The Retired Life of an ER Nurse

What happened? Where was I?

2007-02-27T18:15:00.000-08:00

January is apparently a fine month for all Northern relatives to head South for the Winter. I had company up to my ears......difficult as I had to get up very early in morning (before any guests) and make hairball patrols. I, also, had to take their help getting moved (and very grateful I am, too) when I could get it. March 1st, one set will be coming back for two months.....these are head and shoulders the best cousins ever but will probably mean less attention to the computer and more getting settled into this Condo (my parents' old home).

Whew........

2007-02-27T18:03:00.000-08:00

Finally, I've moved every single little article from the old condo. Condo has been painted, carpeted and new screens where needed. Now I need to clean windows and the few floors and plant some little somethings in the triangle between driveways.......I am so ready to get rid of that condo. The garage at this condo is almost filled between things I'm getting rid of (on the left) and things I think I'm keeping (on the right) and car in middle just barely in the garage.

Christmas Past, part IIl

2006-12-22T09:28:00.000-08:00

1989, the year of the great blizzard!! Yes, we in Southeast Georgia actually had a snowstorm. I had 6" drifts in my yard...and, it stayed on the ground for several days. A few problems with it, of course. No one in SE Georgia can even drive in the rain, much less the snow. I was on a four day off cycle so I could be off Christmas. Yes, my little devoted readers, it was Christmas time. I am a last minute shopper, I freely admit that. I could not get my car out of the driveway for two days....right up to Christmas day. Finally went shopping, before going to tree time at the parents'......at Winn Dixie!. It was the only store open and there were several of us in there. Picture it, would Mom like a nice ham for Christmas? Maybe Dad would like some paper products? Cards???? Cross out the Happy Birthday and write Merry Christmas.....I vowed never again to wait to the last minute but, of course, the next year, Christmas Eve found me rambling the streets in the 79 degree weather...

Errors in Judgement, part I

2006-12-20T21:16:00.000-08:00

We were just mentioning OCD on the Wheel and I remembered this weird thing I did about 8 or so years ago. I was about 20 pounds over my fighting weight and one of our patients tried to get the ER doc to prescribe Prozac for her. He refused. She was hollering so I tried to calm her and she said that she didn't want it for depression but for weight loss. Light bulb came on. I made an appointment with shrink I knew pretty well and talked to him about how I thought I was depressed because my parents were getting older, and I kept worrying about them. He said I was OCD and suggested a drug. I said that I had been sort of thinking about Prozac so that's what he gave me. I did not lose weight and not only that, it kept me awake at night so quickly dropped it. I was kind of complimented that he thought I was obsessive about anything....it sounded like I was a real type A go getter, which I knew I was not.

This and that.....

2006-12-20T20:55:00.000-08:00

Just took a real age quiz. It's supposed to tell you, based on lots of lifestyle questions, what your real body age is compared to your birth date age. Hmmmf....it says I'm 76 although most people say 46. It's the exercise, cholesterol, exsmoking, weight, breast cancer stuff that's making me old. I promise that in the New Year, I will not take anymore of these quizzes.

I am smack dab on the "Snowbird" route so am in the middle of the annual trek from Northeast to South Florida....at least, no one stays here for the winter. Can't believe I actually cooked something besides tuna soup all week long....yuk.

Does anyone besides me think the Baker ISG report was inane? Oh sure, why don't we go chat with the Iranians...even though we know they won't chat with us.....how childish and naive are these people? While I'm on a roll, get Kerry and Dodd out of Syria....who do they think they are? Also, can anyone do anything about Jimmy Carter? Maybe a bunch of houses need to be built somewhere or some peanuts need to be planted......what a curmudgeon...arrogant one at that. Merry Christmas!

How to Ace Chemistry....

2006-12-13T21:11:00.000-08:00

I shouldn't tell this but...because of my Dad's constant duty changes, I had missed some classes I would need to get into a good college so I had to cram them all in my Senior year. I took Eng IV, Math IV (intro to calculus and trig),Chemistry, Physics, World History, Latin IV. I did okay except I tended to let Chemistry slide a little. My teacher was just catching on to the fact that I was slacking when he died. The sub for the last 3 weeks before Christmas was a friend of my mothers. Result = A for that semester. After Christmas, the teacher I had last year taught my class....he thought I was smart and it took a couple of months for him to realize I was slacking off..luckily he was offered a better job. The woman who taught the last month came up to me one day and told me her husband was in my Father's flight crew and she just knew that I had his brains. I got a A in chemistry. I thought that was pretty cool until I went to Nursing School, where they apparently thought I had learned something in high school. I justified the slacking off because I was really having problems with physics........

More Christmas Past.....

2006-12-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

I remember Dad taking me and Jo Christmas shopping in Annapolis. It was cold and wet, usually, and also, usually, Christmas Eve. We would shop for Mom's presents. I, usually stuck to Evening in Paris.....you got so many little blue bottles for your money (cheap perfume for you young'ns). Then, we would head for a hardware store where Dad would buy her gift and stocking stuffers. Jo usually got her a bathrobe...Jo was so young, Dad would choose it for her...but I was older so I picked out the Evening in Paris myself.....poor Mom.

Christmas....

