He was clipping Mags toenails when I told him. He turned and looked at me kinda strange..then looked at her..and called Maggie a little traitor. I told him that I always knew my sis was the alpha dog..it was kind of a issue with us and I'm glad the Magster validated it.
It does bother me at times..to have to take the back seat.. but in life..we just have to stick to our pecking order. That's the way it is.
Y'all know I've been stressing over all the CEUs I was behind on...because of my dang job..and not having time to go get them.
I didn't want to do them..but have to if I want to continue with my certification...which I need to keep working.
I have done a lot of catching up but still have a little over 30 hours left to do. I'd rather take a beating.
There is that conference that I've gone to in Houston the last two years. You've gone with me. It's something else I hate to do even though I learn some good stuff when I go..like that coffee is good for ya. One of the things I remembered the best from last time.
The annual conference is in March. I knew it and had been procrastinating signing up for it. I think part of me..95%..wants to retire. That part kinda sabotages the 5% that wants to keep working. The 5% that wants to keep working likes money and worries that that 95% that doesn't.. is just lazy..not disciplined and may take up more bad habits if she didn't have to go to work every day. I'm kinda afeared that the 5% is right.
Well AD..has been helping me with some organizing here. She found this stack of conference notifications that I had. She asked about it. I told her that I had been procrastinating. She knows me. With all that's gone on recently..I do have a pretty good excuse this time.
The conference is this coming week. I was down to the wire. Sis told me that she would go with me. That's a great idea..I thought. I hate driving over there all alone.
But it was last minute and getting everything coordinated is almost impossible at this late date. I have to see if the Magster can sign up for doggy camp. See if the registration is still open..find a hotel.. with room in the inn...
Yesterday..with sis's prodding..I started. I called doggy camp and there was a space for Maggie. Last night I got on the computer to try to arrange the rest. It was almost easier to sit down and do those CEUs online than register for that conference.
It's a two day conference with the option of a third day. Coulda got 20 CEUs. Well..I was able to register for the first two days but the 3rd was all sold out. Well...two days is better than nothing..but only 13 hours compared to 20.
Then it was finding a room at the inn. The Hilton..where the conference is being held..was all sold out. There was another Hilton down the road 2 1/2 miles so I opted for that. Hell..it was really expensive. I was only paying 50 bucks for the conference and over 500 for the room for two days. Is it worth it for 13 measly CEUs?? And it was going to be a pain in more ways than one.
I started looking for something else.. closer and cheaper. I found this little Bed and Breakfast in the historic district..only .9 miles away. It's closer and pretty neat looking..and what's even better..it's half the price.
We checked out the reviews and it sounds really nice..much better than a hotel..which just has clean beds and a TV.
The hotel may be at the site of the conference but there is a 20 mile hike from the rooms to the meetings. I'll just get a cab to the front door. I'm still crippled and long walking is killer. I didn't see that I could rent a Hoverround.
It looks as if the Universe is dropping things down to help me out. We'll see.
Maybe..I'm finally getting to dip into that credit that I believe that I have saved up at the Karma bank. I certainly hope so.
Just go with it...and enjoy the small things falling into place...
Glad sis is with you, even if you think she is AD...
Well Rush apologizes (I guess thats what it was) likely because you must always 'follow the $$$'...
So do you think any of the left's
big hitters (that would be women bashers) will get the same level of self-righteous outrage....(this is a rhetorical query, since I already know the answer...a big fat no)...
Kirsten Powers lays it out so very
well...(& yes I know she would be considered a (faux)liberal since she appears on the hated Fox & writes for the equally despised
NYPost)....
But she sure does a first class job of calling out the equal-opportunity offenders...
Rush Limbaugh isn't the only media misogynist
Coreen..never have truer words been spoken. I love this woman. She is spot on.
The real sad truth is that many women are also misoginist. As long as those comments are directed at a woman they dislike..they will over look the comments.
Remember when they were going after Palin. Some of us on TM were taking up for her when they attacked her as a woman or a mother. Patsi was one who took up for her.
Too often women are their own worst enemies and I've seen THAT so very often in nursing. Nurses will suck up to the docs/usually men..and go after their fellow nurses even when what their fellow nurses are fighting for is in their best interest. I've cried about that so very often.
And there has been a trend for awhile now for women to go backwards. They were enjoying what we fought for without acknowleging, or even realizing what we did for them. I've been saying that it was going to come home to roost and guess what...it has.
Am really enjoying the intensive. It is really cold here today. I am sitting in the lodge with 2 long sleeved shirts and a hoodie on. I just had a massage. I never do that at home. We had one speaker who is the poet laureate of North Carolina. She told us that our dreams can be turned into poems. She did talk about all the forms in poetry - but we can do "free- form" which is just like it says. I have already written one short poem.
Carol, so glad you and your sis are having a good time. You needed some fun and fellowship.
We have to leave here at 5 am in the morning to catch our plane. 5 am here is 3 am at home. It feels colder this time than it did in Dec. probably b/c the wind is blowing.
The temp here is 41 degrees and it is afternoon. I just looked it up on the computer.
