Robert Brady at Pureland Blogger (Living in Japan) wrote about the yellow dust everywhere outside his mountain home in Japan:(click on title for link)
" Then I remembered all the yellow days in Tokyo back in the seventies when I lived there, the kousa days that came in early Spring, when the high winds lifted up the dust from the Gobi Desert in China and blew it all the way to Japan. I hadn't noticed it this far south before, but here it was, dusting everything a light yellow, including me."
Here in Atlanta, Georgia we have had the "yellow dust" of a different variety for about 10 days now. The pollen count has been over 5000's for many days and over 150 is rated extremely high.The pollen is from pine trees and also oak beech and several others. I have a problem with this pollen getting into my chest and making me extremely hoarse if I am out for any length of time.
But yesterday and today we had some wonderfully heavy rain which is washing away the yellow stuff.
Glory be to God for small favors.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
Exotic Gardening
What's the most exotic plant you have ever grown?
I suppose mine would be an avocado tree that I grew from a pit. I stuck 3 toothpicks in the avocado pit and put it in a glass of water, suspended by the toothpicks, placed it in a sunny window and waited for it to sprout. Sprout it did and in no time it grew into about a 4 foot tall "tree". I took care of it tenderly and eventually planted it in a pot.
Now after reading this article below:
I want my own spaghetti tree:
"A plantation of 57 spaghetti trees imported from Britain as seedlings in 1957 has been destroyed by bushfires. "It's a heinous tragedy," said Australia's Prime Minister. "We will all have to eat baked beans this year."
Exactly 50 years ago today, broadcaster Richard Dimbleby showed BBC viewers a documentary film of a Swiss family picking spaghetti from a tree and placing it out to dry in the sun.
The BBC switchboard was swamped with callers wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti trees. "Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best," they were advised.
and this
Spaghetti Harvester
"On April 1, 1957 the British news show, Panorama, broadcast a segment about a bumper spaghetti harvest in southern Switzerland. The success of the crop was attributed to an unusually mild winter. The audience heard Richard Dimbleby, the show's highly respected anchor, discussing the details of the spaghetti crop as they watched a rural Swiss family pulling pasta off spaghetti trees and placing it into baskets.
"The spaghetti harvest here in Switzerland is not, of course, carried out on anything like the tremendous scale of the Italian industry," Dimbleby informed the audience. "Many of you, I'm sure," he continued, "will have seen pictures of the vast spaghetti plantations in the Po valley. For the Swiss, however, it tends to be more of a family affair."
The narration then continued in a tone of absolute seriousness:
"Another reason why this may be a bumper year lies in the virtual disappearance of the spaghetti weevil, the tiny creature whose depradations have caused much concern in the past."
Dimbleby anticipated some questions viewers might have. For instance, why, if spaghetti grows on trees, does it always come in uniform lengths? The answer was that "this is the result of many years of patient endeavor by past breeders who succeeded in producing the perfect spaghetti."
Blurry photo of Swiss family harvesting spaghettiAnd apparently the life of a spaghetti farmer was not free of worries: "The last two weeks of March are an anxious time for the spaghetti farmer. There's always the chance of a late frost which, while not entirely ruining the crop, generally impairs the flavor and makes it difficult for him to obtain top prices in world markets."
But finally, Dimbleby assured the audience that, "For those who love this dish, there's nothing like real, home-grown spaghetti."
From Eric Shakel's EBOOK
(click on link above in title)
I suppose mine would be an avocado tree that I grew from a pit. I stuck 3 toothpicks in the avocado pit and put it in a glass of water, suspended by the toothpicks, placed it in a sunny window and waited for it to sprout. Sprout it did and in no time it grew into about a 4 foot tall "tree". I took care of it tenderly and eventually planted it in a pot.
Now after reading this article below:
I want my own spaghetti tree:
"A plantation of 57 spaghetti trees imported from Britain as seedlings in 1957 has been destroyed by bushfires. "It's a heinous tragedy," said Australia's Prime Minister. "We will all have to eat baked beans this year."
Exactly 50 years ago today, broadcaster Richard Dimbleby showed BBC viewers a documentary film of a Swiss family picking spaghetti from a tree and placing it out to dry in the sun.
The BBC switchboard was swamped with callers wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti trees. "Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best," they were advised.
and this
Spaghetti Harvester
"On April 1, 1957 the British news show, Panorama, broadcast a segment about a bumper spaghetti harvest in southern Switzerland. The success of the crop was attributed to an unusually mild winter. The audience heard Richard Dimbleby, the show's highly respected anchor, discussing the details of the spaghetti crop as they watched a rural Swiss family pulling pasta off spaghetti trees and placing it into baskets.
"The spaghetti harvest here in Switzerland is not, of course, carried out on anything like the tremendous scale of the Italian industry," Dimbleby informed the audience. "Many of you, I'm sure," he continued, "will have seen pictures of the vast spaghetti plantations in the Po valley. For the Swiss, however, it tends to be more of a family affair."
The narration then continued in a tone of absolute seriousness:
"Another reason why this may be a bumper year lies in the virtual disappearance of the spaghetti weevil, the tiny creature whose depradations have caused much concern in the past."
Dimbleby anticipated some questions viewers might have. For instance, why, if spaghetti grows on trees, does it always come in uniform lengths? The answer was that "this is the result of many years of patient endeavor by past breeders who succeeded in producing the perfect spaghetti."
Blurry photo of Swiss family harvesting spaghettiAnd apparently the life of a spaghetti farmer was not free of worries: "The last two weeks of March are an anxious time for the spaghetti farmer. There's always the chance of a late frost which, while not entirely ruining the crop, generally impairs the flavor and makes it difficult for him to obtain top prices in world markets."
But finally, Dimbleby assured the audience that, "For those who love this dish, there's nothing like real, home-grown spaghetti."
From Eric Shakel's EBOOK
(click on link above in title)
Monday, March 26, 2007
Life's Little Annoyances
I bought my grown son a Tommy Hilfiger shirt at Macy's for his birthday. I brought it home, wrapped it in tissue paper and placed it in a Happy Birthday bag with a birthday card and a check. Son opened his present held it up to himself and pronounced it fine and dandy.
Then yesterday he called and asked if I had the receipt for the shirt. He had just discovered as he prepared to wear the shirt that hidden down underneath the collar was the security tag which cannot be removed except in the store itself. I could not find the receipt so I told him I would return the shirt for him. And besides, who wants to fool with returning your own birthday gift.
So I drove out to Macy's after picking up the shirt at son's house which was on the way. All went well; no security bells rang as I went into Macy's with the shirt. A clerk in the men's store removed the tag after which she reluctantly said "sorry about that"
What I don't get is why a polo type shirt that cost less than $50.00 requires a security tag in the first place. I can understand having those tags on expensive items like designer sunglasses or purses and high end women's fashions but a cotton shirt? To use the old cliche "Give me a break"
Anyway that was my "little annoyance" for this week.
What "little annoyance" have you experienced recently?
PS: I Googled "securiy tags" and found this info(click title above) about do it yourself removal of tags. I would not try this method but it is interesting to read.