2006-12-11T19:25:00.000-08:00

Christmas brings back such happy memories of family for all of us. Our family really went all out for Christmas; Advent candles, giving trees, midnight Mass, stockings, presents, big lovely dinner. Several Christmases were a little late, as Dad might be on Midway or on a ship...those years we got two Christmases. I found out about Santa Claus when I was 7, in Trinidad. I heard Santa swearing while trying to put my metal doll house together....and, asking my Mom to get him another martini. My sister was well known in the family for screaming, "No, I don't want that dirty old man in my house." She was 3 and scared of beards. In later years, we learned to be careful what we asked for around Christmas time. One year, I told them both separately (when they asked, of course) that I had no good pots or pans at all. Later while shopping, I saw a copper pot and got it for Dad. Mom saw some calphalon pots she liked and got them for Dad. Dad saw a set of pots and pans that he liked and got them for Mom.......I got none! So much fun, how lucky I was....

Thanks, Dipsy..........

2006-12-11T12:22:00.000-08:00

You are The High Priestess
Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.
The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.
What Tarot Card are You?Take the Test to Find Out.

Sweet Aunt Bev......

2006-12-10T20:19:00.000-08:00

My sweet Auntie Bev died Wednesday evening at the age of 90. She hadn't been doing well since her brother's death (my Father) in May. Bev married Bucky and had 7 kids and worked on their farm for years and years and years. She reminded me more of my paternal Gramma then any of the other girls in the family. She had been living in an independent living home in Randolph the past five years or so. I will always remember her putting her jigsaw puzzles together or doing sudoku puzzles. We would work on those puzzles and I would hear her mumbling and say, "huh?" and then realize that she was swearing, gently and sweetly, though, about some of the other female residents. She told me who all the nosy ones were...she seemed to like the men okay though. And, Lord, she loved her Red Sox. I will miss her so much. This getting older business and losing all your relatives is for the birds, frankly....

More nonsense from the ROP....

2006-12-05T21:19:00.000-08:00

Now, it is the inalienable right to pray in the middle of the locker room at the gym that is being sued for. I don't think anyone would think anything about telling a Christian praying to move or to quiet down. I think the ROP is setting us up for lawsuits and protests until we wear down. Someone important needs to impress on these people that they are only hurting their cause by daring us to complain about them. They are causing us to get into a "we", "them" situation. They need to just settle down and behave with some dignity, tolerance, and maybe a little humility in place of the arrogance...

I hate change (sometimes).....

2006-12-05T16:10:00.000-08:00

TSW has changed and now I can't post comments.......grrr. I miss all of my friends so have just been emailing the ones I have for help.

Just ordered personalized M & Ms for Larry and Loretta. Perfect Christmas gift for them but do not ask how much that cost for just 4 little 7 oz bags. Dad used to send pecans to all the Vermont family so I bet they expect me to keep up the tradition..Merrrrrrry Christmas, ho, ho, ho......

How come when the GOP was the minority party, the dems didn't feel the need to cooperate but the GOP is cooperating when it is the minority? Did that make sense? I know GOP is the "nice" party but I like John Bolton and think he did a great job....damn, damn, damn......

Local weather

2006-12-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

Today it was 80 and tomorrow will only get up to 58. This means that I will need the air on tonight and will turn on heat when I get up. How weird is that?
Larry and Dee called this evening. We're going on a cruise but trying to decide which one. There's one to Alaska in the late Spring and a one week one around the Med in September. The next year, we want to go on a 26 day cruise from Hong Kong to Naples. That's the one I can't wait for. Hopefully the Middle East will be reasonably calm in 2008 but, I think we're going regardless. We also want to spend a month in Tuscany. Have to finish this move and sell that condo in a hurry, but so nice to dream about.

December 2006....

2006-12-01T19:12:00.000-08:00

Last year, at this time, we were having mandatory education and ACLS. This year, I'm moving...on the whole, I'd rather be in Philadelphia..
Both cats are being so noisy lately. My neighbor came over to see if there is a baby here. They had never heard any noise from here before and thought it was a baby.

The End.....

2006-11-30T21:31:00.000-08:00

On TSW, there is a thread on how you met and got together with your SO or spouse. Charlie and I met at a party.......boring.....! But when we separated, now that was kinda fun. I had been working for Bank of America in Coronado. Charlie was a SEAL. We had traveled back and forth across country to and from Georgia five or six times by then and every time, we drove straight through. Besides being totally exhausted after 44 hours of driving (4 hours on - 4 hours off), we usually weren't speaking by the end of the trip. I kept asking why we couldn't stop at least twice and Cheap Charlie said, "We're saving for a rainy day." Another note, we were paid mileage for each trip for each of us. The day after I flew back to Georgia (thus leaving Charlie for good), Charlie called. His first words, "Where's our money?" Lesson: don't piss off the person working for the bank. I took all of it, savings, CDs, checking. That may seem greedy but you don't know cheap Charlie. I knew I would return the money after the settlement was worked out....and, I knew he wouldn't have. His first move the day after I left, was to check the money and cancel my Visa card......My words to Cheap Charlie: Do you hear the thunder, honey? This is your rainy day..." Teh Yay....

Six Imams...Redux....

2006-11-30T21:28:00.000-08:00

The more I read about these characters, the more I am convinced that they were just pushing the envelope and provoking an incident. I don't care how racist it makes me, if someone acts like that on a plane I'm boarding, either they go or I do. What a position all of this is putting the flying public in. If you complain, you're racist and if you don't, maybe you're dead......thanks all of you "moderate" Muslims...

