Bless Howard for the peeps he gathered under his wing. Astonishing group of humans, being.
We got over five inches of rain last night, and only minimal flooding. Which means Highland County got only a fraction of that. Amazing. I'd only moved the car back down after ten days uphill.
Dear Deaniacs...Sadly I report that Phil Specht's brother Dan has been killed in a farming accident, while moving round bales of hay for his cows. He asks prayers for the family.
Ah, puddle, so glad the flooding was 't worse! We actually have a sunny day today and the humidity is down! Came in from the gardens to Phil's tragic news. :-( it's utterly heart-wrenching!! I'm sure this also means more work for those who will need to shoulder Dan's farm work.
When I was taking EMT training (I dropped out--my blood pressure protested: I'm just plain chicken), there was an advanced class offered just for farm accidents.
Thank you listener, for the news and Jo, for Phil's address. I am so sorry. Thoughts and prayers for them.
We just never know. I was thinking of the small town, Megantic in Quebec, and a train car slides down and explodes. Every day, every breath is precious.
I'll write Phil, and yes, prayers for him, his family, and for Dan's family.
Shirlee, these are the directions to Phil's farm: The pasture is located at 28304 Pleasant Ridge Road, McGregor. Directions to the farm: take U.S. 18 east past Giard and turn left onto Iris Avenue. Go 3.6 miles and turn right onto Pleasant Ridge Road (County Road B45). The farm will be on the right after about 1.2 miles.
This is Dan's farm's addy: Prairie Quest Farm, Daniel Specht, 12082 Iris Avenue, McGregor IA 52157
WHY,WHY,WHY??????? Isn't 't that the question that always comes to mind in a death like this when a good person is doing good work our world needs? I don 't understand and never expect to.
Will write a note to Phil. I have always respected what I learned of him while he was blogging between his work. Farming, writing poetry, sharing the computer with his wife.
Thank you, Jo again for this space--good news or bad we need to know.
I was thinking about the contrast between these two brothers and the one on the front page just now. If either one or both of the Koch brothers died, there would be rejoicing in the land. . . . And it would be more than justified. This just breaks my heart.
Thinking of Phil and Dan and their families. Thoughts, sorrow, a prayer.
Off to Daz Bog to meet with poets to read and offer suggestions. This is my offering this morning.
Going Where?
Alu fea? Alu fea?
Soft voices, I never Realized how soft Until we had dinner At an Anaheim restaurant When we returned to the States.
Maybe the trees and ocean A susurration , a cautioning?
Where are you going?
There isn’t much space On an island: Villages, a river, Mountains, then The ocean.
But, there are other Dimensions I couldn’t See, a cannibal giant’s cave, A jumping off place To Pulotu called Fe’e, Read Hades, A cemetery where High Chiefs lay and Ancestors who’d never Left, their presence Felt, and I as blind And deaf, unschooled To this island world.
Would we say to strangers Here, Where are you going? No need, the roads Are visible, all seems Material, no hidden Spaces we recognize.
A friends post on Johnny Dep and his plans to buy Wounded Knee and give it back to the owners, got me searching around the nets. Wounded Knee hit me like a truckload of bricks a few decades ago. Perhaps this has something to do with it. Knowing in the bone, so to speak. . . .
***The Yellow Creek Massacre was a brutal killing of several Mingos by Virginia frontiersmen on April 30, 1774 that was one of the main incidents that contributed to Lord Dunmore's War. It was carried out by a group led by Jacob and Daniel Greathouse. The perpetrators of this slaughter were never brought to justice.
This incident was all the worse because Chief Logan was a good friend of the English-speaking settlers in the region. Chief Logan was away on a hunt but his wife Mellana, his brother Taylaynee (called John Petty by many English speakers), Taylaynee's son Molnah and his Logan's and Taylaynee's sister Koonay were among the slain. Koonay was also the wife of John Gibson a prominent trader between the English and various Native American groups who at the time of the massacre was on a trading expedition to the Shawnee.
The Greathouse group lured the Mingo group under Taylaynee into their camp with a promise of liquor and sport. Then they sprung an ambush on the Mingos and shot them dead. After the killings many of the bodies were mutilated. In a particular brutal killing Jacob Greathouse ripped open Koonay's abdomen and removed and scalped her unborn son. The only member of the first group who was not killed was Koonay's two-year-old daughter who was eventually returned to the care of her father, John Gibson, after she had for a time been in the care of William Crawford.*** (wiki)
Koonay was my many greats grandmother, as was the two-year-old, Polly Gibson.
Philosopher Of The Land (The Unified Theory of Everything)
Birds to the mulberry tree dessert after insect meal do they carry the life force to the mulberry seed?
The grazing cows stirring the plants rough tongue made to rend the green curtain there for certain life is given and received. But new tree under fence post telling of birds.