Then yesterday he called and asked if I had the receipt for the shirt. He had just discovered as he prepared to wear the shirt that hidden down underneath the collar was the security tag which cannot be removed except in the store itself. I could not find the receipt so I told him I would return the shirt for him. And besides, who wants to fool with returning your own birthday gift.
So I drove out to Macy's after picking up the shirt at son's house which was on the way. All went well; no security bells rang as I went into Macy's with the shirt. A clerk in the men's store removed the tag after which she reluctantly said "sorry about that"
What I don't get is why a polo type shirt that cost less than $50.00 requires a security tag in the first place. I can understand having those tags on expensive items like designer sunglasses or purses and high end women's fashions but a cotton shirt? To use the old cliche "Give me a break"
Anyway that was my "little annoyance" for this week.
What "little annoyance" have you experienced recently?
PS: I Googled "securiy tags" and found this info(click title above) about do it yourself removal of tags. I would not try this method but it is interesting to read.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
BLOG QUILT
I visited Joy's blog "Joy of Six" and had a real funny senior moment when I read the title of her recent post "BLOG GUILT" that I want to share with you.
My comment on "Joy Of six"
"Talk about tired and stressed, when I clicked on your site just then and read the title of this entry(without my glasses on)...I read "BLOG QUILT" and I thought, Oh my what a neat idea, Joy has an idea for a "QUILT" that will weave many blog sites together into one beautiful whole...into a "BLOG QUILT"
Perhaps I am in the last stages of some rare blog disease or maybe my misreading the title of your post was because I just finished an interesting book"The Art Of Mending" by Elizabeth Berg. The main character in the story is Laura who is an accomplished quilter.
Anyway...do NOT feel blog guilt..instead just wrap yourself in this beautiful imaginary BLOG QUILT and go enjoy your family."
Click on the above title and go read Joy's post about "BLOG GUILT"
>
My comment on "Joy Of six"
"Talk about tired and stressed, when I clicked on your site just then and read the title of this entry(without my glasses on)...I read "BLOG QUILT" and I thought, Oh my what a neat idea, Joy has an idea for a "QUILT" that will weave many blog sites together into one beautiful whole...into a "BLOG QUILT"
Perhaps I am in the last stages of some rare blog disease or maybe my misreading the title of your post was because I just finished an interesting book"The Art Of Mending" by Elizabeth Berg. The main character in the story is Laura who is an accomplished quilter.
Anyway...do NOT feel blog guilt..instead just wrap yourself in this beautiful imaginary BLOG QUILT and go enjoy your family."
Click on the above title and go read Joy's post about "BLOG GUILT"
>
Saturday, March 17, 2007
HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY
Irish blessings for you
"For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day."
"May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go."
"Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live everyday as if it were your last."
"For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck, and happiness
For today and every day."
"May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go."
"Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live everyday as if it were your last."
Saturday, March 10, 2007
That's Not Nice
Since I was incensed by the recent comments of both Ann Coulter and Bill Maher I was interested to read this column in today's Wall Street Journal by Peggy Noonan discussing the lack of civility in our present political discourse. In my opinion it is one of her best.
And besides Peggy Noonan has some kind words for grandmothers.
(Actually, it was your grandmother who said "That's not nice." She's the one who probably taught you the wince. It is her wisdom, encapsulated in those three simple words, that is missing from the current debate.)
You can read it by clicking on the link above which will take you to "Opinion Journal"
But to save you the trouble here it is below.
"Our political discourse needs less censorship and more self-discipline.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Here is what has been said the past week or so that sparked argument: Bill Maher, on HBO, said a lot of lives would be saved if Vice President Cheney had died, and Ann Coulter, at a conservative political meeting, suggested John Edwards is a "faggot."
She was trying to be funny and get a laugh. He was trying to startle and get applause.
What followed was the predictable kabuki in which politically active groups and individuals feigned dismay as opposed to what many of them really felt, which was grim delight. Conservatives said they were chilled by Mr. Maher's comments, but I don't think they were. They were delighted he revealed what they believe is at the heart of modern liberalism, which is hate.
Liberals amused themselves making believe they were chilled by Ms. Coulter's remarks, but they were not. They were delighted she has revealed what they believe is at the heart of modern conservatism, which is hate.
The truth is many liberals were dismayed by Mr. Maher because he made them look bad, and many conservatives were mad at Ms. Coulter for the same reason.
I realized as I watched it all play out that there's a kind of simple way to know whether something you just heard is something that should not have been said. It is: Did it make you wince? When the Winceometer is triggered, it's an excellent indication that what you just heard is unfortunate and ought not to be repeated.
In both cases, Mr. Maher and Ms. Coulter, when I heard them, I winced. Did you? I thought so. In modern life we wince a lot. It's not the worst thing, but it's better when something makes you smile.
One of the clearest statements ever about the implied limits of legitimate political discourse was made by the imprisoned Socrates in his first dialogue with Crito, when he said, "That's not nice." Actually, it was your grandmother who said "That's not nice." She's the one who probably taught you the wince. It is her wisdom, encapsulated in those three simple words, that is missing from the current debate.
We tie ourselves in knots trying to explain why it is, or why it isn't, always or occasionally, helpful or destructive to use various epithets, or give full voice to our resentments. But the simple wisdom of Grandma-- "That's not nice"--is a good guide. (I should say that when I was a kid, grandmas were older people who had common sense. They had observed something of people, had experienced life directly, not only through books or TV. Almost all of them had religious faith, and had absorbed the teachings of the Bible. Almost all of them sat quietly at the kitchen table, and even when I was a kid they were considered old fashioned. They were often ethnic and had accents. As a matter of fact, all of them were.)
I think that as America has grown more academic or aware of education, the wisdom of Grandma has been denigrated. Or ignored. Or stolen and dressed up as something else. For instance, Rudy Giuliani's success in cleaning up and reviving the city of New York is generally attributed to his embrace of what is called, in academic circles, the broken-window theory. It holds that when criminals see that even small infractions are met and punished, they will understand that larger infractions will be met and punished. It also holds that when neighborhoods deteriorate, criminals are emboldened. People from Harvard won great prizes for these insights.
But all of broken-windows theory comes down to what Grandma always knew and said: "Fix the window or they'll think no one cares! When people think no one cares, they do whatever they want." There was not a single grandmother in America circa 1750-2007 who didn't know this. But no one wants to quote Grandma. She's so yesterday. And her simple teachings have been superseded by more exotic forms of instruction.
Fifty years ago, no one speaking at a respected political gathering would say, would even think of saying that Adlai Stevenson is a faggot. Nor would Arthur Godfrey or Jack Paar have declared on their television shows that we'd be better off if Eisenhower died. Is our discourse deteriorating? Yes, it is.
Part of the reason is that Grandma had more sway in the public sphere 50 years ago, which is to say common sense and a sense of decorum had more sway. Another part is that privately people felt they had more room to think or say whatever they wanted without being shamed or shunned. It let the steam out. We think of the 1950s as buttoned up, but in a way America had more give then. Men were understood not to be angels.
Our country now puts less of an emphasis on public decorum, courtliness, self-discipline, decency. America no longer says, "That's not nice." It doesn't want to make value judgments on "good" and "bad." We have come to rely on censorship to maintain decorum. We are very good at letting people know that if they say something we don't like, we'll shame them and shun them, even ruin them.