Ironing......

2006-11-23T20:38:00.000-08:00

Until I was 13, I had never ironed nor particularly watched the chore being performed. Most of that time, we lived in WestPac on Navy bases and had maids. Three days before we were to board our MSTS (read Military Sea Transport Service) ship for 21 days from Manila to San Fransisco...my Mom tried to ride my bike to the O'Club for a party. She fell and broke her ankle and was put in a walking cast. There was good news and bad news with that. The good news was that we got one of the staterooms with a bathtub and we got to take tea with the Captain one day. The bad news was that Mom couldn't stand up for long so I was assigned washing and ironing duties. The laundry for dependents was four decks down, the ironing board was too high and the iron was wicked heavy, and the room was oh so hot. After my first session down there, I went to the fantail and threw my crinolines overboard. I think another lady helped me figure out the washing machine and dryer. It was awful, awful....

The Silly Six....

2006-11-23T18:50:00.000-08:00

As usual, the ROP is in an uproar over an alleged mistreatment/embarassment, by USA Airline this time. Racial profiling as usual, is the sin. Picture yourself in an airport lobby waiting to board your plane, when six Arab men pray toward Mecca, yell Allu Akbar or whatever and then get on your plane with you. They then begin to act suspiciously on board. Who should be asked to vacate the plane? The passengers who are nervous and have good reason to be or the persons who are making people nervous? What did the silly six expect? I think they hatched up this little scenario at their conference...the airline behaved as expected (prudently) and now there is a new cause celebre for CAIR and Jesse Jackson and others to build up into a giant deal. One news person has already likened the Six Imams to Rosa Parks (H/T to LGF). Ridiculous. If you want to be treated like other Americans than quit causing anxiety....

Thanksgiving 2006......

2006-11-23T17:04:00.000-08:00

So what am I thankful for? First would be my immediate family. They're all gone now but I am so lucky to have had them at all. Then, I am very grateful for the extended family....lots and lots of cousins and eight Aunts and Uncles...they have been very good to me. I am grateful that I finally settled on a Major, stuck to it and became an RN....my ideal career. I am also thankful for being able to take it easy now and only work if I'm bored. I am Thankful for living in the greatest country in the world...no matter how un-PC that makes me. I am thankful for the men and women in all the services who protect me and my country. I am thankful for all my friends...they are so special in so many different ways. It is wonderful to have two cantankerous cats to sit in my lap and whine for food.

Actually, being a "glass half full" type person, I can't think of many things I am not thankful for. How lucky am I?

Books...

2006-11-21T18:33:00.000-08:00

The only fun part of this move has been going through all of my books...and my parents'. I gave 200 cookbooks to the CYM for their booksale and still have the same number again to keep. My Mom and I must have bought a cookbook from everywhere we visited. It has been fun looking through recipes and remembering the occasions and fun...

I found a Medical Encyclopedia from 1847 that is hilarious......descriptions of flux, what to do if a lady swoons, how to treat biliousness, etc. My Grandmother gave my Mom a first edition Tennyson with an ornate leather cover and gilded pages.....it smells so good. We all liked a good mystery and collected Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Arthur Conan Doyle, etc. It's possible to follow our hobbies and interests through our books, too. Gardening, bridge, flying, WWII, care of cats and dachshunds, button collections, coin collecting, the Saints......What a history a book collection is......

Veterans Day....

2006-11-11T19:38:00.000-08:00

God Bless all of our past and present military men and women.........and a hearty and heartfelt Thank you.

My Dad

2006-11-10T23:17:00.000-08:00

My Dad was one of the most special people God ever made. He was from Vermont, strong, silent type. He graduated fromMiddlebury College and joined the Navy Air...he fought in the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway and, of course, the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He was the pilot who discovered Ensign Gay after Midway. When we were in the Philippines, I remember a Marine coming to our house off base to get Dad to go look for President Magsaysay when his plane was missing. Dad wore a black ribbon on his uniform for 30 days after the death of the President Magsaysay. I once shook Luz Magsaysay's hand at an International Girl Scout's Jamboree in the Philippines. I can still sing the Philippine national anthem...every morning we sang it as soon as we finished The Star Spangled Banner....so, everytime we sing our anthem, I start in on, "Land of the Morning, Child of the Sun Returning.....

Blogs..

2006-11-10T18:21:00.000-08:00

I want to link to some other blogs but darned if I can figure out how to do that. So many of the commenters on TSW have blogs would be good to link to them.

I was just reading Carol Platt Liebau's blog about the elections: carolliebau.com. She is calming and makes so much sense.

It certainly is hard trying to improve in so many ways at one time...perhaps I should drop some of the self-improvements. Let's see, dieting, quitting the smokes, no swearing, no gossiping, keep on boxing and unboxing belongings. It's too much for one human to be that good. Maybe I'll swear a little......

Age is what?????

2006-11-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

As I logged in, I noticed that my profile says I'm 250 years old. I was going to indignantly change that but decided that I probably don't want my age on my profile.....so I'm 250. A recruiter called from HR asking if I've had enough retirement. I have to say I'm loving retirement...may work a little in the Spring or if I need a little extra cash but nothing steady, ever again......teh yeh....