Seeing the whole Bugs and birds, plants, animals under a wide sky, blessed by the sun under a watchful eye, a knowing eye "come bos" come I know greener pastures.
I know greener pastures.
So with Dan's gentle call first the wisest begin to follow (he does not fail them) for rain falls on just and unjust and not needing to wander 40 years find a promised land under a watchful eye as they pass the gate.
Thanks for the outpouring of love. There will be a memorial service at 11:00 AM Sat July 20th at Pikes Peak State Park south of McGregor and the we will share some food and our stories of Dan. when the funeral home has the obituary up on their website I will share the link
A beautiful day here at 216--Brenda brought in groceries for me plus her home made yogurt and healthy granola bars. We had dinner together. A little cloudy but who cares?
Good to hear the west has gotten a little rain at least.
This day, forty nine years ago, I spent in a labor room in Providence Hospital. With Nurse Ratched. Hubby had called home, and was told that a cousin had already picked our boy's name, so we were picking a new one from the back of the dictionary. Finally made him leave as soothing his worries were too much work. Got scopolamine, which doesn't actually relieve pain, but makes you forget afterward. Sort of.
My first baby, boy, was born a half hour after midnight. After 22 1/2 hours of labor. And worth ever moment of it.
Congratulations, Puddle. I have to laugh, when David was ill and I had to administer shots, I called myself Nurse Ratched.
I think when my first child was born, I had a sense that it was a miracle, and I feel the same way today.
More rain last night. It is wet here, and more this morning. There's never a balance it seems, but I'm not complaining.
About the George Zimmerman case, he'll have to live with what he did the rest of his life. In this situation, nature may be more punishing than a guilty verdict and prison ever could be.
On Friday night's Bill Maher, a Republican member of the panel pointed out that the statistics of drugs and violence are the same for the White and Black races, but the Blacks are incarcerated 65% and the Whites 20%. There is racial profiling and injustice in how Blacks are treated. Maybe a national dialogue can improve the situation.
I don't know, Pat. It seems to me that Zimmerman is close to that species that Puddle named Zombies. Part of the problem, I suppose, is that wretched Florida "stand your ground law."
Same here, Puddle--have the a/c on more than I feel comfortable with--but if not everything just gets sticky.
A nice, peaceful protest march here last night. Started near the Civil Rights Museum in honor of Trayvon Martin, protesting Zimmerman 's acquittal. Many college students, but parents with young children and a few older folks here.
I do believe Florida is. Stranger state to live in than Texas. Texas is big enough and roomy enough that the weirdness gets spread around. Well, that is my theory anyway!
--but the there Is also Michigan, Ohio, ,Wisconsin and NC! My private theory for NC is that rotten John Edwards shenanigans as a Democrat set the stage for change!
Immediate future seems fun-- in a week or so Brenda and I are leaving on our driving trip to Michigan fo my youngest grandaughter's wedding. Plenty of stops and time to rest built in. I am still a little weary from hospital and re-hab, but that is apparently normal. We plan to have a wonderful time. Thanks fo your good wishes, Pat.
Like to ask for prayers. My daughter in law, the one who just visited, is in ICU with a spinal chord infection. She's in critical condition. Thank you.
When I was little, I got lost at a department store. When my parents found me, I was surprised at how upset they were. . . . After all, I'd known where *I* was the whole time.
Remembering back to Edwin/ICU, no one would have known anything if it hadn't been for Thankful. I was just plain too far out of it to even imagine that anyone but me was involved. . . .
Okay, the news is: she'd been paralyzed from the neck down. Today, she rebounded enough to move both feet (and toes), and both hands (and fingers). Her mother says the doctors see this as real progress. They put her on a feeding tube today.
Oh, puddle, that news is so good! The return of movement is a huge thing because it says that the body can heal and what's more IS healing! That is the best possible news...!! Still holding her in the Light! XOX
Rained every day the kids were all here, then one flood, then drought, then finally, again today: dropped the temps by about twenty degrees, and the world smells wonderful!
Any more news on your daughter-in-law, Puddle? Hoping she continues to improve. Planning and packing starting this week--well organized by Brenda! In the mid 80's here this week, some cool down predicted for next. Sort of hate to see it make that slide because too soon for me it is headed for winter.
President Obama gave a very good and thoughtful more extended speech on the Trayvon Martin case. A wonderful Prez we have!!!
ACED my blood test on Monday! Got the results Friday: HDL up to 46, LDL down 19 points, so ratio is now 48. No more threat of Statin drugs!! Hurrah!!
Lots more was tested too...a CBC, including liver function and so on. All came back normal with the lone exception of a fasting glucose of 114mg/%. At first I was concerned, but when I checked the numbers I saw that this places me at mid-range of pre-diabetes...which where I've been for years! So that's nothing new. My nutritionist says it's possible that I just tend high normally. We're going to discuss it soon. Anyway, I'm a very happy camper!!!