But censorship doesn't make people improve themselves; it makes people want to rebel. It tells them to toe the line or pay a price. People who are urged in the right direction and taught in the right direction will usually try to discipline and improve themselves from within. But they do not enjoy censorship from without. They fight back. They are rude in order to show they are unbroken.
This is human. And Grandma would have understood this, too.
I think the atmosphere of political correctness is now experienced by normal people--not people who speak on TV, but normal people--as so oppressive, so demanding of constant self-policing, that when someone says something in public that is truly not nice, not nice at all, they can't help but feel that they are witnessing a prison break.
As long as political correctness reigns, the more antic among us will try to break out with great streams of Tourette's-like forbidden words and ideas.
We should forbid less and demand more. We should exert less pressure from without and encourage more discipline from within. We should ask people to be dignified, hope they'll be generous, expect them to be fair. When they're not, we should correct them. But we shouldn't beat them to a pulp. Because that's not nice."
Ms. Noonan is a contributing editor of The Wall Street Journal and author of "John Paul the Great: Remembering a Spiritual Father" (Penguin, 2005), which you can order from the OpinionJournal bookstore. Her column appears Fridays on OpinionJournal.com.
And besides Peggy Noonan has some kind words for grandmothers.
(Actually, it was your grandmother who said "That's not nice." She's the one who probably taught you the wince. It is her wisdom, encapsulated in those three simple words, that is missing from the current debate.)
You can read it by clicking on the link above which will take you to "Opinion Journal"
But to save you the trouble here it is below.
"Our political discourse needs less censorship and more self-discipline.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Here is what has been said the past week or so that sparked argument: Bill Maher, on HBO, said a lot of lives would be saved if Vice President Cheney had died, and Ann Coulter, at a conservative political meeting, suggested John Edwards is a "faggot."
She was trying to be funny and get a laugh. He was trying to startle and get applause.
What followed was the predictable kabuki in which politically active groups and individuals feigned dismay as opposed to what many of them really felt, which was grim delight. Conservatives said they were chilled by Mr. Maher's comments, but I don't think they were. They were delighted he revealed what they believe is at the heart of modern liberalism, which is hate.
Liberals amused themselves making believe they were chilled by Ms. Coulter's remarks, but they were not. They were delighted she has revealed what they believe is at the heart of modern conservatism, which is hate.
The truth is many liberals were dismayed by Mr. Maher because he made them look bad, and many conservatives were mad at Ms. Coulter for the same reason.
I realized as I watched it all play out that there's a kind of simple way to know whether something you just heard is something that should not have been said. It is: Did it make you wince? When the Winceometer is triggered, it's an excellent indication that what you just heard is unfortunate and ought not to be repeated.
In both cases, Mr. Maher and Ms. Coulter, when I heard them, I winced. Did you? I thought so. In modern life we wince a lot. It's not the worst thing, but it's better when something makes you smile.
One of the clearest statements ever about the implied limits of legitimate political discourse was made by the imprisoned Socrates in his first dialogue with Crito, when he said, "That's not nice." Actually, it was your grandmother who said "That's not nice." She's the one who probably taught you the wince. It is her wisdom, encapsulated in those three simple words, that is missing from the current debate.
We tie ourselves in knots trying to explain why it is, or why it isn't, always or occasionally, helpful or destructive to use various epithets, or give full voice to our resentments. But the simple wisdom of Grandma-- "That's not nice"--is a good guide. (I should say that when I was a kid, grandmas were older people who had common sense. They had observed something of people, had experienced life directly, not only through books or TV. Almost all of them had religious faith, and had absorbed the teachings of the Bible. Almost all of them sat quietly at the kitchen table, and even when I was a kid they were considered old fashioned. They were often ethnic and had accents. As a matter of fact, all of them were.)
I think that as America has grown more academic or aware of education, the wisdom of Grandma has been denigrated. Or ignored. Or stolen and dressed up as something else. For instance, Rudy Giuliani's success in cleaning up and reviving the city of New York is generally attributed to his embrace of what is called, in academic circles, the broken-window theory. It holds that when criminals see that even small infractions are met and punished, they will understand that larger infractions will be met and punished. It also holds that when neighborhoods deteriorate, criminals are emboldened. People from Harvard won great prizes for these insights.
But all of broken-windows theory comes down to what Grandma always knew and said: "Fix the window or they'll think no one cares! When people think no one cares, they do whatever they want." There was not a single grandmother in America circa 1750-2007 who didn't know this. But no one wants to quote Grandma. She's so yesterday. And her simple teachings have been superseded by more exotic forms of instruction.
Fifty years ago, no one speaking at a respected political gathering would say, would even think of saying that Adlai Stevenson is a faggot. Nor would Arthur Godfrey or Jack Paar have declared on their television shows that we'd be better off if Eisenhower died. Is our discourse deteriorating? Yes, it is.
Part of the reason is that Grandma had more sway in the public sphere 50 years ago, which is to say common sense and a sense of decorum had more sway. Another part is that privately people felt they had more room to think or say whatever they wanted without being shamed or shunned. It let the steam out. We think of the 1950s as buttoned up, but in a way America had more give then. Men were understood not to be angels.
Our country now puts less of an emphasis on public decorum, courtliness, self-discipline, decency. America no longer says, "That's not nice." It doesn't want to make value judgments on "good" and "bad." We have come to rely on censorship to maintain decorum. We are very good at letting people know that if they say something we don't like, we'll shame them and shun them, even ruin them.
But censorship doesn't make people improve themselves; it makes people want to rebel. It tells them to toe the line or pay a price. People who are urged in the right direction and taught in the right direction will usually try to discipline and improve themselves from within. But they do not enjoy censorship from without. They fight back. They are rude in order to show they are unbroken.
This is human. And Grandma would have understood this, too.
I think the atmosphere of political correctness is now experienced by normal people--not people who speak on TV, but normal people--as so oppressive, so demanding of constant self-policing, that when someone says something in public that is truly not nice, not nice at all, they can't help but feel that they are witnessing a prison break.
As long as political correctness reigns, the more antic among us will try to break out with great streams of Tourette's-like forbidden words and ideas.
We should forbid less and demand more. We should exert less pressure from without and encourage more discipline from within. We should ask people to be dignified, hope they'll be generous, expect them to be fair. When they're not, we should correct them. But we shouldn't beat them to a pulp. Because that's not nice."
Ms. Noonan is a contributing editor of The Wall Street Journal and author of "John Paul the Great: Remembering a Spiritual Father" (Penguin, 2005), which you can order from the OpinionJournal bookstore. Her column appears Fridays on OpinionJournal.com.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Word A Day
I took two years of Latin in the seventh and eighth grades and about all I can remember is how to sing "Popeye the Sailor Man" in Latin.:) Some acheivement huh? At least my grandchildren are entertained by my "talent"
Latin does help with the understanding of other romance languages and with the grasp of word meanings as "Word A Day" points out below.
Did you take Latin in school?
I have posted previously about "Word A Day" but it has been some time ago and perhaps some of you missed it. This is an interesting free email service for those of us who love language and learning "new" words in a fun way.
Click on the link above and go to the site to sign up. You will enjoy it.