I can't believe that in this time of war, any idiot would want to investigate/impeach the President. It is pure politics instead of Country. The BDS has gone on for so long that it is apparently unstoppable. One of the things I loved about Tom Clancy's book (I've forgotten the name) about Jack becoming President, was the way he got people to run for office again...asking for people who were not politicians but real working people. We should turn the whole lot out and get some real people to represent us. Our President needs to stand firm...fight terrorism, honor our Country and our Military.

Poor us.......

2006-11-08T19:18:00.000-08:00

Stupid, stupid Democrats. There I got that out of my system. At least, we still have the President....kinda scary thinking of the Pelosi being third in line. God protect our President. The glass is half full, remember. So, this will make it easier to win the Presidency in 2008 and perhaps grab back one of the houses. I sort of think that it's better for one party not to control all parts of government...if only to have someone to blame if a plan doesn't work. For awhile last night, I thought I would die without a ciggie. Having survived without succumbing, I now have to try not to eat every one of those WW lemon cakes!

Election Day

2006-11-07T08:05:00.000-08:00

This is when I really miss my Dad. No matter how hysterically pessimistic my Mom and I would get, Dad would stay calm and tell us to wait and see. The only time I've seen him get excited was when I wore my MCG sweatshirt home and Dad thought I was plugging McGovern....I am not going to follow all those poll watchers and get all hot and bothered. Have book, will read.

Lurch.......

2006-10-31T19:21:00.000-08:00

Who better to discuss on Halloween than "Lurch" Kerry? At a College Rally, he looked down his Patrician nose and abjured the students to study hard and graduate and they may do well, if they were lazy and didn't learn, they'd get stuck in Iraq...or words to that effect. First response, it was just a botched joke against Bush....no apology. Now, it's a Vast Right Wing Conspiracy and he goes on to criticize and rail against GOP policies and politics....no apology. As usual, Lurch has no clue as to how that is going over across America......maybe it could be the October Surprise!!! This man has deep-sixed his Presidential hopes, I believe. He'll roam around blaming all missteps on GOP, his staff, secret service and then sulk. One of the parts of this that is interesting is that the MSM totally left out of their reports those comments. Had it not been for radio and Fox and bloggers, he would have gotten away with that crap.

My ex-husband served on Swift Boats the same year in Country. I never heard of any of the guys in his group using 3 Purple Hearts to go home....unless they had been badly wounded and could not be treated incountry or on Hospital Ships. Many men did not claim wounds that were trivial...too ashamed.

Fires....

2006-10-30T15:16:00.000-08:00

I believe I read today or yesterday, somewhere, that one of our "Ivory Tower" leftists thinks we should sit down and discuss forest fires and ways to prevent them as opposed to rushing willy-nilly to put them out. This was contained in a letter to the Editor saying that firemen are not heroes, just "doing what they are paid for." He went on to say that firemen have a pretty good life anyway with their hours and down time. Now, clearly, this person is an idiot who has never had to risk his life more than crossing the street. He probably has a 3.2 Million dollar house with all sorts of intellectual ornaments and decor.....wonder how he would feel if his house caught fire and the firemen were a little late.

That is so much the problem with our intellectually elite Left, they seldom have to deal with any of the problems real people face day after day. Taxes up, no problem, they have money/loopholes. School choice, no issue, their kids go to private schools. Eminent domain, no problem, no one is going to take their property. Walmart, bad, Saks, good. And, we could go on infinitum. The answer to major problems, form a team and discuss, discuss, discuss....anything but take action.

Dixie Twits......

2006-10-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

Just saw an ad for the Twits' movie. These are 3 extremely ignorant girls with good voices. They insulted what I believe in and what many other believe in and we chose not to buy their cds anymore. Perhaps, they should chat with the imprisoned Cuban journalists or (I can't spell this name)Solsenitzen or any other person who has truly been silenced for their thoughts, but, of course, that wouldn't sell their movie and would make too much sense. It does not take a brain surgeon to notice that the newspapers, TV and cinema are full of people saying the same mundane things the Twits say and they are certainly loud and amazingly free to roam about for people who have been "silenced." So, Dixie Twits and all you other twits out there, continue what you are doing and saying and singing...do it anywhere, anytime and anyhow you wish...just don't tell me I'm silencing you because I don't care to put money in the pockets of people who insult and mock me for my beliefs..

Saturday...

2006-10-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

Georgia, down in flames again.....Why can't they beat the Gators? Oh well...

Fricky is crying at my feet...I had her in my lap a few minutes ago, nose on keyboard, tail on keyboard, paws on keyboard. Down Kitty...

Have to put all my clothes and other things away somewhere tomorrow. Now, I just have to go through garages and I will be out of that condo. Almost time to sell. This week has been just one long ache..clothes are heavy, whine, whine....

Haven't been in the mood to post much this week...it was like the fun was sucked out of it, but things are getting back to normal on the Wheel and spirits are lifting. Teh silly season is starting. It is so gorgeous here now...especially, at about 430 or 5 in the afternoon...the shadows fall just right on the Marsh..the reeds are golden, the sky clear blue and the egrets, oh the egrets....!

More Things That Go Bump in the Night.......

2006-10-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

There is a person posting comments on TSW who is somewhat obnoxious. He can be pleasant, but recently, he has been dogmatic, self-righteous and just plain rude. Things always come out a little abrupt in the cyber world but I've noticed that most people try to overcome these tendencies. TSW is a lovely blog spot where people can be teh silly or serious but up to now it has been civil and caring. This one person cannot seem to understand that and has been unable to display any civility over the past two days or so. It really makes it uncomfortable for the rest of us. I think it would probably be best if this person went on a Retreat for a few days or for a long time and come back when he better understands the ethos of this particular blog spot. But, I am not the owner of the spot so will just "shun" the uncivil.