Just reading back on the thread --hunting for the date of Dan Specht's memorial service. Reminded it is today--love to all the Specht family, friends and fellow farmers. Love and peace to all of them.
Well, mostly good news all around it seems. Puddle, Listener, Shirlee. Sad news about Helen Thomas. Good, productive long life.
Starting to get ready for our annual summer party. Will be the last one with Mz Little gracing the invite. A fond farewell to her. Burt and I are starting the healing process and waiting to see what the Universe has next for us.
Productive day here--one of my Handy Helpers from Brenda's Grassroots Gang has agreed to straighten and properly re-shelve books left awry by the restoration company. Small mis-shelvings can make things impossible to find. She will be back when she has time and until finished.
Big, old block party being held in the city parking lot across the street--bands, booths and folks having fun. I have a front row seat right here in my apartment with two views of Elm street. Good thing I am a night owl:):)
My Mac stopped and hung while transferring from my camera to iPhoto. The only way to turn off the computer was to hold the button down. Upon rebooting, instead of the cute little "heh-heh" sound it makes, the Mac sounded like a truck backing up or like I had repeatedly answered wrongly on a game show.
Geek son says that sounds like I need a new computer. Bleah. Husband Bill says it smells like the Motherboard fried. :-( At least that could mean the hard drive is okay.
Notes: Just before we left for Maine this week, I backed up all my data files! =Whew!= I also backed up my photos from Oct, Nov and Dec. would have backed up all of them, but my 500GB photo drive is about full. Need to buy another for 2013's photos!
So now I'm wondering if I could do all I need with just my iPhone and maybe an iPad with 128GB of memory on it. Anyone tried it?
We had quite the fun with the Grands this week! Two arrived from Maine on Weds night late, with their Dad. We took two days off from work and had fun. We took them to the Shelburne Museum, then out to lunch with their new boy cousin (our Grandson), then to Jamie Two Coats toy store where we let them pick out their own birthday gifts! That evening, the older Grand (6) went to an event with her Dad while we had the younger Grand (3) all to ourselves. Naturally, it being a week until her 4th birthday, we had cake & ice cream and played for hours! Then Daddy and youngest headed home to Maine and eldest got to stay over!
The next day we did special things here, then went to a gallery, picked up middle Granddaughter (5), got cones, and headed to Maine with both of them! What a wild, energetic ride with two giggly girls who later grew cantankerous and finally konked out. Ha!
Yesterday we began with all three Granddaughters and both their Dads (second Dad had been in Boston and drove up) in Maine. Then they all went off to the Beach while we left for our 40th class reunion. Our family reunion was to be the same day, but was postponed due to the thunderstorms which never materialised.
The Class Reunion was nicer to be at than expected...despite it being held inside a maintenance garage (I kid you not!), with potluck food. Everyone was so kind, friendly, respectful and happy to see us. It was heartwarming to reconnect with certain beloved old friends. Made plans to get together with two of them. There were even a few teachers there...and it turns out one was only 5 years older than us ( and remembered us!). That's kind of amazing because I was only there my senior year, and never had her for a class. But I had graduated 3rd in the class, and she was the teacher who proofed my Welcome address for the graduation ceremony. Funny how well we both recalled that exchange. I got to thank those teachers for going on strike that year; they did it not for higher wages (though they were the lowest paid in the State of NH, but to get more supplies for the school. The town still said no. Mind you, there was ONE microscope in the whole high school!
Anyway, it was very worthwhile, and no bad surprises after 40 years. :-)
Happy you have had a lovely week, Listener. Grandkids are fun--when you still have the energy. I had plenty when my oldest were small, now in their 30's and 40's. Now I find I don't have the same kind of energy for the ggs--even though it can be fun to watch their antics.
I'm glad your daughter-in-law is improving, Puddle. Also, good to hear of all the events and activities.
Last night we went to a neighbor's yearly barbecue in remembrance of her husband. 150 people invited. David barbecued the chicken, already oven cooked, then grilled with sauce. Some wonderful Coho salmon, wild, from Alaska, and good neighbors. A fun night.
Our meadow is amazing, filled with purple and white bergamot or bee balm as it's known here. Remember The Color Purple made into a movie? Alice Walker was the author of the book. That's what the meadow looks like.
Well, off for some reading. Oh, just finished a psychological thriller, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It's comparable to Tana French, Into the Woods and other books of hers. Just chilling.
Good news about Amber, Puddle. This must mean the infection is under control? Hope so. Off to the ortho doc tomorrow for another check. According to projections should be healed.
Have the most important part of my packing done--books:) Sleep well, all.
Just got the most awesome news after labwork results: my chances of having a heart attack in the next ten years is 6.41%!!! Note that sweet little decimal point! Given my family history, this is phenomenal!! Guess I'm rocking the healthy lifestyle! :-D
Thanks, Shirlee! My mother had her first heart attack at age 54, and I'm 57. For generations, all the women on both sides of my family have died of heart attack, except one maternal aunt whose diabetes got there first. So I'm kind of floating in surprise!!