It is pretty cold in your neck of the woods too Coreen.
Jan..the temps for both you and Coreen are just about the same but you have a chance of snow in the forecast.
Well..lunch was a success. My friend..who came over today..is the one who I can't get to leave her home. Her mom lives with her and it's pretty much torture..most of the time.
When she does break away..she has fun. It's just that misery seems to be her destiny and she's the one doing it to herself.
She was relaxed and funny today. She cracked me up all afternoon.
And today was an absolutely beautiful day outside. Perfect temp..upper 60s and sunny. We stayed outside much of the day.
Sounds like a great day Carol! Happy for you
I was pondering how sad it was that Patsi Bale Cox isn't here to see the meltdown of Rush L. Patsi was one of my hero feminazis. Then I thought..she may be the one who is directing this show from her perch up in the sky. I can see that.
If you look over to our followers..there is only one real face up there..it's Patsi. She was one of the first to become a follower and she left a little comment on one of the early posts saying she liked the blog. I was so proud. She might not have ever come back but she endorsed us. That was special.
I'm not sure you if you are familiar with her Jan but Patsi was a writer. She wrote many books about some of the country music superstars. She was also a feminist. We met her on Trailmix.
Her daughter wrote on her Facebook page that when Patsi was slipping into a coma just before she died..her daughter was asking her questions to determine her mental status. She asked..who is the president. Her mom responded.."it should have been Hillary". A sense of humor until the very end.
Coreen..I do believe that Rush has finally pushed it too far this time. He thought he was totally invincible. I think he did himself some irreversible damage.
And I think that women are starting to wake up and smell the coffee. These public figures wouldn't have dared make comments about other groups of people like they have about women..and get by with it. And we aren't a minority..some may forget that. We have power over the other half of our species. Holding that little aspirin between our knees gives us power.
Yesterday I thought that I needed something else from Walmart.. for my cooking. I really didn't but I do have a tendency to over prepare and over present when I'm cooking for someone. Cooking is one area where I am totally OCD.
When I went to go to Walmart..my truck wouldn't start. The battery was dead. I'm not sure why it ran down..I found nothing left on. Maybe the Universe wanted to warn me.
When I had that $2600+ maintenance work done last year they told me my battery was weak. I blew that off thinking they were just trying to get more money outta me. Turns out that it might have been the only thing that did need changing..except the brakes..they did need changing also.
I have several chargers and put the battery on one. Then the neighbor came over and jumped me. I let my truck run for about 30 minutes. Sis and I did make a Wally World run later to return a movie.
I was going to also get a new battery yesterday but was having too much fun to waste a couple of hours in the Walmart auto service dept waiting room. Sis will do it for me today.
I hope my truck starts this morning.
Home again, home again, Jigidy Jig.
Wow! Carol, that was a lot of maintenance work on your car.
So good to be home. We ran out to the PO and picked up our mail. When I get finished checking e-mail, I will unpack.
Welcome home Jan. Want to share any of the highlights of your intensive? How many poems have you written?
Well..my truck started up when I went to leave for work this morning but it was sluggish..kinda like me in the morning.
I stop by my favorite truck stop every morning to get my country fried potatoes that I take to work. They give me enough for several people for only $1.49. They're good to me.
I've been coming home every work day at noon and sis takes me back and keeps my truck. She picks me up after work.
I was going to let my sis go to Walmart while I was at work this afternoon to get me a new battery.
I was worrying on my way to work about the logistics of it all..thinking that maybe I should get the battery changed after work..when I could be there.
When I got to my breakfast pickup spot I purposely parked where someone could jump me if it didn't start again when I got out. I just had this feeling.
Sure enough..when I got out and tried to start my truck up..it just clicked. Battery gone again.
Just about every morning when I'm getting my potatoes I pass this guy. He's friendly and we exchange a few words in passing. He was there at the time so I went back into the store and asked him if he could give me a jump.
He pulled up his jeep where I left room for someone to do that..just in case. He jumped me off and told me he knew of a good place to get batteries..not far away.
I've had good luck at Wally World so I told him I was going there. I got to Wally World and the auto service dept was closed tighter than a tick. I couldn't even see when they opened since those times had worn off their sign.
I remembered the place that the guy mentioned so I headed there. I had called work to tell them I would be late.
I found the place..I drove right up to the garage..it took them 10 minutes to pop in a new battery. That's all they do there is batteries. It was pretty cheap with a 1 year free replacement and 5 year pro rated warranty.
I didn't even get to work much later than I usually do.
Wasn't pleasant to have a dead battery this morning but I had so much synchronicity that it turned out to be a very pleasant experience. I felt blessed.
It's been happening a lot lately..things just falling into place when they need to. Maybe it's that karma credit I was talking about.
Rats, I wrote a comment and my battery went dead before could post it. I am plugged in now. I will try again.
Carol, your Karma is working. Good thing you ran into that guy and got the name of a place to get a battery. From personal experience they do not take long to put in.
I did write a short poem. I plan to try my hand at some more. right now too tired to get any of my writings out.