Here is a sample: today's email "Word A Day"
"According to a story, probably apocryphal, former US Vice President
Dan Quayle once said, "I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and
the only regret I have is that I didn't study Latin harder in school
so I could converse with those people."
Latin is a dead language. No people speak it as their everyday language.
The area south of the US is called Latin America because most of the
people down there speak Spanish or Portuguese, both derived from Latin.
Latin took its name from Latium, a region in ancient Italy. Various
dialects of Latin eventually blossomed into the Romance languages: French,
Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish, while Latin itself faded away.
Fortunately, you don't have to travel to Latin America to use this
week's terms from Latin. They have been borrowed into English and are
now part of the language."
de novo (day NO-vo) adverb
Anew; from the beginning.
[From Latin de novo (from new).]
Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=de+novo
-Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
"Living things were not created de novo, but evolved."
David P. Barash; Does God Have Back Problems Too?;
Los Angeles Times; Jun 27, 2005.
Lots of times you have to pretend to join a parade in which you're not
really interested in order to get where you're going. -Christopher Morley,
writer (1890-1957)
Discuss this week's words on our bulletin board: http://wordsmith.org/board
Remove, change address, gift subs: http://wordsmith.org/awad/subscriber.html
Latin does help with the understanding of other romance languages and with the grasp of word meanings as "Word A Day" points out below.
Did you take Latin in school?
I have posted previously about "Word A Day" but it has been some time ago and perhaps some of you missed it. This is an interesting free email service for those of us who love language and learning "new" words in a fun way.
Click on the link above and go to the site to sign up. You will enjoy it.
Here is a sample: today's email "Word A Day"
"According to a story, probably apocryphal, former US Vice President
Dan Quayle once said, "I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and
the only regret I have is that I didn't study Latin harder in school
so I could converse with those people."
Latin is a dead language. No people speak it as their everyday language.
The area south of the US is called Latin America because most of the
people down there speak Spanish or Portuguese, both derived from Latin.
Latin took its name from Latium, a region in ancient Italy. Various
dialects of Latin eventually blossomed into the Romance languages: French,
Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish, while Latin itself faded away.
Fortunately, you don't have to travel to Latin America to use this
week's terms from Latin. They have been borrowed into English and are
now part of the language."
de novo (day NO-vo) adverb
Anew; from the beginning.
[From Latin de novo (from new).]
Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=de+novo
-Anu Garg (words at wordsmith.org)
"Living things were not created de novo, but evolved."
David P. Barash; Does God Have Back Problems Too?;
Los Angeles Times; Jun 27, 2005.
Lots of times you have to pretend to join a parade in which you're not
really interested in order to get where you're going. -Christopher Morley,
writer (1890-1957)
Discuss this week's words on our bulletin board: http://wordsmith.org/board
Remove, change address, gift subs: http://wordsmith.org/awad/subscriber.html
Monday, February 26, 2007
Oscar night-----or 24 hours...on and on and on.
For lack of anything better to do I watched most of the way too long as usual Academy Awards show last night and I need to get something off my chest about Ellen Degeneres and her ageism remarks about Dame Judi Dench.
Degeneres said that Dench could not attend the awards in person as she is
"In England getting a knee operation. No that's not right she is getting her eyes done."
Later Degeneres said
"I made a mistake. Judi Dench is not getting her eyes done. She is getting a boob job."
Dame Judi Dench is about 72 years old and is a lovely, talented person who does not try to look like a much younger woman.
Degeneres remarks were in poor taste; disgusting and not the least bit humorous.
Degeneres said that Dench could not attend the awards in person as she is
"In England getting a knee operation. No that's not right she is getting her eyes done."
Later Degeneres said
"I made a mistake. Judi Dench is not getting her eyes done. She is getting a boob job."
Dame Judi Dench is about 72 years old and is a lovely, talented person who does not try to look like a much younger woman.
Degeneres remarks were in poor taste; disgusting and not the least bit humorous.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Don't mess with ELDERS on vacation.
Tourist Kills Mugger With Bare Hands
By MARIANELA JIMENEZ
Associate Press Writer
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — An American tourist who watched as a U.S. military veteran in his 70s used his bare hands to kill an armed assailant in Costa Rica said she thought the attempted robbery was a joke — until the masked attacker held a gun to her head.
"I thought it was a skit. But then he pointed the gun at my head and grabbed me by the throat and I thought I was going to die," Clova Adams, 54, told The Associated Press by telephone Friday from the Carnival Liberty cruise ship.
The assault occurred during a ship stopover Wednesday in Limon, 80 miles east of San Jose, Costa Rica's capital.
Adams was with 12 American tourists who hired a driver to explore Costa Rica for a few hours. They were climbing out of the van to visit a Caribbean beach when three men wearing ski masks ran toward them, she said. One held a gun to her head, while the other two pulled out knives.
Suddenly, one of the tourists, a U.S. military veteran trained in self defense, jumped out of the van and put the gunman in a headlock, according to Limon police chief Luis Hernandez.
Hernandez said the American, whom he refused to identify, struggled with the robber, breaking his collarbone and eventually killing him. Police identified the dead man as Warner Segura, 20. The other two assailants fled.
"I was very scared at the moment," Costa Rican bus driver Roberto Frances Allen said in an interview in Limon.
"The bus was shaking and women were screaming," he recalled. "There were two shots and I heard him (Segura) try to fire more, but the gun didn't fire. Luckily, the tourists had forced his hand up and the shots hit the roof of the bus."
Afterward, the tourists drove Segura to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Sergio Lopez, a Red Cross auxiliary, examined Segura's body and said he died from asphyxiation.
Lopez also treated Adams for a panic attack.
"She was very nervous after the assault, but she had not been physically hurt," Lopez said.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed the account, but refused to release the name of the American who defended the group, citing his right to privacy.
Costa Rican officials interviewed the Americans, and said they wouldn't charge the U.S. tourist with any crime because he acted in self defense.
"They were in their right to defend themselves after being held up," Hernandez said. He said Segura had previous charges against him for assaults.
But Ligia Herrera Mendez, the mother of the dead assailant, claimed the tourists of took the law into their own hands.
"We want justice, this can't go unpunished, because they could have saved him," she said in an interview in Limon. "If this had happened in the United States, the suspect would have been detained and wouldn't have left the country."
She also acknowledged past problems. "I know my boy wasn't staying out of trouble, I knew that any moment I would get bad news."
Segura was buried Friday in the town of Liverpool, about 10 miles outside Limon.
The cruise ship delayed its departure until the group boarded the ship, The Carnival Liberty, which was set to return Sunday to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Adams spoke freely with the AP until a man who identified himself as her fiancee said they didn't want to talk to the media. He said the group might release a joint statement later and hung up the telephone.
Officials on the ship refused to pass an AP reporter on to other members of the tourist group, and several attempts to reach Adams' room again failed.
Costa Rica has struggled with growing violence and crime in recent years. University of Kansas student Shannon Martin, 23, was stabbed to death in 2001 after she left a nightclub in Golfito, 105 miles south of San Jose.
Carnival Cruise Lines confirmed in a statement that one of the ship's guests had killed the Costa Rican assailant, but refused to name those involved.