Bless your heart for taking the best possible care of yourself. It pays off as you head on the road to aging. Is your nutritionist a stand alone practitioner or part of. A health care group? The biggest complaint I have about most traditionally trained MDs and specialists is that they know so little about nutrition and good diet beyond the very basics.. As for supplements I have found even younger ones just basically 'against them. I have been lucky enough for close to twenty years to live in areas with good privately owned health food stores. These folks do keep up with what is going on. I know of an African-American woman here in Greensboro who always went to our local health food store before she consulted a doctor! Store was begun 40 plus years ago by the grandfather and father of the two brothers who now run the business
I guess I'm lucky in my history: I had a mom who was likely to do her own research. Also, because of my diet history, and doctors dufus take on it, I became very disinclined to take their word on much. The fact my father died of truly bad medical care in my mid twenties didn't help much, either. My most recent brush with ignorant/uncaring docs was two years ago with the achalasia. It was also a brush with brilliance. So wash. It simply behooves us to know when to ignore them. . .
My nutritionist is stand alone. She's brilliant and has such positive energy. She was featured on our local news at. 5:30pm tonight speaking on detoxification. I sent her a celebratory note today and she was so happy for me!
My new MD was GREAT today!! She was calm and complimentary, and took the time to highlight that I'll want to now live as one who *isn't* doomed to follow in the footsteps of her forebears. I added that I would also remain intentional, and she smiled and nodded. I don't need another appointment until April!
Good advice about ignoring their pronouncements, Puddle. I still have the hammer toe the young surgeon was so eager to take off just by learning how to care for it!
Sounds as though you have a great team, Listener--congratulations.
I love this blog--there are enough of us to have a conversation, but not so many we feel uncomfortable talking about some things. I am guessing the good Dr. Dean would approve of this conversation . Again, thank you, Jo!
89 comments:
Bless Howard for the peeps he gathered under his wing. Astonishing group of humans, being.
We got over five inches of rain last night, and only minimal flooding. Which means Highland County got only a fraction of that. Amazing. I'd only moved the car back down after ten days uphill.
Dear Deaniacs...Sadly I report that Phil Specht's brother Dan has been killed in a farming accident, while moving round bales of hay for his cows. He asks prayers for the family.
Ah, puddle, so glad the flooding was 't worse!
We actually have a sunny day today and the humidity is down! Came in from the gardens to Phil's tragic news. :-( it's utterly heart-wrenching!! I'm sure this also means more work for those who will need to shoulder Dan's farm work.
Do you have Phil's address?
so sorry for Phil and family. here's his addy:
28304 Pleasant Ridge Rd
Mc Gregor, IA 52157
563-873-2498
I am so sorry to hear of Phil's brother's accident. These are still too common...and I wonder with larger equipment
more serious.
Did he live near Phil, Listener?r
Pearlmaker Farm, 28304 Pleasant Ridge Rd, McGregor, Iowa
http://www.agrinews.com/its/bobolink/central/at/dan/spechts/farm/story-4677.html
Boy, that hit me like a sledge hammer. Broke into tears. And spent some time howling. Guess that sometimes it's just a bit too close to home.
OMG! I'm in tears. The Specht family is one of our Deaniac treasures. I'll send a card right off.
:o(
When I was taking EMT training (I dropped out--my blood pressure protested: I'm just plain chicken), there was an advanced class offered just for farm accidents.
Thank you listener, for the news and Jo, for Phil's address. I am so sorry. Thoughts and prayers for them.
We just never know. I was thinking of the small town, Megantic in Quebec, and a train car slides down and explodes. Every day, every breath is precious.
I'll write Phil, and yes, prayers for him, his family, and for Dan's family.
Shirlee, these are the directions to Phil's farm: The pasture is located at 28304 Pleasant Ridge Road, McGregor. Directions to the farm: take U.S. 18 east past Giard and turn left onto Iris Avenue. Go 3.6 miles and turn right onto Pleasant Ridge Road (County Road B45). The farm will be on the right after about 1.2 miles.
This is Dan's farm's addy: Prairie Quest Farm, Daniel Specht, 12082 Iris Avenue, McGregor IA 52157
Phil posted the url for this article back on the old blog. Been watching his brother ever since.
http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/features/2005/0205/specht/index.shtml
WHY,WHY,WHY??????? Isn't 't that the question that always comes to mind in a death like this when a good person is doing good work our world needs? I don 't understand and never expect to.
Will write a note to Phil. I have always respected what I learned of him while he was blogging between his work. Farming, writing poetry, sharing the computer with his wife.
Thank you, Jo again for this space--good news or bad we need to know.
I was thinking about the contrast between these two brothers and the one on the front page just now. If either one or both of the Koch brothers died, there would be rejoicing in the land. . . . And it would be more than justified. This just breaks my heart.