We loved our time at Kanuga with our group, but we neither one slept well this time. I did sleep 2 nights and 3 nights I hardly slept at all. We were in uncomfortable beds this time. We both have some osteo arthritis.
The cabin was cold too. We are talking about getting a motel room when we go next time. There is a lot to be said for being in the retreat center. Two of the four times we were there, we had rooms in the lodge where the beds are better and it is warmer. The other time we were in a cabin it was August and the warmer weather made for more comfortable sleeping. The funny thing is this cabin "leaned" and it affected the beds. I felt like I was climbing a hill all night.
We pay as much to stay in the retreat center as we would pay in a motel.
Stephen Colbert was particularly funny last night and you still have chance to watch the show. Comedy Central replays it several times during the day.
His take on Rush L was very amusing and he did a thing about the bounty thing with the Saints that you would enjoy Coreen. Check it out.
Coreen..you know that you have to check in everyday. I have to get a head count. Have you gone to that concert that you told me about yet?
I'm never too far away...
Glad you 'broke' down & got the new
battery....
Keep remembering just go with the flow for awhile...
Oh heard this song on Imus the other day, forgot to mention it...
Could be THEtheme song.(even if it's Kelly Clarkson)..listen/read the words....Stronger (what doesn't kill you)
Coreen, good song. I have always wondered about that sentence by Nietzsche - whether it true that "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." (btw) I had to look to look up how to spell this guy's name. I have my doubts about the saying.
Nevertheless, Kelly Clarkson did a good job of singing the song.
Morning folkes...I'm now officially in charge of another three ring circus. Phew. And I think my hyperthyroidism is back..not complaining because I need the speed.
I'm going to my conference this afternoon and Maggie to doggy camp. I have her tent all packed up..I think.
I went to buy these new tennis shoes at Academy yesterday. I'm still crippled. Both feet kill me to walk. The pain in on the inside of both ankles..right where the first metatarsal hits the ankle. I'm sure it's the result of my crippled walking that has caused the pain. My good foot hurts worse than my bad one.
I have been wearing these cute little Keds..light weight..for years. They make my feet look dainty. I've gone thru about 30 pairs since I found them. They were comfortable but provided very little support.
Yesterday I got some hardy tennis shoes and put arch supports in them to try to throw my foot more toward the lateral side. I made an appointment with a podiatrist for next week to help me with some orthotics. If I don't do something..I'm close to needing a Hoveround.
Being able to walk for miles and miles was something I could always do..but now..I can barely get to my office. Pitiful.
If you could throw a prayer my way..I think that might have the most powerful affect. I believe in the power of prayer.
That was one reason I did procrastinate going to this conference..just getting to the bathroom in that convention center is a pretty good hike. Getting from the hotel connected to the center..to where the meeting is held..was a marathon.
Now that we are staying in the B&B I think that it might be feasible. We'll see.
I'll keep in touch..you know I always carry you guys with me to those conferences. I have more down time when I'm there. I might even get a nap in.
Oh..and to have sis..my personal assistant with me..will make it soooo much better. I hate going to these things alone. It will almost be like a vacation.
I've told my peeps at work that they can text message me when they need me and I'll get to them on the breaks. I'll still be on duty.
I've added to my clientele at work.. a heart transplant. He was just on his way back to Arizona for a major tune up.. that he desperately needed.. when he was unfortunately incarcerated. Dang it.. that's always the way it is. I got a call late last night with some of his problems.
I have another seriously loony tunes lady in there. She's pretty pitiful. She thinks she is an undercover agent with the code name..Red Ninja Turtle. Just to mention a few of my special people.
My chauffeur is driving me to H town. It's nice to get to ride shotgun.
Carol, so nice that sis is there to go with you to H town and drive you around too. Strangely, I am going to a breastfeeding conf tomorrow and Fri here in Turkey Town. I am having pain in my back. It started the last night we were in NC. Those beds were the worst. Am taking Ibuprofen for it. I had to get down on the floor with a couple of little kids today. Not a pretty sight. Getting up was the worst. I am going in to take a hot bath.
Have a good trip to H. A good idea to go to a podiatrist. I have worn only really good shoes for past 20 years. The tallest heel I use is 1 1/2 inches - and only in a wedge. Most of my shoes are very practical. I have not worn hi heels for at least 25 years.
Take care
Oh guys...I couldn't have dreamed up a neater place to stay.. and for less than half the price of the Hilton. It's a huge old house...antique furniture and our space is bigger than my house. Big screened in porch also. This place could hold a minimum of 4 people..very comfortably.
We are in the upstairs and those stairs were a little intimidating for a cripple but I took them carefully.
We found this wonderful Italian restaurant not far away. We both had this spinach..mushroom..spicy marinara sauce..chicken..pasta dish..topped with feta. And an Italian salad. Delicious.
The only thing is..it is not just .9 miles from the Convention Center..more like 5-7 miles. I guess the Universe had to fudge a little to get me into this fantasy space here.