"All of the guests involved, who had booked the cruise together as a group, have opted to continue with their vacation plans. Carnival is providing full support and assistance to the guests," the statement said.
___
___
By MARIANELA JIMENEZ
Associate Press Writer
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — An American tourist who watched as a U.S. military veteran in his 70s used his bare hands to kill an armed assailant in Costa Rica said she thought the attempted robbery was a joke — until the masked attacker held a gun to her head.
"I thought it was a skit. But then he pointed the gun at my head and grabbed me by the throat and I thought I was going to die," Clova Adams, 54, told The Associated Press by telephone Friday from the Carnival Liberty cruise ship.
The assault occurred during a ship stopover Wednesday in Limon, 80 miles east of San Jose, Costa Rica's capital.
Adams was with 12 American tourists who hired a driver to explore Costa Rica for a few hours. They were climbing out of the van to visit a Caribbean beach when three men wearing ski masks ran toward them, she said. One held a gun to her head, while the other two pulled out knives.
Suddenly, one of the tourists, a U.S. military veteran trained in self defense, jumped out of the van and put the gunman in a headlock, according to Limon police chief Luis Hernandez.
Hernandez said the American, whom he refused to identify, struggled with the robber, breaking his collarbone and eventually killing him. Police identified the dead man as Warner Segura, 20. The other two assailants fled.
"I was very scared at the moment," Costa Rican bus driver Roberto Frances Allen said in an interview in Limon.
"The bus was shaking and women were screaming," he recalled. "There were two shots and I heard him (Segura) try to fire more, but the gun didn't fire. Luckily, the tourists had forced his hand up and the shots hit the roof of the bus."
Afterward, the tourists drove Segura to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Sergio Lopez, a Red Cross auxiliary, examined Segura's body and said he died from asphyxiation.
Lopez also treated Adams for a panic attack.
"She was very nervous after the assault, but she had not been physically hurt," Lopez said.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed the account, but refused to release the name of the American who defended the group, citing his right to privacy.
Costa Rican officials interviewed the Americans, and said they wouldn't charge the U.S. tourist with any crime because he acted in self defense.
"They were in their right to defend themselves after being held up," Hernandez said. He said Segura had previous charges against him for assaults.
But Ligia Herrera Mendez, the mother of the dead assailant, claimed the tourists of took the law into their own hands.
"We want justice, this can't go unpunished, because they could have saved him," she said in an interview in Limon. "If this had happened in the United States, the suspect would have been detained and wouldn't have left the country."
She also acknowledged past problems. "I know my boy wasn't staying out of trouble, I knew that any moment I would get bad news."
Segura was buried Friday in the town of Liverpool, about 10 miles outside Limon.
The cruise ship delayed its departure until the group boarded the ship, The Carnival Liberty, which was set to return Sunday to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Adams spoke freely with the AP until a man who identified himself as her fiancee said they didn't want to talk to the media. He said the group might release a joint statement later and hung up the telephone.
Officials on the ship refused to pass an AP reporter on to other members of the tourist group, and several attempts to reach Adams' room again failed.
Costa Rica has struggled with growing violence and crime in recent years. University of Kansas student Shannon Martin, 23, was stabbed to death in 2001 after she left a nightclub in Golfito, 105 miles south of San Jose.
Carnival Cruise Lines confirmed in a statement that one of the ship's guests had killed the Costa Rican assailant, but refused to name those involved.
"All of the guests involved, who had booked the cruise together as a group, have opted to continue with their vacation plans. Carnival is providing full support and assistance to the guests," the statement said.
___
___
Sunday, February 11, 2007
"Mockingbird"
You won't believe what I am reading and why.
I was browsing in our neighborhood library the other day and I came across a book "Mockingbird" by Charles Shields. It is the unauthorized biography of Harper Lee who wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird" which was published in 1960. This was Harper Lee's one and only book which was a best seller and made into a movie starring Gregory Peck and is still in print and is read and taught in many schools.
Somehow I never got around to reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" and since I was interesting in the biography of Harper Lee I decided to read the original "To Kill A Mockingbird" first.
Of course most of you have read' or at least have seen the movie of "To Kill a Mockingbird" so you are familiar with the story of the children, Scout, Jem and Dill and their father Atticus, the lawyer, in the small south Alabama town which was patterned after Harper Lee's own childhood in Monroeville, Alabama.
In scanning the biography written by Charles Shields I was surprised to find that Harper Lee and Truman Capote grew up next door to each other in Monroeville. Capote was sent each year to spend the summer with his aunts in Monroeville and this is how they became friends. The character, Dill, in "TKAM" is patterned after Capote.
"Scout"(Harper Lee) was a tomboy and Dill(Capote) was somewhat effeminate. The two remained friends, even after Harper moved to New York and began work on her one and only book. Harper Lee even did a major portion of the research on Capote's best seller, "In Cold Blood"
I am about halfway through "TKAM" and then I will go back to "Mockingbird" and perhaps move on to "In Cold Blood"
Now you can see why I love browsing in the library. Many times it turns our to be a serendipitous experience.
I was browsing in our neighborhood library the other day and I came across a book "Mockingbird" by Charles Shields. It is the unauthorized biography of Harper Lee who wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird" which was published in 1960. This was Harper Lee's one and only book which was a best seller and made into a movie starring Gregory Peck and is still in print and is read and taught in many schools.
Somehow I never got around to reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" and since I was interesting in the biography of Harper Lee I decided to read the original "To Kill A Mockingbird" first.
Of course most of you have read' or at least have seen the movie of "To Kill a Mockingbird" so you are familiar with the story of the children, Scout, Jem and Dill and their father Atticus, the lawyer, in the small south Alabama town which was patterned after Harper Lee's own childhood in Monroeville, Alabama.
In scanning the biography written by Charles Shields I was surprised to find that Harper Lee and Truman Capote grew up next door to each other in Monroeville. Capote was sent each year to spend the summer with his aunts in Monroeville and this is how they became friends. The character, Dill, in "TKAM" is patterned after Capote.
"Scout"(Harper Lee) was a tomboy and Dill(Capote) was somewhat effeminate. The two remained friends, even after Harper moved to New York and began work on her one and only book. Harper Lee even did a major portion of the research on Capote's best seller, "In Cold Blood"
I am about halfway through "TKAM" and then I will go back to "Mockingbird" and perhaps move on to "In Cold Blood"
Now you can see why I love browsing in the library. Many times it turns our to be a serendipitous experience.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Nap Time ?
Yesterday I took a delicious nap in the afternoon. I lay down on the small, red paisly sofa in my bedroom with my feet raised on the far end and a comfy pillow under my head; the book I am currently reading propped up on my stomach, "What Came Before He Shot Her" by Elizabeth George, an engrossing mystery that is totally unlike anything George has written before. I got half way through one chapter, rested the book on my lap and I awoke an hour later, refreshed and restored.
Do you ever nap?
The French do.
YAHOO NEWS
French health minister seeks nap study Wed Jan 31, 8:25 AM ET
The French already enjoy a 35-hour work week and generous vacation. Now the health minister wants to look into whether workers should be allowed to sleep on the job.
France launched plans this week to spend $9 million this year to improve public awareness about sleeping troubles. About one in three French people suffer from them, the ministry says.