Good Morning,
Thinking of Phil and Dan and their families. Thoughts, sorrow, a prayer.
Off to Daz Bog to meet with poets to read and offer suggestions. This is my offering this morning.
Going Where?
Alu fea? Alu fea?
Soft voices, I never
Realized how soft
Until we had dinner
At an Anaheim restaurant
When we returned to the States.
Maybe the trees and ocean
A susurration , a cautioning?
Where are you going?
There isn’t much space
On an island:
Villages, a river,
Mountains, then
The ocean.
But, there are other
Dimensions I couldn’t
See, a cannibal giant’s cave,
A jumping off place
To Pulotu called Fe’e,
Read Hades,
A cemetery where
High Chiefs lay and
Ancestors who’d never
Left, their presence
Felt, and I as blind
And deaf, unschooled
To this island world.
Would we say to strangers
Here, Where are you going?
No need, the roads
Are visible, all seems
Material, no hidden
Spaces we recognize.
Lovely, Pat, lovely. Thank you.
Texas Republicans just passed the law that's going to turn Texas blue, bless their little black hearts.
A friends post on Johnny Dep and his plans to buy Wounded Knee and give it back to the owners, got me searching around the nets. Wounded Knee hit me like a truckload of bricks a few decades ago. Perhaps this has something to do with it. Knowing in the bone, so to speak. . . .
***The Yellow Creek Massacre was a brutal killing of several Mingos by Virginia frontiersmen on April 30, 1774 that was one of the main incidents that contributed to Lord Dunmore's War. It was carried out by a group led by Jacob and Daniel Greathouse. The perpetrators of this slaughter were never brought to justice.
This incident was all the worse because Chief Logan was a good friend of the English-speaking settlers in the region. Chief Logan was away on a hunt but his wife Mellana, his brother Taylaynee (called John Petty by many English speakers), Taylaynee's son Molnah and his Logan's and Taylaynee's sister Koonay were among the slain. Koonay was also the wife of John Gibson a prominent trader between the English and various Native American groups who at the time of the massacre was on a trading expedition to the Shawnee.
The Greathouse group lured the Mingo group under Taylaynee into their camp with a promise of liquor and sport. Then they sprung an ambush on the Mingos and shot them dead. After the killings many of the bodies were mutilated. In a particular brutal killing Jacob Greathouse ripped open Koonay's abdomen and removed and scalped her unborn son. The only member of the first group who was not killed was Koonay's two-year-old daughter who was eventually returned to the care of her father, John Gibson, after she had for a time been in the care of William Crawford.*** (wiki)
Koonay was my many greats grandmother, as was the two-year-old, Polly Gibson.
Family only discovered/documented this line last year. I knew about the massacre last year, but this is a lot more graphic.
Phil Specht
Philosopher Of The Land (The Unified Theory of Everything)
Birds to the mulberry tree
dessert after insect meal
do they carry the life force to the mulberry seed?
The grazing cows stirring the plants
rough tongue made to rend the green curtain
there for certain life is given and received.
But new tree under fence post telling of birds.
Seeing the whole
Bugs and birds, plants, animals
under a wide sky, blessed by the sun
under a watchful eye, a knowing eye
"come bos"
come I know greener pastures.
I know greener pastures.
So with Dan's gentle call
first the wisest begin to follow
(he does not fail them)
for rain falls on just and unjust
and not needing to wander 40 years
find a promised land under a watchful eye
as they pass the gate.
Thanks for the outpouring of love. There will be a memorial service at 11:00 AM Sat July 20th at Pikes Peak State Park south of McGregor and the we will share some food and our stories of Dan. when the funeral home has the obituary up on their website I will share the link
What a lovely, lovely poem. Thank you Phil..and..Puddle ..I assume you posted this.
Any possible peace to all the Specht family, neighbors, friends and fellow farmers...and poets.
http://eatapyzch.blogspot.com/2013/07/philosopher-of-land-unified-theory-of.html
Beautiful poem from Phil, and glad it's posted on your website, Puddle.
Good rains yesterday, the land sweet, a pot pourri of scents, rich, verdant.
We are so grateful for the rains.
Have a beautiful day friends.
A beautiful day here at 216--Brenda brought in groceries for me plus her home made yogurt and healthy granola bars. We had dinner together. A little cloudy but who cares?
Good to hear the west has gotten a little rain at least.
Love to all.
This day, forty nine years ago, I spent in a labor room in Providence Hospital. With Nurse Ratched. Hubby had called home, and was told that a cousin had already picked our boy's name, so we were picking a new one from the back of the dictionary. Finally made him leave as soothing his worries were too much work. Got scopolamine, which doesn't actually relieve pain, but makes you forget afterward. Sort of.
My first baby, boy, was born a half hour after midnight. After 22 1/2 hours of labor. And worth ever moment of it.