Things that go bump in the night....

2006-10-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

There is a very strange person out in the blog-o-sphere. I won't name her or link to her but some of you know who I mean. There's no particular reason why she should concern me but somehow, when she brings herself to my attention, I can't just push her out of my mind. This person has, possibly, the filthiest mouth and thoughts I have ever heard. She used to be an educator in a good University or two...scary thought. She is one of those conspiracy theorists and says she has a pee aitch dee. I guarantee you have never heard such hatred and filth from any one person in your life. Her hatred covers every aspect of life and all spectra of people. at first when I her stuff, I felt sorry for her. I thought she needed help rather than snarking.....and, basically I still think she needs help. That "blue" side of me wants to feel compassion for her but she is so far over the line and, possibly, so dangerous to either herself and/or others, that I don't know if anything can help her. It's trite, but it is like watching a train wreck....it's horrific but you can't take your eyes away from the impending disaster. She needs an uber psychiatrist or to be locked away.

Late Nite Thoughts.....

2006-10-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

On a thread on TSW we've been discussing history. I should come clean, I'm older than anyone on that blog. I feel younger inside although I notice that I have some really weird wrinkles and a tendency to gain weight. I still have contributions to make...even my memories should be important. I remember seeing a strange looking man at a rest stop on the way to Bagiuo in the PI. As I looked back through the bus window, I realized he had not ears and was completely bald. The Japanese had done that to him during the occupation, I know not why. Our housekeeper, Pacita Palanco, had three fatherless children. Her husband was hung up by his heels and stripped of his skin, day after day, because he smuggled food to the POWs. When we were returning to the States before going to Hawaii, we wanted to take an MSTS ship to Japan. Pacita cried and cried about that. We changed ships and went back to Guam, instead. I should say here that Jo and I were ready to sacrifice a college education for Pacita to come with us to the States...that was in the day where that was a really big sacrifice, not a joke...I love the PI, deep in my soul..a second home and a beautiful home..
'

Hair...

2006-10-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

I have a long and bedevilled relationship with hairdressers. I was born with curly hair so for a long time I didn't need to roll it or do much with it at all which means that I am hopeless at fixin' my hair. I've had good hairdressers and I have had the absolute pits. The problem is I just can't rid myself of the bad ones. The one I went to before the current young lady was awful. I had this vision of myself as Meg Ryan and her vision was, apparently, Dale Evans. In addition, she looked sort of dirty and slovenly and had a vile temper. One day, she let slip that she didn't have very many regular customers and that the 6 she had, were her "bread and butter".....she would go to the poor house without us. That was it, I couldn't leave her although I pretty much loathed her. If her customers left her, she would call to find out why....I wimped out, couldn't face it and continued with her for 6 long years. Finally, she left to care for her disabled husband and I inherited Lisa. Lisa is a dear....she is about 40...dresses 20 and slutty...and my hair still is not the way I want it...stuck again. She is more Meg Ryanish though. Sometimes life is just not perfect, is it?

Upside...

2006-10-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

Well, that was certainly a sour note.

On the upside, I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel. The screen man wants to buy some of my furniture in return for some of the work he is doing. The Church office called; they heard I had some books, dishes, etc to dispose of and they could use them for the Church Bazaar. There only remains to empty two closets and the garages and then paint, carpet and SELL, sell, sell...

Frick is so much better. It's good to see the gruesome twosome frisky again and curling up together.

I am reading a terrific book before I delve into Pratchett. I got a tip from The Anchoress and ordered "My Life with the Saints" by James Martin, SJ. It is his progress pre and peri vocation and the Saints he met along the way. Little bios of Saints whom he thinks of as personal friends. The book is humorous and has already got me thinking about the Saints differently. I highly recommend it.

End of the week.....

2006-10-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Interesting discussion on TSW, as usual. When today's kids do bad things is it the fault of poor parenting? I said not always. I think part of it is the general smutting down of society,the self-absorption of society, the lack of really heroic role models in our society...please, baseball players are not heroes and neither are Hollywood stars, no matter how "internationally minded" they pretend to be. The policemen and firemen of 9/11 are/were heroes, the passengers of flight 93 were heroes, the men and women fighting or just serving in our military are heroes (as are their families). These tinfoil hat stars are what we used to know as showbiz idols not heroes and even then, they are not idols such as Katherine Hepburn, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Patricia Neal, etc. Struggling to see who can produce the edgiest performance seems to equal struggling to reach the lowest tiers. There seems to be no love of pure beauty...beauty in art, beauty in body, beauty in spirit, beauty in the love of Country....I despair...

On my mind.......

2006-10-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

I knew getting antibiotics into Frick was going to be a disaster, but I approached it with a positive attitude and calm this morning. I talked soothingly and held her in my lap, quietly filled the dropper and opened her mouth.....Frick then turned into a tornado, head tossing back and forth, legs pushing off my lap....I masterfully squeezed the dropper and she closed her mouth...amoxicillin in my hair, on my glasses, on the chair and on Frick...but not in her. Round one to Frick. This afternoon, I picked her up and put her in my lap and when she had dozed off again, I filled dropper, held it close to her ear and then opened her mouth and squeezed..I got half in before she turned into a virago again. Dr. Ryan said she hoped I could get at least 2 doses in (she knows Frick and my ineptness well) but the wound was clean and it still looks good. So, will keep on plugging tomorrow.