Carol, your inn sounds delightful. Love the thought of antique furniture and a screened porch. careful with those stairs. Italian food sounds delicious. You and your sis sleep well. 5-7 miles is not bad - hope there is no traffic in the morn. Write and tell me what your presentations are.
I just got off the phone with Steve - he was driving home from class in Little Rock. He lives in a small town about 65 miles from LR. We talked for about 35 minutes.
Your home town boy, Joshua Ledet sounded great tonight. I confess I did not vote. All the kids were so good.
Off to bed.
Jan..you're going to this conference too. I'm not far...from wherever you are.
I just love the way the Internet keeps us all close together.
And Coreen..did you ever watch that Colbert show from the other night? See the part about the the Saints and that bounty stuff? I could see you saying that. He was channeling you sister.
This place reminds me of part of my house..old doors..that creak..high ceilings.
The original portion of my house was built in 1927. It had one bedroom..one bath..a large kitchen and living room. When I bought it.. the couple who owned it had added on. They added additional living room and a bedroom. Then I added on..a very large bedroom..a very large bathroom with a vaulted ceiling..shower that can fit 7..large whirlpool bath and water closet. In between there's a huge walk in closet.
I drew up the plans for the addition. I call the design country bumpkin meets architectural digest. It's still not much bigger than 1500 square feet.
Sounds like you guys are enjoying yourselves...that's great...hope
you can share some of the sights
when you get back...
and nice having a 'chaffeur' isn't it...you get to sit back & see the world around you...
I did watch colbert...
I made it to the conference. Sis gets a great B&B breakfast....I have some gummy worms in my purse....yuk
This thing is put on by Harvard Medical School
And Baylor
First talk.
Back to the future: Yrsterdays Ideas, Today's Insights, Tomorrow's Cures
Started with John Lennon's Imagine....
Ut oh....most. cancers love sugar. No gummy worms!
Stress. Is pro cancer..and decreases immunity. Gotta relax
Now are you going to listen to me!!!...how many times do I have to
say 'chill out', 'relax'!!...
Spoke with a good friend who lives in FL, (she's in the pic with the 2pups..the jack russell terrier & the black lab at christmas) she decided to work on losing weight (she is not really fat) & she has cut out all white foods...bread, pasta, sugar, salt
cooking veggies, fish, not much meat & returned to the gym with a trainer & has lost 20#..she said
she was tired of her clothes feeling tight...that's my problem
I could be happy losing 5-10# so my
clothes didn't feel tight...
Now if I could only cut out some of those white based products...&
get up & exercise a little...I'm
not a gym person, so that won't happen....but I really need to try
to move around & cut out some of those white foods...
By the way, it is close to 60 already today, sunny...the only down side is the wind...its a warm wind coming from the south!!!
First talk great. Not a money grubbing member of healthcare. I gave him a standing O. I was the only one. Oh well.
On break. Got a smoothly at a drug co booth.
Now women's health issues. Not my fav. WHI. Putting results in context. SWAN study. You may understand this Jan
Great info on dry eye...common in older people
Treatment. Hot compresses over the eyes twice a day. All those tears over used. Unless it serious problem. Those also need hot compresses.
Carol, thanks for info on dry eyes. that is an easy one to do. I love hot compresses.
I need to cut out more sugary products. I seldom eat white bread - not much bread, period. My big problem is desserts.
Jan, I'm guilty of eating lots of
white foodstuff...from sugar, bread,milk, salt & pasta...I wish I could say I had the willpower to change all that, but being honest, not likely...
I have been trying to reduce the sugar I put in tea daily...& eating fewer sweets...
unfortunately I will not stop drinking milk...which I do every day...& pasta, well not a chance
I stop eating that anytime soon...
Well girls..if you want to feel better about yourselves..I just finished a dark chocolate Gold Brick Easter egg followed by a hand full of gummy worms. Feel better?
Gosh was it a long day. It was very interesting but loooong. And miles of walking on my poor painful tootsies. I'd get to one room miles away and find out I was in the wrong room. The right room was miles back the other way. Or I'd have to pee and that was miles away. I had visions of a Hoveround dancing in my brain.
All the lunch meetings were full because I registered late so I had sis pick me up for lunch. We found a neat place to eat called Chatters. I had a very tasty Italian panni.
I was sooo sleepy after lunch that I fell asleep for a couple of moments in the next lecture. I woke up just before I fell over on the guy next to me. I hope I wasn't snoring. No one was looking at me when I woke myself up.
I taped a Dr Oz from a couple of days ago and he had on a personal trainer who works with morbidly obese folks to help them get to a more normal size in a safe and healthy way. They were talking about diet. It was pretty interesting. I know what I have to do - I just have to DO it. Damnation. First thing I need to do is throw out all junk food or anything that has little or no nutritional value. I am starting this weekend.
I went to a conference today too. I am actually not as interested in breastfeeding as I once was, but I too need the CEU's and I do work with women who are breastfeeding. The morning sessions were fine. I had a medical appt right after lunch so had to miss one session. Got back for last session. I go all day tomorrow too.
I looked up that SWAN research. I would have liked that session more than the ones I saw today.
did it again. Was not aware I hit the button twice.