Congratulations, Puddle. I have to laugh, when David was ill and I had to administer shots, I called myself Nurse Ratched.
I think when my first child was born, I had a sense that it was a miracle, and I feel the same way today.
More rain last night. It is wet here, and more this morning. There's never a balance it seems, but I'm not complaining.
About the George Zimmerman case, he'll have to live with what he did the rest of his life. In this situation, nature may be more punishing than a guilty verdict and prison ever could be.
On Friday night's Bill Maher, a Republican member of the panel pointed out that the statistics of drugs and violence are the same for the White and Black races, but the Blacks are incarcerated 65% and the Whites 20%. There is racial profiling and injustice in how Blacks are treated. Maybe a national dialogue can improve the situation.
And so, have a good day today.
BRASS MONKEYS BEWARE!
... Record high temperature tied in Burlington Vermont...
As of 202 PM... the temperature at the Burlington International
Airport read 93 degrees. This ties the record set back in 1955 and
1901.
Hottest July 15th of my life!
Thanks for the address, Jo! XOXOXXX
I don't know, Pat. It seems to me that Zimmerman is close to that species that Puddle named Zombies. Part of the problem, I suppose, is that wretched Florida "stand your ground law."
Enjoy the hot weather, Listener :):):)
Warmer than I wanted, but not as hot as tomorrow's predicted to be. Had the a/c on all day, about as much for the humidity as for the heat.
Same here, Puddle--have the a/c on more than I feel comfortable with--but if not everything just gets sticky.
A nice, peaceful protest march here last night. Started near the Civil Rights Museum in honor of Trayvon Martin, protesting Zimmerman 's acquittal. Many college students, but parents with young children and a few older folks here.
I do believe Florida is. Stranger state to live in than Texas.
Texas is big enough and roomy enough that the weirdness gets spread around. Well, that is my theory anyway!
Seems to me like the red states/Confederate states are getting weirder and weirder. I wonder if hate changes your DNA?
--but the there Is also Michigan, Ohio, ,Wisconsin and NC!
My private theory for NC is that rotten John Edwards shenanigans as a Democrat set the stage for change!
.....in NC at least
...ah, never post between early morning snoozes--messes up the grammar,
HA! Got the "full agency discharge" from home health today. Back to normal--whatever that is!!!!
Yea for you, Shirlee. May normal be interesting, comforting, fun, and well, just great to be free, alive, and 21.
Sorry about that, rhyme seems to have its own reason. Grin here.
Immediate future seems fun-- in a week or so Brenda and I are leaving on our driving trip to Michigan fo my youngest grandaughter's wedding. Plenty of stops and time to rest built in. I am still a little weary from hospital and re-hab, but that is apparently normal. We plan to have a wonderful time. Thanks fo your good wishes, Pat.
Ah, Shirlee, so glad you're out the other side of chute! And great plans for the trip. Gonna be fun fun fun!!
Too damned hot here. Did hear thunder grumbles a little earlier, so hope springs.
Looks like Zimmerman has been accused of child molestation. Hope it has legs. The bastard.
Like to ask for prayers. My daughter in law, the one who just visited, is in ICU with a spinal chord infection. She's in critical condition. Thank you.
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´¸¸.•¨¯`•.
♥ Constant Prayers ensuing! ♥
I have her, and her whole medical team tucked into my prayers, as well as all loved ones. =HUG!=
Yes, a prayer for your daughter-in-law. Please keep us up to date.
Hope you get some rain and cooler weather. Today was as perfect as a day can be. Tomorrow warmer, then some more rain.
Night friends.
Oh, Puddle I am so sorry. Good thoughts from GSO for her, the family and you.
Oh Puddle! Healing vibes going her way. Keeping you and your family close to the heart. XOXO
{{{{ Holding Amber in the Light! }}}}
xox Clear scans for Ally! XOXOXXX
Thanks, listener, all. She seems to be holding on. Life in ICU is dreadfully boring in a really awful way.
Finally closed up the house today, and with the a/c on it's drying out a bit. I was beginning to feel like I was swimming through the air.
I hope things are stabilizing for your daughter in law. Infections of any kind are nasty things.
Wonder of wonders-- our elected officials actually confirmed Richard Cordray!
Love to all from GSO.
No new news. I feel like I'm in a bottle.
Oh, I am sorry, Puddle. I hope you have some word soon in this serious situation. Sometimes young'uns forget we worry about them--possible?
When I was little, I got lost at a department store. When my parents found me, I was surprised at how upset they were. . . . After all, I'd known where *I* was the whole time.
Remembering back to Edwin/ICU, no one would have known anything if it hadn't been for Thankful. I was just plain too far out of it to even imagine that anyone but me was involved. . . .
Okay, the news is: she'd been paralyzed from the neck down. Today, she rebounded enough to move both feet (and toes), and both hands (and fingers). Her mother says the doctors see this as real progress. They put her on a feeding tube today.