There's a thread about abortion today on TSW. I have been wrestling with that question for years. I would not have an abortion no matter what. Can I dictate that belief to others and should I? No question about the barbaric partial birth abortion. It's an abomination. The questions arise when it is a matter of rape, incest. If it's a question of the health of the mother than even the Church allows that....the way I have rationalized rape and incest has been to consider if the mother is so depressed and violated or young that it would ruin the health of the mother. I know I'm rationalizing but I saw something at MCG once that made me think. There was an 11 year old girl clutching her teddy bear who told me that she was going to have a little brother for her Mom and her. The MDs were trying to talk her Mom into letting them abort her and Mom refused because she could no longer have children and wanted another baby. What to think????? What to do????? It's easy for me to say no to all abortions, it isn't going to come up in my life. All I'm saying is that there are no easy answers to this but discussions should be rational not hysterical. I'm still praying for that little girl and for all who consider abortion as an answer.

Sulla says it better

2006-10-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

Sulla can tell the tale of Frick's Vet visit better than I can:

Comment by Sulla-C
October 17, 2006 @ 3:36 pm

Frick is back?
Happy Frack!

While Frick was sick
(get better quick!)
Frack went wack
Till Frick came back.

Need Denny snack.
Please pass the Jack.

Both are asleep as tightly wound around each other as they can get...at last.

Frick is sick poems from Teh Squeaky Wheel

2006-10-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

Comment by sbh
October 16, 2006 @ 4:47 pm

Ednurs - Frick is sick? Sounds like the beginning of a children’s book — which we’d get Sulla to write off the cuff but he’s sick himself — with Hasslehoff!

Frick is sick
He ate a brick!
Teh alarm clock, and TV…

He ate them quick
It was such a kick!
And now he’s cudd-el-ee…

that’s all I got.

I am sorry the little begger isn’t well. sympathy squeak!

Comment by Sulla-C
October 16, 2006 @ 4:51 pm

This is Frick.

Frick is sick.

Why is Frick Sick?

Rick hit Frick.

With a Brick.

Rick was slick.

Frick? Not too quick.

But where’s the brick?

Oh.

Ick.

And, that's all there is....my part

Frick is sick....

2006-10-16T18:16:00.000-07:00

Poor Fricky...she is so sick. She has had a cyst on her back for over a year. Her Vet didn't want to remove it because of her age but said to call her if it breaks open. Today it has opened up...ewwww...and is oozing...not to mention she can't keep anything down, but keeps on trying to eat and drink. So, tomorrow to the Vet; not as easy as it sounds. I know she'll be on antibiotics and I am impossible at getting meds down this cat.

Tennyson

2006-10-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

My paternal Grandmother left me a first edition Tennyson. It is leather bound with a beautiful smell. I have loved Tennyson ever since I got that book and this is one of my favorites:

Crossing The Bar

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.

Frick and Frack

2006-10-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

I was going to go on and on about moving, but have this loud Siamese male cat at my feet. Think the yowling is a demand to get up in my lap. There is hair all over the keyboard already so no go...yet.

They are brother and sister littermates born 4th of July, 1989. Frack has purple eyes and one loud voice. He is not too bright but loves cuddling and unusually for a Siamese, will run up to anyone and flop over on his back for a rub. For years, the only time he would hiss was when he passed a lawn chair where he was stung by a bee. Now, no lawn chair, no hissing at all. He's a lazy bugger and will only bat at a toy if it hits him in the face.

Frick, the little girl, is all flirty and delicate. She, too, is fairly loud but much shyer than her brother. She loves to play and chase feathers and climbs everywhere. She likes gekkos. She will chase them and somehow get their tails off. The bodies are taken to the bath tub where they make a lovely noise when they are stiff....ick. Frick is also, a lover of gold jewelry..nothing is safe from her. One of them took the TV remote once and hid it behind the waterbed I had then. Three or four days later, it showed up in the middle of the living room floor.

They have surely enriched my life. And that's the truth...

I hate Thursdays.......

2006-10-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

Another day spent moving from my old place to Mom and Dad's place. Most of my stuff is over here in boxes. Now comes the hard part: going through their things to make room for mine. I have got to sell my place soon....it's a true waste of $1000/month.
This is the first time I've moved without someone doing the moving and my back is never going to stop aching. Have no idea where I got all that stuff. Why do I have 7 packages of Wood Ear Mushrooms? Why do I have 10 boxes of kitchen matches and 8 flashlights of various sizes with dead batteries? I have 7 cordless phones and 3 cell phones and how many calls/day? Clothes from size 4 to 18, the list goes on and on. I'm a pack rat, my bad.

And, that's the truth!

I forgot.......

2006-10-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hillaire Belloc...how could I forget Hillaire Belloc? I'll leave again with this:

The Lion

The Lion, the Lion, he dwells in the Waste,
He has a big head and a very small waist;
But his shoulders are stark, and his jaws they are grim,
And a good little child will not play with him.

Favorites

2006-10-10T17:35:00.000-07:00

Those last posts are so ranty....I need to lighten up.