Carol, I don't feel much better. At my conference they had a choc. break with brownies, cookies, ...and some choc covered strawberries. I definitely OD'd. So No, I don't feel better. And I had cheesecake at lunch (they provided lunch). To try and make up for this, I made some oatmeal (from old fashioned oats) for supper and put in some sliced apples, a few pecans for protein with some low fat soy milk. I usually have this for breakfast but didn't have time for b'fast this morn.
the kid from westlake, LA (Joshua Ledet) made it to the next AI. John and I got our prediction as to who would go home tonight.
Can you guys believe that Joe..the Plumber actually won a Repub primary in Ohio?? Boy that's saying something scary about the Ohio population. And it says something scary about Repubs..that that's the best they can find???
But then..sis and I were thinking that it's not too surprising considering what the Repubs found to run for president. I guess the nut cases in the country do need representation but I think that they really need better representation.
The first speaker yesterday was very impressive. His name is Vikas P. Sukhatme, MD, Ph.D. He's a Harvard prof. He's involved in..."..cancer research foundation Global Cures to look at “orphan drugs” and other options for the treatment of cancer and organize clinical trials. Unlike the pharmaceutical companies that choose to do clinical trials based on drug profitability expectation, Global Cures has a non-profit business model based on the health of the patient."
http://www.global-cures.org/
I was impressed that the use of expensive pharmaceuticals was not the focus of treatment. Medicine might be getting more conservative..and by that..I mean the real definition of conservative.
Carol, your remarks about discussion of orphan drugs, etc reminds me of a book I read recently on my nook. I don't know why I bought that e-reader because I don't like the name "nook" It sounds too much like the word "nookie" which I despise.
Anyway the novel I read recently is about a doc who works for a pharm co. and she has been sent by her boss to find another doc (woman) who is doing research in Brazil - on the Amazon river. The company is paying the woman to do research on why the women in this native group are able to have babies into their 70's and older. It is a very interesting novel. I will get out my nook and post the name of the novel and author. I could hardly put the book down.
Today in my conference I won a door prize - a baby doll that breastfeeds. It is for a little girl - preferably one whose mother is breastfeeding a new baby. When you put the bib on the doll it begins making sounds that a baby makes when feeding - sort of slurping and cooing noises. I really wanted that doll and so when the woman was drawing the names out of the big jar - I began to chant my own name to myself over and over - and damn if she didn't draw my name. I never with anything. Now I am not sure what I will do with the doll - my grandson's wife who just had a baby has a 2 year old son so I doubt if his parents will want him to have a breastfeeding doll because the idea is that the child (little girl) pretends to breastfeed her doll just like her mom. My granddaughter is expecting a baby in August and she does have a little 2 year old girl - but my granddaughter will not even discuss breastfeeding her baby. She made it real clear to me she is not interested in breastfeeding.
In the middle of that last post, I meant to say ..."I never win anything."
Glad that is over with. I am tired. Actually these conferences wear me out more than working.
Laugh of the day....
Talk about bad karma...
Carol, this has you beat by a mile...
consumer reports buys $100,000+
Fisker Karma (one of the so-called
electric cars that is going to save the planet) well maybe I'm
exagerating but...goes to test
drive it & surprise, surprise it
shuts down...needs to be flat-bedded to dealer....
Karma electric car breaks
down during test drive
Home again...I was way too tired to write a thing last night. You know that has to be tired because I can write when I'm in a coma. It's usually how I relax and revive myself. I know..I'm weird.
Getting home was scary. Sis drove. I told sis to pick me up at 5:45p when the meeting was over. I knew we were going to be in for some bad weather but at around 3:30 I looked at the weather radar and saw the red blob from hell just about to overtake Houston.
I called sis back to tell her... get your a-- over here in a hurry. I was hoping we could outrun it but it was going to follow us home. It was moving west to east.
I'm standing at the door waiting and waiting and sis calls..I'm lost and Garmy has gone down. Rain and wind are circling the street outside. We'd already had a previous mini crisis earlier yesterday..tell ya bout that later.
We are very appreciative of Garmy's help but she gets vertigo when she's surrounded by lots of tall buildings. She starts recalculating and recalculating. Her little screen spins.
Well..sis finally shows up. I let her drive because I'm better at resuscitating Garmy. I have Iphony in one hand and Garmy in the other.
I said a prayer to St Christopher.
That dang convention center is in a crappy place. When you finally get to the interstate..it's noodle city. It takes two people to deal with the navigation...veer right here then left then right.. Ya don't even have time to look in your rear view mirror..ya just pray that nothing runs over ya.
I don't know how I did it alone..in the dark..those last times. God musta been my copilot. But ya see why I tend to procrastinate going to these things???
If you ever doubted that there's a God..drive those interstates in Houston...and I'm sure she's even hitting the wine by the end of the day. Sis was too exhausted to when we got home.
I let sis do most of the driving because she is a seasoned traveler...knows driving Interstates better. She stays home like most people take vacations...every once in a while.
But...sis is not used to the monsoons around here. She's used to rain..lives in Seattle..but it's a misty rain..not a frog strangler.