That is hopeful. We'll keep thinking of her.
Thunder and lightning and heavy downpour, so will have to turn the computer off.
Oh, puddle, that news is so good! The return of movement is a huge thing because it says that the body can heal and what's more IS healing! That is the best possible news...!! Still holding her in the Light! XOX
Yes, good news. But, also--how are you? Out of the bottle?
Pretty much out of the bottle, I think. I hope.
ah, Puddle. So glad she's coming along. Healing vibes continuing.
Much love to all my bloggie peeps.
Rained every day the kids were all here, then one flood, then drought, then finally, again today: dropped the temps by about twenty degrees, and the world smells wonderful!
Hi Puddle,
A hard rain yesterday, more predicted tonight. Cool and comfortable here as well.
Any more news on your daughter-in-law, Puddle? Hoping she continues to improve. Planning and packing starting this week--well organized by Brenda! In the mid 80's here this week, some cool down predicted for next. Sort of hate to see it make that slide because too soon for me it is headed for winter.
President Obama gave a very good and thoughtful more extended speech on the Trayvon Martin case. A wonderful Prez we have!!!
ACED my blood test on Monday! Got the results Friday: HDL up to 46, LDL down 19 points, so ratio is now 48. No more threat of Statin drugs!! Hurrah!!
Lots more was tested too...a CBC, including liver function and so on. All came back normal with the lone exception of a fasting glucose of 114mg/%. At first I was concerned, but when I checked the numbers I saw that this places me at mid-range of pre-diabetes...which where I've been for years! So that's nothing new. My nutritionist says it's possible that I just tend high normally. We're going to discuss it soon. Anyway, I'm a very happy camper!!!
97F at my house today. With humidity of 98%! =UGGHHH!!!=
Did I mention we don't have A/C?
Shouldn't need it in Vermont--one would think!
Just reading back on the thread --hunting for the date of Dan Specht's memorial service. Reminded it is today--love to all the Specht family, friends and fellow farmers. Love and peace to all of them.
RIP Helen Thomas. I think she jumped the shark in her dotage, but a good long life lived well.
Well, mostly good news all around it seems. Puddle, Listener, Shirlee. Sad news about Helen Thomas. Good, productive long life.
Starting to get ready for our annual summer party. Will be the last one with Mz Little gracing the invite. A fond farewell to her. Burt and I are starting the healing process and waiting to see what the Universe has next for us.
Productive day here--one of my Handy Helpers from Brenda's Grassroots Gang has agreed to straighten and properly re-shelve books left awry by the restoration company. Small mis-shelvings can make things impossible to find. She will be back when she has time and until finished.
Big, old block party being held in the city parking lot across the street--bands, booths and folks having fun. I have a front row seat right here in my apartment with two views of Elm street. Good thing I am a night owl:):)
Beautifully cool and rainy here. And the cool stretches as far as the forecast goes. Loving it.
HMMM...THIS CAN'T BE GOOD:
My Mac stopped and hung while transferring from my camera to iPhoto. The only way to turn off the computer was to hold the button down. Upon rebooting, instead of the cute little "heh-heh" sound it makes, the Mac sounded like a truck backing up or like I had repeatedly answered wrongly on a game show.
Geek son says that sounds like I need a new computer. Bleah. Husband Bill says it smells like the Motherboard fried. :-( At least that could mean the hard drive is okay.
Notes: Just before we left for Maine this week, I backed up all my data files! =Whew!= I also backed up my photos from Oct, Nov and Dec. would have backed up all of them, but my 500GB photo drive is about full. Need to buy another for 2013's photos!
So now I'm wondering if I could do all I need with just my iPhone and maybe an iPad with 128GB of memory on it. Anyone tried it?
Forgot to mention that the beeping sound came with a metallic smell. Rut Roh!
We had quite the fun with the Grands this week! Two arrived from Maine on Weds night late, with their Dad. We took two days off from work and had fun. We took them to the Shelburne Museum, then out to lunch with their new boy cousin (our Grandson), then to Jamie Two Coats toy store where we let them pick out their own birthday gifts! That evening, the older Grand (6) went to an event with her Dad while we had the younger Grand (3) all to ourselves. Naturally, it being a week until her 4th birthday, we had cake & ice cream and played for hours! Then Daddy and youngest headed home to Maine and eldest got to stay over!
The next day we did special things here, then went to a gallery, picked up middle Granddaughter (5), got cones, and headed to Maine with both of them! What a wild, energetic ride with two giggly girls who later grew cantankerous and finally konked out. Ha!
Yesterday we began with all three Granddaughters and both their Dads (second Dad had been in Boston and drove up) in Maine. Then they all went off to the Beach while we left for our 40th class reunion. Our family reunion was to be the same day, but was postponed due to the thunderstorms which never materialised.