Favorite things: little babies (all of them), little kids (all of them), Spring and Fall weather, striking looking trees, oceans (all of them), mountains (ditto), warm socks, clothes after being dried, pets (except spiders and reptiles), real books not e-books, Maggie May, Lili Marlene, Begin the Beguine, In the Mood, comfy beds with lots of pillows and a fluffy comforter or duvet, travelling to new places, new faces, elderly people, Midsomer Murders, rainy days, History, the Impressionists, the Philippines.

That's a partial list but all I feel like thinking about right now...and that's the truth. (Oh yes, Laugh In).

Foley Thoughts

2006-10-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

Foley misused his position, apparently and he did what he should have done, he resigned his seat and went into rehab. He is disgraced in his home district and will probably never hold office again. What else should be done to him? Shall we hang him? Democrats are all over this in their usual hypocritical hysteria. Democrats find it much easier to smear him with the pedophile label than with what he is: a homosexual. This is much like all the hoopla about the Priests....they were homosexuals preying on children This is too much for the homosexual lobby to admit, so the Priest were not gay but were pedophiles....much better.

I do not approve or condone the behavior of Foley and his ilk or of the homosexual priests. I unconditionally condemn that behavior. Let's be real clear about that. This discussion is about the hypocrisy in the Democratic Party.

Somehow, the Foley scandal is being hyped by the same Democrats who found nothing wrong with a sitting President getting blow jobs from a young, female, White House Intern. How arrogant is that? Why weren't the feminazis up in arms over that? We all know the answer to that, I think. Bill Clinton was a Democrat. Democrats = good; Republicans = bad. Democrat Homosexuals = good; Republican homosexual = pedophile...bad,bad,bad.....maybe even evil.

Again, a pox on all their houses but let's be fair in our condemnation. just sayin'

Taxi Cab Drivers

2006-10-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

Am seriously annoyed with the news of the ROP taxi drivers who refuse to carry blind people with seeing eye dogs. Where is the EOC? Do we have separate laws for the ROP than for the rest of us? If you don't want to follow the laws of our Country then find a country where your laws rule. This is the United States of America. You and I and all of the others in this Country are privileged to be here in the Land of the Free. Those people who don't like freedom can surely find refuge from it in lots of other places, Venezuela comes to mind, China, North Korea, and of course the Middle East...or parts of it. I, personally, believe that most legal immigrants believe in our freedoms. And, I believe we should protect those freedoms by punishing those who flaunt them. And, that's the truth...

Sunday News

2006-10-08T07:49:00.000-07:00

Just finished the Sunday paper from front to back. There was a lot of important news to digest but what caught my attention was trivial, basically. There was a little blurb in the People section about someone named Keish Castle-Hughes. Now, Keish is 16 and proudly announcing her pregnancy! She and some rock band member have been going together since she was 13! What a terrific role model. Where is the outrage? She is still a minor....isn't this some sort of underage felony...not her pregnancy but the begetting of her baby. It has come to this in Hollywood...just a child having a child. Any bets on whether the "happy couple" will still be a happy couple in two or three years? So, what kind of life is this for the baby? Just sayin'.....

Debate

2006-10-07T19:51:00.000-07:00

What would be good perhaps, would be to have debates around the country on the big issues: The War on Terrorism, Educational Reform, Immigration, etc. But, these debates should be conducted civily, with courtesy, fair moderation.....designed to present the different ideas of the issues. This way we the people could see both sides or all sides and make up our minds from a base of knowledge. The shouting matches known as debate that take place now serve no one and make the debaters look like fools. Protests could be allowed outside the forum location and any disturbances in the hall would be escorted outside and then the debate would continue.

The current atmosphere of hatred and shouting and constant harrassment of the President does nothing for me except stiffen my resolve to vote Republican no matter what. And that is not good.

Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS)

2006-10-07T19:23:00.000-07:00

Just one more thing I don't understand. I have never seen so much pure D hatred for a President of the United States. My cousin Larry, Capt. USN, and I were talking a few years back during the Clinton Presidency and I was fussing about Monica and asked him if he agreed with me. He said that President Clinton was the CIC and it was not appropriate for him to comment on his performance. I've thought about that for the past 6 years. The office of the President should be respected and even if you don't like the man obscenities, lies, dumb Hollywood porn references, going to other countries and telling them you hate the President, movies showing his assassination.......all of this is outrageous. Disagree yes, protest yes, but show some dignity and class.

We are assured that Al Jazeera runs news clips of all the above to their loyal listeners. No wonder the IMAMs and Sheiks can get their minions to keep up the violence...they believe all Americans feel that way. Thus, you could say that the "loyal" opposition in our country is prolonging the war.

Now, I suppose you could make a case that Republicans didn't help President Clinton either. President Clinton was impeached for perjury. I do not remember seeing posters with his head severed from his body or art with a gun pointed to his head. Those of us who disagreed with his policies and behaviors worked very hard to get Democrats out of the White House...legally...using the vote. The venom, hatred, vituperation spews out of the Left and out of the mouths of Senators...who should know better. If these facts are mentioned more garbage spews out and covers the speakers until they are quiet. When I read or hear an ugly story, I want to know the source and how the source is connected before I even think about the latest charge or lie.

The Democrats count on people reading/listenin to the MSM and not questioning what they are told. People all over the country still believe the NYT is the center read: Godhead of the news. They need to be educated on how slanted the NYT really is and then demand changes.How can a country be governed if the electors believe the lies and biases of the media?