But sis is also very proud. Doesn't take advice from her dumb little sister. I actually think that if I give her any advice..she will do the opposite even if she thinks what I said was a good idea.
I gave her an extra key to the truck and I had my regular keys..with all my keys on it. My little button that opens my truck doors is broken.
I noticed that she was pushing the button on the doors to lock the truck when we got out. I told her that wasn't a good idea because she could lock the key in the truck. Oh no..not her.
She was supposed to pick me up at lunch yesterday. I was waiting and waiting and she finally calls and tells me she can't find the key. She packed the truck..locked it and now doesn't know where that truck key is.
Well..you must know that..I told ya so.. was begging to come outta my mouth. I did try to keep it to a minimum even though..at that time..it wanted to whip her up side the head.
I'm lucky I did have my extra keys with me. I called a cab to bring me back to the room. It wasn't far and the cab driver got me there faster than it woulda taken for sis to drive over to get me. It was only 15 bucks and I gave him a 5 buck tip. I was so glad that I had that extra key.
We found some good places to eat in Houston. Used that little app called Urbanspoon. You can download that to Iphony. It will tell you what's close to wherever you are. Gives ya all the info on the place also and a menu..sometimes.
We ate lunch at a pretty good place yesterday and had more time so we headed over to mom's favorite bakery. It's 3 Brother's bakery..located in the Braeswood area. The owners of the bakery are Jewish and have the most wonderful breads and pastries.
Mom loved seeded rye bread and when she visited Houston..she stopped at that bakery and bought 7 loaves to take hom. She froze the extra.
We wanted some cream cheese pastries but they were all out so we got this huge cream cheese and cherry coffee cake. It would feed the neighborhood. Sis got a few small things. The way we've been eating...sis will need a gastric bypass before she leaves.
You must realize that I've added another 3 ring circus to my life. I'm now the executrix/trustee of an estate/farm corporation. Hey...nothin to it..yeah.
While at the conference..I'm dealing with "the joint" and "the ranch". I do have good help with "the ranch". I have a great lawyer..Bob Dow. Jan..you know him. He's Pat Dow's husband.
Getting back with bob was like old home week. He helped me with my house many moons ago..when they sold that to me with the sinks draining under the house..a septic system that ran thru clay and a roof that leaked.
He also helped me when I was in that wreck..while we were in grad school. Remember when that old lady took out my perfectly good Plymouth Duster?? I had it paid for when we started school. Wasn't going to get any salary..I was on LOA from teaching. We did have a small stipend.
I was on my way to your house when it happened. She was an old lady and she ran a stop sign. She slammed into the side of my car. You came to pick me up.
My car was smoking and I was sure it would explode. I dove out of my window thinking my car was on fire. I thought the door was jammed when actually the impact was on the opposite side. I guess I was in shock.
When you drove up to get me..you just reached in the window and pushed the lock to open the door. I went thru all that drama of diving out the window for nada. I was in better shape in those days. And drama..was my middle name. Coulda been a stunt girl.
I also have a great CPA.. and a great bookeeper/cowgirl/Princeton law grad..who decided that law wasn't her bag. God sent me only the best..to help me.
Bob helped me get enough money..not much..for me to buy a another used vehicle to drive after the wreck.
The replacement was a Rambler..piece of s--- car. We left parts of that vehicle all over Houston. We were even rear ended once in that car..remember that? We were stopped at a red light and yakking. I saw whoever it was that hit us..in my rear view mirror. I could tell they weren't going to stop. I told you to brace for impact. May not have been that many words..probably more like..yikes!
My Duster was only 3 years old and was like new when it was totaled. Don't think I even got that Rambler fixed after it was rear ended. Wasn't worth the effort.
And Jan..were you with me when I got stopped in that little town..on my way home? There was a Smokey in the sky monitoring for speeding. I got stopped in a little town. There wasn't even a town in sight. It was a ways off the Interstate. I think it was close to Winnie.
They had a line of us pulled over on the road. When they had enough gathered up..they herded us all down this little country road to this country store/post office/Justice of the Peace office.
We were all standing in line.. outside the place. There was this young guy in front of me. He ran back to his vehicle to get a little Bible..one of those New Testament Bibles. He put it in his front pocket. That was his..get out of paying a ticket..strategy. I don't think he had any money.
When it was my turn to go in..I saw that guy sitting on a chair in the room. I guessed his strategy didn't work. He musta been in the... go to jail.. line...or the scare any money that he did have but was hiding..line.
The Justice of the Peace was fat..had a cigar in his mouth and was sitting behind a door placed over two saw horses. No shit..that was what he was sitting behind. The room was in the back of that little country store.
The judge asked me if I was speeding. I said.. I guess so. He asked me how fast I was going. I said I didn't know. That dang Rambler probably didn't even have a speedometer on it. It was probably laying somewhere in Houston.
He asked me what I did for a living. I told him I was a nurse. He said his girlfriend was a nurse..good sign..that is..if they got along. Really couldn't see how any woman would want that slob.