The Class Reunion was nicer to be at than expected...despite it being held inside a maintenance garage (I kid you not!), with potluck food. Everyone was so kind, friendly, respectful and happy to see us. It was heartwarming to reconnect with certain beloved old friends. Made plans to get together with two of them. There were even a few teachers there...and it turns out one was only 5 years older than us ( and remembered us!). That's kind of amazing because I was only there my senior year, and never had her for a class. But I had graduated 3rd in the class, and she was the teacher who proofed my Welcome address for the graduation ceremony. Funny how well we both recalled that exchange. I got to thank those teachers for going on strike that year; they did it not for higher wages (though they were the lowest paid in the State of NH, but to get more supplies for the school. The town still said no. Mind you, there was ONE microscope in the whole high school!
Anyway, it was very worthwhile, and no bad surprises after 40 years. :-)
What fun, Listener!
Happy you have had a lovely week, Listener. Grandkids are fun--when you still have the energy. I had plenty when my oldest were small, now in their 30's and 40's. Now I find I don't have the same kind of energy for the ggs--even though it can be fun to watch their antics.
Amber still in ICU but still making progress. She is now taking in small amounts of liquid by mouth; sucking on ice mostly but some juice.
Hello,
I'm glad your daughter-in-law is improving, Puddle. Also, good to hear of all the events and activities.
Last night we went to a neighbor's yearly barbecue in remembrance of her husband. 150 people invited. David barbecued the chicken, already oven cooked, then grilled with sauce. Some wonderful Coho salmon, wild, from Alaska, and good neighbors. A fun night.
Our meadow is amazing, filled with purple and white bergamot or bee balm as it's known here. Remember The Color Purple made into a movie? Alice Walker was the author of the book. That's what the meadow looks like.
Well, off for some reading. Oh, just finished a psychological thriller, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It's comparable to Tana French, Into the Woods and other books of hers. Just chilling.
Night folks.
Good news about Amber, Puddle. This must mean the infection is under control? Hope so. Off to the ortho doc tomorrow for another check. According to projections should be healed.
Have the most important part of my packing done--books:)
Sleep well, all.
Very cool. Flood warning, so skipping going to town today.
Glad you got help with the reshelving--not being able to find books you know you have is frustrating to the max. . . .
Just got the most awesome news after labwork results: my chances of having a heart attack in the next ten years is 6.41%!!! Note that sweet little decimal point! Given my family history, this is phenomenal!! Guess I'm rocking the healthy lifestyle! :-D
Good for you, Listener!!!!!!!
Thanks, Shirlee!
My mother had her first heart attack at age 54, and I'm 57. For generations, all the women on both sides of my family have died of heart attack, except one maternal aunt whose diabetes got there first. So I'm kind of floating in surprise!!
Bless your heart for taking the best possible care of yourself. It pays off as you head on the road to aging.
Is your nutritionist a stand alone practitioner or part of. A health care group? The biggest complaint I have about most traditionally trained MDs and specialists is that they know so little about nutrition and good diet beyond the very basics.. As for supplements I have found even younger ones just basically 'against them. I have been lucky enough for close to twenty years to live in areas with good privately owned health food stores. These folks do keep up with what is going on. I know of an African-American woman here in Greensboro who always went to our local health food store before she consulted a doctor! Store was begun 40 plus years ago by the grandfather and father of the two brothers who now run the business
I guess I'm lucky in my history: I had a mom who was likely to do her own research. Also, because of my diet history, and doctors dufus take on it, I became very disinclined to take their word on much. The fact my father died of truly bad medical care in my mid twenties didn't help much, either. My most recent brush with ignorant/uncaring docs was two years ago with the achalasia. It was also a brush with brilliance. So wash. It simply behooves us to know when to ignore them. . .
My nutritionist is stand alone. She's brilliant and has such positive energy. She was featured on our local news at. 5:30pm tonight speaking on detoxification. I sent her a celebratory note today and she was so happy for me!
My new MD was GREAT today!! She was calm and complimentary, and took the time to highlight that I'll want to now live as one who *isn't* doomed to follow in the footsteps of her forebears. I added that I would also remain intentional, and she smiled and nodded. I don't need another appointment until April!
Good advice about ignoring their pronouncements, Puddle.
I still have the hammer toe the young surgeon was so eager to take off just by learning how to care for it!
Sounds as though you have a great team, Listener--congratulations.
I love this blog--there are enough of us to have a conversation, but not so many we feel uncomfortable talking about some things. I am guessing the good Dr. Dean would approve of this conversation . Again, thank you, Jo!
Amber was moved down a step in ICU this morning. Good sign things are improving.
Excellent news, Puddle. Healing vibes continuing from Seattle!
Wonderful, wonderful news. Good thoughts and GSO sunshine to all!
Facebook has shut down on me. I can't like or comment or see others' comments. I'll be back when facebook lets me.
Amber update: Out of ICU and in Rehab at the hospital.
New thread!!
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