Terrorists

2006-10-05T18:18:00.000-07:00

What is it that some people do not understand about the current war? People are trying to destroy the so called Western way of life. They shout this to the skies, they put it on their posters, they blog it, they go to the UN and say it. Our Peace-niks somehow don't seem to believe them; they believe we can talk to them and submit to some outrageous demands and all will be well. Wake up people. If you don't get real soon, your precious freedoms will be gone. The very people who don't believe in the threat are the ones who will suffer the most under these terrorists. Who believes for one minute that these madmen will allow feminists to spout their BS or same sex marriages will be allowed? Adultery....gone. Pornography....gone. Music...gone. Religion in the schools, oh yes but only the version of the mad men.
Wake up, wake up before it is too late.

The Kids

2006-10-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

Aren't these guys great? This was taken while visiting in Phoenix this summer. Nathaniel is/was five, Ian is almost three, Josh is/was three, Caitlin is thirteen and Morgan is eleven. These are cousins, the boys are the children of Laura and Scott and the girls, Cathy and Jeff.

Religious Right

2006-10-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

What the heck is the "Religious Right?" I am Catholic and go to Mass regularly and I tend to come down on the right side of most political issues. Does this mean I am part of the vicious, religious right trying to take over our country and set up a theocracy? According to the MSM, I guess it does. Rosie O'Donnell says then, that I am the equal of a Jihadist. Is something wrong with the logic here? If I say that I am pro-life and anti-gay marriage then I must be a right wing terrorist. I am not anti-gay and don't bomb abortion clinics (nor do I support those acts) but these nuances are apparently not recognized. Aren't there any non-group-think liberals anymore?

A little Wordsworth for bedtime.....

2006-10-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

Have spent the day watching my new favorite TV show: Midsommer Murders. It's on the Biography Channel and has humor, lots of murders, good plots and brilliant cast. Watch it if you get a chance and let me know if you like it.

About to go to bed, but feel need for one of my favorite poems:

She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways

She dwelt among the untrodden ways

beside the springs of Dove,

A maid whom there were none to praise

and very few to love:

A violet by a mossy stone

half hidden from the eye.

--Fair as a star, when only one

is shining in the sky.

She lived unknown, and few could know

when Lucy ceased to be;

But she is in her grave, and, oh,

the difference to me!

My Aching Back

2006-09-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

I wish I had some of Terrell Owens' pain pills. I had a little difference of opinion about service with the bug man. I was good, so good; calm, cool but focussed. Then I turned around and tripped over the rug.......splatted all out with butt in air. Why can I never come across as dignified? Just once, Lord, just once! Anyway, now these poor old bones are a-aching.

I could use some good ideas for this dilemma I have: I own a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath Condo, back deck. It is filled in every nook and cranny with books I can't bear to part with and souvenirs of my travels and things friends and family have given and I can't give those away.
Not to mention all the lps, 8 tracks, cassettes and now CDs and DVDs. With the death of my darling Daddy, I now own my parents condo too. I am moving into theirs as it is bigger and has better layout and great view of the marshes and not last and not to be crass, it's paid for. It is filled with expensive furniture and good souvenirs and antiques....not to mention books, CDs, LPs and we have duplicate calpholon pots and pans.......2 sets of good china, 4 sets of everyday china. To cut this short, somehow I have got to marry this conglomeration and set up some sort of sale or giveaway of the rest. I grow whiny and pitiful.

Guess I'll drag my sorry, aching A** to bed. Bouna nota.

Finally back on.....

2006-09-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

Oh lord, thanks to Tim, I can finally post again. Still working on the avatar thing.

I should say that I am not very fond of obscenities unless they are necessary to the post. The first week in the ER, I thought my first name was "Mother....." and it has not stopped in the past fifteen years. This ER has a little over 50,000 visits per year and hospital has 350 beds....only hospital in town and we serve about 6 counties. I worked days as I was Manager and got calls all night long, it seemed. Trying to get used to sleeping without interruption.

I was in Arizona this summer. I would like to meet the person who was stumbling across the desert and decided that this place (phoenix) is the place I must build a town. It is hot, hot, hot. Everyone said it's a dry heat but I have to say that once the temp is over 103 you need to be in air conditioning.....whether it's a wet or dry heat. It seemed so clean though and of course the food and all the swimming pools was/were wonderful. I hate to sound whiny but the Vermont side of me says I need Fall.

The one who must not be named has had my interest all day today. Hope she/it learned a lesson but I doubt it. Should say here that the Squeaky Wheel is just a really great site...check it out.

Time for a little wine.....

First Post

2006-09-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

I retired April Fool's Day, which I felt appropriate considering my personality. As soon as I retired, my Father received bad news about his prostate cancer. It had been in remission for 15 years but was now loose and spreading everywhere. He died in one month. I have spent the ppast few months settling the estate, etc. I was used to having people babbling at me all day long and now there is silence. Some silence is good, some boooooring. So, I've decided to give this a try while I continue to try to move my things to my Dad's (paid off) house and some of his stuff to my unpaid for house and then sell that house. Sounds exhausting doesn't it? The fun thing is finding my old 8-tracks and LPs, old pictures, old school papers and all sorts of things I thought I'd lost forever. Of course, winnowing out the dross is hard.....maybe it would be better to just toss without looking. Oh well, more later.