He asked me how much money I had. I pulled out everything I had in my purse. It wasn't much...a few bills and some change. I dragged out all my change. He took it all and said..fine paid..and let me go.
Shortly after I got out..I saw the little guy with his little Bible in his pocket come out. I guess the judge did finally let him go. The Bible worked but it took a little time.
I wonder if that judge had a party later that night..with all of our change. There was a nicely dressed businessman behind me. The judge probably got more money outta him.
If you're driving in Texas..between Houston and Beaumont..don't let that 4 lane..looks like a race car speedway fool ya. Well..maybe it wasn't that big back then but it was still an area that made it very tempting to speed.
Jan..I remember that you definitely weren't with me when I got stopped at that speed trap. You would have had more money.
I was living on a $300/month stipend. They gave it to us for going to nursing grad school in Texas. It don't think it was available for La. It was a Federal program.
It supported me at that time. I didn't have many living expenses. I put everything I owned in storage and lived in the dorm. I think they also paid for the dorm and our tuition. I guess it was an entitlement program back then.
I also had about 5 thousand in savings that I got when we sold my grampy's property. I bought some stock with that. I went thru that also.
Every weekend..that I could..I went home to stay with Pa and mom. It was on one of those weekends when I got stopped.
I didn't have a CB radio at the time. Probably hadn't invented them yet. When they became available I did get one. I was an early adopter back then.
When I bought my first CB..I was driving a little white Ford Mustang fastback. I was back to working then. My handle was "Snowbird' because of the white car. I knew all the CB lingo. Had a lot of fun talking to the truckers back then. I don't think I ever got stopped for speeding again.
There's a chance of rain everyday for as far as the weather report goes. And the river will rise again. It's low now.
So far..only predicted to go to 4.3 ft..flood stage is 4.. but it ain't over yet. Good thing the house is ready. No need fretting. Gotta roll with the punches. That must be one of my lessons.
I didn't get any pics of the place where we stayed. Didn't have time. They have a website but not sure I want just anyone knowing about the place. I want it available next time I go to Houston. I can email you guys the name. They have pics on their website.
And Jan..you're right about those conferences wiping you out. Phew! I'd rather work my A off at work than sit for all that time.
I'll have to admit that I got some really great material. Much I already knew but it was reinforced. A good bit was new. I'll look thru my notes to see what you guys might find useful.
One talk was about the endocrine distruptors. Everyone needs to know about them. “Endocrine disruptors are exogenous
substances-natural or synthetic- that can
mimic or modify the action of endogenous
hormones.”
It's things in our environment that screw with our endocrine.. hormone system. For example..the hormones used in our meat...the things in plastics that we eat or drink out of...
Most other countries ban our beef that is treated with hormones that we use here. Go figure.
Never heat up stuff to eat or drink in plastic. You probably already know that. Always use glass.
Also..look at the little triangle on those plastic containers..it's OK if it's a number..1..2..4..5. Not good if it's number 3..6..7. But still don't use any to heat food or fluid that you will consume. Also..don't store fruits and veggies in them. Just use glass. OK.
One thing that was so neat is that these..highly educated Docs.. from Harvard were more holistic. Not the usual for the medical profession but becoming more common. Maybe our economy is helping in a way.
The doc doing the environmental lecture quoted Albert Schweitzer..who said..“Man has lost the capacity to foresee
and to forestall. He
will end by
destroying the earth.”
And...
“Man can hardly even recognize
the devils of his own creation"
And he cited..Rachel Carson who wrote "Silent Spring". She was.."Pioneer in Environmental Health: Herbicides, Pesticides, Insecticides as Poisons"
It was very cool!
Interesting thing is...that this conference is partally financed by big Pharma. Kinda ironic..huh? I only paid 50 bucks to go. Most of these conferences usually cost hundreds of dollars.
And you'll get some of the stuff I learned for free! But you won't get any CEUs.
I was getting some pretty good sleep this morning when work woke me up. It was 5A...the time when they do blood sugar checks.
We got a new guy in yesterday who had a BS that wouldn't even register..it was over 600. They sent him out to the hospital. The ER got his sugar down a little then sent him back to me.
This morning..his BS was over 500 and I started him on an insulin dose. I laughed at what they recommended from the hospital. I told my nurse that giving that little dose would have been like pissing on a bonfire.
One of these days I'm gonna have to retire from this job. But then..God will have to work more overtime.
I often think that maybe you just can't kill my breed of peeps. Maybe all my working and fretting and taking no time off doesn't even make a difference. Don't know..but I'm not going to take a chance.
I ran into one of my peeps last night when we stopped at Popeyes chicken on our way home. He was at the counter. He said..hi Ms Carol. He said he has been out for over a year and doesn't have long left on his probation. He was the manager there and he was proud of himself. So was I.
I told him I liked running into my peeps out in the "free world". When sis walked up..she was in the bathroom..I introduced him to her as one of my x-students. He smiled. I think that just maybe I do make a difference.
I've told people that my job is pretty much like working for the Peace Corp or as a missionary but getting paid well for it.