Fifty-six percent of French complain that a poor night's sleep has affected their job performance, according to the ministry.
"Why not a nap at work? It can't be a taboo subject," Health Minister Xavier Bertrand said Monday. He called for further studies and said he would promote on-the-job naps if they prove useful.
France's state-run health insurance provider will send letters explaining the importance of good sleep. The Health Ministry's Web site offers tips on how best to get a good night's rest.
The ministry's online "Passport to Sleep" recommends cutting down on coffee, tea, colas, and athletic activity after 8 p.m., shunning TV time or working late in the evening, and listening better to the body's own sleep signals, such as yawning.
Bertrand said sleepiness causes 20 percent to 30 percent of highway accidents across France each year.
Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press
Do you ever nap?
The French do.
YAHOO NEWS
French health minister seeks nap study Wed Jan 31, 8:25 AM ET
The French already enjoy a 35-hour work week and generous vacation. Now the health minister wants to look into whether workers should be allowed to sleep on the job.
France launched plans this week to spend $9 million this year to improve public awareness about sleeping troubles. About one in three French people suffer from them, the ministry says.
Fifty-six percent of French complain that a poor night's sleep has affected their job performance, according to the ministry.
"Why not a nap at work? It can't be a taboo subject," Health Minister Xavier Bertrand said Monday. He called for further studies and said he would promote on-the-job naps if they prove useful.
France's state-run health insurance provider will send letters explaining the importance of good sleep. The Health Ministry's Web site offers tips on how best to get a good night's rest.
The ministry's online "Passport to Sleep" recommends cutting down on coffee, tea, colas, and athletic activity after 8 p.m., shunning TV time or working late in the evening, and listening better to the body's own sleep signals, such as yawning.
Bertrand said sleepiness causes 20 percent to 30 percent of highway accidents across France each year.
Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
English language quirks
The English Language
I love English...can you read the following
sentences correctly the first time?
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to
present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
I love English...can you read the following
sentences correctly the first time?
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to
present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Scandalous remarks?
Senator George Smathers of Florida died Saturday at age 93. The following is an amusing part of his obit in the New York Times.***
"MIAMI (AP) -- Former U.S. Sen. George A. Smathers, a polished, dashing politician who forged friendships with presidents, waged war against communism, resisted civil rights legislation and was an early voice cautioning of Fidel Castro's rise to power, died Saturday. He was 93."
................
.
***"Scurrilous statements were uttered on both sides of the campaign, but the most famous remarks -- innocuous declarations delivered to less-educated audiences to appear scandalous -- may have never been uttered.
'***'Do you know that Claude Pepper is known all over Washington as a shameless extrovert?'' he was quoted as saying. ''Not only that, but this man is reliably reported to practice nepotism with his sister-in-law and he has a sister who was once a thespian in wicked New York. Worst of all, it is an established fact that Mr. Pepper, before his marriage, habitually practiced celibacy.''
The comments were recorded in a small magazine, picked up in Time and elsewhere and etched into the public's memories, but Smathers denied ever having made them. He offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could prove he did, but no one could
>
"MIAMI (AP) -- Former U.S. Sen. George A. Smathers, a polished, dashing politician who forged friendships with presidents, waged war against communism, resisted civil rights legislation and was an early voice cautioning of Fidel Castro's rise to power, died Saturday. He was 93."
................
.
***"Scurrilous statements were uttered on both sides of the campaign, but the most famous remarks -- innocuous declarations delivered to less-educated audiences to appear scandalous -- may have never been uttered.
'***'Do you know that Claude Pepper is known all over Washington as a shameless extrovert?'' he was quoted as saying. ''Not only that, but this man is reliably reported to practice nepotism with his sister-in-law and he has a sister who was once a thespian in wicked New York. Worst of all, it is an established fact that Mr. Pepper, before his marriage, habitually practiced celibacy.''
The comments were recorded in a small magazine, picked up in Time and elsewhere and etched into the public's memories, but Smathers denied ever having made them. He offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could prove he did, but no one could
>
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The perfect pet
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A PET LIKE THIS ?
AP Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press.
Escaped chimp gets snack, cleans bathroom
"An escaped chimpanzee at the Little Rock Zoo raided a kitchen cupboard and did a little cleaning with a toilet brush before sedatives knocked her out on top of a refrigerator.
The 120-pound primate, Judy, escaped yesterday into a service area when a zookeeper opened a door to her sleeping quarters, unaware the animal was still inside.
As keepers tried to woo Judy back into her cage, she rummaged through a refrigerator where chimp snacks are stored. She opened kitchen cupboards, pulled out juice and soft drinks and took a swig from bottles she managed to open.
Keeper Ann Rademacher says Judy went into the bathroom, picked up a toilet brush and cleaned the toilet. Rademacher says the 37-year-old Judy was a house pet before the zoo acquired her in 1988, so she may have been familiar with housekeeping chores. Judy wrung out a sponge and scrubbed down the fridge.
It took a couple of tries, but the zoo sedated the chimp, who fell asleep on top of the refrigerator with half a loaf of cinnamon-raisin bread she had pulled out of the freezer.
The zoo veterinarian gave Judy a drug to bring her around. Rademacher says Judy was groggy but fine after the episode.
The zoo says there was no danger Judy would get out of the primate keepers service area and onto zoo grounds"
AP Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press.
Escaped chimp gets snack, cleans bathroom
"An escaped chimpanzee at the Little Rock Zoo raided a kitchen cupboard and did a little cleaning with a toilet brush before sedatives knocked her out on top of a refrigerator.
The 120-pound primate, Judy, escaped yesterday into a service area when a zookeeper opened a door to her sleeping quarters, unaware the animal was still inside.
As keepers tried to woo Judy back into her cage, she rummaged through a refrigerator where chimp snacks are stored. She opened kitchen cupboards, pulled out juice and soft drinks and took a swig from bottles she managed to open.
Keeper Ann Rademacher says Judy went into the bathroom, picked up a toilet brush and cleaned the toilet. Rademacher says the 37-year-old Judy was a house pet before the zoo acquired her in 1988, so she may have been familiar with housekeeping chores. Judy wrung out a sponge and scrubbed down the fridge.
It took a couple of tries, but the zoo sedated the chimp, who fell asleep on top of the refrigerator with half a loaf of cinnamon-raisin bread she had pulled out of the freezer.
The zoo veterinarian gave Judy a drug to bring her around. Rademacher says Judy was groggy but fine after the episode.
The zoo says there was no danger Judy would get out of the primate keepers service area and onto zoo grounds"
Monday, January 15, 2007
My not so excellent adventure
Caution: Not for the squeamish :)
The day after Christmas, December 26th, I had surgery for an abnormal parathyroid gland.
I had been feeling poorly, having trouble with stair climbing and arising from a low chair or sofa. I had fallen several times and generally felt something was amiss.
After several trips to my internist over a period of several months, and a number of blood tests, which all turned up "normal" I still was not much better. Not down and sick in bed but just punk and not feeling right.
I went back to my doctor and he ordered a repeat of the tests.This time the calcium level was somewhat high. With this information the doctor ordered a parathyroid hormone level test which came back highly elevated. Then I went for an ultrasound of my parathyroid which showed a bump on one parathyroid gland.. Next I had a parathyroid nuclear scan which showed the bump more definitively.