Sorry about all the blathering this morning. I needed a lot of stress reducing.
And Coreen..I know you say..why do you worry about what you eat if there are other bad habits that I have that will cause me harm.
My answer is...I will chose which bad things I like..and can't give up right now..but I'll try to reduce other environmental insults so that my total insults are reduced. Why throw total caution to the wind??
If we give up everything that we love..it will make life less pleasant..then it's not much worth sticking around for. I still want what I consider to be quality rather than quantity.
With no kids..there is no one to take care of my old ass later.
Someone sent this to me this morning. It's advice from two of our Louisiana boys..Boudreaux and Thibodeaux.
Their advice is that we should limit all US politicians to two terms. One in office..one in prison.
We already do that here in Louisiana and it works for us.
Carol, enjoyed reading all your ramblings. I do remember you telling the story of getting pulled over in that little town. I do remember those frog stranglers in Houston. If that were happening to me now, I would probably pull over at the nearest motel and stay until it stopped. We hardly ever see those here but a few months ago when I was driving home from a friend's house in Santa Fe - at night- I did run into one of those for just a short time. My heart was beating out of my chest I was so scared. I did have another woman friend in the car with me - and I was so thankful she was there with me. Somehow it is not so scary when you are not alone. I pulled over twice under an overpass to get a breath. In a short while we came upon an area where it had not even rained there - then dry as a bone the rest of the way home. That is how it rains here. It can be raining on just a little stretch of highway and then dry as a bone from then on. Very strange!
I borrowed your story about Boudreau and Thibideaux and posted it on FB. I love it.
Coreen, I read the site you posted about the fisker Karma car. You are right - that is bad Karma to break down in the middle of a Consumer's test.
And the Gov't gave Fisker $500,000 to build that car.
what a laugh. I think just naming a car Karma is "jinksing"
Yes, Carol, I paid $350. to go to my conference. Drug people do not pay for ours. The conf. planners fed us well "on our money." Years ago, the formula companies paid for meals and snacks during our conferences, but our mat-child & breastfeeding people no longer accept their money. So, we pay for all that with our conf fees.
Tonight we lose an hour. I always hate this time. It will take me a week to catch up to that hour.
The last talk in our conf yesterday was a 65 y/o woman pediatrician. She did present 2 content-based talks but this last one was more of an inspirational presentation. She was so funny and yet down to earth. She told a lot of stories on herself. I really identified with her stories. Her theme was some of us who try to have it all -career, children, successful marriage, etc are kidding ourselves. We really are losing a lot of what is important in life. She was a sophomore in college at 18 - married then and was pregnant with 1st baby when she was accepted into med. school She had all her kids before she finished her residency. She missed many of her kids soccer, basketball etc things when they were growing up because of her career.
Now she is retired, volunteers in a women's jail (teaching the women life skills) and is spending time with her grandchildren. But she says she didn't have it all. She missed a lot in life trying to have it all.
I identify!
Jan..that's what keeps this conference cheap. No meals. Nothing to eat at all unless you sign up for one of the drug co lunches. It was too late for me. They were all full. Then..all you get is a box lunch and no CEUs for them. The box lunch is OK but I ate better by leaving and finding lunch on my own.
Yes..they won't let the drug cos buy lunch if you are getting CEUs. I guess they consider it bribery.
I did find several lattes..small smoothies..and little shakes at some of the booths. Sis got breakfast at the B&B..I got nada.
I remember back to the very best conference food of all the conferences I've ever attended. The food was decadent. It was at the conference for diabetes educators. Ironic huh? They had reps from all the cos that provide meds and supplies for diabetes.
They even had this late night decadent desserts and booze. Every high sugar/high cal sweet you can imagine. All these liquors.
Some of the attendees had diabetes. I bet they went home with massive hyperglycemia. If you didn't already have diabetes..you might when you left that conference. Maybe that was their strategy.
They even had a really fine concerts with some famous group.
Sis and I have been going thru all the plastic containers I have around here..looking at numbers.
Jan..we couldn't pull over for that horrible rain/storm unless we wanted to pull over for the night. It was following us and was wide across. We were trying to get ahead of it but we didn't outrun it until we got to the Louisiana border.
We are fixing to head out for some shopping. Not sure where or what kind. Sis is taking a walk..trying to work off a few of the calories she consumed. I don't think she realizes that she'd have to walk back to Seattle to do that. I'm not going to tell her. Maybe what she believes..she will achieve. Worth a try.
This is a link I found on FB this morning. worth a read. It is in the NYTimes.
Thin Places, Where We Are Jolted Out of Old Ways of Seeing the World
travel.nytimes.com
Again, don't know how to provide the blueness that lets you link into it directly. Takes a little work - but worth it.
Carol, I think your sis would like this article.
We are almost out of space for comments so I put up a new post..
New Post
You’ve got a very nice ride! It’s simply stunning especially the color white. It’s one of my favorite colors in cars because it is very attractive to look at. Your Cadillac CTS Coupe has very gorgeous exterior. The good thing I like the most about this car is its very good driving performance.
[Stelle Courney]
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