With this information my doctor said I needed to see a surgeon about removing the offending parathyroid.
A bit of educational info for you. The parathyroid glands, usually 4 of them, each no bigger than a pea, are located generally behind the thyroid but their function is entirely different from the thyroid itself. The parathyroids regulate the amount of calcium in our bodies and if one goes haywitre calcium is leached from bones and other cells of the body.
The day of my appointment to see the surgeon arrived in short order and my husband drove me down to the doctor's office. As I was approaching the surgeon's office I stepped up onto the sidewalk just outside his building and my shoe hit a crack in the sidewalk and I fell flat down on my face and nose. My husband said I fell like a tree that has just been felled in the forest. Straight down. Bam. I fell flat on my face, sunglasses and all. I hit hard. I just knew my nose was broken. Fortunately the sunglasses did not shatter or dig into my face. The security guard and my husband helped me up and I proceeded to the elevator for the surgeon's office where they gave me ice in a plastic bag to hold on my face and nose.
I interviewed the doctor about the surgery. It is a delicate operation as the parathyroid is near the nerve for the vocal cords. I was satisfied with the experience and compassion of the doctor so I made an appointment for December 26, the day after Christmas for the operation.
I had to go for another nuclear scan where they put dye in my veins so the offending parathyroid gland would show up clearly and then Dr W would know exactly where to make the incision. Hopefully he could do this with a minimally invasive operation but if anything was amiss with the thyroid or the remaining 3 parathyroid glands he would have to cut furthur.
Christmas came and went. On the 26th we arrived at the out patient surgery center of the hospital at 6 am and the surgery commenced at about 7:30 am.
It all went well and I woke up and we came home and I had very little pain. I declined the heavy duty pain killers and just took extra strength Tylenol.
A week later I went back and Dr W said I was doing real well and the surgery was fine "a text book case"The biopsy was fine. Just don't lift anything for about a week.
I am 3 weeks out from the operation and I feel much better. I just do not quite have my total strength back yet but I know that will take time.
So here I am blogging about my surgery....
As Lyndon Johnson said:
Wanna see my scar?? :)
It is only a small one on the base of my neck in front and will eventually completely disappear.
PS: I saw a nose doctor that same day of my fall and it turned out I did not break anything. My face was just badly swollen and bruised.
The day after Christmas, December 26th, I had surgery for an abnormal parathyroid gland.
I had been feeling poorly, having trouble with stair climbing and arising from a low chair or sofa. I had fallen several times and generally felt something was amiss.
After several trips to my internist over a period of several months, and a number of blood tests, which all turned up "normal" I still was not much better. Not down and sick in bed but just punk and not feeling right.
I went back to my doctor and he ordered a repeat of the tests.This time the calcium level was somewhat high. With this information the doctor ordered a parathyroid hormone level test which came back highly elevated. Then I went for an ultrasound of my parathyroid which showed a bump on one parathyroid gland.. Next I had a parathyroid nuclear scan which showed the bump more definitively.
With this information my doctor said I needed to see a surgeon about removing the offending parathyroid.
A bit of educational info for you. The parathyroid glands, usually 4 of them, each no bigger than a pea, are located generally behind the thyroid but their function is entirely different from the thyroid itself. The parathyroids regulate the amount of calcium in our bodies and if one goes haywitre calcium is leached from bones and other cells of the body.
The day of my appointment to see the surgeon arrived in short order and my husband drove me down to the doctor's office. As I was approaching the surgeon's office I stepped up onto the sidewalk just outside his building and my shoe hit a crack in the sidewalk and I fell flat down on my face and nose. My husband said I fell like a tree that has just been felled in the forest. Straight down. Bam. I fell flat on my face, sunglasses and all. I hit hard. I just knew my nose was broken. Fortunately the sunglasses did not shatter or dig into my face. The security guard and my husband helped me up and I proceeded to the elevator for the surgeon's office where they gave me ice in a plastic bag to hold on my face and nose.
I interviewed the doctor about the surgery. It is a delicate operation as the parathyroid is near the nerve for the vocal cords. I was satisfied with the experience and compassion of the doctor so I made an appointment for December 26, the day after Christmas for the operation.
I had to go for another nuclear scan where they put dye in my veins so the offending parathyroid gland would show up clearly and then Dr W would know exactly where to make the incision. Hopefully he could do this with a minimally invasive operation but if anything was amiss with the thyroid or the remaining 3 parathyroid glands he would have to cut furthur.
Christmas came and went. On the 26th we arrived at the out patient surgery center of the hospital at 6 am and the surgery commenced at about 7:30 am.
It all went well and I woke up and we came home and I had very little pain. I declined the heavy duty pain killers and just took extra strength Tylenol.
A week later I went back and Dr W said I was doing real well and the surgery was fine "a text book case"The biopsy was fine. Just don't lift anything for about a week.
I am 3 weeks out from the operation and I feel much better. I just do not quite have my total strength back yet but I know that will take time.
So here I am blogging about my surgery....
As Lyndon Johnson said:
Wanna see my scar?? :)
It is only a small one on the base of my neck in front and will eventually completely disappear.
PS: I saw a nose doctor that same day of my fall and it turned out I did not break anything. My face was just badly swollen and bruised.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Puzzles
Puzzles, as in the jigsaw variety.
A friend of mine told me recently she got out a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle that she had bought a few years ago and over New Year's she and her husband decided to give it a whirl. They left it out on a desk in her sun room and every so often they would separately take a stab at working on the pieces.
It was a puzzle of New York City, Times square and the theater district and she said it was not at all easy. They had it all put together and finished in about 10 days of off and on solving. Then a neighbor of hers dropped by and saw the puzzle and told her that she and a group of her friends swap puzzles as they tire of doing the same ones over and over. This group is into 1000+ pieces puzzles.
I am intrigued by the idea of leaving a puzzle out on a table and slowly giving it a try even though I have never been a puzzle enthusiast.
I guess it is the idea that any puzzle solving is good for the ole noggin that has me thinking of buying one.
Do any of you out there in blogland enjoy complicated jigsaw puzzles?
A friend of mine told me recently she got out a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle that she had bought a few years ago and over New Year's she and her husband decided to give it a whirl. They left it out on a desk in her sun room and every so often they would separately take a stab at working on the pieces.
It was a puzzle of New York City, Times square and the theater district and she said it was not at all easy. They had it all put together and finished in about 10 days of off and on solving. Then a neighbor of hers dropped by and saw the puzzle and told her that she and a group of her friends swap puzzles as they tire of doing the same ones over and over. This group is into 1000+ pieces puzzles.
I am intrigued by the idea of leaving a puzzle out on a table and slowly giving it a try even though I have never been a puzzle enthusiast.
I guess it is the idea that any puzzle solving is good for the ole noggin that has me thinking of buying one.
Do any of you out there in blogland enjoy complicated jigsaw puzzles?
Sunday, January 07, 2007
It's never too late
I have always been appprehensive about returning a library book on time. That and running out of gasoline are too of my pet worries.
I wonder if any of us would have the guts to return a library book tha WAS THIS OVER DUE.
=======
Man pays library $171, 47-year LATE FEE.
"HANCOCK, Mich. - Robert Nuranen handed the local librarian a book he'd checked out for a ninth-grade assignment — along with a check for 47 years' worth of late fees.
Nuranen said his mother misplaced the copy of "Prince of Egypt" while cleaning the house. The family came across it every so often, only to set it aside again. He found it last week while looking through a box in the attic.
"I figured I'd better get it in before we waited another 10 years," he said after turning it in Friday with the $171.32 check. "Fifty-seven years would be embarrassing."
The book, with its last due date stamped June 2, 1960, was part of the young Nuranen's fascination with Egypt. He went on to visit that country and 54 others, and all 50 states, he said, but he never did finish the book.
Nuranen now lives in Los Angeles, where he teaches seventh-grade social studies and language arts.
The library had long ago lost any record of the book, librarian Sue Zubiena said.
"I'm going to use it as an example," she said. "It's never too late to return your books."
>
I wonder if any of us would have the guts to return a library book tha WAS THIS OVER DUE.
=======
Man pays library $171, 47-year LATE FEE.
"HANCOCK, Mich. - Robert Nuranen handed the local librarian a book he'd checked out for a ninth-grade assignment — along with a check for 47 years' worth of late fees.
Nuranen said his mother misplaced the copy of "Prince of Egypt" while cleaning the house. The family came across it every so often, only to set it aside again. He found it last week while looking through a box in the attic.
"I figured I'd better get it in before we waited another 10 years," he said after turning it in Friday with the $171.32 check. "Fifty-seven years would be embarrassing."
The book, with its last due date stamped June 2, 1960, was part of the young Nuranen's fascination with Egypt. He went on to visit that country and 54 others, and all 50 states, he said, but he never did finish the book.
Nuranen now lives in Los Angeles, where he teaches seventh-grade social studies and language arts.
The library had long ago lost any record of the book, librarian Sue Zubiena said.
"I'm going to use it as an example," she said. "It's never too late to return your books."
>
Saturday, January 06, 2007
8 BELOW
"8 BELOW"
We watched a movie last night on cable TV and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire length of the film. I highly reccomend it to any of you who like beautiful cinematography and tales of survival against all odds.
"8 BELOW" is the story of a team of Siberian Huskies who survive for months after being abandoned at the South Pole due to unfortunate circumstances. These dogs are amazing.
This is a Disney family movie that is way above average.
(from Internet Movie Data Base)
"Plot Summary for
Eight Below (2006)
In the Antarctic, after an expedition with Dr. Davis McClaren (Bruce Greenwood), the sled dog trainer Jerry Shepherd (Paul Walker) has to leave the polar base with his colleagues due to the proximity of a heavy snow storm. He ties his dogs to be rescued after, but the mission is called-off and the dogs are left alone at their own fortune. For six months, Jerry tries to find a sponsor for a rescue mission while his dogs fight for survival."
Of course if you are in a part of the country where you have been blessed with 6 feet of snow you may want to wait until summer to watch this movie..:)
We watched a movie last night on cable TV and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire length of the film. I highly reccomend it to any of you who like beautiful cinematography and tales of survival against all odds.
"8 BELOW" is the story of a team of Siberian Huskies who survive for months after being abandoned at the South Pole due to unfortunate circumstances. These dogs are amazing.
This is a Disney family movie that is way above average.
(from Internet Movie Data Base)
"Plot Summary for
Eight Below (2006)
In the Antarctic, after an expedition with Dr. Davis McClaren (Bruce Greenwood), the sled dog trainer Jerry Shepherd (Paul Walker) has to leave the polar base with his colleagues due to the proximity of a heavy snow storm. He ties his dogs to be rescued after, but the mission is called-off and the dogs are left alone at their own fortune. For six months, Jerry tries to find a sponsor for a rescue mission while his dogs fight for survival."
Of course if you are in a part of the country where you have been blessed with 6 feet of snow you may want to wait until summer to watch this movie..:)
Sunday, December 31, 2006
New Year Thoughts
AT SEVENTY-SEVEN
When you get to be my age,
You should not wish for a Happy New Year
Instead, try for a Happy Tuesday.
Put down those green bananas,
And reach for the ripe ones.
The green bananas will ripen by Thursday;
Who knows what Thursday will bring.
If it's winter, do not long for spring.
Enjoy the bare branches and cold winds
While resting by a warm fire
With old memories.
A glass of old wine
An old cat purring in your lap
As you doze off
Into tomorrow.
When you get to be my age,
You should not wish for a Happy New Year
Instead, try for a Happy Tuesday.
Put down those green bananas,
And reach for the ripe ones.
The green bananas will ripen by Thursday;
Who knows what Thursday will bring.
If it's winter, do not long for spring.
Enjoy the bare branches and cold winds
While resting by a warm fire
With old memories.
A glass of old wine
An old cat purring in your lap
As you doze off
Into tomorrow.
Friday, December 29, 2006
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The tree is down and the decorations packed away for another year. It is time to think about our New Year's Day dinner. Since it never varies there is very little planning involved.
MENU:
Blackeyed Peas, the dried kind that soak all night then are cooked with ham hock, a few cloves of garlic, chopped onion and various seasonings.)
Turnip or Collard greens (ham hock and onion)
Pork roast
Rice
Cornbread
We cook the blackeyed peas with a 1940's silver dime for good luck in the New Year. The same dime each year and no one has swallowed it yet.
The turnip Greens represent prosperity.
Mix the Blackeyed peas with the rice on your plate and you have "Hoppin John", an old southern tradition. Add hot sauce,Tabasco or Texas Pete to taste.
This plain meal tastes just right after the excesses of the holiday season.
HOPPIN JOHN
"This dish is thought to have originated with African slaves on southern plantations, and is essentially black-eyed peas cooked with salt pork and seasonings, and served with rice."
"There are several theories on the origin of the name, 'hoppin-john'; a lively waiter who served the dish at a Charleston hotel; a lame cook who hopped up and down while cooking it; and finally from a custom that children must hop around the table before the dish is served. It is traditionally served on New Year's Day in the Southern U.S., and is supposed to bring good luck during the coming year."
Link
MENU:
Blackeyed Peas, the dried kind that soak all night then are cooked with ham hock, a few cloves of garlic, chopped onion and various seasonings.)
Turnip or Collard greens (ham hock and onion)
Pork roast
Rice
Cornbread
We cook the blackeyed peas with a 1940's silver dime for good luck in the New Year. The same dime each year and no one has swallowed it yet.
The turnip Greens represent prosperity.
Mix the Blackeyed peas with the rice on your plate and you have "Hoppin John", an old southern tradition. Add hot sauce,Tabasco or Texas Pete to taste.
This plain meal tastes just right after the excesses of the holiday season.
HOPPIN JOHN
"This dish is thought to have originated with African slaves on southern plantations, and is essentially black-eyed peas cooked with salt pork and seasonings, and served with rice."
"There are several theories on the origin of the name, 'hoppin-john'; a lively waiter who served the dish at a Charleston hotel; a lame cook who hopped up and down while cooking it; and finally from a custom that children must hop around the table before the dish is served. It is traditionally served on New Year's Day in the Southern U.S., and is supposed to bring good luck during the coming year."
Link
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